LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Contrast ultrasound of the urethra in children

1. Only a few patients with suspected pathology on echo-enhanced US underwent a conventional radiological fluoroscopic study of the urethra (VCUG). The vast majority of the study patients did not undergo VCUG. In this setting the real diagnostic value of echo-enhanced US in the evaluation of urethral pathology remains doubtful and debatable, as no consistent comparison to the accepted gold standard was performed, and thus no proper calculation of accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and positive or negative predictive value can be achieved. 2. The potential functional impairment induced by the method, particularly by the perineal transducer position, as well as possibly tactile irritation from the transducer on the perineum is not clear. The authors mention a possible increase in urethra-vaginal reflux induced by the transducer position. They discuss a relatively high incidence of “spinning top urethra” kind of appearance, possibly also related to the transducer position causing some peripheral obstruction. Additionally, the relatively high filling pressure by the saline and contrast infusion (“70-cm height for the infusion”) may create a non-physiological condition and potentially cause dysfunctional voiding. The impact of all these phenomena and aspects – that potentially impact patient management – on diagnostic accuracy and functional evaluation has not yet been evaluated and may need further attention. 3. Urethral pathology consists of more than urethral valves: paraurethral cysts and diverticula; urethral stenosis and stricture (posttraumatic); double urethra or urethral fistula; complex anorectal and cloacal malformations; and reflux into the copper gland ducts, into an ectopic ureter or into prostatic ducts, etc. [2]. All these entities need to be included and assessed when trying to establish the diagnostic value of transperineal echo-enhanced US. Again this cannot be achieved without consistent comparison with the existing gold standard, as missing some of those conditions may severely impact patient prognosis and management. 4. As health costs are becoming increasingly more an important and a sensitive factor for deciding on E D I T O R I A L
OPTIMIZATION OF HARD TURNING PROCESS PARAMETERS WITH PCBN TOOL BASED ON THE TAGUCHI METHOD

Hardened steels are machined by grinding process in general, but grinding operations are time consuming and are limited to the range of geometries to be produced. Improvements in machine tool rigidity and the development of ceramic and CBN cutting tools allow the machining of hardened steel on a lathe or turning center [1, 2, 3]. Hard turning is defined as the process of single point cutting of part pieces that have hardness values over 45 HRC Since surface finish with the roughness parameter about 0,2÷0,3 μm or parameter of 1÷2 μm can be achieved hard turning provides an alternative to grinding for some applications. Surface roughness is a widely used index of product quality and in most cases a technical requirement for mechanical products [4, 5, 6]. The aim of this research is to analyse dependence of the surface roughness on three cutting parameters, namely the cutting speed , the feed and the depth of cut in hard turning operation with Taguchi method and to find optimal level of the parameters. Selection of optimal cutting parameters is necessary in order to achieve optimal values of surface roughness. The optimal level design parameters are used to predict and verify the improvement of the quality characteristic. Prediction models of surface roughness considering the main cutting parameters for hard turning of AISI 4142 hardened steel with PCBN tool are also developed using regression analysis. CBN and PCBN are ideal cutting tool materials for the hard finishing of parts above 55 HRC. An analysis of results obtained by Taguchi method and multiple regression was carried out. Based on this analysis, valuable remarks about the presented optimisation approach are pointed out in the conclusion of this study. . Ra Rz
Psoriasis: classical and emerging comorbidities*

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory systemic disease. Evidence shows an association of psoriasis with arthritis, depression, inflammatory bowel disease and cardiovascular diseases. Recently, several other comorbid conditions have been proposed as related to the chronic inflammatory status of psoriasis. The understanding of these conditions and their treatments will certainly lead to better management of the disease. The present article aims to synthesize the knowledge in the literature about the classical and emerging comorbidities related to psoriasis.
Automated Nuclear Analysis of Leishmania major Telomeric Clusters Reveals Changes in Their Organization during the Parasite's Life Cycle

Parasite virulence genes are usually associated with telomeres. The clustering of the telomeres, together with their particular spatial distribution in the nucleus of human parasites such as Plasmodium falciparum and Trypanosoma brucei, has been suggested to play a role in facilitating ectopic recombination and in the emergence of new antigenic variants. Leishmania parasites, as well as other trypanosomes, have unusual gene expression characteristics, such as polycistronic and constitutive transcription of protein-coding genes. Leishmania subtelomeric regions are even more unique because unlike these regions in other trypanosomes they are devoid of virulence genes. Given these peculiarities of Leishmania, we sought to investigate how telomeres are organized in the nucleus of Leishmania major parasites at both the human and insect stages of their life cycle. We developed a new automated and precise method for identifying telomere position in the three-dimensional space of the nucleus, and we found that the telomeres are organized in clusters present in similar numbers in both the human and insect stages. While the number of clusters remained the same, their distribution differed between the two stages. The telomeric clusters were found more concentrated near the center of the nucleus in the human stage than in the insect stage suggesting reorganization during the parasite's differentiation process between the two hosts. These data provide the first 3D analysis of Leishmania telomere organization. The possible biological implications of these findings are discussed.
Regulation of hematogenous tumor metastasis by acid sphingomyelinase

Metastatic dissemination of cancer cells is the ultimate hallmark of malignancy and accounts for approximately 90% of human cancer deaths. We investigated the role of acid sphingomyelinase (Asm) in the hematogenous metastasis of melanoma cells. Intravenous injection of B16F10 melanoma cells into wild-type mice resulted in multiple lung metastases, while Asm-deficient mice (Smpd1(-/-) mice) were protected from pulmonary tumor spread. Transplanting wild-type platelets into Asm-deficient mice reinstated tumor metastasis. Likewise, Asm-deficient mice were protected from hematogenous MT/ret melanoma metastasis to the spleen in a mouse model of spontaneous tumor metastasis. Human and mouse melanoma cells triggered activation and release of platelet secretory Asm, in turn leading to ceramide formation, clustering, and activation of α5β1 integrins on melanoma cells finally leading to adhesion of the tumor cells. Clustering of integrins by applying purified Asm or C16 ceramide to B16F10 melanoma cells before intravenous injection restored trapping of tumor cells in the lung in Asm-deficient mice. This effect was revertable by arginine-glycine-aspartic acid peptides, which are known inhibitors of integrins, and by antibodies neutralizing β1 integrins. These findings indicate that melanoma cells employ platelet-derived Asm for adhesion and metastasis.
Sorafenib plus octreotide is an effective and safe treatment in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: multicenter phase II So.LAR. study

Advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) not eligible for local therapies has limited chances of cure. Sorafenib is a multikinase inhibitor with proven activity in advanced HCC. Octreotide is used in this setting with conflicting results. Treatment with sorafenib and long-acting octreotide was tested in advanced HCC to evaluate safety and activity. Fifty patients with advanced HCC, Child-Pugh A or B, received sorafenib at a dosage of 800 mg/day for 28 days with a following week of rest and long-acting octreotide at a dose of 40 mg, administered every 28 days. All patients were assessable for safety and efficacy. Sixteen patients out of 50 (34%) were naïve from other therapies, while all the others were previously treated with local and/or systemic treatments. We achieved 5 partial responses (10%), 33 stable diseases (66%) and 12 progressions of disease (24%). Median time to progression was 7.0 months (95% CI, 3.0–10.9 months), and median overall survival was 12 months (95% CI, 6.3–17.4 months). Treatment was well tolerated. Diarrhoea (6%) and hypertension (4%) were the most frequent grade 3 toxicities. Our data suggest that the combination between sorafenib and long-acting octreotide is active and well tolerated in patients with advanced HCC and could represent another efficacious chance for the management of this population.
Drug sensitivity patterns of bacterial isolates from septic post-operative wounds in a regional referral hospital in Uganda.

BACKGROUND
Wound infections have been a problem in the field of surgery for a long time. Advances in control of infections have not completely eradicated this problem because of development of drug resistance. Antimicrobial resistance can increase complications and costs associated with procedures and treatment.


OBJECTIVE
A study was carried out on drug sensitivity patterns of bacterial isolates from septic postoperative wounds in Jinja hospital, Uganda. This study was designed to determine the distribution of bacterial pathogens isolated from septic post-operative wounds and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns.


METHOD
Specimens of pus swabs were collected aseptically and analysed in the laboratory. Colony characteristics and Grams technique were used to differentiate the organisms. Biochemical tests were done to confirm the species of the organisms. Sensitivity testing was done on the isolates using the disk diffusion method.


RESULTS
Pathogenic bacteria were recovered from 58.5% of the specimens. The isolates were: S.aureus (45.1%), Coliforms (16.9%), Proteus mirabilis (11.3%), P.aeruginosa (9.9%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (7.0%) and Enterobacter spp (2.82%). Most of the organisms were sensitive to gentamicin, ciprofloxacin and ceftazidime. There was resistance to ampicillin, amoxycillin and chloramphenicol. Staphylococcus aureus was generally sensitive to gentamicin (87.5%), ciprofloxacin (68.7%) and methicillin (75%), but resistant to erythromycin (56.2%) and ampicillin (97%). Most of the gram-negative bacteria isolated (Coliforms, P.aeruginosa, E.coli, Proteus mirabilis, and Klebsiella pneumoniae) were sensitive to Ciprofloxacin, Gentamicin and Ceftazidime but resistant to Ampicillin, Amoxycillin and Chloramphenicol. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains formed 25% of this species. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was sensitive to gentamicin (87.5%) and ceftazidime (85.7%) but showed resistance to ciprofloxacin (57.2%). Some organisms e.g. S.aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus mirabilis exhibited multi-drug resistance to the antibiotics tested.


CONCLUSION
Since a high proportion of samples had positive cultures, infection control is recommended as a strategy to minimise spread of resistant organisms. It is recommended that gentamicin, ciprofloxacin and ceftazidime be used in preference to ampicillin and amoxycillin for treatment of septic wounds. There is need to develop national surveillance of antibiotic- resistant organisms.
Singularity theory in classical cosmology

SummaryThis paper compares recent approaches appearing in the literature on the singularity problem for space-times with nonvanishing torsion.
Bowel endometriosis: presentation, diagnosis, and treatment.

UNLABELLED
Bowel endometriosis opens a new frontier for the gynecologist, as it forces the understanding of a new anatomy, a new physiology, and a new pathology. Although some women with bowel endometriosis may be asymptomatic, the majority of them develop a variety of gastrointestinal complains. No clear guideline exists for the evaluation of patients with suspected bowel endometriosis. Given the fact that, besides rectal nodules, bowel endometriosis can not be diagnosed by physical examination, imaging techniques should be used. Several techniques have been proposed for the diagnosis of bowel endometriosis including double-contrast barium enema, transvaginal ultrasonography, rectal endoscopic ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging, and multislice computed tomography enteroclysis. Medical management of bowel endometriosis is currently speculative; expectant management should be carefully balanced with the severity of symptoms and the feasibility of prolonged follow-up. Several studies demonstrated an improvement in quality of life after extensive surgical excision of the disease. Bowel endometriotic nodules can be removed by various techniques: mucosal skinning, nodulectomy, full thickness disc resection, and segmental resection. Although the indications for colorectal resection are controversial, recent data suggest that aggressive surgery improves symptoms and quality of life.


TARGET AUDIENCE
Obstetricians & Gynecologists, Family Physicians.


LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After completion of this article, the reader should be able to describe the varied appearance of bowel endometriosis, recall that it is difficult to diagnose preoperatively, and explain that surgical treatment offers the best treatment in symptomatic patients through a variety of surgical techniques which is best accomplished with a team approach.
Tolerance of the VocaLog™ Vocal Monitor by Healthy Persons and Individuals With Parkinson Disease.

OBJECTIVE
To assess subject tolerance of extended use of the VocaLog™ vocal monitor (VM), a device marketed to log calibrated decibel sound pressure level.


STUDY DESIGN
Prospective between-subjects design including two age- and sex-matched groups: individuals with Parkinson disease (IWPD) and healthy persons.


METHODS
After an initial session to calibrate the device and demonstrate its use, participants wore the VM during waking hours for five consecutive days. At a second visit to return the VM, participants completed a survey and a short interview regarding their experience with and perceptions of the device.


RESULTS
Those with PD and control subjects reported relatively few issues with use of the VM. There were no group differences regarding convenience, others' reactions, technical issues, or future participation in similar studies. Participants with PD indicated similar frequency of discomfort issues but higher severity ratings for discomfort during VM use compared with healthy participants.


CONCLUSIONS
The VocaLog™ offers a method to monitor vocal loudness during everyday activities for several consecutive days. The device was well tolerated by participants from both groups. IWPD reported greater discomfort than controls, possibly reflecting altered sensory perceptions associated with PD. The current data offer some reassurance that this VM can be tolerated by both healthy persons and those with PD for clinical and research purposes.
Quality of life after traumatic brain injury: the clinical use of the QOLIBRI, a novel disease-specific instrument.

OBJECTIVE
To report the clinical use of the QOLIBRI, a disease-specific measure of health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) after traumatic brain injury (TBI).


METHODS
The QOLIBRI, with 37 items in six scales (cognition, self, daily life and autonomy, social relationships, emotions and physical problems) was completed by 795 patients in six languages (Finnish, German, Italian, French, English and Dutch). QOLIBRI scores were examined by variables likely to be influenced by rehabilitation interventions and included socio-demographic, functional outcome, health status and mental health variables.


RESULTS
The QOLIBRI was self-completed by 73% of participants and 27% completed it in interview. It was sensitive to areas of life amenable to intervention, such as accommodation, work participation, health status (including mental health) and functional outcome.


CONCLUSION
The QOLIBRI provides information about patient's subjective perception of his/her HRQoL which supplements clinical measures and measures of functional outcome. It can be applied across different populations and cultures. It allows the identification of personal needs, the prioritization of therapeutic goals and the evaluation of individual progress. It may also be useful in clinical trials and in longitudinal studies of TBI recovery.
Discharge plasma treatment for NO/sub x/ reduction from diesel engine exhaust: a laboratory investigation

A detailed study on the removal of oxides of nitrogen (NOx ) with and without the presence of carbonaceous soot in a stationary diesel engine exhaust was carried out using pulsed electrical discharges/catalyst/adsorbent processes. The processes were separately studied first and then the cascaded processes namely plasma-catalyst and plasma-adsorbent were examined. To investigate the effect of carbonaceous soot on the plasma treatment process, the filtered and unfiltered exhaust was treated by plasma separately. In the cascaded plasma-catalyst process, the plasma treating filtered exhaust was cascaded with a reduction catalyst V2O5/TiO2  using ammonia as reducing agent and in the cascaded plasma-adsorbent process, the plasma treating unfiltered (raw) exhaust was cascaded with adsorbents (MS-13X/activated alumina/activated charcoal). The enhanced NOx removal efficiency of plasma process in the presence of soot is identified, possible pathways are summarized and the results of the cascaded processes are discussed in detail
A New Real-Time Eye Tracking for Driver Fatigue Detection

Driver fatigue is one of the important factors that cause traffic accidents. The vision-based facial expression recognition technique is the most prospective method to detect driver fatigue. In this paper, we present a new driver fatigue detection based on unscented Kalman filter and eye tracking in this paper. The face is located using Haar algorithm firstly, which has good robustness in terms of head motions, variable lighting conditions, the change of hair and having glasses, etc. Secondly, the geometric properties and projection technique are used for eye location. Thirdly, we propose a new real time eye tracking method based on unscented Kalman Filter. Finally, driver fatigue can be detected whether the eyes are closed over 5 consecutive frames using vertical projection matching. The experimental results show validity of our method for driver fatigue detection under variable realistic conditions
An Approach to Modeling Software Safety in Safety-Critical Systems

Software for safety-critical systems has to deal w ith the hazards identified by safety analysis in order to make the system safe, risk-free and fai l-safe. Software safety is a composite of many factors. Problem statement: Existing software quality models like McCall’s and Boehm’s and ISO 9126 were inadequate in addressing the software saf ety issues of real time safety-critical embedded systems. At present there does not exist any standa rd framework that comprehensively addresses the Factors, Criteria and Metrics (FCM) approach of the quality models in respect of software safety. Approach: We proposed a new model for software safety based on the McCall’s software quality model that specifically identifies the criteria cor responding to software safety in safety critical applications. The criteria in the proposed software safety model pertains to system hazard analysis, completeness of requirements, identification of sof tware-related safety-critical requirements, safetyconstraints based design, run-time issues managemen t and software safety-critical testing. Results: This model was applied to a prototype safety-critical so ftware-based Railroad Crossing Control System (RCCS). The results showed that all critical operat ions were safe and risk-free, capable of handling contingency situations. Conclusion: Development of a safety-critical system based on ou r proposed software safety model significantly enhanced the sa f operation of the overall system.
Loughborough University Institutional Repository Understanding Generation Y and their use of social media : a review and research agenda

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to review what we know – and don’t know – about Generation Y’s use of social media and to assess the implications for individuals, firms and society. Design/methodology/approach – The paper distinguishes Generation Y from other cohorts in terms of systematic differences in values, preferences and behavior that are stable over time (as opposed to maturational or other differences). It describes their social media use and highlights evidence of intra-generational variance arising from environmental factors (including economic, cultural, technological and political/legal factors) and individual factors. Individual factors include stable factors (including socio-economic status, age and lifecycle stage) and dynamic, endogenous factors (including goals, emotions, and social norms).The paper discusses how Generation Y’s use of social media influences individuals, firms and society. It develops managerial implications and a research agenda. Findings – Prior research on the social media use of Generation Y raises more questions than it answers. It: focuses primarily on the USA and/or (at most) one other country, ignoring other regions with large and fast-growing Generation Y populations where social-media use and its determinants may differ significantly; tends to study students whose behaviors may change over their life cycle stages; relies on self-reports by different age groups to infer Generation Y’s social media use; and does not examine the drivers and outcomes of social-media use. This paper’s conceptual framework yields a detailed set of research questions. Originality/value – This paper provides a conceptual framework for considering the antecedents and consequences of Generation Y’s social media usage. It identifies unanswered questions about Generation Y’s use of social media, as well as practical insights for managers.