Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Epilepsy surgery outcome

The effect of extratemporal and temporal lobe cortical resection on children with intractable epilepsy is not well understood. We evaluated a comprehensive array of outcome variables in 33 consecutive children who received epilepsy surgery at 12 years of age or younger. Twenty-two (67%) children were seizure-free, three (9%) had a greater than 90% reduction in seizures, and four had no improvement. Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) were not required in 10 (30%) children and were reduced in number in another 10. Six (29%) of 21 tested children had an improvement of greater than 10 points in Verbal or Performance IQ after surgery, while one (4%) had a decrease greater than 10 points in Verbal IQ. One mild hemiparesis and one inferior quadrantanopsia occurred; both were anticipated. We used the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ), a valid and reliable instrument for children, to assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Six of 12 subscale scores of the CHQ were significantly lower in the surgical group compared with 410 age-matched control subjects. Parents were satisfied with surgical results in 28 (85%) cases. Pathologic tissue diagnosis and site of resection were not associated significantly with any outcome measure. We conclude that surgery eliminates seizures and reduces AED requirements in most children with intractable epilepsy selected by currently available methods. Further investigation is needed to establish the nature and significance of inferior scores in the surgical group in the HRQOL domains of physical function, general health, and self-esteem.
Preschool children's views on emotion regulation: Functional associations and implications for social-emotional adjustment

Previous studies show that preschool children view negative emotions as susceptible to intentional control. However, the extent of this understanding and links with child social-emotional adjustment are poorly understood. To examine this, 62 3- and 4-year-olds were presented with puppet scenarios in which characters experienced anger, sadness, and fear. Forty-seven adults were presented with a parallel questionnaire. Participants rated the degree to which six emotion-regulation strategies were effective in decreasing negative emotions. Results showed that even the youngest preschoolers viewed cognitive and behavioral distraction and repairing the situation as relatively effective; compared to adults, however, preschoolers favored relatively “ineffective” strategies such as venting and rumination. Children also showed a functional view of emotion regulation; that effective strategies depend on the emotion being regulated. All participants favored repairing a negative situation to reduce anger and behavioral distraction to reduce sadness and fear. Finally, the more children indicated that venting would reduce negative emotions, the lower their maternal report of social skills. Findings are discussed in terms of functional emotion theory and implications of emotion-regulation understanding for child adjustment.
Adenocarcinoma of the Endometrium in Women 40 Years of Age or Younger

Excluding cases associated with oral sequential contraceptives, adenocarcinoma of the endometrium in young women is rare, constituting about 3% of endometrial carcinomas. The present report, based on findings from one institution, notes that women 40 years of age or younger comprised 14.4% of the 111 patients with adenocarcinoma of the endometrium. Factors analyzed in patients 40 years of age or younger (group A) as compared with those 41 years of age or older (group B) include the following: obesity 43.8% (A) versus 17.9% (B), nulliparity 44% (A) versus 10.5% (B), hypertension 31.2% (A) versus 42.1% (B), and diabetes 6.2% (A) versus 21.1% (B). Patients in group A tended to have a well-differentiated tumor, and 31.2% had polycystic ovaries. Awareness of risk factors in young women who develop endometrial adenocarcinoma leads to earlier diagnosis and will preserve the historically excellent survival rate of young women.
A wideband receiver front-end using active/passive N-path mixers

A receiver front-end using active/passive N-path mixers techniques is presented in this paper. By applying some techniques to the former similar structure, NF is improved significantly and stability is guaranteed. NF and S11 in all over 2GHz frequency spectrum are less than 4dB and -10dB, respectively. The power consumption without considering ideal clock generator and combiner is 11.8mW and out of band IIP3 reaches to +15.9dBm.
Distinguishing Hypertension From Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy as a Cause of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy

In most hypertensive patients, left ventricular (LV) wall thickness is normal or only mildly increased (≤13 mm). A minority of patients may have more substantial hypertrophy (up to 16 mm) and fall into a “gray zone” in which electrocardiographic and echocardiographic features are indistinguishable from those of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Clinical evaluation after appropriate antihypertensive treatment may help define the correct diagnosis. A 51-year-old man was referred to our center after an incidental finding of high blood pressure (220/120 mm Hg). At first clinical presentation, the patient was asymptomatic and took no drugs. Physical examination showed a loud second heart sound and no murmurs.
Critical moments in preschool obesity: The call for nurses and communities to assess and intervene

Abstract Thirty years ago obesity was rarely seen in children but is now described as a world wide pandemic. Previous research has focused on school age children; however, researchers have now identified critical moments of development during uterine life and early infancy where negative factors or insults could cause permanent changes in the structure and function of tissues and lead to epigenetic changes. Obesity in preschool children can cause premature and long term chronic health problems; has been associated with academic and social difficulties in kindergarten children; difficulty with social relationships; increased feelings of sadness, loneliness and anxiety; and negative self image in children as young as 5 years of age. The importance of identifying children under the age of five with obesity and associated risks is important yet less than half of health professionals intervene in cases of preschool obesity. This paper explores the concerns around antenatal and preschool obesity and the challenges for nurses and midwives in assessing and providing appropriate interventions for children and families in community settings.
Sex Bias in Classifying Borderline and Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Abstract This study investigated sex bias in the classification of borderline and narcissistic personality disorders. A sample of psychologists in training for a post-master degree (N = 180) read brief case histories (male or female version) and made DSM classification. To differentiate sex bias due to sex stereotyping or to base rate variation, we used different case histories, respectively: (1) non-ambiguous case histories with enough criteria of either borderline or narcissistic personality disorder to meet the threshold for classification, and (2) an ambiguous case with subthreshold features of both borderline and narcissistic personality disorder. Results showed significant differences due to sex of the patient in the ambiguous condition. Thus, when the diagnosis is not straightforward, as in the case of mixed subthreshold features, sex bias is present and is influenced by base-rate variation. These findings emphasize the need for caution in classifying personality disorders, especially borderline or narcissistic traits.
Esophageal breathing and upper airway obstruction with the ProSeal laryngeal mask.

s: 146. 4. Dijkstra JB, Houx PJ, Jolles J. Cognition after major surgery in the elderly: test performance and complaints. Br J Anaesth 1999;82:867–74. 5. Moller JT, Cluitmans P, Rasmussen LS, et al. Long-term postoperative cognitive dysfunction in the elderly ISPOCD1 study. Lancet 1998;351:857–61.
Long-term spontaneous tumor incidence in neonatally thymectomized mice.

A number of workers have reported increased susceptibility of neonatally thymectomized mice to virally induced tumors (1–3). In this case, however, the response of the animal to the virus itself may be a critical factor, so that the effect of immunosuppression might be to reduce resistance to viral infection rather than to virally induced cell surface alteration. The effect of neonatal thymectomy on other forms of carcinogenesis is not at all clear. Trainin et al. (4) have reported a decreased latent period and an increased number of tumor nodules after urethane treatment of mice that had been subjected to thymectomy on the 3rd day of life. Miller and coworkers (5) reported a decreased latent period for tumor induction when early thymectomy was combined with exposure to chemical carcinogens. On the other hand, using a system similar to Miller's, Law (6) observed no effect of neonatal thymectomy on either tumor incidence or latency.
[Effects of Pvu II polymorphism in low density lipoprotein receptor gene on changes of serum lipid ratios induced by high-carbohydrate/low-fat diet in healthy youth].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of low density lipoprotein receptor gene (LDLR) Pvu II polymorphism on serum lipid ratios and their responses to high-carbohydrate/low-fat (HC/LF) diet in healthy youth. METHODS After a regular diet for 7 days of wash-out, 56 health youth ((22.89 +/- 1.80) years old)] were given LF/HC diet for 6 days. The regular diet contained 54% carbohydrate, 15% protein, and 31% fat of the total energy. The LF/HC diet contained 70% carbohydrate, 15% proteine and 15% fat of the total energy. The serum lipids were measured on the 1st, the 8th and the 14th days. The ratios of TG/HDL-C, log (TG/HDL-C), TC/HDL-C, and LDL-C/HDL-C were calculated. The polymorphism of LDLR was detected by PCR-RFLP method and its relationship with serum lipid ratios was analyzed. RESULTS No significant difference was found of the lipid ratios at baseline in subjects with different genotypes in both genders. Before or after HC/LF diet, no significant difference was found of the lipid ratios between the subjects with different genotypes in the whole study population or in males and females separately. Compared with those of before HC/LF diet, all the subjects experienced significant decrease of TC/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C (P < 0.05). When gender was taken into account, significant increases of TG/HDL-C and log(TG/HDL-C) were found only in females (P < 0.05). All the subjects experienced significant decrease of TC/HDL-C regardless of gender and genotype (P < 0.05). As for LDL-C/HDL-C, significant decrease was found only in males with P1P1 and female subjects (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Polymorphism of LDLR Pvu II may influence the response of LDL-C/HDL-C to HC/LF diet in males.
Roles of keratins in intestinal health and disease

6 LIST OF ORIGINAL PUBLICATIONS (THESIS) 7 LIST OF ORIGINAL PUBLICATIONS (NOT IN THESIS) 8 ABBREVIATIONS 9 1. INTRODUCTION 11 2. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE 13 2.1. Overview of the intermediate filaments 13 2.1. 1. Classification of intermediate filaments 13 2.1. 2. Main IF functions and IF-pathies 14 2.2. Keratins 15 2.2.1. Keratin nomenclature and structure 15 2.2.2. Simple Epithelial Keratins (SEK) with unique tissue and cell specific expression 17 2.2.3. Keratin Regulation 20 2.2.3.1. Keratins and PTMs 20 2.2.3.2. Keratin binding proteins 22 2.2.4. Functions of SEKs 22 2.2.4.1. Scaffolding and cytoprotective functions of SEK 23 2.2.4.2. Protein targeting functions of SEK 24 2.2. 5. Human diseases linked with SEK IFs 25 2.2. 6. The role of SEKs in the small intestine and colon 27 2.3. Epithelial ion transport 31 2.3.1. Ion transporters 31 2.3.2. Sodium transporters 31 2.3.2.1. ENaC 32 2.3.2.2. NHE 32 2.3.3. Chloride transporters 33 2.3.3.1. AE1/2 33 2.3.3.2. PAT-1 33 2.3.3. 3. DRA 34 2.3.3.4. CFTR 36 2.3.4. Keratins in intestinal ion transport 36 2.4. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) 36 2.4.1. IBD diagnostics 38 2.4.2. Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) in IBD 38 2.4. 3. Measurement of RONS and in vivo imaging of murine colitis 39
Ribosomal Vaccines I. Immunogenicity of Ribosomal Fractions Isolated from Salmonella typhimurium and Yersinia pestis

The immunogenicity of ribosomes and ribosomal subfractions isolated from Yersina pestis and Salmonella typhimurium has been studied. Ribosomes and ribosomal protein isolated from S. typhimurium protected mice against lethal challenge. Ribosomal ribonucleic acid isolated by phenol extraction failed to induce any significant level of protection in mice. None of the ribosomes or ribosomal subfractions isolated from Y. pestis were effective in inducing immunity to lethal challenge. These results suggest that the immunogen of the ribosomal vaccine is protein.
Methylation changes in DNA : a marker for colorectal cancer screening

Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in the United States and the third most common malignant neoplasm worldwide [1]. Tumorigenesis of colorectal cancer proceeds through a series of genetic alteration including oncogenes such as ras and tumor suppressor genes such as p53 [2]. Colorectal cancer mortality can be drastically reduced by early detection. The common screening tests involve invasive endoscopy examinations, imaging examinations and stool tests [3]. Stool DNA detection represents a promising, non-invasive approach for detecting colorectal cancers in average-risk populations. The method was first proposed in 1991 by Dr. Bert Vogelstein, and the feasibility was proven the next year when his group found the K-ras mutations in the stool of colorectal cancer patients [4]. The commercial diagnostic test using the ras mutations finally reached market in 2003 [5]. In 2004, a group led by Dr. Martin Widschwendter, showed the methylation of a single gene in stool DNA could identify colorectal cancer patients with high sensitivity and specificity [6]. This discovery boosted stool DNA testing for colorectal cancer detection because only around 10% of colorectal cancer are characterized by genetic alterations, but epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, occur in most cases [7]. Oncostatin M receptor-β (OSMR), silenced by promoter methylation in colorectal cancer cell lines, is one of the genes frequently methylated in colorectal cancer tissues, but not in normal tissues, and is detectable in stool DNA. Combining with other methylated markers in stool DNA can improve the sensitivity on colorectal cancer screening. Detection and quantification of OSMR promoter methylation in stool DNA is a highly specific diagnostic test for colorectal cancer [8]. Aberrant hypermethylation of DNA can also be detected in the serum of colorectal cancer patients. The methylation of helicase-like transcription factor (HLTF), a potential serum DNA methylation marker, was found to be closely correlated with tumor size and metastatic stage [9]. A recent study showed that the HLTF serum methylation is also associated with an increased risk of disease recurrence, thus it may serve as a predictor of disease recurrence in colorectal cancer [10]. No DNA diagnostic test has yet been widely used for cancer, but these new discoveries may move the field closer to that goal.
Issues in the design of domino logic circuits

Domino logic circuits have become extremely popular in the design of today's high performance processors because they offer fast switching speeds and reduced areas. However, the use of domino logic introduces many design risks because it is very sensitive to noise, circuit and layout topologies. This paper identifies issues that might cause domino logic circuits to fail, and discusses some possible solutions to alleviate these problems.
Isolation of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis from Lutzomyia spinicrassa (species group Verrucarum) Morales Osorno Mesa, Osorno and Hoyos 1969, in the Venezuelan Andean region.

Natural infection with Leishmania spp. in phlebotomine sandflies was searched for during a longitudinal study carried out from July 1997 to July 1998 in the village Catarnica, Municipality Independencia, Táchira State. This hamlet is an old endemic focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Venezuelan Andean region, which lies close to the Colombian border at 1,300 m a.s. l. , in an agricultural area mainly used for cultivating coffee. Phlebotomine sandflies were collected using Shannon traps placed in the peridomestic habitat from 19:00 to 21:00 hs. Males were stored in alcohol 70 % while females were kept in Nunc vials with 10 % DMSO and cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen for subsequent dissection and identification. The most abundant anthropophilic species was Lutzomyia spinicrassa with 3,032 males and 4,290 females (85.4%). Among 1,633 (38%) females of Lu. spinicrassa dissected, 26 11.6%) were infected with promastigotes, while no natural infection was found in 209 females of other species. The flagellates were identified as Leishmania braziliensis braziliensis using PCR with species specific primers derived from nuclear DNA and hybridization using species specific probe labelled with digoxigenin. This parasite had been previously isolated from patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis from the same area. These results show Lu. spinicrassa as a new proven vector of Leishmania braziliensis in the Andean region of Venezuela.
Glucose Infusion Attenuates Muscle Fatigue in Rat Plantaris Muscle During Prolonged Indirect Stimulation in Situ

Carbohydrate ingestion increases both endurance time to exhaustion during prolonged exercise, and the ability to perform resistance exercise. The mechanism(s)underlying the increased performance following glucose ingestion remain(s) unclear. The purpose of the present study was to verify the hypothesis that glucose infusion could attenuate peripheral muscle fatigue in the anaesthetized rat during prolonged indirect electrical stimulation in situ. For this purpose the plantaris muscle was electrically stimulated (50 Hz for 200 ms every 2.7 s; 5 V; pulse width, 0.05 ms) in situ through the sciatic nerve to perform concentric contractions for 60 min while infusing intravenously either saline alone (7.25 ml kg−1 h−1), or saline and glucose (1 g kg−1 h−1: plasma glucose 11 ± 1.1, vs. 4.9 ± 0.2 mM with infusion of saline) (8 rats per group). Glucose infusion attenuated the reduction in submaximal peak dynamic force (55% decrease vs. 70% decrease in rats infused with saline alone, P < 0.05). In a third group of rats (n = 8), infusion of glucose 30 min after the start of stimulation partially restored submaximal peak dynamic force (P < 0.05). Maximum dynamic and isometric forces at the end of the period of stimulation were also higher (P < 0.05) in rats infused with glucose (4.0 ± 0.2 and 4.3 ± 0.2 N, respectively) than saline alone (3.0 ± 0.2 and 3.5 ± 0.2 N, respectively). The beneficial effect of glucose infusion on peripheral muscle force during prolonged stimulation was not associated with a reduction in muscle glycogen utilisation, nor with a reduction of fatigue at the neuromuscular junction, as assessed through maximal direct muscle stimulation (200 Hz for 200 ms; 150 V; pulse width, 0.05 ms). However, changes in M‐wave peak‐to‐peak amplitude, duration and total area suggest that glucose infusion, and/or the associated increase in plasma insulin concentration, may prevent the deterioration of electrical properties of the muscle fibre membrane.
The organization of the secretory machinery in chromaffin cells as a major factor in modeling exocytosis

The organization of cytoplasm in excitable cells was a largely ignored factor when mathematical models were developed to understand intracellular calcium and secretory behavior. Here we employed a combination of fluorescent evanescent and transmitted light microscopy to explore the F‐actin cytoskeletal organization in the vicinity of secretory sites in cultured bovine chromaffin cells. This technique and confocal fluorescent microscopy show chromaffin granules associated with the borders of cortical cytoskeletal cages forming an intricate tridimensional network. Furthermore, the overexpression of SNAP‐25 in these cells also reveals the association of secretory machinery clusters with the borders of these cytoskeletal cages. The importance of these F‐actin cage borders is stressed when granules appear to interact and remain associated during exocytosis visualized in acridin orange loaded vesicles. These results will prompt us to propose a model of cytoskeletal cages, where the secretory machinery is associated with its borders. Both the calcium level and the secretory response are enhanced in this geometrical arrangement when compared with a random distribution of the secretory machinery that is not restricted to the borders of the cage.
Analysis of CNT based 3D TSV for emerging RF applications

This paper presents an analysis of CNT-based 3D TSV for emerging 60 GHz applications such as military communications, high-frequency acoustics and other high-end wireless applications. An integrated model of CNT-based TSV is developed taking into consideration substrate parasitics, which have been appropriately modeled as a monolithic capacitor. The Effective Series Resistance (ESR) and Effective Series Inductance (ESL) for the substrate are calculated using the resonant line technique, which is used to evaluate loss in reactive components at high frequencies. Case studies using different via dimensions, density of CNT bundles, and CNT diameters were carried out. For the optimized case it was observed that the reflection loss incurred is very low and output port transmission is quite high as compared with conventional Cu-based TSV interconnects. Eye diagram analysis and TDR measurements indicated low distortion and high transmission along with high throughput.
Universal Single-Stage Grid-Connected Inverter

A new single-stage grid-connected inverter, suitable for distributed generation applications, is proposed. The inverter is universal in the sense that it can be switched between buck, boost, and buck--boost configurations by appropriately altering the pulse width modular (PWM) control. Discontinuous current mode (DCM) operation is implemented to facilitate shuffling between configurations during the converter operation. Such flexibility ensures maximum benefit of the buck, boost, and the buck--boost operations (e.g., low device stresses, higher efficiency, higher boosting capability, etc.). The PWM is achieved by comparing a high frequency carrier (triangular) waveform with a suitable reference waveform, which is not necessarily sinusoidal, but has a shape specific to the individual configuration and is derived by equating the power fed into the grid with that extracted from the source during each switching cycle. The values of the components (inductors and capacitors) need to be optimized so that DCM is maintained and the required amount of energy is transferred to the grid in all the three configurations during their respective operation. All the design expressions have been derived. A salient feature of this inverter is its compatibility with various types of sources (PV array, fuel cell, etc.) with varying voltage levels and control requirements. Being single-stage, the proposed topology offers additional advantages like modularity, compactness, and low cost. All the details of simulation and experimental work are presented.
Data Rate Limitations in Feedback Control over Networks

This paper provides an overview on the recent research on networked control with an emphasis on the tight relation between the two fields of control and communication. In particular, we present several results focusing on data rate constraints in networked control systems, which can be modeled as quantization of control-related signals. The motivation is to reduce the amount of data rate as much as possible in obtaining control objectives such as stabilization and control performance under certain measures. We also discuss some approaches towards control problems based on techniques from signal processing and information theory.