Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Frequency of Dilated Diabetic Eye Examinations by Optometrists in the State of Ohio

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to assess optometric care of diabetic patients. The American Optometric Association recommends dilated eye examinations at least once a year for people with diabetes. Methods. Onsite chart reviews of 1497 diabetic patient charts were performed at a volunteer sample of Ohio-based optometric practices (n = 82). Four percent of all optometrists in the state of Ohio were surveyed. Data were collected from a 10-year period and included doctor age, membership in the Ohio Optometric Association (OOA) Diabetes Initiative, patient age, date of examinations, chief complaints, and dilation at examination. The primary outcome of the study was the frequency of dilated eye examination for diabetic patients by optometrists. Results. Optometrists dilated 85.8% of diabetic patients at their last comprehensive examination. The percentage of diabetic patients dilated by optometrists increased from 40.0% in 1994 to 91.5% in 2003. The average time since last comprehensive eye examination for diabetic patients was 1.0 ± 1.8 (mean ± standard deviation) years. Diabetic patients who were dilated at a comprehensive eye examination returned to care on average 0.7 years sooner than those who were not dilated. Doctor-level factors related to a higher average percentage of dilations were younger doctor age (&bgr; = −6.1%/10 years of doctor age; 95% confidence interval [CI], −10.1 to −2.1) and membership in the OOA Diabetes Initiative (&bgr; = 11.6%; 95% CI, 2.3 to 20.8). Conclusions. There is variability in diabetic eye care by optometrists. However, the majority of optometrists surveyed in this study provided dilated eye examinations for their diabetic patients. Programs desiring to increase compliance to diabetic standard of care guidelines may benefit by targeting both doctors and patients.
Equalization strategies for 25G PON

We explore performance limits of equalization strategies on bandwidth-constrained NRZ transmission. Without pre-emphasis FFE/DFE equalizers achieve excellent link performance at normalized bandwidths 0.45 to 0.65. Signal pre-emphasis with FFE/DFE enables link operation at bandwidth 0.25.
Quality assessment of meat in relation to colour and muscle fiber types.

The current study was premeditated to evaluate meat quality based on its colour and fiber types. The meat samples were analyzed for its chemical constituents (ash, crude protein, crude fat, moisture) and quality parameters like pH, colour, and water holding capacity, cooking loss, drip loss and tenderness. The moisture content of meat cuts was found between 74.46-76.78%. The crude protein content was observed from 22.78-24.20%. The crude fat content was ranged from 5.70-9.76%. The ash content was 1.77-1.98%. The pH content was observed 5.80-5.90%. The color content was varied 39-42 for L*(lightness), 20-23 for a*(redness) and 5-7 for b*(yellowness). The cooking loss was found between 33-37%. The muscle fiber types are varied between three cuts, Type I was high in rib cut 62%, types IIA was high in round cut 24% and type IIB was high in sirloin cut 55%. Finally, Data obtained was subjected to statistical analysis.
Therapeutic Use of Antithrombin Concentrate in Sepsis

Sepsis and its associated complications of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) continue to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Improved detection of all forms of DIC is essential to assure earlier diagnosis. Studies already indicate that the therapeutic use of antithrombin (AT) concentrate may produce a more positive outcome for sepsis-associated DIC. If DIC could be identified earlier and AT concentrate could then be given earlier in the sepsis continuum, study results for the use of AT concentrate in humans might reveal a statistically significant difference versus placebo, and the efficacy of AT concentrate for this syndrome is more likely to be proved. Fixed-bolus doses of AT concentrate based on body weight are currently preferred, but improved, user-friendly assays for plasma AT levels would permit more rapid turnaround time for AT results and could help fine-tune the use of AT concentrate to the specific needs of each patient. Clinical trials involving the therapeutic use of AT concentrate in sepsis should continue, and it can be hoped that their design will reflect the concepts and conclusions offered by this panel of investigators.
GABA and Epilepsy: Their Complex Relationship and the Evolution of Our Understanding

Because of its abundance in the brain, its ability to produce hyperpolarizing inhibition of almost all neurons, its association with benzodiazepines, and the discovery that many convulsants inhibited its synthesis, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) has often appeared to be the key to epilepsy. Many assumed that "primary" or "genetic" epilepsy must be a disorder of GABA synapses and that GABA agonists would be universal anticonvulsants if permeability and drug metabolism were controlled. The GABA synthetic gene was a logical "candidate gene" for epilepsy. However, the GABA-deficiency theory of epilepsy is less convincing today. GABA agonists were found to intensify seizures in some rodent and human cases. Absence and other generalized seizures in humans often worsened when treated with GABA transaminase inhibitors such as γ-vinyl-GABA. Surprisingly, the GABA transaminase inhibitors appear to be more useful in partial than in generalized epilepsies. Neuronal GABA uptake blockers are proconvulsant. GABA agonists aggravate seizures in several mutants, ranging from the photosensitive baboon to the genetically epilepsy-prone rat. How can this be understood? Muscimol injections into the pedunculopontine nucleus increase seizures due to systematically administered convulsants, while the receptor blocker bicuculline suppresses seizures after injection into several brain regions, including the striatum. The result of inhibiting inhibitory circuits is excitation. Studies with GABA uptake blockers and the GABAB agonist baclofen are presented in which their combined administration provoked seizures in rats. Baclofen was shown also to increase the incidence of seizures evoked by pentylenetetrazole without increasing seizures due to local injections of excitatory amino acids. Baclofen antagonized the myoclonic effect of 5-hydroxytryptophan in rats with serotonin lesions. Baclofen augments some seizures and inhibits others. Selective inhibition of a particular tract, whether GABAergic or not, may have convulsant or anticonvulsant effects, depending on its connections and the state of the organism. GABA A receptor stimulation is usually but not always anticonvulsant. GABA B receptor stimulation may facilitate absence seizures and related primary generalized seizures. GABAB receptors may be abnormal in some forms of nonfocal epilepsy seen in childhood. It is likely that mutations of GABA transporter and GABAA receptor genes will be found in humans but they will probably not be patients with "pure epilepsy. " (J Child Neurol 1992;7:77-86).
Understanding Nike's "Considered Index" Green Initiative Using the Technology-Organization-Environment Framework

This study explains the implementation of an environmental management information system that supports the sustainability goals of Nike using the technology-organization-environment (TOE) framework of Tornatzky and Fleischer. Literature review is applied to a single firm in using the TOE framework, with particular emphasis on the technological context of the framework. The use of Nike’s firm level decision support systems is highlighted in this study. Suggestions are made about improving Nike's Material Sustainability Index (MSI), its key sustainability tool, which is at the heart of the firm's group decision support system tool.
Continuance intention of blog users: the impact of perceived enjoyment, habit, user involvement and blogging time

The purpose of this study is to understand factors that affect continuance intention of a popular hedonic information system, blogs. The expectation-confirmation theory (ECT) is adapted with perceived enjoyment, habit and user involvement. Data was collected via an online survey. A total of 430 valid responses were collected. The research model was assessed by structural equation modelling (SEM). The results show that continuance intention of blog use was predicted collectively by user involvement, satisfaction and perceived enjoyment. Habit, however, exhibited no strong relationship with satisfaction and use intention. Users' satisfaction with blog use was predicted primarily by perceived enjoyment, followed by users' confirmation of expectation and user involvement. Perceived enjoyment was predicted by users' involvement and users' confirmation of expectation. Blogging time significantly moderates the effect of habit on perceived enjoyment, but not on satisfaction and continuance intention. The integrated model explains 65% of the satisfaction and 57% of continuance intention. The results suggest that integrating perceived enjoyment and user involvement into the ECT provides better insights into continuous use in the blog context.
An Algorithmic Framework for Malicious Software Detection Exploring Structural Characteristics of Behavioral Graphs

In this paper, we present the development of an algorithmic framework for the behavioral detection of malicious software utilizing a set of measurements to explore the structural characteristics of behavioral graphs. We first present the construction of the Group Relation Graphs produced by a specific type of behavioral graphs, the so called System-call Dependency Graphs obtained through taint-analysis after the execution of a malicious sample. Then, we discuss the utilization of a set of measurements applied to compute the structural characteristics of Group Relation Graphs, namely the application of the Page Rank algorithm on such graphs and the Betweeness Centrality on the vertices of the graph. We present the architecture of our proposed framework and how we deploy the computation of similarity metrics in order to measure the closeness between such characteristics exhibited among malicious and benign samples in order to perform the malware detection process. Finally, we proceed to a series of experiments in order to evaluate through five-fold cross validation the detection ability of our proposed model and prove its potentials against a set of System-call Dependency Graphs to distinguishing malicious from benign software samples.
pH 4.0

Based on clinical experience, a pH of 4.0 has been established as a critical value for the treatment of reflux esophagitis [1]. The important role of gastric acidity in gastroesophageal reflux disease has been demonstrated both by esophageal pH-metry [2] and by showing an increased frequency of gastroesophageal reflux disease in patients with increased gastric acid secretion [3]. Nevertheless, gastroesophageal reflux disease is not primarily caused by increased gastric acid secretion, as functional incompetence of the gastroesophageal sphincter seems to be the most common cause of reflux disease [4]. Sphincter incompetence, however, does not cause much harm if the gastric juice does not have a pH below 4.0. Compared with a pH of 1.0, which can normally be found, a rise in pH to 4.0 represents a reduction in H concentration to 1/1000. It may seem strange that such an impressive reduction in gastric acidity is required for healing and maintaining a healed esophagus. However, this is explained by the fact that gastric juice is a unique combination of acid and a proteolytic enzyme, pepsin, which has a low pH optimum and loses enzymatic activity steeply with increasing pH at around pH 4.0 [5]. In other words, the noxious agent in gastric juice is not primarily H , but instead pepsin. Unfortunately, but naturally, the main function of gastric juice, i.e. killing swallowed microorganisms, is markedly reduced at the same pH 4.0 level [6,7], reflecting the biological significance of keeping gastric juice below pH 4.0. Gastric pH is maintained below this level in normal individuals, also during and after meals [8]. Regulation of gastrin release is important in maintaining gastric acidity, and interestingly, H inhibits gastrin release up to pH 4.0 [9]. It may therefore be concluded that the organism tries to maintain gastric pH below 4.0, probably to preserve the ability to kill swallowed microorganisms, and in this process pepsin plays a central role. Unfortunately, pepsin seems to be equally important in the pathogenesis of reflux disease. Raising pH above 4.0 will correspondingly reduce the normal biological function of gastric juice, i.e. killing microorganisms. Moreover, unrestricted gastrin release will induce hypergastrinemia and secondary growth disturbances, particularly of the target cell, the enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cell. These physiological considerations should be borne in mind when treating patients with reflux esophagitis. The fact that patients with pernicious anemia apparently do well despite being anacidic should not delude the clinician into believing that gastric acidity has no biological function. It is a fact that pernicious anemia is a disease of old age and that many infectious diseases have a much longer incubation time than was previously realized. In conclusion, essential processes within gastric physiology and pathology seem to revolve around pH 4.0 and raising the pH above 4.0 has desirable and undesirable [10] consequences.
Knowledge , Attitude and Behaviour of Asthmatic Patients Regarding Asthma in Primary Care Setting in Abu Dhabi , United Arab Emirates

Background: Adequate knowledge, positive attitude and behaviour as well as proper inhaler use of asthmatic patients are prerequisites for optimal management of bronchial asthma. Objectives: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of patients with asthma with respect to their disease and to examine their skills in using inhaled medications. Patients and methods: In a cross sectional analytic study, a sample of 100 asthmatic patients was selected from patients attending Al Bateen Family Medicine clinic in Abu Dhabi during the period from August 2011 to July 2012. Inclusion Criteria were adult patients known asthmatic for one year or more; patients using inhalers or Diskus inhaler Informed consent was obtained from every patient who agreed to enrol in the study. Each patient responded to a structured questionnaire assessing his/her knowledge about asthma aetiology, pathophysiology, symptoms, treatment and triggering factors; and evaluating his/her attitude and behaviour regarding asthma diagnosis, inhalers, anti-inflammatory drugs and non-medical methods of treatment , and assessment of their inhaler skills. Results: There were 52% males and 48% females enrolled in the study. The main sources of information about asthma were health workers (56%) and Newspapers and magazines (18%). 70% believed that asthma can be life threatening; asthma was believed to be initiated by infections in 86% of patients and weather changes by 49%. The reasons for acute exacerbations were perfumes (87%) and upper respiratory tract infection (86%). About 59% of the patients did not use inhaled preventers regularly when prescribed because they believe that inhaled therapy is habit forming; (34%) felt uncomfortable taking asthma medication at work or public places or away from home, and 42% of patients avoided exercise due to fear of acute exacerbations. There were (71%) using MDI, (28%) using Diskus inhaler and (13%) using turbo haler. Only a few patients had the correct skills using Metered-Dose Inhaler ( MDI), Discus or turbo haler; the mean score of correct use of MDI was 5+. 47 out of 8; the mean score of correct use of discus was 4+. 82 out of 7; the mean score of correct use of turbo haler was 3+ 0.67 out of 6. Most patients did not use peak flow meter (PFM) in asthma management. About 5% of asthmatic patients tried non-medical methods for the purpose of cure. These included traditional healers. Conclusion: Asthmatic patients in Bateen Clinic have false beliefs and poor inhaler skills about asthma management. Most of them use inhalers for treatment of asthma attacks and less than half do not use preventers regularly when prescribed. Most patients believe that preventer therapy lead to its addiction; most of them are lacking inhaler skills especially coordination actuation with inhalation; most patients avoid exercise to avoid acute exacerbations. Patients’ ideas, concerns and fears regarding asthma management should be explored during consultation; inhaler skills should be reviewed also in each visit.
El futuro de la economía internacional

El trabajo sobre el futuro de la economia internacional pretende, de un lado, hacer hincapie en la dificultad de efectuar una prognosis a largo plazo, dada la crisis que afecta a la mayor parte de las economias; y, del otro, senalar que existen tendencias que, probablemente, se mantendran a lo largo de los anos e iran configurando una economia mundial diferente a la que hoy conocemos. No es facil que la lucha por las fuentes energeticas vaya a desaparecer en un futuro proximo, no parece que el crecimiento de los grandes paises asiaticos vaya a frenarse, aunque su ritmo disminuya; los flujos migratorios dificilmente se reduciran, en un mundo de rentas muy dispares, y la evolucion demografica, caracterizada en casi todas partes, por la caida de las tasas de fertilidad y el aumento de la esperanza de vida, ira perfilando, tambien en todas partes, un mundo de ancianos y, sobre todo, de ancianas.
Lower airway obstruction, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and primary pulmonary hypertension in children

We investigated the prevalence and reversibility of lower airway obstruction (LAO) and its correlation with pulmonary artery pressure in children with primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH). The analysis was performed retrospectively in a cohort of children with PPH between 5–18 years of age. PPH was defined as mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAPm) >25 mmHg at rest, or >30 mmHg during exercise, with normal pulmonary capillary wedge pressure in the absence of other causes. Lower airway function was assessed by spirometry and maximal expiratory flow‐volume curves. Lung volumes were measured by body plethysmography. Patients were assigned according to their pattern of lung function into “normal,” “obstructive,” and “restrictive” groups. The reversibility of LAO was defined as an increase of ≥15% from baseline in forced expiratory volume at 1 sec (FEV1) and/or ≥20% in forced expiratory flow at 25–75% of forced vital capacity (FEF25–75%) in response to nebulized albuterol. An “obstructive” pattern was found in 23 children (59%), a “restrictive” pattern in 2 children (5%), and a “normal” pattern in 14 children (36%). Response to bronchodilator was documented in 78% of children with an “obstructive” pattern and in 22% of those with a “normal” pattern. The PAPm showed a significant positive correlation with the TLC, RV, and RV/TLC, but a negative one with the ratio FEV1/FVC. Our findings suggest that reversible LAO is the most common lung function abnormality among pediatric patients with PPH. Whether airway reactivity is a cause of or the result of PPH remains to be determined. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2004; 37:50–55. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
FOMP: A Novel Preprocessing Technique to Speed-Up the Outlier Removal from Matched Points

Image matching plays a major role in many applications, including pattern recognition and biomedical imaging. It encompasses three steps: 1) interest point selection, 2) feature extraction from each interest point, 3) features point matching. For steps 1 and 2, traditional interest point detectors/extractors have worked well. However, for step 3 even a few points incorrectly matched (outliers), might lead to an undesirable result. State-of-the-art consensus algorithms present a high time cost as the number of outlier increases. Aimed at overcoming this problem, we present FOMP, a novel preprocessing approach, that reduces the amount of outliers in the initial set of matched points by filtering out the vertices that present a higher difference among their edges in a complete graph representation of the points. The precision of traditional methods is kept, while the time is speed up in 50%. The approach removes, in average, more than 65% of outliers, while keeping over 98% of the inliers.
Cholinesterase-based biosensors

Abstract Recently, cholinesterase-based biosensors are widely used for assaying anticholinergic compounds. Primarily biosensors based on enzyme inhibition are useful analytical tools for fast screening of inhibitors, such as organophosphates and carbamates. The present review is aimed at compilation of the most important facts about cholinesterase based biosensors, types of physico-chemical transduction, immobilization strategies and practical applications.
Intraductal carcinoma of the prostate: a distinct histopathological entity with important prognostic implications

Intraductal carcinoma of the prostate (IDCP) has been described as a lesion associated with poor prognostic features in prostate cancer. Its recognition and reporting in prostate specimens, particularly in needle biopsies, is critical as it carries significant implications for patient management. Recent histological definitions have been proposed to assist in the recognition of IDCP and to help distinguish it from lesions with similar appearance, but different clinical behaviour. In this review, a historical overview of the description of IDCP will be presented followed by a summary of the current histological diagnostic criteria and the recommendations for management and reporting of IDCP.
How a universal music education program affects time use , behavior , and school attitude

It is still widely debated how non-cognitive skills can be affected by policy intervention. For example, universal music education programs are becoming increasingly popular among policy makers in Germany and other developed countries. These are intended to give children from poor families the opportunity to learn a musical instrument. Moreover, policymakers present these programs as innovative policies that are important for the personality development of young children. However, the effects of universal music education on such outcomes are not yet sufficiently studied. This paper analyses the Jedem Kind ein Instrument (an instrument for every child) program in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. To do so, data from the German household panel studies SOEP and FiD are combined with regional data on primary and music schools. Using a difference-in-differences estimator, I show that the program successfully increases music participation among disadvantaged children. It does so more effectively than the alternative policy of reducing fees at public music schools. I further find that participation reduces conduct problems and improves student teacher relationships, especially among boys. JEL classification: I21, J24, Z18
On the Design of Schematic Transport Maps

Abstract Schematic drawings of route directions are one of the most common forms of graphic communication. People make sketches to communicate geographical ideas, and professionally designed schematic maps give orientation to thousands of users of a public transport system. Creating a schematic map for representing a transport network may be seen as a straightforward task; however, the underlying design of such maps can be quite complex. Map designers apply, consciously or subconsciously, various cartographic generalization techniques to emphasize important information and to improve the clarity of map content. At present, traditional mapping and GIS literature offers very little guidance to a map designer seeking cartographic rules or practical ideas for representing the elaborate route data of public transport systems schematically. This article aims to contribute to the design challenges of schematic, route-based mapping. Information about schematic maps and symbolization of route-based data is given.