Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Steroid use before pediatric cardiac operations using cardiopulmonary bypass: An international survey of 36 centers*

Objective: Steroid administration before pediatric cardiac operations using cardiopulmonary bypass has been shown to modulate the inflammatory response and reduce myocardial injury. We hypothesized that current steroid administration practices among pediatric cardiac surgical centers are highly variable. Design: Questionnaire survey. Setting: Pediatric intensive care units. Subjects: All members of the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Society. Interventions: A self-administered survey was sent to >130 members and 70 institutions participating in the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Society. Measurements and Main Results: Thirty-six questionnaires were returned: 14 international and 22 domestic centers. Cumulatively, these centers treat >11,000 pediatric cardiac patients per year. Ninety-seven percent (35 of 36) of these centers report the use of steroids before cardiopulmonary bypass, yet only 40% (14 of 35) administer steroids with every case. Of the 21 centers that selectively use steroids, 12 do so only for neonates, five administer steroids based on surgeon preference, and four administer steroids for cases anticipated to involve bypass time >2 hrs or deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. Of the 35 centers using steroids, 11 deliver a single dose in the circuit prime, 18 administer a single dose to the patient, and six give multiple doses. The timing of the steroid dose to the patient is variable; 12 centers administer a dose on induction of anesthesia; six centers administer the dose 2–12 hrs before operation. Regimens in the six centers using multiple doses of steroids before cardiopulmonary bypass are as follows: administration at induction and in the prime (two centers); 12 hrs preoperatively and at induction (one center); prime, induction, and 6 hrs preoperatively (one center); prime and midnight preoperatively (one center); and prime plus 2 and 8 hrs preoperatively (one center). Eight centers continue steroid administration following bypass. Conclusion: Although nearly all centers surveyed administer steroids before cardiopulmonary bypass, the type, dosing, route, and timing of administration are highly variable. The inconsistencies in these data and the pediatric literature would support the undertaking of a large, multiple-center clinical trial to evaluate the risks and benefits of steroid administration before pediatric cardiopulmonary bypass.
An outbreak of dengue fever in Tirupur, Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu.

Dengue is considered as a serious public health problem with about 2.5 billion people are at risk globally of which a few may progress to dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) / dengue shock syndrome (DSS), the major cause of mortality mainly among infants1. In India, DF and DHF had been documented in different parts of the country2-5 including southern India (Tamil Nadu)6-8. A sudden increase of fever cases with haemorrhagic manifestations has been reported in Tirupur Municipality in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu during July 2005. We present here the aetiology of the outbreak and the results of serological, entomological and virological studies carried out in the DF affected areas.
Spatial learning in a virtual reality-based task is altered in very preterm children

Very preterm births prevent a complete development of the nervous system. The hippocampus is especially vulnerable in this population since the perinatal period is critical for its growth and development. Learning and memory abilities, like spatial memory, depend on the hippocampal integrity. In this study we applied virtual-reality-based tasks to assess spatial memory in a sample of 20 very preterm children of 7 and 8 years of age. Two different conditions of difficulty were used. Very preterm children performed poorly in the task in comparison with the control group. They committed more errors than controls searching for the rewarded positions. However, no significant differences were observed in the mean speed, an index of the motor abilities and joystick handling. These results suggest that the hippocampal function is affected in this sample. Nevertheless, other variables to consider are discussed.
Analysis of PubMed User Sessions Using a Full-Day PubMed Query Log: A Comparison of Experienced and Nonexperienced PubMed Users

Background PubMed is the largest biomedical bibliographic information source on the Internet. PubMed has been considered one of the most important and reliable sources of up-to-date health care evidence. Previous studies examined the effects of domain expertise/knowledge on search performance using PubMed. However, very little is known about PubMed users’ knowledge of information retrieval (IR) functions and their usage in query formulation. Objective The purpose of this study was to shed light on how experienced/nonexperienced PubMed users perform their search queries by analyzing a full-day query log. Our hypotheses were that (1) experienced PubMed users who use system functions quickly retrieve relevant documents and (2) nonexperienced PubMed users who do not use them have longer search sessions than experienced users. Methods To test these hypotheses, we analyzed PubMed query log data containing nearly 3 million queries. User sessions were divided into two categories: experienced and nonexperienced. We compared experienced and nonexperienced users per number of sessions, and experienced and nonexperienced user sessions per session length, with a focus on how fast they completed their sessions. Results To test our hypotheses, we measured how successful information retrieval was (at retrieving relevant documents), represented as the decrease rates of experienced and nonexperienced users from a session length of 1 to 2, 3, 4, and 5. The decrease rate (from a session length of 1 to 2) of the experienced users was significantly larger than that of the nonexperienced groups. Conclusions Experienced PubMed users retrieve relevant documents more quickly than nonexperienced PubMed users in terms of session length.
Implementation of a gap recorder for measuring impulsive noise error distributions in Power Line Communications using the Fritchman model

On the PLC channel, noise is generated by electrical loads and by radiated disturbances from the environment. In the frequency range of 9-140 KHz, it is dominated by narrowband interferences and impulsive noise. Impulsive noise is caused by on/off switching events and is different from frequently occurring periodic events. For instance, we have vacuum cleaners; hand-held drilling machines; Switch Mode Power Supply (SMPS) and heaters which are used daily in the network and introduce a lot of impulsive noise into the channel. This leads to an enormous loss in the capacity, as well as a decrease in the error rate performance. Impulsive noise can cause bit and bust errors in PLC. The bit error rate represents an important first order statistic of the data channel, but does not contain information about how the errors are distributed. In this paper, the distribution of errors at the output of a narrowband modem is investigated using gap recording. A gap recorder has been implemented for setting up a stochastic model. The Fritchman Markov model has been investigated to model the distribution of random impulsive events. Values of the model parameters were obtained by analysing the distributions of the lengths of error gaps (error free intervals). Two sets of measurements have been taken, one in an office building and the other in a residential house.
Institutions, croissance économique et entrepreneuriat : causes et conséquences des activités entrepreneuriales sur le développement économique des régions indonésiennes

Le but de cette these est d'examiner les causes et les consequences des activites productives des entrepreneurs. Cette etude utilise la base de donnees sur les regions d'Indonesie pour mettre a l'epreuve des faits nos hypotheses. Le premier chapitre scrute le role de l'entrepreneur dans la dynamique du marche du travail. Son originalite est d'introduire la structure du chomage et de travailleur independant pour expliquer la relation entre l'entrepreneuriat et le chomage. Le deuxieme chapitre cherche a renouveler le raisonnement sur les relations entre les institutions et l'entrepreneuriat. La particularite de cette etude est d'expliquer ces relations au travers de l'ontologie d'Aristote de la contingence et de la prudence. Le troisieme chapitre etudie les consequences de la diversite culturelle sur l'entrepreneuriat. Nous proposons que la diversite culturelle n'influence pas seulement la competence des individus a decouvrir des opportunites, mais qu'elle se trouve egalement a l'origine de ces opportunites. Le quatrieme chapitre etudie les effets des activites productives des entrepreneurs sur la croissance economique. Nous proposons quatre types de modeles economiques: Innovation-economie manageriale, innovation-economie entrepreneuriale, imitation-economie manageriale et imitation-economie entrepreneuriale. Le cinquieme chapitre a pour but de comprendre les consequences de l'entrepreneuriat sur le processus de la convergence economique. Nous proposons que l'egalisation du capital entrepreneurial a la periode initiale soit un facteur necessaire a la formation de convergence club.
A programmable logic architecture for prototyping clockless circuits

This paper presents a novel programmable logic device (PLD) architecture for implementing and prototyping various styles of clockless or asynchronous circuits. Many classes of asynchronous circuits exist, depending on the timing assumptions that are made at the logical level and the adopted handshake communication protocols. The main objective of this work is to break the dependency between the PLD architecture dedicated to asynchronous logic and the logic style. Indeed, the PLDs dedicated to asynchronous logic are always style-oriented. The innovative aspects of this architecture are described in details. Moreover, the structure is well suited to be adapted with further asynchronous logic evolutions thanks to the architecture genericity. The programmable structure is flexible enough to be used with different logic styles and asynchronous design flows. As an example, a full-adder was implemented in two different styles of logic to demonstrate the PLD architecture flexibility. This work is included in a larger project called TAST, dedicated to the synthesis and the prototyping of multistyle logic asynchronous circuits.
Ebi3 Prevents Trypanosoma cruzi-Induced Myocarditis by Dampening IFN-γ-Driven Inflammation

The identification of anti-inflammatory mediators can reveal important targetable molecules capable of counterbalancing Trypanosoma cruzi-induced myocarditis. Composed of Ebi3 and IL-27p28 subunits, IL-27 is produced by myeloid cells and is able to suppress inflammation by inducing IL-10-producing Tr1 cells, thus emerging as a potential candidate to ameliorate cardiac inflammation induced by T. cruzi. Although IL-27 has been extensively characterized as a suppressive cytokine that prevents liver immunopathogenesis after T. cruzi infection, the mechanisms underlying its effects on T. cruzi-induced myocarditis remain largely unknown. Here, wild-type (WT) and Ebi3-deficient animals were intraperitoneally infected with trypomastigotes of T. cruzi Y strain and used to evaluate the potential anti-inflammatory properties of Ebi3 during T. cruzi infection. The survival rates of mice were daily recorded, the frequency of inflammatory cells was analyzed by flow cytometry and inflammatory mediators were measured by ELISA, real-time PCR and PCR array. We reported that T. cruzi-induced myocarditis was prevented by Ebi3. Stressors mainly recognized by TLR2 and TLR4 receptors on myeloid cells were essential to trigger IL-27p28 production. In addition, Ebi3 regulated IFN-γ-mediated myocarditis by promoting an anti-inflammatory environment through IL-10, which was most likely produced by Tr1 cells rather than classical regulatory T cells (Tregs), in the heart tissue of T. cruzi-infected animals. Furthermore, in vivo IFN-γ blockade ameliorated the host survival without compromising the parasite control in the bloodstream. In humans, IL-27p28 was correlated with cardiac protection during Chagas disease. Patients with mild clinical forms of the disease produced high levels of IL-27p28, whereas lower levels were found in those with severe forms. In addition, polymorphic sites at Ebi3 gene were associated with severe cardiomyopathy in patients with Chagas disease. Collectively, we describe a novel regulatory mechanism where Ebi3 dampens cardiac inflammation by modulating the overproduction of IFN-γ, the bona fide culprit of Chagas disease cardiomyopathy.
Personality Features and Personality Disorders in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Population-Based Study

Background: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) presents unique diagnostic and management challenges. Personality may be a risk factor for CFS and may contribute to the maintenance of the illness. Methods: 501 study participants were identified from the general population of Georgia: 113 people with CFS, 264 with unexplained unwellness but not CFS (insufficient fatigue, ISF) and 124 well controls. We used the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire, 4th edition, to evaluate DSM-IV personality disorders. We used the NEO Five-Factor Inventory to assess personality features (neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness and conscientiousness). The Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory measured 5 dimensions of fatigue, and the Medical Outcomes Survey Short Form 36 measured 8 dimensions of functional impairment. Results: Twenty-nine percent of the CFS cases had at least 1 personality disorder, compared to 28% of the ISF cases and 7% of the well controls. The prevalence of paranoid, schizoid, avoidant, obsessive-compulsive and depressive personality disorders were significantly higher in CFS and ISF compared to the well controls. The CFS cases had significantly higher scores on neuroticism, and significantly lower scores on extraversion than those with ISF or the well controls. Personality features were correlated with selected composite characteristics of fatigue. Conclusions: Our results suggest that CFS is associated with an increased prevalence of maladaptive personality features and personality disorders. This might be associated with being noncompliant with treatment suggestions, displaying unhealthy behavioral strategies and lacking a stable social environment. Since maladaptive personality is not specific to CFS, it might be associated with illness per se rather than with a specific condition.
Mobile big data analytics using deep learning and apache spark

The proliferation of mobile devices, such as smartphones and Internet of Things gadgets, has resulted in the recent mobile big data era. Collecting mobile big data is unprofitable unless suitable analytics and learning methods are utilized to extract meaningful information and hidden patterns from data. This article presents an overview and brief tutorial on deep learning in mobile big data analytics and discusses a scalable learning framework over Apache Spark. Specifically, distributed deep learning is executed as an iterative MapReduce computing on many Spark workers. Each Spark worker learns a partial deep model on a partition of the overall mobile, and a master deep model is then built by averaging the parameters of all partial models. This Spark-based framework speeds up the learning of deep models consisting of many hidden layers and millions of parameters. We use a context-aware activity recognition application with a real-world dataset containing millions of samples to validate our framework and assess its speedup effectiveness.
UvA-DARE ( Digital Academic Repository ) Six-minute walking test in children with ESRD : discrimination validity and construct validity

The six-minute walking test (6MWT) may be a practical test for the evaluation functional exercise capacity in children with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The aim of this study was to investigate the 6MWT performance in children with ESRD compared to reference values obtained in healthy children and, secondly, to study the relationship between 6MWT performance with anthropometric variables, clinical parameters, aerobic capacity and muscle strength. Twenty patients (13 boys and seven girls; mean age 14.1±3.4 years) on dialysis participated in this study. Anthropometrics were taken in a standardized manner. The 6MWT was performed in a 20-m-long track in a straight hallway. Aerobic fitness was measured using a cycle ergometer test to determine peak oxygen uptake V O2peak , peak rate (Wpeak) and ventilatory threshold (VT). Muscle strength was measured using hand-held myometry. Children with ESRD showed a reduced 6MWT performance (83% of predicted, p<0.0001), irrespective of the reference values used. The strongest predictors of 6MWT performance were haematocrit and height. Regression models explained 59% (haematocrit and height) to 60% (haematocrit) of the variance in 6MWT performance. 6MWT performance was not associated with V O2peak, strength, or other anthropometric variables, but it was significantly associated with haematocrit and height. Children with ESRD scored lower on the 6MWT than healthy children. Based on these results, the 6MWT may be a useful instrument for monitoring clinical status in children with ESRD, however it cannot substitute for other fitness tests, such as a progressive exercise test to measure V O2peak or muscle strength tests.
The Effects of Homeownership: On the Self-Esteem, Perceived Control and Life Satisfaction of Low-Income People

Abstract A variety of claims have been made concerning the social benefits of homeownership. This paper describes research designed to assess the impacts of homeownership on the self-esteem, perceived control and life satisfaction of low-income persons. The longitudinal study assessed changes in these three constructs, pre- and post ownership, and compared them to those in a control group of continuing renters. The findings indicate that, relative to the control group, those in the homeowner group did not experience a significant increase in self-esteem or sense of control. They did, however, experience a significant increase in life satisfaction. Moreover, housing condition, regardless of tenure, was found to influence both self-esteem and life satisfaction. The policy implications of the results are discussed.
Platelet-Rich Plasma Injection With Arthroscopic Acromioplasty for Chronic Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy

Background: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been proposed to augment tendon healing through improving tissue structure during the initial repair phase. Purpose: To investigate both the clinical and tissue effects of the coapplication of PRP injection with arthroscopic acromioplasty (AA) in patients with chronic rotator cuff tendinopathy. Design: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1. Methods: The study comprised 60 randomized patients diagnosed with rotator cuff tendinopathy (55% women) aged between 35 and 75 years. Patients were randomized to AA alone or in combination with an injection of autologous PRP into the subacromial bursa (AA + PRP). Efficacy of treatment was assessed by analysis of patient-reported outcomes up to 2 years after treatment (Oxford Shoulder Score [OSS]) and by analysis of tendon biopsy specimens taken 12 weeks after treatment. Results: There was no significant difference in the OSS between AA alone and AA + PRP at any time point in the study. From 12 weeks onward, there was a significant increase in the OSS for both groups compared with their baseline scores (P < .001). Bonar scoring determined no significant change in tissue structure with the coapplication of PRP compared with surgery alone. The number of blood vessels and tendon cellularity were significantly decreased in tissue biopsy specimens taken from PRP-treated patients. The expression of p53-positive apoptotic cells increased after AA + PRP but decreased after AA alone. Conclusion: Arthroscopic acromioplasty significantly improves long-term clinical outcomes up to 2 years. The coapplication of PRP did not affect clinical outcomes. PRP significantly alters the tissue characteristics in tendons after surgery with reduced cellularity and vascularity and increased levels of apoptosis. Clinical Relevance: The coapplication of PRP did not improve clinical outcomes and may have potential deleterious effects on healing tendons. Registry Number: ISRCTN 10464365
Development and Initial Evaluation of a Self-Report Form of the DSM–5 Level of Personality Functioning Scale

The DSM–5 presents an Alternative Model for Personality Disorder (AMPD) recommending the assessment of impairments in core personality functions as well as clinically relevant personality traits. Although a self-report assessment instrument has been provided corresponding to the trait model proposed in the AMPD, no comparable instrument provides a direct assessment of the specific indicators of core personality functions described in that model. The goal of this paper is to provide preliminary reliability and validity data for a measure that directly corresponds to core personality pathology as operationalized in the AMPD. Self-report questions were generated to capture each diagnostic indicator provided in the Level of Personality Functioning Scale, a clinician rating guide provided in the AMPD that describes characteristic impairments in identity, self-direction, empathy, and intimacy at 5 different levels of personality functioning. These questions were administered to a community sample of 306 participants, with the resulting scale examined for internal consistency, unidimensionality, and concurrent validity with 4 other self-report measures of global personality dysfunction. Items representing the 4 subcomponents of personality dysfunction were found to manifest high degrees of internal consistency, and were highly related to each other, supporting the AMPD contention that these core dysfunctions reflect a single dimension of personality dysfunction. Correlations with concurrent validity measures were large, with associations at the global level of dysfunction often exceeding . 80. The developed instrument is reprinted in the supplementary materials, with the goal of encouraging additional refinement and development by other investigators as part of the call for additional research on the AMPD.
Working Memory: The multiple-component model

FIVE CENTRAL FEATURES OF THE MODEL (1) According to our view, working memory comprises multiple specialized components of cognition that allow humans to comprehend and mentally represent their immediate environment, to retain information about their immediate past experience, to support the acquisition of new knowledge, to solve problems, and to formulate, relate, and act on current goals. (2) These specialized components include both a supervisory system (the central executive) and specialized temporary memory systems, including a phonologically based store (the phonological loop) and a visuospatial store (the visuospatial sketchpad). (3) The two specialized, temporary memory systems are used to actively maintain memory traces that overlap with those involved in perception via rehearsal mechanisms involved in speech production for the phonological loop and, possibly, preparations for action or image generation for the visuospatial sketchpad. (4) The central executive is involved in the control and regulation of the working memory system. It is considered to play various executive functions, such as coordinating the two slave systems, focusing and switching attention, and activating representations within longterm memory, but it is not involved in temporary storage. The central executive in principle may not be a unitary construct, and this issue is a main focus of current research within this framework. (5) This model is derived empirically from studies of healthy adults and children and of brain-damaged individuals, using a range of experimental methodologies. The model offers a useful framework to account for a wide range of empirical findings on working memory.