Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cl in ic al s tu di es Predictors of stress urinary incontinence in women

Introduction and objectives. The aim of this study is to highlight predictors or predisposing factors of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in order to help clinicians during their treatment decisions and establish a preventive strategy to decrease the incontinence rate among women. Materials and methods. We performed a retrospective study over a period of 3 years (January 2012December 2014) in Mureș County Hospital, Clinic of Urology. We examined 113 women with urinary incontinence and we established the following diagnosis: stress urinary incontinence in 68 cases (60%), urge urinary incontinence in 26 cases (23%) and mixed urinary incontinence in 19 cases (17%). The selection criteria for this study were female patients diagnosed with stress urinary incontinence having indication of surgical treatment (transobturator tapeTOT). We included in this study 24 patients admitted in the hospital. Results. Regarding the distribution of the patients depending on age group we observed that SUI was predominant in the 60-69 years age group (12 cases), followed by 70-79 years (6 cases), 50-59 years (4 cases) and 40-49years (2 cases). The mean age was 64,25+/-8,25 (standard deviation) years old with extremities between 41 to 46 years old. For the statistical analysis we applied Fisher’s test, Chi-square test and unpaired test and we compared the group having SIU with a group of 47 patients without the disease. We analyzed the data and we observed that increased age, pregnancies, vaginal delivery, menopause, body mass index (BMI), diabetes and hysterectomy represents risk factors for SUI and that there is a significant relation between SUI and those factors, p<0,05. Statisticaly, we found no relation between caesarian, urinary tract infections, genital prolapse, neurological diseases and SUI, p was insignificant. Conclusions. Stress urinary incontinence is frequent in middle age women. Multiple predictors like age, pregnancy, vaginal delivery, menopause, high body mass index, hysterectomy had been found to be associated with SUI. Recognizing these predisposing factors, we can develop in time prevention techniques which can reduce the development and progression of symptomatology in SUI.
Single agent thalidomide in patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukaemia

Summary. Thalidomide is a putative anti‐angiogenesis agent that has significant anti‐tumour activity in haematological malignancies with increased bone marrow angiogenesis, including multiple myeloma (MM) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Increased levels of the mitogen for angiogenesis, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), correlate with worse survival in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). A phase II trial of thalidomide was conducted in patients with relapsed‐ or refractory‐AML previously treated with cytarabine‐containing regimens. A total of 16 patients with refractory‐ or relapsed‐AML were treated with thalidomide 200–800 mg orally daily (median dose 400 mg daily) for a median of 27 d (range, 3–94 d). Overall, one patient (6%) achieved complete remission (CR) lasting for 36 months, and two patients had a transient reduction in marrow blasts from 8% and 7% to less than 5% in both cases. There was no correlation between reduction in levels of angiogenesis markers and response. Toxicities related to thalidomide were significant, and precluded dose escalation beyond 400 mg orally daily in most patients. Although there appears to be some evidence of biological activity, single agent thalidomide is not an optimal choice of therapy for salvaging patients with relapsed‐ or refractory‐AML. Thalidomide analogues with more potent immunomodulatory activities and more favourable toxicity profiles may offer more promise as anti‐AML therapy.
Methodological Hurdles in Capturing CMC Data: The Case of the Missing Self-Repair.

This paper reports on a study of the use of self-repair among learners of German in a taskbased CMC environment. The purpose of the study was two-fold. The first goal sought to establish how potential interpretations of CMC data may be very different depending on the method of data collection and evaluation employed. The second goal was to explicitly examine the nature of CMC self-repair in the task-based foreign language CALL classroom. Paired participants (n=46) engaged in six jigsaw tasks over the course of one university semester via the chat function in Blackboard. Chat data were evaluated first by using only the chat log file and second by examining a video file of the screen capture of the entire interaction. Results show a fundamental difference in the interpretation of the chat interaction which varies as a function of the data collection and evaluation methods employed. The findings also suggest a possible difference in the nature of self-repair across face-to-face and SCMC environments. In view of the results, this paper calls for CALL researchers to abandon the reliance on printed chat log files when attempting to interpret SCMC interactional data.
Before Babel: Speculations on the Origins of Linguistic Diversity

Recent research in historical linguistics suggests that groups or ‘families’ of languages may be classed together into larger language units or ‘macrofamilies’, for which some community of origin has been argued. The Afro-Asiatic macrofamily, for instance, which includes the Semitic and Berber languages as well as Ancient Egyptian and many languages of North and East Africa, is widely accepted among linguists. More controversial is the Nostratic macrofamily (including the Indo-European, the Altaic, the Uralic languages, etc.). The implications for prehistoric archaeology of the existence of such large linguistic units is examined. It is suggested that processes of agricultural dispersal may account for the widespread distribution of some of these macrofamilies.
Detection and Isolation of Mycobacterium avium Subspecies paratuberculosis from Intestinal Mucosal Biopsies of Patients with and without Crohn's Disease in Sardinia

OBJECTIVES:Sardinia is an island community of 1.6 million people. There are also about 3.5 million sheep and one hundred thousand cattle in which Johne's disease and Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis infection are endemic. The present study was designed to determine what proportion of people in Sardinia attending for ileocolonoscopy with or without Crohn's disease were infected with this pathogen.METHODS:Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis was detected by IS900 PCR on DNA extracts of fresh intestinal mucosal biopsies as well as by isolation in culture using supplemented MGIT media followed by PCR with amplicon sequencing.RESULTS:Twenty five patients (83.3%) with Crohn's disease and 3 control patients (10.3%) were IS900 PCR positive (p = 0.000001; Odds ratio 43.3). Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis grew in cultures from 19 Crohn's patients (63.3%) and from 3 control patients (10.3%) (p = 0.00001; Odds ratio 14.9). All patients positive by culture had previously been positive by PCR. Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis first appeared in the liquid cultures in a Ziehl Neelsen (ZN) staining negative form and partially reverted through a rhodamine-auramine positive staining form to the classical ZN positive form. This resulted in a stable mixed culture of all 3 forms illustrating the phenotypic versatility of these complex chronic enteric pathogens.CONCLUSIONS:Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis was detected in the majority of Sardinian Crohn's disease patients. The finding of the organism colonizing a proportion of people without Crohn's disease is consistent with what occurs in other conditions caused by a primary bacterial pathogen in susceptible hosts.
Modeling effect of Negative Bias Temperature Instability on potential distribution and degradation of double-gate MOSFETs

In this work, the effect of Negative Bias Temperature Instability (NBTI) on the potential distribution and degradation of floating-body (FB) undoped double-gate (DG) MOSFETs is modeled. The approach is based on solving the one-dimensional (1-D) Poisson's equation considering the NBTI effect in the inversion region. The study includes different stress voltages and device body thicknesses. The accuracy of the model is verified by the finite difference method (FDM). The results of the model are in very good agreement with those of the numerical method. These results show that in FB devices, the accumulation of the NBTI stress generated electrons in the device body reduces the body potential and oxide field and as a result decrease the generation of interface traps and degradation of device compared to the case that these electrons did not exist. In addition, the results show that because of larger volume density of generated electrons in devices with thinner bodies, the reduction of the oxide field is larger which lead to a decrease in generation of interface traps in them.
Enteral Nutrition in the Critically Ill: A Prospective Survey in an Australian Intensive Care Unit

Nutritional support is routine practice in critically ill patients and enteral feeding is preferred to the parenteral route. However this direct delivery of nutrients to the gut is potentially ineffective for a variety of reasons. We performed a prospective audit of 40 consecutive intensive care patients to determine whether enteral feeding met the nutritional requirements of our patients. The ideal requirements for each patient were calculated using the Harris-Benedict equation with an adjustment determined by the patient's diagnosis. We compared the amount of feed delivered with the daily requirements over a seven-day period. Successful feeding was defined as the achievement of 90% of the ideal calorie requirement for two consecutive days. The mean calculated (±SD) energy requirement was 9566kJ (±2586). Patients received only 51% (SD 38) of their energy requirements throughout the study period. Only 10 patients (25%) were successfully fed for at least any two-day period in the seven days. Feeding was limited mainly by gastrointestinal dysfunction or by the need to fast the patient for medical, surgical and airway procedures. Success of feeding was not related to the use of sedative or paralysing agents and had no correlation with plasma albumin concentration. There was no difference in the volume of feed delivered to patients who survived or died. Prokinetic agents were used in 25 patients and in these patients there was a trend towards improved delivery of feed.
Performance tuning of Java EE application servers with multi-objective differential evolution

This paper presents an empirical approach for the performance tuning of Java EE application servers (ASs) using a multi-objective differential evolution algorithm. It features multi-objective black-box optimization of selected AS's configuration parameters. The proposed approach is used for performance tuning of the AS GlassFish and Java EE test application DayTrader. The obtained results improve the objectives' values of referenced configuration (AS's default settings) individually, as well as a whole. We also find a Pareto front approximation which entirely dominates the referenced configuration objectives' values. Comparison with existing approaches is made based on previously found relations between certain configuration parameters' values. Results from multi-objective performance tuning offer a choice of alternative configurations and thus enable the attainment of business goals even within an environment where the objectives' priorities may change.
GIS tools for tick and tick-borne disease occurrence

Geographic information systems (GIS), their fundamental components and technologies are described. GIS is a computer-based system enabling the storage, integration, query, display and analysis of data using information on data location. Further, remote sensing (RS) methods and their application in landscape characterization are described. Landscape pattern analysis, combined with statistical analysis, allows the determination of landscape predictors of disease risk. This makes RS/GIS a powerful set of tools for disease surveillance, enabling the prediction of potential disease outbreaks and targeting intervention programs. The ‘pre-GIS era’ is briefly described including the early mapping of tick distribution, analyses and the display of biogeographical and medical data. The theory of natural focality of diseases (NFD) is explained and its significance in tick-borne diseases (TBD) research is discussed. Many problems of tick ecology and TBD epidemiology and epizootology have been addressed by means of GIS and examples of these studies are presented and discussed.
Asthma. From bronchoconstriction to airways inflammation and remodeling.

Introduction Acute Inflammation and Brief Symptoms Mechanisms: Experimentally Induced Allergic Reactions Clinical Consequences and Treatment Chronic Inflammation Site of the Inflammation in Asthma Cell Survival in Airway Tissues Characteristics of Chronic Inflammation Chronic Inflammation in the Different Forms of Asthma Clinic Consequences Treatment of Exacerbations Onset and Duration of Treatment Remodeling of the Airways Characteristics of Airways Remodeling in Asthma Clinical Consequences Radiographic Findings Treatment and Prevention of Airways Remodeling Conclusions
QoS-based dynamic allocation in embedded systems: A methodology and a framework

This paper focuses on a methodology for the dynamic allocation of embedded resources apt to satisfy requests of service with constraints of Quality of Service (QoS). Given a set of services provided by an embedded system, this methodology suggests how to determine the best match between a requested service and the set of Embedded subSystems (EsSs) able to provide that service. The selection of EsSs is carried out on the basis of the results of an a priori evaluation of the performances of service execution and of the availability of the single embedded resources. Moreover, the proposed methodology defines some guidelines to dynamically schedule and thus to assign the execution of the services to the chosen EsSs. With regard to the selection process this methodology benefits from both the content- and the collaborative-based filtering methods. To evaluate its consistency it has been implemented in a testing framework, named BIOS, that includes a repository of services, of service providers (i.e. of EsSs), of evaluation outcomes of the performances of each EsS in carrying out its own services, of an engine for the dynamic selection of the EsSs able to satisfy the requirements of a given service and of a container of Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOSs) able to efficiently schedule and to assign the execution of the requested services to the chosen EsSs. Considering state-of-the-art services provided by Body Sensor Network (BSN) subsystems, the hybrid solution proposed for the selection process has been tested and it has shown better results in comparison to the content-based filtering technique.
Complete Genome Sequence for Lactobacillus helveticus CNRZ 32, an Industrial Cheese Starter and Cheese Flavor Adjunct

ABSTRACT Lactobacillus helveticus is a lactic acid bacterium widely used in the manufacture of cheese and for production of bioactive peptides from milk proteins. We present the complete genome sequence for L. helveticus CNRZ 32, a strain particularly recognized for its ability to reduce bitterness and accelerate flavor development in cheese.
Agreement between gonioscopy and ultrasound biomicroscopy in detecting iridotrabecular apposition.

OBJECTIVE To assess the agreement between findings obtained at dark-room gonioscopy and ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) in the diagnosis of iridotrabecular apposition in light and dark conditions. METHODS We enrolled patients with appositional angle closure at dark-room gonioscopy performed using a 1-mm slitlamp beam that did not cross the pupil. Ultrasound biomicroscopic images were acquired in normal room light and subsequently with all room lights off. Images were evaluated for the presence or absence of iris-cornea contact. The angle opening distance at 500 microm was calculated. RESULTS Iridotrabecular apposition in at least 1 angle quadrant was demonstrated in all 18 eyes at dark-room gonioscopy, 17 eyes (94%) at dark-room UBM, and only 10 eyes (56%) at UBM in room light. Of 18 superior angles that were appositionally closed at dark-room gonioscopy, apposition was demonstrated on UBM images in 16 (89%) in a dark room but only 6 (33%) in room light. Angle opening distance was less during dark-room gonioscopy in all but the nasal quadrant. CONCLUSION We found high agreement between gonioscopy and UBM when both are performed in a completely dark room. Our findings support the recommendation that, in routine clinical practice, gonioscopy be performed in a dark room to avoid misdiagnosis of treatable iridotrabecular apposition.
Delay of Gratification and Test Anxiety 2

The ability to delay gratification among learners could serve as an effective learning strategy useful to diminish the detrimental effect of test anxiety. Academic delay of gratification refers to students' postponement of immediately available opportunities to satisfy impulses in favor of pursuing chosen important academic rewards or goals that are temporally remote but ostensibly more valuable. Using hierarchical regression analysis, this association was explored for 364 students. An association was found between academic delay of gratification and test anxiety once motivational, cognitive, and self-regulated factors are controlled. These findings suggest that academic delay of gratification may serve to enhance students' goal enhancement, which in turn results in high academic achievement. These results also suggest that delay of gratification may function as a learning strategy that buffers the detrimental effect of test anxiety by helping learners protect academic goals from nonacademic alternative strategies. These results also indicate that self-efficacy, regulation of time, and study environment are negative predictors of test anxiety, while delay of gratification, extrinsic goal orientation, and rehearsal are positive predictors of test anxiety. An appendix contains the Academic Delay of Gratification Scale (H. Bembenutty, 1997). (Contains 1 figure, 7 tables, and 59 references.) (SLD) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. 1 Delay of Gratification and Test Anxiety 1 Running head: Delay of Gratification and Test Anxiety Emotion Regulation and Test Anxiety: The Contribution of Academic Delay PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY
Peripheral blood mononuclear cell‐mediated cytolytic activity during cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection of guinea pigs

Inbred Strain‐2 guinea pigs exhibited endogenous peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC)‐mediated cytolytic activity against xenogeneic MA 104 targets and guinea pig cytomegalovirus (gpCMV)‐infected syngeneic and allogeneic targets. This endogenous cytolysis was unaffected by monoclonal T‐cell antibody depletion but was diminished by removal of plastic adherent cells. In nonadherent effector populations, cytolysis was mediated predominately by large granular lymphocytes (LGL).
Beyond anonymity, or future directions for internet identity research

This article draws on empirical research into internet use by minority ethnic women to consider whether anonymity remains a useful focus for sociocultural studies of internet identities. The central argument of the article is that the time has come for internet identity research to reposition itself conceptually, to move away from a preoccupation with the generalized, enduring claim that internet identities are anonymous, multiple and fragmented-not only because, in some cases, online identities are continuous with offline selves, but also, more importantly, because common uses of the concept of anonymity are limited as starting points for carrying out analyses of internet experiences. In short, it argues that the terms of internet identity research are problematic, that contexts matter, and that studies of internet identities need to engage with and learn from ongoing debates within cultural studies which call into question the usefulness of the very concept of identity.
Diversity in spindle morphology in Arabidopsis root tip

A primary function of the spindle apparatus is to segregate chromosomes into two equal sets in a dividing cell. It is unclear whether spindles in different cell types play additional roles in cellular regulation. As a first step in revealing new functions of spindles, we investigated spindle morphology in different cell types in Arabidopsis roots in the wild-type and the cytokinesis defective1 (cyd1) mutant backgrounds. cyd1 provides cells larger than those of the wild type for testing the cell size effect on spindle morphology. Our observations indicate that cell type (shape), not cell size, is likely a factor affecting spindle morphology. At least three spindle types were observed, including small spindles with pointed poles in narrow cells, large barrel-shaped spindles (without pointed poles) in wide cells, and spindles intermediate in pole focus and size in other cells. We hypothesize that the cell-type-associated spindle diversity may be an integral part of the cell differentiation processes.
Production of Apx toxins by field strains of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae and Actinobacillus suis

The three Apx toxins of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae have potential value for use in vaccines and diagnostic tests which will be species specific instead of serotype specific, provided that the Apx toxins are species specific and all field strains produce these toxins. We examined 114 A. pleuropneumoniae field strains and found that they secreted either ApxI, ApxII, ApxI and ApxII, or ApxII and ApxIII and secreted no other cytolytic activities. However, proteins similar to ApxI and ApxII were also produced by Actinobacillus suis.