Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pseudoexfoliation in southern India: the Andhra Pradesh Eye Disease Study.

PURPOSE To report the prevalence of pseudoexfoliation (PXF) and its associations with ocular diseases in a south Indian population. METHODS This was a population-based, cross-sectional epidemiologic study in the south Indian state of Andhra Pradesh (AP). A total of 10,293 subjects of all ages from one urban and three rural areas representative of the population of AP were interviewed and underwent a comprehensive ophthalmic evaluation. PXF was diagnosed on slit lamp biomicroscopy by the presence of white dandruff-like material in the pupillary margin, on the trabecular meshwork, and/or on the anterior lens capsule of one or both eyes. RESULTS The age-gender-area-adjusted overall prevalence of PXF was 0.69% (95% CI: 0.53-0.86). The prevalence of PXF increased with increasing age: 3.01% (95% CI: 2.45-3.80), in those 40 years of age or older, and 6.28% (95% CI: 4.80-7.76), in those 60 years of age or older. The prevalence of PXF was significantly higher among people whose occupation involved outdoor activities (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 2.14; 95% CI: 1.10-4.16). After adjustment for age, the prevalence of PXF was significantly higher in those with nuclear cataract (adjusted OR, 2.00; 95% CI: 1.13-3.54). PXF was significantly associated with blindness (adjusted OR, 2.19; 95% CI: 1.16-4.13). Fifteen (20.5%; 95% CI: 11.20-29.80) of those with PXF were blind, with age-adjusted relative risk (RR) = 4.25 (95% CI: 4.01-4.51). Unilateral blindness (41.2%; 95% CI: 29.81-52.39) and visual impairment (45.21%; 95% CI: 34.29-57.13) were also more common with PXF. Four subjects (5.5%; 95% CI: 0.27-10.2) of those with PXF had glaucoma. The prevalence of PXF in those with glaucoma was 4.2%; (95% CI: 0.17-8.23). In general linear models, the estimated mean +/- SE of IOP with glaucoma and PXF was 24.14 +/- 1.41 mm Hg and was 18.94 +/- 0.26 mm Hg with glaucoma in the absence of PXF; the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS The association of PXF with blindness and aging has public health implications for India. This is especially so considering the burden of cataract with aging and the association of PXF with cataract as well as complications of cataract surgery. The diagnosis of PXF may also be important in the management of glaucoma in this population.
Saddlepoint Approximations to the Moments of Multitype Age‐Dependent Branching Processes, with Applications

Summary This article proposes saddlepoint approximations to the expectation and variance–covariance function of multitype age‐dependent branching processes. The proposed approximations are found accurate, easy to implement, and much faster to compute than by simulating the process. Multiple applications are presented, including the analyses of clonal data on the generation of oligodendrocytes from their immediate progenitor cells, and on the proliferation of Hela cells. New estimators are also constructed to analyze clonal data. The proposed methods are finally used to approximate the distribution of the generation, which has recently found several applications in cell biology.
Con: bulbomembranous anastomotic urethroplasty for pelvic fracture urethral injuries

Current literature remains controversial regarding whether to treat patients sustaining pelvic fracture urethral injuries (PFUIs) with primary endoscopic realignment (PER) versus suprapubic tube (SPT) placement alone with elective bulbomembranous anastomotic urethroplasty (BMAU). Success rates for PER following PFUI are wide-ranging, depending on various authors’ definitions of what defines a successful outcome. At our institution, for SPT/BMAU patients, the mean time to definitive resolution of stenosis was dramatically shorter compared to PER cases. The vast majority of PER patients required multiple endoscopic urethral interventions and/or experienced various other adverse events which were rarely noted among the SPT/BMAU group. While PER does occasionally result in urethral patency without the need for further intervention, the risk of delay in definitive treatment and potential for adverse events has led to a preference for SPT and elective BMAU at our institution.
Comparison of the cyclic fatigue resistance of ProGlider, PathGlider and One G path-finding instruments

Background. The aim of the present study was to compare the cyclic fatigue resistance of novel nickel titanium rotary pathfinding instruments. Methods. Twenty instruments were selected for each file system. A simulated stainless steel root canal, with a 90° angle of curvature and a curvature radius of 3 mm, was used for cyclic fatigue test of the ProGlider (#16, progressive taper: 0.02‒ 0.085), PathGlider (#15, taper: .03), and One G (#14, taper: .03) instruments. Statistical analyses were performed with oneway ANOVA (P=0.05). Post hoc Tukey tests were used to determine any statistically significant differences between the groups. Results. The ProGlider instruments exhibited significantly more cyclic fatigue resistance than both PathGlider and One G instruments (P<0.001). One G instruments had significantly more resistance to fracture than PathGlider instruments (P<0.05). Conclusion. ProGlider instruments had better cyclic fatigue resistance than PathGlider and One G instruments.
"Uncentering" Teacher Beliefs: The Expressed Epistemologies of Secondary Science Teachers and How They Relate to Teacher Practice

This multi-university, three-year longitudinal study examined the relationship among seven secondary science teachers‘ personal, student and scientific epistemologies. Paying close attention to each participant‘s use of metaphor when speaking about his/her learning, students‘ learning and the products/processes of science, we were able to discern each participant‘s epistemological stance as indicating the acquisition metaphor of learning or the participation metaphor of learning or some combination of the two (pluralistic). We compared video recordings of each participant‘s classroom teaching practice to develop an understanding for how their epistemological stance might relate to that practice. Based on our results, we contradict the current paradigm that beliefs guide practice, by positing that practice might actually determine beliefs. Where teachers having more field experiences were more likely to talk about learning through doing (participation) and those whose practice emphasized knowledge transfer, adhered to the acquisition metaphor for student learning. If teacher practice influenced their beliefs, this has profound implications for the structure of teacher education programs.
Expression and functional role of urokinase‐type plasminogen activator receptor in normal and acute leukaemic cells

Urokinase‐type plasminogen activator receptor (UPA‐R‐CD87) is a GPI‐anchored membrane protein which promotes the generation of plasmin on the surface of many cell types, probably facilitating cellular extravasation and tissue invasion. A flow cytometric quantitative analysis of expression levels for UPA‐R was performed on fresh blast cells from patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML, n = 74), acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL, n = 24), and biphenotypic leukaemia (BAL, n = 3) using two CD87 monoclonal antibodies (McAbs) (3B10 and VIM5). Peripheral blood and bone marrow (BM) cells from 15 healthy adults served as controls. Using 3B10 McAb, UPA‐R was expressed (>99%) by blood monocytes, neutrophils, and BM myelomonocytic precursors in controls, whereas resting T and B lymphocytes, and CD34+ cells were UPA‐R negative. We also attempted to clarify whether UPA‐R has a role in mediating neutrophil functions. Oriented locomotion induced by different chemotaxins and lysozyme release by granules stimulated with fMLP or PMA were significantly decreased when UPA‐R was neutralized by CD87 McAb. In contrast, the anti‐UPA‐R McAb had no effect on superoxide anion generation of normal neutrophils. Blasts from AML showed a heterogenous pattern of expression for the UPA‐R McAbs, with reactivity strictly dependent on FAB subtype. The highest UPA‐R expression was seen in the M5 group: all patients tested (n = 20) showed strong positivity for the UPA‐R McAb whereas only 12% (3/24) of ALL patients were CD87 positive, and 2/3 of BAL patients showed a dim expression for CD87. The number of receptors expressed by blast cells in 6/74 (8.1%) AML patients was higher than those of normal samples; in addition, since co‐expression of UPA‐R and CD34 was not found in normal haemopoietic cells, it may be postulated that CD87 can be used alone (when overexpressed) or in combination with CD34 for the detection of minimal residual disease. Results also indicated that patients with UPA‐receptors >12 × 103 ABC/cell, irrespective of FAB subtype, had a greater tendency for cutaneous and tissue infiltration and a higher frequency of chromosome abnormalities, thus suggesting the concept that cellular UPA‐R content positively correlates with the invasive potential of AML cells. The combination of higher UPA‐R positivity, abnormalities of chromosome 11, and M5 FAB morphology may identify a peculiar subset of AML, characterized by a more aggressive clinical course.
Attitudes and Usage of MALL Among Saudi University EFL Students

Possessing distinctive features of mobility, portability, and connectivity, mobile technology has inevitably become an integrated part of everyday instructional practices and activities. Foreign language learning, especially English language, could gain substantial benefits from these advances in technology to enhance learning experiences and respond to learners’ various needs and interests. There is a far-reaching investment in mobile learning projects at many Saudi Arabian universities including King Abdul Aziz University and Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University. Moreover, the Ministry of Higher Education has a long-term plan known as “The Afaq Project” which is examining the current and future challenges for implementing online learning in all universities. Hence, the current study aims to examine students’ attitudes towards and their usage of smart phones when learning English as a foreign language. A questionnaire was designed and distributed among first year university students at the Northern Border University in Saudi Arabia. It included 25 items, each with varies in responses. A systematic sampling approach was adopted to choose the participants for this study.The duration of administering the questionnaire was from November 2017 to December 2017 and it was applied to 205 students.The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) program was used for data analysis of the questionnaire responses.The final data were used to test the hypothesis of the research using the Chi-Squared method applied to a frequency table.Results revealed that students have positive attitudes towards using mobiles phones and that they were very interested in learning English by using technology.
Entry Cost, the Tobin Tax, and Noise Trading in the Foreign Exchange Market

Two types of policy have been proposed to eliminate noise trading in the foreign exchange market: increasing the entry cost or imposing a `Tobin tax' type of transaction tax. In this paper, we endogenize entry decisions of both informed traders and noise traders and show that these policies may be ineffective in reducing exchange rate volatility. This is because these policies will discourage the entry of all traders, so they may not change the relative ratio of traders, or they may affect informed traders disproportionately more, which increases the relative ratio of noise traders and exchange rate volatility.
HOUSEHOLD ECONOMIC RESOURCES AS A DETERMINANT OF CHILDHOOD NUTRITION: POLICY RESPONSES FOR NEW ZEALAND

Improving the nutrition of children and reducing rates of childhood overweight and obesity have been high priorities for the New Zealand Government since 2000. The rates of childhood overweight and obesity vary by ethnic group and socio-economic status, and reducing inequalities in the burden of childhood overweight and obesity is an explicit aim of the Government. This paper aims to identify policy options that will have an impact on the economic drivers of childhood nutrition and obesity. A qualitative model of the economic determinants of childhood nutrition within a household setting is presented. The model identifies cost barriers to sufficient healthy food as a key factor in the foods purchased and consumed within a household. An analysis of New Zealand household economic and nutritional data then identifies policy options to improve childhood nutrition and reduce rates of overweight and obesity. These policy options focus on cost subsidies for non-discretionary household expenditure and reducing the price of food to increase access to nutritious foods, including fruit and vegetables.
Are yokozuna sacred?: Further evidence on match-rigging in sumo wrestling

This paper looks for statistical evidence of match-rigging by yokozuna (grand champions) in Japanese sumo, which previous studies have not yet examined. The results suggest that yokozuna, too, have been involved in match-rigging, suggesting that economic incentives play an important role in shaping human behavior in almost any institution.
miR‐204‐5p targeting SIRT1 regulates hepatocellular carcinoma progression

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of cancer, which presents rapid tumor growth, drug resistance, and metastasis. Recently, microRNAs are shown to be involved in the cell biological processes in HCC, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the cellular function and molecular mechanism of miR‐204‐5p in HCC. SIRT1 mRNA and miR‐204‐5p were examined by real‐time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. SIRT1 protein levels were measured by Western blotting. Cell proliferation assay was performed to confirm colony formation. Invasion assay was performed by transwell system. SPSS 15.0 for Windows was used for statistical analysis. SIRT1 was a potential oncogene in cancer, which was identified as a direct target of miR‐204‐5p. Overexpression of miR‐204‐5p in human HCC cell lines (BEL‐7405 and QGY‐7701) caused the suppression of cell survival ability, the increase of apoptosis, and drug sensitivity. SIRT1 was overexpressed in human HCC tissues and was negatively related to miR‐204‐5p levels. These results indicate that miR‐204‐5p and SIRT1 may play an important role in the development of HCC.
Optimizing the perceived value-in-use of integrated software solutions in a B2B context : a case study on the social domain of Dutch Local Governments

The concept of value-in-use implies that focal firms can only make value propositions and are creators of potential value. Rather, value-in-use is driven by the customer’s usage process and the resulting customer experience determines the value of that product and/or service (e.g. Vargo & Lusch, 2004; Sandstrom et al., 2008; Gronroos & Voima, 2013; Skalen et al., 2015). This research studies the value-in-use of software solutions within the social domain of Dutch municipalities. Following Service-Dominant Logic, a supplier firm should develop a thorough understanding of customer perceived value-in-use and find strategies to optimize it, in order to be superior to competitors. Based on an extensive literature review and a case study at a Dutch software supplier consisting of 17 interviews, six factors influential to value-in-use have been identified. Furthermore, a conceptual model has been derived from the six influential factors which also elucidates the different roles of supplier and customer in the value creation process. Finally, three different municipality types based on attitude towards the decentralization of 2015 and resulting coping strategy have been identified. Managers are recommended to use the provided insights of the different municipality types to develop more suitable value propositions and thereby enhance customer perceived value-in-use.
Influence of Al 2 O 3 , CaO / SiO 2 , and B 2 O 3 on Viscous Behavior of High Alumina and Medium Titania Blast Furnace Slag

The effect of Al2O3, CaO/SiO2, and B2O3 on the viscosity of high alumina and medium titania blast furnace slag was analyzed. An increase in CaO/SiO2 ratio from 1.14 to 1.44 resulted in higher slag viscosity and break point temperature. They also increased with increasing Al2O3 content but decreased with adding B2O3 and Al2O3 simultaneously at a fixed CaO/SiO2 ratio of 1.14, which suggested that the effect of B2O3 on viscosity and break point temperature is predominant compared to Al2O3. Apparent activation energies of CaO–SiO2–MgO–Al2O3–TiO2–B2O3 slag were found to be between 74 and 169 kJ/mol.
How do previous mental health, social support, and stressful life events contribute to postnatal depression in a representative sample of Australian women?

INTRODUCTION The purpose of this study was to examine the risk factors for postnatal depression (PND) using longitudinal data in a representative sample of Australian women. METHODS Mailed survey data collected from the youngest cohort of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health were analyzed. Of the women in this cohort, 2451 had a child in the 4 years preceding survey 4 in 2006, and those who reported being diagnosed or treated for PND at survey 4 (n = 252) were compared to those who had no report of PND at survey 4 (n = 2324) in order to identify risk factors for PND. RESULTS Women with a history of depression (from survey 2 in 2000 and from survey 3 in 2003) were more likely to report postnatal depression (odds ratio [OR] 2.10; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.39-3.18 and OR 2.15; 95% CI, 1.37-3.35, respectively). Contrary to previous research, demographic factors were not significantly related to PND. Women who rated their affectionate support and positive social interaction as being available some of the time were significantly more likely to experience PND (OR 2.37; 95% CI, 1.24-4.53) than those who rated this type of support as being available all of the time. DISCUSSION While previous mental health problems and a history of stressful life events were found to be significant risk factors for PND, the results of this study show that women with PND are also lacking some aspects of social support around the time of the birth of their children. Implications for treatment and policy are discussed.
Empirical Evidence on the Relationship between Mobile Termination Rates and Firms’ Profit

The comprehensive theoretical literature on mobile termination rates (MTRs) is inconclusive on how the level of MTRs affects overall consumer charges and firms’ profit. In a theoretical model, well suited for econometric implementation, we show that where consumers buy a bundle with included usage, as we now observe in the market, the level of MTRs has no impact on retail prices and firms’ profit. We use a panel data set from saturated European markets and find that an identical change in MTRs does not have a significant impact on firms’ profit.
A Novel Human Motion Tracking Approach Based on a Wireless Sensor Network

This paper proposes a human motion tracking approach for a daily life surveillance in a distributed wireless sensor network using ultrasonic range sensors. Because the human target often moves with high nonlinearity, the proposed approach applies the unscented Kalman filter (UKF) technique. A novel sensor node selection scheme at each time step considering both the tracking accuracy and the energy cost is presented. Experimental results in a real human motion tracking system show that the proposed approach can perform better tracking accuracy compared to the most recent human motion tracking scheme in the real testbed implementation.
Arab Dentists ’ Knowledge About Root Canal Treatment Outcome ( Survey Based Research ) *

The optimal outcome for root canal treatment consists of controlled reducing of inflammation, accompanied by healing through regeneration, although sometimes repair may follow instead. The evaluation process is further complicated by the lack of direct correlation between measures of the disease process and its clinical manifestation. Objectives This research aimed to assess the opinion of Arab Dentists regarding the predictable initial root canal treatment, expected long-term outcome and the importance of placing a coronal coverage after finishing root canal treatment. Materials and Methods: An eleven questions questionnaire was sent to the Arab dentists through Emails, Facebook accounts, and phone messages. Results: There were 21.2% of dentists who answered that the expected retention rate of teeth 5 to 10 years after endodontic treatment was in the range (61-70) %, whereas 19.3% responded that such retention rate was more than 90%. 62.8% of the dentists responded that the need for another treatment, like retreatment, endodontic surgery or tooth removal, was expected to occur within the first 3 years after root canal treatment if the first treatment has failed. 6.1% of dentists answered that placing coronal coverage after completion of root canal treatment in premolars and molars was not important for long-term tooth retention. 71.4% responded that root canal treatment was a predictable procedure with long-term tooth retention rate. Conclusion: It appears that most dentists participating in this survey consider root canal treatment to be a predictable procedure with long-term tooth retention rate. Keyword : Initial root canal treatment, opinion, root canal treatment success, root canal treatment outcome, survey, tooth retention -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Date of Submission: 22-12-2017 Date of acceptance: 09-01-2018 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------