Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hereditary haemochromatosis: to screen or not

During the past several years hereditary haemochromatosis has risen from relative obscurity to become a topic of intense interest in the health community. Traditionally, hereditary haemochromatosis has been viewed as a rare inherited disorder, primarily of older men, that presents with life threatening complications such as “bronzed diabetes” (skin pigmentation, diabetes, and cirrhosis), primary liver cancer, or heart failure. Knowledge gained in the past 30 years, however, has shown that hereditary haemochromatosis occurs in as many as 5 in every 1000 white people of northern European heritage.1 The classic “bronzed diabetes” presentation is actually rare because it represents only a small proportion of affected individuals, usually those in whom the diagnosis has been missed for many years.2 This disorder more often presents in both men and women with non-specific medical complaints, such as abdominal pain, fatigue, sexual dysfunction, or joint pain, and hereditary haemochromatosis is often overlooked as a potential explanation.1 2 As iron loading progresses many organs and tissues can be damaged, leading to hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis, primary liver cancer, endocrine dysfunction, cardiomyopathy, or arthropathy.1 2 For over 10 years laboratory tests for assessing iron burden (transferrin saturation, serum ferritin) have been widely used in population screening, in conjunction with diagnostic …
Mobility-based clustering protocol for wireless sensor networks with mobile nodes

In this study, the authors propose a mobility-based clustering (MBC) protocol for wireless sensor networks with mobile nodes. In the proposed clustering protocol, a sensor node elects itself as a cluster-head based on its residual energy and mobility. A non-cluster-head node aims at its link stability with a cluster head during clustering according to the estimated connection time. Each non-cluster-head node is allocated a timeslot for data transmission in ascending order in a time division multiple address (TDMA) schedule based on the estimated connection time. In the steady-state phase, a sensor node transmits its sensed data in its timeslot and broadcasts a joint request message to join in a new cluster and avoid more packet loss when it has lost or is going to lose its connection with its cluster head. Simulation results show that the MBC protocol can reduce the packet loss by 25% compared with the cluster-based routing (CBR) protocol and 50% compared with the low-energy adaptive clustering hierarchy-mobile (LEACH-mobile) protocol. Moreover, it outperforms both the CBR protocol and the LEACH-mobile protocol in terms of average energy consumption and average control overhead, and can better adapt to a highly mobile environment.
Epidemiology of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in Mauritius

There is increasing concern for the rising incidence of Type 1 Diabetes mellitus worldwide. In Mauritius, there is no official data on the incidence of this disease. On the other hand, the recent creation of a two non-governmental organizations in less than five years to support patients calls for a situational analysis of the disease. Therefore, this research work has been designed with the aim to appraise the epidemiology of Type 1 Diabetes mellitus in Mauritius. Epidemiological data of all Type 1 diabetic patients 14 years of age was collected by means of a questionnaire comprising mainly of closed ended questions. This questionnaire was subject to a prior pilot study. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Ethics Committee of the local health authority. The age-standardized average incidence, for the period under scrutiny, was 4.94/100000/year. In boys and girls, it is 4.59 and 6.63/100000/year respectively. Referring to age of onset, it was observed that in male patients, the highest peak was observed at the age of 7 and 12 years whereas in female cases, the highest peak was observed at the age of 10 years. The median age at diagnosis for male and female patients was 8.02 and 10.0 years respectively. Being given the high incidence of T1D in Mauritius and the global rising trend, the surveillance of this disease needs to be addressed.
Successful Treatment of Postkeratoplasty Fungal Keratitis with Topical and Intrastromal Voriconazole

Objective: Corneal grafts have a major risk of fungal keratitis due to long-term local and sometimes systemic steroid/antibiotic use. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of intrastromal voriconazole as a therapeutic adjunctive for the management of fungal keratitis in corneal graft. Design: Presentation of two cases of fungal keratitis occurring after corneal transplantation and treated at the University Eye Hospital “Svjetlost”. Participants and Methods: Two cases of postkeratoplasty fungal keratitis are presented in the study. Both patients had decreased visual acuity, eye redness and severe pain occurring at 10 and 12 months after uneventful corneal transplantation. They were still receiving steroid/antibiotic topical treatment to protect their corneal graft. Patients presented with a stromal infiltrate in a donor tissue, accompanied with corneal ulcer at recipient/donor junction. Candida infection was proven by corneal scraping. Topical and systemic antimycotic treatment was started, fortified by intrastromal injection of voriconazole (50 μg/0.1 ml) given all around the junction of clear cornea and infiltrate (or ulcer). Results: One week after injection, corneal ulcers had healed and corneal infiltrates decreased; resulting in visual acuity improvement from 20/100 to 20/20 in first, and from 20/80 to 20/40 in a second case. One year after infection visual acuity in the first case remained 20/20, and improved to 20/20 in a second case. Conclusion: Intrastromal voriconazole seems to be a safe method for providing a higher concentration of the drug in the cornea affected by fungal keratitis; it can serve as an adjunctive treatment to topical and systemic antifungal therapy.
Reversible Right Ventricular Dysfunction in Patients with HIV Infection.

Human immunodeficiency virus-related cardiomyopathy is characterized by global left ventricular (LV) dysfunction commonly associated with biventricular dilation. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cardiomyopathy carries a poor prognosis, and the role of antiretroviral therapy in the reversal of heart failure is not very clear. We report two patients with HIV infection who presented with severe right ventricular (RV) dysfunction in the absence of pulmonary parenchymal, pulmonary arterial and left ventricular myocardial involvement. During the period of intensive antiretroviral therapy, the symptoms of right heart failure progressively and remarkably improved. This was accompanied by normalization of right ventricular size and RV function documented by repeat echocardiograms. Given that the serologic tests for opportunistic infections were negative, and the RV function improvement correlated with a decrement in the viral load, it is likely that the cardiomyopathy was due to direct infection by HIV. These cases illustrate that there can be isolated involvement of the right heart in the absence of lung, significant pulmonary vascular and left ventricular disease, and also that the antiretroviral therapy might reverse the cardiomyopathy.
Improved calculation of photoneutron yields released by incident electrons.

Calculations are presented of yields of low-energy neutrons released by electrons incident on semi-infinite targets of natural C, Al, Fe, Ni, Cu, Ag, Ba, Ta, W, Au, Pb and U. Yields are based on photon differential track-length distributions derived for semi-infinite targets from Approximation B of analytical shower theory. By the introduction of additional corrections in the treatment of the photon track-length distributions, calculational accuracy in the electron energy region near the photoneutron threshold is considerably improved over a previous report. The calculations confirm the yields of the previous report for high incident electron energies but show them to be overestimates close to threshold. Systematics of yields are re-examined and a parameterization is offered which can be used to estimate yields very close to the threshold for any material. Results are relevant to the energy range used for radiation therapy.
Role of dopamine receptors in the kidney in the regulation of blood pressure

Regulation by dopamine of cardiovascular function, renal function and systemic blood pressure regulation is multifaceted. Each of the five dopamine receptor subtypes participates in the regulation of blood pressure by mechanisms specific for the subtype. Some receptors regulate blood pressure by influencing the central or peripheral nervous system; others influence epithelial transport and regulate the secretion and receptors of several humoral agents. The D1, D3, and D4 receptors interact with the renin-angiotensin system, while the D2 and D5 receptors interact with the sympathetic nervous system to regulate blood pressure.
The Structure of Licensing Contracts

Industrial organization theory has explored several issues related to licensing, but empirical analyses are extremely rare. We amass a new and detailed dataset on licensing contracts, and use it to present some simple "facts" concerning licensing behavior. Our analysis reveals robust cross-industries differences in several contractual features, such as exclusivity, cross-licensing, ex-ante versus ex-post technology transfers, and licensing to related versus unrelated parties. We offer an interpretation of these facts based on cross-industry variation in the strength of intellectual property rights. Copyright 2000 by Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Performance and milk zinc from low-zinc intake in Holstein cows.

Abstract Following a 1-week standardization period, a high beet pulp, low-zinc diet (16.6 parts per million) was fed with (39.5 parts per million total zinc) and without supplemental zinc as zinc oxide to 10 first-lactation Holstein cows (linearly declining phase of lactation) for 6 weeks. The low-zinc diet did not adversely affect milk production, fat-corrected milk, solids-corrected milk, milk fat, solids-not-fat, protein, feed intake, or body weight changes, indicating that zinc intake was adequate for these functions. However, with the low-zinc diet zinc content of milk was reduced 23% and percentage of ingested zinc in milk doubled. Thus, major adjustments to the diet were reduction in milk zinc and more efficient translocation of dietary zinc to milk zinc. Milk zinc content of a cow was highly repeatable (correlation coefficient = .92) from one measurement period to another, indicating that factors affecting milk zinc can be investigated more efficiently if standardization period data are used in covariance analyses. The correlation coefficient between milk zinc content and milk protein content was . 65 and between milk zinc and milk production – . 33.
Gamma spectrometry and beta counting used for monitoring of environmental radioactivity at Risø

A NKS-B workshop on radioanalytical chemistry for radioecology and waste management was hold at Risø, Roskilde, Denmark in 16-20th November 2009. The workshop was organized as 3 days lectures and presentations and two days laboratory practice. 48 peoples participited the workshop, including 32 young participants from Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Lithuania and Ireland. This report gives a brief description of the workshop and an evaluation of the workshop by statistic analysis of questionnaires feed back from the participants. The book of abstracts and proceedings presented in the workshop is enclosed
Oroantral fistula: a complication of transantral ligation of the internal maxillary artery for epistaxis

Abstract Transantral ligation of the internal maxillary artery (IMAX) is a well-described option for surgical management of posterior epistaxis not controlled by anterior and posterior packing. Advocates for this procedure argue that it reduces the morbidity, length of hospital stay and financial cost associated with prolonged nasal packing. The procedure is carried out through a Caldwell-Luc approach and the IMAX is clipped in the pterygomaxillary fossa. Fashioning of a nasoantral window is optional and its inclusion usually depends on the integrity of the sinus ostium. The commonest complications of transantral IMAX ligation occur when local structures including the inferior orbital and anterior superior alveolar nerves are damaged. The incidence of oroantral fistula following IMAX ligation is very low but those cases reported have been associated with the failure to create a nasoantral drainage window. We report two cases of persistent oroantral fistula complicating transantral internal maxillary artery ligation. No nasoantral window was fashioned in either of these cases.
Physiological Reactivity to Infant Crying and Observed Maternal Sensitivity

Relations between maternal sensitivity and physiological reactivity to infant crying were examined using measures of heart rate (HR) and respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) in 49 mothers of second-born infants. Using the Ainsworth Sensitivity Scale, an independent assessment of maternal sensitivity was made during maternal free play and bathing of their infants. Physiological reactivity was measured while mothers listened to three blocks of infant cry sounds in a standard cry paradigm. Mothers scoring high on sensitivity were compared to less sensitive mothers on both their physiological reactivity to the presented crying sounds and their physiological mean-level differences. Significant interaction effects were found for both HR and RSA. Highly sensitive mothers showed a larger increase in HR and stronger RSA withdrawal in response to the first block of cry sounds compared to less sensitive mothers. Main effects showed that highly sensitive mothers had lower mean overall HR, and higher mean RSA levels across all three blocks of crying sounds compared to less sensitive mothers. RSA withdrawal and accompanying HR increases are discussed from a polyvagal perspective as indicative of a better capability in responding to infant signals of negative affect.
Redescription of Steinernema longicaudum Shen & Wang (Nematoda: Steinernematidae); geographic distribution and phenotypic variation between allopatric populations

Steinernema longicaudum Shen & Wang is redescribed based on a comparative morphological study of specimens from the type isolate from China, and two other isolates recovered from Korea and the USA. For the first and second generation female, the location of the vulva, shape of the vulval lips, and shape and length of the tail were newly observed diagnostic characters. A more detailed description of the morphology of the male spicules and gubernaculum, and the arrangement of the genital papillae is included. A description, based on scanning electron microscopy observations, of the lateral field pattern of the third-stage infective juveniles is also provided. Additionally, restriction fragment length polymorphism profiles based on the internal transcribed spacer region, and cross-breeding tests supplement the description of this species.
Modelling of On-Site Energy Consumption Profile in Construction Sites and a Case Study of Earth Moving

The annual expenditure on diesel oil and heavy oil in the construction sector is the second largest among all industrial sectors. According to the greenhouse reduction scheme of Korean Government, construction sector targeted 7.1% reduction by 2020. Although this target is not higher than other industrial sectors, it is not easy to achieve the reduction target without radical advance in technology, which cannot be expected to happen soon, considering the conservative characteristics of construction industry. Most researches on environmental issues focus on the issues related to energy saving matters during material production stage or maintenance stage, such as heating and insulation, and few deal with the issues directly related to the energy use in the construction sites. This research regards the operation of equipment for the on-site construction processes as a system and attempts to model the energy use processes related to the activities in construction sites, and provides simulation results of earth excavation and hauling processes. The result of this research is expected to aid construction planners estimating the time-based patterns of energy use and assessing greenhouse gas emission and to help selecting more energy efficient alternatives at the planning stage.
Perceptions of Regulation on the UK Mortgage Market: A Step Too Far?

Poor risk management within firms was the result of deregulation and the Big Bang of 1986. Without a regulator and in order to achieve financial growth, firms inadequately managed their risk. The 2007 financial crisis was a wake up call to the UK highlighting that companies could not carry on in this manner. The financial crisis resulted in the FSA assuming the role of an active regulator, thus many requirements were implemented including the Capital Adequacy Ratio. Consequently, gross mortgage lending decreased by 63% during 2007-2010. Therefore, this study investigates the perceptions of the current level of regulation on the UK mortgage market. The research found there is a strong perception that the level of regulation is hindering lending and competition within the market. More specifically this study uses a qualitative approach of in-depth interviews with five financial and regulatory professionals. The results suggest that two professionals perceived regulation as positive for the UK mortgage market. Regulation is perceived positively because of its ability to give consumers greater market confidence, the implementation of loss mitigation strategies that prevent house repossession and the loss of irresponsible lenders. Three professionals perceived regulation as highly negative because it has reduced the lending rate, created barriers to entry thus reducing competition, has moved careless lending to other areas of the market such as payday loans, has created a substantial cost burden, has used a one-size-fits-all approach and has not removed fraudulent activity completely. Overall these results suggest that UK economy may struggle to get out of this recessionary period as long as there are uniform capital requirements imposed on UK lenders. It is recommended that the regulator may take an approach that lessens the requirements enforced on non-bank lenders. However, the capital requirements should be imposed on banks that have wider implications for the UK economy and caused the current financial crisis in order to prevent future financial crises. Another recommendation is the segmentation of building societies from banks as seen in the 1970s. The separation would create market confidence and would result in greater local knowledge; this would stimulate growth within the UK mortgage market.
Measurement-based delay spread analysis of indoor distributed antenna systems

Delay spread characteristics of distributed antenna system (DAS) at 3.52 GHz are analyzed by using the measurement data. The measurement is conducted in a typical office, and signals are transmitted from seven distributed antennas to a mobile receiver. It is verified that the mean value and the standard deviation of root mean square (RMS) delay spread are smaller in DAS than the ones in centralized antenna systems (CASs). The results show that with the existences of line of sight (LOS) paths, the RMS delay spread relies on the nearest transmitter antenna in different measured locations. It is indicated that there is a relationship between the RMS delay spread and the distance from distributed transmitters to the receiver. Then a new metric, harmonic access (HA) distance, is defined. The measurement results show that in DAS the RMS delay spread and the HA distance have the same changing tendency.
Volume-limited radio survey of ultracool dwarfs

Aims. We aim to increase the sample of ultracool dwarfs studied in the radio domain to allow a more statistically significant und erstanding of the physical conditions associated with these magnetically active objects. Methods. We conducted a volume-limited survey at 4.9 GHz of 32 nearby ultracool dwarfs with spectral types covering the range M7 ‐ T8. A statistical analysis was performed on the combined data from the present survey and previous radio observations of ultracool dwarfs. Results. Whilst no radio emission was detected from any of the targets, significant upper limits were placed on the radio luminosit ies that are below the luminosities of previously detected ultr acool dwarfs. Combining our results with those from the literature gives a detection rate for dwarfs in the spectral range M7 ‐ L3.5 of∼ 9%. In comparison, only one dwarf later than L3.5 is detected in 53 observations. We report the observed detection rate as a function of spectral type, and the number distribution of the dwarfs as a function of spectral type and rotation velocity. Conclusions. The radio observations to date point to a drop in the detection rate toward the ultracool dwarfs. However, the emission levels of detected ultracool dwarfs are comparable to those of earlier type active M dwarfs, which may imply that a mildly relativistic electron beam or a strong magnetic field can exist in ultracoo l dwarfs. Fast rotation may be a suffi cient condition to produce magnetic fields strengths of several hundreds Gauss to several kilo Ga uss, as suggested by the data for the active ultracool dwarfs with known rotation rates. A possible reason for the non-detection of r adio emission from some dwarfs is that maybe the centrifugal acceleration mechanism in these dwarfs is weak (due to a low rotation rate) and thus cannot provide the necessary density and/or energy of accelerated electrons. An alternative explanation could be l ong-term variability, as is the case for several ultracool d warfs whose radio emission varies considerably over long periods with emission levels dropping below the detection limit in some instances.
The Motherhood Penalty in Cross-National Perspective: The Importance of Work–Family Policies and Cultural Attitudes

Mothers’ employment and earnings partly depend on social policies and cultural norms supporting women’s paid and unpaid work. Previous research suggests that work–family policies are deeply shaped by their cultural context. We examine country variation in the associations between motherhood and earnings, in cultural attitudes surrounding women’s employment, and in child-care and parental leave policies. We model how cultural attitudes moderate the impact of policies on women’s earnings across countries. Parental leaves and public childcare are associated with higher earnings for mothers when cultural support for maternal employment is high, but have less positive or even negative relationships with earnings where cultural attitudes support the male breadwinner/female caregiver model.
Smad 7 as a therapeutic agent for chronic kidney diseases

1. Abstract 2. Introduction 3. Role of TGF-b and its signaling pathway in kidney diseases 3.1. TGF-b and Smad signaling in renal fibrosis 3.2. TGF-b and Smad signaling in renal inflammation 4. Smad 7 as a therapeutic agent for chronic kidney diseases 4.1. Smad7 as an inhibitory Smad negatively regulating TGF-b/Smad signaling 4.2. Smad7 inhibits renal fibrosis in intro and in vivo 4.2. 1. Smad7 inhibits renal fibrosis in vitro 4.2. 2. Ultrasound-microbubble-mediated inducible Smad7 gene transfer 4.2. 3. Overexpression of Smad7 inhibits renal fibrosis in rat models of kidney diseases 4.3. Smad7 inhibits renal inflammation in vitro and in vivo 5. Mechanisms of Smad7 anti-renal fibrosis and inflammation 5.1. Mechanism of Smad7 in anti-renal fibrosis 5.2. Mechanism of Smad7 in anti-renal inflammation 6. Summary and perspectives 7. Acknowledgements 8. References