Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Radiation dose to the fetus from body MDCT during early gestation.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of our study was to determine radiation dose to the fetus at early gestation when contemporary MDCT scanners are used for common clinical indications. MATERIALS AND METHODS Anthropomorphic phantoms were constructed to reflect a pregnant woman. Thermoluminescence dosimeters (TLDs) and metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) detectors were placed in appropriate locations to determine real-time radiation exposure to the fetus at 0 and 3 months' gestation. Imaging was performed on a 16-MDCT scanner using current institutional CT protocols: renal stone (140 kVp, 160 mA, rotation time of 0.5 sec, 16 x 0.625 mm), appendix (140 kVp, 340 mA, rotation time of 0.5 sec, 16 x 0.625 mm), and pulmonary embolus (140 kVp, 380 mA, rotation time of 0.8 sec, 16 x 1.25 mm). RESULTS The radiation dose to the fetus at 0 and 3 months, respectively, was as follows: renal stone protocol, 0.8-1.2 and 0.4-0.7 cGy; appendix protocol, 1.52-1.68 and 2-4 cGy; and pulmonary embolus protocol, 0.024-0.047 and 0.061-0.066 cGy. CONCLUSION Radiation doses to the fetus from institutional MDCT protocols that may be used during pregnancy (for pulmonary embolus, appendicitis, and renal colic) are below the level thought to induce neurologic detriment to the fetus. Imaging the mother for appendicitis theoretically may double the fetal risk for developing a childhood cancer. Radiation doses to the fetus from pulmonary embolus chest CT angiography are of the same magnitude as ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) scanning.
A review and comparison of models for predicting dynamic chemical bioconcentration in fish

Over the past 20 years, a variety of models have been developed to simulate the bioconcentration of hydrophobic organic chemicals by fish. These models differ not only in the processes they address but also in the way a given process is described. Processes described by these models include chemical diffusion through the gill's interlamellar water, epithelium, and lamellar blood plasma; advective chemical transport to and from the gill by ventilation and perfusion, respectively; and internal chemical deposition by thermodynamic partitioning to lipid and other organic phases. This article reviews the construction and associated assumptions of 10 of the most widely cited fish bioconcentration models. These models are then compared with respect to their ability to predict observed uptake and elimination rates using a common database for those model parameters that they have in common. Statistical analyses of observed and predicted exchange rates reveal that rates predicted by these models can be calibrated almost equally well to observed data. This fact is independent of how well any given model is able to predict observed exchange rates without calibration. The importance of gill exchange models and how they might by improved are also discussed.
Query-based Attention CNN for Text Similarity Map

In this paper, we introduce Query-based Attention CNN(QACNN) for Text Similarity Map, an end-to-end neural network for question answering. This network is composed of compare mechanism, two-staged CNN architecture with attention mechanism, and a prediction layer. First, the compare mechanism compares between the given passage, query, and multiple answer choices to build similarity maps. Then, the two-staged CNN architecture extracts features through word-level and sentence-level. At the same time, attention mechanism helps CNN focus more on the important part of the passage based on the query information. Finally, the prediction layer find out the most possible answer choice. We conduct this model on the MovieQA dataset using Plot Synopses only, and achieve 79.99% accuracy which is the state of the art on the dataset.
Incorporating Hypertensive Patient Education on Salt Intake Into an Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience

Objective. To evaluate the impact of the Salt Education Program for hypertensive adults on student pharmacists' knowledge, behaviors, and attitudes regarding sodium consumption. Design. As part of the introductory pharmacy practice experience program in community pharmacies, student pharmacists assessed patients' sodium intake knowledge and behaviors, taught them how to read nutrition labels, and obtained information about their hypertensive conditions. Students completed pre-and post-intervention questionnaires in April and August 2012, respectively. Assessment. One hundred thirty student pharmacists (70% female, 78% white) completed pre- and post-intervention questionnaires. Students demonstrated significant improvements in knowledge scores (p<0.001) and perceived benefit of a low-salt diet (p=0.004). Further, there were significant improvements in the self-reported frequency of looking at sodium content of foods when shopping (p<0.001) and purchasing low-salt foods (p=0.004). Conclusion. Changes in students' knowledge, behaviors, and attitudes after participating in the Salt Education program suggested that the program was effective in improving student knowledge, behaviors, and attitudes.
Differential expression of orexin receptors 1 and 2 in the rat brain

Orexins (hypocretins) are neuropeptides synthesized in the central nervous system exclusively by neurons of the lateral hypothalamus. Orexin‐containing neurons have widespread projections and have been implicated in complex physiological functions including feeding behavior, sleep states, neuroendocrine function, and autonomic control. Two orexin receptors (OX1R and OX2R) have been identified, with distinct expression patterns throughout the brain, but a systematic examination of orexin receptor expression in the brain has not appeared. We used in situ hybridization histochemistry to examine the patterns of expression of mRNA for both orexin receptors throughout the brain. OX1R mRNA was observed in many brain regions including the prefrontal and infralimbic cortex, hippocampus, paraventricular thalamic nucleus, ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus, dorsal raphe nucleus, and locus coeruleus. OX2R mRNA was prominent in a complementary distribution including the cerebral cortex, septal nuclei, hippocampus, medial thalamic groups, raphe nuclei, and many hypothalamic nuclei including the tuberomammillary nucleus, dorsomedial nucleus, paraventricular nucleus, and ventral premammillary nucleus. The differential distribution of orexin receptors is consistent with the proposed multifaceted roles of orexin in regulating homeostasis and may explain the unique role of the OX2R receptor in regulating sleep state stability. J. Comp. Neurol. 435:6–25, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Automated test and tuning system for microwave filters

A novel method for computerized diagnosis and automatic tuning of microwave (cavity) filters is introduced. The method is based on equivalent network theory using modified filter synthesis equations, including all characteristic filter parameters like resonant frequency, losses of individual resonators, input-/output couplings and couplings between resonators. Instead of using field simulators to extract filter parameters and associated network sensitivities, a more practical and more accurate parameter extraction process of measured S-parameter data is utilized. Thus automatic tuning becomes a two step process. In the first step the exact parameter values of an untuned filter as well as parameter sensitivities are extracted from a series of S-parameter measurements. In a second step gradient optimization is used on the so corrected model to find the tuning screw positions to give the same parameter set as obtained from the synthesis.
Economic and Environmental Cost Analysis of Incineration and Recovery Alternatives for Flammable Industrial Waste: The Case of South Korea

As the generation of industrial wastes increases, waste treatment is steadily becoming a serious economic and environmental issue. Existing waste has mainly been treated by landfilling after incineration. A shortage of landfill sites necessitates waste management alternatives other than traditional incineration and landfill. This paper focuses on a cost-benefit analysis that evaluates the economic and environmental performances of five treatment strategies for flammable industrial wastes: incineration, refuse plastic fuel (RPF) boiler, RPF cement furnace, cement furnace after shredding of wastes, and paper incineration after shredding of wastes. For such purposes, our model considered the entire process of each waste treatment, which involves collection, transportation, treatment, recovery, and the disposal of flammable industrial wastes that pose risks to their surroundings. Case studies of each treatment processes are reviewed, and a cost-benefit analysis is performed to evaluate and identify the selection of treatment and disposal facilities, along with an allocation of flammable industrial wastes and waste residues from generators to treatment and disposal facilities and transportation routes, in order to achieve the minimum economic and environmental costs.
A Longitudinal Analysis of Financial Instruments Disclosure in an Emerging Capital Market: The Case of Qatar

This study explores the extent of financial instruments (FI) information that is supplied by Qatari listed companies under International Accounting Standards (IAS) 30, IAS 32 and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) 7 for the period between 2005 and 2012. The study adopts the unweighted disclosure approach to measure the extent of FI-related information provided by a sample of 282 Qatari firm observations between 2005 and 2012. The results of the study indicate that the implementation of IFRS 7 statistically improved FI-related information. Specifically, the quantity of FI disclosure rose from 24% in 2005 (under IAS 30/32) to greater than 28% in 2007 (under IFRS 7) and this rise was sustained, reaching 47% in 2012. Also, the results of the study reveal that the level of FI disclosure varies among companies by year, category of information and industry type. The current paper provides a great insight into the accounting profession and is of interest to both national (Qatari) and international accounting regulators regarding the implications of applying IFRS 7 in an emerging capital market.
HER2 (neu) Signaling Increases the Rate of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1α (HIF-1α) Synthesis: Novel Mechanism for HIF-1-Mediated Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Expression

ABSTRACT Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) is a transcriptional activator composed of HIF-1α and HIF-1β subunits. Several dozen HIF-1 targets are known, including the gene encoding vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Under hypoxic conditions, HIF-1α expression increases as a result of decreased ubiquitination and degradation. The tumor suppressors VHL (von Hippel-Lindau protein) and p53 target HIF-1α for ubiquitination such that their inactivation in tumor cells increases the half-life of HIF-1α. Increased phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and AKT or decreased PTEN activity in prostate cancer cells also increases HIF-1α expression by an undefined mechanism. In breast cancer, increased activity of the HER2 (also known as neu) receptor tyrosine kinase is associated with increased tumor grade, chemotherapy resistance, and decreased patient survival. HER2 has also been implicated as an inducer of VEGF expression. Here we demonstrate that HER2 signaling induced by overexpression in mouse 3T3 cells or heregulin stimulation of human MCF-7 breast cancer cells results in increased HIF-1α protein and VEGF mRNA expression that is dependent upon activity of PI3K, AKT (also known as protein kinase B), and the downstream kinase FRAP (FKBP-rapamycin-associated protein). In contrast to other inducers of HIF-1 expression, heregulin stimulation does not affect the half-life of HIF-1α but instead stimulates HIF-1α synthesis in a rapamycin-dependent manner. The 5′-untranslated region of HIF-1α mRNA directs heregulin-inducible expression of a heterologous protein. These data provide a molecular basis for VEGF induction and tumor angiogenesis by heregulin-HER2 signaling and establish a novel mechanism for the regulation of HIF-1α expression.
Single-Cell Measurements of the Contributions of Cytosolic Na+ and K+ to Salt Tolerance1

Ion concentrations in the roots of two barley (Hordeum vulgare) varieties that differed in NaCl tolerance were compared after exposure to NaCl. Triple-barreled H+-, K+-, and Na+-selective microelectrodes were used to measure cytosolic activities of the three ions after 5 and 8 d of NaCl stress. In both varieties of barley, it was only possible to record successfully from root cortical cells because the epidermal cells appeared to be damaged. The data show that from the 1st d of full NaCl stress, there were differences in the way in which the two varieties responded. At 5 d, the tolerant variety maintained a 10-fold lower cytosolic Na+ than the more sensitive variety, although by 8 d the two varieties were not significantly different. At this time, the more tolerant variety was better at maintaining root cytosolic K+ in the high-NaCl background than was the more sensitive variety. In contrast to earlier work on K+-starved barley (Walker et al., 1996), there was no acidification of the cytosol associated with the decreased cytosolic K+ activity during NaCl stress. These single-cell measurements of cytosolic and vacuolar ion activities allow calculation of thermodynamic gradients that can be used to reveal (or predict) the type of active transporters at both the plasma membrane and tonoplast.
Synthesis and crystal structures of C24-epimeric 20(R)-ocotillol-type saponins.

Ocotillol-type saponins have a wide spectrum of biological activities. Previous studies indicated that the configuration at the C24 position may be responsible for their stereoselectivity in pharmacological action and pharmacokinetics. Natural ocotillol-type saponins share a 20(S)-form but it has been found that the 20(R)-stereoisomers have different pharmacological effects. The semisynthesis of 20(R)-ocotillol-type saponins has not been reported and it is therefore worthwhile clarifying their crystal structures. Two C24 epimeric 20(R)-ocotillol-type saponins, namely (20R,24S)-20,24-epoxydammarane-3β,12β,25-triol, C30H52O4, (III), and (20R,24R)-20,24-epoxydammarane-3β,12β,25-triol monohydrate, C30H52O4·H2O, (IV), were synthesized, and their structures were elucidated by spectral studies and finally confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The (Me)C-O-C-C(OH) torsion angle of (III) is 146.41 (14)°, whereas the corresponding torsion angle of (IV) is -146.4 (7)°, indicating a different conformation at the C24 position. The crystal stacking in (III) generates an R4(4)(8) motif, through which the molecules are linked into a one-dimensional double chain. The chains are linked via nonclassical C-H.O hydrogen bonds into a two-dimensional network, and further stacked into a three-dimensional structure. In contrast to (III), epimer (IV) crystallizes as a hydrate, in which the water molecules act as hydrogen-bond donors linking one-dimensional chains into a two-dimensional network through intermolecular O-H.O hydrogen bonds. The hydrogen-bonded chains extend helically along the crystallographic a axis and generate a C4(4)(8) motif.
Joint Models for Multivariate Longitudinal and Multivariate Survival Data

Summary Joint modeling of longitudinal and survival data is becoming increasingly essential in most cancer and AIDS clinical trials. We propose a likelihood approach to extend both longitudinal and survival components to be multidimensional. A multivariate mixed effects model is presented to explicitly capture two different sources of dependence among longitudinal measures over time as well as dependence between different variables. For the survival component of the joint model, we introduce a shared frailty, which is assumed to have a positive stable distribution, to induce correlation between failure times. The proposed marginal univariate survival model, which accommodates both zero and nonzero cure fractions for the time to event, is then applied to each marginal survival function. The proposed multivariate survival model has a proportional hazards structure for the population hazard, conditionally as well as marginally, when the baseline covariates are specified through a specific mechanism. In addition, the model is capable of dealing with survival functions with different cure rate structures. The methodology is specifically applied to the International Breast Cancer Study Group (IBCSG) trial to investigate the relationship between quality of life, disease‐free survival, and overall survival.
Roles and contributions of community seed banks in climate adaptation in Nepal

ABSTRACT Community seed banks are an effective local institution to conserve quality seeds, to strengthen farmers’ accessibility to social seed networks, and improve agrobiodiversity and food security. This article analyses the prospects and challenges of community seed banks in climate change contexts. It finds that community seed banks serve as sources of climate-resilient seeds to withstand in local climates and improve community resilience. Community seed banks provide landraces for participatory crop improvement to develop resistant varieties to improve quality and productivity. They also strengthen participatory seed exchange to cope with climate adversity. However, there are challenges with defining specific and common goals, functions, approaches, and governance.
Slicks detection on the sea surface based upon polarimetric SAR data

This letter proposes a generalized-likelihood ratio test-based edge detector to be fed by possibly polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data. It can be used to detect dark spots on the sea surface and, hence, as the first stage of a system for identification and monitoring of oil spills. The proposed constant false alarm rate (CFAR) detector does not require secondary data (namely pixels from a slick-free area); remarkably, a preliminary performance assessment, carried out by resorting to real SAR recordings, shows that it guarantees detection capabilities comparable to those of previously proposed polarimetric CFAR detectors (which though make use of secondary data). The preliminary performance assessment also seems to indicate that processing polarimetric data does not ensure improved detection capabilities.
Considerations in the Construction of an Instrument to Assess Attitudes Regarding Critical Illness Gene Variation Research

Clinical studies conducted in intensive care units are associated with logistical and ethical challenges. Diseases investigated are precipitous and life-threatening, care is highly technological, and patients are often incapacitated and decision-making is provided by surrogates. These investigations increasingly involve collection of genetic data. The manner in which the exigencies of critical illness impact attitudes regarding genetic data collection is unstudied. Given interest in understanding stakeholder preferences as a foundation for the ethical conduct of research, filling this knowledge gap is timely. The conduct of opinion research in the critical care arena is novel. This brief report describes the development of parallel patient/surrogate decision-maker quantitative survey instruments for use in this environment. Future research employing this instrument or a variant of it with diverse populations promises to inform research practices in critical illness gene variation research.
The Impact of Surgical-Site Infections Following Orthopedic Surgery at a Community Hospital and a University Hospital Adverse Quality of Life, Excess Length of Stay, and Extra Cost

Objective: To measure the impact of orthopedic surgical-site infections (SSIs) on quality of life, length of hospitalization, and cost. Design: A pairwise-matched (1:1) case-control study within a cohort. Setting: A tertiary-care university medical center and a community hospital. Patients: Cases of orthopedic SSIs were prospectively identified by infection control professionals. Matched controls were selected from the entire cohort of patients undergoing orthopedic surgery who did not have an SSI. Matching variables included type of surgical procedure, National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance risk index, age, date of surgery, and surgeon. Main Outcome Measures: Quality of life, duration of postoperative hospital stay, frequency of hospital readmission, overall direct medical costs, and mortality rate. Results: Fifty-nine SSIs were identified. Each orthopedic SSI accounted for a median of 1 extra day of stay during the initial hospitalization (P = .001) and a median of 14 extra days of hospitalization during the follow-up period (P = .0001). Patients with SSI required more rehospitalizations (median, 2 vs 1; P = .0001) and more total surgical procedures (median, 2 vs 1; P = .0001). The median total direct cost of hospitalizations per infected patient was $24,344, compared with $6,636 per uninfected patient (P = .0001). Mortality rates were similar for cases and controls. Quality of life was adversely affected for patients with SSI. The largest decrements in scores on the Medical Outcome Study Short Form 36 questionnaire were seen in the physical functioning and role-physical domains. Conclusions: Orthopedic SSIs prolong total hospital stays by a median of 2 weeks per patient, approximately double rehospitalization rates, and increase healthcare costs by more than 300%. Moreover, patients with orthopedic SSIs have substantially greater physical limitations and significant reductions in their health-related quality of life.
A new multiple code channels MAC protocol in DS-CDMA wireless networks

We propose a contention based MAC protocol which will extend traditional contention based single channel wireless network such as IEEE 802.11 distributed coordination function (DCF) to be used in multiple code channels DS-CDMA wireless networks. In particular, we assume the system exist a maximum allowable simultaneously transmissions M which is dependent on the degree of multiple access interference (MAI). To control the access of multiple code channels in DS-CDMA wireless network, we define the channel regulation (CR) which is smaller than M and three channel states which are random access (RA) state, CR state and busy state respectively. The channel is in RA state, CR state and busy state whenever simultaneously transmissions are smaller than CR, between CR and M and larger than M respectively. Nodes can randomly access channel whenever they detect RA state and do p-persistent transmission while CR state is detected. If channel is detected in busy state, nodes have to run backoff algorithm to prepare next time of transmission. The simulation results show that the proposed MAC protocol algorithm performs very well.
Inhibition of antigen-induced airway hyperresponsiveness by a thromboxane synthetase inhibitor (OKY-046) in allergic dogs.

To determine the role of thromboxane A2 in the airway hyperresponsiveness induced by antigen challenge, we studied the effect of a thromboxane synthetase inhibitor, OKY-046, i.e., sodium (E)-3-[4-(1-imidazolylmethyl)-phenyl]-2-propanoate, in 6 ragweed-sensitized dogs. Airway responsiveness was assessed with dose-response curves of acetylcholine aerosol versus total pulmonary resistance before and 6 and 24 h after inhalation with ragweed antigen. This procedure was repeated in each dog during intravenous infusion of OKY-046 (100 micrograms/kg/min). OKY-946 did not alter the acute increase in total pulmonary resistance after antigen. At 6 h, there was a 7-fold increase in airway responsiveness, an effect that was prevented by OKY-046 (p less than 0.001). At 24 h, 18 h after OKY-046 was stopped, hyperresponsiveness was still significantly inhibited. OKY-046 did not alter the influx of neutrophils recovered by bronchoalveolar lavage performed at 6 h after antigen challenge. Antigen-induced airway hyperresponsiveness in dogs may depend upon the thromboxane A2 generation from inflammatory cells (e.g., neutrophils).