Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Measuring sensory processing patterns of older Chinese people: Psychometric validation of the adult sensory profile

The Adult Sensory Profile (ASP) evaluates the sensory experiences of adults in the categories of auditory, visual, taste/smell, touch, movement, and activity level. It generates four sensory processing patterns including low registration, sensation seeking, sensory sensitivity, and sensation avoiding. This study examined the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of ASP (ASP-CV) for older Hong Kong Chinese adults. Ninety-six participants with normal cognitive functioning and 33 participants with dementia were recruited. All participants were involved in the investigation of internal consistency and construct validity. One sub-sample from each group was selected for test-retest reliability and inter-rater reliability respectively. The ASP-CV demonstrated excellent inter-rater reliability and test-retest reliability (r = 0.91–0.99 and 0.76–0.88 respectively), and satisfactory internal consistency (α = 0.58–0.72). The construct validity of ASP-CV was supported by the known-groups method, in which participants with dementia differed significantly from their healthy counterparts in the patterns of ‘low registration’ (F(1, 127) = 9.69, p = 0.002), ‘sensory sensitivity’ (F(1, 127) = 4.63, p = 0.033), and ‘sensation avoiding’ (F(1, 127) = 15.87, p < 0.001). In conclusion, ASP-CV is reliable and valid to measure sensory processing functions of older Hong Kong Chinese people. Further studies are suggested to examine the factor structure of and the equivalence of self-report and proxy report of ASP-CV.
Work-related and psychological determinants of multisite musculoskeletal pain.

OBJECTIVE Musculoskeletal pain is associated with occupational physical activities and psychosocial risk factors. We evaluated the relative importance of work-related and psychological determinants of the number of -anatomical sites affected by musculoskeletal pain in a cross-sectional survey. METHODS The survey focused on musculoskeletal pain in six body regions (low-back, neck, shoulder, elbow, wrist-hand, and knee) among 224 nurses, 200 office workers and 140 postal clerks in Crete, Greece (response rate 95%). Information was collected about demographic characteristics, occupational physical load, psycho-social aspects of work, perceptions about the causes of pain, mental health, somatization, and experience of pain in the past 12 months. We used Poisson regression to assess associations of risk factors with the number of painful anatomical sites and explored interactions using classification and regression trees (CART). RESULTS Two-thirds of the study sample reported pain in >or=2 body sites during the past 12 months, and in 23%, >3 sites were affected. The number of painful anatomical sites was strongly related to both physical load at work and somatization (with relative risks increased 5-fold or more for frequent and disabling multisite pain) and was also significantly associated with work-related psychosocial factors and beliefs about work causation. The CART analysis suggested that somatization was the leading determinant of the number of painful body sites. CONCLUSION In the population studied, pain at multiple anatomical sites was common and strongly associated with somatization, which may have a more important influence on multisite pain than pain that is limited to a single anatomical site.
Customizing cisplatin based on quantitative excision repair cross-complementing 1 mRNA expression: a phase III trial in non-small-cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE Although current treatment options for metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) rely on cisplatin-based chemotherapy, individualized approaches to therapy may improve response or reduce unnecessary toxicity. Excision repair cross-complementing 1 (ERCC1) has been associated with cisplatin resistance. We hypothesized that assigning cisplatin based on pretreatment ERCC1 mRNA levels would improve response. PATIENTS AND METHODS From August 2001 to October 2005, 444 stage IV NSCLC patients were enrolled. RNA was isolated from pretreatment biopsies, and quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase PCR assays were performed to determine ERCC1 mRNA expression. Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:2 ratio to either the control or genotypic arm before ERCC1 assessment. Patients in the control arm received docetaxel plus cisplatin. In the genotypic arm, patients with low ERCC1 levels received docetaxel plus cisplatin, and those with high levels received docetaxel plus gemcitabine. The primary end point was the overall objective response rate. RESULTS Of 444 patients enrolled, 78 (17.6%) went off study before receiving one cycle of chemotherapy, mainly due to insufficient tumor tissue for ERCC1 mRNA assessment. Of the remaining 346 patients assessable for response, objective response was attained by 53 patients (39.3%) in the control arm and 107 patients (50.7%) in the genotypic arm (P = .02). CONCLUSION Assessment of ERCC1 mRNA expression in patient tumor tissue is feasible in the clinical setting and predicts response to docetaxel and cisplatin. Additional studies are warranted to optimize methodologies for ERCC1 analysis in small tumor samples and to refine a multibiomarker profile predictive of patient outcome.
The timing of Ondansetron Administration in Prevention of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting A comparative Study for Female Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has become the treatment of choice for cholelithiasis due to its associated advantages of reduced morbidity and a shorter hospital stay (1,2) . The latter advantage has been negated by PONV, which is turning out to be the leading cause of unexpected re-admission after ambulatory surgery3. The reported incidence of PONV is 25% to 75% within the first 24 h after laparoscopic cholecystectomy when no prophylactic antiemetic is administered (3,4,5,6,7,8) . PONV is among the most unpleasant experiences associated with surgery and one of the most
Relationship of Perceived Stress and Dental Caries among Pre University Students in Bangalore City.

INTRODUCTION Stress can increase the susceptibility to dental caries by four possible mechanisms. Studies show that adolescents tend to more likely develop negative body image, disturbed eating behaviours and high levels of stress. Students report stress, taking and studying for exams being the greatest source of academic stress due to competition and the large amount of content in less time. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES The objectives were to analyze the caries experience in relation to perceived stress during preuniversity examination period, to estimate the prevalence of dental caries and to calculate SiC (significant caries index) among preuniversity students in Marathahalli, Bangalore city, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS This cross-sectional, correlational study involved 210 students (Response rate = 65.37%). The questionnaire consisted of demographic details and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Dental caries status was evaluated using the WHO (1997) caries diagnostic criteria for decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT: Dynamical mean field theory). RESULTS Prevalence of dental caries was 50.48%. Mean DMFT was 1.74 and Sic index was 4.56. The correlation between PSS and caries experience was found to be weak (r=0.389) (p<0.001). CONCLUSION Academic stress appears to affect oral health, shown by higher caries experience in high perceived stress score individuals.
Aerosol delivery of liposome-encapsulated ciprofloxacin: aerosol characterization and efficacy against Francisella tularensis infection in mice

The aerosol delivery of liposome-encapsulated ciprofloxacin by using 12 commercially available jet nebulizers was evaluated in this study. Aerosol particles containing liposome-encapsulated ciprofloxacin generated by the nebulizers were analyzed with a laser aerodynamic particle sizer. Mean mass aerodynamic diameters (MMADs) and geometric standard deviations (GSDs) were determined, and the drug contents of the sampling filters from each run onto which aerosolized liposome-encapsulated ciprofloxacin had been deposited were analyzed spectrophotometrically. The aerosol particles of liposome-encapsulated ciprofloxacin generated by these nebulizers ranged from 1.94 to 3.5 microm, with GSDs ranging from 1.51 to 1.84 microm. The drug contents of the sampling filters exposed for 1 min to aerosolized liposome-encapsulated ciprofloxacin range from 12.7 to 40.5 microg/ml (0.06 to 0.2 mg/filter). By using the nebulizer selected on the basis of most desirable MMADs, particle counts, and drug deposition, aerosolized liposome-encapsulated ciprofloxacin was used for the treatment of mice infected with 10 times the 50% lethal dose of Francisella tularensis. All mice treated with aerosolized liposome-encapsulated ciprofloxacin survived the infection, while all ciprofloxacin-treated or untreated control mice succumbed to the infection (P < 0.001). These results suggest that aerosol delivery of liposome-encapsulated ciprofloxacin to the lower respiratory tract is feasible and that it may provide an effective therapy for the treatment of respiratory tract infections.
Docking Studies on the Binding of Quinoline Derivatives and Hematin to Plasmodium Falciparum Lactate Dehydrogenase

Abstract The literature has reported that ferriprotoporphyrin IX (hematin) intoxicates the malarial parasite through competition with NADH for the active site of the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). In order to avoid this, the parasite polymerizes hematin to hemozoin. The quinoline derivatives are believed to form complexes with dimeric hematin, avoiding the formation of hemozoin and still inhibiting LDH. In order to investigate this hypothesis we calculated the docking energies of NADH and some quinoline derivatives (in the free forms and in complex with dimeric hematin) in the active site of the Plasmodium falciparum LDH (PfLDH). Ours results showed better docking score values to the complexes when compared to the free compounds, pointing them as more efficient inhibitors of PfLDH. Further we performed Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations studies on the best docking conformation of the complex chloroquine-dimeric hematin with PfLDH. Our in silico results corroborate experimental data suggesting a possible action route for the quinoline derivatives in the inhibition of PfLDH.
Prevalence of Asymptomatic Carotid Artery Stenosis in the General Population: An Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis

Background and Purpose— In the discussion on the cost-effectiveness of screening, precise estimates of severe asymptomatic carotid stenosis are vital. Accordingly, we assessed the prevalence of moderate and severe asymptomatic carotid stenosis by age and sex using pooled cohort data. Methods— We performed an individual participant data meta-analysis (23 706 participants) of 4 population-based studies (Malmö Diet and Cancer Study, Tromsø, Carotid Atherosclerosis Progression Study, and Cardiovascular Health Study). Outcomes of interest were asymptomatic moderate (≥50%) and severe carotid stenosis (≥70%). Results— Prevalence of moderate asymptomatic carotid stenosis ranged from 0.2% (95% CI, 0.0% to 0.4%) in men aged <50 years to 7.5% (5.2% to 10.5%) in men aged ≥80 years. For women, this prevalence increased from 0% (0% to 0.2%) to 5.0% (3.1% to 7.5%). Prevalence of severe asymptomatic carotid stenosis ranged from 0.1% (0.0% to 0.3%) in men aged <50 years to 3.1% (1.7% to 5.3%) in men aged ≥80. For women, this prevalence increased from 0% (0.0% to 0.2%) to 0.9% (0.3% to 2.4%). Conclusions— The prevalence of severe asymptomatic carotid stenosis in the general population ranges from 0% to 3.1%, which is useful information in the discussion on the cost-effectiveness of screening.
Flight to Quality and Flight to Liquidity as Factors in Bond Pricing

Illiquidity and default risk are determinants of bond spreads that models suggest vary across the term structure and across market states. But existent attempts to empirically identify the separate impact of these factors are affected by correlation between them. The Australian sovereign debt market, where the Australian government provided an explicit guarantee over semi-government debt, provides a clean environment in which to examine these separate factors. Using this clean environment, we find that the illiquidity premium is conditional upon market states and particularly important during periods of market stress. We also show that the short end of the term structure premia is explained by illiquidity risk while the long end is explained by market volatility. Spreads at the short end of the term structure are more sensitive to illiquidity shocks than those at the long end.
Laplacian Embedded Infinite Kernel Model for Semi-Supervised Classification

Promoted by its convexity and low time complexity, Laplacian embedded support vector regression (LapESVR) model based on manifold regularization (MR) has assumed an important role in semi-supervised classification. Conventionally, the LapESVR model is based on a single kernel function that is intrinsically capable of describing one feature mapping relation only. However, when the data to be processed is from a complex dataset where multiple features of the data are required to be treated, the classification performance using the LapESVR based on a single kernel substantially degrade, indicating that the classification requirement in this case is beyond the capability of the LapESVR. In addition, the processing data is often subject to the impact of abnormal data samples; therefore, in practice assigning a fixed value that is related to the average distance of the processing data as the parameter value of kernel function of the LapESVR is by no means optimal. To solve the problems as mentioned regarding the LapESVR, this paper proposes a Laplacian embedded infinite kernel regression (LapEIKR) model. The proposed model combines the multiple kernels linearly to improve its ability of characterization of the processing data, typical in semi-supervised classification of complex datasets, with multiple features. Further, the parameter setting of the multiple kernels of the LapEIKR model is turned into an optimization problem by formulating a corresponding minimum objective function and an iterative algorithm, and then the values of the settings are facilitated to be obtained by a formulated calculation, assuming the optimal values with respect to the designed objective function. Comparative experiments on the UCI datasets, benchmark datasets and Caltech256 datasets show that the proposed LapEIKR model is improving in terms of adaptivity and efficiency.
Hippocampal Sclerosis Dementia with Tauopathy

In some elderly individuals with dementia, hippocampal sclerosis (HS) is the only remarkable autopsy finding. The cause of HS in this setting is puzzling, since known causes of HS such as seizures or global hypoxic‐ischemic episodes are rarely present. We here describe a series of HS cases that have a widespread neuronal and/or glial tauopathy. Of 14 consecutive cases of HS, 12 had been clinically diagnosed with dementia and/or Alzheimer's disease (AD) while 2 were non‐demented; 7 cases had also been clinically diagnosed with parkinsonism. In addition to HS, 6 cases also met pathologic diagnostic criteria for AD. Gallyas silver staining and immunohistochemistry with the AT8 antibody revealed a glial and/or neuronal tauopathy in 12 of 14 cases, with frequent positive neurons and/or glial cells in the neocortex, basal ganglia, thalamus and/or limbic regions; in addition, 8 of the 14 cases had argyrophilic grains. Screening for known tau mutations was negative in all cases. Western blots of sarkosyl‐insoluble tau protein showed a mixture of 3‐ and 4‐repeat forms. The results suggest that most cases of HS dementia are sporadic multisystem tauopathies; we suggest the term “hippocampal sclerosis dementia with tauopathy” (HSDT) for these.
Impact of probiotic strains on growth rate of some food poisoning bacteria from milk and soft cheese

One hundred and twenty samples, 40 each of raw milk, Kareish cheese (raw skim milk soft cheese) and Damietta cheese (white raw milk soft cheese) were collected from supermarkets, dairy shops and street vendors in El- Gharbia governorate, Egypt for microbiological investigation. The obtained results revealed that S. aureus, E. coli and B. cereus could be detected in 60, 52.5 & 20%; 25, 37.5 & 15% and 12.5, 15 & 7.5% of examined samples, respectively. Serological typing of fourteen strains of isolated E. coli proved to belong to ten serotypes; O159, O142, O18, O15, O125, O111, O55, O119, O26 and O128. Salmonella typhimurium could be isolated from one Kareish cheese sample (2.5%) with serological typing proved that the strain has antigenic structure of O: 1, 4, 5, 12, H: i: 1, 2. Concerning the antimicrobial activities of some probiotic bacteria; Lactobacillus planterum (p 1 ), Lactobacillus acidophilus (p 7 ), Lactobacillus brevii (p 102 ) and Lactobacillus casii (l.c) using an agar well diffusion assay against selected isolates of E. coli, B. cereus, S. aureus and Salmonella typhimurium indicated that the used probiotic bacteria appeared to have antimicrobial effect against E. coli and B. cereus, while induce no antimicrobial effect against S. aureus and Salmonella typhimurium. The same probiotic strains were injected with E.coli in sterilized skim milk as in vitro experiment and the results showed a significant reduction in the count of E. coli during the periods of incubation.
Antimicrobial Resistance of Urinary Escherichia coli Isolates

Purpose:To investigate the antimicrobial resistance rate of 110 E. coli strains, isolated from UTIs in Etlik Lokman Hekim Hospital, Etlik, Ankara, Turkey. Methods: API-20E System (bioMerieux, France) was used to identify E. coli isolates. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was conducted on Mueller-Hinton Agar plates (Merck, Germany) using agar disc diffusion method and the results were expressed as susceptible or resistant according to the criteria recommended by the Clinical and Laboratory Standarts Institute (CLSI). Results: The resistance rates detected were 56 % to ampicillin, 24 % to ampicillin sulbactam, 9 % to gentamicin, 15 % to ciprofloxacin, 36 % to trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole, 12 % to cefazolin, and 7 % to cefuroxime. All isolates tested were susceptible to fosfomycin and nitrofurantoin. Conclusion: When the high resistance rates in Turkey are taken into consideration, antimicrobial agent usage policies and empirical therapies should be based on antimicrobial resistance surveillance studies. Keywords: Urinary tract infections, Escherichia coli , Antimicrobial resistance
Anticoagulant and antiplatelet use in seniors with chronic subdural hematoma

Objective: To address whether to restart older patients on anticoagulants or antiplatelet agents in the setting of a chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH). Methods: This is an update of a previous review (searched until July 2012). Medline, EMBASE, ISI Web of Knowledge, Google Scholar, PLOS, and the Cochrane Register for Systematic Reviews databases were searched from January 2012 to December 2016. Studies included older adults (those over 65 years) experiencing traumatic subdural hematoma or cSDH who were on anticoagulation or antiplatelet agents. Results: Seven studies were included (mean age 72 years). Four out of 7 studies provided combined data on anticoagulants or antiplatelet use. Only one study found anticoagulant or antiplatelet agent use to be a significant factor for cSDH rebleeding. Two studies considered anticoagulant use only and both reported similar increased odds of rebleeding (odds ratio [OR] 1.75, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.18–16.86; OR 2.7 95% CI 1.42–6.96). Antiplatelets were not found to be associated with rebleeding. Ideal timing to resume anticoagulants or antiplatelets was unclear. Conclusions: Anticoagulant medication was associated with increased rebleeding risk in older adults with cSDH. However, antiplatelet medication was not associated with increased risk of rebleeding.
A Generalized Coverage Matrix Method for Power Quality Monitor Allocation Utilizing Genetic Algorithm

With the increase of sensitive loads and, in many cases, causing disturbances in distribution systems, power quality monitor allocation has become a subject with increasingly importance. Therefore, it becomes necessary to have well-formed strategies to allocate such equipment, since they have high cost that needs to be minimized. With this objective, this research provides a methodology for monitor’s allocation that seeks to minimize the amount of equipment needed to observe voltage sags in distribution systems. The developed methodology is based on the fault voltage matrix, to obtain the residual voltage during faults, on the coverage matrix and the application of a genetic algorithm as optimization tool. The research also brings as contribution, changes in traditional methodology to better represent the indicated phenomena in distribution systems and to give better support to fault location studies, justifying a development of a generalized coverage matrix. To test this methodology, the IEEE 34-node test feeder was utilized with promising results reported and commented further.
Molecular Diagnostics in Transfusion Medicine: MALDI-TOF MS for Blood Bankers- The Alternative Approach for Genotyping

Serology, defined as antibody-based diagnostics, has been held as the analytical gold standard in transfusion medicine. However, at the present time, the influence of molecular diagnostics in transfusion medicine is rapidly growing. These methods can improve tissue typing (HLA typing), increase safety of blood products (NAT testing of infectious diseases), and enable blood group typing in difficult circumstances (prenatal non-invasive RhD typing and/or post-transfusion of blood products). Generally speaking, molecular testing involves determining the presence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Blood group antigens mostly result from single nucleotide differences in critical positions. However, most blood group systems cannot be determined by looking at a single SNP. To identify members of a blood group system, a number of critical SNPs have to be considered. Current platforms used to perform molecular diagnostics are predominantly gel-based, involving time-consuming multiple manual steps. To employ molecular methods in transfusion medicine in the future, the development of higher-throughput SNP genotyping, non-gel based platforms that allow rapid, costeffective screening are essential. Because of its potential for automation, high throughput and cost effectiveness, the special focus of this review is a relatively new technique: blood group genotyping by MALDI-TOF MS. Although matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation, time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has been previously reported for high throughput blood group genotyping, those reports are limited to only a few blood group systems. This report is timely as promising preliminary results have recently been published from a large cooperative Swiss-German project that aimed to employ MALDI-TOF MS for the molecular detection of the blood groups Rh, Kell, Kidd, Duffy, MNSs, a comprehensive collection of low incidence antigens, as well as the platelet and granulocyte antigens HPA and HNA, representing a total of 101 blood group antigens, encoded by 170 alleles, respectively. From this report, the observed success rates, data quality and concordance with known blood group types are highly impressive, underlining the accuracy and reliability of this cost-efficient high throughput method. Furthermore, Kell and RhD genotyping have been performed on foetal DNA from maternal plasma with excellent results. Additionally, current reports describe MALDI-TOF MS as a technology with short time-to-resolution, ability for high throughput, and cost efficiency when used in genetic analysis, clinical chemistry, microbiology, pharmaco-genetics, oncology and haematology. In summary, this paper examines a new technological approach for high throughput blood group genotyping by means of MALDI-TOF MS.