Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reliability of ultrasonography to detect synovitis in rheumatoid arthritis: A systematic literature review of 35 studies (1,415 patients)

To perform a systematic review on the reliability of ultrasonographic (US) synovitis detection in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by B‐mode and power Doppler (PD) in image acquisition and still‐image interpretation. US is a sensitive method for synovitis detection. However, reliability is still a key concern.
Percutaneous autologous bone-marrow grafting for nonunions. Influence of the number and concentration of progenitor cells.

BACKGROUND Bone marrow aspirated from the iliac crest contains progenitor cells that can be used to obtain bone-healing of nonunions. However, there is little available information regarding the number and concentration of these cells that are necessary to obtain bone repair. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the number and concentration of progenitor cells that were transplanted for the treatment of nonunion, the callus volume obtained after the transplantation, and the clinical healing rate. METHODS Marrow was aspirated from both anterior iliac crests, concentrated on a cell separator, and then injected into sixty noninfected atrophic nonunions of the tibia. Each nonunion received a relatively constant volume of 20 cm(3) of concentrated bone marrow. The number of progenitor cells that was transplanted was estimated by counting the fibroblast colony-forming units. The volume of mineralized bone formation was determined by comparing preoperative computerized tomography scans with scans performed four months following the injection. RESULTS The aspirates contained an average (and standard deviation) of 612 +/- 134 progenitors/cm(3) (range, 12 to 1224 progenitors/cm(3)) before concentration and an average of 2579 +/- 1121 progenitors/cm(3) (range, 60 to 6120 progenitors/cm(3)) after concentration. An average total of 51 x 10(3) fibroblast colony-forming units was injected into each nonunion. Bone union was obtained in fifty-three patients, and the bone marrow that had been injected into the nonunions of those patients contained >1500 progenitors/cm(3) and an average total of 54,962 +/- 17,431 progenitors. The concentration (634 +/- 187 progenitors/cm(3)) and the total number (19,324 +/- 6843) of progenitors injected into the nonunion sites of the seven patients in whom bone union was not obtained were both significantly lower (p = 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively) than those in the patients who obtained bone union. The volume of the mineralized callus measured at four months on the computerized tomography scans of the patients who had union ranged from 0.8 to 5.3 cm(3) (mean, 3.1 cm(3)). There was a positive correlation between the volume of mineralized callus at four months and the number (p = 0.04) and concentration (p = 0.01) of fibroblast colony-forming units in the graft. There was a negative correlation between the time needed to obtain union and the concentration of fibroblast colony-forming units in the graft (p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS Percutaneous autologous bone-marrow grafting is an effective and safe method for the treatment of an atrophic tibial diaphyseal nonunion. However, its efficacy appears to be related to the number of progenitors in the graft, and the number of progenitors available in bone marrow aspirated from the iliac crest appears to be less than optimal in the absence of concentration.
Role of size and composition of traffic and agricultural aerosols in the molecular responses triggered in airway epithelial cells

The increased levels of fine particles in the atmosphere are suspected of aggravating cardiopulmonary diseases, but the determinants of particle toxicity are poorly understood. This work aims at studying the role of composition and size in the toxicity of size-segregated particulate matter (PM) collected at different sites on human bronchial epithelial cells. PM were sampled at a traffic urban site (Urb S) and a rural site (Rur S) during the pesticide-spreading period. Ultrafine (UF), fine (F), and coarse (C) PM were characterized by their shape and chemical composition. Whatever the site, the finest PM (UF and F) induced the mRNA expression of CYP1A1, a biomarker of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) exposure, NQO-1 and heme HO-1, two antioxidant responsive element-driven genes; and two effect biomarkers, GM-CSF, a proinflammatory cytokine and amphiregulin (AR), a growth factor. C PM have a low or no effect. Interestingly, AR is more strongly induced by rural PM at the same mass exposure. These discrepancies suggest involvement of PM chemical composition: rural PM bearing the characteristics of aged aerosols with a high content of water-soluble components, and PM at urban kerbside sites containing mainly water-insoluble components. To conclude, we provide evidence that the finest PM fractions, whatever their origin, are more prone to induce exposure and effect biomarkers. The AR differential expression suggests a source-dependent effect requiring further investigation because of the role of this growth factor in airway remodeling, a characteristic feature of chronic lung respiratory diseases exacerbated by particulate pollution.
Applying the Common Sense Model to predicting quality of life in alopecia areata: The role of illness perceptions and coping strategies

Applying the Common Sense Model, this cross-sectional study examines associations between illness perceptions and quality of life and the mediating role of coping in 243 adults with alopecia areata, a chronic dermatological condition. At least some QoL impairment was reported by 84 percent of participants, with 31 percent reporting very to extremely large impairment. Stronger perceptions of consequences, emotional representations, identity, and lower attribution to chance were related to more impairment, with avoidant coping acting as (partial) mediator. Illness perceptions and avoidant coping seem to play an important role in QoL and are relevant intervention targets in alopecia areata.
Assessment of Different Sampling Methods for Measuring and Representing Macular Cone Density Using Flood-Illuminated Adaptive Optics.

PURPOSE To describe a standardized flood-illuminated adaptive optics (AO) imaging protocol suitable for the clinical setting and to assess sampling methods for measuring cone density. METHODS Cone density was calculated following three measurement protocols: 50 × 50-μm sampling window values every 0.5° along the horizontal and vertical meridians (fixed-interval method), the mean density of expanding 0.5°-wide arcuate areas in the nasal, temporal, superior, and inferior quadrants (arcuate mean method), and the peak cone density of a 50 × 50-μm sampling window within expanding arcuate areas near the meridian (peak density method). Repeated imaging was performed in nine subjects to determine intersession repeatability of cone density. RESULTS Cone density montages could be created for 67 of the 74 subjects. Image quality was determined to be adequate for automated cone counting for 35 (52%) of the 67 subjects. We found that cone density varied with different sampling methods and regions tested. In the nasal and temporal quadrants, peak density most closely resembled histological data, whereas the arcuate mean and fixed-interval methods tended to underestimate the density compared with histological data. However, in the inferior and superior quadrants, arcuate mean and fixed-interval methods most closely matched histological data, whereas the peak density method overestimated cone density compared with histological data. Intersession repeatability testing showed that repeatability was greatest when sampling by arcuate mean and lowest when sampling by fixed interval. CONCLUSIONS We show that different methods of sampling can significantly affect cone density measurements. Therefore, care must be taken when interpreting cone density results, even in a normal population.
Fermi level pinning at the polySi/metal oxide interface

We report here for the first time that Fermi pinning at the polySi/metal oxide interface causes high threshold voltages in MOSFET devices. Results indicate that pinning occurs due to the interfacial Si-Hf and Si-O-Al bonds for HfO/sub 2/ and Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/, respectively. This fundamental characteristic also affects the observed polySi depletion. Device data and simulation results will be presented.
Temporal Integration Characteristics of the Axial and Choroidal Responses to Myopic Defocus Induced by Prior Form Deprivation Versus Positive Spectacle Lens Wear in Chickens

Purpose. In chicks, the temporal response characteristics to form deprivation and to spectacle lens wear (myopic and hyperopic defocus) show essential differences, suggesting that the emmetropization system “weights” the visual signals differently. To further explore how the eye integrates opposing visual signals, we examined the responses to myopic defocus induced by prior form deprivation vs. that induced by positive spectacle lenses, in both cases alternating with form deprivation. Methods. Three experimental paradigms were used: 1) Form deprivation was induced by monocular occluders for 7 days. Over the subsequent 7 days, the occluders were removed daily for 12 hours (n = 13), 4 hours (n = 7), 2 hours (n = 7), or 0 hours (n = 6). 2) Birds were form-deprived on day 12. Over the subsequent 7 days, occluders were replaced with a +10 D lens for 2 hours per day (n = 13). 3) Starting at day 11, a +10 D lens was placed over one eye for 2 hours (n = 13), 3 hours (n = 5), or 6 hours (n = 10) per day and were otherwise untreated. Ocular dimensions were measured with high-frequency A-scan ultrasonography; refractive errors were measured by streak retinoscopy at various intervals. Results. In recovering eyes, 2 hours per day of myopic defocus was as effective as 12 hours at inducing refractive and axial recovery (change in refractive error: +10 D vs. +13 D, respectively). By contrast, 2 hours of lens-induced defocus (alternating with form deprivation) was not sufficient to induce refractive or axial compensation (change in refractive error: -1.7 D). When myopic defocus alternated with unrestricted vision, 6 hours per day were sufficient to induce nearly full compensation (2 hours vs. 6 hours: 4.4 D vs. 8.2 D; p < 0.0005). Choroids showed rapid increases in thickness to the daily episodes of myopic defocus; these resulted in “long-term” thickness changes in recovering eyes and eyes wearing lenses for 3 or 6 hours per day. Conclusions. The response to myopic defocus induced by prior form deprivation is more robust than the response induced by positive lenses, suggesting that the underlying mechanisms differ. Presumably, this difference is related to the size of the eye at the onset. Compensatory decreases in growth rate occur without full compensatory choroidal thickening.
Intrusion Detection System ( IDS ) framework for Digital Network

Cyber security has become high priority in Industrial Automation (IA). Here dependable operation is to ensure the security, stability and reliability in power delivery system. Anonymity progress can be easily removed by using the Intrusion Detection System (IDS) framework. In this paper Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA)-IDS with protocol based and behavior based analysis is proposed and exemplified in order to detect known and unknown cyberattacks from inside or outside SCADA systems. This framework provides a hierarchical approach for an integrated security system, comprising distributed IDSs to prevent the anomalous attacks due to access control process. In this article we have compare three methods viz access control, protocol base and behavior based whitelist technique. In behavior based there are two techniques used viz length detector and digital signature. However, for research in the community to progress, such a dataset would be valuable. The proposed system creates new datasets to mitigate vulnerable attacks from cyber-crime side to save the higher level records and system. The simulation result shows that behavior based method outperforms the other two methods with respect to time efficiency and accuracy.
O risco e a ruína na atividade seguradora

Neste artigo e apresentado um modelo teorico para a evolucao temporal do capital de uma seguradora, nomeadamente o modelo classico de risco de Cramer-Lundberg e o Teorema Fundamental do Risco que da uma expressao explicita para a probabilidade de uma seguradora arruinar como funcao do capital inicial. E tambem apresentado um programa em linguagem R que permite obter estimativas para a probabilidade de ruina. Com este programa sao feitas simulacoes considerando o modelo classico de risco com diferentes distribuicoes para as indemnizacoes individuais e e feito um estudo comparativo das respetivas probabilidades de ruina.
Síntesis de prensiones con “force-closure” para un objeto articulado 3D con 3 eslabones

Este trabajo aborda el problema de la sintesis de prensiones con “force-closure” para un objeto articulado 3D constituido por 3 eslabones y considerando contactos sin friccion. La superficie de cada eslabon se representa por medio de un conjunto finito de puntos. En primer lugar se presenta una metodologia por medio de la cual se define el espacio de fuerzas generalizadas generado por fuerzas aplicadas en los eslabones de un objeto articulado 3D. En segundo lugar se describe el algoritmo por medio del cual se calcula el conjunto de puntos que permiten una prension con FC. El enfoque ha sido implementado y en el articulo se incluyen algunos ejemplos ilustrativos.
Inférence grammaticale probabiliste pour l'apprentissage de la syntaxe en traitement de la langue naturelle

L'objectif de la these consiste a utiliser les langages formels pour modeliser la langue naturelle. Les techniques utilisees en reconnaissance de la langue naturelle estiment la probabilite d'un mot etant donnee son contexte. En raison de l'information structurelle qu'elle contiennent, les grammaires formelles semblent bien adaptees a cette tâche. Nous etudions les automates deterministes et probabilistes (PDFA). Une theorie formelle de ces objets est proposee. Nous montrons par ailleurs que les automates probabilistes peuvent etre appris dans un cadre d'apprentissage derive de l'identification a la limite propose par Gold. Nous proposons ensuite un nouvel algorithme (MDI) base sur un calcul efficace de la divergence de Kullback-Leibler entre automates. L'algorithme MDI cherche a inferer un PDFA compromis entre la divergence par rapport aux donnees d'apprentissage et une petite taille. Une etude experimentale montre que l'algorithme MDI ameliore significativement le pouvoir de prediction de l'algorithme de reference du domaine : ALERGIA. Ces experimentations montrent par ailleurs l'importance du lissage lors de la modelisation de la langue naturelle
Immunization of mice with surface antigens from the muscle larvae of Trichinella spiralis

Summary Surface antigens of muscle larvae of Trichinella spiralis were stripped from the cuticle of live worms by the cationic detergent cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). Such antigen preparations were shown to contain surface antigens of approximate molecular weights 100000, 90000, 69000, 55000, 46000 and 35000. Immunoprecipitation experiments confirmed that the surface of muscle larvae share antigenic epitopes with antigens contained within and secreted by the stichosome. CTAB antigen preparations were shown to be protective in NIH mice against a challenge infection as assessed by reduction in intestinal worm burden, worm fecundity, worm length and muscle larvae burden. The role of surface antigens in protective immunity to T. spiralis is discussed.
Uso da internet por estudantes universitários: um campo de estudo emergencial

O uso e a disponibilidade da internet suscitam questões sobre seu potencial mobilizador de dependência. Este artigo discute Uso da Internet por estudantes universitários brasileiros. Com base em uma coleta de dados quantitativa (n=173), o estudo concluiu que 61,85% dos participantes apresentam níveis de dependência Leve e Moderado. A frequência do uso e a falta de controle do tempo conectado indicam a valorização da vida virtual e possíveis prejuízos na rotina. Ainda que os níveis de dependência da coleta não sejam considerados graves, os resultados deste estudo servem como pontapé inicial nas pesquisas que relacionam o uso da tecnologia e suas implicações no âmbito da educação, na medida em que o uso problemático e os escores obtidos são um recorte momentâneo, e que o participante pode transitar pelos diferentes níveis ao longo de seu histórico de utilização.
Performance of the C‐MAC video laryngoscope in patients after a limited glottic view using Macintosh laryngoscopy

We applied the C‐MAC videolaryngoscope in 52 consecutive patients who were found to have an unexpected Cormack and Lehane grade‐3 (n = 49) and grade‐4 (n = 3) laryngeal view with the Macintosh laryngoscope. The glottic view improved in 49 (94%) patients using the C‐MAC. Tracheal intubation was successful in 49 of 52 patients (94%). In one patient, tracheal intubation failed using the C‐MAC despite the presence of a Cormack and Lehane grade‐2. These results suggest that the C‐MAC videolaryngoscope has a role as a rescue device in cases of an initially difficult laryngeal view.
Developing quality indicators for general practice care for vulnerable elders; transfer from US to The Netherlands

Background: Measurement of the quality of healthcare is a first step for quality improvement. To measure quality of healthcare, a set of quality indicators is needed. We describe the adaptation of a set of systematically developed US quality indicators for healthcare for vulnerable elders in The Netherlands. We also compare the US and the Dutch set to see if quality indicators can be transferred between countries, as has been done in two studies in the UK, with mixed results. Method: 108 US quality indicators on GP care for vulnerable elders, covering eight conditions, were assessed by a panel of nine clinical experts in The Netherlands. A modified version of the RAND/UCLA appropriateness method was used. The panel members received US literature reviews, extended with more recent and Dutch literature, summarising the evidence for each quality indicator. Results: 72 indicators (67% of US set) were (nearly) identical in the Dutch and US sets. For some conditions, this percentage was much lower. For undernutrition, only half of the US indicators were included in the Dutch set. For depression, many indicators were discarded or changed in a significant way, with the result that only five of the original 17 indicators (29%) are the same in the Dutch and the US set. Conclusions: Quality indicators can be transferred between countries, but with caution, because in two of the three studies on transferring indicators between the US and Europe, 33–44% of the indicators were discarded. For some conditions in the current study, this percentage is much higher. For undernutrition, there is hardly any evidence, and differences between the indicator sets can be attributed to differences in expert opinion between the countries. For depression, it seems that different evidence is considered important in the US and in The Netherlands, of which the Dutch body of knowledge is not known in the US.
Personalization of Learning: Lessons from RTT-D Winners

This article presents a synthesis of personalization of learning strategies as extracted from 16 school district proposals funded in the 2012 Race to the Top (RTT-D) federal grant program. Personalization of learning strategies fell into six overall themes: digital learning materials and courses, data and data systems, curriculum and teaching, repurposed learning facilities, human capital, and professional development. For each theme, the article offers a summary, exemplars from the district proposals, and additional recommended resources.
Increasing Concern Regarding Computed Tomography Irradiation in Craniofacial Surgery

Summary: The safety of medical radiation, particularly computed tomography, has recently received much attention in both the medical literature and the popular press. As knowledge regarding side effects of radiation exposure has increased, so have attempts to limit doses to patients through more selective use of scans and transitions to lower-dose protocols to conform to the As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) principle. This trend has been apparent across many fields within medicine, including craniofacial surgery. Craniofacial surgeons should be familiar with these issues to participate in the determination of practice standards and to address patient concerns. A number of authors have questioned the value and necessity of obtaining computed tomography scans for the management of single-suture craniosynostosis in light of known radiation risks. Although unnecessary exposure to radiation from computed tomography scans should be avoided, imaging provides useful–-often vital–-information to the treatment of craniosynostosis. Use of low-dose protocols, which have been shown to provide images of satisfactory quality for the evaluation of both suture patency and associated intracranial abnormalities, may be a favorable alternative. The authors discuss the issue of medical radiation and its risks. In the context of risks and benefits, the authors reviewed the current practice of imaging in craniofacial surgery with the intent to encourage dialogue between surgeons and radiologists to develop thoughtful practice standards.
Primate-specific miR-603 is implicated in the risk and pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a serious neurodegenerative disease, and microRNAs (miRNAs) have been linked to its pathogenesis. miR-603, a novel primate-specific miRNA and an intronic miRNA of a human brain highly expressed gene KIAA1217, is implicated in the risk and pathogenesis of AD. The rs11014002 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (C/U), which locates in miR-603 precursor (pre-miR-603), exhibits a protective effect towards AD risk. Additionally, the rs11014002 SNP promotes the biogenesis of mature miR-603. miR-603 downregulates LRPAP1 mRNA and protein levels through directly binding the 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR) of LRPAP1. Moreover, miR-603 increases LRP1 protein expression. LRPAP1 and LRP1, playing opposite roles, are involved in Aβ clearance and pathogenesis of AD. Strikingly, miR-603 exhibits a relatively higher expression and there is a loss of a negative correlation between miR-603 and LRPAP1/RND1 mRNA levels in the hippocampi of patients with AD. In addition, miR-603 directly downregulates a key neuronal apoptotic component-E2F1, and prevents HeLa cells from undergoing H2O2-induced apoptosis. This work suggests that miR-603 may be a novel AD-relevant miRNA and that its rs11014002 SNP may serve as a protective factor against AD.