Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of ultrasound biomicroscopy and spectral-domain anterior segment optical coherence tomography in evaluation of anterior segment after laser peripheral iridotomy.

AIM To quantitatively assess narrow anterior chamber angle using spectral-domain anterior segment optical coherence tomography (SD-AS-OCT) and ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM), and to evaluate the correlations and consistency between SD-AS-OCT and UBM. METHODS Fifty-five eyes from 40 patients were examined. Patients were diagnosed with primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) remission (11 eyes from 8 patients), primary angle closure (PAC, 20 eyes from 20 patients) and PAC suspect (24 eyes from 12 patients). Each eye was examined by SD-AS-OCT and UBM after laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI). The measurements of SD-AS-OCT were angle open distance (AOD), anterior chamber angle (ACA), trabecular iris angle (TIA), and trabecular iris space area (TISA). UBM measurements were AOD and TIA. Correlations of AOD500 and TIA500 between UBM and AS-OCT were assessed. All parameters were analysed by SPSS 16.0 and MedCalc. RESULTS ACA, TIA and AOD measured by SD-AS-OCT reached a maximum at the temporal quadrant and minimum at the nasal quadrant. TISA reached the maximum at the inferior and minimum at the superior quadrant. Group parameters of AOD500 and AOD750 showed a linear positive correlation, and AOD750 had less variability. UBM outcomes of AOD500 and TIA500 were significantly smaller than those of SD-AS-OCT. The results of the two techniques were correlated at the superior, nasal and inferior quadrants. CONCLUSION Both UBM and SD-AS-OCT are efficient tools for follow-up during the course of PACG. We recommended using parameters at 750 µm anterior to the sclera spur for the screening and follow-up of PACG and PAC. The two methods might be alternatives to each other.
Intrinsic threshold voltage fluctuations in decanano MOSFETs due to local oxide thickness variations

Intrinsic threshold voltage fluctuations introduced by local oxide thickness variations (OTVs) in deep submicrometer (decanano) MOSFETs are studied using three-dimensional (3-D) numerical simulations on a statistical scale. Quantum mechanical effects are included in the simulations employing the density gradient (DG) formalism. The random Si/SiO/sub 2/ and gate/SiO/sub 2/ interfaces are generated from a power spectrum corresponding to the autocorrelation function of the interface roughness. The impact on the intrinsic threshold voltage fluctuations of both the parameters used to reconstruct the random interface and the MOSFET design parameters are studied using carefully designed simulation experiments. The simulations show that intrinsic threshold voltage fluctuations induced by local OTV become significant when the dimensions of the devices become comparable to the correlation length of the interface. In MOSFETs with characteristic dimensions below 30 nm and conventional architecture, they are comparable to the threshold voltage fluctuations introduced by random discrete dopants.
Robust fault detection and isolation of wind turbines using interval observers

In order to improve reliability and safety of wind turbines, it is important to detect and isolate faults as fast as possible. In this work, an approach based on interval observers is used for robust Fault Detection and Isolation (FDI) of wind turbines. Fault detection is addressed using interval observers and unknown but bounded descriptions of the noise and modeling errors, while fault isolation is based on a row-reasoning approach. The performance of the proposed robust FDI scheme is assessed using a set of fault scenarios considered in a wind turbine benchmark.
Positive and negative factors in defensive medicine: a questionnaire study of general practitioners

Abstract Objectives: (a) To investigate defensive medical practices among general practitioners; (b) to compare any such practices with general practitioners' understanding of certain aspects of the terms of service and medical negligence and practitioners' concerns about the risk of being sued or having a complaint lodged. Design: Postal questionnaire survey. Each questionnaire was followed by a reminder. Subjects: 500 systematically selected general practitioners on the membership list of the Medical Defence Union. Main outcome measures: Answers to questions on defensive medical practices, understanding of certain aspects of the terms of service and medical negligence, and concerns about the risk of being sued or having a complaint lodged. Results: 300 general practitioners returned the questionnaire (response rate 60%). 294 (98%) claimed to have made some practice changes as a result of the possibility of a patient complaining. Of the defensive medical practices adopted, the most common (over half of doctors stating likely or very likely) seemed to be increased diagnostic testing, increased referrals, increased follow up, and more detailed patient explanations and note taking. Respondents practised defensive medicine as a possible consequence of concerns about the risks of being sued or having a complaint lodged. This association was particularly strong for negative defensive practices. Defensive medical practice did not correlate with any misunderstanding about the law of negligence or the general practitioners' terms of service. Conclusions: General practitioners are practising defensive medicine. Some defensive practices such as increased patient explanations or more detailed note taking are clearly beneficial. However, implementing the findings of the Wilson report may increase negative defensive medical practices. Key messages Key messages Some defensive practices may be beneficial but others will have adverse effects on both patient care and resource allocation Some 98% of general practitioners claim to be making practice changes in response to the possibility of a patient complaining Defensive medical practices correlate with concerns about risks but not with a lack of understanding of the concept of negligence or the general practitioner's terms of service; such an association is particularly strong in the case of negative defensive practices
Anticarcinogenic Effect of Raphanus Sativus on 1 , 2 Dimethylhydrazine ( DMH ) Induced Colon Cancer in Rats

Background: Colon cancer is a major health problem worldwide and rated among as one of the top frequent cancers and is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Treatment outcome is still not satisfactory and other treatment options are strongly needed. Carbohydrate protein interactions play a major role in numerous biological processes including cancer. However, the seeds of Raphanus sativus have never been tested for its anticancer effects on colon cancer. Therefore, this study aimed at elucidating the anti-carcinogenic effect of Raphanus sativus in combating chemically (DMH) induced colon cancer. Materials and methods: polysaccharides extract of Raphanus sativus (RS) was tested for its ability to reverse the carcinogenic effects of 1, 2 dimethylhydrazine (DMH) which is used for chemical induction of colon cancer in animal models. Rats were injected with DMH and the effects of RS extract either concomitant with or after the administration of DMH were evaluated. We measured the serum Carcinoembryonic antigen and Carbohydrate antigen as a tumor markers, Glutathione reducatse and Glutathione S transferase as markers of antioxidant activity and liver functions. Results: RS significantly reduced Serum CEA (P<0.01) and CA19-9 (P<0.01) as an evidence of its anticarcinogenic effect in colon cancer. Moreover, RS was able to significantly increase activity of Glutathione reductase (p<0.01) and Glutathione- S- transferase (p<0.01) as a measure of antioxidant compared with DMH untreated group. Also RS was able to significantly increase activities of ALAT, ASAT and ALP (p<0.01). Chemical analysis of RS done by NMR and paper chromatography revealed that the polysaccharide in RS was -galactan and the type of bond that exists between sugar residues is 1, 3 and 1, 6 glucosidic linkages. Conclusions: This study shows that -galactan of Raphanus sativus has pronounced cytotoxic effects on colon cancer cell line. Moreover, it reduces serum tumor markers and enhancing antioxidant activity in the DMH injected animals. This polysaccharide might be a suitable candidate as a chemopreventive and as an adjuvant therapy for colon cancer.
O Papel da Comunicação na Elicitação de Requisitos – Entrevistas e Brainstorming

Este trabalho tem como objetivo compreender a forma como as tecnicas e os conceitos de comunicacao podem auxiliar a elicitacao de requisitos, na area de Engenharia de Software. A elicitacao de requisitos e de extrema importância para o desenvolvimento do software, permitindo a compreensao do problem a ser resolvido. Em particular, sao analisadas duas tecnicas de elicitacao: Entrevista e Brainstorming. Este estudo parte da premissa de que a comunicacao e uma etapa crucial para o sucesso da elicitacao e que os elementos da comunicacao – em particular a fala e a audicao – sao fatores que influenciam a coleta de informacoes sobre os requisitos dos stakeholders pelos engenheiros de requisitos.
Serum Soluble Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ( sVCAM-1 ) in Acute Ischemic Stroke

Background: Neuroinflammatory mechanisms play an important role in ischemic injury and interruption of these processes can result in improved neurological outcomes. Firm adhesion of leukocytes to the endothelial cells as well as leukocyte activation and transmigration across the endothelium is mediated by adhesion molecules. Aim of The Work: We aimed to assess the levels of serum soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) in acute stroke and their correlation to the extent of neurological deficits and short term clinical outcome. Subjects and Methods: Forty four patients with first ever acute ischemic stroke admitted within 72 hours of stroke onset were enrolled, in addition to eighteen normal controls and twelve patients with vascular risk factors matched with age and sex to the patients group. Blood samples were obtained from the patients at the third day of stroke onset and from the control groups and subjected to the measurement of the level of sVCAM-1 in the serum. Results: There is a higher mean sVCAM-1 among patients with ischemic stroke compared to normal controls and the difference is highly significant statistically, P<0.01. There is a higher mean sVCAM among patients with large vessel disease compared to patients with small vessel disease and the difference is highly significant statistically, P<0.01. There is a highly significant positive correlation between sVCAM-1 and NIHSS score, P<0.01. Also we found a statistically significant negative correlation between Barthel Index Score and sVCAM-1, P<0.05. Conclusion: The results support the prior hypothesis of involvement of the adhesion molecules (VCAM-1) in the pathogenesis of acute cerebral ischemia and their impact on neuronal damage and neurological deficit. Therapeutic trials that attempt to interfere with the function of adhesion molecules could be of benefit in acute stroke management. (Egypt J. Neurol. Psychiat. Neurosurg., 2007, 44(2): 771-779)
Reduced expression of PSCA, a member of the LY-6 family of cell surface antigens, in bladder, esophagus, and stomach tumors.

Prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA) is a member of the LY-6 family of surface proteins that is overexpressed in prostate cancer. Using serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE), we identified PSCA as one of the most abundant transcripts in a differentiated urothelial tumor. As assessed by Northern blotting, PSCA is highly expressed in normal urothelium and noninvasive urothelial tumors. In contrast to the previously reported overexpression of PSCA in progressive and invasive forms of prostate cancer, we found a markedly reduced expression in undifferentiated bladder carcinoma. In addition, several aberrant splicing products derived from the PSCA gene were found in urothelial tumors. Furthermore, PSCA mRNA was highly abundant in normal esophagus and stomach, but was undetectable in esophageal or gastric tumors. The PSCA expression appeared to depend on cell contact, since mRNA levels were increased when RT112 bladder carcinoma cells were grown to confluence. Our data suggest that PSCA could serve as a potential marker for the early carcinogenesis in urothelial and gastric tissues and that its expression is specific for epithelial cells.
Levels of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1-Specific Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Effector and Memory Responses Decline after Suppression of Viremia with Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy

ABSTRACT Therapeutic suppression of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication may help elucidate interactions between the host cellular immune responses and HIV-1 infection. We performed a detailed longitudinal evaluation of two subjects before and after the start of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Both subjects had evidence of in vivo-activated and memory cytotoxic T-lymphocyte precursor (CTLp) activity against multiple HIV-1 gene products. After the start of therapy, both subjects had declines in the levels of in vivo-activated HIV-1-specific CTLs and had immediate increases in circulating HIV-1-specific CTL memory cells. With continued therapy, and continued suppression of viral load, levels of memory CTLps declined. HLA A*0201 peptide tetramer staining demonstrated that declining levels of in vivo-activated CTL activity were associated with a decrease in the expression of the CD38+ activation marker. Transient increases in viral load during continued therapy were associated with increases in the levels of virus-specific CTLps in both individuals. The results were confirmed by measuring CTL responses to discrete optimal epitopes. These studies illustrate the dynamic equilibrium between the host immune response and levels of viral antigen burden and suggest that efforts to augment HIV-1-specific immune responses in subjects on HAART may decrease the incidence of virologic relapse.
Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 Activity and Other Coronary Risk Factors

Because only some coronary risk factors have been evaluated for an association with plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) activity, this cross-sectional study examined the association between 27 coronary risk factors and PAI-1 in 24 healthy persons without coronary heart disease (control persons) and 22 patients who had survived myocardial infarction (cases). The coronary risk factors included major coronary risk factors such as age, anthropometric measures such as intraabdominal fat, and biochemical analytes such as serum concentration of triglyceride and plasma von Willebrand factor activity. The associations were analyzed in univariate and multiple linear regression analyses. For the control persons, triglyceride and von Willebrand factor were significantly associated with PAI-1 activity (p=0.0002, R2=0.55). In contrast for the 24 cases, age and intraabdominal adipose tissue were significantly associated with PAI-1 (p=0.0011, R2=0.51). Coronary risk factors explained more than half the variation of PAI-1 activity for both study groups. However, healthy persons and patients with previous myocardial infarction differed regarding coronary risk factors associated with PAI-1.
Intrachromosomal movement of genetically marked Saccharomyces cerevisiae transposons by gene conversion

In this paper, we describe the movement of a genetically marked Saccharomyces cerevisiae transposon. Ty912(URA3), to new sites in the S. cerevisiae genome. Ty912 is an element present at the HIS4 locus in the his4-912 mutant. To detect movement of Ty912, this element has been genetically marked with the S. cerevisiae URA3 gene. Movement of Ty912(URA3) occurs by recombination between the marked element and homologous Ty elements elsewhere in the S. cerevisiae genome. Ty912(URA3) recombines most often with elements near the HIS4 locus on chromosome III, less often with Ty elements elsewhere on chromosome III, and least often with Ty elements on other chromosomes. These recombination events result in changes in the number of Ty elements present in the cell and in duplications and deletions of unique sequence DNA.
A three-step critical pathway for community-acquired pneumonia reduces duration of hospital stay and intravenous antibiotic use by 2 days

Implications for practice and research: Although early switch therapy and hospital discharge are well-recognised processes, current practices show that these practices are not well established worldwide. Pathways are useful tools to remind treating physicians about criteria for early switch and discharge. A behavioural change may be necessary in order to decrease the gap between national recommendations and current management of hospitalised patients with community-acquired pneumonia.
Diabetes Prevention in Indian Country: Developing Nutrition Models to Tell the Story of Food-System Change

The disruption of the traditional food systems of Native Americans is generally believed to have contributed to the epidemic levels of type 2 diabetes and obesity present on U.S. Indian reservations today. Tribes are increasingly engaged in disease prevention and health promotion efforts including restoring components of their traditional food system. This article discusses the development of nutrition models for tribes in two regions; California and the Three Affiliated Tribes of North Dakota. Each nutrition model tells the story of food system change and its health consequences through narrative and cultural imagery. Ultimately the models suggest ways to eat that reflect the traditional food pattern by using contemporary and traditional foods available today.
Des situations de modélisation pour décrire un processus de modélisation

Nous proposons d'identifier des situations de modelisation en mettant en evidence des actions elementaires sur les artefacts de modelisation que sont les modeles et les meta-modeles. Nous illustrons la demarche de modelisation par une etude de cas detaillee. Nous pensons que l'identification de ces situations elementaires permet de mieux comprendre la modelisation et par consequent les besoins des outils de modelisation. Nous presentons Openflexo, un outil de modelisation libre qui nous permet de mettre en oeuvre cette approche.
Retinal branch vein occlusion. Changes at the site of obstruction.

Obstruction in retinal branch veins usually occurs in relation to arterio-venous crossings (Moore, 1924; Jensen, I936), and intramural thrombosis has been postulated as a frequent cause (Moore, I924; Koyanagi, 1928; Jensen, I936). Histological studies have failed, however, to show thrombosis but have demonstrated focal venous obstruction (Seitz, I964; Rabinowicz, Litman, and Michaelson, I968). Fluorescein angiography has now revealed that the clinical appearance of branch vein occlusion can be seen both with focal obstruction (Gass, I 968) or without (Paton, Rubinstein, and Smith, I964). The occurrence of segmental arterial changes led some authors to conclude that the appearances of branch vein occlusion were due to primary arterial insufficiency rather than venous obstruction (Paton and others, 1964), but this has been disputed (Gass, I 968). The present report describes the changes seen on fluorescein angiography and their frequency in a series of 65 cases of branch vein occlusion.
Management of brain arteriovenous malformations

Purpose of review This review highlights recent data regarding factors associated with brain arteriovenous malformation hemorrhage and different treatment options. Recent findings More risk factors were identified in association with intracranial hemorrhage, including age at initial diagnosis of arteriovenous malformation, co-existing extranidal aneurysms and genetic factors. Patients with unruptured arteriovenous malformations were found to be more susceptible to worsening in neurological function after microsurgery compared with those presenting with hemorrhagic arteriovenous malformation. Radiosurgery has achieved satisfactory obliteration of deep arteriovenous malformations, but with increased actuarial hemorrhage rates from the first to the fifth year. Although the Intraoperative Hypothermia for Aneurysm Surgery Trial failed to show a significant neurological improvement, the superior efficiency of endovascular cooling has offered optimism in cerebral protection during neurovascular surgeries by shortening the time to achieve hypothermia and rewarming. A multi-center trial (ARUBA) has been proposed to test the hypothesis that, for unruptured brain arteriovenous malformations, there is no difference between interventional and conservative management. Recent studies have also shown the promise of using tetracyclines to decrease the rate of spontaneous arteriovenous malformation rupture. Summary The recent identification of clinical and genetic factors associated with brain arteriovenous malformation hemorrhage, as well as studies on treatment outcomes, will help risk stratification in management choices. Future studies are needed to identify arteriovenous malformation patients at the greatest risk of spontaneous hemorrhage and to develop specific medical therapies.
Two microphones speech enhancement system based on a double fast recursive least squares (DFRLS) algorithm

In this paper a symmetric feedback implementation scheme of a two microphones speech enhancement is presented. We consider the coupling systems modelled as a linear time-invariant Finite Impulse Response (FIR) filters and propose a new recursive-based adaptive filter solution to enhance the noisy speech. The optimum filter weight adaptation is based on a Double Fast Recursive Least Squares (DFRLS) algorithm. This approach can be extended for a subclass of signal separations where the direct link is stronger than the interference link in the both channels. A comparative study with other adaptive algorithms shows the superiority of the DFRLS in SNR performance improvement.
Incremental SVM-based classification in dynamic streaming networks

With the emergence of networked data, graph classiﬁcation has received considerable interest during the past years. Most approaches to graph classiﬁcation focus on designing effective kernels to compute similarities for static graphs. However, they become computationally intractable in terms of time and space when a graph is presented in an incremental fashion with continuous updates, i.e., insertions of nodes and edges. In this paper, we examine the problem of classiﬁcation in large-scale and incrementally changing graphs. We propose a framework combining an incremental support vector machine (SVM) with the Weisfeiler-Lehman (W-L) graph kernel. By retaining the support vectors from each learning step, the classiﬁcation model is incrementally updated whenever new changes are made to the graph. We design an entropy-based subgraph extraction strategy, that selects informative neighbor nodes and discards those with less discriminative power, to facilitate the classiﬁcation of nodes in a dynamic network. We validate the advantages of our learning techniques by conducting an empirical evaluation on several large-scale real-world graph datasets in comparison with other graph classiﬁcation methods. The experimental results also validate the beneﬁts of our subgraph extraction method when combined with the incremental learning techniques.