Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Decisions about life‐sustaining measures in children: in whose best interests?

As the community of physicians and nurses dedicated to the care of critically ill children has gained ever more well‐developed skill sets, the decision to either continue or forego life‐sustaining measures has become less time‐sensitive. As a result, there is greater opportunity for careful consideration and discussion. The core principle in making decisions about whether to continue or forego life‐sustaining measures is the best interests of the child. However, there are many clinical situations wherein factors other than the child’s best interests may influence treatment decisions. The present report seeks to examine the notion that in the arena of paediatric critical care medicine, the decision‐making process regarding life‐sustaining measures may place insufficient priority upon the child’s best interests. We examine actual, de‐identified clinical situations, encountered in the critical care arena in two categories: (i) cases that challenge the imperative to act in the child’s best interests, and (ii) cases that compromise the ability of parents and caregivers to use child‐centred, best‐interests approaches to decision‐making. Clarity surrounding the implications of a clinical decision for the patient is essential. Decisions that are not focused squarely on the child’s best interests may compromise the delivery of optimally ethical end‐of‐life care.
Near-threshold sequential circuits using Improved Clocked Adiabatic Logic in 45nm CMOS processes

The paper presents adiabatic flip-flops and sequential circuits operating on near-threshold low voltages, which are realized with ICAL (Improved Clocked Adiabatic Logic) circuits. A near-threshold ICAL mode-10 counter with a single-phase power clock is implemented. Full-custom layouts of all circuits are drawn by Cadence Virtuoso layout editor with the NCSU FreePDK 45nm technology library. Full parasitic extraction is done by Calibre PEX parasitic extraction tool. Based on the post-layout simulations and the comparison with the CMOS counterparts, the adiabatic flip-flops that operate on medium-voltage region can not only keep reasonable speed but also reduce greatly energy consumptions.
Speed of Mean Reversion: Regional Case Study

Volatility is measured as a risk and plays vital role in many financial decisions. The central part of this study is to capture the existence of the volatility in the regional financial markets (Karachi, Bombay, China, Korea and Hong Kong) have been included and the sample of Jan 1,2007 to Dec 31,2009 taken for the testing. The volatility and its stylized facts were under consideration by using ARCH and GARCH (1,1) that are very common to use to grab the volatility and they are also known as symmetric volatility model. The GARCH (1,1) has been applied and found that the financial time series of the regional markets has the volatility and it stylized facts, speed of mean reversion, fat tail and one half-life reverting to it mean satisfactorily.
Excess maternal transmission of type 2 diabetes. The Northern California Kaiser Permanente Diabetes Registry.

OBJECTIVE To assess excess maternal transmission of type 2 diabetes in a multiethnic cohort. Previous studies have reported higher prevalence of diabetes among mothers of probands with type 2 diabetes than among fathers. This analysis is vulnerable to biases, and this pattern has not been observed in all populations or races. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We assessed evidence for excess maternal transmission among 42,533 survey respondents with type 2 diabetes (probands) by calculating the prevalence of diabetes in their siblings and offspring. To assess data quality, we evaluated completeness of family history data provided. Accuracy of family information reported by probands was also evaluated by comparing survey responses in a subsample of 206 probands with family histories modified after further interviews with relatives. RESULTS Siblings (n = 60,532) of probands with affected mothers had a greater prevalence of diabetes (20%) than those with affected fathers (17%) (P < 0.001 for adjusted odds ratios). Prevalence of diabetes was higher among the offspring (n = 72,087) of female (3.4%) versus male (2.2%) probands (P < 0.001 for adjusted odds ratios). These patterns were evident in all races and both sexes; however, the effect size was clinically insignificant in African-Americans and male offspring. In general, probands provided more complete data about diabetes status for the maternal arm of the pedigree than the paternal arm. Completeness of knowledge was not related to proband sex, but was related to education and race, and inversely to age. Accuracy of proband-reported family history was consistently good (kappa statistics generally > 0.70). CONCLUSIONS Excess maternal transmission was observed in all races and both sexes, although the size of the excess was negligible in African-Americans and male offspring. Potential reporting and censoring biases are discussed.
Third generation sexism in workplaces: Evidence from India

ABSTRACT Earlier literature indicates that, of late, crude biases against women in workplace or ‘first generation bias’ is giving way to more subtle, invisible ‘second-generation bias. ’ Through this study, I found that not only did subtle forms of sexism exist, but the crudest possible forms continue to persist and impact the work environment adversely. A complex amalgam of ‘old’ and ‘new’ sexism is what I term ‘third generation bias. ’ Using organizational ethnography, I gathered evidence of sexist attitudes in multiple forms, ranging from the crudest to the subtlest, which revealed the underlying and complex power dynamics in the workplace. I, therefore, made the case against assuming that because anti-sexual harassment policies are in place, crude sexist practices like overt sexual harassment are a thing of the past. I also suggested the use of technology and training for both men and women, besides deploying people with right attitudes to tackle the issue. Lastly, the study recommends that policy studies need to divert their attention from ‘mere statistics’ and focus on the behavioural dynamics of the organizations.
Real-time heart rate variability extraction using the Kaiser window

A new method for real-time heart rate variability (HRV) detection from the R-wave signal, based on the integral pulse frequency modulation (IPFM) model and its similarity to pulse position modulation, is presented. The proposed method exerts lowpass filtering with a Kaiser window. It can also be used for off-line HRV analysis in both the time and frequency domains. Real-time bandpass filtering as a new HRV investigation method and as a by-product of the proposed algorithm is also introduced. Furthermore, the discrete time domain version of the French-Holden algorithm is developed, and it is thoroughly proved that lowpass filtering is an ideal method for detection of HRV.
Baseline leisure time activity and cognition more than two decades later

Many studies of the relation between factors earlier in life and late‐life cognition have a short follow‐up time, often less than 10 years. Since cognitive decline can be present up to 20 years prior to dementia it is difficult to distinguish the direction of the relationships without a long follow‐up. We analyzed the association between different types of leisure time activity at baseline and cognition more than 20 years later. A wide range of activities was included—political, mental, socio‐cultural, social, physical, and organizational activities.
Integration of Headspace Solid Phase Micro-Extraction with Gas Chromatography for Quantitative Analysis of Formaldehyde

E-mail: yyl1007@siswa.um. edu.myReceived September 4, 2012, Accepted October 22, 2012A study was carried out to evaluate the solid phase micro-extraction (SPME) for formaldehyde emissionanalysis of uncoated plywood. In SPME, formaldehyde was on-fiber derivatized through headspace extractionand analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The SPME was comparedwith desiccators (DC-JAS 233), small-scale chamber (SSC-ASTM D6007) and liquid-liquid extraction (LLE-EPA 556) methods which were performed in accordance with their respective standards. Compared to SSC(RSD 4.3%) and LLE (RSD 5.0%), the SPME method showed better repeatability (RSD 1.8%) and not muchdifference from DC (RSD 1.4%). The SPME has proven to be highly precise (at 95% confidence level) withbetter recovery (REC 102%). Validation of the SPME method for formaldehyde quantitative analysis wasevidenced. In addition, the SPME by air sampling directly from plywood specimens (SPME-W) correlated bestwith DC (r
RSSI Based Localization of Bluetooth Devices for Visually Impaired

Localization for visually impaired people in dynamically changing environments with unexpected hazards and obstacles is a current need. Many techniques have been discussed in the literature with respect to location-based services and techniques used for the positioning of devices. Time difference of arrival (TDOA), time of arrival (TOA) and received signal strength (RSS) have been widely used for the positioning but narrow band signals such as Bluetooth cannot efficiently utilize TDOA or TOA. Received signal strength indicator (RSSI) to measure RSS, has been found to be more reliable. RSSI measurement estimations depend heavily on the environmental interference. RSSI measurement estimations of Bluetooth systems can be improved either by improving the existing methodologies used to implement them or by using fusion techniques that employ Kalman filters to combine more than one RSSI method to improve the results significantly. This paper focuses on improving the existing methodology of measuring RSSI by proposing a new method using trilateration for localization of Bluetooth devices for visually impaired people. To validate the new method, class 2 Bluetooth devices (Blue Giga WT-12) were used with an evaluation board. The software required was developed in National Instruments LabView. The PCB was designed and manufactured as well. Experiments were then conducted, and surface plots of Bluetooth modules were obtained to show the signal interference and other environmental effects. Lastly, the results were discussed, and relevant conclusions were drawn.
Frequency of hepatitis B in asymptomatic patients of District Headquarter Hospital Kotli, Azad Kashmir.

BACKGROUND Hepatitis B is prevalent throughout the world including Pakistan. A large proportion of patients suffering from Hepatitis B may be asymptomatic and can transmit the disease to healthy population. Objectives of this study were to estimate the frequency of Hepatitis B in asymptomatic adult population coming to District Headquarter Hospital Kotli, Azad Kashmir and to determine the risk factors associated with its transmission. METHODS This was a cross-sectional study extending from January to December 2008. Subjects were randomly selected from those who attended the medial OPD of DHQ Hospital Kotli, Azad Kashmir for non-Hepatitis related problems. Both males and females between the ages of 15-80 years were included in the study. Blood samples taken from selected subjects were analysed for Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) by Immunochromatographic kit methods (ICT). Hepatitis B positive samples were further confirmed by third generation ELIZA. The patients thus confirmed were interrogated for different risk factors associated with transmission of Hepatitis B. RESULTS A total of 9,564 patients were analysed. Out of them 4230 (44.22%) were males and 5334 (55.77%) were females. Overall 141 (1.47%) patients were positive for HBSAg, 71 (1.68%) males and 70 (1.31%) females. Patients between 21-30 years of age were most commonly effected (35.46%, n = 50). Blood transfusion was the most common risk factor (24.82%, n = 35) associated with Hepatitis B transmission followed by dental procedures (14.18%, n = 20). CONCLUSION Frequency of Hepatitis B in asymptomatic people in this study was quite high. Blood transfusions and dental procedures were the most common risk factors associated with the transmission of Hepatitis B.
Effect of emergence of fluoroquinolone resistance on intrinsic expression of P-glycoprotein phenotype in corneal epithelial cells.

PURPOSE Multidrug resistance (MDR) represents a major obstacle to the success of antimicrobial fluoroquinolone (FQ) therapy. MDR-associated efflux protein pumps antimicrobial agents out of the corneal cells, leading to suboptimal eradication of microbes. This article examines whether long-term FQ (levofloxacin, ofloxacin, and gatifloxacin) therapy can modify the MDR phenotype (P-glycoprotein [P-gp]) on corneal epithelial cells (Statens Seruminstitut Rabbit Cornea [SIRC]). METHODS To study the effect of FQ, SIRC cells without any exposure to FQ (control) were compared with the cells exposed to ofloxacin, levofloxacin, and gatifloxacin at a concentration of 10 μg/mL for 3 weeks. Efflux activity of P-gp was assessed by in vitro uptake studies (fluorescent and radioactive), flow cytometry, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). RESULTS In the presence of FQ, elevated P-gp expression was noted with uptake, flow cytometry, and qRT-PCR analyses. This study confirms that long-term exposure to antibiotics, particularly FQ, can induce overexpression of P-gp efflux transporter present on the corneal cells. P-gp overexpression is commonly noticed in anticancer drug resistance cell lines; however, for the first time, this report describes overexpression of P-gp due to FQ exposure. CONCLUSIONS Based on this result, it is suggested that strategies should be developed and implemented not only to overcome resistance to ocular pathogen but also to FQ-induced cellular resistance.
Nerve growth factor, laminin, and fibronectin promote neurite growth in human fetal sensory ganglia cultures

The effect of mouse nerve growth factor (NGF) on cultured human fetal sensory neurons was assayed by measuring neurite length, density and rate of growth. Addition of NGF increased adhesion of dissociated sensory neurons cultured on collagen coated surfaces. Almost all neurons of 9 to 10 week old fetuses are postmitotic, contain neuron‐specific enolase, (an enzyme linked to differentiation), and require NGF for optimal neurite growth. Sensory ganglia re‐explanted on collagen showed maximal neurite length and density when treated with 1 ng/ml of NGF. Neurite density was reduced considerably in the absence of mouse NGF and was almost abolished by addition of antimouse NGF antibodies. Surfaces coated with the matrix glycoproteins laminin or fibronectin further stimulated neurite growth of ganglia in the presence of NGF. Increasing amounts of matrix proteins could partly compensate for the absence of mouse NGF or the inhibition of NGF activity by antibodies. Stimulation of neurite growth by matrix proteins was time‐dependent, and neurites showed maximum length at 10 days (2 to 3 mm). Neurite growth was more pronounced with laminin than with fibronectin and collagen, and antibodies to laminin suppressed all neurite growth. In the presence of a constant amount of NGF, mean neurite growth reached 26 μm/hr (at 1 day), and was 2.1 and 1.7 times faster on laminin and fibronectin (respectively) than on collagen. Thus, laminin, and to a lesser degree fibronectin, may enhance neurite growth of human sensory neurons in synergy with NGF.
Building teams in primary care: A practical guide.

INTRODUCTION Primary care is changing to a team-based model. A number of high-performing primary-care practices in the United States have succeeded in making the transition to team-based care. METHOD Site visits were conducted to 29 high-performing primary-care practices. Observations made in these practices were summarized for common elements exhibited by care teams. A limited literature search was done to review corroborating evidence. RESULTS Teams observed in the 29 practices were found to exhibit 9 elements: a stable team structure, colocation, a culture shift in progress from physician-driven to team-based care, defined roles with training and skill checks to reinforce those roles, standing orders and protocols, defined workflows and workflow mapping, staffing ratios adequate to facilitate new roles, ground rules, and modes of communication, including team meetings, huddles, and minute-to-minute interaction. DISCUSSION These 9 elements may be helpful to practices making the transition to team-based care.
Serotonergic responses in rabbit ophthalmic artery: a pharmacological characterization.

The contractile effect of serotonin (5-HT) on rabbit ophthalmic artery was studied. In a solution containing 20 mM K+ 5-HT induced a biphasic dose-response curve (DRC) in intact arteries. At normal extracellular K+ concentration ([K+]o), only high concentrations of 5-HT (greater than or equal to 1 microM) were able to induce contraction. In endothelium-denuded arteries 5-HT induced a DRC at normal [K+]o, which resembled that in intact arteries at 20 mM [K+]o. The high-potency portion of the 5-HT DRC was inhibited only by metitepine, whereas the low-potency portion was blocked by metitepine, methysergide, spiperone, and ketanserin, indicating that in this preparation the 5-HT1 receptor subtypes are more sensitive to 5-HT than the 5-HT2 receptor subtypes. Cyanopindolol had no effect on 5-HT-induced contraction. 8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin gave a contraction at high concentrations (greater than or equal to 0.1 microM), which was not blocked by cyanopindolol. The contractile response to 5-methoxytryptamine was similar to that for 5-HT. The results indicate that the 5-HT1 receptors of the ophthalmic artery belong either to 1C or 1D subtypes. 2-Methylserotonin, an agonist for 5-HT3 receptor, had no contractile effect on rabbit ophthalmic artery. The effect of prior exposure to 5-HT on norepinephrine (NE)-induced contraction was also studied. In intact arteries prior exposure to a low 5-HT concentration (10 nM) induced attenuation and prior exposure to a high 5-HT concentration (1 microM) gave potentiation of the NE-induced contraction. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Projections from the amygdaloid complex to the claustrum and the endopiriform nucleus: A Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin study in the rat

The claustrum and the endopiriform nucleus contribute to the spread of epileptiform activity from the amygdala to other brain areas. Data of the distribution of pathways underlying the information flow between these regions are, however, incomplete and controversial. To investigate the projections from the amygdala to the claustrum and the endopiriform nucleus, we injected the anterograde tracer Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin into various divisions of the amygdaloid complex, including the lateral, basal, accessory basal, central, anterior cortical and posterior cortical nuclei, the periamygdaloid cortex, and the amygdalohippocampal area in the rat. Analysis of immunohistochemically processed sections reveal that the heaviest projections to the claustrum originate in the magnocellular division of the basal nucleus. The projection is moderate in density and mainly terminates in the dorsal aspect of the anterior part of the claustrum. Light projections from the parvicellular and intermediate divisions of the basal nucleus terminate in the same region, whereas light projections from the accessory basal nucleus and the lateral division of the amygdalohippocampal area innervate the caudal part of the claustrum. The most substantial projections from the amygdala to the endopiriform nucleus originate in the lateral division of the amygdalohippocampal area. These projections terminate in the central and caudal parts of the endopiriform nucleus. Lighter projections originate in the anterior and posterior cortical nuclei, the periamygdaloid cortex, the medial division of the amygdalohippocampal area, and the accessory basal nucleus. These data provide an anatomic basis for recent functional studies demonstrating that the claustrum and the endopiriform nucleus are strategically located to synchronize and spread epileptiform activity from the amygdala to the other brain regions. These topographically organized pathways also provide a route by means of which the claustrum and the endopiriform nucleus have access to inputs from the amygdaloid networks that process emotionally significant information. J. Comp. Neurol. 451:236–249, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Online Attention Bias Modification in Combination With Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy for Children and Adolescents With Anxiety Disorders: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Abstract Attention Bias Modification (ABM) targets attention bias (AB) towards threat, which is common in youth with anxiety disorders. Previous clinical trials showed inconsistent results regarding the efficacy of ABM, and few studies have examined the effect of online ABM and its augmented effect with cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). The aim of the current study was to examine the efficacy of online ABM combined with CBT for children and adolescents with anxiety disorders in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Children (aged 8–16 years) completed nine online sessions of ABM (n = 28) or online sessions of the Attention Control Condition (ACC; n = 27) over a period of 3 weeks (modified dot-probe task with anxiety disorder-congruent stimuli), followed by CBT. Primary outcomes were clinician-reported anxiety disorder status. Secondary outcomes were patient-reported anxiety and depression symptoms and AB. Results showed a continuous decrease across time in primary and secondary outcomes (ps < .001). However, no differences across time between the ABM and ACC group were found (ps > .50). Baseline AB and age did not moderate treatment effects. Online ABM combined with CBT does not show different efficacy compared with online ACC with CBT for children and adolescents with anxiety disorders.
PENGARUH RISIKO PRODUKSI DAN HARGA KENTANG TERHADAP PERILAKU PRODUKSI RUMAHTANGGA PETANI DI KECAMATAN PANGALENGAN KABUPATEN BANDUNG (The Influence of Potato's Price and Production Risk on Farm Household Production Behavior in Pangalengan Bandung)

The farm households face different risk on decision-making of resource allocation, especially production and price risk. The objectives of this paper are: (1) to analyze the effects of input allocation on the production risk, and (2) to analyze the influence of product price and production risk, incorporating the household economic behavior, especially on decision-making in resource allocation. Generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) model was used to analyze the production variance. The estimation of production function showed that the current production variance was influenced by the production variance of the previous period. Pesticide had a risk-reducing effect on the variance of production. On the contrary, land and nitrogen fertilizer had risk-inducing effect on the variance of production.