Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Efficacy and Safety Profile of Solvent/Detergent Plasma in the Treatment of Acute Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura: A Single-Center Experience

Background: Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare clinical disorder which was associated with poor prognosis for a long time. The outcome has been improved by the consistent introduction of thera-peutic plasma exchange (TPE) as standard treatment of TTP. Patients and Methods: We describe our experience in the use of solvent/detergent-treated plasma (SDP) for TPE in TTP. We retrospectively analyzed acute TTP epi-sodes in 8 patients (mean age = 27 years, range 18–44 years) treated with TPE using SDP with regard to tolerability and efficacy. Results: All 8 patients were positive for anti-ADAMTS-13 antibody. Seven out of 8 had a se-vere ADAMTS-13 deficiency. All patients responded rapidly to SDP TPE with an increase in platelet count to above 150 × 109/l. Hemolytic anemia disappeared over the treatment period. Approximately 2,000 l SDP were used for more than 500 treatments. Treatment with SDP was well tolerated; none of the patients experienced an adverse drug reaction after exposure to SDP. No major complications occurred even after multiple TPE. Conclusion: Our investigations suggest that TPE using SDP as replacement fluid is an effective treatment for TTP. The data described also indicate that SDP might offer the benefit of reducing adverse drug reactions.
Identification and observation of alkyl proton resonances of the amino-terminal residues of bovine neurophysins. Evidence for conformational differences between neurophysin-I and neurophysin-II.

Analysis of the 220 MHz proton magnetic resonance spectra of bovine neurophysins-I and -II and of the effects of pH and succinylation of these spectra has allowed identification of the -CH3 proton resonances of the amino-terminal alanine of both proteins and of the -CH3 resonances of methionine-2 of neurophysin-II. The alanine -CH3 resonance of neurophysin-I is a sharp doublet at all pH values between 1 and 10.5 indicating relatively few restrictions on its mobility. By contrast, the -CH3 resonances of the amino-terminal alanine and methionine-2 of neurophysin-II undergo pH-dependent changes in broadening compatible with the formation of an intramolecular salt-bridge at neutral pH between the protonated alpha-amino and an unprotonated side chain carboxyl. The results suggest that differeces in the properties of the two proteins are partially mediated by conformational differences involving their amino-terminal sequences. The potential usefulness of the amino-terminal resonances as n.m. r. 'reporter' signals is additionally demonstrated by studies of the effects of spin labels on the neurophysin-I amino-terminal alanine resonance; these studies place the amino-terminus of neurophysin-I approximately 14 A from residue 3 of peptides bound to the strong neurophysin hormone-binding site.
Intramuscular Rapacuronium in Infants and Children: A Comparative Multicenter Study to Confirm the Efficacy and Safety of the Age-related Tracheal Intubating Doses of Intramuscular Rapacuronium (ORG 9487) in Two Groups of Pediatric Subjects

BackgroundThis multicenter, assessor, blinded, randomized study was conducted to confirm and extend a pilot study in which intramuscular rapacuronium was given to infants and children to confirm efficacy and to evaluate tracheal intubating conditions. MethodsNinety-six pediatric patients were studied in two groups: infants aged 1 to 12 months (n = 46) and children aged 1 to 3 yr (n = 50). Infants received 2.8 mg/kg and children 4.8 mg/kg of intramuscular rapacuronium during 1 minimum alveolar concentration halothane anesthesia. These two groups were studied in three subgroups, depending on the time (1.5, 3, or 4 min) at which tracheal intubation was attempted after the administration of intramuscular rapacuronium into the deltoid muscle. Neuromuscular data collected included onset time, duration of action, and recovery data during train-of-four stimulation at 0.1 Hz. Data were analyzed by the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel procedure. ResultsThe tracheal intubating conditions were deemed acceptable in 17, 36, and 64% of infants and 20, 47, and 71% of children at 1.5, 3, or 4 min, respectively. The mean values for % of control twitch height (T1) 2 min after rapacuronium in both groups were similar. The mean (SD) time required to achieve more than or equal to 95% twitch depression in infants was 6.0 (3.7) versus 5.5 (3.8) min in children. ConclusionsOnly 27% of patients achieved clinically acceptable tracheal intubating conditions at 1.5 or 3 min after administration of 2.8 mg/kg and 4.8 mg/kg rapacuronium during 1 minimum alveolar concentration halothane anesthesia. Tracheal intubation conditions at 4 min were acceptable in 69% of subjects. The duration of action of 4.8 mg/kg of rapacuronium in children was longer than 2.8 mg/kg of rapacuronium in infants.
Sales and Consumer Inventory

Temporary price reductions (sales) are quite common for many goods and usually result in an increase in the quantity sold. We explore whether the data support the hypothesis that these increases are, at least partly, due to dynamic consumer behavior: at low prices consumers stockpile for future consumption. This effect, if present, has broad implications for interpretation of demand estimates. We construct a dynamic model of consumer choice and use it to derive testable predictions. We test the implications of the model using two years of store-level scanner data and data on the purchases of a panel of households over the same time. The results support the existence of household stockpiling behavior. (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)
BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Background: Factors of IT adoption have largely been discussed in the literature. However, existing frameworks (such as TAM or TTF) are failing to include one important aspect, the interaction between user and task. Method: Based on a literature study and a case study, we developed the FITT framework to help analyse the socio-organisational-technical factors that influence IT adoption in a health care setting. Results: Our FITT framework (" F it between I ndividuals, T ask and T echnology") is based on the idea that IT adoption in a clinical environment depends on the fit between the attributes of the individual users (e.g. computer anxiety, motivation), attributes of the technology (e.g. usability, functionality, performance), and attributes of the clinical tasks and processes (e.g. organisation, task complexity). We used this framework in the retrospective analysis of a three-year case study, describing the adoption of a nursing documentation system in various departments in a German University Hospital. We will show how the FITT framework helped analyzing the process of IT adoption during an IT implementation: we were able to describe every found IT adoption problem with regard to the three fit dimensions, and any intervention on the fit can be described with regard to the three objects of the FITT framework (individual, task, technology). We also derive facilitators and barriers to IT adoption of clinical information systems. Conclusion
Redox implications of AMPK-mediated signal transduction beyond energetic clues

Since the discovery of AMP-dependent protein kinase (AMPK), its fundamental role in regulating metabolic pathways and the molecular mechanism underlying the regulation of its activity by adenine nucleotides has been widely studied. AMPK is not only an energy-responsive enzyme, but it also senses redox signals. This review aims at recapitulating the recent lines of evidence that demonstrate the responsiveness of this kinase to metabolic and nitroxidative imbalance, thus providing new insights into the intimate networks of redox-based signals upstream of AMPK. In particular, we discuss its well-recognized activation downstream of mitochondrial dysfunction, debate the recent findings that AMPK is directly targeted by pro-oxidant species, and question alternative redox pathways that allow AMPK to be included into the large class of redox-sensing proteins. The possible therapeutic implications of the role of AMPK in redox-associated pathologies, such as cancer and neurodegeneration, are also discussed in light of recent advances that suggest a role for AMPK in the tuning of redox-dependent processes, such as apoptosis and autophagy.
The duration of viral suppression during protease inhibitor therapy for HIV‐1 infection is predicted by plasma HIV‐1 RNA at the nadir

Objective:To determine markers that are associated with the durability of virologic response to therapy with HIV protease inhibitors in HIV-infected individuals. Design:This study encompassed two retrospective analyses of the duration of virologic response to protease inhibitor therapy. The first analysis included 29 patients receiving either monotherapy or combination therapy with the protease inhibitor ritonavir whose plasma HIV RNA levels rebounded from the point of greatest decline with mutations associated with resistance to ritonavir. The second analysis included a cohort of 102 patients who initially responded to randomized treatment with either monotherapy with ritonavir or combination therapy with ritonavir and zidovudine. Methods:Durability of response was defined as the time from the initiation of therapy to the point at which plasma HIV RNA displayed a sustained increase of at least 0.6 log10 copies/ml from the nadir value. In the first analysis, durability of response was analyzed with respect to baseline HIV RNA, HIV RNA at the nadir, and the drop in HIV RNA from baseline to the nadir. In the second analysis, time to rebound was examined using Kaplan–Meier analysis, stratifying by either baseline HIV RNA or HIV RNA at the nadir. Results:In both analyses, the durability of response was not highly associated with either baseline RNA or the magnitude of RNA decline from baseline. Instead, a strong relationship was observed between the durability of response and the nadir plasma HIV-1 RNA value (P < 0.01). The nadir in viral load was generally reached after 12 weeks of randomized therapy. Conclusions:Viral RNA determinations at intermediate timepoints may be prognostic of impending virologic failure of protease inhibitor therapy. Therapeutic strategies that allow intensification of initial antiretroviral regimens in the subset of patients with incomplete virological response before the emergence of high level resistance should be investigated.
Novel uniaxial force sensor based on visual information for minimally invasive surgery

This paper presents an innovative approach of utilising visual feedback to determine physical interaction forces with soft tissue during Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS). This novel force sensing device is composed of a linear retractable mechanism and a spherical visual feature. The sensor mechanism can be adapted to endoscopic cameras used in MIS. As the distance between the camera and feature varies due to the sliding joint, interaction forces with anatomical surfaces can be computed based on the visual appearance of the feature in the image. Hence, this device allows the measurement of forces without introducing new stand-alone sensors. A mathematical model was derived based on validation data tests and preliminary experiments were conducted to verify the model's accuracy. Experimental results confirm the effectiveness of our vision based approach.
The impact on parents of caring for people with intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorder

This thesis comprises of three papers. The first is a literature review that focuses on the positive impact on parents caring for a child with an intellectual disability. Fourteen themes pertaining to positive impact are derived from papers and the two main measures used to assess positive impact are The Kansas Inventory of Positive Perceptions and The Positive and Negative Assessment Scale. The relationship between positive impact of caring and parental wellbeing is explored. Wellbeing is raised when there are positive perception of caring. The empirical paper explores the relationship between parental stress, challenging behaviour and characteristics of autism spectrum disorder. When people with autism spectrum disorder show challenging behaviours, characteristics of adaptive functioning, pleasure and interest, and reciprocal social interaction are lower and impulsivity is heightened in comparison to people showing no challenging behaviours. Age also differs between groups. Negative correlations between adaptive functioning, pleasure and interest and social reciprocal interaction and parental stress are found. There is a positive correlation between impulsivity and parental stress. Impulsivity is the only predictor of stress. The third paper is a public domain briefing document, which gives an overview of the literature review and empirical paper for dissemination to the general population.
Control of a re-entrant line manufacturing model with a reinforcement learning approach

This paper presents the application of a reinforcement learning (RL) approach for the near-optimal control of a re-entrant line manufacturing (RLM) model. The RL approach utilizes an algorithm based on a gradient-descent TD(lambda) method to obtain both estimates of the optimal cost function and the control actions. Numerical experiments demonstrated the efficacy of the approach in estimating optimal actions by showing close approximations in performance w.r. t. the optimal strategy. Generalizations of the RL approach may have the advantage of scaling appropriately for RLM models with different dimensions in the state and action spaces.
The role of dilation and confining stresses in shear thickening of dense suspensions

Many densely packed suspensions and colloids exhibit a behavior known as Discontinuous Shear Thickening in which the shear stress jumps dramatically and reversibly as the shear rate is increased. We performed rheometry and video microscopy measurements on a variety of suspensions to determine the mechanism for this behavior. We distinguish Discontinuous Shear Thickening from inertial effects by showing that the latter are characterized by a Reynolds number but are only found for lower packing fractions and higher shear rates than the former. Shear profiles and normal stress measurements indicate that, in the shear thickening regime, stresses are transmitted through frictional rather than viscous interactions. We come to the surprising conclusion that for concentrated suspensions such as cornstarch in water which exhibit the phenomenon of Discontinuous Shear Thickening, the local constitutive relation between stress and shear rate is not necessarily shear thickening. If the suspended particles are heavy en.
Wildlife Loss through Domestication: the Case of Endangered Key Deer

Abstract: Wildlife extinction represents the ultimate failure of wildlife conservation. It has many causes, some of them natural, but is increasingly tied to anthropogenic factors. Wildlife loss via domestication, however, is rarely considered. We evaluated the potential for inadvertent domestication of wildlife by determining the effect of feeding and watering on Key deer (Odocoileus virginianus clavium) density, group size, and distribution. Key deer sightings were significantly higher in areas (42 ha) surrounding the households that provided food and water (0.18 deer/m;n =8) than in randomly selected areas (0.03 deer/m;t =3.82, 14 df, p =0.002). Average distance to a household providing food and water decreased logistically as group size increased, and large groups (>2 individuals each) were observed more frequently in areas where food and water were provided (27.5%) than in the randomly selected areas (7.5%). The incidence of large groups outside feeding areas (7.5%), however, was similar to the incidence of large groups during early urbanization (5.1%; 1968–1973). Our results suggest illegal feeding caused changes in density, group size, and distribution indicative of domestication. Because fresh water and food were primary selective pressures for Key deer before illegal feeding and watering, genetic changes may occur in the future. For those who value “wildness” in wildlife, domestication of wildlife species is a serious problem that must be addressed.
A Successive Linear Programming Approach to Solving the IV-ACOPF

Improved formulations of and solution techniques for the alternating current optimal power flow (ACOPF) problem are critical to improving current market practices in economic dispatch. We introduce the IV-ACOPF formulation that unlike canonical ACOPF formulations-which represent network balancing through nonlinear coupling-is based on a current injections approach that linearly couple the quadratic constraints at each bus; yet, the IV-ACOPF is mathematically equivalent to the canonical ACOPF formulation. We propose a successive linear programming (SLP) approach to solve the IV-ACOPF, which we refer to as the SLP IV-ACOPF algorithm. The SLP IV-ACOPF leverages commercial LP solvers and can be readily extended and integrated into more complex decision processes, e.g., unit commitment and transmission switching. We demonstrate with the standard MATPOWER test suite an acceptable quality of convergence to a best-known solution and linear scaling of computational time in proportion to network size.
Chiral d-wave superconductivity in doped graphene

A highly unconventional superconducting state with a spin-singlet -wave, or chiral d-wave symmetry has recently been suggested to emerge from electron–electron interactions in doped graphene. It has been argued that graphene doped to the van Hove singularity at 1/4 doping, where the density of states diverge, is particularly likely to be a chiral d-wave superconductor. In this review we summarize the currently mounting theoretical evidence for the existence of a chiral d-wave superconducting state in graphene, obtained with methods ranging from mean-field studies of effective Hamiltonians to angle-resolved renormalization group calculations. We further discuss the multiple distinctive properties of the chiral d-wave superconducting state in graphene, as well as its stability in the presence of disorder. We also review the means of enhancing the chiral d-wave state using proximity-induced superconductivity. The appearance of chiral d-wave superconductivity is intimately linked to the hexagonal crystal lattice and we also offer a brief overview of other materials which have also been proposed to be chiral d-wave superconductors.
Crocetin Reduces TNBS-Induced Experimental Colitis in Mice by Downregulation of NFkB

Background/Aim: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is characterized by oxidative and nitrosative stress, leukocyte infiltration and upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines. In this study, we aim to investigate the effects of crocetin and its protective mechanism on 2,4,6- trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis in mice model. Materials and Methods: Intestinal lesions (judged by macroscopic and histological score) were associated with neutrophil infiltration (measured as increase in myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in the mucosa), and high levels of malondialdehyde MDA (an indicator of lipid peroxidation). Results: Dose-response studies revealed that treatment of mice with crocetin (50 mg/kg/day) i.g. for 8 days) significantly ameliorated diarrhea and the disruption of colonic architecture. Higher and lower doses (100 and 25 mg/kg/day) did not exhibit comparable effects. In crocetin-treated mice, a significant reduction was noted in the degree of both neutrophil infiltration (measured as decrease in myeloperoxidase activity) and lipid peroxidation (measured as decrease in malondialdehyde activity) in the inflamed colon. Crocetin also reduced the levels of nitric oxide (NO) associated with the favorable expression of TH1 and TH2 cytokines and inducible NO synthase along with the down regulation of nuclear factor-kB (NFkB). Conclusion: These findings suggest that crocetin exerts beneficial effects in experimental colitis, and therefore we propose that this carotenoid may have therapeutic implications for human UC and can be administered along with the conventional therapy of UC
Unsupervised Generative Modeling Using Matrix Product States

Generative modeling, which learns joint probability distribution from data and generates samples according to it, is an important task in machine learning and artificial intelligence. Inspired by probabilistic interpretation of quantum physics, we propose a generative model using matrix product states, which is a tensor network originally proposed for describing (particularly one-dimensional) entangled quantum states. Our model enjoys efficient learning analogous to the density matrix renormalization group method, which allows dynamically adjusting dimensions of the tensors and offers an efficient direct sampling approach for generative tasks. We apply our method to generative modeling of several standard datasets including the Bars and Stripes, random binary patterns and the MNIST handwritten digits to illustrate the abilities, features and drawbacks of our model over popular generative models such as Hopfield model, Boltzmann machines and generative adversarial networks. Our work sheds light on many interesting directions of future exploration on the development of quantum-inspired algorithms for unsupervised machine learning, which are promisingly possible to be realized on quantum devices.
Deliberate self harm in adolescents: self report survey in schools in England

Abstract Objective: To determine the prevalence of deliberate self harm in adolescents and the factors associated with it. Design: Cross sectional survey using anonymous self report questionnaire. Setting: 41 schools in England. Participants: 6020 pupils aged 15 and 16 years. Main outcome measure: Deliberate self harm. Results: 398 (6.9%) participants reported an act of deliberate self harm in the previous year that met study criteria. Only 12.6% of episodes had resulted in presentation to hospital. Deliberate self harm was more common in females than it was in males (11.2% v 3.2%; odds ratio 3.9, 95% confidence interval 3.1 to 4.9). In females the factors included in a multivariate logistic regression for deliberate self harm were recent self harm by friends, self harm by family members, drug misuse, depression, anxiety, impulsivity, and low self esteem. In males the factors were suicidal behaviour in friends and family members, drug use, and low self esteem. Conclusions: Deliberate self harm is common in adolescents, especially females. School based mental health initiatives are needed. These could include approaches aimed at educating school pupils about mental health problems and screening for those at risk. What is already known on this topic Deliberate self harm is a common reason for presentation of adolescents to hospital Community studies from outside the United Kingdom have shown much greater prevalence of self harm in adolescents than hospital based studies What this study adds Deliberate self harm defined according to strict criteria is common in adolescents, especially females Associated factors include recent awareness of self harm in peers, self harm by family members, drug misuse, depression, anxiety, impulsivity, and low self esteem