Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PHI in the Early Detection of Prostate Cancer.

AIM To evaluate changes in the serum levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA), %free PSA and -2proPSA biomarkers, and prostate health index (PHI) in the diagnostic algorithm of early prostate cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS The Immunoanalytical Laboratory of the University Hospital in Pilsen examined sera from 263 patients being treated at the Hospital's Urology Department with suspected prostate cancer who had undergone biopsies and were divided into a benign and malignant group. The monitored biomarkers were measured using chemiluminescence. All statistical analyses were calculated using the SAS software. RESULTS We found statistically significantly increased levels of -2proPSA, PHI and PSA and decreased levels of %freePSA in patients diagnosed with prostate cancer by prostate biopsy vs. patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy (median values: -2proPSA: 16 vs. 21 ng/l, PHI: 35 vs. 62, total PSA: 7.2 vs. 7.7 μg/l and %free PSA: 16.7 vs. 11.7%). Receiver operating characteristic curves showed the best performance for PHI compared to other markers. CONCLUSION The assessment of -2proPSA and the calculation of PHI appear to be of great benefit for a more accurate differential diagnosis of benign hyperplasia and prostate cancer.
Identification of an alternative 5′‐untranslated exon and new polymorphisms of angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 gene: Lack of association with SARS in the Vietnamese population

We analyzed genetic variations of angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), considering that it might influence patients' susceptibility to severe acute respiratory syndrome‐associated coronavirus (SARS‐CoV) or development of SARS as a functional receptor. By cloning of the full‐length cDNA of the ACE2 gene in the lung, where replication occurs on SARS‐CoV, it was shown that there are different splicing sites. All exons including the new alternative exon, exon‐intron boundaries, and the corresponding 5′‐flanking region of the gene were investigated and 19 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were found. Out of these, 13 SNPs including one non‐synonymous substitution and three 3′‐UTR polymorphisms were newly identified. A case control study involving 44 SARS cases, 16 anti‐SARS‐CoV antibody‐positive contacts, 87 antibody‐negative contacts, and 50 non‐contacts in Vietnam, failed to obtain any evidence that the ACE2 gene polymorphisms are involved in the disease process in the population. Nevertheless, identification of new 5′‐untranslated exon and new SNPs is considered helpful in investigating regulation of ACE2 gene expression in the future. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The effect of herbs and their associated essential oils on performance, dietary digestibility and gut microflora in chickens from 7 to 28 days of age

1. The effect of the dietary inclusion of 5 culinary herbs or their essential oils on the growth, digestibility and intestinal microflora status in female broiler chicks was assessed. From 7 to 28 d of age, either a basal control diet without supplement was given or one of 10 others, consisting of the basal diet with either 10 g/kg herb (thyme, oregano, marjoram, rosemary or yarrow) or 1 g/kg of essential oil. 2. Body mass (BM) and feed consumption (AFC) were measured on a weekly basis and used to calculate chick performance. Total viable counts of lactic acid bacteria, coliforms, anaerobes and Clostridium perfringens were determined at 25 d. Apparent nutrient digestibilities were calculated from the measured values for gross energy, nitrogen (N), dry matter (DM) and organic matter, and sialic acid concentration was also measured. 3. Generally, dietary thyme oil or yarrow herb inclusion had the most positive effects on chick performance, while oregano herb and yarrow oil were the poorest supplements. Only thyme and yarrow in these diets had a different effect when used as a herb or oil on weight gain and BM. 4. Dietary treatment had no effect on the intestinal microflora populations, apparent metabolisable energy (AME) or the calculated coefficients of digestibility. Sialic acid concentration was greatest in the birds given dietary thyme oil, compared with all other treatments except those birds receiving marjoram oil, rosemary herb and the controls. However, less sialic acid was excreted in those birds given diets with oregano or rosemary oils, or oregano herb, than in the controls. 5. Plant extracts in diets may therefore affect chick performance, gut health and endogenous secretions, although the chemical composition of the extract appears to be important in obtaining the optimal effects.
HPS lamp models behavior analysis for controlled third harmonic injection operation

One seeks, in this paper, to compare the behaviors of four different models for HPS lamps operating with harmonic injection. Simulation results of the models are compared with experimental results for the lamp fed with sinusoidal waveforms voltages with superposed third harmonic. The behavior of incremental impedance is observed in simulation by the variation in the imposed current to the lamp. From this comparison one chooses the model presenting the best performance at low and high frequencies, obtain a frequency-domain model of the lamp and design a simple power controller to guarantee operation with constant power delivered to the lamp.
Pleuropulmonary Blastoma: A Single-institution Experience

Pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB) is a rare primary intrathoracic mesenchymal malignancy that occurs exclusively in early childhood. Twelve patients were diagnosed with PPB (1 type I, 5 type II, and 6 type III) between 1979 and 2009 at our institution. Upfront complete tumor resection was successful in 5 of 6 patients. Six patients had biopsy followed by neoadjuvant chemotherapy, 2 had complete tumor resection, and 2 had microscopic residual disease after surgery. All patients received vincristine, dactinomycin, and cyclophosphamide chemotherapy. Eight received additional chemotherapy with doxorubicin, cisplatin, etoposide, or ifosfamide. Three patients received local irradiation. The 5-year event-free and overall survivals were 33%±14% and 42%±14%, respectively. Median time to progression was 8 months. Five of 9 patients with gross total resection survived, whereas all 3 with gross residual disease died. Three of 5 survivors did not receive radiation. A high index of suspicion for PPB must be maintained in all patients diagnosed with intrathoracic sarcoma in early childhood. Gross total resection is necessary for cure, and selected patients do not require radiation therapy.
Fractionated crystallization in a polydisperse mixture of hard spheres

We consider the nature of the fluid–solid phase transition in a polydisperse mixture of hard spheres. For a sufficiently polydisperse mixture (σ>0.085) crystallization occurs with simultaneous fractionation. At the fluid–solid boundary, a broad fluid diameter distribution is split into a number of narrower fractions, each of which then crystallize. The number of crystalline phases increases with the overall level of polydispersity. At high densities, freezing is followed by a sequence of demixing transitions in the polydisperse crystal.
Antibodies against Carbonic Anhydrase in Patients with Aplastic Anemia

Background/Aims: Antibodies against carbonic anhydrase (CA) have been detected in patients with an aplastic anemia (AA)-like syndrome after autologous stem cell transplantation. Methods: We analyzed sera of 53 bona fide AA patients before and after treatment with anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) or bone marrow transplantation for the presence of anti-CA antibodies. Results: Anti-CA antibodies were detected in 20 patients (38%) and were associated with older age at diagnosis of AA. Antibody-positive patients showed poor response to ATG treatment (complete response 14%) and inferior long-term survival (36% at 10 years), when compared to antibody-negative patients (complete response and 10-year survival both 64%). Two thirds of patients with antibodies at diagnosis of AA became antibody negative after treatment with ATG. Clearance of the antibody did not appear to be associated with hematological improvement. Conclusion: Antibodies against CA are detected frequently at diagnosis of AA, and their presence identifies a subset of patients with poor response to immunosuppressive treatment.
Capacitance estimation algorithm based on DC-link voltage harmonics using artificial neural network in three-phase motor drive systems

Reliability of dc-link capacitors in modern design of power electronic converters is an important aspect that needs to be considered. The requirement of applying condition monitoring for health status estimation in many reliability-critical applications have been a focused demand. The existing capacitor condition monitoring methodologies are suffering from shortcomings such as, low estimation accuracy, extra hardware, and increased cost, and thereby, they are rarely adopted by industry. Therefore, development of new methods that are based on advanced software algorithms and data processing techniques requiring no extra hardware will be more attractive to industry. In this paper, a condition monitoring methodology is proposed and applied on the dc-link capacitor in a three phase Front-End diode bridge motor drive. The proposed condition monitoring methodology estimates the capacitance value of the dc-link capacitor based on Artificial Neural Network (ANN) algorithm. Two ANNs (ANN1 and ANN2) are proposed, trained and evaluated based on time-domain and frequency-domain parameters. Experiments are conducted to validate the proposed methodology and the effectiveness of the proposed method is examined through an error analysis.
Designing strategy and implementation of mobile manipulator control system for opening door

A goal of this research is to successfully accomplish a long distance navigation task, including "passing through a doorway", by an autonomous robot equipped with a manipulator. In our approach to this problem, we apply the concept of action primitives to the mobile manipulator control system. Action primitives are defined as unit elements of a complex behavior, such as door opening behavior. Basically, the action primitives control a robot according sequences of planned motion primitives. But as an important feature, each action primitive is designed with an error adjustment mechanism to cope with accumulated positioning error of the mobile base. In this paper, we report the design and implementation of action primitives for door opening behavior for our experimental robot, and show experimental results of an autonomous mobile manipulator's "passing through a doorway" using sequences of designed action primitives.
Joule heating effect under accelerated electromigration in flip-chip solder joints

This study employs three-dimensional simulation to investigate the Joule heating effect under accelerated electromigration tests in flip-chip solder joints. It was found that the Joule heating effect was very serious during high current stressing, and a hot spot exists in the solder bump. The hot spot may play important role in the void formation and thermomigration in solder bumps during electromigration
Hardware Elliptic Curve Cryptographic Processor Over$rm GF(p)$

A novel hardware architecture for elliptic curve cryptography (ECC) over GF(p) is introduced. This can perform the main prime field arithmetic functions needed in these cryptosystems including modular inversion and multiplication. This is based on a new unified modular inversion algorithm that offers considerable improvement over previous ECC techniques that use Fermat's Little Theorem for this operation. The processor described uses a full-word multiplier which requires much fewer clock cycles than previous methods, while still maintaining a competitive critical path delay. The benefits of the approach have been demonstrated by utilizing these techniques to create a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) design. This can perform a 256-bit prime field scalar point multiplication in 3.86 ms, the fastest FPGA time reported to date. The ECC architecture described can also perform four different types of modular inversion, making it suitable for use in many different ECC applications
A stable extrapolation method for multidimensional degenerate parabolic problems

Degenerate parabolic problems in several space variables are approximated by combining a preliminary regularization procedure with a finite element extrapolation method. The proposed extrapolation acts on the so-called phase variable and leads to a linear problem which is shown to be stable. The ensuing linear algebraic system involves the same matrix for all time steps. Energy error estimates are also derived for the physical unknowns. An 0(h1/2) rate of convergence is proved, provided the approximation parameters are suitably related. In case the linear systems are solved by an iterative algorithm, such as the conjugate gradient method, an 0(h3/2) tolerance for the error reduction is shown to preserve the overall accuracy; the required computational effort is thus nearly optimal.
Alcohol dehydrogenase polymorphisms and predisposition to alcoholic cirrhosis

3. Doty JE, Pitt HA, Porter-Fink V, Denbesten L. Cholecystokinin prophylaxis of parented nutrition-induced gallbladder disease. Ann Surg 1985;201:76-81. 4. Sitzmann JV, Pitt HA, Steinborn PA, Pasha ZR, Sanders RC. Cholecystokinin prevents parenteral nutrition induced biliary sludge in humans. Surg Gynecol Obstet 1990;170:25-31. 5. Nealon WH, Upp JR, Alexander RW, Gomez G, Townsend CR, Thompson JC. Intravenous amino acids stimulate human gallbladder emptying and hormone release. Am J Physiol 1990;259:
Retinal neuromodulation: The role of dopamine

Abstract Dopamine exerts multiple effects on retinal horizontal cells. Dopamine, via cyclic AMP and protein kinase A, reduces the light responsiveness of horizontal cells and the electrical coupling between the cells. The gating kinetics of both gap-junctional and glutamate channels are altered as a result of phosphorylation by protein kinase A. Dopamine also causes a reversible retraction of neurites of horizontal cells maintained in culture. Diacylglycerol analogues as well as phorbol esters mimic this effect of dopamine, but not cyclic AMP analogues or Forskolin. The results suggest that dopamine causes neurite retraction by the activation of protein kinase C via diacylglycerol.
Probiotic Fermented Food Mixtures: Possible Applications in Clinical Anti-Diarrhoea Usage

A probiotic fermented PCMT food mixture was developed by fermentation of an autoclaved and cooled slurry of pearl millet flour, chickpea flour, skim milk powder and fresh tomato pulp (PCMT 2:1:1:1, w/w) with Lactobacillus acidophilus (105 cells/ml), a probiotic organism at 37°C for 24 h. Such a fermented mixture inhibited the growth of pathogenic organisms, namely Shigella dysenteriae, Salmonella typhosa and E. coli. A significant decline in pH with a corresponding increase in titratable acidity due to probiotic fermentation occurred in the developed food mixture. Feeding of the freshly developed fermented. mixture to mice suffering from E. coli induced diarrhoea, could help to arrest diarrhoea, reduce moisture, protein and ash contents in their faeces. The counts of lactobacilli increased whereas those of E. coli decreased remarkably in the faeces of mice from the 3rd day of the feeding trial till the end of experimental period. The beneficial effect of probiotic feeding may be due to antimicrobial substances produced by L. acidophilus, which might have neutralized the enterotoxins from E. coli. The cost of one 200 ml glass full of this probiotic drink is no more than one rupee.
Standard Audiograms for the IEC 60118-15 Measurement Procedure

For the characterization of hearing aids, a new test method has been defined in the new International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standard 60118-15. For this characterization, the hearing aid will be set to actual user settings as programmed by standard fitting software from the hearing aid manufacturer. To limit the variation of programming outcomes, 10 standard audiograms, which cover the entire range of audiograms met in clinical practice, have been defined. This article describes how the set of standard audiograms has been developed. This set of standard audiogram has been derived by a vector quantization analysis method on a database of 28,244 audiograms. Using this analysis method, sets of typical audiograms have been obtained of sizes 12 and 60. It turned out that the smaller set could not be used for selecting audiograms as sloping audiograms were absent. Therefore, the larger set has been analyzed to provide seven standard audiograms for flat and moderately sloping hearing loss and three standard audiograms for steep hearing loss.
Comparisons between swing phase characteristics of race walkers and distance runners

The aim of this study was to analyze swing characteristics during race walking and to compare these with distance running. The rules of race walking demand that no visible flight time should occur and the stance leg must be straightened from initial contact to midstance. Previous research has not examined whether these rules also have an effect on swing and what consequences might arise. Ten male race walkers and ten male distance runners walked or ran respectively on an instrumented treadmill for 10 km with two in-dwelling force plates. Trials lasted 30 seconds and simultaneous 2D video data were recorded and digitized at 125 Hz. The moment of inertia of the thigh, shank, foot and whole lower limb was calculated using the parallel axis theorem. The distance runners were faster with longer strides, although cadence was not different. The race walkers had shorter swing times, longer contact times, and smaller maximum knee flexion angles (100° ± 6) than the distance runners (56° ± 6). The smaller knee flexion angles in race walkers meant they experienced greater swing leg moment of inertia than the distance runners but there were few associations in either group between knee flexion angle or moment of inertia with key performance parameters. Swing phase kinematics in race walking are restricted by the rules of the event and result in knee angular motions different from those in distance running, preventing race walkers from reaching the speeds attainable by distance runners.
Using Current Evidence in Selecting Antiepileptic Drugs for Use during Pregnancy

Children born to mothers taking antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are at increased risk for findings of fetal anticonvulsant syndrome. Accepted treatment paradigms to minimize fetal risks include use of AED monotherapy and folic acid supplementation. However, as data are acquired from several ongoing pregnancy registries, differential risks among the various AED monotherapy regimens are being defined, further improving fetal outcomes.
Time‐dependent effects on survival in breast carcinoma

Tumor size, lymph node status, and histologic grade are reported to be important predictors of survival in the first 5 years after the diagnosis of invasive breast carcinoma. However, to the authors' knowledge, the effect of these factors in the longer term (> 10 years after diagnosis) is not yet clear.
Fatal aplastic anaemia associated with mianserin.

At the very least St George's raises interesting questions in the spheres of morality, behaviour, medical education, and manpower. It has adopted a philosophy at variance with our own. That does not make it wrong, nor does it make it right. But I do believe that it should pose its questions properly and to the right quarters so that consideration can be given to them. It might have done this earlier, but it is still not too late to do it now.
Backstepping Designs for Aircraft Control - What is there to Gain?

Aircraft flight control design is traditionally based on linear control theory, due to the existing wealth of tools for linear design and analysis. However, in order to achieve tactical advantages, modern fighter aircraft strive towards performing maneuvers outside the region where the dynamics of flight are linear, and the need for nonlinear tools arises. In this paper, backstepping is proposed as a possible framework for nonlinear flight control design. Its capabilities of handling five major issues - stability, performance, robustness, saturation, and disturbance attenuation - are investigated.
Levothyroxine liquid solution versus tablet for replacement treatment in hypothyroid patients.

BACKGROUND Although replacement treatment with L-thyroxine (LT4) seems easy to manage, about one-third of hypothyroid patients show thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) values outside the normal range. OBJECTIVES To explore whether LT4 liquid formulation (monodose vials or drops) affects TSH stability values and to assess its ability to maintain TSH within the normal range compared to tablets. METHODS A total of 100 hypothyroid patients on replacement treatment with LT4 liquid solution were enrolled (Liquid Group) at a follow-up visit (revisit). The inclusion criteria were 1) treatment for surgical hypothyroidism for at least 2 years or autoimmune hypothyroidism for at least 5 years, 2) normal TSH at the previous visit 12 months before enrollment (baseline visit), and 3) maintenance of the same LT4 dosage during the time interval between the baseline and the follow-up visit. Using the same selection process, we also enrolled 100 hypothyroid patients on replacement treatment with LT4 tablets (Tablet Group). RESULTS At the follow-up visit, 19 patients of the Tablet Group and 8 patients of the Liquid Group had abnormal TSH values (P = .023). Weekly and daily LT4 dosage per kilogram were higher in Tablet Group (P = .016 and .006, respectively). The magnitude of TSH change from baseline to follow-up visit was greater in the Tablet Group (P<.001). CONCLUSION The use of LT4 liquid formulation compared to tablet resulted in a significantly higher number of hypothyroid patients who maintained the euthyroid state in a 12-month follow-up period and a reduced variability in TSH values.
Operon flv4-flv2 Provides Cyanobacterial Photosystem II with Flexibility of Electron Transfer[C][W]

This work shows that the flv4-flv2 operon provides many β-cyanobacteria with a so far unknown photoprotection mechanism that evolved in parallel with oxygen-evolving photosystem II Synechocystis sp PCC 6803 has four genes encoding flavodiiron proteins (FDPs; Flv1 to Flv4). Here, we investigated the flv4-flv2 operon encoding the Flv4, Sll0218, and Flv2 proteins, which are strongly expressed under low inorganic carbon conditions (i.e., air level of CO2) but become repressed at elevated CO2 conditions. Different from FDP homodimers in anaerobic microbes, Synechocystis Flv2 and Flv4 form a heterodimer. It is located in cytoplasm but also has a high affinity to membrane in the presence of cations. Sll0218, on the contrary, resides in the thylakoid membrane in association with a high molecular mass protein complex. Sll0218 operates partially independently of Flv2/Flv4. It stabilizes the photosystem II (PSII) dimers, and according to biophysical measurements opens up a novel electron transfer pathway to the Flv2/Flv4 heterodimer from PSII. Constructed homology models suggest efficient electron transfer in heterodimeric Flv2/Flv4. It is suggested that Flv2/Flv4 binds to thylakoids in light, mediates electron transfer from PSII, and concomitantly regulates the association of phycobilisomes with PSII. The function of the flv4-flv2 operon provides many β-cyanobacteria with a so far unknown photoprotection mechanism that evolved in parallel with oxygen-evolving PSII.