Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An exploration of participant experience of a communication training program for people with traumatic brain injury and their communication partners

Purpose: To investigate the experiences of participants who attended communication training programs for people with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and their everyday communication partners (CP) as part of a non-randomised controlled trial. Method: The participants were people with TBI and their CP, who were family members or carers of the people with TBI. Twenty-six participants (13 participants with TBI and 13 CP) completed the JOINT program, which involved participants with TBI and CP attending the program together. Fourteen participants with TBI completed the TBI SOLO training program, which did not involve the participation of a CP. Semi-structured videotaped interviews were completed by all participants at the end of the training. Using a six-step generic analysis procedure, data were categorised into topics and then subtopics to identify conceptually discrete units. Results: Participants described improvements in communication skills, the impact of improved communication skills, valuable components of the programs and components that needed changes. Conclusion: The accounts of participants provided additional evidence for the effectiveness of the training programs, assisted with identifying helpful components of the training and demonstrated the usefulness of a qualitative research methodology as part of evaluating the outcomes of the clinical trial. Implications for Rehabilitation Participants in social communication skills training programs for people with traumatic brain injury report positive outcomes. Including communication partners in training programs is reported to be beneficial, although there are some challenges. Qualitative methodologies are a useful way of understanding the processes and outcomes of complex interventions such as communication skills training programs.
Decomposing card-sorting performance: Effects of working memory load and age-related changes.

OBJECTIVE The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) is often regarded as a prototypical neuropsychological test of set-shifting ability. However, it has been proposed that WCST performance involves cognitive processes other than set shifting, such as set maintenance and rule inference. Distinguishing between these processes is necessary for the meaningful interpretation of WCST performance deficits in neuropsychological populations. In the present studies, we aimed to concurrently measure processes of set shifting, set maintenance and rule inference in a computerized version of the WCST, and to dissociate these processes based on their dependence on working memory capacity. METHOD AND RESULTS In Study 1, we manipulated the number of card-sorting rules to vary the demands placed on working memory-dependent processes of rule inference. As predicted, integration errors as a novel measure of rule-inference efficiency were selectively affected by increasing the number of rules from 3 to 4. In Study 2, we examined age-related changes in set shifting, set maintenance, and rule inference. We found a specific association between age and integration errors, indicating that rule inference, but not set shifting or set maintenance, is affected in older individuals. CONCLUSIONS Rule inference on WCST-like card-sorting tasks appeared to be selectively impaired when the amount of information to be integrated in working memory increases or when working memory capacity is reduced (as in older individuals). Our findings indicate that measuring integration errors as an index of a distinct rule-inference process can improve the understanding and interpretability of WCST performance. (PsycINFO Database Record
Regional Cerebral Glucose Metabolism in Never-Medicated Patients with Schizophrenia

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess regional cerebral glucose metabolism in patients with schizophrenia who had never received antipsychotic medication and whose olfactory identification ability had been assessed. Two hypotheses were examined. First, the patients were compared with normal controls to determine whether differences in regional cerebral metabolism were apparent. Second, regional rates of metabolism were correlated with olfactory ability and the relation between them determined. Methods: The patient (n = 26) and control (n = 32) subjects were scanned at rest using positron emission tomography (PET) after administration of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). In addition, the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test was administered to each patient. Results: Patients with schizophrenia had reduced rates of glucose metabolism in the right and left thalamus that reached significance if not corrected for multiple comparisons. However, if a Bonferroni correction was applied over the 27 regions of interest, the differences were not significant. Scores on the Smell Identification Test were negatively correlated with 8 regions of interest. When scores were analyzed using multiple regression, the left frontal cortex and the medial parietal cortex were significant predictors. Conclusions: The finding of reduced metabolism in the thalami is consistent with some of the previous literature, whereas the negative correlations between specific regions and olfactory function are not consistent with studies using activation paradigms.
EMBRYOMA OF THE KIDNEY (WILMS' TUMOR).

Embryoma of the kidney has been classified under various titles according to the predominant cell found at microscopic examination. For this reason it is important to define clearly what is meant by this term. We consider embryoma of the kidney as a highly malignant tumor peculiar to infancy and early childhood. It originates in the kidney and is of probable congenital origin. The tumor grows rapidly at times and assumes enormous proportions. Metastasis takes place by direct extension through its capsule, by the regional lymphatics or by the blood stream to the lung or brain. On gross appearance the tumor is a large encapsulated, grayish white mass encroaching on some portion of the kidney and destroying a greater or lesser part of it by pressure. The remaining portion of the kidney is divided from the tumor by a connective tissue capsule, but it cannot be dissected free from it. Occasionally,
Effect of leukocytospermia on sperm DNA integrity: a negative effect in abnormal semen samples.

Controversy exists over levels of DNA integrity in the sperm of fertile and infertile men. In addition, the effect of leukocytospermia on sperm DNA in these 2 groups is unclear. We decided to address these questions by collecting semen samples from men known or presumed to be fertile and men from infertile couples. Samples were analyzed and assessed for sperm concentration, motility, and morphology. Samples failing to meet World Health Organization (WHO) standards in one or more of these parameters were judged abnormal. Samples were then arbitrarily assigned normalized scores in each of the above parameters, and scores were summed to give a normalized value for overall sperm quality. DNA abnormality was determined by an in situ DNA denaturation test with acridine orange and expressed as a percentage of cells with abnormal DNA integrity (ADI). Assessment of 187 samples revealed a moderate inverse correlation between ADI and sperm quality (r =.58), although a large degree of ADI dispersion was observed in abnormal semen samples. The average ADI for normal and abnormal semen samples was 18% +/- 2.8% and 36% +/- 5.8%, respectively, with the threshold of 95% probability set at 30%. When sorted for leukocytospermia, the difference in ADI between normal and abnormal semen groups without leukocytospermia was much smaller (17% +/- 2.2% and 22% +/- 4.6%; P =.023). Leukocytospermia had no significant effect on ADI in the normal semen group (P = .46); however, ADI was more than double the ADI in the abnormal semen group (18% +/- 2.4% and 50% +/- 11%; P < .001). The results of our analysis show that at least 3 factors affect net DNA integrity in leukocytospermic samples that fail to meet WHO standards: 1) primary DNA damage, which is moderately inverse to sperm quality, in particular to sperm concentration; 2) effect of leukocytes increasing primary or provoking potential DNA damage in a cascade-like manner, particularly in sperm with poor morphology and motility; and 3) a decreasing proportion of cells with damaged DNA in semen with the worst quality.
A novel automatic red-eye detection and removal method

It is well know that red-eye is the appearance of an unnatural red blot in the pupils of a flash photography subject. Though plenty of solutions exist for this red-eye problem, some of them require some special speed-light apparatus, some deal with this problem by post-capture red-eye correction software, and others require the user intervention. A new approach is presented in this paper to automatically detect and correct redeye by combining flash image and preview frame which can be obtained easily as almost all of the cameras have preview function. It can be implemented in the existing cameras easily and such a camera would eliminate red-eye immediately after capture. Unlike previous approaches, proposed method is economic, fast, and accurate in both red-eye detection and correction since the artful use of the preview frame.
Statistical survey of open source medical image databases on the Internet

Background and Objectives: Nowadays, more and more open source medical imaging databases are published on the Internet for medical teaching, algorithm development, and medical research. However, a statistical survey of these databases is still lacking. In this survey, we summarize the current status of open source medical image databases on the Internet. The aim is to make it easier for everyone to find and use open source medical image data. Methods: Information about publicly available medical image databases was collected by searching for scientific papers and Internet search engines. Based on the collected information, the number of databases and the number of images were counted for different diseases, body parts, imaging modalities, and countries. Results: Cancer, particularly breast cancer and lung cancer, ranked top in database numbers among all diseases. The breast, brain, lung, and chest are the top four body parts in terms of database numbers. Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and X-ray are the most common imaging modalities in the open source datasets. The USA and the Netherlands are the top two countries who own the most databases. Conclusions: The rankings for diseases and body parts were closely related to the diseases morbidity and the health-care expenditure of a country. The number of open sources of medical imaging databases is still growing; there is a need for continuous statistical research on their existence status in the coming years. The list of all the collected databases is opened on the Internet (https://docs.qq.com/sheet/DQWF0QlZKVHpHU1Za).
Insignificant Effects of Plasma Catecholamines on Dynamic Heart Rate Regulation by the Cardiac Sympathetic Nerve

Although plasma catecholamines such as norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (Epi) increase during severe exercise, the effects of high levels of plasma catecholamines on dynamic heart rate (HR) regulation by the cardiac sympathetic nerve remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of plasma catecholamines on the transfer function from sympathetic nerve stimulation to HR. In anesthetized rabbits, we randomly stimulated the right cardiac sympathetic nerve according to a binary white noise signal while measuring HR. The effects of intravenous NE administration at 1 and 10 mugmiddotkg-1middoth-1 were examined in 6 rabbits. The effects of intravenous Epi administration at 1 and 10 mugmiddotkg-1middoth-1 were examined in different 6 rabbits. Although plasma NE increased 10 times as high as the baseline level during the NE administration at mugmiddotkg-1middoth-1 , dynamic gain of the transfer function was not changed significantly (7.1plusmn1.2, 6.9plusmn1.1, and 7.7plusmn1.1 beatsmiddotmin-1middotHz-1). Similarly, although plasma Epi increased 10 times as high as the baseline level during the Epi administration at 10 mugmiddotkg-1middoth-1, dynamic gain of the transfer function was not changed significantly (7.5plusmn0.8, 7.9plusmn0.8, and 7.6plusmn1.2 beatsmiddotmin-1middotHz-1). In conclusion, plasma catecholamines of physiologically-relevant high concentrations did not interfere with the dynamic HR regulation by the cardiac sympathetic nerve
Chemotaxis of human granulocytes toward microfilariae of Onchocerca volvulus

Summary Migration of human peripheral blood granulocytes in response to microfilariae of O. volvulus was demonstrated using modified Boyden chambers. Granulocyte migration was significantly enhanced when microfilariae were preincubated with heat‐inactivated immune serum (ΔIS), then added to a fresh serum source (P <0.025). This effect was not seen when microfilariae were incubated in medium alone, in ΔIS alone, in ΔIS plus C4‐deficient guinea‐pig serum, or in fresh serum alone. There was no significant difference between the response of cells from O. volvulus‐infected donors and that of cells from normal volunteers. Likewise, there was no significant difference between the migratory response seen toward nodule‐ versus skin‐derived microfilariae. These results suggest that the host inflammatory response to O. volvulus microfilariae is mediated in part by chemotactic factors generated by antibody and complement interaction with the organism and, furthermore, that these factors are product(s) of classical complement pathway activation.
Evaluation of sexual function in hypertensive men receiving treatment: a review of current guidelines recommendation.

INTRODUCTION It has been suggested that some classes of antihypertensive drugs may induce or exacerbate sexual and/or erectile dysfunction (ED) more than others. Sexually related side effects of antihypertensive treatment may compromise patient's and partner's quality of life. Often, these side effects can lead to withdrawal or poor compliance with therapy resulting in abnormal blood pressure and associated morbidity. AIM The aim of this study was to evaluate whether hypertension clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) address ED and/or other sexual issues as either an adverse outcome of chosen therapy or as a factor to consider in treatment decision. METHODS Hypertension CPGs were identified by searching PubMed (from 2000 to current), the World Wide Web, bibliographies of retrieved guidelines, and official home pages of major medical societies. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The main outcome measures used for this study were guidelines assessment using a set of author-determined survey questions. RESULTS Twelve CPGs were identified and analyzed. From these 12, only three emphasized the importance of assessing sexual function prior to initiation and/or follow-up of antihypertensive therapy; only five described potential sexual side effects associated with some drugs; only two provided specific management recommendations on commencing antihypertensive therapy in sexually active men or those with preexisting ED and address the timeline of the potential drug-induced impairment of sexual function. CONCLUSIONS Only a minority of CPGs for the treatment of hypertension consider ED or other sexual issues as either an adverse outcome or as a factor to consider in treatment. Sexual function is an important aspect of quality of life for both the individual and his partner. It is therefore imperative to select therapy with the least possible potential for causing sexual sequelae and enable the best achievable balance between therapeutic efficacy, quality of life, and therapeutic compliance. Based on these results, our proposed algorithm attempts to effectively apply available evidence to clinical practice.
Using the Wash U Epigenome Browser to Examine Genome‐Wide Sequencing Data

This unit describes the Wash U Epigenome Browser, a next‐generation genomic data visualization system. The Browser currently hosts ENCODE and Roadmap Epigenomics data for human and model organisms. The Browser displays many sequencing‐based data sets across all or part of the genome, on specific gene sets or pathways, and in the context of their metadata. Investigators can order, filter, aggregate, classify, and display data interactively based on given feature sets including metadata features, annotated biological pathways, and user‐defined collections of genes or genomic coordinates. Further, statistical tests can be performed on selected data. Individual labs can upload their sequencing or array‐based data as custom tracks and display them in the context of consortium data, allowing for direct comparisons. The Browser is an increasingly important and widely accessible tool for deriving biological insights from unprecedented amounts of high‐quality genomic, epigenomic, and expression data. Curr. Protoc. Bioinform. 40:10.10. 1‐10.10. 14. © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A 4.2 mW 5.7-GHz frequency synthesizer with dynamic-logic (TSPC) frequency divider

This paper presents a Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) used as a frequency synthesizer for a radio-frequency (RF) transceiver for use in the 5.7 ISM band, which were designed in the UMC RF 0.18 µm CMOS process. The PLL produces a set of different 16 digitally programmable frequencies in the [5424; 5830 MHz] frequency range. The low-power operation is achieved with the use of dynamic logic in the feedback path. Simulations shown a total power consumption of 4.2 mW. Target applications are wireless sensors and microsystems applications that need RF transceivers for operation in the 5.7 GHz band.
Additive insulinotropic effects of exogenous synthetic human gastric inhibitory polypeptide and glucagon-like peptide-1-(7-36) amide infused at near-physiological insulinotropic hormone and glucose concentrations.

Gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1-(7-36) amide (GLP-1) are glucose-dependent insulinotropic gut hormones that may explain the greater insulin secretory response with oral compared to i.v. glucose (incretin effect). To study their individual and combined contributions, in eight healthy volunteers, on separate occasions, synthetic human GIP (1 pmol/kg.min) and/or GLP-1 (0.3 pmol/kg.min) or placebo were infused i.v. (-30 to 120 min), while at 0 min, a glucose infusion "isoglycemic" to the profile after an oral glucose load of 50 g/400 mL was started. After the administration of 50 g oral glucose, immunoreactive GIP rose several-fold to 337 +/- 43 pmol/L, while there was only a transient (10-30 min) and moderate increment in immunoreactive GLP-1 (from basal, 25-30, to 41 +/- 4 pmol/L). Isoglycemic i.v. glucose infusions led to smaller B-cell responses (estimated incretin effect, 41 +/- 5%). With single infusions of GIP or GLP-1 (circulating concentrations, 464 +/- 73 and 54 +/- 3 pmol/L, respectively), B-cell responses were significantly augmented compared to i.v. glucose alone and were no longer significantly different from those after oral glucose. The combination of GIP and GLP-1 led to B-cell responses that were significantly higher than those with either hormone alone (additive mode of cooperation). Plasma GIP concentrations were similar after endogenous secretion (oral glucose) and i.v. infusion, while exogenously administered GLP-1 led to plasma levels that were maintained at an elevated level for a longer period during exogenous infusion than after stimulation by oral glucose. When, in seven volunteers, a lower dose (0.15 pmol/kg.min) of GLP-1 was infused during isoglycemic glucose infusion experiments only for the duration of elevated plasma levels in the oral glucose challenges (0-30 min), a significant, but transient, increment in insulin and C-peptide concentrations was observed, which was equivalent to 26 +/- 10% of the estimated incretin effect. Therefore, in conclusion, circulating GIP seems to make a major contribution to the incretin effect after oral glucose, and GLP-1 appears to mediate a smaller proportion. GIP and GLP-1 can interact in an additive manner in normal man.
Immunity to onchocerciasis: putative immune persons produce a Th1-like response to Onchocerca volvulus.

Immunity to Onchocerca volvulus (Ov) infection is suggested by the presence of putatively immune (PI) subjects in a region of Ecuador in which Ov is endemic. PI subjects were identified by traditional diagnostic methods combined with a polymerase chain reaction-based assay for Ov DNA in skin snips. Responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from the PI group (n = 16) were compared with those of persons with active infection (microfiladermic [MF] subjects; n = 51). PBMC of PI subjects proliferated significantly more to Ov antigen (OvAg; P < .009) than did PBMC of MF persons but less to streptolysin-O (P < .001). Cytokine analysis of PBMC culture supernatants revealed that PI subjects (n = 11) produced significantly more interferon-gamma to OvAg than did those in the MF group (n = 18; P = .018), less interleukin (IL)-5 to nonparasite antigen (P = .003) and mitogen (P = .012), and less IL-10 spontaneously (P = .016). Thus, immunity to Ov may in part be mediated by an antigen-specific Th1-type response.
Chitosan hydrogel: Its applications in medicine and dentistry

Since times immemorial, there has been an interactive interdependence of man on nature. The world of technology has overpowered him, yet technology and nature go hand in hand to help mankind fulfill his day-to-day necessities. The developing civilization has once again led to a quest to turn to nature in search for materials that are ecofriendly and economical. Chitosan is one such polymer. The combination of properties of chitosan such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, nontoxicity, and antibacterial properties open many possibilities for its application in medicine and dentistry. This article overviews the applications of chitosan in the form of hydrogels that can be applied effectively and give promising results for target delivery of drugs, the reduction of toxicity, and its uses focused towards the advancement of dentistry.
Efficacy of bismuth-based triple therapy in children with abdominal pain and Helicobacter pylori gastritis.

BACKGROUND To evaluate the effect of a therapeutic regimen of 7 days versus 14 days on the clinical manifestations of Helicobacter pylori gastritis in children. METHODS Ninety children (age 2-19 years) who had abdominal pain and/or recurrent vomiting were determined to have H. pylori gastritis by endoscopy, histology, and a Giemsa stain positive for H. pylori. The patients were randomized to receive amoxicillin, metronidazole, and bismuth subcitrate for 7 days (group A; 45 children) or 14 days (group B; 45 children) and were observed clinically for 19 +/- 11.5 months. Resolution of all abdominal and gastrointestinal symptoms was considered a good response. RESULTS A good response was obtained in 36 (80%) children from group A, and in 37 (82%) from group B. A recurrence of symptoms occurred in four (11%) of the responders from group A, and in six (15.2%) from group B. CONCLUSIONS A 7-day course of bismuth-based triple therapy for H. pylori gastritis in children appears to be clinically as effective as a 14-day regimen. The feasibility of a shorter therapeutic regimen may enhance patient compliance and provide a better chance of clinical benefit.