Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Update on causes of premature death in people with convulsive epilepsy in rural West China

This longitudinal prospective study updated a previous report on premature mortality and focused on the risk factors among patients with convulsive epilepsy in resource‐poor settings. The present cohort size (7,231) and follow‐up (mean 33.4 months) were expanded. The basic epidemiologic aspects of this cohort were similar to the original report (case fatality: 3.26% vs. 2.97%, respectively; injury contributed more than half of the deaths). Cox regression analysis suggested that male patients, late ages of onset (>45 years old), short duration of epilepsy (<10 years), and high convulsive seizure frequency (>2 per month) were independent risk factors for overall premature death. Male patients with late ages of onset and high seizure frequency had a higher risk of injury‐specific death. This study emphasizes the preventable nature of injuries that are leading putative causes of death among people with convulsive epilepsy in rural West China. Education on specific populations and efficient seizure control are of paramount importance in reducing the risk of premature mortality.
Efficacy of Hospital Germicides against Adenovirus 8, a Common Cause of Epidemic Keratoconjunctivitis in Health Care Facilities

ABSTRACT The inactivation of virus-contaminated nonporous inanimate surfaces was investigated using adenovirus type 8, a common cause of epidemic keratoconjunctivitis. A 10-μl inoculum of adenovirus was placed onto each stainless steel disk (1-cm diameter), and the inoculum was allowed to air dry for 40 min. Twenty-one different germicides (including disinfectants and antiseptics) were selected for this study based on their current uses in health care. After a 1- or 5-minute exposure to 50 μl of the germicide, the virus-germicide test mixture was neutralized and assayed for infectivity. Using an efficacy criterion of a 3-log10 reduction in the titer of virus infectivity and regardless of the virus suspending medium (i.e., hard water, sterile water, and hard water with 5% fetal calf serum), only five disinfectants proved to be effective against the test virus at 1 min: 0.55% ortho-phthalaldehyde, 2.4% glutaraldehyde, 2.65% glutaraldehyde, ∼6,000 ppm chlorine, and ∼1,900 ppm chlorine. Four other disinfectants showed effectiveness under four of the five testing conditions: 70% ethanol, 65% ethanol with 0.63% quaternary ammonium compound, 79.6% ethanol with 0.1% quaternary ammonium compound, and 0.2% peracetic acid. Of the germicides suitable for use as an antiseptic, 70% ethanol achieved a 3-log10 reduction under four of the five test conditions. These results emphasize the need for proper selection of germicides for use in disinfecting noncritical surfaces and semicritical medical devices, such as applanation tonometers, in order to prevent outbreaks of epidemic keratoconjunctivitis.
Thermal and Optical Characterization of Silicon-Based Tunable Optical Thin-Film Filters

In this paper, we report on the successful fabrication and comprehensive optical and electrothermal characterization of a silicon-based tunable optical filter. Of particular interest here are the static and transient electrothermal characteristics of the filter membrane. The filter is configured as a Fabry-Perot resonator with dielectric Bragg reflectors and is fabricated as a stress-compensated multilayer of dielectric thin-films. Tunability is achieved by changing the refractive index of the solid-state cavity material through thermal modulation, accomplished by Joule heating in metal thin-film resistors. The filter layers are configured as a membrane to provide good thermal isolation and its electrothermal behavior was characterized in steady-state and dynamically. A maximum stable temperature difference of 450 K and a heating efficiency of 13.4 K mW-1 were measured with a thermal time constant for the filter hotplate of 3 ms. The filter's spectral width is 0.28 nm at a wavelength of 1550 nm and through thermal modulation it was possible to shift the filter peak over more than 29 nm.
Preliminary Studies CF Gas Fillings in Gas Scintillation Proportional Counters

Results are presented on improvements in the performance of medium energy large area gas scintillation proportional counters for use in X-ray astronomy. By a suitable choice of gas mixture the electron transit time through the drift region can be significantly lowered with a consequent reduction in the detector dead time. In addition the electron diffusion is also reduced and this should result in an increase in the background rejection efficiency.
Engaging Environments Enhance Motor Skill Learning in a Computer Gaming Task

ABSTRACT Engagement during practice can motivate a learner to practice more, hence having indirect effects on learning through increased practice. However, it is not known whether engagement can also have a direct effect on learning when the amount of practice is held constant. To address this question, 40 participants played a video game that contained an embedded repeated sequence component, under either highly engaging conditions (the game group) or mechanically identical but less engaging conditions (the sterile group). The game environment facilitated retention over a 1-week interval. Specifically, the game group improved in both speed and accuracy for random and repeated trials, suggesting a general motor-related improvement, rather than a specific influence of engagement on implicit sequence learning. These data provide initial evidence that increased engagement during practice has a direct effect on generalized learning, improving retention and transfer of a complex motor skill.
Striatal dopamine depletion in rats produces variable effects on contingency detection: task‐related influences

Dopamine (DA) depletion of the posterior dorsomedial striatum (pDMS) can impair the capability of rats to detect changes in the causal efficacy of actions. Here we sought to characterize in more detail the effects of pDMS DA depletions on contingency detection as a function of different contingency degradation training protocols. In experiment 1, sham controls and rats with pDMS DA depletions received limited contingency degradation training (4 days) that involved an invariable and high degree of degradation to one of two contingencies controlling instrumental choice behaviour. The results demonstrated that lesioned rats were insensitive to contingency manipulations both during contingency degradation training and in the subsequent extinction test. Experiment 2 further indicated that rats with pDMS DA depletion subjected to extended contingency degradation training (12 days) became sensitive to contingency manipulations during the training phase but not in the subsequent extinction test. In experiment 3, an extended but more complex contingency degradation training protocol (12 days) was used that involved a gradual shift from a low to an intermediate and a high degree of contingency degradation rather than a high and invariable degree of contingency degradation as in experiments 1 and 2. Notably, lesioned rats were sensitive to contingency manipulations both during the contingency degradation training phase and in the subsequent extinction test. Thus, pDMS DA depletions can impair the capability to detect changes in the causal efficacy of actions; however, the occurrence and pattern of impairments depend on the contingency degradation training protocol being used.
Diagnosis of electrical and mechanical faults of induction motor

This paper proposes a new method for fault diagnosis of induction motors based on Hidden Markov Model, which is widely used in the field of speech recognition. In order to carry out pattern recognition, current waveforms running in stator winding are analyzed for motors with short circuit fault in stator windings or with broken rotor bars. Frequency spectrum of current are also investigated. The usefulness of the proposed diagnosis method is verified through pattern recognitions for arbitrary current waveforms obtained by experiments.
Anti-factor Xa activity of enoxaparin administered at prophylactic dosage to patients over 75 years old.

AIMS Major bleeding complications with low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) treatment have been reported both in clinical studies and during postmarketing surveillance. Monitoring of antifactor Xa (anti-Xa) activities is therefore recommended in special populations often predisposed to renal impairment. The PROPHRE.75 study was conducted to estimate the distribution parameters of anti-Xa activity in the elderly. METHODS PROPHRE.75 was a prospective study of a cohort of consecutive patients aged >75 years and treated with 4000 IU of enoxaparin once daily for venous thromboembolism prophylaxis. Dosing history and measurements of anti-Xa activity in sparse samples were recorded throughout treatment. The covariates included weight, gender, age, renal function, medical history and concomitant medication. Population parameters and interindividual variability were estimated using NONMEM V software. RESULTS Anti-Xa activity was studied in 189 patients (mean age 82 +/- 5 years, 22% weighing <50 kg, 50% presenting renal impairment according to the Cockcroft and Gault formula). A first-order input two-compartment model best fitted the data. Clearance was significantly related to body weight and creatinine clearance based on the simplified Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formula, central volume being related to body weight. According to individual Bayesian estimations, 4% of patients presented with a peak anti-Xa activity >1.0 IU ml(-1), but this group did not include the sole patient experiencing a major bleed (0.53%). CONCLUSIONS Systematic monitoring of anti-Xa activity in elderly patients treated with enoxaparin at prophylactic doses does not seem to be necessary to prevent the occurrence of major bleeding.
Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation Trial–Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (MADIT‐CRT): Design and Clinical Protocol

The planned MADIT‐CRT trial is designed to determine if CRT‐D will reduce the risk of mortality and HF events by approximately 25% in subjects with ischemic (NYHA class I‐II) and non‐ischemic (NYHA class II) cardiomyopathy, left ventricular dysfunction (EF ≤ 0.30), and prolonged intraventricular conduction (QRS duration ≥ 130 ms).
Controlled biomineralization of magnetite (Fe3O4) and greigite (Fe3S4) in a magnetotactic bacterium

A slowly moving, rod-shaped magnetotactic bacterium was found in relatively large numbers at and below the oxic-anoxic transition zone of a semianaerobic estuarine basin. Unlike all magnetotactic bacteria described to date, cells of this organism produce single-magnetic-domain particles of an iron oxide, magnetite (Fe 3 O 4 ), and an iron sulfide, greigite (Fe 3 S 4 ), within their magnetosomes. The crystals had different morphologies, being arrowhead or tooth shaped for the magnetite particles and roughly rectangular for the greigite particles, and were coorganized within the same chain(s) in the same cell with their long axes along the chain direction. Because the two crystal types have different crystallochemical characteristics, the findings presented here suggest that the formation of the crystal types is controlled by separate biomineralization processes and that the assembly of the magnetosome chain is controlled by a third ultrastructural process. In addition, our results show that in some magnetotactic bacteria, external environmental conditions such as redox and/or oxygen or hydrogen sulfide concentrations may affect the composition of the nonmetal part of the magnetosome mineral phase.
What Explains the Decline in Wage Mobility in the German Low-Wage Sector?

In this paper, we study how wage mobility in the low-wage sector has changed in western Germany between 1984 and 2004. Using German individual register data, we document a clear upward trend in the persistence of low-wage employment for both men and women. Next to compositional shifts of the low-wage sector relative to the high-wage sector, this trend may be explained by an increase in "genuine" state dependence, which occurs if low-wage employment today causes low-wage employment in the future for reasons of, e.g., stigmatization or human capital depreciation. To isolate the latter, we model low-pay transitions by estimating a series of multivariate probit models. We address the initial conditions problem and the endogeneity of earnings attrition in our estimation approach by accounting for the selection into low-wage employment and earnings retention. Our findings for men and women point to an upward trend of genuine state dependence among low-paid workers especially since the beginning of the 1990s. Using decomposition techniques, we show that between 35 and 54 per cent of the increase in genuine state dependence during the 1990s is accounted for by compositional effects.
Attenuation of sulfur mustard toxicity by S-2(2-aminoethylamino)ethyl phenyl sulfide (DRDE-07) in mouse liver

Sulfur mustard (SM) (bis-(2-chloroethyl) sulfide) is a chemical warfare agent. Evaluation of toxicity and protective effect of DRDE-07 (S-2(2-aminoethylamino)ethyl phenyl sulfide) was studied in mouse liver after SM challenging. Female mice were given orally 0.2 LD50 of DRDE-07 (249 mg/kg body weight) and exposed percutaneously with 1.0 LD50 of SM (8.1 mg/kg body weight). Gene expression profiles were determined using global genome microarray analysis at 3 days post-exposure. DRDE-07 alone treated animal showed significant upregulation to metabolism of xenobiotics by cytochrome P450 pathways. Genes related to cell adhesion molecules (CAMs), were downregulated. DRDE-07 pretreated SM exposed animals showed upregulation of xenobiotic cytochrome P450 pathway genes. Antigen presenting, cell adhesion molecules, cytokine, cytokine receptor metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, glutathione metabolism, cell cycle signaling pathway genes showed downregulation. The present study showed that SM-induced toxicity in mouse liver was attenuated by the pretreatment with DRDE-07.
Cranial Afferent Glutamate Heterosynaptically Modulates GABA Release onto Second-Order Neurons via Distinctly Segregated Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors

The balance between excitation and inhibition dictates central integration. Glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmission dominate this process. Cranial primary afferents enter the brainstem to release glutamate (Glu) onto second-order neurons within the caudal nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) to initiate autonomic reflexes. The simplest pathways for these reflexes contain as few as two central neurons, but display robust frequency-dependent behavior. Within NTS, multiple metabotropic Glu receptors (mGluRs) are present, but their roles are poorly understood. Using synaptically discriminated second-order NTS neurons in brainstem slices and mechanically dissociated NTS neurons with intact boutons, we show that Glu differentially controls GABA release via distinct presynaptic mGluRs. In second-order NTS neurons recorded in slices, activation of primary afferents at frequencies as low as 10 shocks per second released sufficient Glu to alter rates of spontaneous IPSCs (sIPSCs). In both approaches, group I mGluRs increased GABA release in some neurons, but, on different neurons, group II and group III mGluRs decreased the sIPSC rate. mGluR actions were remarkably rapid, with onset and reversal beginning within 100 msec. In all cases, mGluR actions were exclusively presynaptic, and mGluRs did not alter postsynaptic properties in second-order neurons in either slices or isolated neurons. Tests with capsaicin and αβ-methylene ATP suggest that myelinated and unmyelinated afferent pathways engage both mGluR-GABA mechanisms. Afferent Glu spillover provides heterosynaptic cross talk with GABAergic inhibition in NTS. This process may critically shape the dynamic character and use dependence for cranial afferent transmission at the first stage of autonomic reflexes.
Estrogen receptor beta immunoreactivity in differentiating cells of the developing rat cerebellum.

Estrogen receptors (ER) play a significant role in the development of some regions of the mammalian brain. Recently, ER-beta (ERbeta) mRNA and protein were shown to be expressed in the rat cerebellum. In the present study, the ontogeny of ERbeta protein expression was examined in the rat cerebellum during postnatal development. Western blot analysis indicated that a single ERbeta-like immunoreactive species of approximately 55 kDa was present in protein lysates prepared from the cerebella of female and male Sprague-Dawley rat pups. Immunocytochemical analysis of cerebellar sections from the midline vermis revealed that during development, the expression of ERbeta varied with age and cell-type, but not sex. In the developing cerebellum, highest levels of ERbeta-immunoreactivity (IR) were detected in neurons during neurite growth, and in some glia during migration. Throughout the first postnatal week, ERbeta-IR was localized to differentiating granule cells in the external germinal layer and to migrating glia. Differentiating granule cells expressed detectable levels of ERbeta throughout development. In Purkinje cells, ERbeta-IR was first detected on postnatal day 6 (P6), with peak intensities of immunostaining coinciding with the initiation of axonal and dendritic growth that occurs between P7 and P8. Expression of ERbeta-IR remained high during maturation of Purkinje cell dendrites, and then decreased to a lower level maintained in the adult. From the third postnatal week, ERbeta-IR was also detected in the later developing Golgi, stellate, and basket neurons. These results suggest that ERbeta may play a role in growth-related mechanisms during differentiation of cerebellar neurons and glia.
Integrated Algorithm for 3-D IC Through-Silicon Via Assignment

Through-silicon via (TSV) with flip-chip packaging is a technology that enables vertical integration of silicon dies, forming a single 3-D IC stack. A practical model for preplaced TSV assignment of 3-D nets is proposed for this technology. We prove that the general preplaced 3-D IC TSV assignment problem with more than two dies is NP-complete. An integrated algorithm that combines shortest path search, bipartite matching, min-cost max-flow calculation, and postprocessing is developed. Experimental results using actual testing silicon data demonstrate that our flow achieves good results with reasonable runtime when compared to other existing works.
A Study on Relationship between Diversification Strategy, Firm Performance and Risk: Evidence from Tehran Stock Exchange

The aim of this paper is to analyze and to test relationship between diversification strategy, firm performance and risk. To test the research hypotheses, a sample of 63 companies listed in Tehran Stock Exchange over the period 2008-2012 was taken . Analysis of the research models is based on panel(data) analysis. In these modelsthe presence or absence of effects models (fixed or random) is reviewed and finally the best model is estimated. Inference is based on significant level or p-value, thus likely that any value or significance level of the test is less than 0.05 is rejected at the 95 percent confidence level. The results indicate that there is no significant relationship between diversification strategy, firm performance and risk.
Role of Angiogenesis in the Progression and Treatment of Prostate Cancer

Advanced prostate cancer is responsible for the morbidity and mortality of a large number of men above age 40. Treatment of prostate cancer with the present regimens including chemotherapy, radiation and hormonal therapy is primarily palliative and associated with significant toxicity. Recently, a novel approach targeted at eradicating tumor vasculature has shown promise in the treatment of solid tumors. Tumor growth requires active neo-vascularization, a process referred to as angiogenesis (1–6). Formation of new blood vessels facilitates the rapid and timely delivery of nutrients and oxygen as well as removal of waste products, all of which enhance tumor proliferation and sustenance. In turn, tumor cells promote neo-angiogenesis by releasing endothelial growth factors which support endothelial cell survival, migration, and proliferation. Emerging data strongly suggest that growth and metastasis of prostate cancer is also angiogenesis dependent. Therefore, it is likely that in the near future prostate cancer may also be amenable to anti-angiogenic therapy. In this report, the studies related to the role of angiogenesis in the regulation of prostate cancer progression will be reviewed. In addition, several potential angiogenic factors
Difference in the Gain in the Phototransduction Cascade Between Rods and Cones in Carp

In the vertebrate retina, there are two types of photoreceptors, rods and cones. Rods are highly light-sensitive and cones are less light-sensitive. One of the possible mechanisms accounting for the lower light-sensitivity in cones would be lower signal amplification, i.e., lower gain in the phototransduction cascade in cones. In this study, we compared the difference in the gain between rods and cones electrophysiologically in carp. The initial rising phases of the light responses were analyzed to determine an index of the gain, G, a parameter that can be used to compare the gain among cells of varying outer segment volumes. G (in fL · sec−2) was 91.2 ± 14.8 (n = 5) in carp rods and 25.3 ± 3.2 (n = 4) in carp red cones, so that the gain in carp red cones is ∼1/4 of that in carp rods. G was also determined in bullfrog rods and was 81.0 ± 17.2 (n = 3) which was very similar to that in carp rods. The difference in the gain between rods and cones in carp determined in this study (∼1/4 in cones compared with rods) is consistent with that we recently determined biochemically (∼1/5 in cones compared with rods). Together with the result obtained in bullfrog rods in this study and the results obtained by others, we concluded that the gain in the cascade is several-fold lower in cones than in rods in carp and probably in other animal species also.
Olfactory impairment in older adults is associated with depressive symptoms and poorer quality of life scores.

OBJECTIVES We assessed the association between impaired olfaction and depressive symptoms and poor quality of life. METHODS A total of 1,375 participants aged 60 years or older had their olfaction measured using the San Diego Odor Identification Test. Quality of life was assessed using the 36-Item Short-Form Survey (SF-36). Depressive symptoms were assessed by either the SF-36, which included the Mental Health Index, and/or the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D-10). RESULTS Among participants with olfactory impairment, 15.4% and 20.2% had depressive symptoms assessed by the Mental Health Index and CES-D-10, respectively. Among participants aged 70 years or older, olfactory impairment was associated with depressive symptoms (assessed by the CES-D-10), multivariate-adjusted odds ratio, OR: 1.66 (95% confidence interval, CI: 1.03-2.66). Subjects with olfactory impairment compared to those without, had lower SF-36 scores in six out of the eight indices. CONCLUSIONS Olfactory impairment was independently associated with depressive symptoms and poorer quality of life.