Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Coping with adverse drug events in patients with heart failure: Exploring the role of medication beliefs and perceptions

This study describes coping strategies that patients with heart failure (HF) use to manage adverse drug events (ADEs). The included coping strategies were social support seeking, information seeking, non-adherence and taking alleviating medication. The role of beliefs about medication and ADE perceptions in explaining these coping strategies was assessed using the Self-Regulation Model. We performed a cross-sectional study including 250 HF patients who experienced an ADE. Patients completed validated questionnaires assessing their coping strategies, ADE perceptions and medication beliefs. Social support (60%) and information seeking (32%) were the most commonly used strategies to cope with ADEs. Non-adherence was reported by 7% of the patients. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that demographics, clinical factors and medication beliefs explained only a small amount of the variance in coping strategies, whereas ADE perceptions explained a substantial amount of variance. Path analysis showed that patients’ perceptions about the timeline, consequences and controllability of ADEs by the health care provider were directly related to their coping behaviour. The effect of patients’ medication beliefs on their coping strategies was consistent with mediation through their ADE perceptions. Our results support the value of the Self-Regulation Model in understanding patients’ coping behaviour with regard to ADEs.
REAL TIME SPEED ESTIMATION FROM MONOCULAR VIDEO

In this paper, detailed studies have been performed for developing a real time system to be used for surveillance of the traffic flow by using monocular video cameras to find speeds of the vehicles for secure travelling are presented. We assume that the studied road segment is planar and straight, the camera is tilted downward a bridge and the length of one line segment in the image is known. In order to estimate the speed of a moving vehicle from a video camera, rectification of video images is performed to eliminate the perspective effects and then the interest region namely the ROI is determined for tracking the vehicles. Velocity vectors of a sufficient number of reference points are identified on the image of the vehicle from each video frame. For this purpose sufficient number of points from the vehicle is selected, and these points must be accurately tracked on at least two successive video frames. In the second step, by using the displacement vectors of the tracked points and passed time, the velocity vectors of those points are computed. Computed velocity vectors are defined in the video image coordinate system and displacement vectors are measured by the means of pixel units. Then the magnitudes of the computed vectors in the image space are transformed to the object space to find the absolute values of these magnitudes. The accuracy of the estimated speed is approximately ±1 – 2 km/h. In order to solve the real time speed estimation problem, the authors have written a software system in Cpp programming language. This software system has been used for all of the computations and test applications.
The efficacy of MRI with ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide particles (USPIO) in head and neck cancers.

BACKGROUND The objective was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO)-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compared to plain MRI in patients with a clinical N+ neck using histology as a gold standard. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty-eight patients underwent unenhanced and USPIO-enhanced MRI using T1-weighted spin echo (SE) sequences and high resolution Turbo-Spin-Echo (TSE) T2-weighted sequences, as well as T2-weighted Gradient Echo (GE) sequences in axial and sagittal slice orientation. The signal intensity (SI) decrease was measured by a region of interest evaluation and visual analysis was performed. RESULTS Histopathological evaluation of 363 lymph nodes revealed 34 as metastatic. USPIO MRI detected 28 metastases (sensitivity 82.3%) and 329 non-metastatic lymph nodes (specificity 100%). Regarding lymph node size, USPIO MRI was correct in all patients who underwent surgery. One lymph node with microinfiltration of tumor cells was detected by USPIO MRI. CONCLUSION There were no side-effects during or after application of the contrast agent. This study confirms the efficacy of MRI with USPIO in patients with head and neck cancer. USPIO-enhanced MRI could have an important effect on surgery planning. Because of its high specificity, USPIO-enhanced MRI seems to be a diagnostic modality able to differentiate borderline-sized lymph nodes.
The Effect of Mass Distribution on Bipedal Robot Efficiency

Energy efficiency is among the properties of legged robots in greatest need of improvement [1] and is one of the key factors limiting the use of legs for autonomous system locomotion [2]. One of the major determinants of energy consumption in human walking stems from the step-to-step transition [3], which intuition and simple models suggest is highly influenced by mass distribution; e.g. reduced distal leg mass reduces the impact losses which must be replaced each stride [4]. Accordingly, many researchers have studied the extent to which mass distribution can affect the efficiency of robot models [5] [6] [7], biological bipeds [8] [9] [10] [11] [12], and biological quadrupeds [13] [14] [15]. However, the applicability of existing results to the design of new physical robots is limited because:  conclusions from studies of biological systems may not be applicable to robots due to significant differences in gaits and relevant physics (e.g. of the actuators),  conclusions from studies of particular systems are not necessarily applicable to other robots due to differences in design parameters and control strategies, and  conclusions from studies of heavily simplified systems may not be applicable to physical robots due to important differences in the dynamics and the possibility that impact energy loss does not correlate with overall efficiency [16]. To address these shortcomings, we are studying the effect of added mass, such as batteries, control electronics, or payload, on robot efficiency, as measured by cost of transport. Using methods from [16], the results will be directly applicable to a wide variety of walking and running robot designs and control strategies in order to help individual robot designers improve their robot’s overall locomotion efficiency.
Lubricating ability of aspirated synovial fluid from emergency department patients with knee joint synovitis.

OBJECTIVE To determine if joint effusions encountered in the emergency department (ED) requiring arthrocentesis possess normal lubricating ability or evidence cartilage degeneration. Chondroprotection of articulating joint surfaces is provided by lubricin, a mucinous glycoprotein that is a product of megakaryocyte-stimulating factor gene (GenBank U70136) expression. Loss of synovial fluid's (SF) lubricating ability has been implicated in the pathogenesis of degenerative joint disease. METHODS A retrospective ED observational study from May 1, 1999, to October 1, 2000, of adult and pediatric patients presenting with radiographically negative knee joint complaints and clinical evidence of joint effusion. Knee joints were aspirated by the emergency physician and the synovial fluid tested for lubricating ability and collagen type II degeneration. Lubricating ability was assayed in vitro in an arthrotripsometer oscillating latex apposed to polished glass under a load of 0.35 106 N/m2. Results were reported as the coefficient of friction ( micro ) relative to that of a 0.9% NaCl control; negative deltamicro value indicates lubrication. Comparisons of deltamicro were made to normal SF and aspirates from patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis. Collagen type II fragments were measured by a novel sandwich ELISA. RESULTS Synovial fluid aliquots (n = 57) lubricated poorly with deltamicro = -0.045 (95% confidence interval = -0.006, -0.083) compared to normal SF with D micro = -0.095 (95% CI = -0.088, -0.101). Only 20.6% of knee joint aspirates possessed normal lubricating ability. An association exists between nucleated cell count and deltamicro described by a logarithmic function. Collagen type II fragments were present in aspirates at a concentration of 0.636 microg/ml (95% CI 0.495-0.777 microg/ml), significantly higher than 0.173 microg/ml (95% CI 0.154-0.193 microg/ml) in the OA comparison group. CONCLUSION Knee joints with synovitis, commonly encountered in the ED, are frequently nonlubricated bearings and display catabolism of collagen type II. This may play a role in acute cartilage destruction ultimately resulting in posttraumatic OA.
Effects of combined insulin-like growth factor 1 and macrophage colony-stimulating factor on the skeletal properties of mice.

BACKGROUND/AIM Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (MCSF) are critical to skeletal homeostasis. We investigated the effects of combined IGF-1 plus MCSF on mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS C57BL/6J mice, aged 7 weeks, were assigned to baseline, vehicle, IGF-1, MCSF, or combined IGF-1 plus MCSF (1 mg/kg/day each, n=12-13/group, 28-day duration). RESULTS IGF-1 or MCSF had no effect on bone formation rate; however, IGF-1 plus MCSF produced a 169% increase in periosteal bone formation rate. Combined therapy increased femoral mechanical properties (+25% elastic force), while IGF-1, and MCSF alone did not. Combined therapy affected trabecular bone volume fraction (+40%), number (+13%), and spacing (-13%). MCSF produced similar trabecular changes, while IGF-1 had no effect. Combined therapy and MCSF alone increased bone mineral content. CONCLUSION We have demonstrated the superior effects of combined IGF-1 and MCSF. Together, these agents may promote bone modeling to a greater extent than either therapy alone.
THE OUTCOMES OF SURGICAL TREATMENT OF RECURRENT LUMBAR DISK HERNIATION WITH DISCECTOMY ALONE AND DISCECTOMY WITH POSTEROLATERAL INTERBODY FUSION

Background: Recurrent lumbar disk herniation (RLDH) is one of the major causes of failure of standard discectomy. The optimal treatment method for RLDH is controversial. In the current study, we aimed to compare the clinical and functional outcomes of treating RLDH with discectomy alone and discectomy associated with posterolateral interbody fusion (PLIF). Material and Methods: There were 41 patients with RLHD after primary discectomy in the current retrospective study. Patients were assigned to 2 groups based on the surgical method: discectomy alone (17 patients) and discectomy with PLIF (21 patients). At the final visit the following variables were measured and compared between groups: the back and radicular pain intensity using visual analogue scale (VAS), functional outcome using oswestry low back pain disability scale (ODI), return to previous work and complication. Patients were followed for 13.9±2.8 and 15±3 months in discectomy alone and discectomy with PLIF groups, retrospectively. Results: Complete fusion was achieved in 24 patients of PLIF group. The back pain intensity was the same; however the radicular pain intensity was significantly lower in PLIF group (1.5±0.9 V.s 2.3±1; p=0.017). Also, the mean of ODI scale was the same. 82.3% of patients in discectomy group and 87.5% of patients in PLIF group returned to previous work and the difference was not significant. One patient in discectomy group and 2 patients in PLIF group developed temporary neurological deficit which disappeared after 3 months. Conclusions: Although both discectomy alone and discectomy with PLIF were associated with favorable mid-term results in treating patients with RLDH, however, the authors recommend using discectomy with PLIF for lower radicular pain.
Verification that common variation at 2q37.1, 6p25.3, 11q24.1, 15q23, and 19q13.32 influences chronic lymphocytic leukaemia risk

A recent genome wide association study of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) provided evidence that common variation at 2q13 (rs17483466), 2q37.1 (rs13397985), 6p25.3 (rs872071), 11q24.1 (rs735665), 15q23 (rs7176508) and 19q13.32 (rs11083846) affects CLL risk. To verify and further explore the relationship between these variants and CLL risk we genotyped case‐control datasets from Spain and Sweden (824 cases, 850 controls). Combined data provided statistically significant support for an association between genotypes at rs13397985, rs872071, rs735665, rs7176508 and rs11083846 and CLL risk. CLL risk increased with increasing numbers of risk alleles (Ptrend = 1·40 × 10−15), consistent with a polygenic model of disease susceptibility. These data validate the relationship between common variation and risk of CLL.
Robotic-Assisted Cardiac Surgery

Historically, cardiac surgery has relied on thoracotomies and median sternotomies for access to the heart. Over the last decade, this approach has been challenged and innovative new techniques have emerged to provide alternatives to the standard sternotomy. Currently, the da Vinci surgical system (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA) is used at a number of hospitals in the United States and around the world in cardiac surgery. The technology allows for “wrist-like” instrument articulation, which provides greater freedom of movement and suppression of tremor to impart excellent surgical outcomes (Fig. 1). These benefits include less pain, shorter hospital stays, faster recovery, and improved cosmesis. Currently, over 1700 cardiac operations are performed each year in the United States using the da Vinci surgical system, and the number of cases is increasing by approximately 25% per year. Not all cardiac surgeons have shared in the enthusiasm and it has been pointed out that the increase in cardiac robotic surgery occurs in only a handful of institutions. A large number of programs that had at one time used the robot for cardiac surgery have abandoned this technique for other treatment strategies. In this chapter, we will provide a review of robotic surgery and present the current and possible future utilizations of this technology in cardiac surgery.
A -90 dB THD rail-to-rail input opamp using a new local charge pump in CMOS

This paper describes the principle and design of a CMOS Rail-to-Rail input operational amplifier with THD performance of -90 dB. The operation of the opamp is based on a standard two-stage Miller configuration and is capable of driving a low ohmic load (32 Ω). THD levels below -90 dB has not yet been shown with existing Rail-to-Rail techniques. The Rail-to-Rail functionality is achieved with a new area efficient on chip charge pump circuit for the generation of the supply voltage for the input differential pair.
The formation of ice in a long‐lived supercooled layer cloud

This article focuses on the characteristics of persistent thin single‐layer mixed‐phase clouds. We seek to answer two important questions: (i) how does ice continually nucleate and precipitate from these clouds, without the available ice nuclei becoming depleted? (ii) how do the supercooled liquid droplets persist in spite of the net flux of water vapour to the growing ice crystals? These questions are answered quantitatively using in situ and radar observations of a long‐lived mixed‐phase cloud layer over the Chilbolton Observatory.
Summary : Fabrication of Integrated Graphene Photonic Devices

Graphene is a single-atom-thick layer of carbon atoms in a honeycomb lattice. It is currently a popular material for study in condensed matter physics and related fields [1-6]. The material has a large number of proposed potential applications including integrated photonic devices. Saturable absorption and photocurrent generation has already been successfully demonstrated [1,2]. We aim to study opto-electronic properties of graphene on a silicon nitride waveguide chip platform. We demonstrate saturable absorption of graphene on a waveguide coupled ring cavity.
Learning experiences on role emerging placements: an exploration from the student perspective

Background/Aim: Occupational therapy educators are challenged to provide students with practical experiences which prepare them for ever changing healthcare contexts on graduation. Role emerging placements have been widely used internationally to help meet this challenge, but research into the learning experiences of students during these innovative placements is limited. This research investigated the enablers and barriers to learning from the perspectives of students on such placements from two European universities. Methods: Two separate qualitative
Smart Street Lighting System: An Energy Efficient Approach

Today electricity is a major concern worldwide and most of the power generation stations are based on conventional fuels like coal but we have limited sources of these non renewable fuels. So as to minimize the dependence on these sources, we have to move on to new and renewable sources like solar and wind, etc. However proper usage of electricity could also be one of the effective tools for saving the conventional fuels. Street lights are one of the most crucial parts for public lighting systems which consume a major part of the generated electricity. The conventional or manual controlled street lighting system has demerits like high power consumption, high cost and absence of effective monitoring system. This paper describes an energy efficient approach of smart street lighting system, which can automatically control the switching and intensity of street lights based on surrounding light intensity. Basically a smart street lighting system is a flexible street lighting system consists of various sensors and a controller which make it an intelligent street lighting system. This system can effectively overcome the demerits of any conventional street lighting system.
Classification of flow patterns in rectangular shallow reservoirs

This work focuses on the experimental classification of flow patterns in rectangular shallow reservoirs, including symmetric flows without any reattachment point to asymmetric flows with one reattachment point, two reattachment points, or two reattachment points and one detachment point. The median position and the natural variability of the reattachment lengths of asymmetric flows were measured for 40 geometric and hydraulic conditions. The effects of dimensionless flow depth, Froude number, lateral expansion ratio and dimensionless length on the median reattachment lengths were analysed. A number of regression equations were proposed. For “high” dimensionless flow depths and a Froude number of 0.20, a shape parameter was proposed for predicting the transition between symmetric and asymmetric flows. The results of this study are useful knowledge for improving current methods to predict the trapping efficiency and the preferential regions of deposition in reservoirs.
Patterns of Brain Structural Changes in First-Contact, Antipsychotic Drug-Naïve Patients with Schizophrenia

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Previous studies have suggested that structural changes do occur in the brain of patients with schizophrenia compared with healthy control participants. However, findings from such studies are inconclusive, probably because of the different methodologic approaches, the clinical heterogeneity of patient samples, and also the fact that patients enrolled were treated with antipsychotic drugs. The aim of this study was to investigate brain GM volumes and intrinsic structural WM changes in first-contact, antipsychotic drug-naïve patients with schizophrenia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 43 first-contact, drug-naïve, patients with schizophrenia and 17 age-matched control participants were studied. All participants underwent T1-weighted MR imaging and DTI scans. Voxel-based morphometry and tract-based spatial statistics were used to compare GM volumes and WM DTI metrics between groups. MR imaging measures were correlated with the duration of the untreated psychosis and the clinical positive and negative symptoms. RESULTS: Compared with control participants, patients with schizophrenia showed smaller volumes of the temporal, parietal, and occipital GM, and a pattern of decreased mean diffusivity and increased fractional anisotropy in the brain stem and cerebellum bilaterally, interhemispheric and cortico-cortical connections bilaterally, and right anterior and posterior limb of the internal capsule. In patients, decreased mean diffusivity and increased fractional anisotropy in several brain regions were related to a longer duration of the untreated psychosis and the severity of positive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: First-contact, drug-naïve, patients with schizophrenia present with volumetric and DTI changes, which correlated with their clinical features. This study increases our knowledge on the neural networks involved in the pathophysiologic mechanisms of schizophrenia.
IRIT at TREC Knowledge Base Acceleration 2013: Cumulative Citation Recommendation Task

This paper describes the IRIT lab participation to the Cumulative Citation Recommendation task of the TREC 2013 Knowledge Base Acceleration Track. In this task, we are asked to implement a system which aims to detect “Vital” documents that a human would want to cite when updating the Wikipedia article for the target entity. Our approach is built on two steps. First, for each topic (entity), we retrieve a set of potential relevant documents containing at least one entity mention. These documents are then classified using a supervised learning algorithm to identify which ones are vital. We submitted three runs using different combinations of features. Obtained results are presented and discussed.
Comparative analysis of amino acid distributions in integral membrane proteins from 107 genomes

We have performed a comparative analysis of amino acid distributions in predicted integral membrane proteins from a total of 107 genomes. A procedure for identification of membrane spanning helices was optimized on a homology‐reduced data set of 170 multi‐spanning membrane proteins with experimentally determined topologies. The optimized method was then used for extraction of highly reliable partial topologies from all predicted membrane proteins in each genome, and the average biases in amino acid distributions between loops on opposite sides of the membrane were calculated. The results strongly support the notion that a biased distribution of Lys and Arg residues between cytoplasmic and extra‐cytoplasmic segments (the positive‐inside rule) is present in most if not all organisms. Proteins 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Electron-Induced Single Event Upsets in 28 nm and 45 nm Bulk SRAMs

We present experimental evidence of single electron-induced upsets in commercial 28 nm and 45 nm CMOS SRAMs from a monoenergetic electron beam. Upsets were observed in both technology nodes when the SRAM was operated in a low power state. The experimental cross section depends strongly on both bias and technology node feature size, consistent with previous work in which SRAMs were irradiated with low energy muons and protons. Accompanying simulations demonstrate that δ-rays produced by the primary electrons are responsible for the observed upsets. Additional simulations predict the on-orbit event rates for various Earth and Jovian environments for a set of sensitive volumes representative of current technology nodes. The electron contribution to the total upset rate for Earth environments is significant for critical charges as high as 0.2 fC. This value is comparable to that of sub-22 nm bulk SRAMs. Similarly, for the Jovian environment, the electron-induced upset rate is larger than the proton-induced upset rate for critical charges as high as 0.3 fC.