Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
NEW INSIGHT INTO THE MACULAR DEEP VASCULAR PLEXUS IMAGED BY OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY

Purpose: To describe the macular deep capillary plexus (DCP) in normal eyes using optical coherence tomography angiography. Methods: Retrospective study including 41 consecutive normal eyes imaged using optical coherence tomography angiography (RTVue XR Avanti; Optovue Inc). Default autosegmentation of the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and DCP, and manual adjustments of “deep settings” were used to analyze the organization of the normal macular microvascularization and to investigate in vivo the connection between these capillary networks. Results: Mean age was 31 years (range, 22–55 years). The SCP and DCP had 2 different organizations, but the plexus autosegmentation was imperfect: In 68% of cases, the image of the SCP variably superimposed on the DCP, interfering with its analysis. The SCP was composed on average of 7 pairs of arterioles and venules obvious on each 3-mm × 3-mm optical coherence tomography angiography scanning area. The DCP was composed of a capillary vortex arrangement, whose centers were aligned along the course of the macular superficial venules. Conclusion: The SCP and DCP had two different topographic organizations. The pattern of the capillary units converging into capillary vortexes highly suggests that they drain into the superficial venules. The different structural properties of the SCP and DCP could explain the differences in flow resistance and perfusion.
The Black Swans of Agricultural Education: A Glimpse into the Lived Experiences that Shape Urban Agricultural Educators’ Meaning in Work

Urban agricultural educators face a number of unique challenges in performing their job duties. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to understand the essence of urban agricultural educators’ meaning in their work by exploring their lived experiences. In this study, the essence emerged in the form of a metaphor: A Black Swan. The black swan represents a distinctiveness that urban agricultural educators possess in the agricultural education discipline. The black swans are guided by fusing (a) individualization, (b) self-connection, (c) contribution, (d) unification, and (e) coping abilities into a powerful construct identified as transcendence. By transcending ordinary levels of meaning, urban agricultural educators appeared to cope with their challenges in unique ways. Perhaps, the reason underlying the use of this coping strategy is the distinct population that urban agricultural educators serve since participants reported their programs were largely comprised of ethnic minority students living in low socioeconomic households. Urban agricultural educators might, therefore, continuously be faced with issues that remind them of the important role they play in their students’ lives. Moving forward, the study’s findings could be used as a foundation to explore and refine the discipline’s current understandings of urban agricultural educators’ meaning in work.
The behaviour of muscle microcirculation in chronically hypoxic rats: the role of adenosine.

1. In rats housed in a hypoxic chamber at 12% O2 for 3‐5 weeks (CH) and in normal rats housed in air (N), we directly observed responses of arterial and venous vessels of the spinotrapezius muscle to changes in O2 concentration in the inspirate. Both CH and N rats were anaesthetized with Saffan. They had haematocrits of 55.0 +/‐ 0.9% (mean +/‐ S.E.M.) and 41.9 +/‐ 0.5%, respectively. 2. In CH rats breathing 12% O2 and N rats breathing air, arterial and venous vessels from comparable anatomical positions in the vascular tree were of similar internal diameter. They also showed similar maximum dilator responses to topical adenosine (10(‐3) M); 14.1 +/‐ 1.1 and 16.3 +/‐ 1.7% in all arterioles, 15.5 +/‐ 1.2 and 11.5 +/‐ 0.6% in all venules in CH and N rats, respectively. 3. In CH rats, the change from 12% O2 to air for 3 min induced constriction in all arterioles and venules (‐12.9 +/‐ 1.0 and ‐14.3 +/‐ 1.7%, respectively), whereas in N rats, the change from air to 12% O2 for 3 min induced net dilatation (3.9 +/‐ 1.8% in arterioles and 4.7 +/‐ 0.8% in venules). Topical application of the adenosine receptor antagonist 8‐sulphophenyltheophylline (8‐SPT, 10(‐3) M) had no effect on control diameters in CH or N rats, nor on constrictor responses to air in CH, but reversed or reduced dilator responses to 12% O2 in N rats (to ‐2.4 +/‐ 1.3% in arterioles and 2.0 +/‐ 0.9% in venules). 4. In CH rats, the change from 12 to 8% O2 produced net dilatation as great as that induced in N rats by the larger change from air to 8% O2: 8.5 +/‐ 2.6 and 5.0 +/‐ 3.7% in arterioles and 10.3 +/‐ 1.8 and 6.4 +/‐ 1.9% in venules, respectively. These responses were similarly reduced by 8‐SPT to ‐4.3 +/‐ 1.9 and ‐5.2 +/‐ 2.7% in arterioles and to ‐6.9 +/‐ 2.0 and ‐1.5 +/‐ 2.0% in venules, respectively. 5. These results indicate that CH rats were acclimated to 12% O2 such that the resting tone of arterial and venous vessels of muscle was comparable to that of N rats breathing air. They also suggest that adenosine had little tonic dilator influence in CH rats breathing 12% O2 despite its contribution to the dilatation induced in N rats by acute exposure to 12% O2. This may reflect the greater haematocrit in CH rats which normalized the O2 supply to muscle. However, CH rats were more sensitive than N rats to the dilator influence of acute systemic hypoxia and this was largely mediated by adenosine.
Evidence that Nitroprusside Stimulates Glucose Uptake in Isolated Rat Cardiomyocytes via Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase

Sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a nitric oxide (NO·) donor, stimulates glucose uptake in skeletal muscle. We investigated the stimulatory effect of SNP on glucose uptake in cardiomyocytes and the possible role of soluble guanylate cyclase, phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI-3-kinase) and the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). Cardiomyocytes were isolated from adult male Wistar rats by trypsin/collagenase perfusion and glucose uptake determined from the accumulation of 3 H-2-deoxyglucose. SNP caused a dose-dependent increase in glucose uptake with 200-300% increase at 30 mM. Cytochalasin B completely prevented the SNP-induced increase in glucose uptake. 8-Br-cGMP (100µM) and the NO· donor spermineNONOate (100µM) were without effect on basal glucose uptake. SNP-stimulated glucose uptake was not inhibited by the guanylate cyclase inhibitor ODQ (10µM). Sodium ferrocyanide (Na 4 Fe(CN) 6), a compound structurally related to SNP, but without any NO· group, also stimulated glucose uptake in cardiomyocytes suggesting that the effect of SNP could be unrelated to liberation of NO·. Wortmannin, an inhibitor of PI-3-kinase, inhibited insulin-stimulated glucose uptake completely but did not affect SNP-stimulated glucose uptake. SNP-stimulated glucose uptake was inhibited by 50µM PD 098059 (inhibitor of the MAPK-kinases that activate external regulated kinase [ERK1/2]) and by 50µM SB203580 (inhibitor of p38MAPK). In conclusion, high SNP concentrations dose-dependently stimulate glucose uptake in cardiomyocytes and our data suggest a role for MAPK signalling, but not PI-3-kinase and soluble guanylate cyclase, in stimulation of glucose uptake.
A Dual Modality System for Simultaneous Fluorescence and Positron Emission Tomography Imaging of Small Animals

A dual-modality imaging system for simultaneous fluorescence molecular tomography (FMT) and positron emission tomography (PET) of small animals has been developed. The system consists of a noncontact 360°-projection FMT module and a flat panel detector pair based PET module, which are mounted orthogonally for the sake of eliminating cross interference. The FMT images and PET data are simultaneously acquired by employing dynamic sampling mode. Phantom experiments, in which the localization and range of radioactive and fluorescence probes are exactly indicated, have been carried out to verify the feasibility of the system. An experimental tumor-bearing mouse is also scanned using the dual-modality simultaneous imaging system, the preliminary fluorescence tomographic images and PET images demonstrate the in vivo performance of the presented dual-modality system.
Integration of Doctoral Students in Distance Programs: An Instrument Validation Study of Educational Doctorate Students

Doctoral attrition rates range between 40%-60%. Attrition rates increase 10%-20% in the distance education (DE) environment. Academic integration and social integration are key elements of doctoral student integration and predictors of student persistence at any program stage. Instruments exist to measure academic integration and social integration for undergraduate students; however, no instruments exist that specifically measure both academic integration and social integration of doctoral students in DE programs at any program stage. The purpose of this research was to develop and analyze the structure, validity, and reliability of the Distance Doctoral Integration Scale (DDIS). Instrument development followed a multi-step process. After DDIS development, a subject matter expert review panel established instrument content and face validity. A DDIS pilot test (n = 8) further assessed content and face validity. The DDIS was then administered electronically via snowball sampling to doctoral students (n = 282) in DE programs. An exploratory factor analysis was used to analyze the DDIS structure and validity. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha and test-retest of previous participants (n = 109). The result indicated the 32-item DDIS is a valid and reliable instrument. However, the results also indicated the DDIS measures different factors than those hypothesized and provided a new conceptualization of program integration of doctoral students in DE programs.
Semi-Strong Form Efficiency in the Baltic Stock Markets under Changing Economic Situation

This study is designed to test semi-strong form efficiency in the Baltic stock markets and to identify investors’ behaviour under changing economic situation. It involves description of semi-strong form of stock market efficiency and discusses the results of other studies in the field. Analysis and summary of previous research results revealed that there is a lot of studies test semi-strong form efficiency in various stock markets, but very few analysed Baltic stock markets especially under changing economic situation. This research was based on event studies using Patell’s, BMP and cumulative abnormal return tests. The chosen research period of 2000–2016 was divided into two sub-periods by real GDP: 2000–2008 and 2009–2016. The research results showed that Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian stock markets were not efficient in semi-strong form in neither of the sub-periods. The proposition that thin stock markets are not efficient was confirmed, allowing investors in Baltic stock markets to earn abnormal returns. Moreover, in the second sub-period the average abnormal returns increased in all analysed markets, potentially due to increased distrust and precaution of investors. The only exception were the results of Patell’s test: in Lithuanian and Estonian companies event announcements affected stock prices significantly stronger in the second sub-period, while in Latvian, contrarily, in the first one. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.5755/j01.ee. 29.5. 19083
Controlled attenuation parameter for evaluating liver steatosis in chronic viral hepatitis.

AIM To assess the performance of controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) in patients with chronic viral hepatitis. METHODS CAP is a new technique that measures the attenuation in the liver of an ultrasound beam, which is directly related to lipid accumulation. Consecutive patients undergoing liver biopsy for chronic viral hepatitis were studied using the M probe of FibroScan device (Echosens, Paris, France). The device estimates liver steatosis in decibel per meter (dB/m). An expert operator performed all measurements. Steatosis was graded according to Kleiner's classification. Pearson or Spearman rank coefficient was used to test correlation between two study variables. Linear regression was used for multivariate model to assess the association between CAP and other variables. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to calculate area under the curve (AUROC) for S0 vs S1-S3 and S0-S1 vs S2-S3. RESULTS 115 subjects (85 males and 30 females) were prospectively studied. The mean values of CAP were 227.1 ± 43.1 for S0; 254.6 ± 38.9 for S1; 297.8 ± 49.4 dB/m for S2-S3. In univariate analysis CAP showed a significant correlation with age, body mass index (BMI), degree of steatosis, and cholesterol. Multivariate regression analysis confirmed the correlation with the degree of steatosis [coefficient, 1.2 (0.60-1.83); P < 10(-5)] and BMI [coefficient, 4.1 (0.5-7.8); P = 0.03] but not with all other variables. Optimal cutoff values for S ≥ 1 and S ≥ 2 were 219 dB/m [AUROC, 0.76 (0.67-0.84); sensitivity, 91.1% (78.8-97.5); specificity, 51.6% (38.7-64.2); positive predictive value, 56.9% (44.7-68.6); negative predictive value, 89.2% (74.3-97.0); positive likelihood ratio, 1.88 (1.4-2.5); negative likelihood ratio, 0.17 (0.07-0.5)] and 296 dB/m [AUROC, 0.82 (0.74-0.89); sensitivity, 60.0% (32.3-83.7); specificity, 91.5% (83.9-96.3); positive predictive value, 52.9% (27.8-77.0); negative predictive value, 93.5% (86.3-97.6); positive likelihood ratio, 7.05 (3.2-15.4); negative likelihood ratio, 0.44 (0.2-0.8)], respectively. CONCLUSION Controlled attenuation parameter could be a useful tool in the clinical management of patients with chronic viral hepatitis for detecting liver steatosis.
Social Capital Among Black South African Grandmothers Raising Grandchildren

While the significance of social capital to the well-being of black South African grandmothers raising grandchildren has been well documented, few studies have systemically investigated the sources, types, and patterns of use of social capital in this population. The aim of the current qualitative study is to use the social capital framework to explore how 75 grandmothers accessed and utilized available social capital (i.e., bridging, bonding, and linking) to enhance their own and their families’ well-being. Results from a thematic analysis revealed an inside-out pattern of social capital; bonding and bridging social capital were the most significant sources of immediate support for grandmothers, with relatives providing emotional and instrumental support and neighbors and friends mainly providing informational support. Linking capital (i.e., government and community leaders) helped grandmothers access public resources. Implications for policy and practice are addressed.
Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Newly Diagnosed, Advanced Ovarian Cancer: Society of Gynecologic Oncology and American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline.

PURPOSE To provide guidance to clinicians regarding the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and interval cytoreduction among women with stage IIIC or IV epithelial ovarian cancer. METHODS The Society of Gynecologic Oncology and the American Society of Clinical Oncology convened an Expert Panel and conducted a systematic review of the literature. RESULTS Four phase III clinical trials form the primary evidence base for the recommendations. The published studies suggest that for selected women with stage IIIC or IV epithelial ovarian cancer, neoadjuvant chemotherapy and interval cytoreduction are noninferior to primary cytoreduction and adjuvant chemotherapy with respect to overall and progression-free survival and are associated with less perioperative morbidity and mortality. RECOMMENDATIONS All women with suspected stage IIIC or IV invasive epithelial ovarian cancer should be evaluated by a gynecologic oncologist prior to initiation of therapy. The primary clinical evaluation should include a CT of the abdomen and pelvis, and chest imaging (CT preferred). Women with a high perioperative risk profile or a low likelihood of achieving cytoreduction to < 1 cm of residual disease (ideally to no visible disease) should receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Women who are fit for primary cytoreductive surgery, and with potentially resectable disease, may receive either neoadjuvant chemotherapy or primary cytoreductive surgery. However, primary cytoreductive surgery is preferred if there is a high likelihood of achieving cytoreduction to < 1 cm (ideally to no visible disease) with acceptable morbidity. Before neoadjuvant chemotherapy is delivered, all patients should have confirmation of an invasive ovarian, fallopian tube, or peritoneal cancer. Additional information is available at www.asco. org/NACT-ovarian-guideline and www.asco. org/guidelineswiki.
Racism and health service utilisation: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Although racism has been posited as driver of racial/ethnic inequities in healthcare, the relationship between racism and health service use and experience has yet to be systematically reviewed or meta-analysed. This paper presents a systematic review and meta-analysis of quantitative empirical studies that report associations between self-reported racism and various measures of healthcare service utilisation. Data were reviewed and extracted from 83 papers reporting 70 studies. Studies included 250,850 participants and were conducted predominately in the U.S. The meta-analysis included 59 papers reporting 52 studies, which were analysed using random effects models and mean weighted effect sizes. Racism was associated with more negative patient experiences of health services (HSU-E) (OR = 0.351 (95% CI [0.236,0.521], k = 19), including lower levels of healthcare-related trust, satisfaction, and communication. Racism was not associated with health service use (HSU-U) as an outcome group, and was not associated with most individual HSU-U outcomes, including having had examinations, health service visits and admissions to health professionals and services. Racism was associated with health service use outcomes such as delaying/not getting healthcare, and lack of adherence to treatment uptake, although these effects may be influenced by a small sample of studies, and publication bias, respectively. Limitations to the literature reviewed in terms of study designs, sampling methods and measurements are discussed along with suggested future directions in the field.
Abdominal X-ray in Pediatric Acute Severe Colitis and Radiographic Predictors of Response to Intravenous Steroids

Background: Abdominal x-ray (AXR) can identify complications in acute severe colitis (ASC) and may assist in selecting high-risk children for early aggressive treatment. We aimed to describe AXR findings in pediatric ASC and to explore radiological predictors of response to intravenous corticosteroid (IVCS) therapy. Methods: A total of 56 children with ASC were included in a multicenter, retrospective 1-year cohort study (41% boys, mean age 12.1 ± 4.2). Radiographs of responders to IVCS and those requiring second-line salvage therapy by discharge were analyzed independently by 2 blinded radiologists. Results: A total of 33 responders to IVCS were compared with 23 nonresponders. The day-3 Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis Activity Index (PUCAI) score was significantly higher in nonresponders (63 ± 16 vs 46 ± 21, P = 0.001). The mean transverse colon luminal diameter was 30 ± 16 mm in responders and 38 ± 16 mm in nonresponders (P = 0.94). The upper range of transverse colonic diameter in children <12 years was ∼40 mm, whereas in older children it was 60 mm as accepted in adults. Ulcerations and megacolon seen on AXR were associated with nonresponse to IVCS (P = 0.006 and 0.064, respectively). Conclusions: The presence of mucosal ulcerations and megacolon on AXR could be considered in the risk stratification of children with ASC for early aggressive treatment, together with the previously known day-3 and day-5 Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis Activity Index scores, albumin, and C-reactive protein.
Substantial potential for reductions in coronary heart disease mortality in the UK through changes in risk factor levels

Study objective: The UK government called for a 40% reduction in cardiovascular disease mortality in those aged under 75 by 2010. This paper examines the potential for cardiovascular risk factor changes to reduce coronary heart disease deaths in Scotland, and then extrapolates the findings to the UK population. Design: Secondary analysis of published data using a previously validated mortality model. The model combines uptake and effectiveness of treatments with risk factor trends by sex and age group. It was used to estimate the expected reductions in coronary heart disease mortality: (a) if recent risk factor trends simply continued; (b) if additional risk factor reductions were achieved in line with Scandinavia and the United States. An “analysis of extremes” sensitivity analysis was then carried out. Setting: Scotland and UK. Participants: Projected Scottish population aged 45+ in 2010 (2.4 million) and UK population of 26.8 million. Main results: Continuation of current trends would result in 2169 fewer coronary deaths in 2010 (minimum estimate 1191 from sensitivity analyses to maximum 3870). About 4749 fewer deaths (minimum 3085, maximum 7155) could be achieved by: (a) a reduction in smoking prevalence from 30% to 18% (about 1668 fewer deaths); (b) a mean population cholesterol reduction from 6.2 to 5.2 mmol/l (about 2167 fewer deaths); (c) a 3.7 mm Hg fall in diastolic blood pressure (about 914 fewer deaths). Extrapolation from the Scottish population to the UK suggests 24 000 fewer deaths in 2010 if current trends continue, or 53 000 fewer deaths with the additional reductions. Conclusions: With additional interventions it would be possible to almost halve current UK coronary heart disease mortality. Even without gains from medical treatments, the UK government target of 28 000 fewer deaths in 2010 does not seem challenging.
Contextualising the context in policy entrepreneurship and institutional change

Abstract While there is a considerable literature concerning policy entrepreneurship and institutional isomorphism, significantly less literature has emerged addressing the impact of context on policy and institutional entrepreneurship and of the interactions between various contexts and agency. In this article, we demonstrate that the actions of entrepreneurs in the public sector are most likely to generate policy and institutional changes when they are reinforced by complementarities arising from context-dependent, dynamic interactions among interdependent structures, institutions and agency-level enabling conditions.
Modelling Annuity Portfolios and Longevity Risk with Extended CreditRisk

Using an extended version of the credit risk model CreditRisk , we develop a flexible framework to estimate stochastic life tables and to model credit, life insurance and annuity portfolios, including actuarial reserves. Deaths are driven by common stochastic risk factors which may be interpreted as death causes like neoplasms, circulatory diseases or idiosyncratic components. Our approach provides an efficient, numerically stable algorithm for an exact calculation of the one-period loss distribution where various sources of risk are considered. As required by many regulators, we can then derive risk measures for the one-period loss distribution such as value at risk and expected shortfall. Using publicly available data, we provide estimation procedures for model parameters including classical approaches, as well as Markov chain Monte Carlo methods. We conclude with a real world example using Australian death data. In particular, our model allows stress testing and, therefore, offers insight into how certain health scenarios influence annuity payments of an insurer. Such scenarios may include outbreaks of epidemics, improvement in health treatment, or development of better medication. Further applications of our model include modelling of stochastic life tables with corresponding forecasts of death probabilities and demographic changes.