Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparative Effectiveness of Pain Management Interventions for Hip Fracture: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND Pain management is integral to the management of hip fracture. PURPOSE To review the benefits and harms of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions for managing pain after hip fracture. DATA SOURCES 25 electronic databases (January 1990 to December 2010), gray literature, trial registries, and reference lists, with no language restrictions. STUDY SELECTION Multiple reviewers independently and in duplicate screened 9357 citations to identify randomized, controlled trials (RCTs); nonrandomized, controlled trials (non-RCTs); and cohort studies of pain management techniques in older adults after acute hip fracture. DATA EXTRACTION Independent, duplicate data extraction and quality assessment were conducted, with discrepancies resolved by consensus or a third reviewer. Data extracted included study characteristics, inclusion and exclusion criteria, participant characteristics, interventions, and outcomes. DATA SYNTHESIS 83 unique studies (64 RCTs, 5 non-RCTs, and 14 cohort studies) were included that addressed nerve blockade (n = 32), spinal anesthesia (n = 30), systemic analgesia (n = 3), traction (n = 11), multimodal pain management (n = 2), neurostimulation (n = 2), rehabilitation (n = 1), and complementary and alternative medicine (n = 2). Overall, moderate evidence suggests that nerve blockades are effective for relieving acute pain and reducing delirium. Low-level evidence suggests that preoperative traction does not reduce acute pain. Evidence was insufficient on the benefits and harms of most interventions, including spinal anesthesia, systemic analgesia, multimodal pain management, acupressure, relaxation therapy, transcutaneous electrical neurostimulation, and physical therapy regimens, in managing acute pain. LIMITATIONS No studies evaluated outcomes of chronic pain or exclusively examined participants from nursing homes or with cognitive impairment. Systemic analgesics (narcotics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) were understudied during the search period. CONCLUSION Nerve blockade seems to be effective in reducing acute pain after hip fracture. Sparse data preclude firm conclusions about the relative benefits or harms of many other pain management interventions for patients with hip fracture. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
Erythrocytes, leukocytes and platelets as a source of oxidative stress in chronic vascular diseases: Detoxifying mechanisms and potential therapeutic options

Summary Oxidative stress is involved in the chronic pathological vascular remodelling of both abdominal aortic aneurysm and occlusive atherosclerosis. Red blood cells (RBCs), leukocytes and platelets present in both, aneurysmal intraluminal thrombus and intraplaque haemorraghes, could be involved in the redox imbalance inside diseased arterial tissues. RBCs haemolysis may release the pro-oxidant haemoglobin (Hb), which transfers heme to tissue and low-density lipoproteins. Heme-iron potentiates molecular, cell and tissue toxicity mediated by leukocytes and other sources of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Polymorphonuclear neutrophils release myeloperoxidase and, along with activated platelets, produce superoxide mediated by NADPH oxidase, causing oxidative damage. In response to this pro-oxidant milieu, several anti-oxidant molecules of plasma or cell origin can prevent ROS production. Free Hb binds to haptoglobin (Hp) and once Hp-Hb complex is endocytosed by CD163, liberated heme is converted into less toxic compounds by heme oxygenase-1. Iron homeostasis is mainly regulated by transferrin, which transports ferric ions to other cells. Transferrin-bound iron is internalised via endocytosis mediated by transferrin receptor. Once inside the cell, iron is mainly stored by ferritin. Other non hemo-iron related antioxidant enzymes (e.g. superoxide dismutase, catalase, thioredoxin and peroxiredoxin) are also involved in redox modulation in vascular remodelling. Oxidative stress is a main determinant of chronic pathological remodelling of the arterial wall, partially linked to the presence of RBCs, leukocytes, platelets and oxidised fibrin within tissue and to the imbalance between pro-/anti-oxidant molecules. Understanding the complex mechanisms underlying redox imbalance could help to define novel potential targets to decrease atherothrombotic risk.
Cancer statistics, 2012

Each year, the American Cancer Society estimates the numbers of new cancer cases and deaths expected in the United States in the current year and compiles the most recent data on cancer incidence, mortality, and survival based on incidence data from the National Cancer Institute, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries and mortality data from the National Center for Health Statistics. A total of 1,638,910 new cancer cases and 577,190 deaths from cancer are projected to occur in the United States in 2012. During the most recent 5 years for which there are data (2004‐2008), overall cancer incidence rates declined slightly in men (by 0.6% per year) and were stable in women, while cancer death rates decreased by 1.8% per year in men and by 1.6% per year in women. Over the past 10 years of available data (1999‐2008), cancer death rates have declined by more than 1% per year in men and women of every racial/ethnic group with the exception of American Indians/Alaska Natives, among whom rates have remained stable. The most rapid declines in death rates occurred among African American and Hispanic men (2.4% and 2.3% per year, respectively). Death rates continue to decline for all 4 major cancer sites (lung, colorectum, breast, and prostate), with lung cancer accounting for almost 40% of the total decline in men and breast cancer accounting for 34% of the total decline in women. The reduction in overall cancer death rates since 1990 in men and 1991 in women translates to the avoidance of about 1,024,400 deaths from cancer. Further progress can be accelerated by applying existing cancer control knowledge across all segments of the population, with an emphasis on those groups in the lowest socioeconomic bracket. CA Cancer J Clin 2012. © 2012 American Cancer Society.
A middle option for choices in the Continuous Opinions and Discrete Actions model

Modeling the conditions for the emergence of extremism is a very important problem, with clear applications for describing the interaction among individuals. Traditional models either are not suited for the task, as in the case of discrete models, or, like Bounded Confidence models, are built with rules that make opinions tend to a common ground between agents or not change at all. Continuous Opinions and Discrete Actions (CODA) model allowed us to observe the emergence of extremist agents, even when every agent was initially a moderate, due to local influence effects. In this paper, the problem of emergence of extremism will be addressed by introducing a middle discrete option in the CODA model, making it similar to a Potts model. Different scenarios for the third option will be discussed: when it is equivalent to withholding judgment, when it is a real third option and when it is a real, middle option. The effects on the opinions will be studied and its effects on extremism discussed. Withholding judgment seems to have an unexpected effect, causing the diminishing of moderate opinions in the long run. For a central third opinion, we find that, under specific conditions, this new choice can act as a buffer between the extreme choices.
Recognition in India’s new service professions: gym trainers and coffee baristas

ABSTRACT How do employees in “new services”, such as coffee baristas and gym trainers in India, see their jobs? In this paper, we build on extensive fieldwork in gyms and coffee chains that cater to the emerging Indian middle classes. Our research highlights the importance of respect and recognition in making service interactions more meaningful for new service workers. Generally hailing from the lower middle classes, new service work offers important opportunities to interact with and learn from English-speaking upper middle-class customers and clients. Besides the opportunity to interact and learn, the acknowledgement they receive for their skills and (bodily) accomplishments make such professions attractive as well. Even if this holds the potential for upward socioeconomic mobility, our findings also point at the resilience of social hierarchies. Drawing on literature on service interactions and new middle-class formation in India, this paper provides important insight into how young Indians navigate and negotiate the opportunities and pitfalls that come with the country's changing socioeconomic landscape.
Strategies for the Fault-Tolerant Current Control of a Five-Phase Permanent-Magnet Motor

This paper deals with the postfault current control strategies of a five-phase permanent-magnet (PM) motor. The analysis covers both the open circuit of one and two phases and the short circuit at the machine terminal of one phase. The proposed control guarantees safe drive operation after any fault occurrence. For the sake of generality, an analytical model has been used to investigate the properties of each postfault strategy. The results are general, and they apply to PM motor of any power rating. Simulations and experimental results validate the theoretical predictions.
Mutual Fund Flows, Expected Returns, and the Real Economy

The paper explores whether the co-movement of market returns and equity fund flows can be explained by a common response to macroeconomic news. I find that variables that predict the real economy as well as the equity premium are related to mutual fund flows. Changes in dividend-price ratio explain mutual fund flows beyond the information contained in returns. Further predictive variables such as default spread, relative T-Bill rate and, in particular consumption-wealth ratio also explain mutual fund flows. Mutual fund flows are, in accordance with the information-response hypothesis, forward-looking and predict real economic activity.
The Role of Triple- and Quadruple-Play Bundles: Hedonic Price Analysis and Industry Performance in France, the United Kingdom and the United States

Communication providers may use bundles of different services (fixed telephony, broadband, pay-television, mobile services) to leverage market power or increase switching costs for consumers, but also as an efficient way to allocate fixed costs across services, reduce offer complexity and provide unified billing and innovative features. Bundles are increasingly important and raise challenges for regulators and policy makers. While the economic literature has extensively addressed bundling, the literature on hedonic price analysis for communication services is relatively limited, and builds on previous applications exploring the relationship between prices and the bundle’s features for automobiles, personal computers or houses (OECD, 2006). The present paper includes two main exercises to show the potential implications of communication bundles for consumer choice and industry performance. First, it estimates a hedonic price function for triple- and quadruple-play communication bundles of the largest operators in France, United Kingdom and the United States. Second, it explores relationship between bundling penetration and firm-level industry performance data (revenues, profits, etc.) in these countries.Section 1 includes a hedonic price analysis model using OLS econometric analysis of 300 offers (April 2014) from 15 operators in France, the United Kingdom and the United States (including standalone, double-, triple- and quadruple-play offers). The collected variables include service price per month, download speed, contract length, data allowance, TV quality index, fixed calls, and mobile plan features. As a novel approach, the quality of the television content has been modeled using an index that takes into account premium content, such as sports and movies, and the number of channels.Section 2 explores the relationship between bundle penetration and firm performance by using a panel of quarterly financial variables from 2010 to 2014 of 13 communication operators. The explanatory variables used in the regression analysis include revenues, profits (EBIT/EBITDA), investment and market share, controlling for country and time fixed effects. As expected, triple-play bundling is more predominant in France than in the United States or the United Kingdom, other factors being equal. Furthermore, the results show that, while revenues (operator’s size) have a very minor (positive) effect on triple-play bundling penetration, investment and market shares prove statistically significant (the former displaying a positive effect, whereas the latter a negative impact on bundling). Nevertheless, given the caveats identified in the dataset and potential endogeneity problems, these results are deemed only exploratory and need to be considered with caution.
LCA Study of Oleaginous Bioenergy Chains in a Mediterranean Environment

This paper reports outcomes of life cycle assessments (LCAs) of three different oleaginous bioenergy chains (oilseed rape, Ethiopian mustard and cardoon) under Southern Europe conditions. Accurate data on field practices previously collected during a three-year study at two sites were used. The vegetable oil produced by oleaginous seeds was used for power generation in medium-speed diesel engines while the crop residues were used in steam power plants. For each bioenergy chain, the environmental impact related to cultivation, transportation of agricultural products and industrial conversion for power generation was evaluated by calculating cumulative energy demand, acidification potential and global warming potential. For all three bioenergy chains, the results of the LCA study show a considerable saving of primary energy (from 70 to 86 GJ·ha −1 ) and greenhouse gas emissions (from 4.1 to 5.2 t CO 2 ·ha −1 ) in comparison to power generation from fossil fuels, although the acidification potential of these bioenergy chains may be twice that of conventional power generation. In addition, the study highlights that land use changes due to the cultivation of the abovementioned crops reduce soil organic content and therefore worsen and increase greenhouse gas emissions for all three bioenergy chains. The study also demonstrates that the exploitation of crop residues for energy production greatly contributes to managing environmental impact of the three bioenergy chains.
Gravitational Waves from Axisymmetric, Rotating Stellar Core Collapse

We have carried out an extensive set of two-dimensional, axisymmetric, purely hydrodynamic calculations of rotational stellar core collapse with a realistic, finite-temperature nuclear equation of state and realistic massive star progenitor models. For each of the total number of 72 different simulations we performed, the gravitational wave signature was extracted via the quadrupole formula in the slow-motion, weak-field approximation. We investigate the consequences of variation in the initial ratio of rotational kinetic energy to gravitational potential energy and in the initial degree of differential rotation. Furthermore, we include in our model suite progenitors from recent evolutionary calculations that take into account the effects of rotation and magnetic torques. For each model, we calculate gravitational radiation waveforms, characteristic wave strain spectra, energy spectra, final rotational profiles, and total radiated energy. In addition, we compare our model signals with the anticipated sensitivities of the first- and second-generation LIGO detectors coming on line. We find that most of our models are detectable by LIGO from anywhere in the Milky Way.
Epigenetic mechanisms of induced pluripotency

Reprogramming of somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) requires profound alterations in the epigenetic landscape. During reprogramming, a change in chromatin structure resets the gene expression and stabilises self-renewal. Reprogramming is a highly inefficient process, in part due to multiple epigenetic barriers. Although many epigenetic factors have already been shown to affect self-renewal and pluripotency in embryonic stem cells (ESCs), only a few of them have been examined in the context of dedifferentiation. In order to improve current protocols of iPSCs generation, it is essential to identify epigenetic drivers and blockages of somatic cell reprogramming.
Not All Executive Functions Are Related to Intelligence

Accumulating evidence suggests that executive functions (EFs) are related to intelligence, despite neuropsychological results initially considered evidence of no such relation. However, findings that EFs are not unitary raise the issue of how intelligence relates to different EFs. This study examined the relations of fluid and crystallized intelligence and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale IQ to three separable EFs—inhibiting prepotent responses (inhibiting), shifting mental sets (shifting), and updating working memory (updating)—in young adults. Updating was highly correlated with the intelligence measures, but inhibiting and shifting were not. Furthermore, in structural equation models controlling for the inter-EF correlations, updating remained strongly related to intelligence, but the relations of inhibiting and shifting to intelligence were small and not significant. The results indicate that intelligence measures differentially relate to these three EFs, suggesting that current intelligence measures do not equally assess a wide range of executive control abilities likely required for many “intelligent” behaviors.
Early development in segmenting word forms : rhythmic units, vowels and then consonants

Since words are rarely produced in isolation, one of the first steps in acquiring new words is to segment them from continuous speech. Transitional probabilities (Saffran et al., 1996) and rhythmic units (Nazzi et al., 2006) have been proposed to be crucial at segmentation onset. Segmented word forms will then have to be stored as phonetically-specified representations for future recognition. However, Nespor et al. (2003) hypothesized that consonants, more than vowels, are involved at the lexical level, proposing a consonant bias in early word processing.The first part of my dissertation investigates preterm and full-term infants' segmentation abilities to determine when they emerge and to what extent rhythmic units are involved. The second part investigates the emergence and origin of the consonant bias in recognizing segmented word forms with full-term infants. Results show that (1) both preterm and full-term 6-month-olds are able to segment speech by using syllabic units; (2) French-learning infants switch from a vowel bias at 6 months to an adult-like consonant bias in recognizing segmented word forms; (3) the consonant bias emerging between 6 and 8 months of age, it would result from the processing and learning of the acoustic/phonetic properties on the language being acquired.
PET-based dose delivery verification in proton therapy: a GATE based simulation study of five PET system designs in clinical conditions

PET is a promising technique for in vivo treatment verification in hadrontherapy. Three main PET geometries dedicated to in-beam treatment monitoring have been proposed in the literature: the dual-head PET geometry, the OpenPET geometry and the slanted-closed ring geometry. The aim of this work is to characterize the performance of two of these dedicated PET detectors in realistic clinical conditions. Several configurations of the dual-head PET and OpenPET systems were simulated using GATE v6.2. For the dual-head configuration, two aperture angles (15° and 45°) were studied. For the OpenPET system, two gaps between rings were investigated (110 and 160 mm). A full-ring PET system was also simulated as a reference. After preliminary evaluation of the sensitivity and spatial resolution using a Derenzo phantom, a real small-field head and neck treatment plan was simulated, with and without introducing patient displacements. No wash-out was taken into account. 3D maps of the annihilation photon locations were deduced from the PET data acquired right after the treatment session (5 min acquisition) using a dedicated OS-EM reconstruction algorithm. Detection sensitivity at the center of the field-of-view (FOV) varied from 5.2% (45° dual-head system) to 7.0% (full-ring PET). The dual-head systems had a more uniform efficiency within the FOV than the OpenPET systems. The spatial resolution strongly depended on the location within the FOV for the ϕ = 45° dual-head system and for the two OpenPET systems. All investigated architectures identified the magnitude of mispositioning introduced in the simulations within a 1.5 mm accuracy. The variability on the estimated mispositionings was less than 2 mm for all PET systems.
Climate Change and the Future of California's Endemic Flora

The flora of California, a global biodiversity hotspot, includes 2387 endemic plant taxa. With anticipated climate change, we project that up to 66% will experience >80% reductions in range size within a century. These results are comparable with other studies of fewer species or just samples of a region's endemics. Projected reductions depend on the magnitude of future emissions and on the ability of species to disperse from their current locations. California's varied terrain could cause species to move in very different directions, breaking up present-day floras. However, our projections also identify regions where species undergoing severe range reductions may persist. Protecting these potential future refugia and facilitating species dispersal will be essential to maintain biodiversity in the face of climate change.
Kiloampere and microsecond electron beams from ferroelectric cathodes

We report experimental results of the operation of two ferroelectric cathodes of relatively large size. The first cathode had a diameter of 10.2 cm and was built in the Pierce cathode geometry by Integrated Applied Physics (IAP). It achieved emission currents of up to 1.2 kA (15.3 A/cm/sup 2/) at voltages up to 100 kV, in 150 ns pulses. The second cathode had an annular shape with a diameter of 11.4 cm and a width of 0.25 cm. It was built at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to produce an annular electron beam for use in a Gyrotron microwave source. It operated at currents of up to 10 A (1.1 A/cm/sup 2/) at 8 kV, in 5 /spl mu/s pulses. Detailed operating characteristics for each of these electron sources are reported. These results indicate that ferroelectric cathodes can be used to produce electron beams of large area and size, with high total operating current and pulse lengths of several microseconds. These sources should be suitable for use in future microwave generation experiments.