Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Performance of Virtual Stimulus Motion Based on the SSVEP-BCI

In this paper, a brain-computer interface (BCI) paradigm based on steady-state visually evoked potentials (SSVEP) is used to determine the motion effects of stimulus targets on the classification accuracy and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in a virtual environment. Several paths including fixed and up/down with different speeds were set to look for performance differences. Experimental results show that the accuracy with moving targets is sometimes better than that for conventional non-moving targets, and even the relative SNR is improved with motion on occasions. This provides a basis for intensive study of the influence of moving objects on BCIs and target detection in real environments.
Evaluation of two serological tests for Trichomonas vaginalis infection

Trichomonas vaginalis is a widely prevalent, sexually transmitted protozoan infecting both males and females. Despite its prevalence, little is known about its contribution to the morbidity rates for urogenital-tract infections. Currently accepted diagnostic methods are limited to the demonstration of the organism in fresh material, identification in stained material, or in vitro cultivation of organisms from the urogenital tract. We have evaluated the indirect hemagglutination test and the gel diffusion test for efficacy in detecting antibodies in serum samples drawn from two population groups. Sera from patients attending a vaginitis clinic had a seropositivity rate of 69% by indirect hemagglutination and 34% by gel diffusion. Seropositivity rates among culture-positive patients were 78% with indirect hemagglutination and 43% with gel diffusion. A group of normal female hospital employees showed seropositivity rates of 30% by indirect hemagglutination and 3% by gel diffusion. Absorption of reactive sera with Trichomonas antigens reduced or abolished the serological reactivity, confirming the specificity of the test. Serological methods can provide a rapid, sensitive, and economical tool to study the epidemiology of this common protozoan infection.
Effect of preoperative biliary stenting on immediate outcome after pancreaticoduodenectomy

Preoperative biliary stenting is associated with bacterial contamination of bile and an increased rate of infectious complications after pancreaticoduodenectomy. Preoperative drainage has been found to have conflicting effects on morbidity and mortality, and no studies have been published on the effect of stent complications and duration of stenting on postoperative outcome. This study examined the effects of preoperative biliary stenting on early outcome after pancreaticoduodenectomy.
VOICE QUALITY ASSESSMENT USING PHASE INFORMATION: APPLICATION ON VOICE PATHOLOGY

One of the most important human abilities is speech along with hearing. Speech is the primary way in which we attune to the society. Our voice can uncover several information about us to other people. It reveals our energy level, our emotions, our personality and our artistry. Voice abnormalities may cause social isolation or may create problems in the professional field. Due to this significance of the voice, the early detection of a voice pathology is essential. A well-known voice abnormality is called Spasmodic Dysphonia (SD). SD is a neurological disease primarily affecting the regular contraction of the muscles around vocal cords, causing their undesirable vibration. This abnormal vibration of muscles of the glottis has an impact on speech. One that suffers from SD speaks more tremulous and makes disruptions during speech. Similar indications appear also to normophonic speakers usually related to stress, voice fatigue, etc. Even for the normophonic cases, these indications may be a first symptom of a neurological disease, so an early diagnosis is necessary. Therefore, algorithms that measure the intensity of the symptoms are very useful. Traditional methods that detect and quantify voice pathologies use the amplitude information of the speech signal. More refined approaches make essential the isolation of the glottal source signal as the glottis is related to voice abnormalities. However, in both cases the amplitude based methods are not very reliable because the amplitude spectrum cannot capture characteristics of the glottis. A better indicator of voice irregularities is the phase information. Nevertheless, very few studies use the phase information because of its difficulty in the manipulation. Moreover, studies which work with the phase information, use inverse filtering techniques for extracting the glottal source signal and then they extract features from the phase spectrogram of the glottal source. In this thesis, an innovated phase-based method for voice quality assessment is presented. The proposed method is less complex than the state-of-the-art methods which use the inverse filtering for extracting the glottal source. Firstly, the instantaneous amplitudes, phases and frequencies are estimated from the speech signal by an adaptive harmonic model. From the instantaneous phases of the speech signal through mathematical formulas, a new phase spectrum, the Phase Distortion (PD) spectrum, is extracted, highly correlated with the shape of the glottal source. From the time variance of the PD spectrum (PDD), a new metric called Regularity Ratio (RR) is proposed to capture the irregularities of the glottal source. Finally, the efficiency of our method is validated on a database containing speakers with SD before and after the botulinum toxin injection. The results show that the obtained ranking is
Orientations to Video Games Among Gender and Age Groups

Questionnaires were completed by 5th-, 8th-, and 11th-grade public schools students in rural and suburban school districts and by undergraduates at two universities in the United States (n = 1,242). They were asked about their orientation to video games—the amount of time they played, their motives for doing so, and the game types they preferred—to better understand the context in which effects research might be organized. The conceptual schema for this research was the uses-and-gratifications perspective. The males in the sample played video games at twice the weekly average of the females, were consistently stronger in all measured motives than the females, and preferred physically oriented video games over the females’ preference for more traditional, thoughtful games. Younger players opted for the fantasy motive in their playing and older players more so for competition. Preference for physical games declined among the older males, and generally motives were stronger in the middle years of playing for both males and females than in the youngest and oldest age groups. Regression analyses explained considerably more variance in game playing for males than for females.
Short-term positive airway pressure therapy response in obstructive sleep apnea patients: impact of treatment on the quality of life.

INTRODUCTION We aimed to assess the compliance of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients of whom we planned positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy by using "Calgary Sleep Apnea Quality of Life Index (SAQLI)","Epworth Sleepiness Score (ESS)","OSAS Symptoms Questionnaire (OSQ)" and, to investigate the early effects of treatment on the quality of life. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 30 adult (male/female: 23/7) OSA patients who applied to Sleep Research Laboratory at the University Hospital, complaining of symptoms related to sleep and polysomnographically verified as OSAS with PAP therapy indications were included to the study. Their written consent were obtained. RESULTS Characteristics of the patients, OSAS symptoms, ESS and SAQLI sores were recorded. After a month, on the second visit, ESS, SAQLI and OSAS symptoms questionnaire had been repeated. All the patients have routinely used PAP devices for a period of a month. PAP therapy provided significant improvements in excessive daytime sleepiness, symptoms questionnaire and SAQLI scores (p< 0.001). There was a significant correlation between apnea hypopnea index (AHI) score and the improvements in emotional functioning (r = -0.374, p= 0.045). CONCLUSION We concluded that the OSA patients can have remarkable benefits from PAP therapy during the early treatment period. This study increased the awareness of the patients about their illness and their perceived benefits related to PAP treatment. Emotional functioning improved prominantly as the disease's severity increased.
Longitudinal Study of Serum Cholesterol, Apolipoproteins and Sex Hormones During Puberty

ABSTRACT. In order to determine the age and sex dependency of some of the major risk factors for coronary heart disease during the period of sexual maturation a five‐year longitudinal study was carried out on 105 boys and 133 girls living in Plzeň, Czechoslovakia. Serum cholesterol was significantly elevated in 13‐year‐old girls (p<0.01), while no statistically significant sex‐related differences in total and lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein A‐I and apolipoprotein B levels were found in other age groups during the period of follow‐up. In boys the total cholesterol showed a constant and statistically significant decrease (p<0.01) between the ages 11 to 13 years, but tended to rise during the last two years of study. In girls, serum cholesterol decreased significantly between the ages 11 to 15 years (p<0.05). A statistically significant decrease in pre‐beta cholesterol was found in girls during puberty (p<0.05). The changes in beta lipoprotein cholesterol were similar to those for total cholesterol. The apolipoprotein A‐I concentration decreased significantly between 11 and 15 years in boys (p<0.05), while it underwent no substantial change in girls. The apolipoprotein B level decreased permanently and significantly (p<0.05) during the 5‐year period in girls. In boys, the concentration of this protein decreased between 11 and 14 years and increased during the 15th year when a value significantly higher than that for girls was attained (p<0.05). As a result of these changes, the apolipoprotein A‐I to apolipoprotein B ratio became higher in girls. In the last year of the study, attainment of the highest value of the testosterone to estradiol ratio in boys was associated with higher concentrations of total, pre‐beta, and beta cholesterol and apolipoprotein B compared with girls. On the other hand, the highest level of the estradiol to testosterone ratio, which was also attained by girls during the last year of the follow‐up period, was accompanied by higher concentrations of alpha cholesterol and apolipoprotein A‐I.
Investigation of local stress around TSVs by micro-Raman spectroscopy and finite element simulation

Stress concentration in through-silicon via (TSV) is studied by a calibrated micro-Raman spectroscopy (μRS) and correlated with numerical simulation. Results show that stress concentration is in transverse direction and it depends on the ratio of via diameter to via spacing. Further investigations on bended TSV lined with copper revealed that the stress level is lower than the one in TSV without copper. Chip-to-wafer 3D-stacking using microinserts thermocompression bonding shows that the 50 μm thick TSVs have negligible mechanical stress effect.
Cushing's syndrome due to ectopic corticotropin secretion: twenty years' experience at the National Institutes of Health.

CONTEXT Ectopic ACTH secretion (EAS) is difficult to diagnose and treat. We present our experience with EAS from 1983 to 2004. SETTING The study was performed at a tertiary care clinical research center. PATIENTS Ninety patients, aged 8-72 yr, including 48 females were included in the study. INTERVENTIONS AND OUTCOME MEASURES Tests included 8 mg dexamethasone suppression, CRH stimulation, inferior petrosal sinus sampling (IPSS), computed tomography, octreotide scan, magnetic resonance imaging, and/or venous sampling. Therapies, pathological examinations, and survival were noted. RESULTS Eighty-six to 94% of patients did not respond to CRH or dexamethasone suppression, whereas 66 of 67 had negative IPSS. To control hypercortisolism, 62 patients received medical treatment, and 33 had bilateral adrenalectomy. Imaging localized tumors in 67 of 90 patients. Surgery confirmed an ACTH-secreting tumor in 59 of 66 patients and cured 65%. Nonthymic carcinoids took longest to localize. Deaths included three of 35 with pulmonary carcinoid, two of five with thymic carcinoid, four of six with gastrinoma, two of 13 with neuroendocrine tumor, two of two with medullary thyroid cancer, one of five with pheochromocytoma, three of three with small-cell lung cancer, and two of 17 with occult tumor. Patients with other carcinoids and ethesioneuroblastoma are alive. CONCLUSIONS IPSS best identifies EAS. Initial failed localization is common and suggests pulmonary carcinoid. Although only 47% achieved cure, survival is good except in patients with small-cell lung cancer, medullary thyroid cancer, and gastrinoma.
ON THE PATHOGENESIS OF PLACENTAL INFARCTS IN PRE‐ECLAMPSIA

Placental bed spiral arteries underlying placental infarcts were studied in a hysterectomy specimen with the placenta in situ and in placental bed biopsies from cases of severe pre‐eclampsia. The spiral arteries supplying infarcted placentae differed from normal spiral arteries in two important features; first, in the failure of trophoblast infiltration and concomitant physiological changes of the myometrial segment of the spiral artery and, second, in the appearance in this segment of hypertensive, occlusive vascular lesions. Although placental infarction is apparently a direct result of the occlusive hypertensive lesions in the spiral arteries, it is also to be considered as the ultimate evidence of failure of adequate placentation.
[Long term results of skeletal profile changes occurring from chin cap therapy of Japanese female skeletal Class III cases].

UNLABELLED This cephalometric study was made to investigate the effects of chin cap therapy. The subjects were 21 Japanese females of skeletal class III who were treated without tooth extraction. The periods before treatment, during improvement of anterior teeth and after treatment were compared to see where and how effective the therapy had been. RESULTS 1. Characteristics before the treatment period: These cases had backward position of the maxilla and forward position of the mandible with over growth. In the denture pattern there was a remarkable labioaxiversion of U-1. 2. Characteristics after the treatment period: There was improvement in the backward position of the maxilla. In the forward mandible, once these cases improved their position by improving the overjet, there was a regression followed by gradual forward growth as treatment continued. The denture pattern showed labioaxiversion of U-1 as before. 3. Before the treatment period, these cases showed large Go-Po and Ar-Go in the dimensional linear analysis. After treatment, these analysis showed normal sizes.
Clinical results of colectomy for severe constipation

Subtotal colectomy has been performed in 40 patients with severe constipation. Only one patient was male. Five patients (13 per cent) had a history of a serious psychiatric disorder. Twenty‐six patients (65 per cent) could not expel a 100‐ml air‐filled balloon and 19 patients (48 per cent) had electromyographic evidence of abnormal puborectalls contraction during attempted defaecation before operation. Median preoperative passage of 50 radio‐opaque markers over 5 days was 16 per cent. Sixteen patients had had a previous anorectal myectomy to exclude Hirschsprung's disease. Initial resections were subtotal colectomy and ileorectal anastomosis (n = 34), caecorectal (n = 5) or ileosigmoid (n = 1) anastomosis. Secondary operations included restorative proctocolectomy and ileal pouch—anal anastomosis (n = 6) and six patients eventually had an ileostomy. Median bowel frequency per week significantly increased after operation (0·3 (range 0–1) preoperatively to 21 (range 2–70) postoperatively, P < 0·005), the percentage of patients with abdominal pain fell after operation from 93 to 39 per cent but symptoms of abdominal distension remained the same (86 per cent preoperatively and 82 per cent postoperatively).
Prenatal screening for trisomy 18 in the second trimester

The same number (P) of affected males can be expected in 2.5 x P pregnancies (with C= 1). The equivalent, recalculated number of pregnancies of FRA(X)-negative males is N=(2.5-l)x P = 1 , 5 x P.Theerrclrratecan be calculated as 1/N x 100 per cent (for one false-negative diagnosis). If the risk of being a carrier cannot be determined, the error rate can be calculated empirically. The error rate with one falsenegative diagnosis is
Novel effects of the prototype translocating Escherichia coli, strain C25 on intestinal epithelial structure and barrier function

Intestinal bacteria play an etiologic role in triggering and perpetuating chronic inflammatory bowel disorders. However, the precise mechanisms whereby the gut microflora influences intestinal cell function remain undefined. Therefore, the effects of the non‐pathogenic prototype translocating Escherichia coli, strain C25 on the barrier properties of human T84 and Madine‐Darby canine kidney type 1 epithelial cells were examined. T‐84 cells were also infected with commensal E. coil, strains F18 and HB101, and enterohaemorrhagic E. coli, serotype O157:H7. Strains F18 and HB101 had no effect on transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) of T84 monolayers. By contrast, epithelial cells infected with strain C25 displayed a time‐dependent decrease in TER, preceded by an altered distribution of the cytoskeletal protein alpha‐actinin, comparable to infection with E. coli O157:H7. E. coli C25 infection also led to activation of nuclear factor κB (NF‐κB), interleukin‐8 secretion and alterations in localization of claudin‐1, but not zona occludens‐1 or claudin‐4, in T84 cells. There were adherent C25 bacteria on the intact apical surface of infected T84 cells, while mitochondria appeared swollen and vacuolated. These novel findings demonstrate the ability of a translocating commensal bacterium to adhere to and modulate intestinal epithelial barrier function and to induce morphological changes in a manner distinct from the known enteric pathogen, E. coli O157:H7.
cAMP Potentiates ATP-evoked Calcium Signaling in Human Parotid Acinar Cells*

In salivary acinar cells, intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) signaling plays an important role in eliciting fluid secretion through the activation of Ca2+-activated ionic conductances. Ca2+ and cAMP have synergistic effects on fluid secretion such that peak secretion is elicited following activation of both parasympathetic and sympathetic pathways. We have recently demonstrated that cAMP exerts effects on Ca2+ release, through protein kinase A (PKA)-mediated phosphorylation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors (InsP3R) in mouse parotid acinar cells. To extend these findings, in the present study cross-talk between Ca2+ signaling and cAMP pathways in human parotid acinar cells was investigated. In human parotid acinar cells, carbachol stimulation evoked increases in the [Ca2+]i and the initial peak amplitude was enhanced following PKA activation, consistent with reports from mouse parotid. Stimulation with ATP also evoked an increase in [Ca2+]i. The ATP-evoked Ca2+ elevation was largely dependent on extracellular Ca2+, suggesting the involvement of the P2X family of purinergic receptors. Pharmacological elevation of cAMP resulted in a ∼5-fold increase in the peak [Ca2+]i change evoked by ATP stimulation. This enhanced [Ca2+]i increase was not dependent on intracellular release from InsP3R or ryanodine receptors, suggesting a direct effect on P2XR. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis confirmed the presence of P2X4R and P2X7R mRNA and protein in human parotid acinar cells. ATP-activated cation currents were studied using whole cell patch clamp techniques in HEK-293 cells, a null background for P2XR. Raising cAMP resulted in a ∼4.5-fold enhancement of ATP-activated current in HEK-293 cells transfected with P2X4R DNA but had no effects on currents in cells expressing P2X7R. These data indicate that in human parotid acinar cells, in addition to modulation of Ca2+ release, Ca2+ influx through P2X4R may constitute a further locus for the synergistic effects of Ca2+ and PKA activation.
Self-referenced characterization of space-time couplings in near-single-cycle laser pulses.

We report on the characterization of space-time couplings in high-energy sub-2-cycle 770 nm laser pulses using a self-referencing single-frame method. Using spatially encoded arrangement filter-based spectral phase interferometry for direct electric field reconstruction, we characterize few-cycle pulses with a wavefront rotation of 2.8×1011 rev/s (1.38 mrad per half-cycle) and pulses with pulse front tilts ranging from -0.33 fs/μm to -3.03 fs/μm in the focus.
Function of the Dorsal Motor Nucleus of the Vagus

The dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus was destroyed in cats. After periods of survival ranging from 9 to 44 days the response of heart, bronchi, esophagus, and duodenum to stimulation of the distal end of the cut cervical vagus was within the normal range or slightly depressed. It is concluded that the dorsal motor nucleus is not a major source of visceromotor fibers.
Effect of mycophenolate mofetil on pulmonary function in scleroderma-associated interstitial lung disease.

OBJECTIVE We sought to determine the effectiveness of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in scleroderma- associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD). METHODS We retrospectively identified patients who met criteria for systemic sclerosis, had evidence of SSc-ILD on chest CT, received > 1 g/d of MMF for >or= 6 months, and had pulmonary function data available. Vital capacity (VC) and diffusion capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (Dlco) at treatment onset were compared with VC and Dlco values 12 months before and 12 months after treatment onset. Twelve-month values were imputed from regression lines generated using all VC and Dlco measurements made in the 24-month period either prior to or following treatment onset. RESULTS Among 13 patients who met inclusion criteria, MMF was associated with a significant improvement in VC (mean, + 159 mL; confidence interval [CI], + 30 to + 289 mL; and + 4% of the predicted normal value; CI, + 2 to + 7%) after 12 months of treatment. In contrast, patients had a significant decrease in VC (mean, - 239 mL; CI, - 477 to - 0.5 mL; and - 5% of the predicted normal value; CI, - 11 to - 0.3%) in the 12 months prior to MMF treatment. Dlco did not change significantly during MMF treatment (mean, + 1% of the predicted normal value; CI, - 2 to + 5%) but decreased significantly in the 12 months prior to treatment (mean, - 5% of the predicted normal value; CI, - 10 to - 1%). CONCLUSION These retrospective data suggest MMF improves VC in patients with SSc-ILD.
Failure of ProFile instruments used with high and low torque motors.

AIM The purpose of this study was to evaluate the failure incidence of ProFile nickel-titanium rotary instruments when used in conjunction with different motors and a specific instrumentation technique. METHODOLOGY ProFile Ni-Ti rotary instruments (PRI) with 0.06 taper were used in a crown-down technique. In groups 1, 2 and 3, an air, a high torque and a low torque motor were used, respectively. Each group included 30 canals in extracted human molars. One set of PRI sizes 40-15 was used for each canal; they were sterilized before each case. A 2.5% NaOCl solution was used as an irrigant. The number of deformed and separated instruments was recorded for the various experimental groups. RESULTS Instrument separation did not occur in any of the three groups. One and two instruments were deformed when using the air and high torque motors, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The results indicated no difference between the three motors with respect to the incidence of instrument failure. The results suggest that the use of PRI in a crown-down manner with air control motors was safe.