Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of nepafenac ophthalmic suspension 0.1% in improving clinical outcomes following cataract surgery in patients with diabetes: an analysis of two randomized studies

Objective To assess the efficacy of nepafenac 0.1% ophthalmic suspension in improving the clinical outcomes following cataract surgery (CS) in patients with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy. Methods In two similar multicenter, randomized studies, patients received either nepafenac 0.1% or vehicle, instilled three times daily starting a day prior to surgery and continuing for 90 days postoperatively. A post hoc analysis of these two studies was conducted to assess 1) the likelihood for development of postoperative macular edema (ME), based on the percentage of patients who developed ME (≥30% increase from preoperative baseline in central subfield macular thickness) within 90 days following CS and 2) best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) endpoints, including the percentage of patients with a BCVA improvement of ≥15 letters from preoperative baseline to Day 14 and maintained through Day 90. Results for individual studies and their pooled estimates (only visual acuity endpoints) are reported. Primary inference was based on odds ratio (OR). Results This post hoc analysis included 411 patients (nepafenac 0.1%: 205; vehicle: 206). The incidence of postoperative ME within 90 days of CS was notably lower in the nepafenac-treated patients than in vehicle-treated patients (study 1: 3.2% vs 16.7%; OR =0.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] =0.1, 0.5, P=0.001; study 2: 5.0% vs 17.5%; OR =0.2, 95% CI =0.1, 0.8, P=0.018). A higher percentage of nepafenac-treated patients than vehicle-treated patients gained ≥15 letters from preoperative baseline to Day 14, which was maintained through Day 90 (study 1: 38.4% vs 21.4%; OR =2.4, 95% CI =1.4, 4.2, P=0.003; study 2: 35.0% vs 25.0%; OR =1.6, 95% CI =0.8, 3.2, P=0.172; pooled: 37.1% vs 22.8%; OR =2.0, 95% CI =1.3, 3.1, P=0.001). The odds of >5-letter and >10-letter loss in BCVA from postoperative Day 7 were higher in vehicle-treated than in nepafenac-treated patients. Conclusion These results support the clinical benefit of prophylactic use of nepafenac 0.1% for reducing the risk of postoperative ME and for improvement in BCVA outcomes following CS in patients with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy.
Bilinear common spatial pattern for single-trial ERP-based rapid serial visual presentation triage

Common spatial pattern (CSP) analysis is a useful tool for the feature extraction of event-related potentials (ERP). However, CSP is essentially time invariant, and thus unable to exploit the temporal information of ERP. This paper proposes a variant of CSP, namely bilinear common spatial pattern (BCSP), which is capable of accommodating both spatial and temporal information. BCSP generalizes CSP through iteratively optimizing bilinear filters. These bilinear filters constitute a spatio-temporal subspace in which the separation between two conditions is maximized. The method is unique in the sense that it is mathematically intuitive and simple, as all the bilinear filters are obtained by maximizing the power ratio as CSP does. The proposed method was evaluated on 20 subjects’ ERP data collected in rapid serial visual presentation triage experiments. The results show that BCSP achieved significantly higher average test accuracy (12.3% higher, p < 0.001).
Tualang honey improves memory performance and decreases depressive-like behavior in rats exposed to loud noise stress

Recent evidence has exhibited dietary influence on the manifestation of different types of behavior induced by stressor tasks. The present study examined the effects of Tualang honey supplement administered with the goal of preventing or attenuating the occurrence of stress-related behaviors in male rats subjected to noise stress. Forty-eight adult male rats were randomly divided into the following four groups: i) nonstressed with vehicle, ii) nonstressed with Tualang honey, iii) stressed with vehicle, and iv) stressed with honey. The supplement was given once daily via oral gavage at 0.2 g/kg body weight. Two types of behavioral tests were performed, namely, the novel object recognition test to evaluate working memory and the forced swimming test to evaluate depressive-like behavior. Data were analyzed by a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) using IBM SPSS 18.0. It was observed that the rats subjected to noise stress expressed higher levels of depressive-like behavior and lower memory functions compared to the unexposed control rats. In addition, our results indicated that the supplementation regimen successfully counteracted the effects of noise stress. The forced swimming test indicated that climbing and swimming times were significantly increased and immobility times significantly decreased in honey-supplemented rats, thereby demonstrating an antidepressant-like effect. Furthermore, cognitive function was shown to be intensely affected by noise stress, but the effects were counteracted by the honey supplement. These findings suggest that subchronic exposure to noise stress induces depressive-like behavior and reduces cognitive functions, and that these effects can be attenuated by Tualang honey supplementation. This warrants further studies to examine the role of Tulang honey in mediating such effects.
Association between AXIN1 Gene Polymorphisms and Bladder Cancer in Chinese Han Population

Background Previous evidence has indicated that the reduction of axis inhibition protein 1 (AXIN1) expression is related with the poor differentiation of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the potential association between AXIN1 and bladder cancer (BC) is unknown. We aimed to initially explore the relevance of AXIN1 gene polymorphisms (rs12921862 C/A, rs1805105 T/C, and rs370681 C/T) and BC. Methods Three hundred and sixteen BC patients and 419 healthy controls had been enrolled. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method was used for genotyping three tag single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of AXIN1. The SNPstats online analysis software and SPSS software were used for statistical analysis. Results Our data revealed that three tag SNPs were associated with an increased risk of BC (rs12921862: P < 0.001, OR (95%CI) = 4.61 (3.13-6.81); rs1805105: P = 0.046, OR (95%CI) = 1.35 (1.00-1.82); and rs370681: P = 0.004, OR (95%CI) = 1.56 (1.15-2.10)). For rs12921862, A allele was an independently protective factor which correlated with a better prognosis in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) patients (P = 0.03, OR (95%CI) = 0.10 (0.01-0.84)). Stratification analysis demonstrated that rs370681 polymorphism was related with high-grade bladder cancer (P = 0.04, OR (95%CI) = 1.85 (1.04-3.23)). Conclusion The AXIN1 gene polymorphisms might implicate in BC risk, and rs12921862 could be a potential forecasting factor for prognosis of BC patients.
Risk factors for infant mortality in rural and urban Nigeria: evidence from the national household survey

Aims: This study investigates the rural–urban differences in infant mortality rates (IMRs) and the associated risk factors in Nigeria. Methods: The dataset from the 2013 Nigeria demographic and health survey (NDHS), disaggregated by rural–urban residence, was analyzed using complex samples statistics. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was computed to explore the adjusted relationship and identify risk factors for infant mortality. Results: In rural and urban Nigeria, IMRs were 70 and 49 deaths per 1000 live births, respectively. Risk factors in rural residence were past maternal marital union (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.625, p = 0.020), small birth size (AOR: 1.550, p < 0.001), birth interval <24 months (AOR: 2.057, p < 0.001), residence in North-East (AOR: 1.346, p = 0.038) and North-West (AOR: 1.653, p < 0.001) regions, and cesarean delivery (AOR: 2.922, p = 0.001). Risk factors in urban residence were poor wealth index (AOR: 2.292, p < 0.001), small birth size (AOR: 2.276, p < 0.001), male gender (AOR: 1.416, p = 0.022), birth interval <24 months (AOR: 1.605, p = 0.002), maternal obesity (AOR: 1.641, p = 0.008), and cesarean delivery (AOR: 1.947, p = 0.032). Conclusions: Infants in rural residence had higher rates of mortality than their urban counterparts and disparities in risk factors exist between the residences.
Detection of clonal T cell populations by high resolution PCR using fluorescently labelled nucleotides; evaluation using conventional LIS-SSCP

Aims—To detect clonal T cell populations by high resolution polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using fluorescently labelled nucleotides and analysis on an ABI 377 DNA sequencer, and to evaluate this method using low ionic strength single strand conformation polymorphism (LIS-SSCP) analysis. Methods—DNA samples from 11 patients diagnosed with a T cell disease and 15 with no known T cell disorder were amplified using four multiplex T cell receptor γ (TCRγ) PCR reactions containing fluorescently labelled nucleotides. PCR products were analysed using both LIS-SSCP electrophoresis and an ABI 377 DNA sequencer using GenescanTM software. A Jurkat T cell leukaemia cell line was used to determine the sensitivity of the two methods. Results—Clonal TCRγ populations were detected in all 11 samples from patients with a T cell disease and no clonal populations were detected in samples from patients without a T cell disorder, using both LIS-SSCP and DNA sequencer analysis. Although the sensitivity of the two methods was comparable, the data generated by the sequencer were easier to interpret than the LIS-SSCP gels, and allowed accurate size determination of every product, which was not possible using LIS-SSCP. Conclusions—The use of fluorescent labelled nucleotides provides a more flexible and economical alternative to end labelled fluorescent primers for the detection of clonal TCRγ gene rearrangements. This method allows clonal populations to be sized accurately and reproducibly, permitting the detection of identical clonal populations in different samples, and providing a method of monitoring disease progression and response to treatment.
Anticipatory Trading in Brent Futures: Evidence from the unregulated Dated Brent Benchmark

We examine the Dated Brent benchmark published by the leading oil price reporting agency, Platts. We find informed anticipatory trading in the Brent futures market during the physical oil price fixing period (16:00 to 16:30 London time). We document enhanced levels of trading volume, trade size and volatility for Brent futures and show significant abnormal returns, in the order of magnitude of 27 bps, realisable by informed futures traders during the 30-minute price fixing window. Results thus suggest that information leaks from the Dated Brent fixing into the futures market, allowing informed traders to front-run the crude oil market. Our findings inform policy makers on the influence of unregulated physical commodity price benchmarks on regulated exchange-traded financial derivatives. JEL classification: G13, G14, G18, Q02, Q48
Nocturnal non-invasive positive pressure ventilation for COPD

There is an ongoing discussion on whether long-term non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) should be used in chronic hypercapnic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Early trials had failed to show convincing physiological and clinical effects using NPPV with assisted modes of ventilation and rather low inflation pressures. In particular, long-term survival could not be improved and findings on health-related quality of life had been conflicting. Remarkably, high-intensity NPPV using higher inflation pressures and back-up rates has recently been shown to be capable of improving blood gases, lung function, and health-related quality of life. Subsequently, a large study using this technique also showed a substantial improvement in the prognosis in these patients. Therefore, there is now increasing evidence to support physiologically effective NPPV in hypercapnic COPD patients, but how to best select patients still needs to be defined. The present article summarizes the physiological background and the current evidence on NPPV in COPD in addition to future considerations.
Racecadotril for the treatment of severe acute watery diarrhoea in children admitted to a tertiary hospital in Kenya

Background Diarrhoea is the second most common cause of death in children under 5 years of age in Kenya. It is usually treated with oral rehydration, zinc and continued feeding. Racecadotril has been in use for over 2 decades; however, there is a paucity of data regarding its efficacy from Africa. Objectives The objectives of this study were: to compare the number of stools in the first 48 hours in children with severe gastroenteritis requiring admission and treated with either racecadotril or placebo, to study the impact of racecadotril on duration of inpatient stay as well as duration of diarrhoea and to describe the side effect profile of racecadotril. Methods This was a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. It enrolled children between the age of 3 and 60 months who were admitted with severe acute gastroenteritis. They received either racecadotril or placebo in addition to oral rehydration solution (ORS) and zinc and were followed up daily. Results 120 children were enrolled into the study. There were no differences in the demographics or outcomes between the 2 groups. Stools at 48 hours: median (IQR) of 5 (3–7) and 5 (2.5–7.5), respectively; p=0.63. The duration of inpatient stay: median (IQR): 4 days (1.5–6.5) and 4.5 (1.8–6.3); p=0.71. The duration of illness: 3 days (2–4) and 2 days (1–3); p=0.77. The relative risk of a severe adverse event was 3-fold higher in the drug group but was not statistically significant (95% CI 0.63 to 14.7); p=0.16. Conclusions Racecadotril has no impact on the number of stools at 48 hours, the duration of hospital stay or the duration of diarrhoea in children admitted with severe gastroenteritis and managed with ORS and zinc. Trial registration number PACTR201403000694398; Pre-results.
Visual tracking and segmentation using appearance and spatial information of patches

Object tracking and segmentation find a wide range of applications in robotics. Tracking and segmentation are difficult in cluttered and dynamic backgrounds. We propose a tracking and segmentation algorithm in which tracking and segmentation are performed consecutively. We separate input images into disjoint patches using an efficient oversegmentation algorithm. Objects and their background are described by bags of patches. We classify the patches in a new frame by searching k nearest neighbors. K-d trees are constructed using these patches to reduce computational complexity. Target location is estimated coarsely by running the mean-shift algorithm. Based on the estimated locations, we classify the patches again using appearance and spatial information. This strategy out-performs direct segmentation of patches based on appearance information only. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm provides good performance on difficult sequences with clutter.
RAPID ALTERATIONS IN TRANSFERRIN SIALYLATION DURING SEPSIS

The inflammatory process is associated with alterations in iron metabolism. Transferrin, an acute-phase N-glycosylated glycoprotein, plays an important role in iron transport. Human serum transferrin contains two biantennary glycans, each consisting of 0 to 4 molecules of sialic acid (SA); its SA content is heterogeneous with high concentration of tetrasialotransferrin (4SA) and low amounts of disialo-, trisialo-, penta-, and hexasialotransferrin. The hepatic uptake of iron is greater for desialylated transferrin isoforms (disialotransferrin) than for the other forms. We hypothesized that serum levels of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT, disialotransferrin) may increase rapidly in septic patients. Blood samples were obtained from critically ill patients with (n = 15) and without (n = 14) documented sepsis and compared with healthy volunteers. The different forms of transferrin were studied by capillary zone electrophoresis; SA concentrations were measured by enzymatic colorimetric assay. There was a significant increase in the proportion of CDT in septic compared with nonseptic patients and volunteers (18.3% [1.3-30.5] vs. 0.7% [0.5-0.9]; P < 0.01 and 0.9% [0.5-1.1]; P < 0.05). Conversely, tri- and tetrasialotransferrin levels were lower in septic patients. Total and free SA concentrations were significantly higher in septic patients than in healthy volunteers. In a sheep model of septic shock secondary to peritonitis, serum free SA was already increased after 15 h. Sepsis is associated with decreased SA content on circulating transferrin and with an increase in blood free SA concentrations. In view of these rapid modifications and the long half-life of transferrin, the most likely explanation is degradation of transferrin by neuraminidase. Further studies including measurement of blood neuraminidase concentration and activity are needed to understand the process and exact role of SA decrease in septic patients.
Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Children and Young Adolescent Orthodontic Cleft Patients.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate and compare the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in Thai patients with cleft lip and palate and to evaluate parents' and their children perceptions. MATERIAL AND METHOD Child Oral Health Impact Profile (COHIP) questionnaire was used to evaluate OHRQoL of the patients and parents' perceptions of patients' OHRQoL. The subjects consisted of 140 cleft patients (aged 8-15 years) and their parents who visited the Department of Orthodontics, Khon Kaen University. RESULTS COHIP scores in cleft patients were relatively high. No statistically significant differences were found for overall and subscales COHIP scores between gender and age groups (aged 8-11 and 12-15 years) of patients. Comparison among cleft types, overall COHIP and functional well-being subscales scores showed statistically significant differences (p = 0.01 and p = 0.002, respectively). Cleft lip with or without alveolus (CL/A) had higher overall and functional well-being subscale scores than unilateral and bilateral cleft lip and palate patients (CLP). Only self-image subscale scores were statistically significant differences between patients and parents at p<0.001. CONCLUSION Young and adolescent patients with cleft lip and palate had generally positive oral health-related quality of life. Impacts of gender and age of patients on OHRQoL were similar CL/A patients had more positive in overall oral health-related quality of life and functional well-being domains than CLP patients did. Parents had higher perceptions of self-image shown by their children than the children themselves.
Hand preference during unimanual and bimanual reaching actions in Sichuan snub‐nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana)

Hand preferences were investigated during one unimanual action (food‐reaching) and one bimanual action (mount‐reaching) in a semi‐free‐ranging group of Sichuan snub‐nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana) in Zhouzhi National Nature Reserve, Qinling Mountains of China. Nine of 14 individuals tested on the unimanual food‐reaching action and all six individuals tested on the bimanual mount‐reaching action exhibited a manual preference. Both significant right‐ and left‐handed preferences were observed in the two actions. Sex did not affect either direction or strength of hand preference in the unimanual action. Hand preference for the bimanual action was stable over time, and the strength of hand preference was significantly stronger in the bimanual action than in the unimanual action. Am. J. Primatol. 70:500–504, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Task- and self-related pathways to deep learning: the mediating role of achievement goals, classroom attentiveness, and group participation.

BACKGROUND The expectancy-value and achievement goal theories are arguably the two most dominant theories of achievement motivation in the contemporary literature. However, very few studies have examined how the constructs derived from both theories are related to deep learning. Moreover, although there is evidence demonstrating the links between achievement goals and deep learning, little research has examined the mediating processes involved. AIMS The aims of this research were to: (a) investigate the role of task- and self-related beliefs (task value and self-efficacy) as well as achievement goals in predicting deep learning in mathematics and (b) examine how classroom attentiveness and group participation mediated the relations between achievement goals and deep learning. SAMPLE The sample comprised 1,476 Grade-9 students from 39 schools in Singapore. METHODS Students' self-efficacy, task value, achievement goals, classroom attentiveness, group participation, and deep learning in mathematics were assessed by a self-reported questionnaire administered on-line. Structural equation modelling was performed to test the hypothesized model linking these variables. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Task value was predictive of task-related achievement goals whereas self-efficacy was predictive of task-approach, performance-approach, and performance-avoidance goals. Achievement goals were found to fully mediate the relations between task value and self-efficacy on the one hand, and classroom attentiveness, group participation, and deep learning on the other. Classroom attentiveness and group participation partially mediated the relations between achievement goal adoption and deep learning. The findings suggest that (a) task- and self-related pathways are two possible routes through which students could be motivated to learn and (b) like task-approach goals, performance-approach goals could lead to adaptive processes and outcomes.
A review of the influence of biogeography, riverine linkages, and marine connectivity on fish assemblages in evolving lagoons and lakes of coastal southern Africa

Abstract The Holocene evolution of eight South African coastal lakes and lagoons is examined and related to changes in fish composition over that period. Historical and current connectivity with riverine and marine environments are the primary determinants of present‐day fish assemblages in these systems. A small and remarkably consistent group of relict estuarine species have persisted in these coastal lakes and lagoons. The loss or reduction of connectivity with the sea has impacted on the diversity of marine fishes in all eight study systems, with no marine fishes occurring in those water bodies where connectivity has been completely broken (e.g. Sibaya, Groenvlei). In systems that have retained tenuous linkages with the sea (e.g., Verlorenvlei, Wilderness lakes), elements of the marine fish assemblage have persisted, especially the presence of facultative catadromous species. Freshwater fish diversity in coastal lakes and lagoons is a function of historical and present biogeography and salinity. From a freshwater biogeography perspective, the inflowing rivers of the four temperate systems reviewed here contain three or fewer native freshwater fishes, while the subtropical lakes that are fed by river systems contain up to 40 freshwater fish species. Thus, the significantly higher fish species diversity in subtropical versus temperate coastal lakes and lagoons comes as no surprise. Fish species diversity has been increased further in some systems (e.g., Groenvlei) by alien fish introductions. However, the impacts of fish introductions and translocations have not been studied in the coastal lakes and lagoons of South Africa. In these closed systems, it is probable that predation impacts on small estuarine fishes are significant. The recent alien fish introductions is an example of the growing threats to these systems during the Anthropocene, a period when human activities have had significant negative impacts and show potential to match the changes recorded during the entire Holocene.