Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CT colonography with decreased purgation: balancing preparation, performance, and patient acceptance.

OBJECTIVE Reduction or elimination of catharsis with fecal tagging enhances the tolerability of CT colonography (CTC) and may increase compliance with colorectal cancer (CRC) screening recommendations. We systematically reviewed studies that prospectively evaluated performance and patient satisfaction with decreased-purgation CTC and with optical colonoscopy. CONCLUSION The nine studies reviewed showed moderate-to-good performance for decreased-purgation CTC; however, data are limited, and study design and data presentation are inconsistent. Further study of decreased-purgation CTC and standardization of terminology are needed.
JAK2 V617F hematopoietic clones are present several years prior to MPN diagnosis and follow different expansion kinetics.

TO THE EDITOR: The JAK2 V617F mutation is the most common somatic mutation in the classical myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), present in >95% of cases of polycythemia vera (PV) and ∼50% of essential thrombocythemia (ET) and myelofibrosis (MF). [1][1][⇓][2][⇓][3]-[4][4] It is usually the
Long-Term Cognitive Functioning in Testicular Germ-Cell Tumor Survivors.

BACKGROUND Treatment for cancer may lead to development of cognitive difficulties in cancer survivors. This study aimed to evaluate long-term cognitive functioning (CogF) in germ-cell tumor (GCT) survivors. SUBJECTS, MATERIALS, AND METHODS GCT survivors (n = 155) from the National Cancer Institute of Slovakia completed the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Cognitive Function at a median of 10 years of follow-up (range: 5-32). The study group consisted of survivors receiving a cisplatin-based chemotherapy, radiotherapy to the retroperitoneal lymph nodes, or both, whereas the control group included survivors treated with orchiectomy only. RESULTS Of the total survivors, 138 received treatment beyond orchiectomy and 17 controls had orchiectomy alone. Any treatment resulted in significantly greater cognitive difficulties on the overall cognitive function score. Treatment with radiotherapy was associated with cognitive declines in overall cognitive functioning and in subscales for perceived cognitive impairment and cognitive impairment perceived by others (both p < .05). The burden of chemotherapy plus radiotherapy or radiotherapy versus controls resulted in the impairment in all cognitive functioning domains (all p < .05). Overall long-term cognitive impairment was independent of age in the multivariable analysis. CONCLUSION This prospective study shows that GCT survivors suffer from a long-term CogF impairment. These results may help guide clinicians' decisions in treatment and follow-up of GCTs. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE In this study, long-term survivors of germ-cell tumors have reported cognitive impairment after curative treatment with radiotherapy and chemotherapy compared with controls who had treatment with orchiectomy only. These data provide an argument against the use of adjuvant radiotherapy for stage I seminoma. Unnecessary overtreatment with chemotherapy and additional radiotherapy after chemotherapy should be avoided.
A CD153+CD4+ T Follicular Cell Population with Cell-Senescence Features Plays a Crucial Role in Lupus Pathogenesis via Osteopontin Production

Immune aging results in diminished adaptive immunity and increased risk for autoimmunity. We previously reported a unique PD-1+ CD44highCD4+ T cell population that increases with age in normal mice. In this study, we indicate that the age-dependent PD-1+ CD44highCD4+ T cells develop as unique T follicular (TF) cells in a B cell–dependent manner and consist of two subpopulations, as follows: CD153+ cells preferentially secreting abundant osteopontin on TCR stimulation and CD153− cells that are apparently TCR anergic. These unique TF cells with essentially similar features increase much earlier and are accumulated in the spontaneous germinal centers (GCs) in lupus-prone female BWF1 (f-BWF1) mice. These TF cells showed characteristic cell-senescence features and developed in association with extensive CD4+ T cell proliferation in vivo, suggesting replicative senescence. Although the CD153+ TF cells were defective in proliferation capacity, they were quite stable and specifically responded to self GC-B cells to secret abundant osteopontin, which inhibited B cell receptor–induced GC-B cell apoptosis in f-BWF1 mice. Transfer of CD153+ PD-1+ CD4+ T cells promoted the growth of spontaneous GCs, whereas administration of anti-osteopontin Ab suppressed GC enlargement and anti-nuclear Ab production and ameliorated clinical lupus nephritis of f-BWF1 mice. Current results suggest that senescent CD153+ TF cells generated as a consequence of extensive endogenous CD4+ T cell proliferation play an essential, if not sufficient, role in lupus pathogenesis in lupus-prone genetic background and may also contribute to an increased autoimmunity risk with age.
Efficient Data Propagation in Traffic-Monitoring Vehicular Networks

Road congestion and traffic-related pollution have a large negative social and economic impact on several economies worldwide. We believe that investment in the monitoring, distribution, and processing of traffic information should enable better strategic planning and encourage better use of public transport, both of which would help cut pollution and congestion. This paper investigates the problem of efficiently collecting and disseminating traffic information in an urban setting. We formulate the traffic data acquisition problem and explore solutions in the mobile sensor network domain while considering realistic application requirements. By leveraging existing infrastructure such as traveling vehicles in the city, we propose traffic data dissemination schemes that operate on both the routing and the application layer; our schemes are frugal in the use of the wireless medium, rendering our system interoperable with the proliferation of competing applications. We introduce the following two routing algorithms for vehicular networks that aim at minimizing communication and, at the same time, adhering to a delay threshold set by the application: 1) delay-bounded greedy forwarding and 2) delay-bounded minimum-cost forwarding. We propose a framework that jointly optimizes the two key processes associated with monitoring traffic, i.e., data acquisition and data delivery, and provide a thorough experimental evaluation based on realistic vehicular traces on a real city map.
Robust multi-objective optimization for water distribution system design using a meta-metaheuristic

The design of an urban water distribution system (WDS) is a challenging problem involving multiple objectives. The goal of robust multi-objective optimization for WDS design is to find the set of solutions which embodies an acceptable trade-off between system cost and reliability, so that the ideal solution may be selected for a given budget. In addition to satisfying consumer needs, a system must be built to accommodate multiple demand loading conditions, withstand component failures and allow surplus capacity for growth. In a developmental setting, WDS robustness becomes even more crucial, owing to the limited availability of resources, especially for maintenance. Recent optimization studies have achieved success using multi-objective evolutionary algorithms, such as the Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II). However, the multi-objective design of a large WDS within a reasonable timeframe remains a formidable problem, owing to the extremely high computational complexity of the problem. In this paper, a meta-algorithm called AMALGAM is applied for the first time to WDS design. AMALGAM uses multiple metaheuristics simultaneously in an attempt to improve optimization performance. Additionally, a Jumping-gene Genetic Algorithm (NSGA-II-JG) is also applied for the first time to WDS design. These two algorithms were tested against some other metaheuristics (including NSGA-II and a new greedy algorithm) with respect to a number of benchmark systems documented in the literature, and AMALGAM demonstrated the best performance overall, while NSGA-II-JG fared worse than the ordinary NSGA-II. Large cost savings and reliability improvements are demonstrated for a real WDS developmental case study in South Africa.
Temperament, parenting, and depressive symptoms in a population sample of preadolescents.

BACKGROUND Depressive symptoms can be triggered by negative social experiences and individuals' processing of these experiences. This study focuses on the interaction between temperament, perceived parenting, and gender in relation to depressive problems in a Dutch population sample of preadolescents. METHODS The sample consisted of 2230 ten-to-twelve-year-olds from the North of The Netherlands. Perceived parenting (overprotection, rejection, emotional warmth) was assessed by the EMBU (a Swedish acronym for My Memories of Upbringing) for Children, temperament (fearfulness and frustration) by the parent version of the Early Adolescent Temperament Questionnaire-Revised, and depressive problems by the Child Behavior Checklist (parent report) and the Youth Self-Report (child report). RESULTS All parenting and temperament factors were significantly associated with depressive problems. Frustration increased the depressogenic effect of parental overprotection and lack of emotional warmth. Fearfulness increased the effect of rejection in girls, but not in boys. Furthermore, the association between frustration and depression was stronger in boys. CONCLUSIONS These findings support the hypothesis that the effect of specific parenting behaviors depends on the temperament and gender of the child.
Team-based care approach to cholesterol management in diabetes mellitus: two-year cluster randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND Creative, cost-effective interventions to improve the quality of care of chronic illnesses are needed. This study was designed to evaluate the impact of remote physician-pharmacist team-based care on cholesterol levels in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). METHODS This 2-year prospective, cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted within the Providence Primary Care Research Network in Oregon. Participants at least 18 years of age were identified by a diagnosis of DM. The intervention included remote physician-pharmacist team-based care focused on cholesterol management in DM. All clinicians in the study had access to the health information technology tool CareManager, which provided automated DM-related point-of-care prompts, a Web-based registry, and performance feedback with benchmarking. Study outcomes included the difference in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goal attainment, mean LDL-C, prescribed lipid-lowering therapy, and patient satisfaction between the intervention and control arms. RESULTS A total of 6963 patients with DM cared for by 68 physicians in 9 clinics were evaluated. Patients in the intervention arm were more likely to achieve their target LDL-C levels compared with controls (78% vs 50%; P = .003). The mean LDL-C level was 12 mg/dL lower in the intervention arm compared with the control arm (P < .001). The rate of LDL-C testing was significantly higher in the intervention arm compared with the control arm. Patients in the intervention arm were also 15% more likely to receive a prescription for a lipid-lowering medication (P = .008). There was no significant difference in patient satisfaction between study arms (P = .15). CONCLUSION Remotely located physician-pharmacist team-based care resulted in significantly improved LDL-C levels and goal attainment among patients with DM.
Breastfeeding Information in Midwifery Textbooks in Japan

The purpose of this study was to evaluate breastfeeding information in midwifery textbooks. Evaluation standards were developed in order to perform content analysis. A 3-round Delphi method using a panel of 32 midwives resulted in 36 evaluation items from the original 38 draft items based on 4 major international guidelines and statements on breastfeeding. Subsequently, breastfeeding descriptions in 4 midwifery textbooks most frequently used in Japan were examined using a 4-point scale (A, accurate and sufficient description; B, accurate but insufficient description; C, no description; and D, inaccurate or inconsistent description). Among the evaluation items, 40% were rated as A, 25% as C, 21% as B, and 15% as D across the 4 textbooks. In conclusion, a substantial proportion of breastfeeding information in these textbooks was found to be inaccurate, inconsistent, or insufficient in content.
Super-human multi-talker speech recognition: the IBM 2006 speech separation challenge system

We describe a system for model based speech separation which achieves super-human recognition performance when two talkers speak at similar levels. The system can separate the speech of two speakers from a single channel recording with remarkable results. It incorporates a novel method for performing two-talker speaker identification and gain estimation. We extend the method of model based high resolution signal reconstruction to incorporate temporal dynamics. We report on two methods for introducing dynamics; the first uses dynamics in the acoustic model space, the second incorporates dynamics based on sentence grammar. The addition of temporal constraints leads to dramatic improvements in the separation performance. Once the signals have been separated they are then recognized using speaker dependent labeling.
Ocular Morbidity among Street Children in Kathmandu Valley

Abstract Purpose: Prevalence of ocular morbidity among street children is largely unknown. The present study was carried out to determine the prevalence of ocular morbidity among street children in the Kathmandu Valley. Methods: A cross-sectional study consisting of an eye examination program among 569 street children aged younger than 18 years was conducted from March 2013 to February 2014. Children were included from 11 safe houses of 6 non-governmental organizations and an independent eye camp. Eye examination included visual acuity testing, anterior segment and posterior segment examination, retinoscopy and refraction, cover test, convergence, accommodation and color vision tests. Chi-square test was used to analyze the association of ocular morbidity with age, sex and living conditions. Results: The majority of children (43.8%) were in the age group of 12–15 years, and the male to female ratio was 3.9:1. Uncorrected and best-corrected visual acuity ≥6/9 in at least one eye was found in 89.8% and 98.4% of children, respectively. Total ocular morbidity was observed at 31.6%. The most common types of ocular morbidity were conjunctivitis (11.0%) and refractive error (11.6%). Ocular morbidity was more common in children over 15 years of age (40.9%; p < 0.01; odds ratio 1.8). Conclusions: Ocular infection and refractive error represent the most common ocular morbidities in street children in the Kathmandu Valley.
Clinical overlap between Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder in male veterans

Clinical Overlap Between Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder in Male Veterans. (August 2005) Christina Danielle Boggs, B.A., University of Kentucky; M.S., Texas A&M University Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Leslie C. Morey The associated features, high rates of comorbidity and chronicity of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) raise questions regarding the distinctiveness of the two disorders. The present study expands upon previous literature by providing an investigation of clinical features across two groups: PTSD only and comorbid PTSD and BPD in a sample of male veterans (n=178). Results suggest that the two groups were distinct, with the comorbid group displaying higher levels of depression, hostility, alcohol use and general psychopathology. Groups did not differ on rates of personal trauma, adult sexual abuse, childhood sexual abuse, attack, accident or disaster. The two groups did differ significantly on rates of childhood violence.
Depressed patients perception of the efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy and venlafaxine therapy.

BACKGROUND The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of electroconvulsive (ECT) and venlafaxine therapy from the patient's point of view. METHODS We used a retrospective chart review from 22 inpatients who underwent ECT and 22 patients treated with venlafaxine due to resistant unipolar or bipolar depression. We used bilateral ECT in a median of 8 (IQR 7-9.7) sessions and venlafaxine therapy with a median daily dosage of 225 mg (IQR 150-225 mg) for a median of 4 (IQR 4-5) weeks. The main outcome was change in a self-evaluation scale - Short Form of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-SF). The response was defined as the decreasing of the BDI-SF score by >or=50%, remission as decreasing of BDI-SF score <or=4. RESULTS We did not find significant differences between sex, age and BDI-SF before therapy in both groups. The reduction of BDI-SF score was significantly higher in the ECT group than in venlafaxine group (p=0.025). Significantly more patients treated with ECT reached response than patients treated with venlafaxine (68% vs. 23%; <0.01). The remission rate after ECT was not significantly higher than venlafaxine therapy (27% vs. 5%; p=0.094). The number needed to treat (NNT) of ECT for BDI-SF response was 3 (CI95% 1.4 to 5.2) and NNT for BDI-SF remission was 5 (CI95% 2.3 to 45.8). DISCUSSION After the median of 3 failed antidepressant trials, ECT was more effective than venlafaxine in the short term therapy in some parametres according to our patients. We suggest that the fact that mental state was evaluated by patients themselves is an important pro-argument in the discussion about ECT.
Can Attitudes toward Statistics and Statistics Anxiety Explain Students’ Performance? // ¿Pueden las actitudes hacia la estadística y la ansiedad estadística explicar el rendimiento de los estudiantes?

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between math background, trait anxiety, test anxiety, statistics anxiety, attitudes toward statistics and statistics performance in a sample of 472 university students enrolled in statistics courses of Health Sciences majors. A Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) approach showed the attitudes as the stronger direct predictor of performance, and played a full mediating role on the relationship between statistics anxiety and performance. Contrary to hypothesized, the direct contribution of math background, trait anxiety, and test anxiety to performance was non-significant. A final model posited that performance was positively and directly affected by attitudes, and in turn attitudes were positively influenced by math background and negatively affected by anxiety. Math background also appeared as negative predictor of anxiety. Finally, test anxiety was a positively direct predictor of statistics anxiety.
A Small Multidrug Resistance-like Transporter Involved in the Arabinosylation of Arabinogalactan and Lipoarabinomannan in Mycobacteria*

Background: (Glyco)lipid translocation across the plasma membrane plays a pivotal role in the biogenesis of the mycobacterial cell envelope. Results: The SMR-likes transporter Rv3789 appears to be involved in reorienting decaprenol phosphate arabinose to the periplasm. Conclusion: Rv3789 participates in the buildup of the arabinan domains of arabinogalactan and lipoarabinomannan. Significance: This is the first lipid-linked sugar translocase ever identified in mycobacteria. The biosynthesis of the major cell envelope glycoconjugates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is topologically split across the plasma membrane, yet nothing is known of the transporters required for the translocation of lipid-linked sugar donors and oligosaccharide intermediates from the cytoplasmic to the periplasmic side of the membrane in mycobacteria. One of the mechanisms used by prokaryotes to translocate lipid-linked phosphate sugars across the plasma membrane relies on translocases that share resemblance with small multidrug resistance transporters. The presence of an small multidrug resistance-like gene, Rv3789, located immediately upstream from dprE1/dprE2 responsible for the formation of decaprenyl-monophosphoryl-β-d-arabinose (DPA) in the genome of M. tuberculosis led us to investigate its potential involvement in the formation of the major arabinosylated glycopolymers, lipoarabinomannan (LAM) and arabinogalactan (AG). Disruption of the ortholog of Rv3789 in Mycobacterium smegmatis resulted in a reduction of the arabinose content of both AG and LAM that accompanied the accumulation of DPA in the mutant cells. Interestingly, AG and LAM synthesis was restored in the mutant not only upon expression of Rv3789 but also upon that of the undecaprenyl phosphate aminoarabinose flippase arnE/F genes from Escherichia coli. A bacterial two-hybrid system further indicated that Rv3789 interacts in vivo with the galactosyltransferase that initiates the elongation of the galactan domain of AG. Biochemical and genetic evidence is thus consistent with Rv3789 belonging to an AG biosynthetic complex, where its role is to reorient DPA to the periplasm, allowing this arabinose donor to then be used in the buildup of the arabinan domains of AG and LAM.
‘We don't just do what we're told to do!’ Exploring pedagogical technology development needs

ABSTRACT This article investigates the application of technology to pedagogy in early years. The research considers the perceptions of technology that are held by a variety of practitioners in a range of settings. The research explores the factors influencing the participants’ interpretation of the pedagogical value of technology by asking two questions. Do the participants follow policymakers who support the application of technology to pedagogy? Do the participants mirror academic research in this area by considering that ‘e is only best’ when it is applied to pedagogy to develop creative thinking? The study is based in England and draws on the experiences of 16 practitioners who are working in either private or statutory nursery settings. The research is based on an inductive qualitative methodology that has gathered the participants’ views on the benefits of technology for pedagogy in early years. The research reveals that a range of personal, social and professional factors influence the participants’ pedagogy with technology. The article identifies the challenges that exist for the professional development of these early years educators in this area of pedagogy.
The hypoxia–inflammation link and potential drug targets

Purpose of review Hypoxia represents one of the strongest transcriptional stimuli known to us. In most cases, hypoxia-induced changes in gene expression are directed towards adapting tissues to conditions of limited oxygen availability. Recent findings As a well known example, physical exercise at high altitude results in the transcriptional induction of erythropoietin that functions to increase oxygen carrying capacity and red cell volume. Studies of the transcriptional pathway responsible for the induction of erythropoietin during conditions of hypoxia led to the discovery of the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) that is known today as the key transcription factor for hypoxia adaptation. Surgical patients are frequently at risk for experiencing detrimental effects of hypoxia or ischemia, for example, in the context of acute kidney injury, myocardial, intestinal or hepatic ischemia, acute lung injury, or during organ transplantation. Summary In the present review, we discuss the mechanisms of transcriptional adaptation to hypoxia and provide evidence supporting the hypothesis that targeting hypoxia-induced inflammation can represent novel pharmacologic strategies to improve perioperative outcomes. Currently, such strategies are being explored at an experimental level, but we hope that some of these targets can be translated into perioperative patient care within the next decade.