Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Potential Clinical and Economic Impact of Switching Branded Medications to Generics

Switching branded to generic medications has become a common cost-containment measure. Although this is an important objective for health care systems worldwide, the impact of this practice on patient outcomes needs to be carefully considered. We reviewed the literature summarizing the potential clinical and economic consequences of switching from branded to generic medications on patient outcomes. A literature search of peer-reviewed articles published 2003–2013 using key words of “generic switching” or “substitution” was conducted using PubMed, OvidSP, and ScienceDirect. Of 30 articles identified and reviewed, most were related to the diseases of the central nervous system, especially epilepsy. Based on our review, potential impacts of switching fell into 3 broad categories: patient attitudes and adherence, clinical and safety outcomes, and cost and resource utilization. Although in many cases generics may represent an appropriate alternative to branded products, this may not always be the case. Specifically, several studies suggested that switching may negatively impact medication adherence, whereas other studies found that generic switching was associated with poorer clinical outcomes and more adverse events. In some instances, switching accomplished cost savings but did so at increased total cost of care because of increased physician visits or hospitalizations. Although in many cases generics may represent an appropriate alternative, mandatory generic switching may lead to unintended consequences, especially in certain therapeutic areas. Although further study is warranted, based on our review, it may be medically justifiable for physicians and patients to retain the right to request the branded product in certain cases.
Variations in semen quality and the relationship of semen quality to fertility in turkeys.

Abstract INTRODUCTION IT would be of great value if males could be selected on the basis of semen quality prior to the breeding season. The thought of such a relationship is particularly intriguing in turkey management where considerable artificial insemination is practiced and where, in many instances, fertility levels are not satisfactory. Little is known regarding either changes in semen quality with advancing age or the influence of breed or cross on semen quality in turkeys. Carson et al. (1955) reported a rise in semen production from November to April or May followed by a decline to August. Conflicting reports are present in regards to sperm concentration, where Parker (1946) reported increases to March followed by a plateauing effect, but Law and Kosin (1958) found no differences from January to June. Parker (1946) reported also that motility was lower the first two months and then rose to a second plateau. The .
New oral anticoagulant agents – general features and outcomes in subsets of patients

Summary During the past four years the phase III trials on stroke prophylaxis in atrial fibrillation and on treatment of venous thromboembolism have been completed for four new oral anticoagulants – dabigatran, apixaban, edoxaban and rivaroxaban. The studies have revealed advantages in terms of a reduced risk of bleeding, most importantly of intracranial bleeding. These anticoagulants also have favourable pharmacokinetics, eliminating the need for routine laboratory monitoring and dose adjustments. There are, however, some differences between the drugs in certain subsets of patients, according to patient characteristics or to indication for treatment. These features are reviewed here. The management of patients in association with invasive procedures or major bleeding is also discussed. Finally, a strategy of how to select patients for warfarin or the new anticoagulants and thereafter possibly also among the latter is outlined.
Tuberculosis during Pregnancy in Northern Israel, 2002-2012: Epidemiology and Clinical Practices.

BACKGROUND Atypical presentation of tuberculosis (TB) during pregnancy may cause diagnostic delay and adversely influence pregnancy outcome. OBJECTIVES To examine the incidence and clinical and epidemiological features of TB during pregnancy and investigate infection control measures at delivery and during the postpartum period. METHODS We retrospectively evaluated all reported cases of TB diagnosed during pregnancy to 6 months postpartum in Israel's Northern Health District (2002-2012). RESULTS Active TB was detected in six patients; all were negative for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Two patients were diagnosed in the postpartum period, and four had pulmonary involvement. The average incidence during this period (3.9 per 100,000 pregnancies) was similar to that in the general population. Five patients were at high risk of contracting TB due to either recent immigration from a high-burden country or being in contact with another individual with active TB. Patients with pleuropulmonary involvement had prolonged cough and abnormal chest X-rays, without fever. Diagnosis was delayed for 3 to 7 months from symptom onset. Investigation of the newborn to rule out intrauterine infection was conducted in only one of four relevant cases. All patients were infected with organisms susceptible to all first-line drugs, and all were cured with standard therapy. CONCLUSIONS There was a considerable delay in the diagnosis of TB among pregnant women, and investigation of the newborn upon delivery to rule out TB infection was routinely omitted. Effective management of TB during pregnancy and the postpartum period requires a multidisciplinary approach including an obstetrician, pediatrician, TB specialist, and public health physician.
Cost-Effective Training of Deep CNNs with Active Model Adaptation

Deep convolutional neural networks have achieved great success in various applications. However, training an effective DNN model for a specific task is rather challenging because it requires a prior knowledge or experience to design the network architecture, repeated trial-and-error process to tune the parameters, and a large set of labeled data to train the model. In this paper, we propose to overcome these challenges by actively adapting a pre-trained model to a new task with less labeled examples. Specifically, the pre-trained model is iteratively fine tuned based on the most useful examples. The examples are actively selected based on a novel criterion, which jointly estimates the potential contribution of an instance on optimizing the feature representation as well as improving the classification model for the target task. On one hand, the pre-trained model brings plentiful information from its original task, avoiding redesign of the network architecture or training from scratch; and on the other hand, the labeling cost can be significantly reduced by active label querying. Experiments on multiple datasets and different pre-trained models demonstrate that the proposed approach can achieve cost-effective training of DNNs.
Cryptocurrencies, Network Effects, and Switching Costs

type="main" xml:id="coep12151-abs-0001"> Cryptocurrencies are digital alternatives to traditional government-issued paper monies. Given the current state of technology and skepticism regarding the future purchasing power of existing monies, why have cryptocurrencies failed to gain widespread acceptance? I offer an explanation based on network effects and switching costs. In order to articulate the problem that agents considering cryptocurrencies face, I employ a simple model developed by Dowd and Greenaway (1993) (Dowd, K., and D. Greenaway. “Currency Competition, Network Externalities, and Switching Costs: Towards an Alternative View of Optimum Currency Areas.” The Economic Journal, 103(420), 1993, 1180–89). The model demonstrates that agents may fail to adopt an alternative currency when network effects and switching costs are present, even if all agents agree that the prevailing currency is inferior. The limited success of bitcoin—almost certainly the most popular cryptocurrency to date—serves to illustrate. After briefly surveying episodes of successful monetary transition, I conclude that cryptocurrencies like bitcoin are unlikely to generate widespread acceptance in the absence of either significant monetary instability or government support. (JEL E40, E41, E42, E49)
Bispectral Index and non-Bispectral Index anesthetic protocols on postoperative recovery outcomes.

INTRODUCTION The study aimed to compare Bispectral Index (BIS) and non-BIS anesthetic protocols on postoperative recovery outcomes. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION Medline, PubMed, Cochrane, EMBASE, and Google Scholar databases were searched until January 21, 2016. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS Twenty-six studies were included with a total of 9537 patients. BIS monitoring was significantly associated with shorter time to eye opening (P=0.001), time to extubation (P<0.001), and time to orientation (P=0.002) compared with non-BIS monitoring. No difference between groups was seen with respect to hypoxemia, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), time to oral fluid intake, and length of Postanesthesia Care Unit (PACU) stay (P values ≥0.185). CONCLUSIONS The use of BIS-monitoring is superior to non-BIS monitored anesthesia in terms of shorter time to eye-opening, extubation, and orientation. BIS monitor may be considered a safe and effective method for monitoring depth of anesthesia during surgery.
Recommending missing sensor values

Datasets gathered from sensor networks often suffer from a significant fraction of missing data, due to issues such as communication and sensor interference, power depletion, and hardware failure. Many standard data analysis tools such as classification engines, time-sequence pattern analysis modules, and statistical tools are ill-equipped to deal with missing values - hence, there is a vital need for highly-accurate techniques for imputing missing readings prior to analysis. This paper presents novel imputation methods that take a "recommendation systems" view of the problem: the sensors and their readings at each time step are viewed as products and user product ratings, with the goal of estimating the missing ratings. Sensor readings differ from product ratings, however, in that the former exhibit high correlation in both time and space. To incorporate this property, we modify the widely successful matrix factorization approach for recommendation systems to model inter-sensor and intra-sensor correlations and learn latent relationships among these dimensions. We evaluate the approach using two sensor network datasets, one indoor and one outdoor, and two imputation scenarios, corresponding to intermittent readings and failed sensors. Next, we consider sensor networks with multiple sensor types at each node. We present two techniques for extending our model to account for possible correlations among sensor types (e.g., temperature and humidity) with promising results. Finally, we study how the imputed values affect the result of data analysis. We consider a popular data analysis task - building regression-based prediction models - and show that, compared to prior approaches for imputation, our method leads to a much higher quality prediction model.
A new Approach for GNSS Analysis in a Multi-GNSS and Multi-Signal Environment

A new Approach for GNSS Analysis in a Multi-GNSS and Multi-Signal Environment Over the coming years GPS and GLONASS will be modernised, whilst at the same time new systems like QZSS, Galileo, and Compass are launched. The modernisations of the existing and the deployment of new Global Naviagation Satellite Systems (GNSS) will make a whole range of new signals available to the users. The anticipated improvements will strongly depend on our understanding and handling of the biases that will inevitably exist between the different systems and signals. Furthermore the extremely high stability of the future satellite clocks means, that any form of differencing observations to cancel out the satellite clock offsets, effectively leads to a very significant loss of information. The fundamentally new aspect of our approach for GNSS analysis in a multi-GNSS and multi-signal environment is that it avoids the formation of differences as well as of linear combinations. Thus all available observations from all GNSS systems as observed by all the receivers in a network are incorporated in the parameter estimation. The fact that all observations are analysed without any pre-selection of observation types, needed for linear combinations or observation differences, leads to an enormous simplification of the processing.
Antimicrobial Activities of Gold Nanoparticles against Major Foodborne Pathogens

Spherical gold nanoparticles (Au) were chemically prepared and characterized by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and UV spectra. Their antimicrobial activities against major foodborne pathogens were studied. Antimicrobial activities of Au nanoparticles had been increased with their higher volume. Best antifungal activity was observed on using fluconazole coated with 40 µl Au nanoparticles with zone of inhibition 14mm against A. niger, 13mm C. albicans and 12mm A. flavus. Minimum inhibitory concentration test (MIC) revealed synergistic effect of Au nanoparticles with ciprofloxacin when compared with ciprofloxacin alone. Best results were shown against S. Typhimurium (0.097, 0.19), B. cereus (0.19, 0.39), E.coli O157 (0.39, 0.39), P. aeruginosa and L. monocytogenes (0.39, 0.78) and finally S. aureus (0.78, 6.25) respectively. Gold nanoparticles and fluconazole coated with Au nanoparticles showed variable MIC against C. albicans, A. niger (6.25, 3.125) and A. flavus (12.5, 6.25), respectively. TEM revealed small size of gold nanoparticles (range 9-19 nm) trapped by the biofilm released by S. Typhimurium and easily attached to the surface of cell membrane which drastically disturbed its proper function like respiration and permeability. Interaction between S. Typhimurium and ciprofloxacin coated with gold nanoparticles revealed that the cell wall was loosened and separated from the membrane or disrupted with complete absence of flagella. TEM of S. Typhimurium using ciprofloxacin alone showed intact bacterial cell wall with the accumulation of antibiotic on the cell wall and partial destruction of flagella. Drugs capped gold particle act as a single group against the microorganism which was indicated by using disk diffusion method with increase zone of inhibition of Au alone, ciprofloxacin alone and Au coated ciprofloxacin from 12, 26 and 30 mm, respectively. Also, it was clarified by the decrease in MIC from 6.25, 0.19 to 0.097, respectively. Results indicated that drugs coated with nanoparticles were highly effective against tested isolates so that Au nanoparticles can minimize treatment durations and side effects of drugs. (M. F. Zawrah and Sherein I. Abd El-Moez Antimicrobial Activities of Gold Nanoparticles against Major Foodborne Pathogens) Life Science Journal. 2011;8(4):37-44) (ISSN:1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite. com.
Evaluation of Reference Evapotranspiration Methods in Arid, Semiarid, and Humid Regions

It is often necessary to find a simpler method in different climatic regions to calculate reference crop evapotranspiration (ETo) since the application of the FAO‐56 Penman‐Monteith method is often restricted due to the unavailability of a comprehensive weather dataset. Seven ETo methods, namely the standard FAO‐56 Penman‐Monteith, the FAO‐24 Radiation, FAO‐24 Blaney Criddle, 1985 Hargreaves, Priestley‐Taylor, 1957 Makkink, and 1961 Turc, were applied to calculate monthly averages of daily ETo, total annual ETo, and daily ETo in an arid region at Aksu, China, in a semiarid region at Tongchuan, China, and in a humid region at Starkville, Mississippi, United States. Comparisons were made between the FAO‐56 method and the other six simple alternative methods, using the index of agreement D, modeling efficiency (EF), and root mean square error (RMSE). For the monthly averages of daily ETo, the values of D, EF, and RMSE ranged from 0.82 to 0.98, 0.55 to 0.98, and 0.23 to 1.00 mm/day, respectively. For the total annual ETo, the values of D, EF, and RMSE ranged from 0.21 to 0.91, −43.08 to 0.82, and 24.80 to 234.08 mm/year, respectively. For the daily ETo, the values of D, EF, and RMSE ranged from 0.58 to 0.97, 0.57 to 0.97, and 0.30 to 1.06 mm/day, respectively. The results showed that the Priestly‐Taylor and 1985 Hargreaves methods worked best in the arid and semiarid regions, while the 1957 Makkink worked best in the humid region.
Recent advances and future prospects in choroideremia

Choroideremia is a complex and rare disease that is frequently misdiagnosed due to its similar appearance to classic retinitis pigmentosa. Recent advances in genetic testing have identified specific genetic mutations in many retinal dystrophies, and the identification of the mutation of the CHM gene on the X chromosome 25 years ago has paved the way for gene replacement therapy with the first human trials now underway. This article reviews the epidemiological and pathological features of choroideremia and new prospects in imaging to monitor disease progression, as well as potential treatment approaches for choroideremia.
New photoplethysmogram indicators for improving cuffless and continuous blood pressure estimation accuracy

Objective: The accuracy of cuffless and continuous blood pressure (BP) estimation has been improved, but it is still unsatisfactory for clinical uses. This study was designed to further increase BP estimation accuracy. Approach: In this study, a number of new indicators were extracted from photoplethysmogram (PPG) recordings and a linear regression method was used to construct BP estimation models based on the PPG indicators and pulse transit time (PTT). The performance of the BP estimation models was evaluated by the PPG recordings from 22 subjects when they performed mental arithmetic stress and Valsalva’s manoeuvre tasks that could induce BP fluctuations. Main results: Our results showed that the best PPG-based BP estimation model could achieve a decrease of 0.31 ± 0.08 mmHg in systolic BP (SBP) and 0.33 ± 0.01 mmHg in diastolic BP (DBP) on estimation errors of grand absolute mean (GAM) and standard deviation (GSD) in comparison to the previously reported PPG-based methods. The best estimation model based on the combination of PPG and PPT could achieve a decrease (GAM & GSD) of 0.81 ± 0.95 mmHg in SBP and 0.75 ± 0.54 mmHg in DBP in comparison to the PPT-based methods. Significance: The findings suggest that the newly proposed PPG indicators would be promising for improving the accuracy of continuous and cuffless BP estimation.
Predator and prey perception in copepods due to hydromechanical signals

Copepods can perceive moving predators and prey by means of the hydrodynamical disturbances these generate. We formulate a simplified, general model of the fluid disturbance generated by a plankter that is moving or generating a feeding current and we estimate the magnitude and attenuation of the different components of the fluid disturbance. We use this model to argue that prey perception depends on the absolute magnitude of the fluid velocity generated by the moving prey, while predator perception depends on the magnitude of one or several of the components of the fluid velocity gradients (deformation rate, vorticity, acceleration) generated by the predator. On the assumption that hydrodynamic disturbances are perceived through the mechanical bending of sensory setae, we estimate the magnitude of the signal strength due to each of the fluid disturbance components. We then derive equations for reaction distances as a function of threshold signal strength and the size and velocity of the prey or predator. We provide a conceptual framework for quantifying threshold signal strengths and, hence, perception distances. The model is illustrated by several examples, and we demonstrate for example, (1) how larval fish behaviour is adapted to allow their undetected approach up to the strike distance of their copepod prey, (2) that prey velocity is much more significant for prey encounter rates than traditionally assumed, even for cruising predators, (3) that prey perception is strongly biased towards large and rapidly swimming/sinking prey particles, and (4) that the model can accommodate the 3 orders of magnitude variation in clearance rates observed in the copepod Oithona similis feeding on motile protists and sinking particles. We finally discuss the implications of hydromechanical predator and prey perception to trophic interactions and vertical particle fluxes, and suggest important research questions that may be addressed.
Influence of a hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate and virginiamycin on aflatoxicosis in broiler chicks.

Male broiler chicks were fed diets containing 0 or 3.5 mg aflatoxin (AF)/kg from 1 to 28 d of age. The diets were amended with either . 5% hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate (HSCAS), 16.5 mg virginiamycin (VM)/kg of diet, or . 5% HSCAS + 16.5 mg VM/kg of diet to determine the effects of these compounds during aflatoxicosis. When compared with controls (814 g), BW gains were significantly lower for broilers fed the AF (731 g) or AF+VM (716 g) diets. No differences were found between the BW gains of chicks fed diets without aflatoxin (814 g) and those of chicks fed AF+HSCAS (793 g) or AF+HSCAS+VM (803 g), indicating approximately 75% protection against decreased BW gain by HSCAS and 87% protection by the HSCAS+VM combination. Relative weights of the liver and kidney and creatine kinase activity were significantly increased and albumin, total protein, cholesterol, uric acid, and inorganic phosphorus concentrations were decreased in chicks fed the diet containing AF alone. With the exception of albumin, HSCAS was effective in restoring these values to control values. The findings of this research suggest that HSCAS and HSCAS+VM can counteract some of the toxic effects of AF in growing broiler chicks.
Zinc supplementation: its effect on egg production, feed conversion, fertility, and hatchability.

Studies were conducted over four layer years using Single Comb White Leghorn hens, 24 to 68 weeks of age, to observe the effects of zinc supplementation of a corn-soybean meal layer ration on egg production, feed conversion, fertility, and hatchability. Pullets were housed in floor pens; 20 birds per pen. New Hampshire cockerels were used as sires. Treatments were the basal corn-soy-based diet (28 or 34 ppm zinc by analysis) with the following supplemental zinc levels (as the carbonate): 0, 10, 20, or 40 ppm. Feed, water, and crushed oyster shell were supplied ad libitum in all trials. No consistent production effects due to zinc supplementation were observed. Egg production, feed intake, and feed conversion were not improved by zinc supplementation. Fertility and hatchability, likewise, were not improved by zinc supplementation. The chicks produced showed no significant differences in 3-week body weights. However, the chicks produced from hens on the 28 ppm zinc (control) diet showed an increased incidence of zinc-related feather fraying. There was a significant (P less than .05) increase the first two laying trials and a numerical increase the last two trials. Thus it appears that 28 ppm of zinc, naturally supplied, is adequate for egg production, fertility, hatchability, and growth of progeny.