Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Breast Cancer Risk in Postmenopausal Women Using Estradiol–Progestogen Therapy

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the risk for breast cancer in Finnish women using postmenopausal estradiol (E2)–progestogen therapy. METHODS: All Finnish women over 50 years using E2–progestogen therapy for at least 6 months in 1994–2005 (N=221,551) were identified from the national medical reimbursement register and followed up for breast cancer incidence (n=6,211 cases) through the Finnish Cancer Registry to the end of 2005. The risk for breast cancer in E2–progestogen therapy users was compared with that in the general population. RESULTS: The standardized incidence ratio for all types of breast cancer was not elevated within the first 3 years of use, but it rose to 1.31 (95% confidence interval 1.20–1.42) for the use from 3–5 years and to 2.07 (1.84–2.30) with 10 or more years of use. Exposure to sequential progestogen for 5 years or more was accompanied with a lower risk elevation (1.78, 1.64–1.90) than exposure to continuous use (2.44, 2.17–2.72). Oral and transdermal use of E2–progestogen therapy was associated with comparable risk elevations for breast cancer. The use of norethisterone acetate was accompanied with a higher risk after 5 years of use (2.03, 1.88–2.18) than that of medroxyprogesterone acetate (1.64, 1.49–1.79). The risk of lobular breast cancer increased sooner than that for ductal cancer and was detectable for E2–progestogen therapy use less than 3 years (1.35, 1.18–1.53). There was no excess risk of breast cancer with distant metastases among E2–progestogen therapy users. CONCLUSION: The use of E2–progestogen therapy is associated with an increased risk for breast cancer after 3 years of use. The risk is lower for sequential than for continuous use, but comparable for oral and transdermal use. The risk elevation may not be uniform for all progestogens. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II
Efficient data preprocessing for genetic-fuzzy mining with MapReduce

Genetic-fuzzy data mining can successfully find out linguistic association rules and appropriate membership functions close to human concepts from quantitative transactions, and thus becomes a promising research field in these years. It repeatedly uses fuzzy frequent 1-itemsets to evaluate fitness values of chromosomes, which is very time-consuming. In this paper, we propose a MapReduce preprocessing approach to efficiently transform given quantitative transaction data into pairs of items and quantity lists to increase the performance of genetic-fuzzy mining. The MapReduce architecture totally fits the conversion due to its characteristics of key-value format. Experimental results also show the effect of the proposed approach.
Plasmonic near-field transducer for heat-assisted magnetic recording

Abstract Plasmonic devices, made of apertures or antennas, have played significant roles in advancing the fields of optics and opto-electronics by offering subwavelength manipulation of light in the visible and near infrared frequencies. The development of heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) opens up a new application of plasmonic nanostructures, where they act as near field transducers (NFTs) to locally and temporally heat a sub-diffraction-limited region in the recording medium above its Curie temperature to reduce the magnetic coercivity. This allows use of very small grain volume in the medium while still maintaining data thermal stability, and increasing storage density in the next generation hard disk drives (HDDs). In this paper, we review different plasmonic NFT designs that are promising to be applied in HAMR. We focus on the mechanisms contributing to the coupling and confinement of optical energy. We also illustrate the self-heating issue in NFT materials associated with the generation of a confined optical spot, which could result in degradation of performance and failure of components. The possibility of using alternative plasmonic materials will be discussed.
The Potential of Nanotechnology in Medically Assisted Reproduction

Reproductive medicine is a field of science which searches for new alternatives not only to help couples achieve pregnancy and preserve fertility, but also to diagnose and treat diseases which can impair the normal operation of the reproductive tract. Assisted reproductive technology (ART) is a set of methodologies applied to cases related to infertility. Despite being highly practiced worldwide, ART presents some challenges, which still require special attention. Nanotechnology, as a tool for reproductive medicine, has been considered to help overcome some of those impairments. Over recent years, nanotechnology approaches applied to reproductive medicine have provided strategies to improve diagnosis and increase specificity and sensitivity. For in vitro embryo production, studies in non-human models have been used to deliver molecules to gametes and embryos. The exploration of nanotechnology for ART would bring great advances. In this way, experiments in non-human models to test the development and safety of new protocols using nanomaterials are very important for informing potential future employment in humans. This paper presents recent developments in nanotechnology regarding impairments still faced by ART: ovary stimulation, multiple pregnancy, and genetic disorders. New perspectives for further use of nanotechnology in reproductive medicine studies are also discussed.
Delay Performance Measurements in Multimedia Switching

A multimedia service connection is usually composed of several components, e.g., video, voice, data and control. Characteristics of these tributaries may vary substantially and thus it has been difficult to develop comprehensive analytical models to estimate, e.g., delay or bit error ratio performance. Additionally, queuing at various network nodes changes characteristics of the bit streams leading to increase of traffic burstiness. Due to the bursty nature of multimedia traffic, buffering easily becomes a critical issue consequently affecting delay performance. Since no adequate models for delay estimation are available, this paper approaches the performance problem by carrying out measurements in studying delay performance in multimedia switching nodes. MMPP (Markow-Modulated Poisson Process) distribution was chosen to represent performance and bursty nature of multimedia traffic.
Gender Differences in Bipolar Disorder Type 1: A 48-Week Prospective Follow-Up of 72 Patients Treated in an Italian Tertiary Care Center

To explore gender differences in bipolar I disorder, we compared the longitudinal treatment outcome and baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of 27 male and 45 female adult subjects who were treated for an acute affective episode and longitudinally followed for a period of up to 48 weeks. Females were more likely to report a history of suicidal gestures and a comorbid panic disorder; males were more likely to present with a comorbid obsessive-compulsive disorder, and there was a trend for a more frequent history of alcohol or substance abuse. No significant differences were found between the genders for the time to remission from the index episode, number of recurrences, and time spent with any clinical or subclinical mood symptom during the 48 weeks of maintenance treatment. Although differences may exist between bipolar I male and female subjects, prospective course does not seem to reveal differences in a 48-week period, at least when similar treatment strategies are adopted.
Internet-Based Physical Activity Interventions

This article provides a comprehensive review of Internet– and Website–based physical activity interventions targeting adult populations. Search procedures identified 72 unique Internet-based physical activity interventions published in peer-reviewed journals. Participants of the studies were predominately White, middle-aged (mean age = 43.3 years), and female (65.9%). Intervention durations ranged from 2 weeks to 13 months (median = 12 weeks). Forty-six of the studies were randomized controlled trials, 21 were randomized trials without a control condition, 2 were non–randomized controlled trials, and 3 used a single-group design. The majority of studies (n = 68) assessed outcomes immediately following the end of the intervention period, and 16 studies provided delayed postintervention assessments. Forty-four of the 72 studies (61.1%) reported significant increases in physical activity. Future directions for Internet-based physical activity interventions include increasing representation of minority and male populations in Internet-based efforts, conducting delayed postintervention follow-up assessments, and incorporating emerging technologies (ie, cellular and Smartphones) into Internet-based physical activity efforts.
Costing psychiatric interventions.

The demands and needs for cost information in psychiatric contexts have multiplied considerably in recent years, but have often been frustrated by inadequate data. The typical costs data available to the policy maker, manager, clinical professional or researcher have been dominated until recently by age-old accounting practices and line management arrangements, and constrained by fragmentation of responsibility. Most limiting of all, costs data have rarely been used in taking decisions about individual cases. In considering the demands and needs for costs in psychiatry, this chapter describes a research instrument - the Client Service Receipt Inventory (CSRI) - which has been developed and extensively applied in order to meet some of these needs. The chapter includes illustrations of applications of data recorded using the CSRI.
Is a Behavioral Graded Activity Program More Effective Than Manual Therapy in Patients With Subacute Neck Pain?: Results of a Randomized Clinical Trial

Study Design. A randomized clinical trial. Objective. To compare the effectiveness of a behavioral graded activity program with manual therapy in patients with subacute (4–12 weeks) nonspecific neck pain. Summary of Background Data. Neck pain is a common complaint, for which many conservative therapies are available in primary care. There is strong evidence for manual therapy in combination with exercises. Psychosocial factors are also believed to play a role in chronic pain. The evidence of the effectiveness of a program focused on these factors is still unknown. Methods. A randomized clinical trial was conducted, involving 146 patients with subacute nonspecific neck pain. The BGA program can be described as a time-contingent increase in activities from baseline toward predetermined goals. Manual therapy consists of specific spinal mobilization techniques and exercises. Primary outcomes were global perceived effect, the Numerical Rating Scale for pain and the Neck Disability Index. Secondary outcomes were the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia, the 4 Dimensional Symptom Questionnaire, and the Pain Coping and Cognition List. Measurements were carried out at baseline and 6, 13, 26, and 52 weeks after randomization. Data are analyzed according to the intention-to-treat principle, using multilevel analysis. Results. The success rates at 52 weeks, based on the GPE were 89.4% for the BGA program and 86.5% for MT. This difference was not statistically significant. For pain and disability, a difference was found in favor of the BGA program; mean difference for pain = 0.99 (95% CI 0.15–1.83) and mean difference for NDI = 2.42 (95% CI 0.52–4.32). All other differences between the interventions in the primary and secondary outcomes were not statistically significant. Conclusion. Based on this trial it can be concluded that there are only marginal, but not clinically relevant, differences between a BGA program and MT.
Region-based semi-supervised clustering image segmentation

To make image segmentation accord with user's inclinations, semi-supervised clustering image segmentation is used. It applies manual guides and pays more attention to user's preferences. Watershed is adopted to segment image into series of small regions, which are basic units for segmentation. In the method, adjacent or nearby regions for labeled regions are assumed to belong to the same cluster. Labeled data and unlabeled data are gotten based on manual guides and assigned different weights during iterative processes. A penalty function is introduced when labeled data are incorrectly segmented. For a complex object to be segmented, its different parts are first segmented independently, and the outputs are merged finally. The experimental results show that region-based semi-supervised clustering image segmentation is fast and precise, and its classification results are more in line with user's requirements.
Privacy and security for patient-centric elderly health care

A global study of the elderly health care needs and their vulnerabilities, combined with an increasing social pressure to offer them quality health care in total privacy and security have shifted the medical health care paradigm from doctor-centered health care to patient-centric health care. In this paradigm health care is deliverable directly to patients living in remote areas and elderly homes by integrating sensors, medical devices with mobile and the internet technologies. In order to provide health care services in a humane manner, it is essential to protect the privacy, safety, dignity, and security of the elderly in all contexts. Towards this goal, this paper puts forth a conceptual four-layered health care architecture and describes verifiable behavioral models of the architectural elements to promote security and privacy for safe patient-centric care.
AskOmics : Intégration et interrogation de réseaux de régulation génomique et post-génomique

Les etudes genomiques et post-genomiques generent de nombreuses donnees d'expression de plu-sieurs types d'ARN (messagers, micro, pi et lnc) ainsi que des informations sur la presence de marques epige-netiques (methylation des histones, methylation de l'ADN, accessibilite). L'identification des interactions entre ces differents acteurs biologiques par les biologistes a partir des fichiers tabules contenant les donnees brutes est une tâche longue et difficile. AskOmics est un nouvel outil generique en cours de developpement capable d'integrer les donnees contenues dans des fichiers tabules dans une base de donnees RDF, et de permettre aux biologistes de construire visuellement leurs requetes sans avoir besoin de connaitre la structure de la base de donnees ni de maitriser un langage de requetes.
Static lattice and electron properties of MgCO3 (magnesite) calculated by ab initio periodic Hartree-Fock methods.

Calculations of the Hartree-Fock ground-state wave function and total energy of crystalline ${\mathrm{MgCO}}_{3}$ have been performed using the ab initio crystal program. Contracted Gaussian-type functions have been used to represent 18, 18, and 14 (including d) atomic orbitals for Mg, O, and C, respectively. The rhombohedral calcite-type structure has been fully relaxed, determining the equilibrium lattice constants and coordinate of the O atom as a function of volume. The bulk elastic modulus and the ${\mathit{C}}_{33}$ and ${\mathit{C}}_{11}$+${\mathit{C}}_{12}$ elastic constants have been calculated. Deviations from experimental data are within 1% for the structural parameters and amount to +6.8% for the bulk modulus. The computed binding energy (including a correction for the electron correlation based on local-density-functional theory) is smaller by 6% than the measured value. Mulliken electron charges are +1.750, -0.986, and +1.207 \ensuremath{\Vert}e\ensuremath{\Vert} for Mg, O, and C. Energy bands, density of states, and electron-density maps permit the characterization of chemical bonding within the ${\mathrm{CO}}_{3}$ molecular unit and between ${\mathrm{CO}}_{3}$ groups and Mg atoms.
ART - a new concept for an activity recorder and transceiver

In this contribution, a new concept for an activity recorder and transceiver (ART) is presented. Among the many purposes ART can be used for, this contribution focuses on the development of personal assistant devices for an aging society. Instead of probing a patient's health only when illness occurs, ART offers the possibility to monitor a person ubiquitous in every day life in order e.g. to detect abnormal changes in behavior, mainly based on the recording of discrete events rather than continuous sensor data streams. ARTs are key elements to develop personal assistant devices that are able to support people especially with cognitive impairments to remain living independent and yet secure their home environments. In this document vital demands on such systems will be defined and systematically analyzed. Furthermore the system architecture and possible applications for ARTs will be presented.
Pharmacokinetics of an Extended Release Formulation of Alprazolam (Xanax XR) in Healthy Normal Adolescent and Adult Volunteers

The purpose of this study was to estimate pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of single doses of an extended release formulation of alprazolam (Xanax XR) in adolescent and adult healthy volunteers. This was a randomized, open-label, single-dose, 2-period crossover study. Twelve adolescent healthy volunteers (13-17 years) and 12 adult healthy volunteers (20-45 years) received single doses of Xanax XR 1 mg or 3 mg tablets. Blood samples were obtained predose and for 48 hours postdose. Plasma samples were assayed for alprazolam and its two active metabolites α-hydroxy-alprazolam and 4-hydroxy-alprazolam using a validated LC-MS/MS method. Safety assessments included clinical laboratory tests, vital signs, and adverse event monitoring. At both dose levels, mean plasma concentration-time profiles of alprazolam, α-hydroxy-alprazolam, and 4-hydroxy-alprazolam were similar in adolescent and adult subjects. The ratios of estimated geometric means for AUC(0-∞) and Cmax between adolescents and adults for both dose levels were 115% (95% CI: [93, 143]) and 111% (95% CI: [95, 129]), respectively. An assessment of dose proportionality between the 3 mg and 1 mg alprazolam doses within both age groups indicated that the AUC(0-∞) and Cmax were both within 80-125% equivalence limits. Parent-metabolite ratios were similar in both age groups and were consistent with those previously reported. Alprazolam was well tolerated by both age groups. The most common adverse event was somnolence, which occurred in a dose-related manner. Based on the similar pharmacokinetic profiles, dosing of Xanax XR should be similar in adolescents and adults.
Three-dimensional imaging and photostimulation by remote-focusing and holographic light patterning

Access to three-dimensional structures in the brain is fundamental to probe signal processing at multiple levels, from integration of synaptic inputs to network activity mapping. Here, we present an optical method for independent three-dimensional photoactivation and imaging by combination of digital holography with remote-focusing. We experimentally demonstrate compensation of spherical aberration for out-of-focus imaging in a range of at least 300 μm, as well as scanless imaging along oblique planes. We apply this method to perform functional imaging along tilted dendrites of hippocampal pyramidal neurons in brain slices, after photostimulation by multiple spots glutamate uncaging. By bringing extended portions of tilted dendrites simultaneously in-focus, we monitor the spatial extent of dendritic calcium signals, showing a shift from a widespread to a spatially confined response upon blockage of voltage-gated Na+ channels.
Morphologic Effects of Ammonia on Primary Astrocyte Cultures. I. Light Microscopic Studies

To evaluate the astrocytic alterations commonly seen in hepatic encephalopathy and other hyperammonemic states, primary astrocyte cultures derived from neonatal rats were exposed to varying concentrations of ammonia for one to ten days. Ammonia-treated cultures initially showed an increase in basophilia, prominent cytoplasmic processes and increased cytoplasmic granularity and vacuolization. Nucleoli were increased in size and there was an increase in nucleolar/nuclear ratio. Later, fragmentation and loss of cytoplasmic processes, formation of dense bodies and frank cellular disintegration were noted. The changes were proportional to the concentration and duration of ammonia treatment. Our studies show that ammonia is capable of directly causing morphologic alterations in astrocytes. We believe that the use of primary cultures provides a means of exploring the precise role of astrocytes in hyperammonemic states.
Evidence that water transmits the disease caused by the fish pathogen Photobacterium damselae subsp. damselae

The transmission through water of the disease caused by the fish pathogen, Photobacterium damselae subsp. damselae, as well as the role of the skin mucus in the initial steps of the infection, have been studied. All tested strains resisted the bactericidal activity of the mucus and showed an ability to adhere to it, but only those virulent by the intraperitoneal route were infective through water. Moribund fishes showed the typical signs of the disease: haemorrhaged areas on the body surface and ulcerative lesions with mucus degradation. These results suggest that the pathogen can be transmitted to fish through water and use the skin as a portal of entry.
SPiDER—An advanced symbolic debugger for Fortran 90/HPF programs

Debuggers play an important role in developing parallel applications. They are used to control the state of many processes, to present distributed information in a concise and clear way, to observe the execution behavior, and to detect and locate programming errors. More sophisticated debugging systems also try to improve understanding of global execution behavior and intricate details of a program. In this paper we describe the design and implementation of SPiDER, which is an interactive source‐level debugging system for both regular and irregular High‐Performance Fortran (HPF) programs. SPiDER combines a base debugging system for message‐passing programs with a high‐level debugger that interfaces with an HPF compiler. SPiDER, in addition to conventional debugging functionality, allows a single process of a parallel program to be expected or the entire program to be examined from a global point of view. A sophisticated visualization system has been developed and included in SPiDER to visualize data distributions, data‐to‐processor mapping relationships, and array values. SPiDER enables a programmer to dynamically change data distributions as well as array values. For arrays whose distribution can change during program execution, an animated replay displays the distribution sequence together with the associated source code location. Array values can be stored at individual execution points and compared against each other to examine execution behavior (e.g. convergence behavior of a numerical algorithm). Finally, SPiDER also offers limited support to evaluate the performance of parallel programs through a graphical load diagram. SPiDER has been fully implemented and is currently being used for the development of various real‐world applications. Several experiments are presented that demonstrate the usefulness of SPiDER. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.