Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prediction of changes in bone mineral density in postmenopausal women treated with once-weekly bisphosphonates.

BACKGROUND In clinical practice, bone mineral density (BMD) determined by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry is used to monitor response to osteoporosis therapy. However, 1 to 2 yr are usually required to assess patients' BMD responses. The possibility of earlier indicators of a response or nonresponse to treatment, such as changes in bone turnover markers (BTMs), is of interest to physicians and patients. METHODS In this post hoc analysis of women treated with once-weekly bisphosphonates, we examined the association of tertile percentage change from baseline in BTMs at 3 or 6 months and association of several baseline clinical characteristics with 24-month percentage change from baseline in BMD and with percentage of patients showing BMD nonresponse (defined as BMD loss at two or more of four sites) at 24 months. Multivariable analysis was performed to determine which factors were independently associated with BMD nonresponse. RESULTS Patients in the tertile with the greatest decrease in each of the BTMs had the greatest mean increase in BMD and the lowest percentage of BMD nonresponders at 24 months. Several characteristics were independently associated with BMD nonresponse, including smaller 3-month reductions from baseline in serum C-terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, and N-terminal propeptide of type 1 procollagen; younger age of menopause; a family history of osteoporosis; and higher baseline trochanteric BMD. Baseline BTMs were not predictive of 24-month BMD response to therapy. The strongest associations were for changes in BTMs with treatment. CONCLUSION In groups of patients, short-term changes in markers of bone turnover appear to be predictors of longer term BMD response and nonresponse to bisphosphonate therapy.
Observer design for a class of nonlinear systems with stability discussion: Application to fault diagnosis

In this paper the state reconstruction problem for a class of nonlinear systems is considered and the question of convergence of the estimation error is examined. The main result is a new upper bound of the Lipschitz constant. Bounds of the free parameters are given so that the asymptotic stability of the observer is guaranteed. The proposed observer is then applied in the field of sensor fault detection and isolation.
Influencers of information system usage among employees for knowledge creation. A future research agenda

Knowledge management and information systems are discussed very frequently by researchers in last two decades. It is noticed that knowledge management is often confused with information management and information systems. In fact these are two different concepts, and number of recent studies reports that information systems facilitates knowledge management. Existing literature also discusses few of the factors affecting the use of information system. Technology acceptance model (TAM) is the most discussed model. This study goes a step further by discussing the factors affecting the use of information system to create knowledge. It is not limited to the use of information system for routine work, but it focuses on the issue that why employees do or do not analyse information, available in the information system to create knowledge. As analysing and understanding the pattern of information leads to knowledge creation. For this purpose, this study integrates the existing literature with the logical beliefs to offer propositions and a view point that what are the factors having the potential of influencing the use of information system among employees, to analyse information for knowledge creation. Furthermore this study also categorizes the factors as individual and organizational factors. This study also provides a framework for future empirical research.
Effect of dietary fibre on the faeces score in colobine monkeys at Dutch zoos

In captivity colobine monkeys often display a soft to watery faecal consistency, in contrast to their wild conspecifics, which usually display well-formed faeces. It has been suggested that dietary fibre, and possibly also dietary water content is related to faecal consistency. To further test this assumption we pooled data on 15 individual feeding periods from six feeding trials with colobine monkeys from different species, during which dietary and faecal chemical composition had been determined and faeces consistency had been scored with one consistent scoring scheme. Our pooled data suggest that dietary neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and dietary dry matter content were significantly, positively correlated to a better faeces consistency, whereas dietary protein content was negatively correlated to faeces consistency. Influences on the faeces consistency like easy digestible carbohydrates and the mineral content of the diet were not considered. Firmer faeces did not contain less water, but more NDF and less protein. It is suggested that diets fed to colobine monkeys in Dutch zoos should be reduced in protein and dietary water, and increased in fibre content. A recognized problem for attaining this goal is the lack of a readily accepted primate pellet that is not only called “high fibre” but that actually mimics the fibre content of the diet of free-ranging colobine monkeys.
Relación óptima de Metionina+Cistina/lisina digestibles en gallinas Isa Brown de 34 a 42 semanas de edad.

Los trabajos previos en los que se han estudiado las recomendaciones de metionina+cistina para gallinas ponedoras son muy numerosos, pero los resultados obtenidos presentan una gran variabilidad y, en algunos casos, son contradictorios. Esta variabilidad se explica por las condiciones en las que se ha realizado el estudio, la edad de las gallinas, la genetica y el parametro a optimizar.
IRAK: A Kinase Associated with the Interleukin-1 Receptor

The pleiotropic biological activities of interleukin-1 (IL-1) are mediated by its type I receptor (IL-1RI). When the ligand binds, IL-1RI initiates a signaling cascade that results in the activation of the transcription regulator nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). A protein kinase designated IRAK (IL-1 receptor-associated kinase) was purified, and its complementary DNA was molecularly cloned. When human embryonic kidney cells (cell line 293) overexpressing IL-1RI or HeLa cells were exposed to IL-1, IRAK rapidly associated with the IL-1RI complex and was phosphorylated. The primary amino acid sequence of IRAK shares similarity with that of Pelle, a protein kinase that is essential for the activation of a NF-κB homolog in Drosophila.
The use of purified protein derivative mycobacterial skin test antigens in children and adolescents: purified protein derivative skin test results correlated with mycobacterial isolates

During 13 years 1288 patients were tested with commercial tuberculin (PPD-T) and non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) purified protein derivative (PPD) antigens. Five hundred eighty-three (45%) had findings to suggest tuberculous infection or were asymptomatic tuberculin (PPD and/or old tuberculin) test reactors; the remaining 705 (55%) were PPD non-reactors. On the initial battery of PPD tests 553 patients had positive reactions; 513 (94%) could be classified as a human tuberculous reactor or a nontuberculous reactor. Of the 553 patients 363 were asymptomatic and 190 had clinical disease. Fifty-nine patients had Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) disease; 131 had NTM disease. Mycobacterial isolates recovered in 71 (47%) of 150 patients cultured were compared to the initial and repeat PPD-T and NTM-PPD test results. All 22 patients with TB isolates were positive to both PPD-T and at least one NTM-PPD antigen, while 36 of 42 patients (86%) had a positive homologous NTM-PPD reaction compared to that of the NTM species isolated. A PPD-T reaction of 5 to <15 mm suggested either a TB or NTM infection, while a PPD-T < 15 mm was strongly associated with TB infection. Dual (PPD-T and PPD-Battey) Mantoux testing in tuberculin-positive children and adolescents can discriminate (88% of 26 Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare culture-positive subjects) between TB or NTM infections and should be valuable guide in their management.
Cloning, expression, and purification of a catalytic fragment of moloney murine leukemia virus reverse transcriptase: Crystallization of nucleic acid complexes

Reverse transcriptase is an essential retroviral enzyme that uses RNA‐ and DNA‐directed DNA polymerase activities as well as an RNaseH activity to synthesize a double‐stranded DNA copy of the single‐stranded RNA genome. In an effort to obtain high‐resolution structural information regarding the polymerase active site of reverse transcriptase, we have pursued studies on a catalytic fragment from Moloney murine leukemia virus reverse transcriptase. DNA encoding the catalytic fragment, defined originally by limited proteolytic digestion, has been cloned, and the protein has been expressed and purified from Escherichia coli. The fragment obtained by limited proteolytic digestion and the bacterially expressed fragment retain polymerase activity. Crystallization studies involving nucleic acid complexes with a catalytic fragment from both sources are reported, including variables screened to improve crystals and cryocooling. Three crystal forms of catalytic fragment‐nucleic acid complexes have been characterized, which all contain at least two protein molecules in the asymmetric unit. As isolated, the catalytic fragment is monomeric. This analysis indicates that the enzyme dimerizes in the presence of nucleic acid.
Automatic design of frequency sampling filters by hybrid genetic algorithm techniques

A new method of designing recursive and nonrecursive frequency sampling filters is presented. We investigate the use of a hybrid real-coded genetic algorithm (GA) for optimising transition sample values to give the maximum stopband attenuation. A modification allows the coefficient wordlength to be optimized concurrently, thereby reducing the overall number of design steps and simplifying the design process. The technique is able to consistently optimize filters with up to six transition samples. Designing digital filters is a complex process involving optimization at several discrete design steps. The techniques presented could form the basis for integrating several of the optimizations. Investigations into increasing this integration by using a binary-coded GA to optimize nonlinear phase, quantized coefficient FIR filters are introduced, with an analysis of the difficulty of the problem from a GA perspective.
Virus-mediated oncolysis of thyroid cancer by a replication-selective adenovirus driven by a thyroglobulin promoter-enhancer region.

CONTEXT Currently, there is no effective treatment for iodine-resistant thyroid cancers. OBJECTIVE As a new approach to treatment, the efficacy of replication-selective, human thyroglobulin (TG) enhancer and promoter-driven, adenovirus (AdhTGEP)-mediated oncolysis was investigated using two well-differentiated thyroid cancer cell lines, XTC (TG positive) and FTC-133 (TG negative), and other control tumor and nontumor cell lines (all TG negative). DESIGN A cohort study design was used. SETTING The study setting was laboratory bench-top experiments. SUBJECTS/PARTICIPANTS In vitro TG-expressing and nonexpressing thyroid cell culture lines, nonthyroid tumor cell lines, as well as preclinical thyroid tumor-bearing mice were studied. INTERVENTION Adenoviral infection of cell lines was determined by immunohistochemistry, selective replication by one-step growth assays, and cytotoxicity by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulphophenyl)-2H-tetrozolium (MTS) assay. In vivo tumor growth inhibition was determined by a single intratumoral injection of 1 x 10(9) plaque-forming units AdhTGEP, AdLacZ (control virus), or PBS to 50- to 75-mm(3) tumors. XTC cells showed intense immunohistochemical staining, whereas FTC-133 and all other control cell lines showed minimal staining for viral infection with AdhTGEP. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Cell survival and tumor growth inhibition after adenoviral infection were the main outcome measures. RESULTS One-step growth assays showed at least a more than 60-fold titer of AdhTGEP in XTC than in FTC-133 cells. Cytotoxicity assays showed approximately 68% cell kill in XTC and minimal cell kill in FTC-133 and all other control cell lines at a multiplicity of infection of 250. There was significant in vivo growth inhibition of AdhTGEP-treated XTC tumors (67 +/- 49 mm(3)) compared with AdLacZ-treated XTC (228 +/- 45 mm(3); P < 0.01), PBS-treated XTC (372 +/- 70 mm(3); P < 0.001), or AdhTGEP-treated FTC-133 tumors (598 +/- 168 mm(3)). CONCLUSION Replication-selective virus-mediated oncolysis is a potential therapy for recurrent, well-differentiated, TG-secreting thyroid cancer that is unresponsive to standard treatment.
Permutation and Parametric Bootstrap Tests for Gene–Gene and Gene–Environment Interactions

Permutation tests are widely used in genomic research as a straightforward way to obtain reliable statistical inference without making strong distributional assumptions. However, in this paper we show that in genetic association studies it is not typically possible to construct exact permutation tests of gene‐gene or gene‐environment interaction hypotheses. We describe an alternative to the permutation approach in testing for interaction, a parametric bootstrap approach. Using simulations, we compare the finite‐sample properties of a few often‐used permutation tests and the parametric bootstrap. We consider interactions of an exposure with single and multiple polymorphisms. Finally, we address when permutation tests of interaction will be approximately valid in large samples for specific test statistics.
Design and Analysis of Folded Cascoded Operational Trans Conductance Amplifier

This paper presents an optimized methodology to folded cascode operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) design. In this design all the CMOS are in saturation region in order to optimize MOS transistor sizing. Using 0. 18μm CMOS process, a fully differential folded cascode architecture has been proposed which attains the DC gain of 67.5Db, a unity-gain frequency of 500MHz, power dissipation is 125.56 μW, Phase Margin is 170degree, CMRR is 127.6dB and slew rate is 27.4 V/μs. Keywords—Operational trans conductance amplifier (OTA); CMRR; Slew rate; power dissipation; DC Gain. 1.INTRODUCTION Operational Transconductance Amplifier (OTA) is an important part of many analog and mixed signal systems. The topology of OTA’s is a critical role in the design of low power system. The design of OTA continues to pose challenge as the supply voltage and transistor channel length scale down with each newer generation of CMOS technologies. The OTA is the versatile building block of any analog processing system. Designing these building blocks in terms of gain, power consumption and gain bandwidth product efficiently is still a challenging task. Operational Transconductance Amplifiers are mainly classified into Single ended output OTA’s and Differential ended output or Fully Differential OTA’s. In this paper, fully differential folded cascaded OTA’s is discussed and their performances are compared with reference paper. Cascode current mirror load are used as a load. Fig.1 Basic block diagram of OTA The fully differential OTA’s have several advantages over single-ended output OTA’s such as a stable input common mode voltage, reduced harmonic distortion, doubling of the output voltage swing and suppression of coupled noise[1]. Operational Transconductance amplifier (OTA) can be considered as an exclusive case of Op-Amp in Voltage controlled current source form. An OTA which is basically a voltage to current transducer (VCT) has been receiving considerable attention due to its usefulness and versatility in many filtering and signal processing applications [2][3]. Folded cascaded is used to improve the OTA performances in terms of gain, slew rate, gain bandwidth product and power dissipation [4]. V+
Renewable energy solutions for development of rural villages and desert communities

Sustainable community development can't be pursued as a sectarian initiative. In fact, the special importance of the effort outlined in this paper as a program of action lies in its integrated approach, its attempt to combine renewable energy technology promotion and youth employment, construction of new settlements, poverty eradication, social integration and equality into coordinated and participatory plan of action. This paper reports on the progress of two unique grassroots initiatives: one that started 1974 in a small rural village at the heart of the Nile-Delta called Basaisa and one that started 1992 in a new-desert community called New Basaisa at 8 Km north of Ras Sudr in South Sinai, Egypt. The paper describes the renewable energy technologies used and the approaches that work as well as the problems facing its wide implementation and the achievements to date. Small photovoltaic power units were used in both sites as multifunction units, producing electricity for training and education, some time for TV, some time for the Friday pray in the Mosque, and other times for production activities in small workshops for income generating activities. Knowing that one source of energy can't satisfy all needs in a community, other renewable technologies were used like biogas, wind and solar water heating. The paper also presents a vision of integrated approach to planned internal migration and construction of settlements as new productive eco-desert communities outside the overcrowded narrow Nile-Valley and Delta.
Studying spatial effects on human mobility patterns using agent-based simulations

1. Random and goal oriented walk models To simulate human movement in a street network, we setup some random walkers which can hop from one street to another arbitrarily. The hopping behaviour is defined at a topological level in which individual streets are represented as nodes and street intersections as links of a connectivity graph (Figure 1). On the other hand, the simulation has yet to be based on a geometric level in order to mimic a sort of network constrained movement. That is, within an individual street, the random walkers persistently move along the street until they reach the next street that intersects with the current one. As soon as the random walkers reach the intersection, a decision as to which next street has to make, and then move towards the next intersection, so on and so forth. The random behaviour is obviously occurred at the topological level rather than at the geometric level.
The Role of Retinoic Acid (RA) in Spermatogonial Differentiation

ABSTRACT Retinoic acid (RA) directs the sequential, but distinct, programs of spermatogonial differentiation and meiotic differentiation that are both essential for the generation of functional spermatozoa. These processes are functionally and temporally decoupled, as they occur in distinct cell types that arise over a week apart, both in the neonatal and adult testis. However, our understanding is limited in terms of what cellular and molecular changes occur downstream of RA exposure that prepare differentiating spermatogonia for meiotic initiation. In this review, we describe the process of spermatogonial differentiation and summarize the current state of knowledge regarding RA signaling in spermatogonia.
A Double-Surface Electromagnetic Bandgap Structure With One Surface Embedded in Power Plane for Ultra-Wideband SSN Suppression

In this letter, a double-surface electromagnetic bandgap (EBG) structure with one EBG surface embedded in power plane is proposed for ultra-wideband simultaneous switching noise (SSN) suppression in printed circuit boards. The SSN suppression bandwidth is broadened to wider than 30 GHz with a low start frequency by combining traditional EBG structure and the coplanar EBG structure which is embedded in the power plane. Because the coplanar EBG surface is embedded in the power plane, no additional metal layer is introduced by the double-surface EBG structure. Simulations and measurements are performed to verify the broadband SSN suppression, high performance is observed.
Identification of Ag-NOR proteins, markers of proliferation related to ribosomal gene activity.

During mitosis, ribosomal genes are associated with a set of silver-stained nucleolar proteins designated Ag-nucleolar organizer region (NOR) proteins. The amount of Ag-NOR protein, estimated during interphase, may be used as marker of cell proliferation with a prognostic value for several human cancers. Our objective was to identify the Ag-NOR proteins in human transformed cell lines at specific phases of the cell cycle and in a hamster cell line that serves as model for active ribosomal transcription. During interphase, the major Ag-NOR proteins in both human and hamster cells were nucleolin and protein B23 and also proteins of 42, 40, and 29 kDa, which accounted for a small amount of the silver stain. The pIs of these proteins were between 4.5 and 5.6. During mitosis, the Ag-NOR proteins were either solubilized in the cytoplasm, distributed around the chromosomes, or associated with the ribosomal genes, i.e., in the NORs. The major Ag-NOR proteins associated with the ribosomal genes were the largest RNA polymerase I subunit, the 135-kDa NOR protein, the UBF transcription factor, and a 50-kDa protein. Less than 5% of the total nucleolin remained associated with ribosomal genes during mitosis. Using the purified RNA polymerase I complex from yeast, we demonstrate that the 190-, 43-, and 34.5-kDa subunits are Ag-NOR proteins in this species. This study demonstrates that the major Ag-NOR proteins in nucleoli during interphase are not the same as those associated with the ribosomal genes during mitosis. We conclude that the prognostic test for human cancer cell proliferation is largely based on the amount of the nucleolar proteins, nucleolin, and protein B23, which are not directly involved in ribosomal gene transcription. In contrast, the evaluation of active NORs in karyotypes during mitosis is based on the presence of some proteins of the ribosomal gene transcription machinery.
A Generalized Renewal Equation for Perturbed Compound Poisson Processes with Two-Sided Jumps

Abstract In this article, we study the discounted penalty at ruin in a perturbed compound Poisson model with two-sided jumps. We show that it satisfies a renewal equation under suitable conditions and consider an application of this renewal equation to study some perpetual American options. In particular, our renewal equation gives a generalization of the renewal equation in Gerber and Landry [2] where only downward jumps are allowed.