Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Partial phenotyping in voluntary blood donors of Gujarat State

Introduction: Partial phenotyping of voluntary blood donors has vital role in transfusion practice, population genetic study and in resolving legal issues.The Rh blood group is one of the most complex and highly immunogenic blood group known in humans. The Kell system, discovered in 1946, is the third most potent system at triggering hemolytic transfusion reactions and consists of 25 highly immunogenic antigens. Knowledge of Rh & Kell phenotypes in given population is relevant for better planning and management of blood bank; the main goal is to find compatible blood for patients needing multiple blood transfusions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of Rh & Kell phenotype of voluntary donors in Gujarat state. Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted by taking 5670 samples from random voluntary blood donors coming in blood donation camp. Written consent was taken for donor phenotyping. The antigen typing of donors was performed by Qwalys-3(manufacturer: Diagast) by using electromagnetic technology on Duolys plates. Results: Out of 5670 donors, the most common Rh antigen observed in the study population was e (99.07%) followed by D (95.40%), C (88.77%), c (55.89%) and E (17.88%). The frequency of the Kell antigen (K) was 1.78 %. Discussion: The antigen frequencies among blood donors from Gujarat were compared with those published for other Indian populations. The frequency of D antigen in our study (95.4%) and north Indian donors (93.6) was significantly higher than in the Caucasians (85%) and lower than in the Chinese (99%). The frequencies of C, c and E antigens were dissimilar to other ethnic groups while the ′e′ antigen was present in high frequency in our study as also in the other ethnic groups. Kell antigen (K) was found in only 101 (1.78 %) donors out of 5670. Frequency of Kell antigen in Caucasian and Black populations is 9% & 2% respectively. The most common Kell phenotype was K-k+, not just in Indians (96.5%) but also in Caucasians (91%), Blacks (98%) and Chinese (100%). Conclusion: Phenotype and probable genotype showed wide range of variations in different races and religion. Reliable population based frequency data of Rh & Kell antigens has vital role in population genetic study, in resolving medico legal issues and in transfusion practice.
Ability of the objective structured clinical examination to differentiate surgical residents, medical students, and physician assistant students.

BACKGROUND The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) has been used extensively to evaluate the clinical abilities of medical students and residents. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the standard OSCE would differentiate performance of subjects with different levels and/or types of training. METHODS We conducted a blinded OSCE, during which we simultaneously evaluated surgical residents from all 5 years of the general surgery training program, third-year medical students, and second-year physician assistant students. All examinees went through the same clinical evaluation stations, which consisted of history-taking, physical examination, technical skills, trauma management, and X-ray interpretation. The students and residents were rated at each station by a trained standardized patient evaluator or a faculty evaluator using a checklist for performance evaluation. All subjects wore surgical scrubs without name tags or identification of program or year of training. RESULTS Overall mean performance scores (P = 0.09, NS) were for surgical residents 71.2% (+/-9.7); for medical students 66.9% (+/-5.7); for physician assistant students 64.7% (+/-5.8). This shows a significant trend toward higher scores with more training. Surgical residents scored higher on technical stations, history-taking, and X-ray interpretation. Medical students scored higher in performance of physical examination. Physician assistant students scored quite close to the other two groups. CONCLUSIONS The differences among group performance appeared to reflect the level of experience of the learners. Some components of the OSCE appear to better differentiate levels of training.
Algorithm for the Management of Intracranial Hypertension in Children with Syndromic Craniosynostosis

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of head growth, obstructive sleep apnea, and intracranial hypertension in patients with syndromic or complex craniosynostosis, and to evaluate the authors’ standardized treatment protocol for the management of intracranial hypertension in these patients. Methods: The authors conducted a prospective observational cohort study of patients with syndromic craniosynostosis at a national referral center, treated according to a standardized protocol. Measurements included occipitofrontal head circumference, with growth arrest defined as downward deflection in occipitofrontal head circumference trajectory greater than or equal to a 0.5 SD fall from baseline over 2 years, or lack of change in occipitofrontal head circumference growth curve; sleep studies, with results dichotomized into no/mild versus moderate/severe obstructive sleep apnea; and funduscopy to indicate papilledema, supplemented by optical coherence tomography and/or intracranial pressure monitoring to identify intracranial hypertension. Results: The authors included 62 patients, of whom 21 (33.9 percent) had intracranial hypertension, 39 (62.9 percent) had obstructive sleep apnea, and 20 (32.3 percent) had occipitofrontal head circumference growth arrest during the study. Age at which intracranial hypertension first occurred was 2.0 years (range, 0.4 to 6.0 years). Preoperatively, 13 patients (21.0 percent) had intracranial hypertension, which was associated only with moderate/severe obstructive sleep apnea (p = 0.012). In the first year after surgery, intracranial hypertension was particularly related to occipitofrontal head circumference growth arrest (p = 0.006). Beyond 1 year after surgery, intracranial hypertension was associated with a combination of occipitofrontal head circumference growth arrest (p < 0.001) and moderate/severe obstructive sleep apnea (p = 0.007). Conclusions: Children with syndromic craniosynostosis are at risk of intracranial hypertension. The major determinant of this after vault expansion is impaired head growth, which may occur at varying ages. The presence of moderate/severe obstructive sleep apnea also significantly increases the risk of intracranial hypertension. CLINICIAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Risk, III.
Technetium-99m methoxyisobutylisonitrile scintigraphy in the assessment of cold thyroid nodules: is it time to change the approach to the management of cold thyroid nodules?

BackgroundScanning with technetium-99m methoxyisobutylisonitrile (99mTc-MIBI) is recommended for evaluating thyroid nodule metabolism. In addition, it may help differentiate between benign and malignant nodules; however, the efficacy of this technique has not been fully elucidated. Therefore, it is not currently performed for routine clinical application. This prospective study was conducted to investigate the clinical significance of 99mTc-MIBI scintigraphy in the assessment of patients with cold thyroid nodules. Patients and methodsThis prospective study was conducted on 104 patients with cold thyroid nodules greater than 1 cm in diameter as detected on 99mTc-pertechnetate scintigraphy. Uptake of MIBI in thyroid nodules was compared with that in the surrounding normal thyroid tissue for both early and delayed images, and a score of 0–3 was assigned to each nodule as follows: 0, cold; 1, decreased; 2, equal; 3, increased. The thyroid scan was performed 20 and 40 min after intravenous injection of 555 MBq of 99mTc-MIBI. The patients underwent fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). Detailed statistical parameters were determined on a per-nodule basis for each qualitative and quantitative scan analysis, as defined by histology. ResultsA total of 104 patients (93 women and 11 men; mean age 40.76±11.40 years, range 20–73) with a total number of 167 cold nodules were included in this study. When 99mTc-MIBI uptake was regarded as the criterion of malignancy in 99mTc-MIBI scintigraphy, the accuracy was between 69.46 and 92.21% on using seven different methods. In addition, FNAC findings indicated a sensitivity of 66.66%, a specificity of 100%, a negative predictive value of 95.72%, a positive predictive value of 100%, and an accuracy of 96.06%. Six malignant cold nodules were detected on a positive 99mTc-MIBI scan, which were determined as benign nodules on FNAC examinations. ConclusionThe study demonstrated that 99mTc-MIBI scanning can be complementary to other diagnostic techniques in patients with cold thyroid nodules. In addition, because of its availability, rather low cost, simple protocol, and objective semiquantitative information, 99mTc-MIBI scanning seems to hold promise in routine imaging of cold thyroid nodules.
Characteristics of somatotopic organization and spontaneous neuronal activity in the region of the thalamic principal sensory nucleus in patients with spinal cord transection.

1. We explored the region of the principal sensory nucleus of thalamus (Vc) during stereotactic surgical procedures for treatment of patients with pain after spinal cord transection (n = 23). Receptive fields (RFs) of thalamic single neurons and locations of sensations evoked by stimulation (projected field, PF) were determined by standard methods. The cellular thalamic region where sensations were evoked at < 25 microA was termed the "region of Vc. " The region of Vc in spinal patients was subdivided into different areas according to RF and PF locations. Areas that were distant from the representation of the anesthetic part of the body were termed "spinal control" areas, whereas those that were adjacent to or included in the representation of the area of absolute sensory loss were termed "border zone/anesthetic" areas. The region of Vc in movement disorder patients were termed the "control" area. 2. Border zone/anesthetic areas of thalamus often exhibited increased representations of the border of the anesthetic part of the body in comparison with the representation of the same parts of the body in control and spinal control areas. 3. In control and spinal control areas the locations of RFs and PFs were usually well matched. However, in border zone/anesthetic areas of the thalamus there was frequently a mismatch between the location of RFs and PFs (RF/PF mismatch). In border zone/anesthetic areas, RFs were often located on the border of the anesthetic part of the body whereas PFs were referred to anesthetic parts of the body. 4. Analysis of first- and higher-order properties of spontaneous neuronal activity revealed that spike trains could be classified into two groups with distinct patterns of activity. The R group (n = 49) was characterized by independence of sequential interspike intervals (ISIs), a Poisson distribution of ISIs, initially inhibitory or flat autocovariance function (acvf), and low level of high-frequency bursting. The O group (n = 26) was characterized by correlation of sequential ISIs, large sustained postspike facilitation on the acvf, and high prevalence of high-frequency bursting--all consistent with a bursting pattern of activity. A third group of spike trains (n = 17) had an initially inhibitory or flat acvf and a unimodal, positively shifted, ISI distribution that did not meet criteria for a Poisson distribution. 5. Spike trains in the R group were much more common in control and control spinal areas, whereas those in the O group were more common in border zone/anesthetic areas. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Novel Adder Circuits Based On Quantum-Dot Cellular Automata (QCA)

Quantum-dot cellular automaton (QCA) is a novel nanotechnology that provides a very different computation platform than traditional CMOS, in which polarization of electrons indicates the digital information. This paper demonstrates designing combinational circuits based on quantum-dot cellular automata (QCA) nanotechnology, which offers a way to implement logic and all interconnections with only one homogeneous layer of cells. In this paper, the authors have proposed a novel design of XOR gate. This model proves designing capabilities of combinational circuits that are compatible with QCA gates within nano-scale. Novel adder circuits such as half adders, full adders, which avoid the fore, mentioned noise paths, crossovers by careful clocking organization, have been proposed. Experiment results show that the performance of proposed designs is more efficient than conventional designs. The modular layouts are verified with the freely available QCA Designer tool.
Mitigating congestion and bufferbloat on satellite networks through a rate-based AQM

Satellite networking is known to suffer from specific network performance issues, such as high latency and low throughput stability; this derives mainly from the high propagation delay, in particular with GEO satellites. This characteristic poses limitations on the benefits that general AQM solutions could introduce; in fact, reducing congestion and mitigating queueing delay is a vital feature that could boost the performance of satellite networks. This paper investigates PINK (Passive INverse feedbacK), a queue management algorithm designed to indirectly impose an individual resource allocation policy in order to mitigate the bufferbloat effect and the network congestion while exploiting the channel throughput and guaranteeing optimal flow fairness without forcing any packet drop. PINK modifies the TCP Acknowledgements (ACKs) segments passing through the Satellite access gateway. The modification consists in replacing the advertised Receive Windows field (RCV.WNDs) with custom values, in order to enforce a particular bandwidth utilization upper bound. To compute new RCV.WND values, PINK needs only the number of active connections, the flows RTT and the transmission channel bandwidth. The design characteristics of this new AQM let it works efficiently in satellite networks, and we validate this statement through several simulations performed with the ns-3 network simulator.
Thoracoscopic anatomic pulmonary segmentectomy: a 3-dimensional guided imaging system for lung operations.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the Lung Operation Three-dimensional Imaging System software by Xiamen TRONG Technology Co. Ltd in detecting the precise position of solitary pulmonary nodules or ground-glass opacity nodules before surgery. METHODS Chest, arterial phase, portal venous phase, enhanced and delayed-phase images of 10 cases with 12 nodules were obtained with a Toshiba Aquilion One 320 computed tomography (CT) scanner. According to the image data of the nodules, 0.5 mm thick images of 320-row multislice CT scanners were reconstructed as 3D images, and the boundary of each segment was automatically partitioned and pigmented in accordance with the pulmonary artery system. To locate the nodules, the 3D images and coloured segments were merged. The clearly labelled lung structure was utilized in a preoperative virtual segmentectomy and the subsequently planned thoracoscopic surgery. RESULTS In all 10 cases, the reconstruction of the pulmonary artery could image branches as far as Grade 5. The anatomically adjacent relationship of the nodules among the arteries, veins and bronchi in the target pulmonary segments could be displayed in any view. The thoracoscopic anatomic pulmonary segmentectomy was performed successfully. All 12 nodules, which had deeply settled in the parenchyma, were resected using the virtual planning software and diagnosed pathologically. CONCLUSIONS The software can be used preoperatively as a tracing method to identify the location of nodules in most general thoracic surgeries, subsequently providing guidance during the surgery.
Generation in vitro of B‐cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia‐proliferative and specific HLA class‐II‐restricted cytotoxic T‐cell responses using autologous dendritic cells pulsed with tumour cell lysate

Immunotherapy using dendritic cells has shown encouraging results in both haematological and non‐haematological malignancies. In this study, monocyte‐derived dendritic cells from patients with B‐CLL were cultured for 6 days in the presence of IL‐4 and GM‐CSF. Autologous B‐CLL T‐cells were cultured alone or with B‐CLL lysate‐pulsed and unpulsed autologous dendritic cells. IFN‐γ secretion was assessed using ELISA. Cytotoxicity was assessed, after 21 days in culture and re‐stimulation, using flow cytometry with and without blockade by anti‐HLA class I, anti‐HLA class II, anti‐CD4, anti‐CD8 and anti‐TCRαβ monoclonal antibodies. B‐CLL T cells stimulated with B‐CLL lysate‐pulsed autologous dendritic cells showed a significant (P = 0·0004) increase in IFN‐γ secretion and a significant (P = 0·0008) increase in specific cytotoxicity to autologous B‐cell targets, but none to autologous T cell or B cell targets from healthy individuals. B‐CLL T cells cultured with (non‐B‐CLL) B‐cell lysate‐pulsed B‐CLL dendritic cells showed no significant response. Pulsing dendritic cells from healthy volunteers with an autologous (non‐B‐CLL) B‐cell lysate did not stimulate proliferation, cytokine production or cytotoxicity by autologous T cells. Pulsing B‐CLL dendritic cells with allogeneic B‐CLL lysates and culturing with autologous T‐cells elicited cytotoxicity against autologous B‐CLL targets in some cases, but not in others. Cytotoxicity was significantly reduced by blocking with anti‐HLA class II (P = 0·001), anti‐TCRαβ (P = 0·03) and anti‐CD4 (P = 0·046) antibodies. Phenotyping of the responding T‐cell population demonstrated the majority to be CD4 positive. Our data demonstrate that HLA class II‐restricted proliferative and cytotoxic T‐cell responses to B‐CLL can be generated using autologous dendritic cells pulsed with tumour cell lysate.
Domestic cooking and food skills: A review

ABSTRACT Domestic cooking skills (CS) and food skills (FS) encompass multiple components, yet there is a lack of consensus on their constituent parts, inter-relatedness, or measurement, leading to limited empirical support for their role in influencing dietary quality. This review assessed the measurement of CS and FS in adults (>16 years); critically examining study designs, psychometric properties of measures, theoretical basis, and associations of CS/FS with diet. Electronic databases (PsychInfo), published reports, and systematic reviews on cooking and home food preparation interventions provided 834 articles of which 26 met the inclusion criteria. Multiple CS/FS measures were identified across three study designs—qualitative, cross-sectional, and dietary interventions—conducted from 1998 to 2013. Most measures were not theory-based, limited psychometric data were available, with little consistency of items or scales used for CS/FS measurements. Some positive associations between CS/FS and fruit and vegetables intake were reported, though lasting dietary changes were uncommon. The role of psycho-social (e.g., gender, attitudes) and external factors (e.g., food availability) on CS/FS is discussed. A conceptual framework of CS/FS components is presented for future measurement facilitation, which highlights the role for CS/FS on food-related behavior and dietary quality. This will aid future dietary intervention design.
Association of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Smoking Status With Bone Density and Vertebral Fractures in Male Lung Cancer Screening Participants

We studied the vertebral fracture prevalence on low‐dose chest computed tomography (CT) in male lung cancer screening participants and the association of fractures and bone density with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and smoking. 1140 male current and former smokers with ≥16.5 packyears from the NELSON lung cancer screening trial were included. Age, body mass index, and smoking status were registered. CT scans and pulmonary function tests were obtained on the same day. On CT, vertebral fractures and bone density were measured. The cohort had a mean age of 62.5 years (standard deviation 5.2) old; 531 (46.6%) had quit smoking; and 437 (38.3%) had COPD. Of the group, 100 (8.8%) participants had a vertebral fracture. Fracture prevalence was higher in current compared to former smokers (11.3% versus 5.8%, p = 0.001), but similar in participants with COPD compared to those without (9.6% versus 8.3%, p = 0.430). The multivariable adjusted odds ratio for fracture presence was 1.79 (95% CI: 1.13–2.84) in current smokers and 1.08 (95% CI: 0.69–1.67) in COPD participants. Bone density was lower in current compared to former smokers (103.2HU versus 108.7HU, p = 0.006) and in participants with COPD compared to those without [100.7 Hounsfield Units (HU) versus 108.9HU, p < 0.001]. In multivariate analysis, smoking status and COPD status were independently associated with bone density, corrected for age and body mass index. In conclusion, our study shows that lung cancer screening participants have a substantial vertebral fracture burden. Fractures are more common in current smokers, who also have lower bone density. We could not confirm that COPD is independently associated with vertebral fractures. © 2014 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Evidential stance in translation: patterns of complementation in mediated memories

The non-coincidence of author/translator identities inherent in translation has consequences for the evidential character of translated texts. For example, when an autobiography is translated, the experiential connection between the autobiographical ‘I’ and the memories being narrated is interrupted: an author narrates on the basis of ‘memory evidence’, while a translator narrates on the basis of ‘hearsay’. Assuming that the contrasting evidential positioning of autobiographical authors vs. translators can be traced in their respective textual productions, this article reports an analysis of ‘evidential stance’ in translated and non-translated (original) autobiographies. Using a purpose-built, bi-directional comparable corpus of translated and non-translated autobiographies in English and Japanese, the analysis focuses on memory-reporting constructions incorporating verbs of recollection, paying particular attention to the character of object complement structures (e.g. remember -ing, remember that), which are interpreted as effecting either an ‘experiential’ or ‘non-experiential’ construal of the memory being reported. The analysis reveals that translated autobiographies in both English and Japanese tend to report memories using experiential constructions less frequently and non-experiential constructions more frequently than do non-translated autobiographies. The findings are interpreted as an indication that the translational mode of consciousness is characterised by a mediative rather than experiential stance.
Determination of dissociation constants of flavonoids by capillary electrophoresis

Ionization constants of some flavanols (catechin and epicatechin) and flavonols (kaempherol, fisetin, morin, and quercetin) are determined by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE). This technique allows the determination of pKa values until about 12. The pKa values obtained are compared with those calculated by the SPARC computational program. This program predicts the microscopic and macroscopic pKa values and the order of deprotonation of the different −OH groups. While for catechin and epicatechin the first ionizable OH group occurs in ring 1 and the second ionizable group in ring 2, in flavonols the first deprotonation occurs in ring 2 and the second in ring 1.