Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Direct Immunofluorescence and Giemsa Staining in Chlamydia trachomatis Follicular Conjunctivitis

Background: Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common sexually transmitted bacterial infection and can cause various types of human eye disease. There are two general methods for diagnosis of chlamydial infection; cell culture and non-culture tests. Objectives: In this study we evaluated the prevalence of C. trachomatis in follicular conjunctivitis and compared the two rapid direct methods [direct immunofluorescence (DIF) and Giemsa staining] used in diagnosis of chlamydial conjunctivitis. Patients and Methods: In this descriptive and comparative study, 285 patients with follicular conjunctivitis were recruited and admitted to the referral laboratory unit of Farabi Eye Hospital of Tehran and 570 conjunctival scrapings from their right and left eyes were collected and subsequently stained via DIF and Giemsa staining. Results: In this study, 109 (50 males and 59 females) patients (38.24%) had positive results with DIF technique and most of these patients aged 21 - 30 and 11 - 20 years respectively. A number of 47 patients (27 males and 20 females) (16.49%) had positive results with Giemsa staining and in compared to DIF, sensitivity and specificity of Giemsa method was 38.53% and 97.16% respectively. Conclusions: Compared with Giemsa staining, DIF is a suitable test with high sensitivity and specificity and the choice test for rapid diagnosis of chlamydial conjunctivitis for routine purposes.
Magnetic Field Analysis for 3-D Positioning Applications

This paper proposes an analysis of the quasi-stationary magnetic field generated by coils and its applicability to 3-D short-range positioning scenarios. Starting from a theoretical background, an approximation of the induced voltage in a sensor coil is developed and analyzed. Then, the design and performance of a short-range magnetic field-based positioning system is described. The system is realized by using three-axis field generating coils and a three-axis sensor coil. It uses resonance properties to decrease current and power consumption requirements. The system is targeted for simple and low-cost applications, requiring subdecimeter accuracies over short ranges of approximately a couple of meters. The realized prototype, validated through in-field measurements, features a positioning error in the order of 4–5 cm over an area of 1.15 m <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\times $ </tex-math></inline-formula> 1.55 m <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\times $ </tex-math></inline-formula> 0.8 m.
The Framing Effects of Multipart Pricing on Consumer Purchasing Behavior of Customized Information Good Bundles

Applying behavioral economic theories, we hypothesize that consumers have sticky reference prices for individual information goods, but their perceived value for customizable bundle offers can be significantly influenced by the framing of a multipart pricing scheme. The potential impacts of these framing effects are measurable changes in consumer behavior and sales outcomes. We conducted a series of behavioral experiments and a large-scale natural field experiment involving actual purchases of customized information good bundles to confirm and analyze the hypothesized effects. The results demonstrate a consumer's willingness to purchase a customized bundle of information goods, the size of the resulting bundling, and the consumer's perceptions of the transaction are each significantly influenced by the design of the multipart pricing scheme. These results hold even when the final price and size of a customized bundle are the same across differing schemes. We discuss the potential tradeoffs in economic outcomes that result from price framing (e.g., likelihood of sale versus size of purchased bundles) and the implications for information good retailers.
Genetic Diversity and Zoonotic Potential of Cryptosporidium parvum Causing Foal Diarrhea

ABSTRACT Cryptosporidium isolates from diarrheic foals in New Zealand (n = 9) were identified as C. parvum, subtyped at two polymorphic loci, and compared with human (n = 45) and bovine (n = 8) isolates. Foal C. parvum isolates were genetically diverse, markedly similar to human and bovine isolates, and carried GP60 IIaA18G3R1 alleles, indicating a zoonotic potential.
Protective effect of 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE) on glomerular protein permeability barrier.

BACKGROUND Proteinuria is a significant problem in medicine today, although glomerular events underlying it are unknown. Products of cytochrome P450 (CYP450) pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism are increasingly recognized as playing major roles in renal function. We used in vitro albumin permeability (P(alb)) as a measure of injury and puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN) as an injurious agent to test the hypothesis that 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE) protects the glomerular filtration barrier from increased P(alb). METHODS We determined P(alb) in the following experimental groups: (1) isolated rat glomeruli incubated with PAN (5 microg/mL) for 5, 15, 30 or 60 minutes; (2) isolated glomeruli preincubated with 20-HETE (1.0 nmol/L to 100 nmol/L) for 15 minutes followed by additional incubation with PAN (5 microg/mL) for 15 minutes; (3) isolated glomeruli from rats treated with the CYP450 4A inducer clofibrate, and incubated with PAN (5 microg/mL) for 15 minutes; and (4) appropriate controls for each group. CYP450 4A levels were measured in glomeruli isolated from rats treated with clofibrate or vehicle. RESULTS PAN increased P(alb) of isolated glomeruli as early as 5 minutes (P(alb) 0.33 +/- 0.21, P < 0.05 vs. control). Maximal effect occurred at 30 minutes (P(alb) 0.75 +/- 0.16, P < 0.001 vs. control). Inclusion of 20-HETE (100 nmol/L) blocked the increased P(alb) caused by PAN (P(alb) 0.05 +/- 0.13). Likewise, glomeruli isolated from rats treated with clofibrate were protected from PAN-induced increase in P(alb) (P(alb) 0.19 +/- 0.03). Treatment with clofibrate significantly increased glomerular CYP450 4A expression. CONCLUSION PAN directly and immediately affects the glomerular permeability barrier. Furthermore, exogenous 20-HETE or clofibrate treatment protects glomeruli from increased P(alb) caused by PAN. Relative lack of 20-HETE may be a general characteristic of proteinuric states. Conversely, measures used to treat and/or prevent proteinuria may act to restore or increase glomerular 20-HETE levels.
Antepartum and Postpartum Complications of Twin‐Twin Transfusion

Summary: Twin‐twin transfusion is a condition that was previously associated with close to a 100% perinatal mortality. Recent reports suggest that a survival rate of about 60% can be achieved with serial amniocentesis and modern neonatal care. However, it is now apparent that the survivors of this condition have multisystem complications that can result in neonatal mortality and long‐term morbidity. Fourteen cases of twin‐twin transfusion were examined to determine the antenatal findings that may predict the postnatal outcomes of these infants. The overall survival was 61% (17 of 28). The mean gestation at diagnosis was 23.0 weeks (range 18–34 weeks) and the mean gestation at delivery was 29.0 weeks (range 23–37 weeks). The mean number of amniocenteses was 2.9 and the average total volume of amniotic fluid removed was 6,114 mL. Different patterns of complications were seen in the donor and recipient twins. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy affected 9 of the recipient twins. Anuria/oliguria was found in 4 of the donor twins and none of the recipients. Periventricular leukomalacia was found in 8 twins and 7 also had mild ventriculomegaly; of the surviving 17 twins, 5 had either periventricular leukomalacia, mild ventriculomegaly or both. Amniotic fluid leakage and perforation of the intervening membrane subsequent to serial amniocentesis were seen in 5 cases. Severe intrauterine growth retardation and abnormal cardiotocographs were a common feature. These complications directly resulted in neonatal mortality and long‐term morbidity in the survivors. Not all complications were detected antenatally and the severity was not able to be anticipated.
Heat Transfer by Impingement of Circular Free-Surface Liquid Jets

This paper reviews several aspects of liquid jet impingement cooling, focusing on research done in our lab at MIT. Free surface, circular liquid jet are considered. Theoretical and experimental results for the laminar stagnation zone are summarized. Turbulence effects are discussed, including correlations for the stagnation zone Nusselt number. Analytical results for downstream heat transfer in laminar jet impingement are discussed. Splattering of turbulent jets is also considered, including experimental results for the splattered mass fraction, measurements of the surface roughness of turbulent jets, and universal equilibrium spectra for the roughness of turbulent jets. The use of jets for high heat flux cooling is described briefly.
Mechanomyogram amplitude correlates with human gastrocnemius medialis muscle and tendon stiffness both before and after acute passive stretching

What is the central question of this study? The aim of this study was to determine the possible correlations between the mechanomyogram signal amplitude and the stiffness at the muscle–tendon unit, muscle and tendon levels, which were only hypothesised in previous investigations. What is the main finding and its importance? The main findings of this study are that the amplitude of the mechanomyogram was correlated inversely, albeit with small r2 values, with muscle–tendon unit, muscle and tendon stiffness both before and after application of stretching.
[Evaluation of respiratory function tests in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes].

INTRODUCTION Changes in the respiratory system are little known, tardive complications of diabetes. The mechanisms which lead to dysfunctions of the respiratory system in patients with diabetes might be: microangiopathy of pulmonary vessels, changes of alveoli's structure, vegetative neuropathy of the respiratory system, changes of bronchi's reactivity and dysfunctions of the mobility of the thorax. AIM OF THE STUDY Evaluation of spirometry parameters in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus and in the control group. Assessment of influence of metabolic control and duration of type 1 diabetes on chosen spirometric parameters among the patients from the study group. MATERIAL AND METHODS Thirty five patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus and thirty eight healthy subjects underwent spirometry. Forced expiratory volume in the 1st second (FEV1), forced expiratory vital capacity (FVC EX), vital capacity (VC), peak expiratory flow (PEF), FEV1 to FVC EX ratio were compared with normal values and expressed as a percentage of normal in both groups. Kruskal-Wallis test and variant analysis were used to study differences in a few groups, while Mann-Whitney test or t-Student's test were used to study differences in two groups. RESULTS No statistical difference between vital capacity VC [%] in the study compared to the control group was found. In the study group, the FEV1 to FVC EX ratio was significantly higher than in the control group (p=0.00094). In the study group, peak expiratory flow PEF [%] was significantly lower than in the control group (p=0.01091). No statistical difference between FEV1 [%], FVC EX [%] in the study and control group was found. In the group of patients with HbA1c >7% vital capacity VC [%] was statistically lower (p=0.03729) compared to the control group. The FEV1 [%] values were in the normal range (>80% predicted values) for 34 patients. In one child from the study group the FEV1 [%] was under normal range. Values of FVC EX [%] were in the normal range (>80% predicted values) in 34 patients. Only in one child from the study group FVC EX [%] was under normal range. The FEV1 to FVC EX ratio was in the normal range (>70% predicted values) in 35 patients. The vital capacity value VC [%] was in the normal range (>80% predicted values) in 33 patients and in two of them VC [%] was under normal range. CONCLUSIONS No relation was found between the duration of type 1 diabetes, HbA1c percentage and chosen spirometric parameters among the patients from the study group. Poor metabolic control accounts for reduction of vital capacity among the diabetic patients.
Socio-economic inequality in small area use of elective total hip replacement in the English NHS in 1991 and 2001

International evidence suggests that there are substantial socio-economic inequalities in the delivery of specialist health services, even in the UK and other high-income countries with publicly funded health systems (Goddard and Smith 2001, Dixon et al. 2003, Van Doorslaer, Koolman and Jones 2004, Van Doorslaer et al. 2000). Studies of total hip replacement in the English NHS have yielded particularly striking examples, given that hip replacement is such a common, effective and longestablished health technology. Administrative data show that people living in deprived areas are less likely to receive hip replacement (Chaturvedi and Ben-Shlomo 1995, Dixon et al. 2004) while survey data suggest they may be more likely to need it (Milner et al. 2004). However, previous studies have not examined change in inequality over time. This paper presents evidence on the change in socio-economic inequality in small area use of elective total hip replacement in the English NHS, comparing 1991 with 2001. This was a period of important large-scale health care reform in England, involving at least two significant reforms that might potentially have influenced socio-economic inequality in health care delivery: (1) the introduction and subsequent abolition of the Conservative “internal market” 1991-7, and (2) the introduction in 1995 of a revised NHS resource allocation formula designed to reduce geographical inequalities in health care delivery. Two datasets, for 1991 and 2001, were assembled from routine NHS data sources: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) on hospital utilisation in England and the corresponding decennial National Censuses in 1991 and 2001. Both datasets contain information on over 8,000 electoral wards in England (over 95% of the total). To improve comparability, a common geography of frozen 1991 wards was adopted. The Townsend deprivation score was employed as an indicator of socio-economic status. Inequality was analysed in two ways. First, for comparability with previous small area studies of hip replacement, by using simple range measures based on indirectly age-sex standardised utilisation ratios (SURs) by deprivation quintile groups. Second, using concentration indices of deprivationrelated inequality in use based on indirectly age-sex standardised utilisation ratios for each individual small area. Each SUR is the observed use divided by the expected use, if each age and sex group in the study population had the same rates of use as the national population.
Relation of BAALC and ERG Gene Expression with Overall Survival in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cases.

BACKGROUND The objectives of this study were to evaluate the expression of brain and acute leukemia, cytoplasmic (BAALC) gene and erythroblast transformation-specific related gene (ERG) in de novo cases of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and identify roles in disease progression and outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study included 50 newly diagnosed AML patients, along with 10 apparently healthy normal controls. BAALC and ERG expression was detected in the bone marrow of both patients and controls using real-time RT-PCR. RESULTS BAALC and ERG expression was detected in 52% of cases but not in any controls. There was a statistically significant correlation between BAALC and ERG gene expression and age (p- value=0.004 and 0.019, respectively). No statistical significance was noted for sex, lymphadenopathy, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, other hematological findings, immunophenotyping and FAB sub-classification except for ERG gene and FAB (p-value=0.058). A statistical significant correlation was found between response to treatment with ERG expression (p-value=0.028) and age (p-value=0.014). A statistically significant variation in overall survival was evident with patient age, BM blast cells, FAB subgroups, BAALC and ERG expression (p-value= <0.001, 0.045, 0.041, <0.008 and 0.025 respectively). CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that BAALC and ERG genes are specific significant molecular markers in AML disease progression, response to treatment and survival.
Two Phases of Chromatin Decondensation during Dedifferentiation of Plant Cells

Cellular dedifferentiation is the major process underlying totipotency, regeneration, and formation of new stem cell lineages in multicellular organisms. In animals it is often associated with carcinogenesis. Here, we used tobacco protoplasts (plant cells devoid of cell wall) to study changes in chromatin structure in the course of dedifferentiation of mesophyll cells. Using flow cytometry and micrococcal nuclease analyses, we identified two phases of chromatin decondensation prior to entry of cells into S phase. The first phase takes place in the course of protoplast isolation, following treatment with cell wall degrading enzymes, whereas the second occurs only after protoplasts are induced with phytohormones to re-enter the cell cycle. In the absence of hormonal application, protoplasts undergo cycles of chromatin condensation/decondensation and die. The ubiquitin proteolytic system was found indispensable for protoplast progression into S phase, being required for the second but not the first phase of chromatin decondensation. The emerging model suggests that cellular dedifferentiation proceeds by two functionally distinct phases of chromatin decondensation: the first is a transitory phase that confers competence for cell fate switch, which is followed, under appropriate conditions, by a second proteasome-dependent phase representing a commitment for the mitotic cycle. These findings might have implications for a wide range of dedifferentiation-driven cellular processes in higher eukaryotes.
Statistical versus Fuzzy Measures of Variable Interaction in Patients with Stroke

Evidence-based medicine, founded in probability-based statistics, applies what is the case for the collective to the individual patient. An intuitive approach, however, would define structure in the (physiologic) system of interest, the human being, directly relevant to other systems (patients) composed of similar variables. A difference in measure of variable interaction in the patient from that in the collective would show how extrapolation of information from the latter to the single patient is counterintuitive. Methods: We compare statistical to ‘fuzzy’ measures of variable interaction. Three diagnostic variables are considered in 30 stroke patients who underwent the same diagnostic tests. ‘Fit’ (fuzzy information) values [0, 1] for degree of variable severity were expertly assigned by 2 blinded raters for real and fabricated patients. Fabricated patients were composed of real-patient ‘fit’ values after shuffling. Real and fabricated patients were each numerically represented as a set . Three groups of fabricated patients and the real patient group were studied. Statistical [Pearson’s product-moment (regression analysis) and Spearman’s rank correlation] and three different fuzzy measures of variable interaction were applied to patient data. Results: Interaction for blood-vessel measured strong in real patients, and weak after one shuffle, using all fuzzy measures. By comparison, the same interaction was found in real patients by only 1 rater (Rater 2) using 1 statistical technique (Spearman’s rank correlation) which, as did Pearson product-moment correlation, found a ‘significant’ interaction between blood-heart in fabricated patients. Conclusion: Our study suggests that the measure of variable interaction in nature – as combined in the individual (real) patient – is captured robustly by fuzzy measures and not so by standard statistical measures.
Patterns of Searching for Information on the World Wide Web: A Pilot Study

The influences of task type on search of the World Wide Web using search engines without limitation of search domain were investigated. 9 graduate and undergraduate students studying psychology (1 woman and 8 men, M age = 25.0 yr., SD = 2.1) participated. Their performance to manipulate the search engines on a closed task with only one answer were compared with their performance on an open task with several possible answers. Analysis showed that the number of actions was larger for the closed task (M = 91) than for the open task (M = 46.1). Behaviors such as selection of keywords (averages were 7.9% of all actions for the closed task and 16.7% for the open task) and pressing of the browser's back button (averages were 40.3% of all actions for the closed task and 29.6% for the open task) were also different. On the other hand, behaviors such as selection of hyperlinks, pressing of the home button, and number of browsed pages were similar for both tasks. Search behaviors were influenced by task type when the students searched for information without limitation placed on the information sources.
Major drug interactions: effect of liver disease, alcohol, and malnutrition.

The liver, by virtue of its extensive array of enzyme activities, plays a vital role in drug metabolism. Moreover, its location in relation to the splanchnic circulation makes it an effective barrier against the systemic distribution of drugs and other noxious agents that might be ingested. In the presence of liver disease, therefore, the transformation of various drugs from pharmaco­ logically active to inactive compounds may be impaired, thus increasing the likelihood of unwanted effects. The presence of liver disease, however, is not the only factor that can influence drug metabolism; numerous other vari­ ables (Table 1), operating either in the external or in the internal environ­ ment, may play a modifying role (1). Among such variables is the coadministration of other drugs, including alcohol, an agent that causes a number of reversible as well as irreversible changes in the biochemical and physiological functions of the body. The present discussion examines major drug interactions and focuses on the effect of liver disease, alcohol, and malnutrition on drug metabolism. To aid in the discussion, the routes of drug metabolism in the liver and key pharmacokinetic principles are re­ viewed first.