Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Endothelial dysfunction in patients with polycythaemia vera

Patients with polycythaemia vera (PV) are at increased risk of developing arterial and venous thromboembolic complications. We investigated whether endothelium‐dependent, flow‐mediated vasodilatation (FMD) is impaired in PV patients without clinical evidence of artery disease as observed in patients with conventional cardiovascular risk factors. FMD and endothelium‐independent, nitroglycerine‐induced vasodilatation (NMD) were assessed using high‐resolution ultrasound in the brachial artery of 20 patients with PV and 20 sex‐ and age‐matched control subjects (CTL). FMD was markedly impaired in PV patients compared with CTL (7·6 ± 2·9% versus 11·6 ± 5·7%, P = 0·009) whereas NMD was similar in both study groups. The impairment of FMD was independently related to the presence of PV (r = −0·434, P = 0·009) and vessel size (r = −0·107, P = 0·038) but was not related to haematocrit values and platelet counts. The results demonstrate that PV is associated with endothelial dysfunction in the pre‐clinical phase of arterial disease. However, the precise mechanisms by which PV leads to this altered vascular reactivity remain unclear.
Age-Related Effects of Glare on Luminance and Color Contrast Sensitivity

Purpose. To determine the effect of disability glare (DG) upon luminance and color contrast sensitivity for young and elderly subjects. Methods. DG was defined as the difference in contrast sensitivity with and without the presence of a glare source. Isoluminant color gratings were modulated either along a red-green (R-G) or blue-yellow (B-Y) axis. Results. Without glare the effect of age on sensitivity to both luminance and R-G color-modulated gratings was small and did not reach statistical significance (P > 0.1). However, the reduction in sensitivity for B-Y color modulation was highly significant (P < 0.01). For both age groups, DG was greatest for the R-G stimulus and least for the B-Y. DG in the elderly increased relative to the young observers for both R-G and luminance-modulated gratings (P > 0.01) but not for B-Y (P < 0.1). Conclusions. The precise effect of a glare source on color discrimination depends upon a complex interaction between the chromaticity of the glare source and that of the stimulus. In certain circumstances, such as in our R-G stimulus, glare can dramatically reduce chromatic discrimination ability by desaturating the component colors.
A robust fuzzy logic-based step-gain control for adaptive filters in acoustic echo cancellation

Step-gain control is crucial for acoustic echo cancelers. Most double-talk detectors and step-gain estimators become unreliable in certain situations. In this contribution, we combine a step-gain estimation method with a double-talk detector by fuzzy logic. This control is robust and efficient while requiring only very little additional complexity.
The Effect of IT Integration on Supply Chain Agility Towards Market Performance (A Proposed Study)

Aim/Purpose: An important objective of any firm is escalation of its performance and the achievement of competitive advantages. Supply chain agility plays a prominent role to enhance the level of firm’s performance. Moreover, information technology (IT) plays a foundational role in supply chain management practices. Hence, this study proposes the relationship between IT integration as the competency of IT and firm’s market performance both directly and through mediating role of supply chain agility. Background: Many studies have been done to date on the impact of supply chain agility on overall firm’s performance. However, the effect of an agile supply chain on firm’s market performance per se needs to be studied. Furthermore, there is a gap in the literature about the effect of IT competency such as IT integration on firm’s market performance both directly and through mediating role of supply chain agility. Recommendation for Researchers: The first direction this study gives to researchers is to consider the different factors which have significant effect on the agility of supply chain, particularly the IT related ones. The second direction is about the study on the effect of IT competencies and supply chain agility on each category of firm’s performance separately instead of considering it as a one construct. Impact on Society: Although this is a conceptual study, it can highlight the importance of IT competency not only in our daily life, but also in our businesses and industries. Future Research: This study only proposes some relationships based on theory and literature. Future researchers can test these proposed relationships in different contexts and compare the results. Furthermore, this study proposes the relationships for large manufacturing sector in developing countries. The model could be tested for SMEs as well. In addition, the proposed theoretical model in this study might be tested in both developing as well as developed countries to compare the results which will be contributed to the body of knowledge.
Virtual autopsy: An imaging technological integration in forensic odontology

With the advent of new technologies being integrated into varied aspects of dental care through visual, photographic, and radiological evidences in clinical diagnostics, these aspects are yet to be involved in forensic sciences. This is despite the availability of the technological advances in today's clinical settings. This review discusses the feasibility of integration of virtual autopsy in forensic odontology practice in an Indian setting. Using high-tech radiological approaches, virtual autopsy provides an efficient and more accurate view on cases such as thanatological investigations, carbonized and putrefied body identifications, mass disaster cases, age estimation, anthropological examinations, and skin lesion analyses. In certain cases, the postmortem photographic and radiological examination becomes essential as the access to the oral cavity is hindered. These become feasible with the advent of availability of antemortem radiological digital formats stored in hospital settings, with the improved collection of data compared to the traditional techniques. However, we do not have any state and national level protocols and laboratories to augment the capabilities further. Virtual autopsy is likely to replace conventional autopsies in the future. Thus the century-old investigation system in our country can be upgraded by the utilization of this Modern Technology. This review advocates a multidisciplinary research and advocacy to develop improved tools and protocols for virtual autopsy and to stress the role of forensic odontologists in an Indian setting.
Epidemiology of pneumococcal serotypes and conjugate vaccine formulations.

The incidence of bacteremia and meningitis due to Streptococcus pneumoniae is highest among preschool-age children, particularly those < 2 years of age. Clinical trials of capsular polysaccharide vaccines among young children have been disappointing. Conjugation of bacterial polysaccharides to proteins can increase antibody responses following vaccination of young children. Most conjugate vaccines proposed to date have been seven-valent. To identify serotypes most commonly associated with infection in young children, we serotyped pneumococcal isolates submitted to the CDC through national surveillance from 3884 children < 6 years old with pneumococcal bacteremia (n = 3169), meningitis (n = 401), or otitis media (n = 314) from 1978 to 1994. Seven serotypes (14, 6B, 19F, 18C, 23F, 4, and 9V) accounted for 3045 (78%) isolates. A conjugate pneumococcal vaccine protecting against these seven serotypes and serologically cross-reactive serotypes could potentially prevent 86% of bacteremia, 83% of meningitis, and 65% of otitis media cases. The proportion of isolates covered by such a vaccine increased from 78% to 87% from 1978 to 1994. Of 70 isolates submitted during 1992-1994 which were nonsusceptible to penicillin (minimal inhibitory concentration [MIC] > 0.1 microgram/mL, 56 (80%) were among the seven most prevalent serotypes. All 21 isolates resistant to penicillin (MIC > or = 2.0 micrograms/mL) were among these seven serotypes.
Uncommon Value: The Characteristics and Investment Performance of Contrarian Funds

Motivated by extant theories of herding behavior, this paper empirically identifies contrarian mutual funds as those trading most frequently against the crowd. We find that contrarian funds generate superior performance both when they trade against and with the herd, indicating that they possess superior private information. Furthermore, contrarians do not trade in a particularly correlated fashion with each other, consistent with these funds having disparate information. Our fund-level contrarian measure is largely unrelated to existing measures of fund strategy uniqueness, as both contrarian and herding funds score highly on such measures. Building on our finding of superior alphas for contrarian funds, we construct a stock-level contrarian score that reflects the aggregate stock selection information possessed by contrarian managers. This stock-level contrarian score significantly predicts stock returns after controlling for measures of stock-level herding, as well as a battery of return-predictive investment signals documented in prior studies. This paper was accepted by Wei Jiang, finance.
Glutathione: toxicological implications.

Glutathione as reduced glutathione (GSH) and as the disulfide (GSSG) is a unique peptide that continues to interest toxicologists-as reflected in the numerous symposia and reviews ( 1-6). This article undertakes to describe the role of mitochondrial glutathione in cellular response to toxic exposures that include loss of the homeostases of Ca2+ and protein thiols. Because of the numerous reviews on the glutathione S-transferases (7-10), only the per­ oxidase activity of membrane-associated glutathione S-transferases is dis­ cussed. Mammalian cells have evolved protective mechanisms to minimize in­ jurious events that result from toxic chemicals and normal oxidative products of cellular metabolism. A major endogenous protective system is the glu­ tathione redox cycle (2). Glutathione is present in high concentrations as GSH in most mammalian cells (generally in the millimolar range), with minor fractions being GSSG, mixed disulfides of GSH and other cellular thiols, and minor amounts of thioethers ( 1) . GSH acts both as a nucleophilic "scavenger" of numerous compounds and their metabolites, via enzymatic and chemical mechanisms, converting electrophilic centers to thioether bonds, and as a substrate in the GSH peroxidase-mediated destruction of hydroperoxides. GSH depletion to about 20-30% of total glutathione levels can impair the cell's defense against the toxic actions of such compounds and may lead to cell injury and death (3, 1 1) .
Clean Vs. Sterile Tracheotomy Care and Level of Pulmonary Infection

As reported in the literature and observed in clinical practice, a variety of tracheotomy care procedures (tracheotomy suctioning and cleaning techniques) are currently used. The purpose of this research was to determine if clean tracheotomy care was more effective than sterile as measured by levels of postoperative pulmonary infection. Ten hospitals with large Head and Neck/ENT services were selected as data collection sites. At these centers a minimum of 15 tracheostomy patient charts were reviewed pre- and postoperatively for clinical and laboratory data related to infection. Patient level of infection was defined using the Weighted Level of Pulmonary Infection Tool, which was constructed for this study. Three categories of aseptic type emerged (clean, sterile, and mixed) because existing tracheotomy care procedures did not fall into one of the two hypothesized types. Data were analyzed using a maximum likelihood approach to mixed model analysis of variance or covariance. The findings indicated significant differences among the three procedures with laboratory, but not clinical, data. Laboratory data supported practicing clean procedures as those associated with the least postoperative infection.
Effects of Dietary Acetyl-L-Carnitine on Meat Quality and Lipid Metabolism in Arbor Acres Broilers

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) on growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality and lipid metabolism in broilers. A total of 240 one-day-old male Arbor Acres broilers were randomly allocated to 4 dietary treatments (0, 300, 600, and 900 mg/kg dietary ALC supplementation, respectively). Compared with the control treatment, addition of ALC resulted in lower (linear effect, p<0.05) ADG and AFI. Abdominal fat percentage decreased (linear effect, p<0.05) as dietary ALC was increased, but there was no effect on dressing percentage, breast muscle percentage or thigh muscle percentage. Breast muscle pH value 24 h post-mortem increased (linear effect, p<0.05), but there were no significant differences among treatments. However, thigh muscle pH value increased (linear effect, p<0.05) as dietary ALC was increased. Breast and thigh muscle a* values increased (linear effect, p<0.05), and breast and thigh muscle b* values decreased (linear effect, p<0.05) with increased ALC in the diet. In addition, breast and thigh muscle shear force value decreased (linear effect, p<0.05) as dietary ALC was increased. Total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and lipoprotein lipase decreased (linear effect, p<0.05) and free fatty acid and lipase in serum increased (linear effect, p<0.05) with increased ALC in diets. (Key Words : Acetyl-L-carnitine, Carcass Characteristics Meat Quality, Lipid Metabolism, Broiler)
Differential binding specificities of oral streptococcal antigen I/II family adhesins for human or bacterial ligands

The antigen I/II (AgI/II) family polypeptides, ranging from 1310 to 1653 amino acid (aa) residues, are cell wall anchored adhesins expressed by most indigenous species of oral streptococci. The polypeptides interact with a wide range of host molecules, in particular salivary agglutinin glycoprotein (SAG or gp340), and with ligands on other oral bacteria. To determine the receptor recognition properties of six different AgI/II family polypeptides from strains of Streptococcus gordonii, Streptococcus intermedius and Streptococcus mutans, the genes were cloned and expressed on the surface of the surrogate host Lactococcus lactis. The S. gordonii SspA and SspB polypeptides mediated higher binding levels of L. lactis cells to surface immobilized gp340 than did S. intermedius Pas protein, or S. mutans SpaP or PAc proteins. However, the AgI/II proteins were all similar in their abilities to mediate aggregation of lactococci by fluid phase gp340. The SpaPI polypeptide from S. mutans Ingbritt, which was C‐terminally truncated by approximately 400 aa residues, did not bind gp340. Lactococci expressing AgI/II proteins, including SpaPI, were aggregated by a synthetic 16 aa residue peptide SRCRP2 derived from the aa repeat block sequences within gp340. In coaggregation assays, SspB from S. gordonii was unique in mediating coaggregation with only group A and group E strains of Actinomyces naeslundii. All the other AgI/II polypeptides mediated coaggregation with group C and group D strains of A. naeslundii. Analysis of chimeric protein constructs revealed that coaggregation specificity was determined by sequences within the N‐terminal half of AgI/II protein. A synthetic peptide (20 aa residues), which defines a putative adhesion epitope within the C‐terminal region of polypeptide, inhibited AgI/II‐mediated aggregation by gp340 but did not affect coaggregation with A. naeslundii. These results suggest that different mechanisms operate in interactions of AgI/II family polypeptides with native gp340, gp340 SRCR domain peptide, and A. naeslundii. Specificity of these interactions appears to be determined by discontinuous but interacting regions of the polypeptides, thus providing flexibility in receptor recognition for streptococcal colonization of the human host.
Nnf1p, Dsn1p, Mtw1p, and Nsl1p: a New Group of Proteins Important for Chromosome Segregation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

ABSTRACT Previously, antibodies were raised against a nuclear envelope-enriched fraction of yeast, and the essential gene NNF1 was cloned by reverse genetics. Here it is shown that the conditional nnf1-17 mutant has decreased stability of a minichromosome in addition to mitotic spindle defects. I have identified the novel essential genes DSN1, DSN3, and NSL1 through genetic interactions with nnf1-17. Dsn3p was found to be equivalent to the kinetochore protein Mtw1p. By indirect immunofluorescence, all four proteins, Nnf1p, Mtw1p, Dsn1p, and Nsl1p, colocalize and are found in the region of the spindle poles. Based on the colocalization of these four proteins, the minichromosome instability and the spindle defects seen in nnf1 mutants, I propose that Nnf1p is part of a new group of proteins necessary for chromosome segregation.
Optimization of process parameters and catalyst compositions in carbon dioxide oxidative coupling of methane over CaO – MnO / CeO 2 catalyst using response surface methodology

The optimization of process parameters and catalyst compositions for the CO2 oxidative coupling of methane (CO2-OCM) reaction over CaO–MnO/CeO2 catalyst was developed using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The relationship between the responses, i.e. CH4 conversion, C2 hydrocarbons selectivity or yield, with four independent variables, i.e. CO2/CH4 ratio, reactor temperature, wt. % CaO and wt. % MnO in the catalyst, were presented as empirical mathematical models. The maximum C2 hydrocarbons selectivity and yields of 82.62% and 3.93%, respectively, were achieved by the individual-response optimization at the corresponding optimal process parameters and catalyst compositions. However, the CH4 conversion was a saddle function and did not show a unique optimum as revealed by the canonical analysis. Moreover pertaining to simultaneous multi-responses optimization, the maximum C2 selectivity and yield of 76.56% and 3.74%, respectively, were obtained at a unique optimal process parameters and catalyst compositions. It may be deduced that both individualand multi-responses optimizations are useful for the recommendation of optimal process parameters and catalyst compositions for the CO2-OCM process. D 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
On performance improvement of stereophonic acoustic echo cancellation through the use of hybrid structure

This paper proposes an adaptive filtering algorithm for stereophonic acoustic echo cancellation (SAEC) in order to obtain computational complexity reduction and convergence rate improvement. The hybrid mono/stereo structure between fast affine projection (FAP) and frequency-domain normalized least mean square (F-NLMS) algorithms is introduced, based on subband processing. Simulation results on recorded speech signals suggest that convergence rate can be improved at low computational cost.
Artificial neural oscillators in robotics

Neural oscillators offer simple and robust solutions to problems such as locomotion and dynamic manipulation. Unfortunately, the parameters of these systems are notoriously difficult to tune. This paper presents brief review of using artificial neural oscillators in different types of robots such as dish-spinning robots, fish-robots, giant swing robots etc. Open questions in this field are formulated.
Additional Chromosome Abnormalities, BCR-ABL Tyrosine Kinase Domain Mutations and Clinical Outcome in Hungarian Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor-Resistant Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia Patients

Background: Additional chromosome abnormalities (ACAs), mutations of the BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase domain (TKD) and BCR-ABL splice variants may cause resistance to first- and second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and Philadelphia-positive (Ph+) acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL). Methods: Karyotyping and BCR-ABL TKD mutation screening were performed in 71 imatinib-resistant CML patients and 6 Ph+ ALL patients. A total of 56 out of these 77 patients received second-generation TKI. Results: ACAs were present in 30 of 65 imatinib-resistant patients (46%). In 27 of 74 imatinib-resistant patients (36%), 15 different BCR-ABL TKD mutations were detected. Mutations were found in 25% of chronic-phase patients (12/47), 33% of accelerated-phase patients (5/15), 71% of blast crisis CML patients (5/7) and 100% of ALL patients. In nilotinib-resistant patients, Y253H, T315I and F359I/V mutations were detected; in dasatinib-resistant patients, L248M, E279K and T315I mutations were detected. T315I was found more frequently in patients on dasatinib than on imatinib therapy. The presence of ACAs predicted shorter survival during first- and second-generation TKI therapy, while TKD mutations only influenced survival during second-generation TKI therapy. Conclusion: For patients with TKI resistance, mutation and ACA screening may play a role in identifying patients with poorer prognosis.
Financial Fraud, Director Reputation, and Shareholder Wealth

We investigate the reputational impact of financial fraud for outside directors based on a sample of firms facing shareholder class action lawsuits. Following a financial fraud lawsuit, outside directors do not face abnormal turnover on the board of the sued firm but experience a significant decline in other board seats held. This decline in other directorships is greater for more severe allegations of fraud and when the outside director bears greater responsibility for monitoring fraud. Interlocked firms that share directors with the sued firm exhibit valuation declines at the lawsuit filing. Fraud-affiliated directors are more likely to lose directorships at firms with stronger corporate governance and their departure is associated with valuation increases for these firms.
Distributed Safety Property Verification Using Vertex Centric Programming Model

Software is finding place in deeply embedded systems to large scale distributed systems of cloud service providers such as Amazon and Google. Due to concurrent and distributed nature of this software, it is hard to test for correctness of such systems in a foolproof manner. Explicit state model checking is an approach in which we build a model of the system and specify the properties it should hold. Then we construct a state transition system from the model and check if it satisfies the specified properties. There are two kinds of properties of interest: safety and liveness. In this paper, we focus our attention on safety properties verification, which involve checking if the states that are generated in the transition system satisfy some predicate formulae specified in the form of assertions. The main problem here is that the number of states in the transition system grows exponentially with the number of bits required to store the state of a model at any given point time. So the available main memory even in a server class machine is not sufficient to model check nontrivial practical models. One approach to address this problem is by using resources from a distributed collection of machines. In this paper, we adopt this approach, by proposing a distributed safety property verification algorithm using the vertex centric programming model.