Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
New Therapeutic Intervention and Assessment Tools: GSR, Sexual Dysfunction and the Peptide Assisted Therapy Method––an Applied Therapy and Mathematical Metric of Healing.

This adjunct to our previous work (Norman and Conte et al. 2016, 2016a) will apply the proposed methodology within a specific clinical paradigm in order to aid the ever increasing population afflicted with sexual dysfunction and more subtle relationship issues. As has been previously supported, GSR is a noninvasive alternative to other measures which is capable of reaching into the deepest unconscious layers of the human mind. We will propose a specific series of tests and treatments which may allow risk-free aid to be disseminated to needful populations and treatment efficacy evaluated in precise mathematical terms supported by known trustworthy psychological measures. We may thereby develop and substantiate from several fronts at once, both a new therapeutic approach specifically aimed at a large target population in present need of care, and also, the methods of mathematical evaluation applied. The Peptide Assisted Therapy (PAT) method utilizes the known fact of oxytocin induced hippocampal mnemic plasticity within a neuropsychoanalytic context, to reshape basic attachment structure dynamics in order to ameliorate active pathology. A detailed protocol is presented relating the previously articulated methodology to the current theoretic construct and its applicability. In this way we will suggest new avenues of approach, analysis, theoretic substantiation and treatment which may directly help those afflicted with a common condition. Qualification and importance: It must be qualified that the proposed treatment is new, safe, non-toxic and remains to be assessed. Although it is unlikely that those patients and couples with deeply entrenched libidinal imbalance will benefit from this therapeutic approach outside of a greater and more extensive therapeutic context, those whose condition is less severe may well receive substantial benefit. With ~30% of all men and ~40% of all women displaying some level of sexually dysfunctional symptomatology, (ASRM fact sheets 2008, 2015) over a complex distribution (Simons and Carey 2001), we may rightly conclude that this safe and inexpensive treatment could help millions, and so, should be closely investigated and quantitatively assessed.
The Effect of Three Decontamination Methods on COBAS Amplicor Mycobacterium tuberculosis PCR Assay

In this study, we evaluated the effect of three decontamination-homogenization-concentration (DHC) methods on COBAS Amplicor Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) PCR system (Roche Diagnostics, Inc., Branchburg, USA) in three different periods. A total of 1210 clinical specimens (602 pulmonary, 608 extrapulmonary specimens) were investigated. Specimens were decontaminated periodically using three DHC methods (Method A: 3% NaOHtrisodium citrate-N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NALC), Method B: 4% NaOH-Bromothymol Blue (BTB) method-Direct, Method C: 4% NaOH-BTB method-irrigation before DNA extraction method). Definitive results were obtained from 1011 (83.6%) of 1210 samples. The inhibition rates according to DHC methods (Method A, B, C) were respectively 3.3% (10/302), 4.3% (7/162) and 17.3% (24/138) for pulmonary samples; 10.3% (30/291), 19.5% (33/169) and 35.1% (52/148) for extrapulmonary samples; 6.7% (40/593), 12.1% (40/331) and 26.5% (76/286) for all samples respectively When inhibition rates were compared in terms of samples types and numbers, high inhibitor rates were found in urine 24.4%, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) 9.5% and gastric lavage fluid (GLF) 7.6%, respectively. Using culture results as standard, the sensitivity, specificity, positive (PPV) and negative (NPV) predictive values of COBAS Amplicor MTB PCR assay were, respectively, 68.2%, 99.1%, 75% and 98.8% for the method A, 66.7%, 98%, 75% and 96.9% for method B, 75.0%, 98.9%, 75% and 98.8% for method C. We conclude that laboratories planning to use nucleic acid amplification (NAA) methods as supplement to conventional methods, should be prefer 3% NaOH-trisodium citrate-NALC method.
Spécification et vérification de systèmes paramétrés

Mes recherches s'inscrivent dans le domaine des methodes formelles de specification et de verification de modeles et de programmes. Mes premiers travaux ont porte sur la verification et la synthese d'invariants de systemes distribues, parametres par le nombre de processus executes en parallele. Puis j'ai etudie la correction de programmes imperatifs par rapport a des proprietes temporelles et des specifications fonctionnelles formelles. Plus recemment, j'ai outille une methode d'aide a la conception de procedures de decision, applique la verification deductive a des algorithmes de combinatoire enumerative, et adapte des strategies de reecriture a la formalisation de methodes multi-echelles. Une part importante de mes travaux porte sur la methode de verification deductive, qui formalise la correction d'un systeme par une formule logique, qui doit ensuite etre demontree rigoureusement. Je presente mes contributions a la thematique de la verification deductive des programmes imperatifs annotes par des specifications fonctionnelles.
Ziprasidone: A New Atypical Antipsychotic Agent

Objective: To evaluate ziprasidone for the treatment of schizophrenia with respect to its pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, adverse effect profiles, and drug interaction potential. Data Source: A MEDLINE search (1966-May 2001) was conducted for primary and secondary sources focusing on atypical antipsychotics and ziprasidone. Study Selection: All of the articles identified from the data source were evaluated and all information deemed relevant was included. Data Synthesis: Like other atypical antipsychotics, ziprasidone works by blocking serotonin and dopamine receptors in the mesolimbic and mesocortical regions of the brain. Ziprasidone is equally effective as haloperidol in treating schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorders. A proposed advantage of ziprasidone over other atypical antipsychotics is lower incidence of weight gain. As with a number of other psychotropic agents such as thioridazine, prolongation of the QTc interval should be monitored for patients receiving ziprasidone. Conclusions: Based on adverse effect profiles and relatively fewer drug interactions, ziprasidone is recommended for patients who are elderly and taking multiple medications.
The quality of transitions from hospital to home: A hospital-based cohort study of patient groups with high and low readmission rates

Introduction The quality of transitions from the hospital to home is critical for preventing readmissions. The aims of this study were to evaluate variations in the quality of transitions across groups of patients and across hospitals with high and low readmission rates and to study the impact of transitions on postdischarge outcomes. Methods A multicenter cohort study was conducted at 12 Flemish hospitals between June 2013 and September 2015 to examine transitions for patients with heart failure, pneumonia, or total hip/knee arthroplasty. Hospitals with high and low readmission rates were selected based on readmission rates in 2008. The quality of the transitions was assessed based on readiness for discharge, patient education, general practitioner contributions to the discharge process, and timeliness and completeness of discharge summaries. Results A total of 233 patients were included in the study. Readiness for discharge was better in patients with total hip/knee arthroplasty than in those with heart failure or pneumonia (mean differences 11.1 (95% CI 5.3–16.9) (p = 0.001) and 5.8 (95% CI 1.2–10.5) (p = 0.016), respectively). Heart failure patients had better readiness scores in low readmission rates than in high readmission rates hospitals (mean difference 13.5 (95% CI 2.5–24.5)) (p = 0.017). Insufficient timeliness of discharge summaries was a risk factor for postdischarge events (OR 10.564; 95% CI 1.476–75.603; p = 0.019). Discussion To improve the quality of transitions from hospital to home, communication with general practitioner s must occur in a timely manner and with a focus on the continuity of care. Particularly, in patients with complex postdischarge needs, preparing patients for discharge is essential to prevent readmissions.
A pilot study of injection therapy and a home care programme in the management of plantar fasciitis: a pilot study

Abstract Objectives. To determine if injection therapy and a home care programme is superior to a home care programme in the treatment of plantar fasciitis. Design. Quantitative, non-blinded, experimental, pilot study. Subjects were incidentally sampled and alternately placed in the control group (home care programme) or experimental group (injection plus home care programme). Subjects were assessed over a 14-week period. Setting. A physiotherapy clinic in a health centre. All subjects were assessed and treated by the same physiotherapist. Participants. Seven subjects with a total of nine cases of plantar fasciitis (two were bilateral). Main outcome measures. Pain as evaluated by a visual analogue scale. Secondary measures were lower limb function using the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) and plantar fascia rupture. Results. Overall average pain scores reduced greatly in both groups, with the experimental group showing a quicker response, particularly in the first two weeks after injection. Overall average function scores increased in both groups, with the experimental group showing a quicker response, particularly in the first two weeks after injection. By week 14 there was little difference between the groups for pain and function outcome measures. No subjects demonstrated plantar fascia rupture. Conclusions. Both a home care programme or a home care programme plus injection appeared to benefit plantar fasciitis, with an injection seeming to offer a quicker improvement of symptoms but with no long-term benefits. Further research is required so that any statistically significant difference between these two treatments can be shown.
Desoximetasone--a new topical corticosteroid: short- and long-term experiences.

: A new potent topical corticosteroid, desoximetasone, was clinically evaluated in several hundred patients with steroid-responsive dermatoses. Both short-term and long-term comparative studies showed desoximetasone emollient cream (0.25 percent) to be highly effective. Studies comparing betamethasone valerate cream C0. p1 percent) with desoximetasone emollient cream (0.25 percent) showed the new topical steroid to be clinically superior in the relief of moderate and severe inflammatory manifestations of psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. In addition, desoximetasone was found to be safe, well tolerated, and accepted by the patients.
Serum Biochemical Markers and Anthropometric Measurements in the Brazilian Army Militaries Selected for the United Nations’ Peacekeeping Mission in Haiti

Objective : The Brazilian Army (BA) actively participates in peacekeeping missions of the United Nations (UN), and to do so, it is necessary that their military are in minimum physical condition to face the obstacles in the course of actions within the theater of operations. The aim of this study was to analyze the associations between serum biochemical markers and anthropometric measures in BA’s militaries selected for the UN peacekeeping mission. Method : The study included 262 male militaries from the BA, aged 19-49 years selected for the UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti in 2012. Anthropometry was performed with measurement of total body weight, height and waist and hip circumferences. The body mass index and waist-hip ratio were calculated. Blood collection was performed after fasting for 12h for analysis of biochemical markers (HDL-C, triglycerides and glucose). Data were presented as mean ± standard deviation and percentage frequency. The associations between biochemical markers and anthropometric indices were assessed by Pearson correlation. Results : A significant negative correlation between HDL-C and waist circumference and a positive between glycaemia, triglycerides, body mass, body mass index and waist circumference were observed. The descriptive percentage of obese military found is below the national average, but overweight number is closer to the indices of the population. Conclusion : The weak correlation between blood glucose and anthropometric parameters as well as the inverse relationship between HDL-C and waist circumference, show that indirect instruments are independent predictors of NCD.
Divergência em GPU: análises e alocação de registradores

Uma nova tendencia no mercado de computadores e usar unidades de processamento grafico (GPUs) 1 para acelerar tarefas paralelas por dados. Esse crescente interesse renovou a atencao dada ao modelo de execucao Single Instruction Multiple Data (SIMD). Maquinas SIMD fornecem uma tremenda capacidade computacional aos desenvolvedores, mas programa-las de forma eficiente ainda e um desafio, particularmente devido a perdas de performance causadas por divergencias de memoria e de fluxo. Esses fenomenos sao consequencias de dados divergentes. Dados divergentes sao variaveis com mesmo nome mas valores diferentes entre as unidades de processamento. A fim de lidar com os fenomenos de divergencias, esta dissertacao introduz uma nova ferramenta de analise de codigo, a qual chamamos Analise de Divergencia com Restricoes Afins. Desenvolvedores de programas e compiladores podem servir-se das informacoes de divergencia com dois propositos diferentes. Primeiro, podem melhorar a qualidade de programas gerados para maquinas que possuem instrucoes vetoriais, mesmo que essas sejam incapazes de lidar com divergencias de fluxo. Segundo, podem otimizar programascriados para placas graficas. Para exemplificar esse ultimo, apresentamos uma otimizacao para alocadores de registradores que, usando das informacoes geradas pelas analises de divergencias, melhora a utilizacao da hierarquia de memoria das placas graficas.Testados sobre conhecidos benchmarks, os alocadores de registradores otimizados produzem codigo que e, em media, 29.70% mais rapido do que o codigo gerado por alocadores de registradores convencionais.
Aprendizado ativo para ordenação de resultados

A ordenacao de resultados e uma funcionalidade essencial de muitos sistemas: desde maquinas de busca na Web, passando por sistemas de recomendacao de produtos e propaganda virtual, resultados devem ser ordenados de acordo com sua relevância para a busca efetuada ou baseado em preferencias do usuario ou em seu perfil. Essa ordenacao e especialmente importante para sistemas de busca na Web, uma vez que uma simples pesquisa pode retornar centenas de milhares ou milhoes de documentos, mas o usuario provavelmente ira visualizar apenas alguns poucos no topo da lista. Algoritmos que aprendem a ordenar (Learning to Rank - L2R) usam tecnicas de aprendizado de maquina para produzir ordenacoes melhores do que aquelas obtidas por modelos classicos de Recuperacao de Informacao, como o BM25, por exemplo. Metodos L2R necessitam de um conjunto de treino rotulado para poderem gerar um modelo de ordenacao que pode depois ser utilizado para ordenar os resultados de novas buscas. Esses conjuntos de treino sao dificeis e caros de produzir, pois e necessario que especialistas humanos avaliem os documentos retornados, indicando se sao ou nao relevantes ou entao provendo uma ordem parcial ou total desses documentos de acordo com sua relevancia para a busca. Algoritmos de aprendizado ativo podem reduzir o custo desse processo de analise de relevância, selecionando de um conjunto nao rotulado de instâncias que tem o potencial de acelerar o aprendizado do algoritmo de L2R, maximizando a eficacia do modelo aprendido. Nessa dissertacao, propomos um novo metodo de aprendizado ativo baseado em regras de associacao que pode ser usado para selecionar documentos de um conjunto nao-rotulado sem a necessidade de um conjunto inicial de treino. Esse metodo seleciona conjuntos de treino pequenos e efetivos. Entretanto, nao e simples estender esse metodo para selecionar mais documentos caso isso seja necessario. Portanto, outra contribuicao desse trabalho e um metodo iterativo de selecao de documentos que pode ser usado para selecionar mais instâncias para serem rotuladas. Nesse segundo estagio, inicialmente usamos os documentos selecionados pelo primeiro metodo para treinar um comite de algoritmos L2R distintos. Depois, o metodo progride iterativamente selecionando, para cada busca, aqueles documentos cuja ordem mais varia entre as ordens propostas pelos membros do comite. Usados em conjunto, esses dois metodos sao poderosos e flexiveis, podendo ser aplicados em varios cenarios reais. Testamos os metodos propostos utilizando varios conjuntos de teste da colecao ao LETOR e mostramos que eles obtem resultados competitivos selecionando uma pequena fracao dos conjuntos de treino originais. Em metade dos conjuntos de teste avaliados, selecionando menos de 5% dos treinos originais, a combinacao dos metodos obtem resultados melhores do que aqueles obtidos por algoritmos L2R do estado-da-arte utilizando os treinos completos. Tambem mostramos que a combinacao dos metodos e melhor do que um algoritmo de aprendizado ativo para L2R recentemente proposto na literatura.
Small-vessel occlusion versus large-artery atherosclerotic strokes in diabetics: Patient characteristics, outcomes, and predictors of stroke mechanism

Introduction Diabetes mellitus exerts a detrimental effect on cerebral vasculature affecting both macrovasculature and microvasculature. However, although ischaemic stroke is typically included among macrovascular diabetic complications, it is frequently omitted from microvascular diabetic complications. We aimed to compare the proportion of large-artery atherosclerotic and small-vessel occlusion strokes among diabetic stroke patients, explore their differences and outcomes, and assess potential mechanisms which may determine why some diabetic patients suffer large-artery atherosclerotic stroke whereas others suffer small-vessel occlusion stroke. Methods We pooled data of diabetic patients from four prospective ischaemic stroke registries (Acute Stroke Registry and Analysis of Lausanne (ASTRAL), Athens, Austrian, and Helsinki Stroke Thrombolysis Registries). Stroke severity and prognosis were assessed with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and ASTRAL scores, respectively; functional outcome with three-month modified Rankin score (0–2 considered as favourable outcome). Logistic-regression analysis identified independent predictors of large-artery atherosclerotic stroke. Results Among 5412 patients, 1069 (19.8%) were diabetics; of them, 232 (21.7%) had large-artery atherosclerotic and 205 (19.2%) small-vessel occlusion strokes. Large-artery atherosclerotic stroke had higher severity than small-vessel occlusion stroke (median NIHSS: 6 vs. 3, p < 0.001), worse prognosis (median ASTRAL score: 23 vs. 19, p < 0.001), and worse three-month outcome (60.3% vs. 83.4% with favourable outcome, p < 0.001). In logistic-regression analysis, peripheral artery disease (odds ratio: 4.013, 95% confidence interval: 1.667–9.665, p < 0.01) and smoking (odds ratio: 1.706, 95% confidence interval: 1.087–2.675, p < 0.05) were independently associated with large-artery atherosclerotic strokes. Conclusion In the diabetic stroke population, small-vessel occlusion and large-artery atherosclerotic strokes occur with similar frequency. Large-artery atherosclerotic strokes are more severe and have worse outcome than small-vessel occlusion strokes. The presence of peripheral artery disease and smoking independently predicted large-artery atherosclerotic stroke.
O efeito dos filhos sobre a participação feminina no mercado de trabalho brasileiro: explorando diversas fontes de variação exógena na fecundidade

O declinio acentuado da fecundidade e, ao mesmo tempo, a presenca cada vez mais marcante da mulher no mercado de trabalho nas ultimas decadas tem motivado estudos que buscam analisar a associacao entre o numero de filhos e a participacao laboral feminina. Diante desse contexto, o objetivo dessa tese e entender melhor a relacao filhos-trabalho para as mulheres. Entretanto, mais que mensurar essa associacao, estimamos o efeito dos filhos sobre a participacao delas no mercado de trabalho brasileiro, observando a evolucao temporal desse efeito desde os anos de 1990. Isto porque, a maternidade tem inumeros efeitos sobre a carreira profissional das mulheres: pode leva-las a desistir de trabalhar (temporariamente ou definitivamente), encoraja-las a reduzir seu tempo de trabalho ou ate mesmo fazer com que mudem de profissao ou de segmento do mercado, alem de poder retardar sua promocao a melhores cargos e seus aumentos salariais (Maron & Meulders, 2007). Alem disso, com base no fato de que cada filho possa apresentar um efeito diferenciado sobre a decisao laboral das maes, ja que ha motivos para acreditar, por exemplo, que o primeiro filho e aquele com o efeito mais forte sobre a entrada ou permanencia da mae no mercado de trabalho (Lerida, 2006), estimamos o efeito do primeiro, do segundo e do terceiro (ou mais) filhos sobre a participacao feminina no mercado de trabalho, separadamente. Contudo, devido ao fato de que ter filhos e trabalhar constituem decisoes muitas vezes tomadas simultaneamente pelas mulheres, estimar o efeito de filhos sobre sua participacao no mercado nao constitui tarefa trivial, ja que os metodos convencionais nao permitem que estimemos esse efeito, mas apenas a associacao entre essas variaveis. Assim, estimamos o efeito de filhos com base em variaveis que afetam a fecundidade e que so afetam a oferta de trabalho feminina por meio da fecundidade; o que elimina o problema da endogeneidade filhos-trabalho feminino. Entre os resultados, de maneira geral, encontramos que os filhos diminuem a probabilidade de participacao das mulheres no mercado de trabalho e que esse efeito e mais negativo quando se trata do primeiro e do terceiro (ou mais) filhos. Ademais, entre as decadas de 1990 e 2000, o efeito negativo de filhos sobre a participacao feminina no mercado de trabalho perdeu magnitude.
Single Adult-human Equivalent Dose of Intramuscular Chloroquine did not Lower Blood Glucose Level in Fasted Wistar Rats

Objectives: The 4-Aminoquinoline, Chloroquine is still indicated for treatment of malaria fever due to sensitive Plasmodium species. The hypoglycemic effects of Chloroquine have been sparsely reported in human and animal models of type 2 diabetes and a widely held perception among health caregivers in this part of the world is that administering intramuscularly Chloroquine to fasting malaria patients could be complicated by syncope directly caused by hypoglycemia. This study investigated the effects of a single adult human intramuscular bolus of Chloroquine on the blood glucose level in fasting normoglycemic Wistar rats. Methods: Fifteen acclimatized adult male rats were randomly divided into three groups of 5 per group. Group I and II rats were fasted overnight and received 4.17 mg/kg of intramuscular Chloroquine in the morning. Group III rats were also fasted but received 1ml of sterile water injection. Fasting blood sugar level was determined immediately after injection and at 2 hour and 4 hour intervals using Accucheck glucometer. Results: The results were recorded as Mean ± SEM. The mean sugar levels of the groups were compared with each other within a given time point as well between the different time intervals within a given group using Student’s t test of significance. There were no observable statistical significant differences between the Mean blood glucose levels of the groups. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that intramuscular Chloroquine injection in fasted normoglycemic rats did not lower significantly lower their blood glucose level and syncope in fasting adult humans immediately following treatment by this route was likely the result of a cardiovascular complication rather than from a Chloroquine-induced hypoglycemic effect.