Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A New Method for Quantifying Platelet Deposition in Flowing Native Blood in an Ex Vivo Model of Human Thrombogenesis

Summary No quantitative, simple and non-radioactive method has been described for measuring the platelet content of experimental thrombi. The aim of the present study was to develop a simple method for quantifying platelets in thrombi formed on thrombogenic surfaces in flowing native human blood. To test the relevance of this new method, the effect of unfractionated heparin on arterial thrombus formation was investigated. Tissue factor (TF)- and collagen-coated coverslips were exposed to non-anticoagulated blood at an arterial wall shear rate (2,600 s–1) for 1 to 4 min. Platelet deposition was quantified by measuring the P-selectin (PS) and β-thromboglobulin (βTG) content of dissolved plasmin-digested thrombi using immunoenzymoassays; fibrin deposition was determined by measuring the D-dimer levels. These results were compared to those established by morphometrical analysis. Morphometric evaluation showed that fibrin deposition was maximum on TF by 1 min perfusion time. Platelets deposited subsequently and reached a maximum at 3 min. On collagen, platelets deposited directly on the collagen fibrils without detectable fibrin deposit. Platelet deposition increased from 1 to 4 min. Platelet deposition quantified by PS was correlated to the values obtained by morphometry (r = 0.72, r = 0.67, p <0.001, on TF and collagen, respectively). As compared to PS, βTG measurements gave an underestimation of the size of the thrombus platelet number. Unfractionated heparin infused through a mixing device proximal to the perfusion chamber to obtain plasma concentrations of 0.5, 1 and 3 IU/ml, reduced fibrin deposition on TF-coated coverslips in a dose-dependent manner (77% reduction at 3 IU/ml, p <0.01), but had no significant effect on platelet deposition (33% at 3 IU/ml, p >0.05). In contrast, heparin had no effect on fibrin or platelet deposition on collagen-coated coverslips. Thus, a new quantitative and simple method for measuring platelet deposition in flowing blood has been developed and characterized. Utilizing this system, we have demonstrated that unfractionated heparin did not inhibit arterial thrombus formation either on procoagulant or on proaggregant surface.
A Heuristic Algorithm and a System for Vehicle Routing with Multiple Destinations in Embedded Equipment

A heuristic algorithm appropriate for vehicle routing problem with multiple destinations in embedded equipment is presented. The algorithm is applied to the local routing and global routing respectively. Based on the consideration of road conditions and special direction roads (one-way street, banning of turn in crossing, etc.), a routing system adopting the algorithm is developed in embedded equipment ARM9. Experimental results from the routing system prove the efficiency of the presented heuristic algorithm in embedded equipment.
Li-ion battery modeling and SOC estimation using extended Kalman filter

Lithium ion batteries are preffered especially in electric car applications over other types of batteries thanks to their intrinsic safety, capacity for fast charging and long cycle life. In order to get an accurate battery model, it is important to be able to determine a couple of state parameters such as state of charge and state of health. In this work, battery management system agorithms were improved for generic Lithium ion battery state of charge estimation using Matlab Simulink. First, an equivalent circuit battery mathematical model was developed with the aim of simulating the behaviour of a lithium-ion battery as accurately as possible. The Thevenin model is achieved by adding an extra RC branch and the model parameters are identified employing the Extended Kalman Filter (EKF). In this work, it is aimed to catch the battery characterization and provide the correct parameters to the Kalman Filter code in order to accurately estimate the SOC.
Pathological features of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy

The macroscopic features of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy are variable. The most easily recognized picture is of disproportionate and asymmetrical left ventricular hypertrophy with a small ventricular volume. Symmetrical ventricular hypertrophy also occurs and dilatation of the ventricular cavity may lead to a configuration more usually associated with congestive cardiomyopathy. Papillary muscle involvement leads to a bullet shape, often retained even when the ventricle dilates. Eighteen of the hearts showed a distinctive band of fibrous thickening below the aortic valve. This was a mirror image of the free edge of the anterior mitral cusp, had the microscopic features of an endocardial friction lesion, and was clearly the morphological expression of the systolic contact between cusp and septum seen on cineangiography. This band is characteristic of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy; it was more common in older patients and is of particular diagnostic value in cases with symmetrical hypertrophy, including those with dilated ventricular cavities. Sudden death was the commonest presentation in the younger cases but in several cases over 60 years at death hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy was an incidental necropsy finding.
Preparation and characteristics of dichloromethylene diphosphonate-containing liposomes.

Dichloromethylene diphosphonate (DMDP), encapsulated in liposomes and administered intravenously in mice, will eliminate all macrophages in spleen and liver. DMDP can be incorporated in liposomes to a maximum of 15 mM, if less than 12 mM is encapsulated not all macrophages will be eliminated (since the animals could not be injected with more liposomes). To determine DMDP content of the liposomes before in vivo administration, an in vitro test system was developed. This method is based on the competition for calcium binding by either DMDP or murexide. Murexide is a metallochromatic indicator which gives a distinct wavelength shift after binding of calcium. The decrease in absorbance at 510 nm of the murexide-calcium complex, due to the addition of DMDP, was used as a reliable (s.d. 5 per cent) value for measurement of DMDP concentrations. The possible use of this system in the study of calcium binding and transport over artificial biomembranes is discussed.
The agent of bacillary angiomatosis. An approach to the identification of uncultured pathogens.

BACKGROUND Bacillary angiomatosis is an infectious disease causing proliferation of small blood vessels in the skin and visceral organs of patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection and other immunocompromised hosts. The agent is often visualized in tissue sections of lesions with Warthin-Starry staining, but the bacillus has not been successfully cultured or identified. This bacillus may also cause cat scratch disease. METHODS In attempting to identify this organism, we used the polymerase chain reaction. We used oligonucleotide primers complementary to the 16S ribosomal RNA genes of eubacteria to amplify 16S ribosomal gene fragments directly from tissue samples of bacillary angiomatosis. The DNA sequence of these fragments was determined and analyzed for phylogenetic relatedness to other known organisms. Normal tissues were studied in parallel. RESULTS Tissue from three unrelated patients with bacillary angiomatosis yielded a unique 16S gene sequence. A sequence obtained from a fourth patient with bacillary angiomatosis differed from the sequence found in the other three patients at only 4 of 241 base positions. No related 16S gene fragment was detected in the normal tissues. These 16S sequences associated with bacillary angiomatosis belong to a previously uncharacterized microorganism, most closely related to Rochalimaea quintana. CONCLUSIONS The cause of bacillary angiomatosis is a previously uncharacterized rickettsia-like organism, closely related to R. quintana. This method for the identification of an uncultured pathogen may be applicable to other infectious diseases of unknown cause.
Mining fuzzy association rules and fuzzy frequency episodes for intrusion detection

Lee, Stolfo, and Mok 1 previously reported the use of association rules and frequency episodes for mining audit data to gain knowledge for intrusion detection. The integration of association rules and frequency episodes with fuzzy logic can produce more abstract and flexible patterns for intrusion detection, since many quantitative features are involved in intrusion detection and security itself is fuzzy. We present a modification of a previously reported algorithm for mining fuzzy association rules, define the concept of fuzzy frequency episodes, and present an original algorithm for mining fuzzy frequency episodes. We add a normalization step to the procedure for mining fuzzy association rules in order to prevent one data instance from contributing more than others. We also modify the procedure for mining frequency episodes to learn fuzzy frequency episodes. Experimental results show the utility of fuzzy association rules and fuzzy frequency episodes for intrusion detection. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Efficient Identification Method for Power Line Outages in the Smart Power Grid

This paper considers the use of phasor angle measurements provided by phasor measurement units to identify multiple power line outages. The problem of power line outage identification has traditionally been formulated as a combinatorial optimization problem, the optimal solution of which can be found through an exhaustive search. However, the size of the search space grows exponentially with the number of outages and may thus pose a potential problem for the practical implementation of an exhaustive search, especially when multiple power line outages are considered in a power system. To reduce the complexity while improving outage detection performance, we propose a novel global stochastic optimization technique based on cross-entropy optimization, which has been proven to be a powerful tool for many combinatorial optimization problems, to identify multiple line outages. To validate the effectiveness of the proposed approach, the algorithm is tested using IEEE 118- and 300-bus systems, as well as a Polish 2736-bus system. Simulation results demonstrate that the percentage of correctly identified line outages achieved by the proposed method outperforms those obtained by existing sparse signal recovery algorithms.
Effect of central and peripheral body fat distribution on sympathetic and baroreflex function in obese normotensives

Background Previous studies have shown that obesity is characterized by a sympathetic overactivity coupled with an insulin resistance state and a baroreflex impairment. The present study was set out to compare the effects of peripheral versus central obesity on sympathetic, metabolic and reflex function. Methods In 36 lean subjects (age 35.8 ± 1.4 years, mean ± SEM), 20 subjects with peripheral obesity (PO) and 26 subjects with central obesity (CO), all age-matched and with normal blood pressure values, we measured beat-to-beat arterial blood pressure (Finapres), heart rate (HR, ECG), homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) index, plasma norepinephrine (NE, high-performance liquid chromatography) and postganglionic muscle sympathetic nerve traffic (MSNA, microneurography) at rest and during baroreceptor stimulation and deactivation induced by stepwise intravenous infusions of phenylephrine and nitroprusside, respectively. Results Both HOMA index, NE and MSNA values were significantly increased (P < 0.01) in obese as compared with lean individuals. Subjects with CO displayed MSNA and HOMA values significantly greater than those found in individuals with PO (65.4 ± 2.0 versus 47.9 ± 1.9 bs/100hb and 2.85 ± 0.10 versus 2.43 ± 0.11 a.u., respectively, P < 0.05 for both). Both in male and female subjects with CO or PO, MSNA, HOMA index and waist-to-hip ratio were significantly related to each other. Baroreceptor-HR and -MSNA control was significantly (P < 0.01) impaired in obese as compared with lean subjects, the degree of impairment being similar in CO and PO. Conclusions These data suggest that CO is characterized by a sympathetic activation greater for magnitude than that detectable in PO. This appears not to be related to gender or to baroreflex mechanisms but rather to metabolic factors, i.e. to the greater insulin resistance characterizing CO.
State Dependence in Social Assistance Benefit Receipt in Germany Before and After the Hartz Reforms

I study state dependence in social assistance receipt in Germany using annual survey data from the German Socio-Economic Panel for the years 1995–2011. There is considerable observed state dependence, with an average persistence rate in benefits of 68 per cent comparing to an average entry rate of just above 3 per cent. To identify a possible structural component, I estimate a series of dynamic random-effects probit models that control for observed and unobserved heterogeneity and endogeneity of initial conditions. I find evidence of substantial structural state dependence in benefit receipt. Estimates suggest that benefit receipt one year ago is associated with an increase in the likelihood of benefit receipt today by a factor of 3.4. This corresponds to an average partial effect of 13 percentage points. Average predicted entry and persistence rates and the absolute level of structural state dependence are higher in Eastern Germany than in Western Germany. I find only little evidence for time variation in state dependence around the years of the Hartz reforms.
Dynamic structure of subtilisin‐eglin c complex studied by normal mode analysis

Normal mode analysis of subtilisin‐eglin c complex was performed to investigate the dynamics at the interface between the enzyme and the inhibitor. The internal motions of the complex calculated from the normal modes were divided into three parts: the internal motions changing the shape of each molecule, the external rigid‐body motions changing their mutual dispositions, and the coupling between the internal and external motions. From the results of the analysis, the following characteristic features were found in the dynamics at the interface regions: 1) negative correlation between the internal and external motions within each molecule, and 2) positive correlation between the external motions of the two molecules. The former decreases the apparent amplitudes of motions at the interface. The latter minimizes the interference between individual motions of the two molecules. These dynamic characteristics allow the enzyme and the inhibitor to move as freely as possible. This finding suggests that the experimental evidence of the large entropy gain on binding should be attributed not only to strong hydrophobic interactions, but also to the dynamic structure of the complex, which is found to minimize an unavoidable loss of the conformational entropy on binding. Proteins 32:324–333, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Analysis of Cell Sojourn Time in Heterogeneous Networks With Small Cells

Recently, heterogeneous networks with small cells have been widely used to increase the capacity of mobile systems. In such environments, accurate estimation of the mean cell sojourn time is critical for evaluating the performance of the network and its applications. It is especially important to analyze the cell sojourn times of mobile users as they reside in different network tiers: either macro-cell-only or small-cell-covered areas. But because small cells are deployed in an irregular manner, it is difficult to derive the analytical mean cell sojourn time in a macro-cell-only area. In this letter, we propose a novel approach to resolve this difficulty. We developed a simple but effective trick that approximates the heterogeneous network to a discrete grid so that it becomes tractable, making it possible to derive the analytical mean sojourn time in the macro-cell-only area. Simulation results confirm that the proposed method has excellent accuracy for general random walk mobility models including random waypoint, Brownian motion, tailored Brownian motion, and truncated Levy walk.
Effect of feeding raw soybeans on polyamine metabolism in chicks and the therapeutic effect of exogenous putrescine.

The inclusion of isolated soy protein in milk replacer diets for calves and neonatal pigs inhibits development of intestinal mucosal cells. Simultaneous administration of putrescine partially overcomes this effect. We therefore conducted experiments to determine the potential for dietary putrescine to overcome the toxicity of raw soybeans in chicks. In the first experiment, week-old chicks were fed either an isolated soy protein-based control diet or an isoenergetic and isonitrogenous diet containing 52% raw, ground soybeans for 14 d. The feeding of raw soybeans depressed (P < .001) growth and feed consumption, caused enlargement (P < .001) of the duodenum and pancreas, depressed (P < .001) activities of polyamine synthetic enzymes in the duodenum, and reduced (P < .01) duodenal tissue concentrations of putrescine. In the second experiment, the diet containing raw soybeans was fed with and without . 2, . 3, and . 4% supplemental putrescine. The feeding of supplemental putrescine largely overcame the inhibition of growth due to the feeding of raw soybeans and increased intestinal putrescine concentrations. Putrescine supplementation had no effect, however, on pancreatic and intestinal enlargement in birds fed raw soybeans and tended to depress the activity of polyamine synthetic enzymes. The beneficial effects of putrescine supplementation were confirmed in the third experiment when up to 1.0% supplemental putrescine was fed. We conclude that the toxicity of raw soybeans to chicks can be overcome by feeding putrescine. These effects are likely due to improved nutrient uptake by overcoming the adverse effects of lectins in the intestinal tract and are not likely due to alleviation of the pancreatic enlargement caused by protease inhibitors.
Effect of self-efficacy on Turkish children's perceptions of the advantages/disadvantages of smoking.

OBJECTIVE This descriptive, cross sectional study was conducted to examine the effect of levels of self-efficacy on children's perceptions of pros and cons of smoking. METHODOLOGY The sample was 233 fifth-grade students. Data were collected in September 2010 using the Socio-Demographic Data Collection Form, Self Efficacy Scale Child Form and Child Decision Balance Scale and analyzed via percentage calculations and t test with the SPSS 11.00 statistical package program. RESULTS Average age of the students participating in the research was 11.1±0.41, 49.8% (n: 116) being female and 50.2% (n:117) male. The difference between the score averages of the pros of smoking perceptions of children with a high self-efficacy level and of those with a low self efficacy level (t=2.117, p=.042) and the difference between the score averages of the cons of smoking perceptions of children with a high self-efficacy level and of those with a low self-efficacy level (t=2.206, p=.035) were found to be statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS Children's positive perceptions of smoking were low and negative perceptions high when their self efficacy levels were high. Conversely, children's positive perceptions of smoking were high when their self efficacy levels were low.
Phenomenological Overlap of Multiple Personality Disorder and Obsessive‐Compulsive Disorder

Three patients with multiple personality disorder and three with obsessive-compulsive disorder were compared on a variety of self-report measures and on two structured interviews. Amytal Sodium interviews had been conducted on the obsessive patients; alter personality-like entities claiming responsibility for the obsessions and compulsions were contacted in two patients. The one obsessive patient with no alter personality differed markedly from the other five on the SCL-90, the Lynfield Inventory, and the Dissociative Experiences Scale. Structured interviews with the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule and the Dissociative Disorders Interview Schedule also clearly differentiated this patient from the other five. It appears that there is a phenomenological overlap between multiple personality disorder and some cases of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Obsessive patients with prominent dissociative features may be a psychologically and biologically distinct subgroup.
Nativity Status and Patient Perceptions of the Patient-Physician Encounter: Results From the Commonwealth Fund 2001 Survey on Disparities in Quality of Health Care

Background:Although racial and ethnic differences in healthcare have been extensively documented in the United States, little attention has been paid to the quality of health care for the foreign-born population in the United States. Objectives:This study examines the association between patient perceptions of the patient-physician interaction and nativity status. Research Design:Cross-sectional telephone survey. Subjects:A total of 6674 individuals (US-born = 5156; foreign-born = 1518) 18 years of age and older. Measures:Seven questions measuring the quality of patient-physician interactions. Results:Of the 7 outcome variables examined in the unadjusted logistic regression model, only 2 remained statistically significant in the fully adjusted model. For both the total sample and for Asians only, compared with US-born, foreign-born individuals were at greater odds [total sample, odds ratio (OR) = 1.43; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.01–2.04; Asians, OR = 3.25; 95% CI = 1.18–8.95] of reporting that their physician did not involve them in their care as much as they would have liked. Compared with US-born Asians, foreign-born Asians were at greater odds of reporting that their physician did not spend as much time with them as they would have liked (OR = 4.19; 95% CI = 1.68–10.46). Discussion:Findings from our study suggest that we should not only track disparities by race and ethnicity but also by nativity status.
Empirical Analysis on the Relationship Between the China Urbanization and Regional Eco-efficiency

With the continuous progressing of China's urbanization,two problems,shortage of resources and pollution of environment, have become increasingly prominent. Therefore,one important issue that must be solved in the construction of new urbanization is to get maximum economic and social benefits at the cost of minimum ecological loss. Based on Chinese provincial panel data,from 1999 to 2011,and the super-efficiency DEA model,this paper studies the relationship between regional eco-efficiency and the urbanization level in China. Findings show that,in general,the curve of the relationship between urbanization level and regional eco-efficiency was asymmetrically U-shaped,that means the trend of regional eco-efficiency decreases first and then increases as the urbanization level increasing. However,the eco-efficiency has a significant difference in eastern,central and western areas: the eco-efficiency in the process of urbanization in eastern part is relatively high and some eastern provinces have begun to enter the upward phase,while the central and western parts are still in the declining stage of the U-shaped curve,that is,with the improvement of the level of urbanization,the regional eco-efficiency is declining in these two areas,especially in western area. Regional industrial structure, environmental policy and technical level all influence the eco-efficiency of urbanization in different ways. Therefore,it is necessary to change the mode of economic development,optimize the environmental policy and improve the technological level,then eco-efficiency of urbanization can be improved and a new way of urbanization which is resource-saving,environment-friendly and cost-effective can be promoted.