Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nonuniform Cache Architectures for Wire-Delay Dominated On-Chip Caches

Nonuniform cache access designs solve the on-chip wire delay problem for future large integrated caches. By embedding a network in the cache, NUCA designs let data migrate within the cache, clustering the working set nearest the processor. The authors propose several designs that treat the cache as a network of banks and facilitate nonuniform accesses to different physical regions. NUCA architectures offer low-latency access, increased scalability, and greater performance stability than conventional uniform access cache architectures.
On ratio-based color indexing

The color ratio approach to indexing has been found to be robust and effective in indexing image and video databases, in different color spaces, and when using transformed color features, such as those from the Karhunen-Loeve transform (KLT) or the discrete cosine transform (DCT). However, the reason for the superior performance of the color ratio model, especially on different color spaces or with transformed color features has, at best, been speculative. This paper develops a generalized form for the color ratio model, based on which we characterize the general distribution of the color ratios. From the distribution, we present a theory that explains and supports the performance of the color ratio approach in image and video indexing. It is shown that the same theory accounts for its effectiveness in different color spaces and in the transform domain. Some general problems encountered in using the original retinex lightness algorithm, and some other issues specific to ratio-based color indexing are discussed in the light of the theory. Results are presented which show that the proposed theory is supported by empirical evidence.
Is Discrimination in Food Really Necessary for Explaining Sex Differentials in Childhood Mortality

In this paper the assumption is questioned that it is the intra-household distribution of food which is an important cause of the observed sex differences in childhood mortality in much of South Asia. An analysis of data from a recent field study as well as a fresh look at information from secondary sources, leads to the conclusion that, at present, the causal link from malnutrition to mortality is ambiguous at best. Other possible real-world determinants of sex differences in mortality are examined and it is found that differential utilisation of modern health care is probably an important such determinant. Finally some of the socio-economic influences on sex discrimination in health care are examined and a case is presented for increasing women's employment outside the home.
Ménière’s Disease Pathophysiology: Endolymphatic Sac Immunohistochemical Study of Aquaporin-2, V2R Vasopressin Receptor, NKCC2, and TRPV4

Objectives Endolymphatic sac (ELS) pathophysiology in Ménière’s disease (MD) remains poorly understood. We identified from the literature a group of proteins expressed on the ELS and involved in endolymph volume regulation: aquaporin-2 (AQP2), vasopressin receptor V2R, sodium potassium chloride cotransporter 2 (NKCC2), and transient receptor potential cation channel V4 (TRPV4). Our objective was to determine whether their ELS expression was altered in MD, to better understand the pathophysiology of endolymphatic hydrops. Study Design Prospective case-control study. Setting Tertiary care center. Subjects Twenty-four patients with definite MD undergoing endolymphatic duct blockage surgery were recruited, as well as 23 controls with no history of MD undergoing surgery for vestibular schwannoma (VS). Methods ELS biopsies and blood samples for plasma arginine vasopressin (AVP) were obtained. Immunohistochemistry for AQP2, V2R, NKCC2, and TRPV4 was performed. Slides were scanned digitally for highly sensitive pixel density analysis by specialized software (VIS; Visiopharm). Results Global scores generated by the software represent total and relative protein expression density of 3 staining intensity levels, exclusively on ELS epithelium. AQP2 expression density was significantly elevated in MD compared to VS (P = .003). There was no significant difference in plasma AVP, V2R, NKCC2, and TRPV4 expression. Conclusion This original study evaluates simultaneous in situ expression of AQP2, V2R, NKCC2, and TRPV4 on the human ELS in MD, with a control group. Our results show only AQP2 upregulation on the ELS of patients with MD. We suggest a constitutively increased expression of AQP2 in MD, independent of its regulatory axis (AVP-V2R). Acquired regulator sequence mutations could support this model.
A Prospective Longitudinal Multicenter Analysis of Alcohol Use Patterns Among Persons with Traumatic Brain Injury

Objective:To characterize long-term post injury drinking patterns of persons with traumatic brain Injury and to identify Injury-related and sociodemographic factors related to post injury consumption. Design:A cross-sectional design (n=322) was first used to characterize drinking patterns at three time intervals. A longitudinal design (n=73) was then used to examine changes in consumption patterns. %2 analyses and Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-ranks test (t-tests) were conducted to investigate the relationship between patients' reported alcohol use and time post injury. Spearman rank-order correlations, y} analyses, and Fisher's exact probability tests were used to examine relationships among drinking classifications and injury-related and sociodemographic characteristics. Setting:Rehabilitation center outpatient clinics affiliated with the four brain injury Model Systems programs. Patients:Patients with moderate and severe brain injury who received acute medical care and inpatient rehabilitation. Inclusion criteria were: patient >16 years old, participation in follow-up medical and psychologic evaluations, and willingness to provide information regarding alcohol consumption. Main Outcome Measures:Quantity Frequency Variability Index, Disability Rating Scale, and Functional Independence Measure scores. Results:At each follow-up interval, the proportion of persons classified as moderate or heavy drinkers was generally comparable to that in the general population. Abstention rates, however, were markedly higher than those within the general population. For the cross-sectional sample, %2 analyses revealed no significant differences in the distribution of drinking classifications across follow-up Intervals. For the longitudinal group however, Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-ranks tests revealed substantial differences in drinking ratings for individuals over time. A pattern of increasing consumption was indicated. Correlational analyses revealed higher consumption levels for younger persons and those with higher admission blood alcohol levels. Furthermore, relationships were observed between injury severity and consumption levels. Higher levels of disability were associated with lower consumption rates. Conclusions:These data suggest that alcohol use patterns are dynamic during the first 4 years after injury. Also, long-term monitoring of alcohol use patterns may be cost-effective, particularly for younger persons and those with a prctnjury history of problem drinking
Clinical Significance of Sarcopenia among Patients with Advanced Oropharyngeal Cancer

Objectives We investigated the prevalence and impact of sarcopenia on disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in advanced oropharyngeal cancer. Study Design Retrospective study. Setting Single-institution tertiary cancer care center. Subjects and Methods We identified patients with advanced oropharyngeal cancer with pretreatment positron emission tomography–computed tomography scans for image analysis. Data were collected on the following variables: age, sex, smoking and alcohol status, stage (TNM and American Joint Committee on Cancer), human papillomavirus (HPV) status, body mass index (BMI), and treatment modality. Results Of 113 patients identified with oropharyngeal cancer, 32 had sarcopenia: these patients were older (63.5 vs 57.6 years, P = .01), were less likely to be male (53.1% vs 76.5%, P = .03), and had a lower mean BMI (24.5 vs 28.4 kg/m2, P = .009). Eighty-five subjects had HPV-positive disease, and they had a higher BMI (28.2 vs 24.2 kg/m2, P = .01) than that of patients without HPV. Twenty-one subjects who were HPV positive had less cancer recurrence (24.7% vs 48.1%, P = .04) than that of their HPV-negative counterparts. Log-rank testing showed no difference in DFS (P = .06) associated with sarcopenia but a significant difference in OS (P = .049). There were differences in DFS (P = .009) and OS (P = .023) based on HPV status. According to univariable and multivariable models, HPV positivity exhibited improved DFS and OS. Sarcopenia was not statistically significant in survival models; however, it was associated with increased mortality and recurrence. Conclusion Sarcopenia is a prognostic factor affecting OS independent of HPV status in advanced oropharyngeal cancer.
Sanitary Survey in Gondar Town

Background: The health and well being of population is directly affected by extremely low coverage of water supply and sanitation. Objectives: This study aims to assess the environmental sanitation status of Gondar town. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on the basis of the administrative structure of the town. The town was stratified into high density and low-density areas from which households were selected randomly from each stratum. A structured questionnaire was used for the household survey. Results: There is a relatively high risk of exposure to poor environmental conditions in high population than low population density area. The association between educational status and income with availability of latrine was statistically significant, the literates and the economically better-off have a better sanitary facility. Excreta disposal facilities are generally inadequate and poorly maintained. The per capita water consumption was 12 liters/day, which is very low when compared to 30-40 liters per day for urban residents, as per the WHO standard. Conclusion and recommendation: This study found that the sanitary status of the town to be poor. Thus, the municipality should give priority attention to improve the sanitary conditions in the town. Ethiop.J.Health Dev. 2003;(3):215-219
Role of transforming growth factor‐ β1 in the progression of chronic allograft nephropathy

Chronic allograft nephropathy is the principal cause of late graft loss after the first year of renal transplantation. Transforming growth factor-β 1 (TGF-β 1 ) is a key fibrogenetic cytokine involved in the fibrosis of a number of chronic diseases of the kidney and other organs, and recently evidence has shown that TGF-β 1 is involved in the pathogenesis of chronic renal allograft dysfunction. Production of TGF-β 1 in these circumstances may be modulated by the intrarenal renin-angiotensin system (angiotensin II induces TGF-β 1 production and secretion by the mesangial cells) and by a direct effect of cyclosporin A, which stimulates the synthesis and expression of TGF-β 1 . In a prospective study of 14 renal transplant patients exhibiting chronic graft nephropathy, we demonstrated that treatment with losartan significantly decreased plasma levels of TGF-β 1 by > 50%. There was a significant correlation (P=0.04) between the increase in circulating angiotensin II after 2 weeks and the decrease in plasma TGF-β 1 at the end of the study period, suggesting that the degree of angiotensi II receptor blockade plays a decisive role in the synthesis of TGF-β 1 . A significant decrease in circulating endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels also occurred during treatment with losartan, together with a decrease in proteinuria. In a randomized 2 × 2 crossover study, the effects of losartan and amlodipine on renal haemodynamics and on profibrogenetic cytokines were analysed. Whereas amlodipine increased the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) through an increase in the FF and P G , losartan slightly decreased the GFR, but with a significant decrease in FF and P G . With respect to the profibrogenetic cytokines, losartan decreased the plasma levels of TGF-β 1 and ET-1, while amlodipine did not significantly change TGF-β 1 and slightly increased ET-1.
A new approach to feedback-linearizing control of variable reluctance motors for direct-drive applications

Considers feedback-linearizing control of VR (variable reluctance) motors which have been increasingly used in high performance direct-drive applications. The authors characterize all torque controllers that can make the total torque of a VR motor linear to torque command but without torque ripple. The torque controllers maximize the range of torque commands which are admissible under the physical limitation in stator currents. The whole class of all such torque controllers is parameterized in the explicit form which contains a function to be chosen freely. This free function can be used to achieve other control objectives as well as linear dynamic characteristics. As the examples for optimal choices of the free function, are actually determine two optimal free functions, one for minimal rate of change in current commands and the other for minimal power loss due to stator resistance. To illuminate further the practical use of their torque controllers, the authors present some experimental results for the case of a commercially available VR motor.
Comparative study of mouse trisomy 16 and bis‐diamine treated fetuses: Discrimination of possible contribution of neural crest cells to malformations

ABSTRACT In order to directly compare the malformation complex induced by genetic and environmental factors, mouse trisomy 16 (Ts 16) fetuses and bis‐diamine treated (BDT) mouse fetuses in which pregnant females were orally dosed with 3.0 mg and 1.0 mg/B.W. (g) bisdiamine eight hours apart on 9 days of pregnancy, were examined. Cystic hygroma with generalized edema appeared in most Ts 16 and in less than 50% of BDT fetuses. Blunt snout or facial cleft with aplasia or hypoplasia of the olfactory bulb was observed in BDT fetuses. The thymus was markedly to moderately hypoplastic in Ts 16, and absent or markedly hypoplastic in BDT fetuses. Parathyroid glands were inclined to be unsettled in relative location to the thyroid in Ts 16 and absent in BDT fetuses. Aortic arch abnormalities were present in approximately half of the cases of Ts 16 and in the majority of cases of BDT fetuses. In the conotruncal region, double outlet right ventricle and persistent truncus arteriosus were dominantly observed in Ts 16 and BDT fetuses, respectively. Atrioventricular septal defect was observed in every Ts 16 and in about 30% of BDT fetuses. These results indicate that not only environmental factors but also genetic factors can experimentally induce DiGeorge‐Iike anomaly in mice. Abnormal development relevant to neural crest cells seems to occur typically in BDT fetuses, and incompletely in Ts 16 fetuses.
ETHMOID LABYRINTH: ANATOMIC STUDY, WITH CONSIDERATION OF THE CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF ITS STRUCTURAL CHARACTERISTICS

The very name "ethmoid labyrinth" implies structural intricacy. Like the other nasal accessory sinuses the ethmoid cells are extremely variable in anatomic characteristics. This variability seems more pronounced in them than in the others, no doubt because the cellular mass is complex. The honeycomb-like appearance of the cells gives the impression of a melange, a hopeless entanglement, a jumble of cells thrown together with little design or reason, and considered en masse, as they usually are, they may well be regarded as a labyrinth. Studied individually, however, they are found to be no more variable than the frontal, maxillary or sphenoid sinuses and may readily be identified and segregated into groups, each group having its own area of drainage in the nose and having no communication with cells of another group. These characteristics were noted in the early 1890's by Seydel,1Zuckerkandl2and others, and a plan was then devised
Effects of Moderate and High Doses of Marihuana on Thermal Pain: A Sensory Decision Theory Analysis

Abstract: Sixteen habitual marihuana users, selected for their good mental and physical health, were hospitalized for three months in the New York State Psychiatric Institute. During the first month, the subjects were drug free; during the second month, they smoked marihuana cigarettes provided by NIDA (2% THC, 20 mg per cigarette) at the rate of 3 to 12 a day. A modified Hardy‐Wolff dolorimeter was used to present 20 thermal stimuli of 30‐second duration in a random manner at nine different intensities. Subjects responded from a 14‐category scale, and data were analyzed according to sensory decision theory analysis. During the third month, the subjects were again drug free. At the noxious thermal intensities, there was a decrease in the pain report criterion during the first two weeks of smoking. The pain enhancement effect was followed by return to the presmoking pain level during weeks 3 and 4 and in the postsmoking period, indicating that tolerance had developed. There was also an increase in pain discriminability during the four weeks of smoking which extended for one week after smoking. Tolerance developed to the pain report criterion but not to the thermal discriminability. This study suggests that marihuana may have hyperalgesic activity and probably enhances the perception of pain, in moderate smokers. In contrast, heavy smoking had little effect on discriminability and caused an increase in the pain report criterion.
Physical Activity and Mental Health

Over the past several decades, there has been interest on the role of physical activity in mental health. Mental health issues can impair physical health, social and occupational functioning seriously. Thus, the development of preventive strategies has been required. Physical activity is a cost-effective prevention strategy. Besides, substantial physical healthrelated benefits and a number of psychological benefits have been proved, most evidence seen with depression. For example, physical activity can improve depressive symptoms in those who are diagnosed with major depression, in healthy adults, and in patients with cardiovascular disease or other chronic disease. Regular physical activity appears to be protective against cognitive dysfunction, anxiety and poor sleep. Current evidence supports the conclusion that regular participation in moderate physical activity, consistent with current public health guidelines, gives mental health benefits.
Combining Lidocaine to Various Concentrations of Ropivacaine for Interscalene Block

Combining Lidocaine to Various Concentrations of Ropivacaine for Interscalene Block It is potentially interesting to combine the rapid onset of lidocaine with the longer acting ropivacaine in interscalene block but the effects of different concentrations of ropivacaine in this combination are not known. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of different concentration of ropivacaine in combination with lidocaine on motor and sensory blocks in interscalene block.
Using and Understanding Medical Statistics

Noteworthy advances have occurred in both the practice of medicine and biostatistical methods since the previous edition of this book was published. For example, physicians' acceptance of the importance of 'evidence-based medicine' is much more widespread now than it was in the mid-1990s. Even a casual reading of the current medical literature reveals that a basic grasp of statistical concepts and a passing appreciation for what statistical analysis can and cannot do is essential in order to understand and critically assess published reports concerning the frontiers of medical research. The fourth revised edition of this highly successful volume represents the most substantial revision of "Using and Understanding Medical Statistics" since the first edition was published more than 20 years ago. The authors have added five entirely new chapters on Poisson regression, the analysis of variance, meta-analysis, diagnostic tests and the subject of measurement agreement and reliability. In addition, there are sections describing new topics or exploring new examples in the chapters on the Kaplan-Meier estimate, the log-rank test, longitudinal studies, data analysis, clinical trials and epidemiological applications. The end result is an excellent introduction to medical statistics, as well as a valuable reference concerning many of the more complex statistical methods and techniques currently appearing in medical publications.
Mismatch in body-chair dimensions and the associated musculoskeletal pain among selected undergraduate students in Ghana

Purpose: To assess the misfit in body–chair dimensions with regard to the occurrence of musculoskeletal pain among undergraduates. Methods: Selected undergraduate students of School of Allied Health Sciences University of Ghana, participated in this study. The popliteal height, buttock-popliteal length and the hip breadth of the students were measured in sitting using retractable tape measure. The corresponding seat height, seat depth and seat width of three fixed-style lecture hall chairs were similarly measured and the average scores were determined. Mismatch or fit in body–chair dimension were calculated through a standard rule. The associated musculoskeletal pain as reported by the participants was assessed using numerical rating scale. Data were analyzed with percentage, mean, standard deviation and Krukas–Wallis test at p < 0.05. Results: A total of 126 students with mean age 22 ± 01 years were recruited. The mean popliteal height, buttock-popliteal length and hip breadth of the students were 40.8(4.5), 46.8(4.6) and 35.3(3.3) cm, respectively while the corresponding average chair dimensions for seat height, seat depth and seat width were 52.0, 51.0 and 53.0 cm, respectively. Appreciable number of the students mismatched the lecture hall chair at the three levels of study. About 114 (90.5%) of the students attributed their pain to the study chairs in which 40 (31.7%) and 38 (30.2%) were in their fourth and second years of study, respectively. Lower back pain was the most prevalent (38.6%) among the sampled students. Conclusion: The large proportion of the incompatibility indicated that the school chairs were not designed based on anthropometric dimensions, thus giving insight into the source of the pain.
Monitoring pulmonary artery pressure in children undergoing the Fontan procedure

Objective: To compare external and internal jugular venous pressures to monitor pulmonary artery pressure during the Fontan procedure. Background: During the Fontan procedure, the internal jugular vein is used to assess pulmonary artery pressure. The risk of venous thrombosis in the low-pressure Fontan circuit may compromise the long-term success of cavopulmonary anastomosis. This study compared external and internal jugular venous pressures, femoral venous pressure, and actual pulmonary artery pressure during the Fontan procedure. Method: 32 children undergoing a single-stage Fontan on cardiopulmonary bypass were monitored for mean external and internal jugular venous pressures and femoral venous pressure pre- and post-cardiopulmonary bypass. Pulmonary artery pressure was also recorded directly after cardiopulmonary bypass. The pressure data were analyzed using analysis of variance, and the coefficient of correlation was found. Results: The differences between external jugular, internal jugular, and femoral venous pressure pre-cardiopulmonary bypass, and between the 3 venous pressures and the pulmonary artery pressure after cardiopulmonary bypass were found to be non-significant. The coefficient of correlation of external jugular venous pressure and internal jugular venous pressure was 0.8163 (p < 0.0001) pre-cardiopulmonary bypass, and 0.6465 (p = 0.0001) post-cardiopulmonary bypass. Conclusion: The external jugular venous pressure correlates well with both internal jugular venous pressure and femoral venous pressure as a marker of pulmonary artery pressure in children undergoing the Fontan procedure. The use of external jugular venous pressure may also preclude the risk of thrombosis.