Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Telephone-based anticoagulation management in the homebound setting: a retrospective observational study

Background Anticoagulation management is currently performed through anticoagulation clinics or self-managed with or without the help of medical services. Homebound patients are a unique population that cannot utilize anticoagulation clinics or self-testing. Telephone-based anticoagulation management could be an alternative to the traditional methods of monitoring warfarin in this subgroup. The objective of this retrospective, observational study is to investigate the feasibility of warfarin management in homebound patients. Methods This study was performed through the use of telephone-based adjustments of warfarin dose based on an international normalized ratio (INR) result. Four hundred forty-eight homebound patients referred to the anticoagulation clinic at Staten Island University Hospital were visited at home by a phlebotomist; a blood sample was drawn for initial laboratory testing. A nurse practitioner then called the patient or designated person to relay the INR result and to direct dosage adjustment. INR results and dosage changes were entered into an electronic medical record and analyzed statistically. Results The mean percentage of INR values in range was 58.39%. The mean time when the INR was in the therapeutic range was 62.75%. The percent of patients who were therapeutically controlled decreased as the number of medications increased. The complication rate was 4% per patient year, with an equal distribution between bleeding and clotting. These values compared favorably to other studies in which monitoring was performed through anticoagulation clinics or self-monitoring. The cost per visit at our anticoagulation clinic was found to be approximately $300 compared with $82 when utilizing our homebound service. Conclusion Telephone-based management of warfarin therapy in the homebound setting is feasible. It can lower the cost of health care expenditures compared to other modalities of anticoagulation management.
Dopaminergic Modulation of Endocannabinoid-Mediated Plasticity at GABAergic Synapses in the Prefrontal Cortex

Similar to dopamine (DA), cannabinoids strongly influence prefrontal cortical functions, such as working memory, emotional learning, and sensory perception. Although endogenous cannabinoid receptors (CB1Rs) are abundantly expressed in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), very little is known about endocannabinoid (eCB) signaling in this brain region. Recent behavioral and electrophysiological evidence has suggested a functional interplay between the dopamine and cannabinoid receptor systems, although the cellular mechanisms underlying this interaction remain to be elucidated. We examined this issue by combining neuroanatomical and electrophysiological techniques in PFC of rats and mice (both genders). Using immunoelectron microscopy, we show that CB1Rs and dopamine type 2 receptors (D2Rs) colocalize at terminals of symmetrical, presumably GABAergic, synapses in the PFC. Indeed, activation of either receptor can suppress GABA release onto layer 5 pyramidal cells. Furthermore, coactivation of both receptors via repetitive afferent stimulation triggers eCB-mediated long-term depression of inhibitory transmission (I-LTD). This I-LTD is heterosynaptic in nature, requiring glutamate release to activate group I metabotropic glutamate receptors. D2Rs most likely facilitate eCB signaling at the presynaptic site as disrupting postsynaptic D2R signaling does not diminish I-LTD. Facilitation of eCB–LTD may be one mechanism by which DA modulates neuronal activity in the PFC and regulates PFC-mediated behavior in vivo.
Determinant computations for some classes of Toeplitz-Hankel matrices

The purpose of this paper is to compute the asymptotics of determinants of finite sections of operators that are trace class perturbations of Toeplitz operators. For example, we consider the asymptotics in the case where the matrices are of the form (ai−j ± ai+j+1−k)i,j=0.N−1 with k is fixed. We will show that this example as well as some general classes of operators have expansions that are similar to those that appear in the Strong Szego Limit Theorem. We also obtain exact identitities for some of the determinants that are analogous to the one derived independently by Geronimo and Case and by Borodin and Okounkov for finite Toeplitz matrices. These problems were motivated by considering certain statistical quantities that appear in random matrix theory.
Prognosis-related factors in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with hematological malignancies: A retrospective cohort analysis in a Chinese population

Abstract Objectives This study investigates the link between patient characteristics and mortality in patients with hematological malignancies (HM) in three university-affiliated hospitals in Hunan, China. Methods We conducted a detailed retrospective chart review of 121 sequential intensive care unit (ICU) admissions with HM over a 5-year period. Outcome measures were short- and long-term mortality rates and were correlated with physiologic and therapeutic factors. We also evaluate the performance of two severity-of-illness scoring systems in this population, particularly the value and trend of the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA). Results The rates for ICU, 1-month and 6-month mortalities were 60.3, 85.9, and 90.9%, respectively. Invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) was associated with worse outcomes at all time points. Both acute physiology and chronic health evaluation and SOFA scores had positive correlation with ICU mortality. An increase or no change in SOFA over the course of the admission or during the first 48 hours after admission was the most powerful adverse predictor. IMV use and renal dysfunction had a negative effect on the 1-month survival. Conclusion Patients with HM have less access to intensive care resources in Hunan, China. The use of IMV, APACHII at admission, and SOFA trend have a strong predictive value in this population. Based on our results, we propose a panel of parameters for use when considering ICU transfer to guide patient management.
The spino(trigemino)pontoamygdaloid pathway: electrophysiological evidence for an involvement in pain processes.

1. Neurons were recorded in the parabrachial (PB) area, located in the dorsolateral region of the pons (with the use of extracellular micropipette), in the anesthetized rat. Parabrachioamygdaloid (PA) neurons (n = 67) were antidromically identified after stimulation in the centralis nucleus of the amygdala (Ce). The axons of these neurons exhibit a very slow conduction velocity, between 0.26 and 1.1 m/s, i.e., in the unmyelinated range. 2. These PA neurons were located in a restricted region of the PB area: the subnuclei external lateral (PBel) and external medial (PBem). A relative somatotopic organization was found in this region. 3. These units were separated into two groups: 1) a group of nociceptive-specific (NS) neurons (69%), which responded exclusively to noxious stimuli, and 2) a group of nonresponsive (NR) neurons (31%). 4. The NS neurons exhibited low or lacked spontaneous activity. They responded exclusively to mechanical (pinch or squeeze) and/or thermal (waterbath or waterjet greater than 44 degrees C) noxious stimuli with a marked and sustained activation with a rapid onset and generally without afterdischarge. Noxious thermal stimuli generally induced a stronger response than the noxious mechanical stimuli. These neurons exhibited a clear capacity to encode thermal stimuli in the noxious range: 1) the stimulus-response function was always positive and monotonic; 2) the slope of the curve progressively increased up to a maximum where it was very steep, then the steepness of the slope decreased close to the maximum response; and 3) the mean threshold was 44.1 +/- 2 degrees C, and the point of steepest slope of the mean curve was around 47 degrees C. 5. The excitatory receptive fields of the NS neurons were large in the majority (70%) of the cases and included several areas of the body. A more marked activation was often obtained from stimuli applied to one part of the body, denoted as the preferential receptive field (PRF). In the other cases (30%), the excitatory receptive field was relatively small (SRF) and restricted to one part of the body (the tail, a paw, a hemiface, or the tongue). Both the PRF and SRF were more often located on the contralateral side. In addition, noxious stimuli applied outside the excitatory receptive field were found to strongly inhibit the responses of NS neurons. 6. All the NS neurons responded to intense transcutaneous electrical stimulation applied to the PRF or SRF with two peaks of activation. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Analysis of Internal-Tin  $\hbox{Nb}_{3}\hbox{Sn}$ Conductors for ITER Central Solenoid

Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) is procuring 100% of the ITER Central Solenoid (CS) conductors. The CS conductor is required to maintain the performance under 60000 pulsed electromagnetic cycles. JAEA tested two internal-tin Nb3Sn conductors for the CS at the SULTAN test facility. As a result of destructive examination, the twist pitches of both of the cables satisfied requirements of the ITER Organization (IO). The current sharing temperatures Tcs of each sample were 6.6 and 6.8 K before cyclic operation, and the Tcs values were 6.8 and 6.9 K after 9700 electromagnetic cycles, including three warm-up/cooldowns, respectively. The Tcs performance of both samples satisfied the IO requirement. The ac losses of CSKO1-C and CSKO1-D were approximately half of typical bronze-route CS conductors at 2 and 9 T. The ac loss at 45.1 kA after the cycling was 1.5 times higher than that without the transport current. An almost constant strain of the jacket was observed after the test as a result of the residual strain measurement. Therefore, the deformation of the cable might have been homogeneous along the conductor axis. Because of the higher Tcs of CSKO1-D than CSKO1-C, JAEA started the manufacturing of the CS conductor with the same specification as CSKO1-D.
Traffic lights and smiley faces : do children learn mathematics better with affective open-learner modelling tutors?

This PhD thesis investigates how the use of open-learner modelling (OLM) techniques and the inclusion of affective components in the design of intelligent learning environments can facilitate learning and enhance software usability by increasing children’s motivation and engagement in the learning process. The research solely focuses on mathematical applications, given to English and French children aged seven to nine years. The main contribution of this PhD concerns the study of children’s willingness and ability to use affective OLM applications for better learning. The results show that the way children interact with an OLM application depends on its level of openness and student’s control over the learning process. Children seem to want to access their learner model components. Such access, as well as the understanding of the learner model content, is facilitated by affective embodied pedagogical agents. The children using an intelligent tutoring system with a negotiated learner model appeared to learn more than children who used an environment with an editable or inspectable learner model, as their learning gain from during each learning session on software revealed to be higher . The use of two different representations of the learner model content - one representing the children’s self-beliefs, and the other the system’s assessment of knowledge acquisitions – has proven to lead children to be more involved in the representation of what they know by visually comparing their views of how much a specific concept is grasped to the system’s assessment, and engaging in a negotiation process when a disagreement was found, which led them to learn more from the sessions on software. The results and contributions of this thesis should help give evidence of which theories of emotions better apply to children aged seven to eleven working on OLM applications, how children can, want, and effectively use learner model components according to its representation, content, and method of interaction, and therefore help in the design of future affective OLM educational applications for primary school children.
HK-NUCA: Boosting Data Searches in Dynamic Non-Uniform Cache Architectures for Chip Multiprocessors

The exponential increase in the cache sizes of multicore processors (CMPs) accompanied by growing on-chip wire delays make it difficult to implement traditional caches with single and uniform access latencies. Non-Uniform Cache Architecture (NUCA) designs have been proposed to address this problem. NUCA divides the whole cache memory into smaller banks and allows nearer cache banks to have lower access latencies than farther banks, thus mitigating the effects of the cache's internal wires. Traditionally, NUCA organizations have been classified as static (S-NUCA) and dynamic (D-NUCA). While in S-NUCA a data block is mapped to a unique bank in the NUCA cache, D-NUCA allows a data block to be mapped in multiple banks. Besides, D-NUCA designs are dynamic in the sense that data blocks may migrate towards the cores that access them most frequently. Recent works consider D-NUCA as a promising design, however, in order to obtain significant performance benefits, they used a non-affordable access scheme mechanism to find data in the NUCA cache. In this paper, we propose a novel and implementable data search algorithm for D-NUCA designs in CMP architectures, which is called HK-NUCA (\emph{Home Knows where to find data within the NUCA cache}). It exploits migration features by providing fast and power efficient accesses to data which is located close to the requesting core. Moreover, HK-NUCA implements an efficient and cost-effective search mechanism to reduce miss latency and on-chip network contention. We show that using HK-NUCA as data search mechanism in a D-NUCA design reduces about 40\% energy consumed per each memory request, and achieves an average performance improvement of 6%.
Transdermal contraception methods: today’s patches and new options on the horizon

Introduction: The first contraceptive patch with ethinyl estradiol (EE) and norelgestromin in the United States demonstrated that there was a tremendous interest in topical methods, which could provide patient convenience, steady-state hormonal levels and reassurance of ongoing coverage, while maintaining efficacy and good bleeding patterns. Unfortunately, concerns about increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk diminished its popularity. Another version in Europe and Canada had slightly lower estrogen doses, but questions were raised about its VTE risk too based on its progestin. To fill that gap, two new contraceptive patches with lower estrogen levels have been developed and extensively tested. Areas covered: This article provides a short overview of the first set of patches followed by discussions of the pharmacokinetics of the two experimental patches as well as the results of their clinical trials, including information about efficacy, bleeding patterns and tolerability. Expert opinion: Given the recent increased use of first tier contraceptive methods (Intrauterine devices and implants), there may be interest in new patches. Price will influence their popularity. However, a new nondaily delivery system with lower estrogen levels will provide an important option to women.
Fast arithmetics in artin-schreier towers over finite fields

An Artin-Schreier tower over the finite field <b>F</b><sub><i>p</i></sub> is a tower of field extensions generated by polynomials of the form <i>X<sup>p</sup></i>-<i>X</i>-α. Following Cantor and Couveignes, we give algorithms with quasi-linear time complexity for arithmetic operations in such towers. As an application, we present an implementation of Couveignes' algorithm for computing isogenies between elliptic curves using the <i>p</i>-torsion.
LncRNA UCA1 Promotes Mitochondrial Function of Bladder Cancer via the MiR-195/ARL2 Signaling Pathway

Background/Aims: This study aims to identify whether Urothelial Cancer Associated 1 (UCA1) regulates mitochondrial metabolic reprogramming in bladder cancer, and to explore how UCA1 participates in mitochondrial metabolism by the UCA1/miR-195/ARL2 signaling pathway; these findings may be aid in the development of tumor diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Methods: Bladder tissues were obtained from patients. Stable cell lines were constructed, with ectopic expression of UCA1 in UMUC2 cells and knockdown of UCA1 in 5637 cells. The expression levels of UCA1, miR-195, and ARL2 were detected by real-time PCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry Cell viability was detected by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) assay; mitochondrial DNA copy numbers were tested by realtime PCR; ATP level was evaluated by ATP assay kit; mitochondrial membrane potential was analyzed by 5,5’,6,6’-tetrachloro-1,1’,3,3’- tetraethylbenzimidazolylcarbocyanine iodide (JC-1) fluorescent probe. miRNAs between UCA1 and ARL2 were predicted by TargetScan and RNAHybrid, and then determined by real-time PCR. Dual-luciferase activity assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay were used to verify the relationship between UCA1 and miR-195. The expression level of ARL2 was silenced by small interfering RNA(siRNA). For in vivo experiments, UCA1-silencing 5637 cells were subcutaneously injected into BALB/C nude mice to evaluate the effects of UCA1 on tumor progression by the regulation of miR-195 and ARL2. Results: We demonstrate here that UCA1 enhances mitochondrial function in bladder cancer cells. UCA1 contributes to ARL2-induced mitochondrial activity, which plays an important role in mitochondrial function. UCA1, as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA), regulates mitochondrial function through upregulating ARL2. In this way, it inhibited the miR-195 signaling pathway to enhance mitochondrial function in bladder cancer. Additionally, ARL2 is a direct target of miR-195 and can be repressed by either miR-195 overexpression or UCA1 inhibition. Knockdown of ARL2 was analogous to the inhibition of UCA1 and the upregulation of miR-195. Animal experiments further indicated that UCA1 promoted bladder tumor growth by regulating miR-195 /ARL2. Conclusion: These data suggest that UCA1 enhanced mitochondrial function and cell viability through the UCA1/miR-195/ARL2 axis in vitro and in vivo. The elucidation of this signaling network provides a more adequate theoretical basis for understanding the molecular pathology of bladder cancer, and also UCA1 as a potential diagnosis and treatment target for bladder cancer.
Localization of subthalamic nucleus borders using macroelectrode local field potential recordings

Deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) is a highly effective treatment for motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease. However, precise intraoperative localization of STN remains a procedural challenge. In the present study, local field potentials (LFPs) were recorded from DBS macroelectrodes during trajectory to STN, in six patients. The frequency-vs-depth map of LFP activity was extracted and further analyzed within different sub-bands, to investigate whether LFP activity can be used for STN border identification. STN borders identified by LFPs were compared to border predictions by the neurosurgeon, based on microelectrode-derived, single-unit recordings (MER-SUA). The results demonstrate difference between MER-SUA and macroelectrode LFP recording with respect to the dorsal STN border of -1.00 ±0.84 mm and -0.42 ±1.07 mm in the beta and gamma frequency bands, respectively. For these sub-bands, RMS of these distances was found to be 1.26 mm and 1.06 mm, respectively. Analysis of other sub-bands did not allow for distinguishing the caudal border of STN. In conclusion, macroelectrode-derived LFP recordings may provide an alternative approach to MER-SUA, for localizing the target STN borders during DBS surgery.
The role of testosterone and estradiol in women's preferences and mating strategies across the menstrual cycle: A hormonal perspective

The Role of Testosterone and Estradiol in Women’s Preferences and Mating Strategies across the Menstrual Cycle: A Hormonal Perspective. (December 2011) Jennie Ying-Chen Chen, B.A., The University of Texas; M.S., Texas A&M University Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. William S. Rholes This dissertation project investigated fluctuations in estradiol and testosterone across the human menstrual cycle. During the part of the cycle when women are most fertile, women show stronger preferences for men with more masculine faces, and these preference changes may be related to changes in hormone levels during ovulation. The present study investigated preferences changes among women for higher testosterone men over the menstrual cycle as estradiol and testosterone in those women fluctuated. 32 women participated in this 5-week long study tracking their estradiol and testosterone levels and preferences for masculine men. Women with higher levels of estradiol preferred men who had higher levels of testosterone than women who had lower levels of estradiol. During ovulation, women were more like to find high testosterone men more attractive than other parts of the menstrual cycle. In addition to ratings of men, several other psychological tests were administered and examined for changes as a function of state and trait levels of hormones.
Approach of Adaptive Synchronization for Bistatic SAR Real-Time Imaging

The use of a novel synchronization link to compensate time, phase, and spatial synchronization errors is proposed, aiming at the development of a practical synchronization technique for bistatic synthetic aperture radar (BiSAR) real-time imaging. With the proposed technique, an amplitude-modulated signal emitting from the transmitter is received by a passive receiver and divided into two channels. One is passed through an envelope detector and then used to trigger the sampling clock, and the second is used to achieve spatial synchronization and phase synchronization. Finally, the residual time synchronization errors are compensated with a proposed high-precision range realignment method, and the residual phase synchronization errors are compensated with autofocus algorithms. This technique allows a passive receiver, which is teamed with an illuminator at a safe standoff distance, to receive the data reflected from potentially hostile areas of interest. Thus, this configuration, making real-time imaging possible, has a particular value in military applications. Simulation results show that successful adaptive synchronization for BiSAR real-time imaging is possible by using this dedicated synchronization link.
Recognizing a Mother's Voice in the Persistent Vegetative State

We studied an 8-year-old boy after a near-drowning left him in a vegetative state (VS) for 4 years before the study. Findings fulfilled all clinical criteria for the diagnosis of VS. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there was significant differential activation of the brain in response to hearing his mother's voice compared with the voices of unknown women. The data were assessed using quantitative electric tomography (QEEGt), a technique that combines anatomical information of the brain by MRI with EEG patterns to estimate the sources of the EEG within the brain. We found significant differences for EEG frequencies from 14–58 Hz, with a peak at 33.2 Hz (gamma band). The 3D reconstruction showed that these statistical differences were localized in the lateral and posterior regions of the left hemisphere. No significant differences were found between unknown women vs. basal conditions. These results demonstrate recognition of the mother's voice and indicate high-level residual linguistic processing in a patient meeting clinical criteria for VS. These findings launch new ethical and practical implications for the management of VS patients.