Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
High Pressure Spark Gap Recovery After Overvolted Breakdown

Abstract : A spark gap at pressures from 100 kPa to 7 MPa with various gases is fired by overvolting the electodes. The recovery of the gap is studied using a second identical pulse to test the voltage holdoff during the recovery period. A TV camera, interferometer and a spinning mirror camera are also used to record arc locations and density profiles. The gas is stationary during the recovery. Breakdown voltages go up to 130 kV, currents are hundreds of amps and voltage risetimes are about 1 kV/ nsec. Results show the effects of gas species, electrode material and pressure on both breakdown voltages and recovery curves. The recovery of the ability to be overvolted occurs much slower than the recovery to DC breakdown voltages. The effects of the first arc on the second arc locations are shown as well as density profiles using a Mach-Zender interferometer.
Expectation and the Blood‐Pressure‐Lowering Effects of Relaxation

&NA; In a study of the blood‐pressure‐lowering effects of relaxation training in patients with essential hypertension, instructions concerning the relaxation procedure were varied so that one group was told to expect delayed blood‐pressure‐lowering and the other group immediate lowering. The systolic blood pressure decrease during the training period in the immediate lowering group was 17.0 mm Hg, compared with 2.4 mm Hg for the delayed group (p = 0.001). Diastolic blood pressure changes were not significantly different. Measures of therapy credibility and perceived relaxation failed to differentiate the groups. The implications of these findings for future research and for clinical practice are considered.
The wear of fixed and mobile bearing unicompartmental knee replacements

Unicompartmental knee replacements (UKR) are an option for surgical intervention for the treatment of single-compartment osteoarthritis. The aim of this study was to compare the wear of a low-conformity fixed-bearing UKR with a conforming mobile bearing UKR under two kinematic conditions, to investigate the effect of implant design and kinematics on wear performance in a physiological knee wear simulator. Under both sets of kinematic conditions, the relatively low-conforming fixed UKR showed lower wear, compared with the more conforming anterior-posterior sliding mobile bearing. However, it should be noted that differences in materials between the two designs also contribute to the relative wear performance of the bearings. The combined wear of the medial and lateral bearings of the fixed-bearing UKR as a ‘total knee’ were significantly reduced compared with a fixed-bearing total knee replacement studied under the same kinematic conditions.
Mental Health and Its Socio-Demographic Predictors in Male Partner of Iranian Infertile Couples

Infertility is considered a traumatic stressor for infertile couples. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the mental health status and its relationship with social support in 345 male partners of infertile couples. Scores on the mental health measure (GHQ-28) indicated that 41.2% of the men had mental problem. Social support from the family, cause of infertility, education, and adequacy of family income were predictors of the mental health in infertile men according to multivariate linear regression. Strengthening social support for improving mental health of infertile men seems necessary.
MicroRNA-30 b functions as a tumour suppressor in human colorectal cancer by targeting KRAS , PIK 3 CD and BCL 2

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in the USA. MicroRNAs play important roles in the pathogenesis of CRC. In this study, we investigated the role of miR-30b in CRC and found that its expression was significantly lower in CRC tissues than that in normal tissues. We showed that a low expression level of miR-30b was closely related to poor differentiation, advanced TNM stage and poor prognosis of CRC. Further experiments showed that over-expression of miR-30b suppressed CRC cell proliferation in vitro and tumour growth in vivo. Specifically, miR-30b promoted G1 arrest and induced apoptosis. Moreover, KRAS, PIK3CD and BCL2 were identified as direct and functional targets of miR-30b. MiR-30b directly targeted the 3′-untranslated regions of their mRNAs and repressed their expression. This study revealed functional and mechanistic links between miRNA-30b and oncogene KRAS, PIK3CD and BCL2 in the pathogenesis of CRC. MiR-30b not only plays important roles in the regulation of cell proliferation and tumour growth in CRC, but is also a potential prognostic marker or therapeutic target for CRC. Restoration of miR-30b expression may represent a promising therapeutic approach for targeting malignant CRC. Copyright  2013 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Safety and efficacy of topical cidofovir to treat high-grade perianal and vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia in HIV-positive men and women

Objective:To evaluate the safety and efficacy of topical cidofovir for treatment of high-grade squamous perianal intraepithelial neoplasia (PAIN) and vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) lesions in HIV-positive individuals. Design:Phase IIa prospective multicenter trial conducted at eight clinical sites through the AIDS Malignancy Consortium. Methods:HIV-positive patients with biopsy-proven high-grade PAIN that was at least 3 cm2 were enrolled. PAIN biopsy specimens were assessed for human papillomavirus (HPV) using PCR and type-specific HPV probing. Participants applied 1% topical cidofovir to PAIN and VIN (if present) for six 2-week cycles. Results were designated as complete response (CR), partial response (PR) (>50% reduction in size), stable disease, or progressive disease (PD). Results:Twenty-four men and nine women (eight with high-grade VIN as well) were enrolled. Mean age was 44 years and mean CD4+ cell count was 412 cells/&mgr;l. HPV DNA (most commonly HPV16) was detected in all pretreatment study specimens. Twenty six (79%) participants completed treatment per protocol: CR, five (15%); PR, 12 (36%), stable disease, seven (21%); PD, two (6%) (one with a superficially invasive cancer and one with new area of high-grade PAIN). Treatment was well tolerated with most common adverse events being mild to moderate affecting lesional skin: pain/burning/irritation (25 patients) and ulceration (13 patients). Conclusion:Topical cidofovir had 51% efficacy in the short-term treatment of high-grade PAIN and VIN with acceptable toxicity in HIV-positive individuals. Randomized control studies with more prolonged treatment courses and longer follow-up to assess the durability of the response are needed.
Salmonellosis in wild birds feeding at sewage treatment works

SUMMARY Between June 1976 and August 1977 faeces were collected from 599 wild British birds caught during ringing operations at two sewage treatment works in south-east England. Samples were incubated with selenite-F broth to detect the presence of Salmonella. Salm. anatum was isolated from one bird, a Dunnock Prunella modularis an incidence of O.17 % of the total birds examined and 3.23 % of the Dunnocks. Comparisons are drawn with previously reported studies and it is suggested that sewage treatment works play little part in the transmission of Salmonella infections to wild birds feeding there.
Improving gas sensing properties of graphene by introducing dopants and defects: a first-principles study

The interactions between four different graphenes (including pristine, B- or N-doped and defective graphenes) and small gas molecules (CO, NO, NO2 and NH3) were investigated by using density functional computations to exploit their potential applications as gas sensors. The structural and electronic properties of the graphene–molecule adsorption adducts are strongly dependent on the graphene structure and the molecular adsorption configuration. All four gas molecules show much stronger adsorption on the doped or defective graphenes than that on the pristine graphene. The defective graphene shows the highest adsorption energy with CO, NO and NO2 molecules, while the B-doped graphene gives the tightest binding with NH3. Meanwhile, the strong interactions between the adsorbed molecules and the modified graphenes induce dramatic changes to graphene’s electronic properties. The transport behavior of a gas sensor using B-doped graphene shows a sensitivity two orders of magnitude higher than that of pristine graphene. This work reveals that the sensitivity of graphene-based chemical gas sensors could be drastically improved by introducing the appropriate dopant or defect.
Risk Factors for Tubal Infertility: Influence of History of Prior Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

In order to explore possible etiologic differences between tubal infertility in women who had been physician-diagnosed as having pelvic inflammatory disease ("overt" PID) and in women who had not ("silent" pelvic inflammatory disease), we made use of self-reported data from a large, population-based, case-control study of infertility in King County, Washington. Responses from 33 infertile women with no history of physician-reported PID and 129 infertile women with such a history were compared to those of 501 fertile women. No cultures or blood for antibody titers were obtained. Logistic regression was used to compute the relative risks for silent and overt PID-related tubal dysfunction associated with various lifestyle and contraceptive habits in an effort to identify practices that potentially affect these outcomes. In general, practices associated with an increased risk of overt tubal disease, such as use of Dalkon Shield and other types of intrauterine devices, were also associated with an increased risk of silent tubal disease, but to a lesser extent. Women who used oral contraceptives for longer than three years had a decreased risk for silent disease (relative risk = 0.5, 95% confidence interval = 0.3-0.8), but their risk for overt disease did not decrease to the same extent (relative risk = 0.9, 95% confidence interval = 0.3-2.5). These results suggest that silent and overt tubal disease share many common lifestyle risk factors.
Feedlot performance of Brahman x Angus versus Angus steers during cold weather.

Ten Angus and 10 Brahman x Angus F1 steers were used in a 184-d trial to compare feedlot performance during cold weather (-9 to 26 degrees C). Both groups of steers were exposed to the same environment for the same amount of time. All steers were fed for the same number of days regardless of frame score to avoid frame score x environment interactions. Brahman x Angus steers were 30.7 kg heavier (P less than .05) than Angus steers at the start of the trial. Differences in age (Brahman x Angus 40 d younger) for the two breed groups did not affect final live weight or carcass weight. Brahman x Angus steers consumed . 2% less feed (P less than .05) as a percentage of BW than Angus steers; however, there was no difference in overall feed efficiency. Angus steers had a higher yield grade, more fat at the 12th rib (P less than .05), and graded 90% Choice; only 10% of the Brahman x Angus were graded Choice. Brahman x Angus steers were taller at the hip (P less than .05) and longer from first rib to aitch bone (P less than .05) and from thoracic vertebrae (T12/T13) to point of hock (P less than .05). Hide thickness determined at the neck, belly, and rump was found to be similar (7.7 mm) between the two groups. Sample hair weight and diameter did not differ between groups. Fiber, fat, protein, and DM digestibility coefficients were similar between groups but Brahman x Angus feces had a higher DM content. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Prognostic subgroups for citalopram response in the STAR*D trial.

OBJECTIVE Few data exist to help clinicians predict likelihood of treatment response in individual patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Our aim was to identify subgroups of MDD patients with differential treatment outcomes based on presenting clinical characteristics. We also sought to quantify the likelihood of treatment success based on the degree of improvement and side effects after 2 and 4 weeks of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) pharmacotherapy. METHOD We analyzed data from the first treatment phase of the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) trial, in which subjects with a DSM-IV diagnosis of MDD were treated for 8-14 weeks with open-label citalopram. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was conducted to determine homogenous subgroups with different rates of response and remission in depressive symptoms. Included predictor variables were initial clinical characteristics, initial improvement, and side effects after 2 and 4 weeks of SSRI treatment. The primary outcome measures were treatment response (defined as a greater than 50% reduction in 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale [HDRS-17] score from baseline) and remission (defined as an HDRS-17 score ≤ 17). RESULTS Baseline clinical characteristics were able to identify subgroups from a low likelihood of response of 18% (income < $10,000, comorbid generalized anxiety disorder, < 16 years of education; P < .01) to a high likelihood of response of 68% (income ≥ $40,000, no comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder; P < .01). Among baseline clinical characteristics, employment status (N = 2,477; χ²₁ = 78.1; P < .001) and income level (N = 2,512; χ²₁ = 77.7; P < .001) were the most informative in predicting treatment outcome. For the models at weeks 2 and 4, treatment success was best predicted by early symptom improvement. CONCLUSIONS Socioeconomic data such as low income, education, and unemployment were most discriminative in predicting a poor response to citalopram, even with disparities in access to care accounted for. This finding implies that socioeconomic factors may be more useful predictors of medication response than traditional psychiatric diagnoses or past treatment history. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00021528.
Mean Curvature Flows in Almost Fuchsian Manifolds

An almost Fuchsian manifold is a quasi-Fuchsian hyperbolic three-manifold that contains a closed incompressible minimal surface with principal curvatures everywhere in the range of (-1,1). In such a hyperbolic three-manifold, the minimal surface is unique and embedded, hence one can parametrize these three-manifolds by their minimal surfaces. We prove that any closed surface which is a graph over any fixed surface of small principal curvatures can be deformed into the minimal surface via the mean curvature flow. We also obtain an upper bound for the hyperbolic volume of the convex core of M, as well as estimates of the Hausdorff dimension of the limit set for $M$.
Short- and Long-Term Outcomes of Coronary Stenting in Women Versus Men: Results From the National Cardiovascular Data Registry Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Cohort

Background— Conflicting evidence exists on sex-based outcomes after coronary stenting. Methods and Results— Data on 426 996 patients ≥65 years old (42.3% women) from the National Cardiovascular Data Registry CathPCI Registry (2004–2008) were linked to Medicare inpatient claims to compare in-hospital outcomes by sex and long-term outcomes by sex and stent type. In-hospital complications were more frequent in women than in men: death (3869 [2.2%] versus 3737 [1.6%]; adjusted odds ratio, 1.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.33–1.49), myocardial infarction (2365 [1.3%] versus 2858 [1.2%]; odds ratio, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.11–1.27), bleeding (7860 [4.4%] versus 5627 [2.3%]; odds ratio, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.79–1.93), and vascular complications (2381 [1.3%] versus 1648 [0.7%]; odds ratio, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.73–1.99). At 20.4 months, women had a lower adjusted risk of death (hazard ratio [HR], 0.92; 95% CI, 0.90–0.94) but similar rates of myocardial infarction, revascularization, and bleeding. Relative to bare metal stent use, drug-eluting stent use was associated with similar improved long-term outcomes in both sexes: death (women: adjusted HR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.76–0.81; men: HR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.74–0.79), myocardial infarction (women: HR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.74–0.84; men: HR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.77–0.85), and revascularization (women: HR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.90–0.97; men: HR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.88–0.94). There was no interaction between sex and stent type for long-term outcomes. Conclusions— In contemporary coronary stenting, women have a slightly higher procedural risk than men but have better long-term survival. In both sexes, use of a drug-eluting stent is associated with lower long-term likelihood for death, myocardial infarction, and revascularization.
Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Neonatal Malaria in Abuja

Signs and symptoms of neonatal malaria does not dif fer much from those of neonatal sepsis, this has resulted in non judicial use of anti malaria drugs in newborns suspected of having sepsis because of the increasing reported cases of neonatal malaria i n our environment. The study was aimed at determining the prevalence of neonatal malaria amon g newborns admitted for suspected neonatal sepsis, and to compare their malaria parasitic dens ity with those of the apparently well neonate with a view of ascertaining whether the symptoms from symp tomatic newborn were truly as a result of malaria parasitaemia. Blood culture and blood smear (thin a nd thick) were taken and made from neonates suspected of having neonatal sepsis in the special care baby unit of the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital from August 2007 to December 2009 (18 mont hs study period). Thick and thin blood smear were also taken from well neonates for comparative purposes. The smears were stained with Giemsa and examined by light microscopy for asexual stages of plasmodium, specie identification, and quantification. Of a total 266 neonates admitted fo r presumed sepsis, 150 were males and 116 females, (m:f ratio of 1.3:1), and among the 272 well neonat es recruited, 152 were male and 120 females, m:f ra tio of 1.3:1. Their mean age, body weight, and gestatio nal age were 5.1±5.7 days, 2.5±0.87 kg, 36.1±3.5 weeks for neonatal sepsis babies, and 6.7±4.3 days, 3.1±0.35 kg, and 36.7±2.8 weeks for the well neonates, p values >0.05. Malaria parasite was iden tified in 41.7% of babies with presumed sepsis, and in 12.5% of well babies, p value 0.05. Two deaths (1.8%) were recorded among babies with malaria parasitaemia, on e of whom had associated overwhelming sepsis, and the other with high parasite count. Neonatal ma laria is common in our environment. Greater number however had low parasite count and had remai ned asymptomatic. Screening for malaria parasite should be part of septic work up for babie s suspected of having neonatal sepsis, but treatmen t to be reserve to those with moderate to high malari a parasite count.
Impact of therapeutic hypothermia onset and duration on survival, neurologic function, and neurodegeneration after cardiac arrest*

Objective: Post-cardiac-arrest therapeutic hypothermia improves outcomes in comatose cardiac arrest survivors. This study tests the hypothesis that the efficacy of post-cardiac-arrest therapeutic hypothermia is dependent on the onset and duration of therapy. Design: Prospective randomized laboratory investigation. Setting: University research laboratory. Subjects: A total of 268 male Long Evans rats. Interventions: Post-cardiac-arrest therapeutic hypothermia. Measurements and Main Results: Adult male Long Evans rats that achieved return of spontaneous circulation after a 10-min asphyxial cardiac arrest were block randomized to normothermia (37°C ± 1°C) or therapeutic hypothermia (33°C ± 1°C) initiated 0, 1, 4, or 8 hrs after return of spontaneous circulation and maintained for 24 or 48 hrs. Therapeutic hypothermia initiated 0, 1, 4, and 8 hrs after return of spontaneous circulation resulted in 7-day survival rates of 45%*, 36%*, 36%*, and 14%, respectively, compared to 17% for normothermic controls and survival with good neurologic function rates of 24%*, 24%*, 19%*, and 0%, respectively, compared to 2% for normothermic controls (*p < .05 vs. normothermia). These outcomes were not different when therapeutic hypothermia was maintained for 24 vs. 48 hrs. In contrast, hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neuron counts were 53% ± 27%*, 53% ± 19%*, 51% ± 24%*, and 65% ± 16%* of normal, respectively, when therapeutic hypothermia was initiated 0, 1, 4, or 8 hrs after return of spontaneous circulation compared to 9% in normothermic controls (*p < .01 vs. normothermia). Furthermore, surviving neuron counts were greater when therapeutic hypothermia was maintained for 48 hrs compared to 24 hrs (68% ± 15%* vs. 42% ± 22%, *p < .0001). Conclusions: In this study, post-cardiac-arrest therapeutic hypothermia resulted in comparable improvement of survival and survival with good neurologic function when initiated within 4 hrs after return of spontaneous circulation. However, histologic assessment of neuronal survival revealed a potentially broader therapeutic window and greater neuroprotection when therapeutic hypothermia was maintained for 48 vs. 24 hrs.
Enhancement of SA algorithm by intelligent time schedule

In this paper we present a glancing review of how to define the time schedule of Simulated Annealing (SA) algorithm in different articles that applied them to solve the traveling salesman problem(TSP). In the following subjects we introduce a new definition of this concept in relation to other parameters. In other word, we claim a novel description of initial temperature,Markov chain and final temperature to the basic algorithm of SA that gives an introduction to New Time Schedule Simulated Annealing (NTSSA). In this method, the dynamic coincidence of time schedule parameters and temperature conditions is a possible happening among the searching process. In continuation we present the obtaining results of proposed algorithm in solving TSP in comparison with basic methods of SA and other intelligent optimization methods. The surprising improvement in results obtained by this approach shows the efficiency of NTSSA in contrast with other basic optimization methods.
Full scale performance of compost’s leachate treatment by biological anaerobic reactors

A wide range of treatment processes have been applied to leachate treatment with varying success. The aim of this research was to examine the performance of two hybrid biological anaerobic reactors in a new full-scale leachate treatment plant in Rasht composting facility, north of Iran. The studied plant was operated for nearly 12 months and treated up to 50 m3 day−1 of fresh compost leachate with a relatively high BOD5 to COD ratio of around 0.5. The average COD of the raw leachate was measured to be 81 000 mg L−1. 30% of effective volume of each reactor was filled with clay blocks with a specific area of 87 m2 m−3 as the fixed bed. The sequencing of reactors was down flow and up flow, respectively. The maximum COD removal efficiency of 91% was achieved with 4.5 kg COD m−3 day−1 of organic loading rate and 7500 mg L−1 of volatile suspended solids. There was no significant difference in COD removal efficiency when the reactors were operated with an organic load between 2 and 5 kg COD m−3 day−1. Increasing the volumetric organic loading rate to greater than 6 kg COD m−3 day−1 caused a considerable reduction of COD removal efficiency. The COD removal efficiency decreased to less than 70% when the organic load rose to 10.8 kg COD m−3 day−1. Nevertheless, hybrid anaerobic reactors proved to be a feasible technique for the reduction of organic load from the composting leachate which was the subject of this study.