Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness of GnRH antagonist multiple dose protocol applied during early and late follicular phase compared with GnRH agonist long protocol in non-obese and obese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome undergoing IVF/ICSI

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of GnRH antagonist multiple dose protocol applied during early and late follicular phase (MDP-EL) in comparison with standard GnRH agonist luteal long protocol (LP) in each non-obese and obese polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) women undergoing IVF. Methods Two hundred eleven infertile women with PCOS were recruited and randomized to undergo either GnRH antagonist MDP-EL (antagonist group) or standard GnRH agonist luteal LP (agonist group). IVF cycle outcomes were compared between the two groups. Results Total dose and days of recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone (rhFSH) administered were significantly fewer in the antagonist group than in the agonist group. Incidence of severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome was significantly lower in the antagonist group. However, IVF and pregnancy outcomes were similar in the two groups. When all subjects were divided into non-obese and obese subgroups, in non-obese PCOS subgroup, IVF and pregnancy outcomes were comparable in the antagonist and agonist groups but total dose and days of rhFSH were also significantly fewer in the antagonist group. Similar findings were also observed in obese PCOS subgroup. Conclusion GnRH antagonist MDP-EL is at least as effective as GnRH agonist LP and may be a more patient-friendly alternative in controlled ovarian stimulation for PCOS patients undergoing IVF, independent of body mass index.
A comparative study of propranolol versus silver nitrate cautery in the treatment of recurrent primary epistaxis in children

Background Epistaxis is a common medical problem in pediatric population. Although in most cases it is mild and self-limiting, a proportion of childhood epistaxis is massive, recurrent, or resistant to conventional management. Objective To compare effectiveness of propranolol as a treatment option for childhood epistaxis versus conventional silver nitrate cautery. Study design and methodology This is a prospective interventional comparative study that was carried out during a period of 1 year (January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013) at Qena University Hospital and Assiut University Children’s Hospital. One hundred children aged 6–12 years who presented with epistaxis to Qena University Hospital and Assiut University Children’s Hospital during the study period and fulfilling the inclusion criteria were included in the study. They were randomly assigned into one of two interventional groups, where 50 children were treated with oral propranolol (propranolol treatment group) and another 50 children were treated with conventional silver nitrate cautery (cauterization treatment group) for their epistaxis. Propranolol was given at a dose of 1.5–2 mg/kg/day (divided into three doses). Patients were followed for 6 months after their discharge for recurrence of epistaxis. Results Both groups of patients showed minimal recurrent epistaxis with rates of 14% for propranolol treated group and 12% for cauterization group, with no statistically significant difference between both groups. Local pain was found to be more in patients treated with silver nitrate cauterization. Conclusion Treatment of primary epistaxis with propranolol or silver nitrate cautery showed equal rates of recurrence, and local nasal pain was slightly more among silver nitrate cauterization treated group. Propranolol could be a favorable treatment option for patients with primary epistaxis. Further studies that include multiple centers and larger number of patients are recommended for more clarification of the effectiveness of such treatment option.
Concentrations of heavy metals (Mn, Co, Ni, Cr, Ag, Pb) in coffee.

AIM Technologies involved in roasting coffee beans, as well as the methods used to prepare infusions, vary according to culture, and contribute to differences in the concentration of elements in the drink. MATERIALS AND METHODS Concentrations of six elements: manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), chrome (Cr), silver (Ag) and lead (Pb) were investigated in coffee infusions from eleven samples of coffee, roasted and purchased in four countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Lebanon and Poland. Metal concentrations were determined using an induction coupled plasma technique in combination with mass spectrometry (ICP-MS, Perkin Elmer) which measures total metal (ionic and non-ionic) content. RESULTS Metal intake estimated for individual countries (in the respective order; mean consumption per person per year) was as follows: Mn: 26.8-33.1, 28.3-29.5, 29.7, 12.6-18.9 mg; Co: 0.33-0.48, 0.42-0.35, 0.32, 0.12-0.17 mg; Ni: 3.83-5.68, 4.85-5.51, 4.04, 2.06-2.24 mg; Cr: 0.17-0.41, 0.21-0.47, 0.17, 0.09-0.28 mg; Ag: 0.16-1.13, 0.26-0.70, 0.61, 0.33-1.54 mg, Pb: 4.76-7.56, 3.59-5.13, 3.33, 1.48-2.43 mg. CONCLUSIONS This finding gives new data for Mn, Co, Ni, Cr, and Ag intake from coffee , and suggests that the amounts are negligible. However, the data for Pb consumption in heavy drinkers, for example in Bosnia and Herzegovina, indicate that Pb intake from coffee may contribute to the disease burden. The high lead level in some coffees suggests the need for a more precise control of coffee contamination.
MWMOTE--Majority Weighted Minority Oversampling Technique for Imbalanced Data Set Learning

Imbalanced learning problems contain an unequal distribution of data samples among different classes and pose a challenge to any classifier as it becomes hard to learn the minority class samples. Synthetic oversampling methods address this problem by generating the synthetic minority class samples to balance the distribution between the samples of the majority and minority classes. This paper identifies that most of the existing oversampling methods may generate the wrong synthetic minority samples in some scenarios and make learning tasks harder. To this end, a new method, called Majority Weighted Minority Oversampling TEchnique (MWMOTE), is presented for efficiently handling imbalanced learning problems. MWMOTE first identifies the hard-to-learn informative minority class samples and assigns them weights according to their euclidean distance from the nearest majority class samples. It then generates the synthetic samples from the weighted informative minority class samples using a clustering approach. This is done in such a way that all the generated samples lie inside some minority class cluster. MWMOTE has been evaluated extensively on four artificial and 20 real-world data sets. The simulation results show that our method is better than or comparable with some other existing methods in terms of various assessment metrics, such as geometric mean (G-mean) and area under the receiver operating curve (ROC), usually known as area under curve (AUC).
Associations of apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A-I ratio with pre-diabetes and diabetes risks: a cross-sectional study in Chinese adults

Background Apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A-I (ApoB/ApoA-I) ratio is a useful predictor of cardiovascular risk. However, the association between the ApoB/ApoA-I ratio and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is still obscure. Aims To investigate the associations between the ApoB/ApoA-I ratio and the risk of T2DM and pre-diabetes in a Chinese population, and to assess the role of gender in these associations. Methods A stratified random sampling design was used in this cross-sectional study which included 264 men and 465 women with normal glucose tolerance (NGT), pre-diabetes or T2DM. Serum ApoB, ApoA-I and other lipid and glycaemic traits were measured. Pearson's partial correlation and multivariable logistic analysis were used to evaluate the associations between ApoB/ApoA-I ratio and the risk of T2DM and pre-diabetes. Results The ApoB/ApoA-I ratios were significantly increased across the spectrum of NGT, pre-diabetes and T2DM. Women showed higher levels of ApoB/ApoA-I ratio and ApoB than men in the pre-diabetic and T2DM groups, but not in the NGT group. The ApoB/ApoA-I ratio was closely related with triglyceride, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and other glycaemic traits. Moreover, in women, the risk of diabetes and pre-diabetes in the top and middle tertiles of the ApoB/ApoA-I ratio were 3.65-fold (95% CI 1.69 to 6.10) and 2.19-fold (95% CI 1.38 to 2.84) higher than in the bottom tertile, respectively, after adjusting for potential confounding factors. However, the associations disappeared in men after adjusting for other factors. Conclusions The ApoB/ApoA-I ratio showed positive associations with the risk of diabetes and pre-diabetes in Chinese women.
A Concurrent Logical Relation

We present a logical relation for showing the correctness of program transformations based on a new type-and-effect system for a concurrent extension of an ML-like language with higher-order functions, higher-order store and dynamic memory allocation. We show how to use our model to verify a number of interesting program transformations that rely on effect annotations. In particular, we prove a Parallelization Theorem, which expresses when it is sound to run two expressions in parallel instead of sequentially. The conditions are expressed solely in terms of the types and effects of the expressions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first such result for a concurrent higher-order language with higher-order store and dynamic memory allocation.
Thy-1 supports adhesion of mouse thymocytes to thymic epithelial cells through a Ca2(+)-independent mechanism

The aim of this study was to explore whether Thy-1, like other members of the Ig-like superfamily (e.g., CD2 and neural cell adhesion molecule), participates in cell-cell adhesion. This was investigated by measuring the binding of Thy-1+ probe cells (thymocytes or AKR1 T lymphoma cells) to Thy-1- cloned mouse thymic epithelial (MTE) cells using a quantitative cell adhesion assay. The results were as follows: (a) the thymo-epithelial cell interaction was found to be inhibitable (by 25-40%) by soluble Thy-1 molecules purified from phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C-treated mouse thymocytes as well as by Fab' fragments of a Thy-1-specific mAb; (b) the binding of the Thy-1- AKR1 (Thy-1-d) mutant to MTE cells was found to be reduced (by 50%) as compared with that of the wild type T lymphoma; (c) the Thy-1-mediated adhesion pathway did not require Ca2+ and promoted the initial thymo-epithelial binding measured at 4 degrees C. These data provide the first direct evidence of an adhesive function of Thy-1 and suggest that this molecule, in addition to its T cell triggering properties, might play a role during the early T cell maturation by promoting thymocyte adhesion to thymic stroma.
Atomically precise formation of Mn doped semiconductor nanostructures

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Convergence of population dynamics in symmetric routing games with a finite number of playersz

Routing games, as introduced in the pioneering work of Orda, Rom and Shimkin (1993), are very closely related to the traffic assignment problems as already studied by Wardrop and to congestion games, as introduced by Rosenthal. But they exhibit more complex behavior: often the equilibrium is not unique, and computation of equilibria is typically harder. They cannot be transformed in general into an equivalent global optimization problem as is the case with congestion games and in the traffic assignment problem which possess a potential under fairly general conditions. In this paper we study convergence of various learning schemes to an equilibrium in the problem of routing games. We are able to considerably extend previous published results [1] that were restricted to routing into two parallel links. We study evolutionary-based learning algorithms and establish their convergence for general topologies.
Characteristics of a novel deep red/infrared fluorescent cell-permeant DNA probe, DRAQ5, in intact human cells analyzed by flow cytometry, confocal and multiphoton microscopy.

BACKGROUND The multiparameter fluorometric analysis of intact and fixed cells often requires the use of a nuclear DNA discrimination signal with spectral separation from visible range fluorochromes. We have developed a novel deep red fluorescing bisalkylaminoanthraquinone, DRAQ5 (Ex(lambdamax) 646 nm; Em(lambdamax) 681 nm; Em(lambdarange) 665->800 nm), with high affinity for DNA and a high capacity to enter living cells. We describe here the spectral characteristics and applications of this synthetic compound, particularly in relation to cytometric analysis of the cell cycle. METHODS Cultured human tumor cells were examined for the ability to nuclear locate DRAQ5 using single and multiphoton laser scanning microscopy (LSM) and multiparameter flow cytometry. RESULTS Multiparameter flow cytometry shows that the dye can rapidly report the cellular DNA content of live and fixed cells at a resolution level adequate for cell cycle analysis and the cycle-specific expression of cellular proteins (e.g., cyclin B1). The preferential excitation of DRAQ5 by laser red lines (633/647 nm) was found to offer a means of fluorescence signal discrimination by selective excitation, with greatly reduced emission overlap with UV-excitable and visible range fluophors as compared with propidium iodide. LSM reveals nuclear architecture and clearly defines chromosomal elements in live cells. DRAQ5 was found to permit multiphoton imaging of nuclei using a 1,047-nm emitting mode-locked YLF laser. The unusual spectral properties of DRAQ5 also permit live cell DNA analysis using conventional 488 nm excitation and the single-photon imaging of nuclear fluorescence using laser excitation between 488 nm and low infrared (IR; 780 nm) wavelengths. Single and multiphoton microscopy studies revealed the ability of DRAQ5 to report three-dimensional nuclear structure and location in live cells expressing endoplasmic reticulum targeted-GFP, MitoTracker-stained mitochondria, or a vital cell probe for free zinc (Zinquin). CONCLUSION The fluorescence excitation and emission characteristics of DRAQ5 in living and fixed cells permit the incorporation of the measurement of cellular DNA content into a variety of multiparameter cytometric analyses.
nirS -containing denitrifier communities in the water column and sediment of the Baltic Sea

Abstract. The aim of this study was to compare structural differences in the nirS-type denitrifying microbial communities along the environmental gradients observed in the water column and coastal sediments of the Baltic Sea. To link community structure and environmental gradients, denitrifier communities were analyzed by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) based on nirS as a functional marker gene for denitrification. nirS-type denitrifier community composition was further evaluated by phylogenetic analysis of nirS sequences from clone libraries. T-RFLP analysis indicated some overlap but also major differences between communities from the water column and the sediment. Shifts in community composition along the biogeochemical gradients were observed only in the water column while denitrifier communities were rather uniform within the upper 30 mm of the sediment. Specific terminal restriction fragments (T-RFs) indicative of the sulfidic zone suggest the presence of nitrate-reducing and sulfide-oxidizing microorganisms that were previously shown to be important at the suboxic-sulfidic interface in the water column of the Baltic Sea. Phylogenetic analysis of nirS genes from the Baltic Sea and of sequences from marine habitats all over the world indicated distinct denitrifier communities that grouped mostly according to their habitats. We suggest that these subgroups of denitrifiers had developed after selection through several factors, i.e. their habitats (water column or sediment), impact by prevalent environmental conditions and isolation by large geographic distances between habitats.
Effects of bone density alterations on strain patterns in the pelvis: Application of a finite element model

Abstract Insufficiency fractures occur when physiological loads are applied to bone deficient in mechanical resistance. A better understanding of pelvic mechanics and the effect of bone density alterations could lead to improved diagnosis and treatment of insufficiency fractures. This study aimed to develop and validate a subject-specific three-dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) model of a pelvis, to analyse pelvic strains as a function of interior and cortical surface bone density, and to compare high strain regions with common insufficiency fracture sites. The FE model yielded strong agreement between experimental and model strains. By means of the response surface method, changes to cortical surface bone density using the FE model were found to have a 60 per cent greater influence compared with changes in interior bone density. A small interaction was also found to exist between surface and interior bone densities (< 3 per cent), and a non-linear effect of surface bone density on strain was observed. Areas with greater increases in average principal strains with reductions in density in the FE model corresponded to areas prone to insufficiency fracture. Owing to the influence of cortical surface bone density on strain, it may be considered a strong global (non-linear) indicator for insufficiency fracture risk.
Exact Solutions to Super Resolution on Semi-Algebraic Domains in Higher Dimensions

We investigate the multi-dimensional super resolution problem on closed semi-algebraic domains for various sampling schemes such as Fourier or moments. We present a new semidefinite programming (SDP) formulation of the <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\ell _{1}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>-minimization in the space of Radon measures in the multi-dimensional frame on semi-algebraic sets. While standard approaches have focused on SDP relaxations of the dual program (a popular approach is based on Gram matrix representations), this paper introduces an exact formulation of the primal <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\ell _{1}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>-minimization exact recovery problem of super resolution that unleashes standard techniques (such as moment-sum-of-squares hierarchies) to overcome intrinsic limitations of previous works in the literature. Notably, we show that one can exactly solve the super resolution problem in dimension greater than 2 and for a large family of domains described by semi-algebraic sets.
Lithothamnion muelleri Treatment Ameliorates Inflammatory and Hypernociceptive Responses in Antigen-Induced Arthritis in Mice

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic disease characterized by persistent inflammation and pain. Alternative therapies to reduce these symptoms are needed. Marine algae are valuable sources of diverse bioactive compounds. Lithothamnion muelleri (Hapalidiaceae) is a marine algae with anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and immunomodulatory properties. Here, we investigated the potential anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of L. muelleri in a murine model of antigen-induced arthritis (AIA) in mice. Our results demonstrate that treatment with L. muelleri prevented inflammation and hypernociception in arthritic mice. Mechanistically, the crude extract and the polysaccharide-rich fractions of L. muelleri may act impairing the production of the chemokines CXCL1 and CXCL2, and consequently inhibit neutrophil influx to the knee joint by dampening the adhesion step of leukocyte recruitment in the knee microvessels. Altogether our results suggest that treatment with L.muelleri has a potential therapeutic application in arthritis treatment.
Comparison of nested-loop rotors in brushless doubly-fed induction machines

The brushless doubly-fed induction machine (DFIM) has great potential as a variable-speed generator for wind turbine applications. This special machine has a richer space-harmonic spectrum due to its special nested-loop rotor construction compared with conventional induction machines. It may result in higher iron losses, higher torque ripple and more time-harmonics adding to the grid total harmonic distortion (THD). This paper applies the 2D finite element (FE) model to investigate several different nested-loop rotor constructions. It shows the outer loop makes more contribution to the torque while the inner loop plays a small role in the torque production. The most outer loop determines the overall THD level while the inner one has little influence on it. The THD could be reduced by increasing the number of the outer loops. More machine performances could be studied to derive more guidelines for designing the middle loops.
2C-WSN: A Configuration Protocol Based on TDMA Communications over WSN

The deployment of large-scale wireless sensor networks presents major challenges whose solution requires the design and development of robust and time-efficient protocols. In this work, we focus on the design of an efficient and robust protocol aiming to rapidly configure highly populated networks. Our main effort goes towards the definition of a fast collision resolution protocol for conveying the control packets for configuring the network. Through extensive simulation work we show that the proposed mechanism is capable of quickly resolving the conflicts arising during the set-up phase.
Small membrane proteins found by comparative genomics and ribosome binding site models

The correct annotation of genes encoding the smallest proteins is one of the biggest challenges of genome annotation, and perhaps more importantly, few annotated short open reading frames have been confirmed to correspond to synthesized proteins. We used sequence conservation and ribosome binding site models to predict genes encoding small proteins, defined as having 16–50 amino acids, in the intergenic regions of the Escherichia coli genome. We tested expression of these predicted as well as previously annotated genes by integrating the sequential peptide affinity tag directly upstream of the stop codon on the chromosome and assaying for synthesis using immunoblot assays. This approach confirmed that 20 previously annotated and 18 newly discovered proteins of 16–50 amino acids are synthesized. We summarize the properties of these small proteins; remarkably more than half of the proteins are predicted to be single‐transmembrane proteins, nine of which we show co‐fractionate with cell membranes.