Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A systematic review of the drug-induced Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis in Indian population.

BACKGROUND Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are rare severe cutaneous drug reactions. No large scale epidemiological data are available for this disorder in India. AIMS To carry out a systematic review of the published evidence of the drug-induced SJS and TEN in Indian population. METHODS Publications from 1995 to 2011 describing SJS and TEN in Indian population were searched in PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE and UK PUBMED Central electronic databases. Data were collected for the causative drugs and other clinical characteristics of SJS and TEN from the selected studies. RESULTS From 225 references, 10 references were included as per selection criteria. The major causative drugs were antimicrobials (37.27%), anti-epileptics (35.73%) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (15.93%). Carbamazepine (18.25%), phenytoin (13.37%), fluoroquinolones (8.48%) and paracetamol (6.17%) were most commonly implicated drugs. Regional differences were observed for fluoroquinolones, sulfa drugs and carbamazepine. Total 62.96% of patients showed systemic complications. Most common complications were ocular (40.29%) and septicemia (17.65%). Higher mortality was observed for TEN as compared to SJS (odd ratio-7.19; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.62-31.92; p = 0.0023). Observed mortality is higher than expected as per SCORTEN score 3. Duration of hospital stay was significantly higher in TEN (20.6 days; 95% CI 14.4-26.8) as compared to SJS (9.7 days; 95% CI 5.8-13.6; p = 0.020). Cost of management was significantly higher in TEN (Rs. 7910; 95% CI 5672-10147; p < 0.0001) as compared to SJS (Rs 2460; 95% CI 1762-3158). No statistical data were described for steroid use in the studies included. CONCLUSION Carbamazepine, phenytoin, fluoroquinolones and paracetamol were the major causative drugs. TEN is showing higher mortality, morbidity and economic burden than SJS.
Using multi criteria decision making in analysis of alternatives for selection of enabling technology

In September 2009 the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported, “Defense Acquisitions: Many Analyses of Alternatives Have Not Provided a Robust Assessment of Weapon System Options” [U.S. Government Accountability Office, Pub. No. GAO‐09‐665, 2009, p. 1]. In their focused review of 32 Acquisition Category I programs, it was found that 10 did not conduct an Analysis of Alternatives (AoA), but rather focused on an already selected weapon system solution. Prior to Milestone A, the Department of Defense (DoD) requires that service sponsors conduct an Analysis of Alternatives (AoA). The AoA is an analytical comparison of multiple alternatives to be completed prior to committing and investing costly resources to one project or decision. Typically, however, sponsors will circumvent the process in an effort to save money or schedule, and capability requirements are proposed that are so specific that they effectively eliminate all but the preferred concepts, practically ignoring other alternatives. Decision making is one of the most challenging parts of Systems Engineering. How one feeds the decision making process is key to eliminating long term waste. “About three‐quarters of a program”s total life cycle cost is influenced by decisions made before it is approved to start development“[U.S. Government Accountability Office, Pub. No. GAO‐09‐665, 2009, pp. “2]. This study evaluates the positive benefits of defining the problem domain prior to expeditiously turning to the solution domain. The goal in any decision making process is to provide the decision maker with the ability to look into the future, and to make the best possible decision based on past and present information and future predictions. There is a need for approaches that combine available quantitative data with the more subjective knowledge of experts. Decision theory techniques have been successfully used for contrasting expert judgments and making educated choices for many years. For a successful analysis, one must focus on selection of specific criteria that are key performance drivers that can lead to an informed selection of the enabling technology. Understanding the requirements of the end state goal is key to a successful analysis and should also assist in the selection of key performance parameters. A case study example is presented to demonstrate a third tier AoA identifying an enabling technology using the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) while successfully accounting for tacit knowledge of expert practitioners. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Eng 16
Adaptive Ordering and Pricing for Perishable Products

We consider the combined problem of pricing and ordering for a perishable product with unknown demand distribution and censored demand observations resulting from lost sales, faced by a monopolistic retailer. We develop an adaptive pricing and ordering policy with the asymptotic property that the average realized profit per period converges with probability one to the optimal value under complete information on the distribution. The pricing mechanism is modeled as a multiarmed bandit problem, while the order quantity decision, made after the price level is established, is based on a stochastic approximation procedure with multiplicative updates.
Audio Pre-Amplifiers for Digital Electret Microphones in 0.18um CMOS Process

This paper presents CMOS audio pre-amplifiers with integrated voltage regulators for digital electret microphones. Several techniques for achieving high input impedance and proper input bias, as well as methods for implementing very low-frequency integrated high-pass filtering are presented. The amplifier with integrated high-pass filter has 14.8dB of specified voltage gain, 200uA of current consumption from 2.4V-3.6V supply, 60dB of total harmonic distortion, and 72.8dB signal to noise ratio at 1Vpps and 1kHz output.
Thermodynamic Integration Based on Molecular Dynamics Simulation Combined with 3 D-RISM Theory

Recently, we proposed a combination of molecular dynamics (MD) simulation with the threedimensional reference interaction site model (3D-RISM) theory, i.e. MD/3D-RISM method [1]. We extend this combination method to a thermodynamic integration method to calculate the free energy differences between different states in solution. Regarding this extension, we develop two computational tools: i.e. we introduce either (1) the reaction coordinate or (2) the coupling parameter for switching the interaction potentials. The former corresponds to the calculation of the potential of mean force (PMF) along the reaction coordinate chosen, while the latter to the free energy difference associated with the solvation of two different solutes. As to a thermodynamic integration along a reaction coordinate, we employ the algorithm proposed by Ciccotti and his coworkers, known as the blue moon ensemble [2]. In their framework, RATTLE method is employed to fix the reaction coordinate at a given value throughout the MD simulation in each window. They have shown the analytical relationship between the mean force and the constraint force, where the latter is evaluated as an ensemble average along the trajectory of the MD simulation. We have executed this scheme using the MD/3D-RISM method. We applied this method to the issue of potassium ion recognition by crown ether 18-Crown-6 (18C6) in water as one of the simplest systems for the test of our method. The separation between potassium ion and the center of mass of 18C6 was chosen as a reaction coordinate. The PMF obtained shows an existence of local maximum in the vicinity of 4 angstrom separation. When the separation approaches to smaller values than 4 angstrom, the PMF is lowered significantly. The PMF at 0.15 angstrom is lower than that at 14.5 angstrom by ca 5 kcal/mol, where the latter separation corresponds to the largest separation calculated in this study. An MD/3D-RISM thermodynamic integration along a coupling parameter was also applied to this system to evaluate the free energy difference between 18C6-K complex in water and those of uncomplexed state, i.e. at infinite separation. The result was ca 5 kcal/mol, which agreed with the aforementioned PMF difference between 0.15 angstrom and 14.5 angstrom. This agreement indicates that the effective interaction between 18C6 and K ion in aqueous solution vanishes already at the separation of 14.5 angstrom. Further analysis upon related thermodynamic quantities such as solvation free energy will also be presented.
What kind of social policy do social work students prefer?

The goal of this article is to contribute to our understanding of the way in which students at the very beginning of their social work training view the sources of social problems and the way in which society should deal with these problems. This is part of an effort to determine the contemporary role of social change in the thinking of social workers in different national settings. Traditionally, social work has regarded social change as one of its primary professional objectives. Ever since the settlement houses were first established in the late years of the 19th century, many social workers have indeed been actively involved in social action aimed at bringing about social reform for the betterment of deprived segments of society. These efforts first took place in a period during which the term "welfare state" had yet to be coined and the notion of state responsibility for social protection for the poor was not widely accepted. Nevertheless, the conviction of these early social workers that social conditions were the prime cause of deprivation and poverty led them to actively seek improved social legislation and programs (Addams, 1910: Leighninger and Midgley, 1997). Comments Copyright Sage Publications. Postprint version. Published in International Social Work, Volume 45 Issue 1, 2002, pages 59-81. The authors assert their right to include this material in the Scholarly Commons@Penn. This journal article is available at ScholarlyCommons: http://repository.upenn. edu/spp_papers/14 ! "# $ % & ''(') *( +(''(' , '('. ('
Beamforming of ultra wideband signals in an IEEE 802.15.3a channel environment

This paper explains a methodology for beamforming of an ultrawideband signal (UWB). Tapped delay line (TDL) has been chosen as the beamformer structure and the channel environment considered is multipath and non line of sight in nature, compliant to IEEE 802.15. 3a standards. The entire procedure for beamforming was done in the frequency domain owing to the nanosecond duration of ultrawideband pulses, which makes analysis in the time domain tedious. The direction of arrival (DOA) of the signal is known apriori. Least squares minimization approach has been adopted to calculate the weights needed for the tapped delay line structure. While calculating the weights, the cost function to be minimized has been subjected to several constraints like multipath and desired direction of focus. This beamforming technique mainly aims at achieving weight coefficients that are invariant to the range of wideband frequencies and immune to the multipath versions of the desired signal. The weight coefficients adapt themselves as per the varying nature of the channel and interference. This constrained least squares minimization method proves to be robust and at the same time less complex, thereby making it the perfect choice for real time positioning applications that use ultra wideband signals.
Dual feedback active damping method for grid-connected LCL filter resonance

This paper proposes a new active damping method for LCL filter resonance. The proposed method employs a dual feedback loop of the capacitor voltage and the grid current. Based on the proposed method, non-minimum phase behavior can be avoided over a wide range of resonant frequencies. Co-design procedures for both the active damping loops along with the fundamental current regulator are introduced. The proposed method is derived in continuous time domain as well as discussed in discrete form for digital implementation. The performance of the proposed method is verified numerically at different values of resonant frequency. Moreover, simulation work is presented to confirm the numerical results.
System Consolidation of Spatial Memories in Mice: Effects of Enriched Environment

Environmental enrichment (EE) is known to enhance learning and memory. Declarative memories are thought to undergo a first rapid and local consolidation process, followed by a prolonged process of system consolidation, which consist in a time-dependent gradual reorganization of brain regions supporting remote memory storage and crucial for the formation of enduring memories. At present, it is not known whether EE can affect the process of declarative memory system consolidation. We characterized the time course of hippocampal and cortical activation following recall of progressively more remote spatial memories. Wild-type mice either exposed to EE for 40 days or left in standard environment were subjected to spatial learning in the Morris water maze and to the probe test 1, 10, 20, 30, and 50 days after learning. Following the probe test, regional expression of the inducible immediate early gene c-Fos was mapped by immunohistochemistry, as an indicator of neuronal activity. We found that activation of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), suggested to have a privileged role in processing remote spatial memories, was evident at shorter time intervals after learning in EE mice; in addition, EE induced the progressive activation of a distributed cortical network not activated in non-EE mice. This suggests that EE not only accelerates the process of mPFC recruitment but also recruits additional cortical areas into the network supporting remote spatial memories.
Learners’ Representation of their Affective Domain through Figurative Language in a Web‐Based Learning Environment

This study investigated how the participants of an online learning course employed figurative language to express their emotions and feelings during the learning experience. Textual analysis was carried out in the social and metacognitive discussion areas as those related to the expression of the social dimension. Its aim was to analyze the distribution of figurative language across the course, to understand if figurative language elicited the creation of new figurative language, and to classify recurring types of conceptual categories. Results show that figurative language use increased in coincidence with crucial, social events; it did not necessarily encourage the production of further figurative language; and it allowed participants to represent their affective domain and to conceptualize the learning environment in an original manner.
Political participation in late modernity among Norwegian youth: an individual choice or a statement of social class?

Past research has established socioeconomic status as a major determinant of political participation. This explanation has been challenged by sociologists such as Giddens and Beck, who claim that politics in late modernity has become influenced by social class and family tradition to a lesser degree than politics in the traditional industrial society. The authors discuss whether it is reasonable to claim that the youth of today demonstrate an individualized mode of political action: Do we see a shift in young people's political repertoire from a formal towards a cause-oriented participation? Do cause-oriented activities to a higher degree than formal activities recruit participants from a broader social field? The analysis is based on a representative survey of Norwegians aged 16–19. It is argued that the new pattern of political participation is influenced by an ongoing process of individualization, whereas socioeconomic class plays a minor role in comparison with cultural resources in family and individual resources. However, the structural and cultural conditions influence the new political activities to a higher degree than the traditional forms. Long historical traditions involving Norwegian youth in ideological mass movements are presented as an explanation of this contradictory picture.
Strategies for Empiric Management of Pediatric Fever and Neutropenia in Patients With Cancer and Hematopoietic Stem-Cell Transplantation Recipients: A Systematic Review of Randomized Trials.

PURPOSE To describe treatment failure and mortality rates with different antibiotic regimens and different management strategies for empirical treatment of fever and neutropenia (FN) in pediatric patients with cancer and hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients. METHODS We conducted a systematic review and performed searches of MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Studies were included if pediatric patients had cancer or were HSCT recipients and the intervention was related to the management of FN. Strategies synthesized were monotherapy versus aminoglycoside-containing combination therapy; antipseudomonal penicillin monotherapy versus fourth-generation cephalosporin monotherapy; inpatient versus outpatient management; oral versus intravenous antibiotics; and addition of colony-stimulating factors. RESULTS Of 11,469 citations screened, 68 studies randomly assigning 7,265 episodes were included. When compared with monotherapy, aminoglycoside-containing combination therapy did not decrease treatment failures (risk ratio, 1.13; 95% CI, 0.92 to 1.38; P = 0.23), and no difference in mortality was observed. Antipseudomonal penicillin and fourth-generation cephalosporin monotherapy were associated with similar failure and mortality rates. Outpatient management and oral antibiotics were safe in low-risk FN with no infection-related mortality observed in any patient and no significant differences in outcomes compared with inpatient management and intravenous therapy. Therapeutic colony-stimulating factors were associated with a 1.42-day reduction in hospitalization (95% CI, 0.62 to 2.22 days; P < .001). CONCLUSION There were a moderate number of pediatric randomized trials of FN management. Monotherapy for high-risk FN and outpatient and oral management for low-risk FN are effective strategies. These findings will provide the basis for guideline recommendations in pediatric FN.
Cerebral damage and dysfunction in sexually aggressive men

Fifty-one men charged with or convicted of sexual assault on an adult female were compared with thirty-six controls consisting of nonviolent, nonsex offenders using the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Test Battery, WAIS and CT scans. The sexual assaulters were classified as twenty-two sadists and twenty-one nonsadists on the basis of clinical interview, criminal history and a standardized sex history questionnaire. There was 92% agreement on psychiatric and neuroradiological diagnoses. IQ scores did not differ significantly among the groups. Right-sided temporal horn dilatation was found on CT scans significantly more often in sadists than in the nonsadistic assaulters and controls. On the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Test Battery, nonsadists showed more global impairment than the other two groups. The results were unchanged when history of alcohol abuse was taken into consideration. The study was a replication and refinement of an earlier report published by the authors and, despite problems of interpretation as a result of the different instruments used to assess cerebral damage and dysfunction, it provides additional support for the hypothesis that some types of sexual anomalies are associated with subtle forms of brain damage.
Playing sport in the stormy sea of street life

Currently, there are many street children in South Africa (SA). They have been robbed from the safe harbour of family life and on a daily basis experience the stormy sea of street life. Society has an obligation to intervene in the lives of these street children through, for example, quality education, basic health services and sport programmes. This article focuses on six street children in Tshwane, SA, who participated in a ‘Learning Life Skills through Sport\' programme that ran over a period of six months in 2006. After the programme had been completed the six street children were asked to narrate their experiences of the programme. These narratives were analyzed by means of narrative analysis. From the findings it seems that these six street children acquired ‘personal-related skills\' (e.g. respect, enjoyment) as well ‘sport-related skills\' in various sports (e.g. soccer, cricket), and that the ‘Learning Life Skills through Sport\' programme allowed them to experience a safe harbour amidst the stormy sea of street life. Keywords : Street children, life skills, sport, narrative metaphor, narrative analysis. African Journal for Physical, Health Education, Recreation and Dance Vol. 14 (2) 2008: pp.206-220
Morphologically Filtered Power-Normalized Cochleograms as Robust, Biologically Inspired Features for ASR

In this paper, we present advances in the modeling of the masking behavior of the human auditory system (HAS) to enhance the robustness of the feature extraction stage in automatic speech recognition (ASR). The solution adopted is based on a nonlinear filtering of a spectro-temporal representation applied simultaneously to both frequency and time domains - as if it were an image - using mathematical morphology operations. A particularly important component of this architecture is the so-called structuring element (SE) that in the present contribution is designed as a single three-dimensional pattern using physiological facts, in such a way that closely resembles the masking phenomena taking place in the cochlea. A proper choice of spectro-temporal representation lends validity to the model throughout the whole frequency spectrum and intensity spans assuming the variability of the masking properties of the HAS in these two domains. The best results were achieved with the representation introduced as part of the power normalized cepstral coefficients (PNCC) together with a spectral subtraction step. This method has been tested on Aurora 2, Wall Street Journal and ISOLET databases including both classical hidden Markov model (HMM) and hybrid artificial neural networks (ANN)-HMM back-ends. In these, the proposed front-end analysis provides substantial and significant improvements compared to baseline techniques: up to 39.5% relative improvement compared to MFCC, and 18.7% compared to PNCC in the Aurora 2 database.
A high-speed, programmable, CSD coefficient FIR filter

A new high-speed, programmable FIR filter is present, which is a multiplierless filter with CSD encoding coefficients. With this encoding scheme, the speed of filter is improved and the area is optimized. In order to make this filter more applicable, we employ a new programmable CSD encoding structure to make CSD coefficients programmable. In the end of this paper, we design a 10-bits, 18 taps video luminance filter with the filter structure we present. The completed filter core occupies 6.8/spl times/6.8 mmm/sup 2/ of silicon area in Wu-Xi Shanghua 0.6 /spl mu/m 2P2M CMOS technology, and its maximum work frequency is 100 MHz.
TouchCounters: designing interactive electronic labels for physical containers

We present TouchCounters, an integrated system of electronicmodules, physical storage containers, and shelving surfaces for thesupport of collaborative physical work. Through physical sensorsand local displays, TouchCounters record and display usage historyinformation upon physical storage containers, thus allowing accessto this information during the performance of real-world tasks. Adistributed communications network allows this data to be exchangedwith a server, such that users can access this information fromremote locations as well. Based upon prior work in ubiquitous computing and tangibleinterfaces, TouchCounters incorporate new techniques, includingusage history tracking for physical objects and multi-displayvisualization. This paper describes the components, interactions,implementation, and conceptual approach of the TouchCounterssystem.