Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pharmacotherapy for uveitis: current management and emerging therapy

Uveitis, a group of conditions characterized by intraocular inflammation, is a major cause of sight loss in the working population. Most uveitis seen in Western countries is noninfectious and appears to be autoimmune or autoinflammatory in nature, requiring treatment with immunosuppressive and/or anti-inflammatory drugs. In this educational review, we outline the ideal characteristics of drugs for uveitis and review the data to support the use of current and emerging therapies in this context. It is crucial that we continue to develop new therapies for use in uveitis that aim to suppress disease activity, prevent accumulation of damage, and preserve visual function for patients with the minimum possible side effects.
Religious Encasement in Canada: An Argument for Protestant and Catholic Entrenchment

On accepte généralement de penser qu'après la Seconde Guerre Mondiale, le christianisme au Canada est entré dans une phase de déclin. En conséquence, une attention particulière est accordée aux alternatives possibles vers lesquelles les canadiens peuvent se tourn er. Toutefois, l'examen des faits les plus saillants, depuis les reven dications des gens eux-mêmes jusqu'aux modèles d'affiliation intergénérationnelle, ne montrent qu'une faible tendance des cana diens à abandonner les groupes religieux établis. Les gens sont restés à l'intérieur des systèmes protestant et catholique romain. Certes, l'industrialisation a altéré le contenu et la fonction des sélections qu'ils opèrent face à ces traditions. Néanmoins, c'est précisément la souplesse et l'adaptabilité de ces groupes établis qui ont rendu possible la permanence de cette affiliation religieuse. L'Auteur en examine les différentes formes et leurs determinants. Il conclut en suggérant quelques unes des implications de ses constatations à pro pos de la situation canadienne.
The relative impact of obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension on the structural and functional changes of the thoracic aorta.

BACKGROUND Recent studies suggest that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) causes thoracic aortic dilatation; but it is well accepted that hypertension can cause aortic dilatation, and hypertension is a common finding in patients with OSA. We aimed to investigate the relative impact of OSA and hypertension on the structural and functional changes of the thoracic aorta. METHODS This was an echocardiography substudy of our prospective OSA study in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Ninety-four male patients who completed both echocardiography and polysomnography were recruited. OSA was defined as an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) > or = 15/hour. RESULTS The patients' mean age was 53 +/- 10 years, and mean body mass index (BMI) was 24.6 +/- 3 kg/m2. Sixty-four (68.1%) patients had OSA; of these, 39 (41.5%) had severe OSA. Thirty-three (52.6%) of the OSA cohort had hypertension. There was no correlation between any of the echocardiographic parameters and thoracic aortic size. Stepwise multivariate regression showed that BMI (P = 0.024), older age (P = 0.044), and hypertension (P = 0.025) were the only determinants. There was no significant independent relationship between OSA/AHI and thoracic aortic size. Systolic blood pressure but notAHI correlated significantly with aortic distensibility and compliance (r = -0.40 and -0.26, P < 0.001 and 0.022, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Hypertension is a common finding in male AMI patients with OSA. In these patients, increased afterload from systemic hypertension rather than mechanical stress on the aortic wall determines the thoracic aortic size and abnormalities in aortic functional indices. BMI and age were also independent predictors of thoracic aortic dilatation.
A noncooperative approach to joint rate and power control for infrastructure wireless networks

This paper shows how to tailor a game-theoretic approach to the issue of distributed resource allocation in a multiple-access wireless network with different quality of service constraints. According to the nature of the terminals (either fixed/vehicular or mobile/battery-powered, in one respect, and either licensed or unlicensed in another), each user pursues a different goal in the network. Game theory is used as a possible tool to ensure optimum coexistence of users with highly conflicting interests. In the proposed game, each user is allowed to jointly set its transmit power and data rate according to a utility-maximizing criterion, where the utility is defined as the ratio of the overall throughput to the transmit power. The noncooperative Nash solution of the game is investigated and closed-form expressions for this equilibrium are derived and compared with numerical results for a decentralized resource control algorithm.
The effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and phosphorus levels on dry matter production and root traits in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

To evaluate the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and phosphorus levels on root traits of cucumber plants, a factorial experiment was carried out based on a randomized completely design pot culture. Four phosphorus fertilization treatments, including 2, 5, 10 and 15 mg P kg-1 soil possessed phosphorus fertilization levels as the first factor. At the second factor arranged Glomus mosseae, Glomus intraradices of mycorrhiza species and non-inoculum as a control with three replications were conducted in the greenhouse of agricultural research center of west Azarbaijan province Urmia, in 2013. Results show that above-ground dry matter of inoculated cucumber at both species with 155.00 and 160.83 mg/plant had the highest values. Both species had more root fresh and dry weight, root length and root volume than control. Colonization of G. mosseae and G. intraradices, with 53.20 and 44.59% had the highest values at the 2 mg P kg-1 soil. G. mosseae and G. intraradices had the highest leaf phosphorus with 486.06 and 477.60 mg/100 g of leaf dry weight at the 15 mg P kg-1 soil, respectively. Leaf phosphorus (r = 0.62**), root dry weight (r = 0.79**), root length (r=0.44**), root volume (r = 0.82**) and fresh root weight (r = 0.74**) had positive correlation coefficients with above-ground dry matter. Although application of phosphorus increased above-ground dry matter and root traits, but our study clearly demonstrates that mycorrhizal fungi play an important role in the enhancement of growth of cucumber plants under very low phosphorus conditions. Key words: Colonization, cucumber, dry matter, insoluble phosphorus, mycorrhiza.
An improved moving objects detection algorithm

Moving target detection is an important part of video target tracking. Good moving target detection makes video track more effective. This paper proposes a new algorithm based on the traditional three-frame differential method comparison. The shortage of traditional three-frame differential method is pointed out. Combined with Canny edge detection algorithm, the improved three frame differential algorithm makes moving target detected containing more complete information. This new algorithm takes advantage of good performances of three-frame-difference method and background subtraction method adequately. The proposed method is simple and experimental results show that it can accurately detect moving targets.
Can Asperger's Disorder Be Differentiated From Autism Using DSM-IV Criteria?

Parents of 26 children With diagnoses of Asperger's disorder completed a symptom checklist to determine Whether the children met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders—Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR; American Psychiatric Association, 2000) criteria for Asperger's disorder, autism, or pervasive developmental disorder not otherWise specified. Results shoWed that almost all (20) met criteria for autism, and a DSM-IV-TR diagnosis of Asperger's disorder could not be confirmed in any child. Further, 95% of the parents Whose children did not have a DSM-IV-TR diagnosis of Asperger's disorder agreed With their child's diagnosis of Asperger's disorder. Our findings suggest that the hierarchical DSM-IV-TR criteria are not applied by clinicians to diagnose Asperger's disorder because most children With diagnoses of Asperger's disorder actually met DSM-IV-TR criteria for autism, Which precludes a diagnosis of Asperger's disorder. These findings are consistent With previous studies. Most experts noW agree that autism is a spectrum disorder and Asperger's disorder is actually high-functioning autism. Implications for the next revision of the DSM are discussed.
Impact of Message Design on Online Interactions: An Empirical Investigation

Recent advances in information technologies have provided firms unprecedented ability to manage online social interactions among their customers. Despite their growing popularity and importance, there are very few studies that have examined the optimal design choices for a firm seeking to maximize returns from firm-mediated social interactions. Our study seeks to examine whether and how a firm can enhance effectiveness of online social interactions, by simply varying the message shared by referrers with their social connections. More specifically, in this study we focus on two key pieces of information contained in the messages -- information about sender's purchase status prior to referral, and information about the existence of referral rewards -- and their impacts on the recipient's purchase decision. We design and conduct a randomized field experiment testing the effectiveness of different versions of firm-mediated messages in creating social contagion, in collaboration with an online daily deal platform. Our preliminary findings suggest that information about sender's purchase leads to more purchases by recipients. The findings of the study will add to our understanding of the effect of different messages on social interaction outcomes, and provide guidelines for optimal design of messages at aggregate level as well as the individual level.
Identification of promoter-proximal oligonucleotides and a unique dinucleotide, pppGpC, from in vitro transcription products of vesicular stomatitis virus

The oligonucleotides synthesized by purified vesicular stomatitis virus in vitro in the absence of one or more ribonucleoside triphosphate precursors have been studied. The oligonucleotides contained the 5'-terminal sequences of the leader RNA and one or more mRNA's. The promoter-proximal oligonucleotides lacked 5'-terminal cap structure and contained triphosphate A. These results suggest that the RNA polymerase is located at multiple promoter sites on the genome RNA from where it initiates transcription. The capping reaction appears to occur subsequently during RNA chain elongation. We have also demonstrated that a unique dinucleotide, pppGpC, of presently unknown function is synthesized in vitro in large amounts during RNA synthesis or in the presence of GTP and CTP only.
Deep Sequential Neural Network

Neural Networks sequentially build high-level features through their successive layers. We propose here a new neural network model where each layer is associated with a set of candidate mappings. When an input is processed, at each layer, one mapping among these candidates is selected according to a sequential decision process. The resulting model is structured according to a DAG like architecture, so that a path from the root to a leaf node defines a sequence of transformations. Instead of considering global transformations, like in classical multilayer networks, this model allows us for learning a set of local transformations. It is thus able to process data with different characteristics through specific sequences of such local transformations, increasing the expression power of this model w.r. t a classical multilayered network. The learning algorithm is inspired from policy gradient techniques coming from the reinforcement learning domain and is used here instead of the classical back-propagation based gradient descent techniques. Experiments on different datasets show the relevance of this approach.
Determination of probability distribution of diplotype configuration (diplotype distribution) for each subject from genotypic data using the EM algorithm

Haplotype analysis is important for mapping traits. Recently, methods for estimating haplotype frequencies from genotypes of unrelated individuals based on the expectation‐maximization (EM) algorithm have been developed. Our program estimates haplotype frequencies in the population and determines the posterior probability distribution of diplotype configuration (diplotype distribution) for each subject based on the estimated haplotype frequencies. Samples from three ethnic groups for the smoothelin gene (SMTN) and those from three Japanese groups for serum amyloid A genes (SAA@) were analyzed. The estimated diplotype distribution for each individual was concentrated, in most cases, in a single diplotype configuration. The diplotype configuration thus determined was the same as that determined in in vitro experiments, with one exception. Thus, the diplotype configurations determined using the estimated haplotype frequencies from unrelated individuals are reliable. Using this method, the risk of a subject developing a phenotype may be estimated from the diplotype distribution when the phenotype is associated with diplotype configurations.
A case study exploring student choice making behaviour and progression agreements

This article examines the choice making behaviour, in relation to progression into and through higher education, of a small group of foundation degree students at a further education college in England. This study was conducted within the wider context of an evaluation of the impact of progression agreements within a Lifelong Learning Network and as such is influenced by other findings from the wider evaluation. The students interviewed, all of whom were high achievers at Level 3, nonetheless exhibited signs of having a tentative learner identity which constrained the choices they made in relation to progression into and through higher education. They also showed a marked reluctance to engage with formal methods of information, advice and guidance (IAG), preferring to rely on more informal sources. It is acknowledged that this is a small-scale study and as such needs to be treated as a case study rather than a generalisable piece of research. However, by comparing the initial themes emerging from the interviews with those of similar studies elsewhere in the UK (e.g. London, Scotland) it is hoped that the findings will be sufficient to provide some useful indications of the implications and impacts of some of the key activities of Lifelong Learning Networks, particularly progression agreements and IAG work.
Microbial Population Structures in Soil Particle Size Fractions of a Long-Term Fertilizer Field Experiment

ABSTRACT Soil structure depends on the association between mineral soil particles (sand, silt, and clay) and organic matter, in which aggregates of different size and stability are formed. Although the chemistry of organic materials, total microbial biomass, and different enzyme activities in different soil particle size fractions have been well studied, little information is available on the structure of microbial populations in microhabitats. In this study, topsoil samples of different fertilizer treatments of a long-term field experiment were analyzed. Size fractions of 200 to 63 μm (fine sand fraction), 63 to 2 μm (silt fraction), and 2 to 0.1 μm (clay fraction) were obtained by a combination of low-energy sonication, wet sieving, and repeated centrifugation. Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and cloning and sequencing of 16S rRNA genes were used to compare bacterial community structures in different particle size fractions. The microbial community structure was significantly affected by particle size, yielding higher diversity of microbes in small size fractions than in coarse size fractions. The higher biomass previously found in silt and clay fractions could be attributed to higher diversity rather than to better colonization of particular species. Low nutrient availability, protozoan grazing, and competition with fungal organisms may have been responsible for reduced diversities in larger size fractions. Furthermore, larger particle sizes were dominated by α-Proteobacteria, whereas high abundance and diversity of bacteria belonging to the Holophaga/Acidobacteriumdivision were found in smaller size fractions. Although very contrasting organic amendments (green manure, animal manure, sewage sludge, and peat) were examined, our results demonstrated that the bacterial community structure was affected to a greater extent by the particle size fraction than by the kind of fertilizer applied. Therefore, our results demonstrate specific microbe-particle associations that are affected to only a small extent by external factors.
`Neither Here nor There': The Construction of Identities and Boundary Maintenance of West African Pentecostals

The often taken-for-granted `decline of religion' thesis has frequently led to the failure to recognize the significance of religion in both forging and articulating aspects of identity in the contemporary western context. In addressing such an issue this article seeks to explore the importance of religion in aiding the construction of the identities of West African migrants to Britain through a distinct and innovatory mode of Pentecostalism. While this vibrant form of Christianity has long been understood as a faith relevant to the needs of black ethnic minorities, its changing theodicies and value-orientation have helped the formation of identity and provide meaning to the experiences of a new generation of migrants.
Ginger Lowers Blood Pressure Through Blockade of Voltage-Dependent Calcium Channels

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe), a well-known spice plant, has been used traditionally in a wide variety of ailments including hypertension. We report here the cardiovascular effects of ginger under controlled experimental conditions. The crude extract of ginger (Zo.Cr) induced a dose-dependent (0.3-3 mg/kg) fall in the arterial blood pressure of anesthetized rats. In guinea pig paired atria, Zo.Cr exhibited a cardiodepressant activity on the rate and force of spontaneous contractions. In rabbit thoracic aorta preparation, Zo.Cr relaxed the phenylephrine-induced vascular contraction at a dose 10 times higher than that required against K+ (80 mM)-induced contraction. Ca2+ channel-blocking (CCB) activity was confirmed when Zo.Cr shifted the Ca2+ dose-response curves to the right similar to the effect of verapamil. It also inhibited the phenylephrine (1 μM) control peaks in normal-Ca2+ and Ca2+-free solution, indicating that it acts at both the membrane-bound and the intracellular Ca2+ channels. When tested in endothelium-intact rat aorta, it again relaxed the K+-induced contraction at a dose 14 times less than that required for relaxing the PE-induced contraction. The vasodilator effect of Zo.Cr was endothelium-independent because it was not blocked by L-NAME (0.1 mM) or atropine (1 μM) and also was reproduced in the endothelium-denuded preparations at the same dose range. These data indicate that the blood pressure-lowering effect of ginger is mediated through blockade of voltage-dependent calcium channels.
Choroidal thinning in high myopia measured by optical coherence tomography

Purpose To investigate the rate of choroidal thinning in highly myopic eyes. Patients and methods A retrospective observational study of 37 eyes of 26 subjects (nine males and 17 females, mean age 39.6 ± 7.7 years) with high myopia but no pathologies who had undergone spectral domain optical coherence tomography and repeated the test 1 year later (1 ± 0.25 year) at Osaka University Hospital, Osaka, Japan. Patients older than 50 years with visual acuity worse than 20/40 or with whitish chorioretinal atrophy involving the macula were excluded. Two masked raters measured the choroidal thicknesses (CTs) at the fovea, 3 mm superiorly, inferiorly, temporally, and nasally on the images and averaged the values. The second examination was about 365 days after the baseline examination. The CT reduction per year (CTRPY) was defined as (CT 1 year after – baseline CT)/days between the two examinations × 365. The retinal thicknesses were also investigated. Results The CTRPY at the fovea was −1.0 ± 22.0 μm (range −50.2 to 98.5) at the fovea, −6.5 ± 24.3 μm (range −65.8 to 90.2) temporally, −0.5 ± 22.3 μm (range −27.1 to 82.5) nasally, −9.7 ± 21.7 μm (range −40.1 to 60.1) superiorly, and −1.4 ± 25.5 μm (range −85.6 to 75.2) inferiorly. There were no significant differences in the CTRPY at each location (P = 0.34). The CT decreased significantly (P < 0.05) only superiorly. The superior CTRPY was negatively correlated with the axial length (P < 0.05). The retinal thickness at the fovea did not change. Stepwise analysis for CTRPY selected axial length (P = 0.04, R2 = 0.13) and age (P = 0.08, R2 = 0.21) as relevant factors. Conclusions The highly myopic choroid might gradually thin and be affected by many factors. Location and axial length are key factors to regulate the rate of choroidal thinning in highly myopic eyes. Overall choroidal thickness was not found to change significantly. Longer follow-ups are needed.
How Do States Influence Leadership in Small Districts?

This article examines whether centrally developed initiatives at the state level have an impact on how districts in the U.S. think about their role in providing direction and support for student learning, and also examines how districts view the strategies that state governments use to initiate change at the local level. Our focus is on smaller districts, a context that has been underexamined in recent investigations of the effects of the changing educational policy environment. Our framework draws on perceptions of power, networking, and loose coupling to examine four small districts. Our study suggests that there is considerable variation in how smaller districts react to state standards and accountability, but none of the four districts describe their situation in ways that suggest that they feel besieged or victimized by state standards. All four saw themselves as being able to harness state policy to local priorities. There were, however, differences between the districts' orientations to state policy that correspond to the larger political culture of the state in which they are located.
Dual band offset mixer for on-chip RF test in 0.13 μm CMOS

This paper discusses motivation and design of an offset mixer and investigates its optimum placement in loopback test setup for on-chip RF test. Based on this study, design and implementation of an offset mixer for on-chip RF testing of radio front ends is presented. The offset mixer is passive in nature reducing silicon area and power overheads. Mixer is implemented in 0.13 μπι CMOS process and the design aims for dual band operation i.e. Bluetooth & WLAN standards and high linearity. Post layout results indicate that the mixer has excellent noise figure of 5dB, low conversion loss of less than 5dB as well as high IP3 of 12.5 dBm. Proposed passive offset mixer with almost zero dc power consumption and minimal silicon area makes it best suitable for on chip RF test. Pre & post-layout simulation results obtained with Cadence Spectre RF are presented.