Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Longitudinal relationship among growth, nutritional status, and pulmonary function in children with cystic fibrosis: analysis of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation National CF Patient Registry.

OBJECTIVE To determine prospectively the relationship among growth, nutritional status, and pulmonary function over a 4-year period in a large cohort of children with cystic fibrosis (CF). STUDY DESIGN CF Foundation National CF Patient Registry data collected from 1991 to 1995 for 968 children (507 male) aged 5 to 8 years with pancreatic insufficiency and forced expiratory volume in 1 second within 60% to 140% of predicted values (FEV(1)%) were analyzed longitudinally. Variables hypothesized to affect FEV(1)% included age, sex, z scores for height, weight, percent of height-appropriate body weight, and annual number of days hospitalized. RESULTS The significant decline in FEV(1)% was curvilinear and dependent on baseline FEV(1)%; children with initial FEV(1)% > or = 90 declined 2.6 U/y more than those with initial FEV(1)% <90. Boys gained but girls declined in z scores for height. Girls decreased in z scores for weight at a greater rate than boys. The z scores for weight and percent of height-appropriate body weight were significantly associated with longitudinal changes in FEV(1)%, after adjustment was done for hospitalizations. CONCLUSIONS Growth, nutritional status, and pulmonary function are not stable in prepubertal children with CF and pancreatic insufficiency. Important sex-related differences in growth occur before puberty. Growth and nutritional status are associated with changes in FEV(1)%, suggesting that nutritional intervention may slow the decline in pulmonary function in children with CF.
Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in Hypertension — General and Local Trends in Diagnosis and Therapy

LVH is a frequent echocardiographic finding in the general population but it should be regarded as an ominous predictor of future cardiovascular events rather than an innocent compensatory phenomenon. Echocardiography is the most sensitive and specific method for its detection but the ECG should not be regarded as superfluous since additional prognostic information and information about coexisting myocardial damage is present. The decreasing prevalence of LVH suggests that LVH can be prevented by control of hypertension and prevention of weight gain. Once LVH is present then antihypertensive drugs, weight reduction or salt restriction may promote its reversal, with early studies demonstrating associated improvement in mortality and morbidity.
Magnetization Transfer Imaging in Multiple Sclerosis

Magnetization transfer (MT) is a relatively new way of generating contrast in magnetic resonance (MR) images that is sensitive to the density of the macromolecules found throughout tissue structures such as membranes, myelin, and organelles. MT imaging (MTI) can provide a quantitative measure of macromolecular density, and therefore of tissue damage, and has been applied in the central nervous system in multiple sclerosis (MS) and other diseases. This article introduces the contrast mechanisms behind MTI and gives some practical guidance about implementing MTI and about quantitative analysis of the MT scans. An overview of MT measurements made in animal studies, in postmortem tissue samples, and in other demyelinating diseases attempts to rationalize the pathological basis of changes in MT contrast in MS. The application of MTI to MS is reviewed, with emphasis on the contribution that MTI has made to the current understanding of the MS disease process, both its natural history and the response to treatment. The pathological basis of abnormal MT contrast is still open to debate, with many conflicting reports; indeed, it is unlikely that a simple measure of MT effect will reveal the details of pathology that is a combination of inflammation, demyelination, remyelination, and axonal loss. There is no doubt, however, that MT measurements have contributed to the current understanding of both disease progression and the response to treatment and will prove to be a valuable tool in the future, particularly if more refined techniques can be applied practically in multicenter studies.
A scattering model for nano-textured interfaces and its application in opto-electrical simulations of thin-film silicon solar cells

We present a scattering model based on the scalar scattering theory that allows estimating far field scattering properties in both transmission and reflection for nano-textured interfaces. We first discuss the theoretical formulation of the scattering model and validate it for nano-textures with different morphologies. Second, we combine the scattering model with the opto-electric asa simulation software and evaluate this combination by simulating and measuring the external parameters and the external quantum efficiency of solar cells with different interface morphologies. This validation shows that the scattering model is able to predict the influence of nano-textured interfaces on the solar cell performance. The scattering model presented in this manuscript can support designing nano-textured interfaces with optimized morphologies.
Uncoordinated regulation of mRNA expression of the three isoforms of transforming growth factor‐β in the mouse skin carcinogenesis model

The mRNA expression and autoregulation of expression of the three isoforms of transforming growth factor‐β (TGFβ) were examined in the mouse skin carcinogenesis model by northern analyses. We found that TGFβ3 mRNA levels followed a pattern similar to those of TGFβ1 during carcinogenesis: the levels were somewhat low in normal skin but became highly overexpressed in late‐stage papillomas and squamous cell carcinomas (15‐ to 20‐fold higher than in normal skin). On the other hand, the TGFβ2 mRNA levels remained relatively low in all benign and malignant tumors, even though the levels were higher than the nearly undetectable levels in normal skin. In a squamous cell carcinoma cell line (CH72), stable transfection and expression of a mutated simian TGFβ1 cDNA producing bioactive TGFβ1 significantly downregulated (mean greater than tenfold) TGFβ2 mRNA levels and modestly downregulated (about twofold) murine TGFβ1 expression but had no effect on TGFβ3 mRNA. In contrast, treatment of all CH72 clones with exogenous TGFβ1, TGFβ2, or TGFβ3 either had no effect or slightly downregulated TGFβ1 mRNA, upregulated TGFβ2 mRNA expression an average of twofold to threefold, and strongly upregulated (mean 13‐ to 27‐fold) TGFβ3 mRNA levels. TGFβ treatment of primary cultures of mouse skin keratinocytes upregulated all three TGFβ mRNA levels slightly to moderately (1.3‐ to 5‐fold). Thus, although TGFβ1 and TGFβ3 mRNA expressions were apparently coordinately upregulated during mouse skin carcinogenesis, the three TGFβ mRNAs were differentially regulated by stable transfection of active TGFβ1 versus exogenous TGFβ treatment in CH72 cells and by TGFβ treatments of normal keratinocytes versus carcinoma CH72 cells. Mol. Carcinog. 18:115–126, 1997. © 1977 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Restricted Markov Tree Model for Inference and Generation in Social Choice with Incomplete Preferences

We introduce a probabilistic graphical model of ranked preferences for social choice based on a restricted version of a kth-order Markov tree. The system is similar to Plackett's model, and is based on the intuition that, in some domains, an agent's next most preferred alternative is highly predictable given a few of the immediately preceding alternatives. We provide a bound on the data requirements to learn the parameters of such a model and show eventual consistency between most probable sequences of the model and both the centroid of a Mallows model and the induced ranking of a RUM, theoretically and on artificial data; this is followed by a full evaluation of the model as a social choice system, including comparisons with existing approaches on 6 real world datasets. An application of the system to a simulated multiagent coordination task is also demonstrated, in which the proposed system offers pronounced advantages over existing approaches.
The DC electric field analysis of valve side outlet device in converter transformer considering nonlinear and anisotropic characteristics

Valve side outlet device, which consists of bushing terminal and surrounding barrier system, is the insulation structure located in the connection part between valve winding lead and bushing. The insulation structure of outlet device is made up of oil and paperboard. It is the most complicated and the most important insulation part in converter transformer, and it not only withstands AC voltage, but also withstands DC voltage in operation stage. The electric field distribution is determined by the resistivity of each material under DC steady state voltage. Resistivity of oil and pressboard are affected by the electric field strength applied to them, so the resistivity of both insulation materials is nonlinear. Moreover, the resistivity of pressboard is anisotropic. There is a great difference value between the direction of through and along the paper layer. In this paper, the nonlinear and anisotropic DC electric field distribution of valve outlet device was calculated, and the result was compared with the results which not considering anisotropism or nonlinearity of material. The comparison revealed that anisotropic and nonlinear characteristics must be taken into account in the research and design process.
Altered frontal‐parietal functioning during verbal working memory in children and adolescents with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure

This study evaluated the neural basis of verbal working memory (WM) function in a group of 20 children and adolescents with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) and 20 typically developing comparison participants using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Both groups showed prominent activation in the frontal‐parietal‐cerebellar network known to be important for verbal WM. Despite equivalent behavioral performance between groups, alcohol‐exposed individuals showed increased activation relative to typically developing individuals in left dorsal frontal and left inferior parietal cortices, and bilateral posterior temporal regions during verbal WM. These effects remained even when group differences on IQ were statistically controlled. This pattern of increased activation coupled with equivalent behavioral performance between groups suggests that individuals with FASD recruit a more extensive network of brain regions during verbal WM relative to typically developing individuals. These findings may suggest that frontal‐parietal processing during verbal WM is less efficient in alcohol‐exposed individuals. Hum Brain Mapp 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Distance graphs with large chromatic number and arbitrary girth

In this article we consider a problem related to two famous combinatorial topics. One of them concerns the chromatic number of the space. The other deals with graphs having big girth (the length of the shortest cycle) and large chromatic number. Namely, we prove that for any $l\in \mathbb{N}$ there exists a sequence of distance graphs in $\mathbb{R}^n$ with girth at least $l$ and the chromatic number equal to $(c+\bar{o}(1))^n$ with $c>1$.
The impact of the signaling between macrocell base station and femtocell access point on the average transmission power

The femtocell network is a highly promising solution to increase the capacity of the system by getting the transmitter and receiver closer to each other, which provides higher-quality links. The spectrum allocated to femtocell networks mainly comes from the same licensed spectrum bands allocated to macrocells. In this paper, we study the minimum power allocation in downlink communication of open subscriber group (OSG) femtocell networks over fading environments. The constraints on the power at the downlink will belong to one of the following two types: the first one is the ergodic capacity constraint and the other one is the average bit error rate (BER) constraint in different digital modulation schemes. We also discuss the impact of signaling between macrocell base station and femto access point on the power allocation. Finally, our numerical results provide guidelines for the design of future femtocell networks.
Fat Necrosis in Autologous Abdomen-Based Breast Reconstruction: A Systematic Review

Background: Fat necrosis is a common and potentially exasperating complication of autologous breast reconstruction. The authors performed a systematic review of the English literature on autologous breast reconstruction to determine significant patient and surgical factors that are predictors of postoperative fat necrosis. Methods: A PubMed search using the terms “fat necrosis” and “breast reconstruction” was conducted. Articles were screened using predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data collected included patient characteristics, reconstructive techniques used, and the specific postoperative morbidity of interest. Patient cohorts were pooled, and the incidence of fat necrosis was calculated in the presence and absence of each risk factor. Chi-square analysis was applied, and p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Of 172 articles found, 70 met the inclusion criteria. The mean rate of fat necrosis was 11.3 percent. Deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flaps had the highest rate of fat necrosis (14.4 percent), followed by pedicled transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (12.3 percent), superficial inferior epigastric artery (8.1 percent), and free transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flaps (6.9 percent). Significant predictors of fat necrosis included obesity (p = 0.035), prereconstruction irradiation (p = 0.022), postreconstruction irradiation (p < 0.001), active smoking (p < 0.001), and abdominal scars (p = 0.05). Protective factors included supercharging (p < 0.001) and bilateral reconstruction (p = 0.01). Conclusions: Although there is little agreement in the literature regarding risk factors for fat necrosis, the authors were able to demonstrate several significant predictors by systematically analyzing 70 articles. Improved knowledge of the risk factors for fat necrosis can help surgeons provide improved preoperative counseling and take measures to minimize the risk of this complication.
The movement detection on the landslide surface by using Terrestrial Laser Scanning

The landslide is a natural process that continuously affecting many tropical countries, especially in the monsoon season. For the past 25 years, many rainfall-induced landslides have occurred throughout our country that strikes the citizens, especially near the hillside areas. Due to complicated regional geological structures and high rainfall intensities, landslide disasters happen frequently in Malaysia. The study of a landside site involves many aspects of data collection and data analysis activities. Typically, a variety of conventional and modern methods had been used to assess the displacement of landslide such as precise levelling, total station and Close Range Photogrammetry (CRP), Real Time Kinematic Global Positioning System (RTK-GPS), Reflectorless Total Station, Satellite Remote Sensing Imagery, and Airborne Laser Scanning (eg. Lidar. Each of these methods posed their own advantages and limitations. Since slopes evolve continuously as a result of natural processes, better and faster tools related to generating more realistic 3-D Digital Terrain Model (DTM) representation of the landslide sites are desired. Therefore, Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) has become as an ideal tool to serve such a purpose since it offers very high resolution of spatial sampling in 3D measurement and also without contact with the hazardous area make it as a helpful observation in landslide assessment. This study therefore is being conducted to assess the potential of terrestrial laser scanner to monitor the change of the landslide surface Ulu Behrang, Perak, Malaysia. High-density point cloud measurement, laser-scanner Leica ScanStation2 has been used to produce an accurate representation of these complex surfaces. The overall results are presented and discussed.
Perceived importance of prospective memory failures in adults with traumatic brain injury

Prospective memory (PM) is the ability to carry out an intended action in the future. Failures in PM are often observed as more frequent in individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) than controls. However, it remains unknown how individuals with TBI and their significant others perceive the importance of these PM problems. In the current study, four groups (38 TBI, 34 TBI-other, 34 controls, 31 control-other) were recruited to report on the perceived importance of PM failures using Part B of the Comprehensive Assessments of Prospective Memory (CAPM). Individuals with TBI perceived PM failures as being more important than did their significant others. Controls' ratings did not differ from their significant others. There were no statistically significant differences in rated importance for PM problems involving the basic activities of daily living (BADL) component and those involving the instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) component. Implications of the results are discussed in terms of the motivation of people with TBI.
Sex‐specific effects for body mass index in the new Norwegian twin panel

Sex‐specific effects for body mass index (BMI) were explored in a newly established, population‐based Norwegian twin panel. The sample includes 5,864 individuals, aged 18–25 years, who responded to a questionnaire containing items for zygosity classification, height, weight, health, health‐related behaviors, well‐being, and demographic information. Among the 2,570 intact pairs who returned the questionnaire there were 416 identical (MZ) male pairs, 387 fraternal (DZ) male pairs, 528 MZ female pairs, 443 DZ female pairs, and 796 unlike‐sexed pairs. Alternate sets of models testing for either sex‐specific genetic or environmental parameters were evaluated using structural equation analysis. Results from the most parsimonious model indicated that the genes contributing to variation in BMI are not identical for men and women; rather, some genetic effects were shared by the sexes and some were unique to each sex. Total variation in BMI could be explained by sex‐specific additive genetic effects, as well as genetic and non‐shared environmental effects common to men and women. Estimates of heritability were . 708 for men and . 789 for women, and the male‐female genetic correlation was 0.622. The series of models specifying sex‐specific shared environment also fit the data and suggests that shared environmental factors may be important for males but not for females. The findings raise questions concerning the relationship between sex‐specific effects for BMI and sex differences in health outcomes. ©1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Enhancement of Protein and Pigment Content in Two Chlorella Species Cultivated on Industrial Process Water

Chlorella pyrenoidosa and Chlorella vulgaris were cultivated in pre-gasified industrial process water with high concentration of ammonia representing effluent from a local biogas plant. The study aimed to investigate the effects of growth media and cultivation duration on the nutritional composition of biomass. Variations in proteins, lipid, fatty acid composition, amino acids, tocopherols, and pigments were studied. Both species grew well in industrial process water. The contents of proteins were affected significantly by the growth media and cultivation duration. Microalga Chlorella pyrenoidosa produced the highest concentrations of protein (65.2% ± 1.30% DW) while Chlorella vulgaris accumulated extremely high concentrations of lutein and chlorophylls (7.14 ± 0.66 mg/g DW and 32.4 ± 1.77 mg/g DW, respectively). Cultivation of Chlorella species in industrial process water is an environmentally friendly, sustainable bioremediation method with added value biomass production and resource valorization, since the resulting biomass also presented a good source of proteins, amino acids, and carotenoids for potential use in aquaculture feed industry.
Effects of Chilling on Episcia and Dieffenbachia

Leaves of chilled 'Moss-Agate' Episcia (Mart.) plants exhibited direct chilling injury (i.e., watersoaked browning of leaf blade interveinal areas within 24 h of exposure to low temperature) immediately following exposure in darkness to 10C for 0.5 or 1.0 h. Chlorophyll fluorescence peak : initial ratios and terminal : peak ratios of chilled Episcia were -reduced 20% and 25%, respectively, 3 h after chilling, a result suggesting possible photosystem II damage. Total leaf chlorophyll content was reduced by 17% within 3 h of chilling and CO 2 uptake also was reduced at this time. Leaves of chilled 'Rudolph Roehrs' Dieffenbachia maculata (Lodd.) (D. Roehrsii Hort.) plants expressed no visible injury within 24 h of 1.2C chilling in darkness for 36,48, or 60 h, but CO 2 uptake was reduced by 70% compared to the control 3 h after chilling. Visible injury began to appear 27 h after chilling, and the older leaf blades of all chilled plants exhibited a watersoaked appearance 75 h after chilling. Chlorophyll fluorescence peak: initial ratios of chilled Dieffenbachia did not vary, and terminal: peak ratios were not reduced until 147 h after chilling, when the injured tissue was extremely flaccid and translucent. Chilling reduced the chlorophyll content of Dieffenbachia by 10% in some plants 27 h after chilling and by 35%. in all plants 75 h after chilling. Transpiration rate was reduced and stomata) diffusive resistance increased 27 h after chilling.
Fiber-integrated diamond-based single photon source.

An alignment free, micrometer-scale single photon source consisting of a single quantum emitter on an optical fiber operating at room temperature is demonstrated. It easily integrates into fiber optic networks for quantum cryptography or quantum metrology applications. (1) Near-field coupling of a single nitrogen-vacancy center is achieved in a bottom-up approach by placing a preselected nanodiamond directly on the fiber facet. Its high photon collection efficiency is equivalent to a far-field collection via an objective with a numerical aperture of 0.82. Furthermore, simultaneous excitation and re-collection through the fiber is possible by introducing a fiber-connected single emitter sensor.