Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
COMPARISON OF SPECTRAL/FOURIER DOMAIN OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY INSTRUMENTS FOR ASSESSMENT OF NORMAL MACULAR THICKNESS

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to report normal macular thickness measurements and assess reproducibility of retinal thickness measurements acquired by a time-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) (Stratus, Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc., Dublin, CA) and three commercially available spectral/Fourier domain OCT instruments (Cirrus HD-OCT, Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc.; RTVue-100, Optovue, Inc., Fremont, CA; 3D OCT-1000, Topcon, Inc., Paramus, NJ). Methods: Forty randomly selected eyes of 40 normal, healthy volunteers were imaged. Subjects were scanned twice during 1 visit and a subset of 25 was scanned again within 8 weeks. Retinal thickness measurements were automatically generated by OCT software and recorded after manual correction. Regression and Bland–Altman plots were used to compare agreement between instruments. Reproducibility was analyzed by using intraclass correlation coefficients, and incidence of artifacts was determined. Results: Macular thickness measurements were found to have high reproducibility across all instruments with intraclass correlation coefficients values ranging 84.8% to 94.9% for Stratus OCT, 92.6% to 97.3% for Cirrus Cube, 76.4% to 93.7% for RTVue MM5, 61.1% to 96.8% for MM6, 93.1% to 97.9% for 3D OCT-1000 radial, and 31.5% to 97.5% for 3D macular scans. Incidence of artifacts was higher in spectral/Fourier domain instruments, ranging from 28.75% to 53.16%, compared with 17.46% in Stratus OCT. No significant age or sex trends were found in the measurements. Conclusion: Commercial spectral/Fourier domain OCT instruments provide higher speed and axial resolution than the Stratus OCT, although they vary greatly in scanning protocols and are currently limited in their analysis functions. Further development of segmentation algorithms and quantitative features are needed to assist clinicians in objective use of these newer instruments to manage diseases.
Azole antifungal agents: emphasis on new triazoles

Many advances have been made in antifungal therapy over the last three decades. Itraconazole and fluconazole, two investigational triazole agents, are the most recent additions to the list of antifungal drugs. This review has focused primarily on their mechanisms of action, favorable pharmacologic properties, and spectra of activity against a broad range of systemic pathogens. Itraconazole and fluconazole show much promise as orally active agents, with less potential for toxicity than the currently available azoles. Fluconazole and, to a lesser degree, itraconazole are especially promising therapies for cryptococcal meningitis. In addition, fluconazole may prove to be highly effective in urinary tract infections caused by Candida species and other fungi. Ongoing and future clinical trials will more clearly define the specific roles of itraconazole and fluconazole in the treatment of systemic mycoses.
Book Review: Understanding Girl Bullying and What to Do about It: Strategies to Help Heal the Divide

F or over a decade, the term “relational aggression” has become a buzzword to describe covert bullying behaviors among females. Relational aggression is defined as behaviors that intend to harm a girl’s friendships or feelings of belonging in a particular peer group (Crick & Grotpeter, 1995). The goal of relational aggression is to punish a girl for a perceived friendship “violation,” and social power and influence are its key components. Social aggression is a separate yet intertwined phenomenon. According to Understanding Girl Bullying and What to Do About It, social aggression “describes those behaviors that seek to harm a person’s social status through attacking her social or sexual reputation” (p. 10). The difference between relational aggression and social aggression is that relational aggression may occur between as few as two girls, the perpetrator and the victim, and social aggression involves a larger peer group. The book’s authors argue that when social aggression and relational aggression are not addressed, girls are distracted by their emotional discomfort, are less available to participate in classroom activities, are cut off from friendships or peer support, and are less ready to benefit from the positive social context of school (p. 59). The authors, Julaine E. Field, Jered B. Kolbert, Laura M. Crothers, and Tammy L. Hughes, focus on girls because they believe that females possess a different orientation toward friendships than males (i.e., more emotional intensity). Also, the authors distinguish between bullying behaviors and personality traits associated with girls who perpetrate bullying (“mean girls”). They discuss the use of bullying as a coping mechanism, not as a static state of being. The authors state, The salient issue is that relational and social aggression, just like physical aggression, can interfere with a student’s ability to feel safe at school and thus interferes with their ability to feel connected to others in the school climate, focus on academic content, or thrive in the learning environment. (p. 58)
Aesthetics in OR/Systems Practice: Towards a Concept of Critical Imagination as a Challenge to Systems Thinking

The need to take into account aesthetic values in systems/OR practice is more relevant today where there is an increase in the complexity of the situation where choices need to be made and/or issues surrounding a decision(s) need to be deliberated and considered in the context of multiple perspectives. This paper will introduce the concept of aesthetic in relation to the processes of systems and OR. It will draw on a few case studies and will pay particular attention to the space, values and artefacts uncovered in interventions. The paper will also include an introduction to a mode of understanding of systems and OR practice called critical imagination. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Emerging Roles of the EBF Family of Transcription Factors in Tumor Suppression

Alterations in various developmental pathways are common themes in cancer. The early B-cell factors (EBF) are a family of four highly conserved DNA-binding transcription factors with an atypical zinc-finger and helix-loop-helix motif. They are involved in the differentiation and maturation of several cell lineages including B-progenitor lymphoblasts, neuronal precursors, and osteoblast progenitors. During B-cell development, EBF1 is required for the expression of Pax5, an essential factor for the production of antibody-secreting cells. Accumulating evidence indicates that genomic deletion of the EBF1 gene contributes to the pathogenesis, drug resistance, and relapse of B-progenitor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Epigenetic silencing and genomic deletion of the EBF3 locus in chromosome 10q are very frequent in glioblastoma (GBM). Strikingly, the frequency of EBF3 loss in GBM is similar to that of the loss of Pten, a key suppressor of gliomagenesis. Cancer-specific somatic mutations were detected in EBF3 in GBM and in both EBF1 and EBF3 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. These missense mutations occur in the DNA-binding domain or the conserved IPT/TIG domain, suggesting that they might disrupt the functions of these two proteins. Functional studies revealed that EBF3 represses the expression of genes required for cell proliferation [e.g., cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK)] and survival (e.g., Mcl-1 and Daxx) but activates those involved in cell cycle arrest (e.g., p21 and p27), leading to growth suppression and apoptosis. Therefore, EBFs represent new tumor suppressors whose inactivation blocks normal development and contributes to tumorigenesis of diverse types of human cancer. (Mol Cancer Res 2009;7(12):1893–901)
Humanism Within Globalization

The complexity of adult learning connects it to almost all other facets of human endeavor. Consequently, the future of adult education depends, to a large extent on who participates and the quality of such participation. Quality participation, when teamed with environments committed to a concern for humanity, launches opportunities for varied distribution of power and is thus a catalyst for individual growth, change, and development. Analyzing who participates in adult learning, why they can or cannot participate, and what happens when they actually do, offers an examination of factors that ultimately contribute to overall participation in adult learning environments.
Visual odometry and mapping for Underwater Autonomous Vehicles

The use of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) for underwater tasks is a promising robotic field. These robots can carry visual inspection cameras. Besides serving the activities of inspection and mapping, the captured images can also be used to aid navigation and localization of the robots. Visual odometry is the process of determining the position and orientation of a robot by analyzing the associated camera images. It has been used in a wide variety of non-standard locomotion robotic methods. In this context, this paper proposes an approach to visual odometry and mapping of underwater vehicles. Supposing the use of inspection cameras, this proposal is composed of two stages: i) the use of computer vision for visual odometry, extracting landmarks in underwater image sequences and ii) the development of topological maps for localization and navigation. The integration of such systems will allow visual odometry, localization and mapping of the environment. A set of tests with real robots was accomplished, regarding online and performance issues. The results reveals an accuracy and robust approach to several underwater conditions, as illumination and noise, leading to a promissory and original visual odometry and mapping technique.
La gestion corporative au sommet des gouvernements: la pratique canadienne

Pour coordonner l’action, reduire les luttes bureaucratiques, favoriser l’implantation efficace de l’agenda gouvernemental, les gouvernements tendent a utiliser des dispositifs plus collaboratifs et holistiques. Le Canada, dans son administration federale et dans ses provinces, a implante des dispositifs relativement integres de gestion corporative de ses hauts fonctionnaires et de leur action. A partir d’entretiens et discussions, l’article presente les trois types de dispositifs utilises (un secretariat aux emplois superieurs rattache au Chef du gouvernement, un systeme organisationnel integre et le developpement d’une culture communautaire), lesquels articulent le developpement, l’accueil, l’integration et le support des hauts dirigeants, les reunions strategiques, de coordination et d’apprentissage pour l’ensemble du groupe ainsi que les dispositifs individualises de GRH. Malgre ses obstacles et ses risques, l’ensemble des interesses conclue que ce modele est juge, dans le contexte canadien performant et satisfaisant.Remarques a l’intention des praticiensLe fonctionnement en silos constitue une des tares les plus courantes que decrivent les professionnelsquipratiquentauseindesadministrations.Onreprocheaussiauxgouvernements de ne pas emettre de plans d’orientation et d’action qui soient clairs et de ne pas assurer la coordination suffisante au somment de l’Etat. Le gouvernement federal du Canada et la plupart des provinces ont mis sur pied un systeme de gestion corporative qui semble durer et porter ses fruits eu egard aux trois difficultes sus-mentionnees. Cet article decrit et analyse les perspectives de developpement de ce dispositif qui encadre les plus hauts dirigeants et cherche a organiser positivement leur collaboration.
DOES CUSTOMER SATISFACTION LEAD TO CUSTOMER LOYALTY IN BANKING SECTOR

The relationship between customer satisfaction and customer loyalty has been studied in different industries across various geographical settings. Nevertheless the results of empirical studies in banking sector seem to be some hove controversial. Therefore the aim of our study was to research whether customer satisfaction affects customer loyalty in banking sector. The survey was implemented between Slovene users of banking services. Data was analyzed with SPSS.20. The results show that customer satisfaction leads to customer loyalty. Managerial implications are introduced at the end of the article as well as limitations of the study stressed in light of open questions for future research.
Inverter Switching Frequency Effects on the Rotor Losses of an Axial-Flux Solid-Rotor Core Induction Motor

The influence of the switching frequency of an inverter on the performance of rotor losses of an axial-flux (AF) solid-rotor core induction motor is studied. Inverter supply is known to create additional power losses in an induction machine over those occurring with grid supply. Inverter output creates an amount of losses especially in solid-rotor motors. Power loss measurements at no-load conditions are considered with the switching frequency from 1 kHz up to 12 kHz. Different rotor losses due to the switching frequency by pulse width modulation (PWM) inverter are considered by two dimensional (2D) finite element (FE) calculations. Measured stator current waveforms were used as inputs in the 2D finite element analysis (FEA) where the rotor losses were calculated. It is seen that the additional losses are about inversely proportional to the switching frequency between 1 - 6 kHz and after that constant. Both measurements and 2D FEM analysis support the observation.
European consensus statement on the terminology used in the management of lupus glomerulonephritis

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex, multisystem autoimmune disorder, which often involves referral to multiple medical specialists. Lupus nephritis (LN) occurs in ~35% of adults with SLE and predicts poor survival. There is currently no consensus on how to manage patients with SLE or LN across specialties and across different European countries. The Lupus Nephritis Terminology Advisory Group was formed to address this issue as it impacts upon LN treatment. It has developed consensus statements based on opinions from expert panel meetings with nephrologists, nephropathologists, rheumatologists, clinical immunologists and internal medicine specialists from many European countries, after reviewing current guidelines from the European League Against Rheumatism, the American College of Rheumatology and the participants’ experience. In this article, we report consensus statements that were developed in six important areas: classification of patients with LN, how classification affects the selection of treatment options and definitions of induction, response, flare and maintenance. We have also proposed a consensus for the terminology involved in the management of LN that is consistent with clinical opinion gathered from multidisciplinary expert meetings and with existing guidelines. We believe this consensus approach provides agreed expert opinion to clinicians and will form the basis for optimising LN treatment.
Specific ion effects at the air/water interface.

Aqueous ion-containing interfaces are ubiquitous and play a key role in a plethora of physical, chemical, atmospheric, and biological processes, from which we mention just a few illustrative examples: (i) Ions at the air/water interface are important for atmospheric chemistry involving ocean surfaces and seawater aerosols, 1-5 as well as that of the Arctic snowpack covered by sea spray. 6,7 (ii) Many salts (such as NaCl) tend to inhibit bubble coalescence, 8-12 which is one of the reasons why foam is formed when waves break in the ocean but not in freshwater lakes. (iii) Brine rejection occurring at the seawater/ice interface has profound climatic effects in polar regions. 13 (iv) The aqueous electrolyte/metal interface is involved in electrode and corrosion processes. 14,15
The cardiovascular effects of upper-limb aerobic exercise in hypertensive patients

Background Aerobic exercise is broadly recommended as a helpful adjunct to obtain blood pressure control in hypertension. Several hypertensive patients, however, are limited by musculoskeletal complaints or vascular occlusive disease from lower-limb exercise such as jogging or cycling. In the present randomized-controlled study, we evaluate whether an aerobic arm-cycling program provides a measurable cardiovascular benefit. Methods Twenty-four probands were randomly assigned to sedentary activity or a heart rate controlled 12 week exercise program, consisting of arm-cycling at target lactate concentrations of 2.0 ± 0.5 mmol/l. Endothelial function was assessed by flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery. Augmentation index and large/small artery compliance (C1 and C2) were measured by computerized pulse-wave analysis of the radial artery. Results The exercise program led to a significant reduction in systolic (134.0 ± 20.0 to 127.0 ± 16.4 mmHg; P = 0.03) and diastolic blood pressure (73.0 ± 21.6 to 67.1 ± 8.2 mmHg; P = 0.02) accompanied by a significant improvement in C2 (3.5 ± 1.6 to 4.8 ± 2.0 ml/mmHg × 100; P = 0.004). Flow-mediated dilation, augmentation index, and C2 were not significantly affected (P > 0.05). Physical performance as derived from lactate and heart rate curves of lower-limb stress tests was unchanged, whereas maximal workload in an upper-limb ergometry significantly increased (P = 0.005). Blood pressure and vascular parameters remained unchanged in the control group. Conclusion Regular arm aerobic exercise leads to a marked reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressures and an improvement in small artery compliance. Arm-cycling is a reasonable option for hypertensive patients who want to support blood pressure control by sports despite having coxarthrosis, gonarthrosis, or intermittent claudication.
Calling for action within the teaching profession: it is time to internationalize teacher education

Teacher educators are challenged to break their “virtual wall of silence” and begin preparing educators for the globally interdependent world in which they will work and their students will live, by opening the world to students through international experience and integrating a global perspective throughout the curriculum. Through reflection on 20 years’ experience arranging international student teaching placements, a comprehensive review of relevant literature and presentation of rationale and strategies for action, the authors offer teacher educators tools they need to move their teacher education programmes beyond the parochial to viability in the twenty‐first century by assuring their graduates bring a global perspective to decision‐making in education.
Character education and gifted children

Character education is both an age‐old and growing discipline, which attempts to restructure schools to optimally foster the development of the ethical and pro‐social motivations and competencies of students. The key components of evidence‐based quality character education are presented. Then the relevant characteristics of gifted students are explored with the aim of identifying those characteristics that offer the opportunity for the optimal implementation of character‐building practices and structures in schools. Finally, the synergy between gifted student characteristics and character‐building pedagogies are delineated, demonstrating that the unique set of qualities of gifted students offers many rich opportunities for the application of effective character education to gifted education.
Prototype filter design for FBMC in massive MIMO channels

We perform an asymptotic study on the performance of filter bank multicarrier (FBMC) in the context of massive multi-input multi-output (MIMO). We show that the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) cannot grow unboundedly by increasing the number of base station (BS) antennas, and is upper bounded by a certain deterministic value. This is a result of the correlation between the multi-antenna combining tap values and the channel impulse responses between the terminals and the BS antennas. To solve this problem, we introduce a simple FBMC prototype filter design method that removes this correlation, enabling us to achieve arbitrarily large SINR values by increasing the number of BS antennas.
Relationship of systolic BP to obstructive sleep apnea in patients with heart failure.

STUDY OBJECTIVES Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is an independent risk factor for hypertension in the general population. Hypertension is, in turn, an important risk factor for the development and progression of congestive heart failure (CHF). Our objective was to determine whether OSA would be associated with elevated daytime BP in medically treated patients with CHF. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING Tertiary care, university-affiliated sleep disorders and heart failure clinics. PATIENTS Three hundred one consecutive patients with CHF. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS We measured daytime BP and performed overnight sleep studies to assess for the presence of OSA. Among these patients, OSA was present in 121 patients (40%) and their systolic BP was significantly higher than in patients without OSA. Patients with OSA were 2.89 times (95% confidence interval, 1.25 to 6.73) more likely to have systolic hypertension (ie, BP > or = 140 mm Hg) than those without OSA after controlling for other risk factors, including obesity. The degree of systolic BP elevation was directly related to the frequency of obstructive apneas and hypopneas. CONCLUSIONS In medically treated patients with CHF, daytime systolic BP and the prevalence of systolic hypertension are significantly increased in patients with OSA, compared to those without OSA, independent of other potentially confounding factors. OSA may therefore have contributed to the presence of systolic hypertension in some of these patients.
Position paper: Defeating the ‘paradigm wars’ in accounting: A mixed-methods approach is needed in the education of PhD scholars

Abstract In accounting research a clear divide is developing between the traditional (positive) accounting research methods and the use of alternative (interpretive) methods. This is certainly the case with publishing accounting research in ‘so-called’ top-ranked accounting journals in the United States. These ‘paradigm wars’ seem to be based more on egos and producing academic elites than enhancing our knowledge and understanding of accounting. In this paper, the two established paradigms within accounting research, positivist (quantitative) and interpretivist (qualitative), are discussed. While the positivist paradigm is still dominant within accounting research, an increasing number of accounting researchers are adopting interpretive paradigms, situated within both critical theory and constructivist philosophies. This has led to the development of ‘paradigm wars’ within the accounting profession, with quantitative analysis of large data-bases being favoured over other research methodologies. The paper discusses this unhealthy development and the problematic issues surrounding the use of a dominant ‘singular knowledge source’ to explain a dynamic phenomenon such as accounting. The paper is critical of the current American thinking on accounting research methods and strongly advocates the concurrent use of both opposing paradigms within accounting research. This mixed-methods approach, where the benefits of both paradigms are used as complementary elements, will provide better quality research outcomes, and in doing so, bring us closer to the ‘truth. ’
Perceptions of Women’s Sexuality Within the Context of Motherhood

For women, the transition to motherhood is often a time period filled with excitement, changes, and challenges. Mothers often face changes in their own sexuality in their adjustment to motherhood. The majority of research on the sexual changes during motherhood has focused on the first-year postpartum of mothers and has emphasized biological, hormonal changes. Limited research is available regarding the sexuality of mothers with preschool age children. The findings from this qualitative study provide information about mothers’ perceptions of their sexuality as they adjust to the role of motherhood. These findings can provide awareness and knowledge to counselors in working with women during this unique time period.