Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Physicians’ Experiences of Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) Orders in Hematology and Oncology Care – A Qualitative Study

Objective: In oncology and hematology care, a patient can have such a poor prognosis that cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for cardiac arrest is not considered feasible. The responsible physician can then decide to apply a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order, meaning that neither basic (heart compressions and ventilation) nor advanced (defibrillator or medicines) CPR should be performed. Previous research has found disagreement in relation to DNR decisions among physicians and nurses working in this field. The aim of the present study was to explore the experiences and perceptions of physicians with respect to DNR orders within hematology and oncology care, in order to better understand their specific roles in this decision-making process, with focus on the ethical aspects of the decisions. Methods: Individual interviews were performed with 16 physicians working in hematology and oncology departments at seven hospitals in Sweden. Data were analyzed using systematic text condensation (STC). Results: Two main parts of the data were discerned. The first described the physicians’ different roles in the team in relation to decisions on DNR, as decision maker, patient advocate and mediator for relatives and team member. In the second part the physicians shared their experiences of making ethically challenging decisions on DNR. The experiences ranged from feeling as though they were making themselves God, to regarding a DNR order as one regular medical decision among others. The physicians made decisions on CPR or DNR with the patient's best interests in mind, primarily on medical grounds. However, they also considered ethical aspects of the decision, weighing beneficence versus maleficence. Conclusion: The results indicate that DNR decisions in oncology and hematology care are not only taken on medical grounds, such as the prognosis of the disease and the expected survival after CPR, but also with reference to ethical values, such as patient autonomy and the quality of life after resuscitation.
Methanol mass poisoning in Estonia: Outbreak in 154 patients

Background. Knowledge of methanol toxicity is based on human data from case series and larger outbreaks. In many of these cases, however, diagnosis was not verified by methanol determinations. We present epidemiological and clinical data from one of the largest methanol outbreaks in which all patients had detectable serum methanol levels. Methods. Retrospective case series study of hospital and forensic charts from the five hospitals where patients were treated. Results. Of the 147 patients admitted with suspected methanol poisoning, the diagnosis was confirmed in 111, of whom 25 (23 %) died. In addition, 43 patients died outside the hospital, giving a total of 154 patients and a death toll of 68 (44 %). Outcome was related to the degree of metabolic acidosis, serum methanol concentration, coma upon admission, and the patient's ability to hyperventilate. Patients were treated with bicarbonate (85 %), ethanol (87 %), hemodialysis (71 %), and mechanical ventilation (61%) according to clinical features and blood gases, since serum methanol concentrations were analyzed retrospectively. Twenty patients (18 %) survived with permanent sequelae, 18 suffered from impaired vision, and 3 developed permanent brain damage. Discussion. Given limited resources, triage and use age of tertiary care centers allowed a small community hospital to treat a high number of methanol-poisoned patients. Critical resources were ventilators and dialyzing machines, whereas stores of antidote (ethanol) and bicarbonate were sufficient. Many patients were mechanically ventilated by hand and treated with bicarbonate and ethanol during transport to tertiary care centers for hemodialysis.
Large scale terrain visualization using the restricted quadtree triangulation

Real-time rendering of triangulated surfaces has attracted growing interest in the last few years. However, interactive visualization of very large scale grid digital elevation models is still difficult. The graphics load must be controlled by adaptive surface triangulation and by taking advantage of different levels of detail. Furthermore, management of the visible scene requires efficient access to the terrain database. We describe an all-in-one visualization system which integrates adaptive triangulation, dynamic scene management and spatial data handling. The triangulation model is based on the restricted quadtree triangulation. Furthermore, we present new algorithms of restricted quadtree triangulation. These include among others exact error approximation, progressive meshing, performance enhancements and spatial access.
Detection of design patterns from class diagram and sequence diagrams using ontology

This paper proposes an alternative scheme to detect design patterns in the early design stage. Both structural and behavioral designs primarily drawn in class diagram and its associated sequence diagrams are considered. Our detection approach exploits the knowledge base defined in ontology and the relevant inference rules to detect the design patterns. The Similar structural design patterns are effectively identified and exposed using ontology. In our approach, the target system design including a class diagram and its associated sequence diagrams are analyzed and translated into knowledge concepts in ontology in terms of RDF/OWL elements. The detection is performed by semantically searching our predefined knowledge base of the expected design patterns and their corresponding detecting inference rules through SWRL and SQWRL. The Protege tool is used to facilitate our demonstration. The design patterns are detected, and the set of the classes and their association are reported correctly.
Execution time of λ-terms via denotational semantics and intersection types

The multiset-based relational model of linear logic induces a semantics of the untyped λ-calculus, which corresponds with a non-idempotent intersection type system, System R. We prove that, in System R, the size of type derivations and the size of types are closely related to the execution time of λ-terms in a particular environment machine, Krivine's machine.
Chemical and nonchemical components of ventilation during hypercapnic exercise in man.

Nine young athletes performed treadmill exercise at average VO2 levels of 1.08, 1.78, 3.00, and 3.57 l/min while exposed to inspired PCO2 levels of 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 Torr. The average slope of the VE-PACO2 relationship increased significantly from 3.59 to 4.70 l.min-1.Torr-1 in the transition from rest to light exercise and then decreased progressively and significantly to 1.34 l.min-1.Torr-1 at the highest work load. A similar pattern of initial increased steepness followed by progressive flattening was found in the VT-PACO2, curves, whereas slopes of the f-PACO2 relationships continuously decreased in the transition from rest through light to heavy exercise. These data are consistent both with an increased ventilatory response to PACO2--[H+]a increments during light exercise and with progressive reduction of that response during the transition from light to heavy exercise in parallel with increasingly severe mechanical influences on VE as maximal limits are approached. They are not consistent with simple addition of chemical and nonchemical components of exercise hyperpnea at all levels of exercise.
LMOf2365_0442 Encoding for a Fructose Specific PTS Permease IIA May Be Required for Virulence in L. monocytogenes Strain F2365

Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen that causes listeriosis, which is a major public health concern due to the high fatality rate. LMOf2365_0442, 0443, and 0444 encode for fructose-specific EIIABC components of phosphotransferase transport system (PTS) permease that is responsible for sugar transport. In previous studies, in-frame deletion mutants of a putative fructose-specific PTS permease (LMOf2365_0442, 0443, and 0444) were constructed and analyzed. However, the virulence potential of these deletion mutants has not been studied. In this study, two in vitro methods were used to analyze the virulence potential of these L. monocytogenes deletion mutants. First, invasion assays were used to measure the invasion efficiencies to host cells using the human HT-29 cell line. Second, plaque forming assays were used to measure cell-to-cell spread in host cells. Our results showed that the deletion mutant ΔLMOf2365_0442 had reduced invasion and cell-to-cell spread efficiencies in human cell line compared to the parental strain LMOf2365, indicating that LMOf2365_0442 encoding for a fructose specific PTS permease IIA may be required for virulence in L. monocytogenes strain F2365. In addition, the gene expression levels of 15 virulence and stress-related genes were analyzed in the stationary phase cells of the deletion mutants using RT-PCR assays. Virulence-related gene expression levels were elevated in the deletion mutants ΔLMOf2365_0442-0444 compared to the wild type parental strain LMOf2365, indicating the down-regulation of virulence genes by this PTS permease in L. monocytogenes. Finally, stress-related gene clpC expression levels were also increased in all of the deletion mutants, suggesting the involvement of this PTS permease in stress response. Furthermore, these deletion mutants displayed the same pressure tolerance and the same capacity for biofilm formation compared to the wild-type parental strain LMOf2365. In summary, our findings suggest that the LMOf2365_0442 gene can be used as a potential target to develop inhibitors for new therapeutic and pathogen control strategies for public health.
The GCX System: Dynamic Buffer Minimization in Streaming XQuery Evaluation

In this demonstration, we present the main-memory based streaming XQuery engine GCX which implements novel buffer management strategies that combine static and dynamic analysis to keep main memory consumption low. Depending on the progress made in query evaluation, memory buffers are dynamically purged and minimized. In this demo, we show the various stages in evaluating a practical fragment of XQuery with GCX. We present the major steps in static analysis and demonstrate the mechanisms of dynamic buffer minimization. We apply our system to XML streams and demonstrate the significant impact of our approach on reducing main memory consumption and running time.
A Correlation Analysis Method for Power Systems Based on Random Matrix Theory

The operating status of power systems is influenced by growing varieties of factors, resulting from the developing sizes and complexity of power systems. In this situation, the model-based methods need to be revisited. A data-driven method, as the novel alternative on the other hand, is proposed in this paper. It reveals the correlations between the factors and the system status through statistical properties of data. An augmented matrix as the data source is the key trick for this method and is formulated by two parts: 1) status data as the basic part; and 2) factor data as the augmented part. The random matrix theory is applied as the mathematical framework. The linear eigenvalue statistics, such as the mean spectral radius, are defined to study data correlations through large random matrices. Compared with model-based methods, the proposed method is inspired by a pure statistical approach without a prior knowledge of operation and interaction mechanism models for power systems and factors. In general, this method is direct in analysis, robust against bad data, universal to various factors, and applicable for real-time analysis. A case study based on the standard IEEE 118-bus system validates the proposed method.
Disturbance on inhibitory control of reaching finger movement caused by transcranial magnetic stimulation

In the present report, we investigated the nature of the reaching finger movement after the stop signal accompanied with the transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of the primary motor cortex (M1) in order to elucidate the temporal function of M1 for the inhibitory control of the voluntary finger movement. The go-stop task of the index finger movement, which consisted of the no-TMS task and the TMS task with various stop signal delay (SSD) ranged from 0 to 450 ms in intervals of 50 ms, was performed. In the no-TMS task: the task with the stop signal without the TMS, the finger movement was able be stopped prior to the target when the SSD was shorter than 250 ms, whereas the finger did not stop prior to the target when the SSD was 250 ms and longer. However, in the TMS task: the task with the TMS at the moment of the stop signal, the distance and velocity of the finger movement with the short SSD were not different from those with the long SSD. The results indicate that the TMS of the M1 disturbs the inhibitory function of the M1 independently from the pre-programmed voluntary movement.
Improving Challenge/Skill Ratio in a Multimodal Interface by Simultaneously Adapting Game Difficulty and Haptic Assistance through Psychophysiological and Performance Feedback

In order to harmonize robotic devices with human beings, the robots should be able to perceive important psychosomatic impact triggered by emotional states such as frustration or boredom. This paper presents a new type of biocooperative control architecture, which acts toward improving the challenge/skill relation perceived by the user when interacting with a robotic multimodal interface in a cooperative scenario. In the first part of the paper, open-loop experiments revealed which physiological signals were optimal for inclusion in the feedback loop. These were heart rate, skin conductance level, and skin conductance response frequency. In the second part of the paper, the proposed controller, consisting of a biocooperative architecture with two degrees of freedom, simultaneously modulating game difficulty and haptic assistance through performance and psychophysiological feedback, is presented. With this setup, the perceived challenge can be modulated by means of the game difficulty and the perceived skill by means of the haptic assistance. A new metric (FlowIndex) is proposed to numerically quantify and visualize the challenge/skill relation. The results are contrasted with comparable previously published work and show that the new method afforded a higher FlowIndex (i.e., a superior challenge/skill relation) and an improved balance between augmented performance and user satisfaction (higher level of valence, i.e., a more enjoyable and satisfactory experience).
COMPARISON OF MEDIA AND A LIQUID DETERGENT EXTRACTION STEP ON BACTERIAL RECOVERY FROM ANIMAL FEEDS

The objective of this study was to evaluate the recovery of Tryptic soy agar (TSA) or low nutrient R2 bacterial populations from fresh feeds and animal feeds held in long-term cold storage after extraction with a detergent-based solution combined with repeated centrifugation. Repeated centrifugation after exposure to a detergent-based solution resulted in recoveries generally no more than 10% of the microbial population in the original feed. Feed heterotrophic populations were significantly correlated (P<0.01) with total aerobic populations enumerated from the feed and feed extracts, as well as heterotrophic populations from feed extracts. Similarly, TSA bacterial populations from feed were significantly correlated with TSA populations from extracts.
OPEN, LAPAROSCOPIC, AND ROBOTIC-ASSISTED HEPATECTOMY IN RESECTION OF LIVER TUMORS: A NON-SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

ABSTRACT Introduction: Several factors have made hepatectomy an increasingly safe surgery and new drugs allowed surgical treatment for patients who initially were not candidates for resection. Lesions often require resection, which can be performed by open, laparoscopic, or robotic assisted hepatectomy. Aim: Compare the surgical techniques in open, laparoscopic, and robotic assisted hepatectomy for resection of liver tumors. Methods: Literature review based on scientific papers published on Lilacs/Pubmed/Scielo in the last 17 years regarding the indications of these techniques for liver tumor resections and on papers comparing such techniques. Results: The comparative study shows the benefits of laparoscopic surgery over open surgery, such as smaller incisions, less postoperative pain, shorter recovery time, smaller immune and metabolic response, and quicker restoration of oral ingestion as well as lower morbidity rates. However, the need for a specialized surgical team and the reduction in handling area still remain as disadvantages in the laparoscopic technique. It is yet not clear whether robotic assistance presents considerable benefits over the laparoscopic technique considering that high acquisition and maintenance costs are limiting factors. Conclusion: Despite all challenges, laparoscopic hepatectomy presents many benefits over open surgery. The robotic assisted technique is still in evolution as many centers in the world perform hepatic resections with the platforms but only after a thorough patient selection. Thus, laparoscopy stands as the best option, unless there is some contraindication to the procedure.
Development of a targeted nanoscale drug delivery system using pH-responsive DNA-nanoparticle conjugate

Cancer is one of the most devastating diseases facing society, accounting for some 8 millions deaths worldwide in 2008 alone, and, more alarmingly, the number is predicted to increase to 13.1 million in 2030. Although conventional cancer treatments, such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy, have provided profound beneficial effects for millions of cancer patients, serious side effects cannot be avoided, mostly due to the lack of specific targeting of these treatments. A long-term goal for the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries is to develop intelligent drug delivery systems that can selectively target and deliver drugs specifically to tumour region, to maximize their therapeutic index and reduce side-effects. Nanotechnology, the “next Industrial Revolution”, offers the possibility of developing new materials, structures, devices and systems at the atomic and molecular levels that have significantly improved physicochemical properties. One of the most exciting developments in nanotechnology is that of nanoscale drug delivery systems, which are expected to change the landscape of pharmaceutics in the near future. These innovative nanoscale drug delivery systems are capable of improving transcytosis of drugs across tight epithelial and endothelial barriers, targeting drugs to cell- or tissue-specific sites and delivering macromolecule drugs to intracellular sites of action. Inspired by such promise, this project aims to combine a pH-responsive DNA nanomachine with a biocompatible gold nanoparticle (GNP) to develop a new nanoscale tumour-targeting drug delivery system. Doxrubicin (DOX), a model anticancer drug, can bind to the system quickly and efficiently, and be released in a pH-responsive manner. This system is further modified by polyethylene glycol (PEG) for improved stability and stealth effect. Thus it has the potential to act as an excellent drug carrier. Preliminary cellular studies reveal that this system is able to deliver DOX to model (HeLa) cancer cells through the endocytic pathway, and that its cell-killing efficiency is comparable to that of the drug on its own. Furthermore, targeting ligands can be attached to this type of system for active targeting, and other functioning inorganic nanoparticles (i.e. gold nanorods and gold-coated magnetic nanoparticles) can also be used to replace the GNP as scaffold. This should allow the development of a multifunctional drug delivery system with the potential to offer more effective multi-modal therapeutic and imaging modalities.
Different Options for Dispersion Free Steering in the CLIC Main Linac

Sophisticated beam-based alignment is essential in future linear colliders to preserve the beam emittance during the transport through the main linac. One such method is dispersion free steering. In this paper different options to implement this method are discussed, based on the use of different accelerating gradients, RF phases and bunch particle types during a beam pulse.
Failure detection in assembly: Force signature analysis

This paper addresses failure detection in automated parts assembly, using the force signature captured during the contact phase of the assembly process. We use a supervised learning approach, specifically a Support Vector Machine (SVM), to distinguish between successful and failed assemblies. This paper describes our implementation and experimental results obtained with an electronic assembly application. We also analyze the tradeoff between system accuracy and number of training examples. We show that a less expensive sensor (a single-axis load cell instead of a six-axis force/torque sensor) provides enough information to detect failure. Finally, we use Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to compress the force signature and as a result reduce the number of examples required to train the system.
Brain Neurotransmission during Peripheral Inflammation a

Abstract: It is now well established that an inflammatory challenge as evoked by bacterial endotoxin (LPS) induces autonomic, endocrine, and behavioral responses that are controlled by the brain. However, detailed information on the neuronal pathways and neurotransmitters involved is scarce. We used in vivo microdialysis and biotelemetry in rats to monitor hippocampal and preoptic serotonergic and noradrenergic neurotransmission, body temperature, and heart rate after an i.p. LPS injection. Moreover, free corticosterone levels were measured in the dialysates, and behavioral activity was scored by visual observation. Apart from a biphasic fever response, tachycardia, elevated free corticosterone levels, and sickness behavior, peripheral injection of LPS caused a dramatic increase in preoptic extracellular concentrations of noradrenaline, but no effect on serotonin in this structure. The increase in preoptic noradrenaline levels appears to underlie the first fever phase and may participate in hypothalamic‐pituitary‐drenocorticul axis activation. In contrast, whereas LPS had only a moderate effect on hippocampal noradrenaline, a marked increase in hippocampal extracellular serotonin levels was found. Use of the interleukin (IL)‐1 receptor antagonist and the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacine learned that IL‐1 and prostaglandins are mediators in this response. Our data show that an endotoxin challenge results in highly differentiated changes in brain neurotransmission, probably subserving the coordinate processing of immune information in circuits involved in autonomic, neuroendocrine, and behavioral regulation.