Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stage-Related Outcome in Twin–Twin Transfusion Syndrome Treated by Fetoscopic Laser Coagulation

OBJECTIVE: To assess perinatal outcome in monochorionic twin pregnancies according to different stages of severe mid-trimester twin–twin transfusion syndrome managed by fetoscopic laser coagulation of the placental vascular anastomoses. METHODS: In a prospective study fetoscopic laser therapy was performed in 200 consecutive pregnancies with severe mid-trimester twin–twin transfusion syndrome at a median gestational age of 20.7 weeks (range 15.9–25.3 weeks). Outcome data were analyzed for the whole group and separately for each stage according to the Quintero staging system. RESULTS: The overall survival rate was 71.5% (286/400), with survival of both twins in 59.5% (119/200) and survival of at least one of the twins in 83.5% (167/200). The median gestational age at delivery of liveborn neonates was 34.3 weeks (range 23.1–40.4 weeks). There was a significant trend toward reduced survival rates with increasing stage (P=.038). The percentage of pregnancies with survival of both fetuses was 75.9% (22/29) for stage I, 60.5% (49/81) for stage II, 53.8% (43/80) for stage III, and 50% (5/10) for stage IV. At least one of the twins survived in 93.1% (27/29) at stage I, 82.7% (67/81) at stage II, 82.5% (66/80) at stage III, and 70% (7/10) at stage IV. The overall survival rate for donor fetuses was 70.5% (141/200) and for recipient fetuses, 72.5% (145/200). CONCLUSION: These data show that laser therapy is an effective therapeutic option for all stages of severe twin–twin transfusion syndrome and provide information to counsel patients according to the stage of the syndrome. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II-3
Transplanting and Growing Good Faith in New Zealand Labour Law

Following a decade of labour law deregulation in New Zealand, the new Labour Government introduced the Employment Relations Act 2000 with the express objective of building productive employment relationships. Central to this objective was a new statutory obligation of good faith applying to all parties to an employment relationship throughout all aspects of the relationship. The original provisions proved to be inadequate in a number of respects and in response the Act was amended in 2004 to reinforce the good faith obligation. This paper examines the extent to which the good faith obligation has taken root in New Zealand soil and suggests that the transplant has proved difficult partly because the drafters of the 2000 legislation miscalculated the degree of judicial and employer resistance to the more balanced and pluralistic philosophy underpinning the Employment Relations Act.
Forecasting under Model Uncertainty

This paper investigates the accuracy of point and density forecasts of four dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) models for output growth, inflation and the interest rate. The model parameters are estimated and forecasts are derived successively from historical U.S. data vintages synchronized with the Fed’s Greenbook projections. In addition, I compute weighted forecasts using simple combination schemes as well as likelihood based methods. While forecasts from structuralmodels fail to forecast large recessions and booms, they are quite accurate during normal times. Model forecasts compare particularly well to nonstructural forecasts and to Greenbook projections for horizons of three quarters ahead and higher. Weighted forecasts are more precise than forecasts from single models. A simple average of forecasts yields an accuracy comparable to the one obtained with state of the art time series methods that can incorporate large datasets. Comparing density forecasts of DSGE models with the actual distribution of observations shows that the models overestimate uncertainty around point forecasts.
Therapy of Bicarbonate-losing Renal Tubular Acidosis

A 2-year-old-girl with severe bicarbonate-losing renal tubular acidosis was treated successively with bicarbonate, THAM, and two diuretics, hydrochlorothiazide and frusemide. Only with hydrochlorothiazide was adequate correction of the acid-base balance achieved. The relative importance of changes induced by this treatment in the extracellular fluid volume and in chloride depletion was assessed.
Risk factors for symptoms of childhood asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema in the Pacific: an ISAAC Phase III study.

BACKGROUND AND METHODS Phase III of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) was conducted in eight Pacific countries, five of which (Samoa, Fiji, Tokelau, French Polynesia and New Caledonia) collected environmental questionnaire (EQ) data. We report the findings of the EQ analyses below. RESULTS The major factors associated with current wheeze were regular margarine consumption (prevalence odds ratio [POR] 1.19, 95%CI 1.01-1.40), paracetamol use (POR 1.35, 95%CI 1.11-1.64), electric cooking (POR 1.42, 95%CI 1.11-1.80), regular exercise (POR 1.44, 95%CI 1.18-1.75) and maternal smoking (POR 1.16, 95%CI 1.01-1.33). Protective factors included having older siblings (two or more POR 0.69, 95%CI 0.58-0.82; one POR 0.86, 95%CI 0.71-1.05), and being born in the country of the survey (POR 0.74, 95%CI 0.63-0.87). Risk factors for rhinoconjunctivitis included regular consumption of meat, butter, margarine and nuts, regular exercise, regular television viewing, paracetamol use and passive smoking. Eczema was associated with regular meat, pasta and butter consumption, regular television viewing, paracetamol use and passive smoking. CONCLUSIONS Regular meat and margarine consumption, paracetamol use, electric cooking and passive smoking are risk factors for symptoms of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema in the Pacific. However, most of these associations were weak, and account for only a small proportion of cases.
Naïve prey exhibit reduced antipredator behavior and survivorship

Prey naiveté has been hypothesized to be one of the major driving forces behind population declines following the introduction of novel predators or release of inexperienced prey into predator rich environments. In these cases, naïve prey may lack sufficient antipredator behavior and, as a result, suffer increased mortality. Despite this, some evidence suggests that many prey utilize a generalized response to predators. Here, the naiveté hypothesis is tested using a predator–prey pair sharing an evolutionary history: the red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii Girard, 1852) and largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides Lacépède, 1802). Using farm-reared, naïve crayfish and wild-caught, experienced individuals, laboratory experiments demonstrated that naïve, farmed crayfish lack behavioral responses to chemical cues from bass, both in terms of movement and use of structural refuge. In contrast, experienced crayfish responded strongly to the same cues. In a subsequent field tethering experiment, these naïve individuals suffered a three-fold increase in predation rate. Based on these results, recognition of predators may not be innate in all prey, and previous experience and learning likely play a key role in the development of antipredator behavior.
Interaction between smoking and genetic factors in the development of chronic bronchitis.

RATIONALE Smoking is a primary risk factor for chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but since not all smokers develop disease, it has been suggested that some individuals may be more susceptible to exogenous factors, such as smoking, and that this susceptibility could be genetically determined. OBJECTIVES The aim of the present study was to assess, in a population-based sample of twins, the following: (1) to what extent genetic factors contribute to the development of chronic bronchitis, including emphysema, taking sex into consideration, and (2) whether the genetic influences on chronic bronchitis, including emphysema, are separate from those for smoking behavior. METHODS Disease cases and smoking habits were identified in 44,919 twins older than 40 years from the Swedish Twin Registry. Disease was defined as self-reported chronic bronchitis or emphysema, or recurrent cough with phlegm. Individuals who had smoked 10 pack-years or more were defined as smokers. Univariate and bivariate structural equation models were used to estimate the heritability specific for chronic bronchitis and that in common with smoking. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS The heritability estimate for chronic bronchitis was a moderate 40% and only 14% of the genetic influences were shared with smoking. CONCLUSIONS Genetic factors independent of those related to smoking habits play a role in the development of chronic bronchitis.
Predictors of Low Milk Volume among Mothers Who Delivered Preterm

Background: Factors associated with successful provision of mother’s own milk (MOM) for premature infants in a Japanese neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) context are not well known. Objective: We determined the independent risk factors for low milk volume at day 4 postpartum and formula feeding at the time of NICU discharge. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of mothers who delivered at < 32 weeks’ gestation. We determined maternal, premature infant, and milk expression variables predictive of (1) day 4 postpartum milk volume being less than the cohort median and (2) formula feeding at the time of NICU discharge, reported as adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval). Results: Among 85 dyads, median (quartile range) milk volume on day 4 postpartum was 153 (34-255) mL. The rate of formula feeding at discharge was 42%. Mothers delivering by cesarean (vs vaginal) delivery had 4.3-fold (1.5-12.4) greater odds of day 4 milk volume < median (P < .01). Pregnancy-induced hypertension, delayed milk expression initiation, and low pumping frequency were strongly associated with cesarean delivery. Subsequently, mothers with day 4 milk volume < median (vs ≥ median) had 7.1-fold (2.6-19.5) greater odds of formula feeding at discharge (P < .01). Conclusion: Cesarean delivery is associated with lower milk volume on day 4 but may represent a composite of underlying risk factors for low milk volume in the early postpartum period. Further, low milk volume on day 4 is a strong correlate of lack of exclusive breast milk feeding at NICU discharge.
A 3–25 Gb/s Four-Channel Receiver With Noise-Canceling TIA and Power-Scalable LA

A 3-25 Gb/s four-channel receiver with noise-canceling transimpedance amplifiers and power-scalable limiting amplifiers is presented. It is fabricated in a 40-nm CMOS process. Each channel provides an overall gain of 64 dB · Ω. The measured input integrated noise is 2.7 μA<sub>rms</sub>, and the measured bit error rate is <; 10<sup>-12</sup> for a 25-Gb/s pseudorandom bit sequence of 2<sup>7</sup>-1. The power consumption is 103 mW per channel from a 1.3-V supply. The total area is 1.16 mm<sup>2</sup>.
Music Transcription by Deep Learning with Data and "Artificial Semantic" Augmentation

In this progress paper the previous results of the single note recognition by deep learning are presented. The several ways for data augmentation and "artificial semantic" augmentation are proposed to enhance efficiency of deep learning approaches for monophonic and polyphonic note recognition by increase of dimensions of training data, their lossless and lossy transformations.
Participation and drop-out in pulmonary rehabilitation: a qualitative analysis of the patient's perspective

Objective: To examine patients' pretreatment beliefs and goals regarding pulmonary rehabilitation. Design: Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews. Setting: Interviews conducted at participants' homes. Subjects: Twelve patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who had been referred to a rehabilitation clinic. Main measures: Patients' beliefs about pulmonary rehabilitation, self-set treatment goals and anticipated reasons for drop-out. Results: Patients' beliefs about pulmonary rehabilitation comprised positive aspects (participation as an opportunity for improvement, a safe and multidisciplinary setting, presence of motivating and supporting patients) and negative aspects of exercising in a rehabilitation centre (e.g. disruption of normal routine, being tired after training, transportation difficulties, limited privacy and confrontation with severely ill patients). Four types of treatment goals were formulated: increase in functional performance, weight regulation, reduction of dyspnoea, and improvement of psychosocial well being. Four clusters of anticipated reasons for drop-out were identified: the intensity of the programme, barriers to attending (e.g. transportation problems, sudden illness and other duties/responsibilities), lack of improvement and social factors. Four different attitudes towards pulmonary rehabilitation could be distinguished: optimistic, ‘wait and see’, sceptic and pessimistic. Follow-up data revealed that whereas a pessimistic attitude (high disability, low self-confidence, many concerns) was related to decline, the ‘sceptic’ patients had dropped out during the course. Conclusions: Uptake and drop-out may be related to patients' perceived disabilities, expected benefits and concerns with regard to rehabilitation, practical barriers and confidence in their own capabilities.
Lyme borreliosis in Europe and North America

Since the discovery of the Lyme disease spirochete in North America in 1982 and in Europe in 1983, a plethora of studies on this unique group of spirochetes that comprise Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato has been accumulated. In an attempt to compare and contrast Lyme borreliosis in Europe and North America we have reviewed the biology of the aetiologic agents, as well as the clinical aspects, diagnosis and treatment of this disease on both continents. Moreover, we have detailed the ecology of the Ixodes ticks that transmit this infection and the reservoir hosts that maintain the spirochete cycle in nature. Finally, we have examined the transmission dynamics of the spirochete on both continents, as well as the available prevention strategies. Although it has been over two decades since the discovery of the Lyme disease spirochete, Lyme borreliosis is an expanding public health problem that has defied our attempts to control it. By comparing the accumulated experience of investigators in North America and Europe, where the disease is most frequently reported, we hope to advance the cause of developing novel approaches to combat Lyme borreliosis.
Foundations of Real Estate Financial Modelling

Acknowledgements, 1. What is Real Estate? 2. Asset Valuation Defined, 3. Project Characteristics Defined, 4. Amortization Schedule, 5. Single-Family Residential, 6. 5-Unit Multifamily, 7. N-Unit Multifamily, 8. Development/Construction Page(s), 9. Waterfall, 10. Accounting Statement(s), 11. Hotel Pro Forma Modelling, 12. Pro Forma Portfolio Modelling, 13. Structured Product(s)
Selective Predation on Utah Prairie Dogs

Predation always affects demography and population dynamics, but removal of certain types of individuals is especially consequential. Predators strike quickly and commonly avoid areas with human observers, however, and thereby make it difficult to document patterns of predation under natural conditions. At a colony of marked Utah prairie dogs (Cynomys parvidens), a high frequency of predation in 2005 provided an unusual opportunity to examine susceptibility of five types of individuals to predation by red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and northern goshawks (Accipiter gentilis). Juveniles were more vulnerable than adults to predation by northern goshawks. Adults at the edge of the colony were more vulnerable than central adults to predation by both red foxes and northern goshawks. Recent immigrants, who were not yet familiar with the best routes for escape, were more likely than longtime residents to be captured by northern goshawks. Adult males, preoccupied with finding, impregnating, and guarding estrous females during the 17‐day mating season, were easy targets for red foxes and northern goshawks. Pregnant females, who could not run quickly, were especially prone to predation by red foxes.
Clinical identification and long-term surveillance of 22 hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer Italian families

Objective To assess the efficacy of a hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer (HNPCC) identification and surveillance policy. Methods Familial clustering of colorectal cancer (CRC) and extracolonic cancers (ECs) was investigated in 1520 consecutive CRC patients and relatives. HNPCC was identified by Amsterdam criteria, and individuals at risk were offered biennial colonoscopy and other examinations, starting from age 25 years. Results Twenty-two HNPCC families were identified. The CRC prevalence was 27.8% (121/435), decreasing from 59.4% in the first generation to 24.4% and 8% in the second and third generation, respectively. Twenty-nine patients had multiple CRC and 34 patients (in 12 families) had ECs. A total of 199/331 at-risk individuals accepted surveillance. The mean follow-up was 48±32 months. CRCs were detected at first surveillance in four out of 199 surveilled individuals (2%); in two surveilled individuals (1%), three CRCs developed during follow-up. The overall CRC incidence was 7/199 (3.5%) in surveilled individuals and 5/132 (3.7%) in unsurveilled individuals. CRCs were less advanced in surveilled than in unsurveilled patients. Eleven individuals had 22 adenomas (one with high-grade dysplasia). Three individuals had adenomas at first surveillance; two of them and eight more individuals during surveillance. Seven surveilled individuals and six unsurveilled individuals, all belonging to families with a history of EC, had EC during the study period. All patients with CRC detected by surveillance are alive. One of the unsurveilled patients who had CRC died 18 months after the diagnosis. Conclusions Data confirm the importance of the family history collected in each patient with CRC for identification of HNPCC and support the efficacy of repeated colonoscopies for early diagnosis and prevention of CRC in at-risk members. Reasons for surveillance failure could be an accelerated progression of small adenomas and a lesion missing at colonoscopy. Longer follow-up is required to assess the efficacy of surveillance for EC.
A Nanowatt Smart Temperature Sensor for Dynamic Thermal Management

The amazing integration densities achieved by current submicron technologies pay the price of increasing static power dissipation with the corresponding rise in heat density. Dynamic thermal management (DTM) techniques provide thermal-efficient solutions to balance or equally distribute possible on-chip hot spots. Accurate sensing of on-chip temperature is required by optimally allocating smart temperature sensors in the silicon. In this paper, we introduce an ultra low-power (1.05 - 65.5 nW at 5 samples/s) tiny (10250 mum2) CMOS smart temperature sensor based on the thermal dependency of the leakage current. The proposed sensor outperforms all previous works, as far as area and power consumption are concerned (more than 85% reduction in both cases), while still meeting the accuracy constraints imposed by target application domains. Furthermore, a specific interface based on the use of a logarithmic counter has been implemented to digitalize the temperature sensing. These facts, in conjunction with the full compatibility of the sensor with standard CMOS processes, allow the easy integration of many of these tiny sensors in any VLSI layout, making them specially suitable for modern DTM implementations.
Cooperative Relaying Based on Alamouti Diversity under Aggregate Relay Power Constraints

This paper investigates power allocation in cooperative relaying based on Alamouti diversity. The objective is to find channel capacity optimal ways to allocate power between two relays under aggregate relay power constraints. Both a nonregenerative and a regenerative case are evaluated. The analysis shows that the total power should be allocated to one of the two relays, provided the instantaneous channel state information of both the 1st hop and the 2nd hop are available at the relays, i.e. for both non-regenerative and regenerative relaying. For the scenario that the relays have the instantaneous channel state information of the 1st hop, but only the average channel state information of the 2nd hop, the efforts focus on the regenerative relays while assuming the relays could perform decoding perfectly. Several optimization schemes: maximization of the mean channel capacity, maximization of the mean signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and minimization of SNR variance are investigated. The "minimization of the SNR variance" scheme results in significantly lower mean channel capacity than the other two schemes do. The "maximization of the mean SNR" scheme still leads to the conclusion that the total power should be allocated to one of the two relays. The "maximization of the mean channel capacity" scheme gives almost the same mean channel capacity compared to the "maximization of the mean SNR" scheme and the two schemes are equivalent to each other in most cases
Citric acid as the test meal for the 13C-urea breath test

Objective:Test meals are used in the urea breath test to slow gastric emptying and to increase the area of contact with the substrate. Recently, citric acid has been suggested as an improved liquid test meal. The mechanism is unknown and could act by delaying gastric emptying, decreasing the pH at the site of the bacteria, or both. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of citric acid test meals on urea hydrolysis in vivo, to identify the possible mechanism for enhanced urea hydrolysis, and to identify the minimum effective dose.Methods:We compared the U.S. commercial 13C-urea breath test with four liquid test meals (200 ml of water) consisting of citric acid, ascorbic acid, sodium citrate, and glucose polymer and also after the subcutaneous administration of pentagastrin. We studied healthy volunteers with and without proven H. pylori infection (by serology and histology). 13C-urea was administered orally simultaneously with the liquid test meals or immediately after the pudding had been ingested. Breath samples were taken before and after oral administration of the 13C-urea.Results:A dose response in urease activity was evident as the amount of citric acid was increased from 1 to 4 g. Citric acid at 1, 2, or 4 g produced significant increases in breath 13CO2 activity, compared with the commercial pudding p < 0.05. Ascorbic acid p= 0.053, subcutaneous pentagastrin (to lower pH) p= 0.199, and glucose polymer p= 0.03 (to delay gastric emptying) all approximately doubled breath 13CO2, compared with the commercial kit. Nevertheless, the increases were all significantly less than with the 4 g citric acid test meal.Conclusions:The data are consistent with the marked effect of citric acid on gastric emptying and, possibly, distribution of the urea within the stomach being largely responsible for the enhanced urease activity with citric acid test meals. It should be possible to use a low dose of citric acid (e.g., 1 g per 200 ml) to enhance the simplicity and palatability of the test.