Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessment and conservation of the giant gomeran lizard (Gaiotia bravoana)

In June 1999, a species of lizard previously considered extinct was rediscovered on the island of La Gomera, Spain. The giant gomeran lizard, Galotia bravoana, is highly endangered and at risk of extinction by the feral cat population. A conservation effort to save the species was initiatived by the regional and central Spanish government and six lizards were captured and brought into captivity. This paper describes the results of the initial assessment of the health of the animals, by a physical examination and by haematological, biochemical, radiographical and coprological investigations. The methods used to maintain the animals in captivity are described and the first captive breeding success is reported.
Health Insurance Benefit Design and Healthcare Utilization in Northern Rural China

Background Poverty due to illness has become a substantial social problem in rural China since the collapse of the rural Cooperative Medical System in the early 1980s. Although the Chinese government introduced the New Rural Cooperative Medical Schemes (NRCMS) in 2003, the associations between different health insurance benefit package designs and healthcare utilization remain largely unknown. Accordingly, we sought to examine the impact of health insurance benefit design on health care utilization. Methods and Findings We conducted a cross-sectional study using data from a household survey of 15,698 members of 4,209 randomly-selected households in 7 provinces, which were representative of the provinces along the north side of the Yellow River. Interviews were conducted face-to-face and in Mandarin. Our analytic sample included 9,762 respondents from 2,642 households. In each household, respondents indicated the type of health insurance benefit that the household had (coverage for inpatient care only or coverage for both inpatient and outpatient care) and the number of outpatient visits in the 30 days preceding the interview and the number of hospitalizations in the 365 days preceding the household interview. People who had both outpatient and inpatient coverage compared with inpatient coverage only had significantly more village-level outpatient visits, township-level outpatient visits, and total outpatient visits. Furthermore, the increased utilization of township and village-level outpatient care was experienced disproportionately by people who were poorer, whereas the increased inpatient utilization overall and at the county level was experienced disproportionately by people who were richer. Conclusion The evidence from this study indicates that the design of health insurance benefits is an important policy tool that can affect the health services utilization and socioeconomic equity in service use at different levels. Without careful design, health insurance may not benefit those who are most in need of financial protection from health services expenses.
Risk of breast cancer among young women: relationship to induced abortion.

BACKGROUND Certain events of reproductive life, especially completed pregnancies, have been found to influence a woman's risk of breast cancer. Prior studies of the relationship between breast cancer and a history of incomplete pregnancies have provided inconsistent results. Most of these studies included women beyond the early part of their reproductive years at the time induced abortion became legal in the United States. PURPOSE We conducted a case-control study of breast cancer in young women born recently enough so that some or most of their reproductive years were after the legalization of induced abortion to determine if certain aspects of a woman's experience with abortion might be associated with risk of breast cancer. METHODS Female residents of three counties in western Washington State, who were diagnosed with breast cancer (n = 845) from January 1983 through April 1990, and who were born after 1944, were interviewed in detail about their reproductive histories, including the occurrence of induced abortion. Case patients were obtained through our population-based tumor registry (part of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program of the National Cancer Institute). Similar information was obtained from 961 control women identified through random digit dialing within these same counties. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate odds ratios and confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS Among women who had been pregnant at least once, the risk of breast cancer in those who had experienced an induced abortion was 50% higher than among other women (95% CI = 1.2-1.9). While this increased risk did not vary by the number of induced abortions or by the history of a completed pregnancy, it did vary according to the age at which the abortion occurred and the duration of that pregnancy. Highest risks were observed when the abortion was done at ages younger than 18 years--particularly if it took place after 8 weeks' gestation--or at 30 years of age or older. No increased risk of breast cancer was associated with a spontaneous abortion (RR = 0.9; 95% CI = 0.7-1.2). CONCLUSION Our data support the hypothesis that an induced abortion can adversely influence a woman's subsequent risk of breast cancer. However, the results across all epidemiologic studies of this premise are inconsistent--both overall and within specific subgroups. The risk of breast cancer should be reexamined in future studies of women who have had legal abortion available to them throughout the majority of their reproductive years, with particular attention to the potential influence of induced abortion early in life.
Connectionist models of development

How have connectionist models informed the study of development? This paper considers three contributions from specific models. First, connectionist models have proven useful for exploring nonlinear dynamics and emergent properties, and their role in nonlinear developmental trajectories, critical periods and developmental disorders. Second, connectionist models have informed the study of the representations that lead to behavioral dissociations. Third, connectionist models have provided insight into neural mechanisms, and why different brain regions are specialized for different functions. Connectionist and dynamic systems approaches to development have differed, with connectionist approaches focused on learning processes and representations in cognitive tasks, and dynamic systems approaches focused on mathematical characterizations of physical elements of the system and their interactions with the environment. The two approaches also share much in common, such as their emphasis on continuous, nonlinear processes and their broad application to a range of behaviors.
Discrete-event simulation of uid stochastic Petri nets

The purpose of this paper is to describe a method for simulation of recently introduced uid stochastic Petri nets. Since such nets result in rather complex set of partial di erential equations, numerical solution becomes a formidable task. Because of a mixed, discrete and continuous state space, simulative solution also poses some interesting challenges, which are addressed in the paper. This research was supported in part by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration under NASA Contract No. NAS1-19480 while the authors were in residence at the Institute for Comptuer Applications in Science and Engineering (ICASE), NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA 23681-0001. The work of the second author was supported in part by the National Science Foundation under grants CCR-9201195 and NCR-9527163. The work of the third author was supported in part by the National Science Foundation under grant NSF-EEC-94-18765.
Cognitive aids and ‘behavioural anaesthesia’

m47751 2.htm (accessed 16/01/2017). 4. Puhringer FK, Gordon M, Demeyer I, et al. Sugammadex rapidly reverses moderate rocuroniumor vecuroniuminduced neuromuscular block during sevoflurane anaesthesia: a doseresponse relationship. British Journal of Anaesthesia 2010; 105: 610–9. 5. Eleveld DJ, Kuizenga K, Proost JH, Wierda JMKH. A temporary decrease in twitch response during reversal of rocuroniuminduced muscle relaxation with a small dose of sugammadex. Anesthesia and Analgesia 2007; 104: 582–4.
Simple optical theory for light dosimetry during PDT (Invited Paper)

Photons are one of the three major reactants in the photodynamic reaction that yields toxic photoproduct for cell killing. Dosimetry of light is a major concern when planning a photodynamic therapy (PDT) protocol. This paper presents a very simple approach toward the tissue optics with a practical conclusion about how tissue optics affects planning of day-to-day PDT dosimetry. The paper does not address all the complexities of real tissue dosimetry, such as heterogeneous tissues, variable absorption due to changing tissue blood content, and variable tissue oxygen levels. The paper outlines the optical behavior in a homogeneous tissue, which is a starting point for understanding light dosimetry.
Recombinant HDL (Milano) protects endotoxin-challenged rats from multiple organ injury and dysfunction

Abstract Endotoxemia, the systemic inflammatory host response to infection, leads to severe septic shock and multiple organ injury and dysfunction syndrome (MOPS), which cause mortality. Apolipoprotein A-IMilano (apoAIM), a naturally occurring cysteine mutant of apoAI with dimers as its effective form, showed an enhanced cardiovascular protective activity compared with wild-type apoAI (apoAIwt). To investigate the role of recombinant high-density lipoprotein (rHDL) reconstituted with apoAIM (rHDLM) on endotoxemia and MOPS, we examined the anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and protective effects of this cysteine mutant against organ injury in endotoxin-challenged rat models compared with rHDLwt. In the present study, we demonstrated for the first time that pretreatment with rHDLM significantly attenuated liver and renal dysfunction and histopathological features of lung injury in endotoxin-challenged endotoxemia rats. Administration of rHDLM to endotoxemia rats dramatically suppressed proinflammatory cytokines and adhesion molecule increase in tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin 1β, interleukin 6, and intercellular adhesion molecule 1. In addition, rHDLM pretreatment inhibited lipid peroxidation and enhanced total antioxidant capacity in vivo. In comparison with rHDLwt, rHDLM showed enhanced capacity on anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant functions. In summary, administration of rHDLM protected endotoxin-challenged endotoxemia and MOPS through enhanced anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties.
Diagnostic accuracy of a clinical diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: an international case–cohort study

We conducted an international study of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) diagnosis among a large group of physicians and compared their diagnostic performance to a panel of IPF experts. A total of 1141 respiratory physicians and 34 IPF experts participated. Participants evaluated 60 cases of interstitial lung disease (ILD) without interdisciplinary consultation. Diagnostic agreement was measured using the weighted kappa coefficient (κw). Prognostic discrimination between IPF and other ILDs was used to validate diagnostic accuracy for first-choice diagnoses of IPF and were compared using the C-index. A total of 404 physicians completed the study. Agreement for IPF diagnosis was higher among expert physicians (κw=0.65, IQR 0.53–0.72, p<0.0001) than academic physicians (κw=0.56, IQR 0.45–0.65, p<0.0001) or physicians with access to multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings (κw=0.54, IQR 0.45–0.64, p<0.0001). The prognostic accuracy of academic physicians with >20 years of experience (C-index=0.72, IQR 0.0–0.73, p=0.229) and non-university hospital physicians with more than 20 years of experience, attending weekly MDT meetings (C-index=0.72, IQR 0.70–0.72, p=0.052), did not differ significantly (p=0.229 and p=0.052 respectively) from the expert panel (C-index=0.74 IQR 0.72–0.75). Experienced respiratory physicians at university-based institutions diagnose IPF with similar prognostic accuracy to IPF experts. Regular MDT meeting attendance improves the prognostic accuracy of experienced non-university practitioners to levels achieved by IPF experts. Academic status, access to MDT meetings and clinician experience predict accuracy of a clinical diagnosis of IPF http://ow.ly/k43W30cTMg1
Predicting diode laser performance

Predictions of the threshold current density of GaAs/AlGaAs graded refractive index (GRIN), separate confinement heterostructure (SCH), single potential well (SW) diode lasers at 25 degree(s)C and 125 degree(s)C using strict k-selection theory are made. A reasonable fit to the experimental data at both temperatures can be obtained without including carrier scattering. It is concluded that good predictions of threshold current density and differential quantum efficiency can be made provided one knows how to predict the temperature dependence of internal quantum efficiency.
Cost-effectiveness analysis of granisetron-based versus standard antiemetic regimens in low-emetogenic chemotherapy: a hospital-based perspective from Malaysia.

BACKGROUND In a prospective cohort study of antiemetic therapy conducted in Malaysia, a total of 94 patients received low emetogenic chemotherapy (LEC) with or without granisetron injections as the primary prophylaxis for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). This study is a retrospective cost analysis of two antiemetic regimens from the payer perspective. MATERIALS AND METHODS This cost evaluation refers to 2011, the year in which the observation was conducted. Direct costs incurred by hospitals including the drug acquisition, materials and time spent for clinical activities from prescribing to dispensing of home medications were evaluated (MYR 1=$0.32 USD). As reported to be significantly different between two regimens (96.1% vs 81.0%; p=0.017), the complete response rate of acute emesis which was defined as a patient successfully treated without any emesis episode within 24 hours after LEC was used as the main indicator for effectiveness. RESULTS Antiemetic drug acquisition cost per patient was 40.7 times higher for the granisetron-based regimen than for the standard regimen (MYR 64.3 vs 1.58). When both the costs for materials and clinical activities were included, the total cost per patient was 8.68 times higher for the granisetron-based regimen (MYR 73.5 vs 8.47). Considering the complete response rates, the mean cost per successfully treated patient in granisetron group was 7.31 times higher (MYR 76.5 vs 10.5). The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) with granisetron-based regimen, relative to the standard regimen, was MYR 430.7. It was found to be most sensitive to the change of antiemetic effects of granisetron-based regimen. CONCLUSIONS While providing a better efficacy in acute emesis control, the low incidence of acute emesis and high ICER makes use of granisetron as primary prophylaxis in LEC controversial.
Research of CamShift Algorithm to Track Motion Objects

At present, objects detection, identification and tracking are the very popular research areas in computing vision. A real-time objects tracking system was proposed in this paper. This paper focuses on improve CamShift algorithm, which can track the motion objects with high a accuracy. An Adaptive Gaussian Background Model is proposed in the system , which was established in order to automatically update the background and detect the outline of moving objects. By analyzing different algorithms, this paper brings out approaches to promote the performance.The CamShift algorithm to complete motion detection and objects tracking, which applied for static background video sequences. And the experimental results show that this algorithm can detect all motion objects and track almost motion objects. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.11591/telkomnika.v11i8. 3037
Characterization of Three Maize Bacterial Artificial Chromosome Libraries toward Anchoring of the Physical Map to the Genetic Map Using High-Density Bacterial Artificial Chromosome Filter Hybridization1

Three maize (Zea mays) bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) libraries were constructed from inbred line B73. High-density filter sets from all three libraries, made using different restriction enzymes (HindIII,EcoRI, and MboI, respectively), were evaluated with a set of complex probes including the185-bp knob repeat, ribosomal DNA, two telomere-associated repeat sequences, four centromere repeats, the mitochondrial genome, a multifragment chloroplast DNA probe, and bacteriophage λ. The results indicate that the libraries are of high quality with low contamination by organellar and λ-sequences. The use of libraries from multiple enzymes increased the chance of recovering each region of the genome. Ninety maize restriction fragment-length polymorphism core markers were hybridized to filters of the HindIII library, representing 6× coverage of the genome, to initiate development of a framework for anchoring BAC contigs to the intermated B73 × Mo17 genetic map and to mark the bin boundaries on the physical map. All of the clones used as hybridization probes detected at least three BACs. Twenty-two single-copy number core markers identified an average of 7.4 ± 3.3 positive clones, consistent with the expectation of six clones. This information is integrated into fingerprinting data generated by the Arizona Genomics Institute to assemble the BAC contigs using fingerprint contig and contributed to the process of physical map construction.
Acoustic experience shapes female mate choice in field crickets

Female choice can drive the evolution of extravagant male traits. In invertebrates, the influence of prior social experience on female choice has only recently been considered. To better understand the evolutionary implications of experience-mediated plasticity in female choice, we investigated the effect of acoustic experience during rearing on female responsiveness to male song in the field cricket Teleogryllus oceanicus. Acoustic experience has unique biological relevance in this species: a morphological mutation has rendered over 90 per cent of males on the Hawaiian island of Kauai silent in fewer than 20 generations, impeding females' abilities to locate potential mates. Females reared in silent conditions mimicking Kauai were less discriminating of male calling song and more responsive to playbacks, compared with females that experienced song during rearing. Our results to our knowledge, are the first demonstration of long-term effects of acoustic experience in an arthropod, and suggest that female T. oceanicus may be able to compensate for the reduced availability of long-range male sexual signals by increasing their responsiveness to the few remaining signallers. Understanding the adaptive significance of experience-mediated plasticity in female choice provides insight into processes that facilitate rapid evolutionary change and shape sexual selection pressure in natural populations.
A Statistical Circuit Optimization Algorithm under Thermal and Ti ming Constraints

Process Variation has become a crucial challenge on both interconnect delay and reliability of nanometer integrated circuit designs. Furthermore, th e dramatic increase of power consumption and integration density has led to high operating temperature. Temperature, as well as electromigration (E M) and power, also significantly affects the delay and reliability of interconnec ts. Considering process variation, we use statistical methods to simultaneously optimize the circuit area, delay, power, thermal, and EM reliability by sizing circuit components (both wires and gates). We model the problem as a second-order conic program and solve it with the interior-point optimiza tion method. Experimental results show that our statistical algorithm can efficiently find desired solutions that satisfy all delay, power, and therma l constraints.
Graphite–based bipolar plates

Composites of polymer binders and conductive particles (e.g., graphite powder) are an interesting alternative bipolar plate material, since they are less expensive than pure graphite and less corrosion-sensitive than metals. By appropriate choice of both components these composite materials can be tailored to meet the requirements of good high-volume processability (e.g., by injection-molding) and adequate behavior under fuel cell operation. Another graphite-based bipolar plate material is graphite foil which is obtained by pressing expanded natural graphite. Both graphite based bipolar plate materials described in this chapter can be considered as “specialists” for different fuel cell applications. Graphite foil is especially attractive for lightweight fuel cell applications, e.g., in the portable and automotive field. For both kinds of bipolar plates, material issues are discussed and the processing technologies are described. Furthermore, techniques to reduce the contact resistance of molded graphite/polymer composite bipolar plates and to increase the gas-tightness of graphite foil are indicated. The strong influence of the specifications of the starting materials and the processing conditions on the product quality is pointed out. Keywords: bipolar plate; conductivity; contact resistance; corrosion; graphite; graphite foil; graphite/polymer composite; molding; injection-molding; solid polymer fuel cell
Ultrashort pulse laser processing of hard tissue, dental restoration materials, and biocompatibles

During the last few years, ultra-short laser pulses have proven their potential for application in medical tissue treatment in many ways. In hard tissue ablation, their aptitude for material ablation with negligible collateral damage provides many advantages. Especially teeth representing an anatomically and physiologically very special region with less blood circulation and lower healing rates than other tissues require most careful treatment. Hence, overheating of the pulp and induction of microcracks are some of the most problematic issues in dental preparation. Up till now it was shown by many authors that the application of picosecond or femtosecond pulses allows to perform ablation with very low damaging potential also fitting to the physiological requirements indicated. Beside the short interaction time with the irradiated matter, scanning of the ultra-short pulse trains turned out to be crucial for ablating cavities of the required quality. One main reason for this can be seen in the fact that during scanning the time period between two subsequent pulses incident on the same spot is so much extended that no heat accumulation effects occur and each pulse can be treated as a first one with respect to its local impact. Extension of this advantageous technique to biocompatible materials, i.e. in this case dental restoration materials and titanium plasma-sprayed implants, is just a matter of consequence. Recently published results on composites fit well with earlier data on dental hard tissue. In case of plaque which has to be removed from implants, it turns out that removal of at least the calcified version is harder than tissue removal. Therefore, besides ultra-short lasers, also Diode and Neodymium lasers, in cw and pulsed modes, have been studied with respect to plaque removal and sterilization. The temperature increase during laser exposure has been experimentally evaluated in parallel.