Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The diagnostic value of QT dispersion for acute coronary syndrome in patients presenting with chest pain and nondiagnostic initial electrocardiograms.

BACKGROUND Patients presenting with chest pain and nondiagnostic electrocardiograms (ECG) in the emergency department (ED) often pose a challenge to physicians. QT dispersion (QTD) is an electrocardiographic marker of myocardial ischemia due to nonhomogenous ventricular repolarization. We hypothesized that QTD could accurately identify patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who presented with chest pain and nondiagnostic initial ECGs. METHODS All patients admitted to the ED with chest pain and nondiagnostic initial ECGs were included in the study prospectively. QTD and QTc dispersion (QTcD) were measured at the initial ECGs and compared for ACS patients vs. non-ACS patients. A receiver operating characteristic curve was drawn to evaluate the diagnostic value of QTD and QTcD for ACS. RESULTS Of the 137 patients with an initially nondiagnostic ECG, 51 were finally diagnosed with ACS (37%). Mean QTD and QTcD of patients with ACS were significantly greater than those of patients without ACS (39.61 +/- 12.9 vs. 32.56 +/- 15.1, p=0.004; 46.12 +/- 16.3 vs. 38.10 +/- 18.2, p=0.009, respectively). The area under the curve was 0.624, p=0.015 for QTD, and 0.603 and p=0.049 for QTcD. When various cut-off points were evaluated, potentially useful values were determined between 30 and 50 ms for QTD (sensitivity 86% and 10%, specificity 35% and 97%, respectively). These values were 40.5 and 49.5 ms for QTcD (sensitivity was 96% and 32%, specificity was 12% and 77%, respectively). CONCLUSION For patients with chest pain and nondiagnostic initial ECG, ACS risk is high if QTD and QTcD values are greater than 40 ms. Therefore, QTD and QTcD can help identify patients with acute coronary syndrome who present with chest pain and a nondiagnostic initial ECG. However, poor operator characteristics of QT dispersion could limit its value as a diagnostic test in the clinical setting.
Incremental value of Veterans Specific Activity Questionnaire and the YMCA-step test for the assessment of cardiorespiratory fitness in population-based studies

Background Cardiorespiratory fitness is a well-established independent predictor of cardiovascular health. However, the relevance of alternative exercise and non-exercise tests for cardiorespiratory fitness assessment in large cohorts has not been studied in detail. We aimed to evaluate the YMCA-step test and the Veterans Specific Activity Questionnaire (VSAQ) for the estimation of cardiorespiratory fitness in the general population. Methods One hundred and five subjects answered the VSAQ, performed the YMCA-step test and a maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPX) and gave BORG ratings for both exercise tests (BORGSTEP, BORGCPX). Correlations of peak oxygen uptake on a treadmill (VO2_PEAK) with VSAQ, BORGSTEP, one-minute, post-exercise heartbeat count, and peak oxygen uptake during the step test (VO2_STEP) were determined. Moreover, the incremental values of the questionnaire and the step test in addition to other fitness-related parameters were evaluated using block-wise hierarchical regression analysis. Results Eighty-six subjects completed the step test according to the protocol. For completers, correlations of VO2_PEAK with the age- and gender-adjusted VSAQ, heartbeat count and VO2_STEP were 0.67, 0.63 and 0.49, respectively. However, using hierarchical regression analysis, age, gender and body mass index already explained 68.8% of the variance of VO2_PEAK, while the additional benefit of VSAQ was rather low (3.4%). The inclusion of BORGSTEP, heartbeat count and VO2_STEP increased R2 by a further 2.2%, 3.3% and 5.6%, respectively, yielding a total R2 of 83.3%. Conclusions Neither VSAQ nor the YMCA-step test contributes sufficiently to the assessment of cardiorespiratory fitness in population-based studies.
Urinary p-cresol is elevated in young French children with autism spectrum disorder: a replication study

Abstract The aromatic compound p-cresol (4-methylphenol) has been found elevated in the urines of Italian autistic children up to 8 years of age. The present study aims at replicating these initial findings in an ethnically distinct sample and at extending them by measuring also the three components of urinary p-cresol, namely p-cresylsulfate, p-cresylglucuronate and free p-cresol. Total urinary p-cresol, p-cresylsulfate and p-cresylglucuronate were significantly elevated in 33 French autism spectrum disorder (ASD) cases compared with 33 sex- and age-matched controls (p < 0.05). This increase was limited to ASD children aged ≤8 years (p < 0.01), and not older (p = 0.17). Urinary levels of p-cresol and p-cresylsulfate were associated with stereotypic, compulsive/repetitive behaviors (p < 0.05), although not with overall autism severity. These results confirm the elevation of urinary p-cresol in a sizable set of small autistic children and spur interest into biomarker roles for p-cresol and p-cresylsulfate in autism.
Distribution of synaptic vesicle proteins in the mammalian retina identifies obligatory and facultative components of ribbon synapses

The mammalian retina contains two synaptic layers. The outer plexiform layer (OPL) is primarily composed of ribbon synapses while the inner plexiform layer (IPL) comprises largely conventional synapses. In presynaptic terminals of ribbon synapses, electron‐dense projections called ribbons are present at the synaptic plasma membranes. Ribbons bind synaptic vesicles and guide them to the synaptic membrane for fusion. In this manner, ribbons are thought to accelerate the delivery of vesicles for continuous exocytosis. In recent years, a large number of synaptic proteins has been described but it is not known if these protein colocalize in the same types of synapses. In previous studies, several proteins essential for synaptic function were not detected in ribbon synapses, suggesting that the mechanism of synaptic vesicle exocytosis may be very different in ribbon and conventional synapses. Using confocal laser scanning microscopy, we have now systematically investigated the protein composition of ribbon synapses. Our results show that, of the 19 synaptic proteins investigated, all except synapsin and rabphilin are obligatorily present in ribbon synapses. For example, rab3 which was reported to be absent from ribbon synapses, was found in bovine, rat and mouse ribbon synapses using multiple independent antibodies. In addition, we found staining in these synapses for PSD‐95 and NMDA receptors, which suggested a similar design for the postsynaptic component in ribbon and conventional synapses. Our data show that ribbon synapses are more conventional in composition than reported, that most synaptic proteins are colocalized to the same type of synapse, and that synapsin and rabphilin are likely to be dispensible for basic synaptic functions.
A novel approach for imaging of electrical trees

Electrical treeing is a long term electrical breakdown process in polymers, and therefore, can be a precursor of power equipment failure. In order to get a better understanding of the phenomenon a considerable effort has been put in imaging and morphological characterisation of electrical trees. However, most of the imaging research has been carried out from a two-dimensional perspective. This work is focused on the three-dimensional (3-D) imaging of electrical trees using X-ray computed tomography, a non-destructive imaging technique. Electrical trees in two polymer materials were scanned using X-ray tomography with phase contrast enhancement. Two cases are presented here: an electrical breakdown through a tree and a bush-type electrical tree. In both cases a 3-D virtual replica has been created, with a spatial resolution of a few microns, through which the electrical tree can be sliced and internally inspected. Electrical treeing characteristics such as length, area, volume and number of branches can be extracted from the model.
Histological changes in the gastric mucosa of chronic gastric ulcer patients treated with carbenoxolone

Serial direct vision gastric mucosal biopsies were obtained in 25 patients with a chronic lesser curve gastric ulcer. Morphological changes were assessed `blind' in 15 patients who received carbenoxolone and in 10 untreated patients. Chronic gastritis was initially observed `proximal' and `distal' to the ulcer in 24 of the 25 patients. The mucosal changes were shown to persist in subsequent biopsies and appeared to be uninfluenced by therapy with carbenoxolone even when the ulcer had healed.
One - Factor - At -A- Time Optimization of Spectrophotometric Method for the Determination of Diclofenac in Pharmaceutical Preparations

One – factor – at – a – time optimization procedure (OFAT) was developed for spectrophotometric determination of diclofenac sodium in pharmaceutical preparations using potassium permanganate to form complex compound in the presence of slightly acidic medium and the complex form of the drug was monitored at a wavelength of 455nm. The method was validated and successfully applied to the assay of 11 brands of the pharmaceutically formulated drugs. Calibration curve was linear within the range of 5µg/L - 35µg/L with correlation coefficient (r 2 ) of 0.994 respectively. The procedure was precise, as determined by %RSDof 0.3% and 0.1% for intra-day (repeatability) and inter day precision (reproducibility) respectively. Limit of detection and limit of quantification was found to be 0.13mg/L and 0.43mg/L respectively. Recoveries were obtained as 85.86 – 110.53%. The statistical paired t – test showed that there was no significant difference comparing the developed method with the official (BP) method. Chauvenet’s criterion result revealed that “sortenforte” was an outlier and therefore a possible counterfeit or substandard formulation. The newly developed method compared favorably and can effectively serve as alternative to the contemporary method for routine determination of the analyte in pharmaceutical formulations.
Boundary-layer thickness and instabilities in Benard convection of a liquid with a temperature-dependent viscosity

New and published experimental measurements of spatial and temporal aspects of variable-viscosity convection are compared with boundary layer models. Viscosity μ is assumed to decrease with increasing temperature T so that convection occurs beneath a relatively stagnant layer. Of particular interest to applications involving asymptotically large viscosity variations, is the result that both the temperature difference across the hot thermal boundary layer and the frequency of thermal formation scale with the rheological temperature scale −(d log μ/dT)−1. Measurements indicate that for large Rayleigh numbers, viscosity varies by less than a factor of ≈37 across the actively convecting region.
Standardisation of the Denver Developmental Screening Test for Cardiff Children

The items in the Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST) have been re‐standardised on a random sample of 1547 Cardiff children aged up to six years. Some differences were found between the ages at which the Cardiff and Denver children achieved certain test items. Cardiff children were consistently slightly slower on gross motor items throughout the age‐range, with the exception of three items, but were slightly more advanced on early language items below the age of 18 months and on some personal and social items. The implications of the findings for the use of the DDST in Britain are discussed.
Phytoremediation Efficiencies of Water Hyacinth in Removing Heavy Metals in Domestic Sewage (A Case Study of University of Ilorin, Nigeria)

1, Ajibade F. O. , 2, Adeniran K.A. , 3, Egbuna C. K. 1, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Akure P.M. B. 704, Akure, Ondo State 2, Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering University of Ilorin, PMB 1515, Ilorin. Nigeria 3, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Federal University of Technology, Akure, P.M. B. 704, Akure, Ondo State
PSEUDOEXFOLIATION OF THE LENS CAPSULE I. CLINICAL EVALUATION WITH SPECIAL REGARD TO THE PRESENCE OF GLAUCOMA

Pseudoexfoliation of the lens capsule is a phenomenon not uncommon in elderly people. Large-scale investigations carried out in Scandinavia among persons of 60 years and over revealed a prevalence of between 2 O/O and 8 O/O (Ladehurl PIS "0, Aasued (1964) 2.5 O / o , Klouman 7.6 'O/o). Since the first papers published on pseudoexfoliation of the lens capsule (Lindberg 1917, Mulling 1923, Vogt 1925, H s r v e n 1935) it has been known that it often occurs in conjunction with glaucoma. Agreement has not yet been reached as to what relationship exists between these two conditions. However, in the course of time it has become customary in many quarters to pay special attention to persons with pseudoexfoliation of the lens capsule on account of the possible presence of glaucoma or potential glaucoma. The purpose of the present paper is to demonstrate the structure of a large amount of exfoliation material as it presented itself when clinical observation of pseudoexfoliation was first made, thereby providing, in particular, a fuller picture of the relationship between the occurrence of pseudoexfoliation and glaucoma.
High body mass index before age 20 is associated with increased risk for multiple sclerosis in both men and women

In a Swedish population-based case-control study (1571 cases, 3371 controls), subjects with different body mass indices (BMIs) were compared regarding multiple sclerosis (MS) risk, by calculating odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Subjects whose BMI exceeded 27 kg/m2 at age 20 had a two-fold increased risk of developing MS compared with normal weight subjects. Speculatively, the obesity epidemic may explain part of the increasing MS incidence as recorded in some countries. Measures taken against adolescent obesity may thus be a preventive strategy against MS.
Plasticity induced transformation in a metastable β Ti-1023 alloy by controlled heat treatments

Abstract Investigations into the possibility of improving the strength–ductility relation in a metastable β-titanium alloy (Ti–10V–2Fe–3Al) through plasticity induced transformation (PiTTi) have been carried out. Various heat treatments in the β and/or α+β condition were performed to study their influence on both the microstructure and solute partitioning, which eventually control the PiTTi effect. Stress induced martensite formation promoting such effect has been observed upon compression testing for β and β+(α+β) microstructures. The stress–strain curves exhibiting stress induced martensite show a ∼20% increase in strength, while still retaining a reasonable ductility level. Microstructural parameters such as grain size and solute concentration (especially V) in β have been related to the alloy's ability to exhibit PiTTi.
Few modifiable factors predict readmission following radical cystectomy.

INTRODUCTION We sought to determine the patient and provider-related factors associated with readmission after radical cystectomy (RC) for bladder cancer. In this era of healthcare reform, hospital performance measures, such as readmission, are beginning to affect provider reimbursement. Given its high readmission rate, RC could be a target for quality improvement. METHODS We reviewed bladder cancer patients who underwent RC in California's State Inpatient Database (2005-2009) of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project. We examined patient-(e.g., race, discharge disposition) and provider-related factors (e.g., volume) and evaluated their association with 30-day readmission. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine associations of interest. RESULTS Overall, 22.8% (n = 833) of the 3649 patients who underwent RC were readmitted within 30 days. Regarding disposition, 34.8%, 50.8%, and 12.2% were discharged home, home with home healthcare, and to a post-acute care facility (PACF), respectively. Within 30 days, 20.3%, 20.9%, and 42.3% were discharged home, home with home healthcare, and to a PACF were readmitted, respectively. African Americans (odds ratio [OR] 1.64, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07-2.50), having ≥2 comorbidities (OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.06-1.91), receiving a neobladder (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.09-1.93), and discharged to a PACF (OR 3.79, 95% CI 2.88-4.98) were independent factors associated with readmission. Hospital stays ≥15 days were associated with less readmission (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.27-0.67, p = 0.0002). Procedure volume was not associated with complication, in-hospital mortality, or readmission. CONCLUSIONS About one-fifth of patients undergoing RC are readmitted. Patients who are discharged to a PACF, African American, and who have more extensive comorbidities tend to experience more readmissions. Increased efforts with care coordination among these patients may help reduce readmissions.
A Fully Printable Chipless RFID Tag With Detuning Correction Technique

This article presents a new chipless RFID tag operating in the frequency span 2 to 4 GHz. In particular the tag does not require any ground plane and it is made of 20 scatterers giving 20 b as coding capacity, for a compact size of 70 25 , compatible with a credit-card format. Its fabrication process is potentially very cheap because it needs only one conductive layer, so that it can be fully printed directly on the product. To overcome the detuning effect inherent to a single layer tag and make this design robust to the environment versatility, a simple compensation technique is introduced and experimented for the first time. Measurements have been performed frequency domain, using amplitude and the group delay response. The exploitation of group delay appears to be very reliable and promising way to retrieve the coded information.
Epidermotropic Metastatic Malignant Melanoma Simulating Melanoma in situ: A Report of 10 Examples from Two Patients

Epidermotropic metastatic malignant melanoma (EMMM) is a well-recognized entity that can simulate primary malignant melanoma, and in the past reports of numerous (≥ 100) such lesions were misconstrued as multiple primary lesions. We present the cases of two patients who had not only numerous epidermotropic metastases that simulated primary melanomas but also 10 lesions that mimicked melanoma in situ. After removal of a primary malignant melanoma, the two patients developed 35 and 22 epidermotropic metastases over a 4-year period before dying with brain and pulmonary metastases, respectively. In these patients, 29 and 22 of the skin lesions were excised, respectively. All had epidermotropic metastases, of which seven and three showed pagetoid melanocytes in a pagetoid pattern exclusively within the epidermis and epithelial structures of adnexa, an “epidermal only” (in situ) pattern. Other lesions showed a continuum of dermal involvement, from the more conventional description of EMMM with the extent of dermal involvement ≥ epidermal (n = 2) to epidermal involvement > dermal disease (n = 36). This histologic spectrum of dermal versus epidermal involvement in conjunction with the extremely small size (2.8 mm average histologic diameter), symmetry, large number, and time course of development argues strongly that these lesions represent metastases rather than multiple primary melanomas. The lesions illustrate the diagnostic dilemma posed by EMMM that simulates primary melanoma and further exhibits an “epidermal only” (melanoma in situ) pattern.
Detailed Assessment of the Kinetics of Hg-Cell Association, Hg Methylation, and Methylmercury Degradation in Several Desulfovibrio Species

ABSTRACT The kinetics of inorganic Hg [Hg(II)i] association, methylation, and methylmercury (MeHg) demethylation were examined for a group of Desulfovibrio species with and without MeHg production capability. We employed a detailed method for assessing MeHg production in cultures, including careful control of medium chemistry, cell density, and growth phase, plus mass balance of Hg(II)i and MeHg during the assays. We tested the hypothesis that differences in Hg(II)i sorption and/or uptake rates drive observed differences in methylation rates among Desulfovibrio species. Hg(II)i associated rapidly and with high affinity to both methylating and nonmethylating species. MeHg production by Hg-methylating strains was rapid, plateauing after ∼3 h. All MeHg produced was rapidly exported. We also tested the idea that all Desulfovibrio species are capable of Hg(II)i methylation but that rapid demethylation masks its production, but we found this was not the case. Therefore, the underlying reason why MeHg production capability is not universal in the Desulfovibrio is not differences in Hg affinity for cells nor differences in the ability of strains to degrade MeHg. However, Hg methylation rates varied substantially between Hg-methylating Desulfovibrio species even in these controlled experiments and after normalization to cell density. Thus, biological differences may drive cross-species differences in Hg methylation rates. As part of this study, we identified four new Hg methylators (Desulfovibrio aespoeensis, D. alkalitolerans, D. psychrotolerans, and D. sulfodismutans) and four nonmethylating species (Desulfovibrio alcoholivorans, D. tunisiensis, D. carbinoliphilus, and D. piger) in our ongoing effort to generate a library of strains for Hg methylation genomics.
Food intake assessment of elderly patients on hemodialysis.

OBJECTIVE To investigate whether the dietary intake of elderly patients on hemodialysis (HD) is lower than that of elderly individuals with normal renal function. In addition, we also assessed whether the dietary intake of elderly on HD is lower on the dialysis day (DD) than on nondialysis days (non-DD). DESIGN A cross-sectional and observational study including elderly on HD and non-chronic kidney disease (non-CKD) elderly. SUBJECTS We assessed 54 noninstitutionalized elderly patients on HD (study group) and 47 non-CKD elderly (control group) aged ≥60 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES All participants had their dietary intake assessed by 3-day food diaries. As a sensitivity analysis, we also assessed the dietary intake in the adequate reporters, which were identified when the ratio-energy intake-to-estimated basal metabolic rate-was above 1.27 (Goldberg index). RESULTS When comparing dietary intake between the study and control groups, adjusted for sex and underreporting, it was noted that only the intake of protein (β: -9.9; P: .01) and phosphorus (β: -104; P: .04) were significantly lower in the study group. In addition, when furthering the analysis in the study group by comparing DD with non-DD, it was observed that energy (18 ± 7 vs. 21 ± 8 kcal/kg/day), protein (0.8 ± 0.4 vs. 1.0 ± 0.4 g/kg/day), lipids (41 ± 20 vs. 48 ± 23 g/day), potassium (1371 ± 587 vs. 1540 ± 484 mg/day), and phosphorous intake (647 ± 312 vs. 789 ± 287 mg/day), but not carbohydrate (155 ± 54 vs. 167 ± 55 g/day) and calcium (470 ± 345 vs. 518 ± 333 g/day) were significantly lower on DDs than on non-DDs, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Except for protein and phosphorous, energy and nutrient intake of elderly patients on HD are similar to that of non-CKD elderly. In addition, the dietary intake is lower on DDs, highlighting the importance of focusing efforts to improve nutritional intake mainly during the day of dialysis treatment.