Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effervescent tablets: a safe and practical delivery system for drug administration

Effervescence is defined as the evolution of gas bubbles from a liquid as a result of a chemical reaction. For medicinal use, effervescent tablets have specific characteristics that allow rapid adsorption of the intended drug. In this manner, a medication can be absorbed easily and effectively if it dissolves easily in water and is present at a sufficient dose. Common acids utilized for effervescent reactions are citric, malic, tartaric, adipic and fumaric acids. Citric acid is most commonly used for this application, which also adds a citrus-like taste to the products. Tartaric, adipic and fumaric acids are usually used in small amounts, due to their low water solubility. Effervescent tablets are used to simplify the handling of doses, provide optimal compatibility, promote superior and rapid absorption, increase a patient's liquid intake and circumvent the difficulty of swallow- ing large pills. This review defines effervescent tablets in terms of the technology and describes the advantages and disadvantages.
Efficacy of once-daily extended release quetiapine fumarate in patients with different levels of severity of generalized anxiety disorder

This study is a pooled, post-hoc analysis evaluating once-daily extended release quetiapine fumarate (quetiapine XR) monotherapy in patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Three previously reported positive, 8-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies evaluated quetiapine XR therapy (50, 150, 300 mg/day) in patients with GAD [Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) total score≥20]. Patients were stratified by baseline severity: HAM-A total score ≥22, ≥24, <26, ≥26, ≥28. We report HAM-A total score change, response (≥50% reduction in HAM-A total score), and remission (HAM-A total score⩽7 and ⩽9). Quetiapine XR significantly improved HAM-A total scores compared with placebo at Weeks 1 and 8 in the HAM-A ≥22, ≥24, and ≥26 cohorts (all doses), at Week 1 (all doses) and Week 8 (quetiapine XR 150 mg/day) in the <26 cohort, and at Week 1 (all doses) and Week 8 (quetiapine XR 50 and 150 mg/day) in the HAM-A≥28 group (P<0.05). Week 8 effect sizes for 50, 150, and 300 mg/day were as follows: 0.29, 0.47, 0.17 (HAM-A≥22); 0.35, 0.55, 0.22 (HAM-A≥24); 0.18, 0.32, 0.10 (HAM-A<26); 0.41, 0.59, 0.24 (HAM-A≥26); 0.60, 0.64, 0.22 (HAM-A≥28), respectively. Acute quetiapine XR monotherapy significantly improves anxiety compared with placebo in patients with moderate or severe GAD, with symptom improvements seen as early as Week 1.
Endoscopic Discectomy in Pediatric and Juvenile Lumbar Disc Herniations

Most herniated lumbar discs in children and adolescents respond to conservative treatment, but some young patients with persistent low back and neurological symptoms do not respond to noninvasive treatment and require operative treatment. Because the long-term results of disc surgery depend not only on the disc disease itself but also on the degree of surgical trauma, disc herniations in children and adolescents should be treated with minimally invasive procedures. We report our experience with four young patients aged 8–17 years with contained or small noncontained lumbar disc herniations who were treated by percutaneous endoscopic discectomy (PED). The clinical results were good to excellent in all four cases, with follow-up of 1 to 5 years. There were no complications, and the operation was tolerated well by the young patients. We recommend percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy in patients with contained or small uncontained disc herniations who do not respond to conservative treatment.
Automating Large-Scale Simulation Calibration to Real-World Sensor Data

Many key decisions and design policies are made using sophisticated computer simulations. However, these sophisticated computer simulations have several major problems. The two main issues are 1) gaps between the simulation model and the actual structure, and 2) limitations of the modeling engine’s capabilities. This dissertation’s goal is to address these simulation deficiencies by presenting a general automated process for tuning simulation inputs such that simulation output matches real world measured data. The automated process involves the following key components – 1) Identify a model that accurately estimates the real world simulation calibration target from measured sensor data; 2) Identify the key real world measurements that best estimate the simulation calibration target; 3) Construct a mapping from the most useful real world measurements to actual simulation outputs; 4) Build fast and effective simulation approximation models that predict simulation output using simulation input; 5) Build a relational model that captures inter variable dependencies between simulation inputs and outputs; and finally 6) Use the relational model to estimate the simulation input variables from the mapped sensor data, and use either the simulation model or approximate simulation model to fine tune input simulation parameter estimates towards the calibration system. The work in this dissertation individually validates and completes five out of the six calibration components with respect to the residential energy domain. Step 1 is satisfied by identifying the best model for predicting next hour residential electrical consumption, the calibration target. Step 2 is completed by identifying
Probabilistic Assurance of Constraint Fulfillment against Model Uncertainties and Disturbances

Abstract This paper addresses computations of a robustly safe region on the state space for uncertain constrained systems subject to disturbances based on a probabilistic approach. We first define a probabilistic output admissible (POA) set. This set is a subset of the state space which excludes with high probability initial states violating the constraint. Then, an algorithm for computing the POA set is developed based on a randomized technique. The utility of the POA set is demonstrated through a numerical simulation.
Voluntary Food Consumption and Gastric Emptying in Rats Given Intravenous Triton WR-1339 1

Abstract Intravenously administered Triton WR-1339, a nonionic surface active agent, has been used as an endogenous hyperlipemic agent since 1951. We expected Triton to increase food consumption to supply, at least partially, the energy and acetyl groups necessary for producing the hyperlipemic state. In this study, however, we observed that the rats injected intravenously with various dose levels of Triton decreased their voluntary food intake in a dose-related manner. Two other nonionic surface active agents, Tween 20 and Tween 80, given intravenously did not alter food intake. Further studies revealed that Triton WR-1339 administered intravenously 30 min before feeding by stomach tube resulted in a marked delay in the rate of gastric emptying which was also dose related. A delay in gastric emptying has previously been suggested as one mechanism that controls food intake. Tween 20 and Tween 80 did not alter the rate of gastric emptying. We suggest that the mechanism responsible for the decrease in voluntary food consumption in Triton WR-1339 injected rats may be due to the delay of gastric emptying in these animals.
Can we reduce the surgical site infection rate in cesarean sections using a chlorhexidine-based antisepsis protocol?

Abstract Objective: To determine whether chlorhexidine-based antisepsis reduces the rate of surgical site infections (SSIs) in elective and non-elective cesarean sections (CS) compared with povidone-iodine protocol. Methods: This was a retrospective study. Women undergoing elective and non-elective CS during two periods of time who were treated with two different antisepsis protocols were included. The protocols for antisepsis were povidone-iodine 10% scrub followed by 10% povidone-iodine in 65% alcohol (n = 163) and chlorhexidine 2% followed by 70% alcohol (n = 163). The rate of SSIs and the risk factors for their occurrence were calculated and compared between the two groups. Results: Antisepsis with chlorhexidine and alcohol was associated with a lower rate of SSIs, 10.43% versus 3.07% with povidone-iodine (p = 0.08). The two groups of patients were similar in baseline characteristics. Risk factors associated with SSIs were body mass index, urgent CS, and the use of the povidone-iodine protocol. Conclusions: Antisepsis with Chlorhexidine-based regimen was associated with a significant reduction in the rate of SSIs compared to povidone-iodine antisepsis in women undergoing elective and non-elective CS. This is of extreme clinical importance, as a change in antisepsis protocol can significantly reduce the morbidity and healthcare costs regarding cesarean sections.
Validity and Reliability of Methods for Testing Vertical Jumping Performance

The validity and reliability of the jumping ergometer method for evaluating performance in two-legged vertical countermovement and serial rebound jumps were investigated. The internal segmental and nonvertical energy flow components for drop jumps were also studied. The exact dynamic equations governing the jumping motion in three dimensions were derived and used together with the approximate relations of the jumping ergometer method to evaluate a total of 72 vertical jumps of different types executed by 22 subjects (15 males, 7 females), average age 24.59 years. The force-plate method was selected as a reference procedure, to which the jumping ergometer results were related. For countermovement jumps, the relative error for jumping height was 3.55% (±2.92%), and for average power per kilogram body mass during the propulsion phase it was 23.79% (±4.85%). For serial rebound jumps, the respective errors were 7.40% (±4.58%) and 5.09% (±4.48%). Internal and nonvertical energy flow components amounted to about.
Effects of anaesthesia techniques and drugs on pulmonary function

The primary task of the lungs is to maintain oxygenation of the blood and eliminate carbon dioxide through the network of capillaries alongside alveoli. This is maintained by utilising ventilatory reserve capacity and by changes in lung mechanics. Induction of anaesthesia impairs pulmonary functions by the loss of consciousness, depression of reflexes, changes in rib cage and haemodynamics. All drugs used during anaesthesia, including inhalational agents, affect pulmonary functions directly by acting on respiratory system or indirectly through their actions on other systems. Volatile anaesthetic agents have more pronounced effects on pulmonary functions compared to intravenous induction agents, leading to hypercarbia and hypoxia. The posture of the patient also leads to major changes in pulmonary functions. Anticholinergics and neuromuscular blocking agents have little effect. Analgesics and sedatives in combination with volatile anaesthetics and induction agents may exacerbate their effects. Since multiple agents are used during anaesthesia, ultimate effect may be different from when used in isolation. Literature search was done using MeSH key words 'anesthesia', 'pulmonary function', 'respiratory system' and 'anesthesia drugs and lungs' in combination in PubMed, Science Direct and Google Scholar filtered by review and research articles sorted by relevance.
Ultrastructural and biochemical seasonal changes in epididymal corpus and cauda of viscacha (Lagostomus maximus maximus)

The reproductive and adaptative behavior of wild rodents is synchronized primarily by the photoperiod. The viscacha, a South American rodent of nocturnal habits and seasonal reproduction is photoperiod‐dependent and its reproductive behavior is regulated by the retinohypothalamic‐pituitary pineal axis. Adult males exhibit an annual reproductive cycle with periods of maximum gonadal activity (summer‐early autumn) and gonadal regression (winter). The corpus and the cauda, the most sensitive segments of the epididymis to changes induced by the photoperiod, were analyzed using electron microscopy and enzymatic biochemistry. During gonadal regression, principal and clear cells showed signs of involution with respect to the activity period. These were characterized by more irregular nuclei, smaller cytoplasms, large vacuoles, altered mitochondria, and glycogen deposits. All cellular populations of the epididymal epithelium in regression presented abundant lysosome‐like dense bodies during the active period. In addition, we measured the activity of four acid glycosidases in the cauda epididymis along the reproductive cycle. N‐acetyl‐β‐D‐glucosaminidase (NAG), an enzyme that degrades endocytosed substances from the epididymal lumen, increased significantly during gonadal regression relative to the active period. These results demonstrate that the viscacha epididymis exhibits significant ultrastructural and biochemical changes during the reproductive cycle. We demonstrate that during regression, melatonin secretion in viscacha increases. This study shows that the epididymal epithelium is reduced. Thus, we postulate that the changes observed in the epididymis are modulated by pineal melatonin. Despite these changes, the epididymis might maintain a microenvironment suitable for the survival of stored spermatozoa. J. Morphol. 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Executive processes in Parkinson's disease: FDG‐PET and network analysis

It is assumed widely that the clinical expression of Parkinson's Disease (PD), both motor and cognitive, is subtended by topographically distributed brain networks. However, little is known about the functional neuroanatomy of executive dysfunction in PD. Our objective was to validate further in a PD group the use of network analysis to assess the relationship between executive processes and pathological disorganization of frontostriatal networks. We studied 15 patients with idiopathic PD, and 7 age‐matched normal controls, using resting [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and high‐resolution positron emission tomography (PET). We carried out network analysis on regional metabolic data to identify specific covariation patterns associated with motor and executive dysfunction. We detected two independent patterns relating respectively to the two clinical abnormalities. The first pattern (principal component 1) was topographically similar to that described previously in other PD populations. Subject scores for this pattern discriminated patients from controls and correlated significantly with bradykinesia ratings (P = 0.013, r = 0.655) in PD patients. The second pattern (principal component 2) was characterized by relative ventromedial frontal, hippocampal, and striatal hypometabolism, associated with mediodorsal thalamic hypermetabolism. In the PD group, scores from this pattern correlated with scores on the conditional associative learning (CAL; P = 0.01, r = 0.690) and the Brown Peterson paradigm (BPP; P = 0.017, r = −0.651) tests, respectively assessing strategy and planning, and working memory. According to these findings, the networks subserving bradykinesia and executive dysfunction in PD seems to be topographically distinct and to involve different aspects of subcortico‐cortical processing. Hum. Brain Mapping 22:236–245, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The p53-binding protein 53BP2 also interacts with Bc12 and impedes cell cycle progression at G2/M

Using the yeast two-hybrid system, we have isolated a cDNA (designated BBP, for Bcl2-binding protein) for a protein (Bbp) that interacts with Bcl2. Bbp is identical to 53BP2, a partial clone of which was previously isolated in a two-hybrid screen for proteins that interact with p53. In this study, we show that specific interactions of Bbp/53BP2 with either Bcl2 or p53 require its ankyrin repeats and SH3 domain. These interactions can be reproduced in vitro with bacterially expressed fusion proteins, and competition experiments indicate that Bcl2 prevents p53 from binding to Bbp/53BP2. BBP/53BP2 mRNA is abundant in most cell lines examined, but the protein cannot be stably expressed in a variety of cell types by transfection. In transiently transfected cells, Bbp partially colocalizes with Bcl2 in the cytoplasm and results in an increased number of cells at G2/M, possibly accounting for the inability to obtain stable transfectants expressing the protein. These results demonstrate that a single protein can interact with either Bcl2 or p53 both in yeast cells and in vitro. The in vivo significance of these interactions and their potential consequences for cell cycle progression and cell death remain to be determined.
Ingestion of low doses of deoxynivalenol does not affect hematological, biochemical, or immune responses of piglets.

Deoxynivalenol (DON), a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium spp. , is a frequent contaminant of cereals. Because of their rich cereal diet, pigs could be exposed to this mycotoxin. Pigs are among the animal species showing the greatest sensitivity to DON. Effects of intermediate to high levels of DON on pigs are well known and include feed refusal, decreased feed intake, and alteration of the immune response. Effects of low levels of DON, which are commonly detected in contaminated feed, remain unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a diet naturally contaminated with a low concentration of DON (0, 280, 560, or 840 microg/kg of feed) on performance of weanling piglets and on 34 hematological, biochemical, and immune variables. Low doses of DON did not alter the animal performances (feed intake and BW gain). Such low levels of DON did not modify the 9 hematological variables measured (including white blood cell, red blood cell, and platelet counts, relative numbers of neutrophils and lymphocytes, and hematocrit and hemoglobin concentrations) or the 18 biochemical variables tested (including cations, glucose, urea, creatinine, bilirubin, cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations, and plasma enzyme activity). Similarly, no effect of low doses of DON was observed on the immune responses of the animals (immunoglobulin subset concentration, lymphocyte proliferation, and cytokine production).
A Novel Fuzzy Kernel Vector Quantization for Speaker Recognition with Short Utterances

When the amount of available training and testing data will be few seconds, the number of feature vectors we obtain are less which are insufficient to model and discriminate speaker well. It presented a new method for speaker recognition with short utterances. By non-linear mapping, it used the sectional set fuzzy Vector Quantization with Lp norm to form speaker's model in the high-dimensional feature space. During the recognition phase, it used the sectional set fuzzy kernel nearest prototype classifier to identify unknown speech. Kernel mapping made the inherent speech features explored, and the dissimilarity among different speakers increased. It used Lp norm to replace the Euclid norm in Gaussian kernel function, which make the algorithm more robust. In order to improve the convergence speed and recognition rate, it also used the sectional set method to modify the membership function. Experimental results show that for about 5s of training and 1s of testing data, the performance of proposed method are 94.83%.
The economic burden of schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is an expensive disease. In the USA, it affects approximately 1 % of the population but patients occupy 25% of all hospital beds. In Australia, schizophrenia was found to affect less than 10% of the number experiencing a myocar dial infarction and yet the costs of medical services for treating schizophrenia are 75% of those for myocardial infarction. In view of these statistics, we decided to estimate the economic impact of schizophrenia in the UK. The economic implications of the disease extend beyond the use ofhealth and personal social services to its morbidity and mortality implications as well as its impact on the quality of life of patients and their families.
The potential of molecular biology and biotechnology for dealing with global warming

The Paris climate conference last December was heralded as the first major breakthrough to set concrete targets for dealing with global climate change. The signatories, including the major industrial nations, finally agreed to limit their greenhouse gas emissions in order to limit the global temperature increase to 2°C from pre‐industrial levels by 2100. In addition, Article 5 of the Paris agreement requires that “Parties should take action to conserve and enhance, as appropriate, sinks and reservoirs of greenhouse gases” (http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/2015/cop21/eng/l09.pdf). While it does not explicitly mention it, the agreement thereby throws down a gauntlet to scientists and biotechnology to accelerate their efforts on creating technologies that would help the world to keep atmospheric CO2 levels in check while preserving the environment. > … agriculture and forestry are fertile grounds for applying biotechnology: they are not just major contributors to climate warming but also play a potential role in reducing emissions. Indeed, agriculture and forestry are fertile grounds for applying biotechnology: They are not just major contributors to climate warming but also play a potential role in reducing emissions. Agriculture generates more than a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions, while the combined impact of forest fires and deforestation accounts for another 20% (http://www.un-redd.org/aboutredd). Vice versa, forests are major carbon sinks and have a lot of potential to sequester CO2 from the atmosphere. Agriculture will have to play a crucial role for sustainable energy production. The task for molecular biology would fall into two categories while overlapping with a third. The first is the development of new technologies for solar energy conversion, not just for generating electricity, but also for synthesizing carbohydrates from atmospheric CO2 for fuel and as raw material for the chemical industry. The second category focuses on plant biotechnology to increase food production and carbon sequestration. …
Bile reflux gastritis and Barrett's oesophagus: further evidence of a role for duodenogastro-oesophageal reflux?

BACKGROUND There is increasing evidence that reflux of bile plays a part in the pathogenesis of Barrett's oesophagus. Bile injury to the gastric mucosa results in a “chemical” gastritis in which oedema and intestinal metaplasia are prominent. AIM To determine if patients with Barrett's oesophagus have more bile related changes in antral mucosa than patients with uncomplicated gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) or non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD). PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients were identified by a retrospective search of pathology records and those with a clinically confirmed diagnosis of either Barrett's oesophagus or reflux oesophagitis who had oesophageal and gastric biopsies taken at the same endoscopy and had no evidence of Helicobacter pylori infection entered the study. Control biopsies were taken from H pylori negative NUD patients. Antral biopsies were examined “blind” to clinical group and graded for a series of histological features from which the “reflux gastritis score” (RGS) and “bile reflux index” (BRI) could be calculated. The reproducibility of these histological scores was tested by a second pathologist. RESULTS There were 100 patients with Barrett's, 61 with GORD, and 50 with NUD. The RGSs did not differ between groups. BRI values in the Barrett's group were significantly higher than those in GORD subjects (p=0.014) which in turn were higher than those in NUD patients (p=0.037). Similarly, the frequency of high BRI values (>14) was significantly greater in the Barrett's group (29/100; 29%) than in the GORD (9/61; 14.8%) or NUD (4/50; 8%) group. However, agreement on BRI values was “poor”, indicating limited applicability of this approach. CONCLUSION Patients with Barrett's oesophagus have more evidence of bile related gastritis than subjects with uncomplicated GORD or NUD. The presence of bile in the refluxate could be a factor in both the development of “specialised” intestinal metaplasia and malignancy in the oesophagus.