Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sorting Network for Reversible Logic Synthesis

In this paper, we have introduced an algorithm to implement a sorting network for reversible logic synthesis based on swapping bit strings. The algorithm first constructs a network in terms of n*n Toffoli gates read from left to right. The number of gates in the circuit produced by our algorithm is then reduced by template matching and removing useless gates from the network. We have also compared the efficiency of the proposed method with the existing ones.
Habituation of hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenocortical axis hormones to repeated homotypic stress and subsequent heterotypic stressor exposure in male and female rats

Abstract Understanding potential sex differences in repeated stress-induced hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenocortical (HPA) axis habituation could provide insight into the sex-biased prevalence of certain affective disorders such as anxiety and depression. Therefore in these studies, male and female rats were exposed to 30 min of either audiogenic or restraint stress daily for 10 days in order to determine whether sex regulates the extent to which HPA axis hormone release is attenuated upon repeated homotypic stressor presentation. In response to the initial exposure, both stressors robustly increased plasma concentrations of both adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone (CORT) in both sexes. Acutely, females displayed higher ACTH and CORT concentrations following restraint stress, whereas males exhibited higher hormone concentrations following loud noise stress. HPA axis hormone responses to both stressors decreased incrementally over successive days of exposure to each respective stressor. Despite the differential effect of sex on acute hormone responses, the extent to which HPA axis hormone response was attenuated did not differ between male and female animals following either stressor. Furthermore, ACTH and CORT responses to a novel environment were not affected by prior exposure to stress of either modality in either male or female rats. These experiments demonstrate that despite the acute stress response, male and female rats exhibit similar habituation of HPA axis hormones upon repeated homotypic stressor presentations, and that exposure to repeated stress does not produce exaggerated HPA axis hormone responses to a novel environment in either female or male rats.
FEATURES OF OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF VOGT–KOYANAGI–HARADA DISEASE

Background/Purpose: To examine the diagnostic value of optical coherence tomography (OCT) for the detection of acute Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada (VKH) disease. Methods: Clinical charts and OCT images were retrospectively reviewed for patients consecutively diagnosed with acute VKH, subacute VKH, multifocal central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR), and posterior scleritis. All patients underwent OCT, fundus photography, and fluorescein angiography (FA) before treatment. The characteristics of OCT and FA were analyzed and recorded. Results: The study included 80 eyes with acute VKH, 32 eyes with subacute VKH, 33 eyes with CSCR, and 13 eyes with posterior scleritis. The most common OCT features of VKH disease were hyperreflective dots (70/80; 88%), subretinal membranous structures (64/80; 80%), retinal detachment higher than 450 &mgr;m (63/80; 79%), and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) folds (44/80; 55%). For the detection of VKH disease, sensitivity and specificity were for subretinal membranous structures 80% and 95.6%, respectively, for high retinal detachment 78.8% and 76.1%, respectively, for subretinal hyperreflective dots, 87.5 and 60.9%, respectively, and for RPE folds 55% and 80.4% respectively. Subretinal membranous structures showed the highest positive predictive value (97.3%) and negative predictive value (65.7%) of all OCT assessed features. Conclusion: OCT-related morphological signs have a relatively high predictive value for the diagnosis of acute VKH.
Antiplatelets to Anticoagulants : Making Sense of the Coagulation Cocktails

Anticoagulation is the cornerstone of therapy in patients with ischemic cardiovascular disease. In patients who develop an acute coronary syndrome, following percutaneous coronary interventions, or with an acute ischemic stroke, the rupture or injury of an atherosclerotic arterial plaque serves as a nidus for platelet aggregation and thrombus formation, which, in turn, may cause myocardial infarction, stroke, or death Activation and expression of the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor (where fibrinogen binds) on platelets leads platelet aggregation and, thrombus formation. When this receptor is activated, circulating fibrinogen binds to it and cross-links with adjacent platelets to create a platelet-fibrinogen matrix. Since platelets have a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of thrombosis after plaque rupture, antiplatelet agents including aspirin, thienopyridines (clopidogrel-Plavix), and the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors, reduce adverse events that are associated with plaque rupture. Fibrinolytic agents are infrequently used in the current era with all of the available catheter and pharmacologic agents available. As a result, patients often present for surgery with underlying hemostatic disorders because of preexisting preoperative anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy. Patients may also present receiving anticoagulation therapy for reasons that include atrial fibrillation, venous thrombosis prophylaxis, prosthetic valves, or for coronary artery disease. All therapies that prevent clot from forming in pathologic states, also interfere with normal hemostasis, an important mechanism to protect patients from exsanguination. Under normal circumstances, there is a complex and delicate equilibrium between blood cells, platelets, coagulation factors, natural inhibitors of coagulation, and the fibrinolytic system. Surgical patients also develop additional acquired hemostatic alterations that contribute to postoperative bleeding, causes that include activation of the coagulation, fibrinolytic, and inflammatory pathways. Even healthy patients can develop massive hemorrhage and/or tissue injury following trauma, surgery, or in an obstetrical population. Hemostasis is also a far more complex system than intrinsic and extrinsic hemostatic activation as taught in medical school. Multiple factors are responsible for stopping bleeding including release of tissue factor, and generation of factor VIIa, platelet activation, and the complex cellular and humoral amplification that follows. The increasing use of low-molecular weight heparins (LMWH), heparinoids (Orgaran), pentasaccharide (fondaparinux), oral anticoagulants (warfarin and new oral anti-Xa inhibitors), platelet inhibitors (thienopyridines-clopidogrel or IIb/IIIa receptor antagonists), or direct thrombin inhibitors (r-hirudin, bivalirudin, argatroban), also may potentiate bleeding. This review will focus on current pharmacologic therapies surgical patients may receive and therapeutic prohemostatic pharmacologic approaches that are used to treat or prevent bleeding.
Critical dimensions in the choice and maintenance of successful treatments: strength, integrity, and effectiveness.

Successful clinical practice demands that we use good judgment in choosing optimal treatments for the conditions in question. However, the criteria on which we base our choice are often implicit. In this article, it is argued that practicing clinicians can enhance the quality of these judgments by attending more explicitly to the strength and integrity of treatment as well as to specific standards of treatment effectiveness. Numerous examples from the psychological and evaluation literature are utilized to portray the practical considerations and problems inherent to this approach. By monitoring strength, integrity, and effectiveness for the duration of treatment, we can make appropriate mid-course corrections and determine the relationship among these three critical dimensions of treatment.
A test of a model for commitment.

In a reciprocating pump, notably a metering pump, of the reciprocating type in which the pumping member, diaphragm or piston, is actuated by means of a slide block responsive to a rotating eccentric member, a ball is interposed between an adjustment screw controlling the length of the slide block stroke and the slide block. For this purpose, the ball engages an inclined surface formed in a hollow of the slide block. Preferably, the screw is magnetized and constantly attracts the ball to avoid movements of the ball in relation to the slide block and therefore any premature wear and tear of these members. The inclined surface may have a shape matching that of the ball.
Motor Evoked Potentials and Disability in Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis

ABSTRACT: Background: To investigate the mechanisms underlying disability in multiple sclerosis (MS), 40 patients with the relapsing-remitting form of the disease and 13 patients with secondary progressive MS underwent multimodal evoked potential (EP), motor evoked potential (MEP), and spinal motor conduction time evaluation. Clinical disability was evaluated by the expanded disability status scale (EDSS) and functional system scales. In secondary progressive MS patients, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to obtain a semiquantitative estimate of the total lesion load of the brain. Results: Spinal motor conduction time was significantly longer in secondary progressive MS patients than controls (p < 0.001) and relapsing-remitting MS patients (p < 0.05), but did not differ between relapsing-remitting patients and controls. Spinal motor conduction times also correlated directly with EDSS scores (p < 0.001) and pyramidal functional system scores (p < 0.001). Brain lesion load (4960.3 ± 3719.0 mm2) and the total number of lesions (67.7 ± 37.0) in secondary progressive MS did not correlate with disability scores. For the following EPs, the frequencies of abnormalities were significantly higher in secondary progressive MS patients than relapsing-remitting patients: visual evoked potentials (p < 0.05), somatosensory evoked potentials and upper limb motor evoked potentials (p < 0.01), and brainstem auditory evoked potentials, lower limb somatosensory evoked potentials and lower limb motor evoked potentials (p < 0.001). Conclusions: These findings suggest that disability in secondary progressive MS patients is mainly due to progressive involvement of corticospinal tract in the spinal cord.
Behavioral observations and quality of life among persons with dementia in 10 assisted living facilities

This study examined the quality of life of 131 persons with dementia living in 10 assisted living facilities in a Midwestern state, using the observational method known as Dementia Care Mapping (DCM). Trained observers collected detailed information on the types of interactions and activities taking place among residents and staff on a given day. Key differences were noted between residents living in small, dementia-specific sites(10 to 28 residents) and those living in large sites that were not dementia-specific (40 to 63 residents). The latter group fared better overall with respect to quality of life and diversity of interactions and activities. Additional methods of examining quality of life among persons with dementia will be helpful to explain these differences.
Factual sources of psychiatric patients' perceptions of coercion in the hospital admission process.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine what predicts patients' perceptions of coercion surrounding admission to a psychiatric hospital. METHOD For 171 cases, the authors integrated data from interviews with patients, admitting clinicians, and other individuals involved in the patients' psychiatric admissions with data from the medical records. Using a structured set of procedures, coders determined whether or not nine coercion-related behaviors occurred around the time of admission. Correlation and regression analyses were used to describe the predictors of patients' scores on the MacArthur Perceived Coercion Scale. RESULTS The use of legal force, being given orders, threats, and "a show of force" were all strongly correlated with perceived coercion. A least squares regression accounted for 43.3% of the variance in perceived coercion. The evidence also suggested that force is typically only used in conjunction with less coercive pressures. CONCLUSIONS Force and negative symbolic pressures, such as threats and giving orders about admission decisions, induce perceptions of coercion in persons with mental illness. Positive symbolic pressures, such as persuasion, do not induce perceptions of coercion. Such positive pressures should be tried in order to encourage admission before force or negative pressures are used.
AUF1 p45 Promotes West Nile Virus Replication by an RNA Chaperone Activity That Supports Cyclization of the Viral Genome

ABSTRACT A central aspect of current virology is to define the function of cellular proteins (host factors) that support the viral multiplication process. This study aimed at characterizing cellular proteins that assist the RNA replication process of the prevalent human pathogen West Nile virus (WNV). Using in vitro and cell-based approaches, we defined the p45 isoform of AU-rich element RNA-binding protein 1 (AUF1) as a host factor that enables efficient WNV replication. It was demonstrated that AUF1 p45 has an RNA chaperone activity, which aids the structural rearrangement and cyclization of the WNV RNA that is required by the viral replicase to initiate RNA replication. The obtained data suggest the RNA chaperone activity of AUF1 p45 is an important determinant of the WNV life cycle. IMPORTANCE In this study, we identified a cellular protein, AUF1 (also known as heterogeneous ribonucleoprotein D [hnRNPD]), acting as a helper (host factor) of the multiplication process of the important human pathogen West Nile virus. Several different variants of AUF1 exist in the cell, and one variant, AUF1 p45, was shown to support viral replication most significantly. Interestingly, we obtained a set of experimental data indicating that a main function of AUF1 p45 is to modify and thus prepare the West Nile virus genome in such a way that the viral enzyme that generates progeny genomes is empowered to do this considerably more efficiently than in the absence of the host factor. The capability of AUF1 p45 to rearrange the West Nile virus genome was thus identified to be an important aspect of a West Nile virus infection.
Adenosine A2A Antagonist: A novel antiparkinsonian agent that does not provoke dyskinesia in Parkinsonian monkeys

Treatment of Parkinson's disease with L‐dopa therapy leads to long‐term complications, including loss of drug efficacy and the onset of dyskinesia. Adenosine A2A receptors in striatum are selectively localized to GABAergic output neurons of the striato‐pallidal pathway and may avoid such problems. The novel adenosine A2A receptor antagonist KW‐6002 has been examined for antiparkinsonian activity in MPTP‐treated primates. Oral administration of KW‐6002 reversed motor disability in MPTP‐treated common marmosets in a dose‐dependent manner. However, KW‐6002 only modestly increased overall locomotor activity and did not cause abnormal movement, such as stereotypy. The ability of KW‐6002 to reverse motor disability was maintained on repeated daily administration for 21 days, and no tolerance was observed. KW‐6002 induced little or no dyskinesia in MPTP‐treated primates previously primed to exhibit dyskinesia by prior exposure to L‐dopa. These results suggest that selective adenosine A2A receptor antagonists represent a new class of antiparkinsonian agents that improve disability without producing hyperactivity and without inducing dyskinesia.
ATOMISTIC MODELS FOR NANOTUBE DEVICE ELECTROSTATICS

A quantum capacitance is calculated for a single wall carbon nan otube in a eld e ect device The calculation is performed on a base of a continuum model taking into account full microscopics A general ex pression for the atomistic capacitance of a nanotube of arbitrary shape is derived The result is useful for modeling of electromechanical action of a nanotube device and for nanotube electronics simulation
Influence of Habitat Quality, Population Size, Patch Size, and Connectivity on Patch‐Occupancy Dynamics of the Middle Spotted Woodpecker

Abstract: Despite extensive research on the effects of habitat fragmentation, the ecological mechanisms underlying colonization and extinction processes are poorly known, but knowledge of these mechanisms is essential to understanding the distribution and persistence of populations in fragmented habitats. We examined these mechanisms through multiseason occupancy models that elucidated patch‐occupancy dynamics of Middle Spotted Woodpeckers (Dendrocopos medius) in northwestern Spain. The number of occupied patches was relatively stable from 2000 to 2010 (15–24% of 101 patches occupied every year) because extinction was balanced by recolonization. Larger and higher quality patches (i.e., higher density of oaks >37 cm dbh [diameter at breast height]) were more likely to be occupied. Habitat quality (i.e., density of large oaks) explained more variation in patch colonization and extinction than did patch size and connectivity, which were both weakly associated with probabilities of turnover. Patches of higher quality were more likely to be colonized than patches of lower quality. Populations in high‐quality patches were less likely to become extinct. In addition, extinction in a patch was strongly associated with local population size but not with patch size, which means the latter may not be a good surrogate of population size in assessments of extinction probability. Our results suggest that habitat quality may be a primary driver of patch‐occupancy dynamics and may increase the accuracy of models of population survival. We encourage comparisons of competing models that assess occupancy, colonization, and extinction probabilities in a single analytical framework (e.g., dynamic occupancy models) so as to shed light on the association of habitat quality and patch geometry with colonization and extinction processes in different settings and species.
A visual audience effect in a cavefish

Summary Audience effects occur when an observing (by-standing) animal influences the behaviour of an observed individual. A recent study (Plath, M., Blum, D., Schlupp, I. & Tiedemann, R., Anim. Behav. 75, 21-29 (2008)) has demonstrated an effect of a visual audience male on male mating preferences in the surface form of a livebearing fish, the Atlantic molly (Poecilia mexicana). Surface dwelling P. mexicana are highly aggressive; hence, males dedicating simultaneous attention to mate choice and aggressive interactions may explain this audience effect. Here we examined the effect of an audience on male mate choice in the cave form of that species, which — unlike other cavefishes — have maintained eyes and still respond to visual cues under experimental conditions. Cave mollies were especially interesting to study, because they have reduced aggressive behaviour. We gave males an opportunity to choose between two females, and we repeated the tests with an audience male present. The focal males tended to divide their attentions more equally between the two females when an audience male was presented. The observed effect did not statistically differ between surface and cave dwelling P. mexicana, suggesting that (1) the response to a visual audience is maintained in this cavefish and (2) the described audience effect is largely independent of aggressive interactions among males. Generally, its adaptive significance may be linked to the avoidance of sperm competition when males sharing the same (innate) preferences compete for mates. Moreover, males may conceal their preference to prevent other males from copying their mate choice.
Alcoholic liver disease.

During the 1950s and '60s when the debate about the relative contribution of alcohol toxicity and malnutrition to alcohol related liver damage was raging in the United States,' Britain was more interested in other forms of liver disease. As awareness ofthe size of the alcohol problem grew in this country,2 3 research work at the Liver Unit began to reflect the changing situation. Immunology was already well established at King's and the development of a new lymphocytotoxicity assay by Thomson and colleagues provided a useful tool for investigating immunological changes in alcoholic liver disease.4 These studies have continued over the past 15 years with the aim of identifying the precise mechanisms involved and why some patients have a propensity to progressive liver damage, even when alcohol is discontinued.5 These investigations naturally lead to attempts to identify groups of individuals especially susceptible to alcohol induced liver injury. This was the main focus of research in the 'middle period' from the late 1970s onwards. Research into alcoholic liver disease expanded considerably in 1979 with the formation of a multidisciplinary Alcohol Research Group by Michael Davis and John Saunders. This group extended its work into biochemical mechanisms of liver damage in conjunction with the MRC Human Biochemical Genetics Unit. It also established a programme of research into the underlying alcohol dependency and psychosocial factors. The group, which was supported by the Department of Health and Social Security, forged close links with the Addiction Research Unit at the Maudsley Hospital. This resulted in a more comprehensive approach to management, including psychological as well as medical treatment.6 The third main area of work has been in the
Surgery alone for squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity: survival rates, recurrence patterns, and salvage treatment

Conclusion. Surgery alone may be a reliable and feasible treatment of choice in selected patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oral cavity, given the proper indications. Objective. To evaluate the results of treatment of oral cavity SCC patients with surgery alone in a single institution. Patients and methods. Between 1992 and 2004, 76 patients with previously untreated SCC of the oral cavity who had surgery alone without any other adjuvant treatment modalities were included in our study. Results. The 5-year overall rate, disease-specific survival rates, and locoregional control rate of all 76 patients were 69%, 83%, and 73%, respectively. A total of 16 patients (21%) presented with recurrences (8 with regional recurrences, 5 with local, 2 with locoregional, and 1 with distant metastasis). Four (6%) of the patients with primary T1 or T2 stage and one (50%) of those with T4 stage had recurrence at the primary site. The regional recurrence rate of patients with ≤N1 and ≥N2b was 10% (6 of 59) and 67% (2 of 3), respectively. Three of four patients who had recurrence at the primary site and attempted salvage treatment have been cured. However, only one of five patients with nodal recurrence and salvage treatment has recovered.