Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Diabetic Neuropathy: A Position Statement by the American Diabetes Association

Diabetic neuropathies are the most prevalent chronic complications of diabetes. This heterogeneous group of conditions affects different parts of the nervous system and presents with diverse clinical manifestations. The early recognition and appropriate management of neuropathy in the patient with diabetes is important for a number of reasons: 1. Diabetic neuropathy is a diagnosis of exclusion. Nondiabetic neuropathies may be present in patients with diabetes and may be treatable by specific measures. 2. A number of treatment options exist for symptomatic diabetic neuropathy. 3. Up to 50% of diabetic peripheral neuropathies may be asymptomatic. If not recognized and if preventive foot care is not implemented, patients are at risk for injuries to their insensate feet. 4. Recognition and treatment of autonomic neuropathy may improve symptoms, reduce sequelae, and improve quality of life. Among the various forms of diabetic neuropathy, distal symmetric polyneuropathy (DSPN) and diabetic autonomic neuropathies, particularly cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN), are by far the most studied (1–4). There are several atypical forms of diabetic neuropathy as well (1–4). Patients with prediabetes may also develop neuropathies that are similar to diabetic neuropathies (5–10). Table 1 provides a comprehensive classification scheme for the diabetic neuropathies. View this table: Table 1 Classification for diabetic neuropathies Due to a lack of treatments that target the underlying nerve damage, prevention is the key component of diabetes care. Screening for symptoms and signs of diabetic neuropathy is also critical in clinical practice, as it may detect the earliest stages of neuropathy, enabling early intervention. Although screening for rarer atypical forms of diabetic neuropathy may be warranted, DSPN and autonomic neuropathy are the most common forms encountered in practice. The strongest available evidence regarding treatment pertains to these forms. This Position Statement is based on several recent technical reviews, to which the reader is referred for detailed discussion …
Comparing Absolute Lymphocyte Count to Total Lymphocyte Count, as a CD4 T Cell Surrogate, to Initiate Antiretroviral Therapy

Background: The high cost of CD4 count estimation in resource-limited settings is a major obstacle in initiating patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Thus, there is a need to evaluate other less expensive surrogate markers like total lymphocyte count (TLC) and absolute lymphocyte count (ALC). Objectives To evaluate the correlation of TLC and ALC to CD4 count. To determine a range of TLC and ALC cut-offs for initiating HAART in HIV-infected patients in resource-limited settings. Materials and Methods: In a prospective observational cohort study of 108 ART-naive HIV-positive patients, Spearman correlation between ALC and CD4 cell count, and TLC and CD4 cell count were assessed. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of various ALC and TLC cut-offs were computed for CD4 count <200 cells/cu.mm. Results: Good correlation was noted between ALC and CD4 (r=0.5604) and TLC and CD4 (r=0.3497). ALC of 1400 cells/cu.mm had a sensitivity of 71.08% and specificity of 78.26% for predicting CD4 cell counts less than 200 cells/cu.mm. Similarly, TLC of 1200 cells/cu.mm had a sensitivity of 63.41% and specificity of 69.57%. Conclusion: Either ALC or TLC may be helpful in deciding when to initiate antiretroviral therapy in resource-poor settings, though ALC is better than TLC as a surrogate for CD4 counts.
Degradation mechanism of PHEMT under large signal operation

We have studied the degradation mechanism of AlGaAs/InGaAs pseudomorphic HEMTs (PHEMTs) under large signal operation. The output power of the PHEMT is degraded with increasing drain voltage (Vd), temperature, and humidity. The deteriorated devices show a decrease of the maximum drain current (Imax) around the knee voltage (Vk) and an increase of the drain resistance (Rd). Cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images from the deteriorated devices reveal the existence of a damaged recess surface region at the drain side of the device. In this damaged region, a. significant amount of oxygen is detected by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), analysis. The damaged recess region leads to a reduced carrier density that results in decreased Imax and increased Rd. We suggest that the damaged recess region is caused by an electrochemical reaction that correlates with electric field, temperature and humidity. We have developed a special surface treatment that is applied prior to the deposition of the passivation film on the recess surface. This treatment successfully suppresses output power degradation in these devices. We demonstrate highly reliable RF operation with less than 0.2 dB reduction in output power during 1000 hr at Vd=5 V and Tch=175/spl deg/C.
Monte Carlo Simulation on a Neutralization Process of an Accelerated Compact Torus Plasma

A new concept of particle fueling method is proposed, and its feasibility is studied by a Monte Carlo simulation; by using a compact torus (CT) injection technique and subsequent neutralization of an accelerated CT plasma, ultrahigh-speed neutral-particle flow can be generated. The charge-exchange reaction between ions in a CT plasma and neutral particles in the neutralizer is found to work efficiently to neutralize the CT plasma within a 1-m long neutralizer in a case that the neutral gas exceeds 5 × 10-2 torr.
A new oxide-trap based on charge-pumping (OTCP) extraction method for irradiated MOSFET devices: part II (low frequencies)

In this paper, the Oxide-Trap based on Charge-Pumping (OTCP) extraction method is extended from high frequencies (HFs) to low frequencies (LFs). As a consequence, the LF-OTCP method simultaneously senses both interface-trap and border-trap (switching oxide-trap) in charge-pumping (CP) current (I/sub cp/) measurements. We have found that radiation-induced oxide-trap (/spl Delta/N/sub ot/) is dependent on /spl Delta/V/sub th/ (threshold voltage shift), /spl Delta/I/sub cpm,h/ (augmentation of maximum CP current at high frequencies), and /spl Delta/I/sub cpm,l/ (augmentation of maximum CP current at low frequencies), where /spl Delta/I/sub cpm,h/ is caused by radiation-induced interface-trap increase (/spl Delta/N/sub it/) and /spl Delta/I/sub cpm,l/ by both radiation-induced interface- and border-trap increases (/spl Delta/N/sub it/) and (/spl Delta/N/sub bt/), respectively. We have shown that /spl Delta/I/sub cpm,l/ and /spl Delta/I/sub cpm,h/ can be easily obtained from a vertical shift of the charge-pumping curve at low and high frequencies respectively, and /spl Delta/V/sub th/ from a lateral one.
Mindfulness-based stress reduction for family caregivers: a randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE Caring for a family member with dementia is associated with chronic stress, which can have significant deleterious effects on caregivers. The purpose of the Balance Study was to compare a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) intervention to a community caregiver education and support (CCES) intervention for family caregivers of people with dementia. DESIGN AND METHODS We randomly assigned 78 family caregivers to an MBSR or a CCES intervention, matched for time and attention. Study participants attended 8 weekly intervention sessions and participated in home-based practice. Surveys were completed at baseline, postintervention, and at 6 months. Participants were 32- to 82-year-old predominately non-Hispanic White women caring for a parent with dementia. RESULTS MBSR was more effective at improving overall mental health, reducing stress, and decreasing depression than CCES. Both interventions improved caregiver mental health and were similarly effective at improving anxiety, social support, and burden. IMPLICATIONS MBSR could reduce stress and improve mental health in caregivers of family members with dementia residing in the community.
Recent studies on flavonoids and their antioxidant activities

Flavonoids are widely distributed plant secondary metabolites with various metabolic functions. They are ubiquitous in fruits and vegetables that are regularly consumed by humans. These natural compounds are categorized by their chemical structure into 6 major subgroups as follows: chalcones, flavones, flavonols, flavandiols, anthocyanins, and proanthocyanidins or condensed tannins (Winkel-Shirley, 2001; Falcone Ferreyra et al., 2012). More than 6000 different flavonoids have been identified, and this number is certain to increase as more researches are conducted on them (Ferrer et al., 2008). Flavonoids have attracted considerable interest because of their potentially beneficial effects in humans; they have been reported to have antiviral, antiallergic, antiplatelet, antiinflammatory, antitumor, and antioxidant activities (Izzi et al., 2012; Kay et al., 2012). Many investigations have focused on these health-promoting effects and antioxidant activities of flavonoids, particularly their role in the chemoprevention of cancer (Gonzalez-Paramas et al., 2011; Galleano et al., 2012). We have reviewed the most recent studies on flavonoids and their antioxidant activities (Table 1).
Creating a Sociotechnical API: Designing City-Scale Community Engagement

Community engagement is to cities what user experience is to computing: it signifies a large category that simultaneously speaks to general qualities of interaction and to specific ways of doing that interaction. Recently, digital civics has emerged as a research area with a comprehensive approach to designing for civic encounters where community engagement is a primary concern for designing systems and processes that support broad civic interaction. In short, over the past year, we worked with municipal officials, service providers, and city residents to design a community engagement playbook detailing best practices for city-scale engagement. The playbook, as well as the collaborative process that produced it, provides a roadmap for thinking through the kinds of systems that might populate the design space of city-scale digital civics. This paper details our design-led research process and builds on emerging literature on designing for digital civic interaction.
Chromatin-modifying enzymes as therapeutic targets – Part 1

Background: Disease pathogenesis may result from genetic alterations and/or a more diverse group of epigenetic changes. While events such as DNA methylation are well established, there is significant interest in nucleosome remodeling, RNA interference and histone modifications, as mechanisms that underlie epigenetic effects. While genetic mutations are permanent, epigenetic changes can be transitory. The potential to reverse epigenetic changes has led to the development of therapeutic strategies targeting chromatin-modifying enzymes. Objective: To review the roles of chromatin-modifying enzymes in gene regulation and to highlight their potentials as therapeutic targets. Methods: This review is based on recently published literature and online resources. Results/conclusion: This paper focuses on enzymes responsible for histone acetylation, deacetylation, methylation and demethylation, and their potential as targets for epigenetic therapies. A subsequent paper will do the same for enzymes responsible for histone phosphorylation, ubiquitylation, SUMOylation and poly-ADP-ribosylation as well as ATP-dependent nucleosome remodeling.
Feature-based pose estimation on-board MAVs equipped with 2D laser scanners for the automatic inspection of electric towers

This paper concerns the pose estimation of Micro Aerial Vehicles (MAVs) with respect to electric towers based on laser sensors. We propose two feature-based algorithms that rely on gradually extracting the tower's notable features from the scans, and then exploiting the simple geometry of the cross-sections to estimate the tower's position and orientation in the sensor frame. As a by-product, it is shown that a preliminary 3D reconstruction of the tower can be built from the scans. The proposed solutions can be easily implemented on-board a MAV in real time. Validations based on real data are presented.
Complete Genome Sequence of Mycobacterium chimaera SJ42, a Nonoutbreak Strain from an Immunocompromised Patient with Pulmonary Disease

ABSTRACT Mycobacterium chimaera, a nontuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) belonging to the Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), is an opportunistic pathogen that can cause respiratory and disseminated disease. We report the complete genome sequence of a strain, SJ42, isolated from an immunocompromised male presenting with MAC pneumonia, assembled from Illumina and Oxford Nanopore data.
Consistency of the within cycle torque distribution pattern during hand cycling [online]: - a pilot study

Die Forschung auf dem Gebiet des Hand Cycling (Handradfahren) ist auf Studien beschrankt, die sich mit der Analyse physiologischer Reaktionen, der Auswertung der hoheren Effizienz im Vergleich zu anderen Antriebsmechanismen des Arms und dem Vergleich der unterschiedlichen Drehstrategien beschaftigen. Ziel dieser Pilotstudie war es, das Drehmoment zu messen, das auf die Drehbewegungen beim Hand Cycling angewendet wird, und die Konsistenz der Drehmomentverteilung per Zyklys auszuwerten; und zwar (1) in aufeinander folgenden Zyklen mit einer konstanten Leistung, (2) zwischen den unterschiedlichen Leistungsniveaus, und (3) im Hinblick auf Ermudung bei einem submaximalen Leistungsniveau. Zwei Testpersonen fuhrten eine Reihe von Hand-Cycling-Tests auf unterschiedlichen Leistungsniveaus und einen submaximalen Test bis zur Erschopfung durch. Variationskoeffizienten wurden berechnet, um die Konsistenz des Kraftverteilungsmusters zu ermitteln; die Werte variierten dabei von 3,58% bis 9,42% bei den aufeinander folgenden Zyklen, von 5,27% bis 6,20% bei den unterschiedlichen Leistungsniveaus und von 5,06% bis 5,45% beim submaximalen Test bis zur Erschopfung. Diese Ergebnisse weisen daraufhin, dass das Verteilungsmuster des Drehmoments per Zyklus bei aufeinander folgenden Zyklen konsistent ist und dass dieses Muster nur minimal von Faktoren wie variierenden Leistungsniveaus und Erschopfung beeinflusst wird.
Plane Programmability for Software Defined Networks

In its current form, OpenFlow, the de facto implementation of SDN, separates the network’s control and data planes allowing a central controller to alter the match-action pipeline using a limited set of fields and actions. To support new protocols, forwarding logic, telemetry, monitoring or even middlebox-like functions the currently available programmability in SDN is insufficient. In this paper, we introduce BPFabric, a platform, protocol, and language-independent architecture to centrally program and monitor the data plane. BPFabric leverages eBPF, a platform and protocol independent instruction set to define the packet processing and forwarding functionality of the data plane. We introduce a control plane API that allows data plane functions to be deployed on-the-fly, reporting events of interest and exposing network internal state to the centralised controller. We present a raw socket and DPDK implementation of the design, the former for large-scale experimentation using environment such as Mininet and the latter for highperformance low-latency deployments. We show through examples that functions unrealisable in OpenFlow can leverage this flexibility while achieving similar or better performance to today’s static design.
Keyword Revocable Searchable Encryption with Trapdoor Exposure Resistance and Re-generateability

In searchable encryption in the public key setting, a trapdoor is uploaded to a server, and the server runs the test algorithm by using the trapdoor. However, if trapdoors stored in the server will be exposed due to unexpected situations, then anyone can run the test algorithm. Therefore, the trapdoor revocation functionality is desirable in practice. Moreover, even certain keyword revocation functionality is supported, the impact of trapdoor exposure should be minimized. In addition to this, it seems difficult to assume that revoked keywords will never be used. Therefore, we need to consider the case where a new trapdoor can be generated even a trapdoor has been revoked before. In this paper, we give a formal definition of keyword revocable public key encryption with keyword search (KR-PEKS), and propose a generic construction of KR-PEKS from revocable identity-based encryption with a certain anonymity. Our construction is not only a generalization of revocable keyword search proposed by with Yu, Ni, Yang, Mu, and Susilo (Security and Communication Networks 2014), but also supports trapdoor exposure resistance which guarantees that an exposure of a trapdoor does not infect of other trapdoors, and trapdoor re-generateability which guarantee that a new trapdoor can be generated even a keyword has been revoked before.
Explaining phenotype heterogeneity in patients with psoriasis

Psoriasis is a heterogeneous disorder with many different phenotypes. Further, different forms may alter their morphology and course of disease in that, for instance, plaque‐type psoriasis may become pustular and vice versa. With advancing insight in immunopathology phenotype switching can now be explained by directional changes from T cell‐mediated pathology to an inflammatory neutrophilic pattern which is driven by innate signalling. Within this framework not a single ‘antigen’ but various causative agents play a key role.
DIURNAL ENURESIS

haps fair to point out that the significance of certain signs referred to by Dr. Wrightfor example, the elevated right diaphragmhas been known for a very long time, and it is difficult to find a better account of the diagnosis and management of hepatic amoebiasis than that of Sir Leonard Rogers and Sir John Megaw.1 With regard to management, these authors stress the danger of exploratory puncture of the congested liver before a course of emetine (or at least a few grains) has been given. Puncture is, as they say, very rarely a matter of urgency and often unnecessary, and it is remarkable how quickly a liver that has been enlarged, even for many weeks, may subside after a few injections of the drug. For example, an Italian patient had been in hospital for two months because of high fever, loss of weight, and an enlarged liver. When he was seen at the end of that time his liver was palpable four fingerbreadths below the right costal margin, but it subsided long before the course of emetine was completed, and so did his pyrexia. Similar cases could be cited. I have no regrets at having ordered emetine for a patient who had a considerably raised temperature and an enlarged liver but who proved to have metastatic carcinoma. While agreeing with Dr. Wright that precise diagnosis is desirable, I think those who have experience of hepatic amoebiasis will agree that it is the condition par excellence in which very much more is likely to be lost than gained by withholding a specific drug in the hope, often vain, of confirming the diagnosis. -I am, etc.,
Linkage Studies of NIDDM with 23 Chromosome 11 Markers in a Sample of Whites of Northern European Descent

Considerable data support a genetic basis to susceptibility for NIDDM, but previous analysis of candidate genes has failed to identify a major susceptibility locus. Among regions with multiple potential candidates is chromosome 11, which includes the apolipoprotein C3 cluster, muscle glycogen phosphorylase, two insulin-dependent diabetes loci, the sulfonylurea receptor, and ataxia telangiectasia. To test linkage, we initially typed 19 markers at 10- to 15-cM intervals along chromosome 11. Analyses carried out under parametric models in members of 16-19 families of northern European ancestry detected possible linkage of NIDDM to D11S916. Nonparametric methods detected possible linkage to NIDDM at D11S901, which was 5–10 cM distant, and at D11S935, which was ∼30 cM distant. Both D11S916 and D11S901 were near the IDDM4 locus. To further test linkage, we typed five additional markers within 5 cM of D11S916 in the initial 19 families. We also tested markers from the linked region in a second set of recently sampled additional families. Two additional markers (D11S527 and D11S534) showed possible linkage in the initial 19 families, but none of the markers were linked to NIDDM in a separate set of families from the same ethnic background. The best evidence for linkage in the combined data set of the initial 19 families and 26 additional families was at D11S534 under parametric analysis (Z = 1.20) and at D11S935 under nonparametric analysis (affected pedigree number, P = 0.0013). Our findings suggest marginal evidence for a diabetes susceptibility locus in the region between D11S901 and D11S935, with the best evidence for a locus at or near D11S935. Replication of these findings in other populations will be necessary to distinguish false-positive linkage from a true NIDDM susceptibility locus.
Vertical Beamforming with Downtilt Optimization in Downlink Cellular Networks

In this paper, we investigate vertical beamforming with antenna downtilt optimization in downlink cellular networks. We first use Gamma distribution to approximate the achievable sum-rates with respect to the antenna downtilts. Then, based on this approximation, we first formulate an optimization to maximize system throughput and then propose a simple heuristic algorithm to find its solution. Simulation result shows that the proposed vertical beamforming with antenna downtilt optimization can significantly improve system sum-rates.
Integration of photoperiod and cold temperature signals into flowering genetic pathways in Arabidopsis

Appropriate timing of flowering is critical for propagation and reproductive success in plants. Therefore, flowering time is coordinately regulated by endogenous developmental programs and external signals, such as changes in photoperiod and temperature. Flowering is delayed by a transient shift to cold temperatures that frequently occurs during early spring in the temperate zones. It is known that the delayed flowering by short-term cold stress is mediated primarily by the floral repressor FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC). However, how the FLC-mediated cold signals are integrated into flowering genetic pathways is not fully understood. We have recently reported that the INDUCER OF CBF EXPRESSION 1 (ICE1), which is a master regulator of cold responses, FLC, and the floral integrator SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CONSTANS 1 (SOC1) constitute an elaborated feedforward-feedback loop that integrates photoperiod and cold temperature signals to regulate seasonal flowering in Arabidopsis. Cold temperatures promote the binding of ICE1 to FLC promoter to induce its expression, resulting in delayed flowering. However, under floral inductive conditions, SOC1 induces flowering by blocking the ICE1 activity. We propose that the ICE1-FLC-SOC1 signaling network fine-tunes the timing of photoperiodic flowering during changing seasons.