Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Binary stirring: self-randomizing instruction addresses of legacy x86 binary code

Unlike library code, whose instruction addresses can be randomized by address space layout randomization (ASLR), application binary code often has static instruction addresses. Attackers can exploit this limitation to craft robust shell codes for such applications, as demonstrated by a recent attack that reuses instruction gadgets from the static binary code of victim applications. This paper introduces binary stirring, a new technique that imbues x86 native code with the ability to self-randomize its instruction addresses each time it is launched. The input to STIR is only the application binary code without any source code, debug symbols, or relocation information. The output is a new binary whose basic block addresses are dynamically determined at load-time. Therefore, even if an attacker can find code gadgets in one instance of the binary, the instruction addresses in other instances are unpredictable. An array of binary transformation techniques enable STIR to transparently protect large, realistic applications that cannot be perfectly disassembled due to computed jumps, code-data interleaving, OS callbacks, dynamic linking and a variety of other difficult binary features. Evaluation of STIR for both Windows and Linux platforms shows that stirring introduces about 1.6% overhead on average to application runtimes.
Abuse of Plain Abdominal Radiographs In Abdominal Pain

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of unnecessary plain abdominal films and the magnitude of their impact in management plan of abdominal pain. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study conducted at Isra University Hospital, Hyderabad between 1st February 2006 and 31st July 2006. Eighty three patients undergoing plain abdominal radiography in emergency room during the above mentioned period were included. Pre–radiograph clinical diagnoses and final diagnoses were compared with special reference to the impact of radiograph on the change in diagnosis and treatment plan. The indications were analyzed on the basis of Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) guidelines. Results: RCR guidelines were observed in only 30% of the patients whereas 65% abdominal radiographs did not reveal any significant finding. Definite final diagnoses were derived on these abdominal radiographs in only 35% of the patients. 2 Conclusion: In most of the patients the abdominal radiographs were unnecessary. Adherence to RCR guidelines will decrease the economic burden as well as the unnecessary radiation exposure. (Rawal Med J 2007;32:47-49)
Is azithromycin adequate treatment for asymptomatic rectal chlamydia?

Rectal chlamydia is a common sexually transmissible infection (STI) in men who have sex with men (MSM) that is predominantly asymptomatic. The recommended treatment of azithromycin 1 g as a single oral dose has not been subject to randomized trials and so its efficacy is unknown. We conducted a retrospective case-note review of all MSM diagnosed at the Sydney Sexual Health Centre with asymptomatic rectal chlamydia in 2009. We identified 116 MSM who received azithromycin; 85 (73%) attended for the recommended re-test at varying times (median 78 days, range 21–372 days). Of the men who returned, 11 (13%) had a persistently positive result; we reviewed behavioural data to classify these men as probable re-infections (6/11) or possible treatment failures (5/11), suggesting an efficacy of 94%. Until a randomized controlled trial (RCT) is conducted, patients with rectal chlamydia should be encouraged to attend for a re-test at 6–12 weeks.
Combined severe mental health and substance use problems: What are the training and support needs of staff working with this client group?

The difficulties in engaging and treating people with severe mental health problems who also use alcohol/drugs problematically have been highlighted in several studies. The present study sought to assess the training and support requirements of staff within mental health and substance misuse services who work with this client group in an inner city area of the UK. A questionnaire was completed by 136 staff members across community based services. The results showed that the majority of the staff surveyed: already had experience of working with clients with combined severe mental health and substance use problems; rated the importance to their clinical practice of issues in this area very highly; expressed a high level of interest in working with this client group; and very much felt it was part of their role to do so. However, staff identified a number of training and service needs to help them in working with these clients. The findings strongly suggest that staff within the mental health and substance misuse services need information and training about combined severe mental health and substance use problems and access to specialist support and consultation. Establishing better links between the mental health and substance misuse services was seen as essential to provide integrated care.
Favourable outcome of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy with mefloquine treatment in combination with antiretroviral therapy in an HIV-infected patient

A 33-year-old man who developed progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) with HIV infection is reported. The patient exhibited rapid decline in neurological status after initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART), which was attributed to the PML-immune re-constitution inflammatory syndrome. Following the administration of mefloquine in combination with ART, the patient's neurological status improved substantially. This case suggests that further investigation of the use of mefloquine might be warranted for treatment of PML in HIV-infected patients.
The coagulation system in melioidosis: from pathogenesis to new treatment strategies

Melioidosis, caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei, is a dreadful disease common in South-East Asia and Northern Australia and is characterized by chronic suppurative lesions and pneumonia. Melioidosis may evolve into severe sepsis with multi-organ failure with high mortalities, despite proper antibiotic therapy. Besides activation of a strong pro-inflammatory host response, the coagulation system plays an important role during melioidosis, which is thought to be host-protective. In particular, a procoagulant state together with downregulation of anticoagulant pathways and activation of fibrinolysis are present, all closely interrelated with parameters of inflammation. This review presents an overview of recent studies in which the role of coagulation, anti-coagulation and fibrinolysis during melioidosis was investigated both in patients and in experimental settings.
Wound Dressings Update

The availability of different types of wound dressings has increased in the last decade. Wound care practitioners have at their disposal an extensive range of dressings. Emerging dressing types include interactive/bioactive dressings and tissue‐engineered skin substitutes. There is no one dressing that is suitable for the management of all types of chronic wounds and few are suited for the treatment of a single wound during all stages of the healing cycle. Successful wound management depends on an understanding of the healing process combined with knowledge of the properties of the various dressings available. Without such knowledge and careful assessment of all the factors that effect healing, dressing selection is likely to be arbitrary and ineffective, wasteful both in terms of time and physical resources. This article is an overview of some of the first‐line and second‐line interactive/bioactive dressings available. A synopsis of wound assessment and wound bed preparation will aid in choosing the appropriate dressings. It will also touch on advanced technologies including tissue‐engineered skin substitutes.
Diagnosis and management of acute mastoiditis in a cohort of Italian children

Objective: The Italian Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases created a registry to determine the management of pediatric acute mastoiditis (AM) in Italy. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of paediatricians was conducted to evaluate hospitalization due to AM in Italian pediatric wards between 1 January 2002, and 31 December 2013. Results: A total of 913 children (561 males, 61.4%) were included in this study. The annual number of AM cases significantly increased during the study period (30 in 2002 and 98 in 2013) but only among older children (≥4 years old; p = 0.02). AM complications occurred in 69 (7.6%) of the children and sequelae were observed in 13 (1.4%) patients. Conclusion: The annual number of pediatric AM cases admitted to Italian pediatric wards increased in the past few years; this increase was strictly age-related. The risk of severe AM complications appeared relatively low, and most AM cases could be treated conservatively.
Levosimendan in patients with ischaemic heart disease

Levosimendan is a new drug for the treatment of heart failure. Its mechanism of action includes calcium sensitization of contractile proteins and the opening of ATP-sensitive potassium channels. The combination of positive inotropy with possible anti-ischaemic effects via potassium channel opening may offer benefits in comparison with currently available intravenous inotropes, which are contraindicated in patients with ongoing myocardial ischaemia. The active levosimendan metabolite OR-1896, with properties similar to those of the parent drug, significantly prolongs the duration of the haemodynamic effects of levosimendan. The main aims of the present study were to investigate: 1) the clinical effects and safety of intravenous and oral levosimendan and 2) the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of intravenous and oral levosimendan and its metabolites in patients with ischaemic heart disease. In the four studies included in this thesis levosimendan was administered intravenously or orally to 557 patients with ischaemic heart disease with or without concomitant heart failure. Study I included patients with acute myocardial infarction, complicated by left ventricular failure. Studies II to IV included patients with chronic ischaemic heart disease; in studies II and IV the ischaemic heart disease was complicated by severe chronic heart failure. Non-invasive haemodynamic measurements were used in all studies, and blood samples were drawn for pharmacokinetic evaluation in studies II to IV. Safety of the patients was followed by ECG recordings, adverse event inquiries and laboratory assessments. Intravenous levosimendan, administered as a 6-hour infusion in doses of 0.1 or 0.2 µg/kg/min did not cause clinically significant hypotension or ischaemia in comparison with placebo and reduced worsening heart failure and short-and long-term mortality. Increase in incidence of hypotension and ischaemia was seen with a dose of 0.4 µg/kg/min. Both intravenous and oral levosimendan possessed a moderate positive inotropic effect. Vasodilatory effect was more pronounced with intravenous levosimendan. A chronotropic effect was seen in all studies; however, it was not accompanied by any increase in arrhythmic events. The formation of levosimendan metabolites after oral dosing increased linearly with the daily dose of the parent drug, leading to increased inotropic and chronotropic response, especially with the doses of 6 and 8 mg daily. Levosimendan was well tolerated in all studies. In conclusion, levosimendan was safe and effective in the treatment of patients with acute and chronic ischaemia. The risk-benefit ratio of intravenous levosimendan is favourable up to the dose of 0.2 µg/kg/min. The daily dose of oral levosimendan in patients with ischaemic …
Évaluation des concentrations plasmatiques en anti-oxydants, anticorps contre les LDL oxydées et homocystéine dans un échantillon de la population liégeoise

Plusieurs etudes epidemiologiques et cliniques suggerent que le stress oxydatif joue un role important dans le developpement des maladies cardiovasculaires. Dans cette optique, les valeurs de reference suivantes en anti-oxydants plasmatiques ont ete determinees dans un groupe de 123 donneurs de sang (94 hommes, 29 femmes, âge 21-64 ans) vivant dans la region de Liege en Belgique : vitamine A (1,5-3,62 mmol/l), vitamine C (3,68-75,21 mmol/l), vitamine E (16,98-46,46 mmol/l), rapport vitamine E/cholesterol (3,92-8,32 mmol/mmol), selenium (0,66-1,26 mmol/l), proteines a groupement sulphydryl (216-556 mmol/l), acide urique (174-477 mmol/l), superoxyde dismutase (542-852 UI/g d’hemoglobine), glutathion peroxydase (39,55-91,83 UI/g d’hemoglobine). Des etats de carence en anti-oxydants sont pratiquement inexistants au sein de cette population en bonne sante, mais des concentrations considerees comme basses se retrouvent toutefois dans 16,2 % de la population pour la vitamine C ( 650 UI/l pour les anticorps et 19,5 % > 15,28 mmol/l pour l’homocysteine), sans qu’il y ait toutefois de correlation avec l’âge ou de faibles valeurs en anti-oxydants. Le tabagisme (25 % de la population) se traduit par une diminution significative de 31, 9 et 13 % des concentrations de vitamine C, selenium et de glutathion peroxydase. Les sujets consommant entre 1 et 4 fruits par jour ont des concentrations en vitamine C significativement plus elevees de 56,9 % par rapport a ceux ne prenant jamais aucun fruit (26,8 % de la population). En revanche, les concentrations d’homocysteine sont diminuees significativement de 21,4 % chez les grands consommateurs de fruits. En conclusion, grâce au developpement d’analyses qui permettent le dosage de tous ces parametres en routine, les medecins peuvent desormais etablir facilement l’etat de stress oxydatif de leur patient et, en fonction du bilan obtenu, cibler des populations a risque de developper des maladies cardiovasculaires.
Estratificação vertical da fauna de flebótomos (Diptera, Psychodidae) numa floresta primária de terra firme da Amazônia Central, Estado do Amazonas, Brasil

Studies on the vertical stratification of phlebotomine sandfly fauna were conducted in a non-flooded primary forest at a Tropical Forest Experimental Station of the National Institute of Amazonian Research from October 1998 to March 1999. CDC light traps were placed at one, 10, and 20 meters above ground. A total of 2,859 sandflies were captured, belonging to the Lutzomyia (99.93%) and Brumtomyia (0.07%) genera, represented by 38 species. In the Lutzomyia gender, the most frequent sub-gender was Nyssomyia (43.4%), followed by Psychodopygus (22.8%). Lutzomyia umbratilis, L. anduzei, L. rorotaensis, L. trichopyga, and L. olmeca nociva predominated at one meter above ground, while L. davisi, L. infraspinosa, L. umbratilis, L. trichopyga, and L. anduzei predominated at 10 meters. L. anduzei, L. tuberculata, L. dendrophyla, and L. dreisbachi were the most abundant species at 20 meters. L. umbratilis, which appeared at all three levels of vertical stratification, has great epidemic significance as a vector of Leishmania (Viannia) guyanensis.
Nerve growth in matrices of orientated muscle basement membrane: Developing a new method of nerve repair

Peripheral nerve regeneration is ill-understood by surgeons and scientists alike. T h e heterogeneous nature of peripheral nerve injuries and the variety of techniques for their repair have consistently bedevilled attempts to rationalize their management. Historically, as is often the case in surgery, major peaks of progress coincided with times of war, and by 1954 in the light of such recent experience, it was thought appropriate to reveiw both the mechanisms of regeneration and the results of repair. T h e British Medical Research Council (MRC) Report of 1954 (Seddon, 1954) is still the foundation of modern thought and practice in peripheral nerve repair; and it is significant that in the intervening years between that report, its update in book form (Seddon, 1975), and the present time, progress in the field has been less than had been hoped for. T h e whole subject has been extensively reviewed by Sunderland (1978). It is the very nature of the clinical practice of peripheral nerve repair, in addition to the intellectual problem of regeneration per se, which is to blame for the confusion. In an age of superspecialization, no one group of surgeons has accepted responsibility for treatment of peripheral nerve injuries. T h e diversity of the injuries themselves and of the techniques of repair, leading to insignificant sample sizes and unsatisfactory follow-up procedures, makes it difficult to extract data which are useful in predicting future management. Greater control can be achieved in the laboratory and with the recent advent of sophisticated microsurgical techniques it has become possible to reproduce and study specific types of injury and treatment in a precisely controlled way. T h e problem remains as to how far such evidence may be extrapolated from animals to man. T h e prolific regenerative capabilities of the laboratory rat have been considered by Mackinnon et al. (1985,1986), who concluded that with judicious interpre-
Fast and reliable anomaly detection in categorical data

Spotting anomalies in large multi-dimensional databases is a crucial task with many applications in finance, health care, security, etc. We introduce COMPREX, a new approach for identifying anomalies using pattern-based compression. Informally, our method finds a collection of dictionaries that describe the norm of a database succinctly, and subsequently flags those points dissimilar to the norm---with high compression cost---as anomalies. Our approach exhibits four key features: 1) it is parameter-free; it builds dictionaries directly from data, and requires no user-specified parameters such as distance functions or density and similarity thresholds, 2) it is general; we show it works for a broad range of complex databases, including graph, image and relational databases that may contain both categorical and numerical features, 3) it is scalable; its running time grows linearly with respect to both database size as well as number of dimensions, and 4) it is effective; experiments on a broad range of datasets show large improvements in both compression, as well as precision in anomaly detection, outperforming its state-of-the-art competitors.
A script-based autotuning compiler system to generate high-performance CUDA code

This article presents a novel compiler framework for CUDA code generation. The compiler structure is designed to support autotuning, which employs empirical techniques to evaluate a set of alternative mappings of computation kernels and select the mapping that obtains the best performance. This article introduces a Transformation Strategy Generator, a meta-optimizer that generates a set of transformation recipes, which are descriptions of the mapping of the sequential code to parallel CUDA code. These recipes comprise a search space of possible implementations. This system achieves performance comparable and sometimes better than manually tuned libraries and exceeds the performance of a state-of-the-art GPU compiler.
Effects of Music on Physiological and Behavioral Indices of Acute Pain and Stress in Premature Infants: Clinical Trial and Literature Review

Infants in intensive care units often undergo medically necessary heel-stick procedures. Because the risks of administering analgesics and anesthetics are often thought to outweigh the benefits, there remain no proven means of ameliorating the pain and stress these infants suffer, particularly during procedures. This study examined the controlled use of recorded vocal music to attenuate physiological and behavioral responses to heel stick in 13 premature infants via an experimental design. In both instances, infants exposed to music and infants in the control group, heart rate, and respiration rate increased during the heel-stick procedure (P’s 1⁄4 .02) and nearly all infants cried. During a 10-minute recovery following the heel stick, heart rate, and crying significantly decreased in infants exposed to music (P 1⁄4 .02) but not in unexposed infants. Controlled music stimulation appears to be a safe and effective way to ameliorate pain and stress in premature infants following heel sticks. Keywords NICU music, infant, heart rate, pain, heel stick, premature
Prospects for the control of neglected tropical diseases by mass drug administration

The prospects for the control of neglected tropical diseases, including soil-transmitted helminthiasis, shistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis and trachoma, through mass drug administration, are exemplified by the elimination of the trachoma as a public-health problem in Morocco. In spite of this and other striking successes, mass drug administration programs are faced with major challenges resulting from suboptimal coverage and lack of efficacy. At current suboptimal coverage rates, programs may need prolongation for an extended period, increasing costs and undermining sustainability. Community participation through health education and information appears to be crucial to improve coverage and to achieve sustainability. Implementation of complementary measures, such as vector control, improved hygiene and environmental sanitation, are important to further control transmission and to prevent re-emergence of the infection and, again, may only be achieved effectively through community-based initiatives. To reduce costs and to relieve pressure on the health system, combining neglected tropical disease programs in areas where diseases coexist and integration with existing control programs for malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS is advocated. The risk of developing drug resistance is of particular concern in view of the lack of alternative drugs, and reduced treatment efficacy due to emerging resistance is evident for the soil-transmitted helminths and onchocerciasis. Given the risk for the development of drug resistance and the need for a high degree of participation, close attention should be paid to the monitoring of the coverage and efficacy of the different program components.
Clients' satisfaction with anti retroviral therapy services in a tertiary hospital in Sokoto, Nigeria

Patient satisfaction towards services has become a tool to gain attention and value amongst the patients as well as health care providers. Satisfied patients are more likely to comply with prescribed treatment and advice from the doctors; they are also more likely to return for additional care especially for those on long term treatment like human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). This study aims to assess the satisfaction of people living with HIV/AIDS with services provided at anti-retroviral therapy centre in a tertiary hospital in Sokoto state, Nigeria. The study was a descriptive cross-sectional design carried out in Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) in November, 2012. A total of 257 respondents were recruited into the study using systematic sampling. A set of semi structured questionnaire was used to obtain data from the respondents. Most of the respondents were females, Hausa/Fulani, HIV stage 2 disease and had been on Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) between 2 to 5 years. They were generally satisfied with most of the services rendered by the clinic. Dissatisfaction was expressed on only 3 components of the clinic services, home visits, the adherence unit and availability of drugs. The binary logistic regression model was able to distinguish between respondents who reported and those that have not reported satisfaction with the services of the centre; P < 0.005. Though our study shows most of the respondents were generally satisfied with services, there is still need for improvement of services in some areas where the patients showed dissatisfaction. There is a need to maintain high standards in all areas of services provided to ensure that patient optimize need to utilize the services and improve their general wellbeing. Key words: Human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), patient satisfaction, antiretroviral treatment, people living with HIV/AIDS.