Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ACUTE ENCEPHALOPATHY (ENCEPHALITIS) COMPLICATING RUBELLA. REPORT OF CASES WITH VIROLOGIC STUDIES, CORTISOL-PRODUCTION DETERMINATIONS, AND OBSERVATIONS AT AUTOPSY.

Rubella encephalopathy occurred in six children. This complication was estimated to have occurred in a ratio of 1:5,000 cases of rubella infection. Three children survived without sequelae; the other three died. Rubella virus was isolated from the throat of a survivor and from the lung of a child who subsequently died. Specimens had been collected on the sixth and seventh day after onset of rash, respectively. Other clinical and autopsy specimens, including brain, failed to yield virus. Antibodies against the rubella virus were demonstrated in the four cases from which serum was available. Cortisol-production rate was increased in the three patients, who subsequently died, who were treated with hypothermia, and was normal in a surviving patient with a milder case of rubella encephalopathy. Observations at autopsy revealed severe, nonspecific degeneration of the central nervous system but no changes specific for viral infection. The incidence and the clinical, virologic, and autopsy findings of this complication are contrasted with those of measles encephalitis.
Chordomas of the skull base: manifestations and management

Purpose of reviewChordomas are rare congenital tumors of the midline skull base. They are slow-growing and usually cause symptoms only when they compress a cranial nerve. Recent findingsThe MRI will show the lesion with irregular uptake of gadolinium. The only way to define the diagnosis is with tissue, and there are two primary pathologic forms of the disease. Resection approaches vary with extent of disease, surgeon preference, and critical structures involved. SummaryThere is building evidence that proton beam therapy improves survival and duration of a disease-free state.
Self-organized complexity in the physical, biological, and social sciences

The National Academy of Sciences convened an Arthur M. Sackler Colloquium on “Self-organized complexity in the physical, biological, and social sciences” at the NAS Beckman Center, Irvine, CA, on March 23–24, 2001. The organizers were D.L. T. (Cornell), J.B. R. (Colorado), and Hans Frauenfelder (Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM). The organizers had no difficulty in finding many examples of complexity in subjects ranging from fluid turbulence to social networks. However, an acceptable definition for self-organizing complexity is much more elusive. Symptoms of systems that exhibit self-organizing complexity include fractal statistics and chaotic behavior. Some examples of such systems are completely deterministic (i.e., fluid turbulence), whereas others have a large stochastic component (i.e., exchange rates). The governing equations (if they exist) are generally nonlinear and may also have a stochastic driver. Many of the concepts that have evolved in statistical physics are applicable (i.e., renormalization group theory and self-organized criticality). As a brief introduction, we consider a few of the symptoms that are associated with self-organizing complexity. The classic example of self-organizing complexity is the frequency-size distribution of earthquakes. Earthquakes are certainly complex yet they universally satisfy the relation (to a good approximation) ! [Formula][1] where N is the number of earthquakes in a specified time interval and region with their rupture area greater than A . This is the well known Guttenberg–Richter relation (1). The scaling exponent D is the fractal dimension introduced by B. Mandelbrot (2). In his book, Mandelbrot (3) pointed out the wide range of validity of the fractal scaling relation ! [Formula][2] where Ni is the number of objects of size ri . Power-law scaling is second only to the Gaussian distribution in terms of applicability. Its relatively recent acceptance, in terms of the fractal paradigm, can be attributed to the fact that it cannot be used as … [1]: /embed/tex-math-1.gif [2]: /embed/tex-math-2.gif
‘Lip-pointing’: A discussion of form and function with reference to data from Laos

‘Lip-pointing’ is a widespread but little-documented form of deictic gesture, which may involve not just protruding one or both lips, but also raising the head, sticking out the chin, lifting the eyebrows, among other things. This paper discusses form and function of lip-pointing with reference to a set of examples collected on video in Laos. There are various parameters with respect to which the conventional form of a lip-pointing gesture may vary. There is also a range of ways in which lip-pointing gestures can be coordinated with other kinds of deictic gesture such as various forms of hand pointing. The attested coordinating/sequencing possibilities can be related to specific functional properties of lip-pointing among Lao speakers, particularly in the context of other forms of deictic gesture, which have different functional properties. It is argued that the ‘vector’ of lip-pointing is in fact defined by gaze, and that the lip-pointing action itself (like other kinds of ‘pointing’ involving the head area) is a ‘gaze-switch’, i.e. it indicates that the speaker is now pointing out something with his or her gaze. Finally, I consider the position of lip-pointing in the broader deictic gesture system of Lao speakers, firstly as a ‘lower register’ form, and secondly as a form of deictic gesture which may contrast with forms of hand pointing.
Role of the Trans-activation Response Element in Dimerization of HIV-1 RNA*

The HIV-1 genome consists of two identical RNA strands that are linked together through non-covalent interactions. A major determinant for efficient dimerization of the two RNA strands is the interaction between palindromic sequences in the dimerization initiation site. Here we use an interplay of bioinformatics, biochemistry, and atomic force microscopy to describe another conserved palindrome in the trans-activation response element (TAR) that functions as a strong dimerization site when transiently exposed to the viral nucleocapsid protein. In conjunction with the DIS interaction, the TAR dimerization induces the formation of a 65-nm higher-order circular structure in the dimeric HIV-1 RNA. Our results provide a molecular model for the role of TAR in packaging and reverse transcription of the viral genome. The unique structure of the TAR-TAR dimer renders it an intriguing therapeutic target for the treatment of HIV-1 infection.
Observation method for mathematical graphology

An observation method for mathematical graphology is proposed. The motivation of mathematical graphology is to realize graphological information processing on a machine. Furthermore, mathematical graphology aims to construct a new information theory for visual communication. In order to construct the mathematical model this paper focuses on the observation process, which is the first stage in the model. Based on the physiological saccade phenomena, feature points are extracted which include the important information. Then, contours between adjacent feature points are approximated using smooth functions. The performance of the proposed method is verified by experiments.
<200 nm Wafer-to-wafer overlay accuracy in wafer level Cu/SiO2 hybrid bonding for BSI CIS

Sub 200 nm wafer-to-wafer (w2w) overlay accuracy on the entire 300 mm wafer was successfully demonstrated via wafer level Cu/SiO2 hybrid bonding. Cu bonding pads relevant for back-side illuminated (BSI) complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor (CIS) were used for the experiment. Further, a crucial component to improve the overlay accuracy, namely the overlay model which identifies systematic alignment errors, was described.
Aromatase expression in a feminizing adrenocortical tumor.

A 29-yr-old man was referred for evaluation of progressive bilateral gynecomastia, diminished libido, and impotence. There was no history of exposure to exogenous estrogen, androgen antagonists, or alcohol. Physical examination revealed symmetric gynecomastia (5 X 5 cm), a feminized body contour, and diminished testicular size (9 and 8 mL, respectively). Blood pressure was 130/85 mm Hg. Liver and thyroid functions were normal. The sperm count showed azoospermia. A computerized axial tomographic scan of the abdomen revealed a left adrenal mass (9 X 9 X 10 cm). The diagnosis was made based upon high plasma estrone (E,) and estradiol (EJ levels. After detailed endocrine preoperative testing and catheterization of adrenal veins, the patient underwent left adrenalectomy. An adrenal cortical carcinoma was removed without complications. The weight of the encapsulated adrenal mass was 210 g. Severe nuclear pleomorphism was present, with frequent mitoses and multiple foci of vascular invasion. After resection of the tumor, plasma E, and E, levels fell dramatically. Three months later, gynecomastia had regressed, and the patient had normal sexual intercourse. Four years after surgery, whereas E, and E, remained in the normal range, a chest computed tomography scan detected a lung nodule. Resection and histological analysis of this nodule confirmed the existence of a distant metastasis, and mitotane therapy was started.
The Gini Coefficient's Application to General Complex Networks

The Gini coefficient, which was originally used in microeconomics to describe income inequality, is introduced into the research of general complex networks as a metric on the heterogeneity of network structure. Some parameters such as degree exponent and degree-rank exponent were already defined in the case of scale-free networks also as a metric on the heterogeneity. In scale-free networks, the Gini coefficient is proved to be equivalent to the parameters mentioned above, and moreover, a classification of infinite scale-free networks is given according to the value of the Gini coefficient.
Robust control of an electrostatically actuated MEMS in the presence of parasitics and parametric uncertainties

Due to the compact layout, manufacturing tolerance, modeling errors, and environmental changes, micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) are subjected to parasitics and parameter variations. In order to better guarantee their stability and a certain level of performance, one must take into account these factors in the design of MEMS control systems. This work presents two robust control laws for a parallel-plate electrostatic micro-actuator in the presence of uncertainties. The dynamical model of the system is firstly established and two control schemes, both based on input-to-state stabilization (ISS) and robust backstepping, are proposed. The stability and performance of the system using these control schemes are demonstrated through both stability analysis and numerical simulation
Sublingual immunotherapy: from biological extracts to recombinant allergens

Sublingual vaccines based on biological extracts from various natural allergen sources are effective in the treatment of respiratory allergies. These vaccines comprise a complex mixture of proteins and glycoproteins that require dedicated standardization procedures to ensure batch‐to‐batch consistency. Because of the lack of correlation between the potency of an allergen extract and the quantity of major allergen content, standardization is achieved predominantly by determining the global IgE binding capacity of the extract in vitro. New proteomic technologies can be used to further characterize the most abundant proteins present in an extract. Second‐generation sublingual vaccines based on recombinant allergens are under development. The aim is to produce molecularly defined vaccines that exhibit superior efficacy, while allowing for simplified immunization schedules. In this approach, recombinant DNA technology is used to express highly purified allergens in their native (i.e. wild‐type) conformation. The recombinant allergens are then formulated with ad hoc adjuvants and/or mucoadhesive galenic excipients so that they specifically target oral Langerhans cells and induce allergen‐specific regulatory T cells.
How long have I got? Estimating typical, best-case, and worst-case scenarios for patients starting first-line chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer: a systematic review of recent randomized trials.

PURPOSE To estimate scenarios for survival for women with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) who are starting chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS We sought randomized, first-line chemotherapy trials for MBC published from 1999 to 2009. We recorded median progression-free survival (PFS) and median overall survival (OS) and extracted the following percentiles (represented scenario) from each OS curve: 90th (worst-case), 75th (lower-typical), 25th (upper-typical), and 10th (best-case). We also estimated these scenarios for each OS curve by multiplying its median by four simple multiples: 0.25 (worst-case), 0.5 (lower-typical), 2 (upper-typical), and 3 (best-case). Estimates were deemed accurate if they were within 0.75 to 1.33 times the actual value. RESULTS From 36 trials (13,083 women), the mean for median PFS was 7.6 months (interquartile range [IQR], 6.0 to 9.0 months), the mean for median OS was 21.7 months (IQR,18.2 to 24.0 months), and the mean for the ratio of median OS to median PFS was 3.0 (IQR, 2.4 to 3.5). The mean for each OS scenario was worst-case, 6.3 months (IQR, 4.8 to 7.5 months); lower-typical, 11.9 months (IQR, 9.9 to 13.2 months); upper-typical, 36.2 months (IQR, 31.1 to 41.3 months); and best-case, 55.8 months (IQR, 47.5 to 60.2 months). Simple multiples of the median gave accurate estimates of the worst-case scenario in 73% of OS curves, lower-typical in 97%, upper-typical in 95%, and best-case in 96%. OS was longer in trials with higher proportions of estrogen receptor-positive tumors (P = .001) and in trials of trastuzumab-treated human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive tumors (P = .001). CONCLUSION Simple multiples of an OS curve's median can accurately estimate typical (half to double the median), best-case (triple the median), and worst-case (one quarter of the median) scenarios for survival.
Monthly model for genetic evaluation of laying hens II. Random regression

1. We investigated the use of monthly production records for genetic evaluation of laying hens, derived from a test day model with random regression in dairy cattle and compared it with other models. 2. Records of 6450 hens, daughters of 180 sires and 1335 dams, were analysed using a model with restricted maximum likelihood (REML): traits considered were monthly and cumulative egg production. Five models were studied: (1) random regression with covariates derived from the regression of Ali and Schaeffer ( Canadian Journal of Animal Science , 67 : 637-644, 1987) (RRMAS), (2) random regres7 sion with covariates derived from quartic polynomial (RRMP4), (3) fixed regression with covariates derived from Ali and Schaeffer (FRM), (4) multiple trait (MTM) and (5) cumulative (CM). 3. The models were compared on the basis of Spearman rank correlations of individual breeding values and sire breeding values estimated from subsets of full-sib split data. The hens (about 10% per generation) which ranked highest on their estimated breeding values from different models were compared phenotypically with their full records. 4. The estimates of heritability resulting from RRMP4 were biased upward from the estimates obtained from MTM, so this model was discarded. The heritabilities for monthly productions from RRMAS and MTM showed a similar pattern. They were high for the 1st month of production, decreased to their lowest value at about month 5 of production and increased again to the end of lay. 5. Spearman rank correlations between animal breeding values estimated by monthly models (RRMAS, FRM and MTM) were high, between 0.91 and 0.98, whereas those between estimates of monthly models and CM were lower, from 0.85 to 0.87. The correlations estimated either from intermittent months of measurements (odd vs even months) or full records were generally high, from 0.93 to 0.99. Information from odd months of production could be sufficient for cost-efficient recording schemes. The RRMAS generally had the highest correlation of sire breeding values between subsets of full-sib records, followed by MTM, RM and CM. Monthly models selected hens with higher productivity than the cumulative model. 6. In conclusion, genetic evaluation based on monthly production may be better than using cumulative production and RRMAS appeared to be the best among the models tested here.
Carbon dioxide emissions of Antarctic tourism

Abstract The increase of tourism to the Antarctic continent may entail not only local but also global environmental impacts. These latter impacts, which are mainly caused by transport, have been generally ignored. As a result, there is a lack of data on the global impacts of Antarctic tourism in terms of energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. This paper presents and applies a methodology for quantifying CO2 emissions, both for the Antarctic vessel fleet as a whole and per passenger (both per trip and per day). The results indicate that the average tourist trip to Antarctica results in 5.44 t of CO2 emissions per passenger, or 0.49 t per passenger and day. Approximately 70% of these emissions are attributable to cruising and 30% to flying, which highlights the global environmental relevance of local transport for this type of tourism.
Keratocyte repopulation in epikeratoplasty specimens.

PURPOSE To study the histology and pattern of keratocyte repopulation of surgically removed human epikeratoplasty lenticules. METHODS Removed epikeratoplasty lenticules and penetrating keratoplasty buttons that contained epikeratoplasty lenticules were evaluated for duration of epikeratoplasty, histologic and ultrastructural features, and average number of keratocytes per high-power microscopic field. The keratocyte density was compared with age-matched controls. RESULTS Fifteen epikeratoplasty specimens from eight penetrating keratoplasties and seven removed lenticules were reviewed. The indications for keratoplasty were myopia, keratoconus, and aphakia. The lenticules were in place for 7-120 months, and the keratocyte count ranged from 14 to 40 per high-power field. Keratocyte density increased to 30-40 per high-power field, similar to age-matched controls, at approximately 48 months postoperatively, similar to the density of the controls. Keratocytes appeared to have migrated from the periphery to the center of the lenticules. CONCLUSIONS Normal keratocyte density in epikeratoplasty lenticules is reached by approximately 48 months after surgery.
Identification of a Potential Common Ancestor for Mammalian Cross-Presenting Dendritic Cells in Teleost Respiratory Surfaces

Dendritic cells (DCs) are highly specialized antigen-presenting cells that bridge innate and adaptive immune responses in vertebrates, being key modulators in the initiation of specific responses. Although teleost fish present the main elements of a fully developed adaptive immune system, not many studies have focused on identifying specific DC subsets in teleost species. Previous work from our group identified in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) skin a DC subpopulation co-expressing CD8α and major histocompatibility complex II β on the cell surface. Interestingly, these CD8+ DCs expressed common unique markers of mammalian cross-presenting DCs, a DC subset with an important role in antigen presentation and activation of CD8+ T cytotoxic lymphocytes. In this study, we have identified a similar DC subset in rainbow trout gills that also transcribes molecules uniquely expressed on diverse mammalian cross-presenting DC populations such as CD8, CD103, CD141, Batf3, IFN regulatory protein 8, and toll-like receptor 3. Hence, we have undertaken a broad phenotypic and functional characterization of this new DC subset that includes the confirmation of novel capacities for DCs in teleost, such an IgM-binding capacity and responsiveness to CD40 ligand. Furthermore, our results show that in gills, this DC subset shows some different phenotypic and functional characteristics when compared with their homologs in the skin, suggesting an adaptation of the cells to different mucosal tissues or different maturation status depending on their location. Our findings contribute to increase our knowledge on fish cross-presenting DCs, an important cell population to take into account for the future design of mucosal vaccination strategies.
Using ECG surface electrodes in measurement of respiration rate for preterm infants

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the common cause of death in infants. Apnea is known to be associated with increased incidence of the SIDS. A cessation of breathing, longer than 15 seconds, or accompanied by hypoxia or bradycardia, is called apnea of prematurity and has been found in more than 50% of premature infants. We have designed and constructed an apnea detector for infant monitoring in a clinical environment. The device uses a breath processor module with a surface ECG for detecting apnea. When the infant's breathing counts and heart rates are abnormal, an alarm will sound. This device has shown good performance and feasibility.
The Finnish open dialogue approach to crisis intervention in psychosis: A review

The open dialogue approach to crisis intervention is an adaptation of the Finnish need-adapted approach to psychosis that stresses flexibility, rapid response to crisis, family-centred therapy meetings, and individual therapy. Open dialogue reflects a way of working with networks by encouraging dialogue between the treatment team, the individual and the wider social network. Richard Lakeman reviews the outcome studies and descriptive literature published in the English language associated with open dialogue in psychosis and considers the critical ingredients. Findings indicate that in small cohorts of people in Western Lapland the duration of untreated psychosis has been reduced. Most people achieve functional recovery with minimal use of neuroleptic medication, have few residual symptoms and are not in receipt of disability benefits at follow-up. Open dialogue practices have evolved to become part of the integrated service culture. While it is unclear whether the open dialogue components of the service package account for the outcomes achieved, the approach appears well-accepted and has a good philosophical fit with reform agendas to improve service user participation in care. Further large scale trials and naturalistic studies are warranted.
A characterization of ordinal sums being t-norms on bounded lattices by ordinal sums of drastic t-norms

In recent years, the use of t-norms is increasing on several areas of Soft Computing, as well as the ordinal sum of t-norms, which is used to construct other t-norms. In this paper, given a family of pairwise disjoint subintervals of a bounded lattice, we present a characterization of the ordinal sum on the lattice being always a t-norm, for any arbitrary family of t-norms on these subintervals. As a consequence, we provide a direct tool to verify if these ordinal sums are or are not t-norms. Moreover, we can easily construct t-norms from ordinal sums of t-norms and recognize the structure of the bounded lattices considered.