Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Podocyte injury and repair mechanisms

Purpose of reviewPodocytes are the main gatekeeper of protein filtration in the glomerulus. When podocytes work less efficiently, this translates to the appearance of proteins in the urine, a condition that, if not promptly treated, leads to progression of glomerular damage and renal failure. Recent findingsNovel gene mutations have been uncovered in patients with nephrotic syndrome combined with a better definition of the role of podocin mutations. Although the importance of the inflammasome pathway and of the mechanisms of autophagy in podocyte health and disease have been increasingly recognized, a precise relationship between these processes still needs to be assessed. Numerous potential therapeutic targets have been identified and numerous data support the possibility of boosting podocyte regeneration. However, translation of experimental results into the clinic could largely depend on the avoidance of undesired side-effects; nanomedicine could provide the means to target old and novel drugs specifically to the podocytes. SummaryPodocytes are key cells in the glomerulus, and their damage inevitably leads to proteinuria and glomerular dysfunction. The more is known about the causes and mechanisms of podocyte damage, the more it will be possible to find new cures for glomerular diseases of the kidney.
Comment on the paper by Suffoletto et al. entitled: Text-message-based assessments and brief intervention for young adults discharged from the emergency department.

BACKGROUND This commentary discusses the importance of the recent article by Suffoletto and colleagues (in press), from the perspective of the developing role that technology such as text-messaging is serving as a means of increasing the reach of brief interventions for harmful alcohol use. RESULTS This study is important as it offers evidence from a well-designed study that text-messaging can be used to survey young adults about their alcohol use shows promising results for the potential efficacy of this technology to reduce alcohol use, including risky heavy episodic use. There are ethical and clinical considerations around text-messaging that need to be examined. CONCLUSIONS Future adequately powered randomized studies are needed to show the comparative effect of new technologies, such as text-messaging, in comparison with more traditional methods of providing interventions in reducing harmful alcohol use.
Body area network: Technology, solutions, and standardization

Recently, wireless protocols related to BAN (Body Area Networks) are under standardization by the IEEE 802.15 (Personal Area Networks, PAN) committee, to enable interoperability of a wide range of applications in the areas of medical support, healthcare monitoring and con sumer wellness electronics. BAN requirements are closely related to PAN or WSN (wireless sensor network) technologies; however a major difference in BAN applications is that human body should be carefully considered not only as a possible communication medium or an obstacle to the signal transport, but also taking into account the possibility of physiological effects resulting from the chosen EM wave fre quency. This Special Evening Topic session will present the current status of Body Area Network standard development, and explore proposed solutions and applications with a strong focus on integrated circuit implementations. As an introduction, the IEEE BAN standard process will be reviewed, including its historical background and current status. Following this, further technical details including MAC and PHY layers and security protocols will be addressed. Integrated circuit solutions for BAN applications will be disclosed, and examples of BAN application requirements, especially for ambulatory patient monitoring, will be discussed.
Adding the patient’s voice to our understanding of collaborative goal setting: How do patients with diabetes define collaborative goal setting?

Background Patient reports of collaborative goal setting have repeatedly been associated with improved health outcomes, and the American Diabetes Association specifically encourages collaborative goal setting as a component of high quality care. Current limitations in our understanding of what needs to transpire for patients to denote goal setting as “collaborative”, remain a barrier to fostering collaborative goal setting in practice. Methods Four focus groups were conducted among 19 patients with diabetes. A semi-structured focus group guide was used to explore patient perceptions of collaborative goal setting and what needed to happen for goals to be considered collaboratively set. Focus group transcripts were coded using thematic analysis. Results Collaborative goal setting was described by patients as occurring within the context of a caring relationship where patients and health care providers: (1) listen and learn from each other; (2) share ideas; (3) agree on a measurable objective; and (4) support goal achievement. Patients also articulated clear responsibilities for themselves and clinicians and described collaborative goal setting as a process that occurs over time. Conclusions Patients perceived collaborative goal setting as a multidimensional process that occurs over time within the context of a caring relationship and encompasses distinct patient and clinician responsibilities.
Local calcium gradients during excitation–contraction coupling and alternans in atrial myocytes

Subcellular Ca2+ signalling during normal excitation‐contraction (E‐C) coupling and during Ca2+ alternans was studied in atrial myocytes using fast confocal microscopy and measurement of Ca2+ currents (ICa). Ca2+ alternans, a beat‐to‐beat alternation in the amplitude of the [Ca2+]i transient, causes electromechanical alternans, which has been implicated in the generation of cardiac fibrillation and sudden cardiac death. Cat atrial myocytes lack transverse tubules and contain sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) of the junctional (j‐SR) and non‐junctional (nj‐SR) types, both of which have ryanodine‐receptor calcium release channels. During E‐C coupling, Ca2+ entering through voltage‐gated membrane Ca2+ channels (ICa) triggers Ca2+ release at discrete peripheral j‐SR release sites. The discrete Ca2+ spark‐like increases of [Ca2+]i then fuse into a peripheral ‘ring’ of elevated [Ca2+]i, followed by propagation (via calcium‐induced Ca2+ release, CICR) to the cell centre, resulting in contraction. Interrupting ICa instantaneously terminates j‐SR Ca2+ release, whereas nj‐SR Ca2+ release continues. Increasing the stimulation frequency or inhibition of glycolysis elicits Ca2+ alternans. The spatiotemporal [Ca2+]i pattern during alternans shows marked subcellular heterogeneities including longitudinal and transverse gradients of [Ca2+]i and neighbouring subcellular regions alternating out of phase. Moreover, focal inhibition of glycolysis causes spatially restricted Ca2+ alternans, further emphasising the local character of this phenomenon. When two adjacent regions within a myocyte alternate out of phase, delayed propagating Ca2+ waves develop at their border. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that (1) during normal E‐C coupling the atrial [Ca2+]i transient is the result of the spatiotemporal summation of Ca2+ release from individual release sites of the peripheral j‐SR and the central nj‐SR, activated in a centripetal fashion by CICR via ICa and Ca2+ release from j‐SR, respectively, (2) Ca2+ alternans is caused by subcellular alterations of SR Ca2+ release mediated, at least in part, by local inhibition of energy metabolism, and (3) the generation of arrhythmogenic Ca2+ waves resulting from heterogeneities in subcellular Ca2+ alternans may constitute a novel mechanism for the development of cardiac dysrhythmias.
Neural networks control of a nonholonomic mobile robot with deadzone compensation

This paper presents a control structure designed by backstepping method for nonholonomic mobile robots with deadzone compensation scheme. The backstepping controller makes integration of a kinematic controller and a torque controller without the perfect velocity tracking assumption. The deadzone precompensator using two neural networks(NNs),one to estimate the unknown deadzone and the other to provide adaptive compensation for general nonlinear actuator deadzones of unknown width. And a novel neural network structure is presented for approximation of piecewise continuous functions of the sort that appear in deadzone. The neural precompensator is employed to improve the performance of the backstepping controller. Stability analysis and convergence of tracking errors to zero as well as the learning algorithms for weights are guaranteed with basis on Lyapunov method. Simulations results are provided to show the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Cerebrospinal Meningitis. The Use of Sulphonamide Derivatives in Prophylaxis

Type 28, a Grotup A streptococcus not belonging to any known type. and a Type 14 were implicated. Tyvpe 28. -El and FM had this streptococcus for a short while. FM was at the time severelv infected with Staph. atureuis, B! act. coli, Strep. viridains. and an organism resembling Proteuts mielanovogenes (Miles and Halnan. 1937). and the Type 28 had no observable effect. In El (and in FJ, see below) the appearance of the streptococcus sharply retarded the healing of an otherwise healthy wound containing only a little Staphi. atureus. Group A (U}.-The untypable Group A infected FJ. and was responsible for the second of HT's hospital infections. There was no evidence of ill effect in HT. These two uintypable A's are being investigated. If they prove to be serologically identical we might'presume a cross-infection between HT and FJ, whose beds were only a few feet apart, for there were no other untypable A's in wounds or throats at the time. Tvpe 14.-SD first yielded Type 14 from a slowly healing wolunded ear and from the throat. Subsequently, in the absence of any other demonstrable Type 14 in the ward, it appeared in HT, in FM as a second. streptococcal infection. and in RM. SD was in the next bed to FM, and RM six feet away on the opposite side of the room. HT was the other side of the partition. Type 14 was not found again in SD's throat, but this patient was later infected by it, under the ccab of a light wound that had healed over four weeks previously; the patient had been picking at the scab. FM's wound progressed very slowly, and required three operations in all. There is little doubt that the Type 14 infection was responsible for the delay and difficulties. RM's wound, initially infected with a few micrococci, healed slowly, but, considering the severity and situation of the wound and the presence of infected bone fragments, the delay could not unequivocally be attributed to the Type 14. Nevertheless the streptococcus constituLted an unwelcome threat in an already serious SitLiation. But, whether the Type 14 proved to be deleterious or not, in the absence of any other demonstrable source of the organisms there can be little doubt that it spread through the ward and that the infection was carried from SD's throat or passed from wound to wound. Towards the end of the period the prevalence of Strep. 14 increased. At the routine swabbing on November 14 Strep. 14 appeared in three throats previously free from haemolytic streptococci. There were no signs of infection; three persons-two patients (including RM) and one nurse-thus became clinically undetectable reservoirs of Strep. 14.
Gold Standard? The Use of Randomized Controlled Trials for International Educational Policy

Edward Miguel and Michael Kremer pioneered a new kind of development research in their 2004 study of a school deworming program in Kenya. Their experimental design incorporated the random assignment of primary school students to either a treatment or a control group for receiving medicine to eliminate intestinal parasites. Findings revealed significant benefits to the treatment group in not only improved health but also lowered school absences (Miguel and Kremer 2004). One policy consequence was an increased awareness for more evidence-based decision making under the banner of accountability reform in international development. The driving focus for such reform is rigorous scientific investigation—what some call the “gold standard” of methodology—that uses randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to establish a credible link between an intervention and a set of outcomes. Increasingly, major agencies and specialized evaluation committees are pressuring the field of education development to include such methods as a way to buttress scientific and policy arguments. This review takes a closer look at three recent publications that present complementary versions of this evidence-based (EB) perspective to indentify strengths and limitations for making policy decisions in low-income countries (LICs). While the increased use of empirical and credible results is always welcome toward the broad goal
Significance of phosphomonoesterase activity in the regeneration of phosphorus in a meso-eutrophic , P-limited reservoir

The significance of phosphomonoesterase (PMEase) activity in the regeneration of phosphorus was investigated in a phosphorus-limited reservoir during the growing season (April–October) using the artificial substrate p-ni rophenylphosphate ( pNPP). Despite the relatively high concentration (up to 0.45 mmol l) of soluble nonreactive phosphorus (SNP) in the reservoir and the high total PMEase activity (up to 1144 nmolpNP lh), the rate of phosphate release from SNP accounted for less than 0.6% of the direct orthophosphate uptake by the planktonic community. The high apparent affinity and maximum velocity for pNPP may underestimate the velocities of Pi release by PMEase. More critical studies using natural substrates are needed to assess the role of PMEase as Pi supplier for the planktonic community. PMEase activity was apparently not related to soluble or particulate phosphorus fractions, suggesting that PMEase activity may not be useful as an indicator of P-limitation, unless other phosphorus pools (e.g. intracellular phosphorus) are considered. q 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Association of the PTPN22/LYP gene with type 1 diabetes

Objectives: The goal of this study was to verify the association between type 1 diabetes (T1D) and the protein tyrosine phosphatase, non‐receptor type 22 (PTPN22) gene in non‐Hispanic whites (NHWs) and Hispanics from Colorado.
Shunt-dependent hydrocephalus after rupture of intracranial aneurysms: a prospective study of the influence of treatment modality.

OBJECT This study was designed to determine whether the frequency of shunt-dependent hydrocephalus in patients suffering from aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) differs when comparing surgical clip application with endovascular obliteration of ruptured aneurysms. METHODS In this prospective nonrandomized study, 245 patients with aneurysmal SAH treated using either surgical clip application or endovascular coil embolization were studied at our institution between September 1997 and March 2003. One hundred eighty patients underwent clip application and 65 had coil embolization. In those patients who underwent clip application of anterior circulation aneurysms, the lamina terminalis was systematically fenestrated. The occurrence of acute, asymptomatic, and shunt-dependent hydrocephalus was analyzed in both treatment groups. A subgroup analysis of patients with good clinical grade (World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies [WFNS] Grades I-III) and better Fisher Grade (1-3) and of patients with Fisher Grade 4 hemorrhage was performed. Acute hydrocephalus was observed in 19% of surgical cases and 46% of endovascular ones. The occurrence of asymptomatic hydrocephalus was similar in both treatment groups (p = 0.4). Shunt-dependent hydrocephalus occurred in 14% of surgical cases and 19% of endovascular cases. This difference did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.53). Logistic regression models controlling for patient age, WFNS grade, Fisher grade, and acute hydrocephalus in patients with good clinical grade and better Fisher grade revealed no significant difference in the rate of shunt-dependent hydrocephalus in both therapy groups (odds ratio [OR] 0.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.2-2.65). Results of similar models indicated that among patients with intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), surgical clip application carried a lower risk of shunt-dependent hydrocephalus (OR 0.32, 95% CI 0.14-0.75) compared with that for endovascular embolization. CONCLUSIONS Shunt-dependent hydrocephalus was comparable in the two treatment groups, even in patients with better clinical and radiological grades on admission. Only patients in the endovascular therapy group who had experienced IVH showed a higher likelihood of shunt-dependent hydrocephalus.
Differences in both inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate mass and inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate receptors between normal and dystrophic skeletal muscle cell lines

Human normal (RCMH) and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (RCDMD) cell lines, as well as newly developed normal and dystrophic murine cell lines, were used for the study of both changes in inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate (IP3) mass and IP3 binding to receptors. Basal levels of IP3 were increased two‐ to threefold in dystrophic human and murine cell lines compared to normal cell lines. Potassium depolarization induced a time‐dependent IP3 rise in normal human cells and cells of the myogenic mouse cell line (129CB3), which returned to their basal levels after 60 s. However, in the human dystrophic cell line (RCDMD), IP3 levels remained high up to 200 s after potassium depolarization. Expression of IP3 receptors was studied measuring specific binding of 3H‐IP3 in the murine cell lines (normal 129CB3 and dystrophic mdx XLT 4‐2). All the cell lines bind 3H‐IP3 with relatively high affinity (Kd: between 40 and 100 nmol/L). IP3 receptors are concentrated in the nuclear fraction, and their density is significantly higher in dystrophic cells compared to normal. These findings together with high basal levels of IP3 mass suggest a possible role for this system in the deficiency of intracellular calcium regulation in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 21:902–909, 1998.
Using multi dimensional scaling to analyse software engineers' de-motivators for SPI

We present analysis of factors that de-motivate software practitioners from supporting software process improvement (SPI) initiatives, using a multidimensional scaling (MDS) technique. Our findings are based on an empirical study involving nearly 200 software practitioners from 13 UK companies. Our aim is to provide managers with a better understanding of the obstacles that prevent practitioners from supporting SPI. This insight should help SPI managers establish more effective SPI implementation strategies. In this article we re-introduce the use of MDS techniques in SPI research. MDS is a social science data analysis technique designed to generate a rich visual understanding of human issues. By using MDS we found evidence to suggest distinct clusters of de-motivators exist for different staff groups. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Combination of cervical interleukin‐6 and ‐8, phosphorylated insulin‐like growth factor‐binding protein‐1 and transvaginal cervical ultrasonography in assessment of the risk of preterm birth

Objective To determine the value of combinations of cervical interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), cervical interleukin‐8 (IL‐8), the phosphorylated isoform of insulin‐like growth‐factor binding protein‐1 (IGFBP‐1), and cervical ultrasonography in the prediction of preterm birth.
Quasirandom Groups

Babai and Sós have asked whether there exists a constant c > 0 such that every finite group G has a product-free subset of size at least c|G|: that is, a subset X that does not contain three elements x, y and z with xy = z. In this paper we show that the answer is no. Moreover, we give a simple sufficient condition for a group not to have any large product-free subset.
Experience with donors matched for minor blood group antigens in patients with sickle cell anemia who are receiving chronic transfusion therapy

Clinically significant alloimmunization to red cell antigens occurred in 28 percent of transfused patients in a sickle cell clinic. Therefore, a prospective study was undertaken to determine whether matching donors carefully for 17 blood group antigens would diminish the risk of further alloimmunization in patients on a chronic transfusion program. Alloantibodies had developed previously in 8 of the 12 patients. After chronic transfusion with selected donors, four new antibodies developed in three patients. Three antibodies were due to errors in phenotyping or matching, and one was due to an antigen that was not tested for in the protocol. The incidence of developing antibodies per unit transfused was diminished tenfold when selected donors were used. Autoantibodies developed in five patients (42%), but these did not seriously interfere with the transfusion therapy. It was concluded that matching for red cell antigens may diminish the incidence of alloimmunization in patients with sickle cell anemia requiring transfusion.
PLASMA VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR IN SEVERE SEPSIS

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent vascular permeability factor. The development of capillary leak is common in septic patients, and several sepsis-associated mediators may induce VEGF production. The potential role of VEGF during sepsis has not been studied to date. The aim of the study was first to assess whether circulating VEGF levels increase during sepsis, and second, to examine whether plasma VEGF levels are associated with disease severity. VEGF levels were measured in serial plasma samples of 18 patients with severe sepsis and in 40 healthy controls. VEGF levels were correlated to clinical signs and symptoms. VEGF levels were significantly elevated in sepsis patients compared with healthy controls (134 vs. 55 pg/mL; P < 0.001). Serum albumin levels used as an indirect measure of vascular leak were decreased in septic patients. Increased plasma VEGF levels at study entry were correlated to severity of multiple organ dysfunction during the course of disease (Pearson correlation coefficient r = 0.75; P = 0.001). Moreover, maximum VEGF levels in nonsurvivors were significantly higher than those in survivors (P = 0.018). These data show that plasma VEGF levels are elevated during severe sepsis. Furthermore, our data indicate that plasma VEGF levels are associated with disease severity and mortality. Further study of the potential role of VEGF in the development of sepsis-associated capillary leak is indicated.
Affects of China's nonfinancial sector's outflow foreign direct investment

In this paper factors affecting china's outflow foreign direct investment are analyzed through the panel data of China's nonfinancial sector outflow foreign direct investment to 21 host countries, the cumulative number of host country's anti-dumping cases against china, host country's per capita national income, the standard of China's export to host country, and exchange rate of RMB to the host country's currency from 2003 to 2006. The test results show that firstly anti-dumping exerts significantly negative effect on China's outflow foreign direct investment; secondly export is one of the important deterministic factors to China's OFDI; thirdly per capita national income is a prominently positive factor to China's outflow foreign direct investment; fourthly exchange rate of RMB has an inconspicuous influence on China's outflow foreign direct investment