Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Magnetic laser scanner for endoscopic microsurgery

Scanning lasers increase the quality of the laser microsurgery enabling fast tissue ablation with less thermal damage. However, the possibility to perform scanning laser microsurgery in confined workspaces is restricted by the large size of currently available actuators, which are typically located outside the patient and require direct line-of-sight to the microsurgical area. Here, a magnetic scanner tool is designed to allow endoscopic scanning laser microsurgery. The tool consists of two miniature electromagnetic coil pairs and permanent magnets attached to a flexible optical fiber. The actuation mechanism is based on the interaction between the electromagnetic field and the permanent magnets. Controlled and high-speed laser scanning is achieved by bending of the optical fiber with magnetic torque. Results demonstrate the achievement of a 3×3 mm2 scanning range within the laser spot is controlled with 35μm precision. The system is also capable of automatically executing high-speed laser scanning operations over customized trajectories with a root-mean-squared-error (RMSE) in the order of 75μm. Furthermore, it can be teleoperated in real-time using any appropriate user interface device. This new technology enables laser scanning in narrow and difficult to reach workspaces, promising to bring the benefits of scanning laser microsurgery to laparoscopic or even flexible endoscopic procedures. In addition, the same technology can be potentially used for optical fiber based imaging, enabling for example the creation of new family of scanning endoscopic OCT or hyperspectral probes.
THE USE OF CT SCANNING IN DEMENTIA

While reversible cases of dementia are rare once detected, the patient may benefit from treatment. This paper examines the cost-effectiveness of computerized tomography (CT) scanning as a screening test for potentially reversible dementia. A systematic review was carried out to identify the proportion of patients with dementia above and below the age of 65 years with a theoretically treatable condition and the proportion of these patients who would benefit from neurosurgery. Information was combined with epidemiological and financial data relating to Scotland to model the costs and benefits of implementing a national screening program. Subdural hematoma, normal pressure hydrocephalus, and brain tumours are rare conditions treatable by neurosurgery. A scanning and treatment program for Scotland would cost £4.6 million per annum. Of 531 reversible cases detected, 136 would benefit from neurosurgery, 369 would not benefit, and 26 would die as a result of surgery. Treating normal pressure hydrocephalus reduces overall quality-adjusted survival. The most cost effective screening strategy is to scan all patients but treat only subdural hematomas, gaining 178 quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) at a cost of £14,171 per QALY for patients aged 65 at the time of the scan. The corresponding figures for patients above and below 65 years are £9,000 and £23,000, respectively. CT scanning appears cost-effective in dementia patients under 65 years. It should be undertaken selectively in more elderly patients. Surgical treatment of normal pressure hydrocephalus may reduce quality adjusted survival and should only be undertaken within clinical trials.
System Reliability Under Cascading Failure Models

Cascading failure models have been studied more recently as for electric power systems, epidemics, and interdependent networks. The current paper presents three cascading failure models in the point-view of system reliability based on the normalized CASCADE model. The corresponding system reliability indices are developed including system reliability, expectation lifetimes of systems, distributions of total number of failures, distributions of cascading failure propagation generations, and other related probabilities. Two numerical examples are discussed, and the conclusions are summarized.
The Hidden Resources of Women Working Longer: Evidence from Linked Survey-Administrative Data

Despite women’s increased labor force attachment over the lifecycle, household surveys such as the Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement (CPS ASEC) do not show increases in retirement income (pensions, 401(k)s, IRAs) for women at older ages. We use linked survey-administrative data to demonstrate that retirement incomes are considerably underreported in the CPS ASEC and that women’s economic progress at older ages has been substantially understated over the last quarter century. Specifically, the CPS ASEC shows median household income for women age 65-69 rose 21 percent since the late 1980s, while the administrative records show an increase of 58 percent. Survey biases in women’s own incomes appear largest for women with the longest work histories. We also exploit the panel dimension of our data to follow a cohort of women and their spouses (if present) as they transition into retirement in recent years. In contrast to previous work, we find that most women do not experience noticeable drops in income up to five years after claiming social security, with retirement income playing an important role in maintaining their overall standard of living. Our results pose a challenge to the literature on the “retirement consumption puzzle” and suggest total income replacement rates are high for recent retirees.
Cognitive therapy, nutritional therapy and their combination in the treatment of bulimia nervosa

Background. This study compared the effectiveness of cognitive therapy (CT), nutritional therapy (NT), the combination of cognitive and nutritional therapy (CNT), against a control condition of support group (SG) in the treatment of bulimia nervosa. Methods. One hundred female out-patients who fulfilled DSM-III-R criteria for bulimia nervosa were randomized to the four treatment groups. NT and CT were designed to cover different areas with minimal overlap, and CNT provided all of the features of both of these treatments. The control condition was conducted in a group self-help format. Each of the treatments lasted 14 weeks. Results. All three active treatments as well as SG produced significant decreases in binge/vomit episodes. Intent-to-treat analysis found CNT and CT to be significantly more effective than SG in retaining subjects in treatment and completion of study, as well as in producing greater improvements in dysfunctional attitudes and self-control. CNT was superior to SG in achieving abstinence from bulimic behaviour. NT was superior to SG only in increase of self-control. Logistic regression found that the cognitive component, whether given alone or in conjunction with NT, and higher pre-treatment self-control scores were significant predictors for both completion of study and abstinence. Conclusion. CT (either alone, or in combination with nutritional therapy) remains the treatment of choice for bulimia nervosa. A treatment escalation approach should be tested for the treatment of bulimia with the more intensive and less widely available CT (with or without nutritional counselling) offered after patients have failed the less intensive and more widely available support group treatment.
Immune Function in PTSD

Abstract: Disturbed regulation of both the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal (HPA) axis and sympathoadrenomedullary system in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) suggests that immune function, which is modulated by these systems, may also be dysregulated. Two dermatologic, in vivo measures of immune function, delayed‐type hypersensitivity (DTH) and skin barrier function recovery, were examined in female subjects with PTSD and compared to measures in healthy female comparison subjects. In addition, at the time of DTH test placement, circulating numbers of lymphocyte subtypes were assessed. In separate studies, the effects of acute psychological stress on DTH and skin barrier function recovery were examined in healthy volunteer subjects. Both DTH and barrier function recovery were enhanced in women with PTSD. These findings contrast with the effects of acute stress in healthy control subjects, which was associated with suppression of DTH responses and skin barrier function recovery. There was no difference between subjects with PTSD and healthy control subjects in proportions of circulating lymphocyte subsets or in expression of the lymphocyte markers CD62, CD25, and CD45RO/CD45RA. These results suggest that cell‐mediated immune function is enhanced in individuals with PTSD, a condition that imposes chronic physiologic and mental stress on sufferers. These findings contrast with suppression of DTH and skin barrier function recovery in healthy volunteers in response to acute psychological stress.
Age-related Changes of Human Limbus on In Vivo Confocal Microscopy

Purpose: To show age-related changes in the presence of Vogt palisades in human limbus and the quantity and size of the limbal basal epithelial cells (LBECs) by in vivo confocal microscopy (CM). Methods: One hundred sixty eyes of 160 healthy subjects were enrolled in this study after a routine slit-lamp examination. They were divided into 4 groups according to age: A (0-19 years), B (20-39 years), C (40-59 years), and D (>60 years). In vivo CM examination was performed on the inferior limbus, and the images were recorded. For each group, the positive rate of Vogt palisades was analyzed and the average size of LBECs was measured. Results: The positive rate of Vogt palisades in groups A, B, C, and D was 97.5% (39/40), 95.0% (38/40), 77.5% (31/40), and 40.0% (16/40), respectively, showing a significant decreasing tendency with age. The average size of LBECs in groups A, B, C, and D was 9.89 ± 1.12, 10.65 ± 1.45, 10.70 ± 1.39, and 12.36 ± 1.68 μm. Significant differences between groups were obvious except for that between groups B and C. Conclusions: The presence of Vogt palisades in human limbus declined with age. Therefore, so did the qualities of LBECs, with an age-related cell size enlargement.
SII and fit-to-target analysis of compression system performance as a function of number of compression channels

This work was undertaken to answer the question, ‘How does the speech audibility/fit-to-gain-target provided by compression change with number of channels? ’ For each of 957 audiograms and a given number of compression channels, the channel crossover frequencies were set either to maximize the SII (speech intelligibility index) for low- and high-level speech spectra, or to optimize the fit-to-gain targets from the Cambridge method for loudness equalization (CAMEQ). The audiograms comprised all common configurations, and losses ranged from mild to severe. Use of these computational procedures allowed the predicted, channel-number-based performance to be determined separately from the effects of other compression parameters. From one to five channels were sufficient to yield predicted speech recognition performance within 5% of maximum for 90% of the ‘mild’ and ‘moderate’ audiograms. Three to nine channels were necessary for the same level of predicted performance for 90% of the ‘severe’ audiograms. Four channels or fewer were sufficient to produce less than 5 dB rms error in fit to CAMEQ targets for 90% of all audiograms. Sumario Este trabajo se llevó a cabo para responder a la pregunta “¿Como cambia con el numero de canales la audibilidad/ganancia meta de acuerdo a la compresión? Para cada uno de los 957 audiogramas y un número dado de canales de compresión, se fijaron las frecuencias de intersección para maximizar el índice de inteligibilidad del lenguaje para espectros de habla de alta y baja intensidad o para optimizar el blanco justo a la ganancia a partir del método Cambridge para ecualización de sensación subjetiva de intensidad (CAMEQ). Los audiogramas presentaban todas las configuraciones y las pérdidas variaban de leve a severas. El uso de procedimientos computacionales nos permitió predecir en forma separada el desempeño por número de canales del efecto de otros parámetros de compresión. De uno a cinco canales fue posible predecir el desempeño alrededor del 5% con un reconocimiento máximo de 90% para los audiogramas con pérdida leve a moderada. Fueron necesarios de tres a nueve canales para obtener el mismo nivel de desempeño en la predicción de. 90% de las pérdidas severas. Fue suficiente con cuatro canales o menos para producir errores de menos de 5dB rms en la adaptación de metas CAMEQ del 90% de todos los audiogramas.
PROSTAGLANDIN INHIBITION AND CENTRAL CORNEAL THICKNESS AFTER CATARACT EXTRACTION

The effect of systemically given naproxen (a prostaglandininhibitor) on central corneal thickness was studied in vivo, in the normal cornea, and in the cornea made artificially oedematous by cataract surgery. Only after cataract extraction could an effect be demonstrated. The post‐surgical oedema was in this case reduced statistically significant corresponding to approximately 50% of control. Further the secondary rise in CCT on the third post‐operative day as seen with non‐medicated guttata corneas was absent after naproxen.
The Competing Values Framework of Administrators Among Private Colleges in the National Capital Region

This study attempted to identify the competing values framework, differences on organizational culture, management practices, and skills of administrators utilizing the descriptive-evaluative method to 150 randomly selected respondents from private colleges in the Philippines. Data gathered were then computed for interpretation using percentage, weighted mean, t-test, and ANOVA. Results showed that the present and preferred organizational culture, management practices, and skills were that of clan culture based on Cameron and Quinn? s (2006, 2011) competing values framework. Significant differences were found on the key dimensions of organizational culture while no significant differences were found with respect to the management practices and management skills of the respondent administrators when grouped according to their profiles. An Executive Training Program for Administrators was designed to improve administrators? weaknesses as reflected on the Competing Values Management Practices Survey and Management Skills Assessment Instrument.
Population decline despite high genetic diversity in the new allopolyploid species Senecio cambrensis (Asteraceae)

Senecio cambrensis (Welsh groundsel) is a new allohexaploid species, which originated in Wales, UK, in the early part of the 20th century following hybridization between the native tetraploid groundsel (Senecio vulgaris) and the introduced diploid Oxford ragwort (Senecio squalidus). A survey of the number of populations and flowering individuals per population of S. cambrensis in Wales was conducted at peak flowering time in June 2002, 2003 and 2004. The results show a dramatic decrease in both population number and population size of the species since the 1980s when the last population census was conducted. A survey of amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) variation showed that this decline has occurred despite the fact that S. cambrensis contains a high level of genetic diversity with each individual screened possessing a unique multilocus phenotype. The level of variance within the species was similar to that found in one parent (S. vulgaris) and slightly greater than that among samples of the other parent (S. squalidus). Only a small proportion (5%) of AFLP diversity was partitioned among populations indicating a lack of population structure and possibly high levels of gene flow via seed dispersal in what is predominantly a selfing species. Senecio cambrensis showed closer similarity in AFLP phenotype to S. vulgaris than to S. squalidus. Possible causes of this and also the high level of AFLP diversity found in S. cambrensis are discussed. It is suggested that intergenomic recombination following occasional multivalent formation during meiosis in S. cambrensis is likely to be an important cause of both phenomena, although other causes are not ruled out.
Clottable Protein in Limulus: Its Localization and Kinetics of Its Coagulation by Endotoxin

Summary When blood is withdrawn from Limulus, the horseshoe crab, a cellular clot composed of amebocytes quickly forms. Amebocytes are the only type of cell in Limulus blood. During coagulation, Limulus amebocytes undergo morphological changes that are strikingly similar to those seen when mammalian platelets undergo aggregation and viscous metamorphosis. The clottable protein in Limulus blood is derived entirely from amebocytes, and gelation does not require extracellular factors. Cell free Limulus plasma is incoagulable. The cellular localization of clottable protein in Limulus blood provides a precedent for the presence of fibrinogen in mammalian platelets. The clottable protein in lysates of amebocytes has a spectral absorption pattern with a maximum at 270-275 mμ, appears to have a low sedimentation coefficient, is stable at –20° C for 1 week, and is destroyed by heating at 56° C for 30 min. The protein gels upon exposure to endotoxin; and the rate of gelation is related to the concentration of endotoxin but is independent of the concentration of protein in the range tested. The kinetics of this reaction are consistent with the concept that an enzymatic system mediates the conversion of the cellular protein into a gel by endotoxin. Increase in light scattering during the reaction detects as little as 0.004 μg of E. coli endotoxin/ml. This conversion will perhaps provide insight into one of the biological activities of endotoxins.
Leptin-to-adiponectin, adiponectin-to-leptin ratios, and insulin are specific and sensitive markers associated with polycystic ovary syndrome: a case-control study from Bahrain.

OBJECTIVE Hyperinsulinemia and adipokines such as leptin and adiponectin with respective proatherogenic and antiatherogenic properties are reported to be the major contributors to pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), including to the development of type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease. In this study, the association of hyperinsulinemia, hyperleptinemia, hypoadiponectinemia, high leptin-to-adiponectin (L/A) and adiponectin-to-leptin (A/L) ratios as risk factors associated with PCOS in Bahraini women was investigated. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS Serum levels of insulin, leptin, adiponectin, cholesterol, triglyceride, A/L and L/A ratios were compared in women with PCOS and controls to investigate tentative and potential diagnostic markers for women with PCOS. RESULTS Insulin was significantly higher in PCOS cases than controls (15.0±3.0 vs. 6.5±1.72, P<0.001). Leptin was significantly higher in PCOS cases than in controls (39.9±4.6 vs. 26.4±3.4, P<0.001), whereas adiponectin was significantly lower in PCOS cases than in controls (8.7±3.0 vs. 11.1±3.6, P<0.001). In addition, L/A ratios were significantly higher in PCOS cases than in controls (4.8±2.7 vs. 2.3±1.6, P<0.001), whereas A/L ratios were significantly lower in PCOS cases than in controls (0.25±0.08 vs. 0.50±0.1, P<0.001). In multivariate logistic regression analyses, insulin [odds ratio (OR)=2.1, confidence interval (CI) 1.2-3.8, P=0.01], A/L (OR=1.6, CI 1.4-7.2, P=0.03), and L/A (OR=1.4, CI 1.2-2.0, P=0.04) were independently associated with PCOS. Receiver operating characteristic analyses showed that the best predictive markers for PCOS were insulin [area under the curve (AUC)=0.937, CI 0.887-0.989] L/A and A/L ratios (AUC=0.861, CI 0.786-0.936), indicating their high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of PCOS. CONCLUSION In Bahraini women with PCOS, insulin, L/A, and A/L ratios seem to be the best markers to distinguish women with and without PCOS.
A Fhit-ing Role in the DNA Damage Checkpoint Response

The FHIT gene encompasses the most active common fragile site of the human genome and is thus exquisitely sensitive to intragenic alterations by DNA damaging agents, alterations that can lead to FHIT allele loss very early in the preneoplastic phase of cancer development, before or coincident with activation of the DNA damage checkpoint. Fhit protein expression is lost or reduced in many preneoplastic lesions and in >50% of cancers, Fhit knockout mice are highly susceptible to carcinogen induction of tumors and Fhit replacement in these mice by gene therapy induces apoptosis and significantly reduces tumor burden. But learning how Fhit induces apoptosis and suppresses tumors has been a challenge because interacting proteins, effectors of Fhit signals, have not been discovered.Nevertheless, the study of Fhit deficient mouse and human tissue-derived and cancer-derived cells in vitro has led to several important conclusions: repair protein-deficient cancers are more likely to be Fhit-deficient; Fhit-deficient cells show enhanced resistance to UVC, mitomycin C, camptothecin and ionizing radiation-induced cell killing, possibly due to strong activation of the ATR pathway following DNA damage; Fhit-deficient cells show higher efficiency of homologous recombination repair, a double-strand break repair pathway in mammalian cells; Fhit protein indirectly affects S-phase checkpoint and DNA repair. Finally, results of a recent study have suggested that the DNA damage-susceptible FRA3B/FHIT chromosome fragile region, paradoxically, encodes a protein, Fhit, that is necessary for protecting cells from accumulation of DNA damage, through modulation of checkpoint proteins Hus1 and phosphoChk1. Thus, inactivation of Fhit contributes to accumulation of abnormal checkpoint phenotypes in cancer development. It will be very important to determine mechanisms employed by Fhit in modulating checkpoint pathways, and to define consequences of Fhit loss in specific preneoplastic and neoplastic tissues, to provide rationales for effective replacement or reactivation of endogenous Fhit pathways in novel therapeutic or preventive approaches.
‘Psychosocial’ interventions with families and their effects on the course of schizophrenia: a review

Synopsis Recent interest in the way social factors influence the course of schizophrenia has led to attempts to monitor and manipulate these factors. The work on the Expressed Emotion of the relative has been especially influential in this area. A number of studies have now been conducted in which a psychosocial intervention has been employed in an attempt to prevent relapse after discharge from hospital. These studies are reviewed with an emphasis on their methodological adequacy and on the nature of the intervention used. Recent studies have demonstrated a positive result for psychosocial interventions used in combination with neuroleptic medication. However, analysis of these studies does not allow us to conclude that we can identify the ‘active ingredients’ in these psychosocial treatment regimes. Although there is cause for optimism, further investigation is required.