Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Improving patients' knowledge of the fetal anomaly scan

To determine the level of patient knowledge regarding the 20‐week screening ultrasound examination, which is performed on over 95% of women in our unit, and to ascertain whether the use of targeted education could improve patient knowledge and expectations, to determine from where patients obtained information on the scan and to ascertain whether patients felt they had chosen to undergo the scan.
Fluoride and bacterial content of bottled water vs tap water.

CONTEXT Bottled water has become a status symbol and is frequently used in place of tap water. While both waters are considered safe to drink, is either more beneficial in preventing tooth decay and is there a difference in purity? OBJECTIVE To determine the fluoride level and bacterial content of commercially bottled waters municipal tap water and to compare the results. DESIGN Comparative study. SETTING Cleveland, Ohio. SAMPLE Fifty-seven samples of 5 categories of bottled waters were purchased from local stores. Samples of tap water were collected in sterile containers from the 4 local water processing plants. Fluoride levels were determined by an ion-selective electrode method. Water was cultured quantitatively and levels of bacteria were calculated as colony-forming units (CFUs) per milliliter. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Fluoride levels and bacterial counts. RESULTS Fluoride levels within the range recommended for drinking water by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, 0.80 to 1.30 mg/L, were found in only 3 samples of bottled water tested. The fluoride levels of tap water samples were within 0.04 mg/L of the optimal fluoride level of 1.00 mg/L. The bacterial counts in the bottled water samples ranged from less than 0.01 CFU/mL to 4900 CFUs/mL, including 6 samples with levels substantially above 1000 CFUs/mL. In contrast, bacterial counts in samples of tap water ranged from 0.2 to 2.7 CFUs/mL. CONCLUSIONS Five percent of the bottled water purchased in Cleveland fell within the required fluoride range recommended by the state, compared with 100% of the tap water samples, all of which were also within 0.04 mg/L of the optimal fluoride level of 1.00 mg/L. Use of bottled water based on the assumption of purity can be misguided. Recently, the Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, published a final ruling that requires community water systems to regularly report to the public on the quality of local tap water; there are no similar proposals to determine the quality of bottled water through labeling.
Photosynthetic Carbon Fixation in Guard Cell Protoplasts of Vicia faba L. : Evidence from Radiolabel Experiments.

Photosynthetic carbon fixation in guard cells was reexamined in experiments with highly purified guard cell protoplasts from Vicia faba L. irradiated with red light. The fate of (14)CO(2) (4.8 microcuries of NaHCO(3); final concentration: 100 micromolar) supplied to these preparations was investigated with two-dimensional paper, and thin layer chromatography. Rates of CO(2) fixation were 5- to 8-fold higher in the light than in darkness. Separation of acid-stable products into water-insoluble, neutral, and anionic fractions showed that more radioactivity was incorporated into the neutral fraction in the light than in the dark. In the dark, malate and aspartate comprised 90% of the radiolabel found in the anionic fraction, whereas in the light, radioactivity was also found in 3-phosphoglyceric acid (PGA), sugar monophosphates, sugar diphosphates, and triose phosphates. Phosphorylated compounds contained up to 60% of the label in the light-treated anionic fraction. Phosphatase treatment and rechromatography of labeled sugar diphosphate showed the presence of ribulose, a specific metabolite of the photosynthetic carbon reduction pathway (PCRP). In time-course experiments, labeled PGA was detected within 5 seconds. With time, the percentage of label in PGA decreased and that in sugar monophosphate increased. We conclude that PGA is a primary carboxylation product of the PCRP in guard cells and that the activity of the PCRP, and phosphoenolpyruvate-carboxylase is metabolically regulated.
Thioredoxin Superfamily and Thioredoxin‐Inducing Agents

Abstract: Mammalian thioredoxin (TRX) with redox‐active dithiol in the active site plays multiple roles in intracellular signaling and resistance against oxidative stress. TRX is induced by a variety of stresses including infectious agents as well as hormones and chemicals. TRX is secreted from activated cells such as HTLV‐I‐transformed T‐cells as a redox‐sensitive molecule with cytokine‐like and chemokine‐like activities. The promoter of the TRX gene contains a series of stress‐responsive elements. In turn, TRX promotes activation of transcription factors such as NF‐κB, AP‐1, and p53. We have reported that natural substances including estrogen, prostaglandins, and cAMP induce mRNA, protein, and secretion of TRX. These agents seemed to exert their physiological functions including cytoprotective actions partly through the induction of TRX without massive oxidative stress, which induces TRX strongly as well as other stress proteins. We report here a new TRX inducer substance, geranylgeranylacetone (GGA), which is originally derived from a natural plant constituent and has been used in the clinical field as an anti‐ulcer drug. We have demonstrated that GGA induces the messenger RNA and protein of TRX and affects the activation of transcription factors, AP‐1 and NF‐κB, and that GGA blunted ethanol‐induced cytotoxicity of cultured hepatocytes and gastrointestine mucosal cells. We will discuss a possible novel molecular mechanism of GGA, which is to protect cells via the induction of TRX and activation of transcription factors such as NF‐κB and AP‐1. Identification of the particular TRX‐inducing components may contribute to the elucidation of the molecular basis of the “French Paradox,” in which good red wines are beneficial for the cardiovascular system.
Design of RF Properties for Vertical Nanowire MOSFETs

The RF performance of vertical nanowire metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors in realistic layouts has been calculated. The parasitic capacitances have been evaluated using full 3-D finite-element method calculations, combined with self-consistent Schrödinger-Poisson calculations for the intrinsic gate capacitances. It is shown that a performance comparable to planar FETs can be achieved in the vertical geometry by scaling the nanowire diameter and the wire-to-wire separation.
Process‐based analysis of climate model ENSO simulations: Intermodel consistency and compensating errors

Systematic and compensating errors can lead to degraded predictive skill in climate models. Such errors may be identified by comparing different models in an analysis of individual physical processes. We examine model simulations of El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in five Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP) models, using transfer functions to analyze nine processes critical to ENSO's dynamics. The input and output of these processes are identified and analyzed, some of which are motivated by the recharge oscillator theory. Several errors and compensating errors are identified. The east‐west slope of the equatorial thermocline is found to respond to the central equatorial Pacific zonal wind stress as a damped driven harmonic oscillator in all models. This result is shown to be inconsistent with two different formulations of the recharge oscillator. East Pacific sea surface temperature (SST) responds consistently to changes in the thermocline depth in the eastern Pacific in the five CMIP models examined here. However, at time scales greater than 2 years, this consistent model response disagrees with observations, showing that the SST leads thermocline depth at long time scales. Compensating errors are present in the response of meridional transport of water away from the equator to SST: two different models show different response of the transport to off‐equatorial wind curl and wind curl response to East Pacific SST. However, these two models show the same response of meridional transport to East Pacific SST. Identification of errors in specific physical processes can hopefully lead to model improvement by focusing model development efforts on these processes.
Functional genomic analysis of the ADP‐ribosylation factor family of GTPases: phylogeny among diverse eukaryotes and function in C. elegans

ADP‐ribosylation factor (Arf) and Arf‐like (Arl) proteins are a family of highly conserved 21 kDa GTPases that emerged early in the evolution of eukaryotes. These proteins serve regulatory roles in vesicular traffic, lipid metabolism, microtubule dynamics, development, and likely other cellular processes. We found evidence for the presence of 6 Arf family members in the protist Giardia lamblia and 22 members in mammals. A phylogenetic analysis was performed to delineate the evolutionary relationships among Arf family members and to attempt to organize them by both their evolutionary origins and functions in cells and/or organisms. The ~100 protein sequences analyzed from animals, fungi, plants, and protists clustered into 11 groups, including Arfs, nine Arls, and Sar proteins. To begin functional analyses of the family in a metazoan model organism, we examined roles for all three C. elegans Arfs (Arf‐1, Arf‐3, and Arf‐6) and three Arls (Arl‐1, Arl‐2, and Arl‐3) by use of RNA‐mediated interference (RNAi). Injection of doublestranded RNA (dsRNA) encoding Arf‐1 or Arf‐3 into N2 hermaphrodites produced embryonic lethality in their offspring and, later, sterility in the injected animals themselves. Injection of Arl‐2 dsRNA resulted in a disorganized germline and sterility in early offspring, with later offspring exhibiting an early embryonic arrest. Thus, of the six Arf family members examined in C. elegans, at least three are required for embryogenesis. These data represent the first analysis of the role(s) of multiple members of this family in the development of a multicellular organism. —Li, Y. , Kelly, W. G. , Logsdon, J. M. , Jr., Schurko, A. M. , Harfe, B. D. , Hill‐Harfe, K. L. , Kahn, R. A. Functional genomic analysis of the ADP‐ribosylation factor family of GTPases: phylogeny among diverse eukaryotes and function in C. elegans. FASEB J. 18, 1834‐1850 (2004)
A 50-Year Experience With Bone Graft Epiphysiodesis in the Treatment of Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis

A “millennium” update of all cases of slipped capital femoral epiphysis treated by bone graft epiphysiodesis between 1950 and 2000 was conducted. All cases were followed for at least 1 year to evaluate the occurrence of re-slippage, avascular necrosis (AVN), chondrolysis, or complications secondary to the surgical approach. This study adds 109 patients and 133 hips to the initial report for a total of 268 patients and 318 hips. The patients include 43 patients with 45 acute slips and 225 patients with 273 chronic slips. The results include three cases of AVN, six cases of re-slippage, one case of chondrolysis, and no surgical approach complications in the acute group. In the chronic group, there were 4 cases of AVN, 17 cases of re-slippage, 4 cases of deep wound infection, and no cases of chondrolysis. The authors suggest that bone graft epiphysiodesis is a reasonable alternative in the treatment of slipped capital femoral epiphysis.
Cochlear Implants in Forty-Eight Children with Cochlear and/or Vestibular Abnormality

CT and MRI scans for 48 children with cochlear and/or vestibular abnormality were classified in decreasing severity; common cavity, Mondini plus enlarged vestibular aqueduct, Mondini dysplasia alone and enlarged vestibular aqueduct alone. No significant relationship between degree of cochlea abnormality and surgical issues (cerebrospinal fluid gusher, depth of insertion, number of electrodes) or speech perception/language outcomes was found. A significant relationship was observed between cerebrospinal fluid gusher and partial electrode insertion, fewer active electrodes and poorer sentence understanding. Optimum language outcomes were associated with younger age at implant.
Reversible Data Hiding in Encrypted Images With Distributed Source Encoding

This paper proposes a novel scheme of reversible data hiding in encrypted images using distributed source coding. After the original image is encrypted by the content owner using a stream cipher, the data-hider compresses a series of selected bits taken from the encrypted image to make room for the secret data. The selected bit series is Slepian-Wolf encoded using low-density parity check codes. On the receiver side, the secret bits can be extracted if the image receiver has the embedding key only. In case the receiver has the encryption key only, he/she can recover the original image approximately with high quality using an image estimation algorithm. If the receiver has both the embedding and encryption keys, he/she can extract the secret data and perfectly recover the original image using the distributed source decoding. The proposed method outperforms the previously published ones.
Analysis of Duck Hepatitis B Virus Reverse Transcription Indicates a Common Mechanism for the Two Template Switches during Plus-Strand DNA Synthesis

ABSTRACT The synthesis of the hepadnavirus relaxed circular DNA genome requires two template switches, primer translocation and circularization, during plus-strand DNA synthesis. Repeated sequences serve as donor and acceptor templates for these template switches, with direct repeat 1 (DR1) and DR2 for primer translocation and 5′r and 3′r for circularization. These donor and acceptor sequences are at, or near, the ends of the minus-strand DNA. Analysis of plus-strand DNA synthesis of duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) has indicated that there are at least three other cis-acting sequences that make contributions during the synthesis of relaxed circular DNA. These sequences, 5E, M, and 3E, are located near the 5′ end, the middle, and the 3′ end of minus-strand DNA, respectively. The mechanism by which these sequences contribute to the synthesis of plus-strand DNA was unclear. Our aim was to better understand the mechanism by which 5E and M act. We localized the DHBV 5E element to a short sequence of approximately 30 nucleotides that is 100 nucleotides 3′ of DR2 on minus-strand DNA. We found that the new 5E mutants were partially defective for primer translocation/utilization at DR2. They were also invariably defective for circularization. In addition, examination of several new DHBV M variants indicated that they too were defective for primer translocation/utilization and circularization. Thus, this analysis indicated that 5E and M play roles in both primer translocation/utilization and circularization. In conjunction with earlier findings that 3E functions in both template switches, our findings indicate that the processes of primer translocation and circularization share a common underlying mechanism.
A Broadband Low-Power Millimeter-Wave CMOS Downconversion Mixer With Improved Linearity

This brief presents a broadband, low-local-oscillator (LO)-power, and low-dc-power millimeter-wave (MMW) downconversion mixer with improved linearity using TSMC 90-nm CMOS low-power (LP) process. By employing an active load in the bias network, the linearity of the mixer can be improved effectively. In addition, the conversion gain (CG) of the mixer at high LO power is also improved, whereas the CG at low LO power is not appreciable degraded. The operation principle of the added active load and the impacts on mixer's linearity and CG are analyzed in detail. With a 1.2-V supply voltage and a 0-dBm LO drive power, the proposed mixer with the active load exhibits CG of 0 dB with flatness of ±2 dB from 20 to 50 GHz, input P1 dB (IP1 dB) of -1 dBm, and IIP3 of 9.5 dBm with RF at 43 GHz. The measured IIP3 is 5.6 dB higher than the conventional approach without the active load, and the dc power consumption of the proposed design is 6 mW, including the IF buffers, which is only 1.8 mW higher than the conventional approach.
On the Value of Information for Tactical Decision Support in Stockout Management

This article presents an approach for decision support in tactical stock out management, primarily with respect to inventory management problems. A framework for eliciting information on stock out consequences from experts is presented. In a subsequent evaluation process, our solution approach for detecting cost functions in soft expert information is introduced: By applying a Genetic Programming (GP) algorithm, sufficiently precise cost functions can be determined for analyzed stock out items. Comparing the information content of different test instances, the quality of solutions seems to be satisfying even with little information available. Furthermore, it is shown that a tendency of positive correlation between the amount of information in test instances and the quality of the solutions exists. Finally, an obvious gap of solutions quality can be observed at a certain degree of instance-specific information content.
Fast PET Scan Tumor Segmentation Using Superpixels, Principal Component Analysis and K-Means Clustering

Positron Emission Tomography scan images are extensively used in radiotherapy planning, clinical diagnosis, assessment of growth and treatment of a tumor. These all rely on fidelity and speed of detection and delineation algorithm. Despite intensive research, segmentation has remained a challenging problem due to the diverse image content, resolution, shape, and noise. This paper presents a fast positron emission tomography tumor segmentation method using superpixels. Principal component analysis is applied on the superpixels and their average value. The distance vector of each superpixel from the average is computed in the principal components coordinate system. Finally, k-means clustering is applied on the distance vector to recognize tumor and non-tumor superpixels. The proposed approach is implemented in MATLAB 2016A, and promising accuracy with execution time of 2.35 ± 0.26 s is achieved. Fast execution time is achieved since the number of superpixels, and the size of distance vector on which clustering was done are low compared to the number of pixels in the image.
Failure of a Web-based educational tool to improve residents' scores on the American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination.

HYPOTHESIS Usage of a Web-based educational tool will improve residents' scores on the American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination (ABSITE). DESIGN Before and after trial. SETTING Academic surgical residency in a tertiary care university hospital. PARTICIPANTS Nineteen postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) and PGY2 residents. INTERVENTION All PGY1 and PGY2 residents were given unlimited access to a Web-based educational tool aimed at early-level residents in surgery. The educational tool covers the basic science of surgery and basic concepts of clinical surgery and uses a variety of educational techniques (readings, problem-based learning, case-based learning, and practice tests). Although residents were encouraged to complete the learning package, they were not required to do so. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The ABSITE scores and changes in ABSITE scores were compared with the amount of time residents spent using the program and the number of tutorials completed. RESULTS There was no significant difference in ABSITE scores before or after the use of the Web-based educational tool. There was no significant relationship between use of the tool (either in total time or total tutorials) and ABSITE score. For PGY2 residents, there was a negative relationship between total time spent on the program and ABSITE score (linear regression analysis best-fit slope, -0.20 +/- 0.1; r2 = 0.33) and total tutorials completed and ABSITE score (linear regression analysis best-fit slope, -0.34 +/- 0.22; r2 = 0.25). CONCLUSION There was no demonstrable beneficial effect of a Web-based educational tool on cognitive knowledge of residents as measured by ABSITE scores.
Melatonin preserves the transient mitochondrial permeability transition for protection during mitochondrial Ca2+ stress in astrocyte

Abstract: Cells have two modes of mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) which produce virtually opposite pathophysiological outcomes of survival or death when responding to apoptotic insults. The transient‐MPT (t‐MPT) protects mitochondria, whereas the prolonged‐MPT (p‐MPT), once activated, triggers the ‘point of no return’ for apoptosis or necrosis. Our previous studies show that in addition to scavenging mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, melatonin targets mitochondrial Ca2+ (mCa2+)‐mediated MPT for protection during mCa2+‐mediated apoptosis in astrocytes. The precise mechanism for how melatonin modulates the MPT during mCa2+ stress, however, remains unelucidated. With the application of fluorescence laser scanning imaging microscopy, this study demonstrated for the first time that melatonin does not inhibit the MPT pore, rather it crucially preserves the pore in its protective mode of t‐MPT during mCa2+ stress. Melatonin‐preserved t‐MPT importantly maintained mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) which not only prevented depolarized ΔΨm‐induced p‐MPT but also retained ΔΨm‐dependent ATP formation during disturbed Ca2+ homeostasis. Additionally, the melatonin‐preserved t‐MPT allowed mitochondria to release the toxic overload of mCa2+ to sublethal levels, which prevented mCa2+‐mediated fission and mCa2+‐dependent p‐MPT and possibly also improved mCa2+‐dependent ATP synthesis. Melatonin’s effect in reducing the Ca2+ load greatly diminished when the MPT was inhibited by cyclosporine A, suggesting its pore dependency as well as that a preserved t‐MPT may be superior to a MPT inhibition in protecting mCa2+‐mediated apoptosis. The unique modulation on the MPT provided by melatonin may have extraordinary therapeutic potential in the treatment of mCa2+‐mediated astrocyte‐associated neurodegenerative pathologies and diseases.
An in-depth study of the ICT ecosystem in a South African rural community: unveiling expenditure and communication patterns

There is no doubt of the contributions made by mobile phones and mobile network operators in increasing access to communications in rural areas of developing countries. Yet how affordable is this ubiquitous access in such an ICT ecosystem? Using data from two stratified random surveys conducted in a South African rural community, this paper provides a unique in-depth picture of the expenditure and communication patterns of its dwellers. Results show a high access ratio of people using mobile phone services weekly and a high proportion of disposable income dedicated to a very constrained set of mobile phone services. Factors such as mobile phone charging and the extra charges added by airtime resellers contribute to increase the communication costs. This data and its analysis can be used by the following: regulators and government agencies to better design their policy implementations to provide universal service and access; competing industry players to understand the dynamics within rural communities to better target their products; civil society organizations to use it as a case in their efforts to make affordable communications a constitutional right.