Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The optimum laser treatment of port-wine stains

A port-wine stain is a visually obtrusive cosmetic defect of the skin. There is a desire for a removal process that is effective with a minimal risk for the patient. The laser treatment of port-wine stains has been the most effective method so far. Further improvements in this technique may be attained by adjustment of the treatment parameters. In this thesis, we numerically model the treatment process. The passage of the laser light through skin is simulated with the Monte Carlo method. Our simulation is superior to those of other workers as we use a more realistic model of skin with the minimum of assumptions. These results are used to predict the temperature change in skin. The effect of conduction is included, so we can calculate the ideal illumination time. The illumination time should be in the range of 1-10 ms. For vessels with a diameter of 50 J.Lm, the ideal illumination time is close to 4 ms. The calculations show that the fl uence should be around 3 J /em 2 • When the vessel diameter is larger, a longer illumination time and a higher fluence will be necessary. To provide these illumination times, a computer controlled scanning device was designed and built. The light from a copper vapour laser is scanned over the portwine stain to form a rasterscan like pattern on the lesion. The user determines what part of the lesion is treated, so the light never scans over normal skin. Following treatment with illumination times of 4 ms and a fluence of 10 Jjcm2 , the skin blanches, and then turns red as a result of erythema. The blanching response is not related to non-selective damage within the skin but is attributed to constriction of the blood filled vessels. We describe the probable mechanism that causes the constriction. Our calculations predict that a fluence that is approximately one fifth of the fluence that is used in the clinic. We discuss the validity of the optical parameters that were used in our calculations. The effect of changing these parameters by a factor of five is shown. One possible explanation is that the model of skin used does
Barium Hexaferrite Single Crystal Growth Using PbO and Na2O Based Flux

Barium hexaferriteBaFe12O19single crystals hexagonal platelet shape and sizes of up to 8 mm were grown of lead oxide and sodium oxide based fluxes at 1260 °C. The unit cell parameters of single crystals grown using different fluxes is in good agreement with literature data. Substitution of Ba by Pb was detected, but with only negligible influence on unit cell parameters and Curie temperature.
Reduced proximal reabsorption resets tubuloglomerular feedback in euvolemic rats.

Inhibition of renal carbonic anhydrase reduces proximal reabsorption and activates tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF). The TGF response is saturable, with highest gain focused near the natural flow rate. Therefore, any large change imposed on ambient tubular flow should reduce the TGF response to subequent flow perturbations. However, TGF tends to align with ambient flow regardless of the rate of ambient flow, suggesting that TGF resets to accommodate changes in flow while maintaining feedback efficiency. We used micropuncture and videometric flow velocitometry to test for TGF resetting in free-flowing nephrons during systemic infusion of the carbonic anhydrase inhibitor benzolamide (BNZ, 5 mg ⋅ kg-1 ⋅ h-1) in euvolemic rats. Late proximal flow (VLP) and the fractional compensation (C) of TGF for perturbations in VLP were assessed repeatedly before and during BNZ. Early on, BNZ reduced C, consistent with TGF saturation. Over the next 45-60 min, VLP increased gradually by ∼5 nl/min as C recovered to pre-BNZ levels. BNZ also increased VLP by ∼5 nl/min when TGF was rendered inoperative by intratubular wax block, but this increase occurred rapidly. These data demonstrate rightward resetting of TGF during reduced proximal reabsorption.
An unfavorable body composition is common in early arthritis patients: A case control study

Background An unfavorable body composition is often present in chronic arthritis patients. This unfavorable composition is a loss of muscle mass, with a stable or increased (abdominal) fat mass. Since it is unknown when this unfavorable composition develops, we compared body composition in disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD)-naive early arthritis patients with non-arthritis controls and explored the association, in early arthritis patients, with disease activity and traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Methods 317 consecutive early arthritis patients (84% rheumatoid arthritis according to 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria) and 1268 age-/gender-/ethnicity-matched non-arthritis controls underwent a Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan to assess fat percentage, fat mass index, fat mass distribution and appendicular lean (muscle) mass index. Additionally, disease activity, health assessment questionnaire (HAQ), acute phase proteins, lipid profile and blood pressure were evaluated. Results Loss of muscle mass (corrected for age suspected muscle mass) was 4–5 times more common in early arthritis patients, with a significantly lower mean appendicular lean mass index (females 6% and males 7% lower, p<0.01). Patients had more fat distributed to the trunk (females p<0.01, males p = 0.07) and females had a 4% higher mean fat mass index (p<0.01). An unfavorable body composition was associated with a higher blood pressure and an atherogenic lipid profile. There was no relationship with disease activity, HAQ or acute phase proteins. Conclusion Loss of muscle mass is 4–5 times more common in early arthritis patients, and is in early arthritis patients associated with a higher blood pressure and an atherogenic lipid profile. Therefore, cardiovascular risk is already increased at the clinical onset of arthritis making cardiovascular risk management necessary in early arthritis patients.
In Vitro Study of the Susceptibility of Clinical Isolates of Trichomonas vaginalis to Metronidazole and Secnidazole

ABSTRACT Nitroimidazoles (metronidazole [MTZ] and tinidazole [TNZ]) are the only drugs recommended for treatment of Trichomonas vaginalis infections. MTZ resistance occurs in 4% to 10% of cases of vaginal trichomoniasis (R. D. Kirkcaldy et al., Emerg Infect Dis 18:939–943, 2012; J. R. Schwebke and F. J. Barrientes, Antimicrob Agents Chemother 50:4209–4210, 2006) and TNZ resistance in 1% of cases (J. R. Schwebke and F. J. Barrientes, Antimicrob Agents Chemother 50:4209–4210, 2006). Emerging nitroimidazole-resistant trichomoniasis is concerning, because few alternatives to standard therapy exist. We assessed the prevalence of in vitro aerobic MTZ and secnidazole resistance among T. vaginalis isolates collected in 2015 to 2016 from 100 women in Birmingham, Alabama, with positive cultures. Archived specimens were treated with secnidazole or MTZ (0.2 to 400 μg/ml) for 48 h, according to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention protocols. Ninety-six (96%) of the 100 clinical Trichomonas isolates tested demonstrated lower minimum lethal concentrations for secnidazole than for MTZ, suggesting that secnidazole has better in vitro activity than MTZ.
Improved Ferrite Number prediction model that accounts for cooling rate effects: Part 2: Model results

A new Ferrite Number prediction model, ORFN (Oak Ridge Ferrite Number), was developed in Part 1 of this study (Welding Journal, January 2003) and, in this contribution, the model predictions are evaluated and compared with predictions of other models. The ORFN quantitatively takes account of cooling rate effects on the Ferrite Number for the first time. It is shown the new ORFN model presents very good agreement with experimental data and is significantly more accurate than existing constitution diagrams or recently developed composition-only neural network models. The model is equally valid for austenitic stainless steels and duplex stainless steels. Furthermore, the model is applicable to both conventional arc welding conditions as well as high cooling rate conditions prevalent during high energy beam welding, such as laser beam welding, and high-speed arc welding.
Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 and diminazene: role in cardiovascular and blood pressure regulation

Purpose of reviewAngiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is an important regulator of the renin–angiotensin system through actions to degrade angiotensin II. Loss of ACE2 can contribute to the development and progression of cardiovascular disease, and experimental studies have highlighted a beneficial role for novel therapeutic approaches that activate or replenish tissue ACE2. This review focuses on experimental studies that have used the off-target effects of the antitrypanosomal agent, diminazene aceturate (DIZE) to activate ACE2. Recent findingsIn cardiovascular disease, activation of the classical renin–angiotensin system and depletion of ACE2 leads to pathophysiological changes. One approach to activate ACE2 involves the drug DIZE, which has been shown to have beneficial effects in experimental models of hypertension, pulmonary hypertension, myocardial infarction, stroke, atherosclerosis, type 1 diabetes, and eye disease. The precise mechanism of action of DIZE to activate ACE2 remains under scrutiny. SummaryActivation of ACE2 may represent an important therapeutic approach in cardiovascular disease. To date, most studies have focused on the off-target actions of DIZE, in experimental models of disease. More research is required to determine the exact mechanism of action of DIZE and evaluate its therapeutic potential in comparison with currently available clinical interventions. There are no clinical studies of DIZE, and its side-effects, and toxicity make such studies unlikely. Hence, new methods of selectively activating or replenishing ACE2 will be needed in the future if this approach is to be used in a clinical context.
Distribution and source of rare earth elements in PM2.5 in Xiamen, China

Particulate matter with diameter ≤2.5 µm (PM2.5) is a serious atmospheric pollutant. Composition and source analyses are essential for controlling PM2.5. Rare earth elements (REEs) have received little attention as a component of PM2.5. In the present study, PM2.5 samples were collected in urban and suburban areas in Xiamen and analyzed for REEs. The concentration range of total REEs (∑REE) is 12.07 to 98.45 mg/kg, with a mean of 38.53 mg/kg, in urban PM2.5 and 16.44 to 160.62 mg/kg, with a mean of 42.94 mg/kg, in suburban PM2.5. Light REE concentrations are higher in suburban PM2.5, whereas heavy REE concentrations are higher in urban PM2.5, implying distinct sources of REEs in urban and suburban PM2.5. The scatter plots of δEu‐∑REE and La–Ce–Sm suggest that REEs in urban PM2.5 originate from gasoline‐ and diesel‐vehicle exhaust, whereas those in suburban PM2.5 are mainly influenced by gasoline‐vehicle exhaust. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:3217–3222. © 2017 SETAC
Effect of Torrefaction on Water Vapor Adsorption Properties and Resistance to Microbial Degradation of Corn Stover

The equilibrium moisture content (EMC) of biomass affects transportation, storage, downstream feedstock processing, and the overall economy of biorenewables production. Torrefaction is a thermochemical process conducted in the temperature regime between 200 and 300 °C under an inert atmosphere that, among other benefits, aims to reduce the innate hydrophilicity and susceptibility to microbial degradation of biomass. The objective of this study was to examine water sorption properties of torrefied corn stover. The EMC of raw corn stover, along with corn stover thermally pretreated at three temperatures, was measured using the static gravimetric method at equilibrium relative humidity (ERH) and temperatures ranging from 10 to 98% and from 10 to 40 °C, respectively. Five isotherms were fitted to the experimental data to obtain the prediction equation that best describes the relationship between the ERH and the EMC of lignocellulosic biomass. Microbial degradation of the samples was tested at 97% ERH and 30 °.
Determinants of action potential initiation in isolated rabbit atrial and ventricular myocytes.

Action potential conduction through the atrium and the ventricle of the heart depends on the membrane properties of the atrial and ventricular cells, particularly with respect to the determinants of the initiation of action potentials in each cell type. We have utilized both current- and voltage-clamp techniques on isolated cells to examine biophysical properties of the two cell types at physiological temperature. The resting membrane potential, action potential amplitude, current threshold, voltage threshold, and maximum rate of rise measured from atrial cells (-80 ± 1 mV, 109 ± 3 mV, 0.69 ± 0.05 nA, -59 ± 1 mV, and 206 ± 17 V/s, respectively; means ± SE) differed significantly ( P < 0.05) from those values measured from ventricular cells (-82.7 ± 0.4 mV, 127 ± 1 mV, 2.45 ± 0.13 nA, -46 ± 2 mV, and 395 ± 21 V/s, respectively). Input impedance, capacitance, time constant, and critical depolarization for activation also were significantly different between atrial (341 ± 41 MΩ, 70 ± 4 pF, 23.8 ± 2.3 ms, and 19 ± 1 mV, respectively) and ventricular (16.5 ± 5.4 MΩ, 99 ± 4.3 pF, 1.56 ± 0.32 ms, and 36 ± 1 mV, respectively) cells. The major mechanism of these differences is the much greater magnitude of the inward rectifying potassium current in ventricular cells compared with that in atrial cells, with an additional difference of an apparently lower availability of inward Na current in atrial cells. These differences in the two cell types may be important in allowing the atrial cells to be driven successfully by normal regions of automaticity (e.g., the sinoatrial node), whereas ventricular cells would suppress action potential initiation from a region of automaticity (e.g., an ectopic focus).
Imaging the pathoanatomy of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in vivo: targeting a propagation-based biological marker

Objective Neuropathological studies in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) have shown a dissemination in a regional sequence in four anatomically defined patterns. The aim of this retrospective study was to see whether longitudinal diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data support the pathological findings. Methods The application of DTI analysis to fibre structures that are prone to be involved at each neuropathological pattern of ALS was performed in a monocentre sample of 67 patients with ALS and 31 controls that obtained at least one follow-up scan after a median of 6 months. Results At the group level, longitudinal ALS data showed significant differences for the stage-related tract systems. At the individual level, 27% of the longitudinally scanned patients with ALS showed an increase in ALS stage, while the remaining were stable or were at the highest ALS stage. Longitudinal fractional anisotropy changes in the respective tract systems correlated significantly with the slope of the revised ALS functional rating scale. Interpretation The DTI-based protocol was able to image the disease patterns of ALS in vivo cross-sectionally and longitudinally, in support of DTI as a technical marker to image ALS stages.
Meat Quality Derived from High Inclusion of a Micro-Alga or Insect Meal as an Alternative Protein Source in Poultry Diets: A Pilot Study

The effects on meat quality resulting from alternative dietary protein sources (Spirulina and Hermetia meal) in poultry diets are studied to determine the overall suitability of these ingredients considering state-of-the-art packaging practices—highly oxygenated modified atmosphere packaging (HiOx MAP). We monitored standard slaughterhouse parameters, such as live weight, carcass weight, dressed yield, and pH at 20 min and 24 h post mortem. In addition, we studied the effects that 3 and 7-day storage in HiOx MAP has on the overall product physico-chemical and sensory properties. In addition to previously supported effects of HiOx MAP, we found that meat quality could be improved when Spirulina replaces 50% of the soy protein in broiler diets; however, this substitution results in a dark reddish-yellowish meat colour. On the other hand, the substitution with Hermetia larval meal results in a product that does not differ from the standard fed control group, with the exception that the breast filet has a more intense flavour that decreases over storage time. All-in-all Spirulina and Hermetia meal have the potential to replace soybean meal in broiler diets without deteriorating meat quality.
Different Adaptive Responses to Hypoxia in Normal and Multiple Myeloma Endothelial Cells

Background/Aims: Hypoxia is a powerful stimulator of angiogenesis under physiological as well as pathological conditions. Normal endothelial cells (EC), such as human umbilical vein EC (HUVEC), are relatively affected by hypoxic insult in terms of cell survival. In contrast, EC from tumors are particularly resistant to hypoxia-induced cell death. Previous reports have shown that EC in bone marrow from multiple myeloma (MM) patients had a hypoxic phenotype, even under normoxic conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether HUVEC and MMEC adapt differently to hypoxia. Methods: Cell proliferation was assessed by the CyQUANT assay. Cdc25A, p21, Bax, Bcl-xl, BNIP3, glucose transporter (GLUT)-1, monocarboxylate transporter (MCT)-4 and carbonic anhydrase (CA)IX mRNA expression was determined by qRT-PCR. HIF-1α, BNIP3, Beclin-1, LC3B, livin, Bax, Bcl-xl, p21, p62 and β-actin protein expression was analyzed by western blot. Apoptosis was determined by TUNEL assay. Silencing of BNIP3 was achieved by stealth RNA system technology. Results: While HUVEC survival was reduced after prolonged hypoxic exposure, MMEC were completely unaffected. This difference was also significant in terms of livin, cdc25A and p21 expression. Hypoxia induced apoptosis and inhibited autophagy in HUVEC, but not in MMEC, where hypoxic treatment resulted in a more sustained adaptive response. In fact, MMEC showed a more significant increase in the expression of genes regulated transcriptionally by hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α. Interestingly, they showed higher expression of BNIP3 than did HUVEC, indicating a more pronounced autophagic (and pro-survival) phenotype. The potential role of BNIP3 in EC survival was confirmed by BNIP3 siRNA experiments in HUVEC, where BNIP3 inhibition resulted in reduced cell survival and increased apoptosis. Conclusion: These findings provide further information on how hypoxia may affect EC survival and could be important for a better understanding of EC physiology under normal and pathological conditions, such as in multiple myeloma.
Learning to branch: Generalization guarantees and limits of data-independent discretization

Tree search algorithms, such as branch-and-bound, are the most widely used tools for solving combinatorial and non-convex problems. For example, they are the foremost method for solving (mixed) integer programs and constraint satisfaction problems. Tree search algorithms come with a variety of tunable parameters that are notoriously challenging to tune by hand. A growing body of research has demonstrated the power of using a data-driven approach to automatically optimize the parameters of tree search algorithms. These techniques use a training set of integer programs sampled from an application-specific instance distribution to find a parameter setting that has strong average performance over the training set. However, with too few samples, a parameter setting may have strong average performance on the training set but poor expected performance on future integer programs from the same application. Our main contribution is to provide the first sample complexity guarantees for tree search parameter tuning. These guarantees bound the number of samples sufficient to ensure that the average performance of tree search over the samples nearly matches its future expected performance on the unknown instance distribution. In particular, the parameters we analyze weight scoring rules used for variable selection. Proving these guarantees is challenging because tree size is a volatile function of these parameters: we prove that for any discretization (uniform or not) of the parameter space, there exists a distribution over integer programs such that every parameter setting in the discretization results in a tree with exponential expected size, yet there exist parameter settings between the discretized points that result in trees of constant size. In addition, we provide data-dependent guarantees that depend on the volatility of these tree-size functions: our guarantees improve if the tree-size functions can be well-approximated by simpler functions. Finally, via experiments, we illustrate that learning an optimal weighting of scoring rules reduces tree size.
"Product" Versus "Process" Measures in Assessing Speech Recognition Outcomes in Adults With Cochlear Implants.

HYPOTHESES 1) When controlling for age in postlingual adult cochlear implant (CI) users, information-processing functions, as assessed using "process" measures of working memory capacity, inhibitory control, information-processing speed, and fluid reasoning, will predict traditional "product" outcome measures of speech recognition. 2) Demographic/audiologic factors, particularly duration of deafness, duration of CI use, degree of residual hearing, and socioeconomic status, will impact performance on underlying information-processing functions, as assessed using process measures. BACKGROUND Clinicians and researchers rely heavily on endpoint product measures of accuracy in speech recognition to gauge patient outcomes postoperatively. However, these measures are primarily descriptive and were not designed to assess the underlying core information-processing operations that are used during speech recognition. In contrast, process measures reflect the integrity of elementary core subprocesses that are operative during behavioral tests using complex speech signals. METHODS Forty-two experienced adult CI users were tested using three product measures of speech recognition, along with four process measures of working memory capacity, inhibitory control, speed of lexical/phonological access, and nonverbal fluid reasoning. Demographic and audiologic factors were also assessed. RESULTS Scores on product measures were associated with core process measures of speed of lexical/phonological access and nonverbal fluid reasoning. After controlling for participant age, demographic and audiologic factors did not correlate with process measure scores. CONCLUSION Findings provide support for the important foundational roles of information processing operations in speech recognition outcomes of postlingually deaf patients who have received CIs.
Compressive Strength Relationship Between Cylinder Tests and Core Tests

A core obtained from any field cured structural member will be inherently different than the field cured cylinder used as a control. Consequently, comparisons with field cured cylinders to determine the relationship between core tests and cylinder tests can not be accurate because there have not been enough variables eliminated to assess this relationship. Without knowing the relationship between a cylinder test and a core test, there is no way that the in-place compressive strength of concrete can accurately be determined with the core test procedure. This paper reports on a study to determine the relationship between compressive strength test results achieved using basic cylinder tests and those achieved using drilled cores. Study materials, methods and results are discussed.