Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Long-Term Follow-Up of the Fellow Eye in Patients Undergoing Surgery on One Eye for Treating Myopic Traction Maculopathy

Objective. To observe the fellow eye in patients undergoing surgery on one eye for treating myopic traction maculopathy. Methods. 99 fellow eyes of consecutive patients who underwent unilateral surgery to treat MTM were retrospectively evaluated. All patients underwent thorough ophthalmologic examinations, including age, gender, duration of follow-up, refraction, axial length, intraocular pressure, lens status, presence/absence of a staphyloma, and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). Fundus photographs and SD-OCT images were obtained. When feasible, MP-1 microperimetry was performed to evaluate macular sensitivity and fixation stability. Results. At an average follow-up time of 24.7 months, 7% fellow eyes exhibited partial or complete MTM resolution, 68% stabilized, and 25% exhibited progression of MTM. Of the 38 eyes with “normal” macular structure on initial examination, 11% exhibited disease progression. The difference in progression rates in Groups 2, 3, and 4 was statistically significant. Refraction, axial length, the frequency of a posterior staphyloma, chorioretinal atrophy, initial BCVA, final BCVA, and retinal sensitivity all differed significantly among Groups 1–4. Conclusions. Long axial length, chorioretinal atrophy, a posterior staphyloma, and anterior traction contribute to MTM development. Patients with high myopia and unilateral MTM require regular OCT monitoring of the fellow eye to assess progression to myopic pre-MTM. For cases exhibiting one or more potential risk factors, early surgical intervention may maximize the visual outcomes.
Knockdown of Cytosolic Glutaredoxin 1 Leads to Loss of Mitochondrial Membrane Potential: Implication in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Mitochondrial dysfunction including that caused by oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Glutaredoxin 1 (Grx1), a cytosolic thiol disulfide oxido-reductase, reduces glutathionylated proteins to protein thiols and helps maintain redox status of proteins during oxidative stress. Grx1 downregulation aggravates mitochondrial dysfunction in animal models of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's and motor neuron disease. We examined the mechanism underlying the regulation of mitochondrial function by Grx1. Downregulation of Grx1 by shRNA results in loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), which is prevented by the thiol antioxidant, α-lipoic acid, or by cyclosporine A, an inhibitor of mitochondrial permeability transition. The thiol groups of voltage dependent anion channel (VDAC), an outer membrane protein in mitochondria but not adenosine nucleotide translocase (ANT), an inner membrane protein, are oxidized when Grx1 is downregulated. We then examined the effect of β-N-oxalyl amino-L-alanine (L-BOAA), an excitatory amino acid implicated in neurolathyrism (a type of motor neuron disease), that causes mitochondrial dysfunction. Exposure of cells to L-BOAA resulted in loss of MMP, which was prevented by overexpression of Grx1. Grx1 expression is regulated by estrogen in the CNS and treatment of SH-SY5Y cells with estrogen upregulated Grx1 and protected from L-BOAA mediated MMP loss. Our studies demonstrate that Grx1, a cytosolic oxido-reductase, helps maintain mitochondrial integrity and prevents MMP loss caused by oxidative insult. Further, downregulation of Grx1 leads to mitochondrial dysfunction through oxidative modification of the outer membrane protein, VDAC, providing support for the critical role of Grx1 in maintenance of MMP.
HIV/AIDS epidemic in Turkey and use of antiretroviral drugs for treating pregnant women and preventing HIV infection in infants

Objective: To evaluate changes in epidemiologic characteristics for HIV/AIDS in Turkey since 1985, management of HIV-positive pregnancies, and how new-borns and infants would be protected by anti-viral therapy (AVT). Materials and Methods: The World Health Organization (WHO) progress reports, 2013 UNAIDS Global AIDS epidemic reports, Turkish Ministry of Health HIV/AIDS reports, and distribution tables that we published for specific time frames (1985-2013) according to sex, age, age groups, and possible transmission routes were used and the groups were compared. Results: Although there were 35.3 (32.2-38.8) million people who were HIV(+) in the world as of 2013, only 9.7 million received AVTs. In Turkey, the total number of people with HIV/AIDS reported between 1985-2013 was 7050. There was a dramatic upward trend, with a peak in 2012 (n=1068). Sexually transmitted infection was the most common, and 4 drug use and blood transfusions showed a proportional increase. A total of 77 infections passed from mother to baby; seven cases have been reported in the last two years. Conclusion: Turkey is obliged to create an effective surveillance system for the prevention of HIV. The WHO proposed a new treatment protocol (option B+) in 2013 to prevent HIV mother-child transmission.
Cardiac Channelopathies and Sudden Death: Recent Clinical and Genetic Advances

Sudden cardiac death poses a unique challenge to clinicians because it may be the only symptom of an inherited heart condition. Indeed, inherited heart diseases can cause sudden cardiac death in older and younger individuals. Two groups of familial diseases are responsible for sudden cardiac death: cardiomyopathies (mainly hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy, and arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy) and channelopathies (mainly long QT syndrome, Brugada syndrome, short QT syndrome, and catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia). This review focuses on cardiac channelopathies, which are characterized by lethal arrhythmias in the structurally normal heart, incomplete penetrance, and variable expressivity. Arrhythmias in these diseases result from pathogenic variants in genes encoding cardiac ion channels or associated proteins. Due to a lack of gross structural changes in the heart, channelopathies are often considered as potential causes of death in otherwise unexplained forensic autopsies. The asymptomatic nature of channelopathies is cause for concern in family members who may be carrying genetic risk factors, making the identification of these genetic factors of significant clinical importance.
Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Subjective Cognitive Decline and Mild Cognitive Impairment and its Relation to Activities of Daily Living.

BACKGROUND Health related quality of life (HRQOL) is an important issue in the context of dementia care. OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to investigate HRQOL in patients with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and its relation to Activity of Daily Living (ADL). METHODS In this cross sectional study, four experimental groups (each n = 98), controls, SCD, naMCI and aMCI, were compared. For data collection, neuropsychological methods (NTBV) and psychological questionnaires (SF-36 and B-ADL) were used. Multivariate analysis of variance was calculated to detect differences in HRQOL between groups. Correlations between HRQOL and ADL were explored. RESULTS The dimensions of HRQOL showed mainly consistent differences between the control and the SCD group and MCI subgroups. In almost every dimension of HRQOL, the control group scored higher than subjects with SCD, naMCI, or aMCI. The controls showed low to moderate negative correlations between HQROL and B-ADL in some dimensions of the HRQOL. In the SCD group, low negative correlations with ADL were observed in some HRQOL scales. Low to moderate correlations were found between each scale of the SF-36 and the B-ADL in both MCI subtypes. We found gender differences in HRQOL. CONCLUSION In conclusion, we could demonstrate that patients with SCD report reduced quality of life. This knowledge is important to get a better understanding of the individuals with SCD and may pave the way for the development of early intervention.
Possible evidence for Abelian dominance in quark confinement.

Performing numerical simulations and Abelian projection in SU(2) QCD, we find that Wilson loops composed of a residual U(1) gauge field alone show a strong enhancement when the Abelian projection is done in a U(1)-covariant gauge. Remarkably, the Creutz ratios determined from the Abelian Wilson loops approach the scaling curve with $\sqrt{\ensuremath{\sigma}}\ensuremath{\sim}58{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}_{L}$. Nonrenormalizable unitary gauges do not show such interesting types of behavior.
Effects of the National Cholesterol Education Program's Step I and Step II dietary intervention programs on cardiovascular disease risk factors: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND Plasma lipid and lipoprotein responses have been variable in dietary intervention studies. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the National Cholesterol Education Program's Step I and Step II dietary interventions on major cardiovascular disease risk factors using meta-analysis. DESIGN MEDLINE was used to select 37 dietary intervention studies in free-living subjects published from 1981 to 1997. RESULTS Step I and Step II dietary interventions significantly decreased plasma lipids and lipoproteins. Plasma total cholesterol (TC), LDL cholesterol, triacylglycerol, and TC:HDL cholesterol decreased by 0.63 mmol/L (10%), 0.49 mmol/L (12%), 0.17 mmol/L (8%), and 0.50 (10%), respectively, in Step I intervention studies, and by 0.81 mmol/L (13%), 0.65 mmol/L (16%), 0.19 mmol/L (8%), and 0.34 (7%), respectively, in Step II intervention studies (P < 0.01 for all). HDL cholesterol decreased by 7% (P = 0.05) in response to Step II but not to Step I dietary interventions. Positive correlations between changes in dietary total and saturated fatty acids and changes in TC and LDL and HDL cholesterol were observed (r = 0.59, 0.61, and 0.46, respectively; P < 0.001). Multiple regression analyses showed that for every 1% decrease in energy consumed as dietary saturated fatty acid, TC decreased by 0.056 mmol/L and LDL cholesterol by 0.05 mmol/L. Moreover, for every 1-kg decrease in body weight, triacylglycerol decreased by 0.011 mmol/L and HDL cholesterol increased by 0.011 mmol/L. Exercise resulted in greater decreases in TC, LDL cholesterol, and triacylglycerol and prevented the decrease in HDL cholesterol associated with low-fat diets. CONCLUSION Step I and Step II dietary interventions have multiple beneficial effects on important cardiovascular disease risk factors.
The Variable Effects of Tie Strength and Social Resources

Drawing upon data from more than 5,000 dyads, the authors examine how the strength of employees’ intraorganizational ties and the social resources of their network members affect influence-conferring support, task support, and social support. The authors hypothesize that the effects of tie strength and social resources will vary with type of network support and theorize how three mechanisms—trust, risk, and redundancy—explain the differential effects of tie strength and social resources on intraorganizational support. Their findings highlight the variable effects of tie strength and social resources and illustrate the unique ways in which strong ties operate within work organizations.
ML frame synchronization for IEEE 802.11a WLANs on multipath Rayleigh fading channels

We develop a frame-synchronization algorithm for IEEE 802.11a WLANs on multipath Rayleigh fading channels based on the ML detection principle. It is found that the resulting test statistics can be realized by a rake-structure energy detector, with each branch extracting energy for a particular delay. Simulation results for channels with rms delay spreads of 50ns and 100ns show that the proposed algorithm, when compared to a convenient method that uses a simple correlator, provides more than an order-of-magnitude reduction in the probability of synchronization failure at high SNR conditions.
Handshake request motion model with an approaching human for a handshake robot system

Humans shake hands as a sign of greeting when they first meet one another to express a feeling of rapport. A handshake is an embodied interaction that involves physical contact. For interactions involving a human and a robot, if the robot generates a handshake motion that is emotionally acceptable to humans, it will lessen any feeling of aversion that the human has when initiating an interaction with the robot. Thus, in our previous study, a handshake request motion model was proposed, in which the robot generates a handshake approaching motion before actually shaking hands with the human. In this model, the robot stretches its hand out to a human to request a handshake. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the model was demonstrated by experiments using a handshake robot system when the human and robot remained stationary. However, in handshakes between two humans, one of them usually requests to shake hands with the other who approaches him or her in order to promote an embodied interaction. Therefore, in this paper, a handshake request motion model with an approaching human is proposed, based on an analysis of human handshake motions. In this model, the robot generates the request motion for a handshake when a human approaches the robot. Furthermore, a switching handshake control is developed where the robot generates either the request motion, or the response motion, for a handshake according to the motion of the approaching human. The effectiveness was demonstrated by a sensory evaluation.
The nonliner in MEMS touch mode capacitive devices

Capacitive touch MEMS devices have better performance and higher sensitivity than conventional capacitive MEMS device. Because the diaphragm of these capacitive MEMS device touches the substrate in the operation, it also can withstand large over distortion, thus it is very suitable for industrial applications. However, hysteresis has been observed on some devices, especially for high sensitivity devices, when the load is cycled. In fabrication experiments, it is found that the P+ diffused diaphragm is deformed after the Si-Si bonding and subsequent high temperature annealing. The fabricated P+ diaphragm of some Si-Si sensor buckles downward toward the substrate, with no applied distortion. From an analysis of fabrication processes and a finite element modeling study, it is suggested that the P+ diaphragm was deformed when no load is applied. When a positive load is applied, the diaphragm touches the substrate creating a “compression” stress in the touched section of the diaphragm and making this part of the diaphragm raised. The hysteresis observed is the result of this unstable diaphragm. This hypothesis can be used to calculate the size of hysteresis and explain some of the observed experimental results.
Variability of ultraluminous X-ray sources in the Cartwheel Ring

Abstract The Cartwheel is one of the most outstanding examples of a dynamically perturbed galaxy where star formation is occurring inside the ring–like structure. In previous studies with Chandra, we detected 16 Ultra Luminous X-ray sources lying along the southern portion of the ring. Their Luminosity Function is consistent with them being in the high luminosity tail of the High Mass X-ray Binaries distribution, but with one exception: source N.10. This source, detected with Chandra at LX = 1 × 1041 erg s−1, is among the brightest non–nuclear sources ever seen in external galaxies. Recently, we have observed the Cartwheel with XMM-Newton in two epochs, six months apart. After having been at its brightest for at least 4 years, the source has dimmed by at least a factor of two between the two observations. This fact implies that the source is compact in nature. Given its extreme isotropic luminosity, there is the possibility that the source hosts an accreting intermediate–mass black hole. Other sources in the ring vary in flux between the different datasets. We discuss our findings in the context of ULX models.
The Influence of Length and Level of Student Teaching on Pupil Control Ideology.

Dan R. Jones Southern Illinois University One pervasive effect of student teaching on the neophyte teacher is change. Not only do student teachers change in teaching competency, they changed in attitudes. One area of importance for all educators, and of great concern to student teachers, is control of the classroom. To the neophyte, the area of pupil control can be crucial to success in teaching and one's ideology towards pupil control may greatly influence a teacher's behavior. From a research perspective, the "pupil control ideology" (PCI) of a teacher, both inservice and preservice, can be assessed by means of an attitude instrument. Repeated measurements using the "PCI Form" of Willower, et al. (1967) can show changes over time in a teacher's orientation towards pupil control ideology.
International consensus guidance for management of myasthenia gravis

Objective: To develop formal consensus-based guidance for the management of myasthenia gravis (MG). Methods: In October 2013, the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America appointed a Task Force to develop treatment guidance for MG, and a panel of 15 international experts was convened. The RAND/UCLA appropriateness methodology was used to develop consensus guidance statements. Definitions were developed for goals of treatment, minimal manifestations, remission, ocular MG, impending crisis, crisis, and refractory MG. An in-person panel meeting then determined 7 treatment topics to be addressed. Initial guidance statements were developed from literature summaries. Three rounds of anonymous e-mail votes were used to attain consensus on guidance statements modified on the basis of panel input. Results: Guidance statements were developed for symptomatic and immunosuppressive treatments, IV immunoglobulin and plasma exchange, management of impending and manifest myasthenic crisis, thymectomy, juvenile MG, MG associated with antibodies to muscle-specific tyrosine kinase, and MG in pregnancy. Conclusion: This is an international formal consensus of MG experts intended to be a guide for clinicians caring for patients with MG worldwide.
Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatotoxicity: a Comprehensive Update

Abstract Hepatic injury and subsequent hepatic failure due to both intentional and non-intentional overdose of acetaminophen (APAP) has affected patients for decades, and involves the cornerstone metabolic pathways which take place in the microsomes within hepatocytes. APAP hepatotoxicity remains a global issue; in the United States, in particular, it accounts for more than 50% of overdose-related acute liver failure and approximately 20% of the liver transplant cases. The pathophysiology, disease course and management of acute liver failure secondary to APAP toxicity remain to be precisely elucidated, and adverse patient outcomes with increased morbidity and mortality continue to occur. Although APAP hepatotoxicity follows a predictable timeline of hepatic failure, its clinical presentation might vary. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) therapy is considered as the mainstay therapy, but liver transplantation might represent a life-saving procedure for selected patients. Future research focus in this field may benefit from shifting towards obtaining antidotal knowledge at the molecular level, with focus on the underlying molecular signaling pathways.
A GF(24m) Inverter and its Application in a Reconfigurable Tate Pairing Processor

This paper details an architecture for performing inversion in the field GF(24m), which is the field used in computing the Tate pairing on characteristic 2 supersingular elliptic curves. The inverter architecture is then used to improve the performance of a reconfigurable Tate pairing hardware accelerator. Implementation results for the improved processor on an FPGA are presented and compared to those of the basic processor without the inverter
Scanning laser ophthalmoscopy of the optic nerve head in exfoliation glaucoma and ocular hypertension with exfoliation syndrome

AIMS To study the relation between optic nerve head topography (Heidelberg retina tomograph, HRT) and disc area, visual field index mean defect (MD), and intraocular pressure (IOP), and to see whether change in HRT parameters is associated with change in MD in a prospective follow up. METHODS 80 consecutive patients (69 patients with exfoliation glaucoma and 11 with ocular hypertension combined with exfoliation syndrome) were examined before IOP reducing intervention and prospectively followed every 6 months for 2 years. RESULTS At the entry point, multiple regression analysis showed significant linear association between MD and all HRT parameters, when controlling for disc area. Disc area showed significant association with cup area, cup/disc area ratio, rim area, cup volume, and mean RNFL thickness. Six months after intervention IOP had decreased significantly. Reversible changes in cup area, cup/disc area ratio, rim area, cup volume, rim volume, mean cup depth, and maximum cup depth were associated with decrease in IOP. During the follow up period from 6 month to 2 years, IOP did not change significantly, and MD was used as a measure of progression of glaucoma. During this period, only cup shape measure among HRT parameters showed significant association with subsequent change in MD. CONCLUSION Disc area should be taken into account when using HRT to compare patients. Any effect of change in IOP should be also taken into account when using HRT in follow up. Cup shape measure is a promising indicator of progression of glaucomatous damage.
Spectroscopic Evaluation of the Atomic Size

A new algorithm for evaluating the atomic size is suggested by entailing the atomic spectroscopic data-the wave number. The basic tenet of the present method is (i) to convert a multi-electron atom system to a hydrogenic atom to invoke the Bohr model for the mechanism of electron transition, and (ii) to use the experimental atomic spectroscopic data of multi electron systems to determine the atomic radii. The estimated set of size data appears to satisfy the entire 'sine qua non' of sizes of atoms of the periodic table. Relativistic effect appears to have been significantly included in the suggested algorithm for evaluating the atomic radii. The express periodicity of periods and groups of periodic table exhibited by the computed atomic radii, d and f block contraction and the manifestation of the relativistic effect in the sizes of lanthanoids and actinoids etc speak volume of the efficacy of the present method in computing atomic size. Furthermore, as a validity test, the size data evaluated in the present work have been exploited to calculate some physical descriptors of the real world like equilibrium inter nuclear distances of a good number of hetero nuclear diatomics. We have noted the surprisingly close agreement between the theoretical and the experimental equilibrium inter-nuclear distances.