Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Treatment of neuropathic cancer pain with continuous intrathecal administration of S (+)‐ketamine

The effective treatment of patients suffering from neuropathic cancer pain remains a clinical challenge. When patients experience either insufficient analgesia or problematic side‐effects after opioid administration, intrathecal administration of morphine and other medications such as bupivacaine and clonidine may offer significant advantages. Additionally, ketamine, a non‐competitive N‐methyl‐d‐Aspartate‐receptor antagonist is able to alter pain perception at the spinal level. Because of the potential neurotoxicity after neuraxial use of racemic ketamine, intrathecal administration of the preservative‐free active compound, S (+)‐ketamine may be a valuable alternative. In this paper, we present a patient with severe neuropathic cancer pain successfully treated by continuous intrathecal infusion of morphine, bupivacaine, clonidine and S (+)‐ketamine. Moreover, quality of life measurements before and 3 weeks after the start of spinal treatment revealed an improvement in pain relief and a higher overall quality of life. No clinical signs of neurologic deficit were observed during spinal treatment with S (+)‐ketamine. However, the continuous intrathecal administration of S (+)‐ketamine should be considered as the last resort because there are no preclinical safety data with relevant concentrations on intrathecal use of S (+)‐ketamine.
The enzymic hydrolysis of carrageenin.

Carrageenin is the water soluble polysaccharide extractable from the red algae Chondrus crispus and Gigartina stellata. The polysaccharide is essentially a polymer of alpha-D-galactopyranoside-4-sulphate. Smith et al. (1954) fractionated carrageenin with potassium chloride into two components and obtained a precipitable component which could form gels and a nongelling component which remained in solution. The former was designated kappa-carrageenin and the latter lambda-carrageenin. Smith, O'Neill, Perlin, and Cook (personal communication) found that these fractions differ in their content of D-anhydrogalactose. Mori (1943a) demonstrated a hydrolase in marine molluscs which degraded the mucilage from Chondrus ocellatus. The bacterial decomposition of carrageenin has been commonly recognized but this has not been related to any particular organism or enzyme. The purpose of the work to be described was to attempt to isolate and characterize a bacterial carrageenase.
Measurement of Pedestrian Traffic Using Feature-based Regression in the Spatiotemporal Domain

Measurement of pedestrian traffic in public areas (e.g., stations, airports, shopping malls or complex buildings) provides valuable information. For safety management, congestions can be detected to prevent accidents in their early stage by monitoring the pedestrian traffic continuously. Knowing the number of people working in a large building may help to when designing evacuation plans. For marketing purposes, value assessments of shopping areas can be achieved based on traffic data because higher pedestrian traffic is directly linked to more sales. In building management, pedestrian traffic data can be utilized to optimize the number and working hours of staff. Power savings can be achieved by adjusting airconditioning and heating based on pedestrian traffic. Over the last decade, various computer vision methods have been studied to automatically measure the pedestrian traffic. One popular approach to pedestrian traffic measurement is the use of top-view cameras. In this approach, a camera is mounted vertically at the top of a gate or over a region of interest. Because of the superior viewpoint of the camera, pedestrians do not obscure each other in video frames. Hence the problem of pedestrian traffic measurement may be solved easily by detecting moving objects using foreground segmentation and tracking the detected blobs (Sexton et al., 1995; Kim et al., 2003). However, these methods fail when a number of people move close or slightly touch each other creating a single blob. Chen et al. resolved this problem by comparing the area of detected moving object with the area of one person to estimate the number of people in the blob (2006). Velipasalar et al. employed two-level hierarchical tracking to deal with pedestrians of complex movements interacting with each other (2006). Pedestrian traffic also can be studied by detecting humans using standard surveillance cameras that do not require a specific viewpoint. Similar to top-view camera based methods, some of these methods perform foreground segmentation to distinguish moving objects. However, for oblique camera angles, multiple pedestrians easily appear as merged blobs in a video frame. The detected foreground blobs are segmented into individuals by modeling humans as ellipsoids (Zhao et al, 2004, 2008) or rectangles (Liu et al, 2005; Beleznai et al., 2006) cooperating with the known camera geometry. Based on based on their shapes and apperances, humans can also be detected directly from image frames without separating out foreground blobs. Viola et al. detected humans using appearance and motion information
Barnes-Wall lattices for the symmetric interference channel

In this paper we study the performance of Barnes-Wall lattices in a symmetric interference channel, under different types of interference. We are inspired by the work of Jafar [1], in which a scheme is proposed for each type of interference, using a base Q expression for the transmitted signals. This is similar to the multilevel structure of Barnes-Wall lattices. With the advantage of their good performance and the extension in bigger dimensions that using lattices implies, we propose to use Barnes-Wall lattices to improve the performance of each user, under lattice alignment in a symmetric interference channel.
When Does Return of Voluntary Finger Extension Occur Post-Stroke? A Prospective Cohort Study

Objectives Patients without voluntary finger extension early post-stroke are suggested to have a poor prognosis for regaining upper limb capacity at 6 months. Despite this poor prognosis, a number of patients do regain upper limb capacity. We aimed to determine the time window for return of voluntary finger extension during motor recovery and identify clinical characteristics of patients who, despite an initially poor prognosis, show upper limb capacity at 6 months post-stroke. Methods Survival analysis was used to assess the time window for return of voluntary finger extension (Fugl-Meyer Assessment hand sub item finger extension≥1). A cut-off of ≥10 points on the Action Research Arm Test was used to define return of some upper limb capacity (i.e. ability to pick up a small object). Probabilities for regaining upper limb capacity at 6 months post-stroke were determined with multivariable logistic regression analysis using patient characteristics. Results 45 of the 100 patients without voluntary finger extension at 8 ± 4 days post-stroke achieved an Action Research Arm Test score of ≥10 points at 6 months. The median time for regaining voluntary finger extension for these recoverers was 4 weeks (lower and upper percentile respectively 2 and 8 weeks). The median time to return of VFE was not reached for the whole group (N = 100). Patients who had moderate to good lower limb function (Motricity Index leg≥35 points), no visuospatial neglect (single-letter cancellation test asymmetry between the contralesional and ipsilesional sides of <2 omissions) and sufficient somatosensory function (Erasmus MC modified Nottingham Sensory Assessment≥33 points) had a 0.94 probability of regaining upper limb capacity at 6 months post-stroke. Conclusions We recommend weekly monitoring of voluntary finger extension within the first 4 weeks post-stroke and preferably up to 8 weeks. Patients with paresis mainly restricted to the upper limb, no visuospatial neglect and sufficient somatosensory function are likely to show at least some return of upper limb capacity at 6 months post-stroke.
Contract Renegotiation and Options in Agency Problems

This article discusses the ability of an agent and a principal to achieve the first-best outcome when the agent invests in an asset that has greater value if owned by the principal than by the agent. When contracts can be renegotiated, a well-known danger is that the principal can hold up the agent, undermining the agent's investment incentives. We begin by identifying a countervailing effect: Investment by the agent can increase his value for the asset, thus improving his bargaining position in renegotiation. We show that option contracts will achieve the first best whenever his threat-point effect dominates the holdup effect. Otherwise, achieving the first best is difficult and, in many cases, impossible. Copyright 2000 by Oxford University Press.
Urban Residential Water Demand Forecasting in Xi'an Based on RBF Model

Based on the actual urban residential water demand of Xi’an, the Radial Basis Function (RBF) artificial neural network was used to forecast the urban residential water demand. RBF artificial neural network model was employed based on two input variables of population and Gross Domestic Product (GDP), one output variable of urban residential water demand. The performances in RBF forecasting of different spreads were compared and the forecasting result was the best when spread was 6. The urban residential water demand was forecasted for different influence factors, the variable of rainfall was eliminated. In order to get the performance of different models, some performance criteria such as Mean Error (ME), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and square of the correlation coefficient (R2) were calculated for 2003-2005 testing data for RBF and Grey Model (GM). The urban residential water demands for different planning years were forecasted by RBF, GM(1,1) and the quota method respectively. The results indicated that RBF model was appropriate for forecasting the urban residential water demand.
Powder metallurgy of titanium – past, present, and future

Powder metallurgy (PM) of titanium is a potentially cost-effective alternative to conventional wrought titanium. This article examines both traditional and emerging technologies, including the production of powder, and the sintering, microstructure, and mechanical properties of PM Ti. The production methods of powder are classified into two categories: (1) powder that is produced as the product of extractive metallurgy processes, and (2) powder that is made from Ti sponge, ingot, mill products, or scrap. A new hydrogen-assisted magnesium reduction (HAMR) process is also discussed. The mechanical properties of Ti-6Al-4V produced using various PM processes are analyzed based on their dependence on unique microstructural features, oxygen content, porosity, and grain size. In particular, the fatigue properties of PM Ti-6Al-4V are examined as functions of microstructure. A hydrogen-enabled approach for microstructural engineering that can be used to produce PM Ti with wrought-like microstructure and properties is also presented. Abbreviations: AM: additive manufacturing; ARC: Albany Research Center; BE: blended elemental; BUS: broken-up structure; CCGA: close-coupled gas atomisation; CHIP: CIP-sinter-HIP; CIP: cold isostatic pressing; CP-Ti: commercially pure Ti; DRTS: direct reduction of Ti-slag; CSIR: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (South Africa); CSIRO: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (Australia); EIGA: electrode induction gas atomisation; EMR: electronically mediated reduction; FFC: Fray, Farthing, and Chen; GA: gas atomisation; GIF: gaseous isostatic forging; GSD: granulation-sintering-deoxygenation; HAMR: hydrogen-assisted magnesium reduction; HDH: hydride–dehydride; HIP: hot isostatic pressing; HSPT: hydrogen sintering and phase transformation; MA: master alloy; MER: Materials & Electrochemical Research Corporation (US); MHR: metal hydride reduction; MIM: metal injection molding; OM: optical microscope; OS: Ono and Suzuki; PA: pre-alloyed; P/C: performance to cost ratio; PIF: pneumatic isostatic forging; PM: powder metallurgy; PREP: plasma rotating electrode process; PP: post-processing; PS: press and sinter; QIT: Quebec Iron & Titane, Inc. (Canada); SEM: scanning electron microscope; SPS: spark plasma sintering; SOM: solid oxide membrane; THP: thermohydrogen processing; TMP: thermomechanical processing; UFG: ultrafine grain; UGS: upgraded titanium slag; UTS: ultimate tensile strength; USTB: University of Science and Technology Beijing (China); VA: vacuum atomisation; VHP: vacuum hot pressing; WP: wrought process; YS: yield strength
In-House Pureed Food Production in Long-Term Care: Perspectives of Dietary Staff and Implications for Improvement

Texture modification of foods to a pureed consistency is a common management approach for older adults with dysphagia. Long-term care (LTC) facilities commonly produce some pureed food in-house. This study investigated challenges and preferred practices associated with the production of pureed food in LTC facilities. Nutrition Managers (n = 27) and cooks (n = 26) from 25 Ontario LTC facilities were recruited for one-on-one, semistructured interviews. Interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Four themes arose from the data to exemplify challenges in production, including (a) difficulty in using standardized recipes, (b) varied interpretation of governmental guidelines, (c) lack of consistency in terminology and texture, and (d) wanting to improve the visual appeal. These challenges were reported to reduce the quality of in-house produced pureed food. Preferred practices to overcome these challenges were also provided by participants, such as involving cooks in pureed recipe improvements and tailoring to the specific needs of residents. Incorporation of these practices into pureed food production may help to shape and improve future practice and pureed food products.
Adaptive group multicast with time-driven priority

This paper shows how to provide an adaptive real-time group multicast (many-to-many) communication service. Adaptive means that the number of nodes that transmit to the multicast group is continuously changing. In order to meet deterministic quality-of-service (QoS) requirements of a real-time group multicast, some communication resources are reserved. We show (1) how bandwidth is reserved for each multicast group and (2) how an active source can dynamically share the bandwidth allocated to this multicast group with other active group members. Quality-of-service support for a real-time multicast group is based on time-driven priority. In this scheme the time is divided into time frames of fixed duration, and all the time frames are aligned by using a common global time reference, which can be obtained from the Global Positioning System. Bandwidth is allocated to a multicast group as a whole, rather than individually to each user. The allocation is done by reserving time intervals within time frames in a periodic fashion. This type of allocation raises two problems that are studied in this paper: (1) scheduling: how time intervals are reserved to each multicast group and (2) adaptive sharing: how the active (transmitting) participants can dynamically share the time intervals that have been reserved for their multicast group. The proposed approach is based on the embedding of multiple virtual rings, one for each multicast group. By using the virtual rings, it is simple to route messages to all the participants while minimizing the bound on the buffer sizes and queueing delays. The final part of this paper introduces a scalable growth of the multicast group by adding multiple subtrees to the virtual ring.
Information Systems Outsourcing Success : A Review

The objectives of the paper are to develop a model of Information Systems (IS) outsourcing success and to identify the neglected areas of research in IS outsourcing success Using online search of research databases, we analyze the empirical papers published on IS outsourcing success through metaanalysis. Thus, the paper extracts dependent variables (success variables) and independent variables (determinants) related to IS outsourcing success. Based on correlation coefficients of various empirical studies on IS outsourcing success and by using structural equation modeling (SEM), the paper aims to arrive at a final model of IS outsourcing success. An initial success model and hypotheses are presented in this paper, as the research is at a work-in-progress stage. The final model is expected to be presented at the ICEME 2010 conference.
Flexible real-time meeting support for workflow management systems

Two different areas of distributed group work are supported by workflow management systems and by real time meeting systems. Workflow management is best suited for tasks which proceed in a predefinable way, and whose recurring appearance justify the cost of an a priori modelling. A problem of a priori modelling is that such models are static. Activities which arise spontaneously cannot be easily covered. Real time meeting support systems are best suited for such ad hoc group activities. Audiovisual connectivity and shared documents enable flexible group processes. To combine the advantages of both types of system, an integration concept and prototype system is introduced. Meetings are embedded into workflows using different categories of meeting models. Monitoring and checklisting support the course of meetings. The coupling of workflow management and meeting support is achieved by a meeting broker.
Ophiodiaporthe cyatheae gen. et sp. nov., a diaporthalean pathogen causing a devastating wilt disease of Cyathea lepifera in Taiwan

The scaly tree fern, Cyathea lepifera, in Taiwan has been devastated by an ascomycetous pathogen in recent years. This fungus resembles species of Diaporthe, but unlike anamorphs of Diaporthe that produce two types of conidia, its anamorph produces one conidium type. It is described herein as Ophiodiaporthe cyatheae gen. et sp. nov. Through pathogenicity tests, O. cyatheae was demonstrated to be the causal agent of the C. lepifera wilt disease. Of interest, sporulating structures of O. cyatheae have not been found on C. lepifera plants but in culture thus far. The mating system is homothallic. Phylogenetic analyses based on combined sequences of nSSU-rDNA, nLSU-rDNA, EF1-α-1 and RPB2 placed O. cyatheae in Diaporthaceae. Combined sequences of EF1-α-2 and TUB indicated that O. cyatheae had its origin within Diaporthe.
Modeling dative alternations of individual children

We address the question whether children can acquire mature use of higher-level grammatical choices from the linguistic input, given only general prior knowledge and learning biases. We do so on the basis of a case study with the dative alternation in English, building on a study by de Marneffe et al. (2012) who model the production of the dative alternation by seven young children, using data from the Child Language Data Exchange System corpus. Using mixed-effects logistic modelling on the aggregated data of these children, De Marneffe et al. report that the children’s choices can be predicted both by their own utterances and by child-directed speech. Here we bring the computational modeling down to the individual child, using memory-based learning and incremental learning curve studies. We observe that for all children, their dative choices are best predicted by a model trained on child-directed speech. Yet, models trained on two individual children for which sufficient data is available are about as accurate. Furthermore, models trained on the dative alternations of these children provide approximations of dative alternations in caregiver speech that are about as accurate as training and testing on caregiver data only.
Prediction of Electric Permittivity of Threads in Woven Fabric

Abstract In the article, a new method for the estimation of electric permittivity of threads (filaments) was presented. The proposed recursive method is based on the results of computer simulation of 3D model of transmission stripline. This model contains a model of flat fabric having threads, with which electric permittivity should be determined. The described procedure uses the method proposed by Barry to obtain permittivity of flat fabric from the so-called s parameters of the simulated stripline. In the proposed method, the permittivity of the flat fabric obtained from simulation is compared with the measured value of permittivity of real flat fabric in order to estimate the threads’ permittivity. This comparison is needed to obtain the electric permittivity of threads forming this fabric. The article also presents examples of the obtained values of threads’ permittivity and discussion about the accuracy of the method. The presented method will be useful in situations where the knowledge of permittivity of threads is necessary in the conducted research.
The medical use of oxygen: a time for critical reappraisal

Oxygen treatment has been a cornerstone of acute medical care for numerous pathological states. Initially, this was supported by the assumed need to avoid hypoxaemia and tissue hypoxia. Most acute treatment algorithms, therefore, recommended the liberal use of a high fraction of inspired oxygen, often without first confirming the presence of a hypoxic insult. However, recent physiological research has underlined the vasoconstrictor effects of hyperoxia on normal vasculature and, consequently, the risk of significant blood flow reduction to the at‐risk tissue. Positive effects may be claimed simply by relief of an assumed local tissue hypoxia, such as in acute cardiovascular disease, brain ischaemia due to, for example, stroke or shock or carbon monoxide intoxication. However, in most situations, a generalized hypoxia is not the problem and a risk of negative hyperoxaemia‐induced local vasoconstriction effects may instead be the reality. In preclinical studies, many important positive anti‐inflammatory effects of both normobaric and hyperbaric oxygen have been repeatedly shown, often as surrogate end‐points such as increases in gluthatione levels, reduced lipid peroxidation and neutrophil activation thus modifying ischaemia–reperfusion injury and also causing anti‐apoptotic effects. However, in parallel, toxic effects of oxygen are also well known, including induced mucosal inflammation, pneumonitis and retrolental fibroplasia. Examining the available ‘strong’ clinical evidence, such as usually claimed for randomized controlled trials, few positive studies stand up to scrutiny and a number of trials have shown no effect or even been terminated early due to worse outcomes in the oxygen treatment arm. Recently, this has led to less aggressive approaches, even to not providing any supplemental oxygen, in several acute care settings, such as resuscitation of asphyxiated newborns, during acute myocardial infarction or after stroke or cardiac arrest. The safety of more advanced attempts to deliver increased oxygen levels to hypoxic or ischaemic tissues, such as with hyperbaric oxygen therapy, is therefore also being questioned. Here, we provide an overview of the present knowledge of the physiological effects of oxygen in relation to its therapeutic potential for different medical conditions, as well as considering the potential for harm. We conclude that the medical use of oxygen needs to be further examined in search of solid evidence of benefit in many of the current clinical settings in which it is routinely used.