Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Video-game based therapy performed by children with cerebral palsy: a cross-over randomized controlled trial and a cross-sectional quantitative measure of physical activity.

BACKGROUND Previous studies reported controversial results about the efficacy of video-game based therapy (VGT) in improving neurorehabilitation outcomes in children with cerebral palsy (CP). AIM Primary aim was to investigate the effectiveness of VGT with respect to conventional therapy (CT) in improving upper limb motor outcomes in a group of children with CP. Secondary aim was to quantify if VGT leads children to perform a higher number of movements. DESIGN A cross-over randomized controlled trial (RCT) for investigating the primary aim and a cross-sectional study for investigating the secondary aim of this study. SETTINGS Outpatients. POPULATION INCLUSION CRITERIA clinical diagnosis of CP, age between 4 and 14 years, level of GMFC between I and IV. EXCLUSION CRITERIA QI<35, severe comorbidities, incapacity to stand even with an external support. METHODS Twenty-two children with CP (6.89±1.91-year old) were enrolled in a cross-over RCT with 16 sessions of VGT (using Xbox with Kinect device) and then 16 of CT or vice versa. Upper limb functioning was assessed using the Quality of Upper Extremities Skills Test (QUEST) and hand abilities using Abilhand-kids score. According to the secondary aim of this study a secondary cross-sectional study has been performed. Eight children with CP (6.50±1.60-year old) were enrolled into a trial in which five wireless triaxial accelerometers were positioned on their forearms, legs and trunk for quantifying the physical activity during VGT vs. CT. RESULTS QUEST scores significantly improved only after VGT (P=0.003), and not after CT (P=0.056). The reverse occurred for Abilhand-kids scores (P=0.165 vs. P=0.013, respectively). Quantity of performed movements was three times higher in VGT than in CT (+198%, P=0.027). CONCLUSION VGT resulted effective in improving the motor functions of upper limb extremities in children with CP, conceivably for the increased quantity of limb movements, but failed in improving the manual abilities for performing activities of daily living which benefited more from CT. CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT VGT performed using the X-Box with Kinect device could enhance the number of upper limb movements in children with CP during rehabilitation and in turn improving upper limb motor skills, but CT remained superior for improving performances in manual activities of daily living.
Avaliação de curvas de crescimento em caprino da raça Angorá (pp.241-244)

O ajuste de curva de crescimento peso-idade para animais tem papel importante no planejamento da produção animal. No entanto, as curvas de crescimento ajustadas devem ser coerentes com as interpretações biológicas do crescimento do animal. A análise de curvas de crescimento consiste na análise de dados longitudinais por meio de ajustamento de um modelo matemático que descreve todo o perı́odo de vida do animal relacionando seu peso com sua idade. Uma grande vantagem desses modelos é a simplicidade e facilidade na interpretação dos parâmetros, pois em muitas situações, são requeridos menos parâmetros nos modelos nãolineares do que nos lineares. Na literatura, são propostos vários modelos não-lineares para descrever curvas de crescimento. No entanto, alguns critérios para selecionar a função de crescimento devem ser observados [2] e [4]. O objetivo deste trabalho foi obter estimativas para os parâmetros dos modelos não-lineares Logı́stico, Gompertz e Von Bertalanffy através de métodos numéricos e identificar o modelo que melhor se ajustou ao padrão de crescimento de caprino da raça Angorá.
Impact of Uncertain Channel Estimation and Outdated Feedback on the Adaptive M-PSK Modulation

This paper investigates an adaptive M-ary phaseshift keying (M-PSK) modulation scheme over Rayleigh flat fading channels. The data rate is adapted according to the channel state. At the receiver, the fading is estimated using pilot symbols. To cancel the channel impact, we correct the received signal by dividing it by the estimated value of the fading. So, we propose to adjust the modulation level by examining the statistics of the corrected signal. In contrast to the previous works on the adaptive M-PSK modulation techniques, our modulation switching protocol takes into account the channel estimation error variance. Moreover, we derive a new closed-form expression for the average bit error rate of the considered system.
Risk Factors for Postpartum Hemorrhage in Vaginal Deliveries in a Latin-American Population

OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors for immediate postpartum hemorrhage after vaginal delivery in a South American population. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study including all vaginal births (N=11,323) between October and December 2003 and October and December 2005 from 24 maternity units in two South American countries (Argentina and Uruguay). Blood loss was measured in all births using a calibrated receptacle. Moderate postpartum hemorrhage and severe postpartum hemorrhage were defined as blood loss of at least 500 mL and at least 1,000 mL, respectively. RESULTS: Moderate and severe postpartum hemorrhage occurred in 10.8% and 1.9% of deliveries, respectively. The risk factors more strongly associated and the incidence of moderate postpartum hemorrhage in women with each of these factors were: retained placenta (33.3%) (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 6.02, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.50–10.36), multiple pregnancy (20.9%) (adjusted OR 4.67, CI 2.41–9.05), macrosomia (18.6%) (adjusted OR 2.36, CI 1.93–2.88), episiotomy (16.2%) (adjusted OR 1.70, CI 1.15–2.50), and need for perineal suture (15.0%) (adjusted OR 1.66, CI 1.11–2.49). Active management of the third stage of labor, multiparity, and low birth weight were found to be protective factors. Severe postpartum hemorrhage was associated with retained placenta (17.1%) (adjusted OR 16.04, CI 7.15–35.99), multiple pregnancy (4.7%) (adjusted OR 4.34, CI 1.46–12.87), macrosomia (4.9%) (adjusted OR 3.48, CI 2.27–5.36), induced labor (3.5%) (adjusted OR 2.00, CI 1.30–3.09), and need for perineal suture (2.5%) (adjusted OR 2.50, CI 1.87–3.36). CONCLUSION: Many of the risk factors for immediate postpartum hemorrhage in this South American population are related to complications of the second and third stage of labor. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II
Social Pipes: Enriqueciendo contenidos web mediante la inclusión no intrusiva de aspectos de redes sociales

Un sitio web enriquecido socialmente, es un sitio que publica contenidos y provee (integra) mecanismos para vincularlos con las redes sociales. Si bien existen tecnologias que asisten en la construccion de sitios enriquecidos, las mismas tienen importantes limitaciones. Social Pipes es un servicio para transformar sitios web tradicionales en sitios web enriquecidos socialmente. Su estructura de diseno tipo framework permite que el mismo sea extendido para agregar nuevas acciones de socializacion y nuevos proveedores de redes sociales.
Spin gratings and the measurement of electron drift mobility in multiple quantum well semiconductors.

A direct optical measurement of electron drift mobility in multiple quantum well semiconductors is achieved by creating electron spin gratings in time-resolved degenerate four-wave mixing measurements. Grating decay rates are measured for spin and concentration gratings in a GaAs $/$AlGaAs sample at room temperature, giving an in-well electron diffusion coefficient ${D}_{e}\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}127{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}/\mathrm{s}$ compared with an ambipolar coefficient ${D}_{a}\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}13.3{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}/\mathrm{s}$.
Realization and validation of Delay Tolerant Behavior Control based Adaptive Bandwidth Allocation for networked control system

In network based path tracking control of systems with multiple unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), performance can be affected by network constraints including time-varying network delays and bandwidth limitation. Different static as well as dynamic bandwidth management strategies like Larger Error First (LEF), Rate Monotonic (RM), Behavior Control (BC) Based Allocation etc. have been proposed in the past to allocate bandwidth. However, these existing methods are not robust to network delay which is an important constraint in a Network Control System (NCS). The Delay Tolerant Behavior Control (DTBC) based Adaptive Bandwidth Allocation is one of the bandwidth allocation techniques that is robust to network delays[1]. In this paper, DTBC algorithm has been validated and compared to the performance of existing algorithms in an intelligent space environment. IEEE 802.15. 4 standard wireless protocol was used for communication between the unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) and the Supervisory Controller. A T-test was conducted and we found that at network delays of more than 200ms we can say with 99% confidence that DTBC's performance is better than the existing algorithms. Furthermore, using the slope of the linear fit calculated for each algorithm's performance at different network delays, the performance of DTBC was found to be at least 25% to at most 57% better than the existing algorithms.
Six dimensional quantum dynamics study for dissociative adsorption of H2 on Cu(111) surface

In this letter we present preliminary results of full six dimensional quantum dynamics calculations for dissociative adsorption of a hydrogen molecule on a Cu(111) surface. We utilize the time-dependent wave-packet approach to simulate the dissociation process on a full dimensional LEPS potential energy surface which has incorporated the latest ab initio data [Hammer et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 73, 1400 (1994)]. We use a novel partitioning of the angular momentum operator in the split-operator method so that a direct product DVR can be rigorously implemented. The most interesting observation in the present rigorous quantum dynamics study is the site-averaged effect, i.e., the averaged dissociation probability of the four dimensional calculations over the three symmetric impact sites strongly resembles the exact dissociation probability of the six dimensional calculations. In accord with the low dimensional calculations, initial vibrational excitation of H2 effectively reduces the translational threshold energ.
Volume-Targeted Ventilation in the Neonate: Benchmarking Ventilators on an Active Lung Model

Objective: Mechanically ventilated neonates have been observed to receive substantially different ventilation after switching ventilator models, despite identical ventilator settings. This study aims at establishing the range of output variability among 10 neonatal ventilators under various breathing conditions. Design: Relative benchmarking test of 10 neonatal ventilators on an active neonatal lung model. Setting: Neonatal ICU. Subjects: Ten current neonatal ventilators. Interventions: Ventilators were set identically to flow-triggered, synchronized, volume-targeted, pressure-controlled, continuous mandatory ventilation and connected to a neonatal lung model. The latter was configured to simulate three patients (500, 1,500, and 3,500 g) in three breathing modes each (passive breathing, constant active breathing, and variable active breathing). Measurements and Main Results: Averaged across all weight conditions, the included ventilators delivered between 86% and 110% of the target tidal volume in the passive mode, between 88% and 126% during constant active breathing, and between 86% and 120% under variable active breathing. The largest relative deviation occurred during the 500 g constant active condition, where the highest output machine produced 147% of the tidal volume of the lowest output machine. Conclusions: All machines deviate significantly in volume output and ventilation regulation. These differences depend on ventilation type, respiratory force, and patient behavior, preventing the creation of a simple conversion table between ventilator models. Universal neonatal tidal volume targets for mechanical ventilation cannot be transferred from one ventilator to another without considering necessary adjustments.
KDA: A Knowledge-Base Database Assistant with a Query Guiding Facility

A knowledge-based database assistant (KDA) which integrates a natural language query system with a skeleton-based query guiding facility is provided. When a user works with the KDA natural language query system, the query guiding facility can supply several kinds of skeletons to guide users in performing database retrieval tasks. A semantic network model, S-Net, is introduced to represent the knowledge for natural language query processing and skeleton generation. Methods for implementing the system are discussed. >
[Autoantibodies against the exocrine pancreas and against intestinal goblet cells in the diagnosis of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis].

It was demonstrated by indirect immunofluorescence that Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are serologically distinct. In 59 patients with Crohn's disease, confirmed by endoscopy and histology, 23 (39%) had serum autoantibodies against exocrine pancreas; in 17 (29%) the titre was 1 : 100 or higher. In 46 patients with confirmed ulcerative colitis pancreas antibodies were demonstrated only twice, in 100 healthy control subjects only 3 times, with titres less than 1 : 100. Pancreas antibodies do not occur in high concentrations in pancreatitis; titres higher than 1 : 100 therefore suggest Crohn's disease. The pancreas antibodies of patients with Crohn's disease were predominantly immunoglobulins IgA and IgG, twice they were IgD and once IgM, never IgE. In 6 patients the pancreas antibodies fixed complement. Autoantibodies against intestinal goblet cells were found only in patients with ulcerative colitis (13 of 46 = 28%). The titres range was from 1 : 10 to 1 : 1000. The goblet-cell antibodies consisted only of IgA and IgG, never reacting with complement. These results indicate that determining pancreas and goblet-cell antibodies alone will make it possible to diagnose either Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis in more than a quarter of patients with chronic inflammatory intestinal disease.
From Technology to Communication: Psycho-social Issues in Developing Virtual Environments

Virtual reality (VR) can be considered as the leading edge of a general evolution of present communication interfaces, one whose main characteristic is the full immersion of the human sensorimotor channels into a vivid and global communication experience. By analyzing VR as a communication tool this paper tries to outline a psycho-social framework for the development and tuning of VR systems. In particular, the author identifies two key characteristics of satisfying virtual environments:disappearance of mediation—a level of experience where both the VR system and the physical environment disappear from the user's phenomenal awareness—and thesense of communitydeveloped by interaction. Social and psychological consequences of this approach are discussed, both for single- and multi-user virtual worlds.
Reduced nonlinear model of a spar-mounted floating wind turbine

Floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) are complex dynamic systems requiring a thorough design for optimal operating performance and stability. Advanced control strategies, like model predictive control, are part of the integrated development of new concepts. This paper presents a simplified and computationally efficient model of the spar-mounted OC3-Hywind FOWT. Applications are, e.g., the real-time integration within the controller or an assessment during conceptual design, possibly within an optimization algorithm. Symbolic equations of motion of a multibody system are available as a set of ordinary differential equations. Aerodynamic forces are computed based on a rotor effective wind speed at hub height using data tables for thrust and torque coefficients. Hydrodynamic impacts on the floating body are modeled in a way that only the wave height serves as the disturbance signal. This estimation is based on potential flow theory and Morison’s formula for slender cylinders. The reduced model code is fully compiled and has a real-time factor of approximately 100. Various simulations of common load cases with a comparison to the certified FAST code have shown to be promising.
Cellular Angiofibroma: Clinicopathologic and Immunohistochemical Analysis of 51 Cases

Cellular angiofibroma is a recently described histologically distinctive benign mesenchymal neoplasm composed of 2 principal components, the cellular spindle cell component and prominent stromal blood vessels. Cases in males have sometimes been called “angiomyofibroblastoma-like tumor. ” We describe a series of 51 cases of cellular angiofibroma to further characterize its clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical features. There were 26 women and 25 men, ranging in age from 22 to 78 years (mean 53.5, median 52 years). Men tended to be older than women. Tumor size ranged from 0.6 to 25.0 cm (overall median size 3.9 cm, median in women 2.7 cm, median in men 6.7 cm). Most common sites were the vulvovaginal region (22 cases) and the inguinoscrotal region (19 cases). Preoperative duration (known for 25 patients) ranged from 1 week to 5 years, with presentation as a painless mass, except for 1 case each with intermittent genital bleeding and a painful mass. Most lesions were located primarily in subcutaneous tissue. Most cases were grossly well marginated. Two cases showed foci of hemorrhage and 1 case showed foci of necrosis. Microscopically, 41 tumors were well circumscribed, and 2 tumors infiltrated into the surrounding tissue. All tumors consisted of bland, spindle-shaped cells, short bundles of wispy collagen and numerous small- to medium-sized thick-walled vessels. Intralesional fat was present in 12 cases (6 female and 6 male cases). Mild cytologic atypia (5 cases) and frequent mitoses (3 cases) were infrequent; significant nuclear atypia and abnormal mitoses were absent. By immunohistochemistry, 29 of 48 tumors (60%) expressed CD34, 10 of 48 (21%) SMA, 4 of 48 (8%) desmin, but none expressed S-100 protein. Follow-up information was available for 40 patients (range 4–168 months; mean 31.2 months) and no patient has developed recurrence or metastasis to date.
A Heavy Traffic Limit Theorem for Networks of Queues with Multiple Customer Types

The central result of this paper is a heavy traffic limit theorem for the vector of total station workloads in an open network of queues with multiple customer types, under first-come-first-served and priority disciplines. The limit process is a regulated Brownian motion on the nonnegative orthant, with parameters specified from the first two moments of the interarrival and service time distributions and a matrix of reduced routing information. Through the phenomenon of state space collapse, associated limit results for queue length, workload and sojourn time processes by customer type are obtained jointly as simple transformations of the total workload limit process. Diffusion approximations based on the theorem are discussed.
High Iodine Concentration Contrast Material for Noninvasive Multislice Computed Tomography Coronary Angiography: Iopromide 370 Versus Iomeprol 400

Objective:The objective of this study was to compare intracoronary attenuation on 16-row multislice computed tomography (16-MSCT) coronary angiography using 2 contrast materials (CM) with high iodine concentration. Material and Methods:Forty consecutive patients (29 male, 11 female; mean age, 61 ± 11 years) with suspected coronary artery disease were randomized to 2 groups to receive 100 mL of either iopromide 370 (group 1: Ultravist 370, 370 mg iodine/mL; Schering AG, Berlin, Germany) or iomeprol 400 (group 2: Iomeron 400, 400 mg iodine/mL; Bracco Imaging SpA, Milan, Italy). Both CM were administered at a rate of 4 mL/s. All patients underwent 16-MSCT coronary angiography (Sensation 16; Siemens, Germany) with collimation 16 × 0.75 mm and rotation time 375 ms. The attenuation in Hounsfield units (HU) achieved after each CM was determined at regions of interest (ROIs) placed at the origin of coronary arteries and on the ascending aorta, descending aorta, and pulmonary artery. Differences in mean attenuation in the coronary arteries and on the ascending aorta, descending aorta, and pulmonary artery were evaluated using Student t test. Results:The mean attenuation achieved at each anatomic site was consistently greater after iomeprol 400 than after iopromide 370. At the origin of coronary arteries, the mean attenuation after iomeprol 400 (340 ± 53 HU) was greater (P < 0.05) than that after iopromide 370 (313 ± 42 HU). Similar findings were noted for the mean attenuation in the ascending aorta, descending aorta, and pulmonary artery. Conclusion:The intravenous administration of iomeprol 400 provides higher attenuation of the coronary arteries and of the great arteries of the thorax as compared with iopromide 370 using the same injection parameters.
The response of young and adult rats to the riboflavin supplementation

The aim of this article was to study the response of young and adult rats on the supplementation of diet with riboflavin. Twenty-four young and adult normotensives (Wistar) male rats, subdivided into two groups: treated (10mg riboflavin/Kg of body weight) and control (receiving vehicle) were daily evaluated for physical and behavioural aspects. Systolic blood pressure was determined twice a week and liver toxicity was investigated it the end of treatment. Data were evaluated using one-way ANOVA and p<0.05 was significant. There were no changes on general health aspects of the treated rats; however, the supplementation provoked a significant (p<0.05) systolic blood pressure reduction.
Dynamical analysis of Brillouin fiber lasers: An experimental approach.

We study experimentally and numerically the influence of the fiber length on the stability of Brillouin lasers in both ring cavity and Fabry-P\'erot configurations. For short enough fibers, experiments and numerical simulations show that the Brillouin emission is stable for any input pump power. This behavior, in contrast with that previously observed on long fibers, is interpreted within the framework of a modal analysis. Further experiments, involving a sweeping of pump frequency, emphasize the role of the frequency detunings, which was generally overlooked.
A novel experimental design for comparative two‐dimensional gel analysis: Two‐dimensional difference gel electrophoresis incorporating a pooled internal standard

The comparison of two‐dimensional (2‐D) gel images from different samples is an established method used to study differences in protein expression. Conventional methods rely on comparing images from at least 2 different gels. Due to the high variation between gels, detection and quantification of protein differences can be problematic. Two‐dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (Ettan™ DIGE) is an emerging technique for comparative proteomics, which improves the reproducibility and reliability of differential protein expression analysis between samples. In the application of DIGE different samples are labelled with mass and charge matched spectrally resolvable fluorescent dyes and are then separated on the same 2‐D gel. Using an Escherichia coli lysate “spiked” with varying amounts of four different known proteins, we have tested a novel experimental design that exploits the sample multiplexing capabilities of DIGE, by including a standard sample in each gel. The standard sample comprises equal amounts of each sample to be compared and was found to improve the accuracy of protein quantification between samples from different gels allowing accurate detection of small differences in protein levels between samples.