Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study on the Effects of Losartan and Carvedilol on Albuminuria in Renal Transplant Recipients

Background. The renoprotective effects of agents inhibiting the renin-angiotensin system in renal transplant recipients have been supposed but not finally proven. To shed more light on this issue, we performed a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study to evaluate the influence of the AT-1 angiotensin II receptor blocker, losartan, on the surrogate marker of kidney injury, albuminuria, in patients after renal transplantation. The safety of this therapy was also evaluated. Methods. Fourteen of 16 patients (nine male, five female), age 45.36±3.04 years, 65.5±10.0 months after kidney transplantation, with hypertension and stable serum creatinine 123±4 &mgr;mol/L without proteinuria, completed the protocol. Each patient underwent two 8-week treatment periods (one with losartan 50–100 mg and one with carvedilol 12.5–25 mg) in random order, allowing an 8-week placebo washout between treatments. The target office trough blood pressure was below 130/85 mmHg. Results. The ambulatory blood pressure did not differ in the treatment periods. Losartan significantly reduced albuminuria relative to placebo and carvedilol (27.62±17.58 vs. 49.55±25.33 v. 44.77±21.9 mg/g creatinine; P<0.01). A significant but not clinically relevant decrease in hemoglobin level after losartan was observed (losartan: 129±3.1 g/l, placebo: 134.2±3.2, carvedilol: 137.1±3.7; P<0.001). Serum potassium, creatinine, creatinine clearance, and trough blood cyclosporine levels were unaffected. Conclusion. Losartan decreases microalbuminuria in renal transplant recipients with clinically minimal side effects.
Magnetic susceptibility contrast variations in multiple sclerosis lesions

Recent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have revealed heterogeneous magnetic susceptibility contrasts in multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions. Due to its sensitivity to disease‐related iron and myelin changes, magnetic susceptibility‐based measures may better reflect some pathological features of MS lesions. Hence, we sought to characterize MS lesions using combined R2* mapping and quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM).
Particularity of Government Efficiency and Its Indexes for Measure

Government efficiency, influenced by the government has its particularity, and been measured by IMD, which is an academic authority to study it in the world according to the competitiveness of a nation or region. The principles of the measurement applied by IMD, and the actual situation of government and statistics in China will be the reference for the paper to put forward 47 indexes to measure the provincial governments' efficiency by assessing how well the government scale, the public services and goods, and national welfare are in the governments including all the provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government in China.
Self rerouting of dynamically reconfigurable SRAM-based FPGAs

Reconfigurable devices are widely attractive for several application fields thanks to their size, rapid prototyping characteristics, flexibility and upgradability. Thanks to partial Reconfiguration features, FPGA becomes the golden core of the adaptive computation paradigm since they may dynamically change their functionalities based on the elaboration request. Today, adaptive computation is mainly controlled at a coarse-grain granularity while no solutions exist to act at the fine granularity level especially to reprogram the FPGA routing interconnection. The purpose of this work is to propose an embedded core able to reconfigure the routing resources without the usage of external computational units. The developed core implements a Path Finding-based algorithm able to perform the full routability of complex designs. The core has been devised minimizing the area overhead and the requested computational power by wisely selecting a suitable subset of wiring segments. The functionalities of the core have been tested on a Xilinx SRAM-based FPGAs Zynq device using three different circuit benchmarks. Experimental results demonstrated that the core is able to successfully re-route almost 95% of the selected nets without introducing a relevant delay or area overhead.
European Stock Market Fluctuations: Short And Long Term Links

AbstractThe paper uses a error correcting model to examine long-term links and short-run causality for five major European capital markets. The empirical results report statistically significant relationships. These findings indicate that the European markets tend to move together and adjust to each other's movements. The results imply limitations in the role of portfolio diversification and confirm a high degree of integration among European equity markets.
Angular Malalignment After Intramedullary Nailing of Femoral Shaft Fractures

Objectives To determine factors associated with angular malalignment of femoral shaft fractures treated with intramedullary nails and to determine differences in the incidence of angular malalignment based on fracture location, fracture comminution, and method of treatment (i.e., antegrade or retrograde). Design Retrospective. Setting Level I trauma center. Patients Three hundred sixty patients with 374 femoral shaft fractures were identified from a prospectively obtained orthopaedic trauma database. Complete sets of immediate postoperative anteroposterior and lateral radiographs were available for 355 (95 percent) of the 374 fractures. Intervention Patients were treated with antegrade (183 cases) or retrograde (174 cases) intramedullary femoral nailing. Main Outcome Measure Goniometric measurements were made on all immediate postoperative radiographs to determine the coronal plane and sagittal plane angular alignments. A multiple linear regression statistical analysis was used to determine factors associated with increasing angular malalignment. The incidence of malalignment was determined using more than 5 degrees of deformity in any plane as the definition of malalignment. Results Proximal fracture location, distal fracture location, and unstable fracture pattern were associated with increasing fracture angulation (p < 0.001). Fracture location in the middle third, stable fracture pattern, method of treatment (i.e., antegrade or retrograde), and nail diameter were not associated with increasing fracture angulation (p > 0.05). The incidence of malalignment was 9 percent for the entire group of patients, 30 percent when the fracture was of the proximal third of the femoral shaft, 2 percent when the fracture was of the middle third, and 10 percent when the fracture was of the distal third. The incidence of malreduction was 7 percent for patients with stable fracture patterns and 12 percent for those with unstable fracture patterns. Conclusions Patients with fractures of the proximal third of the femoral shaft treated with intramedullary nails are at highest risk for malalignment. Proximal fracture location, distal fracture location, and unstable fracture pattern are associated with increasing fracture angulation.
Use of health and school-based services in Australia by young people with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

OBJECTIVE To examine use of health (including psychiatric) and school-based services by children and adolescents who met symptom criteria for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the factors associated with service use, and barriers to service access. METHOD The relationship between parents' perceptions of children's need for professional help, the impact of children's problems on children and parents, and services used during the previous 6 months were examined in a national sample of 398 children and adolescents with ADHD symptoms aged 6 to 17 years (70% response rate). Information was obtained from parents who completed the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children Version IV and standard questionnaires. Data collection took place between February and May 1998. RESULTS Only 28% of those with ADHD symptomatology had attended health or school-based services. Among these, 41% had attended both health and school-based services, 39% had attended only health services, and 20% had attended only school-based services. Sixty-nine percent of parents attending health services wanted additional help. Parental perceptions that children needed professional help, children's functional impairment, the impact of problems on parents, and comorbid depressive or conduct disorders had a significant and independent relationship with service use. CONCLUSIONS A minority of children and adolescents with ADHD symptomatology receives professional help for their problems in Australia. Counseling is the most frequent help provided, with many parents wanting additional help beyond that already provided. Factors other than children's ADHD symptomatology have a significant relationship with service attendance. Practical issues, including the cost of services and waiting lists are the most common barriers cited by parents as hindering access to services.
DNA methylation regulates phenotype-dependent transcriptional activity in Candida albicans

DNA methylation is a common epigenetic signaling mechanism associated with silencing of repeated DNA and transcriptional regulation in eukaryotes. Here we report that DNA methylation in the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans is primarily localized within structural genes and modulates transcriptional activity. Major repeat sequences and multigene families are largely free of DNA methylation. Among the genes subject to DNA methylation are those associated with dimorphic transition between yeast and hyphal forms, switching between white and opaque cells, and iron metabolism. Transcriptionally repressed methylated loci showed increased frequency of C-to-T transitions during asexual growth, an evolutionarily stable pattern of repression associated mutation that could bring about genetic alterations under changing environmental or host conditions. Dynamic differential DNA methylation of structural genes may be one factor contributing to morphological plasticity that is cued by nutrition and host interaction.
Relation between Serum Cholesterol and Triglyceride Concentration and Haemoglobin Values in Non-anaemic Healthy Persons

In a study of 2,458 healthy non-anaemic subjects a positive correlation was found between haemoglobin levels and serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels. This may be due to simple changes in plasma volume, which may increase when the haemoglobin concentration decreases. Such an association between plasma lipid levels and haemoglobin values might be of importance in the aetiology of coronary heart disease, as a high haemoglobin value is known to be a “risk factor” in myocardial infarction.
Calcium and vitamin D – for whom and when

The basis of 'nutritional' interventions for the prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture is a large topic with much genetic and biochemical evidence, as well as the results of randomized controlled trials, to guide the investigator and clinician. The efficacy of treatment with calcium and vitamin D was once controversial, but with the advent of controlled clinical trials using bone mineral density as an endpoint it has become clear that calcium with or without vitamin D therapy can lead to reductions in the rate of bone loss in postmenopausal women of all ages. Furthermore, with certain caveats, calcium with vitamin D therapy in the older postmenopausal woman can lead to useful reductions infracture rates and falls, especially in populations with reduced exposure to sunlight, which is potentially the majority of postmenopausal women in both developed and developing countries. However, estrogen, selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) and bisphosphonates (especially when given in combination with calcium and vitamin D) are more efficacious in preventing fracture, particularly in postmenopausal patients with impaired bone structure.
Inhibition of Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate-Specific Phosphodiesterase by Various Food Plant-Derived Phytotherapeutic Agents

Background: Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) play a major role in the regulation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)- and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-mediated pathways. Their inhibitors exhibit anti-inflammatory, vasodilatory and antithrombotic effects. Therefore, consumption of foods with PDE-inhibiting potential may possess beneficial influence on the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Methods: Four plant extracts (Arbutus unedo, Camellia sinensis, Cynara scolymus, Zingiber officinale) with promising ingredient profiles and physiological effects were tested for their ability to inhibit cAMP-specific PDE in vitro in a radioactive assay. Results: Strawberry tree fruit (Arbutus unedo) and tea (Camellia sinensis) extracts did not inhibit PDE markedly. Alternatively, artichoke (Cynara scolymus) extract had a significant inhibitory influence on PDE activity (IC50 = 0.9 ± 0.1 mg/mL) as well as its flavone luteolin (IC50 = 41 ± 10 μM) and 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid (IC50 > 1.0 mM). Additionally, the ginger (Zingiber officinale) extract and one of its constituents, [6]-gingerol, significantly inhibited PDE (IC50 = 1.7 ± 0.2 mg/mL and IC50 > 1.7 mM, respectively). Crude fractionation of ginger extract showed that substances responsible for PDE inhibition were in the lipoid fraction (IC50 = 455 ± 19 μg/mL). Conclusions: A PDE-inhibitory effect was shown for artichoke and ginger extract. Whether PDE inhibition in vivo can be achieved through ingestion of artichoke or ginger extracts leading to physiological effects concerning cardiovascular health should be addressed in future research.
Learning 3D Face Models for shape based retrieval

In this paper, we evaluate the effect of learning algorithms, unsupervised and supervised, for 3D face model retrieval using a global shape feature. We used the dataset and protocol of SHREC 2007 3D face models track (SHREC 2007 3DFMT) for the evaluation. Unlike the entrants for the track, we used global shape features to capture overall geometric shape of faces, e.g., that of foreheads. One of the global features, as it is, produced mean average precision highly relevant (MAPH) figure of 0.84, outperforming the top finisher of the SHREC 2007 3DFMT whose MAPH=0.66. Learning was quite effective; for the same global feature, an unsupervised learning method produced MAPH=0.90, and a simple supervised learning method produced an "ideal" performance of MAPH=1.0.
Ethyl pyruvate attenuates kainic acid‐induced neuronal cell death in the mouse hippocampus

Recent studies have shown that ethyl pyruvate (EP) acts as an anti‐inflammatory molecule in several cell lines including RAW264.7 macrophages. However, the potential therapeutic value of EP for the treatment of the pathologic brain has not been investigated fully. In the present study, we examined whether EP has a beneficial effect on KA‐induced neuronal cell death. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of 0.94 nmol (0.2 μg) of KA produced typical neuronal cell death in the CA1 and CA3 pyramidal layers of the hippocampus, and the systemic administration of EP significantly attenuated KA‐induced neuronal cell death in these regions. Ethyl pyruvate was found to exert a protective effect when it was injected as late as 12 hr after KA‐injection. Moreover, this EP‐induced neuroprotection was accompanied by reduced levels of reactive gliosis and COX‐2, IL‐1β, and TNF‐α in the hippocampus. In addition, in passive avoidance tests, KA‐induced memory impairment was improved markedly by EP. These results suggest that EP has a therapeutic potential for suppressing KA‐induced pathogenesis in the brain. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The influence of the structure and the composition of water/AOT-Tween 85/IPM microemulsion system on transdermal delivery of 5-fluorouracil

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of the structure and the composition of water/Aerosol-OT (AOT)-Tween 85/isopropylmyristate (IPM) microemulsion system (WATI) on transdermal delivery of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). The structure of WATI was characterized by measuring surface tension, density, viscosity, electric conductivity, and differential scanning calorimetry. The effect of the drug loading, water content, component compositions and the amount of mixed surfactant on permeation of 5-FU through mice skin was evaluated by using Franz-type diffusion cells. The results in vitro implied that WATI was W/O microemulsion when the water content was below 20 wt% at fixed 20 wt% of mixed surfactant at 25°C, then might be transformed to a bicontinuous structure, finally, formed O/W microemulsion with water content over 30 wt%. Increase of the drug loading can directly facilitate the penetration of the drug across the skin. Drug diffusion after 12 h from the bicontinuous microemulsion (795.1 ± 22.3 µg·cm−2) would be fastest compared to that from the W/O microemulsion (650.2 ± 11.7 µg·cm−2) and the O/W microemulsion (676.6 ± 14.8 µg·cm−2). The combination of AOT and IPM could bring about synergistic effect on the skin enhancement, however, Tween 85 in WATI decreased the cumulative permeation amount of 5-FU. The content of mixed surfactant had no effect on the permeation of 5-FU at fixed surfactant/cosurfactant ratio (Km = 2). Thus, the increased transdermal delivery the hydrophilic drug of 5-FU was found to be concerned with both of the structure and the composition of WATI.
Giant Peak Voltage of Thermopower Waves Driven by the Chemical Potential Gradient of Single‐Crystalline Bi2Te3

The self‐propagating exothermic chemical reaction with transient thermovoltage, known as the thermopower wave, has received considerable attention recently. A greater peak voltage and specific power are still demanded, and materials with greater Seebeck coefficients have been previously investigated. However, this study employs an alternative mechanism of transient chemical potential gradient providing an unprecedentedly high peak voltage (maximum: 8 V; average: 2.3 V) and volume‐specific power (maximum: 0.11 W mm−3; average: 0.04 W mm−3) using n‐type single‐crystalline Bi2Te3 substrates. A mixture of nitrocellulose and sodium azide is used as a fuel, and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy reveals a significant downshift in Fermi energy (≈5.09 eV) of the substrate by p‐doping of the fuel. The induced electrical potential by thermopower waves has two distinct sources: the Seebeck effect and the transient chemical potential gradient. Surprisingly, the Seebeck effect contribution is less than 2.5% (≈201 mV) of the maximum peak voltage. The right combination of substrate, fuel doping, and anisotropic substrate geometry results in an order of magnitude greater transient chemical potential gradient (≈5.09 eV) upon rapid removal of fuel by exothermic chemical reaction propagation. The role of fuel doping and chemical potential gradient can be viewed as a key mechanism for enhanced heat to electric conversion performance.
PROCRUSTES MODEL OF DEMOCRACY IN BIH

The paper analyzes different Procrustes models that affect democracy in BiH and RS. The phrase “Procrustes Model” implies molding into a given pattern, regardless of the fact that it may mean unfreedom and chains for democracy. The hypothesis is that democracy in terms of Aristotle is a negative form of ruling and it is necessary to view its weaknesses and distortions. The paper deals in particular with Procrustes patterns such as the elimination of criticism, i.e. intellectuals from the politics area, partocracy, democracy as an elevated stick, credit balloon, IMF loans and other rigid forms of democracy molding. The arrogance of leaders of the new world order, disrespect for international norms, advocating “knowledgeable society”, different ideas of democracy from the three nations in BiH, their different views of Europe and other misconceptions are also a Procrustes’s pattern which enchains the people in BiH and RS. All in all, the paper offers a series of insights into the weaknesses of democracy in BiH and illuminates disillusions which we have lived with for years.
Transfer ribonucleic acid-mediated suppression of termination codons in Escherichia coli

The universal genetic code includes three codons which signal polypeptide chain termination. These termination or nonsense codons are UAG (amber), UAA (ochre), and UGA (opal). Usually, Escherichia coli and other procaryotic cells do not contain transfer ribonucleic acids (tRNAs) which recognize these codons. However, such tRNAs can be created by suppressor mutations in tRNA genes, generating tRNAs with the ability to recognize termination codons. Most suppressor mutations are located in the anticodon triplet and alter it to CUA, UUA, or UCA, the characteristic anticodons in amber, ochre, and opal suppressor tRNAs, respectively. Whereas amber suppressor tRNAs only recognize amber codons, tRNAs with ochre anticodons (UUA) recognize both ochre and amber codons, and at least some tRNAs with opal anticodons (UCA) recognize UGG tryptophan codons in addition to opal codons. Because of the involvement of tRNA in this process, termination suppression (also called nonsense suppression) is part of the larger topic of "informational suppression" (77). Other mechanisms of tRNA-mediated informational suppression include missense suppression and frameshift suppression. These will not be discussed in this review. Research on missense suppression has been thoroughly
Alternative Hedging in a Discrete-Time Incomplete Market

We present an alternative approach to hedging in incomplete markets. A corresponding alternative risk-minimization algorithm that identifies an optimal hedging portfolio consistent with initial capital and an investor-chosen risk criterion is developed. Having been introduced in earlier works by Josephy et al, it is adapted here to facilitate a comparison with both quadratic and piece wise linear local risk-minimization approaches reported in the work of Coleman et al. Numerical results establish that the alternative approach is competitive and frequently better than the local risk-minimization approaches. Various quantitative and qualitative comparisons are made between the local risk-minimization approaches and our alternative hedging approach.
Immunomagnetic Separation of Cryptosporidium parvum from Source Water Samples of Various Turbidities

ABSTRACT Immunomagnetic separation (IMS) procedures which specifically capture Cryptosporidium oocysts and have the potential to isolate oocysts from debris have become commercially available. We compared two IMS kits (kit DB [Dynabeads anti-Cryptosporidium; product no. 730.01; Dynal A.S., Oslo, Norway] and kit IC1 [Crypto Scan IMS; product no. R10; Clearwater Diagnostics Company, LLC, Portland, Maine]) and a modification of kit IC1 (kit IC2 [Crypto Scan IMS; product no. R10; Clearwater Diagnostics Company, LLC]) at three turbidity levels (50, 500, and 5,000 nephelometric turbidity units [ntu]) by using water matrices obtained from different geographical locations. In deionized water, kit DB yielded recoveries between 68 and 83%, whereas the recoveries obtained with kits IC1 and IC2 were more variable and ranged from 0.2 to 74.5%. In water matrices with turbidity levels up to 500 ntu, the oocyst recoveries were more variable with kit DB; however, the recoveries were similar to those obtained in deionized water. In contrast, there were notable reductions in oocyst recoveries in the turbid matrices with kits IC1 and IC2, and the highest recovery (8.3%) was obtained with a 50-ntu sample. An examination of the effects of age on oocyst recovery with kit DB revealed that oocysts up to 16 weeks old yielded recoveries similar to the recoveries observed with fresh oocysts. These data indicate that all IMS kits do not perform equally well, and it is important to conduct in-house quality assurance work before a commercially available IMS kit is selected to replace flotation procedures for recovery of Cryptosporidium oocysts.