Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
High‐resolution computer simulation of the dynamics of isoelectric focusing using carrier ampholytes: The post‐separation stabilizing phase revisited

A dynamic electrophoresis simulator that accepts 150 components and voltage gradients employed in the laboratory was used to provide a detailed description of the stabilizing phase in isoelectric focusing under conditions that were hitherto inaccessible. High‐resolution focusing data are presented for pH gradients spanning 7 units (pH 3–10 and pH 4–11 with 20 carrier ampholytes/pH unit) and 3.5 units (pH 7–10.5 and pH 5–8.5 with 40 carrier ampholytes/pH unit). Stabilizing phase behavior for configurations (i) with the focusing column ends only permeable to OH– and H+ at cathode and anode, respectively, and (ii) with the focusing column being sandwiched between NaOH (catholyte) and phosphoric acid (anolyte) are described. Simulation data reveal the stabilizing phase to be diffusion‐controlled and characterized by changes that progress from the column ends towards neutrality (i.e., towards the center in case of pH gradients bracketing neutrality). Transient states are characterized by moving concentration valleys of carrier ampholytes that significantly alter the distributions of pH and conductivity. Nonlinear pH gradients are produced. The magnitude of the changes occuring is dependent on the span of the pH gradient. Gradients that encompass greater extremes of pH show more pronounced stabilizing phases. For all systems subjected to a constant 300 V/cm, the initial separation and subsequent stabilization require less than 10 min and more than 7000 min, respectively. The presence of electrolytes at the column ends disrupts the stabilizing phase, with the degree of disruption dependent on the concentrations of the acid and base employed as electrode solutions. The data not only indicate that a true steady state is never attained in the average laboratory experiment, they also suggest that a true steady state in absence of immobilized pH gradients cannot be achieved experimentally at all.
Antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C in patients with inherited bleeding disorders: an international, multicenter cohort study

Summary. Background: Hepatitis C is a major co‐morbidity in patients with hemophilia. However, there is little information on the efficacy of antiviral therapy and long‐term follow‐up after treatment.Objectives: To assess the effect of interferon‐based (IFN‐based) therapy on hepatitis C virus (HCV) eradication, to identify determinants associated with treatment response, and to assess the occurrence of end‐stage liver disease (ESLD) after completing antiviral therapy.Patients and methods: In a multicenter cohort study, 295 treatment‐naïve hemophilia patients chronically infected with HCV were included. The effect of therapy was expressed as sustained virological response (SVR). Determinants associated with treatment response were expressed as odds ratios (ORs). Cumulative incidence of ESLD was assessed using a Kaplan–Meier survival table.Results: Among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) negative patients (n = 235), SVR was 29% (29/101) for IFN monotherapy, 44% (32/72) for IFN with ribavirin, and 63% (39/62) for pegylated IFN (PegIFN) with ribavirin. In patients co‐infected with HIV (n = 60), IFN monotherapy, IFN with ribavirin, and PegIFN with ribavirin eradicated HCV in 7/35 (20%), 1/2 (50%), and 11/23 (48%), respectively. SVR increased with genotype 2 and 3 [OR 11.0, 95% CI: 5.8–20.5], and combination therapy (IFN and ribavirin OR 3.7, 95% CI: 1.7–8.4), PegIFN and ribavirin (OR 4.2, 95% CI: 1.8–9.5). Up to 15 years after antiviral treatment, none of the patients with a SVR relapsed and none developed ESLD. In contrast, among unsuccessfully treated patients the cumulative incidence of ESLD after 15 years was 13.0%. Conclusions: Successful antiviral therapy appears to have a durable effect and reduces the risk of ESLD considerably.
Increasing Throughput and Reducing Delay in Wireless Sensor Networks Using Interference Alignment

With the advent of sensor nodes with higher communication and sensing capabilities, the challenge arises in forming a data gathering network to maximize the network capacity. The channel sharing for higher data transmission leads to interfering problems. The effects of interferences become increasingly important when simultaneous transmissions are done in order to increase wireless network capacity. In such cases, achieving a high throughput and low delay is difficult. We propose a new method that uses interference alignment (IA) technique to mitigate interference effects in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). In IA technique, multiple transmitters jointly encode their signals to intended receivers such that interfering signals are separated and eliminated. Simulation results demonstrate that compared to TDMA algorithms, the proposed method significantly increases the performance of the network delay and throughput by reducing the delay and increasing throughput.
Multimedia over 802.15.4 and ZigBee Networks for Ambient Environment Control

WPAN technologies such as IEEE 802.15. 4 have been introduced to allow for energy-efficient communication of control and sensor data. In certain application areas, it is beneficial to leverage such a wireless control network to transfer multimedia data. A concrete example is a wireless cabin control network, which is deployed to control the ambient environment (light, sound, climate etc.) of a vehicle cabin (such as a bus, a train or an aircraft). Therefore, in this paper we introduce a distinct system architecture, called Ambient Multimedia ZigBee Service Environment (AMuZE) for WPANs and describe the results of performance evaluations achieved by simulations in an experimental test-bed. We demonstrate that it is possible to use an IEEE 802.15. 4 networks to broadcast voice messages (e.g. for instructions in case of emergencies) as well as continuous sound streams (e.g. to create ubiquitous ambient sound environments), while at the same time control functions are performed with high reliability. For the control of the ambient lighting, video image transfer has been integrated to enable an optical feedback channel for auto-configuration of the system. The performance evaluation has been carried out by integrating the embedded device code into an event driven simulation framework. This approach allows for a realistic assessment of the performance in the simulation. As an asset, the optimized algorithms may be transferred directly to the target devices. Finally, results from the validation of the proposed concept in an experimental test-bed are presented
Autologous point-of-care cellular therapies variably induce equine mesenchymal stem cell migration, proliferation and cytokine expression.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY Autologous cellular therapy products including adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction (SVF), bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNs), cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMNs) and platelet rich plasma are options for treatment of acute orthopaedic lesions while mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are culture expanded. These products may contribute to healing by secreting matrix proteins or growth factors, but they may also act on endogenous MSCs to facilitate healing. OBJECTIVES To determine the effects of cell therapy products on MSCs function in vitro. The hypothesis was that cell therapy products promote MSCs functions including proliferation, migration and mediator release. METHODS Fat, bone marrow (BM), cord blood and platelets were obtained from 6 Quarter Horses. The BM-MSCs and their autologous cell therapy products were co-incubated in transwells. Mesenchymal stem cells proliferation, migration, gene expression and cytokine concentrations were determined. RESULTS All cell therapy products increased MSCs proliferation, but SVF induced significantly more proliferation than any other product. Also SVF elicited more MSCs chemotaxis and, along with BMMNs, significantly more MSCs chemoinvasion. Cord blood mononuclear cells stimulated MSCs to produce high concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)). Stromal vascular fraction and platelet lysate did not stimulate MSCs but SVF and platelet lysate themselves contained high concentrations of PGE(2) and IL-6 (SVF) and TGF-β1 (platelet lysate). CONCLUSIONS Autologous cell products variably stimulate MSCs functions with 2 primary patterns apparent. Products either contained preformed mediators that may have intrinsic healing function, or products stimulated MSCs to secrete mediators. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE The specific clinical indications for these products may differ to include administration as a sole treatment modality prior to MSCs injection for intrinsic cell and cytokine activity (i.e. SVF) or administration concurrently with MSCs to activate MSCs for treatment of chronic lesions (i.e. CBMNs).
Oximetry of Retinal Capillaries by Multicomponent Analysis

Retinal oximetry of capillaries was performed for early detection of retinal vascular abnormalities, which are caused predominantly by complications of systemic circulatory diseases. As the conventional method for determining absorbance is not applicable to capillaries, multicomponent analysis was used to estimate the absorbance spectra of the retinal blood vessels. In this analysis, the capillary spectrum was classified as intermediate between those of the retinal arteries and veins, enabling relative estimation of oxygen saturation in the capillaries. This method could be useful for early recognition of disturbances in the peripheral circulation. Furthermore, a spectroscopic ophthalmoscope system based on the proposed method was developed to examine the human retina. A clinical trial of this system demonstrated that oximetry of the retinal capillaries may be an improvement over the present diagnosis for patients of malignant hypertension.
The role of perceived need within the theory of planned behaviour: a comparison of exercise and healthy eating.

OBJECTIVES This study examined the effect of perceived need on exercise and healthy eating using the theory of planned behaviour (TPB). In addition, it investigated the determinants of perceived need. METHOD Participants completed a questionnaire measuring components of TPB and perceived need. A follow-up questionnaire 1 week later measured behaviour. The questionnaires were completed by e-mail. The initial questionnaire was completed by 331 adults, and 286 follow-up questionnaires were returned. RESULTS Perceived behavioural control was the main predictor of exercise intention and affective attitude was the main predictor of healthy eating intention. Perceived need significantly contributed to the prediction of healthy eating intention but not to exercise intention. Intention and perceived behavioural control predicted actual behaviour but perceived need did not. Reasons reported for the perception of needing to engage in both behaviours mainly focused on physical health and weight control. CONCLUSIONS Reasons reported for low perceived need suggest that the concept of perceived need may be rather ambiguous, particularly in the case of exercise. Therefore, further research is needed to elucidate the role of perceived need in relation to a variety of health behaviours.
Fine-needle aspiration biopsy: a first-line diagnostic procedure in paediatric tuberculosis suspects with peripheral lymphadenopathy?

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the diagnostic yield and time to diagnosis of fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) vs. routine respiratory specimens collected from children with a palpable peripheral lymph node mass and symptoms suspicious of tuberculosis (TB). DESIGN We performed a retrospective review of laboratory records at Tygerberg Hospital over a 4-year period from January 2003 to December 2006. All children (aged <13 years) in whom an FNAB and other mycobacterial specimens were collected as part of their diagnostic workup were included. RESULTS In 95 children, the following specimens were collected: FNAB (n = 95), gastric aspirates (n = 142), other respiratory specimens (n = 36), non-respiratory specimens (n = 26). Mycobacterial disease was diagnosed in 70 (73.7%) patients. Children without respiratory specimens (n = 6) and/or with Mycobacterium bovis bacille Calmette-Guérin disease (n = 15) were excluded from comparative analysis. In the remainder, FNAB was positive in 45/74 (60.8%) vs. any respiratory specimen in 29/74 (39.2%, P < 0.001). The mean time to bacteriological diagnosis with FNAB was 7.1 days (95%CI 4.2-10.1) compared to 22.5 days (95%CI 15.8-29.1) for any respiratory specimen. CONCLUSION FNAB is a simple, rapid and effective modality for achieving confirmation of mycobacterial disease in paediatric TB suspects with a palpable peripheral lymph node mass.
Topological simultaneous localization and mapping: a survey

SUMMARY One of the main challenges in robotics is navigating autonomously through large, unknown, and unstructured environments. Simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) is currently regarded as a viable solution for this problem. As the traditional metric approach to SLAM is experiencing computational difficulties when exploring large areas, increasing attention is being paid to topological SLAM, which is bound to provide sufficiently accurate location estimates, while being significantly less computationally demanding. This paper intends to provide an introductory overview of the most prominent techniques that have been applied to topological SLAM in terms of feature detection, map matching, and map fusion.
An Enhanced Predictive Current Control Method for Asymmetrical Six-Phase Motor Drives

The interest in predictive control approach and multiphase drives has been steadily growing during the last decade. Predictive control techniques have been recently introduced as a viable alternative to conventional PI controllers with carrier-based or space vector PWM techniques in the current regulation of multiphase power converters and drives. The developed schemes have demonstrated a good performance at the expense of a high computational cost, an unknown switching frequency, and the appearance of large undesirable stator current harmonic components. In this paper, an enhanced predictive current control technique with fixed switching frequency is introduced for an asymmetrical dual three-phase ac drive. Fast torque and current responses are achieved while favoring stator current harmonic suppression. The experimental results are provided to verify the benefits of the proposed control method when compared to the other existing predictive control methods.
Persistent Hepatic Venous Plexus in a Patient with Sturge–Weber Syndrome

Abstract: A patient with extensive facial and intracranial features of Sturge–Weber syndrome was found to have a persistent primitive hepatic venous plexus, characterized by three additional vessels arising from the inferior vena cava, circulating between liver segments, which formed a common trunk in the supra‐hepatic region that flowed into the right atrium. To the best of our knowledge, this hepatic finding has not been previously described in association with Sturge–Weber syndrome.
Effects of socioeconomic status on patients' outcome after total knee arthroplasty.

OBJECTIVE To identify whether patients in lower socioeconomic groups had worse pain and functional levels prior to total knee arthroplasty and then establish whether these patients had poorer post-operative outcomes following total knee arthroplasty. METHOD Data was obtained from a prospective observational study of 974 patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty for osteoarthritis. The study was undertaken in 13 centers in 4 countries. Pre-operative data was collected and patients were followed for 2 years post-operatively. Pre-operative details of the patients' demographics; socioeconomic status (SES) (education and income); height; weight and co-morbid conditions were obtained. The WOMAC scores were obtained preoperatively and during follow-up. RESULTS Using multivariate linear regression analysis, patients with a lower income had a significantly worse pre-operative WOMAC Pain (P = 0.021) and function score (P = 0.039) than those with higher incomes. However, income did not have a significant impact on outcome at final follow-up after adjusting for other significant covariates. Level of education did not correlate with pre-operative scores or with outcome at any time during follow-up. CONCLUSION Across all four countries, patients with lower incomes appeared to have a greater need for total knee arthroplasty. However, level of income and educational status did not appear to affect the final outcome following total knee arthroplasty. Patients with lower incomes appeared able to compensate for their worse pre-operative score and obtain similar outcomes post-operatively. These findings are in contrast to studies on other medical conditions and surgical interventions, in which a lower SES has been found to have a negative impact on patient outcomes.
Phylogenetic relationships of the North American sturgeons (order Acipenseriformes) based on mitochondrial DNA sequences.

The evolutionary relationships of the extant species within the order Acipenseriformes are not well understood. Nucleotide sequences of four mitochondrial genes (12S rRNA, COII, tRNA(Phe), and tRNA(Asp) genes) in North American sturgeon and paddlefish were examined to reconstruct a phylogeny. Analysis of the combined gene sequences suggests a basal placement of the paddlefish with regard to the sturgeons. Nucleotide sequences of all four genes for the three Scaphirhynchus species were identical. The position of Scaphirhynchus based on our data was uncertain. Within the genus Acipenser, the two Acipenser oxyrinchus subspecies were very similar in sequence and found to be basal to the remaining Acipenser species examined. Based on our data, Acipenser transmontanus and Acipenser medirostris were sister taxa, as were Acipenser fulvescens and Acipenser brevirostrum. Comparison of our results with hypotheses of sturgeon relationships proposed by previous authors is presented. The sequence data presented here are phylogenetically useful and provide a solid foundation of genetic information for the North American Acipenseriformes that can be expanded to include Eurasian species to provide a global picture of sturgeon evolution.
TG-ROC analysis of immunofluorescence assays in canine visceral leishmaniasis diagnosis.

OBJECTIVE To analyze the accuracy of the diagnosis of two protocols of indirect immunofluorescence assays for canine visceral leishmaniasis. METHODS Dogs from the seroepidemiological survey conducted in an endemic area of the cities of Araçatuba and Andradina, in Northwestern São Paulo state, in 2003, and in a non-endemic area of the metropolitan region of São Paulo, were used to assess two protocols of indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) for leishmaniasis: one using a Leishmania major heterologous antigen (IFA-BM) and another using a Leishmania chagasi homologous antigen (IFA-CH). Two-graph receiver operating characteristic (TG-ROC) analysis was used to estimate accuracy. TG-ROC analysis compared 1:20 dilution readings of the homologous antigen (IFA-CH), considered as reference test, with IFA-BM dilutions (heterologous antigen). RESULTS The 1:20 dilution used in the IFA-CH test showed the best contingency coefficient (0.755) and the highest strength of association between the two variables studied (chi-square=124.3). Thus, it was considered the test reference dilution in comparisons with different IFA-BM test dilutions. The best IFA-BM results were obtained from 1:40 dilutions with the best contingency coefficient (0.680) and highest strength of association (chi-square=80.8). With the change in the cut-off point, recommended for the IFA-BM 1:40 dilution in this analysis, the specificity parameter value rose from 57.5% to 97.7%, even though the 1:80 dilution showed the best sensitivity estimate (80.2%), with the new cut-off point. CONCLUSIONS TG-ROC analysis can provide important information about diagnostic tests, in addition to offering suggestions on cut-off points that can improve test sensitivity and specificity estimates and assessing these tests in terms of the best cost-benefit ratio.
OpenNP: A Generic Programming Model for Network Processors

Network Processors (NPs) are an attempt by hardware vendors to fulfill the growing need for low-priced specialised network hardware elements that are more future proof than conventional custom hardware or ASIC-based designs, and can be applied in a wider range of situations (e.g. in networked devices, as edge-network routers and even in the network core). They are set to play a key role in the next generation of networking technology as they have the performance of ASIC-based routers whilst offering a high degree of programmability. Architecturally, NPs are multiprocessor-based hardware units that support a number of network ports and provide software-programmable packet processing facilities. They have the ability to perform relatively complex packet processing at line speeds. There is a downside to current NP designs, however: they are notoriously difficult to program. This is because of their complex design, including multiple processors; both general purpose and specialised processors; multiple memory and interconnect technologies; their extreme architectural heterogeneity across vendors and products; and their demanding performance constraints. The work presented in this thesis proposes a generic programing model for NPs, called OpenNP. The approach promotes conceptual uniformity and design portability across a wide variety of NP types while simultaneously exploiting the heterogeneous architectures of NP. Furthermore, the approach supports, with minimal or zero overhead, platform specific facilities such as the hardware assists that are specific to individual NPs and the packet processors present in all NPs. OpenNP separates the concerns of the application developer from the platform specific implementation details, thereby easing the task of creating applications for NPs. In addition, OpenNP exposes the underlying support of NPs for runtime reconfiguration and allows this to be exploited by applications. To show how the approach can be applied in a wide range of types of NPs, a classification of NPs is proposed that characterises the design space of NPs. This classification is used to demonstrate the applicability of OpenNPs concepts to the various classes identified. A detailed case study of an implementation and evaluation of OpenNP on the Intel IXP2400 NP is used to evaluate the approach.
Mathematical Model of Blood Flow in an Anatomically Detailed Arterial Network of the Arm

oo 2,3 Abstract. A distributed-parameter (one-dimensional) anatomically detailed model for the arterial network of the arm is developed in order to carry out hemodynamics simulations. This work focuses on the specific aspects related to the model set-up. In this regard, stringent anatomical and physiological considerations have been pursued in order to construct the arterial topology and to provide a systematic estimation of the involved parameters. The model comprises 108 arterial segments, with 64 main arteries and 44 perforator arteries, with lumen radii ranging from 0.24 cm - axillary artery- to 0.018 cm - perforator arteries. The modeling of blood flow in deformable vessels is governed by a well-known set of hyperbolic partial differential equations that accounts for mass and momentum conservation and a constitutive equation for the arterial wall. The variational formulation used to solve the problem and the related numerical approach are described. The model rendered consistent pressure and flow rate outputs when compared with patient records already published in the literature. In addition, an application to dimensionally-heterogeneous modeling is presented in which the developed arterial network is employed as an underlying model for a three-dimensional geometry of a branching point to be embedded in order to perform local analyses.