Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Placental Weight for Gestational Age and Adverse Perinatal Outcomes

OBJECTIVE: The fetoplacental ratio has been used conventionally to study the contribution of the placenta to fetal growth restriction. However, this measure is problematic because a normal fetoplacental ratio can reflect birth weight and placental weight that are both normal, both low, or both high. The objective of this study was to examine the independent association between placental weight for gestational age and perinatal mortality or serious neonatal morbidity. METHODS: A sex- and gestational age–specific placental weight z score was calculated for a cohort of 87,600 singleton births at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal, Canada, 1978–2007. The relationship between placental weight z score and adverse perinatal outcomes (stillbirth, neonatal death, 5-minute Apgar score lower than 7, seizures, or respiratory morbidity) was examined using logistic regression. Multivariable models examined whether the relationship was independent of birth weight and other pregnancy risk factors. RESULTS: After controlling for birth weight, fetuses with a low placental weight z score were at significantly increased risk of stillbirth (odds ratio [OR] 2.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.4–2.6, percent population attributable risk 17.8%). In contrast, adverse neonatal outcomes were significantly more likely among those with high placental weight z scores (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.2–1.7, percent population attributable risk 5% for any serious neonatal morbidity). Similar trends were observed after further adjusting for pregnancy risk factors. CONCLUSION: Placental weight for gestational age is an independent risk factor for adverse perinatal outcomes, above and beyond the known association with birth weight. The mechanisms behind the opposing effects of placental weight z score on risk of stillbirth compared with adverse neonatal outcomes require further elucidation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III
ONCE‐DAILY MEMANTINE: PHARMACOKINETIC AND CLINICAL CONSIDERATIONS

1. Cameron ID, Stafford B, Cumming RG et al. Hip protectors improve falls selfefficacy. Age Ageing 2000;29:57–62. 2. Folstein MF, Folstein SE, McHugh PR. ‘‘Mini-Mental State’’: A practical method for grading the cognitive state for the clinician. J Psychiatr Res 1975;12:189–198. 3. Tinetti ME, Richman D, Powell L. Falls efficacy as a measure of fear of falling. J Gerontol 1990;45:239–243. 4. Fukuhara S, Suzukamo Y. Manual of the SF-8 Japanese Version. Kyoto: Institute for Health Outcomes & Process Evaluation Research, 2004. 5. Powell LE, Myers AM. The Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) scale. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 1995;50A:M28–M34. 6. Tinetti ME, Mendes de Leon CF, Doucette JT et al. Fear of falling and fallrelated efficacy in relationship to functioning among community-living elders. J Gerontol 1994;49:M140–M147. 7. Parker MJ, Gillespie WJ, Gillespie LD.Hip protectors for preventing hip fractures in older people. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2005;20:CD001255. 8. Büla CJ, Martin E, Rochat S et al. Validation of an adapted falls efficacy scale in older rehabilitation patients. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2008;89:291–296.
Conceptual Issues and Existential Functions

Approximately 2,800 years ago, a blind poet wandered from city to city in Greece telling a tall tale—that of a nobleman, war hero, and daring adventurer who did not catch sight of his homeland for 20 long years. The poet was Homer and the larger-than-life character was Odysseus. Homer sang the epic adventures of cunning Odysseus who fought the Trojan War for 10 years and labored for another 10 on a die-hard mission to return to his homeland, the island of Ithaca, and reunite with his loyal wife, Penelope, and their son, Telemachus. Three of the 10 return years were spent on sea, facing the wrath of Gods, monsters, and assorted evil-doers. The other 7 were spent on the island of Ogygia, in the seducing arms of a nymph, the beautiful and possessive Calypso. Yet, despite this dolce vita, Odysseus never took his mind off Ithaca, refusing Calypso’s offer to make him immortal. On the edge of ungratefulness, he confided to his mistress, “Full well I acknowledge Prudent Penelope cannot compare with your stature or beauty, for she is only a mortal, and you are immortal and ageless. Nevertheless it is she whom I daily desire and pine for. Therefore I long for my home and to see the day of returning” (Homer, The Odyssey, trans. 1921, Book V, pp. 78–79). 1 Return was continually on Odysseus’ mind, and the Greek word for it is nostos. His burning wish for nostos afflicted unbearable suffering on Odysseus, and the Greek word for it is algos. Nostalgia, then, is the psychological suffering caused by unrelenting yearning to
Cdc25A activity is required for the metaphase II arrest in mouse oocytes

Summary Mammalian oocytes are arrested in metaphase of second meiosis (MII) until fertilization. This arrest is enforced by the cytostatic factor (CSF), which maintains the M-phase promoting factor (MPF) in a highly active state. Although the continuous synthesis and degradation of cyclin B to maintain the CSF-mediated MII arrest is well established, it is unknown whether cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (Cdk1) phosphorylations are involved in this arrest in mouse oocytes. Here, we show that a dynamic equilibrium of Cdk1 phosphorylation is required to maintain MII arrest. When the Cdc25A phosphatase is downregulated, mouse oocytes are released from MII arrest and MPF becomes inactivated. This inactivation occurs in the absence of cyclin B degradation and is dependent on Wee1B-mediated phosphorylation of Cdk1. Thus, our data demonstrate that Cdk1 activity is maintained during MII arrest not only by cyclin turnover but also by steady state phosphorylation.
Morphometric stability of the corneal subbasal nerve plexus in healthy individuals: a 3-year longitudinal study using corneal confocal microscopy.

PURPOSE We examined the age-dependent alterations and longitudinal course of subbasal nerve plexus (SNP) morphology in healthy individuals. METHODS Laser-scanning corneal confocal microscopy, ocular screening, and health and metabolic assessment were performed on 64 healthy participants at baseline and at 12-month intervals for 3 years. At each annual visit, eight central corneal images of the SNP were selected and analyzed using a fully-automated analysis system to quantify corneal nerve fiber length (CNFL). Two linear mixed model approaches were fitted to examine the relationship between age and CNFL, and the longitudinal changes of CNFL over three years. RESULTS At baseline, mean age was 51.9 ± 14.7 years. The cohort was sex balanced (χ(2) = 0.56, P = 0.45). Age (t = 1.6, P = 0.12) and CNFL (t = -0.50, P = 0.62) did not differ between sexes. A total of 52 participants completed the 36-month visit and 49 participants completed all visits. Age had a significant effect on CNFL (F[1,33] = 5.67, P = 0.02) with a linear decrease of 0.05 mm/mm(2) in CNFL per one year increase in age. No significant change in CNFL was observed over the 36-month period (F[1,55] = 0.69, P = 0.41). CONCLUSIONS The CNFL showed a stable course over a 36-month period in healthy individuals, although there was a slight linear reduction in CNFL with age. The findings of this study have implications for understanding the time-course of the effect of pathology and surgical or therapeutic interventions on the morphology of the SNP, and serves to confirm the suitability of CNFL as a screening/monitoring marker for peripheral neuropathies.
Larbac: enforcement of location constraints for location-aware RBAC system in mobile environment

The increased usage of mobile devices and mobile applications make location awareness more important than before. The need of adding a location-aware access control component to the existing Role-Based Access Control is also more urgent than before. There are already several researches in integrating location information into access control model. While those researches proposed good location-aware access control models, there is a lack of implementation to enforce these models. This paper presents a novel approach which incorporates location-aware component in a Role-Based Access Control system. The proposed approach provides an automatic permission change for the user, which reflects the user's real-time location and the corresponding access privilege he/she is supposed to have. This paper describes the design criteria and requirements needed for building such a system. This paper also provides a working prototype based on the proposed approach and give a security analysis of the system.
Doppler radar for heartbeat rate and heart rate variability extraction

This paper presents a Doppler radar system used to detect the heartbeat signal from a d√istance of one meter. The proposed system is based on using a vector network analyzer and two antennas. Measurements are performed at 16 GHz for different power levels between 0 and •25 dBm. Both heartbeat rate and heart rate variability are extracted and compared to a simultaneous ECG signal.
Role of riboswitches in gene regulation and their potential for algal biotechnology

Riboswitches are regulatory elements in messenger RNA to which specific ligands can bind directly in the absence of proteins. Ligand binding alters the mRNA secondary structure, thereby affecting expression of the encoded protein. Riboswitches are widespread in prokaryotes, with over 20 different effector ligands known, including amino acids, cofactors, and Mg2+ ions, and gene expression is generally regulated by affecting translation or termination of transcription. In plants, fungi, and microalgae, riboswitches have been found, but only those that bind thiamine pyrophosphate. These eukaryotic riboswitches operate by causing alternative splicing of the transcript. Here, we review the current status of riboswitch research with specific emphasis on microalgae. We discuss new riboswitch discoveries and insights into the underlying mechanism of action, and how next generation sequencing technology provides the motivation and opportunity to improve our understanding of these rare but important regulatory elements. We also highlight the potential of microalgal riboswitches as a tool for synthetic biology and industrial biotechnology.
CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE Oxidative stress and airway inflammation in severe exacerbations of COPD

Background: A study was undertaken to assess both oxidative stress and inflammation in the lungs of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) during severe and very severe exacerbations compared with those with stable COPD, healthy smokers, and non-smokers. Two sites within the lungs were compared: the large airways (in sputum) and the peripheral airways (by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL)). Methods: BAL fluid cell numbers and levels of tumour necrosis factor (TNFa) and interleukin (IL)-8 were measured as markers of airway inflammation and glutathione (GSH) levels as a marker of antioxidant status. Nuclear translocation of the pro-inflammatory transcription factors nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB) and activator protein 1 (AP-1) were also measured by electromobility shift assay in BAL fluid leucocytes and lung biopsy samples. Results: Influx of inflammatory cells into the peripheral airways during exacerbations of COPD was confirmed. Increased IL-8 levels were detected in BAL fluid from patients with stable COPD compared with non-smokers and healthy smokers, with no further increase during exacerbations. In contrast, IL-8 levels in the large airways increased during exacerbations. GSH levels were increased in the BAL fluid of smokers (444%) and patients with stable COPD (235%) compared with non-smokers and were reduced during exacerbations (severe 89.2%; very severe 52.3% compared with stable COPD). NF-kB DNA binding in BAL leucocytes was decreased in healthy smokers compared with non-smokers (41.3%, n = 9, p,0.001) but did not differ in COPD patients, whereas AP-1 DNA binding was significantly decreased during exacerbations of COPD. Conclusion: There is evidence of increased oxidative stress in the airways of patients with COPD that is increased further in severe and very severe exacerbations of the disease. This is associated with increased neutrophil influx and IL-8 levels during exacerbations.
IMPLEMENTATION OF AN AUTOMATED SMART HOME CONTROL FOR DETECTING HUMAN EMOTIONS VIA FACIAL DETECTION

With our daily busy schedules, the home is one of the main locations where we could unwind and relax. With the implementation of an effective smart home system, the relaxation time could begin as soon as the homeowners return home. The Eye 2H is an automated smart home control system that detects the homeowners emotion via facial detection. The system is capable of boosting the mood and emotion of the residents by controlling the electronic lighting and equipment in their home. By adjusting, the lighting conditions automatically could create a welcoming effect for the homeowners. Besides that, the system is also able to reduce energy usage via sensors, which would detect human presence in specific rooms. As such, the implementation of the system require a number of processes along with initial testing to ensure a smooth system operation. Based on our testing and evaluation, the proposed system is able to detect both facial and emotion in an effective manner.
Lignin oxidation by laccase isozymes from Trametes versicolor and role of the mediator 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonate) in kraft lignin depolymerization

Two laccase isozymes (I and II) produced by the white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor were purified, and their reactivities towards various substrates and lignins were studied. The N-terminal amino acid sequences of these enzymes were determined and compared to other known laccase sequences. Laccase II showed a very high sequence similarity to a laccase which was previously reported to depolymerize lignin. The reactivities of the two isozymes on most of the substrates tested were similar, but there were some differences in the oxidation rate of polymeric substrates. We found that the two laccases produced similar qualitative effects on kraft lignin and residual lignin in kraft pulp, with no evidence of a marked preference for depolymerization by either enzyme. However, the presence of the mediator 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonate) prevented and reversed the polymerization of kraft lignin by either laccase. The delignification of hardwood and softwood kraft pulps with the two isozymes and the mediator was compared; either laccase was able to reduce the kappa number of pulp, but only in the presence of 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonate).
Growth inhibition of experimental non‐Hodgkin's lymphomas with the targeted cytotoxic somatostatin analogue AN‐238

The cytotoxic analogue of somatostatin, AN‐238, consisting of 2‐pyrrolinodoxorubicin (AN‐201), a superactive derivative of doxorubicin (DOX), linked to somatostatin analogue carrier RC‐121 binds with high affinity to receptors for somatostatin and can be targeted to tumors that express these receptors. Because somatostatin receptors are found in a high percentage of human non‐Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs), we evaluated the antitumor effect of AN‐238 in 2 human NHL cell lines in vivo. Nude mice bearing xenografts of RL and HT human NHL were treated with AN‐238 or its components at equimolar doses, and antitumor effects were determined. Expression of mRNA for somatostatin receptor subtypes was measured by RT‐PCR, and the presence of somatostatin receptors was determined by radioligand binding. Toxicity was evaluated by following white blood cell count (WBC) and body weight. AN‐238 significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited growth of RL and HT xenografts and prolonged the tumor doubling time. Cytotoxic radical AN‐201, the unconjugated mixture of somatostatin analogue RC‐121 and AN‐201 or RC‐121 alone had no significant effects. Blockade of somatostatin receptors by excess RC‐121 abolished the effect of AN‐238, demonstrating targeting. Expression of somatostatin receptors was not changed after repeated treatment with AN‐238. AN‐201, but not AN‐238, significantly lowered the WBC and caused a greater decrease in body weight than AN‐238. Our findings demonstrate that targeted chemotherapy with AN‐238 can strongly inhibit the growth of NHL cells, which express somatostatin receptors. AN‐238 could be considered for the treatment for patients with NHL. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Alignment Strategies for Information Retrieval in Prosocial Human-Robot Interaction

Autonomous service robots in real-world environments have to cope with several environmental impacts, e.g. noisy outdoor conditions. In order to overcome this bottleneck of speech recognition and to raise efficiency of information exchange between robots and humans, different dialog strategies are introduced to establish informational alignment between the interlocutors. Further, emotional alignment strategies are developed and incorporated in a persuasive behavior control model of a robotic system to proactively increase user acceptance and the willingness of humans to cooperate with a robot.
Lipids in Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes increases the risk of cardiovascular disease two- to fourfold compared to the risk in nondiabetic subjects. Although type 2 diabetes is associated with a clustering of risk factors, the cause for an excess risk of cardiovascular disease remains unknown. Lipid and lipoprotein abnormalities in type 2 diabetes include particularly elevated levels of total and very low-density lipoprotein triglycerides and reduced levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels are usually normal if glycemic control is adequate but LDL particles are small and dense. According to prospective population-based studies, total cholesterol is a similar risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD) in patients with type 2 diabetes as it is in nondiabetic subjects. High total triglycerides and low HDL cholesterol may be even stronger risk factors for CHD in patients with type 2 diabetes than in nondiabetic subjects. Recent drug treatment trials have indicated that the lowering of total and LDL cholesterol by statins, and the lowering of total triglycerides and the raising of HDL cholesterol by fibrates, are at least as beneficial in diabetic patients as in nondiabetic subjects in the prevention of cardiovascular disease.
Is Duodenojejunal Anastomosis to the Left of the Superior Mesenteric Vessels a Feasible Option for Tumors of the Angle of Treitz?

Tumors of the angle of Treitz are a rare entity. Only 3%-5% of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) occur at the level of the duodenum, and their location at the duodenojejunal junction is very uncommon. Surgery is the treatment of choice, while adjuvant medical therapy is used on the basis of the degree of radicality of the excision and the tumor's proliferative profile. These factors primarily influence the prognosis. Due to the frailty of the vascular viability of the left duodenum, which can be injured during surgery, it is generally recommended to perform digestive reconstruction at the level of the right portion of the duodenum. We here report the case of a patient with a large GIST located at the duodenojejunal junction behind the ligament of Treitz. We found reconstructive digestive anastomosis at the level of the third part of the duodenum to be a safe procedure.
Delta-Sigma Analog-to-Digital Conversion via Time-Mode Signal Processing

A new architecture and signal processing methodology is proposed to implement a first-order single-bit delta-sigma (DeltaSigma) analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The proposed design converts an analog input voltage into a time-difference variable and performs the DeltaSigma signal processing in the time-mode. This offers an incredibly compact and low-power ADC solution while thriving in a low-voltage CMOS environment. The proposed design was fabricated in a standard 0.18-mum CMOS process occupying a silicon area of 15-mum times 25-mum and consumes 475-muW of power. Experimental results reveal that the design can provide a 7-bit resolution at a sampling rate of 140-MHz and input bandwidth of 400-kHz.
Health care associated infections, antibiotic resistance and clinical outcome: A surveillance study from Sanandaj, Iran.

AIM To study the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of gram-negative healthcare associated bacterial infections at two tertiary hospitals in the Sanandaj city, Kurdistan Province, Iran. METHODS From January 2012 to December 2012, all positive cultures from potentially sterile body fluids were gathered. They sent to professor Alborzi clinical microbiology center in Shiraz for further analysis and susceptibility testing. The antibiotic susceptibility was determined using the Kirby-Bauer method (disk diffusion technique). The Results were interpreted according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines against a series of antimicrobials. World Health Organization definitions for Healthcare associated infections were followed. RESULTS Seven hundred and thirty-two positive cultures were reported from both hospitals. Seventy-nine isolates/patients fulfilled the study criteria for health-care associated gram-negative infections. The most frequent bacterial cultures were from the pediatric wards (52%). Serratia marcescens (S. marcescens) (38%) Escherichia coli (E. coli) (19%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) (19%), Acinetobacter baumannii (6%), Enterobacter species (6%), Serratia odorifera (4%) and Pseudomonas species (5%) were the most frequently isolated organisms. The susceptibility pattern of common isolates i.e., S. marcescens, E. coli and K. pneumoniae for commonly used antibiotics were as follows: Ampicillin 3.3%, 6.7%, 20%; gentamicin 73.3%, 73.3%, 46.7%; ceftazidim 80%, 73.3%, 33.3%; cefepim 80%, 86.7%, 46.7%; piperacillin/tazobactam 90%, 66.7%, 86.7%; ciprofloxacin 100%, 73.3%, 86.7%; imipenem 100%, 100%, 100%, respectively. CONCLUSION The most effective antibiotics against gram-negative healthcare associated infections are imipenem followed by ciprofloxacin. The resistance rate is high against ampicillin and cephalothin. The high mortality rate (46.1%) associated with S. marcescens is alarming.
Specific PCR Identification and Differentiation of the Thermophilic Campylobacters, Campylobacter jejuni, C. coli, C. lari, and C. upsaliensis

ABSTRACT A sensitive PCR assay that detects the thermophilic campylobactersC. jejuni, C. coli, C. lari, andC. upsaliensis is reported. Furthermore, by digestion of the PCR products with two restriction enzymes, species differentiation was demonstrated. Thus, the present method has the potential to be used for both detection and identification of thermophilicCampylobacter species.
The Construction and Reconstruction of Ritual Space at Tiwanaku, Bolivia (A.D. 500–1000)

Abstract Investigations carried out in 1996 and 2000 –2002 at the Pumapunku Temple Complex at Tiwanaku, Bolivia (A.D. 500–950) combined historical research, data recovered from previously unpublished excavations, strategically-placed small-scale trenches, and three dimensional architectural and stratigraphic recordings. The construction, use, and subsequent modifications, substantial and ephemeral to the Temple Complex span 500 years. This period the apogee of the Tiwanaku phenomenon provides a theoretical case study of the role monumentality can play in the development of an archaic state. The Pumapunku Temple Complex facilitated movement of large throngs of pilgrims it served both as a ritual gateway to the city and as a theater for projecting a redundant and widely comprehensible message to arriving visitors through the use of facades and intentional alignments of sacred features.