Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prediction error and myopic shift after intraocular lens implantation (IOL) in paediatric cataract patients

To the Editor We read the article on ‘Prediction error and myopic shift after intraocular lens implantation (IOL) in paediatric cataract patients’ by Hoevenaars and colleagues1 with great interest. The authors have demonstrated very well the complexity in predicting the postoperative refraction in paediatric cataract patients. We had the following observations regarding the methodology and interpretation of the results. The authors have not mentioned if the per-operative measurements and IOL power calculation were performed by the same observer or different observers. This could …
Thermal Design and Constraints for Heterogeneous Integrated Chip Stacks and Isolation Technology Using Air Gap and Thermal Bridge

This paper summarizes the thermal challenges in conventional 3-D stacks and proposes a novel stacking structure that eases the thermal problem. The objective of this paper is first to define limits and opportunities for developing different 3-D chip stacks from a thermal perspective, and second to explore our proposed system as a function of microbumps, through silicon vias, die thickness, and other design parameters. In our proposed 3-D stack, the interposer integrated microfluidic heat sink serves as the main heat sink. To thermally decouple stacked dice, we propose air gap isolation between them and a thermal bridge on top of the stack to cool down the isolated die. To evaluate the thermal benefits of the stack, a thermal model is developed based on the finite difference method. Several chip stack scenarios are studied and the simulations are conducted with a processor power of 74.63 W/cm2 and memory power of 2.82 W/cm2. The proposed architecture yielded processor and memory temperatures of 64°C and 40°C, respectively, compared with 76°C and 75°C for the air cooled stack.
Toward a Theory of a Right to Health: Capability and Incompletely Theorized Agreements.

One would be hard pressed to find a more controversial or nebulous human right than the right to health - a right that stems primarily, although not exclusively, from Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). While activists, non-governmental organizations, and scholars have made significant progress in promoting a human rights approach to health and the field of health and human rights more generally, the question of a philosophical and conceptual foundation – a theory – for the right to health has fallen through the cracks that emerge from an interdisciplinary intersection of medical ethics, international relations, international human rights law, health policy, health law, and public health law. This Article offers a philosophical justification for a right to health. As such it makes a case for the right to health as a meaningful and operational right and discusses the degree to which this right is necessarily justifiable and enforceable as prescribed in international law. The theoretical framework proposed in this Article builds on and integrates Aristotle's political theory, the capability approach, and a social choice paradigm known as incompletely theorized agreements. This Article draws on these perspectives to develop a theory of a right to health and to explicate societal obligations, both state and non-state, for progressive realization of this right. Finally, this Article argues that sustaining the effort to realize a right to health requires individual and societal commitments to what I call public moral norms. In other words, this Article argues for treating the right to health as an ethical demand for equity in health. This ethical demand will likely involve legal instruments for enforcement, but more likely will require individuals, states, and non-state actors to internalize public ethical norms to enhance implementation and compliance with a right to health in international human rights policy and law.
Technological complexity and the global dispersal of modern humans

Anatomically modern humans (Homo sapiens) dispersed out of Africa roughly 120,000 years ago and again after 75,000 years ago. The early dispersal was geographically restricted to the Arabian Peninsula, Levant, and possibly parts of southern Asia. The later dispersal was ultimately global in scope, including areas not previously occupied by Homo. One explanation for the contrast between the two out‐of‐Africa dispersals is that the modern humans who expanded into Eurasia 120,000 years ago lacked the functionally and structurally complex technology of recent hunter‐gatherers. This technology, which includes, for example, mechanical projectiles, snares and traps, and sewn clothing, provides not only expanded dietary breadth and increased rates of foraging efficiency and success in places where plant and animal productivity is low, but protection from cold weather in places where winter temperatures are low. The absence of complex technology before 75,000 years ago also may explain why modern humans in the Levant did not develop sedentary settlements and agriculture 120,000 years ago (i.e., during the Last Interglacial).
The Ras-JNK pathway is involved in shear-induced gene expression

Hemodynamic forces play a key role in inducing atherosclerosis-implicated gene expression in vascular endothelial cells. To elucidate the signal transduction pathway leading to such gene expression, we studied the effects of fluid shearing on the activities of upstream signaling molecules. Fluid shearing (shear stress, 12 dynes/cm2 [1 dyne = 10(-5)N]) induced a transient and rapid activation of p21ras and preferentially activated c-Jun NH2 terminal kinases (JNK1 and JNK2) over extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK-1 and ERK-2). Cotransfection of RasN17, a dominant negative mutant of Ha-Ras, attenuated the shear-activated JNK and luciferase reporters driven by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-responsive elements. JNK(K-R) and MEKK(K-M), the respective catalytically inactive mutants of JNK1 and MEKK, also partially inhibited the shear-induced luciferase reporters. In contrast, Raf301, ERK(K71R), and ERK(K52R), the dominant negative mutants of Raf-1, ERK-1, and ERK-2, respectively, had little effect on the activities of these reporters. The activation of JNK was also correlated with increased c-Jun transcriptional activity, which was attenuated by a negative mutant of Son of sevenless. Thus, mechanical stimulation exerted by fluid shearing activates primarily the Ras-MEKK-JNK pathway in inducing endothelial gene expression.
Documentation of Advance Directives Among Home Health and Hospice Patients: United States, 2007

This report provides nationally representative data on documentation of advance directives (ADs) among home health (HH) and hospice patients. Advance directives were recorded for 29% of HH patients and 90% of hospice discharges. Among HH patients, increasing age and use of assistive devices were associated with greater odds of having an AD, while being Hispanic or black (relative to white) and enrolled in Medicaid decreased the odds of having ADs. Among hospice discharges, being enrolled in Medicare and having 4 or 5 activities of daily living (ADL) limitations were associated with higher odds of ADs while depression, use of emergency services, and being black (relative to White) were associated with lower odds. Even after adjustment for potentially confounding factors, racial differences persist in AD documentation in both care settings.
Oxidative stress, inflammation, and autophagic stress as the key mechanisms of premature age-related hearing loss in SAMP8 mouse Cochlea.

AIMS In our aging society, age-related hearing loss (ARHL) or presbycusis is increasingly important. Here, we study the mechanism of ARHL using the senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) which is a useful model to probe the effects of aging on biological processes. RESULTS We found that the SAMP8 strain displays premature hearing loss and cochlear degeneration recapitulating the processes observed in human presbycusis (i.e., strial, sensory, and neural degeneration). The molecular mechanisms associated with premature ARHL in SAMP8 mice involve oxidative stress, altered levels of antioxidant enzymes, and decreased activity of Complexes I, II, and IV, which in turn lead to chronic inflammation and triggering of apoptotic cell death pathways. In addition, spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) also undergo autophagic stress and accumulated lipofuscin. INNOVATION AND CONCLUSION Our results provide evidence that targeting oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, or apoptotic pathways may have therapeutic potential. Modulation of autophagy may be another strategy. The fact that autophagic stress and protein aggregation occurred specifically in SGNs also offers promising perspectives for the prevention of neural presbycusis.
Nonlinear control of electric machines: an overview

Due to the increasing availability of improved power electronics and digital processors at reduced costs, there has been a trend to seek higher performance from electric machine systems through the design of more sophisticated control systems software. There exist significant challenges in the search for improved control system designs, however, since: the dynamics of most electric machine systems exhibit significant nonlinearities; not all state variables are necessarily measured; and the parameters of the system can vary significantly from their nominal values. In recent years, a wide range of nonlinear methods for feedback control, state estimation, and parameter identification have emerged, and some of these results are reviewed and summarized. <<ETX>>
Calcium ions and the propagation of impulses through the mammalian heart junctional regions.

The excised atrio-ventricular septum of a rabbit's heart and a papillary muscle and its attached false tendon from a dog's heart were used in order to study the effects of calcium deficiency on the propagation of impulses through the mammalian heart junctional regions. The preparations were isolated and perf used with aerated flowing Tyrode solutions. The transmembrane potentials of the different cardiac cells were recorded through conventional technics.The perfusion with calcium-free solutions produced, within variable periods of time, a decrease in RMP, rate of rise and amplitude of action potentials. An increase in duration of the responses preceded the former changes. The sensitivity of the explored cardiac tissues to the lack of calcium varied, the Purkinje fiber response being the most modified (FIG. 1). All changes produced by calcium deficiency were reversible (FIG. 2). The propagation of impulses through the A.V. node junctional regions was slowed and in some cases blocked (FIGS. 3, 4 and 5A). These effects were more evident and appeared earlier in the fibers joining the lower part of A.V. node and the bundle of His (N-H) than in the auricle-A.V. node junctional region (A-N). Similar effects were observed in the Purkinjemyocardial cells junction (FIG. 6) in which calcium deficiency changed in a greater proportion the propagation of the impulses travelling from Purkinje to myocardial fibers (P-M) than that in the opposite direction (M-P). The changes in propagation were reverted by adding calcium either to the perfusing chamber or through a micropipette subjected to hydrostatic pressure and placed on the junctional region (FIGS. 5B, C and 7). The results show that the outstanding effects of the calcium-free solutions on the junctional regions may be due mainly to modifications produced on the membranes of transitional cells generating “transitional potentials”. These modifications would be produced indirectly acting through the sodium ions carrying system.
Personality Traits in Relation to Alcohol Dependence and Abuse and Psychiatric Comorbidity Among Women: A Population-Based Study

This study investigates relationships between personality traits, alcohol dependence and abuse (ADA), and psychiatric comorbidity in a general population sample of women. The study is based on data from a previous study by this group titled “Women and Alcohol in Göteborg. ” Altogether, 316 women were interviewed. Personality traits were assessed with the Karolinska Scales of Personality (KSP) and lifetime psychiatric diagnoses given according to The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Third Revised Edition (DSM-III-R). Compared with the reference group, women with a lifetime diagnoses of ADA were more anxious, tense, socially conformist, impulsive, and irritable. They were also more easily fatigued, and less satisfied with their present life situation and childhood experiences. This was more marked among women with current ADA than in women with resolved ADA. Women with other psychiatric diagnoses resembled women with ADA, according to the KSP. The results indicate that personality interacts with all diagnoses included, and possibly influences the development of ADA.
Performance Analysis of Spatially Correlated MIMO-OFDM Beamforming Systems with the Maximum Eigenvalue Model from Measured MIMO Channels

The performance of MIMO-OFDM beamforming systems with maximal ratio combining receivers is considered based on the extensive wideband 2 × 8 (i.e., 2 transmitting and 8 receiving antennas) MIMO channel measurement data in non line-of-sight urban macrocell environments. Using the experimental observation that the probability density function (PDF) of the measured maximum eigenvalue for H† mHm, where Hm and superscript † denote a MIMO channel frequency response matrix and conjugation and transposition, respectively, matches the Gamma distribution well, we propose the maximum eigenvalue model as Gamma distributed random variables whose parameters are both transmitting and receiving correlations and the number of receiving antennas. Using the model, the performances of MIMO-OFDM beamforming systems, such as the PDF of the output signal-to-noise ratio, outage probability, symbol error rate, and achievable diversity order, are analyzed to demonstrate the effect of spatial correlation in the realistic 2 × n (downlink) and n × 2 (uplink) MIMO channels.
Heterogeneous changes in epimyocardial microvascular size during graded coronary stenosis. Evidence of the microvascular site for autoregulation.

The purpose of this study was to determine the coronary microvascular sites of autoregulation. The epimyocardial coronary microcirculation was observed through an intravital microscope by stroboscopic epi-illumination in anesthetized open-chest dogs (n = 20). Aortic pressure and heart rate were held constant by an aortic snare and atrial pacing, respectively. Distal pressure of the left anterior descending coronary artery was controlled by a screw occluder on the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery and monitored with a 24-gauge plastic cannula inserted into the branch or distal portion of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Distal pressure of the left anterior descending coronary artery was stepwisely reduced to 59 +/- 1 mm Hg (mild stenosis, n = 20) and 38 +/- 1 mm Hg (severe stenosis, n = 16). In the left circumflex coronary artery area, myocardial blood flow measured with radioactive microspheres to subepicardium, midmyocardium, and subendocardium did not change with the mild and severe stenosis from control. In the left anterior descending coronary artery area, myocardial blood flow to each layer remained at nearly control level with the mild stenosis but was reduced in midmyocardium and subendocardium with the severe stenosis. With the mild stenosis, diameters of coronary arterial microvessels less than 100 microns in diameter dilated, and those larger than 100 microns in diameter did not change. The magnitude of vasodilation in small arterial microvessels was inversely related to control diameter. With the severe stenosis, small arterial microvessels dilated, and simultaneously, large arterial microvessels constricted. Again, the magnitude of vasodilation in small arterial microvessels was inversely related to control diameter. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
An exploratory trial of a health education programme to promote healthy lifestyles through social and emotional competence in young children: Study protocol

AIM To implement and evaluate a health education programme based on the development of social and emotional competence in young children. BACKGROUND Children's social and emotional skills play a key role in the adoption and maintenance of their lifestyles. Currently, a more comprehensive perspective dealing with these aspects is needed to promote healthy habits in children and develop effective health education programmes. DESIGN An exploratory randomized controlled trial. METHODS A convenience sample of 30 children (5 and 6 years old) will be recruited from a public school in Spain, with 15 participants in the experimental group and 15 in the control group. Participants in the experimental group will receive the first unit of the programme, consisting of developing emotional knowledge skills around daily health habits (eating, hygiene, sleep and physical exercise) using different game-based dynamics and an emotional diary, while those in the control group will continue with their usual school routine. Outcome measures include emotional knowledge ability, basic social skills and children's health profile. The perceived impact of the intervention by parents, acceptability (by parents and children) and feasibility of the programme will be also assessed. Data will be collected at baseline, postintervention and at 7-month follow-up. DISCUSSION This study offers an innovative intervention aimed at improving children's healthy lifestyles from a holistic perspective by addressing social and emotional competence as one of the most influential aspects of children's development. This exploratory trial is an essential step to explore crucial aspects of the full-scale clinical trial.
Preclinical models of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is one of the most difficult human malignancies to treat. The 5‐year survival rate of PDA patients is 7% and PDA is predicted to become the second leading cancer‐related cause of death in the USA. Despite intensive efforts, the translation of findings in preclinical studies has been ineffective, due partially to the lack of preclinical models that faithfully recapitulate features of human PDA. Here, we review current preclinical models for human PDA (eg human PDA cell lines, cell line‐based xenografts and patient‐derived tumour xenografts). In addition, we discuss potential applications of the recently developed pancreatic ductal organoids, three‐dimensional culture systems and organoid‐based xenografts as new preclinical models for PDA. Copyright © 2015 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The resistance to fluconazole in patients with esophageal candidiasis.

CONTEXT Esophageal candidiasis is often observed in patients with risk factors for its development and fluconazole is the therapeutic choice for the treatment of this disease. OBJECTIVES To determine its frequency, by performing upper digestive endoscopy; to determine Candida species involved in its pathogenesis and verify their distribution according with the predisposing factors and to determine susceptibility to fluconazole in the samples. METHODS From March 2006 to April 2007, all patients submitted to esophagogastroduodenoscopy at the Digestive Endoscopy Unit in the Oswaldo Cruz University Hospital, Recife, PE, Brazil, were eligible for the study. Samples were collected from patients who presented lesions consistent with esophageal candidiasis in order to identify Candida species and verify their susceptibility to fluconazole. The predisposing factors for the occurrence of esophageal candidiasis were described. RESULTS Of 2,672 patients referred to upper endoscopy at the Digestive Endoscopy Unit, 40 (1.5%) had endoscopic findings compatible with esophageal candidiasis. The average age was 49.1 years. Twenty one patients (52.5%) were less than 50 years old, of which 82.6% were infected with HIV. Most of them (52.5%) were males and 65.0% were inpatients. Diseases were identified in 90% of the patients and 21 (52.5%) were HIV positive. Concerning endoscopic findings, severe forms of esophagitis were found in 50% of the patients with CD4 count <200. Non-albicans Candida species were isolated in 22.7% of HIV positive and in 45% HIV negative patients. A total of 6 (14.28%) samples were resistant to fluconazole, while 2 (4.76%) samples had dose depending susceptibility to this drug. CONCLUSIONS Esophageal candidiasis prevalence was low, although within the results described by other authors. Male and inpatients were the most affected. The species isolated varied according to the characteristics of each group studied. Both, resistance and dose-depending susceptibility to fluconazole were considered high.
Audio Classification and Segmentation for Sports Video Structure Extraction using Support Vector Machine

Video structure extraction is essential to automatic and content-based organization, retrieval and browsing of video. In this paper, we present a novel scheme for indexing and segmentation of video by analyzing the audio track using support vector machine. This analysis is then applied to structuring the sports video. Based on the attributes of sports video, we define three audio classes in sports video, namely play-audio, advertisement-audio and studio-audio. Support vector machine (SVM) is a valid statistic learning method. The work on audio classification using SVM is presented. Meanwhile, considering that it is highly impossible to change the audio types too suddenly, we apply smoothing rules in final segmentation of an audio sequence. Experimental results indicate that our framework can produce satisfactory results
Elimination of Recombinant Hirudin by Modified Ultrafiltration During Simulated Cardiopulmonary Bypass: Assessment of Different Filter Systems

Recombinant hirudin (r-hirudin) is being used increasingly in patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia type II. Renal failure has been demonstrated to prolong the half-life of r-hirudin and to cause bleeding in patients who have undergone cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). We assessed the ability of different filter systems for modified ultrafiltration to eliminate r-hirudin in vitro using simulated CPB. r-Hirudin concentration was measured (chromogenic laboratory standard plus ecarin clotting time) before and after filtration, and its elimination was calculated using both controlled system flow and arterial inflow (separate pump). Four hemofilters (Renoflow II, Baxter; Arylane H4, Cobe; Ultraflux AV 600, Fresenius; and BCS 110 Plus, Iostra) and two plasmapheresis filter systems (ASAHI Plasmaflow OP, Diamed; and PF 2000 N, Gambro) were assessed (5 filters of each brand = 30 filters) in a closed in vitro CPB system applying conditions usually occurring during CPB. Ten plasmapheresis filters showed a greater ability than 20 hemofilters to eliminate r-hirudin (60%–70% vs 15%–42%) within the shortest time (80 vs 180 s). Among the four hemofilter systems, the Arylane H4 filter provided the most effective (42%) r-hirudin elimination. Elimination of r-hirudin was markedly improved using plasmapheresis systems, compared with hemofilter systems. Our findings may be relevant to patients with impaired renal function, who have been administered r-hirudin during CPB. Implications Modified ultrafiltration may enhance the elimination of recombinant-hirudin, although plasmapheresis systems provide the most rapid and complete elimination of recombinant-hirudin during simulated cardiopulmonary bypass. The decision to use a specific system will ultimately depend on the prevailing clinical situation and overall health of the patient.