Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Postoperative Sore Throat Prevention in Ambulatory Surgery: A Comparison between Preoperative Aspirin and Magnesium Sulfate Gargle – A Prospective, Randomized, Double-blind Study

Background: Postoperative sore throat (POST) frequently hampers the positive feedback of ambulatory surgery in spite of so many measures. This study was carried out to compare the efficacy of preoperative magnesium sulfate and aspirin gargle in preventing POST after ambulatory surgery. Materials and Methods: It was a prospective, randomized, and double-blinded study. Fifty-six adult patients of either sex, aged 25–50, of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I–II, scheduled for day care surgery, were randomly allocated to Group A ([n = 28] receiving aspirin gargle [325 mg tablet]) and Group M ([n = 28] receiving magnesium sulfate [20 mg/kg] gargle). In both groups, the medications were made into 20 mL of (5% dextrose) solution. Patients were asked to gargle with this mixture for 30 s, 15 min before induction of anesthesia. Episodes of POST were measured at 0, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, and 16 h postoperatively with a four-point scale. Results: Both groups had a similar demographic profile with comparable oxygen saturation, hemodynamics, and consciousness status at immediate postoperative period. Number of patients with sore throat was significantly lower in magnesium group compared to aspirin group at 0 h (P = 0.0376), 2 h (P = 0.0429), 4 h (P = 0.0394) after the operation. POST pain score (visual analog scale) was significantly (P < 0.05) lower in magnesium group compared to aspirin group after the operation at 0, 2, 4 h after operation. Conclusion: It is evident that preoperative magnesium sulfate gargle significantly attenuated the incidence and severity of POST, especially in the early postoperative period, with no adverse effects in patients undergoing day care surgery under general anesthesia.
Effective recruitment method for the marketing department of a metallurgical enterprise

E. Jaba, A. Morosanu, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Iaşi, D. Şerban, M. Gruiescu, Academy of Economic Studies Bucharest, Romania This paper presents some solutions to recruit staff for the Marketing Department of a metallurgical enterprise. Our goal is to present the psychological characteristics of a certain category of employees on a sample of 107 employees and to evaluate the relationship between the motivation to work and those characteristics. In order to realize such evaluation we used the linear mixed eff ects model in the statistical sof tware program R. The results showed that a signiĀ cant eff ect on work motivation have factors like work climate and the employee agreeability.
Reliability and construct validity of ultrasonography of soft tissue and destructive changes in erosive osteoarthritis of the interphalangeal finger joints: a comparison with MRI

Objectives To study the reliability and construct validity of ultrasound in interphalangeal finger joints affected by erosive osteoarthritis (EOA) and non-EOA with MRI as the reference method. Methods 252 joints were examined by ultrasound, conventional radiography and clinical examination. Ultrasound was performed using a high-frequency linear transducer (12×18 MHz). On the same day, magnetic resonance images of 112 joints were obtained on a 3.0 T magnetic resonance unit. The ultrasound and MRI images were re-read independently by other readers unaware of the diagnosis, clinical and other imaging findings. Interobserver reliability was calculated by the percentage of exact agreement obtained and κ statistics. With MRI as the reference method, the sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound in detecting structural (bone erosions and osteophytes) and soft tissue (effusion and grey-scale synovitis) changes in EOA were calculated. Results Ultrasound and MRI were found to be more sensitive in detecting erosions than conventional radiography in EOA. A high agreement between ultrasound and MRI in the assessment of bone erosions (77.7%), osteophytes (75.9%) and synovitis (86.5%) was present. A high percentage of inflammatory changes was found in EOA, and in smaller amount in non-EOA, both confirmed by MRI. Good interobserver reliability of ultrasound was obtained for all variables (all median κ >0.8). Conclusion Grey-scale ultrasound proved to be a reliable and valid imaging technique to assess erosions and soft tissue changes, compared with MRI as a reference method in EOA.
Do Neighborhood Demographics Modify Walking Group Intervention Effectiveness in Urban Neighborhoods?

Objectives. We assessed the effects of neighborhood composition on effectiveness of the Walk Your Heart to Health (WYHH) intervention in promoting physical activity and reducing cardiovascular risk (CVR) in low-to-moderate–income, predominantly non-Latino Black (NLB) and Latino communities. Method. Multilevel models assessed modifying effects of neighborhood composition on (1) WYHH adherence/participation at 8 weeks and 32 weeks, (2) associations between participation and steps, and (3) associations between steps and CVR. Results. Approximately 90% of participants were women. Neither neighborhood poverty nor racial composition modified intervention participation at 8 weeks. At 32 weeks, residents of high percentage–NLB neighborhoods that also had high poverty rates had reduced participation. Neighborhood composition did not modify associations between participation and steps or between steps and CVR. Neighborhood percentage poverty and NLB were positively associated with CVR. Conclusion. Positive associations between participation in the WYHH program and physical activity, and CVR did not differ by neighborhood composition. Efforts to address challenges to long-term participation are warranted for residents of racially segregated, high-poverty neighborhoods. Residents of racially segregated neighborhoods with high concentrations of poverty experience disproportionately high risk for cardiovascular disease and can benefit from interventions such as WYHH that increase physical activity and reduce CVR.
High frequency DC-DC converter using GaN device

This article deals with the conception of a 42V-12V isolated DC-DC converter using new GaN power transistor technology. Those components allow working at higher frequencies compare to classical silicon power components. Thus they allow increasing the power density of converters. Due to their high switching frequency, voltage and current commutation speed, they imply to take care of EMC problems, to use high frequency designed magnetic core, to adapt gate drive stage in order to increase the efficiency and to reduce power losses. This paper describes some driver and power circuit architecture to fulfill the specifications. The performance improvement of GaN device in comparison with Si device is investigated using converters.
Renormalisation of the energy-momentum tensor in scalar field theory using the Wilson flow

A non-perturbative renormalisation prescription for the energy-momentum tensor, based on space-time symmetries along the Wilson flow, has been proposed recently in the context of 4-dimensional gauge theories. We extend this construction to the case of a scalar field theory, and investigate its numerical feasibility by studying Ward identities in 3-dimensional scalar field theory. After introducing the Wilson flow for the scalar field theory we discuss its renormalisation properties and the determination of the renormalisation constants for the energy-momentum tensor.
Phase equilibria of selected sulfide impurity systems at elevated temperatures

Aalto University, P.O. Box 11000, FI-00076 Aalto www.aalto. fi Author Hannu Johto Name of the doctoral dissertation Phase equilibria of selected sulfide impurity systems at elevated temperatures Publisher School of Chemical Technology Unit Department of Materials Science and Technology Series Aalto University publication series DOCTORAL DISSERTATIONS 52/2014 Field of research Metallurgy Manuscript submitted 30 January 2014 Date of the defence 16 May 2014 Permission to publish granted (date) 8 April 2014 Language English Monograph Article dissertation (summary + original articles)
An Entropy based Product Ranking Algorithm using Reviews and Q&A Data

Amazon.com, along with several other commercial websites for products and services, provides a platform for consumers to share their opinions by providing reviews and answering product related questions (QA data). These opinions can be quantitative, qualitative or a combination of both. Owing to the large corpus of such data available, there are several learning and classification approaches available to scrutinize them e.g., those based on Entropy measures, machine learning, stochastic, and natural language processing etc. In this paper, we review some of the prominent techniques and explore a hybrid approach, involving Entropy, Bilinear and statistical measures, to use heterogeneous consumer data and simultaneously analyze and rank products for customers. With experimental results, we show that our approach effectively ranks products using (1) text reviews (2) QA data and (3) star rating of products. We also make a case that the ranks calculated are more relevant to the customers and can enable better prediction on the products sale for the sellers. Keywords-product reviews, product ranking, similarity, classification
Design and actuation optimization of a 4-axes biped robot for walking and running

Several French laboratories, joint in the CNRS Project "Control of Legged Robots", have defined a biped robot intended to experiment walking and running gaits. This biped is made of one trunk and two legs without feet, animated by means of four active articulations. This paper describes the design of the prototype, closely combining technological considerations and dynamics ones. The geometrical parameters and actuation characteristics are defined with the aim of generating walking and running gaits with rather large velocities. Each gait is synthesised with optimization criterion including the energy consideration with respect to actuator performances. During the single support phase and the flight phase, the biped is under-actuated. The synthesis of the corresponding trajectories is carried out by means of a local optimization method, and the cyclic constraints being handled as equality constraints. The optimal gear ratio of the speed reducers is computed.
Bortezomib, melphalan, prednisone (VMP) versus melphalan, prednisone, thalidomide (MPT) in elderly newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients: A retrospective case‐matched study

Novel agents in combination with melphalan and prednisone (MP) significantly improved progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in multiple myeloma (MM). Randomized trials comparing MP plus bortezomib (VMP) versus MP plus thalidomide (MPT) are lacking. Nine hundred and fifty‐six elderly (>65 years) newly diagnosed MM patients from six European randomized trials were retrospectively analyzed and matched for age, albumin, and beta2‐microglobulin at diagnosis, 296 patients were selected from the VMP groups, and 294 from MPT. Complete response rate was 21% in the VMP patients and 13% in the MPT patients (P = 0.007). After a median follow‐up of 34 months (range, 1–92), VMP significantly prolonged both PFS (median 32.5 vs. 22.9 months, HR 0.65; 95% CI 0.52–0.82; P < 0.001) and OS (median 79.7 vs. 45.1 months, HR 0.44; 95% CI 0.32–0.59; P < 0.001) in comparison with MPT. The benefit in terms of OS of the VMP group was quite similar among patients with different risk factors defined by sex, ISS, ECOG performance status, or serum creatinine but not among patients ≥75 years. Multivariate analysis confirmed that VMP was an independent predictor of longer PFS and OS. In a control‐case matched analysis, PFS and OS were prolonged in patients who received VMP in comparison with those treated with MPT. Am. J. Hematol. 89:355–362, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A secure electric energy management in smart home

We formulate and study an intelligent and secure house electricity system on the basis of the Internet of Things. The security of sensitive data collected and transmitted by sensor nodes installed in home appliances and household electrical devices is critical, since the transmitted data can be easily manipulated by different types of attacks. The confidentiality and integrity of household electrical devices information must be assured to insure appropriate and timely response. Providing a secure aggregation mechanism is thus very essential to protect the integrity and the privacy of data aggregation. In this paper, we propose a secure data aggregation scheme that exploits compressed sensing (CS) to reduce the communication overhead of collected electrical power measurement. Then, the data will be encrypted by each sensor node after the compressing phase, and a cryptography hash algorithm is used to ensure data integrity. Finally, we apply an aggregation function for data priorities and then send the data for diagnosis. Then, we will present simulation results for the evaluation of the proposed electric energy management system.
Multicolor FISH methods in current clinical diagnostics

Multicolor FISH (mFISH) assays are currently indispensable for a precise description of derivative chromosomes. Routine application of such techniques on human chromosomes started in 1996 with the simultaneous use of all 24 human whole-chromosome painting probes in multiplex-FISH and spectral karyotyping. Since then, multiple approaches for chromosomal differentiation based on multicolor-FISH (MFISH) assays have been developed. Predominantly, they are applied to characterize marker or derivative chromosomes identified in conventional banding analysis. Since the introduction of array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH), mFISH is also applied to verify and further delineate aCGH-detected aberrations. For the latter, it is important to consider the fact that aCGH cannot detect or characterize balanced rearrangements, which are important to be resolved in detail in infertility diagnostics. In addition, mFISH is necessary to distinguish different imbalanced situations detectable in aCGH; small supernumerary marker chromosomes have to be differentiated from insertions or unbalanced translocations. This review presents an overview on the available mFISH methods and their applications in pre- and post-natal clinical genetics.
Effect of preventive (β blocker) treatment, behavioural migraine management, or their combination on outcomes of optimised acute treatment in frequent migraine: randomised controlled trial

Objective To determine if the addition of preventive drug treatment (β blocker), brief behavioural migraine management, or their combination improves the outcome of optimised acute treatment in the management of frequent migraine. Design Randomised placebo controlled trial over 16 months from July 2001 to November 2005. Setting Two outpatient sites in Ohio, USA. Participants 232 adults (mean age 38 years; 79% female) with diagnosis of migraine with or without aura according to International Headache Society classification of headache disorders criteria, who recorded at least three migraines with disability per 30 days (mean 5.5 migraines/30 days), during an optimised run-in of acute treatment. Interventions Addition of one of four preventive treatments to optimised acute treatment: β blocker (n=53), matched placebo (n=55), behavioural migraine management plus placebo (n=55), or behavioural migraine management plus β blocker (n=69). Main outcome measure The primary outcome was change in migraines/30 days; secondary outcomes included change in migraine days/30 days and change in migraine specific quality of life scores. Results Mixed model analysis showed statistically significant (P≤0.05) differences in outcomes among the four added treatments for both the primary outcome (migraines/30 days) and the two secondary outcomes (change in migraine days/30 days and change in migraine specific quality of life scores). The addition of combined β blocker and behavioural migraine management (−3.3 migraines/30 days, 95% confidence interval −3.2 to −3.5), but not the addition of β blocker alone (−2.1 migraines/30 days, −1.9 to −2.2) or behavioural migraine management alone (−2.2 migraines migraines/30 days, −2.0 to −2.4), improved outcomes compared with optimised acute treatment alone (−2.1 migraines/30 days, −1.9 to −2.2). For a clinically significant (≥50% reduction) in migraines/30 days, the number needed to treat for optimised acute treatment plus combined β blocker and behavioural migraine management was 3.1 compared with optimised acute treatment alone, 2.6 compared with optimised acute treatment plus β blocker, and 3.1 compared with optimised acute treatment plus behavioural migraine management. Results were consistent for the two secondary outcomes, and at both month 10 (the primary endpoint) and month 16. Conclusion The addition of combined β blocker plus behavioural migraine management, but not the addition of β blocker alone or behavioural migraine management alone, improved outcomes of optimised acute treatment. Combined β blocker treatment and behavioural migraine management may improve outcomes in the treatment of frequent migraine. Trial registration Clinical trials NCT00910689.
Pediment response to drainage basin evolution in south-central Arizona

The Sonoran Desert portion of the Basin and Range physiographic province contains a number of streams that now flow across once-closed basins. We explore here the research questions of if and how granitic rock pediments respond to the transition from rimming endorheic basins to bordering through-flowing streams. Granitic rock pediments of the northern Usery and eastern McDowell Mountains once graded to the closed Miocene–Pliocene Pemberton basin that occupied the present-day location of the confluence of the Salt and Verde Rivers. The process of lake overflow, which integrated these rivers, first aggraded fill terraces that, in turn, caused aggradation of a mantle of transported grus on bedrock pediments. Subsequent episodic incision of the Salt and Verde rivers lowered the base level; this led to the development of erosional features such as rolling topography of a degrading pediment mantle; exposure of the former piedmont angle and its associated zones of enhanced bedrock decay and regolith carbonate; and exposure of spheroidally weathered bedrock and emerging tors, some of which experienced 20th century erosion. The granitic pediments of the former Pemberton Basin, which now transport grus to the Salt and Verde rivers, have actively adjusted to aggradational and degradational events associated with drainage integration and do not appear to be inherited from an ancient wet climatic interval.
Managing Conflicting Requirements in Systems of Systems Conference or Workshop Item

Software systems have evolved from being stand-alone systems to being composed into Systems of Systems. A System of Systems (SoS) is defined as an arrangement of independently created, discovered, and selected systems, which are integrated into a single system in order to deliver unique capabilities [1]. In this context, each participating system can operate and support different goals in its own environment (viz. local goals), as well as support new goals of the SoS as a whole (viz. global goals), that could not be achieved separately by the participating systems. An SoS presents many features including operational and managerial independence, geographic distribution of participating systems, and emergent behaviors [2]. Examples of SoSs are found in several different domains including, but not limited to, transport network systems, household energy management systems, personal nutrition management systems, smart homes, smart cities and intelligent healthcare systems. However, as the SoS is formed by the integration of independent complex systems, this will increase the complexity of the SoS to at least one more order than its component systems [3]. This means that problems in the SoS environment are harder to handle than in the component system environment. Therefore, this will bring a number of software engineering challenges regarding their specification, design, construction, and operation. Among these, one important challenge is concerned with managing emerging conflicting behavior that leads to inconsistency. In an SoS, the various participating systems are often from different domains; are developed by different teams of people under different circumstances and time; have distinct functionalities; and are used by different stakeholders. All of these factors contribute to the existence of inconsistent and conflicting requirements. This research presents an overview of a framework called MaCoRe_SoS (Managing Conflicting Requirements in Systems of Systems) that supports conflict management in SoSs. The management of conflicting requirements in the proposed framework involves three main steps, namely (a) conflict identification, (b) conflict diagnosis, and (c) resolution based on the use of a utility function. In order to support the main steps, the framework uses a Monitor-Analyze-PlanExecute-Knowledge (MAPE-K) architectural pattern[4]. II. MOTIVATING EXAMPLE
Effects of opioid receptor blockade on the renewal of alcohol seeking induced by context: relationship to c‐fos mRNA expression

Contextual stimuli associated with alcohol availability can induce alcohol seeking during abstinence. Using a renewal procedure, we tested the effect of opioid receptor blockade on context‐induced alcohol seeking, and its relationship to the activity of brain sites involved in learning and reward. Thirty‐six male Wistar rats were trained to lever press for a 12% (w/v) alcohol solution before undergoing extinction sessions (no alcohol delivery). Half of the rats underwent training, extinction and testing in a single context with a distinct set of olfactory, visual, auditory and tactile properties [training, extinction and test in Context A (AAA)]. The other half were trained and extinguished in different contexts and returned to the training context on the test day [training, extinction and test in Contexts A, B and A, respectively (ABA)]. On the test day, the rats from each condition were pre‐treated with either saline or 1 mg/kg naltrexone (s.c.) and tested for alcohol seeking. Immediately following the test session, rats were killed and their brains were analysed for c‐fos mRNA expression using in‐situ hybridization. Re‐exposure to the alcohol‐associated context (ABA) significantly increased operant behaviour on the previously active lever relative to the AAA groups and this increased responding was associated with increased c‐fos mRNA expression in the basal and lateral amygdala and the CA3 subregion of the hippocampus. Naltrexone pre‐treatment attenuated context‐induced alcohol seeking and inhibited c‐fos mRNA expression in the lateral amygdala and CA3. Our findings point to a critical role for the basolateral amygdala and dorsal hippocampus in mediating context‐induced renewal of alcohol seeking and suggest that opioidergic mechanisms mediate this effect.