Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy for critically ill patients in a general intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND AND AIM percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is an effective way of providing enteral feeding to patients with functionally normal gastrointestinal tract who cannot meet their nutritional needs because of inadequate oral intake. This retrospective study evaluated the clinical outcome of critically ill patients with high assistance level undergoing PEG in a general ICU over a 12 year period. PATIENTS AND METHODS we studied a cohort of 82 patients who underwent PEG over a 12-year period between 1 January 1999 and 31 December 2010. Patients were followed-up for 1 year after PEG placement. RESULTS There were no complications related either to the procedure or to the management of PEG, even in house nursing.In one patient, PEG with a collapsible bumper was successfully removed because the patient fully recovered from his neurological problem. Catheter substitution was necessary in three patients during the first year, because of stoma inflammation due to enteric reflux between the stoma and the catheter. One year after PEG, 66 patients were still alive while 16 patients died from the underlying disease during hospitalization. None of the patients with PEG had aspiration pneumonia. CONCLUSIONS PEG, in expert hands, is a safe and effective procedure for enteral nutrition. Moreover, catheters should be chosen in relation to the duration of enteral feeding and as to whether the patient is likely to recover from his underlying disease.
Assessment of myocardial performance index and its association with aortic elasticity in patients with ascending aortic aneurysm.

OBJECTIVE Ascending aortic aneurysms (AAA) are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Nevertheless, their effects on global cardiac functions are yet to be fully understood. Myocardial performance index (MPI) has been widely used to quantitatively assess myocardial functions. The aim of this study was to evaluate left ventricular (LV) functions in patients with AAA using tissue Doppler (TD) echocardiography and MPI in addition to conventional echocardiographic methods. METHODS Fifty patients with AAA (33 men, 17 woman; mean age 55.5±7.90 years) were included, and 106 patients without aortic dilatation (mean age 54.1±8.18 years) were included as the control group. LV systolic and diastolic functions were analyzed using 2-dimensional, M-mode, and TD echocardiography. RESULTS Patients with AAA had significantly higher MPI (0.5±0.04 vs 0.4±0.05, p<0.001), TD-MPI (0.5±0.02 vs 0.4±0.03, p<0.001), and reduced aortic elasticity, as indicated by reduced aortic distensibility (AD) (1.7±1.27 vs 3.1±1.25, p<0.001). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that TD-MPI was independently correlated with reduced aortic distensibility (B=-0.006, p=0.019, 95% confidence interval,-0.011 to -0.001). CONCLUSION MPI and TD-MPI indicated impairment of global cardiac functions in patients with AAA, which may be attributed to reduced aortic elasticity.
Early life exposure to poor nutrition and infectious diseases and its effects on the health of older Puerto Rican adults.

OBJECTIVES We examined the effects of early life exposure to poor nutrition and infectious diseases on adult heart disease and diabetes using season of birth as an indicator to help disentangle the effects on health of early life exposure from effects associated with other childhood conditions. METHODS Using data from 60- to 74-year-old Puerto Ricans who lived in rural areas during childhood (n = 1,457), we estimated the effects of seasonal exposure during late gestation on the probability of diabetes and heart disease, controlling for adult obesity and other childhood conditions (health, socioeconomic status, knee height). RESULTS We found (a) strong associations between exposure and heart disease; (b) weaker associations between exposure and diabetes, although significant negative interaction effects between exposure and having a family member with diabetes suggest the possibility of either strong gene-environment or early adult-environment interactions; (c) virtually no attenuation of effects of self-reported childhood health with controls for exposure. DISCUSSION Timing of birth may reveal conditions experienced perinatally that affect adult heart disease and diabetes. The results suggest that examination of the effects of season of birth on these chronic conditions among older Puerto Rican adults and among older adults from similar populations deserves deeper scrutiny.
REINVENTING PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION: A CASE STUDY OF THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

This study examines the recent efforts to "reinvent" the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). It focuses on the organizational and management changes that have taken place within FEMA over the last four years and places these changes within the broader context of the governmental approach to disaster relief as well as the reinventing government movement. This analysis demonstrates that management reforms within FEMA have had a positive impact on the agency's internal organization and operations. More importantly, it shows that the reinvention of FEMA has also improved the functioning of the nation's entire emergency management system.
Clinical and Radiological Outcomes after Intracranial Atherosclerotic Stroke: A Comprehensive Approach Comparing Stroke Subtypes

Background: We previously reported that intracranial large-artery atherosclerotic stroke (ICAS) had a relatively large salvageable area of less severe hypoperfusion. However, information regarding the outcome after ICAS is lacking. We hypothesized ICAS would show more favorable clinical and radiological outcomes than other stroke mechanisms. Methods: Consecutive patients underwent admission (n = 149) and follow-up (n = 80) multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for acute middle cerebral artery infarcts within 6 h of symptom onset. Tmax perfusion lesion maps were generated. We assessed the difference in the degree of infarct growth ([follow-up diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) volume – initial DWI volume]/initial penumbra volume) and the presence of excellent long-term outcome [defined as a modified Rankin scale (mRS) score ≤2 and a modified Barthel index (mBI) ≧90 at 3 months]. Results: Of 149 patients, 24 (16.1%) had ICAS, 75 (50.3%) had cardioembolic stroke, 21 (14.1%) had extracranial large-artery atherosclerotic stroke, and 29 (19.5%) had cryptogenic embolic stroke. Despite a higher recurrence rate in patients with ICAS compared to other subtypes (p = 0.026), the long-term outcome was better in ICAS (p = 0.003 for an mRS score ≤2 and p = 0.004 for an mBI ≧90). Among 80 patients who underwent follow-up MRI, patients who had minimal infarct growth (less than 10%) were more prevalent among the patients with ICAS (p = 0.004). Multivariate testing revealed that ICAS was independently associated with both excellent long-term outcome (OR = 3.45; 95% CI = 1.11–10.78) and minimal infarct growth (OR = 10.40; 95% CI = 1.20–90.11). Conclusion: Our data show that patients with ICAS have favorable clinical and radiological outcomes compared with other subtypes.
A Preliminary Research on Decision Model Based on Bayesian Techniques for an NPC in Computer Games

in modern computer games, a NPC (non-player character) can make choices. In the previous researches, a NPC can have the certain knowledge in a game world; this will reduce the believability of perception for a NPC. A decision model based on Bayesian network and fuzzy logic for a NPC is set up in this paper; a NPC can partially know domain knowledge. A behavior animation of a virtual dog by the model is realized on PC, the results show that the virtual dog can behave believable in watching a house.
The Phillips curve and the role of monetary policy in Chile

ABSTRACT In this paper, the empirical analysis finds that the dynamics of inflation and unemployment can be described by a Phillips curve when allowing for a positive co-movement between trend-adjusted productivity and unemployment. This suggests that improvements in productivity have been achieved by laying off the least productive part of the labor force. Furthermore, the natural rate of unemployment is a function of the long-term interest rate, indicating that monetary policy is not completely neutral in the long run. This result rejects the natural rate hypothesis and, at the same time, provides empirical support for the structural slump theory in a world of imperfect knowledge. The recent theory of imperfect knowledge economics (IKE) seems to address the problem that many economic models lack: persistence in the observed data. By combining IKE and the structural slumps theory it is possible to obtain predictions that are theoretically and empirically consistent.
bPiDI: a novel selective α6β2* nicotinic receptor antagonist and preclinical candidate treatment for nicotine abuse

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) containing α6β2 subunits expressed by dopamine neurons regulate nicotine‐evoked dopamine release. Previous results show that the α6β2* nAChR antagonist, N,N′‐dodecane‐1,12‐diyl‐bis‐3‐picolinium dibromide (bPiDDB) inhibits nicotine‐evoked dopamine release from dorsal striatum and decreases nicotine self‐administration in rats. However, overt toxicity emerged with repeated bPiDDB treatment. The current study evaluated the preclinical pharmacology of a bPiDDB analogue.
High‐resolution MR imaging of mouse brain microvasculature using the relaxation rate shift index Q

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a powerful method for in vivo quantification of tissue properties. It has been previously proposed that the index Q ≡ δR2/(δR 2* )2/3, where ΔR2 and δR 2* are the spin echo and gradient echo relaxation rate shifts caused by the injection of an intravascular contrast agent, may be useful for characterizing microvasculature. In particular, Q is expected to correlate well with the density of microvessels. This study presents high‐resolution in vivo Q‐maps of normal mouse brain obtained with a superparamagnetic iron oxide contrast agent at a field of level of 9.4 T. Normative Q values are derived for several regions of interest and significant interregional variations are observed. Microvessel densities estimated from the Q‐maps are found to be in reasonable accord with histologically determined values. A possible application of Q‐maps is the assessment of angiogenic activity in tumors. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fabricable tile decors

Recent advances in 3D printing have made it easier to manufacture customized objects by ordinary users in an affordable manner, and therefore spurred high demand for more accessible methods for designing and fabricating 3D objects of various shapes and functionalities. In this paper we present a novel approach to model and fabricate surface-like objects composed of connected tiles, which can be used as objects in daily life, such as ornaments, covers, shades or handbags.
Clinical and hemodynamic significance of the greater saphenous vein diameter in chronic venous insufficiency.

HYPOTHESIS As the compliant greater saphenous vein (GSV) adjusts its luminal size to the level of transmural pressure, measurement of its diameter, reflecting the severity of hemodynamic compromise in limbs with GSV reflux, may simplify the hemodynamic criteria of patient selection for saphenectomy. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the clinical significance of GSV diameter determined in the thigh and calf as a marker of global hemodynamic impairment and clinical severity in a model comprising patients with saphenofemoral junction and truncal GSV incompetence. DESIGN A cohort study. SETTING University-associated tertiary care hospitals in Brazil and England. PATIENTS Eighty-five consecutive patients, aged 28 to 82 (mean, 46.2) years; 112 lower limbs with saphenofemoral junction and truncal GSV incompetence were investigated. INTERVENTIONS Clinical examination was followed by clinical, etiological, anatomical, and pathophysiological classification (CEAP), vein duplex, and air plethysmography. The GSV diameter was measured on standing at the knee, and at 10, 20, and 30 cm above and below the knee, and in the thigh and calf, respectively, using B-mode imaging. The venous filling index (VFI), venous volume (VV), and residual volume fraction (RVF) were measured by air plethysmography. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The GSV diameter was correlated with the VFI, VV, RVF, and CEAP. The value of the GSV diameter for predicting the presence of critical reflux (VFI >7 mL/s) or the absence of abnormal reflux (VFI <2 mL/s) was determined with receiver-operator curves. RESULTS The GSV diameter increased significantly overall with CEAP (P<.001) and also increased progressively with proximity to the saphenofemoral junction. The VFI, VV, and RVF increased significantly from CEAP(0) through CEAP(4-6); the VFI correlated well with VV, RVF, and CEAP (P<.001 for all). The GSV diameter at all 7 limb levels studied correlated well with VV (except at the distal calf), VFI, RVF, and CEAP (P< or =.009 for all). A GSV diameter of 5.5 mm or less predicted the absence of abnormal reflux, with a sensitivity of 78%, a specificity of 87%, positive and negative predictive values of 78%, and an accuracy of 82%. A GSV diameter of 7.3 mm or greater predicted critical reflux (VFI >7 mL/s), with an 80% sensitivity, an 85% specificity, and an 84% accuracy. CONCLUSION The GSV diameter proved to be a relatively accurate measure of hemodynamic impairment and clinical severity in a model of saphenofemoral junction and GSV incompetence, predicting not only the absence of abnormal reflux, but also the presence of critical venous incompetence, assisting in clinical decision making before considering greater saphenectomy.
Beyond the City: Effects of Urbanization on Rural Residential Energy Intensity and CO2 Emissions

Trends of rural residential energy consumption and CO2 emission should be evaluated in a broader context of urbanization, especially in developing countries where urbanization is in its expanding stage. In this study, we use the STIRPAT model and various panel regression techniques to explore the impact of urbanization on rural residential energy consumption and CO2 emission by using data from Southwest China. The results show that a higher urbanization level contributes to higher total residential energy intensity. Increases in net income per capita can decrease the intensities of traditional biomass energy and non-biomass energy, while industrialization has a negative effect only on non-biomass energy intensity. Land use change driven by urbanization can also lower the intensities of total residential energy, traditional biomass energy and non-biomass energy. Moreover, the impact of total residential energy intensity on emissions is positive. Particularly, traditional biomass energy accounts for most of CO2 emissions derived from the use of residential energy. As urbanization is expected to increase in the developing world and lead to more CO2 emissions from rural areas, policies which intend to reduce the intensity of traditional biomass energy, promote biogas and industrialization, and raise net income of rural residents can be used as effective mitigation strategies.
Simultaneous use of mitomycin-C with Baerveldt implantation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE To evaluate the outcome of Baerveldt implantation with adjunctive mitomycin-C in cases of complicated glaucoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS The authors reviewed the charts of all patients who had undergone Baerveldt implantation with mitomycin-C between January 1993 and March 1995. Success was defined before data collection as an intraocular pressure (IOP) between 5 and 21 mm Hg, with or without medications. The success rate was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier actuarial method. RESULTS Twenty-nine patients were identified. The mean preoperative IOP was 33.6 mm Hg, with an average of 2.0 antiglaucoma medications. The probability of success at 6 and 12 months for patients who received mitomycin-C during Baerveldt implantation was 82.4% and 73.3%, respectively. Choroidal effusion with a flat anterior chamber (10.3%), corneal edema (6.8%), and conjunctival erosion (6.8%) were the most frequent complications. CONCLUSION In this retrospective series of complicated glaucoma, the implantation of a Baerveldt drainage device with adjunctive mitomycin-C had a satisfactory outcome. The complications encountered and the clinical efficacy were comparable to those of previously reported series in which mitomycin-C was not used.
The Impact of Macroeconomic Factors on Firms Profitability (Evidence From Fast Moving Consumer Good Firms Listed on Indonesian Stock Exchange)

The performance of a business could not be separated from the influence of macroeconomic factors. Global economic crisis occurred in 1998, 2008, and 2015 had a significant impact on the performance of all business sectors. The main purpose of this study is to determine the influence of macroeconomic factors which are: inflation rate, unemployment level, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and exchange rate on firm profitability which is reflected by Return on Asset (ROA) ratio. This study uses macroeconomic factors as independent variables, and ROA ratio as dependent variable. Using multiple regression method, the four macro-economic factors and ROA ratio from fast moving consumer good firms listed on Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) are tested over the period of 1998-2016 on yearly base. As a result, it is found that all independent variables have influence on ROA ratio (firm profitability) and partial t-test result showed that only Gross Domestic Product (GDP) level has influenced significantly on firm profitability, while other three macroeconomic factors have no significant influence.
Reactive hyperemia in cutaneous tissue in generalized scleroderma.

Reactive hyperemia following ischemia in cutaneous tissue of human fingers was studied in 6 normal persons and 9 patients suffering from generalized scleroderma. Ischemia lasting 6 or 12 min was induced by inflating a cuff placed around the proximal phalanx to 300 mm Hg. Blood flow was measured by the local atraumatic 133Xenon wash-out technique. The following parameters were calculated: (1) Maximum blood flow was calculated from the steepest part of the wash-out curve following release of the cuff. (2) Excess cumulative blood flow, i.e., the integrated blood flow from release of cuff until preischemic blood flow values were obtained, minus preischemic blood flow times duration of ischemia. (3) Repayment, i.e., excess cumulative blood flow in percent of preischemic blood flow times duration of ischemia. Maximum blood flow, excess cumulative blood flow and repayment was decreased in the patients compared to normals. This might be due to structural changes of the blood vessel walls and/or functional changes of the vascular smooth muscle cells in scleroderma.
Whom do you know? Recruiters’ motives for assessing jobseekers’ online networks

Abstract Network recruitment has become an essential part of the modern labour market. However, there are significant research gaps: 1) the development of social media has been crucial to the growth of social networks, yet we know little about its influence on network recruitment; 2) studies on network recruitment generally focus on employees’ rather than employers’ perspectives; 3) the context of most research is the US labour market, which then identifies a need for contributions relating to other countries. The aim of this study is to analyse and discuss recruiters’ use of SNS to evaluate the networks of potential candidates. To understand how and why recruiters assess online networks, we used qualitative data from a Swedish study. Our analysis showed that recruiters search the internet either to find information that helps them ascertain the candidate as trustworthy, or to evaluate the candidate’s social capital through the size and composition of their networks. For certain job positions especially, active management of one’s online networks thus becomes crucial. Finally, this study illustrates how network connections may undermine rather than build trust, and thereby challenges a belief in the positive impact of networks.
An Increased Precision Comparison of TMS-Induced Motor Cortex BOLD fMRI Response for Image-Guided Versus Function-Guided Coil Placement

Objective:To examine with high precision the differences between function-guided and image-guided transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Method:Using a calibrated TMS coil holder/positioner, interleaved TMS/functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and individualized anatomy-based regional normalization, we conducted a two-phase study of TMS coil positioning guided by either function (elicited thumb motion) or image-based targeting of the “hand knob,” the anatomy associated with fMRI activation during thumb motion. Results:In every case, image-guided TMS coil placement produced a thumb movement response at thresholds similar to those found under function guidance. Unexpectedly, function-guided coil locations clustered bimodally over central and precentral sulci. Image-guided locations clustered as anticipated toward the targeted gyral crown. Despite these differences, blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) activation locations and magnitude for the two methods displayed no consistent differences in mean or variance between or within subjects. Image guidance produced more consistent coil placement from subject to subject relative to targeted anatomy. Surprisingly, BOLD time courses from image-guided experiments showed significantly slower return to baseline after TMS than was observed under function guidance. Conclusions:The results demonstrate the effectiveness and precision of image-guided positioning of TMS coils combined with a precisely adjustable holder/positioner and regional normalization. Image guidance provides an accurate TMS placement relative to individual anatomy when no external sign is available.
A Seasonality Factor in Asset Allocation

Motivated by the seasonality found in equity returns, we create a Turn-of-the-Month (ToM) allocation strategy in the U.S. equity market and investigate its value in asset allocation. By using a wide variety of portfolio construction techniques in an attempt to address the impact of estimation risk in the input parameters, we show significant out-of-sample benefits from investing in the ToM factor along with a traditional stock-bond portfolio. The out-of-sample benefits remain significant after taking into account transaction costs and by using different rolling estimation windows indicating that a market timing strategy based on the ToM offers substantial benefits to investors when determining the allocation of assets.