Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Isolation and Characterization of Normal Human Megakaryocytes

Summary Human megakaryocytes have been isolated from marrow obtained from ribs removed at thoracotomy. All but one of the patients had normal pre‐operative platelet and leucocyte counts. Megakaryocytes averaged 0·37% of all cells in marrow cell suspensions from nine consecutive subjects. A 283‐fold purification (to 10·3%) was achieved by a density gradient centrifugation followed by two successive velocity sedimentations at unit gravity. The net yield, 12 800 megakaryocytes per specimen, was sufficient for many kinds of morphological study. Bright‐field, phase contrast, and electron microscopy were used to characterize the younger and smaller megakaryocytes. Ploidy analyses were carried out on 100–235 megakaryocytes per specimen; 8N was the predominant ploidy class in isolated megakaryocyte populations from three individuals. The mean megakaryocyte diameter was 24 μm in three other specimens and the range was 10–48 μm. This data had a normal distribution and overlapped minimally with the size range of all other marrow cells. The presence of a distinct size threshold (at 11·5 μm) implied that size alone may be a sufficient objective criterion for identification of human megakaryocytes.
Environmental Justice, Values, and Scientific Expertise

This essay compares two philosophical proposals concerning the relation between values and science, both of which reject the value-free ideal but nevertheless place restrictions on how values and science should interact. The first of these proposals relies on a distinction between the direct and indirect roles of values, while the second emphasizes instead a distinction between epistemic and nonepistemic values. We consider these two proposals in connection with a case study of disputed research on the topic of environmental justice and argue that the second proposal has several advantages over the first.
Offspring of women with nonorganic psychosis: fear of strangers during the first year of life

ABSTRACT– Fear of strangers (FOS) during the infant's first year was studied in 46 “high‐risk” offspring of index mothers with a history of nonorganic psychosis and in 80 demographically similar control offspring. FOS was measured in the home by a standardized test at 1 year of age and by repeated interviews with the mother during the first year. As compared with controls, the total index group, and the subgroups of offspring of mothers with Schizophrenia and Cycloid Psychosis, significantly more often showed a total absence of FOS in the test at 1 year, as well as during the entire first year. FOS at 1 year was unrelated both to serious active psychiatric disturbance in index mothers during the infant's first year of life, and the infant's sex, in index and control groups.
Risk of squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the lung in relation to lifetime filter cigarette smoking

Over the past few decades, the incidence of adenocarcinoma (AC) of the lung increased much more rapidly than that of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in men and women. During this time period, filter cigarettes with substantially reduced "tar" and nicotine yields in the smoke came to dominate the market.
Serum Lipid Levels in Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome

ABSTRACT Purpose: To investigate the serum lipid levels in pseudoexfoliation (PEX) syndrome and its association with systemic vascular disorders. Materials and Methods: Patients were divided into three groups: 52 patients with PEX syndrome (group 1), 20 patients with PEX glaucoma (group 2), and 47 control subjects without PEX syndrome or glaucoma (group 3). The fasting serum total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglyceride levels were evaluated by Beckman Coulter DXC 800/USA biochemical analyzer. Results: The mean LDL values were 138 ± 33 mg/dl in group 1, 150 ± 37 mg/dl in group 2, and 127 ± 36 mg/dl in group 3. The mean LDL values in groups 1 and 2 were found to be significantly higher than that of group 3 (p = 0.04). The patients in groups 1 and 2 were more often diabetic and hypertensive than group 3 (p < 0.008, p < 0.005, respectively). Conclusion: Increased LDL values are significantly associated with PEX.
Statistical characterization of two-phase slug flow in a horizontal pipe

The present paper reports the results of an ongoing project aimed at providing statistical information on slugs in two-phase flow in a horizontal pipe. To this end, the flow was examined experimentally and numerically. On the experimental side, three non-intrusive optical techniques were combined and employed to determine the velocity field and bubble shape: particle image velocimetry (PIV), Pulsed Shadow Technique (PST) and Laser-Induced Fluorescence technique (LIF). Statistical information was provided by photogate cells installed at two axial positions. The flow was numerically determined based on the one-dimensional Two-Fluid Model. The tests were conducted on a specially built transparent pipe test section, using air and water as the working fluids. The velocity fields were obtained for flow regimes where the slugs were slightly aerated to facilitate the utilization of the optical methods employed. The main parameters for characterizing the statistically steady flow regime such as slug length and velocity obtained numerically were compared with the experimental data and good agreement was obtained.
Cancer Gástrico: Perfil Epidemiológico 2001-2007 en Lima, Perú

OBJETIVO: Describir y comparar las caracteristicas socio-demograficas y los estilos de vida de pacientes con cancer gastrico versus un grupo control con otros desordenes gastricos importantes, en centros de salud de referencia en Lima, Peru. METODOS: Estudio caso-control pareado por sexo y edad +2 anos. Tiempo: Setiembre 2001 a noviembre 2007. Encuesta a 96 casos con cancer gastrico y a 96 controles. RESULTADOS: No hubo diferencias significativas en raza, estado conyugal, exposicion apolvo de minerales, polvo de madera o de metales; consumo de alcohol, tabaco, carnes rojas, agregar sal a los alimentos, o temperatura elevada de los mismos. Se identifico lesion en el antro gastrico en 87,5% de los controles y 73% de los casos, siendo el adenocarcinoma tubular el tipo histologico mas frecuente entre los casos (56%). No hubo antecedente familiar de cancer en 85% de los casos y 59% de los controles, con diferencia significativa. En los casos se encontro baja escolaridad en las madres y padres de los casos en los casos (OR 3,9, 3,49 y 3,75, respectivamente), tambien en el consumo de frutas o vegetales, leche y queso en menos de una vez por dia (OR 2,3, 2,57 y 2, 9 respectivamente), asi mismo en el tipo de combustible para cocinar (lena, carbon o kerosene OR 5,25) y no usar refrigerador para la conservacion de alimentos (OR 8,4). CONCLUSIONES: El perfil de un paciente con cancer gastrico fue proceder de la sierra (+ 3000 msnm) y selva; condicion socioeconomica baja (baja educacion); bajo consumo de frutas, vegetales y leche; asi como el uso de lena, carbon o kerosene para cocinar y falta de refrigerador para la conservacion de los alimentos. El principal diagnostico histologico entre los casos fue el adenocarcinoma tubular.
Corneal biomechanics, thickness and optic disc morphology in children with optic disc tilt

Aims: To determine the associations between corneal biomechanical parameters as measured by the Reichert Ocular Response Analyser (ORA) and disc morphology and retinal nerve fibre layer thickness (RNFL) measured by the Heidelberg Retinal Tomograph (HRT) II in Singaporean children. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted on a subset of children enrolled in the Singapore Cohort Study of the Risk Factors of Myopia (SCORM). Corneal hysteresis (CH), corneal resistance factor (CRF) and central corneal thickness (CCT) were measured with the ORA. Optic disc morphology and RNFL thickness were assessed by the HRT II. Cycloplegic refraction and ultrasound A-scans were also performed, and disc tilt was assayed from stereo photographs. Results: 102 subjects (mean age 12.01 (SD 0.57) years; range 11–14 years) were included in the study. The mean CH was 12.00 (1.40) mm Hg, the mean CRF was 11.99 (1.65) mm Hg, and the mean CCT was 581.12 (33.53) μm. Eyes with tilted discs had significantly longer axial lengths and more myopic refraction than eyes without tilted discs. There were no significant correlations between CH, CRF or CCT and the HRT II parameters, after the application of the Bonferroni correction. When stratified for disc tilt, however, the global disc area was significantly correlated with CCT (r = −0.49, p = 0.001). Conclusion: Corneal biomechanical properties as measured with the ORA do not vary with optic disc parameters or RNFL. Central corneal thickness is correlated with disc area in Singaporean schoolchildren with tilted discs. This relationship may influence glaucoma risk in myopic subjects.
Análisis de la estabilidad de agregados por el método de le bissonnais en tres órdenes de suelos

La estabilidad de agregados, por ser una caracteristica dinamica, es considerada un indicador sensible de tendencias a la recuperacion o degradacion de los suelos. En la Argentina se han aplicado diferentes metodos de laboratorio para conocer su variacion respecto al uso. El metodo de Le Bissonnais basado en el metodo de Henin, fue desarrollado por INRA de Francia. Se obtiene el diametro medio ponderado de agregados estables con tres pretratamientos: humectacion rapida (DMPe); disgregacion mecanica luego de rehumectacion con etanol (DMPd) y humectacion lenta por capilaridad (DMPc) y, con el promedio se determina un valor que sintetiza la informacion (DMPm). A nivel mundial fue aplicado en suelos de diferentes condiciones de clima y manejo; sin embargo, es necesario conocer su comportamiento en suelos de la Argentina. Los objetivos fueron: i) evaluar el metodo Le Bissonnais para utilizarlo como indicador de degradacion en lotes con diferente grado de intervencion en tres ordenes de suelo (Molisol, Vertisol y Alfisol), ii) relacionar el DMP con el contenido de carbono organico (C), iii) correlacionar los metodos de Le Bissonnais y Henin y iv) cuantificar el tiempo operativo requerido en el procedimiento de determinacion de la estabilidad de agregados. El metodo resulto ser sensible para discriminar condiciones de uso y manejo en los tres suelos analizados, reflejando tendencias al deterioro y a la recuperacion. Se encontro relacion positiva y significativa entre contenido de carbono organico y estabilidad de agregados (R2=0,30). Hubo correlacion significativa entre ambos metodos (r=0,51), que vario segun el suelo, existiendo alto grado de corre­lacion en Molisol, medio en Alfisol y sin asociacion en Vertisol. Existieron asociaciones entre los coeficientes de variacion de ambos metodos, siendo mayores con Henin. Los resultados contribuiran a profundizar en el analisis de mecanismos de agregacion y desa­gregacion, propios de cada suelo y sistemas productivos que, mediante la determinacion de valores umbrales permitira conocer tendencias del recurso y asi generar alertas tempranas de procesos de degradacion.
A Distributed Deadlock Resolution Algorithm for the AND Model

Previous proposals for Distributed Deadlock Detection/Resolution algorithms for the AND model have the main disadvantage of resolving false deadlocks, that is, nonexisting or currently being resolved deadlocks. This paper provides an algorithm free of false deadlock resolutions, A simple specification for a safe deadlock resolution algorithm is introduced, and the new distributed solution is developed in a hierarchical fashion from its abstract specification. The algorithm is probe-based, uses node priorities, and coordinates the actions of resolvers so that false deadlocks are not resolved. The solution is formally proven correct by using the input-output Automata Model. Finally, a study about the liveness of the algorithm is provided.
Prevention of fractures after solid organ transplantation: a meta-analysis.

CONTEXT Bone loss and fracture are serious sequelae of organ transplantation, particularly in the first posttransplant year. Most interventional studies have been inadequately powered to detect effects on fracture. OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to determine whether treatment with bisphosphonates (BP) or active vitamin D analogs (vitD) during the first year after transplantation reduces fracture risk and estimate the effect of these interventions on bone loss. DATA SOURCES Sources included PUBMED, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and abstracts from scientific meetings (presented 2003-2010). STUDY SELECTION Randomized controlled clinical trials of BP or vitD in solid organ transplant recipients were included if treatment was initiated at the time of transplantation and fracture data were collected. DATA EXTRACTION Two investigators independently extracted data and rated study quality. Fixed effect and random-effects models were used to obtain pooled estimates. DATA SYNTHESIS Eleven studies of 780 transplant recipients (134 fractures) were included. Treatment with BP or vitD reduced the number of subjects with fracture [odds ratio (OR) 0.50 (0.29, 0.83)] and number of vertebral fractures, [OR 0.24 (0.07, 0.78)]. An increase in bone mineral density at the lumbar spine [2.98% (1.31, 4.64)] and femoral neck [3.05% (2.16, 3.93)] was found with treatment. When BP trials (nine studies, 625 subjects) were examined separately, there was a reduction in number of subjects with fractures [OR 0.53 (0.30, 0.91)] but no significant reduction in vertebral fractures [OR 0.34 (0.09, 1.24)]. CONCLUSIONS Treatment with BP or vitD during the first year after solid organ transplant was associated with a reduction in the number of subjects with fractures and fewer vertebral fractures.
Childhood experiences and current adjustment of offspring of indigent patients with schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE This study reports the childhood experiences, current life situation and level of adjustment, and prior mental health service use of offspring of indigent people with schizophrenia. METHODS Sixty-eight patient-parents were asked for consent for researchers to contact their adolescent and adult offspring. Thirty-nine consenting offspring were interviewed with an assessment battery that included measures of current occupational and social functioning, psychiatric status, and mental health service use. RESULTS Interviewed offspring were raised in an average of three different settings from birth to 18 years of age. Relatives, particularly grandparents and aunts, were more likely to provide surrogate parenting than were nonkin foster parents and were more significant nurturing figures than biological parents. The typical offspring had a high school diploma, was gainfully employed, and was involved with a spouse or household partner or had a close friend. Twenty-three of the 39 offspring had children, and most were raising their children alone. Ten offspring had a diagnosis of major depression, schizoaffective disorder, or drug or alcohol abuse, but none had a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Four of the ten offspring with a psychiatric diagnosis had never been treated. CONCLUSIONS Findings underscore the need for long-term studies of families with a parent who is a psychiatric patient. Rehabilitation efforts should include extended family who play a critical role in raising offspring during periods when patient-parents are unable to do so. Offspring should be included in efforts to educate families about schizophrenia.
Size at birth and growth trajectories to young adulthood

Few studies in developing countries follow growth trajectories from birth to adulthood. Such studies are important because size at birth and postnatal growth affect risk of chronic disease in adulthood. This study examines the inter‐relationships of maternal factors during pregnancy, infant birth weight and length, early postnatal growth, and young adult height, weight, BMI, and skinfold thicknesses, with particular attention to patterns of growth associated with increased chronic disease risk. Women were recruited in pregnancy, and offspring were followed from birth to age 21 in the community‐based Cebu (Philippines) Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey. Birth weight and length are independently, positively associated with height, BMI and sum of skinfolds in young adult males and females, and inversely associated with the subscapular to triceps ratio in males only. The effects of size at birth on adult size were modified by birth order, and remained significant after adjusting for maternal nutritional status, socioeconomic status at birth and throughout the growth period, and maturation. Early postnatal growth was strongly influenced by BMI at birth, with rapid early infant weight gain associated with thinness. The growth pattern of the at‐risk group most often associated with increased risk of chronic disease (small at birth, relatively heavy as an adult), was characterized by more rapid growth in the first 4 postnatal months. The high level of inter‐relatedness of maternal nutrition in pregnancy, prenatal growth, and postnatal growth emphasizes the need to consider the full growth trajectory in studies of developmental origins of adult disease.Am. J. Hum. Biol. 19:327–337, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The incidence of cryptosporidiosis: a two-year prospective survey in a children's hospital

SUMMARY A two-year prospective survey of patients with diarrhoea at a children's hospital detected 65 cases of cryptosporidiosis; 56 were index cases representing 1·4% of patients examined. There was a marked seasonal variation with fewer index cases in July–September (0·4–0·6%) than February–April (3·5%). All four adult cases were contacts of infected children and 21 (32%) of the patients were 12 months old or younger. Cryptosporidium was the fourth commonest diagnosed cause of gastroenteritis, the second most common non-viral cause, was responsible for 7·2% of all cases, and 14·7% of non-viral cases where a cause was identified. As such it should be sought routinely in cases of gastroenteritis in children.
Serum levels of calcium and magnesium in pre-eclamptic-eclamptic patients in a tertiary institution

Correspondence to: olusanya_abiodun@yahoo.com Copyright 2015, Partner-Graf srl, Prato DOI: 10.14660/2385-0868-23 ABSTRACT We report the exceptional case of an intrauterine fetal death Objective: the aim of this study was to determine the serum levels of calcium and magnesium in patients with preeclampsia/eclampsia and compare with those with normal pregnancies. Materials and methods: venous blood samples were collected from 48 patients with pre-eclampsia, 30 patients with eclampsia, and 78 normal pregnant women. All the subjects were either in the third trimester or within the puerperium. The blood samples were analysed for calcium and magnesium using a colorimeter analyser. The data were analysed using SPSS 17. Results: The serum calcium in the preeclamptic and eclamptic patients were significantly lower than in normal pregnant women (2.05±0.4mmol/l, 1.9±0.2mmol/l vs. 2.6±0.4mmol/l, p<0.000). Unlike serum calcium, serum magnesium was lower in the patients with either preeclampsia or eclampsia compared with normal pregnant women but the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: this study revealed that serum calcium and magnesium in preeclampsia/eclampsia are lower compared to normal pregnancy. It was also revealed in this study that serum calcium and magnesium are lower in patients with eclampsia compared to patients with pre-eclampsia. These findings support the hypothesis that hypocalcaemia and hypomagnesaemia may play a role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia-eclampsia.
Patients as teachers: a qualitative study of patients’ views on their role in a community‐based undergraduate project

Patients have been used in clinical medical education for many years with, traditionally, a relatively passive role. Following the General Medical Council recommendations for curricular change and the development of more community‐based teaching, ‘ordinary patients’ in the community are increasingly being partnered with undergraduate students for particular projects. Very little research has been undertaken on patients’ perceptions of this role.
Using an iPad-based video modelling package to teach numeracy skills to a child with an autism spectrum disorder

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of a video modelling package to teach a 5 year-old boy diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) basic numeracy skills. The treatment package consisted of iPad-based video modelling, gradual fading of video prompts, reinforcement, in vivo prompting and forward chaining. Methods: A single subject multiple baseline across numerals design with generalization and maintenance observational measures. Results: Clear gains were evident in the participant's ability to identify and write the Arabic numerals 1–7 and comprehend the quantity each numeral represents in association with the lagged intervention. Generalization and maintenance data demonstrated the robustness of the treatment effects. Conclusions: IPad-based video modelling, when used in a package, can be an effective technique for teaching numeracy skills to children with an ASD. Systematic replication of this study with different participants is warranted.
Valuing Calm Enhances Enjoyment of Calming (vs. Exciting) Amusement Park Rides and Exercise

Do people derive more enjoyment from activities that match how they ideally want to feel (their “ideal affect”)? Affect valuation theory (AVT) predicts that they do; however, no study has directly examined whether this is the case. Therefore, the authors conducted 4 studies that examined whether valuing calm and other low arousal positive states (LAP) increased enjoyment of calming (vs. exciting) activities. In Study 1, the more participants valued LAP, the more enjoyment they recalled during calming (vs. exciting) episodes from their lives. In Studies 2–3, the more participants valued LAP, the more enjoyment they experienced during calming (vs. exciting) amusement park rides, both in the United States and Hong Kong. To assess causality, in Study 4, participants were randomly assigned to either a “value LAP” or control condition and then engaged in either low or high intensity exercise. Participants in the value LAP condition who engaged in low intensity exercise reported greater enjoyment than those who engaged in high intensity exercise; these differences did not emerge in the control condition. People’s trait levels of experienced LAP (“actual LAP”) were not related to their enjoyment of calming (vs. exciting) activities. Together, these findings provide evidence that people derive more enjoyment from activities that match their ideal affect. The authors discuss the implications of these findings for AVT as well as interventions aimed at enhancing well-being.
Consistency of finite-difference solutions of Einstein's equations.

In the past, arguments have been advanced suggesting that certain finite-difference solutions of the 3+1 form of Einstein's equations suffer from a fundamental inconsistency. Specifically, it has been claimed that freely evolved solutions, where the constraint equations are not explicitly imposed after the initial time, will generally satisfy discrete versions of the constraints to a lower order in the basic mesh spacing {ital h} than the truncation order of the discretized evolution equations. This issue is reexamined here, and using the key observation, originally due to Richardson, that a numerical differentiation need not produce an {ital O}({ital h}{sup {ital p}{minus}1}) quantity from an {ital O}({ital h}{sup {ital p}}) one, it is argued that there should be {ital no} such inconsistency for convergent difference schemes. Numerical results from a study of spherically symmetric solutions of a massless scalar field minimally coupled to the gravitational field are presented in support of this claim. These results show that the expected convergence of various residual quantities can be achieved in practice.