Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Measures in High- and Normal-Tension Glaucoma

Purpose. To use optical coherence tomography (OCT) to investigate the qualitative and quantitative differences in the defects of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) in subjects with high tension primary open angle glaucoma and subjects with normal tension glaucoma. Methods. RNFL was assessed with OCT in 21 eyes with high-tension glaucoma (HTG) and 20 eyes with normal-tension glaucoma (NTG). Regression analyses were performed to investigate the interaction of disease group and location for localized RNFL loss, and to predict diffuse and localized RNFL loss as a function of age, mean defect, spherical equivalent, disease group, and location. Local RNFL thicknesses for superior clock-hour regions were estimated after adjustment for the thicknesses of symmetrically opposed locations. Results. There were no differences in mean age, visual field defect mean deviation, and refractive error between subjects in HTG and NTG groups. Diffuse RNFL thickness was not significantly different between the two groups [mean RNFL for NTG > HTG by 3.48 &mgr;m, 95% confidence interval (CI) −3.9 to 10.9 &mgr;m, p = 0.092]. There was no significant interaction of group and location for localized RNFL loss (p = 0.916). Local RNFL thickness at superior regions was not significantly different in the two groups, after adjustment for RNFL thickness at corresponding inferior locations (mean RNFL for NTG > HTG by 6.30 &mgr;m, 95% CI −1.08 to 13.7 &mgr;m, p = 0.34). RNFL thickness decreased, on average (1.88 &mgr;m/dB mean deviation, 95% CI 1.21 to 2.55 &mgr;m, p < 0.0001) and locally (1.37 &mgr;m/dB mean deviation, 95% CI 0.79 to 1.96 &mgr;m, p < 0.0001), with increasing severity of glaucoma. Conclusion. There is no difference in the spatial pattern of RNFL defects, as assessed by the OCT, between HTG and NTG.
Wheat Grass Juice in the Treatment of Active Distal Ulcerative Colitis: A Randomized Double-blind Placebo-controlled Trial

Background: The use of wheat grass ( Triticum aestivum ) juice for treatment of various gastrointestinal and other conditions had been suggested by its proponents for more than 30 years, but was never clinically assessed in a controlled trial. A preliminary unpublished pilot study suggested efficacy of wheat grass juice in the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebocontrolled study. One gastroenterology unit in a tertiary hospital and three study coordinating centers in three major cities in Israel. Twenty-three patients diagnosed clinically and sigmoidoscopically with active distal UC were randomly allocated to receive either 100 cc of wheat grass juice, or a matching placebo, daily for 1 month. Efficacy of treatment was assessed by a 4-fold disease activity index that included rectal bleeding and number of bowel movements as determined from patient diary records, a sigmoidoscopic evaluation, and global assessment by a physician. Results. Twenty-one patients completed the study, and full information was available on 19 of them. Treatment with wheat grass juice was associated with significant reductions in the overall disease activity index ( P = 0.031) and in the severity of rectal bleeding ( P = 0.025). No serious side effects were found. Fresh extract of wheat grass demonstrated a prominent tracing in cyclic voltammetry methodology, presumably corresponding to four groups of compounds that exhibit anti-oxidative properties. Conclusion. Wheat grass juice appeared effective and safe as a single or adjuvant treatment of active distal UC.
The beta-glucuronidase klotho exclusively activates the epithelial Ca2+ channels TRPV5 and TRPV6.

BACKGROUND Active Ca(2+) reabsorption in the kidney is facilitated by the epithelial transient receptor potential vanilloid Ca(2+) channel subtype 5 (TRPV5). The complex-glycosylated TRPV5 is expressed at the apical membrane of the renal distal convoluted tubule (DCT) cells where the pro-urine hormone klotho can stimulate its activity by N-oligosaccharide hydrolysis. This study investigates whether klotho and its closely related analogue, beta-glucuronidase, can activate other renal ion channels than TRPV5 expressed by DCT cells. METHODS To determine the specificity of this stimulatory effect of klotho and beta-glucuronidase, a selection of ion channels and transporters expressed in the kidney (TRPV4, TRPV5, TRPV6 and TRPM6) was screened in transfected HEK293 cells by using Ca(2+)-influx measurements. RESULTS Klotho and beta-glucuronidase have been found to significantly increase the activity of TRPV5 and TRPV6, but had no effect on TRPV4 and TRPM6. Furthermore, deglycosylation by endoglycosidase-F also stimulated the activity of TRPV4, TRPV5 and TRPV6, but not of TRPM6. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest a modulating effect for klotho primarily restricted to the epithelial Ca(2+) channels TRPV5 and TRPV6.
Influence of Acute High-Intensity Aerobic Interval Exercise Bout on Selective Attention and Short-Term Memory Tasks

Acute moderate intensity continuous aerobic exercise can improve specific cognitive functions, such as short-term memory and selective attention. Moreover, high-intensity interval training (HIT) has been recently proposed as a time-efficient alternative to traditional cardiorespiratory exercise. However, considering previous speculations that the exercise intensity affects cognition in a U-shaped fashion, it was hypothesized that a HIT session may impair cognitive performance. Therefore, this study assessed the effects of an acute HIT session on selective attention and short-term memory tasks. 22 healthy middle-aged individuals (M age = 53.7 yr.) engaged in both (1) a HIT session, 10 1 min. cycling bouts at the intensity corresponding to 80% of the reserve heart rate interspersed by 1 min. active pauses cycling at 60% of the reserve heart rate and (2) a control session, consisting of an active condition with low-intensity active stretching exercise. Before and after each experimental session, cognitive performance was assessed by the Victoria Version of the Stroop test (a selective attention test) and the Digit Span test (a short-term memory test). Following the HIT session, the time to complete the Stroop “Color word” test was significantly lower when compared with that of the control session. The performances in the other subtasks of the Stroop test as well as in the Digit Span test were not significantly different. A HIT session can improve cognitive function.
Intramembranous and Mesotympanic Cholesteatomas Associated with an Intact Tympanic Membrane in Children

A series of 15 intramembranous (IMTC) and mesotympanic (MTC) cholesteatomas associated with intact tympanic membranes in children is presented. Clinical observations, audiometric and radiographic data, and surgical findings are correlated. A history of recurrent otitis media was obtained in 85% (13/15) of the cases, differentiating them from the usual congenital cholesteatomas. The possibility that many of these are indeed “acquired” lesions is emphasized. Hypothetical pathogenetic mechanisms are discussed. The basal cell papillary proliferation theory is considered the most attractive explanation of the development of both IMTCs and MTCs. The need for careful, prolonged, follow-up otoscopic examination of children with recurrent otitis media is stressed, if more of these lesions are to be recognized early.
Development of catecholamine systems in the brain of the lizard Gallotia galloti

For a better insight into general and derived traits of developmental aspects of catecholaminergic (CA) systems in amniotes, we have studied the development of these systems in the brain of a lizard, Gallotia galloti, with tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)‐ and dopamine (DA) immunohistochemical techniques. Two main groups of TH‐immunoreactive (THi) perikarya appear very early in development: one group in the midbrain which gives rise to the future ventral tegmental area, substantia nigra and retrorubral cell groups, and another group in the tuberomammillary hypothalamus. Somewhat later in development, TH/DA‐immunoreactive cells are observed in the thalamus, rostrodorsal hypothalamus and spinal cord, and, with another delay, in the suprachiasmatic nucleus, the periventricular organ, and the pretectal posterodorsal nucleus. CA cell groups that appear rather late in development include the cells in the olfactory bulb, the locus coeruleus and the caudal brainstem. As expected, the development of immunoreactive fibers stays behind that of the cell bodies, but reaches the adult‐like pattern just prior to hatching.
Morphological and hormonal changes in the ventral and dorsolateral prostatic lobes of rats treated with finasteride, a 5‐Alpha reductase Inhibitor

In rats, the prostate is divided into three distinct lobes, and the lobes are dependent on androgens [testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT)] as trophic hormones. However, the reasons for the difference in the incidence of proliferative changes reported are not well‐understood. Administration of finasteride, a 5‐alpha reductase (5αR) inhibitor which selectively inhibits the conversion of T to DHT, results in elevated intraprostatic T levels. However, long‐term (2 years) administration of finasteride results in no increase in proliferative changes in the ventral lobes of the rat prostate. Therefore, studies were designed to determine the differences in intraprostatic hormonal levels, morphology, and 5αR activity in different lobes of the rat prostate.
Distribution transformer load modeling with interval Type-2 Fuzzy Sets

In this paper we present a novel way of modeling the transformer load variation using Fuzzy Sets. A standard rural distribution transformer load variation that is uncertain over a period of 24-hour duration is modeled as fuzzy trapezoidal membership functions (Type-1). Here we have considered a rural distribution feeder as our test system, for which total kVA duration curves are measured for each day of a month, from which the kVA loading at each node is obtained based on the kVA ratings of the respective transformers at that nodes. The total one month trapezoidal membership functions (Type-1 trapezoidal membership functions for a single day) together are represented as Interval Type-2 Trapezoidal membership function, so that the uncertainties in the load variations at the transformer are taken into consideration. The proposed transformer load modeling and measures of uncertainty of type-2 fuzzy set helps the system planner to study the distribution system voltage profile, power losses and power flow variations under uncertain load variation conditions.
The effect of bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccination at birth on tuberculin skin test reactivity in Ugandan children.

SETTING In Uganda, bacille-Calmette Guerin (BCG) vaccination coverage at birth is between 82 and 84%. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of neonatal BCG vaccination on tuberculin skin test positivity in Ugandan children exposed to infectious cases. DESIGN As part of an ongoing prevalence study of household contacts of new tuberculosis cases, 365 children were evaluated to determine if BCG vaccination at birth had an impact on tuberculin skin testing. The children were classified as contacts (179) and non-contacts (186) depending on the presence of a sputum acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear-positive adult tuberculosis case in the household. RESULTS Regardless of prior BCG vaccination, children exposed to a smear-positive adult were more likely to have a positive skin test (purified protein derivative >5mm) (68% versus 36%, P < 0.01). BCG-vaccinated children below 1 year of age without a known household contact with active tuberculosis had a lower frequency of tuberculin skin reactions (29%) compared to their counterparts in the contact households (65%, P = 0.031). CONCLUSION BCG vaccination at birth had no important effect on the interpretation of the tuberculin skin test reactivity in this group of Ugandan children. The tuberculin skin test remains a valuable tool for the evaluation of household contacts and suspected cases of tuberculosis in BCG-vaccinated children.
[Effects of electroacupuncture of "Futu" (LI 18), etc. on pain behavior and expression of GABA receptor subunit genes in cervical spinal cord in rats with thyroid regional pain].

OBJECTIVE To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at different acupoints on the expression of gamma aminobutyric (GABA) receptor (R) subunit genes in the cervical spinal cord in rats with thyroid regional inflammatory pain so as to analyze its analgesic mechanism for thyroid surgery. METHODS A total of 50 Wistar rats were randomized into control, model, Futu (LI 18), Hegu (LI 4)-Neiguan (PC 6, LI 4-PC 6), Zusanli (ST 36)-Yanglingquan (GB 34, ST 36-GB 34) groups, with 10 rats in each group. Thyroid regional pain model was established by subcutaneous injection of 2.5% formalin (100 microL). Ten minutes after modeling, EA (2 Hz/15 Hz, 1 mA) was applied to LI 18, LI 4-PC 6 and ST 36-GB 34 for 30 min, respectively. The animals' face-grooming (FG) times in 5 min and thermal pain threshold (paw withdrawal latency, PWL) were recorded. The expression of GABA(A) R, GABA(B) R1, and GABA(B) R2 genes in the cervical 1-3 segments of the spinal cord 80 min after modeling was detected by using reversed transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Histological changes of the tissues of the thyroid region were observed by using H. E. staining. RESULTS After subcutaneous injection of formalin, the animals' FG times in 5 min were increased considerably and the thermal pain threshold was decreased obviously in the model group (P < 0.05). Concomitantly, the expression levels of GABA(B) R1, and GABA(B) R2 genes of the cervical spinal cord were upregulated significantly in the model group (P < 0.05), and GABA(A) R expression was increased slightly (P > 0.05). Compared with the model group, the FG times in 5 min in the LI 18 and LI 4-PC 6 groups at 40 min and 70 min after modeling were decreased significantly (P < 0.05), and their thermal pain threshold values were increased markedly (P < 0.05). The expression levels of GABA(B) R1 mRNA, GABA(B) R2 mRNA and GABAA R mRNA were significantly higher in the LI 18 and LI 4-PC 6 groups than in the model group (P < 0.05). The expression level of GABA(B) R1 mRNA of the ST 36-GB 34 group was obviously higher than that of the model group (P < 0.05). The inflammatory cells in the formalin-injected thyroid region were relatively fewer in the LI 18 and LI 4-PC 6 groups than in the model group. CONCLUSION Both EA of LI 18 and LI 4-PC 6 can significantly suppress formalin-injection induced pain reactions in the thyroid region, which may be closely associated with its effects in upregulating expression levels of cervico-spinal GABA(B) R1 mRNA, GABA(B) R2 mRNA and GABA(A) R mRNA, and reduce regional inflammatory reactions in the thyroid region.
Konsumsi Energi Dan Pembangunan Ekonomi Di Asia Tenggara/Energy Consumption and Economic Development in South East Asia

Economic development in the SouthEast Asia, which is at the stage of industrialization, has high dependency on energy consumption. This paper examines the relationship between energy consumption and economic development in the region. Using cross-sectional data, this study find the relationship between energy demand ­and per capita GDP, population and industrial share of output. Oil contributes 80% to energy consumption followed by electricity and natural gas. The result also shows no evidence of relationship between economic crisis and energy consumption. It suggest diversification of energy use and promoting more efficient alternative energy source to increase economic growth.
Band-Specific Shearlet-Based Hyperspectral Image Noise Reduction

Hyperspectral images (HSIs) can be very noisy, and the amount of noise may differ from band to band. While some spectral bands may be dominated by low signal-independent noise levels, others have mixed noise levels, which may include high levels of Gaussian, Poisson, and Spike noises. When a denoising algorithm is globally applied to the whole data set, it usually affects the low-noise bands adversely. Therefore, it is better to use different criteria for denoising different bands. In this paper, we propose a new denoising strategy to do so. The method is based on a 2-D nonsubsampled shearlet transform, applied to each spectral band of the HSI. We propose an effective method to distinguish between bands with low levels of Gaussian noise (LGN bands) and bands with mixed noise (MN bands) based on spectral correlation. LGN bands are denoised using a thresholding technique on the shearlet coefficients. On the MN bands, a local noise reduction method is applied, in which the detail shearlet coefficients of adjacent LGN bands are employed. This targeted approach is prone to reduce spectral distortions during denoising compared with global denoising methods. This advantage is shown in experiments where the proposed method is compared with state-of-the-art denoising methods on synthetic and real hyperspectral data sets. To assess the effect of denoising, classification and spectral unmixing tasks are applied to the denoised data. Obtained results show the superiority of the proposed approach.
An intuitionistic fuzzy possibilistic C-means clustering based on genetic algorithm

In fuzzy clustering algorithm, fuzzy possibilistic C-means clustering algorithm (FPCM) is widely used. However, the method is sensitive to its parameters and the clustering accuracy and robustness is poor. In order to overcome the above problems, this paper presents an intuitionistic fuzzy possibilistic C-means clustering based on genetic algorithm (IFPCM-GA). IFPCM-GA does not only retain the advantages of FPCM, but also uses a kernel function to replace the Euclidean distance to enhance the robustness of the algorithm. We get an intuitionistic fuzzy possibilistic C-means clustering algorithm (IFPCM) by using the intuitionistic fuzzy set theory to the fuzzy possibilistic C-means clustering algorithm induced by kernel metric. Taking into account the hesitation degree of data, IFPCM can obtain a more accurate membership matrix and cluster centers to enhance the clustering performance. IFPCM-GA uses genetic algorithm to search the optimal parameters of IFPCM, which can avoid the poor clustering results. The experimental results show that IFPCM-GA has a strong robustness and can obtain more accurate clustering results compared with the existing algorithms.
Exploring the Trust Question in the Midst of Public Management Reforms

This article explored the dynamics of interpersonal trust relationship between political appointees and career managers. Premised on the contemporary public management reforms at the state level, the article found a relatively limited level of interpersonal trust from the perspectives of career managers, and that correlated positively with managerial variables such as flexibility of discretion, participatory management, communication, and commitment. A simple regression analysis, complemented with qualitative data analysis, revealed that managerial variables such as flexibility of discretion, communication, and length of service have significant implications for a trustful relationship between political officeholders and career public managers, accounting for 52% of the variance in the regression model. Juxtaposing the states that have adopted radical civil service reforms and those with moderate reforms, the article found that career managers operating under the two models did not express significant difference in terms of interpersonal trust in their relationship with political appointees.
Electromagnetic Scattering from a 2-D Array of 3-D Metallic Objects

We present a formulation of a space-domain integral-equation (IE) method for the analysis of three-dimensional (3-D) metallic objects within a periodic two-dimensional (2-D) triangular lattice. The computation of the space-domain Green's function (GF) is accelerated using the Ewald transformation. The method can be applied to a wide variety of free-standing metallic periodic structures, including planar frequency-selective surfaces, three-dimensional photonic crystals, and metamaterials
Union Politics, Market‐Oriented Reforms, and the Reshaping of Argentine Corporatism

In the 1980s and 1990s, Argentina joined the wave of Latin American countries initiating programs of economic stabilization and structural reform. In 1989, in the midst of a hyperinflationary crisis, Argentina's second democratic administration since the transition of 1983 took office. President Raul Alfonsin from the Radical party was replaced by President Carlos Menem from the labor-based Peronist party. President Menem reversed previous Peronist economic policy preferences for government economic intervention, expansionary policies, and import substitution industrialization by committing his administration to economic stabilization and a structural reform of the Argentine economy. The Argentine union movement had cemented its historic allegiance with the Peronist party on those previous policies, which included protectionism and Keynesian demand management, labor-based social benefits, and state regulation of the labor market favoring the organization of labor. The withdrawal of the state from economic activities, coupled with the policy shifts of the Peronist party, constitutes a fundamental challenge for the Argentine union movement. This chapter focuses on union strategies to respond to the reshaping of state institutions affecting union constituencies, organizational structures, and relations with the Peronist party during the first administration of President Menem (July 1989—July 1995). The diverse strategies pursued by Argentine unions to face these challenges included opposition, loyalty, and organizational autonomy—of which the latter was most innovative. The main argument of the chapter is that the strategy of organizational autonomy was a direct response to the new distribution of union power resources (industrial, political, and organizational). These resources resulted from the new political and economic conditions that accompanied the
A Novel IgM‐capture enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay using recombinant Vag8 fusion protein for the accurate and early diagnosis of Bordetella pertussis infection

An ELISA that measures anti‐PT IgG antibody has been used widely for the serodiagnosis of pertussis; however, the IgG‐based ELISA is inadequate for patients during the acute phase of the disease because of the slow response of anti‐PT IgG antibodies. To solve this problem, we developed a novel IgM‐capture ELISA that measures serum anti‐Bordetella pertussis Vag8 IgM levels for the accurate and early diagnosis of pertussis. First, we confirmed that Vag8 was highly expressed in all B. pertussis isolates tested (n = 30), but little or none in other Bordetella species, and that DTaP vaccines did not induce anti‐Vag8 IgG antibodies in mice (i.e. the antibody level could be unaffected by the vaccination). To determine the immune response to Vag8 in B. pertussis infection, anti‐Vag8 IgM levels were compared between 38 patients (acute phase of pertussis) and 29 healthy individuals using the anti‐Vag8 IgM‐capture ELISA. The results revealed that the anti‐Vag8 IgM levels were significantly higher in the patients compared with the healthy individuals (P < 0.001). ROC analysis also showed that the anti‐Vag8 IgM‐capture ELISA has higher diagnostic accuracy (AUC, 0.92) than a commercial anti‐PT IgG ELISA kit. Moreover, it was shown that anti‐Vag8 IgM antibodies were induced earlier than anti‐PT IgG antibodies on sequential patients’ sera. These data indicate that our novel anti‐Vag8 IgM‐capture ELISA is a potentially useful tool for making the accurate and early diagnosis of B. pertussis infection.