Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
In vivo crystalline lens measurements with novel swept-source optical coherent tomography: an investigation on variability of measurement

Objective To evaluate the reproducibility of in vivo crystalline lens measurements obtained by novel commercially available swept-source (SS) optical coherence tomography (OCT) specifically designed for anterior segment imaging. Methods and analysis One eye from each of 30 healthy subjects was randomly selected using the CASIA2 (Tomey, Nagoya, Japan) in two separate visits within a week. Each eye was imaged twice. After image scanning, the anterior and posterior lens curvatures and lens thickness were calculated automatically by the CASIA2 built-in program at 0 dioptre (D) (static), −1 D, −3 D and −5 D accommodative stress. The intraobserver and intervisit reproducibility coefficient (RC) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were calculated. Results The intraobserver and intervisit RCs ranged from 0.824 to 1.254 mm and 0.789 to 0.911 mm for anterior lens curvature, from 0.276 to 0.299 mm and 0.221 to 0.270 mm for posterior lens curvature and from 0.065 to 0.094 mm and 0.054 to 0.132 mm for lens thickness, respectively. The intraobserver and intervisit ICCs ranged from 0.831 to 0.865 and 0.828 to 0.914 for anterior lens curvature, from 0.832 to 0.898 and 0.840 to 0.933 for posterior lens curvature and from 0.980 to 0.992 and 0.942 to 0.995 for lens thickness. High ICC values were observed for each measurement regardless of accommodative stress. RCs in younger subjects tended to be larger than those in older subjects. Conclusions This novel anterior segment SS-OCT instrument produced reliable in vivo crystalline lens measurement with good repeatability and reproducibility regardless of accommodation stress.
Allocation of Rights in Franchise Contracting: An Empirical Analysis of Austrian Franchise Contracts

Franchising befindet sich seit Mitte des 20. Jahrhunderts im Aufschwung und erlangte uber die Jahre hinweg weltweite Popularitat. Infolgedessen ist es wichtig eine solide, rechtliche Grundlage als Ausgangspunkt fur jede Franchisebeziehung zu haben. Der Zweck dieser Masterarbeit ist es daher, Licht auf die Wichtigkeit der Vertragsgestaltung in Verbindung mit den erforderlichen Vertragsklauseln sowie der Zuweisung von Property Rights zu werfen. Um statistische Beweise zu erbringen, wird eine Datenbank von 208 Franchisevertragen des osterreichischen Franchisemarkts genutzt. Im Vorfeld werden grundlegende Informationen und Gegebenheiten uber Franchising und ihrer momentanen Situation in Osterreich dargelegt. Als theoretische Basis fur die nachfolgende empirische Untersuchung werden die Property Rights Theorie, die Transaktionskostentheorie sowie die Prinzipal Agent Theorie, die ihren Ursprung in der Neuen Institutionenokonomik finden, herangezogen. Daraufhin werden Hypothesen aufgestellt, um wissenschaftlichen Erkenntnissen fruherer Studien an einer Auswahl osterreichischer Franchisevertrage zu uberprufen. Aufgrund der Tatsache, dass es beinahe nie moglich ist, alle Eventualitaten zu berucksichtigen, sind Franchisevertrage in den seltensten Fallen vollstandig. Um jedoch sicherzustellen, dass beide beteiligten Parteien motiviert sind, sich systemkonform zu verhalten, werden Anreize in Form von Verfugungs- und Handlungsrechten geboten. Aus diesem Grund wird eine empirische Analyse zur Untersuchung von residualen Einkommensrechten, Eigentumssurrogaten, Entscheidungsrechten und weiteren wichtigen Bestandteilen mit den verfugbaren Franchisevertragen durchgefuhrt. Unter Berucksichtigung von Transaktionskosten und moglichem opportunistischen Verhalten, tragt diese Analyse durch Betonung der Komplexitat bei der Verteilung von Handlungs- und Verfugungsrechten zur Wichtigkeit von Vertragsdesign in Franchisebeziehungen bei. Die Ergebnisse der empirischen Analyse zeigen, dass der Verteilung von Property Rights weit komplexere Ansatze zu Grunde liegen als die blose Untersuchung von Franchisevertragen, z.B. zusatzliche Informationen zu Franchisegeber und -nehmer sowie dem Franchisebetrieb. Aus diesem Grund lassen die Vertragsgestaltung und die vertraglich festgelegten Vertragsklauseln in Franchisevertragen einen grosen Spielraum fur die weitere wissenschaftliche Forschung.
Minimal-risk waiver of informed consent and exception from informed consent (Final Rule) studies at institutional review boards nationwide.

BACKGROUND Federal regulations allow waiver of informed consent for minimal-risk research (waiver). More than minimal-risk emergency research is allowed with an exception from informed consent (EFIC) under specific guidelines called the Final Rule. Performance of research without consent is controversial; however, chances for public health improvements are significant. OBJECTIVES 1) To describe the number and demographics of academic medical institutions that have reviewed and approved minimal-risk waiver and EFIC studies; 2) to describe associations between National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding percentile and whether an academic medical institution reviews EFIC studies; and 3) to describe associations between geographic region and review of EFIC studies, and the interaction of region and NIH funding percentile with review of EFIC studies. The hypothesis was that schools with a higher NIH funding percentile (more funding) reviewed more EFIC studies research, and that this effect did not vary based on region. METHODS This was an e-mail and telephone survey of all 122 MD-degree-granting medical schools in the continental United States. Descriptive data were collected on the number of schools reviewing and approving EFIC research. Sites were split into those that have reviewed EFIC studies and those that have not. A multivariable logistic regression examined the effects of 1) funding percentile and 2) region (Northeast, North Central, Southeast, and West) on the likelihood of EFIC study reviews at the sites. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were determined. RESULTS Ninety-eight of 118 eligible institutional review boards (IRBs) (83%) responded. Ninety-nine percent (97/98) approved waiver studies; 51% (50/98) had reviewed and approved EFIC studies. Academic medical institutions with higher funding percentile were significantly more likely to have reviewed/approved EFIC studies (interaction p = 0.01) in all regions except the Northeast, where higher funding percentile was associated with IRBs significantly less likely to have reviewed/approved EFIC studies (OR 0.25; 95% CI = 0.08 to 0.81). CONCLUSIONS Almost all medical school IRBs review minimal-risk waiver studies. About half of IRBs at medical schools have reviewed and approved an EFIC study. The higher the NIH funding percentile (more NIH funding), the more likely a site has reviewed EFIC studies, except in the Northeast region.
Understanding eating behaviours in Spanish women enrolled in a weight-loss treatment.

AIM To identify the beliefs and attitudes of a sample of obese and overweight Spanish women undertaking a weight-loss treatment. BACKGROUND Obesity is a global epidemic. Weight-loss treatments focus on changing eating behaviours; however, many patients fail to adhere to the diet. This suggests that more effective behaviour-change interventions are required to help people change their eating behaviours. According to the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) human behaviour is influenced by beliefs. Identification of people's beliefs is an essential step in the design of behaviour-change interventions. DESIGN A qualitative approach was employed using semi-structured interviews to interview participants. Seventeen obese and overweight Spanish women enrolled in a weight-loss treatment were recruited using a criterion sample strategy. FINDINGS Participants' reported beliefs referring to the benefits of losing weight and the emotions related to dieting. The more positive these beliefs were the more positive their attitude towards the diet seemed to be. Findings highlight the importance of follow-ups in creating a subjective norm to maintain a diet. Perceived behavioural control to diet seemed to be related to beliefs about social support; whereas beliefs about lack of willpower to overcome temptations seemed to decrease perceived control over eating behaviours. CONCLUSIONS Participants reported several beliefs and attitudes that offer plausible explanations of their eating behaviours. Data from this study seemed to fit the propositions of the TPB and could be used in further research to develop effective eating behaviour-change interventions. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Nurses could use the TPB to assess individuals' attitudes, beliefs and expectations when following a diet. That assessment would provide insight into what aspects are relevant for individual patients when dieting, which could lead to more effective diet behaviour-change interventions being designed.
Electrochemical and Microstructural Study of Ni-Cr-Mo Alloys Used in Dental Prostheses

Ni-Cr-Mo alloys have been widely used as fixed dental prostheses. Recast process influence on corrosion behavior of Ni-Cr-Mo dental alloy in simulated physiological serum has been investigated using chemical and electrochemical techniques. Ni-Cr-Mo alloy recast by induction (induction) or by blowtorch (torch) has exhibited similar dendritic structures with wide and precipitate grains in their boundaries. The torch alloy has presented good corrosion resistance in physiological serum. Passivation process provides this corrosion resistance. Passivation of Ni-Cr-Mo alloy is often attributed to the formation of a thin and compact layer of chromium oxide (Cr2O3). This film is self-limiting because it acts as a barrier to the oxygen transport and metal ions. This film stability will depend on its solubility to the working temperature. Different recast procedures change electrochemical parameters as stabilizing potential in open circuit, current density and passivation interval.
Grazing management contributions to net global warming potential: a long-term evaluation in the Northern Great Plains.

The role of grassland ecosystems as net sinks or sources of greenhouse gases (GHGs) is limited by a paucity of information regarding management impacts on the flux of nitrous oxide (N(2)O) and methane (CH(4)). Furthermore, no long-term evaluation of net global warming potential (GWP) for grassland ecosystems in the northern Great Plains (NGP) of North America has been reported. Given this need, we sought to determine net GWP for three grazing management systems located within the NGP. Grazing management systems included two native vegetation pastures (moderately grazed pasture [MGP], heavily grazed pasture [HGP]) and a heavily grazed crested wheatgrass [Agropyron desertorum (Fisch. ex. Link) Schult. ] pasture (CWP) near Mandan, ND. Factors evaluated for their contribution to GWP included (i) CO(2) emissions associated with N fertilizer production and application, (ii) literature-derived estimates of CH(4) production for enteric fermentation, (iii) change in soil organic carbon (SOC) over 44 yr using archived soil samples, and (iv) soil-atmosphere N(2)O and CH(4) fluxes over 3 yr using static chamber methodology. Analysis of SOC indicated all pastures to be significant sinks for SOC, with sequestration rates ranging from 0.39 to 0.46 Mg C ha(-1) yr(-1). All pastures were minor sinks for CH(4) (<2.0 kg CH(4)-C ha(-1) yr(-1)). Greater N inputs within CWP contributed to annual N(2)O emission nearly threefold greater than HGP and MGP. Due to differences in stocking rate, CH(4) production from enteric fermentation was nearly threefold less in MGP than CWP and HGP. When factors contributing to net GWP were summed, HGP and MGP were found to serve as net CO(2equiv.) sinks, while CWP was a net CO(2equiv.) source. Values for GWP and GHG intensity, however, indicated net reductions in GHG emissions can be most effectively achieved through moderate stocking rates on native vegetation in the NGP.
Humor and its relationship to perceived health, life satisfaction, and morale in older adults.

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the relationship between the use of humor as a coping strategy and health indicators as measured by perceived health, life satisfaction, and morale in older adults. A packet of questionnaires was administered to a nonrandom sample of 73 noninstitutionalized adults over age 55. Of the independent variables of situational humor, coping humor, residence, gender, age, living arrangements, and socioeconomic status (SES), none are significant predictors of perceived health at the . 017 alpha level, whereas the variable of living arrangements is predictive of life satisfaction. Furthermore, coping humor and socioeconomic status are predictive of morale in older adults. This study adds to the knowledge of humor as a coping strategy as well as a developmental concept in older adults. Implications for nursing practice and research are discussed.
Efficacy of dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to ropivacaine in pediatric caudal epidural block

Context: Caudal analgesia is a reliable and an easy method to provide intraoperative and postoperative analgesia for infraumbilical surgeries in pediatric population but with the disadvantage of short duration of action after single injection. Many additives were used in combination with local anesthetics in the caudal block to prolong the postoperative analgesia. Aim: We compared the analgesic effects and side effects of dexmedetomidine added to ropivacaine in pediatric patients undergoing lower abdominal surgeries. Settings and Design: Double-blinded randomized controlled trial. Materials and Methods: Sixty patients (2-10 years) were evenly and randomly assigned into two groups in a double-blinded manner. After sevoflurane in oxygen anesthesia, each patient received a single caudal dose of ropivacaine 0.25% (1 ml/kg) combined with either dexmedetomidine 2 μg/kg in normal saline 0.5 ml, or corresponding volume of normal saline according to group assignment. Hemodynamic variables, end-tidal sevoflurane, and emergence time were monitored. Postoperative analgesia, requirement of additional analgesic, sedation, and side effects were assessed during the first 24 h. Results: The duration of postoperative analgesia was significantly longer (P = 0.001) and total consumption of rescue analgesic was significantly lower in Group RD compared with Group R (P < 0.05). Group RD have better quality of sleep and prolonged duration of sedation (P = 0.001). No significant difference was observed in the incidence of hemodynamic changes or side effects. Conclusion: Addition of dexmedetomidine to caudal ropivacaine significantly prolongs analgesia in children undergoing lower abdominal surgeries without an increase in the incidence of side effects.
ANTIBODY RESPONSE OF CAPTIVE CHEETAHS TO MODIFIED-LIVE FELINE VIRUS VACCINE

The antibody response of cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) to modified live virus vaccine against feline panleukopenia (FPLV), herpes (FHV) and calici (FCV) viruses was assessed by means of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In the first year of study, 82 cheetahs were bled pre-vaccination. Of these, antibody levels to FPLV were found in 100% of the animals. Only 54% were found to have antibodies to FHV and 99% had antibodies to FCV. One month after booster vaccination with the same vaccine, increased antibodies to FPLV, FHV and FCV were seen in 19 (58%), 18 (55%) and 25 (76%) of these animals, respectively (n = 33). In the second year of study, 65 cheetahs were bled pre-vaccination. Fifty three of these animals were negative for antibodies to FPLV while 28 were positive for FHV and 64 were positive for FCV. These animals were then bled 1, 2 and 6 mo post booster vaccination. The antibody levels to the various viruses showed different trends with time.
Substance Use/Abuse and Suicidal Behavior in Young Adult Women: A Population-Based Study

Associations between substance use variables and suicidal behavior were analyzed in an urban population sample from (“the Women and Alcohol in Gothenburg” study). In Phase I, 20-year-old women (n = 2,069) completed a screening questionnaire. Interviews were carried out with a stratified sample (n = 560). Data, collected in 1995 and 2000, were analyzed using logistic regression to generate odds ratios. Drug use, but not risky alcohol consumption, was associated with suicidal thoughts after adjusting for current depression. Study limitations and implications for suicide prevention are discussed. The study was funded by the Swedish Research Council and the Alcohol Research Council of Sweden.
A novel association between a SNP in CYBRD1 and serum ferritin levels in a cohort study of HFE hereditary haemochromatosis

There is emerging evidence that there are genetic modifiers of iron indices for HFE gene mutation carriers at risk of hereditary hemochromatosis. A random sample, stratified by HFE genotype, of 863 from a cohort of 31 192 people of northern European descent provided blood samples for genotyping of 476 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 44 genes involved in iron metabolism. Single SNP association testing, using linear regression models adjusted for sex, menopause and HFE genotype, was conducted for four continuously distributed outcomes: serum ferritin (log transformed), transferrin saturation, serum transferrin, and serum iron. The SNP rs884409 in CYBRD1 is a novel modifier specific to HFE C282Y homozygotes. Median unadjusted serum ferritin concentration decreased from 1194 μg/l (N = 27) to 387 μg/l (N = 16) for male C282Y homozygotes and from 357 μg/l (N = 42) to 69 μg/l (N = 12) for females, comparing those with no copies to those with one copy of rs884409. Functional testing of this CYBRD1 promoter polymorphism using a heterologous expression assay resulted in a 30% decrease in basal promoter activity relative to the common genotype (P = 0·004). This putative genetic modifier of iron overload expression accounts for 11% (95% CI 0·4%, 22·6%) of the variance in serum ferritin levels of C282Y homozygotes.
A Dynamic Analysis of Moving Average Rules

The use of various moving average rules remains popular with financial market practitioners. These rules have recently become the focus of empirical studies. However there have been very few studies on the analysis of financial market dynamics resulting from the fact that some agents engage in such strategies. In this paper we seek to fill this gap in the literature by proposing a dynamic financial market model in which demand for traded assets has both a fundamentalist and a chartist component. The chartist demand is governed by the difference between a long run and a short run moving average. Both types of traders are boundedly rational in the sense that, based on a certain fitness measure, traders switch from a strategy with low fitness to the one with high fitness. We characterise first the stability and bifurcation properties of the underlying deterministic model via the reaction coefficient of the fundamentalists, the extrapolation rate of the chartists and the lag lengths used for moving averages. By increasing the switching intensity, we then examine various rational routes to randomness for different, but fixed, long run moving averages. The price dynamics of the moving average rule is also examined and it is found that an increase of the window length of the long moving average can destabilize an otherwise stable system, leading to more complicated, even chaotic behaviour. The analysis of the corresponding stochastic model is able to explain various market price phenomena, including market crashes, price switching between different levels and price resistance.
Experimental invasion by legumes reveals non‐random assembly rules in grassland communities

1 Although experimental studies usually reveal that resistance to invasion increases with species diversity, observational studies sometimes show the opposite trend. The higher resistance of diverse plots to invasion may be partly due to the increased probability of a plot containing a species with similar resource requirements to the invader. 2 We conducted a study of the invasibility of monocultures belonging to three different functional groups by seven sown species of legume. By only using experimentally established monocultures, rather than manipulating the abundance of particular functional groups, we removed both species diversity and differences in underlying abiotic conditions as potentially confounding variables. 3 We found that legume monocultures were more resistant than monocultures of grasses or non‐leguminous forbs to invasion by sown legumes but not to invasion by other unsown species. The functional group effect remained after controlling for differences in total biomass and the average height of the above‐ground biomass. 4 The relative success of legume species and types also varied with monoculture characteristics. The proportional biomass of climbing legumes increased strongly with biomass height in non‐leguminous forb monocultures, while it declined with biomass height in grass monocultures. Trifolium pratense was the most successful invader in grass monocultures, while Vicia cracca was the most successful in non‐leguminous forb monocultures. 5 Our results suggest that non‐random assembly rules operate in grassland communities both between and within functional groups. Legume invaders found it much more difficult to invade legume plots, while grass and non‐leguminous forb plots favoured non‐climbing and climbing legumes, respectively. If plots mimic monospecific patches, the effect of these assembly rules in diverse communities might depend upon the patch structure of diverse communities. This dependency on patch structure may contribute to differences in results of research from experimental vs. natural communities.
Bone Marrow–Derived Cells Contribute to Vascular Inflammation but Do Not Differentiate Into Smooth Muscle Cell Lineages

Background— It has been proposed that bone marrow–derived cells infiltrate the neointima, where they differentiate into smooth muscle (SM) cells; however, technical limitations have hindered clear identification of the lineages of bone marrow–derived “SM cell–like” cells. Methods and Results— Using a specific antibody against the definitive SM cell lineage marker SM myosin heavy chain (SM-MHC) and mouse lines in which reporter genes were driven by regulatory programs for either SM-MHC or SM &agr;-actin, we demonstrated that although some bone marrow–derived cells express SM &agr;-actin in the wire injury–induced neointima, those cells did not express SM-MHC, even 30 weeks after injury. Likewise, no SM-MHC+ bone marrow–derived cells were found in vascular lesions in apolipoprotein E−/−mice or in a heart transplantation vasculopathy model. Instead, the majority of bone marrow–derived SM &agr;-actin+ cells were also CD115+CD11b+F4/80+Ly-6C+, which is the surface phenotype of inflammatory monocytes. Moreover, adoptively transferred CD11b+Ly-6C+ bone marrow cells expressed SM &agr;-actin in the injured artery. Expression of inflammation-related genes was significantly higher in neointimal subregions rich in bone marrow–derived SM &agr;-actin+ cells than in other regions. Conclusions— It appears that bone marrow–derived SM &agr;-actin+ cells are of monocyte/macrophage lineage and are involved in vascular remodeling. It is very unlikely that these cells acquire the definitive SM cell lineage.