Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hyperhomocysteinemia and its relationship to cardiovascular disease in ESRD: influence of hypoalbuminemia, malnutrition, inflammation, and diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND In the general population, a mildly elevated plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) level is an independent and graded risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). In patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), CVD is highly prevalent and a major cause of premature mortality, and plasma tHcy levels are as much as three to four times greater than in the general population. Several other risk factors, such as diabetes mellitus (DM), inflammation, and malnutrition, also are prevalent and contribute to CVD in patients with ESRD, and there are strong associations between inflammation, malnutrition, and hypoalbuminemia in these patients. Several investigations in patients with ESRD have shown the important role of vitamin status for plasma tHcy, but little attention has been given to the influence of nutritional status. However, it is obvious that hypoalbuminemia is of interest because a substantial fraction of tHcy (>70%) is protein bound, mainly to albumin. RESULTS In studies of patients with ESRD in whom the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia was very high (>90%), tHcy level was strongly related to serum albumin level, and patients with malnutrition had lower levels of both tHcy and serum albumin than those with normal nutritional status. Furthermore, inflammation, DM, and CVD are associated with hypoalbuminemia and therefore a lower degree of hyperhomocysteinemia. In our studies, in different groups of patients with ESRD, we showed that greater tHcy levels were associated with lower CVD mortality. However, this apparently paradoxical association between lower CVD mortality and lower plasma tHcy levels (although still abnormally high) does not refute the concept that hyperhomocysteinemia is a risk factor for CVD because almost all patients may have had long-standing elevated plasma tHcy levels within a range that makes them prone to develop atherosclerosis. Instead, a potentially detrimental effect of hyperhomocysteinemia on CVD in patients with ESRD may be obscured by the influence of hypoalbuminemia, whatever the cause, because hypoalbuminemia and its causes are strong predictors of mortality. CONCLUSION Our findings imply that nutritional status and serum albumin level, as well as the presence of inflammation and DM, should be taken into consideration when evaluating tHcy as a risk factor for CVD in patients with ESRD.
Bone tumors: osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma are the two most common primary malignant bone tumors in children and account for approximately 6% of all childhood malignancies. Treatment methods have seen significant advancements, particularly in regard to chemotherapy and limb-sparing surgery. These advancements have led to increased survival rate. With many long-term survivors, it is important to evaluate long-term patient outcomes following treatment, including function and health-related quality of life. We will review the current trends in treatment of these diseases, different reconstructive options available, and the methods and results for evaluating the long-term results. RECENT FINDINGS There have been many improvements in the medical treatment of these tumors leading to increasing long-term survival. There have also been improvements in reconstructive techniques for the maintenance of functional extremities in these patients. Newer evaluation methods for both functional outcome and health-related quality of life measures that are more specific to children and adolescents are being developed and in use. SUMMARY This report will provide an overview of the current treatment options and long-term complications in primary malignant bone tumors for the pediatrician caring for a child with these problems.
Imaging and Pathologic Characterization of the Skin Thickening or Enhancement under the Breast MRI

As breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is being used more frequently to screening and diagnosis of breast malignancies, we often encounter various breast skin lesions appearing as skin thickening or enhancement. Although numerous studies have reported about the breast parenchymal lesions, the dermal lesions of the breast have largely been overlooked. The breast skin lesions may be incidental findings to be ignored, but sometimes the lesions are associated with breast cancer or other malignancies. Occasionally, the skin thickening or enhancement of the breast on MRI is the only finding to raise concern for tumor recurrence at the mastectomy site, treated or reconstructed breast of the breast cancer patient. In this article, we discuss the normal findings of the breast skin on MRI and demonstrate a spectrum of dermal lesions of the breast range from benign to malignant entities.
Abnormal dose-response melatonin suppression by light in bipolar type I patients compared with healthy adult subjects

Objective: Among potential endophenotypes proposed for bipolar affective disorder focusing on circadian abnormalities associated with the illness has particularly high face validity. Melatonin sensitivity to light is one circadian endophenotype proposed as useful in bipolar disorder. The aim of this study was to investigate melatonin sensitivity to light over a range of light intensities in order to compare and contrast responses in bipolar I patients with those of healthy adult volunteers. Methods: The study included seven patients (4 females, 3 males) with bipolar I disorder and 34 control participants (22 females, 12 males) with no personal or family history of affective illness. Melatonin sensitivity to light was determined in all patients and participants across a range of light intensities (0, 200, 500 and 1000 lux). Results: The results indicated that patients showed melatonin super-sensitivity to light in comparison with controls, a response that was consistent across the entire light intensity range investigated. Conclusion: The study provides further evidence for a super sensitive response in bipolar I patients and suggests that its potential usefulness as an endophenotypic marker of the illness is deserving of further research.
Early CPAP use identifies subsequent adherence to CPAP therapy.

STUDY OBJECTIVES To explore the relationship between specific factors such as sex and early continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) use, and 30-day adherence to CPAP therapy. DESIGN AND SETTING Retrospective study conducted at a single center in southeast Michigan. PATIENTS One hundred patients with obstructive sleep apnea who were recently initiated on CPAP therapy with electronic adherence information relayed from the CPAP device to a laboratory-based computer through telephone modem. INTERVENTIONS N/A. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS An empiric threshold value of objective CPAP use of greater than 4 hours per night measured 3 days following CPAP initiation was predictive of level of CPAP adherence measured 30 days later. Furthermore, CPAP adherence was directly proportional to age (R = 0.25, P = .018). There were no sex-related differences in adherence to CPAP therapy. CONCLUSIONS Long-term adherence to CPAP therapy can be predicted as early as 3 days following CPAP initiation. The study also demonstrates that younger age and African-American race are independently associated with lower CPAP adherence.
Hilbert vs. exponential Kernel functionals for Nonlocal Means image filtering

The present work introduces a new alternative to change the classical exponential kernel function used in Nonlocal Means (NLM) methods to deal with digital image filtering. The idea is based on the premise that making a good selection or estimation of the bandwidth parameter h is difficult and there are some other kernels which have another equivalent parameters to be selected into a more easiest way. A First method is obtained, when using an optimal manner proposed in nonparametric estimation literature to estimate h to tune the exponential kernel function. And a second proposed method, is to change the exponential function by the so called Hilbert function where one must to choose a parameter d. This Hilbert function is used for the first time in the NLM framework. Finally, the obtained filtering results reveals, that the NLM Hilbert kernel approach gives similar performance to other approaches according to recent reported results in literature, and the first proposed methodology is restricted by the estimation of h.
Management of and risk factors related to hepatotoxicity during tuberculosis treatment.

INTRODUCTION Hepatotoxicity is one of the most frequent adverse events occurring during tuberculosis treatment that may negatively affect treatment compliance, clinical outcome. This study was designed to evaluate management, risk factors related to hepatotoxicity during tuberculosis treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS Hospitalized patients for tuberculosis treatment at Sureyyapasa Chest Diseases, and Chest Surgery Training and Research Hospital were included, between January 2004 and December 2007. Prevalence of hepatotoxicity, risk factors were evaluated among tuberculosis patients under anti-tuberculosis treatment according to World Health Organization (WHO) guideline. Hepatotoxicity was defined any elevated liver function tests with accompanying symptoms. Age, gender, past history of anti-tuberculosis treatment, extensity of radiological findings, co-morbid disorders and drug resistance were the risk factors evaluated in terms of development and recurrence of hepatotoxicity. RESULTS Of 1443 patients (38.37 ± 16.74 years; 64.5% were males), 106 (7.3%) was identified to develop hepatotoxicity on an average of 20 days after beginning treatment and lasting an average of 14 days. Hepatotoxicity for once in 78.3% (n= 83) of patients and more than once in 21.7% (n= 23) patients. All anti-tuberculosis drugs was continued at full dosage after the normalization of liver enzyme in 76.4% (n= 81). In recurrence a step-by-step treatment was re-started by exclusion of responsible drug/s. Treatment was administered without modification of WHO regimes in 79.2%. Pyrazinamide was omitted in 15 cases while rifampicin only in one patient. Triple drug regimen with isoniazid, ethambutol and streptomycin was used in six cases. Quinolon was added to treatment only in one patient. Presence of a co-morbidity was determined to be significant predictor of hepatotoxicity development OR= 3.093 (CI= 1.95-4.89; p= 0.000) past history of anti-tuberculosis treatment was significantly associated with recurrence (p= 0.027). There was no hepatotoxicity dependent mortality. CONCLUSION Hepatotoxicity can be successfully management of hepatotoxicity without second line tuberculosis drugs in ongoing treatment regime.
Chürg-Strauss syndrome

Chürg-Strauss Syndrome was described in 1951 and it is characterized by asthma, fever, hypereosinophilia and vasculitis. In 1990, following the discussion of several proposals for its classification, the American College of Rheumatology established its diagnostic criteria. A 55 year-old female patient was seen recently at the Military Hospital in Bogotá, Colombia, with leucocytoclastic vasculitis, wheezing, pulmonary infiltrates and hypereosinophilia, who met all the criteria to be classified as a Chürg-Strauss patient. (Acta Med Colomb 2005; 30: 117-122)
The Polish Summaries Corpus

This article presents the Polish Summaries Corpus, a new resource created to support the development and evaluation of the tools for automated single-document summarization of Polish. The Corpus contains a large number of manual summaries of news articles, with many independently created summaries for a single text. Such approach is supposed to overcome the annotator bias, which is often described as a problem during the evaluation of the summarization algorithms against a single gold standard. There are several summarizers developed specifically for Polish language, but their in-depth evaluation and comparison was impossible without a large, manually created corpus. We present in detail the process of text selection, annotation process and the contents of the corpus, which includes both abstract free-word summaries, as well as extraction-based summaries created by selecting text spans from the original document. Finally, we describe how that resource could be used not only for the evaluation of the existing summarization tools, but also for studies on the human summarization process in Polish language.
Cyber threats in social networking websites

A social network is a social structure made up of individuals or organizations called nodes, which are connected by one or more specific types of interdependency, such as friendship, common interest, and exchange of finance, relationships of beliefs, knowledge or prestige. A cyber threat can be both unintentional and intentional, targeted or non targeted, and it can come from a variety of sources, including foreign nations engaged in espionage and information warfare, criminals, hackers, virus writers, disgruntled employees and contractors working within an organization. Social networking sites are not only to communicate or interact with other people globally, but also one effective way for business promotion. In this paper, we investigate and study the cyber threats in social networking websites. We go through the amassing history of online social websites, classify their types and also discuss the cyber threats, suggest the anti-threats strategies and visualize the future trends of such hoppy popular websites.
Neue Rentenformel: mehr Gerechtigkeit und weniger Altersarmut

Die gesetzliche Rentenversicherung ist nach dem Prinzip der Teilhabe-Aquivalenz aufgebaut. Dies soll bewirken, dass die Rentenanspruche in einer bestimmten Relation zu den gezahlten Beitragen stehen, also vorrangig keine Umverteilung stattfindet. In Wahrheit gibt es jedoch eine massive Umverteilung zu Gunsten der Bezieher hoherer Erwerbseinkommen, die aufgrund ihrer statistisch hoheren Lebenserwartung eine langere Renten- Bezugsdauer aufweisen. Wird die Lebenserwartung in der Rentenformel berucksichtigt, fuhrt dies nicht nur zu einer hoheren Verteilungsneutralitat, sondern auch zu deutlich weniger Altersarmut unter langjahrigen Beitragszahlern.
Robust fault detection filter design for uncertain linear discrete time-varying systems

In this paper, we study the fault detection filter (FDF) design problem for linear discrete time-varying (LDTV) systems with model uncertainties and norm bounded unknown inputs. An alternative indefinite quadratic performance criterion is introduced in lieu of the standard H∞ performance, and the design issue is converted to an optimization problem of finding the positive minimum of the new defined criterion under a fixed condition. By introducing a corresponding state-space model in Krein space, the projection technique is used to solve the reformulated optimization problem. A recursive algorithm and an explicit condition for the existence of this FDF are obtained. An example is given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
A Hybrid Query Engine for the Structural Analysis of Java and AspectJ Programs

Graphical representation has long been used in the domain of software engineering to provide comprehension aids. Generic and query-based code browsers have contributed towards program comprehension through the provision of high-level customized structural views of the source code. Some research has already focused on combining the advantages of the two techniques through the representation of high-level query-based views using different data visualization techniques. However, little has been done towards the visualization of the query composition process itself. In this paper we develop a query engine for software structural analysis which provides a visual query interface over a high-level textual query language to eliminate the requirement for understanding the query language syntax. Our implementation is provided as an Eclipse plug-in, namely HyQ4J (which stands for hybrid query for Java).
2-27-2019 VOT merger and f 0 contrast in Heritage Korean in California

Recordings of read speech in Korean and English were made by native South Koreans and Korean Americans of varying generational status ("second-generation" American-born or "1.5-generation" foreign-born) and analyzed for differences in usage of VOT and fundamental frequency to contrast production of Korean lenis and aspirated stops and affricates. Results show that second-generation Korean speakers, especially females, are not showing the collapse of VOT contrast found in the other two groups, which is part of a sound change nearing completion in Seoul. Female second-generation speakers are also not using f0 to differentiate between the stops to the extent that firstand 1.5-generation speakers are. It is concluded that second generation Korean Americans are not participating in the sound change that their same-age peers in Seoul are, and that second generation and 1.5 generation Korean Americans do not pattern together phonologically as a "heritage speaker" category. The analysis makes a stronger case for applying new models of language acquisition, speech production, and identity formation to heritage language speakers that differ from those used for bilingual speakers. This working paper is available in University of Pennsylvania Working Papers in Linguistics: https://repository.upenn. edu/pwpl/ vol25/iss1/9 VOT merger and f0 contrast in Heritage Korean in California
Revista Española de Financiación y Contabilidad (1985–1999): Un Análisis Retrospectivo

RESUMEN Es una tradición internacional que las principales revistas académicas sean objeto de estudios retrospectivos con motivo de la celebración de algún aniversario especial. Tras la publicación del número 100 de la Revista Española de Financiación y Contabilidad, este trabajo pretende aportar elementos descriptivos sobre los autores que han contribuido a la misma, así como sus instituciones, las: materias tratadas, las referencias bibliográficas, los artículos más citados y la percepción de calidad de esta revista entre profesores de contabilidad españoles.
Evidence for normal nitric oxide—mediated vasodilator tone in conscious rats with cirrhosis

Because it has been hypothesized that the hyperkinetic circulation in portal hypertension is the result of increased synthesis of nitric oxide, we compared the hemodynamic effects of nitric oxide synthesis—specific agonist (L‐arginine) and antagonist between normal and cirrhotic conscious rats. The dose‐response curves showed that L‐arginine significantly decreased arterial pressure and increased heart rate. These changes started at the 200 mg/kg dose and were similar in both groups of rats. In both groups of rats NG‐monomethyl—L‐arginine (25 mg/kg) significantly decreased cardiac output by 35%. In cirrhotic rats, NG‐monomethyl—Larginine decreased portal pressure from 15.3 ± 0.9 mm Hg to 13.6 ± 0.7 mm Hg and portal tributary blood flow from 7.8 ± 0.7 ml · min−1 · 100 gm−1 to 5.9 ± 0.7 ml · min−1 · 100 gm−; it significantly increased portal territory vascular resistance from 950 ± 108 dyn · sec · cm−5 · 100 gm−1 × 103 to 1,579 ± 258 dyn · sec · cm−5 · 100 gm−1 × 103. In normal rats, portal tributary blood flow decreased similarly, by 27%, and portal territory vascular resistance increased by 55%. In neither group was hepatic arterial blood flow altered. Before and after NG‐monomethyl‐L‐arginine administration, arterial cyclic GMP concentrations were not significantly different between normal and cirrhotic rats. In conclusion, this study shows evidence of a normal role for nitric oxide—mediated vasodilatation in rats with cirrhosis and that inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis reduces portal hypertension. These results did not support the hypothesis that nitric oxide synthesis is increased in cirrhosis. (HEPATOLOGY 1992;16:980–983.)
Oral apremilast in the treatment of active psoriatic arthritis: results of a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy and safety of apremilast, a novel, orally available small molecule that specifically targets phosphodiesterase 4, in the treatment of active psoriatic arthritis (PsA). METHODS This phase II, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study included the following: a 12-week treatment phase, with patients receiving placebo, apremilast 20 mg twice per day, or apremilast 40 mg once per day; a 12-week treatment-extension phase, with patients in the placebo group re-randomized to receive apremilast; and a 4-week observational phase after treatment cessation. The primary end point was the proportion of patients achieving the American College of Rheumatology criteria for 20% improvement (ACR20) at week 12. Safety assessments included adverse events (AEs), physical examinations, vital signs, laboratory parameters, and electrocardiograms. RESULTS Of the 204 patients with PsA who were randomized to a treatment group, 165 completed the treatment phase. At the end of the treatment phase (week 12), 43.5% of patients receiving apremilast 20 mg twice per day (P < 0.001) and 35.8% of those receiving 40 mg once per day (P = 0.002) achieved an ACR20 response, compared with 11.8% of those receiving placebo. At the end of the treatment-extension phase (week 24), >40% of patients in each group (patients receiving apremilast 20 mg twice per day, patients receiving apremilast 40 mg once per day, and patients in the placebo group re-randomized to receive apremilast) achieved the ACR20 level of improvement. Most patients in the treatment phase (84.3%) and treatment-extension phase (68.3%) reported ≥ 1 AE. Diarrhea, headache, nausea, fatigue, and nasopharyngitis were reported most frequently; most events were mild or moderate. No clinically relevant laboratory or electrocardiographic abnormalities were reported. CONCLUSION Treatment with apremilast at a dosage of 20 mg twice per day or 40 mg once per day demonstrated efficacy in comparison with placebo and was generally well tolerated in patients with active PsA. The balance of efficacy, tolerability, and safety supports further study of apremilast in PsA.
Obestatin levels are associated with C-peptide and antiinsulin antibodies at the onset, whereas unacylated and acylated ghrelin levels are not predictive of long-term metabolic control in children with type 1 diabetes.

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE Ghrelin secretion is altered at the onset and after the start of insulin therapy in children with type 1 diabetes. Contemporary regulation of acylated ghrelin (AG), unacylated ghrelin (UAG), and obestatin (OBST) remains undefined in this disease. It is unknown as to whether they could be good predictors of changes in glucose and metabolic control. DESIGN, SETTING, AND SUBJECTS This was a longitudinal study conducted in a tertiary care center. AG, UAG, and OBST were measured at baseline and after 2 years of follow-up in 51 children and adolescents with a history of type 1 diabetes extending beyond 1 year. A total of 33 healthy matched subjects were used as controls. RESULTS Age-, puberty-, and body mass index-adjusted UAG levels were lower (P < .005) and OBST levels were higher (P < .009) in children with type 1 diabetes, with respect to controls. AG levels were similar to controls, but all ratios of the three peptides are altered in diabetic patients. OBST (P < .05) was negatively correlated with C-peptide (P < .05) and insulin antibodies (P < .008) at the onset of diabetes. In diabetic patients, baseline AG and UAG levels were negatively correlated with insulin dosage in the short and long term (P < .001). AG, but not OBST, was positively correlated with C-peptide levels 2 years after diagnosis (P < .05). Overall, the peptides were not predictive of glucose and metabolic control. CONCLUSIONS UAG, AG, OBST, and their ratios are differently regulated in children with type 1 diabetes, suggesting a role in the metabolic balance of the disease, with insulin a likely regulator of AG and UAG. The peptides do not appear to be good long-term predictors of glucose control, with further investigations needed to explain whether OBST could be a precocious predictor of islet dysfunction.