Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A comparative trial of copper T 380 and Cu 375 IUCD.

BACKGROUND The IUCD, primarily in the form of copper IUD is used by more than 150 million women around the world, making it the most widely used reversible method of contraception. The objective of this study is to do double blind clinical trial to compare the side effects of Copper-T and Cu 375 IUCD in women using contraceptive method and had used no contraception before. METHOD A total of 80 women of reproductive age group who are sexually active and who wanted to practice some contraceptive method were included in the study. After filling Performa speculum examination was also done and all the contra indications for the fitting of IUCD were ruled out. RESULTS In this comparative study the effectiveness and side effects of two copper releasing IUCDs, Copper-T and Cu 375 IUCD was observed. Pelvic inflammatory disease occurred more often with Cu 375 IUCD than other group. Dysmenorrhoea was also experienced more with Cu 375 IUCD user than Copper-T. Menorrhagia rate was also high in Cu 375 IUCD users. The only case of uterine perforation was in the user of Copper-T. CONCLUSION It is concluded from this study that Copper-T is a highly effective method of contraception than Cu 375 IUCD with good patient acceptance and lesser side effects.
Bacterial superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin B induces interstitial pneumonia in SCID mice reconstituted with peripheral blood mononuclear cells from collagen vascular disease patients.

To investigate whether superantigens induce interstitial pneumonia associated with collagen vascular disease (CVD), staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) was intratracheally administered to SCID mice reconstituted with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from CVD patients that suffered lung complications. Although a slight accumulation of inflammatory cells into the perivascular area was seen in the lungs of SCID mice injected with PBMCs from CVD patients or healthy donors, SEB administration significantly increased the severity of inflammation in the lungs of SCID mice that received CVD patient PBMCs. Furthermore, human leukocytes were detected by immunohistochemistry in the lungs of SCID mice that received SEB after reconstitution with PBMCs from CVD patients but not in other groups of SCID mice. CD45RO(+) memory T cells comprised the majority of infiltrating human leukocytes. These results suggest the possibility that external superantigens may induce the development of interstitial pneumonia in patients that have a genetic background predisposition to autoimmune disease.
SnAg Microbumps for MEMS-Based 3-D Stacks

Fine pitch 100-mum electroplated SnAg microbump interconnection technology is presented and discussed for use in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) based 3-D stacks. Electrochemical deposition (ECD) of copper top side metallization (TSM) is compared to performance of nickel-copper TSM on substrate chips. Nickel-copper was selected for under bump metallization (UBM) of die chips. Lead free Sn3.5%Ag was deposited on the die chip UBM and chip-to-wafer bonded by a standard SnAg reflow process in inert atmosphere. An automotive application module was selected as target application for investigating reliability and failure mechanism of the interconnection technology. Bonded units have been investigated by mechanical and physical analysis, visual inspection and electrical resistance measurements after assembly and subsequent environmental stress test including thermal cycling, elevated temperature, humidity, and high current. The fine pitch lead free microbumps displayed promising capability for 3-D stacking of silicon devices. Excellent performance under thermal cycling with no global thermal mismatch was demonstrated. The microbump interconnection technology proved to be tolerant to high temperature and extensive current exposure. TSM consumption and intermetallic compound (IMC) formation were less evident for the nickel-copper TSMs compared to those entirely made of copper. Only minor Kirkendall porosity was observed at the solder alloy interfaces in the present study.
Functional polymorphisms in ACE and CYP11B2 genes and atrial fibrillation in patients with hypertensive heart disease

Abstract Background: The activated renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system has been reported to play an important role in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation (AF). We hypothesized that functional genetic variations of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and CYP11B2 genes may influence the susceptibility to AF in patients with hypertensive heart disease. Methods: The I/D polymorphism of ACE was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the –344C/T polymorphism of the CYP11B2 gene was detected using PCR and subsequent cleavage by HaeIII restriction endonuclease. Results: The overall distribution of ACE I/D genotypes in patients with and without AF was significantly different (p=0.001). The frequency of the DD genotype was significantly higher in patients with AF than in patients without AF (20.6% vs. 8.1%, OR 2.94, 95% CI 1.64–5.26, p<0.001). The frequency of the D allele was significantly higher in the AF group than in the non-AF group (p=0.001). After adjustment for age and left atrial dimension, multivariable analysis showed that the DD genotype of the ACE gene was an independent risk factor for AF in patients with hypertensive heart disease. No relationship between –344 C/T CYP11B2 polymorphism and AF was found in this cohort. Conclusions: Our study suggests that ACE I/D polymorphism is associated with AF and the DD genotype may be an independent predictive factor for AF in patients with hypertensive heart disease. Clin Chem Lab Med 2009;47:32–7.
The influence of aprotinin and tranexamic acid on platelet function and postoperative blood loss in cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND Antifibrinolytic drugs including aprotinin and tranexamic acid are currently used in cardiac surgery to reduce postoperative bleeding and transfusion requirements, and may have different effects on platelets. We therefore evaluated platelet function after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and cardiac surgery to determine the effect of either aprotinin or tranexamic acid. METHODS In a prospective, randomized study, 50 patients scheduled for elective cardiac surgery with CPB were evaluated. Patients received high-dose aprotinin (n = 25) or tranexamic acid (n = 25) as antifibrinolytic drugs. Coagulation and platelet function were assessed preoperatively, after CPB, 3 and 24 h after surgery using modified thrombelastography and whole blood aggregometry. RESULTS Impaired coagulation after CPB occurred in both groups compared with preoperative data (P < 0.01). In contrast to modified thrombelastography, thrombin receptor-mediated aggregometry after CPB was significantly decreased only in those patients receiving tranexamic acid until the end of the study period in comparison to the aprotinin group (P < 0.05). Aprotinin-treated patients showed significantly less chest tube drainage (575 mL +/- 228 vs 1033 mL +/- 647, P < 0.05) and need for postoperative transfusion requirements (P < 0.01) compared with the tranexamic acid group. CONCLUSIONS Platelet function measured by whole blood aggregometry is better preserved by aprotinin than tranexamic acid and may be responsible for producing less bleeding within the first 24 h after CPB.
Conformational changes of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum are facilitated by L‐glutamate and its receptors in rat Purkinje cells

The intraventricular administrations of L‐glutamate or trans‐1‐amino‐1,3‐cyclopentanedicarboxylic acid (t‐ACPD), which is an agonist for the metabotropic glutamate receptor, induced conformational changes of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) to form lamellar bodies, consisting of stacks of flattened cisterns in Purkinje cell dendrites of the rat cerebellum. The formation of lamellar bodies by t‐ACPD or by anoxia was blocked by pretreatment of L(+)‐2‐amino‐3‐phosphonopropionic acid (L‐AP3), which is an antagonist for the metabotropic glutamate receptor. Injections of N‐methyl‐D‐aspartic acid (NMDA) and amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methylisoxazole‐4‐propionic acid (AMPA)/kainate, which are categorized as acting on ionotropic receptors of glutamate, did not cause the formation of lamellar bodies, although kainate condensed the dendritic cytoplasm and produced a swelling of surrounding astrocytes. The cisterns of lamellar bodies formed by t‐ACPD were long and formed regular stacks. Many intercisternal bridges were arranged with a center‐to‐center distance of about 25 nm between apposed cisterns. The bridges appeared as short tubes about 15 nm in diameter and in length, a clear center of which linked the lumen of their cisterns. The present results revealed that an excess release of excitatory transmitter by brief anoxia activates metabotropic glutamate receptors, which transform the networks of SER that normally release Ca2+ widely to the neuronal cytoplasm into lamellar bodies. Large Ca2+ storage pools of lamellar bodies are formed by the association of opposing molecules that belong to different cisterns and may protect excess release of Ca2+ from their reservoirs. J. Comp. Neurol. 402:252–263, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
His or mine? The time course of self–other discrimination in emotion processing

This electroencephalography (EEG) study investigated at which temporal processing stages self–other discrimination in emotion processing occurs. EEG was recorded in 23 healthy participants during silent reading of unpleasant, pleasant, and neutral pronoun–noun and article–noun expressions that were related to the participants themselves, related to an unknown third person, or had no self–other reference at all. Self- and other-related pronoun–noun pairs elicited larger cortical negativity relative to the processing of article–noun pairs at left posterior electrodes as early as 200 ms after stimulus onset. In the same time windows (from 200 ms to 300 ms and 300 ms to 400 ms) the emotionality of the words enhanced event-related brain potential (ERP) amplitudes at parieto-occipital electrodes. From 350 ms onwards, processing of self-related unpleasant words elicited larger frontal negativity compared to unpleasant words that were related to the other or that had no reference at all. In addition, processing of pleasant words vs. neutral or unpleasant words elicited larger positive amplitudes over parietal electrodes from 450 ms after stimulus onset, in particular when words were self-related. Our findings demonstrate that for verbal emotional stimuli, self–other discrimination first occurs at higher-order, cortical processing stages. This is consistent with the view that categorization of information according to certain stimulus aspects (self–other reference, emotionality) occurs before its meaning is integrated.
Better than a Rope of Sand: cohesion in commercial society

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: Do Smith, Hume and other Scots have an argument to reject John Brown’s claim in his Estimate that a society based on self-interest lacks cohesion? And can they do so without accepting Hobbes’ argument that the necessary cohesion can only be provided by the threat of coercion from a sovereign? THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND METHODS: Problem: The eighteenth century debate on the nature of commercial society. Method: Analysis of key texts in the debate as it occurred in Scotland. THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: The Scots argue that a society where everyman lives by exchanging, operating on the assumption of selfinterest, is a more peaceable, more equitable and thus more cohesive than that envisioned by Brown. When reinforced by the rule of law, self-interested behaviour supports mutually supportive behaviour. Ultimately this embodies a constant and universal principle of human nature. Human behaviour is not random or chaotic and a commercial society not only exemplifies that fact but also sustains a form of societal life superior to any that has one before. RESEARCH RESULTS: Nostalgia for an earlier time is mis-placed. For all its vehemence Brown’s critique is mis-directed and thus unjustified. CONCLUSION, INNOVATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: This selection of the Scots should be widened to investigate whether Ferguson, Kames, Wallace among others have the same resources as Hume and Smith to rebut Brown.
Evaluation of the RAMS Continuous Monitor for Determination of PM2.5 Mass Including Semi-Volatile Material in Philadelphia, PA

Abstract The real-time ambient mass sampler (RAMS) is a continuous monitor based on particle concentrator, denuder, drier, and tapered element oscillating microbalance (TEOM) monitor technology. It is designed to measure PM2.5 mass, including the semi-volatile species NH4NO3 and semi-volatile organic material, but not to measure PM2.5 water content. The performance of the RAMS in an urban environment with high humidity was evaluated during the July 1999 NARSTO-Northeast Oxidant and Particles Study (NEOPS) intensive study at the Baxter water treatment plant in Philadelphia, PA. The results obtained with the RAMS were compared to mass measurements made with a TEOM monitor and to constructed mass obtained with a Particle Concentrator-Brigham Young University Organic Sampling System (PC-BOSS) sampler designed to determine the chemical composition of fine particles, including the semi-volatile species. An average of 28% of the fine particulate material present during the study was semi-volatile organic material lost from a filter during particle collection, and 1% was NH4NO3 that was also lost from the particles during sampling. The remaining mass was dominantly nonvolatile (NH4)2SO4 (31%) and organic material (37%), with minor amounts of soot, crustal material, and nonvolatile NH4NO3. Comparison of the RAMS and PC-BOSS results indicated that the RAMS correctly monitored for fine particulate mass, including the semi-volatile material. In contrast, the heated filter of the TEOM monitor did not measure the semi-volatile material. The comparison of the RAMS and PC-BOSS data had a precision of ±4.1 μg/m3 (±9.6%). The precision of the RAMS data was limited by the uncertainty in the blank correction for the reversible adsorption of water by the charcoal-impregnated cellulose sorbent filter of the RAMS monitor. The precision of the measurement of fine par-ticulate components by the PC-BOSS was ±6-8%.
Calibration and the estimation of macroeconomic models

We propose two measures of the impact of calibration on the estimation of macroeconomic models.The first quantifies the amount of information introduced with respect to each estimated parameter as a result of fixing the value of one or more calibrated parameters.The second is a measure of the sensitivity of parameter estimates to perturbations in the calibration values.The purpose of the measures is to show researchers how much and in what way calibration affects their estimation results – by shifting the location and reducing the spread of the marginal posterior distributions of the estimated parameters.This type of analysis is often appropriate since macroeconomists do not always agree on whether and how to calibrate structural parameters in macroeconomic models. The methodology is illustrated using the models estimated in Smets and Wouters (2007) and Schmitt-Grohe and Uribe (2012).
Outcome of patients with traumatic head injury in infants: An institutional experience at level 1 trauma center

Background: Traumatic head injury is a common cause of mortality and acquired disability in infants and children. However, patterns and outcome of head injury in infants are different from other age groups. Aims and Objectives: Aim of our study was to find out epidemiological factors, characteristics of injury, and outcome in infants with traumatic brain injury. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study from March 2009 through Feb 2012, at JPNATC, AIIMS, New Delhi. The clinical records of all patients, admitted with head injury were evaluated. Twenty-nine infants with traumatic brain injury were followed up and outcome was analyzed. Results: Twenty-nine infants with traumatic brain injury were included in the study. Of these 17 (59%) were boys and 12 (41%) were girls. Fall from height was recorded in 27 (93%) patients and road traffic accident was the mode of injury in 2 (7%). Mild head injury (GCS 14-15) was found in 18 (62%) patients, moderate in 4 (14%) patients (GCS 9-13), severe (GCS 3-8) in 7 (24%) patients. SDH was the most common injury in 8 (27%) patients. Out of these 4 (14%) were immediately operated, 25 (86%) were managed conservatively. Overall mortality was 11% (3 patients). Glasgow Outcome Scale was 5 in 20 (69%) patients and 3 (10.3%) patients each had GOS 3 or 4. Conclusion: Infants suffered significant brain injury due to fall. Traumatic brain injury in infants generally carries good outcome. Severe head injury was observed to be a predictor of poor outcome.
Allelic association with SNPs: Metrics, populations, and the linkage disequilibrium map

Comparison of different metrics, using three large samples of haplotypes from different populations, demonstrates that ρ is the most efficient measure of association between pairs of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Pairwise data can be modeled, using composite likelihood, to describe the decline in linkage disequilibrium with distance (the Malecot model). The evidence from more isolated populations (Finland, Sardinia) suggests that linkage disequilibrium extends to 427–893 kb but, even in samples representative of large heterogeneous populations, such as CEPH, the extent is 385 kb or greater. This suggests that isolated populations are not essential for linkage disequilibrium mapping of common diseases with SNPs. The ∈ parameter of the Malecot model (recombination and time), evaluated at each SNP, indicates regions of the genome with extensive and less extensive disequilibrium (low and high values of ∈ respectively). When plotted against the physical map, the regions with extensive and less extensive linkage disequilibrium may correspond to recombination cold and hot spots. This is discussed in relation to the Xq25 cytogenetic band and the HFE gene region. Hum Mutat 17:255–262, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Attribute Specific Impacts of Stated Non‐Attendance in Choice Experiments

In this paper, we generalize existing approaches to the treatment of stated attribute non-attendance data in discrete choice experiments by allowing attribute specific impacts. We implement this approach by employing an extended hierarchical Bayes logit model specification. To illustrate this approach, we consider data collected to examine Indian consumers' preferences for traditional aromatic rice varieties. Our results regarding stated attribute non-attendance reveal that our new approach shrinks marginal utilities of non-attenders substantially compared to stated attenders, with significant differences in the shrinkage between some of the attributes. In addition, our results reveal the way in which non-attendance of attributes interact with each other and the impact that this has on the distribution of willingness to pay estimates.
Basic fibroblast growth factor, neurofilament, and glial fibrillary acidic protein immunoreactivities in the myenteric plexus of the rat esophagus and colon

The enteric nervous system consists of a number of interconnected networks of neuronal cell bodies and fibers as well as satellite cells, the enteric glia. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a mitogen for a variety of mesodermal and neuroectodermal‐derived cells and its presence has been described in many tissues. The present work employs immunohistochemistry to analyze neurons and glial cells in the esophageal and colic enteric plexus of the Wistar rat for neurofilament (NF) and glial fibrillary acidic proteins (GFAP) immunoreactivity as well as bFGF immunoreactivity in these cells. Rats were processed for immunohistochemistry; the distal esophagus and colon were opened and their myenteric plexuses were processed as whole‐mount preparations. The membranes were immunostained for visualization of NF, GFAP, and bFGF. NF immunoreactivity was seen in neuronal cell bodies of esophageal and colic enteric ganglia. GFAP‐immunoreactive enteric glial cells and processes were present in the esophageal and colic enteric plexuses surrounding neuronal cell bodies and axons. A dense net of GFAP‐immunoreactive processes was seen in the ganglia and connecting strands of the myenteric plexus. bFGF immunoreactivity was observed in the cytoplasm of the majority of the neurons in the enteric ganglia of esophagus and colon. The two‐color immunoperoxidase and immunofluorescence methods revealed bFGF immunoreactivity also in the nucleus of GFAP‐positive enteric glial cells. The results suggest that immunohistochemical localization of NF and GFAP may be an important tool in the study of the plasticity in the enteric nervous system. The presence of bFGF in neurons and glia of the myenteric plexus of the esophagus and the colon indicates that this neurotrophic factor may exert autocrine and paracrine actions in the enteric nervous system. J. Morphol. 261:323–333, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Economy-wide Implications of Climate Change in Burkina Faso

Economic development in Burkina Faso is potentially vulnerable to climate change, given the country's dependence on rain-fed agriculture. We used a computable general equilibrium model to estimate the economic impacts of climate change, assuming that it will lead to an increase in variability and a decline in the average of agricultural yields as well as an increase in the average and in the instability of the world food prices. Climate change is found to reduce national welfare, with urban poor households being the most affected. However, there is a wide variation across scenarios in terms of the magnitude of the impacts, highlighting the need for multi-sectoral approaches that consider climate uncertainty. Our analysis of adaptation options indicates that investment in agricultural research and extension and irrigation development, particularly when combined, are potentially effective means of mitigating the damage caused by climate change in Burkina Faso.
Transplant of Schwann Cells Allows Normal Development of the Visual Cortex of Dark‐reared Rats

Visual experience is necessary for the correct development of the visual cortex. Dark‐rearing from birth affects normal maturation of the functional properties of mammalian visual cortex: cortical cells show rapid habituation to repeated stimulation, decreased orientation selectivity, and enlarged receptive fields. Spatial resolution and response latency are also impaired. Recent experiments have demonstrated that visual deprivation reduces the expression of neurotrophins in the visual cortex. We formulated the hypothesis that visual experience drives the maturation of functional properties of the visual cortex by regulating cortical levels of neurotrophins. If this hypothesis is correct, exogenous supply of neurotrophins during dark‐rearing from birth should prevent, or at least ameliorate, the effects of a lack of visual experience. Since Schwann cells are efficient biological minipumps of neurotrophic factors, we transplanted 1.0 or 1.5 × 106 Schwann cells or infused vehicle solution as a control into the lateral ventricles of 13 day old rats reared in total darkness from birth until the end of the critical period (postnatal day 45). Single‐cell responses and visual‐evoked potentials were recorded from the binocular zone of the primary visual cortex of each group. We found that in Schwann cell‐transplanted animals all parameters tested were significantly improved upon those of dark‐reared control rats and were in the range of normal adult values. Thus, Schwann cell transplant contributed to the normal development of visual response properties in the visual cortex, compensating for a complete absence of visual experience.