Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rate and Causes of Discharge against Medical Advice in Iranian Hospitals: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Discharge against Medical Advice (DAMA) is a problem for hospitals which may result in increasing readmissions, morbidities, inabilities, deaths and health care costs. This study, aimed to investigate the rate and causes of DAMA in Iranian hospitals. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis study was conducted in 2014. Required data were collected through searching for key words included: “Discharge Against Medical Advice”, “Leaving against medical advice”, “causes*”, “hospital” and their Persian equivalents, over databases including PubMed, OVID, Google Scholar, Embase, Scopus, Magiran, scientific information database (SID). The reference lists of the articles, certain relevant journals and web sites in this field were also searched. Results: Out of 913 articles initially retrieved, finally 17 articles were incorporated into the study. There were 244858 individuals studied in the articles. Using a random effects model, the rate of DAMA in Iranian hospitals was estimated at 7.9% (6.3%–9.8%). While the highest rate of DAMA was associated with patients in departments of psychiatry (12%), the lowest rate was related to patients in departments of pediatrics (3.7). DAMA was in men more than women (P<0.05) Patient’s perception of feeling of wellbeing, financial problems, family problems, the lack of attention from physicians and nurses, inappropriate behavior with patients by hospital team and the lack of timely care were mentioned as main causes for DAMA. Conclusion: The rate of DAMA in Iranian hospitals is relatively high. Thus effective initiatives in this area are required.
Melanopsin-Containing Retinal Ganglion Cells: Architecture, Projections, and Intrinsic Photosensitivity

The primary circadian pacemaker, in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the mammalian brain, is photoentrained by light signals from the eyes through the retinohypothalamic tract. Retinal rod and cone cells are not required for photoentrainment. Recent evidence suggests that the entraining photoreceptors are retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) that project to the SCN. The visual pigment for this photoreceptor may be melanopsin, an opsin-like protein whose coding messenger RNA is found in a subset of mammalian RGCs. By cloning rat melanopsin and generating specific antibodies, we show that melanopsin is present in cell bodies, dendrites, and proximal axonal segments of a subset of rat RGCs. In mice heterozygous for tau-lacZ targeted to the melanopsin gene locus, β-galactosidase–positive RGC axons projected to the SCN and other brain nuclei involved in circadian photoentrainment or the pupillary light reflex. Rat RGCs that exhibited intrinsic photosensitivity invariably expressed melanopsin. Hence, melanopsin is most likely the visual pigment of phototransducing RGCs that set the circadian clock and initiate other non–image-forming visual functions.
Enabling Multi-Source Neural Machine Translation By Concatenating Source Sentences In Multiple Languages

In this paper, we explore a simple solution to "Multi-Source Neural Machine Translation" (MSNMT) which only relies on preprocessing a N-way multilingual corpus without modifying the Neural Machine Translation (NMT) architecture or training procedure. We simply concatenate the source sentences to form a single long multi-source input sentence while keeping the target side sentence as it is and train an NMT system using this preprocessed corpus. We evaluate our method in resource poor as well as resource rich settings and show its effectiveness (up to 4 BLEU using 2 source languages and up to 6 BLEU using 5 source languages). We also compare against existing methods for MSNMT and show that our solution gives competitive results despite its simplicity. We also provide some insights on how the NMT system leverages multilingual information in such a scenario by visualizing attention.
Crack Propagation Behavior of Y‐TZP Ceramics

Y-TZP ceramics present the twofold advantage of a very fine grain size and a phase transformation leading to some reinforcement, making them useful in hip joint head prostheses. The subcritical crack growth of such a material that mainly drives the lifetime of the components has been evaluated for wide crack velocity ranges down to 10 -11 m/s by using both double torsion and static fatigue tests. It appeared that subcritical crack growth was activated by H 2 O. It is shown that two types of flaws should be considered: surface flaws caused by machining located in the compressive layer present at the surface, and so-called volume flaws. The subcritical crack growth and the toughness of both types of defects are different. The relevance of subcritical crack growth analysis for such surface cracks is discussed. The compressive layer at the surface leads to a threshold value below which no crack growth occurs.
Obtaining a Dry Extract from the Mikania laevigata Leaves with Potential for Antiulcer Activity

Background: Mikania laevigata leaves are commonly used in Brazil as a medicinal plant.Objective: To obtain hydroalcoholic dried extract by nebulization and evaluate its antiulcerogenic potential.Materials and Methods: Plant material and hydroalcoholic extract were processed and analyzed for their physicochemical characteristics. A method using HPLC was validated to quantify coumarin and o-coumaric acid. Hydroalcoholic extract was spray dried and the powder obtained was characterized in terms of its physicochemical parameters and potential for antiulcerogenic activity.Results: The analytical method proved to be selective, linear, precise, accurate, sensitive, and robust. M. laevigata spray dried extract was obtained using colloidal silicon dioxide as adjuvant and was shown to possess 1.83 ± 0.004% coumarin and 0.80 ± 0.012% o-coumaric acid. It showed significant antiulcer activity in a model of an indomethacin-induced gastric lesion in mice and also produced a gastroprotective effect.Conclusion: This dried extract from M. laevigata could be a promising intermediate phytopharmaceutical product. Abbreviations used: DE: M. laevigata spray dried extract, HE: hydroalcoholic extract
Some real-world applications of wireless sensor nodes

This paper presents two case histories of the use of wireless sensor Mote technologies. These are devices that incorporate communications, processing, sensors, sensor fusion, and power source into a package currently about two cubic inches in size -- networked autonomous sensor nodes. The first case discussed is the November, 2001, instrumentation of a blast-induced liquefaction test in Tokachi Port, Japan. The second case discussed is the dense-pak instrumentation of the seismic shaking test of a full-scale wood-frame building on the UCB Richmond shake table. The utility of dense instumentation is shown, and how it allows location of damage globally unseen. A methodology of interpreting structural seismic respose by Bayesian updating and extended Kalman filtering is presented. It is shown that dense, inexpensive instrumentation is needed to identify structural damage and prognosticate future behavior. The case studies show that the current families of Motes are very useful, but the hardware still has difficulties in terms of reliability and consistancy. It is apparent that the TinyOS is a wonderful tool for computer science education but is not an industrual quality instrumentation system. These are, of course, growing pains of the first incarnations of the Berkeley Smart Dust ideal. We expect the dream of easy to use, inexpensive, smart, wireless, sensor networks to become a reality in the next couple of years.
Effect of laboratory testing guidelines on the utilization of tests and order entries in a surgical intensive care unit*

Objective:Diagnostic testing is frequently overused in the intensive care unit. We devised guidelines to optimize blood tests utilization, and designed this study to quantify their efficacy over time, their safety, and their possible benefits. Design:Laboratory testing guidelines were created by consensus and implemented through repeated staff education. The guidelines included: a) the tests to be obtained daily: complete blood count, serum electrolytes, urea nitrogen, creatinine, and blood glucose concentration; b) the need to discuss laboratory testing at daily patient’s rounds; c) the need to provide a written order for all tests. The number of tests performed, corresponding physician orders, and various outcome measures were collected for two 6-month study periods, before and after the first day of implementation of the guidelines. Setting:Twenty-bed surgical intensive care unit in a tertiary care teaching hospital. Patients:All patients admitted during the two study periods. Methods:Laboratory tests and related physician orders, demographics, blood products transfusion, and outcomes were collected from hospital databases. In prospectively defined subgroups, additional outcome measures were obtained by ad-hoc chart review. Results:One thousand one hundred seventeen patients were enrolled. After the institution of the guidelines, the number of laboratory tests decreased by 37% (from 64,305 to 40,877), and the number of respective physician orders increased by 38% (from 20,940 to 35,472), p < 0.001. These results were manifest within 1 month, sustained through the study period, and still present at 1 yr. No changes in outcomes or in the rates of selected complications were detected. Red blood cells utilization correlated linearly (r2 .47) with the number of blood tests performed in both study periods. Conclusions:Guidelines designed to optimize laboratory tests use in an intensive care unit can produce rapid and long-lasting effects, can be safe, and may affect the number of red blood cell units transfused. LEARNING OBJECTIVESOn completion of this article, the reader should be able to: Describe the protocol used for laboratory testing in the surgical intensive care unit. Explain the impact of this protocol on patient outcomes. Use this information in a clinical setting. The authors have disclosed that they have no financial relationships with or interests in any commercial companies pertaining to this educational activity. All faculty and staff in a position to control the content of this CME activity have disclosed that they have no financial relationship with, or financial interests in, any commercial companies pertaining to this educational activity. Lippincott CME Institute, Inc., has identified and resolved all faculty conflicts of interest regarding this educational activity. Visit the Critical Care Medicine Web Site (www.ccmjournal.org) for information on obtaining continuing medical education credit.
Spatial heterogeneity in genetic relatedness among house sparrows along an urban–rural gradient as revealed by individual‐based analysis

Understanding factors that shape patterns of kinship in sedentary species is important for evolutionary ecologists as well as conservation biologists. Yet, how patterns of relatedness are hierarchically structured in space remains poorly known, even in common species. Here, we use information from 16 polymorphic microsatellite DNA markers to study how small‐scale kinship structure varies among house sparrows (Passer domesticus) along an urban–rural gradient. Average levels of relatedness were higher among urban individuals than among individuals from rural areas, suggesting lower rates of dispersal in more built‐up habitats. Comparison of observed levels of relatedness with simulated distributions of known kinship values showed that central urban individuals had the highest proportion of closely related conspecifics in their immediate neighbourhood. Spatial auto‐correlograms supported this small‐scale genetic structure and further indicated stronger effects of genetic drift and/or limited dispersal in urban populations. Results of this study underscore the importance of individual‐level analyses as a complementary approach to traditional population‐level analyses when studying genetic population structure over small spatial scales.
Genetic and environmental effects on exhaled nitric oxide and airway responsiveness in a population-based sample of twins

Elevated levels of exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) and airway hyperresponsiveness are intermediate phenotypes of asthma. Using population-based data collected from a sample of twins, the present authors estimated the relative contribution of genes, family environment and nonshared environmental influences to variations in eNO and airway responsiveness (AR). In addition, the genetic and environmental sources of covariation between these two asthma-related phenotypes were investigated. The study population comprised a random sample of 377 adult twins identified through the Norwegian Twin Registry. The main outcome variables were eNO and AR to methacholine. Genetic effects accounted for 60% of the variation in eNO. Family environment accounted for 30% of the variation in AR, while nonshared environmental influences explained the remaining variation for both measures. For both eNO and AR, there were significant regression effects for atopy and smoking. The small, but significant association between eNO and AR was primarily explained by genetic factors. Sub-analyses restricted to atopic and nonsmoking twins strengthened the observation. In conclusion, variations in exhaled nitric oxide and airway responsiveness appear to be explained by different genetic and environmental variance structures. Variation in exhaled nitric oxide is explained by genetic and nonshared environmental effects, whereas an environmental model best explains the variation in airway responsiveness. Common genetic effects explain the small but significant association between exhaled nitric oxide and airway responsiveness.
Study on Ignition Proof AZ91D Magnesium Alloy Chips with Cerium Addition

The effect of Ce on ignition point of AZ91D magnesium alloy chips was studied. For the AZ91D and the AZ91D-xCe magnesium alloys, changing the sizes of the chips in the range of 58～270 μm has a limited influence on ignition point, however, the shift of the content of Ce has much effect on ignition point. Increasing the Ce content, x from 0.15 to 0.25, the ignition point increases with increasing of Ce; however, x from 0.25 to 0.45, the ignition point decreases with increasing of Ce. By the addition of Ce of 0.25%, the ignition point is raised by 43 ℃.
Quasi-static SIMO fading channels at finite blocklength

We investigate the maximal achievable rate for a given blocklength and error probability over quasi-static single-input multiple-output (SIMO) fading channels. Under mild conditions on the channel gains, it is shown that the channel dispersion is zero regardless of whether the fading realizations are available at the transmitter and/or the receiver. The result follows from computationally and analytically tractable converse and achievability bounds. Through numerical evaluation, we verify that, in some scenarios, zero dispersion indeed entails fast convergence to outage capacity as the blocklength increases. In the example of a particular 1×2 SIMO Rician channel, the blocklength required to achieve 90% of capacity is about an order of magnitude smaller compared to the blocklength required for an AWGN channel with the same capacity.
Wearable health monitoring system by using fuzzy logic heart-rate extraction

Continuous human monitoring is substantially useful to realize a high QoL (quality of life) society. In the previous work, we fabricated a prototype system for monitoring an electrocardiograph (ECG), heart rate (HR), 3 axes human body acceleration, temperature for human body and human circumstances, simultaneously. These data are transmitted to the host PC and used for analyzing the human activities and conditions such as a heart rate variability (HRV). The HRV that calculated from HR is valuable for recognizing a mental or physical stress of human subjects. In this study, we demonstrate a fuzzy logic HR extraction algorithm on the prototype system to realize an autonomous HRV monitoring system. On-board fuzzy algorithm will reduce the communication traffic and improve an accuracy of the HR extraction. From the implementation result, the error ratio of the HR extraction is improved from 0.9 % to 0.4 %.
Focal Brain Cooling: Revisiting a Potential Therapeutic Option for Intractable Epilepsy

Seizure control is not achieved in approximately one-third of patients with epilepsy, even with the best available medications. Surgical treatment can be performed for these patients, however this is also not always successful. Under these circumstances, the potential for seizure suppression by focal brain cooling has gained attention. Brain cooling was first proposed about 50 years ago, and has come into the spotlight in recent years with advances in technology. Recent studies indicate that focal cooling of the brain to a cortical surface temperature of 20 to 25�C terminates epileptic discharges without inducing irreversible neurophysiological dysfunction or neuronal damage. These results have promoted development of implantable focal cool- ing devices, but some aspects of the hardware in these devices require optimization. However, advances in precision machining have enabled optimization of an implant- able focal cooling system, and this suggests that brain cooling therapy may become a reality in the near future.
Neurobiological correlates of emotional intelligence in voice and face perception networks

Abstract Facial expressions and voice modulations are among the most important communicational signals to convey emotional information. The ability to correctly interpret this information is highly relevant for successful social interaction and represents an integral component of emotional competencies that have been conceptualized under the term emotional intelligence. Here, we investigated the relationship of emotional intelligence as measured with the Salovey-Caruso-Emotional-Intelligence-Test (MSCEIT) with cerebral voice and face processing using functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging. MSCEIT scores were positively correlated with increased voice-sensitivity and gray matter volume of the insula accompanied by voice-sensitivity enhanced connectivity between the insula and the temporal voice area, indicating generally increased salience of voices. Conversely, in the face processing system, higher MSCEIT scores were associated with decreased face-sensitivity and gray matter volume of the fusiform face area. Taken together, these findings point to an alteration in the balance of cerebral voice and face processing systems in the form of an attenuated face-vs-voice bias as one potential factor underpinning emotional intelligence.
Investigating the CT localizer radiograph: acquisition parameters, patient centring and their combined influence on radiation dose.

OBJECTIVE To systematically investigate the effect of CT localizer radiograph acquisition on the tube current modulation and thus radiation dose of the subsequent diagnostic scan. METHODS Localizer radiographs of an abdominal section CT phantom were taken, and the resulting volume CT dose index (CTDIvol) for the diagnostic scan was recorded. Variables included tube potential, the phantom's alignment within the CT scanner gantry in both the vertical and horizontal directions and the X-ray source angle at which the localizer was acquired. RESULTS Diagnostic scan CTDIvol decreased with increasing tube potential. Vertical (table height) movement was found to affect radiation dose more than horizontal movement, with ±50 mm table movement resulting in a standard deviation in the diagnostic scan CTDIvol of 4.4 mGy, compared with 2.5 mGy with ±50 mm horizontal movement. Correspondingly, localizer angles of 90° or 270° (3 o'clock and 9 o'clock X-ray source positions) were less sensitive overall to alignment errors, with a standard deviation of 2.5 mGy, compared with a 0° or 180° angle, which had a standard deviation of 3.8 mGy. CONCLUSION To achieve a consistently optimized radiation dose, the localizer protocol should be paired with the diagnostic acquisition protocol. A final acquisition angle of 90° should be used when possible to minimize dose variation resulting from alignment errors. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE Localizer parameters that affect radiation output were identified for this scanner system. The importance of tube potential and acquisition angle was highlighted.
Serum Cytokine Profile in Asian Indian Patients with Takayasu Arteritis and its Association with Disease Activity

Background: Arterial inflammation Takayasu arteritis (TA) is an outcome of balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Comprehensive assessment of these cytokines is important for understanding pathogenesis and assessing disease activity. Objective: To study pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines representing different T-helper cell pathway in serum samples of Asian Indian patients with TA and to assess their association with disease activity. Methods: Consecutive Indian patients with TA were assayed for serum interferon-γ, interleukin-6, interleukin-23, interleukin-17, interleukin-10 and transforming growth factor- β levels at baseline and follow up visit. Patients were grouped into active and stable disease based on Indian Takyasu Arteritis clinical Activity Score-2010. Serum levels of these cytokines between active and stable disease and between baseline and follow up visits were compared by non-parametric tests. Results: Among 32 patients enrolled, 15 were classified as active while 17 as stable disease at baseline. IFN-γ levels were significantly higher in active disease than stable disease (p=0.0129) while other cytokines did not differ significantly between 2 groups. Serum levels of none of the cytokines changed significantly over 2 visits in both responders and non-responders. IL23 levels positively correlate with disease duration ((r=0.999; p<0.005). Modest correlation was observed between IFN-γ and IL23 levels at both baseline and follow up and between IFN-γ and IL-6 and CRP at follow up. Conclusion: IFN-γ levels are raised in active disease in TA and correlates well with other biomarkers of disease activity and proinflammatory cytokines. There is also a direct correlation between Il-23 levels and disease duration.
Protein Kinase A–Mediated Acceleration of the Stretch Activation Response in Murine Skinned Myocardium Is Eliminated by Ablation of cMyBP-C

&bgr;-Adrenergic agonists induce protein kinase A (PKA) phosphorylation of the cardiac myofilament proteins myosin binding protein C (cMyBP-C) and troponin I (cTnI), resulting in enhanced systolic function, but the relative contributions of cMyBP-C and cTnI to augmented contractility are not known. To investigate possible roles of cMyBP-C in this response, we examined the effects of PKA treatment on the rate of force redevelopment and the stretch activation response in skinned ventricular myocardium from both wild-type (WT) and cMyBP-C null (cMyBP-C−/−) myocardium. In WT myocardium, PKA treatment accelerated the rate of force redevelopment and the stretch activation response, resulting in a shorter time to the peak of delayed force development when the muscle was stretched to a new isometric length. Ablation of cMyBP-C accelerated the rate of force redevelopment and stretch activation response to a degree similar to that observed in PKA treatment of WT myocardium; however, PKA treatment had no effect on the rate of force development and the stretch activation response in null myocardium. These results indicate that ablation of cMyBP-C and PKA treatment of WT myocardium have similar effects on cross-bridge cycling kinetics and suggest that PKA phosphorylation of cMyBP-C accelerates the rate of force generation and thereby contributes to the accelerated twitch kinetics observed in living myocardium during &bgr;-adrenergic stimulation.