Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Maternal outcome in eclampsia at Harare Maternity Hospital.

OBJECTIVES To study the presentation, management and determinants of maternal outcome in eclampsia at Harare Maternity Hospital (HMH) in order to design interventions for reduction of maternal mortality. DESIGN Cross sectional descriptive study. SETTING Harare Maternity Hospital, Harare, Zimbabwe. SUBJECTS All women with diagnosis of eclampsia treated at HMH during an 18 month period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The study variables included age, parity, booking status, gestational age, location at time of first seizure, number of fits, seizure to delivery interval, maternal complications and the clinical management. RESULTS There were 151 women with eclampsia from 25,425 deliveries in HMH (5.9 per 1,000 deliveries). The case fatality was 26.5%. The majority of fits (67.5%) occurred antepartum. The mothers who died were significantly older than the survivors, mean age 25.8 versus 22.3 (p = 0.007), and had a higher proportion of multiple seizures, 0.67 versus 0.39 (p = 0.009). In 38% of cases the first seizure occurred at home. The proportion of complications was higher among those who died. Deficiencies in clinical management were more common in the women who died, 39.5% versus 20.9% for survivors (OR 2.55; 95% CI 1.09 to 5.99) and they included delays in achieving delivery, inadequate clinical assessment and poor monitoring. CONCLUSION Eclampsia remains a significant cause of maternal mortality in HMH with a high case fatality rate. Advanced maternal age, antepartum onset of convulsions and multiple fits were associated with increased risk of maternal death. There were deficiencies in the clinical management of a high proportion of cases.
Per Aspera ad Astra: Through Complex Population Modeling to Predictive Theory

Population models in ecology are often not good at predictions, even if they are complex and seem to be realistic enough. The reason for this might be that Occam’s razor, which is key for minimal models exploring ideas and concepts, has been too uncritically adopted for more realistic models of systems. This can tie models too closely to certain situations, thereby preventing them from predicting the response to new conditions. We therefore advocate a new kind of parsimony to improve the application of Occam’s razor. This new parsimony balances two contrasting strategies for avoiding errors in modeling: avoiding inclusion of nonessential factors (false inclusions) and avoiding exclusion of sometimes-important factors (false exclusions). It involves a synthesis of traditional modeling and analysis, used to describe the essentials of mechanistic relationships, with elements that are included in a model because they have been reported to be or can arguably be assumed to be important under certain conditions. The resulting models should be able to reflect how the internal organization of populations change and thereby generate representations of the novel behavior necessary for complex predictions, including regime shifts.
Mesoscopic three-dimensional hard X-ray imaging of central and peripheral nervous system

Micro computed tomography (μCT), either by means of hard X rays from synchrotronradiation (SR) facilities, or from advanced laboratory sources, has been proven as a powerful method for the nondestructive three-dimensional visualization of biological specimens with isotropic micro- and even nanometer resolution. The established absorption-contrast modality of μCT has been sometimes associated with the need for contrast agents, whereas the more advanced phase-contrast modality has yielded superior results for biological specimens without staining. For around three decades, phase-contrast μCT has been considered between a hundred and a thousand times better than absorption-contrast μCT, based on the ratio of the imaginary and the real part of the complex refractive index that could be determined using the two modalities at desired photon energies. The results of the present study elucidate that for formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded nervous tissues, conventional μCT delivers a much better contrast than originally expected. Related measurements were performed at a SR facility using monochromatic X rays. The photon energies were not equal for absorption- and phase-contrast measurements, but selected to obtain optimized contrast within a reasonable period of time. The choice of the photon energy, which is much smaller for absorption-contrast μCT, explains that the contrast difference between phase- and absorption-contrast μCT, indicated by the contrast-to-noise ratio of anatomical regions in the respective datasets being about two times better for phase μCT, is much smaller than reported in literature. It should be highlighted that μCT in absorption- and phase contrast are complementary methods and a combination might give additional quantitative insights into the three-dimensional images. For example, one can register the data and build a joint histogram from the common volume to segment anatomical features indistinguishable using just one imaging modality. The main relevance of such results lies in the opportunity to employ laboratory-based μCT, which are much better accessible and cost-effective than μCT at SR facilities. This approach was benchmarked on peripheral nerve reconstruction. The threedimensional visualization of regenerating nerves inside collagen scaffolds was feasible and included the automatic extraction of anatomical features to quantify the regeneration. Indeed, the characteristic parameters, revealed from the conventional μCT data, were significantly different between regenerating and control nerves. The approach including specimen preparation, data acquisition, and analysis has been useful for the investigations of the anatomical alterations in medial temporal epilepsy and the time-critical diagnosis of vasculitis prior to the standard histology.
Open retropubic prostatectomy versus robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy: A comparison of length of sick leave

Objective. It remains uncertain whether the increased direct costs of robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) are outweighed by cost savings due to shorter postoperative hospital care and shorter sick leave. This study compared the length of sick leave after RALP with that after radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP). Material and methods. In a cohort study, information on length of sick leave was retrieved for 274 working men undergoing radical prostatectomy (127 RALP and 147 RRP). Data on confounders such as physical workload, average salary, body mass index and disease characteristics were collected from the medical records. Cox regression models were used to compare the treatment groups. Results. The median number of days with sick leave was 11 in the RALP group and 49 in the RRP group. After adjustment for confounders, patients in the RALP group were twice as likely to return to work at any time during follow-up (hazard ratio = 2.13, 95% confidence interval 1.62–2.80). High physical workload, low salary and high tumour grade were more common in the RRP group and associated with longer sick leave. Conclusions. Patients in the RALP group had shorter postoperative hospital stay and less need for paid sick leave than patients in the RRP group. These data indicate that RALP shortens the convalescence. Part of this difference may, however, be attributable to different selection of patients and different a priori expectations among patients and their doctors. A prospective randomized study is advocated, although blinding is unfeasible.
Improved decoding for Bluetooth systems

This letter presents an improved error-correction decoder for Bluetooth systems, employing the limiter-discriminator detector with integrate and dump filter (LDI detector) and the expurgated (15,10) binary Hamming code, which is used to protect the payload of data medium-rate packets. The proposed decoder exploits the error statistic of the LDI detector output and makes use of the single-error-correcting double-adjacent-error-correcting (SEC-DAEC) capability of the expurgated (15,10) code. As a result, notable improvements in data throughput and/or transmission range are achieved. Since the performance gains come at no additional cost in implementation, the proposed decoder is highly attractive for application in low-cost Bluetooth devices.
Seizure characteristics in Pallister–Killian syndrome

Pallister–Killian syndrome (PKS) is a congenital disorder attributed to supernumerary isochromosome 12p mosaicism. Craniofacial dysmorphism, learning impairment and seizures are considered cardinal features. However, little is known regarding the seizure and epilepsy patterns in PKS. To better define the prevalence and spectrum of seizures in PKS, we studied 51 patients (39 male, 12 female; median age 4 years and 9 months; age range 7 months to 31 years) with confirmed 12p tetrasomy. Using a parent‐based structured questionnaire, we collected data regarding seizure onset, frequency, timing, semiology, and medication therapy. Patients were recruited through our practice, at PKS Kids family events, and via the PKS Kids website. Epilepsy occurred in 27 (53%) with 23 (85%) of those with seizures having seizure onset prior to 3.5 years of age. Mean age at seizure onset was 2 years and 4 months. The most common seizure types were myoclonic (15/27, 56%), generalized convulsions (13/27, 48%), and clustered tonic spasms (similar to infantile spasms; 8/27, 30%). Thirteen of 27 patients with seizures (48%) had more than one seizure type with 26 out of 27 (96%) ever having taken antiepileptic medications. Nineteen of 27 (70%) continued to have seizures and 17/27 (63%) remained on antiepileptic medication. The most commonly used medications were: levetiracetam (10/27, 37%), valproic acid (10/27, 37%), and topiramate (9/27, 33%) with levetiracetam felt to be “most helpful” by parents (6/27, 22%). Further exploration of seizure timing, in‐depth analysis of EEG recordings, and collection of MRI data to rule out confounding factors is warranted. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Tris[4-(dimethylamino)pyridine][tris(pyrazol-1-yl)methane]ruthenium(II) bis(hexafluoridophosphate) diethyl ether monosolvate

In the title compound, [Ru(C10H10N6)(C7H10N2)3](PF6)2·C4H10O, the RuII cation is coordinated by one tris(1-pyrazolyl)methane (Tpm) and three dimethylaminopyridine (dmap) ligands in a slightly distorted octahedral geometry. The asymmetric unit consists of one complex cation, two hexafluoridophosphate anions and one diethyl ether solvent molecule in general positions. Although quite a large number of ruthenium complexes of the facially coordinating tridentate Tpm ligand have been structurally characterized, this is only the second one containing three pyridyl co-ligands. The average Ru—N(Tpm) distance is 2.059 (12) Å, while the average Ru—N(dmap) [dmap = 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine] distance is somewhat longer at 2.108 (13) Å. The orientation of the dmap ligands varies greatly, with dihedral angles between the pyridyl and opposite pyrazolyl rings of 14.3 (2), 23.2 (2) and 61.2 (2)°.
A Differential-Fed Microstrip Patch Antenna With Bandwidth Enhancement Under Operation of TM10 and TM30 Modes

A differential-fed microstrip patch antenna (MPA) with bandwidth enhancement is proposed under the operation of TM<sub>10</sub> and TM<sub>30</sub> resonant modes in a single patch resonator. Initially, a rectangular differential-fed MPA is theoretically investigated so as to demonstrate that all of the undesired modes between the TM<sub>10</sub> and TM<sub>30</sub> modes are suppressed or removed out effectively. Then, by symmetrically introducing two pairs of shorting pins, the resonant frequency of TM<sub>10</sub> mode is progressively turned up. After that, with the help of two long slots, the resonant frequency of TM<sub>30</sub> mode is decreased with slight effect on that of TM<sub>10</sub> mode. Furthermore, a short slot is inserted at the center of the patch to cancel the parasitic inductances of the shorting pins and probe feeds. With this arrangement, these two radiative resonant modes are moved in proximity to each other for wideband antenna. Finally, the proposed differential-fed MPA is fabricated and measured. Experimental results illustrate that the impedance bandwidth (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\vert S_{{{\text {dd}11}}}\vert < -10$ </tex-math></inline-formula> dB) of the antenna has gained a tremendous increment up to about 13% (1.88–2.14 GHz), while keeping a low profile property with the height of 0.029 free-space wavelength. Additionally, the antenna has achieved a stable gain varied from 5.8 to 7 dBi over the operating band.
Computed tomography of the urinary tract: optimalization of low-dose stone protocol in a clinical setting

Purpose: To establish whether information would be lost if slice reconstruction thickness was increased from 3 to 5 mm, and whether this altered how difficult it was to interpret the examinations. Material and Methods: Twenty-three consecutive patients referred with suspected or known urinary stones were included. All examinations were performed without intravenous contrast media. The original series, with effective mAs 50, were reconstructed with slice thickness 3 and 5 mm, respectively. All demographic and examination data were removed and the series reviewed in PACS by two independent radiologists. Objective findings, i.e. number and size of stones, signs of obstruction, and evaluation of interpretation difficulty, were registered. Results: Identical findings were registered in 18 of the series of 3 mm (n = 23) and 19 of the series of 5 mm (n = 23). In two series reconstructed with 3 mm slice thickness and in one series with 5 mm slice thickness, the observers disagreed on the presence of urinary stones. Main reasons for interpretation difficulties were given as “lack of intra-abdominal fat” and “many phleboliths in the pelvic region”, but never “disturbing noise”. Conclusion: To determine the presence and size of urinary stones at low-dose computed tomography, 5 mm reconstruction algorithm seems equal to 3 mm. Patient-related factors influence the interpretation more than image quality.
Human Schedule Performance with Hypothetical Monetary Reinforcement

Experiments examined the effect of variable ratio (VR) and variable interval (VI) schedules between a response (an investment made in the context of a game) and an outcome (a return on the investment) on human response rates and judgments of the causal effectiveness of the response. In Experiment 1, the time between successive outcomes obtained on a VR schedule became the successive interval criterion for a yoked VI schedule. Response rates and ratings of causal efficacy were higher on the VR than the VI schedule. In Experiment 2, the number of responses required per outcome on a VR schedule was matched to that on a master VI 40-s schedule. Both response rate and the ratings of causal effectiveness were higher in the VR schedule. However, these findings only held when the cost of a response was relatively high, but not when it was low.
Ischemic stroke history predicts increased cardiovascular mortality in chronic heart failure.

OBJECTIVE To investigate comorbidities that predict cardiac mortality and re-hospitalization in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients. METHODS Five hundred eighty patients (mean age 63 ± 13 years, 373 male, 207 female, mean ejection fraction (EF) 26 ± 9%) with mild, moderate or severe CHF [NYHA class II-IV] were included in this prospective observational study. We evaluated all comorbidities such as history of ischemic stroke, coronary artery disease, peripheral arterial disease, chronic obstructive lung disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease in CHF patients who were hospitalized due to decompensated heart failure in Kocaeli University, Faculty of Medicine's Hospital between January 2003 and July 2009. Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were used to establish predictors of unfavorable outcomes. RESULTS Of 580 patients 207 (36%) patients died due to cardiovascular reasons. In multivariable Cox regression analysis age (HR-1.06, 95% CI 1.04-1.08, p<0.001), NYHA functional class (HR-3.20 95% CI, 1.90-5.41, p<0.001), history of ischemic stroke (HR-2.48, 95% CI 1.14-5.37, p=0.022), high-sensitive C-reactive protein (HR-1.09, 95% CI, 1.04-1.15, p=0.001), brain natriuretic peptide (HR-1.00, 95% CI 1.00-1.00, p=0.01) and hemoglobin (HR-0.90, 95% CI 0.81-0.99, p=0.038) were independent predictors of cardiac death in the present study. History of ischemic stroke was demonstrated as an important comorbidity that predicts cardiovascular mortality beyond other co-morbidities in CHF patients. NYHA functional class (HR-2.85, 95% CI 1.80-4.65, p<0.001), left ventricular EF [(HR-0.98, 95% CI 0.95-0.99, p=0.039) and ischemic stroke history (HR-2.41, 95% CI 1.15-5.05, p=0.019) were independent predictors for recurrence hospitalization. The stroke history was only predictor showing recurrent hospitalization at least in one year among the other comorbid conditions, which were evaluated during study. CONCLUSION History of ischemic stroke may be an important risk factor for increased cardiac mortality and recurrence hospitalization in CHF patients.
Comparative study of statural growth in Spanish populations

Regional differences in the growth of Spanish children were studied by fitting the Preece‐Baines Model I to cross‐sectional stature data. The function parameters and derived biological variables were used to compare children from seven different studies. Regional differences in growth are interpreted as a result of a geographic variation among Spanish provinces in demographic, public health and nutritional conditions. There are differences between urban samples depending on region. Adult stature (h1) and the pattern of growth differ between urban and rural populations from the interior lands. Males from urban Extremadura, Barcelona and the Basque Country show the tallest adult statures. Adult statures of males from Segovia, Extremadura emigrants and Cuenca are not only the lowest, but the growth pattern shows delay in estimated ages at take‐off and PHV compared to the other populations. Estimated age at PHV is later for all male samples compared to Vizcaya, except for the sample of Barcelona‐I. Females from Barcelona‐II, Segovia and the Basque Country show the tallest adult statures (h1). All of the female samples, except that of urban Extremadura, have an earlier estimated age at PHV compared to the sample from Vizcaya. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Central serous chorioretinopathy in young adults

Editor, C entral serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) is believed to be rare in patients who are 25 years or younger. We have observed three cases with features of advanced chronic CSC in young adults retrieved by retrospective review of 385 patients seen at the Glostrup Hospital in Copenhagen and the Macula Vitreous Retina Consultants of New York, between 2007 and 2010. A 21-year-old woman was referred from her general ophthalmologist with a decline in visual acuity in her left eye and progression in retinal pigment epitheliopathy, for which she had been followed by the referring ophthalmologist, since the age of six. She had used intranasal glucocorticosteroids (Flonase) intermittently because of sinusitis-related problems. At referral, her best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 1.0 in her right eye and 0.5 in her left eye. Examination showed unilateral retinal pigment epitheliopathy with a yellowish discoloration, a small pigment epithelium detachment (PED) and an exudative retinal detachment in the left eye (Fig. 1A). One month after referral, it was decided to treat with full dose of verteporfin and reduced fluence. Complete regression was observed after 2 months and BCVA recovered to 0.7. A 17-year-old woman was referred with blurred vision in her right eye, slowly progressing over the past 2 years. Best-corrected visual acuity was 0.4 in her right eye and 1.25 in the left eye. Eye examination revealed unilateral retinal pigment epitheliopathy and serous retinal detachment with subretinal debris in her right eye (Fig. 1B and E). Fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography demonstrated two distinct hot spots (Fig. 1C and D). After 1 year of observation, the patient underwent standard treatment with photodynamic therapy (PDT). Complete regression of the serous detachment was observed 5 months after PDT treatment. BCVA increased to 0.7, but the visual symptoms were unchanged. A 24-year-old male patient was referred with blurred central vision of abrupt onset in his right eye. BCVA was 0.2 in his right eye and 1.25 in the left eye. Eye examination demonstrated extensive retinal pigment epitheliopathy in the macular region in both eyes. In the right eye, a serous detachment of the neurosensory retina and intraretinal cystoid oedemas was seen on optical coherence tomography (OCT) (Fig. 1F). Inferotemporal of the fovea extensive deposits of subretinal fibrin was found that corresponded exactly to the area of angiographic fluorescein leakage. Endogenous levels of catecholamines and cortisol were normal. The patient was followed without any treatment, and the serous detachment in his right eye regressed spontaneously over 6 months and BCVA increased to 0.5 (Fig. 1G). A review of the literature indicates that patients with CSC present initially with a neurosensory detachment from a focal leak at the level of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)
Effect of high-oil corn or added corn oil on ruminal biohydrogenation of fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid formation in beef steers fed finishing diets.

Three Angus steers (410 kg) cannulated in the proximal duodenum were used in a replicated 3 x 3 Latin square to evaluate the effects of dietary lipid level and oil source on ruminal biohydrogenation and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) outflow. Dietary treatments included: 1) typical corn (TC; 79.2% typical corn), 2) high-oil corn (HOC; 79.2% high-oil corn), and 3) the TC diet with corn oil added to supply an amount of lipid equal to the HOC diet (OIL; 76.9% TC + 2.4% corn oil). Duodenal samples were collected for 4 d following 10-d diet adaptation periods. Data were analyzed with animal, square, period, and treatment in the model and planned, nonorthogonal contrasts were used to test the effects of dietary lipid content (TC vs HOC and OIL) and oil source (HOC vs OIL) on ruminal biohydrogenation. Intake and duodenal flow of total long-chain fatty acids were increased (P < 0.05) by over 63% for diets containing more lipid regardless of oil source. Apparent ruminal dry matter and long chain fatty acid digestibilities were not altered (P > 0.05) by dietary lipid level or oil source. Ruminal biohydrogenation of total and individual 18-carbon unsaturated fatty acids was greater (P < 0.05) for diets with higher lipid content. Biohydrogenation of oleic acid was greater (P < 0.05) for HOC than OIL, but biohydrogenation of linoleic acid was lower (P < 0.05) for HOC than OIL. Duodenal flows of palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, and arachidic acids were more than 30% greater (P < 0.05) for diets containing more lipid. Flow of all trans-octadecenoic acids was greater (P < 0.05) for diets containing more lipid. Corn oil addition increased (P < 0.05) the flow of trans-10 octadecenoic acid and the trans-10, cis-12 isomer of CLA by threefold compared to feeding high-oil corn. Feeding high-oil corn or adding corn oil to typical corn rations increased intake, biohydrogenation, and duodenal flow of unsaturated long-chain fatty acids. Compared with high-oil corn diets, addition of corn oil increased duodenal flow of trans-10, trans-12 and cis-12 isomers of octadecenoic acid and the trans-10, cis-12 isomer of CLA. The amount of cis-9, trans-11 isomer of conjugated linoleic acid flowing to the duodenum was less than 260 mg/d, a value over 20 times lower than flow of trans-11 vaccenic acid indicating the importance of tissue desaturation for enhanced conjugated linoleic acid content of beef.