Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predictors of normal optic nerve head, retinal nerve fiber layer, and macular parameters measured by spectral domain optical coherence tomography.

PURPOSE To evaluate the effects of signal strength, age, sex, optic disc size, and axial length on the normal optic nerve head (ONH), retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), and macular measurements with spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). METHODS In an observational, cross-sectional study, 119 eyes of 60 normal subjects of Indian origin underwent ONH, RNFL, and macular imaging with SD-OCT during the same visit. Linear mixed-modeling methods were used to evaluate the effects of signal strength, age, sex, optic disc area, and axial length on ONH, RNFL, and macular measurements. RESULTS ONH rim measurements increased and cup measurements decreased with increasing signal strengths. For a 10-unit increase in signal strength, total rim area increased by a mean of 0.1 mm(2). ONH measurements also increased with increasing optic disc size. Rim measurements decreased and cup measurements increased with increasing axial length. None of the predictors influenced RNFL measurements. Macular inner retinal thickness decreased by a mean of 1.7 μm and macular full retinal thickness decreased by an average of 3.4 μm for every decade's increase in age. Sex did not influence any of the measurements. CONCLUSIONS Signal strength, optic disc size, and axial length had a significant effect on ONH measurements, whereas age had a significant effect on macular measurements. None of the predictors evaluated influenced the RNFL measurements. These predictors should be considered when evaluating change in the structural measurements in glaucoma over time.
Ariadne: A Secure On-Demand Routing Protocol for Ad Hoc Networks

Abstract An ad hoc network is a group of wireless mobile computers (or nodes), in which individual nodes cooperate by forwarding packets for each other to allow nodes to communicate beyond direct wireless transmission range. Prior research in ad hoc networking has generally studied the routing problem in a non-adversarial setting, assuming a trusted environment. In this paper, we present attacks against routing in ad hoc networks, and we present the design and performance evaluation of a new secure on-demand ad hoc network routing protocol, called Ariadne. Ariadne prevents attackers or compromised nodes from tampering with uncompromised routes consisting of uncompromised nodes, and also prevents many types of Denial-of-Service attacks. In addition, Ariadne is efficient, using only highly efficient symmetric cryptographic primitives.
Effectiveness of non-benzodiazepine hypnotics in treatment of adult insomnia: meta-analysis of data submitted to the Food and Drug Administration

Objectives To investigate the effectiveness of non-benzodiazepine hypnotics (Z drugs) and associated placebo responses in adults and to evaluate potential moderators of effectiveness in a dataset used to approve these drugs. Design Systematic review and meta-analysis. Data source US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Study selection Randomised double blind parallel placebo controlled trials of currently approved Z drugs (eszopiclone, zaleplon, and zolpidem). Data extraction Change score from baseline to post-test for drug and placebo groups; drug efficacy analysed as the difference of both change scores. Weighted raw and standardised mean differences with their confidence intervals under random effects assumptions for polysomnographic and subjective sleep latency, as primary outcomes. Secondary outcomes included waking after sleep onset, number of awakenings, total sleep time, sleep efficiency, and subjective sleep quality. Weighted least square regression analysis was used to explain heterogeneity of drug effects. Data synthesis 13 studies containing 65 separate drug-placebo comparisons by type of outcome, type of drug, and dose were included. Studies included 4378 participants from different countries and varying drug doses, lengths of treatment, and study years. Z drugs showed significant, albeit small, improvements (reductions) in our primary outcomes: polysomnographic sleep latency (weighted standardised mean difference, 95% confidence interval −0.57 to −0.16) and subjective sleep latency (−0.33, −0.62 to −0.04) compared with placebo. Analyses of weighted mean raw differences showed that Z drugs decreased polysomnographic sleep latency by 22 minutes (−33 to −11 minutes) compared with placebo. Although no significant effects were found in secondary outcomes, there were insufficient studies reporting these outcomes to allow firm conclusions. Moderator analyses indicated that sleep latency was more likely to be reduced in studies published earlier, with larger drug doses, with longer duration of treatment, with a greater proportion of younger and/or female patients, and with zolpidem. Conclusion Compared with placebo, Z drugs produce slight improvements in subjective and polysomnographic sleep latency, especially with larger doses and regardless of type of drug. Although the drug effect and the placebo response were rather small and of questionable clinical importance, the two together produced to a reasonably large clinical response.
Two novel protein-tyrosine kinases, each with a second phosphotransferase-related catalytic domain, define a new class of protein kinase

The protein-tyrosine kinases (PTKs) are a burgeoning family of proteins, each of which bears a conserved domain of 250 to 300 amino acids capable of phosphorylating substrate proteins on tyrosine residues. We recently exploited the existence of two highly conserved sequence elements within the catalytic domain to generate PTK-specific degenerate oligonucleotide primers (A. F. Wilks, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:1603-1607, 1989). By application of the polymerase chain reaction, portions of the catalytic domains of several novel PTKs were amplified. We describe here the primary sequence of one of these new PTKs, JAK1 (from Janus kinase), a member of a new class of PTK characterized by the presence of a second phosphotransferase-related domain immediately N terminal to the PTK domain. The second phosphotransferase domain bears all the hallmarks of a protein kinase, although its structure differs significantly from that of the PTK and threonine/serine kinase family members. A second member of this family (JAK2) has been partially characterized and exhibits a similar array of kinase-related domains. JAK1 is a large, widely expressed membrane-associated phosphoprotein of approximately 130,000 Da. The PTK activity of JAK1 has been located in the C-terminal PTK-like domain. The role of the second kinaselike domain is unknown.
In Planta Proteomics and Proteogenomics of the Biotrophic Barley Fungal Pathogen Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei*

To further our understanding of powdery mildew biology during infection, we undertook a systematic shotgun proteomics analysis of the obligate biotroph Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei at different stages of development in the host. Moreover we used a proteogenomics approach to feed information into the annotation of the newly sequenced genome. We analyzed and compared the proteomes from three stages of development representing different functions during the plant-dependent vegetative life cycle of this fungus. We identified 441 proteins in ungerminated spores, 775 proteins in epiphytic sporulating hyphae, and 47 proteins from haustoria inside barley leaf epidermal cells and used the data to aid annotation of the B. graminis f. sp. hordei genome. We also compared the differences in the protein complement of these key stages. Although confirming some of the previously reported findings and models derived from the analysis of transcriptome dynamics, our results also suggest that the intracellular haustoria are subject to stress possibly as a result of the plant defense strategy, including the production of reactive oxygen species. In addition, a number of small haustorial proteins with a predicted N-terminal signal peptide for secretion were identified in infected tissues: these represent candidate effector proteins that may play a role in controlling host metabolism and immunity.
A Guinea Pig Strain with Recessive Heredity of Deafness, Producing Normal-Hearing Heterozygotes with Resistance to Noise Trauma

A new strain of waltzing guinea pigs arose spontaneously in a guinea pig breeding facility in Germany in 1996. In addition to obvious vestibular dysfunction, the waltzing animals appear deaf already at birth. Histological analysis revealed that the waltzers lack an open scala media due to the collapse of Reissner’s membrane onto the surface of the hearing organ. Subsequent breeding has shown that this strain has a recessive mode of inheritance. The homozygotes are deaf and display a waltzing behaviour throughout their lives while the heterozygotes show no significant signs of inner ear injury despite being carriers of this specific mutated gene of hearing impairment. However, the heterozygous animals offer the opportunity to study how hereditary factors interact with auditory stress. In the present study, the susceptibility of the carriers to noise was investigated. Auditory brainstem responses were obtained prior to and after noise exposure (4 kHz, 110 dB, 6 h). The carriers were significantly less affected by the noise as compared to control animals. This difference was still significant at 4 weeks following noise exposure. It is suggested that the heterozygous animals have an endogenous resistance to auditory stress.
Esomeprazole-based Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy and the effect of antibiotic resistance: results of three US multicenter, double-blind trials

OBJECTIVES:To determine the efficacy of once-daily esomeprazole plus antibiotics for eradication of Helicobacter pylori, to assess the effect of antibiotic resistance on eradication rate, and to define the rate of emergent resistance.METHODS:Three separate randomized trials were performed in H. pylori–positive patients with a duodenal ulcer or history of documented duodenal ulcer within 5 yrs: 1) esomeprazole (40 mg once daily), amoxicillin (1 g b.i.d.), and clarithromycin (500 mg b.i.d.; this combination will be referred to as EAC) versus esomeprazole (40 mg once daily) plus clarithromycin (500 mg twice daily; this combination will be referred to as EC); 2) EAC versus esomeprazole (40 mg once daily; E); and 3) EC versus E. Therapy was given for 10 days. Endoscopy and biopsies for CLOtest, histology, and culture with susceptibility testing were done at baseline and 4 wk after completion of therapy.RESULTS:Per-protocol and intent-to-treat eradication rates, respectively, were as follows. For EAC versus EC in study 1 (N = 448), 84 versus 55% and 77 versus 52% (p < 0.001); for EAC versus E in study 2 (N = 98), 85 versus 5% and 78 versus 4% (p < 0.001); for EC versus E in study 3 (N = 66), 50% versus 0 and 46% versus 0 (p < 0.05). The 15% of patients in the combined studies with baseline clarithromycin resistance had significantly lower rates of eradication than those with susceptible strains (EAC: 45 vs. 89%; EC: 13 vs. 61%). Emergent resistance was less common after treatment with EAC [2/6 (33%)] than with EC (23/27 [85%]). CONCLUSIONS:Ten-day triple therapy with once-daily esomeprazole plus twice-daily amoxicillin and clarithromycin achieves an eradication rate virtually identical to that of the twice-daily proton pump inhibitor–based triple therapies. Baseline clarithromycin resistance, present in 15% of patients, predicts a markedly decreased rate. Use of an amoxicillin-containing regimen may decrease emergence of clarithromycin resistance.
Characterizing Cathepsin Activity and Macrophage Subtypes in Excised Human Carotid Plaques

Background and Purpose— Atherosclerosis is a leading cause of mortality worldwide, contributing to both strokes and heart attacks. Macrophages are key players in atherogenesis, promoting vascular inflammation and arterial remodeling through cysteine cathepsin proteases. We used a cathepsin-targeted activity-based probe in human carotid plaque to assess its diagnostic potential and evaluate macrophage subtypes ex vivo. Methods— Carotid plaque specimens surgically removed during endarterectomy from 62 patients (age range, 38% female, 28% symptomatic) were graded pathologically as either stable (Grade 1) or unstable (Grade 2 or 3). A cathepsin activity-based probe was used to quantify individual cathepsins in plaque tissue and macrophage subtypes. Results— Cathepsin B and S activities were increased in unstable carotid plaques. They were quantified using the probe to biochemically investigate individual cathepsins (Cathepsin B and S: 0.97 and 0.90 for grade 3 versus 0.51 and 0.59 for grade 1; P=0.006 and P=0.03 arbitrary units (AU), respectively). Higher cathepsin activity was observed in carotid plaques from symptomatic patients (Cathepsin B and S: 0.65 and 0.77 for asymptomatic, 0.99 and 1.17 for symptomatic; P=0.008 and P=0.005 AU, respectively). Additionally, it was demonstrated that M2 macrophages from unstable plaques express cathepsin activity 5-fold higher than M2 macrophages from stable plaques (25.52 versus 5.22; P=0.008 AU). Conclusions— Targeting cathepsin activity in human carotid plaques may present a novel diagnostic tool for characterizing high-risk plaques. Novel cathepsin activity patterns within plaques and macrophage subpopulations suggest their involvement in the transition to active disease.
Shared Familial Risk Between Bulimic Symptoms and Alcohol Involvement During Adolescence

Twin studies show the established relation between bulimic symptoms and problematic alcohol involvement in adult females is partly due to shared familial factors, specifically shared genetic effects. However, it is unclear if similar shared etiological factors exist during adolescence or in males. We examined the familial overlap (i.e., genetic and common environmental correlations) between bulimic symptoms and various levels of alcohol involvement in 16- to 17-year-old female and male same-sex twin pairs using sex-specific biometrical twin modeling. Bulimic symptoms were assessed with the Eating Disorder Inventory-2. Alcohol involvement included alcohol use in the last month, having ever been intoxicated, and alcohol intoxication frequency. Results revealed 3 distinct patterns. First, in general, phenotypic correlations indicated statistically similar associations between bulimic symptoms and alcohol involvement in girls and boys. Second, common environmental overlap was significant for the bivariate associations including having ever been intoxicated. Third, moderate genetic correlations were observed between all bulimic symptoms and alcohol involvement in girls and moderate common environmental correlations were observed in boys for the more risky/deviant levels of involvement. Similar to adults, there is familial overlap between bulimic symptoms and alcohol involvement in adolescent girls and boys. These results could inform symptom- and sex-specific, developmentally targeted prevention and intervention programs for the comorbidity between bulimic symptoms and alcohol involvement.
Variance estimation in nonparametric regression via the difference sequence method

Consider a Gaussian nonparametric regression problem having both an unknown mean function and unknown variance function. This article presents a class of difference-based kernel estimators for the variance function. Optimal convergence rates that are uniform over broad functional classes and bandwidths are fully characterized, and asymptotic normality is also established. We also show that for suitable asymptotic formulations our estimators achieve the minimax rate.
The Detrimental Effects of Sanctions on Intragroup Trust

Recent work shows that both reward and punishment systems increase short-term cooperation in social dilemmas. Yet, a growing body of research finds that punishment systems generate a range of negative side effects, including an undermining of trust in fellow group members’ cooperative intentions. The present work asks whether reward systems can generate the same positive effects as punishment systems (increased cooperation) without the negative side effects (decreased interpersonal trust) or whether reward systems also lead to detrimental effects on trust. In two experiments we find that once removed, reward systems, like punishment systems, reduced trust to levels below a control group who never experienced sanctions. This research highlights the detrimental effects of punishment and reward systems on intragroup trust and thus shows that while reward systems can generate the same positive effects as punishment systems, they also generate the same negative side effects.
Parallel sparse matrix-vector and matrix-transpose-vector multiplication using compressed sparse blocks

This paper introduces a storage format for sparse matrices, called <b><i>compressed sparse blocks (CSB)</i></b>, which allows both <i>Ax</i> and <i>A</i>,<i>x</i> to be computed efficiently in parallel, where <i>A</i> is an <i>n</i>×<i>n</i> sparse matrix with <i>nnz</i>e<i>n</i> nonzeros and <i>x</i> is a dense <i>n</i>-vector. Our algorithms use Θ(<i>nnz</i>) work (serial running time) and Θ(√<i>n</i>lg<i>n</i>) span (critical-path length), yielding a parallelism of Θ(<i>nnz</i>/√<i>n</i>lg<i>n</i>), which is amply high for virtually any large matrix. The storage requirement for CSB is the same as that for the more-standard compressed-sparse-rows (CSR) format, for which computing <i>Ax</i> in parallel is easy but <i>A</i>,<i>x</i> is difficult. Benchmark results indicate that on one processor, the CSB algorithms for <i>Ax</i> and <i>A</i>,<i>x</i> run just as fast as the CSR algorithm for <i>Ax</i>, but the CSB algorithms also scale up linearly with processors until limited by off-chip memory bandwidth.
Effects of Multisensory Stimulation on a Sample of Institutionalized Elderly People With Dementia Diagnosis

Long-term effects of multisensory stimulation were assessed using a “Snoezelen” room on older residents with dementia. Thirty patients were randomly assigned to 3 groups: multisensory stimulation environment (MSSE) group, individualized activities (activity) group, and control group. The MSSE and activity groups participated in two 30-minute weekly individualized intervention sessions over 16 weeks. Pre-, mid-, posttrial, and 8-week follow-up behavior, mood, cognitive, and functional impairment in basic activities of daily living were registered. Items included in the physically nonaggressive behavior factor improved significantly in post- versus pretrial in the MSSE group compared to the activity group, with no significant differences between MSSE and control groups. The MSSE and activity groups demonstrated behavior improvements and higher scores on the Cohen-Mansfield agitation inventory, verbal agitated behavior factor, and Neuropsychiatric Inventory–Nursing Home, with no significant differences between groups. The MSSE could have long-term positive effects on such neuropsychiatric symptoms in older people with dementia.
Computer spellcheckers and dyslexics - a performance survey

Word-processors are widely used by dyslexics but the spellcheckers are often not appropriate to their needs. This paper examines a sample of around 3000 words of running text containing almost 600 errors typical of those made by dyslexics. It first describes the types of error and the ways in which they differ from the more conventional misspellings that spellcheckers are designed to deal with. It then presents the results of running four current spellcheckers over this sample and finds that the correct word was suggested for only around half of the errors. There were two types of failure: errors that were flagged but not corrected and errors that were not flagged at all. The former often bore a phonetic resemblance to the intended word and in many cases looked correct-able. The latter were caused by misspellings that resulted in another valid word. Spellcheckers need to use syntactic and contextual information to improve performance in this area. This would also enable them to make more appropriate suggestions for the errors that are flagged.
Transient and continuous expression of NADPH diaphorase in different neuronal populations of developing rat spinal cord

Nitric oxide is a novel intercellular messenger whose role in neuronal development is not yet known. As a first step toward elucidating its developmental function, we examined the pattern of NADPH diaphorase histochemical staining, an indicator of the presence of nitric oxide synthase, in the rat spinal cord at pre and postnatal ages. Some types of neurons expressed diaphorase activity transiently during development. For example, a subset of somatic motor neurons, located in the ventrolateral corner of a few caudal segments of the cervical spinal cord, were diaphorase‐positive beginning on E15, but gradually became diaphorase‐negative by birth. In contrast, other spinal neurons expressed diaphorase activity continuously from development into adulthood. Preganglionic autonomic motor neurons became diaphorase‐positive early in their development, as they were migrating toward their adult positions. Other spinal neurons, such as those in superficial dorsal horn, first expressed diaphorase relatively late in their development, after reaching their final location. The transient expression in some cell types, as well as the early expression in others, suggest that nitric oxide may have an important role(s) during development, which may differ from its functions in the adult nervous system. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Spectral Projected Gradient Methods: Review and Perspectives

Over the last two decades, it has been observed that using the gradient vector as a search direction in large-scale optimization may lead to efficient algorithms. The effectiveness relies on choosing the step lengths according to novel ideas that are related to the spectrum of the underlying local Hessian rather than related to the standard decrease in the objective function. A review of these so-called spectral projected gradient methods for convex constrained optimization is presented. To illustrate the performance of these low-cost schemes, an optimization problem on the set of positive definite matrices is described.
Anatomy and Histology of Rodent and Human Major Salivary Glands

Major salivary glands of both humans and rodents consist of three pairs of macroscopic glands: parotid, submandibular, and sublingual. These glands secrete serous, mucous or mixed saliva via the proper main excretory ducts connecting the glandular bodies with the oral cavity. A series of discoveries about the salivary ducts in the 17th century by Niels Stensen (1638–1686), Thomas Wharton (1614–1673), and Caspar Bartholin (1655–1738) established the concept of exocrine secretion as well as salivary glands. Recent investigations have revealed the endocrine functions of parotin and a variety of cell growth factors produced by salivary glands. The present review aims to describe macroscopic findings on the major salivary glands of rodents and the microscopic differences between those of humans and rodents, which review should be of interest to those researchers studying salivary glands.