Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dependence of the RF field absorption on the human body dimensions

In this paper, the dependence of radio-frequency (RF) field absorption on human body dimensions is investigated. The resonance properties of an ellipsoidal homogeneous human model have been investigated in frequency range from 10 MHz to 500 MHz with assistance of CST Microwave Studio program environment. In the article, the simulation of RF field absorption in the ellipsoidal body model has been performed for three various body heights, as well as three widths for a given body height.
The etiology of Rubella IgM positivity in patients with rubella‐like illness in Iran from 2011 to 2013

Rubella is a mild self‐limiting contagious viral disease caused by the rubella virus (RV). Although symptoms are often mild, the concern is centralized around the possible effect on a fetus growth and development in case of primary infection during early months of pregnancy. Recently acquired rubella is commonly confirmed by RV‐specific IgM antibody detection in the serum. However, rubella primary infection is not always the only cause of IgM positivity. Other possible causes of rubella IgM positivity may include IgM persistence following vaccination or naturally acquired infection or even re‐infection. Moreover, nonspecific IgM reactivity can cause false‐positive results. There are few articles to differentiate the aetiology of rash in rubella‐like illnesses. However, limited studies have been conducted on clarifying the source of IgM positivity in these cases. This article reports the study of 10,896 clinical cases demonstrating rubella‐like illness between 2011 and 2013 in Iran. The rate of IgM positivity among these cases was 0.52% (57 cases). As predicted based on the high coverage of vaccination in Iran fewer than 16% of cases with ELISA IgM positive result, were due to current rubella primary infections. The greater part of the positive IgM reactions occurred in cross reactivity with other viruses (31.6%) or in prolonged IgM response post vaccination (24.6%). This research confirmed that the positive result of rubella IgM assay in vaccinated individuals is mainly caused by prolonged IgM production, rubella re‐infection, and false positivity due to infection with other viruses, rather than the rubella primary infection itself. J. Med. Virol. 87:1846–1852, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Ascorbic acid improves postischemic vasodilatation impaired by infusion of soybean oil into canine iliac artery.

This study was conducted to (a) assess postischemic vasodilatation by changes in the vascular cross-sectional area using simultaneous intravascular two-dimensional and Doppler ultrasound before and after the infusion of Intralipid (Pharmacia & Upjohn, Peapack, NJ, U.S.A.); (b) evaluate how antioxidant ascorbic acid modifies the effects of Intralipid on postischemic vasodilatation: and (c) clarify the changes in plasma nitrite and nitrate (NOx-) levels after the infusion of Intralipid with and without ascorbic acid. Twenty-eight mongrel dogs were used to measure for vascular cross-sectional area and average instantaneous peak velocity in the iliac arteries after the 5-min occlusion of the arteries. Postischemic vasodilatation was impaired after the infusion of Intralipid (20%, 2 ml/kg) and this impaired response was reversed by the co-administration of ascorbic acid (30 mg/kg). NG-monomethyl-L-arginine completely abolished postischemic vasodilatation. Plasma NOx levels were significantly reduced after the infusion of Intralipid compared with baseline (11.6+/-0.4 vs. 12.9+/-0.3 microM, p = 0.025) and after infusion of Intralipid with ascorbic acid compared with baseline (11.8+/-0.5 vs. 13.1+/-0.4 microM, p = 0.047). We concluded that ascorbic acid reverses the endothelial dysfunction induced by Intralipid without increasing plasma NOx- levels and that deactivation of nitric oxide by oxidative stress is a primary contributor to Intralipid-induced impaired vasodilation.
A comparison of four functional tests in discriminating fallers from non-fallers in older people

Purpose : Which functional tests on mobility and balance can better screen older people at risk of falls is unclear. This study aims to compare the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Tinetti Mobility Score (TMS), Elderly Mobility Scale (EMS) and Timed Up and Go test (TUG) in discriminating fallers from non-fallers in older people. Method : This was a case-control study involving one rater who conducted a mobility and balance assessment on subjects using the four functional tests in random sequence. Subjects recruited included 17 and 22 older people with a history of single and multiple falls respectively from a public Falls Clinic, and 39 community-dwellers without fall history and whose age, sex and BMI matched those of the fallers. All subjects underwent the mobility and balance assessment within one day. Results : Single fallers performed better than multiple fallers in all four functional tests but were worse than non-fallers in the BBS, TMS and TUG. The BBS demonstrated the best discriminating ability, with high sensitivity and specificity. The BBS item `pick up an object from the floor' was the best at screening fallers. Conclusion : BBS was the most powerful functional test of the four in discriminating fallers from non-faller.
Impact of competition and regulation on prices of mobile services: Evidence from France

In this paper, we assess the impact of competition and regulation on prices of mobile services in France. We estimate hedonic price regressions using data on tariff plans offered by the main mobile telecommunications operator in France between May 2011 and December 2014. In this time period, the obtained quality-adjusted price index decreased by about 51% as compared to a decline in average prices without quality adjustment of 8.9%. In a second step, we relate the quality-adjusted prices to a set of competition and regulation variables and find that the launch of 4G networks by mobile operators was the main driver of price reductions for classic tariffs with commitment. Low cost tariffs without commitment which were introduced to pre-empt the entry of low cost competitor declined at the time of entry. Moreover, we find that regulation, which is approximated by the level of mobile termination charges and international roaming price caps for voice and data, has jointly a significant impact on quality-adjusted prices. In percentage terms, competition is responsible for about 68% of total price decline. We conclude that the reduction in quality-adjusted prices in the last years was largely caused by competition between established operators and by entry of fourth low cost operator.
The Status of Disulfiram: A Half of a Century Later

Abstract: For more than 55 years, disulfiram has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of alcohol dependence. It is a unique medication that relies on "psychological threat" to avoid disulfiram-ethanol reactions. This paper reviews the history of disulfiram treatment, the current status of disulfiram treatment, the ensuing developments in disulfiram use in treating various addictions, and future directions. Clinical trials using disulfiram for the treatment of alcohol, cocaine, or co-occurring alcohol + cocaine dependence were included in this review. Disulfiram efficacy studies focusing on supervised, implant, and combination pharmacotherapies were also examined. In clinical trials, disulfiram has demonstrated inconsistent results in helping patients to abstain from alcohol, and patients poorly adhere to a disulfiram-treatment regimen. This has raised questions about disulfiram's practicality in the treatment of alcohol dependence. Recently, however, disulfiram has gained attention as a complementary agent to newer pharmacological medications, such as an opiate antagonist that specifically reduces alcohol craving. One hypothesis is that disulfiram would assist patients in gaining psychological control over drinking when given in conjunction with an opiate antagonist that would act directly on reducing alcohol craving. Preliminary evidence also suggests that disulfiram treatment could be a viable treatment for cocaine dependence because it was shown to reduce cocaine use among nonalcoholic, cocaine-dependent patients.
Functional and structural effects of seven‐residue deletions on the coiled‐coil cytoplasmic domain of a chemoreceptor

Chemoreceptors transmit signals from the environment to the flagellar motors via a histidine kinase that controls the phosphorylation level of the effector protein CheY. The cytoplasmic domain of chemoreceptors is strongly conserved and consists of a long alpha‐helical hairpin that forms, in the dimer, a coiled‐coil four‐helix bundle. Changes in this domain during evolution are characterized by the presence of seven‐residue insertions/deletions located symmetrically with respect to the hairpin turn, suggesting that specific interactions between the helices that form the hairpin are required for function. We assessed the impact of seven‐residue deletions on the signalling ability and higher‐order organization of the serine chemoreceptor from Escherichia coli. Our results indicate that symmetry alterations between the two branches of the cytoplasmic hairpin seriously compromise chemoreceptor function. Shorter functional versions of Tsr with symmetrical deletions form mixed trimers of dimers when coexpressed with Tar, the aspartate receptor of E. coli. However, Tar function in those cells is impaired, suggesting that the length difference between receptors introduces non‐functional distortions into the chemoreceptor cluster. This observation is reinforced by the analysis of coexpression of Tar with chemoreceptors from Rhodobacter sphaeroides that naturally belong to a shorter‐length class.
Hypocapnia and hypercapnia are predictors for ICU admission and mortality in hospitalized patients with community-acquired pneumonia.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of our study was to examine in patients hospitalized with community acquired pneumonia (CAP) the association between abnormal Pa CO 2 and ICU admission and 30-day mortality. METHODS A retrospective cohort study was conducted at two tertiary teaching hospitals. Eligible subjects were admitted with a diagnosis of CAP. Arterial blood gas analyses were obtained with measurement of PaCO2 on admission. Multivariate analyses were performed using 30-day mortality and ICU admission as the dependent measures. RESULTS Data were abstracted on 453 subjects with a documented arterial blood gas analysis. One hundred eighty-nine patients (41%) had normal PaCO2 (35-45 mm Hg), 194 patients (42%) had aPa CO 2 , 35 mm Hg (hypocapnic), and 70 patients (15%) had a Pa CO 2 . 45 mm Hg (hypercapnic). In the multivariate analysis, after adjusting for severity of illness, hypocapnic patients had greater 30-day mortality (OR= 2.84; 95% CI, 1.28-6.30) and a higher need for ICU admission (OR= 2.88;95% CI, 1.68-4.95) compared with patients with normal PaCO2. In addition, hypercapnic patients had a greater 30-day mortality (OR= 3.38; 95% CI, 1.38-8.30) and a higher need for ICU admission(OR =5.35; 95% CI, 2.80-10.23). When patients with COPD were excluded from the analysis,the differences persisted between groups. CONCLUSION In hospitalized patients with CAP, both hypocapnia and hypercapnia were associated with an increased need for ICU admission and higher 30-day mortality. These findings persisted after excluding patients with CAP and with COPD. Therefore, PaCO2 should be considered for inclusion in future severity stratification criteria to appropriate identified patients who will require a higher level of care and are at risk for increased mortality.
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia and oxidative stress: are we closer to an understanding of the pathogenesis of BPD?

In recent years a body of data has accumulated, linking the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) to increased oxidative stress in the first few days after birth, since high concentrations of metabolites reflecting increased peroxidation products such as pentane, ethane, protein carbonyl, o‐tyrosine, allantoin and F2‐isoprostanes, as well as low levels of glutathione and sulfhydryl/total protein ratio, also reflecting increased oxidative load, have been found in the premature infants at risk of or developing BPD. Oxidative stress seems to increase lung antioxidants in some experimental models of BPD and hyperoxia affects foetal lung growth. There are similarities between inflammation and hypoxia/reoxygenation, since both activate a number of inflammatory mediators such as cytokines and adhesion molecules, some of which are found in high concentrations in tracheal aspirate fluid of infants developing BPD. Surfactant production and function are also altered by both hyperoxia and reactive oxygen species per se, making the lungs more vulnerable to injury. This new knowledge may result in new and more efficient therapeutic approaches, hopefully leading to the eradication of BPD in the near future.
Investigation of Grip Force, Normal Force, Contact Area, Hand Size, and Handle Size for Cylindrical Handles

Objective: To investigate relationships among grip forces, normal forces, contact area for cylindrical handles, handle diameter, hand size, and volar hand area. Background: Data describing those relationships are needed to predict thrust forces and torque capability. Method: Additional analyses were performed retrospectively on data collected in two previous studies in which participants performed maximum grip exertions on cylinders (diameter 38—83 mm) while grip force, normal force, and contact area were recorded. The length, width, and volar area of the hand were measured. Results: Average total normal force on cylinders was 2.3 times greater than grip force measured using a split cylinder (R 2 = 65%), regardless of the handle diameter examined. The ratio of handle diameter to hand length explained 62%, 57%, and 71% of the variances in grip force, normal force, and contact area, respectively. Estimated hand area (hand length × width) had a linear relationship with measured hand area (using photographs; R 2 = 91%), although it was 8% less than the measured area. Conclusion: This work describes the relationship between normal force and grip force independent of handle size (for handle diameters from 38 to 83 mm). Normal force and contact area can be explained by the interaction between handle size and hand size. Hand area can be estimated by hand length times width. Application: The quantitative relationships described in this paper can be used in the design of objects and hand tools to determine optimal handle sizes for maximizing grip force, total normal force, or contact area.
Recovery of Trabecular and Cortical Bone Turnover After Discontinuation of Risedronate and Alendronate Therapy in Ovariectomized Rats

Alendronate (ALN) and risedronate (RIS) are bisphosphonates effective in reducing bone loss and fractures associated with postmenopausal osteoporosis. However, it is uncertain how long it takes bone turnover to be re‐established after treatment withdrawal, and whether this differs between the two drugs. The objective of this study was to determine the time required to re‐establish normal bone turnover after the discontinuation of ALN and RIS treatment in an animal model of estrogen‐deficiency osteoporosis. Two hundred ten, 6‐mo‐old female Sprague‐Dawley rats were ovariectomized and 6 wk later were randomized into baseline controls (n = 10) and four treatment groups (n = 50/group): vehicle‐treated controls (CON; 0.3 ml sterile water), ALN (2.4 μg/kg), low‐dose RIS (RIS low; 1.2 μg/kg), and high‐dose RIS (RIS high; 2.4 μg/kg). Treatments were administered 3 times/wk by subcutaneous injection. Baseline controls were killed at the initiation of treatment. Other groups were treated for 8 wk, and subgroups (n = 10/ treatment group) were killed 0, 4, 8, 12, and 16 wk after treatment was withdrawn. Static and dynamic histological analyses were performed for cortical (tibial diaphysis) and trabecular (proximal tibia and L4 vertebrae) bone. DXA and mechanical testing was performed on the L5 vertebra. After 8 wk of treatment, trabecular bone turnover rates were significantly suppressed in all drug‐treated animals. Trabecular bone formation rate (BFR/BS) remained significantly lower than vehicle in bisphosphonate‐treated animals through 12 wk. Sixteen weeks after treatment withdrawal, trabecular BFR/BS in the proximal tibia was re‐established in animals treated with RIS but not in animals treated with ALN compared with controls. BMD of the fifth lumbar vertebra remained significantly higher than controls 16 wk after treatment withdrawal in ALN‐treated animals but not in RIS‐treated animals. Despite reductions in BMD and increases in bone turnover, ultimate force of the fifth lumbar vertebra remained significantly higher in all drug‐treated animals through 16 wk after withdrawal.
Escitalopram versus placebo in the treatment of dysthymic disorder

Numerous studies have assessed the acute efficacy of antidepressants, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, in treating dysthymic disorder; however, escitalopram, the S-enantiomer of citalopram, has not been studied. Thirty-six outpatients with Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R-diagnosed dysthymic disorder, aged 23–65 years (mean±SD=44.7±11 years), were randomly assigned to double-blind escitalopram (maximum dose 20 mg/day) versus placebo for 12 weeks. Inclusion criteria included age 18–65 years and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) score ≥12. We hypothesized that escitalopram would be superior to placebo in the HDRS-24 item total score at week 12. We also hypothesized the superiority of escitalopram over placebo for secondary measures, including the percentage of participants classified as responders and remitters, as well as social functioning (Social Adjustment Scale), clinical global impression-improvement, Global Assessment of Functioning Scale. Participants' baseline HDRS-24 averaged 23.4±5.9. Final HDRS-24 scores at last observation carried forward did not differ significantly between escitalopram-treated (mean±SD=10.88±5.83) and placebo-treated individuals (mean±SD=16.4±6.34) (F=2.82, degrees of freedom=1,32, P=0.10). Significant differences favoring active medication were found on the Social Adjustment Scale and the Clinical Global Impression Severity and Global Assessment of Functioning Scale, but not in the percentages of responders or remitters. A larger study sample or higher escitalopram dose may show more significant placebo–medication differences.
Prognostic factors in FIGO stage IB-IIA small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the uterine cervix treated surgically: results of a multi-center retrospective Korean study.

BACKGROUND To determine the clinical and pathologic prognostic factors in surgically treated patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IB-IIA small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the uterine cervix (SCNEC). PATIENTS AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed a total of 68 patients with FIGO stage IB-IIA SCNEC surgically treated from January 1997 to December 2003 in Korea. RESULTS Of the 68 patients, 43 had FIGO stage IB1 SCNEC, 15 had stage IB2, and 10 had stage IIA. Seven were treated with radical surgery alone; 11 with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) followed by radical surgery; 24 with radical surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy; and 26 with radical surgery followed by adjuvant radiation or chemoradiation. After a median follow-up of 44 months (range, 6-113 months), the 2-year and 5-year survival rates for all patients were 64.6% and 46.6%, respectively. Univariate and multivariate analysis showed that FIGO stage was predictive of poor prognosis. Patients who received NACT showed poorer prognosis than those who did not receive NACT. Adjuvant chemoradiation did not improve survival compared with adjuvant chemotherapy alone. CONCLUSIONS FIGO stage may act as a surrogate for factors prognostic of survival. Primary radical surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy is the preferred treatment modality for patients with early stage SCNEC.
The differential diagnosis of hearing loss.

BACKGROUND According to the World Health Organization, hearing loss is one of the six leading contributors to the global burden of disease. It is becoming an ever more important problem in society at large, not just because the population is aging, but also because young people increasingly spend their leisure time in activities that expose them to excessive noise. On the other hand, the treatment of hearing loss is improving, as the result of technical developments in otological surgery, hearing aids, and cochlear implants. For nearly every type of hearing loss, there is now some type of rehabilitative treatment. The prerequisite to effective care is timely and accurate diagnosis. METHOD Review of the pertinent literature and national guidelines. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION The available epidemiological data on hearing loss in Germany are inadequate. It is roughly estimated that 13 to 14 million people in Germany are in need of treatment for hearing loss. The most common types of permanent hearing loss are those associated with old age, chronic otitis media, and acoustic trauma. Transient hearing loss is particularly common in childhood as a result of inadequate ventilation of the middle ear. The further technical development of cochlear implants has now widened their indications to include severe congenital deafness and presbycusis.
Plasma interleukin-6 predicts cardiovascular mortality in hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a mediator and marker of the chronic inflammatory process that is responsible for much of the morbidity and mortality seen in hemodialysis (HD) patients. This study evaluated circulating plasma IL-6 as a predictor of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality and studied its relationship to prevalent comorbidity and hypoalbuminemia, in a cohort of stable HD patients enrolled in the HEMO study. METHODS Clinical data included demographic, medical, and routine laboratory parameters. Comorbidities were graded using the Index of Co-Existing Diseases (ICED). Outcomes of interest were all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality. Blood samples were drawn at enrollment and annually, and plasma IL-6 levels measured with high-sensitivity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS Median plasma IL-6 level in 206 patients was 7.9 pg/mL (range, 0.1 to 90.3 pg/mL) and was higher in patients with vascular disease ( P = 0.03), higher ICED scores ( P = 0.01), and lower Karnofsky indices ( P < 0.01). Serum albumin was inversely related to plasma IL-6 levels ( P = 0.03, r = -0.16). Unadjusted median survival time was 1,209 days in the lowest quartile of plasma IL-6 and 806 days in the highest ( P = 0.02, log rank test). A 1-log increase in plasma IL-6 was associated with a 1.19-fold higher adjusted risk for all-cause mortality ( P = 0.04; 95% confidence interval, 1.01 to 1.40) and a 1.43-fold higher adjusted risk of cardiovascular mortality ( P = 0.02; 95% confidence interval, 1.06 to 1.92). Hazard ratio estimates were higher when IL-6 levels over time were incorporated as a time-dependent covariate. CONCLUSION Plasma IL-6 levels are strongly associated with comorbidity in HD patients and are a powerful predictor of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality.