Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ON THE PREVALENCE OF REFRACTIVE ERRORS AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN OF 7-15 YEARS AGE GROUP IN THE FIELD PRACTICE AREAS OF A MEDICAL COLLEGE IN BANGALORE

Background: Refractive Error is an avoidable cause of visual impairment. Diagnosis and Treatment of refractive errors is the simplest and most effective forms of eye care. Aims & Objective: To study the prevalence and determinants of uncorrected refractive errors, among school children of 7-15 years. Material and Methods: The study was a cross sectional study of 1378 government school children of 715 years age group in both rural and urban field practice areas of Dr. BR Ambedkar Medical College, Bangalore. Students were screened for defective vision with the help of Snellen’s chart and refractionist confirmed the findings. Students with refractive error were provided with spectacles free of cost. Data was analysed to determine the prevalence of refractive errors among the school children. Results: 687 children of urban and 691 children of rural area were examined. 53.6% of the study population were boys and 46.4% were girls. The mean age of the study group was 12.4 years. The prevalence of uncorrected refractive error in urban and rural children was 7.03%. The prevalence of Myopia, Hypermetropia and Astigmatism in children was 4.4%, 1.03%, 1.6% respectively. Children 13 to years 15 attending urban schools were most likely to have uncorrected myopia. Hypermetropia was associated with younger age group and female children. Conclusion: The prevalence of uncorrected refractive error, especially myopia, was higher in older children. Causes of higher prevalence and barriers to refractive error correction services should be identified and addressed. Eye screening of school children is recommended. KEY-WORDS: Refractive Error; Prevalence; Hypermetropia; Myopia; School Children
Acoustic interference and recognition space within a complex assemblage of dendrobatid frogs

In species-rich assemblages of acoustically communicating animals, heterospecific sounds may constrain not only the evolution of signal traits but also the much less-studied signal-processing mechanisms that define the recognition space of a signal. To test the hypothesis that the recognition space is optimally designed, i.e., that it is narrower toward the species that represent the higher potential for acoustic interference, we studied an acoustic assemblage of 10 diurnally active frog species. We characterized their calls, estimated pairwise correlations in calling activity, and, to model the recognition spaces of five species, conducted playback experiments with 577 synthetic signals on 531 males. Acoustic co-occurrence was not related to multivariate distance in call parameters, suggesting a minor role for spectral or temporal segregation among species uttering similar calls. In most cases, the recognition space overlapped but was greater than the signal space, indicating that signal-processing traits do not act as strictly matched filters against sounds other than homospecific calls. Indeed, the range of the recognition space was strongly predicted by the acoustic distance to neighboring species in the signal space. Thus, our data provide compelling evidence of a role of heterospecific calls in evolutionarily shaping the frogs' recognition space within a complex acoustic assemblage without obvious concomitant effects on the signal.
Temperature-based Evapotranspiration in the WSVI Drought Index Implementation

Drought is a natural hazard that affects environmental and socio-economic development. In this study, the Water Surplus Variability Index (WSVI), which is based on both precipitation and Penman-Monteith (PM) evapotranspiration (ET) estimates, was used to quantify drought. The application of the WSVI is not possible in some locations because of the missing data for estimating ET. The key objectives of this research were to 1. compare the different temperature-based WSVIs for the 1-, 3-, 6- and 12-month timescales with the original PM-based WSVI; 2. improve the WSVI by replacing the full-set PM equation with the corresponding temperature-based ET equation, such as Hargreaves, adjusted Hargreaves, Thornthwaite, modified Thornthwaite or temperature-based PM; and 3. compare the best temperature-based WSVI with the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI). The set of meteorological data was obtained from several stations from Pannonian Basin (Budapest, Debrecen, Novi Sad and Sombor). According to statistical indicators, the Hargreaves-based WSVI (WSVIH) was ranked first or second for each time period at all locations. The WSVIH was additionally tested using the SPI for each location and each timescale. The obtained results indicated the capability of the WSVIH to quantify drought frequency, duration and severity identified by the SPI. Finally, the WSVI can be recommended using the Hargreaves equation instead of the full-set PM equation in future WSVI implementations in the Pannonian Basin.
An efficient on‐column expressed protein ligation strategy: Application to segmental triple labeling of human apolipoprotein E3

Expressed protein ligation (EPL) is an intein‐based approach that has been used for protein engineering and biophysical studies of protein structures. One major problem of the EPL is the low yield of final ligation product, primarily due to the complex procedure of the EPL, preventing EPL from gaining popularity in the research community. Here we report an efficient on‐column EPL strategy, which focuses on enhancing the expression level of the intein‐fusion protein that generates thioester for the EPL. We applied this EPL strategy to human apolipoprotein E (apoE) and routinely obtained 25–30 mg segmental, triple‐labeled apoE from 1‐L cell culture. The approaches reported here are general approaches that are not specific for apoE, thus providing a general strategy for a highly efficient EPL. In addition, we also report an isotopic labeling scheme that double‐labels one domain and keeps the other domain of apoE deuterated. Such an isotopic labeling scheme can only be achieved using the EPL strategy. Our data indicated that the segmental triple‐labeled apoEs using this labeling scheme produced high‐quality, simplified NMR spectra, facilitating NMR spectral assignment. For large proteins, such as apoE, perdeuterated protein samples have to be used to reduce the linewidth of NMR signals, causing a major problem for the NOE‐based NMR method, since perdeuterated proteins lack protons for NOE measurement. The new labeling strategy solves this problem and provides 13C/15N double‐labeled, protonated protein domains, allowing for determination of high‐resolution NMR structure of these large proteins.
VALIDATION OF GOMOS PRODUCTS USING SALOMON ALGORITHMS AND DATA

The UV-visible spectrometer SALOMON, dedicated to the retrieval of vertical profiles of O3, NO2 and NO3, has performed measurements on 19 September 2002, from Aire sur l’Adour (France) between 20h00 and 22h30 TU. At the same time, an ozone sounding has been launched. GOMOS has performed measurements at 21h24 UT, with a spatial coincidence with SALOMON and the sounding of around 250 km. Then, all these sets of measurements can be directly compared. The GOMOS ozone vertical profile exhibits an overestimation in the middle stratosphere, and the NO2 and NO3 profiles are unrealistic. Using the algorithms developed for SALOMON, new slant column profiles are derived from GOMOS transmissions, as well as new vertical profiles. This time, the agreement between SALOMON profiles and these new profiles is excellent. Then, recommendations for algorithm improvements are proposed.
‘Sewing together’: An idiographic study of a music therapist’s experiences of a group at a special school for children and young people with severe and complex special educational needs

This research was commissioned by a school in London which provides for children and young people aged 2 to 16 with a wide range of learning difficulties. This single-participant study uses video annotation, video elicitation interview and interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to explore perceptions of processes in a music therapy group, from the point of view of a music therapist. Two tables of annotations present a description of events in each video clip in a timeline. The IPA interview analysis produced 25 emergent themes, grouped into four superordinate themes (‘Balancing diverse needs’; ‘Spontaneity’; ‘Therapists’ musical stance’; ‘Group dynamics’). Parallels are drawn with other music therapy groups described in the literature and with Foulkes’ group analytic psychotherapy. The study elucidates an approach to group music therapy which provides a space for spontaneous and meaningful interaction, both through music and other modalities.
Biochemical Estimation and Antimicrobial Activities of the Extracts of Caesalpinia Sappan Linn.

Caesalpinia sappan Linn. , a traditional Indian medicinal plant used widely in oriental medicine. The plant extracts were found to be a good source of secondary metabolites, vitamins and metals. The extracts were further tested against certain human pathogenic microbes. The methanol and ethyl acetate extracts of the heartwood was found to be effective against certain pathogenic microbes. Key words: Caesalpinia sappan; Secondary metabolites; Vitamins; Antimicrobial activity DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.3329/bjsir.v46i4. 9586 BJSIR 2011; 46(4): 429-436
Is structural hydroxyapatite tricalcium-phosphate graft or tricortical iliac crest autograft better for calcaneal lengthening osteotomy in childhood? interim results from a randomised, controlled non-inferiority study.

AIMS To compare the structural durability of hydroxyapatite-tricalcium phosphate (HATCP) to autologous iliac crest bone graft in calcaneal lengthening osteotomy (CLO) for pes planovalgus in childhood. PATIENTS AND METHODS We present the interim results of ten patients (HATCP, n = 6 and autograft, n = 5) with a mean age of 11.5 years (8.2 to 14.2) from a randomised controlled non-inferiority trial with six months follow-up. The primary outcome was the stability of the osteotomy as measured by radiostereometric analysis. A non-inferiority margin of ≤ 2 mm osteotomy compression was set. RESULTS At six months the data showed that the osteotomy had been compressed by a mean 1.97 mm (99.8% confidence interval -1.65 to 5.60) more in the HATCP group than in the autograft group. Migration of the CLO grafted with HATCP stabilised at six months rather than at six weeks with autograft. CONCLUSION This is the first randomised trial to compare the efficacy of HATCP graft with autograft in terms of stability of CLO in children. Because of problems with the HATCP the trial was stopped. We do not recommend HATCP graft in its current structure for use in unfixed CLOs. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2016;98-B:1554-62.
Some Results on MAP Decoding of Non-Binary LDPC Codes Over the BEC

In this paper, the transmission over the binary erasure channel (BEC) using non-binary LDPC (NBLDPC) codes is considered. The concept of peeling decoder and stopping sets is generalized to NBLDPC codes. Using these generalizations, a combinatorial characterization of decoding failures of NBLDPC codes is given, under assumption that the Belief Propagation (BP) decoder is used. Then, the residual ensemble of codes resulted by the BP decoder is defined and the design rate and the expectation of total number of codewords of the residual ensemble are computed. The decoding failure criterion combined with the density evolution analysis helps us to compute the asymptotic residual degree distribution for NBLDPC codes. Our approach to compute the residual degree distribution on the check node side is not efficient as it is based on enumeration of all the possible connections on the check node side which satisfy the decoding failure criterion. So, the computation of the asymptotic check node side residual degree distribution and further part of our analysis is performed for NBLDPC codes over GF2m with m = 2 . In order to show that asymptotically almost every code in such LDPC ensemble has a rate equal to the design rate, we generalize the argument of the Maxwell construction to NBLDPC codes, defined over GF22. It is also observed that, like in the binary setting, the Maxwell construction, relating the performance of MAP and BP decoding holds in this setting.
Inhibition of Plasmodium Hepatic Infection by Antiretroviral Compounds

Recent WHO guidelines on control of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) call for the widespread use of antiretroviral (AR) therapy (ART) for people living with HIV. Given the considerable overlap between infections by HIV and Plasmodium, the causative agent of malaria, it is important to understand the impact of AR compounds and ART regimens on infections by malaria parasites. We undertook a systematic approach to identify AR drugs and ART drug combinations with inhibitory activity against the obligatory hepatic stage of Plasmodium infection. Our in vitro screen of a wide array of AR drugs identified the non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors efavirenz and etravirine (ETV), and the protease inhibitor nelfinavir, as compounds that significantly impair the development of the rodent malaria parasite P. berghei in an hepatoma cell line. Furthermore, we show that WHO-recommended ART drug combinations currently employed in the field strongly inhibit Plasmodium liver infection in mice, an effect that may be significantly enhanced by the inclusion of ETV in the treatment. Our observations are the first report of ETV as an anti-Plasmodial drug, paving the way for further evaluation and potential use of ETV-containing ARTs in regions of geographical overlap between HIV and Plasmodium infections.
Community Structure of Zooplankton and Water Quality Assessment of Tigris River within Baghdad/Iraq

For understanding the water quality state of Tigris river, the community structure of zooplanktons was studied in different seasons, and Shannon-wiener diversity index (H), Species Richness Index (D) and Species Uniformity Index (E) were applied. The Results show that the highest number of total zooplanktons in the period of the study was 25036.9 individuals / m3 in the S3, while the lowest number of zooplankton in the period of the study was 16125 individuals / m3 recorded in S1, The current study was recorded The dominance of Rotifers group in All study sites. The species richness index (D) recorded very good abundance and the values ranged between 3.083 to 9.15. The Shannon-Weiner index (H) for diversity ranged from 1.13 bit per Individual in the third station to 2.716 bit per individual in second station, through this Indicator, The Tigris River of the area of the study is a moderate in organic pollution. While the values of species Uniformity index (E) for the appearance of species ranged between the highest value 0.948 during the month of December in the S3 to the less value 0.435 during the month of January in the same station.
4-1BB Signaling Activates the T Cell Factor 1 Effector/β-Catenin Pathway with Delayed Kinetics via ERK Signaling and Delayed PI3K/AKT Activation to Promote the Proliferation of CD8+ T Cells

4-1BB (CD137), an inducible costimulatory molecule, strongly enhances the proliferation and effector function of CD8+ T cells. Since the serine/threonine kinase, glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3), is involved in a variety of signaling pathways of cellular proliferation, migration, immune responses, and apoptosis, we examined whether 4-1BB signaling activates GSK-3/β-catenin signaling and downstream transcription factors to enhance the proliferation of CD8+ T cells. 4-1BB signaling induces rapid activation of ERK and IκB degradation, and shows delayed activation of AKT at 24 h post 4-1BB stimulation on anti-CD3 activated T cells. ERK and AKT signals were required for sustained β-catenin levels by inactivating GSK-3, which was also observed with delayed kinetics after 4-1BB stimulation. As a transcriptional partner of β-catenin, 4-1BB signaling decreased levels of FOXO1 and increased levels of stimulatory TCF1 in CD8+ T cells at 2–3 days but not at early time points after 4-1BB engagement. The enhanced proliferation of CD8+ T cells due to 4-1BB signaling was completely abolished by treatment with the TCF1/β-catenin inhibitor quercetin. These results show that 4-1BB signaling enhances the proliferation of activated CD8+ T cells by activating the TCF1/β-catenin axis via the PI3K/AKT/ERK pathway. As effects of 4-1BB on AKT, FOXO1, β-catenin and GSK-3β showed delayed kinetics it is likely that an intervening molecule induced by 4-1BB and ERK signaling in activated T cells is responsible for these effects. These effects were observed on CD8+ but not on CD4+ T cells. Moreover, 4-1BB appeared to be unique among several TNFRs tested in inducing increase in stimulatory over inhibitory TCF-1.
Smart Distribution System Operations With Price-Responsive and Controllable Loads

This paper presents a new modeling framework for analysis of impact and scheduling of price-responsive as well as controllable loads in a three-phase unbalanced distribution system. The price-responsive loads are assumed to be linearly or exponentially dependent on price, i.e., demand reduces as price increases and vice versa. The effect of such uncontrolled price-responsive loads on the distribution feeder is studied as customers seek to reduce their energy cost. Secondly, a novel constant energy load model, which is controllable by the local distribution company (LDC), is proposed in this paper. A controllable load is one that can be scheduled by the LDC through remote signals, demand response programs, or customer-end home energy management systems. Minimization of cost of energy drawn by LDC, feeder losses, and customers cost pertaining to the controllable component of the load are considered as objectives from the LDCs and customers' perspective. The effect of a peak demand constraint on the controllability of the load is further examined. The proposed models are tested on two feeders: 1) the IEEE 13-node test feeder; and 2) a practical LDC feeder system. Detailed studies examine the operational aspects of price-responsive and controllable loads on the overall system. It is observed that the LDC controlled load model results in a more uniform system load profile, and that with a reduction in the peak demand cap, the energy drawn decreases, consequently reducing feeder losses and LDC's and customers' costs.
Prognostic significance of TNF alpha and its p55 soluble receptor in malignant lymphomas.

In 93 newly diagnosed lymphoma patients, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) and its p55 soluble receptor (p55-sR), were prospectively determined in plasma by IRMA and ELISA methods respectively. These 93 patients included 31 patients with low grade lymphoma, 55 with intermediate or high grade lymphoma and 7 with Hodgkin's disease. Median TNF alpha plasma values were 20 pg/mL (range 5-380 pg/mL) in patients versus 7 pg/mL (range 4-9 pg/mL) in healthy control subjects. Presence of TNF alpha level equal or greater than 20 pg/mL was significantly associated with elevated LDH level, serum beta 2-microglobulin level > or = 3 mg/L, hemoglobin < or = 12 g/dL, Ann Arbor stage III or IV disease, and with bulky tumor. High level of TNF alpha was also associated, although less strongly, with B symptoms, poor performance status, and serum albumin < or = 35 g/L, yet it was not associated with change in acute phase protein levels. Levels of p55-sR were also markedly elevated in these lymphoma patients (median of 3.5 ng/mL, range 0.8-18.8 ng/mL) versus 1.45 ng/mL in control subjects (range 1.1-2.3 ng/mL). Level of p55-sR equal or greater than 3.5 ng/mL was significantly associated with poor performance status, B symptoms, beta 2-microglobulin levels > or = 3 mg/L, serum albumin < or = 35 g/L, C-reactive protein > 6 mg/L, hemoglobin < or = 12 g/dL, and bulky tumor. In the whole group of 93 patients, both high TNF alpha and p55-sR levels strongly predicted short freedom from progression and overall survival. This study suggests that elevated TNF alpha and p55-sR plasma levels have a high correlation with other adverse prognostic factors in lymphoma patients and predict their poor outcome.
Graph-Based Seed Set Expansion for Relation Extraction Using Random Walk Hitting Times

Iterative bootstrapping methods are widely employed for relation extraction, especially because they require only a small amount of human supervision. Unfortunately, a phenomenon known as semantic drift can affect the accuracy of iterative bootstrapping and lead to poor extractions. This paper proposes an alternative bootstrapping method, which ranks relation tuples by measuring their distance to the seed tuples in a bipartite tuple-pattern graph. In contrast to previous bootstrapping methods, our method is not susceptible to semantic drift, and it empirically results in better extractions than iterative methods.
The evolution of island gigantism and body size variation in tortoises and turtles

Extant chelonians (turtles and tortoises) span almost four orders of magnitude of body size, including the startling examples of gigantism seen in the tortoises of the Galapagos and Seychelles islands. However, the evolutionary determinants of size diversity in chelonians are poorly understood. We present a comparative analysis of body size evolution in turtles and tortoises within a phylogenetic framework. Our results reveal a pronounced relationship between habitat and optimal body size in chelonians. We found strong evidence for separate, larger optimal body sizes for sea turtles and island tortoises, the latter showing support for the rule of island gigantism in non-mammalian amniotes. Optimal sizes for freshwater and mainland terrestrial turtles are similar and smaller, although the range of body size variation in these forms is qualitatively greater. The greater number of potential niches in freshwater and terrestrial environments may mean that body size relationships are more complicated in these habitats.
The Mediating Path to a Stronger Citizenship: Online and Offline Networks, Weak Ties, and Civic Engagement

Empirical studies of citizen communication networks and participation go as far back as the 1940s, with a bolder focus in political—not civic—activities. A consistent finding reveals that individuals with larger networks are more engaged than those with smaller networks. This article expands this line of work with a number of novel tests. First, it compares the predictive power of online versus offline network size on civic engagement. It then explores the role of strong-tie versus weak-tie discussion frequency and participatory behaviors. Finally, it examines the extent to which the contribution of network size, both online and offline, on civic engagement is mediated by discussion with weak ties. Using original survey data from a large national sample of U.S. adults, results indicate that (1) the relationships between online and offline network size and civic engagement are positive and fairly similar in strength, (2) weak-tie discussion is the strongest predictor of civic behaviors, (3) weak-tie discussion largely mediates the association between participation and network size online and offline, and (4) online networks entail greater exposure to weak ties than offline networks.
S duality at the black hole threshold in gravitational collapse.

We study gravitational collapse of the axion/dilaton field in classical low energy string theory, at the threshold for black hole formation. A new critical solution is derived that is spherically symmetric and continuously self-similar. The universal scaling and echoing behavior discovered by Choptuik in gravitational collapse appear in a somewhat different form. In particular, echoing takes the form of SL(2, R) rotations (cf. S-duality). The collapse leaves behind an outgoing pulse of axion/dilaton radiation, with nearly but not exactly flat spacetime within it.