Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Normal Values for the Full Visual Field, Corrected for Age- and Reaction Time, Using Semiautomated Kinetic Testing on the Octopus 900 Perimeter

Purpose To determine normal values of the visual field (VF), corrected for age and reaction time (RT) for semiautomated kinetic perimetry (SKP) on the Octopus 900 perimeter, create a model describing the age-dependency of these values, and assess test–retest reliability for each isopter. Methods Eighty-six eyes of 86 ophthalmologically healthy subjects (age 11–79 years, 34 males, 52 females) underwent full-field kinetic perimetry with the Octopus 900 instrument. Stimulus size, luminance, velocity, meridional angle, subject age, and their interactions, were used to create a smooth multiple regression mathematical model (V/4e, III/4e, I/4e, I/3e, I/2e, I/1e, and I/1a isopters). Fourteen subjects (2 from each of 7 age groups) were evaluated on three separate sessions to assess test–retest reliability of the isopters. Reaction time (RT) was tested by presenting 12 designated RT-vectors between 10° and 20° within the seeing areas for the III/4e isopter (stimulus velocity, 3°/second). Four RT- vectors were presented at the nasal (0° or 180°), superotemporal (45°), and inferior (270°) meridians. Results The model fit was excellent (r2 = 0.94). The test–retest variability was less than 5°, and the median decrease in this deviation attributed to aging, per decade, for all age groups and for all stimulus sizes was 0.8°. No significant learning effect was observed for any age group or isopter. Conclusion Age-corrected and RT-corrected normative threshold values for full-field kinetic perimetry can be adequately described by a smooth multiple linear regression mathematical model. Translational Relevance A description of the entire kinetic VF is useful for assessing a full characterization of VF sensitivity, determining function losses associated with ocular and neurologic diseases, and for providing a more comprehensive analysis of structure–function relationships.
Gram-positive cocci are associated with the formation of completely pure cholesterol stones

OBJECTIVE:Recently it has been reported that bacterial DNA has been detected in mixed cholesterol stones (cholesterol content < 95%), which were not previously believed to be related to bacteria, using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We examined bacterial DNA in pure cholesterol stones to clarify the mechanism of initiation or promotion of the formation of cholesterol gallstones.METHODS:We examined 69 gallstones (30 brown pigment stones, 21 pure cholesterol stones, and 18 mixed cholesterol stones). Bacterial DNA was extracted from the core of the gallstones and amplified by PCR. Bacteria species in gallstones were identified by DNA sequencing of the PCR products.RESULTS:Bacterial DNA was detected in 26/30 brown pigment stones (87%), in 12/21 pure cholesterol stones (57%) (cholesterol content = 100%), and in 12/18 mixed cholesterol stones (67%) (cholesterol content = 82–95%). Bacterial species in gallstones were identified by DNA sequencing of PCR products. Eighty percent of bacteria in brown pigment stones were gram-negative rods or anaerobes. In contrast, 100% of bacteria in pure cholesterol stones were gram-positive cocci. The bacteria in mixed cholesterol stones consisted of 40% gram-positive cocci, 50% gram-negative rods, and 10% anaerobes.CONCLUSIONS:It was strongly suggested that gram-positive cocci are associated with the formation of pure cholesterol stones.
Evaluation of Plasma Creatine Phosphokinase (CPK) Level Following a Single Injection of Methotrexate as a Predicator of Treatment Success in Ectopic Pregnancy

Objective To evaluate the plasma creatine phosphokinase (CPK) level after a single injection of methotrexate (MTX) as a predictor of treatment success in ectopic pregnancy (EP). Materials and methods In this prospective study, seventy nine women older than 18 years treated with methotrexate for ectopic pregnancy were evaluated for CPK and β-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (βhCG) levels, while they received intramuscular MTX at a dose of 50 mg/m2. The day of injection was considered as day 1 (D1). CPK level on D1 was compared between the group 1(as treatment success group), treated by a single MTX injection, and the group 2, treated by two or three MTX injections or by surgery. Results The success rate of MTX treatment was 58 (73.3%). The mean of CPK was higher in treatment success group (group1) than failure group (group 2) (71.98 ± 15.711 vs. 64.43 ± 15.898), but the difference was not significant (p=0.06). The mean of βhCG was significantly lower in treatment success group (group 1) than failure group (group 2) (1187.52±631.45 vs. 1663.87±1096.845; p=0.01). Ultrasonographic findings of EP were seen in 63 patients, while the means of βHCG and CPK were higher in these patients than those with normal ultrasonography, but difference was not significant (p=0.37 and p=0.24, respectively). Conclusion The sample was not large enough to indicate a significant difference in the CPK level, which can be considered as an indicator for differentiating between the successful and unsuccessful treatment groups. Moreover, the present study did not show any relation between initial β-hCG and CPK serum levels, so our findings indicate that they are not possibly considered as two independent biomarkers in ectopic pregnancy.
Stroke risk factors and subtypes in different age groups: a hospital-based study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS To compare the influence of stroke risk factors between different stroke types and age groups in Taiwan. MATERIALS AND METHODS During the study period, March 2007 to August 2008, 1,161 patients with acute ischemic stroke were admitted to the neurological ward. All the patients had risk factors work up and stroke subtype categorization. RESULTS The study cohort included 736 men and 425 women. Patients were grouped into three age groups: below 50 years (153, 13.2%); 50-75 years, (702, 60.5%) and above 75 years (306, 26.4%). Stroke subtypes included: (1) large-artery atherosclerosis (14.6%), cardioembolism (12%), small-artery occlusion (39.4%), stroke of other determined etiology (1.5%) and stroke of undetermined etiology (32.6%). Older patient group had higher frequency of hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Younger age group of patients had high frequency of obesity and elevated serum triglyceride levels. Smoking and alcohol consumption were strongly related to men, and heart disease and obesity were related to women. CONCLUSIONS The influence of risk factors at different ages is different. Awareness of the stroke risk factors before stroke and treatment with appropriate therapies or life modifications may have a bearing on the outcomes.
Comparison of Computer-integrated Patient-controlled Epidural Analgesia and Patient-controlled Epidural Analgesia with a Basal Infusion for Labour and Delivery

Computer-integrated patient-controlled epidural analgesia (CIPCEA) is a novel epidural drug delivery system. It automatically adjusts the background infusion based on the individual parturient's need for analgesia as labour progresses. In this randomised controlled trial, we compared the local anaesthetic consumption by parturients using either CIPCEA or patient-controlled epidural analgesia with a moderate basal infusion (PCEABI) of 5 ml/hour. We recruited 60 parturients after receiving ethics committee approval. Group CIPCEA (n=30) received a similar patient-controlled epidural analgesia regimen but the computer integration titrated the background infusion to 5, 10 or 15 ml/hour if the patient required respectively one, two or three demand boluses in the previous hour. The background infusion was decreased by 5 ml/hour if there was no demand in the previous hour. Group PCEABI received patient-controlled epidural analgesia with a basal infusion of 5 ml/hour. The sample size was calculated to show equivalence in local anaesthetic use. The time-weighted consumption of local anaesthetic was similar in both groups (mean difference 0.3 mg/hour, 95% confidence interval: −1.8, 1.3, P=0.755). The CIPCEA group had higher maternal satisfaction scores: mean (SD) 94.8 (6.32) vs. 85.5 (9.41), P=0.0001. The CIPCEA group had a higher infusion rate during the second stage of labour (mean (SD) 7.0 (4.1) ml/hour vs. 4.5 (1.5) ml/hour, P= 0.008), but did not have a longer duration of this stage. There were no differences between the groups in obstetric or foetal outcomes or side-effect profiles. The CIPCEA system has similar time-weighted, hourly consumption of local anaesthetic to PCEABI and may increase patient satisfaction.
Cell type- and density-dependent effect of 1 T static magnetic field on cell proliferation

Increasing evidence shows that static magnetic fields (SMFs) can affect cell proliferation but mixed results have been reported. Here we systematically examined the effects of 1 T (Tesla) SMF, which is close to the SMF intensity that patients are exposed to MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scanners in hospitals, for its effect on 15 different cell lines, including 12 human and 3 rodent cell lines. Our results show that 1 T SMF does not have apparent impact on cell cycle or cell death. However, at higher cell density, it reduced cell numbers in six out of seven solid human cancer cell lines. We found that both cell type and cell density had evident impacts on SMF effects. Moreover, the EGFR-Akt-mTOR pathway, which varies significantly between different cell types and densities, contributes to the differential effects of SMF. In addition, SMF also increases the efficacy of Akt inhibitors on cancer cell growth inhibition. Therefore 1 T SMF affects cell proliferation in a cell type- and cell density-dependent manner, and the inhibition effect of 1 T SMF on multiple cancer cells at higher cell density may indicate its clinical potential in late stage cancer therapy.
On the construction of jointly superregular lower triangular Toeplitz matrices

Superregular matrices have the property that all of their submatrices, which can be full rank are so. Lower triangular superregular matrices are useful for e.g., maximum distance separable convolutional codes as well as for (sequential) network codes. In this work, we provide an explicit design for all superregular lower triangular Toeplitz matrices in GF(2p) for the case of matrices with dimensions less than or equal to 5 × 5. For higher dimensional matrices, we present a greedy algorithm that finds a solution provided the field size is sufficiently high. We also introduce the notions of jointly superregular and product preserving jointly superregular matrices, and extend our explicit constructions of superregular matrices to these cases. Jointly superregular matrices are necessary to achieve optimal decoding capabilities for the case of codes with a rate lower than 1/2, and the product preserving property is necessary for optimal decoding capabilities in network recoding.
Correcting the Dst index: Consequences for absolute level and correlations

[1] We discuss here the consequences of the Dcx index which has recently been proposed as a corrected and extended version of the Dst index. Dcx corrects Dst for its excessive, seasonally varying quiet-time level, the so-called "nonstorm component" which is unrelated to magnetic storms. This correction can raise the Dst values by up to 44 nT for individual storms. The average increase of the Dst index is 6.0 nT for all SSC storms in 1932-2002 (5.7 nT in 1932-1956 and 6.1 nT in 1957-2002), implying a correction of about 23% to the average 7-day storm level, and a 14% correction to the average minimum-Dst value of 42.3 nT for all SSC storms. This correction is large enough to affect most previous storm studies and even the classification of storms to the different intensity levels. The correction has a strong seasonal variation with maxima around the equinoxes, especially in the vernal equinox. The largest monthly correction of about 12 nT is found for March. We verify that the main phase of an average storm is less intense and the recovery phase is longer in the early period (1932-1956) than in the later period (1957-2002), supporting the idea that storms in the early period were more typically driven by high-speed streams rather than by strong CMEs. Moreover, we show that the correction of the Dst index improves its correlation with both sunspots and geomagnetic indices. Thus conclusions based on correlating Dst with sunspots or geomagnetic indices need to be revised using the Dcx index.
Growth Performance, Meat Quality and Fatty Acid Metabolism Response of Growing Meat Rabbits to Dietary Linoleic Acid

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of different amounts of dietary linoleic acid (LA) on growth performance, serum biochemical traits, meat quality, fatty acids composition of muscle and liver, acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1 (CPT 1) mRNA expression in the liver of 9 wks old to 13 wks old growing meat rabbits. One hundred and fifty 9 wks old meat rabbits were allocated to individual cages and randomly divided into five groups. Animals in each group were fed with a diet with the following LA addition concentrations: 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 g/kg diet (as-fed basis) and LA concentrations were 0.84, 1.21, 1.34, 1.61 and 1.80% in the diet, respectively. The results showed as follows: the dietary LA levels significantly affected muscle color of LL included a* and b* of experimental rabbits (p<0.05). The linear effect of LA on serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol was obtained (p = 0.0119). The saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) contents of LL decreased and the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) content of LL increased with dietary LA increase (p<0.0001). The PUFA n-6 content and PUFA n-3 content in the LL was significantly affected by the dietary LA levels (p<0.01, p<0.05). The MUFAs content in the liver decreased and the PUFAs contents in the liver increased with dietary LA increase (p<0.0001). The PUFA n-6 content and the PUFA n-6/n-3 ratio in the liver increased and PUFA n-3 content in the liver decreased with dietary LA increase (p<0.01). The linear effect of LA on CPT 1 mRNA expression in the liver was obtained (p = 0.0081). In summary, dietary LA addition had significant effects on liver and muscle fatty acid composition (increased PUFAs) of 9 wks old to 13 wks old growing meat rabbits, but had little effects on growth performance, meat physical traits and mRNA expression of liver relative enzyme of experimental rabbits.
How do Urban African Americans and Latinos View the Influence of Diet on Hypertension?

Uncontrolled hypertension and its complications continue to be major health problems that disproportionately affect poor minority communities. Although dietary modification is an effective treatment for hypertension, it is not clear how hypertensive minority patients view diet as part of their treatment, and what barriers affect their abilities to eat healthy diets. We conducted nine focus groups with 88 African American and Latino patients treated for hypertension to assess their knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs concerning hypertension. Participants generally agreed that certain foods and food additives play an important role in the cause and treatment of hypertension. However, they found clinician-recommended diets difficult to follow in the context of their family lives, social situations, and cultures. These diets were often considered expensive, an unwelcome departure from traditional and preferred diets, socially isolating, and not effective enough to obviate the need for medications. These findings suggest the importance of culturally sensitive approaches to dietary improvements.
Ca2+-dependent Ras/Erk signaling mediates negative selection of autoreactive B cells

Signaling via the Ras/Erk pathway has long been recognized to be critical in lymphocyte development and function, yet the mechanisms that control the distinct functional outputs of this pathway in different cellular contexts remain poorly understood. Our recent results have demonstrated unexpected involvement of Ras/Erk signaling in the sensitization of B cells to apoptosis in order to eliminate autoreactive cells. Increases in cytosolic Ca2+ are necessary and sufficient to induce activation of this Ras/Erk pathway, and the biochemical events involved in its activation are different from the ones involved in diacylglycerol (DAG)-mediated Ras/Erk activation. Developmental regulation of upstream mediators of these distinct pathways contributes to their predominant activation at different stages of B cell development. These findings have revealed a mechanism by which antigen stimulation can activate distinct Ras/Erk pathways at different developmental stages to mediate appropriate functional outputs that control the selection, development and activation of B cells. Despite these recent findings, however, much remains to be learned about the molecular mechanisms that confer functional specificity to common Ras/Erk signaling modules.
Changes in HIV/AIDS/STI knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours among the youth in Port Loko, Sierra Leone

Abstract Sierra Leone suffered from 11 years of civil war (1991–2002) resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and mutilations and massive population displacement. In 2001, ARC International, Sierra Leone, conducted a baseline survey of 244 female youth and 293 male youth on knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours around HIV/AIDS and STIs in Port Loko. In 2003, following 2 years of HIV prevention activities, a comparable post-intervention survey of 250 female and 299 male youth was performed. Comparison of baseline and post-intervention results showed that HIV/AIDS knowledge increased dramatically among both groups, with those able to name three effective means of avoiding AIDS increasing from 4% to 36% among female youth, and 4% to 45% among male youth. Reported condom use at last sex increased among female youth from 16% to 46% and among male youth from 16% to 37%. These results demonstrate that, despite the challenges inherent in a post-conflict country, good quality AIDS prevention programmes can be successful.
The Ability of Virulence Factor Expression by Pseudomonas aeruginosa to Predict Clinical Disease in Hospitalized Patients

Background Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that frequently causes hospital acquired colonization and infection. Accurate identification of host and bacterial factors associated with infection could aid treatment decisions for patients with P. aeruginosa cultured from clinical sites. Methods We identified a prospective cohort of 248 hospitalized patients with positive P. aeruginosa cultures. Clinical data were analyzed to determine whether an individual met predefined criteria for infection versus colonization. P. aeruginosa isolates were tested for the expression of multiple phenotypes previously associated with virulence in animal models and humans. Logistic regression models were constructed to determine the degree of association between host and bacterial factors with P. aeruginosa infection of the bloodstream, lung, soft tissue and urinary tract. Results One host factor (i.e. diabetes mellitus), and one bacterial factor, a Type 3 secretion system positive phenotype, were significantly associated with P. aeruginosa infection in our cohort. Subgroup analysis of patients with P. aeruginosa isolated from the urinary tract revealed that the presence of a urinary tract catheter or stent was an additional factor for P. aeruginosa infection. Conclusions Among hospitalized patients with culture-documented P. aeruginosa, infection is more likely to be present in those with diabetes mellitus and those harboring a Type 3 secretion positive bacterial strain.
Enhanced absorption in silicon nanocone arrays for photovoltaics

Silicon nanowire arrays have been shown to demonstrate light trapping properties and promising potential for next-generation photovoltaics. In this paper, we performed systematic and detailed simulation studies on the optical properties of silicon nanocone arrays as compared to nanowires arrays. Nanocone arrays were found to have significantly improved solar absorption and efficiencies over nanowire arrays. Detailed simulations revealed that nanocones have superior absorption due to reduced reflection from their smaller tip and reduced transmission from their larger base. The enhanced efficiencies of silicon nanocone arrays were found to be insensitive to tip diameter, which should facilitate their fabrication. Breaking the vertical mirror symmetry of nanowires results in a broader absorption spectrum such that overall efficiencies are enhanced. We also evaluated the electric field intensity, carrier generation and angle-dependent optical properties of nanocones and nanowires to offer further physical insight into their light trapping properties.
Can a Virtual Patient Trainer Teach Student Nurses How to Save Lives—Teaching Nursing Students About Pediatric Respiratory Diseases

Introduction Virtual environments offer a variety of benefits and may be a powerful medium with which to provide nursing education. The objective of this study was to compare the achievement of learning outcomes of undergraduate nursing students when a virtual patient trainer or a traditional lecture was used to teach pediatric respiratory content. Methods This was a randomized, controlled, posttest design. A virtual pediatric hospital unit was populated with four virtual pediatric patients having different respiratory diseases that were designed to meet the same learning objectives as a traditional lecture. The study began in Spring 2010 with 93 Senior I, baccalaureate nursing students. Students were randomized to receive either a traditional lecture or an experience with a virtual patient trainer. Students’ knowledge acquisition was evaluated using multiple-choice questions, and knowledge application was measured as timeliness of care in two simulated clinical scenarios using high-fidelity mannequins and standardized patients. Results Ninety-three students participated in the study, of which 46 were in the experimental group that received content using the virtual patient trainer. After the intervention, students in the experimental group had significantly higher knowledge acquisition (P = 0.004) and better knowledge application (P = 0.001) for each of the two scenarios than students in the control group. Conclusions The purpose of this project was to compare a virtual patient trainer to a traditional lecture for the achievement of learning outcomes for pediatric respiratory content. Although the virtual patient trainer experience produced statistically better outcomes, the differences may not be clinically significant. The results suggest that a virtual patient trainer may be an effective substitute for the achievement of learning outcomes that are typically met using a traditional lecture format. Further research is needed to understand how best to integrate a virtual patient trainer into undergraduate nursing education.
Early estimation of software quality using in-process testing metrics

In industrial practice, information on post-release field quality of a product tends to become available too late in the software development process to affordably guide corrective actions. An important step towards remediation of this problem of late information lies in the ability to provide an early estimation of software post-release field quality. This paper presents the use of a suite of in-process metrics that leverages the software testing effort to provide (1) an estimation of potential software field quality in early software development phases, and (2) the identification of low quality software programs. A controlled case study conducted at North Carolina State University provides initial indication that our approach is effective for making an early assessment of post-release field quality.