Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Non-fatal drug overdoses in a region of Birmingham [proceedings].

The present study was carried out between December 1975 and August 1976 to investigate some of the fac- tors involved in self-administered drug overdose. During this period, 204 patients were admitted to Dudley Road Hospital, Birmingham, following a drug overdose. These figures do not include children under the age of 12 years who are generally admitted to the local Paediatric Department. Of the 204 patients, 56 were males and 148 were females. During the period of the study, 2 males were readmitted and 8 females were readmitted after a second overdose. The information obtained in the study was provided by the patients on the day following their admission by in-terview conducted with the help of a questionnaire. The drugs misused were mainly sedatives, tranquil-lisers and antidepressants. These together accounted for 50% of all cases involving single drugs. Aspirin and other salicylate analgesics accounted for 12%. Of all patients interviewed 58% took drugs prescribed for themselves by their own doctor. The remaining patients obtained the drugs from a variety of different sources. The peak age range for self poisoning admissions was 15-25 years, although there was a small peak at 40-45 and another peak for the over 60s. The peak for females occurred at 15-20 whereas that for males was 20-25 years. The peak times for admission to hospital with overdose were shown to be around 12.00 and 20.00 h. Other results from the study showed that four times as many women as men gave disagreements with their parents as a precipitating factor.There were very few cases where the patients did not freely admit that the act was deliberate. The un- derlying reasons for the overdose proved to be, in the vast majority'of cases, non-psychiatric, these in- cluding most often marital strife, boy/girl friend trouble, parental problems
Tocilizumab (Actemra)

ABSTRACT Tocilizumab (TCZ), is a recombinant humanized anti-interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R) monoclonal antibody which has a main use in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA) and polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA). This article provides an overview of TCZ including looking into the past at the discovery of interleukin-6 (IL-6) as a pro-inflammatory cytokine. It also looks at how tocilizumab was developed, manufactured and tested to ensure both safety and efficacy in a human population. The article then explores the advantages and disadvantages of using TCZ when compared to other biologics approved in RA, sJIA and pJIA and finally looks ahead to the future and the emerging role of IL-6 and its blockade by TCZ as a treatment for giant cell arteritis (GCA), polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and large vessel vasculitis (LVV).
Cell types and response timings in the medial interlaminar nucleus and C-layers of the cat lateral geniculate nucleus

Previous evidence concerning the physiological cell classes in the medial interlaminar nucleus (MIN) has been conflicting. We reexamined the MIN using standard functional tests to distinguish X-, Y- and W-cells. Discharge patterns to flashing spots also were used to identify some cells as lagged or nonlagged, as previously done for the geniculate A-layers. Also, each cell's response timing (latency and absolute phase) was measured from discharges to a spot undergoing sinusoidal luminance modulation. Of 71 MIN cells, 48% were Y, 27% were W, 8% were X, and 17% were unclassifiable. Lagged and nonlagged discharge profiles were observed in each cell group, with 28% of all cells being lagged. Lagged cells displayed a response suppression and long latency to discharge following spot onset, and a slow decay in firing at spot offset that was often preceded by a transient discharge. These profiles were indistinguishable from those of lagged cells in the A-layers. MIN cells also were heterogeneous in response timing, displaying a range of latency and absolute phase values similar to that in the A-layers. We extended these analyses to 27 cells in the geniculate C-layers. In layer C, 35% of cells were Y, 10% were X, 25% were W, and 30% were unclassifiable. About 11% had lagged profiles, and were X-cells or unclassifiable cells. Layers C1 and C2 contained only W-cells and no lagged profiles. The range of timings in the C-layers was somewhat narrower than in the MIN. Overall, these results show that the MIN contains a greater variety of functional cell classes than heretofore appreciated. Further, it appears that mechanisms which create different timing delays in the A-layers also exist in the MIN and layer C. These timings may contribute to direction selectivity in extrastriate cortex.
Binge ethanol exposure causes endoplasmic reticulum stress, oxidative stress and tissue injury in the pancreas

Alcohol abuse is associated with both acute and chronic pancreatitis. Repeated episodes of acute pancreatitis or pancreatic injury may result in chronic pancreatitis. We investigated ethanol-induced pancreatic injury using a mouse model of binge ethanol exposure. Male C57BL/6 mice were exposed to ethanol intragastrically (5 g/kg, 25% ethanol w/v) daily for 10 days. Binge ethanol exposure caused pathological changes in pancreas demonstrated by tissue edema, acinar atrophy and moderate fibrosis. Ethanol caused both apoptotic and necrotic cell death which was demonstrated by the increase in active caspase-3, caspase-8, cleaved PARP, cleaved CK-18 and the secretion of high mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1). Ethanol altered the function of the pancreas which was indicated by altered levels of alpha-amylase, glucose and insulin. Ethanol exposure stimulated cell proliferation in the acini, suggesting an acinar regeneration. Ethanol caused pancreatic inflammation which was indicated by the induction of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, MCP-1 and CCR2, and the increase of CD68 positive macrophages in the pancreas. Ethanol-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress was demonstrated by a significant increase in ATF6, CHOP, and the phosphorylation of PERK and eiF-2alpha. In addition, ethanol increased protein oxidation, lipid peroxidation and the expression of iNOS, indicating oxidative stress. Therefore, this paradigm of binge ethanol exposure caused a spectrum of tissue injury and cellular stress to the pancreas, offering a good model to study alcoholic pancreatitis.
On zeros of pulse transfer functions

The famous /spl Aring/strom-Hagander-Sternby theorem (1984) on limiting zeros of the pulse transfer function is extended by determining the accuracy of the asymptotic results for both the discretization and the intrinsic zeros when the sampling interval is small. Closed form formulas are derived that express the degree of the principal term of Taylor expansion of the difference between the true zeros and asymptotic ones as a function of the relative degree of the underlying continuous-time system and the value of the corresponding coefficient itself. Certain known results on asymptotic zeros are shown to be particular cases of the result presented.
Parsimonious Inference on Convolutional Neural Networks: Learning and applying on-line kernel activation rules

A new, radical CNN design approach is presented in this paper, considering the reduction of the total computational load during inference. This is achieved by a new holistic intervention on both the CNN architecture and the training procedure, which targets to the parsimonious inference by learning to exploit or remove the redundant capacity of a CNN architecture. This is accomplished, by the introduction of a new structural element that can be inserted as an add-on to any contemporary CNN architecture, whilst preserving or even improving its recognition accuracy. Our approach formulates a systematic and data-driven method for developing CNNs that are trained to eventually change size and form in real-time during inference, targeting to the smaller possible computational footprint. Results are provided for the optimal implementation on a few modern, high-end mobile computing platforms indicating a significant speed-up of up to x3 times.
Electron Transport in Nanostructures and Mesoscopic Devices: An Introduction

1. Introduction.2. Some Useful Concepts and Reminders.3. Ballistic Transport and Transmission Conductance.4. S-matrix Formalism.5. Tunneling and Trapping.6. An Introduction to Current Noise in Mesoscopic Devices.7. Coulomb Blockade Effect.8. Specific Interference Effects.9. Graphene and Carbon Nanotubes.10. Appendices.
On the mechanism of carbon nanotube formation: the role of the catalyst

This work examines the recent developments in non-traditional catalyst-assisted chemical vapour deposition of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with a view to determining the essential role of the catalyst in nanotube growth. A brief overview of the techniques reliant on the structural reorganization of carbon to form CNTs is provided. Additionally, CNT synthesis methods based upon ceramic, noble metal, and semiconducting nanoparticle catalysts are presented. Experimental evidence is provided for CNT growth using noble metal and semiconducting nanoparticle catalysts. A model for CNT growth consistent with the experimental results is proposed, in which the structural reorganization of carbon to form CNTs is paramount.
Design of Low-Dispersion Fractal Photonic Crystal Fiber

In this paper, a fractal photonic crystal fiber (F-PCF) based on the 1 st iteration of Koch fractal configuration for optical communication systems is presented. Complex structure of fractal shape is build up through replication of a base shape. Nowadays, fractal shapes are widely used in antenna topics and its usage in PCF is investigated in this paper. The purpose of this research is to compare normal photonic crystal fibers (N-PCFs) with F-PCFs through the simulation and optimization procedure based on the finite element method (FEM). The effective mode index of the fundamental mode is found for different PCF structures. In addition, dispersion properties of F-PCF are numerically calculated and compared by N-PCF.
A Method for Speeding Up Value Iteration in Partially Observable Markov Decision Processes

We present a technique for speeding up the convergence of value iteration for partially observable Markov decisions processes (POMDPs). The underlying idea is similar to that behind modified policy iteration for fully observable Markov decision processes (MDPs). The technique can be easily incorporated into any existing POMDP value iteration algorithms. Experiments have been conducted on several test problems with one POMDP value iteration algorithm called incremental pruning. We find that the technique can make incremental pruning run several orders of magnitude faster.
Push applications and dynamic content generation over content‐centric networking

Content‐Centric Networking (CCN) represents an established candidate for the future Internet, proposing a routing architecture designed to elevate content to first class entity. Starting from the fact that the network usage has dramatically evolved towards content retrieval, CCN relies on an on‐demand pull based mechanism to transfer data from the different sources to the heterogeneous consumers. This paradigm enhances the network in a number of ways, ranging from the newly introduced in‐network caching capabilities to the benefits provided by the symmetric data routing adopted by CCN. In this renewed network scenario, we place our attention to those applications that do not perfectly fit the pull paradigm, stating that they need to be supported as well and proposing an effective way to achieve scalability on large scale push applications. We provide the following contributions: (i) we identify the functions that a data‐centric architecture should support; (ii) propose and compare our solution with the state of the art framework designed for the specific problem of pushing data to content requesters; and (iii) evaluate their performance in terms of traffic generated and scalability achieved by simulating a real Internet Service Provider (ISP) topology and the realistic workload of a generic social network application. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Associations between lexicon and grammar at the end of the second year in Finnish children*

ABSTRACT The emergence of grammar in relation to lexical growth was analyzed in a sample of Finnish children (N=181) at 2 ; 0. The Finnish version of the Communicative Development Inventory was used to gather information on both language domains. The onset of grammar occurred in close association with vocabulary growth. The acquisition of the nominal and verbal inflections of Finnish differed when analyzed in relation to the lexicon in which they are used: the strongest growth in the acquisition of case form types occurred when the nominal lexicon size was roughly between 50 and 250 words, whereas verb inflectional types were acquired actively from the beginning of the verb lexicon acquisition. The findings extend the previous findings of the close association between lexicon and grammar (e.g. Bates & Goodman, 1999). The results suggest that different grammatical structures display different degrees and types of lexical dependency.
Association between Angiotensin I-Converting Enzyme Insertion/Deletion Polymorphism and Prognosis of Kidney Transplantation: A Meta-Analysis

Purpose Angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) is crucial in the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system. ACE insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism is a common genetic variation of this gene and is associated with several disease phenotypes. However, the results of published studies on the influence of this polymorphism on renal transplantation are inconsistent. Therefore, a meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the association between ACE I/D polymorphism and prognosis of kidney transplantation. Methods A meta-analysis was performed based on 21 case–control studies from 12 publications (1497 cases and 2029 controls) and 10 studies with quantitative values from 5 publications (814 patients). Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and weighted mean differences (WMDs) with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to estimate associations. Results ACE I/D polymorphism was found to be associated with acute rejection (AR) in genotypes DD+ID versus II (OR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.14–2.29) and with serum creatinine concentration after renal transplantation in genotypes DD versus ID (WMD = 13.12, 95% CI = 8.09–18.16). Stratified analysis revealed that recipients transplanted within a year had higher serum creatinine concentrations in the DD versus ID model. No significant association was found between hypertension and ACE I/D polymorphism. Conclusion ACE I/D polymorphism is associated with AR and allograft function after kidney transplantation.
User experience with alignment of real and virtual objects in a stereoscopic augmented reality interface

This paper reports two virtual pointer alignment experiments carried out using a stereoscopic augmented reality interface. The purpose was to evaluate users' sensitivity to surface texture, target position at designated probe points on a cylinder real object surface, virtual pointer form and binocular disparity. The results confirmed the main findings from a previous study: that both surface texture and target position have significant influences. Subjective evaluation of virtual pointer form revealed that a three dimensional pointer is preferred over one and two-dimensional pointers. The contributions of size cue and resolution to binocular disparity effects are also discussed in relation to interface design issues for augmented reality applications.
Assessing hERG Pore Models As Templates for Drug Docking Using Published Experimental Constraints: The Inactivated State in the Context of Drug Block

Many structurally and therapeutically diverse drugs interact with the human heart K+ channel hERG by binding within the K+ permeation pathway of the open channel, leading to drug-induced ‘long QT syndrome’. Drug binding to hERG is often stabilized by inactivation gating. In the absence of a crystal structure, hERG pore homology models have been used to characterize drug interactions. Here we assess potentially inactivated states of the bacterial K+ channel, KcsA, as templates for inactivated state hERG pore models in the context of drug binding using computational docking. Although Flexidock and GOLD docking produced low energy score poses in the models tested, each method selected a MthK K+ channel-based model over models based on the putative inactivated state KcsA structures for each of the 9 drugs tested. The variety of docking poses found indicates that an optimal arrangement for drug binding of aromatic side chains in the hERG pore can be achieved in several different configurations. This plasticity of the drug “binding site” is likely to be a feature of the hERG inactivated state. The results demonstrate that experimental data on specific drug interactions can be used as structural constraints to assess and refine hERG homology models.
Instrument Choice in Environmental Policy

The choice of pollution control instrument is a crucial environmental policy decision. We examine the extent to which various environmental policy instruments meet major evaluation criteria, including cost-effectiveness, distributional equity, the ability to address uncertainties, and political feasibility. Instruments considered include emissions taxes, tradable emissions allowances, subsidies for emissions reductions, performance standards, mandates for the adoption of specific technologies, and subsidies for research toward new, “clean” technologies. We consider policies that address pollution externalities and policies that deal with market failures associated with efforts to invent or deploy new technologies. Several themes emerge. First, no single instrument is clearly superior along all the dimensions relevant to policy choice; even the ranking along a single dimension often depends on the circumstances involved. Second, significant trade-offs arise in the choice of instrument: for example, assuring a reasonable degree of distributional equity will often require a sacrifice of cost-effectiveness. Third, it is sometimes desirable to design hybrid instruments that combine features of various “pure” instruments. Fourth, for many pollution problems, more than one market failure may be involved, which may justify (on efficiency grounds, at least) employing more than one instrument. Finally, potential interactions among environmental policy instruments and among regulatory jurisdictions need to be carefully considered.
Weathering Effects on the Fracture Properties of Polyvinyl Chloride Pipes

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes were weathered naturally for periods of up to two years. The effect of weathering on the mechanical properties was investigated by compressing unnotched and radially notched ring specimens in a parallel-plate test. Disregarding the scatter existing among the test results, the general trend indicates deteriorating fracture properties due to exposure. The application of fracture mechanics concepts, explicitly the J-integral value, to the test results helps to reveal the susceptibility of weathered PVC pipe material to brittle fracture compared to its as-received condition.
Vitamin D3 compounds regulate human immunodeficiency virus type 1 replication in U937 monoblastoid cells and in monocyte‐derived macrophages

We studied the effects of vitamin D3 compounds on the replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV‐1) in the monoblastoid cell line U937 and in primary monocyte‐derived macrophage cultures to understand how modulators of monocyte/macrophage effector function might affect the pathogenesis of HIV‐1 infection. U937 cell cultures exposed to l,a25‐dihydro‐ xyvitamin D3 prior to HIV‐1 infection showed enhanced virus replication that was apparently due to increased cellular resistance to viral cytopathic effects; a marked inhibition of virus replication was noted in cells exposed to 1 a, 25‐dihydroxyvitamin D3 subsequent to infection. Exposure of blood‐derived monocyte/macrophages to vitamin D3 compounds prior to infection also affected virus growth; in most cases, substantial inhibition of HIV‐ 1 replication was noted in vitamin D3‐treated macrophage cultures. Our results demonstrate that vitamin D3 compounds with recognized abilities to induce cellular differentiation can modulate HIV‐1 infection of human macrophages.
Having a Physician Rather than a Place as a Usual Source of Care Would Be Better - from 2012 Korea Health Panel Data

A usual source of care (USC) in primary care improves health care quality and can result in improved health. However, current research about the type of USC (place only vs. physician with a place) is insufficient as an evidence to support the value of primary care. We analyzed data from the 2012 Korea Health Panel survey of adults aged 18 years or older (n = 11,873) who reported whether having a USC or not to compare the effects by type of USC on medical care use and out-of-pocket costs. Descriptive analysis showed significant differences in the distributions of sociodemographic and health status factors except frequency of outpatient visit by type of USC. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of having a physician with a place compared to not having a USC were 4.05 for age 65 ≥ years (vs. < 35 years), 1.33 for females (vs. males), 0.63 for the fifth (highest) quintile (vs. the first) of household income, 1.62 for medical aid (vs. employee) health insurance, and 4.46 for having a chronic disease (vs. not). For those having a physician with a place (vs. only a place) as a USC, adjusted ORs of hospital admission and emergency room (ER) visit were 0.77 and 0.71 with out-of-pocket costs not significantly high. Those having a physician with a place (vs. only a place) as a USC included more patients with chronic diseases, but they had fewer hospital admissions and ER visits. When designing a plan for health care reform in Korea, promoting having a physician rather than a place as a USC would be a better policy.
Multi-version Concurrency via Timestamp Range Conflict Management

A database supporting multiple versions of records may use the versions to support queries of the past or to increase concurrency by enabling reads and writes to be concurrent. We introduce a new concurrency control approach that enables all SQL isolation levels including serializability to utilize multiple versions to increase concurrency while also supporting transaction time database functionality. The key insight is to manage a range of possible timestamps for each transaction that captures the impact of conflicts that have occurred. Using these ranges as constraints often permits concurrent access where lock based concurrency control would block. This can also allow blocking instead of some aborts that are common in earlier multi-version concurrency techniques. Also, timestamp ranges can be used to conservatively find deadlocks without graph based cycle detection. Thus, our multi-version support can enhance performance of current time data access via improved concurrency, while supporting transaction time functionality.