Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
COMBINATION PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY AND INTRAVITREAL RANIBIZUMAB IN NEOVASCULAR AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION IN A NORTH INDIAN POPULATION: A Pilot Study

Purpose: To evaluate photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin along with intravitreal ranibizumab in treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Methods: This prospective interventional care series included 16 patients (17 eyes) of choroidal neovascularization secondary to neovascular age-related macular degeneration who were treated with PDT with verteporfin followed by an injection of 0.5 mg ranibizumab on the same day. The main outcome measures were best corrected visual acuity as recorded by both Snellen and Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) charts (logMAR), contrast sensitivity (Pelli-Robson Chart), retreatment frequency, and frequency of side effects. Results: Seventeen eyes underwent PDT with verteporfin and intravitreal 0.5 mg ranibizumab, following PDT. Patients were followed up every month for a total period of 6 months. Initial visual acuity ranged from CF to 20/32 and final acuity ranged from CF to 20/20. Visual acuity stabilized (gain/loss <2 lines) in 14 out of 17 eyes (82.35%) and improved in 3 out of 17(17.65%). Contrast sensitivity improved in 15 out of17 eyes (82.24%) There were no cases of ocular/systemic adverse events. Retreatment was required in only 2 out of 17 cases (11.76%) with a single injection of intravitreal ranibizumab. Conclusion: The combination of PDT with intravitreal ranibizumab improves contrast sensitivity and stabilizes vision and reduces the number of retreatments, without significant ocular/systemic risks.
Intraoperative methadone: rediscovery, reappraisal, and reinvigoration?

Adequate relief of perioperative pain has been deemed a fundamental right of patients, and obligation of practitioners.1 Inadequately relieved postoperative pain has numerous physiologic complications, attendant risk of increased morbidity, and causes needless suffering. More than 40% of postoperative patients report inadequate pain relief, or pain of moderate or greater intensity, despite treatment.1-3 Unrelieved acute postoperative pain is a risk factor for the development of chronic postsurgical pain.4,5 It seems axiomatic that the duration of analgesia should match the duration of pain.
The effects of environment and fishing on the abundance and condition of Iceland scallop ( Chlamys islandica ) in

Sea temperature is one of the primary factor limiting the overall geographical range of most marine species, including the Icelandic scallop. In Iceland, the sub-arctic Icelandic scallop resides at its southern limits. As a result, it is likely to be especially vulnerable to changes in the immediate environment. During the last 5 years, the stock size of Iceland scallop in Breidifjordur on the West coast of Iceland has undergone a dramatic decline. This period has been characterized by steady increase in summer sea temperature and in 2003 the temperature had reached a historical maximum of the last century. As well, since 1998, there have been fluctuations in chl-a level, with the lowest values observed in 1999 and 2000. At the same time, muscle weight has declined and a minimum weight was attained in 2001-2002. In the following years, natural mortality of scallops in Breidifjordur increased significantly. The mortality was however quite localized within the main fishing area in the southern part of Breidifjordur. At the same time two Coccidia parasites have been described in Iceland scallop from Breidifjordur. These parasite may have influenced the survival of the scallops. Recruitment into the fishable stock in Breidifjordur was highly variable during the 1993-2003, with low recruitment towards the end of the 1990’s. Due to high total fishing mortality during the 1990-2000, the fishery depended on relatively few year classes. Therefore the fragile status of the stock did not endure the medium-high exploitation rates in conjunction with several years of poor recruitment.
Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration and endoscopic biliary drainage following closure of a duodenal perforation with an over-the-scope clip

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) followed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) are complementary procedures in the evaluation of obstructive jaundice with a median procedure length of 25 minutes [1]. Duodenal perforation can occur during EUS [2], but we have previously reported that ERCP can still be performed following successful closure of the perforation with clips [3]. A 76-year-old woman who was jaundiced was scheduled for combined EUS-FNA and endoscopic biliary drainage (EBD). The EUS showed a hypoechoic mass at the level of the neck of the pancreas with dilatation of the duct of Wirsung and the bile ducts, and evidence of vascular infiltration. The greater omentumwas visualized during the EUS procedure (●" Fig.1), because of a perforation at the level of the proximal duodenal flexure. We therefore used a standard gastroscope and switched to carbon dioxide insufflation to close the perforation. This was achieved by first aspirating the greater omentum and then releasing an over-the-scope clip (OTSC; 11/6t, Ovesco Endoscopy GmbH, Tubingen, Germany). Contrast medium was injected to ensure that a watertight closure had been achieved (●" Fig.2a). The procedure was then restarted and transgastric EUS-FNA of the lesion was carried out (●" Fig.2b) followed by ERCP with insertion of a plastic biliary stent (●" Fig.2c,d). Following the procedure, the patient was then kept fasted and on analgesic medication. A computed tomography (CT) scan 6 hours later showed some free air in the peritoneal cavity, but there was no free liquid detected. On the day after the procedure, a significant improvement was noted in the liver function tests. The patient recommenced feeding after 48 hours andwas discharged 72 hours after the procedure. Histologic examination confirmed the presence of an adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, and the patient was subsequently started on chemotherapy. Here we report, to our knowledge, the first case in which both an EUS-FNA and an ERCP were performed after a duodenal perforation had been treated with an OTSC. We have shown that extending the length of the endoscopic procedure in order to perform both procedures was feasible and did not compromise patient safety.
Calabrian Goji vs. Chinese Goji: A Comparative Study on Biological Properties

Lycium barbarum (Goji) fruits are mainly cultivated in northwestern China and are well known for their beneficial and healthy effects. In this work, the biological and functional properties of Calabrian Goji extract, obtained from Goji berries cultivated in the Sibari Plain (in the Italian region of Calabria), were demonstrated. In order to evaluate the use of this extract as a food supplement for cognitive and mental disorders, the quantification of Carotenoids as Zeaxanthin equivalents was made. The antioxidant activity was investigated by evaluating the scavenging properties against 2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-Azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radicals and by performing the ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) assay. The inhibition of lipid peroxidation was quantified by bleaching test and the ability to inhibit acetylcholinesterase enzyme and to scavenge nitric oxide radical was also evaluated. All the results were compared to those obtained from a Chinese Goji extract used as a reference. Based on the reported data, Calabrian Goji might be used as a food supplement with a possible application in cognitive disorders, mental impairments and other neurodegenerative diseases, due to its biological properties and the high levels of Carotenoids.
A review on synthesis and characterization of commercially available natural fibers: Part II

ABSTRACT Increasing environmental concerns, along with the potential declination of the crude worldwide reserves, have made the human beings to utilize more regenerable resources to substitute for the design and development of more new products. This has made us to use the synthetic and natural fibers to develop innovative products. However, more eco-friendly properties of natural fibers have made them to be preferable over the synthetic fibers. To make efficient use of these fibers, it is essential to know the behavioral characteristics of these fibers. So, in this review II paper, an effort has been made to discuss the various characterization analysis studies, like Fourier transform-infrared spectra spectral analysis, X-ray and thermogravimetric methods carried out by various researchers.
RITA Inhibits Multiple Myeloma Cell Growth through Induction of p53-Mediated Caspase-Dependent Apoptosis and Synergistically Enhances Nutlin-Induced Cytotoxic Responses

Mutations or deletions of p53 are relatively rare in multiple myeloma (MM), at least in newly diagnosed patients. Thus, restoration of p53 tumor suppressor function in MM by blocking the inhibitory role of murine double minute 2 (MDM2) is a promising and applicable therapeutic strategy. RITA and nutlin are two new classes of small molecule MDM2 inhibitors that prevent the p53-MDM2 interaction. Earlier reports showed p53-dependent activity of RITA in solid tumors as well as in leukemias. We and others recently described nutlin-induced apoptosis in MM cells, but it remains unclear whether RITA exerts antimyeloma activity. Here, we found that RITA activates the p53 pathway and induces apoptosis in MM cell lines and primary MM samples, preferentially killing myeloma cells. The activation of p53 induced by RITA was mediated through modulation of multiple apoptotic regulatory proteins, including upregulation of a proapoptotic protein (NOXA), downregulation of an antiapoptotic protein, Mcl-1, and activation of caspases through extrinsic pathways. Moreover, a number of key p53-mediated apoptotic target genes were identified by gene expression profiling and further validated by quantitative real-time PCR. Importantly, the combination of RITA with nutlin displayed a strong synergism on growth inhibition with the combination index ranging from 0.56 to 0.82 in MM cells. Our data support further clinical evaluation of RITA as a potential novel therapeutic intervention in MM. Mol Cancer Ther; 9(11); 3041–51. ©2010 AACR.
The Rocky Path to Source Water Protection: A Cross-Case Analysis of Drinking Water Crises in Small Communities in Canada

Source water protection (SWP) is increasingly seen as effective in reducing the incidence and extent of drinking water crises, yet its facilitation requires certain measures. Canada has one of the most decentralized water governance systems in the world. We sought to understand the experience and impacts of drinking water crises at community and government levels in a decentralized context: the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador through cross-case analysis. We selected our three study communities through a database of media reports in 2014 followed by invitations to community leaders. We used descriptive and qualitative methods, specifically structured interview schedules with both closed- and open-ended questions, and interviewed four community leaders and three provincial government officials. We used NVivo in data analysis, especially in the identification of themes. While government officials defined water crises largely in terms of SWP, this was not the same for communities, whose concern was mainly water access, specifically water shortages. Thus, while the prioritizing of SWP can be useful, the current focus on SWP has the potential to overlook aspects of water security, particularly in some rural and Indigenous communities in Canada. If we envision water security as a ladder representing a hierarchy of needs, some communities are too far down on the ladder to operationalize SWP because their water problems are more extreme.
Benzodiazepines and disinhibition : a review

Some psychiatric disorders are associated with pathological anger and aggression. These include psychotic disorders, depression, bipolar disorder and various personality disorders (Fava, 1997). Benzodiazepines have been widely used in the management of this behavioural disturbance (Pilowsky et al, 1992). However, no single drug produces totally predictable sedation in all patients (Van der Bijl & Roelofse, 1991) and a paradoxical increase in hostility and aggression can occur after the administration of benzodiazepines. This is obviously problematic when the benzodiazepine is administered to control behavioural disturbance. So, how common is this adverse effect, who is at risk and why?
Cerebral small vessel disease and post-stroke cognitive impairment

ABSTRACT Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) refers to a group of pathological processes with multifarious etiologies that affect the small arteries, arterioles, venules, and capillaries of the brain. Features seen on neuroimaging include white matter hyperintensities, lacunar infarction, cerebral microbleeds, brain atrophy, microinfarcts and enlarged perivascular spaces (EPVS). CSVD gives rise to one in five strokes worldwide and is a leading cause of cognitive impairment and dementia, especially in the elderly. Post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) is one of the most common subtypes of cognitive impairment. The underlying mechanisms of PSCI are not known in detail. A growing body of evidence has been suggesting that CSVD plays an important role in the pathogenesis of PSCI. This article reviews the advances in research on the relationship between CSVD and PSCI.
Effect of moderate alcohol consumption on Lp(a) lipoprotein concentrations

Editor—We agree with Paassilta et al that there may be a relation between moderate alcohol consumption and lower Lp(a) lipoprotein concentrations.1 The relation between alcohol consumption and cardiovascular mortality is U shaped, with the lowest mortality at an alcohol consumption of 2-4 units (16-32 g) a day.2 Several mechanisms contribute to this cardioprotective effect including beneficial increases in high density lipoprotein cholesterol3 and inhibition of platelet aggregation.4 However, other factors may be involved. Lp(a) lipoprotein is a recognised independent risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis and, as stated by Paassilta et al, little attention has been directed to the effects of alcohol on Lp(a) lipoprotein. In 1995 we reported a significant reduction in Lp(a) lipoprotein concentration in a prospective study of 20 healthy volunteers (men and women) given 21 g of alcohol daily for 10 days in the form of red wine (median (range) 186 (15-1420) mg/l v 132 (10-1210) mg/l, P<0.001). 5 This reduction was not repeated when the same subjects were given white wine, raising the issue of potential differences between various alcoholic drinks. Interestingly, we found no changes in high density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations. We have conducted a larger unpublished crossover trial in 50 men comparing the effects of 3 units (24 g) of alcohol a day as red wine or vodka for 14 days on Lp(a) lipoprotein concentrations. Each period of alcohol consumption was preceded by two weeks’ abstinence. Both drinks produced a 10-12% decrease in Lp(a) concentration (geometric mean 153 mg/100 ml v 135 mg/l after vodka, P<0.001; 151 mg/l v 136 mg/l after red wine, P<0.01). These results suggest that moderate alcohol consumption results in changes in Lp(a) lipoprotein which are independent of the type of alcoholic drink consumed. In conclusion, we agree with Paassilta et al that lower Lp(a) concentrations may be one factor conferring lower mortality and cardiovascular benefit in social drinkers.
Congenital cytomegalovirus infection: Clinical presentation, epidemiology, diagnosis and prevention

Cytomegalovirus is the most common congenital infection causing serious disease in infants. It is the leading infectious cause of sensorineural hearing loss and neurodevelopmental disability in developed countries. Despite the clinical importance of congenital cytomegalovirus, surveys show there is limited awareness and knowledge in the medical and general community about congenital cytomegalovirus infection. This article reviews the clinical features, global epidemiology, transmission and risk factors for cytomegalovirus infections. It also highlights several major advances made in recent years in the diagnosis and prevention of cytomegalovirus infection during pregnancy. Although research is ongoing, no therapy is currently proven to prevent or treat maternal, fetal or neonatal cytomegalovirus infection. Education of women regarding hygiene measures can help prevent cytomegalovirus infection and are currently the best strategy to prevent congenital cytomegalovirus disease.
On Steady Subsonic Flows for Euler-Poisson Models

In this paper, we are concerned with the structural stability of some steady subsonic solutions for the Euler--Poisson system. A steady subsonic solution with subsonic background charge is proved to be structurally stable with respect to small perturbations of the background charge, the incoming flow angles, the normal electric field, and the Bernoulli's function at the inlet and the end pressure at the exit, provided the background solution has a low Mach number and a small electric field. Following the idea developed in [S. K. Weng, arxiv.org/abs/1212.1635v2, 2012], we give a new formulation for Euler--Poisson equations, which employ the Bernoulli's law to reduce the dimension of the velocity field. The new ingredient in our mathematical analysis is the solvability of a new second order elliptic system supplemented with oblique derivative conditions at the inlet and Dirichlet boundary conditions at the exit of the nozzle.
Analysis of dentin/enamel remineralization by a CPP-ACP paste: AFM and SEM study.

The aim of the present in vitro study was the evaluation of a CPP-ACP paste on preventing dentin/enamel erosion produced by a soft drink; Atomic Force Microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy were used. Eighty extracted human incisors free of caries were selected and divided into four groups (each divided in two subgroups); group 1a: intact dentin; group 1b: dentin + soft drink; group 2a: intact dentin + CCP-ACP paste; group 2b: dentin + soft drink + CCP-ACP paste; group 3a: intact enamel; group 3b: enamel + soft drink; group 4a: intact enamel + CCP-ACP paste; group 4b: enamel + soft drink + CCP-ACP paste. The CPP-ACP paste was applied for 3 min at 0, 8, 24, and 36 h. The surface of each dentin/enamel specimen was imaged by AFM (Rrms values were registered) and SEM. A statistical significant difference was recorded between groups 1b (dentin + soft drink) and 2b (dentin + soft drink + CCP-ACP paste) and between groups 3b (enamel + soft drink) and 4b (enamel + soft drink + CCP-ACP paste), suggesting that treatment of the specimens with the CPP-ACP paste had a protective effect on enamel demineralization, which was more evident for enamel specimens. Under the limitations of the present in vitro study, it can be concluded that the application of a CPP-ACP paste is effective on preventing dentin/enamel erosion produced by a soft drink.
EXTENSIVE EVALUATION OF EFFICIENT NLP-DRIVEN TEXT CLASSIFICATION

Extensive experimental evidence is required to study the impact of text categorization approaches on real data and to assess the performance within operational scenarios. In this paper a wide set of profile-based classification models (a class of very efficient classifiers) sensitive to the syntactic information extracted from source texts is discussed. Several classifiers are tested, ranging from traditional approaches (e.g., variants of vector space, like SMART, or linear regression models) to original methods. All the experiments aim to evaluate some newly introduced feature weighting and inference models as well as to characterize the role of different linguistic information. The final purpose is thus to give an insight on the effective and efficient use of linguistic information for text categorization. The results suggest that an optimal exploitation of linguistic features can be obtained by a suitable selection among methods of feature weighting and inference. The empirical evidence collected in this paper over a wide range of corpora and languages is retained as a useful basis for the systematic design of operational statistical NLP-driven text classifiers.
Strategic demand forecasts for the tablet PC market using the Bayesian mixed logit model and market share simulations

Since the release of the Apple iPad and the explosion of consumer demand for tablet PCs, a number of companies are entering into the tablet PC market, creating a situation that is becoming more fiercely competitive, complex, and difficult to predict. Under the singularity of the Korean tablet PC market, into which both the iPad and Galaxy Tab (with an Android operating system) were simultaneously released, this study closely analyses consumer preferences for tablet PCs. It uses the Bayesian mixed logit model, which can reflect consumers’ heterogeneous preferences based on data collected from a conjoint method, and using the estimates of the consumer utility function with model verification, it offers forecasts for the tablet PC market under six likely situations.
Amino acid/water interactions study: a new amino acid scale

Partition ratios of 8 free l-amino acids (Gln, Glu, His, Lys, Met, Ser, Thr, and Tyr) were measured in 10 different polymer/polymer aqueous two-phase systems containing 0.15 M NaCl in 0.01 M phosphate buffer, pH 7.4. The solute-specific coefficients representing the solute dipole/dipole, hydrogen-bonding and electrostatic interactions with the aqueous environment of the amino acids were determined by multiple linear regression analysis using a modified linear solvation energy relationship. The solute-specific coefficients determined in this study together with the solute-specific coefficients reported previously for amino acids with non-polar side-chains where used in a Quantitative Structure/Property Relationship analysis. It is shown that linear combinations of these solute-specific coefficients are correlated well with various physicochemical, structural, and biological properties of amino acids.
Modeling magnetic nanopolymer flow with induction and nanoparticle solid volume fraction effects: Solar magnetic nanopolymer fabrication simulation

A mathematical model is presented for the nonlinear steady, forced convection, hydromagnetic flow of electro-conductive magnetic nanopolymer with magnetic induction effects included. The transformed two-parameter, non-dimensional governing partial differential equations for mass, momentum, magnetic induction and heat conservation are solved with the local non-similarity method subject to appropriate boundary conditions. Keller’s implicit finite difference “box” method is used to validate solutions. Computations for four different nanoparticles and three different base fluids are included. Silver nanoparticles in combination with various base fluids enhance temperatures and induced magnetic field and accelerate the flow. An elevation in magnetic body force number decelerates the flow, whereas an increase in magnetic Prandtl number elevates the magnetic induction. Furthermore, increasing nanoparticle solid volume fraction is found to substantially boost temperatures. Applications of the study arise in advanced magnetic solar nanomaterials (fluids) processing technologies.