Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Alterations of bone mineral density and bone metabolism in patients with various grades of chronic pancreatitis.

The aim of this study was to examine bone mineral density (BMD) and bone metabolism in patients with chronic pancreatitis to determine if increased severity of the disease would correlate with increased bone loss. Between October 1999 and September 2000, we investigated 42 patients with an average age of approximately 53 years suffering from chronic pancreatitis, as well as 20 healthy male controls with an average age of 49 years. Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) was performed on patients and controls, and serum levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH), osteocalcin (OC), carboxy-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (CICP), bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP), 1,25(OH)(2) vitamin D(3) and 25(OH) vitamin D(3), as well as fecal elastase 1 were also determined. The severity of chronic pancreatitis in patients was determined via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and assigned to 1 of 3 grades based on the Cambridge classification. BMD of patients with chronic pancreatitis was markedly decreased compared to controls (means in patients: DEXA lumbar vertebra anterior/posterior (LV ap) 96.8% +/- 4.2%, DEXA Ward's triangle (WARD) 92.2% +/- 5.2%; controls: DEXA LV ap 98.7% +/- 3.7%, DEXA WARD 97.1% +/- 3.1%; P <. 05 and P <. 0001) and correlated with the various Cambridge-grades (DEXA LV ap and DEXA WARD, P <.01). Fecal elastase 1 showed sensitivities of 14%, 87%, and 95% for the Cambridge-grades I, II, and III, respectively, and correlated with this classification of severity of chronic pancreatitis (P <.01). Furthermore, fecal elastase 1 of patients correlated the same way with both D(3)-vitamins (P <.01), as well as with parameters of BMD (P <.01). If fecal elastase 1 in patients was below 200 micro g/g, then the BMD and vitamin D(3) values were also significantly decreased compared to those with fecal elastase 1 above 200 micro g/g. In patients with Cambridge grades II and III 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) was markedly decreased (26.7 +/- 7.7 pg/mL and 27.6 +/- 9.0 pg/mL) compared to those with Cambridge grade I (38.0 +/- 10.5 pg/mL; between I and II, P =.027; between I and III, P =.033). 25(OH)D(3) was not significantly different within the various Cambridge groups (P =.07). Compared to controls, both D(3) vitamins, as well as fecal elastase 1, were extremely low (means in patients: fecal elastase 1, 140.7 +/- 75.7 micro g/g; 1,25(OH)(2)D(3), 29.9 +/- 9.5 pg/mL; 25(OH)D(3), 26.7 +/- 9.7 nmol/L; controls: fecal elastase 1, 694.9 +/- 138.6 micro g/g; 1,25(OH)(2)D(3), 67.5 +/- 4.3 pg/mL; 25(OH)D(3), 69.5 +/- 13.5 nmol/L). A significant correlation was observed between increased severity of chronic pancreatitis based on both endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and levels of fecal elastase 1, with decreased circulating levels of vitmain D(3) and decreased BMD. This supports a connection between the inflammatory destruction of the pancreas (Cambridge classification), exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (fecal elastase 1), altered levels of vitamin D metabolites, and loss of skeletal mass.
[Trends in the number of knee and hip arthroplasties: considerably more knee and hip prostheses due to osteoarthritis in 2030].

OBJECTIVE To predict the future number of knee and hip arthroplasties due to osteoarthritis (OA) in the Netherlands based on historical trends and demographic projections. DESIGN Data analysis and model calculations. METHOD Two future projections were based on age and sex-specific number of hospital admissions for the placement of total knee or hip prostheses due to OA between 1995 and 2005; data were obtained from the Dutch National Medical Registration (LMR). The demographical projection was based on the incidence of arthroplasty in 2005 combined with demographic predictions from Statistics Netherlands regarding the time period between 2005 and 2030. The trend projection used the trend in the age and sex-specific incidence of surgery between 1995 and 2005. RESULTS Between 1995 and 2005, the annual number of knee arthroplasties in patients with a primary diagnose of OA increased from 4,916 to 14,565, an increase of 196%. The total number of hip arthroplasties increased from 13,785 to 20,715, an increase of 50%. The demographical projection suggests that the number of total hip arthroplasties will increase to 31,731 by 2030, an increase of 53%, and the number of knee arthroplasties to 22,183. The trend projection suggests that the numbers may increase to 51,680 for the hip (+149%) and to 57,893 for the knee (+297%). CONCLUSION The increase in the number of knee and hip arthroplasties due to OA will probably continue in the coming 20 years. The following developments will probably contribute to this: demographical changes, the increase in overweight, improved long-term outcomes of arthroplasty, more active lifestyle of the elderly and the increasing number of orthopaedic surgeons.
Weather During Bloom Affects Pollination and Yield of Highbush Blueberry

ABSTRACT Weather plays an important role in spring-blooming fruit crops due to the combined effects on bee activity, flower opening, pollen germination, and fertilization. To determine the effects of weather on highbush blueberry, Vaccinium corymbosum L. , productivity, we monitored bee activity and compared fruit set, weight, and seed number in a field stocked with honey bees, Apis mellifera L. , and common eastern bumble bees, Bombus impatiens (Cresson). Flowers were subjected to one of five treatments during bloom: enclosed, open, open during poor weather only, open during good weather only, or open during poor and good weather. Fewer bees of all types were observed foraging and fewer pollen foragers returned to colonies during poor weather than during good weather. There were also changes in foraging community composition: honey bees dominated during good weather, whereas bumble bees dominated during poor weather. Berries from flowers exposed only during poor weather had higher fruit set in 1 yr and higher berry weight in the other year compared with enclosed clusters. In both years, clusters exposed only during good weather had >5 times as many mature seeds, weighed twice as much, and had double the fruit set of those not exposed. No significant increase over flowers exposed during good weather was observed when clusters were exposed during good and poor weather. Our results are discussed in terms of the role of weather during bloom on the contribution of bees adapted to foraging during cool conditions.
Gender-related and city- and countryside-related differences in patients with ulcerative colitis in a Chinese population.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study is to determine gender-related and city- and countryside-related differences of ulcerative colitis in a Chinese population, and to determine information on the role of lifestyle in the onset of ulcerative colitis. METHODS Patients with a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis established between Jan 2000 and Dec 2007 were investigated according to the age, gender and inductive factors of onset. Assessment of living condition of the patients was performed according to the place of living: city or countryside. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square test. RESULTS A total of 293 ulcerative colitis patients were involved in the study. The onset age of the rural patients was earlier than that of the urban patients (p=0.00295), while there was no difference in onset age between male and female patients (p=0.067995). Some inductive factors, such as psychological stress, fatigue, cold catching, and spicy or unwashed food, may contribute to the progress of ulcerative colitis. CONCLUSION Both gender-related and city- and countryside-related differences were found in the expression of ulcerative colitis in the Chinese population. Lifestyle factors such as psychological stress and fatigue may contribute to the expression of ulcerative colitis.
Long-term followup of polyarteritis nodosa, microscopic polyangiitis, and Churg-Strauss syndrome: analysis of four prospective trials including 278 patients.

OBJECTIVE To determine the long-term outcome of patients with polyarteritis nodosa (PAN), microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), and Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS), to compare the long-term outcome with the overall French population, to evaluate the impact on outcome of the type of vasculitis, prognostic factors, and treatments administered at diagnosis, and to analyze treatment side effects and sequelae. METHODS Data from PAN, MPA, and CSS patients (n = 278) who were enrolled between 1980 and 1993 were collected in 1996 and 1997 and analyzed. Two prognostic scoring systems, the Five-Factors Score (FFS) and the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS), were used to evaluate all patients at the time of diagnosis. RESULTS The mean (+/- SD) followup of the entire population was 88.3 +/- 51.9 months (range 3 days to 192 months). Of the 85 deaths recorded, at least 41 were due to progressive vasculitis or its consequences. Death rates reflected disease severity, as assessed by the FFS (P = 0.004) and the BVAS (P < 0.0002), and the 2 scores were correlated (r = 0.69). Relapses, rarer in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related PAN (7.9%) than in MPA (34.5%) (P = 0.004), occurred in 56 patients (20.1%) and did not reflect disease severity. Survival curves were similar for the subpopulation of 215 patients with CSS, MPA, and non-HBV-related PAN who were given first-line corticosteroids (CS) with or without cyclophosphamide (CYC). However, CS with CYC therapy significantly prolonged survival for patients with FFS scores > or =2 (P = 0.041). Relapse rates were similar regardless of the treatment regimen; only patients treated with CS alone had uncontrolled disease. CYC was associated with a greater frequency of side effects (P < 0.00001). CONCLUSION Rates of mortality due to PAN (related or unrelated to HBV), MPA, and CSS reflected disease severity and were higher than the mortality rate in the general population (P < 0.0004). Rates of relapse, more common in MPA than HBV-related PAN patients, did not reflect disease severity. Survival rates were better among the more severely ill patients who had received first-line CYC. Based on these findings, we recommend that the intensity of the initial treatment be consistent with the severity of the disease. The use of the FFS and BVAS scores improved the ability to evaluate the therapeutic response.
A miniaturized power combiner for compact design of CMOS phase shifter at K-Band

This paper proposes a ultra compact Wilkinson power combiner (WPC) incorporating synthetic transmission lines at K-band in CMOS technology. The 50 % improvement on the size reduction can be achieved by increasing the slow-wave factor of synthetic transmission line. The presented Wilkinson power combiner design is analyzed and fabricated by using standard 0.18 µm 1P6M CMOS technology. The prototype has only a chip size of 480 µm × 90 µm, corresponding to 0. 0002λ02 at 21.5 GHz. The measured insertion losses and return losses are less and higher than 4 dB and 17.5 dB from 16 GHz to 27 GHz, respectively. Furthermore, the proposed WPC is also integrated into the phase shifter to confirm its feasibility. The prototype of phase shifter shows 15 % size reduction and on-wafer measurements show good linearity of full 360-degree phase shifting from 21 GHz to 27 GHz.
XPM Response of a Chirped DFB-SOA All-Optical Flip-Flop Injected With an Assist Light at Transparency

In this paper, based on the coupled-mode and carrier rate equations, we have derived a dynamic model for a linearly chirped distributed feedback semiconductor optical amplifier (DFB-SOA) all-optical flip-flop (DFB-SOA-FF) and analyzed it numerically. We have investigated the effects of assist light and cross-phase modulation (XPM) on the dynamic response and rise and fall times of the DFB-SOA-FF, for the first time. We have also shown that injection of an assist light, within the transparency spectrum, into a DFB-SOA with a linearly chirped grating can improve the device speed limitation, significantly. Values of the ON and OFF switching times for such an optical flip-flop, in an optimized condition, are found to be 190 and 195 ps, respectively. These show reductions of more than three times in the ON and seven times in the OFF switching times with respect to those of the uniform grating DFB-SOA-FF. Finite-difference time-domain method is used for numerical simulations.
Actions to Control High Blood Pressure among Hypertensive Adults in Texas Counties along the Mexico Border: Texas BRFSS, 2007

Objectives. We examined the prevalence of actions taken to control blood pressure as measured by taking antihypertensive medication or making lifestyle modifications among hypertensive adults residing along the Texas/Mexico border. Methods. We used self-reported data from the 2007 Texas Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, with oversampling of border counties. We calculated the age-standardized prevalence of actions taken to control hypertension by selected characteristics. Results. In analyses that combined ethnicity with predominant language spoken, those least likely to take any action to control their blood pressure—either by taking an antihypertensive medication or by making any of four lifestyle modifications—were Spanish-speaking Hispanic people (83.2% ± 2.7% standard error [SE]), with English-speaking non-Hispanic people (88.9% ± 0.8% SE) having the highest prevalence of taking action to control blood pressure. When analyzed by type of medical category, uninsured Hispanic people (63.8% ± 4.8% SE) had the lowest prevalence of taking action to control their blood pressure compared with uninsured non-Hispanic people (75.4% ± 4.7% SE). Nonborder Texas residents with hypertension were more likely to take antihypertensive medications (78.4% ± 1.0% SE) than border county residents with hypertension (70.7% ± 2.0% SE). Conclusions. Public health efforts must be undertaken to improve the control of hypertension among residents of Texas counties along the Mexico border, particularly for uninsured Hispanic people.
Objective detection of auditory brainstem potentials: Comparison of statistical tests in the time and frequency domains

Newborn hearing screening with auditory brainstem potentials (ABR) requires objective ABR detection by a statistical test procedure with high performance. Statistical testing can be performed in the time or frequency domain. The aim of the present study was to compare the performance of three tests in the time domain (Friedman test, variance ratio F SP, Cochran's Q-test) with that of a test in the frequency domain (modified q-sample uniform scores test) that, in a former investigation, was shown to be the best test in the frequency domain. To compare the performance of the four tests, the test power was calculated and receiver operating characteristics (ROCs) were constructed from the probability density functions estimated using Monte Carlo simulations. In addition, a comparison on the basis of real near-threshold ABR data was carried out. The modified q-sample uniform scores test appeared to be the most powerful one. Some aspects of practical application are discussed.
Diagnostic potential of inflammatory markers in septic arthritis and periprosthetic joint infections: a clinical study with 719 patients

Abstract Background: The aim of this study was to investigate which markers in serum and in the synovial fluid have the highest diagnostic potential for predicting septic arthritis and periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs). The likelihood ratio assesses the diagnostic utility of a diagnostic test and the likelihood that a patient has a disease. Methods: The levels of inflammatory markers in serum [white blood cells, C-reactive protein (CRPS)] and synovial fluid [synovial fluid white blood cell count (SFWBC), percentage of polymorphonuclear cells (%PMN), lactic acid, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), glucose, total protein] of patients suffering from septic arthritis (n = 114), PJI (n = 67), non-infectious joint diseases (n = 495) and arthralgia after total joint arthroplasty (n = 43) were determined. The arithmetical means, cut-off values, sensitivities, specificities, positive and negative likelihood ratios (+ LR, –LR), interval likelihood ratios and receiver operating characteristic curves with corresponding area under the curve (AUC) of inflammatory markers were calculated. Results: The parameters with the highest diagnostic potential for differing between septic arthritis and non-infectious arthritis were the SFWBC (AUC = 0.850, cut-off value = 6.7 × 103/μl, sensitivity = 81.8%, specificity = 76.5%,+ LR = 3.41, –LR = 0.24), CRPS (AUC = 0.797), %PMN (AUC = 0.766) and synovial lactate (AUC = 0.760). The highest diagnostic potential for predicting a PJI was shown by LDH (AUC = 0.833) and the SFWBC (AUC = 0.828). Conclusions: The SFWBC, CRPS, %PMN and synovial lactate were the best inflammatory markers in predicting septic arthritis. Synovial lactate levels > 10 mmol/l or an SFWBC > 50 × 103/μl substantially increased disease probability, while SFWBC < 1.0 × 103/μl or CRPS < 0.5 mg/dl diminished the post-test probability of septic arthritis considerably. An SFWBC < 1.1 × 103/μl or a %PMN < 70% made a PJI unlikely, while SFWBC > 20 × 103/μl or %PMN > 86% increased the post-test probability of a PJI. The use of the corresponding interval likelihood ratios could help physicians to estimate the probability of septic arthritis and PJI more accurately.
Disrupted working body schema of the trunk in people with back pain

Background To test whether working body schema of the trunk is disrupted in people with back pain using a motor imagery task in which one decides whether a pictured model has their trunk rotated to the left or to the right. The authors hypothesised that chronic back pain is associated with reduced accuracy of left/right trunk rotation judgements. Methods 21 Patients with back pain and 14 controls completed two tasks, each involving two trials of 40 images: a left/right hand judgement task, which was used as a control task, and the left/right trunk rotation judgement task. Two (task) × three (group: bilateral back pain, unilateral back pain and control) analyses of variance were undertaken on mean response time and accuracy. Results Response time was similar across participants and tasks (NS). Accuracy was not. The patients with bilateral back pain made more mistakes on the left/right trunk rotation task than patients with unilateral back pain, who in turn made more mistakes on that task than the controls (body part × group interaction; p<0.001). The mean (95% CI) accuracy for left/right trunk rotation judgements was 53.4% (44.5% to 62.3%) for the patients with bilateral back pain, 67.2% (60.2% to 74.1%) for the patients with unilateral back pain and 87% (75% to 98%) for the control participants. This pattern was not observed on the left/right-hand judgement task, on which all three groups made correct judgements about 83% of the time (NS). Discussion Chronic back pain is associated with disruption of the working body schema of the trunk. This might be an important contributor to motor control abnormalities seen in this population.
General Active Global Stabilization of Multiloads DC-Power Networks

Implantation of complex dc-power network is one of the main research topics in more electric aircraft (MEA). In such applications, small and light systems are required and so optimization of passive elements, such as dc-bus capacitance and filtering inductance, is an important issue. It is known that the reduction of dc-bus capacitance may lead to instability of an MVdc network. So, if no stabilizer is used, the risk of instability must be considered, while designing the system passive elements. In this paper, we will first study the small signal stability of an MVdc network composed of three loads: an inverter supplying a permanent magnet synchronous motor, a dc/dc converter feeding a resistive load, and a supercapacitor controlled by a bidirectional dc/dc converter. Then, we will propose a large-signal-stabilizing system to ensure global stability by generating proper stabilizing power references for the whole system. The contribution of the loads to network stability is adjustable. The validity of the proposed method will be confirmed by experimentations.
Occurrence and Characterization of Verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) Strains from Dairy Farms in Trinidad

A cross‐sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence and characteristics of verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) on 25 dairy farms each located in Waller field and Carlsen field farming areas in Trinidad. On each selected farm, faecal samples were collected from milking cows, calves and humans; rectal swabs were obtained from pet farm dogs; bulk milk was sampled as well as effluent from the milking parlour. Escherichia coli was isolated from all sources on selective media using standard methods. Isolates of E. coli were subjected to slide agglutination test using E. coli O157 antiserum, vero cell cytotoxicity assay to detect verocytotoxin (VT) and heat labile toxin (LT) production, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect VT genes, and the dry spot test to screen for E. coli O157 and non‐O157 strains. In addition, faecal samples from animal and human sources were tested for VT genes using PCR. Of a total of 933 E. coli isolates tested by the slide test, eight (0.9%) were positive for the O157 strain. The vero cell cytotoxicity assay detected VT‐producing strains of E. coli in 16.6%, 14.6%, 3.2% and 7.1% of isolates from cows, calves, farm dogs and humans respectively (P < 0.05; χ2). For LT production, the highest frequency was detected amongst isolates of E. coli from calves (10.8%) and the lowest (0.0%) amongst isolates from humans and bulk milk (P < 0.05; χ2). Of the 61 VT‐producing isolates by vero cell cytotoxicity assay tested by PCR, the VT, LT and eae genes were detected in 62.3%, 4.9% and 1.6% respectively (P < 0.05; χ2). Amongst the 45 E. coli isolates that were VT positive (vero cell) or VT‐gene positive by PCR, 2.2%, 2.2%, 4.4% and 6.7% belonged to non‐O157 strains O91, O111, O103 and O157, respectively, as determined by the Dry spot test. Detection of VTEC strains in milk and dairy animals poses a health risk to consumers of milk originating from these farms. In addition, the demonstration of VTEC strains in humans, VT gene in faecal samples and E. coli isolates as well as non‐O157 VTEC strains of E. coli are being documented for the first time in the country.
Body habitus changes among adult males from the normative aging study: relations to aging, smoking history and alcohol intake.

The Normative Aging Study (NAS) recruited 2280 Boston area healthy males aged 21 to 80 in 1961 through 1970. Clinical exams have continued at 3- to 5-year intervals. Obesity was not an exclusion criterion. Stability in weight and body habitus among 867 adult participants in the NAS was evaluated at 5- and 15-year follow-ups. At study entry, age was linearly related to central adiposity [abdominal circumference (AC) and ratio of AC/Hip Breadth (HB)] throughout the entire age range (30 to 78 years) and linearly and quadratically related to weight (WT) and Body Mass Index (BMI) (kg/m2) with maximal values at age 50. Over 15 years, changes in adiposity were strongly related to age; the greatest increases were among those initially 30 to 44 years of age with decrements in several adiposity measures (BMI, AC) only among the oldest subjects (60+ at entry); significant quadratic effects of age for BMI (p < .001), WT (p < .02) and AC (p < .01). There were major secular differences; men born later were heavier and fatter at the same ages as men born earlier. Men who gained (> 1 BMI) were younger while men who lost (> 1 BMI) had greater initial central adiposity than others. Smoking cessation was independently associated with increments in both central and peripheral adiposity. Moderate alcohol intake was associated with lower gains in AC/HB ratios at 15 years compared with little or high consumption. In general, aging was associated with trends towards central adiposity which tended to plateau or decrease at the oldest ages.