Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Homicide and Suicide During the Perinatal Period: Findings From the National Violent Death Reporting System

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the rates of pregnancy-associated homicide and suicide in a multistate sample from the National Violent Death Reporting System, to compare these rates with other causes of maternal mortality, and to describe victims' demographic characteristics. METHODS: We analyzed data from female victims of reproductive age from 2003 to 2007. We identified pregnancy-associated violent deaths as deaths attributable to homicide or suicide during pregnancy or within the first year postpartum, and we calculated the rates of pregnancy-associated homicide and suicide as the number of deaths per 100,000 live births in the sample population. We used descriptive statistics to report victims' demographic characteristics and prevalence of intimate-partner violence. RESULTS: There were 94 counts of pregnancy-associated suicide and 139 counts of pregnancy-associated homicide, yielding pregnancy-associated suicide and homicide rates of 2.0 and 2.9 deaths per 100,000 live births, respectively. Victims of pregnancy-associated suicide were significantly more likely to be older and white or Native American as compared with all live births in National Violent Death Reporting System states. Pregnancy-associated homicide victims were significantly more likely to be at the extremes of the age range and African American. In our study, 54.3% of pregnancy-associated suicides involved intimate partner conflict that appeared to contribute to the suicide, and 45.3% of pregnancy-associated homicides were associated with intimate-partner violence. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that pregnancy-associated homicide and suicide are important contributors to maternal mortality and confirm the need to evaluate the relationships between sociodemographic disparities and intimate-partner violence with pregnancy-associated violent death. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II
The burden of Helicobacter pylori infection in England and Wales

The prevalence of active infection with Helicobacter pylori in the general population of England and Wales was estimated using high reactivity for specific IgG in serum ELISA as a marker. A total of 10118 anonymized residues of serum samples collected in 1986 and 1996 from persons aged 1–84 years were used. Estimated prevalence of active infection varied by region and was highest in London. Prevalence was related to decade of birth and increased from 4·3% in those born during the 1980s to 30% in those born before 1940. An estimated total of 7·5 million people living in England and Wales have an active infection and analysis by decade of birth showed no significant difference between samples collected in 1986 and 1996. These data suggest H. pylori infection is becoming less common, is acquired at an early age and is unlikely to be resolved unless suitable antimicrobial treatment is sought.
Stochastic analysis of the modified DNLMS algorithm for Gaussian data

This paper proposes a stochastic model for the modified delayed normalized least-mean-square (MDNLMS) algorithm. This algorithm uses the a posteriori error to perform the adaptation and a normalized step-size parameter. The MDNLMS algorithm is an alternative to the standard delayed LMS (DLMS) one to obtain a faster and delay-independent convergence speed. Analytical models for the first moment of the adaptive filter weight vector and the learning curve are obtained. Furthermore, the time-varying nature of normalized step size is considered in the models. The proposed approach is derived without invoking the simplifying assumption of an independent input signal. Without considering such an assumption, a high-order hyperelliptic integral has to be computed. The proposed model is based on tackling the solution of such an integral. Numerical simulation results permit to assess the accuracy of the proposed analytical models.
Partial anterior trochanteric osteotomy in total hip arthroplasty: surgical technique and preliminary results of 127 cases.

The authors describe a new approach to the hip joint arthroplasty performed in 127 cases of total hip arthroplasty without major complication. A small anterior fragment of greater trochanter, maintaining the insertions of the gluteus minimus and vastus lateralis muscles, is detached. The whole insertion of the gluteus medius is preserved intact, providing good prosthetic stability and rapid recovery of abductor power and gait. Three months after surgery, 74% of patients had recovered good abductor strength with a Merle d'Aubigné and Postel score of 17 points. This surgical approach is technically easy to perform and provides good exposure of the hip. The osteotomized fragment is easily reattached using 2 cerclage wires, and upward displacement after operation was rarely seen.
hummgenic changes in large scale temporal correlation of EEG in BP

In this paper we present results of detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) on raw EEG data obtained from subjects performing Bhramari Pranayama (BP). BP is characterized by the production of low frequency humming sound like that of bumble bee by sustaining pronunciation of nasal /m/ sound while keeping ears occluded and oral cavity closed at lips. BP is effective in healing many neuronal disorders. We hypothesize that the humming sound is playing such healing role by changing brain wave patterns. The results of DFA analysis show that BP changes scaling exponents for the raw EEG data in the frontal and temporal region of the brain. Decrement in scaling exponent lowers decay of temporal correlations in data while increment in scaling exponent provides rapid decay. The estimated exponent were found to lie between 0.5 and 1.6 which also show that EEG signals are generated through fractal process and contain long range temporal correlates. It is hypothesized that the interaction of self humming and brain wave signals might be actor behind bringing good effects by BP.
Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG).

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a glycoprotein hormone used primarily to induce ovulation in mares. It is also used diagnostically in a stimulation test to detect the presence or absence of testicular tissue in geldings exhibiting stallion-like behavior. The biological action of this human-origin hormone is due to its inherent luteinizing hormone (LH) type activity. In mares, a surge of natural or endogenous LH from the anterior pituitary during estrus (heat) causes final maturation and ovulation of the dominant follicle. Exogenous hCG essentially mimics the role of endogenous LH.
Broadband/Multiband Conformal Circular Beam-Steering Array

A new approach for a broadband/multiband conformal circular beam-steering array is presented with both theory and experimental data. The array is low-profile, suitable for conformal mounting on a platform. It has an omnidirectional coverage with a unidirectional beam that aims at a moderate directivity of 5 to 15 dBi. It consists of a center driven element and parasitic surface waveguide elements symmetrically positioned in the periphery, for electronic beam steering and beam forming to enhance RF connectivity and/or spectral efficiency. This array can achieve ultrawideband multiband performance and low-profile conformability unattainable by conventional array approaches. In addition, its cost is estimated to be an order of magnitude lower than that of conventional beam-steering arrays. Breadboard and brassboard development efforts for the array have essentially achieved a bandwidth of 1.0-2.5 GHz. A larger bandwidth is feasible since its driven element has achieved a continuous 10:1 bandwidth, and since the surface waveguide elements could achieve a multioctave bandwidth similar to the broadbanding path from the Yagi-Uda array to the LP array
Estimating soil moisture in the agricultural areas using RADARSAT-2 Quad-olarization SAR data

The aim of this study was to estimate soil moisture from RADARSAT-2 Quad-polarization Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data acquired in the agricultural areas. The adopted approach is based on the combination of semi-empirical Water-Cloud model and Dubois model. Firstly, VH backscattering coefficient was used to develop empirical relationship for crop water content estimation. Secondly, crop water content was then used to correct the semi-empirical Water-Cloud model for vegetation effects in order to get the VV and HH backscattering coefficient of soil surface in the absence of vegetation cover. Thirdly, the soil moisture was retrieved based on Dubois model using VV and HH backscattering coefficient of soil surface in the absence of vegetation cover. Finally, the soil moisture retrieved is evaluated over wheat crop fields using ground measurements. This paper proposes an effective method for acquiring soil moisture in the agricultural areas under any weather conditions.
The Arterial Basis of Pharyngeal Flaps

The arterial basis of pharyngeal flaps is unknown. Injection and dissection studies have been used in 41 adult human cadavers to study the arterial supply of pharyngo-plasties in current use. Superiorly based posterior pharyngeal flaps are “random” in nature, inferiorly based posterior pharyngeal flaps may include an “axial” vessel, laterally based posterior pharyngeal flaps will include an “axial” vessel, and laterally based “sphincter” pharyngo-plasties, although supplied segmentally, will contain an “axial” vessel if raised up to but not beyond the upper pole of the tonsil.
Organ Donation and Utilization in the United States, 1999–2008

Despite the Organ Donation Breakthrough Collaborative's work to engage the transplant community and the suggested positive impact from these efforts, availability of transplanted organs over the past 5 years has declined. Living kidney, liver and lung donations declined from 2004 to 2008. Living liver donors in 2008 dropped to less than 50% of the peak (524) in 2001. There were more living donors that were older and who were unrelated to the recipient. Percentages of living donors from racial minorities remained unchanged over the past 5 years, but percentages of Hispanic/Latino and Asian donors increased, and African American donors decreased. The OPTN/UNOS Living Donor Transplant Committee restructured to enfranchise organ donors and recipients, and to seek their perspectives on living donor transplantation. In 2008, for the first time in OPTN history, deceased donor organs decreased compared to the prior year. Except for lung donors, deceased organ donation fell from 2007 to 2008. Donation after cardiac death (DCD) has accounted for a nearly 10‐fold increase in kidney donors from 1999 to 2008. Use of livers from DCD donors declined in 2008 to 2005 levels. Understanding health risks associated with the transplantation of organs from ‘high‐risk’ donors has received increased scrutiny.
Targeted Histone Acetylation at the Yeast CUP1 Promoter Requires the Transcriptional Activator, the TATA Boxes, and the Putative Histone Acetylase Encoded by SPT10

ABSTRACT The relationship between chromatin remodeling and histone acetylation at the yeast CUP1 gene was addressed. CUP1 encodes a metallothionein required for cell growth at high copper concentrations. Induction of CUP1 with copper resulted in targeted acetylation of both H3 and H4 at the CUP1 promoter. Nucleosomes containing upstream activating sequences and sequences farther upstream were the targets for H3 acetylation. Targeted acetylation of H3 and H4 required the transcriptional activator (Ace1p) and the TATA boxes, suggesting that targeted acetylation occurs when TATA-binding protein binds to the TATA box or at a later stage in initiation. We have shown previously that induction results in nucleosome repositioning over the entire CUP1 gene, which requires Ace1p but not the TATA boxes. Therefore, the movement of nucleosomes occurring on CUP1 induction is independent of targeted acetylation. Targeted acetylation of both H3 and H4 also required the product of the SPT10 gene, which encodes a putative histone acetylase implicated in regulation at core promoters. Disruption of SPT10 was lethal at high copper concentrations and correlated with slower induction and reduced maximum levels of CUP1 mRNA. These observations constitute evidence for a novel mechanism of chromatin activation at CUP1, with a major role for the TATA box.
Scattering and attenuation properties of Emiliania huxleyi cells and their detached coccoliths

Measurements of the spectral scattering and attenuation properties of coccolithophores (Emiliania huxleyi; clone 88E) and their associated coccoliths were made for three growth phases as well as for acidified cultures. These measurements allow a clean separation and determination of the optical effects of the various components. The beam attenuation cross sections (m2 particle−1) were found to be 8.4E‐12, 2.6E‐10, and 4.9E‐11 for coccoliths, plated cells, and naked cells, respectively, at 440 nm. The spectral dependence of these factors followed a power law dependence, with a wavelength exponent of −1.9, 0.42, and −0.52 for the coccoliths, plated cells, and naked cells. The volume scattering functions for all appeared similar; however, the backscattering cross sections (m2 particle−1) at 456 nm were 1.4E‐13, 6.7E‐12, and 9.9E‐13, respectively. The wavelength dependence of this parameter also followed a power law and was −1.4, −1.2, and −1.0. Overall, these results show that optical properties of a coccolithophore bloom are sensitive to the coccolith:cell ratio and can vary between and within blooms.
HBase and Hypertable for large scale distributed storage systems A Performance evaluation for Open Source BigTable Implementations

BigTable is a distributed storage system developed at Google for managing structured data and has the capability to scale to a very large size: petabytes of data across thousands of commodity servers. As now, there exist two open-source implementations that closely emulate most of the components of Google’s BigTable i.e. HBase and Hypertable. HBase is written in Java and provides BigTable like capabilities on top of Hadoop. Hypertable is developed in C++ and is compatible with multiple distributed file systems. Both HBase and Hypertable require a distributed file system like Google File System (GFS) and the comparison therefore also takes into account the architectural differences in the available implementations of GFS like systems. This paper provides a view of the capabilities of each o f these implementations of BigTable, and should help those trying to understand their technical similari ties, differences, and capabilities.
Comparison of sequential rosuvastatin doses in hypercholesterolaemia: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Abstract Background: Rosuvastatin is an effective treatment for patients with hypercholesterolaemia. However, the incremental benefit and risk of increasing through the licensed dose range have not been comprehensively assessed across all available clinical trials. Research design and methods: The literature databases CENTRAL, EMBASE, and MEDLINE were searched in April 2008 for trials with comparisons of sequential licensed rosuvastatin dosages: 5 vs. 10 mg/day, 10 vs. 20 mg/day, and 20 vs. 40 mg/day. Clinical trial registries were also searched. For benefit outcomes, weighted mean differences were derived using the inverse variance method. For risk outcomes, the Mantel–Haenszel method was used to calculate a summary relative risk. Results: The meta-analysis included 26 trials. The results demonstrated significantly favourable changes in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level with increasing dosage (by 6.25, 5.84, and 5.03 percentage points for 10 vs. 5 mg/day, 20 vs. 10 mg/day, and 40 vs. 20 mg/day, respectively), and also in the ratios of total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and apolipoprotein B to apolipoprotein A-I (all p < 0.00001). In addition, a significantly favourable change in HDL-C level was found with 20 mg/day over 10 mg/day (p = 0.02). Among the primary tolerability comparisons, no significant differences in risk were seen for muscular, hepatic, or renal adverse events, with only one exception: the risk of proteinuria by urine dipstick testing was significantly higher with rosuvastatin 40 mg/day than 20 mg/day (p = 0.01). The efficacy outcomes assessed in this meta-analysis are limited to surrogate markers of morbidity and mortality. Conclusions: This meta-analysis provides evidence for improved efficacy in treating patients with hypercholesterolaemia with each sequential titration of rosuvastatin and a generally consistent tolerability profile across the dose range.
SME network practice - a qualitative study of network management practice and design implications for ICT-support

This paper presents the results of an investigation of network practice among European Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME’s). The purpose is to assess network management practice and design implications for Information Communication Technology (ICT) support. The investigation consisted of 49 interviews with individuals employed by 19 SME’s that either were or had been involved in a network co-operation with another separate juridical entity. This was complemented by a questionnaire answered by 121 respondents fitting the same criteria as the individuals interviewed. We provide a rich description of the vast diversity in SME network management practice and ICT use. From the collected data, three generic network profiles are identified (“Supply-chain networks” (SN), “R&D Networks” (RN) and “Business Networks” (BN)). The three network profiles are structured and analyzed through use of an established IS architecture framework. This provides a holistic view of ICT design implications for the network profiles structured in three architectural levels namely, scope, enterprise and systems level.
Nano-and microfiber combined scaffolds : A new architecture for bone tissue engineering

K. TUZLAKOGLU1,2,3,∗, N. BOLGEN3, A. J. SALGADO1,2, M. E. GOMES1,2, E. PISKIN3, R. L. REIS1,2 13B’s Research Group—Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, Univ. Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal 2Department of Polymer Engineering, University of Minho, Campus de Azurém, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal 3Hacettepe Univ., Chem. Eng. Dept. and Bioeng. Div. and TÜBİTAK-Biyomedtek: Center for Biomedical Technologies, Beytepe, 06532, Ankara, Turkey E-mail: kadriye@dep.uminho. pt
Control strategies for MMC using cells with power transfer capability

Conventional MMCs use cells which typically consist of a half-bridge and a capacitor. Due to their limited energy storage capability, the net power balance of the cells is zero (neglecting losses), the MMC therefore realizing a bidirectional power transfer between its DC and AC ports. It is possible however to provide the MMC with the capability to transfer power at the cell level. The use of such cells opens new functionalities and uses for the MMC, including integration at the cell level of distributed energy storage (e.g. batteries), low-voltage/low power sources/loads, and its operation as a multiport power converter, combining high and low voltage AC and DC ports. Existing control strategies for MMCs assume that all the cells have an identical design and operate identically. However, use of cells with power transfer capability can result in imbalances in their operation, provided that not all the cells transfer power, or that they do not transfer the same amount of power. This paper addresses the design and control of MMCs using cells with power transfer capability, with special focus on the design of suitable control strategies and on the definition of their limits of operation.
Microwave Characterization of a Wafer-Level Packaging Approach for RF MEMS Devices Using Glass Frit Bonding

This paper presents the microwave characterization of a wafer level packaging approach for RF MEMS devices, using glass frit as the bonding material. Coplanar waveguide transmission lines are packaged by silicon caps to carry out the RF characterization of the package structure. Prior to bonding of the cap on the transmission lines, cap wafers are bulk micromachined to form the cavities for housing the device to be packaged and pad windows to access the RF ports of the devices. Lateral feedthroughs are designed under the glass frit ring transitions in order to decrease the impedance loading effect of the silicon cap and the glass frit ring. The package is implemented using both high and low resistive silicon wafers in order to assess the microwave effects of cap wafer. A circuit model is used to extract the parameters of the feedthrough from the RF measurements. The loss of the feedthrough is measured to be 0.1 dB/transition at 10 GHz for high resistive silicon caps demonstrating the viability of glass frit in the packaging of RF MEMS devices.
Model Selection Information Criteria in Latent Class Models with Missing Data and Contingency Question

Latent class analysis (LCA) has been found to have important applications in social and behavioral sciences for modeling categorical response variables, and nonresponse is typical when collecting data. In this study, the nonresponse mainly included “contingency questions” and real “missing data. ” The primary objective of this research was to evaluate the effects of some potential factors on model selection indices in LCA with nonresponse data. We simulated missing data with contingency questions and evaluated the accuracy rates of eight information criteria for selecting the correct models. The results showed that the main factors are latent class proportions, conditional probabilities, sample size, the number of items, the missing data rate, and the contingency data rate. Interactions of the conditional probabilities with class proportions, sample size, and the number of items are also significant. From our simulation results, the impact of missing data and contingency questions can be amended by increasing the sample size or the number of items.
Patterns of shoot mortality in Betula platyphylla in northern Japan.

To understand the development of crown structure in Betula platyphylla Sukatch. , mortality patterns of long shoots were analyzed quantitatively. We selected 25 saplings growing under various light conditions and measured the relative photosynthetically active radiation (rPAR) at, and the three-dimensional position of, first-order branches. A long shoot was assigned "no buds" (NB) status if it lacked buds at the end of the growing season, including at the tips of short shoots. A long shoot was classified as dead if it was NB and all the offspring long shoots issuing from it were NB. The probability that a leafy long shoot (a current-year long shoot with leaves or an older long shoot with short shoots with leaves) would become NB by the end of the season was positively dependent on shoot age and branch age, and negatively dependent on shoot length, centripetal shoot order, branch height and rPAR at the branch. Randomization tests revealed that shoots became NB and dead in clusters of connected shoots. In particular, shoot clusters originating from 3-year-old shoots were more likely to die than expected if each shoot was assumed to become NB regardless of the connection. Stepwise logistic regression revealed that the maximum rPAR within the crown of an individual tree had a significant effect on the mortality rate of 3-year-old shoot clusters, together with the rPAR at the level of the branch and other structural entities. Correlative inhibition is an important mechanism for determining shoot mortality patterns.