Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Vasospasm probability index: a combination of transcranial doppler velocities, cerebral blood flow, and clinical risk factors to predict cerebral vasospasm after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

OBJECT The goal in this study was to create an index (vasospasm probability index [VPI]) to improve diagnostic accuracy for vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). METHODS Seven hundred ninety-five patients in whom aneurysmal SAH was demonstrated by computed tomography, and in whom one or more intracranial aneurysms had been diagnosed, underwent transcranial Doppler (TCD) studies between April 1998 and January 2000. In 154 patients angiography was performed within 24 hours of the TCD examination, and in 75 133Xe cerebral blood flow (CBF) studies were obtained the same day. Seven cases were excluded because of a limited sonographic window. Forty-one women (60.3%) and 27 men (39.7%) between the ages of 35 and 84 years (58.0 +/- 13.2 years [mean +/- standard deviation]) were included. Clinical characteristics analyzed included age, sex, Hunt and Hess grade, Fisher grade, days after SAH, day of treatment, type of treatment (coil embolization, surgical clip occlusion, or conservative treatment), smoking history, and hypertension history. Lindegaard ratios and spasm indexes (TCD velocities/hemispheric CBF) were calculated bilaterally. Digital subtraction angiography images were measured at specific points of interest. Sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and global accuracy of the different tests were calculated. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the possible predictive factors, and the coefficients of the logistic regression were integrated to create the VPI. RESULTS In 18 patients (26.5%) symptomatic vasospasm was diagnosed, and 33 (48.5%) had angiographic evidence of vasospasm. For TCD velocities above 120 cm/second at the middle cerebral artery, the global accuracy was 81.1% for the diagnosis of clinical vasospasm and 77.2% for angiographic vasospasm. For a Lindegaard ratio higher than 3.0, the accuracy was 85% for clinical vasospasm and 83.2% for angiographic vasospasm. A spasm index higher than 3.5 had an accuracy of 82.0% for the diagnosis of clinical vasospasm and 81.6% for angiographic vasospasm. The selected model for estimation of clinical vasospasm included Fisher grade, Hunt and Hess grade, and spasm index. The VPI had a global accuracy of 92.9% for clinical vasospasm detection. For diagnosis of angiographic vasospasm, the model included Fisher grade, Hunt and Hess grade, and Lindegaard ratio. The VPI achieved a global accuracy of 89.9% for angiographic vasospasm detection. CONCLUSIONS The use of TCD velocities, Lindegaard ratio, and spasm index independently is of limited value for the diagnosis of clinical and angiographic vasospasm. The combination of predictive factors associated with the development of vasospasm in the new index reported here has a significantly superior accuracy compared with the independent tests and may become a valuable tool for the clinician to evaluate the individual probability of cerebral vasospasm after aneurysmal SAH.
Tesio-Caths provide effective and safe long-term vascular access.

BACKGROUND Vascular access is judged on its ability to provide good dialysis adequacy, its durability and complication rates. Formation of a functional arteriovenous fistula is desirable but difficult to achieve in a significant proportion of patients. We report the large-scale use of Tesio-Caths, a twin-line single-lumen central venous catheter, to maximize dialysis adequacy where formation of an arteriovenous fistula was not possible. METHODS All patients who had Tesio-Caths inserted between 1 January 1999 and 1 October 2002 were studied. RESULTS Six hundred and twenty-three Tesio-Caths were inserted from 1 January 1999 to 1 October 2002 in 435 patients, generating 7464 patient months of follow-up. Five hundred and ninety-four out of 623 (95.3%) Tesio-Caths were immediately functional. Mean dialysis adequacy measured by single-pool Kt/V was 1.5+/-0.3 for all Tesio-Caths for the entire period of study, with 68% of Tesio-Caths delivering a Kt/V >1.4. Cumulative functional Tesio-Cath survival to final failure was 77.8 and 44% at 1 and 3 years, respectively. Cumulative patient survival was 84.7, 71.4 and 63% at 1, 2 and 3 years, respectively. Access-related infection accounted for 0.28 admissions/1000 catheter days, and the death rate from access-related sepsis was 9.6 deaths/1000 patient years at risk. The admission rate for access dysfunction was 0.33/1000 patient years at risk. CONCLUSION Tesio-Caths provide good dialysis adequacy for patients in whom an arteriovenous fistula cannot be formed. Patient and functional access survival for this group was comparable with current European data irrespective of vascular access type. Complication rates were acceptably low.
Control Schemes of Quantum-Based Pico-Newton Force Measurement

We propose control-measurement schemes for flux-quantum-based pico-newton force metrology. A micron-sized superconducting ring placed in magnetic field gradients can serve as a pico-newton force gauge. Constant-force steps can be realized by controlling the flux quanta in the superconductor ring. Two different schemes are proposed to control and measure the number of flux quanta in the ring. They are the fixed bias-flux mode and the fixed bias-current mode. In the fixed bias-flux (bias-current) mode, external bias-flux (transport bias-current) is fixed just below the resistive transition and entry of the flux quanta is monitored by counting the voltage bumps with increasing the bias current (the external flux). At the targeted number of flux quanta, bias current and flux are reset to zero. The number of flux quanta trapped in the ring can be confirmed by counting the voltage bumps with increasing the bias current up to the maximum critical current of the ring. Simultaneous flux control and force measurement is made by measuring force steps in field gradient with counting the number of flux quanta exciting the ring with increasing the bias current.
Flagellar membrane specializations and their relationship to mastigonemes and microtubules in Euglena gracilis.

The flagellum of Euglena gracilis has been studied comparatively, using the freeze-fracture technique and with thin sections involving a tannic acid staining procedure. The flagellar membrane exhibits specializations in the form of two groups of intramembrane particle rows (IMP rows; mean IMP diameter, 6 nm) and single clusters of larger IMPs (mean IMP diameter, 10 nm) associated with the edge of one of the two groups of IMP rows. The IMP rows are helically arranged. The two groups of IMP rows are separated from each other by two membrane areas (measuring 170 and 300 nm in length) devoid of IMP arrays. The IMP rows are arranged in a four-start helix around the flagellum. A comparative morphometric analysis of IMP arrays and the arrangement of the two types of non-tubular mastigonemes (evaluated from tannic-acid-stained thin sections) reveals that the two groups of IMP rows correspond to the attachment points of the short non-tubular mastigonemes, whereas the cluster of three to seven larger IMPs corresponds to the attachment points of a group of the long non-tubular mastigonemes. Flagellar membrane specializations also occur with respect to sterols, since filipin-sterol complexes are absent from all plasma membrane regions except the flagellar membrane. On the flagellar membrane filipin-sterol complexes occur predominantly in a membrane area free of IMP-arrays and are probably related in location to a prominent microtubule-membrane linkage. Details of the linkage between axonemal microtubules and the flagellar membrane have been evaluated, individual microtubule doublets have been numbered and the absolute configuration of the Euglena flagellum has been established. In the reservoir region the flagellar membrane of the emergent flagellum is not covered by mastigonemes, but exhibits IMP arrays in the form of IMP rows and IMP clusters. In contrast to specializations en the free part of the emergent flagellum, in the reservoir region IMP rows are not regularly spaced, are distributed on opposite membrane halves (in the reservoir region on the E-face, in the free flagellum on the P-face) and often not associated closely with the clusters of larger IMPs. An hypothesis is presented explaining how mastigonemes might attach to the flagellar membrane and finally become oriented in their characteristic arrays. It is suggested that the observed IMP specializations in the flagellar membrane are (a) responsible for attachment of mastigonemes to the flagellar membrane, (b) responsible for linkage of mastigonemes to intraflagellar structures associated with axonemal microtubules, and (c) play an important role as a template for the development of the characteristic mastigoneme arrays.
Single-drive LiNbO3 Mach-Zehnder modulator with widely DC tunable chirp

We present a 10-Gb/s LiNbO/sub 3/ Mach-Zehnder modulator that allows tuning of the chirp in a wide range (-0.7/spl divide/0.7) by applying just a dc voltage, while the radio-frequency section is single drive. The device shows uniform performances across the chirp tuning range. By tuning chirp value, transmission tests showed power penalty less than 2 dB for spans up to 2100 ps/nm.
Altered bodily self‐consciousness in multiple sclerosis

In this study, we assessed the impact of multiple sclerosis (MS) on bodily self-consciousness (BSC) using the Rubber Hand Illusion. Patients with MS showed a dissociation between body ownership and self-location: they did report an explicit ownership of the rubber hand, but they did not point towards it, showing a defective ability of localizing body parts in space. This evidence indicates that MS may affect selective components of BSC, whose impairment may contribute to, and even worsen, the functional disability of MS.
Changes in microbial contamination levels and prevalence of foodborne pathogens in alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and rapeseed (Brassica napus) during sprout production in manufacturing plants

Samples were taken from three sprout processing plants at five different stages of production (a total of 20 investigations). Quantitative analyses comprised aerobic plate counts (APCs) and the measurement of coliforms and Bacillus cereus levels, whereas qualitative analyses involved assessing the levels of Escherichia coli and major foodborne pathogens (E. coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., and Staphylococcus aureus). The APC for alfalfa seeds (3·71–4·61 log CFU g−1) and rapeseed (4·25–5·11 log CFU g−1) increased by approximately 3 log CFU g−1 during sprouting, reaching 7·17–7·61 and 7·33–8·28 log CFU g−1, respectively, by the final stage of production. Similarly, increasing trends were noted in the level of coliforms (0·58–4·03 log CFU g−1 at the seed stage, increasing to 5·52–6·99 log CFU g−1 by the sprout stage). Bacillus cereus was detected in eight alfalfa (40%) and 14 rapeseed (70%) sprouts, and L. monocytogenes was isolated from one pregermination soaked alfalfa seed. A slight reduction in the level of bacterial contamination was noted after washing the sprouts with water prior to storage, indicating that improvements to the current washing protocol, or other efficient intervention methods, may be needed. Taken together, these results suggest that improved hygiene control during production and processing and a more sanitary environment are needed. The present study provides comprehensive information regarding the microbiological safety of seeds and sprouts during manufacturing.
Investments and forward utilities

This paper proposes a new approach for portfolio allocation. The novel concept of forward dynamic utility is introduced. General classes of such utilities are constructed by combining the local variational utility input with the market dynamics represented by multidimensional Ito process. Explicit closed form expressions for optimal allocations are obtained. They depend exclusively on the optimal wealth level and the utility-generated measure of risk.
An excess signaling technique with coding, signal superposition, and joint detection

We present a new encoded signaling concept which consists of transmitting an additional data rate of 50 % to the original data rate that is determined by the channel bandwidth, the modulation scheme, and other physical-layer functions of the transmission system. This is accomplished by overlaying an encoded version (using a rate 1/2 code with Hamming distance 4) of N/2 excess symbols to each block of N primary symbols. The resulting interference between primary and excess symbols is handled using a joint symbol detection technique with low complexity for N=8 and N=10. Our analysis shows that the transmission of the excess data rate involves an asymptotic gain in SNR of 0.8 dB as compared to conventional BPSK or QPSK signaling. Our simulation results indicate that this gain is noticeable at bit error rate (BER) values below about 10/sup -7/.
A SVM function approximation approach with good performances in interpolation and extrapolation

Function approximation estimation and prediction are used widely in many fields such as control and signal processing. The merit and shortcoming of existing methods of function approximation and regression are analyzed, and a new function approximation and regression approach which is based on the combination of SVMs (support vector machines) is presented. The new approach fully exerts the merit of SVM, and overcomes the shortcoming in extrapolation of function approximation and regression. The experiment demonstrates that the new approach improves the precision of SVM function approximation greatly in both interpolation and extrapolation.
Therapy of obesity with hormones.

4 types of hormones used in the treatment of obesity are considered: human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) thyroid hormones human growth hormone (HGH) and progesterone. The efficacy of HCG is doubtful; in the treatment of childhool obesity the possible production of precocious puberty must be considered. Thyroid hormones have had wide application. Either thyroxine or tri-iodothyronine given in high doses for long periods produce transitory weight loss but follow-up studies show the patients regain the weight when therapy is stopped and that most of the loss consists of lean body mass and relatively little body fat. Cardiovascular symptoms are common during thyroid therapy. Increased urinary calcium loss may constitute a health hazard. Use of thyroid preparations is considered advisable only to replace levels in patients in whom hypothyroidism can be shown. HGH can deplete body fat without producing much nitrogen loss; however limited supplies prevent wide application even for testing. Progesterone therapy 100 mg im stimulates ventilation and improves the pulmonary status of obese patients who have a form of alveolar hypoventilation called te Pickwickian syndrome. These patients have twitching cyanosis periodic respirations secondary polycythemia right ventricular hypertrophy and right ventricular failure. Weight loss with progesterone therapy was not much. Symptoms recurred when treatment was stopped. Current pharmacologic approaches to the treatment of obesity are unsatisfactory. Medications may be ineffective irrational or harmful. More basic research is needed.
Drawing in aphasia: moving towards the interactive

This paper reviews the literature on the use of drawing to communicate by people whose language is restricted due to aphasia. The advantages of drawing over other forms of non-verbal communication for this population are detailed, followed by discussion of different approaches to communicative drawing with reference to descriptive reports, treatment studies and review papers. The two main approaches differ in their view of drawing either as an alternative to speech or as an augmentative tool in multimodal communication. In the former approach the focus is on drawing skill or quality. Successful transmission of messages is the goal, and this depends on the production of recognizable drawings. In contrast, in the latter approach quality of drawings is secondary to its value as an interactive medium. The focus is on interpersonal aspects of communication and drawing is used alongside other modalities as a medium of social connectedness. The main principles of interactive drawing are discussed with examples from recent therapy studies. These are: the importance of drawing "economically" rather than producing "good" drawings; the contribution of the communication partner in facilitating, developing and maintaining a shared interaction; and the importance of using interactive drawing within natural communication contexts, in particular conversation.
A compendium of familial relative risks of cancer among first degree relatives: A population‐based study

Familial clustering of cancer is expected to occur at practically all anatomical sites. However, few studies have had sufficient size to investigate different sites simultaneously and with adjustment for confounders. We evaluated familial clustering in the Netherlands Cohort Study in which 120,852 men and women, aged 55–69 years in 1986 were followed up for 13.3 years. 14,025 Probands, 6,629 parents and 4,271 siblings were diagnosed with cancer. Relative Risks (RR) of cancer in first degree family members were calculated by using multivariable Cox regression analyses. We also calculated false‐positive reporting probabilities. Significant concordant familial clustering was observed for stomach (RRfather = 1.89, RRparent = 1.66, RRsister = 3.33, RRsibling = 2.38, RR1st degree = 1.69), colon/rectum (RRfather = 1.82, RRmother = 1.83, RRparent = 1.88, RR1st degree = 1.56), lung (RRbrother = 1.50) and breast cancer (RRmother = 1.65, RRsister = 1.72, RR1st degree = 1.72) with low false‐positive reporting probabilities. Significant discordant familial clustering has been observed for combinations of pancreas‐colon/rectum (RRmother = 2.42, RRparent = 1.89, RR1st degree = 1.73), larynx‐lung (RRfather = 3.35, RRparent = 2.84, RR1st degree = 2.30), lung‐oesophagus (RRsibling = 3.49), breast‐bladder (RRfather = 2.79, RRparent = 2.61), endometrium‐stomach (RRmother = 2.32), ovarium‐oesophagus (RR1stdegree = 4.19), prostate‐colon/rectum (RRparent = 1.46) and bladder‐larynx/pharynx (RRfather = 2.49) cancer, although false‐positive reporting probabilities were higher for these associations. Familial clustering of cancer occurs at most sites but is generally modest. Some observed discordant familial clustering is surprising but should be interpreted with caution as their prior probability is low. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Virion Host Shutoff Endonuclease (UL41) of Herpes Simplex Virus Interacts with the Cellular Cap-Binding Complex eIF4F

ABSTRACT The herpes simplex virus Vhs endonuclease degrades host and viral mRNAs. Isolated Vhs cuts any RNA at many sites. Yet, within cells, it targets mRNAs and cuts at preferred sites, including regions of translation initiation. Previous studies have shown that Vhs binds the translation factors eIF4A and eIF4H. Here, we show that Vhs binds the cap-binding complex eIF4F. Association with eIF4F correlated with the ability of Vhs to bind eIF4A but not eIF4H. All Vhs proteins that degrade mRNAs associated with eIF4F. However, simply tethering an active endonuclease to eIF4F is not sufficient to degrade mRNAs. Binding to eIF4H may also be required.
Body mass index and metabolic risk factors for coronary heart disease in women.

AIMS Prospective epidemiological studies demonstrate an increase in coronary heart disease mortality in women beginning at values of body mass index > or = 22 kg. m(-2). However, the metabolic basis for this observation has not been adequately studied in women. Our aim was to examine the association between body mass index, metabolic coronary heart disease risk factors and a predicted 10-year coronary heart disease risk score in a large occupational cohort of women in the U.K. METHODS AND RESULTS We carried out a cross-sectional survey of cardiovascular risk factors in 14 077 women, aged 30-64 years. The main outcome measures were systolic and diastolic blood pressure, serum total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoprotein A1, apolipoprotein B, lipoprotein(a), fasting blood glucose and a predicted 10-year coronary risk score. Across seven categories of body mass index, i.e. < 20, 20-, 22-, 24-, 26-, 28- and > or = 30 kg. m(-2), there were highly significant age-adjusted increases in the risk factors (all P < 0.001), except for a decrease in HDL cholesterol and ApoA1 (all P<0.001) and no relationship with lipoprotein(a) (P = 0.05). Based on a multifactorial 10-year coronary heart disease risk estimate, odds ratios for being in the highest quintile of risk for each category of body mass index, were 1 (< 20 kg. m(-2)), 0.91, 1.56, 2.18, 2.97, 3.83 and 4.21 (> or = 30 kg. m(-2)). CONCLUSION The significant rise in metabolic coronary heart disease risk at 22 kg. m(-2)observed in this study is consistent with prospective epidemiological studies in women which have reported an increase in coronary heart disease mortality starting at 22 kg. m(-2). However, body mass index was a poor discriminator of women at different levels of coronary heart disease risk. The primary goal of weight loss in individuals should be the correction of dysmetabolism, irrespective of the level of body mass index.
Hematite-Based Solar Water Splitting in Acidic Solutions: Functionalization by Mono- and Multilayers of Iridium Oxygen-Evolution Catalysts.

Solar water splitting in acidic solutions has important technological implications, but has not been demonstrated to date in a dual absorber photoelectrochemical cell. The lack of functionally stable water-oxidation catalysts (WOCs) in acids is a key reason for this slow development. The only WOCs that are stable at low pH are Ir-based systems, which are typically too expensive to be implemented broadly. It is now shown that this deficiency may be corrected by applying an ultra-thin monolayer of a molecular Ir WOC to hematite for solar water splitting in acidic solutions. The turn-on voltage is observed to shift cathodically by 250 mV upon the application of a monolayer of the molecular Ir WOC. When the molecular WOC is replaced by a heterogeneous multilayer derivative, stable solar water splitting for over 5 h is achieved with near-unity Faradaic efficiency.
How Endolymph Pressure Modulates Semicircular Canal Primary Afferent Discharge

Abstract: Histological observation of endolymphatic hydrops in subjects suffering from Meniere's disease/syndrome and the presence of vestibular symptoms in experimentally induced endolymphatic hydrops have led to considerable debate regarding the potential role of inner‐ear pressure. Could a condition influencing endolymphatic volume regulation lead to transient changes in translabyrinthine pressure sufficiently large to alter primary afferent discharge rates? To investigate this question we built a highly sensitive laser‐based pressure sensor and recorded endolymphatic pressure modulations within the horizontal semicircular canal ampulla in response to mechanical stimuli for simple head rotation and controlled volume injection. The most sensitive primary afferents responded to changes in endolymph pressures as low as 0.005 Pa (re: perilymph)—a pressure considerably lower than that observed in most experimentally induced hydropic conditions. This threshold pressure was generated by a ∼25 picoliter volume injection stimulus. Semicircular canal afferent responses to endolymphatic pressure can be explained on the basis of pressure‐induced hydrops, which causes dilation of the ampulla, deformation of the cupula, hair bundle movement, and afferent discharge. Primary afferent responses to maintained stimuli were transient in nature and recovered to pre‐stimulus background discharge rates following a period of adaptation. Results demonstrate that the semicircular canals are indeed sensitive to small changes in translabyrinthine pressure in addition to head‐movement‐related changes in transcupular pressure.