Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Enhanced External Counterpulsation Therapy and Improvement of Functional Capacity in Chronic Heart Failure patients: a Randomized Clinical Trial.

AIM to investigate the efficacy of enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) therapy to improve functional capacity in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). METHODS a double-blind random clinical trial was performed in 99 patients with CHF who had received EECP therapy at Jade Cardiovascular Clinic, Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia between January 2014 and June 2015. Subjects were categorized into 2 groups, i.e. 49 subjects had sham EECP therapy and 50 subjects had EECP therapy. All subjects performed six-minute walking test (6MWT) before and after receiving EECP therapy. RESULTS there was no significant difference between both groups regarding the basic characteristics of patients with CHF. The 6MWT result before EECP therapy showed that there were 30 patients (61.2%) with walk distance of <300 meter in the sham EECP group; while in the group receiving EECP therapy, we found 34 patients (68%); p=0.24. Post-EECP therapy, there were 33 patients (67.3%) with walk distance of <300 meters in EECP sham group; while in the group receiving EECP alone, there was only 1 patient (2%); p<0.01. The 6MWT walk distance in sham group before EECP therapy was 252.65 (SD 97.55) meters and it was 243.65 (SD 86.96) meters following the EECP therapy; p=0.18. In EECP group, the 6MWT walk distance before therapy was 256.88 (SD 85.56) meters and after EECP therapy the walk distance was 449.46 (SD 92.08) meters; p<0.01. CONCLUSION EECP therapy is effective to improve functional capacity in patients with CHF.
First Documented Case of Endometrial Carcinoma in a Patient Treated with Tamoxifen for Encapsulating Peritoneal Sclerosis

Editor: encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (ePS) is a wellrecognized complication of long-term peritoneal dialysis (1–3). Because of its antifibrotic effect, tamoxifen has been proposed as a treatment for ePS (4,5). Tamoxifen may have serious side effects. An increased risk of thromboembolic disease has been recognized in patients treated with tamoxifen for breast cancer (6). There is also well-known relationship between endometrial pathology and tamoxifen use, especially in postmenopausal women (7–9). Several cases of endometrial carcinoma after longterm use of tamoxifen for the treatment of breast cancer have been reported in the literature (9–11). We report the first documented case of endometrial carcinoma in a patient treated with tamoxifen for ePS.
Selective buck-boost equalizer for series battery packs

To maximize the capacity and reliability of a series connected battery pack, a new selective equalizer developed from the earlier ramp equalizer is proposed. A set of bipolar junction transistors (BJTs) controlled by a microcontroller is used to route equalization current to the lowest voltage batteries. Since only the lowest voltage batteries are connected to the equalizer, the need for uniform transformer leakage inductance is avoided, and a lower power level can be used since no excess current flows to the other batteries. An equalization experiment has shown that a 37 W selective equalizer had a slightly better effect on a 24-battery pack than a 63 W ramp equalizer.
Piezoelectric Coefficients of Thin Film Aluminum Nitride Characterizations Using Capacitance Measurements

Piezoelectric materials have become very useful in MEMS devices because of their electrical-mechanical reciprocity. Aluminum nitride has attracted considerable attention in recent years owing to its unique properties. Here we report for the determination of aluminum nitride (AlN) piezoelectric thin film charge constants. When voltage is applied, the AlN film geometrical dimensions will change. The proposed technique does this determination by taking the ratio of parallel plate capacitance for two different bias conditions under set of assumptions in deriving the equations for the ratio of capacitance for the two bias conditions.
Review article: overlap syndromes and autoimmune liver disease

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) all nestle within the family of autoimmune liver diseases, whereby the result of immune‐mediated liver injury gives rise to varied clinical presentations. Some patients demonstrate a phenotype whereby there is evidence of either PBC or PSC together with overlapping features of AIH. Due to an absence of well‐validated diagnostic criteria and a lack of large therapeutic trials, treatment of overlap conditions is empiric and extrapolated from data derived from the primary autoimmune liver diseases.
Design of a 220GHz power divider with T-shape configuration

In this paper, an improved power divider for 220GHz frequency band is presented. The power divider is based on the H-plane of rectangular waveguide and a T-shape configuration. The design principle and manufacture procedure for rectangular waveguide terahertz power divider well be introduced in the article, the model will be simulated by the software Ansoft HFSS and processed by machining. The obtained result indicates that the model has realized an 10% bandwidth at center 220GHz with isolation and return loss more than 20dB, and achieved the intended goal.
Arboreal Ant Abundance and Leaf Miner Damage in Coffee Agroecosystems in Mexico

Shaded coffee agroecosystems traditionally have few pest problems potentially due to higher abundance and diversity of predators of herbivores. However, with coffee intensification (e.g., shade tree removal or pruning), some pest problems increase. For example, coffee leaf miner outbreaks have been linked to more intensive management and increased use of agrochemicals. Parasitic wasps control the coffee leaf miner, but few studies have examined the role of predators, such as ants, that are abundant and diverse in coffee plantations. Here, we examine linkages between arboreal ant communities and coffee leaf miner incidence in a coffee plantation in Mexico. We examined relationships between incidence and severity of leaf miner attack and: (1) variation in canopy cover, tree density, tree diversity, and relative abundance of Inga spp. shade trees; (2) presence of Azteca instabilis, an arboreal canopy dominant ant; and (3) the number of arboreal twig‐nesting ant species and nests in coffee plants. Differences in vegetation characteristics in study plots did not correlate with leaf miner damage perhaps because environmental factors act on pest populations at a larger spatial scale. Further, presence of A. instabilis did not influence presence or severity of leaf miner damage. The proportion of leaves with leaf miner damage was significantly lower where abundance of twig‐nesting ants was higher but not where twig‐nesting ant richness was higher. These results indicate that abundance of twig‐nesting ants in shaded coffee plantations may contribute to maintenance of low leaf miner populations and that ants provide important ecosystem services in coffee agroecosystems.
Radio frequency electromagnetic exposure: tutorial review on experimental dosimetry.

Radio frequency (RF) dosimetry is the quantification of the magnitude and distribution of absorbed electromagnetic energy within biological objects that are exposed to RF fields. At RF, the dosimetric quantity, which is called the specific absorption rate (SAR), is defined as the rate at which energy is absorbed per unit mass. The SAR is determined not only by the incident electromagnetic waves but also by the electrical and geometric characteristics of the irradiated subject and nearby objects. It is related to the internal electric field strength (E) as well as to the electric conductivity and the density of tissues; therefore, it is a suitable dosimetric parameter, even when a mechanism is determined to be "athermal. " SAR distributions are usually determined from measurements in human models, in animal tissues, or from calculations. This tutorial describes experimental techniques that are used commonly to determine SAR distributions along with the SAR limitations and unresolved problems. The methods discussed to obtain point, planar, or whole-body averaged SARs include the use of small E-field probes or measurement of initial rate of temperature rise in an irradiated object.
Knowledge-based prediction of protein backbone conformation using a structural alphabet

Libraries of structural prototypes that abstract protein local structures are known as structural alphabets and have proven to be very useful in various aspects of protein structure analyses and predictions. One such library, Protein Blocks (PBs), is composed of 16 standard 5-residues long structural prototypes. This form of analyzing proteins involves drafting its structure as a string of PBs. Thus, predicting the local structure of a protein in terms of protein blocks is a step towards the objective of predicting its 3-D structure. Here a new approach, kPred, is proposed towards this aim that is independent of the evolutionary information available. It involves (i) organizing the structural knowledge in the form of a database of pentapeptide fragments extracted from all protein structures in the PDB and (ii) apply a purely knowledge-based algorithm, not relying on secondary structure predictions or sequence alignment profiles, to scan this database and predict most probable backbone conformations for the protein local structures. Based on the strategy used for scanning the database, the method was able to achieve efficient mean Q16 accuracies between 40.8% and 66.3% for a non-redundant subset of the PDB filtered at 30% sequence identity cut-off. The impact of these scanning strategies on the prediction was evaluated and is discussed. A scoring function that gives a good estimate of the accuracy of prediction was further developed. This score estimates very well the accuracy of the algorithm (R2 of 0.82). An online version of the tool is provided freely for non-commercial usage at http://www.bo-protscience.fr/kpred/.
Transvenous embolization of a ruptured cerebral arteriovenous malformation with en-passage arterial supply: initial case report

A patient with a ruptured left sylvian fissure arteriovenous malformation (AVM) treated with primary transvenous Onyx embolization, and angiographically cured, is reported. The patient presented with a large intraparenchymal subopercular hematoma and there was angiographic demonstration of a pseudoaneurysm and single draining vein. Trans-arterial approaches were unsuccessful because of the en-passage nature of feeding arteries and hence a transvenous approach was used to embolize the pseudoaneurysm with Onyx. Follow-up angiography at 1 month revealed durable angiographic cure of the AVM. Our case illustrates that in patients with ruptured AVM secondary to pseudoaneurysm and single draining vein, transvenous treatment can be utilized to achieve occlusion of the pseudoaneurysm resulting in AVM cure. To our knowledge, this is the first description of a transvenous approach for endovascular therapy of AVM.
Graviton mediated photon-photon scattering in general relativity

In this paper we consider photon-photon scattering due to self-induced gravitational perturbations on a Minkowski background. We focus on four-wave interaction between plane waves with weakly space and time dependent amplitudes, since interaction involving a fewer number of waves is excluded by energy-momentum conservation. The Einstein-Maxwell system is solved perturbatively to third order in the field amplitudes and the coupling coefficients are found for arbitrary polarizations in the center of mass system. Comparisons with calculations based on quantum field theoretical methods are made, and the small discrepancies are explained.
Insights on Evolution of Virulence and Resistance from the Complete Genome Analysis of an Early Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Strain and a Biofilm-Producing Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis Strain

ABSTRACT Staphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic pathogen and the major causative agent of numerous hospital- and community-acquired infections. Staphylococcus epidermidis has emerged as a causative agent of infections often associated with implanted medical devices. We have sequenced the ∼2.8-Mb genome of S. aureus COL, an early methicillin-resistant isolate, and the ∼2.6-Mb genome of S. epidermidis RP62a, a methicillin-resistant biofilm isolate. Comparative analysis of these and other staphylococcal genomes was used to explore the evolution of virulence and resistance between these two species. The S. aureus and S. epidermidis genomes are syntenic throughout their lengths and share a core set of 1,681 open reading frames. Genome islands in nonsyntenic regions are the primary source of variations in pathogenicity and resistance. Gene transfer between staphylococci and low-GC-content gram-positive bacteria appears to have shaped their virulence and resistance profiles. Integrated plasmids in S. epidermidis carry genes encoding resistance to cadmium and species-specific LPXTG surface proteins. A novel genome island encodes multiple phenol-soluble modulins, a potential S. epidermidis virulence factor. S. epidermidis contains the cap operon, encoding the polyglutamate capsule, a major virulence factor in Bacillus anthracis. Additional phenotypic differences are likely the result of single nucleotide polymorphisms, which are most numerous in cell envelope proteins. Overall differences in pathogenicity can be attributed to genome islands in S. aureus which encode enterotoxins, exotoxins, leukocidins, and leukotoxins not found in S. epidermidis.
Notice of RetractionThematic Chains: The Effectively Coherent Device in the Constructing Skill of the Text

Theme choice plays an important role in the constructing skill of the text. Both themes and texts have the function to transmit and transfer information, so there is a close relationship between them. Therefore, from the perspective of the concept of theme, we try to analyze the text together with the help of thematic structure, which could promote leaders to understand and master the text well. Based on this, a new concept is proposed as 'the thematic chain', by means of whose function in the interaction between themes, we could analyze the original author's strategies and skills in text constructing. Also, this paper tries to reach the harmony and unity of the two concepts: theme and text. Of course, the context, thematic structure and thematic progressions are needed.
The Repeatability of Scapular Rotations Across Three Planes of Humeral Elevation

Measurement of scapular kinematics is an important component in the assessment of shoulder function; however, repeatability of these measurements has not been established. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to determine the repeatability of scapular rotation measures for different humeral elevation planes between trials, sessions, and days. Three-dimensional scapular rotations were collected using an electromagnetic tracking system in three planes of humeral elevation. Coefficient of multiple correlation (CMC) values were calculated between trials, sessions, and days for curves of scapular rotations. CMC values were compared with repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVAs) and Tukey's post-hoc procedures. Tests of simple main effects were performed for significant interaction effects. Our results suggest that scapular rotation measures are repeatable between trials within the same testing session, but less repeatable between testing sessions and days. Sagittal plane elevation consistently yielded the highest CMC values for all scapular rotations. These results suggest sagittal plane elevation should be considered to evaluate differences in scapular rotations.
A Molecular Model for Cell Interactions

Early embryogenesis in higher animals proceeds through a series of complex morphogenetic movements followed by intercellular communications sufficiently sophisticated that most groups of cells learn their positions and their fates before physical evidence for differentiation can be detected. It has been assumed that molecular events at the cell surface are initially responsible for the recognition and communication between cell and environment in these systems, but the nature of these molecular events has been totally obscure. This review presents the argument that recognition and communication may result from interactions between cell surface glycosyltransferases and their cell surface glycosyl acceptors. If two cells possess surfaces enzymes and appropriate substrates, and if these are prohibited from interacting with each other on a single cell surface, then enzyme-substrate binding will occur between these two cells when they make contact. This relationship would account for intercellular recognition. By controlling the availability of the necessary sugar donor or the required cation, cells could control the degree to which these complexes undergo catalysis. If catalysis should take place, then the cells will have changed each other's surface carbohydrates. This, in turn, could initiate intracellular changes and might account for communication. Evidence for this model comes from studies on normal and malignant cells in culture, adhesive recognition between embryonic cells, organ culture of embryonic tissues, whole embryos, platelet aggregation, and clearance of serum glycoproteins by the liver.
A clinicopathologic analysis of adriamycin cardiotoxicity

The cardiotoxic effects of adriamycin were studied in 399 patients treated for far‐advanced carcimma. Forty‐five patients (11%) exhibited transient electrocardiographs changes. Eleven others developed severe congestive heart failure. Eight of these latter patients died within 3 weeks of the onset of the cardiac decompensation. The diffuse nature of this myocardiopathy was suggested by: 1. a conspicuous decrease in the QRS voltage on the electrocardiograms; 2. rapidly occurring cardiac dilatation and ventricular failure, and 3. refractoriness to inoiropic drugs and mechanical ventricular assistance. Postmortem examination of the hearts in two cases showed a striking decrease in the number of cardiac: muscle cells present, degeneration of the remaining myocardial cells, loss o contractile substance, mitochondrial swelling, and intramitochondrial dense inclusion bodies. Congestive heart failure occurred only once in the 366 patients who were treated with less than 550 mg/m2 of adriamycin (0.27%), but there were 10 cases of cardiac failure in the 33 patients who received more than 550 mg/m2 of this drug (30%). Therefore, until more direct means are established to prevent adriamycin‐induced congestive heart failure, it is suggested that the total dose of adriamycin should be limited to less than 550 mg/m2 to permit safer use of this efficacious cancer chemotherapeutic agent.
Dissecting the many genetic faces of schizophrenia

Abstract Recent genome-wide association studies in schizophrenia have provided strongest evidence for association and this strengthened when the affected phenotype included bipolar disorder suggesting that genes may not always associate with operationalised diagnostic entities. Several further large Genome Wide Association (GWA) studies on schizophrenia are under way and identified and replicated further loci in well-powered cohorts. The last 2 years have also witnessed an explosion of interest in human Copy Number Variants (CNVs). Deletions recently identified in schizophrenia (1q21.1; 2p16.3; 15q11.2; 15q13.3) have also been most recently found in further neurodevelopmental diseases. Thus, a significant fraction of individuals with neurodevelopmental diseases including schizophrenia carry CNVs and many will be defined as “genomic disorders” in the coming years. These findings could represent a decisive step towards understanding the causes of this severe mental disorder as well as developing new potential treatments. There is new hope that these new avenues will help understanding the neurobiology of schizophrenia in more depth leading to the development of new innovative diagnostic tools and therapies as was the case after the discovery of rare APP and presenilin 1 and 2 mutations in Alzheimer's disease.
On the parallel MAP algorithm

The MAP algorithm used in turbo decoders is very parallelizable. This property can be used to speed them up. The speedup is attained at the expense of increased complexity and processing hardware. The increase in processing hardware is linear with the speedup but the increase in complexity of the parallel implementation compared to the traditional implementation is extremely small and this is the main observation of this paper. We discuss the parallel implementation of the MAP algorithm, the increase in complexity and memory and contrast the behaviour with that of the Viterbi algorithm. The results given here also suggest a change in design methodology of the sliding window implementation of turbo decoders.
On the Optimal Setting of Spreading Activation Parameters to Calculate Recommendations on the Knowledge Graph

This paper presents the analysis on the optimal settings of the spreading parameters of the spreading activation technique. The method is applied on the knowledge graph, an information representation technique that combines collaborative and content-based information. The evaluation of the recommendation technique is based on recommendation lists. The involved measures are precision, recall and normalized discounted cumulative gain. The numerical experiments are conducted on the MovieLens 1M dataset. The evaluation results show that spreading activation delivers a stable performance regarding to the evaluation measures over different parameter settings. The quality of the recommendations degrade in the case, the method parameters are set to extreme values.
Lighthouse: Accurate 802.11 localization using Directional Beacon fingerprinting

In this paper, we propose a novel method for indoor location estimation using an unmodified mobile device (MD) in an IEEE 802.11 wireless local area network. In this method, Directional Beaconing is combined with Fingerprinting whereby the WiFi access points (APs) transmit a narrow beamwidth signal switching between a small number of fixed directions of emission (DOEs) and the MD records the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) for all in-range APs and all DOEs. These observations give a DOE-RSSI signatures at the MD for each AP. The location of the MD is determined using a K-Nearest Neighbor algorithm which finds the best matching DOE-RSSI signature in a pre-stored map. The method improves on previous omnidirectional fingerprinting methods by increasing the number of RSSI maps available per AP. A testbed network was deployed in an office building and its performance was evaluated. The results show a reduction in mean location error from 2.87 m to 1.64 m (43% improvement) for the proposed method compared with conventional omnidirectional RSSI fingerprinting, when using 3 APs in a positioning space of 12 m by 13.5 m.