Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Management of Fistulas in Crohn’s Disease

Aim: This study was conducted to clarify operative indications, surgical treatment, and postoperative complications of intra-abdominal fistulas in Crohn’s disease. Methods: Of 213 patients undergoing surgical treatment for Crohn’s disease in our institution between 1972 and 2000, 55 patients (25.8%) found to have 81 intra-abdominal fistulas were retrospectively reviewed. Results: The most common indication for surgery was intestinal obstruction. A fistula represented a single indication for surgical treatment in 9 operations (15.5%). All patients with intra-abdominal fistulas underwent resection of the diseased intestinal segment. Closure of the fistulous defect of the affected lesion was achieved by suture (n = 27), stapled fistulectomy (n = 12), or resection (n = 11). Resection of the diseased bowel was achieved by en bloc removal of the fistula in 15 cases. When the fistula opened through the abdominal wall (n = 12), the diseased portion of the intestine was resected, and the fistulous tract was debrided. Only 1 patient died postoperatively from multiple organ failure because of anastomotic breakdown. Conclusions: The surgical treatment of an intra-abdominal fistula in Crohn’s disease is based on resection of the diseased intestinal segments, and the affected lesion can be sutured. This procedure can be achieved safely, and the incidence of postoperative complications is low.
Améliorer la testabilité et les tests des systèmes à l'aide des patrons

Les activites de test sont tres complexes et couteuses mais elles restent cependant le moyen le plus repandu pour assurer la fiabilite des systemes et augmenter notre confiance en eux. De nombreux travaux ont pour objectif la reduction de ces couts et de cette complexite a travers diverses approches : criteres de test plus efficaces, automatisation des activites de tests, augmentation de la testabilite. Cette derniere approche est intensivement exploree car pour de nombreux chercheurs, la testabilite peut permettre de reduire significativement les couts de test surtout si elle est evaluee et exploitee tot dans le cycle de developpement du logiciel notamment a la phase de conception. C'est dans ce domaine tres actif des conceptions testables que s'inscrit notre projet de recherche. Ce projet vise a contribuer a reduire les couts de test et en augmenter l'efficacite en exploitant les microarchitectures, telles que les patrons de conceptions et les anti-patrons. Ces microarchitectures existent largement dans les systemes orientes objets et sont reconnus comme ayant un impact sur plusieurs attributs de qualite. Notre objectif est donc, a travers ce projet de recherche et la methodologie proposee dans le present document, d'etudier l'impact des microarchitectures sur la testabilite des systemes, d'exploiter les resultats de cette etude pour ameliorer la testabilite des conceptions mais aussi exploiter directement les microarchitectures dans la phase de test.
A Global Exponential Fuzzy Observer Design for Time-Delay Takagi–Sugeno Uncertain Discrete Fuzzy Bilinear Systems With Disturbance

A robust <i>H</i><sub>∞</sub> fuzzy observer is proposed for a class of time-delay Takagi-Sugeno (T-S) uncertain discrete fuzzy bilinear systems with disturbance. Utilizing the Lipschitz conditions and some variable transformations, a linear matrix inequality (LMI) approach is developed, and a sufficient condition is obtained to design the robust <i>H</i><sub>∞</sub> fuzzy observer. The robust <i>H</i><sub>∞</sub> fuzzy observer for time-delay T-S uncertain discrete fuzzy bilinear systems with disturbance can be obtained directly through the LMIs with no preassigned matrices. The convergent rate of the error state can be estimated from the initial conditions and the delay time of T-S uncertain discrete fuzzy bilinear systems. The designed robust <i>H</i><sub>∞</sub> fuzzy observer can guarantee the dynamics of the observer error to be globally exponentially stable and has a prescribed <i>H</i><sub>∞</sub> performance. A numerical example is given to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed observer design method.
Coordination control and start-up strategy in flexible DC urban distribution networks for smart cities

Research on the Flexible DC Urban Distribution System (FDCUDS) is in the ascendant. Due to the lack of some key technologies, operating experience and relevant standards, the application of the FDCUDS has been limited. A multi-terminal FDCUDS topology, which contains photovoltaic cell and wind turbines, was first determined for further analysis. Secondly, key equipment was analyzed and the coordination control strategy of each terminal was verified. Subsequently, a new start-up control strategy of the FDCUDS was proposed and a hand-in-hand FDCUDS model with six terminals was built in PSCAD/EMTDC. The start-up control strategy, the normal operation, and the control-mode switch strategy with regard to the fault occurrence were analyzed. The results indicate the validity of both the start-up control strategy and the operation-mode switch method.
The Brazilian Journal of INFECTIOUS DISEASES etter to the Editor ew patterns of HCV subtypes distribution in the of Pakistan 3

epatitis C virus (HCV) is the leading cause of liver disases including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma and it ffects an estimated 3% of the world’s population which correponds to over 130 million HCV positive patients worldwide.1 CV is an enveloped virus with a positive single stranded RNA enome in the family Flaviviridae. Due to its RNA genome, CV shows substantial nucleotide sequence variability with ucleotide substitution rate of 1.44 × 10−3 per site/year resultng in evolution into seven major genotypes including multiple ubtypes and quasispecies.2 RNA viruses evolve rapidly2 and hanges in epidemiological patterns have been reported from ifferent regions of the world. Several studies have reported CV genotypes distribution in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), akistan,1,3,4 while none has so far reported the changing epiemiological pattern of HCV genotypes in the province. The im of this study was to find out the frequency and existng pattern of HCV genotypes distribution in KP by a modified enotyping assay and sequencing. A total of 510 HCV infected patients who were registered t various healthcare units at Peshawar city for free treatment r diagnosis under the prime minister’s Hepatitis C control rogram were included in this study as per their consent and thical approval of the Institutional committee. Qualitative etection of HCV and HCV genotyping was carried out by modified reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction RT-PCR). Sequencing of the core gene was used for genotype uthentication. Out of the total, active HCV infection was detected in 422 82.75%) patients. HCV 3a (45.5%) was found to be the most bundant subtype followed by a high proportion of mixed enotypes infection (22.99%). HCV 1b accounted for infection mong 11.61% of the patients while 3b was detected in 5.21% f the cases. Rare genotypes or subtypes encountered were a, 2b, and 1a. Among mixed genotypes, 3a/1b was the most revalent (49%) followed by an equal distribution of 3a/3b and a/1b (15%). Similarly, 1b/3b, 1b/2a, and 1a/3b mixed genotypes ere detected in 9%, 6%, and 4% of the patients, respectively. Previous studies have reported a much higher prevalence f HCV 3a (ranging from 70 to 90%) both in KP3,4 and Pakistan,5 hile in this study only 45.5% of individuals were infected by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Film blotch removal with a spatiotemporal fuzzy filter based on local image analysis of anisotropic continuity

The film material of old movies is often corrupted by blotches. We present a practical simple easy-implementable method for removing blotches and restoring their missing data. To cope with the motion, instead of estimating an optical flow directly, we take up the robust approach of a local analysis of spatiotemporal anisotropic gray-level continuity. The approach uses simple first-order directional derivatives to select the most smooth direction for each examined pixel, and puts out the incorruption probability that the examined pixel may not be corrupted by blotches. As the restoration filter, we employ a spatiotemporal fuzzy filter whose response is adaptively controlled according to a fuzzy rule with incorruption probability. We design the fuzzy rule in advance by some training method. Computer simulations are presented.
REJECTION OF CULTURED KERATINOCYTE ALLOGRAFTS IN PRESENSITIZED MICE

The fate of cultured keratinocyte (KC) allografts remains controversial. Although prolonged survival of cultured KC allografts in naive mice has been reported, the detailed mechanisms remain undetermined. Furthermore, it was also reported that in the human cultured KC allografts do not survive permanently, and they are rapidly replaced by recipient cells. In the present study, we have addressed this issue and obtained findings that cultured KC allografts survive for a prolonged period in naive mice under the conditions in which reepithelization by recipient cells is prevented. However, the same cultured KC allografts were rejected when they were grafted onto recipients primed with allogeneic spleen cells or full-thickness skin grafts. To clarify the mechanisms behind these findings, the allostimulatory ability of cultured KC and their susceptibility to alloreactive cytotoxic T cells were examined in vitro. In a mixed epidermal cell-lymphocyte reaction, cultured KC were unable to induce allospecific proliferative responses of naive T cells. On the other hand, primed T cells from presensitized mice showed weak but significant proliferative responses against allogeneic KC. It also was confirmed that cultured KC are susceptible to lysis by alloreactive cytotoxic T cells. These data indicate that prolonged survival of cultured KC allografts in naive mice is attributable to a defect in the afferent, but not the efferent, phase of the rejection process that is caused by the weak allostimulatory ability of cultured KC. This assumption was also supported by the finding that spleen cells from the recipient mice bearing long-surviving KC allografts retain in vitro responsiveness against stimulator cells syngeneic to the grafted KC. Taken together, these findings indicate that long-term survival of cultured KC allografts in naive mice may be due solely to the weak allostimulatory ability of cultured KC, but not to loss of susceptibility to alloreactive cytotoxic T cells after culture of KC or induction of tolerance in the recipient mice bearing KC allografts.
Antagonistic molecular interactions of photosynthetic pigments with molecular disease targets: a new approach to treat AD and ALS

Abstract Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are progressive neurodegenerative diseases that affect the neurons in the brain and the spinal cord. Neuroinflamation and apoptosis are key players in the progressive damage of the neurons in AD and ALS. Currently, there is no drug to offer complete cure for both these diseases. Riluzole is the only available drug that can prolong the life time of the ALS patients for nearly 3 months. Molecules that offer good HIT to the molecular targets of ALS will help to treat AD and ALS patients. P53 kinase receptor (4AT3), EphA4 (3CKH) and histone deacetylase (3SFF) are the promising disease targets of AD and ALS. This paper discusses on a new approach to combat neurodegenerative diseases using photosynthetic pigments. The docking studies were performed with the Autodock Vina algorithm to predict the binding of the natural pigments such as β carotene, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, phycoerythrin and phycocyanin on these targets. The β carotene, phycoerythrin and phycocyanin had higher binding energies indicating the antagonistic activity to the disease targets. These pigments serve as a potential therapeutic molecule to treat neuroinflammation and apoptosis in the AD and ALS patients.
A double trapped single cell contact and interaction system via movable poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEG-DA) microstructure for immune analysis

Some subsets of immune cells execute their missions depending on cell contact and interaction, like natural killer cell and cytotoxic T lymphocyte. To understand the movement exhibited by cellular aggregates, we must understand how the local interactions between moving cells affect the collective motion. In this paper, we demonstrated a double trapped single cell chip by positive dielectrophoresis (pDEP) force with the movable poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEG-DA) for cell-cell contact microenvironment. In our design, such as S-shape channel, L-shaped double-lock and /-shaped double-lock, we could evaluate the NK cell activity in single cell level. Based on our data, we provided an easily-performed method for study the interaction of immune cells.
Physical indicators of cartilage health: the relevance of compliance, thickness, swelling and fibrillar texture

This study uses a bovine patella model to compare the relative merits of on‐bone compliance and thickness measurements, free‐swelling behaviour, and structural imaging with differential interference contrast (DIC) light microscopy to assess the biomechanical normality of the cartilage matrix. The results demonstrate that across a spectrum of cartilage tissues from immature, mature, through to mildly degenerate, and all with intact articular surfaces, there is a consistent pattern of increased free swelling of the isolated general matrix with age and degeneration. High swelling was always associated with major structural alterations of the general matrix that were readily imaged using DIC light microscopy. Conversely, for all tissue groups, no relationship was observed between thickness vs. compliance and compliance vs. general matrix swelling. Only in the proximal aspects of the normal mature and degenerate tissues was there a correlation between thickness and general matrix swelling. Free‐swelling measurements combined with fibrillar texture imaging using DIC light microscopy are therefore recommended as providing a reliable and quick method of assessing the biomechanical condition of the cartilage general matrix.
Technical Note - Construction of Difficult Linearly Constrained Concave Minimization Problems

Given a polytope and an arbitrary subset of its vertices, we show how to construct a differentiable concave function that assumes any arbitrary value within a specified e-tolerance at each vertex of the subset, with each vertex in the subset a strong local constrained minimum. We also show how this construction method can be used to generate test problems for linearly constrained concave minimization algorithms.
Resource allocation in electrical/optical hybrid switching data center networks

Hybrid switching combines the strengths of electronic packet switching and high-speed optical circuit switching and is thus widely believed to be a cost-effective solution for current and future data center networks (DCNs). In designing a hybrid switching DCN, it is essential to know how many resources should be devoted to optical circuit switching and electronic packet switching so the performance requirements in both planes can be satisfied, and, at the same time, objectives such as minimizing the overall system building cost or the power consumption can be realized. In this paper, we introduce BLOC, the Blocking LOss Curve, as a tool to characterize hybrid switching DCNs. With BLOC, the three interacting components in hybrid switching systems—resource allocation, traffic partitioning, and system performance—can be naturally integrated and studied together. We show how BLOC can be used to obtain feasible resource allocation/traffic partition combinations. We also show how system parameters, such as flow arrival characteristics, may affect resource allocation and system costs. Our study reveals that the total amount of resource required to satisfy 95th percentile traffic can be as low as 60% of that required for 99.9th percentile traffic.
Food Anxiety Is Associated with Poor Health Status Among Recently Hospital-Discharged Older Adults

Older adults returning home from the hospital may encounter health issues that cause anxiety about their ability to obtain enough food. Home-delivered meal (HDM) programs support nutritional needs and improve food security of those who cannot provide for themselves. A study conducted in six states examined feelings of anxiety about getting enough food in older adults (aged 60 years and older), comparing three time points: prior to hospitalization, at hospitalization (n = 566) and after receiving HDMs for two months posthospitalization (n = 377). Food anxiety during hospitalization was significantly higher among Hispanic ethnicity, current and former smokers, diabetics, and those who eat alone or have difficulty shopping. Food anxiety was significantly lower from baseline to two months follow-up (P < 0.0001), and participants showed improvements in certain coping strategies they used to get their meals. Indicators of food anxiety can help the health care system and community nutrition programs target those at highest risk of negative health outcomes.
Determinants of mechanical properties in the developing ovine thoracic aorta.

We previously reported changes in mechanical properties and collagen cross-linking of the ovine thoracic aorta during perinatal development and postnatal maturation, and we now report changes in biochemical composition (elastin, collagen, and DNA contents per mg wet wt) over the same developmental intervals. A comparison of results from the present and previous studies has yielded novel and important observations concerning the relationship between aortic mechanics and composition during maturation. Developmental changes in aortic incremental elastic modulus at low tensile stress (E(low)) closely followed changes in relative elastin content (i.e., per mg wet wt). An 89% increase in E(low) during the perinatal period was associated with a 69% increase in relative elastin content, whereas neither variable changed during postnatal life. Incremental elastic modulus at high tensile stress (E(high)) did not change during the perinatal period but increased 88% during postnatal life. This pattern closely paralleled changes in collagen cross-linking index, which did not change perinatally but almost doubled postnatally. In contrast, relative collagen content (per mg wet wt) increased only slightly from fetal to adult life, a trend that was unrelated to aortic mechanics. Substantial, progressive decreases in measures of wall viscosity (pressure wave attenuation coefficient and viscoelastic phase angle) from fetal to adult life followed the pattern observed for relative DNA (smooth muscle cell) content (per mg wet wt). Our findings suggest that accumulation of elastin per milligram wet weight contributes most to developmental changes in E(low), change in collagen cross-linking is the primary determinant of developmental changes in E(high), and cell accumulation contributes most to developmental changes in wall viscosity.
[Association of Toll-like receptor gene with Crohn's disease in Koreans].

BACKGROUND/AIMS Toll-like receptors (TLRs) serve as pattern recognition receptors that recognize specific molecular patterns of pathogens and can mediate the production of proinflammatory cytokines. Recently, TLRs have been identified as susceptibility genes for Crohn's disease (CD) in several studies from Western populations. We investigated the association of genetic variations in TLR4 and TLR9 with CD in Korean population. METHODS In 380 CD cases and 380 healthy controls, we performed genotyping for TLR4 Asp299Gly (rs4986790) and Thr399Ile (rs4986791). The genetic variations in the TLR9 -1237T/C (rs5743836) were also examined. RESULTS Among CD patients genotyped for TLR4 Asp299Gly and TLR9 -1237T/C, none had variant alleles. Similarly, none of the subjects genotyped for TLR4 Thr399Ile showed genetic variations. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that the major genetic variations in TLR4 and TLR9 are rare and may not be associated with susceptibility to CD in Koreans.
Plasma and Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid Levels of Endothelin-1 in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Pulmonary Hypertension

Background: Secondary pulmonary hypertension (PH) and cor pulmonale are the major clinical cardiovascular complications affecting prognosis in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is also known that endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent vasoconstrictor peptide produced by the pulmonary vascular endothelium, and ET-1 may be implicated in the pathogenesis of PH. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of ET-1 in patients with COPD and to assess the correlation of ET-1 levels in the plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid (BALF) in COPD patients with or without PH. Methods: Twenty-two patients with COPD and 15 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Peripheral venous blood samples were collected in all patients and controls. BAL was obtained in COPD patients, and ET-1 levels were measured by radioimmunoassay in all plasma and BALF samples. Results: Plasma ET-1 levels were 2.46 ± 0.55 and 1.70 ± 0.42 pmol/dl in patients with COPD and controls, respectively (p < 0.0001). Sixteen of the 22 patients with COPD (73%) had PH established by echocardiography. The ET-1 level in these patients amounted to 2.59 ± 0.50 pmol/dl, and it was 2.10 ± 0.54 pmol/dl in 6 patients with COPD without PH. In COPD patients with and without PH, BALF ET-1 levels were 0.19 ± 0.08 and 0.24 ± 0.01 pmol/dl, respectively (p > 0.05). Conclusions: These results suggest that ET-1 is detectable in both the peripheral blood and BALF of COPD patients, but the levels do not statistically differ between patients with and without PH.
A comparison of the plaque-inhibitory properties of stannous fluoride and low-concentration chlorhexidine mouthrinses.

BACKGROUND Plaque inhibition by chlorhexidine (CHX) rinses is dose related with a relatively flat dose-response curve above 5-6 mg twice daily. Low dose regimens could therefore reduce local side effects but maintain reasonable efficacy. AIMS To compare the plaque inhibitory properties of two low-dose CHX rinse products with more conventional levels delivered from proprietary rinses. A secondary outcome was a comparison with a stannous fluoride/amine fluoride (SFAF) rinse product. METHODS The study was a five-treatments, negative controlled, randomised, single blind crossover design balanced for residual effects, involving 20 healthy subjects in a 24-h plaque re-growth model. On day 1 of each study period, subjects were rendered plaque free, suspended tooth cleaning and followed the appropriate rinse regimen. On day 2, subjects were scored for plaque by index and area. The rinse codes and rinsing regimens were: (A) 15 mg CHX 2 x daily for 30 s (0.1% CHX), (B) 9 mg CHX 2 x daily for 60 s (0.06% CHX), (C) 10 ml SFAF rinse 1 x daily for 30 s, (D) 15 ml placebo 2 x daily for 60 s, and (E) 6 mg CHX 2 x daily for 30 s (0.06% CHX). RESULTS Average mouth plaque indices and areas were highly significantly different between rinsing regimens. All test rinses were significantly more effective than the placebo rinse. There was a mean dose-response pattern for the CHX rinses, but there were no statistically significant differences between any of the test rinses. CONCLUSIONS Lower doses of chlorhexidine in rinses can be used to exert plaque inhibition comparable with products used at higher doses and equivalent to benchmark products such as the SFAF rinse. However, the availability of chlorhexidine from formulations has to be considered as in part explaining the results.