Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Thoracic epidural analgesia in post-thoracotomy patients: comparison of three different concentrations of levobupivacaine and sufentanil.

BACKGROUND Relative effects of dosage, volume and concentration of local anaesthetics used for postoperative thoracic epidural analgesia are still under debate. In this randomized, prospective, double-blinded study, we evaluated the incidence of side-effects such as changes in arterial pressure, postoperative nausea, vomiting, and pruritus in patients admitted for thoracic surgery during continuous thoracic epidural infusion using levobupivacaine and sufentanil mixture in three different volumes. METHODS We studied 150 patients who underwent thoracotomy with a thoracic epidural catheter placed between T4 and T7. The patients were randomized into three groups which received 10 mg h(-1) of levobupivacaine at three different concentrations (0.5%, 0.25%, and 0.15%), in combination with sufentanil at 2.6 microg h(-1). Haemodynamic effects, pruritus, nausea, vomiting, sensory and motor block, pain score, additional analgesic requirement, sedation, and patient satisfaction were registered immediately after the surgical operation and on the first, second, and third postoperative days. RESULTS We did not detect any differences in the incidence of side-effects such as changes in arterial pressure, and also postoperative nausea, vomiting, and pruritus. The three groups were also similar with regard to patient characteristics, sensory and motor block, pain score, analgesic rescue dose, sedation, and patient satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS The same dose of a mixture of levobupivacaine and sufentanil administered in three different volumes and concentrations during continuous thoracic epidural infusion for thoracotomy provided an equal incidence of adverse haemodynamic effects, nausea, vomiting, or pruritus.
Multi-objective optimisation of hydro-pneumatic suspension with gas–oil emulsion for heavy-duty vehicles

In the development of heavy-duty vehicles, the design of hydro-pneumatic suspension (HPS) is important for improving various aspects of vehicle performance, such as comfort and stability. An HPS with gas–oil emulsion is advantageous with respect to cost and design compared to that with a separated chamber, because it shares a chamber with gas and oil. This paper presents an optimisation procedure for obtaining the optimal design of HPS with gas–oil emulsion for heavy-duty vehicles. The HPS model is developed from a mathematical analysis of the gas–oil emulsion, and a parameter study is performed to confirm the design sensitivity of the spring and damping characteristics. A full vehicle model with HPS is constructed to analyse the vehicle performance. The necessity of this vehicle model is shown by comparing its results with those of a simplified vehicle model. To alleviate the problem of excessive computational effort caused using the full vehicle model, surrogate models with respect to performance are developed for the design optimisation of HPS. By performing a multi-objective optimisation of the HPS design, a Pareto front considering the contradiction between the comfort and stability of the performances is obtained.
Citation Details: Using Ordered Attitudinal Indicators in a Latent Variable Choice Model: a Study of the Impact of Security on Rail Travel Behaviour

Using ordered attitudinal indicators in a latent variable choice model: a study of the impact of security on rail travel behaviour. Transportation 39 (2) , pp. 267-297. 10.1007/s11116-011-9351-z file Publishers page: Please note: Changes made as a result of publishing processes such as copy-editing, formatting and page numbers may not be reflected in this version. For the definitive version of this publication, please refer to the published source. You are advised to consult the publisher's version if you wish to cite this paper. (2012) Using ordered attitudinal indicators in a latent variable choice model: a study of the impact of security on rail travel behaviour. Abstract There is growing interest in the use of models that recognise the role of individuals' attitudes and perceptions in choice behaviour. Rather than relying on simple linear approaches or a potentially bias-inducing deterministic approach based on incorporating stated attitudinal indicators directly in the choice model, researchers have recently recognised the latent nature of attitudes. The uptake of such latent attitude models in applied work has however been slow, while a number of overly simplistic assumptions are also commonly made. In this paper, we present an application of jointly estimated attitudinal and choice models to a real world transport study, looking at the role of latent attitudes in a rail travel context. Our results show the impact that concern with privacy, liberty and security, and distrust of business, technology and authority have on the desire for rail travel in the face of increased security measures, as well as for universal security checks. Alongside demonstrating the applicability of the model in applied work, we also address a number of theoretical issues. We first show the equivalence of two different normalisations discussed in the literature. Unlike many other latent attitude studies, we explicitly recognise the repeated choice nature of the data. Finally, the main methodological contribution comes in replacing the typically used continuous model for attitudinal response by an ordered logit structure which more correctly accounts for the ordinal nature of the indicators.
Intelligent control using an Interval Type-2 Fuzzy Neural Network with a hybrid learning algorithm

In this paper, a class of Interval Type-2 Fuzzy Neural Networks (IT2FNN) is proposed, which is functionally equivalent to interval type-2 fuzzy inference systems. The computational process envisioned for fuzzy neural systems is as follows: it starts with the development of an rdquoInterval Type-2 Fuzzy Neuronrdquo, which is based on biological neural morphologies, followed by the learning mechanisms. We describe how to decompose the parameter set such that the hybrid learning rule of adaptive networks can be applied to the IT2FNN architecture for the Takagi-Sugeno-Kang (TSK) type of reasoning.
Molecular epidemiology of tuberculosis

Despite the almost 50 yrs since the introduction of curative antituberculosis drugs, Mycobacterium tuberculosis continues to exert an enormous toll on world health, and tuberculosis remains the world's leading cause of death due to a single infectious agent. This has stimulated research efforts into finding new tools to tackle the continuing tuberculosis pandemic. One of the few successes to date has been the development of a new discipline, molecular epidemiology. This has added a further dimension to the classical epidemiology of tuberculosis and enhanced understanding of how M. tuberculosis continues to be successfully transmitted within populations. In the process, inadequacies in tuberculosis control programmes have been identified, helping accumulate resources for their improvement. Other technologies, based on knowledge of the complete genome sequence of M. tuberculosis, which will provide newer tools for probing the epidemiology of tuberculosis, are now emerging. In spite of these advances, tuberculosis continues to remain a devastating infectious disease, disproportionately impacting on the world's poorest countries. The future challenge for molecular epidemiology is to provide better understanding of the transmission dynamics of tuberculosis in these settings and to stimulate the implementation of control measures on a more global scale.
Enhancing Patient Readability of Discharge Summaries with Automatically Generated Hyperlinks

Patients often have difficulty in understanding med ical concepts and vocabulary in their Discharge Summaries. We explore automatic hyper-linking to online resources for difficult terms as a means of making the content more comprehensible for patients. We use the Consumer He alth Vocabulary (CHV) as a resource for scoring the difficulty of terms and to provide the most consumerfriendly synonyms. We implement a term extraction cproviding semantic annotation using the KIM Knowledge and Inf ormation Management Platform. We hyperlink these terms to pages indexed by MedLinePlus to provide consumer-friendly online explanations. A web interf ace allows for viewing annotated Discharge Summaries and browsing search r esults. In a preliminary evaluation, the system was used to annotate eight C linical Management sections of Discharge Summaries. The automatic hyper-linking provides good precision in linking to topically-relevant pages indexed by MedL inePlus. Our approach shows promise as a technology to deploy in future portals where consumers view their Discharge Summaries online.
Sensitivity of a wearable bioimpedance monitor to changes in the thoracic fluid content of heart failure patients

In the context of home telehealth, spectroscopic bioimpedance measurements have the potential to aid therapy guidance and health maintenance in patients at risk of abnormal fluid accumulation such as heart failure patients. To this aim, monitoring devices need to be sensitive to subtle changes in congestion and hemodynamics. In this study, we assess the sensitivity of a wearable trans-thoracic bioimpedance monitor (BIM) with textile electrodes to variations in the thoracic fluid content of heart failure patients induced by postural maneuvers and omission of medications such as diuretics. The results indicate that the BIM is able to follow these changes and that the largest effect size is accounted by the omission of heart failure medications.
Shared Struggles? Cumulative Strain Theory and Public Mass Murderers From 1990 to 2014

Scholars have urged a shift in research on mass murder from the creation of typologies to theoretically rich, data-driven comparative examinations of the phenomenon. We seek to redress such calls in two ways. First, we analyze a unique sample of public mass murderers through the multistage explanatory model of cumulative strain theory. Second, we use a comparison group of similarly violent offenders—lone actor terrorists—to provide context to our findings. The results demonstrate that cumulative strain theory usefully describes the trajectory toward violence of public mass murderers, more so when a concept implicit in the theory—grievance—is made explicit.
Author's Personal Copy Implementation of Web Based Biotelemetry Applications on Wimax Networks

In this world, health is the most important factor and subject in society and social life. Thus, this sector gets more importance to give better service and to use resources more efficiently under the health economy. In this paper, it is designed and conducted a web based biotelemetry application works on WiMAX. First; Patient Communication Node (PCN), Client Communication Node (CCN) and Administrative Communication Node (ACN) systems are designed. Then these systems are implemented on WiMAX networks. Finally proposed model is compared with other equivalents. In today's world, the most important element of society and social life is human. Politics, law, religion and many more social and scientific cases are all based on ''Everything is for human'' philosophy. The use of technology in the service of environmental and human beings are the core of this goal. With this idea, it is intended to make people physically and spiritually healthy, happy and live in prosperity. At this point, the human health appears to be one of the most important issues. Medical networks has emerged as a result of the implementation of computer and communication technologies in health field. The most important function of medical networks is that provides remote controlling for doctors to observe their patients. This is called biotelemetry in the literature. There is a wide spectrum if it is looked at studies about biotelemetry and medical networks. are examples for such studies. While some of studies focus on specific subjects, some of them approach as a whole to create solutions. The adaptation of existing information and communication technologies to telemedicine and biotelemetry or the implementation of completely new ideas are observed in studied subjects. The basic main points are transmitting vital information of patients to health centers in accurate and quick way and making patient independent from hospital by increasing their life quality. These studies focus on designing miniaturized, easy to carry sensors that not bothering patients to increase life quality while monitoring vital data. Another research field studies about providing long life and managing power for these sensors [1–18]. Another studied subject about telemedicine and biotelemetry in literature focus on creating solutions to read the vital information on patients quickly and accurately, without calling interrupted and restricting the patient from social environment. Especially in recent years, wireless communication technologies are being used in every area of our lives as well as in biotelemetry field, and various studies on …
Potential role of endometrial stem/progenitor cells in the pathogenesis of early-onset endometriosis.

The pathogenesis of early-onset endometriosis has recently been revisited, sparked by the discovery of endometrial stem/progenitor cells and their possible role in endometriosis, and because maternal pregnancy hormone withdrawal following delivery induces uterine bleeding in the neonate. The neonatal uterus has a large cervix to corpus ratio which is functionally blocked with mucous, supporting the concept of retrograde shedding of neonatal endometrium. Only 5% show overt bleeding. Furthermore, the presence of endometriosis in pre-menarcheal girls and even in severe stage in adolescents supports the theory that early-onset endometriosis may originate from retrograde uterine bleeding soon after birth. Endometrial stem/progenitor cells have been identified in menstrual blood suggesting that they may also be shed during neonatal uterine bleeding. Thus, we hypothesized that stem/progenitor cells present in shedding endometrium may have a role in the pathogenesis of early-onset endometriosis through retrograde neonatal uterine bleeding. During the neonatal and pre-pubertal period, shed endometrial stem/progenitor cells are postulated to survive in the pelvic cavity in the absence of circulating estrogens supported by niche cells also shed during neonatal uterine bleeding. According to this hypothesis, during thelarche, under the influence of rising estrogen levels, endometrial stem/progenitor cells proliferate and establish ectopic endometrial lesions characteristic of endometriosis. This New Research Horizon review builds on recent discussions on the pathogenesis of early-onset endometriosis and raises new avenues for research into this costly condition.
The Effects of Spatial Scale on Breakdown of Leaves in a Tropical Watershed

The objective was to assess the effects of natural variation in the physical structure of the environment on biological communities and on the processing of Eucalyptus cloeziana and Inga laurina and to identify the controlling factors at different scales along stream order gradients. The study area consisted of 14 sampling sites distributed within a tropical watershed (1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th order streams replicated in 4 sub-basins). Our samples consisted of 3 g of leaves of E. cloeziana (high-quality) and I. laurina (low-quality) placed in 252 bags with 10mm mesh (measured by the chemical composition of the detritus). Four samples of each leaf type were collected periodically (three times) over a period of 75–125 days and washed on a sieve to separate the invertebrates. A series of leaf disks were cut to determine ash-free dry mass, polyphenol, lignin, cellulose, total microbial biomass and fungal biomass, and the remaining material was oven-dried to determine the dry weight. We performed analyses within and between spatial scales (regional and local) to assess which watershed scale was the more import determinant of the leaf breakdown rate (k). The microbial and shredder were most influenced at the local scale (stream order). Shredders were influenced by microorganisms, with stronger interactions between them than were found to drive the k at the local scale. Moreover, differences in the overall k and abiotic variables were more strongly influenced at the regional scale (sub-basin), showing that the study scale alters the response of the studied variables. We found higher k values at higher values of water velocity, dissolved oxygen and temperature, all of which accelerate biological metabolism in response to variations on the regional scale. Watersheds with warmer microclimates and streams with higher nutrient levels and oxygen could be accelerating the ecosystem metabolism, independent of the detritus quality.
Cardiovascular System Response to Carbon Dioxide and Exercise in Oxygen-Enriched Environment at 3800 m

Background: This study explores the responses of the cardiovascular system as humans exercise in an oxygen-enriched room at high altitude under various concentrations of CO2. Methods: The study utilized a hypobaric chamber set to the following specifications: 3800 m altitude with 25% O2 and different CO2 concentrations of 0.5% (C1), 3.0% (C2) and 5.0% (C3). Subjects exercised for 3 min three times, separated by 30 min resting periods in the above-mentioned conditions, at sea level (SL) and at 3800 m altitude (HA). The changes of heart rate variability, heart rate and blood pressure were analyzed. Results: Total power (TP) and high frequency power (HF) decreased notably during post-exercise at HA. HF increased prominently earlier the post-exercise period at 3800 m altitude with 25% O2 and 5.0% CO2 (C3), while low frequency power (LF) changed barely in all tests. The ratios of LF/HF were significantly higher during post-exercise in HA, and lower after high intensity exercise in C3. Heart rate and systolic blood pressure increased significantly in HA and C3. Conclusions: Parasympathetic activity dominated in cardiac autonomic modulation, and heart rate and blood pressure increased significantly after high intensity exercise in C3.
A multi-level and multi-actor approach to risk governance: a conceptual framework to support policy development for Ambrosia weed control

Invasive species such as Ambrosia (an annual weed) pose a biosecurity risk whose management depends on the knowledge, attitudes and practices of many stakeholders. It can therefore be considered a complex policy and risk governance problem. Complex policy problems are characterised by high uncertainty, multiple dimensions, interactions across different spatial and policy levels, and the involvement of a multitude of actors and organisations. This paper provides a conceptual framework for analysing the multi-level and multi-actor dimensions of Ambrosia management. Potential and existing public, private and public–private management strategies are identified to address the interests and needs of different actor groups across different levels. We conclude that policies that promote a mix of public and private Ambrosia management strategies may respond better to the needs and interests of different actor groups across different levels than a one-size-fits-all approach. However, multiple policy strategies need to be aligned in order to lead to synergies and spreading coherent messages to the public. Collaboration may enhance the likelihood of biosecurity management and risk governance of Ambrosia being adequately implemented and enforced.
Research of K-means Clustering Method Based on Parallel Genetic Algorithm

As K-means clustering algorithm is sensitive to the choice of the initial cluster centers and it's difficult to determine the cluster number, we proposed a K-means clustering method based on parallel genetic algorithm. In the method, we adopted a new strategy of variable-length chromosome encoding and randomly chose initial clustering centers to form chromosomes among samples. Combining the efficiency of K-means algorithm with the global optimization ability of parallel genetic algorithm, the local optimal solution was avoided and the optimum number and optimum result of cluster were obtained by means of heredity, mutation in the community, and parallel evolution, intermarriage among communities. Experiments indicated that this algorithm was efficient and accurate.
Bayesian inference for motion control and planning

Bayesian motion control and planning is based on the idea of fusing motion objectives (constraints, goals, priors, etc) using probabilistic inference techniques in a way similar to Bayesian sensor fusing. This approach seems promising for tackling two fundamental problems in robotic control and planning: (1) Bayesian inference methods are an ideal candidate for fusing many sources of information or constraints – usually employed in the sensor processing context. Complex motion is characterised by such a multitude of concurrent constraints and tasks and the Bayesian approach provides a solution of which classical solutions (e.g., prioritised inverse kinematics) are a special case. (2) In the future we will require planning methods that are not based on representing the system state as one high-dimensional state variable but rather cope with structured state representations (distributed, hierarchical, hybrid discrete-continuous) that more directly reflect and exploit the natural structure of the environment. Probabilistic inference offers methods that can in principle handle such representations. Our approach will, for the first time, allow to transfer these methods to the realm of motion control and planning. The first part of this technical report will review standard optimal (motion rate or dynamic) control from an optimisation perspective and then derive Bayesian versions of the classical solutions. The new control laws show that motion control can be framed as an inference problem in an appropriately formulated probabilistic model. In the second part, by extending the probabilistic models to be Markovian models of the whole trajectory, we show that probabilistic inference methods (belief propagation) yield solutions to motion planning problems. This approach computes a posterior distribution over trajectories and control signals conditioned on goals and constraints.
Alterations in reaching after stroke and their relation to movement direction and impairment severity.

OBJECTIVES To examine the effects of stroke severity and target location on reaching (1) to identify regions in space that are difficult to reach, (2) to determine whether specific alterations in reaching are associated with particular clinical impairment levels, and (3) to characterize relationships between reaching alterations. DESIGN Participants reached toward a screen of 75 targets spanning an approximate range from +/-90 degrees side to side and from waist to head. SETTING Rehabilitation research center. PARTICIPANTS Sixteen chronic stroke patients with a wide range in residual arm function and 4 control subjects. INTERVENTIONS Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Chedoke-McMaster Stroke Arm Assessment, distance, velocity, smoothness, straightness, and direction of the hand path during each reach. Hand position trajectories were recorded with an electromagnetic sensor. RESULTS Reaches performed with the impaired arms showed significant degradation in all performance measures. Although only modestly dependent on the target location, these features correlated strongly with impairment level, as well as with each other. Reaching distance showed the strongest correlations with the other parameters. CONCLUSIONS Stroke alters a broad array of features of reaching, yet largely the same degree of movement control is preserved across a range of target locations. The only consistently problematic task is to reach far out from the torso, independent of the movement direction. Thus, active range of motion (AROM), rather than control over a specific subset of movement directions, is a logical focus for therapy. In addition, measuring AROM is a simple clinical measure that yields much information.