Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lethal respiratory failure and mild primary hypothyroidism in a term girl with a de novo heterozygous mutation in the TITF1/NKX2.1 gene.

CONTEXT Thyroid transcription factor 1 (TITF1/NKX2.1) is expressed in the thyroid, lung, ventral forebrain, and pituitary. In the lung, TITF1/NKX2.1 activates the expression of genes critical for lung development and function. Titf/Nkx2.1(-/-) mice have pituitary and thyroid aplasia but also impairment of pulmonary branching. Humans with heterozygous TITF1/NKX2.1 mutations present with various combinations of primary hypothyroidism, respiratory distress, and neurological disorders. OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to report clinical and molecular studies of the first patient with lethal neonatal respiratory distress from a novel heterozygous TITF1/NKX2.1 mutation. PARTICIPANT This girl, the first child of healthy nonconsanguineous French-Canadian parents, was born at 41 wk. Birth weight was 3,460 g and Apgar scores were normal. Soon after birth, she developed acute respiratory failure with pulmonary hypertension. At neonatal screening on the second day of life, TSH was 31 mU/liter (N <15) and total T(4) 245 nmol/liter (N = 120-350). Despite mechanical ventilation, thyroxine, surfactant, and pulmonary vasodilators, the patient died on the 40th day. RESULTS Histopathology revealed pulmonary tissue with low alveolar counts. The thyroid was normal. Sequencing of the patient's lymphocyte DNA revealed a novel heterozygous TITF1/NKX2.1 mutation (I207F). This mutation was not found in either parent. In vitro, the mutant TITF-1 had reduced DNA binding and transactivation capacity. CONCLUSION This is the first reported case of a heterozygous TITF1/NKX2.1 mutation leading to neonatal death from respiratory failure. The association of severe unexplained respiratory distress in a term neonate with mild primary hypothyroidism is the clue that led to the diagnosis.
Robust Visual Tracking With Multitask Joint Dictionary Learning

Dictionary learning for sparse representation has been increasingly applied to object tracking, however, the existing methods only utilize one modality of the object to learn a single dictionary. In this paper, we propose a robust tracking method based on multitask joint dictionary learning. Through extracting different features of the target, multiple linear sparse representations are obtained. Each sparse representation can be learned by a corresponding dictionary. Instead of separately learning the multiple dictionaries, we adopt a multitask learning approach to learn the multiple linear sparse representations, which provide additional useful information to the classification problem. Because different tasks may favor different sparse representation coefficients, yet the joint sparsity may enforce the robustness in coefficient estimation. During tracking, a classifier is constructed based on a joint linear representation, and the candidate with the smallest joint decision error is selected to be the tracked object. In addition, reliable tracking results and augmented training samples are accumulated into two sets to update the dictionaries for classification, which helps our tracker adapt to the fast time-varying object appearance. Both qualitative and quantitative evaluations on CVPR2013 visual tracking benchmark demonstrate that our method performs favorably against state-of-the-art trackers.
Non-hormonal methods for induction of labour

Purpose of review The percentage of induced live birth has more than doubled from the 1990s to 2008. Induction of labour can either be based on medical indications, or performed as an elective procedure. A large range of pharmacological and non-pharmacological modalities are available for the induction of labour and the optimal method for labour induction is unknown. This article is aimed to examine literature on non-hormonal methods for labour induction, published from January 2012 to May 2013. Recent findings Eleven studies were identified in our search and included into the review. Foley balloon catheter appears to be more cost-effective and commonly used non-hormonal technique for induction of labour, although further meta-analysis is required in this area. Currently, there is not enough evidence to support routine use in all women for labour induction among other methods including amniotomy, acupuncture, sexual intercourse, isosorbide mononitrate, hypnosis, castor oil and breast stimulation. The latest three studies suggest that amniotomy may increase need for oxytocin augmentation during labour induction. Summary Many non-hormonal methods for labour induction still require further evidence to support their use within the clinical setting. Balloon catheter seems to be a more widely accepted non-hormonal method that has been supported by various literatures.
Ontology-Based Clinical Decision Support System for Predicting High-Risk Pregnant Woman

According to Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), Pakistan is facing a shortage of approximately 182,000 medical doctors. Due to the shortage of doctors; a large number of lives are in danger especially pregnant woman. A large number of pregnant women die every year due to pregnancy complications, and usually the reason behind their death is that the complications are not timely handled. In this paper, we proposed ontology-based clinical decision support system that diagnoses high-risk pregnant women and refer them to the qualified medical doctors for timely treatment. The Ontology of the proposed system is built automatically and enhanced afterward using doctor’s feedback. The proposed framework has been tested on a large number of test cases; experimental results are satisfactory and support the implementation of the solution.
The Challenges of Providing Diabetes Education in Resource-Limited Settings to Women With Diabetes in Pregnancy: Perspectives of an Educator

IN BRIEF In resource-limited settings, the challenges of providing diabetes education are magnified. To provide the best education, these challenges and barriers need to be identified and addressed. Many times, at the “teachable moment” of a gestational diabetes diagnosis, we are able to not only address the immediate concerns, but also help patients adopt and continue long-term healthy lifestyle behaviors that improve the health of their entire family.
Ultra scale‐down approaches for clarification of mammalian cell culture broths in disc‐stack centrifuges

Ultra‐scale down (USD) methodology developed by University College London for cell broth clarification with industrial centrifuges was applied to two common cell lines (NS0 and GS‐CHO) expressing various therapeutic monoclonal antibodies. A number of centrifuges at various scales were used with shear devices operating either by high speed rotation or flow‐through narrow channels. The USD methodology was found effective in accounting for both gravitational and shear effects on clarification performance with three continuous centrifuges at pilot and manufacturing scales. Different shear responses were observed with the two different cell lines and even with the same cell line expressing different products. Separate particle size analysis of the treated broths seems consistent with the shear results. Filterability of the centrifuged solutions was also evaluated to assess the utility of the USD approach for this part of the clarification operation. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog. , 2009
PREPARATION AND STUDIES OF STRUCTURAL AND THERMO-MECHANICAL ASPECTS OF SOME SPECIAL GLASSES AND GLASS-CERAMICS

Glasses and glass-ceramics (GCs) used for sealing, coating and high voltage applications belong to a special class of materials in which among other requirements, matching of thermal expansion coefficient with that of metal as closely as possible up to set temperature is an important consideration. In this paper I shall concentrate on some indigenous efforts carried out in my laboratory on the preparation and studies related to structural and thermo-mechanical aspects of glasses such as lead silicate, borosilicate, sodium aluminium phosphate (NAP) and glass-ceramics such as magnesium aluminium silicate(MAS) and lithium zinc silicate(LZS). Glasses have been prepared by melt quench technique while bulk nucleation method has been followed for the preparation of glass ceramics. Structural aspects of lead silicate glasses having alkaliand alkaline earth metal oxides, and B2O3 have been studied using MAS-NMR, XRD and optical transmission and have been found to affect both micro-hardness and thermal expansion coefficients. As regards, MAS glassceramics a systematic study to find out the effect of MgF2 content and processing temperatures on the crystallisation process and thermo-mechanical properties was carried out. Some results related to structural and optical studies of NAP and LZS have been discussed. Finally high quality machinable MAS glass ceramic has been developed which has been found suitable for high voltage applications in ultra high vacuum at relatively high temperatures. Both lead silicate, borosilicate glasses and lithium zinc silicate glass-ceramics have been employed in special types of glass to metal and glass-ceramics to metal seals.
Identification of the mpl gene encoding UDP-N-acetylmuramate: L-alanyl-gamma-D-glutamyl-meso-diaminopimelate ligase in Escherichia coli and its role in recycling of cell wall peptidoglycan

A gene, mpl, encoding UDP-N-acetylmuramate:L-alanyl-gamma-D-glutamyl-meso-diaminopimelat e ligase was recognized by its amino acid sequence homology with murC as the open reading frame yjfG present at 96 min on the Escherichia coli map. The existence of such an enzymatic activity was predicted from studies indicating that reutilization of the intact tripeptide L-alanyl-gamma-D-glutamyl-meso-diaminopimelate occurred and accounted for well over 30% of new cell wall synthesis. Murein tripeptide ligase activity could be demonstrated in crude extracts, and greatly increased activity was produced when the gene was cloned and expressed under control of the trc promoter. A null mutant totally lacked activity but was viable, showing that the enzyme is not essential for growth.
Ridge preservation comparing the clinical and histologic healing of a demineralized particulate bone allograft vs. mineralized particulate cancellous allograft using barrier membrane

RIDGE PRESERVATION COMPARING THE CLINICAL AND HISTOLOGIC HEALING OF A DEMINERALIZED PARTICULATE BONE ALLOGRAFT VS. MINERALIZED PARTICULATE CANCELLOUS ALLOGRAFT USING A PTFE BARRIER Veneta Kotevska, DDS
Peptidomimetic regulation of growth hormone secretion.

I. Introduction II. Identification of Peptidomimetic GH Secretagogues A. Mechanism of action of GHRH, GHRP-6, and somatostatin B. In vitro assays III. Molecular Design by Medicinal Chemistry A. Benzolactams and L-692,429 B. Spiroindanes and MK-0677 C. Isonipecotic acid peptidomimetics IV. Characterization of the MK-0677 Receptor A. Pituitary gland B. Hypothalamus V. Signal Transduction Pathway VI. Cloning the GH Secretagogue Receptor A. Chromosomal localization VII. Action of the Peptidomimetic GH Secretagogues in the Central Nervous System VIII. Peptidomimetic GH Secretagogues in Vivo A. Animal models B. Clinical studies in humans IX. Regulation of Pulsatile GH Release A. GHRH and somatostatin B. The role of GHS-R X. Concluding Comments
¿Cómo borrar la letra escrita en piedra? Norma pétrea y reelección presidencial en Honduras

Honduras logro eliminar la prohibicion a la releccion en 2005 sin mayores obstaculos, mientras que en el 2009, el intento de reformar la constitucion politica acabo en un golpe de Estado contra el presidente Zelaya. En este trabajo se sostiene que la elite politica hondurena ha transitado la ruta del cambio institucional por la via judicial con el objetivo de evadir el fracaso. El titular del Gobierno ha conseguido quedar tras bastidores en el impulso a la reforma, pero distintos elementos permiten validar que es un estratega del cambio institucional.
A late Pleistocene–Mid‐Holocene noble gas and stable isotope climate and subglacial record in southern Michigan

Stable isotopes (δD, δ18O) and 14C derived ages in the Saginaw aquifer in southern Michigan suggest subglacial meltwater contributions from the Laurentide Ice Sheet of up to 36% in the late Pleistocene, following the Last Glacial Maximum. Contributions of up to 74% from previous glaciation periods are observed. Together with the Marshall record [ Ma et al., 2004 ], noble gas temperatures (NGTs) and excess air (EA) from the Saginaw aquifer capture, for the first time, the onset of the Younger Dryas (∼12.9 kyr BP) with a ∼3.3°C cooling accompanied by drier conditions. Mid‐Holocene (MH) climatic shifts are also identified, with warming (∼2.9°C), increased aridity starting at ∼5.4 kyr BP followed by reversal to cooler, humid conditions at ∼4.1 kyr BP. Except for the last MH reversal, the stable isotope record mimics the NGT and EA records. Contrasting trends displayed byδ18O and deuterium‐excess in the last MH reversal suggests enhanced vapor transport from the Gulf of Mexico.
Live high, train low – influence on resting and post‐exercise hepcidin levels

The post‐exercise hepcidin response during prolonged (>2 weeks) hypoxic exposure is not well understood. We compared plasma hepcidin levels 3 h after exercise [6 × 1000 m at 90% of maximal aerobic running velocity (vVO2max)] performed in normoxia and normobaric hypoxia (3000 m simulate altitude) 1 week before, and during 14 days of normobaric hypoxia [196.2 ± 25.6 h (median: 200.8 h; range: 154.3–234.8 h) at 3000 m simulated altitude] in 10 well‐trained distance runners (six males, four females). Venous blood was also analyzed for hepcidin after 2 days of normobaric hypoxia. Hemoglobin mass (Hbmass) was measured via CO rebreathing 1 week before and after 14 days of hypoxia. Hepcidin was suppressed after 2 (Cohen's d = −2.3, 95% confidence interval: [−2.9, −1.6]) and 14 days of normobaric hypoxia (d = −1.6 [−2.6, −0.6]). Hepcidin increased from baseline, 3 h post‐exercise in normoxia (d = 0.8 [0.2, 1.3]) and hypoxia (d = 0.6 [0.3, 1.0]), both before and after exposure (normoxia: d = 0.7 [0.3, 1.2]; hypoxia: d = 1.3 [0.4, 2.3]). In conclusion, 2 weeks of normobaric hypoxia suppressed resting hepcidin levels, but did not alter the post‐exercise response in either normoxia or hypoxia, compared with the pre‐exposure response.
Twin concordance for congenital and adult‐onset psychosis: a preliminary study of the validity of a novel classification of schizophrenia

As a test of the hypothesis that the psychoses can be divided into congenital and adult‐onset forms, we applied operational criteria for these two disorders to the case summaries of 24 monozygotic and 33 dizygotic schizophrenic twin pairs. Our results indicate that the reliability and validity of this novel classification are comparable with the best of the existing systems and support further investigation of the hypothesis.
Whole‐sediment toxicity identification evaluation tools for pyrethroid insecticides: I. Piperonyl butoxide addition

Piperonyl butoxide (PBO) is a synergist used in some pyrethroid and pyrethrin pesticide products and has been used in toxicity identification evaluations (TIEs) of water samples to indicate organophosphate or pyrethroid‐related toxicity. Methods were developed and validated for use of PBO as a TIE tool in whole‐sediment testing to help establish if pyrethroids are the cause of toxicity observed in field‐collected sediments. Pyrethroid toxicity was increased slightly more than twofold in 10‐d sediment toxicity tests with Hyalella azteca exposed to 25 μg/L of PBO in the overlying water. This concentration was found to be effective for sediment TIE use, but it is well below that used in previous water and pore‐water TIEs with PBO. The effect of PBO on the toxicity of several nonpyrethroids also was tested. Toxicity of the organophosphate chlorpyrifos was reduced by PBO, and the compound had no effect on toxicity of cadmium, DDT, or fluoranthene. Mixtures of the pyrethroid bifenthrin and chlorpyrifos were tested to determine the ability of PBO addition to identify pyrethroid toxicity when organophosphates were present in a sample. The PBO‐induced increase in pyrethroid toxicity was not seen when chlorpyrifos was present at or above equitoxic concentrations with the pyrethroid. In the vast majority of field samples, however, the presence of chlorpyrifos does not interfere with use of PBO to identify pyrethroid toxicity. Eleven field sediments or soils containing pyrethroids and/or chlorpyrifos were used to validate the method. Characterization of the causative agent as determined by PBO addition was consistent with confirmation by chemical analysis and comparison to known toxicity thresholds in 10 of the 11 sediments.
Examination of the use of a dual-channel functional electrical stimulation system on gait, balance and balance confidence of an adult with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy

Abstract The purpose of this case report is to determine the effects of a dual-channel functional electrical stimulation (FES) system on gait and balance of a 57-year-old male diagnosed with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (CP). Outcome measures included the: Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC); Dynamic Gait Index (DGI); Observational Gait Scale (OGS) and Tinetti Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA). Assessments were completed with and without use of FES during the initial examination and after two, four and six weeks of intervention with FES. ABC Scale scores improved from 32.8 to 48.1% during the 6-week intervention. Scores on the DGI improved from 6/24 to 9/24 without FES and from 9/24 to 14/24 with FES. OGS scores improved on both legs with and without FES. Tinetti POMA scores improved from 12/28 to 15/28 without FES and decreased from 16/28 to 15/28 with FES. The patient demonstrated improvement in both objective and subjective measures. The use of FES facilitated improved gait and balance; however, the patient was still at increased risk for falls after the 6-week intervention despite improved scores on the ABC Scale, DGI, OGS and Tinetti POMA.
Performance comparison of neural network models: backpropagation vs. fuzzy artmap

Neural networks have been increasingly applied to many problems in civil engineering. Even though there are currently many different types of neural network models, Backpropagation is the most popular neural network model. It is also known that Fuzzy ARTMAP, which is a combination of fuzzy logic and Adaptive Resonance Theory (ART), is superior to any other neural network models in terms of computing cost and predictive accuracy. In this research, two neural network paradigms, Backpropagation and Fuzzy ARTMAP have been studied to compare their performance in terms of computing cost and predictive accuracy through the experiment with real world image data of traffic scenes, as well as biological and theoretical aspects. In addition, three enhanced Backpropagation models, Backpropagation with Momentum, Quickprop, BPMP (Backpropagation with Momentum and Prime-offset) have been considered to compare the network performance of each model.
An MAC protocol enabling fast rendezvous for secondary users in cognitive networks based on two-stage sensing

Here we proposed a periodical two-stage sensing MAC protocol for the cognitive network which enables the sender sense the same channel with its intended receiver through sensing only two channels at most, thus the sender and receiver don't need to sense a large number of channels to find a channel that is idle to both of them for data transmission. Each secondary user (SU) randomly chooses a channel to sense in the 1st sensing phase and report its sensing result, then each SU can know the channel its intended receiver had sensed in the 1st sensing phase, then it decides whether to sense the channel in the 2nd sensing phase. On some conditions satisfied, it conducts the 2nd stage sensing and negotiates with its receiver to reserve the channel. We design two negotiation schemes, the negotiation is conducted on the control channel in the 1st scheme and on the data channels in the 2nd scheme. Finally, we used NS-2 to analysis the performance of the protocol using the two negotiation schemes.
Inhaled diazeniumdiolates (NONOates) as selective pulmonary vasodilators

Selective pulmonary vasodilators cause vasodilatation limited to the pulmonary vasculature, within well-ventilated lung regions. Selective pulmonary vasodilators ideally cause only a minimal effect on the systemic circulation and improve ventilation/perfusion matching. NONOates are a novel group of chemical compounds that spontaneously and continuously release nitric oxide under physiological conditions, over periods of up to 24 h. Inhaled NONOates retain the benefits of gaseous nitric oxide without many of its therapeutic disadvantages. This review focuses on the therapeutic potential of inhaled NONOates in pulmonary hypertension, other lung conditions associated with right ventricular dysfunction and in asthma. The potential toxicity of NONOates is also discussed.
Genetic variants in RIG-I-like receptor influences HCV clearance in Chinese Han population

Abstract Human innate immune plays an essential role in the spontaneous clearance of acute infection and therapy of HCV. We investigated whether the SNPs in retinoic acid-inducible gene I-like receptor family were associated with HCV spontaneous clearance and response to treatment. To evaluate the clinical value of DDX58 rs3824456, rs10813831 and rs10738889 genotypes on HCV spontaneous clearance and treatment response in Chinese Han population, we genotyped 1001 HCV persistent infectors, 599 participants with HCV natural clearance and 354 patients with PEGylated interferon-α and ribavirin (PEG IFN-α/RBV) treatment. People carrying rs10813831-G allele genotype were more liable to achieve spontaneous clearance than the carriage of the T allele (dominant model: adjusted OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.08–1.71, P = 0.008). In rs10738889, the rate of persistent infection was significantly lower in patients with the TC genotype compared to those with TT genotype (dominant model: adjusted OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.06–1.74, P = 0.015). Multivariate stepwise analysis indicated that rs10738889, age, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were independent predictors for HCV spontaneous clearance. However, there were no significant differences in the three selection SNPs between the non-SVR group and the SVR group. These results suggest the DDX58 rs10813831 and rs10738889 are associated with spontaneous clearance of HCV, which may be identified as a predictive marker in the Chinese Han population of HCV.