Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cases of mortality in little penguins (Eudyptula minor) in New Zealand associated with avian malaria

Abstract CASE HISTORY A little penguin (Eudyptula minor) of wild origin, in captivity at Wellington Zoo, became inappetent and lethargic in March 2013. Despite supportive care in the zoo’s wildlife hospital, the bird died within 24 hours. CLINICAL FINDINGS Weight loss, dehydration, pale mucous membranes, weakness, increased respiratory effort and biliverdinuria were apparent on physical examination. Microscopic evaluation of blood smears revealed intra-erythrocytic stages of Plasmodium spp. and a regenerative reticulocytosis in the absence of anaemia. PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS Post-mortem findings included reduced body condition, dehydration, pulmonary congestion and oedema, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, hydropericardium and subcutaneous oedema. Histopathological findings included protozoal organisms in sections of lung, liver and spleen. A marked, diffuse, sub-acute interstitial histiocytic pneumonia was present. Accumulation of haemosiderin was noted in the Kupffer cells of the liver and in histiocytic-type cells in the spleen. MOLECULAR TESTING DNA was extracted from frozen portions of the liver. Nested PCR results and DNA sequencing confirmed infection of the deceased little penguin with Plasmodium (Huffia) elongatum lineage GRW06. DIAGNOSIS Avian malaria due to Plasmodium (Huffia) elongatum GRW06 RETROSPECTIVE INVESTIGATION A retrospective analysis of 294 little penguin cases in the Massey University post-mortem database revealed three other potential avian malaria cases. Analysis of archived tissues using a nested PCR for Plasmodium spp. followed by DNA sequencing revealed that a little penguin which died at Auckland Zoo was infected with P. elongatum GRW06 and two wild little penguins found dead on New Zealand beaches were infected with P. relictum SGS1 and Plasmodium. sp. lineage LINN1. Therefore, the overall frequency of deaths in little penguins associated with avian malaria was 4/295 (1.36%). CLINICAL RELEVANCE Our results suggest that avian malaria is associated with sporadic mortality in New Zealand’s little penguins both in the wild and in captivity, but there is no evidence of mass mortality events due to Plasmodium spp. infection.
Cranial Base Approaches for the Surgical Treatment of Aggressive Posterior Fossa Dural Arteriovenous Fistulae with Leptomeningeal Drainage: Report of Four Technical Cases

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE Dural arteriovenous fistulae (DAVFs) with leptomeningeal drainage have an aggressive natural history. Urgent treatment is necessary to arrest neurological deterioration and to prevent the risk of intracranial hemorrhage. In many patients, a primary endovascular approach is the most appropriate and most successful treatment available. In some circumstances, however, surgical intervention is required for complete obliteration. Posterior fossa DAVFs are generally deep-seated and difficult to gain access to with standard surgical approaches. The advent of cranial base surgery allows 360-degree access to the draining venous complex or sinus via extradural bone removal. CLINICAL PRESENTATION Four patients with posterior fossa DAVFs presented to the neurosurgical service at our institutions. One DAVF was located at the craniocervical junction, and three were tentorial DAVFs of the superior petrosal sinus. All four patients were treated surgically with extradural bone removal. INTERVENTION Postoperative angiography documented complete obliteration of all four DAVFs. All patients had normal recoveries, with the exception of one patient who experienced persistent temporal lobe seizure activity as a result of the presenting hematoma. One patient died of unrelated causes 2 years after surgery. One postoperative temporal lobe hematoma required evacuation. CONCLUSION Recent advances in cranial base techniques have allowed the successful obliteration of aggressive posterior fossa DAVFs with acceptable morbidity. The use of these techniques should be considered in selected patients who cannot be treated with endovascular approaches.
Effect of powered gait orthosis on walking in individuals with paraplegia

Background: The important purpose of a powered gait orthosis is to provide active joint movement for patients with spinal cord injury. Objectives: The aim of this study was to clarify the effect of a powered gait orthosis on the kinematics and temporal–spatial parameters in paraplegics with spinal cord injury. Study Design: Quasi-experimental. Methods: Four spinal cord injury individuals experienced gait training with a powered gait orthosis for a minimum of 6 weeks prior to participating in the following walking trials: walking with an isocentric reciprocating gait orthosis and walking with both separate and synchronized movements with actuated orthotic hip and knee joints in a powered gait orthosis. Specific parameters were calculated and compared for each of the test conditions. Results: Using separate and synchronized actuated movement of the hip and knee joints in the powered gait orthosis increased gait speed and step length and reduced lateral and vertical compensatory motions when compared to the isocentric reciprocating gait orthosis, but there were no significant differences in these parameters. Using the new powered gait orthosis improved knee and hip joint kinematics. Conclusions: The powered gait orthosis increased speed and step length as well as hip and knee joint kinematics and reduced the vertical and lateral compensatory motions compared to an isocentric reciprocating gait orthosis in spinal cord injury patients. Clinical relevance This new powered gait orthosis has the potential to improve hip and knee joint kinematics, the temporal–spatial parameters of gait in spinal cord injury patients walking.
Prediction of segmental lean mass using anthropometric variables in young adults

Abstract The aim of the present study was to develop and cross-validate anthropometrical prediction equations for segmental lean tissue mass (SLM). One hundred and seventeen young healthy Caucasians (67 men and 50 women; mean age: 31.9 ± 10.0 years; Body Mass Index: 24.3 ± 3.2 kg · m−2) were included. Body mass (BM), stretch stature (SS), 14 circumferences (CC), 13 skinfolds (SF) and 4 bone breadths (BB) were used as anthropometric measurements. Segmental lean mass of both arms, trunk and both legs were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry as the criterion method. Three prediction equations for SLM were developed as follows: arms = 40.394(BM) + 169.836(CCarm-tensed) + 399.162(CCwrist) – 85.414(SFtriceps) – 39.790(SFbiceps) – 7289.190, where Adj.R 2 = 0.97, P < 0.001, and standard error of estimate (SEE) = 355 g;trunk = 181.530(BM) + 155.037(SS) + 534.818(CCneck) + 175.638(CCchest) − 88.359(SFchest) − 147.232(SFsupraspinale) − 46522.165, where Adj.R 2 = 0.97, P < 0.001, and SEE = 1077g; and legs = 55.838(BM) + 88.356(SS) + 235.579(CCmid-thigh) + 278.595(CCcalf) + 288.984(CCankle) − 84.954(SFfront-thigh) − 53.009(SFmedial calf) − 28522.241, where Adj.R 2 = 0.96, P < 0.001, and SEE = 724 g. Cross-validation statistics showed no significant differences (P < 0.05) between observed and predicted SLM. Root mean squared errors were smallest for arms (362 g), followed by legs (820 g) and trunk (1477 g). These new prediction equations allow an accurate estimation of segmental lean mass in groups of young adults, but estimation errors of 8 to 14% can occur in certain individuals.
MINIMUM CONSUMPTION REQUIREMENTS: THEORETICAL AND QUANTITATIVE IMPLICATIONS FOR GROWTH AND DISTRIBUTION

We study the impact of a minimum consumption requirement on the rate of economic growth and the evolution of wealth distribution. The requirement introduces a positive dependence between the intertemporal elasticity of substitution and household wealth. This dependence implies a transition phase during which the growth rate of per-capita quantities rise toward their steady-state values and the distributions of wealth, consumption, and permanent income become more unequal. We calibrate the minimum consumption requirement to match estimates available for a sample of Indian villagers and find that these transitional effects are quantitatively significant and depend importantly on the economy's steady-state growth rate.
Inhibition of spontaneous EPSCs and IPSCs by presynaptic GABAB receptors on rat supraoptic magnocellular neurons

1 The function of presynaptic GABA receptors in the regulation of transmitter release in supraoptic nucleus (SON) magnocellular neurons was investigated by recording spontaneous postsynaptic currents from rat magnocellular SON neurons in a slice preparation (150μM thick, 1.8 mm in diameter) using the whole‐cell patch‐clamp technique. 2 Both the spontaneous EPSCs and IPSCs were TTX resistant. The EPSCs were abolished by 6‐cyano‐7‐nitroquinoxaline‐2,3‐dione (CNQX), whereas the IPSCs were abolished by picrotoxin, suggesting that the EPSCs and IPSCs are synaptic inputs from glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons, respectively. 3 The selective GABAB agonist, baclofen, reduced the frequency of both the EPSCs and IPSCs without affecting the amplitude. The time constant of the decay phase of both the EPSCs and IPSCs remained unchanged after baclofen application. 4 The reduction of the frequency of the synaptic currents by baclofen was dose dependent (10 nM to 100 μm) and the EC50 values were 5.8 and 8.5 μm for the EPSCs and IPSCs, respectively. 5 The effect of baclofen (10μM) was antagonized by the selective GABAB antagonist, 2‐hydroxy‐saclofen (2OH‐saclofen), at 300 μm. 6 When given alone, 2OH‐saclofen (100 μm) increased the frequency of both the EPSCs and IPSCs without affecting their amplitude, suggesting that endogenously released GABA in the slice acts on presynaptic GABAB receptors. 7 The GABAA agonist, muscimol, reduced the frequency of EPSCs, and picrotoxin increased the frequency of the EPSCs, suggesting that GABAA receptors also participate in the presynaptic inhibition of glutamate release. 8 Taken together, these data suggest that GABAB receptors are present on the presynaptic terminals of both GABA and glutamate neurons in the SON, and that these presynaptic GABAB receptors play an important role in the regulation of the neuronal activity in SON magnocellular neurons.
Imaging and diagnostic testing: diastolic dysfunction after coronary artery bypass grafting: a frequent finding of clinical significance not influenced by intravenous calcium.

BACKGROUND Diastolic dysfunction is common immediately after coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). The duration of this phenomenon is unknown. Intravenous calcium is frequently administered during separation from cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). We sought to determine whether intravenous calcium influences perioperative diastolic function and whether diastolic dysfunction persists into the postoperative period. METHODS AND RESULTS Patients undergoing first-time elective CABG (n = 29) were randomly assigned to receive intravenous calcium chloride (n = 13) or placebo (n = 16) during separation from CPB. Diastolic function was assessed by the pressure-area relation with transesophageal echocardiography and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) measured simultaneously. Left ventricular end-diastolic area (LVEDA) and Doppler indexes were measured at comparable PCWP (within 2 mm Hg) at baseline, after separation from CPB, after sternal closure, and 3 hours after surgery. After CABG, both groups had a significant decrease in LVEDA and mitral E-wave deceleration time that persisted at 3 hours. Because there were no significant differences between the calcium and control groups at any time point, the data for the entire study cohort was analyzed. The LVEDA decreased (stiffness increased) progressively from 16.9 +/- 3.4 cm2 at baseline to 15.8 +/- 2.9 cm2 after CPB, 14.9 +/- 2.5 cm2 after sternal closure, and 14.3 +/- 3.1 cm2 at 3 hours after surgery (P <.0001). The mitral E-wave deceleration time measured at the same time points was 168 +/- 47 ms, 136 +/- 25 ms, 137 +/- 36 ms, and 111 +/- 44 ms (P =.0001). CONCLUSIONS An increase in left ventricular diastolic chamber stiffness is nearly universal after CABG, and it persists for at least 3 hours after surgery. An intravenous bolus of calcium chloride given during separation from CPB has no measurable negative effect on diastolic function. In the setting of increased chamber stiffness, the PCWP alone does not adequately reflect the volume status and effective preload of the left ventricle.
Metabolic effects and pharmacokinetics of a growth hormone pulse in healthy adults: relation to age, sex, and body composition.

The acute effects of a single GH pulse have previously been studied in young males. It is, however, likely that both the metabolic effects and the pharmacokinetics of GH may differ between age groups and sexes. We studied 36 healthy, clinically nonobese adults of both sexes, who were divided into a young group (mean age, 29.6 yr) and an older group (mean age, 51.0 yr). On 2 separate occasions, they received an i.v. bolus of either GH (200 micrograms) or saline followed by blood sampling for 5 h. Glucose turnover was estimated by infusion of [3-3H]glucose, and indirect calorimetry was performed before and 2 h after the bolus infusions. Body composition (computed tomography scan and dual energy x-ray absorptiometry) was performed at baseline. Baseline levels of serum insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) was lower in older subjects, whereas circulating IGF-binding protein-1 and lipid intermediates were lower in males than in females. The area under the GH curve was lower in older subjects (young, 3978 +/- 1532 micrograms/L.24 h; older, 1144 +/- 79; P = 0.001), whereas the elimination half-life did not differ with age (young, 18.1 +/- 0.9 min; older, 16.4 +/- 0.8; P = NS). The MCR and apparent distribution volume of GH were higher in older subjects [MCR: young, 0.11 +/- 0.02 min/L; older, 0.19 +/- 0.01; P = 0.001; apparent distribution volume: young, 2.5 +/- 0.4 L; older, 4.5 +/- 0.3; P < 0.001). Both MCR and Vd correlated inversely with age and positively with indexes of adiposity. GH significantly increased lipid intermediates, but the response was higher in young subjects and males. By contrast, the ability of GH to acutely suppress IGF-binding protein-1 was more pronounced in older subjects and females. Serum levels of insulin and IGF-I did not differ significantly between GH and saline treatment groups. GH decreased the respiratory exchange ratio and increased resting energy expenditure, with no age or gender differences. A gradual decline over time in plasma levels and rate of turnover of glucose was recorded after both GH and saline. The following conclusions were reached. 1) The MCR and Vd of GH increase with age and correlate positively with fat mass. 2) Older subjects are responsive to the acute lipolytic effects of GH, but the response is higher in young subjects and in males. 3) Adipose tissue may be actively involved in the distribution and clearance of GH. 4) Age, sex, and body composition interact with GH in a complex manner, involving clearance, distribution, and metabolic actions of the hormone.
Measuring Patterns in Team Interaction Sequences Using a Discrete Recurrence Approach

Objective: Recurrence-based measures of communication determinism and pattern information are described and validated using previously collected team interaction data. Background: Team coordination dynamics has revealed that “mixing” team membership can lead to flexible interaction processes, but keeping a team “intact” can lead to rigid interaction processes. We hypothesized that communication of intact teams would have greater determinism and higher pattern information compared to that of mixed teams. Method: Determinism and pattern information were measured from three-person Uninhabited Air Vehicle team communication sequences over a series of 40-minute missions. Because team members communicated using push-to-talk buttons, communication sequences were automatically generated during each mission. Results: The Composition × Mission determinism effect was significant. Intact teams’ determinism increased over missions, whereas mixed teams’ determinism did not change. Intact teams had significantly higher maximum pattern information than mixed teams. Conclusion: Results from these new communication analysis methods converge with content-based methods and support our hypotheses. Application: Because they are not content based, and because they are automatic and fast, these new methods may be amenable to real-time communication pattern analysis.
Next Step Of Corporate Governance: Appreciative Inquiry In Corporate Governance

It was seen in the last decade that traditional management system and models cannot meet the needs of today. Crisis and scandals have proved the need for a more transparent and participatory structure. Governance met this need for a certain period of time and presented a more useful model. However through the end of 2000s negative effects of modern structures were seen; such as being quantitative and unnecessarily rational which make participants fear of doing wrong. In this case postmodern approaches came into agenda. One of them is appreciative inquiry approach based on realized successes and collective decisions. In this study, hybridization model is proposed for the concept of Governance, which has got some problems to harmonize with today’s conditions, with appreciative inquiry as a supportive updating. On this context “Appreciative Governance” concept is put forward as a theory. Keywords: Governance, Appreciative Inquiry, Appreciative Management Approaches, Appreciative Governance
What means high performance work practices for human resources in an organization

This paper focused on an overview of the different approaches in the literature to the concept of high performance work practices (HPWP), showing how this term evolves over time. Analyzing the literature, the significance of this term are seen as an evolved with customer requirements. Organizations need employees easily adaptable, able to meet customer needs in a timely manner. Therefore, organizations must on the one hand to satisfy their customers, on the other hand, employees, those in which firms can achieve their goals. Currently have placed particular emphasis on employee motivation, training, their involvement in decision making, delegation of authority, remuneration based on performance, rewarding loyalty. All above are considered HPWP and the AMO model is representative of these. The implementation of HPWP is a current problem for organizations wishing to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage. In this sense, this article may provide information of interest to business.
Prediction Equations of Energy Expenditure in Chinese Youth Based on Step Frequency During Walking and Running

Purpose: This study set out to examine the relationship between step frequency and velocity to develop a step frequency-based equation to predict Chinese youth's energy expenditure (EE) during walking and running. Method: A total of 173 boys and girls aged 11 to 18 years old participated in this study. The participants walked and ran on a treadmill at speeds of 3 km/hr, 4 km/hr, 5 km/hr, 6 km/hr, 7 km/hr, and 8 km/hr. EE was measured using indirect calorimetry of open circuit spirometry (Cosmed K4b2 metabolic analyzer). Using multiple regression analysis, the relationship between step frequency and velocity was first examined, and the prediction equation of EE based on step frequency, age, and gender was derived. Results: The hypothesized relationship between step frequency and velocity was confirmed and an accurate (R 2 = .78) EE prediction equation was derived: Net EE = − 13.7744+1.8004 (step frequency) – 5.5715 (age) – 11.5244 (gender). Conclusion: A step frequency-, age-, and gender-based equation was derived to predict the EE of youth during walking and running. The equation can be used to develop a simple device to estimate EE during walking and running in this population.
Memristive Synaptic Circuits for Deep Convolutional Neural Networks

The memristor is a novel promising component for applications in non-volatile memory, logic circuits, and neuromorphic computing systems. In this paper, deep learning systems using memristive synaptic circuits are presented. One key issue in memristive modeling is the device variation issue. It is very difficult to distinguish the intermediate memristive states in a multilevel memristor. A fuzzy modeling method, which defines the memristive states in a dynamic way, is proposed to improve the robustness of the memristive neural networks. In addition, memristive deep learning systems are presented for pattern recognition such as image recognition. The effectiveness of the proposed methods has been verified through comprehensive tests. The proposed memristive deep convolutional neural networks greatly reduce the number of memristors and increase the recognition rate as compared with recent examples in the literature.
Physical activity and risk of endometrial cancer: an Italian case–control study

Most epidemiological studies on the relationship between physical activity and endometrial cancer found risk reductions of about 25–30% among most active women, but results were not consistent among studies. A multicentric case–control study was conducted in Italy between 1992 and 2006. Cases were 454 women with incident, histologically confirmed endometrial cancer and controls were 908 women admitted to hospital for acute non-neoplastic, nonhormonal conditions. Multivariate odds ratios (ORs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals were obtained after allowance for major potential confounding factors. The ORs of endometrial cancer for women in the highest level of occupational physical activity (compared with the lowest) were 1.69, 1.33, 1.17 and 0.82, respectively, at ages 12, 15–19, 30–39 and 50–59 years, with no trend in risk at any age. The corresponding ORs for leisure-time physical activity were 0.82, 0.78, 1.12 and 0.97. The risk of endometrial cancer for each level of occupational physical activity at age 30–39 years was not significantly heterogeneous across strata of age at diagnosis, body mass index, menopausal status and education. These findings do not support a strong relationship between physical activity and endometrial cancer risk.
Modeling of magnetic field induced by ship wake

Moving seawater through geomagnetic field can evoke a distribution of weak electric currents in the medium, which may generate a measurable magnetic field. The velocity vector of moving seawater can be resolved by using the ship wave theory, and the induced magnetic field can be evaluated by solving the Maxwell equations. Simulation results show that the induced magnetic field by the wake of a typical cruising vessel is on the order of a few hundred pico-Tesla near the sea surface.
Doubly‐Robust Estimators of Treatment‐Specific Survival Distributions in Observational Studies with Stratified Sampling

Observational studies are frequently conducted to compare the effects of two treatments on survival. For such studies we must be concerned about confounding; that is, there are covariates that affect both the treatment assignment and the survival distribution. With confounding the usual treatment‐specific Kaplan–Meier estimator might be a biased estimator of the underlying treatment‐specific survival distribution. This article has two aims. In the first aim we use semiparametric theory to derive a doubly robust estimator of the treatment‐specific survival distribution in cases where it is believed that all the potential confounders are captured. In cases where not all potential confounders have been captured one may conduct a substudy using a stratified sampling scheme to capture additional covariates that may account for confounding. The second aim is to derive a doubly‐robust estimator for the treatment‐specific survival distributions and its variance estimator with such a stratified sampling scheme. Simulation studies are conducted to show consistency and double robustness. These estimators are then applied to the data from the ASCERT study that motivated this research.