Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gonarthrosis Treatment by Laser Therapy

Introduction: Osteoartrosis (OA) is a chronic degenerative disorder characterized by many factors, like articular cartilago loss, bone remodeling and presence of subcondral osteofits formations. Minimisation and limitation of articular function and pain control are two main objectives for optimal treatment of (OA). Usually the knee is the most affected by OA. Medication, physiotherapy modalities, rehabilitating exercises are the modality of treatment . Laser therapy with low level (LLLT) is the most common modality. Our study is based on the assessment of efficiency of LLLT and high level laser therapy (HLLT) in the treatment of knee (OA) by comparing two different laser therapy. Material and methods: The study is based on treating patients with gonarthrosis in Hospital Center "Mother Theresa", Tirana. This study is a prospective study. It is conducted in a period of 3 months (January 2013 March 2013) and it is based on a questionnaire, Womac Index and Lequesne index. 30 patients with gonarthrosis were obtained in this study. The average age is 62.5 years old(from 45 80 years old). Patients were divided into three study groups: Group I: 10 patients were treated with LLLT (low level laser therapy) for 60 seconds each, in 4 pain areas on the surface of knee, 1.8 J / cm2 dose plus exercises; Group II: 10 patients were treated with HLLT for 120 seconds, 3.6 J / cm2 dose plus exercises; Group III: 10 patients were treated with placebo laser group plus exercises. All patients received a total of 10 cycles of treatment, therapy and exercise programs that continued throughout the study (3 months). All patients were assessed for pain evaluation according to VAS scale, evaluation of articular amplitude of the knee in flexion / extension, the global definition of walking, at a distance of 15 metres. Result: Post-therapy improvements were confirmed statistically in many parameters, in pain (assessed by VAS), in function (assessed by WOMAC and Lequesne) compared with the period before therapy in both groups that received laser therapy. Also we note pain decreasing in walking distance as well as during the morning, period which the patient suffer from stiffness. Improvements were observed more in the 2nd group in which laser therapy dose was doubled, compared with the other group. But on the other hand there was no difference in the improvement of pain and ROM in the group treated with placebo laser therapy. Conclusion: In conclusion, this study showed that treatment with laser therapy with low intensity in two different doses makes a significant reduction of pain and amplitude articular in OA. Although there are differences in the results obtained between the two active groups treated with laser therapy. As a result, we can say that the higher doses of LT, the higher the reduce in pain and the higher the improvement in ROM and functionality of genu articular.
Iris recognition using Gabor filters optimized by the particle swarm algorithm

An efficient feature extraction algorithm based on optimized Gabor filters and a relative variation analysis approach is proposed for iris recognition. The Gabor filters are optimized by using the particle swarm algorithm to adjust the parameters. Moreover, a sequential scheme is developed to determine the number of filters in the optimal Gabor filter bank. In the preprocessing step, the lower part of the iris image is unwrapped and normalized to a rectangular block that is then decomposed by the optimal Gabor filters. After that, a simple encoding method is adopted to generate a compact iris code. Experimental results show that with a smaller iris code size, the proposed method can produce comparable performance to that of the existing iris recognition systems.
Mathematical analysis of digital MASH delta-sigma modulators for fractional-N frequency synthesizers

A mathematical analysis is performed to investigate the periodic behavior of digital MASH delta-sigma modulators (DSM). The analysis is performed on first, second and third order MASH digital DSMs with odd initial conditions on the first stage. We prove that the maximum sequence length for the first order modulator is 2N and for the second order modulator is 2N + 1, where N is the word length of the state. In the case of first and second order modulators, the maximum sequence length can be achieved when odd digital inputs are applied. In the case of the third order modulator, the sequence length is equal to 2N + 1for all digital inputs
Deterministic and Experimental Indoor mmW Channel Modeling

This letter presents an extensive multidimensional analysis of line-of-sight (LOS) experimental data and simulations at 60 GHz over a 9-GHz bandwidth. Numerical versions of the measured multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) channel transfer functions were obtained with a ray-tracing engine that includes single-order diffuse scattering. The received power, RMS delay spread (DS), and maximum excess delay (MED) computed from both measured and simulated data indicate that diffuse scattering improves ray-tracing-based modeling. Moreover, the multipath components (MPCs) extracted from both sets of data using the high-resolution estimator RiMAX were statistically compared. The analysis of the results shows that even a raw description of the environment can be used to predict millimeter-wave (mmW) propagation with ray tracing.
Mid-trimester pregnancy termination with ethacridine lactate.

A study was conducted in Kamla Raja Hospital, G.R. Medical College, Gwalior, India to evaluate the efficacy of 1% ethacridine lactate and to compare the results with 20% hypertonic saline as abortifacients in midtrimester abortions. The abortions were performed using 1% ethacridine lactate in 65 patients with pregnancies between 12-20 weeks (group A). The patients were admitted to the hospital 1 day before the abortion. In a 2nd group of 65 patients (group B,), the abortion was done using 20% hypertonic saline. In this group oxytocin also was used as it had been with group A patients if the abortion did not occur with 24 hours. The mean induction abortion interval was lower with ethacridine lactate (37.82 hours) than with hypertonic saline (44.40 hours). This interval continued decreasing as the pregnancy advanced -- 12-14 weeks, 42.45 hours; 15-16 weeks, 36.05 hours; 17-20 weeks, 34.96 hours. In the hypertonic saline series, the induction abortion interval continued increasing as the pregnancy advanced -- 12-14 weeks, 44.30 hours; 15-16 weeks, 45.68 hours; and 17-20 weeks, 45.61 hours. With ethacridine lactate the abortion rate (24.62%) was significantly higher within the first 24 hours than with saline (9.23%), although the overall success rate was more with saline (96.92%) than with ethacridine lactate (90.77%). If reinstillation cases were included, the success rate with ethacridine lactate (95.39%) became almost similar to that of hypertonic saline. The complete expulsion rate with ethacridine lactate was only 35.38%, but it was 66.48% with hypertonic saline. The incidence of various side effects, such as headache, rigor, and vomiting, was more with hypertonic saline than with ethacridine lactate. Another advantage of ethacridine lactate was the fact that it can be used safely in patients with cardiovascular and renal diseases. The changes in the maternal coagulation system following intra-amniotic instillation of hyptonic saline, considered to be almost universal, were never encountered in ethacridine lactate induced abortions. Simplicity of technique and equipment required to perform ethacridine lactate instillation is a significant asset for India. Dangers of amniocentesis-like accidental injury to bowel and bladder are never encountered with ethacridine lactate instillation.
Integral models for Shimura varieties of abelian type

Introduction 967 1. Reductive groups and p-divisible groups 971 (1.1) Cocharacters and filtrations 971 (1.2) Review of S-modules 973 (1.3) Reductive groups and crystalline representations 975 (1.4) Application to p-divisible groups 978 (1.5) Deformation theory 981 2. Integral canonical models of Hodge type 986 (2.1) Shimura varieties 986 (2.2) Absolute Hodge cycles 989 (2.3) Integral models 992 3. Integral canonical models of abelian type 995 (3.1) Twisting abelian varieties 995 (3.2) The action of G(Q) 997 (3.3) Connected Shimura varieties 1001 (3.4) Integral models II 1005 References 1011
Androgen Receptor-Dependent and -Independent Mechanisms Involved in Prostate Cancer Therapy Resistance

Despite the initial efficacy of androgen deprivation in prostate cancer, virtually all patients progress to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Androgen receptor (AR) signaling is critically required for CRPC. A new generation of medications targeting AR, such as abiraterone and enzalutamide, has improved survival of metastatic CRPC (mCRPC) patients. However, a significant proportion of patients presents with primary resistance to these agents, and in the remainder, secondary resistance will invariably develop, which makes mCRPC the lethal form of the disease. Mechanisms underlying progression to mCRPC and treatment resistance are extremely complex. AR-dependent resistance mechanisms include AR amplification, AR point mutations, expression of constitutively active AR splice variants, and altered intratumoral androgen biosynthesis. AR-independent resistance mechanisms include glucocorticoid receptor activation, immune-mediated resistance, and neuroendocrine differentiation. The development of novel agents, such as seviteronel, apalutamide, and EPI-001/EPI-506, as well as the identification and validation of novel predictive biomarkers of resistance, may lead to improved therapeutics for mCRPC patients.
Genesis of metapelitic migmatites in the Adirondack Mountains, New York

Oxygen isotope ratios and rare earth element (REE) concentrations provide independent tests of competing models of injection v. anatexis for the origin of migmatites from amphibolite and granulite facies metasedimentary rocks of the Adirondack Mountains, New York. Values of δ18O and REE profiles were measured by ion microprobe in garnet–zircon pairs from 10 sample localities. Prior U–Pb SIMS dating of zircon grains indicates that inherited cores (1.7–1.2 Ga) are surrounded by overgrowths crystallized during the Grenville orogenic cycle (∼1.2–1.0 Ga). Cathodoluminescence imaging records three populations of zircon: (i) featureless rounded ‘whole grains’ (interpreted as metamorphic or anatectic), and rhythmically zoned (igneous) cores truncated by rims that are either (ii) discordant rhythmically zoned (igneous) or (iii) unzoned (metamorphic or anatectic). These textural interpretations are supported by geochronology and oxygen isotope analysis. In both the amphibolite facies NW Adirondacks and the granulite facies SE Adirondacks, δ18O(Zrc) values in overgrowths and whole zircon are highly variable for metamorphic zircon (6.1–13.4‰; n = 95, 10 μm spot). In contrast, garnet is typically unzoned and δ18O(Grt) values are constant at each locality, differing only between leucosomes and corresponding melanosomes. None of the analysed metamorphic zircon–garnet pairs attained oxygen isotope equilibrium, indicating that zircon rims and garnet are not coeval. Furthermore, REE profiles from zircon rims indicate zircon growth in all regions was prior to significant garnet growth. Thus, petrological estimates from garnet equilibria (e.g. P–T) cannot be associated uncritically with ages determined from zircon. The unusually high δ18O values (>10‰) in zircon overgrowths from leucocratic layers are distinctly different from associated metaigneous rocks (δ18O(Zrc) < 10‰) indicating that these leucosomes are not injected magmas derived from known igneous rocks. Surrounding melanosomes have similarly high δ18O(Zrc) values, suggesting that leucosomes are related to surrounding melanosomes, and that these migmatites formed by anatexis of high δ18O metasedimentary rocks.
Hygromycin B inhibits synthesis of murine coronavirus RNA

The aminoglycoside hygromycin B inhibits the infection of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) A59 both in vitro and in vivo. In probing the mechanism by which hygromycin B exerts its antiviral effect, we describe here studies which point to inhibition of viral RNA synthesis as the key step in virus replication which is affected by the drug. Cells which are infected with MHV do not take up higher levels of hygromycin B than do uninfected ones. Comparative assays of MHV replication and MHV protein synthesis in the presence of hygromycin B and another aminoglycoside, neomycin, indicate that hygromycin B is the more-effective antiviral agent and that its antiviral activity likely does not involve phosphoinositide-mediated processes such as those inhibited by neomycin.
Comparison of youth, caregiver, therapist, trained, and treatment expert raters of therapist adherence to a substance abuse treatment protocol.

OBJECTIVE This study evaluated the accuracy of youth, caregiver, therapist, and trained raters relative to treatment experts on ratings of therapist adherence to a substance abuse treatment protocol for adolescents. METHOD Adherence ratings were provided by youth and caregivers in an ongoing trial evaluating a Contingency Management (CM) intervention for youth in juvenile drug court. These ratings were compared to those provided by therapists and trained raters, and each rater type was compared to ratings provided by CM treatment experts. Data were analyzed using item-response-theory-based Many-Facet Rasch Models. RESULTS Relative to treatment experts, youth and caregivers were significantly more likely to endorse the occurrence of CM components. In contrast, therapists and trained raters were much more consistent with treatment experts. In terms of practical significance, youth and caregivers each had a 97% estimated probability of indicating that a typical treatment component had occurred. By comparison, the probability was 31%, 19%, and 26% for therapists, trained raters, and treatment experts, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Youth and caregivers were highly inaccurate relative to treatment experts, whereas, therapists and trained raters were generally consistent with treatment experts. The implications of these findings for therapist adherence measurement are considered.
The tumor necrosis factor-alpha promoter -1031C polymorphism is associated with decreased risk of endometriosis in a Japanese population.

BACKGROUND Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a multifunctional proinflammatory cytokine, associated with various inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Elevated TNF-alpha levels in peritoneal fluid have been reported in women with endometriosis, suggesting that TNF-alpha may be involved in the development of endometriosis. In this study, we investigated the possible association between endometriosis and the TNF-alpha gene promoter polymorphisms -238G/A, -308G/A, -857C/T, -863C/A and -1031T/C in a Japanese population. METHODS We compared the distribution of the -238G/A, -308G/A, -857C/T, -863C/A and -1031T/C polymorphisms in the promoter region of TNF-alpha in 130 endometriosis cases and 185 controls using PCR-RFLP analysis. RESULTS The allele frequencies of -238A, -308A, -857T, -863A and -1031C in controls were 2.0%, 1.3%, 19.4%, 17.0% and 18.6%, and in the cases 1.1%, 0.3%, 19.6%, 18.6% and 13.6%, respectively. No significant differences in frequencies were found between the crude endometriosis cases and controls. However, when the endometriosis group was divided into a subgroup of women with stage IV disease only, the frequency of the -1031C allele was significantly lower in this subgroup than controls. CONCLUSIONS The variability of the -1031T/C polymorphism of the TNF-alpha gene may be associated with susceptibility to (AUTHOR: as meant? ) endometriosis.
Effects of Changes in pH and PCO2 on Wall Tension in Isolated Rat Intrapulmonary Arteries

We examined mean (±s.e.m.) changes in wall tension in isolated rat intrapulmonary arteries on switching from control conditions (pH 7.38 ± 0.01; PCO2, 34.4 ± 0.5 mmHg) to hypercapnic acidosis (pH change, ‐0.24 ± 0.01; PCO2 change, +27.5 ± 0.9 mmHg), isohydric hypercapnia (pH change, ‐0.02 ± 0.01; PCO2 change, +28.5 ± 0.8 mmHg) and normocapnic acidosis (pH change, ‐0.24 ± 0.01; PCO2 change, ‐0.5 ± 0.3). Arteries were submaximally preconstricted with prostaglandin F2alpha; and changes in tension are expressed as a percentage of the 80 mM KCl‐induced contraction (%Po). Mean changes in wall tension on switching to hypercapnic acidosis (+4.4 ± 3.7%Po), isohydric hypercapnia (+1.9 ± 2.2%Po) and normocapnic acidosis (−1.5 ± 1.9%Po) were not significantly different from the change observed on switching to control conditions (+3.5 ± 1.1%Po), and were unaltered by endothelial removal. In isolated carotid preparations, the change in tension in isohydric hypercapnia (‐6.8 ± 7.1%Po) was not significantly different from that observed in control switches (+8.6 ± 3.2%Po). Significant reductions in tension (P < 0.001) were observed in hypercapnic (‐42.9 ± 7.8%Po) and normocapnic acidosis (‐36.4 ± 9.0%Po). These data suggest that intrapulmonary arteries are resistant to the vasodilator effects of extracellular acidosis observed in systemic (carotid) vessels.
Identifying injuries and motor vehicle collision characteristics that together are suggestive of diaphragmatic rupture.

BACKGROUND Diaphragmatic rupture (DR) remains a diagnostic challenge because of the lack of an accurate test demonstrating the injury. Our purpose was to identify motor vehicle collision (MVC) characteristics and patient injuries that collectively could identify the presence of a DR. METHODS The National Automotive Sampling System was used to identify occupants involved in MVCs from 1995 to 1999 who sustained abdominal (Abbreviated Injury Scale score >or= 2) and/or thoracic injuries (Abbreviated Injury Scale score >or= 2). Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to quantify the association between patient injuries, vehicle collision characteristics, and DR. Sensitivity and specificity were also calculated to determine the ability of organ injury and MVC characteristics to correctly classify patients with and without DR. RESULTS Overall, occupants sustaining a DR had a significantly higher delta-V (DeltaV) (49.8 kilometers per hour [kph] vs. 33.8 kph, p< 0.0001) and a greater degree of occupant compartment intrusion (70.6 cm vs. 48.3 cm, p< 0.0001). Specific abdominal and thoracic organ injuries were associated with DR, including thoracic aortic tears (OR, 5.2; 95% CI, 2.2-12.5), splenic injury (OR, 8.4; 95% CI, 3.9-17.8), pelvic fractures (OR, 4.7; 95% CI, 2.7-8.0), and hepatic injuries (OR, 4.2; 95% CI, 1.7-10.6). Combining frontal or near-side lateral occupant compartment intrusion >or= 30 cm or DeltaV >or= 40 kph with specific organ injuries generated a sensitivity for indicating the likelihood of diaphragm injury ranging from 68% to 89%. Patients with any of the following characteristics had a sensitivity for detecting DR of 91%: splenic injury, pelvic fracture, DeltaV >or= 40 kph, or occupant compartment intrusion from any direction >or= 30 cm. CONCLUSION Specific MVC characteristics combined with patient injuries have been identified that are highly suggestive of DR. For this subpopulation, additional invasive procedures including exploratory laparotomy, laparoscopy, or thoracoscopy may be warranted to exclude DR.
Inflammation and atrial fibrillation: cause or effect?

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an emerging epidemic of cardiovascular disease (CVD), being responsible for approximately 1% of the National Health Service budget of the United Kingdom.1 AF is linked to both increased morbidity (eg from ischaemic stroke, heart failure and dementia) and mortality.2 Consequently, the quest to elucidate the complexities of AF pathogenesis and perpetuation continues at a great pace, in the hope of developing future novel and effective therapeutic strategies. Increasing attention has focused on the potential factors that might be involved in both the triggering and the perpetuation of AF. Inflammation has been postulated as a predisposing factor for AF, as well as its complications, including thromboembolism.2 In the first study to identify a potential link between inflammation and AF, Frustaci et al 3 demonstrated evidence of focal myocarditis on left ventricular endocardial biopsies of three out of 14 patients with lone AF. The authors expanded on this initial work 6 years later by performing right atrial biopsies on 12 patients with lone AF, reporting that 67% of these showed evidence of right atrial myocarditis.4 In …
Effect of L‐Arginine on Age‐Related Changes in Macrophage Phagocytic Activity

Aging is associated with decline in the functioning of immune cells and reductions in serum L‐arginine and excretion of nitric oxide metabolites. Studies have shown that L‐arginine plays an important role in many physiological, biological and immunological processes. The present study was performed to determine if treatment with L‐arginine could prevent age‐related changes in phagocytic function of peritoneal macrophages. The effects of L‐arginine on phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages were compared between young and middle‐aged rats. Studies were performed in four groups of rats for 8 weeks: group 1 (3 month‐old) received physiological saline; group 2 (3 month‐old) received L‐arginine (160 mg/kg/day); group 3 (12 month‐old) received physiological saline; group 4 (12 month‐old) received L‐arginine (160 mg/kg/day). There were no significant differences in percentage of cells which were phagocytized. However, the phagocytosis of activated charcoal by peritoneal macrophages reduced with age. Thus, the phagocytic index was lower in macrophages of middle‐aged rats. L‐arginine treatment increased phagocytosis by peritoneal macrophages of both young and middle‐aged rats. L‐arginine‐induced augmentation in phagocytosis by macrophages were much higher in the middle‐aged rats compared with young rats. In summary, we found that L‐arginine prevented the age‐related reduction in phagocytic capability of peritoneal macrophages.
Production of clavulanic acid and cephamycin C by Streptomyces clavuligerus under different fed-batch conditions

The effect of carbon source and feeding conditions on the production of clavulanic acid (CA) and cephamycin C (CephC) by Streptomyces clavuligerus was investigated. In fed-batch experiments performed with glycerol feeding, production of CA exceeded that of CephC, and reached 1022 mg.L-1. Highest CephC production (566.5 mg.L-1) was obtained in fed-batch cultivation with glycerol feeding. In fed-batch experiments performed with starch feeding, the production of CephC was in general higher than that of CA. A dissociation index (DI) was used to identify feeding conditions that favored production of CephC relative to CA. In all cultures with glycerol, DI values were less than unity, indicating higher production of CA compared to CephC. Conversely, in cultures fed with starch, the DI values obtained were greater than unity. However, no carbon source or feeding condition was able to completely dissociate the production of CA from that of CephC.
Assessing Individual Risk Attitudes Using Field Data From Lottery Games

We use information from the television game show with the highest guaranteed average payoff in the United States, Hoosier Millionaire, to analyze risktaking in a high-stakes experiment. We characterize gambling decisions under alternative assumptions about contestant behavior and preferences, and derive testable restrictions on individual risk attitudes based on this characterization. We then use an extensive sample of gambling decisions to estimate distributions of risk-aversion parameters consistent with the theoretical restrictions and revealed preferences. We find that although most contestants display risk-averse preferences, the extent of the risk aversion implied by our estimates varies substantially with the stakes involved in the different decisions.