Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lower bound based DDD minimization for efficient symbolic circuit analysis

The determinant decision diagram (DDD) is a variant of binary decision diagrams (BDDs) for representing symbolic matrix determinants and cofactors in symbolic circuit analysis. Inspired by the ideas of Rudell (1993) and Drechsler et al. (2001) on BDD minimization, we present a lower-bound based sifting algorithm for reordering the DDD vertices to minimize the DDD size. Our contributions are (1) an adaptation of Rudell's sifting technique for DDD minimization with new rules for determining vertex signs, and (2) tighter lower bounds developed specifically for DDDs. On a set of DDD examples from symbolic circuit analysis, experimental results have demonstrated that the proposed lower-bound based reordering algorithm can effectively reduce DDD sizes. It has also been demonstrated that sifting with lower bounds uses about 50% less computation compared to sifting without using lower bounds, and sifting with the new lower bounds reduces the computation further by up to 8% compared to sifting with Drechsler's lower bounds for BDDs.
Chemical Classification of the Essential Oils of the Iranian Salvia Species in Comparison with Their Botanical Taxonomy

The essential oils of eight Salvia species collected from different localities in Iran were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The analytical results were compared with those previously published for related Iranian sage species in order to identify chemical markers for these species. Salvia eremophila, S. hypoleuca, and S. reuteriana are endemic, while S. atropatana, S. chloroleuca, S. santolinifolia, S. aegyptiaca, and S. macrosiphon also grow wild in neighboring countries. We categorized the Iranian Salvia species into four main chemotypes according to their essential‐oil constituents: those which are dominated by 1) monoterpenes, 2) mono‐ and sesquiterpenes, or 3) sesquiterpenes as the major constituents, and 4) those containing low‐molecular‐weight acids, aldehydes, and esters, and green‐leaf volatiles (GLVs). Likely due to the chemical diversity of different Salvia chemotypes, this categorization was supported by principal component analysis (PCA) for the group sampled here, but not for the values reported in the literature. We identified the following chemical markers: α‐pinene, β‐pinene, 1,8‐cineol, linalool, and borneol in monoterpene‐rich species, or β‐caryophyllene, germacrene D, bicyclogermacrene, spathulenol, and caryophyllene oxide in sesquiterpene‐rich species. Among these, α‐pinene, β‐caryophyllene, and germacrene D are the most common and abundant in the Salvia species investigated. In accordance with their close biological taxonomy, the chemical similarity of the essential oils of S. santolinifolia and S. eremophila is so high that we may consider them chemically identical.
Cost‐effectiveness of targeted and tailored interventions on colorectal cancer screening use

Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening is cost‐effective but underused. The objective of this study was to determine the cost‐effectiveness of targeted and tailored behavioral interventions to increase CRC screening use by conducting an economic analysis associated with a randomized trial among patients in a large, racially and ethnically diverse, urban family practice in Philadelphia.
Synthesis, structure, and structure‐activity relationships of divalent thrombin inhibitors containing an α‐keto‐amide transition‐state mimetic

A new class of divalent thrombin inhibitors is described that contains an α‐keto‐amide transition‐state mimetic linking an active site binding group and a group that binds to the fibrinogen‐binding exosite. The X‐ray crystallographic structure of the most potent member of this new class, CVS995, shows many features in common with other divalent thrombin inhibitors and clearly defines the transition‐state‐like binding of the α‐keto‐amide group. The structure of the active site part of the inhibitor shows a network of water molecules connecting both the side‐chain and backbone atoms of thrombin and the inhibitor. Direct peptide analogues of the new transition‐state‐containing divalent thrombin inhibitors were compared using in vitro assays of thrombin inhibition. There was no direct correlation between the binding constants of the peptides and their α‐keto‐amide counterparts. The most potent cv‐keto‐amide inhibitor, CVS995, with a Ki = 1 pM, did not correspond to the most potent divalent peptide and contained a single amino acid deletion in the exosite binding region with respect to the equivalent region of the natural thrombin inhibitor hirudin. The interaction energies of the active site, transition state, and exosite binding regions of these new divalent thrombin inhibitors are not additive.
Psychometric properties of the Blood Donation Reactions Inventory: a subjective measure of presyncopal reactions to blood donation

BACKGROUND: Presyncopal reactions are among the most common systemic reactions experienced by blood donors, occur most frequently in novice donors, and can serve as a deterrent to future donation regardless of donation experience. This report describes the validation of a presyncopal reactions scale that can be used to standardize assessment of the donor's subjective experience.
Paneth cells and innate mucosal immunity

Purpose of review Recent evidence shows that disruption of Paneth cell homeostasis by induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress or autophagy, with consequent apoptosis, contributes to inflammation and morbidity in a variety of experimental mouse models. Recent findings Recent advances show that proinflammatory mediators in Paneth cell dense core secretory granules mediate tumor necrosis factor-α-induced shock, that Paneth cell α-defensins modulate the composition of the small intestinal microflora, that development of crypt organoid culture systems provides a novel means for investigating the crypt microenvironment, and that varied genetic defects that disrupt Paneth cell homeostasis are emergent as risk factors in inflammatory bowel disease. Summary This recent literature identifies Paneth cells as particularly sensitive targets of endoplasmic reticulum stress responses and implicates this unique small intestinal lineage in inflammatory bowel disease pathogenesis resulting from diverse heritable and environmental causes.
Minimum Wage and the Labor Market: What Can We Learn from the French Experience?

Since it was introduced in 1950, and even more since it was reformed in 1970, the statutory minimum wage has been playing a key role in the French labor market. It has very specific fixing mechanisms, and from the eighties, it has been one of the highest among the OECD countries - both in relative and absolute terms. After presenting the specific features of the minimum wage setting regime in France as well as the minimum wage policies implemented since the 1950s, we provide a comprehensive survey of existing empirical evidence on the impacts of the minimum wage on the French labor market. We use a meta-analysis to draw the lessons from the empirical studies on its effects on employment. We also survey the other potential effects, such as the impact on wage bargaining and other wages, on inequalities, on profit and prices, on working conditions.
Expression of Th1 and Th2 Cytokine and Associated Transcription Factors in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells and Correlation with Disease Severity.

BACKGROUND Psoriasis is a T cell-mediated autoimmune disease in patients with elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines belonging mainly to the Th1 pathway. We investigated whether treatment of psoriasis patients with methotrexate (MTX), along with micronutrients, modulated mRNA expression of Th1 and Th2 components and whether expression of these components correlated with psoriasis severity. METHODS Thirty plaque-type psoriasis patients with Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores greater than 10 were recruited; these were 15 non-micronutrients taking- (NMT) patients treated with MTX daily (0.2-0.3 mg/kg/week), and 15 micronutrients taking- (MT) patients treated with MTX plus a micronutrient supplement daily, for 12 weeks. Blood samples were collected immediately before treatment (baseline) and after 12 weeks of treatment. Taqman quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was applied to analyze the expression of the Th1 components T-bet, interleukin-12 (IL-12), and interferon-gamma (IFN-Υ), and the Th2 components GATA-3 and interleukin-4 (IL-4). Disease severity was measured using the PASI scoring system. RESULTS Significant clinical improvement in the MT group coincided with significant down-regulation of Th1 and up-regulation of Th2 markers (P<0.05). With respect to the PASI-75, (defined as a 75% or greater reduction in the PASI score) cut-off point, expression of IFN-γ in the MT group with PASI scores above 75 was significantly less than that of patients in the NMT group (P=0.05). Also, GATA3 and IL-4 mRNA expression in the MT group with PASI scores greater than above 75 was significantly greater than that of patients in the NMT group (P=0.05 and 0.04, respectively). CONCLUSION Based on significant attenuation of the PASI score, which correlated with upregulation of Th2 pathway markers in the MT group, we recommend administration of micronutrients combined with MTX for psoriasis patients. Our results contribute to a better understanding of methotrexate immunepathogenesis mechanisms and their correlations to clinical responses in psoriasis.
Poor sleep and altered hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical and sympatho-adrenal-medullary system activity in children.

CONTEXT Neuroendocrine alterations, with well-known links with health, may offer insight into why poor sleep is associated with poor health. Yet, studies testing associations between sleep and neuroendocrine activity in children are scarce. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine whether actigraphy-based sleep pattern is associated with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis and sympatho-adrenal-medullary system activity in children. DESIGN AND SETTING We conducted a cross-sectional study in a birth cohort in Helsinki, Finland. PARTICIPANTS We studied 282 8-yr-old children. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES We measured diurnal salivary cortisol and salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase (a sympatho-adrenal-medullary system marker) responses to the Trier Social Stress Test for Children (TSST-C). RESULTS Children with short (<or=7.7 h) vs. average sleep duration (7.8-9.3 h) displayed higher cortisol awakening response and nadir (P < 0.042). Those with low (<or=77.4%) vs. average-high sleep efficiency (>77.4%) displayed higher diurnal cortisol levels across the entire day (P < 0.03), higher cortisol levels after the TSST-C stressor (P < 0.04), and higher overall alpha-amylase levels across the entire TSST-C protocol (P < 0.05). The effects were not confounded by factors that may alter sleep or hormonal patterns. CONCLUSIONS Poor sleep may signal altered neuroendocrine functioning in children. The findings may offer insight into the pathways linking poor sleep with poor health.
Moderators of the intention-behaviour relationship in the physical activity domain: a systematic review

Intention is theorised as the proximal determinant of behaviour in many leading theories and yet intention-behaviour discord is prevalent. The purpose of this review was to retrieve, theme and appraise the variables that have been evaluated as the potential moderators of the intention-behaviour relationship in the physical activity (PA) domain. Eligible studies were selected from English peer-reviewed journals and had to report an empirical test of moderation of intention-PA (I-PA) with a third variable. Fifty-seven studies passed the inclusion criteria and these represented 38 different potential moderators of I-PA. Intention stability proved to be the most consistent moderator of I-PA, suggesting that much of the discordance may be from motivational flux between initial intention and eventual behaviour. Anticipated regret and conscientiousness also had evidence as the moderators of I-PA. Perceived control/self-efficacy, planning, extraversion, habit and environmental proximity to recreation showed some evidence for moderation, while gender, agreeableness, openness, body mass index and ethnicity did not appear to moderate I-PA. The findings demonstrate that traditional intention theories may need augmentation to better account for the evidence present in I-PA discordance.
Infection management and multidrug-resistant organisms in nursing home residents with advanced dementia.

IMPORTANCE Infection management in advanced dementia has important implications for (1) providing high-quality care to patients near the end of life and (2) minimizing the public health threat posed by the emergence of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Prospective cohort study of 362 residents with advanced dementia and their health care proxies in 35 Boston area nursing homes for up to 12 months. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Data were collected to characterize suspected infections, use of antimicrobial agents (antimicrobials), clinician counseling of proxies about antimicrobials, proxy preference for the goals of care, and colonization with MDROs (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant enterococci, and multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria). Main outcomes were (1) proportion of suspected infections treated with antimicrobials that met minimum clinical criteria to initiate antimicrobial treatment based on consensus guidelines and (2) cumulative incidence of MDRO acquisition among noncolonized residents at baseline. RESULTS The cohort experienced 496 suspected infections; 72.4% were treated with antimicrobials, most commonly quinolones (39.8%) and third- or fourth-generation cephalosporins (20.6%). At baseline, 94.8% of proxies stated that comfort was the primary goal of care, and 37.8% received counseling from clinicians about antimicrobial use. Minimum clinical criteria supporting antimicrobial treatment initiation were present for 44.0% of treated episodes and were more likely when proxies were counseled about antimicrobial use (adjusted odds ratio, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.08-1.86) and when the infection source was not the urinary tract (referent). Among noncolonized residents at baseline, the cumulative incidence of MDRO acquisition at 1 year was 48%. Acquisition was associated with exposure (>1 day) to quinolones (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR], 1.89; 95% CI, 1.28-2.81) and third- or fourth-generation cephalosporins (AHR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.04-2.40). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Antimicrobials are prescribed for most suspected infections in advanced dementia but often in the absence of minimum clinical criteria to support their use. Colonization with MDROs is extensive in nursing homes and is associated with exposure to quinolones and third- and fourth-generation cephalosporins. A more judicious approach to infection management may reduce unnecessary treatment in these frail patients, who most often have comfort as their primary goal of care, and the public health threat of MDRO emergence.
Postoperative Adhesions: From Formation to Prevention

Postoperative intra-abdominal and pelvic adhesions are the leading cause of infertility, chronic pelvic pain, and intestinal obstruction. It is generally considered that some people are more prone to develop postoperative adhesions than are others. Unfortunately, there is no available marker to predict the occurrence or the extent and severity of adhesions preoperatively. Ischemia has been thought to be the most important insult that leads to adhesion development. Furthermore, a deficient, suppressed, or overwhelmed natural immune system has been proposed as an underlying mechanism in adhesion development. The type of surgical approach (laparoscopy or laparotomy) and closure of peritoneum in gynecologic surgeries and cesarean section have been debated as important factors that influence the development and extent of postoperative adhesions. In this article, we have reviewed the current state of adhesion development and the effects of barrier agents in prevention of postoperative adhesions.
In the spiral of mistrust: On the decline of public trust in Czech journalists

This paper analyses the change of public trust in journalists in the Czech Republic and investigates the main characteristics of mistrusting audiences. Comparative analysis based on two representative surveys of Czech population reveals that public trust in journalists declined by a third between 2004 and 2016. Mistrust is on the rise especially among: (a) socio-economically deprived media consumers (b) with leftist political orientation c) belonging to the youngest cohort. The analysis also indicates a split of ideal-typical image of a journalist as a highly educated advocate of socially vulnerable groups, and suggests the return of perception of journalists as establishment representatives which prevailed during the previous "real socialist" regime.
Pain Assessment of Subcutaneous Injections

OBJECTIVE: To compare injection pain after subcutaneous administration of four different solution volumes. DESIGN: Double-blind, randomized, prospective, multiple crossover study. SETTING: Steno Diabetes Centre, Gentofte, Denmark. PARTICIPANTS: Eighteen healthy volunteers, 9 women and 9 men, aged 21-30 years. METHODS: The subjects were injected with four different volumes (0.2, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 mL) of NaCl 0.9%. The study was performed on 2 days with a 1-week washout period between the study days. On each study day the subjects received four injections in each thigh. To evaluate the validity of our pain assessing model the subjects received eight injections of 0.5 mL on one of the study days. Pain assessment was done immediately after each injection using both a 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS) and a six-item verbal rating scale (VRS). RESULTS: A significant difference in pain score on both the VAS (p < 0.05) and the VRS (p < 0.01) was seen between the four injection volumes. The pain was significantly increased with volumes of 1.0 and 1.5 mL. No significant difference in injection pain could be detected between 0.2 and 0.5 mL and between 1.0 and 1.5 mL. No significant period or carryover effect could be detected in the study. A significant correlation between the pain score on the VAS and the pain score on the VRS was found (r = 0.79, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The pain of a subcutaneous injection is related to injection volume in the thigh. The results show that increasing the volume from 0.5 to 1.0 mL increases the pain significantly. The findings from this study should be considered when injection preparations for subcutaneous administration are formulated. The volume should generally be less than 1.0 mL if injected into the thigh.
Distress in Patients With Acute Leukemia: A Concept Analysis

Background: Patients with acute leukemia (AL) require immediate and aggressive inpatient treatment that results in many weeks to months of hospitalization. Thus, it is not surprising that distress has been found in as many as 45.5% of patients. Although distress is a regularly reported outcome measure in clinical research, currently, there is a lack of a clear, consistent, and universal definition of this concept. Objective: The purposes of this article were to examine the current state of the science surrounding the concept of distress and to propose a model of distress for patients with AL. Interventions/Methods: The Walker and Avant framework was used to guide the analysis of the concept of distress in patients with AL. The findings from this analysis were then used to generate a model guided by the current science. Results: Distress in AL is generally accepted as multidimensional, quantifiable, subjective, and temporal. Antecedents to distress include demographics, intrinsic factors, social support, disease progression, treatment, and communication. Consequences to distress include decreased quality of life, patient outcomes, as well as the severity of physical and psychological symptoms. Conclusions: Distress is an outcome measure that is frequently assessed and reported within the literature. The operationalization of distress varies by investigator, limiting its generalizability. Implications for Practice: The proposed conceptual model may be used to guide further research on distress in patients with AL at high risk for negative outcomes. Improved understanding of patient distress may guide interventions aimed at managing the psychosocial needs for patients receiving treatment for AL.
Cortical control of postural balance in patients with hemiplegic stroke

Despite its remarkable effect on the activities of daily living, the precise mechanism underlying balance control after stroke remains to be elucidated. In this study, we investigated the cortical activation induced by postural perturbation in 20 patients with stroke using a 50-channel event-related functional near-infrared spectroscopy. A combination of brisk forward and backward movements of a platform without any prior cue was used as an external postural perturbation. Multi-participant analysis of oxygenated hemoglobin signals showed postural perturbation-related cortical activation in the prefrontal cortical areas in both hemispheres as well as the premotor and parietal association cortical areas in the unaffected hemisphere. Regression analysis using the individual Berg Balance Scale as the regressor showed a significant positive correlation between balance ability and the postural perturbation-related changes in oxygenated hemoglobin signals in the supplementary motor areas and prefrontal cortical areas in both hemispheres. Consistent with the previous findings in healthy participants, these findings suggest that the broad cortical network, including the prefrontal, premotor, supplementary motor, and parietal cortical areas in both hemispheres, was essential for balance control even in poststroke patients.
Corporate governance index and firm performance: empirical evidence from Indian banking

Owing to globalisation the quality of corporate governance (CG) system has become an important factor for a firm's survival. The problem is more critical when banks are taken into consideration because of their important role in the economy. In this study the corporate governance index (CGI) has been constructed to measure the level of implementation of good governance practices and to verify whether the banks performed better with regard to that. The scores of overall CG indices and sub index are analysed using non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test and OLS regression method. The level of compliance is analysed among public and private listed banks in India. The results show that CGI is significantly and positively associated with financial performance of banks measured by return on assets, Tobin's Q and economic value added. Moreover, banks indeed would have a good incentive to voluntarily improve their governance standards as it benefits them in terms of performance.