Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optimization of kVp and mAs for pediatric low-dose simulated abdominal CT: is it best to base parameter selection on object circumference?

OBJECTIVE The objective of our study was to determine the effect of mAs and kVp reduction on pediatric phantoms based on patient circumference to optimize dose reduction and maintain image quality for abdominal CT. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Three polymethylmethacrylate right cylindric CT dose index (CTDI) phantoms with diameters of 10, 16, and 32 cm simulated the abdomen of an infant, child, and adolescent, respectively. Using a National Institute of Standards & Technology ion chamber and Victoreen 660 electrometer, doses at centerline were recorded on a 16-MDCT scanner. Measurements were obtained in incremental steps from 50 to 400 mAs and from 80 to 140 kVp. Noise was calibrated to clinical images through a calibration factor. RESULTS For phantoms of all circumferences, doses increased linearly with an increase in mAs and by the power function of kVp(n) for increases in kVp. There was an associated decrease in noise for all circumferences and a sharp decrease at lower doses with a plateau at higher doses. Using a noise threshold of 20 HU and a dose threshold of 2.5 cGy, a range of imaging parameters was established for each circumference from which technique optimization curves were created to determine optimal mAs and kVp pairs. The mean measured dose was 2.435 ± 0.019 cGy. The mean measured noise was 29.35 ± 1.45 HU. CONCLUSION For pediatric CT, the most accurate way to strike the balance between image quality and radiation dose is to adjust dose to abdominal circumference, not body weight or age. Our data support the use of technique optimization curves to optimize kVp and mAs.
Carbohydrate Supplementation and the Lymphocyte Proliferative Response to Long Endurance Running

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study examined the influence of 6% carbohydrate ingestion on hormonal and lymphocyte proliferative responses (5 total samples over 9 hours) to 2.5 h of high-intensity running by 30 experienced marathon runners. The T-cell response differed between groups, with the placebo group exhibiting a greater increase immediately post-run and greater decrease at 3 h of recovery. No group differences were observed for Con A-, PHA-, or PWM-induced lymphocyte proliferation. However, when PHA was adjusted per T-cell, group differences were observed, highlighted by a decrease in the placebo group immediately post-run. Glucose and cortisol responses differed between groups, with glucose lower and cortisol higher in the placebo group immediately post-run. Post-run glucose correlated negatively with postrun cortisol (r=-0.670, P< 0.001) and epinephrine (r=-0.540, P=0.002). Post-run cortisol also correlated negatively with total lymphocytes and T-cells at 1.5 hours (r=-0.429, P=0.018 and r=-0.424, P=0.019, respectively) and 3 hours (r=-0.566, P=0.001 and r=-0.523, P=0.003, respectively) of recovery. The pre- to post-run change in glucose correlated to the same changes in PHA/T-cell (r=0.456, P=0.011). The data support an interactive effect of carbohydrate ingestion on plasma glucose and cortisol. The data support an interactive effect of carbohydrate ingestion on plasma glucose and cortisol, T-cell trafficking, and cell-adjusted PHA-induced lymphocyte proliferation following long endurance running.
Adolescent Primary Care Visit Patterns

PURPOSE Many clinical preventive care services are recommended for adolescents. Little is known about whether most adolescents have a sufficient number of preventive care services visits over time to receive those services. We wanted to measure how frequently adolescents who are insured either through private insurance or government programs have preventive vs nonpreventive care visits. METHODS We conducted a retrospective descriptive analysis based on claims data from a large health plan in Minnesota with about 700,000 members. All study patients were aged 11 to 18 years between January 1, 1998, and December 31, 2007. Our outcome measure was rates of preventive and nonpreventive care visits. RESULTS One-third of adolescents with 4 or more years of continuous enrollment had no preventive care visits from age 13 through 17 years, and another 40% had only a single such visit. Nonpreventive care visits were more frequent in all age-groups, averaging about 1 per year at age 11 years, climbing to about 1.5 per year at age 17 years. Differences in rates between government insurance and commercial insurance were small. In older adolescence, girls had more preventive care visits and more nonpreventive care visits than did boys. CONCLUSIONS Most adolescents come in infrequently for preventive care visits but more often for nonpreventive care visits. We recommend using the same approach in adolescence for preventive care that is being used in adults: the no-missed-opportunities paradigm. All visits by adolescents should be viewed as an opportunity to provide preventive care services, and systems should be set up to make that possible, even in busy practices with short encounters with a clinician.
Accurate description of the electronic structure of organic semiconductors by GW methods

Electronic properties associated with charged excitations, such as the ionization potential (IP), the electron affinity (EA), and the energy level alignment at interfaces, are critical parameters for the performance of organic electronic devices. To computationally design organic semiconductors and functional interfaces with tailored properties for target applications it is necessary to accurately predict these properties from first principles. Many-body perturbation theory is often used for this purpose within the GW approximation, where G is the one particle Green’s function and W is the dynamically screened Coulomb interaction. Here, the formalism of GW methods at different levels of self-consistency is briefly introduced and some recent applications to organic semiconductors and interfaces are reviewed.
Consistency of the initial cell acquisition procedure is critical to the standardization of CD34+ cell enumeration by flow cytometry: results of a pairwise analysis of umbilical cord blood units and cryopreserved aliquots

BACKGROUND: The CD34+ cell content is a predictive factor for engraftment and survival after umbilical cord blood (UCB) transplantation. The high variability in the CD34 assay results in different recommended cell doses for infusion across transplant centers and also limits the clinical utility of the CD34+ cell counts provided by cord blood banks (CBBs). This bi‐institutional study was intended to understand the sources of this variability.
Genotoxicity and oxidative stress among spray painter

Several organic solvents (OSs) are potent carcinogens among population at risk. Their genotoxicity have important implications for cancer production. Genotoxicity could be related to lipid peroxidation with decrease of endogenous body antioxidants. This work included 27 car spray painters exposed to a mixture of mainly aromatic OSs and a comparable group of 27 males. For both groups, chromosomal study and assay of serum glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were done. It was found that spray painters suffered a significantly higher percentage of chromosomal aberrations (CAs%) and lower GSH-Px activity specially among smoker ones. Positive correlations were found between CAs% and duration of exposure and the lifetime hydrocarbon exposure score (HES). A significant negative correlation was found between GSH-Px and duration of work and HES. Finally we recommend following up for workers who are at risk of genotoxicity by periodic examination and regular supplementation with antioxidants. [Ehab R. Abdelraouf, Fateheya M. Metwally, Hend Rashad, Saida Hammad. Genotoxicity and oxidative stress among spray painter. Life Science Journal.2012;9(2):20-24] (ISSN: 1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite. com. 4
Pricing Derivatives under Multiple Stochastic Factors by Localized Radial Basis Function Methods

We propose two localized Radial Basis Function (RBF) methods, the Radial Basis Function Partition of Unity method (RBF-PUM) and the Radial Basis Function generated Finite Differences method (RBF-FD), for solving financial derivative pricing problems arising from market models with multiple stochastic factors. We demonstrate the useful features of the proposed methods, such as high accuracy, sparsity of the differentiation matrices, mesh-free nature and multi-dimensional extendability, and show how to apply these methods for solving time-dependent higher-dimensional PDEs in finance. We test these methods on several problems that incorporate stochastic asset, volatility, and interest rate dynamics by conducting numerical experiments. The results illustrate the capability of both methods to solve the problems to a sufficient accuracy within reasonable time. Both methods exhibit similar orders of convergence, which can be further improved by a more elaborate choice of the method parameters. Finally, we discuss the parallelization potentials of the proposed methods and report the speedup on the example of RBF-FD.
“A Sound Track of Your Life”: Music in Contemporary Uk Funerals

This article considers the role that music plays in contemporary UK funerals and the meaning that the funeral music has for bereaved families. It is based on findings from a recently completed study of 46 funerals funded by the UK Arts and Humanities Research Council. Music contributes to the public ceremony and the personal existential quest of the bereaved. It is important to both the content and process of the contemporary funeral, an event of deep cultural significance in our response as individuals and communities to death and the loss of a significant relationship. There is evidence that for many people, the music chosen and used also evokes and conveys their spirituality. Spirituality may not be intrinsic to the music but spiritual experience may result from the meaning that the music has for that particular person.
Protein Repair and Degradation during Aging

Cellular aging is characterized by a build-up of oxidatively modified proteins. The steady-state level of oxidized proteins depends on the balance between the rate of protein oxidative damage and the rates of protein degradation and repair. Therefore, the accumulation of oxidized protein with age can be due to increased protein damage, decreased oxidized protein degradation and repair, or the combination of both mechanisms. The proteasomal system is the major intracellular proteolytic pathway implicated in the degradation of oxidized protein, and the peptide methionine sulfoxide reductase catalyzes the reduction of methionine sulfoxide (i.e., oxidized methionine) to methionine within proteins. A short summary on protein oxidative damage and oxidized protein degradation is given, and evidence for a decline of proteasome function with age is presented. Arguments for the implication of peptide methionine sulfoxide reductase in the age-related accumulation of oxidized protein are also discussed.
Foreign direct investment in Russia: stakeholders’ views and perceptions

Volumes of foreign direct investments (FDI) are growing steadily, however, transition economies, such as Russia, are attracting only a minor share of FDI despite of available potentials. Risk aversion is one of the reasons influencing decision-making processes of FDI investors. This paper reviews existing objective and subjective risks, which impact decisions regarding FDI. The results of the paper are based on the extensive dialogue with stakeholders from Austria, Germany and Japan on the risks for FDI in Russia as well as on the outcomes of the discussions on barriers for trade in frames of the workshop, which brought together Russian and European stakeholders. The results show that political, regulatory, revenue, currency and operational risks within the economy of Russia are perceived by FDI investors from different sectors such as construction, financing, automotive and other industries as being the most likely and probable risks for FDI in Russia. The majority of investors perceive political risks as a greater barrier for investment in Russia. These perceptions are influenced by existing asymmetries on the market and the political decision-making dominance over business environment. Our results support existing evidence on impacts of uncertainties connected with political and regulatory risks for FDI in Russia. However, we did not find evidence that these risk perceptions were affected by creation of the Eurasian Customs Union, neither in positive nor in a negative way. The results suggest that significant progress was already done by improving investment climate in Russia but further efforts are also needed on addressing regulatory risks such as dealing with construction permits, protecting minority investors or simplifying customs regulations, as well as addressing existing market asymmetries.
Left Ear (Right Temporal Hemisphere) Advantage and Left Temporal Hemispheric Dysfunction in Schizophrenia

In this study, to investigate the right or left ear advantages in psychiatric patients, the durations of hearing for right and left ears were assessed in 61 psychiatric patients, 26 with schizophrenia, 17 with depressive disorder, 13 with bipolar affective disorder, and 5 with brief psychotic disorder, plus 24 controls. Diagnoses were made on the basis of information provided from clinical interviews and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID). Schizophrenia was associated with a left ear advantage, and both depressive disorder and brief psychotic disorder were associated with right ear advantage as well as controls. These results suggest that their schizophrenia may be associated with a left temporal lobe dysfunction.
Immediate vs. early loading of SLA implants in the posterior mandible: 5-year results of randomized controlled clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to compare clinical results of immediate and early loading (EL) self-tapping implants placed in posterior mandibles. MATERIAL AND METHODS Twelve patients with bilateral edentulous posterior mandibular were randomly assigned to treatment either with immediate (test) or early loaded implants (control). Seventy-two self-tapping implants with SLA surface (Ø 4, 1/4, 8 mm; length 8 and 10 mm) were analyzed in this study. Test implants (36) were loaded on the day of surgery and control implants 6 weeks later. The measuring of implant stability quotient (ISQ) was performed on 0, 6th, 12th, and 52nd week after implant insertion. The bone resorption, modified plaque, and bleeding index were notified at 1 and 5 years later. RESULTS After 5 years, survival in the both groups was 100%. The mean value of primary implant stability was 76.92 ± 0.79 ISQ. In the first 6 weeks, ISQ values significantly increased in the test group (77.92 ± 1.16 vs. 79.61 ± 0.90) as well as in the control group (7.92 ± 1.05 vs. 77.55 ± 0.99). A significant longitudinal increase in ISQ value was recorded in test and control group. The differences between immediate and early loaded implants were statistically insignificant (P > 0.05). At the 5 years, no statistically significant differences were found between immediate and early loaded implants with respect to mean crestal bone loss measurements (0.4 ± 0.24 vs. 0.8 ± 0.15 mm), mean bleeding index (0.22 ± 0.11 vs. 0.25 ± 0.11), and mean plaque index (0.17 ± 0.15 vs. 0.19 ± 0.20). CONCLUSION Based on these results, the self-tapping implants inserted in posterior mandible can provide adequate primary stability value as the main factor for immediate and EL protocol.
110 GHz broadband measurement of permittivity on human epidermis using 1 mm coaxial probe

In this work, we have characterized the permittivity of human epidermis (outer skin layer) using microwave up to 110 GHz. A one mm-diameter coaxial probe was adopted to increase measuring bandwidth as well as to enhance the spatial resolution. Pork was used to discriminate the permittivities between muscle tissues and fat tissues. The influence of the sample thickness was also. studied. Considering several factors, the permittivity was measured on epidermis of the human palm and the wrist. In addition, a relaxation phenomenon observed in the wrist skin, revealed by Cole-Cole parameters, suggested that it originated from high water content beneath the thin epidermis of the wrist skin. A relaxation phenomenon revealed by Cole-Cole parameters was observed in the wrist skin. This explains that high water content cells exist beneath the thin epidermis of the wrist skin.
Modification of the pacemaker activity of vestibular neurons in brainstem slices during vestibular compensation in the guinea pig

In the guinea pig, unilateral labyrinthectomy causes an immediate and severe depression of the spontaneous activity of the ipsilateral central vestibular neurons, which subsequently recovers completely within one week. A possible underlying mechanism could be an increase in the endogenous activity of the neurons deprived of their labyrinthine input. Here, we addressed this hypothesis. The endogenous activity of the neurons was assessed by their spontaneous activity recorded extracellularly in brainstem slices in the presence of a cocktail of neurotransmitter blockers (CNQX, d‐APV, bicuculline and strychnine) which freed them from their main synaptic influences. The left medial vestibular nucleus (MVN) was explored in a very systematic way and strict methodological precautions were taken in order to validate comparisons between the numbers of spontaneously active neurons recorded in the MVN of distinct slices. In the presence of neurotransmitter antagonists, the mean number of spontaneously active neurons detected in a single MVN increased dramatically from 9.5 in slices from control guinea pigs to 26.3 in slices from animals labyrinthectomized on the left side one week beforehand. The mean firing rate of the recorded neurons also increased from 7.5 ± 5.6 spikes/s in slices from control animals to 12.3 ± 7.6 spikes/s in slices from guinea pigs labyrinthectomized one week beforehand. These results show that deprivation of the vestibular neurons of their labyrinthine input caused a change in the deprived neurons themselves. They suggest that an increase in pacemaker activity might be a factor responsible for the restoration of spontaneous activity in the vestibular neurons after labyrinthectomy.
Origins, properties, and parameters estimation of the hyperbolic reliability model

This paper deals with a new reliability model for nonrepairable systems, the Hyperbolic. A decreasing hazard rate approaching a value greater than zero is its distinctive characteristic. Potentially, many mechanisms of failure can produce mortality laws of Hyperbolic type. The "Deterioration", "Stress-Strength", and "Shocks" failure models discussed here are such models. To make the use of the Hyperbolic model easier, the maximum likelihood estimators of its parameters are given. They can be calculated without any difficulty, and appear to be acceptable for practical technological applications. Finally, two applicative examples are given. These examples exhibit that when the mechanism of failure is one of the types discussed, the Hyperbolic model shows a better fit compared with other alternative reliability models, like Gamma, and Weibull.
Pyoderma gangrenosum: an updated review

Pyoderma gangrenosum is a rare, ulcerative, cutaneous condition. First described in 1930, the pathogenesis of pyoderma gangrenosum remains unknown, but it is probably related to a hyperergic reaction. There are various clinical and histological variants of this disorder. Pyoderma gangrenosum often occurs in association with a systemic disease such as inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatologic disease, paraproteinaemia, or haematological malignancy. The diagnosis, mainly based on the clinical presentation and course, is confirmed through a process of elimination of other causes of cutaneous ulcers. Local treatment may be sufficient for mild disease, while for severe cases, systemic immunosuppressants are the mainstay. Long‐term treatment with these agents is often required, but this can expose patients to adverse side‐effects.
Comparative study of partial discharge characteristics and dissolved gas analysis on palm-based oil as insulating material

Partial discharge (PD) properties and dissolved gas analysis (DGA) are investigated on two kinds of fatty acid alkyl esters synthesized from palm oil with additive, namely Pastell 2H-08 and Palm Fatty Acid Ester (PFAE) to be adopted in power transformers. For comparison, the properties of mineral oil which is commercially used transformer oil were also investigated in the research works. The results revealed that PD repetition rate number of the ester oils with additive increase remarkably at above 15 kVrms of voltage application than that of mineral oil. PD charge of ester oils with additive tends to saturate at about 10,000 pC, while PD charge of mineral oil seems to keep increasing with increasing the applied voltage at above 20 kVrms. The amounts of generated hydrocarbon gases in ester oils with the additive are higher than that of mineral oil. It is found that combustible gas pattern of the ester oils with the additive are different from that of conventional mineral oil. Duval analysis of ester oils with additive and mineral oil are classified as high energy electrical discharge, while for mineral oil is classified as low energy electrical discharge.
Assessment of Lactic Acid Bacteria and Enterobacteriaceae Counts in Bulgarian Probiotic Products by TEMPO ® System and ISO Methods

Some issues related to the microbiological quality and safety of probiotic products requires the use of fast and reliable microbiological methods for control throughout production and along the market chain. One of the authenticity/quality issues related to probiotic products at the market is the actual content of viable lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in them. Claims on the labels usually state live LAB content above 106-107 cfu/ml or g, but market studies show that in many occasions this may not be true. Another issue related to dairy-based products is their safety, and a common problem is contamination by microorganisms from the Enterobacteriaceae group. The aim of this study was to compare the performance of the alternative MPN-based methods TEMPO LAB® and TEMPO EB® with the reference methods ISO 15214:1998 and ISO 21528-2:2004 for the enumeration of LAB and Enterobacteriaceae in various probiotic products. The study was conducted with 114 Bulgarian probiotic foods and supplements. Results showed good agreement between the TEMPO and the respective ISO methods, which confirms that TEMPO LAB® and TEMPO EB® can effectively be used as rapid alternative methods for assessing the content of live LAB and Enterobacteriaceae as important quality and safety indicators for probiotic products.
La migración y su influencia en el desarrollo del municipio de Parácuaro, Michoacán

Los problemas de pobreza, marginacion, analfabetismo, inequidad y desempleo han originado que el municipio Paracuaro, Michoacan sea clasificado como de alta intensidad migratoria. No obstante, esta migracion ha traido consigo un incremento paulatino del flujo de remesas; en el 2010 el 11.3% de los hogares del municipio recibio este tipo de transferencias. El objetivo de la presente investigacion es determinar el impacto de la migracion y las remesas en el desarrollo de Paracuaro, Michoacan. A fin de alcanzar este objetivo se diseno y aplico una encuesta en el municipio. El analisis de resultados arrojo que las remesas incidieron de manera significativa en la salud, la vivienda y los ingresos de los familiares de los migrantes; permitiendo asi que el 89.3% de los hogares vivan con ingresos superiores a la linea de bienestar.