Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Long-term Effects of Gastric Bypass on Vitamin D Metabolism

Objective:Alterations of the endocrine system in patients following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (GBP) are poorly described and have prompted us to perform a longitudinal study of the effects of GBP on serum calcium, 25-hydroxy-vitamin-D (vitamin D), and parathyroid hormone (PTH). Methods:Prospectively collected data were compiled to determine how GBP affects serum calcium, vitamin D, and PTH. Student t test, Fisher exact test, or linear regression was used to determine significance. Results:Calcium, vitamin D, and PTH levels were drawn on 243 patients following GBP. Forty-one patients had long-limb bypass (LL-GBP), Roux >100 cm, and 202 had short-limb bypass (SL-GBP), Roux ≤100 cm. The mean (±SD) postoperative follow-up time was significantly longer in the LL-GBP group (5.7 ± 2.5 years) than the SL-GBP group (3.1 ± 3.6 years, P < 0.0001). When corrected for albumin levels, mean calcium was 9.3 mg/dL (range, 8.5–10.8 mg/dL), and no difference existed between LL-GBP and SL-GBP patients. For patients with low vitamin D levels (<8.9 ng/mL), 88.9% had elevated PTH (>65 pg/mL) and 58.0% of patients with normal vitamin D levels (≥8.9 ng/mL) had elevated PTH (P < 0.0001). In individuals with vitamin D levels <30 ng/mL, 55.1% (n = 103) had elevated PTH, and of those with vitamin D levels ≥30 ng/mL 28.5% (n = 16) had elevated PTH (P = 0.0007). Mean vitamin D levels were lower in patients who had undergone LL-GBP as opposed to those with SL-GBP, 16.8 ± 10.8 ng/mL versus 22.7 ± 11.1 ng/mL (P = 0.0022), and PTH was significantly higher in patients who had a LL-GBP (113.5 ± 88.0 pg/mL versus 74.5 ± 52.7 pg/mL, P = 0.0002). There was a linear decrease in vitamin D (P = 0.005) coupled with a linear increase in PTH (P < 0.0001) the longer patients were followed after GBP. Alkaline phosphatase levels were elevated in 40.3% of patients and correlated with PTH levels. Conclusion:Vitamin D deficiency and elevated PTH are common following GBP and progress over time. There is a significant incidence of secondary hyperparathyroidism in short-limb GBP patients, even those with vitamin D levels ≥30 ng/mL, suggesting selective Ca2+ malabsorption. Thus, calcium malabsorption is inherent to gastric bypass. Careful calcium and vitamin D supplementation and long-term screening are necessary to prevent deficiencies and the sequelae of secondary hyperparathyroidism.
Algorithmics of Matching Under Preferences

A new book by Dr David Manlove of the School of Computing Science has recently been published by World Scientific as part of their Series on Theoretical Computer Science. This book, called “Algorithmics of Matching Under Preferences”, deals with algorithms and complexity issues surrounding the matching of agents to one another when preferences are involved. For example, in several countries, centralised matching schemes handle the annual allocation of intending junior doctors to hospitals based on their preferences over one another. Efficient algorithms required to solve the underlying theoretical matching problems. Similar examples arise in the allocation of pupils to schools, students to projects, kidney patients to donors, and so on. The book surveys algorithmic results for a range of matching problems involving preferences, with practical applications areas including those mentioned above. It covers the classical Stable Marriage, Hospitals/Residents and Stable Roommates problems, where so-called stable matchings are sought, thereby providing an update to “The Stable Marriage problem, Structure and Algorithms”, by Dan Gusfield and Rob Irving, published by MIT Press in 1989. It also extends the coverage to the House Allocation problem, where stability is no longer the key requirement for a matching, and other definitions of optimality hold. This book builds on the author’s prior research in this area, and also his practical experience of developing, with colleagues including Rob Irving and Gregg O’Malley, algorithms for matching kidney patients to donors in the UK (collaborating with NHS Blood and Transplant), for assigning medical students to hospitals in Scotland (in collaboration with NHS Education for Scotland), and for allocating students to elective courses and projects (within the Schools of Medicine and Computing Science at the University of Glasgow, respectively). The book is also timely, as the research area recently came to the forefront in 2012 following the award of the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences to Alvin Roth and Lloyd Shapley, two leading contributors to the field of matching theory and its application in practical settings, whose work is described in detail throughout the book. A Foreword is contributed by Kurt Mehlhorn of Max-Planck Institut fur Informatik, Saarbrucken, who wrote: “This book covers the research area in its full breadth and beauty. Written by one of the foremost experts in the area, it is a timely update to “The Stable Marriage Problem: Structure and Algorithms” (D. Gusﬁeld and R.W. Irving, 1989). This book will be required reading for anybody working on the subject; it has a good chance of becoming a classic. ”
Observations on living myocardial cells from cultured 48‐hour chick hearts

Cardiac muscle cells were grown in culture for the first time by Burrows ('lo) who explanted minced fragments of embryonic chick hearts in a plasma clot. He reported an outgrowth of "short chains of striated cells" which contracted rhythmically. During the next 20 years a number of investigators cultured heart tissue from a variety of animals (Lake, '16; Lewis, '26; Levi and Olivo, '28; Smirnowa, '28; and Olivo, '29). However, their reports on the cytological differentiation of myocardial outgrowth were not in agreement. This controversy was due either to variations in culture media, to observations made principally on fixed and stained preparations, or to limitations of the microscope. The earliest record of the appearance of living heart muscle cells in culture was published by Goss ('31 ) . Soon other investigators (Hogue, '37; deRenyi and Hogue, '38; and Stilwell, '38) began comparing the cytologic appearance of living myocardial cells in culture with that of cells after fixation and staining. Perhaps the most significant improvement in the technique of culturing heart muscle was made by Cavanaugh ('55) who dissociated minced heart fragments with trypsin. With this method she was able to culture clusters of cardiac muscle cells relatively free of fibroblasts. The reports of Cavanaugh ('55) were based on studies of short duration, thus no prolonged observations were made of the appearance and behavior of living heart cells. The purpose of this study was to observe with phase and polarizing microscopes the behavior and cytologic differentiation of living myocardial cells from hearts of chick embryos during their survival in culture. MATERIALS AND METHODS
Mushroom bodies of vespid wasps

Mushroom bodies are higher centers in the brains of insects. Studies on honey bees and species of ants suggest that these centers are particularly prominent in social insects. The present study confirms the presence of large mushroom bodies in five subfamilies of vespid wasps, while at the same time showing significant departures from the mushroom body organization that typifies bees and ants. Although the basic organizational plan of the insect mushroom body into calyces, peduncle, and lobes is maintained, as is the arrangement of axons of intrinsic neurons, the size and arrangements of the vespid mushroom body lobes differ markedly from those known from other Hymenoptera. Furthermore, considerable variation is found both between and within vespid subfamilies. The present results are discussed with respect to current hypotheses about functional attributes of mushroom bodies and the phylogeny of the Vespidae. J. Comp. Neurol. 416:93–100, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Islamic prayer (Salah/Namaaz) and yoga togetherness in mental health

Religion and its practices have been duly implicated in treating not only problems related to medical health, rather, intervening and preventing such problems as well. In the present article, the authors have reviewed significance of the Islamic prayers (Salah/Namaaz) in healthcare in general and mental health in particular. The nature, procedures, practices and the benefits of Salah have been comprehensively described and discussed. In addition, an attempt to combine yoga and its practices with Salah has been made for intervening and preventing the problems of mental health as an expeditious tool. In upshot, the clinicians in the field of mental health care have been suggested to incorporate these two viewpoints in their intervention program, at least, for the Muslim patients for a more desirable outcome.
HSP90 Inhibition Is Effective in Breast Cancer: A Phase II Trial of Tanespimycin (17-AAG) Plus Trastuzumab in Patients with HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer Progressing on Trastuzumab

Purpose: HSP90 is a chaperone protein required for the stability of a variety of client proteins. 17-Demethoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG) is a natural product that binds to HSP90 and inhibits its activity, thereby inducing the degradation of these clients. In preclinical studies, HER2 is one of the most sensitive known client proteins of 17-AAG. On the basis of these data and activity in a phase I study, we conducted a phase II study of 17-AAG (tanespimycin) with trastuzumab in advanced trastuzumab-refractory HER2-positive breast cancer. Experimental Design: We enrolled patients with metastatic HER2+ breast cancer whose disease had previously progressed on trastuzumab. All patients received weekly treatment with tanespimycin at 450 mg/m2 intravenously and trastuzumab at a conventional dose. Therapy was continued until disease progression. The primary endpoint was response rate by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria. Results: Thirty-one patients were enrolled with a median age of 53 years and a median Karnofsky performance status (KPS) of 90%. The most common toxicities, largely grade 1, were diarrhea, fatigue, nausea, and headache. The overall response rate was 22%, the clinical benefit rate [complete response + partial response + stable disease] was 59%, the median progression-free survival was 6 months (95% CI: 4–9), and the median overall survival was 17 months (95% CI: 16–28). Conclusions: This is the first phase II study to definitively show RECIST-defined responses for 17-AAG in solid tumors. Tanespimycin plus trastuzumab has significant anticancer activity in patients with HER2-positive, metastatic breast cancer previously progressing on trastuzumab. Further research exploring this therapeutic interaction and the activity of HSP90 inhibitors is clearly warranted. Clin Cancer Res; 17(15); 5132–9. ©2011 AACR.
Information Visualization Concepts and Issues

Visualization is the use of interactive visual representation to support a deeper level of understanding of data and foster new insights. It relies on the human’s perceptual and cognitive abilities to visualize. Incorporating visualization technology to the interface is a promising approach for supporting better and informed decision making. This paper provides an overview of the key underlying concepts of information visualization, which focus on abstract data such as in the business domain. The importance of information visualization in a decision support environment is highlighted and different kinds of visualization representations are presented. Current issues that offer opportunities for research are then discussed.
Structural analysis of the lipopolysaccharide oligosaccharide epitopes expressed by a capsule-deficient strain of Haemophilus influenzae Rd.

Structural elucidation of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Haemophilus influenzae, strain Rd, a capsule-deficient type d strain, has been achieved by using high-field NMR techniques and electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) on delipidated LPS and core oligosaccharide samples. It was found that this organism expresses heterogeneous populations of LPS of which the oligosaccharide (OS) epitopes are subject to phase variation. ESI-MS of O-deacylated LPS revealed a series of related structures differing in the number of hexose residues linked to a conserved inner-core element, L-alpha-D-Hepp-(1-->2)-L-alpha-D-Hepp-(1-->3)-[beta-D-Glcp- (1-->4)-]- L-alpha-D-Hepp-(1-->5)-alpha-Kdo, and the degree of phosphorylation. The structures of the major LPS glycoforms containing three (two Glc and one Gal), four (two Glc and two Gal) and five (two Glc, two Gal and one GalNAc) hexoses were substituted by both phosphocholine (PCho) and phosphoethanolamine (PEtn) and were determined in detail. In the major glycoform, Hex3, a lactose unit, beta-D-Galp-(1-->4)-beta-D-Glcp, is attached at the O-2 position of the terminal heptose of the inner-core element. The Hex4 glycoform contains the PK epitope, alpha-D-Galp-(1-->4)-beta-D-Galp-(1-->4)-beta-D-Glcp while in the Hex5 glycoform, this OS is elongated by the addition of a terminal beta-D-GalpNAc residue, giving the P antigen, beta-D-GalpNAc-(1-->3)-alpha-D-Galp-(1-->4)-beta-D-Galp-(1-->4)-D-Glc p. The fully extended LPS glycoform (Hex5) has the following structure. [see text] The structural data provide the first definitive evidence demonstrating the expression of a globotetraose OS epitope, the P antigen, in LPS of H. influenzae. It is noteworthy that the molecular environment in which PCho units are found differs from that observed in an Rd- derived mutant strain (RM.118-28) [Risberg, A. , Schweda, E. K. H. & Jansson, P-E. (1997) Eur. J. Biochem. 243, 701-707].
The genetics of atrial fibrillation

Purpose of review To describe recent findings regarding the role of rare and common genetic variants in atrial fibrillation. Recent findings Atrial fibrillation is associated with several clinical risk factors and its development is affected by genetic background. To date, rare variants from more than 30 genes have been identified from studies of familial cases or individuals with lone atrial fibrillation. In addition to using the candidate gene approach for the identification of rare variants, next-generation sequencing approaches such as genomic, whole exome and targeted sequencing have been employed. Furthermore, evidence of association between common variants and atrial fibrillation has been discovered through genome-wide association studies. Although the power of any one single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) associated with atrial fibrillation is weak, a genetic risk score comprising 12 SNPs may identify individuals at an increased risk for atrial fibrillation. This SNP panel may also delineate genotypes to enable stratification of atrial fibrillation ablation therapy or periinterventional management. Summary Although studies have demonstrated that atrial fibrillation is highly heritable, many aspects of atrial fibrillation remain unknown. Rigorous research efforts continue with the expectation that the contribution of variants and candidate genes that contribute to the overall genetic architecture of atrial fibrillation will be identified and characterized in the coming years.
On the Gaussian Pulse Propagation Through Multilayer Graphene Plasmonic Waveguides—Impact of Electrostatic Screening and Frequency Dispersion on Group Velocity and Pulse Distortion

In this paper, we analytically describe the characteristics of propagating and diffusive plasma waves in multilayer graphene heterostructures targeted toward implementing on-chip interconnects. When the effect of collision-dominated resistance of the graphene sheet is negligible, the plasma waves propagate through the media without pulse reshaping. However, in the presence of electron scatterings due to phonons and charged impurities in the sample, the plasma waves acquire a diffusive character and undergo significant frequency-dependent pulse reshaping. We analytically model the propagation speed and pulse-width distortion of a narrow-band Gaussian signal centered at THz frequencies by accounting for the finite electrostatic screening between the multiple layers of graphene. The consequences of signal distortion and attentuation on limiting the signal bit-rate and the impact on energy dissipation are quantified. A partition length of the plasmonic waveguide that distinguishes between LC - and RC-dominated regimes of signal transport is derived. For on-chip interconnect application, the upper bound on the propagation length of plasma waves is determined by both the energy dissipation and the bit-rate requirement of the interconnect infrastructure. Upon comparison with on-chip electrical interconnects, we identify the energy budget that can be allocated toward plasmonic transceivers, such that the overall plasmonic communication is more energy efficient compared to electrical communication.
The Oncologist's Role in Care of the Dying Cancer Patient

Caring for dying patients is challenging for oncologists, but a crucial aspect of cancer care. It requires highly developed communication skills and an understanding of prognostication at the end of life, which can potentially be improved by training and use of appropriate tools. Psychosocial concerns are as important as physical symptoms. Specific strategies for supporting dying patients are evolving, including dignity therapy and other meaning-based therapies. Symptoms affecting dying patients' comfort, including pain, dyspnea, delirium, and terminal secretions, require different clinical management as death approaches. Equally important is the ability to discuss transitions in goals of care from cure to comfort and supporting families and patients to make wise decisions without feeling they have been abandoned. Involving a palliative care team supports both oncologists and patients by providing whole-person assessment and care and excellent symptom control and can offer bereavement services to follow up family members after death.
A 1.6V 1.4Gb/s/pin consumer DRAM with self-dynamic voltage-scaling technique in 44nm CMOS technology

DRAM's process technology has been scaled down rapidly and the size of the wafer has reached 300mm. Despite being fabricated on the same wafer, two chips may have very different characteristics if the one is from the center and the other is from the edge of wafer. Therefore, the process skew reduction is becoming more important as the process is scaled down under 100nm. The dynamic voltage scaling scheme (DVS) has already won huge popularity in mobile applications with limited battery life. Various dynamic voltage scaling techniques for μ-processors have also been developed during the last decade [1]. However, selection of the power supply voltage for DRAM is dictated by the application or the worst process skew that guarantees the performance of DRAM. This paper proposes a self-dynamic voltage scaling (SDVS) technique for DRAM to overcome the process variation and reduce the power consumption according to the operating frequency.
OOA metrics for the Unified Modeling Language

UML is the emerging standard for expressing OOA/OOD models. New metrics for object oriented analysis models are introduced, and existing ones are adapted to the entities and concepts of UML. In particular, these metrics concern UML use case diagrams and class diagrams used during the OOA phase. The proposed metrics are intended to allow an early estimate of development efforts, implementation time and cost of the system under development, and to measure its object orientedness and quality since the beginning of the analysis phase. The proposed metric suite is described in detail, and its relations with proposed metrics found in the literature are highlighted. Some measurements on three software projects are given.
Measurement of mini-implant stability using resonance frequency analysis.

OBJECTIVE To investigate whether resonance frequency analysis (RFA) is suitable to measure orthodontic mini-implant stability. Implant size significantly affects the level of resonance frequency. Regarding the operating mode of RFA, it has to be proven whether the resonance frequency of mini-implants in bone fits the range of frequency emitted by the Osstell ISQ device. MATERIAL AND METHODS For this purpose the SmartPegs in the Osstell ISQ device were modified to fit with the inner screw thread of orthodontic mini-implants, and 110 mini-implants were inserted into porcine pelvic bone. RFA was performed parallel and perpendicular to the run of superficial bone fibers. A suitability test, Periotest, was also performed in the same directions. Compacta thickness was measured using cone-beam computed tomography. Correlation tests and linear regression analysis were carried out between the three methods. RESULTS The RFA showed a mean Implant Stability Quotient value of 36.36 ± 2.67, and the Periotest mean value was -2.10 ± 1.17. The differences between the two directions of measurement were statistically significant (P > .001) for RFA and the Periotest. There was a high correlation between RFA and the Periotest (r = -0.90) and between RFA and compacta thickness (r = 0.71). The comparison between the Periotest and compacta thickness showed a correlation coefficient of r = -0.64. CONCLUSION The present results suggest that RFA is feasible as a measurement method for orthodontic mini-implant stability. As a consequence, it could be used for clinical evaluation of current stability and allow stability-related loading of mini-implants to reduce the failure rate.
CDM-Core: A Manufacturing Domain Ontology in OWL2 for Production and Maintenance

Ontology engineering is known to be a complex, time-consuming, and costly process, in particular, if an ontology has to be developed from scratch, and respective domain knowledge has to be formally encoded. This paper presents the largest publicly available manufacturing ontology CDM-Core in the standard formal ontology language OWL2 (available at: http://sourceforge.net/projects/cdm-core/). The CDM-Core ontology has been developed within the European research project CREMA in close collaboration with the user partners in order to sufficiently cover the CREMA use case domains of metal press maintenance and automative exhaust production. CDM-Core makes use of many relevant standard vocabularies and ontologies, with only about one fifth of its size being CREMA use case specific. The practical applicability of CDM-Core for semantic annotation of domain-related process models, sensor data and services has been approved by the user partners, and its quality according to selected common criteria of verification and validation was successfully evaluated. From the public release of the CDM-Core, we expect to cover the lack of a base common ontology for the manufacturing domain, thanks to feedbacks from industrial reuse and improvements from the community.
Hemoparasites in Oregon Spotted Frogs (Rana pretiosa) from Central Oregon, USA

Between 2001 and 2003, we screened blood smears of 156 Oregon spotted frogs (Rana pretiosa) from three populations in central Oregon for blood parasites. A Lankesterella sp. and a Trypanosoma sp. were detected in 31% and 35% of the frogs, respectively. Parasite loads were generally light, with Lankesterella sporozoites in 1–2% of erythrocytes, and extracellular trypanosomes were seen at rates of about one parasite per 200 fields of view at 1000×. Little work has been published on hemoparasites of ranids in the western USA in the past 30 yr. Because of the recent taxonomic division of the Rana pretiosa complex, this may be the first published report of blood parasites for R. pretiosa sensu stricto. Both parasites reported here differed in morphologic features and morphometric comparisons from previous descriptions of anuran hemoparasites. Much work remains to sort out the taxonomy of hemoparasites among western USA ranids and to determine the ecological significance of these parasites; both tasks are important steps in understanding and managing these, and related, sensitive and threatened species.