Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Keratoconus : An Evaluation of Clinico-etiological Factors and Diagnostic Modalities

Purpose : The purpose of this prospective study is to present the epidemiological information known and the factors believed to cause the development of the disease and to evaluate the corneal topography and pachymetry of young patients suffering with keratoconus. Methods: The study comprised of 36 eyes of 18 patients of keratoconus attending the outdoor unit of Department of Ophthalmology, Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College, Jhansi between July 2015 and April 2016. Data were collected on demographic characteristics, general health, family history, eye rubbing, allergy, asthma, eczema, education level, history of keratoplasty, contact lens use and smoking. All eyes of patients with keratoconus were studied by means of corneal topographic and pachymetry analysis. Quantitative topographic parameters were analyzed with special reference to the central point of the cornea, the apex (the point with maximum reading on the anterior elevation best-fit sphere map), and the thinnest point. Evaluation included location, elevation (compared to a bestf it sphere), pachymetry, tangential curvature, and composite curvature. Results: Mean patient age was 25.6 years ± 8.2 (range 9 – 32 years). Fifteen patients(83.3%) had bilateral keratoconus(including subclinical) and 3 (16.6%), unilateral keratoconus. Out of them 4 cases were having subclinical keratoconus and there were 3 topographically normal eye of 3 unilateral keratoconus patients. 11 (61%) patients had positive family history of the disease, 14 (77.8%) patients belong to male gender and 9 (50%) cases had manifestation of atopy. Keratoconic topographic alterations were : majority of the patients, 14 (77.8%) had peripheral cones, with steepening extending to the limbus, the steepening was commonly restricted to one or two quadrants. In some cases, however, the changes involved nearly the entire corneal surface. The remaining ( 22.3%) patients had steepening that was restricted to the central cornea.Most cones (28/33) were located in the inferior temporal quadrant; 5 were above the horizontal meridian. Conclusion: Positive family history, male gender and atopy were shown to be predictors of the disease . The results of this study signal a need for public health outreach and intervention for keratoconus. Corneal Topography can provide useful and accurate information in defining the morphology of keratoconus and detecting subtle topographic changes present in early keratoconus in young patients. It may also improve the results of contact lens fitting and surgical management.
Correlates of Perceived Care Comfort with an EMS Professional Having a Legal Conviction

Abstract Objectives The first objective was to examine the outcome of how comfortable a potential EMS-caller would be receiving care from an out-of-hospital-care EMS professional who might have a legal conviction. A second objective was to test for correlates that would explain this outcome. Methods In the autumn of 2010, a structured phone survey was conducted. To maximize geographical representation across the contiguous United States, a clustered, stratified sampling strategy was used based upon US Postal Service zip codes. Results Of the 2,443 phone calls made, 1,051 (43%) full survey responses were obtained. Data cleaning efforts reduced the total to 929 in the final model regression analysis. Results revealed significant public discomfort in receiving care from EMS professionals who may have such a conviction. In addition, respondents who are less educated and older more strongly (1) agree that EMS professionals should have their licenses revoked for wrongdoing; (2) agree EMS professionals should be screened before being hired; (3) perceive EMS credentials to be important; (4) support a lawsuit for improper care; and (5) are collectively less comfortable with being cared for by an EMS professional who may have a legal conviction. Reliable scales were found for future research use. Conclusion There is significant public discomfort in receiving care from EMS professionals who may have a legal conviction. The results of this study provide increased impetus for the careful screening of EMS professionals before they are hired or allowed to be volunteers. Beyond this due diligence, the results serve as a reminder for increased EMS provider awareness of the importance of exhibiting professionalism when dealing with the public. Blau G, Gibson G. Correlates of perceived care comfort with an EMS professional having a legal conviction. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2012;27(4):1-6.
Overall Persistence , Long-range Transport Potential and Global Distribution of Endosulfan and its Transformation Products

Overall persistence (POV) and long-range transport potential (LRTP) of and endosulfan and two of their transformation products, endosulfan sulfate and endosulfan diol, are estimated with two multimedia box models, the OECD POV and LRTP Screening Tool and the global, latitudinally resolved model CliMoChem. The OECD Tool yields POV and LRTP for each compound separately, whereas the CliMoChem model calculates the environmental distribution of the parent compounds and the formation and distribution of the transformation products simultaneously. Results from the CliMoChem model show that POV and LRTP of the endosulfan substance family are similar to those of acknowledged Persistent Organic Pollutants, such as aldrin, DDT, and heptachlor. The results also show that POV and LRTP of the entire substance family, i.e. including the transformation products, are significantly higher than those of the parent compounds alone.
Juniper Tar Poisoning

Juniper tar (cade oil) is distilled from the branches and wood of Juniperus oxycedrus. It contains etheric oils, triterpene and phenols, and is used for many purposes in folk medicine. A case is reported of a previously healthy man who ingested a spoonful of home-made extract of Juniperus oxycedrus. The poisoning caused fever, severe hypotension, renal failure, hepatotoxicity, and severe cutaneous burns on the face. After supportive and symptomatic treatment, the patient improved and was discharged in a good condition on the eleventh day.
Ambientes Inteligentes de Aprendizagem que inferem, expressam e possuem emoções e personalidade

Esse documento tem o objetivo de fornecer uma visao geral teorica e pratica sobre computacao afetiva aplicada em ambientes computacionais de aprendizagem. Para tanto, ele e composto das seguintes partes: (i) uma introducao ao estado da arte nas areas de Computacao Afetiva e Ambientes Inteligentes de Aprendizagem Afetivos; e (ii) uma apresentacao de dois estudos de caso praticos de ambientes inteligentes de aprendizagem que capturam os tracos de personalidade do usuario e que empregam agentes pedagogicos animados para promover no aluno um estado de espirito mais propicio a aprendizagem. Este minicurso fornecera aos leitores o background necessario na area de Computacao Afetiva aplicada a Educacao, assim como exemplos de ambientes inteligentes de aprendizagem que consideram os estados afetivos e a personalidade do aluno e respondem a ele.
SETting OP449 into the PP2A-Activating Drug Family

The protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) tumor suppressor is inactivated in different leukemias through the activity of its endogenous inhibitors (e.g., SET), which are aberrantly regulated by oncogenic tyrosine kinases. Like other effective and nontoxic PP2A-activating drugs (PAD), OP449 inhibits SET and impairs leukemogenesis. This further supports the immediate use of PADs in patients with leukemia. Clin Cancer Res; 20(8); 2026–8. ©2014 AACR.
Crystal structure of the YjgF/YER057c/UK114 family protein from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus tokodaii strain 7

ammoniumacetate, and 20% (v/v) glycerol and were then ﬂash-cooled ina nitrogen stream. Diffraction data were collected at 100 Kwith an R-AXIS VII image plate detector mounted on aRigaku FR-E rotating-anode X-ray generator (Rigaku, Ja-pan) using the operation software CrystalClear (Rigaku/MSC) and were processed with MOSFLM
Tidal Peritoneal Dialysis with Racemic or L-Lactate Solutions

To see if rapid lactate absorption on tidal peritoneal dialysis (TPD) would overwhelm D-Iactate metabolism using racemic lactate andlor L-Iactate metabolism using all L-Iactate, five patients underwent a- h TPD treatments with racemic lactate solution one day and with L-Iactate another. Lactate concentrations (total) were 40 mmolelL, flow rates 27.3 LIB h, tidal and reservoir volumes each 1.5L, tidal cycles 24–26 min, and net ultrafiltration per tidal cycle 70 to 99 mL. Results: Mean absorptions of D and L-Iactate were 24.2 and 25.1%, respectively, compared to glucose at 14.6%. Urea clearances averaged 21.4 mLlmin. Mean blood D-Iactates at baseline were 0.6 ± 0.5 SD mmolelL and after a h of TPD were 0.6 ± 0.4 and 0.7 ± 0.3 using L-Iactate and racemic solutions, respectively; similar values for L-Iactate were 1.2 ± 0.3 at baseline and 1.2 ± 0.3 and 1.2 ± 0.5 after a h with L-Iactate and racemic solutions. d blood pH values were + 0.02 ± 0.01 and + 0.04 ± 0.03, while d bicarbonate values were + 1.7 ± 0.9 and + 0.7 ± 1.0 for the all L and racemic studies, respectively. The total mmoles of L-Iactate absorbed per a h of TPD with all L solution (>300 mmoles) are greater than ever reported for peritoneal dialysis, but did not increase blood lactate levels. It would seem that either type of solution is suitable for TPD. Absorptions and metabolic rates are similar for L-Lactate and D-Lactate.
A design-for-test methodology for active analog filters

A DFT (design-for-test) methodology to improve the controllability/observability of internal signals in active filters is presented. The normal filter design becomes an 'analog scan' structure in the test mode. The fundamental theory underlying the proposed methodology is presented, followed by an algorithmic description and the results of several case studies. These results are considered from the perspectives of the overhead incurred and the extension of the technique to other analog structures. The DFT algorithm includes not only the modification technique but also a test generation scheme. The algorithm is suitable for silicon compiler and CAD (computer-aided-design) implementation. Experimental results confirm the validity of the methodology. <<ETX>>
Thermosensitive chitosan/glycerophosphate-based hydrogel and its derivatives in pharmaceutical and biomedical applications

Introduction: Thermogelling chitosan (CS)/glycerophosphate (GP) solutions have been reported as a new type of parenteral in situ forming depot system. These free-flowing solutions at ambient temperature turn into semi-solid hydrogels after parenteral administration. Areas covered: Formulation parameters such as CS physico-chemical characteristics, CS/gelling agent ratio or pH of the system, were acknowledged as key parameters affecting the solution stability, the sol/gel transition behavior and/or the final hydrogel structure. We discuss also the use of the standard CS/GP thermogels for various biomedical applications, including drug delivery and tissue engineering. Furthermore, this manuscript reviews the different strategies implemented to improve the hydrogel characteristics such as combination with carrier particles, replacement of GP, addition of a second polymer and chemical modification of CS. Expert opinion: The recent advances in the formulation of CS-based thermogelling systems already overcame several challenges faced by the standard CS/GP system. Dispersion of drug-loaded carrier particles into the thermogels allowed achieving prolonged release profiles for low molecular weight drugs; incorporation of an additional polymer enabled to strengthen the network, while the use of chemically modified CS led to enhanced pH sensitivity or biodegradability of the matrix.
Identification of an N-Terminal Recognition Site in TLR9 That Contributes to CpG-DNA-Mediated Receptor Activation1

Although it is well established that TLR9 recognizes CpG-DNA, the structural details of ligand-receptor interaction are still mostly unknown. The extracellular domain of TLR9 is composed of 25 leucine-rich repeat (LRR) motifs, 5 of which bear inserting sequences that do not conform to the LRR consensus motif. In this study, we show that the functional integrity of the extracellular domain of murine TLR9 is lost by deletion of individual LRR motifs. When deleting only the inserting sequences, we observed that LRR2, 5, and 8 contribute to receptor activation by CpG-DNA. The latter deletions did not affect receptor dimerization but inhibited CpG-DNA binding. On the basis of a homology modeling approach, we furthermore identify a positively charged region in the N terminus that is essential for CpG-DNA-induced TLR9 activation. This interaction site mirrors findings previously shown for the structural recognition of dsRNA by TLR3 and hints toward a general principle of nucleic acid recognition by the respective TLR.
Studies on the dispersal of staphylococci

The dispersal of staphylococci during undressing in a cubicle has been investigated. The ability to disperse appears to be largely dependent on the degree of contamination of the skin with staphylococci. There are some major differences in the numbers of bacteria and skin scales disseminated by different groups of people, e.g., patients with skin disease disseminated more than did normal persons. Differences in dissemination between males and females appeared to be largely due to differences in clothing.
Identification and characterization of an oocyte factor required for sperm decondensation in pig.

Mammalian oocytes possess factors to support fertilization and embryonic development, but knowledge on these oocyte-specific factors is limited. In the current study, we demonstrated that porcine oocytes with the first polar body collected at 33 h of in vitro maturation sustain IVF with higher sperm decondensation and pronuclear formation rates and support in vitro development with higher cleavage and blastocyst rates, compared with those collected at 42 h (P<0.05). Proteomic analysis performed to clarify the mechanisms underlying the differences in developmental competence between oocytes collected at 33 and 42 h led to the identification of 18 differentially expressed proteins, among which protein disulfide isomerase associated 3 (PDIA3) was selected for further study. Inhibition of maternal PDIA3 via antibody injection disrupted sperm decondensation; conversely, overexpression of PDIA3 in oocytes improved sperm decondensation. In addition, sperm decondensation failure in PDIA3 antibody-injected oocytes was rescued by dithiothreitol, a commonly used disulfide bond reducer. Our results collectively report that maternal PDIA3 plays a crucial role in sperm decondensation by reducing protamine disulfide bonds in porcine oocytes, supporting its utility as a potential tool for oocyte selection in assisted reproduction techniques.
Relationships between Connectivity of Forests and Distributions of Terrestrial Mammals in Honshu, Japan

森林の連続性を評価するための指数CONを定義し, 国土数値情報3次メッシュ (約1km2) を単位とした既存の植生データを用いて, 本州における森林の連続性を評価した。 指数CONによる森林連続性と陸生哺乳類13種の分布とのオーバーレイをおこない, CONと分布の対応関係を把握した。 指数CONに対する各動物の分布の反応を類型化したところ, 1) 奥山的な動物群, 2) 準奥山的な動物群, 3) 里山的な動物群, 4) 生息特性との関係があまりみられなかった動物群, の4群に分けられた。 1), 2), 3) の動物群に関しては, 一般に知られている分布特性とほぼ一致しており, 森林連続性の評価の妥当性が示された。
mitochondria Anticancer drugs Radiation Tumor suppressor genes Cell detachment Cytotoxic cytokines Oxidative stress Ca + 2 elevation Growth factor deprivation Viruses

All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is a derivative of vitamin A. It is able to stimulate neutrophilic differentiation of normal progenitors and acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cells. Although ATRA-induced differentiation is not observed in any other acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) subtypes, ATRA is known to be able to inhibit AML blast cell proliferation. The present in vitro study using AML cell lines representing subtypes other than APL focuses on the following questions: (1) Is the inhibitory effect of ATRA on AML cell growth related to apoptosis of cells? (2) Are the effects of ATRA dependent on two important regulators of apoptosis, p53 and Bcl-2? (3) Do mitochondria have any role in mediating the effects of ATRA? ATRA-induced apoptosis in AML cells was observed by morphology, DNA fragmentation, phosphatidylserine externalization, and poly(ADPribose)polymerase (PARP) cleavage. It was a slow event, manifested as DNA cleavage after 48 hours exposure and as morphological apoptosis after 72 hours exposure. The AML cells expressed constitutively p53 as determined by immunohistochemistry, Western blotting and flow cytometry. However, no mutation of TP53 was observed in exons 5 to 8 as analysed with a single strand conformation polymorphism technique. As the flow cytometer analysis showed, most of p53 was in a aberrant conformation, which was not changed into a wild type conformation by ATRA. Two of the cell lines were analysed more specifically in relation to Bcl-2 and mitochondral function: ATRA-induced apoptosis of the cell lines was associated with down-regulation of Bcl-2. Western blotting showed ATRA-induced apoptosis also to be related to the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria into cytosol, resulting in the activation of caspase-3, an apoptotic effector, which was manifested as a cleavage of its substrate PARP. The process was also accompanied by disruption of the mitochondrial membrane potential as determined fluoricytometrically. These results show that ATRA is able to induce apoptosis in AML cells other than APL, and ATRA-induced apoptosis in the AML cells studied is related to the down-regulation of Bcl-2 and the disruption of mitochondrial function, but is independent of the p53 pathway.
The limited importance of pronuclear scoring of human zygotes.

BACKGROUND Several studies have shown a correlation between the pronuclear morphology score (PNMS) and subsequent embryo development and implantation. Embryos with poor pronuclear score, elsewhere referred to as Z3 and Z4, are often not transferred or cryopreserved because it is believed that they have poor pregnancy potential. The objective of this study is to report our data on the use of the pronuclear score and its effect on pregnancy outcome. METHODS Retrospective analysis of IVF/ICSI-embryo transfer cycles completed over the course of 1 year (n = 334). Comparisons were made only in those groups of patients in whom cohorts of similarly scored PNMS embryos were transferred. The proportion of such homologous cohorts was 104/334 (31%). All other replacements were excluded from final analysis as they were dissimilar as far as PNMS is concerned. Pregnancy outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS The incidence of live birth resulting from the transfer of single pronuclear score homologous embryo types was 56 (14/25), 41 (13/32), 54 (23/43) and 0% (0/4) for PNMS scores 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. There was no correlation between PNMS category of the embryos transferred and live birth rates (P = 0.139). CONCLUSIONS PNMSs of 1, 2 or 3 do not correlate with live birth rates when assessing unique PNMS embryo transfers. In particular, previously considered poor (type 3) embryos can result in pregnancy with normal live birth rates. Whether type 4 embryos are compatible with normal development remains to be shown.
Measuring EU Rurality : An updated Peripherurality Indicator

In the last decades, EU rural areas have been experiencing major transformations, which have made any traditional urban-rural divide outdated (OECD, 2006). Going beyond urban-rural dichotomy, the paper moves from the analysis of the PeripheRurality Indicator (PRI), computed by Camaioni et al. (2013) for all EU NUTS 3 regions. For each of them, PRI includes both conventional socio-economic indicators and geographical characteristics. Nevertheless, this paper enriches PRI’s original territorial and geographical dimension, by taking explicitly into account even the degree of rurality of neighbouring regions. Eventually, it returns 16 EU typologies of urban-rural areas. Then, such a classification is tested on 2007-2011 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) expenditure data. Indeed, the paper considers the coherence of fund allocation with the real characteristics of EU rural space.
Assessment of asthma control: clinical, functional and inflammatory aspects.

BACKGROUND Asthma is a complex disease with numerous markers of severity/activity. Clinical assessment,functional parameters and inflammation biomarkers are the most used A correlation between them is difficult, as each one evaluates a particular aspect of the disease. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS To explore the possible association between asthma control, pulmonary function and inflammation in patients with asthma, consecutive asthmatics underwent simultaneous spirometry (measurement of FEV1), exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) evaluation and Asthma Control Test (ACTTM) questionnaire. RESULTS The study included 232 asthmatics (mean age: 37.48 years; 78.4%female): 43% had uncontrolled asthma (ACTTM < or = 19) with FEV1 mean values of 83.3% +/- 21.8; 48% partially controlled (ACTTM: 20-24) with FEV1 of 87.6% +/- 17; 9% complete control (ACTTM = 25) with FEV1 of 93.1 +/- 20.6. The relation ACTTM/FEV1 and ACTTM/FEF 25-75% was statistically significant (p = 0.001 and p = 0.034, respectively). Among patients with eNO < 35 ppb, 66% had FEV1 > 80% and 52% had ACTTM > 19. No association was found combining ACTTM/eNO or FEV1/eNO. A subgroup of 66 patients was evaluated twice. CONCLUSION An association was found between ACTTM and spirometry, with higher ACTTM scores reflecting less bronchial obstruction. The authors advise a combined approach in asthma follow-up, involving clinical aspects, functional parameters and inflammation biomarkers, although in some circumstances ACT could be a valid instrument to be used alone to assess control.
Reference Points, Reputation and Strategies in a Dynamic Bargaining Environment with a Residual Claimant

We conduct an experiment of a two-period bilateral bargaining environment, where the payoff to one player is subject to ex-post risk, while the other player receives a fixed payment, effectively making the player exposed to risk a residual claimant. The ex-post risk not only provides substantive issues for bargaining parties to resolve in the experiment – i.e. what is a fair compensation for the exposure to risk – it also results in the endogenous formation of reference points for the second period. We find support for “pay-back”. That is, not only are bargaining outcomes in the second period affected by the realization of the first-period pie, but it is also the case that agents not exposed to the risk are able to extract a great surplus following a high realization of the first-period pie. JEL classification codes: C71, C92, D81
Isolation and nucleotide sequence of the chloroperoxidase gene from Caldariomyces fumago

The chloroperoxidase gene from the filamentous fungus Caldariomyces fumago has been isolated within a 16.3-kilobase insert in the vector lambda EMBL3. The DNA sequence of the gene and its immediate flanking regions has been determined, and the start site of transcription has been mapped by primer extension.