Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Validation studies of the OPCS scale — more useful than the Barthel Index?

The OPCS scales of disability were developed as a survey tool to estimate the prevalence of disability amongst adults in the UK. This study evaluates the use of the OPCS scales in a clinical setting. A total of 265 patients attending a rehabilitation unit and wheelchair centre were assessed. The OPCS scales were validated against the standard Barthel Index and sensitivity to change over time was examined. An inter-rater reliability study was also performed. The results showed good correlation between the OPCS scales and Barthel Index (0.82, p < 0.001, n = 265) and it was shown that the OPCS scales were sensitive to clinical change over a six-month period. Inter-rater reliability was also good (0.96, p < 0.001, n = 120). The 95% confidence limits were also examined. The 'ceiling' effect of the Barthel Index is not found in the OPCS scales of disability. The results of the study support further use of the OPCS scales and suggest that it has a place in the assessment of rehabilitation outcome.
Introduction to Australian surveillance definitions: surgical site infection & bloodstream infections

Abstract Surveillance for health care related infection is a pivotal and proven practice in infection control for minimising infection rates. To achieve this end, national data collection systems have been established in the United States and in a number of European countries. Developing a method to provide a broad overview of infection rates in Australia, with its relatively small population and geographic diversity, will prove useful. However, such a goal can only be attained if standardised definitions are developed through consensus and utilised by all health care institutes in all Australian states and territories. The following definitions of hospital acquired infection, developed through consensus, represent a practical approach to standardisation of numerator definitions for surgical site infection and bloodstream infections. Where possible, the definitions have been designed to provide relative ease of collection and interpretation and to allow for the possibility of international comparison. However, they are ’surveillance’ definitions and, as such, are not designed to identify every infection. The aim is to ensure that the majority of infections are recorded in a reproducible and consistent fashion. [AIC Aust Infect Control 2000; 5(3):25-31].
Polygyny and Monoandry in the Ant Formica japonica (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Abstract Queen number, mating frequency and nest kin-structure of the ant Formica japonica were studied in the field and the laboratory. Nest excavation in the study site, the east slope of Mt. Fuji, Gotenba, Japan, revealed that F. japonica is weakly polygynous all year round and the queen number increases after the nuptial flight season, suggesting the adoption of newly mated queens by established nests. Dissection and laboratory rearing demonstrated that nearly all queens in polygynous nests had mated and were fertile with mature oocytes in their ovaries. Multilocus DNA fingerprinting was used to examine kin relationships among ants found in the same nests. The fingerprint band patterns were apparently governed by a simple genetic rule and suggested monoandry (single mating per queen). The mean band sharing score of DNA fingerprints among full sisters was 0.90, and the mean value between queens and their daughters was 0.75. Comparison of DNA fingerprints of adult and pupal workers with pupal gynes suggested that multiple queens in a nest may contribute unequally to gyne (new queen) production.
Appearance of Apoptotic Cells and Granular Cells in the Silkworm Midgut Lumen During Larval-Pupal Ecdysis

Abstract To study midgut degradation and programmed cell death, we performed methyl green-pyronin staining and Giemsa staining of the midgut of silkworms during metamorphosis. Midgut epithelial cells underwent pyknosis and cytoplasmic shrinkage on the second day of spinning. In the prepupal stage, all midgut epithelial cells desquamated into the midgut lumen, rapidly forming apoptotic bodies. The number of apoptotic bodies in the midgut decreased rapidly from the prepupal stage to the third day of the pupal stage. DNA fragmentation at the time of apoptotic body formation was confirmed by the comet assay. In the midgut lumen from the prepupal stage to the first through third days of the pupal stage in which apoptotic bodies were observed, granular cells were present. Their morphology was similar to that in the body fluid and, during the pupal stage, intracellular granules increased in size and number with time, giving the appearance of a foamy cell. In this stage, numerous granular cells were observed under the basement membrane of the midgut, and phagocytosed apoptotic bodies were seen within granular cells in the midgut lumen. Granular cells may be actively involved in the clearance of apoptotic bodies from the midgut during larval-pupal ecdysis.
Genetic and Morphological Differences Among Populations of the Bonin Islands White-eye in Japan

Abstract The Bonin Islands White-eye, Apalopteron familiare, is the sole endemic avian species surviving on the Bonin Islands. The current distribution of this species is limited to only three islands of the Hahajima Island group: Hahajima, Imotojima, and Mukohjima. Imotojima and Mukohjima, which are small satellite islands of Hahajima, are about 3.6 km and 5.5 km, respectively, from the larger island. To investigate genetic and morphological differences among A. familiare populations on these islands, we assayed 634 bp of mitochondrial control region sequence for 132 birds from five locations among the three islands. We detected five haplotypes: two endemic haplotypes each on Hahajima and Imotojima and one on Mukohjima. Principal component analysis based on eight morphological characters of 162 birds from the three island populations revealed that birds from the small satellite islands had significantly different beak morphological characters. Our findings indicate that over-sea dispersal is rare in A. familiare, even when islands are separated by only a few kilometers, and suggest that little movement occurs on Hahajima. Thus, each population on each island should be conserved as an evolutionarily significant unit. The low dispersal ability of this species suggests that it is vulnerable to habitat fragmentation. Although the populations are currently stable and do not require rapid countermeasures, they should be monitored, especially those on the smaller islands.
Study on various types of infections related to balanitis in circumcised or uncircumcised male and its causes, symptoms and management

Balanitis generally affects uncircumcised males characterized by the glans and foreskin becoming red and inflamed. In circumcised men, who lack a foreskin, these symptoms only affect the tip of the penis. The condition often occurs due to the fungus Candida albicans, the same organism that causes vaginal yeast infections in women. The objective of the study is to give a study on various types of infections related to balanitis in circumcised or uncircumcised male and its causes, symptoms and management. A data search was performed using the OVID CD plus Medline 1990 to 2010, using balanitis and balanoposthitis as text word search strategy. Specific subjects, such as anaerobic infection, Zoon's balanitis were sought separately and subgroups combined. Original articles and abstracts were referenced to illustrate each condition. These were English language articles. Balanitis is a common condition among genitourinary medicine clinic attendees, the cause often remaining undiagnosed. Many cases are caused by infection, with Candida being the most frequently diagnosed. However, Gardnerella and anaerobic infections are common, and there are a wide variety of other rare infective causes. In addition, irritant balanitis is probably a contributing factor in many cases. Balanitis which persists and in which the cause remains unclear warrants biopsy. Key words: Balanitis, circumcision, infections.
Sex determination from distal epiphyseal breadth of tibia

Background: Epiphyseal breadth of tibia is considered as a better determinant of the sex than the other variables of that bone in sexual diagnosis. Aim: To obtain values of distal epiphyseal breadth of tibia and estimate its role in sexual identification. Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out at Anatomy department P.D. U. Govt. Medical College, Rajkot, Gujarat, India on 194 dry, normal, adult human tibiae (106 male & 88 female). Distal epiphyseal breadth was measured in centimeter with the help of sliding caliper by noting distance between farthest points on medial surface of medial malleolus medially and fibular notch laterally. Results: Mean values obtained were 3.98 cm & 3.63 cm for right male & right female & 3.94 cm & 3.61cm for left male & left female respectively. Higher values in male were statically highly significant (p<0.001) on both sides. Demarking point (D.P) analysis of the data showed that right tibia with distal epiphyseal breadth more than 4.85 were definitely male and less than 2.71 were definitely female. While for left bones, tibia with distal epiphyseal breadth more than 3.19 were definitely male and less than 2.86 were definitely female. Distal epiphyseal breadth identified 1.89% of right male tibia. It was not useful for right female and for left bones. Conclusion: From the above study, it can be concluded that based on measurement of distal epiphyseal breadth of right and left tibia, sex differentiation can be made. Keywords: Distal epiphyseal breadth of tibia, sexual dimorphism of tibia, demarking point analysis
BMP and Hh Signaling Affects Primordial Germ Cell Division in Drosophila

The germline is segregated from the remainder of the soma during early embryonic development in metazoan species. In Drosophila, female primordial germ cells (PGCs) continue to proliferate during larval development, and become germline stem cells at the early pupal stage. To elucidate the roles of growth factors in larval PGC division, we examined expression patterns of a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) growth factor, Decapentaplegic (Dpp), and Hedgehog (Hh), along with factors downstream of each, in the ovary during larval development. Dpp signaling appeared in the ovarian soma from early larval development, and was prominent in the terminal filament cells at late larval stage, whereas Hh appeared in the ovarian soma and PGCs from the third instar larval stage. The number of PGCs decreased when components of these signal transduction pathways were abrogated by RNAi in the PGCs, indicating that both Dpp and Hh signals directly regulate PGC proliferation. Experiments on the up- and down-regulation of Dpp and Hh with a tissue-specific Gal4 driver indicated that Dpp and Hh act as extrinsic and autocrine growth factors. Furthermore, heat-pulse experiments with hs-Gal4 showed that Dpp is active in PGC proliferation throughout larval development, whereas Hh has effects only during late larval development. In addition to Dpp, the reduction of Glass bottom boat (Gbb), another BMP molecule, caused a decrease in the number of PGCs and initiation of larval PGCs differentiation into cystocytes, indicating that Gbb functions to promote PGC division and repress differentiation.
Cross Border Data Flow Governance in Storage Cloud Leveraging Deep Learning Techniques

Various federal laws (varying from country to country) govern geographically where a given category of data should reside, from where it should be accessible and where it should be restricted. Most of the data falling under the laws and regulation based on cross border data flow are unstructured data residing on file and object storage. Hence, it is vital for any unstructured data cloud storage system to cater to the requirements of cross border data flow compliance. The contribution of this paper is twofold which involves using deep learning models to categorize data residing on unified file and object storage as Personal Information and implementation of Geo-Fencing feature at the clustered file system level which helps regulate cross border data flow of the categorized Personal Information.
Culturally Congruent Teaching Strategies: Voices from the Field

This article describes a year-long qualitative study to discover, first, the preferred teaching strategies of Hawaiian language immersion and culture-based (HLCB) educators and, second, how the strategies were being implemented in HLCB classrooms. Interviews and focus group discussions with 40 HLCB educators yielded a set of 10 teaching practices viewed as culturally appropriate, as healing, and as increasing academic self-efficacy. Although these teaching practices are directly related to important Hawaiian values, beliefs about teaching and learning, and worldview, participants noted a lack of available training and support to implement them. Outcomes suggest that training in culturally congruent teaching strategies should be ongoing and systematic and that incorporating place-based curricula in public school settings could possibly increase the academic self-efficacy of Hawaiian students.
Healthy Living Interventions in a Residential Girl Scout Camp

Lifestyle habits developed in childhood often carry over into adulthood and that developing healthy habits at a young age can help prevent weight-related health problems later in life. The purpose of this study was to develop and implement an interventional curriculum based on nutrition, physical activity, and self-concept in adolescent girls to promote the development of healthy lifestyle habits. Ten girls between 11 and 14 years old (n = 12.5 ± 0.97) were recruited to participate in a five-day Girl Scout camp. Physical parameters were measured and each participant filled out a questionnaire regarding eating habits, nutritional knowledge, physical activity, and self-concept. Educational curriculum and activities corresponding to the above domains were incorporated into each day. Participants were guided in setting goals for healthy lifestyle changes over the coming months and provided with journals to track their progress. It was found that 60% of participants had a Body Mass Index (BMI) above the 85th percentile. All participants scored positive in self-concept, but a negative correlation was found between BMI percentile and selfconcept. Notable relationships were found between variables of nutrition, physical activity, and self-concept. Results suggested that the participants were of an important age range during which self-concept was still positive and was beginning to be shaped, indicating adolescence as a good time to intervene and influence positive self-concept through understanding the relationship of nutrition and physical activity on health.
Hyperspectral Measurements, Parameterizations, and Atmospheric Correction of Whitecaps and Foam From Visible to Shortwave Infrared for Ocean Color Remote Sensing

Breaking waves are highly reflective features on the sea surface that change the spectral properties of the ocean surface in both magnitude and spectral shape. Here, hyperspectral reflectance measurements of whitecaps from 400 to 2,500 nm were taken in Long Island Sound, USA of natural and manufactured breaking waves to explore new methods to estimate whitecap contributions to ocean color imagery. Whitecap reflectance was on average ~40% in visible wavelengths and decreased significantly into the near infrared and shortwave infrared following published trends. The spectral shape was well-characterized by a third order polynomial function of liquid water absorption that can be incorporated into coupled ocean-atmospheric models and spectral optimization routines. Localized troughs in whitecap reflectance correspond to peaks in liquid water absorption and depths of the troughs are correlated to the amount and intensity of the breaking waves. Specifically, baseline-corrected band depths at 980 and 1,200 nm explained 77 and 90% of the whitecap-enhanced reflectance on a logarithmic scale, respectively. Including these wavebands into future ocean color sensors could potentially provide new tools to estimate whitecap contributions to reflectance more accurately than with wind speed. An effective whitecap factor was defined as the optical enhancements within a pixel due to whitecaps and foam independent of spatial scale. A simple mixed-pixel model of whitecap and background reflectance explained as much of the variability in measured reflectance as more complex models incorporating semi-transparent layers of foam. Using an example atmosphere, enhanced radiance from whitecaps was detectable at the top of the atmosphere and a multiple regression of at-sensor radiance at 880, 1,038, 1,250, and 1,615 nm explained 99% of the variability in whitecap factor. A proposed model of whitecap-free reflectance includes contributions from water-leaving radiance, glint, and diffuse reflected skylight. The epsilon ratio at 753 and 869 nm commonly used for aerosol model selection is nearly invariant with whitecap factor compared to the ratio at shortwave infrared bands. While more validation data is needed, this research suggests several promising avenues to retrieve estimates of the whitecap reflectance and to use ocean color to further elucidate the physics of wave breaking and gas exchange.
Optimised Routines for Monitoring of Treated Late Latent Syphilis Patients

Optimised Routines for Monitoring of Treated Late Latent Syphilis Patients Highly sensitive and specific tests are needed in monitoring of the serological activity and efficacy of treatment of late latent syphilis. In a retrospective study, the data of 52 patients who had received treatment for late latent syphilis were analysed in the Clinical Centre of Skin and Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Latvia. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity was calculated by Syphilis Immunoblot IgG, Treponema Pallidum Immobilisation Reaction (TPIR) and Syphilis Express Diagnosis (SED). The correlation between Treponema Pallidum Immobilisation Reaction (TPIR) and Syphilis Immunoblot IgG, SED and TPIR results were estimated. Syphilis Immunoblot IgG is useful for latent syphilis diagnostics. The values of the synthetic peptide TmpA, TmpN15 and TmpN47 on the Syphilis Immunoblot IgG strip are useful for monitoring of the treatment of late latent syphilis patients. Optimizētas Ikdienas Praksē Lietojamas Latenta Sifilisa Diagnostikas UN Slimības Gaitas Novērošanas Metodes Vērtējot latenta sifilisa slimības gaitu un serologisko aktivitāti, svarīgi ir izmantot testus ar augstu jutību un specifiskumu. Retrospektīva pētījuma ietvaros Ādas un seksuāli transmisīvo slimību klīniskajā centrā tika analizēti 52 latenta sifilisa pacienti, kuriem bija ordinēta ārstēšana pret sifilisu. Tika aprēķināta sifilisa imunoblota IgG, bālās treponēmas imbilizācijas reakcijas (BTIR) un sifilisa ekspresdiagnostikas testa (SED) jutība un specifitāte. Tika izrēķināta korelācija starp bālās treponēmas imobilizācijas reakcijas (BTIR) un sifilisa imunoblota IgG, SED un bālās treponēmas imobilizācijas reakcijas (BTIR) rezultātiem. Sifilisa imunoblotu IgG ir lietderīgi izmantot latenta sifilisa diagnostikā. Sintētisko peptīdu TmpA, TmpN15 un TmpN47 vērtības uz sifilisa imunoblota IgG stripa ir lietderīgi izmantot latenta sifilisa pacientu ārstēšanas monitorēšanā.
Application of 2-Picolylamine Derivatized Ultra-high Performance Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry for the Determination of Short-chain Fatty Acids in Feces Samples

We present a sensitive and selective method for the simultaneous determination of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), such as acetic acid (AA), propionic acid, butyric acid (BA), isobutyric acid, valeric acid, isovaleric acid, hydroangelic acid, caproic acid, 4-methylvaleric acid and succinic acid (SA) in feces samples using a ultra-high performance liquidchromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) with simple derivatization of 2-picolylamine. The main SFCAs were derivatized in the same condition, and showed the specific product ion ( m/z 109) in the electrospray positive mode regarding to 2-picolylamine. The derivatized SA showed a different pattern of the product ion ( m/z 191). The derivatized analytes showed LOD < 75 nM, LOQ < 100 nM and r ^2 in the calibration curve > 0.991. The QuEChERS was used for sample preparation of feces samples. In the recovery test, the recovery values appeared from 89.7 to 100.2% (RSD: 2.1 to 9.2%, n = 6). This developed method was applied to evaluate obese diabetes model mice. In the result, the branched-chain SCFAs levels in feces from model mice of spontaneous obese type II diabetes were on a declining trend compared with normal. The AA levels from model mice with high-calorie/fat diet are owed a declining trend for 3 to 9 months. The BA levels showed that normal mice were increasing, and model mice had decreased tendency for breeding months. High-calorie/fat diet showed that the SA levels increased.
Presidential address: What we have learned from a decade of research aimed at improving psychotherapy outcome in routine care

Abstract The findings of a decade-long program of research aimed at tracking patient treatment response are summarized. Outcome measures were developed and applied on a weekly basis with patients undergoing therapy in routine practice. Treatment response was defined as reliable and clinically significant change, and longitudinal statistical models for identifying poor progress were applied. The author was able to estimate the amount of therapy necessary for recovery, study early dramatic improvers, and assess the consequences of providing practitioners with alarm signals when patients were off track for a positive outcome. Results indicate that integrating treatment response research into routine mental health care reliably improved positive outcomes and reduced negative outcomes. Future directions for this line of action research are suggested.
Intravenous Mesenchymal Stem Cells Improve Survival and Motor Function in Experimental Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Despite some advances in the understanding of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) pathogenesis, significant achievements in treating this disease are still lacking. Mesenchymal stromal (stem) cells (MSCs) have been shown to be effective in several models of neurological disease. To determine the effects of the intravenous injection of MSCs in an ALS mouse model during the symptomatic stage of disease, MSCs (1 × 106) were intravenously injected in mice expressing human superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) carrying the G93A mutation (SOD1/G93A) presenting with experimental ALS. Survival, motor abilities, histology, oxidative stress markers and [3H]d-aspartate release in the spinal cord were investigated. MSC injection in SOD1/G93A mice improved survival and motor functions compared with saline-injected controls. Injected MSCs scantly home to the central nervous system and poorly engraft. We observed a reduced accumulation of ubiquitin agglomerates and of activated astrocytes and microglia in the spinal cord of MSC-treated SOD1/G93A mice, with no changes in the number of choline acetyltransferase- and glutamate transporter type 1-positive cells. MSC administration turned around the upregulation of metallothionein mRNA expression and of the activity of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione S-transferase, both associated with disease progression. Last, we observed that MSCs reverted both spontaneous and stimulus-evoked neuronal release of (3H)d-aspartate, a marker of endogenous glutamate, which is upregulated in SOD1/G93A mice. These findings suggest that intravenous administration of MSCs significantly improves the clinical outcome and pathological scores of mutant SOD1/G93A mice, thus providing the rationale for their exploitation for the treatment of ALS.