Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Automated Determination of Bone Age in a Modern Chinese Population

Rationale and Objective. Large studies have previously been performed to set up a Chinese bone age reference, but it has been difficult to compare the maturation of Chinese children with populations elsewhere due to the potential variability between raters in different parts of the world. We re-analysed the radiographs from a large study of normal Chinese children using an automated bone age rating method to establish a Chinese bone age reference, and to compare the tempo of maturation in the Chinese with other populations. Materials and Methods. X-rays from 2883 boys and 3143 girls aged 2–20 years from five Chinese cities, taken in 2005, were evaluated using the BoneXpert automated method. Results. Chinese children reached full maturity at the same age as previously studied Asian children from Los Angeles, but 0.6 years earlier than Caucasian children in Los Angeles. The Greulich-Pyle bone age method was adapted to the Chinese population creating a new bone age scale BX-China05. The standard deviation between BX-China05 and chronologic age was 1.01 years in boys aged 8–14, and 1.08 years in girls aged 7–12. Conclusion. By eliminating rater variability, the automated method provides a reliable and efficient standard for bone age determination in China.
The influence of oscillating dietary crude protein concentrations on milk production and nitrogen utilization in lactating dairy cows

ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . iv TABLE OF CONTENTS . v LIST OF TABLES . vii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS . viii 1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION . 1 2. LITERATURE REVIEW . 3 2.1 Environmental Impacts of Excess N . 3 2.2 Rumen nitrogen metabolism . 4 2.2.1 Protein Requirement . 4 2.2.2 Ruminal Protein Degradation and Microbial Protein Synthesis . 5 2.2.3 Ammonia Absorption, Ureagenesis and Urea-Recycling . 7 2.3 Factors That Regulate Urea Recycling. 9 2.3.1. Dietary N Supply . 9 2.3.2. Supply of Ruminally Carbohydrate Fermentation . 11 2.3.3. Efficiency of Nitrogen Utilization in Dairy Cows . 13 2.4 Strategies to Increase the Efficiency of N Utilization in Ruminants . 14 2.4. 1. Dietary N Supply . 14 2.4. 2. Nitrogen Source . 16 2.4. 3. Fermentable Carbohydrate Supply . 18 2.4. 4. Frequency of N supply – Oscillating Dietary Crude Protein . 19 2.5 Summary . 23 2.6 Hypothesis . 24 2.7 Objectives . 24 3. MATERIALS AND METHODS . 25 3.1 Animals, Experimental Design, and Dietary Treatments . 25 3.2 Data and Sample Collection . 25 3.3 Sample Analyses . 30 3.4 Calculations . 32
Measuring Price Differences Across Countries and Time in the European Union

This paper considers the problem of how to construct price indexes on a panel data set. First a suitable panel data set is constructed by merging Eurostat’s Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) with a cross-section of OECD data. Second, seven different methods for constructing price indexes on a panel are proposed. These are then applied to the merged HICP/OECD data set. Temporal and spatial price indexes are computed for the 15 member countries of the European Union over the period 1995-2000. The paper concludes by testing whether price levels and relative prices have converged over this period. (JEL C43, E31, O47)
Influence of Gender, Age and Location on Students Perceived Link of Population Growth and Climate Change

Abstract Increase in population contributes and it is also affected by climate change, hence it deserves consideration in any climate change policy development strategies. Based on the importance of population growth on climate change, this study was embarked on to ascertain the perception of students to the influence of population growth on the consequences of climate change. The population of the study consisted of undergraduate students in a Federal University in Southern part of Nigeria. A sample size of 362 respondents were selected using systematic sampling to select every one and other halls of residence (3 halls of residence selected out of 6) and simple random sampling of balloting by replacement to select 14% each from the three halls of residence. The questionnaires administered were analyzed using SPSS version 20 and the descriptive and inferential statistical tools were employed to analyze the data gotten. The study revealed that there was a significant difference on the respondents perception based on their gender, age group and home of residence(Urban or rural). Based on these findings, it was recommended among other things that population control measures should be effectively implemented in the country. And any policy on climate change, gender, age group and location should be considered because a gender, age group and location bias policy will increase the severity of the problem.
Ulipristal acetate versus leuprolide acetate for uterine fibroids.

BACKGROUND The efficacy and side-effect profile of ulipristal acetate as compared with those of leuprolide acetate for the treatment of symptomatic uterine fibroids before surgery are unclear. METHODS In this double-blind noninferiority trial, we randomly assigned 307 patients with symptomatic fibroids and excessive uterine bleeding to receive 3 months of daily therapy with oral ulipristal acetate (at a dose of either 5 mg or 10 mg) or once-monthly intramuscular injections of leuprolide acetate (at a dose of 3.75 mg). The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with controlled bleeding at week 13, with a prespecified noninferiority margin of -20%. RESULTS Uterine bleeding was controlled in 90% of patients receiving 5 mg of ulipristal acetate, in 98% of those receiving 10 mg of ulipristal acetate, and in 89% of those receiving leuprolide acetate, for differences (as compared with leuprolide acetate) of 1.2 percentage points (95% confidence interval [CI], -9.3 to 11.8) for 5 mg of ulipristal acetate and 8.8 percentage points (95% CI, 0.4 to 18.3) for 10 mg of ulipristal acetate. Median times to amenorrhea were 7 days for patients receiving 5 mg of ulipristal acetate, 5 days for those receiving 10 mg of ulipristal acetate, and 21 days for those receiving leuprolide acetate. Moderate-to-severe hot flashes were reported for 11% of patients receiving 5 mg of ulipristal acetate, for 10% of those receiving 10 mg of ulipristal acetate, and for 40% of those receiving leuprolide acetate (P<0.001 for each dose of ulipristal acetate vs. leuprolide acetate). CONCLUSIONS Both the 5-mg and 10-mg daily doses of ulipristal acetate were noninferior to once-monthly leuprolide acetate in controlling uterine bleeding and were significantly less likely to cause hot flashes. (Funded by PregLem; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00740831.).
Prostaglandin-endoperoxide H Synthase-2 Expression in Human Thyroid Epithelium

Prostaglandin-endoperoxide H synthase (PGHS) (EC1.14.99.1) expression was examined in human thyroid tissue and in KAT-50, a well differentiated human thyroid epithelial cell line. PGHS-1 is found constitutively expressed in most healthy tissues, whereas PGHS-2 is highly inducible and currently thought to be expressed, with few exceptions, only in diseased tissues. Surprisingly, PGHS-2 mRNA and protein were easily detected in normal thyroid tissue. KAT-50 cells express high levels of constitutive PGHS-2 mRNA and protein under basal culture conditions. Compounds usually associated with PGHS-2 induction, including interleukin-1β (IL-1β), phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, and serum transiently down-regulated PGHS-2 expression. Human PGHS-2 promoter constructs (−1840/+123 and −831/+123) fused to a luciferase reporter and transfected into untreated KAT-50 cells exhibited substantial activity. NS-398, a highly selective inhibitor of PGHS-2 could inhibit substantial basal prostaglandin E2 production. Exogenous IL-1 receptor antagonist or IL-1α neutralizing antibodies could attenuate constitutive PGHS-2 expression in KAT-50 cells, suggesting that endogenous IL-1α synthesis was driving PGHS-2 expression. Our findings suggest that normal thyroid epithelium expresses high constitutive levels of PGHS-2 in situ andin vitro and this enzyme is active in the generation of prostaglandin E2. Thus, unprovoked PGHS-2 expression might be considerably more widespread in healthy tissues than is currently believed.
Performance of Introducing Outdoor Cold Air for Cooling a Plant Production System with Artificial Light

The commercial use of a plant production system with artificial light (PPAL) is limited by its high initial construction and operation costs. The electric-energy consumed by heat pumps, applied mainly for cooling, accounts for 15–35% of the total electric-energy used in a PPAL. To reduce the electric-energy consumption, an air exchanger with low capacity (180 W) was used for cooling by introducing outdoor cold air. In this experiment, the indoor air temperature in two PPALs (floor area: 6.2 m2 each) was maintained at 25 and 20°C during photoperiod and dark period, respectively, for lettuce production. A null CO2 balance enrichment method was used in both PPALs. In one PPAL (PPALe), an air exchanger (air flow rate: 250 m3·h−1) was used along with a heat pump (cooling capacity: 3.2 kW) to maintain the indoor air temperature at the set-point. The other PPAL (PPALc) with only a heat pump (cooling capacity: 3.2 kW) was used for reference. Effects of introducing outdoor cold air on energy use efficiency, coefficient of performance (COP), electric-energy consumption for cooling and growth of lettuce were investigated. The results show that: when the air temperature difference between indoor and outdoor ranged from 20.2 to 30.0°C: (1) the average energy use efficiency of the air exchanger was 2.8 and 3.4 times greater than the COP of the heat pumps in the PPALe and PPALc, respectively; (2) hourly electric-energy consumption for cooling in the PPALe reduced by 15.8–73.7% compared with that in the PPALc; (3) daily supply of CO2 in the PPALe reduced from 0.15 to 0.04 kg compared with that in the PPALc with the outdoor air temperature ranging from −5.6 to 2.7°C; (4) no significant difference in lettuce growth was observed in both PPALs. The results indicate that using air exchanger to introduce outdoor cold air should be considered as an effective way to reduce electric-energy consumption for cooling with little effects on plant growth in a PPAL.
Observations on the regulatory mechanisms of aldosterone secretion in man.

The regulatory mechanisms governing aldosterone secretion in man are as yet obscure. Axelrad and Leutscher1have shown that a fivefold increase in urinary aldosterone occurs in man when the dietary sodium is restricted. Laragh and Stoerk2have suggested that serum potassium is a powerful direct or indirect stimulus to aldosterone secretion and that increases in urinary aldosterone on dietary sodium restriction are mediated by an alteration in serum potassium or Na/K ratio. Although corticotropin does not appear to affect either the excretion * or the blood levels of aldosterone in normal persons,4Gordon and co-workers5have found an increase in the output of this sodiumretaining hormone in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis following the intravenous administration of corticotropin. Leutscher and Axelrad6have observed essentially normal levels of urinary aldosterone in patients with panhypopituitarism. It has been sug- gested by Peters7that the mineralocorticoid output of
Learning externally modulated dynamical systems

Dynamical Systems (DS) are often used to represent motion, with the advantage of being easy to learn from demonstrations. We present a method to modulate DS depending on an external signal, extending our previous work on Locally Modulated DS (LMDS [1]). We present two applications of our system, which would not have been possible to achieve without taking external sensing into account in the DS motion formulation. The first application is a task of localization and grasping of objects, using our previous work on compliant tactile exploration. We successfully localize and grasp objects whose position is unknown, using touch in a simulated environment. In the second application, we teach a robot how to react to collisions in order to navigate between obstacles while reaching.
The optic vesicle promotes cornea to lens transdifferentiation in larval Xenopus laevis

The outer cornea and pericorneal epidermis (lentogenic area) of larval Xenopus laevis are the only epidermal regions competent to regenerate a lens under the influence of the retinal inducer. However, the head epidermis of the lentogenic area can acquire the lens‐regenerating competence following transplantation of an eye beneath it. In this paper we demonstrate that both the outer cornea and the head epidermis covering a transplanted eye are capable of responding not only to the retinal inducer of the larval eye but also to the inductive action of the embryonic optic vesicle by synthesizing crystallins. As the optic vesicle is a very weak lens inductor, which promotes crystallin synthesis only on the lens biased ectoderm of the embryo, these results indicate that the lens‐forming competence in the outer cornea and epidermis of larval X. laevis corresponds to the persistence and acquisition of a condition similar to that of the embryonic biased ectoderm.
Comparison of efficacy between low-fluence and half-dose verteporfin photodynamic therapy for chronic central serous chorioretinopathy

Purpose To compare the efficacy of low-fluence photodynamic therapy (PDT) and PDT with half-dose verteporfin in chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). Patients and methods The medical records of 64 eyes from 60 patients with chronic CSC were retrospectively reviewed; 36 eyes received low-fluence PDT (25 J/cm2) and 28 eyes received half-dose verteporfin PDT (3 mg/m2). The primary outcome measure was the proportion of eyes with complete resolution of subretinal fluid. Secondary outcome measures were the changes in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central foveal thickness, and the proportion of eyes that showed an increase of ≥5 letters in BCVA at the last visit. Results The mean follow-up period was 12.5±4.3 months and 13.1±4 months in the low-fluence group and half-dose group, respectively (P=0.568). Thirty-three eyes (91.6%) in the low-fluence group and 26 eyes (92.8%) in the half-dose verteporfin group showed complete resolution of subretinal fluid (P=0.703). BCVA increased by a mean of 7.4 letters and 4.8 letters in the low-fluence group and half-dose group, respectively (P=0.336). Seventeen eyes (52.8%) in the low-fluence group and 14 eyes (50%) in the half-dose group experienced a gain of ≥5 letters in BCVA (P=0.825). In the low-fluence and half-dose verteporfin group, the mean baseline central foveal thickness was 351±90 μm and 341±96 μm, and significantly decreased to 188±61 μm and 181±47 μm, respectively (P<0.01). Conclusion Both treatments resulted in complete subretinal fluid resolution in most of the eyes, with significantly better visual acuity outcomes compared to baseline at the last visit.
Maximum Entropy Inverse Reinforcement Learning

Recent research has shown the benefit of framing problems of imitation learning as solutions to Markov Decision Problems. This approach reduces learning to the problem of recovering a utility function that makes the behavior induced by a near-optimal policy closely mimic demonstrated behavior. In this work, we develop a probabilistic approach based on the principle of maximum entropy. Our approach provides a well-defined, globally normalized distribution over decision sequences, while providing the same performance guarantees as existing methods. We develop our technique in the context of modeling real-world navigation and driving behaviors where collected data is inherently noisy and imperfect. Our probabilistic approach enables modeling of route preferences as well as a powerful new approach to inferring destinations and routes based on partial trajectories.
The effect of display type on operator prediction of future swarm states

Large teams of robots that operate collectively, whose behavior emerges from local interactions with neighbors, are known as swarms. While significant progress has been made improving the hardware, communication capabilities, and autonomous operation of these swarms, we still have much to learn about how human operators control and interact with them. This research is necessary if real world swarms are to be deployed in the future. The study presented here investigates different methods of displaying information about the swarm state to operators, and asks them to make predictions about the swarm's future state. In the study, participants are shown swarms performing one of three different behaviors, and are asked to use the information available from the display to make their predictions. Results show that summarizing the swarm's current state to just an average position and bounding ellipse allowed predictions as accurate as those made when full state information was shown. Furthermore, two leader-based methods were used, whereby the operators were shown only a small subset of the swarm. However, such display methods were inferior for prediction than either the summary center and ellipse or full information methods. With these results, and with participant feedback about the helpfulness of the four display types, we hope future studies can make more informed decision about interface design when it comes to the control of swarms.
PTRF/Cavin-1 Deficiency Causes Cardiac Dysfunction Accompanied by Cardiomyocyte Hypertrophy and Cardiac Fibrosis

Mutations in the PTRF/Cavin-1 gene cause congenital generalized lipodystrophy type 4 (CGL4) associated with myopathy. Additionally, long-QT syndrome and fatal cardiac arrhythmia are observed in patients with CGL4 who have homozygous PTRF/Cavin-1 mutations. PTRF/Cavin-1 deficiency shows reductions of caveolae and caveolin-3 (Cav3) protein expression in skeletal muscle, and Cav3 deficiency in the heart causes cardiac hypertrophy with loss of caveolae. However, it remains unknown how loss of PTRF/Cavin-1 affects cardiac morphology and function. Here, we present a characterization of the hearts of PTRF/Cavin-1-null (PTRF−/−) mice. Electron microscopy revealed the reduction of caveolae in cardiomyocytes of PTRF−/− mice. PTRF−/− mice at 16 weeks of age developed a progressive cardiomyopathic phenotype with wall thickening of left ventricles and reduced fractional shortening evaluated by echocardiography. Electrocardiography revealed that PTRF−/− mice at 24 weeks of age had low voltages and wide QRS complexes in limb leads. Histological analysis showed cardiomyocyte hypertrophy accompanied by progressive interstitial/perivascular fibrosis. Hypertrophy-related fetal gene expression was also induced in PTRF−/− hearts. Western blotting analysis and quantitative RT-PCR revealed that Cav3 expression was suppressed in PTRF−/− hearts compared with that in wild-type (WT) ones. ERK1/2 was activated in PTRF−/− hearts compared with that in WT ones. These results suggest that loss of PTRF/Cavin-1 protein expression is sufficient to induce a molecular program leading to cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and cardiomyopathy, which is partly attributable to Cav3 reduction in the heart.
Sex and the Syndrome: Individual and Population Consistency in Behaviour in Rock Pool Prawn Palaemon elegans

Animal personality has been widely documented across a range of species. The concept of personality is composed of individual behavioural consistency across time and between situations, and also behavioural trait correlations known as behavioural syndromes. Whilst many studies have now investigated the stability of individual personality traits, few have analysed the stability over time of entire behavioural syndromes. Here we present data from a behavioural study of rock pool prawns. We show that prawns are temporally consistent in a range of behaviours, including activity, exploration and boldness, and also that a behavioural syndrome is evident in this population. We find correlations between many behavioural traits (activity, boldness, shoaling and exploration). In addition, behavioural syndrome structure was consistent over time. Finally, few studies have explicitly studied the role of sex differences in personality traits, behavioural consistency and syndrome structure. We report behavioural differences between male and female prawns but no differences in patterns of consistency. Our study adds to the growing literature on animal personality, and provides evidence showing that syndromes themselves can exhibit temporal consistency.
A Rare Presentation of Sepsis from Staphylococcus caprae

As a coagulase negative Staphylococcus species, S. caprae is not considered as a clinically-significant member, unlike S. epidermidis. In this report, we describe a case of sepsis resulting from S. caprae infection. This relatively young woman was in generally good health and contracted S. caprae most probably during her treatment of an acute pulmonary embolism. The purpose of this report is to raise awareness of this otherwise innocuous staphylococcal species in clinical settings.
The Relationship between Internal Corporate Social Responsibility and Organizational Commitment within the Banking Sector in Jordan

— This study attempts to investigate the relationship between internal CSR practices and organizational commitment based on the social exchange theory (SET). Specifically, we examine the impact of five dimensions of internal CSR practices on organizational commitment: health and safety, human rights, training and education, work life balance and workplace diversity. The proposed model was tested on a sample of 336 frontline employees within the banking sector in Jordan. Results showed that all internal CSR dimensions are significantly and positively related to affective and normative commitment. In addition, the findings of this study indicate that all internal CSR dimensions did not have a significant relationship with continuance commitment. Limitations of the study, directions for future research, and implications of the findings are discussed.
Equivalent Circuit Model of Low-Frequency Magnetoelectric Effect in Disk-Type Terfenol-D/PZT Laminate Composites Considering a New Interface Coupling Factor

This paper describes the modeling of magnetoelectric (ME) effects for disk-type Terfenol-D (Tb0.3Dy0.7Fe1.92)/PZT (Pb(Zr,Ti)O3) laminate composite at low frequency by combining the advantages of the static elastic model and the equivalent circuit model, aiming at providing a guidance for the design and fabrication of the sensors based on magnetoelectric laminate composite. Considering that the strains of the magnetostrictive and piezoelectric layers are not equal in actual operating due to the epoxy resin adhesive bonding condition, the magnetostrictive and piezoelectric layers were first modeled through the equation of motion separately, and then coupled together with a new interface coupling factor kc, which physically reflects the strain transfer between the phases. Furthermore, a theoretical expression containing kc for the transverse ME voltage coefficient αv and the optimum thickness ratio noptim to which the maximum ME voltage coefficient corresponds were derived from the modified equivalent circuit of ME laminate, where the interface coupling factor acted as an ideal transformer. To explore the influence of mechanical load on the interface coupling factor kc, two sets of weights, i.e., 100 g and 500 g, were placed on the top of the ME laminates with the same thickness ratio n in the sample fabrication. A total of 22 T-T mode disk-type ME laminate samples with different configurations were fabricated. The interface coupling factors determined from the measured αv and the DC bias magnetic field Hbias were 0.11 for 500 g pre-mechanical load and 0.08 for 100 g pre-mechanical load. Furthermore, the measured optimum thickness ratios were 0.61 for kc = 0.11 and 0.56 for kc = 0.08. Both the theoretical ME voltage coefficient αv and optimum thickness ratio noptim containing kc agreed well with the measured data, verifying the reasonability and correctness for the introduction of kc in the modified equivalent circuit model.