Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dietary Niacin and Open-Angle Glaucoma: The Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Glaucoma is a leading cause of loss of sight. High intraocular pressure (IOP) is the most critical risk factor. However, glaucoma develops even within a normal IOP range. Normal tension glaucoma (NTG) is more common in Asia, whereas high tension glaucoma is more common in Western countries. The pathogenesis of glaucoma, especially NTG, is poorly understood. We evaluated the correlation between dietary nutrient intake and glaucoma using data from subjects ≥40 years old from the ongoing, nationwide, population-based study, the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey V (2008–2012). Dietary intake was determined using the 24 h recall method. Fiber (g/day), ash (g/day), calcium (mg/day), phosphorus (mg/day), iron (mg/day), sodium (mg/day), potassium (mg/day), β-Carotene (μg/day), retinol (μg/day), vitamin A (μg Retinol Equivalents/day), thiamine (mg/day), riboflavin (mg/day), niacin (mg/day), and vitamin C (mg/day) were included in nutrient intake data. All nutrient intake was divided into quartiles. The mean IOP did not differ according to quartiles from any nutrients (all p > 0.05). After adjusting for age, gender, income status, education level, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, diabetes, hypertension, IOP, and total energy, the intake of niacin was associated with glaucoma (p = 0.013). Among subjects with IOP ≤ 21 mmHg, only niacin was related to glaucoma in a multivariate analysis (p = 0.022). Dietary nutrient intake was associated with open-angle glaucoma independent of IOP. Individuals with NTG showed lower intake of niacin among nutrients. This finding suggests the possibility that proper diet counseling may be another modifiable factor, aside from IOP, particularly among patients with NTG.
Ergodic properties of sum- and max-stable stationary random fields via null and positive group actions

We establish characterization results for the ergodicity of stationary symmetric $\alpha$-stable (S$\alpha$S) and $\alpha$-Frechet random fields. We show that the result of Samorodnitsky [Ann. Probab. 33 (2005) 1782-1803] remains valid in the multiparameter setting, that is, a stationary S$\alpha$S ($0<\alpha<2$) random field is ergodic (or, equivalently, weakly mixing) if and only if it is generated by a null group action. Similar results are also established for max-stable random fields. The key ingredient is the adaption of a characterization of positive/null recurrence of group actions by Takahashi [Kodai Math. Sem. Rep. 23 (1971) 131-143], which is dimension-free and different from the one used by Samorodnitsky.
An Analysis of Patient Safety Incident Reports Associated with Electronic Health Record Interoperability

Summary Background: With the widespread use of electronic health records (EHRs) for many clinical tasks, interoperability with other health information technology (health IT) is critical for the effective delivery of care. While it is generally recognized that poor interoperability negatively impacts patient care, little is known about the specific patient safety implications. Understanding the patient safety implications will help prioritize interoperability efforts around architectures and standards. Objectives: Our objectives were to (1) identify patient safety incident reports that reflect EHR interoperability challenges with other health IT, and (2) perform a detailed analysis of these reports to understand the health IT systems involved, the clinical care processes impacted, whether the incident occurred within or between provider organizations, and the reported severity of the patient safety events. Methods: From a database of 1.735 million patient safety event (PSE) reports spanning multiple provider organizations, 2625 reports that were indicated as being health IT related by the event reporter were reviewed to identify EHR interoperability related reports. Through a rigorous coding process 209 EHR interoperability related events were identified and coded. Results: The majority of EHR interoperability PSE reports involved interfacing with pharmacy systems (i.e. medication related), followed by laboratory, and radiology. Most of the interoperability challenges in these clinical areas were associated with the EHR receiving information from other health IT systems as opposed to the EHR sending information to other systems. The majority of EHR interoperability challenges were within a provider organization and while many of the safety events reached the patient, only a few resulted in patient harm. Conclusions: Interoperability efforts should prioritize systems in pharmacy, laboratory, and radiology. Providers should recognize the need to improve EHRs interfacing with other health IT systems within their own organization. Citation: Adams KT, Howe JL, Fong A, Puthumana JS, Kellogg KM, Gaunt M, Ratwani RM. An analysis of patient safety incident reports associated with electronic health record interoperability. Appl Clin Inform 2017; 8: 593–602 https://doi.org/10.4338/ACI-2017-01-RA-0014
Normalization of Blood Pressure With Spinal Cord Epidural Stimulation After Severe Spinal Cord Injury

Chronic low blood pressure and orthostatic hypotension remain challenging clinical issues after severe spinal cord injury (SCI), affecting health, rehabilitation, and quality of life. We previously reported that targeted lumbosacral spinal cord epidural stimulation (scES) could promote stand and step functions and restore voluntary movement in patients with chronic motor complete SCI. This study addresses the effects of targeted scES for cardiovascular function (CV-scES) in individuals with severe SCI who suffer from chronic hypotension. We tested the hypothesis that CV-scES can increase resting blood pressure and attenuate chronic hypotension in individuals with chronic cervical SCI. Four research participants with chronic cervical SCI received an implant of a 16-electrode array on the dura (L1–S1 cord segments, T11–L1 vertebrae). Individual-specific CV-scES configurations (anode and cathode electrode selection, voltage, frequency, and pulse width) were identified to maintain systolic blood pressure within targeted normative ranges without skeletal muscle activity of the lower extremities as assessed by electromyography. These individuals completed five 2-h sessions using CV-scES in an upright, seated position during measurement of blood pressure and heart rate. Noninvasive continuous blood pressure was measured from a finger cuff by plethysmograph technique. For each research participant there were statistically significant increases in mean arterial pressure in response to CV-scES that was maintained within normative ranges. This result was reproducible over the five sessions with concomitant decreases or no changes in heart rate using individual-specific CV-scES that was modulated with modest amplitude changes throughout the session. Our study shows that stimulating dorsal lumbosacral spinal cord can effectively and safely activate mechanisms to elevate blood pressures to normal ranges from a chronic hypotensive state in humans with severe SCI with individual-specific CV-scES.
Oxidative Stress Response Tips the Balance in Aspergillus terreus Amphotericin B Resistance

ABSTRACT In this study, we characterize the impact of antioxidative enzymes in amphotericin B (AmB)-resistant (ATR) and rare AmB-susceptible (ATS) clinical Aspergillus terreus isolates. We elucidate expression profiles of superoxide dismutase (SOD)- and catalase (CAT)-encoding genes, enzymatic activities of SODs, and superoxide anion production and signaling pathways involved in the oxidative stress response (OSR) in ATS and ATR strains under AmB treatment conditions. We show that ATR strains possess almost doubled basal SOD activity compared to that of ATS strains and that ATR strains exhibit an enhanced OSR, with significantly higher sod2 mRNA levels and significantly increased cat transcripts in ATR strains upon AmB treatment. In particular, inhibition of SOD and CAT proteins renders resistant isolates considerably susceptible to the drug in vitro. In conclusion, this study shows that SODs and CATs are crucial for AmB resistance in A. terreus and that targeting the OSR might offer new treatment perspectives for resistant species.
Disturbed Resting Functional Inter-Hemispherical Connectivity of the Ventral Attentional Network in Alpha Band Is Associated with Unilateral Spatial Neglect

Unilateral spatial neglect (USN) is one of the most common symptoms of right hemisphere damage; its classical symptom is that patients fail to respond to information on their left side. It has been postulated that disturbance of 2 separate attentional networks relates to the occurrence of USN. However, little is known about the underlying mechanism and neuronal substrates. In this study, we measured spontaneous neural activity by means of magnetoencephalography in 13 patients with brain damage and 5 control subjects. To study the relationship between functional connectivity at rest and severity of USN symptoms, we determined the imaginary coherence values relating to the inter-hemispherical ventral and dorsal attentional networks, as well as the clinical severity of USN using neuropsychological tests and behavioral rating scales. The present results showed that inter-hemispherical connectivity in the ventral attentional network, especially between the left and right angular gyri, detected in the alpha band is associated with the severity of USN symptoms. This may suggest that connectivity of inter-hemispherical homologous regions of the ventral attentional network in the alpha band could be one of the biomarkers of attentional network imbalance occurring in patients with USN.
Investigating Smart Textiles Based on Shape Memory Materials

The emergence of high performance fibers and Smart textiles has led to the development of new textiles having sensing, adapting and reacting capabilities. Textile designers are exploring unorthodox areas for inspiration for the production of new and pioneering textiles. This paper investigates Smart aspects of textiles based on shape memory materials particularly for enhancing the aesthetics of woven interior textiles. Shape memory alloy and shape memory polymer have been modified to allow the materials to be incorporated into the woven structure. Through yarn spinning, hybrid blends have been produced; the aesthetic engineering of which has provided new woven textiles that are capable of sensing a temperature change and reacting by changing to a prescribed shape. Examples of applications for these new dynamic textiles will be described and discussed.
Linear Mixed-Effects Models and the Analysis of Nonindependent Data: A Unified Framework to Analyze Categorical and Continuous Independent Variables that Vary Within-Subjects and/or Within-Items

Abstract In this article we address a number of important issues that arise in the analysis of nonindependent data. Such data are common in studies in which predictors vary within “units” (e.g., within-subjects, within-classrooms). Most researchers analyze categorical within-unit predictors with repeated-measures ANOVAs, but continuous within-unit predictors with linear mixed-effects models (LMEMs). We show that both types of predictor variables can be analyzed within the LMEM framework. We discuss designs with multiple sources of nonindependence, for example, studies in which the same subjects rate the same set of items or in which students nested in classrooms provide multiple answers. We provide clear guidelines about the types of random effects that should be included in the analysis of such designs. We also present a number of corrective steps that researchers can take when convergence fails in LMEM models with too many parameters. We end with a brief discussion on the trade-off between power and generalizability in designs with “within-unit” predictors.
Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Propolis Prepared in Different Forms and in Different Solvents Useful for Finished Products

Different products from a unique propolis extract obtained by using various solvents such as hydroalcoholic, glycolic (98% propylene glycol), and glyceric solutions, and oil, as well as in powder form, named ESIT12, were prepared. The molecular composition of the different preparations was evaluated and their antioxidant activity determined. All the preparations showed a quite similar polyphenol composition and comparable percentage even if ESIT12 was found to be richer in phenolic acids (caffeic, coumaric, ferulic, and isoferulic). Overall, flavones and flavonols ranged from ~20% up to ~36% in the glyceric extract, while flavanones and diidroflavonols were between ~28% and ~41%. Besides their quite similar composition, glycolic and hydroalcoholic extracts were found to be richer in the total polyphenols content. When the antioxidant properties were determined for the four preparations, the activity was similar among them, thus revealing that it is strictly related to the polyphenols content for propolis products whose composition is quite comparable. To date, very few data are available on propolis composition in glyceric and glycolic extracts and information has never been published on propolis in oil. This study could be of interest to the food and nutraceutical industries to choose suitable solvents and conditions to produce propolis preparations useful for active finished products.
Tensile Strength of Single Collagen Fibrils Isolated from Tendons

Tensile failure properties of single collagen fibrils were determined using our original tensile test method. Fibrils were directly isolated from the fascicles of mouse tail tendons. Both the ends of each fibril were wound onto the tips of two microneedles several times using micromanipulators. The fibril and tips were immersed in physiological saline solution. Then, the fibril was stretched to failure by moving the one microneedle. During tensile testing, the fibril was firmly attached to the tips of the microneedles, and broken between the tips with no slippage observed. The diameter of tested 10 fibrils was 410±60 nm (Mean±S.D.). The stress-strain curves of these fibrils were almost linear. Their tensile strength and failure strain were 100±32 MPa and 34±11%, respectively. These values were approximately 480 and 190% of those of the fascicles with the diameter of 81±12 m, respectively.
The Rediscovery of a Long Described Species Reveals Additional Complexity in Speciation Patterns of Poeciliid Fishes in Sulfide Springs

The process of ecological speciation drives the evolution of locally adapted and reproductively isolated populations in response to divergent natural selection. In Southern Mexico, several lineages of the freshwater fish species of the genus Poecilia have independently colonized toxic, hydrogen sulfide-rich springs. Even though ecological speciation processes are increasingly well understood in this system, aligning the taxonomy of these fish with evolutionary processes has lagged behind. While some sulfide spring populations are classified as ecotypes of Poecilia mexicana, others, like P. sulphuraria, have been described as highly endemic species. Our study particularly focused on elucidating the taxonomy of the long described sulfide spring endemic, Poecilia thermalis Steindachner 1863, and investigates if similar evolutionary patterns of phenotypic trait divergence and reproductive isolation are present as observed in other sulfidic species of Poecilia. We applied a geometric morphometric approach to assess body shape similarity to other sulfidic and non-sulfidic fish of the genus Poecilia. We also conducted phylogenetic and population genetic analyses to establish the phylogenetic relationships of P. thermalis and used a population genetic approach to determine levels of gene flow among Poecilia from sulfidic and non-sulfidic sites. Our results indicate that P. thermalis' body shape has evolved in convergence with other sulfide spring populations in the genus. Phylogenetic analyses placed P. thermalis as most closely related to one population of P. sulphuraria, and population genetic analyses demonstrated that P. thermalis is genetically isolated from both P. mexicana ecotypes and P. sulphuraria. Based on these findings, we make taxonomic recommendations for P. thermalis. Overall, our study verifies the role of hydrogen sulfide as a main factor shaping convergent, phenotypic evolution and the emergence of reproductive isolation between Poecilia populations residing in adjacent sulfidic and non-sulfidic environments.
QoE enhancement schemes for video in converged OFDMA wireless networks and EPONS

Bandwidth requirements of both wireless and wired clients in access networks continue to increase rapidly, primarily due to the growth of video traffic. Application awareness can be utilized in access networks to optimize quality of experience (QoE) of end clients. In this study, we utilize information at the client-side application (e.g., video resolution) to achieve superior resource allocation that improves user QoE. We emphasize optimizing QoE of the system rather than quality of service (QoS), as user satisfaction directly relies on QoE and optimizing QoS does not necessarily optimize QoE, as shown in this study. We propose application-aware resource-allocation schemes on an Ethernet passive optical network (EPON), which supports wireless (utilizing orthogonal frequency division multiple access) and wired clients running video-conference applications. Numerical results show that the application-aware resource-allocation schemes improve QoE for video-conference applications for wired and wireless clients.
Test-Retest Reliability of Graph Metrics in Functional Brain Networks: A Resting-State fNIRS Study

Recent research has demonstrated the feasibility of combining functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and graph theory approaches to explore the topological attributes of human brain networks. However, the test-retest (TRT) reliability of the application of graph metrics to these networks remains to be elucidated. Here, we used resting-state fNIRS and a graph-theoretical approach to systematically address TRT reliability as it applies to various features of human brain networks, including functional connectivity, global network metrics and regional nodal centrality metrics. Eighteen subjects participated in two resting-state fNIRS scan sessions held ∼20 min apart. Functional brain networks were constructed for each subject by computing temporal correlations on three types of hemoglobin concentration information (HbO, HbR, and HbT). This was followed by a graph-theoretical analysis, and then an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was further applied to quantify the TRT reliability of each network metric. We observed that a large proportion of resting-state functional connections (∼90%) exhibited good reliability (0.6< ICC <0.74). For global and nodal measures, reliability was generally threshold-sensitive and varied among both network metrics and hemoglobin concentration signals. Specifically, the majority of global metrics exhibited fair to excellent reliability, with notably higher ICC values for the clustering coefficient (HbO: 0.76; HbR: 0.78; HbT: 0.53) and global efficiency (HbO: 0.76; HbR: 0.70; HbT: 0.78). Similarly, both nodal degree and efficiency measures also showed fair to excellent reliability across nodes (degree: 0.52∼0.84; efficiency: 0.50∼0.84); reliability was concordant across HbO, HbR and HbT and was significantly higher than that of nodal betweenness (0.28∼0.68). Together, our results suggest that most graph-theoretical network metrics derived from fNIRS are TRT reliable and can be used effectively for brain network research. This study also provides important guidance on the choice of network metrics of interest for future applied research in developmental and clinical neuroscience.
Histopathologic evaluation of the pulp after direct pulp capping with calcium hydroxide and mineral trioxide aggregate in primary teeth

Background and Aim: Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) is a relatively new material. It is biocompatible and has sealing ability. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the histologic pulp responses of calcium hydroxide and MTA placed directly on exposed pulp tissues. Materials & Methods: Twenty teeth already scheduled for extraction for orthodontic reasons were selected for this experimental study. These teeth were divided into 2 groups and treated with direct pulp capping. Calcium hydroxide was used for 10 teeth and MTA for 10 teeth. After 60 days the teeth were extracted and prepared for histological evaluation. Finally the data were analyzed with Mann-Whitney test. Results: All teeth treated with Calcium hydroxide showed inflammation. Internal resorption was seen in 6 teeth and abscess in 5 teeth and calcified bridge in 6 teeth and reparative in 2 teeth. Inflammation was seen in 2 mineral trioxide aggregate samples and calcified bridge and reparative dentin in 7 teeth. Internal resorption and abscess were not seen in mineral trioxide aggregate group. Conclusion: Mineral trioxide aggregate appeared to be superior to Calcium hydroxide as a pulp capping agent in primary teeth.
The evaluation of limb symmetry indices using ground reaction forces collected with one or two force plates in healthy dogs

Summary Objective: To compare the variability of symmetry indices within and between days when using one and two force plates for data collection. Animals: Seventeen healthy client-owned adult dogs. Methods: Vertical ground reaction force data were collected in a crossover study design, with four collection sessions on two consecutive days, and then two weeks apart (days 1, 2, 15, and 16) using both 1-plate and 2-plate collection methods. Symmetry indices were calculated for limb pairs using two standard equations (SI1 and SI2). Repeated measures analysis was used to compare symmetry indices data between plate systems and days. Significance was set at p <0.05. Results: There were no significant differences between plate systems for SI1 and SI2. There were no significant differences between data collected on different days and no significant interaction effects between variables. Symmetry indices were consistently larger for ground reaction forces calculated from non-consecutive footfalls. Conclusions: The use of two force plate systems will minimize variance caused by trial repetition and paired limb variation. When comparing SI1 to SI2, results were not significantly different. However, there were consistently higher mean values for SI1 compared with SI2 and symmetry indices were consistently larger for 1-plate systems compared to 2-plate systems for both symmetry indices.