Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The sonographic appearance and obstetric management of placenta accreta

Placenta accreta is a condition of abnormal placental implantation in which the placental tissue invades beyond the decidua basalis. It may invade into or even through the myometrium and adjacent organs, such as the urinary bladder. The incidence has been rising in recent years. It is one of the important obstetric complications nowadays, leading to significant maternal morbidity and mortality. In the past, this condition was often diagnosed at the time of delivery when massive and unexpected hemorrhage occurred. Hysterectomy, associated with significant physical and psychological consequences, was usually the only management option. As more obstetricians have become aware of this condition, early identification with antenatal imaging diagnostic technology has become possible. Ultrasound scan plays an important role in the antenatal diagnosis. Various sonographic features with different specificity and sensitivity have been described in the literature. In equivocal cases, magnetic resonance imaging may be helpful. With such information, more accurate counseling can be offered to the mothers and their families before delivery. The delivery can also be arranged at a favorable time and in an institution where multidisciplinary support is available. Input from a hematologist, interventional radiologist, intensive care physician, urology surgeon, and/or other specialist are desirable. Apart from hysterectomy, various forms of conservative management can also be considered when the diagnosis is made prior to delivery. Fertility can therefore be preserved. After delivery, with or without hysterectomy performed, psychological support to the mothers and their families is essential.
Non-linear quasi-static model of pneumatic artificial muscle actuators

Pneumatic artificial muscles are a class of pneumatically driven actuators that are remarkable for their simplicity, lightweight, high stroke, and high force. The McKibben artificial muscle, which is a type of pneumatic artificial muscle, is composed of an elastomeric bladder, a braided mesh sleeve, and two end fittings. Gaylord first developed an analysis of the McKibben artificial muscle based on the conservation of energy principle. The Gaylord model predicts block force but fails to accurately capture actuation force versus contraction ratio behavior. To address this lack, a non-linear quasi-static model is developed based on finite strain theory. The internal stresses in the bladder are determined by treating it as a cylinder subjected to applied internal pressure and a prescribed kinematic constraint of the outer surface. Subsequently, the force balance approach is applied to derive the equilibrium equations in both the axial and circumferential directions. Finally, the closed-form pneumatic artificial muscle quasi-static actuator force is obtained. The analysis was experimentally validated using actuation force versus contraction ratio test data at a series of discrete inflation pressures for two different pneumatic artificial muscles: a large pneumatic artificial muscle (L = 128.5 mm, B = 7.85 mm, with a latex bladder) and a miniature pneumatic artificial muscle (L = 43.9 mm, B = 2.3 mm, with a V330 elastomeric bladder).
Peer victimization and social‐emotional outcomes: The role of teacher and peer support

The relation between peer victimization, risk of social, emotional, and behavioral difficulties, and school-based sources of social support for students in elementary and middle school were examined. Participants included 656 students in third to eighth grade from one school district. Results indicated that peer support mediated the relation between peer victimization and risk of social, emotional, and behavioral difficulties, but teacher support did not mediate this relation. Conditional indirect effects analyses revealed that the indirect effect of peer support varied as a function of school level (i.e., intermediate and middle school). The implications and limitations of the current study are discussed, as well as directions for future research.
SECOND EPOCH VLBA CALIBRATOR SURVEY OBSERVATIONS: VCS-II

Six very successful Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) calibrator survey campaigns were run between 1994 and 2007 to build up a large list of compact radio sources with positions precise enough for use as very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) phase reference calibrators. We report on the results of a second epoch VLBA Calibrator Survey campaign (VCS-II) in which 2400 VCS sources were re-observed in the X and S bands in order to improve the upcoming third realization of the International Celestial Reference Frame (ICRF3) as well as to improve their usefulness as VLBI phase reference calibrators. In this survey, some 2062 previously detected sources and 324 previously undetected sources were detected and revised positions are presented. Average position uncertainties for the re-observed sources were reduced from 1.14 and 1.98 mas to 0.24 and 0.41 mas in R.A. and decl. , respectively, or by nearly a factor of 5. Minimum detected flux values were approximately 15 and 28 mJy in the X and S bands, respectively, and median total fluxes are approximately 230 and 280 mJy. The vast majority of these sources are flat-spectrum sources, with ∼82% having spectral indices greater than −0.5.
Compeer Friends: a Qualitative Study of a Volunteer Friendship Programme for People with Serious Mental Illness

Background: People with serious mental illness (SMI) experience numerous barriers to developing and maintaining friendships. Aims: To explore the benefits and drawbacks of an intentional friendship programme (Compeer, Inc), which develops new social relationships for people with SMI by matching them in one-to-one relationships with community volunteers for weekly social activities. Methods: Twenty clients and volunteers, in Compeer friendships for different lengths of time, participated in individual semi-structured qualitative interviews. Several volunteers were themselves current or former consumers of mental health services. Results: Participants reported numerous benefits to participating in Compeer. Clients and volunteers spoke enthusiastically about the benefits of gaining a friend. Many intentional relationships deepened over several years into mutually beneficial friendships. Most clients became more outgoing, sociable and active, with increased self-esteem, self-worth and self-confidence. Volunteers who had experienced mental illness themselves provided unique added benefits to the relationship. Drawbacks were minimal and financial and other costs to volunteers were low. Conclusions: Intentional friendships can be a potent yet cost-effective way to help people with SMI develop social skills, expand their social networks, and improve their quality of life. However, because relationships take several years to develop, quantitative evaluations using short follow-up periods may underestimate programme effectiveness.
Comparing the cost-per-QALYs gained and cost-per-DALYs averted literatures

Background: We examined the similarities and differences between studies using two common metrics used in cost-effectiveness analyses (CEAs): cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained and cost per disability-adjusted life year (DALY) averted. Methods: We used the Tufts Medical Center CEA Registry, which contains English-language cost-per-QALY gained studies, and the Global Cost-Effectiveness Analysis (GHCEA) Registry, which contains cost-per-DALY averted studies. We examined study characteristics, including intervention type, sponsor, country, and primary disease, and also compared the number of published CEAs to disease burden for major diseases and conditions across geographic regions. Results: We identified 6,438 cost-per-QALY and 543 cost-per-DALY studies published through 2016 and observed rapid growth for both literatures. Cost-per-QALY studies most often examined pharmaceuticals and interventions in high-income countries. Cost-per-DALY studies predominantly focused on infectious disease interventions and interventions in low and lower-middle income countries. We found that while diseases imposing a larger burden tend to receive more attention in the cost-effectiveness analysis literature, the number of publications for some diseases and conditions deviates from this pattern, suggesting “under-studied” conditions (e.g., neonatal disorders) and “over-studied” conditions (e.g., HIV and TB). Conclusions: The CEA literature has grown rapidly, with applications to diverse interventions and diseases. The publication of fewer studies than expected for some diseases given their imposed burden suggests funding opportunities for future cost-effectiveness research.
New Journal of Physics The ten thousand Kims

In Korean culture, the names of family members are recorded in special family books. This makes it possible to follow the distribution of Korean family names far back in history. It is shown here that these name distributions are well described by a simple null model, the random group formation (RGF) model. This model makes it possible to predict how the name distributions change and these predictions are shown to be borne out. In particular, the RGF model predicts that for married women entering a collection of family books in a certain year, the occurrence of the most common family name ‘Kim’ should be directly proportional to the total number of married women with the same proportionality constant for all the years. This prediction is also borne out to a high degree. We speculate that it reflects some inherent social stability in the Korean culture. In addition, we obtain an estimate of the total population of the Korean culture down to the year 500 AD, based on the RGF model, and find about ten thousand Kims. 4 Author to whom any correspondence should be addressed. New Journal of Physics 13 (2011) 073036 1367-2630/11/073036+12$33.00 © IOP Publishing Ltd and Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft
A Method to Assess Assembly Complexity of Industrial Products in Early Design Phase

Complexity is one of the factors, inducing high cost, operational issues, and increased lead time for product realization and continues to pose challenges to manufacturing systems. One solution to reduce the negative impacts of complexity is its assessment, which can help designers to compare and rationalize various designs that meet the functional requirements. In this paper, a systemic approach is proposed to assess complexity of a product’s assembly. The approach is based on Hückel’s molecular orbital theory and defines complexity as a combination of both the complexity of product entities and their topological connections. In this model, the complexity of product entities (i.e., components and liaisons) is defined as the degree to which the entity comprises structural characteristics that lead to challenges during handling or fitting operations. The characterization of entity complexities is carried out based on the widely used DFA principles. Moreover, the proposed approach is tested on two case studies from electronics industry for its validity. The results showed that the approach can be used at initial design stages to improve both the quality and assemblability of products by reducing their complexity and accompanying risks.
Preventive Veterinary Medicine

The limited space in farrowing crate imposes many challenges, such as prolonged farrowing duration and high piglet stillbirth rate. Although the features of farrowing pens compen-sate for the drawbacks of farrowing crates, they are associated with high piglet crushing mortality caused by the greater space afforded to sows and their rolling-over behaviour. Therefore, a freedom farrowing pen was designed to overcome the drawbacks of both far- rowing crates and farrowing pens. The main features of the freedom farrowing pen are its left anti-crushing bar and detachable right anti-crushing bar on the sides of the sow lying area. It also has a 10 cm-high anti-crushing bar in the non-lying area. Eighteen healthy, multiparous Yorkshire sows (3–7 parity) were averaged and randomly assigned to farrowing crates, farrowing pens, and freedom farrowing pens to compare the effects of the farrowing systems on sow behaviour and performance. Results showed that the farrowing duration and the mean piglet birth intervals were longer for the sows in farrowing crates than for those in farrowing pens and freedom farrowing pens ( P < 0.05), but there was no difference between the sows in farrowing pens and those in freedom farrowing pens ( P > 0.05). The piglet stillbirth rate was higher for the sows in farrowing crates than for those in farrowing pens and freedom farrowing pens ( P < 0.001). Crushing mortality was higher among piglets in farrowing pens ( P < 0.001), but there was no difference between piglets in freedom far- rowing pens and those in farrowing crates ( P > 0.05). The freedom farrowing pen and the farrowing pen allowed sows to turn around and move freely, but because of the different structures of their anti-crushing bars, the increase in sow movement did not cause higher piglet crushing mortality ( P > 0.05). Sows in freedom farrowing pens were found to be more protective of their piglets. © 2011
Experimental Research on Uniaxial and Biaxial Tensile Strength of Coated Fabrics with Variously Shaped Defects

Tensile strength of specimens of coated fabric which had a crack, a bias crack and a circular defect respectively was measured using a uniaxial and using a biaxial tensile tester. Then, uniaxial and biaxial tensile strength figures were compared, and strengths for the three types of defect condition were compared. Further, uniaxial strengths of four types of coated fabric material specimens with cracks were measured, and the anisotropy of tensile strength along warp and filling was investigated. And, relations between crack opening ratio under deformation and stress were measured on the specimen.
Efficacy of Anti-mesothelin Immunotoxin RG7787 plus Nab-Paclitaxel against Mesothelioma Patient–Derived Xenografts and Mesothelin as a Biomarker of Tumor Response

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antitumor efficacy of the reduced immunogenicity anti-mesothelin immunotoxin RG7787 plus nab-paclitaxel against primary mesothelioma cell lines and tumor xenografts and the utility of mesothelin as a biomarker of tumor response. Experimental Design: Early-passage human malignant mesothelioma cell lines NCI-Meso16, NCI-Meso19, NCI-Meso21, and NCI-Meso29 were evaluated for sensitivity to RG7787 or nab-paclitaxel alone or in combination. In addition, the antitumor activity of RG7787 plus nab-paclitaxel was evaluated using NCI-Meso16, NCI-Meso21, and NCI-Meso29 tumor xenografts in immunodeficient mice. Serum mesothelin was measured at different time points to determine whether its levels correlated with tumor response. Results: All four primary mesothelioma cell lines highly expressed mesothelin with 41 × 103 to 346 × 103 mesothelin sites per cell and were sensitive to RG7787, with IC50 ranging from 0.3 to 10 ng/mL. Except for NCI-Meso19, these cells were also sensitive to nab-paclitaxel, with IC50 of 10 to 25 ng/mL. In vitro, RG7787 plus nab-paclitaxel led to decreased cell viability compared with either agent alone. In NCI-Meso16 tumor xenografts, treatment with RG7787 plus nab-paclitaxel led to sustained complete tumor regressions. Similar antitumor efficacy was observed against NCI-Meso21 and NCI-Meso29 tumor xenografts. In all three tumor xenograft models, changes in human serum mesothelin correlated with response to therapy and were undetectable in mice with complete tumor regression with RG7787 and nab-paclitaxel. Conclusions: RG7787 plus nab-paclitaxel is very active against primary human mesothelioma cells in vitro as well as in vivo, with serum mesothelin levels correlating with tumor response. These results indicate that this combination could be useful for treating patients with mesothelioma. Clin Cancer Res; 23(6); 1564–74. ©2016 AACR.
p37/UBXN2B regulates spindle orientation by limiting cortical NuMA recruitment via PP1/Repo-Man

Spindle orientation determines the axis of division and is crucial for cell fate, tissue morphogenesis, and the development of an organism. In animal cells, spindle orientation is regulated by the conserved G&agr;i–LGN–NuMA complex, which targets the force generator dynein–dynactin to the cortex. In this study, we show that p37/UBXN2B, a cofactor of the p97 AAA ATPase, regulates spindle orientation in mammalian cells by limiting the levels of cortical NuMA. p37 controls cortical NuMA levels via the phosphatase PP1 and its regulatory subunit Repo-Man, but it acts independently of G&agr;i, the kinase Aurora A, and the phosphatase PP2A. Our data show that in anaphase, when the spindle elongates, PP1/Repo-Man promotes the accumulation of NuMA at the cortex. In metaphase, p37 negatively regulates this function of PP1, resulting in lower cortical NuMA levels and correct spindle orientation.
The use of video-clips as a teaching aide.

INTRODUCTION Video-clips of tooth preparations recorded with a digital head-mounted camera replaced live demonstrations midway in a preclinical operative dentistry course. DVDs of the video-clips were made available to the students for home use. AIMS The aim of this study was to determine whether the use of these video-clips had any impact on students' practical examination results and to analyse students' opinions of this new technology and the perceived impact on their learning. METHODS A questionnaire was administered to all students (n = 26) who completed the course, asking their opinions on the video-clips. The results of student practical examinations before the introduction of the camera were compared with those after the video-clips were available and also to the examination outcomes of the previous year's students (ANOVA, P < 0.05). RESULTS Twenty-one students completed the questionnaire. Sixteen students (76%) preferred the video-clips to the live demonstrations, and 12 students (57%) made and reviewed the DVDs at home. They expressed a preference for the videos to be made available online or as podcasts. Twelve students (57%) felt that one-to-one supervision was more effective developing their competence in tooth preparations when compared to their viewing of the video-clips. There were no statistically significant differences between the practical examination results. CONCLUSION In this group of students, video-clips were the preferred method of demonstration of tooth preparations in the preclinical environment. However, students perceived their learning to be facilitated more by one-to-one supervision. The students preferred to have the video-clips made available to them online instead of in the form of a DVD. The introduction of this educational aide did not make a difference in practical examination results.
Cerebral White Matter Changes on Therapeutic Response to Rivastigmine in Alzheimer's Disease.

BACKGROUND Rivastigmine has been approved in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients as it can inhibit acetyl- and butyryl-cholinesterase and provide neuroprotective effects involving the synapses. White matter changes (WMCs) are frequently observed in AD, and clinical-pathological correlations imply their possible impacts on cognitive function by interference with cortical and subcortical neuronal pathways. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the therapeutic effects of rivastigmine in AD patients with cerebral WMCs. METHODS Clinically diagnosed AD patients from Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung hospital were recruited together with their cranial magnetic resonance imaging and a series of annual psychometric tests, including Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and sum of boxes of clinical dementia rating scale (CDR-SB). WMCs were rated through the modified Fazekas scale for the periventricular and deep WMCs. RESULTS In total, 87 AD patients treated with rivastigmine were enrolled. Patients at severe stage of WMCs, compared to mild stage ones, had significant improvement evaluated by MMSE (periventricular WMCs, p = 0.025; deep WMCs, p = 0.030), but not CDR-SB. Compared to the worsening group, the clinically improving group had a significant higher ratio of pre-existing hypertension in terms of cognitive performance [p = 0.016, odds ratio (OR) = 3.48, 95% CI = 1.25-10.34], while having younger age (p = 0.043, OR = 0.11, 95% CI = 0.01-1.12) in terms of global status. CONCLUSION Rivastigmine may provide better benefits in cognitive function, but not global status, for AD patients with more advanced WMCs. The detailed mechanisms still have to be determined in future studies.
[Correlation between RNA Expression Level and Early PMI in Human Brain Tissue].

OBJECTIVES To explore the correlation between the expression levels of several RNA markers in human brain tissue and early postmortem interval （PMI）. METHODS Twelve individuals with known PMI （range from 4.3 to 22.5 h） were selected and total RNA was extracted from brain tissue. Eight commonly used RNA markers were chosen including β-actin, GAPDH, RPS29, 18S rRNA, 5S rRNA, U6 snRNA, miRNA-9 and miRNA-125b, and the expression levels were detected in brain tissue by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR. The internal reference markers with stable expression in early PMI were screened using geNorm software and the relationship between its expression level and some relevant factors such as age, gender and cause of death were analyzed. RNA markers normalized by internal reference were inserted into the mathematic model established by previous research for PMI estimation using R software. Model quality was judged by the error rate calculated with estimated PMI. RESULTS 5S rRNA, miRNA-9 and miRNA-125b showed quite stable expression and their expression levels had no relation with age, gender and cause of death. The error rate of estimated PMI using β-actin was 24.6%, while GAPDH was 41.0%. CONCLUSIONS 5S rRNA, miRNA-9 and miRNA-125b are suitable as internal reference markers of human brain tissue owing to their stable expression in early PMI. The expression level of β-actin correlates well with PMI, which can be used as an additional index for early PMI estimation.
Weight Rhythms: Weight Increases during Weekends and Decreases during Weekdays

Background/Aims: The week's cycle influences sleep, exercise, and eating habits. An accurate description of weekly weight rhythms has not been reported yet - especially across people who lose weight versus those who maintain or gain weight. Methods: The daily weight in 80 adults (BMI 20.0-33.5 kg/m2; age, 25-62 years) was recorded and analysed to determine if a group-level weekly weight fluctuation exists. This was a retrospective study of 4,657 measurements during 15-330 monitoring days. Semi-parametric regression was used to model the rhythm. Results: A pattern of daily weight changes was found (p < 0.05), with higher weight early in the week (Sunday and Monday) and decreasing weight during the week. Increases begin on Saturday and decreases begin on Tuesday. This compensation pattern was strongest for those who lost or maintained weight and weakest for those who slowly gained weight. Conclusion: Weight variations between weekends and weekdays should be considered as normal instead of signs of weight gain. Those who compensate the most are most likely to either lose or maintain weight over time. Long-term habits may make more of a difference than short-term splurges. People prone to weight gain could be counselled about the importance of weekday compensation.