Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rates of Visual Field Loss in Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma and Primary Angle-Closure Glaucoma: Asymmetric Patterns.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the rate of visual field (VF) loss in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG). Methods Four hundred forty eyes of 282 patients with POAG (aged 53.4 ± 12.0: mean ± standard deviation, years) and 79 eyes of 49 patients with PACG (aged 62.7 ± 9.0 years) with at least six or more reliable VF tests were studied. Point-wise, region-wise, and global rates of VF change were assessed for POAG and PACG eyes. Only the VF records prior to laser iridotomy or cataract surgery were included in PACG eyes. The global and superior-inferior asymmetric rates of VF loss were compared between POAG and PACG eyes. Results The mean total deviation (mTD) values at baseline were -6.4 ± 5.7 dB in POAG patients and -6.4 ± 7.3 dB in PACG patients. There was not a significant difference in the progression rates of mTD between POAG eyes (-0.23 ± 0.38 dB/y) and PACG eyes (-0.29 ± 0.45 dB/y). In POAG eyes, the VF progression rate was significantly asymmetric across the horizontal line; the central, paracentral, and peripheral arcuate 2 regions in the superior hemifield had a significantly faster rate of VF loss than their inferior counterparts. In contrast, this asymmetry was not observed in the rate of VF loss in PACG eyes. Conclusions POAG eyes showed a faster rate of VF loss in the superior hemifield compared to in the inferior hemifield, particularly in central and paracentral regions. This difference was not observed in PACG eyes.
Human islets expressing HNF1A variant have defective &bgr; cell transcriptional regulatory networks

Using an integrated approach to characterize the pancreatic tissue and isolated islets from a 33-year-old with 17 years of type 1 diabetes (T1D), we found that donor islets contained &bgr; cells without insulitis and lacked glucose-stimulated insulin secretion despite a normal insulin response to cAMP-evoked stimulation. With these unexpected findings for T1D, we sequenced the donor DNA and found a pathogenic heterozygous variant in the gene encoding hepatocyte nuclear factor-1&agr; (HNF1A). In one of the first studies of human pancreatic islets with a disease-causing HNF1A variant associated with the most common form of monogenic diabetes, we found that HNF1A dysfunction leads to insulin-insufficient diabetes reminiscent of T1D by impacting the regulatory processes critical for glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and suggest a rationale for a therapeutic alternative to current treatment.
Sedentary behaviour in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A qualitative study

Background Despite increasing interest in investigating sedentary behaviour (SB) in the general population and in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), there is little documentation of the subjective experiences of SB in patients with RA. This study aimed to examine how patients with RA describe their daily SB. Methods Fifteen patients with RA (10 women and 5 men) from 23 to 73 years of age and with a disease duration ranging from 4 to 27 years were interviewed following a semi-structured interview guide. Data were analysed using the content analysis method described by Graneheim. Results SB appeared in three categories covering: 1) A constant battle between good and bad days; SB could be a consequence of RA in terms of days with pronounced pain and fatigue resulting in many hours of SB. 2) Adaptation to everyday life; living with the unpredictability of RA included constant modification of physical activity level causing increase in SB, especially during periods of disease flare. Prioritizing and planning of SB also functioned as part of self-management strategies. 3) It has nothing to do with my arthritis; for some patients, SB was not related to RA, but simply reflected a way of living independent of the disease. Conclusions SB is perceived, motivated, and performed differently in patients with RA. An individually tailored approach may be essential in understanding and encouraging patients’ motivation towards sustainable change in SB and activity patterns.
U.S. Return Migration and the Decline in Southern Black Disadvantage, 1970-2000.

Objective This study investigates how the Return Migration altered racial inequality in poverty in the American South. Methods I disaggregate southern poverty into its separate constituents using household data from the Integrated Public Use Microdata Series (IPUMS) for 1970 through 2000. Results The prevalence of poverty declined most dramatically for black southern households and the racial gap in poverty narrowed to the extent that previous substantial regional differences disappeared. A central focus is the contrast between higher poverty and inequality among migrants who returned to their birth state relative to other southern-born migrants who returned to the South. Conclusions The migration experience is diverse and has conflicting consequences for racial inequality; for some, migration maintained economic vulnerability. Given the complex force of migration, I conclude that a nuanced theoretical approach to migration that gives weight to economic and noneconomic motivations is critical to understand the racial dimensions of migration and the associated changes in racial inequality.
ANTIBODY FORMATION

Injection of a small bacteriophage φX 174 into guinea pigs results in an accelerated elimination of phage detectable as early as 24 hours after injection. The immune nature of the accelerated elimination is indicated by its specificity, by the appearance of excess specific serum antibody after phage elimination, and by the prevention of accelerated elimination by 400 r whole body x-irradiation of guinea pigs prior to injection of phage. The early antibody response is considered to be a primary one since an analogous response occurs in newborn guinea pigs, antibody is not detectable in the sera of non-immunized animals, and the second challenge with φX stimulates a serum antibody response 100-fold greater than that after primary immunization. The early detection of immune elimination appears to be due, in part, to the small amounts of phage employed, since larger doses of phage delay the time of onset of detectable immune elimination. The early rise of serum antibody in the primary and secondary response appears exponential with a similar rate constant of antibody formation. The rate constant is also independent of dose. These findings have led to the suggestion that during this exponential phase, the relative rate of antibody formation at a cellular level may be constant for a given antigen.
Second Language Pragmatics: From Theory to Research

Initially, the methods involved in the study of L2 pragmatics emerged from the combination of questions prompted by theories and studies of second language acquisition (SLA) in the context of L1 pragmatics research. In this book, we have described how current L2 pragmatics research is expanding from its initial base, and drawing from a wider range of sources, ranging from education to psychology to computational, and cognitive. Concomitantly, elicitation methods and practices developed within L2 pragmatics research are now also helpfully filtering through to other areas, enriching general SLA research and beginning to inform theory construction. Second Language Pragmatics: From Theory to Research aims to reinvigorate this field, pointing the way forward to new methodologies that can drive, or be driven by, new theoretical developments. With a unique combination of leading international expertise in general pragmatics, L2 pragmatics, and research methodology, the authors describe in detail the methods, including the most recent techniques, by which pragmatics of all types can be pursued in L2 contexts. This volume argues that L2 pragmatics research needs to expand from its initial base by drawing from a wider range of sources, such as Corpus Linguistics and Psycholinguistics. Clear, accessible, and practical, Second Language Pragmatics will be valuable to novice and seasoned researchers alike in second language pragmatics, general pragmatics, and second language acquisition courses.
Glasgow Coma Scale and Its Components on Admission: Are They Valuable Prognostic Tools in Acute Mixed Drug Poisoning?

Introduction. The verbal, eye, and motor components of Glasgow coma scale (GCS) may be influenced by poisoned patients' behavior in an attempted suicide. So, the values of admission GCS and its components for outcomes prediction in mixed drugs poisoning were investigated. Materials and Methods. A followup study data was performed on patients with mixed drugs poisoning. Outcomes were recorded as without complications and with complications. Discrimination was evaluated by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC). Results. There was a significant difference between the mean value of each component of GCS as well as the total GCS between patients with and without complication. Discrimination was best for GCS (AUC: 0.933 ± 0.020) and verbal (0.932 ± 0.021), followed by motor (0.911 ± 0.025), then eye (0.89 ± 0.028). Conclusions. Admission GCS and its components seem to be valuable in outcome prediction of patients with mixed drug poisoning.
Randomized Controlled Trial of a High Dose of Oral Erythromycin for the Treatment of Feeding Intolerance in Preterm Infants

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of high-dose erythromycin to treat feeding intolerance in preterm infants predominantly fed milk formula. Design: This study is a prospective randomized controlled trial on 60 premature infants suffering from feeding intolerance. Thirty infants were given oral erythromycin ethylsuccinate at a dose of 50 mg/kg/day for 10 days or until they reached full enteral feeds. Randomization was stratified according to gestational age <32 weeks or ≧32 weeks gestation. The primary end point was the time taken to establish full enteral feeding since enrollment. Potential adverse effects associated with erythromycin were also monitored. Student’s t test was used for comparison of continuous variables and χ2for categorical data. Results: In infants <32 weeks, the use of erythromycin was associated with more daily weight gain (12.8 ± 2.6 g vs. 9.2 ± 5.3 g, p = 0.04) compared to the control group. Time to reach full feed did not differ between the erythromycin (13.8 ± 3.9 days) and the control (17.46 ± 4.9 days) groups (p = 0.07). In infants ≧32 weeks, there were no differences between the erythromycin and the control groups. Conclusion: High-dose erythromycin is associated with greater weight gain in preterm infants <32 weeks gestational age, who are predominantly fed cow’s milk-based protein formulas.
Meningococcal Genetic Variation Mechanisms Viewed through Comparative Analysis of Serogroup C Strain FAM18

The bacterium Neisseria meningitidis is commonly found harmlessly colonising the mucosal surfaces of the human nasopharynx. Occasionally strains can invade host tissues causing septicaemia and meningitis, making the bacterium a major cause of morbidity and mortality in both the developed and developing world. The species is known to be diverse in many ways, as a product of its natural transformability and of a range of recombination and mutation-based systems. Previous work on pathogenic Neisseria has identified several mechanisms for the generation of diversity of surface structures, including phase variation based on slippage-like mechanisms and sequence conversion of expressed genes using information from silent loci. Comparison of the genome sequences of two N. meningitidis strains, serogroup B MC58 and serogroup A Z2491, suggested further mechanisms of variation, including C-terminal exchange in specific genes and enhanced localised recombination and variation related to repeat arrays. We have sequenced the genome of N. meningitidis strain FAM18, a representative of the ST-11/ET-37 complex, providing the first genome sequence for the disease-causing serogroup C meningococci; it has 1,976 predicted genes, of which 60 do not have orthologues in the previously sequenced serogroup A or B strains. Through genome comparison with Z2491 and MC58 we have further characterised specific mechanisms of genetic variation in N. meningitidis, describing specialised loci for generation of cell surface protein variants and measuring the association between noncoding repeat arrays and sequence variation in flanking genes. Here we provide a detailed view of novel genetic diversification mechanisms in N. meningitidis. Our analysis provides evidence for the hypothesis that the noncoding repeat arrays in neisserial genomes (neisserial intergenic mosaic elements) provide a crucial mechanism for the generation of surface antigen variants. Such variation will have an impact on the interaction with the host tissues, and understanding these mechanisms is important to aid our understanding of the intimate and complex relationship between the human nasopharynx and the meningococcus.
CAREER MATURITY AMONG SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

Career Maturity has its origin in the Super’s developmental theory of career behavior, which envisages that selection of an occupation is a process spanning a considerable number of years usually from late childhood to early adulthood. Career Maturity describes one’s ability to successfully cope with vocational development tasks (e.g. crystallizing, specifying, and implementing career choice) that are encountered across the developmental continuum from exploration stage through withdrawal. The present study aimed at investigating career maturity among secondary school students. All the senior secondary school students of district Mandi constituted the population of the study. In all a sample of 108 senior secondary schools students were selected randomly from the selected schools. In the present study analysis and interpretation of the data statistical techniques mean, standard deviation and t-test were used. The findings of the study revealed that gender-wise, locality-wise, type of school in which student are studying do not differed significantly in their career maturity.
REMOVAL OF CHROMATE IN TRACE CONCENTRATION USING ION EXCHANGE FROM TANNERY WASTEWATER

The removal of chromate ions in trace concentration from tannery wastewater effluent usingIon exchangetechniquewas carried out byvarying parameters such as Chromate concentration and contact time. A maximum of 99% removal efficiency in the batch Ion exchange process was achieved over an equilibrium contact time of 20min. The equilibrium uptake of chromate was constant at average 9.8mg/L for initial chromate concentration of 10mg/L irrespective of the high concentration of chloride and sulphate ions in the wastewater. This inferred that the interference of these co-ions have no significant effect on the chromate uptake by the ions exchange resins used in this study. While, in the column experiments high effectiveness in the removal of chromate ions in trace concentration was observed. A removal efficiency of 98% of chromate removal was achieved even in the presence of high concentration of competing Ions. Obviously, this has shown the selectively of the resin towards the chromate uptake. The ion-exchange technique was found to be appealing for the removal of trace concentration of chromate when in the background there is high concentration of chloride and sulphate co-ions present in the tannery wastewater.
Occupational Exposure to Pesticides and Its Effects on Health Status of Workers in Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Pesticides are a large and diverse group of chemicals used to kill and eradicate rodents, fungi, insects, and weeds. The present study was designed to check the effect of pesticides on liver as well as kidney function of the workers engaged in occupations in which there is persistent exposure to pesticides, (dealers, gardeners and owners of gardens), and to check the prevalence of hepatitis in these workers indistrict Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Blood samples were collected and history was taken from different groups of individuals exposed to pesticides. Four groups were made, owners, gardeners, dealers and control, which had approximately same age and were engaged in this field for an average of 8 years. A significant decrease in hemoglobin concentration was noticed in all the exposed groups. The level of glutamate pyruvate transaminase, uric acid, bilirubin (direct and total) and calcium was high among exposed groups compared to control. The prevalence of both hepatitis B and C was also high in exposed groups. Pesticides significantly affected the hemoglobin level, and altered liver and kidney functions. The same study may be preceded to other biochemical and hematological parameters considering a large number of exposed persons.
Escape from Poverty: What Makes a Difference for Children? P. Lindsay Chase-Lansdale and Jeanne Brooks-Gunn (Eds.).

1. Whose responsibility? An historical analysis of the changing role of mothers, fathers, and society P. Lindsay Chase-Lansdale and Maris A. Vinovskis 2. The life circumstances and development of children in welfare families Nicholas Zill, Kristin Moore, Ellen Wolpow Smith, Thomas Stief, and Mary Jo Coiro 3. Welfare to work through the eyes of children Julie Boatright Wilson, David Ellwood and Jeanne Brooks-Gunn 4. Strategies for altering the outcomes of poor children and their families Jeanne Brooks-Gunn 5. Policy issues of child care Andrew J. Cherlin 6. Child care and children of color Margaret Beale Spencer, Janet Blumenthal and Elizabeth Richards 7. Health policy in the Family Support Act of 1988 Katherine S. Lobach 8. Economic issues of health care Barbara L. Wolfe 9. Dealing with Dads: the changing roles of fathers Frank J. Furstenberg Jr 10. The effects of child support reform on child well-being Irwin Garfinkel and Sara McLanahan 11. Losing ground or moving ahead: welfare reform and children Ron Haskins 12. National surveys as data resources for public policy research on poor children Nicholas Zill 13. An interdisciplinary model for studying poor children Timothy M. Smeeding 14. Two generation programs: a new intervention strategy and directions for future Sheila Smith.
White-Collar Criminals in Modern Management

Criminal behavior among executives is a complicated challenge in human resource management. Based on a sample of 305 convicted white-collar criminals in Norway, four groups of criminals are discussed in this paper: criminal entrepreneurs, corporate criminals, criminal followers, and female criminals. There are significant differences between these groups. Crime amount in terms of Norwegian kroner is highest for corporate criminals and lowest for female criminals. It is interesting to note than even if crime amount for corporate criminals is higher than for criminal entrepreneurs, corporate criminals receive a shorter jail sentence than criminal entrepreneurs. It seems that crime on behalf of the business is treated more mildly in court, when compared to crime on behalf of the person himself. When followers are involved in the crime, there are more persons participating in the crime. The lowest number of participants is found in cases of criminal entrepreneurship.
Measurement of Free Stream Turbulence: It’s Modeling and Computations

Present research was initiated to study effects of free stream turbulence (FST) on flow instability and transition. Instabilities of some flows have been investigated qualitatively with respect to FST- but scant attention has been paid to compute extrinsic dynamics of flows due to FST. In actual flows, omnipresent background disturbances, e.g. FST triggers transition to turbulence. The motivation for the present work is to characterize and model FST, based on it’s statistics, obtained from wind tunnel and flight test experiments. The developed model is applied to numerically study the receptivity of flow past circular cylinder to the FST
Intrafocal Pinning for Dorsally Displaced Distal Radius Fractures

Intrafocal pinning of dorsally displaced distal radius fractures, as described by Kapandji in 1976, was very popular during the last two decades of the last century. This method has clear economic advantages over other modern methods of internal fixation such as locking plates. The authors aim at presenting the results of a series of 56 patients operated for distal radius fractures between 1994 and 1999. All patients were clinically reviewed and radiographically assessed at a mean of 16 months
Property Tax Capitalization within a National Historic District versus Property Tax Capitalization outside that National Historic District: Another Application of the Tiebout Hypothesis

This study has two objectives. First, it seeks to apply a hedonic pricing model to determine whether property taxes have been capitalized into the prices of single family homes located within in the Savannah Historic Landmark District in Savannah, Georgia. A total of 593 home sales over the 2000-2005 period are considered, with the housing prices and the property tax expressed in 2005 dollars. Second, this study seeks to apply that very same model to prices of some 1908 single family homes within the metropolitan Savannah area but outside the Savannah Historic Landmark District. Estimating the model in semi-log form, after allowing for a variety of housing characteristics, reveals that the natural log of the real sales price of single-family houses within the Savannah Historic Landmark District as well as those outside the Savannah Historic Landmark District were in fact negatively affected by the city and county property tax level.
Can a snow structure model estimate snow characteristics relevant to reindeer husbandry

Snow affects foraging conditions of reindeer e.g. by increasing the energy expenditures for moving and digging work or, in contrast, by making access of arboreal lichen easier. Still the studies concentrating on the role of the snow pack structure on reindeer population dynamics and reindeer management are few. We aim to find out which of the snow characteristics are relevant for reindeer in the northern boreal zone according to the experiences of reindeer herders and is this relevance seen also in reproduction rate of reindeer in this area. We also aim to validate the ability of the snow model SNOWPACK to reliably estimate the relevant snow structure characteristics. We combined meteorological observations, snow structure simulations by the model SNOWPACK and annual reports by reindeer herders during winters 1972-2010 in the Muonio reindeer herding district, northern Finland. Deep snow cover and late snow melt were the most common unfavorable conditions reported. Problematic conditions related to snow structure were icy snow and ground ice or unfrozen ground below the snow, leading to mold growth on ground vegetation. Calf production percentage was negatively correlated to the measured annual snow depth and length of the snow cover time and to the simulated snow density. Winters with icy snow could be distinguished in three out of four reported cases by SNOWPACK simulations and we could detect reliably winters with conditions favorable for mold growth. Both snow amount and also quality affects the reindeer herding and reindeer reproduction rate in northern Finland. Model SNOWPACK can relatively reliably estimate the relevant structural properties of snow. Use of snow structure models could give valuable information about grazing conditions, especially when estimating the possible effects of warming winters on reindeer populations and reindeer husbandry. Similar effects will be experienced also by other arctic and boreal species.