Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mass Gathering Medicine: A Predictive Model for Patient Presentation and Transport Rates

Abstract Introduction: This paper reports on research into the influence of environmental factors (including crowd size, temperature, humidity, and venue type) on the number of patients and the patient problems presenting to firstaid services at large, public events in Australia. Regression models were developed to predict rates of patient presentation and of transportation-to-a-hospital for future mass gatherings. Objective: To develop a data set and predictive model that can be applied across venues and types of mass gathering events that is not venue or event specific. Data collected will allow informed event planning for future mass gatherings for which health care services are required. Methods: Mass gatherings were defined as public events attended by in excess of 25,000 people. Over a period of 12 months, 201 mass gatherings attended by a combined audience in excess of 12 million people were surveyed through-out Australia. The survey was undertaken by St. John Ambulance Australia personnel. The researchers collected data on the incidence and type of patients presenting for treatment and on the environmental factors that may influence these presentations. A standard reporting format and definition of event geography was employed to overcome the event-specific nature of many previous surveys. Results: There are 11,956 patients in the sample. The patient presentation rate across all event types was 0.992/1,000 attendees, and the transportation-to-hospital rate was 0.027/1,000 persons in attendance. The rates of patient presentations declined slightly as crowd sizes increased. The weather (particularly the relative humidity) was related positively to an increase in the rates of presentations. Other factors that influenced the number and type of patients presenting were the mobility of the crowd, the availability of alcohol, the event being enclosed by a boundary, and the number of patient-care personnel on duty. Three regression models were developed to predict presentation rates at future events. Conclusions: Several features of the event environment influence patient presentation rates, and that the prediction of patient load at these events is complex and multifactorial. The use of regression modeling and close attention to existing historical data for an event can improve planning and the provision of health care services at mass gatherings.
GOVERNANCE AMONG MALAYSIAN HIGH PERFORMING COMPANIES

Well performed companies have always been linked with effective governance which is generally reflected through effective board of directors. However many issues concerning the attributes for effective board of directors remained unresolved. Nowadays diversity has been perceived as able to influence the corporate performance due to the likelihood of meeting variety of needs and demands from diverse customers and clients. The study therefore aims to provide a fundamental understanding on governance among high performing companies in Malaysia.
Where next for pensioner living standards

• With greater reliance now being placed on individuals’ private saving decisions, it will be important for the government to ensure that people have the right, accessible information, to help them plan appropriately for retirement. It will also be important to monitor the effect of recent policy changes – in particular, auto-enrolment and the new greater flexibility in how funds held in defined contribution pensions can be used.
Evaluation of the Lee Method for the analysis of long-term and short-term variations in the digital broadcasting services in the MW band

The Lee Method, recommended by ITU-R and CEPT for separation short-term and long-term component spatial variations of the field strength, was solved by Lee assuming Rayleigh distributed variations. In this paper, the method is adapted for the specific propagation conditions of ground wave at MW band, using empirical data from DRM field trials. The results complete those obtained by Lee for higher frequencies. The outcome represents the starting point for the analysis of the spatial variability and allows the development of accurate propagation models for the new digital broadcasting services.
On seasonal signals in geodetic time series

We explore implications for modeling and noise analysis of stochastic seasonal processes of climatic origin in geodetic time series. Seasonal signals are generally modeled as sinusoids with annual periods (and harmonics thereof), each with constant amplitude and phase. However, environmental noise that underlies the seasonal signal in geodetic time series has a reddened power spectral density (PSD). We investigate the form of the PSD of a time series having a stochastic seasonal component and find that for frequencies greater than the nominal seasonal frequency, the PSD of the time series reflects the PSD of the seasonal amplitudes. For example, if the PSD of the seasonal amplitudes can be expressed as an inverse power law, then the PSD of the time series will behave as an inverse power law for high frequencies. Stochastic seasonal variability will also induce a peak near the nominal seasonal frequency in addition to that of the mean seasonal signal and will be relatively flat below this frequency. It is therefore possible that some of the noise in Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) time series reported by others may be associated with neglecting the stochastic component of the seasonal signal. We use a GNSS time series from site ZIMM as an example to demonstrate the existence of a variable seasonal signal (without attributing its cause), and we use an example Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) time series from Alaska to demonstrate that use of a nonstochastic seasonal model can have a significant impact on the value and uncertainty of time-variable rates estimated from the time series.
Beam propagation modeling of polarization rotation in deeply etched semiconductor bent waveguides

A rigorous study of polarization rotation in deeply etched semiconductor optical waveguide bends has been carried out and results are presented, using the finite element-based fully vectorial beam propagation method. It has been shown that by careful adjustment of the waveguide width, the slant sidewalls and the bending radius, a very compact polarization rotator design, only 60 /spl mu/m long, with extremely low overall loss, and nearly 100% polarization conversion ratio can be achieved.
Human immunodeficiency virus infection in long-distance truck drivers in east Africa.

BACKGROUND A cross-sectional survey was performed to determine the seroprevalence and correlates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among long-distance truck drivers in Kenya. METHODS Truck drivers along the Mombasa-Nairobi highway were enrolled at a roadside research clinic. A standardized interview and serologic evaluation for HIV and syphilis were conducted. RESULTS We enrolled 970 truck drivers and their assistants of whom 257 (27%) had HIV antibodies. In univariate analysis, HIV infection was correlated with older age, non-Kenyan nationality, Christian religion, longer duration of truck driving, travel outside of Kenya, less frequent visits to wives, and more frequent visits to prostitutes. Uncircumcised status, history of genital ulcer disease or urethritis during the previous 5 years, and a positive Treponema pallidum hemagglutination assay for syphilis were each associated with positive HIV serostatus. Univariate correlates of uncircumcised status included younger age, non-Kenyan nationality, Christian religion, travel outside of Kenya, and less frequent visits to prostitutes. There was a significant association between uncircumcised status and 5-year history of genital ulcer disease or serologic evidence of syphilis, but not with 5-year history of urethritis. In multivariate analysis, HIV infection was independently associated with uncircumcised status (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 4.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.8 to 8.4), history of genital ulcer disease (adjusted OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.5 to 4.1), history of urethritis (adjusted OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.1 to 2.9), more frequent sex with prostitutes (more than once per month; adjusted OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.1 to 2.8), and positive T pallidum hemagglutination assay (adjusted OR, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.0 to 1.4). The attributable risk percentage for the association between HIV and uncircumcised status was 70%, and the population attributable risk was 25%. CONCLUSIONS Truck drivers in east Africa are at high risk of HIV infection. The strongest correlates of HIV seropositivity were uncircumcised status and history of both ulcerative and nonulcerative sexually transmitted diseases.
Additive manufacturing by robot manipulator: An overview of the state-of-the-art and proof-of-concept results

For the last decades, additive manufacturing (AM) has become an ever increasing part of the development of new technology and devices. However, it is still challenging to use this technology on a larger scale. This paper presents the state-of-the-art of large-scale AM, looking into some of the projects that have come furthest in utilising AM technology on large structures such as buildings or sculptures. The background for this research is to consider the possibility of large-scale AM by robot manipulator using the welding method cold metal transfer (CMT). After outlining the the necessary algorithms and components for such an AM system, a proof-of-concept experiment using a UR5 robot is presented. This initial experiment will clarify some of the challenges that need to be addressed in future work.
Cognitive Activities During Adulthood Are More Important than Education in Building Reserve

Abstract Cognitive reserve is thought to reflect life experiences. Which experiences contribute to reserve and their relative importance is not understood. Subjects were 652 autopsied cases from the Rush Memory and Aging Project and the Religious Orders Study. Reserve was defined as the residual variance of the regressions of cognitive factors on brain pathology and was captured in a latent variable that was regressed on potential determinants of reserve. Neuropathology variables included Alzheimer's disease markers, Lewy bodies, infarcts, microinfarcts, and brain weight. Cognition was measured with six cognitive domain scores. Determinants of reserve were socioeconomic status (SES), education, leisure cognitive activities at age 40 (CA40) and at study enrollment (CAbaseline) in late life. The four exogenous predictors of reserve were weakly to moderately inter-correlated. In a multivariate model, all except SES had statistically significant effects on Reserve, the strongest of which were CA40 (β = .31) and CAbaseline (β = .28). The Education effect was negative in the full model (β = –.25). Results suggest that leisure cognitive activities throughout adulthood are more important than education in determining reserve. Discrepancies between cognitive activity and education may be informative in estimating late life reserve. (JINS, 2011, 17, 615–624)
Dispersion Characteristics of Two-Beam Folded Waveguide for Terahertz Radiation

A novel type of slow-wave structure, two-beam folded waveguide (FW) operating at terahertz (THz) band, is presented in this paper. The propagating characteristics of two-beam FW are investigated. Results of different methods including field matching and equivalent circuit are compared for the calculating dispersion of two-beam FW for THz radiation. The equivalent circuit model considers the circular bends and beam tunnels without electron beams. Field matching analysis considers both of the electron beams and the circular bends. Moreover, results from CST microwave studio simulations are compared with above different methods to find a sufficiently accurate prediction of dispersion of two-beam FW.
Does business success enhance with firm’s age? Case of Croatian food manufacturing industry

Although different aspects of firm’s success have occupied researchers over the years, most researches that analysed this issue refer to the developed countries and, to a much lesser extent, to the developing countries, such as Croatia. However, in general there is a small number of researches examining the influence of firm’s age on its success. In order to give contribution to this subject and enrich the understanding of firms’ performance as firms get older, the authors conducted an analysis on a sample of 956 firms operating in the Croatian food manufacturing industry during the 2005-2014 period. The results of the dynamic panel analysis showed that firm performance deteriorates with age. As firms get older, benefits of their accumulated knowledge in all crucial aspects of the business (technology, supply channels, customers relations, human capital and financing costs) become overcome with their inertia, inflexibility and osseous by accumulated rules, routines and organizational structure. All control variables (size, liquidity, solvency, except gearing) proved to be statistically significant and in line with theoretical consideration.
Optimal dose of succinylcholine for laryngeal mask airway insertion: systematic review, meta-analysis and metaregression of randomised control trials

Objectives To evaluate the optimal dose of succinylcholine for laryngeal mask airway (LMA) insertion and all related morbidities. Design Systematic review, meta-analysis and metaregression of randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Data source and study eligibility criteria A comprehensive search of RCTs in the PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library and the ClinicalTrials.gov registry up to July 2016 and articles that evaluated the use of succinylcholine chloride for LMA insertion were included in the analyses. The relative risk (RR) and the corresponding 95% CIs were determined. Intervention Succinylcholine as the coinduction agent and the doses were divided into mini (≤0.3 mg/kg) and low (0.3–1.0 mg/kg) doses for dose-dependent effect analyses. Primary and secondary outcomes The primary outcome was the first-attempt LMA insertion failure rate. Secondary outcomes included all related adverse events. Results Data from 10 RCTs comprising 625 participants showed that succinylcholine reduced the first-attempt LMA insertion failure rate (RR, 0.22; 95% CI 0.12 to 0.43), coughing and gagging (RR, 0.26; 95% CI 0.15 to 0.45) and laryngospasm (RR, 0.14; 95% CI 0.05 to 0.39). The use of succinylcholine did not result in a significant increase of postoperative myalgia (RR, 2.58; 95% CI 0.79 to 8.44) and did not reduce the risk of postoperative sore throat (RR, 0.76; 95% CI 0.55 to 1.03). Subgroup analysis further showed that low-dose succinylcholine reduced the LMA insertion failure rate and its related coughing and gagging when compared with mini dose. Conclusion The use of succinylcholine compared with none can facilitate LMA insertion and reduce insertion-related reflexes without significant postoperative myalgia. However, additional prospective studies with a larger sample size are required to fully evaluate the dose-dependent effect and complications of succinylcholine for LMA insertion.
A COMPARISON BETWEEN EVOLUTIONARY SUBSTITUTIONS AND VARIANTS IN HUMAN HEMOGLOBINS *

Because a hemoglobin must interact with B, y, S and c hemoglobins, whereas ,8 hemoglobin need interact only with a, it seems reasonable to suggest that a random amino acid replacement in a stands a greater chance of being deleterious, or more deleterious, than a random replacement in b. The suggestion is a common place, and it is a major theme of this paper that the expected result, that changes observed in the a gene will be more conservative that those in the /3 gene, if not always found, is generally true nevertheless. Two contrapuntal themes appear in various movements of this work. One is a variation on the dominant theme, namely that functional residues are more conservative than nonfunctional residues. The second derives from the fact that evolutionary substitutions are a subset of the variants that arise in the population. Hemoglobin is exceptional among the proteins studied to date in that the knowledge of the amino acid sequences of a and j3 hemoglobins from many species enables us to uncover the substitutions in its evolutionary history while the knowledge of the many human variants reveals something about the pool of variation from which future evolutionary change will come. A comparison of these two facets, despite the severe caveats, is revealing.
Sida carpinifolia (Malvaceae) Poisoning in Fallow Deer (Dama dama)

Abstract A captive fallow deer (Dama dama) in a zoo was spontaneously poisoned after consumption of Sida carpinifolia. The paddock where cervids were kept was severely infested by S. carpinifolia. The deer developed a neurological syndrome characterized by muscular weakness, intention tremors, visual and standing-up deficits, falls, and abnormal behavior and posture. Because a severe mandibular fracture and the consequent deteriorating condition, it was euthanized. Main microscopic findings were swelling and multifocal cytoplasmic vacuolation in the Purkinje cells. The cytoplasm of multiple cells of the cerebellum, especially the Purkinje cells, stained with the lectins Concanavalia ensiformis, Triticum vulgaris, and succinylated Triticum vulgaris. Diagnostic possibilities such as bovine diarrhea virus, rabies, and transmissible spongiform encephalopathy were excluded. The report focuses on the risk of maintaining S. carpinifolia populations in zoo enclosures of wild herbivores.
Etiolated Stem Branching Is a Result of Systemic Signaling Associated with Sucrose Level1

Hot or cold storage of potato tuber, a swollen stem, induces sucrose accumulation in the parenchyma that enhances branching during sprouting under dark conditions. The potato (Solanum tuberosum) tuber is a swollen stem. Sprouts growing from the tuber nodes represent loss of apical dominance and branching. Long cold storage induces loss of tuber apical dominance and results in secondary branching. Here, we show that a similar branching pattern can be induced by short heat treatment of the tubers. Detached sprouts were induced to branch by the heat treatment only when attached to a parenchyma cylinder. Grafting experiments showed that the scion branches only when grafted onto heat- or cold-treated tuber parenchyma, suggesting that the branching signal is transmitted systemically from the bud-base parenchyma to the grafted stem. Exogenous supply of sucrose (Suc), glucose, or fructose solution to detached sprouts induced branching in a dose-responsive manner, and an increase in Suc level was observed in tuber parenchyma upon branching induction, suggesting a role for elevated parenchyma sugars in the regulation of branching. However, sugar analysis of the apex and node after grafting showed no distinct differences in sugar levels between branching and nonbranching stems. Vacuolar invertase is a key enzyme in determining the level of Suc and its cleavage products, glucose and fructose, in potato parenchyma. Silencing of the vacuolar invertase-encoding gene led to increased tuber branching in combination with branching-inducing treatments. These results suggest that Suc in the parenchyma induces branching through signaling and not by excess mobilization from the parenchyma to the stem.
Implantable drug delivery systems: An overview

Controlled drug through diffusion and activation-based drug delivery devices have become commercially feasible due to converging technologies and regulatory accommodation. Combination products constructed using implantable technology offer revolutionary opportunities to address unmet medical needs related to dosing. These products have the potential to completely con trol drug release, meeting requirements for on-demand pulsatile or adjustable continuous administration for extended periods. Implantable technologies, materials science, data management, and biological science have significantly developed in recent years, providing a multidisciplinary foundation for developing integrated therapeutic systems. If small-scale biosensor and drug reservoir units are combined and implanted, a wireless integrated system can regulate drug release, receive sensor feedback, and transmit updates. The tools such as microfabrication technology, information science, and systems biology are being combined to design increasingly sophisticated drug delivery systems that promise to significantly improve medical care.
The seroepidemiology of the chronic infections in patients with myocardial infarction in North of Iran

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have suggested that chronic infections with Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cpn) and Helicobacter pylori (Hp) may be associated with the risk of Myocardial Infarction (MI). METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted on 140 citizens. Seroprevalence was assessed by ELISA tests measuring IgA and IgG antibodies to Cpn and Hp in sera. RESULTS: Among patients, %11.4 and %90.0 were seropositive for Anti-Cpn IgA and IgG respectively, and also %51.4 and %58.6 were seropositive for Anti-Hp IgA and IgG respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows that previous infection to Cpn in patients with MI is important. But there are no significant association between infection with Hp and MI.
A theme issue by, for, and about Africa

EDITOR—Since the efficacy of antiretroviral drugs in preventing HIV transmission from mother to child was first shown, much effort has been devoted in many countries in Africa to implement sustainable regimens.1–4 To identify potential reasons affecting uptake we evaluated the five year performance of a programme at St Francis Hospital Nsambya in Kampala, …
Differences between emergency contraception users in the United States and the United Kingdom.

OBJECTIVES to characterize emergency contraception (EC) users and clinical trial participants in the United States and the United Kingdom, comparing previous EC use and awareness, contraceptive history, and experience with EC. METHODS We collected data from all EC seekers (n=5383) at 1 US and 2 UK clinics (9/97-8/98). We also collected detailed information from women (n=2157) enrolling in an EC trial at the first 3 clinics and 2 additional UK sites (9/97-2/00). RESULTS More US (16%) than UK (4%) women reported additional acts (other than in the last 5 days) of unprotected sex during the cycle in which they sought EC. Fifty-eight percent of UK trial participants had used EC previously compared to 18% in the United States. Most participants in both groups used contraception regularly and reported needing EC because of condom breaks (67% and 56%). More UK than US participants used an ongoing method of contraception (38% v 28%). US women reported more side effects at follow-up than UK women did (76% v 59%), although similar proportions would take EC again or recommend it. CONCLUSIONS US and UK women in our trial experienced different side effects. Researchers should use caution when presenting aggregate results from international multicenter trials. In addition, readers should be aware that such aggregate results might mask important geographical differences. More research on experience with EC and barriers to contraceptive use in the United States is needed.