Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The sensitivity of transabdominal ultrasound in the diagnosis of ureterolithiasis.

OBJECTIVES The ultrasonographic diagnosis of renal lithiasis colic is suggested by the existence of hydronephrosis, but the certainty is given by the direct visualization of the ureteral calculus. The aim of this study is to assess the performance of ultrasound in identifying ureteral calculi compared to other imaging methods (abdominal X-ray, urography and computed tomography). MATERIAL AND METHOD We performed ultrasonographic examination (one or multiple examinations) in 217 patients with renal colic and ureterolithiasis. The calculus was identified by abdominal radiography, urography, computed tomography or by eliminating the calculus RESULTS Ureteral calculi were ultrasonographically identified in 159 of the examined patients: 121 in the initial examination, 38 in the additional reexaminations (73.27% sensitivity compared to 48.39% X-ray, 68.37% urography, and 91.11% CT). Hydronephrosis was identified in 193 patients (88.94%). None of the imaging methods managed to identify ureteral calculus in 4 of the patients (1.84%), the diagnosis being retrospective, based on the urinary elimination of the calculus. The calculi were located 12.58% in the pelviureteric junction, 10.69% in the proximal ureter, 6.91% in the mid ureter, 28.93% in the distal ureter, and 40.88% in the pelviureteric junction. CONCLUSIONS Ultrasound is a sensitive method for detecting UL in renal colic and can be used as the initial imaging method in investigating these patients. The presence or absence of hydronephrosis can not be considered as a discriminatory factor for the diagnosis of ureterolithiasis.
The physics of lasers and implications for their use during airway surgery.

In 1917, Albert Einstein recognized the existence of stimulated emissions [21]. The first description of stimulated optical emission of monochromatic light using ruby as the active material—the ruby laser—was provided by Theodore Maiman in 1960 [45]. The more powerful neodymium-inglass laser was discovered a year later. It was hoped that lasers would be useful in medicine for the excision of tumours, but initial expectations were not realized. Their poor absorption by nonpigmented tissues necessitated the use of large amounts of energy, with the result that the thermal effect could not be localized to diseased tissue [80]. In 1966, at the American Optical Corporation Laboratories, Yahr and Strully discovered that the carbon dioxide (CO2) laser can cut tissue [103]. Strong and Jako first appreciated the potential of the CO2 laser for use in otolaryngology in 1971 [87]. The development of the micromanipulator by Polanyi in 1974, enabling the CO2 laser to be used with an operating microscope, greatly facilitated its use for microlaryngeal surgery [63]. The argon laser has been used extensively in ophthalmic surgery and dermatology since about 1970 [16], and the neodymiumin-yttrium-aluminium-garnet (Nd-YAG) laser was first introduced in 1975 for the endoscopic treatment of gastrointestinal haemorrhage [37].
Inflation targeting in the Czech Republic

This paper presents the Czech approach to inflation targeting (IT) that was co-authored by the authors of the paper. The IT strategy was introduced by the Czech National Bank in 1997. The paper gives an overview of history of monetary policy in the Czech Republic and reasons for a change in strategy. Similarly to the countries that adopted the inflation targeting, the Czech republic lost its nominal anchor when letting domestic currency to float. Monetary targeting was not an option due to weaker links between both the price level and money supply a well as money supply and interest rates. In the next section, the paper describes the problems of implementation of inflation targeting in transitional country and solutions adopted by the Czech National Bank. Specifically, the issue of regulated prices is discussed and definition of the net inflation index. Also, the strategy of desinflation and its representation by a set of two targets for different time horizons is analyzed. The overview of the first months of decision-making process under the new strategy shows that it promotes both internal as well as external transparency of monetary policy. In the last section, several lessons are derived for inflation targeters in transitional countries from the Czech experience. For example, the importance on society preferences towards price and currency stability is emphasized. Also, the conflict between a necessity of anchoring expectations and longer lags of monetary policy is explained. It is concluded that despite the problems, the inflation targeting provides significant gains for transitional economy.
Molecular and Biochemical Characterization of a β-Fructofuranosidase from Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous

ABSTRACT An extracellular β-fructofuranosidase from the yeast Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous was characterized biochemically, molecularly, and phylogenetically. This enzyme is a glycoprotein with an estimated molecular mass of 160 kDa, of which the N-linked carbohydrate accounts for 60% of the total mass. It displays optimum activity at pH 5.0 to 6.5, and its thermophilicity (with maximum activity at 65 to 70°C) and thermostability (with a T50 in the range 66 to 71°C) is higher than that exhibited by most yeast invertases. The enzyme was able to hydrolyze fructosyl-β-(2→1)-linked carbohydrates such as sucrose, 1-kestose, or nystose, although its catalytic efficiency, defined by the kcat/Km ratio, indicates that it hydrolyzes sucrose approximately 4.2 times more efficiently than 1-kestose. Unlike other microbial β-fructofuranosidases, the enzyme from X. dendrorhous produces neokestose as the main transglycosylation product, a potentially novel bifidogenic trisaccharide. Using a 41% (wt/vol) sucrose solution, the maximum fructooligosaccharide concentration reached was 65.9 g liter−1. In addition, we isolated and sequenced the X. dendrorhous β-fructofuranosidase gene (Xd-INV), showing that it encodes a putative mature polypeptide of 595 amino acids and that it shares significant identity with other fungal, yeast, and plant β-fructofuranosidases, all members of family 32 of the glycosyl-hydrolases. We demonstrate that the Xd-INV could functionally complement the suc2 mutation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and, finally, a structural model of the new enzyme based on the homologous invertase from Arabidopsis thaliana has also been obtained.
ERG Conductance Expression Modulates the Excitability of Ventral Horn GABAergic Interneurons That Control Rhythmic Oscillations in the Developing Mouse Spinal Cord

During antenatal development, the operation and maturation of mammalian spinal networks strongly depend on the activity of ventral horn GABAergic interneurons that mediate excitation first and inhibition later. Although the functional consequence of GABA actions may depend on maturational processes in target neurons, it is also likely that evolving changes in GABAergic transmission require fine-tuning in GABA release, probably via certain intrinsic mechanisms regulating GABAergic neuron excitability at different embryonic stages. Nevertheless, it has not been possible, to date, to identify certain ionic conductances upregulated or downregulated before birth in such cells. By using an experimental model with either mouse organotypic spinal cultures or isolated spinal cord preparations, the present study examined the role of the ERG current (IK(ERG)), a potassium conductance expressed by developing, GABA-immunoreactive spinal neurons. In organotypic cultures, only ventral interneurons with fast adaptation and GABA immunoreactivity, and only after 1 week in culture, were transformed into high-frequency bursters by E4031, a selective inhibitor of IK(ERG) that also prolonged and made more regular spontaneous bursts. In the isolated spinal cord in which GABA immunoreactivity and m-erg mRNA were colocalized in interneurons, ventral root rhythms evoked by NMDA plus 5-hydroxytryptamine were stabilized and synchronized by E4031. All of these effects were lost after 2 weeks in culture or before birth in coincidence with decreased m-erg expression. These data suggest that, during an early stage of spinal cord development, the excitability of GABAergic ventral interneurons important for circuit maturation depended, at least in part, on the function of IK(ERG).
Bilateral Vocal Cord Paralysis and Cervicolumbar Radiculopathy as the Presenting Paraneoplastic Manifestations of Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Case Report and Literature Review

Introduction. Bilateral vocal cord paralysis (BVCP) is a potential medical emergency. The Otolaryngologist plays a crucial role in the diagnosis and management of BVCP and must consider a broad differential diagnosis. We present a rare case of BVCP secondary to anti-Hu paraneoplastic syndrome. Case Presentation. A 58-year-old female presented to an Otolaryngology clinic with a history of progressive hoarseness and dysphagia. Flexible nasolaryngoscopy demonstrated BVCP. Cross-sectional imaging of the brain and vagus nerves was negative. An antiparaneoplastic antibody panel was positive for anti-Hu antibodies. This led to an endobronchial biopsy of a paratracheal lymph node, which confirmed the diagnosis of small cell lung cancer. Conclusion. Paraneoplastic neuropathy is a rare cause of BVCP and should be considered when more common pathologies are ruled out. This is the second reported case of BVCP as a presenting symptom of paraneoplastic syndrome secondary to small cell lung cancer.
Obesity Does Not Increase Mortality after Emergency Surgery

Objective. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of obesity on patient outcomes after emergency surgery. Methods. A list of all patients undergoing emergent general surgical procedures during the 12 months ending in July 2012 was obtained from the operating room log. A chart review was performed to obtain the following data: patient characteristics (age, gender, BMI, and preexisting comorbidities), indication for surgery, and outcomes (pulmonary embolus (PE), deep venous thrombosis (DVT), respiratory failure, ICU admission, wound infection, pneumonia, and mortality). Obesity was defined as a BMI over 25. Comparisons of outcomes between obese and nonobese patients were evaluated using Fischer's exact test. Predictors of mortality were evaluated using logistic regression. Results. 341 patients were identified during the study period. 202 (59%) were obese. Both groups were similar in age (48 for obese versus 47 for nonobese, P = 0.42). Obese patients had an increased incidence of diabetes, (27% versus 7%, P < 0.05), hypertension (52% versus 34%, P < 0.05), and sleep apnea (0% versus 5%, P < 0.05). There was a statistically significant increased incidence of postoperative wound infection (obese 9.9% versus nonobese 4.3%, P < 0.05) and ICU admission (obese 58% versus nonobese 42%, P = 0.01) among the obese patients. Obesity alone was not shown to be a significant risk factor for mortality. Conclusions. A higher BMI is not an independent predictor of mortality after emergency surgery. Obese patients are at a higher risk of developing wound infections and requiring ICU admission after emergent general surgical procedure.
State-space control structures for buck converters with/without input filter

Power supplies normally provide a constant output voltage. In most of the applications a DC/DC-converter is controlled by a voltage mode or a current mode controller. These controller types are well known and there are a lot of PWM controller ICs on the market. The controllers are often combined with feedforward techniques of the input voltage or output current, because these variables are disturbance variables. In this paper three state-space control structures are introduced. Based on the state-space representation an easy controller is designed first. The second one is improved as it works with an inner one-cycle controller and an outer I-controller for improving robustness. The third controller is designed for a buck converter with an input filter. The advantages of state-space controllers are pole placement and easy implementation. The input filter requires no resistor for damping and the filter elements can be much smaller. For each of the three controllers an example is shown with controller design, simulation and results. Experimental results are shown for the state-space controller with inner one-cycle controller and outer I-controller
An in-shoe device for assessment of gait abnormalities: three case studies

The asymmetrical gait patterns of lower-limb amputees have been reported in many studies. Such asymmetry has been recognized as the cause of many side-effec ts (e.g. joint degeneration, osteoarthritis in the residual limb, osteoporosis in the intact limb) deriving from the high overloading of the sound limb. The present study is aimed at investigating amputees' gait abnormalities through a couple of pressure-sensitiv e insoles; the device allows the collection of a large number of s teps in an ecological fashion. Results about gait performance are in line with those reported in literature, confirming that the system is suitable to recognize gait abnormalities that can b e relevant for clinical diagnosis.
PALINDROMIC NUMBERS IN ARITHMETIC PROGRESSIONS

Integers have many interesting properties. In this paper it will be shown that, for an arbitrary nonconstant arithmetic progression {an}TM=l of positive integers (denoted by N), either {an}TM=l contains infinitely many palindromic numbers or else 10|aw for every n GN. (This result is a generalization of the theorem concerning the existence of palindromic multiples, cf. [2].) More generally, for any number system base b, a nonconstant arithmetic progression of positive integers contains infinitely many palindromic numbers if and only if there exists a member of the progression not divisible by b.
Niche Inheritance: A Cooperative Pathway to Enhance Cancer Cell Fitness Through Ecosystem Engineering

Cancer cells can be described as an invasive species that is able to establish itself in a new environment. The concept of niche construction can be utilized to describe the process by which cancer cells terraform their environment, thereby engineering an ecosystem that promotes the genetic fitness of the species. Ecological dispersion theory can then be utilized to describe and model the steps and barriers involved in a successful diaspora as the cancer cells leave the original host organ and migrate to new host organs to successfully establish a new metastatic community. These ecological concepts can be further utilized to define new diagnostic and therapeutic areas for lethal cancers. 115: 1478–1485, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Scheduling in omnidirectional relay networks

We consider the optimal scheduling problem of the omnidirectional relay scheme in wireless networks. In a half-duplex model, we first present an optimal operation scheme that can achieve the maximum rate for the all-source all-cast problem for both one-dimensional and two-dimensional regular networks. Then, we show that the same rate can also be achieved with the greedy scheme. In the full-duplex model, the maximum rate is achieved with a simpler proof compared to the previous result. Some discussions are presented on more general networks.
Growth Accounting When Technical Change is Embodied in Capital

Many technological innovations are introduced through improvements in the design of new investment goods, thus raising the possibility that capital-embodied technical change may be a significant source of total factor productivity growth. There are, however, no systematic estimates of the size of the embodiment effect. This paper attempts to fill this gap by merging the estimates of quality change obtained from the price literature on quality change with a version of the conventional sources of growth model which allows for both embodied and disembodied technical change. This resulting estimates suggest that as much as 20 percent of the total factor productivity in growth U.S. manufacturing industry over the period 1949-83 is due to the embodiment effect. It is also found that for the equipment used in U.S. manufacturing, best practice technology may be as much as 23 percent above the average level of technical efficiency.
Light transmittance of zirconia as a function of thickness and microhardness of resin cements under different thicknesses of zirconia

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare microhardness of resin cements under different thicknesses of zirconia and the light transmittance of zirconia as a function of thickness. Study design: A total of 126 disc-shaped specimens (2 mm in height and 5 mm in diameter) were prepared from dual-cured resin cements (RelyX Unicem, Panavia F and Clearfil SA cement). Photoactivation was performed by using quartz tungsten halogen and light emitting diode light curing units under different thicknesses of zirconia. Then the specimens (n=7/per group) were stored in dry conditions in total dark at 37°C for 24 h. The Vicker’s hardness test was performed on the resin cement layer with a microhardness tester. Statistical significance was determined using multifactorial analysis of variance (ANOVA) (alpha=.05). Light transmittance of different thicknesses of zirconia (0.3, 0.5 and 0.8 mm) was measured using a hand-held radiometer (Demetron, Kerr). Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA test (alpha=.05). Results: ANOVA revealed that resin cement and light curing unit had significant effects on microhardness (p < 0.001). Additionally, greater zirconia thickness resulted in lower transmittance. There was no correlation between the amount of light transmitted and microhardness of dual-cured resin cements (r = 0.073, p = 0.295). Conclusion: Although different zirconia thicknesses might result in insufficient light transmission, dual-cured resin cements under zirconia restorations could have adequate microhardness. Key words:Zirconia, microhardness, light transmittance, resin cement.
Historical Capitalism with Capitalist Civilization

In this short, highly readable highly readable book Immanuel Wallerstein provides a condensation of the central ideas of his monumental study of capitalism as an integrated, historical entity: The Modern World System. In developing an anatomy of capitalism over the past five centuries, Wallerstein traces those elements that have constantly changed and evolved, while giving equal attention to features of historical capitalism that have necessarily remained constant. Particular attention is paid to the emergence and development of a unified world market, and the concomitant international division of labour. He argues forcefully, against the current of much contemporary opinion, that capitalism has brought about an actual, not merely a relative, immiseration in the countries of the Third World. The economic and social problems of underdeveloped countries will remain unresolved countries will remain unresolved as long as they remain unresolved as long as they remain located within a framework of world capitalism. Historical Capitalism with its continuation Capitalist Civilization, is a stimulating synthesis of one of the most challenging and influential assessments of capitalism as a world-historic mode of production.
Analysis of time-varying synchronization of multi-channel EEG signals using wavelet coherence

This paper proposes a novel method based on the time-frequency coherent representation for quantifying synchronization of multi-channel signals with high resolution. The presented wavelet-coherent technique provides the information regarding both the degree of coherence and the relation of phase difference. The wavelet coherence enables to provide the synchronization and the direction of information flow between two-channel signals. In addition, real EEG recordings are collected based on the cognitive targets during sentences identification and the wavelet coherence is employed for the analysis of the multi-channel EEG signals. It is observed from both the magnitude spectra and phase of the wavelet coherence that there are obvious differences between two kinds of cognitive activities. Finally, some results are illustrated with both simulation and real EEG lime series to show the effectiveness of the method.
Power allocation strategies for OFDM Gaussian wiretap channels with a friendly jammer

This paper investigates power allocation strategies over a bank of independent parallel Gaussian wiretap channels where a legitimate transmitter and a legitimate receiver communicate in the presence of an eavesdropper and a friendly jammer. We give algorithms to compute the optimal power allocation strategy of the jammer in the degraded scenario. We also give an algorithm to compute power allocations strategies of the jammer in a general scenario, leading to significant performance gains in relation to isotropic jamming. Additionally, we provide a set of results that cast further insight into the problem. In our scenario, which is applicable to current OFDM communications systems, we demonstrate that the proposed jammer power allocation strategy can lead to considerable secrecy gains.
Artificial Noise Aided Secrecy Information and Power Transfer in OFDMA Systems

In this paper, we study simultaneous wireless information and power transfer (SWIPT) in orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) systems with the coexistence of information receivers (IRs) and energy receivers (ERs). The IRs are served with best-effort secrecy data and the ERs harvest energy with minimum required harvested power. To enhance the physical layer security for IRs and yet satisfy energy harvesting requirements for ERs, we propose a new frequency-domain artificial noise (AN) aided transmission strategy. With the new strategy, we study the optimal resource allocation for the weighted sum secrecy rate maximization for IRs by power and subcarrier allocation at the transmitter. The studied problem is shown to be a mixed integer programming problem and thus nonconvex, while we propose an efficient algorithm for solving it based on the Lagrange duality method. To further reduce the computational complexity, we also propose a suboptimal algorithm of lower complexity. The simulation results illustrate the effectiveness of proposed algorithms as compared against other heuristic schemes.