Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Computer Modeling of Patient Flow in a Pediatric Emergency Department Using Discrete Event Simulation

Increasing patient census and department overcrowding are universal concerns in pediatric emergency medicine. Accurate predictions of patient flow and resource utilization in the pediatric emergency department (PED) are important in determining what aspects of PED activity could be modified to improve patient flow, reduce patient waiting times, and increase staff efficiency and morale, and thus direct change more effectively. Background: We report (1) the construction of a Patient Flow Model (PFM) using discrete event simulation to test simulated PED staffing scenarios that were designed to alleviate the pressures that result from increased census and overcrowding, and (2) a Physician Scheduling Analysis Tool to assist in physician scheduling. Methods: Arena discrete event simulation modeling software was used to develop a model of PED patient flow after extensive interviews with PED staff and direct observation of patient flow in July 2005. A total of 517 patients were directly observed, and all modeled aspects of their interaction with PED staff and resources were recorded. Historical demographic patient arrival information was combined with observed patient flow data to provide simulated patient arrival rates for the PFM and was also used to construct the Physician Scheduling Analysis Tool. Validation of the PFM was performed by comparing annual simulated patient flow data with actual patient flow data. Previously determined staffing scenarios were applied to the simulation and the resulting performance indicator outputs examined. Results: The PFM was validated on model-wide and process-specific levels, with excellent validation observed on high acuity-patient length of stay and for highly detailed processes such as triage and registration. Simulation of the addition of a hospital volunteer and a second triage nurse demonstrated reductions in pretriage waiting time and the proportion of patients waiting longer than 30 or 60 minutes for pretriage. Simulation of an extra physician shift to the staff schedule demonstrated reductions in length of stay for patients of all triage categories. Conclusions: The PFM accurately represents patient flow through the department and can provide simulated patient flow information on a variety of scenarios. It can effectively simulate changes to the model and its effects on patient flow.
Development of the head and trunk mesoderm in the dogfish, Scyliorhinus torazame: II. Comparison of gene expression between the head mesoderm and somites with reference to the origin of the vertebrate head

The vertebrate mesoderm differs distinctly between the head and trunk, and the evolutionary origin of the head mesoderm remains enigmatic. Although the presence of somite‐like segmentation in the head mesoderm of model animals is generally denied at molecular developmental levels, the appearance of head cavities in elasmobranch embryos has not been explained, and the possibility that they may represent vestigial head somites once present in an amphioxus‐like ancestor has not been ruled out entirely. To examine whether the head cavities in the shark embryo exhibit any molecular signatures reminiscent of trunk somites, we isolated several developmentally key genes, including Pax1, Pax3, Pax7, Pax9, Myf5, Sonic hedgehog, and Patched2, which are involved in myogenic and chondrogenic differentiation in somites, and Pitx2, Tbx1, and Engrailed2, which are related to the patterning of the head mesoderm, from an elasmobranch species, Scyliorhinus torazame. Observation of the expression patterns of these genes revealed that most were expressed in patterns that resembled those found in amniote embryos. In addition, the head cavities did not exhibit an overt similarity to somites; that is, the similarity was no greater than that of the unsegmented head mesoderm in other vertebrates. Moreover, the shark head mesoderm showed an amniote‐like somatic/visceral distinction according to the expression of Pitx2, Tbx1, and Engrailed2. We conclude that the head cavities do not represent a manifestation of ancestral head somites; rather, they are more likely to represent a derived trait obtained in the lineage of gnathostomes.
Long-Term Assessment of the Effects of Transgenic Bt Cotton on the Abundance of Nontarget Arthropod Natural Enemies

Abstract A 6-yr field study assessed the long-term impact of Bt cotton producing the Cry1Ac δ-endotoxin on 22 taxa of foliar-dwelling arthropod natural enemies in Arizona. No chronic, long-term effects of Bt cotton were observed over multiple generations of nontarget taxa. Zero-2 taxa declined significantly in unsprayed Bt compared with non-Bt cotton each year. In contrast, positive control studies showed that insecticide applications for caterpillars and other pests in both non-Bt and Bt cotton had much greater negative effects on 10 taxa. Multivariate principal response curves supported the findings of univariate analyses for the entire natural enemy community, showing no effect of Bt cotton but large and long-lasting negative effects from the use of insecticides. Multi-year analyses provided greater statistical power and indicated significant reductions that averaged 19% in five arthropod predator taxa in unsprayed Bt compared with non-Bt cotton. Most of these reductions were likely associated with reductions in lepidopteran prey. However, results of a companion study examining natural enemy function suggest that these minor reductions in Bt cotton have little ecological meaning. Multi-year analyses showed an average significant reduction of 48% in 13 taxa for plots receiving insecticide applications. On average, a 3-yr study with four replicates per year was sufficient to discern changes of ≈20%, with 80% power in unsprayed cotton. This long-term study indicates that the effects of Bt cotton on a representative nontarget community are minor, especially in comparison with the alternative use of broad-spectrum insecticides. Guidelines for improving nontarget field studies are discussed.
A phase I clinical and pharmacokinetic study of tipifarnib in combination with docetaxel in patients with advanced solid malignancies*

ABSTRACT Purpose: This phase I study assessed the maximum tolerated doses (MTDs), safety, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy of combined tipifarnib and docetaxel treatment in patients with advanced solid malignancies. Experimental design: The study protocol was sensitive to myelosuppression, as both drugs have been associated with this adverse event. Due to myelosuppression incidence, and in order to determine the MTD of docetaxel, multiple treatment regimens were employed. Tipifarnib was administered orally at 200 or 300 mg, twice daily (BID) for 21 days, 14 days, or 7 days for multiple 21‑day cycles; intravenous (IV) docetaxel was administered on day 1 of each cycle at 60, 75, or 85 mg/m2. Results: A total of 36 patients entered into the study. For each drug, MTDs were identified (tipifarnib: 300 mg BID for 14 days with 60 mg/m2 docetaxel; tipifarnib: 200 mg BID for 14 days with 75 mg/m2 docetaxel). The major dose-limiting toxicity was myelosuppression, particularly febrile neutropenia (44%). Mutual pharmacokinetic interactions (the effect of docetaxel on tipifarnib pharmacokinetics and the effect of tipifarnib on docetaxel pharmacokinetics) were not evident, as maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and the area under the serum concentration–time curve (AUC) values of both tipifarnib and docetaxel were similar ( p ≥ 0.43) whether the two drugs were concomitantly administered or not. Seven of 31 evaluable patients (23%) had an objective response, 11 (35%) had stable disease (six ≥ 24 weeks), and the overall clinical benefit rate (objective response and/or stable disease ≥ 24 weeks) was 42%. Conclusions: Although the high incidence of febrile neutropenia necessitated a multiple scheduling adaptation of tipifarnib compared to the original protocol, the apparent lack of mutual pharmacokinetic interactions, the ability to coadminister tipifarnib and docetaxel near single-agent MTDs, and suggestive evidence of efficacy make this drug combination attractive for further examination.
Associative prioritized worker model with priority inheritance protocol

Synchronization and communication are two common sources of priority inversion that may make the behavior of systems unpredictable and analyzable. In real-time systems, to predict the timing constraints of applications, we need to solve the priority inversion problem using the priority inheritance protocol. This requires a real-time server model that would provide us with better preemptability without affecting the overhead of the real-time system. However, the traditional real-time server model is not able to solve the trade-off between the high preemptability and the low overhead of the real-time system. We propose an associative prioritized worker model as a new real-time server model that solves the problems mentioned. Our approach enables us to build operating system servers and to decompose applications into several tasks without the priority inversion problem.
Characterization of a calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase in the Limulus nervous tissue and its light regulation in the lateral eye

Abstract Calcium (Ca2+) plays an integral role in the light response of the photoreceptors in both vertebrate and invertebrate organisms. In the ventral eye of the horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus, a flash of light delivered to a dark-adapted photoreceptor stimulates a rapid rise in intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i), which in turn mediates light adaptation. It has previously been demonstrated that in Limulus photoreceptors light, via Ca2+, activate s a calcium/calmodulin (Ca2+/CaM)-dependent protein kinase which increases the phosphorylation of arrestin. We now have identifie d biochemically, a calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase (Ca2+/CaM PP ) in homogenates of the Limulus lateral and ventral eye, brain, and lateral optic nerve using as a substrate, a 32P-labeled peptide fragment of the regulatory subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (RII). This protein phosphatase shares biochemical properties with calcineurin, a Ca2+/CaM-dependent protein phosphatase (type-2B). Its activity is enhanced by Ca2+, calmodulin and Mn2+; and is inhibited by mastoparan, a calmodulin antagonist, and a synthetic peptide corresponding to the autoinhibitory domain of mammalian calcineurin. Most importantly, light regulates the Ca2+/CaM PP activity in the lateral eye. While there is no difference in basal activity in long-term dark- or light-adapted preparations, Ca2+ enhances Ca2+/CaM PP activity only in long-term light-adapted eyes.
Seasonal Variation in the Amount of Dietary Carbohydrate Not Absorbed from the Intestine after Breakfast in Elderly Japanese Females

It was previously shown that there is seasonality in the amount of dietary carbohydrate not absorbed from the intestine after breakfast, the amount of carbohydrate in winter being significantly larger than that in autumn in young Japanese subjects. In order to investigate this phenomenon further, the experiment was repeated on 22 elderly Japanese female subjects (61–78 yrs of age) during the four seasons of the year. The amount of unabsorbed dietary carbohydrate by the breath hydrogen test, which measures the amount of hydrogen in exhaled air, was then esitmated. A 6 g solution of lactosucrose, an indigestible trisaccharide, was used for comparison. Two groups of subjects, 16 subjects in Osaka and 6 subjects in Nagano, were studied in the summer (July to August) and autumn (October to November) of 2005 and the winter (January to February) and spring (April to May) of 2006. The following results were found using the pooled data of the total of 22 subjects. With regard to the amount of breath hydrogen excretion of the lactosucrose solution, there was no significant difference between the four seasons. There was a significant seasonal change in the efficiency of dietary carbohydrate absorption from the intestine after breakfast. The percentage of total carbohydrate that was not absorbed was lowest in the spring and highest in the winter. A comparison of the results from studies on the elderly and young subjects revealed the percentage of total carbohydrate that was not absorbed in the elderly was significantly lower than in the young in the winter, spring, and summer. These results indicate that there is seasonal variation in the efficiency of dietary carbohydrate absorption from the intestine among elderly female Japanese subjects as well as young female Japanese subjects. They also suggest that the efficiency of dietary carbohydrate absorption from the intestine after breakfast is retained in these naturally active and healthy elderly subjects.
Degeneration of an injured spinothalamic tract in a patient with mild traumatic brain injury

Abstract Objectives: This study reports on a patient who developed degeneration of an injured spinothalamic tract (STT) detected on diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) following mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). Case description: A 56-year-old female had suffered from head trauma resulting from a pedestrian car accident. The patient did not experience loss of consciousness or post-traumatic amnesia and the patient’s Glasgow Coma Scale score was 15. She had begun to feel pain in her left hand and foot at ~ 7 days after onset. The characteristics and severity of pain were as follows: constant tingling and pricking sensation without allodynia or hyperalgesia (Visual Analogue Scale score: 3~4). No specific focal lesion was observed on brain and spine MRI and an electromyography study showed no evidence of peripheral nerve injury or radiculopathy. At 6 months after onset, the central pain in the left hand and foot became aggravated, with a Visual Analogue Scale score of 6. Results: On 1-month DTT, partial tearing was observed in both STTs. In contrast, both partially torn STTs had become atrophy on 9-month DTT. Conclusions: This study recommends further studies conducted on the prognosis (regeneration or degeneration) of injured STTs and on the effect of change of an injured STT on central pain.
Complete mitochondrial genome of Anodontostoma chacunda (Clupeiformes: Clupeidae): Genome characterization and phylogenetic consideration

The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Anodontostoma chacunda was determined in this paper. The genome is 16,772 bp in length and contains 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes, and 2 noncoding regions. With the exception of ND6 and eight tRNA genes, all other genes are encoded on the heavy strand. Gene organization is similar to that observed in most other vertebrates. Overall base compositions of mitogenome are 27.4% of A, 28.7% of C, 25.1% of T, and 18.8% of G. Phylogenetic analyses using the concatenated nucleotide sequence of 12 protein-coding genes on the heavy strand reveal that genus Anodontostoma is the sister group to the assemblage (Nematalosa, (Clupanodon, Konosirus)) within subfamily Dorosomatinae.
Maximum power point tracking of grid-tied photovoltaic power systems

This paper presents high performance maximum power point tracking (MPPT) of a grid-tied PV power system via terminal sliding mode control (TSMC). Based on the proposed TSMC method, the output current of the grid-connected inverter is regulated to the maximum power point in finite time. Moreover, the inverter current is synchronized to the grid voltage, such that the current harmonic is reduced. In addition, the finite-time tracking performance of the TSMC improves the effectiveness of the maximum power point searching algorithm, so that the maximum power is correctly captured from the PV system in finite time. Also, the robustness to uncertainties and disturbances is guaranteed by the TSMC controller. No singular problem exists as similar as traditional TSMC control methods. The simulations and experiments have shown the expected performance.
ENIGMA—Evidence‐based network for the interpretation of germline mutant alleles: An international initiative to evaluate risk and clinical significance associated with sequence variation in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes

As genetic testing for predisposition to human diseases has become an increasingly common practice in medicine, the need for clear interpretation of the test results is apparent. However, for many disease genes, including the breast cancer susceptibility genes BRCA1 and BRCA2, a significant fraction of tests results in the detection of a genetic variant for which disease association is not known. The finding of an “unclassified” variant (UV)/variant of uncertain significance (VUS) complicates genetic test reporting and counseling. As these variants are individually rare, a large collaboration of researchers and clinicians will facilitate studies to assess their association with cancer predisposition. It was with this in mind that the ENIGMA consortium (www.enigmaconsortium.org) was initiated in 2009. The membership is both international and interdisciplinary, and currently includes more than 100 research scientists and clinicians from 19 countries. Within ENIGMA, there are presently six working groups focused on the following topics: analysis, clinical, database, functional, tumor histopathology, and mRNA splicing. ENIGMA provides a mechanism to pool resources, exchange methods and data, and coordinately develop and apply algorithms for classification of variants in BRCA1 and BRCA2. It is envisaged that the research and clinical application of models developed by ENIGMA will be relevant to the interpretation of sequence variants in other disease genes. Hum Mutat 33:2–7, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Free-living Daily Energy Expenditure in Patients with Parkinson's Disease

Previous studies have suggested that elevated resting energy expenditure contributes to weight loss in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Body weight is, however, ultimately determined by variation in daily energy expenditure and not just resting energy expenditure. Therefore, we examined the hypothesis that PD patients are characterized by elevated daily energy expenditure. Sixteen patients with levodopa responsive PD and 46 healthy elderly controls were characterized for daily energy expenditure and its components (resting and physical activity energy expenditure) using a combination of the doubly labeled water technique (over 10 days) and resting indirect calorimetry. Fat-free mass and fat mass were measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Results showed that fat mass and fat-free mass did not differ between groups. Daily energy expenditure was 15% lower (2214 +/- 460 vs. 2590 +/- 497 kcal/d; p < 0.01) in PD patients compared to controls. This was primarily due to lower physical activity energy expenditure (339 +/- 366 vs. 769 +/- 412 kcal/d; P < 0.01) in PD patients as resting energy expenditure was not different between groups (1655 +/- 283 vs. 1561 +/- 219 kcal/d). These results show that daily energy expenditure is lower in PD patients compared to healthy elderly, primarily due to reduced physical activity energy expenditure. These results argue against the hypothesis that an abnormally elevated daily energy expenditure contributes to weight loss in PD. NEUROLOGY 1997;48: 88-91
The Revised Wordframe Model for the Filipino Language

Morphological analyzers (MA) are automated systems that (1) derive the root word of a transformed word, (2) identify the affixes used and (3) identify the change in semantics after the word transformation. MAs are used in the field of natural language processing and information retrieval systems to reduce the size of its word dictionary or lexicon, while being able to efficiently analyze the syntax and semantics of a word. The MA presented here is part of a bi-directional English-Filipino machine translation system. It uses an example-based approach to address the limited lexical resources and incomplete morphology rules in Filipino. It improves the Wicentowski’s Word Frame model by learning morphology rules from examples to handle the morphological phenomena of prefixation, suffixation, circumfixation, internal vowel changes, infixation, and partial and whole word reduplication.
Brucella abortus conjugated with a gp120 or V3 loop peptide derived from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 induces neutralizing anti-HIV antibodies, and the V3-B. abortus conjugate is effective even after CD4+ T-cell depletion

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection is associated with loss of function and numbers of CD4+ T-helper cells. In order to bypass the requirement for CD4+ cells in antibody responses, we have utilized heat-inactivated Brucella abortus as a carrier. In this study we coupled a 14-mer V3 loop peptide (V3), which is homologous to 9 of 11 amino acids from the V3 loop of HIV-1 MN, and gp120 from HIV-1 SF2 to B. abortus [gp120(SF2)-B. abortus]. Our results showed that specific antibody responses, dominated by immunoglobulin G2a in BALB/c mice, were induced by these conjugates. Sera from the immunized mice bound native gp120 expressed on the surfaces of cells infected with a recombinant vaccinia virus gp160 vector (VPE16). Sera from mice immunized with gp120(SF2)-B. abortus inhibited binding of soluble CD4 to gp120, whereas sera from mice immunized with V3-B. abortus were ineffective. Sera from mice immunized with either conjugate were capable of blocking syncytium formation between CD4+ CEM cells and H9 cells chronically infected with the homologous virus. Sera from mice immunized with gp120(SF2)-B. abortus were more potent than sera from mice immunized with V3-B. abortus in inhibiting syncytia from heterologous HIV-1 laboratory strains. Importantly, in primary and secondary responses, V3-B. abortus evoked anti-HIV MN antibodies in mice depleted of CD4+ cells, and sera from these mice were able to inhibit syncytia. These findings indicate that B. abortus can provide carrier function for peptides and proteins from HIV-1 and suggest that they could be used for immunization of individuals with compromised CD4+ T-cell function.
After the Fall: Women's Views of Fractures in Relation to Bone Health at Midlife

ABSTRACT Past research has established the link between low energy fractures and the risk for future fractures. These fractures are potential markers for investigation of bone health, and may be precursors for osteoporosis. In spite of its significant public health burden, including burden of illness and economic costs, many individuals are not aware of the risk factors for and consequences of osteoporosis. This is a study of women aged 40 and older who experienced low energy fractures (e.g., from non-trauma sources and falls from no higher than standing height). We gathered data, using focus group interviews, about their experiences and understanding of the fractures in relation to bone health. Women often attributed the fractures to particular situations and external events (e.g., slipping on ice, tripping on uneven ground), and viewed the fractures as accidents. Women often felt that others are at risk for poor bone health, but believed that they themselves are different from those really at risk. Although the fractures are potential triggers for preventive efforts, few women connected their fracture to future risk. What is perceived by women (and others) as random and an accident is often a predictable event if underlying risk factors are identified. Only when there is more awareness of poor bone health as a disease process and fractures as markers for bone fragility will women, men and health care providers take action to prevent future fractures and established bone disease.