Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MicroRNAs: key players of normal and malignant myelopoiesis

Purpose of reviewRecent data show that microRNAs play critical roles in the regulation of the developmental process of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells toward mature myeloid cells. The main focus of the article is the function of some evolutionary conserved microRNAs that are abundantly expressed and tightly regulated during myelopoiesis. Recent findingsGlobal microRNA depletion studies in hematopoietic stem cells have shown the importance of microRNA-controlled pathways for hematopoiesis. Recent insights from genetic mouse models and overexpression or deletion of microRNAs in developmental cell intermediates demonstrate strong evidence for evolutionary conserved microRNA-regulated pathways involved in tight control of cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis at different stages of blood cell development. It is becoming evident that the myeloid transcription factor PU.1 regulates the expression of critical microRNAs including miR-17∼92 and miR-146a during myelopoiesis. Furthermore, there is evidence for the contribution of aberrant miR-125 activities in hematopoietic disorders including myeloid leukemia. SummaryDespite the large number of articles describing differential microRNA expression during hematopoiesis, microRNA functions and their downstream pathways in myeloid lineage decisions and leukemia are only recently emerging. Here we discuss new findings concerning PU.1-controlled microRNAs and miR-125-regulated networks in normal and malignant myelopoiesis.
60-Channel 10 $\mu$s Time-Resolution Counter Array for Long Term Continuous Event Counting

Experiments in nuclear physics, biomedicine and astronomy often require pulse-counting electronics for large numbers of channels. This paper describes an event-counting system attached to 60 channels of an innovative monolithic array of single- photon avalanche diodes (SPADA) intended for astronomical use. The system can capture events with pulse-counting rates of up to 20 MHz, a minimum integration time of 10 mus, which results in a data acquisition rate of 100 000 frames per second. It can also store several hours' worth of data. This performance is achieved in a system that offers a high degree of flexibility, is small in size and has a low cost. The implementation is based on a commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) single board, fitted with an FPGA and a DSP. This board is connected to a PC by means of an IEEE 1394 high-speed serial link which stores the collected data and functions as a TCP/IP server. The data acquisition parameters, as well as the collected data, can be accessed by means of a custom-designed interface running on a TCP/IP client. A proof-of-concept system has been assembled and some test stand results are presented and discussed.
[Results of the multicenter controlled study of the hypolipidemic drug polycosanol in Russia].

AIM To compare efficacy and tolerance of polycosanol vs besafibrate in patients with hypercholesterolemia (HCE). MATERIAL AND METHODS A multicenter controlled double blind randomised trial entered 113 patients with HCE. After 5 weeks of diet the patients were randomised into two groups. 59 patients of group 1 received polycosanol (10 mg/day), 54 patients of group 2 were given besafibrate (400 mg/day) for 8 weeks. RESULTS The 8-week course of treatment was completed by 103 patients (91%): 57(97%) patients of group 1 and 46(85%) patients of group 2. In group 1 total cholesterol diminished by an average of 15%, LDLP cholesterol fell by 18%, triglycerides by 15%, while in group 2 a respective decrease was 8, 11 and 6%. Side effects in group 1 were mild. CONCLUSION A hypolipidemic effect of polycosanol in a daily dose 10 mg is superior to that of besafibrate in a daily dose 400 mg.
Efficacy of Waiting Periods and Topical Fluoride Treatment on Toothbrush Abrasion of Eroded Enamel in situ

The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of both waiting periods between acid exposure and tooth brushing and fluoride applications in preventing toothbrush abrasion of acid-softened enamel surfaces. The study, on 5 subjects, had an in situ crossover design with experimental periods of 5 days each. Human enamel samples were recessed in mouth appliances and at the end of each experimental period, enamel loss was determined profilometrically. Specimens were eroded extraorally (2 × 20 min per day; 0.05 M citric acid), standardized brushing (2 × 30 s per sample per day; powered toothbrush) was performed in situ. The groups were: (1) erosion only, (2) brushing with fluoride-free toothpaste directly after, (3) 2 h after, or (4) before erosion; fluoride application was either (5) brushing with a fluoride toothpaste or (6) brushing with a fluoride toothpaste or gel, and rinsing with a fluoride mouth rinse. Enamel loss was (1) 45.2 ± 10.8, (2) 79.3 ± 7.8, (3) 81.7 ± 9.5, (4) 69.7 ± 13.8, (5) 51.5 ± 13.0, and (6) 41.2 ± 1.8 µm. Brushing without fluoride increased the enamel loss significantly (p ≤ 0.001), waiting for 2 h had no protective effect, and brushing before erosion decreased enamel loss values only by 12% (n.s.). In the fluoride groups, enamel loss was significantly lower than after brushing with the fluoride-free toothpaste and comparable to values after erosion only (n.s.). Waiting periods had only a minor effect, whilst the application of fluoride appeared promising.
Statistical Region Snake-Based Segmentation Adapted to Different Physical Noise Models

Algorithms for object segmentation are crucial in many image processing applications. During past years, active contour models (snakes) have been widely used for finding the contours of objects. This segmentation strategy is classically edge-based in the sense that the snake is driven to fit the maximum of an edge map of the scene. We propose a region snake approach and we determine fast algorithms for the segmentation of an object in an image. The algorithms developed in a maximum likelihood approach are based on the calculation of the statistics of the inner and the outer regions (defined by the snake). It has thus been possible to develop optimal algorithms adapted to the random fields which describe the gray levels in the input image if we assume that their probability density function family are known. We demonstrate that this approach is still efficient when no boundary's edge exists in the image. We also show that one can obtain fast algorithms by transforming the summations over a region, for the calculation of the statistics, into summations along the boundary of the region. Finally, we will provide numerical simulation results for different physical situations in order to illustrate the efficiency of this approach.
Frequency, type and clinical importance of medication history errors at admission to hospital: a systematic review

Background: Over a quarter of hospital prescribing errors are attributable to incomplete medication histories being obtained at the time of admission. We undertook a systematic review of studies describing the frequency, type and clinical importance of medication history errors at hospital admission. Methods: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE and CINAHL for articles published from 1966 through April 2005 and bibliographies of papers subsequently retrieved from the search. We reviewed all published studies with quantitative results that compared prescription medication histories obtained by physicians at the time of hospital admission with comprehensive medication histories. Three reviewers independently abstracted data on methodologic features and results. Results: We identified 22 studies involving a total of 3755 patients (range 33–1053, median 104). Errors in prescription medication histories occurred in up to 67% of cases: 10%– 61% had at least 1 omission error (deletion of a drug used before admission), and 13%– 22% had at least 1 commission error (addition of a drug not used before admission); 60%– 67% had at least 1 omission or commission error. Only 5 studies (n = 545 patients) explicitly distinguished between unintentional discrepancies and intentional therapeutic changes through discussions with ordering physicians. These studies found that 27%– 54% of patients had at least 1 medication history error and that 19%– 75% of the discrepancies were unintentional. In 6 of the studies (n = 588 patients), the investigators estimated that 11%–59% of the medication history errors were clinically important. Interpretation: Medication history errors at the time of hospital admission are common and potentially clinically important. Improved physician training, accessible community pharmacy databases and closer teamwork between patients, physicians and pharmacists could reduce the frequency of these errors.
Comparative outcomes analysis of procedures performed in physician offices and ambulatory surgery centers.

HYPOTHESIS This study compared outcomes to determine whether patient safety is similar in Florida ambulatory surgery centers and offices. DATA SOURCES All adverse incident reports to the Florida Board of Medicine for procedure dates April 1, 2000, to April 1, 2002 were reviewed. The numbers of office procedures performed during a 4-month period were used to estimate the total number of procedures. Ambulatory surgery death summaries, adverse incident data, and volumes of procedures for 2000 were procured from the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration. STUDY SELECTION/DATA EXTRACTION Adverse incident reports were reviewed by multiple parties; only reports that involved an office surgical procedure and resulted in injury or death were included in the outcomes calculation. Reports were extracted independently by multiple reviewers. DATA SYNTHESIS Adverse incidents occurred at a rate of 66 and 5.3 per 100,00 procedures in offices and ambulatory surgery centers, respectively. The death rate per 100,000 procedures performed was 9.2 in offices and 0.78 in ambulatory surgery centers. The relative risks for injuries and deaths for office procedures vs ambulatory surgery centers were 12.4 (95% confidence interval, 9.5-16.2) and 11.8 (95% confidence interval, 5.8-24.1), respectively. CONCLUSIONS In this review of surgical procedures performed in offices and ambulatory surgery centers in Florida during a recent 2-year period, there was an approximately 10-fold increased risk of adverse incidents and death in the office setting. If all office procedures had been performed in ambulatory surgery centers, approximately 43 injuries and 6 deaths per year could have been prevented.
The case for free space

This article discusses the prospect of free- space optical links (FSOLs) in relation to backhaul applications as well as its technology trend, including the recent development of radio on free-space optical links (RoFSOLs). Here, we consider how FSOLs act as useful transport media, focusing on practical experience in mobile backhaul networks. We refer to studies on FSOL conducted by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) from the viewpoint of the possible exploitation of the frequency bands above 3,000 GHz, which are outside the scope of the current Radio Regulations.
Structural Solution to Enhance the Sensitivity of a Self-Powered Pressure Sensor for an Artificial Tactile System

Structural design factors of sensor units have been studied in order to enhance the sensitivity of pressure sensors based on utilizing a piezoelectric material for an artificial tactile sensor. In this study, we have primarily demonstrated the effect of a square pattern array design in a pressure sensor using ZnO nanowires. Nanowires grown on the edge of cells can be bent easily because of growth direction, density control, and buckling effect. Since smaller square pattern arrays induce a higher circumference to cell area ratio, if one sensor unit consists of many micro-level square pattern arrays, the design enhances the piezoelectric efficiency and the sensitivity. As a result, 20 $\mu {\mathrm { m}}\times 20\,\,\mu {\mathrm { m}}$ cell arrays showed three times higher pressure sensitivity than $250~\mu {\mathrm { m}}\times 250\,\,\mu {\mathrm { m}}$ cell array structures at a pressure range from 4 kPa to 14 kPa. The induced piezoelectric voltage with the same pressure level also increased drastically. Therefore, the square pattern array design is more appropriate for a high-sensitive pressure sensor than a simple one-body cell design for tactile systems, and it has the advantage of better power efficiency, which is also important for artificial tactile systems. This suggested cell array design can be applied to various systems using piezoelectric nanowires.
Iris Recognition under Biologically Troublesome Conditions - Effects of Aging, Diseases and Post-mortem Changes

This paper presents the most comprehensive analysis of iris recognition reliability in the occurrence of various biological processes happening naturally and pathologically in the human body, including aging, illnesses, and post-mortem changes to date. Insightful conclusions are offered in relation to all three of these aspects. Extensive regression analysis of the template aging phenomenon shows that differences in pupil dilation, combined with certain quality factors of the sample image and the progression of time itself can significantly degrade recognition accuracy. Impactful effects can also be observed when iris recognition is employed with eyes affected by certain eye pathologies or (even more) with eyes of the deceased subjects. Notably, appropriate databases are delivered to the biometric community to stimulate further research in these utterly important areas of iris biometrics studies. Finally, some open questions are stated to inspire further discussions and research on these important topics. To Authors' best knowledge, this is the only scientific study of iris recognition reliability of such a broad scope and novelty.
Hospitalizations for Students With an Alcohol-Related Sanction: Gender and Pregaming as Risk Factors

Abstract Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate whether pregaming (ie, drinking prior to a social event) is a risk factor for hospitalization. Participants: Participants (N = 516) were undergraduate students with an alcohol-related sanction. Methods: Participants completed a survey about alcohol use, as well as behaviors and experiences, prior to and during the referral event. The dependent variable was whether participants received medical attention at an emergency department during the sanction event. Results: Results indicated that older students, females who pregame, students with higher alcohol use screening scores, lighter drinkers, and higher numbers of drinks before the referral event all increased the odds of receiving medical attention. Pregaming alone was not significantly related to receiving medical attention in the multivariate analysis. Conclusions: Female students who pregame appear to be at risk for requiring hospitalization after drinking when controlling for the number of drinks consumed.
Use of the etonogestrel-releasing implant is associated with hypoactivation of the coagulation cascade.

BACKGROUND The role of progestogens in haemostasis is controversial. Our objective is to evaluate the haemostatic effects of an etonogestrel-releasing implant. METHODS This open-label, self-controlled, longitudinal study involved 20 healthy women receiving subcutaneous etonogestrel-releasing implants. At baseline, 1, 3 and 6 months, we measured the following: activated partial thromboplastin time; prothrombin time; thrombin time; fibrinogen; coagulation factors II, V, VII, VIII, IX, X and XI; von Willebrand factor; activated protein C (APC); antithrombin; free protein S; plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1); alpha2-antiplasmin; thrombin-antithrombin (TAT) complex; prothrombin fragment 1 + 2 (F1 + 2); D-dimers; APC resistance. Statistical analyses included the Friedman test and ANOVA. RESULTS Levels of APC (P < 0.01), factor II (P = 0.02), factor VII (P = 0.006), factor X (P = 0.01) and F1 + 2 (P < 0.001) were reduced, whereas those of PAI-1 (P = 0.01) and factor XI (P = 0.006) were transitory increased. All of these values, however, remained within normal ranges. Surprisingly, TAT concentrations fell below the normal range (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that the etonogestrel-releasing implant does not induce a prothrombotic pattern during the first six months of use, and that its use is associated with a reduction in thrombin generation.
Review and follow‐up of patients using a regional sperm cryopreservation service: ensuring that resources are targeted to those patients most in need

Are all patients undergoing chemotherapy for long‐term sperm banking at risk of permanent sterility? Male fertility is generally lower in men with cancer and all patient groups are at risk of azoospermia. Careful management is required to ensure that samples are not stored for excessively long periods should they not be required. A retrospective analysis of 1688 patient records and prospective recall of patients for semen testing were perfomed. Pre‐therapy fertility was compared with a group of pre‐vasectomy patients as a comparator. Those who fail to bank spermatozoa, rates of disposal of samples and the utilization in assisted reproduction were also examined. Sperm quality was poorest in testicular cancer (TC) patients followed by those with Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) prior to treatment. Post‐therapy data were available in 376 patients (42%). Sperm number was lowest (and azoospermia highest at 77%) in patients with HL treated with regimens other than adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine (ABVD). Non‐HL NHL and leukaemic patients had similarly high rates of azoospermia at 46 and 55%. HL patients treated with ABVD (11%) and TC patients (9.7%) had the lowest rates of azoospermia. Azoospermia was seen in every treatment group except for TC patients receiving carboplatin. Only 45 patients used their samples in ART (4.5%) in 10 years. Little is known about the fertility status of the patients not coming forward for follow‐up testing, those conceiving naturally, those with no intention of conceiving and some which may have psychological reasons for not attending. In conclusion, virtually all patients undergoing chemotherapy are potentially at risk of temporary or permanent infertility. However, as uptake and utilization of stored material remain low, sperm banks should be carefully managed to ensure that resources are targeted to the patients most in need.
Universal disturbance rejection for nonlinear systems in output feedback form

This note deals with global disturbance rejection via output feedback of a class of uncertain nonlinear systems subject to a class of unknown disturbances. Both the uncertainty in the system model and the uncertainty in the exosystem are tackled concurrently. The disturbances generated from an unknown linear exosystem are completely rejected. The order of the exosystem is assumed known, and the eigenvalues are distinct. The system is assumed in the format of the minimum-phase output feedback form, with no knowledge of the values of any system parameters, including the high-frequency gain. No other assumptions are needed in the control design. A new set of filters are introduced for state estimation. The stability of the internal model is exploited to design a new auxiliary error, involving both the unknown parameters of the reformatted exosystem and those of the system, which makes it possible to group all the unknown parameters in a format suitable to adaptive control design. A Nussbaum gain is introduced in adaptive control design to tackle the unknown high-frequency gain and a number of control coefficients are also made adaptive so that the disturbance rejection is global with respect to unknown frequencies in the disturbances.
Elevated levels of urinary 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine and 8-isoprostane in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Aims: To measure oxidative DNA and lipid damages, urinary levels of 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), and 8-isoprostane in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) patients and compare the values with that in controls. Materials and Methods: The urinary concentrations of 8-OHdG and 8-isoprostane were measured in 32 SCC patients (13 female/19 male; mean age: 61.4 ± 10.5 years) and 45 controls (22 female/23 male; mean age: 58.1 ± 8.3 years). Results: Squamous cell carcinoma patients showed significantly higher levels of urinary 8-OHdG (15.6 ± 5.1 ng/mg creatinine) than controls (5.8 ± 2.1 ng/mg creatinine) (P<.001). Increased urinary concentrations of 8-isoprostane were also detected in SCC patients (35.4 ± 6.5 ng/mmol creatinine) as compared to the controls (16.9 ± 4.0 ng/mmol creatinine) (P<.001). Conclusions: Our results show the presence of oxidative DNA and lipid damage in the SCC patients. This may have a connection to carcinogenesis in the esophagus.
Long-term monitoring of dioxins and furans near a municipal solid waste incinerator: human health risks

Since 1996, a wide surveillance programme has been developed to get overall information on the impact of a municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) in Tarragona (Catalonia, Spain). The concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) have been periodically measured in soil and vegetation samples collected at locations in the incinerator surroundings. Furthermore, air PCDD/F levels have been also monitored by using active and passive sampling devices, generating a huge amount of information regarding the environmental status of the zone. In the last survey (2009–2010), mean PCDD/F levels in vegetation, soil and air were 0.06 ng I-TEQ kg−1, 0.58 ng I-TEQ kg−1 and 10.5 fg WHO-TEQ m−3, respectively. Both soil and herbage showed a notable reduction in the PCDD/F concentrations in comparison with the baseline study, with this decrease only being significant for soils. In contrast, PCDD/F values in air remained similar during the whole assessment period. Human exposure to PCDD/Fs was evaluated under different scenarios, and the associated non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks were assessed. The hazard quotient was below unity in all cases, while cancer risks were under 10−6, which is lower than the maximum recommended guidelines. The current results clearly show that the MSWI of Tarragona does not produce additional health risks for the population living nearby.