Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Management of blood component preparation

In transfusion medicine, the process of preparing or separating blood components from the whole blood is essential because the indication for the use of unfractionated whole blood almost does not exist nowadays. Since blood is uneasily-collected and easily-perished, a blood center or a hospital blood bank might as well aggressively manage the volume of each blood component, so as to decrease any waste. We assume that the process of blood component preparation can be underlaid by a so-called blood component tree, where each vertex representing a blood component with a certain value is derived from its parent vertex. Initially given a certain amount of the root blood component in a blood component tree (noticing that the amount of every other blood component is zero initially), the blood component preparation problem is concerned with finding the assignment of amount of each blood component such that the total value is maximized while satisfying the demand limit of every blood component. In this paper, we propose a linear time algorithm (in the size of vertices) for efficiently coping with the concerned problem, which also can be modeled as a linear program. Some theoretical analyses are included in this paper.
Technical Report 1134 Cooperative Interface Agents for Networked Command , Control , and Communications ( CIANC ^ ) : Phase I Final Report

NOTE: The findings in this Technical Report are not to be construed as an official Department of the Army position, unless so designated by other authorized documents. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing this collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden to Respondents should be aware that notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a currently valid OMB control number.
Food groups and risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and heart failure: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies

ABSTRACT Background: Despite growing evidence for food-based dietary patterns' potential to reduce cardiovascular disease risk, knowledge about the amounts of food associated with the greatest change in risk of specific cardiovascular outcomes and about the quality of meta-evidence is limited. Therefore, the aim of this meta-analysis was to synthesize the knowledge about the relation between intake of 12 major food groups (whole grains, refined grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes, eggs, dairy, fish, red meat, processed meat, and sugar-sweetened beverages [SSB]) and the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke and heart failure (HF). Methods: We conducted a systematic search in PubMed and Embase up to March 2017 for prospective studies. Summary risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were estimated using a random effects model for highest versus lowest intake categories, as well as for linear and non-linear relationships. Results: Overall, 123 reports were included in the meta-analyses. An inverse association was present for whole grains (RRCHD: 0.95 (95% CI: 0.92–0.98), RRHF: 0.96 (0.95–0.97)), vegetables and fruits (RRCHD: 0.97 (0.96–0.99), and 0.94 (0.90–0.97); RRstroke: 0.92 (0.86–0.98), and 0.90 (0.84–0.97)), nuts (RRCHD: 0.67 (0.43–1.05)), and fish consumption (RRCHD: 0.88 (0.79–0.99), RRstroke: 0.86 (0.75–0.99), and RRHF: 0.80 (0.67–0.95)), while a positive association was present for egg (RRHF: 1.16 (1.03–1.31)), red meat (RRCHD: 1.15 (1.08–1.23), RRstroke: 1.12 (1.06–1.17), RRHF: 1.08 (1.02–1.14)), processed meat (RRCHD: 1.27 (1.09–1.49), RRstroke: 1.17 (1.02–1.34), RRHF: 1.12 (1.05–1.19)), and SSB consumption (RRCHD: 1.17 (1.11–1.23), RRstroke: 1.07 (1.02–1.12), RRHF: 1.08 (1.05–1.12)) in the linear dose-response meta-analysis. There were clear indications for non-linear dose-response relationships between whole grains, fruits, nuts, dairy, and red meat and CHD. Conclusion: An optimal intake of whole grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes, dairy, fish, red and processed meat, eggs and SSB showed an important lower risk of CHD, stroke, and HF.
Serum testosterone may be associated with calcium oxalate urolithogenesis.

BACKGROUND The incidence of urolithiasis is twofold to threefold higher in men than in women. Several animal studies have suggested an association between testosterone levels and the formation of kidney stones. Specifically, castration has been shown to decrease stone formation in rat models. The association between testosterone and stone formation in humans, however, has not been well investigated. PATIENTS AND METHODS Early morning total and free testosterone levels were recorded for 55 male patients. Participants completed a demographics questionnaire, and clinical records of enrolled subjects were reviewed. When available, stone composition was determined in the stone formers. Mann-Whitney tests and logistic regression models were used to examine the data. RESULTS Of the 55 patients, 25 had no history of urolithiasis and 30 had a history of urolithiasis. Although the differences between the two groups were not statistically significant, the stone formers compared with stone-free controls tended to be older (median age 48.4 vs 36.5 years, P = 0.072) and have higher serum levels of testosterone (median serum concentration 384 vs 346 ng/dL, P = 0.112). In the multivariate analyses, after adjusting for age and body mass index, the testosterone-related odds ratio was 1.004 with a corresponding P value 0.051. CONCLUSIONS Male stone formers were found to have higher serum total testosterone levels compared with a similar cohort without stones. This result is consistent with several animal models that have demonstrated that testosterone is a risk factor for stone formation. Our findings warrant confirmation in a larger, prospective study. There are potential therapeutic implications if testosterone is found to be a risk factor in urolithogenesis.
Iron deficiency depresses cell proliferation in hamster cheek pouch epithelium

Abstract. Iron deficiency anaemia was induced in hamsters by feeding a low iron diet coupled with weekly bleeding. To assess cell proliferation, the stathmokinetic agent vinblastine sulphate was administered and cell birth rates were calculated from cumulative mitotic indices. The rate was significantly reduced in epithelium from iron‐deficient animals. The uptake of tritiated thymidine ([3H]TdR) was also significantly reduced in these animals. Results of both stathmokinetic and labelling experiments indicate that cell production in the cheek pouch epithelium of iron‐deficient animals is impaired.
Effect of Treatment with 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl Coenzyme A Reductase Inhibitors on Serum Coenzyme Q10 in Diabetic Patients

Summary Serum coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10: 2-(3,7,11,15,19,23,27,31,35,39-decamethyl-2,6,10,14,18,22,26, 30,34,38-tetracontadecaenyl)-5,6-dimethoxy-3-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone, CAS 303-98-0) and cholesterol levels were measured to assess the effect of cholesterol-lowering therapy in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Twenty healthy volunteers, 97 NIDDM patients and 2 patients with familial hypercholesterolemia were studied. None had overt heart failure or any other heart disease. Mean serum CoQ10 concentrations were significantly (p < 0.01) lower in diabetic patients with normal serum cholesterol concentrations, either with or without administration of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (HMG-CoA RIs) including simvastatin (normal: 0.91 ± 0.26 (mean ± SD) 1−1; diabetic with HMG-CoA RI: 0.63 ± 0.19; diabetic without HMG-CoA RI: 0.66 ± 0.21). CoQ10 concentrations were higher (1.37 ± 0.48, p < 0.001) in diabetic patients with hypercholesterolemia. Simvastatin or low density lipoprotein apheresis decreased serum CoQ10 concentrations along with decreasing serum cholesterol. Oral CoQ10 supplementation in diabetic patients receiving HMG-CoA RI significantly (p < 0.001) increased serum CoQ10 from 0.81 ± 0.24 to 1.47 ± 0.44 l−1, without affecting cholesterol levels. It significantly (p < 0.03) decreased cardiothoracic ratios from 51.4 ± 5.1 to 49.2 ± 4.7%. In conclusion, serum CoQ10 levels in NIDDM patients are decreased and may be associated with subclinical diabetic cardiomyopathy reversible by CoQ10 supplementation.
Economics of influenza vaccine administration timing for children.

OBJECTIVES To determine how much should be invested each year to encourage and operationalize the administration of influenza vaccine to children before November and how late the vaccine should be offered each year. STUDY DESIGN Monte Carlo decision analytic computer simulation models. METHODS The children's influenza vaccination timing model quantified the incremental economic value of vaccinating a child earlier in the influenza season and the incremental cost of delaying vaccination. The children's monthly influenza vaccination decision model evaluated the cost-effectiveness of vaccinating versus not vaccinating for every month of the influenza season. RESULTS Getting children vaccinated by the end of October rather than when they are currently getting vaccinated could save society between $6.4 million and $9.2 million plus 653 and 926 quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) and third-party payers between $4.1 million and $6.1 million plus 647 to 942 QALYs each year. Decision makers may want to continue offering influenza vaccination to children at least through the end of December. Vaccinating with trivalent inactivated virus vaccine was more cost-effective than vaccinating with live attenuated influenza vaccine for every month. CONCLUSION Policymakers could invest up to $6 million to $9 million a year to get children vaccinated in September or October without expending any net costs.
Systematic review of the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions to improve quality of life of people with dementia

ABSTRACT Background: People with dementia report lower quality of life, but we know little about what interventions might improve it. Methods: We systematically reviewed 20 randomized controlled trials reporting the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions in improving quality of life or well-being of people with dementia meeting predetermined criteria. We rated study validity with a checklist. We contacted authors for additional data. We calculated standardized mean differences (SMD) and, for studies reporting similar interventions, pooled standardized effect sizes (SES). Results: Pooled analyses found that family carer coping strategy-based interventions (four studies, which did not individually achieve significance; n = 420; SES 0.24 (range 0.03–0.45)) and combined patient activity and family carer coping interventions (two studies, not individually significant; n = 191; SES 0.84 (range 0.54–1.14)) might improve quality of life. In one high-quality study, a care management system improved quality of life of people with dementia living at home. Group Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (GCST) improved quality of life of people with dementia in care homes. Conclusion: Preliminary evidence indicated that coping strategy-based family carer therapy with or without a patient activity intervention improved quality of life of people with dementia living at home. GCST was the only effective intervention in a higher quality trial for those in care homes, but we did not find such evidence in the community. Few studies explored whether effects continued after the intervention stopped. Future research should explore the longer-term impact of interventions on, and devise strategies to increase, life quality of people with dementia living in care homes or at home without a family carer.
Regulation of Actin Binding and Actin Bundling Activities of Fascin by Caldesmon Coupled with Tropomyosin*

Human fascin is an actin-bundling protein and is thought to play a role in the formation of microfilament bundles of microspikes and stress fibers in cultured cells. To explore the regulation of fascin-actin interaction, we have examined the effects of culture cell caldesmon and tropomyosin (TM) on actin binding activity of human fascin. Caldesmon alone or TM alone has little or no effect on the actin binding of fascin. However, caldesmon together with TM completely inhibits actin binding of human fascin. When calmodulin is added, the inhibition of fascin-actin interaction by caldesmon and TM becomes Ca2+ dependent because Ca2+/calmodulin blocks actin binding of caldesmon. Furthermore, as phosphorylation of caldesmon by cdc2 kinase inhibits actin binding of caldesmon, phosphorylation can also control actin binding of fascin in the presence of TM. As expected by the inhibition of fascin-actin binding, caldesmon coupled with TM also inhibits actin bundling activity of fascin. Whereas smooth muscle caldesmon alone or TM alone shows no effect, caldesmon together with TM completely inhibits actin bundling activity of fascin. This inhibition is again Ca2+ dependent when calmodulin is added to the system. These results suggest important roles for caldesmon and TM in the regulation of the function of human fascin.
Early intervention after perinatal stroke: opportunities and challenges

Perinatal stroke is the most common cause of hemiplegic cerebral palsy. No standardized early intervention exists despite evidence for a critical time window for activity‐dependent plasticity to mould corticospinal tract development in the first few years of life. Intervention during this unique period of plasticity could mitigate the consequences of perinatal stroke to an extent not possible with later intervention, by preserving the normal pattern of development of descending motor pathways. This article outlines the broad range of approaches currently under investigation. Despite significant progress in this area, improved early detection and outcome prediction remain important goals.
Helicobacter acinonyx sp. nov., isolated from cheetahs with gastritis.

Four strains of a novel Helicobacter species were isolated from the stomachs of cheetahs (Acinonyx jubilatus) with gastritis. These isolates were phenotypically similar to Helicobacter pylori. The isolates were gram-negative, spiral bacteria which grew under microaerophilic conditions at 37 degrees C, but not at 25 or 42 degrees C, and produced urease, catalase, oxidase, alkaline phosphatase, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase. The isolates did not ferment glucose, mannitol, inositol, sorbitol, rhamnose, sucrose, melibiose, amygdalin, or arabinose; hydrolyze hippurate or indoxyl acetate; or reduce nitrate. They did not produce H2S from triple sugar iron agar, and they did not grow in the presence of 1.0% glycine or 1.5% NaCl. They were resistant to nalidixic acid and sensitive to cephalothin and metronidazole. Cells were typically 0.3 by 2.0 microns and possessed tufts of two to five sheathed, monopolar flagella. The G+C content of strain 90-119 was 30 mol%. Cluster analysis of densitometry scans of polyacrylamide protein gels revealed more than 70% similarity of the cheetah isolates to H. pylori, less than 60% similarity to Helicobacter felis, and less than 50% similarity to Helicobacter mustelae. Complete 16S rRNA sequences were determined for two of the cheetah isolates. Phylogenetic analysis was performed by comparing the cheetah sequences to those of 19 reference strains, including H. pylori, H. felis (two strains), H. mustelae, Helicobacter muridarum, "Flexispira rappini," Wolinella succinogenes, Campylobacter coli, Campylobacter concisus, Campylobacter curvus, Campylobacter fetus, Campylobacter hyointestinalis, Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter lari, Campylobacter rectus, Campylobacter sputorum subsp. bubulus, a Campylobacter sp. (pig isolate), [Bacteroides] gracilis, and [Bacteroides] ureolyticus. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Human salivary protein extraction from RNAPro·SAL™, Pure·SAL™, and passive drooling method

ABSTRACT Objective: The aim of the current study was to carry out a preliminary validation of devices for standardized collection of whole mouth fluid (WMF) in comparison to the passive drooling method for protein analysis in healthy subjects.Materials and Methods: A carefully designed sample collection/pretreatment protocol is crucial to the success of any saliva proteomics project. In this study, WMF was collected from healthy volunteers (n = 10, ages: 18–26 years). Individuals with any oral disease were excluded from the study group. In our study, we evaluated the following collection methods; the classical passive drooling method (unstimulated whole saliva) and standardized tools for saliva collection (Pure·SAL™, and RNAPro·SAL™) from Oasis Diagnostics® Corporation (Vancouver WA, USA). For estimation of protein levels, we used the bicinchoninic acid assay and protein assay kit (Thermo Fisher). The two-dimensional gel electrophoresis sample analysis was carried out for the estimation of proteins in one of the samples.Results: When gels were compared, the difference was seen in the resolution of spots. Protein spots were fading from high- to low-molecular weight masses. Hence, advanced devices in comparison to spitting method resulted in much clearer protein spots which in turn prove the validation of devices.Conclusions: In this study, we concluded that protein extraction could be possible by both methods such as passive drooling method and through advanced saliva collection devices (Pure·SAL™ and RNAPro·SAL™).
Three-dimensional nanoscale characterisation of materials by atom probe tomography

The development of three-dimensional (3-D), characterisation techniques with high spatial and mass resolution is crucial for understanding and developing advanced materials for many engineering applications as well as for understanding natural materials. In recent decades, atom probe tomography (APT), which combines a point projection microscope and time-of-flight mass spectrometer, has evolved to be an excellent characterisation technique capable of providing 3-D nanoscale characterisation of materials with sub-nanometer scale spatial resolution, with equal sensitivity for all elements. This review discusses the current state, as of APT instrumentation, new developments in sample preparation methods, experimental procedures for different material classes, reconstruction of APT results, the current status of correlative microscopy, and application of APT for microstructural characterisation in established scientific areas like structural materials as well as new applications in semiconducting nanowires, semiconductor devices, battery materials, catalyst materials, geological materials, and biological materials. Finally, a brief perspective is given regarding the future of APT.
Fabric Defect Detection Using Fuzzy Inductive Reasoning Based on Image Histogram Statistic Variables

This paper deals with the fuzzy inductive reasoning (FIR) for fabric defect detection. Based on linear and regular texture of the fabric, we first extract histogram statistic variables as the distinguishing features between faultless and faulty fabric images. By applying FIR to the histogram statistic variables and subtracting the class values of the real statistic variables and the predicted class values using the qualitative model, cumulative errors are computed, which are used to determine if a defect has been detected. Simulation experiments show that the proposed method can achieve a robust and accurate detection of fabric defects.
Genome reprogramming during the first cell cycle in in vitro produced porcine embryos

Conflicting data still exist regarding the extent of paternal pronuclear DNA demethylation in one cell-stage mammalian embryos. Demethylation of paternal pronuclear DNA was observed in in vivo produced porcine zygotes, whereas in vitro produced embryos do not show any or only weak paternal genome demethylation. In our experiments, we have used and compared two in vitro techniques commonly used for in vitro embryo production ( in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection) and then we evaluated the extent of labelling in both these groups after 5-methylcytosine (5-MeC) or dimethyl H3/K9 labelling. We have found no differences in the methylation pattern between both those techniques used for the production of embryos. Moreover, we did not detect any demethylation of paternal DNA after 5-MeC labelling at all. Contrary to this, labelling with dimethyl H3/K9 antibodies showed differences in labelling intensity between maternal and paternal genomes in 42% of zygotes after in vitro fertilization and in 44% of zygotes after intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Our results indicate that in vitro matured pig oocytes exhibit rather inconsistent methylation patterns. This inconsistency probably resulted from insufficient cytoplasmic maturation of oocytes and to a lesser extent from the in vitro technique for embryo production.
TACTILE CONTROL OF ISOMETRIC FINGERTIP FORCES DURING GRASPING IN CHILDREN WITH CEREBRAL PALSY

Sensory mechanisms and sensorimotor integration have often been thought to be disturbed in children with cerebral palsy (CP). The authors investigated the influence of tactile information from the fingertips on the isometric force regulation during the lift of a small object with the precision grip in children with CP and controls. Children with CP were able to modify their grip force according to friction between the fingertips and the object and could use tactile information for anticipatory control of the force‐scaling of the precision grip, but they seemed to need predictable conditions and successive lifts to build up memory representation of an object's friction.
Stiff Person Syndrome and Pregnancy

BACKGROUND: Stiff person syndrome, also known as Moersche-Woltman syndrome, is a debilitating disorder that is rarely seen in the pregnant patient. It is characterized by muscle spasms triggered by startle, voluntary movement, or tactile or emotional stimuli, occurring predominantly in the axial musculature. CASE: A woman diagnosed with stiff person syndrome became pregnant 2 months after her diagnosis. Her medication regimen was adjusted because of pregnancy, and anesthesia was initiated early in labor to control her pain. She was able to have a full-term pregnancy with few complications. CONCLUSION: Stiff person syndrome may be successfully managed in pregnancy. Patients can deliver vaginally with adequate pain control to avoid muscle spasms.
Late Breaking Science Abstracts

The Late Breaking Science abstracts were originally presented at the 57th American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting in San Francisco, CA. These abstracts highlight the most current research by neurologists, neuroscientists, and other applicable researchers whose work is of major scientific importance or interest, warranting expedited presentation and publication. Key aspects of the research must have been conducted after the December 1 abstract deadline. Because of the late deadline for these abstracts, they were not included in the Program Issue.
Performance of Orthogonal Uplink Multiple Access for Beyond 3G/4G Systems

The uplink access in the current 3G systems optimized primarily for voice applications is based on CDMA technology. The uplink transmissions in CDMA are non-orthogonal due to different propagation delays for signals received from different mobile station in the cell. Therefore, the users experience large amount of intra-cell interference in addition to the inter-cell interference. This limits the achievable data rates and capacity in a CDMA uplink In this paper, we explore potential capacity and performance benefits due to orthogonal multiple access schemes such as TDMA OFDMA and IFDMA for future beyond 3G/4G wireless systems. An orthogonal approach eliminates intra-cell interference and allows users to transmit at very high data rates without tight requirement on power control resulting in overall higher spectral efficiency.