Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Serum cystatin C is an early predictive biomarker of acute kidney injury after pediatric cardiopulmonary bypass.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent complication of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Serum creatinine (SCr), the current standard, is an inadequate marker for AKI since a delay occurs before SCr rises. Biomarkers that are sensitive and rapidly measurable could allow early intervention and improve patient outcomes. We investigated the value of serum cystatin C as an early biomarker for AKI after pediatric CPB. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS We analyzed data from 374 prospectively enrolled children undergoing CPB. Serum samples were obtained before and at 2, 12, and 24 hours after CPB. Cystatin C was quantified by nephelometry. The primary outcome was AKI, defined as a > or =50% increase in SCr. Secondary outcomes included severity and duration of AKI, hospital length of stay, and mortality. A multivariable stepwise logistic regression analysis was used to assess predictors of AKI. RESULTS One hundred nineteen patients (32%) developed AKI using SCr criteria. Serum cystatin C concentrations were significantly increased in AKI patients at 12 hours after CPB (P < 0.0001) and remained elevated at 24 hours (P < 0.0001). Maximal sensitivity and specificity for prediction of AKI occurred at a 12-hour cystatin C cut-off of 1.16 mg/L. The 12-hour cystatin C strongly correlated with severity and duration of AKI as well as length of hospital stay. In multivariable analysis, 12-hour cystatin C remained a powerful independent predictor of AKI. CONCLUSION Serum cystatin C is an early predictive biomarker for AKI and its clinical outcomes after pediatric CPB.
Taxpayers’ attitudes towards tax amnesties and compliance in South Africa: an exploratory study

South Africa has seen tremendous changes since 1994, from the introduction of a new government to structural changes in tax administration. One of the challenges the government faced in the new democracy was the restructuring of the tax system. Multiple tax amnesty programmes were thus introduced between 1995 and 2010 to provide immunity for limited periods to citizens and small businesses for past non-compliance without being subjected to additional tax, interest, penalties or prosecution. This paper presents the results of a survey on the attitudes of taxpayers towards tax compliance and tax amnesties in South Africa. The findings from this study indicate that taxpayers are of the view that the offering of multiple tax amnesties might not generate additional revenue, as non-compliant taxpayers will continue to evade taxation in anticipation of additional future amnesties.
Transcutaneous oxygen tensions in assessing the treatment of healed venous ulcers

Transcutaneous oxygen tension (P tc,O 2 ) was assessed as an indicator of risk of reulceration in 68 limbs with healed venous ulcers. P tc,O 2 was also used to assess two methods of ulcer prophylaxis. Measurements were made over the gaiter skin, the healed ulcer and the upper arm. The results were expressed as a ratio of the lower limb readings over those taken from the arm. Patients were randomized, after the ulcer had healed, to elastic stockings and stanozolol, or elastic stockings and surgical ligation of incompetent superficial veins. Patients who declined to participate in the study were prescribed elastic stockings only. Those limbs remaining healed at 12 months had P tc,O 2 ratios remeasured. The P tc,O 2 ratios from limbs that reulcerated were not significantly lower than those from limbs remaining healed. The P tc,O 2 ratio was significantly increased in limbs treated by stanozolol and elastic stockings (P < 0·05) and by surgery and elastic stockings (P < 0·05). There was no significant increase in P tc,O 2 in limbs treated by elastic stockings alone. In those treated by surgery and elastic stockings, there was a significant improvement in limbs with normal deep veins (P < 0·07), but not in limbs with post‐thrombotic changes on ascending phlebography. Although these two methods of ulcer prophylaxis improve the P tc,O 2 ratio, a high ratio has not been shown to be beneficial in preventing ulcer recurrence.
The Two-Component System GrvRS (EtaRS) Regulates ace Expression in Enterococcus faecalis OG1RF

ABSTRACT Expression of ace (adhesin to collagen of Enterococcus faecalis), encoding a virulence factor in endocarditis and urinary tract infection models, has been shown to increase under certain conditions, such as in the presence of serum, bile salts, urine, and collagen and at 46°C. However, the mechanism of ace/Ace regulation under different conditions is still unknown. In this study, we identified a two-component regulatory system GrvRS as the main regulator of ace expression under these stress conditions. Using Northern hybridization and β-galactosidase assays of an ace promoter-lacZ fusion, we found transcription of ace to be virtually absent in a grvR deletion mutant under the conditions that increase ace expression in wild-type OG1RF and in the complemented strain. Moreover, a grvR mutant revealed decreased collagen binding and biofilm formation as well as attenuation in a murine urinary tract infection model. Here we show that GrvR plays a major role in control of ace expression and E. faecalis virulence.
Altered Transcripts Expression of Matrix Metalloproteinases and Their Tissue Inhibitors in Tenon Capsule of Patients with Glaucoma

Purpose:To determine the transcripts expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) in Tenon capsule of patients with primary glaucoma and non-glaucomatous patients who serve as the control. Patients and Methods:Specimens of Tenon capsule were obtained intraoperatively and evaluated with the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction method. The transcripts levels of MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 relative to that of glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase were determined. Results:The transcripts levels of MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 were not correlated with age in the control group. There were differences in the transcripts expression of MMP-2 (P < 0.001), MMP-9 (P = 0.017), TIMP-1 (P < 0.001), and TIMP-2 (P = 0.001) among the control, primary open angle glaucoma, and primary angle-closure glaucoma groups (Kruscal-Wallis H test). Comparing with the controls, open angle glaucoma had decreased transcripts levels of MMP-2 (P = 0.001) and TIMP-1 (P = 0.006) while angle-closure glaucoma had decreased transcripts levels of MMP-2 (P < 0.001), MMP-9 (P = 0.004), TIMP-1 (P < 0.001), and TIMP-2 (P < 0.001) (Mann-Whitney U tests). Conclusion:The transcripts expression of certain MMPs and TIMPs is altered in Tenon capsule of glaucoma patients, which might result from long-term application of topical glaucoma medications.
How to operate a nuclear pore complex by Kap-centric control

Nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) mediate molecular transport between the nucleus and cytoplasm in eukaryotic cells. Tethered within each NPC lie numerous intrinsically disordered proteins known as FG nucleoporins (FG Nups) that are central to this process. Over two decades of investigation has converged on a view that a barrier mechanism consisting of FG Nups rejects non-specific macromolecules while promoting the speed and selectivity of karyopherin (Kaps) receptors (and their cargoes). Yet, the number of NPCs in the cell is exceedingly small compared to the number of Kaps, so that in fact there is a high likelihood the pores are always populated by Kaps. Here, we contemplate a view where Kaps actively participate in regulating the selectivity and speed of transport through NPCs. This so-called “Kap-centric” control of the NPC accounts for Kaps as essential barrier reinforcements that play a prerequisite role in facilitating fast transport kinetics. Importantly, Kap-centric control reconciles both mechanistic and kinetic requirements of the NPC, and in so doing potentially resolves incoherent aspects of FG-centric models. On this basis, we surmise that Kaps prime the NPC for nucleocytoplasmic transport by fine-tuning the NPC microenvironment according to the functional needs of the cell.
Case series of uterine rupture and subsequent pregnancy outcome.

OBJECTIVE TO review the incidence of ruptured uterus at Women's Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), highlight the management approach of suture repair in relation to maintaining the patient's future fertility, and study subsequent pregnancy outcome and the risk of recurrent uterine rupture. METHODS Case notes were reviewed for every patient with a ruptured uterus at the Women's Hospital in Doha for a period of 15 years, from 1 January 1983 to 31 December 1997. RESULTS There were 17 cases of ruptured uterus. The incidence of ruptured uterus was calculated to be 0.012%; eight (47%) of these occurred in patients with previous cesarean scars, while nine cases (52.9%) were grand multiparas (5 or more). In nine cases (52.9%), uterine rupture was associated with oxytocin use, and four patients (23.5%) were associated with prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) use. The ruptures occurred in the posterior uterine wall in one patient, the scar of a classical cesarean section in another, and in the lower segment in the remainder. Fetal heart abnormalities were observed in all cases in which the uterus ruptured during labor. Abdominal hysterectomy was performed in eight cases (47%). The remaining nine patients had suture repair, two with sterilization, and the other seven without sterilization. Six of these subsequently became pregnant, for a total of ten babies, all delivered by cesarean section. CONCLUSION Even though rupture of the uterus was rare in our study, its occurrence should be suspected when there are sudden fetal heart abnormalities during labor or unexpected antepartum or postpartum hemorrhage. Suture repair should be considered whenever possible to maintain the patient's future fertility.
Early Recurrence After Pulmonary Vein Isolation of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation With Different Ablation Technologies - Prospective Comparison of Radiofrequency vs. Second-Generation Cryoballoon Ablation.

BACKGROUND Inflammation plays a prominent role in the etiology of the early recurrence of atrial fibrillation (ERAF). We prospectively compared the proportion of ERAF and time-course patterns of biomarkers between radiofrequency (RF) and cryoballoon (CB) ablation. METHODSANDRESULTS We enrolled 82 consecutive paroxysmal AF patients undergoing pulmonary vein (PV) isolation, performed with either a 28-mm 2nd-generation CB and 3-min freeze technique or point-by-point RF ablation. Each group had 41 patients. In the RF group, all PVs were successfully isolated with 28.9 ± 6.5 min of RF delivery. In the CB group, a mean of 5.3 ± 1.4 applications/patient was delivered. The proportion of ERAF was similar between the groups. The time-course patterns significantly differed between the groups for high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) value (P=0.006) and myocardial injury markers (P<0.0001). Greater myocardial injury was observed in the CB than in the RF group (P<0.0001), whereas the peak hs-CRP value was comparable between the groups. The 2-day post-procedure hs-CRP value was the sole factor correlating with ERAF as identified by the multivariable analysis (hazard ratio 1.697; 95% confidence interval, 1.005-2.865; P=0.048) in the RF, but not the CB group. CONCLUSIONS The proportion of ERAF was comparable after RF and 2nd-generation CB ablation. Despite CB ablation exhibiting greater myocardial injury than RF ablation, the inflammatory responses were comparable between the groups. The inflammatory response extent predicted ERAF post-RF ablation but not post-CB ablation.
Phenoloxidase activity of phenol-degrading bacteria

In order to study phenoloxidase (PO) activity of the phenol-degrading bacteria, the carbon source of isolation culture medium adopts artificial phenol mixture. Stenotrophomonas maltophilia K279a is isolated from coal chemical industry wastewater. The optimum conditions for PO production are phenol 1000mg/L, temperature 30–34°C and PH 7–7.5. The strain resists 980mg/L COD and 805mg/L phenols. The degradation rate of phenols reaches 97% in 48h. The results show that Stenotrophomonas maltophilia K279a can be applied to the aerobic process with high proportion of phenols.
Residualisation and resilience: public housing in Hong Kong

Abstract Public housing has been an important element in the welfare state and a substantial literature has analysed its origins and growth in different places. However, as it has matured and been redefined by privatisation and regeneration, debates have changed and increasingly been concerned with residualisation and decline. This paper outlines considerations affecting comparative analysis of public housing and presents new material related to explanations for the resilience of public housing in Hong Kong.
Identification of the optimal emotion recognition algorithm using physiological signals

In human-computer interaction researches, emotion recognition systems based on physiological signals have introduced. This study was to identify the optimal emotion recognition algorithm for classification of seven emotional states (happiness, sadness, anger, fear, disgust, surprise, and stress) using physiological signals. 12 college students participated in this experiment over 10 times. To induce each emotion, 10 emotional stimuli sets which had been tested their suitability and effectiveness, were used in experiment. Physiological signals, i.e. EDA, ECG, PPG, and SKT were acquired by MP100 Biopac system Inc. (USA) and AcqKnowledge (Ver. 3.8.1) software was used for analysis of the signals. Physiological signals were obtained prior to present emotional stimuli and while emotional stimuli were presented to participants. 28 features were extracted the acquired signals and analyzed for 30 seconds from the baseline and the emotional state. For emotion recognition, data subtracting baseline values from the emotional state applied to 5 machine learning algorithm, i.e. FLD, CART, SOM, Naïve Bayes and SVM. The result showed that an accuracy of emotion classification by SVM was 99.04% (which is the highest accuracy among used algorithms) and 30.14% by FLD (which is the lowest). This means that SVM is the optimal emotion recognition algorithm by data of this study. Our result can help emotion recognition studies lead to better chance to recognize not only basic emotion but also user's various emotions, e.g., boredom, frustration, love, pain, etc., by using physiological signals. Also, it is able to be applied on many human-computer interaction devices for emotion detection.
Differences in the Relationship of Oral Reading Fluency and High-Stakes Measures of Reading Comprehension

The current study examined the predictive validity of oral reading fluency measures across first, second, and third grades for two reading achievement measures at the end of third grade. Oral reading fluency measures were administered to students from first grade to third. The Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills and the Stanford Achievement Test were also administered in the third grade. Oral reading fluency was a reliable predictor of student success on both measures. Data suggest that greater student growth in oral reading fluency is needed through the grade levels to ensure high probabilities of success on the nationally normed measure, as compared to what is needed for the state-normed measure. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.
An empirical study on the parametrization of cartesian genetic programming

Since its introduction two decades ago, the way researchers parameterized and optimized Cartesian Genetic Programming (CGP) remained almost unchanged. In this work we investigate non-standard parameterizations and optimization algorithms for CGP. We show that the conventional way of using CGP, i.e. configuring it as a single line optimized by an (1+4) Evolutionary Strategies-style search scheme, is a very good choice but that rectangular CGP geometries and more elaborate metaheuristics, such as Simulated Annealing, can lead to faster convergence rates.
Prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in China: a large, population-based survey.

RATIONALE The prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in China is largely unknown. OBJECTIVES To obtain the COPD prevalence in China through a large-population, spirometry-based, cross-sectional survey of COPD. METHODS Urban and rural population-based cluster samples were randomly selected from seven provinces/cities. All residents 40 years of age or older in the selected clusters were interviewed with a standardized questionnaire revised from the international BOLD (Burden of Obstructive Lung Diseases) study. Spirometry was performed on all eligible participants. Patients with airflow limitation (FEV(1)/FVC < 0.70) were further examined by post-bronchodilator spirometry, chest radiograph, and electrocardiogram. Post-bronchodilator FEV(1)/FVC of less than 70% was defined as the diagnostic criterion of COPD. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Among 25,627 sampling subjects, 20,245 participants completed the questionnaire and spirometry (response rate, 79.0%). The overall prevalence of COPD was 8.2% (men, 12.4%; women, 5.1%). The prevalence of COPD was significantly higher in rural residents, elderly patients, smokers, in those with lower body mass index, less education, and poor ventilation in the kitchen, in those who were exposed to occupational dusts or biomass fuels, and in those with pulmonary problems in childhood and family history of pulmonary diseases. Among the patients who had COPD, 35.3% were asymptomatic; only 35.1% reported lifetime diagnosis of bronchitis, emphysema, or other COPD; and only 6.5% have been tested with spirometry. CONCLUSIONS COPD is prevalent in individuals 40 years of age or older in China.
Persistent or not persistent? Polychlorinated biphenyls are readily depurated by grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis)

Major pharmacokinetic processes influencing polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) accumulation in mammals include uptake, biotransformation, respiration, and excretion. We characterized some of the factors underlying PCB accumulation/loss by evaluating PCB concentrations and patterns in pre‐ and posthibernation grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis) and their prey. The PCB congeners with vicinal meta‐ and para‐chlorine unsubstituted hydrogen positions consistently showed loss both before and during hibernation, supporting the idea of a dominant role for biotransformation. Retention of all other studied congeners relative to that of PCB 194 varied widely (from <1 to 100%) and was highly correlated with log octanol‐‐water partition coefficient (p < 0.0001). A lack of loss for most of these other congeners during hibernation supports the notion that excretion (e.g., fecal or urinary) or lack of uptake during the feeding season underlies their lack of accumulation, because hibernating bears do not eat or excrete. We estimate that grizzly bears retain less than 10% of total PCBs taken up from their diet. Our results suggest that for grizzly bears, depuration of PCBs via biotransformation is important (explaining ∼40% of loss), but that nonbiotransformation processes, such as excretion, may be more important (explaining ∼60% of loss). These findings, together with the approximately 91% loss of the persistent PCB 153 congener relative to PCB 194 in grizzly bears, raise important questions about how one defines persistence of PCBs in wildlife and may have bearing on the interpretation of food‐web biomagnification studies.
Association between electroencephalographic modulation, psychotic‐like experiences and cognitive performance in the general population

An association between deficit of electroencephalographic (EEG) modulation during an oddball task and psychotic symptoms has been described in clinical samples, in agreement with the proposed role of altered salience in psychosis. To discard the possible influence of medication, the relation between psychotic‐like experiences (PLE) and EEG modulation in the general population was explored.
Effects of adlay bran and its ethanolic extract and residue on preneoplastic lesions of the colon in rats.

BACKGROUND Adlay (Coix lachryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen Stapf) is a cereal crop used in traditional Chinese medicine and as a nutritious food. Epidemiologists have suspected that the low cancer rates in southeastern China might be related to adlay. Previous studies have shown that adlay has anti-tumour and anti-inflammatory activity. This study investigated the effect of adlay bran and its fractions on chemically induced colon carcinogenesis in rats. RESULTS Adlay bran and its ethanolic extract and residue significantly reduced the number of preneoplastic aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and modified their mucin composition. The inhibitory effect of adlay bran ethanolic extract on ACF showed a dose dependence. Adlay bran and its ethanolic extract suppressed small ACF (one, two or three crypts) and ACF in the distal colon, while the residue suppressed large ACF (four or more crypts). CONCLUSION These findings suggest the possibility that adlay bran and its ethanolic extract and residue inhibit colonic preneoplastic lesions in an early stage. Adlay and its fractions may have the potential to be developed as chemopreventive cereal products.
Neuropathologic diagnostic outcomes from a cohort of outpatients with suspected dementia.

BACKGROUND Researchers, clinicians, patients, and families need to know the accuracy of clinical dementia diagnoses. METHODS A prospective cohort of outpatients presenting with complaints of cognitive impairment to a geriatric clinic was established from 1978 to 1982. All patients initially received a standardized clinical evaluation and then were followed longitudinally. RESULTS Of 304 patients originally enrolled, 72 have come to autopsy and neuropathologic evaluation. Of those patients, 56 had been clinically diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and 16 had been diagnosed with other conditions. The sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy of the clinical diagnosis of AD compared with neuropathologic diagnosis was 95%, 81%, and 92%, respectively. CONCLUSION Our findings support the conclusion that the practicing clinician using standardized clinical criteria can accurately diagnose AD approximately 90% of the time. These data may also be useful in the planning of future care of the AD patient.
The Binocular Representation of Uniform Motion

In the model of motion perception proposed by Swanston, Wade, and Day (1987, Perception 16 143–159) it was suggested that retinocentric motion and eye movement information are combined independently for each eye, to give left and right orbitocentric representations of movement. The weighted orbitocentric values are then added, to give a single egocentric representation. It is shown that for a physical motion observed without pursuit eye movements this formulation predicts a reduction in the perceived extent of motion with monocular as opposed to binocular viewing. This prediction was tested, and shown to be incorrect. Accordingly, a modification of the model is proposed, in which the left and right retinocentric signals are weighted according to the presence or absence of stimulation, and combined to give a binocular retinocentric representation. In a similar way left-eye and right-eye position signals are combined to give a single binocular eye movement signal for version. This is then added to the binocular retinocentric signal to give the egocentric representation. This modification provides a unified account of both static visual direction and movement perception.