Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Correction Factors for Goldmann Tonometry

Purpose:The purpose of the study was to evaluate the in vitro accuracy of correction factors in decreasing the error in the intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements obtained using the Goldmann Applanation Tonometer (GAT). Methods:Nineteen donor corneas, from individuals aged between 57 and 99 years (mean 75.7 years, standard deviation±11.4 years) were subjected to posterior pressure simulating in vivo true IOP (IOPT) using an inflation test rig. Central corneal thickness and corneal curvature were measured. The posterior pressure was set at 25 different pressure levels between 5 and 45 mm Hg and IOP was measured using the GAT. Five different correction equations were applied to the IOP measurements obtained using the GAT to determine corrected IOP. The multiparameter correction equations applied were derived by Elsheikh, Ehlers, Chihara, Shimmyo et al, and Orssengo and Pye. The differences between IOPT and the IOP measured using the GAT were recorded as uncorrected errors, whereas the differences between IOPT and each of the corrected IOP were the tonometry errors after correction. Results:The mean and standard deviation of error in tonometry before correction was +2.25±0.62 mm Hg. The mean errors in tonometry after correction using the Elsheikh and Chihara equations were +0.78±0.62 and +1.08±0.61 mm Hg, respectively. The mean errors in tonometry for the Ehlers, Shimmyo et al, and Orssengo and Pye equations were negative, indicating an overcorrection; the values were −0.75±2.28, −1.27±1.85, and −0.77±1.83 mm Hg, respectively. Conclusions:The Elsheikh and the Chihara et al's equations considerably decreased error in IOP measurements obtained by the GAT when compared with IOPT and were more consistent than other correction equations. The 2 equations may be of clinical utility in obtaining estimates of IOPT.
Prospective observation of CAD/CAM titanium-ceramic-fixed partial dentures: 3-year follow-up.

PURPOSE There is lack of knowledge about the clinical performance of computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) titanium-ceramic-fixed partial dentures (FPDs). The purpose of this study was to evaluate CAD/CAM titanium-ceramic FPDs after 3 years in function. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirty-one FPDs were fabricated for 23 patients. The Ti frameworks were completely fabricated using CAD/CAM technology, and the low-fusing porcelain was veneered. After confirming there were no mechanical or biological complications, the FPDs were cemented using zinc phosphate cement. The patients were recalled at 12, 24, and 36 months after cementation to examine for the presence of any mechanical complications, such as fractures of the veneering porcelain or the supportive framework, or biological complications, including caries, gingivitis, or periodontitis. The periodontal condition was measured using probing depth (PD), bleeding on probing (BOP), and plaque index (PI). Success and survival rates were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS There were four cohesive and three adhesive porcelain fractures, but no framework fractured. The Kaplan-Meier cumulative success rate of the CAD/CAM titanium-ceramic crown with regard to mechanical complications was 76.4%, and the cumulative survival rate was 96.8% after 3 years of use. One patient developed caries, but the condition was not associated with marginal discrepancy. No other biological complications were reported. The periodontal parameters demonstrated a tendency that slightly increased up to 24 months and was maintained by 36 months. At the end of the follow-up, PD was 2.86 mm, percentile of surface with BOP was 23.5, and PI was 0.45. CONCLUSION The CAD/CAM titanium-ceramic FPDs survived in the mouths of patients without major complications for 3 years, although the risk of porcelain fracture appeared to be relatively high.
Vascular corrosion casts mirroring early morphological changes that lead to the formation of saccular cerebral aneurysm: an experimental study in rats.

OBJECT The formation of cerebral aneurysms involves complex processes and little is known about the mechanisms by which they originate, grow, and rupture. The purpose of this study was to identify early ultrastructural morphological changes that lead to the formation of experimental cerebral aneurysms. METHODS Twenty male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to cerebral aneurysm induction (renal hypertension and right common carotid artery ligation); 10 intact rats served as the control group. The animals were killed after 2 months, and a vascular corrosion cast of their cerebral arteries was prepared and screened for aneurysm development by using a scanning electron microscope. Sequential morphological changes observed at the cerebral artery bifurcation in response to hemodynamic shear stress included endothelial changes, intimal pad elevation, and saccular dilation. Endothelial cell changes were the first observed morphological changes; they were followed by various degrees of artery wall dilation. No aneurysmal changes developed in any of the control rats. Of the 20 surgically treated rats, 11 displayed aneurysmal changes. In five of these animals only changes in the endothelial cell imprints could be identified. In the other six rats morphological changes in endothelial cells were associated with different stages of aneurysmal dilation. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study to demonstrate in vivo early morphological changes that lead to the formation of cerebral aneurysms. The morphological findings indicate the principal role of endothelial cells in the pathogenesis of cerebral aneurysms and suggest that hemodynamic shear stress and blood flow patterns may precipitate these early changes.
AtWRKY15 perturbation abolishes the mitochondrial stress response that steers osmotic stress tolerance in Arabidopsis

Environmental stresses adversely affect plant growth and development. A common theme within these adverse conditions is the perturbation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis. Here, we demonstrate that the ROS-inducible Arabidopsis thaliana WRKY15 transcription factor (AtWRKY15) modulates plant growth and salt/osmotic stress responses. By transcriptome profiling, a divergent stress response was identified in transgenic WRKY15-overexpressing plants that linked a stimulated endoplasmic reticulum-to-nucleus communication to a disrupted mitochondrial stress response under salt-stress conditions. We show that mitochondrial calcium-flux sensing might be important for regulating an active mitochondrial retrograde signaling and launching an appropriate defense response to confer salt-stress tolerance.
Institute–Hotel Coordinating Barriers to Early Career Management—Hoteliers’ Accounts

ABSTRACT As the fastest expanding hotel market in the world, China is currently experiencing a serious labor shortage. Early career management is essential for academics and practitioners to retain graduates in the hospitality industry, and for students to successfully compete in the labor market. Coordination is the key issue presenting a challenge to early career management. The purpose of this study is to identify the barriers that impede young hospitality talents’ early career management programs (which are mostly practical training programs and internship programs). A coordinating conflicts model was created based on in-depth interviews. The model includes 16 coordinating barriers from six sources identified by industry practitioners from China’s Tier One cities: society, the government, hotels, institutes, family, and students.
Immunotherapies in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder: efficacy and predictors of response

Objective To analyse predictors for relapses and number of attacks under different immunotherapies in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). Design This is a retrospective cohort study conducted in neurology departments at 21 regional and university hospitals in Germany. Eligible participants were patients with aquaporin-4-antibody-positive or aquaporin-4-antibody-negative NMOSD. Main outcome measures were HRs from Cox proportional hazard regression models adjusted for centre effects, important prognostic factors and repeated treatment episodes. Results 265 treatment episodes with a mean duration of 442 days (total of 321 treatment years) in 144 patients (mean age at first attack: 40.9 years, 82.6% female, 86.1% aquaporin-4-antibody-positive) were analysed. 191 attacks occurred during any of the treatments (annual relapse rate=0.60). The most common treatments were rituximab (n=77, 111 patient-years), azathioprine (n=52, 68 patient-years), interferon-β (n=32, 61 patient-years), mitoxantrone (n=34, 32.1 patient-years) and glatiramer acetate (n=17, 10 patient-years). Azathioprine (HR=0.4, 95% CI 0.3 to 0.7, p=0.001) and rituximab (HR=0.6, 95% CI 0.4 to 1.0, p=0.034) reduced the attack risk compared with interferon-β, whereas mitoxantrone and glatiramer acetate did not. Patients who were aquaporin-4-antibody-positive had a higher risk of attacks (HR=2.5, 95% CI 1.3 to 5.1, p=0.009). Every decade of age was associated with a lower risk for attacks (HR=0.8, 95% CI 0.7 to 1.0, p=0.039). A previous attack under the same treatment tended to be predictive for further attacks (HR=1.5, 95% CI 1.0 to 2.4, p=0.065). Conclusions Age, antibody status and possibly previous attacks predict further attacks in patients treated for NMOSD. Azathioprine and rituximab are superior to interferon-β.
Recruitment of African American and Latino Adolescent Couples in Romantic Relationships

Abstract Background: There is considerable literature on effective engagement strategies for recruiting adolescents individually for health research studies, but literature on recruiting adolescent couples is new and minimal. Purpose: This paper describes the recruitment strategies used for Teen Connections (TC), a longitudinal study that recruited 139 mainly African American and Latino adolescent couples in romantic relationships living in New York City. Methods: We collected data in Microsoft Access and documented the date each recruitment strategy was implemented, date each partner was enrolled, and amount of effort required to enroll participants. We identified individual and relationship characteristics from each partner's baseline survey. Results: We found that relationship type and characteristics, language used in printed materials, parental consent, implementing a screener questionnaire and gender of partner had implications for enrollment in TC. Discussion: Couples studies are highly demanding but achievable with dedicated staff and access to a large number of youth. Translation to Health Education Practice: Research on sexual health and risk often relies on individual reports of dyadic events. Adolescent couples' studies may not be pursued because of recruitment limitations, but they can provide invaluable insight into relationship dynamics, characteristics, etc. that may help design better health education interventions, and should be pursued nonetheless.
Parameters affecting latency period in PPROM cases: a 10-year experience of a single institution

Abstract Objective: To investigate the association of epidemiological and pregnancy-related parameters with the latency period achieved in cases of preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM). Method: A retrospective study was performed enrolling cases admitted in high-risk pregnancy unit (HRPU) with PPROM between 24 + 0 and 36 + 6 gestational week during 2002–2011. Cases with vaginal bleeding at admission, co-existing maternal or fetal pathology, placenta praevia, previous interventions in cervix or uterus, triplets or higher order pregnancies were excluded. Epidemiological parameters and latency period between admission due to PPROM and delivery were recorded. Obstetrical complications, mode of delivery, and neonatal morbidity parameters were also studied. A multivariate regression model was used to correlate latency period with epidemiological and pregnancy-related risk factors. Results: Overall, there were 319 cases of PPROM admitted, of which 303 (94.9%) met inclusion criteria. Median latency period was 5.2 d. The latency interval exceeded 48 h in 65.0% of cases (197/303). Emergency cesarean was demanded in 20.2% of cases, chorioamnionitis was diagnosed in 7.5% while 76.1% of neonates were admitted in neonatal intensive care unit. Higher gestational week at admission was associated with shorter latency interval (p < 0.001), twin pregnancy with shorter latency interval (p = 0.02), while latency interval was significantly lower in cases complicated with chorioamnionitis (p = 0.048). Conclusion: Gestational week at PPROM, twin gestation and chorioamnionitis are factors significantly affecting latency interval.
Alcohol consumption in university women: A second look at the role of anxiety sensitivity

The study reexamined the relationship between anxiety sensitivity (AS) and drinking behavior in a sample of university women (N = 197) taking into account recent theoretical considerations regarding the possible hierarchical nature of the AS construct. To assess the incremental validity of this construct, the amount of variance in drinking behavior accounted for by measures of AS and trait anxiety was investigated with several multiple regression analyses. Contrary to expectations, measures of both constructs failed to account for significant variance in drinking behavior. McNally's [1996: Rapee RM, editor. Current Controversies in anxiety disorders. p 214–244] hypothesis regarding a trait anxiety by AS interaction received weak support as the combination of these two variables accounted for a small (i.e., 1.6%) portion of variance in one drinking variable (viz., monthly intoxication). Correlational analyses revealed only two small and marginally significant associations between the lower‐order components of AS (i.e., fears of physical, cognitive, and publicly observable symptoms of anxiety) and the drinking measures. Potential reasons for the failure to replicate or extend Stewart et al.'s [1995: J Anxiety Disord 9:283–392] findings of significant positive associations between AS and both weekly alcohol consumption and excessive drinking are discussed. Depression and Anxiety 10:125–128, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Physical Activity Level and Colorectal Cancer Mortality

Physical activity has been shown to reduce colorectal cancer risk. However, the association of physical activity levels separately with colon and rectum cancer mortality is less clear. We included 226 089 Korean in a large prospective cohort study. We assessed the associations of physical activity levels (length, frequency, and intensity) with colon and rectum cancer mortality using Cox proportional hazards model. Men, but not women, who had regular physical activity showed a lower risk of death from colon cancer. The association for high intensity of physical activity was borderline significant in men (hazard ratio 0.67; 95% CI = 0.45-1.00 for >17.5 MET-hour/week). The associations were largely consistent among those aged <55 years, body mass index <25 kg/m2, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, current smoker, and without hypertension or history of cardiovascular disease. In conclusion, higher length or intensity of physical activity decreased colon, but not rectum cancer mortality in men. Regular physical activity may have beneficial effects on colon cancer survival.
Mechanisms and Implications of Animal Flight Maneuverability1

Abstract Accelerations and directional changes of flying animals derive from interactions between aerodynamic force production and the inertial resistance of the body to translation and rotation. Anatomical and allometric features of body design thus mediate the rapidity of aerial maneuvers. Both translational and rotational responsiveness of the body to applied force decrease with increased total mass. For flying vertebrates, contributions of the relatively heavy wings to whole-body rotational inertia are substantial, whereas the relatively light wings of many insect taxa suggest that rotational inertia is dominated by the contributions of body segments. In some circumstances, inertial features of wing design may be as significant as are their aerodynamic properties in influencing the rapidity of body rotations. Stability in flight requires force and moment balances that are usually attained via bilateral symmetry in wingbeat kinematics, whereas body roll and yaw derive from bilaterally asymmetric movements of both axial and appendicular structures. In many flying vertebrates, use of the tail facilitates the generation of aerodynamic torques and substantially enhances quickness of body rotation. Geometrical constraints on wingbeat kinematics may limit total force production and thus accelerational capacity in certain behavioral circumstances. Unitary limits to animal flight performance and maneuverability are unlikely, however, given varied and context-specific interactions among anatomical, biomechanical, and energetic features of design.
Comparison of Manual, Semi- and Fully Automated Heart Segmentation for Assessing Global Left Ventricular Function in Multidetector Computed Tomography

Purpose:To evaluate the reliability of global left ventricular (LV) function and mass measurements with the aid of a semi-automated (Circulation; Siemens, Forchheim, Germany) and a new fully automated software (Philips Research Europe, Aachen, Germany) versus an established manual segmentation method (Argus; Siemens). Material and Methods:Forty-one patients (31 men, 10 women; mean age: 62 ± 5 years) with known or suspected coronary heart disease underwent contrast-enhanced Dual-Source computed tomography of the heart (120 kV, 410 mAs/rotation, collimation 2 × 32 × 0.6 mm, gantry rotation time 0.33 milliseconds). Global LV function measurements of end-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV), stroke volume, ejection fraction (EF), and LV mass were each assessed with a manual, a semi- and fully automated method. The latter were compared with the manual contour tracing method, which was considered as standard of reference. Postprocessing time for each method was recorded. For statistical analysis, repeated-measures analysis of variance, post hoc t test, and concordance correlation coefficients were calculated. Bland-Altman plots were generated. Results:In general, ESV and EF assessed with the semi-automated and with the fully automated prototype version agreed well with the manual contour tracing method. The mean ESV (±SD) calculated from the manual, the semi-automated, and the fully automated method was 67 ± 43 mL, 74 ± 54 mL, and 75 ± 48 mL, respectively. No statistically significant differences between the methods were found for ESV and EF. In contrast, significant variations (P < 0.05) among the different segmentation methods were shown for EDV, stroke volume, and LV mass. This variation was predominantly due to variation in endocardial delineations among the different techniques. Concordance correlation coefficients demonstrated a better accuracy for the fully automated method than for the semi-automated technique when compared with the manual drawing method. Furthermore, fully automated postprocessing heart segmentation yielded time savings of approximately 80% compared with the manual segmentation tool and 63% compared with the semi-automated technique. Mean postprocessing time (±SD) for the manual, the semi-automated, and the fully automated method was 345 ± 75 seconds, 192 ± 58 seconds, and 72 ± 58 seconds, respectively. Conclusion:LV function and mass analyses using semi- or fully automated segmentation algorithms are feasible even if significant differences in EDV assessment are observed. The fully automated method results in better accuracy and time savings when compared with manual and semi-automated data analysis.
Use of gabapentin for perioperative pain control -- a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND Gabapentin, an anticonvulsant, has recently been suggested as an effective postoperative 'analgesic' agent. The objective of the present study was to examine the analgesic effectiveness, opioid-sparing effects and side effects associated with the use of gabapentin in a perioperative setting. METHODS Following the Quality of Reporting of Meta-analyses recommendations, nine electronic databases until February 2006 were searched, without language restriction, for randomized controlled trials comparing gabapentin with control for postoperative pain control. Outcome measures, namely, 24 h cumulative opioid consumption, visual analogue scale pain scores and adverse effects, were expressed as odds ratios, ratio of means or weighted mean differences (as appropriate), which were aggregated under the fixed or random effects models. RESULTS Gabapentin caused a 35% reduction in total opioid consumption over the first 24 h following surgery (ratio of means 0.65, 95% CI 0.59 to 0.72), a significant reduction in postoperative pain at rest (in the first 24 h) and with movement (at 2 h, 4 h and 12 h), regardless of whether treatment effects were expressed as ratios of means or weighted mean differences, and a reduction of vomiting (relative risk [RR] 0.73, 95% CI 0.56 to 0.95) and pruritus (RR 0.30, 95% CI 0.13 to 0.70). It was associated with a significant increase in dizziness (RR 1.40, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.84) and an increase in sedation of borderline significance (RR 1.65, 95% CI 1.00 to 2.74). CONCLUSION Gabapentin improves the analgesic efficacy of opioids both at rest and with movement, reduces analgesic consumption and opioid-related adverse effects, but is associated with an increased incidence of sedation and dizziness.
Efficiency of Premature Coffee Futures Market in Indonesia

Coffee price risk emphasize the importance of futures markets existence as price risk management. This study examines whether the futures price may predict the spot price as the indicator of market efficiency using data of daily Arabica and Robusta coffee prices from 1172 trading days starting from January 2014 to June 2018. Analysis using Engel-Granger Cointegration and Error Correction Model (ECM) indicates the cointegration between coffee futures market and its spot market both in long term and also short term. Significant coefficient in futures and spot market respond to restore the equilibrium whenever there is some price discrepancy. Arabica spot price coefficient is lower than Arabica futures price which indicates that Arabica futures price have faster adjustment toward the disequilibrium and transmit information to spot market therefore price discovery in futures market. Analysis toward Robusta futures and spot market are also indicates the same phenomenon. Indonesia premature coffee market shows unique condition in which there is an arbitrage potential however the two market exhibits cointegration indicates the efficient market. Integrated market will perform risk transfer function and may however beneficial to hedgers, speculators and arbitrageurs in connecting the two markets. Further, the analysis result between onshore and offshore market with the same period of price information exhibits long term relationship. This confirms strong position of Indonesia coffee production information among other coffee producers for aggregate world coffee production. Keywords: Coffee, commodity futures, cointegration, efficiency, spot market. DOI : 10.7176/EJBM/11-3-07