Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
[Is the low-sodium diet actually indicated for all patients with stable heart failure?].

BACKGROUND Although a low-sodium diet is indicated for heart failure HF, there is no evidence this dietary restriction is beneficial to all patients. OBJECTIVE To prospectively study the acute effectsof a low-sodium diet in patients (pts) with heart failure (HF). METHODS Fifty stable outpatients with mild to moderate HF who reported previously consuming 6.6 g table salt/day were studied. In Phase 1, all pts were submitted to a diet with 2 g of salt during 7 days, followed by randomization in 2 subgroups (Phase 2): one to receive 6 g of salt (subgroup 1) and the other, 2 g of salt/day for 7 days (subgroup II). RESULTS Phase 1: the diet with 2 g of salt reduced the BMI, plasma and urinary sodium, protein consumption, iron, zinc, selenium and vitamin B12; it increased plasma levels of norepinephrine, nitrate, serum aldosterone and improved quality of life. Phase 2: for pts with low BMI, the use of 6 g salt/day acutely decreased the levels of norepinephrine, albumin and cholesterol in plasma. No difference was observed in pts with higher BMI. CONCLUSION The diet with 2 g salt/day for pts with HF increased the neurohormonal activation associated to HF progression. The BMI can influence the response to the neurohormonal activation in a low-sodium diet in pts with HF. Further studies to test salt restriction for longer periods are recommended.
Breast self examination practices among female secondary school teachers in a rural community in Oyo State, Nigeria

The objective of the study was to assess female secondary school teachers’ knowledge and attitude of breast self examination (BSE) and to describe the extent of practice of breast self examination among them. This study employed a descriptive design and data was collected with the aid of validated semi structured questionnaire from 100 female teachers in all the five secondary schools in Oko, Oyo State, and analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences. The result showed that 82% of the respondents were aware of breast self examination practices and their source of this information was from mass media (55%) and friends (25%). Fifty-four respondents had poor knowledge of BSE and 48% had negative attitude towards practice of BSE and majority (62%) had a low practice. The study however, revealed that majority of the respondents who practice BSE do not know what to look for. The results further showed that, there is no significant relationship between age of the respondents and their awareness (X2 = 8.322; p = 0.0800; df = 4) and knowledge (X2 = 14.501; p = 0.264 and df = 8) of breast self examination. This study concluded that there is poor knowledge and attitude towards BSE practice among the secondary school teachers in Oko community and with unsatisfactory practice. It therefore, suggests that breast awareness campaign and self efficacy development is important for teachers in secondary schools to aid early detection and better prognosis of breast cancer in this community, and this will have a multiplier effect on female secondary school girls.
Pour une économie sociale revisitée

D les annees 80, un interet croissant se manifeste pour les organisations qui n’appartiennent ni au secteur prive a but lucratif, ni au secteur public. Differentes approches ont ete developpees pour apprehender ce « troisieme secteur» : a l’echelle internationale, c’est sans doute l’approche d’origine americaine en termes de «non-profit sector» qui est la plus repandue, mais celle-ci n’est pas sans poser probleme quand il s’agit de rendre compte des specificites europeennes du troisieme secteur (1). En tout cas, dans les regions francophones d’Europe comme au Quebec, ce sont les concepts d’economie sociale et d’economie solidaire qui se sont imposes et leur usage s’etend bien au-dela de ces contrees, en Europe mais aussi en Amerique latine.
Survey on Single image Super Resolution Techniques

Super-resolution is the process of recovering a high-resolution image from multiple low- resolutionimages of the same scene. The key objective of super-resolution (SR) imaging is to reconstruct a higher-resolution image based on a set of images, acquired from the same scene and denoted as 'low- resolution' images, to overcome the limitation and/or ill-posed conditions of the image acquisition process for facilitating better content visualization and scene recognition. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive review of existing super-resolution techniques and highlight the future research challenges. This includes the formulation of an observation model and coverage of the dominant algorithm - Iterative back projection.We critique these methods and identify areas which promise performance improvements. In this paper, future directions for super-resolution algorithms are discussed. Finally results of available methods are given.
HIERARCHICAL ORGANIZATION OF GENETIC VARIATION IN THE SAILFIN MOLLY, POECILIA LATIPINNA (PISCES: POECILIIDAE)

Twenty‐two percent of all allozyme variation documented in the sailfin molly (Poecilia latipinna) was attributable to regional differences, while only 3% was attributable to differences among demes within regions. Of the variation documented in a given region, 6–12% was attributable to variation among demes. Cluster analyses supported these conclusions quantitatively. Spatial‐autocorrelation analyses offered more explicit support: demes separated by increasingly greater distances were increasingly dissimilar. Analyses using F statistics and rare alleles suggest “effective gene flow rates” (the product of effective population size and gene flow rate) of approximately 4, a level more than sufficient to prevent local independence of gene‐frequency dynamics. These results, taken together, suggest that mollies do not have a population structure conducive to the operation of Wright's shifting‐balance process and make the striking patterns of interdemic variation in body size and sexual behavior observed in this species all the more interesting.
Level of α‐catenin expression in colorectal cancer correlates with invasiveness, metastatic potential, and survival

Background and Objectives: Decreased expression of the E‐cadherin/α‐catenin cell–cell adhesion complex is considered to elicit detachment of tumor cells from primary lesions and development of metastases. The immunohistochemical profile of α‐catenin in colorectal cancer, as well as its correlation with differentiation, lymph node/liver metastasis and patient survival is presented in this study.
Antiviral effect of flavonoids on human viruses

The effect of several naturally occurring dietary flavonoids including quercetin, naringin, hesperetin, and catechin on the infectivity and replication of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV‐I), polio‐virus type 1, parainfluenza virus type 3 (Pf‐3), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was studied in vitro in cell culture monolayers employing the technique of viral plaque reduction. Quercetin caused a concentration‐dependent reduction in the infectivity of each virus. In addition, it reduced intracellular replication of each virus when monolayers were infected and subsequently cultured in medium containing quercetin. Preincubation of tissue culture cell monolayers with quercetin did not affect the ability of the viruses to infect or replicate in the tissue culture monolayers. Hesperetin had no effect on infectivity but it reduced intracellular replication of each of the viruses. Catechin inhibited the infectivity but not the replication of RSV and HSV‐1 and had negligible effects on the other viruses. Naringin had no effect on either the infectivity or the replication of any of the viruses studied. Thus, naturally occurring flavonoids possess a variable spectrum of antiviral activity against certain RNA (RSV, Pf‐3, polio) and DNA (HSV‐1) viruses acting to inhibit infectivity and/or replication.
Composition of the Essential Oil of Wild Growing Artemisia vulgaris from Erie, Pennsylvania

Essential Oil from wild growing Artemisia vulgaris L. originating in Erie, Pennsylvania was obtained by hydrodistillation of the aerial parts of the plant. Gas chromatographic-mass spectral analysis was used to identify the major volatiles present. Up to 22 components were detected in the essential oils. Germacrene D (25%), Caryophyllene (20%), α-Zingiberene (15%) and Borneol (11%) represent the major components of leaf oil, while the buds were rich in 1,8-Cineole (32%), Camphor (16%), Borneol (9%), and Caryophyllene (5%). trans-2-Hexenal was also detected in the aerial parts of the plant. α-Zingiberene and trans-2-Hexenal have not been previously reported for Artemisia vulgaris L. The major analytes are compared to those from Artemisia vulgaris L, originating outside of the United States.
LA-DCF: A new multiple access protocol for ad-hoc wireless networks

Abstract: This paper describes the pros and cons of several generations of wireless multiple access protocols and describes a new protocol Logarithmic Arbitration  Distributed Coordination Function (LA-DCF) which uses Binary Logarithmic Arbitration Method (BLAM) optimization techniques to reduce delay and loss, and is designed particularly for integrated service environments. It simulates the ineffective performance of IEEE802.11 DCF for real-time data in an ad-hoc environment, and shows how LA-DCF meets the tolerances of adaptive real-time applications.
An early case of neuromyelitis optica: on a forgotten report by Jacob Lockhart Clarke, FRS

We discuss a forgotten report by the famous British neuroanatomist, neuropathologist and neurologist Jacob Augustus Lockhart Clarke (1817–1880) about a 17-year-old girl with bilateral optic neuritis and longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis. This report, which appeared in 1865, i.e. 15 years prior to Wilhelm Erb’s much-cited paper on the coincidence of optic neuritis and acute myelitis, represents the first known account of a case of Devic’s syndrome or neuromyelitis optica in the English-language medical literature.
Recall discriminability: Utility of a new CVLT–II measure in the differential diagnosis of dementia

Memory tests that are in a recall format have almost universally measured accuracy in terms of the number of target items reported by the examinee. However, this traditional scoring method can, in certain cases, result in artificially inflated memory accuracy scores. That is, just as a “yes” response bias and high false-positive rate on recognition testing can artificially inflate a patient's hit rate, so, too, a liberal response bias and high intrusion rate on recall testing can artificially inflate a patient's level of target recall. Recognition tests correct for this problem by using a discriminability measure that provides a single score of hit rate relative to false-positive rate; however, recall tests rarely provide a single score of recall accuracy that corrects for intrusion rate. In the present study, we examined the utility of a new recall discriminability measure that analyzes target recall relative to intrusion rate. Patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) or Huntington's disease (HD) were administered the CVLT–II, which provides both the traditional measure of target recall and a new measure of recall discriminability. The results indicate that the new recall discriminability measure was superior to the traditional level of target recall measure in distinguishing the recall performance of AD and HD patients. Implications of these results for clinical practice and theories of memory disorder in dementia are discussed. (JINS, 2005, 11, 708–715.)
MASS: Editor for mobile ad-hoc network scenarios

Mobile ad-hoc network research tackles many different environments. In all of them, node mobility is a determining factor, because credibility of the experiments in this subject is strongly related to the realism of the scenario. For that reason, a lot of effort has gone into designing realistic mobility models and gathering real world mobility traces. However, these scenarios are scarce and difficult to examine. With the purpose of building more complete benchmarks, researchers may want to modify them or obtain derived situations. The MASS editor is designed to ease the laborious task of editing MANET scenarios. In this paper, we present the first version, showing its potential. In addition, a markup language MASS-ML is defined with the purpose of standardizing MANET descriptions.
Neuromarkers and unconventional biological fluids

There is a growing evidence on the use of biomarkers in daily practice both as of markers of brain/multiorgan damage and/or trophic factors. However, among different tools, Activin A, S100B protein, and Hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1 or Heat Shock Protein 32, HSP32) assessment offer the possibility to investigate brain/multiorgan function and development. This could be especially useful in perinatal medicine that requires even more noninvasive techniques to fulfill the minimal handling diagnostic and therapeutic strategy. In this regard, among different biological fluids, human milk for its unique composition can constitute a wide source of knowledge useful both in clinical daily practice and in research.Therefore, this mini-review reports recent data on the presence and the usefulness of Activin A, S100B protein, and HO-1/HSP32 assessment in human milk as brain/multiorgan development markers. Results open up a new cue on the use of these markers in perinatal medicine as a key protein for investigations focusing on fetal/neonatal development.
The effect of hysterectomy on the risk of an abnormal screening Papanicolaou test result.

OBJECTIVE Our aim was to determine the risk of cytologic abnormality on a screening Papanicolaou test for women >/=50 years old with and without a uterine cervix. STUDY DESIGN The effect of hysterectomy on abnormal screening Papanicolaou test rates was determined in a cross-sectional analysis of 21,152 women aged >/=50 years who had screening Papanicolaou tests between January and August 1995. We then conducted a nested 1:1 case-control study of 172 case patients and 172 age-matched randomly selected control patients from the cohort. To control for potential confounders, conditional logistic regression was used to assess the effect of hysterectomy status on the risk of an abnormal Papanicolaou test. RESULTS Compared with age-matched women with a uterine cervix, those who had a hysterectomy had a 10-fold lower risk of a screening Papanicolaou test abnormality (odds ratio 0.09, 95% confidence interval 0.02-0.24). The risk was further reduced among women taking estrogens (odds ratio 0.02, 95% confidence interval 0.004-0.14) compared with women not using estrogens (odds ratio 0.14, 95% confidence interval 0.04-0.56). CONCLUSIONS The reduced risk of Papanicolaou test abnormalities among women aged >/=50 years who have had a hysterectomy should be considered when individual patients are being counseled, screening guidelines are being formulated, and health care resources are being allocated.
I/sub DDQ/ test method based on wavelet transformation for noisy current measurement environment

An I/sub DDQ/ test method is proposed in this paper, which is applicable even if supply current measurement is impaired by noise. Wavelet transformation is used for noise elimination in the test method. In this paper, it is shown by some experiments that bridging faults will be detected by using the proposed test method. Since expert knowledge on filter design is not needed in noise elimination of the I/sub DDQ/ test method, it is expected that the test method will be used in many I/sub DDQ/ tests.
Vascular rhexis: loss of integrity of coronary vasculature in mice subjected to myocardial infarction

We previously observed gross hemorrhage in plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) knockout (PKO) mice with induced myocardial infarction (MI). We hypothesized that it reflected degradation of vessels – a phenomenon we termed vascular rhexis. Accordingly, in the present study we characterized vascular rhexis in C57BL6 mice. MI was induced in 10- to 12-week-old mice by coronary artery ligation for 24, 48, 72 or 96 h. Hemorrhage was quantified by non-cross-reacting enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of left ventricular (LV) hemoglobin corrected for myoglobin. Degradation of vasculature was quantified by the appearance of alpha smooth muscle actin (αSMA) in low salt soluble fractions of LV homogenates (Western blotting) and by immunohistochemistry (residual αSMA). Co-staining for CD31 (endothelial cells) and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling (TUNEL) (a marker of cell death) was used to identify capillary rhexis. PKO mice (n = 9) had marked hemorrhage in infarct zones (432 ± 27 standard error of mean µL blood/g). Hemorrhage was evident in C57BL6 mice as well (n = 6): 51 ± 8 μL/g LV 96 h after coronary occlusion compared with 10 ± 5 μL /g, n = 13 in normal LVs. Residual intact vasculature was reduced 48 h after infarction. Thus, an average of 16 ± 1.6 small- and medium-sized vessels (n = 5 hearts) were seen compared with 84 ± 4.8 in normal LVs (n = 3, P ≤ 0.05). An approximately three-fold increase in soluble αSMA 48 h after MI (2.68 ± 0.28, n = 6) was seen relative to that in normal LVs defined as 1.0 ± 0.04, n = 10, P ≤ 0.05. Capillary degradation was evident as well, as judged from CD31 and TUNEL co-localization. Vascular rhexis occurs within 48 h after the onset of MI. It may contribute to the early no-reflow phenomenon and to late negative LV remodeling.
Broad categories for the diagnosis of eating disorders (BCD-ED): an alternative system for classification.

OBJECTIVE Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS), a residual category in DSM-IV, is the most commonly used eating disorder diagnosis in clinical settings. A diagnostic scheme, termed Broad Categories for the Diagnosis of Eating Disorders (BCD-ED), is proposed to diminish use of the EDNOS category while preserving the existing eating disorder categories. The objective of this review was to examine the advantages and disadvantages of adopting this scheme for DSM-V. METHOD We reviewed published studies to assess the proportion of individuals with DSM-IV EDNOS that would be reclassified under the BCD-ED system, support for the hierarchy of the three categories, and the potential risk of "overdiagnosis. " RESULTS Adopting the BCD-ED scheme would have both advantages and disadvantages, but would likely substantially reduce the number of individuals who would receive an EDNOS diagnosis. DISCUSSION BCD-ED is a potential method of addressing the high frequency of EDNOS, but would be a major change in how eating disorders are categorized.
Mimicking the action of GroEL in molecular dynamics simulations: Application to the refinement of protein structures

Bacterial chaperonin, GroEL, together with its co‐chaperonin, GroES, facilitates the folding of a variety of polypeptides. Experiments suggest that GroEL stimulates protein folding by multiple cycles of binding and release. Misfolded proteins first bind to an exposed hydrophobic surface on GroEL. GroES then encapsulates the substrate and triggers its release into the central cavity of the GroEL/ES complex for folding. In this work, we investigate the possibility to facilitate protein folding in molecular dynamics simulations by mimicking the effects of GroEL/ES namely, repeated binding and release, together with spatial confinement. During the binding stage, the (metastable) partially folded proteins are allowed to attach spontaneously to a hydrophobic surface within the simulation box. This destabilizes the structures, which are then transferred into a spatially confined cavity for folding. The approach has been tested by attempting to refine protein structural models generated using the ROSETTA procedure for ab initio structure prediction. Dramatic improvements in regard to the deviation of protein models from the corresponding experimental structures were observed. The results suggest that the primary effects of the GroEL/ES system can be mimicked in a simple coarse‐grained manner and be used to facilitate protein folding in molecular dynamics simulations. Furthermore, the results support the assumption that the spatial confinement in GroEL/ES assists the folding of encapsulated proteins.
Risk factors for genital papillomavirus infection in populations at high and low risk for cervical cancer.

This study sought to determine risk factors for genital infection with papillomavirus (HPV) in Panamanian women 20-49 years old. Subjects were randomly selected from Herrera and Panama provinces (cervical cancer incidence 79 and 25/100,000, respectively). Participants were interviewed to determine sexual behavior. Cervicovaginal lavage specimens were obtained to test for HPV DNA by commercial dot blot hybridization. HPV-16/18 DNA was detected significantly more frequently (5%) in Panama than Herrera (2%) samples (P = .002). Clearly, infection with high-risk HPV types alone cannot account for the differences in cervical cancer incidence between the two populations. HPV-16/18 detection decreased with increasing years of sexual experience among all women in Panama and among women with multiple partners in Herrera. However, HPV-16/18 detection did not change with sexual experience among monogamous women in Herrera. Thus, the epidemiology of HPV is complex and reflects both virus- and population-specific factors.
Case Base Size and Overall Competence : Incremental Increase and Similarity Threshold Selection on a Data Set

This paper builds on prior case-based reasoning (CBR) research into the effect of incremental increase of case library size on overall system competence. We explore the effect of gradually increasing the size of the case base on the total accuracy of a CBR algorithm, using a large numeric data set as an example. We use a standard mathematical definition of system competence in our study of the data set and compare these results to those obtained in prior research on several other sets. We also use a strategy for adjusting the size of the similarity threshold, or maximum distance between a test case and a training point for which the match between the two can be considered successful. This makes use of both data normalization and consideration of maximum possible error. As expected, increasing the size of the case library had the effect of increasing competence and accuracy, but this technique did not always produce the most intuitive results.
Representation Theory on Vector Error Correction Models with Nonlinear Adjustments ( DRAFT )

This paper studies the partial extensions to the Granger Representation Theorem for nonlinear cointegrated systems. The analysis focuses on Vector Error Correction models with nonlinear adjustments using both Markov chain theory, similar to Bec and Rahbek (2002), and Near Epoch Dependence processes, similar Escribano and Mira (2002). The paper shows that these two strands in the literature of asymptotic theory on dynamic nonlinear models are closely linked, particularly on stochastic stability conditions (e.g. Lyapunov exponents). I would like to thank Jeremy Smith for constructive comments. Obviously, any erros remains mine. yAddress: Department of Economics, University of Warwick, Coventry-UK, CV4 7AL. email: M.R. Dupleich-Ulloa@warwick.ac. uk