Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Current disposable ureteroscopes - performance and limitations in a standardized kidney model.

OBJECTIVES Due to the increasing fragility of the instruments and rising concerns about the sterility of reprocessable scopes, several single-use devices for fURS have been introduced. In this study we compare currently available disposable digital and fiberoptic flexible ureteroscopes with a contemporary reusable fiberoptic device. METHODS LithoVue™, Pusen Uscope® (UE3011, UE3022), Flexor®Vue™ and a reusable fiber optic flexible ureteroscope (BOA vision®) were tested in kidney models. The setup included (a) visualization of all calices (correct assignment of colored pearls) and (b) the extraction of human calculi with a standard disposable extraction device (NGage®). We documented the successful visualization, stone extraction, and times to completion. In addition, the surgeons' workload and performance was determined using the NASA-Task Load Index (NASA-TLX). RESULTS In visualizing and identifying calyces, the LithoVue and both generations of the Uscope performed similarly, but time to completion was significantly longer for all single-use devices in comparison to the BoaVision. LithoVue retracted stones almost as well as the reusable scope (97% vs 95%/82%/96% stone clearance), while accessibility was impeded using Uscope UE3011, as reflected by the retrieval time per stone (73s vs. 102s per stone). This disadvantage has, however, been overcome with the new Uscope Generation UE3022, showing a retrieval time of only 65s/stone, excelling over the reusable scope in this category. The Uscope UE 3022 image quality was also rated best, but showed no significant difference. CONCLUSIONS In comparison to disposable ureteroscopes available, LithoVue offers a performance and characteristics similar to a reusable device, while the FlexorVu's performance does not yet yield satisfactory results for clinical use. The first generation of Uscope exhibits potential, but requires further technical improvements to match the performance of a reusable device. With the new generation UE3022 Pusen has made significant improvement and offers a quality comparable to the LithoVue's.
Shear bond strength of resin adhesive to laser treated surface of yttria tetragonal zirconia polycrystalline

Purpose: This study evaluated the effects of surface treatment of zirconia with erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Er-YAG) laser on shear bond strength to resin cement. Materials and Methods: Thirty disc-shaped zirconia specimens (10 mm in diameter and 2 mm in thickness) were fabricated, randomly assigned to 3 groups (n = 10) and treated surface with: Gr. N) no treated surface, Gr. S) sandblasted with 50 micron alumina and Gr. L) treated with an Er-YAG laser. Zirconia surface was then applied with metal/zirconia primer prior to be cemented to composite cylinder (5 mm in diameter and 4 mm in thickness) with resin cement. Shear bond strength test was performed at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey HSD tests. Results: The means and standard deviations of shear bond strength (MPa) were: Gr. N) 10.79 ± 1.03, Gr. S) 14.15 ± 3.07, Gr. L) 14.11 ± 1.98. The treatment of zirconia surface were significantly affected to shear bond of resin adhesive to zirconia (p< 0.05). Treatment surface of zirconia with either Er-YAG laser or sandblast indicated significant higher shear bond strength than no treated surface (p < 0.05). No significant in bond strength between sandblasted surface and Er-YAG treated surface (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Pretreatment of zirconia by Er-YAG laser improved bond strength to resin cement. The study suggested that Y-TZP ceramics should be treated surface with Er-YAG laser before cementation.
A model predictive control framework for centralised management of a supply chain dynamical system

In this paper, a centralised model predictive control (MPC) strategy is applied to control inventories in a four-echelon supply chain. The single MPC controller used in this strategy optimises globally and finds an optimal ordering policy for each node. The controller relies on a linear discrete-time state-space model to predict system outputs and the prediction can be approached by either of the two multi-step predictors depending on the measurability of the controller states. The objective function has a quadratic form and thus the resulting optimisation problem can be solved via standard quadratic programming. Simulation results show that a centralised MPC strategy is preferred because it can track customer demand and, in the meantime, maintain a proper inventory position level with reduced bullwhip effect.
The Morphological Description and Histological Structure of the Liver in Marsh Harrier Bird in Iraq (Circus aeruginosus)

The liver of marsh harrier grossly appeared as large, bi-lobed organ divided into left and right lobes, which are approximately equal in size and not divided into secondary lobes. Histologically, the liver of marsh harrier was found to contain numerous lobules which are not well defined by the connective tissue of the septa except that surrounded the portal triads. The parenchyma of liver composed of irregular branching cords of hepatocytes organized in double rows alternating with tortures path sinusoids which are lined with flattened endothelial cells and large, irregular outlined kupffer cells. Hepatic cords arranged in a radial pattern around the central vein of the liver lobule while in a subscapsular region they run parallel to the capsule. Portal areas contained a large branch of the portal vein that usually accompanied by another smaller one, hepatic artery and 1-4 branches of variable size bile duct that lined by simple cuboidal epithelium and contained abundant secretory material in their lumen. Portal triad structures are surrounded by moderate amounts of connective tissue, which contains few smooth muscle fibers, the later was also observed within the capsule that surrounded the liver lobes. Glycogen granules stored in liver cells stained moderately with PAS stain technique.
Prevalence of hypothyroidism in patients with gallstone disease

Back ground:Earlier, the studies had been shown an increased prevalence of previously diagnosed hypothyroidism in gallstone patient and a delayed emptying of the biliary tract in hypothyroidism, explained partly by the missing prorelaxing effect of thyroxine on the sphincter of oddi contractility . failure and disturbances of lipid metabolism that may consecutively lead to change of the composition of the bile and motility of biliary tract. Aim:To show the prevalence of previously undiagnosed hypothyroidism in patients with gallstones . Patient and method:A cross sectional study was done in Al-Sader Teaching Hospital in Al-Najaf city between 15th of February 2008 and 1st of November 2009 of 225 cases were taken to show relation between gallstone and hypothyroidism. For every patient with diagnosed gallstone, full history and clinical examination was taken and sent for ultrasound of neck for goitre detection and laboratory blood test for T3, T4 and TSH.Results:Out of 225 patients with gallstone 198 (88%) were females and 27 (12%) males. Thyroid disorder in form of hypothyroidism was found in 24 (10.6%), (from this percentage 22 (9.7%) were females and from this 18 (8.0%) were subclinical and 4 (1.7%) were clinical hypothyroidism and males were 2 (0.9%) with subclinical cases. From 225 cases with gallstones, 22(9.7%) cases complaining from goitre. Peak age between 51- 60 years. Conclusion and recommendation:There is no significant association between hypothyroidism and gallstones in both genders. Gallstone patients between 51-60 years should be checked for serum TSH, T3 and T4 because of high incidence of hypothyroidism among this age group.
Child-Centric Intervention Research: The Devil is in the Detail

This paper discusses conceptual, ethical, pragmatic and paradigmatic constraints encountered in a T2 ‘bench to bedside’ translational research endeavour piloting an early intervention program for young children who have experienced sexual abuse. The resultant child-centric intervention research framework emerged from the challenges associated with trauma-related clinical work, the absence of an evidence-base and the difficulties of adopting traditional positivistic methodologies when evaluating practice in this complex field. Critically, the resultant framework was person-centred and, hence, individually responsive. More specifically, it was child-centred and so developmental and systemic issues were privileged.
Unusual spermatozoa and reproductive modalities of Xenodasys eknomios (Gastrotricha: Xenodasyidae)

The rare macrodasyidan Xenodasys eknomios is the first member of the genus to be found in the Mediterranean Sea and the fourth species known worldwide. As Xenodasys has proved to be at the base of the Macrodasyida clade, we provide new data on the reproductive system and spermatozoa to try and shed light on the ground pattern of gastrotrich reproduction. The hermaphroditic system of X. eknomios consists of two testes with ventrolateral pores and two caudal ovaries. A sac‐like frontal organ, generally containing a spermatophore, is enveloped by a basal lamina and attached to the body wall by muscular fibres, appearing as a permanent structure. The spermatophore contains mature, filiform, spermatozoa, each composed of acrosome, spiralized nucleus, connecting piece and flagellum. The complex acrosome is the predominant element and forms the axis of the sperm. Most of the acrosome, is surrounded by two helixes, the external one is the nucleus and the internal one is a crystalline‐like ribbon structure. The peculiar acrosome–nucleus complex, and the long connecting piece appear as autapomorphies. The structural plans of the reproductive system and the spermatozoa support the current systematization of Xenodasyidae and provide evidence for a possible sperm transfer modality in these species.
All-Poly-Crystalline Ceramics Nd:YAG/Cr4+:YAG Monolithic Micro-Lasers with Multiple-Beam Output

Laser-induced ignition of air-fuel mixtures in internal combustion engines is a subject that has been investigated extensively during last years. In the beginning, experiments were performed with sized and robust, commercial available lasers that delivered pulses with energy in the range of tens to a few hundreds of mJ and several ns pulse duration (Ma et al., 1998; Phuoc & White, 1999; Weinrotter et al. 2005a; Weinrotter at al. 2005b). These investigations revealed that laser-induced ignition offers significant advantages over a conventional spark-ignition system, such as higher probability to ignite leaner mixtures, reduction of erosion effects, increase of engine efficiency, or shorter combustion time. Thus, developing of an engine ignited by laser could address, even partially, the increase concern of humanity for protecting global environment and preserving fossil resources. Subsequent research (Kofler et al., 2007) concluded that a suitable laser configuration for engine ignition is a Nd:YAG laser, passively Q-switched by Cr4+:YAG saturable absorber (SA). Q-switched laser pulses with energy up to 6 mJ and 1.5-ns duration were obtained from an end-pumped, 210-mm long Nd:YAG-Cr4+:YAG laser. Furthermore, side-pumping technique was employed to realize a Nd:YAG laser passively Q-switched by Cr4+:YAG SA with 25 mJ energy per pulse and pulse duration around 3 ns (Kroupa et al. 2009); the laser resonator was around 170 mm. However, the length of these lasers make difficult to accomplish compactness of an electrical spark plug used in the automotive industry. In recent works our group has realized Nd:YAG-Cr4+:YAG micro-lasers and demonstrated laser ignition of an automobile engine with improved performances in comparison with ignition induced by a conventional spark plug (Tsunekane at al. 2008; Tsunekane et al. 2010). The strategy was to shorten the pulse duration by decreasing the resonator length, and to maximize the laser pulse energy by optimizing the pump conditions, the Nd:YAG doping level and length, as well as Cr4+:YAG initial transmission (T0) and the output mirror transmission (T) (Sakai et al., 2008). A passively Q-switched Nd:YAG-Cr4+:YAG micro-laser with 2.7-mJ energy per pulse and 600-ps pulse duration was realized. This laser, which
CHARACTERISTICS OF ACCIDENTS INVOLVING ELDERLY DRIVERS AT INTERSECTIONS

Statistics indicate that elderly drivers (drivers 65 years and older) are involved in an increasingly high percentage of accidents at intersections. To develop countermeasures to this problem, traffic and geometric characteristics associated with elderly driver accident involvement are identified. The results indicate that the risk of an elderly driver's being in an accident--expressed in terms of an involvement ratio--is higher at intersections outside cities than at those inside cities. It was also found that providing longer amber signal times and protected left-turn phases will help the older driver.
Tinbergen Institute The Tinbergen Institute is the institute for economic research of the Erasmus Universiteit

The most important financial source for behavioral economics is the Russell Sage Foundation (RSF). The most prominent behavioral economists among the RSF’s twentysix member Behavioral Economics Roundtable (BER) are Kahneman, Tversky, Thaler, Camerer, Loewenstein, Rabin, and Laibson. The theoretical core of behavioral economics made up of the work of these seven researchers is positioned in opposition to Adam Smith/Hayek type of economics, as exemplified by experimental economists Vernon Smith and Plott; and what is referred to as ‘mainstream’ or ‘traditional’ economics, meaning the neoclassical economics that roughly builds on Samuelson. On the basis of an overview of the work of these seven behavioral economists, a theoretical division can be observed within behavioral economics. The first branch considers human decisionmaking to be a problem of exogenous uncertainty, which can be analyzed with decision theory. It employs traditional economics as a normative benchmark and favors a normative-descriptive(-prescriptive) distinction for economics. The second branch considers human decision-making to be a problem of strategic interaction, in which the uncertainty is endogenous. Its main tool is game theory. It rejects traditional economics both positively and normatively.
SURFACE NANOCRYSTALLIZATION OF IRON INDUCED BY ULTRASONIC SHOT PEENING

A nanocrystalline surface layer was fabricated on a pure Fe plate by using an ultrasonic shot peening (USSP) technique. The USSP induced surface nanocrystallization products were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Experimental evidences showed that after USSP treatments, the initial coarse-grained structure in the surface layer was refined into equiaxed ultrafine grains (about 10nm) with random crystallographic orientations. The grain refinement mechanism during USSP treatments is discussed. ©1999 Acta Metallurgica Inc.
Nutritive Appraisal of Various Wheat Varieties/Lines for Developing Biofortified Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Essential micronutrients such as iron and zinc deficiencies affect more than two billion people globally especially the pregnant women and children below the age of five. Wheat, like many other staple cereals, contains low levels of the essential micronutrients iron and zinc. It contributes 13.1 percent to the value added in agriculture and 2.8 percent to GDP of Pakistan. National Wheat Breeding program at Faisalabad, Pakistan analyzed 240 samples of wheat varieties/lines both from irrigated and rainfed conditions. The analysis revealed that 1000 grain weight ranged from 23.9-50.2 in irrigated and 31-42.0 g in rainfed conditions while test weight range was found to be 59.9-75.8 (irrigated) and 64.5-79.9 Kg hl-1 (rain-fed). Protein and gluten content ranged between 12.0-16.1 & 13-16.2 and 21-34 & 21-38% in irrigated and rainfed trial, respectively. Starch content was found to be 51.8-57.1 and 51.9-56.1% in irrigated and rain-fed set, respectively. Falling No. (FN) values were recorded in the range of 352-814 in irrigated and 352-814 sec in the rain-fed set. Most of the varieties/lines had narrow range of Zn (31- 32.6 & 31.2-33.9) and Fe (35-40 & 35-43 ppm) in irrigated and rainfed trial, respectively. In irrigated, conditions, cluster 3(5 genotypes) represented relatively high value of Fe and Zn contents while in rainfed condition, cluster 2 (31 genotypes) and cluster 3(15 genotypes) represented relatively high value Zn. Statistical analysis of both sets showed gluten & protein being directly correlated to each other, showing a positive correlation with Fe & Zn but a negative one with starch. In both sets, a direct correlation of FN with starch was observed only in rainfed set.
Hydrography, bacteria and protist communities across the continental shelf and shelf slope of the Andaman Sea (NE Indian Ocean)

The hydrography and plankton community structure was investigated in the Andaman Sea off Phuket, Thailand. Two cruises were conducted in 1996, one representing the calm dry NE monsoon season (March) and the other representing the stormy and rainy SW monsoon season (August). Sampling was performed along 3 transects perpendicular to the shelf break, from the coast across the shelf into deep water. The water column at the nearshore stations was vertically mixed, while the water column at off shore stations was strongly stratified, hence a frontal zone was estab- lished at the mid shelf. A prominent feature of the area was the pronounced internal wave centred around the pycnocline. The wave was observed from the outermost stations to the mid-shelf front. The height of the wave reached peak values of approximately 60 m in areas of approximately 300 m bottom depth. At all stations in stratified waters the vertical distribution of the phytoplankton showed a pronounced subsurface chl a peak in association with the pycnocline. The highest chl a values and primary production was observed at the front established at the mid shelf where the pycnocline meets the bottom, and salt nutrient-rich water is mixed up in the surface layer. We did not find any relationships between hydrography and the other key components of the microbial food web. No difference in productivity or food web structure was observed between the 2 seasons despite a significant difference in climatic forcing. Pico- and nanoplankton dominated the biomass in both seasons and Synechococcus contributed 72 to 74% of the biomass. Analysis of the microbial food web and establishment of carbon-flow budgets illustrates the importance of the microbial food web for making the primary producers available to the higher trophic levels.
Morphometric Evaluation of Endometrial Blood Vessels and Its Clinico-pathological Relation in Patients with Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding

Introduction Disturbances of menstrual bleeding are a medical and social problem. The term dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB)should be reserved for those patients in whom not only the pelvic examination is normal but in whom there is no other demonstrable extragenital cause for bleeding. The present study was designed to analyze the various histopathologic patterns of endometrium with respect to the number as well as morphology of endometrial blood vessel in DUB patients using common stains. Aims: To analyze the various histopathological patterns of endometrium with respect to the number as well as morphology of endometrial blood vessel in Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding patients using common stains. Methods and Material: Over a period of 3 years, we evaluated the histopathological appearance of endometrium with special emphasis on endometrial blood vessels in 180 patients in the reproductive age group with DUB. The specimens were obtained either by dilatation and curettage or hysterectomy. The stained tissue sections were used for endometrial dating, pattern analysis and evaluation of various characteristics of endometrial blood vessels. Appropriate control was taken. For statistical analysis and comparison of means student unpaired "t"-test was used Results: Broadly the two groups were identified. A) Non secretory type of endometrium with 75 cases B) Secretory type of endometrium with 105 cases. Commonest pathology of Group A was Simple hyperplasia where as that of Group B was Irregular ripening and both showed significant vascular changes in terms of mean vascular density, congestion and dilatation. Insignificant vascular changes were seen in proliferative and secretory endometrium in group A and B respectively. Conclusions: The observed altered vascular morphology in the different endometrial pattern found may be the underlying pathological mechanism for DUB. Key-words: Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding, Endometrial blood vessels, Morphometry, DUB. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Date of Submission: 16-06-2018 Date Of Acceptance: 02-07-2018 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The IGIMF and other IMFs in dSphs: the case of Sagittarius

We have studied the effects of various initial mass functions (IMFs) on the chemical evolution of the Sagittarius dwarf galaxy (Sgr). In particular, we tested the effects of the integrated galacticinitialmassfunction(IGIMF)onvariouspredictedabundancepatterns.TheIGIMFdepends on the star formation rate and metallicity and predicts less massive stars in a regime of low star formation, as it is the case in dwarf spheroidals. We adopted a detailed chemical evolution model following the evolution of α-elements, Fe and Eu, and assuming the currently best set of stellar yields. We also explored different yield prescriptions for the Eu, including production from neutron star mergers. Although the uncertainties still present in the stellar yields and data prevent us from drawing firm conclusions, our results suggest that the IGIMF applied to Sgr predicts lower [α/Fe] ratios than classical IMFs and lower [hydrostatic/explosive] α-element ratios, in qualitative agreement with observations. In our model, the observed high [Eu/O] ratios in Sgr is due to reduced O production, resulting from the IGIMF mass cut-off of the massive oxygen-producing stars, as well as to the Eu yield produced in neutron star mergers, a more promising site than core-collapse supernovae, although many uncertainties are still present in the Eu nucleosynthesis. We find that a model, similar to our previous calculations, based on the late addition of iron from the Type Ia supernova time-delay (necessary to reproduce the shape of [X/Fe] versus [Fe/H] relations) but also including the reduction of massive stars due to the IGIMF, better reproduces the observed abundance ratios in Sgr than models without the IGIMF.