Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Childhood blindness in India: a population based perspective

Aim: To estimate the prevalence and causes of blindness in children in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Methods: These data were obtained as part of two population based studies in which 6935 children ≤15 years of age participated. Blindness was defined as presenting distance visual acuity <6/60 in the better eye. Results: The prevalence of childhood blindness was 0.17% (95% confidence interval 0.09 to 0.30). Treatable refractive error caused 33.3% of the blindness, followed by 16.6% due to preventable causes (8.3% each due to vitamin A deficiency and amblyopia after cataract surgery). The major causes of the remaining blindness included congenital eye anomalies (16.7%) and retinal degeneration (16.7%). Conclusion: In the context of Vision 2020, the priorities for action to reduce childhood blindness in India are refractive error, cataract related amblyopia, and corneal diseases.
A Part based Modeling Approach for Invoice Parsing

Automated invoice processing and information extraction has attracted remarkable interest from business and academic circles. Invoice processing is a very critical and costly operation for participation banks because credit authorization process must be linked with the real trade activity via invoices. The classical invoice processing systems first assign the invoices to an invoice class but any error in document class decision will cause the invoice parsing to be invalid. This paper proposes a new invoice class-free-parsing method that uses a two-phase structure. The first phase uses individual invoice part detectors and the second phase employs an efficient part-based modeling approach. At the first phase, we employ different methods such as SVM, maximum entropy and HOG to produce candidates for the various types of invoice parts. At the second phase, the basic idea is to parse an invoice by parts arranged in a deformable composition similar to face or human body detection from digital images. The main advantage of the part-based modeling (PBM) approach is that this system can handle any type of invoice, a crucial functionality for business processes at participation banks. The proposed system is tested with real invoices and experimental results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Quality of Life in siblings of autistic patients.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the Quality of Life (QoL) among siblings of autistic patients. METHODS Casuistic: siblings of autistic patients (n = 31) and, as a control group, siblings of patients with speech disorder (n = 30). INCLUSION CRITERIA age between 7 and 11 years old; absence of current mental disorder; regular attendance to school. EXCLUSION CRITERIA antecedents of clinical or psychiatric diseases; disabilities (visual, auditive or motor); antecedents of cognitive and/or intelligence disabilities. Instruments included a questionnaire which evaluated the quality of life in a subjective way. RESULTS it was observed worse QoL among siblings of autistic patients (p = 0.000). CONCLUSION The hypothesis that the quality of life was compromised in children (aged 7 to 11) by the presence of an autistic sibling was confirmed, and was worse than that of siblings of children with speech disorders.
Ferromagnetic coupling field reduction in CoFeB tunnel junctions deposited by ion beam

In this paper, junctions with reduced H/sub f/ coupling were fabricated by ion beam deposition and oxidation, using CoFeB electrodes. The CoFeB layer has a strong (111) texture that can be the origin of lower H/sub f/ and coercivity when compared with CoFe. Junctions processed down to 2/spl times/4 /spl mu/m/sup 2/ with 40-thick CoFeB bottom electrodes have 42% of tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR), (R/spl times/A/spl sim/400 /spl Omega/./spl mu/m/sup 2/), H/sub c/ of /spl sim/10 Oe and H/sub f/ of /spl sim/2 Oe. CoFe-based junctions (R/spl times/A/spl sim/500 /spl Omega/./spl mu/m/sup 2/) have lower TMR (/spl sim/35%) and larger H/sub f/ (/spl sim/5-6 Oe) and H/sub c/ (/spl sim/12-14 Oe). Local chemical composition analysis of the cross section indicated Fe-O segregation with very little Co grown on top of the barrier for CoFe-based junctions and not for CoFeB ones.
Fas activation reduces neutrophil adhesion to endothelial cells

Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) express apoptotic markers and lose effector functions including adhesion, chemotaxis, and phagocytosis when cultured overnight. Although the loss of function correlates with apoptosis, it is not clear if functions are lost before an early marker of apoptosis, the display of phosphatidylserine (PS), targets PMN for removal by phagocytic cells. To address this question, freshly isolated PMN were treated with Fas‐activating antibodies to induce apoptosis rapidly. Early markers of apoptosis and PMA‐stimulated adhesion to endothelial cells were measured. After 1 h of Fas exposure, only 16% PMN had externalized PS. In contrast, Fas activation reduced PMA‐stimulated adhesion between 68 and 27% depending on PMA concentration. The loss of adhesion was accompanied by a reduction in β2 integrin expression and receptor clustering. These results indicate that the Fas‐induced loss of adhesion may precede PS externalization and could limit participation in the inflammatory response before PS externalization targets PMN for removal.
The MODIS-based npp model and its validation

The model described in this study was a model based on light-use efficiency. Most of the parameter in this model, including leaf area index (LAI), fraction of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (FPAR), photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and albedo etc., which all derived from MODIS data, and daily meteorological data provided by meteorological stations or flux tower. Net primary production (NPP) measured at height of 39m with eddy covariance technique in Qianyangzhou flux tower in Jiangxi province, south China, has been use to validate the estimated NPP from MODIS-based model . The result shows the NPP calculated from this paper is consistent with measured NPP.
The danger of premature graduation to seat belts for young children.

OBJECTIVE To determine the risk of significant injury associated with premature graduation of young (2- to 5-year-old) children to seat belts from child restraint systems (CRS). BACKGROUND Advocates recommend use of child safety seats for children younger than age 4 and booster seats for children age 4 and older. Despite these recommendations, many children are prematurely taken out of these child restraints and placed in seat belts. Although data exist to support the use of child restraints over nonrestraint, no real-world data exist to evaluate the risk of significant injury associated with premature use of seat belts. DESIGN/METHODS Partners for Child Passenger Safety includes a child-focused crash surveillance system based on a representative sample of children ages 0 to 15 years in crashes involving 1990 and newer vehicles reported to State Farm Insurance Companies in 15 states and the District of Columbia. Driver reports of crash circumstances and parent reports of child occupant injury were collected via telephone interview using validated surveys. Results were weighted based on sampling frequencies to represent the entire population. RESULTS Between December 1, 1998, and November 30, 1999, 2077 children aged 2 to 5 years were included and were weighted to represent 13 853 children. Among these young children, 98% were restrained, but nearly 40% of these children were restrained in seat belts. Compared with children in CRS, children in seat belts were more likely to suffer a significant injury (relative risk: 3.5; 95% confidence interval: [2. 4, 5.2]). Children in seat belts were at particular risk of significant head injuries (relative risk: 4.2; 95% confidence interval: [2.6, 6.7]) when compared with children in CRS. CONCLUSIONS Premature graduation of young children from CRS to seat belts puts them at greatly increased risk of injury in crashes. A major benefit of CRS is a reduction in head injuries, potentially attributable to a reduction in the amount of head excursion in a crash.
Inflammatory bowel disease‐attributable costs and cost‐effective strategies in the United States: A review

&NA; The United States spends more for healthcare than any other country in the world. With the rising prevalence of both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) represents the leading chronic gastrointestinal disease with increasing healthcare expenditures in the US. IBD costs have shifted from inpatient to outpatient care since the introduction of biologic therapies as the standard of care. Gastroenterologists need to be aware of the national cost burden of IBD and clinical practices that optimize cost‐efficiency. This investigation offers a systematic review of the economics of IBD and evidence‐based strategies for cost‐effective management. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2010;)
The role of memory in awareness of memory deficits in Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, and brain injury

Patients with neuropsychiatric disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), schizophrenia (Sz), and brain injury (BI) often show memory deficits and lack of awareness of those deficits. This study aimed to investigate the role of memory in awareness of memory deficits and illness in multiple patient groups. Comparison of awareness profiles between groups can reveal common or distinct patterns of awareness and predictors, which may inform theories about the structure of awareness. Using the same standardized measures, AD (N = 27) Sz (N = 31), and BI (N = 26) patients were compared on memory functioning, awareness of illness, and awareness of memory deficits—measured by discrepancy of pretest estimate and actual test scores. All groups were poor at pretest estimation of memory functioning, particularly the AD and BI groups. In AD, patients with the lowest memory functioning rated their performance highest. The BI group and to a lesser extent the AD group showed improved estimations of performance following the memory test. Those with the poorest memory showed the greatest improvement in ratings accuracy post test. The relationship between memory and awareness of memory was stronger than the association between memory and awareness of illness. There was a double dissociation between awareness of memory and awareness of illness across patient groups. The study shows that awareness of memory is linked to memory functioning, while memory is only modestly related to awareness of illness. Dissociations in the role of memory in different domains of awareness and “online” awareness of performance provide information to refine cognitive models of awareness. However, the results should be interpreted with caution given the heterogeneous nature of the sample.
Fields induced in inhomogeneous spheres by external sources: the scalar case

The evaluation of acoustic or electromagnetic fields induced in the interior of inhomogeneous penetrable bodies by external sources is based on well known volume integral equations; this is particularly true for bodies of arbitrary shape and/or composition, for which separation of variables fails. In this paper we focus the investigation to acoustic (scalar fields) in inhomogeneous spheres of arbitrary composition, i.e., with r-, (theta) - dependent medium parameters. The volume integral equation is solved by a hybrid (analytical - numerical) method, which takes advantage of the orthogonal properties of spherical harmonics, and, in particular, of the so-called Dini's expansions of the radial functions; the optimum convergence of the former is, also, determined. The scalar case treated here, serves as a stepping stone for the solution of the more difficult electromagnetic problem.
Crystal Structure of Human Butyrylcholinesterase and of Its Complexes with Substrate and Products*

Cholinesterases are among the most efficient enzymes known. They are divided into two groups: acetylcholinesterase, involved in the hydrolysis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, and butyrylcholinesterase of unknown function. Several crystal structures of the former have shown that the active site is located at the bottom of a deep and narrow gorge, raising the question of how substrate and products enter and leave. Human butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) has attracted attention because it can hydrolyze toxic esters such as cocaine or scavenge organophosphorus pesticides and nerve agents. Here we report the crystal structures of several recombinant truncated human BChE complexes and conjugates and provide a description for mechanistically relevant non-productive substrate and product binding. As expected, the structure of BChE is similar to a previously published theoretical model of this enzyme and to the structure of Torpedo acetylcholinesterase. The main difference between the experimentally determined BChE structure and its model is found at the acyl binding pocket that is significantly bigger than expected. An electron density peak close to the catalytic Ser198 has been modeled as bound butyrate.
The effects of radix curcumae extract on expressions of VEGF, COX-2 and PCNA in gastric mucosa of rats fed with MNNG.

AIM To study the effects of an extract solution from radix curcumae on the expressions of VEGF, COX-2 and PCNA in gastric mucosa of rats during carcinogenesis induced MNNG. METHODS Eighty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: group A, water and normal saline; group B, MNNG and normal saline; group C, MNNG and celecoxib; group D, MNNG and low-dose (1 g/ml) radix curcumae steam distillation extract solution; group E, MNNG and high-dose (2g/ml) radix curcumae wet distillation extract solution. In the end of the 40(th) week, all rats alive were sacrificed and the expressions of VEGF, COX-2 and PCNA in gastric mucosa were determined by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS The expression levels of VEGF and COX-2 and the optical density levels of PCNA in group C, D and E were remarkably lower than that of group B (P<0.05), while the optical density levels of PCNA in group E were higher than that of group C and D (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The distilled extract of curcumae can down-regulate the expressions of VEGF, COX-2 and PCNA in the gastric mucosa of rats during carcinogenesis induced MNNG and can reduce the incidence of gastric caner, suggesting it maybe as a potential chemopreventive agent for gastric cancer.
THE ORIGIN OF NET ELECTRIC CURRENTS IN SOLAR ACTIVE REGIONS

There is a recurring question in solar physics regarding whether or not electric currents are neutralized in active regions (ARs). This question was recently revisited using three-dimensional (3D) magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) numerical simulations of magnetic flux emergence into the solar atmosphere. Such simulations showed that flux emergence can generate a substantial net current in ARs. Other sources of AR currents are photospheric horizontal flows. Our aim is to determine the conditions for the occurrence of net versus neutralized currents with this second mechanism. Using 3D MHD simulations, we systematically impose line-tied, quasi-static, photospheric twisting and shearing motions to a bipolar potential magnetic field. We find that such flows: (1) produce both direct and return currents, (2) induce very weak compression currents—not observed in 2.5D—in the ambient field present in the close vicinity of the current-carrying field, and (3) can generate force-free magnetic fields with a net current. We demonstrate that neutralized currents are in general produced only in the absence of magnetic shear at the photospheric polarity inversion line—a special condition that is rarely observed. We conclude that photospheric flows, as magnetic flux emergence, can build up net currents in the solar atmosphere, in agreement with recent observations. These results thus provide support for eruption models based on pre-eruption magnetic fields that possess a net coronal current.
In vitro metabolism using rainbow trout liver S9 Summary report of the HESI Bioaccumulation Committee

Standard methods to assess bioaccumulation, such as QSARs, computer modeling, and the in vivo OECD 305 Test Guideline do not incorporate estimates of metabolism and are not valid for many chemical classes. In order to improve the in vitro assessment of bioaccumulation/bioconcentration assessment and enable concerted evaluations of thousands of commercial substances in a scientifically correct, timely and cost effective manner, this study was undertaken to examine and pre-validate the utility of rainbow trout S9 fractions to predict in vivo fish metabolism. The project aimed to standardize both the S9 isolation and incubation methodology and resulted in the development of a standardized method for both protocols that was recently published in Current Protocols. Funding was provided from the European Commission, Joint Research Center, Institute for Health and Consumer Protection, European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (JRC/IHCP/ECVAM) and the European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC), and five laboratories from North America, Europe, and Australia worked to validate this methodology, testing the approach with 15 different chemicals. The purpose of this report is to summarize and describe an overview of the project findings, limitations, lessons learned, and future recommendations for rainbow trout liver S9 metabolism assays. Raw data and additional details are available upon request by contacting Michelle Embry (membry@ilsi.org). ____________________________________________________________________________________
Association Between the Ku 70-1310 C / G Promoter Polymorphism and Cancer Risk : a Meta-analysis

By affecting genomic stability, DNA damage may induce abnormal cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis, which finally leads to carcinogenesis. As the major opponent of genetic injury, DNA repair mechanisms are essential in preventing tumor initiation and progress (Shiraishi et al., 2010). DNA double-strand breaks (DSB) are the most serious type of DNA damage (Wood et al., 2001) that can be repaired by DNA DSB repair system. DNA DSB repair system consists of two sub-pathways, among which nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) is predominant in humans (Khanna and Jackson, 2001). The central factor of NHEJ is DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK), composed of DNA-PK catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) and Ku70/Ku80 heterodimer (Pfeiffer et al., 2000). Ku70, the product of the Ku70 gene (also named XRCC6 gene), is proposed to be a caretaker protein, which suppresses chromosomal rearrangements and maintains genome integrity (Tseng et al., 2009). A potentially functional polymorphism in the promoter region of Ku70 is described as -1310C/G (rs2267437) (Sobczuk et al., 2010). Various case-control studies have investigated the association between the risk of human cancer and Ku70 -1310C/G promoter polymorphism; however, the findings have been conflicting. Furthermore, due to limitations in
Loss of activity of plasma platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase due to a novel Gln281-->Arg mutation.

The prevalence of plasma platelet-activating factor (PAF) acetylhydrolase deficiency was investigated in 477 healthy Japanese individuals and 985 patients with various cardiovascular diseases. The genotype for this enzyme with regard to a G994-->T mutation (MM, normal; Mm, heterozygote; mm, mutant homozygote) was determined by an allele-specific polymerase chain reaction in 80 subjects shown to have no or low plasma activity (<10 nmol/min/ml). In 72 subjects, the genotype was consistent with plasma enzyme activity; 44 individuals with no activity were mm, and 28 with low activity were Mm. However, eight subjects with the MM genotype showed plasma enzyme activities of <10 nmol/min/ml. Determination of the DNA sequence of exon 9 of the plasma PAF acetylhydrolase gene in these eight subjects revealed a previously unidentified A1001-->G missense mutation, resulting in a Gln281-->Arg substitution, in a 72-year-old woman with coronary artery disease, essential hypertension, and no plasma enzyme activity. Site-directed mutagenesis in vitro showed that the corresponding recombinant mutant protein lacked PAF acetylhydrolase activity. Thus, the Gln281-->Arg substitution appears responsible for the loss of plasma PAF acetylhydrolase activity.
Design of a Decision Support System for Test Ordering in General Practice: Choices and Decisions to Make

Abstract The increased availability of tests in the past years has been accompanied by an increased number of blood tests ordered by general practitioners. Dutch investigators report a lack of general practitioners’ knowledge concerning the indications for blood tests leading to inappropriate and inadequate use of diagnostic tests. Taking advantage of the use of electronic patient records by Dutch general practitioners, the authors replaced the traditional paper forms for test ordering by a decision-support system. The objective of the decision-support system is to change test-ordering behavior. Designing a system to change test-ordering behavior, however, required the selection of a method to provide support. To study different methods for changing test-ordering behavior, the authors developed two versions of the decision-support system BloodLink. The first version, Blood-Link-Restricted, is based on the notion of restricting the number of choices presented to the general practitioners. The second version, BloodLink-Guideline, is based on the guidelines provided by the Dutch college of general practitioners.
Tonic Chemoreflex Activation Contributes to Increased Sympathetic Nerve Activity in Heart Failure–Related Anemia

Sympathetic activation contributes to both the initiation and progression of heart failure. The role of anemia in determining sympathetic overactivity in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients is unknown. We tested the hypothesis that, in CHF patients, anemia could lead to increased sympathetic activity through tonic activation of excitatory chemoreceptor afferents. We conducted a double-blind, randomized, vehicle-controlled study to examine the effect of chemoreflex deactivation on muscle sympathetic nerve activity in CHF patients with and without anemia. We compared the effect of breathing 100% oxygen for 15 minutes in 18 stable CHF patients with anemia and 18 control CHF patients matched for age, sex, blood pressure, and body mass index. Baseline muscle sympathetic nerve activity was significantly elevated in CHF patients with anemia compared with patients with CHF alone (56.0±3.2 versus 45.5±3.1 bursts per minute; P<0.0237). Administration of 100% oxygen led to a significant decrease in muscle sympathetic nerve activity in CHF patients with anemia (from 56.0±3.4 to 50.9±3.2 bursts per minute; P<0.0019). In contrast, neither room air nor 100% oxygen changed muscle sympathetic nerve activity or hemodynamics in patients with CHF alone. We report for the first time direct evidence of increased sympathetic nerve traffic in patients with CHF-related anemia. Sympathetic hyperactivity in patients with CHF and anemia is partially chemoreflex mediated and could explain how anemia contributes to the progression of CHF and increases morbidity and mortality in these patients.