Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influences of dehydration on clinical features of radiological pneumonia in children attending an urban diarrhoea treatment centre in Bangladesh

Abstract Background: As the signs of dehydration often overlap with those of pneumonia, it may be difficult for health workers in resource-poor settings to make a clinical diagnosis of pneumonia in children with dehydration. This issue has received very little attention. Aim: To compare the clinical features of pneumonia in children with and without dehydration caused by diarrhoea. Methods: All children aged 2–59 months with diarrhoea and radiologically confirmed pneumonia admitted to the Special Care Ward (SCW) of Dhaka Hospital, ICDDR,B between September and December 2007 were enrolled for the study. Children with dehydration (67 cases) and those without (101 controls) were compared. Results: Cases presented less frequently with fast breathing (60% vs 88%, p<0.001) and lower chest-wall indrawing (67% vs 82%, p=0.035) than did controls. In logistic regression analysis, cases more often had severe malnutrition (OR 2.31, CI 1.06–5.02, p=0.035) and cyanosis (OR 19.05, CI 1.94–186.68, p=0.011) and were abnormally sleepy (OR 372, CI 1.71–8.08, p=0.001). Conclusions: Fast breathing and lower chest-wall indrawing may be less reliable for the diagnosis of pneumonia in children with dehydration, especially when there is severe malnutrition.
Pathological and biochemical outcomes after radical prostatectomy in men with low‐risk prostate cancer meeting the Prostate Cancer International: Active Surveillance criteria

Active surveillance has been widely accepted as a treatment tool for low‐risk prostate cancer, and use of the Prostate Cancer Research International: Active Surveillance (PRIAS) criteria can select smaller and less aggressive tumours in low‐risk disease. The study shows the pathological outcomes of radical prostatectomy for patients with low‐risk disease who met the PRIAS criteria. It found that ∼20% had unfavourable pathological features and only 30% satisfied insignificant cancer criteria with pT2 stage, a Gleason score ≤6 and tumour volume <2.5 mL. It concludes that close follow‐up including repeat biopsy or MRI is necessary to minimize unexpected progression of disease.
Outdoor localization technique using active RFID technology aimed for security and disaster management applications

With the implementation of the principle of the Internet of Things raises demands for new services as well as technical requirements that enable their implementation. One of the fields is the localization of wounded in mass disasters. Currently, the identification is performed by paper / plastic triage tags, which are used to label wounded victim at first contact with rescue unit based on the state of the causality. Automatic identification using active RFID technology is in such a case a solution which permits remote technically sophisticated surveillance of the situation. It is advantageous to use active RFID tags as a low-power transmitter, which is an immense advantage comparison with GPS technology. Lifetime of such tag can be several months. Managed active RFID tags can localize wounded objects within the range of a few hundred meters in free space and indicate the degree of severity of the injury of individual causalities. RFID readers, i.e. locators placed in that area, evaluate the direction of arrival of each tag and transmit obtained information to the computer system, which calculates the position of each RFID tag using sophisticated signal processing methods. This information can be displayed in a specific map including classification of tags, their movement or history. This paper focuses on the testing and experimental verification of such a system. The results of the experiment verify the concept of an RFID locator with achieved accuracy of 2.1 m in the area of 100 × 100 m.
Music Preference as a Factor of Music Distraction

The present study is an experimental analysis of music preference as a factor of music distraction measured by the Stroop tests. Significant differences were found among groups given, most preferred music, least preferred music, and no music (quiet). Each group of 10 subjects were randomly chosen from 42 screened subjects. Performance was better without music and better with most preferred than with least preferred music. The results were not consistent with those previously found for the effects of noise upon Stroop test performance.
Heterologous Expression and Biochemical Characterization of a Polyamine Oxidase from Arabidopsis Involved in Polyamine Back Conversion1

Polyamine oxidase (PAO) is a flavin adenine dinucleotide-dependent enzyme involved in polyamine catabolism. Animal PAOs oxidize spermine (Spm), spermidine (Spd), and/or their acetyl derivatives to produce H2O2, an aminoaldehyde, and Spd or putrescine, respectively, thus being involved in a polyamine back-conversion pathway. On the contrary, plant PAOs that have been characterized to date oxidize Spm and Spd to produce 1,3-diaminopropane, H2O2, and an aminoaldehyde and are therefore involved in the terminal catabolism of polyamines. A database search within the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) genome sequence showed the presence of a gene (AtPAO1) encoding for a putative PAO with 45% amino acid sequence identity with maize (Zea mays) PAO. The AtPAO1 cDNA was isolated and cloned in a vector for heterologous expression in Escherichia coli. The recombinant protein was purified by affinity chromatography on guazatine-Sepharose 4B and was shown to be a flavoprotein able to oxidize Spm, norspermine, and N1-acetylspermine with a pH optimum at 8.0. Analysis of the reaction products showed that AtPAO1 produces Spd from Spm and norspermidine from norspermine, demonstrating a substrate oxidation mode similar to that of animal PAOs. To our knowledge, AtPAO1 is the first plant PAO reported to be involved in a polyamine back-conversion pathway.
Treatment with a combination of ginger, L-citrulline, muira puama and Paullinia cupana can reverse the progression of corporal smooth muscle loss, fibrosis and veno-occlusive dysfunction in the aging rat.

AIMS Aging associated erectile dysfunction is characterized within the corpora by a progressive apoptosis of the smooth muscle cells and their replacement by collagen. Nitric oxide from iNOS has been shown to inhibit these histological changes in the corpora while PDE5 inhibitors as well as certain nutraceuticals such as ginger, paullinia cupana, muira puama and L-citrulline are known to enhance the effects of NO. We evaluated whether the daily oral administration for 2 months with a combination of ginger, paullinia cupana, muira puama and L-citrulline (COMP-4) can effectively delay the ongoing corporal fibrosis, smooth muscle cell apoptosis and cavernosal veno-occlusive dysfunction (CVOD) seen in middle aged rats similar to that seen with tadalafil. METHODS 10 Month old Fisher 344 rats were treated or not for two months with COMP-4, tadalafil or a combination of tadalafil plus COMP-4. CVOD was determined by dynamic infusion cavernosometry. Penile sections of the corpora cavernosa were subjected to Masson trichrome staining to evaluate fibrosis and immunohistochemistry for desmin as a marker of smooth muscle content and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) followed by image analysis. Oxidative stress levels were determined by GSH/GSSG ratio in whole blood. RESULTS a decline in the non-treated rat's erectile function is evident by 10-12 months of age and is accompanied by a decrease in the corporal smooth muscle content determined by desmin expression and an increase in corporal fibrosis. The daily treatment for two months with COMP-4 reverses this process by reducing systemic oxidative stress and increasing desmin and iNOS expression, similar to that seen with tadalafil or the combination of COMP-4 plus tadalafil. CONCLUSION An oral combination of ginger, muira puama, Paullinia cupana and L-citrulline seems to be as effective as daily PDE5 inhibitor therapy in either delaying or reversing the onset of the histological and functional characteristics of aging related erectile dysfunction.
Are psychosocial factors, risk factors for symptoms and signs of the shoulder, elbow, or hand/wrist?: A review of the epidemiological literature.

BACKGROUND In 1993, an extensive review on the role of psychosocial factors in the development of musculoskeletal problems was published by Bongers et al (1993). Since then, additional reviews on this topic have been published; however, none of these focussed on upper limb problems. METHODS In this systematic review, the methodological quality of all studies was assessed and levels of evidence were apriori defined. RESULTS The large majority of the studies reported an association between at least one work-related psychosocial factor and adverse upper extremity symptoms or signs. High-perceived job stress was consistently associated with all upper extremity problems (UEP) in high and lower quality studies. Although not often studied, non-work-related stress was also consistently associated with UEP. In addition, there was some evidence for a relationship between high job demands and UEP, although the results did not meet the pre-set criterion for consistency. CONCLUSIONS High job stress and non-work-related stress reactions are consistently associated with UEP. In addition, high job demands is also in most studies associated with these disorders. Firm conclusions on the role of these factors in the etiology of UEP are not possible due to the cross-sectional nature of most studies.
Comparison of serum testosterone and estradiol measurements in 3174 European men using platform immunoassay and mass spectrometry; relevance for the diagnostics in aging men.

BACKGROUND The limitations of serum testosterone and estradiol (E(2)) measurements using non-extraction platform immunoassays (IAs) are widely recognized. Switching to more specific mass spectrometry (MS)-based methods has been advocated, but directly comparative data on the two methods are scarce. METHODS We compared serum testosterone and E(2) measurements in a large sample of middle-aged/elderly men using a common platform IA and a gas chromatography (GC)-MS method, in order to assess their limitations and advantages, and to diagnose male hypogonadism. Of subjects from the European Male Aging Study (n=3174; age 40-79 years), peripheral serum testosterone and E(2) were analyzed using established commercial platform IAs (Roche Diagnostics E170) and in-house GC-MS methods. RESULTS Over a broad concentration range, serum testosterone concentration measured by IA and MS showed high correlation (R=0.93, P<0.001), which was less robust in the hypogonadal range (<11 nmol/l; R=0.72, P<0.001). The IA/MS correlation was weaker in E(2) measurements (R=0.32, P<0.001, at E(2) <40.8 pmol/l, and R=0.74, P<0.001, at E(2) >40.8 pmol/l). Using MS as the comparator method, IA ascertained low testosterone compatible with hypogonadism (<11 nmol/l), with 75% sensitivity and 96.3% specificity. The same parameters with IA for the detection of low E(2) (<40.7 pmol/l) were 13.3 and 99.3%, and for high E(2) (>120 pmol/l) 88.4 and 88.6%. CONCLUSION A validated platform IA is sufficient to detect subnormal testosterone concentrations in the diagnosis of male hypogonadism. The IA used for E(2) measurements showed poor correlation with MS and may only be suitable for the detection of high E(2) in men.
Allusive thinking (remote associations) and auditory top-down inhibition skills differentially predict creativity and positive schizotypy

ABSTRACT Introduction: Positive schizotypy and creativity seem to be linked. However, the question still remains why they are related, and what may make the difference? As creative ideation is hypothesised as a dual process (association and inhibition), the propensity for remote associations might be a shared mechanism. However, positive schizotypy and creative thinking might be differentially linked to inhibition. Therefore, this study investigated a potentially overlapping feature of positive schizotypy and creativity (remote associations) as well as a potential dissociative factor (auditory inhibition). Methods: From a large screening sample, 46 participants covering a broad range of positive schizotypy were selected. Association proneness was assessed via two association tasks, auditory inhibition skill with the forced-left condition of the Dichotic Listening Test, and creative thinking by means of two creative ideation tests. Results: Positive schizotypy and creative thinking were positively associated. Both traits were linked to lower rates of common associations. However, creative thinking was associated with higher and positive schizotypy with lower inhibitory control in the auditory domain. Conclusions: While creativity and positive schizotypy shared some variance (related to remote associations), profound inhibition skills may be vital for creative performance and may coincide with lower levels of positive schizotypy.
Laboratory Assessment of Diabetic Kidney Disease

IN BRIEF Regardless of etiology, chronic kidney disease (CKD) is identified by two laboratory tests: 1) estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), a measure of kidney function, and 2) urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR), a measure of kidney damage. It is crucial for all health professionals to understand the significance and limitations of these tests to appropriately identify CKD patients, guide therapy, and determine prognosis. This article provides information that will enable diabetes educators and other clinicians to properly interpret eGFR and UACR laboratory results in the identification and management of CKD.
Association of 20-Millimicron Particles with Adenoviruses

In the course of biophysical studies on adenoviruses, we have repeatedly observed the presence of small particles exhibiting a polygonal outline. We first noted the small particles in a preparation of "hybridized" adenovirus type 7 (Fig. 1) which induced synthesis of SV40 tumor antigen and SV40-like tumors in hamsters (Huebner et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S. 52:1333, 1964; Rowe and Baum, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S. 52:1340, 1964; Rapp et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S. 52:1348, 1964; Melnick, Report to Second Annual Conference, Vaccine Development Program, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, Oct. 1, 1964). Because the particle is about the size of the core of the SV40 virion, we thought that it might be carrying the SV40 genome, particularly as we had not observed such particles in preparations of adenovirus types 2 and 12 which were unable to induce synthesis of SV40 tumor antigen (Melnick, Report to Second Annual Conference, Vaccine Development Program, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, Oct. 1,1964; Smith, J. Immunol., in press). Subsequent examination of other adenovirus preparations has shown that the small particles are present in type 3 and 4 stocks, in numbers even larger than those of the adenovirus lparticles therein. This has been true of adenoviruses grown in green monkey kidney or in human K13 cells (Fig. 2). These latter strains were thoroughly tested by a procedure recently described (Rapp et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S. 52:1348, 1964), and were found negative for SV40 genome capable of inducing synthesis of tumor antigen. This small particle is also associated with simian adenoviruses, for it is constantly present in harvests of SV-15, a member of this group (Fig. 3). In reviewing the literature, we find no mention of the association of particles of this type with adenoviruses, although they may have been seen and perhaps overlooked as being extraneous material, as for example in Fig. 2 of the paper by Brandon and McLean (Advan. Virus Res. 9:157, 1962). These workers, as well as Bernhard and Tournier (Cold Spring Harbor Symp. Quant. Biol. 27:67, 1962), found that adenovirus cores
Verification of Tempura specification of sequential circuits

Verifying a sequential circuit consists in proving that the given implementation of the circuit satisfies its specification. In the present work the input-output specification of the circuit, which is required to hold for the given implementation, is assumed to be available in the form of a Tempura program segment B. It captures the desired ongoing behavior of the circuit in terms of input-output relationships that are expected to hold at various time instants of the interval in question. The implementation is given as a formula W/sub S/ of a first-order temporal equality theory, /spl Fscr/. Goal formulas of the form P /spl sup/ B have been introduced to capture the correctness property of the circuit in question. P is a formula of the equality theory /spl epsiv/ contained in /spl Fscr/ and encodes the initial state(s) of the circuit. A goal reduction paradigm has been used to formulate the proof calculus capturing the state transitions produced along the intervals. Formulas, called verification conditions (VC's), whose validity ensures the correctness of the circuit, are produced corresponding to the output equality statements in B. For finite state machines, VC's are formulas of propositional calculus and, therefore, require no temporal reasoning for their proofs. In fact, since binary decision diagram (BDD) representations are used throughout, their proofs become quite simple. The goal reduction rules proposed for iterative constructs also incorporate synthesis of invariant assertions over the states of the circuit. The proof of a nontrivial example has been presented. The paper concludes with a discussion on a broad overview of the building blocks of the verifier.
Inoculation Effects of Rhizobium and Phosphorous Solubulizing Bacteria on Growth and Nodulation of Acacia nilotica

Restoration and maintenance of soil fertility is a basic but critical ecological problem especially in the tropics where the soils are nutrient deficient particularly P and N. The degraded soils are reclaimed through afforestation programmes with multifarious forest legume tree species along with beneficial microbes. Acacia nilotica, commonly known as Indian Gum-Arabic Tree and locally „Babul‟ is one of the important Nitrogen Fixing Tree (NFT) species belongs to family Fabaceae, sub-family Mimosoideae. This species provides nutritious fodder for livestock, firewood for local people for daily needs and wood for a variety of purposes (Sarra et al., 2005). It is extensively planted in farm lands, wasteland, roadside avenues and is important for afforestation programme. Nitrogen and phosphorous are essential nutrient for plant growth and development. Use of inorganic fertilizers has led to worldwide ecological problems as well as affects the human health. However, biofertilizers offer an alternative to chemical inputs, which have an ability of mobilizing the nutrionally important elements from nonuseable to useable form and known to increase yield. Biofertilizer improve the International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 6 Number 10 (2017) pp. 2444-2453 Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas. com
Cross-sectional study: CagA–positive Helicobacter pylori infection, acute coronary artery disease and systemic levels of B-type natriuretic peptide

Background B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) determination is routinely used to evaluate the severity of congestive heart failure, a possible consequence of coronary artery disease (CAD). CAD originates from vascular atherosclerotic processes and is stimulated by inflammatory events, which may also be triggered by chronic bacterial infections. Aim To explore the effect of Helicobacter pylori infection upon systemic BNP, tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels and linear homology between cardiac peptides and H pylori. Methods A group of 103 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of non-ST elevation acute CAD (ACAD) and no other concomitant pathology was examined. BNP was measured by a commercial solid-phase sandwich immunoradiometric assay. H pylori infection, CagA serological status and circulating levels of IL-6 and TNF-α, were determined by ELISA assays. Amino acid sequence homology between human cardiac and H pylori peptides was investigated by Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) analysis. Results Circulating levels of BNP and IL-6, in pg/mL (interquartile difference), among infected patients with anti-CagA serum antibodies, respectively 781 (1899) and 37.7 (137.6), were significantly increased in respect to those measured in uninfected patients, respectively 325 (655) and 7.7 (23.5), (p<0.01 and p=0.025), and, with regard to BNP alone, also in patients infected by CagA negative H pylori strains, 305 (593), (p<0.01). TNF-α levels were raised in CagA positive in respect to uninfected patients. Tropomyosin and Ca2+ transporting ATPases showed strong similarities to H pylori proteins, suggesting the existence of molecular mimicry phenomena. Conclusions Chronic infection by H pylori expressing CagA correlates with high circulating levels of BNP and IL-6 in patients with ACAD.
Automatic Recognition of Speech-Evoked Brainstem Responses to English Vowels

The objective of this study is to investigate automatic recognition of speech-evoked auditory brainstem responses (speech ABR) to the five English vowels (/a/, /ae/, /ɔ/, /i/ and /u/). We used different automatic speech recognition methods to discriminate between the responses to the vowels. The best recognition result was obtained by applying principal component analysis (PCA) on the amplitudes of the first ten harmonic components of the envelope following response (based on spectral components at fundamental frequency and its harmonics) and of the frequency following response (based on spectral components in first formant region) and combining these two feature sets. With this combined feature set used as input to an artificial neural network, a recognition accuracy of 86.3% was achieved. This study could be extended to more complex stimuli to improve assessment of the auditory system for speech communication in hearing impaired individuals, and potentially help in the objective fitting of hearing aids.
Familiarity with Latin and Greek anatomical terms and course performance in undergraduates

Commonly used technical anatomy and physiology (A&P) terms are predominantly rooted in Latin and Greek vocabulary, so it is commonly inferred that a solid grounding in Latin and Greek roots of medical terminology will improve student learning in anatomy and related disciplines. This study examines the association of etymological knowledge of A&P terms and A&P course performance among 446 undergraduates in their first semester of the study of human gross anatomy and physiology, with a more detailed analysis of the characteristics of 52 students who filled out surveys about their prior knowledge and experiences related to medicine or anatomy. In both data sets, there was only a weak positive correlation between the performance on a quiz of Latin and Greek medical terms and the students' performance on regular assignments. The presumption that familiarity with Latin and Greek word roots has a strong influence on successful learning of anatomy is not supported by these data. Future research should address whether or not there are particular skills associated with using etymological knowledge in improving A&P course performance. Anat Sci Educ. © 2010 American Association of Anatomists.