Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hemodynamics and Autonomic Control of Heart Rate Turbulence

Introduction: Late heart rate deceleration parallels the increase of systolic blood pressure during heart rate turbulence (HRT) after ventricular premature complexes (VPC). This is consistent with the involvement of baroreflex mechanism. Physiological background of systolic blood pressure dynamics is not known. Enhanced sympathetic activation and nonautonomic post‐VPC changes of stroke volume have been speculated on.
Acuity adaptable patient care unit system shortens length of stay and improves outcomes in adult cardiac surgery: University of Wisconsin experience.

OBJECTIVES The Acuity Adaptable Patient Care (AAC) unit system allows all beds within a nursing unit to negate the need for transfer with changes in patient status. The unit is specialty specific to all levels of patient care. This system was implemented in March 2006 for cardiothoracic surgery at our institution. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the AAC system on the outcomes after adult cardiac surgery. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed 2930 consecutive patients who underwent major adult cardiac procedures between January 2003 and December 2010. The cohorts were divided into the pre-AAC group (January 2003 to February 2006, n = 1029) and the AAC group (March 2006 to December 2010, n = 1901). Patient demographics and postoperative outcomes were assessed. RESULTS The proportion of coronary artery bypass grafting was significantly lower (pre-AAC vs AAC: 43 vs 35%, P < 0.01), while those of aortic procedure (4 vs 11%, P < 0.01) and mechanical assist device insertion (3 vs 5%, P = 0.02) were higher in the AAC group. After the implementation of the AAC system, the incidence of all complications defined by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) database (49 vs 34%, P < 0.01), the median length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay (49 [interquartile range (IQR), 27-99] vs 26 [19-45] h, P < 0.01), that of hospital stay (6 [4-10] vs 5 [4-7] days, P < 0.01) and the readmission rate of ICU (5 vs 2% P < 0.01) were significantly decreased. Significant reductions in hospital mortality and the rate of hospital readmission <30 days were not observed. CONCLUSIONS The implementation of the AAC system has improved the outcomes after major cardiac procedures. The incidence of postoperative complications and length of stay have all decreased significantly without increasing readmission rate. AAC creates a system of fluid care with specialty-trained nursing and other ancillary support that expedites discharge and improves overall patient outcomes.
A new wind turbine generation system based on matrix converter

At a given wind velocity, the mechanical power available from a wind turbine is a function of its shaft speed. To maximize the power captured from the wind, the shaft speed has to be controlled. In low-cost wind energy conversion systems, the turbine shaft speed is not regulated and a squirrel-cage induction generator is used to convert the turbine mechanical power to electric power. Power electronic converters are used to interface the induction generator with the grid and maximize the power captured from the wind. In this paper, a wind energy conversion scheme based on the matrix converter topology is proposed. As the commutation problems in the conventional nine-bidirectional switch matrix converter topology impairs its performance in industrial applications, an improved topology which does not have any commutation problems, has been adopted for the system presented in this paper. Through matrix converter, the terminal voltage and frequency of the induction generator can be controlled in such a way that the wind turbine is operating at its maximum power point for all wind velocities. The power factor at the interface with the grid is also controlled by the matrix converter to ensure purely active power injection into the grid for optimal utilization of the installed wind turbine capacity. Furthermore, the reactive power requirements of the induction generator are satisfied by the matrix converter to avoid self-excitation capacitors. Theoretical analysis and simulation results are used to support the claims made on the advantages of the proposed scheme.
Characteristics of Cavity Slot Antenna for Body-Area Networks

Antennas and the propagation characteristics for body-area networks have become an active area of research. In this paper, a cavity slot antenna is proposed for onbody communications at 2.45 GHz. First, the antenna characteristics (input impedance, radiation pattern, and efficiency) are calculated by the finite-difference time-domain method. The results show that the proposed antenna has a relatively high efficiency of more than 50% even in the vicinity of the human body. Next, the onbody radio wave-propagation characteristics are investigated through numerical simulation and experimental measurements of the electric-field distributions around a phantom with a simplified shape of a human arm. Both sets of results are then compared and discussed. Finally, good agreement between the measured and the calculated results is confirmed.
Differentiation between superficial and deep lobe parotid tumors by magnetic resonance imaging: usefulness of the parotid duct criterion

Background: The location of a parotid tumor affects the choice of surgery, and there is a risk of damaging the facial nerve during surgery. Thus, differentiation between superficial and deep lobe parotid tumors is important for appropriate surgical planning. Purpose: To evaluate the usefulness of using the parotid duct, in addition to the retromandibular vein, for differentiating between superficial and deep lobe parotid tumors on MR images. Material and Methods: Magnetic resonance images of 42 parotid tumors in 40 patients were reviewed to determine whether the tumor was located in the superficial or deep lobe. In each case, the retromandibular vein and the parotid duct were used to locate the tumor. The parotid duct was only used in cases where the tumor and the duct were visualized on the same image. Results: Using the retromandibular vein criterion, 71% of deep lobe and 86% of superficial lobe tumors were correctly diagnosed, providing an accuracy of 81%. However, the accuracy achieved when using the parotid duct criterion was 100%, although it could be applied to only 28 of the 42 cases. Based on these results, we defined the following diagnostic method: the parotid duct criterion is first applied, and for cases in which it cannot be applied, the retromandibular vein criterion is used. The accuracy of this method was 88%, which was better than that achieved using the retromandibular vein criterion alone. Conclusion: The parotid duct criterion is useful for determining the location of parotid tumors. Combining the parotid duct criterion with the retromandibular vein criterion might improve the diagnostic accuracy of parotid tumor location compared to using the latter criterion alone.
Putting a lid on injury costs: the economic impact of the California motorcycle helmet law.

BACKGROUND This study analyzed the effect of California's motorcycle helmet law on injury costs. METHODS An economic evaluation was performed using state hospital discharge data, county-level cost data, and statewide crash reports to estimate the costs, charges, and lost productivity from motorcycle injuries. Total and per person costs and changes in these costs were estimated. RESULTS Total medical care costs were $35 million less in 1993 than in 1991, a reduction of 35%. Costs decreased for all payer categories, and 73% of the reduced hospitalization costs were attributable to reduced costs for patients with head injuries. Initial hospital costs for patients with head injuries were $18,527 compared with $10,350 for patients without head injuries. CONCLUSION During the first 2 years of implementation of California's helmet law, there were reduced costs for injuries and fatalities and large dollar savings to the state and other payers compared with the previous year.
Health status and mental health in patients after percutaneous coronary intervention

Objective: to assess the association between perceived health status and the mental health of patients submitted to percutaneous coronary intervention after hospital discharge. Method: a quantitative and cross-sectional study involving 101 participants. The following instruments were used: a sociodemographic and clinical characterization instrument, the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Participants were divided into three groups: no anxiety and no depression (G1); anxiety or depression (G2); and both (G3). The ANOVA test was used for the intergroup comparison of means on the SF-36 domains. Results: There was an association between perceived health status and mental health. The participants in G1 presented higher scores in all SF-36 domains in comparison with participants in G2 and G3. Conclusion: Participants with no anxiety and depression presented better-perceived health status in comparison with those with anxiety or depression, or both.
Predictors of remission of hyperprolactinaemia after long‐term withdrawal of cabergoline therapy

Background Remission rates of 76, 69·5 and 64·3% have been reported in patients with nontumoural hyperprolactinaemia (NTH), microprolactinoma and macroprolactinoma, respectively, 2–5 years after cabergoline (CAB) withdrawal.
Age‐related myelin dynamics revealed by increased oligodendrogenesis and short internodes

Aging is associated with many functional and morphological central nervous system changes. It is important to distinguish between changes created by normal aging and those caused by disease. In the present study we characterized myelin changes within the murine rubrospinal tract and found that internode lengths significantly decrease as a function of age which suggests active remyelination. We also analyzed the proliferation, distribution and phenotypic fate of dividing cells with Bromodeoxyuridine (5‐bromo‐2‐deoxyuridine, BrdU). The data reveal a decrease in glial cell proliferation from 1 to 6, 14 and 21 months of age in gray matter 4 weeks post‐BrdU injections. However, we found an increase in gliogenesis at 21st month in white matter of the spinal cord. Half of newly generated cells expressed NG2. Most cells were positive for the early oligodendrocyte marker Olig2 and a few also expressed CC1. Very few cells ever became positive for the astrocytic markers S100β or GFAP. These data demonstrate ongoing oligodendrogenesis and myelinogenesis as a function of age in the spinal cord.
Laparoscopic Splenectomy and Esophagogastric Devascularization for Liver Cirrhosis and Portal Hypertension Is a Safe, Effective, and Minimally Invasive Operation.

BACKGROUND In the recent years, laparoscopic splenectomy and esophagogastric devascularization (LSD) for liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension rapidly gained the interest of hepatobiliary surgeons due to its minimal invasion. This study aimed to gather and analyze available data from the observational studies that have compared LSD and open splenectomy and esophagogastric devascularization (OSD) for liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension. MATERIALS AND METHODS All the studies comparing LSD and OSD for liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension were searched on the available databases, including the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Medline, Science Citation Index, EMBASE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, and China Biomedical Database. Data were analyzed using Review Manager software version 5.0. RESULTS After the literature search, a total of 17 studies were included in the meta-analysis, which involved 1093 patients: 552 in the laparoscopic group and 541 in the open group. The laparoscopic group was shown to have a lower overall postoperative complication rate (0.43; 95% confidence interval [CI; 0.29-0.64]) than the open group (P < .0001), which was not associated with heterogeneity between the studies. The laparoscopic group was shown to have a lower intraoperative blood loss (-320.62; 95% CI [-552.35 to -88.9]), shorter time of oral intake (-29.08 hours; 95% CI [-35.28 to -22.88]), and shorter hospital stay (95% CI [-6.19 to -2.19]) than those of the open group (P < .00001). The operative time of the laparoscopic group was 42.16 minutes longer (95% CI [32.20-52.11]) compared with the open group (P < .00001). There was no significant difference of hospitalization costs between the studies. CONCLUSION This meta-analysis demonstrated that laparoscopic left lateral resection is a safe and feasible option associated with a reduced overall complication rate. The current evidence suggested that it could be performed routinely in liver centers.
Severe sepsis and septic shock in pregnancy: indications for delivery and maternal and perinatal outcomes

Objective: To report maternal and perinatal outcomes in obstetric patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. Methods: We performed a retrospective study of obstetric patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) for severe sepsis/septic shock. Maternal clinical characteristics, hemodynamic profiles, laboratory findings, and perinatal outcomes were evaluated. Patients with severe sepsis (N = 20) and septic shock (N = 10) were compared using Fisher’s Exact and Mann–Whitney U tests. Results: Pyelonephritis was the most common etiology overall (37%) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) was the most common organ injury in both severe sepsis (50%) and septic shock (80%). Liver dysfunction was present in cases with increased morbidity as a late finding and was the least frequent organ injury. Patients with septic shock had significantly higher rates of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) (p = 0.01), altered mental status (p ≤ 0.001), total bilirubin >4 mg/dl (p = 0.04), failure in ≥3 organ systems (70% vs. 15%, p = 0.005), and maternal death (30% vs. 0%, p = 0.03). All patients with septic shock were delivered during hospitalization vs. 40% with severe sepsis. 71% of viable pregnancies required emergent cesarean delivery, and 50% of these for worsening respiratory function. Conclusions: ARDS is frequently found in critically ill obstetric patients with severe sepsis/septic shock and is associated with a high risk of emergent cesarean delivery.
The poor outside the lamplight: on the prevalence of poverty among population groups not included in household surveys

ABSTRACT Poverty rate calculations are often based on household surveys that exclude some of the groups most vulnerable to poverty such as the homeless. This paper documents the nature of the excluded groups and the quantitative importance of their omission for the Czech Republic. Our study combines European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions data for 2011 with information from the 2011 Population Census. Our preferred estimate indicates an increase in the poverty rate by almost one percentage point. The paper contributes to accurately identifying the most vulnerable members of the society, which is essential for setting effective social policies.
The Capsule Encoding the viaB Locus Reduces Interleukin-17 Expression and Mucosal Innate Responses in the Bovine Intestinal Mucosa during Infection with Salmonella enterica Serotype Typhi

ABSTRACT The viaB locus contains genes for the biosynthesis and export of the Vi capsular antigen of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi. Wild-type serotype Typhi induces less CXC chemokine production in tissue culture models than does an isogenic viaB mutant. Here we investigated the in vivo relevance of these observations by determining whether the presence of the viaB region prevents inflammation in two animal models of gastroenteritis. Unlike S. enterica serotype Typhimurium, serotype Typhi or a serotype Typhi viaB mutant did not elicit marked inflammatory changes in the streptomycin-pretreated mouse model. In contrast, infection of bovine ligated ileal loops with a serotype Typhi viaB mutant resulted in more fluid accumulation and higher expression of the chemokine growth-related oncogene alpha (GROα) and interleukin-17 (IL-17) than did infection with the serotype Typhi wild type. There was a marked upregulation of IL-17 expression in both the bovine ligated ileal loop model and the streptomycin-pretreated mouse model, suggesting that this cytokine is an important component of the inflammatory response to infection with Salmonella serotypes. Introduction of the cloned viaB region into serotype Typhimurium resulted in a significant reduction of GROα and IL-17 expression and in reduced fluid secretion. Our data support the idea that the viaB region plays a role in reducing intestinal inflammation in vivo.
FRIGIDA LIKE 2 Is a Functional Allele in Landsberg erecta and Compensates for a Nonsense Allele of FRIGIDA LIKE 11[W][OA]

The Landsberg erecta (Ler) accession of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) has a weak allele of the floral inhibitor FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC). FLC-Ler is weakly up-regulated by the active San Feliu-2 (Sf2) allele of FRIGIDA (FRI-Sf2), resulting in a moderately late-flowering phenotype. By contrast, the Columbia (Col) allele of FLC is strongly up-regulated by FRI-Sf2, resulting in a very late-flowering phenotype. In Col, the FRI-related gene FRI LIKE 1 (FRL1) is required for FRI-mediated up-regulation of FLC. It is shown here that in Ler, the FRL1-related gene FRI LIKE 2 (FRL2), but not FRL1, is required for FRI-mediated up-regulation of FLC. FRL1-Ler is shown to be a nonsense allele of FRL1 due to a naturally occurring premature stop codon in the middle of the conceptual protein sequence, suggesting that FRL1-Ler is nonfunctional. Compared to FRL2-Col, FRL2-Ler has two amino acid changes in the conceptual protein sequence. Plants homozygous for FRI-Sf2, FLC-Ler, FRL1-Ler, and FRL2-Col have no detectable FLC expression, resulting in an extremely early flowering phenotype. Transformation of a genomic fragment of FRL2-Ler, but not of FRL2-Col, into a recombinant inbred line derived from these plants restores both FRI-mediated up-regulation of FLC expression and a late-flowering phenotype, indicating that FRL2-Ler is the functional allele of FRL2. Taken together, these results suggest that in the two different Arabidopsis accessions Col and Ler, either FRL1 or FRL2, but not both, is functional and required for FRI-mediated up-regulation of FLC.
The impact of personal income tax rates on the employment decisions of small businesses

Small businesses file taxes in accordance with the personal income tax code because they are considered flow-through entities. Thus, personal income tax reforms directly affect the incentives small business owners face regarding employment and operations. The paper aims to discuss these issues. ,The authors use the changes in personal income tax rates during the 1993 and 2001-2003 reforms and micro-level data to estimate the effect of statutory tax rate changes on small business employment decisions. ,The authors add two contributions to the current literature: first, the author allow for intertemporal tax planning and second, the author allow the firm’s decision to employ labor to be correlated with the firm’s wage bill decision. Estimation of a Heckman selection model for wage bills shows that the probability that a business will employ labor is 1.18 percent higher when current tax rates increase by one percentage point and 0.70 percent lower when future rates are expected to increase by one percentage point. Among firms that already employ labor, the median wage bill elasticity with respect to current tax rates is −0.64. These estimates are larger than those reported in previous research because my model includes future taxes and allows for correlation between the firm’s employment and wage bill decisions. Omitting the intertemporal tax responses biases the estimates of previous researchers upwards, whereas assuming the two firm decisions are independent biases estimates towards zero. ,This paper has been cited in publications published in Journal of Entrepreneurship and Public Policy.
Learning Media Edu-Games “My Profession” as an Effort to Introduce Various Types of Profession in Early Childhood Education Students

This research aims to obtain a picture of attitudes and understanding of early childhood education teachers on the use of learning media Edu-Games My Profession as an effort to introduce various types of professions in early childhood education students. The developed product includes My Professional Edu-Games app guide that meets the contents feasibility aspect. This research is a research of the development of ADDIE model which has five main elements consist of Analysis, Design, Develop, Implement, and Evaluate. The research data are analysed quantitatively to answer whether the product in the form of guide, material and application of Edu-Games My Profession has fulfilled the criterion of clarity. Products are tested on expert groups with a focus on the clarity aspects of content and applications. The result showed 1) early childhood education teachers generally understand that the use of media applications Edu-Games My Profession has not been used and is needed as a medium of learning to introduce various types of professions. 2) Early childhood teachers have commonly known that the use of Edu-Games My Profession learning media can assist students in recognizing early childhood interest in different types of professions. , and 3) expert group test results have fulfilled the clarity aspect of content and application of Edu-Games My Profession.
Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome and rodent reservoirs in the savanna-like biome of Brazil's southeastern region

SUMMARY This paper describes the diversity of rodent fauna in an area endemic for hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) in Brazil, the population dynamics and the relationship of rodents with hantavirus in the Cerrado (savanna-like) biome. Additionally, an analysis is made of the partial S segment sequences of the hantaviruses obtained from serologically confirmed human HCPS cases and from rodent specimens. Rodents were collected during four campaigns. Human serum samples were collected from suspected cases of HCPS at hospitals in the state of Minas Gerais. The samples antibody-reactive by ELISA were processed by RT–PCR. The PCR product was amplified and sequenced. Hantavirus was detected only in Necromys lasiurus, the wild rodent species most prevalent in the Cerrado biome (min-max: 50–83·7%). All the six human serum samples were hantavirus seropositive and five showed amplified PCR products. The analysis of the nucleotide sequences showed the circulation of a single genotype, the Araraquara hantavirus. The environmental changes that have occurred in the Cerrado biome in recent decades have favoured N. lasiurus in interspecific competition of habitats, thus increasing the risk of contact between humans and rodent species infected with hantavirus. Our data corroborate the definition of N. lasiurus as the main hantavirus reservoir in the Cerrado biome.