Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect sizes can be misleading: is it time to change the way we measure change?

Objectives Previous comparisons of the ability to detect change in the Barthel Index (BI) and Functional Independence Measure motor scale (FIMm) have implied these two scales are equally responsive when examined using traditional effect size statistics. Clinically, this is counterintuitive as the FIMm has greater potential to detect change than the BI and raises concerns about the validity of effect size statistics as indicators of rating scale responsiveness. To examine these concerns, in this study a sophisticated psychometric analysis was applied, Rasch measurement to BI and FIMm data. Methods BI and FIMm data were examined from 976 people at a single neurorehabilitation unit. Rasch analysis was used to compare the responsiveness of the BI and FIMm at the group comparison level (effect sizes, relative efficiency, relative precision) and for each individual person in the sample by computing the significance of their change. Results Group level analyses from both interval measurements and ordinal scores implied the BI and FIMm had equivalent responsiveness (BI and FIMm effect size ranges −0.82 to −1.12 and −0.77 to −1.05, respectively). However, individual person level analyses indicated that the FIMm detected significant improvement in almost twice as many people as the BI (50%, n=496 vs 31%, n=298), and recorded less people as unchanged on discharge (FIMm=4%, n=38; BI=12%, n=115). This difference was found to be statistically significant (χ2=273.81; p<0.000). Conclusions These findings demonstrate that effect size calculations are limited and potentially misleading indicators of rating scale responsiveness at the group comparison level. Rasch analysis at the individual person level showed the superior responsiveness of the FIMm, supporting clinical expectation, and its added value as a method for examining and comparing rating scale responsiveness.
Induction of chemokine and cytokine responses by Helicobacter pylori in human stomach explants.

BACKGROUND The cytokine response during the acute phase of Helicobacter pylori infection in humans has not been studied. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the early cytokine responses against H. pylori using cultured human stomach explants as a model of acute infection. METHODS Gastric corpus tissue obtained from 13 adult uninfected and 3 H. pylori-infected patients undergoing gastric surgery due to obesity was used for preparation of mucosal explants. The cultured explants were exposed to different H. pylori strains or antigens, that is, lipopolysaccharides (LPS), urease and heat-shock protein (Hsp) B. The responses of the CXC chemokines interleukin (IL)-8, growth-related oncogene alpha (GROalpha) and interferon-inducible protein (IP) 10 as well as the CC chemokine regulated on activation normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) were determined by ELISA. In addition, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, interferon gamma (IFNgamma), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) and granulocyte-macropage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) were studied. RESULTS In vitro H. pylori infection of the explants preferentially induced responses of the CXC chemokines GROalpha (P < 0.05) and IL-8 (P < 0.05), whereas the CC chemokine response (RANTES) was weak. In addition, the production of IL-6 was increased after H. pylori infection. Stimulation of the explants with different LPS preparations also induced strong GROalpha, IL-8 and IL-6 responses; the GROalpha responses being significantly higher after stimulation with rough than smooth H. pylori LPS (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS GROalpha, IL-8 and IL-6 are increased early during acute H. pylori infection and may influence the development of gastric disease.
Hematologic effects of linezolid in young children

Background. Linezolid is an effective and well-tolerated antibiotic for the treatment of Gram-positive infections, including hospital and community-acquired pneumonia and complicated and uncomplicated skin and skin structure infections. In adults linezolid treatment for ≥2 weeks has been associated with reversible hematopoietic suppression, primarily thrombocytopenia. Objective. To evaluate the occurrence of hematologic effects in children with Gram-positive infections in an open label study of linezolid vs. vancomycin. Methods. Detailed analyses of hematologic data, including reported hematologic adverse events, complete blood counts, reticulocyte index (RI) and iron studies (serum iron and transferrin saturation), were conducted in both groups at baseline and during and after treatment with the use of an intent-to-treat analysis. Results. Three hundred sixteen patients (median age, 1.65 yr) randomized 2:1 to linezolid (n = 215) or vancomycin (n = 101) were treated. Total treatment durations were similar in the vancomycin group (12.2 ± 6.4 days; median, 11.0 days) and the linezolid group (11.3 ± 5.0 days; median, 11.0 days) (P = 0.20). No significant differences were noted in drug-related hematologic events, such as thrombocytopenia (linezolid, 1.9%vs. vancomycin, 0%; P = 0.170), anemia (linezolid, 1.4%vs. vancomycin, 1.0%; P = 0.771) or neutropenia (linezolid, 0%vs. vancomycin, 0%). Hemoglobin values also were similar between treatment groups when assessed by shifts from baseline to lowest recorded value. Frequency of occurrence of any substantially abnormal value for hemoglobin (15.7%vs. 12.4%), platelets (12.9%vs. 13.4%) and neutrophils (5.9%vs. 4.3%) were similar in the linezolid and vancomycin groups. No clinically relevant changes in RI or iron studies were noted between treatment groups, and parallel increases in RI occurred with both linezolid and vancomycin. Conclusions. No significant differences in hematologic profiles between linezolid and vancomycin occurred in this pediatric population.
Post‐ischaemic activation of kinases in the pre‐conditioning‐like cardioprotective effect of the platelet‐activating factor

Aim: Platelet‐activating factor (PAF) triggers cardiac pre‐conditioning against ischemia/reperfusion injury. The actual protection of ischaemic pre‐conditioning occurs in the reperfusion phase. Therefore, we studied in this phase the kinases involved in PAF‐induced pre‐conditioning.
Mammalian thioredoxin is a direct inhibitor of apoptosis signal‐regulating kinase (ASK) 1

Apoptosis signal‐regulating kinase (ASK) 1 was recently identified as a mitogen‐activated protein (MAP) kinase kinase kinase which activates the c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 MAP kinase pathways and is required for tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α‐induced apoptosis; however, the mechanism regulating ASK1 activity is unknown. Through genetic screening for ASK1‐binding proteins, thioredoxin (Trx), a reduction/oxidation (redox)‐regulatory protein thought to have anti‐apoptotic effects, was identified as an interacting partner of ASK1. Trx associated with the N‐terminal portion of ASK1 in vitro and in vivo. Expression of Trx inhibited ASK1 kinase activity and the subsequent ASK1‐dependent apoptosis. Treatment of cells with N‐acetyl‐L‐cysteine also inhibited serum withdrawal‐, TNF‐α‐ and hydrogen peroxide‐induced activation of ASK1 as well as apoptosis. The interaction between Trx and ASK1 was found to be highly dependent on the redox status of Trx. Moreover, inhibition of Trx resulted in activation of endogenous ASK1 activity, suggesting that Trx is a physiological inhibitor of ASK1. The evidence that Trx is a negative regulator of ASK1 suggests possible mechanisms for redox regulation of the apoptosis signal transduction pathway as well as the effects of antioxidants against cytokine‐ and stress‐induced apoptosis.
Selective effects of zolpidem on human memory functions

Zolpidem is an imidazopyridine hypnotic with preferential binding affnity for the o1-benzodiazepine (BZD) receptor. The present double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluated the effects of orally administered zolpidem (15 mg/70 kg) on specific memory functions in 16 healthy volunteers using a battery of word and picture memory tasks. Relative to placebo, zolpidem significantly impaired memory for material presented after drug administration when memory was assessed directly by referring subjects back to the prior study episode (explicit memory: recall and recognition) but not when memory was assessed indirectly by evaluating subjects' ability to identify degraded versions of studied stimuli (implicit memory: fragment completion). Zolpidem did not impair explicit memory for material presented before drug administration or memory for previously acquired knowledge (semantic memory: categorization). There was evidence suggesting that zolpidem enhanced explicit and implicit memory for material presented before drug administration and that zolpidem produced a specific deficit in the acquisition of contextual information about material presented after drug administration. Despite zolpidem's unique pharmacological profile, the observed selectivity of zolpidem's memory-impairing effects for particular functions appears qualitatively similar to the selectivity observed with classic BZDs in previous studies.
High Rate of Symptomatic Cytomegalovirus Infection in Extremely Low Gestational Age Preterm Infants of 22-24 Weeks' Gestation after Transmission via Breast Milk

Background: Very immature preterm infants are at risk of developing symptomatic or severe infection if cytomegalovirus is transmitted via breast milk. It is still a matter of debate whether human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection may lead to long-term sequelae. Objectives: We hypothesized that symptomatic and severe HCMV infection transmitted via breast milk affects extremely immature infants at a very high rate. Methods: In 2012, untreated breast milk was fed to extremely low birth weight infants after parental informed consent was obtained. We retrospectively analyzed data on HCMV infection of infants born in 2012 between 22 and 24 weeks of gestation. Results: 17 infants were born to HCMV IgG-seropositive mothers. 11 (65%) of these were diagnosed with symptomatic infection. In all cases, thrombocytopenia was the reason to analyze the infant's urine. HCMV infection was diagnosed at a median time of 12 weeks after birth. In 5 (45%) infants, thrombocytopenia was the only symptom and resolved without antiviral therapy or platelet transfusion. 6 (55%) infants developed sepsis-like disease with mildly elevated CRP values and showed signs of respiratory failure. 3 (27%) were able to be stabilized on CPAP, 3 (27%) had to be intubated and mechanically ventilated. 4 children were treated with ganciclovir and/or valganciclovir. 55% failed otoacoustic emissions and/or automated auditory brainstem response testing at discharge. Conclusions: In very immature infants born at the border of viability and suffering from multiple preexisting problems, HCMV infection may trigger a severe deterioration of the clinical course.
Unsupervised extraction of greenhouses using WorldView-2 images

Greenhouses provide controlled areas to produce high-quality and wide variety of agricultural products. However, their monitoring and mapping are essential in many aspects such as yield estimation, sustainable crop production, residue management and environmental impact. Increased coverage area in recent years poses another necessity for advanced methods in addition to the (costly and time consuming) conventional techniques. Supervised classification methods have been currently used for greenhouse mapping based on well-known features (extracted from very-high spatial resolution images) and classifiers. Our contribution is to extract greenhouses in an unsupervised manner: we utilize spectral features and Gabor textural featuresextracted from WorldView-2 images, and then we cluster the combined features by an approximate spectral clustering method based on a local density based similarity. Our experimental results are very promising for effective and automated detection of greenhouse areas with very limited user information.
Determinants of Graduating MIS Students Starting Salary in Boom and Bust Job Markets

This study investigates the influence of internship experience, grade-point average (GPA), and job market on the starting salaries of management information systems (MIS) graduates. The seven-year period of the study includes the strong job market of the Internet boom, as well as the weak job market following the Internet bust. The regression results indicate that several factors are significantly related to starting salary including internship experience, GPA, job market, and size of employer. Internship experience was found to play a particularly strong role in predicting MIS starting salaries. A significant interaction effect indicates that the positive effect of internship experience is stronger during a weak job market. Graduates with internship experience also found employment more quickly. The study is based upon academic and placement data collected from 126 graduates from an AACSB accredited MIS program at Western Washington University during the years 1997-2003.
Effects of intensive cell phone (Philips Genic 900) use on the rat kidney tissue.

PURPOSE To investigate effects of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) emitted by cell phones on the rat kidney tissue. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty-one male Albino rats were divided into 3 groups, each comprising 7 rats. Group 1 was exposed to a cell phone in speech mode for 8 hours/day for 20 days and their kidneys were removed. Group 2 was exposed to EMR for 20 days and then their kidneys were removed after an interval of 20 days. Cell phone used in the present study was Philips Genie 900, which has the highest specific absorption rate on the market. RESULTS Light microscopic examination of the kidney tissues obtained from the first group of rats revealed glomerular damage, dilatation of Bowman's capsule, formation of large spaces between the tubules, tubular damage, perivascular edema, and inflammatory cell infiltration. The mean severity score was 4.64 ± 1.7 in group 1, 4.50 ± 0.8 in group 2, and 0 in group 3. While there was no significant difference between group 1 and group 2 (P > .05), the mean severity scores of groups 1 and 2 were significantly higher than that of the control group (P = .001 for each). CONCLUSION Considering the damage in rat kidney tissue caused by EMR-emitting cell phones, high-risk individuals should take protective measures.
Short-term changes in hormonal profiles after laparoscopic ovarian laser evaporation compared with diagnostic laparoscopy for PCOS.

STUDY QUESTION Which reproductive endocrine changes are attributed exclusively to laparoscopic ovarian drilling in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)? SUMMARY ANSWER Laser evaporation-specific endocrine effects were the prevention of an immediate increase in inhibin B and a sustained decrease in testosterone, androstenedione and anti-Müllarian hormone (AMH). WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY All ovarian drilling procedures result in reproductive endocrine changes. It is not known which of these changes are the result of ovarian drilling and which are related to the surgery per se. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This prospective controlled study was performed at an outpatient academic fertility clinic. Between 2007 and 2010, a total of 21 oligo- or amenorrheic PCOS patients were included. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Included were oligo- or amenorrheic PCOS patients with all three of the Rotterdam criteria and luteinizing hormone (LH) >6.5 U/l. All PCOS patients had an indication for diagnostic surgery due to subfertility. There were 12 PCOS patients who chose to undergo ovarian laser evaporation (CO2 laser, 25 W, 20 times/ovary) and 9 PCOS who chose a diagnostic laparoscopy only (controls). Reproductive endocrinology was measured before, and until 5 days after, surgery, and four gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) 'double pulse' tests were included. The main outcome measures were changes in reproductive endocrinology and pituitary sensitivity/priming to GnRH after laser evaporation compared with diagnostic laparoscopy only. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE In the first hours after surgery, both groups showed an increase in LH, follicle stimulating hormone, estrogen and a decrease in testosterone, androstenedione, AMH and insulin growth factor-1 (P < 0.05). Inhibin B increased in the laparoscopy only group (P < 0.05). In the first days after surgery, testosterone, androstenedione and AMH remained at lower than baseline levels exclusively in the laser group (P < 0.05). Pituitary sensitivity/priming to GnRH was not altered after either laser evaporation or laparoscopy only. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION The limitations of this study are the short follow-up period and the relatively small groups. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS The strength of this study is the integrally measured endocrine profiles in combination with an optimal control group of PCOS patients undergoing diagnostic laparoscopy only. Interestingly, most of the immediate endocrine changes after laser evaporation could be related to the surgical context and not to the ovarian drilling procedure itself. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS The study was funded by the Foundation of Scientific Research in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and the study medication, Lutrelef, was donated by Ferring, The Netherlands, Hoofdorphe There were no conflicts of interests mentioned by the authors.
Communication and concurrency

Foreword. 1. Modelling Communication. 2. Basic Definitions. 3. Equational laws and Their Application. 4. Strong Bisimulation and Strong Equivalence. 5. Bisimulation and Observation Equivalence. 6. Further Examples. 7. The Theory of Observation Congruence. 8. Defining a Programming Language. 9. Operators and Calculi. 10. Specifications and Logic. 11. Determinancy and Confluence. 12. Sources and Related Work. Bibliography. Index.
Differentiating Fat Necrosis from Recurrent Malignancy in Fat-Grafted Breasts: An Imaging Classification System to Guide Management

Background: In breast reconstruction with autologous fat grafting, concerns persist about the ability to differentiate palpable masses representing fat necrosis from recurrent cancer. The authors’ objective was to develop standardized imaging classifications to distinguish benign from malignant lesions after fat grafting. Methods: A database of 286 breast reconstruction patients undergoing fat grafting from 2006 to 2011 was retrospectively reviewed to identify patients with imaging of clinically palpable masses. All images were reviewed independently by a radiologist blinded to prior results. Lesions were classified, using the American College of Radiology Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System ultrasound lexicon, as follows: A, solid mass, hypoechoic; B, solid mass, isoechoic; C, solid mass, hyperechoic; D, solid mass, complex echogenicity; E, anechoic mass with posterior acoustic enhancement; F, cystic mass with internal echoes; and G, negative. Evolutions in lesions on follow-up ultrasound were recorded. Images were correlated with histopathologic results. Results: On ultrasound, 66 lesions were visualized in 37 patients with palpable masses. Twenty-two lesions (33 percent) were Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System category 4 lesions; biopsies were performed on all of them. Histopathologic results revealed that 85.7 percent (six of seven) with classification D and 100 percent with classifications A, B, C, E, F, and G were fat necrosis. The one malignant lesion (classification D) exhibited vascularity and angular margins on ultrasound and was not in the location of fat injection. Negative predictive value of avascularity and circumscribed margins for malignancy was 100 percent. Follow-up ultrasound of 29 lesions at a median of 6.5 months revealed that no masses increased in size or developed vascularity. Conclusion: Ultrasound analysis, with a standardized classification system, is reliable at differentiating benign from malignant lesions after fat grafting in breast reconstruction. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic, III.
Thermodynamic Analysis of Separation Systems

Abstract Separation systems mainly involve interfacial mass and heat transfer as well as mixing. Distillation is a major separation system by means of heat supplied from a higher temperature level at the reboiler and rejected in the condenser at a lower temperature level. Therefore, it resembles a heat engine producing a separation work with a rather low efficiency. Lost work (energy) in separation systems is due to irreversible processes of heat, mass transfer, and mixing, and is directly related to entropy production according to the Gouy‐Stodola principle. In many separation systems of absorption, desorption, extraction, and membrane separation, the major irreversibility is the mass transfer process. In the last 30 years or so, thermodynamic analysis had become popular in evaluating the efficiency of separation systems. Thermodynamic analysis emphasizes the use of the second law of thermodynamics beside the first law, and may be applied through (i) the pinch analysis, (ii) the exergy analysis, and (iii) the equipartition principle. The pinch analysis aims a better integration of a process with its utilities. It is one of the mostly accepted and utilized methods in reducing energy cost. Exergy analysis describes the maximum available work when a form of energy is converted reversibly to a reference system in equilibrium with the environmental conditions; hence, it can relate the impact of energy utilization to the environmental degradation. On the other hand, the equipartition principle states that a separation operation would be optimum for a specified set of fluxes and a given transfer area when the thermodynamic driving forces are uniformly distributed in space and time. Thermodynamic analysis aims at identifying, quantifying, and minimizing irreversibilities in a separation system. This study presents an overview of the conventional approaches and the thermodynamic analysis to reduce energy cost, thermodynamic cost, and ecological cost in separation systems with the main emphasis on distillation operations. Some case studies of cost reduction based on the thermodynamic analysis are also included.
Quantitative postural load assessment for whole body manual tasks based on perceived discomfort

Many Korean workers are exposed to repetitive manual tasks or prolonged poor working postures that are closely related to back pain or symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders. Workers engage in tasks that require not only handling of heavy materials, but also assuming prolonged or repetitive non-neutral work postures. Poor work postures that have been frequently observed in the workplaces of shipbuilding shops, manufacturing plants, automobile assembly lines and farms often require prolonged squatting, repetitive arm raising and wrist flexion and simultaneous trunk flexion and lateral bending. In most manufacturing industries, workers have to assume improper work postures repetitively, several hundreds of times per day depending on daily production rate. A series of psychophysical laboratory experiments were conducted to evaluate the postural load at various joints. A postural load assessment system was then developed based on a macro-postural classification scheme. The classification scheme was constructed based on perceived discomfort for various joint motions as well as previous research outcomes. On the basis of the perceived discomfort, postural stress levels for the postures at individual joints were also defined by a ratio scale to the standing neutral posture. Laboratory experiments simulating automobile assembly tasks were carried out to investigate the relationship between body-joint and whole-body discomfort. Results showed a linear relationship between the two types of discomfort, with the shoulder and low back postures being the dominant factor in determining the whole body postural stresses. The proposed method was implemented into a computer software program in order to automate the procedure of analysing postural load and to enhance usability and practical applicability.