Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Trends in the epidemiology of major burn injury among hospitalized patients: A population-based analysis

BACKGROUND Burn-related mortality has decreased significantly over the past several decades. Although often attributed in part to regionalization of burn care, this has not been evaluated at the population level. METHODS We conducted a retrospective, population-based cohort study of all patients with 20% or higher total body surface area burn injury in Ontario, Canada. Adult (≥16 years) patients injured between 2003 and 2013 were included. Deaths in the emergency department were excluded. Logistic generalized estimating equations were used to estimate risk-adjusted 30-day mortality. Mortality trends were compared at burn and nonburn centers. RESULTS Seven hundred seventy-two patients were identified at 84 centers (2 burn, 82 nonburn). Patients were 74% (n = 570) male, of median age 46 (interquartile range [IQR], 35–60) years and median total body surface area 35% (IQR, 25–45). Mortality at 30 days was 19% (n = 149). The proportion of patients treated at a burn center increased from 57% to 71% between 2003 and 2013 (p = 0.07). Average risk-adjusted 30-day mortality rates decreased over time; there were significantly reduced odds of death in 2010 to 2013 compared with 2003 to 2006 (odds ratio [OR], 0.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.25–0.61). Burn centers exhibited significantly reduced mortality from 2003–2006 to 2010–2013 (OR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.34–0.38) compared with nonburn centers (OR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.13–1.24). CONCLUSION Mortality rates have decreased over time; significant improvements have occurred at burn centers, whereas mortality rates at nonburn centers vary widely. A high proportion of patients continue to receive care outside of burn centers. These data suggest that there are further opportunities to regionalize burn care and in so doing, potentially lower burn-related mortality. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Epidemiological study, level III; Therapy, level IV.
Clipping-induced impulse noise and its effect on bit-error performance in AM-VSB/64QAM hybrid lightwave systems

We demonstrate that the impulse noise generated from clipping AM signals limits QAM bit-error performance in AM-VSB/M-QAM hybrid optical transmission systems. A new technique is developed to adequately predict QAM bit-error rate by defining a measurable parameter which can be obtained from impulse counting using a standard spectrum analyzer. <<ETX>>
Not Lost in Translation: Generalization of the Primary Systems Hypothesis to Japanese-specific Language Processes

The emergentist-connectionist approach assumes that language processing reflects interaction between primary neural systems (Primary Systems Hypothesis). This idea offers an overarching framework that generalizes to various kinds of (English) language and nonverbal cognitive activities. The current study advances this approach with respect to language in two new and important ways. The first is the provision of a neuroanatomically constrained implementation of the theory. The second is a test of its ability to generalize to a language other than English (in this case Japanese) and, in particular, to a feature of that language (pitch accent) for which there is no English equivalent. A corpus analysis revealed the presence and distribution of typical and atypical accent forms in Japanese vocabulary, forming a quasiregular domain. Consequently, according to the Primary Systems Hypothesis, there should be a greater semantic impact on the processing of words with an atypical pitch accent. In turn, when word meaning is intrinsically less rich (e.g., abstract words), speakers should be prone to regularization errors of pitch accent. We explored these semantic-phonological interactions, first, in a neuroanatomically constrained, parallel-distributed processing model of spoken language processing. This model captured the accent typicality effect observed in nonword repetition in Japanese adults and children and exhibited the predicted semantic impact on repetition of words with atypical accent patterns. Second, also as predicted, in word repetition and immediate serial recall of spoken words, human participants exhibited reduced pitch–accent accuracy and/or slower RT for low imageability words with atypical accent patterns, and they generated accent errors reflecting the more typical accent patterns found in Japanese.
Are local market relationships undermining organic fruit and vegetable certification? A bivariate probit analysis

This article investigates how an organic fruit and vegetable farmer’s choice to use direct-to-consumer market channels impacts his/her decision to be certified organic. First, we model the decision to be certified organic as a conditionally independent decision from the farmer’s chosen market channels. Second, we estimate the probability of certifying organic as an endogenously determined marketing decision to the choice of market channels, and use a bivariate probit specification to model this decision. Empirical evidence indicates that the decision to certify is endogenous to the chosen market channels. We show that farmers selling direct to consumers are less likely to certify organic. JEL classifications: C01, Q01, Q13, Q18
Prioritisation of key attributes influencing the decision to purchase a residential property in Malaysia: An analytic hierarchy process (AHP) approach

Purpose This study aims to explicitly explore the criteria or attributes that would influence buyer decision on purchasing residential property in Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach Generally, a total of 80 respondents participated in this study, and they hail from two states in Malaysia, namely, Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. This study has structured the respondents’ demographic profiles into different categories such as gender, age, marital status, race, education, type of buyer and income level. For the purpose of analysis, this study has incorporated a versatile fuzzy approach known as the analytic hierarchy process to fulfil the objective of study. From the previous literatures, the extracted variables consist of home amenities, location, pricing, developer, financing, structural factor and community amenities. Findings The results from priority vector indicate that buyers give higher rank to the pricing (0.2330) criteria as the most influencing factor in buying residential property, followed by other criteria such as community amenities (0.1450), location (0.1430), financing (0.1420), structural factor (0.1260), home amenities (0.1060) and developer (0.1040) in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. In addition, the consistency index of 0.00384, which is lower than 0.10 (rule of thumb), postulates that the respondents clearly understood the question requirements and there is no inconsistency involved in the result. Research limitations/implications This study attempts to discover how all those seven elements influence buyer decision on purchasing residential property. The results indicate that the outcome seems to be reliable and justifiable with the current period in the context of Malaysia housing sector. Originality/value This study is expected to provide more insights into the consistency of attributes that influence the purchase of residential property in the context of Malaysia. The points highlighted in this study are expected to benefit various parties such as potential home buyers, housing developers, marketers and government policy regulators, as well as academic institutions, to design a better policy or blueprint that can enhance the development of the housing sector in Malaysia.
Statin use in Canadians: trends, determinants and persistence.

BACKGROUND Regular statin use is an important tool in chronic disease management, lowering cholesterol levels and reducing risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The objectives of this study are to describe statin use in Canada by comorbidity and lifestyle risk factors, and determine persistence in statin use. METHODS The longitudinal National Population Health Survey, 1994-2002, is a random sample of the 1994 Canadian population and five interviews were conducted at two-year intervals. A total of 8,198 respondents, aged 20 in 1994, completed all five interviews. Information collected included demographic variables, medication use, CVD lifestyle risk factors, CVD, diabetes and hypertension. RESULTS Age-adjusted rates of statin use increased from 1.6% to 7.8% over the period 1994-2002. Statin use was higher with increasing age, diabetes, BMI, physician visits, and insurance for prescription medication. Although persons with CVD were more likely to take statins than those without, by 2002 still only 32.7% of heart patients were taking statins. Statin use did not increase linearly with increasing numbers of CVD risk factors or comorbidities. Of the 441 persons reporting statin use in 2000, 74.6% were still taking them in 2002. People who completed their high school education were more likely to continue taking statins than those who did not complete high school. CONCLUSION While statin use increased over time, was associated with CVD and diabetes, and to a lesser extent with increased BMI, a substantive underuse in high-risk patients remains. Helping high-risk people to increase statin use continues to be a priority for health care professionals.
Web-based vs. traditional classroom instruction in gerontology: a pilot study.

PURPOSE Numerous studies have documented comparable outcomes from Web-based and traditional classroom instruction. However, there is a paucity of literature comparing these two delivery formats for gerontology courses in dental hygiene curricula. This study examines the effectiveness of alternative methods of course delivery by comparing student profiles and instructional outcomes from a dental hygiene gerontology course offered both on the Web and in a traditional classroom setting. METHODS Questionnaires were sent to both groups of students completing the course. The instrument was designed to establish profiles of the participating students. The data collected included familiarity with Web-based instruction, extent of prior computer training, previous interaction with the elderly, and student evaluations of course effectiveness. Traditional instructional outcomes from evaluated course work were compared, as were post-course exam outcomes that assessed retention of course information six months after course completion. The statistical significance of these data was determined using Statistical Package for Social Scientists software (SPSS, Inc., version 12.0, Chicago, IL). RESULTS A comparison of student characteristics enrolled in the two course formats revealed marked differences. The Web-based group (n=12) included dental hygiene students (67%) and other health care providers (25%). All participants in the traditional classroom format (n=32) were dental hygiene students. Half of the Web-based respondents were over 25 years of age, and the majority (n=8) had previously taken an online course. The majority of traditional classroom students were 25 years of age or younger (n=21) and had never taken a Web-based course (n=20). Statistically significant differences in instructional outcomes were observed between students enrolled in these two formats. Student retention of course material six months after completion of the course was greater in the Web-based format. CONCLUSIONS Students selecting a Web-based course format demonstrated greater motivation and learning success based on final course grades, completion of assignments, and knowledge retention over time. Age, previous experience with online courses, and selection of teaching mode are factors that may confound course delivery method to influence instructional outcomes in a gerontology course within a dental hygiene curriculum.
Dysphagia in Huntington's Disease

&NA; Although not the most obvious symptom of Huntington's disease (HD), difficulty swallowing, or dysphagia, is a common symptom and may be associated with fatal complications. Management of dysphagia requires an understanding of the process of normal food ingestion and how this process is impaired in HD. This article describes HD and how it interferes with food intake. An effective nursing approach to the management of dysphagia is presented.
Diffusion tensor imaging in early relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

Diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DTI) indices are abnormal in patients with established multiple sclerosis (MS). The objective of this study was to examine the diffusion characteristics of MS lesions, normal appearing white matter (NAWM) and normal appearing grey matter (NAGM) in MS patients with early relapsing-remitting disease. A further objective was to investigate the relationship between three DTI parameters (fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD) and volume ratio (VR)) and clinical outcome measures (Kurtzke expanded disability status scale (EDSS) and MS Functional Composite Measure) in early disease. DTI was performed in 28 patients and 27 controls. Analysis was carried out using a region of interest (ROI) approach. ROIs were placed in 12 NAWM and nine NAGM regions. Significant differences were found in FA, MD and VR between lesions and NAWM (P<0.001 for all three DTI parameters). No significant differences were found between patients and controls when examining NAWM or NAGM, although there was a trend for abnormal NAWM FA and VR in some regions. No correlation was found between DTI parameters in lesions, NAWM or NAGM and the clinical outcome measures. The lack of significant DTI abnormality in the NAWM and NAGM may reflect a lack of pathological change or a limited sensitivity of DTI using ROI methodology. Previous studies have shown abnormalities in T1 relaxation time, magnetisation transfer ratio (MTR) and N-Acetyl aspartate (NAA) in this cohort of patients, and as such, DTI using a region of interest (ROI) approach may not be as sensitive as other MR techniques in detecting subtle changes in normal appearing brain tissue in early disease.
Dielectric Properties of Porcine Skin Tissue and In Vivo Testing of Implantable Antennas Using Pigs as Model Animals

The development of most medical systems depends on the accurate characterization of the dielectric properties [relative permittivity (εr) and conductivity (σ)] of biological tissues. The main objective of this study is to measure the dielectric properties of porcine skin tissue in the frequency range of 300 MHz-3 GHz. The skin samples were provided from three pigs of same age, sex, and breed. The measured data was similar to the dielectric properties of human skin tissue. A three-pole Cole-Cole model is also used to fit the dielectric properties as a function of frequency for future studies. To show porcine skin tissue may be used as a substitute for human skin, implantable antennas designed using human-skin electrical properties are fabricated. The antennas are surgically implanted into two porcine test subjects at the Mississippi State University (MSU) College of Veterinary Medicine, and return loss measurements are carried out. In vivo studies are performed over the course of two weeks to verify the proper vaibility of the antennas. Antenna measurements show that porcine and human skin tissues give similar responses.
The possible mechanism for the 'fade' in acid gastric secretion during continuous infusions of pentagastrin.

1. The 'fade' phenomenon seen in acid gastric secretion in response to a continuous intravenous infusion of pentagastrin has been studied in anaesthetized cats. Whereas acid secretion to a continuous infusion of histamine steadily increased for 3 hr, that to pentagastrin infusion rose steeply to a maximum at 45 min and then decreased gradually to reach about 60% of maximum after 2 hr. 2. Pre‐treatment of the cats with the 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT) blocking drugs, methysergide and cyproheptadine or with the 5‐hydroxytryptamine‐depleting drug reserpine completely altered the pattern of secretion to pentagastrin such that the response was similar to that seen during an infusion of histamine. These drugs did not affect secretion stimulated by histamine. 3. It is suggested from these results that pentagastrin releases 5‐hydroxytryptamine which at first potentiates and then inhibits the resulting stimulated secretion.
Effect of indole‐3‐carbinol on ethanol‐induced liver injury and acetaldehyde‐stimulated hepatic stellate cells activation using precision‐cut rat liver slices

1. Indole‐3‐carbinol (I3C), a major indole compound found in high levels in cruciferous vegetables, shows a broad spectrum of biological activities. However, few studies have reported the effect of I3C on alcoholic liver injury. In the present study, we investigated the protective effect of I3C on acute ethanol‐induced hepatotoxicity and acetaldehyde‐stimulated hepatic stellate cells (HSC) activation using precision‐cut liver slices (PCLS).
Mcl-1 Is Essential for Germinal Center Formation and B Cell Memory

Germinal Center Survival The humoral immune response, which comprises antibodies secreted by B lymphocytes, is critical for protection against pathogens. In response to infection, B lymphocytes proliferate and differentiate into antibody-producing effector cells. After an infection clears, a small number of cells persist as memory B cells; however, the survival signals that regulate effector and memory B lymphocyte generation are not well understood. To probe this question, Vikstrom et al. (p. 1095, published online 7 October) deleted prosurvival genes in activated, antigen-specific B cells during a T lymphocyte–dependent immune response in mice. They found that a specific programmed cell death inhibitor, known as Mcl1, was required for the formation of germinal-center B cells (an effector cell population) and memory B cells but not for their maintenance. Dysregulation of the B cell responses mediated by Mcl1 may be a trigger for lymphomagenesis. A protein that inhibits apoptosis is essential for the survival of immune memory cells. Lymphocyte survival during immune responses is controlled by the relative expression of pro- and anti-apoptotic molecules, regulating the magnitude, quality, and duration of the response. We investigated the consequences of deleting genes encoding the anti-apoptotic molecules Mcl1 and Bcl2l1 (Bcl-xL) from B cells using an inducible system synchronized with expression of activation-induced cytidine deaminase (Aicda) after immunization. This revealed Mcl1 and not Bcl2l1 to be indispensable for the formation and persistence of germinal centers (GCs). Limiting Mcl1 expression reduced the magnitude of the GC response with an equivalent, but not greater, effect on memory B cell formation and no effect on persistence. Our results identify Mcl1 as the main anti-apoptotic regulator of activated B cell survival and suggest distinct mechanisms controlling survival of GC and memory B cells.
Diurnal fluctuations in seawater pH influence the response of a calcifying macroalga to ocean acidification

Coastal ecosystems that are characterized by kelp forests encounter daily pH fluctuations, driven by photosynthesis and respiration, which are larger than pH changes owing to ocean acidification (OA) projected for surface ocean waters by 2100. We investigated whether mimicry of biologically mediated diurnal shifts in pH—based for the first time on pH time-series measurements within a kelp forest—would offset or amplify the negative effects of OA on calcifiers. In a 40-day laboratory experiment, the calcifying coralline macroalga, Arthrocardia corymbosa, was exposed to two mean pH treatments (8.05 or 7.65). For each mean, two experimental pH manipulations were applied. In one treatment, pH was held constant. In the second treatment, pH was manipulated around the mean (as a step-function), 0.4 pH units higher during daylight and 0.4 units lower during darkness to approximate diurnal fluctuations in a kelp forest. In all cases, growth rates were lower at a reduced mean pH, and fluctuations in pH acted additively to further reduce growth. Photosynthesis, recruitment and elemental composition did not change with pH, but δ13C increased at lower mean pH. Including environmental heterogeneity in experimental design will assist with a more accurate assessment of the responses of calcifiers to OA.
AcrS/EnvR Represses Expression of the acrAB Multidrug Efflux Genes in Escherichia coli

ABSTRACT The acrS regulatory gene is located upstream of the acrEF multidrug efflux system genes. However, the roles of AcrS in regulation of drug efflux pumps have not been clearly understood. Here we show that AcrS represses other multidrug efflux genes, acrAB, which encode a major efflux system in Escherichia coli.
Hemicraniectomy for large middle cerebral artery territory infarction: outcome in 19 patients

Background: Large space-occupying middle cerebral artery infarction accounts for 10–15% of all supratentorial infarctions and carries a mortality of 50% to 80%. Hemicraniectomy may be useful when optimal medical management has failed. Methods: Between June 1997 and June 2000, 19 patients who fulfilled the clinical and imaging criteria for large middle cerebral artery infarction underwent hemicraniectomy because of impending herniation despite best medical therapy. The National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) assessed neurological status on admission and at one week after surgery. At 3 month follow up, The Barthel Index (BI) and Rankin Scale (RS) were used to assess the functional outcome among survivors. Results: There were 15 males and 4 females with a mean age of 46.5 years (range 27–76 years). Ten patients (53%) had dominant hemisphere stroke. The mean interval between stroke onset and surgery was 60.3 hours (range 20–103 hours). The mean NIHSS score before surgery was 20.5 (range 17–26) and 10.5 (range 6–22) after surgery. One patient (5.2%) died due to post-operative meningitis. At follow up, mean BI was 56.4 (range 25–90) and RS revealed severe handicap in 4 patients (21%). Patients under 50 years of age had a significantly better outcome with mean BI of 60.7 as compared to only 41.3 (p=<0.048) in older patients. Speech function, especially comprehension improved in all patients with dominant hemisphere infarction. Conclusion: These findings add to previous studies suggesting hemicraniectomy may be a useful procedure in patients with large middle cerebral artery territory infarction. The functional outcome is good in younger patients. A randomised controlled trial is required to substantiate these findings.