Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
[Medicinal vesiculation combined with quick cupping at Shenque (CV 8) for allergic rhinitis with syndrome of yang deficiency: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE To compare the clinical efficacy differences between medicinal vesiculation combined with quick cupping at Shenque (CV 8) and regular medication for allergic rhinitis with syndrome of yang deficiency. METHODS Eighty-two cases were randomly divided into an observation group (42 cases) and a control group (40 cases). The observation group was treated with medicinal vesiculation combined with quick cupping at Shenque (CV 8). The medicinal vesiculation was applied at Feishu (BL 13), Gaohuang (BL 43), Fengmen (BL 12), Mingmen (GV 4) on the dog days in the summer, one treatment on the 1st dog-day, 2nd dog-day and last dog-day respectively with an interval of 10 days between two treatments. Three treatments were taken as one course, and totally one course was given. The quick cupping was applied at Shenque (CV 8), once a day, ten treatments were taken as one course, and totally three courses was given. The control group was treated with oral administration of loratadine and nasal spray of budesonide. The loratadine was given 10 mg per time, once a day for continuous 14 days; budesonide was given once a day, ten treatments were taken as one course, and totally three courses was given. The clinical efficacy in two groups after treatment was observed, and the contents of immune globulin E (IgE), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-5 (IL-5) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in peripheral serum were measured before and after the treatments. RESULTS Of all the 82 patients, 79 cases completed the treatment, and 1 patient in the observation group and 2 patients in the control group dropped out. The effective rate was 87.8% (36/41) in the observation group, which was superior to 78.9% (30/38) in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, both groups effectively reduced the contents of IgE, IL-4, IL-5 and TNF-α, and the observation group had superior effect on reducing IgE and IL-4 to the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION The medicinal vesiculation combined with quick cupping at Shenque (CV 8) have better effect for allergic rhinitis with syndrome of yang deficiency than oral administration of loratadine and nasal spray of budesonide.
Joint design of linear transmitter and receiver for the MIMO interference channel

Interference alignment (IA) is a powerful scheme that has emerged out of recent work in the context of the MIMO X channel. Most of the existing IA schemes are aimed to optimize the sum-capacity, the error probability, and the mean square errors (MSE) of the system, and less consider the system power efficiency. This paper proposes a new IA scheme to minimize the system transmit power under the condition of every user's MSE constraint through a joint design of linear transmitter and receiver for a K-user MIMO interference system. In order to solve our optimization problem, we employ the Lagrange function and Karush-Kuhn-Tucker (KKT) conditions, then get the transmitter precoding and receiving filter matrices expressions by the analysis and derivation. Finally, we use a joint iterative algorithm to solve the proposed optimization problem. Simulation results verify that the provided scheme improves the power efficiency.
Newborn screening for Pompe disease by measuring acid alpha-glucosidase activity using tandem mass spectrometry.

BACKGROUND Pompe disease, caused by the deficiency of acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA), is a lysosomal storage disorder that manifests itself in its most severe form within the first months of life. Early detection by newborn screening is warranted, since prompt initiation of enzyme replacement therapy may improve morbidity and mortality. We evaluated a tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) method to measure GAA activity for newborn screening for Pompe disease. METHODS We incubated 3.2-mm punches from dried blood spots (DBS) for 22 h with the substrate [7-benzoylamino-heptyl)-{2-[4-(3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-hydroxymethyl-tetrahydro-pyran-2-yloxy)-phenylcarbamoyl]- ethyl}-carbamic acid tert-butyl ester] and internal standard [7-d(5)-benzoylamino-heptyl)-[2-(4-hydroxy-phenylcarbamoyl)-ethyl]-carbamic acid tertbutyl ester]. We quantified the resulting product and internal standard using MS/MS. We assessed inter- and intrarun imprecision, carryover, stability, and correlation between enzyme activities and hematocrit and punch location and generated a Pompe disease-specific cutoff value using routine newborn screening samples. RESULTS GAA activities in DBS from 29 known Pompe patients were <2 micromol/h/L. GAA activities in routine newborn screening samples were [mean (SD)] 14.7 (7.2) micromol/h/L (n = 10,279, median 13.3, 95% CI 14.46-14.74 micromol/h/L) and in normal adult samples 9.3 (3.3) micromol/h/L (n = 229, median 9, 95% CI 8.88-9.72 micromol/h/L). GAA activity was stable for 28 days between 37 degrees C and -80 degrees C. Carryover could not be observed, whereas intrarun and interrun imprecision were <10%. The limit of detection was 0.26 micromol/h/L and limit of quantification 0.35 micromol/h/L. CONCLUSIONS The measurement of GAA activities in dry blood spots using MS/MS is suitable for high-throughput analysis and newborn screening for Pompe disease.
A Process to Produce Effervescent Tablets: Fluidized Bed Dryer Melt Granulation

The purpose of the present study was to apply melt granulation in a fluidized bed dryer (fluidized bed dryer melt granulation) to manufacture one-step effervescent granules composed of anhydrous citric acid and sodium bicarbonate to make tablets. This study permitted us to establish that such process parameters as concentrations of polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000, residence times in the fluidized bed dryer, fineness of PEG6000, fineness of initial mixture effervescent systems, and efficiency of two lubricants markedly affect some granule and tablet characteristics. It is a dry process that is simple, rapid, effective, economical, reproducible, and particularly adapted to produce effervescent granules that are easily compressed into effervescent tablets.
Modified variable-step incremental conductance maximum power point tracking technique for photovoltaic systems

Among various photovoltaic (PV) maximum power point tracking (MPPT) techniques, variable-step incremental conductance (Inc.Cond.) method is widely employed with the merits of high tracking accuracy and fast convergence speed. Yet, mathematical division computations are mandatory for the algorithm's structure which in turn adds more complexity to its implementation. Moreover, conventional variable step, depending on the change of the array power with respect to the array voltage, encounters steady-state oscillations and dynamic problems especially under sudden irradiance changes. This paper proposes a modified variable-step Inc.Cond. MPPT technique featuring division-free algorithm, simplified implementation, and enhanced transient performance with minimal steady-state power oscillations around the MPP. Simulation and experimental results are presented for concept realization and performance evaluation.
Differential expression of prostaglandin h synthase isozymes during multistage carcinogenesis in mouse epidermis

An anti–tumor‐promoting effect of indomethacin and related nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as well as the ability of the tumor promoter 12‐O‐tetradecanoylphorbol‐13‐acetate (TPA) to increase the level of prostaglandins in murine keratinocytes and mouse epidermis in vivo has been repeatedly documented. Here, the expression of prostaglandin H synthase (PGHS) isozymes, which are major targets of NSAIDs, was investigated in different stages of tumor development in mouse skin. Mouse epidermis in vivo constitutively expressed PGHS‐1. PGHS‐1 steady‐state levels remained unchanged upon induction of acute or chronic epidermal hyperplasia by TPA and in papillomas and carcinomas generated by the initiation‐promotion procedure, with 7,12‐dimethylbenz[a]anthracene as initiator and TPA as promoter. Thus, the elevated prostaglandin level in the acute hyperplastic epidermis was very likely due to PGHS‐2 induction. Repeated applications of TPA resulted in stationary hyperplasia and downregulation of PGHS‐2 expression and prostaglandin levels, suggesting that the epidermis had adapted to the TPA stimulus. In papillomas and carcinomas, however, constitutive overexpression of PGHS‐2 was found, with a large amount of prostaglandin E2 and prostaglandin F2α. Keratinocyte cell lines corresponding to different stages of tumor development also constitutively over‐expressed PGHS‐2. Considered with inhibitor studies, these data suggest that PGHS‐2 has a critical role in skin carcinogenesis. The anti–tumor‐promoting effect of the PGHS inhibitor indomethacin is specifically reversed by prostaglandin F2α, indicating that this prostaglandin type has a significant role in tumor development. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss Inc.
Molecular and Clinical Aspects of Angelman Syndrome

The Angelman syndrome is caused by disruption of the UBE3A gene and is clinically delineated by the combination of severe mental disability, seizures, absent speech, hypermotoric and ataxic movements, and certain remarkable behaviors. Those with the syndrome have a predisposition toward apparent happiness and paroxysms of laughter, and this finding helps distinguish Angelman syndrome from other conditions involving severe developmental handicap. Accurate diagnosis rests on a combination of clinical criteria and molecular and/or cytogenetic testing. Analysis of parent-specific DNA methylation imprints in the critical 15q11.2–q13 genomic region identifies 75–80% of all individuals with the syndrome, including those with cytogenetic deletions, imprinting center defects and paternal uniparental disomy. In the remaining group, UBE3A sequence analysis identifies an additional percentage of patients, but 5–10% will remain who appear to have the major clinical phenotypic features but do not have any identifiable genetic abnormalities. Genetic counseling for recurrence risk is complicated because multiple genetic mechanisms can disrupt the UBE3A gene, and there is also a unique inheritance pattern associated with UBE3A imprinting. Angelman syndrome is a prototypical developmental syndrome due to its remarkable behavioral phenotype and because UBE3A is so crucial to normal synaptic function and neural plasticity.
Reported pathological childhood experiences associated with the development of borderline personality disorder.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to assess a full range of pathological childhood experiences reported by patients with criteria-defined borderline personality disorder and comparison patients with other personality disorders. METHOD The pathological childhood experiences reported by 467 inpatients with personality disorders were assessed by interviewers who used a semistructured research interview and were blind to clinical diagnosis. RESULTS Of the 358 patients with borderline personality disorder, 91% reported having been abused, and 92% reported having been neglected, before the age of 18. The borderline patients were significantly more likely than the 109 patients with other personality disorders to report having been emotionally and physically abused by a caretaker and sexually abused by a noncaretaker. They were also significantly more likely to report having a caretaker withdraw from them emotionally, treat them inconsistently, deny their thoughts and feelings, place them in the role of a parent, and fail to provide them with needed protection. The borderline patients with a childhood history of sexual abuse were significantly more likely than those without such a history to report having experienced all but one of the types of abuse and neglect studied. When all significant risk factors were considered together, four were found to be significant predictors of a borderline diagnosis: female gender, sexual abuse by a male noncaretaker, emotional denial by a male caretaker, and inconsistent treatment by a female caretaker. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that sexual abuse is neither necessary nor sufficient for the development of borderline personality disorder and that other childhood experiences, particularly neglect by caretakers of both genders, represent significant risk factors.
A new parallel programming language fortress: Features and applications

An overview of a newly designed parallel programming language is presented in this paper. Fortress, an outcome of the high productivity computing systems program at DARPA, is examined through its features like mathematical notation, implicitly parallel nature and ease of library coding, its potential to grow easily and its interchangeable program parts. Code writing is discussed through examples. The tests for its scalability are done with several array types and also a comparison of an application written both in C and Fortress is presented. The usability and the future of the language in HPC environments are also discussed.
Ex vivo evaluation of the polymerization temperatures during cement augmentation of proximal femoral nail antirotation blades

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have clearly demonstrated superior biomechanical behavior of augmented proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA) blades compared with nonaugmented ones with respect to implant cutout. Nevertheless, there is concern about thermal bone necrosis due to exothermic curing of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)-based bone cements. The objective of this study was to quantify the temperatures arising around perforated titanium PFNA blades when augmenting with PMMA. METHODS: Cylindrical samples from six pairs of fresh frozen human cadaveric femoral heads implanted with a PFNA blade were placed in a 37°C water bath and augmented with 3 mL and 6 mL PMMA. During augmentation, temperatures were measured using six K-type thermocouples that were placed at controlled distances around the implant. With the help of high-resolution quantitative computed tomography images, the locations of all thermocouples with respect to the cement-bone interface were reconstructed. RESULTS: No temperatures higher than 45°C were measured in the interface region and the surrounding cement-free cancellous bone. In the same regions, the longest exposure time above 41°C was 8.5 minutes and was measured in a 6-mL sample. Average maximum temperature was significantly lower for the 3-mL group compared with the 6-mL group (p = 0.017). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that augmentation of titanium PFNA blades is not associated with a risk of thermal bone necrosis when using up to 6 mL of PMMA. However, larger amounts of cement lead to higher temperatures. PMMA application should therefore be kept low to minimally alter the biological system.
Advancing the Theory and Measurement of Collective Empowerment: A Qualitative Study

Grounded Theory, a qualitative research method, was used to fully describe the construct of empowerment and its measurement in racially and ethnically diverse urban and rural neighborhoods. Forty-nine grass roots experts, primarily from six communities in Texas, participated via semi-structured interviews and focus groups. Observational data were also collected. Results revealed that the framework of collective empowerment has two main dimensions: ten processes necessary for developing greater empowerment and eight long-term outcomes that result from the process strategies. The two main dimensions of collective empowerment are cyclically, rather than linearly, related. While the results are unique to the communities studied because of the nature of the analysis, the process by which they were elucidated can be replicated in any setting. These findings suggest that the construct of collective empowerment can be both operationalized and evaluated at the community level.
Endogenous Public Information and Welfare in Market Games

This article performs a welfare analysis of markets with private information in which agents condition on prices in the rational expectations tradition. Price-contingent strategies introduce two externalities in the use of private information: a pecuniary externality and a learning externality. The pecuniary externality induces agents to put too much weight on private information and in the standard case, when the allocation role of the price prevails over its informational role, overwhelms the learning externality which impinges in the opposite way. The price may be very informative but at the cost of an excessive dispersion of the actions of agents. The welfare loss at the market solution may be increasing in the precision of private information. The analysis provides insights into optimal business cycle policy and a rationale for a Tobin-like tax for financial transactions.
The origin and nature of ramified and amoeboid microglia: A historical review and current concepts

The origin of ramified microglia has been a longstanding controversial issue, with 4 major schools of thought, which state that they are derived (1) from invasion of mesodermal pial elements, (2) from neuroectodermal matrix cells together with the macroglia, (3) from pericytes, and (4) from invasion of monocytes in early development. This paper is in support of the last‐mentioned hypothesis. It is known that ramified microglial cells do not divide under normal circumstances, and since our studies in the corpus callosum have shown that these cells do not appear until the fifth postnatal day, it is reasoned that they must be derived from some preexisting mitotically active cells. The putative precursor is the preponderant amoeboid microglia in the same region. Our experimental studies with the carbon labelling technique have demonstrated for the first time that blood monocytes invade into the early postnatal brain to become amoeboid microglia, which then differentiate into ramified microglia. Just like other tissue macrophages, the monocyte‐derived amoeboid microglia exhibit features indicative of phagocytic activities. These include the content of hydrolytic enzymes, uptake of carbon, and a characteristic surface morphology, as seen by scanning electron microscopy. The transformation of amoeboid microglia into ramified microglia, which occurs between the second and third postnatal week, is considered to be a regressive phenomenon, as shown by the diminution of their content of hydrolytic enzymes and the downregulation of membrane antigen. Apart from their primary role as active phagocytes, their involvement in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is evidenced recently by the fact that the cells are specifically marked by antibodies present in the cerebrospinal fluid of AD patients. In conclusion, ramified microglial cells are derived from monocytes, but through an intermediate amoeboid microglia stage as active macrophages in the perinatal period.
Light-Controlled Self-Assembly of Semiconductor Nanoparticles into Twisted Ribbons

Nanoparticles, Lightly Twisted The helical structures that are widespread in natural macromolecules result from well-coordinated bonding interactions and affect their physical properties in striking ways. To obtain helical nanoparticles, Srivastava et al. (p. 1355, published online 11 February) slowly oxidized cadmium-tellurium under visible light and assembled ribbons of nanostructure. The ribbons were persuaded to twist into helices because they were doped with cadmium sulfide nanoparticles, which underwent surface oxidation and caused localized stresses that could only be relieved by a conformational change. The pitch of the twisted ribbons that were produced could be controlled by the intensity of illumination applied. This behavior offers promise for application in the development of materials with interesting optical properties. The photooxidation of cadmium sulfide nanoparticles within cadmium telluride nanoparticle ribbons causes surface stresses that lead to twisting. The collective properties of nanoparticles manifest in their ability to self-organize into complex microscale structures. Slow oxidation of tellurium ions in cadmium telluride (CdTe) nanoparticles results in the assembly of 1- to 4-micrometer-long flat ribbons made of several layers of individual cadmium sulfide (CdS)/CdTe nanocrystals. Twisting of the ribbons with an equal distribution of left and right helices was induced by illumination with visible light. The pitch lengths (250 to 1500 nanometers) varied with illumination dose, and the twisting was associated with the relief of mechanical shear stress in assembled ribbons caused by photooxidation of CdS. Unusual shapes of multiparticle assemblies, such as ellipsoidal clouds, dog-bone agglomerates, and ribbon bunches, were observed as intermediate stages. Computer simulations revealed that the balance between attraction and electrostatic repulsion determines the resulting geometry and dimensionality of the nanoparticle assemblies.
Is Infantile Alternating Hemiplegia Mediated by Glutamate Toxicity and Can it be Treated with Memantine?

Starting from the age of 15 months up to now, fits with alternating hemiplegia and preserved consciousness occur at 7 to 14 day intervals. As a constant finding, fits of the left side of the body present as a flaccid hemiparesis, whereas those of the right side present as dystonic posturing of the leg and am with inward rotation of the hand. Prior to the start of the present treatment, the attacks were rather severe and lasted for three to seven days leaving the boy severely incapacitated. The most severe attacks, occwring several times per year, presented as bilateral flaccid paresis with sweating and slightly reduced consciousness. His psychomotor development has progressed only slowly, he suffers from an unsteady gait, dysarthric speech and moderate mental retardation. However, he is Fully accepted by h s farmly and attends a school for disabled children. Over the years, many investigations have been performed, in part repeatedly. The EEG showed mainly rhythmic theta activity with superimposed beta-waves, epilepsy-specific activity was never observed. During the attacks the EEG changed only minimal. Only once during one of the most severe fits, right-sided slowing was observed. The MRT showed slight dilatation of the ventricles and hypoplasia of the lower vermis, no parenchymal lesions were found. The HMPAO-SPECT interictally showed hypoperfundation of the left temporal lobe. During a left-sided attack, this region was hyperpehndated with a decreased perfundation of the right temporal lobe. Carotic and vertebral angiograms were normal. DuppIe~ sonography showed a normal flow in the great arteries, even during one of the most severe attacks. Metabolic investigations were performed repeatedly. Organic acids and amino acids were normal, even after starvation and loading with phenylpropionic
Poor Outcomes Associated with Drainage of Pericardial Effusions in Patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Objectives: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in its advanced stages is complicated by right heart failure and often pericardial effusion. The optimal treatment of large or hemodynamically significant pericardial effusions in this group has not been defined. Methods: All patients followed at the Johns Hopkins Hospital for PAH during a 1-year period that underwent pericardiocentesis or pericardial window placement were identified. Charts were analyzed for patient characteristics, echocardiographic data, and type/outcome of procedure. Results: Six patients were identified; five underwent therapeutic drainage. Pericardiocentesis was performed in four cases; two had surgical pericardial windows. Two patients died after pericardiocentesis and one patient died after surgery. All patients died within 13 hours of the procedure. Conclusion: We found a high mortality related to pericardial fluid drainage in patients with PAH. The pathophysiologic explanation for these deaths remains unclear, but clinicians should consider conservative management in this situation if possible.