Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An unusual gestational choriocarcinoma occurring primarily on the surface of a subserous leiomyoma

The incidence of gestational choriocarcinoma ranges from 5 to 23 cases per 100,000 live births. – 3 The primary site is generally within the uterus. Primary extrauterine gestational choriocarcinoma is rare and has only been reported in the ovaries and fallopian tubes. – 8 We report a gestational choriocarcinoma that occurred primarily on the surface of a subserosal leiomyoma, with unique clinical manifestations. A 31 year old woman, gravida 1, para 0, presented seven weeks after her last menstrual period. She had a history of vaginal spotting and low abdominal pain. A urine pregnancy test was positive. This was her first pregnancy after stopping contraceptives one year earlier. On arrival, her vital signs were stable (pulse rate, 110 per minute). Physical examination revealed rebound tenderness in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen. Pelvic examination demonstrated a closed cervix with some blood-tinged vaginal discharge. Ultrasonography revealed a leiomyoma, measuring 6 4.5 4 cm, located on the posterior uterine wall. The endometrium was 6 mm thick, without an intrauterine gestational sac or any sonographically visible lesion. The serum h-human chorionic gonadotrophin (h-hCG) concentration was 36,742 mIU/mL, compatible with the gestational age. No detectable lesion was found on chest radiographs, and results of biochemical studies were all within normal limits. Laparoscopy was performed because of the clinical impression of ectopic pregnancy. There was 20 mL of bloody ascites, and the fallopian tubes and ovaries were intact. A fist-sized subserous leiomyoma was seen beneath the low posterior aspect of the uterine wall, along with dark, greenish brown tissue scattered on the right side of its surface (Fig. 1). To prevent potential tumour seeding during laparoscopic manipulation, we shifted the operative procedure to laparotomy. Myomectomy and endometrial curettage were performed without difficulty. The woman’s post-operative course was uneventful, and her h-hCG titers decreased to undetectable levels 62 days after the operation, without adjuvant chemotherapy. The serum h-hCG level remained undetectable during the first post-operative year. She conceived three years after the operation, and a male baby was delivered uneventfully. No recurrence of choriocarcinoma was noted after six year follow up. Histopathologic examination showed choriocarcinomatous tissue implanting on a leiomyoma (Fig. 2). No fetal part, gestational sac or chorionic villi were identified. The choriocarcinoma was characterised by clusters of cytotrophoblasts with prominent cytological atypia and separated by streaming masses of syncytiotrophoblasts within a haemorrhagic background. No endometrial tissue was visible in the leiomyoma, and the endometrium was free from gestational tissue.
Complex interactions with females and rival males limit the evolution of sperm offence and defence

Postcopulatory sexual selection favours males which are strong offensive and defensive sperm competitors. As a means of identifying component traits comprising each strategy, we used an experimental evolution approach. Separate populations of Drosophila melanogaster were selected for enhanced sperm offence and defence. Despite using a large outbred population and evidence of substantive genetic variation for each strategy, neither trait responded to selection in the two replicates of this experiment. Recent work with fixed chromosome lines of D. melanogaster suggests that complex genotypic interactions between females and competing males contribute to the maintenance of this variation. To determine whether such interactions could explain our lack of response to selection on sperm offence and defence, we quantified sperm precedence across multiple sperm competition bouts using an outbred D. melanogaster population exhibiting continuous genetic variation. Both offensive and defensive sperm competitive abilities were found to be significantly repeatable only across matings involving ejaculates of the same pair of males competing within the same female. These repeatabilities decreased when the rival male stayed the same but the female changed, and they disappeared when both the rival male and the female changed. Our results are discussed with a focus on the complex nature of sperm precedence and the maintenance of genetic variation in ejaculate characteristics.
A contour view on uninorm properties

Any given increasing [0,1] 2 → [0,1] function is completely determined by its contour lines. In this paper we show how each individual uninorm property can be translated into a property of contour lines. In particular, we describe commutativity in terms of orthosymmetry and we link associativity to the portation law and the exchange principle. Contrapositivity and rotation invariance are used to characterize uninorms that have a continuous contour line.
A new variable sampling control scheme at fixed times for monitoring the process dispersion

The variable sampling rate (VSR) schemes for detecting the shift in process mean have been extensively analyzed; however, adding the VSR feature to the control charts for monitoring process dispersion has not been thoroughly investigated. In this research, a novel VSR control scheme, sequential exponentially weighted moving average inverse normal transformation (EWMA INT) at fixed times chart (called (SEIFT) chart), which integrates the sequential EWMA scheme at fix times with the INT statistic, is proposed to detect both the increase and decrease in process dispersion. Moreover, the sample size at each sampling time is also allowed to vary. The Markov chain method is used to evaluate the performance of this new control chart. Numerical analysis reveals that this SEIFT chart gives significant improvement on detection ability than the fixed sampling rate schemes. Compared with other control schemes, the good properties of the INT statistic makes this SEIFT chart easy to design and convenient to implement. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Screening for problem drinking in older people referred to a mental health service: A comparison of CAGE and AUDIT

The aim of the study was to evaluate the validity of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), the five-item version (AUDIT-5) and the CAGE as screening tests for problem drinking in mentally ill older people. The study was of prospective cross-sectional design with questionnaire survey and interview and included all consecutive referrals to an old age psychiatry service fulfilling inclusion criteria. Sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive values and areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROC) for the AUDIT, AUDIT-5, and CAGE were the primary outcome measures. Using clinical criteria as the gold standard, the AUDIT, AUDIT-5 and CAGE had AUROCs of 0.961, 0.964, and 0.780 respectively. The AUDIT-5 performed best of the three scales with a sensitivity of 75.0%, specificity of 97.2% and positive predictive value of 83.3% when using a 4/5 cut-point. The AUDIT-5 performed as well as the AUDIT and better than the CAGE in identifying problem drinking in this sample. The AUDIT-5 may be a useful addition to the specialist mental health assessment of older people.
Effect of aqueous extract and fractions of Zhi-Zi-Hou-Pu decoction against depression in inescapable stressed mice: Restoration of monoamine neurotransmitters in discrete brain regions

Context: Zhi-Zi-Hou-Pu decoction (ZZHPD) is a traditional prescription which has been used to treat “Yu-syndrome” (depression and melancholia) in Chinese herbal medication. Objective: To evaluate antidepressant activities of ZZHPD, its fractions and possible mechanism(s) of action. Materials and methods: ZZHPD (1241, 2482 and 4964 mg/kg), n-butanol fraction (ZH-BA, 1454 mg/kg), cyclohexane fraction (ZH-CH, 17 mg/kg) and aqueous fraction (ZH-AQ, 3493 mg/kg) were administered orally to different groups of mice for seven consecutive days. Forced Swimming Test (FST) and Tail Suspension Test (TST) were conducted 60 min after the last administration to evaluate the antidepressant effect. Norepinephrine, dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine levels in discrete brain parts were determined by HPLC-FD immediately after behavioral tests. Results: ZZHPD at 2482, 4964 mg/kg, ZH-BA (1454 mg/kg), ZH-CH (17 mg/kg) or clomipramine hydrochloride (20 mg/kg) significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the duration of immobility in FST and TST without affecting locomotor activities in the Open Field Test. Observed from score plot of Principle Component Analysis of monoamine levels in different groups, the monoamine profile of ZZHPD-treated mice were similar to that of the normal control mice. HPLC-UV analysis indicated that iridoid glycosides, flavones and neolignans might be the active chemicals. Discussion and conclusion: The results demonstrated significant antidepressant-like effect of ZZHPD in mice which was related to monoaminergic system, ZH-BA and ZH-CH could be the active fractions responsible for the antidepressant effect of ZZHPD.
In-flight performance of the Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) on the New Horizons Mission

The LOng-Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) is a high resolution imaging instrument on the New Horizons spacecraft. New Horizons will collect data during a fly-by of Pluto and its satellites in 2015, and may continue on to collect data at another Kuiper Belt Object in an extended mission phase. New Horizons launched on January 19, 2006, the first mission of NASA’s New Frontiers program. LORRI is a narrow field of view (0.29°), Ritchey-Chrétien telescope with a 20.8 cm diameter primary mirror. The telescope has an effective focal length of 262 cm and has a three lens field flattener near the focal plane. The focal plane unit consists of a 1024 × 1024 pixel charge-coupled device detector operating in frame transfer mode. LORRI provides panchromatic imaging over a bandpass that extends approximately from 350 nm to 850 nm. The instrument operates in an extreme thermal environment, viewing space from within the warm spacecraft. For this reason, LORRI has a silicon carbide optical system with passive thermal control, designed to maintain focus without adjustment over a wide temperature range from -100 C to +50 C. LORRI has been successfully operated through initial commissioning, a fly-by of Jupiter, and two annual checkout periods. We describe the in-flight testing and measured performance of LORRI, and provide comparisons to pre-launch performance predictions. We also detail plans under consideration for changing LORRI’s flight software to accommodate autonomous detection of targets within the instrument’s field of view.
Polycrystalline mercuric iodide detectors

Polycrystalline mercuric iodide nuclear radiation detectors have been prepared using different ceramic fabrication methods, such as hot pressing, hot wall vapor phase deposition and screen printing. Areas varying between 0.01 to 100 cm2 and thicknesses varying between 30 to 600 microns, have been fabricated. Gold or carbon electrodes were deposited having the shape of single continuous, linear strip or square pixel contacts and tested for their response to lower and higher gamma energy and beta particles. The (mu) (tau) value is of the order of 10-7 cm2/V for both holes and electrons and therefore can act as particle counter without energy resolution. THe low production cost for potential large detector area make these compounds interesting for certain imaging applications.
The Influence of Anulotomy Selection on Disc Competence: A Radiographic, Biomechanical, and Histologic Analysis

Study Design This study analyzed the radiographic, biomechanical, and histologic attributes of three commonly used anulotomy techniques. Objectives This study defined the propensity of the anulus fibrosus to heal after discectomy and correlated biomechanical differences between subgroups of the motion segments studied. Summary of Background Data No previous report that compares the influence of anulotomy selection on disc competence exists. Methods Anulotomies were performed on the anterolateral aspects of the lumbar discs of 54 adult goats. The goats were randomly assigned to one of three subgroups containing 18 animals. In subgroup A, a full-thickness anular window was excised. In subgroup B, a full-thickness cruciate anulotomy was accomplished. In subgroup C, a full-thickness anulotomy was developed by inserting a trocar, 2.5 mm in diameter, into the disc. Results Histologic analysis revealed that primary anular healing did not occur in any specimen. The anulotomy tracts in subgroup C (trocar) were consistently narrower than those of subgroups A and B. Discography demonstrated the presence of severe and early disc degeneration with subgroup A (anular window), a finding not observed within the trocar anulotomy group. Biomechanical testing demonstrated increased resistance to pull out by the trocar anulotomy group at 4 weeks, as well as increased torsional stiffness of the motion segment when compared to both window and cruciate anulotomy. Conclusions The authors conclude that attempts should be made to minimize injury to the anulus fibrosus during the performance of discectomy.
Resonant hydrophones based on coated fiber Bragg gratings. Part I: numerical analysis

In this work, we report the first evidence of the resonant behavior of underwater acoustic sensors constituted by a Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) coated by a ring shaped overlay. The complex opto-acousto-mechanical interaction among an incident acoustic wave travelling in water, the optical fiber surrounded by the ring shaped coating and the FBG inscribed in an optical fiber is numerically analyzed by means of a commercial multiphysics software (COMSOLTM) implementing the finite element method. The numerical analysis has been performed in the frequency range 0.5-30 kHz, typically used in sonar applications. The retrieved numerical results, describing the opto-acoustic response of the optical hydrophone, highlighted that the coating is able to notably improve the sensitivity of the hydrophone, in the whole investigated frequency range, when compared to a FBG without coating. Furthermore, the hydrophone sensitivity versus the frequency presents characteristic resonances, which strongly improve the hydrophone opto-acoustic sensitivity with respect to the sensitivity background far from the resonances. As ascertained by means of a three-dimensional modal analysis of the hydrophone, the composite cylindrical structure of the sensor acts as an acoustic resonator accorded to the frequencies of the longitudinal vibration modes of the composite structure. In order to provide a full description of the sensor performances, we carried out also a parametric analysis by varying the geometrical and mechanical properties of the coating. The numerical results, besides outlining the resonant behavior of the coated FBG, also provided a tool for the design and optimization of the sensor performances which in turn can be tailored for specific Sonar applications.
Role of oxidative mixed-disulfide formation in elastase-serine proteinase inhibitor (serpin) complex.

To understand the role of thiol and oxidative mixed-disulfide exchange reaction in serpins, we analyzed the conformation of native and mixed-disulfide forms of alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor (alpha 1-PI), alpha 1-antichymotrypsin (alpha 1-ACT), alpha 2-antiplasmin (alpha 2-AP), angiotensinogen, and ovalbumin. The conformation of native and oxidized mixed-disulfide serpins was measured by transverse urea gradient (TUG) gels. The results suggest that the acute phase proteins alpha 1-PI and alpha 1-ACT undergo conformational changes following oxidative mixed-disulfide formation and that alpha 2-AP and angiotensinogen do not. The kinetics of disulfide formation was followed by measuring changes in absorbance at 412 nm resulting from Ellman's reaction of disulfide exchange. The rate of mixed-disulfide formation in albumin was 10-fold faster than in the serpin tested. The rate of disulfide exchange in alpha 1-PI was 2-fold faster than that of alpha 1-ACT. However, disulfide formation in alpha 1-PI and alpha 1-ACT was much slower than for any other serpin, e.g., alpha 2-AP and angiotensinogen. We present evidence that alpha 1-PI forms a dimer sensitive to thiol reduction, suggesting cysteinyl-mediated dimerization of alpha 1-PI. The alpha 1-PI also demonstrated two types of inter-protein disulfide linkages: one resulting in homodimer and other involving heterodimer formation. TUG-Western immunoblot methodology was developed to identify the conformational changes in serpins. We found that the conformational changes in serpins by mixed-disulfide formation are due to unfolding and not to decomposition or degradation in TUG gels. Using fluorescence measurements with isolated tryptic fragments of fluorescence-labelled elastase, we observed that the cysteinyl232 in alpha 1-PI interacted with the cysteinyl168 of elastase in the proteinase-inhibitor complex. Our data suggests that serpin thiols may play an important role in forming a stable serpin-proteinase complex.
Serum alpha-tocopherol, vitamin A, and blood selenium concentrations, and glutathione peroxidase activity in llamas fed alfalfa hay.

OBJECTIVES To measure blood selenium concentration and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity and serum concentrations of vitamin A and alpha-tocopherol, and to determine the correlation between blood selenium concentration and GSH-Px activity of llamas fed alfalfa hay. DESIGN Mean (+/- SD) serum vitamin A and alpha-tocopherol concentrations, blood selenium concentrations, and GSH-Px activity were calculated from 9 sequential blood samples collected from llamas fed a diet of alfalfa hay. ANIMALS 15 clinically normal llamas (8 males, 7 females) between 10 and 14 months of age. PROCEDURE Llamas were fed alfalfa hay for 40 days prior to sample collection and then for the duration of the trial. Vitamin E, selenium, and concentrations of vitamin A precursors were measured in the hay. Blood samples were collected on days 0, 6, 7, 9, 13, 20, 42, 64, and 98. Blood selenium concentrations were measured, using an inductively coupled spectrometric method. Blood GSH-Px activity was measured with a spectrophotometer, using a modification of a previously described assay. Isocratic high-performance liquid chromatography with florescent detection was used to determine serum alpha-tocopherol and vitamin A concentrations. RESULTS The alfalfa hay contained 0.2 mg/kg of selenium, 5 mg/kg of vitamin E, and 0.9 mg/kg of vitamin A precursors. The mean (+/- SD) blood selenium concentration and GSH-Px activity were 0.179 +/- 0.032 micrograms/ml and 25.76 +/- 6.53 mU NADPH oxidized/min/mg of Hb, respectively, with a correlation coefficient of 0.97. The mean (+/- SD) concentrations for serum alpha-tocopherol and vitamin A were 128.1 +/- 41.7 and 74.8 +/- 5.5 micrograms/dl, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Blood selenium concentrations in llamas are highly correlated to GSH-Px activity. Blood selenium concentrations in llamas appear to be similar to other domestic ruminants and diets containing 0.2 mg/kg of selenium appear to provide an adequate dietary source. The concentrations of vitamin A precursors and vitamin E in the hay were below currently recommended dietary levels for llamas, and alfalfa hay appears to provide an unreliable source of vitamins A and E in this species. Further studies are required to determine optimal dietary concentrations and to substantiate a reference range for these vitamins in llamas.
Nanoparticle-Liquid Crystalline Elastomer Composites

Liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) exhibit a number of remarkable physical effects, including a uniquely high-stroke reversible mechanical actuation triggered by external stimuli. Fundamentally, all such stimuli affect the degree of liquid crystalline order in the polymer chains cross-linked into an elastic network. Heat and the resulting thermal actuation act by promoting entropic disorder, as does the addition of solvents. Photo-isomerization is another mechanism of actuation, reducing the orientational order by diminishing the fraction of active rod-like mesogenic units, mostly studied for azobenzene derivatives incorporated into the LCE composition. Embedding nanoparticles provides a new, promising strategy to add functionality to LCEs and ultimately enhance their performance as sensors and actuators. The motivation for the combination of nanoparticles with LCEs is to provide better-controlled actuation stimuli, such as electric and magnetic fields, and broad-spectrum light, by selecting and configuring the appropriate nanoparticles in the LCE matrix. Here we give an overview of recent advances in this area with a focus on preparation, physical properties and actuation performance of the resultant nanocomposites.
Geocoding with OpenStreetMap Data

— OpenStreetMap (OSM) is a platform where users contribute geographic data. To serve multiple use cases, these data are held in a very generic format. This makes processing and indexing OSM data a challenge. Nominatim is an open source search and geocoding engine that consumes OSM data. While Nominatim does process OSM data well, it does not use term frequency – inversed document frequency (TF/IDF) based ranking of search results. Lucene is a framework offering TF/IDF for ranking of indexed documents. In this paper Nominatim’s processing of OSM data is utilized to assemble full addresses with their geocoordinates. These addresses are then indexed in Elasticsearch , a web service on top of Lucene. The resulting TF/IDF based geocoding system is benchmarked in comparison with plain Nominatim. The analysis shows: TF/IDF based ranking yields more accurate results, especially for queries with unordered address elements or only partially speciﬁed addresses.
Breast Reconstruction With a Turbocharged Transverse Rectus Abdominis Myocutaneous Flap on the Contralateral Perforator

AbstractSeventeen patients were submitted to delayed unilateral breast reconstruction using pedicled, muscle-sparing turbocharged transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap based on the contralateral perforator vessels. The lateral portion of the rectus abdominis muscle on the pedicled side was preserved in 12 patients. Zones II and IV were included in the flap in all cases. Mean duration of surgery was 7 hours and 15 minutes. Four complications developed in the abdominal donor site: contralateral abdominal bulging (n = 1), minor suture dehiscence (n = 2), and epidermolysis at the border of the abdominal flap and umbilical scar (n = 1). Three partial losses (10%–30%) occurred in the reconstructed breast (17.64% of cases), whereas 2 cases of fat necrosis were associated with partial losses. One patient developed deep vein thrombosis with pulmonary embolism; however, outcome was favorable. This proved a viable alternative for breast reconstruction, with satisfactory results in most patients and acceptable morbidity and surgical time.
Independently switchable bidirectional optical cross connects

As the single fiber bidirectional ring network develops, independently switchable bidirectional optical cross connects (IS-BOXC's) that switch each bidirectional optical signal, both independently and simultaneously will be needed. We propose new structures of IS-BOXC's using two different unidirectional optical cross connects. The proposed IS-BOXC's sufficiently suppress the relative intensity noise caused by Rayleigh backscattering and optical reflection.