Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Salt and the glycaemic response.

The possibility that salt increases plasma glucose and insulin responses to starchy foods was investigated. Six healthy adults took four morning test meals randomly: 50 g carbohydrate as cooked lentils or white bread, with or without 4.25 g of added salt (an amount within the range of salt found in a meal). When salt was added to the lentils the incremental area under the three hour plasma glucose curve was significantly greater than that for lentils alone (43.2 mmol.min/l v 11.1 mmol.min/l (778 mg.min/100 ml v 200 mg.min/100 ml]. When salt was added to bread the peak glucose concentration was significantly higher than that for unsalted bread (6.96 mmol/l v 6.35 mmol/l (125 mg/100 ml v 114 mg/100 ml], and this was followed by relative hypoglycaemia. Plasma insulin concentrations at 45 minutes were higher after a meal of salted lentils and salted bread than after the unsalted foods (p less than 0.05). The high insulin concentration after salted bread was sustained for one hour after the meal, thus the mean area under the three hour curve was 39% greater than that for unsalted bread (p less than 0.05). Salt may increase the postprandial plasma glucose and insulin responses to lentils and bread by accelerating the digestion of starch by stimulating amylase activity or accelerating small intestinal absorption of the liberated glucose, or both. The findings of this preliminary study, if confirmed by others, would support the recommendation that diabetics, as well as the general population, should reduce their intake of salt.
Combined automatic weighting and relevance feedback method in Content-Based Image Retrieval

Relevance Feedback (RF) is a powerful technique in Content-Based Image Retrieval (CBIR) system and has become a very active research topic in the past few years. At the early stage of CBIR, research primarily focused on exploring various feature representation and ignored the subjectivity of human perception. There exists a gap between high-level concepts and low-level features. As an effective solution, the RF technique has been used on many CBIR systems to improve the retrieval precision. In this paper, a combined automatic weighting and relevance feedback method is proposed to improve the retrieval performance of CBIR. An approach using genetic algorithm for computing the initial weight of feature vector was introduced. By moving the query vector and updating the weighting factors simultaneously, the convergence speed of the relevance feedback retrieval is accelerated. Experimental results show that this method achieves high accuracy and effectiveness in CBIR.
Inducible Peroxidases Mediate Nitration of Anopheles Midgut Cells Undergoing Apoptosis in Response to Plasmodium Invasion*

Plasmodium berghei invasion of Anopheles stephensi midgut cells causes severe damage, induces expression of nitric-oxide synthase, and leads to apoptosis. The present study indicates that invasion results in tyrosine nitration, catalyzed as a two-step reaction in which nitric-oxide synthase induction is followed by increased peroxidase activity. Ookinete invasion induced localized expression of peroxidase enzymes, which catalyzed protein nitration in vitro in the presence of nitrite and H2O2. Histochemical stainings revealed that when a parasite migrates laterally and invades more than one cell, the pattern of induced peroxidase activity is similar to that observed for tyrosine nitration. In Anopheles gambiae, ookinete invasion elicited similar responses; it induced expression of 5 of the 16 peroxidase genes predicted by the genome sequence and decreased mRNA levels of one of them. One of these inducible peroxidases has a C-terminal oxidase domain homologous to the catalytic moiety of phagocyte NADPH oxidase and could provide high local levels of superoxide anion (\batchmode \documentclass[fleqn,10pt,legalpaper]{article} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amsmath} \pagestyle{empty} \begin{document} \(\mathrm{O}\overline{_{{\dot{2}}}}\) \end{document}), that when dismutated would generate the local increase in H2O2 required for nitration. Chemically induced apoptosis of midgut cells also activated expression of four ookinete-induced peroxidase genes, suggesting their involvement in general apoptotic responses. The two-step nitration reaction provides a mechanism to precisely localize and circumscribe the toxic products generated by defense reactions involving nitration. The present study furthers our understanding of the biochemistry of midgut defense reactions to parasite invasion and how these may influence the efficiency of malaria transmission by anopheline mosquitoes.
Convergence et performances des systmes bancaires des pays de lOCDE

L’internationalisation et la dereglementation des systemes bancaires rendent indispensable l’analyse de la convergence de leurs performances. Dans cet article nous nous focalisons sur l’evolution des performances productives et des couts de production des secteurs bancaires au sein des principaux pays de l’OCDE. En vue d’etudier la convergence des niveaux de ces indicateurs, nous proposons des methodes d’estimation de la technologie de reference et de la fonction de cout basees sur la notion de fonction distance. Ces approches permettent de comparer les performances des systemes bancaires non seulement a leur propre passe mais aussi aux meilleures pratiques observees dans le groupe sans imposer a priori trop d’hypotheses restrictives comme l’absence d’inefficacite technique et/ou allocative et les rendements d’echelle constants. Notre etude empirique concerne 17 pays, dont 8 appartenant a la zone euro, sur la periode 1988-1998. Si nos resultats indiquent que le processus de convergence des performances bancaires est un phenomene complexe, ils revelent indeniablement des effets de rattrapage des secteurs nationaux vis-a-vis des leaders situes sur leur frontiere d’efficacite productive et de cout.
Tracheal intubation in routine practice with and without muscular relaxation: an observational study

Background and objective: The ease of endotracheal intubation has been recently shown to affect the incidence of laryngeal injury. There remains controversy as to whether or not a muscle relaxant is routinely required for tracheal intubation. This study examined conditions of intubation in our routine practice, which employs a relaxant‐sparing approach. Methods: All adult patients scheduled for surgery with general anaesthesia were prospectively included. A muscle relaxant was used to facilitate intubation when it was required for the surgical procedure and/or otherwise regarded as necessary by the anaesthesiologist. In the remaining patients, a relaxant‐free intubation was performed. Intubating conditions were evaluated in all the patients as well as the post‐intubation laryngeal symptoms. Results: Between March and July 2003, 612 patients were consecutively included. A muscle relaxant was used in 32% of patients and no relaxant in the remaining patients (68%). Clinically acceptable intubating scores were observed in 98.4% overall with no significant difference between the two groups. Excellent conditions occurred more frequently in the relaxant group as compared to the relaxant‐free group, 87% vs. 72%, P = 0.005. Laryngeal symptoms occurred in 184 (33%) patients with no difference between the two groups. Conclusions: Our relaxant‐sparing approach did not increase the incidence of poor conditions of intubation nor laryngeal symptoms. However, excellent conditions occurred more frequently in the relaxant group. A more flexible approach to the issue of the need for neuromuscular blockade prior to intubation is proposed.
Characterization of a Bacillus subtilis transporter for petrobactin, an anthrax stealth siderophore

Iron deprivation activates the expression of components of the siderophore-mediated iron acquisition systems in Bacillus subtilis, including not only the synthesis and uptake of its siderophore bacillibactin but also expression of multiple ABC transporters for iron scavenging using xenosiderophores. The yclNOPQ operon is shown to encode the complete transporter for petrobactin (PB), a photoreactive 3,4-catecholate siderophore produced by many members of the B. cereus group, including B. anthracis. Isogenic disruption mutants in the yclNOPQ transporter, including permease YclN, ATPase YclP, and a substrate-binding protein YclQ, are unable to use either PB or the photoproduct of FePB (FePBν) for iron delivery and growth, in contrast to the wild-type B. subtilis. Complementation of the mutations with the copies of the respective genes restores this capability. The YclQ receptor binds selectively iron-free and ferric PB, the PB precursor, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (3,4-DHB), and FePBν with high affinity; the ferric complexes are seen in ESI-MS, implying strong electrostatic interaction between the protein-binding pocket and siderophore. The first structure of a Gram-positive siderophore receptor is presented. The 1.75-Å crystal structure of YclQ reveals a bilobal periplasmic binding protein (PBP) fold consisting of two α/β/α sandwich domains connected by a long α-helix with the binding pocket containing conserved positively charged and aromatic residues and large enough to accommodate FePB. Orthologs of the B. subtilis PB-transporter YclNOPQ in PB-producing Bacilli are likely contributors to the pathogenicity of these species and provide a potential target for antibacterial strategies.
Maternal Anxiety and Depression After a Premature Infant's Discharge From the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Explanatory Effects of the Creating Opportunities for Parent Empowerment Program

Background: Understanding the processes through which interventions work for mothers of premature infants is necessary for the advancement of science and the translation of efficacious interventions into clinical practice settings. Objective: To test a theoretical model examining the processes through which an educational-behavioral intervention program (Creating Opportunities for Parent Empowerment [COPE]) influences mothers' anxiety and depression 2 months after discharge of their premature infants from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Methods: A secondary analysis was conducted using data from a randomized controlled trial with 246 mothers of low-birth-weight preterm infants who were assigned randomly to COPE or placebo control conditions. Measures included mothers' stress in the NICU, mothers' anxiety and depression, and mothers' beliefs about their infants and their role. Observers blind to study group condition also rated the quality of mother- infant interaction in the NICU. Results: Structural equation modeling suggested that the model tested provided a reasonable fit to the data, χ2(64) = 97.67, p = . 004, root mean square error of approximation = . 046, comparative fit index = . 97. Participation in COPE was both directly and indirectly, via associations with increased maternal beliefs and less maternal depression and anxiety in the NICU, related to mothers' decreased posthospital depression and anxiety. Participation in the COPE program also was associated with higher mother- infant interaction scores. Conclusion: Implementation of COPE could lessen postdischarge maternal anxiety and depression, which may improve outcomes for both mothers and preterm infants.
Histological Spectrum of Idiopathic Noncirrhotic Portal Hypertension in Liver Biopsies From Dialysis Patients

Objectives. Liver biopsy is performed for various indications in dialysis patients. Being a less-common subset, the hepatic pathology in renal dialysis is not well documented. Idiopathic noncirrhotic portal hypertension (INCPH) is a clinical entity associated with unexplained portal hypertension and/or a spectrum of histopathological vascular changes in the liver. After encountering INCPH and vascular changes of INCPH in 2 renal dialysis patients, we sought to further investigate this noteworthy association. Materials and methods. A random search for patients on hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis with liver biopsy was performed. Hematoxylin and eosin, reticulin, trichrome, and CK7 stains were performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections. Histopathological features were reviewed, and the results were correlated with clinical findings. Results. In all, 13 liver biopsies were retrieved. The mean cumulative duration of dialysis was 50 months (range = 17 months to 11 years). All patients had multiple comorbidities. Indications for biopsy were a combination of abnormal liver function tests (6), portal hypertension (4), ascites (3), and possible cirrhosis (3). Two patients with portal hypertension underwent multiple liver biopsies for diagnostic purposes. All (100%) biopsies showed some histological features of INCPH, including narrowed portal venous lumen (9), increased portal vascular channels (8), shunt vessels (3), dilated sinusoids (9), regenerative nodule (5), and features of venous outflow obstruction (3). No cirrhosis was identified. Conclusion. Liver biopsies from patients on dialysis demonstrate histopathological vascular changes of INCPH. Some (31%) patients present with portal hypertension without cirrhosis. The histological changes may be reflective of underlying risk factors for INCPH in this group.
Optimal introduction time decision for holiday products with uncertain market demand

In this paper, we investigate how retailers with different risk preferences determine the optimal introduction time and order quantity for holiday products to maximise performance in environments characterised by uncertain market demand. Specifically, both the market demand and the accuracy of sales forecasts are assumed to be affected by the timing of the introduction, which in turn affects the order quantity and subsequent performance. The results suggest that as the level of uncertainty in the market demand increases, as the retailer’s power in the industry increases and as the coefficient of elasticity of the competitive demand over introduction time is larger, the retailer prefers to set a later introduction time and to order smaller quantities, to reduce the risk of overstocking. Moreover, a risk-averse retailer will set a later introduction time and order smaller quantities than a risk-neutral retailer. Indeed, the more risk-averse the retailer is, the later will be the introduction time and the smaller the quantity ordered. The managerial implications are presented for decision-makers with different risk preferences regarding the interconnections between important factors and introduction time and inventory decisions for holiday products in environments characterised by uncertain market demand.
Which cyanide antidote?

Cyanide has several antidotes, with differing mechanisms of action and diverse toxicological, clinical, and risk–benefit profiles. The international medical community lacks consensus about the antidote or antidotes with the best risk–benefit ratio. Critical assessment of cyanide antidotes is needed to aid in therapeutic and administrative decisions that will improve care for victims of cyanide poisoning (particularly poisoning from enclosed-space fire-smoke inhalation), and enhance readiness for cyanide toxic terrorism and other mass-casualty incidents. This paper reviews preclinical and clinical data on available cyanide antidotes and considers the profiles of these antidotes relative to properties of a hypothetical ideal cyanide antidote. Each of the antidotes shows evidence of efficacy in animal studies and clinical experience. The data available to date do not suggest obvious differences in efficacy among antidotes, with the exception of a slower onset of action of sodium thiosulfate (administered alone) than of the other antidotes. The potential for serious toxicity limits or prevents the use of the Cyanide Antidote Kit, dicobalt edetate, and 4-dimethylaminophenol in prehospital empiric treatment of suspected cyanide poisoning. Hydroxocobalamin differs from these antidotes in that it has not been associated with clinically significant toxicity in antidotal doses. Hydroxocobalamin is an antidote that seems to have many of the characteristics of the ideal cyanide antidote: rapid onset of action, neutralizes cyanide without interfering with cellular oxygen use, tolerability and safety profiles conducive to prehospital use, safe for use with smoke-inhalation victims, not harmful when administered to non-poisoned patients, easy to administer.
Effect of strain rate on tensile properties of miniature size lead-free alloys

Tensile properties of several lead-free solder were investigated at a strain rate ranging from 2 × 10-3 s-1 to 2 × 102 s-1 at room temperature using micro-size specimens. Five kinds of lead-free solder which are Sn-3mass%Ag-0.5mass%Cu, Sn-0.7mass%Cu, Sn-5mass%Sb, Sn-8.5mass%Sb and Sn-13mass%Sb were prepared. Sn-37mass%Pb solder was also prepared as a comparison. Tensile strength increases with increasing the strain rate and is proportional to the logarithm of the strain rate. In Sn-3Ag-0.5Cu and Sn-37Pb solder, specimens were necked uniformly and dimple fracture mainly occurred. Tensile strength became relatively high in those solder. In Sn-0.7Cu, Sn-5Sb and Sn-8.5Sb solder, specimens were not necked uniformly and chisel point fracture was observed. Tensile strength of such solder became relatively low compared with those of Sn-3Ag-0.5Cu and Sn-37Pb solder. In Sn-13Sb solder, brittle fracture occurred and elongation decreased compared with other solder. For elongation, Sn-5Sb and Sn-8.5Sb solder showed an excellent value of approximately 90% at the maximum strain rate investigated.
Essays on Human Capital, Wage Dispersion and Worker Mobility

This dissertation is comprised of three papers. In Chapter 1 I analyze if career heterogeneity in terms of life-cycle earnings, occupational mobility and unemployment is predominantly driven by skills acquired prior to labor market entry or by decisions made and shocks accumulated over the working life. My study is based on a Dynamic Discrete Choice model that enriches the proto-typical dynamic Roy-model with a number of potentially important sources of career heterogeneity, such as match heterogeneity and permanent shocks to skills. I find that a large fraction of life-cycle income inequality is driven by match heterogeneity among workers with the same observable and unobservable credentials. Differences in comparative advantages, though quantitatively important as well, have a much smaller impact than what has been found in research that relies on estimates from more restrictive
A molecular and genetic outline of cardiac morphogenesis

Perturbations in cardiac development result in congenital heart disease, the leading cause of birth defect–related infant morbidity and mortality. Advances in cardiac developmental biology have significantly augmented our understanding of signalling pathways and transcriptional networks underlying heart formation. Cardiogenesis is initiated with the formation of mesodermal multipotent cardiac progenitor cells and is governed by cross‐talk between developmental cues emanating from endodermal, mesodermal and ectodermal cells. The molecular and transcriptional machineries that direct the specification and differentiation of these cardiac precursors are part of an evolutionarily conserved programme that includes the Nkx‐, Gata‐, Hand‐, T‐box‐ and Mef2 family of transcription factors. Unravelling the hierarchical networks governing the fate and differentiation of cardiac precursors is crucial for our understanding of congenital heart disease and future stem cell–based and gene therapies. Recent molecular and genetic lineage analyses have revealed that subpopulations of cardiac progenitor cells follow distinctive specification and differentiation paths, which determine their final contribution to the heart. In the last decade, progenitor cells that contribute to the arterial pole and right ventricle have received much attention, as abnormal development of these cells frequently results in congenital defects of the aortic and pulmonary outlets, representing the most commonly occurring congenital cardiac defects. In this review, we provide an overview of the building plan of the vertebrate four‐chambered heart, with a special focus on cardiac progenitor cell specification, differentiation and deployment during arterial pole development.
Ship intrusion detection security system using image processing & SVM

Surveillance is a paramount problem for harbor protection, border control and security of various commercial facilities. It is particularly challenging to protect the vast near-coast sea surface and busy harbor areas from intrusions of unauthorized marine vessels, such as trespassing boats and ships. In our project, we present a state-of-the-art solution for ship intrusion detection using image processing and Support Vector Machine (SVM). The main aim is to detect the ships, which cross over the border and secured industrial spaces. Using the interworking mechanisms of these two techniques, we can detect the intruding ship from the constantly changing sea environment. SVM can be used as a machine learning to train the system by exposing it to different seashore environments. Hence, it can be used as a real time security system at seashore areas.
Thymosin‐α 1 plus interferon‐α for naive patients with chronic hepatitis C: results of a randomized controlled pilot trial

Summary. In this pilot study, we evaluated the efficacy of interferon‐α (IFN) plus Thymosin‐α 1 (TA1) to that of IFN alone in naive patients with chronic hepatitis C. Twenty‐two patients were randomized to receive interferon‐α2b (3 million units three times a week) plus thymosin‐α l (900 μg/m2 body surface area) and 19 received interferon‐α2b alone at the same dose. Patients were treated for 6 months and followed up for another 6 months. Biochemical (alanine aminotransferase values) and virological (hepatitis C virus‐RNA) responses to treatment were determined. Combination treatment showed significantly higher efficacy than monotherapy in achieving virological end‐of‐treatment response (P = 0.03). At 6‐month follow up, the sustained biochemical and virological response was not different between the two groups. Our results indicate that the immune modulator TA1 may enhance the end‐of‐treatment response in naive patients with chronic hepatitis C. Higher doses and/ore more prolonged courses as well as the association with new interferon formulation such as pegylated interferons could improve the sustained response rates to this treatment.