Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cataract surgery and quality of life in patients with age related macular degeneration

Background: The coexistence of cataract and age related macular degeneration (AMD) is not unusual, especially in the very elderly. The outcome of cataract surgery in these cases depends on the effect of AMD on vision. In this study the authors have compared the outcome of cataract patients with AMD to that of cataract patients with no vision threatening ocular comorbidity, and analysed possible predictors of good or poor outcome. Methods: An observational prospective study on consecutive cases operated for cataract during 1 month at six surgical departments affiliated to the Swedish National Cataract Register (NCR). Data were collected according to the protocol of NCR and subjects completed the Catquest questionnaire before and 6 months after surgery. 90 subjects with AMD were compared to 335 subjects with no sight threatening ocular comorbidity. Results: Difficulties in performing various daily life activities improved significantly for AMD subjects after surgery (p<0.001, Wilcoxon signed rank test). Satisfaction with vision also improved significantly after surgery (p<0.001, Wilcoxon signed rank test). Activity level and independence were unchanged. Subjects with no ocular comorbidity had a still better outcome. The most important variable related to a good self assessed functional outcome was postoperative visual acuity irrespective of the presence of AMD. AMD subjects scheduled for second eye surgery and AMD subjects dissatisfied with their vision before surgery had a poorer outcome. Conclusion: Subjects with various stages of dry AMD and cataract improved their self assessed visual function and satisfaction with vision significantly after cataract extraction.
Intravitreal Dexamethasone Implant for Macular Edema following Uncomplicated Phacoemulsification

Purpose To retrospectively study the efficacy of a single 0.7-mg dexamethasone intravitreal implant in eyes with refractory macular edema secondary to uncomplicated phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implant. Methods In 11 eyes of 11 consecutive patients with persistent refractory macular edema, secondary uncomplicated cataract extraction, and intraocular lens implant, the injection of 0.7-mg dexamethasone implant was performed at the Clinica Oculistica, University of Bari, Italy. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness measured by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, and intraocular pressure (IOP) was evaluated at baseline, 1 month, and 6 months. Results After a mean follow-up of 6.27 ± 0.47 months, BCVA was significantly increased from 20/40 to 20/22 (p<0.0001), mean central retinal thickness decreased significantly from 462 ± 100 to 276 ± 8 μm (p<0.0001), and IOP did not change significantly (p = 0.053). In no case were postoperative complications observed. Conclusions A single injection of 0.7-mg dexamethasone intravitreal implant was effective in the treatment of persistent refractory macular edema secondary to uneventful phacoemulsification and in-bag lens implant.
Selection of Corners for the BDDC Method

The Balancing Domain Decomposition by Constraints (BDDC) method has evolved quite fast since its introduction in 2003, as the primal counterpart to the earlier FETI-DP method. Recent results have shown close connection of these methods and theoretically supported equivalent rate of convergence. In both methods, a fundamental role is played by the coarse space. Optimal choice of constraints on continuity of the coarse space is still not a satisfactorily solved problem. The usual basic choice is a ‘minimal’ set of coarse nodes (sometimes called corners), that assures invertibility of local subdomain problems and also of the global coarse problem. However, this set alone does not suffice for optimal preconditioning in 3D. For this reason, continuity of some generalized degrees of freedom, such as average values on edges or faces of subdomains, have to be added. While theoretically correct, this approach does not easily offer a flexible size of desired coarse problem. In our contribution, we compare this approach with adding more coarse nodes into the coarse problem, which is technically simpler and allows flexible setting of desired approximation. Most attention is given to the basic set of corners, and a new algorithm for its selection is proposed.
Photodynamic Alteration of Sodium Currents in Lobster Axons

Photodynamic alteration of lobster giant axons drastically changed the magnitude and kinetics of sodium currents seen under voltage clamp using the sucrose gap technique. Illumination of axons following treatment with acridine orange or eosin Y decreased the maximum sodium conductance to a zero asymptote as an exponential function of illumination time. Normal sodium inactivation was slowed, with tau(h) more than doubled depending on experimental conditions. A second slower inactivation rate developed occasionally. tau(h) was altered little, if at all. Sodium current "tails" were not prolonged. At maximum light intensity and with eosin Y as sensitizer leakage current increased after 4-10 sec in light. These changes were irreversible. Decreases in maximum sodium conductance correlated highly with increases in time to peak sodium current. The magnitude of change varied linearly with light intensity. The action spectra for eosin Y and acridine orange peaked near 545 and 505 nm, respectively. The magnitude of change varied with preillumination dye exposure time in a quasi-exponential approach to a maximum effect. Sodium dithionite protected the axon from photodynamic change.
Incremental positivity non-preservation by stability multipliers

It is proved that stability multipliers such as Zames-Falb multipliers, Popov multipliers and RL/RC multipliers, known to preserve positivity of monotone memoryless nonlinearities, do not, in general, preserve their incremental positivity. Our result implies that stability results based on these multipliers should be interpreted with caution since without incremental positivity, continuity of the closed-loop system's input-output relation may not be assured.
Avoiding disruptions during maintenance operations on BGP sessions

This paper presents a solution aimed at avoiding losses of connectivity when an eBGP peering link is shut down by an operator for a maintenance. Currently, shutting down an eBGP session can lead to transient losses of connectivity even though alternate path are available at the borders of the network. This is very unfortunate as ISPs face more and more stringent service level agreements, and maintenance operations are predictable operations, so that there is time to adapt to the change and preserve the respect of the service level agreement.
Ghrelin, leptin and the neurometabolic axis of breastfed and formula‐fed infants

The possible long‐term effects of prolonged breastfeeding in preventing obesity have led to the reconsideration of different growth curves of breastfed and formula‐fed infants in the light of haematochemical markers. Leptin, ghrelin, insulin‐like growth factors and other compounds may not only represent mediators involved in the metabolism of fat tissues, but may also potentially be able to explain the complex relationships between the gastrointestinal tract and the hypothalamic regulation of the sense of hunger and satiety.
Evidence for a melatonin receptor within pancreatic islets of neonate rats: functional, autoradiographic, and molecular investigations

In a recent perifusion investigation, we showed that the pineal secretory product melatonin reduces insulin secretion from isolated pancreatic islets of neonate rats stimulated with potassium chloride (KCl), glucose, and forskolin. This effect of melatonin was reproduced with doses ranging from 200 pmol/L to 5 μmol/L. Because it is generally accepted that melatonin exerts some of its biological effects through specific, high‐affinity pertussis‐toxin‐sensitive G‐protein‐coupled receptors, we blocked the putative melatonin receptor of pancreatic islets using both the non‐hydrolyzable guanosine triphosphate analog guanosine 5′‐O‐(3‐thiotriphosphate) (GTPΓS, 30 μmol/L) and the melatonin antagonist luzindole (10 μmol/L). Both GTPΓS and luzindole caused a near normalization of the melatonin‐induced inhibition of the forskolin‐stimulated insulin secretion. To localize putative melatonin receptors within the pancreatic islets autoradiographic studies were additionally carried out. These investigations showed specific binding of 2‐[125I]iodomelatonin, which were in exact correspondence with the localization of the islets. In addition, gray‐level analysis showed that unlabeled melatonin was able to reduce the binding of 2‐[125I]iodomelatonin in a dose‐dependent manner. Concentrations of unlabeled melatonin of 10−9 mol/L produced a 50% reduction in specific binding, whereas concentrations of 10−6 mol/L displaced the binding completely. Likewise, the results of molecular investigations showed that the rat pancreas contains a melatonin receptor, since reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) experiments, using specific primers for the rat melatonin receptor Mel1a, showed that mRNA for this melatonin receptor type is expressed in pancreatic tissue of newborn rats. In summary, it may be said that our functional, autoradiographic, and molecular results indicate that the Mel1a receptor is located on the pancreatic islets, possibly in the beta cells.
VERILOG IMPLEMENTATION OF A NODE OF HIERARCHICAL TEMPORAL MEMORY

The objective of this paper is to design, implement and analyze the node of the hierarchy temporal algorithm proposed by Jeff Hawkins. In this document, a design implementation of HTM algorithm node based on verilog hardware description language and mat lab programming language is proposed. The node is implemented using Xilinx Spartan-3e FPGA. The simulation results obtained with Xilinx ISE 10.1 software.
Towards spontaneous speech synthesis - LM based selection of pronunciation variants

State of the art speech synthesis systems achieve a high overall quality. However, the synthesized speech still lacks naturalness. To make speech synthesis more natural and colloquial we are trying to integrate effects that are observable in spontaneous speech. In a previous paper we introduced a new approach for duration control in speech synthesis that uses the probability of a word in its context to control the local speaking rate within the utterance. This idea is based on the observation that words that are very likely to occur in a given context are pronounced faster than improbable ones. Since probable words are not only pronounced faster but also less accurate we extend this approach by selecting appropriate pronunciation variants to realize the change in the local speaking rate.
Influence of the phase number of a synchronous generator connected to a three phase power grid via a natural commutated matrix converter (NCMC)

This paper deals with a new power generation topology which uses a synchronous generator with more than three phases and a natural commutated matrix converter used as a frequency changer. It replaces the classical mechanical reducer, which introduces many drawbacks. Ability to make auto start-up of the power plant by elimination of the turbine start-up system is also another major idea for this system. The matrix converter used, which operates at natural commutation is composed with thyristors. A five-phase synchronous machine is compared with a four-phase one on the point of view of harmonic disturbance, modeling of the matrix converter and power exchanges.
Screening for learning disabilities: development of a multiple deficit model of identification

The focus of this thesis is on the operationalisation and identification of Learning Disabilities (LD) in a classroom setting. Although cognitive processing deficits often form part of the definition of LD, they are rarely utilised in methods of identification (Kavale, Holdnack, & Mostert, 2005). For instance, the discrepancy method identifies students with a significant discrepancy between aptitude and achievement (e.g., Berk, 1983; Ferrer, Shaywitz, Holahan, Marchione & Shaywitz, 2010). The primary aim of this thesis was to pilot a freely available screening tool that can identify possible cases of LD in a classroom setting. The validation of the discrepancy method of identification of LD is often sought by testing the cognitive processing deficits of the students identified. In this study the reverse of this approach is taken so that the convergent validity of a method of identification based on cognitive processing deficits will be assessed with the discrepancy method of identification. Phonological processing is the most widely accepted cognitive processing deficit associated with LD (van der Leij & Morfidi, 2006) and a nonword reading list was developed in this study to test for this. In order to test orthographic processing, which has a more opaque role in LD, an irregular word reading test was developed. Both word lists were refined and psychometric support for their validity was provided through both item response theory and classical test theory. Rasch analysis was used to demonstrate the good model fit of both of the refined nonword and irregular word lists. In order to account for the heterogeneity of LD, naming speed and verbal memory deficits were also used as indicators of the disorder. Two Rapid Automatic Naming (RAN) tests, using letters and colours, and preliminary norms for digit span tests, both forwards and backwards, were also developed. One of the most important attributes of these tests is that they are simple to administer and score, making them well suited to classroom teacher administration. In order to allocate students into discrepancy groups, the Raven’s Progressive Matrices (Raven, Court & Raven, 1998) and Progressive Achievement Test in Reading (Australian Council of Educational Research, 2008), as measures of aptitude and achievement respectively, were also administered to the entire sample. Finally, the South Australian Spelling Test (Westwood, 2005) was administered so that the relationships between spelling and the cognitive processes could be assessed.
Research on Clustering Technique in Network Intrusion Detection

This paper mainly introduces the intrusion detection system based on data mining algorithms. The intrusion detection system is divided into three parts: first we need to preformat the original data on the local machine or on the Internet, then using data mining algorithms for outlier detection, in the end the results of preformatted data are displayed visually.
Relative Quantification of Protein-Protein Interactions Using a Dual Luciferase Reporter Pull-Down Assay System

The identification and quantitative analysis of protein-protein interactions are essential to the functional characterization of proteins in the post-proteomics era. The methods currently available are generally time-consuming, technically complicated, insensitive and/or semi-quantitative. The lack of simple, sensitive approaches to precisely quantify protein-protein interactions still prevents our understanding of the functions of many proteins. Here, we develop a novel dual luciferase reporter pull-down assay by combining a biotinylated Firefly luciferase pull-down assay with a dual luciferase reporter assay. The biotinylated Firefly luciferase-tagged protein enables rapid and efficient isolation of a putative Renilla luciferase-tagged binding protein from a relatively small amount of sample. Both of these proteins can be quantitatively detected using the dual luciferase reporter assay system. Protein-protein interactions, including Fos-Jun located in the nucleus; MAVS-TRAF3 in cytoplasm; inducible IRF3 dimerization; viral protein-regulated interactions, such as MAVS-MAVS and MAVS-TRAF3; IRF3 dimerization; and protein interaction domain mapping, are studied using this novel assay system. Herein, we demonstrate that this dual luciferase reporter pull-down assay enables the quantification of the relative amounts of interacting proteins that bind to streptavidin-coupled beads for protein purification. This study provides a simple, rapid, sensitive, and efficient approach to identify and quantify relative protein-protein interactions. Importantly, the dual luciferase reporter pull-down method will facilitate the functional determination of proteins.
hould Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery atients With Mild or Moderate Aortic Stenosis ndergo Concomitant Aortic Valve Replacement ? Decision Analysis Approach to the Surgical Dilemma illiam

OBJECTIVES This study utilizes Markov decision analysis to assess the relative benefits of prophylactic aortic valve replacement (AVR) at the time of coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). Multiple sensitivity analyses were also performed to determine the variables that most profoundly affect outcome. BACKGROUND The decision to perform CABG or concomitant CABG and AVR (CABG/AVR) in asymptomatic patients who need CABG surgery but have mild to moderate aortic stenosis (AS) is not clear-cut. METHODS We performed Markov decision analysis comparing long-term, quality-adjusted life outcomes of patients with mild to moderate AS undergoing CABG versus CABG/AVR. Age-specific morbidity and mortality risks with CABG, CABG/AVR, and AVR after a prior CABG were based on the Society of Thoracic Surgeons national database (n 1,344,100). Probabilities of progression to symptomatic AS, valve-related morbidity, and age-adjusted mortality rates were obtained from available published reports. RESULTS For average AS progression, the decision to replace the aortic valve at the time of elective CABG should be based on patient age and severity of AS measured by echocardiography. For patients under age 70 years, an AVR for mild AS is preferred if the peak valve gradient is 25 to 30 mm Hg. For older patients, the threshold increases by 1 to 2 mm Hg/year, so that an 85-year-old patient undergoing CABG should have AVR only if the gradient exceeds 50 mm Hg. The AS progression rate also influences outcomes. With slow progression ( 3 mm Hg/year), CABG is favored for all patients with AS gradients 50 mm Hg; with rapid progression ( 10 mm Hg/year), CABG/AVR is favored except for patients 80 years old with a valve gradient 25 mm Hg. CONCLUSIONS This study provides a decision aid for treating patients with mild to moderate AS requiring CABG surgery. Predictors of AS progression in individual patients need to be better defined. (J Am Coll Cardiol 2004;44:1241–7) © 2004 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation
[Relaxation exercises].

This handout is for informational purposes only. Talk with your doctor or health care team if you have any questions about your care. At times, it may be hard to relax due to worry and stress. Being able to relax can make you feel better. Relaxation is letting go of physical and emotional stress. Relaxation can lead to a feeling of peacefulness. There are different ways to relax. You will need to find the best ways that work for you. Here are some ideas to help you get started. Music: Many people have favorite music that helps them relax. Choose music that is soothing to you. Music played by itself or used with other forms of relaxation can be very calming. Exercise is a good way to lower stress. It can also help you prepare for relaxation by releasing muscle tension in the body. Exercise releases a natural body substance called endorphin, which creates a feeling of well-being. Some people cannot relax due to muscle tension. Progressive muscle relaxation is a way to decrease tension in your muscles. This is done by alternating the tensing and relaxing of different muscle groups throughout the body. You may notice that you forget to breathe when you are tense. Breathing exercises can be used to help reduce your stress. Please ask a member of your health care team for the patient education handout, Non-Drug Pain Relief: Relaxation with Breathing Exercises.
If They Get it Right: An Experimental Test of the Effects of UK Public Inquiries' Appointment and Reports

A number of arguments regarding the politics of UK public inquiries (PIs) suggest that the appointment of a public inquiry and its subsequent report affect public responsibility attributions in ways that could be beneficial to the appointing office holder. One claim refers to the effect of an appointment on responsibility attribution towards the appointer of a PI; another refers to the relative strength of the effects of PI reports on responsibility attributions compared with other public evaluations. This latter argument relies on the assumption that PIs are judged as more credible than other conveyors of public evaluations. To test these hypotheses, this research employs two web-based experiments involving a sample of 474 UK citizens. The findings do not support the hypotheses. Instead, they reveal that the credibility of PIs is conditional upon acceptability of the report content.
Transient Early-Life Forebrain Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone Elevation Causes Long-Lasting Anxiogenic and Despair-Like Changes in Mice

During development, early-life stress, such as abuse or trauma, induces long-lasting changes that are linked to adult anxiety and depressive behavior. It has been postulated that altered expression of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) can at least partially account for the various effects of stress on behavior. In accord with this hypothesis, evidence from pharmacological and genetic studies has indicated the capacity of differing levels of CRH activity in different brain areas to produce behavioral changes. Furthermore, stress during early life or adulthood causes an increase in CRH release in a variety of neural sites. To evaluate the temporal and spatial specificity of the effect of early-life CRH exposure on adult behavior, the tetracycline-off system was used to produce mice with forebrain-restricted inducible expression of CRH. After transient elevation of CRH during development only, behavioral testing in adult mice revealed a persistent anxiogenic and despair-like phenotype. These behavioral changes were not associated with alterations in adult circadian or stress-induced corticosterone release but were associated with changes in CRH receptor type 1 expression. Furthermore, the despair-like changes were normalized with antidepressant treatment. Overall, these studies suggest that forebrain-restricted CRH signaling during development can permanently alter stress adaptation leading to increases in maladaptive behavior in adulthood.
Breeding Sites of Aedes aegypti: Potential Dengue Vectors in Dire Dawa, East Ethiopia

Background and Objectives. Entomological survey was carried out from May-June to September-October 2014 to investigate the presence of dengue vectors in discarded tires and artificial water containers in houses and peridomestic areas. Methods. A cross-sectional immature stage survey was done indoors and outdoors in 301 houses. Mosquito larval sampling was conducted using pipette or dipper depending on container types. Larvae were identified morphologically and larval indices were also calculated. Results. A total of 750 containers were inspected, and of these 405 were positive for mosquito larvae. A total of 1,873 larvae were collected and morphologically identified as Aedes aegypti (n = 1580: 84.4%) and Culex (n = 293: 15.6%). The larval indices, house index, container index, and breteau index, varied from 33.3 to 86.2, from 23.2 to 73.9, and from 56.5 to 188.9, respectively. Conclusion. Aedes aegypti is breeding in a wide range of artificial containers. To control these mosquitoes, the integration of different methods should be taken into consideration.