Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Climate change and variability over Malaysia: gaps in science and research information

This paper provides an overview of the current available scientific knowledge pertaining to climate change and climate variability over Malaysia. Malaysia is situated in the western part of the Maritime Continent of the Southeast Asian region. Hence, regional climate change and climate variability over this region are of central importance to the understanding of climate change in Malaysia. The latest regional climate downscaling study indicates that, depending on the emission scenario, the mean surface temperature over Malaysia would increase by 3-5oC by the end of the 21st century. The mean precipitation is projected to decrease (increase) during Northern Hemisphere winter (summer). However, future variabilities associated with regional phenomena such as the monsoon, El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) and Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) are largely unknown. Current knowledge on the intensity and frequency of future extreme events (drought and flood) is limited. This is also the case for regional sea level rise and long-term changes in regional seas, especially in the southern region of the South China Sea. We conclude that knowledge gap in the science of climate change over Malaysia and the surrounding region remains wide.
Radiologic investigations complement and add diagnostic information to capsule endoscopy of small-bowel diseases.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of our study was to review how commonly performed radiologic examinations compare with capsule endoscopy in the investigation of small-bowel diseases, to analyze the limitations of capsule imaging, and to propose an algorithm for use of specific radiologic examinations to complement wireless capsule endoscopy. CONCLUSION The diagnostic yield of capsule endoscopy is superior to that of radiologic examinations except air double-contrast enteroclysis for mucosal details. Radiologic investigations find new applications in clinical practice by complementing capsule endoscopy to overcome its limitations.
The Susceptibility to Dental Erosion Differs among Individuals

Studies of wine tasters and patients with self-induced vomiting have revealed that 30-50% of individuals at high risk do not develop erosive lesions. The aim was to investigate this apparent individual susceptibility to enamel erosion. Two enamel specimens were made from each of 3 premolars from 8 persons (donors). Six acrylic mouth appliances were worn by 6 volunteers (carriers). One specimen from each donor was mounted on each appliance. The carriers wore the appliances for 9 days. The appliances were immersed in 0.01 M HCl for 3 min twice per day to imitate a vomiting/reflux situation. The enamel specimens were analysed by a white-light interferometer to measure enamel loss (in micrometres). The enamel loss varied significantly both between the donor teeth (p = 0.009) and the carriers (p = 0.004). The lesion in the specimen with the largest amount of enamel loss was 4 times as deep as in the specimen with the lowest. In 1 carrier, all specimens displayed enamel loss above the mean, including the specimen from the donor with the most resistant enamel. The variation in susceptibility to erosion among individuals appears to be influenced both by the sustainability of the enamel and by factors in the oral environment. This could explain the variation in prevalence and severity of dental erosions among patients exposed to similar acidic challenges. The results suggest that for certain individuals, only minimal acidic challenges may be sufficient to cause damage to the teeth, while others may never develop dental erosions despite extensive exposure to acid.
Cells That Promotes Phagocytosis by Dendritic Yersinia pestis ( CD 209 ) Is a Receptor for Adhesion Molecule-Grabbing Nonintegrin Human Dendritic Cell-Specific Intercellular

Published Ahead of Print 19 February 2008. 2008, 76(5):2070. DOI: 10.1128/IAI.01246-07. Infect. Immun. Hinnebusch and Tie Chen Bulgheresi, Johnny J. He, John D. Klena, B. Joseph Schwartz, Ramaswamy Kalyanasundaram, Silvia Pei Zhang, Mikael Skurnik, Shu-Sheng Zhang, Olivier Cells That Promotes Phagocytosis by Dendritic Yersinia pestis (CD209) Is a Receptor for Adhesion Molecule-Grabbing Nonintegrin Human Dendritic Cell-Specific Intercellular
Characterisation of model uncertainties for laterally loaded rigid drilled shafts

This paper presents a critical evaluation of model factors for laterally loaded rigid drilled shafts (bored piles). Both the lateral or moment limit and hyperbolic capacity are considered to make explicit the dependence of model factors on the criterion for interpreting ‘capacity’ from load test data. Although the hyperbolic capacity may be closest to the theoretical ultimate state or upper bound, results indicate that it generally does not produce a mean model factor of 1. When the measured capacity is interpreted consistently from load test data, the coefficient of variation (COV) appears to remain relatively constant between 30% and 40%. The range of the mean bias for the lateral or moment limit is 0·67 to 1·49, whereas that of the hyperbolic capacity is 0·98 to 2·28. Based on available data, a log-normal probability model appears adequate for reliability analysis. Laboratory-scale load tests conducted in uniform soil deposits prepared under controlled laboratory conditions are ideal for establishing b.
Optimization of decision-timing for early termination of SSDA-based block matching

The paper describes an analysis-based method for optimizing the timing of decisions regarding early termination of block matching (BM) in the application of a successive similarity detection algorithm (SSDA). Although the SSDA reduces BM computational costs, making decisions to terminate BM or not consumes additional processor cycles. Here, total costs, including cycles for decisions, are formulated through use of a decision interval, processor-dependent cost factors, and a function which gives probabilities of BM termination. The optimal decision interval is derived by minimizing the cost function. Experiments on MPEG-4 video coding show the proposed method facilitates comparative evaluation of the computational costs of SSDA-based BM for various processors.
Effects of Intracranial Pressure Monitoring on Outcome of Patients with Severe Traumatic Brain Injury; Results of a Historical Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring on mortality rate and functional outcome of patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). METHODS This was historical cohort study being performed in Nemazee hospital of Shiraz during a 4-year period (from 2006 to 2010) including those patients with severe TBI who had undergone care based on ICP monitoring (case group) or clinical evaluation (control group). Patients and controls were matched regarding the age, sex, initial GCS, initial pupils, and CT findings. The functional outcome, complications and mortality rate were recorded and compared between those who underwent ICP monitoring and those who did not. RESULTS There was no significant difference between two study groups regarding the baseline characteristics. The rate of meningitis was significantly higher in those who underwent Ventriculostomy and ICP monitoring when compared to those who were managed without ICP monitoring. [14 (23.3%) vs. 7 (11.6%); p=0.041]. We found that the mortality rate (28.3% vs. 11.6%; p=0.172) as well as the frequency of persistent vegetative state (5.0% vs. 5.0%; p=0.998) were comparable between two study groups. However the frequency of severe disability was higher in control group compared to case group (26.7% vs. 15.0; p=0.046). In the same way, the frequency of good recovery (26.7% vs. 15.0; p=0.046) and favorable outcome (51.7% vs. 33.3%; p=0.021) was significantly higher in case group. CONCLUSION Care based on ICP monitoring in patients with severe TBI was associated with increased frequency of good recovery and favorable outcome and decreased frequency of moderate disability. However higher meningitis rate was associated with Ventriculostomy and ICP monitoring.
Competitive Intelligence Practices And Performance Of Firms Listed On The Nairobi Securities Exchange, Kenya

Performance is critical for every listed firm, as it enhances shareholder’s value and capability to generate earnings from invested capital. Some of the firms listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) have been performing poorly as indicated by the rising number of firms issuing profit warnings. The competitive business environment is continuously working to drive down the rate of return on invested capital. To counter these competitive forces, firms have resorted to gathering information at their disposal and converting it into competitive intelligence through analysis and human judgment. This study sought to determine the effect of competitive intelligence practices on performance of firms listed on the NSE. Firm performance was evaluated using both financial and non-financial measures. The non-financial measures used in the study were goal achievement and customer satisfaction, while Return on Assets (ROA) and Return on Equity (ROE) were the financial measures used. The target population was the sixty firms listed on the Nairobi securities exchange. Primary data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire; while secondary data was obtained from the firm’s published annual reports available at the NSE using a document review guide. Quantitative data was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings indicate that competitive intelligence practices have a positive and a statistically significant effect on the non-financial performance of firms listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange. The intelligence practices were found to have a positive but statistically insignificant effect on the financial performance of listed firms. Managers of listed firms should raise the utilization level of competitive intelligence practices to enable the firms to make accurate predictions on changes in the business environment, compete better in the marketplace against rivals, improve on innovation and automation, track competitors’ activities and improve the competitiveness of their firms by identifying threats and opportunities before they become obvious. The study suggests that future researches should focus on extending knowledge on competitive intelligence practices to non-listed corporate sector firms to support the generalization of the findings to all sectors in the economy.
Lymphedema After Surgery for Endometrial Cancer: Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Quality of Life

OBJECTIVE: To estimate lower extremity lymphedema prevalence in patients surgically treated for endometrial cancer, identify predictors of lymphedema, and evaluate the effects of lymphedema on quality of life. METHODS: One thousand forty-eight consecutive patients who were operated on between 1999 and 2008 at the Mayo Clinic were mailed a survey, which included our validated 13-item lymphedema screening questionnaire and two validated quality-of-life measures. Logistic regression models were fit to identify factors associated with prevalent lymphedema; a multivariable model was obtained using stepwise and backward variable selection methods. The relationship between lymphedema and obesity with each quality-of-life score was evaluated separate multivariable linear models. RESULTS: There were 591 responders (56%) after exclusions. Our questionnaire revealed a previous self-reported lymphedema diagnosis in 103 (17%) patients and identified undiagnosed lymphedema in 175 (30%) (overall prevalence 47.0%, median 6.2 years follow-up). Lymphedema prevalence in patients treated with hysterectomy alone compared with lymphadenectomy was 36.1% and 52.3%, respectively (attributable risk 23%). Lymphedema risk was not associated with the number of nodes removed or the extent of lymphadenectomy after adjusting for other factors. On multivariable analysis, higher body mass index, congestive heart failure, performance of lymphadenectomy, and radiation therapy were associated with prevalent lymphedema. Multiple quality-of-life scores were worse in women with lymphedema. CONCLUSION: The attributable risk of developing lower extremity lymphedema was 23% for patients with endometrial cancer who underwent lymphadenectomy compared with hysterectomy alone with an overall prevalence of 47%. Lymphedema was associated with reductions in multiple quality-of-life domains. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II
Atypical herpes simplex can mimic a flare of disease activity in patients with pemphigus vulgaris

We present a 69‐year‐old white woman with pemphigus vulgaris limited to the oral mucosa who presented with oral pain and difficulty swallowing of 2 days duration, followed by multiple irregular ulcers arising from normal mucosa with no grouping of individual lesions – herpes simplex should be considered in the differential diagnosis of lesions that appear suddenly in patients with PV, particularly if the lesions fail to respond to an increased dose of corticosteroids.
Cardiac Involvement in Cooley's Anemia

Among patients who have had severe, refractory hypochromic anemia from infancy and have reached the second decade of life, four-fifths have cardiac involvement and in two-thirds serious cardiac complications have developed. One, acute pericarditis, appears benign but often recurs. The other, cardiac failure with arrhythmias and heart block, usually ends in death within a few months. Clinical and pathologic evidence indicates the presence of acquired hemochromatosis. The natural history of the development of cardiac hemochromatosis has been observed in this group of patients. Progressively deep skin pigmentation appeared in mid to late childhood, and retardation of growth and sexual maturation followed. Three of the seven patients who passed the age of 20 years developed diabetes. Asymptomatic but increasing cardiac enlargement and electrocardiographic abnormalities occurred in 39 out of 46 patients who passed the age of eight years. Nineteen patients had 33 recognized attacks of pericarditis, often with effusion. Cardiac failure developed in 24 patients, and 23 died despite therapy for the decompensation, arrhythmias, electrolyte disturbances, and anemia. The experience with the cardiac complications has been cumulative. Each year as a few more patients approach the second decade, the age of greatest risk, we observe a few more attacks of pericarditis and several more patients in congestive heart failure. In 1955, we had observed seven attacks in five patients. ’ By 1960 12 patients had suffered 23 episodes. ’ Now seven more patients have been affected, and the number of episodes is 33. With respect to congestive heart failure and arrhythmias, we saw the first three cases in the mid 1950’s and reviewed the previous experience a t the New York Hospital, which consisted of four other cases during the 1940’s. :’ By 1960, fifteen patients had developed the complication and 12 had died of it. ’ The total now stands a t 24 patients with 23 deaths.
Perceived stress and resilience in Alzheimer's disease caregivers: Testing moderation and mediation models of social support

Objective: The study examined whether social support functioned as a protective, resilience factor among Alzheimer's disease (AD) caregivers. Moderation and mediation models were used to test social support amid stress and resilience. Method: A cross-sectional analysis of self-reported data was conducted. Measures of demographics, perceived stress, family support, friend support, overall social support, and resilience were administered to caregiver attendees (N = 229) of two AD caregiver conferences. Hierarchical regression analysis showed the compounded impact of predictors on resilience. Odds ratios generated probability of high resilience given high stress and social supports. Social support moderation and mediation were tested via distinct series of regression equations. Path analyses illustrated effects on the models for significant moderation and/or mediation. Results: Stress negatively influenced and accounted for most variation in resilience. Social support positively influenced resilience, and caregivers with high family support had the highest probability of elevated resilience. Moderation was observed among all support factors. No social support fulfilled the complete mediation criteria. Conclusion: Evidence of social support as a protective, moderating factor yields implications for health care practitioners who deliver services to assist AD caregivers, particularly the promotion of identification and utilization of supportive familial and peer relations.
Timing of Renal Replacement Therapy after Cardiac Surgery: A Retrospective Multicenter Spanish Cohort Study

Background: The optimal time to initiate renal replacement therapy (RRT) in cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CSA-AKI) is unknown. Evidence suggests that the early use of RRT in critically ill patients is associated with improved outcomes. We studied the effects of time to initiation of RRT on outcome in patients with CSA-AKI. Methods: This was a retrospective observational multicenter study (24 Spanish hospitals). We analyzed data on 203 patients who required RRT after cardiac surgery in 2007. The cohort was divided into 2 groups based on the time at which RRT was initiated: in the early RRT group, therapy was initiated within the first 3 days after cardiac surgery; in the late group, RRT was begun after the 3rd day. Multivariate nonconditional logistic and linear regression models were used to adjust for potential confounders. Results: In-hospital mortality was significantly higher in the late RRT group compared with early RRT patients (80.4 vs. 53.2%; p < 0.001; adjusted odds ratio of 4.1, 95% CI: 1.6–10.0). Also, patients in the late RRT group had longer adjusted hospital stays by 11.6 days (95% CI: 1.4–21.9) and higher adjusted percentage increases in creatinine at discharge compared with baseline by 67.7% (95% CI: 28.5–106.4). Conclusions: Patients who undergo early initiation of RRT after CSA-AKI have improved survival rates and renal function at discharge and decreased lengths of hospital stay.
Myelodysplastic syndromes in childhood: report of 49 patients from a French multicentre study

We describe the clinical, cytological and cytogenetic features of 49 cases of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) in childhood. Three children had received prior cytotoxic treatment (group 1); all of these had cytogenetic abnormalities and died shortly after diagnosis. 22 children had constitutional anomalies (group 2). The remaining 24 MDS were considered as ‘primary’ (group 3). Hypoplastic marrow was found in nine cases, and only 53% of the MDS fitted the adult FAB classification. Transformation to AML occurred in 11 cases, development of aplastic anaemia in three cases, and spontaneous remission in one case each of RA and RAEB. Differences were observed between groups 2 and 3 in terms of mean age at diagnosis (11.1 months v 5 years), rate of cytogenetic anomalies (15% v 38%) and rate of progression towards acute leukaemia (13% v 29%). In group 2, all the four girls studied exhibited a polyclonal pattern of X‐inactivation, which suggests that MDS may be only the haematological expression of an embryological defect with different target tissues.
High Interaction Variability of the Bivalve-Killing Dinoflagellate Heterocapsa circularisquama Strains and Their Single-Stranded RNA Virus HcRNAV Isolates

HcRNAV is a single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) virus that specifically infects the bivalve-killing dinoflagellate, Heterocapsa circularisquama. HcRNAV strains are grouped into 2 types (UA and CY), based on intra-species host specificity and the amino acid sequence of the major capsid protein (MCP). In the present study, we report the isolation of novel HcRNAV clones (n=51) lytic to the H. circularisquama strains, HU9433-P, HCLG-1, 05HC05 and 05HC06. HcRNAV34, HcRNAV109, HcRNAV641, and HcRNAV659, which displayed lytic activity against the strains, HU9433-P, HCLG-1, 05HC05, and 05HC06, respectively, were selected as typical virus clones and were intensively examined. The infection intensity of each host-virus combination was analyzed by examining the algicidal activity, detecting the intracellular replication of the viral RNA as well as the appearance of host cells with a morphologically abnormal nucleus post-infection. Interestingly, the strains, 05HC05 and 05HC06, were markedly sensitive to HcRNAV641 and HcRNAV659, respectively. Tertiary structural modeling predicted 4 unique amino acid (aa) substitutions in HcRNAV659-MCP to be exposed to an ambient water environment, which contributed towards determining its infection specificity. Neighbor-joining analysis of MCP aa sequences from HcRNAV clones revealed 3 clades, namely, the CY type and the UA1 and UA2 subtypes. The HcRNAV clones lytic to HCLG-1 (ex. HcRNAV109), HU9433-P and 05HC05 (ex. HcRNAV34), and 05HC06 (ex. HcRNAV659) were categorized into CY type, UA1 and UA2 subtypes, respectively. The present study highlights the complexity of the H. circularisquama-HcRNAV host-virus system, i.e., clonal variation, microbial control, and ecology in a natural algal population.
Neuronal loss correlates with but exceeds neurofibrillary tangles in Alzheimer's disease

To assess the relationship between dementia, neuronal loss, and neuropathological findings in Alzheimer's disease (AD), we counted the number of neurons, senile plaques, and neurofibrillary tangles in a high‐order association cortex. We studied the superior temporal sulcus of 34 individuals with AD and 17 nondemented control subjects, using statistically unbiased, stereological counting techniques. The number of superior temporal sulcus neurons in nondemented control subjects was stable across the sixth to ninth decades. In AD, more than 50% of the neurons were lost. Both neuronal loss and neurofibrillary tangles increased in parallel with the duration and severity of illness, but the amount of neuronal loss exceeded by manyfold the amount of neurofibrillary tangles accumulated. In contrast to the correlation between neurofibrillary tangels and neuronal loss, the number of senile plaques and the percentage of the superior temporal sulcus that was covered by Aβ (amyloid burden) were not related to neuronal loss, number of neurofibrillary tangles, or duration of disease. Neither the amount nor the rate of neuronal loss in the superior temporal sulcus in AD correlated with apolipoprotein E genotype. These data suggest that neuronal loss in association areas such as the superior temporal sulcus contributes directly to cognitive impairment in AD.
Truncated ClC-1 mRNA in myotonic dystrophy exerts a dominant-negative effect on the Cl current

Background: Muscle fiber degeneration and myotonic discharges are the hallmarks of myotonic dystrophy (DM). The molecular basis for the myotonia was recently tied to abnormal splicing of the chloride channel (ClC-1) pre-mRNA, often resulting in UAG premature termination, which leads to decreased channel protein and therefore a reduced resting chloride conductance. Methods: The authors assessed the functional properties of two commonly occurring DM mRNA splice variants by expression in oocytes. Results: Neither splice variant coded for a functional Cl− channel. Co-injection of alternative splice variants with wild-type ClC-1 cRNA reduced the current density and accelerated channel closure upon repolarization of the membrane. Conclusions: These data show that the aberrantly spliced chloride channel message exerts a dominant negative effect that may contribute to the development of myotonia.