Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Carbohydrate-Deficient Transferrin (CDT) Determination by Nephelometry Using a Commercial Kit. Analytical and Diagnostic Aspects

Abstract Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) has been proposed as the most efficient marker of alcohol abuse. Absolute and relative concentrations of CDT were measured with a commercial assay (%CDTTIA from AXIS-Shield, Oslo, Norway) using rate nephelometry for transferrin determination. One hundred eightyeight alcoholic patients (154 males, 34 females) and 132 control patients (113 males, 19 females) were included in the study. Within-run and day-to-day imprecision were 3.15% and 9.77%, respectively. The calibration curve was stable for more than 4 months with a shift below 5%. The commercial assay lacked sensitivity (Se = 0.48), but was highly specific (Sp = 0.98). Lowering the cut-off from 6% to 4.6% raised the sensitivity of the %CDTTIA test to 0.76 with a specificity of 0.90. We conclude that this adaptation to the Array Protein System (Beckman-Coulter) is suitable for routine use and offers precise results. It, however, requires an adaptation of the cut-off value for patients and of the target value for kit controls.
Endocannabinoids and acute pain after total knee arthroplasty

Abstract Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is a progressive disease that is associated with inflammation of the joints and lower extremity pain. Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a surgical procedure that aims to reduce pain and restore motor function in patients suffering from OA. The immediate postoperative period can be intensely painful leading to extended recovery times including persistent pain. The endocannabinoid system regulates nociception, and the activation of cannabinoid receptors produces antinociceptive effects in preclinical models of OA. To date, the influence of the endocannabinoid tone on pain and disability in OA patients and on acute postoperative pain in humans has not been explored. In this study, we provide the first comprehensive profile of endocannabinoids in serum, cerebrospinal fluid, and synovial fluid of patients with painful end-stage OA undergoing TKA and examine correlations between endocannabinoid levels, interleukin 6, functional disability, acute postoperative pain, and postoperative opioid use. Our results reveal that central (cerebrospinal fluid) and peripheral (synovial fluid) levels of the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoyl glycerol were significantly elevated in patients who developed higher postoperative pain after TKA. In addition, synovial fluid 2-arachidonoyl glycerol levels were positively correlated with postoperative opioid use. Similarly, synovial fluid levels of the anti-inflammatory lipid palmitoylethanolamide correlated with functional disability in OA. Taken together, our results are the first to reveal associations between central and peripheral endocannabinoid levels and postoperative pain. This suggests that endocannabinoid metabolism may serve as a target for the development of novel analgesics both for systemic or local delivery into the joint.
Sindbis virus mutations which coordinately affect glycoprotein processing, penetration, and virulence in mice

Rapid penetration of baby hamster kidney cells was used as a selective pressure for the isolation of pathogenesis mutants of the S.A. AR86 strain of Sindbis virus. Unlike most Sindbis virus strains, S.A. AR86 is virulent in adult as well as neonatal mice. Two classes of mutants were defined. One class was attenuated in adult mice inoculated intracerebrally as well as in neonatal mice inoculated either intracerebrally or subcutaneously. Sequence analysis of the glycoprotein genes of the parent virus and three such mutant strains revealed a single point mutation which resulted in an amino acid change at position 1 in the E2 glycoprotein. The change from a serine in S.A. AR86 to an asparagine in the mutants created a new site for N-linked glycosylation which appeared to be utilized. This mutation did not retard release of infectious particles; however, mutant virions contained the E2 precursor protein (PE2) rather than the E2 glycoprotein itself. The mutants also lost the ability to bind two E2-specific monoclonal antibodies, R6 and R13. A second class of mutants was attenuated in neonatal mice upon subcutaneous inoculation but remained virulent in adults and in neonates when inoculated intracerebrally. Sequence analysis of three such strains revealed the substitution of an arginine residue for a serine at position 114 in the E2 glycoprotein. Reactivity with monoclonal antibodies R6 and R13 was reduced, yet members of this mutant class were more susceptible than S.A. AR86 to neutralization by these antibodies.
Constrained Physical Therapist Practice: An Ethical Case Analysis of Recommending Discharge Placement From the Acute Care Setting

Background and Purpose Constrained practice is routinely encountered by physical therapists and may limit the physical therapist's primary moral responsibility—which is to help the patient to become well again. Ethical practice under such conditions requires a certain moral character of the practitioner. The purposes of this article are: (1) to provide an ethical analysis of a typical patient case of constrained clinical practice, (2) to discuss the moral implications of constrained clinical practice, and (3) to identify key moral principles and virtues fostering ethical physical therapist practice. Case The case represents a common scenario of discharge planning in acute care health facilities in the northeastern United States. Methods An applied ethics approach was used for case analysis. Results The decision following analysis of the dilemma was to provide the needed care to the patient as required by compassion, professional ethical standards, and organizational mission. Discussion and Conclusions Constrained clinical practice creates a moral dilemma for physical therapists. Being responsive to the patient's needs moves the physical therapist's practice toward the professional ideal of helping vulnerable patients become well again. Meeting the patient's needs is a professional requirement of the physical therapist as moral agent. Acting otherwise requires an alternative position be ethically justified based on systematic analysis of a particular case. Skepticism of status quo practices is required to modify conventional individual, organizational, and societal practices toward meeting the patient's best interest.
Développement de récepteurs avancés pour les systèmes de communication mobile de type WCDMA et HSDPA

Dans la premiere partie de la these, on considere des methodes d'estimation des canaux utilisateurs dedies en liaison descendante. Ces methodes sont particulierement avantageuses dans un contexte de transmission a formation de faisceaux. Elles ne supposent aucune connaissance a priori des retards des signaux recus ainsi que les parametres de formation des faisceaux; exploitent la totalite des sequences pilotes transmises ainsi que la dynamique structuree du canal.Dans la seconde partie, on commence par considerer un schema d'egalisation au niveau chip et dite HDD-NLMS. Ce schema utilise l'estimation de la precedente sequence chip comme reponse cible pour l'adaptation de l'egaliseur. Dans la suite propose les egalisateurs niveau symbole HSDPA N-Griffith et HDD-NLMS qui permettent une vitesse d'adaptation 16 fois plus elevee que dans le cas de l'utilisation des symboles PCPICH. Les solutions specifiques HSDPA ont une complexite raisonnable et offrent des performances proches aux Max-SINR dans un environnement reel.Dans la derniere partie, nous evaluons l'avantage des egalisateurs au niveau chip par rapport au recepteur Rake conventionnel ainsi que l'avantage d'une decision hard par rapport a l'utilisation d'une contre reaction lineaire dans le contexte d'un recepteur avec elimination iterative parallele des interferences. Cette contre reaction sera deduite d'un developpement polynomial de l'inverse de la matrice de covariance en amont du premier etage d'egalisation. Etant donne que les egalisateurs a chaque etage sont differents, nous utilisons les resultats d'analyse des etages precedents afin de pouvoir estimer les parametres de l'egalisateur a un etage donne.
Comparison of Near-to-Eye Displays: Subjective Experience and Comfort

We studied people's experiences related to four different commercial near-to-eye displays (NEDs). A total of hundred and six participants viewed a 40-min film and completed several sickness-, visual strain- and workload-related questionnaires. The severity of the symptoms varied among the devices used, but on average the sickness experienced and the eyestrain levels remained low. Headset fit affected not only the perceived workload, but also the pleasantness of tasks and NED-related opinion change. The participants were positively surprised at the NEDs' high quality, and many were interested in using wearable displays in the future.
Are You Ready to Have Fun? The Spanish State Form of the State–Trait–Cheerfulness Inventory

ABSTRACT Although cheerfulness, seriousness, and bad mood as traits have been widely studied as the basis of sense of humor, data are scarce regarding the same dimensions as states. In this study, we adapted the state form of the State–Trait–Cheerfulness Inventory (STCI–S) into Spanish. At the same time, we empirically tested new predictions. We assessed 5 independent samples accounting for 1,029 participants (647 women) with ages ranging from 18 to 78 years. We confirmed the 3-dimensional structure as well as a strong measurement invariance between men and women. The internal consistency of the scale was satisfactory, the expected intercorrelations emerged, and the convergence between states and traits was corroborated. We also confirmed that the STCI–S's items were sensitive to affective changes in the environment. A longitudinal stability study of the state–trait dimensions using latent state–trait (LST) models revealed that all three trait measures capture mostly stable interindividual differences, with occasion-specific effects mainly in the state dimensions. Finally, we found that the STCI–S dimensions were related to state well-being. The results suggest that the STCI–S is a valid option for measuring the state basis of sense of humor in the Spanish population.
An Improved Model for Calculating the Near Field Power Densities of Aperture Antennas

Closed form expressions for calculating the on-axis near field power densities of circular and rectangular aperture antennas were derived. In the derivations, tapered distributions for circular apertures and sinusoidal distributions for rectangular apertures were assumed. Two computer algorithms for calculating the power densities of these apertures were developed. The normalized power densities for several aperture antennas were plotted. An example is given to illustrate the application of the data to estimation of the potential radiation hazard of a typical aperture. Prof. Electrical Engineering Dept. Syracuse University Syracuse, N.Y. derivation of these relationships were: (1) apertures must be larger in dimensions in comparison with wavelength (high gain antennas only), and (2) the square apertures must have uniform distribution while the distribution for the circular apertures was assumed to be of the form 1-p2, where 0<_ p <_ 1. This paper describes the development of new formulas which may be used in the calculation of the near field on-axis power densities for both circular and rectangular apertures of practical sizes at distances close to the apertures. The near field relationships for the rectangular apertures were derived assuming a distribution of the form
Common genetic variants in the 8q24 region and risk of papillary thyroid cancer

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the 8q24 chromosomal region identified from genome‐wide scans have been associated with the risk of several cancers, including breast (rs1562430), prostate (rs1447295), and colon (rs6983267). A genome‐wide scan in 26 families with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) also found susceptibility loci in 8q24, supporting a closer evaluation of this chromosomal region in relation to the risk of sporadic PTC.
Eustachian Tube Function in the Older Adult

This investigation examined the effects of the aging process on the adequacy of Eustachian tube function. Older adults presenting normal hearing sensitivity and sensorineural hearing loss and normally hearing young adults served as subjects. Eustachian tube function was assessed using electroacoustic immittance measurement. Tympanograms were analyzed relative to pressure and function (amplitude) changes after Eustachian tube testing. One-way analyses of variance and χ2 analyses revealed no significant differences between groups and no significant relationships between group membership and tympanometric measures.
A concurrent key exchange protocol based on commuting matrices

In this paper, we suggest a cryptographic protocol for symmetric key exchange based on a set of m commutative square singular matrices of dimension n×n. The suggested scheme provides a concurrent technique for users of symmetric‐key cipher systems to securely exchange their private keys over public channels. This protocol is shown to possess a high level of security based on the algorithm's parameters. We also present a scheme for generating pseudorandom numbers from a single chaotic map for use in various applications, in particular, the suggested key exchange protocol.Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Meningioma subtype classification: A survey

Meningioma subtype classification is a complex, real world and multi-class problem from the domain of histopathology. To solve this, various Computer Aided Techniques are employed in the past with a varying degree of success. This classification not only helps the technicians/doctors/pathologists to classify each sample correctly but also assists them in making the right decision for treatment.
Superstar Economists: Coauthorship Networks and Research Output

We study the impact of research collaborations in coauthorship networks on research output and how optimal funding can maximize it. Through the links in the collaboration network, researchers create spillovers not only to their direct coauthors but also to researchers indirectly linked to them. We characterize the equilibrium when agents collaborate in multiple and possibly overlapping projects. We bring our model to the data by analyzing the coauthorship network of economists registered in the RePEc Author Service. We rank the authors and research institutions according to their contribution to the aggregate research output and thus provide a novel ranking measure that explicitly takes into account the spillover effect generated in the coauthorship network. Moreover, we analyze funding instruments for individual researchers as well as research institutions and compare them with the economics funding program of the National Science Foundation. Our results indicate that, because current funding schemes do not take into account the availability of coauthorship network data, they are ill-designed to take advantage of the spillover effects generated in scientific knowledge production networks.
Bilateral radical neck dissection with unilateral internal jugular vein reconstruction

Objective: To describe and evaluate the functional and oncologic results of one internal jugular vein replacement after bilateral radical neck dissection (RND). Study Design: A retrospective historical cohort study. Methods: Since 1972 all patients (n = 9) undergoing bilateral RND with resection of both internal jugular veins had a reconstruction of one internal jugular vein. In six cases the RNDs were staged, and in three cases the RNDs were performed simultaneously. In every case a vascular reconstruction was performed with an autologous vein graft. All patients received radiation therapy, in five patients before and in four patients after the vein grafting. Functional results were evaluated in terms of postoperative head and neck and neurologic complications. In some patients a Doppler scan was performed to assess vein patency. Oncologic results are reported as relapse‐free survival and mortality intervals. Results: In all patients the postoperative course was uneventful, without neurologic complications. Facial edema was noted in four patients, mild in three and moderate in one. Two patients are alive, with follow‐ups of 8 and 18 years. Seven patients are dead, two without evidence of recurrence, four with cervical recurrence after a mean survival of 10 months, and one after distant metastasis after a survival of 7 years. In patients with long‐term survival a Doppler scan confirmed the patency of the vein graft. Conclusion: The lack of operative complications and the absence of postoperative neurologic complications make a unilateral internal jugular vein replacement after bilateral RND attractive, although the oncologic results remain poor. Laryngoscope, 108:1692–1696, 1998
Microwaveim aging of inhomogenious dielectric cylinders

A method of reconstructing the dielectric cross-section of inhomogenious cylinders using microwaves is investigated. The method uses the information found in the scattered field produced from an illuminating plane wave to reconstruct the physical properties of the cylinders. The two-dimensional integral equation for the scattered field is transformed into a set of linear equations using the method of moments. The resulting matrix is ill-conditioned and is solved by a conjugate gradient method to give a least squares solution. The method is demonstrated by computer simulation, and some results are presented.
Alteration in anxiety‐related behaviors and reduction of serotonergic neurons in raphe nuclei in adult rats prenatally exposed to ethanol

It is known that the developing serotonergic system is one of the targets of ethanol teratogenicity. Because serotonin has multiple functions in both mature and immature brains, disturbance of the serotonergic system by ethanol exposure in utero can be cause of a wide range of psychiatric problems in adulthood. In the present study, we observed serotonergic neurons in the midbrain raphe nuclei and anxiety‐like behaviors which would be affected by an altered serotonergic system in adult rats prenatally exposed to ethanol. Pregnant rats were fed a liquid diet containing 2.5–5.0% (w/v) ethanol on gestational days 10–21. Their offspring were examined at 60–70 days of age. A significant decrease in the number of serotonergic cells in the midbrain raphe nuclei was shown in prenatally ethanol‐exposed offspring. In an open field test, they spent more time in a central area compared to controls. Also in an elevated plus maze test, prenatally ethanol‐exposed offspring spent more time on the open arms than controls. These behavioral results suggested that prenatally ethanol‐exposed rats were less sensitive to anxiety. However, 44% of prenatally ethanol‐exposed offspring exhibited freezing behavior on the open arms of the elevated plus maze, causing strong anxiety, compared with 0% in intact control and 12.5% in isocaloric sucrose‐fed control groups. These findings suggest that prenatal ethanol exposure decreases both susceptibility and resistance of anxiety. Insufficient serotonergic actions caused by reduced serotonergic neurons in the raphe nuclei might contribute to the alterations in anxiety‐related behaviors observed in our prenatally ethanol‐exposed rats.
THE ROLE OF THE COMPLEMENT SYSTEM IN ISCHEMIA-REPERFUSION INJURY

Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is a common clinical event with the potential to seriously affect, and sometimes kill, the patient. Interruption of blood supply causes ischemia, which rapidly damages metabolically active tissues. Paradoxically, restoration of blood flow to the ischemic tissues initiates a cascade of pathology that leads to additional cell or tissue injury. I/R is a potent inducer of complement activation that results in the production of a number of inflammatory mediators. The use of specific inhibitors to block complement activation has been shown to prevent local tissue injury after I/R. Clinical and experimental studies in gut, kidney, limb, and liver have shown that I/R results in local activation of the complement system and leads to the production of the complement factors C3a, C5a, and the membrane attack complex. The novel inhibitors of complement products may find wide clinical application because there are no effective drug therapies currently available to treat I/R injuries.
A 3-mW, 270-Mbps, Clock-Edge Modulated Serial Link for Mobile Displays

In this paper, a single channel clock-edge modulated serial link for mobile display interface is presented. Clock edge modulation (CEM) enables all necessary signals between a graphic processor and a LCD timing controller to be transferred over a single, DC-balanced differential channel, thus greatly saving the power and costs of the existing parallel lines. A simple DLL-based CEM decoder is described that recovers the data with low power consumption and high jitter tolerance. The use of a voltage-mode driver and a single-side termination further reduces the power. A prototype CEM transceiver was implemented in a 0.18mum CMOS process and dissipates 3.12mW when operating at 270-Mb/s and 1.2V
Cross-channel distribution of small fish in tropical and subtropical coastal wetlands is trophic-, taxonomic-, and wetland depth-dependent

Although understanding the spatial distribution of fish is crucial to effective management of estuaries and coastal wetlands, there has been little systematic study of fish distribution at the cross-sectional scale in tropical estuaries. We tested the generality of a model for the cross-channel distribution of small fish (<200 mm fork length), extrapolated from temperate studies, for tropical and sub-tropical estuaries and coastal wetlands. We used cast nets, which could be deployed across a wide variety of habitats, to directly compare fish abundance between channel edges and adjacent mid-channel areas across a variety of coastal floodplain wetlands, including fully estuarine, brackish and freshwater sites. Cross-channel distribution of fish was more complex than the original model suggested. The original model reliably predicted the distribution of benthic feeding fish in most locations when mean mid-channel depths were >0.83 m. However, the model was less effective for predicting distributions of benthic feeders in shallow locations or in locations lacking shallow water edges. In those locations there was little difference in the abundance of fish between edges and midchannels. Distributions of planktivores and detritivores in estuarine and brackish areas were not consistently predicted by either of these models, but varied unpredictably over space and time. An additional model was needed for detritivores in freshwater wetlands with highest abundances in deeper mid-channel areas.
A principal components regression approach to multilocus genetic association studies

With the rapid development of modern genotyping technology, it is becoming commonplace to genotype densely spaced genetic markers such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) along the genome. This development has inspired a strong interest in using multiple markers located in the target region for the detection of association. We introduce a principal components (PCs) regression method for candidate gene association studies where multiple SNPs from the candidate region tend to be correlated. In this approach, the total variance in the original genotype scores is decomposed into parts that correspond to uncorrelated PCs. The PCs with the largest variances are then used as regressors in a multiple regression. Simulation studies suggest that this approach can have higher power than some popular methods. An application to CHI3L2 gene expression data confirms a significant association between CHI3L2 gene expression level and SNPs from this gene that has been previously reported by others. Genet. Epidemiol. 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.