Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pregnancy outcome in type 1 diabetic women with microalbuminuria.

OBJECTIVE To determine the influence of microalbuminuria on pregnancy outcome in women with type 1 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS This prospective cohort study took place at the Obstetric Clinic at National University Hospital, Copenhagen, from January 1996 to February 2000. All Caucasian women with type 1 diabetes, unselected from the eastern part of Denmark, with a living fetus before 17 weeks of gestation on admission were asked to participate. For women with more than one delivery in the study period, only the first pregnancy was included. Of the remaining 246 women, 240 (98%) entered the study. They were categorized according to their urinary albumin excretion (normal urinary albumin excretion, <30 mg/24 h; microalbuminuria, 30-300 mg/24 h; or diabetic nephropathy, >300 mg/24 h) before pregnancy or in the first trimester. RESULTS A total of 203 women (85%) had normal urinary albumin excretion, 26 (11%) had microalbuminuria, and 11 (5%) had diabetic nephropathy. Mean HbA(1c) at 2-6 weeks was 7.5% (SD 1.1), 8.1 (0.9), and 8.8 (1.3) (P < 0.001), respectively. Of all deliveries in women with normal urinary albumin excretion, microalbuminuria, and diabetic nephropathy, 35, 62, and 91% (P < 0.001), respectively, were preterm, and 2, 4, and 45% (P < 0.001), respectively, were small-for-gestational-age infants. Preeclampsia developed in 6, 42, and 64% of the women (P < 0.001), respectively. Category of urinary albumin excretion (P < 0.01) and HbA(1c) at 2-6 weeks (P < 0.05) were independently associated with preterm delivery. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of preterm delivery is considerably increased in women with microalbuminuria, mainly caused by preeclampsia. Classification according to urinary albumin excretion and metabolic control around the time of conception are superior to the White classification in predicting preterm delivery in women with type 1 diabetes.
Analysis for crystals in synovial fluid: training of the analysts results in high consistency

Background: Identification of monosodium urate (MSU) and calcium pyrophosphate dehydrate (CPPD) crystals in synovial fluid samples is diagnostic of gout and CPPD crystal related arthropathy. Various studies have shown poor consistency in results of crystal analysis. Objective: To determine whether training of the analysts increases the consistency. Methods: An expert rheumatologist gave a course on crystal detection and identification. The four trained observers then blindly and independently examined synovial fluid samples previously classified by the expert which had been obtained from patients with both crystal arthropathies and other non-crystal related inflammatory joint conditions. Results: 194 observations were made on 64 synovial fluid samples: 96 without crystals (49.4%), 55 with CPPD crystal (28.4%), and 43 with MSU crystals (22.2%). For crystal detection (presence or absence of crystals), sensitivity was 95.9% and specificity 86.5%. For identification of MSU crystals, sensitivity was 95.3% and specificity 97.2%. For identification of CPPD crystals, sensitivity was 92.7% and specificity 92.1%. The κ index of agreement with the reference standard between the observers was 0.84 for any crystal detection, 0.93 for MSU crystal sample identification, and 0.79 for CPPD crystal sample identification. Conclusions: For trained observers, the detection and identification of crystals in synovial fluid is a consistent procedure.
Inhibitor Development in Haemophilia A Patients with Inversion of the Intron 22 of the Factor VIII Gene

1. Henkens CMA, Bom VJJ, van der Schaaf W, Pelsma PM, Smit Sibinga CTh, de Kam PJ, van der Meer J. Plasma levels of protein S, protein C, and factor X: effects of sex, hormonal state and age. Thromb Haemost 1995; 74:1271-5. 2. Boerger LM, Morris PC, Thumau GR, Esmon CT, Comp PC. Oral contra­ ceptives and gender affect protein S status. Blood 1987; 69: 692-4. 3. Edson JR, Vogt JM, Huesman DA. Laboratory diagnosis of inherited protein S deficiency. J Clin Pathol 1990; 94: 176-86. 4. Cadroy Y, Daviaud P, Saivin S, Sie P, Boneu B. Distribution of 16 hemostat­ ic laboratory variables assayed in 100 blood donors. Nouv Rev Fr Hematol 1990; 32: 259-64. 5. Garf M, Falkon L, Urrutia T, Vallve C, Borrell M, Fontcuberta J. The influ­ ence of low protein S levels in young women, on the definition of the normal range. Thromb Res 1994; 73:149-52. 6. Falkon L, Garf M, Garcfa Mora JL, Calaf J, Rodriguez Espinosa J, Oliver A, Fontcuberta J. The effect of endogenous estradiol levels on protein S concen­ tration during a menstrual cycle and after GnRH analogues and gonadotropin therapy. Br J Haematol 1995; 90:438-41.
SenseEgg: A wireless music controller for teaching children with special learning needs

Creation of new interfaces for musical expression can be especially challenging when targeted at end users having complex learning needs [1]. Such users have sensory, cognitive, or physical impairments, which affect their ability to play traditional instruments, leading to a diminished music making experience. Technology can often help bridge the gap between the user and their musical intentions [2]. However, its use in schools introduces additional constraints, such as, affordability, acceptance by staff and acceptable learning time. We developed the SenseEgg system to address these issues.
Effects of Beak Trimming, Stocking Density and Sex on Carcass Yield, Carcass Components, Plasma Glucose and Triglyceride Levels in Large White Turkeys

This study was conducted to determine the effects of beak trimming, stocking density (D) and sex (S) on live weight (LW), carcass yield and its component, and plasma glucose (PG) and triglyceride levels in Large White turkeys. To accomplish this aims, totally 288 d old large white turkey chicks (144 in each sex) were used. Beaks of 77 male and female poults were trimmed when 8 d old with an electrical beak trimmer. The birds were fed by commercial turkey rasion. Experiment was designed as 2 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with 3 replications in each group. Beak trimming and stocking density did not affect live weight, carcass composition and its components. The higher LW and carcass weight observed in trimmed groups. As expected, male birds are heavier than female, and carcass percentage (CP) would be adverse. However, in this study, CP of male was higher in trimmed, in 0.25 m2/bird. (D) × sex (S) interaction had an effect on both CP and thigh weights (p<0.05). Significantly D × S was observed in LW, CP and PG. The weight of carcass and its some components were higher in male. S × D interaction had an effect on plasma glucose level (p<0.05). Triglyceride level was affected (p<0.05) by sex. Significant relationships were found between percentage of thighs (r=0.447, p<0.01) and percentage of breast (r=0.400, p<0.01). According to this study, it can be said that trimming is useful with density of 0.25 m2/bird in turkey fattening.
Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 Polymorphisms and Breast Cancer Susceptibility

Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) is a well-known mediator of cancer metastasis but is also thought to be involved in several aspects of cancer development, including cell growth and inflammation. We comprehensively characterized genetic variation across the MMP-2 gene and evaluated associations with breast cancer risk using a two-phase (phase 1 and phase 2) study design. A total of 39 polymorphisms were genotyped among 6,066 Chinese women participating in the Shanghai Breast Cancer Study, a population-based case-control study. Two MMP-2 promoter polymorphisms were found to have consistent results between phase 1 and phase 2 participants, and to be significantly associated with breast cancer risk among all genotyped participants. Minor allele homozygotes for rs11644561 (G/A) were found to have a decreased risk of breast cancer [odds ratio (OR), 0.6; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.3-1.0] compared with major allele homozygotes, as were minor allele homozygotes for rs11643630 (T/G) compared with major allele homozygotes (OR, 0.8; 95% CI, 0.7-1.0). When analyzed together, a rare haplotype (4.4%) with both rs11644561 A and rs11643630 G was found to have a significantly reduced risk of breast cancer (OR, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.4-0.8). In addition, rare allele homozygotes for rs243865 (−1306 C/T) tended to have an increased risk of breast cancer (OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 0.9-2.4). Together, these findings support a role for MMP-2 genetic variation in breast cancer susceptibility. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2009;18(6):1770–6)
Task scheduling with RT constraints

This paper addresses the problem of schedu ling reactive real-time tran saction s(task groups) implementing a net work of extend ed Finite State Machines comm unicating asynchronously. Task instances are activated in response to internal and/or external ev ents.The objective is avoiding the loss of events exchanged by the tasks. This sc heduling problem has many similarities with the conventional formulation of real-tim e problems and yet it differs enough to justify a rethinking of the assu mptions an d techniques used to solve the problem. Our iterative solution targets fixed p riority systems and offers a priority assignment scheme together with a sufficiently tight worst-case analysis.
Study On Swarm Dynamics Converted Into Complex Network

In this study it is presented a summarization of our research of possible ways of creating of complex networks from the inner dynamics of Swarm Intelligence based algorithms. The particle swarm optimization algorithm and the firefly algorithm are studied in this paper. Several methods of complex network creation are proposed and discussed alongside with possibilities for future research and application.
Interactive silences within spontaneous early infant–father ‘dialogues’

The present longitudinal and naturalistic study aims to investigate infants' and fathers' facial expressions of emotions during pauses preceding and following spontaneous early infant–father conversation. Studying emotional expressions in the course of pauses in early infant–father interaction is important because it may extend our knowledge on how, without being able to speak, infants begin communication and develop a capacity to share understanding of what they and Significant Others (such as fathers) mean by what they do. Eleven infant–father dyads from Crete, Greece, were observed during their natural interactions at home from the second to the sixth month of life. The microanalysis of fathers' and infants' facial expressions of emotions provided evidence that: (a) in the course of pauses preceding and following early infant–father conversation, either the infant is interested in the father while the latter expresses pleasure to the infant, or the infant expresses external interest while the father is interested in the infant, (b) infants seem to attune their descending and stable emotional intensity to the same direction as their father's emotional intensity, (c) infants and fathers remain consistent in their emotional expression in the beginning and at the end of the pause, and (d) infant and paternal pleasure and interest did not change significantly across the nine age points of this study. Exploratory analysis of the relationship of paternal and infant emotional expressions across infants' birth order provided evidence of certain differences and similarities. It is proposed that pausal interruptions preceding and following free early infant–father ‘dialogues’ constitute interactive silences, since in their course there is evidence of inter-subjective emotional coordination and intra-subjective regulation of emotion. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Alterations in DNA Repair Gene Expression under Hypoxia: Elucidating the Mechanisms of Hypoxia‐Induced Genetic Instability

Abstract: Hypoxia is a common feature of solid tumors and is associated with genetic instability and tumor progression. It has been shown previously that alterations in the expression of DNA repair genes in response to hypoxic stress may account for a proportion of such genetic instability. Here, we demonstrate that the expression of RAD51, a critical mediator of homologous recombination (HR), is repressed by hypoxia in numerous cell lines derived from a wide range of tissues. Repression of this gene by hypoxia occurs in a cell cycle‐ and hypoxia‐inducible factor (HIF)‐independent manner, and decreased RAD51 expression was observed to persist during the post‐hypoxic period. In addition, decreases in Rad51 expression were correlated with functional impairments in HR repair in hypoxic and post‐hypoxic cells. Based on these data, we propose a novel mechanism of hypoxia‐induced genetic instability via suppression of the HR pathway in cancer cells within the tumor microenvironment.
The Effects of Silica Nanoparticles in Macrophage Cells

Silica nanoparticles, which are applicable in many industrial fields, have been reported to induce cellular changes such as cytotoxicity in various cells and fibrosis in lungs. Because the immune system is the primary targeting organ reacting to internalized exogenous nanoparticles, we tried to figure out the immunostimulatory effect of silica nanoparticles in macrophages using differently sized silica nanoparticles. Using U937 cells we assessed cytotoxicity by CCK-8 assay, ROS generation by CM-H2DCFDA, intracellular Ca++ levels by staining with Fluo4-AM and IL-8 production by ELISA. At non-toxic concentration, the intracellular Ca++ level has increased immediately after exposure to 15 nm particles, not to larger particles. ROS generation was detected significantly in response to 15 nm particles. However, all three different sizes of silica nanoparticles induced IL-8 production. 15 nm silica nanoparticles are more stimulatory than larger particles in cytotoxicity, intracellular Ca++ increase and ROS generation. But IL-8 production was induced to same levels with 50 or 100 nm particles. Therefore, IL-8 production induced by silica nanoparticles may be dependent on other mechanisms rather than intracellular Ca++ increase and ROS generation.
Constructing D-Index from Panel Data Set and Its Extreme Risk

D-index can be constructed from cross section data set and time series. Based on the basic constructing method, the paper also considered the D-index from panel data. The example is the west of Liaoning province and it also can be introduced around the northeast of China. Drought is one of the frequent natural calamities in China and it led an amount of loss. The paper gave the basic method from cross section data. Especially the paper focused on the D-index constructing from panel data in which there is much missing data. Also the paper gives the details of D-index around related areas in China.
Validity of the age-of-onset criterion for ADHD: a report from the DSM-IV field trials.

OBJECTIVE To examine the validity of the DSM-IV requirement of an age of onset of impairment due to symptoms before 7 years of age for the diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHOD The validity of this criterion was examined in a clinic sample of 380 youths aged 4 through 17 years by comparing youths who met symptom criteria for ADHD and either did or did not display impairment before age 7 years. RESULTS Nearly all youths who met symptom criteria for the predominantly hyperactive-impulsive subtype also met the age of onset of impairment criterion, but 18% of youths who met symptom criteria for the combined type, and 43% of youths who met symptom criteria for the predominantly inattentive type, did not manifest impairment before 7 years. For the latter two subtypes, requiring impairment before age 7 years reduced the accuracy of identification of currently impaired cases of ADHD and reduced agreement with clinicians' judgments. CONCLUSIONS These findings raise questions about the validity of the DSM-IV definition of age of onset of ADHD. Marked differences in the ages of onset of both symptoms and impairment for the three subtypes of ADHD support the validity of distinguishing among these subtypes in DSM-IV.
Fostering peer interaction, imaginative play and spontaneous language in children with autism

Freddy is a 7-year-old boy diagnosed with autism and severe language delay. He attends a special day class for children with moderate to severe disabilities in a public elementary school. Freddy is beginning to show an interest in his peers. In free play situations he generally watches and plays in parallel with other children, particularly when they engage in the few activities that are of interest to him. His play interests mainly revolve around his fascination with commercial products including packaged foods and cosmetics. He often repeats television commercials and gazes at photographs of these products. Freddy also enjoys manipulating these products by tapping them on his chin and lining up and sorting various containers by colour and size. Guided by his teacher, Freddy participates in an Integrated Play Group with one other classmate with special needs and three typically developing peers from third and fourth grade general education classes. These groups meet twice weekly for 30 minutes in Freddy’s classroom.
Improvements for Mesh Optimization Algorithm

To reduce the complexity of polygonal models used in computer graphics, simplification techniques are applied on these models. Mesh Optimization is one of these techniques that requires a high running time, but gives good results. This paper proposes some modifications on this method to improve the performance and presents the results of performance experiments on different meshes.
Altered Molecular Expression of the TLR4/NF-κB Signaling Pathway in Mammary Tissue of Chinese Holstein Cattle with Mastitis

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) mediated activation of the nuclear transcription factor κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway by mastitis initiates expression of genes associated with inflammation and the innate immune response. In this study, the profile of mastitis-induced differential gene expression in the mammary tissue of Chinese Holstein cattle was investigated by Gene-Chip microarray and bioinformatics. The microarray results revealed that 79 genes associated with the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway were differentially expressed. Of these genes, 19 were up-regulated and 29 were down-regulated in mastitis tissue compared to normal, healthy tissue. Statistical analysis of transcript and protein level expression changes indicated that 10 genes, namely TLR4, MyD88, IL-6, and IL-10, were up-regulated, while, CD14, TNF-α, MD-2, IL-β, NF-κB, and IL-12 were significantly down-regulated in mastitis tissue in comparison with normal tissue. Analyses using bioinformatics database resources, such as the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis and the Gene Ontology Consortium (GO) for term enrichment analysis, suggested that these differently expressed genes implicate different regulatory pathways for immune function in the mammary gland. In conclusion, our study provides new evidence for better understanding the differential expression and mechanisms of the TLR4 /NF-κB signaling pathway in Chinese Holstein cattle with mastitis.
Dynamics of social influence: an evolutionary approach

Purpose - – The paper aims to propose an analytical framework for social influence and mathematical formulation for its main components: conformity and peer-pressure. The framework is conceived to explain why certain behaviours and beliefs propagate in a society and some others disappear. It can also be used to study the emergence and the evolution of the status of the norms in terms of their adoption by the population. Design/methodology/approach - – The paper is theoretical, making use of economic quantitative methods. The author proposes a new formulation for the evolutionary dynamics, increasingly borrowed by social scientists. Then, mathematically treating the equation, the author draws general conclusions in form of lemmas, which are proved. Findings - – The author's main contribution is to show that even behavioural rules and beliefs that emerge in a minority subset of the population, do not procure any benefit for the agents adopting them can under certain conditions, evolve into the consensus of a society, become a norm. Research limitations/implications - – More general conclusion (theorems and lemmas) could be stated and proved. But given that the main contribution of the paper is to the fields of social and behavioural economics, along a number of disciplines less mathematical than economics, the author kept the analysis that required fairy advance mathematics for later. Practical implications - – The paper contributes to the evolutionary game theory, evolution of preferences, and evolution of beliefs and social norms. More precisely, the equation proposed in the paper can be used in the contexts the patterns of heterogeneity in a population are affected or caused by social influence. Or in the contexts, the social institutions are susceptible to affect an agent's sense of identity (e.g. voting, fashion industry, marketing). Originality/value - – In this paper, for the first time, a mathematical formulation is proposed for the social influence and its main psychological components (conformity and status seeking). Using the above, the author proposed a new parametric fitness function for the evolutionary dynamics. The author believes the paper matters to a multidisciplinary public. It answers a question that challenged and puzzled the economists (as well other social scientists): the reasons behind the emergence and the prevalence of social norms do not positively contribute to the utility or payoff of the agents adopting them (and at times they are costly).
Investigation into the effects of TETRA radiation on protein conformational changes using spectrofluorimetry

Spectrofluorimetry is used as an optical assay to investigate whether exposure of bovine serum albumin (BSA) to electromagnetic fields (EMF) causes structural changes in the protein distinct from any caused by heating alone. Such changes would alter the fluorescence spectrum of the BSA, and could indicate a potential for EMF induced altered biological activity of proteins in-vivo. No directly EMF induced fluorescence variations are observed under a 10 minute TETRA burst exposure paradigm at room temperature. An additional structure to the TEM Cell, which increases electric field strength around the cuvette area by a factor of 18, has also been designed.