Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
"Service" Municipal Administration: The Main Components of Model and Its Development in Russia

Implementation of the “public service” model is possible if its components are thoroughly thought-out: purpose and functions of governing boards are definite, conditions for achieving the desired result are set, and initial condition of public management system allows the development. In the modern literature the role of local government is reduced to the execution of policy of the central government. The authors see the development of public services primarily in economic and organizational aspects. The purpose of this article is to identify the major elements of the integrated model of “public service” as a model of a new relationship between municipal authority and local community, as well as to analyze the current state of municipal administration in Russia. The analysis of scientific publications, the content analysis of sites of the Russian municipalities and the opinion poll of municipal employees were used as the main methods of research. The following article: 1) defines a set of basic elements of the “service” model for municipal administration; 2) describes the gap between the “model” and the current state of “service” municipal administration in Russia; 3) suggests social technologies for the approximation of municipal administration to the desirable state.
Incorporation of Wild-Type and C-Terminally Truncated Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor into Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Like Particles: Insight into the Processes Governing Glycoprotein Incorporation into Retroviral Particles

ABSTRACT Previous results have indicated that incorporation of surface glycoprotein into retroviral particles is not a specific process and that many heterologous viral and cellular glycoproteins can be incorporated as long as they do not have long cytoplasmic C-terminal regions which were presumed to be sterically inhibitory. In this study, this concept has been directly examined by analyzing the incorporation of the wild-type human epidermal growth factor receptor (Wt-EGFR) and of a C-terminally truncated mutant of Wt-EGFR (Tr-EGFR) into human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-like particles. Incorporation was directly analyzed at the protein level and by immunogold labelling of enriched HIV-like particles. In agreement with the above concept, Tr-EGFR, with only 7 C-terminal amino acids (aa), was efficiently incorporated into HIV-like particles. Incorporation of the Wt-EGFR species, with 542 C-terminal cytoplasmic aa, was reduced by a factor of about 5 in comparison to that of the Tr-EGFR species. However, the Wt-EGFR species was still very significantly present in the HIV-like particles. A series of control experiments verified that this represents genuine incorporation of Wt-EGFR into the membrane of HIV-like particles. These observations allow further speculation as to the processes governing glycoprotein incorporation into retroviral particles and indicate that the internal virus structure of HIV (in particular the matrix layer [MA]) can accommodate much larger heterologous cytoplasmic domains in incorporated glycoproteins than previously assumed.
Microchannels with Substantial Friction Reduction at Large Pressure and Large Flow

This paper introduces and experimentally verifies a self-regulating method for reducing the friction losses in large microchannels at high liquid pressures and large liquid flows, overcoming limitations with regard to sustainable liquid pressure on a superhydrophobic surface. Our design of the superhydrophobic channel creates an automatic adjustment of the gas pressure in the lubricating air layer to the local liquid pressure in the channel. This is achieved by pneumatically connecting the liquid in the microchannel to the air pockets trapped at channel wall trough a pressure feedback channel. When liquid enters the feedback channel it compresses the air and increases the pressure in the air pocket. This reduces the pressure drop over the air-liquid interface and increases the maximum sustainable liquid pressure. We define a dimensionless fluidic number, WF = PLDh/¿cos¿c, which expresses the fluidic energy carrying capacity of a superhydrophobic microchannel. We experimentally verified that our geometry can sustain several times higher liquid pressure before collapsing, and we measured better friction reducing properties at higher WF values than in previous works. This method could be applicable for reducing near-wall laminar friction in both micro- and macroscale flows.
Hemostatic abnormalities in dogs with naturally occurring heatstroke

OBJECTIVE To investigate hemostatic analyte abnormalities and their association with mortality in dogs with naturally occurring heatstroke. DESIGN Prospective observational study. SETTING University teaching hospital. ANIMALS Thirty client-owned dogs with naturally occurring heatstroke. INTERVENTIONS None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Citrated and EDTA blood samples were collected at presentation and at 4, 12, 24, 36, and 48 hours postpresentation (PP). Hemostatic tests performed included platelet count, prothrombin and activated partial thromboplastin times (PT and aPTT, respectively), antithrombin activity (ATA), total protein C activity (tPCA), fibrinogen, and D-dimer concentrations. The overall survival rate was 60% (18/30 dogs). Older age, higher heart rate and rectal temperature at presentation, and time from onset of clinical signs to presentation were significantly associated with mortality. Hemostatic analytes at presentation were not associated with mortality. Prolonged PT and aPTT at 12-24 hours PP, lower tPCA at 12 hours PP, and hypofibrinogenemia at 24 hours PP were significantly (P < 0.05) associated with mortality. Increased D-dimer concentration and low ATA were common at all time points, but were not associated with mortality. The frequency of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) increased in nonsurvivors throughout hospitalization, but the development of DIC was not associated with mortality. The number of abnormal coagulation disturbances during the first 24 hours was significantly higher in nonsurvivors (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS Hemostatic derangements are common in dogs with naturally occurring heatstroke. Alterations in PT, aPTT, tPCA, and fibrinogen concentrations appear to be associated with the outcome at 12-24 hours PP, exemplifying the need for serial measurement of multiple laboratory hemostatic tests during hospitalization, even when within reference interval on presentation. The development of DIC, as defined in this cohort, was not associated with mortality; however, nonsurvivors had significantly more coagulation abnormalities during the first 24 hours PP.
A Monte Carlo Evaluation of Five Interval Estimators for the Relative Risk in Sparse Data

The relative risk (RR) is one of the most frequently used indices to measure the strength of association between a disease and a risk factor in etiological studies or the efficacy of an experimental treatment in clinical trials. In this paper, we concentrate attention on interval estimation of RR for sparse data, in which we have only a few patients per stratum, but a moderate or large number of strata. We consider five asymptotic interval estimators for RR, including a weighted least‐squares (WLS) interval estimator with an ad hoc adjustment procedure for sparse data, an interval estimator proposed elsewhere for rare events, an interval estimator based on the Mantel‐Haenszel (MH) estimator with a logarithmic transformation, an interval estimator calculated from a quadratic equation, and an interval estimator derived from the ratio estimator with a logarithmic transformation. On the basis of Monte Carlo simulations, we evaluate and compare the performance of these five interval estimators in a variety of situations. We note that, except for the cases in which the underlying common RR across strata is around 1, using the WLS interval estimator with the adjustment procedure for sparse data can be misleading. We note further that using the interval estimator suggested elsewhere for rare events tends to be conservative and hence leads to loss of efficiency. We find that the other three interval estimators can consistently perform well even when the mean number of patients for a given treatment is approximately 3 patients per stratum and the number of strata is as small as 20. Finally, we use a mortality data set comparing two chemotherapy treatments in patients with multiple myeloma to illustrate the use of the estimators discussed in this paper. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Employing Open/Short Via-Hole to Control the Coupling Coefficient for LTCC Bandpass Filters

In this letter, the multilayered bandpass filter (BPF) is synthesized with the assistance of via-holes. By controlling the coupling coefficient with open or short via-hole, the transmission zero can be shifted to lower or higher passband skirt. Theoretical analysis and design procedures are provided. The prototypical low-temperature co-fired ceramic BPFs are fabricated and measured as well. In addition, comparisons of simulated results and experimental data are shown. Good match validates the proposed filter.
Obstructive sleep apnoea in children with Down syndrome.

INTRODUCTION Children with Down syndrome (DS) are prone to develop obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) for a combination of reasons, including small upper airway, midfacial hypoplasia, micrognathia and muscular hypotonia. The objective of this study was to compare the prevalence of OSA in DS children, with or without snoring, with snoring children matched for gender, age and weight for height. METHODS DS children were prospectively recruited from the Hong Kong Down Syndrome Association. All recruited DS children underwent a sleep polysomnography (PSG) in our sleep laboratory. The same number of patients without DS who underwent sleep PSG in the same period were enrolled as controls after they were matched for gender, age and weight for height. OSA was defined as apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) greater than 1.5. RESULTS 22 DS patients and 22 snoring controls completed the overnight PSG. The mean age of DS children and snoring controls was 10.82 +/- 5.93 and 10.27 +/- 5.68 years, respectively. The prevalence of OSA was 59 percent in DS children and 32 percent in snoring controls. Median and interquartile range (IQR) of AHI of DS children (median 1.80, IQR is 0.40 to 7.10) were significantly higher than those of controls (median 0.50, IQR is 0.00 to 2.03, p-value equals 0.041). Out of 13 DS children with OSA, eight of them (61.5 percent) had no habitual snoring. CONCLUSION 59 percent of DS children in the current series were found to have OSA and they were more likely to develop OSA than controls. Nearly 40 percent of DS children with OSA did not have habitual snoring.
Prognostic Relevance of 18F-FDG PET/CT in Carcinoma of Unknown Primary

Objectives The aim of this study was to assess whether 18F-FDG PET combined with x-ray CT (18F-FDG PET/CT) findings have a prognostic impact in patients with carcinoma of unknown primary (CUP). Patients and Methods Seventy patients with CUP who were referred for 18F-FDG PET/CT were included. 18F-FDG PET/CT results were checked against available histologic diagnosis and follow-up data. For each patient, the SUVmax of the lesion with maximum uptake was measured. Results In 26% of the patients, a primary tumor was identified. The follow-up period after 18F-FDG PET/CT scan ranged between 3 and 45 months. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed 1-year survival rates of 92% in the group without evidence of malignancy on 18F-FDG PET/CT, 78% in the group with locoregional disease, and 34% in the group with extensive disease on 18F-FDG PET/CT. Three-year survival rates in these groups were 73%, 71%, and 23%, respectively (P = 0.001). There was no significant survival difference between patients with regionally confined disease without identification of the primary tumor and those in whom the primary tumor was identified on 18F-FDG PET/CT (P = 0.25). This was also the case for patients with extensive disease (P = 0.26). The SUVmax of the lesion with maximum uptake was not significantly related to survival (P = 0.56). Conclusions 18F-FDG PET/CT is a helpful tool for the identification of the primary tumor in patients with CUP; it is also able to provide an accurate assessment of prognosis based on the extent of the disease without the need for identification of the primary tumor.
The community integration measure: development and preliminary validation.

OBJECTIVE To present a new measure of community integration, the Community Integration Measure (CIM), and to offer preliminary information about its psychometric properties. DESIGN Validation study. SETTING Community. PARTICIPANTS Ninety-two participants placed in 3 subgroups (brain injury survivors, n = 41; significant others, n = 36; college students, n = 15). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The distributional properties, factor structure, internal consistency reliability, content validity, discriminant validity, concurrent validity, and construct validity of the CIM. RESULTS All items correlated positively with each other and with the total score. Principal components factor analysis confirmed a 1-factor structure, which explained 44.1% of the variance. Internal consistency reliability, using Cronbach's alpha, was.87. Content validity was assured by the development procedure, correspondence with the theoretical model, and direct use of consumer language. Discriminant validity was supported by the CIM's ability to differentiate between subsamples. Criterion validity was supported by using correlations with the Community Integration Questionnaire. Construct validity was supported by correlations with the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List. CONCLUSION The CIM offers a brief, easily administered measure of community integration that conforms to an empirically derived theoretical model and is psychometrically sound.
Diagnosis and management of pituitary abscess: a review of twenty-four cases.

OBJECT Pituitary abscess is a rare but serious intrasellar infection. To better determine the salient signs and symptoms that help in making the diagnosis, and to determine the most appropriate treatment, the authors reviewed their experience in a series of 24 patients treated at the University of California at San Francisco. METHODS Nine of the patients were female and 15 were male, and their mean age was 41.2 years (range 12-71 years). Surprisingly, most patients in our series presented with complaints and physical findings consistent with a pituitary mass, but rarely with evidence of a serious infection. Headache, endocrine abnormalities, and visual changes were the most common clinical indicators; fever, peripheral leukocytosis, and meningismus were present in 33% or fewer of the patients. Imaging tests demonstrated a pituitary mass in all patients, but the features evident on computerized tomography and magnetic resonance studies did not distinguish pituitary abscesses from other, more common intrasellar lesions. Because of the ambiguous clinical features and imaging findings, most abscesses were not diagnosed before treatment; rather, the diagnosis was made during surgical exploration of the sella turcica, when the surgeon encountered a cystic mass containing pus. There were only two deaths in this series (8.3%). Patients presenting with headache and visual changes noted improvement in almost all cases; patients with endocrine dysfunction generally did not recover normal pituitary function, but were easily treated with hormone replacement therapy. CONCLUSIONS Antibiotic therapy is suggested for patients who have symptoms of sepsis, or for patients in whom specific organisms are identified from cultures obtained during surgery. The transsphenoidal approach is recommended over open craniotomy for surgical drainage.
A new interocular suppression technique for measuring sensory eye dominance.

PURPOSE Recently devised tests have implemented forms of interocular suppression (e.g., binocular rivalry) to assess eye dominance. In an effort to combine the strengths of these tests, the authors introduce a new technique for quantifying the magnitude of interocular suppression by using an easily administered psychophysical test. METHODS Eighty-eight observers participated in the interocular suppression test, which involved dichoptic presentation of dynamic noise to one eye and a target stimulus to the other. Observers made a form-discrimination judgment once the target emerged from suppression. The authors reasoned that the dominant eye is less susceptible to interocular suppression and as a result, perception and thus, form discrimination would be faster when the target is presented to the dominant eye as opposed to the nondominant eye. Observers' sighting dominance, acuity, contrast sensitivity, and test-retest reliability were also assessed. RESULTS There were significant interocular differences in mean reaction times within and across observers. Of the observers, 68% and 32% observers were categorized as right eye dominant and left eye dominant, respectively, according to the test. Moreover, 38% of observers showed strong eye dominance. Observers' discrimination accuracy (98%) and test-retest reliability (r = 0.52-0.67) were high. Consistent with results in previous studies, statistical correlations were weak between the sighting dominance test, acuity scores, contrast sensitivity measures, and the interocular suppression test. CONCLUSIONS This interocular suppression technique offers an efficient, reliable, quantitative method of evaluating eye dominance and may be useful in making decisions about differential refractive correction of the two eyes.
Impact of C-reactive protein on in-stent restenosis: a meta-analysis.

We sought to evaluate the impact of C-reactive protein (CRP) levels on in-stent restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention.The plasma level of CRP is considered a risk predictor for cardiovascular diseases. However, the relationship between CRP and in-stent restenosis has been a matter of controversy. Meta-analysis reduces variability and better evaluates the correlation.We performed a systemic search for literature published in March 2008 and earlier, using MEDLINE(R), the Cochrane clinical trials database, and EMBASE(R). We also scanned relevant reference lists and hand-searched all review articles or abstracts from conference reports on this topic. Of the 245 studies that we initially searched, we chose 9 prospective observational studies (1,062 patients). Overall, CRP concentration was higher in patients who experienced in-stent restenosis. The weighted mean difference in CRP levels between the patients with in-stent restenosis and those without was 1.67, and the Z-score for overall effect was 2.12 (P=0.03). Our subgroup analysis that compared patients with stable and unstable angina showed a weighted mean difference in the CRP levels of 2.22 between the patients with and without in-stent restenosis, and the Z-score for overall effect was 2.23 (P=0.03) in 5 studies of unstable-angina patients. There was no significance in 4 studies of stable-angina patients.In spite of significant heterogeneity across the studies, our meta-analysis suggests that preprocedurally elevated levels of CRP are associated with greater in-stent restenosis after stenting and that this impact appears more prominent in unstable-angina patients.
G41S SOD1 mutation: A common ancestor for six ALS Italian families with an aggressive phenotype

More than 140 different mutations have been reported in the Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1) gene in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), some occurring as founder mutations. Occasionally, specific mutations are associated with a particular phenotype. We evaluated a possible genotype-phenotype correlation and looked for a founder effect in nine patients from six unrelated families with ALS, all carrying the G41S mutation, originating from north-west Tuscany in central Italy. Mutational analysis of the SOD1 gene was carried out by direct sequencing. A haplotype study was carried out using eight polymorphic markers flanking the SOD1 gene. The clinical pattern of the nine familial ALS (FALS) patients was characterized by spinal onset with early upper and lower motor neuron involvement, appearance of bulbar signs within one year, and death a few months later. Mean age at onset was 49.3 years and mean duration of disease was 0.9 years. Genotyping revealed a common haplotype for the G41S allele. We provide the first evidence that the G41S mutation in Italy originates from a common founder. In addition, our findings strengthen the data reported previously and indicate that the G41S mutation is consistently associated with a uniform and dramatic, fast-progressing phenotype.
Courting and Sparking: Wooing Consumers? Interest in the EV Market

The concept of electrified vehicles (EVs) is the best old "new" idea that has been around for the last century. Designs have changed to make EVs popular, but until now, no design has captured the public's imagination or gained market traction. This is because consumers need more than facts about EVs; they need to be wooed into making a bigger commitment to the EV. The winning combination of making the EVs indispensable to the average North American consumer can be found in accessible charging infrastructures, reliable long-life batteries, and increased mileage. Vehicle manufacturers want a better-quality Ev to offer consumers to increase market penetration. Engineers and policy makers, to make this relationship a reality, need to appeal to more than just consumers' minds and go beyond testing and performance statistics and test results.
Dental Care for Survivors of Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer: Special Considerations.

PURPOSE Oral health is important for quality of life, but may be undermanaged for survivors of cancer. We examine dental care use and barriers among long-term survivors of adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer in comparison to individuals without a history of cancer. METHODS The 2008-2012 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) identified 1216 individuals diagnosed with cancer at AYA ages (15-39 years), who were at least 5 years from diagnosis. A comparison group was matched using age, sex, and other factors. We evaluated self-reported dental visits in the previous 12 months, and inability and delay in receiving necessary dental care among survivors and the comparison group. Furthermore, individual factors associated with dental care use were identified using multivariable logistic regressions. RESULTS Of survivors, 60.86% reported no dental visits in the previous year compared to 51.96% of the comparison individuals (p < 0.001). Survivors were more likely to report inability (10.71% vs. 6.29%, p = 0.001) and delay (8.12% vs. 4.45%, p = 0.001) in getting necessary dental care than the comparison group. Notably, survivors without dental insurance were more likely to report inability and delay. Female survivors were more likely to use dental care than males (odds ratio = 1.76, 95% confidence interval 1.15-2.71, p = 0.01). Hispanic survivors, those diagnosed at younger ages, and uninsured survivors were less likely to have at least one dental visit. CONCLUSION Survivors of AYA cancer need timely surveillance to manage late effects, including dental complications. Yet, these survivors, particularly those who are uninsured, delay dental care more often than individuals from the general population. Survivor-specific interventions are needed to reduce dental care barriers.