Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Factors That Influence Refractive Changes in the First Year of Myopia Development in Premature Infants

Purpose To study the development of refractive status from 36 weeks to one year of postmenstrual age and to identify factors that contribute to development of myopia, including gender, birth weight, gestational age, and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Methods Premature infants underwent full cycloplegic retinoscopy at 36 weeks, 38 weeks, 40 weeks, 42 weeks, 44 weeks, 46 weeks, 48 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months of postmenstrual age. The infants were grouped by gender, birth weight, gestational age, and the severity of ROP to evaluate the correlation with refractive status at each postmenstrual age. Results A total of 942 infants were recruited in this study. A total of 2716 readings were obtained. Refractive state had a hyperopic shift until 46 weeks of postmenstrual age (r = 0.42, P < 0.0001). After that, the mean spherical equivalent (SE) gradually declined (r = −0.30, P < 0.0001). Boys had lower hyperopia than girls at nine months (t = 3.10, P=0.003) and one year (t = 3.34, P=0.001) of postmenstrual age. Premature infants with ROP had a lower average SE at most of the postmenstrual ages; however, this value did not vary significantly (P > 0.05). Premature infants with severe ROP were less hyperopic than those without it at every postmenstrual age, and the average SE differed significantly at one year of postmenstrual age (t = 2.60, P=0.011). There was no significant difference between each birth weight and gestational age (P > 0.05). Conclusions The dioptric value of premature infants within one year was generally hyperopic. Different gender, birth weight, gestational age, and ROP did not affect the overall development of refractive status. Females may have higher hyperopia at nine months of postmenstrual age. Birth weight and gestational age had little effect on change of refractive status. Severe ROP was an important contributing factor in myopia progression, which may be related to the treatment required. Further study may be carried out to understand the mechanism behind myopia progression in premature infants, including changes in refractive system parameters and emmetropization process.
Comparing The Pipelle With Dilatation And Curettage (D&C) In Diagnostic Power Of Sampling For Evaluating The Patients With Abnormal Uterine Bleeding

Introduction: Abnormal uterine bleeding is a common and serious problem in the women of late reproductive age, and an indication for biopsy. Common diagnostic methods in Iran including the endometrial biopsy with dilatation and curettage (D&C) are the gold standard for diagnosis. The aim of this study is to compare the diagnostic power, complications, and duration of endometrial biopsy caused by two diagnostic methods of endometrial sampling of pipelle with dilatation and curettage (D&C) in patients with AUB. Methods: This single blindedparallel randomized clinical trial was performed at the Iranian Center for Clinical Trials (IRCT). The research population is the patients referring to the specialized clinic of Mostafavian and Baghban 1 in Sari with complaints of AUB from October 2016 to September 2018. The patient selection was available for study. The patients were divided in simple random method into two groups of D&C and pipelle alternatively. The samples were sent to pathology after sampling, and when sampling is done, the patient was examined for complications such as uterine bleeding or vasovagal shock symptoms for the cervical stimulation, then, the results were compared with D&C, and also it was compared with the sample histopathologically. Findings: A number of 70 patients were included, while many of which were excluded, and finally 50 patients were completed the study. First, the biopsy with pipelle and then biopsy with D&C were performed on all the patients. The mean age of subjects was 47.5 years old. The highest number of patients (28%) was in the 40-45 group. The mean thickness of the endometrium in patients was 11.5 mm. In the pipelle group, 34% of the cases of insufficient samples were obtained, while using the biopsy, only 4% of the insufficient samples are obtained. A total of 23 samples from 50 patients undergoing pathologic diagnosis were obtained from two similar sampling methods. In the pipelle group, the insufficient sample with 34% proliferative, and then the secretion and proliferative samples were the second and third (prophylactic and secretion pathology are considered as normal tissues that was calculated 56% in this study) in the diagnosis, and accommodation of the pipelle and D&C samples in proliferative has allocated the highest percentage of 9%, and the lowest accommodation was in the in atrophy and polyps and hyperplasia. The average duration of the procedure in the pipelle group was significantly lower than D&C. The pain was significantly higher in pipelle group than D&C (P <0.05). Conclusion: Pipelle is a cheap, fast, outpatient method with low side effects without the use of anesthesia and operating room facilities for diagnosis of hyperplasia and cancer with lower susceptibility to D&C. In the D&C with acceptable susceptibility and specificity, the pain was lower, number of insufficient samples was lower, and diagnosis of polyps was higher.
VUV Photolysis of CH4–H2O mixture in methane-rich ices: Formation of large complex organic molecules in astronomical environments

The present work aims to highlight the influence of water molecules in the photo-decomposition of methane ice and reveal the photoproducts formed in solid phase upon VUV irradiation of CH4–H2O mixture in methane-rich ices. The analysis of our IR spectra shows that even with very low concentrations of water in methane ices, several oxygenated hydrocarbons are formed as photoproducts derived from the photodecomposition of water and methane at cryogenic temperatures. We show that both alka[e]nes and oxygen bearing organics are efficiently formed at temperatures as low as 3 K. However, while the IR signatures of the alka[e]nes such as C2H6, C2H4 and C2H2 dominate the IR spectra of the irradiated CH4–H2O ices at temperatures lower than 50 K, the heating of the sample to 110 K reveals the formation of large carbon chain complex organic molecules such as ethanol, pronanol, propanal and glycolaldehyde.The present work aims to highlight the influence of water molecules in the photo-decomposition of methane ice and reveal the photoproducts formed in solid phase upon VUV irradiation of CH4–H2O mixture in methane-rich ices. The analysis of our IR spectra shows that even with very low concentrations of water in methane ices, several oxygenated hydrocarbons are formed as photoproducts derived from the photodecomposition of water and methane at cryogenic temperatures. We show that both alka[e]nes and oxygen bearing organics are efficiently formed at temperatures as low as 3 K. However, while the IR signatures of the alka[e]nes such as C2H6, C2H4 and C2H2 dominate the IR spectra of the irradiated CH4–H2O ices at temperatures lower than 50 K, the heating of the sample to 110 K reveals the formation of large carbon chain complex organic molecules such as ethanol, pronanol, propanal and glycolaldehyde.
Multifaceted Hi-C benchmarking: what makes a difference in chromosome-scale genome scaffolding?

Background Hi-C, a derivative of chromosome conformation capture (3C) targeting the whole genome, was originally developed as a means for characterizing chromatin conformation. More recently, this method has also been frequently employed in elongating nucleotide sequences obtained by de novo genome sequencing and assembly, in which the number of resultant sequences rarely converge into the chromosome number. Despite the prevailing and irreplaceable use, sample preparation methods for Hi-C have not been intensively discussed, especially from the standpoint of genome scaffolding. Results To gain insights into the best practice of Hi-C scaffolding, we performed a multifaceted methodological comparison using vertebrate samples and optimized various factors during sample preparation, sequencing, and computation. As a result, we have identified some key factors that help improve Hi-C scaffolding including the choice and preparation of tissues, library preparation conditions, and restriction enzyme(s), as well as the choice of scaffolding program and its usage. Conclusions This study provides the first comparison of multiple sample preparation kits/protocols and computational programs for Hi-C scaffolding, by an academic third party. We introduce a customized protocol designated the ‘inexpensive and controllable Hi-C (iconHi-C) protocol’, in which the optimal conditions revealed by this study have been incorporated, and release the resultant chromosome-scale genome assembly of the Chinese softshell turtle Pelodiscus sinensis.
Harmonic-Aware Scheduling for Fixed-Priority Real-Time Systems

This paper discusses a semi-partitioned fixed priority scheduling of sporadic tasks on identical multi-processors based on Rate Monotonic scheduling. A well known fixed-priority algorithm is the rate-monotonic algorithm. This algorithm assigns priorities on their periods: shorter the period, higher the priority. The rate of a task is the inverse of its period. Hence, the higher is the rate, higher its priority. Performed work deals with the following. First, we use the harmonic property for a task set. Harmonic property means task with periods being integer multiples of each other that has been widely studied on uniprocessor system. We developed one example with harmonic property in semi-partitioned scheduling. Two semi-partitioned approaches are developed. The first scheduling approach-1 for the tasks with utilization factor of each task no more than 0.5. The second one, scheduling approach-2, is developed for more general task sets, i.e. the utilization factor of each task is no more than 1. Twenty simulation results are carried out. In each simulation, different numbers of task are generated. From obtained results it is found that all the generated tasks are successfully scheduled for first 20 simulation runs.
Evaluation of the safety and efficacy of a triple combination cream (hydroquinone, tretinoin, and fluocinolone) for treatment of melasma in Middle Eastern skin

Background: Melasma is the most common pigmentary skin disorder, especially in females and those with darker complexion. The current study evaluated the safety and efficacy of a triple combination cream containing hydroquinone 4%+tretinoin 0.05%+fluocinolone acetonide 0.01% (Januluma® cream produced by Janus Pharmaceutical Co, Tehran, Iran) in the treatment of melasma. Patients and methods: Twenty-two female volunteers (mean±standard deviation of age: 39.20±4.16 years) who fulfilled the eligibility criteria participated in this study after signing the informed consent. They were requested to apply the Januluma®cream every night for 8 weeks. Modified melasma area and severity index (mMASI), skin lightness (L value), and severity of pigmentation (E value) by Visio Face, and skin biophysical parameters including pH, melanin index, erythema index, sebum, hydration, trans epidermal water loss, thickness and density of epidermis, and dermis (using 22 MHz ultrasonography) were measured before and 4 and 8 weeks after treatment. Also patients’ satisfaction was assessed 4 and 8 weeks after treatment using visual analog score. Results: mMASI decreased significantly from 3.37 to 2.60 at week 4, and to 2.40 at week 8 (P-values=0.00 and 0.01, respectively). Also, E and L values improved significantly after 8 weeks of treatment (P=0.01 and 0.00, respectively). Skin melanin index decreased from 237.49 AU to 196.30 AU at week 8 (P=0.01). Also echo density of dermis increased significantly after 8 weeks of treatment (P=0.029). Almost all participants experienced some degrees of pruritus, scaling, and erythema, esspecially during the first month of application, which were generally mild and tolerable. The mean satisfaction of patients with the treatment was 6.77. Conclusion: The triple combination formula was reasonably safe and effective for treatment of melasma in Middle Eastern patients.
Real-Time Interface Model Investigation for MCFC-MGT HILS Hybrid Power System

The research on the control strategy and dynamic characteristics of the Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell-Micro Gas Turbine (MCFC-MGT) hybrid power system has received much attention. The use of the Hardware-In-the-Loop Simulation (HILS) method to study the MCFC-MGT hybrid power system, where the MCFC is the model subsystem and the MGT is the physical subsystem, is an effective means to save development cost and time. The difficulty with developing the MCFC-MGT HILS system is the transfer of the mass, energy, and momentum between the physical subsystem and the model subsystem. Hence, a new Simulation–Stimulation (Sim–Stim) interface model of the MCFC-MGT HILS hybrid power system to achieve a consistent mass, energy, and momentum with the prototype system of the MCFC-MGT hybrid power system is proposed. In order to validate the Sim–Stim interface model before application in an actual system, both a real-time model of the MCFC-MGT hybrid power system and the MCFC-MGT HILS hybrid power system based on the Sim–Stim interface model were developed in the Advanced PROcess Simulation (APROS) platform. The step-up and step-down of the current density, which were strict for the Sim–Stim interface model, were studied in these two models. The results demonstrated that the Sim–Stim interface model developed for the MCFC-MGT HILS hybrid power system is rapid and reasonable.
Image‐based concrete crack assessment using mask and region‐based convolutional neural network

Recently, many countries have investigated replacing conventional visual inspection with computer‐vision–based inspection to enhance the efficiency, speed, and objectivity of inspection. This paper presents a novel crack assessment framework for concrete structures that detects cracks using mask and region‐based convolutional neural network (Mask R‐CNN) and quantifies cracks using a few morphological operations on the detected crack masks. In this study, a Mask R‐CNN is trained for crack detection using 1,102 crack regions masked on 376 concrete images. The trained Mask R‐CNN model is tested on the images taken from a real concrete wall with 453 cracks whose widths range from less than 0.1 mm to 1.0 mm. The trained model successfully detects most of the cracks 0.3 mm or wider. Quantification of the cracks was then carried out using several image‐processing operations on 10 randomly selected crack masks. Cracks with widths of 0.3 mm or more are quantified successfully with errors less than 0.1 mm, whereas cracks less than 0.3 mm widths show relatively larger error due to the limitation of image resolution.
Detection of Human Bocavirus Infection in Children with Lower Respiratory

Background: Respiratory tract diseases are one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in young children, and a great variety of viruses are responsible of these infection. Objectives: To determine the infection rate of human bocavirus in children with lower respiratory tract infection and related with different variable. Patients and methods: Cross sectional study consists of 122 children under five years old their age ranged between 1 and 60 months and 75 males and 47 females; suffering from lower respiratory tract infection. They were attending respiratory wards in Fatima Al-Zahraa Hospital, Al-Elwiya Pediatrics Hospital, Ibn Al-Baladi Hospital and Pediatrics Protection Hospital in Baghdad, during the period from December 2017 to February 2018. Full information were collected from parents or relevant of each patient use specific formula sheet as well as nasopharyngeal samples were collected and used for DNA extraction and amplification with specific primers by PCR. Results: Out of all 122 samples, eight samples were positive for HBoV (6.6%). Most infections were recorded in males 5(62.5%) patients aged 1-30 months 7(87.5%) but statistically non-significant. Significant differences (p=0.02) were noticed with nasal discharge 100% and wheezing 100% in HBoV-positive children, while non-significant with other parameter so higher proportion of HBoVpositive children had asthma (62.5%). Exactly 50% of HBoV-positive children were suffering from diarrhea. Nervous manifestation did no differ significantly between positive and negative groups (37.5% and 38.59% respectively). The results of phylogenetic analysis for HBoV DNA isolated from nasopharyngeal swabs revealed that all local isolates (8 isolates) are with HBoV type 1. Conclusions: Infection rate of human bocavirus was compared with rates of infection from neighboring countries, no significant differences were notice between infection rate and different parameters except with nasal discharge and wheezing.
Withdrawal of inhaled corticosteroids in COPD patients: rationale and algorithms

Abstract Observational studies indicate that overutilization of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) is common in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Overprescription and the high risk of serious ICS-related adverse events make withdrawal of this treatment necessary in patients for whom the treatment-related risks outweigh the expected benefits. Elaboration of an optimal, universal, user-friendly algorithm for withdrawal of ICS therapy has been identified as an important clinical need. This article reviews the available evidence on the efficacy, risks, and indications of ICS in COPD, as well as the benefits of ICS treatment withdrawal in patients for whom its use is not recommended by current guidelines. After discussing proposed approaches to ICS withdrawal published by professional associations and individual authors, we present a new algorithm developed by consensus of an international group of experts in the field of COPD. This relatively simple algorithm is based on consideration and integrated assessment of the most relevant factors (markers) influencing decision-making, such a history of exacerbations, peripheral blood eosinophil count, presence of infection, and risk of community-acquired pneumonia.
Irrigation Management Scale and Water Application Method to Improve Yield and Water Productivity of Field-Grown Strawberries

Improvements in water productivity are of primary importance for maintaining agricultural productivity and sustainability. Water potential-based irrigation management has proven effective for this purpose with many different crops, including strawberries. However, problems related to spatial variability of soil properties and irrigation efficiency were reported when applying this management method to strawberries in soils with rock fragments. In this study, a field-scale experiment was performed to evaluate the impacts of three irrigation management scales and a pulsed water application method on strawberry yield and water productivity. An analytical solution to Richards’ equation was also used to establish critical soil water potentials for this crop and evaluate the effects of the variability in the soil properties. Results showed that spatial variability of soil properties at the experimental site was important but not enough to influence crop response to irrigation practices. The studied properties did not present any spatial structure that could allow establishing specific management zones. A four-fold reduction in the size of the irrigation management zones had no effect on yield and increased the water applications. Pulsed application led to significant yield (22%) and water productivity (36%) increases compared with the standard water application method used by the producer at the experimental site.
Nitrogen-Doped Porous Carbons from Lotus Leaf for CO2 Capture and Supercapacitor Electrodes

In this work, N-doped porous carbons were synthesized by a one-step sodium amide activation of carbonized lotus leaf at 450–500 °C. The CO2 adsorption properties of the as-synthesized carbonaceous materials were carefully investigated. In addition, the supercapacitor performance of the optimized sample was also preliminarily explored to examine its potential as the electrode material. These lotus leaf-derived carbons possess good CO2 adsorption capacity up to 3.50 and 5.18 mmol/g at 25 and 0 °C under atmospheric pressure, respectively. It was found that the synthetic effects of narrow microporosity, N content, pore size, and pore size distribution of the sorbents decide their CO2 adsorption abilities under the ambient conditions. These lotus leaf-based carbons also demonstrate many excellent CO2 adsorption properties, such as good selectivity of CO2 over N2, quick adsorption kinetics, moderate heat of adsorption, excellent recyclability, and high dynamic adsorption capacity. In addition, preliminary elect.
Characterization of Toxins in the Culture Supernatants of Clostridium difficile and their Immunogenic Potential in Mice

Clostridium difficile, the anaerobic, sporeforming, Gram-positive bacillus was first identified in 1935 from the healthy newborns (Hall and TO’Toole, 1935). The organism is recognised as the most common nosocomial pathogen responsible for a most important disease condition in human, commonly known as antimicrobial-associated diarrhea. The organism produces several virulence factors including toxin A (tcdA), toxin B (tcdB), tissue degrading enzymes (proteases, collagenase, hyaluronidase, heparinase chondroitin-4-sulfatase), binary toxins, A (cdtA) and B (cdtA), endospores, surface International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 8 Number 05 (2019) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas. com
Highly Porous and Nutrients-Rich Biochar Derived from Dairy Cattle Manure and Its Potential for Removal of Cationic Compound from Water

The use of biochar in the horticulture and crop fields is a recent method to improve soil fertility due to its porous features and rich nutrients. In the present study, dairy manure (DM) was used as a biomass precursor in the preparation of highly porous biochar (DM-BC) produced at specific conditions. Based on N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations, the resulting biochar featured its microporous/mesoporous textures with a BET surface area of about 300 m2/g and total pore volume of 0.185 cm3/g, which could be a low-cost biosorbent for the effective removal of methylene blue (MB) from the aqueous solution. As observed by the energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), the primary inorganic nutrients on the surface of DM-BC included calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), phosphorus (P), silicon (Si), sulfur (S), sodium (Na) and aluminum (Al). Furthermore, the resulting biochar was investigated in duplicate for its biosorption performance of cationic compound (i.e., methylene blue, MB) from the aqueous solution with various initial MB concentrations and DM-BC dosages at 25 °C. The findings showed that the biosorption kinetic parameters fitted by the pseudo-second order rate model with high correlations were consistent with its porous features. These experimental results suggested that the porous DM-based biochar could be reused as a biosorbent, biofertilizer, or soil amendments due to the high porosity and the abundance in nutrient minerals.