Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Inflammatory bowel diseases: health care and costs in Sweden in 1994.

BACKGROUND Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has highly variable course and severity. Since comprehensive data on its impact are scarce, we analyzed all IBD care and costs in Sweden (population, 8.8 million). METHODS A cross-sectional observational study, using national registers and surveys on ambulatory care, hospital admissions, medication, sickness leave, and early retirement for IBD in 1994, was carried out. We calculated direct health care costs and indirect 1-year costs caused by morbidity. RESULTS Ambulatory care was concentrated to specialists in internal medicine at hospitals. One-fourth of the patients accounted for 48% of 1994 hospital admissions. Medication was predominantly aminosalicylates and steroids. Sickness leave episodes were long--on average, 6 weeks. Although uncommon, early retirements lasted 14 years on average. With regard to the underlying prevalence, the use of health care and compensations by Crohn's disease patients was two to four times that of patients with ulcerative colitis. Morbidity took 68% of total costs. Among direct costs, admissions accounted for 58%. Neither complications nor surveillance added much. CONCLUSION Ulcerative colitis is twice as common as Crohn's disease. In health care use, these roles are reversed. Since morbidity causes two-thirds of the costs, comprehensive analyses, including indirect costs, are necessary when evaluating new diagnostics and therapies.
A Temporal Model of Research Work Tracking and Assessing for an Individual and a Group

Although there are many research works focused on scientific community discovery and researcher profiling, it is still a challenge to track and assess the research development for an individual researcher or a research group over time. In this study, we seek to model and quantify an individual's research work outcome during his/her research career. A temporal tracking model is introduced to represent research development for both an individual and a group along the time. Furthermore, assessing measures are proposed to depict how to quantify a research group's outcomes by its members' contribution. Based on our model, a research topic analyzing approach is proposed to extract the topics covered by a group and discover the group's research pattern. The analyzed output is helpful for a researcher to pursue his/her scientific life or find collaboration opportunities.
Functionalization of single-walled carbon nanotubes with well-defined polystyrene by "click" coupling.

Covalent functionalization of alkyne-decorated SWNTs with well-defined, azide-terminated polystyrene polymers was accomplished by the Cu(I)-catalyzed [3 + 2] Huisgen cycloaddition. This reaction was found to be extremely efficient in producing organosoluble polymer-nanotube conjugates, even at relatively low reaction temperatures (60 degrees C) and short reaction times (24 h). The reaction was found to be most effective when a CuI catalyst was employed in the presence of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4. 0]undec-7-ene as an additive. IR spectroscopy was utilized to follow the introduction and consumption of alkyne groups on the SWNTs, and Raman spectroscopy evidenced the conversion of a high proportion of sp(2) carbons to sp(3) hybridization during alkyne introduction. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated that the polymer-functionalized SWNTs consisted of 45% polymer, amounting to approximately one polymer chain for every 200-700 carbons of the nanotubes, depending on polymer molecular weight. Transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy were utilized to image polymer-functionalized SWNTs, showing relatively uniform polymer coatings present on the surface of individual, debundled nanotubes.
Desktop software to identify patients eligible for recruitment into a clinical trial: using SARMA to recruit to the ROAD feasibility trial.

BACKGROUND Recruitment to trials in primary care is often difficult, particularly when practice staff need to identify study participants with acute conditions during consultations. The Scottish Acute Recruitment Management Application (SARMA) system is linked to general practice electronic medical record (EMR) systems and is designed to provide recruitment support to multi-centre trials by screening patients against trial inclusion criteria and alerting practice staff if the patient appears eligible. For patients willing to learn more about the trial, the software allows practice staff to send the patient's contact details to the research team by text message. AIM To evaluate the ability of the software to support trial recruitment. DESIGN OF STUDY Software evaluation embedded in a randomised controlled trial. SETTING Five general practices in Tayside and Fife, Scotland. METHODS SARMA was used to support recruitment to a feasibility trial (the Response to Oral Agents in Diabetes, or ROAD trial) looking at users of oral therapy in diabetes. The technical performance of the software and its utility as a recruitment tool were evaluated. RESULTS The software was successfully installed at four of the five general practices and recruited 11 of the 29 participants for ROAD (other methods were letter and direct invitation by a practice nurse) and had a recruitment return of 35% (11 of 31 texts sent led to a recruitment). Screen failures were relatively low (7 of 31 referred). Practice staff members were positive about the system. CONCLUSION An automated recruitment tool can support primary care trials in Scotland and has the potential to support recruitment in other jurisdictions. It offers a low-cost supplement to other trial recruitment methods and is likely to have a much lower screen failure rate than blanket approaches such as mailshots and newspaper campaigns.
Analisi della perfusione cutanea prima e dopo iperemia reattiva post occlusiva

L'analisi della perfusione cutanea mediante l'acquisizione di un segnale di flussimetria laser-Doppler permette di determinare l'emodinamica del microcircolo cutaneo. Il segnale e caratterizzato da oscillazioni periodiche riferibili ad attivita di strutture del sistema cardiovascolare. Con l'analisi Wavelet applicata al segnale acquisito da pazienti arteriopatici durante la prova PORH e stata osservata l'influenza della terapia FREMS sull'attivita vascolare
Association of non-synonymous SNPs of OPN gene with litter size traits in pigs

Abstract. Osteopontin (OPN) gene is a secreted phosphoprotein which appears to play a key function in the conceptus implantation, placentation and maintenance of pregnancy in pigs. The objectives of this study were to verify the non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and their association with litter size traits in commercial Thai Large White pigs. A total of 320 Thai Large White sows were genotyped using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. Three SNPs at c.425G> A, c.573T> C and c.881C> T revealed amino acid exchange rates of p.110Ala> Thr, p.159Val> Ala and p.262Pro> Ser, respectively, and were then segregated. These three SNPs were significantly associated with total number born (TNB) and number born alive (NBA) traits. No polymorphisms of the two SNP markers (c.278A> G and c.452T> G) were observed in this study. Moreover, the SNPs at c.425G> A and c.573T> C were found to be in strong linkage disequilibrium. The association of OPN with litter size emphasizes the importance of porcine OPN as a candidate gene for reproductive traits in pig breeding.
Area-priority-based sensor deployment optimisation with priority estimation using K-means

Deployment in wireless sensor networks (WSN) addresses maximising the coverage of sensors and reducing the total cost of deployment. The area-priority concept for WSN deployment that the authors contributed to the literature recently allows environments with regions that have different importance or priority levels. In this study, the authors propose the first priority-estimation method for area-priority-based WSN deployments. First, a satellite image of the environment that will be used in the deployment of the sensors is clustered by a K -means algorithm using the colour features of the regions. In the sensor deployment phase, this cluster information is used to determine the priorities of the sensor coverage areas on positions of the image. Sensors are initially deployed quickly using a priority queue-based technique. Then, a simulated annealing algorithm is used to maximise the total covered area priority and to minimise the gaps between the sensors. Various experiments are performed for different scenarios (land, sea, and forest) on images captured from Google Maps using different parameter values. The experiments confirm that the proposed approach performs well and outperforms the random deployment of sensors.
Cloud statistics measured with a ground-based Infrared Cloud Imager

The Infrared Cloud Imager (ICI) is a ground-based instrument for measuring spatial cloud statistics. ICI uses an uncooled microbolometer detector array to record downwelling infrared atmospheric emission in the 8-14 mum spectral band with 320times240 pixels. The ICI system has been deployed at Poker Flat Research Range near Fairbanks, Alaska, at Barrow, Alaska, and in central Oklahoma. With a water vapor emission correction, the ICI system can detect clouds, classify them as to their general type (clear, haze, low clouds, mid clouds, and high clouds) and produce a continuous and consistent day-night record of spatial cloud statistics. The ICI data show that single-pixel sensors, which rely on temporal statistics to determine spatial cloud statistics, tend to slightly underestimate cloudiness
Sexual dimorphism in the alpine butterflies Boloria pales and Boloria napaea: differences in movement and foraging behavior (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

Sexual dimorphism is a widespread phenomenon in Lepidoptera. It is reflected in differences in life history, behavior and morphology. Analyses of differences in behavior are mostly difficult and time‐consuming, especially in high mountain ecosystems. To enhance our knowledge on sexual dimorphisms of alpine butterflies, we performed a mark–release–recapture study on 2 species common in the Alps: Boloria pales and Boloria napaea. We analysed movement and foraging behavior to investigate differences between sexes. Both sexes were mostly sedentary and the movement distances of males and females similar. However, obvious differences in dispersal behavior between the sexes were found in the movement patterns. Three different patterns were distinguished. Most males showed intensive flight activity, but mostly flew only in a limited part of the entire habitat (i.e., their individual home range) searching for females, whereas females were less flight active and flew only to find places for oviposition or feeding. The third pattern, where individuals flew larger distances, was only observed in a small number of males, which always returned to their home range. Nearly all feeding was observed on Asteraceae. However, males preferred the genera Leontodon and Crepis, while females preferred Leontodon and Carduus. Apart from this sexual difference in foraging, individuals of both sexes were found to be more or less specialised on nectar sources. Flight activity was generally greater in males than females. Therefore, we think that sex‐specific requirements in nectar ingredients exist, that is, sugar for the intensive flight activity of males and amino acids for egg production of females.
Antisense oligonucleotide targeting at the initiator of hTERT arrests growth of hepatoma cells.

AIM To evaluate the inhibitory effect of antisense phosphorothioate oligonucleotide (asON) complementary to the initiator of human telomerase catalytic subunit (hTERT) on the growth of hepatoma cells. METHODS The as-hTERT was synthesized by using a DNA synthesizer. HepG2.2. 15 cells were treated with as-hTERT at the concentration of 10 micromol/L. After 72 h, these cells were obtained for detecting growth inhibition, telomerase activity using the methods of MTT, TRAP-PCR-ELISA, respectively. BALB/c(nu/nu) mice were injected HepG2.2. 15 cells and a human-nude mice model was obtained. There were three groups for anti-tumor activity study. Once tumors were established, these animals in the first group were administered as-hTERT and saline. Apoptosis of tumor cells was detected by FCM. In the 2nd group, the animals were injected HepG2.2. 15 cells together with as-hTERT. In the third group, the animals were given as-hTERT 24 hours postinjection of HepG2.2. 15 cells. The anti-HBV effects were assayed with ELISA in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS Growth inhibition was observed in cells treated with as-hTERT in vitro. A significant different in the value of A570-A630 was found between cells treated with as-hTERT and control (P<0.01) by MTT method. The telomerase activity of tumor cells treated with as-hTERT was reduced, the value of A450 nm was 0.42 compared to control (1.49) with TRAP-PCR-ELISA. The peak of apoptosis in tumor cells given as-hTERT was 21.12%, but not seen in saline-treated control. A prolonged period of carcinogenesis was observed in the second and third group animals. There was inhibitory effect on the expression of HBsAg and HBeAg in vivo and in vitro. CONCLUSION As-hTERT has an anti-tumor activity, which may be useful for gene therapy of tumors.
COMPARISON OF SPECIFIC ABSORPTION RATES INDUCED IN A MODEL OF THE HUMAN SKULL

În acest articol, valorile ratelor specifice de absorbţie induse în interiorul unui model al craniului uman, corect anatomic, au fost evaluate şi comparate. În scenariile de expunere la radiaţii electromagnetice studiat, doi parametri au fost variaţia, frecvenţa şi poziţia sursei, iar pentru obţinerea rezultatelor a fost folosit un program numeric bazat pe metoda diferenţelor finite în domeniul timp. Au fost trase concluzii şi subliniate direcţii de cercetare viitoare.
La adicción al consumo de tabaco: una enfermedad crónica a tratar

Introduccion Hasta no hace mucho el consumo de tabaco era visto solo como un " mal habito". La evidencia cientifica ha demostrado que no es un simple habito, sino una dependencia/adiccion a drogas, y por lo tanto una enfermedad. Las drogas psicoactivas, incluida la nicotina, modifican estructural y funcionalmente el cerebro. En algun momento, ocurren cambios que convierten el abuso de drogas en adiccion: una enfermedad cronica y recurrente. Los dependientes a drogas sufren de "ansias" por consumir, y utilizan la droga en forma compulsiva, no siendo capaces de controlar su conducta a pesar de quererlo. Muchos dependientes a consumo de droga, incluidos muchos fumadores, necesitaran de un tratamiento para superar este comportamiento compulsivo [1] .
Développement et étude d'un système robotisé pour l'assistance à la chirurgie transluminale

Les annees 2000 ont vu l'apparition d'une nouvelle approche chirurgicale par les voies naturelles et donc sans cicatrice visible. Cette technique prometteuse s'est rapidement heurtee aux limites du materiel medical a disposition. En effet, les premieres operations de ce type ont ete realisees avec un endoscope flexible traditionnel issu de la gastroenterologie. Le manque de degres de liberte, l' absence de triangulation entre les instruments, les difficultes de manipulation sont autant de freins au developpement de cette nouvelle technique. La premiere partie de la these presente le prototype endoscopique qui, grâce a l'ajout de bras articules de part et d'autre de la tete de l'endoscope, offre davantage de degres de liberte et la triangulation souhaitee par les chirurgiens. En contrepartie, le systeme a ete complexifie et certains problemes lies a sa manipulation ont ete accentues. Une solution robotique, sous la forme maitre/esclave, a ete mise en place pour permettre a un seul chirurgien de telemanipuler le robot esclave depuis l'interface maitre. La combinaison des mouvements articulaires necessaires a la realisation de la tâche est calculee par ordinateur a l' aide des modeles geometrique et cinematique. Bien que representatifs du comportement general du robot, les modeles etablis ne permettent pas de tenir compte des non-linearites inherentes a la transmission mecanique par câbles utilisee pour commander le systeme. A defaut de pouvoir mettre en œuvre une solution mecanique, une compensation logicielle, basee sur une mesure externe, a permis d'ameliorer le comportement du systeme.
Modern Treatment of Hirschsprung's Disease

HD occurs in about 1/5000 live born babies and is more common in boys than girls (4:1) (11). This together with the fact that about 30% of patients with HD have other abnormalities suggests a genetic etiology for HD (11, 12). Different animal and human studies have identified various gene defects in HD (13). The most common mutations are located to the RET proto-oncogene on chromosome 10, accounting for approximately 20% of sporadic cases of HD and about 50% of familial cases (14–16).
Carrier leakage suppression in direct-conversion WCDMA transmitters

Carrier leakage suppression techniques are employed to enable direct up-conversion transmitters to meet WCDMA specifications. Implemented in 0.13/spl mu/m CMOS, the complete TX IC delivers +2.5dBm output power and consumes 45mA at 1.5V. The IC achieves +19dBm OIP3, 4.3% EVM, -38dBc ACLR and an output noise in the DCS band of -146dBm/Hz.
A Fully Integrated 5 GHz Low-Voltage LNA Using Forward Body Bias Technology

A fully integrated 5 GHz low-voltage and low-power low noise amplifier (LNA) using forward body bias technology, implemented through a 0.18 mum RF CMOS technology, is demonstrated. By employing the current-reused and forward body bias technique, the proposed LNA can operate at a reduced supply voltage and power consumption. The proposed LNA delivers a power gain (S21) of 10.23 dB with a noise figure of 4.1 dB at 5 GHz, while consuming only 0.8 mW dc power with a low supply voltage of 0.6 V. The power consumption figure of merit (FOM1) and the tuning-range figure of merit (FOM2) are optimal at 12.79 dB/mW and 2.6 mW-1, respectively. The chip area is 0.89times0.89 mm2.
BDNF protection of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons after axotomy: complete protection of p75IMGFR‐positive cells

To elucidate the role of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the protection of cholinergic neurons in the basal forebrain, recombinant human BDNF and as a positive control, human recombinant nerve growth factor (NGF), were infused for 20 days into the lateral ventricle of adult rats with fimbrial transections. BDNF and NGF administration protected cholinergic basal forebrain cells from degenerative changes after axotomy, as assessed with immunohistochemical analysis of the two cholinergic marker proteins ChAT and p75NGFR. Both BDNF and NGF treatment completely prevent the lesion induced loss of p75NGFR-positive cells in the septal area of animals with fimbrial transections. This finding contrasts with the result obtained with ChAT immunohistochemistry, where BDNF treatment protects only part of the population of neurons which disappear following the transections. These findings are compatible with the view that there is a cascade of events induced in cholinergic neurons by the transections, so that ChAT expression is lost before p75NGFR expression, and that BDNF reduces degenerative events in the entire population of cholinergic neurons, maintaining some of them as p75NGFR-positive but ChAT-negative cells.
Effect of Concomitant Artesunate Administration and Cytochrome P4502C8 Polymorphisms on the Pharmacokinetics of Amodiaquine in Ghanaian Children with Uncomplicated Malaria

ABSTRACT Artesunate (AS) is used in combination with amodiaquine (AQ) as first-line treatment for uncomplicated malaria in many countries. We investigated the effect of concomitant AS administration on the pharmacokinetics of AQ and compared concentrations of desethylamodiaquine (DEAQ), the main metabolite of AQ, in plasma between patients with different variants of the cytochrome P4502C8 (CYP2C8) gene. A two-compartment model was fitted to 169 plasma DEAQ concentrations from 103 Ghanaian children aged 1 to 14 years with uncomplicated malaria treated either with AQ alone (n = 15) or with AS plus AQ (n = 88). The population clearance of DEAQ appeared to increase nonlinearly with body weight, and the central volume of distribution of DEAQ was higher (P < 0.001) in the AS-plus-AQ group than in the AQ-only group. The maximum plasma DEAQ concentration was higher (P < 0.001), and the population distribution half-life was shorter (P < 0.01), in the AQ-only group than in the AS-plus-AQ group. The total areas under the plasma DEAQ concentration-time curves (P = 0.68) and elimination half-lives (P = 0.39) were similar for the two groups. There was a high frequency (0.179) of the non-wild-type allele of CYP2C8, but no differences between CYP2C8 genotypes with regard to AQ efficacy or safety were evident. The sample size, however, was limited, so monitoring of AQ toxicity in the study area is still indicated. The nonlinear clearance of DEAQ and the wide variability in kinetic parameters have safety implications for weight-based dosing of higher-body-weight children with AQ. The pharmacokinetics of artemisinin combination therapies should be studied in malaria patients, because the rapid parasite clearance caused by the artemisinin may affect the kinetics of the partner drug and the combination.
Mobile HealthCare Monitoring System in Mobile Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is on-demand computing that does not reside at the users’ premise. Instead of the computing resources are owned and managed by a cloud service provider and the user’s access the resources via the Internet. Cloud-Assisted m(Mobile)Health Care Monitoring System, it concern the current promising areas Mobile Communications and Cloud Computing Technologies to provide feedback, decision support, has been considered as a revolutionary approach to improving quality of health care services while lowering the health care cost. Unfortunately, it also cause a serious risk on both patients or clients privacy and intellectual property of monitoring service providers, which could deter the wide adoption of mHealth Care technology. This paper is explore this particular important problem and to design and implement a Cloud-Assisted Privacy preserving m (Mobile) Health Monitoring System to protect the privacy of the involved stakeholders and their sensitive and critical data. Moreover, the outsourcing decryption technique and a newly proposed key private proxy reencryption are adapted to shift the computational complexity of the involved stakeholders to the cloud without compromising patients or clients’ privacy and service providers’ intellectual property.