Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gestational age assessment in Nigerian newborn infants.

rate in terms of the amount of sweat produced and the virtual absence of failures. On the first day of life the average level of sweat sodium was decidedly higher than on the second and subsequent days, with an appreciable number of day 1 results exceeding the level of 70 mEq/1. , generally accepted as the upper limit of normal. In one case the level was as high as 138 mEq/1. All 5 out of the 6 cases with high values on day 1, and which were available for retesting later, then gave normal levels well below 70 mEq/1. (Fig. 1). We conclude that a high sweat sodium (>70 mEq/1.) on day 1 is not necessarily indicative of CF, but from day 2 onwards it is much more likely to be so. Although the method is obviously not practicable as a routine screening procedure for CF, there are two circumstances when it is indicated. (1) Intestinal obstruction due to suspected meconium ileus, since if that diagnosis is confirmed by finding an abnormal sweat sodium level, conservative treatment with enemas may be appropriate; and (2) a previous sib has suffered from CF, with the 25% risk for subsequent offspring.
From Piles to Tiles : Designing for Overview and Control in Case Handling Systems

IT systems with poor usability are a serious problem in many workplaces. Many workers, particularly office workers, spend a large part of their workday at the computer, and usability problems can cause frustration and impact negatively on productivity. This thesis discusses some of the problems associated with addressing usability and users’ needs in IT systems development.Usability issues and users’ needs are often marginalised or even abandoned in systems development. Technical issues and deadlines are given precedence, while usability activities and user activities are cut back or cancelled. Research shows that there are various obstacles to usability and user involvement, including difficulties with understanding the usability concept, insufficient usability expertise and a lack of time and resources.This thesis presents a number of studies that look at the problem from different angles. The main question is why usability and users’ needs are marginalised in bespoke systems development, where IT systems are built for a specific work context. The research presented in this thesis also addresses user-centred systems design as a way of integrating usability issues and users’ needs into systems development. The thesis concludes with a discussion about different ways of viewing and representing the users’ work: the systems theoretical view and the view of work as a social process. The former emphasises the formal aspects of work and views users as components in an overall system, whereas the latter focuses on work as a social process and people as active agents. The discussion concludes with the argument that the conflict between these two views is played out in the systems development process, which may help explain some of the difficulties that arise when working with usability and users’ needs.
Comprehensive Analyses and Comparison of 1 kW Isolated DC–DC Converters for Bidirectional EV Charging Systems

Isolated dc–dc converters with galvanic isolation are commonly used in electric vehicle (EV) battery chargers. These converters interface between a dc voltage link, which is usually the output of a power factor correction stage, and an energy storage unit. CLLC and dual active bridge (DAB) dc–dc converters can achieve high power density, high-energy efficiency, wide gain range, galvanic isolation, and bidirectional power flow, and therefore, have potential applications as dc–dc converters for bidirectional EV charging systems. In this paper, full-bridge CLLC, half-bridge CLLC, full-bridge DAB, and half-bridge DAB dc–dc converters are evaluated and compared for their suitability for EV chargers. All the converters are designed with optimal soft-switching features. The operating principles, design methodologies, and design considerations are presented. Prototypes of the converters with power rating of 1 kW are designed and developed. The prototypes interface a 500 V dc link and a 200–420 V load, which is common for EV applications. The performances of the circuits are analyzed and a comprehensive comparison is conducted.
Incidence, treatment costs, and complications of lymphedema after breast cancer among women of working age: a 2-year follow-up study.

PURPOSE This study estimated the economic burden of breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) among working-age women, the incidence of lymphedema, and associated risk factors. METHODS We used claims data to study an incident cohort of breast cancer patients for the 2 years after the initiation of cancer treatment. A logistic regression model was used to ascertain factors associated with lymphedema. We compared the medical costs and rate of infections likely associated with lymphedema between a woman with BCRL and a matched control. We performed nonparametric bootstrapping to compare the unadjusted cost differences and estimated the adjusted cost differences in regression analysis. RESULTS Approximately 10% of the 1,877 patients had claims indicating treatment of lymphedema. Predictors included treatment with full axillary node dissection (odds ratio [OR] = 6.3, P < .001) and chemotherapy (OR = 1.6, P = .01). A geographic variation was observed; women who resided in the West were more likely to have lymphedema claims than those in the Northeast (OR = 2.05, P = .01). The matched cohort analysis demonstrated that the BCRL group had significantly higher medical costs ($14,877 to $23,167) and was twice as likely to have lymphangitis or cellulitis (OR = 2.02, P = .009). Outpatient care, especially mental health services, diagnostic imaging, and visits with moderate or high complexity, accounted for the majority of the difference. CONCLUSION Although the use of claims data may underestimate the true incidence of lymphedema, women with BCRL had a greater risk of infections and incurred higher medical costs. The substantial costs documented here suggest that further efforts should be made to elucidate reduction and prevention strategies for BCRL.
Compact lowpass filter with ultra-wide stopband using novel spiral compact microstrip resonant cell

In this paper a novel spiral compact microstrip resonant cell (NSCMRC) to design a low pass filter with wide stopband is presented. The slow-wave effect and scattering and radiation parameters are depicted. The designed lowpass filter is implemented by cascading three cells with different dimensions that shows the advantages of low insertion loss less than 0.03dB and wide stopband from 4GHZ up to 50GHZ with suppression level better than -13.4dB and compact size. Finally, the proposed lowpass filter is fabricated and a good agreement between simulated and the measured results are demonstrated.
Impact of Biological and Environmental Variabilities on Biological Monitoring—An Approach Using Toxicokinetic Models

Biological monitoring of occupational exposure is characterized by important variability, due both to variability in the environment and to biological differences between workers. A quantitative description and understanding of this variability is important for a dependable application of biological monitoring. This work describes this variability, using a toxicokinetic model, for a large range of chemicals for which reference biological reference values exist. A toxicokinetic compartmental model describing both the parent compound and its metabolites was used. For each chemical, compartments were given physiological meaning. Models were elaborated based on physiological, physicochemical, and biochemical data when available, and on half-lives and central compartment concentrations when not available. Fourteen chemicals were studied (arsenic, cadmium, carbon monoxide, chromium, cobalt, ethylbenzene, ethyleneglycol monomethylether, fluorides, lead, mercury, methyl isobutyl ketone, penthachlorophenol, phenol, and toluene), representing 20 biological indicators. Occupational exposures were simulated using Monte Carlo techniques with realistic distributions of both individual physiological parameters and exposure conditions. Resulting biological indicator levels were then analyzed to identify the contribution of environmental and biological variability to total variability. Comparison of predicted biological indicator levels with biological exposure limits showed a high correlation with the model for 19 out of 20 indicators. Variability associated with changes in exposure levels (GSD of 1.5 and 2.0) is shown to be mainly influenced by the kinetics of the biological indicator. Thus, with regard to variability, we can conclude that, for the 14 chemicals modeled, biological monitoring would be preferable to air monitoring. For short half-lives (less than 7 hr), this is very similar to the environmental variability. However, for longer half-lives, estimated variability decreased. [Supplementary materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene for the following free supplemental resource: tables detailing the CBTK models for all 14 chemicals and the symbol nomenclature that was used. ]
SQUARE: Benchmarking Crowd Consensus at MediaEval

We extend the square benchmark for statistical consensus methods to include additional evaluation on two datasets from the MediaEval 2013 Crowdsourcing in Multimedia shared task. In addition to reporting shared task results, we also analyze qualitatively and quantitatively performance of consensus algorithms under varying supervision. 1. ALGORITHMS
Selection Using Micro-Reviews

Given the proliferation of review content, and the fact that reviews are highly diverse and often unnecessarily verbose, users frequently face the problem of selecting the appropriate reviews to consume.Micro-reviews are emerging as a new type of online review content in the social media. Micro-reviews are posted by users of check-in services such as Foursquare. They are concise (up to 200 characters long) and highly focused, in contrast to the comprehensive and verbose reviews. In this paper, we propose a novel mining problem, which brings together these two disparate sources of review content. Specifically, we use coverage of micro-reviews as an objective for selecting a set of reviews that cover efficiently the salient aspects of an entity. Our approach consists of a two-step process: matching review sentences to micro-reviews, and selecting a small set of reviews that cover as many micro-reviews as possible, with few sentences. We formulate this objective as a combinatorial optimization problem, and show how to derive an optimal solution using Integer Linear Programming. We also propose an efficient heuristic algorithm that approximates the optimal solution. Finally, we perform a detailed evaluation of all the steps of our methodology using data collected from Foursquare and Yelp.
Research of the Impact of Firm’s Network on the Growth of B2B2C E-commerce Firm

This paper does a brief introduction on B2B2C e-commerce, network structure, network relationship and the growth of e-commerce firm. Then it sets a theoretical framework and uses case study to explore the impact of firm’s network on the growth of B2B2C e-commerce firms involving retail, travel and shoes industries. The result of case studies indicates that firm’s network structure and firm’s growth, firm’s network relationship and firm’s growth, firm’s network capabilities and firm’s growth all have clear positive correlations. Then this paper puts forward relevant hypotheses and does pretest to ensure the effectiveness of questionnaire. Finally, it discusses the limitations and points out future research direction.
Medicinal foodstuffs. IX. The inhibitors of glucose absorption from the leaves of Gymnema sylvestre R. BR. (Asclepiadaceae): structures of gymnemosides a and b.

Although the glycosidic fraction from the dried leaves of Gymnema sylvestre R. BR. , gymnemic acid, was reported to be effective for diabetes, it showed little inhibitory activity on the increase of serum glucose level in oral glucose-loaded rats. From the glycosidic fraction, six triterpene glycosides, gymnemosides a, b, c, d, e, and f, were isolated together with nine known triterpene glycosides. The structures of gymnemosides a and b were determined on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence as 21-O-tigloyl-22-O-acetylgymnemagenin 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosiduronic acid and 16-O-acetyl-21-O-tigloylgymnemagenin 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosiduronic acid, respectively. In addition, an acetyl group linked to the 16- or 22-hydroxyl group in gymnemosides a and b was found to migrate easily to the primary 28-hydroxyl group, while the acyl migration from the 28-position was rarely observed. The inhibitory activity of each triterpene glycoside from gymnemic acid was examined to determine its impact on the increase of serum glucose level in oral glucose-loaded rats. Gymnemoside b and gymnemic acids III, V, and VII were found to exhibit a little inhibitory activity against glucose absorption, but the principal constituents, gymnemic acid I and gymnemasaponin V, lacked this activity.
Role of Bile in Regulating Small RNAs in Salmonella typhi A Factor for Chronic Infection within Gallbladder

Small non-coding RNAs have been shown to regulate mechanisms within bacteria required for their survival and adaptation (Wassarman, 2002; Repoila et al., 2003; Waters and Storz, 2009). These sRNAs interact directly with the protein or base pair with target mRNA to alter their activity (Wagner et al., 2002; Tjaden et al., 2006; Sharma and Vogel, 2009). The targets for many sRNAs are yet to be identified, but some function as a response to stress which alters membrane structure and general stress responses in bacteria (Gottesman et al., 2006; Guillier et al., 2006). The importance of understanding such a regulation is when organisms like S. typhi are able to survive within gallbladder-a site for storage of bile (Hazrah et al., 2004; Nath et al., 2008). Human bile possesses detergent like properties being bactericidal and sterile ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 4 Number 2 (2015) pp. 183-197 http://www.ijcmas. com
Magnetic field calculations in the vicinity of superconductive circuit structures

Modeling the magnetic field generated by currents in thin-film superconducting structures is useful to a broad range of applications. Present methods calculate the magnetic field around such structures from two-dimensional current sheets. We present an efficient and accurate algorithm to calculate the magnetic field at arbitrary locations in three dimensions, both internal and external to the structures. We use a combination of FastHenry and InductEx to calculate the current density, from which we compute the magnetic field semi-analytically using Biot-Savart's law. As practical examples, we employ the algorithm to compute (i) the mean square flux noise in square SQUID and qubit loops and (ii) the dc bias current-induced magnetic field in real digital circuit layouts.
Resource limitation underlying multiple masting models makes mast seeding sensitive to future climate change.

Mechanistic models can help resolve controversy over the responses of mast seeding plants to future environmental change. We evaluate drivers of mast seeding by: developing and validating a new mechanistic resource-based model of mast seeding using four 40-yr Chionochloa (snow tussock) datasets; and comparing the performance of competing empirically-based statistical models, that aim to approximate the mechanisms underlying mast seeding, in explaining simulated and observed data. Our mechanistic model explained 90-99% of the variation in Chionochloa flowering, with higher rates of stored resource mobilisation and lower probability of climatic induction of flowering occurring at lower fertility sites. Inter-annual variation in floral induction and the degree to which seeding is resource-limited explained shifts in the relative performance of different empirical models fitted to data simulated from the mechanistic model. Empirical models explicitly capturing the interaction between the floral induction cue and internal resource state underlying the resource-limited induction mechanism had > 8.7× the statistical support of alternatives when fitted to Chionochloa datasets. We find support for resource-limited floral induction with multiple empirical models consistent with this same mechanism. As both resource acquisition and flowering cues are climate sensitive, we expect climate change to impact upon patterns of mast seeding.
Keynote: Innovative development of the RP assisted customized surgical guides in various surgeries

The unique capabilities of the Computer Aided Design (CAD) and rapid prototyping (RP) have been useful for designing and manufacturing of the customized surgical guides (CSGs). In complex surgeries the CSGs have been shown to provide an accurate means of transferring virtual surgical planning (VSP) to actual surgery. The main purpose of this study is to highlight the different areas where RP assisted CSGs have been prominently use. This paper describes the successful application of RP for the production of CSGs in twelve different areas of complex surgeries. Rapid manufacturing of CSGs using RP technique and their applications; for drilling, cutting and positioning of the implant in various complex surgeries is given in this paper. Otherwise these types of complex surgeries could not be accurately treated through traditional surgeries. Different case reports are noted in this study to know the various innovative ideas related to the RP assisted CSGs. The detail methodology for development of CSGs is also described in this paper. The applications reported here have demonstrated that RP is a viable process for the manufacturing of CSGs. This approach shows good results in designing and manufacturing of the CSGs. Using advanced tools; VSP, CAD and RP for development of CSGs for the accurate surgery are possible easily. The main aim of this paper is to represent the applications of RP technology to direct manufacturing of CSGs in various complex surgeries.
Tibioperoneal Angioplasty and Bypass

Abstract Revascularisation by angioplasty or bypass of narrowing and occlusion of the tibio-peroneal segment is done infrequently compared with the more proximal arteries, particularly the superficial femoral artery. The indication for intervention is critical limb ischaemia and the pattern of disease when it predominantly affects the calf arteries is most commonly seen in diabetics. Surgical bypass is the orthodox technique, with well-documented long-term results. Balloon dilation has recently been tried, particularly using the sub-intimal technique. The advantage of minimal invasiveness has to be set against the inapplicability of the method if severe calcification is present, as is often the case in diabetics, the high restenosis rate, and the absence of controlled trials showing good evidence of long-term patency.
Current limiting characteristics of transformer type superconducting fault current limiter

The transformer type superconducting fault current limiter is composed of a series transformer and a superconducting current limiting device. The primary winding of the transformer is connected in series to the power transmission line, and the secondary winding is short-circuited through the superconducting current limiting device whose normal resistance plays an important role in limiting the fault current. According to our previous investigations, the basic characteristics and the design indexes of the transformer type superconducting fault current limiter were clarified. In this paper, the results of the current limiting test of a 5 kVA class transformer type superconducting current limiter are analyzed in detail, and the limiting characteristics such as the dependency of the initiation current of the limiting operation on the fault phase angle are shown.
Experimental searching of optimum coupling efficiency of double series coupled microring resonator

We proposed the optimum condition of coupling efficiency for lossy microring resonator. Thus we designed and fabricated double series coupled microring resonators. From the shape of spectra, we confirmed the dependance of the coupling efficiencies on the shape of spectra. Then we confirmed the optimum condition of coupling efficiencies, in which the pass band of drop port response was maximally flattened and the notch of through port response was maximally deepened.
Age‐related changes in mitochondrial function of mouse colonic smooth muscle: beneficial effects of melatonin

Aging is a multifactorial process that involves biochemical, structural, and functional changes in mitochondria. The ability of melatonin to palliate the alterations induced by aging is based on its chronobiologic, antioxidant, and mitochondrial effects. There is little information about the effects of melatonin on the in situ mitochondrial network of aging cells and its physiological implications. We have studied the ability of melatonin to prevent the functional alterations of in situ mitochondria of smooth muscle cells and its impact on contractility. Mitochondrial membrane potential was recorded in isolated colonic smooth muscle cells from young mice (3 month old), aged mice (22–24‐month old), and aged mice treated with melatonin (starting at 14‐month age). Aging induced a partial mitochondrial depolarization in resting conditions and reduced the depolarizing response to cellular stimulation. Use of oligomycin indicated that aging enhanced the resting activity of the mitochondrial ATP synthase, whereas in young cells, the enzyme operated mainly in reverse mode. Melatonin treatment prevented all these changes. Aging reduced both spontaneous and stimulated contraction of colonic strips and shifted the metabolic dependence of contraction from mitochondria to glycolysis, as indicated the use of mitochondrial and glycolysis inhibitors. These functional alterations were also palliated by melatonin treatment. Aging effects were not related to a decrease in Ca2+ store mobilization, because this was enhanced in aged cells and restored by melatonin. In conclusion, melatonin prevents the age induced in situ mitochondrial potential alterations in smooth muscle cells and the associated changes in contractility and metabolism.
Scottish adjuvant tamoxifen trial: a randomized study updated to 15 years.

BACKGROUND AND METHODS The Scottish Adjuvant Tamoxifen Trial (main trial) was initiated in April 1978 to assess the effect of tamoxifen given to patients with breast cancer immediately after mastectomy (or mastectomy plus radiation therapy) (adjuvant arm) or only after the patients had had a relapse (control arm); 1323 patients were randomly assigned (667 to the adjuvant arm and 656 to the control arm). Results have been reported for the follow-up period from 2.5 through 8 years. In this article, we report updated results after a median follow-up of 15 years. If agreeable and eligible, patients who were disease free at 5 years in the adjuvant arm of the main trial were entered into a duration trial and randomly assigned either to stop taking tamoxifen (169 patients) or to continue taking it indefinitely until relapse or death (173 patients). For this update, we analyzed information on death, recurrence, survival, and other malignancies for all but 21 of the 560 living patients from the original and duration trials to determine the probabilities of total survival, systemic relapse of disease, and death from breast cancer. All statistical tests are two-sided. RESULTS The beneficial effect of adjuvant tamoxifen given for 5 years on the probability of total survival (P =.006), systemic relapse (P =.007), and death from breast cancer (P =.002) has been maintained through 15 years. No additional benefit was observed in those randomly assigned to continue taking tamoxifen beyond 5 years. CONCLUSION Information from this study suggests that, if adjuvant tamoxifen is given to women with operable breast cancer, it need not be for more than 5 years.