Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Maternal serum human chorionic gonadotrophin during early pregnancy resulting in boys with hypospadias or cryptorchidism.

OBJECTIVE To compare maternal serum human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) samples before 18 weeks gestation in mothers of boys with cryptorchidism or hypospadias with that in mothers of normal boys. The effect of season on maternal hCG was also assessed. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Stored serum samples from mothers of singleton male fetuses born between January 1988 and December 1992 were assayed for total hCG, using a Delfia assay. There were 153 eligible samples from 96 mothers of normal boys, 31 of those with cryptorchidism, and 26 of those with hypospadias. RESULTS The data from mothers of normal boys were used to construct a time-specific reference range for hCG. Plotting the hCG levels of the other groups and superimposing the reference range showed no significant difference between them (P = 0.09). Maternal hCG was not significantly different between cryptorchid boys requiring orchidopexy and those experiencing early spontaneous descent. An analysis of covariance allowing for gestational age showed that maternal hCG is significantly higher during the peak summer than peak winter months (P = 0.046). CONCLUSION While a seasonal effect on maternal hCG was demonstrated our data does not suggest this to be the sole cause for cryptorchidism or hypospadias or to account for the observation that both have a seasonal frequency.
Optics Fabrication and Metrology for Nanofocusing of Hard X-rays

Progress in the fabrication and metrology of both Multilayer Laue Lenses (MLLs) and Kirkpatrick-Baez (K-B) mirrors at the Advanced Photon Source (APS) is on-going as part of the world-wide race to achieve ever smaller focusing. Successful MLLs require multilayer depositions consisting of many layers. Focusing to 30 nm for 19.5 keV has been demonstrated at APS beamlines with a WSi2/Si MLL having 728 layers made at the APS. These same techniques were used to achieve a partial linear zone plate structure having a 5-nm outer most zone width and consisting of 1588 total layers as discussed below. Achromatic focusing to 80 nm of x-rays in the range {approx}7 to 22 keV by an elliptically figured K-B mirror has been demonstrated at the APS with a mirror coated at the APS. The mirror was made by profile coating a substrate with Au to achieve the elliptical surface shape. The elliptical mirror was made starting from a flat substrate. To make further progress, non-x-ray-based metrology data for real mirrors will need to be incorporated into simulations. This is being done using Fourier Optics methods as detailed below. Multilayer Laue Lens with 5-nm outermost zone - A scanning electron micrograph of a crossmore » section of a 5-nm MLL structure is shown in Fig.1, below. The bilayer structure was WSi{sub 2}/Si and a total of 1588 layers were sputter deposited at the APS. The micrograph was read to obtain the data plotted in Fig. 2. Here the d-spacing as a function of position in the lens is shown, where the d-spacing is twice the individual layer spacing A linear behavior in 1/d vs. position is needed to satisfy the zone plate law. (Owing to limited SEM resolution, the thinnest layers were subject to greater uncertainty.) This lens was used to obtain a linear focus of 19.3 nm at 19.5 keV at beamline 12-BM at the APS. Kirkpatrick-Baez mirrors and Fourier Optics Simulations - Elliptically shaped mirrors have been made by profile coating at the APS. A program to simulate the performance of such mirrors by means of Fourier Optics has recently been started. Mirror aberrations away from a perfect ellipse will be incorporated into a complex pupil function. In the absence of any aberrations, spherical waves emanating from a point source will be reflected to produce spherical waves directed to a focus. The resultant Fraunhofer diffraction pattern near the focal plane is shown in Fig. 3. Subsequent introduction of mirror aberrations will be simulated with this procedure. « less
Answering Clinical Questions with Role Identification

We describe our work in progress on natural language analysis in medical question-answering in the context of a broader medical text-retrieval project. We analyze the limitations in the medical domain of the technologies that have been developed for general question-answering systems, and describe an alternative approach whose organizing principle is the identification of semantic roles in both question and answer texts that correspond to the fields of PICO format.
"Pseudo washout" sign in high-flow hepatic hemangioma on gadoxetic acid contrast-enhanced MRI mimicking hypervascular tumor.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this article is to describe the "pseudo washout" sign of high-flow hepatic hemangioma that mimics hypervascular tumor on gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI. CONCLUSION High-flow hemangiomas might show relatively low signal intensity because of gadoxetic acid contrast uptake in the surrounding normal liver parenchyma during the equilibrium (3-minute delay) phase. Such findings are called pseudo washout and can mimic hypervascular hepatic tumors. However, high-flow hemangioma can be diagnosed by observing bright signal intensity on T2-weighted imaging, arterial phase-dominant enhancement, pseudo washout sign during the equilibrium phase, and isointense or slightly increased signal intensity on subtraction images.
Pentobarbital Depressant Effects Are Independent of Gaba Receptors in Auditory Thalamic Neurons -dependent Transmitter

Wan, Xiang and Ernest Puil. Pentobarbital depressant effects are independent of GABA receptors in auditory thalamic neurons.barbital, a general anesthetic, has received extensive study for its ability to potentiate inhibition at GABA A subtype of receptors for GABA. Using whole cell current-clamp techniques and bath applications , we determined the effects of pentobarbital and GABA receptor antagonists on the membrane properties and tonic or burst firing of medial geniculate neurons in thalamic slices. Pentobarbital (0.01–200 ␮M) induced depressant effects in 50 of 66 neurons (76%). Pento-barbital hyperpolarized neurons by a mean of 3 mV and decreased the number of action potentials in tonic firing, evoked by current pulse injection from near the resting potential. Pentobarbital also decreased burst firing or low threshold Ca 2ϩ-spikes, evoked by current pulse injection into neurons at potentials hyperpolarized from rest. The blockade of tonic and burst firing, as well as low threshold Ca 2ϩ-spikes, was surmountable by increasing the amplitude of input current. The GABA A receptor antagonists, bicuculline (100 ␮M) and picrotoxinin (50 –100 ␮M), did not block the depressant effects of pentobarbital (10 ␮M). The GABA B receptor antagonist, saclofen (200 ␮M), and GABA C receptor antagonist,
Imatinib induces autophagy through BECLIN‐1 and ATG5 genes in chronic myeloid leukemia cells

Abstract Imatinib is a chemotherapeutic drug used for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Recent data showed imatinib‐induced cell death in various types of cancers. Autophagy is the physiological process in which cellular components are broken down by the lysosomal activation. In this study, we aimed to examine the effects of imatinib on autophagy in addition to apoptosis in CML cells. Results suggested that imatinib induces autophagy in CML cells through inducing over‐expression of BECLIN‐1 and ATG5 genes with the statistical significance. Our results demonstrated that autophagy might be involved in imatinib‐induced cell death.
Design tradeoffs for voltage controlled crystal oscillators with built-in calibration mechanisms

Timing is a critical issue in communication systems, especially for synchronous communications. These show a high dependence on the clock signal purity due to errors that can be introduced into the decision process. This paper addresses the design, on a 130nm CMOS process, of a Radiation Tolerant Voltage Controlled Quartz Crystal Oscillator (VCXO), including techniques to reduce the influence of radiation and noise on its performance. The VCXO is included on a PLL designed to work within High Energy Physics (HEP) experiments.
INVESTIGATING THE SEVERITY AND FACTORS INFLUENCING THE OCCURRENCE OF PRESSURE ULCERSIN HOSPITALIZED CEREBROVASCULAR ACCIDENT PATIENTS: A RETROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY

Patients with cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) are at risk of developing PUs due to sensory, motor and cognitive deficits following the disease. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the severity and factors affecting the occurrence of PUs in patients with CVA.The present study was a retrospective cohort study. The data of this research was extracted from the registry system of Imam Reza Hospital located in the west of Iran. 217 patients with CVA with Braden score below 14 or with PU were included in the study. In order to investigate the relationship between independent variables and wound stage in univariate regression model, logistic regression was used, and the results were reported as odds ratio (OR). Data were analyzed with Stata statistical software version 15 and Excel 2016 software.Out of 217 CVA patients hospitalized, 180 had pressure ulcers. In total, 465 PUs were diagnosed in 180 patients in different areas. The average age of patients was (SD=618.78) years. 65 patients suffered only one wound, 38 patients experienced two wounds, and 37 patients experienced three wounds. The highest number of PUs was with 201 cases of stage I, follow ed by 180 cases of stage II. Stage IV with 2 cases was the least PU cases. Pa tients with a Braden score of 10-12 were 3.89 times more likely than patients with a Braden score greater than 14, and patients with a Braden score of 6-9 were diagnosed with PUS 6.67 times more than those with a Braden score greater than 14. Regarding the site of PUs, the sacrum and then the buttock were the most common sites of PU, which were ob- served in 65.56% and 29.49% of patients, respectively. The highest num- ber of stage I was related to the sacrum area.The sacrum was the most common site of PU occurrence and the highest number of PUs was related to stage I. Age, fecal incontinence, hemoglobin levels and Braden’s score have been among the factors affecting PUs in patients with CVA.
Surface Generated Acoustic Wave Biosensors for the Detection of Pathogens: A Review

This review presents a deep insight into the Surface Generated Acoustic Wave (SGAW) technology for biosensing applications, based on more than 40 years of technological and scientific developments. In the last 20 years, SGAWs have been attracting the attention of the biochemical scientific community, due to the fact that some of these devices - Shear Horizontal Surface Acoustic Wave (SH-SAW), Surface Transverse Wave (STW), Love Wave (LW), Flexural Plate Wave (FPW), Shear Horizontal Acoustic Plate Mode (SH-APM) and Layered Guided Acoustic Plate Mode (LG-APM) - have demonstrated a high sensitivity in the detection of biorelevant molecules in liquid media. In addition, complementary efforts to improve the sensing films have been done during these years. All these developments have been made with the aim of achieving, in a future, a highly sensitive, low cost, small size, multi-channel, portable, reliable and commercially established SGAW biosensor. A setup with these features could significantly contribute to future developments in the health, food and environmental industries. The second purpose of this work is to describe the state-of-the-art of SGAW biosensors for the detection of pathogens, being this topic an issue of extremely importance for the human health. Finally, the review discuses the commercial availability, trends and future challenges of the SGAW biosensors for such applications.
Membranous Nephropathy

• Membranous nephropathy is a worldwide problem that accounts for about 20% of the cases of the adult-onset nephrotic syndrome. This disease places many patients at risk for both end-stage renal failure and the complications of hyperlipidemia. Immunemediated injury to the glomerular capillary wall in patients with membranous nephropathy is characterized by subepithelial immune complex formation and generation of the membrane attack complex of complement. Glomerular capillary hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and possibly cytokines could contribute to the glomerular sclerosis seen in the advanced stages of the disorder. In some cases, production of pathogenic antibody can be suppressed by treating the underlying condition. The mechanisms of action of immunosuppressive agents are being investigated and treatments are being tested in clinical trials to optimize the balance of efficacy and toxicity. Alternate-day treatment with corticosteroids is often recommended for nephrotic patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy, but this approach has not been proved beneficial. Ongoing studies are evaluating whether cytotoxic drugs or cyclosporin A combined with prednisone is more effective than treatment with corticosteroids alone. Lipidlowering drug therapy is warranted in cases of the persistent nephrotic syndrome to avert the cardiovascular sequelae of hyperlipidemia.
Laser-Induced Graphitization of Polyimide Tape as Modifiable Sensor in Anodic Stripping Voltammetry

: The monitoring of toxic contaminant traces in the environment needs a simple and sensitive method, such as stripping analysis that applies a pre-concentration step to the analyte on the working electrode. The present work focuses on the realization of a two-electrode sensor made by means of laser-induced graphitization of a polyimide (PI) tape. Moreover, taking advantage of the strong affinity of Bi for metal ions for detection by Anodic Stripping Voltammetry (ASV), the proposed sensor implementation involved the use of Bi 2 O 3 nanopowder as the precursor of Bi film as eco-friendly Hg substitute. Physicochemical analyses were conducted to investigate elemental and structural differences in relation to the shifts recorded in the voltametric behavior.
DOMINO: databases fOr MovINg Objects tracking

Consider a database that represents information about moving objects and their location. For example, for a database representing the location of taxi-cabs a typical query may be: retrieve the free cabs that are currently within 1 mile of 33 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago (to pick-up a customer); or for a trucking company database a typical query may be: retrieve the trucks that are currently within 1 mile of truck ABT312 (which needs assistance); or for a database representing the current location of objects in a battlefield a typical query may be: retrieve the friendly helicopters that are in a given region, or, retrieve the friendly helicopters that are expected to enter the region within the next 10 minutes. The queries may originate from the moving objects, or from stationary users. We will refer to applications with the above characteristics as moving-objects-database (MOD) applications, and to queries as the ones mentioned above as MOD queries. In the military MOD applications arise in the context of the digital battlefield (see [1]), and in the civilian industry they arise in transportation systems. For example, Omnitracs developed by Qualcomm (see[2]) is a commercial system used by the transportation industry, which enables MOD functionality. It provides location management by connecting vehicles (e.g. trucks), via satellites, to company databases. The vehicles are equipped with a Global Positioning System (GPS), and they automatically and periodically report their location.
Identification of reusable components within an object-oriented software system using algebraic graph theory

A novel method for identifying dense communities of classes (clusters) within an Object-Oriented system has been developed. Such communities might possibly imply relevance of functionality and thus be used as Reusable Components. The term "Reusable Components" is used to refer to a set of interrelated classes that represent a module that can be used in different software systems. To accomplish this identification we employ Algebraic Graph Theory (Spectral Graph Partitioning Techniques). From a modified class diagram of the software system we create a graph in which classes stand for the nodes and the discrete messages exchanged between the classes stand for the edges. Our approach is based on an iterative method for partitioning the graph in order to identify possible reusable components within the system. The eigenvectors of the Laplacian matrix derived from the graph are used for the partitioning.
Disclosing the Functional Potency of Three Oxygenated Monoterpenes in Combating Microbial Pathogenesis: From Targeting Virulence Factors to Chicken Meat Preservation

During the last few decades, there has existed an increased interest in and considerable consumer preference towards using natural and safe compounds derived from medicinal plants as alternatives to synthetic preservatives to combat microbial pathogenicity. In this regard, the present study investigated the possible synergistic interactions of the anti-foodborne bacterial capacity of linalool (L), eucalyptol (E), and camphor (C). The antibacterial synergistic effect was determined against Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica Typhimurium, and Escherichia coli. The optimal predicted mixture showed the highest antibacterial activity at 33.5%, 33.2%, and 33.4% of L, E, and C, respectively. Molecular docking simulations displayed that the studied monoterpenes have effective antibacterial inhibitory effects by impeding specific virulence factors such as sortase A, listeriolysin O, L, D-Transpeptidase, and polyphosphate kinase. The selected triple combination of L, E, and C was applied as a natural preservative in minced chicken breast meat. In this regard, 1 MIC (16 µg/mL), 1.5 MIC (24 µg/mL), and 2 MIC (32 µg/mL) of L. monocytogenes were used, and the microbiological, physicochemical, and sensory analyses were monitored for 14 days of storage at 4 °C. The L/E/C mixture at different levels could delay lipid and protein oxidation, inhibit the microorganisms, and maintain the sensory attributes. Additionally, by using chemometric tools, strong connections between physicochemical properties, microbiological parameters, and organoleptic attributes were established. Concisely, this research confers the importance of the use of blended monoterpenes and highlights their antibacterial mode of action, effectiveness, and synergistic effects as a powerful and safe bio-preservative formulation in chicken meat products.
Backward blocking of relevance-indicating cues: Evidence for locally Bayesian learning

The phenomenon in associative learning called ‘blocking’ has been a central target for theories that aim to explain learning and attention. The training phases of the blocking procedure, described in detail below, can be run in backward order, yet still produce the blocking effect (e.g., Shanks,1985; Dickinson and Burke,1996; Kruschke and Blair, 2000). Explaining forward and backward blocking, along with other associative learning phenomena, has proven to be challenging. Some accounts of forward blocking include an attentional mechanism that modulates the influence of the cues on learning and/or responding (e.g., Kruschke, 2001; Mackintosh, 1975). Some accounts of backward blocking employ a Bayesian framework in which different combinations of associative weights are considered simultaneously, with more belief allocated to the combination that is most consistent with training items (e.g., Dayan and Kakade, 2001; Tenenbaum and Griffths, 2003). A theoretical framework that is able to combine the attentional and Bayesian approaches is called ‘locally Bayesian learning’ (Kruschke, 2006b). The framework is based on the idea that a learning system may consist of a sequence of subsystems in a feed-forward chain, each of which is a locally Bayesian learner. The argument for locally-learning layers was as follows. First, Bayesian learning is very attractive for explaining retrospective revaluation effects such as backward blocking, among many other phenomena (Chater, Tenenbaum, and Yuille, 2006). Second, globally Bayesian learning may also be unattractive for a number of reasons. In a large learning system, there are too many combinations of parameters to keep track of in a monolithic joint parameter space. Furthermore, many globally Bayesian models do not explain learning phenomena (such as ‘highlighting’, Kruschke, 2010) that depend on training order, because the models treat all training items as equally representative of
Disclosure of minor mental health problems: an exploratory theoretical study.

AIM The aim of this study was to explore people's experiences, concerns and beliefs about disclosing minor mental health problems by focusing on the ways in which such disclosures are interpreted. BACKGROUND Approximately half of people with mental health problems do not seek help. The decision to consult represents just one aspect of the process of revealing one's illness to others. People with mental health problems are known to be reluctant to reveal the existence of those problems through fear of how others might then view them. DESIGN A qualitative approach was employed. In-depth interviews were carried out with 47 users and nonusers of community mental health services. Interviews were tape-recorded, transcribed and analysed. RESULTS The data suggest that when people reveal minor mental health problems others interpret these in relation to a number of perceived contextual factors. These include perceptions of the severity and duration of any possible causes, the inner 'strength' of the person, the expected ability of the person to either solve or suppress the experience, and the form and context of the expression itself. The data presented included individuals who were seeking help for relatively 'minor' mental health problems (primarily depression and anxiety) and individuals who had no current mental health problems but routinely managed expressions of their own emotions. Throughout the data there appeared to be no distinct difference between these two groups other than one of the severity of psychological experience. CONCLUSION The key elements involved in the interpretation of people's expressions of sadness were essentially the same as those involved in the interpretation of expressions of depression. An appreciation of these contextual factors influencing the interpretation and disclosure of minor mental health problems may aid the development of more person-centred mental health services and inform the content of health education in the mental health field.
Theory and Methodology an Ecient Mean ®eld Approach to the Set Covering Problem

A mean ®eld feedback arti®cial neural network (ANN) algorithm is developed and explored for the set covering problem. A convenient encoding of the inequality constraints is achieved by means of a multilinear penalty function. An approximate energy minimum is obtained by iterating a set of mean ®eld equations, in combination with annealing. The approach is numerically tested against a set of publicly available test problems with sizes ranging up to 5 Â 10 3 rows and 10 6 columns. When comparing the performance with exact results for sizes where these are available, the approach yields results within a few percent from the optimal solutions. Comparisons with other approximate methods also come out well, in particular given the very low CPU consumption required ± typically a few seconds. Arbitrary problems can be processed using the algorithm via a public domain server.