Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fine Particulate Air Pollution and Daily Mortality. A Nationwide Analysis in 272 Chinese Cities

Rationale: Evidence concerning the acute health effects of air pollution caused by fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in developing countries is quite limited. Objectives: To evaluate short‐term associations between PM2.5 and daily cause‐specific mortality in China. Methods: A nationwide time‐series analysis was performed in 272 representative Chinese cities from 2013 to 2015. Two‐stage Bayesian hierarchical models were applied to estimate regional‐ and national‐average associations between PM2.5 concentrations and daily cause‐specific mortality. City‐specific effects of PM2.5 were estimated using the overdispersed generalized additive models after adjusting for time trends, day of the week, and weather conditions. Exposure‐response relationship curves and potential effect modifiers were also evaluated. Measurements and Main Results: The average of annual mean PM2.5 concentration in each city was 56 &mgr;g/m3 (minimum, 18 &mgr;g/m3; maximum, 127 &mgr;g/m3). Each 10‐&mgr;g/m3 increase in 2‐day moving average of PM2.5 concentrations was significantly associated with increments in mortality of 0.22% from total nonaccidental causes, 0.27% from cardiovascular diseases, 0.39% from hypertension, 0.30% from coronary heart diseases, 0.23% from stroke, 0.29% from respiratory diseases, and 0.38% from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. There was a leveling off in the exposure‐response curves at high concentrations in most, but not all, regions. The associations were stronger in cities with lower PM2.5 levels or higher temperatures, and in subpopulations with elder age or less education. Conclusions: This nationwide investigation provided robust evidence of the associations between short‐term exposure to PM2.5 and increased mortality from various cardiopulmonary diseases in China. The magnitude of associations was lower than those reported in Europe and North America.
A psychiatric and social matched case series comparison of victims of criminal homicide and homicide perpetrators in Sweden

The aim of the present study was to compare the psychosocial profiles of criminal homicide victims with those of a matched sample of perpetrators. The hypothesis was that chance determines whether someone becomes a victim or a perpetrator. In a retrospective examination of forensic psychiatric records as well as hospital records, the following variables were studied: nationality, education, substance abuse and psychiatric diagnoses. A comparative study was performed of 88 perpetrators and 83 victims in Sweden during a time period of 17 years (1978–1994). All subjects had been treated as psychiatric inpatients before the homicide. The results support the hypothesis that perpetrators and victims of homicide are similar with regard to psychiatric morbidity and social functioning. The majority were born in Sweden, and the educational level was low in both groups. Substance abuse was common in both groups: 96.7% of male and 65.3% of female victims compared with 76.6% of male and 75% of female perpetrators. Many in both of the groups had criminal records. The only major difference between the groups was recorded for psychotic disorder diagnoses, with a higher rate among perpetrators as well as a lower rate of substance abuse in this group.
Generation of arbitrary UWB waveforms: A low complexity optical approach

In this paper, we propose a simple and practical technique to generate the arbitrary UWB waveforms with high precision. The re-programmability of this technique comes from changing the effective apodization of a chirped fiber Bragg grating (FBG) using an array of heating elements (HE). By appropriately setting the temperatures of the HEs, many pre-designed UWB waveforms can be generated with high precision. The functionality and the precision of the proposed technique are demonstrated experimentally by generating three different UWB waveforms.
Clara‐cell secretory protein in preterm infants' tracheal aspirates correlates with maturity and increases in infection

Clara‐cell secretory protein (CCSP), produced primarily by Clara cells in the conducting airways, is the most abundant soluble protein in pulmonary lavage fluid. CCSP is thought to be an immunosuppressive or anti‐inflammatory protein with protective functions in the respiratory tract against exaggerated inflammatory reactions. CCSP was measured in 98 tracheoalveolar fluid (TAF) samples from 24 preterm infants (gestational age, 27.9 ± 2.3 weeks, birth weight 1,020 ± 305 g) with respiratory distress syndrome during the first 2 postnatal weeks. The ratio of urea‐N in serum and in TAF was used to correct for dilution of TAF samples.
Neck Circumference as a Marker of Overweight and Obesity and Cutoff Values for Bangladeshi Adults

Objective: There are several methods of assessing overweight and obesity. Several studies conducted in different populations indicate that neck circumference (NC) can be used as a simple measure of overweight and obesity. This study was conducted to evaluate NC as a marker of overweight and obesity and to determine respective cutoff values for Bangladeshi male and female participants. Research Design/Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted with during July 2013–June 2014 among randomly selected 871 Bangladeshi participants (male = 496 [56.9%], female = 375 [43.1%], aged >18 years) who visited Outpatient Department of United Hospital, Bangladesh Institute of Research and Rehabilitation in Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic disorders, primary health-care centers located in Dhaka, Savar, Gazipur. NC of participants was taken in centimeter to the nearest 1 mm, using plastic tape measure. Main outcome included NC, waist circumferences (WC), body mass index (BMI), and waist: hip ratio (WHR). Results: Pearson's correlation coefficients indicated a significant association between NC and height (men, r = 0.33; women, r = 0.28; P < 0.0001), weight (men, r = 0.61; women, r = 0.55; P < 0.0001), BMI (men, r = 0.51; women, r = 0.41; P < 0.0001), WC (men, r = 0.61; women, r = 0.46; P < 0.0001), hip circumference (men, r = 0.61; women, r = 0.44; P < 0.0001), WHR (men, r = 0.22; women, r = 0.18; P < 0.0001). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that NC ≥34.75 cm in men (area under curve [AUC]: 0.77; P < 0.001) and ≥31.75 cm in women (AUC: 0.62; P < 0.001) were the best cutoff value for BMI ≥23 (overweight). NC ≥35.25 cm in men (AUC: 0.82; P < 0.001) and NC ≥34.25 cm in women (AUC: 0.76; P < 0.001) were the best cutoff value for BMI ≥27.5 (obesity). NC ≥35.25 cm in male (AUC: 0.83; P < 0.001) and NC ≥31.25 cm in women (AUC: 0.65; P < 0.001) were the best cutoff value for WC >90 cm in men and > 80 cm in women, respectively. NC ≥34.45 cm in male (AUC: 0.59; P= 0.001) and NC ≥31.25 cm in women (AUC: 0.66; P = 0.008) were the best cutoff value for WHR >0.9 in men and >0.8 in women, respectively. Conclusion: NC measurement is a simple, convenient, inexpensive screening measure to identify overweight and obese participants. Men with NC ≥34.75 cm and women with NC ≥31.75 cm are to be considered overweight while men with NC ≥35.25 cm and women with NC ≥34.25 cm are to be considered obese. NC ≥35.25 cm in male and NC ≥31.25 cm in women were the best cutoff value for abdominal obesity.
Roux-en-y gastric bypass attenuates hepatic mitochondrial dysfunction in mice with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

Objective No therapy for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has been approved so far. Roux-en-y gastric bypass (RYGB) is emerging as a therapeutic option, although its effect on NASH and related hepatic molecular pathways is unclear from human studies. We studied the effect of RYGB on pre-existent NASH and hepatic mitochondrial dysfunction—a key player in NASH pathogenesis—in a novel diet-induced mouse model nicely mimicking human disease. Design C57BL/6J mice were fed a high-fat high-sucrose diet (HF-HSD). Results HF-HSD led to early obesity, insulin resistance and hypercholesterolaemia. HF-HSD consistently induced NASH (steatosis, hepatocyte ballooning and inflammation) with fibrosis already after 12-week feeding. NASH was accompanied by hepatic mitochondrial dysfunction, characterised by decreased mitochondrial respiratory chain (MRC) complex I and IV activity, ATP depletion, ultrastructural abnormalities, together with higher 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE) levels, increased uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) mRNA and free cholesterol accumulation. In our model of NASH and acquired mitochondrial dysfunction, RYGB induced sustained weight loss, improved insulin resistance and inhibited progression of NASH, with a marked reversal of fibrosis. In parallel, RYGB preserved hepatic MRC complex I activity, restored ATP levels, limited HNE production and decreased TNF-α mRNA. Conclusions Progression of NASH and NASH-related hepatic mitochondrial dysfunction can be prevented by RYGB. RYGB preserves respiratory chain complex activity, thereby restoring energy output, probably by limiting the amount of oxidative stress and TNF-α. These data suggest that modulation of hepatic mitochondrial function contributes to the favourable effect of RYBG on established NASH.
Development of calcium current subtypes in isolated rat hippocampal pyramidal cells.

1. Patch‐clamp techniques were used to record from acutely dissociated rat hippocampal pyramidal cells of different postnatal ages to study the development, kinetics of activation and inactivation, and pharmacology of various components of whole‐cell calcium current. 2. In both adult and immature pyramidal cells, the threshold of activation for Ca2+ current from the holding potential of ‐50 mV was about ‐35 mV. The current was non‐inactivating near threshold, and slowly inactivating with stronger depolarizations. 3. In adult pyramidal cells, hyperpolarizing pre‐pulses (‐85 mV, 3 s) increased the peak amplitude of current, but had little effect on the amplitude of sustained current or on the threshold. In immature cells, hyperpolarizing pre‐pulses (‐85 mV, 3 s) revealed an additional component of Ca2+ current that had a threshold for activation around ‐60 mV, and inactivated rapidly and completely at potentials between ‐60 and ‐35 mV. This low‐threshold Ca2+ current was found in all cells less than 12 days of age, and in no cells older than 29 days of age. 4. No difference was observed between the Ca2+ currents elicited from CA3 or CA1 pyramidal cells. 5. The time course of decay for inactivating Ca2+ currents in adult cells at ‐20 mV was well fit with a single exponential of roughly 120 ms time constant. In immature cells, the addition of a second, faster time constant (roughly 25 ms) was required to describe the decay of the inactivating current adequately. The persistent Ca2+ current elicited from the holding potential of ‐50 mV decayed with a time constant of roughly 750 ms. The rate of inactivation for all Ca2+ current components was faster with stronger depolarizations. Inactivating Ca2+ currents contributed a significantly larger percentage of the total Ca2+ current in immature than adult cells. 6. Steady‐state inactivation of the low‐threshold Ca2+ current in immature cells was described by the Boltzmann equation with half maximal inactivation at ‐76 mV and a slope factor of 6.8. Recovery from inactivation was exponential, with a time constant of 820 ms (at ‐85 mV). Steady‐state inactivation of the high‐threshold inactivating Ca2+ current in adult cells was described by the Boltzmann equation with half maximal inactivation at ‐78 mV and a slope factor of 9.9. 7. The low‐threshold Ca2+ current in immature cells was blocked in a reversible and dose‐dependent manner by amiloride (100‐250 microM). Amiloride had no effect on high‐threshold Ca2+ currents. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
What is the relationship between diversity and performance? A study about the relationship between the proportion of people with disabilities in the productivity of Brazilian firms

Purpose – This study aims to analyze the relationship between greater participation of people with disabilities in Brazilian firms and productivity as a performance indicator. Design/methodology/approach – To test the relationship between the proportion of PwD and the productivity of Brazilian firms, we used regression analysis with panel data and a dataset of public information from 46 firms for years 2010 and 2011. Findings – There was no statistical evidence stating that a greater proportion of people with disabilities in the workforce has a negative (or positive) relationship with the productivity of Brazilian firms. Conversely, a positive relationship between a greater proportion of people with disabilities and productivity was found amongst firms that present greater social commitment. Originality/value – These results indicate the contingent character associated with diversity management, and that the adoption of social practices by Brazilian firms can be an important mechanism for the management of diversity and inclusion.
MPV in Uncontrolled & Controlled Diabetics- Its Role as an Indicator of Vascular Complication.

INTRODUCTION Platelets are tiny, disc-shaped, non-nucleated structures derived from megakaryocytes. The morphological differences in measuring Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) and Platelet Distribution Width (PDW) of platelets have important implications for assessing the functional expressions of platelets. Electron microscopy reveals the presence of glycogen as prominent masses in platelets. MPV values have been generally reported to be very high in individuals with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus (DM). AIM This study aimed to determine and compare the MPV values in uncontrolled and controlled group of Type-2 Diabetics along with healthy non-diabetic people and to correlate MPV values with age, sex and glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in diabetic groups. This study also aimed to determine the prevalence of retinopathy in uncontrolled and controlled group of diabetic patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS This case control study was carried out in our institution for 1 year. The patients were grouped as uncontrolled group of diabetic patients and controlled group of diabetic patients based on their HbA1c levels. 106 uncontrolled diabetic patients and 100 controlled diabetic patients were included, with 100 non-diabetic subjects as controls. Patient's profile which included all demographic particulars and medical history was obtained. Fundus examination and other ophthalmic findings of 50 uncontrolled and 50 controlled diabetic cases were recorded. The findings were analysed statistically using IBM SPSS software. RESULTS In uncontrolled group of 106 diabetic patients, 54 patients were males and 52 patients were females and the mean age was 51.63±11.04, mean HbA1c was 9.86±1.91% and mean MPV was 8.93±0.90fl. In controlled group of 100 diabetic patients, 49 patients were males and 51 patients were females and the mean age was 47.88±15.17, mean HbA1c was 6.08±0.49% and mean MPV was 8.106 ± 0.72fl. In 100 non-diabetic controls 77 patients were males and 23 patients were females and the mean age was 37.97±9.69 and mean MPV was 8.02±0.86fl. Among 50 cases of uncontrolled DM, 14 uncontrolled DM patients had diabetic retinopathy with an average MPV of about 9.2±0.61fl and mean HbA1c of 10.6±1.98% whereas, 30 uncontrolled patients with no evidence of retinopathy with an average MPV of about 8.39±0.676 fl and mean HbA1C of 9.18±1.91%. CONCLUSION MPV values are higher in uncontrolled DM patients when compared with controlled DM patients and a higher percentage of them develop microvascular complications like Diabetic Retinopathy suggesting that mean platelet volume could indicate and play a more important role in the detection of vascular complications of Diabetes.
The Superintendent-Principal Relationship and its Influence on Leadership Practices for the Urban Elementary Principal and the Urban Superintendent

ii Dedication.iii Acknowledgements.iv Chapter I: Introduction: Urban Educational Leadership.1 Elastic vs. Inelastic Cities.3 Urban Characteristics.6 Judicial Decisions.6 Racial and Economic Segregation.9 Crime.12 White Flight.13 Urban Educational Contexts.14 Solutions.18 Standards-Based Reform.18 School Choice.19 Political Activism.21 Urban Educational Leadership.22 Purpose.23 Dissertation Overview.24 Conclusion.26 Chapter II: Review of the Literature.28 The Blend of Management and Leadership.29 Management.30
Rates and relative risk of hospital admission among women in violent intimate partner relationships.

OBJECTIVES This study assessed the history of hospitalization among women involved in violent intimate relationships. METHODS In this 1-year retrospective cohort study, female residents of King County, Washington, who were aged 18 to 44 years and who had filed for a protection order were compared with nonabused women in the same age group. Outcome measures included overall and diagnosis-specific hospital admission rates and relative risk of hospitalization associated with abuse. RESULTS Women known to be exposed to a violent intimate relationship were significantly more likely to be hospitalized with any diagnosis (age-specific relative risks [RRs] ranging from 1.2 to 2.1), psychiatric diagnoses (RR = 3.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.8, 4.6), injury and poisoning diagnoses (RR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.2, 2.8), digestive system diseases (RR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.3, 2.9), and diagnoses of assault (RR = 4.9, 95% CI = 1.1, 22.1) or attempted suicide (RR = 3.7, 95% CI = 1.6, 9.2) in the year before filing a protection order. CONCLUSIONS This study showed an increased relative risk of both overall and diagnosis-specific hospitalizations among abused women. Intimate partner violence has a significant impact on women's health and use of health care.
Detection of neovascularization in the optic disc using an AM-FM representation, granulometry, and vessel segmentation

Neovascularization, defined as abnormal formation of blood vessels in the retina, is a sight-threatening condition indicative of late-stage diabetic retinopathy (DR). Ischemia due to leakage of blood vessels causes the body to produce new and weak vessels that can lead to complications such as vitreous hemorrhages. Neovascularization on the disc (NVD) is diagnosed when new vessels are located within one disc-diameter of the optic disc. Accurately detecting NVD is important in preventing vision loss due to DR. This paper presents a method for detecting NVD in digital fundus images. First, a region of interest (ROI) containing the optic disc is manually selected from the image. By adaptively combining contrast enhancement methods with a vessel segmentation technique, the ROI is reduced to the regions indicated by the segmented vessels. Textural features extracted by using amplitude-modulation frequency-modulation (AM-FM) techniques and granulometry are used to differentiate NVD from a normal optic disc. Partial least squares is used to perform the final classification. Leave-one-out cross-validation was used to evaluate the performance of the system with 27 NVD and 30 normal cases. We obtained an area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.85 by using all features, increasing to 0.94 with feature selection.
Characterization of virus inclusion bodies in bluetongue virus-infected cells.

A combined qualitative and quantitative approach has been used to examine the role of virus inclusion bodies (VIBs) in the morphogenesis of bluetongue virus (BTV). VIBs were detected as early as 4 h post-infection (p.i.), and their number and profile areas increased significantly between 12 and 16 h, and 20 and 28 h p.i. respectively. Core- and virus-like particles were found within and at the periphery of the VIB matrix, respectively, and their numerical density (number per area of VIB matrix) decreased during the course of infection whereas the numerical density of virus particles in the cytoplasm increased. Virus-like particles had a diameter of 57 +/- 8 nm and core-like particles appeared to fall into two size ranges, 32 +/- 3 nm and 38 +/- 3 nm in diameter. Both pre- and post-embedding immunoelectron microscopy procedures were used to localize BTV structural and non-structural proteins within the VIBs. The VIB matrix was labelled with antibodies to structural proteins VP5 and VP7 and non-structural proteins NS1 and NS2. Cores within VIBs contained proteins VP5, VP7 and NS1 but not VP2. Virus-like particles at the periphery of VIBs contained VP2, VP5, VP7 and NS1. The results suggest that BTV particles are synthesized, assembled and released from the perimeter of VIBs and not from within the matrix. Cores embedded in the VIBs are likely to have been trapped there during expansion of the matrix during replication.
Thoracic paravertebral block for postoperative pain management after renal surgery: A randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND Thoracic paravertebral block (ThPVB) combined with general anaesthesia is used in thoracic and general surgery. It provides effective analgesia, reduces surgical stress response and the incidence of chronic postoperative pain. OBJECTIVE To assess the efficacy of ThPVB in reducing opioid requirements and decreasing the intensity of pain after renal surgery. DESIGN A randomised, open label study. SETTING A single university hospital. Study conducted from August 2013 to February 2014. PARTICIPANTS In total, 68 patients scheduled for elective renal surgery (open nephrectomy or open nephron-sparing surgery). INTERVENTIONS Preoperative ThPVB with 0.5% bupivacaine combined with general anaesthesia, followed by postoperative oxycodone combined with nonopioid analgesics as rescue drugs. Follow-up period: 48 h. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Total dose of postoperative oxycodone required, pain intensity, occurrence of opioid related adverse events, ThPVB-related adverse events and patient satisfaction. RESULTS A total of 68 patients were randomised into two groups and, of these, 10 were subsequently excluded from analysis. Patients in group paravertebral block (PVB; n = 27) had general anaesthesia and ThPVB, and those in group general (anaesthesia) (GEN) (n = 31) formed a control group receiving general anaesthesia only. Compared with patients in group GEN, patients who received ThPVB required 39% less i.v. oxycodone over the first 48 h and had less pain at rest (P < 0.01) throughout the first 24 h. Group PVB patients also experienced fewer opioid-related adverse events and were less sedated during the first 12 postoperative hours. Patients in the PVB group had higher satisfaction scores at 48 h compared with the control group. There were no serious adverse events. CONCLUSION In our study, preoperative ThPVB was an effective part of a multimodal analgesia regimen for reducing opioid consumption and pain intensity. Methods and drugs used in both groups were well tolerated with no serious adverse events. Compared with the control group, patients in the ThPVB group reported increased satisfaction. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinical Trials NCT02840526.