Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Validation of the MAGGIC (Meta-Analysis Global Group in Chronic Heart Failure) heart failure risk score and the effect of adding natriuretic peptide for predicting mortality after discharge in hospitalized patients with heart failure

Background In clinical practice, a risk prediction model is an effective solitary program to predict prognosis in particular patient groups. B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP)and N-terminal pro-b-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) are widely recognized outcome-predicting factors for patients with heart failure (HF). This study derived external validation of a risk score to predict 1-year mortality after discharge in hospitalized patients with HF using the Meta-analysis Global Group in Chronic Heart Failure (MAGGIC)program data. We also assessed the effect of adding BNP or NT-proBNP to this risk score model in a Korean HF registry population. Method and results We included 5625 patients from the Korean acute heart failure registry (KorAHF) and excluded those who died in hospital. The MAGGIC constructed a risk score to predict mortality in patients with HF by using 13 routinely available patient characteristics (age, gender, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), HF diagnosed within the last 18 months, current smoker, NYHA class, use of beta blocker, ACEI or ARB, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, creatinine, and EF). We added BNP or NT-proBNP, which are the most important biomarkers, to the MAGGIC risk scoring system in patients with HF. The outcome measure was 1-year mortality. In multivariable analysis, BNP or NT-proBNP independently predicted death. The risk score was significantly varied between alive and dead groups (30.61 ± 6.32 vs. 24.80 ± 6.81, p < 0.001). After the conjoint use of BNP or NT-proBNP and MAGGIC risk score in patients with HF, a significant difference in risk score was noted (31.23 ± 6.46 vs. 25.25 ± 6.96, p < 0.001). The discrimination abilities of the risk score model with and without biomarker showed minimal improvement (C index of 0.734 for MAGGIC risk score and 0.736 for MAGGIC risk score plus BNP or NT-proBNP, p = 0.0502) and the calibration was found good. However, we achieved a significant improvement in net reclassification and integrated discrimination for mortality (NRI of 33.4%,p < 0.0001 and IDI of 0.002, p < 0.0001). Conclusion In the KorAHF, the MAGGIC project HF risk score performed well in a large nationwide contemporary external validation cohort. Furthermore, the addition of BNP or NT-proBNPto the MAGGIC risk score was beneficial in predicting more death in hospitalized patients with HF.
Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England in 2013.

• Analyst • Operational Research Analyst • Deputy Director, Global and Public Health Analysis • Deputy Director, Healthy Behaviours • Team Leader – Tobacco Control and Physical Activity • Policy Manager Alcohol & Drugs • Deputy Branch Head, Healthy Behaviours • Press Officer • Chief Medical Officer • Secretary of State for Health • Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Public Health and Primary Care • Private Secretary x 3 • Special Adviser
Chopper-stabilized amplifiers with a track-and-hold signal demodulator

The conventional signal demodulator of a chopper amplifier can be substituted by track-and-hold (T/H) and averaging functions. This arrangement provides offset cancellation without requiring low-pass filters and can ignore the residual offset generated by input spikes. A noise analysis shows that this T/H demodulator degrades the white noise signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), although degradation can be minimized by using maximum duty cycle and minimum amplifier bandwidth.
Childhood thyroid autoimmunity and relation to islet autoantibodies in children at risk for type 1 diabetes in the diabetes prediction in skåne (DiPiS) study

Abstract Background: The aim was to determine prevalence and age at seroconversion of thyroid autoimmunity in relation to islet autoantibodies, gender and HLA-DQ genotypes in children with increased risk for type 1 diabetes followed from birth. Methods: In 10-year-old children (n = 1874), blood samples were analysed for autoantibodies against thyroid peroxidase (TPOAb), thyroglobulin (TGAb), glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 (GADA), Zink transporter 8 (ZnT8R/W/QA), insulinoma-associated protein-2 (IA-2A), insulin (IAA) and HLA-DQ genotypes. Prospectively collected samples from 2 years of age were next analysed for TPOAb, and TGAb and, finally, in confirming samples at 11–16 years of age along with TSH and FT4. Frequencies were tested with Chi-square or Fischer’s exact tests, autoantibody levels with Wilcoxon and correlations between autoantibody levels with Spearman’s rank correlation test. Results: The prevalence of thyroid autoimmunity was 6.9%, overrepresented in girls (p < .001) also having higher TPOAb levels at 10 years (p = .049). TPOAb was associated with GADA (p = .002), ZnT8R/W/QA (p = .001) and IA-2A (p = .001) while TGAb were associated with ZnT8R/W/QA (p = .021). In boys only, TPOAb were associated with GADA (p = .002), IA-2A (p = .001), ZnT8R/W/QA (p = .001) and IAA (p = .009), and TGAb with GADA (p = .013), IA-2A (p = .005) and ZnT8R/W/QA (p = .003). Levels of IA-2A correlated to both TPOAb (p = .021) and to TGAb (p = .011). In boys only, levels of GADA and TGAb correlated (p = .009 as did levels of IA-2A and TPOAb (p = .013). The frequency and levels of thyroid autoantibodies increased with age. At follow-up, 22.3% had abnormal thyroid function or were treated with thyroxine. Conclusions: Thyroid autoimmunity and high TPOAb levels were more common in girls. In contrast, in boys only, there was a strong association with as well as correlation between levels of thyroid and islet autoantibodies. It is concluded that while girls may develop autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) independent of islet autoantibodies, the risk for thyroid disease in boys may be linked to concomitant islet autoimmunity.
The Handbook of Brain Theory and Neural Networks

Apparatus for forming pulsed jets of liquid. A movable cylinder cooperates with a nozzle block to define a compressible charge chamber. A piston within the nozzle block is movable between a firing position, in which it completes the nozzle discharge opening from the charge chamber and a loading position, in which it permits passage of gas to the nozzle discharge opening, thereby removing any liquid remaining therein from the preceding liquid jet pulse. To generate a charge, the piston is moved to the loading position, following which the discharge opening is blown dry and charge material is applied to the charge chamber. An actuating piston is actuated to impact on the cylinder compressing the chamber and expelling the charge through the nozzle as a pulsed liquid jet. A floating check valve permits removal of air entrapped within the charge chamber.
Discrete pole-zero modeling and applications

A method is introduced for pole-zero modeling of spectral envelopes when only a discrete set of spectral values is given. This method, which is called discrete pole-zero (DPZ) modeling, uses a discrete version of the Itakura-Saito distortion measure as its error criterion. The authors introduce an efficient iterative algorithm for the estimation of the pole-zero parameters that is guaranteed to converge to a locally optimal model. They apply DPZ modeling to the estimation of speech spectral envelopes and to the design of digital filters. <<ETX>>
Application of patient‐derived liver cancer cells for phenotypic characterization and therapeutic target identification

Primary liver cancer (PLC) ranks among the most lethal solid cancers worldwide due to lack of effective biomarkers for early detection and limited treatment options in advanced stages. Development of primary culture models that closely recapitulate phenotypic and molecular diversities of PLC is urgently needed to improve the patient outcome. Long‐term cultures of 7 primary liver cancer cell lines of hepatocellular and cholangiocellular origin were established using defined culture conditions. Morphological and histological characteristics of obtained cell lines and xenograft tumors were analyzed and compared to original tumors. Time course analyses of transcriptomic and genomic changes were performed using next‐generation sequencing (NGS). Key oncogenic alterations were identified by targeted NGS and cell lines carrying potentially actionable mutations were treated with corresponding specific inhibitors. PDCL fully resembled morphological features of the primary cancers in vitro and in vivo over extended period in culture. Genomic alterations as well as transcriptome profiles showed high similarity with primary tumors and remained stable during long‐term culturing. Targeted‐NGS confirmed that key oncogenic mutations such as TP53, KRAS, CTNNB1 as well as actionable mutations (e.g. MET, cKIT, KDR) were highly conserved in PDCL and amenable for individualized therapeutic approaches. Integrative genomic and transcriptomic approaches further demonstrated that PDCL more closely resemble molecular and prognostic features of PLC than established cell lines and are valuable tool for direct target evaluation. Our integrative analysis demonstrates that PDCL represents refined model for discovery of relevant molecular subgroups and exploration of precision medicine approaches for the treatment of this deadly disease.
Reconfigurable platforms for high performance processing

This work deals with reconfigurable computation platforms for high speed simulation of physical phenomena, based on numerical models of algebraic linear systems. This type of simulation is of extreme importance in research centers as CENPES /Petrobras, that develops applications of geophysical processing for prospection of oil and gas. Currently, these applications are implemented on PCs conventional clusters. A new approach for this type of problem is presented here, based on reconfigurable computer systems using Field Programmable Gate Arrays technology ( FPGA ) and its implications regarding the hardware/software partitioning, operating system, memory connections, communication and device drivers. Such technologies make possible appreciable profits in terms of performance - electric power and processing speed when compared to the conventional clusters . This solution also promotes cost reduction when applied to massive computation and high complexity large data applications, normally used in scientific computation. A typical application is the Portable, Extensible Toolkit for Scientific Computation ( PETSc ), models of reconfigurable architectures for high performance and its computational properties will be presented, with emphasis to platforms based on FPGAs. A platform currently in development in the Project HPCIn , called Aquarius, will also be presented. This is a Project from the Center for Informatics at the Federal University of Pernambuco in cooperation with CENPES /Petrobras. HPCIn is also part of the RPCMod research network.
Retrieval process of overgeneral memory and the capture and executive control hypothesis: using Autobiographical Memory Test with thought sampling

ABSTRACT The retrieval process for underlying overgeneral autobiographical memory remains unclear. In this study, we identified what leads to self-referential and categoric thoughts and examined the influence error-monitoring ability has on the reporting of categoric memories. We also examined whether cue self-relevance and/or executive control task performance are related to the number of specific memories reported. Using thought sampling, 94 college students completed the Autobiographical Memory Test, as well as a verbal fluency task and a depression scale. The results indicated that depressive symptoms and negative highly self-relevant cues were associated with self-referential/categoric thoughts during memory retrieval. Further, preceding self-referential/categoric thoughts and low error-monitoring ability predicted immediate after-reporting of categoric memories. Simultaneously, highly self-relevant cues and executive control task performance predicted the reporting of many specific memories. Subdividing the retrieval process and examining the process involved in depression are essential.
Evaluation of Theoretical and Practical Education of Mineral Trioxide Aggregate Manipulation for Dental Students

Problem statement: The aim was to find out whether undergraduate students in Iranian dental schools were taught about and used clinically Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA). Approach: Iranian senior dentistry students (487) were evaluated in this cross-sectional study. A questioner was prepared which contained personal questions in addition to theoretical and practical information about the use of MTA in senior dentistry students. All the responses were analyzed using SPSS software, Ver.13.5 with Kappa coefficient which was in a 0.8-1 altitude that is convenient. The final questioner contained 13 questions. Then data was collected and analyzed with t-test and SPSS, Ver. 13.5. Results: 50.9% (248) of the studied students were female and 49.1% (239) were male. 93.2% of students believed that it is necessity of technical education of MTA and 92.6% of students were believed in necessity of technical education of MTA manipulation for general dentistry students. In 5 dental schools, this material was used in departments of endodontic, pediatric, restorative and prosthodontics. Also, the students used MTA in pulp capping and pulpotomy and endodontic surgeries. In 14 faculties, students used MTA in clinical practice for pulp capping and open apex teeth and in 16 faculties, this material was used for treatment of perforation. Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that despite different studies related to MTA, it seems that there is a need for theoretical and practical education to be considered in educational curriculum.
Time Variation of Operational Characteristics for a Linear Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generator under Various Load Conditions

The paper presents the simulated time variation of the operational parameters of a Linear Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generator (LPMSG). A hybrid specific simulation model, incorporating standard finite elements combined with analytical solution of Laplace equation in the air gap area, has been coupled with a dynamic simulation model for the external electrical circuit loading the LPMSG. The proposed model enables the simulation of generator’s overall performance under various load conditions, taking also into account the case of surface magnet skew on the translator of the linear generator.
Fast Dynamic Object Extraction Based on Occupancy Grid Maps

The driving support is one of the most important research areas in intelligent transport system (ITS). Moreover, obstacle detection system is one of most important system, and we have proposed such system based on stereovision system. Additionally, to assist driving safely, it is necessary to extract dynamic objects and alert driver more fastly. In our previous report, we proposed dynamic objects extraction method based on Occupancy Grid Maps. However we found that the method suffers from the disadvantage of instable detection for dynamic objects. So, in this paper, we propose the method to analyze motion of objects used 6D information comprised of 3D position and motion of objects and extract the dynamic objects fastly based on Occupancy Grid Maps.
Combined heparin/acid citrate dextrose solution A anticoagulation in the Optia continuous mononuclear cell protocol for pediatric lymphocyte apheresis

Collecting a sufficient number of T‐cells is a critical first step in the production of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)‐T cells. Herein, we report a successful implementation of anticoagulation with combined heparin and acid citrate dextrose solution A (ACD‐A) for the continuous mononuclear cell (CMNC) protocol on the Spectra Optia in a 20‐month‐old, 7.5 kg patient with refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia for manufacture of tisagenlecleucel, a CAR‐T cell therapy. Combined heparin/ACD‐A was used following clotting issues when ACD‐A was used alone during initial CMNC collections. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case in pediatrics of combined heparin/ACD‐A anticoagulation with the Spectra Optia CMNC protocol.
Vascular Remodeling Process of Heparin-Conjugated Poly(ε-Caprolactone) Scaffold in a Rat Abdominal Aorta Replacement Model

In the field of vascular graft research, poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) is used owing to its good mechanical strength and biocompatibility. In this study, PCL scaffold was prepared by electrospinning and surface modification with heparin via hexamethylenediamine. Then the scaffolds were implanted into the infrarenal abdominal aorta of Wistar rats and contrast-enhanced micro-ultrasound was used to monitor the patency of grafts after implantation. These grafts were extracted from the rats at 1, 3, and 6 months for histological analysis, immunofluorescence staining, and scanning electron microscopy observation. Although some grafts experienced aneurysmal change, results showed that all implanted grafts were patent during the course of 6 months and these grafts demonstrated well-organized neotissue with endothelium formation, smooth muscle regeneration, and extracellular matrix formation. Such findings confirm feasibility to create heparin-conjugated scaffolds of next-generation vascular grafts.
GENESIS Modeling Tutorial

urn:nbn:de:0009-3-2206 Abstract. This tutorial is intended to be a "quick start" to creating simulations with GENESIS. It should give you the tools and enough information to let you quickly begin creating cells and networks with GENESIS, making use of the provided example simulations. Advanced topics are covered by appropriate links to the Advanced Tutorials on Realistic Neural Modeling.
Uso del juguete terapéutico en la preparación de niños pre-escolares para quimioterapia ambulatoria

OBJETIVOS: Describir el uso del juguete terapeutico (JT) en la preparacion de ninos pre-escolares para la realizacion de la quimioterapia en consulta externa e identificar sus reacciones manifestadas durante la sesion de JT en relacion a los procedimientos realizados en la sesion de quimioterapia ambulatoria. METODOS: Investigacion descriptiva exploratoria, de abordaje cuantitativa, realizada con 30 ninos pre-escolares, sometidos al tratamiento de quimioterapia ambulatoria. Los datos fueron recolectados por medio de la observacion de los ninos y entrevistas a los acompanantes. RESULTADOS: Despues de la preparacion con el JT, los ninos demostraron comportamientos mas positivos, cooperando con los procedimientos y colaborando con los profesionales (93,3%), presentando una postura relajada (93,3%), estableciendo un vinculo de confianza con el profesional (76,6%) y sonrriendo durante los juegos (70%). CONCLUSION: El uso del JT presenta gran valor como facilitador de una interaccion mas efectiva del adulto con el nino, favoreciendo la comprension del pre-escolar, convirtiendo su permanencia en la consulta externa mas agradable y desinhibida.
Experiences of a Newbie Helper in a Free Open Online Mathematics Help Forum Community

Free, open, online help forums are open to the public and allow students to anonymously seek homework help from volunteers who have the time, willingness, and experience to respond. These forums offer affordable, accessible, and efficient help given as a social, public endeavor. Some forums exhibit a strong sense of virtual community, especially amongst well-established helpers who are core participants. To investigate how newcomers enter into such activity, five helpers were recruited to participate for eight consecutive weeks in an existing popular forum for mathematics homework help covering arithmetic through advanced mathematics. We explore characteristics of the activity of the newcomer helper who made the most progress in moving from peripheral to fuller participation in terms of membership, influence, and immersion.
Design of high gain operational amplifier with low noise constraints

In this paper the method has been proposed for the design of a high gain CMOS operational amplifier (OpAmp) with low noise constraints. which operates at 1.8V supply voltage and design has been carried out in ADS tool for tsmc 0.18 micron CMOS technology. The OP-AMP designed is a three-stage CMOS OP AMP with feed-forward compensation method. The proposed feed-forward compensation overcomes the drawback of bandwidth narrowing . It can improve the phase margin as well as optimize the bandwidth of the op amp. The OPAMP is designed to exhibit a high gain of 37 dB, and low noise of 1.2 dB for a wide bandwidth of 3 GHz. The power is observed to be 1.31mW , the unity gain bandwidth is observed to be 6 GHz.
Teoretyczno-badawcze nurty w polskiej kreatologii

W artykule przedstawiono charakterystykę różnorodnych nurtów badań nad twórczością, które wspólnie tworzą kreatologię – zintegrowany zasób wiedzy o twórczości i człowieku twórczym. Autor kolejno omawia nurt badań psychologii twórczości, pedagogiki, teorii zarządzania i marketingu, geografii oraz filozofii, wskazując na ich główne problemy badawcze i dokonania oraz postulując kierunki przyszłych badań. Nurty te w zwięzły sposób przedstawia tabela 1, a stanowisko własne autor prezentuje w zakończeniu, wymieniając 10 założeń teoretyczno-badawczych Łódzkiej Szkoły Pedagogiki Twórczości.
O uso da máscara laríngea pelo enfermeiro na ressuscitação cardiopulmonar: revisão integrativa da literatura

O objetivo do estudo foi identificar as evidencias disponiveis na literatura sobre a abordagem de vias aereas por meio da insercao da mascara laringea pelo enfermeiro, na ressuscitacao cardiopulmonar, em pacientes adultos. O referencial teorico-metodologico utilizado foi a Pratica Baseada em Evidencias. Foi utilizada a revisao integrativa da literatura com o proposito de reunir e sintetizar o conhecimento existente sobre a tematica proposta. As bases acessadas foram: LILACS, PUBMED, CINAHL e COCHRANE, com os descritores controlados "laryngeal masks", "cardiopulmonary resuscitation" e "nursing", sendo selecionados 18 estudos. Os resultados evidenciaram que a mascara laringea e de fundamental importância para manejo de vias aereas em situacoes criticas, necessita de treinamento para sua utilizacao e mostrou-se eficaz, atingindo taxas de sucesso proximas a 100%. O grande impacto dos estudos publicados na decada de 90 foi evidenciado nas diretrizes de ressuscitacao cardiopulmonar publicadas em 2005, pois as embasaram, e foram citados nas mesmas.
Metabolomic Study to Determine the Mechanism Underlying the Effects of Sagittaria sagittifolia Polysaccharide on Isoniazid- and Rifampicin-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Mice

In this study, a non-targeted metabolic profiling method based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-HRMS) was used to characterize the plasma metabolic profile associated with the protective effects of the Sagittaria sagittifolia polysaccharide (SSP) on isoniazid (INH)—and rifampicin (RFP)-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. Fourteen potential biomarkers were identified from the plasma of SSP-treated mice. The protective effects of SSP on hepatotoxicity caused by the combination of INH and RFP (INH/RFP) were further elucidated by investigating the related metabolic pathways. INH/RFP was found to disrupt fatty acid metabolism, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, amino acid metabolism, taurine metabolism, and the ornithine cycle. The results of the metabolomics study showed that SSP provided protective effects against INH/RFP-induced liver injury by partially regulating perturbed metabolic pathways.