Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Racial disparity in access to cardiac intensive care over 20 years

Objectives. The purposes of this article are: (1) to systematically examine racial disparities in access to and use of cardiac care units (CCUs) in acute-care hospitals; and (2) to assess racial differences in post-hospital mortality following CCU stays. Design. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey I: Epidemiologic Follow-up Study of adults aged 25 and older at baseline are analyzed to track CCU use and survival after hospitalization over 20 years (N=4227). Estimates are derived from Cox proportional-hazards models with time-dependent covariates and from negative binomial and tobit regression analyses. All analyses adjust for disease severity, hospitalization history, and resources. Results. Black adults were less likely than White adults to be admitted to a CCU, even after adjusting for morbidities, health behaviors, previous hospitalization experience, and socioeconomic status. Comparing Black and White adults admitted to CCUs, Black adults spent fewer days and a smaller proportion of their hospital stay in CCUs. Black adults also had fewer CCU stays over the 20-year period and were more likely to die post-discharge, although the latter result was mediated by disease severity. Conclusions. Higher morbidity, lower admission rates, fewer stays, and shorter stays reveal that racial inequality is far-reaching and exists even in such highly-specialized units as CCUs. The fact that Black individuals' greater post-discharge mortality was mediated by disease severity illustrated that even among high-risk individuals, the accumulation of morbidity factors (beyond cardiac problems) is a salient concern. Overall findings demonstrate that the accumulation of disadvantage for Black adults is not confined to discretionary medical measures, but also exists in critical care for serious health problems.
Combat Exposure and Migraine Headache: Evidence from Exogenous Deployment Assignment

Migraine headache is a growing problem for U.S. servicemembers deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan and has been linked to substantial negative socioeconomic consequences. However, there has been no comprehensive examination of the relationship between combat exposure and migraine headache or its stress-related triggers. Analyzing data drawn from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, we use exogenous variation in deployment assignment to estimate the effect of combat exposure on migraine headache. We find that those deployed to a combat zone with enemy firefight are at substantially increased risk for migraine headache relative to those deployed to non-combat zones outside the United States or to combat zones without enemy firefight. We find that combat-induced sleep disorders, stress-related psychological problems, and physical injuries in combat explain approximately 40-45 percent of the relationship between combat exposure and migraine headache.
Stability-indicating HPLC method for simultaneous quantification of 14 impurities in Excedrin tablet formulations and identification of new impurity by LC-MS in accelerated stability studies.

We developed novel stability indicating HPLC method for simultaneous estimation of 14 impurities in Excedrin tablet, a formulation with a combination of Acetaminophen, Aspirin, and Caffeine. In addition, a new impurity that generated through degradation of aspirin at high temperatures during the accelerated stability conditions was positively identified and confirmed, using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) technique. The HPLC method was optimized using the Inertsustain C18, 250 x 4.6 mm, 5.0 μm column, employing simple gradient method. Forced degradation studies were performed under acidic, basic, oxidative and thermal conditions to prove the scope and stability indicating the nature of the method. The optimized method was validated as per the ICH guidelines. The HPLC method showed linearity from LOQ concentration to 21 μg mL-1 . Precision and intermediate precision values were < 5% RSD. The validated HPLC method is currently applied for the routine testing of Excedrin tablet formulations in quality control laboratories.
Solubilization of single-walled carbon nanotubes by supramolecular complexes of barbituric acid and triaminopyrimidines.

In this letter, we report that single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) can be dissolved in organic solvents through the formation of admixtures with barbituric acid.triaminopyrimidine (BA.TP) complexes using mechanochemical high-speed vibration milling (HSVM) and sonication methods. In contrast, neither BA nor TP alone were capable of solubilizing SWNTs. Moreover, the glutarimide (GI). TP complex was also found to be incapable of solubilizing SWNTs because the two carbonyl groups and one imino group of GI are located on only one side of the molecule such that the GI.TP complex cannot form the desired hydrogen-bonding network. These results strongly suggest that the formation of a hydrogen-bonding network makes possible the formation of multipoint interactions with the surfaces of the SWNTs.
Endogenous IL-17 as a Mediator of Neutrophil Recruitment Caused by Endotoxin Exposure in Mouse Airways1

We have previously demonstrated that administration of the recently described cytokine IL-17 in rat airways in vivo recruits and activates neutrophils locally. In the current study, we examined whether endogenous IL-17 is involved in mediating neutrophil recruitment caused by endotoxin exposure in mouse airways. Our in vivo data show that local endotoxin exposure causes the release of free, soluble IL-17 protein 6 h later. Systemic pretreatment with a neutralizing anti-IL-17 Ab almost completely inhibits neutrophil recruitment 24 h, but not 6 h, after endotoxin exposure in the airways. Pretreatment with neutralizing anti-IL-6 and anti-macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-2 Abs inhibits neutrophil recruitment caused by local endotoxin exposure and IL-17, respectively. Our in vitro data show that endotoxin exposure stimulates the release of soluble IL-17 protein in T lymphocytes harvested from lung and spleen, respectively, and that this cytokine release requires coculture with airway macrophages. Intracellular IL-17 protein is detected in T lymphocytes from spleen but not in airway macrophages after coculture and stimulation of these two cell types. Finally, anti-IL-17 does not alter endotoxin-induced release of IL-6 and MIP-2 from T lymphocytes and airway macrophages in coculture. In conclusion, our results indicate that endotoxin exposure causes the release of IL-17 from T lymphocytes and that this cytokine release requires the presence of macrophages. Once released, endogenous IL-17 acts in part by inducing local release of neutrophil-mobilizing cytokines such as IL-6 and MIP-2, from nonlymphocyte, nonmacrophage cells, and this contributes to recruitment of neutrophils in the airways. These IL-17-related mechanisms constitute potential targets for pharmacotherapy against exaggerated neutrophil recruitment in airway disease.
A MOSFET-only voltage source with arbitrary sign adjustable temperature coefficient

A MOS-diode biased by a constant inversion level current source is a simple MOSFET-only circuit that implements a voltage source with a linear temperature dependence. Through adjustment of the inversion level, the temperature slope may be changed from negative to positive, including the constant voltage condition. A test circuit, fabricated on a 0. 35μm CMOS technology, was measured from 300K to 375K while sweeping the inversion coefficient from 0.06 to 180. The theoretical model agrees with the measured data, accurately predicting the temperature slope. The presented all-region continuous model is especially useful at and near zero temperature slope operation.
Predicting Improvement in Patients with Non-Endogenous Depression

Summary Forty-three patients with non-endogenous depressive disorders were assessed shortly after psychiatric referral, and reassessed at six and at 20 weeks. The pattern of improvement appeared to be set shortly after the initial consultation, but could be most clearly predicted by the degree of improvement at the end of the third week. Key baseline factors predicting a more marked improvement at each follow-up were a more severe depression, the break-up of an intimate relationship, and the presence of weight loss. Positive life events occuring after the initial assessment predicted improvement at six and at 20 weeks, while the presence of a neutralising event (which negated an earlier threatening life event) predicted improvement at 20 weeks.
Postmortem evidence of interactions of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) with other dolphin species in south-west England

Reports of violent interactions between bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in the coastal waters of the UK are well documented. Examination of stranded cetaceans by the Cornwall Wildlife Trust Marine Strandings Network and the UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme has indicated that seven animals, of four other species, found stranded in south-west England, had pathology consistent with bottlenose dolphin interaction, including two juvenile and two adult common dolphins (Delphinus delphis), one juvenile pilot whale (Globicephala melas), one juvenile Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus) and one adult striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba). Although recorded traumatic lesions were often not as severe as those found in harbour porpoises, it is probable that the interactions did contribute to stranding and/or death in all four of the juvenile animals examined. Furthermore, analysis of photographs taken before establishment of the Marine Strandings Network revealed rake (teeth) marks consistent with bottlenose dolphin interaction on one stranded common dolphin in 1992. A number of causes have been suggested for these interactions in harbour porpoises stranded in the UK and it is possible that any combination of these factors may also be implicated in the cases described in this report.
Research on micro-blog character analysis based on Naïve Bayes

With the development of Information Technology, people have entered the era of Big Data, and the demand for intelligent information is more intense. How to make computer provide more personalized and efficient service for all walks of life, is something worth exploring. In this paper, we aim to predict user’s character by analyzing the textual content of his/her micro-blog, which is the foundation of Personalized Service. Our study describes the method of creating a prediction model about user’s character by using Bayesian algorithms. Experimental results show that the Naïve Bayes approach is a valid and promoted analytic method in micro-blog character analysis.
Elaphostrongylus cervi in a population of red deer (Cervus elaphus) and evidence of cerebrospinal nematodiasis in small ruminants in the province of Varese, Italy

Abstract Thirty-one faecal samples were collected from red deer in the northern area of Varese, in the Italian region of Lombardy, between August and October 2008. The animals had either been hunted or accidently killed. Examination for internal parasites showed a prevalence of 45.2% for Elaphostrongylus cervi larvae and species identification was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Ninety-seven faecal samples were also collected from two goat flocks grazing in the same area between December 2007 and May 2008. These showed a prevalence of 74.7% for lungworms. Furthermore, the central nervous systems from five goats and one sheep from this area with a history of neurologically related lameness were examined. Histopathology confirmed E. cervi cerebro- spinal nematodiasis in five cases out of six. This study demonstrates E. cervi transmission from wild to domestic ruminants when the animals graze in the same area, and the possible occurrence of clinical disease in infected goats and sheep associated with high prevalence in deer.
Mapping for a Heterogeneous Multi-Core Media Processor Considering the Data Transfer Time

Heterogeneous multi-core processors are at tracted by the media processing applications due to their capability ofdrawing strengths ofdifferent cores to improve the overall performance. However, the data transfer bottle necks and limitations in the task allocation have preventedus from gainingfull potential of the heterogeneous multi-core processors. This paper presents a task allocation method to reduce the data transfer time and to increase the overall processing speed. According to the experimental results, the proposed method reduces 75% of the procesing time compared to the conventional task allocation method.
Decreased N‐acetyl‐aspartate levels in anterior cingulate and hippocampus in subjects with post‐traumatic stress disorder: a proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study

The purpose of this study was to investigate the concentration of N‐acetyl‐aspartate (NAA) in the brain and its relationship with clinical characteristics in patients with post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy was performed in order to measure NAA concentrations in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and bilateral hippocampus in 26 subjects with fire‐related PTSD, who were survivors of a subway fire in South Korea, and 25 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy comparison subjects. There were decreased NAA levels in the ACC (t = −3.88, d.f. = 49, P < 0.001) and bilateral hippocampus (right, t = −3.88, d.f. = 49, P < 0.001; left, t = −3.62, d.f. = 49, P < 0.001) in the PTSD group relative to the healthy comparison group. Also, NAA levels of the ACC (r = –0.43, n = 26, P = 0.027) and bilateral hippocampus (right, r = –0.48, n = 26, P = 0.013; left, r = −0.40, n = 26, P = 0.04) were negatively correlated with re‐experience symptom scores in subjects with PTSD. In conclusion, our findings suggest that subjects with PTSD had decreased neuronal viabilities in the ACC and bilateral hippocampus, and that these deficits may play an important role in the pathophysiology of PTSD, especially regarding the re‐experiencing of traumatic events.
聚苯乙烯粒子Langmuir-Blodgett film成膜之探討

本文是以Langmuir-Blodgett成膜技術來製備聚苯乙烯粒子膜，因為LB成膜技術具等多項的優點，可以精確的控制膜厚在單分子的等級，可以形成較均勻的結構，因此我們將採用LB成膜技術。 本研究在製備聚苯乙烯薄膜時無法製備出緊密堆積的單粒子層，因為我們無法得到一個完整的π-A等溫曲線圖，一直無法有崩潰壓的產生，我們推測是因為粒子的聚集現象，界面上得粒子數減少而無法達到單層的緊密排列，而另一部份是則有粒子從氣液界面跑到副相中。 其中分散溶劑是粒子產生聚集現象重要的因素，當膠體粒子分散在有機溶劑中其Zeta Potential的值都會大幅的下降，造成粒子分散性的不佳，雖然粒子分散水中有較大Zeta Potential值，但因為水的揮發性不好，所以也不是一個適當的分散溶劑。 除了粒子在分散溶劑中的分散性要良好之外，其中分散溶劑在水界面上的分散性也很重要，若加入過多的分散溶劑則粒子就會在溶劑中分散而不是在界面上分散，這也會造成粒子分散性不佳的原因。 我們嘗試再現Scholtmeijer的PMMA粒子的π-A等溫曲線圖，我們一直無法再現出Scholtmeijer的實驗結果，都無法有崩潰壓的產生。 由我們不同濃度下所得的π-A等溫線圖中，在結果中發現在低濃度下的粒子溶液有明顯的三段斜率變化，所以我們推測在低濃度下PMMA粒子的分散性較佳，在界面上沒有嚴重的聚集情況，但結果中仍舊沒有崩潰壓的產生，代表著還是有粒子從界面上跑到副相中。 在實驗的過程中，我們發現當阻隔棒靜止時表面壓力會持續的下降，於是我們試著探討表面壓力下降量對時間的關係，是否因為粒子間的排列需要平衡時間。 我們分別探討小分子花生酸、PMMA球和PS球，結果發現膠體粒子的鬆弛時間比小分子還要明顯，而膠體粒子中PS球的鬆弛現象比PMMA球還要嚴重。 針對PS球而言，較小的PS球其鬆弛的現象更為嚴重。 利用LB沈積法取粒子薄膜的結果中，我們可以很明顯的發現PS球和PMMA球不管在高濃度還是低濃度下都有嚴重的聚集現象產生，所以這也是為何在π-A等溫線圖中我們一直無法有崩潰壓的產。 我們可以知道在高濃度下的玻璃基材覆蓋率是大於低濃度的，這是因為我們所添加到界面上的分散溶劑體積量較少，所以在界面上的分散性較好。 其中比較有趣的是PS球的聚集現象中，會有少部份的粒子形成規則的多粒子層結構，而此種現象在PMMA球中並沒有發現。
Multi-feature Selection of Handwriting for Gender Identification Using Mutual Information

This paper presents a new flexible approach to predict the gender of the writers from their handwriting samples. Handwriting features can be extracted from different methods. Therefore, the multi-feature sets are irrelevant and redundant. The conflict of the features exists in the sets, which affects the accuracy of classification and the computing cost. This paper proposes a Mutual Information (MI) approach, that focuses on feature selection. The approach can decrease redundancies and conflicts. In addition, it extracts an optimal subset of features from the writing samples produced by male and female writers. The classification is carried out using a Support Vector Machine (SVM) on two databases. The first database comes from the ICDAR 2013 competition on gender prediction, the other database contains the Registration-Document-Form (RDF) database in Chinese. The proposed and compared methods were evaluated on both databases. Results from the methods highlight the importance of feature selection for gender prediction from handwriting.
Composition, Decomposition and Model Checking of Pushdown Processes

In this paper, we consider a strict generalization of context-free processes, the pushdown processes, which are particularly interesting for three reasons: First, they are closed under parallel composition with finite state systems. This is shown by proving a new expansion theorem, whose implied 'representation explosion' is no worse than for finite state systems. Second, they axe the smallest extension of context-free processes allowing parallel composition with finite state processes, which we prove by showing that every pushdown process is bisimilar to a (relabelled) parallel composition of a context-free process (namely a stack) with some finite process. Third, they can be model checked by means of an elegant adaptation to pushdown automata of the second order model checker known for context-free processes. As arbitrary parallel composition between context-free processes provides Turing power, and therefore destroys every hope for automatic verification, pushdown processes can be considered as the appropriate generalization of context-free processes for frameworks for automatic verification.
Weakest precondition based modelling and verification of a class of concurrent systems

A weakest precondition based modelling and verification technique for a class of concurrent systems is proposed. A system in this class is defined by a set of non-terminating interactive sequential processes. The constituent processes are allowed to include both if-then-else and terminating while-do type control structures. The properties of the system are verified by proving the invariance of logical formulae. The technique is illustrated by considering Dekker's two process mutual exclusion algorithm as an example.
[The primary application of direct rapid immunohistochemical test to rabies diagnosis in China].

OBJECTIVE Evaluation of the direct rapid immumohistochemical test (DRIT) for laboratory surveillance of rabies. METHODS 72 brain specimens of domestic dogs or patients collected from Guizhou, Guangxi, Hunan, Anhui, Jiangsu and Yunnan provinces were detected by conventional methods including Direct Fluorescent-antibody Assay (DFA) and Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR), and by DRIT which was newly developed in the Rabies Section of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States. The sensitivity and specificity of DRIT were evaluated by compare of the three results. By analysis of the index including cost of experiment, technique requirement and so on, the advancement and applicability of DRIT were discussed. RESULTS Compared with DFA and RT-PCR, DRIT will be more applicable for laboratories with limited funds and weak techniques because of its lower cost needed and simpler techniques required while its sensitivity and specificity are equal to the other two methods. CONCLUSION DRIT is more valuable in rabies diagnosis and more applicable for extension and popularization in rabies laboratory surveillance in local CDC.
Fragmentation of carbon ions at 250 MeV/nucleon.

The single particle inclusive reactions /sup 12/C+/sup 12/C. -->. x+anything (3less than or equal toZless than or equal to6) have been studied at 250 MeVnucleon at nine production angles from 0/sup 0/ to 4/sup 0/. Production cross sections for most isotopes (Z>2) were determined. The longitudinal and transverse momentum distributions were constructed. The results at this energy are compared to the data at other energies and to the model of Friedman. It appears that, after the Coulomb effects are separated, there is very little energy dependence in the fragmentation process.
Using MRI from 1000 subjects to identify abnormal grey matter in individual tumor subjects

Detecting brain tumors is always an important but challenging task for MRI physicists and radiologists. Many automated brain tumor detection methods have been introduced. Due to the complexity and limitations of those procedures, practical applications of those methods in clinical setting are restricted. Based on a large sample size of acquired normal human datasets, this study provided a new approach to detect grey matter abnormalities in individual subjects. This approach consisted of three steps. First, voxel-based morphometry was performed on T1 images from 1000 normal subjects and each of the five tumor subjects. Second, we computed the distribution of the grey matter intensities of each voxel from 1000 normal subjects. Third, we compared the intensity of each grey matter voxel of tumor patient to its corresponding voxel's distribution of normal subjects. Finally, for each tumor subject, grey matter voxels that were out of 99.9% normal distribution were marked. This method uses large data sets to detect abnormalities and has the potential to be utilized in clinical applications.
Double-blind, randomized study of the effects of influenza vaccination on the specific antibody response and clinical course of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether influenza immunization is associated with early side effects, a deleterious impact on the illness course and depressed antibody response in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). DESIGN Prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial. CFS patients and healthy volunteers filled out a questionnaire on immunization side effects and had hemagglutination-inhibiting (HI) antibody titres measured pre- and three weeks after immunization. CFS patients completed symptom and function questionnaires before and during the six-week, postimmunization period. SETTING Ambulatory care. POPULATION STUDIED Convenience sample of 40 CFS patients fulfilling the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria and 21 demographically matched healthy volunteers. INTERVENTIONS CFS patients were randomly selected to receive commercially available whole virus influenza vaccine (n=19) or an injection of saline placebo (n=21). Healthy volunteers received vaccine only. MAIN RESULTS As a group, immunized CFS patients had lower geometric mean HI antibody rises than healthy volunteers (P<0.001). However, there was no difference in the rates of fourfold titre rises, and immunization did achieve a probably protective titre (1:32 or greater) in most CFS patients. No difference could be detected between immunized and placebo CFS patients in immunization side effects, although CFS patients as a group reported four times as many side effects as healthy volunteers. Further, in the six weeks following immunization, placebo and immunized CFS patients did not demonstrate any differences in terms of functioning, symptom severity and sleep disturbance. CONCLUSIONS In patients with CFS, influenza immunization is safe, not associated with any excess early reactions, and stimulates an immunizing response comparable with that of healthy volunteers.