Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Thyroid Function/Antibodies in Sudanese Patients with Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is an important cause of maternal and prenatal morbidity and mortality in the developing countries. Changes in thyroid function/antibodies profiles in preeclamptic women are controversial and were never investigated before in Sudan. A case–control study was conducted at Medani Hospital, Sudan, to investigate thyroid function/antibodies in preeclampsia. The sociodemographic, medical history was gathered using questionnaires. Thyroid hormones [thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free tri-iodothyronine (T3), and free thyroxine (T4)] and anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) and anti-thyroglobulin (anti-TG) antibodies were measured using ELISA. The three groups [controls, mild, and severe preeclampsia (SP) (55 women in each arm)] were matched in age and parity. While median (interquartile range) of TSH was significantly lower, both free T3 and free T4 levels were significantly higher in women with preeclampsia than in the healthy controls. There was no significant difference in the TSH levels in women with MP and SP. In comparison with women with MP, women with SP had significantly higher levels of free T3 and significantly lower levels of free T4. While anti-TPO antibodies were significantly higher, anti-TG antibodies were significantly lower in women with preeclampsia. Likewise, anti-TPO antibodies were significantly higher and anti-TG antibodies were significantly lower in women with SP than in women with MP. In linear regression, preeclampsia was significantly associated with TSH (−0.675 IU/ml, P = 0.009), free T3 (0.977 pg/ml, P < 0.001), and free T4 (0.186 ng/dl, P < 0.001) levels. In contrast to anti-TG antibodies and TSH, Sudanese patients with preeclampsia had higher levels of T3 and T4 hormones and anti-TPO antibodies irrespective of parity, gestational age, and hemoglobin levels.
Carotenoids, sexual signals and immune function in barn swallows from Chernobyl

Carotenoids have been hypothesized to facilitate immune function and act as free–radical scavengers, thereby minimizing the frequency of mutations. Populations of animals exposed to higher levels of free radicals are thus expected to demonstrate reduced sexual coloration if use of carotenoids for free–radical scavenging is traded against use for sexual signals. The intensity of carotenoid–based sexual coloration was compared among three populations of barn swallows Hirundo rustica differing in exposure to radioactive contamination. Lymphocyte and immunoglobulin concentrations were depressed, whereas the heterophil:lymphocyte ratio, an index of stress, was enhanced in Chernobyl swallows compared to controls. Spleen size was reduced in Chernobyl compared to that of two control populations. Sexual coloration varied significantly among populations, with the size of a secondary sexual character (the length of the outermost tail feathers) being positively related to coloration in the two control populations, but not in the Chernobyl population. Thus the positive covariation between coloration and sexual signalling disappeared in the population subject to intense radioactive contamination. These findings suggest that the reliable signalling function of secondary sexual characters breaks down under extreme environmental conditions, no longer providing reliable information about the health status of males.
The Goulden-Jackson cluster method for monoid networks and an application to lattice path enumeration

The Goulden-Jackson cluster method is a powerful tool for obtaining generating functions for words in free monoids by occurrences of a set of subwords. We introduce a generalization of the cluster method for monoid networks, which generalize the combinatorial framework of free monoids. As a sample application of the monoid network cluster method, we compute bivariate and multivariate generating functions for Motzkin paths---both with height bounded and unbounded---by statistics corresponding to the number of occurrences of various subwords, yielding both closed-form and continued fraction formulae.
Curing of Asphalt Emulsified Tack Coat Subjected to Malaysian Weather Conditions

Curing of asphalt emulsions ensures the proper strength development of the material with the evaporation of water. This paper focuses on determining the minimum curing time needed for Malaysian asphalt emulsions. Three factors, including curing conditions (indoor, outdoor, and curing at night), asphalt emulsion types (RS-1k, RS-2k, RS-2kL, RS-3k, Ralumac, and SRSB) and application rates (high, medium, and low), were investigated. The curing time was determined by weighing a specimen repeatedly at a certain time interval until a constant weight was achieved. Statistical analysis of analysis of variance (ANOVA) was also performed to study if there are differences between groups of variables. From the results, it was found that curing conditions incorporating weather characteristics (i.e., wind speed, temperature, relative humidity, and solar radiation) are the most significant factor affecting the curing time of a particular asphalt emulsion. Curing of asphalt emulsions for construction at night proved to be unworkable due to the absence of solar radiation with relatively low temperature and high relative humidity. On the other hand, a low application rate of asphalt emulsions generally cured faster regardless of the curing conditions and asphalt emulsion types.
Shear force microscopy using piezoresistive cantilevers in surface metrology

In this article we describe application of piezoresistive cantilevers in surface investigations carried out with the use of shear force microscopy (ShFM). The novel piezoresistive cantilevers integrate a Wheatstone piezoresistive bridge was used to detect the cantilever deflection, thermal deflection detector and planar tip protruding out of the spring beam. Because the planar tip deflection can be detected and controlled electronically the described technology is very flexible and can be applied in many surface investigations. In this article we will present operation theory of the described solution, experimental setup, methods for calibration of the tip deflection detection and actuation The analysis will be illustrated with example results of topography measurements performed using the described technology.
Knight’s move thinking? Mild cognitive impairment in a chess player

We report the case of a chess player with superior premorbid cognitive function who presented to the Cognitive Disorders clinic at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery with a 2-year history of symptoms of possible memory loss. Initially the MRI scan appearance was within normal limits and his cognitive scores inside the normal range; subsequently his cognitive function deteriorated and he fulfilled criteria for Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) two years later. Unexpectedly he died of an unrelated illness seven months later and post mortem examination of the brain was carried out, revealing advanced Alzheimer’s disease (CERAD definite and NIA-Regan Institute high likelihood). This case highlights the difficulties encountered in assessing patients with superior premorbid function in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, and reveals the value of serial MRI and neuropsychological assessment in detecting and monitoring early neurodegenerative disease. We would like to thank Dr John Stevens and the Department of Neuropsychology, The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, for their help in the preparation of this paper. JMS is an Alzheimer Society (UK) Research Fellow; NCF is a Medical Research Council Clinician Scientist, NMR is in receipt of a Medical Research Council Program Grant.
A Model of Black Hole Evaporation and 4D Weyl Anomaly

We analyze the time evolution of a spherically-symmetric collapsing matter from the point of view that black holes evaporate by nature. We consider conformal matters and solve the semi-classical Einstein equation G μ ν = 8 π G 〈 T μ ν 〉 by using the four-dimensional Weyl anomaly with a large c coefficient. Here, 〈 T μ ν 〉 contains the contribution from both the collapsing matter and Hawking radiation. The solution indicates that the collapsing matter forms a dense object and evaporates without horizon or singularity, and it has a surface, but looks like an ordinary black hole from the outside. Any object we recognize as a black hole should be such an object.
Dendritic growth texture evolution in Mg-based alloys investigated by phase-field simulation

Abstract Under directional growth conditions, a strong crystallographic texture is observed in Mg-based alloys due to the anisotropy of the hcp-phase. The aim of the present work is to investigate the fundamental mechanisms of this growth texture evolution by microstructure simulations. For this purpose, a phase-field model has been extended to allow for complex 3D anisotropic interfacial energies and mobilities, calibrated by data from molecular dynamics studies. The model is first applied in 2D to AZ31 (Mg–3%Al–1%Zn). Bicrystal simulations are performed for a systematic study of grain interactions. Extended simulations are compared to experiments. Comprehensive texture evolution is investigated in 3D for Mg–6%Al. Texture is found to evolve mainly due to retarded growth in basal <0001> orientations. Grains with the fast growing <1120> orientation most closely aligned to the temperature gradient commonly prevail, but process dependent also other orientations of the basal plane (between <1120> and <1010>) may coexist.
Evaluation of probiotic potential of yeasts isolated from traditional cheeses manufactured in Serbia and Croatia

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro probiotic potential of dairy yeast isolates from artisanal cheeses manufactured in Serbia and Croatia. Materials and Methods: Twelve yeast strains isolated from artisanal fresh soft and white brined cheeses manufactured in Serbia and Croatia were used in the study. Survival in chemically-simulated gastrointestinal conditions, adherence to epithelial intestinal cells and proliferation of gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) cells were evaluated. Results: The results revealed that two strains of Kluyvereomyces lactis ZIM 2408 and ZIM 2453 grew above one log unit (Δ log CFU/ml) in the complex colonic medium during 24 h of cultivation, while Torulaspora delbrueckii ZIM 2460 was the most resistant isolate in chemically-simulated conditions of gastric juice and upper intestinal tract. It was demonstrated that the strains K. lactis ZIM 2408 and ZIM2441 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae ZIM 2415 were highly adhesive to Caco-2 cells, while strains K. lactis ZIM 2408 and Debaryomyces hansenii ZIM 2415 exhibit the highest adhesion percentage to HT29-MTX cells. All strains significantly (P < 0.0001) decreased the proliferation of GALT cells, suggesting the possible strain-specific immunomodulatory potential of the isolates. Conclusion: The dairy yeast isolates exhibit strain-specific probiotic properties, particularly the strain K. lactis ZIM 2408, which appears to be the best probiotic candidate in terms of all three criteria. Taking into account their immunomodulatory potential, the yeast isolates could be further tested for specific probiotic applications and eventually included in functional food formulated for patients suffering from diseases associated with an increased inflammatory status.
Stochastic Approximations of Set-Valued Dynamical Systems: Convergence with Positive Probability to an Attractor

A successful method to describe the asymptotic behavior of a discrete time stochastic process governed by some recursive formula is to relate it to the limit sets of a well-chosen mean differential equation. Under an attainability condition, Benaim proved that convergence to a given attractor of the flow induced by this dynamical system occurs with positive probability for a class of Robbins Monro algorithms. Benaim, Hofbauer, and Sorin generalised this approach for stochastic approximation algorithms whose average behavior is related to a differential inclusion instead. We pursue the analogy by extending to this setting the result of convergence with positive probability to an attractor.
Competition between Retinal Ganglion Axons for Targets under the Servomechanism Model Explains Abnormal Retinocollicular Projection of Eph Receptor-Overexpressing or Ephrin-Lacking Mice

Topographic mapping of retinal ganglion axons to the midbrain is computed by the servomechanism model, which is based on the experimental result of cell attachment. Cells expressing a certain level of Eph proteins (receptors for ephrin ligands) optimally attach to a surface that expresses a specific level of ephrin ligand density. The retina has an increasing nasal-to-temporal gradient of Eph receptor density, and the optic tectum/superior colliculus has an increasing rostral-to-caudal gradient of membrane-bound ephrin ligand. An axon from the retina has an identification tag of a certain level of Eph receptor density depending on its retinal position and adheres to the site on the tectum/superior colliculus expressing ephrin ligands at a critical ligand density level. Quantitatively, a retinal axon has a receptor density (R) that is determined by its retinal position, and the axon terminal is induced to adhere to the tectal site of ligand density (L = S/R), where S is a constant. Consequently, the servomechanism model defines positions of axon terminals on the midbrain. Abnormal topographic maps are reported in a knock-in experiment with elevated density of Eph receptors and a knock-out experiment lacking ephrin ligands using gene-targeting technology. By adding competition between axon terminals for target sites to the servomechanism model, the abnormal maps became easy to understand. Furthermore, the servomechanism-competition model allowed conjecture of the gradient shapes of receptor and ligand densities and estimation of the capacity of the midbrain surface to accept retinal axon terminals.
Interference avoidance in networks with distributed receivers

Direct extensions of distributed greedy interference avoidance (IA) techniques developed for centralized networks to networks with multiple distributed receivers (as in ad hoc networks) are not guaranteed to converge. Motivated by this fact, we develop a waveform adaptation (WA) algorithm framework for IA based on potential game theory. The potential game model ensures the convergence of the designed algorithms in distributed networks and leads to desirable network solutions. Properties of the game model are then exploited to design distributed implementations of the algorithm that involve limited feedback in the network. Finally, variations of IA algorithms including IA with respect to legacy systems and IA with combined transmit-power and WA adaptations are investigated.
Modeling of Tension-Compression Asymmetry in Off-axis Nonlinear Rate-dependent Behavior of Unidirectional Carbon/Epoxy Composites

A phenomenological anisotropic theory of viscoplasticity that takes account of the difference between the nonlinear rate-dependent behaviors of unidirectional carbon fiber-reinforced composites under off-axis tensile and compressive loading conditions is presented. The plane-stress representation of the effective stress associated with the pressure-modified Hill’s anisotropic yield criterion is modified into a new form that allows consideration of the difference between the shear flow stress levels under transverse tension and compression, i.e., a shear flow differential effect, as well as of the difference between the transverse tensile and compressive flow stress levels, i.e., a transverse flow differential effect. The shear flow differential effect is modeled in two ways by assuming the sensitivity and insensitivity to transverse stress, respectively. The rate-dependent plastic deformation of unidirectional composites is modeled on the basis of the concept of overstress and the irreversible thermodynamics with internal variables. The viscoplasticity model proposed in the present study can be reduced to the form developed in an earlier study, which facilitates identification of material constants and comparison with other existing theories. Validity of the proposed viscoplasticity model is evaluated by comparing with the off-axis tension and compression test results on a unidirectional carbon/epoxy composite at different strain rates. It is demonstrated that consideration of both the transverse and shear flow differential effects is crucial for accurate prediction of the different nonlinear rate-dependent behaviors of unidirectional composites under off-axis tensile and compressive loading conditions and those two kinds of flow differential effects have successfully been modeled in the proposed theory of viscoplasticity.
Developing a patient satisfaction questionnaire for services provided in Iranian community pharmacies

Objective: To develop a valid and reliable instrument in the Persian language for evaluating patient satisfaction with services provided in community pharmacies. Methods: We selected a valid and reliable instrument from the literature and translated it to the Persian language. Some new items were added to the first draft based on the special characteristics of the Iranian health system. Then, the feasibility of utilizing the new instrument was assessed. In the third step, we conducted a formal content validity study to calculate content validity indices. Having completed the content validity study, the factorial structure of new instruments was determined by implementing a factorial analysis. Finally, the reliability of the instrument was assessed by assessment of Cronbach′s alpha coefficient and test-retest reliability. Findings: The developed instrument demonstrated suitable validity and reliability. The final instrument showed desirable content validity, with inter-rater agreement of 94% and 97% for relevance and clarity, respectively. Scale content validity indices for relevance and clarity were calculated as 96% and 92%, respectively, and comprehensiveness was calculated as 100%. Factor analysis resulted in seven factors with a cumulative variance of 62.14%. In internal consistency reliability, Cronbach′s alpha for the whole instrument was 0.912. About test-retest reliability, six items showed "almost perfect" agreement, 18 items showed "substantial" agreement, and three items showed "moderate" agreement. Therefore, test-retest reliability assessment too demonstrated appropriate results. Conclusion: The instrument demonstrated excellent validity and reliability for application in Iran. This instrument is useful for evaluating patient satisfaction with services provided in community pharmacies in the Persian-speaking communities.
Effects of Four-Week Supplementation with a Multi-Vitamin/Mineral Preparation on Mood and Blood Biomarkers in Young Adults: A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

This study explored the effects of four-week multi-vitamin and mineral (MVM) supplementation on mood and neurocognitive function in healthy, young adults. Fifty-eight healthy adults, 18–40 years of age (M = 25.82 years, SD = 4.87) participated in this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, in which mood and blood biomarkers were assessed at baseline and after four weeks of supplementation. Compared to placebo, MVM supplementation was associated with significantly lowered homocysteine and increased blood B-vitamin levels (p < 0.01). MVM treatment was also associated with significantly improved mood, as measured by reduced scores on the “depression-dejection” subscale of the Profile of Mood States (p = 0.018). These findings suggest that the four weeks of MVM supplementation may have beneficial effects on mood, underpinned by elevated B-vitamins and lowered homocysteine in healthy young adults.
Expansion and Functional Divergence of Jumonji C-Containing Histone Demethylases: Significance of Duplications in Ancestral Angiosperms and Vertebrates1[OPEN]

Duplication and sequence divergence of a gene family for histone demethylases likely contributed to the enhanced, chromatin-based regulation in angiosperms and vertebrates. Histone modifications, such as methylation and demethylation, are crucial mechanisms altering chromatin structure and gene expression. Recent biochemical and molecular studies have uncovered a group of histone demethylases called Jumonji C (JmjC) domain proteins. However, their evolutionary history and patterns have not been examined systematically. Here, we report extensive analyses of eukaryotic JmjC genes and define 14 subfamilies, including the Lysine-Specific Demethylase3 (KDM3), KDM5, JMJD6, Putative-Lysine-Specific Demethylase11 (PKDM11), and PKDM13 subfamilies, shared by plants, animals, and fungi. Other subfamilies are detected in plants and animals but not in fungi (PKDM12) or in animals and fungi but not in plants (KDM2 and KDM4). PKDM7, PKDM8, and PKDM9 are plant-specific groups, whereas Jumonji, AT-Rich Interactive Domain2, KDM6, and PKDM10 are animal specific. In addition to known domains, most subfamilies have characteristic conserved amino acid motifs. Whole-genome duplication (WGD) was likely an important mechanism for JmjC duplications, with four pairs from an angiosperm-wide WGD and others from subsequent WGDs. Vertebrates also experienced JmjC duplications associated with the vertebrate ancestral WGDs, with additional mammalian paralogs from tandem duplication and possible transposition. The sequences of paralogs have diverged in both known functional domains and other regions, showing evidence of selection pressure. The increases of JmjC copy number and the divergences in sequence and expression might have contributed to the divergent functions of JmjC genes, allowing the angiosperms and vertebrates to adapt to a great number of ecological niches and contributing to their evolutionary successes.
Relative features for photo quality assessment

Automatic evaluation of photo aesthetic quality is a challenging problem in multimedia computing. Numerous aesthetic features have been proposed in previous works but the features are extracted solely from the photo under evaluation. In this paper, we explore the use of multiple images, and present the relative features that can be easily computed from any score-based features. We show that evaluation on a group basis can facilitate the quality assessment problem. Although the extraction of the new feature is extremely simple, computationally efficient, and requires no training phase, experimental results validate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.