Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of benzalkonium chloride-free latanoprost ophthalmic solution on ocular surface in patients with glaucoma

Introduction Benzalkonium chloride (BAK), included as a preservative in many topical treatments for glaucoma, induces significant toxicity and alters tear breakup time (TBUT). BAK-containing latanoprost, an ester prodrug of prostaglandin F2α, can cause ocular adverse events (AEs) associated with BAK. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of BAK-free latanoprost. Patients and methods A prospective, open-label, single-arm, multicenter, 8-week study in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension taking BAK-containing latanoprost for ≥12 months was performed. Patients were switched to BAK-free latanoprost ophthalmic solution 0.005% administered once daily, and eyes were assessed after 28 and 56 days. Primary efficacy and safety variables were TBUT and treatment-emergent AEs, respectively. Results At day 56, 40 eyes were evaluable. Mean TBUT increased significantly from baseline (3.67±1.60 seconds) to 5.03±2.64 and 6.06±3.39 seconds after 28 and 56 days of treatment with BAK-free latanoprost (P<0.0001). Ocular Surface Disease Index© (OSDI©) score also decreased significantly to 12.06±13.40 and 7.06±10.75 at 28 and 56 days, respectively, versus baseline (18.09±18.61, P<0.0001). In addition, inferior corneal staining score decreased significantly to 0.53 from baseline (0.85, P=0.0033). A reduction in conjunctival hyperemia and intraocular pressure was observed at both time points. No treatment-related serious AEs were evident and 12 (26.08%) treatment-emergent AEs occurred in seven patients, with eye pain and irritation being the most frequent. No clinically significant changes in vital signs or slit lamp examinations were observed. Conclusion Results indicate that switching from BAK-containing latanoprost to BAK-free latanoprost resulted in significant improvements in TBUT, OSDI© score, and inferior corneal staining score, and measurable reductions in conjunctival hyperemia score. Furthermore, BAK-free latanoprost was well tolerated with only mild-to-moderate and self-limiting AEs. BAK-free latanoprost appears to be effective in protecting ocular surface integrity in glaucoma patients but further studies are needed to confirm this beneficial effect.
SmartLoc: push the limit of the inertial sensor based metropolitan localization using smartphone

We present SmartLoc, a localization system to estimate the location and the traveling distance by leveraging the lower-power inertial sensors embedded in smartphones as a supplementary to GPS. To minimize the negative impact of sensor noises, SmartLoc exploits the intermittent strong GPS signals and uses the linear regression to build a prediction model which is based on the trace estimated from inertial sensors and the one computed from the GPS. Furthermore, we utilize landmarks (e.g., bridge, traffic lights) detected automatically and special driving patterns (e.g., turning, uphill, and downhill) from inertial sensory data to improve the localization accuracy when the GPS signal is weak. Our evaluations of SmartLoc in the city demonstrates its technique viability and significant localization accuracy improvement compared with GPS and other approaches: the error is approximately 20m for 90% of time while the known mean error of GPS is 42.22m.
A New Bliss Independence Model to Analyze Drug Combination Data

The Bliss independence model is widely used to analyze drug combination data when screening for candidate drug combinations. The method compares the observed combination response (YO) with the predicted combination response (YP), which was obtained based on the assumption that there is no effect from drug-drug interactions. Typically, the combination effect is declared synergistic if YO is greater than YP. However, this method lacks statistical rigor because it does not take into account the variability of the response measures and can frequently cause false-positive claims. In this article, we introduce a two-stage response surface model to describe the drug interaction across all dose combinations tested. This new method enables robust statistical testing for synergism at any dose combination, thus reducing the risk of false positives. The use of the method is illustrated through an application describing statistically significant “synergy regions” for candidate drug combinations targeting epidermal growth factor receptor and the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor.
Contrast enhancement of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of polymer gel dosimeter by adding Platinum nano- particles

In this research different concentrations of Platinum nanoparticles (Pt-NPs) embedded in PAGAT polymer gel and irradiated with Cobalt -60 (60Co). The OD of samples indicate significant dose enhancement caused by Pt-NPs. Different concentrations of Pt-NPs were investigated: 0.5×10−2,1×10−2 2×10−2 and 3×10−2 mg/l and these were presented the enhancement in OD by the factor of 11.56, 27.10, 15.84 and 10.07 respectively. As the mean energy of 60Co is 1.25 MeV and atomic number (Z) of Pt is 78, the predominant effect will be Compton effect and Photoelectric cannot occurred. This work studied the feasibility of using PAGAT polymer gel combined with Pt-NPs as a suitable tool to perform dosimetric investigation of nanoparticles application in radiotherapy as dosimeter and dose enhancer.
Osteogenic Activity of MG63 Cells on Hydroxyapatite/Collagen Nanocompsosite Membrane

The hydroxyapatite/collagen (HAp/Col) nanocomposite membrane was prepared from the HAp/Col nanocomposite fibers. The HAp/Col membrane crosslinked by a vacuum heating showed 14±2 (dry) and 1.0±0.1 (wet) MPa in tensile strengths that were enough strength to operate in both cell culture and surgical operations. Histological observation and total DNA amount analysis demonstrated that human osteoblastic cells, MG63, derived from osteosarcoma on the HAp/Col membrane adhered and proliferated well as the same as those on tissue culture polystyrene (TCPS). Real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses indicated that alkaline phosphatase gene expression on the HAp/Col membrane was 1.4 times greater than that on TCPS. These results suggested that the HAp/Col nanocomposite membrane can be utilized in bone tissue engineering scaffold as well as bone filler.
Parasite Biomass-Related Inflammation, Endothelial Activation, Microvascular Dysfunction and Disease Severity in Vivax Malaria

Plasmodium vivax can cause severe malaria, however its pathogenesis is poorly understood. In contrast to P. falciparum, circulating vivax parasitemia is low, with minimal apparent sequestration in endothelium-lined microvasculature, and pathogenesis thought unrelated to parasite biomass. However, the relationships between vivax disease-severity and total parasite biomass, endothelial autocrine activation and microvascular dysfunction are unknown. We measured circulating parasitemia and markers of total parasite biomass (plasma parasite lactate dehydrogenase [pLDH] and PvLDH) in adults with severe (n = 9) and non-severe (n = 53) vivax malaria, and examined relationships with disease-severity, endothelial activation, and microvascular function. Healthy controls and adults with non-severe and severe falciparum malaria were enrolled for comparison. Median peripheral parasitemia, PvLDH and pLDH were 2.4-fold, 3.7-fold and 6.9-fold higher in severe compared to non-severe vivax malaria (p = 0.02, p = 0.02 and p = 0.015, respectively), suggesting that, as in falciparum malaria, peripheral P. vivax parasitemia underestimates total parasite biomass, particularly in severe disease. P. vivax schizonts were under-represented in peripheral blood. Severe vivax malaria was associated with increased angiopoietin-2 and impaired microvascular reactivity. Peripheral vivax parasitemia correlated with endothelial activation (angiopoietin-2, von-Willebrand-Factor [VWF], E-selectin), whereas markers of total vivax biomass correlated only with systemic inflammation (IL-6, IL-10). Activity of the VWF-cleaving-protease, ADAMTS13, was deficient in proportion to endothelial activation, IL-6, thrombocytopenia and vivax disease-severity, and associated with impaired microvascular reactivity in severe disease. Impaired microvascular reactivity correlated with lactate in severe vivax malaria. Findings suggest that tissue accumulation of P. vivax may occur, with the hidden biomass greatest in severe disease and capable of mediating systemic inflammatory pathology. The lack of association between total parasite biomass and endothelial activation is consistent with accumulation in parts of the circulation devoid of endothelium. Endothelial activation, associated with circulating parasites, and systemic inflammation may contribute to pathology in vivax malaria, with microvascular dysfunction likely contributing to impaired tissue perfusion.
The incidence and mortality of esophageal cancer and their relationship to development in Asia.

BACKGROUND Esophageal cancer is the most common cancer in less developed countries. It is necessary to understand epidemiology of the cancer for planning. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence and mortality of esophageal cancer, and its relationship with Human Development Index (HDI) and its components in Asia in 2012. METHODS This study was an Ecological study, which conducted based on GLOBOCAN project of WHO for Asian counters. We assess the correlation between standardized incidence rates (SIR) and standardized mortality rates (SMR) of esophageal cancer with HDI and its components with using of SPSS18. RESULTS A total of 337,698 incidence (70.33% were males and 29.87% females. Sex ratio was 2.37) and 296,734 death (69.45% in men and 30.54% in women. The sex ratio was 2.27) esophageal cancer was recorded in Asian countries in 2012. Five countries with the highest SIR and SMR of esophageal cancer were Turkmenistan, Mongolia and Tajikistan, Bangladesh and China respectively. Correlation between HDI and SIR was -0.211 (P=0.159), in men -0.175 (P=0.244) and in women -0.231 (P=0.123). Also between HDI and SMR -0.250 (P=0.094) in men -0.226 (P=0.131) and in women -0.251 (P=0.037). CONCLUSIONS The incidence of esophageal cancer is more in less developed and developing countries. Statistically significant correlation was not found between standardized incidence and mortality rates of esophageal cancer, and HDI and its dimensions, except for life expectancy at birth.
The role of female breeding coloration in the behavior and mate selection of male leopard lizards ( Gambelia wislizenii ) MS Thesis Proposal

I will determine how female breeding coloration (FBC) affects mate choice by male long-nosed leopard lizards, Gambelia wislizenii. Among animals, visual signals are an important component of social behavior and have important fitness consequences. For example, brightly colored individuals may have higher mating success, but this comes at the cost of higher predation. There are also metabolic costs associated with synthesizing the pigments that account for the color change. Although rare, some female vertebrates exhibit secondary coloration during the breeding season. In lizards, this coloration may be present in gravid females and is associated with aggression towards males; however, the relationship between FBC and mate selection is poorly understood. Reports on the relationship between FBC and mate selection in leopard lizards are anecdotal, conflicting, and have been uncritically perpetuated in popular field guides. My study seeks to replace these anecdotes with experimentally derived data. I will test two hypotheses for the role of FBC in leopard lizards: (1) FBC is not a signal to male lizards, thus males should attempt to copulate with females with and without FBC equally; (2) FBC is a signal to other females, thus females may avoid plain-colored conspecifics (i.e., males) in the mating season because they are frequently harassed by males or forced to copulate with them. My study integrates the fields of physiology and behavioral ecology and has several components. First, I will implant progesterone in females to induce breeding coloration and testosterone in males to induce breeding behaviors. I use videotape to record the frequency and nature of behaviors exhibited by both sexes as females develop breeding coloration. Next, I will isolate the effect of behavior from color in a color-manipulation experiment by giving males a choice of a plain female (control) or a painted female (matching FBC). Third, I will record behavioral responses of males given a choice between females with and without breeding coloration in the lab and field. Last, I will examine female responses to other females with and without FBC to address the hypothesis that FBC is a female-female signal. My preliminary data (from hormone implantations and color-manipulations) suggest that FBC in G. wislizenii is not a signal to males, as previously reported for this species and for most other iguanian lizards. Preliminary data also suggests that FBC may be a signal to female conspecifics. Documenting the behaviors associated with FBC in these lizards will lead to a deeper understanding of the role of this coloration in intersexual communication specifically, and in visual signals used by lizards generally.
Anti-Müllerian hormone serum concentrations of womenwith germline BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 mutations

Kelly-Anne Phillips1,2,3,4,*, Ian M. Collins1,5, Roger L. Milne3,6, Sue Anne McLachlan1,4,7, Michael Friedlander8,9, Martha Hickey10, Catharyn Stern10,11, John L. Hopper3, Richard Fisher1, Gordon Kannemeyer11, Sandra Picken1, Charmaine D. Smith1, Thomas W. Kelsey12, and Richard A. Anderson13 for the Kathleen Cuningham Consortium for Research into Familial Breast Cancer (kConFab) Division of Cancer Medicine, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne 3002, Australia Sir Peter MacCallum Dep. of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3053, Australia Centre for Molecular, Environmental, Genetic and Analytic Epidemiology, School of Population Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3053, Australia Department of Medicine, St Vincent’s Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3053, Australia School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong 3220, Australia Cancer Epidemiology Centre, Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne 3004, Australia Department of Medical Oncology, St Vincent’s Hospital, Fitzroy 3065, Australia Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia Department of Medical Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick 2031, Australia Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, the Royal Women’s Hospital, Parkville 3053, Australia Melbourne IVF, East Melbourne 3002, Australia School of Computer Science, University of St Andrews, Fife KY16 9AJ, UK Medical Research Council Centre for Reproductive Health, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9YL, UK
An Empirical Note on Growth and Convergence Across Russian Regions

This empirical note uses publicly available Goskomstat data to investigate income growth and convergence across Russian regions. Using data for 1992-2001, we find strong sigma divergence simultaneously with beta convergence. he results indicate that per capita income in Russian regions may be converging towards two separate steady states. The poorest regions seem to be converging among themselves, while growth experiences among other regions have been highly heterogeneous.
Assessment of platelet function in the laboratory

Summary Platelet function testing is essential for the diagnosis of congenital/acquired bleeding disorders and may be useful for the prediction of surgical bleeding. Nowadays there is also much interest in monitoring the efficacy of anti-platelet therapy and measuring platelet hyper-function. However, this often presents clinical laboratories with significant challenges as platelet function tests are complex, poorly standardized, time consuming and quality assurance is not straightforward. There are also few comprehensive modern guidelines available and many recent published surveys have revealed poor standardization between laboratories. Up until the late 1980’s the traditional clinical platelet function tests that were available were the bleeding time (BT), light transmission (LTA) and whole blood aggregometry (WBA) and various biochemical assays. These were also usually performed within specialized research and clinical laboratories. Since the last BCSH guidelines were published in 1988 a variety of new platelet function tests have become available. These include flow cytometry and an ever increasing choice of new commercial instruments. Although the potential clinical utility of the new assays is emerging some have not yet entered into routine clinical practice. It is encouraging that a number of standardization committees (e. g. CLSI, BCSH and ISTH Platelet Physiology SSC) are now beginning to produce new platelet function testing guidelines and this will hopefully improve clinical practice, quality assurance and result in less variability between different laboratories.
The Norms of Popular Peers Moderate Friendship Dynamics of Adolescent Aggression.

This study examined whether peer norms for aggression within the classroom impact friendship selection, maintenance, and socialization processes related to aggression across the 1st year of secondary school (N = 1,134 students from 51 classes, Mage = 12.66). As hypothesized, longitudinal social network analyses indicated that friendship selection and influence processes related to aggression depended on the popularity norm within the classroom (i.e., the class-level association between popularity and aggression) rather than the descriptive norm (aggregated average of aggressive behavior). Hence, only in classes where the valence of aggression is high (because it is positively associated with popularity), adolescents tend to select their friends based on similarity in aggression and adopt the aggressive behavior of their friends.
Plasma concentrations of copeptin, C-reactive protein and procalcitonin are positively correlated with APACHE II scores in patients with sepsis

Objective To evaluate the correlation between Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score and plasma concentrations of copeptin, C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin in patients with sepsis. Methods Patients with sepsis were prospectively enrolled. APACHE II scores were determined during the first 24 h after admission to the intensive care unit. Plasma copeptin, CRP and procalcitonin were quantified at admission, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h. Survival at 28 days after admission was recorded. Results APACHE II score was significantly positively correlated with plasma copeptin, CRP and procalcitonin concentrations. Survivors (n = 15) had significantly lower APACHE II scores and copeptin, CRP and procalcitonin concentrations than nonsurvivors (n = 26). APACHE II score, copeptin at 72 h, CRP at 48 h and procalcitonin at 24 h were independent risk factors for death. Conclusion Plasma copeptin, CRP and procalcitonin concentrations were positively correlated with APACHE II score in patients with sepsis, and reflected disease severity.
Breakup of drops in a microfluidic T junction

We propose a mechanism of droplet breakup in a symmetric microfluidic T junction driven by pressure decrement in a narrow gap between the droplet and the channel wall. This mechanism works in a two-dimensional setting where the capillary (Rayleigh–Plateau) instability of a cylindrical liquid thread, suggested earlier [D. Link, S. Anna, D. Weitz, and H. Stone, Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 054503 (2004)] as the cause of breakup, is not operative, but it is likely to be responsible for the breakup also in three dimensions. We derive a dependence of the critical droplet extension on the capillary number Ca by combining a simple geometric construction for the interface shape with lubrication analysis in a narrow gap where the surface tension competes with the viscous drag. The theory, formally valid for Ca1/5⪡1, shows a very good agreement with numerical results when it is extrapolated to moderate values of Ca.
Absorption and Phase Contrast X-Ray Imaging in Paleontology Using Laboratory and Synchrotron Sources

Abstract X-ray micro-computed tomography (μCT) is commonly used for imaging of samples in biomedical or materials science research. Owing to the ability to visualize a sample in a nondestructive way, X-ray μCT is perfectly suited to inspect fossilized specimens, which are mostly unique or rare. In certain regions of the world where important sedimentation events occurred in the Precambrian geological time, several fossilized animals are studied to understand questions related to their origin, environment, and life evolution. This article demonstrates the advantages of applying absorption and phase-contrast CT on the enigmatic fossil Corumbella werneri, one of the oldest known animals capable of building hard parts, originally discovered in Corumbá (Brazil). Different tomographic setups were tested to visualize the fossilized inner structures: a commercial laboratory-based μCT device, two synchrotron-based imaging setups using conventional absorption and propagation-based phase contrast, and a commercial X-ray microscope with a lens-coupled detector system, dedicated for radiography and tomography. Based on our results we discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the different imaging setups for paleontological studies.
Early Dynamic SPECT Imaging in Acute Viral Encephalitis

Several cases have reported that dynamic single‐photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) shows increased tracer uptake in acute herpes simplex viral encephalitis (HSVE). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical usefulness of dynamic Tc‐ECD SPECT in patients with acute viral encephalitis.
Marine biodiversity–ecosystem functions under uncertain environmental futures

Anthropogenic activity is currently leading to dramatic transformations of ecosystems and losses of biodiversity. The recognition that these ecosystems provide services that are essential for human well-being has led to a major interest in the forms of the biodiversity–ecosystem functioning relationship. However, there is a lack of studies examining the impact of climate change on these relationships and it remains unclear how multiple climatic drivers may affect levels of ecosystem functioning. Here, we examine the roles of two important climate change variables, temperature and concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide, on the relationship between invertebrate species richness and nutrient release in a model benthic estuarine system. We found a positive relationship between invertebrate species richness and the levels of release of NH4-N into the water column, but no effect of species richness on the release of PO4-P. Higher temperatures and greater concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide had a negative impact on nutrient release. Importantly, we found significant interactions between the climate variables, indicating that reliably predicting the effects of future climate change will not be straightforward as multiple drivers are unlikely to have purely additive effects, resulting in increased levels of uncertainty.