Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Attitudes of relatives and nursing staff toward tuboenteral feeding in severely demented patients

Elder y patients with advanced dementia present a challenge with respect to efficient nutrition and hydration because of oropharyngeal dysphagia and lack of patient cooperation. For increasing numbers ofpatients, long-term tuboenteralfeeding (TEF) is an alternative for providing food and fluids, with the hope of reducing the risk of aspiration. The purpose of this study is to learn about the opinions and the attitudes of relatives and nursing staff regarding patients on TEFfor at least one year. The study included all the dementedpatients on TEF in four skilled nursing facilities andfour nursing wards. Researchers retrieved clinical data from patients' medical records and prepared a questionnaire to survey the opinions of relatives and staff members. The study included 1]] patients: 89 on nasogastric tube (NGT) feeding and 22 on percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) feeding. The clinical condition of both groups was satisfactory, as reflected by albumin, hemoglobin, and Body Mass Index (BMI). Relatives of the demented patients as well as the staff members were ambivalent toward TEE Although most of them called it an essential procedure for delivering food and fluids for life support, about the same number expressed concerns that TEF prolonged a life of suffering. Nevertheless, most relatives and staff members were resistant to the idea of withholding TEF. The data show that TEF does provide efficient nutrition and hydration to patients with advanced dementia, and it is used in accordance with the will of the relatives. Any change in the present approach regarding TEF in these patients should be preceded by discussions with their relatives.
Mitochondrial genome of the Anas acuta (Anatidae: Anas)

Abstract The Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) is a common large duck with widely geographic distribution. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of A. acuta (16,599 bp in length) was been analyzed for building the database. Similar to the typical mtDNA of vertebrates, it contained 37 genes (13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes and 22 tRNA genes) and a non-coding region (D-loop). All the genes in A. acuta were distributed on the H-strand, except for the ND6 subunit gene and 10 tRNA genes which were encoded on the L-strand.
Speciation, introgressive hybridization and nonlinear rate of molecular evolution in flycatchers

Evolutionary history of Muscicapidae flycatchers is inferred from nuclear and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence comparisons and population genetic analysis of nuclear and mtDNA markers. Phylogenetic reconstruction based on sequences from the two genomes yielded similar trees with respect to the order at which the species split off. However, the genetic distances fitted a nonlinear, polynomial model reflecting diminishing divergence rate of the mtDNA sequences compared to the nuclear DNA sequences. This could be explained by Haldane’s rule because genetic isolation might evolve more rapidly on the mitochondrial rather than the nuclear genome in birds. This is because hybrid sterility of the heterogametic sex (females) would predate that of the homogametic sex (males), leading to sex biased introgression of nuclear genes. Analyses of present hybrid zones of pied (Ficedula hypoleuca) and collared flycatchers (F. albicollis) may indicate a slight sexual bias in rate of introgression, but the introgression rates were too low to allow proper statistical analyses. It is suggested, however, that the observed deviation from linearity can be explained by a more rapid mutational saturation of the mtDNA sequences than of the nuclear DNA sequences, as supported by analyses of third codon position transversions at two protein coding mtDNA genes. A phylogeographic scenario for the black and white flycatcher species is suggested based on interpretation of the genetic data obtained. Four species appear to have diverged from a common ancestor relatively simultaneously during the Pleistocene. After the last glaciation period, pied and collared flycatchers expanded their breeding ranges and eventually came into secondary contact in Central and Eastern Europe and on the Baltic Isles.
Generic and Disease-Specific Measures of Quality of Life in Patients with Mild Alzheimer’s Disease

Background/Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the pattern of association of generic and disease-specific quality of life (QoL) scales with standard clinical outcome variables in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Methods: The participants were 321 home-living patients with mild AD and their primary caregivers from the Danish Alzheimer Intervention Study. QoL was assessed using the generic EuroQol-5D with visual analogue scale (VAS) and the disease-specific Quality of Life in Alzheimer’s Disease (QOL-AD) scales (both caregiver and patient rated). Depression, activities of daily living, cognitive performance and neuropsychiatric symptom severity were also assessed. Results: All 3 caregiver-rated QoL scales correlated significantly with each other (p < 0.001) and with clinical measures. Patient-rated QoL versions correlated inversely with depression (p < 0.001) but not significantly with any other clinical variables. Conclusion: The caregiver-rated QoL scales showed stronger interscale correlation as well as a similar correlation pattern with standard clinical outcome variables compared to the patient-rated versions. There is some indication that the EQ-5D + VAS could be a suitable alternative to the QOL-AD scale in specific research designs.
PrivMetrics : A Framework for Quantifying User Privacy in Smartphones

Smartphones are becoming ubiquitous and the associated ecosystem is dominated by third party apps as they are required to get the full benefits of a smartphone. A popular method of monetizing these third party apps, specially the free apps, is through advertising and providing users’ personal data to analytic services (trackers). The collection of users’ private information for advertisements and to analytics in general is problematic because, it might lead to privacy violations. However, at present there are no mechanisms for users to determine the implications of third-party apps collecting their personal information. In this paper, we propose PrivMetrics framework which enables users to make informed decisions about the use of these third party apps by providing them with an analysis on their privacy leakages and wherever possible recommending alternative apps with the same functionality as the apps they are considering which better protect their overall privacy.
Rigid contact lens fitting relationships in keratoconus. Collaborative Longitudinal Evaluation of Keratoconus (CLEK) Study Group.

PURPOSE Although the influence of flat-fitting contact lenses on corneal scarring in keratoconus is frequently debated, the current standard of care with regard to the apical fitting relationship in keratoconus remains undocumented. METHODS Patients were examined at baseline in the Collaborative Longitudinal Evaluation of Keratoconus (CLEK) Study (N = 1209). Patients wearing a rigid contact lens in one or both eyes (N = 808) had their habitual rigid contact lenses analyzed, and the fluorescein patterns and base curves were compared to the first definite apical clearance lens (FDACL). The FDACL is the flattest lens in the CLEK Study trial lens set that exhibits an apical clearance fluorescein pattern. For patients wearing a rigid contact lens in both eyes, one eye was selected randomly for analysis. RESULTS Twelve percent of the rigid contact lens-wearing eyes were wearing lenses fitted with apical clearance based upon the clinician's fluorescein pattern interpretation. The remainder (88%) was wearing lenses fitted with apical touch. For mild (steep keratometric reading <45 D) keratoconus corneas, the mean estimate of the base curve to cornea-fitting relationship was 1.18 D flat (SD +/- 1.84 D); moderate (steep keratometric reading: 45 to 52 D) corneas were fitted on average 2.38 D flat (SD +/- 2.56 D); and severe (steep keratometric reading > 52 D) corneas were fitted an average of 4.01 D flat (SD +/- 4.11 D). CONCLUSIONS Despite the potential risk for corneal scarring imposed by flat-fitting rigid contact lenses, most CLEK Study patients wear flat-fitting lenses. Overall, rigid lenses were fitted an average of 2.86 D (SD +/- 3.31 D) flatter than the FDACL.
Einsatz mobiler Technologien bei deutschen Krankenversicherern - Eine qualitative Studie

E-Health bietet durch die Kombination von Medizin-, Informationsund Kommunikationstechnik sowie medizinischen Dienstleistungen erhebliche Potenziale zur Reduzierung der Gesundheitsausgaben bei gleichzeitiger Verbesserung der Behandlungsqualität. Ein bisher wenig beachtetes Teilgebiet stellt in diesem Zusammenhang M-Health dar, bei dem E-Health-Dienste über mobile Endgeräte realisiert werden. Da derartige Dienste kaum über den Status der Pilotphase hinauskommen, wird im vorliegenden Beitrag untersucht, inwieweit deutsche Krankenversicherer derzeit M-Health-Dienste anbieten und selber beurteilen. Mittels einer Literaturrecherche, die durch Experteninterviews ergänzt wird, erfolgt ein Überblick über die deutsche M-Health-Landschaft. Es werden angebotene Dienste und damit verfolgte Ziele dargestellt sowie die Erfahrungen hinsichtlich der Akzeptanz durch Versicherte und Ärzte. Dabei zeigt sich, dass auch die Beurteilungen seitens der Versicherer erhebliche Unterschiede aufweisen. Typische Erklärungsmuster scheinen hier nur unzureichend geeignet die existierenden Differenzen zu erklären. Aus diesem Grund bildet der Beitrag eine Grundlage, um das Verständnis der Vorund Nachteile von M-Health-Diensten zu steigern, die zukünftige Vorhaben in Wissenschaft und Praxis unterstützt.
Through-silicon-via-based double-side integrated microsystem for neural sensing applications

This paper presents a Through-Silicon-Via (TSV) based double-side integrated microsystem for brain neural sensing applications. Figure 6.3. 1 shows the structure of the double-side integrated microsystem. MEMS neural microprobe array and low-power CMOS readout circuit are fabricated on two sides of the same silicon substrate, and TSV's are used to form a low impedance interconnection between the microprobe and CMOS circuitry, thus providing the shortest signal transmission distance from sensors to circuits. The low parasitic impedance of TSV minimizes transmission loss and noise. The overall chip is 5x5mm2, 350μm in thickness including 150μm probe height and 200μm TSV height, respectively. A total of 480 microprobes is divided into 4x4 sensing areas, forming 16channels. 16 TSV arrays are used to connect the microprobe outputs to 16 readout circuits fabricated on the opposite side of the silicon substrate. The proposed structure allows stacking of other CMOS chips onto the circuit side by TSV 3D IC technique.
Transient Modelling of Cavity Receiver Heat Transfer for the Compact Linear Fresnel Reflector

An investigation into unsteady flow patterns in the cavity receiver of the Compact Linear Fresnel Reflector was performed using computational methods. Results indicate that periodic or even chaotic flow patterns may occur for some conditions and cavity designs. However, the results indicate that unsteadiness in the flow structure does not result in significant variation in the over heat loss rate from the cavity. Figure 10: Compact linear Fresnel reflector field. Inset: reflected light is focussed upward into alternate cavity absorbers (left then right, then left, then right); this allows mirrors to be more closely packed while avoiding mirror-shading losses when light is incident at lower angles. A prototype CLFR system is currently under construction in the Hunter Valley in New South Wales, thanks to the Mandatory Renewable Energy Targets of the State government. These Targets require power generators to produce 2% of their energy from renewable sources. Macquarie Generation has chosen to fund the installation of a large solar collection array to replace bled steam for feed water pre-heating at the Liddell power station. The concept for the CLFR system was originally presented in 1996 (Mills & Morrison) and in Solar Energy in 2000 (Mills & Morrison). It is a promising design for large-scale solar thermal energy collection because of its use of low-cost, off-the-shelf materials, simple structural design, and efficient use of available land. Initial cost estimates and designs for the CLFR assumed that an inclined system would be used, with light focussed on an array of evacuated tubes, and end losses eliminated by using a mirror across one end of the absorber and reflectors. Newer designs opt for lower efficiency but lower cost by using a North-South oriented horizontal array without end-mirrors, and direct steam generation in steel pipes.
Raman Spectra of Crystalline Lysozyme, Pepsin, and Alpha Chymotrypsin

Satisfactory Raman spectra of crystalline lysozyme, pepsin, and alpha chymotrypsin were obtained with laser excitation. The spectra are very similar to each other, but show enough minor differences to make this a useful method of identification. The readily identified bands assignable to specific groupings are noted.
High Speed Speculative Multiplier with Correction Unit

Integer Multiplication is considered as the basic fundamental building block of digital design . It deeply affects the performance of the DSP activities. This paper proposes a novel approach to build integer multiplication circuits that is based on speculate method. This is a technique which performs a faster-but occasionally wrong-operation. The rare case of error is corrected using a multi-cycle error correction circuit. The proposed speculative multiplier uses a three dimensional method reduction tree. The method is implemented using three steps: partial products recoding, partial products partitioning, speculative compression. It also uses speculative counters, that are faster than a conventional tree using full-adder and half-adders. Comparisons with conventional multiplier show that speculation is more effective when high speed is required. Speculative multipliers allow reaching a higher speed when compared with its conventional counterparts and are also quite effective in terms of power dissipation, when a high speed operation is required.
An approach for robust data-driven fault detection with industrial application

This paper introduces a robust data-driven fault detection method and its application on a wind turbine benchmark. The benchmark is provided by a Simulink Model, which contains nonlinear wind turbine model and complex wind disturbances. The model-based fault detection technique is hardly to be applied to solve this problem because modeling this wind turbine is quite difficult. Besides, the unknown wind disturbances and the large measurement noises are two enormous challenges for most of the fault detection techniques. To overcome these difficulties, this paper applies a robust data-driven fault detection scheme, which is based on a standard residual generation and decision logic structure. In the residual generation step, a robust residual generator with an optimal parity vector is constructed directly from the measurement data. Moreover, a filter algorithm is used in the residual evaluation step to reduce false alarms rate. Simulation results show that the performance and effectiveness of the proposed scheme are satisfied.
Warm-seclusion extratropical cyclone development: Sensitivity to the nature of the incipient vortex

The development of intense warm-core seclusion (Shapiro and Keyser 1990) extratropical storms can occur from several different precursor disturbances. These include tropical cyclones that have undergone extratropical transition, maritime extratropical cyclones with both coldcore baroclinic and shallow diabatically generated warm core backgrounds (Moore and Montgomery 2004), and polar lows. With the most intense, bomb-like deepening (Sanders and Gyakum 1980) or rapid intensification is triggered by a tropopause fold or frontal fracture (Browning et al. 1997), in which statically stable, high potential vorticity spills into the middle troposphere slightly upstream of the surface low. With the inclusion of copious amounts of latent heating provided by warm western boundary ocean currents, the growth rate of baroclinic instabilities may be significantly enhanced by latent heat processes (Emanuel et al. 1987). Another facet of the problem involves the impact of distant mobile upper-level troughs (Molinari and Vollaro 1989) interacting with tropical cyclones as well as low-level cyclonic extratropical circulations. Four separate storm systems that culminate in a mature warm seclusion are numerically modeled using the PSU/NCAR MM5 model and analyzed to better understand the brief time period in which the tropopause fold is triggered and the overall thermal structure of the system begins to warm as the pressure drops rapidly. A central question to address concerns whether the mechanism for triggering rapid cyclogenesis and the subsequent warm seclusion development is dependent upon the origin of the incipient cyclonic vortex.
Specific expression of the Fusarium transposon Fot1 and effects on target gene transcription

The Fot1 transposon is active in some strains of the plant pathogenic fungus Fusarium oxysporum. In a high‐copy‐number strain that contains autonomous elements, we have detected a transcript of 1.7 kb hybridizing to Fot1 in very low amounts. Mapping the 3′ and 5′ termini of this transcript confirms that it corresponds to a Fot1‐specific transcript. In this strain, five independent mutants of the transgene (niaD ) encoding nitrate reductase have arisen by insertion of Fot1 into the third intron. The analysis of the effect of Fot1 insertion in these mutants shows that, depending on the orientation of Fot1 relative to niaD, different truncated chimeric niaD–Fot1 transcripts are produced. Mapping the 5′ and 3′ ends of these transcripts reveals (i) premature polyadenylation at sites present in the 5′ and 3′ untranslated regions of Fot1, and (ii) initiation of some transcripts in the 3′ part of the niaD gene at sites located immediately downstream of the Fot1 insertion. Thus, a novel promoter, associated with the end of Fot1, directs transcriptional activity outwards from the element into the coding sequence of the niaD gene. These effects demonstrate that Fot1 insertion provides an additional general mechanism controlling fungal gene expression.
Collagenases in Different Categories of Peri-implant Vertical Bone Loss

The loosening of dental implants is associated with peri-implant vertical bone loss. The mechanisms and mediators of this bone destruction are not known. To test the hypothesis that collagenase-2 and collagenase-3 might be markers or maybe even mediators in this process, we measured collagenase-2 (time-resolved immunofluorometric assay) and collagenase-3 (quantitative immunoblot) in peri-implant sulcus fluid in 49 implant sites in 13 patients. Vertical bone loss was graded as being < 1 mm, from 1 to 3 mm, or > 3 mm. The severity of inflammation, as rated according to Gingival Index, did not correlate with the category of bone loss (p > 0.05). Collagenase-2 and collagenase-3 were higher (p < 0.05) in the group which had lost > 3 mm of bone than in the two other groups. Gingival Index is not a clinically important marker for bone loss, but collagenase-2 and collagenase-3 in peri-implant sulcus fluid are. They might participate in peri-implant osteolysis.
DDX3 DEAD-Box RNA Helicase Is Required for Hepatitis C Virus RNA Replication

ABSTRACT DDX3, a DEAD-box RNA helicase, binds to the hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein. However, the role(s) of DDX3 in HCV replication is still not understood. Here we demonstrate that the accumulation of both genome-length HCV RNA (HCV-O, genotype 1b) and its replicon RNA were significantly suppressed in HuH-7-derived cells expressing short hairpin RNA targeted to DDX3 by lentivirus vector transduction. As well, RNA replication of JFH1 (genotype 2a) and release of the core into the culture supernatants were suppressed in DDX3 knockdown cells after inoculation of the cell culture-generated HCVcc. Thus, DDX3 is required for HCV RNA replication.
Circulating levels of oxidative stress markers and endothelial adhesion molecules in men with abdominal obesity.

CONTEXT It has been suggested that oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction could play a role in the higher cardiovascular disease risk noted in the abdominally obese population. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to describe the associations between abdominal fat accumulation, oxidative stress, and endothelial dysfunction in men. DESIGN A complete physical and metabolic profile was assessed in a group of 56 men covering a wide range of adiposity and plasma oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL), and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1, soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, E-selectin, and C-reactive protein concentrations were determined. RESULTS We found that abdominal visceral adipose tissue was positively associated with plasma OxLDL (r = 0.52; P < 0.0001) and C-reactive protein (r = 0.60; P < 0.0001) concentrations. We also found significant associations between plasma E-selectin levels and hyperinsulinemia (r = 0.39; P < 0.005) as well as with the homeostasis model assessment index of insulin resistance (r = 0.42; P < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS Our study showed that plasma OxLDL levels and low-grade systemic inflammation are increased in men with a high visceral adipose tissue accumulation. Furthermore, our results support the notion that insulin resistance is associated with endothelial activation. Overall, our observations give us further insights on the increased cardiovascular disease risk frequently noted among viscerally obese, insulin-resistant individuals.