Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Selective Screening Strategies for Gestational Diabetes: A Prospective Cohort Observational Study

Aim We aimed to develop a prediction model for the diagnosis of gestational diabetes and to evaluate the performance of published prediction tools on our population. Methods We conducted a cohort study on nondiabetic women < 26 weeks gestation at a level 1 clinic in Johannesburg, South Africa. At recruitment, participants completed a questionnaire and random basal glucose and HbA1c were evaluated. A 75 g 2-hour OGTT was scheduled between 24–28 weeks gestation, as per FIGO guidelines. A score was derived using multivariate logistic regression. Published scoring systems were tested by deriving ROC curves. Results In 554 women, RBG, BMI, and previous baby ≥ 4000 g were significant risk factors included for GDM, which were used to derive a nomogram-based score. The logistic regression model for prediction of GDM had R2 0.143, Somer's Dxy rank correlation 0.407, and Harrell's c-score 0.703. HbA1c did not improve predictive value of the nomogram at any threshold (e.g,. at probability > 10%, 25.6% of cases were detected without the HbA1c, and 25.8% of cases would have been detected with the HbA1c). The 9 published scoring systems performed poorly. Conclusion We propose a nomogram-based score that can be used at first antenatal visit to identify women at high risk of GDM.
Bacteria and ArchaeaPhysically Associated with Gulf of Mexico Gas Hydrates

ABSTRACT Although there is significant interest in the potential interactions of microbes with gas hydrate, no direct physical association between them has been demonstrated. We examined several intact samples of naturally occurring gas hydrate from the Gulf of Mexico for evidence of microbes. All samples were collected from anaerobic hemipelagic mud within the gas hydrate stability zone, at water depths in the ca. 540- to 2,000-m range. The δ13C of hydrate-bound methane varied from −45.1‰ Peedee belemnite (PDB) to −74.7‰ PDB, reflecting different gas origins. Stable isotope composition data indicated microbial consumption of methane or propane in some of the samples. Evidence of the presence of microbes was initially determined by 4,6-diamidino 2-phenylindole dihydrochloride (DAPI) total direct counts of hydrate-associated sediments (mean = 1.5 × 109 cells g−1) and gas hydrate (mean = 1.0 × 106 cells ml−1). Small-subunit rRNA phylogenetic characterization was performed to assess the composition of the microbial community in one gas hydrate sample (AT425) that had no detectable associated sediment and showed evidence of microbial methane consumption. Bacteria were moderately diverse within AT425 and were dominated by gene sequences related to several groups of Proteobacteria, as well asActinobacteria and low-G + C Firmicutes. In contrast, there was low diversity of Archaea, nearly all of which were related to methanogenic Archaea, with the majority specifically related to Methanosaeta spp. The results of this study suggest that there is a direct association between microbes and gas hydrate, a finding that may have significance for hydrocarbon flux into the Gulf of Mexico and for life in extreme environments.
The value of patient-reported adherence to antiretroviral therapy in predicting virologic and immunologic response. California Collaborative Treatment Group.

OBJECTIVE To correlate self-reported antiretroviral adherence with virologic suppression. DESIGN Prospective observational study of adherence to therapy nested in a randomized comparative trial of frequent versus infrequent monitoring of plasma HIV RNA. SETTING Five university-affiliated HIV clinics. PATIENTS A group of 173 HIV-infected patients with a mean baseline CD4 count of 142 x 10(6) cells/l (range 3-515) of whom 164 and 119 completed adherence questionnaires at 2 and 6 months, respectively. INTERVENTION Individualized, unrestricted antiretroviral therapy. MEASUREMENTS Patients were classified into four groups by adherence to therapy in the previous 4 weeks (< 80%, 80-95%, 95-99%, 100%). Plasma HIV RNA levels and CD4 lymphocyte counts were measured bimonthly. RESULTS Recreational drug or alcohol use was associated with decreased adherence, whereas frequency of HIV RNA monitoring, demographic variables, (age, gender, education, and risk group) and stage of disease had no effect. Greater HIV suppression at 6 months was seen across four categories of increasing adherence (P = 0.009 for linear trend). Patients reporting < 80% adherence at 6 months had a 0.2 log10 copies/ml increase in HIV RNA and a loss of 19 x 10(6) CD4 cells/l compared with a 1.1 log10 copies/ml decrease in HIV RNA and an increase of 72 x 10(6) CD4 cells/l in those reporting 100% adherence (P = 0.02). CONCLUSION Self-reported poor adherence (< 80%) and drug or alcohol use predicted non-response of HIV RNA at 6 months of antiretroviral therapy.
DERMAL AND SYSTEMIC TOXICITY AFTER APPLICATION OF SEMISYNTHETIC METAL-WORKING FLUIDS IN B6C3F1 MICE

About 10 million industrial workers of both sexes are exposed to metal-working fluids (MWFs) via inhalation, skin or both. Our preliminary results, following dermal application of 200 µl of 50% unused (neat) semisynthetic MWF (pH 7 or pH 9.7) to the unshaved backs of 6-wk-old B6C3F1 mice, twice a week for 6 wk, produced significant increase in weights of the liver of both sexes. The purpose of the present study was to determine if this weight change was related to oxidative stress subsequent to MWF exposure and also to determine whether ethanol intake influences this effect. Therefore, 6-mo-old mice of both sexes were exposed to MWFs following the protocol just described, except that the topical application was with 5% MWFs (pH 7 and 9.7, 5 d/wk) with or without adding 5% ethanol to their drinking water (7 d/wk) for 13 wk. The skin histamine levels and mast-cell numbers were significantly increased in the female group treated with 5% MWF (pH 7). The ascorbic acid levels in the liver (both sexes) (all groups except 5% MWF pH 9.7 males) and testes were reduced significantly. Malondialdehyde levels in the male liver were significantly increased with topical MWF exposure. Glutathione levels were reduced significantly in both male and female liver after 5% MWF (pH 7). Alcohol dehydrogenase activity of the male liver increased significantly after MWF (pH 7). These results suggest that MWFs are absorbed through the skin and produce toxicity in the liver of both sexes and in the male gonads. This may represent an important health risk to MWF-exposed industrial workers, and ethanol may exacerbate this risk.
A propensity score analysis on the effect of on-pump versus off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting for patients with coronary artery disease.

AIM The aim of this retrospective observational study was to investigate the effect of on-pump versus off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for patients with coronary artery diseases (CAD). METHODS A retrospective observational study was performed using a propensity score analysis in 290 consecutive patients undergoing CABG between April 2009 and March 2014, of them, 54 patients undergoing off-pump CABG (OPCABG) were matched with 54 patients undergoing on-pump CABG (ONCABG) by propensity score. The perioperative complications and hospital mortality were documented. RESULTS Preoperative characteristics were comparable in both groups following propensity matching. Postoperative myocardial infarction (MI) incidence was lower in OPCABG group than in ONCABG group (3.7% vs. 14.8%, P=0.046); both hospital mortality and the major complications rates were similar in the two groups after propensity adjustment for preoperative characteristics. CONCLUSIONS The perioperative complications are similar in both off-pump and on pump CABG groups, the short-term effect of OPCABG is similar to that of ONCABG.
[Diurnal variations of central and paracentral corneal thickness and curvature].

OBJECTIVE Corneal topography and thickness has clinical importance in contact lens fitting and refractive surgery, however repeated measurement of corneal thickness and curvature is complicated by the natural phenomenon of diurnal variation. Our aim was determine diurnal variations of central and paracentral corneal thickness and curvature over a period of ten hours. MATERIALS AND METHODS Corneal thickness and curvature of 10 right eyes of 10 young healthy men were determined by Orbscan Topography System and EyeSys videokeratoscope respectively. Both parameters were determined for central and paracentral regions 1 mm and 2 mm from the centre of the cornea at 2-hour internals for ten hours. RESULTS The cornea was thickest and flattest on awakening. There was a difference in corneal thickness (ANOVA, Schfféc method p< 0.05) and curvature (ANOVA, Tamhane method p< 0.05) over time for all the corneal locations studied, with greater changes observed in the peripheral corneal data. The minimum value was 10 and 8 hours after eye opening for central and paracentral zones, respectively. Change in central and paracentral corneal thickness was strongly correlated with corneal curvature, except for the 2 mm nasal and superior semi-meridians. CONCLUSIONS These data indicate a shift in corneal thickness and curvature that can be of clinical relevance as individual changes vary greatly.
Analytical Model of Subthreshold Current and Slope for Asymmetric 4-T and 3-T Double-Gate MOSFETs

In this paper, analytical models of subthreshold current and slope for asymmetric four-terminal double-gate (DG) MOSFETs are presented. The models are used to study the subthreshold characteristics with asymmetry in gate oxide thickness, gate material work function, and gate voltage. A model for the subthreshold behavior of three-terminal DG MOSFETs is also presented. The results of the models show excellent match with simulations using MEDICI. The analytical models provide physical insight which is helpful for device design.
Financial sector development and threshold effect of inflation in ECOWAS and SADC: A Panel smooth transition regression approach

The financial sector of an economy is now widely agreed to constitute a potential important channel for growth. Many regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa, however, have relatively underdeveloped financial sector. Although several policy designs have been used to induce growth in the sector, there has been little or no success in the majority of the countries in the region. Existing theories suggest that inflation has negative effects on financial development. Other theories argue that inflation has a threshold effects on financial development. In this study, we provide a comparative study on the threshold effects of inflation on financial development between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) for the period 1980-2011 using a novel Panel Smooth Transition Regression. Our results suggest evidence of the existence of a robust single threshold of inflation in both regions. Particularly, it indicates 17.9% and 14.5% of inflation for ECOWAS and SADC respectively, suggesting that inflation above these thresholds presents statistically significant detrimental effects for financial development in both regions. The study therefore argues that price stability policies with inflation targeting framework should be the primary objective in monetary policy, since high inflation is economically costly to financial development of the two regions.
Using computer self-efficacy scale to measure the attitudes of taiwan elementary preservice teachers toward computer technology (china)

The purpose of the study was to identify the attitudes of preservice teachers enrolled in one elementary teacher training college in Taiwan toward selected issues related to computer technology as measured by the Computer Self-Efficacy (CSE) scale. The focus of this study, as measured by the CSE scale, was to determine whether significant differences existed between the attitudes of Taiwan preservice teachers regarding computer experience, computer training course, and computer ownership. The sample was comprised of 200 preservice teachers enrolled in one elementary teacher training college in Taiwan during the 2000–2001 school year. The instrument utilized in this study, CSE scale, was distributed to 200 preservice teachers randomly selected from one elementary teacher training college in Taiwan. It consisted of 30 items with a 6-point Likert scale that measured student responses concerning their attitudes toward computers. Data were analyzed through statistical methods including descriptive analysis, unpaired t-test, Pearson product-moment correlation test, analysis of variance, and two-way analysis of variance. A general threshold for significance was at the . 05 alpha level. Results indicated that there was no significant difference in CSE scores among preservice teachers who were enrolled in five major fields of study in one elementary teacher training college in Taiwan. Preservice teachers' CSE scores showed no significant difference when based on gender. Results of the Pearson product-moment correlation identified a significant correlation between the level of computer experience and CSE scores. Results of unpaired t-test indicated a significant difference between preservice teachers who have and those who have not attended a computer training course. Results of unpaired t-test revealed a significant difference between preservice teachers who owned a computer and those who did not. The knowledge of preservice teachers and their attitudes toward computer technology are assumed to be important for implementing computer-based technology in Taiwan's elementary teacher training programs. The use of a CSE scale to identify the attitudes of preservice teachers toward computer technology would provide Taiwan educators the ability to determine individual problems and concerns of preservice teachers that are associated with the use of computer-based learning systems in teacher training colleges.
Fast shift-variant resolution compensation within iterative reconstruction for fan-beam collimator

In this paper we have modeled the spatially-varying resolution of a fan-beam collimator as a function of both distance and lateral position across the imaging plane within iterative reconstruction. We demonstrate that an incremental blurring technique can be used to more efficiently model such non-stationary resolution than the straightforward non-stationary convolution methodology with a gain of 1.5X in speed and 99% less memory usage. This method can therefore be used for efficient variable resolution compensation in 3D for collimator geometries in which the detector response function varies across the imaging plane as well as with distance from the face of the collimator†.
Expression of Ki-67, p53 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concomitantly in growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenomas; which one has a role in tumor behavior ?

OBJECTIVE In many pituitary tumor, immunohistochemical studies have been shown to be correlated with different aspects of tumor behavior.There is no study up to date in which markers of Ki-67, p53, VEGF were evaluated concomitantly in GH-secreting adenomas.This study aims to determine which marker has a major role in tumor behavior and whether these markers have a cut-off value to distinguish invasive adenoma from non-invasive pituitary adenoma. METHODS Fourty-seven acromegalic patients operated by the same neurosurgeon were included in this study.Twenty-one patients(5micro/16 macro) had non-invasive adenomas and 26 had invasive macroadenomas.Eight patients(6 invasive macroadenomas, 2 microadenomas) were treated with OCT-LAR until one month prior to surgery with treatment duration range of 3-11 months.These patients were excluded from the study group as the noninvasive and invasive adenomas were compared.A separate analysis was performed in invasive adenomas to compare OCT(+) and OCT(-)patients. RESULTS Both Ki-67 and p53 expressions showed no correlation with the invasive character of adenomas, but VEGF expression in invasive adenomas was significantly higher with respect to noninvasive group.Our study has taken intermediate staining (>25 %)for VEGF as a cut off value for invasive adenomas.It was also observed that the decrease in VEGF staining in OCT pretreated invasive adenomas was significantly more than those not treated with OCT. CONCLUSION VEGF becomes an independent stimulator of angiogenic growth and progression for GH-secreting adenomas with >25% cytoplasmic immunoreactivity.This cut-off value may be useful in determination of prognosis and appropriate treatment strategy.A short term preoperative OCT treatment may be useful as adjunctive therapy especially for locally invasive GH- secreting adenomas.
The epidemiology of red cell transfusion

Background and Objectives Understanding of the clinical usage of red cells is limited despite its importance in transfusion practice improvement and planning for blood supply requirements. Previous studies have described red cell use based upon ICD and hospital discharge codes; however, such approaches are open to misclassification. This study addresses this limitation by undertaking an epidemiological analysis of red cell use using case note review.
Analysis of NSP4 Gene and Its Association with Genotyping of Rotavirus Group A in Stool Samples

Background: Non-structural protein 4 (NSP4) is a critical protein for rotavirus (RV) replication and assembly. This protein has multiple domains and motifs that predispose its function and activity. NSP4 has a sequence divergence in human and animal RVs. Recently, 14 genotypes (E1-E14) of NSP4 have been identified, and E1 and E2 have been shown to be the most common genotypes in human. Methods: The gene and protein sequence of NSP4 in RV-positive samples were inspected with the aim of NSP4 genotyping and variation analysis in viroporin and other domains. P and G typings of RV samples were carried out by WHO primers using a semi-multiplex PCR method. Non-typeable RV samples were amplified by conserved primers and sequenced. Results: In viroporin and enterotoxin, conserved sequence was detected, and amino acids substitution with the same biochemical properties was found. Conclusion: Association of NSP4 genotype with P or G genotyping G1/G9 correlates with E1 genogroups. In electrophoretyping of RV, E2 genotype had a short pattern when compared to E1.
[Iron, copper and zinc in adolescents during pubertal growth spurt].

OBJECTIVE To examine iron, copper and zinc nutritional status and their correlation with Body Mass Index (BMI), serum and dietetic levels in adolescents during the pubertal growth spurt. METHODS A descriptive cross-sectional study involving a sample of 47 adolescents out of 360 patients (19 boys, whose ages ranged from 12.3 to 16 years and 28 girls, whose ages ranged from 11.1 to 13.6 years), who were seen at a clinic for adolescents from March to December 1999. The variables analyzed were: Diet (24 hours Dietary Recall, Food Frequency Intake Questionnaire and Food Register Methods) to determine iron, copper and zinc intake; anthropometry (weight and height) to check BMI; biochemistry (measure of serum iron level through a Diagnóstica kit in vitro; ferritin through Immulite kit, and atomic absorption spectrophotometry for biochemical evaluation of serum iron, ferritin, copper and zinc. Spearman coefficient correlation was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS Forty seven adolescents during pubertal growth spurt showed adequate ingestion: iron (95% and 36%), copper (53% and 57%) and zinc (21% and 21%) in males and females, respectively. Most of them were eutrophic according to the BMI percentiles. Biochemically, boys presented normal values for serum iron and zinc in the whole sample, 95% for copper and 84% for ferritin. Girls also presented normal values for iron and zinc values in the whole sample, 96.4% for copper and 96% for ferritin. There were no statistically significant correlation between BMI and serum Fe, ferritin, Cu and Zn concentrations and between serum concentration and dietetic ingestion of the studied minerals, neither between serum iron and ferritin. CONCLUSIONS It is not clear if serum levels of Zn and Cu are floating during the growth process or if each adolescent has a stable level of these minerals during the pubertal growth spurt. Normal Fe, Cu and Zn serum levels in most adolescents evaluated may reflect the organism ability to accomplish homeostatic adjustments.
Mothers’ experiences of French mothertongue maintenance : towards a critical literacy approach

The purpose of this research was to explore how francophone mothers, having taken on the primary responsibility of teaching French to their young children, experience loss of their mothertongue and describe support and barriers to regaining and maintaining their native language. The principal research questions were: 1) How do francophone mothers residing in Greater Vancouver perceive the experience of maintaining and regaining their mothertongue? 2) How do francophone women living in an English-majority city feel supported or challenged in their decision to speak and improve their French while they take on the primary responsibility for teaching French to their pre-school aged children? 3) How do the women connect their experience of motherhood with their own language maintenance and revival? A literature review indicated three overall notions: 1) In North America, the ideal mother is portrayed as being sacrificial and ultimately responsible for her children's education and well-being, 2) language, identity and community are closely linked concepts, and 3) critical literacy is an educational process that can assist mothers interpret their social present for the purpose of transformation. A review of the literature produced few studies which included francophone mothers' experiences of maintaining their mother tongue while teaching their children French. Participants were eight women who had one or two children, six years or younger, living at home with whom they spoke solely or predominantly in French. Analysis of the interview transcripts revealed several themes. Firstly, although the women experienced language loss in diverse way, all the participants connected their decision to speak French with their children to an attachment
Autoimmune neutropaenia complicating Sjögren ’ s Syndrome : haematological and clinical improvement with granulocyte colony stimulating factor

Connective tissue diseases are associated with granulocyte-specific autoantibodies and autoimmune neutropaenia. Reduced levels of circulating neutrophils may predispose to recurrent infections, particularly of the respiratory tract, although severe and opportunistic infections have also been reported. There is only one previous description of the use of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GCSF) in Sjögren’s Syndrome complicated by autoimmune neutropaenia, reporting poor response and tolerability. We present here the successful use of GCSF in a 42-yearold woman with Sjögren’s Syndrome, autoimmune neutropaenia and chronic mastoiditis.
Business Cycle and Interest Rates: Pricing and Risk Management under a New Term Structure Model

This paper introduces a new macro-financial continuous-time model for the term structure of interest rates assuming that the instantaneous interest rate converges to a certain long-term mean level that depends on the business cycle. In short, our new model assumes that this mean reversion level is modeled by using a harmonic oscillator. Under this assumption, we compute closed-form expressions for the values of different fixed income and interest rate derivatives and for relevant risk management measures.