Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Correlation of Peripapillary and Juxtapapillary Choroidal Thickness in Healthy Subjects

Purpose To evaluate the correlation between the two methods of measuring the choroidal thickness around the optic nerve head (ONH). Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study. Sixty-two eyes of 62 healthy subjects were included. Using spectral domain optical coherence tomography, a peripapillary circle scan (diameter of 3.5 mm) and 24 radial B-scan images centered on the Bruch’s membrane opening (BMO) were obtained. Peripapillary choroidal thickness (PPCT) and juxtapapillary choroidal thickness (JPCT) were measured using circle and radial B-scan images, respectively. Correlation and agreements between values measured by two methods were analyzed. Factors associated with PPCT and JPCT, and the difference between the values measured by the two methods were evaluated. Results A total of 62 eyes of 62 healthy subjects were enrolled. Average PPCT and JPCT were 165.2 ± 50.1 and 139.7 ± 39.2 μm, respectively. The linear regression analysis showed a strong correlation between both measurements (PPCT vs. JPCT, r2 = 0.900, p < 0.001). PPCT and JPCT measurements showed good agreement in global and all six sectors (intraclass correlation coefficients >0.900). Bland-Altman plot showed good agreement between the two methods with a systematic deviation of 17.9 μm and a 95% limits of agreement (±1.96 standard deviation) of −9.6 to 60.5. In multivariate regression analysis, BMO area (β = −11.87, p = 0.002) was the only factor significantly correlated with the difference between PPCT and JPCT, which showed a negative correlation. The difference between PPCT and JPCT measurements (PPCT - JPCT) showed a divergent tendency with decreasing BMO area size. Conclusions The two measures of choroidal thickness around the ONH were well correlated. However, the peripapillary choroid was generally thicker than the juxtapapillary choroid, especially in eyes with small BMO area.
Gender Power Relations in Reproductive Decision-Making: The Case of Migrant Weavers of Addis Ababa

In many developing countries most of reproductive decisions are made by men although it is, as well, the concern of women. Hence, this study was undertaken with the objective of assessing reproductive decision-making among migrant weavers in Addis Ababa. Three hundred seventeen married couples were randomly selected and data collected from them through structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression was used to analyze the data. Accordingly, about 45% and 35% of women respondents reported that their husbands dominate the contraceptive use and maternal health service utilization decision-making, respectively. On the other hand, about 33% and 36% of women respondents made the contraceptive use and maternal health service utilization decisions jointly with their husbands, respectively. Women who are older, literates, have fewer children and media access made the contraceptive use decisions by their own or jointly with their husbands. Literates and working women made the maternal health service utilization decisions by their own or jointly. Women who are not victim of physical harassment or verbal abuse made the maternal health service utilization decisions jointly. Besides, working women and those having media access made the contraceptive use and maternal health service utilization decisions by their own, respectively. Empowering women is recommended to bring about egalitarian or women-centered reproductive decision-making pattern.
Are age and sex effects on sleep slow waves only a matter of electroencephalogram amplitude?

Aging is associated with reduced slow wave (SW) density (number SW/min in nonrapid-eye movement sleep) and amplitude. It has been proposed that an age-related decrease in SW density may be due to a reduction in electroencephalogram (EEG) amplitude instead of a decline in the capacity to generate SW. Here, we propose a data-driven approach to adapt SW amplitude criteria to age and sex. We predicted that the adapted criteria would reduce age and sex differences in SW density and SW characteristics but would not abolish them. A total of 284 healthy younger and older adults participated in one night of sleep EEG recording. We defined age- and sex-adapted SW criteria in a first cohort of younger ( n = 97) and older ( n = 110) individuals using a signal-to-noise ratio approach. We then used these age- and sex-specific criteria in an independent second cohort ( n = 77, 38 younger and 39 older adults) to evaluate age and sex differences on SW density and SW characteristics. After adapting SW amplitude criteria, we showed maintenance of an age-related difference for SW density whereas the sex-related difference vanished. Indeed, older adults produced less SW compared with younger adults. Specifically, the adapted SW amplitude criteria increased the probability of occurrence of low amplitude SW (<80 µ V) for older men especially. Our results thereby confirm an age-related decline in SW generation rather than an artifact in the detection amplitude criteria. As for the SW characteristics, the age- and sex-adapted criteria display reproducible effects across the two independent cohorts suggesting a more reliable inventory of the SW. in order to obtain, at the detectability threshold, a legitimate off-on transition in a SW. All in all, this adaptive approach puts male, female, younger and older individuals on an equal footing. Using these adapted criteria, we confirm a robust age-related decrease in SW density. However, sex-related differences for SW density faded away when using this adapted detection. These results suggest that aging reduces SW generation, whereas the usual sex difference in SW density with standard detection is driven by EEG amplitude criteria.
Risk of Myocarditis After Sequential Doses of COVID-19 Vaccine and SARS-CoV-2 Infection by Age and Sex

Background: Myocarditis is more common after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection than after COVID-19 vaccination, but the risks in younger people and after sequential vaccine doses are less certain. Methods: A self-controlled case series study of people ages 13 years or older vaccinated for COVID-19 in England between December 1, 2020, and December 15, 2021, evaluated the association between vaccination and myocarditis, stratified by age and sex. The incidence rate ratio and excess number of hospital admissions or deaths from myocarditis per million people were estimated for the 1 to 28 days after sequential doses of adenovirus (ChAdOx1) or mRNA-based (BNT162b2, mRNA-1273) vaccines, or after a positive SARS-CoV-2 test. Results: In 42 842 345 people receiving at least 1 dose of vaccine, 21 242 629 received 3 doses, and 5 934 153 had SARS-CoV-2 infection before or after vaccination. Myocarditis occurred in 2861 (0.007%) people, with 617 events 1 to 28 days after vaccination. Risk of myocarditis was increased in the 1 to 28 days after a first dose of ChAdOx1 (incidence rate ratio, 1.33 [95% CI, 1.09–1.62]) and a first, second, and booster dose of BNT162b2 (1.52 [95% CI, 1.24–1.85]; 1.57 [95% CI, 1.28–1.92], and 1.72 [95% CI, 1.33–2.22], respectively) but was lower than the risks after a positive SARS-CoV-2 test before or after vaccination (11.14 [95% CI, 8.64–14.36] and 5.97 [95% CI, 4.54–7.87], respectively). The risk of myocarditis was higher 1 to 28 days after a second dose of mRNA-1273 (11.76 [95% CI, 7.25–19.08]) and persisted after a booster dose (2.64 [95% CI, 1.25–5.58]). Associations were stronger in men younger than 40 years for all vaccines. In men younger than 40 years old, the number of excess myocarditis events per million people was higher after a second dose of mRNA-1273 than after a positive SARS-CoV-2 test (97 [95% CI, 91–99] versus 16 [95% CI, 12–18]). In women younger than 40 years, the number of excess events per million was similar after a second dose of mRNA-1273 and a positive test (7 [95% CI, 1–9] versus 8 [95% CI, 6–8]). Conclusions: Overall, the risk of myocarditis is greater after SARS-CoV-2 infection than after COVID-19 vaccination and remains modest after sequential doses including a booster dose of BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine. However, the risk of myocarditis after vaccination is higher in younger men, particularly after a second dose of the mRNA-1273 vaccine.
Claudin targeting as an effective tool for directed barrier modulation of the viable epidermis

Tight junction (TJ) formation is vital for epidermal barrier function. We aimed to specifically manipulate TJ barriers in the reconstructed human epidermis (RHE) by claudin‐1 and ‐4 knockdown (KD) and by claudin‐binding fusion proteins of glutathione S‐transferase and modified C‐terminal fragments of Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin (GST‐cCPE). Impedance spectroscopy and tracer permeability imaging were employed for functional barrier assessment and investigation of claudin contribution. KD of claudin‐1, but not claudin‐4, impaired the paracellular barrier in vitro. Similarly, claudin‐binding GST‐cCPE variants weakened the paracellular but not the stratum corneum barrier. Combining both TJ targeting methods, we found that claudin‐1 targeting by GST‐cCPE after claudin‐4 KD led to a marked decrease in paracellular barrier properties. Conversely, after claudin‐1 KD, GST‐cCPE did not further impair the barrier. Comparison of GST‐cCPE variants with different claudin‐1/claudin‐4 affinities, NHS‐fluorescein tracer detection, and immunostaining of RHE paraffin sections showed that GST‐cCPE variants bind to extrajunctional claudin‐1 and ‐4, which are differentially distributed along the stratum basale–stratum granulosum axis. GST‐cCPE binding blocks these claudins, thereby specifically opening the paracellular barrier of RHE. The data indicate a critical role for claudin‐1 in regulating paracellular permeability for ions and small molecules in the viable epidermis. Claudin targeting is presented as a proof‐of‐concept for precise barrier modulation.
System, energy, and flavor dependence of jets through di-hadron correlations in heavy ion collisions

System, energy, and flavor dependence of jets through di-hadron correlations in heavy ion collisions Christine Nattrass Yale University December 2009 QCD predicts a phase transition in nuclear matter at high energy densities. This matter, called a Quark Gluon Plasma (QGP), should have very different properties from normal nuclear matter due to its high temperature and density. The Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) was built to study the QGP. Jets can act as a calibrated probe to examine the QGP, however, reconstruction of jets in a heavy ion environment is difficult. Therefore jets have been studied in heavy ion collisions by investigating the spatial correlations between two intermediate to high-pT hadrons in an event. Previous studies have shown that the near-side di-hadron correlation peak can be decomposed into two components, a jet-like correlation and the Ridge. The jet-like correlation is narrow in both azimuth and pseudorapidity, while the Ridge is narrow in azimuth but independent of pseudorapidity within STAR’s acceptance. STAR’s data from Cu+Cu and Au+Au collisions at √ sNN = 62 GeV and √ sNN = 200 GeV allow comparative studies of these components in different systems and at different energies. Data on correlations with both identified trigger particles and identified associated particles are presented, including the first studies of identified particle correlations in Cu+Cu and the energy dependence of these correlations. The yields are studied as a function of collision centrality, transverse momentum of the trigger particle, transverse momentum of the associated particle, and trigger and associated particle type. The data in this thesis indicate that the jet-like correlation component in heavy ion collisions is dominantly produced by vacuum fragmentation of hard scattered partons. The Ridge component is not present in p+p or d+Au collisions. The Ridge yield is consistent between systems for the same Npart and has properties similar to the bulk. Theoretical mechanisms for the production of the Ridge include parton recombination, collisional energy loss in the medium (momentum kicks), and gluon brehmsstrahlung. Comparisons between the expectations of these models and the data are discussed. The data in this thesis provide key measurements to distinguish production mechanisms. System, energy, and flavor dependence of jets through di-hadron correlations in heavy ion collisions A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Yale University in Candidacy for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy By Christine Nattrass Dissertation Director: Professor John Harris
Cognitive functioning following traumatic brain injury in older adults: associations with social participation and health-related quality of life

ABSTRACT Objectives To describe objective and subjective cognitive functioning older adults who sustained TBI at age 65 or over, and to determine whether cognitive functioning is associated with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and social participation. Method The sample consisted of 40 individuals with TBI (mean age = 73 years; 65% mild, 35% moderate/severe TBI). On average 15 months post-injury, they completed measures of objective and subjective cognitive functioning (Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status-Modified, Alphaflex, Medical Outcomes Study Cognitive Functioning Scale), HRQoL (SF-12), and social participation (Participation Assessment with Recombined Tools – Objective). Results Mean score for objective cognitive functioning was lower than normative values, while mean scores for executive functioning and subjective cognitive functioning were comparable to normative values. There was no relationship between objective and subjective measures. Subjective cognitive functioning and (to a lesser extent) global objective cognitive functioning were significantly associated with mental HRQoL but not with physical HRQoL or social participation. Conclusion These results underscore the importance of considering both subjective perception and objective performance when assessing and intervening on cognition to promote better mental HRQoL in older adults with TBI.
Advancements in running shoe technology and their effects on running economy and performance – a current concepts overview

ABSTRACT Advancements in running shoe technology over the last 5 years have sparked controversy in athletics as linked with clear running economy and performance enhancements. Early debates mainly surrounded ‘super shoes’ in long-distance running, but more recently, the controversy has filtered through to sprint and middle-distance running with the emergence of ‘super spikes’. This Current Concepts paper provides a brief overview on the controversial topic of super shoes and super spikes. The defining features of technologically advanced shoes are a stiff plate embedded within the midsole, curved plate and midsole geometry, and lightweight, resilient, high-energy returning foam that – in combination – enhance running performance. Since the launch of the first commercially available super shoe, all world records from the 5 km to the marathon have been broken by athletes wearing super shoes or super spikes, with a similar trend observed in middle-distance running. The improvements in super shoes are around 4% for running economy and 2% for performance, and speculatively around 1% to 1.5% for super spikes. These enhancements are believed multifactorial in nature and difficult to parse, although involve longitudinal bending stiffness, the ‘teeter-totter effect’, the high-energy return properties of the midsole material, enhanced stack height and lightweight characteristic of shoes.
Effect of pH and temperature on calcium carbonate precipitation by CO2 removal from iron‐rich water

In the present work, the effect of temperature and solution pH on calcium carbonate precipitation from iron‐rich waters was investigated. Calcium carbonate was precipitated by CO2 removal. The increase in the temperature or the solution pH leads to the acceleration of calcium carbonate nucleation and crystal growth. Iron addition retards the formation of calcium carbonate crystals and enhanced the precipitation in the bulk solution. At high supersaturations, the inhibition effectiveness of iron is small and it could be improved by lowering the solution pH. The results of the present work show that it is possible to reduce or completely prevent scale formation in different water treatment processes by controlling the operating parameters which favourably affects the water treatment costs, increases the equipment life and allows increased product water recovery.
Effect of rosuvastatin on spatial learning, memory, and anxiety-like behaviour in ovariectomized rats

Abstract The effect of rosuvastatin (Ros) on cognitive function and anxiety-like behaviour in ovariectomized rats were evaluated. Eighteen female Wistar rats (218–310 g, 6–8 months old) were allocated into sham (n = 6), ovariectomy (Ovx, n = 6) or Ovx + Ros (up to eighth week n = 6, then n = 4) groups. Ros was administered at 20 mg/kg/day by oral gavage for 12 weeks. Behavioural tests were performed at 4, 8 and 12 weeks following Ovx. At 12 weeks, Ovx group had significantly longer escape latency than the sham group at the first day of the four-day training period of the Morris Water Maze test (p < .01). In the Elevated Plus Maze test, Ovx group spent significantly more time in the closed arms than the sham group (p < .01), and this anxiety-like behavioural effect of Ovx was prevented by 12-weeks Ros treatment (p < .05). In conclusion, Ros prevents memory deficit and anxiety-like behaviour in the ovariectomized rats, a model for human surgical menopause. Impact Statement What is already known on this subject? Reduced levels of oestrogen in surgical postmenopausal period has been linked to an increased risk of cognitive dysfunction. Although statins have been shown to improve cognitive function in experimental and clinical studies, there are limited studies evaluating the effect of statins on the cognitive decline and anxiety-like behaviour associated with surgical menopause. What do the results of this study add? Rosuvastatin, a long-acting statin, prevents learning and memory deficit and anxiety-like behaviour in the ovariectomized rat model. What are the implications of these findings for future clinical practice and/or future clinical research? These findings will form the basis for further experimental and clinical research on the effects of statins on cognitive functions and anxiety-like behaviour in the surgical menopause.
Biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy – a large, comprehensive, population-based study with long follow-up

Abstract Objective We evaluated long-term risk for biochemical recurrence and subsequent prognosis in a population-based cohort. Material and Methods We used register-based data to evaluate 6 675 consecutive patients having radical prostatectomy in Västra Götaland county in Sweden during 1995–2014. Patients were followed until death or end of study, 31 December 2014. Data were collected from registers on national, regional and local level and linked by means of the Swedish personal identity number. Biochemical recurrence was defined as PSA ≥0.2 ng/ml; failure as hormonal treatment, metastasis or prostate cancer death. Survival analysis was used to estimate time to biochemical recurrence and time to failure after biochemical recurrence for patients with 0 − 2 years, 2–5 years, 5–10 years and >10 years interval to biochemical recurrence, respectively. Results A total of 1214 men had biochemical recurrence during follow-up. Biochemical recurrence-free survival was 83% (95% confidence interval [CI] 82–84%), 75% (95% CI 74–77%) and 69% (95% CI 67–71%) at 5, 10 and 15 years, respectively. Cumulative incidence of failure for all patients 15 years after biochemical recurrence was 50% (95% CI 43–55%) in competing risk analysis. The risk of failure after biochemical recurrence was highest among patients having biochemical recurrence within 2 years from surgery. Incomplete data on PSA-history is a limitation. Conclusions The risk for biochemical recurrence persists 15 years after surgery. Follow-up should continue as long as treatment would be considered in case of recurrent disease.
Cross‐cultural equivalence of parental ratings of child difficulties during the pandemic: Findings from a six‐site study

The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) has been shown to be invariant across informants, developmental stage and settings, but tests of cross‐cultural equivalence are limited to adolescents' self‐reports. The COVID‐19 pandemic makes this gap particularly pertinent, given the need to understand whether distinct government approaches (e.g., school closures) are uniquely associated with variability in children's psychosocial outcomes and the reliance on parents' ratings for young children.
Cross-modal functional connectivity supports speech understanding in cochlear implant users

Abstract Sensory deprivation can lead to cross-modal cortical changes, whereby sensory brain regions deprived of input may be recruited to perform atypical function. Enhanced cross-modal responses to visual stimuli observed in auditory cortex of postlingually deaf cochlear implant (CI) users are hypothesized to reflect increased activation of cortical language regions, but it is unclear if this cross-modal activity is “adaptive” or “mal-adaptive” for speech understanding. To determine if increased activation of language regions is correlated with better speech understanding in CI users, we assessed task-related activation and functional connectivity of auditory and visual cortices to auditory and visual speech and non-speech stimuli in CI users (n = 14) and normal-hearing listeners (n = 17) and used functional near-infrared spectroscopy to measure hemodynamic responses. We used visually presented speech and non-speech to investigate neural processes related to linguistic content and observed that CI users show beneficial cross-modal effects. Specifically, an increase in connectivity between the left auditory and visual cortices—presumed primary sites of cortical language processing—was positively correlated with CI users’ abilities to understand speech in background noise. Cross-modal activity in auditory cortex of postlingually deaf CI users may reflect adaptive activity of a distributed, multimodal speech network, recruited to enhance speech understanding.
Conservative Treatment and Unfavorable Factors to Bone Healing of “Pre-lysis”-Stage Lumbar Spondylolysis in Adolescents

Study Design Retrospective cohort study. Purpose To evaluate the clinical outcomes of the conservative treatment of “pre-lysis”-stage lumbar spondylolysis. Overview of Literature With the widespread use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for early diagnosis of lumbar spondylolysis, a new disease stage called pre-lysis has emerged, in which intensity change is observed only on MRI without a fracture line on computed tomography. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes and factors unfavorable to bone healing of the conservative treatment of pre-lysis-stage lumbar spondylolysis. Methods Fifty-three patients with 57 fresh pre-lysis-stage lesions who had completed conservative treatment were included in the study (40 men, 13 women; mean age, 14.3 years). We investigated the rate of bone healing and the relationship between bone healing after conservative therapy and factors such as age, sex, vertebral level, unilateral/bilateral lesions, and presence of spina bifida occulta. Results The overall bone healing rate was 95% (54/57 lesions). Bilateral lesions had a significantly lower bone healing rate than unilateral lesions (86% vs. 100%, p=0.046). There were no statistically significant differences based on age, sex, vertebral level, or presence of spina bifida occulta. Conclusions The bone healing rate in unilateral lesions was 100%, which was significantly higher than that in bilateral lesions. It is important to detect and initiate treatment while the lesion is still unilateral, if possible.