Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Echocardiographic Study of Cardiac Tamponade

We studied 14 patients with cardiac tamponade and pulsus paradoxus; 11 were studied after relief of tamponade by pericardiocentesis. Right ventricular diastolic diameter increased during inspiration in each of 12 patients; left ventricular diastolic diameter decreased during inspiration in each of 13. Mitral valve DE amplitude decreased with inspiration in 13 of 14 patients. Mitral valve E-F slope could be measured in eight patients, and was rounded and not measurable in six. Six of the eight showed inspiratory decrease in mitral E-F slope. Similar changes were observed in two other patients with pulsus paradoxus who had chronic obstructive airway disease. Twenty patients with large pericardial effusions and no tamponade did not show these changes. These results suggest inspiratory augmentation of right ventricular filling and inspiratory diminution of left ventricular filling, not only in cardiac tamponade, but in obstructive airway disease associated with pulsus paradoxus.
Music therapy for depression.

BACKGROUND Depression is a highly prevalent disorder associated with reduced social functioning, impaired quality of life, and increased mortality. Music therapy has been used in the treatment of a variety of mental disorders, but its impact on those with depression is unclear. OBJECTIVES To examine the efficacy of music therapy with standard care compared to standard care alone among people with depression and to compare the effects of music therapy for people with depression against other psychological or pharmacological therapies. SEARCH STRATEGY CCDANCTR-Studies and CCDANCTR-References were searched on 7/11/2007, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE, PsycLit, PSYindex, and other relevant sites were searched in November 2006. Reference lists of retrieved articles were hand searched, as well as specialist music and arts therapies journals. SELECTION CRITERIA All randomised controlled trials comparing music therapy with standard care or other interventions for depression. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Data on participants, interventions and outcomes were extracted and entered onto a database independently by two review authors. The methodological quality of each study was also assessed independently by two review authors. The primary outcome was reduction in symptoms of depression, based on a continuous scale. MAIN RESULTS Five studies met the inclusion criteria of the review. Marked variations in the interventions offered and the populations studied meant that meta-analysis was not appropriate. Four of the five studies individually reported greater reduction in symptoms of depression among those randomised to music therapy than to those in standard care conditions. The fifth study, in which music therapy was used as an active control treatment, reported no significant change in mental state for music therapy compared with standard care. Dropout rates from music therapy conditions appeared to be low in all studies. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Findings from individual randomised trials suggest that music therapy is accepted by people with depression and is associated with improvements in mood. However, the small number and low methodological quality of studies mean that it is not possible to be confident about its effectiveness. High quality trials evaluating the effects of music therapy on depression are required.
Carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in chronic spinal cord injury.

BACKGROUND Abnormalities of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism are more common in the spinal cord injury (SCI) population than in the able-bodied population. This is an important consideration in the long-term care of individuals with SCI. DESIGN Literature review. FINDINGS When compared with the able-bodied population, people with SCI are more likely to have oral carbohydrate intolerance, insulin resistance, elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, associated with increased prevalences of diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. CONCLUSIONS Because of increased risk factors for diabetes mellitus and heart disease in individuals with SCI, modifiable risk factors should be addressed, eg, obesity, inactivity, dietary factors, and smoking. To reduce mortality and morbidity associated with these risk factors, periodic screening for carbohydrate and lipid abnormalities is recommended, with appropriate therapeutic interventions.
Edge-Region-Based Segmentation of Range Images

In this correspondence, we present a new computationally efficient three-dimensional (3-D) object segmentation technique. The technique is based on the detection of edges in the image. The edges can be classified as belonging to one of the three categories: fold edges, semistep edges (defined here), and secondary edges. The 3-D image is sliced to create equidepth contours (EDCs). Three types of critical points are extracted from the EDCs. A subset of the edge pixels is extracted first using these critical points. The edges are grown from these pixels through the application of some masks proposed in this correspondence. The constraints of the masks can be adjusted depending on the noise present in the image. The total computational effort is small since the masks are applied only over a small neighborhood of critical points (edge regions). Furthermore, the algorithm can be implemented in parallel, as edge growing from different regions can be carried out independently of each other. >
On the Firms’ Decision to Hire Academic Scientists

Firms hire scientists to increase their absorptive capacity and generate new knowledge and innovations. In this paper, we analyse a firm’s optimal contracting decisions when scientists have differing tastes for science. The contracted scientist engages in multitasking following her own academic agenda and the firm’s agenda and each task delivers distinct outcomes. Our setting disentangles the productivity and absorptive capacity effects for the firm as well as the preference and opportunity cost effects for the scientists. The productivity effect refers to a scientist’s contribution to profits by improving efficiency or by developing new products. The absorptive capacity effect relates to the ability of the hired scientist to assimilate the knowledge produced elsewhere for the benefit of the firm. The preference effect reflects the fact that scientists, unlike other knowledge workers, have a taste for science and accept lower wages when allowed to pursue a personal academic agenda. The opportunity cost effect captures the fact that top scientists have better options in academia. In a baseline model we show that firms do not reward academic outcomes and only hire top scientists when academia is a poor alternative to joining the private sector. We then extent the analysis allowing for asymmetric information about the scientists’ taste for science, a nominal effort constraint and the lack of complementarity between research activities.
Intangible Capital and the Investment-q Relation

The neoclassical theory of investment has mainly been tested with physical investment, but we show that it also helps explain intangible investment. At the firm level, Tobin’s q explains physical and intangible investment roughly equally well, and it explains total investment even better. Compared with physical capital, intangible capital adjusts more slowly to changes in investment opportunities. The classic q theory performs better in firms and years with more intangible capital: Total and even physical investment are better explained by Tobin’s q and are less sensitive to cash flow. At the macro level, Tobin’s q explains intangible investment many times better than physical investment. We propose a simple, new Tobin’s q proxy that accounts for intangible capital, and we show that it is a superior proxy for both physical and intangible investment opportunities.
Gonadal effects of melatonin in the three-spined stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus L., during different seasons and photoperiods.

Males and females of the three-spined stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus L. , were given melatonin injections (0.8 or 4 micrograms/day) at different seasons and under different photoperiods (8L: 16D and 16L: 8D). Long photoperiods stimulated reproduction in November and January, whereas maturation in both sexes in March/April and ovarian regression in July were only negligibly affected by light. The high dose of melatonin induced antigonadal effects in both sexes under 16L: 8D in November and January. The low melatonin dose had progonadal effects under long photoperiod in females that had been maintained for some months under winter conditions and in females during the 8L: 16D regime in July.
Simultaneous optical and near-infrared linear spectropolarimetry of the earthshine

Aims: We aim to extend our current observational understanding of the integrated planet Earth spectropolarimetry from the optical to the near-infrared wavelengths. Major biomarkers like O$_{\rm 2}$ and water vapor are strong flux absorbents in the Earth atmosphere and some linear polarization of the reflected stellar light is expected to occur at these wavelengths. Methods: Simultaneous optical ($0.4-0.9$ $\mu$m) and near-infrared ($0.9-2.3$ $\mu$m) linear spectropolarimetric data of the earthshine were acquired by observing the nightside of the waxing Moon. The data have sufficient spectral resolution (2.51 nm in the optical, and 1.83 and 2.91 nm in the near-infrared) to resolve major molecular species present in the Earth atmosphere. Results: We find the highest values of linear polarization ($\ge 10\%$) at the bluest wavelengths, which agrees with the literature. Linear polarization intensity steadily decreases towards red wavelengths reaching a nearly flat value beyond $\sim$0.8 $\mu$m. In the near-infrared, we measured a polarization degree of $\sim4.5 \%$ for the continuum. We report the detection of molecular features due to O$_{2}$ at $0.760, 1.25 \mu$m and H$_{2}$O at 0.653$-$0.725 $\mu$m, 0.780$-$0.825 $\mu$m, 0.93 and 1.12 $\mu$m in the spectropolarimetric data; most of them show high linear polarimetry degrees above the continuum. In particular, the broad H$_{2}$O 1.12 $\mu$m band displays a polarimetric intensity as high as that of the blue optical. These features may become a powerful tool to characterize Earth-like planets in polarized light.
Serum lipid profile and uric acid levels in preeclampsia in University of Benin Teaching Hospital

Background: Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific disease associated with significant maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. Lipid abnormality and elevated serum uric acid have been reported as early features of the disease. We aimed to detect the level of serum lipid profile and uric acid abnormalities in severe preeclamptics in Benin City and to measure their clinical significance. Materials and Methods: A prospective case-control study was conducted with subjects presenting with severe preeclampsia to the Obstetric Unit of the UBTH, Benin City. Fasting serum lipid profile and uric acid levels of 40 severe preeclamptic subjects and 80 gestation-matched normotensive controls were done at recruitment. The preeclamptic subjects were managed according to our departmental protocol which included stabilisation and delivery. Their sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were used to generate a database for analysis. Results: The mean serum uric acid level was 28% higher in severe preeclamptics than normotensive women (5.96 ± 2.54 mg/dl versus 4.30 ± 0.85; P = 0.005). There were statistically significant differences in levels of triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) between the preeclamptics and their normotensive controls (P = 0.006, P = 0.000, P = 0.000, respectively). Abnormal serum uric acid was associated with advanced maternal age (P = 0.000), early-onset preeclampsia (P = 0.000) and abnormal body mass index (BMI; P = 0.000). Low birth weight was more likely in preeclamptics with elevated serum uric acid levels (P = 0.041). Conclusion: Abnormality of serum uric acid in preeclampsia was significantly associated with increased frequency of complications but lipid profile abnormalities were not shown in the subjects studied. We recommend a larger scale study to determine lipid profile in normal and complicated pregnancies in our environment.
Primary surgical management refractory glaucoma: tubes as initial surgery

Purpose of review Glaucoma drainage implants have an increasing role in the surgical management of glaucoma. Traditionally, trabeculectomy is usually recommended to patients as the initial surgery of choice and glaucoma drainage implant is reserved for patients with high risk of failure for filtering surgery. There is a lack of consensus among glaucoma surgeons regarding the use of tube shunts or trabeculectomy. Recent findings The role of glaucoma drainage implants has historically been limited to refractory glaucoma. Peer review publications in recent years suggest that glaucoma drainage implants may have similar efficacy as well as safety profile compared to trabeculectomy with antimetabolites. The tube versus trabeculectomy demonstrated similar intraocular pressure reduction at 1 year of follow-up. Because glaucoma drainage implant is usually offered at the refractory stage, the limited success rate of glaucoma drainage implant in terms of intraocular pressure lowering effect compared to trabeculectomy has been in the mindset of many glaucoma surgeons. If glaucoma drainage implant was offered as the initial procedure, the success rate may be different in terms of intraocular pressure control. Summary Glaucoma drainage implants should have expanding role in the surgical treatment of glaucoma.
Liver damage during organ donor procurement in donation after circulatory death compared with donation after brain death

During the past decade the number of livers recovered and transplanted from donation after circulatory death (DCD) donors has increased significantly. As reported previously, injuries are more frequent during kidney procurement from DCD than from donation after brain death (DBD) donors. This aim of this study was to compare outcomes between DCD and DBD with respect to liver injuries.
Evolutionary approach for line current harmonic reduction in AC/DC converters

This letter explains the application of genetic algorithms (GAs) for line current harmonic reduction in a buck-type converter. Harmonic reduction/elimination is redrafted as an optimization problem and steps of the GA are applied. Compared to conventional optimization techniques, the steps of the GA are very simple and global optimum is guaranteed in most cases. Theoretical and experimental results are provided to validate the method.
Seasonal Changes in the Genetic Structure of an Aphid-Ant Mutualism as Revealed Using Microsatellite Analysis of the Aphid Tuberculatus quercicola and the Ant Formica yessensis

Abstract The present study examined whether the mutualistic relationship between the aphid Tuberculatus quercicola (Matsumura) (Homoptera: Aphididae) and the attending ant Formica yessensis Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) has had any mutual effects on the microgeographical genetic population structure of both partner species. The aphids and the attending ants were collected in June, August, and October 2004 from six trees of the Daimyo oak Quercus dentata Thunberg (Fagales: Fagaceae) and were genotyped using microsatellite loci. Significant genetic differentiation was detected among T. quercicola populations on the respective trees across seasons (an average of pairwise FST = 0.183). Similarly, significant genetic differentiation was found among populations of F. yessensis that attended aphid colonies on the respective host trees, though the averages of pairwise FST were lower (an average of pairwise FST = 0.070). An analysis of molecular variance and two-way ANOVA detected a significantly large genetic difference between spring and summer samples in F. yessensis but not in T. quercicola, indicating that changes in genetic composition occurred in the F. yessensis colony. In spite of a drastic seasonal change in the genetic difference in F. yessensis, principle coordinate analysis showed that the relative position among the six populations was maintained from spring to summer, suggesting that the tree where honeydew was available for a long time was occupied by F. yessensis over the same period and that the honeydew sources were inherited at the level of the ant colony. It is hypothesized that the suitability of host trees for the aphid T. quercicola may have an affect on the genetic structure of the attending ant F. yessensis. Within a colony of aphids, clonal diversity decreased significantly as the season progressed. The reduction in clonal diversity may be due to an increase in identical genotypes by parthenogenesis or selective pressure from host plant deterioration.
Utilisation, efficacy and safety of voriconazole: prospective, non-interventional study on treatment of IFIs in clinical practice

Abstract Objective: Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) are an important cause of morbidity and mortality, particularly in patients with cancer. The triazole voriconazole, given as oral or intravenous formulation, has a high bioavailability and proven efficacy against invasive aspergillosis, candidiasis and other fungi. We aimed to assess the utilisation, efficacy and safety of voriconazole with emphasis on the route of administration under standard clinical conditions. Methods: Prospective, observational study performed by 17 hospitals and office-based physicians in Germany. Results: A total of 264 patients received oral (53%) or intravenous (22%) voriconazole or both formulations sequentially (25%). Of 228 patients with specified fungal diagnosis, 95 (36.0%) had aspergillosis, 73 (27.7%) candidiasis. Sixty (22.7%) received voriconazole for other fungal indications (OFI). In 195 of 226 patients (86.2%), treatment was successful (39.8% cured and 46.5% partial response). In terms of primary diagnoses, favourable responses were noted in 90% for pulmonary aspergillosis, 85% for candidiasis and 87% for OFI. Microbiological success was documented in 138 patients, of whom 105 (76.1%) had complete eradication of fungi. Response rates by initial route were similar for oral and intravenous administration (86 and 87%). Twenty-six of 264 patients died during the study, 53 patients experienced a serious adverse event (five treatment related), and 10 withdrew due to all-causality adverse events (AEs). Tolerability was assessed as very good in 55%, and good in 40% of patients. Conclusions: Voriconazole as oral or intravenous formulation was well tolerated and equally effective in critically ill patients with IFIs. This study in daily care confirms the outcomes of controlled clinical trials.
Relationship between Differentiation of Self and Attitude Towards Physician–Nurse Relationship in Hospitals (Isfahan/Iran)

Background: Attitude towards physician–nurse relationship is fundamental to achieve health care quality. Such attitude maybe determined by some personality traits such as differentiation of self. Hence, the present study aimed to investigate the relationship between differentiation of self and attitude to professional physician–nurse relationship. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was done in three hospitals in Isfahan in 2015. The study included all nurses and physicians. In total, 400 participants were recruited through convenience-sampling method. Data gathering instruments included a three-part questionnaire [demographic data sheet, Jefferson Scale of Attitudes toward Physician–Nurse Collaboration (JSAPNC) and differentiation of self-inventory (DSI)]. The data were analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics [t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and multiple linear regression) by the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16 software. Results: The mean [standard deviation (SD)] of the scores of differentiation of self in physicians and nurses were 86.43 (9.62) and 159.28 (9.53), respectively. The results showed that the predicting model of attitudes towards physician–nurse relationship based on dimensions of differentiation of self both in nurses and physicians were significant. Moreover, the findings from linear regression analyses showed that predictor variables explained 0.18 and 0.14 of the variance of attitudes towards physician–nurse relationships in nurses and physicians, respectively. Conclusions: Considering the significant role of differentiation of self to predict attitudes towards physician–nurse relationship, it is worthwhile to suggest provision of training programs particularly in the nursing and medical students to enhance differentiation of self both in physicians and nurses to improve culture of interprofessional relationships and to achieve optimum professional relationships between doctors and nurses.
A selectable marker allows investigation of a nontransforming Epstein-Barr virus mutant

The derivation of specifically mutated Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) recombinants is dependent on strategies to identify, enumerate, and clone infected B lymphocytes. In recent experiments, EBV recombinants containing a positive selection marker were identified and cloned in B-lymphoma (BL) cells infected and then plated under selective conditions (F. Wang, A. Marchini, and E. Kieff, J. Virol. 65:1701-1709, 1991). We now use BL cells, for the first time, as hosts for assaying and cloning otherwise isogenic EBV recombinants carrying a hygromycin phosphotransferase (HYG) gene linked to either a nontransforming deletion mutant or a transforming wild-type EBV nuclear antigen 2 (EBNA-2) gene. Both types of recombinants converted BL cells to hygromycin resistance with similar efficiency, formed episomes, and usually expressed only EBNA-1. Only the wild-type EBNA-2 HYG gene EBV recombinant transformed primary B lymphocytes. This strategy of assaying virus on BL and primary B lymphocytes makes possible the direct assessment of the transforming efficiency of an EBV recombinant. The resultant infected BL cells are also useful for the characterization of the nontransforming recombinant EBV genomes. The HYG gene insertion in the BHLF1 open reading frame eliminated BHLF1 protein expression. The insertion and resulting BHLF1 mutation did not interfere with primary B-lymphocyte infection, growth transformation, induction of lytic infection, or virus production. Thus, these experiments also indicate that neither the BHLF1 open reading frame nor the HYG gene insertion critically affects B-lymphocyte infection in vitro.