Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of antibiotic-impregnated shunt catheters in reducing shunt infection: data from the United Kingdom Shunt Registry.

OBJECT In recent years CSF shunt catheters impregnated with rifampicin and clindamycin have been introduced to the United Kingdom (UK) market. These catheters have been shown to be effective in vitro against cultures of Staphylococcus epidermidis. The authors used data collected by the UK Shunt Registry to assess the efficacy of antibiotic-impregnated catheters (AICs) against shunt infection by using a matched-pair study design. METHODS The UK Shunt Registry contains data on nearly 33,000 CSF shunt-related procedures. The authors identified 1139 procedures in which impregnated catheters had been used, and accurate information was known about diagnosis, number of revisions, sex, and age in these cases. The database was ordered chronologically and searched forward and backward for cases with these same characteristics but involving conventional catheters. Matches were found for 994 procedures. RESULTS Among the 994 procedures in which AICs had been used, 30 shunts were subsequently revised because of shunt infection. Among the 994 controls, 47 were subsequently revised for infection (p = 0.048, chi-square test). CONCLUSIONS The UK Shunt Registry does not collect data on causative organisms, and the surgeon is relied on entirely for the diagnosis of infection. However, with the large number of matched pairs evaluated, the authors attempted to reduce bias to a minimum. Their data suggest that AICs have the potential to significantly reduce shunt infections.
Antecedents and consequences of green innovation in the wine industry: the role of channel structure

In this study, we place green innovation in a broader technology development, commercialisation and distribution context to test hypotheses in three areas: (1) the internal vs external drivers of green innovation; (2) the effect of green innovation on business performance; and (3) the role of channel structures (the degree to which producers sell directly to consumers or businesses) in making green innovation more productive in terms of business performance. To test our hypotheses, data from an international survey among 123 wineries is used. Our results suggest that internal drivers, i.e. environmental management and quality management in particular, play a greater role than external drivers (e.g. government and regulatory pressures) on the adoption of green innovation strategies. Producing and using organic products and processes and recycling activities are found to have a significant direct positive impact on business performance. Our results also confirm the moderating effect of channel structures: the benefits of green innovation in terms of business performance are larger when firms use more direct sales channels (selling wine directly from the wine cellar to consumers and businesses).
Laboratory Studies of Density Increase on Shelves

Abstract : LONG TERM GOALS. The long-term goal is to understand the fluid mechanics of buoyancy and wind driven transport on the continental shelf, including along-shelf transport and exchange with the deep Arctic Ocean. OBJECTIVES. To understand flows in scaled laboratory experiments. APPROACH. We developed prototype laboratory experiments and generated simple theories. The experiments and theories indicate design requirements for further experiments. We then design and conduct new laboratory experiments that yield important new observations of flow patterns and quantitative measurements of important parameters. These are compared with theory and ocean data.
Diagnostic Accuracy of Mammography and Sonomammography in Evaluation of Symptomatic Women

Mammography and sonomammography are two widely used modalities for evaluation of breast masses. The relative risk of malignancy in breast masses and prognostication is assessed by using the BIRADS lexicon proposed by the American college of radiology (ACR). The aim of our study was to determine the efficacy of mammography and sonomammography in evaluation of women presenting with breast lump. Our study included 147 women presenting to our institute with complaints of breast lump. X-ray mammography and sonomammography evaluation of these patients yielded 155 masses. Histopathological confirmation of diagnosis by biopsy / excision of the mass was done. Mammography had a sensitivity of 89%, specificity of 80 % and a PPV of 69%. Sonomammography evaluation had 95 % sensitivity, 79% specificity with PPV and NPV being 68% and 97 % respectively. In conclusion, the sensitivity of mammography is higher in symptomatic women than screening mammography. Sonomammography performed better than mammography in lesion characterization in symptomatic women. It helped in differentiation of solid from cystic lesions thus eliminating the necessity of follow up. Sonomammography is a useful adjunct to mammography in evaluation of dense breasts.
Assessment of financial performance and the effect on dividend policy of the banking companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange

This study aims to determine the assessment of financial performance and the effect on dividend policy of banking companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in the period of 2014–2017. The assessment of the company’s financial performance is important. Results of the assessment will be consideration of financial performance for investors, one of them to predict the dividend policy. The prediction results will influence investors in making investment decisions. This study employs a quantitative approach. The assessment of financial performance is measured using variables of leverage, profitability and profit growth. They were analyzed using the multiple linear regression method. At the 0.05 significance level, the results of this study showed that the leverage has a negative and significant effect on dividend policy. Meanwhile, profitability and profit growth have no effect on dividend policy. In order to explain the influence between variables, the research is based on the theories underlying the dividend policy, namely the theory of residual dividends and smoothing theory. The results of this study support the residual dividend theory, that one of the dividend policies is determined by the company by considering the target capital structure and then distributing dividends with only the remaining profit.
CWM 1 : a general model to describe biokinetic processes in subsurface flow constructed wetlands

Guenter Langergraber (corresponding author) Institute for Sanitary Engineering and Water Pollution Control, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Muthgasse 18, A-1190 Vienna, Austria E-mail: guenter.langergraber@boku.ac. at Diederik P. L. Rousseau Department of Environmental Resources, UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, P.O. Box 3015, 2601 DA, Delft, The Netherlands E-mail: d.rousseau@unesco-ihe.org Joan Garcı́a Environmental Engineering Division, Department of Hydraulics, Coastal and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Catalonia, Jordi Girona 1-3, 08034 Barcelona, Spain E-mail: joan.garcia@upc.edu Javier Mena Department R+D + i, Research and Development Centre for the Recuperation of the Environment (CIDRA), C/Calidad 3, Polı́gono Industrial Sur, 13250 Daimiel (Ciudad Real), Spain E-mail: jmena@alquimiaimasd.com This paper presents the Constructed Wetland Model No1 (CWM1), a general model to describe biochemical transformation and degradation processes for organic matter, nitrogen and sulphur in subsurface flow constructed wetlands. The main objective of CWM1 is to predict effluent concentrations from constructed wetlands without predicting gaseous emissions. CWM1 describes aerobic, anoxic and anaerobic processes and is therefore applicable to both horizontal and vertical flow systems. 17 processes and 16 components (8 soluble and 8 particulate) are considered. CWM1 is based on the mathematical formulation as introduced by the IWA Activated Sludge Models (ASMs). It is important to note that besides the biokinetic model a number of other processes including porous media hydrodynamics, the influence of plants, the transport of particles/suspended matter to describe clogging processes, adsorption and desorption processes and physical re-aeration must be considered for the formulation of a full model for constructed wetlands
The Fuzzy Direct Torque Control of Induction Motor Based on Space Vector Modulation

In the paper, voltage space vector modulation technology is used for fuzzy direct torque control of AC induction motor with fuzzy stator resistance estimator, which can weaken the ripple of torque and flux of fuzzy direct torque control system, therefore the control system get swifter response velocity, stronger robustness and higher precision of velocity control. The computer simulated results verify the validity of this novel method.
Digging Deeper--Evidence on the Effects of Macroprudential Policies from a New Database

This paper introduces a comprehensive database of macroprudential policies, which covers 134 countries from January 1990. Using a novel numerical indicator of the tightness of loan‐to‐value (LTV) regulations, we estimate the policy effects of incremental tightening in LTV limits, employing a propensity score–based method to address endogeneity concerns. The results point to economically significant and nonlinear effects on household credit, with a declining per‐unit impact for larger tightening measures. The analysis indicates that policy leakage effects could be a factor behind the nonlinear effects. We finally find that the side effects of macroprudential policies on consumption and output are relatively small.
Disability status at 1 month is a reliable proxy for final ischemic stroke outcome

Background: Three months is the standard timepoint for assessing final functional status after acute ischemic stroke in phase 3 clinical trials. Earlier reliable timepoints for outcome ascertainment would facilitate care quality improvement programs that employ administrative datasets and reduce the loss to follow-up observed in many stroke clinical trials. We assessed whether day 30 global disability status reliably predicts final 3-month disability outcome among acute stroke patients. Methods: Data of 5,997 subjects in acute stroke trials conducted between 1998 and 2006 from the Virtual International Stroke Trials Archive dataset were partitioned into a derivation cohort (n = 4,051) and a validation cohort (n = 1,946). Global disability was assessed with modified Rankin Scale (mRS). To evaluate the association of day 30 vs day 90 mRS, weighted kappa agreement was computed and then adjusted using multivariable ordinal logistic modeling. Results: Overall, mean age was 67.6 ± 12.4 years; 2,541 (45.2%) were women. Day 30 mRS score correlated strongly with day 90 (r = 0.87, p < 0.001); weighted kappa agreement was 0.86 (95% confidence interval 0.85–0.87, p < 0.001). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, day 30 mRS was the dominant variable associated with day 90 mRS, accounting for 65.6% of the variance. Nine other baseline variables were associated with outcome, but collectively explained only an additional 1.8% of the variance. Conclusions: After an index ischemic stroke, global disability status at 1 month reliably estimates final 3-month disability outcomes. One-month disability status alone may be dependable and efficient as an outcome measure in stroke quality improvement programs and select clinical trials.
Effects of a strength and stretching program, combined or Iisolated, on active flexibility in physical education setting.

Methods. A sample of 46 high-school students (16 girls and 30 boys) aged 12-14 years from four classes were clustered and randomly assigned to a strength group (n=8), a stretching group (n=12), a strength + stretching group (n=16) or a control group (n=10). During physical education classes, the experimental students performed a 1-minute stretching, a 1-minute strength or a 2-minutes strength + stretching program twice a week a total of 20 weeks. Control students performed the same physical education classes, but they did not follow any strength and/or stretching program. Active flexibility (estimated by the classic sit-and-reach test) was assessed at the beginning and at the end of the intervention program.
ALLOGRAFT REJECTION IN LARVAL AND ADULT XENOPUS FOLLOWING EARLY THYMECTOMY

The effect of thymectomy (performed on 7− to 8-day old larvae) on the development of alloimmunity in the clawed toad is examined. Rejection of first-set skin grafts applied in larval life (30 days of age) and at intervals following metamorphosis (70 to 370 days of age) was always impaired following thymectomy. However, most of the thymectomized animals, even those grafted as larvae and blocked in the larval state by thiourea treatment, were able to destroy the transplants, albeit with prolonged rejection times. The pattern of graft rejection in thymectomized larvae was similar to that seen in adults. After thymectomy, there seemed to be no improvement or impairment of the alloimmune response with the passage of time. Experiments with second-set grafts applied subsequent to first-set destruction demonstrated the existence of an alloimmune memory component throughout ontogeny in both control and thymectomized animals. The results indicate that a population of cells involved in graft rejection develops early in ontogeny, independent of the thymus and the emergence of bone marrow at metamorphosis.
Ectonucleotide diphosphohydrolase activities in Entamoeba histolytica.

In this work, we describe the ability of living cells of Entamoeba histolytica to hydrolyze extracellular ATP. In these intact parasites, whose viability was determined by motility and by the eosin method, ATP hydrolysis was low in the absence of any divalent metal (78 nmol P(i)/h/10(5) cells). Interestingly, in the presence of 5 mM MgCl(2) an ecto-ATPase activity of 300 nmol P(i)/h/10(5) cells was observed. The addition of MgCl(2) to the extracellular medium increased the ecto-ATPase activity in a dose-dependent manner. At 5 mM ATP, half-maximal stimulation of ATP hydrolysis was obtained with 1.23 mM MgCl(2). Both activities were linear with cell density and with time for at least 1 h. The ecto-ATPase activity was also stimulated by MnCl(2) and CaCl(2) but not by SrCl(2), ZnCl(2), or FeCl(3). In fact, FeCl(3) inhibited both Mg(2+)-dependent and Mg(2+)-independent ecto-ATPase activities. The Mg(2+)-independent ATPase activity was unaffected by pH in the range between 6.4 and 8. 4, in which the cells were viable. However, the Mg(2+)-dependent ATPase activity was enhanced concomitantly with the increase in pH. In order to discard the possibility that the ATP hydrolysis observed was due to phosphatase or 5'-nucleotidase activities, several inhibitors for these enzymes were tested. Sodium orthovanadate, sodium fluoride, levamizole, and ammonium molybdate had no effect on the ATPase activities. In the absence of Mg(2+) (basal activity), the apparent K(m) for ATP(4-) was 0.053 +/- 0.008 mM, whereas at saturating MgCl(2) concentrations, the corresponding apparent K(m) for Mg-ATP(2-) for Mg(2+)-dependent ecto-ATPase activity (difference between total and basal ecto-ATPase activity) was 0.503 mM +/- 0.062. Both ecto-ATPase activities were highly specific for ATP and were also able to hydrolyze ADP less efficiently. To identify the observed hydrolytic activities as those of an ecto-ATPase, we used suramin, a competitive antagonist of P(2) purinoreceptors and an inhibitor of some ecto-ATPases, as well as the impermeant agent 4'-4'-diisothiocyanostylbenzene-2'-2'-disulfonic acid. These two reagents inhibited the Mg(2+)-independent and the Mg(2+)-dependent ATPase activities to different extents, and the inhibition by both agents was prevented by ATP. A comparison among the ecto-ATPase activities of three amoeba species showed that the noninvasive E. histolytica and the free-living E. moshkovskii were less efficient than the pathogenic E. histolytica in hydrolyzing ATP. As E. histolytica is known to have a galactose-specific lectin on its surface, which is related to the pathogenesis of amebiasis, galactose was tested for an effect on ecto-ATPase activities. It stimulated the Mg(2+)-dependent ecto-ATPase but not the Mg(2+)-independent ATPase activity.
Effect of vaginally administered DHA fatty acids on pregnancy outcome in high risk pregnancies for preterm delivery: a double blinded randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES to verify whether vaginally intake of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid, would improve length of gestation and newborn birth weight in high risk pregnancies for preterm delivery. METHODS this study was a randomized, double-blind, controlled, clinical trial, including women at high risk for preterm delivery. Of 74 eligible women, 31 refused to participate and 34 were enrolled and randomized with equal chance of selection, 22 were assigned to treatment group and 21 were assigned to the control group, and received placebo. One gram of DHA was administered vaginally once a day starting from 21 (1 week of gestation until 37 weeks + 0 day). The primary endpoint was to determine the length of the pregnancy and secondary endpoint the newborn weight. RESULTS gestational age at delivery was 38.6 (SD, 1.05) weeks in the docosahexaenoic acid group and 37.6 (SD, 0.84) weeks in the placebo group (P =0.007). For women who completed the treatment and delivered at term there was a statistically difference of the weights in the two groups [3082.1 (SD, 293) gr cases vs 2699.3 (SD, 150) gr controls P <0.0001]. CONCLUSION in high risk patients for preterm delivery, the vaginal administration of a DHA increases length of gestation and newborn birth weight.
Robot path planning with penetration growth distance

An algorithmic approach to path finding is considered for a general class of robotic systems. The basic idea is to formulate an optimization problem over a family of continuous paths which satisfy the specified end conditions and possess robot-obstacle collisions. The cost to be minimized depends on the penetration growth distance, a new measure for the depth of intersection between a pair of object models. The growth distance and its derivatives with respect to configuration variables describing the orientation and position of the objects can be computed quickly. This is a key factor in attaining acceptable computational times. Variations of the initial strategy, which improve computational efficiency and reliability, are discussed. Significant reductions in computational time are easily obtained by parallel processing. <<ETX>>
Obstetric outcome in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome.

We were intrigued to read the recent paper by Mikola and coworkers (Mikola et al., 2001), as their findings suggesting a lack of association between polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and pre-eclampsia are very different from our recently published study (Kashyap and Claman, 2000). Our retrospective case–control study found that PCOS patients who were pregnant following gonadotrophin therapy had a much higher incidence of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) when compared with similarly treated non PCOS controls (odds ratio 12.1, 95% confidence interval 1.3–566.8). A few points may help explain this difference: (i) We looked specifically at the occurrence of PIH (i.e. blood pressure 140/90 on two occasions with return to pre-pregnancy blood pressure postpartum). Mikola et al. included proteinuria in their definition of pre-eclampsia, which would have excluded patients who had PIH; (ii) Our control group was different from that used by Mikola et al. as we chose our control group from a group of women without PCOS who were pregnant after gonadotrophin stimulation treatment. The control group used by Mikola and co-workers came from a population of pregnant women in the town of Kerava, Finland; (iii) Our PCOS patients were all pregnant after gonadotrophin treatment whereas the PCOS patients in the study by Mikola et al. were by-and-large pregnant after clomiphene citrate therapy, which may attest to a more severe form of PCOS in our study group. Having reviewed the interesting paper by Mikola et al. as well as our own findings it appears that pregnant PCOS patients are at a higher risk of PIH. For this reason, PCOS patients should be followed carefully for the occurrence of PIH in pregnancy.
One-year antioxidant supplementation with beta-carotene or selenium for patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus: a pilot study.

40 coccobacilli called elementary bodies. The elementary bodies are round to oval, 2-5 f.lm, and dark blue and may show purplish granules; they represent individual organisms. In patients with Ehrlichia chaffeensis infection, these inclusions are seen in mononuclear cells. In patients with HGE, similar inclusions are confined to granulocytes. Preliminary studies suggest that the tick vector in HGE is likely to be Ixodes scapularis (Ixodes dammini) [3]. Many Ixodes pacificus ticks, the western counterpart to 1. scapularis, were found on our patient's property. This patient had constitutional complaints and laboratory abnormalities similar to those reported in other cases [1]. Lymphocytosis due to yOT cells has been reported in patients with E. chaffeensis infection [4]. Evidence of infection due to HGE in this case was demonstrated by a 12-fold rise in the titer of antibody to Ehrlichia equi antigen (granulocytic Ehrlichia group) and by serial PCR positivity with use ofprimers previously shown to be specific for Ehrlichia species [3]. Serum samples from day 15 and 22 were positive for Borrelia burgdorferi by ELISA, but the result of IgG western blot analysis was equivocal on day 15 and negative on day 22. Since serum samples were negative for B. burgdorferi by PCR and lacked B. burgdorferi-specific antibody, coinfection with B. burgdorferi seems unlikely. It is of interest that the convalescent serum specimen showed substantial reactivity to heat-shock proteins (60-66 kD) in the western blot for Lyme disease; these proteins were speculated to stimulate yO T cell proliferation. The causative agent of HGE recently has been cultivated in cell culture [5]. However, laboratory diagnosis rests on detection of Ehrlichia-specific DNA by PCR or by antibody production. Anti-