Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bowel Function and Quality of Life After Transanal Endorectal Pull-through for Hirschsprung Disease: Controlled Outcomes up to Adulthood.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to define controlled outcomes up to adulthood for bowel function and quality of life (QoL) after transanal endorectal pull-through (TEPT) for Hirschsprung disease (HD). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Although TEPT is the surgical standard for HD, controlled long-term follow-up studies evaluating bowel function and QoL are lacking. METHODS Patients aged ≥4 years operated for HD with TEPT between 1987 and 2011 answered detailed questionnaires on bowel function and QoL [Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL, age <18 yrs) or Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI) and SF-36]. Patients were compared with 3 age- and gender-matched controls each randomly selected from the general population. RESULTS Seventy-nine patients (64%) responded (median age 15, range 4-32 years; 86% rectosigmoid aganglionosis). Compared with controls, patients reported impairment of all aspects of fecal control (P < 0.05), except constipation. In cross-section, 75% of patients were socially continent (vs 98% of controls; P < 0.001). Soiling, fecal accidents, rectal sensation, and ability to withhold defecation improved with age to levels comparable to controls by adulthood (P = NS), but stooling frequency remained higher in 44% of patients (P < 0.05 vs controls). PedsQL domains in childhood were equal to controls (P = NS), except for proxy-reports of sadness/depression. Adults exhibited lower emotional scores, limitation of personal, and sexual relationships (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Compared with matched peers, significant impairment of fecal control prevails after TEPT in HD patients during childhood, but symptoms diminish with age. Although overall QoL appeared comparable to controls, impairment of emotional and sexual domains may prevail in adulthood.
Measuring the effectiveness of bad pixel detection algorithms using the ROC curve

Digital camera sensors usually contain defective pixels that either arise during the manufacturing process, or develop over time. These defects though small in number, are very noticeable to an experienced eye when looking at images captured from the camera. As a result it becomes extremely important for the sensor manufacturing companies to develop methods which would reduce these manufacturing errors. There have been a number of algorithms proposed for online detection of sensor defects in the literature, but there is no standard method of fairly comparing algorithms given that each algorithm uses thresholds in a different way. This paper presents a novel idea which makes use of the Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curve for comparison among the various bad pixel correction algorithms. We demonstrate how the characteristics of the ROC curve can be used for determining the effectiveness of the algorithms and hence help us to decide which of the algorithms perform better than the others. Experimental results comparing two such bad pixel detection algorithms are provided.
Similarity and Divergence of Phylogenies, Antimicrobial Susceptibilities, and Virulence Factor Profiles of Escherichia coli Isolates Causing Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections That Persist or Result from Reinfection

ABSTRACT In order to obtain a better molecular understanding of recurrent urinary tract infection (RUTI), we collected 75 cases with repeatedly occurring uncomplicated UTI. The genetic relationships among uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) isolates were analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. While 39 (52%) of the RUTI cases were defined as “persistence” of the same strain as the primary infecting strain, 36 (48%) were characterized by “reinfection” with a new strain that is different from the primary strain. We then examined the antimicrobial susceptibilities and phylogenetic backgrounds of 39 persistence and 86 reinfection UPEC isolates, and screened 44 virulence factor (VF) genes. We found that isolates had significant differences in the following: placement in phylogenetic group B2 (41% versus 21%; P = 0.0193) and the presence of adhesin genes iha (49% versus 28%; P = 0.0233) and papG allele I′ (51% versus 24%; P = 0.003), iron uptake genes fyuA (85% versus 58%; P = 0.0037), irp-2 (87% versus 65%; P = 0.0109), and iutA (87% versus 58%; P = 0.0014), and an aggregate VF score (median, 11 versus 9; P = 0.0030). In addition, 41% of persistence strains harbored three adhesin genes simultaneously, whereas 22% of reinfection isolates did (P = 0.0289). Moreover, 59% versus 29% (P = 0.0014) of persistence and reinfection isolates contained seven types of iron uptake genes. Taken together, the antimicrobial susceptibilities of UPEC isolates had little effect on the RUTI. Compared with reinfection strains, persistence UPEC isolates exhibited higher VF scores and carried more VF genes than may be involved in the development and progression of RUTI.
Increased mortality from liver cancer in England and Wales is not related to hepatitis C

EDITOR—We were surprised to read the letter from Harris and colleagues disagreeing with our findings on mortality from liver cancer since their data and conclusions are similar to our own.1 2 We are agreed that death rates in England and Wales from all causes of malignant tumours of the liver are increasing (ICD-9 (international classification of diseases, ninth revision) …
The Berlin Wisdom Paradigm: A Conceptual Analysis of a Psychological Approach to Wisdom

The main purpose of this article is to undertake a conceptual investigation of the Berlin Wisdom Paradigm: a psychological project initiated by Paul Baltes and intended to study the complex phenomenon of wisdom. Firstly, in order to provide a wider perspective for the subsequent analyses, a short historical sketch is given. Secondly, a meta-theoretical issue of the degree to which the subject matter of the Baltesian study can be identified with the traditional philosophical wisdom is addressed. The main result yielded by a careful conceptual analysis is that the philosophical and psychological concepts of wisdom, though not entirely the same, are at least parallel. Finally, one of the revealed aspects of the Berlin Wisdom Paradigm, i.e. its relative neglect of the non-cognitive and personal aspects of wisdom is brought to the fore. This deficiency, it is suggested, can be remedied by the application of the virtue ethics’ conceptual framework.
Growth substances in higher plants.

hensively covered but it is hoped that the main results obtained and the maj�r trends of development will be indicated. Other reviews and general presentations of the subject which have ap­ peared recently or are in process of publication are by Went (2), Zimmerman (3), Bonner (4), Thimann (5) and Thomson (6) . Recent publications necessarily reflect the stress of the past five year period. There has been relatively less consideration given to theoretical aspects and new approaches, but rather an expansion of the work begun earlier together with great progress in the de­ velopment of new active compounds and methods of their practi­ cal application to agriculture. Nevertheless, the writer feels justified, even at the risk of repetition, in devoting the main part of the review to the more fundamental aspects. The subject matter has been divided into three parts as follows: Methodology and the Types of Auxin in Plants, Mechanism of Auxin Action, and Auxin Effects. A detailed discussion of terminology and suggestions for usage were' given in the last review (1). The general confusion, over­ lapping and inadequacy of terms has been critically reviewed by Friedrich (7) . Further eomment seems futile until a firmer basis for distinctions in designations has been attained. The term auxin will be used in the generic sense for substances active in the Avena test and also for substances which fail in this test but have growth promoting activity in other tests together with molecular struc­ ture essential for activity comparable with that of indole-3-acctic
Physical Match Performance in Sub-elite Soccer Players – Introduction of a new Index

Abstract This investigation examined the position-specific physical performance in different locomotor categories and physiological demands concurrently in official games of sub-elite players and to present a new performance index (PI). Time-motion (distance, velocity, acceleration) and heart rate data of 55 soccer players were simultaneously captured via a GPS tracking system. The relationship between external and internal match-load (PI) was determined on the basis of heart rate, average velocity and acceleration. In contrast to the mean heart rate (85.2±3.2%, P=0.806, ηp²=0.03), the average total distance covered (9946±715 m) was largely affected by players’ position (P<0.001, ηp²=0.63). Furthermore, a mixed design ANOVA showed a large interaction effect between position and locomotor category (P<0.001, ηp²=0.44). On average, PI was 1.57±0.37 m/min²/%, with notably lower values in the 2nd half. The position-specific profiles already reported for higher leagues were also present in sub-elite soccer players. Despite lower values for total distance and smaller distances in the high-intensity zones (>14.4 km/h), internal loads were comparable to those observed in European top leagues. In comparison to a performance measure that ignores accelerations, PI was shown to be less dependent on the playing position and had higher variability. Consequently, PI is better suited to distinguish between players’ performance.
Intensive therapy with growth factor support for patients with Ewing tumor metastatic at diagnosis: Pediatric Oncology Group/Children's Cancer Group Phase II Study 9457--a report from the Children's Oncology Group.

PURPOSE Prognosis is poor for Ewing sarcoma patients with metastasis at diagnosis. We intensified a five-drug therapy (ifosfamide, etoposide alternated with vincristine, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide) using filgrastim but not stem-cell support. We studied topotecan alone and combined with cyclophosphamide in therapeutic windows before the five-drug therapy. A randomly assigned proportion of patients received amifostine as a cytoprotective agent. PATIENTS AND METHODS Eligible patients were < or = 30 years old and had histologically proven Ewing sarcoma or primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) and metastasis at diagnosis. Chemotherapeutic cycles began every 21 days, after recovery from toxicities. RESULTS One hundred ten of the 117 patients enrolled were eligible. Thirty-six patients received initial topotecan. Three had partial responses (PRs), and 17 had progressive disease (PD). Thirty-seven patients were administered topotecan and cyclophosphamide; 21 of these patients achieved PR, and one patient had PD. In a randomly assigned group of 69 patients, amifostine did not provide myeloprotection, which was measured by absolute neutrophil count, platelet count, or cycle intervals. The best responses to the overall therapy included 45 complete responses, 41 PRs, stable disease in 14 patients, and PD in five patients. For all patients, the 2-year event-free survival (EFS) rate was 24% (+/- 4%), and the overall survival rate was 46% (+/- 5%). For the 39 patients with isolated pulmonary metastases, the 2-year EFS rate was 31% (+/- 7%) compared with 20% (+/- 5%) for patients with more widespread disease. CONCLUSION Topotecan had limited activity in patients with Ewing sarcoma or PNET metastatic at diagnosis. The topotecan-cyclophosphamide combination was active. Amifostine was not myeloprotective. Overall results showed no improvement compared with previous studies.
Herbivores Promote Habitat Specialization by Trees in Amazonian Forests

In an edaphically heterogeneous area in the Peruvian Amazon, clay soils and nutrient-poor white sands each harbor distinctive plant communities. To determine whether a trade-off between growth and antiherbivore defense enforces habitat specialization on these two soil types, we conducted a reciprocal transplant study of seedlings of 20 species from sixgenera of phylogenetically independent pairs of edaphic specialist trees and manipulated the presence of herbivores. Clay specialist species grew significantly faster than white-sand specialists in both soil types when protected from herbivores. However, when unprotected, white-sand specialists dominated in white-sand forests and clay specialists dominated in clay forests. Therefore, habitat specialization in this system results from an interaction of herbivore pressure with soil type.
Aggressive Use of DNSSEC-Validated Cache

The DNS relies upon caching to scale; however, the cache lookup generally requires an exact match. This document specifies the use of NSEC/NSEC3 resource records to allow DNSSEC-validating resolvers to generate negative answers within a range and positive answers from wildcards. This increases performance, decreases latency, decreases resource utilization on both authoritative and recursive servers, and increases privacy. Also, it may help increase resilience to certain DoS attacks in some circumstances. This document updates RFC 4035 by allowing validating resolvers to generate negative answers based upon NSEC/NSEC3 records and positive answers in the presence of wildcards.
An outdoor navigation aid system for the visually impaired

In order to provide contextual cues for the visually impaired to navigate safely in outdoor dynamic situations, an outdoor navigation aid system, AudioGuide, is developed based on a PDA in this paper. It leverages technological advances in computer vision, global positioning system (GPS), geographic information system (GIS), and auditory displays. The camera embedded in the PDA captures dynamic environmental information; landmark information along the route queried from a map database built on eSuperMap is provided with the help of the GPS. Furthermore, the route is selected based on the user's familiarity, safety, and distance and thus is optimized for the user. Sonification and auditory icons are utilized to provide intuitive navigational information and natural interactions with the user. Initial usability evaluation shows the feasibility and potential of the AudioGuide for the visually impaired people.
Localization of Estrogen Receptor β Protein Expression in Adult Human Bone

Evidence suggests that the newly described estrogen receptor β (ER‐β) may be important for estrogen (17β‐estradiol) action on the skeleton, but its cellular localization in adult human bone requires clarification. We addressed this by using indirect immunoperoxidase with a novel affinity purified polyclonal antibody to human ER‐β, raised to hinge domain (D) sequences from the human receptor. Bone was demineralized in 20% EDTA and all biopsy specimens were formalin‐fixed and wax‐embedded. Vigorous retrieval was essential for ER‐β detection. In sections (5 μm) of benign prostate hyperplasia, used as positive control, clear nuclear immunoreactivity was seen in glandular epithelial cells, with a 1:500 dilution of ER‐β40. For bone sections, optimal antibody dilutions were 1:100–1:250. We found that in normal bone (from graft operations), in fracture callus from both men and women (>25 years old), pagetic bone, osteophytes, and secondary hyperparathyroid bone, all from older patients, ER‐β was expressed clearly in osteoclast nuclei, with little cytoplasmic immunoreactivity. Nuclear immunoreactivity was still prominent in osteoclasts, with antibody diluted 1:500, although it faded in other cells. Osteoblasts, in areas of active bone formation or bone remodeling, also expressed ER‐β, as did some osteocytes. However, hypertrophic chondrocytes were negative, unlike mesenchymal cells, adjacent to the osteogenesis. Megakaryocytes and some capillary blood vessels cells were receptor positive. All ER‐β expression was blocked totally by preincubation of antibody with antigen. We conclude that ER‐β is expressed in cells of osteoblast lineage and in osteoclasts. The latter appear relatively abundant in this receptor and this might provide a means for direct action of estrogen on osteoclasts.
Effect of Weight Loss Maintenance on Arterial Compliance and Metabolic and Inflammatory Parameters: A Three-Year Follow-Up Study

Background/Aims: To evaluate the effect of long-term weight loss maintenance on arterial compliance, and metabolic and inflammatory parameters in obese patients who participated in a 6-month weight loss program featuring nutritional and exercise intervention. Methods: Sixty-seven obese subjects who participated in a 6-month weight loss program were followed for an additional 30 months. The 47 patients who fully completed the 3-year follow-up were divided into two groups according to change in BMI from the end of the weight loss program to the long-term follow-up visit. Group 1 included 22 patients whose BMI decreased or remained stable; group 2 included 25 patients whose BMI increased after program discontinuation. Arterial compliance and metabolic measures were evaluated at baseline, and at 3, 6 and 36 months of follow-up. Results: BMI changed from 35.4 ± 6.9 to 32.6 ± 6.6 after 6 months and to 33.4 ± 7.0 after 36 months. While 53% of participants regained weight after program discontinuation, the mean weight at 3 years remained lower than at entry into the study. Large artery elasticity index (LAEI) as well as small artery elasticity index (SAEI) increased during initial weight loss program in both groups. After program discontinuation, significant improvement in SAEI was observed in patients who decreased or did not change BMI, whereas SAEI decreased in subjects who gained weight. LAEI increased marginally in group 1, while it significantly decreased in group 2. Conclusions: Obese subjects who successfully completed a 6-month behavioral weight loss program and decreased or maintained weight during 30 additional months exhibited improved arterial stiffness compared to subjects who regained weight.
Roentgenographic Analysis of the Positions of Catheters in the Epidural Space

The optimum site for insertion of the needle into the epidural space for epidural anesthesia is controversial because understanding of the behavior of the catheter in the space is incomplete. This paper reports the results of roentgenographic analysis of the positions of catheters inserted into the epidural spaces of 151 patients. About 50 per cent of the catheters inserted by a conventional technique curled up or doubled back on themselves. Significant differences between the lumbar and thoracic regions were observed, in both length of catheter directly inserted and distance of the catheter tip from the puncture site. In the lumbar region, the probability that the catheter tip was situated three segments beyond the intervertebral space of insertion was only about 0.5 per cent; in the thoracic region it was about 50 per cent.
How to formulate research questions and design studies for telehealth assessment and evaluation

Planning a research strategy and formulating the right research questions at various stages of developing a telehealth intervention are essential for producing scientific evidence. The aim of research at each stage should correspond to the maturity of the intervention and will require a variety of study designs. Although there are several published evaluation frameworks for telemedicine or telehealth as a subset of broader eHealth domain, there is currently no simple model to guide research planning. In this paper we propose a five-stage model as a framework for planning a comprehensive telehealth research program for a new intervention or service system. The stages are: (1) Concept development, (2) Service design, (3) Pre-implementation, (4) Implementation, (5) Post-implementation, and at each stage a number of studies are considered. Robust evaluation is important for the widespread acceptance and implementation of telehealth. We hope this framework enables researchers, service administrators and clinicians to conceptualise, undertake and appraise telehealth research from the point of view of being able to assess how applicable and valid the research is for their particular circumstances.
Development of a statically balanced arm support: ARMON

People with neuromuscular diseases can benefit from devices that assist their motoric capabilities. Different categories can be distinguished for different patient groups, ranging from robotic manipulators to non-powered orthoses. Robotic manipulators can be used by people with virtually no muscle force, whereas non-powered orthoses require at least acceleration and deceleration effort. This paper proposes a hybrid solution, constituting a non-powered orthosis that can be electronically adjusted to varying load. An overview of prototype development would be presented, including the design of linkage, balancer, interface and appearance. A preliminary evaluation with users is also provided.
A Methodology for Characterization of SET Propagation in SRAM-Based FPGAs

This paper presents a methodology for accurate characterization of Single Event Transient (SET) propagation in SRAM-based Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs): both generation and measurement of SETs are implemented on chip, respectively connected to input port and output port of the test combinational paths. The scheme we developed is mainly based on two circuits: 1) the one is a SET generating circuit for on-chip producing an adjustable pulse with a temporal resolution of near 100 ps; 2) the other is a SET measuring circuit for on-chip measuring pulses with a temporal resolution of near 80 ps and the ability to detect narrow transient pulses of about 300 ps. Based on above methodology, we investigate the effect of traversing seven logic chains with different gate types and multiple chain lengths on pulse widths, i.e., Propagation Induced Pulse Distorting (PIPD). Results demonstrate, when SETs propagate along Look Up Tables (LUTs) in Virtex-6 FPGAs, there is a broadening for negative SETs (1-0-1) while not for positive SETs (0-1-0); in addition, pulse width has no impact on PIPD, and which is linearly proportional to the number of stages.
Factor VIIa binding to endothelial cell protein C receptor: Differences between mouse and human systems

Summary Recent in vitro studies have shown that the zymogen and activated form of factor (F)VII bind to endothelial cell protein C receptor (EPCR). At present, there is no evidence that FVIIa binds to EPCR on vascular endothelium in vivo in the presence of circulating protein C, a primary ligand for EPCR. The present study was carried out to investigate the interaction of murine and human ligands with murine EPCR both in vivo and in vitro. Measurement of endogenous plasma levels of FVII in wild-type, EPCR-deficient and EPCR-over expressing mice showed slightly lower levels of FVII in EPCR-over expressing mice. However, infusion of high concentrations of competing ligands, either human APCi or FVIIai, to EPCR-over expressing mice failed to increase plasma levels of mouse FVII whereas they increased the plasma levels of protein C by two- to three-fold. Examining the association of exogenously administered mouse FVIIa or human FVIIa by immunohistochemistry revealed that human, but not murine FVIIa, binds to the murine endothelium in an EPCR-dependent manner. In vitro binding studies performed using surface plasmon resonance and endothelial cells revealed that murine FVIIa binds murine EPCR negligibly. Human FVIIa binding to EPCR, particularly to mouse EPCR, is markedly enhanced by availability of Mg2+ ions. In summary, our data show that murine FVIIa binds poorly to murine EPCR, whereas human FVIIa binds efficiently to both murine and human EPCR. Our data suggest that one should consider the use of human FVIIa in mouse models to investigate the significance of FVIIa and EPCR interaction.