Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Feasibility of Randomized Controlled Trials for Early Arthritis Therapies (EARTH) Involving Acute Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tear Cohorts

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of disability for which disease-modifying treatments are lacking. Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear provides opportunities to study potential interventions from the initiation of heightened OA risk at the time of injury. This institutional review board (IRB)–approved prospective cross-sectional study (level of evidence: 2) was performed to test the hypothesis that adequate sample sizes of ACL-injured subjects to support randomized controlled trials (RCT) of early intervention strategies can be achieved. A total of 307 ACL-injured patients were entered into the database from 3-month collection periods at 7 clinical sites, with 65 subjects aged 18 to 30 years passing the inclusion/exclusion criteria. From sites that were IRB approved to ask, 89 of 96 (93%) subjects were willing to participate in an RCT. Extrapolating the 3-month data to a 1-year recruitment period would potentially yield 242 subjects aged 18 to 30 years willing to undergo randomization. This study shows that adequate sample sizes to perform RCT of early intervention strategies in ACL-injured cohorts comprising healthy young adults ages 18 to and 30 without prior joint injuries can be achieved within 1 to 2 years through recruitment at 5 to 7 orthopaedic sports medicine practices. Continued development of ACL-tear cohorts will provide the clinical base to critically evaluate new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies that can help transform clinical care of OA from palliation to prevention.
The role of Th1 and Th2 cytokines among women with recurrent spontaneous miscarriage

The objective of this study was to compare the concentrations of Th1 (IFN-γ , TNF-α) and Th2 (IL-4,IL-10) cytokines in the serum of normal pregnant and recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) women in 1st trimester as well as in the normal fertile non pregnant women. In RSA women there was a significant increasing in the mean concentration of Th1 cytokines (TNF- α and IFN- γ) as well as in Th1/TH2 than normal pregnant and non pregnant women. In normal pregnant women there was significant increasing in the mean concentration of Th2 cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10). RSA was associated with increasing concentration of Th1 cytokines while successful pregnancy was associated with increase concentration of Th2 cytokines in the first trimester of pregnancy, indicating Th2 bias in normal pregnancy and a Th1 –bias in unexplained RSA.
Tiny head pose classification by bodily cues

The head pose is an important cue for computer vision. Traditionally considered in human computer interaction applications, it becomes very hard to model in surveillance scenarios, due to the tiny head size. Additionally, no public dataset contains continuous head pose annotations in open scenery, making the challenge even harder to face. Here we present a framework based on Faster RCNN, which introduces a branch in the network architecture related to the head pose estimation. The key idea is to leverage the presence of the people body to better infer the head pose, through a joint optimization process. Additionally, we enrich the Town Center dataset with head pose labels, promoting further study on this topic. Results on this novel benchmark and ablation studies on other task-specific datasets promote our idea and confirm the importance of the body cues to contextualize the head pose estimation.
Pressure Ulcer Prevalence in Turkey: A Sample From a University Hospital

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify pressure ulcer prevalence among hospitalized patients in a university hospital setting. SETTING AND SUBJECTS: The study setting was medical and surgical inpatient wards and critical care units in a university hospital in Adana, Turkey. The sample population comprised 404 patients who were aged 18 years or older and admitted to the intensive care units and internal and surgery units at least 24 hours before data collection. METHODS: Each participating patient's skin was assessed and pressure ulcers were classified according to the National Pressure Ulcers Advisory Panel grading system. Pressure ulcer risk was assessed using the Braden Scale. Data were recorded on a patient observation form designed for this study. INSTRUMENTS: The following tools were used to collect data: (a) data collection form in identifying sociodemographic and medical characteristics of the patients, (b) the classification developed by the National Pressure Ulcers Advisory Panel in identifying the phases and localization of pressure ulcers, and (c) Braden Risk Assessment Scale in assessing risks. RESULTS: The average age of patients was 51.22 ± 0.84 years (mean ± SD); 51.7% were male. The mean hospital length of stay was 9.6 ± 0.5 days. Pressure ulcer risk assessment revealed that 34.2% of the patients were at increased risk. The prevalence of pressure ulcers was 10.4%. Pressure ulcers occurred most frequently in the sacral area (43.9%); 45.2% of them were stage (grade) II. CONCLUSIONS: The pressure ulcer prevalence identified in this study is comparable with studies conducted in other countries.
Small Fish in a Big Pond: An Architectural Approach to Users Privacy, Rights and Security in the Age of Big Data

We focus on the challenges and issues associated with Big Data, and propose a novel architecture that uses the principles of Separation of Concerns and distributed computing to overcome many of the challenges associated with storage, analysis and integrity. We address the issue of asymmetrical distribution of power between the originators of data and the organizations and institutions that make use of that data by taking a systemic perspective to include both sides in our architectural design, shifting from a customer-provider relationship to a more symbiotic one in which control over access to customer data resides with the customer. We illustrate the affordances of the proposed architecture by describing its application in the domain of Social Networking Sites, where we furnish a mechanism to address problems of privacy and identity, and create the potential to open up online social networking to a richer set of possible applications.
Data-driven assimilation of irregularly-sampled image time series

We address in this paper the reconstruction of irregurlarly-sampled image time series with an emphasis on geophysical remote sensing data. We develop a data-driven approach, referred to as an analog assimilation and stated as an ensemble Kalman method. Contrary to model-driven assimilation models, we do not exploit a physically-derived dynamic prior but we build a data-driven dynamic prior from a representative dataset of the considered image dynamics. Our contribution is here to extend analog assimilation to images, which involve high-dimensional state space. We combine patch-based representations to a multiscale PCA-constrained decomposition. Numerical experiments for the interpolation of missing data in satellite-derived ocean remote sensing images demonstrate the relevance of the proposed scheme. It outperforms the classical optimal interpolation with a relative RMSE gain of about 50% for the considered case study.
Effect of incorporating PVC waste as aggregate on the physical, mechanical, and chloride ion penetration behavior of concrete

With the growing needs for resource materials and the environmental protection requirements associated with sustainable development, it has become necessary to study all the possibilities of reusing and recycling industrial wastes and by-products, especially in the field of civil engineering. In the work presented here, non-biodegradable plastic aggregates made of polyvinylchloride (PVC) waste, obtained from scrapped PVC pipes, were used in partial replacement of conventional aggregates in concrete. For this purpose, a number of laboratory prepared concrete mixes were tested, in which natural sand and coarse aggregates were partially replaced by PVC plastic waste aggregates in the proportions of 30, 50, and 70% by volume (granular classes 0/3 and 3/8). Fresh concrete mixtures were tested for workability and density, and hardened concrete specimens were used to investigate compressive strength, ultrasonic wave velocity, and resistance to chloride ion penetration. The results of the laboratory study showed that concrete made with 50 and 70% of recycled PVC aggregates fell into the category of structural lightweight concrete in terms of unit weight and strength properties. This study gave quite encouraging results and opened up a new way of recycling PVC waste as a lightweight aggregate in concrete.
Development of a novel robotic catheter manipulating system

Manual operation of steerable catheter is inaccurate in minimally invasive surgery and requires dexterity for efficient manipulation of the catheter meanwhile exposes the surgeons to intense radiation. In this paper, our objective is to develop a remote control system that replaces the manipulation of surgeons with high accuracy. Increasing demands for flexibility and fast reactions in control method, fuzzy control can play an important role because the experience of experts can be combined in the fuzzy control rules to be implemented in the systems. We present a practical application of fuzzy PID controller for this developed system during the remote operations and compare with the traditional PID control experimentally. The feasibility and effectiveness of the control method are demonstrated. The performance using the fuzzy PID control is much better than using the conventional control method.
Higher postprandial serum ghrelin among African-American girls before puberty

Abstract Objective: Recent reports suggest that ghrelin regulation may differ by ethnicity and age. This study was designed to examine circulating ghrelin among overweight female African Americans across different age groups. Methods: Eleven overweight peripubertal girls, 17 overweight pubertal girls, and a control group of 18 overweight African-American premenopausal women ingested a standard liquid meal after an overnight fast. Blood samples were obtained before the meal and for 4 h postchallenge. Participants rated appetite by a visual analog scale. Results: Peripubertal girls demonstrated higher postprandial ghrelin and lesser ghrelin suppression compared with adults (p<0.05), corresponding with greater desire to eat across the test period (p=0.017). Fasting ghrelin tended to be inversely related to fasting estradiol (r=–0.264, p=0.076). Conclusion: Compared with overweight African-American women, peripubertal girls had higher ghrelin as well as greater appetite after a standard meal. These results may suggest a dysregulation in ghrelin reflective of demands of growth.
Neurophysiological Assessment of Abnormalities of the Neuromuscular Junction in Children

The function of the neuromuscular junction in children is amenable to electrophysiological testing. Of the two tests available, repetitive nerve stimulation is uncomfortable and has a reduced sensitivity compared with single-fibre methodology. The latter is the method of choice, recording the variability in neuromuscular transmission as a value called jitter. It can be performed by voluntary activation of the muscle being examined, which is not suitable in children, or by stimulation techniques. A modification of these techniques, called Stimulated Potential Analysis with Concentric needle Electrodes (SPACE), is well tolerated and can be performed while the child is awake. It has a high sensitivity (84%) for the diagnosis of neuromuscular transmission disorders, the majority of which are myasthenic syndromes, and a moderate specificity (70%). The latter can be improved by the exclusion of neurogenic causes and the determination of the degree of jitter abnormality. Minor jitter abnormalities, under 115% of the upper limit of normal, are usually caused by myopathies with an associated neuromuscular transmission disorder, whereas levels higher than this value are usually associated with one of the myasthenic conditions.
Is higher body temperature beneficial in ischemic stroke patients with normal admission CT angiography of the cerebral arteries?

Background Low body temperature is considered beneficial in ischemic stroke due to neuroprotective mechanisms, yet some studies suggest that higher temperatures may improve clot lysis and outcomes in stroke patients treated with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). The effect of increased body temperature in stroke patients treated with tPA and with normal computed tomography angiography (CTA) on admission is unknown. We hypothesized a beneficial effect of higher body temperature in the absence of visible clots on CTA, possibly due to enhanced lysis of small, peripheral clots. Methods Patients with ischemic stroke admitted to our Stroke Unit between February 2006 and April 2013 were prospectively registered in a database (Bergen NORSTROKE Registry). Ischemic stroke patients treated with tPA with normal CTA of the cerebral arteries were included. Outcomes were assessed by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) after 1 week. An excellent outcome was defined as mRS=0, and a favorable outcome as mRS=0–1. Results A total of 172 patients were included, of which 48 (27.9%) had an admission body temperature ≥37.0°C, and 124 (72.1%) had a body temperature <37.0°C. Body temperature ≥37.0°C was independently associated with excellent outcomes (odds ratio [OR]: 2.8; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.24–6.46; P=0.014) and favorable outcomes (OR: 2.8; 95% CI: 1.13–4.98; P=0.015) when adjusted for confounders. Conclusion We found an association between higher admission body temperature and improved outcome in tPA-treated stroke patients with normal admission CTA of the cerebral arteries. This may suggest a beneficial effect of higher body temperature on clot lysis in the absence of visible clots on CTA.
Influence of Modified Natural Rubber and Structure of Carbon Black on Properties of Natural Rubber Compounds

Carbon black-filled natural rubber composites were prepared using various types of natural rubber: unmodified natural rubber, epoxidized natural rubber with two levels of epoxy groups at 25 and 50 mol % [epoxidized natural rubber (ENR)-25 and ENR-50], and maleated natural rubber. Two types of carbon black (HAF and ECF) with different structure and surface area were used. The functional groups present in natural rubber and carbon black were characterized by FTIR and 1 H-NMR. Furthermore, cure characteristics, mechanical, morphological, and electrical properties of composites and gum rubber compounds were investigated. It was found that the presence of polar functional groups in rubber molecules and the different structures of carbon black significantly affected the cure characteristics and mechanical properties. This is attributed to physical and chemical interactions between carbon black surfaces and rubber molecules. It was also found that natural rubber filled with ECF showed the highest Young’s modulus and hardness, which is due to the high-surface area and structure of the ECF causing an increase in the degree of entanglement between rubber chains and carbon black particles. Frequency dependency of the dielectric constant, loss tangent, and AC conductivity was also investigated. An increase in dielectric constant, loss tangent, and AC conductivity was observed in the ENR/ECF composites. High-carbon black loading level caused network formation of these conductive particles, increasing the AC conductivity of the composites. POLYM. COMPOS. ,
Temporal Variation of Particulate Matter (PM) and Potential Sources at an Urban Site of Udaipur in Western India

Measurements of mass concentrations of particulate matters (PM_(2.5) and PM_(10)) and mixing ratio of carbon monoxide (CO) were made at an urban site of Udaipur (24.58°N, 73.68°E) in India from April 2010 to March 2011. Concentrations of PM_(2.5), PM_(10) and CO show strong diurnal and seasonal variations. The highest concentrations coincide with the rush traffic and lower nocturnal boundary layer depth. The lowest concentrations in the afternoon hours are attributed to the dilution caused by higher boundary layer height and reduced traffic. The levels of trace constituents during the weekend were significantly reduced compared to the weekdays of observations. The daily PM_(2.5), PM_(10) and CO varied in the large ranges of 8-111 μg/m^3, 28-350 μg/m^3 and 145-795 ppbv, respectively. PM_(2.5) and CO show strong seasonality with higher and lower values during winter and monsoon seasons, respectively, while PM_(10) shows highest value during the premonsoon season. Flow of cleaner marine air and negligible biomass burning resulted in lower values in the monsoon season. Long-rang transport and extensive biomass burning caused higher values in winter and pre-monsoon seasons. Back trajectories show seasonal shift in the long- range transport which is consistent with the seasonality of aerosols and CO. Except for the monsoon season, mass concentrations of PM_(2.5) and PM_(10) show good correlation (typically r^2 ＞ 0.5). Relations of PM_(2.5) and PM_(10) with CO varied with the season but show good correlations (r^2 ＞ 0.5) during the winter season, while poor correlation during monsoon. The correlations suggest dominance of combustion related emissions particularly during winter season. Monthly emission ratios of ΔPM_(2.5)/ΔPM_(10), ΔPM_(2.5)/ΔCO and ΔPM_(10)/ΔCO varied in the ranges of 0.19-0.31 μg/m^3/ppbv, 0.05-0.10 μg/m^3/ppbv and 0.15-0.25 μg/m^3/ppbv, respectively. The mass concentration of PM_(2.5) tends to decrease with the increasing wind speed, while PM_(10) increases with wind speed.
A quantitative in vitro approach to study the intracellular fate of gold nanoparticles: from synthesis to cytotoxicity

Abstract Due to their physico-chemical characteristics, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) seem to be suitable for biomedical and therapeutic applications even if conflicting data on their toxicological profiles are present in literature. In order to better understand if AuNPs could be safe we must consider different biological endpoints such as cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, inflammation and biopersistence. Starting from these considerations, one of the first issues to be assessed is to better understand if AuNPs can be internalized by cells. In this work, we propose a methodological approach to radioactivate AuNPs by neutron activation and the quantification of their internalization by two in vitro cell systems such as MDCK and HepG2 after 24 h of exposure. Despite a dose-dependent internalization, no evidence of cytotoxicity, determined by two different standard in vitro methods such as Neutral Red Uptake and Colony Forming Efficiency, was observed.
How can we objectively categorise partnership type? A novel classification of population survey data to inform epidemiological research and clinical practice

Background Partnership type is a determinant of STI risk; yet, it is poorly and inconsistently recorded in clinical practice and research. We identify a novel, empirical-based categorisation of partnership type, and examine whether reporting STI diagnoses varies by the resulting typologies. Methods Analyses of probability survey data collected from 15 162 people aged 16–74 who participated in Britain's third National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles were undertaken during 2010–2012. Computer-assisted self-interviews asked about participants' ≤3 most recent partners (N=14 322 partners/past year). Analysis of variance and regression tested for differences in partnership duration and perceived likelihood of sex again across 21 ‘partnership progression types’ (PPTs) derived from relationship status at first and most recent sex. Multivariable regression examined the association between reporting STI diagnoses and partnership type(s) net of age and reported partner numbers (all past year). Results The 21 PPTs were grouped into four summary types: ‘cohabiting’, ‘now steady’, ‘casual’ and ‘ex-steady’ according to the average duration and likelihood of sex again. 11 combinations of these summary types accounted for 94.5% of all men; 13 combinations accounted for 96.9% of all women. Reporting STI diagnoses varied by partnership-type combination, including after adjusting for age and partner numbers, for example, adjusted OR: 6.03 (95% CI 2.01 to 18.1) for men with two ‘casual’ and one ‘now steady’ partners versus men with one ‘cohabiting’ partner. Conclusions This typology provides an objective method for measuring partnership type and demonstrates its importance in understanding STI risk, net of partner numbers. Epidemiological research and clinical practice should use these methods and results to maximise individual and public health benefit.
Activation of thromboxane A2 receptors mediates endothelial dysfunction in diabetic mice

ABSTRACT Background: Diabetes is one of high-risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Improvement of endothelial dysfunction in diabetes reduces vascular complications. However, the underlying mechanism needs to be uncovered. This study was conducted to elucidate whether and how thromboxane A2 receptor (TPr) activation contributes to endothelial dysfunction in diabetes. Methods and Results: Exposure of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) to either TPr agonists, two structurally related thromboxane A2 (TxA2) mimetics, significantly reduced phosphorylations of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) at Ser1177 and Akt at Ser473. These effects were abolished by pharmacological or genetic inhibitors of TPr. TPr-induced suppression of eNOS and Akt phosphorylation was accompanied by upregulation of PTEN (phosphatase and tension homolog deleted on chromosome 10) and Ser380/Thr382/383 PTEN phosphorylation. PTEN-specific siRNA restored Akt–eNOS signaling in the face of TPr activation. The small GTPase, Rho, was also activated by TPr stimulation, and pretreatment of HUVECs with Y27632, a Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) inhibitor, rescued TPr-impaired Akt–eNOS signaling. In mice, streptozotocin-induced diabetes was associated with aortic PTEN upregulation, PTEN-Ser380/Thr382/383 phosphorylation, and dephosphorylation of Akt (at Ser473) and eNOS (at Ser1177). Importantly, administration of TPr antagonist blocked these changes. Conclusion: We conclude that TPr activation impairs endothelial function by selectively inactivating the ROCK–PTEN–Akt–eNOS pathway in diabetic mice.
Pharmacodynamics and common drug-drug interactions of the third-generation antiepileptic drugs

ABSTRACT Introduction: Anticonvulsants that belong to the third generation are considered as ‘newer’ antiepileptic drugs, including: eslicarbazepine acetate, lacosamide, perampanel, brivaracetam, rufinamide and stiripentol. Areas covered: This article reviews pharmacodynamics (i.e. mechanisms of action) and clinically relevant drug-drug interactions of the third-generation antiepileptic drugs. Expert opinion: Newer antiepileptic drugs have mechanisms of action which are not shared with the first and the second generation anticonvulsants, like inhibition of neurotransmitters release, blocking receptors for excitatory amino acids and new ways of sodium channel inactivation. New mechanisms of action increase chances of controlling forms of epilepsy resistant to older anticonvulsants. Important advantage of the third-generation anticonvulsants could be their little propensity for interactions with both antiepileptic and other drugs observed until now, making prescribing much easier and safer. However, this may change with new studies specifically designed to discover drug-drug interactions. Although the third-generation antiepileptic drugs enlarged therapeutic palette against epilepsy, 20–30% of patients with epilepsy is still treatment-resistant and need new pharmacological approach. There is great need to explore all molecular targets that may directly or indirectly be involved in generation of seizures, so a number of candidate compounds for even newer anticonvulsants could be generated.