Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stroke Event Rates and the Optimal Antithrombotic Choice of Patients With Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation

AbstractThe risks of stroke or systemic embolism and major bleeding are considered similar between paroxysmal and sustained atrial fibrillation (AF), and warfarin has demonstrated superior efficacy to aspirin, irrespective of the AF type. However, with the advent of novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) and antiplatelet agents, the optimal antithrombotic prophylaxis for paroxysmal AF remains unclear.We searched Medline, Embase, CENTRAL, and China Biology Medicine up to October week 1, 2015. Randomized controlled trials of AF patients assigned to NOACs, warfarin, or antiplatelets, with reports of outcomes stratified by the AF type, were included. A fixed-effects model was used if no statistically significant heterogeneity was indicated; otherwise, a random-effects model was used.Six studies of 69,990 nonvalvular AF patients with ≥1 risk factor for stroke were included. Postantithrombotic treatment, paroxysmal AF patients showed lower risks of stroke (risk ratio [RR], 0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59–0.87), stroke or systemic embolism (RR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.63–0.86), and all-cause mortality (RR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.67–0.83), while the major bleeding risk was comparable (RR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.85–1.08). We were unable to detect the superiority of anticoagulation over antiplatelets for paroxysmal AF (RR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.43–1.23), while it was more effective than antiplatelets for sustained AF (RR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.33–0.54). NOACs showed superior efficacy over warfarin and trended to show reduced major bleeding irrespective of the AF type.The AF type is a predictor for thromboembolism, and might be helpful in stroke risk stratification model in combination with other risk factors. With the appearance of novel anticoagulant and antiplatelet agents, the best antithrombotic choice for paroxysmal AF needs further exploration.
SOCS-3 Regulates Alveolar Bone Loss in Experimental Periodontitis

The host immune response plays a key role in bacteria-induced alveolar bone resorption. Endogenous control of the magnitude and duration of inflammatory signaling is considered an important determinant of the extent of periodontal pathology. Suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) proteins are inhibitors of cytokine signaling pathways and may play a role in restraining periodontal inflammation. We hypothesized that SOCS-3 regulates alveolar bone loss in experimental periodontitis. Periodontal bone loss was induced in 16-wk-old myeloid-specific SOCS-3-knockout and wild-type (WT) C57Bl6-B.129 mice by oral inoculation 9 times with 109 colony-forming units of Porphyromonas gingivalis A7436 through an oral gavage model for periodontitis. Sham controls for both types of mice received vehicle without bacteria. The mice were euthanized 6 wk after the last oral inoculation. Increased bone loss was demonstrated in P. gingivalis–infected SOCS-3-knockout mice as compared with P. gingivalis–infected WT mice by direct morphologic measurements, micro–computed tomography analyses, and quantitative histology. Loss of SOCS-3 function resulted in an increased number of alveolar bone osteoclasts and increased RANKL expression after P. gingivalis infection. SOCS-3 deficiency in myeloid cells also promotes a higher P. gingivalis lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory response with higher secretion of IL-1β, IL-6, and KC (IL-8) by peritoneal macrophages as compared with WT controls. Our data implicate SOCS-3 as a critical negative regulator of alveolar bone loss in periodontitis.
Giant hamartoma of the breast treated by the mammaplasty approach

A 29-year-old Arabic woman without risk factors for breast cancer had experienced a slow and progressive enlargement of her left breast without other associated symptoms for approximately 7 years. Physical examination showed a considerable breast asymmetry, the left breast being bigger and the palpation of which showed a diffuse sensation of increased breast consistency due to a mobile mass situated in the middle of the breast. Mammography showed a well-circumscribed mass 14 cm in diameter, situated in the centre of the breast and occupying it entirely. The diagnosis of breast hamartoma was carried out by a core-needle biopsy. Surgical treatment, excision of the tumour and reconstruction of the breast were carried out using a mammaplasty approach with a Wise pattern (T-inverted) and two pedicles: lateral superior to displace the nipple areola complex (NAC) and an inferior one to increase the breast projection. A well-encapsulated tumour, with a white–grey capsule rich in capillary vessel, smooth, ovoid-shaped, measuring 15 cm and weighing 535 g was easily dissected from the normal breast tissue and removed; its pathological examination confirmed the previous diagnosis of hamartoma. Figure 1 shows the preoperative and postoperative appearances of the patient, lateral and cranial mammography and the aspect of the surgical specimen. Simple enucleation of hamartoma and secondary expansion of the breast tissue are often sufficient to restore breast symmetry but, sometimes, when the hamartoma has caused considerable enlargement of the breast for a long period of time, surgical treatment using a mammaplasty technique offers clear advantages.1,2 This surgical approach facilitates the removal of the tumour, the remodelling of the breast and the NAC relocation. Mammaplasty techniques are very useful tools for the surgical treatment of breast tumours, benign or malignant.3 We consider that these ought to be incorporated into the surgical training of the ‘breast surgeon’ responsible for the surgical treatment of the breast tumours. 216 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Direct In Situ Viability Assessment of Bacteria in Probiotic Dairy Products Using Viability Staining in Conjunction with Confocal Scanning Laser Microscopy

ABSTRACT The viability of the human probiotic strains Lactobacillus paracasei NFBC 338 and Bifidobacterium sp. strain UCC 35612 in reconstituted skim milk was assessed by confocal scanning laser microscopy using the LIVE/DEAD BacLight viability stain. The technique was rapid (<30 min) and clearly differentiated live from heat-killed bacteria. The microscopic enumeration of various proportions of viable to heat-killed bacteria was then compared with conventional plating on nutrient agar. Direct microscopic enumeration of bacteria indicated that plate counting led to an underestimation of bacterial numbers, which was most likely related to clumping. Similarly, LIVE/DEAD BacLight staining yielded bacterial counts that were higher than cell numbers obtained by plate counting (CFU) in milk and fermented milk. These results indicate the value of the microscopic approach for rapid viability testing of such probiotic products. In contrast, the numbers obtained by direct microscopic counting for Cheddar cheese and spray-dried probiotic milk powder were lower than those obtained by plate counting. These results highlight the limitations of LIVE/DEAD BacLight staining and the need to optimize the technique for different strain-product combinations. The minimum detection limit for in situ viability staining in conjunction with confocal scanning laser microscopy enumeration was ∼108 bacteria/ml (equivalent to ∼107 CFU/ml), based on Bifidobacterium sp. strain UCC 35612 counts in maximum-recovery diluent.
Translation and Psychometric Evaluation of a Korean Version of the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis-Specific Quality of Life – Revised

Abstract Objective: The objective was to translate the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis-Specific Quality of Life - Revised instrument (ALSSQOL-R) into Korean and to examine the psychometric properties of the Korean amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) population. Methods: The translation involved forward and backward translation. The psychometric properties of the Korean version of the ALSSQOL-R (K-ALSSQOL-R) were tested by patients in an ALS multidisciplinary clinic in Korea (n = 120). The internal consistency, test-retest reliability, content validity, criterion-related validity, and construct validity were evaluated. Results: With regard to the reliability estimate, the internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.92) and the test–retest reliability (ICC = 0.89) were good. With regard to the validity estimate, the K-ALSSQOL-R demonstrated concurrent validity with the McGill Quality of Life Single-Item Scale (r = 0.62) and the first question of the World Health Organisation QOL Instrument-Brief (WHOQOL-BREF) (r = 0.64). The convergent validity and discriminant validity were acceptable. The confirmatory factor analysis supported a six-factor model. Conclusion: The K-ALSSOQL-R can be used as a reliable and valid measure of QOL among Korean ALS patients.
Dual Catalytic Activity of a Cytochrome P450 Controls Bifurcation at a Metabolic Branch Point of Alkaloid Biosynthesis in Rauwolfia serpentina

Abstract Plants create tremendous chemical diversity from a single biosynthetic intermediate. In plant‐derived ajmalan alkaloid pathways, the biosynthetic intermediate vomilenine can be transformed into the anti‐arrhythmic compound ajmaline, or alternatively, can isomerize to form perakine, an alkaloid with a structurally distinct scaffold. Here we report the discovery and characterization of vinorine hydroxylase, a cytochrome P450 enzyme that hydroxylates vinorine to form vomilenine, which was found to exist as a mixture of rapidly interconverting epimers. Surprisingly, this cytochrome P450 also catalyzes the non‐oxidative isomerization of the ajmaline precursor vomilenine to perakine. This unusual dual catalytic activity of vinorine hydroxylase thereby provides a control mechanism for the bifurcation of these alkaloid pathway branches. This discovery highlights the unusual catalytic functionality that has evolved in plant pathways.
Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use and Its Association with Emotional Status and Quality of Life in Patients with a Solid Tumor: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract Objectives: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has been used widely in various populations for various purposes, including emotional support and improvement of quality of life (QOL). However, CAM use and purposes for using CAM are less clear among Korean patients with a solid tumor. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and type of CAM use, and the association between CAM use and anxiety, depression, and QOL in patients with a solid tumor. Design: A cross-sectional survey. Setting: A cancer center in Korea. Subjects: Two hundred and sixteen patients diagnosed with a solid tumor. Outcome measures: Standard questionnaires on CAM use, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30. Results: One hundred thirty one patients (60.6%) reported using CAM. CAM users, compared with non-CAM users, were significantly younger (57.8 vs. 60.9 years, p = 0.05), had higher level of education (p = 0.008), had higher income (p = 0.008), were less likely to seek physician consultation on CAM use (p = 0.002), and had a more advanced stage of tumor (p = 0.003) with more distant metastasis (p = 0.001). The most commonly used CAM was herbal medicine (n = 89, 67.9%). CAM users had significantly lower anxiety (t = 5.21, p < 0.001) and depression (t = 4.90, p < 0.001) than non-CAM users. When the effects of CAM use were tested on anxiety, depression, and QOL, controlling for covariates, CAM use was significantly associated with 8.7% and 8.8% of variance in decreasing anxiety and depression, but there was no unique association of CAM use with variance in QOL. Conclusions: CAM use is prevalent and younger age, higher education levels, higher income, less physician consultation, and higher cancer stage are significant correlates to CAM use. Controlling for covariates (e.g., gender, BMI), CAM use is significantly associated with lower anxiety and depression compared with those of non-CAM users.
Medical Image Archiving, Processing, Analysis and Communication System for Teleradiology

The design and implementation of Medical Image Archiving, Processing, Analysis and Communication System for Teleradiology which DICOM server was developed using software such as Borland Delphi 6.0, PHP and MySQL for image archive, image compression, image processing, image analysis and image transmission. The system provides the following facilities: (1) DICOM-format image archive. (2) Medical Image Compression. (3) DICOM viewer and Image processing, and (4) Image analysis. The results shown that (1) our system can also convert the image data both single frame and multiframes in normal or automatic DICOM process into the standard DICOM 3.0 format without altering the image data. (2) The resulting images are then compressed with two different techniques-JPEG and JPEG2000. The significant advantage of JPEG2000 over normal JPEG is that the error from JPEG2000 compression is smaller than the error from JPEG. Nevertheless, both methods share a similar mishap; when the compression ratio increases, they both generate more error than the processes on lower compression ratio. (3) our system can open single frame and multiframes such as DICOM, INTERFILE, BITMAP, JPEG and JPEG2000 each of which can exhibit information in. dcm file format with no distortion and image processing which has also the capabilities to zoom in/out and contrast/color map. And, (4) Image analysis sets ROI semi-automatically on region of expected disease based on geometric active contour model from edge of variance image and Canny edge detection. Thence, our system can calculate of Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR), Effective Renal Plasma Flow (ERPF), and plot of the Time Activity Curve or Renogram The system has been developed and provided medical image services over long distance which showed the usefulness of our approach.
Multiple model self-tuning control for a class of nonlinear systems

This study develops a novel nonlinear multiple model self-tuning control method for a class of nonlinear discrete-time systems. An increment system model and a modified robust adaptive law are proposed to expand the application range, thus eliminating the assumption that either the nonlinear term of the nonlinear system or its differential term is global-bounded. The nonlinear self-tuning control method can address the situation wherein the nonlinear system is not subject to a globally uniformly asymptotically stable zero dynamics by incorporating the pole-placement scheme. A novel, nonlinear control structure based on this scheme is presented to improve control precision. Stability and convergence can be confirmed when the proposed multiple model self-tuning control method is applied. Furthermore, simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
How the contrast gain control modifies the frequency responses of cat retinal ganglion cells.

1. A model is proposed for the effect of contrast on the first‐order frequency responses of cat retinal ganglion cells. The model consists of several cascaded low pass filters ('leaky integrators') followed by a single stage of negative feed‐back. 2. Values of time constants and gain of the components in this model were chosen to approximate (with least‐squared deviation) experimentally measured first‐order frequency responses. In the experiments used for the analysis, the visual stimulus was a sine grating modulated by a sum of sinusoids. 3. For both X cells and Y cells, the over‐all gain and the time constants of the cascade of low pass filters were insensitive to contrast. 4. In all cells, the gain‐bandwidth product of the negative feed‐back loop was markedly increased with increasing contrast. 5. The effect of stimulation in the periphery of the receptive fields on the first‐order frequency response to a centrally placed spot was identical to the effect of increasing contrast in the grating experiments. In all cases, the gain‐bandwidth product of the negative feed‐back loop was the only model parameter affected by peripheral stimulation. 6. A similar effect of non‐linear summation was investigated for two bars located in the receptive field periphery. 7. This analysis of the contrast gain control mechanism is compared with other models of retinal function.
A Survey of Automatic Extraction of Personal Name Alias from the Web

The survey paper explains about the extraction and retrieval of personal name alias using various techniques from the web with the help of web crawls. The existing methods help to improve the depth of knowledge relevant to alias extraction and retrieval process. It also describes about how the aliases are ranked, then page counts on the web, word co-occurrence using anchor text and techniques like term frequency (tf), inverse document frequency (idf), log likelihood ratio. Chi-squared tests etc., are used for measuring the association and similarities between words. The existing method consists of pattern extraction algorithm or string matching algorithm for extracting patterns from snippets instead of using these algorithms. The survey helps to discover a proposed method as graph mining to extract personal name aliases from the web.
Reconstructing the Complete 3D Shape of Faces from Partial Information (Rekonstruktion der dreidimensionalen Form von Gesichtern aus partieller Information)

Based on the assumption that a class of objects or data can be represented as a vector space spanned by a set of examples, we present a general method to estimate vector components of a novel vector, given only a subset of its dimensions. We apply this method to recover 3D shape of human faces from 2D image positions of a small number of feature points. The application demonstrates two aspects of the estimation of novel vector components: (1) From 2D image positions, we estimate 3D coordinates, and (2) from a small set of points, we obtain vertex positions of a high-resolution surface mesh. We provide an evaluation of the technique on laser scans of faces, and present an example of 3D shape reconstruction from a photograph. Our technique involves a tradeoff between reconstruction of the given measurements, and plausibility of the result. This is achieved in a Bayesian approach, and with a statistical analysis of the examples.
Design of a switched control with pole location constraints for a UPS system

This paper addresses the design of a switched controller that guarantees a performance based on pole location specifications for an uninterruptible power supply system with a typical load. Sufficient conditions in terms of linear matrix inequalities are presented in order to determine a switched state feedback control law that assures: i) the pole location inside a circle for each linear mode of operation of the system, improving the transitory response whenever the switchings allow the accommodation of the system dynamics; ii) the overall stability of the closed-loop system for any arbitrary switching sequences. Structural constraints such as decentralization are also addressed and simulation results show that a switched control strategy permits to impose more stringent design specifications for the closed-loop uninterruptible power supply system, providing dynamical performances that could not be achieved by means of a fixed feedback gain.
Comparative analysis of various feature descriptors for efficient ATM surveillance framework

Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) is a beneficial service of a bank to carry out banking transactions in public space. The ATM allows the access to the bank account for cash withdrawal, check balance or transfer money. However, besides facilitating the banking needs, the ATM's lack in providing the security against the several ATM fraud like money snatching and attacks on customers. ATM has gain importance worldwide to enhance security and protection of individual and infrastructure. Feature descriptors play an important role in vision based surveillance in order to extract relevant features from video sequence for activity classification. In this paper we present comparative analysis of different descriptors like Gradient based descriptor i.e. HOG(Histogram of Oriented Gradients) and shape based descriptors like Hu Moments and Zernike Moments for effective abnormal activity detection in a single view point scenario like ATM premises.
Wind energy delivery issues [transmission planning and competitive electricity market operation]

Improving economics, environmental benefits, supportive state policies, and the rising costs of competing fuels are all contributing factors towards greater market regulatory interest in wind energy. However, wind energy poses several operational and planning challenges, some of which are beginning to be addressed. While the challenges are significant, they are not insurmountable.
Eye changes in autoimmune NZB and NZB x NZW mice. Comparison with Sjögren's syndrome.

All of the 7- to 11-month-old NZB × NZW F1mice investigated presented ocular changes which, in many respects, are analogous to those associated with Sjogren's syndrome in humans. The lacrimal and the salivary glands showed infiltrations and epimyoepithelial islands; however, lobular architecture was preserved. Superficial erosions of the conjunctival epithelium, thinning of the cornea, and formation of keratin granules in the epithelial cells without cornification were common. Lesions in the anterior chamber, lens, iris, and retina, and a decrease in lacrimation was observed. Many such changes which have not been described in Sjogren's syndrome may be associated with the immunopathological findings in these mice. Enucleation is not warranted in Sjogren's syndrome and therefore histological changes with time are not easily followed in humans.
Population structure of the mosquito Aedes aegypti (Stegomyia aegypti) in Pakistan

Eleven microsatellite markers were used to determine the genetic population structure and spread of Aedes aegypti (Stegomyia aegypti) (Diptera: Culicidae) in Pakistan using mosquitoes collected from 13 different cities. There is a single genetic cluster of Ae. aegypti in Pakistan with a pattern of isolation by distance within the population. The low level of isolation by distance suggests the long‐range passive dispersal of this mosquito, which may be facilitated by the tyre trade in Pakistan. A decrease in genetic diversity from south to north suggests a recent spread of this mosquito from Karachi. A strong negative correlation between genetic distance and the quality of road connections shows that populations in cities connected by better road networks are less differentiated, which suggests the human‐aided passive dispersal of Ae. aegypti in Pakistan. Dispersal on a large spatial scale may facilitate the strategy of introducing transgenic Ae. aegypti or intracellular bacteria such as Wolbachia to control the spread of dengue disease in Pakistan, but it also emphasizes the need for simple measures to control container breeding sites.
Introduction of IFCC reference method for calibration of HbA1c: implications for clinical care

HbA1c is recommended for monitoring glycaemic control and quantifying the risk of complications in patients with diabetes. National guidelines for treatment of patients with diabetes in UK specify that HbA1c measurements should be Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT)‐aligned i.e. comparable to the DCCT and UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS).