Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Preoperative assessment of hand circulation by means of Doppler ultrasonography and the modified Allen test.

OBJECTIVE The aims of this study were as follows: (1) to evaluate Doppler ultrasonography in assessing hand collateral circulation; (2) to define the criteria for an abnormal Doppler ultrasonography dynamic test result; and (3) to validate the modified Allen test. METHODS The hand circulation of 71 patients scheduled for coronary artery bypass grafting was assessed by means of the Allen test and Doppler ultrasonography. The flow in the superficial palmar branch of the radial artery, the ulnar artery, and the dorsal digital thumb artery with and without radial artery compression were recorded. Flow patterns in the superficial palmar branch of the radial artery, the ulnar artery, and the dorsal digital thumb artery with radial artery compression were categorized into 4 groups: (1) no flow; (2) decreased flow; (3) reversed flow; and (4) increased flow. RESULTS Among the 71 hands, 4 (5.6%) had an abnormal Allen test result (>10 seconds). Seven (10.6%) of 66 superficial palmar branches of the radial artery, 3 (4.2%) of 71 ulnar arteries, and 2 (2.8%) of 71 dorsal digital thumb arteries showed no flow with radial artery compression, as measured by Doppler ultrasonography. There were significant differences among the 4 groups (superficial palmar branch of the radial artery: F = 7.0, P <.001; ulnar artery: F = 13.1, P <.001; and dorsal digital thumb artery: F = 8.4, P <.001) for the Allen test. Pairwise comparisons showed that when subjected to an Allen test, category 1 patients (no flow) had significantly longer recovery times compared with the other groups (P <.02 in all cases) for the superficial palmar branch of the radial artery, the ulnar artery, and the dorsal digital thumb artery. CONCLUSION Absence of flow in the dorsal digital thumb artery with radial artery compression is considered an absolute contraindication to radial artery harvesting. An increased recovery time with the modified Allen test predicts absence of flow in the dorsal digital thumb artery in Doppler ultrasonographic flow patterns. This demonstrates the validity of the modified Allen test for primary screening.
Reprioritization of liver protein synthesis resulting from recombinant human growth hormone supplementation in parenterally fed trauma patients: the effect of growth hormone on the acute-phase response.

BACKGROUND One of the major components of the metabolic response to severe trauma is the alteration in concentrations of a large number of plasma proteins referred to as acute-phase proteins (APP). The principle mediators of these liver-synthesized APP are mainly the cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). METHODS We have measured the plasma levels of IL-6, TNF alpha, and 20 APP in 24 adult, severely injured, hypermetabolic and highly catabolic patients with multiple injuries within 48-60 hours after injury, when they were receiving maintenance fluids without calories or nitrogen, and subsequently during 7 days of total parenteral nutrition with (n = 12) or without (n = 12) recombinant human growth hormone supplementation (rhGH, 0.15 mg/kg/d). RESULTS Baseline positive APP due to severe trauma include C-reactive protein (CRP), alpha-1 antichymotrypsin, alpha-1 acid glycoprotein, alpha-1 antitrypsin, fibronectin, and factor B. Negative APP include IgG, IgM, complement-3, prealbumin, transferrin, ceruloplasmin, and albumin. Except for CRP, alpha-1 antichymotrypsin, and albumin, all the APP levels increase during 7 days of nutritional support. Plasma levels of cytokines IL-6 and TNF-alpha, although initially markedly increased after injury, decrease with parenteral refeeding. There is a linear correlation between CRP and IL-6 levels and also between the transport proteins prealbumin and transferrin. Trauma-induced increases in CRP and IL-6 levels decreased with nutrition alone, but did not change with rhGH supplementation. An immunosuppressed state of injury is evident from the decreased immunoglobulin levels (IgG, IgM, IgA) in the trauma patients. Total parenteral nutrition alone increases the immunoglobulin levels to normal. However, with adjuvant rhGH, only IgA levels are normalized. CONCLUSIONS Adjuvant rhGH therapy does not attenuate the reprioritization of acute liver protein synthesis and results in only limited restoration of host defenses. The clinical implications of these findings await further study.
Using Audience Physiology to Assess Engaging Conservation Messages and Animal Taxa

Abstract We used heart rate change as a tool to study how positive and negative wildlife conservation messaging impacts a viewer, and which types of animal images stimulate greatest reaction. We used scenes from five wildlife conservation videos available from environmental organization websites and YouTube, with positive and negative messaging. We found both very positive and very negative messaging in videos may be similarly effective in engaging viewers. A trend in greater changes in heart rate when insects, mammals, and birds appear on the screen suggests generally high human interest in these taxa, potentially due to avoidance and attraction responses. The number of scenes (N = 54) in which various taxa appear reflects bias toward mammals (65%) and birds (17%) to capture viewers’ attention. Arousal is a primary step in engaging an audience to attend to a message. Physiological research offers innovative new techniques to evaluate public responses to communications about biodiversity conservation.
Alcoholic beverages produced by alcoholic fermentation but not by distillation are powerful stimulants of gastric acid secretion in humans.

BACKGROUND: The effect of commonly ingested alcoholic beverages on gastric acid output and release of gastrin in humans is unknown. AIM AND METHODS: In 16 healthy humans the effect of some commonly ingested alcoholic beverages produced by fermentation plus distillation (for example, whisky, cognac, calvados, armagnac, and rum) or by alcoholic fermentation (beer, wine, champagne, martini, and sherry) on gastric acid output and release of gastrin was studied. Gastric acid output was determined by the method of intragastric titration. Plasma gastrin was measured using a specific radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: None of the alcoholic beverages produced by fermentation plus distillation had any significant effect on gastric acid output and release of gastrin compared with control (isotonic glucose and distilled water). Alcoholic beverages produced only by fermentation significantly (p < 0.05) increased the gastric acid output by 57% to 95% of maximal acid output (MAO) and release of gastrin up to 5.1-fold compared with control. If beer, wine, and sherry were distilled, only their remaining parts increased gastric acid output by 53% to 76% of MAO and increased release of gastrin up to 4.3-fold compared with control. CONCLUSIONS: (1) Alcoholic beverages produced by fermentation but not by distillation are powerful stimulants of gastric acid output and release of gastrin; (2) the alcoholic beverage constituents that stimulate gastric acid output and release of gastrin are most probably produced during the process of fermentation and removed during the following process of distillation.
No evidence for a fundamental visual motion processing deficit in adolescents with autism spectrum disorders

It has been suggested that atypicalities in low‐level visual processing contribute to the expression and development of the unusual cognitive and behavioral profile seen in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). However, previous investigations have yielded mixed results. In the largest study of its kind (ASD n = 89; non‐ASD = 52; mean age 15 years 6 months) and testing across the spectrum of IQ (range 52–133), we investigated performance on three measures of basic visual processing: motion coherence, form‐from‐motion and biological motion (BM). At the group level, we found no evidence of differences between the two groups on any of the tasks, suggesting that there is no fundamental visual motion processing deficit in individuals with an ASD, at least by adolescence. However, we identified a tail of individuals with ASD (18% of the sample) who had exceptionally poor BM processing abilities compared to the non‐ASD group, and who were characterized by low IQ. For the entire sample of those both with and without ASD, performance on the BM task uniquely correlated with performance on the Frith–Happé animations, a higher‐level task that demands the interpretation of moving, interacting agents in order to understand mental states. We hypothesize that this association reflects the shared social–cognitive characteristics of the two tasks, which have a common neural underpinning in the superior temporal sulcus. Autism Res 2011,4:347–357. © 2011 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Optimum Capacity and Placement of Storage Batteries Considering Photovoltaics

In recent years, due to the enforcement of the Feed-in tariff (FIT) scheme for renewable energy, a large number of photovoltaic (PV) has been introduced, which causes fluctuations in the supply-demand balance of a power system. As measures against this, the introduction of large capacity storage batteries and demand response has been carried out, and the balance between supply and demand has been adjusted. However, since the increase in capacity of the storage battery is expensive, it is necessary to optimize the capacity of the storage battery from an economic point of view. Therefore, in the power system to which a large amount of photovoltaic power generation has been introduced, the optimal capacity and optimal arrangement of storage batteries are examined. In this paper, the determination of storage battery placement and capacity considering one year is performed by three-step simulation based on probability density function. Simulations show the effectiveness of storage batteries by considering the introduction of demand response and comparing with multiple cases.
Catastrophe: What Went Wrong in Zimbabwe?

* Glossary of acronyms, personalities, organisations * Timeline * Preface and Acknowledgements * Prologue: Two birthdays * 1. Conquest * 2. White supremacy and the settler state * 3. From UDI to Lancaster House * 4. ZANU in power - the 1980s * 5. The 1990s - when the wheels began to fall off * 6. Disaster years, and the third chimurenga * 7. From Operation Murambatsvina to an inclusive government * 8. How did it go wrong? * Select bibliography
Respiratory comfort and breathing pattern during volume proportional assist ventilation and pressure support ventilation: A study on volunteers with artificially reduced compliance

Objective To assess respiratory comfort and associated breathing pattern during volume assist (VA) as a component of proportional assist ventilation and during pressure support ventilation (PSV). Design Prospective, double-blind, interventional study. Setting Laboratory. Subjects A total of 15 healthy volunteers (11 females, 4 males) aged 21–31 yrs. Interventions Decreased respiratory system compliance was simulated by banding of the thorax and abdomen. Volunteers breathed via a mouthpiece with VA and PSV each applied at two levels (VA, 8 cm H2O/L and 12 cm H2O/L; PSV, 10 cm H2O and 15 cm H2O) using a positive end-expiratory pressure of 5 cm H2O throughout. The study was subdivided into two parts. In Part 1, volunteers breathed three times with each of the four settings for 2 mins in random order. In Part 2, the first breath effects of multiple, randomly applied mode, and level shifts were studied. Measurements and Main Results In Part 1, the volunteers were asked to estimate respiratory comfort in comparison with normal breathing using a visual analog scale. In Part 2, they were asked to estimate the change of respiratory comfort as increased, decreased, or unchanged immediately after a mode shift. Concomitantly, the respiratory pattern (change) was characterized with continuously measured tidal volume, respiratory rate, pressure, and gas flow. Respiratory comfort during VA was higher than during PSV. The higher support level was less important during VA but had a major negative influence on comfort during PSV. Both modes differed with respect to the associated breathing pattern. Variability of breathing was higher during VA than during PSV (Part 1). Changes in respiratory variables were associated with changes in respiratory comfort (Part 2). Conclusions For volunteers breathing with artificially reduced respiratory system compliance, respiratory comfort is higher with VA than with PSV. This is probably caused by a better adaptation of the ventilatory support to the volunteer’s need with VA.
The influence of networks and decision-making orientation on value creation in technology-based entrepreneurial businesses

Background: Technology-based entrepreneurial businesses (TBEBs) have been identified as major contributors to economic growth and job creation in most global economies. Aim: The objective of this study was to empirically test the relationships between structured and unstructured networks and perceived value creation in 313 TBEBs, taking into account their decision-making orientation. Setting: TBEBs in the South African were identified and information was gathered through structured questionnaires. Methods: After an exploratory factor analyses (EFA), Cronbach’s alpha coefficients were calculated to confirm the validity and reliability of the measuring instrument. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was the main statistical procedure used to test the significance of the relationships hypothesised between the various independent, mediating and dependent variables. Results: The main finding of the study was that TBEBs can create financial and non-financial value by adopting a decision-making orientation in the business to co-create the future with other stakeholders. Conclusion: In conclusion this study found that establishing both structured and unstructured networks enhances a co-creation decision-making orientation and contributes to value creation in TBEBs.
ALL-1 gene rearrangements in acute myeloid leukemia: association with M4-M5 French-American-British classification subtypes and young age.

We have analyzed by Southern blotting the ALL-1 (MLL, HRX, Hrtx 1) gene configuration in a series of 126 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) representative of all ages and French-American-British Classification groups and correlated this genetic feature with clinical and biological features at diagnosis. ALL-1 gene rearrangements were detected in 17 of the 74 cases with M4-M5 (myelomonocytic and monocytic) AML and in 2 of the 52 cases with other leukemic subtypes (P < 0.01). Within the series of 74 M4-M5 patients, ALL-1 rearrangements were significantly associated with French-American-British Classification M5 (P = 0.009), high WBC (P = 0.002), and young age. In particular, all 5 infant (< 1.5 years) AML cases, 6 of the 19 (31%) patients between 1.5 and 18 years of age, and 6 of the 50 (12%) patients > 18 years old showed an altered ALL-1 genomic configuration (P < 0.001). Immunophenotypic characterization revealed coexpression of lymphoid and myeloid markers in 6 of 17 ALL-1 rearranged M4-M5 cases. The IgH gene configuration was studied in 77 of 126 AMLs. Five patients (6%) showed IgH clonal rearrangements and all were in the ALL-1 rearranged group (P < 0.0001). Our findings indicate that ALL-1 rearrangement is the commonest genetic alteration presently detectable in M4-M5 AML, particularly in childhood where it is found in up to one-third of all cases. The association of IgH rearrangements with ALL-1 alterations in AML, coupled to the frequent detection in this subset of lymphoid associated markers, further supports the origin of these tumors from a common multipotent precursor with bipotential lymphoid and monocytic differentiation capability.
Reliability of the sitting hand press-up test for identifying and quantifying the level of scapular medial border posterior displacement in overhead athletes.

BACKGROUND The lack of proper scapular kinematics can limit the function of the entire shoulder complex. (1,3) Many forms of scapular dyskinesis have been proposed along with tests to measure for the position and motion associated with those positional and movement faults (2,4-6). While scapular internal rotation has been listed among the forms of scapular dyskinesis there has not been a reliable test documented in the literature that examines this motion. The purpose of this study was to determine whether an innovative scapular medial border posterior displacement measurement device has adequate inter-rater and intra-rater reliability when used at rest and during the sitting hand press up test. METHODS 16 male Division III baseball players free of upper limb injury for the previous 12 months participated in the study. Posterior scapular displacement measures were taken on each subject in a resting static posture and while performing a sitting hand press up test. Subjects were tested twice within 24 hours by two separate examiners. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated to determine intra-rater and inter-rater reliability. RESULTS The intra-rater reliability for rater 1 was . 97 (95% confidence interval [CI]= .91-.98), for the rest position and . 95 (95% CI= .86-.98) for the sitting hand press-up position. Intra-rater reliability for rater 2 was . 99 (95% CI= .97-.99) for the rest position and . 98 (95% CI=. 95-.99) for the sitting hand press-up position. The ICCs for inter-rater reliability of the scapular medial border posterior displacement measurement in at the rest position and the sitting hand press-up position were . 89 (95% CI= .81-.96) and . 89 (95% CI= .80-.96) respectively. CONCLUSIONS The findings of this study indicate that the measurement of medial border posterior displacement using this device demonstrates good to excellent inter-rater and intra-rater reliability.
Refinement and Optimisation of the Rat CFU-GM Assay to Incorporate the Use of Cryopreserved Bone-marrow Cells for In Vitro Toxicology Applications

The colony-forming unit-granulocyte–macrophage (CFU-GM) assay has been validated for testing drug haematotoxicity (with both mouse bone-marrow and human cord blood cells) and for predicting in vivo human Maximal Tolerated Dose (MTD) values by extrapolating in vivo data on mouse toxicity. The rat CFU-GM assay is widely used for its capability to evaluate in vitro haematotoxicity, but no standardised procedure suitable for data comparison has been developed. A validated rat CFU-GM assay is needed for many reasons — not least because the rat is the most commonly-used species for the in vivo testing of toxicants. This report describes the refinement and optimisation of a standardised protocol for entering into the prevalidation phase of test development. The sensitivity of rat progenitors to granulocyte–macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), the correlation between the number of cells seeded and the number of colonies obtained, the role of mesenchymal cells on CFU-GM proliferation and the performance of the assay, and the effects of using different types of plastic dishes and sources of cytokines, are described. A standard operating procedure (SOP) based on the use of cryopreserved progenitors has been generated, to be applied to the in vitro toxicity testing of compounds. This SOP dramatically reduces the number of rats used and increases the homogeneity of the data obtained.
Increasing medication error reporting rates while reducing harm through simultaneous cultural and system-level interventions in an intensive care unit

Objective This study analyses patterns in reporting rates of medication errors, rates of medication errors with harm, and responses to the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire (SAQ), all in the context of four cultural and three system-level interventions for medication safety in an intensive care unit. Methods Over a period of 2.5 years (May 2007 to November 2009), seven overlapping interventions to improve medication safety and reporting were implemented: a poster tracking ‘days since last medication error resulting in harm’, a continuous slideshow showing performance metrics in the staff lounge, multiple didactic curricula, unit-wide emails summarising medication errors, computerised physician order entry, introduction of unit-based pharmacy technicians for medication delivery, and patient safety report form streamlining. The reporting rate of medication errors and errors with harm were analysed over time using statistical process control. SAQ responses were collected annually. Results Subsequent to the interventions, the reporting rate of medication errors increased 25%, from an average of 3.16 to 3.95 per 10 000 doses dispensed (p<0.09), while the rate of medication errors resulting in harm decreased 71%, from an average of 0.56 to 0.16 per 10 000 doses dispensed (p<0.01). The SAQ showed improvement in all 13 survey items related to medication safety, five of which were significant (p<0.05). Conclusion Actively developing a transparent and positive safety culture at the unit level can improve medication safety. System-level mechanisms to promote medication safety are likely important factors that enable safety culture to translate into better outcomes, but may be independently ineffective in the face of poor safety culture.
Aircraft Recognition Based on Landmark Detection in Remote Sensing Images

Aircraft type recognition of remote sensing images is critical both in civil and military applications. In this letter, we propose a novel landmark-based aircraft recognition method which is highly accurate and efficient. First, we propose a new idea to address the aircraft type recognition problem by aircraft’s landmark detection. Its advantages are two folds. On the one hand, it needs fewer labeled data and alleviates the work of human annotation. On the other hand, a trained model has strong expansibility because it can be used for any type of aircraft that not contained in training data set without retraining. Then, we use a variant of a convolutional neural network called vanilla network for all landmarks regression at the same time. Therefore, it can avoid bad local minimum effectively by encoding the geometric constraints among landmarks implicitly. To handle aircrafts in myriads of poses, rotation jittering is used for data augmentation in preprocessing and multicrop fusion is used in postprocessing. Thus, an 80% reduction in error rate could be reached. Finally, we use the landmark template matching to recognize the aircraft. Our method shows a competitive performance both in accuracy and efficiency.