Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pulmonary consequences of carbon dioxide insufflation for laparoscopic cholecystectomies

Twenty patients having laparoscopic cholecystectomies were studied for changes in thoracic and lung compliance at 5, 10 and 15mmHg of intra‐abdominal pressure. Fifteen mmHg of intra‐abdominal pressure decreased the thoracic and the lung static compliance by 49 and 39% respectively. This was unaffected by the degree of head elevation. During the procedure the end‐tidal carbon dioxide increased by a mean of 1.6kPa at 1 h and 2.0kPa at 2h. This did not appear to be related to either the mean intra‐abdominal pressure or the total volume of carbon dioxide insufflated. The physiological changes and implications for anaesthetic practice are considered.
M1 aminopeptidases as drug targets: broad applications or therapeutic niche?

M1 aminopeptidase enzymes are a diverse family of metalloenzymes characterized by conserved structure and reaction specificity. Excluding viruses, M1 aminopeptidases are distributed throughout all phyla, and have been implicated in a wide range of functions including cell maintenance, growth and development, and defense. The structure and catalytic mechanism of M1 aminopeptidases are well understood, and make them ideal candidates for the design of small‐molecule inhibitors. As a result, many research groups have assessed their utility as therapeutic targets for both infectious and chronic diseases of humans, and many inhibitors with a range of target specificities and potential therapeutic applications have been developed. Herein, we have aimed to address these studies, to determine whether the family of M1 aminopeptidases does in fact present a universal target for the treatment of a diverse range of human diseases. Our analysis indicates that early validation of M1 aminopeptidases as therapeutic targets is often overlooked, which prevents the enzymes from being confirmed as drug targets. This validation cannot be neglected, and needs to include a thorough characterization of enzymes’ specific roles within complex physiological pathways. Furthermore, any chemical probes used in target validation must be carefully designed to ensure that specificity over the closely related enzymes has been achieved. While many drug discovery programs that target M1 aminopeptidases remain in their infancy, certain inhibitors have shown promise for the treatment of a range of conditions including malaria, hypertension, and cancer.
Process Integration in it Portfolio Management

In the past few years, many Information Technology (IT) departments have been vastly expanded or created, and new processes have come into existence. With these increasing numbers of elements, organizations face the challenge of process integration. They must seek to integrate what are often rapidly changing sets of procedures to make processes work synergistically and maximize the return from IT. Current process frameworks and guidelines such as Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) or Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) fall short of the challenges posed by process integration in Information Technology. This paper provides the basis of a framework for IT process integration. To do this, two groups of integration strategies are considered. First, we discuss horizontal and vertical integration strategies as a single group. We then address a second group of initiatives consisting of foundation building, innovation, and automation as complementary strategies to the first. Finally we discuss future trends in process integration.
A role for p75 neurotrophin receptor in the control of hair follicle morphogenesis.

During hair follicle (HF) morphogenesis, p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) reportedly is the first growth factor receptor found to be expressed by those fibroblasts that later develop into the dermal papilla (DP) of the HF. However, the functional role of p75NTR in HF morphogenesis is still unknown. Studying HF development in fetal and neonatal C57BL/6 murine back skin, we show that p75NTR-immunoreactivity (IR) is prominently expressed by DP fibroblasts as well as by skin nerves during the early steps of HF development. In contrast, p75NTR-IR disappears from the DP in the fully developed HF and it is expressed only in the epithelial outer root sheath of the HF. Compared to age-matched wild-type animals, p75NTR knockout (-/-) mice show significant acceleration of HF morphogenesis, and DP fibroblasts of p75NTR knockout mice show reduced proliferative activity in situ, indicating alterations in their transition from proliferation to differentiation. Although no significant differences in the expression of adhesion molecules (NCAM), selected morphogens (TGFbeta-2, HGF/SF, FGF-2, KGF), or their receptors (TGFbetaR-II, m-met, FGFR-1) were seen between DP of p75NTR knockout and wild-type mice, p75NTR mutants showed a prominent upregulation of FGFR-2, a high-affinity receptor for KGF, in both follicular DP and epithelium. Furthermore, the administration of anti-KGF neutralizing antibody significantly inhibited acceleration of HF morphogenesis in p75NTR knockout mice in vivo. These observations suggest that p75NTR plays an important role during HF morphogenesis, functioning as a receptor that negatively controls HF development, most likely via alterations in DP fibroblast proliferation/differentiation and via downregulation of KGF/FGFR-2 signaling in the HF.
Nonlinear model predictive control of an industrial batch reactor subject to swelling constraint

This paper presents the application of nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC) to a simulated industrial batch reactor subject to safety and productivity constraints due to swelling. The catalyst used in the chemical process decomposes in the reactor; therefore it is fed in discrete time steps during the batch. Although the optimal reactor temperature profile, using a fixed catalyst dosing policy, is optimized off-line an on-line control solution is needed in order to accommodate the reaction rate and level disturbances which arise due to catalyst dosing uncertainty (feeding time and mass). The on-line control method is based on the shrinking horizon optimal control methodology and it uses a reaction and hydrodynamic model. It is concluded that the implemented shrinking horizon on-line optimization strategy is able to calculate the optimal temperature profile without causing level swelling.
SpyAD, a Moonlighting Protein of Group A Streptococcus Contributing to Bacterial Division and Host Cell Adhesion

ABSTRACT Group A streptococcus (GAS) is a human pathogen causing a wide repertoire of mild and severe diseases for which no vaccine is yet available. We recently reported the identification of three protein antigens that in combination conferred wide protection against GAS infection in mice. Here we focused our attention on the characterization of one of these three antigens, Spy0269, a highly conserved, surface-exposed, and immunogenic protein of unknown function. Deletion of the spy0269 gene in a GAS M1 isolate resulted in very long bacterial chains, which is indicative of an impaired capacity of the knockout mutant to properly divide. Confocal microscopy and immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated that the protein was mainly localized at the cell septum and could interact in vitro with the cell division protein FtsZ, leading us to hypothesize that Spy0269 is a member of the GAS divisome machinery. Predicted structural domains and sequence homologies with known streptococcal adhesins suggested that this antigen could also play a role in mediating GAS interaction with host cells. This hypothesis was confirmed by showing that recombinant Spy0269 could bind to mammalian epithelial cells in vitro and that Lactococcus lactis expressing Spy0269 on its cell surface could adhere to mammalian cells in vitro and to mice nasal mucosa in vivo. On the basis of these data, we believe that Spy0269 is involved both in bacterial cell division and in adhesion to host cells and we propose to rename this multifunctional moonlighting protein as SpyAD ( Streptococcus pyogenes Adhesion and Division protein).
A DNA microarray for fission yeast: minimal changes in global gene expression after temperature shift

Completion of the fission yeast genome sequence has opened up possibilities for post‐genomic approaches. We have constructed a DNA microarray for genome‐wide gene expression analysis in fission yeast. The microarray contains DNA fragments, PCR‐amplified from a genomic DNA template, that represent > 99% of the 5000 or so annotated fission yeast genes, as well as a number of control sequences. The GenomePRIDE software used attempts to design similarly sized DNA fragments corresponding to gene regions within single exons, near the 3′‐end of genes that lack homology to other fission yeast genes. To validate the design and utility of the array, we studied expression changes after a 2 h temperature shift from 25 °C to 36 °C, conditions widely used when studying temperature‐sensitive mutants. Obligingly, the vast majority of genes do not change more than two‐fold, supporting the widely held view that temperature‐shift experiments specifically reveal phenotypes associated with temperature‐sensitive mutants. However, we did identify a small group of genes that showed a reproducible change in expression. Importantly, most of these corresponded to previously characterized heat‐shock genes, whose expression has been reported to change after more extreme temperature shifts than those used here. We conclude that the DNA microarray represents a useful resource for fission yeast researchers as well as the broader yeast community, since it will facilitate comparison with the distantly related budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. To maximize the utility of this resource, the array and its component parts are fully described in On‐line Supplementary Information and are also available commercially. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Vertical jumping and leg power normative data for English school children aged 10–15 years

Abstract Although vertical jumping is often incorporated into physical activity tests for both adults and children, normative data for children and adolescents are lacking in the literature. The objectives of this study were to provide normative data of jump height and predicted peak leg power for males and females aged 10.0–15.9 years. Altogether, 1845 children from 12 state primary and secondary schools in the East of England participated in the study. Each child performed two countermovement jumps, and jump height was calculated using a NewTest jump mat. The highest jump was used for analysis and in the calculation of predicted peak power. Jump height and predicted peak leg power were significantly higher for males than females from the age of 11 years. Jump height and peak power increased significantly year on year for males. For females, jump height and predicted peak leg power reached a plateau after age 12 and 13 years respectively. This study provides normative data that can be used as a tool to classify jumping performance in children aged 10–15 years.
Spoken word recognition in children with autism spectrum disorder: The role of visual disengagement

Deficits in visual disengagement are one of the earliest emerging differences in infants who are later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Although researchers have speculated that deficits in visual disengagement could have negative effects on the development of children with autism spectrum disorder, we do not know which skills are disrupted or how this disruption takes place. As a first step in understanding this issue, this study investigated the relationship between visual disengagement and a critical skill in early language development: spoken word recognition. Participants were 18 children with autism spectrum disorder (aged 4–7 years). Consistent with our predictions, children with poorer visual disengagement were slower and less accurate to process familiar words; disengagement explained over half of the variance in spoken word recognition. Visual disengagement remained uniquely associated with spoken word recognition after accounting for children’s vocabulary size and age. These findings align with a recently proposed developmental model in which poor visual disengagement decreases the speed and accuracy of real-time spoken word recognition in children with autism spectrum disorder—which, in turn, may negatively affect their language development.
Clinical Immunosuppression

Organ transplantation is the act of transferring organs from donors to recipients. Thus, the malfunction of an organ system can be corrected with the transplantation of an organ; organs that have successfully been transplanted include the kidney, liver, heart, lung, and pancreas. Over the past 50 years, the medical community has witnessed great advances in the care of liver transplant recipients, including new immunosuppression modalities, therapies for chronic rejection, and improved operative and preservation techniques. However, the immune system remains the most formidable barrier for clinicians to perform transplantations as a routine form of medical treatment[1].
SPEECH FUNCTION IN FEATURE STORIES IN READER’S DIGEST

This study is aimed to find out the dominant type and to explain the meaning of the Speech Functions used in Feature Stories of Reader’s Digest Magazines; The Council of Dads, Blind Optimism, and Where Children Sleep. T he data were analyzed based on the 4 types of Speech Function suggested by Halliday (1994). The result shows that the most dominant type of Speech Function used in Reader’s Digest’ Feature Stories was statement which is realized by declarative mood. This indicate that the writer in order to deliver the ‘human interest’ to the readers, entertain the readers, describing the news hook to the reader, to narrated in a chronological the stories for the readers are by using Statements. Key words: Speech functions, feature stories.
Approche formelle pour la spécialisation de systèmes d'exploitation temps réel

Le developpement d'un systeme d'exploitation specialise pour une application consiste, a partir du code d'un systeme d'exploitation complet, a l'elaguer pour l'adapter aux fonctionnalites necessaires a l'application. L'operation d'elagage est realisee a la main au cas par cas. Cela rend tres difficile la verification et la certification d'un systeme d'exploitation car non seulement la phase de certification est a realiser pour chaque specialisation mais aussi le probleme difficile et bien connu du fosse entre le modele utilise pour la verification et le code est a etudier au cas par cas. Dans cet article, nous proposons une methode pour l'automatisation complete de cet elagage au moyen d'une synthese du systeme d'exploitation a partir d'un modele formel embarquant le code du systeme d'exploitation. Ce modele comporte en effet a la fois le flot de controle, les variables du systeme d'exploitation et les sequences d'instructions manipulant ces variables. L'elagage, formalise par l'elimination des chemins infaisables du modele, permet de ne conserver que la partie accessible (et donc utile) du modele et donc du code. Cette methode, non seulement accelere considerablement l'adaptation du systeme d'exploitation mais, de plus, garantit l'optimalite du code genere et l'absence de code mort. La verification et la certification de toutes les fonctionnalites souhaitees du systeme d'exploitation comme l'absence de blocage, peuvent etre egalement realisees sur le modele avant la generation de code. Nous utilisons un modele du systeme d'exploitation temps reel Trampoline compatible OSEK et AUTOSAR, qui est reconnu comme fiable et largement utilise aux niveaux academique et industriel.
Modeling Sanction Choices on Fraudulent Benefit Exchanges in Public Service Delivery

Public service delivery programs are not free from players' opportunistic behaviors, such as fraudulent benefit exchanges. The standard methods used to detect such misbehaviors are static, less effective in uncovering interactions between corrupt agents, and easy to evade because of corrupt agents' familiarity with detection procedures. Current fraud detection efforts do not match the dynamics and adaptive processes they are supposed to monitor and regulate. In this paper, an agent-based simulation model is built to gain insight on sanction choices to deter fraudulent activities in public service delivery programs. The simulation outputs demonstrate that sanctions with low certainty must be accompanied by prompt action in order to observe a reduction in fraudulent vendors. However, a similar level of reduction in fraudulent vendors may be achieved once a certain number of fraudulent vendors are sanctioned, even if the public agency's action is relatively delayed. These characteristics of sanctions provide strategic choices that public service delivery program managers can consider based on their priorities and resources.
Is social norms marketing effective?: A case study in domestic electricity consumption

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present details of a large-scale experiment that evaluated the impact of communicating two types of feedback to householders regarding their domestic electricity consumption: feedback on their own consumption and feedback of both their own consumption and that of others in their locality. Design/methodology/approach – Digital technologies were used to automatically measure and communicate the electricity consumption of 316 UK residents for a period of 16 weeks. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three experimental conditions: one involving no feedback; one involving feedback about a household's own usage, and one involving a household's own usage plus social norms feedback (the average consumption of others in the locality). At the end of the study, a selection of participants took part in interviews or focus groups. Findings – Both types of feedback (individual and individual-plus-social-norms) led to reductions in consumption of about 3 per cent. Thos.
Reoperation after Nissen fundoplication in children with gastroesophageal reflux: experience with 130 patients.

OBJECTIVE The authors evaluate reoperation for recurrent gastroesophageal reflux (GER) after a failed Nissen fundoplication. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA Nissen fundoplication is an accepted treatment for GER refractory to medical therapy. Wrap failure and recurrence of GER are noted in 8% to 12%. METHODS Medical records of 130 children undergoing a second antireflux operation for recurrent GER from January 1985 to June 1996 retrospectively were reviewed. RESULTS One hundred one patients (78%) were neurologically impaired (NI), 74 (57%) had chronic pulmonary disease, and 8 had esophageal atresia. Recurrent symptoms included vomiting (78%), growth failure (62%), choking-coughing-gagging (38%), and pneumonia (25%). Gastroesophageal reflux was confirmed by barium swallow, gastric scintigraphy, and endoscopy. Operative findings showed wrap breakdown (42%), wrap-hiatal hernia (30%), or both (21%). A second Nissen fundoplication was performed in 128 children. Complications included bowel obstruction (18), wound infection (10), pneumonia (6) and tight wrap (9). There were two postoperative (<30 days) deaths (1.5%). Of 124 patients observed long term, 89 (72%) remain symptom free. Eight were converted to tube feedings. Twenty-seven required a third fundoplication, and 19 (70%) were successful outcome. Two with repetitive wrap failure due to gastric atony underwent gastric resection and esophagojejunostomy. CONCLUSION Nissen fundoplication was successful in 91% of patients. In 9% with wrap failure, a second Nissen fundoplication was successful in 72%. Reoperation is justified in properly selectedpatients. Conversion to jejunostomy feedings is suggested for neurologically impaired after two wrap failures and a partial wrap in those with esophageal atresia and severe esophageal dysmotility. Repeated wrap failure due to gastric atony requires gastric resection and esophagojejunostomy.
WOMEN BEHIND THE SCENES IN FAMILY BUSINESSES

The success of family businesses is largely due to a circular relationship in which three intangible factors enhance each other: love for the family business, trust among different business factors, and freedom of behaviour for family members (Gallo et al., 2001). These values are the cornerstone on which family members base their commitment to the business. But how can family members of advanced generations, especially those who are not active in the business, become more committed to the success of the family business? And are there gender-specific roles, as the literature on this subject seems to indicate? The research outlined in this document seeks to enlarge the current pool of knowledge, offering the results of a study involving 98 Spanish family businesses, in which a total of 200 non-active family members responded to a questionnaire about their relationship with the family business and their associated relatives. The main results confirm the existing literature by revealing that women are expected to play certain roles such as managing the household and child-rearing. Even though these roles are not clearly defined, women perceive numerous obstacles when attempting to assume roles beyond the domestic sphere. Nevertheless, our results confirm that, regardless of the degree of women’s direct participation in the family business, their strong commitment towards the business as well as their other qualities can permeate the family relationship to the point of affecting the business performance by influencing the entrepreneur’s motivation and businessrelated decisions. Through her passion for the family she provides the business with a powerful asset: the strong “family glue”.
Scleroderma lung disease, variation in screening, diagnosis and treatment practices between rheumatologists and respiratory physicians

Background: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) represent the leading causes of death in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Screening for these complications has assumed greater importance, but is not universal. The aim of this study is to determine the self‐reported screening, diagnosis and treatment practices of rheumatologists and respiratory physicians for SSc‐related lung disease.
Temporal trends in head injury outcomes from 2003 to 2009 in England and Wales

Background: Case fatality rates after blunt head injury (HI) did not improve in England and Wales between 1994 and 2003. The United Kingdom National Institute of Clinical Excellence subsequently published HI management guidelines, including the recommendation that patients with severe head injuries (SHIs) should be treated in specialist neuroscience units (NSU). The aim of this study was to investigate trends in case fatality and location of care since the introduction of national HI clinical guidelines. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using prospectively recorded data from the Trauma and Audit Research Network (TARN) database for patients presenting with blunt trauma between 2003 and 2009. Temporal trends in log odds of death adjusted for case mix were examined for patients with and without HI. Location of care for patients with SHI was also studied by examining trends in the proportion of patients treated in non-NSUs. Results: Since 2003, there was an average 12% reduction in adjusted log odds of death per annum in patients with HI (n=15,173), with a similar but smaller trend in non-HI trauma mortality (n=48,681). During the study period, the proportion of patients with HI treated entirely in non-NSUs decreased from 31% to 19%, (p <0.01). Interpretation: The reduction in odds of death following HI since 2003 is consistent with improved management following the introduction of national HI guidelines and increased treatment of SHI in NSUs.