Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prevention of intellectual disability through screening for congenital hypothyroidism: how much and at what level?

Objective Congenital hypothyroidism (CHT) is a common cause of preventable mental retardation, and the quantification of intellectual disability due to CHT is needed to assess the public health benefit of newborn screening. Design Review of published studies conducted among children born prior to the introduction of newborn screening for CHT and reporting cognitive test scores. Setting Population-based studies. Patients Children with clinically diagnosed CHT. Interventions Thyroid hormone substitution. Main outcome measures Intelligence quotient (IQ) (mean and distribution). Results The prevalence of recognised CHT rose from one in 6500 prior to screening to approximately one in 3000 with screening. In four population-based studies in high-income countries, among children with clinically diagnosed CHT 8–28% were classified as having intellectual disability (defined as an IQ <70) and the mean IQ was 85 (a leftward shift of 1 SD). Among children with subclinical CHT, the risk of overt intellectual disability was lower (zero in one study), but decreased intellectual potential and increased behavioural abnormalities were documented. Conclusions Although the prevalence of overt disability among children with CHT in the absence of screening may be less than previously estimated, the preventable burden of intellectual disability due to CHT is substantial and justifies newborn screening. However, changes in existing newborn screening protocols to capture more cases are unlikely to prevent overt cases of disability and should therefore be justified instead by the documentation of other benefits of early detection.
Associations between problems with crying, sleeping and/or feeding in infancy and long-term behavioural outcomes in childhood: a meta-analysis

Background Excessive crying, sleeping or feeding problems are found in approximately 20% of infants and may predict behavioural problems in childhood. Methods A quantitative meta-analysis of 22 longitudinal studies from 1987 to 2006 that statistically tested the association between infant regulatory problems and childhood internalising, externalising and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) problems was carried out; 1935 children with regulatory problems were tested. Cohen's d was used to express the association between regulatory problems and behavioural problems. Heterogeneity of the effect sizes was assessed using the I2 statistic and meta-analysis of variance and meta-regressions were conducted to assess the influence of moderators. Rosenthal's classic fail-safe N and correlation of sample sizes to effect sizes were used to assess publication bias. Results The weighted mean effect size for the main regulatory problems–behavioural problems association was 0.41 (95% CI 0.28 to 0.54), indicating that children with previous regulatory problems have more behavioural problems than controls. Externalising and ADHD problems were the strongest outcome of any regulatory problem, indicated by the highest fail-safe N and lowest correlation of sample size to effect size. Meta-analyses of variance revealed no significant moderating influences of regulatory problem comorbidity (I2=44.0, p>0.05), type (I2=41.8, p>0.05) or duration (I2=44.0, p>0.05). However, cumulative problems and clinical referral increased the risk of behavioural problems. Conclusions The meta-analyses suggest that children with previous regulatory problems have more behavioural problems than controls, particularly in multi-problem families. Further studies are required to assess the behavioural outcomes of previously sleep, feeding or multiply disturbed children.
Multiscale Feature Extraction of Finger-Vein Patterns Based on Wavelet and Local Interconnection Structure Neural Network

We propose a multiscale feature extraction method of finger-vein patterns based on wavelet and local interconnection structure neural networks. The finger-vein image is performed the multiscale self-adaptive enhancement transform. A neural network with local interconnection structure is designed to extract the features of the finger-vein pattern. This method has three features: Firstly, by applying the multiscale self-adaptive enhancement transform to the finger-vein image, the finger-vein pattern is emphasized and noises are refrained. Secondly, we use different receptive fields to deal with different size finger-rein patterns. This and the multiscale property of the wavelet analysis lead to accurate extraction of different size finger-rein modes. Thirdly, our method is very fast by using the integral image method. The experimental results show the proposed method is superior to other methods and solve the problem of extracting features from the unclear images efficiently. The EER of the proposed method is 0.130% in personal identification
Outcomes from the International Survey Informing Greater Insights in Opioid Dependence Treatment (INSIGHT) project

Abstract Aims: The International Survey Informing Greater Insights in Opioid Dependence Treatment (INSIGHT) study evaluated the implementation of opioid dependence treatment across different countries to assess treatment delivery, quality of care and outcomes. Methods: A questionnaire-based survey was used to gather data in nine countries across Central and Eastern Europe, South Africa and South-East Asia, from patients with opioid dependence receiving medication-assisted treatment (MAT), healthcare professionals (HCPs) who cared for opioid-dependent patients and opioid users not receiving MAT. Findings: There was substantial variation between countries, but overall results suggest that several aspects of MAT can be improved, such as access to treatment (conditions to start or remain in treatment), quality of care (availability/awareness of treatment options and appropriate medication dosing) and treatment outcomes (on-top use, misuse and diversion). Conclusions: This analysis highlights key priorities that should improve the quality of opioid dependence care and access to treatment. These priorities include: acknowledging opioid dependence as a chronic medical condition requiring long-term treatment; recognition by policymakers of the cost-effectiveness of treatment; making available, to those who want them, psychosocial interventions and educating HCPs to prescribe the safest, least divertible forms of medications available at optimal doses in order to reduce opioid use, misuse and diversion.
Monitoring pulmonary function during exercise in children with asthma

Objective Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) is defined as acute, reversible bronchoconstriction induced by physical exercise. It is widely believed that EIB occurs after exercise. However, in children with asthma the time to maximal bronchoconstriction after exercise is short, suggesting that the onset of EIB in such children occurs during exercise. Aim In this study the authors investigate pulmonary function during exercise in cold air in children with asthma. Methods 33 Children with asthma with a mean age of 12.3 years and a clinical history of exercise induced symptoms, underwent a prolonged, submaximal, exercise test of 12 min duration at approximately 80% of the predicted maximum heart rate. Pulmonary function was measured before and each minute during exercise. If EIB occurred (fall in forced expiratory volume in 1 s >15% from baseline), exercise was terminated and salbutamol was administered. Results 19 Children showed EIB. In 12 of these children bronchoconstriction occurred during exercise (breakthrough EIB), while seven children showed bronchoconstriction immediately after exercise (non-breakthrough EIB). Breakthrough EIB occurred between 6 and 10 min of exercise (mean 7.75 min). Conclusion In the majority of children with EIB in this study (ie, 12 out of 19), bronchoconstriction started during, and not after, a submaximal exercise test.
A Method of Assessing Facial Profile Attractiveness and its Application in Comparing the Aesthetic Preferences of Two Samples of South Africans

Objective Numerous studies have evaluated the perception of facial attractiveness. However, many of the instruments previously used have limitations. This study introduces an improved tool and describes its application in the assessment of the preferred facial profile in two sample groups. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Two sites were involved: a rural healthcare facility (Winterveldt, Northwest Province) and the campus of the University of the Witwatersrand (Johannesburg, Gauteng Province). Participants Adult females and males selected from amongst first, attendees at the healthcare facility, and second, staff of the University of the Witwatersrand. Methods Eight androgynous lateral facial profile images were created using a morphing software programme representing six transitions between two anchoring extremes in terms of lip retrusion/protrusion vs protrusion/retrusion. These images were presented to, and rated by, two mixed male/female groups of rural and of urban habitat using a pre-piloted form. Statistical analysis of the responses obtained established the preferred facial profile by gender in each group. Results The perception of facial attractiveness varied marginally between rural and urban black South Africans. There was no statistically significant difference between females and males in the rural group (P = 0·2353) and those in the urban sample (P = 0·1318) with respect to their choice of ideal facial profile. Females and males in both the rural and urban groups found extreme profile convexity unappealing. By contrast, a larger proportion of rural females, rural males and urban females demonstrated a preference for extreme profile concavity. Conclusions The research tool described is a useful instrument in the assessment of facial profile attractiveness.
Value of thrombopoietin level and platelet size in patients with ischemic stroke

Background Stroke is a disease that affects the blood vessels supplying the brain with interruption of blood flow and thus oxygen delivery to a certain area of the brain, with rapid loss of brain functions. It is the third most common cause of death worldwide, ranking behind heart diseases and all forms of cancers. Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate the mean platelet volume (MPV) and thrombopoietin (TPO) hormone concentration in patients with acute ischemic stroke and compare this with healthy controls. Patients and methods This study was carried out prospectively on 100 patients with acute ischemic stroke who fulfilled the inclusion criteria and compared with 50 control participants. All patients were recruited to the study within the first 24 h after stroke. MPV and TPO concentrations were measured on admission. Results A high TPO concentration was found in two-third of the patients, whereas no participant in the control group had a high TPO concentration. In addition, high MPV was found in about half of the patients. There was a statistically significant difference in the levels of both MPV and TPO between the patient and the control group, which implies increased megakaryopoiesis and increased platelet activity in acute ischemic stroke.
PREVALENCIA DE COLONIZACIÓN POR STREPTOCOCCUS AGALACTIAE (GRUPO B) DURANTE EL EMBARAZO PESQUISADO EN MEDIO DE CULTIVO SELECTIVO

RESUMENStreptococcus agalactiae es el principal agente bacteriano responsable de la sepsis neonatal. Paraevitar la infeccion perinatal se recomienda su pesquisa en la region vagino-anal durante el tercertrimestre, y tratamiento antibiotico durante el trabajo de parto en las gestantes colonizadas. El objetivode este estudio es conocer la prevalencia de colonizacion del Streptococcus agalactie en la poblacion deembarazadas controladas en la maternidad del Hospital Clinico de la Universidad de Chile, en el periodocomprendido entre el 1 de marzo y el 31 de mayo de 2003. Se tomo cultivo selectivo de Todd Hewitt,entre las 35 y 37 semanas de gestacion a 185 embarazadas. Se determino una prevalencia decolonizacion vagino-anal de 14,0%. PALABRAS CLAVE: Streptococcus agalactiae, sepsis neonatalSUMMARYStreptococcus agalactiae is the main bacterial agent in neonatal sepsis. To avoid the perinatalinfection, a vaginal and anal culture in the third trimester is recommended and then treated withantibiotics during labour. The aim of the study was to study the prevalence of Streptococcus agalactiaein pregnant patients in University of Chile Hospital in Santiago. The study period was from March 1 toMay 31 of 2003. Vaginal and anal samples were taken at 35-37 weeks using selective medium (ToddHewitt broth). A total of 185 patients were studied and the prevalence of streptococcus was 14,0%. KEY WORDS: Streptococcus agalactiae, neonatal sepsis
Learning Generative Models of Object Parts from a Few Positive Examples

A number of computer vision problems such as object detection, pose estimation, and face recognition utilise local parts to represent objects, which include the distinguished information of objects. In this work, we introduce a novel probabilistic framework which automatically learns class-specific object parts (landmarks) in generative-learning manner. Encouraged by the success in learning and detecting facial landmarks, we employ bio-inspired multi-resolution Gabor features in the proposed framework. Specifically, complex-valued Gabor filter responses are first transformed to landmark specific likelihoods using Gaussian Mixture Models (GMM), and then efficient response matrix shift operations provide detection over orientations and scales. We avoid the undesirable characteristic of generative learning, a large number of training instances, with the novel concept of randomised Gaussian mixture model. Extensive experiments with public benchmarking Caltech-101 and BioID datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed method for localising object landmarks.
Voiding Dysfunction of Men is Associated with Metabolic Syndrome

Purpose: With the recent changes in eating habits and the westernization of peoples’ lifestyle, the occurrence of coronary artery disease is on the rise. In 1998, the World Health Organization (WHO) defined “metabolic syndrome” as a condition in which all the risk factors of coronary artery disease exist in an elderly individual. We investigated the relationship between metabolic syndrome and voiding difficulty. Materials and Methods: In 2004, we investigated 123 male out-patients who visited the endocrinology department and the health care center between the months of March and October. We divided the patients into two groups: one group met the criteria for metabolic syndrome (n=90, 58.7 ±8.9 years old) and one group didn’t met the criteria (n=33, 57.8±9.5 years old), and we compared factors of voiding difficulty between the these two groups. Results: When comparing the components of metabolic syndrome in the patient study group to the control study group, the metabolic syndrome patients scored poorly for all the metabolic syndrome components in comparison to the control group (p<0.05). When comparing the voiding factors of the metabolic syndrome patients to the control group, the metabolic syndrome patient group scored substantially lower than the control group for all the voiding factors (p<0.05). Conclusions: The results of this study proved that metabolic syndrome and voiding difficulty are related. Therefore, the earlier diagnosis of metabolic syndrome should be possible by performing a more active investigation for metabolic syndrome in the patients who are admitted with voiding difficulty. (Korean J Urol 2006;47:257-262) ꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏ
The trauma patient - critical decision making - when to explore the chest?

The critical decisions regarding thoracotomy for trauma occur soon after the injury, when decisions have to be made that may influence survival or have an impact on morbidity if operation is delayed. Roadside thoracotomy is impractical, and should not be considered; instead, patients should be taken rapidly to the nearest hospital. Endotracheal intubation prior to transport appears to be beneficial, but the application of MAST trousers and the infusion of large volumes of fluid for hypovolaemia before control of haemorrhage offers no advantage and may be hazardous. On the whole, resuscitative thoracotomy is associated with a low salvage rate, especially for the patient sustaining blunt trauma, but may be worthwhile in the patient with penetrating trauma. Urgent, as opposed to immediate thoracotomy, should be undertaken once the patient has been stabilized. This may occur in most patients with penetrating injuries of the heart who survive to reach hospital, those with continuing, significant haemorrhage through chest drains, and those with tracheal, oesophageal and diaphragmatic injuries. Extensive open chest wounds require considerable ingenuity in closure, often with plastic surgical help. Patients with blunt traumatic rupture of the aorta often have multiple injuries, which may also be life threatening. If bleeding into the abdomen is demonstrated, then laparotomy should precede thoracotomy: musculoskeletal injuries and neurological injuries can usually be dealt with after the aortic rupture has been repaired.
Language and speech perception of young children with bimodal fitting or bilateral cochlear implants

Abstract Objectives This paper compares language development and speech perception of children with bimodal fitting (a cochlear implant in one ear and a hearing aid in the opposite ear) or bilateral cochlear implantation. Methods Participants were children enrolled in the Longitudinal Outcomes of Children with Hearing Impairment study. Language development was assessed at 3 years of age using standardized tests. Speech perception was evaluated at 5 years of age. Speech was presented from a frontal loudspeaker, and babble noise was presented either from the front or from both sides. Results On average, there was no significant difference in language outcomes between 44 children with bimodal fitting and 49 children with bilateral cochlear implants; after controlling for a range of demographic variables. Earlier age at cochlear implant activation was associated with better outcomes. Speech perception in noise was not significantly different between children with bimodal fitting and those with bilateral cochlear implants. Compared to normal-hearing children, children with cochlear implants required a better signal-to-noise ratio to perform at the same level, but demonstrated spatial release from masking of a similar magnitude. Conclusions This population-based study found that language scores for children with bilateral implants were higher than those with bimodal fitting or those with unilateral implants, but neither reached significance level.
High dynamic range image processing using manifold-based ordering

Very few research works have addressed the problem of directly manipulating raw HDR vectors for general HDR image processing. In this paper a framework is proposed towards this aim and is based on a new representation of HDR images in the form of an ordering of vectors and an index image. This enables to formulate vector-preserving image processing methods dedicated to HDR images. The ordering relies on three steps: dictionary learning, manifold learning, and out of sample extension. The performance of the proposed approach is illustrated with innovative examples of HDR image filtering and enhancement.
A robust UAV landing site detection system using mid-level discriminative patches

The forced landing problem has become one of the main impediments to UAV's entering civilian airspace. Unfortunately there is no robust forced landing site detection system that will reliably detect a safe landing site. One of the main reasons for this is the difficulty in considering the various classes of surface, to determine whether they are safe or not. We propose a robust UAV landing site detection system using midlevel discriminative patches. The training and tuning process uses a dataset containing 1600 randomly selected Google map images with weak labels.We then show how the output from multiple mid-level discriminative patch detectors can be combined to indicate the level or danger for a given region. The proposed technique reliably detects safe landing areas in UAV imagery, and achieves improved performance over the state-of-the art. The proposed system outperforms the baseline system by 29.4% for completeness and 33.9% for correctness, and is invariant to the changes of illumination, sharpness and resolution of images.
Pseudotumor cerebri in pediatric age: role of obesity in the management of neurological impairments

Abstract Pseudotumor cerebri occurs quite rarely in the pediatric population and its clinical features differ from adults in many ways. Intracranial hypertension with papilledema should obviously be treated promptly to avoid permanent visual damage, but various more or less invasive options have been proposed over the years, from bariatric surgery for obesity to optic nerve sheath fenestration. We report a prospective study on a group of 15 children, aged 3–16 years, with clinical and instrumental diagnosis of pseudotumor cerebri. All the patients were treated simply by external lumbar cerebrospinal fluid drainage with a mean volume of 10 ml/h for 3–5 days, with hypocaloric diet and with appropriate dosages of acetazolamide. All had immediate relief of headache, a considerable reduction in papilledema and marked improvement of both visual loss and cranial nerve palsies within 2 months. None of the patients relapsed during the follow-up period, ranging from 12–48 months.
Interleukin-6 receptor blockade induces limited repair of bone erosions in rheumatoid arthritis: a micro CT study

Introduction Interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R) blockade improves the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and retards bone damage. Whether IL-6R blockade allows repair of existing bone erosions is so far unclear. Methods This study examined bone erosions in the metacarpophalangeal joints of 20 patients receiving treatment with the IL-6R blocker tocilizumab using micro CT (µCT). The maximal width and depth of individual bone erosions was measured at baseline and after 1 year of treatment. Results 133 bone erosions were identified at baseline with a mean (±SD) size of 2.23±1.26 mm and depth of 2.16±1.50 mm. Distribution analysis showed predominant involvement of the second compared with the third and fourth metacarpophalangeal joints, the metacarpal heads compared with the phalangeal bases and the radial quadrants compared with all other surfaces. Repair of bone erosions during tocilizumab treatment was confined to those lesions showing sclerosis at baseline and/or at follow-up and those with a width larger than 1.6 mm. The mean decrease in width of sclerosed erosions was thus 0.14±0.05 mm (p=0.0086) and 0.20±0.08 mm (p=0.019) for sclerosing lesions after 1 year of treatment. Conclusions Blockade of IL-6R by tocilizumab can induce limited repair in a subset of erosions, particularly in large lesions with sclerosis. Repair of erosions during tocilizumab treatment reflects the favourable impact of IL-6R blockade on local bone remodelling in patients with RA.
Statistical Analyses of Digital Delay-Lock Loops Over Nakagami-m Fading Channels

Statistical analyses of a non-coherent digital delay- lock loop (DDLL) for direct-sequence spread-spectrum signals over Nakagami-m fading channels are discussed. Analytical expressions to the characteristics, such as Cramer-Rao lower bound (CRLB), of the timing tracking errors have been proposed based upon the timing error probability density function (PDF) of the Chapman-Kolmogorov (C-K) equation of the first- and second-order loops. Furthermore, mean square tracking errors (MSTEs) against distinct parameters are also simulated, while their corresponding numerical results with CRLBs are confirmed by time-domain computer calculations.