Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Benson's relaxation technique on the anxiety of patients undergoing coronary angiography: A randomized control trial

Background and Purpose: Anxiety is a common problem associated with invasive medical procedures, especially in patients undergoing coronary angiography. As an intensifier at cardiovascular reactions, anxiety poses significant risk to the health of patients undergoing angiography. Researchers believe that use of Benson's relaxation technique could reduce anxiety in different patients. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Benson's relaxation technique on the anxiety of patients undergoing coronary angiography. Methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 70 patients who were candidates for coronary angiography in Mazandaran Heart Center in Sari, Iran in 2014. Patients were selected via randomized sampling and divided into two groups of intervention (n=35) and control (n=35). Data collection tools included demographic questionnaire, Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and hemodynamic variables recording sheet. Data analysis was performed in SPSS V. 16 using Chi-square, dependent and paired T-test, and Mann-Whitney U test. Results: Both study groups were homogenous in terms of age, gender, marital status, education level, disease history, and health insurance status. Use of Benson's relaxation technique significantly decreased anxiety in the intervention group (P=0.0001). However, no significant difference was observed in the systolic blood pressure, respiratory rate and heartbeat parameters between the study groups (P=0.0001). Conclusion: According to the results of this study, use of Benson's relaxation technique before coronary angiography reduced the level of anxiety in the patients. Therefore, this complementary approach could be used as an effective healthcare measure without any side effects to provide mental support for patients before invasive procedures, such as angiography.
Unloading‐induced atrophy and decreased oxidative capacity of the soleus muscle in rats are reversed by pre‐ and postconditioning with mild hyperbaric oxygen

Our aim was to determine the effects of pre‐ and/or postconditioning with mild hyperbaric oxygen (1.25 atmospheric pressure, 36% oxygen for 3 h/day) on the properties of the soleus muscle that was atrophied by hindlimb suspension‐induced unloading. Twelve groups of 8‐week‐old rats were housed under normobaric conditions (1 atmospheric pressure, 20.9% oxygen) or exposed to mild hyperbaric oxygen for 2 weeks. Ten groups then were housed under normobaric conditions for 2 weeks with their hindlimbs either unloaded via suspension or not unloaded. Six groups subsequently were either housed under normobaric conditions or exposed to mild hyperbaric oxygen for 2 weeks: the suspended groups were allowed to recover under reloaded conditions (unrestricted normal cage activity). Muscle weights, cross‐sectional areas of all fiber types, oxidative capacity (muscle succinate dehydrogenase activity and fiber succinate dehydrogenase staining intensity) decreased, and a shift of fibers from type I to type IIA and type IIC was observed after hindlimb unloading. In addition, mRNA levels of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ coactivator‐1α decreased, whereas those of forkhead box‐containing protein O1 increased after hindlimb unloading. Muscle atrophy and decreased oxidative capacity were unaffected by either pre‐ or postconditioning with mild hyperbaric oxygen. In contrast, these changes were followed by a return to nearly normal levels after 2 weeks of reloading when pre‐ and postconditioning were combined. Therefore, a combination of pre‐ and postconditioning with mild hyperbaric oxygen can be effective against the atrophy and decreased oxidative capacity of skeletal muscles associated with hindlimb unloading.
The Immunology of Cytomegalovirus Infection

Persistent virus infections are often advanced as possible causes for diseases of unknown aetiology. This is logical enough, given the evidence that persistent virus infections in animals, and in certain specific instances in humans, may indeed be associated with various chronic diseases. There are a number of possible strategies for pursuing research in this area: (a) to look for new viruses in diseases of unknown aetiology; (b) to ask whether a particular known virus is associated with a particular disease; (c) to endeavour to learn as much as possible about the biology of a given persistent virus, and see what one learns about its association with disease. Options (a) and (b) are relatively 'high risk', and while well worth pursuing, the third option is perhaps safer and will more predictably yield useful information. In the last few years we have been studying human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), attempting to understand how the virus persists in the normal host, and how perturbation of this relationship leads to disease.
Hydrogel Based Drug Delivery Systems: A Review with Special Emphasis on Challenges Associated with Decontamination of Hydrogels and Biomaterials.

BACKGROUND Many researches involving the development of new techniques and biomaterials to formulate a suitable drug delivery system and tissue engineering have been conducted. The majority of published literature from these researches emphasizes the production and materials characterization. The safety aspect of hydrogels and biomaterials is a major constraint in their biological applications. OBJECTIVE The present review article aimed to summarize various literatures that encompass the difficulties encountered with decontamination and sterilization methods in the preparations of biomaterials and especially hydrogels for biological applications. METHOD We searched for original and review articles from various indexed journals reporting applications of hydrogels and biomaterials in drug delivery systems and the importance of decontamination process for hydrogel containing preparations based on various patents evidences. RESULTS Despite the vast literature available, limited information regarding the decontamination and sterilization processes related to hydrogels and biomaterials is reported. Sterilization processes to hydrogels are not yet fully explored. Researchers working on hydrogel based systems can consider decontamination of such biomaterial as an important tool to allow for commercialization within the chemical, herbal or pharmaceutical industries. CONCLUSION Unfortunately, till date, limited papers are available which reported the challenges associated with decontamination methods to prepare hydrogels and biomaterials for biological applications. In conclusion, each case of biomaterial requires individual consideration to decontamination and/or sterilization. This must be submitted to a specific method, but more than one technique can be involved. Physicochemical and biological alterations must be avoided and evaluated by the appropriate assays method. Furthermore, it is also important to consider that each method must be validated depending upon the process variables.
The Influence of Stress Analyzed By The Emitted Fluorescence Changes

The chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence signatures of leaves have been widely applied as non-invasive techniques for the in vivo analysis of plant stress. The Chl fluorescence provides ample information on the photosynthetic apparatus as first discovered by Kautsky. Various ratios of the Chl fluorescence determined from the induction kinetics can be used as indicators of the stress effect to the photosynthetic apparatus. The high resolution multi-colour Chl fluorescence imaging techniques for whole leaves have been developed over the last years. These techniques offer the new possibility to study the distribution and patchiness of fluorescence signatures over the whole leaf area. The chlorophyll fluorescence induction kinetics (Kautsky effect) of predarkened leaves (30 min) was measured using the FluorCam 700MF imaging system (Photon Systems Instrument). The images of the measured Chl fluorescence intensity were obtained on false colour, whereby blue is the lowest (zero) and red the highest fluorescence. The images of various Chl fluorescence ratios were obtained by pixel to pixel arithmetic operations performed by FluorCam software. Efficiency of photosynthetic apparatus of analyzed endemic plants grown in different environmental stress conditions was evaluated via chlorophyll fluorescence imaging during induction kinetics and the fluorescence ratios which describe the photosynthetic light processes and quantum conversion of light.
Cannabinoid receptor agonists inhibit Ca current in NG108–15 neuroblastoma cells via a Pertussis toxin‐sensitive mechanism

Cannabinoid receptor ligands irreversibly inhibited peak voltage‐activated Ca currents (44%) in NG108–15 cells; this inhibition was Pertussis toxin‐sensitive. Inhibition was largely due to a reduction in the ω‐conotoxin sensitive portion of high‐voltage activated (HVA) current, although there was also a significant decrease in low‐voltage activated current (56%) and in the nifedipine‐sensitive portion of HVA current (41%).
Effects of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles on caribbean reef‐building coral (Montastraea faveolata)

Increased use of manufactured titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nano‐TiO2) is causing a rise in their concentration in the aquatic environment, including coral reef ecosystems. Caribbean mountainous star coral (Montastraea faveolata) has frequently been used as a model species to study gene expression during stress and bleaching events. Specimens of M. faveolata were collected in Panama and exposed for 17 d to nano‐TiO2 suspensions (0.1 mg L−1 and 10 mg L−1). Exposure to nano‐TiO2 caused significant zooxanthellae expulsion in all the colonies, without mortality. Induction of the gene for heat‐shock protein 70 (HSP70) was observed during an early stage of exposure (day 2), indicating acute stress. However, there was no statistical difference in HSP70 expression on day 7 or 17, indicating possible coral acclimation and recovery from stress. No other genes were significantly upregulated. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analysis revealed that nano‐TiO2 was predominantly trapped and stored within the posterior layer of the coral fragment (burrowing sponges, bacterial and fungal mats). The bioconcentration factor in the posterior layer was close to 600 after exposure to 10 mg L−1 of nano‐TiO2 for 17 d. The transient increase in HSP70, expulsion of zooxanthellae, and bioaccumulation of nano‐TiO2 in the microflora of the coral colony indicate the potential of such exposure to induce stress and possibly contribute to an overall decrease in coral populations. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014;33:1346–1353. © 2014 SETAC
Chapter 2 Fiber Optic Interferometric Devices

Fiber optic interferometry can be broadly explained as the techniques that utilize the fundamental principles of optical interference to measure physical sample properties or detect changes via sensing systems that are partially or completely realized using fiber optic components. While the field of optical interference dates back to second half of seventeenth century, the advent of fiber optic interferometry technology is rather recent as it stemmed out of advances in the fiber optics in late 1970’s and early 1980’s. In the next two sections, we will briefly review the major advancements made in the field of optical interferometry and fiber optic interferometric devices.
Comparison of joint mechanics of both lower limbs of tha patients with healthy participants during stair ascent and descent

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a common surgical procedure for patients suffering from osteoarthritis to relieve their pain and to attempt to restore their normal locomotion patterns. Although this procedure does not restore normal mobility during activities of daily living, it remains unclear how it affects the joint mechanics of both lower limbs during stair negotiation tasks. Hence, we compared the 3D joint mechanics of both lower limbs of THA patients with matched healthy controls during stair ascent and stair descent. 3D kinematics and kinetics of both lower limbs were recorded for 20 patients having undergone unilateral THA and 20 healthy, age and body mass index matched control participants. The THA patients generated limited power at the operated hip joint, and thus compensated with larger power generation at the contralateral ankle to lift the body weight to the next step. This stair ambulation strategy, as well as others, adopted by the THA patients implied decreased activation of the lower limb musculature, which may be indicative of a muscle strength deficiency or a post‐operatively adopted protective mechanism to unload the prosthesis. These asymmetric power production patterns should be addressed in rehabilitation programs pre‐ and post‐operatively. © 2010 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 29:305–311, 2011
Continual Learning for Affective Computing

Real-world application require affect perception models to be sensitive to individual differences in expression. As each user is different and expresses differently, these models need to personalise towards each individual to adequately capture their expressions and thus model their affective state. Despite high performance on benchmarks, current approaches fall short in such adaptation. In this dissertation, we propose the use of continual learning for affective computing as a paradigm for developing personalised affect perception.
The Interaction of Fine Particles with Stranded Oil

Abstract The interaction of micron-sized mineral particles with stranded oil reduces its adhesion to solid surfaces, such as sediments or bedrock. The net result is the formation of stable, micron-sized, oil droplets that disperse into the water column. In turn, the increase in surface area makes the oil more available for biodegradation. Oil and Fine-particle Interaction ("OFI") can explain how oiled shorelines are cleaned naturally in the absence of wave action in very sheltered coastal environments. Fine-particle interaction can be accelerated during a spill response by relocating the oiled sediments into the surf zone. This has been achieved successfully on two occasions to date: the Tampa Bay response in Florida, and the Sea Empress operation in Wales. Sediment relocation also causes physical abrasion by the hydraulic action of waves so that the processes of fine-particle interaction and surf washing usually occur in combination on open coasts.
End-to-end evaluation in ATR-MATRIX: speech translation system between English and Japanese

ATR Interpreting Telecommunications Research Laboratories developed ATR-MATRIX speech translation system, which translates both ways between English and Japanese, enough to hold natural on-line real-time conversations. Using this system we started an end-to-end evaluation of a speech translation system through a dialog test with naive speakers who are not involved in system development and not familiar with a speech translation technology. This paper explains the speech translation design concept, evaluation system overview, evaluation procedure and some interesting results observed in the test. Finally after concluding we will mention our future plan
Interleukin-12 Neutralization Alters Lung Inflammation and Leukocyte Expression of CD80, CD86, and Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II in Mice Infected withHistoplasma capsulatum

ABSTRACT Histoplasma capsulatum induces a cell-mediated immune response in lungs and lymphoid organs of mammals. Resolution of primary infection in mice depends on interleukin-12 (IL-12), since neutralization of this monokine increases susceptibility to infection. The present study was designed to determine if blockade of IL-12 disrupts the protective immune response by altering the influx of lineage-specific cells into infected lungs and the numbers of cells expressing CD80, CD86, CD119, and major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC II) molecules. In mice given anti-IL-12, there was a 2.5-fold decrease in total numbers of T cells on days 3 to 10 of infection and a 4-fold increase in Mac-1/Gr-1+ cells on days 7 and 10 compared to infected controls. CD80+ lung cells from anti-IL-12-treated mice were 2- to 3-fold greater than those from controls on days 7 and 10, whereas the total numbers of CD86+ cells were 2- to 3-fold less and MHC II+cells were 1.5- to 2-fold less on days 3 and 5. Cells expressing CD119 were reduced 1.5-fold on day 5. Treatment with monoclonal antibodies (MAb) to CD80, CD86, or both reduced the fungal burden slightly compared to that in rat immunoglobulin G-treated controls, whereas after IL-12 neutralization, blocking of CD80 reduced the tissue burden by 2.5-fold and this correlated with a decrease in IL-4. Regardless, mortality was not altered by treatment with MAb to CD80 or CD86. We conclude that (i) IL-12 neutralization alters the nature of the inflammatory response in lungs and the expression of CD80 and CD86 on lineage-specific cells, (ii) the immune response during infection withH. capsulatum is controlled via mechanisms independent of the CD80 and CD86 costimulatory pathways, and (iii) decreased expression of CD86 and MHC II may modulate generation of optimal protective immunity.
Benefits and hazards of reporting medical outcomes publicly.

As marketplace competition becomes the dominant force for change in the delivery of health care in the United States, its effects on the quality of health care are being sharply debated. There is increasing demand for more data on the quality of care to be made publicly available.1,2 For seven years, the New York State Department of Health has been collecting data to assess the quality of care provided to patients undergoing coronary-artery bypass grafting (CABG), and for five years it has made measures of quality publicly available. In this report we summarize the effects of this program and .
oping with shrub secondary metabolites by ruminants

Rangelands throughout the world contain varying but often substantial proportions of shrubs. Shrubs are generally heavily chemically defended, and herbivores must either contend with their plant secondary metabolites (PSM) or avoid a significant component of the available forage. Browsing ruminants are exposed to thousands of chemicals in infinite combinations and concentrations that are constantly changing both temporally and spatially. The success with which a herbivore navigates this complex environment is in part attributed to its ability to cope with PSM. Plant secondary metabolites can affect a number of physiological and metabolic processes (e.g., altered microbial activity, reduced digestion, compromised acid/base balance, toxicity), although negative consequences to the herbivore range from harmless to lethal, depending factors such as dose, animal species, plane of nutrition, and physiological state. Herbivores have a variety of intertwined mechanisms to cope with consumption of PSM, ranging from physiological (e.g., salivary proteins, detoxification pathways) to behavioral (e.g., avoidance, regulation of intake below critical threshold, cautious sampling, altering size and pattern of feeding bouts, diet switching, consuming diverse and/or complementary diets). Secondary compounds may affect requirements for nutrients (e.g., protein, minerals, and glucose) and water, and may alter basal metabolic rate. Energy requirements may also increase to accommodate increased travel to water and supplementation sites to counter these negative effects, particularly on arid rangelands. A number of management strategies exist for minimizing the negative effects of PSM consumption on livestock. Supplementation to replace nutrients depleted during detoxification (e.g., amino acids and glucose), additives such as PEG and charcoal to reduce absorption and increase excretion of PSM, maintaining animals in good body condition, and behavioral modifications (e.g., diet training) are among the potential management options for enhancing the ability of ruminants to cope with PSM when browsing shrubby ecosystems.
Image Dimming Perceptual Model Based Pixel Compensation and Backlight Adjustment

In this paper, an image dimming perceptual model is proposed as the foundation of image compensation and quality evaluation. Specifically, under this model an ideal compensation function is derived out and objective quality metrics SSIM and PSNR are adopted to evaluate the compensation performance. A practical compensation function is obtained by modifying the ideal compensation function under the consideration both of visual perception and objective quality. By using the SSIM and PSNR metrics, the relationship between image mean values, backlight levels, and image quality is further investigated. Base on this a novel scheme of backlight level adaptive adjustment is presented. Numerous experimental results verify the effectiveness of the model and demonstrate the advantages of the compensation and backlight level adaptive adjustment techniques.
Percutaneous lumbar discectomy. Preoperative and postoperative magnetic resonance imaging.

We evaluated magnetic resonance imaging studies of thirty patients before and after a contained herniation of a lumbar disc was treated with a percutaneous lumbar discectomy. The imaging studies were evaluated to determine whether the preoperative appearance of the herniated disc was predictive of the outcome of percutaneous discectomy and also to determine a possible mechanism of action of the procedure in the relief of symptoms. The index operation was successful in seventeen (57 per cent) of the thirty patients. The preoperative imaging studies showed no differences in the appearance of the discs that went on to have a successful result and those that went on to have an unsuccessful result. Imaging studies made four to six weeks after the operation showed no measurable changes in the morphology of the disc. Imaging studies made a mean of fourteen months after the operation showed no changes in the morphology of the disc in twenty-four (80 per cent) of the patients, irrespective of the clinical outcome. Only three of the seventeen patients who had a successful result had a reduction of more than two millimeters in the size of the herniated segment, and two of the thirteen patients who had an unsuccessful result had an increase of more than one millimeter in the size of the herniated segment. We found that preoperative imaging studies cannot predict the clinical outcome of percutaneous lumbar discectomy. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Effects of Astigmatism on the Humphrey Matrix Perimeter

Purpose To evaluate the influence of astigmatism in terms of its amount and direction on the results of Humphrey Matrix perimetry. Methods A total of 31 healthy volunteers from hospital staff were consecutively recruited to undergo repeat testing with Humphrey Matrix 24–2 full threshold program with various induced simple myopic astigmatism. All subjects had previous experience (at least twice) with Matrix testing. To produce simple myopic astigmatism, a 0 diopter (D), +1 D, or +2 D cylindrical lens was added and inserted in the 180° direction and in the 90° direction after complete correction of distance vision. The influences of astigmatism were evaluated in terms of the mean deviation (MD), pattern standard deviation (PSD), and test duration (TD). Results A significant difference was observed only in the MD from five sessions. The MD in cases of 2 D inverse astigmatism was significantly lower than that in the absence of astigmatism. Conclusions In patients with inverse myopic astigmatism of ≥ 2 D, the influences of astigmatism on the visual field should be taken into consideration when the results of Humphrey Matrix perimetry are evaluated.