Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Uso de metformina em mulheres obesas com Síndrome do Ovário Policístico

A Sindrome do Ovario Policistico caracteriza-se como uma alteracao anatomica e morfologica dos ovarios que acarreta hiperandrogenismo, ciclos menstruais irregulares, reducao da fertilidade e multiplos cistos ovarianos, principalmente em mulheres obesas durante a menacme. Como o aumento da resistencia a insulina e a hiperinsulinemia estao frequentemente presentes, a metformina comecou a ser preconizada na clinica como uma forma de tratamento da Sindrome do Ovario Policistico. Dessa forma, o presente estudo tem como objetivo realizar uma revisao de literatura sobre o uso de metformina em mulheres obesas com a sindrome citada. Para tanto, foi realizada uma pesquisa nas bases de dados PubMed/MedLine, Portal CAPES, SciELO, Cochrane e Google Academico no periodo de fevereiro a maio de 2016. Os artigos foram identificados pelos seguintes descritores: "polycystic ovary syndrome", "metformin", "hyperandrogenism and obesity". Nao houve restricao quanto a data de publicacao dos artigos e idioma. Uma ampla utilizacao da metformina e identificavel no tratamento da Sindrome do Ovario Policistico, porem ainda existe discordância sobre sua efetividade de forma isolada. Estudos utilizando monoterapia de metformina identificaram auxilio na reducao de peso e melhora nas taxas de gravidez. Nos estudos utilizando terapia combinada, ocorreu melhora significativa nas taxas de ovulacao e gravidez. Por fim, nos trabalhos que compararam o uso da metformina com modificacao do estilo de vida, foi observado que a reducao do peso teve impacto mais significativo nas taxas de ovulacao e gravidez. Assim, apesar deste farmaco melhorar sintomas da sindrome do ovario policistico, o fator que mais colabora para ciclos menstruais regulares e melhoraria nas taxas de ovulacao/gravidez e a reducao do peso.
Fast and sound two-step algorithms for multiple alignment of nucleic sequences

The authors report on their work on multiple alignment of biological sequences. The observation of actual alignments has lead the authors to formulate heuristics from which they have derived new and efficient algorithms. These two algorithms are very fast and give reasonably good results. They work in two steps: blocks are found in the sequences, and then the sequences are aligned between the blocks. Strong and sound hypotheses made at every step, as well as a new representation of blocks, yield high efficiency of the resulting algorithms.
Guía de diagnóstico y tratamiento del esófago de Barrett. Tratamiento médico, quirúrgico y endoscópico

El principal objetivo del tratamiento farmacológico es el control de los síntomas. Estudios realizados in vitro en cultivo de células con metaplasia muestran que, tras normalizar la exposición esofágica al ácido, se reducen la inflamación del tejido y la progresión a displasia y adenocarcinoma. Esta hipótesis aún no se demuestra in vivo. La mejor opción farmacológica son los inhibidores de la bomba de protones (IBP). Algunos estudios sugieren que la utilización de IBP disminuye la proliferación celular, mientras que otros estudios retrospectivos demuestran disminución en el desarrollo de displasia. En general, se acepta que el empleo de IBP a largo plazo es efectivo en los pacientes con esófago de Barrett. En los enfermos con Barrett de segmento largo (metaplasia >3 cm de longitud), se ha demostrado reflujo ácido más intenso, tanto diurno como nocturno; éstos requieren dosis dobles de IBP. Algunos pacientes de este subgrupo pueden continuar con síntomas a pesar de dosis altas de IBP. No hay evidencia convincente demostrativa de que la normalización de la exposición esofágica al ácido reduce el riesgo de cáncer en personas con esófago de Barrett, aunque algunas observaciones, como la regresión parcial de la metaplasia por la supresión del reflujo ácido mediante IBP o fundoplicatura, sugerirían un efecto profiláctico de los IBP o la cirugía. Nivel de evidencia III, grado de recomendación D. Los enfermos pueden elegir la opción quirúrgica para controlar los síntomas y disminuir la inflamación, sin dejar de insistir en que la fundoplicatura no cura el esófago de Barrett. Los resultados con el tratamiento quirúrgico han sido variables y se informa un porcentaje nada despreciable (20%) de falla terapéutica. Nivel de evidencia II, grado de recomendación B.
Analog Signal Processing with Laplace Transforms and Active Filter Design

This book, written as an introduction to analog signal processing, offers examples that are worked in detail, showing step-by-step how to apply the techniques discussed within. In an effort to use current computing technologies, sections on how to work problems using MATLAB and the TI-89 hand calculator are given. Other topics covered include: basic equations for complex analog waveforms, Laplace transforms, Laplace circuit analysis, transfer functions for analog circuits, pole-zero plots, frequency response of analog circuits, filter specifications, frequency response characteristics of op-amps, and the design of Butterworth, Chebyshev, and elliptic active filters.
Performance Improvement of Apriori Algorithm Using Hadoop

Data mining is a process of extracting meaningful pattern from the large pool of data. Association is one of the techniques for Data Mining. Apriori algorithm is useful in finding out the frequent itemsets from the transactional dataset, however it needs to scan dataset many times to generate many candidate itemsets. So, in order to reduce the response time and increase the efficiency, Parallel and Distributed computing are effective strategies. In this paper, implementation of an efficient Map-Reduce Apriori algorithm based on Hadoop Map-Reduce model is shown. Experimental results showed that Map-Reduce Apriori algorithm outperforms the traditional Apriori algorithm.
Avaliação imediata da dor e edema em lesão muscular induzida por formalina e tratada com laser 808 nm

Low-level laser therapy induces to cellular bioestimulation and can accelerate wound healing, promote skeletal muscle regeneration, decrease inflammatory response, stimulate neovascularization and decrease pain. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of three doses of low-level laser therapy (808 nm), in the immediate pain and edema, in rats submitted to experimental injury of the lateral gastrocnemius muscle. Twenty four Wistar rats, randomly distributed in the following four groups were used: CG - injured and treated with equipment turned off (sham); G20 - injured and treated with 20 J/cm²; G50 - injured and treated with 50 J/cm²; and G100 - injured and treated with 100 J/cm². For the experimental injury production, 0.1 mL of formalin 5% was introduced in the right lateral gastrocnemius muscle girth. Pain was assessed through the Paw Elevation Time (PET), and edema was assessed with a metallic caliper. Both evaluations happened before injury, after injury, after treatment, 2, 8 and 24 hours after injury. The results showed significant increase of PET and of the caliper evaluation after injury induction. It has been concluded that the laser irradiation in the used parameters did not produce pain and edema decrease in rats submitted to muscular injury with formalin 5% injection.
Medición de oximetría de pulso mediante imagen fotopletismográfica

El presente metodo permite realizar la medicion de la oximetria de pulso sin contacto por la tecnica de imagen fotopletismografica (FPGI). El filtro de Kalman se usa para reducir las frecuencias bajas de las senales FPGI. El metodo tiene caracteristicas que lo convierten en una innovacion en el campo. El paciente no tiene ningun contacto con el dispositivo de medicion, y el algoritmo desarrollado tiene un requerimiento computacional bajo. Ademas, el metodo tiene una alta tolerancia a los artefactos. El enfoque analiza senales pletismograficas recogidas a traves de una camara de color estandar para estimar la oximetria de pulso. Los promedios de cada trama par e impar crean dos senales. Cada trama esta sincronizada con una iluminacion multiplexada de longitud de onda especifica 640 y 950 nm respectivamente. El presente estudio ha obtenido una buena estimacion de la oximetria de pulso para diez sujetos. El analisis de Bland-Altman muestra una fuerte correlacion entre un sistema estandar y la medicion FPGI.
A smart card-based mobile secure transaction system for medical treatment examination reports

In many countries, the use of electronic health care and medical treatment services have become essential components of eﬀorts to provide citizens with a high level of service that promises the advantages of convenience, mobility and time saving. On the other hand, hospitals require eﬃcient management of medical treatment. In this paper, we combine these requirements and propose a smart card-based mobile medical treatment examination report transaction system to achieve a secure transaction model. We apply cryptography mechanisms to reduce cost, share medical treatment resources, mobilize services and simplify examination procedures. With this product, both supply merchants and retailers can (cid:12)nd their niche. Moreover, users can share the mobile medical treatment examination resources saving much valuable time.
A Survey of Economic Models of Addictive Behavior

In economic analyses of addictive behavior, the consumption of a certain good is termed to be an addiction if an increase in past consumption of the good leads to an increase in current consumption. From policy, legal, and public health perspectives, addictive goods are of interest because the consumption of many of these goods harms the consumer and others. The U.S. government and those of many other countries have chosen to regulate such addictive substances as cigarettes, alcohol, cocaine, and marijuana by means of policies that raise their prices. Consequently, the responsiveness of these substances to price is an important parameter in determining the optimal level of taxation or the impacts of legalization of cocaine or marijuana. The economics of addiction is very relevant to these issues because recent theoretical advances predict that addictive goods should be more sensitive to price than previously believed. Current empirical studies confirm this prediction.
CONKO-001: Final results of the randomized, prospective, multicenter phase III trial of adjuvant chemotherapy with gemcitabine versus observation in patients with resected pancreatic cancer (PC)

LBA4504 Background: Prognosis of patients (pts) with PC is dismal, even after curatively intended resection. Whereas gemcitabine-based chemotherapy is standard in advanced PC, the role of adjuvant chemotherapy is still under discussion. Methods: CONKO-001, a prospective, open, multicenter, controlled phase 3 study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of gemcitabine in PC pts after complete (R0 or R1) resection. After stratification for R0/R1, nodal tumour involvement and tumour stage pts were randomized to receive either gemcitabine (G) (1g/m2 d 1, 8 and 15 every 4 weeks) for 6 months or observation (O). Pts in the observation group received no specific anticancer treatment. Primary study endpoint was disease free survival (DFS), secondary endpoints included OS and toxicity. The study was powered to detect a significant difference in DFS with 90% probability at a significance level of . 05 on all eligible patients. Results: Between July 1998 and December 2004 368 pts were randomized and 354 w.
A Tour Scheduling Problem with Fixed Jobs: use of Constraint Programming

This paper presents a constraint programming approach to solve a speci c scheduling problem arising in a company specialized in drug evaluation and pharmacology research. The aim is to build employee timetables covering the demand given by a set of xed tasks. The optimality criterion concerns the equity of the workload sharing. A solution to this problem is the assignment of all tasks whose resulting working shifts respect tasks requirements as well as legal and organizational constraints. Scheduling problems usually consider a xed set of shifts which have to be assigned to a given number of employees whereas in our problem shifts are not xed and must be deduced from the task assignment.
The Swiss Art Index

In this study we analyzed 5231 Swiss Art auction results proprietary gathered from Christie’s and Sotheby’s. The results cover the period between 1993 and 2009. The 2-step hedonic approach developed by Kraeussl and van Elsland (2008) and the classic artist dummy approach have been applied. We could show that the 2-step approach contains two misconceptions which lead to inappropriate or wrong solutions. [1] The solution achieved after 2 steps did not fully converge which leads to biased coefficients and thus a biased index. [2] The estimation of the reputation suggests an exact solution, which leads to a loss of too few degrees of freedom. The results lead to too optimistic standard errors and thus, to a lower uncertainty in the index. Using the artist dummy approach, 75.68% of the variability of the data could be explained. The resulting index performed on average 3.58% over the analyzed period. This is slightly below the bond and fund of hedge funds index. Beside the lower returns the risk of the Swiss Art index was substantially higher than the other two asset classes. The Art market shows only in contrast to the equity index a favourable risk return relationship. Since the correlations with bonds and hedge funds are quite substantial, there is no diversification benefit arising. The broad Swiss Art Index was not an attractive investment during the analyzed period. However, if the sample is reduced to the top 20 artist, the average return increases to 6.1% and for the top 10 even to 7.8%. Thus, the quality of art defines if art is a favourable or poor investment. ZHAW, HSLU II Franziskus Durr The Swiss Art Index Master Thesis
Evaluation par PCR de l'activit e antivirale des inhibiteurs de l'ADN polym erase du Virus d'Epstein-Barr

Un systeme d'evaluation in vitro de l'activite de medicaments anti-EBV a ete mis au point en utilisant la PCR/RT-PCR quantitative en temps reel. Trois composes appartenant a differentes classes antivirales ont ete testes : un analogue nucleosidique, le ganciclovir (GCV), un analogue nucleotidique, le cidofovir (HPMPC), et un analogue du pyrophosphate, le foscarnet (PFA). Apres 7 jours de traitement des cellules P3HR-1 productrices de virions, les concentrations inhibant de 50 % la replication de l'ADN viral sont respectivement de 0.28 µg/mL, 0.29 µg/mL et 13.6 µg/mL pour le GCV, le HPMPC et le PFA. L'expression de l'ARNm de la glycoproteine tardive gp350/220 est reduite de 79 a 89 % apres 4 jours. Nous avons aussi demontre la specificite de l'effet antiviral en mesurant les taux d'ADN (b-globine) ou d'ARN (hPBGD) cellulaires. En conclusion, notre systeme permet l'evaluation de l'effet antiviral contre l'EBV de facon quantitative, simple et precise.
Degradation of glomerular heparan sulfate by heparanase.

We have focused our research on the role of heparanase (HPSE) in the degradation of glomerular HS with emphasis on DNP. We mainly focused on the analysis of kidney biopsies of patients with DNP. In patients with overt DNP we confirmed the decrease of GBM HS (-50%) and tubular HS (-60%) expression, which was associated with a 4-fold increase in HPSE expression. Decrease of HS was correlated (r=-0.56 p<0.001) with increased HPSE expression. Similar findings were found in experimental STZ-induced DNP. The specificity of HS cleavage by HPSE was assessed in a different cohort of patients with DNP. Using a panel of anti-HS antibodies with different specificities, we found that HPSE degrades specific sulfated HS domains but not unmodified HS domains. This was also observed in kidneys of transgenic HPSE-overexpressing mice and when normal kidney sections were exposed in vitro to recombinant active HPSE. Next, we evaluated the urinary activity of HPSE in T1D and T2D patients compared to patients with membranous glomerulopathy (MGP) and healthy controls. The majority of the diabetic patients showed an increased urinary HPSE activity, which correlated with proteinuria. This was not specific for diabetes since also in MGP urinary HPSE activity was increased. Patients treated with inhibitors of the RAAS had lower HPSE activity than patients treated with other antihypertensive drugs, but higher activity than diabetes patients without hypertension. The regulation of HPSE expression was evaluated in adriamycin nephropathy, in which a comparable increase of HPSE expression was found. Treatment with angiotensin II receptor 1 blockers reduced HPSE expression and normalized HS expression. Similar results were found for ACE inhibitors and aldosterone receptor blockers. Angiotensin II, aldosterone and reactive oxygen species could in vitro induce HPSE expression in cultured podocytes
Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence among two selected groups of women

Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular parasite able to cross the placental barrier and known to infect the foetal tissues leading to abortions and congenital deformities. This was a case control study conducted between April 2009 and 2010 that compared the seroprevalence of T. gondii and the frequency of association to known risk factors for infection between 100 healthy pregnant women within 28 weeks of pregnancy having no medical complications and 100 women having undergone a spontaneous miscarriage in the past 6 months attending the Antenatal and Gynaecology clinics of the Professorial Obstetrics & Gynaecology Unit of the De Soyza Maternity Hospital for Women in Colombo. Two milliliters of venous blood was collected and tested for T. gondii antibodies at the Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Colombo, using OnSite Toxo IgG/IgM Rapid Test-Dip Strip®. Personal details and data regarding the known risk factors for the infection were obtained using an interviewer administered questionnaire. The participants were aged between 15 and 46 years (median 29); 38% of women in each group were primigravidae. All participants were sero-negative for anti- T. gondii IgM antibodies. However, 22.5% (n=45) of all study subjects were sero-positive for anti- T. gondii IgG antibodies, which included 62.2% (n=28) from the healthy group and 37.8% (n=17) from those with a recent past history of a spontaneous miscarriage. The difference in seropositivity for Toxoplasma gondii between the two selected groups was not statistically significant ( X 2 =3.47; p=0.063). There were no significant associations between sero-positivity and known risk factors either (p>0.05). Although our study did not reveal any evidence for association between exposure to Toxoplasma gondii infection and spontaneous miscarriage, the presence of more than 75% non-immune women of child bearing age is a cause for concern considering the potential risks posed by this parasite, emphasizing the importance of an organized educational programme targeting this high risk group to prevent infection during pregnancy. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.4038/sljid.v1i1. 3091 Sri Lankan Journal of Infectious Diseases Vol.1(1) 2011: 9-17
Segmented coding of digital image sequences

New algorithms, based on region-contour segmentation of images, are reported for application to low bit rate coding of monochrome and colour videotelephone image sequences. The prime importance of image edges in visual perception emphasises the need for their accurate representation in image compression. A centroid linkage region growing technique is employed to partition an image into homogeneous regions with distinct contours which are then coded and transmitted. Using a priori knowledge about ‘head and shoulders’ images, a method is developed which determines the location of the face for more accurate coding of this region. To achieve the low bit rates required for transmission of videotelephone images over the ISDN, motion compensation techniques have been included and good quality results are obtained at rates in the region of 64 kbit/s.
Advanced Cyber Attack Modeling Analysis and Visualization

Abstract : This project delivers an approach for visualization, correlation, and prediction of potentially large and complex attack graphs. These attack graphs show multi-step cyber attacks against networks, based on system vulnerabilities, network connectivity, and potential attacker exploits. We introduce a new paradigm for attack graph analysis that augments the traditional graph-centric view, based on graph adjacency matrices. In our approach, the analysis includes all known network attack paths, while still keeping complexity manageable. It supports pre-attack network hardening, correlation of detected attack events, and attack origin/impact prediction for post-attack responses. The goal of this system is to transform large quantities of network security data into actionable intelligence. The utility of organizing combinations of network attacks as graphs is well established. Traditionally, such attack graphs have been formed manually by security red teams (penetration testers). We have demonstrated the capability for computational generation of attack graphs, rather than relying on manual creation. This approach is based on models of network security conditions and potential attacker exploits. Because of vulnerability interdependencies across networks, a topological attack graph approach is needed, especially for proactive defense against insidious multi-step attacks. The traditional approach that treats network data and events in isolation, without the context provided by attack graphs, is clearly insufficient.
Reasons why osteoarthritis predicts mortality: path analysis within a Cox proportional hazards model

Objectives To identify potentially modifiable factors that mediate the association between symptomatic osteoarthritis (OA) and premature mortality. Methods A population-based prospective cohort study; primary care medical record data were linked to self-report information collected by questionnaire in adults aged 50 years and over (n=10 415). OA was defined by primary care consultation and moderate-to-severe pain interference in daily life. A Cox proportional hazards analysis determined the total effect (TE) of OA on mortality after adjustment for potential confounders. Within the Cox model, path analysis was used to decompose the TE to assess the indirect and direct effects for selected potential mediators (anxiety, depression, unrefreshed sleep and walking frequency). Results are expressed as HRs with 95% CIs derived from bootstrap resampling. Results OA was significantly associated with mortality (TE-adjusted HR 1.14; 95% CI 1.00 to 1.29). The indirect effects for walking frequency were 1.05 (95% CI 1.04 to 1.06), depression 1.02 (95% CI 1.02 to 1.03), anxiety 1.01 (95% CI 1.00 to 1.02) and unrefreshed sleep 1.01 (95% CI 1.00 to 1.01). Conclusions The analysis indicates that encouraging people to walk and ‘get out and about’ in addition to targeting OA could be protective against excessive mortality. The findings also suggest that depression, anxiety and unrefreshed sleep have a role in premature mortality for people with OA; however, this has low clinical significance.
Mothers' Education and Survival of Female Children in a Rural Area of Bangladesh

In this paper it is investigated whether the positive effect of mothers' education on child survival is similar for boys and girls in Matlab, Bangladesh. The study is based on follow-up of 7,913 live births that occurred in the study area during the whole of 1982. The five independent variables included in the analysis are: sex of children, mother's education, mother's age at the time of birth, household economic condition, and health programme block. Hazard analysis shows that the positive effect of mother's education on child survival is different for boys and girls. For boys, a change in mother's education from no schooling to 1–5 years resulted in reducing the predicted risk of death by 45 per cent, while for the girls the reduction came to only seven per cent. Similarly, a change in mother's education from no schooling to six or more years of schooling resulted in a reduction of risk of 70 per cent for boys, while for girls it was only 32 per cent.