Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Compact laser Doppler choroidal flowmeter.

A compact instrument is described that allows the measurement of the laser Doppler flow parameters, i.e., the velocity, the volume, and flow of blood in the foveal region of the human choroidal vascular system. This new device uses the optical principle of confocality for the delivery of the laser light to the site of measurement and heterodyne detection of the Doppler frequency shifted scattered light. Power of the incident light (785 nm) at the cornea is 90 μW. Measurements were obtained in both eyes of a group of 21 normal volunteers without pupil dilatation. We determined the intrasubject reproducibility and the minimum statistically significant detectable changes in the flow parameters for a group of 21 eyes (one in each subject). Linear correlations were also established between the flow parameters in the right and left eyes. © 1999 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers.
Sexually transmitted hepatitis: a review.

Introduction Viral infections principally affecting the liver, are among the sexually transmitted diseases with the highest incidence worldwide. The most important of these is infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV), which is estimated to be responsible for chronic infection in at least 300 million individuals and is the ninth major cause of premature mortality. Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is rarely acquired sexually. Hepatitis E (HEV) has recently been characterised and is transmitted by the faecal-oral route, like HAV. ' Outbreaks of HEV infection have been described particularly in Asia. There is a high mortality among pregnant women (10%) for which there is so far no explanation. There is no evidence yet of sexual transmission ofHEV; however the possibility of oro-anal transmission among homosexual men, as has been documented for HAV infection cannot be discounted. It will not be considered further here. Hepatitis D virus (HDV) affects only those simultaneously or already, chronically, infected with HBV. Sexual transmission does occur, but in developed countries most infections are associated with injecting drug use. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is another agent which has been recently characterised and is the major cause of parenterally transmitted non-A, non-B hepatitis (NANBH). 2 Although the physico-chemical properties of the virus had been predicted correctly, for some years it eluded further characterisation owing to the low titre of virus in serum. Using serum known to have transmitted NANBH, Choo et al eventually cloned a sequence from a nonstructural gene (NS4). 3 The product of this gene reacted with other NANBH sera, and was used to make the first diagnostic assay for antibodies to HCV.4 HCV is a small RNA virus (9.1 kilobases) most closely related to the flaviviruses (eg dengue fever virus) and pestiviruses.5 By analogy with these viruses, there are nucleocapsid and envelope proteins coded for at the 5' end, and four non-structural gene products. Initial studies employing the first generation anti-HCV assay were complicated by the lack of a confirmatory assay. False positive reactions were suspected with sera from patients with chronic liver disease6 and from tropical communities.7 Second generation assays include a structural (nucleocapsid) gene-product. About 80% of cases of posttransfusion hepatitis are now attributable to HCV,8 although other antibody-antigen systems may be identified which will reveal additional cases. Delayed seroconversion after acute infection is common. Compared with the first-generation, second-generation anti-HCV assays are more likely to detect infection within 6 weeks (60% versus 45%; MJ Alter personal communication). No serological assays have yet been developed for HCV antigens. Assays for viral RNA in serum have been developed. These employ a reverse transcription step followed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of cDNA.9"
A Geographic Information System Method for Estimating Home Range Size

We developed a new technique to quantify home ranges by using coordinate-based data that were collected at small time intervals and entered into a Geographic Information System (GIS). We used this technique (digitized polygons [DP]) and 4 other established methods to estimate home range sizes of groups of black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra). We calculated the size of the area used by the study groups during the study period. The DP method used all available data points, excluded lacunae within home ranges, and accounted for spread of the group. The DP estimates of home range size were compared with 4 widely used methods: minimum convex polygon (MCP), grid-cell (GC), 95% harmonic mean (HM), and 95% adaptive kernel (AK). Sizes of home ranges ranged from 1 to 62 ha. Results of all procedures were strongly correlated (P < 0.001), although each gave very different estimates of home range sizes. The DP estimates were smaller than AK (P < 0.039) and MCP (P < 0.002) estimates and consistently (although not significantly) larger than GC methods (P = 0.99). There was no statistically significant or consistent difference between DP and HM estimates. Digitized polygons required the investigator to select path width and size of lacunae to exclude, but these decisions can be based upon biological information. This method may be the most appropriate technique to determine home range size with autocorrelated location data that can be converted to day-range paths.
2-D ECG Compression Using Optimal Sorting and Mean Normalization

In this paper, we propose an effective compression method for electrocardiogram (ECG) signals. 1-D ECG signals are reconstructed to 2-D ECG data by period and complexity sorting schemes with image compression techniques to increase inter and intra-beat correlation. The proposed method added block division and mean period normalization techniques on top of conventional 2-D data ECG compression methods. JPEG 2000 is chosen for compression of 2-D ECG data. Standard MIT BIH arrhythmia database is used for evaluation and experiment. The results show that the proposed method outperforms compared to the most recent literature especially in case of high compression rate.
Recurrence risk model for esophageal cancer after radical surgery.

OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to construct a risk assessment model which was tested by disease-free survival (DFS) of esophageal cancer after radical surgery. METHODS A total of 164 consecutive esophageal cancer patients who had undergone radical surgery between January 2005 and December 2006 were retrospectively analyzed. The cutpoint of value at risk (VaR) was inferred by stem-and-leaf plot, as well as by independent-samples t-test for recurrence-free time, further confirmed by crosstab chi-square test, univariate analysis and Cox regression analysis for DFS. RESULTS The cutpoint of VaR was 0.3 on the basis of our model. The rate of recurrence was 30.3% (30/99) and 52.3% (34/65) in VaR <0.3 and VaR ≥0.3 (chi-square test, (χ) (2) =7.984, P=0.005), respectively. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year DFS of esophageal cancer after radical surgery was 70.4%, 48.7%, and 45.3%, respectively in VaR ≥0.3, whereas 91.5%, 75.8%, and 67.3%, respectively in VaR <0.3 (Log-rank test, (χ) (2) =9.59, P=0.0020), and further confirmed by Cox regression analysis [hazard ratio =2.10, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.2649-3.4751; P=0.0041]. CONCLUSIONS The model could be applied for integrated assessment of recurrence risk after radical surgery for esophageal cancer.
Endobronchial Ultrasound–Transbronchial Needle Aspiration of Mediastinal and Hilar Lymphadenopathy Learning Curve

Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)-transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) has become a widely available tool that allows sampling of mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes with comparable accuracy as compared with the gold standard procedure, mediastinoscopy. The goal of this study was to evaluate the competence accuracy of this technique in academic medical center in patients with and without malignant disease. This was a retrospective chart review of the first 150 patients who underwent EBUS-TBNA at our institution with an operator not previously trained or supervised while performing the procedure. All nondiagnostic results were confirmed with mediastinoscopy. The cumulative sum analysis is a method used to continuously monitor performance against an established standard to attain competence in the procedure performed. Learning curve was assessed using cumulative sum method. Procedures were divided into sextiles (1–25, 26–50, 51–75, 76–100, 101–125, and 126–150). The technique's diagnostic accuracy was calculated for each of the 6 categories and trend toward improved accuracy was assessed using Cochran–Armitage trend test. Operator competency was achieved between 55th and 60th procedures. The diagnostic accuracy increased from 72% to 88% (from the first to third sextile) but remained stable afterwards at 88% (C-A trend test P = 0.091). The overall diagnostic accuracy was 84%. Trainees' learning rate varies while acquiring adequate knowledge. We suggest that a learning curve for each operator be used to assess competence in EBUS-TBNA procedure before physicians perform it without supervision.
Protonated polynucleotide structures. IX. Disproportionation of poly (G)·poly (C) in acid medium

The interaction between poly (G) and poly (C) was investigated in neutral and acid medium by optical methods. Three main points arise from this investigation. (1) The formation of poly (G)·poly (C) was complete only above an ionic strength of about 0.6M [Na+]. Lowering the ionic strength increased the amounts of free poly (G) and free poly (C) that could be detected. (2) When titrating towards acid pH values a transition took place which was characterized by potentiometry, mixing curves, and circular dichroism: a three‐stranded poly (G)·poly (C)·poly (C+) complex was formed analogous to the transition observed for the acid titration of poly (I)·poly (C). (3) Even when the poly (G)·poly (C) complex was incompletely formed (at low ionic strength) in neutral medium all poly (C) entered the triple‐stranded complex.
Transient improvement of aphasia with zolpidem.

To the Editor: There is currently no effective pharmacologic treatment for chronic aphasia, a frequent and incapacitating consequence of hemispheric stroke. We report the case of a 52-year-old right-handed woman, who had a stroke that affected her left insula, putamen, and superior temporal gyrus. Three years later, her speech was still restricted to stereotyped syllables, with not a single identifiable word. Language comprehension was better preserved. Because of occasional insomnia, zolpidem (10 mg) was prescribed. To the amazement of the patient and her family, ingestion of the first dose was followed by a dramatic improvement in her speech, which persisted .
New Considerations in Analyzing Stroke and Heart Disease Mortality Trends: The Year 2000 Age Standard and the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision

Background— Monitoring of trends and patterns of stroke mortality will be of utmost importance in the coming decade. Two innovations in vital statistics may complicate this task and must be brought to the attention of both researchers and readers of research reports: the new Year 2000 Age Standard and the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision (ICD-10). Summary of Review— For cerebrovascular diseases, the age-adjusted death rate is 2.4 times higher with the use of the year 2000 standard than with the use of the old 1940 standard. However, if rates for all years are computed with the use of the same age standard, the percent change from 1979 to 1995 is similar according to the 1940 standard (−35.8%) or the year 2000 standard (−34.3%). Another important effect of the change to the year 2000 standard is to reduce black/white differentials in age-adjusted death rates. Major discontinuities are not observed for mortality trends in cerebrovascular disease or heart disease between International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) (1979–1998) and ICD-10 (1999 and following years) classifications. Conclusions— All data users must exercise caution to specify the age standard used when assessing or presenting age-adjusted rates over time or between groups. The comparability of ICD codes chosen for years before 1999 versus 1999 or following years must be checked to distinguish changes due to coding from true changes in mortality levels.
A complementary clipping transform technique for the reduction of peak-to-average power ratio of OFDM system

A novel transform technique is proposed for reducing the peak-to-average ratio (PAPR) of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signal. Large OFDM signals are replaced by small complementary signals according to the proposed method. It has a low SNR loss in bit error rate while achieving a significant reduction of PAPR. It is shown by computer simulations that the proposed method can outperform the well-known clipping filtering scheme and /spl mu/-law companding technique substantially.
Use of Ultrasound in Monitoring Ovulation Induction with Human Pituitary Gonadotropins

Serial follicular growth was studied using real-time ultrasound scanning in 26 anovulatory patients in 55 cycles stimulated with exogenous human pituitary gonadotropin (hPG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Dosage was monitored with urinary total estrogen estimations. The ultrasound findings were not made known to the attending physician. Forty-four cycles (80%) were ovulatory, and conception occurred in 13. The mean follicular diameter of 17 to 25 mm at ovulation corresponded with the range observed in spontaneous cycles, although the rate of follicular growth was faster with hPG. On the day the ovulatory dose of hCG was given, as determined by the first urinary estrogen value greater than 50 jug/24 hours, estrogen excretion was similar whether single or multiple follicles of potential ovulatory size were present, but mean follicular diameters were significantly smaller when there was more than 1 follicle. During the last 4 days before ovulation, the mean diameters in conceptual cycles increased from 14.2 mm to 19.7 mm, values similar to those observed in spontaneous cycles, but different growth patterns occurred in some nonconceptual cycles. Ovarian hyperstimulation was identified by ultrasound scan in 4 of 5 cycles before urinary estrogen excretion exceeded the normal range. Although ultrasound scan does not supplant estrogen monitoring, it can assist in the early detection of hyperstimulation, in the more accurate timing of the ovulatory dose of hCG, and in the withholding of hCG when 3 or more ovulations are possible. It is recommended that ultrasound examination be performed in all patients before the ovulation-inducing dose of hCG is given to provide information on the number of follicles that are likely to ovulate and thus avoid conception of more than twins.
Maturation and fertilization in vitro of guinea-pig ovarian oocytes.

Mammalian ovarian oocytes can mature in vitro when liberated from Graafian follicles and placed in appropriate culture media. This was first demonstrated in the rabbit (Pincus & Enzmann, 1935, 1937; Chang, 1955a, b) and has been confirmed in a variety of animals (see Donahue, 1972; Biggers, 1973; Fowler & Edwards, 1973). According to Jagiello (1969), 80 to 100% of guinea-pig oocytes isolated from ovaries of adult females in the middle (Days 5 to 8) of their oestrous cycle
Reconstituted Discoidal ApoE-Phospholipid Particles Are Ligands for the Scavenger Receptor BI

The high density lipoprotein receptor, scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI), recognizes lipid-bound apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) and other apolipoproteins. Here, we have used large scale cultures of apoE-expressing cells to purify apoE and prepare apoE containing reconstituted discoidal 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-l-phosphatidylcholine (POPC)-apoE particles. These particles have been used to examine their binding to wild-type and mutant forms of SR-BI expressed in transfected ldlA-7 cells. Specific binding to SR-BI was determined by subtracting from the total binding, nonspecific values measured using either control untransfected ldlA-7 cells or by inhibiting SR-BI-mediated binding with a high titer antireceptor-blocking antibody. POPC-apoE particles generated using apoE2, apoE3, apoE4, or the carboxyl-terminally truncated forms apoE165, apoE202, apoE229, and apoE259 all bound tightly to wild-type SR-BI with similar affinities (K d = 35–45 μg/ml). Binding was nearly abolished in a cell line expressing the ldlA (Q402R/Q418R) double mutant form of SR-BI that is unable to bind native high density lipoprotein but binds low density lipoprotein normally. The findings establish that apoE is a ligand for SR-BI and that the receptor binding domain is located in the amino-terminal 1–165-region of the protein. SR-BI-apoE interactions may contribute to cholesterol homeostasis in tissues and cells expressing SR-BI that are accessible to apoE-containing lipoproteins.
Effects of yeast on dairy cow performance, ruminal fermentation, blood components, and milk manufacturing properties.

Effect of dietary yeast culture on milk production and composition, ruminal fermentation, blood parameters, and milk manufacturing properties of 24 midlactation Holstein-Friesian cows was determined in a 6-wk experiment. The control diet (DM) consisted of 30% corn silage, 22% alfalfa hay, and 48% concentrate. After a 2-wk preliminary period, cows were assigned in equal numbers to either 0 or 10 g/d of yeast culture for the remainder of the 4-wk study on the basis of age, DIM, and pretrial milk production. Production of milk (26.2 vs. 25.4 kg/d), FCM (23.6 vs. 21.6 kg/d), and milk fat (.90 vs. .78 kg/d) was increased significantly by dietary yeast culture. No differences were significant for milk composition. Molar proportion of acetate and acetate:propionate ratio in ruminal liquor tended to be higher in cows fed yeast culture. Total VFA concentration in ruminal fluid was not different between treatments. Manufacturing properties of milk and blood plasma components were not affected adversely by added dietary yeast culture.
Antigen-Specific Gene Expression Profiles of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Do Not Reflect Those of T-Lymphocyte Subsets

ABSTRACT Advances in microarray technology have allowed for the monitoring of thousands of genes simultaneously. This technology is of particular interest to immunologists studying infectious diseases, because it provides tremendous potential for investigating host-pathogen interactions at the level of immune gene expression. To date, many studies have focused either on cell lines, where the physiological relevance is questionable, or on mixed cell populations, where the contributions of individual subpopulations are unknown. In the present study, we perform an intrasubject comparison of antigen-stimulated immune gene expression profiles between a mixed population of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and the two predominant cell types found in PBMC, CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes. We show that the microarray profiles of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes differ from each other as well as from that of the mixed cell population. The independence of the gene expression profiles of different cell types is demonstrated with a ubiquitous antigen (Candida albicans) as well as with a disease-specific antigen (human immunodeficiency virus p24). This study has important implications for microarray studies of host immunity and underscores the importance of profiling the expression of specific cell types.
Orthodontic Force Induces Systemic Inflammatory Monocyte Responses

Periodontal inflammation and alveolar bone remodeling during orthodontic tooth movement are considered regional reactions. However, how systemic immune responses are involved in this regional reaction remains unclear. In this study, we explored the systemic effects of orthodontic force by focusing on the mononuclear phagocyte system. Flow cytometric analysis showed that the percentage of inflammatory monocytes, in peripheral blood and in the monocyte reservoir spleen, decreased on days 1 and 3 and then recovered on day 7 after force application. Along with the systemic decrease of inflammatory monocyte percentage, the number of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase–positive osteoclasts increased in the compression side of the periodontal tissue during orthodontic tooth movement. Systemic transfusion of enhanced green fluorescent protein–labeled inflammatory monocytes showed recruitment of these monocytes to the orthodontic force compression side of periodontal tissues. These monocytes were colocalized with tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase–positive osteoclasts. In vivo and in vitro experiments showed that orthodontic force could upregulate the expression of pivotal monocyte chemokine monocyte chemotactic protein 1 in periodontal tissues or cultured periodontal ligament cells, which may contribute to monocyte recruitment to regional sites. These data suggest that orthodontic force induces systemic immune responses related to inflammatory monocytes and that systemic inflammatory monocytes can be recruited to periodontal tissues by orthodontic force stimulus.
An object finder for program structure understanding in software maintenance

The maintenance or re-engineering of a program usually begins with considerable effort in understanding the program structure. In this paper, an interactive tool for understanding the structure of non-object-oriented programs, known as the Object Finder, is presented. The structure of a program is defined in terms of the groupings of routines and data into modules within the program and the hierarchical relationships among the modules. The Object Finder incorporates two complementary approaches, one being top-down and the other bottom-up, to assist the software engineer in understanding the structure of a program based on the object-like features found in the program. In the top-down approach, the user obtains an overall understanding of the entire program as a collection of hierarchically organized objects. In the bottom-up approach, the user obtains a view of the information which is closely related to the components under examination. In both approaches, two methods are used to identify the objects in a program written in a non-object-oriented programming language. These methods identify sets of objects based on the data bindings and on the type bindings found in a program. An object is considered as a collection of routines, types, and/or data items of the program. The Object Finder combines the top-down and bottom-up approaches while using human input to guide the object identification process. Two examples of using this Object Finder are also presented to demonstrate the capabilities of the approaches to assist the software engineer in attaining a high-level understanding of the program structure.
Bahamian Ship Graffiti

In the Age of Sail the Bahamas was on major routes between the Americas and Europe. Bahamians developed a way of life using their location to advantage. Ship graffiti are the first archaeological evidence of Bahamian shipping activity. The graffiti are unique in the region, being incised into a variety of stone surfaces, and probably other surfaces which have not survived. Images depict locally‐built vessels such as sloops and schooners as well as larger, ocean‐going ships. Graffiti locations are predominantly associated with people of African heritage and lower socio‐economic status. Details suggest artists were familiar with ship construction and rigging. © 2006 The Author