Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Screening Newborns for Galactosemia Using Total Body Galactose Oxidation to CO2 in Expired Air

Classic galactosemia is caused by impaired galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase (GALT EC 2.7.712). If discovered and treated within the first days of life, the acute problems of hepatocellular damage, sepsis, and death are prevented. However, chronic problems such as ataxia, tremor, dyspraxic speech, and ovarian failure may occur. To determine whether screening newborns before discharge from the nursery for GALT deficiency is feasible and whether acute and chronic signs could be prevented by earlier intervention, we developed a simplified “breath test. ” We quantitated total body oxidation of 13C-D-galactose to 13CO2 in expired air by normal newborns between 2 h and 2 mo of age and compared their results to older children with GALT deficiency. We found no differences in total body galactose oxidation (TBGO) among normal newborns up to 48 h of age, but a 2-fold rise in TBGO developed during their first 2 wk of life. Older children with galactosemia had significantly less oxidative capacity than normal newborns. We conclude that newborn breath testing for total body galactose oxidation is feasible before discharge from nursery. It has potential utility for both preventing acute neonatal toxicity and determining the mechanisms producing long-term complications such as ovarian failure, dyspraxia, ataxia, and tremors.
Design, implementation and on-site performance of coordinated intra-plant reactive power-voltage controller

This paper describes newly designed coordinated Q-V controller (CQVC), for a multi machine steam power plant (SPP). After giving design specification and theoretical background for designed CQVC, the paper focuses on practical implementation and performance of commissioned CQVC. Following several innovations are introduced in design of controller: sensitivity matrix concept is applied at plant level to decouple generators connected to the same busbars, steady state detection is used for the decoupling between synchronous generator dynamics and network dynamics, the response is shaped by the use of predictor corrector method. Issues related to practical implementation of CQVC in SPP such as online estimation of network reactance and generators' reactive power capability are also addressed and discussed in the paper. Finally the paper shows examples of recorded plant responses after commissioning of the proposed controller.
Evaluation of Sum Product Networks on Image Classification Tasks

We present a method for classifying imagery using Sum-Product Networks. Current techniques allow for the architecture to be learned in addition to learning the weights between nodes, resulting in high accuracy classification without the need for manual architecture specifications. Our results show that such networks can perform comparably to current state of the art methods on simple image classification problems. However, applying SPNs to this task requires substantially reducing the sizes of the images, and learning the structure of an SPN for the originally-sized images would be computationally expensive.
Using SHA2 Algorithms with Cryptographic Message Syntax

This document describes the conventions for using the message digest algorithms SHA-224, as defined in [RFC3874], and SHA-256, SHA-384, SHA-512, as defined in [SHA2], with the Cryptographic Message Syntax (CMS) [RFC3852]. It also describes the conventions for using these algorithms with CMS and the DSA, RSA, and ECDSA signature algorithms.
Thermodynamic effects after Diode and Er:YAG laser irradiation of grade IV and V titanium implants placed in bone – an ex vivo study. Preliminary report

Abstract Many inserted implants are affected by peri-implantitis. The aim of our study was to evaluate increases in implant temperature, depending on the diameter and chemical composition of implants. In particular we measured the time it takes for the temperature of an implant to rise by 10°C and evaluated laser power settings required to prevent thermal injury when an implant surface is decontaminated during the treatment of peri-implantitis. The study analysed six implants placed in porcine ribs and divided into two groups according to their diameter and chemical composition (grade IV and grade V titanium). The implants were irradiated with Diode and Er:YAG lasers using different laser parameters. The temperature was measured with a K-type thermocouple. The temperature on the implant surface rose as the laser power increased and the implant diameter decreased. The time required to increase the temperature of an implant by 10°C was less than it was for titanium grade IV. The temperature gradient was below 10°C for all implants treated using a laser power up to 1 W. It is important to choose the correct laser parameters, depending on the chemical composition and diameter of the implant, so that decontamination of the implant surface is thorough, effective and safe.
NR4A2 Promotes DNA Double-strand Break Repair Upon Exposure to UVR

Exposure of melanocytes to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) induces the formation of UV lesions that can produce deleterious effects in genomic DNA. Encounters of replication forks with unrepaired UV lesions can lead to several complex phenomena, such as the formation of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). The NR4A family of nuclear receptors are transcription factors that have been associated with mediating DNA repair functions downstream of the MC1R signaling pathway in melanocytes. In particular, emerging evidence shows that upon DNA damage, the NR4A2 receptor can translocate to sites of UV lesion by mechanisms requiring post-translational modifications within the N-terminal domain and at a serine residue in the DNA-binding domain at position 337. Following this, NR4A2 aids in DNA repair by facilitating chromatin relaxation, allowing accessibility for DNA repair machinery. Using A2058 and HT144 melanoma cells engineered to stably express wild-type or mutant forms of the NR4A2 proteins, we reveal that the expression of functional NR4A2 is associated with elevated cytoprotection against UVR. Conversely, knockdown of NR4A2 expression by siRNA results in a significant loss of cell viability after UV insult. By analyzing the kinetics of the ensuing 53BP1 and RAD51 foci following UV irradiation, we also reveal that the expression of mutant NR4A2 isoforms, lacking the ability to translocate, transactivate, or undergo phosphorylation, display compromised repair capacity. Implications: These data expand the understanding of the mechanism by which the NR4A2 nuclear receptor can facilitate DNA DSB repair. Mol Cancer Res; 15(9); 1184–96. ©2017 AACR.
Utilization of evidence-based teaching in U.S. dental hygiene curricula.

PURPOSE The purpose of this research was to survey U.S. dental hygiene program directors to determine: (1) demographic information, (2) specific Evidence-Based (EB) student instruction methods used, (3) if and how programs use an EB philosophy, (4) perceptions of faculty skills in incorporating EB instruction, and (5) opinions and attitudes regarding future need to incorporate EB philosophies in dental hygiene education. METHODS Data were gathered by surveying all 235 United States dental hygiene program directors in 1999. The survey included 20 closed items and 1 open-ended item. Initially, the survey was pilot tested using a convenience sample of seven U.S. dental hygiene program directors. A final, revised survey was mailed to the cohort population. A response rate of 70% (n = 164) was achieved after two mailings, and responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS The demographic results of this study revealed the majority of respondents were from associate degree/certificate dental hygiene programs (77%). Results revealed that most dental hygiene programs are beginning to include some fundamental EB concepts and skills into their curriculum, primarily by incorporating analysis of scientific literature. Most programs provide students with formal library orientation (88%), instruct students in the use of library indices or library databases (86%), and teach the use of the Internet for conducting literature searches (79%). Respondents indicated the major barriers for fully incorporating an EB approach in their dental hygiene program were: lack of faculty skills (37%), no available time (34%), lack of financial resources (33%), and lack of technical support (28%). CONCLUSION Findings of this study suggest dental hygiene educators have made small strides in creating an EB philosophy dental hygiene curriculum. However, the future of dental hygiene education must address the need for faculty development and training in areas such as computer utilization in core dental hygiene courses, strategies to improve the curriculum to stimulate students' critical thinking skills, and to develop educators' skills in the use of evidence for clinical decision-making.
A Kalman approach for stroke order recovering from off-line handwriting

Non-constrained handwriting recognition is still faced with very difficult problems. However, on-line recognition methods exhibit better results than off-line methods which lose all temporal information. The aim of the work is to recover the strokes ordering from static 2-D images as it is inherently available from on-line systems. The approach is innovative because it uses extensively gray-level information, and uses Kalman filtering in the prediction of the writing stroke trajectory.
The Psychometric Properties of the Vanderbilt Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Diagnostic Teacher Rating Scale in a Community Population

Objective: This study examined the psychometric properties of the Vanderbilt AD/HD Diagnostic Teacher Rating Scale (VADTRS). Methods: Information was collected from teachers and parents in 5 school districts (urban, suburban, and rural). All teachers in participating schools were asked to complete the VADTRS on all their students. Construct validity was evaluated through an exploratory factor analysis investigation of the 35 items that made up the 4 scales of inattention, hyperactivity, conduct/oppositional problems, and anxiety/depression problems. Convergent validity was assessed among a subsample of participants whose teachers completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Finally, predictive validity was examined for another subsample of high- and low-risk children whose parents completed a structured psychiatric interview, the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children-IV. Results: For construct validity, a 4-factor model (inattention, hyperactivity, conduct/oppositional, and anxiety/depression problems) fits the data well. The estimates of the KR20 coefficient for a binary item version of the scale ranged from . 85 to . 94. Convergent validity with the SDQ was high (Pearson’s correlations > .72) for these 4 factors. For predictive validity, the VADTRS produced a sensitivity of . 69, specificity of . 84, positive predictive value of . 32, and negative predictive value of . 96 when predicting future case definitions among children whose parents completed a diagnostic interview. Conclusion: The confirmation of the construct and convergent validity and acceptable scale reliabilities found in this study further supports the utility of the VADTRS as a diagnostic rating scale for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. The low predictive validity further demonstrates the need for multiple observers in establishing the diagnosis.
An intronic element contributes to splicing repression in spinal muscular atrophy

The neurodegenerative disease spinal muscular atrophy is caused by mutation of the survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene. SMN2 is a nearly identical copy of SMN1 that is unable to prevent disease, because most SMN2 transcripts lack exon 7 and thus produce a nonfunctional protein. A key cause of inefficient SMN2 exon 7 splicing is a single nucleotide difference between SMN1 and SMN2 within exon 7. We previously provided evidence that this base change suppresses exon 7 splicing by creating an inhibitory element, a heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) A1-dependent exonic splicing silencer. We now find that another rare nucleotide difference between SMN1 and SMN2, in intron 7, potentially creates a second SMN2-specific hnRNP A1 binding site. Remarkably, this single base change does indeed create a high-affinity hnRNP A1 binding site, and base substitutions that disrupt it restore exon 7 inclusion in vivo and prevent hnRNP A1 binding in vitro. We propose that interactions between hnRNP A1 molecules bound to the exonic and intronic sites cooperate to exclude exon 7 and discuss the significance of this exclusion with respect to SMN expression and splicing control more generally.
New Six-Layer Magnetically-Shielded Room for MEG

A high performance magnetically-shielded room (MSR) has been built by Imedco, to house a 4-D MEG system, containing both gradiometers and magnetometers (Vectorview). The MSR consists of three nested enclosures, each consisting of a high-permeability magnetic layer plus an aluminum layer, where special care was given to the junctions of the inner aluminum layer. Measurements of the passive shielding factor yield 1,630 (64dB), 3,600 (71dB), 240,000 (107dB) , and 78,000,000 (158dB) at frequencies of 0.01 Hz, 0.10 Hz, 1.0 Hz, and 10 Hz respectively. Thus, our room is among the very good MSRs. In addition, an active system is being developed, now yielding an extra SF of 6-10 at 0.10 Hz; this needs improvement to reduce new electric train disturbances. Also, we plan to reduce disturbances generated by the inner high-permeability layer when it is mechanically perturbed, for example by walking in the room.
Data Mining auf Unfalldaten

Aufgabe war die Untersuchung von Unfalldaten, insbesondere die Vorhersage eines Unfallscores mittels Data-Mining-Methoden. Dazu wurde das inkrementelle Modell des Data Mining dreimal durchlaufen. Jeder Ansatz brachte neue Erkenntnisse. Somit war der letzte am aufschlussreichsten. Eine Ubersicht mit den besten Ergebnissen zeigt Tab. 14, die Erkennungsraten sollten dabei moglichst hoch und die Kosten moglichst niedrig sein. Kosten sind nur relativ innerhalb des gleichen Ansatzes vergleichbar. Fur vergleichbare Zahlen beziehen sich die Daten von Ansatz 1 und 3 auf Crossvalidation, Ansatz 2 auf die Gesamtmenge. Ansatz 3 benutzt den neu gebildeten ScoreB mit 6 statt 9 Klassen. Deutlich sind die in jedem Ansatz ansteigenden Erkennungsraten und sinkenden Kosten erkennbar. Trotz der zuletzt hohen Erkennungsraten darf nicht ubersehen werden, was diese eigentlich bedeuten. Hier konnen nur in verschiedenen Abstufungen schwere von leichten Unfallen unterschieden werden. Die hohe Anzahl leichter Unfalle sorgt bei deren guter Erkennung fur eine hohe Gesamterkennungsrate. Wichtiger sind jedoch die schweren Unfalle mit Gefahr fur Leib und Leben, welche deutlich schwieriger vorherzusagen sind. Je weniger Abstufungen im Score gemacht wurden, desto besser war die Vorhersage der hohen Scores. Bei nur zwei Unterscheidungen in Sachschaden und auch Personenschaden lag die Erkennungsrate fur schwere Unfalle im besten Fall bei 59,4% mit einer Ungenauigkeit (Fehlalarm) von 21,4%. Dieses Ergebnis wurde mit einer Kombination aus Random Forest, ID3 und DecisionStump erreicht. Als bester einzelner Klassifikations-Algorithmus hat sich hier Random Forest herausgestellt.
Visualizing tissue compliance with MR imaging

We propose a method for visualizing the mechanical properties of tissue based on the use of periodic mechanical compression in conjunction with phase‐contrast MR imaging. A specialized mechanical transducer was used to provide programmable compression pulses to the surface of compliant phantoms. These compression pulses were synchronized to a spin‐echo sequence with motion‐sensitizing gradients to generate phase information reflecting spin displacement throughout the phantom. This sequence was tested with two agarose gel phantoms. The first was a cylinder containing three parallel layers of varying compliance and the second was composed of a semirigid sphere suspended in a uniform layer of decreased elastic modulus. Images showed complex patterns of motion throughout the phantom, which correlated with expected motion behavior of the phantom structures. This indicates that the biomechanical properties of tissues may be elucidated through the use of motion‐sensitized MR imaging and suggests that a form of image contrast relating to tissue elasticity may be feasible.
Understanding and Measuring Functional Impairment in Diverse Children With ADHD

Objective: The current study sought to develop a culturally appropriate measure of functional impairment related to ADHD for diverse families, as research suggests that functional impairment may be a more culturally universal construct than symptomatology. Method: Seventy-four low-acculturated Latino parents (49 mothers and 25 fathers) of school-aged children provided quantitative and qualitative responses about problem recognition after viewing a language-free video of a child displaying symptoms and behaviors consistent with ADHD. Results: Thirty-two items were developed for the ADHD-FX scale based on most common responses given from participants. The scale is available in Spanish and English and instructs parents to consider how much each item affects their child in his or her everyday life (from 0 = not at all to 3 = a lot). Conclusions: The scale can provide an overall impairment score, as well as subscale scores in the theoretically derived domains of academic, peer, and familial impairment. (J. of Att. Dis. 2016; 20(6) 487-500)
Stability-based Scale Estimation of Monocular SLAM for Autonomous Quadrotor Navigation

We propose a novel method to deal with the scale ambiguity in monocular SLAM based on control stability. We analytically show that (1) using unscaled state feedback from monocular SLAM for control can lead to system instability, and (2) there is a unique linear relationship between the absolute scale of the SLAM system and the control gain at which instability arises. Using this property, our method estimates the scale by adapting the gain and detecting self-induced oscillations. Unlike conventional monocular approaches, no additional metric sensors are used for scale estimation. We demonstrate the ability of our system to estimate the scale for performing autonomous indoor navigation with a low-cost quadrotor MAV.
Sensor optimization and placement for enhanced power system monitoring using entropy

In this paper we propose a new methodology for sensor optimization and placement in a power system. The objectives of this study are to identify basic concepts on sensor optimization and placements to enhance the reliability and for efficient sensor data collection, processing, and transmission. Two approaches based on automatic control and information theory have been proposed. Condition of observability and fault detectability and isolability is developed to determine the optimal number of sensors and to determine the set of candidate sensors necessary for state estimation and fault detection and isolation. An entropy-based heuristic is proposed for the selection of the best sensors candidate that increases the information gain, thereby decreasing the drawback of system complexity and information uncertainty.
Determining meaningful changes in hip abductor muscle strength obtained by handheld dynamometry

This study quantified the minimal detectable change (MDC), defined as the smallest change that falls outside the expected range of error, for isometric hip abductor muscle strength in healthy persons obtained with a handheld dynamometer (HHD). Ninety volunteers (45 males and 45 females) between the ages of 22 and 70 years participated in the study. Bilateral measurements of isometric hip abductor muscle force were obtained with a digital HHD using a “make” test with the subject in supine. All measurements were obtained by one female examiner. The muscle force measurements were normalized to a volunteer's body weight (BW). Intratester reliability of hip abductor muscle force was estimated by using an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC3,1) and calculated to be 0.96. The standard error of measurement (SEM) was 2 Newtons. The MDC was calculated by using an appropriate formula that included a 95% level of confidence. The MDC95 was 5.4% BW for males and 5.3% BW for females. If a person's isometric hip abductor muscle force production changes less than the MDC95 value between measurements, then the muscle force production is within measurement error, and it can be determined there has been no change in the strength of hip abductor muscles.
How does the cellular phone help in epidemiological surveillance? A review of the scientific literature

ABSTRACT Background: In the field of epidemiological surveillance, no systematic literature review appears to exist of implemented projects using cellular phone technology. Method: We performed a systematic literature review using the Pubmed and Scopus databases to retrieve articles published up to December 2015. We analyzed information reported in these publications according to the mobile health (mHealth) evidence reporting and assessment (mERA) checklist, and complemented this work with specific items related to epidemiology, in order to clarify the types of results reported and summarized in this context. Results: Thirty-three articles were selected and reviewed. Each article was related to a different project. Two mERA items were systematically and fully reported, while two others were never reported. Three projects were deployed in very specific zones. Most of the projects were implemented in Africa. Infectious diseases were the elements most monitored. Most projects were based on daily data collection and SMS transmission. Economic assessment was limited to SMS, mobile phone, and implementation costs. Discussion-conclusion: Although suitable for epidemiologic surveillance, the mERA checklist needs further interpretation. The technical and transmission modes of cellular phone use varied greatly from one study to another. No evaluation of the interoperability capabilities of cellular phones with other applications or sub-systems was possible.
Pushing Quality Improvement Along Supply Chains

In this paper, we consider a buyer who designs a product and owns the brand, yet outsources the production to a supplier. Both the buyer and the supplier incur quality-related costs, e.g., costs of customer goodwill and future market share loss by the buyer and warranty-related costs shared by both the buyer and the supplier whenever a nonconforming item is sold to a customer. Therefore, both parties have an incentive to invest in quality-improvement efforts. This paper explores the roles of different parties in a supply chain in quality improvement. We show that the buyer's involvement can have a significant impact on the profits of both parties and of the supply chain as a whole, and he cannot cede the responsibility of quality improvement to the supplier in many cases. We also investigate how quality-improvement decisions interact with operational decisions such as the buyer's order quantity and the supplier's production lot size.
Microwave directional coupler with CRLH cells on silicon substrate

A CPW (coplanar waveguide) coupled-line directional coupler based on CRLH (composite right/left-handed) cascaded structures is designed, analyzed and then fabricated. The technological realization of the coupler involves one mask process on silicon substrate. The measured frequency bandwidth is from 10.5 GHz up to 13.5 GHz fitting well the simulation results.