Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Supersonic shear imaging: a new technique for soft tissue elasticity mapping

Supersonic shear imaging (SSI) is a new ultrasound-based technique for real-time visualization of soft tissue viscoelastic properties. Using ultrasonic focused beams, it is possible to remotely generate mechanical vibration sources radiating low-frequency, shear waves inside tissues. Relying on this concept, SSI proposes to create such a source and make it move at a supersonic speed. In analogy with the "sonic boom" created by a supersonic aircraft, the resulting shear waves will interfere constructively along a Mach cone, creating two intense plane shear waves. These waves propagate through the medium and are progressively distorted by tissue heterogeneities. An ultrafast scanner prototype is able to both generate this supersonic source and image (5000 frames/s) the propagation of the resulting shear waves. Using inversion algorithms, the shear elasticity of medium can be mapped quantitatively from this propagation movie. The SSI enables tissue elasticity mapping in less than 20 ms, even in strongly viscous medium like breast. Modalities such as shear compounding are implementable by tilting shear waves in different directions and improving the elasticity estimation. Results validating SSI in heterogeneous phantoms are presented. The first in vivo investigations made on healthy volunteers emphasize the potential clinical applicability of SSI for breast cancer detection.
The impact of automated eGFR reporting and education on nephrology service referrals

Background. Serum creatinine concentration is an unreliable and insensitive marker of chronic kidney disease (CKD). To improve CKD detection, the Australasian Creatinine Consensus Working Committee recommended reporting of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) using the four-variable Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formula with every request for serum creatinine concentration. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of automated laboratory reporting of eGFR on the quantity and quality of referrals to nephrology services in Southeast Queensland, Australia. Methods. Outpatient referrals to a tertiary and regional renal service, and a single private practice were prospectively audited over 3–12 months prior to and 12 months following the introduction of automated eGFR reporting and concomitant clinician education. The appropriateness of referrals to a nephrologist was assessed according to the Kidney Check Australia Taskforce (KCAT) criteria. Significant changes in the quantity and/or quality of referrals over time were analysed by exponentially weighed moving average (EWMA) charts with control limits based on ±3 standard deviations. Results. A total of 1019 patients were referred to the centres during the study period. Monthly referrals overall increased by 40% following the introduction of eGFR reporting, and this was most marked for the tertiary renal service (52% above baseline). The appropriateness of nephrologist referrals, as adjudicated by the KCAT criteria, fell significantly from 74.3% in the 3 months pre-eGFR reporting to 65.2% in the 12 months thereafter (P < 0.05). Nevertheless, a greater absolute number of CKD patients were appropriately being referred for nephrologist review in the post-eGFR period (24 versus 15 per month). Patients referred following the introduction of eGFR were significantly more likely to be older (median 63.2 versus 59.3 years, P < 0.05), diabetic (25 versus 18%, P = 0.05) and have stage 3 CKD (48% versus 36%, P < 0.01). Conclusion. The introduction of automated eGFR calculation has led to an overall increase in referrals with a small but significant decrease in referral quality. The increase in referrals was seen predominantly in older and diabetic patients with stage 3 CKD and appeared to result in net benefit.
The Effects of Prolotherapy With Hypertonic Dextrose Versus Prolozone (Intraarticular Ozone) in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a common disabling disease. Limited studies have demonstrated that prolotherapy with dextrose or with prolozone can be helpful in the treatment of patients with KOA. Objectives: In the current study, we compared the results between these two treatment methods. Patients and Methods: In the current randomized clinical trial, 80 patients with mild to moderate KOA were randomly assigned equally into two groups (ozone group and dextrose group). In each group, injections were repeated three times with 10-day intervals. Before the treatment and 3 months after the injections, the pain intensity was measured by using a visual analogue scale and the Western Ontario and McMaster university arthritis index scores. Finally, the results were compared between the two groups. Results: In the two groups, the pain intensity and WOMAC scores significantly decreased and increased, respectively (P < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference between the two groups. Conclusions: Prolotherapy with dextrose and with prolozone result in the same pain relief or functional improvement in patients with mild to moderate KOA.
Loop diuretics in the management of acute renal failure: a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study.

BACKGROUND Studies on the role of loop diuretics in patients with acute renal failure (ARF) are largely retrospective, anecdotal, and poorly controlled. We report the results of a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study examining the effect of loop diuretics on renal recovery, dialysis, and death in patients with ARF. METHODS Ninety-two patients with ARF were enrolled into the study. All received intravenous dopamine, 2 micrograms/kg body weight/min throughout, 20% mannitol, 100 ml every 6 h for the first 3 days, and, in a double-blind manner, either torasemide, frusemide, or placebo, 3 mg/kg body weight i.v. every 6 h for 21 days or until renal recovery or death. RESULTS Renal recovery, the need for dialysis, and death were no different in the three groups. Patients given a loop diuretic had a significant rise in urine flow rate in the first 24 h compared to placebo (P = 0.02). Based on the urine flow rate during the first post-medication day patients were divided into two groups--oliguric (< 50 ml/h) and non-oliguric (> or = 50 ml/h). Non-oliguric patients had a significantly lower mortality than oliguric patients (43% vs 69%, P = 0.01). However, they were less ill (APACHE II score 17.2 vs 20.6, P = 0.008) and had less severe renal failure at entry (creatinine clearance 14 ml/min vs 4 ml/min, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION The use of loop diuretics in oliguric patients with ARF can result in a diuresis. There is no evidence that these drugs can alter outcome.
Protective Effects of a Purified Saponin Mixture from Astragalus corniculatus Bieb., in vivo Hepatotoxicity Models

In this study, the in vivo effects of a purified saponin mixture (PSM), obtained from Astragalus corniculatus Bieb. , were investigated using two in vivo hepatotoxicity models based on liver damage caused by paracetamol (PC) and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). The effects of PSM were compared with silymarin. Male Wistar rats were challenged orally with 20% CCl4 or PC (2 g/kg) four days after being pre‐treated with PSM (100 mg/kg) or silymarin (200 mg/kg). A significant decrease of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities and glutathione (GSH) levels and an increase of malondialdehyde (MDA) quantity was observed after CCl4 and PC administration alone. PSM pre‐treatment decreased serum transaminases and LDH activities and MDA levels and increased the levels of cell protector GSH. Biotransformation phase I enzymes were also assessed in both models. In the CCl4 hepatotoxicity model, pre‐treatment with PSM or silymarin resulted in significantly increased activities of ethylmorphine‐N‐demethylase and aniline 4‐hydroxylase activity and cytochrome P450, compared to the CCl4 only group. Neither silymarin nor PSM influenced PC biotransformation. Our results suggest that PSM, obtained from A. corniculatus, Bieb. showed in vivo hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities against CCl4 and PC‐induced liver damage comparable to that of silymarin. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Using heavy-ion radiation to validate fault-handling mechanisms

Fault injection is an effective method for studying the effects of faults in computer systems and for validating fault-handling mechanisms. The approach presented involves injecting transient faults into integrated circuits by using heavy-ion radiation from a Californium-252 source. The proliferation of safety-critical and fault-tolerant systems using VLSI technology makes such attempts to inject faults at internal locations in VLSI circuits increasingly important. <<ETX>>
Dynamic Taint Analysis for Automatic Detection, Analysis, and SignatureGeneration of Exploits on Commodity Software

Software vulnerabilities have had a devastating effect on the Internet. Worms such as CodeRed and Slammer can compromise hundreds of thousands of hosts within hours or even minutes, and cause millions of dollars of damage [26, 43]. To successfully combat these fast automatic Internet attacks, we need fast automatic attack detection and filtering mechanisms. In this paper we propose dynamic taint analysis for automatic detection of overwrite attacks, which include most types of exploits. This approach does not need source code or special compilation for the monitored program, and hence works on commodity software. To demonstrate this idea, we have implemented TaintCheck, a mechanism that can perform dynamic taint analysis by performing binary rewriting at run time. We show that TaintCheck reliably detects most types of exploits. We found that TaintCheck produced no false positives for any of the many different programs that we tested. Further, we describe how TaintCheck could improve automatic signature generation in
CoFeel: Using Emotions for Social Interaction in Group Recommender Systems

Group and social recommender systems aim to suggest items of interest to a group or a community of people. One important issue in such environment is to understand each individual’s preference and attitude within the group. Social and behavioral scientist have evidenced the role of emotions in group work and social communication. This paper aims to examine the role of emotion for social interaction in group recommenders. We implemented CoFeel, an interface that aims to provide emotional input in group recommenders. We further apply CoFeel in a GroupFun, a mobile group music recommender system. Results of an in-depth field study show that by exchanging feelings with other users, CoFeel motivates users to provide feedback on recommended items in a natural and enjoyable way. Results also show that emotions do serve as an effective and promising element to elicitate users’ attitudes, and that they do have the potential to increase user engagement in a group. Based on suggestions collected from users, we propose other potential recommendation domains of CoFeel.
Comparative Study of Heavy Metals in Dried and Fluid Milk in Peshawar by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry

Various essential and toxic heavy metals (Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, Pb, Cd, Cr, and Ni) contents in various types of dried (infant formula and powdered) and fluid (fresh and processed) cow milk were assessed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The milk samples were collected from local markets of different parts of Peshawar city, Pakistan. Heavy metal concentrations varied significantly depending upon the type of milk. The heavy metal concentrations in most of the samples were within normal and permissible ranges. It was observed that the samples contained considerable amounts of calcium, while magnesium levels were well above the required levels. The results also revealed that copper levels were slightly lower than the permissible limits. The concentration of zinc in dried milk samples was greater than the values for the liquid milk types. Infant milk formulae had higher iron levels as compared to other milk samples because of the added constituents. Significant differences were observed in the mean values of manganese and cadmium in different types of milk. The toxic metals were within the acceptable limits and did not show significant levels leading to toxicity.
Limit Theorems for Some Critical Superprocesses

In this paper we establish some conditional limit theorems for some critical superprocesses $X=\{X_t, t\ge 0\}$. First we identify the rate of non-extinction. Then we show that, for a large class of functions $f$, conditioned on non-extinction at time $t$, the limit, as $t\to\infty$, of $t^{-1}\langle f, X_t\rangle$ exists in distribution and we identify this limit. Finally, we also establish, under some conditions, a central limit theorem for $\langle f, X_t\rangle$ conditioned on non-extinction at time $t$.
The magnitude of the Pulfrich stereophenomenon as a function of distance of observation.

The present experiment is concerned with a stereoscopic effect first described and analyzed by Pulfrich (2). The stereophenomenon is readily demonstrated by means of a pendulum-bob made to oscillate in a frontal plane and on a level with the eyes. With binocular fixation maintained at a point directly below the oscillating bob, midway between the end-points of its swing, the path traversed by the bob appears to be confined approximately to the plane of oscillation and identical for either direction of stroke. When a smoked glass is placed before one of the eyes, however, the oscillating bob appears to rotate out of its plane of oscillation. The direction of the apparent rotation of the bob reverses itself when the smoked glass is placed before the other eye. As viewed from above, the apparent rotation is clockwise when the smoked glass decreases the illumination of the left eye and counterclockwise when it decreases the illumination of the right eye. The effect becomes noticeable at some threshold value and increases as the difference in the intensity of illumination between the two eyes increases. The effect is also elicited when a colored filter is substituted for the smoked glass.
[Particle size in water pipe smoke].

INTRODUCTION It is a popular perception that narghile (water pipe) smoking is less harmful to the lungs than cigarettes in both active and passive smokers. METHODS Using a sinusoidal pump we simulated water pipe smoking in conditions close to users' habits. The particle sizes and concentrations in the smoke streams were measured with an electrical low pressure impactor (ELPI), sorting particle numbers and size into 12 classes ranging from 0.028 to 10 microm in diameter. RESULTS Water pipe smoke contains microparticles and nanoparticles. The main inhaled smoke stream (C1) contains particles in a concentration of 3.55 x 10(6) ml(-1) with a median particle diameter (D50) of 0.34microm before bubbling through water. After bubbling, it retains 1.20 x 10(6) ml(-1) particles with a D50 of 0.27 mm, indicating that 2/3 of the particles are retained in the water, the smallest being trapped the less. Compared with C1, the D50 of the side stream smoke (C2) is smaller (0.11mm) while the D50 of the expired stream (C3) is similar (0.25mm). CONCLUSION After bubbling, C1 particle sizes are similar to those measured in cigarette smoke but the volumes inhaled by a water pipe smoker are higher allowing prediction of greater deposition in the respiratory tract than with cigarette smoking.
The HIPASS catalogue - II. Completeness, reliability and parameter accuracy

The H I Parkes All Sky Survey (HIPASS) is a blind extragalactic H I 21-cm emission-line survey covering the whole southern sky from declination -90degrees to +25degrees. The HIPASS catalogue (HICAT), containing 4315 H I-selected galaxies from the region south of declination +2degrees, is presented in Meyer et al. (Paper I). This paper describes in detail the completeness and reliability of HICAT, which are calculated from the recovery rate of synthetic sources and follow-up observations, respectively. HICAT is found to be 99 per cent complete at a peak flux of 84 mJy and an integrated flux of 9.4 Jy km. s(-1). The overall reliability is 95 per cent, but rises to 99 per cent for sources with peak fluxes >58 mJy or integrated flux >8.2 Jy km s(-1). Expressions are derived for the uncertainties on the most important HICAT parameters: peak flux, integrated flux, velocity width and recessional velocity. The errors on HICAT parameters are dominated by the noise in the HIPASS data, rather than by the parametrization procedure.
C9ORF72 repeat expansions in cases with previously identified pathogenic mutations

Objective: To identify potential genetic modifiers contributing to the phenotypic variability that is detected in patients with repeat expansions in chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 (C9ORF72), we investigated the frequency of these expansions in a cohort of 334 subjects previously found to carry mutations in genes known to be associated with a spectrum of neurodegenerative diseases. Methods: A 2-step protocol, with a fluorescent PCR and a repeat-primed PCR, was used to determine the presence of hexanucleotide expansions in C9ORF72. For one double mutant, we performed Southern blots to assess expansion sizes, and immunohistochemistry to characterize neuropathology. Results: We detected C9ORF72 repeat expansions in 4 of 334 subjects (1.2% [or 1.8% of 217 families]). All these subjects had behavioral phenotypes and also harbored well-known pathogenic mutations in either progranulin (GRN: p.C466LfsX46, p.R493X, p.C31LfsX35) or microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT: p.P301L). Southern blotting of one double mutant with a p.C466LfsX46 GRN mutation demonstrated a long repeat expansion in brain (>3,000 repeats), and immunohistochemistry showed mixed neuropathology with characteristics of both C9ORF72 expansions and GRN mutations. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that co-occurrence of 2 evidently pathogenic mutations could contribute to the pleiotropy that is detected in patients with C9ORF72 repeat expansions. These findings suggest that patients with known mutations should not be excluded from further studies, and that genetic counselors should be aware of this phenomenon when advising patients and their family members.
Occupational performance one to five years after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage: a cohort study.

OBJECTIVE To report on the self-perceived occupational performance of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage and examine the associations between aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage characteristics, socio-demographic factors and self-perceived problems. DESIGN A single-centre cohort study design was combined with a cross-sectional analysis. SUBJECTS/PATIENTS All patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage who were capable of performing activities of daily living before discharge from hospital were included. METHODS The assessment of the patient's occupational performance followed a patient-reported outcome measure 1 to 5 years after the subarachnoid haemorrhage. Secondary outcomes comprised scores from the Glasgow Outcome Scale, modified Rankin Scale, Fisher Scale, World Federation of Neurological Societies grading system, vasospasm, and hydrocephalus. RESULTS Of the 62 patients included in the study (66% female, mean age 55 years), 79% reported experiencing issues with occupational performance, most frequently with regard to leisure and productivity. The problems reported were significantly associated with vasospasm (p = 0.021) and the Glasgow Outcome Scale score (p = 0.045). CONCLUSION Even patients who have had aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage with a favourable outcome may encounter occupational performance difficulties for several years. It is vital to use patient-reported outcome measures to identify these issues. This research enhances our comprehension of aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage patients' self-perceived occupational performance and the factors that affect their performance.
The Chemical Composition of Microbiota decussata

From the leaves of Microbiota decussata (Cupressaceae) biflavones: cupressuflavone, amentoflavone and 7-O-methylamentoflavone were isolated and identified. The amount of cupressuflavone in Microbiota decussata and xCupressocyparis leylandii (Leyland cypress) (Cupressaceae) was determined by HPLC (1.82% and 0.83%, respectively). The chemical composition of essential oils from bark and leaves of Microbiota decussata was established by GC-MS (GC-FID) analysis. As a major component thujopsene (39.2% and 45.9%, respectively) was identified. Wiridiflorol (3.0%) and τ-muurolol (0.3%) were present only in leaves but globulol (1.5%) exclusively in bark. The content of essential oils in M. decussata was high - 5.4% in bark and 12.6% in leaves. The essential oils from M. decussata and xC. leylandii were bioassayed towards different fungi of the genus Fusarium. Leyland cypress essential oil at 2% concentration fully inhibited the growth of all fungi.
Quantitative analysis of 3 D extracellular matrix remodelling by pancreatic stellate cells

Extracellular matrix (ECM) remodelling is integral to numerous physiological and pathological processes in biology, such as embryogenesis, wound healing, fibrosis and cancer. Until recently, most cellular studies have been conducted on 2D environments where mechanical cues significantly differ from physiologically relevant 3D environments, impacting cellular behaviour and masking the interpretation of cellular function in health and disease. We present an integrated methodology where cell-ECM interactions can be investigated in 3D environments via ECM remodelling. Monitoring and quantification of collagen-I structure in remodelled matrices, through designated algorithms, show that 3D matrices can be used to correlate remodelling with increased ECM stiffness observed in fibrosis. Pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) are the key effectors of the stromal fibrosis associated to pancreatic cancer. We use PSCs to implement our methodology and demonstrate that PSC matrix remodelling capabilities depend on their contractile machinery and β1 integrin-mediated cell-ECM attachment.
Set up of a new in vitro model to study dietary fructans fermentation in formula-fed babies

A new in vitro fermentation model with immobilised infant faecal microbiota simulating the proximal colon of a formula-fed baby was developed and used to test the effects of known prebiotic fructans. Intestinal fermentation, based on a previously developed colonic fermentation model, using a new feeding medium simulating a formula-fed infant ileal chyme, was carried out for seventy-one consecutive days divided into four stabilisation periods intercalated with four prebiotic treatment periods. At the end of the first stabilisation period, total bacterial concentration in colonised beads and in faecal sample was similar, metabolite concentrations returned to stabilisation values after each treatment period. As expected, the four prebiotic treatments significantly increased the bifidobacterial populations, whereas they decreased bacteroides and clostridia. No difference was observed in the prebiotic effect of these substrates selected. The treatments significantly increased total production of SCFA and decreased ammonia compared to stabilisation periods. Long-term stability of the system together with the reproducibility of the known prebiotic effects highlights the potential of the present model to quantify and compare the effects of different substrates in a formula-fed infant microbiota within the same fermentation experiment.