Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Predictive Value of C-Reactive Protein in End-Stage Renal Disease: Is It Clinically Significant?

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in patients with end-stage renal disease. Besides traditional risk factors, disturbances in mineral and bone metabolism and inflammation are thought to be responsible for the increased risk of death. In the last years C-reactive protein (CRP) has gained a lot of attention in the general population, especially with regard to its link with atherosclerosis. Although several studies suggest that CRP may be useful as a parameter in predicting future cardiovascular events in both the general population and in patients with end-stage renal disease, there is doubt about the clinical evidence of this assumption. A statistical association between CRP and cardiovascular disease was observed in various studies, but the predictive power of this association is markedly diminished when adjusted for other risk factors. The relative contributions of CRP as a marker, as a causative agent, or as a consequence of atherosclerotic vascular disease are unclear, both in the general population and in the dialysis population. The CRP levels are highly variable and influenced by intercurrent events in dialysis patients. In dialysis patients, it is possible to reduce the CRP levels by statins, although these agents do not reduce the cardiovascular mortality in diabetic dialysis patients.
The subarachnoid angle: An area of transition in peripheral nerve

The lateral limit of the subarachnoid space, where nerve roots enter and leave, forms the subarachnoid angle. This is an important site of transition for nerve sheaths. Here the perineurium of peripheral nerve leaves the surface of the nerve and extends between the dura mater and the arachnoid. The perineurium is therefore open‐ended with respect to the subarachnoid space. The central perineurial extension is histologically the same as perineurium in some areas but in others forms a layer of hydrated cells without basement membranes. These lie in close apposition with the outermost cells of the arachnoid membrane. At the subarachnoid angle the arachnoid membrane may either reflect onto the root sheath or be attached to it by punctate junctions. The root sheath covers the nerve roots as they pass through the subarachnoid space. It is composed of loosely arranged cells bound by punctate junctions. Its intercellular spaces may contain connective tissue fibrils. A single basement membrane separates it from the endoneurium. The histological structure in the region of the subarachnoid angle is consistent with clinical evidence implicating the endoneurium of nerve trunks as a pathway for the transmission of infection from the periphery to the central nervous system.
OPTIMAL PRICING AND PRODUCTION POLICIES OF A MAKE-TO-STOCK SYSTEM WITH FLUCTUATING DEMAND

We study the effects of different pricing strategies available to a production–inventory system with capacitated supply, which operates in a fluctuating demand environment. The demand depends on the environment and on the offered price. For such systems, three plausible pricing strategies are investigated: static pricing, for which only one price is used at all times, environment-dependent pricing, for which price changes with the environment, and dynamic pricing, for which price depends on both the current environment and the stock level. The objective is to find an optimal replenishment and pricing policy under each of these strategies. This article presents some structural properties of optimal replenishment policies and a numerical study that compares the performances of these three pricing strategies.
Aberrant Endometrial DNA Methylome and Associated Gene Expression in Women with Endometriosis

ABSTRACT Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent, progesterone-resistant disorder largely derived from retrograde transplantation of menstrual tissue/cells into the pelvis, eliciting an inflammatory response, pelvic pain, and infertility. Eutopic endometrium (within the uterus), giving rise to pelvic disease, displays cycle-dependent transcriptomic, proteomic, and signaling abnormalities, and although its DNA methylation profiles dynamically change across the cycle in healthy women, studies in endometriosis are limited. Herein, we investigated the DNA methylome and associated gene expression in three phases of the cycle in eutopic endometrium of women with severe endometriosis versus controls, matched for ethnicity, medications, smoking, and no recent contraceptive steroid use. Genome-wide DNA methylation and gene expression were coassessed in each sample. Cycle phase was determined by histology, serum hormone levels, and unsupervised principal component and hierarchical cluster analyses of microarray data. Altered endometrial DNA methylation in endometriosis was most prominent in the midsecretory phase (peak progesterone), with disruption of the normal pattern of cycle-dependent DNA methylation changes, including a bias toward methylation of CpG islands, suggesting wide-range abnormalities of the chromatin remodeling machinery in endometriosis. DNA methylation changes were associated with altered gene expression relevant to endometrial function/dysfunction, including cell proliferation, inflammation/immune response, angiogenesis, and steroid hormone response. The data provide insight into epigenetic reprogramming and steroid hormone actions in endometrium contributing to the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of endometriosis.
The expression of the adhesion molecules ICAM‐1, VCAM‐1, PECAM, and E‐selectin in human atherosclerosis

The expression of PECAM, ICAM‐1, VCAM‐1, and E‐selectin was studied in 64 samples of human coronary arteries taken from 15 explanted hearts obtained within 5 min of transplantation. Normal artery (n=12), predominantly fibrous plaques (n=23), and plaques containing extracellular lipid (n=26) and three segments showing recanalization channels were studied. All endothelial cells strongly and equally expressed PECAM; positive staining was used to check that artefactual denudation of the endothelial surface had not occurred. PECAM was also present in some lipid‐filled macrophages. Normal arteries showed no VCAM‐1 staining but focal segments of the endothelium were positive for ICAM‐1 and E‐selectin. ICAM‐1 was strongly and constantly expressed by the endothelium over all types of plaques and in macrophages. E‐selectin expression was confined to endothelial cells and occurred on the surface in 35 per cent of fibrous and 22 per cent of lipid‐containing plaques. VCAM‐1 staining of surface endothelium occurred in 39 per cent of fibrous and 20 per cent of lipid‐containing plaques. A population of spindle‐shaped cells of macrophage type (positive for EMB11 antigen) expressed VCAM‐1 in lipid‐containing plaques. Adventitial vessels adjacent to plaques showed endothelial expression of ICAM‐1 and E‐selectin. VCAM‐1 staining of adventitial vessel endothelium was associated with local lymphoid aggregation. In conclusion, the expression of cell adhesion molecules is an important element in the inflammatory component of atherosclerosis and contributes to both monocyte and lymphocyte activation and recruitment from advential vessels and the arterial lumen.
Enzimas pectinoliticas de Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht. ex. Fr. isolado de frutos de cafe

Microrganismos isolados de frutos de cafe cereja foram testados no que diz respeito a sua capacidade pectinolitica e maceracao de tecidos vegetais. Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht.ex Pr. , crescido em meio constituido de farelo -umido, demonstrou produzir enzimas extracelulares capazes de despolimerizar rapidamente polissacarideos vegetais, como celulose, amido, xilano e arabano, alem de substâncias pecticas. 0 sistema pectinolitico foi fracionado por tecnicas de troca ionica e filtracao em gel, demonstrando ser constituido de tres endopoligalacturonases, com atividade otima em torno de pH 6,0. Nao foram constatadas as atividades pectinesterase nem pectina transeliminase. As enzimas pectinoliticas purificadas demonstraram Km 0,12%, 0,022% e 0,019% e como produto de hidrolise foram constata dos oligossacarideos acidos em todos os casos. A hidrolise de acido pectico foi inibida pela presenca de cations divalentes no meio de reacao e agentes quelantes de metais foram eficientes em proporcionar melhores condicoes para a atividade enzimatica. Tanto enzimas purificadas quanto a preparacao bruta foram capazes de hidrolisar substâncias pecticas isoladas de limao e de frutos de cafe Abstract
Airport Prices in a Two-Sided Market Setting: Major US Airports

This paper analyzes the rationale of airport business models. First, it provides evidence that the airports should be considered as two sided markets because of significant network externalities between the airlines and the passengers. This result invalidates the traditional approach where the airport-airline-passenger relationship is considered as vertically integrated, taking passengers as final consumers. Second, a testing procedure aimed at eliciting the real business model of airports demonstrates that the major U.S. airports do not internalize the externalities existing between airlines and passengers. We find that these airports set profit maximizing prices for the non-aeronautical services to passengers and Ramsey prices for the aeronautical services to airlines. Given these results, we conduct a welfare analysis by simulating the implementation of profit maximizing prices when an airport fully accounts for the two-sidedness of its activities. In particular, we show that the impact on social welfare is not independent on the specific features of each airport and that the privatization of airports cannot be considered as the only solution for airports.
Pre- and postpartum supplemental DL-alpha-tocopheryl acetate effects on placental and mammary vitamin E transfer in sheep.

Twenty-six pregnant ewe lambs were used to study the effect of four treatment (T 1 to 4) levels of DL-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (0, 15, 30, and 60 IU.lamb-1.d-1) supplemented 28 d prepartum through 28 d postpartum on placental and mammary gland transfer of alpha-tocopherol. Blood samples were first obtained on d 28 prepartum and thereafter with milk samples at designated intervals up to 28 d postpartum for alpha-tocopherol analyses. Similarly, blood samples were obtained from neonatal lambs on d 1 before suckling and on d 3, 14, and 28 postpartum. Ewe lamb serum tocopherol concentrations averaged . 66 micrograms/mL before T administration; 28 d later averages were . 93, 1.94, 2.63, and 4.07 micrograms/mL (linear, P < .05) for T 1 to 4, respectively. Supplemental vitamin E had no effect (P > .05) on serum alpha-tocopherol of neonatal lambs, indicating inefficient placental transfer. By d 3, lamb serum tocopherol increased to 1.41, 1.84, 2.43, and 4.46 micrograms/mL (linear, P < .05) for T 1 to 4 following consumption of colostrum and declined to . 46, . 74, 1.10, and 1.68 micrograms/mL (linear, P < .05) by d 28. On d 1 there was a linear (P < .05) treatment effect on tocopherol in colostrum, with a low concentration of 3.30 micrograms/mL for the control (T 1) and a high of 9.55 micrograms/mL for T 4. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Making an APPropriate Care Program for Indigenous Cardiac Disease: Customization of an Existing Cardiac Rehabilitation Program

Cardiovascular disease is a major health problem for all Australians and is the leading cause of death in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. In 2010, more then 50% of all heart attack deaths were due to repeated events. Cardiac rehabilitation programs have been proven to be effective in preventing the recurrence of cardiac events and readmission to hospitals. There are however, many barriers to the use of these programs. To address these barriers, CSIRO developed an IT enabled cardiac rehabilitation program delivered by mobile phone through a smartphone app and succesfully trialed it in an urban general population. If these results can be replicated in Indigenous populations, the program has the potential to significantly improve life expectancy and help close the gap in health outcomes. The challenge described in this paper is customizing the existing cardiac health program to make it culturally relevant and suitable for Indigenous Australians living in urban and remote communities.
Reduction of TrkB expression de novo in the adult mouse impairs epileptogenesis in the kindling model

Elucidating the mechanisms of epileptogenesis in molecular terms can identify targets for therapies aimed at preventing epileptogenesis or limiting its progression. Genetic perturbations have implicated signaling by the neurotrophin, BDNF, and its receptor, TrkB, in limbic epileptogenesis. Whether this signaling is critical to epileptogenesis in the adult brain is unclear. We sought to determine whether reduced expression of TrkB de novo in the mature brain is sufficient to impair epileptogenesis in the kindling model. Treatment of adult Act‐CreER TrkBflox/flox mice with tamoxifen resulted in modest reductions of TrkB protein expression de novo in the adult that were detected in hippocampus but not other brain regions. Modest reduction of hippocampal TrkB content inhibited epileptogenesis induced by stimulation of hippocampus or amygdala. The data support the conclusion that reduction of TrkB expression in hippocampus de novo in the mature brain impairs epileptogenesis in the kindling model. These findings advance TrkB and its downstream signaling pathways as attractive targets for limiting the progression of epileptogenesis. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Second-order decentralized safe consensus of inter-connected heterogeneous vehicular platoons

This paper deals with second-order consensus of inter-connected heterogeneous vehicular platoons by considering collision avoidance and string stability. A second order differential equation is employed to describe the upper level dynamics of each vehicle. Both communication and parasitic delays are investigated in stability analysis. The communication topology of all traffic flow is assumed to be unidirectional. Constant time headway policy (CTHP) is used to adjust the interplatoon and intra-platoon spacing. By using the feedback information of preceding vehicle's acceleration, the closed-loop dynamics of platoon will be decoupled. By introducing new theorems, sufficient conditions on control parameters satisfying both inter / intra-platoon asymptotic stability, collision avoidance and string stability are derived. Simulation results are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approaches.
How short is short? Optimum source–detector distance for short-separation channels in functional near-infrared spectroscopy

Abstract. In recent years, it has been demonstrated that using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) channels with short separations to explicitly sample extra-cerebral tissues can provide a significant improvement in the accuracy and reliability of fNIRS measurements. The aim of these short-separation channels is to measure the same superficial hemodynamics observed by standard fNIRS channels while also being insensitive to the brain. We use Monte Carlo simulations of photon transport in anatomically informed multilayer models to determine the optimum source–detector distance for short-separation channels in adult and newborn populations. We present a look-up plot that provides (for an acceptable value of short-separation channel brain sensitivity relative to standard channel brain sensitivity) the optimum short-separation distance. Though values vary across the scalp, when the acceptable ratio of the short-separation channel brain sensitivity to standard channel brain sensitivity is set at 5%, the optimum short-separation distance is 8.4 mm in the typical adult and 2.15 mm in the term-age infant.
EM Algorithm and Stochastic Control in Economics

Generalising the idea of the classical EM algorithm that is widely used for computing maximum likelihood estimates, we propose an EM-Control (EM-C) algorithm for solving multi-period finite time horizon stochastic control problems. The new algorithm sequentially updates the control policies in each time period using Monte Carlo simulation in a forward-backward manner; in other words, the algorithm goes forward in simulation and backward in optimization in each iteration. Similar to the EM algorithm, the EM-C algorithm has the monotonicity of performance improvement in each iteration, leading to good convergence properties. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the algorithm by solving stochastic control problems in the monopoly pricing of perishable assets and in the study of real business cycle.
[B7-H6 : a novel alert signal for NK cells].

Recepteurs activateurs et inhibiteurs des cellules NK Les mecanismes moleculaires permettant aux cellules NK de distinguer une cellule stressee d’une cellule saine reposent sur un ensemble de recepteurs activateurs et inhibiteurs dont l’engagement va moduler leur activation [5]. Des le debut des annees 1990, il a ete etabli que les cellules NK reconnaissaient les molecules d’histocompatibilite de classe I (CMH I) par l’intermediaire de recepteurs de surface qui inhibent leur activite. Ainsi les cellules saines exprimant constitutivement ces molecules sont protegees des cellules NK alors que des cellules dont l’expression du MHC I est deficiente, comme certaines cellules tumorales ou infectees, sont sensibles a leur attaque [6]. Par la suite, la decouverte de recepteurs comme les NCR (natural cytotoxicity receptor), NKG2D ou encore DNAM-1 (DNAX accessory molecule-1) a montre que l’activite des cellules NK dependait egalement de l’integration de signaux activateurs [7]. Alors que de nombreux ligands ont ete identifies pour NKG2D et DNAM-1, la nature des ligands des NCR n’est tou> L’hypothese selon laquelle il existe une resistance immunologique aux tumeurs a ete emise des le debut du XXe siecle par Erlich. Cette idee fut reprise a la fin des annees 1950 par Thomas et Burnet qui ont postule l’existence d’une surveillance immunitaire garantissant l’elimination des cellules cancereuses et plus generalement de toute cellule anormale. Ce concept qui, a l’origine, impliquait les effecteurs du systeme immunitaire adaptatif a ete mis a mal par differentes observations faites dans plusieurs modeles de souris immunodeficientes [1]. Cependant la caracterisation de molecules induites en reponse au stress cellulaire a suggere que la premiere ligne de defense contre les tumeurs pouvait etre assuree par les effecteurs de l’immunite innee, tels que les lymphocytes T , les macrophages mais egalement les cellules natural killer (NK). Ces dernieres ont d’ailleurs ete identifiees il y a plus de 35 ans comme des lymphocytes capables de tuer certaines cellules cancereuses sans immunisation specifique prealable [2]. Depuis, de nombreuses etudes chez la souris ont montre que les cellules NK etaient impliquees dans l’eradication de tumeurs transplantees mais aussi spontanees [3]. Chez l’homme, la plupart des donnees leur attribuant un role antitumoral proviennent d’etudes conduites in vitro. La fonction des cellules NK n’est cependant pas limitee a la detection des cellules tumorales puisque leur spectre d’action inclut les cellules infectees jours pas clairement definie. Pourtant les 3 membres des NCR, NKp30, NKp46 et NKp44 jouent un role preponderant dans la reconnaissance des cellules tumorales comme l’ont montre differents travaux [8]. Une meilleure comprehension de l’implication des cellules NK dans la surveillance antitumorale necessite donc l’identification de ces ligands.
Genetic Folding MATLAB Toolbox : Solving Santa Fe Trail Problem

This paper is a primarily attempt to design a toolbox for Genetic Folding algorithm using MATLAB. The toolbox was designed for training ACO in solving Santa Fe Trail problem. However, GF algorithm can encode and decode any type of problem into a linearly folding scheme. For advance or even simple type of problems, a string scheme is encoding to represent a set of operators. GF is a novel algorithm in solving optimization problems as shown in the experiments. We will also illustrate the benefits of GF algorithm conducted into ACO in order finding the best feeding function in comparison with the literature. Keywords-Genetic Folding; Genetic Algorithm; Genetic Programming; Ant Colony Optimization; Evolutionary Algorithms; Santa Fe Trail Problem
An EMG enhanced impedance and force control framework for telerobot operation in space

Tele-operation is a merging point of modern developments in robotics and communications technologies. Both traditional applications (e.g., mining) and emerging domains (e.g., microsurgery) benefit from the advancement of tele-robotic systems. Combining a local human operator and a remote autonomous robot, the tele-robotics systems could optimally exploit both the intelligence of human operator and the automation of robot. In a tele-operation scenario, the exchange of force and position signals, i.e., haptic feedback, can greatly extend human operator's capability of conducting complicated work through the robot in a remote environment. However, long-range communications usually suffer from the time delay problem caused by the inherent characteristics of communication channels. Delayed transmission of haptic signals may lead to instability in the closed-loop telerobot control system. Although much effort has been made in the control community to overcome this difficulty, and many approaches such as wave scattering, passivity, and small gain theorem have been employed as possible solutions, stability in haptic telerobot control remains a challenge. It has been noted that the neural path of human being is also subject to transmission delay as well. We know that in the presence of time delay in sensory feedback pathways, human neural control can easily maintain stability and even to show superior manipulation skills in unstable interaction scenarios. It has been discovered and reported that the operation stability of human beings could be achieved by well adjusting the mechanical impedance, i.e., the resistance to imposed motion, which is largely contributed by the spring-like property of muscles.
Release of Fluconazole from Contact Lenses Using a Novel In Vitro Eye Model

Purpose Rapid drug release followed by a plateau phase is a common observation with drug delivery from contact lenses (CLs) when evaluated in a vial. The aim of this study was to compare the release of fluconazole from seven commercially available daily disposable CLs using a conventional vial-based method with a novel in vitro eye model. Methods An eye model was created using two 3-dimensional printed molds, which were filled with polydimethylsiloxane to obtain an inexpensive model that would mimic the eyeball and eyelid. The model was integrated with a microfluidic syringe pump, and the flow-through was collected in a 12-well microliter plate. Four commercial daily disposable conventional hydrogels (nelfilcon A, omafilcon A, etafilcon A, ocufilcon B) and three silicone hydrogels (somofilcon A, narafilcon A, delefilcon A) were evaluated. These CLs were incubated with fluconazole for 24 h. The drug release was measured in a vial containing 4.8 mL of phosphate-buffered saline and in the polydimethylsiloxane eye model with a 4.8-mL tear flow across 24 h. Results Overall, conventional hydrogel CLs had a higher uptake and release of fluconazole than silicone hydrogel CLs (p < 0.05). A higher drug release was observed in the vial condition compared with the eye model (p < 0.001). In the vial system, the drugs were rapidly released from the CL within the first 2 h, followed by a plateau phase. In contrast, drug release in the eye model under low tear volume was sustained and did not reach a plateau across 24 h (p < 0.05). Conclusions Rapid drug release results from using a vial as the release system. Under low tear volume at physiological tear flow, commercial CLs can maintain a sustained drug release profile for up to 24 h. However, eyes with fungal keratitis may have increased tearing, which would significantly accelerate drug release.