Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Oral theophylline for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

BACKGROUND Oral theophylline has, for many years, been used as a bronchodilator in patients with COPD. Despite the introduction of new drugs, and its narrow therapeutic index, theophylline is still recommended for COPD treatment. OBJECTIVES To determine the effectiveness of oral theophylline when compared to placebo in patients with stable COPD. SEARCH STRATEGY The Cochrane Airways Review Group and Cochrane Controlled Clinical Registers were searched. SELECTION CRITERIA All studies were randomised controlled trials (RCTs). DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Data were independently abstracted and the methodological quality assessed by two reviewers. MAIN RESULTS Twenty RCTs met the inclusion criteria. Concomitant therapy varied from none to any other bronchodilator plus corticosteroid (oral and inhaled). The following outcomes were significantly different when compared to placebo. FEV1 improved with treatment: Weighted Mean Difference (WMD) 100 ml; 95% Confidence Interval (95%CI) 40, 160 ml. Similarly for FVC: WMD 210 ml 95%CI 100, 320. Two studies reported an improvement in VO2max; WMD 195 ml/min, 95%CI 113,27). At rest, PaO2 and PaCO2 both improved with treatment (WMD 3.2 mmHg; 95%CI = 1.2, 5., and WMD -2.4 mmHg; 95%CI = -3.5, -1.2, respectively). Walking distance tests did not improve (4 studies, Standardised Mean Difference 0.30, 95%CI -0.01, 0.62), neither did Visual Analogue Score for breathlessness isn two small studies (WMD 3.6, 95%CI -4.6, 11.8). The Relative Risk (RR) of nausea was greater with theophylline (RR 7.7; 95%CI 1.5, 39.9). However, patients' preference for theophylline was greater than that for placebo (RR 2.27; 95%CI = 1.26, 4.11). Very few patient withdrew from these studies for any reason. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS Theophylline has a modest effect on FEV1 and FVC and slightly improves arterial blood gas tensions in moderate to severe COPD. These benefits were seen in patients receiving a variety of different concomitant therapies. Improvement in exercise performance depended on the method of testing. There was a very low dropout rate in the studies that could be included in this review, which suggests that recruited patients may have been known by the investigators to be theophylline tolerant. This may limit the generalisability of these studies.
Ego Defenses and Perceptual Styles

This study explored similarities between Voth's personality construct (ego-close—ego-distant) and that of Witkin (field-dependent—field-independent), especially with reference to ego defenses. A measure of autokinesis, the Figure-drawing Test, the Rod-and-frame Test and the Defense Mechanisms Inventory were administered to 45 men and 52 women. The correlations between autokinetic scores and the Figure-drawing Test and Rod-and-frame Test scores were of low order and not significant. Correlations between Figure-drawing and Rod-and-frame Test scores and between combined Figure-drawing—Rod-and-frame scores and the subcategories of the Defense Mechanisms Inventory tended to confirm previous findings. Predicted relations between the autokinetic effect and ego defenses were obtained only for men. Other significant sex differences are presented. Possible explanations for these results are discussed.
Image blur as a pictorial depth cue

A range of cues are already known to mediate depth perception in pictures and have been exploited by artists in drawings and paintings. Modern images are commonly generated by photographic or video equipment, and these images contain a depth cue that cannot be found in artistic depictions of natural scenes: different image regions are often blurred by different amounts, because of depth of focus limitations. Demonstrations presented here show that this selective image blur also acts as a pictorial depth cue, even when other pictorial cues are removed. Experimental data indicate that the degree of blur at borders between blurred and sharp image regions is used by the visual system to establish the depth ordering of different regions. Selective image blur is thus a potentially useful addition to computer-generated and cartoon images to enhance the impression of depth they convey. It may well also contribute to depth perception in natural retinal images, because the depth of focus of the human eye is limited.
Intermittent process analysis with scattering moments

Scattering moments provide nonparametric models of random processes with stationary increments. They are expected values of random variables computed with a nonexpansive operator, obtained by iteratively applying wavelet transforms and modulus nonlinearities, which preserves the variance. First- and second-order scattering moments are shown to characterize intermittency and self-similarity properties of multiscale processes. Scattering moments of Poisson processes, fractional Brownian motions, L\'{e}vy processes and multifractal random walks are shown to have characteristic decay. The Generalized Method of Simulated Moments is applied to scattering moments to estimate data generating models. Numerical applications are shown on financial time-series and on energy dissipation of turbulent flows.
Récolter et préserver la mémoire des femmes : réflexions méthodologiques sur le recours à l’histoire orale auprès des femmes âgées

S’inspirant d’une enquete menee aupres de femmes âgees qui n’ont pas eu d’enfants, l’auteure propose une reflexion sur l’interet de l’histoire orale pour redonner de l’importance aux femmes en tant qu’actrices de l’histoire. Elle aborde notamment les particularites de cette approche methodologique lorsque les participantes sont âgees, ce qui a une incidence sur le recrutement, le choix du medium d’enregistrement et le deroulement de l’entrevue. Finalement, l’auteure presente la reflexion ayant mene au depot des enregistrements dans un centre d’archives, afin de rendre accessible au public ainsi qu’aux chercheurs et aux chercheuses la memoire de ces femmes.
A synchronous robot control system based on the sEMG signals of human upper limb motions

In recent years, the human-computer interaction (HCI) systems (especially the exoskeletal rehabilitation systems) based on surface electromyography (sEMG) signals have been an important research direction. As previous researches indicated, some disabled individuals are unable to contract their muscles by themselves, but their sEMG signals do exist. If we can develop a follow-up control system based on sEMG signals, it is possible to help the disabled individuals with their rehabilitation. In this paper, we proposed and realized a synchronous robot control system by recognizing the sEMG signals of human simple upper limb motions. Specifically, we designed a follow-up control system based on three-class motions. Furthermore, we extracted the feature of mean absolute value (M AV), and applied threshold-based method to train an offline classifier used to recognize the online sEMG signals. The average offline classification accuracy reached 95.7% and the best one reached 98.3%. The average online control success rate reached 88.8% and the best one reached 95.2%. The experimental results indicated that the proposed control system could be considered as the idealized model of wearable exoskeleton system and the approach of this study contributed to realize the clinical rehabilitation system for disabled individuals.
Os Fatores Determinantes do Nível de Manutenção de Caixa: Bibliografia e Aplicação Empírica

O objetivo deste artigo e investigar quais os fatores que influenciam a tomada de decisao das firmas quanto ao nivel de manutencao de caixa, buscando demonstrar porque as empresas mantem niveis muito altos ou muito baixos de liquidez, diferentemente do que algumas teorias apontam. Para tal, realiza-se primeiramente uma revisao bibliografica com alguns dos trabalhos mais importantes publicados na area a fim de determinar as variaveis que tem impacto sobre a liquidez das empresas, indicando qual a sua relacao, significância e a possivel fundamentacao teorica para os resultados encontrados. Dentre as principais contribuicoes da revisao bibliografica, podemos citar a discussao sobre: Problemas de selecao adversa; Problema de agencia; Custos de transacao; Tamanho da firma; Custos de dificuldade financeira; Tempo de existencia da firma; Oportunidades lucrativas de investimento e Endividamento . Em seguida, a partir do referencial teorico exposto pelos diversos autores, e realizado um estudo econometrico com tres das variaveis apresentadas pela bibliografia. Neste estudo, sao utilizadas as seguintes variaveis: Endividamento total da firma; Market-to-book; e Tamanho da empresa. A amostra e composta por empresas de capital aberto com acoes negociadas na BM&F Bovespa. Os resultados se mostraram consistentes e de acordo com a teoria exposta por alguns dos artigos apresentados.
Tumor necrosis factor-alpha/cachectin enhances human immunodeficiency virus type 1 replication in primary macrophages.

Macrophages are important target cells for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). The ability of HIV-1 to productively infect macrophages may be influenced by endogenous cytokines that alter the activation state of these cells. In this study, the effect of tumor necrosis factor-alpha/cachectin (TNF alpha), a cytokine with macrophage-activating properties, on HIV-1 replication in primary blood monocyte-derived macrophages was examined. Treatment of macrophages with recombinant human TNF alpha (rTNF alpha), starting before or after HIV-1 infection, consistently enhanced viral production fivefold or greater above control (P less than .01). rTNF alpha was active at low concentrations (0.05-50 ng/ml) and increased the replication of both lymphocyte-tropic (human T lymphotropic virus type IIIB) and macrophage-tropic (human T lymphotropic virus type III BaL) strains of HIV-1. These findings provide additional evidence that TNF alpha may play a role in the pathogenesis of HIV-1 infection by upregulating viral expression in macrophages.
West Nile Virus Infection in Reindeer (Rangifer Tarandus)

West Nile virus (WNV) infection in 4 reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) resulted in lymphohistiocytic encephalomyelitis within the medulla oblongata and cervical spinal cord. Immunohistochemistry revealed WNV antigen within neurons and among mononuclear cell infiltrates. These represent the first known cases of clinical WNV infection in Cervidae. Clinical signs and lesions were similar to those described in horses. Nucleotide sequence of a 768-bp region of the WNV E-glycoprotein gene revealed 1 nucleotide mutation, which resulted in a single amino acid substitution from a serine to a glycine (position 227 of E-glycoprotein) when compared with the prototype WNV-NY99 strain (isolated from Bronx zoo flamingo 382–99).
Implications of the Operational Environmental on Software Security Requirements Engineering

After presenting an overview about the most commonly referred reasons and issues for bad practice in software security requirements engineering, this paper introduces a security interdependency model, illustrating the implications between software and its physical, technical and organizational environment. The model is described in detail and the mutual implication and interdependencies between software security (requirements) and the operational environment are explained, enhanced with illustrative examples. Conclusions and further research perspectives with respect to security requirements engineering, and security in general are drawn.
Interplay between statistical reliability and variability: A comprehensive transistor-to-circuit simulation technology

In this paper we present a reliability simulation framework from atomistic simulations up to circuit simulations, including traps interactions with variability sources. Trapping and detrapping dynamics are reproduced by a kinetic Monte-Carlo engine, which enables oxide degradation simulations such as BTI and RTN phenomenon on large ensembles of atomistic devices. Based on these results compact models are extracted and circuit lifetime projections are derived.
Fine‐needle aspiration cytologic features of four special types of breast cancers: Mucinous, medullary, apocrine, and papillary

Recognition of special types of breast cancers by fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) cytology may have prognostic implications but some difficulties still exist in the ability of cytopathologists to determine the tumor subtypes. Detailed cytomorphological features were studied in the four special and unusual types of breast cancer cases (8 cases of mucinous, 9 medullary, 9 apocrime, and 11 papillary) and compared between themselves and with those of 32 duct cell carcinomas, not otherwise specified (NOS). Papillary carcinomas were also compared with 10 benign papillary lesions. The significance of the differences was determined using Fishers' Exact Test of Probability. In mucinous carcinoma, the frequency of signet ring cells (62.5%), and background pools of mucin (87.5%) were significantly higher than those of duct cell carcinoma (NOS), medullary carcinoma, apocrine carcinoma, and papillary carcinoma (P = 0.0408 to < 0.0001). In medullary carcinomas, lymphomononuclear cell infiltration (100.0%) was observed in significantly higher number of cases than in papillary, mucinous, and apocrine types (P < 0.0001). Further, moderate to marked nuclear pleomorphism (100.0%) and nuclear irregularity (77.8%) was significantly higher than those of mucinous carcinoma and papillary carcinoma (P = 0.0294 to <0.0003). Abnormal apocrine cells and papillary formation, characterizing all the apocrine carcinomas and papillary carcinomas, respectively, were present in significantly lower number in other variants and in duct cell carcinoma (NOS) (P = 0.0002 to <0.0001). Glycogen vacuoles (63.6%) were observed in a significantly higher number of papillary carcinoma as compared to duct cell carcinoma (NOS), apocrine, and medullary carcinomas (P = 0.0047 to 0.0022). The significant parameters differentiating papillary carcinoma and benign papillary lesions were loose cohesive clusters (P = 0.001) and acinar formation by neoplastic cells (P = 0.0237). Histopathology reports available in 36 cases, confirmed the cytodiagnosis of carcinoma in all 35 cases and the benign lesion in one case. Cytological subtyping was confirmed in 13 of 16 special types of carcinomas and all the 15 duct cell carcinoma (NOS). Thus, special and unusual variants of duct cell carcinomas like mucinous, medullary, apocrine, and papillary have specific cytomorphological features, which differentiate them from one another and from duct cell carcinoma (NOS). However, differentiating features between papillary carcinoma and benign papillary lesions were very few in this study. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2007;35:408–416. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Prevalence, consequences, and determinants of nonadherence in adult renal transplant patients: a literature review

This literature review summarizes the evidence on the prevalence, determinants, clinical and economic consequences of nonadherence with immunosuppressive drugs in renal transplant patients. A literature search yielded 38 articles measuring nonadherence by self‐report, collateral report, assay, refill prescriptions or electronic monitoring. The weighted mean prevalence of self‐reported nonadherence was 28%. Nonadherence is associated with poor clinical outcomes, contributing to 20% of late acute rejection episodes and 16% of the graft losses (weighted means). In addition, nonadherence results in lower lifetime costs because of shorter survival, yet also in a lower number of quality adjusted life years. Consistent determinants of nonadherence were younger age, social isolation, and cognitions (e.g. low self‐efficacy, certain health beliefs). Determinants concerning the health care system/team seem to be underinvestigated. Because the evidence summarized in this review is based on older immunosuppressive regimens, further research should focus on prevalence, determinants and consequences of nonadherence with newer immunosuppressive regimens.
Cancer Chronotherapy

The cytotoxicity of more than thirty anticancer drugs varies by more than 50% as a function of dosing time along the 24‐h time‐scale in laboratory animals. Mechanisms involve circadian changes in cellular metabolism and proliferation processes, as well as drug pharmacokinetics. Moreover, the administration of chemotherapy at the least toxic time usually achieves best antitumour efficacy in experimental tumour models. Here we review experiences in utilising these phenomena in the optimization of cancer chemotherapy in the clinic.
Compact Vision System Design and Application on a PDMS Chip

This paper presents two compact vision systems to be assembled with a PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) chip, which were fabricated to achieve living-cell-manipulations such as positioning, cutting, sizing, etc., for bioplant project. The first prototype vision system with sufficient magnification and image resolution has been designed to be embedded into PDMS chip. A second system with a commercially available small size and light-weight microscope unit has also been prototyped to be integrated under microfluidic channel. Images taken with these monitoring systems are processed to determine the position and the size of an egg-cell in a microchannel. The accurate measurement of these parameters is important for the success of our planned cell-manipulations, while the size and weight of the total systems are decreased to provide portability and compatibility.
Fat and Fatty Acid Terminology, Methods of Analysis and Fat Digestion and Metabolism: A Background Review Paper

Fats, oils or lipids consist of a large number of organic compounds including fatty acids, monoacylglycerols, diacylglycerols, triacylglycerols (TGs), phospholipids (PLs), eicosanoids, resolvins, docosanoids, sterols, sterol esters, carotenoids, vitamin A and E, fatty alcohols, hydrocarbons and wax esters. Classically, lipids were defined as substances that are soluble in organic solvents. This is a loose definition and could include a number of non-lipid organic compounds. A novel definition and comprehensive system of classification of lipids were proposed in 2005 [Fahy et al., 2005]. The novel definition is chemically based and defines lipids as small hydrophobic or amphipathic (or amphiphilic) molecules that may originate entirely or in part by condensations of thioesters and/or isoprene units. The proposed lipid classification system enables the cataloguing of lipids and their properties in a way that is compatible with other macromolecular data bases. Using this approach, lipids from biological tissues have been divided into 8 categories, as shown in table 1 . Each category contains distinct classes and subclasses of molecules [Fahy et al., 2005]. Published online: September 15, 2009
Simulations for Martian subsurface' detection with radar sounder

The poles of Mars are cold traps for Martian atmospheric volatiles. The layered structures of polar deposits are thought to represent a record of Martian climatic history. In this paper, the propagation of electromagnetic waves in the polar caps is considered. Kirchhoff approximation and geometrical optics method are adopted to simulate the radar echo from Martian gently undulating surface and subsurface. The radar is modulated with linear frequency-modulated signals. Location information of the Martian surface and subsurface is obtained by a signal processing of radar echoes using pulse compression method. Simulation-based results show that the method presented is feasible in the detection of Martian polar cap regions' layered structure. Comparisons of radar echoes from surfaces with different roughness are investigated. It is revealed that the received echo gets weaker with the increasing of the Martian surface's roughness and the subsurface nadir echo is gradually immersed among surface clutters. These results provide a better understanding to the nature of reflection and refraction of electromagnetic waves at Martian surface and subsurface. The changes of echoes from layered structures with different conductivity and permittivity are also investigated and analyzed, which can provide some important clues for the radar system designers to determine the detection ability of radar sounder.
Quantitative Phenomics of Growth and Size in Animals

This study introduces a model of the growth phenotype dynamic in pigs by applying analytical methods. The model describes a transformation of the growth phenotype from 30kg live weight up to the species maximum weight. This paper focuses on a description of the determinants, which channel growth dynamic through animals' ontogeny. Theoretical notions about the growth are explicitly included in the concept. In the model, functional relations between relevant traits obtained in the experiments and field observations are analysed. Two focal variables, a feed conversion coefficient, and an invariant of growth are explicitly integrated in the model. The novelty of the research is a proposition that deterministic, analytical model is a conceivable approach to studying a phenotype of a quantitative trait. According to this proposition, processes that contribute to the growth and development continue in later life till a species maximum weight is attained. The concept is formulated as a deterministic, hybrid model. In the model, both standard continuum methods and discrete-time difference equations have been used. Applied to experimental data, the model has produced a new insight into the problem. In domestic pigs, the following three sets of ontogenetic growth phenotypes have been identified: one set with three species maximum weight phenotypes, one set with three rapid growth phenotypes, and one set with individual maximum weight phenotypes. In the study, not only the sets of growth phenotype are identified but also a possible interpretation of a conversion mode of the sets in ontogeny as well as a reading of growth trajectory dynamic are discussed.
ERCP, biliary crystal analysis, and sphincter of Oddi manometry in idiopathic recurrent pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND This study investigated the role of ERCP, analysis of bile for microcrystals, and sphincter of Oddi manometry in idiopathic recurrent pancreatitis. METHODS One hundred twenty-six patients met criteria for idiopathic recurrent pancreatitis. Patients with a normal ERCP underwent sphincter of Oddi manometry and analysis of bile. Bile was also collected in patients with papillary stenosis (defined as ductal dilation with delayed drainage of contrast, sphincter basal pressures greater than 40 mm Hg, and positive analysis for cholesterol and/or calcium bilirubinate crystals). RESULTS ERCP alone identified a cause of idiopathic recurrent pancreatitis in 47 (37%) patients: papillary stenosis in 26 (21%), pancreas divisum in 9 (7%), and choledocholithiasis in 6 (5%). Among patients with a gallbladder, microcrystals were found in 27 (50%) and sphincter dysfunction in 17 (31%). Among patients who have undergone cholecystectomy, sphincter dysfunction was identified in 24 (47%). Minor papilla sphincterotomy was performed in 8 patients (89%) with pancreas divisum. Biliary sphincterotomy was performed in 85 patients and included all patients with choledocholithiasis, choledochocele, microcrystals, papillary stenosis, and sphincter dysfunction except 2 patients with microcrystals who underwent cholecystectomy. Additionally, pancreatic sphincterotomy was performed in 32 (78%) patients with pancreatic sphincter hypertension and in 6 (23%) of 26 patients with papillary stenosis with dilated pancreatic ducts. Thus, among the 126 patients, 93 of the 100 patients with a detected abnormality underwent endoscopic sphincterotomy. Response rates varied from 67% to 100% during follow-up (mean 29.6 months, range 18 to 33 months). CONCLUSION ERCP techniques including minor papilla cannulation, analysis of bile for microcrystals, and sphincter of Oddi manometry identified a cause of idiopathic recurrent pancreatitis in 79% (endoscopically treatable in 75%) of patients, with or without prior cholecystectomy.