Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sexual functioning in depressed outpatients taking mirtazapine

Objectives—One‐third of patients with untreated depression have sexual difficulties manifested by decreased libido, erectile dysfunction or delayed ejaculation. This dysfunction may be exacerbated by stimulation of post‐synaptic serotonin 5HT2 receptors, a side‐effect of most widely‐used antidepressant medications, especially the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Mirtazapine is an atypical antidepressant with a2 adrenergic antagonist and serotonin 5‐HT2 and 5‐HT3 receptor‐blocking activity. In theory, it should not worsen and perhaps may improve sexual function. This pilot study investigated sexual functioning and antidepressant activity in depressed patients taking mirtazapine. Experimental design—Twenty‐five (F = 18, M = 7) sexually active adult outpatients with a DSM‐IV‐diagnosis of major depressive episode entered a 12‐week, flexible‐dosing, open‐label pilot study. The Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale (ASEX) assessed sexual functioning and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM‐D) assessed depressive symptoms on a bimonthly basis. Principal Observations—Desire, arousal/lubrication, and ease/satisfaction of orgasm improved (by 41%, 52%, and 48%, respectively) in the depressed women. In men, desire, arousal/erection, and ease/satisfaction of orgasm also improved (by 10%, 23% and 14%, respectively) but much more modestly. HAM‐D, Clinical Global Impression (CGI) Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS), and Symptom Checklist‐90 (SCL‐90) scores improved in both groups. There was a 50% dropout rate among women before six weeks of treatment. However, the ASEX and HAM‐D scores of the groups terminating before and after six weeks of treatment showed similar rates of improvement. Conclusions—Mirtazapine has a beneficial effect on sexual functioning in both depressed women and men. Longer‐term double‐blind research assessing sexual function during the administration of mirtazapine as well as other antidepressants is recommended. Depression and Anxiety 9:175–179, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
What Influences Positive Return to Work Expectation?: Examining Associated Factors in a Population-Based Cohort of Whiplash-Associated Disorders

Study Design. Cross-sectional study of population-based traffic cohort. Objective. To determine which factors are associated with both positive and negative expectations for returning to work after vehicle collision resulting in neck pain. Summary of Background Data. Positive expectations predict better outcomes for a variety of health conditions, including return to work from soft-tissue injury (including whiplash-associated disorders [WADs]). However, we know little about those with negative expectations who may be at risk for poor WAD outcomes. Methods. We assessed expectations for return to work in a population-based cohort of 2335 individuals with traffic-related WAD. We used logistic regression analysis to model factors associated with expecting to return to work (compared with not expecting to return to work or being unsure). Results. Depressive symptomatology, lower education, lower income, male sex, and greater initial pain (greater percentage of body in pain and greater intensity of neck pain) were associated with lower return-to-work expectation. Conclusion. A number of demographic, socioeconomic, and injury-related factors were associated with expectations for return to work in WAD. Two of the strongest associated factors were depressive symptomatology and postcollision initial neck pain intensity. These results support using a biopsychosocial approach to evaluate expectancies and their influence on important health outcomes.
Purification of avian influenza virus (H9N2) from allantoic fluidby size-exclusion chromatography

Avian influenza viruses represent a rising threat of pandemic influenza. Allantoic fluid including influenza virus H9N2 was run on downstream processing to purify the virus. To do this, allantoic fluid was clarified and concentrated. It was applied to size exclusion chromatography. Different parameters such as ovalbumin, protein content, and hemagglutinin activity were determined to confirm the purity. The results may suggest that this method is quite efficient for achieving a purified H9N2 influenza virus and further reveal that size-exclusion chromatography is a practical method for purifying avian influenza viruses. In conclusion, this procedure can be used in vaccine production and antiserum preparation as an alternative to traditional methods and also can be considered in the purifying of other viruses when there is no facility of ultracentrifuge or zonal centrifuge.
A 72-mW CMOS 802.11a direct conversion front-end with 3.5-dB NF and 200-kHz 1/f noise corner

A direct conversion 802.11a receiver front-end including a synthesizer with quadrature VCO has been integrated in a 0.13-/spl mu/m CMOS process. The chip has an active area of 1.8 mm/sup 2/ with the entire RF portion operated from 1.2 V and the low frequency portion operated from 2.5 V. Its key features are a current driven passive mixer with a low impedance load that achieves a low 1/f noise corner and an high I-Q accuracy quadrature VCO. Measured noise figure is 3.5 dB with an 1/f noise corner of 200 kHz, and an IIP3 of -2 dBm. The synthesizer DSB phase noise integrated over a 10 MHz band is less than -36 dBc while its I-Q phase unbalance is below 1 degree.
Integration of Planarized Internally-Shunted Submicron NbN Junctions

NbN-TaN-Nb(Ti)N non-hysteretic SNS Josephson junctions with TaXN barriers tuned through nitrogen content at metal-insulator transition have been produced in a reliable way with characteristic voltage RNIC above 1.5 mV at 9 K. Barriers are typically 7-10 nm thick and Jc in the range 5 to 25 kA/cm-2 making feasible LSI RSFQ ADC circuit integration by using the lithographic tools of the Leti C-MOS platform. Junction tri-layers, NbTiN ground-plane and wiring levels have been reactively sputtered and optimized at 300°C in a reproducible way on 8-inch oxidized silicon wafers. A deep UV stepper combined with SF6 gas mixtures RIE has been used to achieve low spread lithography in junction diameters of 716 nm (3σ ~ 40 nm), of 465 nm (3σ ~ 84 nm) across the 8-inch. A well controlled CMP planarization process has been developed on thick PE-CVD silica layers deposited on each superconducting nitride layer. On-line FIB-SEM observations and electrical characterizations associated to the development of a technology test vehicle demonstrate the feasibility of the complete process. The reliable production of nitrides LSI RSFQ circuits such as ADCs and integrated imagers operating in a relaxed cryogenic environment in the 6-10 K temperature range is foreseen to open new telecoms and medical applications. Moreover, a new MgO-AlN-MgO layered insulating barrier junction is shown to operate above 10 K and will be developed for analog front-end circuit parts.
How nutrition and exercise maintain the human musculoskeletal mass

In this article we review some of our recent work concerning the effects of nutrition and exercise on protein synthesis and signal transduction in human musculoskeletal tissues. A great deal of new information is being generated by the application of recently refined techniques for measuring protein turnover. The field remains one that is largely descriptive but increasingly we are beginning to discern mechanisms underlying lean tissue maintenance, growth and wasting especially as multidisciplinary tools are applied to its study. Several types of exercise and nutrition are potent stimuli for protein synthesis in skeletal muscle. By contrast, collagen in the extracellular matrix in muscle and tendon appears to be mechanically but not nutritionally sensitive. The rates of collagen turnover in a variety of tissues are sufficiently high to account for a sizeable proportion of whole body protein turnover. One of the most recent surprises is the high turnover rate of human bone collagen and its anabolic response to feeding. As our understanding of the normal physiology of these processes advances, we become better able to construct testable hypotheses concerning the effects of ageing and disease on the musculoskeletal mass. Current evidence suggests that one of the major problems with loss of muscle during ageing is an inability of the tissue to respond adequately to increased availability of nutrients.
Chronic Cholangitis Caused by Bordetella hinzii in a Liver Transplant Recipient

ABSTRACT Bordetella hinzii was isolated in four biliary specimens collected over 6 months from a liver transplant recipient with cholangitis. The isolates were resistant to most β-lactam antibiotics and fluoroquinolones. Molecular typing was performed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. These data add cholangitis to the spectrum of disease manifestations caused by B. hinzii.
Penile necrosis due to priapism developed after circumcision in a patient with protein S deficiency.

INTRODUCTION Hypercoagulable state is a complex condition with an abnormal propensity for thrombosis. The consequences of it due to thrombosis of veins and arteries are the most common cause of sickness. AIM The present study is a report of a case describing penis necrosis after circumcision and evaluation of hypercoagulable state as a reason of it. METHODS l Nine-year-old boy referred from another hospital with the sequelae of the penile ischemia with discoloration of the penis after traditional circumcision. RESULTS The ischemic event developed 3 weeks after circumcision. Priapism that was treated with needed glandulocavernous shunt initially developed following circumcision. All values of routine blood count and blood biochemical analysis were within normal limits. Further, hematologic studies revealed that there might be a hypercoagulable state as a result of lower protein S level. CONCLUSION Circumcision is a common procedure frequently performed in many communities around the world. Although it is seen as an easy procedure and performed even by unauthorized medical stuff, it is not complication-free. Severe penile necrosis after circumcision should be treated on an individual basis, necessitating different techniques. Hypercoagulable state should be concerned and evaluated in such a complication. In short, circumcision has to be done by specialists who can handle such serious complications.
A real-time high-precision interpolation algorithm for general-typed parametric curves in CNC machine tools

The machining accuracy of computer numerical control (CNC) machine tools largely depends on the interpolation algorithms implemented. In this paper, a real-time high-precision interpolation algorithm for a general-typed parametric curve is proposed. As with other time-partition interpolation algorithms, the linear motion trajectory (employed to approximate the real trajectory) in a sampling cycle is determined from the current position of the tool to another point (target point) on the target trajectory. To determine the target point in a sampling cycle, a neighbourhood interval containing the point is first determined, the target point is then iteratively approached by means of the bi-section or secant method for equation resolutions. Simulation results show that the order of magnitude of the maximum feedrate relative errors (the relative deviation of the computed feedrate from the desired one) is −8 or less, while the order of magnitude of the maximum chord errors in the unit of meter is −6 or less. The performance indices can be further improved with more computation iteration in each sampling cycle. The algorithm is general, and applicable to any smooth curve that can be formulated in parametric equations.
Nonlinear backstepping design of IPMSM controller

This paper presents a speed controller for an interior permanent magnet synchronous motor (IPMSM) based on adaptive backstepping method. By using the nonlinear model of IPMSM and backstepping method, the Lyapunov functions are constructed in order to enable the system to have uniformly asymptotic stability and unperturbed controller is designed successfully by adopting the gradual correcting algorithm. The simulation is completed by using MATLAB software. The simulation results show that the designed feedback controller make the close-loop system stable and has better tracking performance.
Strategic Queueing Behavior and Its Impact on System Performance in Service Systems with the Congestion-Based Staffing Policy

We study strategic customer behavior in a multiserver stochastic service system with a congestion-based staffing CBS policy. With the CBS policy, the number of working servers is dynamically adjusted according to the queue length. Besides lining up for free service, customers have the option of paying a fee and getting faster service. Customers' equilibrium behavior is studied under two information scenarios: In the no information scenario, customers only know the long-term statistics, such as the expected waiting time; in the partial information scenario, customers observe the number of working servers and understand the staffing policy upon their arrival. Unlike a queueing system with a constant staffing level, a positive externality is associated with customers' joining the CBS system. Both avoid-the-crowd and follow-the-crowd customer behaviors are possible, and multiple equilibria could exist. We develop the stationary performance measures of the system by considering the customers' strategic behavior. Numerical analysis shows that information can either hurt or improve the performance of the system, depending on the staffing and pricing policy. Another important conclusion is that the system performance is more robust to setting a relatively high than a relatively low price.
On the quality of service of failure detectors

Studies the quality of service (QoS) of failure detectors. By QoS, we mean a specification that quantifies (a) how fast the failure detector detects actual failures, and (b) how well it avoids false detections. We first propose a set of QoS metrics to specify failure detectors for systems with probabilistic behaviors, i.e. for systems where message delays and message losses follow some probability distributions. We then give a new failure detector algorithm and analyze its QoS in terms of the proposed metrics. We show that, among a large class of failure detectors, the new algorithm is optimal with respect to some of these QoS metrics. Given a set of failure detector QoS requirements, we show how to compute the parameters of our algorithm so that it satisfies these requirements, and we show how this can be done even if the probabilistic behavior of the system is not known. Finally, we briefly explain how to make our failure detector adaptive, so that it automatically reconfigures itself when there is a change in the probabilistic behavior of the network.
A self-adaptive space phasor based hysteresis current controller with switching of adjacent inverter voltage vectors for three-level voltage source inverter fed induction motor drive

A current error space phasor based hysteresis controller is proposed for three-level voltage source inverter fed induction motor drive. Only the adjacent inverter voltage vectors forming a triangular sector, in which tip of the machine voltage vector lies, are switched to keep the current error space phasor within the hexagonal boundary. Calculation of the machine voltage vector is not needed and information of the same is derived from current error space phasor direction. The controller is self-adaptive and provides smooth transition between voltage levels, including operation in over modulation region. Inherent advantages of current hysteresis controller are retained. The proposed controller is implemented on a 1.5 kW open-end winding induction motor drive. Usage of the proposed controller can be extended for further levels of multi-level inverters for high performance drives
MULTILEVEL LINEAR REGRESSION ANALYSIS OF FACTORS INFLUENCING BODY MASS INDEX AMONG BANGLADESHI MARRIED NON-PREGNANT WOMEN

Summary The aim of this study was to investigate the socioeconomic and demographic factors influencing the body mass index (BMI) of non-pregnant married Bangladeshi women of reproductive age. Secondary (Hierarchy) data from the 2011 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey, collected using two-stage stratified cluster sampling, were used. Two-level linear regression analysis was performed to remove the cluster effect of the variables. The mean BMI of married non-pregnant Bangladeshi women was 21.60±3.86 kg/m2, and the prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity was 22.8%, 14.9% and 3.2%, respectively. After removing the cluster effect, age and age at first marriage were found to be positively (p<0.01) related with BMI. Number of children was negatively related with women’s BMI. Lower BMI was especially found among women from rural areas and poor families, with an uneducated husband, with no television at home and who were currently breast-feeding. Age, total children ever born, age at first marriage, type of residence, education level, level of husband’s education, wealth index, having a television at home and practising breast-feeding were found to be important predictors for the BMI of married Bangladeshi non-pregnant women of reproductive age. This information could be used to identify sections of the Bangladeshi population that require special attention, and to develop more effective strategies to resolve the problem of malnutrition.
Structure-Based Functional Analyses of Domains II and III of Pseudorabies Virus Glycoprotein H

ABSTRACT Enveloped viruses utilize membrane fusion for entry into, and release from, host cells. For entry, members of the Herpesviridae require at least three envelope glycoproteins: the homotrimeric gB and a heterodimer of gH and gL. The crystal structures of three gH homologues, including pseudorabies virus (PrV) gH, revealed four conserved domains. Domain II contains a planar β-sheet (“fence”) and a syntaxin-like bundle of three α-helices (SLB), similar to those found in eukaryotic fusion proteins, potentially executing an important role in gH function. To test this hypothesis, we introduced targeted mutations into the PrV gH gene, which either disrupt the helices of the SLB by introduction of proline residues or covalently join them by artificial intramolecular disulfide bonds between themselves, to the adjacent fence region, or to domain III. Disruption of either of the three α-helices of the SLB (A250P, V275P, V298P) severely affected gH function in in vitro fusion assays and replication of corresponding PrV mutants. Considerable defects in fusion activity of gH, as well as in penetration kinetics and cell-to-cell spread of PrV mutants, were also observed after disulfide linkage of two α-helices within the SLB (A284C-S291C) or between SLB and domain III (H251C-L432C), as well as by insertions of additional cysteine pairs linking fence, SLB, and domain III. In vitro fusion activity of mutated gH could be partly restored by reduction of the artificial disulfide bonds. Our results indicate that the structure and flexibility of the SLB are relevant for the function of PrV gH in membrane fusion. IMPORTANCE Mutational analysis based on crystal structures of proteins is a powerful tool to understand protein function. Here, we continued our study of pseudorabies virus gH, a part of the core fusion machinery of herpesviruses. We previously showed that the “flap” region in domain IV of PrV gH is important for its function. We now demonstrate that mutations within domain II that interfere with integrity or flexibility of a syntaxin-like three-helix bundle also significantly impair gH function during fusion. These studies provide important insights into the structural requirements of gH for function in fusion.
Unequally spaced arrays synthesis using Self-adaptive Differential Evolution

In this paper we present uniformly excited unequally spaced linear-array synthesis with sidelobe suppression. We apply different evolutionary algorithms like Genetic Algorithms (GA), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Differential Evolution (DE) variants to position-only and position-phase synthesis. The DE algorithms include the common DE/rand/1/bin and the Self-adaptive strategies. The results on different problems show that the DE algorithms outperform the other algorithms in terms of finding best optima. The Self-adaptive DE produces similar or better results than the classical DE algorithm. The obtained results indicate the advantages of this approach.
Prospective study of fetal DNA in serum and disease activity during pregnancy in women with inflammatory arthritis.

OBJECTIVE Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) usually improves during pregnancy and recurs postpartum. Fetal cells and cell-free DNA reach the maternal circulation during normal pregnancy. The present study investigated dynamic changes in levels of fetal DNA in serum from women with RA and inflammatory arthritis during and after pregnancy to test the hypothesis that the levels of circulating fetal DNA correlate with arthritis improvement. METHODS Twenty-five pregnant patients were prospectively studied. A real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction panel targeting unshared, paternally transmitted HLA sequences, a Y chromosome-specific sequence, or an insertion sequence within the glutathione S-transferase M1 gene was used to measure cell-free fetal DNA. Results were expressed as fetal genomic equivalents per milliliter (gE/ml) of maternal serum. Physical examinations were conducted during and after pregnancy. RESULTS Levels of fetal DNA in women with improvement in or remission of arthritis were higher than those in women with active disease, especially in the third trimester. Overall, an inverse relationship between serum fetal DNA levels and disease activity was observed (P < 0.001). Serum fetal DNA increased with advancing gestation, reaching median levels of 24 gE/ml (range 0-334), 61 gE/ml (range 0-689), and 199 gE/ml (range 0-2,576) in the first, second, and third trimesters, respectively, with fetal DNA clearance observed postpartum. Arthritis improvement was initially noted in the first trimester for most patients, increased further or was sustained with advancing gestation, and was active postpartum. CONCLUSION Changes in serum fetal DNA levels correlated with arthritis improvement during pregnancy and recurrence postpartum. Immunologic mechanisms by which pregnancy might modulate RA activity are described.
Generalized Kernel Discriminant Analysis using Weighting Function with Applications to Feature Extraction

Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) is a classical approach for dimensionality reduction. However, LDA has shortcomings in that one of the scatter matrices is required to be nonsingular and the nonlinearly clustered structure is not easily captured, moreover, the adverse effects due to outlier classes also affect the performance of LDA. In order to solve these problems, in this paper, several nonlinear generalizations of LDA using weighting function are presented and called them weighted generalized KDA algorithms. Experiments on three real-world data sets are performed to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms and the effect of weights on kernel functions. The results show that the effect of weighted schemes on kernel functions is very significantly.