Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Maternal and neonatal outcome of labour induction at term comparing two regimens of misoprostol

Abstract Aim: To compare the efficacy and safety of two misoprostol dosing regimens for induction of labour in primiparous (1P) and multiparous (>1P) women. Methods: Retrospective study of induction of labour using vaginal misoprostol 25 μg vs. 50 μg every 6 h in 942 women at a tertiary centre. The main outcome variables are induction-to-delivery interval, latency period duration, vaginal delivery within 24 h, and maternal and foetal safety outcome. Results: With the 50 μg regimen, induction-to-delivery intervals were significantly shorter: 18.4 h vs. 24.6 h (1P) and 14 h vs. 17.9 h (>1P), as was latency period duration (by 5.4 and 4 h, respectively). Vaginal delivery within 24 h was significantly more frequent, as were non-reassuring foetal heart rate (1P: 20% vs. 14%) and tachysystole (1P: 31% vs. 11%; >1P: 21% vs. 7%). No uterine rupture was reported. Neonatal outcomes were similar except for significantly more frequent infant referral to neonatal intensive care in the >1P group receiving the 50 μg regimen (11% vs. 4%). Conclusion: Vaginal misoprostol 25 μg seems to maintain efficacy with more acceptable maternal and neonatal safety. As induction of labour is an off-label use for misoprostol, safety should be prioritised with the lower dosage regimen despite the longer induction-to-delivery interval.
Tuftsin Binds Neuropilin-1 through a Sequence Similar to That Encoded by Exon 8 of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor*

Tuftsin, Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg (TKPR), is an immunostimulatory peptide with reported nervous system effects as well. We unexpectedly found that tuftsin and a higher affinity antagonist, TKPPR, bind selectively to neuropilin-1 and block vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) binding to that receptor. Dimeric and tetrameric forms of TKPPR had greatly increased affinity for neuropilin-1 based on competition binding experiments. On endothelial cells tetrameric TKPPR inhibited the VEGF165-induced autophosphorylation of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) even though it did not directly inhibit VEGF binding to VEGFR-2. Homology between exon 8 of VEGF and TKPPR suggests that the sequence coded for by exon 8 may stabilize VEGF binding to neuropilin-1 to facilitate signaling through VEGFR-2. Given the overlap between processes involving neuropilin-1 and tuftsin, we propose that at least some of the previously reported effects of tuftsin are mediated through neuropilin-1.
Network routing models applied to aircraft routing problems

We study network models applied to two aircraft routing problems, one in which the goal is to route strike aircraft to a target and back so as to to minimize losses and one in which the goal is to route civilian traffic around an airport so as to minimize noise exposure to the population. We propose joint routing as our model: find a required number of time-disjoint routes in a network that minimizes the total cost. We show that joint routing can in turn be modelled as a dynamic network flow problem. We study this problem under several variants and on different types of networks, establishing tight bounds on the running time of exact solutions through applications of both existing and some new methods. We also discuss the modelling of the airspace in which the routing take place and how choices affect the performance of our optimization algorithms. Our model extends to other applications, such as the routing of hazardous materials and of secure communications.
Frequency of 677C -> T and 1298A -> C polymorphisms in the 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene in Turner syndrome individuals

Turner syndrome (TS) is an interesting model for investigating the association between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene polymorphisms and non-disjunction because of the high frequency of chromosomal mosaicism among patients with this syndrome. We determined the frequencies of MTHFR 677C ® T and 1298A ® C polymorphic mutations in 49 patients with TS and 200 control individuals. The frequency of the 677C ® T allele was 0.39 for patients and 0.29 for controls while that of the 1298A ® C allele was 0.28 for patients and 0.25 for controls. Genotype frequencies were shown to be different in patients and controls (c2 = 12.143; p = 0.033), and this was attributable to the higher frequency of the C677C ® T /677C ® T genotype among TS patients. In homozygotes, this mutation might have an effect on somatic chromosome disjunction by decreasing MTHFR activity.
Admissible speeds of transition fronts for nonautonomous monostable equations

We consider a reaction-diffusion equation with a nonlinear term of the Fisher-KPP-type, depending on time $t$ and admitting two limits as $t\to\pm\infty$. We derive the set of admissible asymptotic past and future speeds of transition fronts for such an equation. We further show that any transition front which is noncritical as $t\to-\infty$ always admits two asymptotic past and future speeds. We finally describe the asymptotic profiles of the noncritical fronts as $t\to\pm\infty$.
Relative device stability of anterior versus axillary needle decompression for tension pneumothorax during casualty movement: Preliminary analysis of a human cadaver model

BACKGROUND Tension pneumothorax (tPTX) remains a significant cause of potentially preventable death in military and civilian settings. The current prehospital standard of care for tPTX is immediate decompression with a 14-gauge 8-cm angiocatheter; however, failure rates may be as high as 17% to 60%. Alternative devices, such as 10-gauge angiocatheter, modified Veress needle, and laparoscopic trocar, have shown to be potentially more effective in animal models; however, little is known about the relative insertional safety or mechanical stability during casualty movement. METHODS Seven soft-embalmed cadavers were intubated and mechanically ventilated. Chest wall thickness was measured at the second intercostal space at the midclavicular line (2MCL) and the fifth intercostal space along the anterior axillary line (5AAL). CO2 insufflation created a PTX, and needle decompression was then performed with a randomized device. Insertional depth was measured between hub and skin before and after simulated casualty transport. Thoracoscopy was used to evaluate for intrapleural placement and/or injury during insertion and after movement. Cadaver demographics, device displacement, device dislodgment, and injuries were recorded. Three decompressions were performed at each site (2MCL/5AAL), totaling 12 events per cadaver. RESULTS Eighty-four decompressions were performed. Average cadaver age was 59 years, and body mass index was 24 kg/m2. The CWT varied between cadavers because of subcutaneous emphysema, but the average was 39 mm at the 2MCL and 31 mm at the 5AAL. Following movement, the 2MCL site was more likely to become dislodged than the 5AAL (67% vs. 17%, p = 0.001). Median displacement also differed between 2MCL and 5AAL (23 vs. 2 mm, p = 0.001). No significant differences were noted in dislodgement or displacement between devices. Five minor lung injuries were noted at the 5AAL position. CONCLUSION Preliminary results from this human cadaver study suggest the 5AAL position is a more stable and reliable location for thoracic decompression of tPTX during combat casualty transport. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic study, level III.
Escherichia coli O 157 : H 7 Strains That Persist in Feedlot Cattle Are Genetically Related and Demonstrate an Enhanced Ability To Adhere to Intestinal Epithelial Cells

Escherichia coli O157:H7 Strains That Persist in Feedlot Cattle Are Genetically Related and Demonstrate an Enhanced Ability To Adhere to Intestinal Epithelial Cells Brandon A. Carlson, Kendra K. Nightingale, Gary L. Mason, John R. Ruby, W. Travis Choat, Guy H. Loneragan, Gary C. Smith, John N. Sofos, and Keith E. Belk* Center for Meat Safety & Quality, Department of Animal Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1171; Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1619; JBS Packerland Inc., Green Bay, Wisconsin 54311; Elanco Animal Health, Greenfield, Indiana 46140; and Feedlot Research Group, West Texas A&M University, Canyon, Texas 79016-0001
Escape, capture, and levitation of matter in Eddington outbursts

Context: An impulsive increase in luminosity by one half or more of the Eddington value will lead to ejection of all optically thin plasma from Keplerian orbits around the radiating star, if gravity is Newtonian and the Poynting-Robertson drag is neglected. Radiation drag may bring some particles down to the stellar surface. On the other hand, general relativistic calculations show that gravity may be balanced by a sufficiently intense radiation field at a certain distance from the star. Aims: We investigate the motion of test particles around highly luminous stars to determine conditions under which plasma may be ejected from the system. Results: In Einstein's gravity, if the outburst is close to the Eddington luminosity, all test particles orbiting outside an "escape sphere" will be ejected from the system, while all others will be captured from their orbits onto the surface of another sphere, which is well above the stellar surface, and may even be outside the escape sphere, depending on the value of luminosity. Radiation drag will bring all the captured particles to rest on this "Eddington capture sphere," where they will remain suspended in an equilibrium state as long as the local flux of radiation does not change and remains at the effective Eddington value.
Emulating Rough And Growl Voice In Spectral Domain

This paper presents a new approach on transforming a modal voice into a rough or growl voice. The goal of such transformations is to be able to enhance voice expressiveness in singing voice productions. Both techniques work with spectral models and are based on adding sub-harmonics in frequency domain to the original input voice spectrum.
Model preview control in multi-contact motion-application to a humanoid robot

Our work builds largely on Nagasaka's stabilizer in multi-contact motion [1]. Using a sequence of contact stances from an offline multi-contact planner, we use first a Model Predictive Controller to generate a dynamic trajectory of the center of mass, then a whole-body closed-loop model-based controller to track it at best. Relatively to Nagasaka's work, we allow frame changes of the preferred force, provide a heuristic to compute the timing of the transition from purely geometrical features and investigate the synchronization problem between the reduced-model preview control and the whole-body controller. Using our framework, we generate a wide range of 3D motions, while accounting for predictable external forces, which includes transporting objects. Simulation scenarios are presented and obtained results are analyzed and discussed.
Electronic properties of the highly ruffled heme bound to the heme degrading enzyme IsdI

IsdI, a heme-degrading protein from Staphylococcus aureus, binds heme in a manner that distorts the normally planar heme prosthetic group to an extent greater than that observed so far for any other heme-binding protein. To understand better the relationship between this distinct structural characteristic and the functional properties of IsdI, spectroscopic, electrochemical, and crystallographic results are reported that provide evidence that this heme ruffling is essential to the catalytic activity of the protein and eliminates the need for the water cluster in the distal heme pocket that is essential for the activity of classical heme oxygenases. The lack of heme orientational disorder in 1H-NMR spectra of the protein argues that the catalytic formation of β- and δ-biliverdin in nearly equal yield results from the ability of the protein to attack opposite sides of the heme ring rather than from binding of the heme substrate in two alternative orientations.
Kernel Embeddings of Conditional Distributions: A Unified Kernel Framework for Nonparametric Inference in Graphical Models

Many modern applications of signal processing and machine learning, ranging from computer vision to computational biology, require the analysis of large volumes of high-dimensional continuous-valued measurements. Complex statistical features are commonplace, including multimodality, skewness, and rich dependency structures. Such problems call for a flexible and robust modeling framework that can take into account these diverse statistical features. Most existing approaches, including graphical models, rely heavily on parametric assumptions. Variables in the model are typically assumed to be discrete valued or multivariate Gaussians; and linear relations between variables are often used. These assumptions can result in a model far different from the data generating process.
Solving the forward kinematics of the 3RPR planar parallel manipulator using a hybrid meta-heuristic paradigm

The forward kinematic of the 3-RPR parallel manipulator is solved using a hybrid meta-heuristic technique where the simulated annealing algorithm replaces the mutation operator in a genetic algorithm. The results from the hybrid meta-heuristic approach is compared with the standard simulated annealing and genetic algorithm. The results show that the simulated annealing algorithm outperforms genetic algorithm in terms of computation time and overall accuracy of the solution. The hybrid meta-heuristic search algorithm shows better performance than the standard genetic algorithm.
Nonstationary analysis of cerebral hemodynamics using recursively estimated multiple-input nonlinear models

We present a computational scheme to obtain adaptive non-linear, multiple-input models of the Volterra-Wiener class, by utilizing Laguerre expansions of Volterra kernels in a recursive least-squares formulation. Function expansions have been proven successful in systems identification as they result in a significant reduction of the required free parameters, which is a major limiting factor particularly for nonlinear systems, whereby this number depends exponentially on the nonlinear system order. We apply this scheme in order to obtain adaptive estimates for a two-input model of cerebral hemodynamics, where the two inputs are arterial blood pressure (ABP) and end-tidal CO2 (PETCO2 ) variations and the output is cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) variations, by utilizing long-duration (40 min) experimental measurements of spontaneous variations of these signals in healthy humans. Maintenance of a relatively steady cerebral blood flow, despite changes in arterial pressure, is critical in order to meet the high metabolic demands of the brain. This is achieved by the synergistic action of various physiological factors, which may vary over different time-scales and also exhibit nonstationarities. We quantify these nonstationarities for the two main physiological determinants of cerebral blood flow variability (i.e., arterial pressure and arterial CO2) by considering one- (ABP) and two-input (ABP and PETCO2 ) models. The results illustrate the presence of nonstationarities which are frequency-dependent and also that incorporation of PETCO2 as an additional input, results in estimates of dynamic pressure autoregulation that are more consistent with respect to time.
Interpreting qualitative data : a guide to the principles of qualitative research

PART ONE: THEORY AND METHOD IN QUALITATIVE RESEARCH What Is Qualitative Research? In Search of a Working Definition Loaded Evaluations of Research Methods Methods Should Fit Your Research Question The Good Sense of Quantitative Research The Nonsense of Quantitative Research The Good Sense of Qualitative Research The Nonsense of Qualitative Research Varieties of Qualitative Research Designing a Research Project Selecting a Topic Formulating a Researchable Question Fitting your Research Question into an Appropriate Theory Choosing an Effective Research Design An Effective Literature Review Basic Terms in Research Design Conclusions Data Analysis Some Rules for Data Analysis Content Analysis Grounded Theory Narrative Analysis Conclusion Research Ethics Ethical Pitfalls Ethical Safeguards Some Ethical Complications PART TWO: METHODS Ethnography and Observation The Ethnographic Focus Methodological Issues The Theoretical Character of Ethnographic Observations Conclusion: The Unity of the Ethnographic Project Interviews What Is an 'Open-Ended' Interview? Why Interview? Implications: Three Versions of Interview Data Positivism Emotionalism Constructionism Adolescent Cultures: Combining 'What' and 'How' Questions Moral Tales of Parenthood The Three Models: A Summary Summary: Basic Issues Three Practical Questions - and Answers Conclusion Focus Groups What Are Focus Groups? Analysing Focus Group Data in Social Science Form or Substance? Concluding Comments Texts Structure of This Chapter Comparative Keyword Analysis (CKA) Ethnography Ethnomethodology: Membership Categorisation Analysis Conclusion Naturally-Occurring Talk Why Work with Tapes? Transcribing Audiotapes Why Talk Matters Conversation Analysis Discourse Analysis Conversation Analysis and Discourse Analysis Compared Conclusion Visual Images Kinds of Visual Data Research Strategies Content Analysis Semiotics Workplace Studies Conclusion PART THREE: RESEARCH PRACTICE Credible Qualitative Research Does Credibility Matter? Reliability Validity Generalisability Conclusions Writing Your Report Beginnings Your Literature Review Your Methodology Section Writing Up Your Data Your Final Section A Short Note on Plagiarism Self-Expression or Argument? PART FOUR: IMPLICATIONS The Relevance of Qualitative Research Three Roles for the Social Scientist The Audiences for Qualitative Research The Contribution of Qualitative Social Science Summary Conclusion The Potential of Qualitative Research: Eight Reminders Take Advantage of Naturally Occurring Data Avoid Treating the Actor's Point of View as an Explanation Study the Interrelationships Between Elements Attempt Theoretically Fertile Research Address Wider Audiences Begin With 'How' Questions Then Ask 'Why? ' Study 'Hyphenated' Phenomena Treat Qualitative Research as Different from Journalism Concluding Remarks
The effect of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth on minimal hepatic encephalopathy in patients with cirrhosis

Introduction The aim of the study was to investigate the significance of factors associated with minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) in cirrhotic patients. Material and methods Between September 2012 and August 2013, 60 cirrhotic patients, including MHE and non-MHE (NMHE) patients, were included in the study. Associated factors and clinical factors were analyzed to see if they were significantly different between MHE and non-MHE patients. Upon identifying the factors showing differences, we applied multivariate regression analysis to further decide which were the most significant ones to differentiate MHE from NMHE patients. Results There were 26 patients diagnosed with MHE and 34 with NMHE. Our results demonstrated that the prevalence rate of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) was highly associated with patients with MHE (65.4%, 17 out of 26), in contrast to the rate in NMHE patients (8.8%, 3 out of 34). We also found that factors including age, education level, intelligent test results, plasma albumin level and plasma ammonia levels were significantly different between MHE and NMHE patients. Ultimately, with logistic regression analysis, we found that SIBO was the most significant factor differentiating MHE patients from NMHE patients (p < 0.05). Conclusions In cirrhotic patients, SIBO was highly associated with MHE. This may further our understanding of the mechanisms of MHE and help to develop potential therapeutic interventions to treat cirrhotic patients with MHE.
Response Anticipation Processes in the Learning of a Sensorimotor Sequence: Evidence from the Latera

Abstract We investigated the contribution of motor processes to implicit and explicit serial learning by means of event-related brain potentials. An otherwise predictable sequence of S-R pairs was occasionally interrupted by stimuli that violated either the stimulus or the response sequence (perceptual or motor deviants). After performing the task, participants were asked to recall as much of the sequence as possible. On the basis of these free recall results, two groups of subjects (explicit and implicit learners) were formed. Reaction time was prolonged for motor deviants but not for perceptual deviants, which violated the predictable sequence of stimulus locations. Early activation in the lateralized readiness potential (LRP) for standard stimuli and an activation of the expected but incorrect response for deviants violating the response sequence indicate the contribution of motor processes to serial learning. ERPs did not show any learning-related changes. Furthermore, in all dependent measures no dif.
Causal Regularization

I argue that regularizing terms in standard regression methods not only help against overfitting finite data, but sometimes also yield better causal models in the infinite sample regime. I first consider a multi-dimensional variable linearly influencing a target variable with some multi-dimensional unobserved common cause, where the confounding effect can be decreased by keeping the penalizing term in Ridge and Lasso regression even in the population limit. Choosing the size of the penalizing term, is however challenging, because cross validation is pointless. Here it is done by first estimating the strength of confounding via a method proposed earlier, which yielded some reasonable results for simulated and real data. Further, I prove a `causal generalization bound' which states (subject to a particular model of confounding) that the error made by interpreting any non-linear regression as causal model can be bounded from above whenever functions are taken from a not too rich class. In other words, the bound guarantees "generalization" from observational to interventional distributions, which is usually not subject of statistical learning theory (and is only possible due to the underlying symmetries of the confounder model).
Globalising Childhood: Assembling the Bicultural Child in the New Zealand Early Childhood Curriculum, Te Whariki

In this article I use Te Whariki as a site to critically examine the relationship between the discourses of childhood, neoliberalism, and globalisation. I argue that the bicultural child in Te Whariki produces a neoliberal/global version of childhood in the context of early childhood education in AotearoaNew Zealand. The bicultural discourse articulated in Te Whariki operates on the basis of two separate domains. The structure of the document is binary, thus reinforcing essential difference with little space for the interweaving and exploration of 'difference'. However, Te Whariki can be read in multiple ways; if the bicultural child is understood as an assemblange of discourses, it becomes possible to strengthen those aspects that foster a culture of engagement with difference. By providing multiple readings of the bicultural child, this article seeks to disrupt the production of a 'smooth' bicultural person by making the tensions and contradiction within the assemblage visible.
Asymptotic statistical theory of overtraining and cross-validation

A statistical theory for overtraining is proposed. The analysis treats general realizable stochastic neural networks, trained with Kullback-Leibler divergence in the asymptotic case of a large number of training examples. It is shown that the asymptotic gain in the generalization error is small if we perform early stopping, even if we have access to the optimal stopping time. Based on the cross-validation stopping we consider the ratio the examples should be divided into training and cross-validation sets in order to obtain the optimum performance. Although cross-validated early stopping is useless in the asymptotic region, it surely decreases the generalization error in the nonasymptotic region. Our large scale simulations done on a CM5 are in good agreement with our analytical findings.