Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Design 2.4/5.8 GHz Microstrip-to-Coplanar Strip Transition

A 2.4/5.8 GHz microstrip (MS)-to-coplanar stripline (CPS) transition (industrial-scientific-medical bands) is presented in this paper. The transition can operate at two bands simultaneously with a stepped impedance transformer and stepped impedance open stub. The circuit is proven with a design on RF060 substrate. Simulated and experimental results of the transitions connected in back-to-back style are in good agreement. The back-to-back transition exhibits return and insertion losses, which are better than 15 dB and 3 dB, respectively.
Identification and management of severe respiratory syncytial virus.

PURPOSE Identifying children at risk for severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) so that the most appropriate management strategies can be implemented, thereby reducing the morbidity associated with this disease, is discussed. SUMMARY RSV infection is associated with a variety of clinical manifestations, ranging from mild cold-like symptoms to more severe disease. The majority of infants infected with RSV develop mild upper respiratory tract disease during their initial RSV infection. However, more severe RSV disease can occur when the lower respiratory tract becomes involved, with symptoms escalating to include significant wheezing and chest-wall retractions, as well as cyanosis and tachypnea in the most severe cases. Extrapulmonary manifestations of RSV disease also have been observed, such as sepsis-like syndrome and arrhythmias. Factors that increase the risk of acquiring RSV infection have been identified, along with factors that increase the risk of severe RSV disease. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that clinicians assess risk factors for severe disease when making decisions regarding evaluation and management of children with bronchiolitis. There is currently no curative treatment for RSV infection, and management primarily involves the treatment of specific symptoms. The AAP developed clinical practice guidelines to provide an evidence-based approach to the diagnosis and management of bronchiolitis in children aged one month to two years, with detailed recommendations on which therapies are appropriate for children with more severe RSV disease. CONCLUSION The AAP developed specific guidelines for the management of RSV bronchiolitis; however, treatment is primarily supportive and has been shown to be suboptimal in many patients. Because of the limitations associated with the management of RSV disease, prevention remains of paramount importance, especially in patients at high risk for severe disease.
Biases in Willingness-to-Pay Measures from Multinomial Logit Estimates Due to Unobserved Heterogeneity

It is a common finding in empirical discrete choice studies that the estimated mean relative values of the coefficients (i.e. WTP's) from multinomial logit (MNL) estimations differ from those calculated using mixed logit estimations, where the mixed logit has the better statistical fit. However, it is less clear under exactly what circumstances such differences arise, whether they are important, and if they can be seen as biases in the WTP estimates from MNL. We use datasets created by Monte Carlo simulation to test, in a controlled environment, the effects of the different possible sources of bias on the accuracy of WTP's estimated by MNL. Consistent with earlier research we find that random unobserved heterogeneity in the marginal utilities does not in itself biases the MNL estimates. Furthermore, whether or not the unobserved heterogeneity is symmetrically shaped also does not affect the accuracy of the WTP estimates of MNL. However, we find that if two heterogeneous marginal utilities are correlated then the WTP's from MNL may be biased. If the correlation between the marginal utilities is negative, then the bias in the MNL estimate is negative, whereas if the correlation is positive the bias is positive.
Prognostic factors in obstetric patients admitted to an Indian intensive care unit*

Objectives:Obstetric patients form a significant proportion of intensive care unit admissions in countries like India, where maternal mortality is high (440 per 100,000 deliveries). We studied the diseases requiring intensive care and prognostic factors in obstetric patients. Design:Retrospective chart review. Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II data were prospectively collected. Setting:Multidisciplinary intensive care unit of a public hospital in Mumbai, India. Patients:Women admitted during pregnancy or 6 wks post-partum during a 5-yr study period (1997–2001). Interventions:None. Measurements and Main Results:Four hundred fifty-three obstetric patients (age 25.5 ± 4.6 yrs [mean ± sd], mean gestational age 31 wks) were admitted (548 intensive care unit admissions per 100,000 deliveries), 138 with single organ failure and 152 with multiple organ failure. Ninety-eight women died (mortality rate 21.6%). Mortality was comparable in antepartum (n = 216) and postpartum (n = 247) admissions but increased with increasing number of organs affected. There were 236 fetal deaths (52%), of which 104 occurred before hospital admission. Median APACHE II score was 16 (interquartile range, 10–24), and standardized mortality ratio (observed deaths/predicted deaths) was 0.78. Compared with pregnant patients admitted with obstetric disorders (n = 313), those with medical diseases (n = 140) had significantly lower APACHE II scores (median 14 vs. 17) but higher observed mortality rate (28.6% vs. 18.5%; odds ratio, 1.76; 95% confidence interval, 1.08–2.87) and standardized mortality ratio (1.09 vs. 0.66). On multivariate analysis, increased mortality rate was associated with acute cardiovascular (odds ratio, 5.8), nervous system (odds ratio, 4.73) and respiratory (odds ratio, 12.9) failure, disseminated intravascular coagulation (odds ratio, 2.4), viral hepatitis (odds ratio, 5.8), intracranial hemorrhage (odds ratio, 5.4), absence of prenatal care (odds ratio, 1.94), and >24 hrs interval between onset of acute symptoms and intensive care unit admission (odds ratio, 2.3). Conclusions:Multiple organ failure is common in obstetric patients; mortality rate increases with increasing organ failure. APACHE II scores overpredict mortality rate. Standardized mortality ratio is lower in obstetric disorders than in medical disorders. Lack of prenatal care and delay in intensive care unit referral adversely affect outcome and are easily preventable.
Functional Magnetic Resonance Neuroimaging Data Acquisition Techniques

Functional MRI studies of human brain require rapid data acquisition techniques, to map dynamic changes with sufficient anatomical coverage. In addition, task activation studies employing functional MRI require a high scan sensitivity, in order to discriminate the small, activation-related signal changes from background noise. An overview is given of current fast scan methods, which are sensitized to detect susceptibility changes related to task-induced changes in blood oxygenation. Sources of artifacts are discussed, as well as their effect on image quality.
Mortality studies in psoriatic arthritis: results from a single outpatient clinic. I. Causes and risk of death.

OBJECTIVE To identify the causes of death and mortality risk in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) who were being followed up at a single outpatient clinic in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. METHODS Patients enrolled in the PsA Clinic between 1978 and 1993 were compared with the general population of Ontario. Deaths were identified from the clinic database and through linkage with the provincial mortality database, and causes were confirmed by death certificates. A standardized mortality ratio (SMR) was computed, based on the assumption that patients lost to followup were alive at the end of the study. RESULTS Of the 428 patients with PsA (194 women and 234 men), 53 (26 women and 27 men) died. The 4 leading causes of death were diseases of the circulatory (36.2%) or respiratory (21.3%) system, malignant neoplasms (17.0%), and injuries/poisoning (14.9%). The SMR for the female cohort was 1.59, and for the men, it was 1.65, indicating a 59% and 65% increase in the death rate, respectively. Deaths due to respiratory causes were particularly increased in these patients. CONCLUSION The results suggest that this PsA Clinic outpatient population had an increased mortality risk.
Enoyl-Coenzyme A Hydratase and Antigen 85B of Mycobacterium habana Are Specifically Recognized by Antibodies in Sera from Leprosy Patients

ABSTRACT Leprosy is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, which is a noncultivable bacterium. One of the principal goals of leprosy research is to develop serological tests that will allow identification and early treatment of leprosy patients. M. habana is a cultivable nonpathogenic mycobacterium and candidate vaccine for leprosy, and several antigens that cross-react between M. leprae and M. habana have been discovered. The aim of the present study was to extend the identification of cross-reactive antigens by identifying M. habana proteins that reacted by immunoblotting with antibodies in serum samples from leprosy patients but not with antibodies in sera from tuberculosis (TB) patients or healthy donors (HDs). A 28-kDa antigen that specifically reacted with sera from leprosy patients was identified. To further characterize this antigen, protein spots were aligned in two-dimensional polyacrylamide gels and Western blots. Spots cut out from the gels were then analyzed by mass spectrometry. Two proteins were identified: enoyl-coenzyme A hydratase (lipid metabolism; ML2498) and antigen 85B (Ag85B; mycolyltransferase; ML2028). These proteins represent promising candidates for the design of a reliable tool for the serodiagnosis of lepromatous leprosy, which is the most frequent form in Mexico.
T2 radiculopathy: A differential screen for upper extremity radicular pain

Radicular pain in the upper extremity can have a cervical origin terminating at the cervicothoracic junction (C8, T1). Review of the literature suggests cutaneous representations of T2 nerve root to the axilla, posteromedial arm, and lateral forearm, suggesting yet another source of upper extremity radicular pain. A 53-year-old female experienced insidious right upper thoracic pain radiating into the right axilla, upper arm, and lateral forearm (10/10 numerical pain rating scale (NPRS)) of 1-week duration. Medical referral suggested cervical radiculopathy, however, cervical spine examination was unremarkable. She presented with mechanical dysfunction of C8, T1; T1, T2; and T2, T3 vertebral segments with restricted cervical extension. Firm compression over the right lateral aspect of the second and third thoracic vertebrae reproduced her symptoms markedly. There was a predominance of right axillary pain. Cervical extension reproduced local upper thoracic pain. Nine treatment visits for a period of 3 weeks addressed mechanical dysfunction at the cervicothoracic junction and upper thoracic region, comprising manual therapy, corrective exercise, and pain modalities. Reduction of local tenderness, and radiating axillary and right arm pain was observed (2/10 NPRS), with improved cervical extension. The second thoracic intercostal nerve and the adjoining intercostobrachial nerve, medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve, and the posterior brachial cutaneous branch of the radial nerve are speculated to be potential symptom mediators. They have a representation to the axilla, medial and posterior arm, and lateral forearm – a representation supporting the speculation of upper extremity radicular symptoms following mechanical dysfunction of the upper thoracic vertebrae.
Evaluation of the Virulence of aStreptococcus pneumoniae Neuraminidase-Deficient Mutant in Nasopharyngeal Colonization and Development of Otitis Media in the Chinchilla Model

ABSTRACT Considerable evidence has implicated Streptococcus pneumoniae neuraminidase in the pathogenesis of otitis media (OM); however, its exact role has not been conclusively established. Recently, an S. pneumoniae neuraminidase-deficient mutant, ΔNA1, has been constructed by insertion-duplication mutagenesis of the nanA gene of S. pneumoniae strain D39. The relative ability of ΔNA1 and the D39 parent strain to colonize the nasopharynx and to induce OM subsequent to intranasal inoculation and to survive in the middle ear cleft after direct challenge of the middle ear were evaluated in the chinchilla model. Nasopharyngeal colonization data indicate a significant difference in the ability of the ΔNA1 mutant to colonize as well as to persist in the nasopharynx. The neuraminidase-deficient mutant was eliminated from the nasopharynx 2 weeks earlier than the D39 parent strain. Both the parent and the mutant exhibited similar virulence levels and kinetics during the first week after direct inoculation of the middle ear. The ΔNA1 neuraminidase-deficient mutant, however, was then completely eliminated from the middle ear by day 10 postchallenge, 11 days before the D39 parent strain. Data from this study indicate that products of thenanA gene have an impact on the ability of S. pneumoniae to colonize and persist in the nasopharynx as well as the middle ear.
Performance of a group B streptococcal prophylaxis protocol combining high-risk treatment and low-risk screening.

OBJECTIVE This study was undertaken to evaluate a group B streptococcal protocol in a large community hospital that combined treatment of high-risk patients with rapid screening of low-risk patients. STUDY DESIGN In a prospective cohort study from 1994 through 1996 laboring patients in a level III community hospital were considered to be at high risk for neonatal group B streptococcal transmission if they were at <37 weeks' gestation, if they had rupture of membranes >12 hours, if they were known carriers of group B streptococci, if they had a temperature > or =100 degrees F, if the gestation was complicated by fetal growth restriction or was a multiple gestation, or if they had a previous neonate infected with group B streptococci. High-risk patients were treated intravenously with antibiotics during labor. Low-risk patients were screened for group B streptococcal antigen by means of a rapid optical immunoassay. Patients with positive screening results were treated. Neonatal morbidity and mortality were evaluated. RESULTS Two of 9932 infants delivered had group B streptococcal sepsis diagnosed. In the 2 previous years without a protocol 9 cases of neonatal group B streptococcal sepsis had been diagnosed in 8188 deliveries (P =.0287 by Fisher exact test). The 2 cases of group B streptococcal sepsis during the protocol were as follows: 1 infant born to a high-risk mother with delay in treatment and 1 infant born to a low-risk mother with negative results of both culture and rapid screen during labor. During the previous period 7 infected infants had been born to high-risk mothers and 2 had been born to low-risk mothers. The maternal group B streptococcal carriage rate during the study was 18%. Group B streptococcal rapid optical immunoassay sensitivity was 81%. Elapsed time from screening to treatment was < or =2(1/2) hours for 93% of patients. No maternal anaphylaxis, no increase in bacterial neonatal sepsis caused by organisms other than group B streptococci, and no protocol-related group B streptococcal antibiotic resistance were noted. CONCLUSION Successful implementation and maintenance of a protocol combining treatment of high-risk patients with rapid screening of low-risk patients during labor reduced neonatal group B streptococcal sepsis.
Agriculture! A veritable tool for reducing the rate of unemployment in Nigeria

This paper emphasizes the Agricultural sector of the economy as a veritable tool for reducing the rate of unemployment in Nigeria. Unemployment is one of the major critical problems facing the nation despite the endowed, diverse and infinite resources of both human and material that are abound in the country. However, years of negligence and adverse policies have led to the under - utilization of these resources. One of these is the agricultural resources that spanned from North to South and West to the East which had once been the mainstay of the of the country's economic resources, but now left in the hand of the aged ones still depending on the primitive methods of farming. This paper focus on agricultural sector of the economy as the sector that can provide mass employment to the teaming unemployed Nigerian without having an adverse effect on the other sectors of the economy.
Dynamic instability of stratified shear flow in the upper equatorial Pacific

The role of stratified shear instability in maintaining the deep cycle of turbulence immediately below the equatorial mixed layer is examined by means of linear stability analysis. The Taylor-Goldstein equation is solved numerically, using observed currents and stratification from the Tropical Instability Wave Experiment (TIWE). Multiple unstable modes are found, each associated with a local minimum of the gradient Richardson number. Wave radiation due to the unstable modes fluxes momentum downward through the Equatorial Undercurrent. The frequency, wavelength and propagation direction of the unstable modes are consistent with those estimated from observations of internal waves made during TIWE. These results, in combination with the previous observation that the internal waves are closely associated with deep cycle turbulence, lead us to conclude that shear instability is a dominant factor in the generation of the deep cycle.
Fracturas asociadas con el injerto rotuliano autologo para reconstruir los ligamentos cruzados

El proposito de este trabajo es analizar 7 casos de fractura de rotula luego de la reconstruccion del ligamento cruzado mediante injerto rotuliano autologo. En esta serie, y tomando en cuenta solo las 4 fracturas desplazadas en 1058 reconstrucciones ligamentarias, la incidencia fue del 0,37 por ciento y es comparable con la comunicada por otros autores, que oscila entre el 0,35 por ciento y el 2,3 por ciento. Los pacientes fueron evaluados con el metodo de Lysholm y con el artrometro KT-1000. Las fracturas se produjeron a los 63 dias, en promedio, de la reconstruccion ligamentaria (rango, 50-160) y la media de edad fue de 31 anos (rango, 25-36). El seguimiento fue de 43 meses, en promedio ; la puntuacion promedio en la evaluacion de Lysholm fue de 90 puntos, y todos los pacientes presentaron rodillas estables. A pesar de la solida fijacion de la fractura, en estos pacientes, el resultado final fue menos satisfactorio que en aquellos que no presentaron esta complicacion
Effects of feeding a high omega-3 fatty acids diet in dogs with naturally occurring osteoarthritis.

The aim of this randomized, placebo-controlled and double-blinded trial was to compare the effect of a veterinary therapeutic diet (VTD) rich in omega-3 fatty acids (omega-3) from fish origin to a regular diet used as control (CTR) over a period of 13 weeks in dogs afflicted by naturally occurring osteoarthritis (OA). Thirty privately owned dogs were selected. Dogs had lameness confirmed by an orthopaedic examination, had stifle/hip OA and had locomotor disability based on the peak of the vertically oriented ground reaction force (PVF) measured using a force platform. At Baseline, all owners were asked to determine 2-5 activities of daily living that were the most impaired. Activities were scores (0-4) in accordance with severity using case-specific outcome measures (CSOM). The PVF was also measured. Dogs (15/group) were then randomly assigned to receive either the CTR or the VTD. The CSOM was completed twice weekly. The recording of PVF was repeated at Week 7 and 13. The VTD-fed dogs showed a significantly higher PVF at Week 7 (p < 0.001) and at Week 13 (p < 0.001) when compared to Baseline. From Baseline to Week 13, VTD-fed dogs had a mean (± SD) change in PVF recording of 3.5 ± 6.8% of body weight (%BW) compared with 0.5 ± 6.1%BW (p = 0.211) in CTR-fed dogs. This change in primary outcome was consistent with an effect size of 0.5. Conversely, dogs fed the CTR did not show significant change in PVF measurements. At the end of the study, the CSOM was significantly decreased (p = 0.047) only in VTD fed dogs. In lame OA dogs, a VTD that contains high level of omega-3 from fish origin improved the locomotor disability and the performance in activities of daily living. Such nutritional approach appears interesting for the management of OA.
An integration of PGP and MIME

Internet text mail has been developing to satisfy various user requests, such as transporting non-textual objects and privacy enhancements. While MIME redefined the mail body format to support non-textual objects and multipart structure, PGP provides encryption and digital signature features for text mail. MIME however does not provide privacy services whereas non-textual objects cannot be exchanged with PGP. It is of recent interest to integrate PGP and MIME so that users can make use of these two services at the same time. This paper describes an integration of PGP and MIME. Our scheme embeds PGP objects into MIME and maintains backward compatibility with PGP. It is possible to encrypt, sign, and sign-then-encrypt non-textual objects, single-parts in a multi-part, an entire multipart, etc. We also explain our viewing and composing mechanisms that allow users to handle PGP/MIME messages intuitively without format restrictions.
Neovascular targeting with cyclic RGD peptide (cRGDf-ACHA) to enhance delivery of radioimmunotherapy.

Radioimmunotherapy (RIT) has been hampered by delivery of only a small fraction of the administered dose of radiolabeled MAb to tumor. A strategy for creating and controlling tumor vascular permeability would enable more effective RIT. The alpha v beta 3 integrin receptor is an appealing target for strategies designed to enhance permeability of tumor vessels because it is highly and preferentially expressed in most tumors. In human tumor mouse models, apoptosis of neovascular endothelial cells has been demonstrated after treatment with alpha v beta 3 antagonists. Since this apoptotic effect could transiently increase permeability of tumor blood vessels, radiolabeled antibodies (MAb) circulating during this period would have increased access to extravascular tumor. To determine if this hypothesis was correct, a pharmacokinetic study of an immunospecific MAb given after an alpha v beta 3 antagonist was performed in nude mice bearing human breast cancer xenografts. The alpha v beta 3 antagonist, cyclic RGD pentapeptide (c-RGDf-ACHA; cyclo arginine glycine aspartic acid D-phenylalanine -1 amino cyclohexane carboxylic acid), inhibits alpha v beta 3 binding to its vitronectin ligand at nanomolar levels. Cyclic RGD peptide (250 micrograms i.p.) given 1 hour before 111In-ChL6 MAb resulted in a 40-50% increase in tumor uptake (concentration), when compared to the control tumor uptake, of MAb 24 hours after administration. When cyclic RGD peptide was given as a continuous infusion (17.5 micrograms/hr) for 1 or 24 hours before 111In-ChL6, tumor uptake of 111In-ChL6 was increased less, and, these data were not statistically different from the control data. There were no differences for any of the groups in the groups in the concentrations of 111In-ChL6 in normal organs or blood when compared to the control group. The results suggest that cyclic RGD peptide provided a temporary, selective increase in tumor vascular permeability, that allowed a larger fraction of the 111In-ChL6 to accumulate in the tumor.
Hypoglycemic activity in various species of the genus Lavandula. Part 2: Lavandula dentata and Lavandula latifolia.

Des suspensions aqueuses de Lavandula latifolia et de Lavandula dentata sont testees chez des rats normoglycemiques ou presentant une hyperglycemie provoquee artificiellement par 2 substances differentes: glucose et alloxane. Des conclusions sont tirees quant au mecanisme de l'action hypoglycemiante de ces plantes