Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Epidemiology and Disposition of Burn Injuries Among Infants Presenting to a Tertiary-Care Pediatric Emergency Department

Objective: The objective of the study was to study the etiology of and factors determining the emergency department disposition of infants sustaining burn injuries. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on all patients 12 months or younger with a burn injury presenting to our emergency department over a 5-year period. We collected the chief complaint and diagnosis, patient demographics, and circumstances surrounding the burn injury from the emergency department charts. Univariable statistics, multiple imputation, and multivariable regression were performed to determine differences between races and factors leading to admission. Results: During the study period, 344 patients meeting inclusion criteria were treated in our emergency department. Scalds (53.2%) and contact burns (39.8%) were the most common causes of burns among the study group. Significant differences were observed between races for mechanism of burn, interhospital transport, and total body surface area affected (P < 0.05). White patients were more likely to have higher body surface affected and to be transferred from another facility (P < 0.05). Increased severity of burn, burns located on the hand, and concern for abuse resulted in higher likelihood of admission (P < 0.01). No significant differences in disposition or mechanism of burn were present between English-speaking and non-English-speaking patients. Conclusions: Although most infant burns in our emergency department are due to scalds, burn injuries due to contact with household objects are common. Race plays a significant role in mechanism and severity of burn sustained. Increased severity of burn, concern for abuse, and burn to the hand were all associated with increased odds of admission.
The Political Landscape: A New Approach to Understanding Corporate Political Activity

We propose a model that explains corporate political activity (CPA) as a landscape shaped by certain factors related to the public policy suppliers: their ideology, the larger political trends in their constituencies, and their relationships. While it is true that the prior political market theory identified certain essential interactions in CPA, such as financial and constituency building contributions, it needed an explanation as to how these contributions actually impact the process. The political landscape theory, however, suggests that it is the interaction of demanders of public policy with the three factors that influence the suppliers that will create nonmarket pressures. Such an understanding of the mechanism that creates these pressures should help scholars explain behavior that previously seemed puzzling.
Joint error control and dynamic security coding

Security and error control coding are two crucial aspects of the digital communication systems. The increasing deployment of systems easy to eavesdrop, such as wireless systems, makes strategic the protection of the data secrecy. This paper presents an encryption scheme allowing to jointly perform an error control and dynamic coding in only one step. Based on the dynamic observation of the reciprocal propagation channel between the legitimate nodes, a “session key” is generated in order to manage the channel coding system, namely a turbo-code. This new scheme allows a dynamic security coding without change of the hardware structure of the transceiver devices.
Materials characterization and geometry of a high temperature induction machine

The goal of this paper is to describe the materials and building technique to design a high-temperature induction machine which temperature winding is about 500°C. First, the candidate materials are identified and because of the constraints imposed by these materials, a special geometry is proposed. The authors show that inorganic insulation has to be preferred for the conductors and the slot insulation. Tests are done to select the materials by measuring the turn to turn voltage, insulation resistances or the parallel capacities. It is shown that Grain Oriented (GO) Fe-Si magnetic steel sheets can be used for high temperature because of their insulation and their magnetic properties. The authors describe a technique using shifted GO steel sheets and they characterize up to 500°C. A particular geometry of the machine is described as well as the method to assemble the different parts of the machine.
Prevalence of malocclusions in 10- to 12-year-old schoolchildren in Ceará, Brazil.

PURPOSE The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of malocclusions and dental characteristics of schoolchildren aged between 10 and 12 years in the city of Fortaleza, Ceará in northeastern Brazil. MATERIALS AND METHODS Two hundred and sixty-four children (107 boys and 157 girls) were examined using the Angle classification system. The occlusal characteristics studied were the measurements for overbite, overjet, crowding and midline diastema. The children who were selected had not had prior orthodontic treatment and were born in Ceará, as were their parents and grandparents. RESULTS Of the schoolchildren who were studied, 25.8% had normal occlusion, 47.7% had Class I malocclusion, 22.3% had Class II malocclusion and 4.2% had Class III malocclusion. There was no statistically significant difference between age and gender; 30.3% of the individuals had a normal overbite and 36.7% and 19.7% had increased and reduced overbites, respectively. A normal overjet was found in 33.7% of the subjects and increased and reduced overjet was found in 50% and 3.4%, respectively. Dental crowding was observed in 62.5% and the presence of midline diastema was observed in 14.8% of the schoolchildren. CONCLUSIONS The most prevalent occlusal status was Class I malocclusion, with no distinction between age and gender. Increased overbite and overjet were predominant. There was a high occurrence of dental crowding among the subjects in contrast to the few cases of midline diastema.
Vitamin B-6 restriction tends to reduce the red blood cell glutathione synthesis rate without affecting red blood cell or plasma glutathione concentrations in healthy men and women.

BACKGROUND Glutathione plays various protective roles in the human body. Vitamin B-6 as pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PLP) is required as the coenzyme in the formation of glutathione precursors. Despite this obligatory role of PLP, previous studies from this laboratory showed that vitamin B-6 deficiency caused elevated glutathione concentrations in rat liver and human plasma. OBJECTIVE Our aim was to determine the effect of marginal vitamin B-6 deficiency (plasma PLP 20-30 nmol/L) on the rate of red blood cell (RBC) glutathione synthesis. DESIGN We measured plasma and RBC glutathione concentrations and the fractional and absolute synthesis rates of RBC glutathione using the stable-isotope-labeled glutathione precursor [1,2-(13)C(2)]glycine in 13 healthy volunteers aged 21-39 y. RESULTS Dietary vitamin B-6 restriction did not significantly affect the glutathione concentration in plasma (6.9 +/- 1.9 compared with 6.7 +/- 1.1 micromol/L) or RBCs (2068 +/- 50 compared with 2117 +/- 48 micromol/L). For RBC glutathione, the mean fractional synthesis rates were 54 +/- 5%/d and 43 +/- 4%/d (P = 0.10), and the absolute synthesis rates were 1116 +/- 100 and 916 +/- 92 micromol . L(-1) . d(-1) (P = 0.14) before and after vitamin B-6 restriction, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Marginal vitamin B-6 deficiency tended to decrease mean RBC glutathione synthesis with no effect on RBC glutathione concentration, but the responses varied widely among individuals. Because the cysteine concentration in plasma and RBC did not change during vitamin B-6 restriction, we conclude that the effects of marginal vitamin B-6 deficiency on glutathione synthesis are not caused by altered precursor concentrations.
Digital and sampled-data output feedback control over signal-to-noise ratio constrained communication channels

Communication channels are known to impose a number of constraints on control objectives when explicitly considered in feedback loops. One recent line of work considers the problem of feedback stabilisation subject to a channel signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) constraint. The present paper extends such formulation to study the stabilisability of digital output feedback loops and sampled-data output feedback loops. We then quantify the difference in channel capacity between the present setting and the discrete-time output feedback loop setting. This difference is known to represent a fundamental limitation in control over networks performance.
Still the Century of Intergovernmentalism? Partisan Ideology, Two‐Level Bargains and Technocratic Governance in the Post‐Maastricht Era

This study compares the explanatory power of intergovernmentalism and national partyism for European integration in the post‐Maastricht era. Using data on the issue‐specific positions of all heads of state and government at the Amsterdam, Nice and Lisbon conferences, I identify a common policy space with latent preferences and outcomes on two integration dimensions, the design of governance and the pooling of policy competences. The findings show that partisan ideology characterizes leaders’ preferences for the pooling of policy competences, which helps to find compromise among the leaders from large/rich and small/poor countries on governance design. Due to their credible referendum threat, leaders from smaller countries dominate interstate bargains in the post‐Maastricht era. This implies institutional choices for a separation of powers with a bicameral legislature, which promotes functionalist responsibility at the expense of responsiveness to the concerns of the voters.
Structural Hot Spots Determine Functional Diversity of the Candida glabrata Epithelial Adhesin Family*

Background: The pathogenic yeast Candida glabrata harbors more than 20 epithelial adhesins (Epas). Results: Epas are lectins with binding pockets that contain conserved and variable structural features determining ligand binding affinity and specificity. Conclusion: The functionally diverse Epa family evolved in C. glabrata for efficient host infection. Significance: Epa-mediated host-ligand binding is a therapeutic target to combat C. glabrata infections. For host colonization, the human fungal pathogen Candida glabrata is known to utilize a large family of highly related surface-exposed cell wall proteins, the lectin-like epithelial adhesins (Epas). To reveal the structure-function relationships within the entire Epa family, we have performed a large scale functional analysis of the adhesion (A) domains of 17 Epa paralogs in combination with three-dimensional structural studies of selected members with cognate ligands. Our study shows that most EpaA domains exert lectin-like functions and together recognize a wide variety of glycans with terminal galactosides for conferring epithelial cell adhesion. We further identify several conserved and variable structural features within the diverse Epa ligand binding pockets, which affect affinity and specificity. These features rationalize why mere phylogenetic relationships within the Epa family are weak indicators for functional classification and explain how Epa-like adhesins have evolved in C. glabrata and related fungal species.
Nutrition and health risks in the elderly: the nutrition screening initiative.

OBJECTIVES The Nutrition Screening Initiative is a national collaborative effort committed to the identification and treatment of nutritional problems in older persons. METHODS A 14-item checklist of characteristics associated with nutritional status was administered to a random sample of Medicare beneficiaries, aged 70 years and older, in New England. Regression analysis was used to derive item weights that would predict poor nutrient intakes and low perceived health status. Sensitivity and specificity values were reviewed to define low, moderate, and high nutritional risk scores. RESULTS A revised checklist containing 10 yes/no items was adopted. Scores of 6 or more points defined persons at high nutritional risk. Twenty-four percent of the Medicare population was estimated to be at high nutritional risk according to the checklist. Among those in the high-risk group, 56% perceived their health to be "fair" or "poor" and 38% had dietary intakes below 75% of the recommended dietary allowances for three or more nutrients. CONCLUSIONS The Nutrition Screening Initiative Checklist is a brief, easily scored instrument that can accurately identify noninstitutionalized older persons at risk for low nutrient intake and health problems.
Selective Play: Choosing Partners in an Uncertain World

The theoretical implications of introducing the “selective play” paradigm to experimental gaming research are discussed. In the traditional “forced play” environment, players are locked in a particular relationship and do not have options of leaving the current relationship and joining another. In the selective play environment players are given the options of leaving the current relationship andforming a new relationship. A previous computer tournament of prisoner's dilemma network (Hayashi, 1993) showed that out-for-tat (OFT) strategy performed very well in the selective play environment. OFT keeps cooperating with a partner until the partner defects; it deserts the partner and turns to someone else as soon as the partner defects. Results of a new computer tournament that introduced opportunity costs, however, point to the limits of the OFT's strength. OFT prematurely forms a commitment relationship with a cooperative partner and fails to utilize better opportunities. The best performer in the second tournament was the only one who was “trustful” and had a positive bias in calculating the expected payoff of interactions with a “stranger. ”
Improved stress response in bipolar affective disorder with adjunctive spironolactone (mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist): case series

The psychopathologies underlying affective disorders are thought to involve persistent changes in the expression and function of both mineralocorticoid receptors and glucocorticoid receptors in the hippocampus. In addition, exposure to stressful stimuli can precipitate episodes in vulnerable individuals. The aim of this study is to determine if spironolactone as an adjunctive therapy is effective in improving residual symptoms in bipolar disorder. Four cases of euthymic bipolar disorder (BD) patients were treated with spironolactone as an adjunctive therapy in a private treatment sector. All patients met the DSM-IV diagnosis criteria for bipolar disorder. Clinical response was assessed retrospectively using the Clinical Global Impression Scale for Improvement. Spironolactone was effective in all patients. The four cases illustrate a clinical response to residual symptoms and improvement in stress response after use of spironolactone as an adjunctive therapy in BD. This pilot case series suggests reducing in residual symptoms, with spironolactone as an adjunctive therapy in these DSM-IV BD patients. Mineralocorticoid receptors antagonists’ role in reducing stress-induced symptoms deserves further investigation through placebo-controlled trials.
Engineering Education for Generation Z.

Generation Z is gaining popularity as the name used to refer to those born beginning in the mid to late 1990s. This is the generation that follows the Millennials, and they are just starting to arrive on college campuses. Much attention has been paid to Millennials and their impact on society, and because of this Generation Z members are often lumped together with this older cohort. But Generation Z students are unique, and universities and colleges must prepare to meet the challenges of instructing this new generation. Engineering educators in particular are being challenged to adapt to the speed of technological change. Faculty must consider how to adjust to this new environment, including the changing needs and expectations of Generation Z students. This paper explores these topics. The first section will explore the concept of a generation and describe some of the attributes associated with Generation Z. The second section will review the development of engineering education in the United States and some of the major reforms that have occurred in the past 100 years. The last section will discuss potential changes in the classroom to try and address some of the characteristics of Generation Z students.
The association between seminal vesicle size and duration of abstinence from ejaculation

There are few data describing the relationship between seminal vesicle (SV) size and duration of abstinence between ejaculations. This study evaluates the association between SV size and duration of abstinence from ejaculation using pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Sexually active men 18–68 years old who underwent pelvic MRI for various medical indications were included. The date of last ejaculation was recorded, and the cross‐sectional areas of the right and left seminal vesicles were calculated separately using mediolateral and anteroposterior measurements on T2‐weighted MRI images. The association between SV area and duration of abstinence between ejaculations was determined via linear regression analysis. The study cohort consisted of 104 men with a mean age of 46.45 ± 11.4 (range 18–68) years old. Mean right and left SV cross‐sectional areas were 744.1 ± 351.1 (range: 149.9–1794.7) mm2 and 727.6 ± 359.2 (range 171.4–2248.4) mm2 respectively. The mean duration of abstinence between ejaculations in the cohort was 3.6 ± 2.6 (range 1–15) days. Although no correlation between age and SV area was observed (r = .007, p = .947), linear regression analysis demonstrated a positive correlation between SV area and the duration of abstinence from ejaculation (r = .372, p = .0001). SV cross‐sectional area increases with duration of abstinence from ejaculation and can be assessed using MRI. The use of SV size estimation may be applicable in diagnosis, risk stratification and treatment of urological diseases.
Endoscopic Harvesting Device Type and Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

Objective:To evaluate angiographic and clinical outcomes associated with open and closed dissection tunnel endoscopic vein harvesting (EVH) devices. Background:A previous PREVENT-IV (PRoject of Ex-vivo Vein graft ENgineering via Transfection IV) analysis reported that EVH for coronary artery bypass graft surgery was associated with worse outcomes than with traditional vein harvesting; however, outcomes by EVH device type were not available. Methods:Using data from the PREVENT-IV trial, we compared 1549 patients from 75 surgical sites who underwent EVH with open (n = 390) or closed (n = 1159) harvest tunnel devices. Outcomes included the incidence of vein graft failure at 12 to 18 months and a composite of death, myocardial infarction, and revascularization through 5 years. Results:Among patients undergoing open and closed tunnel EVH, no difference in the per-patient incidence of vein graft failure (43.8% vs 47.1%; adjusted odds ratio, 0.91; 95% confidence interval, 0.53–1.55; P = 0.724) or per-graft incidence of vein graft failure (25.5% vs 25.9%; adjusted odds ratio, 0.96; 95% confidence interval, 0.59–1.55; P = 0.847) was observed. At 5 years, no difference was observed in the primary composite clinical outcome between patients who underwent open and closed system EVH (21.5% vs 23.9%; adjusted hazard ratio, 0.85; 95% confidence interval, 0.66–1.10; P = 0.221). Conclusions:No differences in angiographic or clinical outcomes were observed among patients who underwent open versus closed tunnel endoscopic harvesting for coronary bypass surgery. These findings suggest that the risks associated with EVH that were reported in a previous PREVENT-IV analysis are not related to a specific EVH device.
Patterns of Biomarkers in Cord Blood During Pregnancy and Preeclampsia.

BACKGROUND Umbilical cord blood (UCB) is in contact with all the fetal tissues and can reflect the state of fetus and UCB can be compared with maternal blood. Inflammatory, metabolic and immunological disorders during pregnancy can affect the environment in which the fetus is developing and may produce various alterations. OBJECTIVE To analyze different biochemical parameters in maternal venous blood and new born umbilical cord blood from healthy normotensive pregnant and preeclamptic women. MATERIALS AND METHODS Homocysteine, folate, B12, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), endoglin, leptin, cholinesterase, IGF-1, Apo A, lipoproteins, TSH, fT3, fT4 were analyzed in maternal sera and venous umbilical cord sera of newborns of twenty five preeclamptics (group II) and twenty five normotensive pregnant women (group I). Homocysteine, folic acid, vitamin B12, Apo A I & II, TSH, fT3, fT4 levels were estimated by competitive immunoassay using direct chemiluminiscence technology. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), endoglin, leptin, cholinesterase, IGF-1 were analyzed by ELISA. RESULTS Maternal and cord blood levels of homocysteine, folic acid, lipid profile (namely, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, VLDL-C and HDL-C), TSH, heme oxygenase 1, were higher in preeclamptic women as compared to normotensive pregnant women. Endoglin levels were significantly lower in cord blood of preeclamptic mother as compared to normotensive mothers. Serum and cord blood vitamin B12, Apo A-I and Apo B l, cholinesterase, leptin levels, IGF-I were lower in preeclamptic women as compared to normotensive pregnant. CONCLUSION Findings of the present study suggest that biochemical alterations occur in mothers and fetuses and modifications of uterine environment (in terms of thyroxine and folate and vitamin B12 supplementation) can be of help.
Challenges in monoclonal antibody-based therapies

Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are the fastest growing class of new therapeutic molecules. They hold great promises for the treatment of a variety of diseases, including chronic inflammatory diseases and cancer. However, the current manufacturing and purification processes cause limitations in the production capacity of therapeutic antibodies, leading to an increase in cost. Genetic delivery of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies by in vivo production offers a new potential solution to these problems. Firstly, therapeutic efficacy can be improved by maintaining stable therapeutic, non-toxic levels within the blood circulation over a long period of time. Repeated high-dose bolus injections could be avoided, thereby reducing the possibility of side-effects. Secondly, the high cost of manufacturing and purification of the therapeutic antibodies could be reduced, making an in vivo/ex vivo mAb gene transfer an economically viable and attractive option. In general, three approaches can be used for the stable long-term expression and secretion of therapeutic antibodies in vivo: 1) direct in vivo administration of integrating vectors carrying a mAb gene, 2) grafting of ex vivo genetically modified autologous cells, and 3) implantation of an encapsulated antibody producing heterologous or autologous cells. This paper describes the key factors and problems associated with the current antibody-based immunotherapies and reviews prospects for genetic in vivo delivery of therapeutic antibodies.