Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Repetitive 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in giant cell arteritis: a prospective study of 35 patients.

OBJECTIVE To study fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake in the different vascular beds and in the large joints of patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) at diagnosis, during steroid treatment, and at relapse. METHODS All consecutive patients admitted to our department with a diagnosis of GCA underwent FDG-positron emission tomography (PET) scan before treatment with methylprednisolone was started. PET scans were repeated at 3 and 6 months, if the initial PET scans showed vascular FDG uptake. PET scans were scored at 7 different vascular areas and a total vascular score (TVS) was calculated, ranging from 0 to 21. RESULTS A total of 35 patients entered the study. At diagnosis, vascular FDG uptake was noted in 29 patients (83%), especially in the subclavian arteries (74%), but also in the aorta (>50%) and up to the femoral arteries (37%). TVS decreased from a mean +/- SD score of 7.9 +/- 5.5 at baseline to 2.4 +/- 3.5 on repeat PET scan at 3 months (P < 0.0005), but did not further decrease at 6 months. The patients who relapsed had similar earlier decreases of TVS compared with those who did not relapse. FDG uptake in the shoulders at diagnosis correlated significantly with the presence of polymyalgia rheumatica (P = 0.005). CONCLUSION FDG uptake in the large vessels is a sensitive marker for GCA, which can involve the larger thoracic, abdominal, and peripheral arteries. Polymyalgia rheumatica symptoms in patients with GCA correlate with (peri)synovitis of the shoulders. Relapses of GCA cannot be predicted by results of former PET scintigraphies.
Functional and structural impact of linuron on a freshwater community of primary producers: The use of immobilized algae

An approach in determining ecosystem integrity and stress on ecosystem level is to assess processes within ecosystems. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential use of an in situ assay with immobilized Chlorella vulgaris as an indicator of effects on ecosystem functioning with regard to primary production. The herbicide linuron, applied in concentrations of 20, 60, and 180 μg linuron/L, was used to induce direct effects on primary producers. Direct and indirect changes in structure and function within outdoor model ecosystems of 3 m3 were monitored. The intermediate and highest concentration of linuron caused a decline in growth of the macrophyte Elodea sp. , resulting in a significant increase of concentrations of nutrients. The increase in concentrations of nutrients caused an indirectly stimulated growth of immobilized C. vulgaris at the intermediate concentration, whereas similar concentrations of nutrients, at the highest treatment, did not stimulate Chlorella growth. It appeared that the direct effect of linuron on C. vulgaris growth was masked by nutrient availability at the intermediate but not at the highest linuron concentration. The observed immobilized algal growth was an accumulated effect of toxic and trophic pressures within the ecosystem, resulting in an integrative endpoint to detect actual impairment of ecosystem function.
Unscheduled Return Visits to the Pediatric Emergency Department-One-Year Experience

Objectives: Patients returning to the emergency department (ED) within 72 hours of their visit may contribute to crowding and might indicate failure to give a proper assessment, treatment, or follow-up instructions. The aim of this study was to describe the rate of return visits in a tertiary care pediatric ED (PED) and find characteristics of children who return to the ED. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all records of patients visiting our PED in Toronto during 2003. We collected demographic data, time of visit(s), and acuity. We excluded patients who left without being seen, left against medical advice, or were admitted to the hospital. We conducted univariate and multivariate analyses to determine odds ratio of variables associated with returning. Results: Of 37,725 eligible children, 1990(5.2%) returned within 72 hours. One hundred fifty-six returned for a third visit, and 10 returned for a fourth visit. A quarter of the children who returned were younger than 1 year, and the younger the child, the higher the likelihood of returning; the higher the acuity of the first (index) visit, the higher the likelihood that a patient will return. Patients coming during the busiest hours, between 8 pm and midnight, were more likely to return. We found no significant seasonal differences in univariate or multivariate analysis. Conclusions: Five percent of our PED visits are return visits of children seen in the 72 hours before the visit. Younger children, with high acuity who come to the ED in the late evening hours, are most likely to return to the ED.
Mutational analysis of the major homology region of Mason-Pfizer monkey virus by use of saturation mutagenesis

The major capsid (CA) protein of retroviruses possesses a stretch of 20 amino acids, called the major homology region (MHR), which is evolutionarily conserved and invariant in location within the primary sequence of the protein. The function of this region was investigated by examining the effect of random single-amino-acid substitutions within the central 13 positions of the MHR on the life cycle of Mason-Pfizer monkey virus (M-PMV), an immunosuppressive D-type retrovirus. When these mutants were subcloned into an M-PMV proviral vector and expressed in COS cells, one of two major phenotypes was observed. The first group, containing three mutants bearing drastic amino acid substitutions, was unable to assemble capsids in the cytoplasm of the host cell. The second and more common group of mutants was able to assemble and release virions, but these either displayed greatly reduced levels of infectivity or were completely noninfectious. Included within this second group were two mutants with unusual phenotypes; mutant D158Y exhibited a novel cleavage site for the viral protease that resulted in cleavage of the major capsid protein, p27 (CA), within the MHR, whereas mutant F156L appeared to have lost a major site for antibody recognition within the mature CA protein. The results of this mutagenic analysis suggest that changes in the MHR sequence can interfere with the assembly of viral capsids and block an early stage of the infection cycle of M-PMV.
A Decentralized Fault-Tolerant Control System for Accommodation of Failures in Higher-Order Flight Control Actuators

In this paper, an effective integrated failure detection and identification (FDI) and fault-tolerant control (FTC) technique is developed for a class of nonlinear systems actuated by actuators that may undergo several different types of failures. Assuming that the actuator dynamics are fast, a baseline controller is designed and, using the singular perturbation arguments, shown to achieve the control objective. Typical failures in flight control actuators are considered next, and online FDI algorithms are derived for second-order actuator dynamics with non-measurable actuator rates, and third-order actuator dynamics when only output of the actuator is measurable. The FDI subsystem is decentralized in that an observer is run at each of the actuators, and the parameter estimates are adjusted using only the local information. The major issue of how to use this information to reconfigure the control law and assure the stability of the resulting closed-loop control system is addressed. An adaptive fault-tolerant controller that uses the parameter estimates from the FDI subsystem at every instant is designed next. It is demonstrated that all the signals in the system are bounded and that the tracking error converges to zero asymptotically despite multiple simultaneous actuator failures even in the case of second or third order actuator dynamics. The properties of the proposed FDI-FTC algorithms are evaluated through piloted simulations of the F/A-18 aircraft.
Dilute bicellar solutions for structural NMR work.

Deuterium NMR spectroscopy has been employed to characterize the concentration dependence of orientational order in DMPC/DHPC bicellar solutions with molar ratios q = [DMPC]/[DHPC] = 3.3, 2.7, and 2.3. The stability of a discotic nematic phase can, in general, be predicted from a simple Onsager picture involving the size and concentration of the mesogenic unit, but for the bicellar solutions this model is not adequate. Specifically, macroscopic alignment is observed at total lipid concentrations well below that, 1-10% (w/w) predicted by Onsager's model. Thus the discotic nematic phase is stable to approximately 3-5% (w/w) for q = 3.3-2.3, and the bicellar order is highest just before phase separation occurs at the minimum total phospholipid concentration. This implies the presence of a DHPCbic -->/<-- DHPCsol equilibrium in establishing bicellar size, thereby extending the range of concentrations for which alignment occurs. Bicellar morphology has been verified for a wide range of concentrations, temperatures, and q-values, but as viscosity measurements demonstrate, major morphological changes take place as the temperature is reduced below 30 degreesC.
Leucine‐responsive regulatory protein and deoxyadenosine methylase control the phase variation and expression of the sfa and daa pili operons in Escherichia coli

The Escherichia coli operons daa and sfa encode F1845 and S pill, respectively. In this paper we show that the expression of these operons is under phase variation control at a transcriptional level. The transcription of both operons is dependent on the global regulator leucine‐responsive regulatory protein (Lrp) and deoxyadenosine methylase (Dam). Lrp is required for methylation protection of two GATC sites located within conserved DNA sequences in the regulatory regions of these operons. These GATC sites are differentially methylated, establishing a methylation pattern which is characteristic of either the phase ON or phase OFF state. We also show that Lrp binds to the daa and sfa regulatory regions and that this binding is modulated by the methylation of the GATC sites. These results indicate that the phase variation of the daa and sfa operons is regulated by a mechanism involving differential binding of Lrp owing to methylation of GATC sites in the regulatory region, which is similar to the mechanism that controls phase variation of the pap operon.
Absolute phase and amplitude mapping of Surface Acoustic Wave fields

This paper describes the development of a scanning heterodyne interferometer for acoustic wave energy mapping. A robust optical double pass interferometer setup is presented, allowing absolute phase and absolute magnitude measurements of the out-of-plane vibration component witin a 5 to 1200 MHz frequency range, only limited by the photodetector bandwidth. By using a dedicated high frequency demodulator, the system is insensitive to the low-frequency mechanical vibration. The system is here used on single-port Surface Acoustic Wave, allowing for the identification of energy distribution as a function of operating frequency and the acoustic velocity over the Bragg mirrors surrounding the resonator. We envision such an instrument as a tool for assessing acoustic energy confinement allowing for optimizing resonator quality factors aimed at providing improved frequency source stability.
Theoretical analysis of the unimodal normal distribution crossover for real-coded genetic algorithms

For real-coded genetic algorithms, there have been proposed many crossover operators so far. While they have been evaluated by some benchmark problems, theoretically clear guidelines or design principles for them have not been established yet. This paper, first, discusses the importance of the distribution and statistics of the offspring yielded by a crossover operator for its evaluation. Then, from this viewpoint, the unimodal normal distribution crossover (UNDX) developed by Ono et al. (1997) is analyzed. The results of analysis provide us with a clear understanding of the characteristics of the UNDX. It is also shown that the values of the adjustable parameters of the UNDX tuned empirically is desirable in the sense that the offspring population inherits the statistics such as the mean value and the covariance matrix from the parent population.
Cryptography Based on Correlated Data: Foundations and Practice

Correlated data can be very useful in cryptography. For instance, if a uniformly random key is available to Alice and Bob, it can be used as an one-time pad to transmit a message with perfect security. With more elaborate forms of correlated data, the parties can achieve even more complex cryptographic tasks, such as secure multiparty computation. This thesis explores (from both a theoretical and a practical point of view) the topic of cryptography based on correlated data. The first part considers physical assumptions that can be used to obtain simple forms of correlated data suitable for cryptographic purposes. We aim at constructing two important cryptographic primitives, namely commitments and oblivious transfer, and investigate the question of their existence as well as the theoretical limits of how efficiently the underlying resources can be used to construct them. For example, the existence of noisy channels between the parties allows unconditionally secure realizations of both primitives. As it turns out that noisy channels are valuable resources for cryptography, it becomes important to understand the optimal way in which these noisy channels can be used for implementing cryptographic tasks. Therefore, commitment and oblivious transfer capacities have been studied in the literature, which capture respectively the optimal way in which commitment and oblivious transfer can be realized using noisy channels. These capacities are cryptographic equivalents of Shannon’s definition of channel capacity for the task of transmitting messages reliably over noisy channels. In the thesis we will further investigate the commitment and oblivious transfer capacity of some important channels. Another example is the so-called bounded storage model, in which it is assumed that the parties have limited storage capacity (an assumption orthogonal to the restrictions on computational power that are normally made in cryptography based on complexity theory). In this model there is a public random source available to the parties during an initial transmission phase, but since the parties only have bounded storage they can only store parts of this random source and therefore they end up with correlated data that can be used subsequently to implement cryptographic primitives. It is known that both commitment and oblivious transfer can be implemented in the bounded storage model without errors. We present the first secure protocols for commitment and oblivious transfer in the more realistic bounded storage model with errors, in which the public random sources available to the parties are not exactly the same, but instead are only required to have a small
Power regulation applied for inductively wireless power transmission to locomotive micro-devices

The operation mode of the locomotive micro-devices is a combination of moving forwards, backwards, staying and rotation. In order to supply power by inductively wireless transmission to locomotive micro-devices, the micro-power receiver is often attached with the locomotive device. The distance and orientation between micro-power receiver and magnetic flux transmitter are changed as the locomotive micro-devices operate, rotate or move so that the power received by the micro-power receiver is varying. In this paper, the variable power control is applied on the magnetic flux transmitter to regulate the wireless received power at micro-power receiver. By Biot-Savart law and Faraday's law, the mathematical description from transmitter to micro-power receiver is constructed. By employing commercial software, Ansoft Maxwell, based on finite element method, the estimation error on power transmission by mathematical description is revealed. Besides, the design parameters of micro-receiver and transmitter are also examined for later-on fabrication and set-up. Finally, the test rig of variable power control is also established for performance verification.
Understanding the Retail Business Potential of Inner Cities

Inner city areas are often significantly “under-stored” (Loukaitou-Sideris 2000), with inadequate opportunities for residents to shop near their homes. More residents are transit dependent in inner cities than in the general metro area, making them even more constrained to local choices. But which types of establishments are needed in which locations? Given their isolation from the economic mainstream, marginalized communities may be the least able to provide information regarding development possibilities. Yet they would also be likely to benefit substantially from such knowledge, given that inner city markets are the focus of less attention than those of economically successful communities. This paper develops methods to bridge this informational gap. Such gaps produce particularly regressive forms of market failure, where economic isolation and stagnation reinforce each other. Business opportunities are likely to exist in the inner city, but private capital’s focus needs to be reoriented to such possibilities. Public entities may help more by analyzing and providing information than by organizing and implementing top-down programs. Universities may be particularly well suited to bridging informational gaps (Weiler 2000a). In that spirit, this study represents a further effort in con
Sense of coherence and its relationship with oral health-related behaviour and knowledge of and attitudes towards oral health.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationship between sense of coherence (SOC), oral health-related behaviour, knowledge of and attitudes towards oral health in an adult Swedish population. METHODS A cross-sectional design with a stratified random sample of 910 individuals aged 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 and 80 years were invited to the study, from Jönköping, Sweden. The investigation used the Swedish short version of the SOC questionnaire comprising 13 items and self-reported questions about oral health habits and knowledge of and attitudes towards oral health. In addition, a self-report questionnaire to elicit demographic information was included. RESULTS A total of 525 individuals, 261 men and 264 women, answered all the 13-item SOC questions, which constituted the final number of the participants. After adjustment for all the sociodemographic factors included in the analysis, individuals with a stronger SOC had twice as high a chance of having healthier behaviour, including a lower frequency of snacks and drinks between meals, as well as a more positive attitude, such as the importance of having one's own teeth as one gets older, satisfaction with their own teeth, perceiving their teeth as good and no feeling of dental fear, compared with individuals with a poorer SOC. Moreover, SOC and a good knowledge of caries were significantly associated after adjustment for age and gender. CONCLUSIONS SOC was significantly associated with several oral health-related behaviours, attitudes towards oral health and knowledge of dental caries. When working with oral health promotion, SOC could be a way for promoting a better understanding of the behaviour and attitudes of individuals and for enabling dental personals to use that knowledge for the guidance of the individual.
Insulin treatment with preprandial injections of regular insulin in middle-aged type 2 diabetic patients. A two years observational study.

AIMS To describe effectivity and safety variables in Type 2 diabetic patients on preprandial regular insulin therapy before each main meal (supplementary insulin therapy SIT) during an observational period. METHODS A group of 77 consecutive Type 2 diabetic patients in whom SIT was initiated at this department between January 1994 and March 1998 were subjected to a follow-up examination after a mean of two years during which time they were mainly cared for by their family physicians. RESULTS For 86 % patients (n =66) the continuation of SIT was documented; in 41 % of them (n =27) a bed time injection of NPH insulin was added in order to adequately control fasting glycaemia. HbA1c had fallen from 9.3 +/-1.8 to 7.4 +/-1.7 %; no episode of major hypoglycaemia occurred; there was no statistically significant increase in body weight. CONCLUSIONS This observational study describes favourable intermediate outcome parameters of effectivity and safety for prandial regular insulin therapy of Type 2 diabetic patients, such as lowering of HbA1c without occurrence of major hypoglycaemia and without weight gain. Controlled trials are needed to confirm the encouraging results from this pilot study.
Effects of UV exclusion on the physiology and phenolic composition of leaves and berries of Vitis vinifera cv. Graciano.

BACKGROUND Ultraviolet (UV) radiation induces adaptive responses that can be used for plant production improvement. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of solar UV exclusion on the physiology and phenolic compounds of leaves and berry skins of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Graciano under field conditions. Phenolic compounds were analyzed globally and individually in both the vacuolar fraction and, for the first time in grapevine, the cell wall-bound fraction. These different locations may represent diverse modalities of phenolic response to and protection against UV. RESULTS UV exclusion led to a decrease in Fv /Fm in leaves, revealing that solar UV is needed for adequate photoprotection. Only p-caffeoyl-tartaric acid from the soluble fraction of leaves and myricetin-3-O-glucoside from the soluble fraction of berry skins were significantly higher in the presence of UV radiation, and thus they could play a role in UV protection. Other hydroxycinnamic acids, flavonols, flavanols and stilbenes did not respond to UV exclusion. CONCLUSION UV exclusion led to subtle changes in leaves and berry skins of Graciano cultivar, which would be well adapted to current UV levels. This may help support decision-making on viticultural practices modifying UV exposure of leaves and berries, which could improve grape and wine quality.