Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adenotonsillar Enlargement in Pediatric Organ Transplant Recipients: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to statistically correlate adenotonsillar hypertrophy (ATH) in the pediatric posttransplant population with potential risk factors and to monitor the progression of ATH over time. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Participants were evaluated for ATH through a standardized 65-point questionnaire and an 8-point physical examination. They were also evaluated for current age, age at time of transplantation, type of organ transplant, gender, tacrolimus use, history of transplant rejection, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) serology, and cytomegalovirus (CMV) serology. We evaluated 243 pediatric solid organ transplant recipients, with 116 patients undergoing repeat evaluation. RESULTS: A statistically significant negative correlation was noted between age at time of transplantation and both questionnaire scores (P = 0.0075) and examination scores (P = 0.013). A significant negative correlation was also seen between age at time of evaluation and questionnaire score (P = 0.028) but not examination score (P = 0.49). Recipient EBV seronegativity significantly increased questionnaire score (P = 0.05). Liver transplant recipients also had a significantly higher questionnaire score than did kidney transplant recipients (P = 0.0048). Gender, CMV recipient status, and tacrolimus (immunosuppressant) use did not significantly impact questionnaire or examination scores. Repeat evaluation of 116 patients after a 2-to 9-month interval did not demonstrate any significant increases in questionnaire scores. A statistically significant drop in examination scores was noted (P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: These findings support previous reports in the literature that correlate EBV seronegativity, younger age at transplant, and liver versus kidney transplantation with increased incidence of PTLD.
REVISÃO SOBRE OTIMIZAÇÕES DE LAYOUTS DE TECLADOS VIRTUAIS APLICADOS A TECNOLOGIA ASSISTIVA

Resumo—Pessoas que possuem a Sindrome do Encarceramento são privadas de todos os seus movimentos e da capacidade de fala. Entre os vários métodos e softwares que possibilitam a comunicação desse tipo de paciente destacase o teclado virtual. Entretanto, sabe-se que a performance de digitação dos teclados virtuais é baixa. Uma maneira de aprimorar a digitação por meio desses teclados é otimizando seus layouts. Vários estudos vem sendo desenvolvidos com a finalidade de otimizar esses teclados e torná-los mais eficiêntes. O objetivo desse trabalho é mostrar as pesquisas desenvolvidas para aprimorar o teclado virtual. Foram identificados diversos métodos que podem ser utilizados para a resolução parcial desse problema. A partir desse levantamento uma nova metodologia de otimização é proposta.
Radio galaxies of the local universe - All-sky catalog, luminosity functions, and clustering

To understand the feedback of black holes on their environment or the acceleration of ultra-high energy cosmic rays in the present cosmic epoch, a systematic, all-sky inventory of radio galaxies in the local universe is needed. Here we present the first catalog of radio-emitting galaxies that meets this requirement. Our catalog allows the selection of volume-limited subsamples containing all low-power radio galaxies, similar to the prototypical low-power radio galaxies Cen A or M87, within some hundred Mpc. It is constructed by matching radio emission from the NVSS and SUMSS surveys to galaxies of the 2MASS Redshift Survey (2MRS) using an image-level algorithm that properly treats the extended structure of radio sources. The sample contains 575 radio-emitting galaxies with a flux greater than 213 mJy at 1.4 GHz. Over 30% of the galaxies in our catalog are not contained in existing large-area extra-galactic radio samples. We compute the optical and radio luminosity functions and the fraction of radio galaxies as a function of galaxy luminosity. We find that the galaxy density around radio galaxies is significantly higher than around non-radio galaxies of the same luminosity and morphology. This enhanced clustering suggests a causal relation between external galaxy properties, such as environment or merger history, and the formation of powerful jets in the present universe. Since the enhancement is observed with respect to galaxies of the same luminosity and Hubble type, it is not primarily driven by black hole mass. Our automated matching procedure is found to select radio-emitting galaxies with high efficiency (99%) and purity (91%), which is key for future processing of deeper, larger samples.
Corticotropin effects on blood pressure and fluid and electrolyte homeostasis in five strains of rats.

The hemodynamic and metabolic effects of 11 days of sham (saline) and corticotropin injection were examined in five different strains of rats: Sprague-Dawley, spontaneously hypertensive (SHR), Wistar-Kyoto (WKY), Brattleboro, and Long Evans. Corticotropin significantly increased systolic blood pressure (SBP) compared with sham injection in all strains: final SBP in Sprague-Dawley was 108 +/- 5 mm Hg corticotropin, 94 +/- 4 mm Hg sham; SHR 146 +/- 6 mm Hg corticotropin, 141 +/- 3 mm Hg sham; WKY 117 +/- 3 mm Hg corticotropin, 103 +/- 3 mm Hg sham; Brattleboro 108 +/- 5 mm Hg corticotropin, 93 +/- 2 mm Hg sham; and Long Evans 103 +/- 5 mm Hg corticotropin, 90 +/- 4 mm Hg sham (P less than .001). Corticotropin also produced a decrease in body weight and increases in water intake and urine output. Increases in urine electrolyte excretion were seen in some, but not all strains. The rise in pressure in the Brattleboro rats indicated that vasopressin is not essential for the corticotropin-induced rise in pressure. Blood pressure rises in SHR were not exaggerated. Withdrawal of corticotropin in Sprague-Dawley rats led to rapid reversal of the corticotropin-induced hemodynamic and metabolic changes. Thus, strain does not appear to be an important factor in corticotropin hypertension in the rat, in contrast to deoxycorticosterone hypertension.
Development of a multi channel wireless data acquisition system for swarm robots

_ Abstract —nowadays use of swarm robotic system is increasing. They are being used in defense applications, material handling, agriculture and many more. Swarm robots comprise of many analog and digital sensors. They can be humidity, temperature, ultrasonic, IR sensors, light dependant resistors (LDR) and many more. Each swarm robot transmits information to its neighbor swarm robot as well as to the control room. It is necessary to acquire real time data (in graphical format) from swarm robots to know the condition of the environment in which swarm robots work. However the actual concept of swarm robotics is not described here. This work deals with only real time wireless multichannel data acquisition. Here just a reference of swarm robots has been taken. Each swarm robot has Arduino UNO microcontroller and WIRDIN 1186 wireless module for transmitting the information to the control room. Control room has another WIRDIN 1186 wireless module to receive the information from the sensors mounted on swarm robots. Control room receives the information in Matlab graphical user interface. The technique of finding root locus of the acquired signal is also described. In a nut shell the intention is to show the multichannel wireless real time data acquisition technique.
Industrial labor opportunities and fertility decisions : Field experimental evidence from Ethiopia

Female labor force participation and fertility rates are often found to be negatively correlated, thus employment opportunities for women in developing countries with high fertility rates have arguably important impact on demographic and economic development. The relationship is, however, highly endogenous and causal evidence for this claim is nearly non-existent. In this paper I use a randomized field experiment to examine the causal effects of formal employment on women’s fertility choices. The experiment was implemented in the growing industry of light-manufacturing in Ethiopia. Due to oversupply of applicants, eligible entry-level candidates were randomized to either receive a job offer or to serve in a control group. The sample consists of more than 1500 married women who are followed through three survey waves over twelve months. I find that factory jobs actually increase the likelihood of pregnancy in the short run (5pp more are pregnant in the treatment group than in the control group after 12 months). However, we find no differences in preferred lifetime fertility, in the use of contraceptive methods, nor in decision-making power whether to have or when to have children. The pre-analysis plan for this paper was registered at the AEA RCT Registry, November 10, 2017, with the title: ”Pre-Analysis Plan: The Short-Term Impacts of Factory Employment on the Fertility Choices of Married Women: Evidence from Ethiopia Using a Randomized Controlled Trial”.
P o S ( E P SH E P 2 0 1 7 ) 5 6 5 The LHCb Starterkit initiative

The vast majority of high-energy physicists use and produce software every day. Software skills are usually acquired on the go and dedicated training courses are rare. The LHCb Starterkit is a new training format for getting LHCb collaborators started in effectively using software to perform their research. The initiative, combining courses and online tutorials, focuses on teaching basic skills for research computing, as well as LHCb software specifics. Unlike traditional tutorials we focus on starting with basics, performing all the material live, with a high degree of interactivity, giving priority to understanding the tools as opposed to handing out recipes that work “as if by magic”. The LHCb Starterkit was started by young members of the collaboration inspired by the principles of Software Carpentry, and the material is created in a collaborative fashion using the tools we teach. Three successful entry-level workshops, as well as two advanced ones, have taken place since the start of the initiative in 2015, and were taught largely by PhD students to other PhD students.
Online Game Server Framework for Creating Platformer Games

Game technology has become increasingly more popular in today's society. Both adults and children love to play games as entertainment and exercise. But sometimes individuals cannot play the characters and scenarios according to their wishes, so the games that are played still depend on the scenarios created by the game maker. These issues encourage game authors to create a game server framework that helps players to create the desired game. In this paper we choose platformer game as research case study. There are several stages in the development of online gaming server framework. First, some 2D models are created that will be selected by the user as characters. Then, a program is created to build interaction between users with the game. Next, the framework is setup for placement of 2D / character models and programs. Then the framework is placed on the web server so that it can be accessed online. The application test shows the game goes well and gives satisfaction to its users.
A cross-taxa survey of organochlorine pesticide contamination in a Costa Rican wildland

Amphibians, turtles, birds (mostly passerines) and mice collected from a conservation area in northwestern Costa Rica were analyzed for organochlorine (OC) pesticide contamination. Six of 39 amphibians (three of eight species), three of six turtles (two species), one of eight mice (one species) and 19 of 55 birds (five of seven species) contained OCs at levels up to 580 ng/g. The most frequently detected compound in 23 of 108 organisms was p,p0DDE. Dieldrin, delta-BHC, heptachlor, p,p0DDD, and endosulfan II were each found in at least four organisms, while eight other OCs were found in at least one organism. The presence of OCs in taxa from the conservation area indicates the likelihood of long-distance transport of such compounds through the atmosphere. # 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Analysis of reference crop evapotranspiration and complexity in Liaoning Province

In order to analyze reference crop evapotranspirati on (ET0) and its spatio-temporal variation of complexity i n Liaoning Province and based on the daily meteorolog ical data of 56 weather stations in Liaoning Provin ce from 1954 to 2006, daily ET 0 was calculated by the Penman-Montieth formula and its complexity was calculated by the Lempel-Ziv algorithm. The results showed that: The av rage daily ET 0 was within the range of (2.380 ± 0.300) mm ,the maximum value 2.690mm achieved in 1965 and the minimum value 2.098mm achieved in 1954; average annual ET0 was in a decreasing trend and the trend was at a r ate of -0.017mm • 10a; the cumulative average value of all decades is negative except the 1960s,Liaonin g Province spatial distribution of mean annual ET 0 rendered from the northwest to the southeast coast inland decreas ing trend , and in addition to Zhangwu stations, Fu xin station , Fengcheng stations, Zhuanghe stations and King Coun ty station showed a significant upward trend , othe r sites mostly downward trend and 1/ 3 of the above sites s howed a significant downward trend ; an increasing trend was observed from northwest to southeast coastal areas in 50a ET0 complexity with higher complexity the southeast coastal areas and lower complexity northeast inland reas. First increase and then decrease trend were found in multi-year average yearly ET 0 complexity. In last 20 year, statistically signifi cant decreasing trend was observed generally in Liaoning province. ET 0 complexity in liaoning province were significantly positive correlation with the temperature and wind speed, and relative humidity h as significant positive correlation.
Lipid metabolism in rats fed diets containing different types of lipids.

OBJECTIVE To assess the effect of different types of lipid diets on the lipid metabolism of aging rats. METHODS Fifty male Wistar rats were studied from the time of weaning to 12 and 18 months of age. Their diets were supplemented as follows: with soybean oil (S), canola oil (CA), lard and egg yolk (LE), and canola oil + lard and egg yolk (CA + LE). Blood pressure (BP) was measured every month, and the heart/body ratio (H/BR) was determined. The rats were euthanized at the age of 12 and 18 months, and blood samples were collected for lipid analysis as follows: total cholesterol (TC), LDL-C, VLDL-C, HDL-C, triglycerides (TG), and glucose. RESULTS The type of oil ingested by the animals significantly altered BP, H/BR, and serum lipid levels in rats at 12 and 18 months. No difference was observed in the survival curve of the animals in the different groups. The LE group had the highest BP, and the CA group was the only one in which BP did not change with aging. A reduction in the H/BR was observed in the LE and CA+LE animals. At the age of 12 months, differences in TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, VLDL-C, TG, and glucose were observed. At the age of 18 months, a significant difference in TC, HDL-C, and glucose was observed. The highest TC value was found in the CA group and the lowest in the S group. CONCLUSION No increase in BP occurred, and an improvement was evident in the lipid profile of rats fed a diet supplemented with CA, in which an elevation in HDL-C levels was observed, as compared with levels with the other types of diet.
Protective effect of tripterine on carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic fibrosis in immature rats

This study was designed to investigate the hepatoprotective activity of Tripterine (Tri) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced hepatic fibrosis in rats by suppressing TGF-β1/Smad signaling. In this study, a total of forty healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups, including normal control, CCl4-treated, Colchicine (Col)-treated (0.1 mg/kg, b.w.), Tri-treated (4, 8 mg/kg, b.w.). After a period of 6 weeks, liver and spleen indexes were calculated. The levels of liver biological activities such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), hyaluronate (HA), laminin (LN), collagen type IV (COL4), and procollagen III (PCIII) were determined after Tri administration. Histopathological analysis of the liver tissues was also determined. Expression of hepatic gene TGF-β Receptor I (Tβ-RI), Smad3, Smad7, Collagen I and Collagen III, were detected using qRT-PCR. Tri was found to ameliorate liver injury, and hepatic fibrogenesis induced by CCl4 in rats. Tri could significantly decrease the contents of ALT and AST (P<0.01). Compared with the CCl4-treated group, levels of HA, LN, COL4 and PCIII were significantly increased, and Tri treatment significantly reduced the levels of four biomarkers in CCl4-induced rats (P<0.01). Liver morphological examination showed that Tri ameliorated CCl4-induced state of fibrotic septa, necrosis, and hepatic steatosis. The results of mRNA expressions studies displayed that Tri (8 mg/kg, b.w.) could inhibit Tβ-RI, Smad3, Smad7, Collagen I and Collagen III expression in the liver tissues (P<0.01 or P<0.05). This study provides evidence of protective effects of Tri against CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis by reducing inflammatory response in the liver.
Evolution of complex life cycles in trophically transmitted helminths. I. Host incorporation and trophic ascent

Links between parasites and food webs are evolutionarily ancient but dynamic: life history theory provides insights into helminth complex life cycle origins. Most adult helminths benefit by sexual reproduction in vertebrates, often high up food chains, but direct infection is commonly constrained by a trophic vacuum between free‐living propagules and definitive hosts. Intermediate hosts fill this vacuum, facilitating transmission to definitive hosts. The central question concerns why sexual reproduction, and sometimes even larval growth, is suppressed in intermediate hosts, favouring growth arrest at larval maturity in intermediate hosts and reproductive suppression until transmission to definitive hosts? Increased longevity and higher growth in definitive hosts can generate selection for larger parasite body size and higher fecundity at sexual maturity. Life cycle length is increased by two evolutionary mechanisms, upward and downward incorporation, allowing simple (one‐host) cycles to become complex (multihost). In downward incorporation, an intermediate host is added below the definitive host: models suggest that downward incorporation probably evolves only after ecological or evolutionary perturbations create a trophic vacuum. In upward incorporation, a new definitive host is added above the original definitive host, which subsequently becomes an intermediate host, again maintained by the trophic vacuum: theory suggests that this is plausible even under constant ecological/evolutionary conditions. The final cycle is similar irrespective of its origin (upward or downward). Insights about host incorporation are best gained by linking comparative phylogenetic analyses (describing evolutionary history) with evolutionary models (examining selective forces). Ascent of host trophic levels and evolution of optimal host taxa ranges are discussed.
Antiinflammatory activity of the aqueous extract of Calea zacatechichi.

The inflammatory process involves many biochemical pathways and a variety of mediators [1-5]. Antiinflammatory drugs presently available for the treatment of various inflammatory disorders, have one or more adverse and undesirable side-effects [5,6]. In recent years, active principles of varied chemical structures have been isolated from plants possessing anti-inflammatory activity. Calea zacatechichi Schlecht (Compositae/Asteraceae) grows in fields in southern Mexican and several other countries. It is used in the folk medicine of Mexico for many medical purposes, especially as treatment of various inflammatory diseases: rheumatism, edema and respiratory pathway disorders. Different parts of the plant have been administered when the extremities are cold during fever and for pains in the legs and arms [7]. We only found a single reference related to anti-inflammatory effects for this plant [8]. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate whether the aqueous extract of Calea zacatechichi showed anti-inflammatory activity.
Estimating the Economic Value of Adaptation to Climate Change with Choice Experiments : An application to the Aoos River basin in Greece

Climate projection models as applied by IPCC for the Southern Mediterranean basin indicate a strong drought trend. This pattern is anticipated to affect a range of services derived from river ecosystems. This paper aims to examine local residents’ preferences for adapting to climate change for a specific Aoos river basin in Epirus, Greece. The preferences are approached by a Choice Experiment in order to extrapolate econometric simulation of the choices towards adaptation of four prominent services of the Aoos system namely: irrigation, rafting period, hydropower production and ecological state. The econometric analysis is conducted by means of Conditional Logit and Nested Logit calibration models. Both models produce positive and significant estimates for all river-specific attributes. Nevertheless, the Nested Logit performs considerably better describing robustly that people are willing to move away from the ‘do nothing situation’ attaching significant economic values on adaptation strategies. This may also have implications about the use of Nested Logit model in unlabelled Choice Experiments, in cases that the IIA hypothesis is not satisfied by the choice empirical data.
Role of 5-HT2 receptors in the tryptamine-induced 5-HT syndrome in rats

We distinguished the functions of the different 5-hydroxytryptamine-2 (5-HT2) receptor (5-HT2R) subtypes in the tryptamine-induced 5-HT syndrome in rats using (1) the 5-HT2AR antagonist R93274 (N-[(3-p-fluorophenyl-1-propyl)-4-methyl-4-piperidinyl]-4-amino-5-iodo-2-methoxybenzamide), the 5-HT2A/CR antagonist R99647 (2-(dimethylaminomethyl)2,3,3 a,8-tetrahydrodibenzo[c,f]isoxazolo[2,3-a]azepine), the 5-HT2B/CR antagonist SB-242084 (6-chloro-5-methyl-1-[[2-[(2-methyl-3-pyridyl)oxy]-5-pyridyl]carbamoyl]-indoline), and several 5-HT2R antagonists (ketanserin, risperidone, pipamperone and mianserin); and (2) chronic 5-HT2R activation by 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylphenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOM). In contrast to SB-242084, the selective 5-HT2AR antagonist R93274 as well as the non-selective 5-HT2AR antagonists (R99647, ketanserin, risperidone, pipamperone and mianserin) significantly inhibited tryptamine-induced forepaw treading and tremors, and reversed peripherally mediated cyanosis into hyperaemia; only the 5-HT2A/CR antagonists R99647 and mianserin inhibited the tryptamine-induced hunched back. Intermittent DOM administration (intravenously every 48 h for 12 days) did not change the centrally mediated tryptamine-induced forepaw treading, tremors and hunched back at 1, 4 or 7 days after the last DOM pretreatment. The DOM-induced head twitch response, measured immediately after every DOM injection, was not affected. In contrast, peripherally mediated cyanosis was reversed into hyperaemia in 75, 11 and 20% of all pretreated rats at 1, 4 and 7 days, respectively, after the last DOM administration. Taken together, these finding suggest that central 5-HT2ARs mediate tryptamine-induced forepaw treading and tremors, that peripheral 5-HT2ARs mediate tryptamine-induced cyanosis, and that 5-HT2CRs mediate tryptamine-induced hunched back. Peripheral 5-HT2ARs are more sensitive to desensitization after intermittent treatment with an agonist than central 5-HT2ARs.