Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pilot Study of iPad Incorporation Into Graduate Medical Education.

BACKGROUND Increased documentation and charting requirements are challenging for residents, given duty hour limits. Use of mobile electronic devices may help residents complete these tasks efficiently. OBJECTIVE To collect initial data on usage rates, information technology (IT) support requirements, and resident use of iPads during training. METHODS In this pilot study, we provided 12 residents/fellows from various specialties at the University of Virginia with an iPad with IT support. The system used a virtual private network with access to the institution's electronic health record. Participants were allowed to develop their own methods and systems for personalized iPad use, and after 9 months they provided data on the utility of the iPad. Feedback from the IT team also was obtained. RESULTS Average iPad use was 2.1 h/d (range, 0.5-6 h/d). The average self-reported reduction in administrative work due to the iPad was 2.7 h/wk (range, 0-9 h/wk). A total of 75% (9 of 12) of the users would recommend universal adoption among residents and fellows. More than 90% (11 of 12) of users reported the iPad would improve communication for coordination of care. A total of 68% (8 of 12) of users reported that an iPad facilitated their activities as educators of medical students and junior residents. Residents cited slow data entry into the electronic health record and hospital areas lacking Wi-Fi connectivity as potential drawbacks to iPad use. The IT team reported minimal support time for device setup, maintenance, and upgrades, and limited security risks. CONCLUSIONS The iPad may contribute to increased clinical efficiency, reduced hours spent on administrative tasks, and enhanced educational opportunities for residents, with minimal IT support.
Gate fidelity and coherence of an electron spin in an Si/SiGe quantum dot with micromagnet

Significance A quantum computer is able to solve certain problems that cannot be solved by a classical computer within a reasonable time. The building block of a quantum computer is called a quantum bit (qubit), the counterpart of the conventional binary digit (bit). A qubit unavoidably interacts with its environment, leading to errors in the qubit state. This article reports on the qubit performance of an electron spin in a silicon/silicon-germanium (Si/SiGe) quantum dot, and examines the dominant error mechanisms. We demonstrate that this qubit can be electrically controlled with sufficient accuracy so that remaining errors could, in principle, be corrected using known protocols, even without isotopically purified silicon. This qubit also offers a quantum memory that lasts for almost 0.5 ms. The gate fidelity and the coherence time of a quantum bit (qubit) are important benchmarks for quantum computation. We construct a qubit using a single electron spin in an Si/SiGe quantum dot and control it electrically via an artificial spin-orbit field from a micromagnet. We measure an average single-qubit gate fidelity of ∼99% using randomized benchmarking, which is consistent with dephasing from the slowly evolving nuclear spins in the substrate. The coherence time measured using dynamical decoupling extends up to ∼400 μs for 128 decoupling pulses, with no sign of saturation. We find evidence that the coherence time is limited by noise in the 10-kHz to 1-MHz range, possibly because charge noise affects the spin via the micromagnet gradient. This work shows that an electron spin in an Si/SiGe quantum dot is a good candidate for quantum information processing as well as for a quantum memory, even without isotopic purification.
Weighted Normal Spatial Scan Statistic for Heterogeneous Population Data

In geographical spatial epidemiology and disease surveillance, all the existing spatial scan methods for cluster detection using continuous data are designed for evaluating clusters of individuals and analyzing individual-level data. Motivated by growing demands to study the spatial heterogeneity of continuous measures in population data, such as mortality rates, survival rates, average body mass indexes and pollution at state, county, and census tract levels, we propose a weighted normal scan statistic for investigating the clusters of the cells (geographic units such as counties) with unusual high/low continuous regional measures, where the weights reflect the uncertainty of the regional measures or sample size (number of observed cases) in the cells. Power, precision, the effect of the weights, and the sensitivity of the proposed test statistic to data from various distributions are investigated through intensive simulation. The method is applied to 1988–2002 stage I and II lung cancer survival data in Los Angeles County in order to search for clusters of geographic units with high/low survival rates in a short-term/long-term survival after diagnosis, and to 1999–2003 breast cancer age-adjusted mortality rate data in the U.S. collected by the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program in order to evaluate the clustering pattern of counties with high mortality rate. The proposed method is included in the latest release of the SaTScan software (www.satscan.org).
Clinical, histological and genetic characterisation of patients with tubular aggregate myopathy caused by mutations in STIM1

Background Tubular aggregate myopathies (TAMs) are muscle disorders characterised by abnormal accumulations of densely packed single-walled or double-walled membrane tubules in muscle fibres. Recently, STIM1, encoding a major calcium sensor of the endoplasmic reticulum, was identified as a TAM gene. Methods The present study aims to define the clinical, histological and ultrastructural phenotype of tubular aggregate myopathy and to assess the STIM1 mutation spectrum. Results We describe six new TAM families harbouring one known and four novel STIM1 mutations. All identified mutations are heterozygous missense mutations affecting highly conserved amino acids in the calcium-binding EF-hand domains, demonstrating the presence of a mutation hot spot for TAM. We show that the mutations induce constitutive STIM1 clustering, strongly suggesting that calcium sensing and consequently calcium homoeostasis is impaired. Histological and ultrastructural analyses define a common picture with tubular aggregates labelled with Gomori trichrome and Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) tetrazolium reductase, substantiating their endoplasmic reticulum origin. The aggregates were observed in both fibre types and were often accompanied by nuclear internalisation and fibre size variability. The phenotypical spectrum ranged from childhood onset progressive muscle weakness and elevated creatine kinase levels to adult-onset myalgia without muscle weakness and normal CK levels. Conclusions The present study expands the phenotypical spectrum of STIM1-related tubular aggregate myopathy. STIM1 should therefore be considered for patients with tubular aggregate myopathies involving either muscle weakness or myalgia as the first and predominant clinical sign.
Sensitivity analysis and empirical optimization of cross-domain coupling on RFICs using polynomial chaos expansion

This work aims at investigating the variability of internal coupling mechanisms between different domains of a Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit (RFIC). In doing so, an Equivalent Circuit Model (ECM) is used in order to model the various coupling paths. First, the elements of the ECM are assumed to be uniformly distributed and their exact values therefore not fully known. Afterwards, the impact of theses uncertainties on the cross-domain transfer function, i.e. the coupling from the digital domain – the aggressor – into the other more sensitive domains – the victims – is analyzed using Polynomial Chaos Expansion (PCE) in combination with a sampling-based technique known as Stochastic Testing (ST). This approach intends to account for not accurately known configurations of the RFIC and package. In addition, the PCE representation allows for conducting sensitivity analysis through the derivation of conditional variances, i.e. Sobol indices, and sensitivities. PCE in combination with ST offers an efficient way to analyze the coupling effects. Finally, an improved version of the original design is proposed using an empirical optimization approach based on the techniques described above.
The effect of prophylactic topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitors in canine primary closed-angle glaucoma.

OBJECTIVES To determine the effect of 1% brinzolamide, 2% dorzolamide hydrochloride or combination 2% dorzolamide hydrochloride/0 · 5% timolol to delay the elevation of the intraocular pressure in second eyes of dogs with primary closed-angle glaucoma. METHODS Analysis of retrospectively collated data from 40 dogs with primary closed-angle glaucoma, where the non-affected eye was treated prophylactically with brinzolamide (n = 10), dorzolamide (n = 18) or combination dorzolamide/timolol therapy (n = 12). RESULTS The 40 treated dogs (median age of 76 · 2 months) comprised 25 females/15 males, 19 entire/21 neutered. Twenty dogs developed glaucoma in the contralateral eye (median time of 9 · 2 months). No statistically significant difference was identified during treatment failure between the treatment groups (P = 0 · 66). The second eye remained normotensive in 20 dogs; four dogs until the conclusion of the study (median: 27 · 0 months), three dogs until death (median: 15 · 4 months), seven dogs until lost to follow-up (median: 11 · 6 months). Out of these 20 dogs, treatment was discontinued because of lack of owner compliance in two dogs and following a local drug reaction in four dogs (median: 8 · 9 months). CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE There was no evidence that the tested drugs delayed elevation of intraocular pressure in contralateral eyes of dogs with primary closed-angle glaucoma.
Food price volatility and its consequences: introduction

Commodity prices are in the news. Oil prices have dropped 65% since June 2014. Metal prices are also down substantially, albeit they have declined more gradually since 2011 on account of slower growth from emerging markets that account for more than half of global metal consumption. In this special issue, we focus on food prices, which have in many ways a wider impact than oil prices. While international food prices are also down (see Fig. 1), this might not be all good news for consumers. One key difference between food and other commodities is that the share of food production that is effectively exported is relatively small. In other words, most food production is consumed domestically. This implies that international food prices may not translate closely into domestic food prices. Just how important are the links between international and domestic prices is a central theme in this special issue. Several papers in the issue deal with this question by documenting the ‘weak links’ between international and domestic food prices. For example, Furceri et al. present econometric evidence of very limited pass-through both in advanced and emerging markets. The median long-term pass-through of a 1% food price shock to domestic food prices is 0.18% in advanced economies and 0.34% in emerging economies. They argue that as a significant fraction of domestic food production is consumed domestically, it is domestic agricultural and weather conditions that are the more influential, rather than global market developments. Other factors behind the incomplete pass-through include the significant local component in the production of food, including market structure, taxes, and subsidies. Coping with (domestic) food price fluctuations is indeed high on the minds of people and policy makers. The ‘weak links’ between international and domestic prices ensure that we need to understand the sources of food price volatility within countries. In that vein, this special issue devotes considerable space to the understanding of the dynamic of domestic prices, including the emergence of bubbles (Araujo Bonjean and Simonet) and seasonality (Kaminski et al.). The potential importance of high domestic food prices is shown by their possible linkage to riots (van Weezel) and the impact of seasonality on poverty outcomes. While many of the papers in this special issue have as their policy background the food prices hikes over the period 2008–11, longer-term policy issues are important. Food prices remain volatile and weather conditions are creating mounting challenges for many countries around the world, particularly in Africa and Asia. Ethiopia is experiencing one of the worst droughts in decades. Strikingly, the two main rainy seasons supply over 80% of
Regulation of hydrogen sulfide liberation in wine-producing Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains by assimilable nitrogen

Saccharomyces cerevisiae wine-producing yeast cultures grown under model winemaking conditions could be induced to liberate hydrogen sulfide (H2S) by starvation for assimilable nitrogen. The amount of H2S produced was dependent on the yeast strain, the sulfur precursor compound, the culture growth rate, and the activity of the sulfite reductase enzyme (EC 1.8.1.2) immediately before nitrogen depletion. Increased H2S formation relative to its utilization by metabolism was not a consequence of a de novo synthesis of sulfite reductase. The greatest amount of H2S was produced when nitrogen became depleted during the exponential phase of growth or during growth on amino acids capable of supporting short doubling times. Both sulfate and sulfite were able to act as substrates for the generation of H2S in the absence of assimilable nitrogen; however, sulfate reduction was tightly regulated, leading to limited H2S liberation, whereas sulfite reduction appeared to be uncontrolled. In addition to ammonium, most amino acids were able to suppress the liberation of excess H2S when added as sole sources of nitrogen, particularly for one of the strains studied. Cysteine was the most notable exception, inducing the liberation of H2S at levels exceeding that of the nitrogen-depleted control. Threonine and proline also proved to be poor substitutes for ammonium. These data suggest that any compound that can efficiently generate sulfide-binding nitrogenous precursors of organic sulfur compounds will prevent the liberation of excess H2S.
Multiple hepatocyte-enriched nuclear factors function in the regulation of transthyretin and alpha 1-antitrypsin genes

Transthyretin (TTR) and alpha 1-antitrypsin (alpha 1-AT) are expressed at high levels in the liver and also in at least one other cell type. We report here a detailed analysis of the proximal regulatory region of the TTR gene, which has uncovered two new DNA-binding factors that are present mainly (or only) in hepatocytes. One of these new factors, hepatocyte nuclear factor 3 (HNF-3), binds to two sites that are crucial in TTR expression as well as to two additional sites in the alpha 1-AT proximal enhancer region. The second new factor, HNF-4, binds to two sites in TTR that are required for gene activity. We had previously identified binding sites for another hepatocyte-enriched DNA-binding protein (C/EBP or a relative thereof), and additional promoter-proximal sites for that protein in both TTR and alpha 1-AT are also reported here. From these results it seems clear that cell-specific expression is not simply the result of a single cell-specific factor for each gene but the result of a combination of such factors. The variation and distribution of such factors among different cell types could be an important basis for the coordinate expression of the TTR and alpha 1-AT genes in the liver or the discordant transcriptional activation of these genes in a few other cell types. The identification of such cell-enriched factors is a necessary prelude to understanding the basis for cell specificity.
Effect of Helicobacter pylori infection on fibrinogen level in elderly patients with ischaemic heart disease

Background — Fibrinogen is an important risk factor for ischaemic heart disease (IHD)1 and an elevated fibrinogen level has been reported in younger patients infected with Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection2,3. However, the effect of Helicobacter pylori infection on fibrinogen level in elderly population with IHD is not known. Also in particular the effect on fibrinogen with eradication of Helicobacter pylori has not been previously reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of H pylori on fibrinogen levels in elderly patients with IHD and to assess the effect of eradication therapy on fibrinogen levels. Patients and methods — Forty patients over the age of 65 years presenting with symptomatic IHD and an age-matched control group of 21 patients were studied.The 14-C urea breath test was used for detecting H pylori infection. Patients found to be H pylori positive were treated with omeprazole 40 mg daily and amoxicillin 500 mg three times daily for 14 days. Fibrinogen concentration was measured at the beginning of treatment and repeated at 4 weeks after completion of treatment along with the urea breath test in those tested positive for H pylori and fibrinogen level was repeated at 6 weeks in the H pylori negative patients. Results — The prevalence of H pylori infection was 19/40 (47.5%) in the IHD group and 9/21 (42.8%) in the control group. The median serum fibrinogen level was 4.34 g/l (3.73-6.04 i.q. range) in H Pylori positive patients and 4.86 g/l (3.58-6.11 i.q. range) in H Pylori negative patients in both the IHD and age-matched control group, with no significant difference between the two groups, p=0.78 (Mann-Whitney test). In the IHD group 27/40 (67.5%) had a fibrinogen level > 4.0 g/l compared to 11/21 (52.3%) in the control group.The median fibrinogen level decreased significantly from 5.75g/l (i.q. range 4.39-6.71) to 4.41 g/l (i.q. range 3.80-6.06) after eradication treatment of H pylori in patients with raised fibrinogen levels (p < 0.01). Conclusion — The presence of H Pylori infection did not correlate with the presence of IHD, and the fibrinogen level was not raised in the IHD group.However, in elderly patients with H pylori infection, eradication therapy lowered fibrinogen levels in those with elevated (> 4.0 g/l) fibrinogen level.
Laparoscopic Choledochotomy in Management of Choledocholithiasis

Purpose Laparoscopic choledochotomy on patients indicated for common bile duct exploration was carried out according to an algorithm for managing choledocholithiasis. This study describes retrospectively our method and evaluates a new cystic duct biliary decompression cannula (J-tube) as an alternative to the T-tube. Methods Patients with confirmed choledocholithiasis (n=46) underwent laparoscopic choledochotomy. The T-tube was inserted in cases with suspected retained stones after common bile duct clearance, and the J-tube (950-mm long, 4 Fr) with a tapered and J-shaped segment at the distal end was inserted in other cases. Results Only 1 case was converted to open surgery (success rate, 97.8%); the J-tube was inserted in 30 patients and the T-tube in 15. The median operation time, hospital stay, and the interval until removal of the tube were significantly shorter with J-tube than with T-tube cases. Bile leakage after surgery occurred in 4 J-tube and 2 T-tube cases with one residual stone in each case. Conclusions The transcystic decompression tube is easily and safely inserted with the J-kit. Among several strategies currently available for the management of choledocholithiasis, laparoscopic choledochotomy with the use of the J-tube is one of the safest and most feasible methods.
Effect of a Comprehensive Total Parenteral Nutrition Training Program on Knowledge and Practice of Nurses in NICU.

BACKGROUND Parenteral nutrition is a lifesaving therapy for many infants who are unable to tolerate enteral feedings. It fulfils preterm neonates' needs for growth and development when their sizes or conditions preclude enteral feeding. Virtuous nursing care and close biochemical monitoring are absolutely essential for successful parenteral nutrition therapy. Since poor knowledge in parenteral nutrition can causes severe impairment to neonatal infants, the conduction of this study is essential. AIMS The present study aims to: (1) examine the knowledge and practice of nurses in total parenteral nutrition (TPN); (2) employ training programs for improving knowledge and practice in management of TPN in new-borns. METHOD A quasi-experimental study was carried out in Sarem Maternity Hospital in Tehran, Iran. The study population included nurses working in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) who were included in the study using headcount census method (n=30). A two-part questionnaire including demographic information; 20 multiple choice questions on the nurses' knowledge of TPN therapy and 19-item 3-point Likert-type checklist on administration of TPN completed by observing the nurses' practice. To examine the reliability of the practice part, Cronbach's alpha method was used (α=0.78). Study interventions were mentoring education by the researcher and researcher-developed training manual and educational video and guidelines about neonatal parenteral nutrition. Before and after intervention data were collected and compared using paired t-test. RESULTS The mean scores of nurses' knowledge before and afterward parenteral nutrition (PN) training program were 11.93±1.91 and 17.56±1.59, respectively. The mean scores of the nurses' practice earlier and after training program were 38.84±2.96 and 40.15±3.02, respectively. Comparing the mean scores of the nurses' familiarity, before and after taking the training course, demonstrated a significant difference (p<0.0001). The knowledge of the nurses in all areas of parenteral nutrition prescription was significantly improved after the employment of mentoring method (p<0.05). Despite an increase in the post-intervention total score, the nurses' practice, before and after, the intervention was not statistically significant (p<0.05). CONCLUSION There is a breach between nursing knowledge and practice in prescribing parenteral nutrition. The gap between knowledge and practice in this area can lead to more morbidity and negative influences on the infant. Therefore, it is required that the gap between knowledge and practice is known as the infant gets less damage.