Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Threshold logic circuit design of parallel adders using resonant tunneling devices

Resonant tunneling devices and circuit architectures based on monostable-bistable transition logic elements (MOBILEs) are promising candidates for future nanoscale integration. In this paper, the design of clocked MOBILE-type threshold logic gates and their application to arithmetic circuit components is investigated. The gates are composed of monolithically integrated resonant tunneling diodes and heterostructure field-effect transistors. Experimental results are presented for a programmable NAND/NOR gate. Design related aspects such as the impact of lateral device scaling on the circuit performance and a bit-level pipelined operation using a four phase clocking scheme are discussed. The increased computational functionality of threshold logic gates is exploited in two full adder designs having a minimal logic depth of two circuit stages. Due to the self-latching behavior the adder designs are ideally suited for an application in a bit-level pipelined ripple carry adder. To improve the speed a novel pipelined carry lookahead addition scheme for this logic family is proposed.
Human kidney 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase: regulation by adrenocorticotropin?

In ectopic adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) syndrome (EAS) with higher ACTH levels than in pituitary Cushing's syndrome and during ACTH infusion, the ratio of cortisol to cortisone in plasma and urine is increased, suggesting inhibition of renal 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11 beta-HSD) by ACTH or by ACTH-dependent steroids. Measuring the conversion of cortisol to cortisone by human kidney slices under different conditions, we tested the possibility of 11 beta-HSD regulation by ACTH and corticosteroids. Slices prepared from unaffected parts of kidneys removed because of renal cell carcinoma were incubated with unlabeled or labeled cortisol, and cortisol and cortisone were quantitated after HPLC separation by UV or radioactive detection. The 11 beta HSD activity was not influenced by incubation with increasing concentrations (10(-12)-10(-9) mol/l) of ACTH (1-24 or 1-39) for 1 h. Among 12 ACTH-dependent steroids tested (10(-9)-10(-6) mol/l), only corticosterone (IC50 = 2 x 10(-7) mol/l), 18-OH-corticosterone and 11 beta-OH-androstenedione showed a significant dose-dependent inhibition of 11 beta-HSD activity. The percentage conversion rate of cortisol to cortisone was concentration dependent over the whole range of cortisol concentrations tested (10(-8) - 10(-5) mol/l. A direct inhibitory effect of ACTH on 11 beta-HSD is, therefore, unlikely. The only steroids inhibiting the conversion of cortisol to cortisone are natural substrates for 11 beta-HSD. Kinetic studies show a saturation of the enzyme at high cortisol concentrations. Thus, the reduced percentage renal cortisol inactivation in EAS seems to be due mainly to overload of the enzyme with endogenous substrates (cortisol, corticosterone and others) rather than to direct inhibition of 11 beta-HSD by ACTH or ACTH-dependent steroids, not being substrates of 11 beta-HSD.
Laparoscopic anterior resection for rectosigmoid cancer: Patient outcomes after implementation of a clinical pathway

Introduction: A clinical pathway designed for a single type of laparoscopic colorectal surgery for cancer might be helpful in decreasing complication rates and total hospital costs. It has been reported to be effective in reducing costs and shortening length of hospital stays in many situations such as laparoscopic cholecystectomy, colon resection, total colectomy, and gastrointestinal bleeding, as well as when caring for patients in the intensive care unit.
Evidence based practice: an experimental study to determine how different working practice affects eye radiation dose during cardiac catheterization

Abstract Purpose: To investigate the technique of two cardiologists performing a simulated cardiac catheterization, in an attempt to identify any differences in practice which may account for a variation in eye radiation dose. Methods: An experiment was devised which simulated a cardiac catheterization procedure using a ‘RANDO' phantom. All variables remained constant for both cardiologists, other than the position of the eye shield and standing position. Measurements were taken to establish the exact location of both the operator and shield throughout. Radiation dose recordings were then made both at eye and waist level, with and without the eye shield in place, and for each standard radiographic projection during a 5 second acquisition time. ‘Matched pair' t -tests were then used to analyse all recorded measurements and readings. Results: Generally, one operator consistently received a higher radiation dose than the other in the various projections, although there was no significant difference between the two for the majority of the recordings. However, at waist level there was a significant difference between the doses with and without the eye shield in position. There was also a significant difference in the standing positions of the two cardiologists and the eye shield positioning in relation to the patient. The study also confirmed that there was an increase in dose to the cardiologists during the Left Anterior Oblique projections in comparison to the Right Anterior Oblique. Conclusions: It was concluded that the position of the eye shield and the standing position resulted in the consistently higher doses received by one of the cardiologists. However, the findings do not clearly pinpoint which of these aspects had the most influence. As a result of the study, several recommendations are made including the importance of ongoing training in radiation safety.
Cardiopulmonary bypass management and acute renal failure: risk factors and prognosis

The aim of the study was to investigate if acute renal failure (ARF) following cardiac surgery is influenced by CPB perfusion pressure and to determine risk factors of ARF. Our research consisted of two studies. In the first study, 179 adult patients with normal preoperative renal function who had been subjected to cardiac surgery on CPB were randomized into three groups. The mean perfusion pressure (PP) during CPB in Group 65 (68 patients) was 60–69.9 mmHg, in Group 55 (59 patients) – lower than 60 mmHg and in Group 75 (52 patients) – 70 mmHg and higher. We have analyzed postoperative variables: central venous pressure, the need for diuretics, urine output, fluid balance, acidosis, potassium level in blood serum, the need for hemotransfusions, nephrological, cardiovascular and respiratory complications, duration of artificial lung ventilation, duration of stay in ICU and in hospital, and mortality. In the second study, to identify the risk factors for the development of ARF following CPB, we retrospectively analysed data of all 179 patients, divided into two groups: patients who developed ARF after surgery (group with ARF, n = 19) and patients without ARF (group without ARF, n = 160). We found that urine output during surgery was statistically significantly lower in Group 55 than in Groups 65 and 75. The incidence of ARF in the early postoperative period did not differ among the groups: it developed in 6% of all patients in Group 65, 4% in Group 55 and 6% in Group 75. There were no differences in the rate of other complications (cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological disorders, bleeding, etc) among the groups. There were 19 cases of ARF (10.6%), but none of these patients needed dialysis. We found that age (70.0 ± 7.51 vs. 63.5 ± 10.54 [standard deviation, SD], P = 0.016), valve replacement and/or reconstruction surgery (57.9% vs. 27.2%, P = 0,011), combined valve and CABG surgery (15.8% vs. 1.4%, P = 0.004), duration of CPB (134.74 ± 62.02 vs. 100.59 ± 43.99 min., P = 0.003) and duration of aortic cross-clamp (75.11 ± 35.78 vs. 53.45 ± 24.19 min., P = 0.001) were the most important independent risk factors for ARF. Cardiopulmonary bypass perfusion pressure did not cause postoperative renal failure. The age of patient, valve surgery procedures, duration of cardiopulmonary bypass and duration of aorta cross-clamp are potential causative factors for acute renal failure after cardiac surgery.
Ability of a Mixture of Lactobacillus and Propionibacterium to Influence the Faecal Aflatoxin Content in Healthy Egyptian Volunteers: A Pilot Clinical Study

The gastrointestinal tract has an important role in the kinetics of aflatoxin. The gastrointestinal tract is exposed to AFB 1 initially via the diet and subsequently to AFB1 metabolites from the bile. Animal studies have shown that under normal conditions 50% of the administered dose of AFB 1 is absorbed from the duodenal region of the small intestine within 1 hr (13). AFB1 is found in the mesenteric venous blood as water-soluble metabolites, protein adducts and free AFB1. From the intestine, AFB1 apparently enters the liver through the hepatic portal blood supply (16). AFB1 is concentrated heavily in the liver and to a lesser extent in kidney (17). Excretion of AFB 1 and its metabolites occurs mainly through the biliary pathway and the urinary pathway. About 58% of the free [14C]AFB1 administered through intraportal injection was excreted in the bile in 4 hr (13). Biliary elimination of AFB1 was 41% of the dose in 4 hr. In rats, 55% of an oral [3H]AFB1 dose was excreted cumulatively in the faeces, compared with 15% in the urine, 23 days after dosing (1). Within the gastrointestinal tract the absorption of AFB 1 may be affected by the intestinal contents. Apart from food residues, the major component of colonic contents is the microflora, whose numbers exceed 1011 bacteria per gram dry matter (11). Constituents of the normal microflora and some pathogenic bacteria have the ability to colonise the mucosal surface (12). Whether this will influence the process of absorption of xenobiotics through the intestinal mucosa is of great interest. Gastrointestinal microorganisms may also contribute to the detoxification of xenobiotics, including AFB 1. However, no clear mechanism has been elucidated by which this may occur. The ability of the bacteria to bind xenobiotics, will prevent their absorption through the gut mucosa may reduce their bioavailability. Based on our earlier work on the interaction of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and AFB1(6-8, 10) we undertook a pilot study in human subjects to determine whether a mixture of L. rhamnosus strain LC-705 and P. freuden*Corresponding author . Mailing address: Department of Clinical Nutrition, University of Kuopio, P.O. Box 1627, 70211 Kuopio, Finland. Phone: + 358-17-16-2785. Fax: + 358-17-16-2792.
Tumour deposits in colorectal cancer: the challenge is continuing

with consequent overlap in patterns in a certain number of patients. We have used combined features, by adding to the shape of the nodules, the thickness and the disposition of the collagen fibres at the periphery of the nodules, the presence of non-organized lymphoid tissue, the occurrence of necrosis or fibrous septa inside the nodules and reference to the histology of vascular ⁄ neural-associated structures undamaged or infiltrated by tumour. These criteria allowed to identify those lesions with the worse prognosis, i.e. the irregular shaped lesions with desmoplasia and without lymphocytes, often in close association with venous vessels, sometimes with nerves. The review by Nagtegaal and Quirke confirms the adverse prognostic value of TD as a whole, but also the difficulty in assessing the origin of many TD as well as the lack of adequate guidelines, with consequent poor reproducibility. Furthermore, the authors argue that since these lesions are identified mostly in stage III, this removes the potential of upstaging stage II to III and point out that when considering the migration from N1 to N2, this would not affect the treatment. In their article Nagtegaal and Quirke remain uncertain as to the prognostic relevance of TD, since good pathology properly recognizes these lesions as vascular, lymphatic or neural spread; however, in a number of cases the origin cannot be determined. Our independent studies provided the first evidence for the different prognostic value of various types of TD, classified according to histological appearance and the degree of involvement of the pre-existing anatomical structures. We have shown that the extravascular venous invasion evident in some TD has a tremendous impact on patient survival, in particular in comparison with any other type of vascular invasion, venous or lymphatic, where the embolization is confined to the vascular wall. We have demonstrated the adverse prognostic significance of extralymphonodal capsular spreading in comparison with intralymphonodal extent and first showed the adverse prognosis of TD associated with lymphatic aggregates not organized in lymph nodal structures in comparison with the usually recognized type of endolymphatic vessel invasion. Our proposal for tumour staging is that TD should be classified according to their appearance and to the associated structures, being placed into the T category when confined to a vascular vessel (lymphatic or venous) or N factor when no vascular remnants are identifiable. In contrast, the irregular lesions associated with venous and ⁄ or neural structures may instead be included in the M category, representing in-transit metastasis of colonic carcinoma. We believe that in this way the two most important objectives of the TNM staging system for CRC, i.e. assessing the anatomical extent of the disease at the time of diagnosis and providing prognostic indications for patient care, could be better achieved.
The Language of Hope: Therapeutic Intent in Stem-Cell Clinical Trials

Electronic registries for clinical trials present an opportunity for miscommunication of benefits and risks to potential subjects. We explored early phase clinical trials registered on the National Library of Medicine's ClinicalTrials.gov for inappropriate language patterns (terms and statements) that could convey therapeutic intent. We sampled early-phase heart disease clinical trial records involving stem cells registered on Clincaltrials.gov between April 24, 2004, and September 18, 2008, and randomly selected heart disease drug trials from the same period for comparison. Trial sponsorship and location were coded. Textual data were extracted from titles, purpose, outcome measures, and detailed description statements and coded for readability and the presence of therapeutic language. Content and multiple correspondence analyses were employed to explore language patterns suggestive of therapeutic intent. We found statistically significant differences in therapeutic language use between stem cell (n = 72, median statement frequency 3.5, IQR 1–7) and drug trial (n = 72 median statement frequency 1, IQR 0–3.5) records; Mann–Whitney U = 1808.5, p = . 001. A correspondence plot, accounting for 65% of data variability, suggests correspondences among patterns of therapeutic language, regional location, and type of sponsorship between the two record types. Individual-, institute-, and government-sponsored stem-cell trials showed a tendency toward high frequency use of therapeutic statements. This study, the first to explore the potential for therapeutic miscommunication in electronic registries, suggests the need for greater scrutiny of language used in registered trials. Recommendations are offered to improve the integrity of records submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov.
The 2009 world team of mental health occupational therapists: a resilient and dedicated workforce

Abstract The WFOT International Advisory Group on Mental Health (IAG: MH) utilised a cross-sectional survey design pilot study to examine mental health occupational therapy practice in a sample of ten officially participating countries. Two of these countries withdrew due to logistical difficulties. Quantitative and qualitative findings described the experiences of mental health OTs in the areas of clinical service provision, collaborative approaches to care, availability of resources, workforce recruitment and retention, and perception of the future of mental health occupational therapy. Findings demonstrated the importance of positive mental health fieldwork experience as a critical factor in workforce retention. Mental health OTs recognised the importance of cross-sectoral collaboration to effect improved client outcomes and to optimise available resources. While survey respondents identified a number of ongoing challenges to service provision, they believed that mental health occupational therapy is a growing area of OT practice. Respondents demonstrated a resilient and dedicated attitude to service provision in the face of global economic downturn.
Time-varying discrete Riccati equation: l2-invertibility, dichotomy, and disconjugacy

Necessary and sufficient existence conditions for the stabilizing solution to the time-varying discrete Riccati equation are given. The result is simply expressed in terms of the original input data via the l/sup 2/-uniformly bounded invertibility of an appropriate family of Toeplitz-like operators. Intimate connections with the notions of dichotomy and disconjugacy are also pointed out. Some aspects concerning the dependence of the existence conditions on the monotonicity of the input data are investigated as well.
Nutritional Profile of Local and Western Fast Foods Consumed in Bahrain

The aim of this study was to determine the proximate, mineral, and vitamin content of 16 commonly consumed fast foods (local and Western-based) in Bahrain. Samples were collected from several food outlets in Manama city, the capital of Bahrain, and analyzed using standard methods. In general, the findings revealed that local fast foods had higher cholesterol and energy content (ranging from 0–118 mg and 762–1796 kJ/100 g, respectively) compared to Western fast foods (ranging from 11–34 mg/100 g and 980–1172 kJ/100 g, respectively). Protein content was higher in most of the local fast foods compared to the Western fast foods (5.8–30.4 g/100 g and 10.3–17.9 g/100 g, respectively). Most of the minerals were higher in local fast foods, but calcium (16–153 mg/100 g) and phosphorous (54–273 mg/100 g) were higher in Western fast foods. Some of these foods had considerable levels of vitamin B6 (0.03–0.25 mg/100 g), vitamin B12 (0.1–2.3 μg/100 g), folacin (9.0–106 μg/100 g), and niacin (1.0–12.1 mg/100 g), while the rest of the vitamins were present to a lesser extent. Fat, energy, and sodium levels were also higher in local fast foods. It is evident that the conception that local fast foods are healthier than Western-based fast foods is inappropriate. Hence, nutrition education programmes need to focus on the nutritional aspects of both local and Western fast foods.
Construction and evaluation of a non-laser optical system for photodynamic process excitation

Purpose: To show that a non-laser light source can be constructed, using a 500 W Tungsten lamp and optical filters, and that this light source produces photodynamic effect via protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) similar to the effect produced by HeNe laser light. Methods: The broad band spectrum from a Tungsten lamp was filtered. Infrared and blue part of the spectrum was discarded by absorption process and the fraction of the spectrum, centered at the red portion, was filtered by an interference filter. Photodynamic effect was studied by the activity on endogenous PpIX of Harderian glands of Wistar rats. Twenty rats were used for the experiment. Each animal had its two Harderian gland surgically exposed, so one of them was treated with the system while the other was kept as control. After a 30 minutes period of treatment, the animals were sacrificed and their glands were removed for histological analysis. This analysis was compared to earlier published results obtained with HeNe laser light. Results: The resultant light source emission was centered around (636 ± 6.5) nm and gives up to 11.3 mW/cm2 power density. It produces photodynamic effect in Harderian gland, observed either by fluorescence spectroscopy or by histological microscopy. Conclusion: There is no noticeable difference in Photodynamic effect results if activated by HeNe laser or by the proposed non-laser light source emitting at the red portion of the spectrum.
SecMCL: A Secure Monte Carlo Localization algorithm for mobile sensor networks

Recently with the emergence of mobile sensor networks, localization for such networks has gained much attention, and many localization algorithms have been proposed. Among them the Sequential Monte Carlo (SMC) based algorithms are very popular because of their simplicity and efficiency. However, most current SMC-based localization algorithms implicitly assume there is no attacker in the network, which may not be true in real applications. The attackers, if any, may send false information by themselves or through compromised nodes to disturb the localization. In this paper, we present the design and evaluation of a Secure Monte Carlo Localization algorithm, SecMCL. SecMCL provides authentication to messages and employs a new sampling method to defeat attacks. Simulation results show that SecMCL greatly improves the localization accuracy of existing SMC-based localization method when there are attacks. Also, compared with existing SMC localization method, SecMCL incurs no communication cost (in terms of number of messages) and achieves the same localization accuracy when there is no attack.
Current State and Future Challenges facing Kaifukuki Rehabilitation Wards

Currently, there are more than 53,000 beds in kaifukuki rehabilitation wards throughout Japan. The development of kaifukuki rehabilitation wards is proceeding smoothly in terms of quantity. It is suggested that, with this development, the activities of daily living of patients will significantly improve, leading to an increase in the likelihood of patients returning home when a large unit of daily rehabilitation training is provided via one of these kaifukuki rehabilitation wards. The tasks remaining to be completed for the optimal realization of the kaifukuki rehabilitation wards are to reduce the disparity in the number of beds among prefectures, to realize a mature team approach to the rehabilitation program, to encourage full-time ward physicians of the rehabilitation department to exercise leadership, to enhance subacute medical services, to enhance human resources such as nurses and rehabilitation specialists and to improve the education and training system for the staff. Other major tasks remaining are to strengthen the cooperation between kaifukuki rehabilitation wards and acute hospitals, by which such rehabilitation wards will become capable of actively accepting patients from an early stage, and to establish cooperation between kaifukuki rehabilitation wards and the home care system.
A Population‐based Case‐Control Teratological Study of Three Parenteral Penicillins G

The purpose of the study was to check the human teratogenic potential of three penicillins G: parenteral treatments with benzylpenicillin, benzylpenicillin‐procaine, and benzylpenicillin + benzylpenicillin‐procaine during pregnancy in the population‐based dataset of the Hungarian Case‐Control Surveillance of Congenital Abnormalities, 1980–1996. Of 38,151 pregnant women who had babies without any defects (population control group), 303 (0.8%) were treated with penicillin G. Of 22,865 pregnant women who had offspring with congenital abnormalities, 236 (1.O%) were treated with penicillin G (crude OR with 95% CI = 1.3, 1.1–1.5). Of 812 mothers who deliveried babies affected with Down syndrome (patient controls), 15 (1.8%) had penicillin G treatment, and this rate exceeded significantly the figure of both the case and population control groups. This finding needs further studies. The case‐control pair analysis did not indicate a teratogenic risk of three parenteral penicillin G treatments during the second‐third months of gestation, i.e., in the critical period for major congenital abnormalities. The lower use of penicillins G was explained mainly by recall bias in the population control group. Thus, parenteral penicillin G treatments during pregnancy do not present a detectable teratogenic risk to the fetus.