Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact of bilateral visual impairment on health-related quality of life: the Blue Mountains Eye Study.

PURPOSE To assess the impact of visual impairment on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in an older population and compare it with the impact of major medical conditions. METHODS Participants of the second cross-sectional Blue Mountains Eye Study (BMES; n = 3509; mean age, 66.7 years; 57% female) were asked to complete the self-administered 36-item Short-Form health survey (SF-36), a comprehensive interview, and an eye examination. Visual impairment was defined as visual acuity less than 20/40 (better eye). RESULTS Of 3154 (89.9%) participants with complete data, 172 (5.5%) had visual impairment due to refractive errors (correctable visual impairment) and 66 (2.1%) due to eye conditions (noncorrectable visual impairment; 49 mild, 9 moderate, 8 severe). After adjustment for demographic and medical confounders, there was a trend toward lower SF-36 scores in participants with noncorrectable impairment than in those with correctable impairment (physical component score [PCS] Ptrend = 0.01 and mental component score [MCS] Ptrend = 0.02). Increasingly severe noncorrectable visual impairment was associated with significantly poorer SF-36 scores in all but two dimensions. The impact of noncorrectable visual impairment was comparable to that from major medical conditions (e.g., stroke) and had a greater impact on mental than physical domains (mean MCS = 46.2, PCS = 41). No significant differences in HRQOL were demonstrated between visual impairment cases caused by age-related maculopathy and cataract, after adjusting for severity of visual impairment. CONCLUSIONS Noncorrectable visual impairment was associated with reduced functional status and well-being, with a magnitude comparable to major medical conditions. These data have implications for disability weights such as those developed by the Global Burden of Disease study.
Intraflagellar Protein 88 Interactome Analysis: A Bioinformatics Approach Highlights Its Role in Testis and Sperm Function

Intraflagellar transport (IFT) is essential for cilium and flagellar assembly. This movement is accomplished by two IFT complexes: A and B. IFT88, intraflagellar protein 88, is a core element of IFT complex B. This protein has been linked to migration, to olfactory function, spindle formation and to mitosis. Recently, IFT88 was identified as a TCTEX1D4 interacting protein in human testis, suggesting a role in male reproduction. To broaden the knowledge on IFT88 function, particularly in testis and spermatozoa, an in silico analysis of IFT88 and IFT88 interactome was undertaken. IFT88 appears to be prone to protein-protein interactions, involved in spermatogenesis and since it interacts with key proteins related to male fertility, it may have a role in reproduction.
Further Experience with Prolonged Therapeutic Starvation in Gross Refractory Obesity

Twenty-five patients suffering from gross refractory obesity agreed to be starved in hospital until they weighed not more than 25% over their ideal weight. Two discharged themselves prematurely, four defaulted from follow-up, and seven who for various reasons were discharged before completing their treatment have since regained weight. After a mean follow-up period of nearly 18 months 8 of the remaining 12 remained near their weight on discharge. Some kind of initial psychological assessment might improve these results, but prolonged therapeutic starvation may be of value in young patients with gross refractory obesity who are psychologically suitable and socially able to undergo such treatment.
Peginterferon-alpha2a and ribavirin combination therapy in chronic hepatitis C: a randomized study of treatment duration and ribavirin dose.

BACKGROUND Treatment with pegylated interferon (peginterferon) and ribavirin for 48 weeks is more effective than conventional interferon and ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis C. OBJECTIVE To assess the efficacy and safety of 24 or 48 weeks of treatment with peginterferon-alpha2a plus a low or standard dose of ribavirin. DESIGN Randomized, double-blind trial. SETTING 99 international centers. PATIENTS 1311 patients with chronic hepatitis C. INTERVENTION Peginterferon-alpha2a, 180 microg/wk, for 24 or 48 weeks plus a low-dose (800 mg/d) or standard weight-based dose (1000 or 1200 mg/d) of ribavirin. MEASUREMENT Sustained virologic response: undetectable HCV RNA concentration at the end of treatment and during 12 to 24 weeks of follow-up. RESULTS Overall and in patients infected with HCV genotype 1, 48 weeks of treatment was statistically superior to 24 weeks and standard-dose ribavirin was statistically superior to low-dose ribavirin. In patients with HCV genotype 1, absolute differences in sustained virologic response rates between 48 and 24 weeks of treatment were 11.2% (95% CI, 3.6% to 18.9%) and 11.9% (CI, 4.7% to 18.9%), respectively, between standard- and low-dose ribavirin. Sustained virologic response rates for peginterferon-alpha2a and standard-dose ribavirin for 48 weeks were 63% (CI, 59% to 68%) overall and 52% (CI, 46% to 58%) in patients with HCV genotype 1. In patients with HCV genotypes 2 or 3, the sustained virologic response rates in the 4 treatment groups were not statistically significantly different. CONCLUSION Treatment with peginterferon-alpha2a and ribavirin may be individualized by genotype. Patients with HCV genotype 1 require treatment for 48 weeks and a standard dose of ribavirin; those with HCV genotypes 2 or 3 seem to be adequately treated with a low dose of ribavirin for 24 weeks.
Data Intermixing and Multi‐volume Rendering

The main difference between multi‐volume rendering and mono‐volume rendering is data intermixing. In this paper, we present three levels of data intermixing and their rendering pipelines in direct multi‐volume rendering, which discriminate image level intensity intermixing, accumulation level opacity intermixing, and illumination model level parameter intermixing. In the context of radiotherapy treatment planning, different data intermixing methods are applied to three volumes, including CT volume, Dose volume, and Segmentation volume, to compare the features of different data intermixing methods.
Dynamic Frequency Selection Based on Carrier Pricing between Cells

We discuss a distributed utility-based algorithm for downlink carrier allocation in a multi-carrier system. The proposed dynamic frequency selection (DFS) algorithm aims to maximize the sum utility of the whole system. To achieve this goal, each base station (BS) selects the carrier allocation strategy to maximize a surplus function comprising both own cell utility and utility prices received from the neighbors. Universal reuse is used as a baseline for comparison. Four different utility functions are considered: mean-rate, weighted fair-rate, proportional fair-rate and max-min. A dense femto deployment scenario is used to evaluate the performance of DFS. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm is effective in predicting the capacity gain/loss in the system. DFS enhances not only the sum data rate of a system but also the degree of fairness in resource sharing among users.
An epidemiologic study of risk factors for deep vein thrombosis in medical outpatients: the Sirius study.

BACKGROUND Little information is available concerning risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE) in nonhospitalized patients. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS An epidemiologic case-control study of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) risk factors was conducted in 1272 outpatients by general practitioners. The case population (636 patients presenting with DVT) was paired with the control population (636 patients presenting with influenzal or rhinopharyngeal syndrome) according to sex and age. Deep vein thrombosis was to be documented by at least 1 objective test. Risk factors were classified into "intrinsic" ("permanent") and "triggering" ("transient") factors and were evidenced using univariate analysis. RESULTS In the medical population, defined as patients who had not undergone surgery or application of a plaster cast to the lower extremities within the 3 weeks preceding inclusion (494 cases and 494 controls), intrinsic factors such as history of VTE, venous insufficiency, chronic heart failure, obesity, immobile standing position, history of more than 3 pregnancies, and triggering factors such as pregnancy, violent effort, or muscular trauma, deterioration of general condition, immobilization, long-distance travel, and infectious disease were significantly more frequent in the case patients than in the controls (odds ratio, >1; P<.05). In the overall population, additional risk factors were cancer, blood group A, plaster cast of the lower extremities, and surgery. In both populations, the number of risk factors per patient was greater in the case patients than in the controls. CONCLUSION Several risk factors for DVT were identified in medical outpatients presenting with DVT, and their comprehension may improve appropriateness and efficiency of the different methods available for thromboprophylaxis. Arch Intern Med. 2000;160:3415-3420.
Review and Unification of Methods for Computing Derivatives of Multidisciplinary Systems

This paper presents a comprehensive review of all the options available for computing derivatives of multidisciplinary systems in a unified mathematical framework. The basic building blocks for computing derivatives are first introduced: finite differencing, the complex-step method and symbolic differentiation. A generalized chain rule is derived from which it is possible to derive both algorithmic differentiation and analytic methods. This generalized chain rule is shown to have two forms — a forward form and a reverse form — which correspond to the forward and reverse modes in algorithmic differentiation and the direct and adjoint approaches in analytic methods. Finally, the theory is extended to methods for computing derivatives of multidisciplinary systems, and several new insights are provided.
A probabilistic segment model combining lexical cohesion and disruption for topic segmentation (Un modèle segmental probabiliste combinant cohésion lexicale et rupture lexicale pour la segmentation thématique) [in French]

L'identification d'une structure thematique dans des donnees textuelles quelconques est une tâche difficile. La plupart des techniques existantes reposent soit sur la maximisation d'une mesure de cohesion lexicale au sein d'un segment, soit sur la detection de ruptures lexicales. Nous proposons une nouvelle technique combinant ces deux criteres de maniere a obtenir le meilleur compromis entre cohesion et rupture. Nous definissons un nouveau modele probabiliste, fonde sur l'approche proposee par Utiyama et Isahara (2001), en preservant les proprietes d'independance au domaine et de faible a priori de cette derniere. Des evaluations sont menees sur des textes ecrits et sur des transcriptions automatiques de la parole a la television, transcriptions qui ne respectent pas les normes des textes ecrits, ce qui accroit la difficulte. Les resultats experimentaux obtenus demontrent la pertinence de la combinaison des criteres de cohesion et de rupture.
Aflatoxin-induced Hepatic Tumorigenesis Transient Intervention with Oltipraz Protects against

Oltipraz [5-(2-pyrazinyl)-4-methyl-l,2-dithiole-3-thione] protects against aflatoxin B,-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in rats when fed before and during carcinogen exposure; however, such an exposure-chemoprotection intervention paradigm is not directly relevant to most human populations. To model and assess the possible efficacy of short term in terventions targeted at individuals at risk for sustained exposure to afiatoxins, 175-g male F344 rats were treated daily with 25 ug of aflatoxin It,, P.O. , for 28 days. One week after the start of aflatoxin lÃ¬, exposure, half of the animals were fed a diet supplemented with 0.075% oltipraz for 10 days; these rats were then restored to the unsupplemented AIN-76A diet for the remainder of the experimental period. Livers were analyzed 2 or 3 months after the last aflatoxin li, dose for burden of glutathione S-transferase P (GST-P)-positive foci, as an index of presumptive preneoplastic tumors. The transient intervention with oltipraz reduced the volume per cent of hepatic GST-P-positive foci by 54% (P = 0.047) and 72% (P = 0.004) at 2 and 3 months, respectively. A strong positive correlation was also observed between the extent of fibrosis in the livers of these animals and the hepatic burden of GST-P-positive foci, implying that cytotoxicity is associated with the tumorigenic process. This protection may reflect alterations in the metabolism and disposition of aflatoxin It, induced by oltipraz. Glutathione S-transferases catalyze the detoxication of aflatoxin8,9-oxide and were found to be rapidly induced in the livers of animals after the beginning of the oltipraz intervention. Glutathione S-transferase activity remained significantly (P < 0.05) higher until 9 days after the end of the oltipraz intervention. In contrast, levels of hepatic aflatoxin-DNA aildiu is were not significantly reduced until 4 days after the beginning of the intervention but remained significantly (P < 0.05) lower up to 11 days after the end of the intervention. The cumulative reduction in levels of hepatic aflatoxin-DNA adducts (â€”25%) by the oltipraz intervention un derestimated the reduction in the hepatic burden of GST-P-positive foci. The significant protection against presumptive preneoplastic tumors, de spite the delay of intervention, suggests that oltipraz may exert substantial activity against the cytotoxic and autopromoting action of repeated expo sures to aflatoxin It, and supports the utility of intervention trials with oltipraz in individuals chronically consuming aflatoxin B,-contaminated foods, particularly in regions with high incidences of liver cancer.
PROPER MOTIONS OF THE ARCHES CLUSTER WITH KECK LASER GUIDE STAR ADAPTIVE OPTICS: THE FIRST KINEMATIC MASS MEASUREMENT OF THE ARCHES

We report the first detection of the intrinsic velocity dispersion of the Arches cluster—a young (∼2 Myr), massive (104 M☉) starburst cluster located only 26 pc in projection from the Galactic center. This was accomplished using proper motion measurements within the central 10″ × 10″ of the cluster, obtained with the laser guide star adaptive optics system at Keck Observatory over a three-year time baseline (2006–2009). This uniform data set results in proper motion measurements that are improved by a factor ∼5 over previous measurements from heterogeneous instruments. By careful, simultaneous accounting of the cluster and field contaminant distributions as well as the possible sources of measurement uncertainties, we estimate the internal velocity dispersion to be 0.15 ± 0.01 mas yr−1, which corresponds to 5.4 ± 0.4 km s−1 at a distance of 8.4 kpc. Projecting a simple model for the cluster onto the sky to compare with our proper motion data set, in conjunction with surface density data, we estimate the total present-day mass of the cluster to be M(r < 1.0 pc) = 1.5+0.74−0.60 × 104 M☉. The mass in stars observed within a cylinder of radius R (for comparison to photometric estimates) is found to be M(R < 0.4 pc) = 0.90+0.40−0.35 × 104 M☉ at formal 3σ confidence. This mass measurement is free from assumptions about the mass function of the cluster, and thus may be used to check mass estimates from photometry and simulation. Photometric mass estimates assuming an initially Salpeter mass function (Γ0 = 1.35, or Γ ∼ 1.0 at present, where dN/d(log M)∝MΓ) suggest a total cluster mass Mcl ∼ (4–6) × 104 M☉ and projected mass (∼ 2 ⩽ M(R < 0.4 pc) ⩽ 3) × 104 M☉. Photometric mass estimates assuming a globally top-heavy or strongly truncated present-day mass function (PDMF; with Γ ∼ 0.6) yield mass estimates closer to M(R < 0.4 pc) ∼ 1–1.2 × 104 M☉. Consequently, our results support a PDMF that is either top-heavy or truncated at low mass, or both. Collateral benefits of our data and analysis include: (1) cluster membership probabilities, which may be used to extract a clean-cluster sample for future photometric work; (2) a refined estimate of the bulk motion of the Arches cluster with respect to the field, which we find to be 172 ± 15 km s−1, which is slightly slower than suggested by previous measurements using one epoch each with the Very Large Telescope and the Keck telescope; and (3) a velocity dispersion estimate for the field itself, which is likely dominated by the inner Galactic bulge and the nuclear disk.
The invariant uridine of stop codons contacts the conserved NIKSR loop of human eRF1 in the ribosome

To unravel the region of human eukaryotic release factor 1 (eRF1) that is close to stop codons within the ribosome, we used mRNAs containing a single photoactivatable 4‐thiouridine (s4U) residue in the first position of stop or control sense codons. Accurate phasing of these mRNAs onto the ribosome was achieved by the addition of tRNAAsp. Under these conditions, eRF1 was shown to crosslink exclusively to mRNAs containing a stop or s4UGG codon. A procedure that yielded 32P‐labeled eRF1 deprived of the mRNA chain was developed; analysis of the labeled peptides generated after specific cleavage of both wild‐type and mutant eRF1s maps the crosslink in the tripeptide KSR (positions 63–65 of human eRF1) and points to K63 located in the conserved NIKS loop as the main crosslinking site. These data directly show the interaction of the N‐terminal (N) domain of eRF1 with stop codons within the 40S ribosomal subunit and provide strong support for the positioning of the eRF1 middle (M) domain on the 60S subunit. Thus, the N and M domains mimic the tRNA anticodon and acceptor arms, respectively.
Cardiac troponin elevations in patients without acute coronary syndrome.

Cardiac troponin T and troponin I are the most specific and sensitive laboratory markers of myocardial cell injury and therefore have replaced creatine kinase MB as the gold standard.1,2⇓ Accordingly, the new definition of acute myocardial infarctions was based on elevations of cardiac troponins in blood in the setting of ischemia.2 The compelling clinical value of troponins resides in its superior prognostic potential in predicting the outcome of patients presenting with symptoms of unstable angina.3 Therefore, the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology (AHA/ACC) Guidelines and the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Task Force Report on acute coronary syndromes without ST elevation have attributed troponin measurements a central role in the diagnostic work-up and therapeutic decision making.4,5⇓ It has been demonstrated that testing for troponins on admission and again after 6 to 12 hours provides better risk stratification than previously used algorithms based on the ECG and creatine kinase MB. The test results should be available within 30 to 60 minutes, because elevated troponins are helpful in identifying the patients who benefit most from early invasive strategies, glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antagonists, and low-molecular-weight heparins.5 See p 2941 Since their first introduction in the early nineties, troponin assays have been implemented in most emergency facilities as point-of-care tests or are offered on stat basis by the hospital central laboratories. Initially, there has been some confusion with regard to the correct cut-off values. Particularly irritating to many clinicians was the fact that the results with different troponin I assays were not comparable. This relates to the fact that the antibodies employed …
[Presence of anti hepatitis E virus antibodies in swine: is it an animal reservoir for hepatitis E?].

BACKGROUND Swine hepatitis E virus (HEV) has a cross-reaction with human anti-HEV antibodies. Therefore, pigs could be an animal reservoir, rendering hepatitis E as a zoonosis. The spread of this infection among infected pigs across countries would be possible through trading. Previously, using an anti-human conjugate, we detected anti-HEV antobodies in adult pigs in Chile. AIM To detect anti-HEV (ELISA) in a cohort of swine at different ages. MATERIAL AND METHODS Two hundred pigs aged 42 to 360 days, divided in 20 groups of 10 animals were tested. Anti-HEV was detected by ELISA using anti-pig IgG horseradish peroxidase instead of anti-human conjugates. RESULTS Anti-HEV were detected in one animal aged 90 days, two animals aged 120 days, one animal aged 260 days and 2 animals aged 360 days, five pregnant sows and two old hogs. This represents a total of 14 animals or 7% of the sample. CONCLUSIONS There is a significant prevalence of anti-HEV in pigs from 90 days of birth, suggesting that these swine are a probable reservoir.
The angiogenic profile of colorectal cancer patients following open or laparoscopic colectomy

Commentary to: Angiogenic cells, macroparticles and RNA transcripts in laparoscopic vs open surgery for colorectal cancer Anna Bono, Paolo Bianchi, Andrea Locatelli, Angelica Calleri, Jessica Quarna, Pierluigi Antoniott, Cristina Rabascio, Patrizia Mancuso, Bruno Andreoni and Francesco Bertolini
Management of malignant pleural effusions.

⇓Malignant pleural effusions are a common clinical problem in patients with neoplastic disease. In one post mortem series, malignant effusions were found in 15% of patients who died with malignancies 1. Although there have been no epidemiological studies, the annual incidence of malignant pleural effusions in the United States is estimated to be >150,000 cases (table 1⇓) 2–17. Malignant pleural effusion is also one of the leading causes of exudative effusion; studies have demonstrated that 42–77% of exudative effusions are secondary to malignancy 18, 19. Fig. 1. — Malignant pleural effusions: sensitivity (%) of different biopsy methods (cytological and histological results combined). Presented is a prospective simultaneous comparison (n=208). Fig. 2. — Diagnostic sensitivity of cytology (□) and medical thoracoscopy (! [Graphic][1] ) in malignant pleural effusions. n-numbers are as follows: lung cancer, 67; non-lung primary, 154; mesothelioma, 66; total, 287. Fig. 3. — View this table: Table 1— Incidence of malignant pleural effusions (MPEs) Nearly all neoplasms have been reported to involve the pleura. In most studies, however, lung carcinoma has been the most common neoplasm, accounting for approximately one-third of all malignant effusions. Breast carcinoma is the second most common. Lymphomas, including both Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, are also an important cause of malignant pleural effusions. Tumours less commonly associated with malignant pleural effusions include ovarian and gastrointestinal carcinomas. In 5–10% of malignant effusions, no primary tumour is identified 12, 13. The incidence of mesothelioma varies according to the geographical location. Post mortem studies suggest that most pleural metastases arise from tumour emboli to the visceral pleural surface, with secondary seeding to the parietal pleura 1, 20. Other possible mechanisms include direct tumour invasion (in lung cancers, chest wall neoplasms, and breast carcinoma), haematogenous spread to parietal pleura, and lymphatic involvement. A malignant tumour can cause a pleural effusion, both directly and indirectly. … [1]: F2/embed/inline-graphic-1.gif