Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Miniaturized linear time-of-flight mass spectrometer with pulsed extraction.

Improved resolution for a miniaturized instrument is demonstrated at high masses using a pulsed extraction, 3(") linear time-of-flight (TOF) mass analyzer. This illustrates the utility of a small and simple mass spectrometer for biological/medical analyses. Current and future applications suggested by this instrument include rapid mass spectral reading of oligonucleotides that differ in one base (single nucleotide polymorphisms), distinction of biomarker signatures from different species of bacterial spores (biological weapons detection) and point-of-care instruments for proteomics-based diagnostics. We have incorporated a two-stage, pulsed-extraction design that places the focal plane of the ions at the detector channel plate surface. The ions are accelerated to a total energy of 12 keV to enable detection of high-mass proteins in a design that incorporates a floatable flight tube set at the voltage of the front channel plate of the detector. The resultant elimination of post-acceleration at the detector is intended to improve mass resolution by reducing the difference in arrival times between ions and their neutral products. Resolutions of one part in 1200 at m/z 4500 and one part in 600 at m/z 12 000 have been achieved. Proteins with molecular masses up to 66 000 Da, mixtures of oligonucleotides, and biological spores have all been successfully measured, results that increase the potential use of this TOF analyzer.
User-Centered & Experience Design trend overview

Recently, User-Centered & Experience Design increasingly became the latest trend in all kinds of designs. Not only Intelligent Buildings but also new applications in Facebook, or new Iphone games, or digital equipments which help the disabled to participate in social activities and support children learning. Edges of traditional designs are disappearing. Functional factors of designs are reducing. User-Centered & Experience Design has become a new spotlight.
Mycoplasma pneumoniae–related postencephalitic epilepsy in children

Purpose: Mycoplasma pneumoniae, a common respiratory pathogen, has been implicated as an etiology of encephalitis, but there are few reports about it and postencephalitic epilepsy. This study aimed to investigate clinical factors, electroencephalography, and neuroradiologic features of M. pneumoniae–related encephalitis in a series of children with postencephalitic epilepsy and to examine possible prognostic factors.
The Sulfur Cycle

Even granting our uncertainties about parts of our model of the sulfur cycle, we can draw some conclusions from it: 1) Man is now contributing about one half as much as nature to the total atmospheric burden of sulfur compounds, but by A.D. 2000 he will be contributing about as much, and in the Northern Hemisphere alone he will be more than matching nature. 2) In industrialized regions he is overwhelming natural processes, and the removal processes are slow enough (several days, at least) so that the increased concentration is marked for hundreds to thousands of kilometers downwind. 3) Our main areas of uncertainty, and ones that demand immediate attention because of their importance to the regional air pollution question, are: (i) the rates of conversion of H2S and SO2 to sulfate particles in polluted as well as unpolluted atmospheres; (ii) the efficiency of removal of sulfur compounds by precipitation in polluted air. And for a better understanding of the global model we need to know: (i) the amount of biogenic H2S that enters the atmosphere over the continents and coastal areas; (ii) means of distinguishing man-made and biogenic contributions to excess sulfate in air and precipitation; (iii) the volcanic production of sulfur compounds, and their influence on the particle concentration in the stratosphere; (iv) the large-scale atmospheric circulation patterns that exchange air between stratosphere and troposphere (although absolute amounts of sulfate particles involved are small relative to the lower tropospheric burden); (v) the role of the oceans as sources or sinks for SO2.
Earnings management through real activities manipulation by firms that publish short-term profit plans

Accounting information published by a firm's manager is used for investment and debt contracts, which, in turn, affects subsequent funding and executive compensation. Thus, managers have an incentive to manipulate the profit, and they perform earnings management as a legitimate means. Managers also manipulate the profit toward the profit benchmark, which usually includes earnings forecasts and short-term profit plans. Earnings forecasts are based on managers' or analysts' expectations about the company's overall growth. Short-term profit plans are based on first-year, medium-term management. It appears that there is a relationship between these two aspects since they are generally announced simultaneously. The purpose of this study is twofold. First, it examines the relationship between short-term profit plans and first-quarter earnings forecasts. Second, it clarifies whether firm managers create short-term profit plans or first-quarter earnings forecasts by real activities manipulation. The findings show that in the firms that do not announce short-term profit plans, they conduct earnings forecasts through real activities manipulation. Conversely, in the firms that announce short-term profit plans, the managers do not conduct real activities manipulation. For the reasons stated above, in firms that do not announce short-term profit plans, managers might establish internal short-term profit plans that differ from external earnings forecasts.
Complex visual disturbances in Alzheimer's disease

Although Alzheimer's disease (AD) involves visual association cortex, previous studies have not systematically investigated complex visual disturbances in AD. We examined 30 community-based AD patients, 13 (43%) of whom had complex visual complaints, and compared them with 30 controls on 7 types of complex visual tasks. Despite preserved visual acuity and color recognition, the AD patients were impaired in the visual evaluation of common objects, famous faces, spatial locations, and complex figures. In the AD patients, we found that all 30 had disturbances in figure-ground analysis; 17 (57%) had difficulties visually recognizing actual objects (“agnosia”); those with worse dementia disability had the most complex visual disturbances; and a subgroup (6) with Balint's syndrome performed the most poorly on the complex visual tasks. This study demonstrates that a range of complex visual disturbances are common in AD and suggests that they may result from the known neuropathology in the visual association cortex.
Logit models for predicting bankruptcy

Going into bankruptcy represents main driver of company credit risk, because of which the monitoring of doing business is considered justified. Models that forecast company’s going into bankruptcy are efficient tool with whose application risk of doing business can be reduced. In the paper, the first models built on the foundations of logistic regression are presented. These models also have the biggest application in practice. Advantages and disadvantages of logit model for forecasting of bankruptcy are highlighted. Short display of logit model is incurred for concrete markets with special characteristics among which is market of Republic of Serbia too.
Pyrosequencing for Rapid Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Resistance to Rifampin, Isoniazid, and Fluoroquinolones

ABSTRACT After isoniazid and rifampin (rifampicin), the next pivotal drug class in Mycobacterium tuberculosis treatment is the fluoroquinolone class. Mutations in resistance-determining regions (RDR) of the rpoB, katG, and gyrA genes occur with frequencies of 97%, 50%, and 85% among M. tuberculosis isolates resistant to rifampin, isoniazid, and fluoroquinolones, respectively. Sequences are highly conserved, and certain mutations correlate well with phenotypic resistance. We developed a pyrosequencing assay to determine M. tuberculosis genotypic resistance to rifampin, isoniazid, and fluoroquinolones. We characterized 102 M. tuberculosis clinical isolates from the Philippines for susceptibility to rifampin, isoniazid, and ofloxacin by using the conventional submerged-disk proportion method and validated our pyrosequencing assay using these isolates. DNA was extracted and amplified by using PCR primers directed toward the RDR of the rpoB, katG, and gyrA genes, and pyrosequencing was performed on the extracts. The M. tuberculosis H37Rv strain (ATCC 25618) was used as the reference strain. The sensitivities and specificities of pyrosequencing were 96.7% and 97.3%, 63.8% and 100%, and 70.0% and 100% for the detection of resistance to rifampin, isoniazid, and ofloxacin, respectively. Pyrosequencing is thus a rapid and accurate method for detecting M. tuberculosis resistance to these three drugs.
Evidence for non-progressive changes in adolescent-onset schizophrenia: follow-up magnetic resonance imaging study.

BACKGROUND It is not clear how far brain abnormalities in early-onset schizophrenia result from progressive neurodevelopmental or neurodegenerative processes. Aims To investigate the hypothesis that structural brain abnormalities in adolescent-onset schizophrenia are progressive in the early phase of the illness. METHOD A magnetic resonance imaging case-control study of 16 adolescents with schizophrenia (mean age 16.6 years, s.d.=1.9 years) with a mean time of 2.7 years (s.d.=1.7 years) between measurements and 16 matched controls (average age 16.0 years, s.d.=2.0 years) with a mean time of 1.7 years (s.d.=0.5 years) between measurements. RESULTS There was no evidence of progressive structural brain changes during late adolescence. Significant ventricular enlargement (greater in males) and left-sided temporal lobe changes were evident from the outset of the illness. CONCLUSIONS Neurodevelopmental brain abnormalities are non-progressive during late adolescence.
The denial of death thesis: sociological critique and implications for palliative care

It has become commonplace to say that contemporary western society is ’deathdenying‘. This characterization, which sociologists have termed the ’denial of death thesis‘, first arose in the social science, psychological and clinical medical literature in the period between 1955 and 1985. During the same time period, the hospice and palliative care movements were developing and in part directed themselves against the perceived cultural denial of death in western society. While the denial of death has been taken for granted by the lay public as well as by clinicians, in the sociological literature it has been increasingly questioned. In this paper we use sociological critiques of the denial of death thesis to raise critical questions about the theory and practice of contemporary palliative care. In particular, we argue that the emphasis of palliative care should not be on extinguishing the denial of death but on the relief of suffering. Palliative Medicine 2004; 18: 121-128
Degree and Duration of Reversal by Naloxone of Effects of Morphine in Conscious Subjects

The effects of intravenous naloxone on several of the actions of intravenous morphine (mean dose 30 mg/70 kg) were studied in six volunteer subjects. Naloxone produced a well defined reversal of the respiratory depression, analgesia, and miotic and subjective effects of the morphine. The agonist action of morphine outlasted the antagonist action of a single dose of naloxone. The effect of repeated doses of naloxone was also short-lived, but continuous infusions were effective in maintaining reversal.
Integrated vulnerability assessment of ecotourism to climate change in Dana Biosphere Reserve, Jordan

Climate change has become a major threat to ecotourism in protected areas. This study aims to assess the vulnerability of the ecotourism system in Dana Biosphere Reserve (DBR), the major ecotourism destination in Jordan, to climate change. We conducted qualitative semi-structured interviews with key informants in DBR to assess climate change-related threats, their influence on natural resources, local communities and ecotourism's activities; and adaptation practices. The results indicate that DBR is highly exposed to multiple climate threats, specifically reduced precipitation, shifts in the rainy season, and increased frequency and intensity of drought. These changes are degrading the environment, shifting tourism seasons, and changing livelihoods and lifestyles of local communities. To mitigate these diverse consequences, DBR implements a range of environmental management, technical, educational and business management policies and practices. However, this vulnerability assessment, which addressed social, economic, and environmental impacts, provides a holistic understanding of the susceptibility of the tourism system to climate change and guidance for facilitating future adaptation.
The K65R Reverse Transcriptase Mutation in HIV-1 Reverses the Excision Phenotype of Zidovudine Resistance Mutations

The HIV-1 nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) tenofovir (TFV), abacavir, didanosine and stavudine can select for K65R, whereas zidovudine (AZT) and stavudine can select for thymidine analogue mutations (TAMs) in HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT). HIV-1 with TAMs shows reduced susceptibility to all NRTIs, most notably AZT, whereas HIV-1 with K65R shows reduced susceptibility to all NRTIs except AZT. K65R and TAMs rarely occur together in patients. However, when present together, K65R can restore susceptibility to AZT. This study characterizes the underlying mechanisms of resistance of these RT mutants to TFV and AZT. K65R mediated decreased binding/incorporation of TFV and AZT (increased Ki/Km of 7.1- and 4.3-fold, respectively), but also decreased excision of TFV and AZT (0.7- and 0.3-fold, respectively) when compared with wild-type RT. By contrast, TAMs mediated increased TFV and AZT excision (11- and 5.4-fold, respectively), and showed no changes in binding/incorporation. When these mutations were combined, K65R reversed TAM-mediated AZT resistance by strongly reducing AZT excision. Molecular modelling studies suggest that K65R creates additional hydrogen bonds that reduce the conformational mobility of RT, resulting in reduced polymerization and excision. Thus, consistent with clinical HIV-1 genotyping data, there appears to be no net NRTI resistance benefit for TAMs and K65R to develop together in patients taking AZT and TFV disoproxil fumarate, where the TAM pathway alone provides the greatest resistance for both drugs.
Effects of laser irradiation on collagen organization in chemically induced degenerative annulus fibrosus of lumbar intervertebral disc

The number of in vitro experimental studies was carried out with the use of intact tissues to establish a mechanism of laser–tissue interaction. However, in the process of degeneration, both biochemical composition and behavior of the disc were altered drastically. The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of the main matrix components in laser modification of annulus fibrosus (AF) under IR laser irradiation.
Intentional and emergent strategies: Analyzing the motivational and structural dynamics in online communications of political interest organizations

This article focuses on the motivational and structural dynamics of the online communication of political interest organizations. Instead of describing political interest organizations as fully rational players, we develop a theoretical framework that establishes an alternative view of political interest organizations by characterizing them as actors that are also dependent on their institutional environment. The basic assumption of this framework is that there is no unidirectional relationship between motives and structures and the online communication activities. Instead, there is a dynamic interplay of motives, structures, environmental conditions, and online communication. Against this theoretical framework, we discuss the findings from an interview study with communication executives of political interest organizations. The aim of this study was not to resolve the debate on whether political organizations communicate ‘strategically’ or not. Instead, we examined the motivational and structural dynamics that constitute the organizations’ online communications efforts.
Comparison of cloned Kir2 channels with native inward rectifier K+ channels from guinea‐pig cardiomyocytes

1 The aim of the study was to compare the properties of cloned Kir2 channels with the properties of native rectifier channels in guinea‐pig (gp) cardiac muscle. The cDNAs of gpKir2.1, gpKir2.2, gpKir2.3 and gpKir2.4 were obtained by screening a cDNA library from guinea‐pig cardiac ventricle. 2 A partial genomic structure of all gpKir2 genes was deduced by comparison of the cDNAs with the nucleotide sequences derived from a guinea‐pig genomic library. 3 The cell‐specific expression of Kir2 channel subunits was studied in isolated cardiomyocytes using a multi‐cell RT‐PCR approach. It was found that gpKir2.1, gpKir2.2 and gpKir2.3, but not gpKir2.4, are expressed in cardiomyocytes. 4 Immunocytochemical analysis with polyclonal antibodies showed that expression of Kir2.4 is restricted to neuronal cells in the heart. 5 After transfection in human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293) the mean single‐channel conductance with symmetrical K+ was found to be 30.6 pS for gpKir2.1, 40.0 pS for gpKir2.2 and 14.2 pS for Kir2.3. 6 Cell‐attached measurements in isolated guinea‐pig cardiomyocytes (n= 351) revealed three populations of inwardly rectifying K+ channels with mean conductances of 34.0, 23.8 and 10.7 pS. 7 Expression of the gpKir2 subunits in Xenopus oocytes showed inwardly rectifying currents. The Ba2+ concentrations required for half‐maximum block at ‐100 mV were 3.24 μm for gpKir2.1, 0.51 μm for gpKir2.2, 10.26 μm for gpKir2.3 and 235 μm for gpKir2.4. 8 Ba2+ block of inward rectifier channels of cardiomyocytes was studied in cell‐attached recordings. The concentration and voltage dependence of Ba2+ block of the large‐conductance inward rectifier channels was virtually identical to that of gpKir2.2 expressed in Xenopus oocytes. 9 Our results suggest that the large‐conductance inward rectifier channels found in guinea‐pig cardiomyocytes (34.0 pS) correspond to gpKir2.2. The intermediate‐conductance (23.8 pS) and low‐conductance (10.7 pS) channels described here may correspond to gpKir2.1 and gpKir2.3, respectively.
Effects of psychological stress test on the cardiac response of public safety workers: alternative parameters to autonomic balance

It is well known that public safety workers (PSW) face many stressful situations that yield them as high-risk population for suffering chronic stress diseases. In this multidisciplinary research the cardiac response to induced psychological stress by a short duration Stroop test was evaluated in 20 female and 19 male PSW, in order to compare traditionally used cardiac response parameters with alternative ones. Electrocardiograms have been recorded using the Eindhoven electrodes configuration for 1 min before, 3 min during and 1 min after the test. Signals analysis has been performed for the heart rate and the power spectra of its variability and of the variability of the amplitude of the R-wave, i.e. the highest peak of the electrocardiographic signal periodic sequence. The results demonstrated that the traditional autonomic balance index shows no significant differences between stages. In contrast, the median of the area of the power spectrum of the R-wave amplitude variability in the frequency region dominated by the autonomous nervous system (0.04-to-0.4 Hz) is the more sensitive parameter. Moreover, this parameter allows to identify gender differences consistent with those encountered in other studies.
Trends in the incidence of non‐melanocytic skin cancer (NMSC) treated in Australia 1985–1995: Are primary prevention programs starting to have an effect?

Non‐melanocytic skin cancer (NMSC) is the most common cancer in Australia, but data on its incidence are not routinely collected by cancer registries. National surveys were conducted in 1985, 1990 and 1995 to estimate NMSC incidence. Trends in incidence between 1985 and 1995 have been examined to determine the impact of primary prevention campaigns aimed at controlling skin cancer in Australia. National random household surveys of Australians aged over 13 years were used to estimate NMSC incidence in 1985, 1990 and 1995. Age‐ and sex‐specific rates by survey year were modelled using Poisson regression. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) rates in 1995 were 788 per 100,000, an increase of 19% since 1985. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) rates rose by 93% over the same period, from 166 to 321 per 100,000. The ratio of BCC:SCC changed from 4:1 in 1985 to 2.5:1 in 1995. BCC rates in latitudes <29°S remained at about 3 times those in latitudes >37°S over the decade. The ratio of SCC incidence between these latitudes changed from around 7:1 to 3:1 over the same period. Although NMSC incidence rates continue to rise, there have been reductions in BCC observed in younger age groups. Incidence rates of NMSC continue to rise in Australia, but there is evidence of a reduction in BCC incidence in younger cohorts. This is evidence that public health campaigns to reduce sun exposure may be having a beneficial effect on skin cancer rates. Int. J. Cancer 78:144–148, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
St Jude Epic heart valve bioprostheses versus native human and porcine aortic valves - comparison of mechanical properties.

OBJECTIVES The major problem with heart valve bioprostheses made from chemically treated porcine aortic valves is their limited longevity caused by gradual deterioration, which has a causal link with valve tissue mechanical properties. To our best knowledge, there are no published studies on the mechanical properties of modern, commercially available bioprostheses comparing them to native human valves. The objective of this study is to determine the mechanical properties of St Jude Epic bioprostheses and to compare them with native human and porcine aortic valves. METHODS Leaflets from eight porcine aortic valves and six Epic bioprostheses were analyzed using uni-axial tensile tests in radial and circumferential directions. Mechanical properties of human valves have been previously published by our group. Results are represented as mean values+/-S.D. RESULTS Circumferential direction. Modulus of elasticity of Epic bioprostheses in circumferential direction at the level of stress 1.0 MPa is 101.99+/-58.24 MPa, 42.3+/-4.96 MPa for native porcine and 15.34+/-3.84 MPa for human aortic valves. Ultimate stress is highest for Epic bioprostheses 5.77+/-1.94 MPa, human valves have ultimate stress of 1.74+/-0.29 MPa and porcine 1.58+/-0.26 MPa. Ultimate strain in circumferential direction is highest for human valves 18.35+/-7.61% followed by 7.26+/-0.69% for porcine valves and 5.95+/-1.54% for Epic bioprostheses. Radial direction. Modulus of elasticity in radial direction is 9.18+/-1.81 MPa for Epic bioprostheses, 5.33+/-0.61 MPa for native porcine, and 1.98+/-0.15 MPa for human aortic valve leaflets. In the radial direction ultimate stress is highest for Epic bioprostheses 0.7+/-0.21 MPa followed by native porcine valves 0.55+/-0.11 MPa and 0.32+/-0.04 MPa for human valves. For human valves ultimate strain is 23.92+/-4.87%, for native porcine valves 8.57+/-0.8% and 7.92+/-1.74% for Epic bioprostheses. CONCLUSIONS Epic bioprostheses have non-linear stress-strain behavior similar to native valve tissue, but they are significantly stiffer and hence less elastic compared to native porcine and human aortic valves. These differences in mechanical properties may cause variations in stress distribution within leaflets of the bioprosthetic valves and accelerate their deterioration.