Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
High normal blood pressure in early pregnancy also contribute to early onset preeclampsia and severe preeclampsia

ABSTRACT Objective: This study was to evaluate effects of high normal blood pressure (HNBP) in early pregnancy on total preeclampsia, early preeclampsia, and severe preeclampsia. Methods: We conducted a multicenter, national representative retrospective cohort study. HNBP was defined as systolic blood pressure between 130 and 140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure between 85 and 90 mmHg. We used multivariable logistic regression to examine the associations of HNBP and the risks of above three types of preeclampsia. Results: We included 58 054 women who were normotensive and nulliparous in early pregnancy. 4 809 (8.3%) fulfilled the definition of having HNBP, 16 682 (28.7%) were in normal blood pressure group, and 36 563 (63.0%) were in optimal blood pressure group. The incidence rates of total preeclampsia, early preeclampsia, and severe preeclampsia were 2.1% (1 217), 0.8% (491), and 1.4% (814), respectively. Compared to having optimal blood pressure, women with HNBP had significantly higher odds of total preeclampsia (odds ratio (OR) = 4.028, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.377, 4.804), severe preeclampsia (OR = 3.542, 95% CI 2.851, 4.400), and early preeclampsia (OR = 8.163, 95% CI 6.219, 10.715). Our restricted cubic spline results supported the dose–response relationship between continuous blood pressure and the odds ratio of three types of preeclampsia. The fraction of early preeclampsia associated with prehypertension was 58.6%, which was higher than those of total preeclampsia (42.2%) or severe preeclampsia (40.5%). Conclusion: Women in early pregnancy with HNBP more likely develop total preeclampsia, early preeclampsia and severe preeclampsia, compared to those with optimal blood pressure. HNBP contribute more to early preeclampsia than severe preeclampsia. Our study provided robust epidemiological evidences for monitoring HNBP in early pregnancy to reduce the risks of preeclampsia.
The use of botulinum toxin‐A in the management of neck and anterior chest wall flushing: pilot study

Idiopathic neck and chest wall flushing could cause disabling effects on patients' quality of life. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of botulinum toxin‐A (BTA) in the management of idiopathic neck and chest wall flushing. This was a pilot prospective clinical study of patients with severe idiopathic neck and anterior chest wall flushing. Two mouse units of BTA were injected intracutaneously with a maximum dose of 100 units per patient per session. The dermatology life quality index is used as the primary outcome measure. Twenty‐two patients were included in the study (18 women, four men) with an average age of 26 years (range 18–48). Twenty patients (90.9%) had immediate improvement with almost complete resolution of their flushing. At four weeks follow‐up, 18 of 22 patients were included in the final analysis, significant improvement in quality of life was achieved, and mean baseline dermatology life quality index score 7.78 (SD 3.25) improved significantly to 4.23 (SD 3.44) with a mean difference of 3.56 (SD 4.6; 95%, confidence interval 1.27, 5.84) with paired samples t‐test 3.29 (d.f. 17) P < 0.004. BTA may provide an effective treatment in the management of idiopathic neck and chest wall flushing.
Recovery: an international perspective

Summary Aims – To review developments in recovery-focussed mental health services internationally. Methods – Two forms of ‘recovery’ which have been used in the literature are considered, and international examples of recovery-focussed initiatives reviews. A ‘litmus test’ for a recovery-focussed service is proposed. Results – ‘Clinical recovery’ has emerged from professional literature, focuses on sustained remission and restoration of functioning, is invariant across individuals, and has been used to establish rates of recovery. ‘Personal recovery’ has emerged from consumer narratives, focuses on living a satisfying, hopeful and contributing life even with limitations caused by the illness, varies across individuals, and the empirical evidence base relates to stages of change more than overall prevalence rates. Clinical and personal recovery are different. Two innovative, generalisable and empirically investigated examples are given of implementing a focus on personal recovery: the Collaborative Recovery Model in Australia, and Trialogues in German-speaking Europe. The role of medication is an indicator: services in which all service users are prescribed medication, in which the term ‘compliance’ is used, in which the reasoning bias is present of attributing improvement to medication and deterioration to the person, and in which contact with and discussion about the service user revolves around medication issues, are not personal recovery-focussed services. Conclusions – The term ‘Recovery’ has been used in different ways, so conceptual clarity is important. Developing a focus on personal recovery is more than a cosmetic change – it will entail fundamental shifts in the values of mental health services. Declaration of Interest: None.
Discussion of Jon Faust and Dale W. Henderson, "Is Inflation Targeting Best-Practice Monetary Policy?" 1

Macaulay – not Frederick Macaulay, who did economic research on interest rates, but the great historian of the British empire, Thomas Babington Macaulay – wrote that the benefactors of mankind are customarily attacked by " the dunces of their own generation " for going too far, as well as by " the dunces of a future generation " for not going far enough. 2 The consensus on display at today's conference, and perhaps more broadly in the economics profession as well, is that inflation targeting where it is already in practice is, and wherever it is adopted in the future will be, a great benefactor of, if not mankind, then at least monetary policy. Compared to that apparent consensus, and to today's paper by Jon Faust and Dale Henderson, my view is that of Macaulay's dunces both of the present and of the future: I will argue that Inflation targeting goes too far – or, what in this context amounts to the same thing, takes us in a direction we should not want to go. And I will also argue that while Faust and Henderson's paper contains many valid and important criticisms of inflation targeting, they do not go nearly far enough in following the
Interaction of the brain‐specific protein p42IP4/centaurin‐α1 with the peptidase nardilysin is regulated by the cognate ligands of p42IP4, PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 and Ins(1,3,4,5)P4, with stereospecificity

The brain‐specific protein p42IP4, also called centaurin‐α1, specifically binds phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5‐trisphosphate [PtdIns(3,4,5)P3] and inositol 1,3,4,5‐tetrakisphosphate [Ins(1,3,4,5)P4]. Here, we investigate the interaction of p42IP4/centaurin‐α1 with nardilysin (NRDc), a member of the M16 family of zinc metalloendopeptidases. Members of this peptidase family exhibit enzymatic activity and also act as receptors for other proteins. We found that p42IP4/centaurin‐α1 binds specifically to NRDc from rat brain. We further detected that centaurin‐α2, a protein that is highly homologuous to p42IP4/centaurin‐α1 and expressed ubiquitously, also binds to NRDc. In vivo interaction was demonstrated by co‐immunoprecipitation of p42IP4/centaurin‐α1 with NRDc from rat brain. The acidic domain of NRDc (NRDc‐AD), which does not participate in catalysis, is sufficient for the protein interaction with p42IP4. Interestingly, preincubation of p42IP4 with its cognate ligands d‐Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 and the lipid diC8PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 negatively modulates the interaction between the two proteins. d‐Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 and diC8PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 suppress the interaction with virtually identical concentration dependencies. This inhibition is highly ligand specific. The enantiomer l‐Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 is not effective. Similarly, the phosphoinositides diC8PtdIns(3,4)P2, diC8PtdIns(3,5)P2 and diC8PtdIns(4,5)P2 all have no influence on the interaction. Further experiments revealed that endogenous p42IP4 from rat brain binds to glutathione‐S‐transferase (GST)‐NRDc‐AD. The proteins dissociate from each other when incubated with d‐Ins(1,3,4,5)P4, but not with inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3]. In summary, we demonstrate that p42IP4 binds to NRDc via the NRDc‐AD, and that this interaction is controlled by the cognate cellular ligands of p42IP4/centaurin‐α1. Thus, specific ligands of p42IP4 can modulate the recruitment of proteins, which are docked to p42IP4, to specific cellular compartments.
In-run scale factor and drift calibration of MEMS gyroscopes with rejection of acceleration sensitivities

We report a ~50PPM precision in-run calibration platform for MEMS gyroscopes. In this work we demonstrate an integrated system capable of extracting instantaneous scale factor, drifts and cross axis sensitivities of the commercial ADXRS646 Z-axis gyroscope, with complete in-run rejection of acceleration sensitivities. The demonstrated method is applicable to any MEMS Coriolis force gyroscopes. The 50ppm calibration result is limited by the inherent limit of the gyroscope, with the calibration system being potentially able to extract even higher levels of accuracy.
Different Effects of Vertical Banded Gastroplasty and Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass on Meal Inhibition of Ghrelin Secretion in Morbidly Obese Patients

A decrease in ghrelin plasma levels in morbidly obese patients subjected to bariatric surgery has been considered to help increase body weight loss. Contradictory results have been described after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP), and no study to date has compared RYGBP and vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG), the two main operations performed in the United States. We investigated the effects of RYGBP (10 patients) and VBG (12 patients) on basal and postmeal ghrelin plasma levels in 22 morbidly obese patients (20 F and 2 M), mean age 42.1 ± 3.7 years, mean weight 115 ± 3.9 kg, mean body mass index (BMI) 43.5 ± 1.7. Before surgery and after a 20% reduction in BMI, ghrelin concentrations (pg/mL; radioimmunoassay [RIA], DRG Diagnostics, Germany) were measured in all patients 45 min before and for 3 h after a standard liquid meal (Osmolite RTH solution, 500 mL, 504 kcal). The results were expressed as mean ± SD. Differences between times and groups were evaluated by Student's t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). We found that basal ghrelin plasma levels were reduced after RYGBP (to 73.1 ± 6 pg/mL, p <. 05) but increased after VBG (to 172 ± 26 pg/mL, p <. 0009). After a standard liquid meal, ghrelin plasma levels decreased significantly over 1 h in VBG patients, whereas they remained unchanged in RYGBP patients. Since these results were obtained under the same metabolic and anthropometric conditions, we conclude that RYGBP acts through permanent inhibition of ghrelin secretion, whereas VBG merely restores the mechanisms of ghrelin regulation by nutrients.
A Calibration Technique for Pipelined ADCs Using Self-Measurement and Histogram-Based Test Methods

This brief presents a digital background calibration technique for pipelined analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) to correct the capacitor mismatch, finite dc gain, and nonlinearity of residue amplifiers. It estimates the calibration coefficients at start-up by a modified self-measurement method with low-precision stimulation signals in the multistage calibration. Then, during the ADC normal operation, a sliding histogram in the vicinity of the decision boundaries of stage comparators is utilized to adjust the calibration coefficients in order to follow the variation of errors. To do so, the ratio of information achieved from the initial and new histograms is used to update the calibration coefficients. Behavioral simulation results of a 12-bit pipelined ADC show that the proposed calibration technique improves the ADC linearity by more than 4 bits and it is robust against the variation of errors.
Extracorporeal Shockwave for Chronic Patellar Tendinopathy

Background Chronic patellar tendinopathy is an overuse syndrome with pathologic changes similar to tendinopathies of the shoulder, elbow, and heel. Extracorporeal shockwave was shown effective in many tendinopathies. Hypothesis Extracorporeal shockwave therapy may be more effective than conservative treatment for chronic patellar tendinopathy. Study Design Randomized controlled clinical trial; Level of evidence, 2. Methods This study consisted of 27 patients (30 knees) in the study group and 23 patients (24 knees) in the control group. In the study group, patients were treated with 1500 impulses of extracorporeal shockwave at 14 KV (equivalent to 0.18 mJ/mm 2 energy flux density) to the affected knee at a single session. Patients in the control group were treated with conservative treatments including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, physiotherapy, exercise program, and the use of a knee strap. The evaluation parameters included pain score, Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment score, and ultrasonographic examination at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months and then once a year. Results At the 2- to 3-year follow-up, the overall results for the study group were 43% excellent, 47% good, 10% fair, and none poor. For the control group, the results were none excellent, 50% good, 25% fair, and 25% poor. The mean Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment scores were 42.57 ± 10.22 and 39.25 ± 10.85, respectively, before treatment (P = .129) and 92.0 ± 10.17 and 41.04 ± 10.96, respectively, after treatment (P < .001). Satisfactory results were observed in 90% of the study group versus 50% of the control group (P < .001). Recurrence of symptoms occurred in 13% of the study group and 50% of the control group (P = .014). Ultrasonographic examination showed a significant increase in the vascularity of the patellar tendon and a trend of reduction in the patellar tendon thickness after shockwave treatment compared with conservative treatments. However, no significant difference in the appearance, arrangement, and homogeneity of tendon fibers was noted between the 2 groups. There were no systemic or local complications or device-related problems. Conclusion Extracorporeal shockwave therapy appeared to be more effective and safer than traditional conservative treatments in the management of patients with chronic patellar tendinopathy.
Cytoplasmic Loop Three of Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator Contributes to Regulation of Chloride Channel Activity*

To examine the contribution of the large cytoplasmic loops of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) to channel activity, the three point-mutations (S945L, H949Y, G970R) were characterized that have been detected in the third cytoplasmic loop (CL3, residues 933-990) in patients with cystic fibrosis. Chinese hamster ovary cell lines stably expressing wild-type CFTR or mutant G970R-CFTR yielded polypeptides with apparent masses of 170 kDa as the major products, whereas the major products of mutants S945L-CFTR and H949Y-CFTR had apparent masses of 150 kDa. The 150-kDa forms of CFTR were sensitive to endoglycosidase H digestion, indicating that these mutations interfered with maturation of the protein. Increased levels of mature CFTR (170 kDa) could be obtained for mutant H949Y when cells were grown at a lower temperature (26°C) or incubated in the presence of 10% glycerol. For all mutants, the open probability (P0) of the CFTR channels was significantly altered. S945L-CFTR and G970R-CFTR showed a severe reduction in the P0, whereas the H949Y mutation doubled the P0 relative to wild-type. The changes in P0 predominantly resulted from an alteration of the mean burst durations which suggests that CL3 is involved in obtaining and/or maintaining stability of the open state. In addition, mutants S945L and G970R had current-voltage relationships that were not completely linear over the range ±80 mV, but showed slight outward rectification. The fact that CL3 mutations can have subtle effects on channel conductance indicates that this region may be physically close to the inner mouth of the pore.
Model predictive direct torque control of neutral point clamped induction drive

This paper focuses on the modern approach for Model Predictive Direct Torque Control(MPDTC) concept using a neutral point clamped inverter fed induction drive. The proposed methodology is significant for the medium voltage drives. The proposed scheme is a noble technique which predicts the next possible voltage vector and the switching of the inverter from the predefined prediction horizon which is done by minimizing the cost function. The ultimate outcome of the method is reduction in the THD of the voltage, and significant improvement in the speed and torque characteristics as compared to the classical approach. The method can be further used for the controlling of various parameters together because of its multiple input multiple output system compatibility thereby compacting the drive structure.
2013 classification criteria for systemic sclerosis: an American college of rheumatology/European league against rheumatism collaborative initiative

Objective The 1980 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria for systemic sclerosis (SSc) lack sensitivity for early SSc and limited cutaneous SSc. The present work, by a joint committee of the ACR and the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR), was undertaken for the purpose of developing new classification criteria for SSc. Methods Using consensus methods, 23 candidate items were arranged in a multicriteria additive point system with a threshold to classify cases as SSc. The classification system was reduced by clustering items and simplifying weights. The system was tested by (1) determining specificity and sensitivity in SSc cases and controls with scleroderma-like disorders, and (2) validating against the combined view of a group of experts on a set of cases with or without SSc. Results It was determined that skin thickening of the fingers extending proximal to the metacarpophalangeal joints is sufficient for the patient to be classified as having SSc; if that is not present, seven additive items apply, with varying weights for each: skin thickening of the fingers, fingertip lesions, telangiectasia, abnormal nailfold capillaries, interstitial lung disease or pulmonary arterial hypertension, Raynaud's phenomenon, and SSc-related autoantibodies. Sensitivity and specificity in the validation sample were, respectively, 0.91 and 0.92 for the new classification criteria and 0.75 and 0.72 for the 1980 ACR classification criteria. All selected cases were classified in accordance with consensus-based expert opinion. All cases classified as SSc according to the 1980 ACR criteria were classified as SSc with the new criteria, and several additional cases were now considered to be SSc. Conclusions The ACR/EULAR classification criteria for SSc performed better than the 1980 ACR criteria for SSc and should allow for more patients to be classified correctly as having the disease.
Alternative Hand Contamination Technique To Compare the Activities of Antimicrobial and Nonantimicrobial Soaps under Different Test Conditions

ABSTRACT Antimicrobial hand soaps provide a greater bacterial reduction than nonantimicrobial soaps. However, the link between greater bacterial reduction and a reduction of disease has not been definitively demonstrated. Confounding factors, such as compliance, soap volume, and wash time, may all influence the outcomes of studies. The aim of this work was to examine the effects of wash time and soap volume on the relative activities and the subsequent transfer of bacteria to inanimate objects for antimicrobial and nonantimicrobial soaps. Increasing the wash time from 15 to 30 seconds increased reduction of Shigella flexneri from 2.90 to 3.33 log10 counts (P = 0.086) for the antimicrobial soap, while nonantimicrobial soap achieved reductions of 1.72 and 1.67 log10 counts (P > 0.6). Increasing soap volume increased bacterial reductions for both the antimicrobial and the nonantimicrobial soaps. When the soap volume was normalized based on weight (∼3 g), nonantimicrobial soap reduced Serratia marcescens by 1.08 log10 counts, compared to the 3.83-log10 reduction caused by the antimicrobial soap (P < 0.001). The transfer of Escherichia coli to plastic balls following a 15-second hand wash with antimicrobial soap resulted in a bacterial recovery of 2.49 log10 counts, compared to the 4.22-log10 (P < 0.001) bacterial recovery on balls handled by hands washed with nonantimicrobial soap. This indicates that nonantimicrobial soap was less active and that the effectiveness of antimicrobial soaps can be improved with longer wash time and greater soap volume. The transfer of bacteria to objects was significantly reduced due to greater reduction in bacteria following the use of antimicrobial soap.
Comparison of GnRh Agonist Microdose Flare Up and GnRh Antagonist/Letrozole in Treatment of Poor Responder Patients in Intra Cytoplaspic Sperm Injection: Randomized Clinical Trial

Backgrounds: the prevalence of infertility is up to 10 to 15 % which 9 to 24 % of them are Poor Ovarian Responders (POR). This study was designed to compare two methods of GnRH Agonist Microdose Flareup (MF) and GnRH Antagonist/Letrozole (AL) in treatment of these patients. Methods and Materials: this randomized clinical trial study consisted of 123 patients. In the first step of treatment in both methods FSH, LH, estradiol, anderostandion, testestron in third day of menstruation period and the thickness of endometrium by Transvaginal sonography were evaluated. At the time of HCG injection the thickness of endometrium and follicles which were more than 14mm ware established and hormones were evaluated. Two weeks later serum βhCG and after 6 to 8 weeks Transvaginal sonography were applied to prove the pregnancy. Results: there were 61 patients with mean age of 38.7±4.58 in MF group and 62 patients with mean age of 38.5±4.6 in AL group (P=0.80). At the time of hCG injection there were significant increase in the level of LH, estradiol, thickness of endometrium and follicles more than 14mm in MF patients (P<0.0001). The mean time of ovary stimulation in MF group was 10.72±1.5 and in AL was 8.45±1.2 (P<0.0001). The mean level of gonadotropin which were used was 80.6±20.1 in MF patients and 64.7±16.4 in AL group (P<0.0001). 18 % of MF group and 38.7% in AL group had no normal cycle of ovulation (OR: 2.87, 95% CI: 1.25-6.57, P=0.011). The mean numbers of oocyte and normal fetus in MF was 5.83±3.5 and 3.7±2.5 and in AL was 3±1.69 and 1.4±1.33 (P<0.0001). The number of chemical pregnancy in MF group was 10 (16.4%) and in AL was 3 (4.8%) (OR 3.85, 95% CI: 1.06-14.77, P=0.037). Clinical pregnancy in 10 patients (16.4%) of MF group and 3 (4.8%)in AL was reported. OR 3.85, 95% CI: 1.06-14.77, P=0.037). Conclusion: this study showed that MF method of pregnancy leads to more positive results in pregnancy based on chemical and clinical evaluation in comparison with AL and is advised for poor responder patients.