Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Late referral to maintenance dialysis: detrimental consequences.

Thirty per cent of patients who started maintenance haemodialysis at our institution between January 1989 and December 1991 had been referred at a very late stage of their renal disease. To assess the causes and consequences of such late referral we retrospectively compared clinical and laboratory features of 65 patients who had been referred less than 1 month prior to first dialysis (late referral, or LR group) and of 153 patients who had been previously followed-up by us for more than 6 months (early referral, or ER group). Age, sex ratio, and socioeconomic status were similar in the two groups. In the LR group, 38 patients had never been referred to a nephrology unit, whereas 27 had discontinued nephrological surveillance. Fluid overload, severe hypertension, and/or pulmonary oedema was present in 57% of LR versus 15% of ER patients (P < 0.001). Mean (+/- 1 SD) systolic and diastolic blood pressure was greater in the LR than the ER group (173 +/- 19/99 +/- 12 versus 147 +/- 15/84 +/- 8 mmHg, P < 0.001). Mean plasma concentration of creatinine, urea and phosphate was significantly greater, whereas bicarbonate, calcium, haematocrit and albumin were less in the LR than the ER group. Most (88%) LR patients started dialysis in emergency conditions through central vein catheterization. Total hospital stay lasted 34.5 +/- 16.3 days in LR versus 5.8 +/- 3.0 days in ER patients (P < 0.0001), resulting in an excess cost of 0.2 million French francs per LR patient. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Protective and curative effects of Cocos nucifera inflorescence on alloxan-induced pancreatic cytotoxicity in rats

Objectives: This study was planned to investigate the effects of pre and post-treatment of young inflorescence of Cocos nucifera (CnI) on alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: Male albino Sprague Dawely rats were divided into five groups of six animals each. Group I was normal control, Group II was diabetic control, Cocos nucifera Inflorescence (CnI) was fed along with diet [20% (w/w)] orally (Group III) for a period of 11 days prior to alloxan injection (150 mg/kg i.p.). The curative effect of CnI was evaluated at the same feeding levels in alloxan-induced diabetic rats (Group IV) for a period of 30 days. The effects of both pretreatment and post-treatment (Group V) were also evaluated. Biochemical parameters such serum glucose, hepatic glycogen, and enzymes involving carbohydrate metabolism (hexokinase, phosphoglucomutase, pyruvate kinase, glucose-6-phosphatase, fructose 1, 6-diphosphatase, glucose-6 phosphate dehydrogenase, and glycogen phosphorylase) were assayed along with pancreatic histopathology. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance followed by Duncan's post hoc multiple variance test. P < 0.05 was considered statistical significant. Results: Diabetic control rats showed significant increase in serum glucose (P < 0.05) and decrease in hepatic glycogen levels (P < 0.05) compared to normal rats, which was reversed to near normal in both CnI pretreated and post-treated rats. Treatment with CnI resulted in significant decrease (P < 0.05) in activities of gluconeogenic enzymes in Group III and IV on compared to the diabetic control group, while glycolytic enzyme activities were improved in these groups. The cytotoxicity of pancreatic islets also ameliorated by treatment with CnI on histopathological examination. Conclusion: The results obtained in the study indicate the protective and curative effects of CnI on alloxan-induced pancreatic cytotoxicity, which is mediated through the regulation of carbohydrate metabolic enzyme activities and islets cell repair.
Discussion on the Updating Methods of Mining Area Terrain Based on High-Resolution Remote Sensing Data

With the increasing of mining depth, the surface and underground geological conditions have undergone great changes. The updating investigations mostly depend on the conventional means which has constrained the mine production on in-depth understanding of the geological terrain. So it is urgent to carry out the research work. The use of remote sensing techniques and auxiliary data to carry out the research work provide the basic data and technological support for the updating methods of mining area terrain by quickly, accurately getting knowledge of mining geology and environment information. This study updates the surface topography of a mine in Henan by use of the high-resolution data . The main contents are as follows: 1) pre-processing the data(geometric correction, radiometric correction); 2) using Laplace filtering arithmetic combined with corrosion operation and edge detection technology to semi-automatic or automatic extract the houses, roads on the fusion of high-resolution QUICKBIRD data.
Modeling Microwave Backscattering From Parabolic Rice Leaves

Scattering from rice leaves contributes substantially to total vegetation canopy backscattering and detailed knowledge about it is necessary for developing a microwave scattering model. A parabolic curve is generally adopted to simulate the leaf shape but this is rarely incorporated into the calculation of the scattering. In this paper, two specific models, one based on physical optics (PO) approximation and the other on the discrete dipole approximation (DDA), are presented to involve the parabolic leaf curvature effects. Three typical leaves were chosen from 1433 parabolic leaves obtained during ground measurements. The PO and DDA models were used to calculate the leaf scattering. The generalized Rayleigh–Gans (GRG) approximation was also included in the simulation. The method of moments, a computational electromagnetic method, was utilized to evaluate the accuracy of each model. Validation of the models was conducted at incidence angles ranging from 10° to 60°, incidence azimuthal angles ranging from 0° to 360°, and incidence frequencies of 1.2 GHz (L-band), 5.4 GHz (C-band), and 9.65 GHz (X-band). Among the GRG approximation, the DDA model and the PO model, the latter gave the best accuracy −>65% in the cases tested, while the GRG model was the least accurate. The high accuracy of the PO model was maintained at both the low and high frequency bands. The PO model, therefore, has great potential for use to interpret radar measurements from rice fields and other types of vegetation canopy.
A Short Tutorial On Using SGsim Framework For Smart Grid Applications

Extensive usage of information and communication technology (ICT) characterizes the next generation power grid. ICT supports diverse smart grid applications from the level of energy management, all the way down to control and protection approaches. The evaluation of a smart grid application requires multidisciplinary tools that capture its versatile nature. In this paper, we present a short tutorial on the use of the open source co-simulation framework SGsim for smart grid applications. The framework combines two main simulators. On the one hand, it uses OMNeT++ to simulate data communication networks and to control the operation of the components. On the other hand, it uses OpenDSS to simulate the power grid.
Enumeration of Treponema pallidum cells cultivated in vitro by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed to enumerate Treponema pallidum cells. The assay could detect from 2 X 10(7) to 4 X 10(8) treponemes per ml. Reactive rabbit serum and goat anti-rabbit immunoglobulin G (peroxidase conjugate) were used in the assay. Optimum results were obtained when 2,2'-azino-di(ethylbenzthiazolinesulfonic acid) was used as the dye for the enzyme reaction and the reactions were allowed to run for 45 min. Interestingly, assays in which in vivo-cultivated T. pallidum was used produced lower absorbance values than those in which T. pallidum was cultivated in vitro.
Too little time? The recognition and treatment of mental health problems in primary care.

OBJECTIVES To assess the effect of practice characteristics on the diagnosis and treatment of mental health problems in primary care. DATA SOURCE National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) 1991-1994. STUDY DESIGN We examine the effect of visit characteristics and practice characteristics on rates of diagnosis of mental health problems, rates of referral, and rates of use of psychotropic medications. We characterize each primary care physician's practice using information about the ways in which that physician treated patients who did not have mental health problems. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We find that median visit duration has a small, statistically insignificant effect on the rate of diagnosis and treatment of mental health problems. Physicians with large HMO caseloads are slightly more likely to diagnose mental health problems, but less likely to prescribe psychotropic medications, than are physicians who see few HMO patients. Practice style and specialty are important determinants of diagnosis and, to a lesser extent, of treatment. CONCLUSIONS Physicians specialty and practice style are more strongly related to mental health diagnosis and treatment than are system characteristics such as visit duration and insurance composition.
Impact of agricultural technology adoption on market participation in the rural social network system

This paper provides empirical evidence regarding the impact of agricultural technologies on smallholders’ output market participation. The analysis is based on Farmer Innovation Fund impact evaluation survey collected by the World Bank in 2010-2012 covering 2,675 households in Ethiopia. Endogenous treatment effect and sample selection models are employed to account for the self-selection bias in technology adoption and market participation. Regressions based on matching techniques are employed for robustness check. The estimation results show that the use of improved agricultural inputs significantly affects farm households marketable surplus production. We found evidence that application of high-yielding varieties increases surplus crop production by 7.39 percent per year, whereas chemical fertilizer use increases surplus by 2.32 percent. When farmers apply the two inputs jointly, marketed surplus increases by 6 percent which establish the complementarity of the two technologies. Marketable surplus crop production and market participation of farmers are determined by access to modern inputs, crop price, farm size, availability of labor, and infrastructure. Access to credit and training fosters technology adoption. Therefore, agriculture and rural development policy need to focus on supporting agricultural technology adoption.
Guidelines for nursing homes raise some questions.

In June 1983, a task force appointed by the Minnesota Board on Aging issued a set of guidelines designed to improve the process of making decisions about when to provide "supportive care," i.e., "care and treatment to preserve comfort, hygiene and dignity, but not to prolong life," to patients in Minnesota nursing homes. The guidelines have been criticized by some groups for not doing enough to protect the interests of patients.
Plasma Lipid and Lipoprotein Disorders in IDDM

Abnormal lipoprotein metabolism contributes to the increased risk of premature atherosclerosis in people with insulin-dependent (type I) diabetes. Although hypertriglyceridemia is common in those with untreated IDDM, treatment with conventional insulin therapy usually restores fasting lipoprotein profiles to nondiabetic levels. Intensive insulin therapy improves glycemie control and lipoprotein concentrations, but does not ameliorate the changes in lipoprotein composition described in people with IDDM. Some of these persistent changes in lipoprotein composition have been attributed to peripheral hyperinsulinemia associated with s.c. insulin therapy. The recent availability of implantable insulin-infusion pumps for treatment of IDDM has allowed the study of the effect of i.p. insulin delivery on lipoprotein metabolism, i.p. insulin therapy is capable of maintaining near normal plasma glucose levels while reducing the peripheral hyperinsulinemia. Although results have been contradictory, studies of i.p. insulin therapy may eventually help to determine whether some of the observed changes in lipoprotein metabolism and composition in people with IDDM are due to the peripheral hyperinsulinemia associated with s.c. insulin therapy.
Novel aspects of the insulin-like growth factor binding proteins.

The insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs), and IGFBP proteases regulate somatic growth and cellular proliferation both in vivo and in vitro. IGFs are potent mitogens whose actions are determined by the availability of free IGFs to interact with IGF receptors. IGFBPs comprise a family of six proteins that bind IGFs with high affinity and specificity and thereby regulate IGF-dependent actions. IGFBPs have also recently emerged as IGF-independent regulators of cell growth. Several IGFBP association proteins have been discovered recently which can affect IGFBP action. Cleavage of IGFBPs by specific proteases modulates levels of free IGFs and IGFBPs and thereby their actions. IGFBP-related proteins (IGFBP-rPs) are an emerging group of proteins which bind IGFs with low affinity and also play important roles in cell growth and differentiation. The IGFBPs appear to have emerging roles in the mechanisms underlying human cancer. The GH-IGF-IGFBP axis is complex and powerful. Future research on its physiology promises exciting insights into cell biology as well as advancements in the treatment of a wide range of disease states including cancer, diabetes, vascular disease, asthma, and growth disorders.
Elucidating the biochemical overwintering adaptations of Larval Cucujus clavipes puniceus, a nonmodel organism, via high throughput proteomics.

Cucujus clavipes puniceus (C.c.p.) is a nonmodel, freeze-avoiding beetle that overwinters as extremely cold-tolerant larvae in the interior boreal forests of Alaska to temperatures as low as -100 °C. Using a tandem MS-based approach, we compared the proteomes of winter- and summer-collected C.c. p. to identify proteins that may play functional roles in successful overwintering. Using Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and manual interpretation, we identified 104 proteins in winter and 128 proteins in summer samples. We found evidence to indicate a cytoskeletal rearrangement between seasons, with Winter NDSC possessing unique actin and myosin isoforms while summer larvae up-regulated α actinin, tubulin, and tropomyosin. We also detected a fortification of the cuticle in winter via unique cuticle proteins, specifically larval/pupal rigid cuticle protein 66 precursor and larval cuticle protein A2B. Also, of particular interest in the winter larvae was an up-regulation of proteins related to silencing of genes (bromodomain adjacent to zinc finger domain 2A and antisilencing protein 1), proteins involved with metabolism of amines (2-isopropylmalate synthase and dihydrofolate reductase), and immune system process (lysozyme C precursor), among others. This represents the first high throughput MS/MS analysis of a nonmodel, cold-tolerant organism without a concurrent microarray analysis.
Topical alpha-selective p 38 MaP kinase inhibition reduces acute skin inflammation in guinea pig satyanarayana

correspondence: satyanarayana Medicherla schering Plough Biopharma, 901 california ave, Palo alto, ca 94304, Usa Tel +1 650 496 1255 email satya.medicherla@spcorp.com Abstract: Certain skin pathologies, including psoriasis, are thought to be immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. Available literature clearly indicates the involvement of inflammatory cells (neutrophils, T cells, and macrophages), their cytokines, and the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway in the pathophysiology of psoriasis. Neutrophils play an important role in the formation of acute inflammatory changes in psoriasis. Acute inflammation or acute flares in psoriasis remain poorly addressed in clinical medicine. In this communication, we first establish a simple and reproducible model for studying neutrophil-mediated acute skin inflammation. Using the hairless guinea pig, due to the similarity of skin architecture to that of human, acute inflammation was induced with an intradermal injection of 50 μg/mL lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in 50 μL solution. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity was measured by MPO-positive neutrophils and shown to increase for 24-hours post-injection. Simultaneously, the level of phosphorylated p38 MAPK was documented for 48-hours post-LPS injection in the skin. Next, we used this model to examine the therapeutic potential of an α-selective p38 MAPK inhibitor, SCIO-469. A comparison of topical application of SCIO-469 at 5 mg/mL or 15 mg/mL to vehicle revealed that SCIO-469 dose-dependently reduces acute skin inflammation and that this effect is statistically significant at the higher dose. Further examination of tissues that received this dose also revealed statistically significant reduction of MPO activity, phosphorylated p38 MAPK, interleukin-6, and cyclooxygenase-2. These data suggest that the α-selective p38 MAPK inhibitor, SCIO-469, acts as a topical anti-inflammatory agent via the p38 MAPK pathway to reduce neutrophil induced acute inflammation in the skin. These observations suggest that α-selective p38 MAPK inhibition may be an effective therapeutic strategy to manage acute skin inflammation
Dual-Wavelength Single-Longitudinal Mode Fiber Laser Using Phase-Shift Bragg Gratings

This paper presents a new stable dual-wavelength fiber-ring laser based on erbium-doped fiber amplification. The wavelength selection is made by a combination of fiber Bragg gratings and phase shift fiber Bragg gratings. Two laser emission lines were obtained simultaneously in single-longitudinal-mode operation showing a power-instability lower than 0.35 dB, an OSNR higher than 55 dB, a narrow-linewidth of 13 KHz and an optical output power around 0 dBm for both wavelengths. This proposed configuration allows the individual control of the loss of each channel.
Effect of image compression and resolution on retinal vascular caliber.

PURPOSE Changes in retinal vascular caliber measured from digital color fundus photographs have been independently associated with systemic outcomes in epidemiologic studies, but the effect of image resolution and compression on vascular measurements has not been previously evaluated. METHODS To explore image compression, 40 natively digital fundus images were selected with good photo quality, high spatial resolution, and no previous image compression. Using Adobe Photoshop, these images were compressed at progressively higher levels up to 147:1, and then retinal vascular caliber was measured at each level using semiautomated software. To examine resolution, 40 fundus photographs acquired on high-resolution film were scanned with settings corresponding to 10, 7, 5, 3, and 1 megapixel fundus cameras. After adjusting for scale factor, vascular caliber was measured at each level of resolution. Data were analyzed by comparing the calculated central retinal arteriole equivalent (CRAE) and the central retinal venular equivalent (CRVE) of the original and altered images, using repeated measures ANOVA. RESULTS CRAE became significantly wider with increasing levels of compression at the 25:1 threshold (~1 μm wider, P < 0.001) and was ~5 μm wider with 147:1 compression. CRVE also increased, but less than CRAE. Using 7 (megapixel)-MP resolution as the standard, CRVE was significantly narrower at the 5-MP simulation (~2 μm, P < 0.001) and was ~12 μm narrower at the 1-MP simulation. CRAE also decreased, but less than CRVE. CONCLUSIONS Increasing digital image file compression and decreasing fundus image spatial resolution led to skewed measurements of the retinal vascular caliber.
Formative Assessment supported by Analytics Techniques : a case study on teacher and students perceptions

This article aims to compare the teacher and students’ perceptions on the formative assessment process carried out in a blended course in Brazil. To achieve this goal, the authors used analytics techniques to analyse the online activities which were supported by the LearnWeb collaborative platform. The performed analysis investigated metrics related to the interactive student profile considering learning activities such as: creating groups of resources, selecting, uploading and commenting on learning resources. The results show that clustering and classification techniques may be used to investigate students profile and can be useful in preventing students’ dropout. The authors conducted a survey to draw an analogy between users’ opinions about the course and their behaviour on the platform. The questionnaires results highlighted the positive impressions, awareness, and motivation of the teacher and of the students during the formative assessment process.
Design and implementation of reconfigurable technology for edge detection in real time

In computer vision and digital image processing, edge detection is a very important process that enables capture of the meaning of objects within the image, between which are: discontinuities, geometry and physical characteristics of the object. However, it is known that the application of image processing and video have a high computational cost, because it is required process a large amount of data. Therefore, and due to technological advancement it is possible to develop vision systems on hardware platforms. In this work, it is presented the implementation of a processor for detecting borders in real time using a programmable logic device FPGA type, Altera EP2C35F672C6. The system detects the borders using the Sobel filter and employs only 6% of the logic elements and 43% of embedded multipliers that contains the device. The results are shown directly on a VGA-compatible display.
How accurate is clinician reporting of chemotherapy adverse effects? A comparison with patient-reported symptoms from the Quality-of-Life Questionnaire C30.

PURPOSE Adverse events in chemotherapy clinical trials are assessed and reported by clinicians, yet clinician accuracy in assessing symptoms has been questioned. We compared patient reporting of eight symptoms using a validated instrument, the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality-of-Life Questionnaire C30 (QLQ-C30 or QLQ) with physicians' reporting of the same symptoms in the study's adverse events log. PATIENTS AND METHODS Thirty-seven men with metastatic, androgen-independent prostate cancer enrolled onto a phase II trial of weekly calcitriol and docetaxel completed the QLQ every 4 weeks for up to 28 weeks. A patient-reported symptom was defined as an increase in a QLQ symptom score by at least 10 points (0 to 100 scale), sustained for at least 4 weeks. A physician-reported symptom was considered present if it was ever documented in the adverse event log. RESULTS Forty-nine (new or worsened) symptoms were detected by both physician and QLQ, 48 symptoms were detected by the physician alone, and 55 symptoms were detected by the QLQ alone. They agreed on the absence of a symptom in 102 instances of 254 possible opportunities. Their uncorrected agreement was 59.4%, but Cohen's kappa, a coefficient of agreement that corrects for chance, was 0.15, indicating only slight agreement. Using the QLQ as the standard, overall physician sensitivity and specificity was 47% and 68%, respectively, although it varied considerably among symptoms. CONCLUSION Even in a tightly controlled clinical trial, physician reporting was neither sensitive nor specific in detecting common chemotherapy adverse effects. Tools for collecting patient-reported adverse event data in chemotherapy clinical trials should be developed.