Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Role of skeletal muscle in the syndrome of chronic heart failure.

evidence suggesting that the whole issue is more Introduction complicated. We will review the pathophysiology of exercise Exertional intolerance is a major clinical problem in patients with the syndrome of chronic heart limitation in chronic heart failure and discuss possible future directions for research. The leit motif of failure and is associated with both muscle fatigue and breathlessness (Wilson and Mancini, 1993). this whole issue of the Journal, dedicated to peripheral muscle alteration in chronic heart failure, Usually these symptoms are alleviated by diuretics, vasodilators and angiotensin-converting enzyme is that the syndrome of heart failure is initiated by a defect of the heart but characterized by widespread (ACE) inhibitors, the majority of patients experiencing complete resolution of symptoms at rest changes in the body, including skeletal muscle. Metabolism and function of skeletal muscle are (Anand et al., 1989). Many patients, however, continue to complain of exertional symptoms despite altered in chronic heart failure, and neural and metabolic signals originating from the periphery optimal diuresis and medical therapy (Weber et al., 1982; Wilson and Ferraro, 1985). Their daily life are major factors in determining symptoms such as breathlessness, muscle fatigue and exertional is severely limited and they stop exercising at lower work rates than normal subjects. intolerance. At first sight, the mechanism involved seems straightforward. Patients with chronic heart failure have impaired cardiac function which results in an inability to increase cardiac output in response to Cause of Symptoms in Chronic Heart exercise. Consequently, the standard explanation Failure for the symptoms of heart failure is that ‘‘backward failure’’ leads to breathlessness and ‘‘forward failThe major symptoms of chronic heart failure are breathlessness and fatigue on exercise. In acute ure’’ to fatigue. In the first case, the failing left ventricle is supported by an increased filling presheart failure the patient is also short of breath and this is attributable to elevated left atrial pressure. sure, resulting in pulmonary congestion or even oedema. This causes derangements of gas transfer Accordingly, lowering this pressure by short-term interventions alleviates symptoms. This observation and lung mechanics, leading to breathlessness. In the second case, the inability of the failing heart to cannot be applied to patients with chronic heart failure. It is now clear that abnormal haemogenerate sufficient cardiac output causes fatigue secondary to poor skeletal muscle perfusion. Aldynamics identify patients with chronic heart failure, but are not the key mechanism of breaththough these hypotheses may appear simple and attractive, they have been questioned and there is lessness (Poole-Wilson, 1988; Poole-Wilson et al.,
Slilica, Hyaluronate, and Alveolar Macrophage Functional Differentiation

Background Silicosis is mediated by macrophages, their soluble mediators, and extracellular matrix molecules. In this study, we investigated the effects of silica and/or hyaluronate (HA) on several alveolar macrophage responses. Methods We evaluated glycosaminoglycan (GAG) production by radiolabeled precursors, nitric oxide (NO) release by its oxidation product, phagocytic activity by Candida albicans internalization, and the secretion of two fibrogenic cytokines, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, by specific assays. Results Silica significantly reduced GAG secretion, particularly HA secretion. Alone, it decreased Candida uptake; associated with HA, it enhanced the reduction. Silica and Candida reduced NO release, which was not significantly affected when silica- or Candida-exposed cells were also treated with HA. TNF-α and TGF-β activities were stimulated by silica but reduced by HA. Conclusions The results suggest that silica and HA modify alveolar macrophage functional differentiation. Silica- and HA-induced modifications of the microenvironment could determine whether the response proceeds toward healing and repair or toward lung chronic pathology.
Preparation and Characterization of Poly(Lactic Acid)‐g‐Maleic Anhydride + Starch Blends

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and starch copolymers are obtained by reactive blending - varying the starch compositions from o to 6 0 %. PLA is functionalized with maleic anhydride (MA), obtaining PLA-g-MA copolymers using dicumyl peroxide as an initiator of grafting in order to improve the compatibility and interfacial adhesion between the constituents. PLA + starch blends without a compatibilizer do not have sufficient interfacial adhesion. Decomposition temperature of PLA is not affected by grafting. Glass transition temperatures and dynamic mechanical properties are affected since MA has a plasticizing effect. Along with an increasing starch content friction decreases while wear loss volume in pin-on-disk tribometry has a minimum at nominal 15 % wt. starch but increases at higher starch concentrations. The residual depth in scratching and sliding wear testing has a maximum at 15 % starch; there is a minimum of storage modulus E' determined in dynamic mechanical testing at the same concentration. Microhardness results also reflect the plasticization by MA.
Characterizing Aggressive Behavior

In the research literature, aggressive behavior has traditionally been classified into two distinct subtypes, impulsive or premeditated. Impulsive aggression is defined as a hair-trigger aggressive response to provocation with loss of behavioral control. Premeditated aggression is defined as a planned or conscious aggressive act, not spontaneous or related to an agitated state. The present study outlines the development of a clinically useful self-report instrument, the Impulsive/Premeditated Aggression Scales (IPAS), designed to characterize aggressive behavior as predominately impulsive or predominately premeditated in nature. The IPAS showed strong reliability and validity. Analysis of the IPAS scores demonstrated the presence of two types of aggressive behavior, impulsive and premeditated, in men referred for anger problems. The aggression of most individuals in the present sample was characterized as predominately impulsive in nature (90%).
A single dose of 6 or 12 mg of pegfilgrastim for peripheral blood progenitor cell mobilization results in similar yields of CD34+ progenitors in patients with multiple myeloma

BACKGROUND: Current regimens for peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC) mobilization in patients with multiple myeloma are based on daily subcutaneous injections of granulocyte–colony‐stimulating factor (G‐CSF) starting shortly after cytotoxic therapy. Recently a polyethylene glycol–conjugated G‐CSF (pegfilgrastim) was introduced that has a substantially longer t1/2 than the original formula.
Functional Display of a Heterologous Protein on the Surface of Lactococcus lactis by Means of the Cell Wall Anchor of Staphylococcus aureus Protein A

ABSTRACT In this study, we showed that the cell wall anchor of protein A from Staphylococcus aureus is functional in the food-grade organism Lactococcus lactis. A fusion protein composed of the lactococcal Usp45 secretion signal peptide, streptavidin monomer, and the S. aureus protein A anchor became covalently attached to the peptidoglycan when expressed in L. lactis. The streptavidin moiety of the fusion protein was functionally exposed at the cellular surface. L. lactis cells expressing the anchored fusion polypeptide could be specifically immobilized on a biotinylated alkaline phosphatase-coated polystyrene support.
Anistropic sampling shape of white matter microstructure cannot cheat the diffusional kurtosis

Diffusion kurtosis imaging is a newly developed diffusion MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) technique and becoming increasingly valuable in clinic. Despite low-resolution sampling are commonly used to cover the unsteadiness of kurtosis estimation, but the influence of the sampling shape has not been verified. In this paper, different acquisitions of isotropic and anisotropic sampling voxel were applied, and the influence on various white matter structures was observed. Fiber tracking, T-test and linearly regression analysis were used to quantify the difference. Significant difference (p<;0.01) in fractional anisotropic level was found but not in kurtosis. The result here can provide a basis for higher resolution of kurtosis mapping as well as higher quality, which may be great of significance in clinical examination.
An efficient method for occluded face recognition

During the last two decades, a series of subspace methods have succeeded in achieving a satisfactory performance for face recognition tasks, but have always failed when partial occlusions occur. This paper combines the subspace techniques with probabilistic models, and aims at achieving invariance to occlusions. The concept underlying the proposed method is that two faces with the same identity, even though one of them is partially occluded, tend to be similar in the uncorrupted areas. The similarity value measured from the error distributions can then be exploited for identification. Experiments show the robustness of this novel method against various kinds of occlusion.
Annotated draft genome sequences of three species of Cryptosporidium: Cryptosporidium meleagridis isolate UKMEL1, C. baileyi isolate TAMU-09Q1 and C. hominis isolates TU502_2012 and UKH1

Human cryptosporidiosis is caused primarily by Cryptosporidium hominis, C. parvum and C. meleagridis. To accelerate research on parasites in the genus Cryptosporidium, we generated annotated, draft genome sequences of human C. hominis isolates TU502_2012 and UKH1, C. meleagridis UKMEL1, also isolated from a human patient, and the avian parasite C. baileyi TAMU-09Q1. The annotation of the genome sequences relied in part on RNAseq data generated from the oocyst stage of both C. hominis and C. baileyi. The genome assembly of C. hominis is significantly more complete and less fragmented than that available previously, which enabled the generation of a much-improved gene set for this species, with an increase in average gene length of 500 bp relative to the protein-encoding genes in the 2004 C. hominis annotation. Our results reveal that the genomes of C. hominis and C. parvum are very similar in both gene density and average gene length. These data should prove a valuable resource for the Cryptosporidium research community.
KeePin’ the p53 Family in Good Shape

The tumor suppressor p53 and the prolyl isomerase Pin1 are both highly connected proteins, lying at the crossroads between many signaling pathways that control cell proliferation and transformation. By catalyzing conformational changes in a large number of phosphorylated proteins, Pin1 has been implicated in the regulation of major cellular events, such as cell cycle progression, transcription, proliferation and differentiation. Recently, a role for Pin1 has emerged also in the DNA damage response, through modulation of p53 functions upon genotoxic stress. A further level of control has now been unveiled by showing that also the p53 sibling p73 requires Pin1 for its apoptotic activity.
A new five-level rectifier based on parallel switching cells and stacked coupled inductors

In this paper a new AC/DC unidirectional switching cell with five voltage levels is proposed. It is called 5L-Stacked-Coupled-Inductors (5L-SCI) cell and can be connected between an AC current source and a DC voltage source. The novelty of 5L-SCI topology is based on two cascaded stages that work at different currents and different switching-frequency. The first stage contains two diodes that operate at high-current and low-frequency. The second stage works at low-current and high-frequency and contains two stacked groups of basic switching cells parallel connected by means of coupled-inductors. An interesting property of the 5L-SCI switching cell is the use of stacked groups which work alternatively on a half-cycle. Thus, the active power devices that form the stacked groups switch only half of cycle. The operation principle of the 5L-SCI cell is verified by numerical simulations both for single- and for three-phase unity-power-factor PWM rectifiers.
Endowments , Factor Prices , and Skill-Biased Technology : Linking HOV and Growth Empirics ∗

Why are there such large international differences in unit input requirements of skilled and unskilled labor? Is it substitution effects associated with international differences in factor prices and, if so, why do factor prices differ? Or is it factor-augmenting international technology differences and, if so, why do technologies differ? To answer these questions we develop a parsimonious general equilibrium HOV model featuring international technology differences and failure of (productivityadjusted) factor price equalization (FPE). Using 2006 WIOD data for 38 countries, we show that the model almost perfectly fits three equations: (1) unit factor demands, (2) factor-market clearing, and (3) the Vanek factor-content equation. We find a key role for both factor-augmenting international technology differences and substitution effects (failure of FPE). The failure of FPE is explained by international differences in endowments and technology. Our estimated technology parameters are consistent with those found in (1) the development accounting literature (unskilled and especially skilled labor are more productive in rich countries i.e., ‘skill bias’) and (2) the directed technical change literature (innovation is directed towards the more abundant factor even though it is cheap).
Aircraft trajectory clustering techniques using circular statistics

This paper presents a statistical aircraft trajectory clustering approach aimed at discriminating between typical manned and expected unmanned traffic patterns. First, the track angle history for each trajectory is re-sampled and modelled using a mixture of Von Mises distributions (circular statistics). Second, the re-modelled trajectories are globally aligned using tools from bio-informatics. Third, the alignment scores are used to cluster the trajectories using an iterative k-medoids approach and an appropriate distance function. The approach is then evaluated using synthetically generated unmanned aircraft flights combined with real air traffic position reports taken over a sector of Northern Queensland, Australia. Results suggest that the technique is useful in distinguishing between expected unmanned and manned aircraft traffic behaviour, as well as identifying some common conventional air traffic patterns.
Mögliche Implikationen der gegenwärtigen Arbeitsmarktreformen für die zukünftige Entwicklung der Arbeitslosenversicherung

In der Arbeitsmarktpolitik wurde im Zuge von Hartz IV sowohl die Bezugsdauer von Arbeitslosengeld I verkurzt als auch mit dem Arbeitslosengeld II eine fursorgeorientierte Leistung eingerichtet und die lohnorientierte Leistung Arbeitslosenhilfe gestrichen. Im Rahmen der Diskussionen um die damit verbundenen Implikationen wurde bisher die Ausgaben- bzw. Leistungsseite betont und die Einnahmenseite vernachlassigt. Zu klaren ist deshalb die Frage, ob und gegebenenfalls wie die bisherige Finanzierungsform der Arbeitslosenversicherung an diese veranderten Rahmenbedingungen angepasst werden muss und kann. Ausgehend von dieser Fragestellung wird die immer starker diskutierte Individualisierung der Arbeitslosenversicherung analysiert. Als eine weitreichende Form der Individualisierung wird der freiwillig privaten Arbeitslosenversicherung wegen der Unvollkommenheiten auf dem Versicherungsmarkt nicht zugestimmt. Zu diskutieren bleibt ob eine Mischform eingefuhrt werden konnte. Hierzu wird das individuelle Arbeitslosenversicherungskonto als Moglichkeit einer Sparversicherung sowohl auf der theoretischen als auch auf der praktisch-institutionellen Ebene genauer untersucht und deren Anwendbarkeit auf Deutschland uberpruft. Die Betrachtung der Kontenmodelle im Lichte der theoretischen Anforderungen an eine Arbeitslosenversicherung zeigt, dass das Modell schwerpunktmasig auf die Losbarkeit des moralischen Risikos und der adversen Selektion ausgerichtet ist. Doch gerade die Probleme der Infektion und der unvollkommenen Kreditmarkte bedurfen einer Losung. Somit wird festgehalten, dass die Einfuhrung von individuellen Arbeitslosenversicherungskonten auch aufgrund der institutionellen Gegebenheiten in Deutschland nicht zu empfehlen ist. Nimmt man die Ausgangsfrage wieder auf, wie die bisherige Finanzierungsform der Arbeitslosenversicherung an die veranderten Rahmenbedingungen angepasst werden soll, so hat die Analyse ergeben, dass die momentane Finanzierungsform der Arbeitslosenversicherung dem Anpassungsdruck nicht durch eine starkere Individualisierung gerecht wird. Vielmehr ist die Beibehaltung der momentan existierenden Risikoversicherung kombiniert mit der Ausdehnung der Versicherungspflicht auf alle Erwerbstatigen und einer schrittweisen Aufhebung der Beitragsbemessungsgrenze zu empfehlen. Auf der Leistungsseite muss der Wandel hin zu einer auch prospektiv wirkenden Erwerbstatigenversicherung vollzogen werden.
Revisión bibliográfica de cáncer de colon (Contenido de Especialidad de Cirugía Oncológica)

Para entender el cancer colorectal se debe conocer el modelo de adenoma-cancer. La mayoria de los canceres colorectales, derivan de polipos adenomatosos 7. Los polipos se pueden clasificar en: hamartoma no neoplasico (polipo juvenil), proliferacion hiperplasica de la mucosa (polipo hiperplasico) o polipo adenomatoso 2. Menos del 1% de los polipos llegan a ser malignos. Se han descrito alteraciones moleculares que se cree, representan un proceso de multiples etapas en la evolucion de la mucosa del colon normal al carcinoma invasor10. Estas mutaciones puntuales en el protooncogen K-ras; hipometilacion del ADN que conduce a la activacion de genes 10; perdida de ADN en el lugar de un gen supresor de tumores (el gen de la poliposis adenomatosa del colon) APC localizado en el brazo largo del cromosoma 5 (5q21); perdida de alelos en el lugar del gen supresor de tumores localizado en el cromosoma 18q (tambien llamado gen delecionado del cancer colorrectal “DCC”) y perdida de alelos en el cromosoma 17p, que se asocia con mutaciones en el gen supresor de tumores p53 2. Asi, el patron proliferativo alterado de la mucosa del colon, que evoluciona a polipo y despues a carcinoma, puede implicar la activacion de un oncogen por mutacion, seguida por la perdida de genes que normalmente suprimen la genesis tumoral 2. Histologicamente, los polipos adenomatosos pueden ser tubulares, vellosos o O N C O L O G I A REVISTA MEDICA DE COSTA RICA Y CENTROAMERICA LXX (605) 103-108, 2013
Insulin-like growth factor-I and growth in height, leg length, and trunk length between ages 5 and 10 years.

OBJECTIVE IGF-I, a major regulator of childhood growth, is also associated with the risk of several cancers in adult life. Adult height and particularly leg length are also associated with cancer risk. Prepubertal growth is more in leg than trunk length, and it has been suggested that leg length might be a biomarker of childhood IGF-I. However, there is little information on the association between childhood IGF-I and subsequent leg and trunk growth. In this study, we investigated the association of IGF-I measured at 5 and 7-8 yr with growth in height and the components of height (leg and trunk length) from 5 yr to 9-10 yr. PARTICIPANTS A total of 675 children participated in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. RESULTS IGF-I was strongly positively associated with growth in height in both sexes. Among boys, IGF-I was strongly associated with subsequent growth in both leg and trunk length, but there was no evidence that IGF-I was more strongly associated with one component of growth than the other. Among girls, IGF-I was strongly positively associated with growth in trunk but not leg length, although there was only weak evidence that these two associations differed in strength (P = 0.058). CONCLUSIONS These results support the contention that the associations between height and cancer may be mediated by variation in childhood IGF-I. However, they provide no evidence to support the hypothesis that leg length is a better biomarker of childhood IGF-I levels than trunk length.
Contemporary Trends of Hospitalization for Atrial Fibrillation in the United States, 2000 Through 2010: Implications for Healthcare Planning

Background— Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia. The associated morbidity and mortality make AF a major public health burden. Hospitalizations account for the majority of the economic cost burden associated with AF. The main objective of this study is to examine the trends of AF-related hospitalizations in the United States and to compare patient characteristics, outcomes, and comorbid diagnoses. Methods and Results— With the use of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 2000 through 2010, we identified AF-related hospitalizations using International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification code 427.31 as the principal discharge diagnosis. Overall AF hospitalizations increased by 23% from 2000 to 2010, particularly in patients ≥65 years of age. The most frequent coexisting conditions were hypertension (60.0%), diabetes mellitus (21.5%), and chronic pulmonary disease (20.0%). Overall in-hospital mortality was 1%. The mortality rate was highest in the group of patients ≥80 years of age (1.9%) and in the group of patients with concomitant heart failure (8.2%). In-hospital mortality rate decreased significantly from 1.2% in 2000 to 0.9% in 2010 (29.2% decrease; P<0.001). Although there was no significant change in mean length of stay, mean cost of AF hospitalization increased significantly from $6410 in 2001 to $8439 in 2010 (24.0% increase; P<0.001). Conclusions— Hospitalization rates for AF have increased exponentially among US adults from 2000 to 2010. The proportion of comorbid chronic diseases has also increased significantly. The last decade has witnessed an overall decline in hospital mortality; however, the hospitalization cost has significantly increased.
Comparison of lifestyle and living environment among high risk immigrant and low risk host residents: implications for esophageal cancer etiology.

BACKGROUND It has been hypothesized that the high prevalence of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in China is associated with specific environments and lifestyles. A previous study found that immigrant residents (IR) from Henan, residing long term in the town of Caihu, had significantly greater risk of dying from ESCC than host residents (HR). OBJECTIVES This study was conducted to compare lifestyle and living environments between high risk IR and low risk HR to determine risk factors for ESCC. METHODS The subjects included randomly selected IR and HR living in Caihu. Information on lifestyle and the living environment of participants was collected by interview using a structured questionnaire. RESULTS The IR were found to have a higher consumption of hot food (P<0.05), pickled vegetables (P<0.05) and a lower consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, and alcohol (P<0.05), compared with the HR. There were no significant differences in income and cigarette smoking between the two populations. Fewer IR families had a separate kitchen (P<0.05) than host families. CONCLUSIONS Our study provided some epidemiological evidence indicating that dietary factors, such as hot food, pickled vegetables, salt, and low fruit and vegetable intake, as well as a poor living environment, are possibly related to the higher prevalence of ESCC in IR. However, cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking and income were not shown to be risk factors for immigrant susceptibility to ESCC in our study.