Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Prospective Appraisal of Pulmonary Hypertension in Children With Sickle Cell Disease

Objectives Pulmonary hypertension (PHT) is a life-threatening complication of sickle cell disease that occurs in 20% to 40% of adults. Measurement of maximal tricuspid regurgitant jet velocity (TRV) by echocardiography provides a noninvasive screening tool; TRV values ≥2.5 m/s are correlated with PHT and increased mortality. Our objective was to estimate the prevalence of PHT in our pediatric sickle cell population and its possible association with various clinical and laboratory findings, including obstructive sleep apnea and/or pulmonary dysfunction. Study Design Eligible children had measurement of the TRV. Clinical data were collected, including detailed history with a standardized sleep apnea questionnaire; those with suggestive histories had polysomonography. Pulmonary function was assessed using whole body plethysmography. Results Of 48 subjects (79% homozygous sickle cell anemia; median age 12 y; 11 receiving chronic transfusion) enrolled in the study, 4 (8.3%) had TRV >2.5 m/s; all had homozygous sickle cell anemia and 1 was receiving hydroxyurea after 3 years of transfusion for secondary stroke prevention. Subjects with elevated TRV had higher indirect bilirubin levels; we found no association between elevated TRV and obstructive apnea or pulmonary function abnormalities. Conclusions Elevation of TRV was relatively uncommon in our pediatric patients as compared with prevalence reported in adults and may be associated with increased hemolysis. There was no association with obstructive sleep apnea or abnormal pulmonary function.
Specification issues and the estimation of supply equation for rice in Malaysia

The supply model was nested in the general partial adjustment-adaptive expectation model. The results of the diagnostic tests suggest that the partial adjustment model is the preferred specification for the rice equation in Malaysia. The preferred model match with two other diagnostic tests: loglinear specification and autocorrelation. The estimates for the short-run price elasticity of supply are fairly low, 0.03 and the long-run elasticity is estimated at 0.11. The low price elasticities are generally in agreement with those reported earlier.
New optimized GPU version of the k-means algorithm for large-sized image segmentation

K-means is a compute-intensive iterative algorithm, each iteration consists of two steps data assignment and K centroids recalculation. In order to accelerate the compute-intensive portions of k-means, the data assignment and K centroids recalculation steps are offloaded to the GPU in parallel. Only the initialization and convergence tests steps are performed by the CPU. In addition this new version of K-means divides the problem into sub-problems treated independently on Streaming Multiprocessors (SM) of one or more GPUs. We have implemented this GPU-based K-means on the newest generation GPU with Compute Unified Device Architecture (CUDA).
Comparison of two dosing schedules for subcutaneous injections of low-dose anti-CD20 veltuzumab in relapsed immune thrombocytopenia

We compared two dosing schedules for subcutaneous injections of a low-dose humanized anti-CD20 antibody, veltuzumab, in immune thrombocytopenia. Fifty adults with primary immune thrombocytopenia, in whom one or more lines of standard therapy had failed and who had a platelet count <30×109/L but no major bleeding, initially received escalating 80, 160, or 320 mg doses of subcutaneous veltuzumab administered twice, 2 weeks apart; the last group received once-weekly doses of 320 mg for 4 weeks. In all dose groups, injection reactions were transient and mild to moderate; there were no other safety issues. Forty-seven response-evaluable patients had 23 (49%) objective responses (platelet counts ≥30×109/L and ≥2 × baseline) including 15 (32%) complete responses (platelets ≥100×109/L). Responses (including complete responses) and bleeding reduction occurred in all dose groups and were not dose-dependent. In contrast, response duration increased progressively with total dose, reaching a median of 2.7 years with the four once-weekly 320-mg doses. Among nine responders retreated at relapse, three at higher dose levels responded again, including one patient who was retreated four times. In all dose groups, B-cell depletion occurred after the first dose until recovery starting 12 to 16 weeks after treatment. Veltuzumab serum levels increased with dose group according to total dose administered, but terminal half-life and clearance were comparable. Human anti-veltuzumab antibody titers developed without apparent dose dependence in nine patients, of whom six responded including five who had complete responses. Subcutaneous veltuzumab was convenient, well-tolerated, and active, without causing significant safety concerns. Platelet responses and bleeding reduction occurred in all dose groups, and response durability appeared to improve with higher doses. Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT00547066
On the “Optimal” Size for Normative Samples in Neuropsychology: Capturing the Uncertainty When Normative Data Are Used to Quantify the Standing of a Neuropsychological Test Score

Bridges and Holler (2007) have provided a useful reminder that normative data are fallible. Unfortunately, however, their paper misleads neuropsychologists as to the nature and extent of the problem. We show that the uncertainty attached to the estimated z score and percentile rank of a given raw score is much larger than they report and that it varies as a function of the extremity of the raw score. Methods for quantifying the uncertainty associated with normative data are described and used to illustrate the issues involved. A computer program is provided that, on entry of a normative sample mean, standard deviation, and sample size, provides point and interval estimates of percentiles and z scores for raw scores referred to these normative data. The methods and program provide neuropsychologists with a means of evaluating the adequacy of existing norms and will be useful for those planning normative studies.
Teflon laryngeal granuloma presenting as laryngeal cancer on combined positron emission tomography and computed tomography scanning.

BACKGROUND Positron emission tomography with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18FDG) has been increasingly used in the diagnostic investigation of patients with neoplasms of the head and neck. Positron emission tomography and computed tomography have also proven useful for surveillance of thyroid cancers that no longer concentrate radioiodine. However, certain benign or inflammatory lesions can also accumulate 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose and lead to misdiagnosis. OBJECTIVES We review and discuss the pitfalls of using positron emission tomography and computed tomography for surveillance of thyroid cancer. METHOD We present the case of a 48-year-old woman who was diagnosed with a laryngeal neoplasm on integrated positron emission tomography and computed tomography scanning, after a routine ultrasound demonstrated an enlarged thyroid nodule. On physical examination, she had a laryngeal mass overlying an immobile vocal fold. The mass was biopsied and found to harbour a Teflon granuloma. CONCLUSIONS Positron emission tomography positive Teflon granulomas have previously been reported in the nasopharynx and vocal folds, and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients who have undergone prior surgery involving Teflon injection. It is important for otolaryngologists and radiologists to recognise potential causes of false positive positron emission tomography and computed tomography findings, including Teflon granulomas.
Enhancement of matrix converter output waveform quality using minimized commutation times

This letter introduces a new concept in current commutation for matrix converters that minimizes the commutation time and, hence, enhances the output waveform quality. This commutation technique overcomes all the waveform quality problems associated with dead times in inverter-based circuits without the need for compensation. Practical results from a 10-kVA matrix converter are presented.
The Persistence Of The Peasantry

n the mid-1990s, the World Bank reported that for the first time in history less than half the world's labor force-49%-worked in agriculture. ' While the numbers are declining, and while orthodox Marxists and conservative free marketeers alike have long predicted and hoped for the disappearance of the peasantry, as we enter the twentyfirst century, peasants are very much still with us. And the same can be said for peasant-based political movements. Not only are large numbers of rural people engaged in struggles over longstanding peasant demands for land, credit and technical assistance, but peasants have been at the forefront of unprecedented confrontations with governments, international agencies and multinational corporations over a multitude of issues, including land reform, free trade and biotechnology policies. Today's rural movements-like the rural population itself-defy easy characterization. In some countries, large and small farmers have united to press sectoral demands for price supports or access to markets, while in others large landowners routinely hire gunmen to assassinate squatters and peasant leaders. The rural upheavals of recent decades are not easily pigeonholed in an arid taxonomy of "identity" versus "class-based" organizations, or "new" or "old" social movements. The pro-peasant or campesinista left once spoke of "the peasant movement" as if all peasant movements in all parts of
Health and Subjective Well-Being: A Replicated Secondary Data Analysis

The purposes of this article are to use replicated secondary data analysis to summarize information about the relationship between health and subjective well-being and to assess the strengths and weaknesses of replicated secondary data analysis as a mode of research synthesis. The findings from thirty-seven replications in seven surveys suggest a moderate and robust relationship between self-rated health and subjective well-being. Physician-assessed health, in contrast, exhibits weaker and less robust associations with subjective well-being. Further, the relationship between health and subjective well-being is conditioned by age and is stronger for measures of negative than positive affect. The principal advantages of replicated secondary data analysis, vis-a-vis other modes of research synthesis, are cost-effectiveness, increased ability to apply multivariate statistical techniques, and greater control and flexibility for the investigator. We suggest, nonetheless, that different modes of research synthesis can best be used for different purposes.
Microwave Ablation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Objective: This article reviews the basic principles, equipment, current therapeutic status and future trends of microwave ablation (MWA) in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: All articles published in English on MWA or MWA as a treatment for HCC were identified with a PubMed search from the 1990s through June 2007. Papers were reviewed on the technical advances of MWA equipment and the clinical applications of MWA including indications, techniques, therapeutic outcomes, complications and combination therapies. Results: MWA has several advantages, including high thermal efficiency, higher capability of coagulating blood vessels, faster ablation time, and an improved convention profile. MWA can induce large ablation volumes and yield good local tumor control, especially for small HCC. Larger HCC can also be completely ablated by using more effective antenna or simultaneous application of multiple antennae. Long-term survival comparable to that of surgery was obtained for tumors measuring 4 cm or less. Associated complications appear to be low. Conclusions: MWA is a promising minimally invasive technique for the treatment of HCC. Future advances are warranted to improve the therapeutic efficacy.
c‐fos gene expression is increased in the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus of Sprague‐Dawley rats With visceral pain induced by acetic acid without detectable changes of corticotrophin‐releasing factor mRNA: A quantitative approach with an image analysis system

This study is the first of its kind to demonstrate that c‐Fos immunoreactivity (ir) together with c‐fos mRNA in their immediately adjacent tissue sections of a discrete brain region can be reliably measured. The c‐fos gene expression in the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVN) of Sprague‐Dawley rats for an animal model for visceral or somatovisceral pain induced by 2% acetic acid (AA) was used in this study. Specifically, c‐fos mRNA signals were measured by quantitative autoradiography after in situ hybridization using c‐fos oligodeoxynucleotide probe, and c‐Fos‐ir signals were represented by c‐Fos immunostaining, as detected using c‐Fos antibody in a regular immunohistochemistry. Signals from both c‐Fos‐ir and c‐fos mRNA in the PVN were measured from their immediately adjacent cryostat sections. For the measurement of c‐Fos‐ir, it was carried out by reading 10 rectangles (1,000 μm2/rectangle) on each PVN section with c‐Fos immunostaining. Specific signals were obtained from subtracting the nonspecific background signal from the total signals using a computer‐assisted image analysis system. Results indicated that the AA treatment induced a significant increase of both c‐Fos‐ir and c‐fos mRNA in the PVN. Interestingly, there was no increase of corticotrophin‐releasing factor (CRF) mRNA expression in the PVN and central nucleus of the amygdala of Sprague‐Dawley rats subjected to the AA treatment. In summary, this study has demonstrated that c‐Fos‐ir in the PVN with an anatomical resolution can be semiquantitatively measured after immunohistochemistry using an image analysis system, and that increased c‐fos mRNA in the PVN 1 hr after the AA treatment is associated with no changes of the CRF mRNA expression. Anat Rec, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
[Risk factors affecting the long-term outcome of IgA nephropathy].

OBJECTIVE To study the risk factors predicting long-term renal survival of IgA nephropathy in Chinese. METHODS Clinical and pathological data of 317 patients (124 males and 193 females) with IgA nephropathy confirmed by renal biopsy in our center from January 1987 to February 2003 were reviewed retrospectively and were correlated with outcomes. A semiquantitative scoring system was used to evaluate individual pathological lesion of the kidney. Patients were followed for at least 6 months and doubling of serum creatinine level was defined as endpoint of follow-up. Renal survival was calculated by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and risk factors of progression were analyzed by using univariate and multi-variate Cox regression models. RESULTS The average age at renal biopsy was (30.1 +/- 10.9) years and the average duration from onset of disease to the time of biopsy was (20.1 +/- 33.7) months. Thirty-two percent of the patients had 24 h-urinary protein excretion greater than 1.0 g at the time of biopsy. Thirty-two percent of the patients had hypertension and 20.8% had renal insufficiency. Thirty-five percent of the patients were of Lee's grade IV or above and 20.5% presented with small proportion of crescent formation (usually less than 20%). Patients were followed for an average duration of (43.5 +/- 32.2) months with 39 patients (12.3%) reaching the endpoint. The 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year renal survival was 99.5%, 93.1%, 84.5% and 60.1% respectively. Univariate Cox regression analysis revealed that longer duration of the disease before biopsy, serum creatinine > 115 micromol/L, proteinuria > 1.0 g/d, hypertension, Lee's grading of IV-V, moderate-severe glomerulosclerosis, crescent formation, moderate-severe interstitial fibrosis and renal arteriolar lesion were risk factors of disease progression, with an odds ratio of 1.007, 9.61, 7.31, 3.97, 5.41, 5.78, 4.65, 14.05 and 2.28 respectively (P < 0.001). Episodic macro-hematuria had an odds ratio of 0.194 (P < 0.05). Age, sex, serum cholesterol and triglyceride level had no significant impact on prognosis. Proteinuria, elevated serum creatinine, glomerulosclerosis, crescent formation and interstitial fibrosis were confirmed to be independent risk factors by multi-variate Cox regression model while the remaining variables were not statistically significant. Patients with both renal insufficiency and proteinuria greater that 1.0 g/24 h at the time of biopsy had a very poor 5-year renal survival (41.8%). CONCLUSIONS Proteinuria, renal insufficiency, glomerulosclerosis, crescent formation and interstitial fibrosis were independent risk factors predicting the renal survival. IgA nephropathy presented with proteinuria, hypertension and crescent formation may need intervention.
A systematic review of the prevalence and covariates of anxiety in caregivers of people with dementia

Background: Caregiving for people with dementia has consistently been linked with psychological problems, usually in terms of caregiver burden, general psychological distress and depressive symptomatology, while morbidity due to anxiety has been relatively neglected in this group. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of the literature, searching electronic databases, reference lists, relevant systematic reviews and contacting experts in the field. We used Centre for Evidence Based Medicine (CEBM) criteria for inclusion and rating the validity of all studies that reported (1) the prevalence, predictors and covariates of anxiety disorders or anxiety caseness, and (2) covariates and predictors of the level of anxiety symptoms. Results: Thirty-three studies met our inclusion criteria. Clinically, significant anxiety affects about a quarter of caregivers for people with dementia and was more common than in matched controls. Such caregivers have higher anxiety levels than controls, and that confrontative and escape avoidance coping, caregiver burden and poorer caregiver physical health are factors associated with higher anxiety levels from cross-sectional studies. Conclusions: Coping style may be more associated with anxiety than depression while other covariates (burden and poor physical health) are similar to those for caregiver depression. We found no conclusive evidence about factors associated with anxiety disorders or predicting anxiety from longitudinal studies. Neither care recipient cognition nor ADL impairment; nor caregiver age nor duration of caring are associated with caregiver anxiety levels. Good quality cohort studies are needed to determine whether these factors also predict anxiety disorders.
IMPACT OF THE NIGERIA STOCK MARKET ON ECONOMIC GROWTH; THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (SEC) IN FOCUS

This paper examines the impact of capital market via the operations of securities and exchange commission (SEC) on the growth of the Nigerian economy. Using the augmented dickey-fuller (ADF) unit root was adopted to test the level of integration of the variables which showed stationary. Finding shows that total market capitalization, all share index and total value of transaction are all joint predictor of economic growth and the paper recommended that Government should restore confidence in the capital market by showing true commitment and sincerity of purpose in the capital market probe. The findings recommendation of the investigation panel should fully implement to restore sanity and confidence in the market.
Simulation studies of liquidity needs, risks and efficiency in payment networks: Proceedings from the Bank of Finland Payment and Settlement System Seminars 2005-2006

Chapter 1 Harry Leinonen Introduction 9 Chapter 2 Kimmo Soramaki - Walter Beyeler - Morten Bech - Rober Glass New approaches for payment system simulation research 15 Chapter 3 Fabien Renault - Jean-Baptiste Pecceu From PNS to TARGET2: the cost of FIFO in RTGS payment system 41 Chapter 4 Neville M. Arjani Examining the tradeoff between settlement delay and intraday liquidity in Canada's LVTS: a simulation approach 87 Chapter 5 Kei Imakubo - James J. McAndrews Funding levels for the new accounts in the BOJ-NET 123 Chapter 6 Ana Lasaosa - Merxe Tudela Risks and efficiency gains of a tiered structure in large-value payments: a simulation approach 149 Chapter 7 Stefan W Schmitz - Claus Puhr Risk concentration, network structure and contagion in the Austrian Real Time Interbank Settlement System 183 Chapter 8 Elisabeth Ledrut How can banks control their exposure to a failing participant? 227 Chapter 9 Darcey McVanel The impact of unanticipated defaults in Canada's Large Value Transfer System 253 Chapter 10 Matti Hellqvist - Heli Snellman Simulation of operational failures in equities settlement 283
Studying Input Device Performance: An End-User Driven Experiment in wearIT@work

Interaction and usability aspects of software systems are critical software quality measures. This paper reports on work done in the European funded wearable computing project wearIT@work. Utilizing user centered design, we present the results of a user study conducted to evaluate different wearable input devices for menu-selection tasks in aircraft maintenance. Due to access to end users provided by wearIT@work, study participants could be recruited from both real maintenance workers and university students to study performance and group differences. Results already exhibit strong group differences. An unfamiliar data glove device using gestures was found to outperform natural speech command interaction. A familiar mouse device exhibited best performance and quick learnability but was judged inappropriate by maintainers for their daily work. Besides suffering from handling problems, speech interaction was found inapplicable for maintainers due to their language ability. Our results suggest and emphasize the necessity to include real end-users in projects to reasonably study industrial wearable computing applications and their constraints.
Effects of hypophysectomy and prolactin replacement therapy on prostatic response to androgen in orchiectomized rats.

The effects of hypophysectomy and prolactin replacement therapy on prostatic response to androgen in orchiectomized rats were studied. Castration 23 days prior to treatment with testosterone propionate (TP), followed by hypophysectomy 13 days before TP treatment, and then treatment with 1 mg TP every other day for 16 days caused a greater decrease in body weight, prostatic weight, and the level of citric acid in the prostate than did TP treatment, castration, and sham hypophysectomy. This suggests the existence of a pituitary factor in the maintenance of prostatic integrity. Prolactin replacement therapy in hypophysectomized, castrated,TP-treated rats significantly (p less than .005) increased the prostatic weight and both the content and concentration of citric acid. The results confirm previously reported observations that the prostatic response to androgens is markedly reduced by hypophysectomy in castrated rats, and that prolactin acts synergistically wtih testosterone in promoting prostatic growth and the concentration of citric acid in the prostate. The direct effects of both hypophysectomy and prolactin replacement therapy on the ventral and dorsolateral lobes of the prostate were also demonstrated.
Fault current limiter allocation and sizing in distribution system in presence of distributed generation

Expose of distributed generation (DG) to the distribution network increases the fault current level. This will give rise to fault current which is normally greater than interrupt capability of breakers and fuses. The introduction of Solid State Fault Current Limiters (SSFCLs) becomes an effective way for suppressing such a high short-circuit current fault in distribution systems. In this paper, the effect of proposed SSFCL on reduction of fault current is investigated. Then genetic algorithm is employed to search for the optimal number, locations and size of proposed SSFCL. The Numerical and simulation results show the efficiency of proposed GA based FCL allocation and sizing method in terms of minimization of distribution protection system cost.