Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessment of Serum Copper and Lead in Sudanese Cigarette Smoker

Objective: the objective of this study is to determine the concentration of serum copper and lead in Sudanese smokers. Material and Method: This case control study was carried out, 50 smokers males (aged 18-45 years old), and 50 non smokers males (aged 18-45 years old, as control) were enrolled. Three ml of venous blood were collected from each volunteer. Serum copper and lead were estimated using atomic absorption Spectrophotometer. Results: The of (mean ±SD) lead and copper in male person respectively were (1.10±.496, .70±.29) while the (mean ±SD) of lead and copper in non smoker respectively were (.002±.001, .92±.22). Serum lead was significantly increase in smokers compared to non smokers. A positive correlation found between serum Lead and the number of cigarettes per day and duration of smoking. Serum copper was significantly decrease in smokers compared to non smokers. Serum copper and lead did not change due to age difference. There was a weak Negative correlation found between Copper level and the number of cigarettes per day and duration of smoking. Conclusion: A significant increased of serum lead and decreased of serum copper is detected in cigarette smokers in Sudan, whereas it is not affected by age differences, but affected by number of cigarettes, and duration of smoking
Liapunov and Covariance Controllers

The early work of Liapunov produced some of the most powerful tools for stability analysis that remain to this day. To capture the class of all stabilizing controllers one would be well served by posing the problem in terms of the existence of a Liapunov function, since a Liapunov function is known to exist for stable systems. For linear systems, this pap derives the set of all quadratic Liapunov functions for output feedback control problems, and in this way, parameterizes the set of all stabilizing controllers of fixed order. This is a unifying framework from which all other controllers can be produced by special choices of the free parameters in these controllers (we will show how to choose the free parameters to produce all covariance controllers and all H¿ controllers of fixed order). These results also apply to robustness analysis, and provide a closed form expression for the set of all stabilizing real structured perturbations. Due to the assignment of a matrix property to the system (e.g., covariance matrix), this approah lends itself naturally to mixed problems with multiple objectives.
Region-based Approach for Determining the Optimal Path Using PSO

Many research works have been carried out recently to find the optimal path in network routing. Among them the evolutionary algorithms is an area where work is carried out extensively. We in this paper, have used PSO for finding the optimal path and the concept of region based network is introduced along with the use of indirect encoding. A comparative study of genetic algorithm (GA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) is carried out, and it was found that PSO performed better than GA.
Electromagnetic Design and Modeling of a Two-Phase Axial-Flux Printed Circuit Board Motor

Size and cost reduction are among the main issues of electric motor design and fabrication. This paper proposes an original layout for an axial flux permanent-magnet motor with printed circuit board (PCB) winding. In contrast to other axial flux motors of the same type, which are generally made with a three-phase fractional slot winding, the proposed motor has a two-phase wave winding printed on either side of the PCB. This configuration allows increasing the number of pole pairs and the supply frequency so to reduce the stator and rotor core widths. The winding is also characterized by a large copper percentage on the board, which improves the torque density of the motor. The results of the mathematical analysis, of the numerical simulation and of the experiments are compared. A method for the computation of the phase inductances is also proposed and validated. The main dimensions of the magnets are optimized via the finite-element method. The experimental comparison shows the advantages of the proposed motor in comparison to the traditional shaded pole motor for household applications.
Associations between health-related physical fitness and obesity in Taiwanese youth

Abstract This study examined associations between four health-related physical fitness measures and obesity in Taiwanese youth aged 10–18 years. Data from 13,500 school-aged youth were randomly selected from the “School Physical Fitness Database” of Taiwan by sex and age. Variables examined were height, body mass and performance on modified sit-and-reach (flexibility), bent-leg sit-up (abdominal muscular strength/endurance), standing long jump (lower body explosive strength) and distance run/walk (cardiorespiratory endurance). Adjusted logistic regression analyses were performed. Increased odds of being obese with decreased fitness levels were observed for lower body explosive strength and cardiorespiratory endurance in both sexes. The highest odds of being obese was found in the least fit quintile of cardiorespiratory endurance compared with the most fit quintile both in boys (Odds ratio, OR = 10.44; 95% confidence interval (CI), 7.94–13.73) and girls (OR = 5.40; 95% CI, 3.90–7.47). These findings suggest that in addition to cardiorespiratory fitness, lower body explosive strength is also associated with childhood and adolescent obesity.
Paillier Based Privacy-Preserving Mining of Association Rules from Outsourced Transaction Databases

Distributed computing utilizes the perfect model of data mining-as-an administration, utilizing these it is by all accounts a conspicuous decision for organizations saving money on the cost of adding to secure, oversee and keep up an IT foundation. An association/store ailing in mining capacity can outsource its mining needs to specialist co-op on a cloud server. Be that as it may, both the affiliation guidelines and thing set of the outsourced database are seen as private property of the association. The information proprietor encodes the information and sends to the server to safeguard the corporate privacy. Customer sends mining questions to server, and after that server conducts information mining and sends scrambled example to the customer. To get genuine example customer unscrambles scrambled example. In this paper, we consider the issue of outsourcing the affiliation governs mining assignment inside a corporate privacy preserving framework. Consequently Privacy Preserving Data Mining is an examination territory worried with the security decided from by and by identifiable data when considered for information mining. The Rob Frugal encryption procedure is acquainted with beat the security vulnerabilities of outsourced data, which is centered on balanced substitution figures for things also, including fake examples for database. Be that as it may, it contains different fake examples which increment the limit overhead. To beat this issue, the proposed technique incorporates expansion of weighted support in unique support of things to decrease the quantity of fake examples and to upgrade the security level for outsourced data with less multifaceted nature. The fake exchange table information is changed over into lattice configuration to lessen the capacity overhead. Likewise the speculating assault and man in the center assault are conceivable on essential Rob cheap calculation. To defeat these assaults we use Pallier Encryption on after Rob economical encryption plot with a specific end goal to give privacy preserving outsourced mining. In our proposed work we enhanced the security as thing and thing set construct assault are impractical in light of the framework; moreover we decrease the handling time. Keywords— Cloud computing, association rule mining, privacypreserving outsourcing, elliptic curve diffie hellman, rob frugal.
Evidence of perinatal transmission of Zika virus, French Polynesia, December 2013 and February 2014.

A Zika virus (ZIKAV) outbreak started in October 2013 in French Polynesia, South Pacific. We describe here the clinical and laboratory features of two mothers and their newborns who had ZIKAV infection as confirmed by ZIKAV RT-PCR performed on serum collected within four days post-delivery in date. The infants' infection most probably occurred by transplacental transmission or during delivery. Attention should be paid to ZIKAV-infected pregnant women and their newborns, as data on the impact on them are limited.
Client and key worker ratings of need in first‐episode psychosis early intervention programmes

The aim of this study was to fill a gap in the literature by examining agreement on need as rated by clients and their key workers from first‐episode psychosis early intervention programmes. Compared with adult populations and more chronic courses of illness, these clients may have unique needs given the onset of their illness in adolescence or early adulthood.
Time and temperature dependence of MR parameters during thermal coagulation of ex vivo rabbit muscle

Detailed measurements of the T1‐weighted, T2‐weighted, and MT‐weighted signal were performed for ex vivo muscle samples heated to various temperatures for different times. Consistent, monotonic increases in signal intensity were observed with progressive thermal coagulation, corresponding to an increase in T2 relaxation time and an increase in MT‐weighted signal for temperatures above 60°C. The relationship for T1 relaxation was more complex, showing a decrease in T1 relaxation from 40 to 60°C and an increase above 60°C. These techniques provide a more direct measure of tissue thermal coagulation than that provided by MR thermometry and suggest MR imaging strategies for the optimization and monitoring of thermal coagulation therapy protocols that create thermal damage in target tissues.
Dengue vaccine: priorities and progress

Dengue transmission has increased considerably in the past 20 years. Currently, it can only be reduced by mosquito control; however, the application of vector-control methods are labor intensive, require discipline and diligence, and are hard to sustain. In this context, a safe dengue vaccine that confers long-lasting protection against infection with the four dengue viruses is urgently required. This review will discuss the requirements of a dengue vaccine, problems, and advances that have been made. Finally, new targets for research will be presented.
A global but stable change in HeLa cell morphology induces reorganization of DNA structural loop domains within the cell nucleus

DNA of higher eukaryotes is organized in supercoiled loops anchored to a nuclear matrix (NM). The DNA loops are attached to the NM by means of non‐coding sequences known as matrix attachment regions (MARs). Attachments to the NM can be subdivided in transient and permanent, the second type is considered to represent the attachments that subdivide the genome into structural domains. As yet very little is known about the factors involved in modulating the MAR–NM interactions. It has been suggested that the cell is a vector field in which the linked cytoskeleton‐nucleoskeleton may act as transducers of mechanical information. We have induced a stable change in the typical morphology of cultured HeLa cells, by chronic exposure of the cells to the polar compound dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). Using a PCR‐based method for mapping the position of any DNA sequence relative to the NM, we have monitored the position relative to the NM of sequences corresponding to four independent genetic loci located in separate chromosomes representing different territories within the cell nucleus. Here, we show that stable modification of the NM morphology correlates with the redefinition of DNA loop structural domains as evidenced by the shift of position relative to the NM of the c‐myc locus and the multigene locus PRM1 → PRM2 → TNP2, suggesting that both cell and nuclear shape may act as cues in the choice of the potential MARs that should be attached to the NM. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
HIV-related chronic lung disease in adolescents: are we prepared for the future?

ABSTRACT Introduction: Chronic lung diseases (CLD) are the most chronic disease occurring in adolescents living with human immunodeficiency virus (ALHIV). In ALHIV who received antiretroviral therapy (ART) late in childhood, bronchiectasis, bronchiolitis obliterans and interstitial pneumonitis are common. In adolescents who received ART early in life the spectrum of CLD has changed with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease being common. Areas covered: The aim of this paper was to review CLD in ALHIV. We conducted a literature review of electronic databases focusing on CLD that were common prior to the introduction of ART (1996–2004), the present situation where ART is widely available (2005 to 2016), and articles which aided us speculating on the impact of HIV-related CLD in adolescents transitioning to adult HIV-clinics. Amongst the approximately 2.1 million adolescents living with HIV, CLD commonly occurs. Awareness of the CLD amongst ALHIV needs to be raised to ensure that disease appropriate treatment is available to these vulnerable adolescents. Expert commentary: As adolescents’ transition from pediatric HIV-clinics to adult HIV-clinics the evidence shows that adolescents might not receive optimal care if adult pulmonologists are not aware of the CLD that commonly occur in ALHIV.
Mechanism of MicroRNA-708 Targeting BAMBI in Cell Proliferation, Migration, and Apoptosis in Mice With Melanoma via the Wnt and TGF-β Signaling Pathways

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the mechanisms involved with miRNA-708 and its targeting of bone morphogenetic protein and activin membrane-bound inhibitor in cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis in mice with melanoma via the Wnt and transforming growth factor β signaling pathways. Methods: Sixty mice were recruited of which 40 were subsequently assigned into the experimental group (22 mice were successfully established as melanoma model and 18 mice used in tumor xenograft), and the normal control group consisted of 20 mice. B16 cells were assigned to the normal, blank, and negative control, miR-708 mimics, miR-708 inhibitors, si-BAMBI, and miR-708 inhibitors + si-bone morphogenetic protein and activin membrane-bound inhibitor groups. Western blotting and reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction were employed to detect the expression levels within the tissues and cell lines. TCF luciferase reporter (TOP-FLASH) or a control vector (FOP-FLASH) was applied to detect the activity of the Wnt signaling pathway. MTT3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, flow cytometry, scratch test, and Transwell assay were conducted, respectively, for cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion, while tumor xenograft procedures were performed on the nude mice recruited for the study. Results: Compared to the normal control group, the model group displayed increased expressions of bone morphogenetic protein and activin membrane-bound inhibitor, Wnt10B, P53, and Bcl-2; TOPflash activity; β-catenin expression; cell proliferation; migration; and invasion capabilities while decreased expressions of miR-708, vascular endothelial growth factor, Fas, Bax, Caspase-3, and cleaved Caspase-3 and apoptosis rate. Compared to the blank and negative control groups, the miR-708 mimics and small-interfering RNA-bone morphogenetic protein and activin membrane-bound inhibitor groups exhibited decreases expressions of bone morphogenetic protein and activin membrane-bound inhibitor, Wnt10B, P53, and Bcl-2 and decreased proliferation, migration, and invasion capabilities, while increases in the apoptosis rate, expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor, Fas, Bax, Caspase-3, and cleaved Caspase-3; however, downregulated levels of TOPflash activity and β-catenin expression were recorded. The miR-708 inhibitors group displayed an opposite trend. Conclusion: Downregulation of miR-708-targeted bone morphogenetic protein and activin membrane-bound inhibitor inhibits the proliferation and migration of melanoma cells through the activation of the transforming growth factor β pathway and the suppression of Wnt pathway.
Renal and urinary proteomics: Current applications and challenges

During the past few years, proteomics has been extensively applied to various fields of medicine including nephrology. Current applications of renal and urinary proteomics are to better understand renal physiology, to explore the complexity of disease mechanisms, and to identify novel biomarkers and new therapeutic targets. This review provides some examples and perspectives of how proteomics can be applied to nephrology and how experimental data can be linked to physiology, functional significance and clinical applications. In some instances, proteomic analysis can be utilized to generate a new hypothesis from a set of candidates that are obtained from expression studies. The new hypothesis can then be addressed rapidly by conventional molecular biology methods, as demonstrated by identification of an altered renal elastin‐elastase system in diabetic nephropathy and alterations in the renal kallikrein‐kallistatin pathway in hypoxia‐induced hypertension. The strengths and limitations of proteomics in renal research are summarized. Optimization of analytical protocols is required to overcome current limitations. Applications of proteomics to nephrology will then be more fruitful and successful.
Association with isokinetic ankle strength measurements and normal clinical muscle testing in sciatica patients.

BACKGROUND Sensitive muscle strength tests are needed to measure muscle strength in the diagnosis and management of sciatica patients. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to assess the isokinetic muscle strength in sciatica patients' and control subjects' ankles that exhibited normal ankle muscle strength when measured clinically. METHODS Forty-six patients with L5 and/or S1 nerve compression, and whose age, sex, weight, and height matched 36 healthy volunteers, were recruited to the study. Heel-walking, toe-walking, and manual muscle testing were used to perform ankle dorsiflexion and plantar flexion strengths in clinical examination. Patients with normal ankle dorsiflexion and plantar flexion strengths assessed by manual muscle testing and heel-and toe-walking tests were included in the study. Bilateral isokinetic (concentric/concentric) ankle plantar-flexion-dorsiflexion measurements of the patients and controls were performed within the protocol of 30°/sec (5 repetitions). Peak torque and peak torque/body weight were obtained for each ankle motion of the involved limb at 30°/s speed. RESULTS L5 and/or S1 nerve compression was evident in 46 patients (76 injured limbs). Mean disease duration was two years. The plantar flexion muscle strength of the patients was found to be lower than that of the controls (p=0.036). The dorsiflexion muscle strength of the patients was found to be the same as that of the controls (p=0.211). CONCLUSIONS Isokinetic testing is superior to clinical muscle testing when evaluating ankle plantar flexion torque in sciatica patients. Therefore, isokinetic muscle testing may be helpful when deciding whether to place a patient into a focused rehabilitation program.
Video and imaging gastroenterological medical equipment oriented to telemedicine

This paper describes a system for management of clinical information in gastroenterology. The system consists of two blocks (hardware and software), both developed during the investigation. The hardware interface is connected to endoscopy equipment for video and image acquisition. Then, the patient electronic health record (EHR) is created using a software designed for including the relevant images and video sequences selected by the medical staff. The patient EHR is stored locally as well as in a remote server where authorized users can review and eventually edit the information within a telemedicine protocol.
Trois approches pour la modélisation et la vérification de systèmes embarqués

L'objectif de cet article est de montrer la faisabilite de la verification formelle de proprietes mixtes fonctionnelles et temps reel sur un systeme embarque. Trois approches sont developpees. Une premiere comparaison oppose d'une part une technique operant sur un modele de temps continu (le verifieur UPPAAL associe aux automates temporises) a des techniques operant sur des modeles de temps discrets. Parmi ces dernieres, une seconde comparaison oppose les techniques de « model checking », illustrees ici par le verifieur SMV associe au langage LUSTRE, a des techniques plus couramment utilisees dans le domaine de l'optimisation combinatoire, illustrees dans cet article par une methode de satisfaction de contraintes. Ces comparaisons, realisees sur un exemple du monde avionique, contribuent a montrer la robustesse des approches par contraintes face au phenomene de l'explosion combinatoire.
Association between sleep duration and sleep quality, and metabolic syndrome in Taiwanese police officers.

OBJECTIVES This study's objective was to examine association between sleep duration and sleep quality, and metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components in Taiwanese male police officers. MATERIAL AND METHODS Male police officers who underwent annual health examinations were invited to join the study and eventually a total of 796 subjects was included in it. The study subjects were divided into 5 groups according to the length (duration) of sleep: < 5, 5-5.9, 6-6.9, 7-7.9 and ≥ 8 h per day, and the global Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used to categorize their sleep quality as good or poor. To analyze the association between sleep problems and MetS, adjusted odds ratio and respective 95% confidence intervals (CI) were computed. RESULTS The prevalence of MetS in Taiwanese male police officers was 24.5%. Abdominal obesity had the highest proportion (36.2%) among 5 components of MetS. More than 1/2 of the police officers (52.3%) had poor sleep quality. Police officers with higher scores of sleep disturbances had a higher prevalence of MetS (p = 0.029) and abdominal obesity (p = 0.009). After adjusting for age, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, smoking status, alcohol drinking habit, physical habitual exercise, snoring and type of shift work, the police officers who slept less than 5 h were 88% more likely to suffer from abdominal obesity than those who slept 7-7.9 h (95% CI: 1.01-3.5). Sleep quality was not associated with MetS and its components. CONCLUSIONS The police officers who slept less than 5 h were more likely to experience abdominal obesity in Taiwan, and those with higher scores of sleep disturbances had a higher prevalence of MetS and abdominal obesity. It is recommended that police officers with short sleep duration or sleep disturbances be screened for MetS and waist circumference in order to prevent cardiovascular diseases.