Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prospective study of antibiotic prescribing for children.

OBJECTIVES To observe the frequency with which children in outpatient primary care settings are prescribed antibiotics and to investigate why these antibiotics are prescribed. To compare the prescribing behaviour of family doctors, primary care pediatricians, and urgent care physicians and to determine where refinements in management are most needed to reduce the number of antibiotic prescriptions appropriately. DESIGN Prospective study using a data entry form with mostly closed-ended questions. SETTING Ten primary care offices in urban south-central and eastern Ontario: five family practices, three pediatric practices, and two urgent care centres (UCC). PARTICIPANTS Every child younger than 16 years visiting these offices during a 3-week period in February and March 1997. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Frequency, clinical indications, and nature of the antibiotics prescribed. RESULTS There were 4344 observed visits. Of 1706 antibiotic prescriptions, 1481 were for 10 days, and 1577 (92%) were for acute respiratory infections, 920 (53%) specifically for acute otitis media (AOM). Full courses of antibiotics were given immediately (i.e., without test results) to 321 (76%) of 425 children with pharyngitis. Antibiotics were prescribed for 145 (90%) of 163 children with bronchitis. Urgent care physicians were significantly more likely than pediatricians or family physicians to prescribe immediate antibiotics and to disregard guidelines when choosing antibiotics for uncomplicated AOM. CONCLUSIONS Three diagnoses accounted for 82% of antibiotic prescriptions: AOM, pharyngitis, and bronchitis. Physicians should be more selective when deciding whether, and for how long, to prescribe antibiotics for those three common conditions. Substantial reductions in antibiotic use will require changes in how physicians manage suspected AOM, the most common indication for antibiotics.
Morphometric analysis of mandibular ramus for sex determination on digital orthopantomogram

Background: Identification of sex from skeletal remains is an important tool in forensic science. Mandibular ramus can be used for sex determination either on dry mandible or through orthopantomogram (OPG). Aim: To determine the sex from mandibular ramus using digital OPG. Materials and Methods: The morphometric analysis was conducted on mandibular ramus of 1000 digital OPG using Kodak Master View version 4.3 software. Statistical analysis was performed, and independent t-test and discriminant function were applied. Results: The participants' age ranged from 21–60 years with an equal number of males and females. The mean dimensions of all parameters for ramus were higher in males and highly significant (P < 0.001). The total mean length of minimum and maximum ramus breadth was 27.44 ± 3.41 mm and 32.27 ± 3.40 mm, respectively. The maximum and projective ramus height was 71.78 ± 5.98 mm and 65.62 ± 6.19 mm, respectively. The coronoid height was 59.23 ± 6.08 mm. The correlation of gender with morphology of mandibular ramus was significant (P < 0.05). The overall accuracy for diagnosing sex was 69%, whereas for diagnosing male and female, the accuracy was 68% and 70%, respectively. Conclusion: Measurements of mandibular ramus using OPG are helpful in sex determination.
Centrifugal compressor surge control using nonlinear model predictive control based on LS-SVM

This paper reports a surge control strategy for centrifugal compressor using nonlinear model predictive control based on Lease-Squared Support Vector Machine(LS-SVM) in order to increase efficiency of centrifugal compressor. The MISO nonlinear predictive models of compressor's discharge pressure and mass flow are developed by LS-SVM. In order to avoid surge, the conditions of anti-surge are chosen as the limiting conditions of the control objective and also the reference trajectory. The influence of actuator's response time is reduced by predict the compressor's input and output in advance. The operating point's fluctuate is avoided by the control objective which let the difference of the adjacent control input be the minimum. Simulation and experiment results show that the proposed control strategy can decrease the distance between surge line and control line at the same time avoid surge effectively, so compressor's efficiency is increased significantly.
Gastric Cancer in Young Patients Under The Age of 30 Years

Despite some progress in early detection and treatment, gastric cancer remains one of the most complex healthcare and socioeconomic problems. Belarus is among the countries with the highest incidence rate of cancer with this localization. In 2013, according to the Belarusian National Cancer Registry, 2888 new cases of gastric cancer were registered, with peak incidence observed in the 75-79 age group; men were affected more frequently than women at a ratio of 2.4:1. In 2013 in Belarus the five-year survival rate was 23.5%; and for patients with clinical stage I and II – it was 50.3% [1]. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 8466 gastric cancer patients from different age groups treated in Minsk City Clinical Oncological Hospital from 1998 to 2013. Of these, 72 (0.85%) patients were under the age of 30, 72.2% of which were diagnosed with clinical stage IV cancer. Radical surgery was performed on 17 patients (24.0%), palliative on 11 (15.0%) and symptomatic on 22 (31.0%). Out of these 72 patients, 75% had a three-year survival rate, while 62% had five-year survival rate. Overall survival rate after palliative surgery did not exceed two years. Without specific antitumor treatment all patients under the age of 30 with advanced stomach cancer, died within a year, while adjuvant chemotherapy increased the life span by not more than a year.
Protection against endometrial carcinoma by combination-product oral contraceptives.

To the Editor. — I was quite surprised by the conclusions that were drawn by Hulka and co-workers from a small sample of patients (79 patients with endometrial carcinoma and 203 control subjects) in an article published recently inThe Journal(1982; 247:475). The very factors that predisposed to endometrial carcinoma— hypertension, diabetes, and obesity— are also factors that are relative contraindications to the use of oral hormonal contraceptive agents. Perhaps the reason that fewer women in the endometrial cancer cohort had taken oral contraceptive agents was that their clinicians chose some other method of contraception as more suitable in the hypertensive, diabetic, and obese individual. This would seem to provide a more logical explanation of why fewer individual patients with endometrial cancer had been using oral contraceptive agents, rather than to indicate that the oral contraceptive agents had a protective effect against cancer. The authors' published data are incomplete, in
Natural Gas Cleanup by Means of Membranes

Abstract: This paper deals with the use of membranes for hydrocarbon dewpointing and dehydration of natural gas. Based on experience gained from membrane applications in separating organic vapors from off‐gas and process streams, as well as the dehydration of compressed air, membranes have been developed and tested for use in high pressure applications. Membranes and membrane modules have been modified to withstand the high operating pressure. Calculation programs were developed to understand the separation performance and to provide the necessary information for optimizing membrane design. A real challenge was the introduction of the vacuum mode dehydration operation in order to achieve the highest possible dewpoint reduction with minimum methane loss.
Reliability and Comparability of GHG Disclosures to the CDP by US Electric Utilities

ABSTRACT This exploratory study analyses voluntary disclosures of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) by the largest emitters in the US utilities sector. We compare the amounts that firms voluntarily disclose to the CDP to mandatory amounts that should be less than them and find that the opposite is true for some firms. Examining the comparability of the CDP amounts, we find that firms calculate them using different reporting boundaries and accounting methodologies. We analyse how the choice of boundary affects emissions and find that it results in differences in emissions amounts. We also find that most firms do not have their reported amounts verified by third parties. Our analysis indicates that the amounts that some of the largest emitters disclose to the CDP are unreliable and incomparable. Our results suggest caution in relying on voluntary GHG emissions disclosures.
Generation-recombination noise in the near fully depleted SIMOX N-MOSFET operating in the linear region

Noise measurements in the linear region of the device characteristics of a SIMOX N-MOSFET show the evolution of an important low-frequency Lorentzian-like noise, during the transition from fully depleted to near fully depleted or partially depleted operation. In the kink region, the same low-frequency noise component co-exists with the high-frequency Lorentzian-like noise due to impact ionization. For this low-frequency noise component, a generation-recombination origin is proposed and supported with experimental evidence that indicates the involvement of deep-level bulk traps, possibly related to oxygen impurities, in the depleted silicon film.
Exact Learning Boolean Function via the Monotone Theory

We study the learnability of boolean functions from membership and equivalence queries. We develop the Monotone Theory that proves (1) Any boolean function is learnable in polynomial time in its minimal disjunctive normal form size, its minimal conjunctive normal form size, and the number of variables n. In particular, (2) Decision trees are learnable. Our algorithms are in the model of exact learning with membership queries and unrestricted equivalence queries. The hypotheses to the equivalence queries and the output hypotheses are depth 3 formulas.
Enhanced radiosensitivity of rat autochthonous mammary tumors by dietary docosahexaenoic acid

Dietary docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which integrates into tumor cell membranes, has been reported to enhance the efficacy against tumors of cytotoxic drugs that induce reactive oxygen species (ROS). Because ionizing radiation also generate ROS, we initiated a study to determine whether dietary DHA might sensitize mammary tumors to irradiation. Mammary tumors were induced by N‐methylnitrosourea (NMU) in Sprague‐Dawley rats. The optimal dose of radiation to examine the effect of DHA on tumor response to irradiation was determined to be 18 grays (Gy) using a 4–6 MeV electron beam (according to the depth of the target volume) delivered in a single fraction from a linear accelerator. Two groups of rats were fed a basal diet containing 7% of a mixture of peanut and rapeseed oils enriched with 8% of an oil containing either a low (palm oil) or high (DHASCO oil containing 40% DHA) DHA content. DHA group was equally subdivided into 2 groups without or with addition of vitamin E (100 IU/kg diet). Irradiation was carried out when the first tumor in each rat reached 1.5 cm2 and subsequent change in tumor size was documented over time. DHA level in adipose tissue, taken as a biomarker, was higher in the DHA supplemented group compared to the control group. Vitamin E level in liver, the best storage for this compound, was higher in the vitamin E supplemented DHA group compared to the DHA group. Tumor size decreased by 60% at 12 days after irradiation in the DHA group vs. 31% in the control group (p = 0.03) and 36% in the DHA plus vitamin E group. Therefore, dietary DHA sensitized mammary tumors to radiation. The addition of vitamin E inhibited the beneficial effect of DHA, suggesting that this effect might be mediated by oxidative damage to the peroxidizable lipids. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Sustainable composting: Case studies and guidelines for developing countries

Composting is a process of converting organic waste into humus. Humus is inert, so it can be used as a soil conditioner or as landfill cover. In low-income countries, inorganic waste such as metals and glass is often recycled by the informal sector, while non-governmental organizations and the private sector take a lead in recycling organic waste through composting. Nevertheless, organic waste and other value-less waste remains a major problem. This book presents the findings from the DFID-funded research project 'Promoting Compost as a Business for the Urban Poor' in the form of guidelines developed from case studies. The guidelines are helpful for planning and managing compost projects for creating sustainable employment for the urban poor.
Preferential adherence to antiretroviral therapy over tuberculosis treatment: A qualitative study of drug-resistant TB/HIV co-infected patients in South Africa

Adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and second-line antituberculosis medications is essential to achieve successful outcomes among individuals co-infected with HIV and multi or extensively drug-resistant TB (M/XDR-TB). In 2012–2013, we designed a qualitative study to explore barriers to adherence in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. We conducted six focus groups comprising 23 adults receiving treatment for either MDR-TB (n = 2) or XDR-TB (n = 21); 17 were on concurrent ART. Participants expressed a preference for ART over M/XDR-TB treatment as a result of greater tolerability, lower pill burden and a commitment to ART. Treatment outcomes and the social morbidity associated with M/XDR-TB, characterised by public notification, stigma and social isolation, were perceived to be worse than with HIV. Poor communication, low patient involvement and provider supervision of treatment exacerbated participants' negative experiences with TB care. To improve adherence, it is critical that new regimens for drug-resistant TB be developed with better efficacy, lower pill burden and fewer adverse effects. For the first time, such improved regimens are on the horizon. In parallel and equally important is the implementation of a cohesive approach that promotes patient involvement, empowerment and treatment literacy for HIV and for TB.
A novel missense mutation in SLC5A2 encoding SGLT2 underlies autosomal-recessive renal glucosuria and aminoaciduria.

BACKGROUND Familial renal glucosuria (FRG) is an isolated disorder of proximal tubular glucose transport, characterized by abnormal urinary glucose excretion in the presence of normal blood glucose levels. Generalized aminoaciduria has not generally been considered a feature of this disorder. FRG has recently been shown to result from mutations in SLC5A2, encoding the kidney-specific low-affinity/high-capacity Na+/glucose cotransporter, SGLT2. The purpose of this study was to examine the phenotypic and genetic characteristics of three unrelated consanguineous families with FRG accompanied by aminoaciduria. METHODS Six children with autosomal-recessive FRG and 12 unaffected family members were evaluated at the clinical and molecular levels. DNA sequence analysis of the entire coding sequence of SLC5A2 was performed in all affected individuals. Haplotype analysis using four polymorphic markers flanking SLC5A2 was performed in all study participants. RESULTS All affected children were asymptomatic, but displayed massive glucosuria (83 to 169 g/1.73 m(2)/day) accompanied by generalized aminoaciduria. Sequence analysis in all patients revealed a novel homozygous missense mutation in exon 8 of SLC5A2, resulting in a lysine to arginine substitution at position 321 of SGLT2 amino acid sequence (K321R). The mutation was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis and was found to completely cosegregate with the FRG phenotype. Haplotype analysis is consistent with identity by descent for the mutation. The K321 residue, presumed to be located in the eighth transmembrane domain of SGLT2, is highly conserved across SGLT homologues. CONCLUSION Our findings confirm that mutations in SLC5A2 result in autosomal-recessive FRG. The severe glucosuria in homozygotes for the K321R mutation highlights the importance of the eighth SGLT2 transmembrane domain for normal glucose transport. We suggest that the generalized aminoaciduria accompanying FRG is a consequence of the severe impairment in glucose reabsorption, and is probably not directly related to the SGLT2 mutation. The exact role of the aberrant glucose transport in the pathogenesis of aminoaciduria remains to be established.
Meaning-Making Through Psychological Autopsy Interviews: The Value of Participating in Qualitative Research for Those Bereaved by Suicide

Too often ethical boards delay or stop research projects with vulnerable populations, influenced by presumed rather than empirically documented vulnerability. The article investigates how participation is experienced by those bereaved by suicide. Experiences are divided into 3 groups: (a) overall positive (62%), (b) unproblematic (10%), and (c) positive and painful (28%). The positive experiences are linked to processes of meaning-making, gaining new insight, and a hope to help others. Objective factors concerning the gender of participants, their relationship to the deceased, the method of suicide, and time since loss were largely unrelated to their experience of the interview.
A computational framework for wearable accelerometer based activity and gesture recognition

Advances in the area of ubiquitous, pervasive and wearable computing have resulted in the development of low band-width, data rich environmental and body sensor networks, providing a reliable and non-intrusive methodology for capturing activity data from humans and the environments they inhabit. Assistive technologies that promote independent living amongst elderly and individuals with cognitive impairment are a major motivating factor for sensor-based activity recognition systems. However, the process of discerning relevant activity information from these sensor streams such as accelerometers is a non-trivial task and is an on-going research area. The difficulty stems from factors such as spatio-temporal variations in movement patterns induced by different individuals and contexts, sparse occurrence of relevant activity gestures in a continuous stream of irrelevant movements and the lack of real-world data for training learning algorithms. This work addresses these challenges in the context of wearable accelerometer-based simple activity and gesture recognition. The proposed computational framework utilizes discriminative classifiers for learning the spatio-temporal variations in movement patterns and demonstrates its effectiveness through a real-time simple activity recognition system and short duration, non- repetitive activity gesture recognition. Furthermore, it proposes adaptive discriminative threshold models trained only on relevant activity gestures for filtering irrelevant movement patterns in a continuous stream. These models are integrated into a gesture spotting network for detecting activity gestures involved in complex activities of daily living. The framework addresses the lack of real world data for training, by using auxiliary, yet related data samples for training in a transfer learning setting. Finally the problem of predicting activity tasks involved in the execution of a complex activity of daily living is described and a solution based on hierarchical Markov models is discussed and evaluated.
An Investigation of Competency to Participate in Legal Proceedings in Canada

Objective: To assess fitness to stand trial, competency to plead guilty, and competency to understand Charter cautions to determine if the level of competency varies across these domains. Methods: The Fitness Interview Test-Revised (FIT-R) and the Test of Charter Comprehension (ToCC) were administered to a group of individuals held on remand for fitness evaluations. Additionally, several questions from the FIT-R that address the ability to make a guilty plea were assessed separately and constituted an individual measure of competency to plead guilty (CoP). Results: As predicted, the results indicated that the fact that an individual is competent at one juncture in the criminal proceedings does not mean that the individual necessarily is competent at all other stages of the proceedings. Conclusions: These findings suggest a need for a stage-specific approach to forensic competency assessments, requiring specialized instruments designed to assess the legal issues of competency at the various stages of legal proceedings.
Factors impacting customer satisfaction: an empirical investigation into online shopping in India

ABSTRACT The study examines various factors influencing online shopping in India . The research analyzes website quality and other drivers of online shopping to evaluate their impact on customer satisfaction. It also analyzes “Social Media interactions” and “Pay on Delivery (POD)” mode of payment as new drivers of online shopping. Data collected from a sample of 500 online shoppers was analyzed using structural equation modeling. In this study both social media interactions and POD emerged as significant drivers of online shopping. These drivers of online shopping along with website quality had significant impact on customer satisfaction. The results would motivate e-retailers to capitalize on social media and POD mode of payment to convert traditional shoppers to become online shoppers.
Physiological adaptation to Mediterranean habitats of the native crab Pachygrapsus marmoratus and the invasive Percnon gibbesi (Crustacea: Decapoda)

Markers of oxidative stress in the hepatopancreas and carotenoid and vitamin E content in the carapace of the invasive crab Percnon gibbesi and the native crab Pachygrapsus marmoratus were compared as indicators of their physiological condition and environmental adaptation. Crabs similar in size were collected from coastal waters of Portals Vells (Mallorca Island, Spain; 39°28’18.79”N, 2°28’19.63”E) at P. marmoratus than in P. gibbesi , whereas all carotenoid concentrations, except astaxanthin, were significantly higher in P. gibbesi . Catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase activities were significantly greater in P. marmoratus . Malondialdehyde concentration, a marker of lipid peroxidation, was higher in the hepatopancreas of P. gibbesi . The differences in carotenoid and vitamin E contents and in the antioxidant enzyme activities are a reflection of the different physiological activity of the two species and may suggest that P. gibbesi is not a potential competitor for the native crab P. marmoratus .
of Chemical Engineering EXTRACTION , FATTY ACID PROFILE AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF SESAME EXTRACT ( Sesamum Indicum L . )

This article carried out the extraction of sesame oil by using three extraction techniques: supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), Soxhlet and sequential extraction. The SFE was performed using supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) as solvent and ethanol as cosolvent. Tests were performed at 20 MPa, 35°C and a flow rate of 2.5 g CO2/min with a total extraction time of 210 minutes. The Soxhlet extraction was performed for 8 hours, using petroleum ether and ethanol as solvents, until the exhaustion of the oil contained in the seeds. The sequential extraction used ethyl ether, ethanol and water as solvents. The Soxhlet extraction was the most effective (58.93%), while the SFE technique obtained 26.47% as the best result. The antioxidant activity (AA) was determined by the β-carotene/linoleic acid system, with good oxidation inhibition percentages (29.32-83.49%) for all the extracts. The main fatty acids (FA) in sesame oil were oleic and linoleic acids.