Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Atelectasis and perioperative pulmonary complications in high-risk patients

Purpose of review This review evaluates the link between perioperative lung atelectasis and postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) and how appropriate ventilatory strategies could mitigate this problem. Recent findings Atelectasis may contribute to serious PPCs including respiratory failure and pneumonia. Ventilator settings during anesthesia, especially with higher tidal volumes (VT) (>10 ml/kg), high plateau pressures (>30 cmH2O) and without positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP), are associated with lung injury even in healthy, but partially collapsed, lungs. These injurious settings may cause inflammation which is related to repetitive tidal recruitment and alveolar overdistension. Such ventilator-induced lung injury can be attenuated by using low VT and plateau pressures at sufficient PEEP, ideally after actively recruiting the lungs. The use of continuous positive airway pressure and ‘lower’ FiO2 during anesthetic induction, intraoperative use of lower FiO2, low VT, lung recruitment and PEEP (‘protective ventilatory strategy’) in conjunction with postoperative early mobilization, breathing exercises and continuous positive airway pressure may help in maintaining lung aeration, thereby decreasing hypoxemia and risk of postoperative pneumonia. Evidence is accumulating suggesting that the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complication could be markedly reduced if an ‘open lung’ philosophy was adopted for the perioperative care. Summary A goal-directed ventilatory approach keeping an ‘open lung’ condition during the perioperative period may reduce the incidence of PPCs.
Asymptotic - Numerical Method for Third-Order Singular Perturbation Problems

In this paper, a class of third order singularly perturbed boundary value problems with suitable boundary conditions is considered. The third order boundary value problem is transformed to asymptotically equivalent second order boundary value problem. This problem is solved efficiently by using fitted Numerov method. Linear and non-linear examples are solved to illustrate the method and relative errors with 2 L -norms are presented to support the method.
Electromechanics of organic Schottky like contacts, in between piezoelectricity and electrostriction

Piezoelectricity and electrostriction are electromechanical effects at the heart of a variety of applications in transducers. In organic semiconductors an unusual voltage dependences of the electromechanical strain is observed: The converse electromechanical response follows a power law dependence S/spl prop/V/sup /spl alpha// of the mechanical strain S versus the applied voltage V, with an exponent /spl alpha/= 1.5. The power law exponent is in between traditional linear piezoelectricity and quadratic electrostriction. The experimental finding is a direct consequence of the strongly non-uniform electric field distribution within the Schottky contact arrangement. Electromechanical responses of organic Schottky devices appear to be of fundamental interest for the investigation of non-uniform electric field distributions. The experiments also suggest an unusual electrostrictive behavior in all materials with spatially nonuniform electric field distributions, a situation usually encountered in most space charge electrets.
Global trends in infectious diseases at the wildlife–livestock interface

Significance Infectious diseases at the wildlife–livestock interface threaten the health and well-being of wildlife, livestock, and human populations, and contribute to significant economic losses to each sector. No studies have sought to characterize the diseases and animals involved on a global level. Using a scoping review framework we show that 10 diseases—mostly zoonoses—have accounted for half of the published research in this area over the past century. We show that relatively few interfaces can be considered important from a disease ecology perspective. These findings suggest that surveillance and research strategies that target specific wildlife–livestock interfaces may yield the greatest return in investment. The role and significance of wildlife–livestock interfaces in disease ecology has largely been neglected, despite recent interest in animals as origins of emerging diseases in humans. Scoping review methods were applied to objectively assess the relative interest by the scientific community in infectious diseases at interfaces between wildlife and livestock, to characterize animal species and regions involved, as well as to identify trends over time. An extensive literature search combining wildlife, livestock, disease, and geographical search terms yielded 78,861 publications, of which 15,998 were included in the analysis. Publications dated from 1912 to 2013 and showed a continuous increasing trend, including a shift from parasitic to viral diseases over time. In particular there was a significant increase in publications on the artiodactyls–cattle and bird–poultry interface after 2002 and 2003, respectively. These trends could be traced to key disease events that stimulated public interest and research funding. Among the top 10 diseases identified by this review, the majority were zoonoses. Prominent wildlife–livestock interfaces resulted largely from interaction between phylogenetically closely related and/or sympatric species. The bird–poultry interface was the most frequently cited wildlife–livestock interface worldwide with other interfaces reflecting regional circumstances. This review provides the most comprehensive overview of research on infectious diseases at the wildlife–livestock interface to date.
Extracting emotions from speech using a bag-of-visual-words approach

Recognition of humans' emotions may be crucial in certain applications involving e.g., human-computer interaction, monitoring of elderly, understanding the affective state of learners during a course etc. To this goal and depending on the application and the environment, one may use physiological parameters (e.g., heart rate, brain activity etc.) which are typically obtrusive, or analyze other modalities that may be extracted by simply observing a human, such as visual (e.g., her/his facial expressions, gestures, skeletal motion etc.) or audio (e.g., speech). In many applications the only available modality is the latter one, i.e., the human's voice. In this work we aim to analyze a speaker's emotions by relying only on paralinguistic information, extracted by her/his voice, thus discarding the linguistic aspect of speech (i.e., the spoken words). To this goal, we propose a novel emotion classification approach that has been inspired by computer vision tasks. We use a spectrogram, which is a visual representation of the spectrum of an audio segment. We then extract features and code them using a visual vocabulary and represent a spectrogram as a “bag-of-visual words. ” This representation is used for classifying an audio segment to an emotion class. We evaluate our approach on 3 datasets that contain speech from different languages and compare it to baseline methods.
Governance and Performance: An Empirical Study of Australian Universities

Governance structures have become one of the most debated aspects of the public sector and during the last decade good corporate governance practices have come to be regarded as important in enhancing the performance of all government- funded institutions. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between governance structures, practices and the performance of the university sector in Australia. During the period investigated in this study, the universities were undergoing significant governance reforms.
PHYLOGEOGRAPHIC STRUCTURE AND OUTBREEDING DEPRESSION REVEAL EARLY STAGES OF REPRODUCTIVE ISOLATION IN THE NEOTROPICAL ORCHID EPIDENDRUM DENTICULATUM

Phylogeographic studies provide an important framework for investigating the mechanisms operating during the earliest stages of speciation, as reproductive barriers can be examined among divergent lineages in a geographic context. We investigated the evolution of early stages of intrinsic postmating isolation among different populations and lineages of Epidendrum denticulatum, a Neotropical orchid distributed across different biomes in South America. We estimated genetic diversity and structure for both nuclear and plastid markers, using a haplotype network, differentiation tests, Bayesian assignment analysis, and divergence time estimates of the main lineages. Reproductive barriers among divergent lineages were examined by analyzing seed viability following reciprocal crossing experiments. Strong plastid phylogeographic structure was found, indicating that E. denticulatum was restricted to multiple refuges during South American forest expansion events. In contrast, significant phylogeographic structure was not found for nuclear markers, suggesting higher gene flow by pollen than by seeds. Large asymmetries in seed set were observed among different plastid genetic groups, suggesting the presence of polymorphic genic incompatibilities associated with cytonuclear interactions. Our results confirm the importance of phylogeographic studies associated with reproductive isolation experiments and suggest an important role for outbreeding depression during the early stages of lineage diversification.
Radon and Thoron Measured in Petrol and Gas-oil Exhaust Fumes by Using CR‐39 and LR‐115 II Nuclear Track Detectors: Radiation Doses to the Respiratory Tract of Mechanic Workers

AbstractMechanic workers are exposed to exhaust fumes when controlling vehicle engines in motion inside repair shops. To assess radiation doses due to radon short-lived progeny from the inhalation of exhaust fumes by mechanic workers, concentrations of these radionuclides were measured in petrol (gasoline) and gas-oil exhaust fumes by evaluating mean critical angles of etching of the CR‐39 and LR‐115 type II SSNTDs for alpha particles emitted by the radon and thoron decay series. Committed effective doses due to 218Po and 214Po short-lived radon decay products from the inhalation of petrol and gas-oil exhaust fumes by workers were evaluated. A maximum value of 1.35 mSv y−1 due to radon short-lived decay products from the inhalation of gas-oil exhaust fumes by mechanic workers was found, which is lower than the (3–10 mSv y−1) dose limit interval for workers.
Age of Menarche and the Metabolic Syndrome in China

Objectives: In western populations, young age of menarche is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Little is known about the potential impact of menarche on the metabolic syndrome (as a proxy for cardiovascular risk) in rapidly economically developing populations where age of menarche is falling. We sought to determine the relation between age of menarche and the metabolic syndrome in a rapidly developing Chinese population. Methods: We carried out a retrospective historical cohort study of 7349 women from the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study, China, enrolled in 2003–2004. Cardiovascular risk factors were obtained from physical examination; age of menarche was obtained from self-report. The main outcome measure was the metabolic syndrome and its components. Results: Adjusted for age, education, and number of pregnancies, young age of menarche (<12.5 years) compared with age of menarche ≥14.5 years was associated with a higher risk of the metabolic syndrome (odds ratio = 1.49; 95% confidence interval = 1.22–1.82), central obesity (1.35; 1.10–1.65), raised blood pressure (1.34; 1.09–1.65), raised fasting glucose (1.40; 1.15–1.71), and higher triglyceride levels (1.36; 1.12–1.67). Further adjustment by waist circumference attenuated these effects, but the odds ratios remained elevated. Conclusions: Earlier age of menarche experienced by younger women in China today, now 12.5 years on average in urban populations, may contribute to an increase in the metabolic syndrome and thereby an increase in cardiovascular disease as these women age. These results further highlight the importance of childhood antecedents of adulthood disease.
Species distribution and antifungal susceptibility patterns of Candida isolates from a public tertiary teaching hospital in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

Candida species are the leading cause of invasive fungal infections, and over the past decade there has been an increased isolation of drug resistant Candida species. This study aimed to identify the species distribution of Candida isolates and to determine their unique antifungal susceptibility and resistance patterns. During a cross-sectional study, 209 Candida isolates (recovered from 206 clinical samples) were collected and their species distribution was determined using ChromAgar Candida. The Vitek-2 system (Biomerieux, South Africa) was used to determine minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) to azoles (fluconazole, voriconazole), echinocandins (caspofungin, micafungin), polyenes (amphotericin B) and flucytosine. Four species of Candida were isolated, of which C. albicans was the most frequent, isolated in 45.4% (95/209) of the isolates, followed by C. glabrata: 31.1% (65/209). The MICs of the different antifungal drugs varied amongst the species of Candida. From the 130 isolates tested for MICs, 90.77% (112/130) were susceptible to all antifungal drugs and 6.9% (9/130) of the isolates were multi-drug resistant. C. dubliniensis (n=2) isolates were susceptible to all the above mentioned antifungal drugs. There was no significant difference in species distribution amongst clinical specimens and between patients' genders (P>0.05). An increase in MIC values for fluconazole and flucytosine towards the resistance range was observed. To our knowledge, this is the first report on surveillance of Candida species distribution and antifungal susceptibility at a public tertiary teaching hospital in Eastern Cape, South Africa.
Two‐dimensional maps of the cerebral cortex

A procedure is described for constructing two‐dimensional, unfolded representations of the cerebral cortex. The technique is based on information contained in outlines of histological sections, and it allows an entire hemisphere to be represented on a single cortical map. Maps for different hemispheres from individuals of the same species are similar in size, shape, and organization, and their configuration is largely independent of the plane of sectioning used for reconstruction. Many types of information pertaining to the location and organization of different functional subdivisions can be displayed on cortical maps; representative applications of the technique to mapping cerebral cortex in the macaque and the cat are shown. Areal measurements on cortical maps correspond closely (generally within 20%) to actual surface areas in the intact hemisphere. Therefore, the maps can also be used to provide accurate determinations of the absolute and relative extent of various anatomical and functional subdivisions of the cortex.
A baculovirus gp64 early promoter is activated by host transcription factor binding to CACGTG and GATA elements

The early promoter of the Orgyia pseudotsugata multicapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus gp64 gene is active when transfected into several insect cell lines and does not require viral gene products for transcription in uninfected cells. Because previous studies have shown that the gp64 early promoter is activated above basal levels in uninfected cells, host transcription factors are likely to play a role in gp64 activation at early times postinfection. By using nuclear extracts from uninfected Sf9 cells for electrophoretic mobility shift analysis of gp64 regulatory regions, host nuclear proteins were shown to bind specifically to the upstream regulatory region of the gp64 early promoter. Host factor binding was mapped to a 24-bp sequence centered approximately 35 bp upstream of the TATA box. Two consensus eukaryotic transcription factor-binding site motifs, GATA and CACGTG, were identified within the 24-bp sequence. Competition assays using oligonucleotides containing either a GATA or a CACGTG motif and similar oligonucleotides with point mutations in these sites showed that each site is required for binding host transcription factors. To investigate the functional significance of host factor binding to GATA and CACGTG motifs, constructs containing point mutations in these motifs were examined in transient expression assays. Mutations in either or both GATA and CACGTG sites decreased reporter activity in transient expression assays, suggesting that binding of host transcription factors to these motifs is important in transcriptional regulation of the gp64 early promoter.
What are the current surgical objectives, strategies, and technical capabilities of gynecologic oncologists treating advanced epithelial ovarian cancer?

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this survey was to determine the range of surgical objectives, strategies, and outcomes of primary cytoreductive operations performed by gynecologic oncologists. METHODS A survey addressing the definition of "optimal" cytoreduction, the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, disease sites precluding optimal cytoreduction, reasons optimal cytoreduction or cytoreduction to a visibly disease-free outcome is or is not accomplished, the use of 15 specific operative procedures, and attitude toward postfellowship training in the surgical management of advanced stage epithelial ovarian cancer was mailed to candidate and full members of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists. Analysis of discrete and binomial data utilized the chi(2) and independent samples t tests. Logistic regression confirmed relationships between responses and both the definition of optimal cytoreduction and the attitudes toward postfellowship training. RESULTS Three hundred ninety-three (61.4%) of 640 physicians provided utilizable data. A median of 95% of patients were reported to be operated on primarily and 5% were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (P < 0.0001). A median of 9 (range 0-15) of the surveyed procedures were utilized. Forty-seven (12.0%) respondents defined optimal cytoreduction as no residual disease, 54 (13.7%) used a 5-mm threshold, 239 (60.8%) used a 1-cm threshold, and 48 (12.6%) utilized a 1.5- to 2.0-cm threshold. Small dimensions of residual disease (0-5 mm versus 1-2 cm) defined optimal cytoreduction for physicians indicating that fewer disease sites precluded optimal cytoreduction (P = 0.02), using a larger number of the surveyed procedures (P = 0.04), and in practice longer (P = 0.001). Three hundred seventeen (83.9%) of 378 respondents favored development of postfellowship training in cytoreductive surgery. Physicians against postfellowship training used fewer of the surveyed procedures because of concerns about efficacy (P = 0.01). More recent fellowship graduates favored postfellowship training (P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS A range of surgical objectives, strategies, procedures used, and outcomes exists among gynecologic oncologists. Confirmation of the efficacy of cytoreductive surgery may cultivate a consensus about the most appropriate therapeutic objective and strategy for advanced ovarian cancer. Cooperative efforts should be undertaken to offer postfellowship training.
Small-Field Measurements of 3D Polymer Gel Dosimeters through Optical Computed Tomography

With advances in therapeutic instruments and techniques, three-dimensional dose delivery has been widely used in radiotherapy. The verification of dose distribution in a small field becomes critical because of the obvious dose gradient within the field. The study investigates the dose distributions of various field sizes by using NIPAM polymer gel dosimeter. The dosimeter consists of 5% gelatin, 5% monomers, 3% cross linkers, and 5 mM THPC. After irradiation, a 24 to 96 hour delay was applied, and the gel dosimeters were read by a cone beam optical computed tomography (optical CT) scanner. The dose distributions measured by the NIPAM gel dosimeter were compared to the outputs of the treatment planning system using gamma evaluation. For the criteria of 3%/3 mm, the pass rates for 5 × 5, 3 × 3, 2 × 2, 1 × 1, and 0.5 × 0.5 cm2 were as high as 91.7%, 90.7%, 88.2%, 74.8%, and 37.3%, respectively. For the criteria of 5%/5 mm, the gamma pass rates of the 5 × 5, 3 × 3, and 2 × 2 cm2 fields were over 99%. The NIPAM gel dosimeter provides high chemical stability. With cone-beam optical CT readouts, the NIPAM polymer gel dosimeter has potential for clinical dose verification of small-field irradiation.
Potential therapeutic effect of intravesical botulinum toxin type A on bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis

Bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis is characterized by bladder pain associated with urgency, frequency, nocturia, dysuria and sterile urine. Recent studies have shown that these bladder dysfunctions could originate from chronic inflammation or urothelial insult and proceed to a cascade of tissue reactions, which finally ascends to the central nervous system. Pilot studies of intravesical injection of botulinum toxin type A for bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis had been introduced since 2005 with a promising result. Recent evidence suggests that botulinum toxin type A could significantly improve symptoms such as daytime frequency, nocturia, pain, quality of life and bladder capacity in bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis patients. Single injection of botulinum toxin could not achieve long‐term successful therapeutic result, and repeat injections could provide a better long‐term success rate. However, patients with ulcer type bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis might not gain a benefit from botulinum toxin type A injection. Laboratory evidence showed that botulinum toxin type A for bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis injection could induce peripheral desensitization, reduces bladder chronic inflammation and decreases apoptotic signal molecules in the urothelium. The present article reviewed the recent advances of botulinum toxin type A on bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis.
Developing an Algorithm to Identify History of Cancer Using Electronic Medical Records

Introduction/Objective: The objective of this study was to develop an algorithm to identify Kaiser Permanente Colorado (KPCO) members with a history of cancer. Background: Tumor registries are used with high precision to identify incident cancer, but are not designed to capture prevalent cancer within a population. We sought to identify a cohort of adults with no history of cancer, and thus, we could not rely solely on the tumor registry. Methods: We included all KPCO members between the ages of 40–75 years who were continuously enrolled during 2013 (N=201,787). Data from the tumor registry, chemotherapy files, inpatient and outpatient claims were used to create an algorithm to identify members with a high likelihood of cancer. We validated the algorithm using chart review and calculated sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) for occurrence of cancer. Findings: The final version of the algorithm achieved a sensitivity of 100 percent and specificity of 84.6 percent for identifying cancer. If we relied on the tumor registry alone, 47 percent of those with a history of cancer would have been missed. Discussion: Using the tumor registry alone to identify a cohort of patients with prior cancer is not sufficient. In the final version of the algorithm, the sensitivity and PPV were improved when a diagnosis code for cancer was required to accompany oncology visits or chemotherapy administration. Conclusion: Electronic medical record (EMR) data can be used effectively in combination with data from the tumor registry to identify health plan members with a history of cancer.