Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reliable Rapid Blood Test for the Exclusion of Venous Thromboembolism in Symptomatic Outpatients

Summary In this study we assessed the reliability of a rapid bed-side whole blood D-dimer assay prospectively in patients with clinically suspected venous thromboembolism, referred to the Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam. In consecutive outpatients with clinically suspected deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism we measured the sensitivity, specificity and negative predictive value of the assay compared to the outcome of standard diagnostic tests and 3-month follow-up. A total of 234 patients were included; the prevalence of venous thromboembolism was 29%. A sensitivity, specificity and negative predictive value of 100% (95% Cl: 95% -100%), 58% (95% Cl: 50% - 65%) and 100% (95% Cl: 96% -100%), respectively, were obtained. The exclusion rate was 41% of all referred patients. Conclusion: The SimpliRED whole blood D-dimer assay appears to be a simple and reliable method for the exclusion of venous thromboembolism in symptomatic outpatients.
Comparison of Cortical Porosity, Diameter, and Stiffness as Predictors of Ulna Bending Strength

Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by a decline in bone strength leading to an increased risk of fracture, but no clinical device measures bone strength. Bone strength is strongly associated with bone stiffness (EI), but no clinical device measures EI either. Mechanical Response Tissue Analysis (MRTA) is being developed to measure EI in human ulna bones in vivo. Bone EI depends strongly on bone diameter (ID), and cortical porosity (CP) has been proposed for assessing fracture risk. This project compared the accuracies with which ulna bending strength was predicted by CP, ID, and EI in 35 cadaveric arms from men and women ranging widely in age (17-99 yrs.) and BMI (13-40 kg/m). ID was obtained by computed tomography (CT). Ulna EI was measured noninvasively by MRTA on intact arms, while EI and bending strength were measured on excised ulnas by the gold standard method, Quasistatic Mechanical Testing (QMT), which cannot be employed in vivo. ID and CP were obtained in fractured ulnas by micro-computed tomography (μCT) by ImageJ using Avizo 3D models to locate the endosteum. Simple and forward stepwise multiple regressions revealed that CP was the least accurate predictor of bending strength (SEE≥235N). ID as more accurate (SEE≤163N, p=0.02). Accuracies of predictions by ID from CT and μCT images were indistinguishable (p=0.35). Accuracies of predictions by EI measured by QMT and MRTA (SEE≤91N) were more accurate than CP and ID alone or together (p≤0.02) and indistinguishable from one other (p=0.12). Age was the only predictor to explain any (1%) variance not explained by EI. No model with >2 predictors was significant. Comparison of Cortical Porosity, Diameter, and Stiffness Page 9 of 139
Molecular Identification of Fusarium Species in Onychomycoses

Background:Fusarium species are isolated from about 3% of onychomycoses in the Swiss native population. On the basis of macroscopic characters and microscopic examination of the cultures, identification of Fusarium often remains difficult or uncertain because of variations from one isolate to another and overlapping characteristics between species. Objective: To obtain information about the prevailing species of Fusarium collected from onychomycoses. Methods: An analysis of the Fusarium specimens isolated in the Department of Dermatology at the University Hospital of Lausanne was conducted during a 2-year period (71 isolates). A 311-bp fragment of the gene encoding 28S rRNA was amplified by PCR and sequenced. DNA sequences were compared to those available for reference strains. Results:Fusarium oxysporum was the most frequently isolated species, accounting for 54% of the isolates. F. proliferatum and 4 taxons belonging to the F. solani species complex were identified with an appreciable frequency ranging from 4 to 14%. Conclusion: The Fusarium species identified were the same as those known to cause disseminated fusariosis in immunocompromised patients. The presence of these Fusarium species in onychomycoses warrants that careful attention should be paid to abnormal nails before beginning immunosuppressive treatments in patients.
Guidance of regenerating motor axons in vivo by gradients of diffusible peripheral nerve-derived factors.

During development of the central nervous system, neurons rely on target-derived factors to guide their outgrowing processes. Several CNS target-derived chemoattractive and repellent factors have been isolated and characterized, and their mechanism of action determined. For the peripheral nervous system, the results from numerous experiments suggest that during regeneration axons also respond to concentration gradients of target-derived factors leading to an oriented outgrowth up the gradient to the denervated target in vivo. The results from in vitro experiments have shown that diffusible concentration gradients of factors released from a length of denervated peripheral nerve, composed predominantly of Schwann cells, direct the outgrowth of sensory and motor neuron growth cones over distances of several hundred microns. However, a conclusive demonstration of a chemoattractive influence of diffusible concentration gradients on regenerating adult motor axons in vivo has remained elusive. The present experiments show that concentration gradients of denervated peripheral nerve-released factors direct the regeneration of adult motor axons in vivo, and that these gradients are effective over distances of more than 6.5 mm. Nonconditioned medium exerted no influence on the regenerating axons. Thus, results from in vivo experiments parallel those from in vitro experiments and indicate that isolated peripheral nerve-released factors that are effective in vitro will play a similar role on sensory and motor axons in vivo. Finally, the results show that diffusible concentration gradients of target-derived factors direct axon outgrowth both during both development and regeneration, as well as in vivo and in vitro.
Increasing the Awareness of Daily Activity Levels with Pervasive Computing

Public health promotion technology should be accessible to the general public at which it is aimed. This paper explores the potential for use of an unaugmented commodity technology - the mobile phone - as a health promotion tool. We describe a prototype application that tracks the daily exercise activities of people carrying phones, using fluctuation in signal strength to estimate a user's movement. In a short-term study of the prototype that shared activity information amongst groups of friends, we found that awareness encouraged reflection on, and increased motivation for, daily activity. We describe some of the details of the pilot study, and conclude with our intended plans to develop the system further in order to carry out a longer-term clinical trial
MRE11-RAD50-NBS1 Complex Dictates DNA Repair Independent of H2AX*

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) represent one of the most serious forms of DNA damage that can occur in the genome. Here, we show that the DSB-induced signaling cascade and homologous recombination (HR)-mediated DSB repair pathway can be genetically separated. We demonstrate that the MRE11-RAD50-NBS1 (MRN) complex acts to promote DNA end resection and the generation of single-stranded DNA, which is critically important for HR repair. These functions of the MRN complex can occur independently of the H2AX-mediated DNA damage signaling cascade, which promotes stable accumulation of other signaling and repair proteins such as 53BP1 and BRCA1 to sites of DNA damage. Nevertheless, mild defects in HR repair are observed in H2AX-deficient cells, suggesting that the H2AX-dependent DNA damage-signaling cascade assists DNA repair. We propose that the MRN complex is responsible for the initial recognition of DSBs and works together with both CtIP and the H2AX-dependent DNA damage-signaling cascade to facilitate repair by HR and regulate DNA damage checkpoints.
Interscanner variation in brain MR lesion load measurements in multiple sclerosis using conventional spin-echo, rapid relaxation-enhanced, and fast-FLAIR sequences.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Different MR pulse sequences have been proposed for measuring multiple sclerosis (MS)-related abnormalities. The reproducibility of measured brain MS lesion volumes was compared for MR images performed using different scanners and different pulse sequences. METHODS Nine patients with relapsing-remitting MS were each imaged on two scanners and, on each occasion, dual-echo conventional spin-echo, dual-echo rapid-acquisition relaxation-enhanced (RARE), and fast fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (fast-FLAIR) images were obtained. The lesion volume present on each image was evaluated three times by a single observer in random order, using a local thresholding technique. RESULTS The mean lesion volumes present on fast-FLAIR images were significantly higher than those measured on dual-echo conventional spin-echo and RARE images. The mean intraobserver coefficients of variation for the different sequences and scanners ranged from 3.0% to 4.2% (no statistically significant difference). For each of the sequences, the use of different scanners introduced a variability that was higher than the intraobserver variability: the interscanner coefficient of variation was 7.4% for conventional spin-echo, 9.5% for RARE, and 18.5% for fast-FLAIR images. CONCLUSION Our study confirms that the use of different scanners significantly influences lesion loads measured from MR images of patients with MS and establishes that newer sequences are more susceptible to measurement variability. It also indicates that, if newer sequences are to be used in clinical trials, careful standardization is needed.
Model order selection for continuous time instrumental variable methods using regularization

The aim of this paper is to propose a new method to select the model order in continuous time system identification, instrumental variable methods. The idea is to over-parameterize the model and utilize regularization based on the l1 norm to obtain a sparse estimate. The model order of the identified system is then determined by the rank of the Hankel matrix of the estimated parameter. Simulation results show that the proposed method works very effectively. For low signal to noise ratio (SNR), it offers a significant improvement to existing model order selection methods with the performance at high SNR comparable to the existing methods.
IWO-based synthesis of log-periodic dipole array

The Invasive Weed Optimization (IWO) is an effective evolutionary and recently developed method. Due to its better performance in comparison to other well-known optimization methods, IWO has been chosen to solve many complex non-linear problems in telecommunications and electromagnetics. In the present study, the IWO is applied to optimize the geometry of a realistic log-periodic dipole array (LPDA) that operates in the frequency range 800-3300 MHz and therefore is suitable for signal reception from several RF services. The optimization is applied under specific requirements, concerning the standing wave ratio, the forward gain, the gain flatness and the side lobe level, over a wide frequency range. The optimization variables are the lengths and the radii of the dipoles, the distances between them, and the characteristic impedance of the transmission line that connects the dipoles. The optimized LPDA seems to be superior compared to the antenna derived from the practical design procedure.
Validity of HydraTrend Reagent Strips for the Assessment of Hydration Status

Abstract Abbey, BM, Heelan, KA, Brown, GA, and Bartee, RT. Validity of HydraTrend reagent strips for the assessment of hydration status. J Strength Cond Res 28(9): 2634–2639, 2014—Hydration is used by athletic governing organizations for weight class eligibility. The measurement of urine specific gravity (USG) as a measure of hydration by reagent strips is a controversial issue. The purpose of this study was to determine the validity of HydraTrend reagent strips that facilitate the correction of USG for alkaline urine samples against refractometry for the assessment of USG. Fifty-one participants (33 males, age = 22.3 ± 1.3 years; 18 females, age = 22.4 ± 1.2 years) provided 84 urine samples. The samples were tested for USG using refractometry and reagent strips and for pH using reagent strips and a digital pH meter. Strong correlation coefficients were found between refractometry and reagent strips for USG (rs(82) = 0.812, p < 0.01) and between reagent strips and pH meter for pH (rs(82) = 0.939, p < 0.01). It was observed that false negative results for National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) requirements (fail refractometry with USG >1.020, pass reagent strips with USG ⩽1.020) occurred 39% (33/84) of the time and false negative results for National Federation of State High School Association (NFHS) requirements (fail refractometry with USG >1.025, pass reagent strips with USG ⩽1.025) occurred 14% (12/84) of the time. There were no false positives (pass refractometry and fail reagent strips) for NCAA or NFHS requirements. These data show that refractometry and reagent strips have strong positive correlations. However, the risk of a false negative result leading to incorrect certification of euhydration status outweighs the benefits of the HydraTrend reagent strips for the measurement of USG.
TWISTED ACTIONS OF CATEGORICAL GROUPS

We develop a theory of twisted actions of categorical groups using a notion of semidirect product of categories. We work through numerous examples to demonstrate the power of these notions. Turning to representations, which are actions that respect vector space structures, we establish an analog of Schur's lemma in this context. Keeping new terminology to a minimum, we concentrate on examples exploring the essential new notions introduced.
Reliability of Nucleic Acid Amplification Methods for Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in Urine: Results of the First International Collaborative Quality Control Study among 96 Laboratories

ABSTRACT The first European Quality Control Concerted Action study was organized to assess the ability of laboratories to detect Chlamydia trachomatis in a panel of urine samples by nucleic acid amplification tests (NATs). The panel consisted of lyophilized urine samples, including three negative, two strongly positive, and five weakly positive samples. Ninety-six laboratories in 22 countries participated with a total of 102 data sets. Of 204 strongly positive samples 199 (97.5%) were correctly reported, and of 506 weakly positive samples 466 (92.1%) were correctly reported. In 74 (72.5%) data sets correct results were reported on all samples, and 17 data sets (16.7%) showed either one false-negative or one false-positive result. In another 11 data sets, two or more incorrect results were reported, and two data sets reported a false-positive result on one negative sample. The Roche COBAS Amplicor test was performed in 44 (43%) data sets, the Abbott LCx assay was performed in 31 (30%) data sets, the Roche Amplicor manual assay was performed in 9 (9%) data sets, an in-house PCR was performed in 9 (9%) data sets, the Becton Dickinson ProbeTec ET assay was performed in 5 (4.9%) data sets, and the GenProbe TMA assay was performed in 4 (3.9%) data sets. The results of the Roche Amplicor manual (95.6% correct), COBAS Amplicor (97.0%), and Abbott LCx (94.8%) tests were comparable (P = 0.48). The results with the in-house PCR, BD ProbeTec ET, and GenProbe TMA tests were reported correctly in 88.6, 98, and 92.5% of the tests, respectively. Freeze-drying of clinical urine specimens proved to be a successful method for generating standardized, stable, and easy-to-transport samples for the detection of C. trachomatis by using NATs. Although the results, especially the specificity, for this proficiency panel were better than most quality control studies, sensitivity problems occurred frequently, underlining the need for good laboratory practice and reference reagents to monitor the performance of these assays.
The basal ganglia, the ideal machinery for the cost-benefit analysis of action plans

Basal ganglia dysfunction causes profound movement disorders, often attributed to imbalance between direct and indirect pathway activity in the sensorimotor basal ganglia. In the classical view, the direct pathway facilitates movements, whereas the indirect pathway inhibits movements. However, the recent finding of co-activation of the two pathways during movement challenges this view. Reconciling the new finding with the body of evidence supporting the classical view, this perspective proposes that the direct pathway computes the expected benefits of motor plans entering the basal ganglia, while the indirect pathway computes their expected costs. Thus, basal ganglia output combining the two pathway signals in a subtraction manner weighs benefits against costs, and endorses the plan with the best prospective outcome via feedback projections to the cortex. The cost-benefit model, while retaining the antagonistic roles of the two pathways for movements, requires co-activation of the two pathways during movement as both benefit and cost are computed for every movement. The cost-benefit model, though simple, accounts for a number of confounding results, and generates new focus for future research with testable predictions.
Effects of ACTH, dexamethasone, and adrenalectomy on 11β-hydroxylase (CYP11B1) and aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) gene expression in the rat central nervous system

Using a highly sensitive quantitative RT-PCR method for the measurement of CYP11B1 (11β-hydroxylase) and CYP11B2 (aldosterone synthase) mRNAs, we previously demonstrated that CYP11B2 expression in the central nervous system (CNS) is subject to regulation by dietary sodium. We have now quantified the expression of these genes in the CNS of male Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats in response to systemic ACTH infusion, dexamethasone infusion, and to adrenalectomy. CYP11B1 and CYP11B2 mRNA levels were measured in total RNA isolated from the adrenal gland and discrete brain regions using real-time quantitative RT-PCR. ACTH infusion (40 ng/day for 7 days, N=8) significantly increased CYP11B1 mRNA in the adrenal gland, hypothalamus, and cerebral cortex compared with animals infused with vehicle only. ACTH infusion decreased adrenal CYP11B2 expression but increased expression in all of the CNS regions except the cortex. Dexamethasone (10 μg/day for 7 days, N=8) reduced adrenal CYP11B1 mRNA compared with control animals but had no significant effect on either gene's expression in the CNS. Adrenalectomy (N=6 per group) significantly increased CYP11B1 expression in the hippocampus and hypothalamus and raised CYP11B2 expression in the cerebellum relative to sham-operated animals. This study confirms the transcription of CYP11B1 and CYP11B2 throughout the CNS and demonstrates that gene transcription is subject to differential regulation by ACTH and circulating corticosteroid levels.
Frequency of renal stone disease in patients with urinary tract infection.

BACKGROUND To determine incidence of renal stone disease in patients with urinary tract infection, this cross sectional study was conducted at Surgical Unit of District Head Quarters Hospital, Charsadda over a period of one year from January to December 2005. METHODS One hundred consecutive patients were enrolled in this study. All those patients who presented with urinary symptoms were included. While patients with lower urinary tract stones, upper urinary tract stones with renal failure, renal tumours and previous history of renal stones disease were excluded. The data was obtained and analyzed by filling a specially designed proforma for each patient. RESULTS All 100 patients were between age ranges of 15-60 years (Mean age 37.5 years). Infection was present in 79% of cases. The commonest organisms isolated according to culture report were E. Coli (30%), Proteus (19%), Klebsiella (11%), Pseudomonas (7%), Staphylococcus aureus (3%) etc. The frequency of renal stone disease in patients with urinary tract infection was 18.98%. (12.6% in male and 6.3% in female). Mean age of patients with renal stones was 31.26 years and male to female ratio was 1.5:1. CONCLUSION Renal stone disease makes an important group among urinary stone diseases. Urinary tract infection with certain bacteria plays an important role in the synthesis of renal stones. A high incidence can be prevented by adopting a variety of simple conservative measures.
Epidemiological survey on third molar agenesis and facial pattern among adolescents requiring orthodontic treatment

Background The aim of this study was to determine the association between facial pattern according to Ricketts cephalometric analysis, and prevalence of third molar agenesis, taking subject age and gender as control variables. Material and Methods An epidemiological survey was conducted based on a sample of 224 candidates for orthodontic treatment aged 12 to 24 (n=224). Third molar agenesis was recorded using Ricketts cephalometric analyses of lateral teleradiographs and panoramic radiographs. The risk for agenesis was predicted considering the 5 Vert Index parameters (facial axis, facial depth, mandibular plane angle, lower facial height and mandibular arch), facial type (brachyfacial, mesofacial, dolichofacial) and sociodemographic variables (age and sex), using odds ratio (OR) calculated by logistic regression. Results Third molar agenesis was observed in 25% of the sample. Risk for agenesis is significantly determined by sociodemographic factors (age, OR: 1.2), cephalic patterns (mesofacial vs dolichofacial, OR:4.3; and brachyfacial vs dolichofacial OR: 3.2) and cephalometric patterns (facial axis, OR: 0.8; lower facial height, OR: 0.8; and mandibular plane angle, OR:0.9). Conclusions Facial parameters (facial axis, lower facial height, and mandibular plane angle) proved to be strong predictors of the risk for third molar agenesis, the prevalence of agenesis being significantly lower in dolichofacial individuals. Key words:Facial Pattern, Ricketts Analysis, Third Molar Agenesis.
Neuromuscular variables affecting the magnitude of force loss after eccentric exercise

The aim of this study was to examine neuromuscular variables contributing to differences in force loss after participants were exposed to the same relative bout of eccentric exercise. Thirty-six males performed 50 maximal eccentric contractions of the elbow flexors and were stratified into high responders (n = 10) and low responders (n = 10) based on force loss 36 h after exercise. Maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVCs) and electromyography (EMG) were measured at baseline and 36 h after exercise. During eccentric exercise, mean peak torque, mean end-range torque from the final 25% of each trial and total angular impulse were computed over 25 contractions in each of two bouts. The slope of the change in these values for each 25 eccentric contractions was calculated for each participant using linear regression. At baseline, MVC was not different between groups (low responders: 97.0 ± 9.6 N · m; high responders: 82.7 ± 6.4 N · m; P = 0.08). High responders demonstrated a 68% (range 62-78%) reduction in MVC and low responders a 39% (29-48%) reduction after exercise. Peak torque, end-range torque and total angular impulse were 13%, 40% and 33% higher, respectively, in the low than in the high responders (peak torque: P = 0.0002; end-range torque: P < 0.0001; total angular impulse: P < 0.001). The rate of decline in peak torque slope was greater in high than in low responders (P = 0.044). In conclusion, lower peak torque, end-range torque and total angular impulse during eccentric contractions and a greater peak torque slope may identify high responders to eccentric exercise.