Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Long-term neuropsychological outcomes of very low birth weight: Associations with early risks for periventricular brain insults

Few follow-up studies of children with very low birth weight (VLBW, <1,500 g) have examined neuropsychological sequelae at later ages or neonatal risks as predictors of these outcomes. The present study assessed cognitive skills at mean age 16 years in 48 participants with <750 g birth weight, 47 with 750–1,499 g birth weight, and 52 term-born controls. Our major objectives were to delineate the long-term cognitive consequences of VLBW, and to determine if risks for periventricular brain insults accounted for variations in outcomes. Analysis revealed poorer outcomes for the <750 g group than for term-born controls on nearly all measures, with specific impairments in visual–motor skills, spatial memory, and executive function. Predictors of outcome for participants with VLBW included lower birth weight, lower weight for gestational age, and a longer period of oxygen requirement for chronic lung disease. The longer-term consequences of VLBW are consistent with expectations based on early brain pathology and suggest limitations to functional plasticity. (JINS, 2004, 10, 987–1004.)
Iterative decimal multiplication using binary arithmetic

The IEEE-754 2008 standard for floating point arithmetic has definitely dictated the importance of decimal arithmetic. Human-centric applications, like financial and commercial, depend on decimal arithmetic since the results must match exactly those obtained by human calculations. A few hardware approaches have been proposed for decimal arithmetic, including addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Parallel implementations for these operations are very expensive in terms of occupied resources and therefore implementations based on iterative algorithms are good alternatives. In this paper, we propose an iterative decimal multiplier for FPGA that uses binary arithmetic. The circuits were implemented in a Xilinx Virtex 4 FPGA. The results indicate that the proposed iterative multipliers are very competitive when compared to decimal multipliers implemented with direct manipulation of BCD numbers.
Effects of IL-6, IL-10 and TGF-β on the expression of survivin and apoptosis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma TW01 cells.

UNLABELLED The aim of this study is to investigate whether IL-6, IL-10 and TGF-β are able to confer resistance to apoptosis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells by upregulating the expression of survivin. METHODS The human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line TW01 (WHO NPC Type I) was cultured in DMEM-F12 Ham medium containing 10% FBS in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO(2) and 37°C and treated with different concentrations of IL-6, IL-10 and TGF-β. Survivin mRNA expression was measured by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot. Apoptosis was determined based on the assay for caspase-3 activity. RESULTS Of all the cytokines tested, only TGF-β (10 pg/mL) induced the over-expression of survivin at a significant level and this correlated with resistance to apoptosis (p ≤ 0.05). To confirm if survivin is responsible for resistance to apoptosis, YM155 which is a survivin inhibitor was used and the results showed that YM155 abrogated the protective effect of TGF-β. Interestingly, IL-10 did not significantly alter the expression of survivin. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that TGF-β up-regulates the expression of survivin leading to the resistance to apoptosis in NPC TW01 cells.
The Impact of Nurse Understaffing on the Transmission of Hepatitis C Virus in a Hospital-Based Hemodialysis Unit

Objective: To determine the impact of nurse understaffing on the transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in a large hospital-based hemodialysis (HD) unit with a high HCV prevalence. Subjects and Methods: The records of 198 patients (107 males and 91 females) with end-stage renal disease enrolled on long-term HD at King Fahad Hospital and Tertiary Care Center, Hofuf, Saudi Arabia, from August 1995 to August 2000, were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were assigned to HD groups of varying patient-to-nurse (P/N) ratios: group I, 2:1; group II, 3:1, and group III, 4:1. HCV prevalence, seroconversion rates, history of blood transfusion and dialysis age (time span since the initiation of the HD treatment) were recorded and compared. Results: The overall HCV prevalence and seroconversion rate per year were 43.4 and 8.6%, respectively. Group I had the lowest HCV prevalence and annual seroconversion rate (26.8%; 5.3%), followed by group II (43.6%; 8.7%); group III had the highest HCV prevalence and seroconversion rate (71.8%; 14.4%). Anti-HCV positivity was associated with a higher dialysis age. Conclusion: The finding that the patients in the groups with the relatively higher P/N ratio had the significantly higher HCV prevalence and seroconversion rates per year indicates that understaffing is likely to play a major role in the transmission of HCV in HD units, and we suggest that improved staffing may be helpful in reducing the HCV transmission in such dialysis units.
M-wave of the toad electroretinogram.

1. In the retina, two distinct, light-evoked releases of K+ have been described. One takes place in the outer plexiform layer (OPL) and is termed the "distal K+ increase. " The other takes place in the inner plexiform layer (IPL) and is termed the "proximal K+ increase. " Although the distal K+ increase generates the electroretinogram (ERG) b-wave, the contribution of the much larger proximal K+ increase to the ERG is less well understood. In this paper we detail our investigation of the proximal K+ increase and its contribution to the ERG. We describe an ERG component, the M-wave, which had not heretofore been observed in the diffuse-flash, vitreal ERG. 2. We studied the proximal K+ increase and the ERG M-wave in the isolated retina preparation of the toad, Bufo marinus. We used K(+)-sensitive microelectrodes, as well as conventional intra- and extracellular microelectrodes, to record K+ changes, the local (or intraretinal) ERG, the vitreal ERG, and Müller cell responses. 3. As in earlier studies of the amphibian and cat M-wave, we readily observed an M-wave in the intraretinal, or local, ERG (LERG). The M-wave we studied had characteristics similar to those of M-waves that were previously described. Specifically, we found that the M-wave was generated by a Müller cell response to the proximal K+ increase and that both the proximal K+ increase and the LERG M-wave were spatially tuned. 4. We used the aspartate receptor agonist, N-methyl-DL-aspartate (NMA), to reveal that an M-wave is present in the vitreal ERG. Researchers who previously investigated the M-wave were unable to identify an M-wave in the vitreal ERG. We found that the toad ERG M-wave was a small, positive potential that was partially obscured by the much larger b-wave and slow PIII components. 5. We observed that picrotoxin (PTX) had an excitatory effect on inner retina, as evidenced by an enhanced proximal K+ increase and an enhanced M-wave. This result indicates that it is likely that GABAergic inhibition in inner retina plays an important role in retinal processing in the toad. 6. At threshold, we found that the ERG consisted mainly of an M-wave, indicating that the amphibian threshold ERG is driven by proximal retina. This result is analogous to previous observations of the threshold ERG in cat. However, in cat, the M-wave and threshold response have been described as distinct ERG components. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Race and sex differences in thrombogenicity: risk of ischemic events following coronary stenting

Race and sex affect thrombogenicity. We have demonstrated that platelet–fibrin clot characteristics can be used to stratify patients for risk of ischemic events following percutaneous coronary intervention. We investigated race and sex differences in thrombogenicty and the relation to ischemic risk in 252 consecutive African–American and Caucasian men and women undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention. Platelet–fibrin clot characteristics were measured using the Thrombelastograph Hemostasis System. The incidence of adverse ischemic events was assessed over a 6-month follow-up period. Overall, 40 ischemic events (15.9%) occurred. Adverse events were higher in African–Americans than Caucasians (P = 0.14), and in women than men (P = 0.004). The incidence was highest in African–American women (37.5%) and lowest in African–American men (6.5%). Measured Thrombelastograph parameters were significantly different between ischemic and nonischemic patients (P < 0.05). African–American women in the ischemic group exhibited higher thrombogenicity than the other race and sex groups (P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression identified platelet–fibrin mediated clot strength (relative risk 2.52, P = 0.017) and sex (relative risk 2.56, P = 0.009) as significant independent predictors of ischemic events 6 months postpercutaneous coronary intervention. Thrombogenicity is a novel measurable cardiovascular risk factor that varies by race and sex, is highest in African–American women, and independently predicts the frequency of ischemic events following percutaneous coronary intervention. Point-of-service measurements of platelet–fibrin clot characteristics may lead to more intensified antithrombotic therapy and reduced mortality in selected patients.
Assessing knowledge, exploring needs: A reproductive health survey of adolescents and young adults in Pakistan

Rationale & objective The sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs of adolescents have increased over the last few years, but are largely unmet. Lack of involvement of youth in the programs and limitations of the mass media in a conservative milieu are some of the issues. Our objectives were to assess the baseline SRH knowledge and to suggest interventions based on needs with regard to SRH promotion, so that the level of existing services could be upgraded. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 20 villages of Lahore, in which 400 adolescents and young adults were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Respondents were equally divided in gender in all villages, using stratified random sampling. Results Adolescents and young adults do have some knowledge of SRH issues. Males are relatively more knowledgeable than females about puberty (M = 68%; F = 58%), pregnancy (M = 55%; F = 43%), family planning (M = 62%; F = 50%) and sexually transmitted infections (M = 56%; F = 44%). Yet, a large majority needs clarification on their concepts and perceptions. They believe that having sound SRH knowledge will promote mother & child health and family health. Conclusion Peers, media and a family doctor could be the acceptable source of information on SRH. Life skills programs to increase unmarried girls' cognitive skills and young men's involvement in such programs is a must. Involving families and communities will enhance the effectiveness of youth programs.
PREVENTING SURGICAL CONFUSIONS IN OPHTHALMOLOGY ( AN AMERICAN OPHTHALMOLGICAL

Purpose: Surgical confusions have been rarely studied, especially in ophthalmology. The author hypothesized that such confusions occur rarely but are unacceptable in the public, legal, and regulatory arenas; often occur in circumstances presenting predictable risk; more often involve wrong lens implant than wrong eye, procedure, or patient; and can be prevented by following the Universal Protocol. Methods: A retrospective series of 106 cases occurring between 1982 and 2005 included 42 closed files from the Ophthalmic Mutual Insurance Company and 64 cases reported to the New York State Health Department. Records were grouped by procedure planned and analyzed to answer these questions: How did the error occur? By whom and when was the error recognized? Who was responsible? Was the patient informed? What was done to the patient? What was the outcome? What liability payments were made? What policy changes or sanctions resulted? Was the error preventable by following the Universal Protocol? Results: The most common confusion was wrong lens implant, accounting for 67 (63%) of the 106 cases. Wrong eye surgery occurred in 15 cases, wrong eye blocks in 14, wrong patient/procedure in 8, and wrong corneal transplant in 2. In 16 cases, the Universal Protocol would have been unlikely to prevent the confusion. Conclusions: Surgical confusions occur infrequently and usually cause little or no permanent injury, but they may be devastating to the patient, the physician, and the profession. Measures to prevent such confusions, including the Universal Protocol and related checklists, deserve the acceptance, support, and active participation of ophthalmologists. Trans Am Ophthalmol Soc 2007;105:513-529
Autoimmune thyroid disease induced by thyroglobulin and lipopolysaccharide is inhibited by soluble TNF receptor type I

Experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) is inducible in mice by immunization with thyroglobulin and adjuvant. Previous studies have shown that EAT is an autoimmune Th1‐mediated disease but its characteristics differ with the adjuvant. Granulomatous lesions with marked follicular disruption develop following administration of thyroglobulin (Tg) and complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) whereas when lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is used as the adjuvant only focal infiltrates of mononuclear cells are observed. The pro‐inflammatory cytokine, TNF‐α, is associated with Th1 autoimmune‐mediated conditions. Cytokine antagonists have been used as potential therapeutic agents in several experimental autoimmune models. Soluble cytokine receptors belong to this category and may naturallybe shed from cell membranes to inhibit cytokine activity. We show that the administration of the soluble TNF receptor type I (sTNFR I) in the induction of EAT has very different effects on the two models of induced autoimmune thyroiditis. sTNFR I treatment inhibits the induction of EAT only when mouse Tg is given with LPS not with CFA, suggesting an important difference in the pathogenic processes.
Obtenção de filmes passivantes de molibdato de amonio e nitrato de cerio para ligas de zinco eletrodepositadas

Os revestimentos de ligas de zinco obtidos por processo de eletrodeposicao apresentam maior resistencia a corrosao que o zinco puro, porem necessitam de um tratamento posterior para reduzir a formacao dos produtos de corrosao branca. O processo de cromatizacao, ate o presente momento, apresenta os melhores resultados como tratamento de passivacao para revestimentos de ligas de zinco, embora seja altamente toxico. Os primeiros estudos com o objetivo de eliminar o uso do cromo hexavalente utilizaram metais oxianions similares ao cromato, como molibdatos, vanadatos e permanganatos, sendo o molibdato o mais estudado devido a sua natureza nao toxica e habilidade para a formacao de filmes que reduzem a corrosao localizada em acos inoxidaveis. Este processo de formacao de camadas passivas pode ser realizado por imersao ou por tratamento catodico em solucoes de molibdatos de amonio ou de sodio. Um outro processo estudado como alternativo a substituicao do cromo hexavalente e baseado em metais terras raras. Recentemente, na literatura tem-se encontrado somente resultados em aluminio e aco inoxidavel, porem ainda sao poucos os estudos em revestimentos de ligas de zinco. O objetivo deste trabalho e estudar o uso de molibdatos e terras raras como agentes passivantes para revestimentos de ligas ZnNi e ZnCo eletrodepositados. Os revestimentos foram preparados usando banho comercial, sendo analisados em processo de eletrodeposicao, o uso da corrente pulsada e continua. O efeito da densidade de corrente media e os valores de rendimento de ciclo sobre a resistencia a corrosao do revestimento, foram investigados. O tratamento catodico em solucao de molibdato de amonio, e os tratamentos eletroquimico e de imersao em nitrato de cerio foram considerados. A morfologia dos revestimentos de liga ZnNi e ZnCo e tambem das camadas de passivacao foram analisadas utilizando microscopio eletronico de varredura. A composicao dos revestimentos de liga foi determinada pela tecnica de EDS e a resistencia a corrosao pela tecnica de Espectroscopia de Impedância Eletroquimica (ElE) Abstract
Counting large numbers of events in small registers

It is possible to use a small counter to keep approximate counts of large numbers. The resulting expected error can be rather precisely controlled. An example is given in which 8-bit counters (bytes) are used to keep track of as many as 130,000 events with a relative error which is substantially independent of the number n of events. This relative error can be expected to be 24 percent or less 95 percent of the time (i.e. &sgr; = n/8). The techniques could be used to advantage in multichannel counting hardware or software used for the monitoring of experiments or processes.
Socio-economic status, permanent income, and fertility: A latent-variable approach

This paper examines how permanent income and other components of socio-economic status (SES) are related to fertility in less developed countries. Because permanent income cannot be measured directly, we employ a latent-variable method. We compare our results with those of the more common proxy-variable method and investigate the consequences of not accounting for measurement error. Using data from Ghana and Peru, we find that permanent income has a large, negative influence on fertility and that research must take the latent nature of permanent income into account to uncover its influence. Controlling for measurement error in the proxies for permanent income can also lead to substantial changes in the estimated effects of control variables. Finally, we examine which of the common proxies for permanent income most closely capture the concept. The results have implications beyond this specific dependent variable, providing evidence on the sensitivity of microanalyses to the treatment of long-term economic status.
Initial Psychologic Responses of Parents to the Diagnosis of Insulin-dependent Diabetes Mellitus in Their Children

As part of a prospective, longitudinal study of school-aged children with newly diagnosed insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), we examined how the parents adjusted to the illness. The present article documents this process for the first year of IDDM. We found no support for earlier claims that most parents resort to blatantly neurotic or psychopathologic behavior to cope. Instead, the initial strain of living with IDDM generally elicited mild and subclinical depression, anxiety, and overall distress. Mothers were more affected than fathers: they were more symptomatic (about one of four developed a mild grief reaction) and the bulk of them worried considerably about their children. However, the parents' initial emotional upheaval resolved in ≈6 mo; most mothers came to terms with IDDM by the end of the first year; and other areas of parental functioning (e.g., quality of their marriage) were not affected. Therefore, along with our previous report on how the children coped initially, the findings document the emotional resiliency of families during the first year of IDDM.
Etude expérimentale de l'effet du vol sur le bruit de choc de jets supersoniques sous-détendus

L’effet du vol d’avancement sur le bruit de choc de jets supersoniques sous-detendus est etudie de maniere experimentale. La structure de tels jets est d’abord exploree, avec et sans vol simule. L’analyse employee allie des visualisations strioscopiques a des mesures quantitatives de pression statique et de vitesse, par velocimetrie laser Doppler et velocimetrie par images de particules. L’accent est mis sur l’etude de l’ecoulement moyen et des proprietes de la turbulence dans la couche de melange. L’effet du vol sur la composante tonale du bruit de choc, le screech, est ensuite examine. A l’aide d’une antenne azimutale de microphones placee dans le champ proche acoustique, une analyse fine des modes du screech est notamment proposee. Par ailleurs, plusieurs effets de cette composante de bruit sur la dynamique du jet sont mis en evidence, en particulier l’oscillation des chocs ; on montre que cette oscillation est intimement liee au mode du screech. De maniere a etudier specifiquement la composante large bande du bruit de choc, diverses techniques de suppression du screech sont ensuite explorees.L’utilisation d’une tuyere crenelee s’est revelee satisfaisante pour l’eliminer de maniere non-intrusive et a permis de deduire son influence sur le bruit de choc large bande. Enfin, l’effet du vol sur cette derniere composante est determine par l’etude de l’evolution de sa frequence centrale, de son amplitude et de sa forme spectrale en situation de vol simule. Une explication des tendances observees est alors proposee a la lumiere des resultats aerodynamiques obtenus.
Effect of herb lignin on the growth of enterobacteria.

propane units, is an agglutination element in the cell wall of vascular plants. These units are referred to as guaiacyl (a), syringyl (b), and p-hydroxyphenyl, (c) phenyl-propane units (Fig. 1). They are connected in three-dimensional space by C–C and C–O–C bonds. Softwood lignin consists of (a), hardwood lignin of (a) and (b), and herb lignin of (a), (b) and (c). Lignin is taken up as a “dietary fiber” when vegetables and fruits are consumed. It is thought that dietary fiber is useful for the prevention of some diseases (such as cancer) although most is excreted without being digested. To clarify the influence of dietary fiber on an organism, it is important to examine the relationship between the dietary fiber and enterobacteria. It has been reported that cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectin, components of dietary fiber other than lignin, are metabolized by enterobacteria (Van Soest, 1978). On the other hand, it has also been reported that ferulic acid, a model compound of lignin, is metabolized by Enterobacter and Escherichia (Grbić-Galić, 1986). From the results of various reports, it can be stated that the various influences of many components of dietary fiber (other than lignin) on enterobacteria differ. For example, it is reported that guar gum and pectin (both components of dietary fiber) do not influence the status of intestinal bacterial flora (Drasar and Jenkins, 1976; Drasar et al., 1976). The antibacterial activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E. coli, and Staphylococcus aureus was found in a dietary fiber, chitosan, but not in cellulose or pectin (Nelson et al., 1994). On the other hand, there is a report on the lack of antibacterial activity of pectin (ElNakeeb and Yousef, 1970). In respect to the influence of lignin on enterobacteria, it is reported that woody lignin shows antibacterial activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus (Nelson et al., 1994). The suppressive effect of isoeugenol, a model compound of lignin, and wood lignin extracts (alkali extracts of wood) have also been found to act against Candia albicans and E. coli (Oh-hara et al., 1990; Zemek et al., 1979). However, the influence of herb lignin, which is eaten as a food, on intestinal bacterial flora has not been reported. In this study, the influence on the growth of enterobacteria of lignin extracted from rice bran and the effect of enterobacteria on rice bran lignin were investigated. Effect of herb lignin on the growth of enterobacteria