Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Which child will have a febrile seizure?

OBJECTIVE To identify risk factors predictive of a first febrile seizure. DESIGN Case-control study. SETTING Regional referral pediatric hospital emergency department. PATIENTS Seventy-five patients aged 6 months to 4 years presenting with a first febrile seizure were age-matched to two febrile and two afebrile noninfectious controls who had never had a seizure. METHODS Telephone interview of parents. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Risk factors assessed included family history of febrile or afebrile seizures, neurodevelopmental abnormality, and child-care arrangement. Analysis was done by matched case-control and logistic regression. RESULTS Factors associated with a significant increase in risk of a first febrile seizure were febrile seizures in first-degree relative (odds ratio [OR], 4.5) or second-degree relative (OR, 3.5); neonatal discharge at 28 days or later (OR, 5.6); parental report of "slow" development (OR, 4.9); and day-care attendance (OR, 3.1). For children with two risk factors (an estimated 3% of the population), the risk of developing febrile seizures is approximately 28% (assuming a population incidence of febrile seizures of 4%).
Fitness Comparison of Thymidine Analog Resistance Pathways in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1

ABSTRACT Resistance to zidovudine (ZDV) results from thymidine analog resistance mutations (TAMs) at human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase (RT) codons 41, 67, 70, 210, 215, and 219. Two mutations are possible at codon 215: Y or F. Whereas T215Y occurs alone or with M41L and L210W (TAM-1 pattern), T215F rarely occurs with these mutations or by itself; it is found instead with D67N, K70R, and K219Q (TAM-2 pattern). The L210W mutation most often occurs with M41L and T215Y and rarely occurs with the T215F or TAM-2 mutation. To explain these associations, TAMs were introduced into HIV-1Hxb2 by site-directed mutagenesis and expressed in recombinant viruses. Viral replication kinetics, relative fitness, and infectivity were tested in the absence or presence of ZDV. Viruses carrying the 215Y mutation showed faster replication kinetics and greater relative fitness than did T215F mutants in the absence or presence of ZDV. In addition, T215Y mutants showed greater infectivity than did wild-type HIV-1 over a range of ZDV concentrations, but T215F mutants had only a modest advantage over the wild-type virus. Whereas introduction of L210W improved the relative fitness of an M41L/T215Y mutant in the presence of ZDV, introduction of this mutation into a D67N/K70R/K219Q background resulted in decreased relative fitness in the presence or absence of drug. By contrast, introduction of T215F into the D67N/K70R/K219Q background increased viral fitness in the presence of ZDV. These results help explain why T215Y but not T215F usually emerges as the first major TAM, as well as the clustering of L210W with TAM-1 mutations and T215F with TAM-2 mutations.
Efficacy of the laryngeal tube during intermittent positive‐pressure ventilation

We studied the efficacy of the laryngeal tube (VBM, Germany) during intermittent positive‐pressure ventilation in 50 patients. After induction of anaesthesia and neuromuscular blockade, a size 4 laryngeal tube was inserted for patients of height 155 cm or greater. After insertion of the laryngeal tube, its pharyngeal and oesophageal balloons were inflated to an intracuff pressure of 60 cmH2O. An Ambu self‐inflating bag was attached to the laryngeal tube and the lungs were ventilated manually at 15 breath.min−1. It was possible to ventilate the lungs at the first attempt in 47 patients (94%). The airway pressure at which air leaked around the laryngeal tube exceeded 18 cmH2O in 41 patients (82%), and was > 30 cmH2O in 25 (50%). Median [interquartile range (range)] leak pressure was 30 [20–30 (6 to > 30)] cmH2O. Median [interquartile range (range)] tidal volume was 587 [533–653 (133–800)] ml or 8.8 [8.2–10.6 (1.9–12.6)] ml.kg−1. We conclude that the laryngeal tube has a potential role in airway management during intermittent positive‐pressure ventilation for anaesthesia or cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Maximum thermal limits of coral reef damselfishes are size dependent and resilient to near-future ocean acidification

ABSTRACT Theoretical models predict that ocean acidification, caused by increased dissolved CO2, will reduce the maximum thermal limits of fishes, thereby increasing their vulnerability to rising ocean temperatures and transient heatwaves. Here, we tested this prediction in three species of damselfishes on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Maximum thermal limits were quantified using critical thermal maxima (CTmax) tests following acclimation to either present-day or end-of-century levels of CO2 for coral reef environments (∼500 or ∼1000 µatm, respectively). While species differed significantly in their thermal limits, whereby Dischistodus perspicillatus exhibited greater CTmax (37.88±0.03°C; N=47) than Dascyllus aruanus (37.68±0.02°C; N=85) and Acanthochromis polyacanthus (36.58±0.02°C; N=63), end-of-century CO2 had no effect (D. aruanus) or a slightly positive effect (increase in CTmax of 0.16°C in D. perspicillatus and 0.21°C in A. polyacanthus) on CTmax. Contrary to expectations, early-stage juveniles were equally as resilient to CO2 as larger conspecifics, and CTmax was higher at smaller body sizes in two species. These findings suggest that ocean acidification will not impair the maximum thermal limits of reef fishes, and they highlight the critical role of experimental biology in testing predictions of theoretical models forecasting the consequences of environmental change. Summary: Despite a widespread perception that end-of-century ocean acidification will reduce the thermal limits of fishes, we show that critical thermal maxima of coral reef damselfishes are robust to this stressor.
Characteristics of Chinese Patients with Symptomatic Brugada Syndrome in Taiwan

Since 1992, the Brugada syndrome has been increasingly recognized worldwide, although its incidence and distribution remain unclear. In Asia, several cases have been reported in Japan, Thailand, Singapore, and Vietnam. However, little information is available from the Chinese population. Since June 1997, we have identified 10 patients with the diagnosis of the Brugada syndrome from six hospitals in Taiwan. All patients were male with the mean age of 46 ± 7 years (range 36–61). They all had a normal chemistry profile, coronary angiography and echocardiography. Clinical presentations varied from seizure and syncope to sudden cardiac death. MRI and ultrafast CT of the heart did not show any abnormalities. Sustained ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation (VF) was induced in 7 of 8 patients who underwent an electrophysiologic study. The pharmacological provocation test was positive in 4 of 5 patients. One of the 4 patients who had a genetic study showed SCN5A gene mutation. An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) was implanted in 8 patients. During a mean follow-up of 29 ± 17 months (range 2–54), 3 of 8 patients who had an ICD received appropriate ICD discharges after implantation. These 3 patients who were subsequently treated with antiarrhythmic agents have had no further recurrent ICD discharges. Two patients who refused ICD implantation are alive and well without taking antiarrhythmic agents. Our study showed that the clinical characteristics of our patients are similar to those described in the literature and that ICD is an effective treatment modality for patients with recurrent VF. However, antiarrhythmic agents may be beneficial for suppressing arrhythmia recurrences in selected patients.
The Power of Change: Interpersonal Attraction as a Function of Attitude Similarity and Attitude Alignment

ABSTRACT Does attitude alignment predict attraction? Would you like a stranger more who shifts her/his attitudes to more closely align with yours? In pairs, participants (N = 77) discussed social issues about which they disagreed and received false feedback on whether the partner engaged in attitude alignment (shifted her/his attitudes toward the participant's attitude) following discussion. Participants also received false feedback about the proportion of similarity to the partner on a set of issues (i.e., 25%, 50%, or 75%). Participants reported greater attraction to partners who engaged in attitude alignment and who were more similar. Moreover, similarity and attitude alignment interacted. Similarity predicted attraction when attitude alignment did not occur, but did not predict attraction when attitude alignment did occur. Finally, partner attitude alignment led to participant attitude alignment, and perceived reasoning ability mediated the attitude alignment-attraction relationship.
Price Sensitivity and Innovativeness for Fashion Among Korean Consumers

Price sensitivity is how consumers react to price levels and to price changes. Consumer innovativeness is a tendency to welcome and to adopt new products. Researchers (e.g., R. E. Goldsmith & S. J. Newell, 1997) consider innovative consumers relatively more price insensitive than other consumers, so there should be a negative correlation between measures of these constructs. The results of the present study supported the psychometric soundness of a self-report measure of price sensitivity among 860 Korean consumers and replicated earlier findings of the negative correlation between the 2 constructs.
A comprehensive approach to expression of L1 loci

Abstract L1 elements represent the only currently active, autonomous retrotransposon in the human genome, and they make major contributions to human genetic instability. The vast majority of the 500 000 L1 elements in the genome are defective, and only a relatively few can contribute to the retrotransposition process. However, there is currently no comprehensive approach to identify the specific loci that are actively transcribed separate from the excess of L1-related sequences that are co-transcribed within genes. We have developed RNA-Seq procedures, as well as a 1200 bp 5΄ RACE product coupled with PACBio sequencing that can identify the specific L1 loci that contribute most of the L1-related RNA reads. At least 99% of L1-related sequences found in RNA do not arise from the L1 promoter, instead representing pieces of L1 incorporated in other cellular RNAs. In any given cell type a relatively few active L1 loci contribute to the ‘authentic’ L1 transcripts that arise from the L1 promoter, with significantly different loci seen expressed in different tissues.
Implementation of an electronic medical record system in previously computer-naïve primary care centres: a pilot study from Cyprus.

BACKGROUND The computer-based electronic medical record (EMR) is an essential new technology in health care, contributing to high-quality patient care and efficient patient management. The majority of southern European countries, however, have not yet implemented universal EMR systems and many efforts are still ongoing. We describe the development of an EMR system and its pilot implementation and evaluation in two previously computer-naïve public primary care centres in Cyprus. METHODS One urban and one rural primary care centre along with their personnel (physicians and nurses) were selected to participate. Both qualitative and quantitative evaluation tools were used during the implementation phase. Qualitative data analysis was based on the framework approach, whereas quantitative assessment was based on a nine-item questionnaire and EMR usage parameters. RESULTS Two public primary care centres participated, and a total often health professionals served as EMR system evaluators. Physicians and nurses rated EMR relatively highly, while patients were the most enthusiastic supporters for the new information system. Major implementation impediments were the physicians' perceptions that EMR usage negatively affected their workflow, physicians' legal concerns, lack of incentives, system breakdowns, software design problems, transition difficulties and lack of familiarity with electronic equipment. CONCLUSION The importance of combining qualitative and quantitative evaluation tools is highlighted. More efforts are needed for the universal adoption and routine use of EMR in the primary care system of Cyprus as several barriers to adoption exist; however, none is insurmountable. Computerised systems could improve efficiency and quality of care in Cyprus, benefiting the entire population.
Partition behavior of virgin olive oil phenolic compounds in oil-brine mixtures during thermal processing for fish canning.

The chemical modifications and partitioning toward the brine phase (5% salt) of major phenol compounds of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) were studied in a model system formed by sealed cans filled with oil-brine mixtures (5:1, v/v) simulating canned-in-oil food systems. Filled cans were processed in an industrial plant using two sterilization conditions commonly used during fish canning. The partitioning of phenolic compounds toward brine induced by thermal processing was studied by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of the phenol fraction extracted from oils and brine. Hydroxytyrosol (1), tyrosol (2), and the complex phenolic compounds containing 1 and 2 (i.e., the dialdehydic form of decarboxymethyl oleuropein aglycon 3, the dialdehydic form of decarboxymethyl ligstroside aglycon 4, and the oleuropein aglycon 6) decreased in the oily phase after sterilization with a marked partitioning toward the brine phase. The increase of the total amount of 1 and 2 after processing, as well as the presence of elenolic acid 7 released in brine, revealed the hydrolysis of the ester bond of hydrolyzable phenolic compounds 3, 4, and 6 during thermal processing. Both phenomena (partitioning toward the water phase and hydrolysis) contribute to explain the loss of phenolic compounds exhibited by EVOO used as filling medium in canned foods, as well as the protection of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in canned-in-EVOO fish products.
Challenges in immunodiagnostic tests for leprosy.

INTRODUCTION Despite the effectiveness of multidrug therapy, leprosy still represents a significant global health problem: transmission of Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae) is not sufficiently reduced as witnessed by unwavering new case rates in leprosy-endemic countries. Early detection of M. leprae infection (before clinical manifestations occur) is vital to reduction of transmission. Current diagnosis relies on detection of clinical signs since there are no tests available to detect asymptomatic M. leprae infection or predict progression to leprosy. AREAS COVERED Identification of risk factors (immunological or genetic biomarkers) for disease development and/or onset of leprosy reactions is imperative for efficient diagnosis. Tests simultaneously detecting biomarkers specific for cellular and humoral immunity are well suited for diagnosis of different clinical outcomes of leprosy. This review describes the challenges of discovery of biomarkers for M. leprae infection and their implementation in field-friendly tests. EXPERT OPINION In view of the complicated nature of M. leprae infections, it is essential to invest in longitudinal studies allowing intra-individual comparison of immune and genetic biomarkers in various leprosy-endemic areas. Furthermore, the effect of co-infections on biomarker profiles should also be taken into account. Diagnostic tests based on such biomarkers can contribute significantly to early detection of leprosy (reactions) thus helping reduce nerve damage.
Stages I to II WHO 2003–Defined Low-Grade Endometrial Stromal Sarcoma: How Much Primary Therapy Is Needed and How Little Is Enough?

Objective Before 2003, invasive endometrial stromal sarcomas (ESS) were classified into 2 categories, low-grade and high-grade ESS, according to the mitotic index. In 2003, the World Health Organization changed the definition and the diagnostic criteria. Before 2003, 20% to 35% low-grade ESS recurred, but WHO 2003–defined low-grade ESS has 10 years’ recurrence rates of less than 10%. With so few recurrences, the balance between treatment guaranteeing cure and overtreatment (“not too little” or “too much”) becomes increasingly important. However, primary treatment practices range from limited surgery only to extensive surgery combined with adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. We focused on the primary treatment of early-stage WHO 2003–defined low-grade ESS. Methods We evaluated the effect of different therapeutic strategies in 57 patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics 2009 stages I to II expert-reviewed WHO 2003–defined low-grade ESS treated at a single institution between 1992 and 2007. Results The patients’ median age was 43 years (range, 19–63 years). After 68 months’ median follow-up (range, 17–140 months), recurrence and mortality rates were 9% and 2%, respectively. The patients with WHO 2003–defined low-grade ESS with ovary-preserving primary surgery had a much higher recurrence rate (75%) than those without (2%; P < 0.0001). Lymphadenectomy, radical abdominal hysterectomy, and omentectomy did not influence survival. Ten patients refused chemotherapy. With univariate analysis, multiple-agent chemotherapy improved the prognosis (P = 0.02) With multivariate analysis, only ovary preservation-or-not surgery had independent prognostic value. Conclusions In International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics 2009 stage I to stage II WHO 2003–defined low-grade ESS, total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy is sufficient surgery, but ovary-preserving primary surgery increases the risk of recurrence. More extensive surgical procedures than total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy do not improve prognosis in early-stage WHO 2003–defined low-grade ESS. Chemotherapy may improve progression-free survival in early-stage low-grade ESS, but a large sample size is needed to confirm this.
The inhibitory in-vitro effect of high-dose levosimendan on platelet function may be mediated through its action as a phosphodiesterase inhibitor

ObjectiveLevosimendan enhances cardiac contractility by increasing myocyte sensitivity to calcium and causing vasodilatation. Although studies have evaluated the efficacy of levosimendan in heart failure, whether levosimendan produces an effect on platelets is a subject of controversy. In the present study, the in-vitro effect of levosimendan on platelet aggregation was investigated. The effect of levosimendan on the cyclic AMP concentration was determined according to its second mode of action as a selective phosphodiesterase III inhibitor. Materials and methodsPlatelet aggregation setting was performed using venous blood from three healthy volunteers. Different concentrations of levosimendan solution were prepared that would result in 0.04–125 µg/ml levosimendan concentrations in whole blood and in platelet-enriched plasma. After incubation for 3 min at 37°C, aggregation responses were evaluated with ADP (10 µmol/l), collagen (5 µg/ml), or NaCl. The cyclic AMP concentration was determined using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. ResultsThe in-vitro results clearly showed that there was only a relationship between a high levosimendan concentration (12–125 µg/ml) and inhibition of platelet aggregation that was negatively dependent on the cAMP concentration. ConclusionLevosimendan has no significant effect as a phosphodiesterase III inhibitor on in-vitro platelet aggregation in clinically relevant doses.
Synchronization of Switched Neural Networks With Communication Delays via the Event-Triggered Control

This paper addresses the issue of synchronization of switched delayed neural networks with communication delays via event-triggered control. For synchronizing coupled switched neural networks, we propose a novel event-triggered control law which could greatly reduce the number of control updates for synchronization tasks of coupled switched neural networks involving embedded microprocessors with limited on-board resources. The control signals are driven by properly defined events, which depend on the measurement errors and current-sampled states. By using a delay system method, a novel model of synchronization error system with delays is proposed with the communication delays and event-triggered control in the unified framework for coupled switched neural networks. The criteria are derived for the event-triggered synchronization analysis and control synthesis of switched neural networks via the Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional method and free weighting matrix approach. A numerical example is elaborated on to illustrate the effectiveness of the derived results.
Maximum a posteriori estimation of height profiles in InSAR imaging

We present a statistical method to solve the height estimation problem in interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) applications. It is based on the use of multifrequency SAR raw datasets obtained by partitioning in subbands the available raw data spectrum, and on a Bayesian estimator using Markov random fields to model the a priori distribution of the unknown images. The method allows recovering topographic profiles affected by strong height discontinuities and allows to perform efficient noise rejections.
Masked hypertension and cardiovascular outcomes: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis

Background As many as one-third of individuals with normal office blood pressure (BP) are diagnosed with masked hypertension (HTN) based on ambulatory BP measurements (ABPM). Masked HTN is associated with higher risk of sustained HTN (SH) and increased cardiovascular morbidity. Methods The present study was designed to systematically review cohort studies and assess the effects of masked HTN compared to normotension and SH on cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. We systematically searched the electronic databases, such as MEDLINE, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane for prospective cohort studies, which evaluated participants with office and ambulatory and/or home BP. Results We included nine studies with a total number of 14729 participants (11245 normotensives, 3484 participants with masked HTN, 1984 participants with white-coat HTN, and 5143 participants with SH) with a mean age of 58 years and follow-up of 9.5 years. Individuals with masked HTN had significantly increased rates of cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality than normotensives and white-coat HTN and had lower rates of cardiovascular events than those with SH (odds ratio 0.61, 95% confidence interval 0.42–0.89; P=0.010; I2=84%). Among patients on antihypertensive treatment, masked HTN was associated with higher rates of cardiovascular events than in those with normotension and white-coat HTN and similar rates of cardiovascular events in those with treated SH. Conclusion Prompt screening of high-risk individuals with home BP measurements and ABPM, the diagnosis of masked HTN, and the initiation of treatment, may mitigate the adverse cardiovascular effects of masked HTN.
Systematic Relationships of Hynobius okiensis among Japanese Salamanders (Amphibia: Caudata)

Abstract We conducted an electrophoretic survey to examine systematic relationships of a lotic-breeding salamander Hynobius okiensis endemic to Dogo Island of the Oki Islands, Japan, with several lentic and lotic-breeding Japanese species. Genetically H. okiensis with 2n=56 chromosomes was closer to the lentic-breeding H. nebulosus group (H. nebulosus and H. dunni) with the same chromosome number than to the lotic-breeding H. naevius group (H. naevius and H. kimurae) and H. boulengeri with 58 chromosomes. Chromosome number reduction from 58 to 56, possibly accompanied with a change in breeding environment from streams to still waters, is estimated to have first occurred in the nebulosus group of Hynobius. A reversal only in breeding habits then seems to have followed in steep, montane environments of the small island of Dogo, resulting in the speciation of H. okiensis.