Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A survey of pregnant women's attitude towards breech delivery and external cephalic version

A structured interview survey was carried out in 150 women who came for their first antenatal visit in a university hospital in Hong Kong between June and July 1998. Their opinions and perceptions of fetal and maternal safeties on different modes of delivery for both cephalic and breech presentation, and external cephalic version (ECV) were surveyed. Their decisions on the management of term breech‐presenting pregnancy were examined. Most women (92%) preferred vaginal delivery to Caesarean delivery (CS) in case of cephalic presentation, mainly because it was a natural way of parturition. They perceived that vaginal delivery was safer than CS for both mothers and babies, but the reverse was true for breech presentation. About 82% chose ECV as the first choice of managing breech presentation, mainly because a successful version allowed a natural way of delivery. Only 2% of women considered ECV ineffective, and 13.3% and 18.7% considered it not safe for mothers and fetuses respectively. Therefore, ECV should be an available option in all obstetric units. Adequate counselling and explanation would improve the acceptance of ECV.
The Study Effects of Dental Composite Resin as Antibacterial Agent Which Contain Nanoparticles of Zinc Oxide on the Bacteria Associated with Oral Infection

The absent of antimicrobial properties in composite resin was partly ascribed to the recurrent caries therefore the resin composite plus antimicrobial activity be useful to prevention of the secondary caries which frequently are seen around the restorations. Aim of the present study is evaluating the effectiveness of ZnO nanoparticles incorporating into composite resin as antimicrobial agent against bacteria causing dental caries in oral cavity. This study examined the antibacterial effects of the nanoparticles zinc oxide as inorganic antibacterial agent on pathogenic bacteria associated with oral infectious disease, in which the bactericide of ZnO/NPs was immobilized. The antibacterial effects of inorganic antibacterial agent were assessed by employed the agar discdiffusion test, with three different concentration of prepared ZnO/NPs (in vitro) on the bacteria causing caries in this study after isolation and biochemical detection, the results show 85% reduction in growth of different kinds of bacteria which tested under study. The antibacterial agent (ZnO/NPs) exhibited strong antibacterial activity against broad-spectrum of pathogenic bacteria in oral cavity associated with caries.
Linkage to the CCM2 Locus and Genetic Heterogeneity in Familial Cerebral Cavernous Malformation

ABSTRACT: Background: Cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM) is a form of intracranial vascular disease that may arise sporadically or be dominantly inherited. Linkage studies have revealed genetic heterogeneity among the dominantly inherited forms suggesting the existence of at least three loci called CCM1, CCM2 and CCM3. Methods: In the present study, we screened five families with dominantly inherited CCM for CCM1 gene mutations with denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC). Then, we performed linkage analysis and haplotyping on these five families using highly polymorphic markers at the candidate CCM loci. Results: None of the five families tested with DHPLC were found to have mutations in the CCM1 gene. Based on haplotyping, we identified three families segregating alleles for CCM2, while two families segregated alleles for CCM3. Using linkage analysis, we could confirm that one family (IFCAS-1) had a positive Lod score of 2.03 (p<0.0001) at the CCM2 locus using marker D7S678. Conclusions: The present study is the first one to replicate linkage at the CCM2 locus and provides a fifth family identified as such. It also supports the concept of genetic heterogeneity in CCM, identifying four other families that showed no mutations in the CCM1 gene.
Numerical analysis of the performance of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite heat spreader in thermal management of microelectronics assemblies

An inverse analysis approach combining numerical and experimental analyses has been utilised to determine the in-situ effective material properties of Highly Oriented Pyrolytic Graphite (HOPG) in a microelectronics test assembly. The approach adopted uses a Finite Element analysis package to determine temperature distribution over a thermal test assembly. A Virtual Design of Experiments approach is used to define a series of analyses with discrete thermal material properties which is used in conjunction with a particle swarm optimisation algorithm to form a response surface function relating temperature to material property values at a number of monitoring points. Experimental data is used to form an error metric which is subsequently minimised to determine effective material properties of the HOPG material. Subsequently a series of studies contrasting the performance of the HOPG material with common heat spreader materials were performed. Results show that the effective thermal property values of the HOPG material seem to be greater than suggested in existing literature and that the HOPG material reduces peak assembly temperatures by a significant amount.
RF Performance of SOI CMOS Technology on Commercial 200-mm Enhanced Signal Integrity High Resistivity SOI Substrate

RF performance of a 200-mm commercial-enhanced signal integrity high resistivity silicon-on-insulator (eSI HR-SOI) substrate is investigated and compared with its counterpart HR-SOI wafer. By measuring coplanar waveguide lines and substrate crosstalk structures, it is demonstrated that losses are completely suppressed leading to virtually lossless linear substrate. Moreover, a reduction of the second harmonic distortion by more than 25 dB is measured on eSI HR-SOI wafer compared with HR-SOI. Excellent matching between experimental dc and RF characteristics of fully depleted SOI MOSFETs measured on top of HR-SOI and eSI HR-SOI is demonstrated. Furthermore, digital substrate noise is reduced by more than 25 dB on eSI HR-SOI compared with HR-SOI, when injected noise varies from 500 kHz to 50 MHz. The eSI HR-SOI substrate is fully compatible with the CMOS process and could be considered as a promising solution for the RF front-end-modules integration and system-on-chip applications.
Spinal flexibility and balance control among community-dwelling adults with and without Parkinson's disease.

BACKGROUND One area of research that requires further elaboration is the relationship between impairments and functional limitations. By identifying specific contributors to functional limitations, it may be possible to establish intervention strategies, including exercise approaches, that can delay or ameliorate decline in function. The association between impaired spinal flexibility and functional limitations has not been studied in depth. The purposes of this study were to determine (a) the associations between spinal flexibility and functional limitations; (b) the relative contribution of spinal flexibility to specific functional limitations; and (c) how disease state (Parkinson's disease [PD] vs no PD) modified these relationships. METHODS Participants included 251 community-dwelling adults, 56 of whom were with diagnosed PD and 195 were without PD or other specific disorders. Measures included spinal flexibility (i.e., functional axial rotation [FAR]) and configuration (i.e., thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis), functional limitations (i.e., functional reach, supine-to-stand time, 10-m walk, and 360 degrees turn). RESULTS Canonical correlation (Can R) demonstrated significant associations between spinal measures and functional limitations (Can R = .488, p = .0001). After controlling for age, gender, race, body mass index, comorbidity, confidence, and depression, a multivariate regression model demonstrated that spinal flexibility contributed significantly to functional reach (R2 = .334 for the overall model, p = .0001). Based on the parameter estimate of 0.026, the results prediet that FAR accounts for a 4.6-inch difference in reach distance between the least and most flexible of the participants. In addition, there were significant differences between almost all measurements for the PD compared with the non-PD participants. CONCLUSION Results clearly implicate spinal flexibility as a contributor to functional reach, a measure of functional limitation and an established measure of balance control. Further work is needed to determine the extent to which spinal flexibility can be improved and the effect of that improvement on balance.
A transient stability control adaptive to measurements uncertainties

In this work we propose an adaptive cyber-enabled control scheme for transient stability of smart grids. Based on feedback linearization control theory, the proposed distributed scheme utilizes a distributed energy storage system (ESS) to modify the dynamics of the power system during transients. However, the controller's design parameter is adapted to the cyber state of the smart grid. Specifically, the distributed control scheme adapts to the level of noise, communication latency, interference, and data injection attacks. Further, depending on the severity of the physical disturbance, the controller adjusts its design parameter in order to speed up the stabilization process. The performance of the proposed control scheme is validated on the IEEE 68-bus test power system where the controller is shown to efficiently stabilize the power system during physical and cyber disturbances.
The Legionella pneumophila Effector SidJ Is Required for Efficient Recruitment of Endoplasmic Reticulum Proteins to the Bacterial Phagosome

ABSTRACT The virulence of Legionella pneumophila is dependent on the Dot/Icm type IV protein secretion system, which translocates effectors into infected cells. A large number of such translocated proteins have been identified, but few of these proteins are necessary for intracellular replication of the pathogen, making it difficult to correlate these genes with specific cell-biological events associated with L. pneumophila infection. We report here the identification and characterization of a family of two substrates, SidJ and SdjA, with distinctive phenotypes. In contrast to many Dot/Icm substrates, whose expression levels are elevated when bacteria are grown to postexponential phase, SidJ is produced at a constant rate during the entire bacterial growth cycle. Mutation in sidJ causes a significant growth defect in both macrophage and amoeba hosts, but an sdjA mutant is detectably defective only in protozoan hosts. However, in the amoeba host a mutant lacking both sidJ and sdjA does not display a more severe growth defect than the sidJ mutant. Despite its significant intracellular growth defect, the sidJ mutant is still able to effectively evade fusion with lysosomes. Importantly, recruitment of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) proteins by vacuoles containing the sidJ mutant was considerably delayed in both mammalian and amoeba cells. Our results suggest that SidJ modulates host cellular pathways, contributing to the trafficking or retention of ER-derived vesicles to L. pneumophila vacuoles.
Chromatinisation of herpesvirus genomes

The double‐stranded DNA genomes of herpesviruses exist in at least three alternative global chromatin states characterised by distinct nucleosome content. When encapsidated in virus particles, the viral DNA is devoid of any nucleosomes. In contrast, within latently infected nuclei herpesvirus genomes are believed to form regular nucleosomal structures resembling cellular chromatin. Finally, during productive infection nuclear viral DNA appears to adopt a state of intermediate chromatin formation with irregularly spaced nucleosomes. Nucleosome occupancy coupled with posttranslational histone modifications and other epigenetic marks may contribute significantly to the extent and timing of transcription from the viral genome and, consequently, to the outcome of infection. Recent research has provided first insights into the viral and cellular mechanisms that either maintain individual herpesvirus chromatin states or mediate transition between them. Here, we summarise and discuss both early work and new developments pointing towards common principles pertinent to the dynamic structure and epigenetic regulation of herpesvirus chromatin. Special emphasis is given to the emerging similarities in nucleosome assembly and disassembly processes on herpes simplex virus type 1 and human cytomegalovirus genomes over the course of the viral productive replication cycle and during the switch between latent and lytic infectious stages. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Three times more days depressed than manic or hypomanic in both bipolar I and bipolar II disorder.

OBJECTIVES To assess the proportion of time spent in mania, depression and euthymia in a large cohort of bipolar subjects studied longitudinally, and to investigate depression/mania ratios in patients with bipolar I versus bipolar II disorder. METHODS Clinician-adjusted self-ratings of mood were completed daily for one year for naturalistically treated outpatients with bipolar I (n = 405) or bipolar II (n = 102) disorder. Ratings were analyzed for mean time spent euthymic, depressed, manic, hypomanic, and cycling, and the percentages of time spent ill were compared between the two groups. RESULTS Percentages of time spent ill for bipolar I versus II patients were: euthymia 47.7% versus 50.2%; depression 36.0% versus 37.0%; hypomania 11.5% versus 9.8%; mania 1.0% versus 0.2%; and cycling 3.7% versus 2.8%. The depression/mania ratio was 2.9 in the bipolar I and 3.8 in bipolar II sub-groups. CONCLUSIONS Depression represents the predominant abnormal mood state for treated outpatients with bipolar I and II disorder. In contrast to other studies, we found that depression/mania ratios were of a similar magnitude, suggesting the same tendency towards mood instability in both sub-groups.
Uncertainties in estimates of mortality attributable to ambient PM2.5 in Europe

The assessment of health impacts associated with airborne particulate matter smaller than 2.5 μm in diameter (PM2.5) relies on aerosol concentrations derived either from monitoring networks, satellite observations, numerical models, or a combination thereof. When global chemistry-transport models are used for estimating PM2.5, their relatively coarse resolution has been implied to lead to underestimation of health impacts in densely populated and industrialized areas. In this study the role of spatial resolution and of vertical layering of a regional air quality model, used to compute PM2.5 impacts on public health and mortality, is investigated. We utilize grid spacings of 100 km and 20 km to calculate annual mean PM2.5 concentrations over Europe, which are in turn applied to the estimation of premature mortality by cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Using model results at a 100 km grid resolution yields about 535 000 annual premature deaths over the extended European domain (242 000 within the EU-28), while numbers approximately 2.4% higher are derived by using the 20 km resolution. Using the surface (i.e. lowest) layer of the model for PM2.5 yields about 0.6% higher mortality rates compared with PM2.5 averaged over the first 200 m above ground. Further, the calculation of relative risks (RR) from PM2.5, using 0.1 μg m−3 size resolution bins compared to the commonly used 1 μg m−3, is associated with ±0.8% uncertainty in estimated deaths. We conclude that model uncertainties contribute a small part of the overall uncertainty expressed by the 95% confidence intervals, which are of the order of ±30%, mostly related to the RR calculations based on epidemiological data.
From childbearers to culture‐bearers: Transition to postchildbearing among tuareg women

This essay presents an analysis of women's lived experience of the transition from childbearing to postchildbearing among a division of the Tuareg in Niger, West Africa. The analysis suggests that biological realities associated with the end of fertility are interwined with local notions of qualities of ritual and social elderhood among women. It shows how changes in ritual and social roles, associated with increasing devotion to Islam and becoming a mother‐in‐law, are salient criteria for assuming the role and status of post‐menopausal woman. The implication of this is very significant for biocultural reasons: menstruation and its cessation are not always literally the most important markers in female aging, in cross‐cultural perspective.
Audit committee adoption and firm value: evidence from UK financial institutions

This paper aims to examine the impact of audit committee (AC) adoption on the financial value of financial institutions in the UK and also to examine the impact of the establishment of an AC on firm value during the pre/post-global financial crisis era. ,The paper embarks on a theoretical and empirical literature review on AC adoption and its impact on a firm’s financial value. The paper uses data from 63 financial institutions and covers a 12-year period. ,The empirical results indicate that the adoption of an AC by financial institutions has a positive and statistically significant impact on firm value. The results from the pre-crisis period also indicate that the adoption of an AC makes a positive and significant contribution to firm value. However, there is no impact on firm value during the post-crisis period. The results suggest that the entire UK economy experienced an economic downturn after the financial crisis (2009-2011), and financial firms were no exception. ,This study helps to fill research gaps on the relationships between ACs and firm value as they exist in UK financial institutions. These findings are important for policymakers and regulators. ,This research will encourage firms to establish ACs. ,This new finding about the importance of firms having an AC in place is important for policymakers and regulators. ,To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research is the first to conduct an empirical study of the effect of AC adoption on UK financial institutions and firm value. Second, no single study has been conducted on the effects of AC adoption and its impact on either the pre- or post-financial crisis periods. This is the first paper to provide such empirical evidence.
Excision margins in high-risk malignant melanoma.

BACKGROUND Controversy exists concerning the necessary margin of excision for cutaneous melanoma 2 mm or greater in thickness. METHODS We conducted a randomized clinical trial comparing 1-cm and 3-cm margins. RESULTS Of the 900 patients who were enrolled, 453 were randomly assigned to undergo surgery with a 1-cm margin of excision and 447 with a 3-cm margin of excision; the median follow-up was 60 months. A 1-cm margin of excision was associated with a significantly increased risk of locoregional recurrence. There were 168 locoregional recurrences (as first events) in the group with 1-cm margins of excision, as compared with 142 in the group with 3-cm margins (hazard ratio, 1.26; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.00 to 1.59; P=0.05). There were 128 deaths attributable to melanoma in the group with 1-cm margins, as compared with 105 in the group with 3-cm margins (hazard ratio, 1.24; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.96 to 1.61; P=0.1); overall survival was similar in the two groups (hazard ratio for death, 1.07; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.85 to 1.36; P=0.6). CONCLUSIONS A 1-cm margin of excision for melanoma with a poor prognosis (as defined by a tumor thickness of at least 2 mm) is associated with a significantly greater risk of regional recurrence than is a 3-cm margin, but with a similar overall survival rate.
Effects of Overtraining on Skeletal Muscle Growth and Gene Expression

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of overtraining on skeletal muscle growth and growth-related gene expression. The rats of overtraining group (OT) and overtraining recovery group (OTR) were subject to 11 experimental weeks of overtraining protocol. It was found that the absolute gastrocnemius muscle wet weight of the OT group was significantly lower than that of the sedentary group (23.6%, P<0.01). Serum creatine kinase was significantly higher in the OT and OTR groups than the sedentary group. CD68, CD163, MyoD, myogenin, IL-1β, TNF-α, IGF-I and MGF mRNA did not change in the OT group as compared with the sedentary group. IL-6 and TGF-β1 mRNA in the OT group increased significantly as compared with the sedentary group (2.17 fold and 1.78 fold, respectively; P<0.01). IL-10 mRNA decreased significantly in the OT group (63%, P<0.01) and the OTR group (77%, P<0.01) compared to the sedentary group. COX-2 mRNA decreased significantly in the OT group (60%, P<0.01) and the OTR group (69%, P<0.01) from the sedentary group. uPA mRNA in the OT group was significantly lower than that in the sedentary group (32%, P<0.01). These data suggest that inflammatory cytokines, COX-2 and uPA may play roles in the inhibition of skeletal muscle growth induced by overtraining.
Trends in management and outcomes of patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock.

CONTEXT Early mechanical revascularization in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) complicated by cardiogenic shock is a therapeutic strategy that reduces mortality. It has been a class I recommendation in guidelines from the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association since 1999 for patients younger than 75 years. However, little is known about implementation of these guidelines in practice. OBJECTIVES To assess trends in early revascularization and mortality for patients with cardiogenic shock complicating AMI and to determine whether the national guidelines affect revascularization rates. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS Prospective, observational study of 293,633 patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (25,311 [8.6%] had cardiogenic shock; 7356 [29%] had cardiogenic shock at hospital presentation) enrolled in the National Registry of Myocardial Infarction (NRMI) from January 1995 to May 2004 at 775 US hospitals with revascularization capability (defined as the capability to perform cardiac catheterization, percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI], and open-heart surgery). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Management patterns and in-hospital mortality rates. RESULTS There was an increase in primary PCI rates from 27.4% to 54.4% (P<.001) in hospitals with revascularization capability that paralleled the change in PCI for ST-elevation myocardial infarction. There was no significant change in rates of immediate coronary artery bypass graft surgery (from 2.1% to 3.2%). Propensity-adjusted multivariable analyses demonstrated that primary PCI was associated with a decreased odds of death during hospitalization (odds ratio, 0.46; 95% confidence interval, 0.40-0.53). There were no differences in the rates of change in revascularization rates based on the date when the guidelines were released regardless of patient age. Overall in-hospital cardiogenic shock mortality decreased from 60.3% in 1995 to 47.9% in 2004 (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS The use of PCI for patients with cardiogenic shock was associated with improved survival in a large group of hospitals with revascularization capability. The American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association guidelines had no detectable temporal impact on revascularization rates. These findings support the need for increased adherence to these guidelines.