Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of health outcomes between hospitalised and non-hospitalised persons with minor injuries sustained in a road traffic crash in Australia: a prospective cohort study

Objectives This prospective cohort study aimed to investigate whether there are differences in health outcomes among persons with mild or moderate injuries who were hospitalised compared with those not hospitalised following a road traffic crash. Setting Sydney Metropolitan, New South Wales, Australia. Participants Persons aged ≥18 years involved in a motor vehicle crash were surveyed at baseline (n=364), and at 12 (n=284) and 24 months (n=252). A telephone-administered questionnaire obtained information on a range of socioeconomic, and preinjury and postinjury psychological and heath characteristics of all participants. Primary outcome measure Participants who reported admission to hospital for 24 h or more (but less than 7 days) after the crash were classified as being hospitalised; those admitted for less than 24 h were classified as non-hospitalised. Results Around 1 in 5 participants (19.0%) were hospitalised for ≥24 h after the crash. After adjusting for age and sex, hospitalised participants compared with those not hospitalised had approximately 2.6 units (p=0.01) lower Short Form-12 Physical Component Summary (SF-12 PCS) scores (poorer physical well-being) and approximately 4.9 units lower European Quality of Life visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS) scores (p=0.05), 12 months later. After further adjusting for education level, whiplash, fracture and injury severity score, participants who were hospitalised had approximately 3.3 units lower SF-12 PCS (p=0.04), 12 months later. The association with EQ-VAS did not persist after multivariable adjustment. No significant differences were observed between the 2 groups in health outcomes at 24-month follow-up. Conclusions These findings indicate that long-term health status is unlikely to be influenced by hospitalisation status after sustaining a mild/moderate injury in a vehicle-related crash.
Intron positions in actin genes seem unrelated to the secondary structure of the protein.

A catalogue of intron positions along the coding sequence was assembled from the large number of actin genes known for different eukaryotes. 36 positions in the amino acid sequence were compared with the known three‐dimensional structure of actin. At least 20 but not more than 23 intron positions are at the start or end of a secondary structural element (beta‐strand, alpha‐helix or 3/10 helix) while eight positions interrupt such an element. Statistical analysis shows that due to the large number of end positions the boundaries of secondary structural elements are not correlated with the intron positions. In addition, the observed intron pattern seems compatible with the null hypothesis, i.e. intron positions are randomly distributed along the actin sequence.
Models of Group Development: Implications for Social Group Work Practice

While generally underdeveloped, some areas of social group work theory have an abun- dance of models which tend to confuse rather than clarify matters for the practitioner. This paper takes one such area—small-group development—and attempts to integrate existing formulations into the five-stage model suggested by Garland, Jones, and Kolodny. Practice implications are developed for each of the five stages in terms of the three overall models for social group work practice: the social-goals model, the remedial model, and the reciprocal model.
Enhancing Organizational Change and Improvement Prospects: Lessons from an HIV Testing Intervention for Veterans

Most research on why health care quality improvement implementation succeeds or fails focuses on front-line or provider-based factors. However, background factors related to the structures and processes of projects themselves also pose challenges. Using a focused ethnographic assessment approach, we undertook a case study to characterize particularly challenging background factors in an ongoing implementation effort. We found that the organizational structure of the project under study sustained several key "cultural" differences in stakeholder agendas. Moreover, it fostered the emergence of strategic communication processes that, despite their immediate utility, sometimes undermined progress and threatened long-term relations by distorting information flow in particularly patterned ways. These included a "focus on the local" and "information reconfigurations" or "partiality" that sometimes led to miscommunication or interpretive disjunctions between various stakeholders. Successful cross-organizational c.
Probabilistic Geographic Routing Protocol for Ad Hoc and Sensor Networks

In this paper, we present Probabilistic Geographic Routing (PGR), a novel approach for the problem of power-aware routing in wireless ad hoc and sensor networks. Our protocol uses only local information to probabilistically forward the packet to the next hop. Every node relies on a beaconing process to keep track of the changes in the set of its neighbors. In order to forward a packet, the node selects a set of candidate nodes. These candidate nodes are then assigned a probability proportional to their residual energy and the link reliability. We have implemented PGR in NS-2 and compared the performance to two existing protocols, GPSR and Probabilistic Flooding. Based on the simulation results, PGR improves the throughput by 40%, increases the lifetime of the network by 30%, and decreases the overall end-to-end delay. In addition, we have implemented PGR on a real sensor network test-bed to verify our protocol.
Biocompatible Pressure Sensing Skins for Minimally Invasive Surgical Instruments

This paper presents 800-μm thick, biocompatible sensing skins composed of arrays of pressure sensors. The arrays can be configured to conform to the surface of medical instruments so as to act as disposable sensing skins. In particular, the fabrication of cylindrical geometries is considered here for use on endoscopes. The sensing technology is based on polydimethylsiloxane synthetic silicone encapsulated microchannels filled with a biocompatible salt-saturated glycerol solution, functioning as the conductive medium. A multi-layer manufacturing approach is introduced that enables stacking sensing microchannels, mechanical stress concentration features, and electrical routing via flexcircuits in a thickness of less than 1 mm. The proposed approach is inexpensive and does not require clean room tools or techniques. The mechanical stress concentration features are implemented using a patterned copper layer that serves to improve sensing range and sensitivity. Sensor performance is demonstrated experimentally using a sensing skin mounted on a neuroendoscope insertion cannula and is shown to outperform previously developed non-biocompatible sensors.
Can frontline workers be change agents for infant feeding and growth ?-A community Trial

Background: Role of optimum infant feeding practices on growth and survival of children is well established. Promoting it through routine public health care system is the challenge. Objectives: To assess the change in knowledge and practices of caregivers about infant feeding and physical growth of infants through training of frontline health workers. Methods: A cluster-randomized controlled trial was conducted among 130 infant mother pairs (65 in each group), recruited at birth, in a rural community in Bankura, West Bengal. Frontline health workers of the intervention area received modular training on infant feeding and supported the caregivers in adopting optimum feeding practices. Change in knowledge and practice of caregivers on infant feeding and physical growth of infants were assessed at monthly interval. Results: Knowledge regarding early initiation, duration of exclusive breastfeeding, and timely introduction of semi-solid food was increased significantly at 6th month in intervention area with almost no improvement in control area. At 6th month, exclusive breastfeeding was practiced by 76.9% infants in intervention area and 63.1% in control area, although in both cases, it was reduced from the proportion at birth. Proportion of infants having bottle feeding and intake of other liquid food also increased with time and more so in control area. In 6 months, infants of intervention area gained on average 600 gms more weight than those of control area, but gain in length was almost similar in both the groups. Conclusion: Promotion of infant feeding through frontline workers is a feasible intervention in the present context.
Platelet activating factor acetylhydrolase activity in lamb lungs is up-regulated in the immediate newborn period.

We recently showed that platelet activating factor (PAF) is an important modulator of pulmonary vasomotor tone in the fetus, with a significant decrease in circulating PAF levels in the immediate newborn period. In this study, we have determined PAF catabolism by PAF acetylhydrolase (PAF-Ah) in lungs of near-term fetal and newborn 2- to 16-h (<1 day) and 6- to 12-day-old lambs. The rate of PAF catabolism by lung homogenate protein from the three groups of lamb lungs was studied at 37 degrees C in 30 mM Tris buffer, pH 7.5, containing 0.01% BSA. Each lung homogenate protein was incubated for 10 min with 50 microM [(3)H]acetyl-PAF at pO(2) <50 Torr (hypoxia) and approximately 100 Torr (normoxia). PAF-Ah activity was quantified as amount of lyso-PAF produced. PAF-Ah activity (means +/- SEM, nmol lyso-PAF/min/mg protein) in fetal lung homogenate was 1.19 +/- 0.14 and 2.46 +/- 0.05 during hypoxia and normoxia, respectively. The corresponding values for the newborns were newborn <1 day, 1.65 +/- 0.26 and 2.95 +/- 0.07 and newborn 6-12 days, 1.25 +/- 0.10 and 2.84 +/- 0.05. In all groups, PAF-Ah activity was higher in normoxia than in hypoxia. During normoxia, PAF-Ah activity in newborn <1 day was significantly higher than the activity in fetus, but similar to the activity in newborn 6- to 12-day-old lamb lungs. These data show a significant up-regulation of PAF-Ah activity in lungs in the immediate newborn period. PAF-Ah gene expression measured by RT-PCR showed a significant up-regulation of the PAF-Ah gene in lungs of lambs <1 day old, suggesting a transcriptional regulation of the PAF-Ah gene in the immediate newborn period. These results suggest that up-regulation of PAF-Ah activity after birth with oxygenation will result in a decrease in circulating PAF levels, thereby facilitating the fall in pulmonary vascular resistance in the immediate newborn period.
Sexually abused children and post-traumatic stress disorder

Sexually abused children often develop post-traumatic stress disorder, a distressing and debilitating condition that is typically unresponsive to non-directive counselling. Empirically supported abuse-confronting, structured interventions are urgently required for use by counselling psychologists responsible for the management of this challenging clinical population. Given the success of cognitive-behavioural interventions with adult trauma victims, it has been suggested that this treatment approach be applied to sexually abused children. This paper presents a cognitive-behavioural treatment framework comprising two levels of intervention: child therapy and parent training. We selectively review emerging empirical support for the efficacy and acceptability of this treatment approach.
FpVAT: a visual analytic tool for supporting frequent pattern mining

As frequent pattern mining plays an essential role in many knowledge discovery and data mining (KDD) tasks, numerous algorithms for finding frequent patterns have been proposed over the past 15 years. However, most of these algorithms return the mining results in the form of textual lists containing frequent patterns showing those frequently occurring sets of items. It is well known that "a picture is worth a thousand words". The use of visual representation can enhance the user's understanding of the inherent relations in a collection of frequent patterns. In this paper, we develop a simple yet useful visual analytic tool for supporting frequent pattern mining called FpVAT. Such a visual analytic tool consists of two modules: One module gives users an overview so that they can derive insight from a massive amount of raw data; another module enables users to perform analytical reasoning on the mining results via interactive visual interfaces so that users can detect the expected frequent patterns and discover the unexpected frequent patterns. As a visual analytic tool, our FpVAT is equipped with several interactive features for effective visual support in the data analysis and KDD process for various real-life applications.
Preeclampsia-eclampsia: clinical and neuroradiographic correlates and insights into the pathogenesis of hypertensive encephalopathy.

PURPOSE To investigate the clinical parameters that are associated with the development of brain edema of hypertensive encephalopathy in patients with preeclampsia-eclampsia. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty-eight patients with preeclampsia-eclampsia and neurologic symptoms underwent magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Clinical parameters recorded at the time of MR imaging included serum electrolytes and various indices of hematologic, renal, and hepatic function. Several data were available 1 week prior to the development of neurologic symptoms in 11 patients. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to study possible associations between these parameters and brain edema at MR imaging. RESULTS The 20 patients with brain edema at MR imaging had a significantly greater incidence of abnormal red blood cell morphology (14 [82%] of 17 patients vs two [25%] of eight, P: <.005) and higher levels of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) (339 U/L +/- 65 [SD] vs 258 U/L +/- 65, P: =.007) than the eight with normal MR imaging findings; multivariate logistic regression analysis showed a strong association with red blood cell morphology only. Moreover, LDH levels were elevated before the development of neurologic abnormalities (P: <.05). Blood pressures were not significantly different between groups at any time. CONCLUSION Brain edema at MR imaging in patients with preeclampsia-eclampsia was associated with abnormalities in endothelial damage markers and not with hypertension level.
A development of pseudo-synchronizing power VSCs controller for grid stabilization

In order to constitute the resilient power system against disturbances including natural disaster, various new technologies for microgrid operations have been proposed recently. Although major Renewable Energy Sources (RESs) are usually connected to single-phase feeders, there exist few research works on single-phase microgrid operations. This paper investigates the realization of the single-phase microgrid by using Voltage Source Converters (VSCs) which are widely used to connect DC-base RES systems to conventional distribution feeders. We first study effective virtual inertia design in three-phase VSC in order to realize strong synchronizing operation as well as the enhancement of transient stability. Then, we propose a control framework for single-phase VSC, in which a new synchronizing mechanism that we call DC side measurement is developed. A governor and an Automatic Voltage Regulator (AVR) are also implemented into the controller to contribute to stable and reliable operation of the microgrid. It is shown that the independent use of the proposed VSC in each phase can also work successfully in a three-phase feeder. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified in numerical simulations in single-phase and three-phase distribution systems where multiple VSCs are successfully operated in normal and islanding modes.
Role of Toll-like receptors, NOD-like receptors and RIG-I-like receptors in endothelial cells and systemic infections

Summary Bacteraemia and viraemia are characterised by pathogens entering the bloodstream. Endothelial cells are among the first cells coming into contact with the microbes and also some endogenous molecules which are released by tissue damage. As part of the innate immune system, endothelial cells respond to these contacts by producing inflammatory mediators and expressing surface molecules. The initial sensing of microbial and endogenous danger-associated molecules is mediated by so-called pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). PRRs can be classified in different protein families such as the Toll-like receptors, the NODlike receptors and the RIG-I-like receptors. By activating inflammatory gene transcription and posttranslational processing, PRRs control the immediate innate immune reaction and also the subsequent adaptive immune response. Here we describe the current knowledge of extra-and intracellular PRRs in endothelial cells and their potential role in sepsis and vascular diseases.
Cardiac characteristics and long-term outcome in Andersen-Tawil syndrome patients related to KCNJ2 mutation.

AIMS Andersen-Tawil syndrome (ATS) is an uncommon form of channelopathy linked to mutations in the KCNJ2 gene. Currently, little is known about the long-term arrhythmic prognosis of this disease. METHODS AND RESULTS We conducted a retrospective multicentre study in nine French hospitals. Patients were recruited only if they were KCNJ2 mutation carriers. Thirty-six patients (female n = 22, 61%) from 20 unrelated kindred were included with a mean follow-up of 9.5 ± 8.2 years. We found 12 distinct KCNJ2 mutations in the 20 probands. Three of them were novel. Thirteen patients (36%) experienced syncope and one patient was resuscitated from cardiac arrest before diagnosis. The mean QTc interval was 439 ± 57 ms and QUc was 642 ± 64 ms. All patients had normal ejection fraction. Holter recordings in 33 patients found 11 272 premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) per day on average, 25 patients had episodes of bigeminy, and 25 patients had polymorphic PVCs. Twenty-three patients (70%) had non-sustained polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT), and six sustained polymorphic VT. Only one patient presented with torsades de pointes. Patients were treated with beta-blocker (n = 20), beta-blocker and amiodarone (n = 2), beta-blocker and flecainide (n = 6), or acetazolamide (n = 6). Radiofrequency ablation was attempted in five patients without clinical success. An implantable cardiac defibrillator was implanted in three patients. During follow-up, none of the patients died, four patients experienced syncope under treatment, and one patient had non-fatal cardiac arrest. CONCLUSION Despite a severe clinical presentation with a very high rate of ventricular arrhythmias, the arrhythmic prognosis of the ATS patients is relatively good under treatment.
The experience of gambling in an illegal casino: The gambling spin process

The present study depicts the experience of gambling in an illegal casino through a qualitative, phenomenological approach, in light of the criminal spin theory. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 gamblers and 4 staff members. Qualitative analysis of the data reveals several major categories that describe the participants’ experiences: fears in the illegal casino; learning through experience and with the assistance of a mentor; strengthening the sense of potency; a tunnel vision perspective; the growing urge to gamble; losing control; harming the family; and finding a way out of gambling. The findings indicate that the illegal casino created a unique atmosphere for its attendees that fostered a gambling spin that coincides with the motives of spin theory.
Physically and psychologically hazardous jobs and mental health in Thailand

This paper investigates associations between hazardous jobs, mental health and wellbeing among Thai adults. In 2005, 87 134 distance-learning students from Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University completed a self-administered questionnaire; at the 2009 follow-up 60 569 again participated. Job characteristics were reported in 2005, psychological distress and life satisfaction were reported in both 2005 and 2009. We derived two composite variables grading psychologically and physically hazardous jobs and reported adjusted odds ratios (AOR) from multivariate logistic regressions. Analyses focused on cohort members in paid work: the total was 62 332 at 2005 baseline and 41 671 at 2009 follow-up. Cross-sectional AORs linking psychologically hazardous jobs to psychological distress ranged from 1.52 (one hazard) to 4.48 (four hazards) for males and a corresponding 1.34–3.76 for females. Similarly AORs for physically hazardous jobs were 1.75 (one hazard) to 2.76 (four or more hazards) for males and 1.70–3.19 for females. A similar magnitude of associations was found between psychologically adverse jobs and low life satisfaction (AORs of 1.34–4.34 among males and 1.18–3.63 among females). Longitudinal analyses confirm these cross-sectional relationships. Thus, significant dose–response associations were found linking hazardous job exposures in 2005 to mental health and wellbeing in 2009. The health impacts of psychologically and physically hazardous jobs in developed, Western countries are equally evident in transitioning Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand. Regulation and monitoring of work conditions will become increasingly important to the health and wellbeing of the Thai workforce.
A novel monolithically integrated widely-tunable wavelength converter based on a SGDBR-SOA-MZ transmitter and integrated photodetector

The first monolithically integrated MZ-OEIC tunable wavelength converter is presented. Error free operation at 2.5 Gbit/s with a 2 31 -1 PRBS is demonstrated. A power penalty of 1-2dB is measured across the 37nm wavelength range of the SGDBR.
Automatic Update and Completion of Occluded Regions for Accurate 3D Urban Cartography by combining Multiple Views and Multiple Passages

Handling occlusions is one of the more difficult challenges faced today in urban landscape analysis and cartography. In this paper, we successfully address this problem by using a new method in which multiple views and multiple sessions or passages are used to complete occluded regions in a 3D cartographic map. Two 3D point clouds, from different viewing angles, obtained in each passage are first classified into two main object classes: Permanent and Temporary (which contains both Temporarily static and Mobile objects) using inference based on basic reasoning. All these Temporary objects, considered as occluding objects, are removed from the scene leaving behind two perforated 3D point clouds of the cartography. These two perforated point clouds from the same passage are then combined together to fill in some of the holes and form a unified perforated 3D point cloud of the cartography. This unified perforated 3D point cloud is then updated by similar subsequent perforated point clouds, obtained on different days and hours of the day, filling in the remaining holes and completing the missing features/regions of the urban cartography. This automatic method ensures that the resulting 3D point cloud of the cartography is most accurate containing only the exact and actual permanent features/regions. Special update and reset functions are added to increase the robustness of the method. The method is evaluated on a standard data set to demonstrate its efficacy and prowess.