Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Daily disposed hydrogel lenses--a comparison with biweekly replacement.

BACKGROUND Hydrogel lenses worn daily and disposed of daily represent an extreme of the spectrum of prescribing that has not been extensively investigated. This study was undertaken to ascertain whether hydrogel lenses worn on a daily replacement schedule displayed differences in patient comfort, vision, and physiological response and as compared to lenses replaced biweekly. METHODS Hydrogel lens wearing schedules were devised to allow the patient to, in a masked fashion, directly compare the characteristics of a 1-day-old hydrogel lens to that of one 2 weeks old. Eighteen qualifying subjects wore Bausch & Lomb Seequence 2 lenses in this investigation. RESULTS There was neither a significant difference in visual acuity, lens condition, and corneal or bulbar conjunctival fluorescein staining, nor a significant difference in subjective ratings of wearing comfort and clarity of vision between the 1-day and biweekly worn lenses. CONCLUSIONS No apparent advantage was found in replacing the evaluated hydrogel lenses on a daily vs. biweekly schedule when considering vision, comfort, and physiological response of the eye.
Genome‐wide array‐based comparative genomic hybridization of natural killer cell lymphoma/leukemia: Different genomic alteration patterns of aggressive NK‐cell leukemia and extranodal Nk/T‐cell lymphoma, nasal type

Natural killer (NK) cell lymphomas/leukemias are highly aggressive lymphoid malignancies, but little is known about their genomic alterations, and thus there is an urgent need for identification and analysis of NK cell lymphomas/leukemias. Recently, we developed our own array‐based comparative genomic hybridization (array CGH) with an average resolution of 1.3 Mb. We performed an array CGH analysis for 27 NK‐cell lymphoma/leukemia cases that were classified into two disease groups based on the World Health Organization Classification (10 aggressive NK‐cell leukemia cases and 17 extranodal NK/T‐cell [NK/T] lymphomas, nasal type). We identified the differences in the genomic alteration patterns of the two groups. The recurrent regions characteristic of the aggressive NK‐cell leukemia group compared with those of the extranodal NK/T lymphoma, nasal‐type group, were gain of 1q and loss of 7p15.1‐p22.3 and 17p13.1. In particular, gain of 1q23.1‐24.2 (P = 0.041) and 1q31.3‐q44 (P = 0.003–0.047), and loss of 7p15.1‐p22.3 (P = 0.012–0.041) and 17p13.1 (P = 0.012) occurred significantly more frequently in the former than in the latter group. Recurrent regions characteristic of the extranodal NK/T lymphoma, nasal‐type group, compared with those of the other group were gain of 2q, and loss of 6q16.1‐q27, 11q22.3‐q23.3, 5p14.1‐p14.3, 5q34‐q35.3, 1p36.23‐p36.33, 2p16.1‐p16.3, 4q12, and 4q31.3‐q32.1. Our results can be expected to provide further insights into the genetic basis of lymphomagenesis and the clinicopathologic features of NK‐cell lymphomas/leukemias. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Sheep as a Large Animal Model for Middle and Inner Ear Implantable Hearing Devices: A Feasibility Study in Cadavers

Objective Currently, no large animal model exists for surgical-experimental exploratory analysis of implantable hearing devices. In a histomorphometric study, we sought to investigate whether sheep or pig cochleae are suitable for this purpose and whether device implantation is feasible. Methods Skulls of pig and sheep cadavers were examined using high-resolution 128-slice computed tomography (CT) to study anatomic relationships. A cochlear implant and an active middle ear implant could be successfully implanted into the sheep’s inner and middle ear, respectively. Correct device placement was verified by CT and histology. The cochlear anatomy of the sheep was further studied by micro-CT and histology. Results Our investigations indicate that the sheep is a suitable animal model for implantation of implantable hearing devices. The implantation of the devices was successfully performed by access through a mastoidectomy. The histologic, morphologic, and micro-CT study of the sheep cochlea showed that it is highly similar to the human cochlea. The temporal bone of the pig was not suitable for these microsurgical procedures because the middle and inner ear were not accessible owing to distinct soft and fatty tissue coverage of the mastoid. Conclusion The sheep is an appropriate large animal model for experimental studies with implantable hearing devices, whereas the pig is not.
To Change or Reform Capitalism

As I write this review essay in late December 2012, the prospects for reversing – or even slowing the pace of – capitalism’s ecological degradation are bleak. The much-heralded flagship for carbon pricing, the European Union’s carbon scheme, is teetering on the brink of collapse. Without action by national governments and the European Parliament, the huge surplus of emission allowances will mean the price on carbon will be so low that it will not encourage investment decisions in “greener” energy solutions. Nearly three years on from the worst oil spill in history, BP has agreed to plead guilty to criminal charges and pay billions in economic and property damage claims although the company’s liabilities for medical and other civil claims as well as claims for damages to natural resources under the Clean Water Act remain unresolved. The United States faces automatic spending cuts to hundreds of government programs, all with environmental impacts, to reduce a budget deficit of over $1 trillion. This fiscal cliff, arising from the Budget Control Act of 2011, may be averted if Congress reaches a compromise by 31 December. Nevertheless, the situation is a salutary reminder of the ecological being subordinate to the economic decision making by nation-states. There is also the agreement of the United Nation’s (UN) 18th conference on climate change to continue the Kyoto Protocol until 2020 which will not contain global warming at two degrees Celsius given the record level of greenhouse gas emissions in 2012 and the warning of the UN’s Environment Program of the widening gap between government commitments to cut emissions and the scientific evidence of necessary cuts (UNEP 2012).
A graphical method to simplify the application of the linear-quadratic dose-effect equation to fractionated radiotherapy.

The linear-quadratic (LQ) dose-effect equation has been shown to be capable of providing a number of new insights into clinical radiotherapy. However, even in the most straightforward application of the formalism, i.e. to fractionated radiotherapy, the level of mathematics required to solve the associated equations could be a significant barrier to the wider application of the LQ method. In this paper it is shown that a wide range of problems arising in fractionated radiotherapy are capable of being analysed with the aid of one basic graph. It is further demonstrated that the extrapolated response dose, which forms the conceptual fulcrum of the LQ method is an additive quantity, and that the analysis of treatments involving several component parts can be simplified by using this property. The main features of these simplifications are demonstrated using some representative worked examples.
Finite element analysis for lossy optical waveguides by using perturbation techniques

A finite element analysis, based on the variational procedure, is used to find the modal loss or gain for both the TE and TM modes with the application of the perturbation technique. Results for the modal gain for the buried heterostructure diode laser are presented, as well as the loss estimation for both the TE and TM modes for the asymmetrical multilayer metal-clad planar optical waveguides. The results obtained agree very well, for a wide range of loss/gain values, with the previously published work using alternative approaches. <<ETX>>
ADP Ribosylation Factor 6 (Arf6) Acts through FilGAP Protein to Down-regulate Rac Protein and Regulates Plasma Membrane Blebbing*

Background: FilGAP is a Rac GTPase-activating protein, but how it is regulated remains unclear. Results: GTPase Arf6 binds to FilGAP and stimulates its RacGAP activity to induce plasma membrane blebbing. Conclusion: GTPase Arf6 is a novel physiological regulator of FilGAP. Significance: This study establishes a novel molecular link between Arf6 and FilGAP that may have a role in Arf6-dependent inactivation of Rac. The small GTP-binding protein Arf6 reorganizes the actin cytoskeleton through the regulation of Rac activity. We identified FilGAP, a Rac-specific Rho GTPase-activating protein that is recruited to plasma membranes by binding to activated Arf6. FilGAP binds to Arf6 through its pleckstrin homology domain. Activated Arf6 stimulated RacGAP activity of FilGAP, and knockdown of endogenous Arf6 by siRNA suppresses FilGAP-mediated bleb formation. Mutant FilGAP lacking phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PIP3) binding (FilGAP R39C) binds to activated Arf6 and induces bleb formation. Moreover, bleb formation induced by wild-type FilGAP occurs in the presence of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors, suggesting a PIP3-independent interaction between FilGAP and Arf6. We propose that FilGAP may function as a mediator of the regulation of Rac by Arf6.
Postinjury treatment with magnesium chloride attenuates cortical damage after traumatic brain injury in rats.

The neuroprotective effect of magnesium chloride (MgCl2), a compound previously demonstrated to improve behavioral and neurochemical outcome in several models of experimental brain injury, was evaluated in the present study. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized and subjected to lateral fluid-percussion brain injury of moderate severity (2.5-2.8 atm). A cannula was implanted in the left femoral vein and at 1 h following injury, animals randomly received a 15 min i.v. infusion of either MgCl2 (125 micromol/rat) or saline. A second group of animals received anesthesia, surgery, and either MgCl2 or vehicle to serve as uninjured (sham) controls. Two weeks following brain injury, animals were sacrificed, brains removed, and coronal sections were taken for quantitative analysis of cortical lesion volume and hippocampal CA3 cell counts. Traumatic brain injury resulted in a lesion in the ipsilateral cortex and loss of pyramidal neurons in the CA3 region of the hippocampus in vehicle-treated animals (p < 0.01 vs. uninjured animals). Administration of MgCl2 significantly reduced the injury-induced damage in the cortex (p < 0.01) but did not alter posttraumatic cell loss in the CA3 region of the ipsilateral hippocampus. The present study demonstrates that, in addition to its beneficial effects on behavioral outcome, MgCl2 treatment attenuates cortical histological damage when administered following traumatic brain injury.
"Democracy's colleges" under pressure: Examining the effects of neoliberal public policy on regional comprehensive universities

Four million undergraduate students enroll in regional comprehensive universities each year. Numbering close to 420, these universities have been called “democracy’s colleges” in recognition of their role in facilitating educational opportunity through requiring low barriers for admission, emphasizing teaching as opposed to research, and engaging in the civic and economic life of their regions. These activities have given rise to the three elements of their public purpose; specifically, they are often student-centered, regionally engaged and open access. Despite the important function regional comprehensive universities serve, they are facing unprecedented challenges created by a neoliberal public policy context that narrows their purpose to their role in improving the market. Within a neoliberal public policy context, these universities are facing rising expectations, demands for greater private sector engagement, cuts to public funding and the introduction of performance based funding. This dissertation is a qualitative case study of the institutional responses of four regional comprehensive universities in a single state to challenges created by a neoliberal state public policy context. University stakeholders including senior administrators, staff, faculty and community leaders of the four universities were interviewed. Also interviewed were national policy and education experts and senior policymakers from the state under study. Findings show that a neoliberal public policy context coupled with declining student enrollments have forced the four universities into a series of Faustian bargains about which elements of their public purpose they can afford to maintain and which they must allow to be eroded. Specifically, the universities are eschewing access missions and becoming more selective in order to enroll students who will be more likely to graduate and improve the university’s standing in performance based funding allocations. Some are also curtailing regional civic engagement efforts in favor of economic development. Findings also show that universities whose organizational identities embody their public purpose are better positioned to preserve elements of their purpose within a neoliberal public policy context. Finally, two of the universities were found to be striving to create alternative models of legitimacy focused on embodying their public purpose. Implications for public policy, educational opportunity and regional public life are described. Degree Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Graduate Group Education First Advisor Matthew Hartley This dissertation is available at ScholarlyCommons: http://repository.upenn. edu/edissertations/1925
Air Pollution and Hospital Emergency Room Admissions for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Valencia, Spain

Abstract The short-term relationship between levels of air pollution and emergency room admissions for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was assessed in Valencia, Spain. The design was an ecological time-series study in which daily variation in air pollution was related to emergency chronic obstructive pulmonary disease visits to one of the city's hospitals. The pollutants under investigation were Black Smoke, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and ozone. The degree of association was analyzed with Poisson autoregressive regression, for which trend, seasonal patterns, temperature, humidity, days of the week, and incidence of influenza were controlled. Increases of 10 μg/m3 in ozone levels (lag 5) and of 1 mg/m3 in carbon monoxide (lag 1) were associated with increases of 6.1 % (95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.2%, 10.1%) and of 3.9% (95% CI = 1.4%, 6.6%), respectively, in the expected chronic obstructive pulmonary disease cases. There was no significant association for the remainder of the pollutants. The described effects persisted even when the authors used models of differing specifications and when generalized additive models were used. The authors concluded that the results of this investigation, together with results of earlier research, demonstrate the significant effect of pollution on various health indicators within Valencia.
Unravelling the pathogenesis of fatty liver disease: patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing 3 protein

Purpose of review Hepatic steatosis is a leading cause of adult and paediatric liver disease and is inextricably linked to obesity, insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease. Here we summarize our current understanding of the role of the patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing 3 gene (PNPLA3) in hepatic steatosis. Recent findings Multiple studies have revealed an association between the common I148M variant in PNPLA3 and increased hepatic fat. In the presence of obesity and chronic alcohol intake, the variant is associated with even more striking phenotypes such as hepatitis and cirrhosis, respectively. These findings suggest that genetic variants in PNPLA3 predispose towards hepatic steatosis and, in the context of other environmental stressors, its progression to irreversible liver failure. PNPLA3 is predominantly expressed in human liver and adipose tissue, possesses both lipolytic and lipogenic activity in vitro and localizes to the surface of lipid droplets in heptocytes. The 148M mutant protein has reduced lipolytic activity, with attendant increased cellular triglyceride accumulation. However, the precise physiological role of PNPLA3 remains mysterious. Summary Recent studies have implicated PNPLA3 in the pathogenesis of hepatic steatosis. Attempts to describe its function in vivo may provide us with both an opportunity to understand and a strategy to overcome this leading cause of human morbidity.
5 ENVISION : A 0 . 26-to-10 TOPS / W Subword-Parallel Dynamic-Voltage-Accuracy-Frequency-Scalable Convolutional Neural Network Processor in 28 nm FDSOI

ConvNets, or Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN), are state-of-the-art classification algorithms, achieving near-human performance in visual recognition [1]. New trends such as augmented reality demand always-on visual processing in wearable devices. Yet, advanced ConvNets achieving high recognition rates are too expensive in terms of energy as they require substantial data movement and billions of convolution computations. Today, state-of-the-art mobile GPU’s and ConvNet accelerator ASICs [2][3] only demonstrate energy-efficiencies of 10’s to several 100’s GOPS/W, which is one order of magnitude below requirements for always-on applications. This paper introduces the concept of hierarchical recognition processing, combined with the Envision platform: an energy-scalable ConvNet processor achieving efficiencies up to 10TOPS/W, while maintaining recognition rate and throughput. Envision hereby enables always-on visual recognition in wearable devices.
Functional MR imaging: comparison of BOLD signal intensity changes in fetal organs with fetal and maternal oxyhemoglobin saturation during hypoxia in sheep.

PURPOSE To compare relative changes in blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal intensity in the fetal brain, liver, heart, lungs, and cotyledon with maternal and fetal blood oxygenation during maternal hypoxia in sheep. MATERIALS AND METHODS All experimental protocols were reviewed and approved by local authorities on animal protection. Six anesthetized ewes carrying singleton fetuses underwent magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with rapid single-shot echo-planar imaging BOLD sequence. BOLD imaging of the fetal brain, lungs, liver, heart, and cotyledon was performed during a control phase (ie, normoxia) and a hypoxic phase. Maternal oxyhemoglobin saturation was recorded continuously with pulse oximetry. Fetal blood samples were obtained with a carotid catheter at each phase. Regions of interest were placed in fetal organs. Normalized BOLD signal intensity was calculated with mean values of control and hypoxic plateaus. BOLD signal intensity was correlated with maternal oxyhemoglobin saturation and fetal oxyhemoglobin saturation; linear regression analysis was performed. RESULTS Control maternal and fetal oxyhemoglobin saturation values were 97% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 95%, 100%) and 62% (95% CI: 51%, 73%), respectively. During hypoxia, maternal and fetal oxyhemoglobin saturation values decreased to 75% (95% CI: 65%, 85%) and 23% (95% CI: 17%, 29%), respectively. Fetal BOLD signal intensity decreased to 81% (95% CI: 73%, 88%) in the cerebrum, 78% (95% CI: 67%, 89%) in the cerebellum, 83% (95% CI: 80%, 86%) in the lungs, 58% (95% CI: 33%, 84%) in the liver, 53% (95% CI: 43%, 64%) in the heart, and 71% (95% CI: 48%, 94%) in the cotyledon. Correlation of fetal BOLD signal intensity was stronger with fetal (r = 0.91) than with maternal (r = 0.68) oxyhemoglobin saturation; however, the difference was not significant. The highest slope values were obtained for the heart: 1.68% BOLD signal intensity increase per 1% maternal oxyhemoglobin saturation (95% CI: 1.58, 1.77) and 1.04% BOLD signal intensity increase per 1% fetal oxyhemoglobin saturation (95% CI: 0.94, 1.13). CONCLUSION BOLD MR imaging can be used to measure changes of oxyhemoglobin saturation in fetal organs during hypoxia. The liver and heart demonstrated the greatest signal intensity decreases during hypoxia.
Genetic association of LOXL1 gene variants and exfoliation glaucoma in a Utah cohort

Exfoliation glaucoma (XFG) is the commonest identifiable cause of secondary open-angle glaucoma worldwide, characterized by the deposition of fibrillar proteins in the anterior segment of the eye. We investigated LOXL1 gene variants previously identified to confer susceptibility to exfoliation glaucoma (XFG) in a Utah Caucasian cohort. After a standard eye examination protocol we genotyped SNPs rs2165241 and rs3825942 in 62 XFG or XFS patients and 170 normal controls. Genotype frequency distribution, odds ratios (ORs), and population attributable risks were calculated for the risk alleles. The SNP rs2165241 was significantly associated with XFG and XFS (p=4.13x10-9 for an additive model, ORhet=4.42 (2.30-8.50), ORhom=34.19 (4.48-261.00); T allele: 83.1% in cases versus 52.4% in controls). Significant association was also found for rs3825942: (p=1.89x10-6). Our findings confirm genetic association of LOXL1 with XFG and XFS and implicate a potential role of cross linking of elastin in the pathogenesis of XFG. This information will potentially guide glaucoma monitoring efforts by targeting individuals whose genetic profiles put them at higher risk for XFG.
Associations between dry dietary factors and canine calcium oxalate uroliths.

OBJECTIVE To identify factors in dry diets associated with the occurrence of calcium oxalate (CaOx) uroliths in dogs. ANIMALS 600 dogs with CaOx uroliths and 898 dogs without urinary tract diseases. PROCEDURE Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were performed. RESULTS Compared with diets with the highest concentrations of sodium, dry diets with the lowest concentrations of sodium, phosphorus, calcium, chloride, protein, magnesium, or potassium were linearly associated with increased risk of CaOx urolith formation. Significant nonlinear associations between increased occurrence of CaOx uroliths and urine acidifying potential and low moisture content were observed. Significant nonlinear associations between decreased occurrence of CaOx uroliths and carbohydrate and fiber contents were observed. A significant association between the occurrence of CaOx uroliths and dietary fat was not observed. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggest that dry diets formulated to contain high concentrations of protein, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, and chloride may minimize formation of CaOx uroliths. In addition, comparison of risk and protective factors of various diet ingredients fed to dogs with CaOx uroliths suggests that although similar findings were observed in canned and dry formulations, in general, greater risk is associated with dry formulations. However, before these hypotheses about dietary modifications are adopted by food manufacturers, they must be investigated by use of appropriately designed clinical studies of dogs with CaOx urolithiasis.