Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Estimation of normal computed tomography measurements for the upper cervical spine in the pediatric age group.

OBJECT Upper cervical spine injuries in the pediatric age group have been recognized as extremely unstable from ligamentous disruption and as potentially lethal. Few measurement norms have been published for the pediatric upper cervical spine to help diagnose this pathological state. Instead, adult measurement techniques and results are usually applied inappropriately to children. The authors propose using high-resolution reconstructed CT scans to define a range of normal for a collection of selected upper cervical spine measurements in the pediatric age group. METHODS Sagittal and coronal reformatted images were obtained from thin axial CT scans obtained in 42 children (< 18 years) in a 2-month period. There were 25 boys and 17 girls. The mean age was 100.9 months (range 1-214 months). Six CT scans were obtained for nontrauma indications, and 36 were obtained as part of a trauma protocol and later cleared for cervical spine injury. Six straightforward and direct linear distances-basion-dental interval (BDI); atlantodental interval (ADI); posterior atlantodental interval (PADI); right and left lateral mass interval (LMI); right and left craniocervical interval (CCI); and prevertebral soft-tissue thickness at C-2-that minimized logistical and technical distortions were measured and recorded. Statistical analysis including interobserver agreement, age stratification, and sex differences was performed for each of the 6 measurements. RESULTS The mean ADI was 2.25 ± 0.24 mm (± SD), the mean PADI was 18.3 ± 0.07 mm, the mean BDI was 7.28 ± 0.10 mm, and the mean prevertebral soft tissue width at C-2 was 4.45 ± 0.43 mm. The overall mean CCI was 2.38 ± 0.44 mm, and the overall mean LMI was 2.91 ± 0.49 mm. Linear regression analysis demonstrated statistically significant age effects for PADI (increased 0.02 mm/month), BDI (decreased 0.02 mm/month), and CCI (decreased 0.01 mm/month). Similarly significant effects were found for sex; females demonstrated on average a smaller CCI by 0.26 mm and a smaller PADI by 2.12 mm. Moderate to high interrater reliability was demonstrated across all parameters. CONCLUSIONS Age-dependent and age-independent normal CT measurements of the upper cervical spine will help to differentiate physiological and pathological states in children. The BDI appears to change significantly with age but not sex; on the other hand, the LMI and ADI appear to be age-independent measures. This preliminary study suggests acceptable levels of interrater reliability, and further expanded study will aim to validate these measurements to produce a profile of normal upper cervical spine measurements in children.
Relationship of Focal Erosions, Bone Mineral Density, and Parathyroid Hormone in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Objective. To investigate the relationship among focal bone erosions and bone mineral density (BMD), 25(OH) vitamin D (25OHD), and parathyroid hormone (PTH) values in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods. The study included 1191 RA patients (1014 women, 177 men, mean age 58.9 ± 11.1 yrs) participating in a multicenter, cross-sectional study. Results. Radiographic evidence of typical bony erosions on hands or forefeet was found in 64.1% of patients. In those with bone erosions as compared to those without, mean BMD Z score values were significantly lower at both the spine (−0.74 ± 1.19 vs −0.46 ± 1.31; p = 0.05) and the hip (−0.72 ± 1.07 vs −0.15 ± 1.23; p < 0.001). In the subgroup of patients not taking vitamin D supplements, PTH levels were significantly higher in those with erosive arthritis (25.9 ± 14.0 vs 23.1 ± 11.6 pg/ml; p = 0.01); whereas the 25OHD concentrations were very similar in the 2 groups. The mean differences for BMD and PTH among the erosive and nonerosive RA remained statistically significant when values were simultaneously adjusted for all disease and mineral metabolism factors (i.e., age, sex, menopause, disease duration, Disease Activity Score 28-joint count, Health Assessment Questionnaire, activities of daily living, Steinbrocker functional state, glucocorticoid therapy, body weight, and bisphosphonate treatment). Conclusion. Our results suggest that the presence of bone erosions in RA correlates with low BMD levels and high PTH levels, and that these associations are independent of the degree of functional impairment and other common determinants of bone mass and mineral metabolism in adults with RA. These findings suggest that treatments to prevent bone loss or suppress PTH levels might positively affect the progression of bone erosions in RA.
Comparative Efficacy of Ivermectin and Moxidectin against Strongyloid Nematodes in Horses

This study was designed to evaluate the comparative efficacy of Ivermectin and Moxidectin against strongyloid nematodes in horses. A total of 50 horses of different age and sex, stationed at different places were examined. Faecal samples were collected from those horses and examined by direct smear method. Those animals having positive result by direct smear, were further examined for their EPG Of these, 30 horses with moderate to severe EPG (800-2000) for gastro-intestinal parasites were retained for further study. They were divided into 3 equal groups (A, B and C) . The first group was administered Ivermectin subcutaneously at dose rate of 1mg/50kg body weight. The second with Moxidectin subcutaneously at dose rate of 1mg/50kg body weight while the third group was kept as untreated control. The faecal samples were collected from each group at 3rd, 7th and 14th day post treatment and their EPG was calculated. Reduction in EPG was found to be 28.8 and 205 times higher with Ivermectin and Moxidectin, respectively as compared to control. Furthermore, reduction in EPG was found to be 7.4 times higher with Moxidectin compared to Ivermectin.
Tailored dose baclofen in patients with alcoholic liver disease: A case series with 2-year follow-up of hospitalisation

Abstract Introduction: Alcohol addiction is a major health burden with its consequences including liver disease and frequent hospitalisations. We used tailored-dose baclofen in patients with alcoholic liver disease and investigated hospital re-admissions before and after baclofen dose was initiated as well as tolerability and patient-reported alcohol consumption. Methods: Fifty-three hospitalised patients with alcoholic liver disease started tailored dose baclofen (median: 5.05 months, median highest dose before tapering down: 60 mg). Patients were followed-up for hospitalisation data from the health board database (mean hospitalisation follow up: 31 months) and patients were sent standardized questionnaires. Results: Baclofen was generally well tolerated with dose reductions in four patients. In the 2 years after initiation of the treatment, patients spent on an average of 19.1 d in the hospital per year compared to 25.48 d before the treatment initiation (p = 0.59). Respondents (19 patients) reported a reduction in alcohol consumption by an average of 58.7% (240.1 g to 144.09 g). Conclusions: After initiation of the baclofen treatment, there was a trend towards decrease in hospitalisations and in patients who answered the questionnaire, alcohol consumption decreased.
'Why don't you just use a condom?': Understanding the motivational tensions in the minds of South African women

Background: HIV/AIDS makes the largest contribution to the burden of disease in South Africa and consistent condom use is considered a key component of HIV-prevention efforts. Health workers see condoms as a straightforward technical solution to prevent transmission of the disease and are often frustrated when their simple advice is not followed. Objectives: To better understand the complexity of the decision that women must make when they are asked to negotiate condom use with their partner. Method: A literature review. Results: A key theme that emerged included unequal power in sexual decision making, with men dominating and women being disempowered. Women may want to please their partner, who might believe that condoms will reduce sexual pleasure. The use of condoms was associated with a perceived lack of ‘real’ love, intimacy and trust. Other factors included the fear of losing one’s reputation, being seen as ‘loose’ and of violence or rejection by one’s partner. For many women, condom usage was forbidden by their religious beliefs. The article presents a conceptual framework to make sense of the motivational dilemma in the mind of a woman who is asked to use a condom. Conclusion: Understanding this ambivalence, respecting it and helping women to resolve it may be more helpful than simply telling women to use a condom. A prevention worker who fails to recognise this dilemma and instructs women to ‘simply’ use a condom, may well encounter resistance.
The link between obesity, colorectal cancer progression and tumour angiogenesis

A link between obesity and risk of colorectal cancer development is strongly supported by epidemiological studies. Several obesity-related factors are implicated in this relationship. Among them, insulin resistance, a direct consequence of excess body weight, is considered as one of the most important. However, the role of obesity and related conditions in disease progression and outcome in colorectal cancer patients is not completely clear. This study investigated the contribution of obesity, insulin resistance and inflammation in colorectal cancer progression and patient survival. As a potential mechanism that could mediate the effect of obesity on colorectal cancer outcome, this study focused on tumour angiogenesis and on tumour resistance to chemotherapy. Patient body mass index (BMI), body surface area, as well as circulating markers of obesity, insulin resistance, inflammation (insulin, C-peptide, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), Creactive protein (CRP) and adiponectin) and angiogenesis (angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2), VEGF-A) were analysed in a New Zealand cohort of 344 colorectal cancer patients in relation to each other, to markers of disease progression and to patient survival. The effect of obesity-related and inflammatory factors on one of the main regulators of angiogenesis, hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), in colon cancer and stromal cells was analysed in vitro. Tumour angiogenesis was compared in two groups of colorectal cancer patients with distinct metabolic characteristics using immunohistochemical staining of tumour samples and analysis of angiogenic proteins levels. The effect of insulin and IGF-1 on cellular responses to chemotherapy drugs (5-fluorouracil, oxaliplatin and irinotecan) in colon cancer and endothelial cells was analysed in vitro. In the colorectal cancer patient cohort, serum CRP and Ang-2, but not other markers, were associated with more advanced tumour characteristics and with worse patient survival. The immunohistochemical analysis of tumour samples showed no difference in tumour angiogenesis between colorectal cancer patients with different metabolic profiles. However, the results suggested that obesity-related factors may contribute to regulation of angiogenic pathways, and this was confirmed in vitro and in tumour tissue protein extracts. Finally, insulin and IGF-1 were shown to modulate the in vitro cellular response to chemotherapy drugs in colon cancer and endothelial cells.
Utility of a large, multigene plastid data set in inferring higher-order relationships in ferns and relatives (monilophytes).

UNLABELLED PREMISE OF THE STUDY The monilophytes (ferns and relatives)-the third largest group of land plants-exhibit a diverse array of vegetative and reproductive morphologies. Investigations into their early ecological and life-history diversification require accurate, well-corroborated phylogenetic estimates. We examined the utility of a large plastid-based data set in inferring backbone relationships for monilophytes. • METHODS We recovered 17 plastid genes for exemplar taxa using published and new primers. We compared results from maximum-likelihood and parsimony analyses, assessed the effects of removing rapidly evolving characters, and examined the extent to which our data corroborate or contradict the results of other studies, or resolve current ambiguities. • KEY RESULTS Considering multifamily clades, we found bootstrap support comparable to or better than that in published studies that used fewer genes from fewer or more taxa. We firmly establish filmy ferns (Hymenophyllales) as the sister group of all leptosporangiates except Osmundaceae, resolving the second deepest split in leptosporangiate-fern phylogeny. A clade comprising Ophioglossaceae and Psilotaceae is currently accepted as the sister group of other monilophytes, but we recover Equisetum in this position. We also recover marattioid and leptosporangiate ferns as sister groups. Maximum-likelihood rate-class estimates are somewhat skewed when a long-branch lineage (Selaginella) is included, negatively affecting bootstrap support for early branches. • CONCLUSIONS Our findings support the utility of this gene set in corroborating relationships found in previous studies, improving support, and resolving uncertainties in monilophyte phylogeny. Despite these advances, our results also underline the need for continued work on resolving the very earliest splits in monilophyte phylogeny.
Adolescents’ views of oral health education. A qualitative study

The objective of this study was to investigate adolescents' perceptions and desires with respect to oral health education. A series of focus group sessions was conducted with adolescents in schools. The groups comprised an average of 6 individuals, with a total of 34 participants. The main themes of the discussions were the informants' perceptions of the oral health education in different settings and under varying circumstances. The discussions were transcribed verbatim and analyzed according to the basic principles of Grounded Theory. One of the most important issues appeared to be the dental personnel considering the individual as a subject and not as an object. The adolescents in the study were uncertain about their knowledge of oral health. Often, the participants expressed a wish to be taught more at the dental visit. Information in schools was sparse. The support of parents was acknowledged but little discussed. The methods used in advertisements to describe dental products were met with skepticism. These should not be imitated in oral health education as this might undermine the credibility of the dental services. Girls were perceived to be more interested in health than boys were. Two core categories labeled “credibility” and “confidence”, which interacted continually, emerged from the data in the analysis. The results indicate that the credibility of the intermediary of the health messages is essential, as is their ability to create confidence. Thus, oral health education among adolescents is more likely to be successful when credibility and confidence are perceived.
Generating antialiased images at low sampling densities

Ray tracing produces point samples of an image from a 3-D model. Constructing an antialiased digital picture from point samples is difficult without resorting to extremely high sampling densities. This paper describes a program that focuses on that problem. While it is impossible to eliminate aliasing totally, it has been shown that nonuniform sampling yields aliasing that is less conspicuous to the observer. An algorithm is presented for fast generation of nonuniform sampling patterns that are optimal in some sense. Some regions of an image may require extra sampling to avoid strong aliasing. Deciding where to do extra sampling can be guided by knowledge of how the eye perceives noise as a function of contrast and color. Finally, to generate the digital picture, the image must be reconstructed from the samples and resampled at the display pixel rate. The nonuniformity of the samples complicates this process, and a new nonuniform reconstruction filter is presented which solves this problem efficiently.
Multi-Period Optimization with Loss-Adverse Customer Behavior: Joint Pricing and Inventory Decisions with Stochastic Demand

To maximize a firm’s profit over a finite planning horizon, we develop a dynamic optimization model by considering loss aversion when making pricing and inventory decisions. We estimate customer demand through a choice model, which incorporates reference price, utility function and customer loss aversion. Our model forms the core of the expert system for decision support. Through a sequence of Bellman equations, we find that the firm’s profit is a concave function of price and inventory, and we solve the model optimally. The profit is positively correlated with the reference price, and the price and inventory decisions are non-monotonic functions of loss aversion intensity. Our results shed new light on pricing and inventory management with customer behavior in a multi-period system. Through various theorem developments, we are able to identify the optimal inventory level and the corresponding price. Numerical examples are provided to illustrate and validate the model and to derive managerial insights. To show the potential significance, we demonstrate how a dynamic programming model yields good results with customer loss aversion under realistic customer behavior assumptions. Our system can improve the efficiency of decision making and provide better customer service.
Resistencia antimicrobiana de bacterias causantes de diarreas en niños de Corrientes, Argentina*

Se recolectaron muestras de materia fecal de ninos menores de 5 anos con diarrea aguda, en Corrientes, Argentina, entre enero de 2004 y abril de 2005, se cultivaron en medios selectivos, se identificaron colonias sospechosas de Salmonella, Vibrio, Aeromonas, Shigella o Escherichia coli O157 y se estudio la susceptibilidad antimicrobiana mediante difusion con discos. De 590 muestras 7,7 % fueron positivas (Salmonella spp. 32,6 % y Shigella spp. 67,4 %). Sobre 31 aislamientos de Shigella, 81 % correspondio a S. flexneri, y 19 % a S. sonnei. El serotipo 2 de Shigella flexneri fue el mas frecuente. Las cepas de S. flexneri mostraron mayor multirresistencia que las de S. sonnei. Los serotipos de Salmonella enterica mas frecuentes fueron S. typhimurium y S. newport. Dos aislamientos de Salmonella presentaron multirresistencia. El presente trabajo constituyo un aporte al conocimiento de la etiologia de las gastroenteritis bacterianas en la region y alerto acerca del surgimiento de cepas enteropatogenas multirresistentes.
TEACHING STRATEGIES FOR CLINICAL JUDGEMENT AND DECISION MAKING IN CLINICAL NURSING

A serious concern of nursing education is teaching clinical judgement and decision making. The "loose" framework of the nursing process has been used to teach skills of decision making to nurses. However, most nurses have no formal training in problem solving. Some graduate nurses learn methods of judgement and decision making by experience and observation of role-models, but this is not often the focus for the education
The Actions of Dopamine Receptors in the Guinea Pig Cochlea

Dopamine, a major lateral olivocochlear efferent neurotransmitter, exerts both excitatory and inhibitory effects on the central nervous system depending on the receptor involved. We investigated the effects of different dopamine receptors on the cochlea by perilymphatic perfusion with D1/5, D2 and D3 receptor agonists and antagonists and recording neural and hair cell responses (compound action potential – CAP; summating potential – SP) before, during and after perfusions. The D1/5 agonist resulted in marked suppression of CAP amplitudes whilst leaving SP amplitudes unchanged, suggesting an inhibitory action of these receptors on afferent dendrites. The D1/5 antagonist had little or no effect, suggesting that there is no influence of tonic dopamine release on these receptors. In contrast, perfusing a D2 receptor antagonist resulted in marked suppression of CAP suggesting an excitatory action of the receptors and a strong influence of tonic dopamine release on the D2 receptors. The D2 agonist had little effect, implying that tonic dopamine release is maximally activating this class of dopamine receptors. D2 antagonists resulted in reduction of SP, cochlear microphonic and distortion product otoacoustic emission amplitudes, suggesting that D2 receptor action is not confined to afferent dendrites. Perfusion with D3 agonists and antagonists had no effect.
Human manual control precision depends on vestibular sensory precision and gravitational magnitude.

Precise motion control is critical to human survival on Earth and in space. Motion sensation is inherently imprecise, and the functional implications of this imprecision are not well understood. We studied a "vestibular" manual control task in which subjects attempted to keep themselves upright with a rotational hand controller (i.e., joystick) to null out pseudorandom, roll-tilt motion disturbances of their chair in the dark. Our first objective was to study the relationship between intersubject differences in manual control performance and sensory precision, determined by measuring vestibular perceptual thresholds. Our second objective was to examine the influence of altered gravity on manual control performance. Subjects performed the manual control task while supine during short-radius centrifugation, with roll tilts occurring relative to centripetal accelerations of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.33 GC (1 GC = 9.81 m/s2). Roll-tilt vestibular precision was quantified with roll-tilt vestibular direction-recognition perceptual thresholds, the minimum movement that one can reliably distinguish as leftward vs. rightward. A significant intersubject correlation was found between manual control performance (defined as the standard deviation of chair tilt) and thresholds, consistent with sensory imprecision negatively affecting functional precision. Furthermore, compared with 1.0 GC manual control was more precise in 1.33 GC (-18.3%, P = 0.005) and less precise in 0.5 GC (+39.6%, P < 0.001). The decrement in manual control performance observed in 0.5 GC and in subjects with high thresholds suggests potential risk factors for piloting and locomotion, both on Earth and during human exploration missions to the moon (0.16 G) and Mars (0.38 G). NEW & NOTEWORTHY The functional implications of imprecise motion sensation are not well understood. We found a significant correlation between subjects' vestibular perceptual thresholds and performance in a manual control task (using a joystick to keep their chair upright), consistent with sensory imprecision negatively affecting functional precision. Furthermore, using an altered-gravity centrifuge configuration, we found that manual control precision was improved in "hypergravity" and degraded in "hypogravity. " These results have potential relevance for postural control, aviation, and spaceflight.
Timing of elective cesarean section and neonatal morbidity: a population-based study

Abstract Purpose: To assess the incidence of neonatal complications related to gestational age at elective cesarean section near term. Methods: We used a population-based dataset to compare neonatal outcomes by gestational age in uncomplicated singleton pregnancies delivered by elective cesarean section ≥37 weeks. Results: A total of 7364 mothers had an elective cesarean during 2002–2012; 343 (4.7%) at 37, 21 753 (3.8%) at 38, 3140 (2.6%) at 39, 1718 (23.3%) at 40 and 410 (5.6%) at ≥41 weeks. Infants born at a lower gestational age had a higher rate of Apgar scores <7 (2%, 0.4%, 0.6%, 0,3%, 0.2% at 37, 38, 39, 40 and ≥41 week, p = 0.013), hypoglycemia (1.5%, 1.0%, 0.8%, 0.4%, 0.5% at 37, 38, 39, 40 and ≥ 41 week, p = 0.012), hyperbilirubinemia (12.2%, 9.5%, 6.4%, 4.8%, 4.1% at 37, 38, 39, 40 and ≥ 41 week, p < 0.001), respiratory distress syndrome (5.5%, 2.2%, 1.6%, 0.5%, 0.7% at 37, 38, 39, 40 and ≥ 41 week, p < 0.001), and neonatal intensive care admissions (8.7%, 2.3%, 1.9%, 1.0%, 1.7% at 37, 38, 39, 40 and ≥ 41 week, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Elective cesarean section at ≥ 39 weeks gestation would significantly reduce neonatal complications.