Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Equivalent Function, Quality of Life and Pouch Survival Rates After Ileal Pouch-Anal Anastomosis for Indeterminate and Ulcerative Colitis

ObjectiveTo compare the function, complications, and quality of life after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) for patients with indeterminate colitis (IndC) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Summary Background DataReports on the outcome of IPAA for IndC have been inconclusive because of the small numbers available for analysis. Concerns about functional outcome, infectious perineal complications, pouch loss and the development of Crohn’s disease remain, while there is no data on the quality of life after IPAA for IndC. MethodsOne thousand nine hundred and eleven patients undergoing IPAA for Ind and UC from 1983 to 1999 were evaluated. IndC was confirmed by repeat pathologic evaluation in 115 patients. Functional outcome and quality of life were assessed prospectively for all office visits (IndC = 230; UC = 5388) using previously reported systems. Complications were evaluated retrospectively. ResultsFunctional results and the incidence of anastomotic complications and major pouch fistulae were the same in UC and IndC patients. Although IndC patients were more likely to develop minor perineal fistulae, pelvic abscess, and Crohn’s disease, the rate of pouch failure was 3.4%, identical to that of UC patients. There was no clinically significant difference in quality of life, or satisfaction with IPAA surgery. Patients were equally happy to recommend surgery to IndC or UC patients, but 3% fewer IndC would undergo the same surgery again for their disease. ConclusionsWhile functional outcome, quality of life, and pouch survival rates are equivalent after IPAA for IndC and UC, there is an increase in some complications and the late diagnosis of Crohn’s disease. Over 93% of IndC patients would undergo the same procedure again, and 98% would recommend IPAA to others with IndC. Patients with IndC should not be precluded from having IPAA surgery.
Phaseless Antenna Measurement on Non-Redundant Sample Points Via Leith-Upatnieks Holography

A scheme for reducing the number of sample points in phaseless acquisition based on Leith-Upatnieks holography is presented. An appropriate choice of the phase of the reference field enables to drastically decrease the sampling rate by acquiring the so-called “reduced” field instead of the real radiated field. The reference phase changes are enabled by applying the recent developments on the synthesis of the reference wave. Moreover, optimal sampling interpolation can be applied to the retrieved field so that the real field can be computed at any point on the acquisition surface. The method is illustrated by means of multiple simulations for observation domains such as straight lines, azimuthal circles as well as for a plane-polar acquisition scheme.
Asian Learners' Perception of Quality in Distance Education and Gender Differences.

There have been few efforts to investigate the concept of quality from learners’ perspectives or to incorporate their needs and perceptions in quality standards in distance education. This is rather surprising, particularly in distance education contexts where the quality of the learning is not derived only from the products and services delivered to the learner but also from the knowledge, understanding, and relationships that are codeveloped by both teachers and learners during the teaching and learning processes. This study proposes and verifies a conceptual model of the 10 dimensions of quality in distance education from the learners’ perspectives and investigates gender differences in the perception of quality in distance education with 1,665 distance learners from 11 Asian countries and one territory. The results show that all 10 dimensions across supportive, pedagogical, and environmental domains in the model are important in judging quality in distance education. Also, gender differences are found in the perceived importance of 10 quality dimensions, barriers to DE, important supporters, and types of support received. The implications of these findings are discussed and suggestions for further research and development are offered.
Drug Resistance in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type-1 Infected Zambian Children Using Adult Fixed Dose Combination Stavudine, Lamivudine, and Nevirapine

Background: There are few medium-term virologic data in children from resource-limited settings taking adult fixed-dose-combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) without viral load monitoring. Methods: CHAP2 (Children with HIV Antibiotic Prophylaxis 2) is a prospective cohort of Zambian children using d4T/3TC/NVP adult Triomune30 dosed according to WHO guidelines. Results: A total of 103 children (19 with previous antiretroviral therapy) had follow-up >6 months. Median age at cART initiation was 8 years (IQR, 6–12) and CD4 8% (4–12). At 24 months, CD4% had increased by a median of 15% (7–25). For 74 children viral load was known/inferred: 51 of 74 (69%) had viral load <50 copies/mL (45 of 63 [71%] with no previous cART, 6 of 11 [55%] with previous cART; difference P = 0.30); 22 of 74 (30%) had viral load >1000 copies/mL. Of 26 children with resistance data, 25 (96%) had NNRTI resistance; 22 (84%) had M184V; 2 (8%) had Q151M; and 1 (4%) each had K65R, L74V, or K70E. Eight (31%) had ≥1 TAM. Those failing virologically with a genotypic sensitivity score of 0 for first-line therapy had a somewhat smaller increase in CD4% from baseline compared with those failing therapy with a genotypic sensitivity score >0 (+3 vs. +8, P = 0.13), and had somewhat lower CD4% at initiation of cART (2 vs. 11, P = 0.09). In 6 children with >1 resistance test, the estimated rate of accumulation of TAMs was 0.59/yr (95% confidence interval: 0.22–1.29). Conclusions: Twenty-four month virologic responses to cART were good. However, the rate of TAM accumulation in those with rebound was higher than reported in Western adult cohorts, and there was some indication of a detrimental effect of high level resistance on CD4% change from baseline.
Development and assessment of ICT maturity and global competitiveness using a Two-Wheel causality model

Most evidence of ICT impact is at the firm level; the global impact of ICT at the country level has not been studied and incorporated within an integrated theoretical framework. This paper contains the development of a model to depict the strategic impact of a country's ICT resources on global competitiveness. The Two-Wheel model is a symbolisation for a dynamic process where one wheel (a country's ICT maturity) pushes the other (global competitiveness). The model is based on literature review and study of models provided by previous researchers regarding the impact of ICT on the performance of international firms. Using theoretical frameworks and a quantitative method technique, the model will be both validated and assessed. The application of the model includes: (a) identification of the strategic ICT factors that would help countries attain better ranks in the global competitiveness spectrum; (b) examining the causality relationship between ICT maturity and global competitiveness; and (c) derivation of global competitiveness rankings for countries based on their ICT maturity levels.
Retina Choroidal Thickness Evaluation Before and After Hemodialysis in Patients With and Without Diabetes

Citation: Ishibazawa A, Nagaoka T, Minami Y, Kitahara M, Yamashita T, Yoshida A. Choroidal thickness evaluation before and after hemodialysis in patients with and without diabetes. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2015;56:6534–6541. DOI:10.1167/ iovs.15-16719 PURPOSE. We evaluated the effect of hemodialysis on the choroidal thickness in patients with and without diabetes who have end-stage kidney disease (ESKD).
Simulation Results From Double-Sided 3-D Detectors

A new ldquodouble sidedrdquo 3-D solid-state detector structure, intended to simplify the 3-D fabrication process, is proposed. In this structure, electrode columns of different doping types are etched from opposite sides of the substrate, with neither set of columns passing through the full substrate thickness. The finite-element simulation package ISE-TCAD is used to determine the performance of this structure. The double-sided detector shows similar electrostatic behavior to a standard 3-D detector, giving a low depletion voltage and fast charge collection. However, unless the electrode column length is very close to the substrate thickness, charge deposited around the front and back surfaces of the device is collected less quickly (though still rapidly compared with a planar geometry device). The breakdown voltage is dominated by high-field regions around the tips of the electrode columns and shows little change when the oxide charge is increased.
Linear network operators using node-variant graph filters

We introduce node-variant graph filters, which allow the simultaneous implementation of multiple (regular) graph filters at different nodes, and study their design to implement arbitrary linear transformations between graph signals. Node-variant graph filters can be implemented distributedly, making them suitable for networked settings. We determine spectral conditions under which a specific linear transformation can be implemented perfectly and, for the cases where perfect implementation is infeasible, the design of optimal approximations for different error metrics is analyzed. We demonstrate the practical relevance of the developed framework by studying the application of node-variant graph filters for analog network coding.
GEOCHEMISTRY AND PETROGENESIS OF METAVOLCANIC ROCKS FROM ARCHAEAN GREENSTONE BELTS: RIO MARIA REGION (SOUTHEAST PARÁ, BRAZIL)

The Rio Maria region, located at about 250 km south of the Carajas Ridge, is a well preserved typical Archaean (> 2.87 Ga) granite - greenstone terrane. Supracrustal sequences are made up of meta-ultramafic rocks (UM - talc-tremolite schists with relict spinifex textures) at the base, followed by metabasic rocks (BAS – massif basalts with quenched textures; GB - porphyritic gabbros) and, at the top, metadacitic rocks (DAC) with plagioclase, quartz, hornblende and sphene phenocrysts. Terrigenous (graywackes, siltstones) and volcano-chemical metasediments (cherts, iron formations) are intercalated within the basal and intermediate stratigraphic levels. The volcanic rocks define three geochemical series, namely komatiite (UM), low-K tholeiite (BAS, GB) and sodic calc-alkaline (DAC). These series mainly evolved by low pressure fractional crystallization giving respectively olivine + orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene + plagioclase and plagioclase + quartz + alkali feldspar + hornblende + biotite + sphene cumulates. Modeling based on major and REE indicate a Iherzolitic source with 1-5% garnet; the degree of partial melting is from 10 to 25% in order to generate the komatiitic and tholeiitic magmas. The source of dacitic volcanism could be a metasomatised tholeiitic crust transformed into garnet arnphibolite, melted from 10 to 15% and leaving a residue with hornblende, plagioclase, garnet and clinopyroxene. The source types and the trace elements characteristics allow to consider that the magma generated in marginal basins and island arcs geodynamic environments. Consequently, the calc-alkaline magmatism (volcanism at ca. 2.97-2.90 Ga and plutonism at ca. 2.87 Ga) would represent a stage of tectonic stabilization and welding of crustal blocks, forming the continental crust which acted as cratonic basement for the Neoarchaean evolution of the northern portion of the Carajas Mineral Province
Ethanol exposure decreases glutamate uptake in the nucleus accumbens.

BACKGROUND An increased level of extracellular glutamate is a key neurochemical feature associated with ethanol exposure and withdrawal. METHODS In the current study, extracellular levels of glutamate and glutamate transport in the nucleus accumbens were assayed 24 hr after repeated ethanol exposure (1 g/kg ip daily for 7 days) with use of in vivo no-net-flux microdialysis and in vitro [(3)H]glutamate uptake, respectively. RESULTS Microdialysis revealed higher extracellular glutamate concentrations in the nucleus accumbens of rats that were given ethanol. The increase in basal extracellular glutamate levels was accounted for in part by a decrease in the in vivo probe recovery of glutamate. Moreover, an in vitro accumbens slice preparation measuring [(3)H]glutamate uptake revealed that Na(+)-dependent [(3)H]glutamate uptake was significantly reduced 24 hr after 7 days of repeated ethanol exposure. The ethanol-induced deficit in glutamate uptake was not associated with decreased total tissue levels of the transporters GLAST or GLT1. The in vivo and in vitro ethanol-induced changes in glutamate levels and uptake returned to control levels 14 days after discontinuing 7 days of repeated ethanol exposure. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that the previously reported increases in extracellular glutamate induced by ethanol exposure may be due in part to deficits in glutamate transport.
Processes Underlying the Nutritional Programming of Embryonic Development by Iron Deficiency in the Rat

Poor iron status is a global health issue, affecting two thirds of the world population to some degree. It is a particular problem among pregnant women, in both developed and developing countries. Feeding pregnant rats a diet deficient in iron is associated with both hypertension and reduced nephron endowment in adult male offspring. However, the mechanistic pathway leading from iron deficiency to fetal kidney development remains elusive. This study aimed to establish the underlying processes associated with iron deficiency by assessing gene and protein expression changes in the rat embryo, focussing on the responses occurring at the time of the nutritional insult. Analysis of microarray data showed that iron deficiency in utero resulted in the significant up-regulation of 979 genes and down-regulation of 1545 genes in male rat embryos (d13). Affected processes associated with these genes included the initiation of mitosis, BAD-mediated apoptosis, the assembly of RNA polymerase II preinitiation complexes and WNT signalling. Proteomic analyses highlighted 7 proteins demonstrating significant up-regulation with iron deficiency and the down-regulation of 11 proteins. The main functions of these key proteins included cell proliferation, protein transport and folding, cytoskeletal remodelling and the proteasome complex. In line with our recent work, which identified the perturbation of the proteasome complex as a generalised response to in utero malnutrition, we propose that iron deficiency alone leads to a more specific failure in correct protein folding and transport. Such an imbalance in this delicate quality-control system can lead to cellular dysfunction and apoptosis. Therefore these findings offer an insight into the underlying mechanisms associated with the development of the embryo during conditions of poor iron status, and its health in adult life.
Analysis of immediate results of on-pump versus off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting surgery.

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study is to compare the immediate results of patients undergoing on-pump versus off-pump coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. METHODS From January 2007 to January 2009, 177 patients underwent CABG, being 92 off-pump and 85 on-pump. We evaluated the demographics, preoperative risk factors, preoperative functional class and risk assessment by the EuroSCORE. The postoperative evolution was compared between groups. RESULTS The mean number of grafts per patient was 2.48 ± 0.43 in off-pump group and 2.90 ± 0.59 in on-pump group. In the off-pump group, 97.8% of patients received an internal thoracic artery graft, while on-pump group the percentage was 94.1% (P = 0.03). The rate of complete revascularization was similar in both groups. In off-pump group, the circumflex artery was revascularized in 48.9% and 68.2% in the on-pump group (P = 0.01). Hospital mortality was 4.3% and 4.7%, respectively in the off-pump group in the on-pump group (P = 0.92). Off-pump group had fewer complications in relation to perioperative myocardial infarction (P = 0.02) and use of intra-aortic balloon pump (P = 0.01). CONCLUSION The off-pump CABG is a safe procedure with hospital mortality similar to that observed in on-pump CABG, with lower rates of complications and less need for intra-aortic balloon.
Compression via Matroids: A Randomized Polynomial Kernel for Odd Cycle Transversal

The Odd Cycle Transversal problem (OCT) asks whether a given undirected graph can be made bipartite by deleting at most k of its vertices. In a breakthrough result, Reed, Smith, and Vetta (Operations Research Letters, 2004) gave a O(4kkmn) time algorithm for it; this also implies that instances of the problem can be reduced to a so-called problem kernel of size O(4k). Since then, the existence of a polynomial kernel for OCT (i.e., a kernelization with size bounded polynomially in k) has turned into one of the main open questions in the study of kernelization, open even for the special case of planar input graphs. This work provides the first (randomized) polynomial kernelization for OCT. We introduce a novel kernelization approach based on matroid theory, where we encode all relevant information about a problem instance into a matroid with a representation of size polynomial in k. This represents the first application of matroid theory to kernelization.
On Certain Aspects of Daily Variation of Geomagnetic Field at Low Latitudes

The daily variations of horizontal component of geomagnetic field, H, at low latitudes show significant asymmetry during active solar years. After reaching a maximum value at or slightly before noon the H field decreases to the nighttime base level rather slowly even after sunset. The effect is present during any of the seasons and at different longitude sectors. The maintenance of current after sunset is observed even in ΔH Trivandrum minus Alibag. The continuation of positive ΔH (TRD-ABG) after sunset is more prominent during disturbed than on quiet days. The midday peak of ΔH at equatorial station occurs later during local winter than during local summer months at different longitudes. The equatorial electrojet current is suggested to be due to combined effects of multitude of sources of electric fields having different daily, seasonal and solar cycle variations.
Streptococcus pneumoniae in Saliva of Dutch Primary School Children

While nasopharyngeal sampling is the gold standard for the detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae carriage, historically seen, saliva sampling also seems highly sensitive for pneumococcal detection. We investigated S. pneumoniae carriage in saliva from fifty schoolchildren by conventional and molecular methods. Saliva was first culture-enriched for pneumococci, after which, DNA was extracted from all bacterial growth and tested by quantitative-PCR (qPCR) for pneumococcus-specific genes lytA and piaA. Next, serotype composition of the samples was determined by serotype-specific qPCRs, conventional-PCRs (cPCR) and sequencing of cPCR amplicons. Although only 2 (4%) of 50 samples were positive by conventional diagnostic culture, 44 (88%) were positive for pneumococci by qPCR. In total, we detected the presence of at least 81 pneumococcal strains representing 20 serotypes in samples from 44 carriers with 23 carriers (52%) positive for multiple (up to 6) serotypes. The number of serotypes detected per sample correlated with pneumococcal abundance. This study shows that saliva could be used as a tool for future pneumococcal surveillance studies. Furthermore, high rates of pneumococcal carriage and co-carriage of multiple pneumococcal strains together with a large number of serotypes in circulation suggests a ubiquitous presence of S. pneumoniae in saliva of school-aged children. Our results also suggest that factors promoting pneumococcal carriage within individual hosts may weaken competitive interactions between S. pneumoniae strains.
Cooperative Precoding, Beamforming and Power Allocation in MU-MIMO Relay Networks

In this paper, we investigate a cooperative transmission method employing precoding, beamforming and power allocation for a multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) relay network. In the proposed scheme, the interference is canceled by using the combination of beamforming weights and Tomlinson-Harashima precoding (THP). To achieve symbol error rate (SER) fairness among different users and further improve the performance of MU-MIMO relay networks, we propose a low-complexity power allocation (LC-PA) that allocates power to each user so that the signal-to-interference-and-noise-ratio (SINR) for all users are equal. The simulation results show that the SER performance of the proposed scheme considerably outperforms other existing schemes under the same configuration.
The TF-miRNA Coregulation Network in Oral Lichen Planus

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects oral mucosa, some of which may finally develop into oral squamous cell carcinoma. Therefore, pinpointing the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of OLP is important to develop efficient treatments for OLP. Recently, the accumulation of the large amount of omics data, especially transcriptome data, provides opportunities to investigate OLPs from a systematic perspective. In this paper, assuming that the OLP associated genes have functional relationships, we present a new approach to identify OLP related gene modules from gene regulatory networks. In particular, we find that the gene modules regulated by both transcription factors (TFs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in the pathogenesis of OLP and many genes in the modules have been reported to be related to OLP in the literature.
Water-displacement plethysmography: a technique for the simultaneous thermal manipulation and measurement of whole-hand and whole-foot blood flows

The purpose of this project was to design, construct and validate water-displacement plethysmographs for the forearm, hand and foot that could clamp segmental skin temperature whilst simultaneously measuring cutaneous blood flow. Two experiments were performed. In the first, the forearm plethysmograph was validated against a mercury-in-silastic plethysmograph under thermoneutral conditions, with and without forearm heating. Cutaneous vascular conductance was elevated almost three-fold by this treatment, however, there were no significant differences between the two forms of plethysmography in either state (P > 0.05). In study two, hand and foot blood flows were measured under clamped thermoneutral conditions, but with three local skin temperature treatments (5, 25, 40 °C). The hand had significantly higher blood flows than the foot at both 25 °C (4.07 versus 2.20 mL.100 mL − 1.min − 1; P < 0.05) and 40 °C (8.20 versus 4.47 mL.100 mL − 1.min − 1; P < 0.05). The foot was maximally constricted during the two lower temperatures, yet the cutaneous thermal sensitivity of the hand was almost two-fold greater (P < 0.05). This evidence supports the significant role played by these appendages in heat loss and conservation, and these plethysmographs will now be used to map cutaneous vascular responses (forearm, hand, calf, foot) across combinations of core and local skin temperatures.