Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ultrasound Monitoring and Age sonographic Characteristics of Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Children

The aim of the investigation was to study ultrasound semiotics of community-acquired pneumonias in children of different age, and its dynamics in the course of treatment. Materials and Methods. Pneumonia semiotics study and dynamic monitoring of the disease have been carried out on the basis of chest ultrasound of 154 children divided into 4 age groups: 14 infants (9.1%) from birth to 3 months; 60 children (39.0%) from 3 months to 3 years of age; 49 children (31.8%) from 4 to 7 years of age; 31 children (20.1%) from 7 to 18 years of age. During the hospital stay the children underwent ultrasound at least three times: on admission to determine pneumonia volume and localization; on day 3–5 or day 5–7 to assess the dynamics of sonographic picture and the necessity of etiotropic therapy change; before discharge to evaluate residual effects and determine the follow-up strategy. ultrasound revealed zones of airness impairment of various size in the pulmonary tissue of all children. Pneumonia semiotics presented extensive and lobar forms of pneumonia. An extensive type occupies a segment or a lobe, and looks like a delta-shaped air-free area with fuzzy contours and heterogeneous structure, with an air echobronchogram, and occurs in children of older age. lobar pneumonia presents small rounded subpleural infiltrate up to 15 mm with a homogeneous hypoechogenic structure, and is typical of newborns and younger children. The size and echostructure of apneumatic (air-free) area were the assessment criteria of pneumonia regression. Conclusion. Chest ultrasound is an informative radiologically safe technique for diagnosing and dynamic control of pneumonia in children of different age, which enables timely assessment of etiotropic therapy efficacy.
Experimental methodology for power characterization of FPGAs

This paper presents an experimental methodology for power characterization of FPGAs. The approach provides a good trade-off among characterization time, cost and accuracy. Our solution is based on the use of an embedded power integrator built upon a low cost controller that provides accumulated power data over fixed time periods. Experimental results have shown suitability of the proposed methodology for different power characterization scenarios.
A modern Cinderella story: a comparison of viewer responses to interactive vs linear narrative in solitary and co-viewing settings

Interactive narratives are increasingly technologically possible and are expected to become an everyday form of entertainment, but for now actual implementations are rare. This 2 × 2 experiment compared dyadic (co-viewing) vs solitary emotional reactions watching either a linear or an interactive version of a seven-minute digital video narrative, Modern Cinderella. Eighty subjects were randomly assigned to each of the four conditions. People who watched the interactive version of Modern Cinderella reported higher enjoyment than those who watched the linear version. Story involvement, arousal and connection were not different across conditions. Those who experienced the interactive version were enthusiastic about being able to make choices. Interactive narratives appear to fall in-between high and low involvement. Co-viewing of the interactive narrative was different to solitary viewing. Those watching with another person thought less carefully about the choices and paid less attention. Solitary viewers were the more curious.
THE POPULATION OF PROPELLERS IN SATURN'S A RING

We present an extensive data set of ∼150 localized features from Cassini images of Saturn's A ring, a third of which are demonstrated to be persistent by their appearance in multiple images, and half of which are resolved well enough to reveal a characteristic “propeller” shape. We interpret these features as the signatures of small moonlets embedded within the ring, with diameters between 40 and 500 m. The lack of significant brightening at high phase angle indicates that they are likely composed primarily of macroscopic particles, rather than dust. With the exception of two features found exterior to the Encke Gap, these objects are concentrated entirely within three narrow (∼1000 km) bands in the mid-A ring that happen to be free from local disturbances from strong density waves. However, other nearby regions are similarly free of major disturbances but contain no propellers. It is unclear whether these bands are due to specific events in which a parent body or bodies broke up into the current moonlets, or whether a larger initial moonlet population has been sculpted into bands by other ring processes.
Cognitive impairment differs between primary progressive and relapsing-remitting MS

Objectives: To characterize the cognitive abilities of patients with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) and relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) compared with healthy controls (HCs) matched for age, sex, and education level while considering the different characteristics of PPMS and RRMS and to compare the cognitive patterns of these types of multiple sclerosis. Methods: Forty-one patients with PPMS, 60 patients with RRMS, and 415 HCs were recruited in a cross-sectional study. Controls were divided into 20 groups according to age, sex, and education level. Participants were assessed with a large battery of neuropsychological (NP) tests that included a modified version of the Brief Repeatable Battery, the Stroop test, computerized tests from the Test of Attentional Performance battery, the numerical span test, and the Rey Complex Figure. Results: Patients with PPMS performed worse than their matched HCs on nearly all NP tests. Patients with RRMS performed worse than matched HCs on a computerized digit-symbol substitution task and the alertness test, reaction time for visual scanning, and Paced-Auditory Serial Addition Test-3 seconds. Patients with PPMS had worse NP scores and were more impaired in cognitive domains than patients with RRMS. After controlling for Expanded Disability Status Scale score, the results remained unchanged. Conclusion: The patients with PPMS presented with a wide range of cognitive deficits in information processing speed, attention, working memory, executive function, and verbal episodic memory, whereas the impairments in patients with RRMS were limited to information processing speed and working memory compared with their matched HCs. Cognitive deficits were more severe in patients with PPMS than in patients with RRMS.
Adult Male Victims of Sexual Assault: An Underdiagnosed Condition

The records of 28 male victims of sexual assault were analysed retrospectively. The mean age at time of assault was 21.7 years and the mean number of assailants was 2.8. Sixteen victims (57%) reported skin or mucosal damage and 25 (89%) sustained penetrative anal intercourse. The threat of transmission of HIV was used by the assailant in 16 cases and sexually transmitted diseases, presumed consequent upon the attack, were found in 5 (18%). These observations suggest that male victims of sexual assault may be at particular risk of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, and that efforts should be made to encourage them to come forward for help.
Engaging nurses in governing hospitals and health systems.

DRAMATIC DEVELOPMENTS are taking place in the healthcare field. There is alarm at the national, state, and local levels about the persistent increase in healthcare costs and a growing consensus that this pattern is unsustainable. At the same time, a series of landmark reports by the Institute of Medicine and other organizations have demonstrated clearly that the overall quality of patient care provided by our nation’s hospitals and health systems is uneven and needs to be improved.1,2 The public’s awareness of nationwide problems with respect to access, cost, and quality of healthcare services is growing. With that awareness is coming the dissatisfaction with healthcare providers and a growing public demand for change. These developments—in concert with highly visible governance breakdowns in both investor-owned and nonprofit organizations and closer governmental scrutiny—have led to a spotlight being placed on the boards that govern our nation’s hospitals and health systems. Across the country, there is a growing call for more accountability, greater
Hepatoprotective activity of Ficus religiosa leaves against isoniazid+rifampicin and paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity

Background: The present study was designed to investigate the hepato protective effect of methanolic extract of Ficus religisoa L. , Moraceae, on isoniazid-rifampicin and paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Materials and Methods: Male Wistar albino rats were divided into six groups; group 1 served as a control received vehicle (Distilled water), group 2 served as a toxic control, received isoniazid-rifampicin (100 mg/ kg, i.p.) or paracetamol 200mg/kg, p.o in sterile water, groups 3, 4 and 5 received 100, 200 and 300mg/kg bw, p.o. methanolic extract of F. religisoa along with INH+RIF or paracetamol and group 6 received Liv 52 as reference standard. All the treatment protocols followed 21 days for INH+RIF model and seven days for paracetamol model, after treatment rats were sacrificed and blood was used for biochemical and liver was used for histological studies. Results: Administration of INH+RIF and paracetamol caused a significant elevation in the levels of liver marker enzymes (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (P < 0.001) in experimental rats. Administration of methanolic extracts of F. religisoa significantly prevented isoniazid-rifampicin and paracetamol induced elevation in the levels of serum diagnostic liver marker enzymes and TBARS level in experimental groups of rats. Moreover, total protein and reduced glutathione levels were significantly (P < 0.001) increased in treatment group. The effect of extract was compared with a standard drug, Liv 52. The changes in biochemical parameters were supported by histological profile. Conclusion: The methanolic extract of F. religisoa protects against isoniazid- rifampicin and paracetamol induced oxidative liver injury in rats.
Declining sperm quality in New Zealand over 20 years.

AIM To investigate whether semen quality has changed in New Zealand over the last 20 years. METHOD A retrospective study from 1987 to 2007. The sperm concentration, volume of seminal fluid, and the percentage of motile sperm were analysed from the first semen sample of 975 men presenting as sperm donors in Auckland and Wellington. RESULTS Linear regression showed that the mean concentration of sperm decreased from 110 x 10(6) per millilitre in 1987 to 50 x 10(6) per millilitre in 2007 (p<0.001); an average reduction of 2.5% annually. The volume of semen also fell significantly from 3.7 ml to 3.3 ml (p<0.001). There was no concomitant change in the duration of abstinence. CONCLUSION The decline in semen volume and sperm concentration in men presenting as sperm donors may indicate a reduction in the semen quality of New Zealand men over the past 20 years.
Hybrid Limits of Continuous Time Markov Chains

We consider the behaviour of sequences of Continuous Time Markov Chains (CTMC) based models of systems of interacting entities, for increasing population levels, in situations when some transitions of the system have rates that are discontinuous functions. This can happen, for instance, in presence of guarded actions. In this setting, standard deterministic approximation results do not apply. However, one can still derive a differential equation by syntactic means, de facto defining an hybrid (piecewise-smooth) dynamical system. We prove that the sequence of CTMC converges to the trajectories of this hybrid dynamical system, under (mild) regularity conditions on these limit trajectories.
Performance Recovery of Silicon-Avalanche- Photodiode Electron Detector by Low-Temperature Annealing

We report that the silicon avalanche photodiode (APD) for electron detection almost fully recovers from the damage caused by electron irradiation by annealing. With the electron irradiation at an energy of 8 keV, a prominent increase of the non-amplified component of the dark current was observed, and the gain and energy resolution for APD were significantly lowered. Upon annealing at 500 K for 10 h, the dark current was reduced and the gain and energy resolution were recovered. We also show that the dark current of APD depends on the material of the surface protection layer. The origin of the degradation and recovery is discussed.
Does the generalist parasitic plant Cuscuta campestris selectively forage in heterogeneous plant communities

Summary • Cuscuta spp. are holoparasitic plants that can simultaneously parasitise several host plants. It has been suggested that Cuscuta has evolved a foraging strategy based on a positive relationship between preuptake investment and subsequent reward on different host species. • Here, we establish reliable parasite size measures and show that parasitism on individuals of different host species alters the biomass of C. campestris, but that, within host species size and age, also contributes to the heterogeneous resource landscape. • We then performed two additional experiments to test whether C. campestris achieves greater resource acquisition by parasitising two host species rather than one and, whether C. campestris forages in communities of hosts offering different rewards (a choice experiment). • There was no evidence in either experiment for direct benefits of a mixed host diet. Cuscuta campestris foraged by parasitising the most rewarding hosts the fastest and then investing the most on them. We conclude that our data present strong evidence for foraging in the parasitic plant C. campestris.
The counter‐propagating Rossby‐wave perspective on baroclinic instability. Part IV: Nonlinear life cycles

Pairs of counter‐propagating Rossby waves (CRWs) can be used to describe baroclinic instability in linearized primitive‐equation dynamics, employing simple propagation and interaction mechanisms at only two locations in the meridional plane—the CRW ‘home‐bases’. Here, it is shown how some CRW properties are remarkably robust as a growing baroclinic wave develops nonlinearly. For example, the phase difference between upper‐level and lower‐level waves in potential‐vorticity contours, defined initially at the home‐bases of the CRWs, remains almost constant throughout baroclinic wave life cycles, despite the occurrence of frontogenesis and Rossby‐wave breaking. As the lower wave saturates nonlinearly the whole baroclinic wave changes phase speed from that of the normal mode to that of the self‐induced phase speed of the upper CRW. On zonal jets without surface meridional shear, this must always act to slow the baroclinic wave. The direction of wave breaking when a basic state has surface meridional shear can be anticipated because the displacement structures of CRWs tend to be coherent along surfaces of constant basic‐state angular velocity, U. This results in up‐gradient horizontal momentum fluxes for baroclinically growing disturbances. The momentum flux acts to shift the jet meridionally in the direction of the increasing surface U, so that the upper CRW breaks in the same direction as occurred at low levels. Copyright © 2005 Royal Meteorological Society
The Close Relationships of People with Intellectual Disabilities: A Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND Positive interpersonal relationships have been found to enhance an individual's quality of life. However, people with intellectual disabilities (PWID) often have restricted social networks, and little is known about their views on close social relationships. The study aimed to explore how this group perceives and experiences close relationships. MATERIALS AND METHODS Ten (6 = men 4 = women) PWID participated. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews, and analysed using interpretive phenomenological analysis. RESULTS The results report on three of five themes drawn from a larger qualitative study: 'Relationships feeling safe and being useful'; 'Who's in charge? ' and 'Struggling for an ordinary life'. CONCLUSIONS Close relationships are valued and desired by PWID, but a variety of barriers inhibit their development and maintenance. This includes the failure of others to value, accept and appropriately support the independence and relationships of PWID. Potential ways of addressing these issues are discussed.
Design and Characterization of High $di/dt$ CS-MCT for Pulse Power Applications

A high <italic>di/dt</italic> MOS-controlled thyristor with cathode-short structure (CS-MCT) is developed for pulse power applications. Compared with conventional MCT (con-MCT), the cathode short in the proposed CS-MCT greatly improves the <italic>dV/dt</italic> robustness. To achieve simultaneously high <italic>di/dt</italic> capability, special design of device characteristics parameter and consideration of 2-D transient carrier transport are carried out for the first time. Experimental results show that the proposed CS-MCT exhibits <italic>di/dt</italic> over 357 kA/cm<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$^{{\textsf {2}}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>/<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mu \text{s}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> and peak current of 27.1 kA/cm<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$^{{\textsf {2}}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>. Meanwhile, the improved practical <italic>dV/dt</italic> characteristics are validated in comparison with con-MCT at the same condition. The high <italic>di/dt</italic> property and simultaneously high <italic>dV/dt</italic> robustness indicate the proposed CS-MCT is a promising semiconductor pulse switch for pulse power applications.
Vesicular carriers for dermal drug delivery

The skin can offer several advantages as a route of drug administration although its barrier nature makes it difficult for most drugs to penetrate into and permeate through it. During the past decades there has been a lot of interest in lipid vesicles as a tool to improve drug topical delivery. Vesicular systems such as liposomes, niosomes, ethosomes and elastic, deformable vesicles provide an alternative for improved skin drug delivery. The function of vesicles as topical delivery systems is controversial with variable effects being reported in relation to the type of vesicles and their composition. In fact, vesicles can act as drug carriers controlling active release; they can provide a localized depot in the skin for dermally active compounds and enhance transdermal drug delivery. A wide variety of lipids and surfactants can be used to prepare vesicles, which are commonly composed of phospholipids (liposomes) or non-ionic surfactants (niosomes). Vesicle composition and preparation method influence their physicochemical properties (size, charge, lamellarity, thermodynamic state, deformability) and therefore their efficacy as drug delivery systems. A review of vesicle value in localizing drugs within the skin at the site of action will be provided with emphasis on their potential mechanism of action.
Association of Digoxin With Interstage Mortality: Results From the Pediatric Heart Network Single Ventricle Reconstruction Trial Public Use Dataset

Background Mortality for infants with single ventricle congenital heart disease remains as high as 8% to 12% during the interstage period, the time between discharge after the Norwood procedure and before the stage II palliation. The objective of our study was to determine the association between digoxin use and interstage mortality in these infants. Methods and Results We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the Pediatric Heart Network Single Ventricle Reconstruction Trial public use dataset, which includes data on infants with single right ventricle congenital heart disease randomized to receive either a Blalock‐Taussig shunt or right ventricle‐to‐pulmonary artery shunt during the Norwood procedure at 15 institutions in North America from 2005 to 2008. Parametric survival models were used to compare the risk of interstage mortality between those discharged to home on digoxin versus those discharged to home not on digoxin, adjusting for center volume, ascending aorta diameter, shunt type, and socioeconomic status. Of the 330 infants eligible for this study, 102 (31%) were discharged home on digoxin. Interstage mortality for those not on digoxin was 12.3%, compared to 2.9% among those on digoxin, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 3.5 (95% CI, 1.1–11.7; P=0.04). The number needed to treat to prevent 1 death was 11 patients. There were no differences in complications between the 2 groups during the interstage period. Conclusions Digoxin use in infants with single ventricle congenital heart disease is associated with significantly reduced interstage mortality.
Postnatal Establishment of Allelic Gαs Silencing as a Plausible Explanation for Delayed Onset of Parathyroid Hormone Resistance Owing to Heterozygous Gαs Disruption

Pseudohypoparathyroidism type‐Ia (PHP‐Ia), characterized by renal proximal tubular resistance to parathyroid hormone (PTH), results from maternal mutations of GNAS that lead to loss of α‐subunit of the stimulatory G protein (Gαs) activity. Gαs expression is paternally silenced in the renal proximal tubule, and this genomic event is critical for the development of PTH resistance, as patients display impaired hormone action only if the mutation is inherited maternally. The primary clinical finding of PHP‐Ia is hypocalcemia, which can lead to various neuromuscular defects including seizures. PHP‐Ia patients frequently do not present with hypocalcemia until after infancy, but it has remained uncertain whether PTH resistance occurs in a delayed fashion. Analyzing reported cases of PHP‐Ia with documented GNAS mutations and mice heterozygous for disruption of Gnas, we herein determined that the manifestation of PTH resistance caused by the maternal loss of Gαs, ie, hypocalcemia and elevated serum PTH, occurs after early postnatal life. To investigate whether this delay could reflect gradual development of paternal Gαs silencing, we then analyzed renal proximal tubules isolated by laser capture microdissection from mice with either maternal or paternal disruption of Gnas. Our results revealed that, whereas expression of Gαs mRNA in this tissue is predominantly from the maternal Gnas allele at weaning (3 weeks postnatal) and in adulthood, the contributions of the maternal and paternal Gnas alleles to Gαs mRNA expression are equal at postnatal day 3. In contrast, we found that paternal Gαs expression is already markedly repressed in brown adipose tissue at birth. Thus, the mechanisms silencing the paternal Gαs allele in renal proximal tubules are not operational during early postnatal development, and this finding correlates well with the latency of PTH resistance in patients with PHP‐Ia. © 2014 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.