Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Congenital Heart Disease on Renal Function in Childhood

Background: Nephropathy is a well-known complication of congenital heart disease (CHD), and the risk of developing renal impairment is particularly high in patients with cyanotic CHD. Most investigations of renal impairment in CHD have involved patients 20 years and older. This study investigated renal tubule function in pediatric patients with CHD, and compared findings in cyanotic and acyanotic groups. Methods: Twenty children with acyanotic CHD, 23 children with cyanotic CHD, and 13 healthy children were enrolled. Blood and early morning urine samples were collected from each subject to measure urinary concentrations of sodium, microalbumin, creatinine, β2-microglobulin, and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG). Results: The age and sex distributions in the three groups were similar. Median fractional excretion of sodium (FeNa) and urinary NAG/creatinine were significantly higher in the cyanotic group than in the control group (p = 0.022 and p = 0.002, respectively). There were no statistically significant differences among the groups with respect to urinary β2-microglobulin/creatinine, urinary microalbumin/creatinine or glomerular filtration rate. Conclusion: Tubular injury can be detected before glomerular injury occurs even within the first decade of life in patients with cyanotic CHD.
On Choosing Games And What Counts as a “Good” Game

This chapter will discuss the growing importance of applying considered rationales to which games are chosen for study, whether it be for ethnography, classroom use, or anything else. A brief overview of how games are currently bring chosen for study is presented through a meta analysis of studies with games that were published between 2003 and 2006 in order to demonstrate that most published games studies do not include a supported rationale for the games chosen. The chapter will then present various ways that game choices can be justified, and propose and explain a data fusion technique that can be applied to game reviews and other lists in order to facilitate representative and defensible game choices. Handbook of Research on Effective Electronic Gaming in Education Choosing Games for Study 2 On Choosing Games And What Counts as a “Good” Game
Shyness 5: The Clinical Effectiveness of Internet-Based Clinician-Assisted Treatment of Social Phobia

Objective: The present study explores the clinical effectiveness of an Internet-based cognitive behavioural treatment program for social phobia (the Shyness program) administered by a psychiatric registrar as part of standard clinical treatment at an outpatient mental health service (the Anxiety Disorders Clinic, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney). Method: Seventeen individuals with social phobia were assigned to this 8 week clinician-assisted program. All patients had access to online lessons, homework assignments, an online discussion forum with other patients, and regular emails from the clinician. Both completer and intention-to-treat models were used in data analyses. Results: Fourteen (82%) patients completed all six lessons within the 8 weeks, and 11/17 (65%) completed post-treatment questionnaires. Mean within-group effect sizes (Cohen's d) for the two social phobia measures were 1.06 and 0.77, based on completer and intention-to-treat analyses, respectively. Data indicate that the procedure was acceptable to patients. Conclusions: These results indicate that the procedure was clinically effective when operated as part of standard clinical treatment. These results provide further support for the potential clinical utility of the Shyness program.
Heterogeneous Mortgage Markets: Implications for Business Cycles and Welfare in the EMU

Abstract This paper evaluates business cycle effects of asymmetric cross-country mortgage market developments in a monetary union. By employing a two-country New Keynesian DSGE model with collateral constraints tied to housing values, we show that a change in institutional characteristics of mortgage markets, such as the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio, is an important driver of asymmetric developments in housing markets and economic activity. Our analysis suggests that the home country where credit standards are lax booms, while the rest of European Monetary Union faces a negative output gap. Overall welfare is lower if LTV ratios are higher.
Involvement as Moderator of the Relationship between Service Quality and Behavioural Outcomes of Hospital Consumers

Service quality has received a great deal of attention in the marketing literature. Despite extensive academic research on the role of service quality as predictor of consumers' behavioural outcomes (satisfaction, re-patronage intention, and positive word-of-mouth) service marketers know very little about the moderating role of involvement on their relationship in the hospital services context. The authors bring together relevant literature in this area and propose a cognitive framework for effectively managing service quality delivery to hospital consumers. Using data from 427 hospital consumers from four multi-speciality hospitals with varying bed sizes in Chennai metropolitan city in TamilNadu, India, the authors examined the proposed hypotheses. The results indicate that involvement acts equally as a moderator as well as a predictor.
Topographic Anatomy of the Superior Labial Artery for Dermal Filler Injection

Background: The superior labial artery, which is a branch of the facial artery, supplies the upper lip area. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution pattern of the superior labial artery and provide precise topographic information of the artery for dermal filler injection. Methods: Sixty hemifaces from 18 Korean and 18 Thai cadavers were used for this study. The various distribution patterns of the superior labial artery were classified according to its relationship with the facial artery. Results: The course of the superior labial artery was classified into four types: type I (56.7 percent), in which the artery and the alar branch both arise directly and independently from the facial artery; type II (21.7 percent), in which the superior labial artery branches off from the facial artery and then gives off an alar branch; type III (15.0 percent), in which it is the terminal branch of the facial artery; and type IV (6.7 percent), in which the artery is absent. The origin of the superior labial artery was located 12.1 ± 3.1 mm (mean ± SD) lateral and at a variable angle of 42.8 ± 26.9 degrees relative to the mouth corner. Conclusions: The superior labial artery proceeded from the origin of the artery located within a 1.5-cm-side square superolateral to the mouth corner as running along the vermilion border of the upper lip to the facial sagittal midline at a depth of 3 mm. Thus, clinicians should be careful when injecting dermal filler into this area.
Epidemiology of uveitis in a referral hospital in Turkey.

AIM To investigate the causes and clinical characteristics of uveitis in patients presenting to a specialized eye hospital in Turkey. MATERIALS AND METHODS The clinical records of 1028 uveitis patients admitted between 1990 and 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. Age at first presentation, sex, laterality, etiology, associated systemic disease, clinical presentation, and course of the disease were noted. RESULTS The mean age at presentation was 36.23 ± 14.9 years. Males constituted 58.2% of patients. Anatomically, anterior uveitis (42%) was most common, followed by posterior uveitis (24.9%), panuveitis (24.7%), and intermediate uveitis (8.4%). The course of the disease was mostly chronic (65.7%). The cases were idiopathic at 25.7% and Behçet's disease (BD) was the most common cause of uveitis (32.2%), followed by ocular toxoplasmosis (7.2%) and herpetic uveitis (6.8%). CONCLUSION Uveitis tends to affect patients between 20 and 40 years old. BD is the most common cause, leading to male predominance and a higher frequency of a chronic course.
New Methods in Cardiovascular Biology Multiplex Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Spectroscopy Images Intact Atheromatous Lesions and Concomitantly Identifies Distinct Chemical Profiles of Atherosclerotic Lipids

Rationale: Lipids are a key component of atherogenesis. However, their physiological role on the progression of atherosclerosis including plaque vulnerability has not been clearly understood, because of the lack of appropriate tools for chemical assessment. Objective: We aimed to develop a label-free chemical imaging platform based on multiplex coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) for the correlative study of the morphology and chemical profile of atherosclerotic lipids. Methods and Results: Whole aortas from atherosclerotic apolipoprotein E knock-out mice were en face examined by multiplex CARS imaging and 4 distinctive morphologies of the lipids (intra/extracellular lipid droplets and needle-/plate-shaped lipid crystals) were classified. The chemical profiles of atherosclerotic lipids depending on morphologies were firstly identified from intact atheromatous tissue by multiplex CARS. We demonstrated that needle-/plate-shaped lipid crystals in advanced plaques had undergone a phase shift to the solid state with increased protein contents, implying that lipid modification had occurred beforehand. The validity of lipid-selective multiplex CARS imaging was supported by comparative results from oil red O staining and whole-mount immunohistochemistry. By spatial CARS analysis of atherosclerosis progression, we found greater accumulation of lipid crystals in both the lesser curvature of the aortic arch and the innominate artery. Furthermore, multiplex CARS measurement successfully demonstrated the effect of a drug, statin, on atherosclerotic lipids by showing the change of their chemical profiles. Conclusions: Multiplex CARS imaging directly provides intact morphologies of atherosclerotic lipids with correlative chemical information, thereby suggesting its potential applications in the investigation of lipidassociated disorders and the preclinical drug screening. (Circ Res. 2010;106:1332-1341.)
Influence of a new hydroxyethylstarch preparation (HES 130/0.4) on coagulation in cardiac surgical patients.

OBJECTIVE To compare volume therapy with HES 130/0.4, a new hydroxyethylstarch (HES) solution with a gelatin-based fluid replacement strategy. DESIGN Prospective, randomized, safety study. SETTING Urban, university-affiliated hospital (single institution). PARTICIPANTS Forty-two patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery. INTERVENTIONS Patients were prospectively randomized into 2 groups: In group 1 (n = 21), gelatin was given perioperatively for volume support until the 1st postoperative day to keep the central venous pressure (CVP) between 10 and 14 mmHg; in group 2 (n = 21) HES 130/0.4 was administered using the same protocol as in group 1. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Standard coagulation variables and modified thromboelastography (TEG) were used. Using different activators for extrinsic and intrinsic activation and heparin inactivation by heparinase, the onset of coagulation (coagulation time), kinetics of clot formation (clot formation time), and maximum clot firmness were measured. Measurements were performed after induction of anesthesia (T0), at the end of surgery (T1), 4 hours after surgery (T2), and on the morning of the 1st postoperative day (T3). A total of 3310 +/- 810 mL of gelatin and 3070 +/- 570 mL of HES 130/0.4 were used in the 2 groups during the study period. The 2 groups did not differ with regard to postoperative bleeding or in use of packed red blood cells or fresh frozen plasma. Standard coagulation variables were similar between the 2 groups. All TEG variables were within the normal range at baseline. Coagulation time and clot formation time data were significantly elevated after surgery and in the intensive care unit, without showing specific differences between the 2 volume replacement groups. Intrinsic TEG and heparinase TEG clot formation times remained significantly higher until the end of the study period. No differences were seen between HES-treated and gelatin-treated patients. CONCLUSIONS Volume replacement with the new HES preparation was as safe as gelatin-based volume replacement with regard to coagulation in cardiac surgical patients. HES 130/0.4 is an alternative plasma substitute to treat volume deficits.
MM/FE CAD and Optimization of Rectangular Combline Filters

A rigorous and fast hybrid mode-matching (MM)/finite-element (FE) technique is presented for the CAD and optimization of coax-fed rectangular combline filters. The novelty of the formulation consists in the very efficient EM based modeling of these filter types including immediately three common coax feed forms (direct post, disc or probe coupling). The attractive feature of the hybrid approach is the combination of the computational speed of the MM technique with the flexibility of the FE method. This achieves the direct optimization of combline filters within typically an overnight run on a PC. Design examples for a variety of combline filters demonstrate the flexibility of the CAD method, experimental results show its validity for practical applications.
In vitro Characterization of Oritavancin Clearance from Human Blood by Low-Flux, High-Flux, and Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy Dialyzers

Background Oritavancin is an investigational lipoglycopeptide antibiotic under clinical development for the treatment of gram-positive bacterial infections. The impact of hemodialysis on plasma concentrations of oritavancin is unknown and may be important in making dosage adjustments in such patients. The present study sought to determine the clearance of oritavancin from human blood by various commercially available dialyzers in an in vitro hemodialysis model. Methods Three types each of low-flux (Dicea 130, F6, and Polyflux 14L) and high-flux (Revaclear, Exeltra 150, and Optiflux F160NR) dialyzers and one type of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) dialyzer (Prismaflex M100) were studied. Heparinized human blood containing oritavancin (200 mg/L) was circulated from a reservoir to the dialyzers and back to the reservoir. Fresh dialysate was pumped through the dialyzers in a countercurrent manner. Blood samples from each side of the dialyzers and contaminated dialysate samples were collected at periodic intervals. Oritavancin levels were analyzed by a liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry method with a limit of quantification of 12.5 ng/mL and plasma clearances of oritavancin were calculated. Results The mean dialytic clearance of oritavancin was insignificant for each of the low-flux, high-flux and CRRT dialyzers. Clinically significant amounts of oritavancin were not detected in dialysate during any of the experimental dialysis sessions. Conclusions The clearance of oritavancin from human blood by the dialyzers used in this study is insignificant. Further clinical studies would be required before making changes in dosage of oritavancin in hemodialysis patients.
Changes in global longitudinal strain during rest and exercise in patients treated with cardiac resynchronization therapy

Relatively few data have been reported on prospective changes in global longitudinal strain (GLS) following cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), and none are available on GLS during physical exercise. We investigated the effects of CRT on GLS, assessed by speckle tracking two‐dimensional (2D) echocardiography, at rest and during exercise after a mid‐term follow‐up. Twenty consecutive CRT patients (45% ischaemic) were assessed prospectively by speckle tracking 2D echocardiography before implant (at rest) and at mid‐term follow‐up (during rest and bicycle exercise). GLS, septum and lateral wall longitudinal strain, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and conventional functional variables were evaluated at baseline and follow‐up. All patients completed the study protocol at rest. Exercise images were available in 90% of the patients. At follow‐up, GLS improved at rest from −7·1 ± 2·6% to −9·1 ± 4·5% (P<0·01), with a further increase to −11 ± 5·1% during exercise (P<0·001). Longitudinal strain increased at rest both in the septum and in the lateral wall, with an additional increase during exercise in the lateral wall (P<0·05). GLS correlated with LVEF both at rest (r = −0·55 and r = −0·91 at baseline and 3 months, respectively; P<0·05) and during exercise (r = −0·89, P<0·05). Improvement in GLS during rest and exercise can be observed in CRT patients at mid‐term follow‐up and seems to correlate with changes in LVEF. GLS may be a valuable method to assess left ventricular function during rest and exercise.
An Improved Cloude-Pottier Decomposition Using H/α/SPAN and Complex Wishart Classifier for Polarimetric SAR Classification

An improvement is proposed for the Cloude-Pottier decomposition using H/α/SPAN and IHSL transform. Based on this decomposition, an unsupervised classification with SPAN is also given in this paper. The main advantages of this decomposition are that it uses SPAN to maintain the space information for further polarimetric analysis and provides a straight way to present the result. Our experiments show that this decomposition method provides better results than the general Cloude-Pottier method and the corresponding Wishart H/α/SPAN classification also achieves better performance than the current Wishart H/α/A method
Transformation of Phomopsis viticola with the green fluorescent protein

Phomopsis viticola is the causal agent of Phomopsis cane and leaf spot on Vitis spp. , a persistent and economically important disease in temperate regions. Here we describe the transformation of this fungus with two different constructs (pBHt2_sGFP and pIGPAPA) containing the green fluorescent protein (GFP) and the hygromycin B resistance gene (hph). Protoplast-mediated transformation yielded mitotically stable transformants with no change in virulence on grape internodes and leaves in comparison to the wild type. These transformants will be critical tools for elucidating fungal penetration of host plants, invasive growth and the nature of its host association.
Relationship Between Inflation and Inflation Uncertainty in Vietnam: Empirical Research and Policy Recommendations

The study investigates the causal relationship between inflation and inflation uncertainty in Vietnam over the period 1995-2010. Inflation uncertainty is modeled by both symmetric model (GARCH(1,1)) and asymmetric models (TARCH(1,1), PARCH(1,1), EGARCH(1,1)). Based on three information criteria including AIC, SC, and HQ as well as diagnostic tests, AR(13)-EGARCH(1,1) is considered the best model to estimate inflation uncertainty. Then Granger causality tests are employed to test the causality between inflation and inflation uncertainty. The results show the existence of an asymmetric impact of inﬂation shocks on inflation uncertainty with positive inflation shocks inducing higher inﬂation uncertainty and vice versa. Second, a rise in inflation significantly leads to more inflation uncertainty, which confirms the Friedman-Ball hypothesis. Third, increasing inflation uncertainty leads to more inflation, confirming the Cukierman-Meltzer hypothesis.
Physiologic hypoalbuminemia is well tolerated by severely burned children.

BACKGROUND Physiologic hypoalbuminemia, defined as a plasma albumin (pl-ALB) of 1.0 to 2.5 g/dL, is a component of the injury response. A consensus on the need for albumin supplementation in this setting is lacking. METHODS We examined 27 consecutive children (age, 7 +/- 6 years) with > 40% body surface burns (mean, 59 +/- 18%) during their initial 4 weeks of care. Patients were managed with an albumin-supplementation protocol that tolerated profound physiologic hypoalbuminemia. Intravenous albumin was administered by infusion of 1 to 2 g/kg/d when pl-ALB fell below 1.0 g/dL, or below 1.5 g/dL in the presence of enteral feeding intolerance or pulmonary dysfunction. Supplementation was stopped when pl-ALB reached 2.0 g/dL. RESULTS Mean pl-ALB was 1.7 g/dL overall. Infusion for pl-ALB < 1.0 g/dL was needed for 70% (n = 19) of the patients. Profound physiologic hypoalbuminemia was constant, that is, mean weekly pl-ALB never exceed 2.5 g/dL in any patient. Mean plasma globulin rose during the 4 week period from 2.3 +/- 0.1 at week 1 to 3.1 +/- 0.1 at week 4. Diarrhea was negligible (19 of 756 patient days), nasogastric feedings were well tolerated, PaO2/FiO2 ratios remained well above 150, wounds healed satisfactorily, and all children survived and have been discharged home. CONCLUSIONS Profound physiologic hypoalbuminemia (pl-ALB of 1.0-2.5 g/dL) does not have adverse effects on pulmonary or gut function, wound healing, or outcome in severely burned children, perhaps because of a compensatory increase in acute-phase proteins reflected in plasma globulin.
Organization of the spinocervicothalamic pathway in the rat

We used silver degeneration techniques to examine the termination of the spinocervical and cervicothalamic tracts in rats. Lesions of the dorsal portion of the lateral funiculus (DLF) of the spinal cord produced degeneration of a relatively small number of ascending fibers that were seen within the most lateral portion of the DLF rostral to the lesion. Within the lateral cervical nucleus, the degeneration was more extensive mediolaterally and of a finer caliber. Such labeling is attributable to the degeneration of fine fibers and terminals. Degenerating processes could be seen in apposition to neurons in the lateral cervical nucleus. At all levels of the cord, the lateral spinal nucleus was devoid of terminal labeling following lesions of the DLF. No terminal degeneration could be seen within the DLF at levels rostral to the lateral cervical nucleus. Lesions of the DLF at either midcervical or lower thoracic levels produced degeneration throughout the lateral cervical nucleus. This finding suggests that the lateral cervical nucleus of the rat is not somatotopically organized.
A novel approach in multi-port DC/DC converter control

DC networks and storage systems are able to guarantee high reliability and continuity of supply to DC loads. They are also easily connectable to the majority of renewable sources, such as PV plants, due to the fact that they already work in DC. In this paper a multi-port DC/DC converter topology and a new control strategy are proposed. Following definition of each port's aim, the management algorithm (based on voltage droops) permits control of the power flow among ports, even if some of them are not working.