Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertising and the public

AbstractOBJECTIVE: Drug manufacturers are intensely promoting their products directly to consumers, but the impact has not been widely studied. Consumers’ awareness and understanding of, attitudes toward, and susceptibility to direct-to-consumer (DTC) drug advertising were examined. DESIGN: Random-digit dialing telephone survey with a random household member selection procedure (completion and response rates, 58% and 69%, respectively). SETTING: Respondents were interviewed while they were at their residences. PARTICIPANTS: Complete data were obtained from 329 adults in Sacramento County, California. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Outcome measures included awareness of advertisements for 10 selected drugs, misconceptions about DTC advertising, attitudes toward DTC ads, and behavioral responses to such promotions. The influence of demographic characteristics, health status, attitudes, beliefs, and media exposure on awareness and behaviors was examined. On average, respondents were aware of advertisements for 3.7 of the 10 drugs; awareness varied from 8% for Buspar (buspirone) to 72% for Claritin (loratadine). Awareness was associated with prescription drug use, media exposure, positive attitudes toward DTC advertising, poorer health, and insurance status. Substantial misconceptions were revealed; e.g., 43% thought that only “completely safe” drugs could be advertised. Direct-to-consumer advertisements had led one third of respondents to ask their physicians for drug information and one fifth to request a prescription. CONCLUSIONS: Direct-to-consumer advertisements are reaching the public, but selectively so, and affecting their behaviors. Implications for public policy are examined.
2 Local and Almost Linear-time Clustering and Partitioning 2.1 Review of Local Clustering 2.2 General Strategy

Let us briefly review local clustering, which we introduced last time. Given a vertex v in some graph G, we would like know if v is contained in a cluster, i.e. a subset of vertices that defines a cut with low conductance. However, we want the running time of our algorithm to depend on the cluster size, and not on the size of the graph. Last time we mentioned that a good example of a problem of this sort is trying to find a cluster of web pages around mit.edu; we surely do not want the running time of this task to depend on the number of sites created on the other side of the world. Let us make our goal a little bit more precise: in this lecture we will describe an algorithm that, after running for time almost linear in K, outputs a cluster of size at least K/2 around the starting vertex, if such a cluster exists.
Oxidant Status following Cardiac Surgery with Phosphorylcholine-Coated Extracorporeal Circulation Systems

Introduction. Extracorporeal circulation (ECC) related systemic oxidative stress is a well-known entity but the underlying mechanisms are not clearly described. Our aim was to investigate the relation between the oxidative stress indices, inflammatory markers, and phosphorylcholine-coated (PCC) ECC systems. Patients and Methods. Thirty-two consecutive coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) cases were randomly assigned to Group I (PCC, n = 18) and Group II (noncoated, n = 14) ECC circuits. Total Antioxidant Status (TAS), Total Oxidant Status (TOS), Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α), Interleukin-1β (IL-β), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Interleukin-8 (IL-8), Interleukin-10 (IL-10), and Procalcitonin (PCT) levels were measured at 5 different time points. The association between the oxidative indices levels and PCC system used was analyzed. Results. In Group I TOS and TAS statuses were increased at T1, T2, T3, and T4, while IL-10 and TNF-α levels accompanied those raises only at T2 (Group I-Group II, 4.73 ± 2.04 versus 2.79 ± 0.63, p = 0.002, and 30.56 ± 8.11 versus 23.97 ± 7.8, p = 0.031, resp.). In contrast, mean TAS and TOS levels were similar to baseline at all time points in Group II but IL-6 and IL-8 levels were increased at T2 (Group I-Group II, 16.84 ± 5.63 versus 44.81 ± 17.0, p = 0.001, and 38.88 ± 9.8 versus 46.14 ± 9.25, p = 0.038, resp.). Conclusion. Even coated ECC systems are still incapable of attenuating the inflammatory response to cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).
The generation of T cell memory: a review describing the molecular and cellular events following OX40 (CD134) engagement

OX40 (CD134), a membrane‐bound member of the tumor necrosis factor‐receptor superfamily, is expressed primarily on activated CD4+ T cells. Following engagement on the cell surface, OX40 delivers a costimulatory signal that leads to potent, proinflammatory effects. Engagement of OX40 during antigen (Ag)‐specific stimulation of T cells leads to increased production of memory T cells, increased migration of Ag‐specific T cells, enhanced cytokine production by effector T cells, and the ability to break peripheral T cell tolerance in vivo. Therefore, OX40 engagement in vivo could have important ramifications for the enhancement of vaccine strategies and inhibition of unwanted inflammation. This review summarizes the molecular and cellular events that occur following OX40 engagement during Ag‐specific T cell activation.
Modeling of Gate Current and Capacitance in Nanoscale-MOS Structures

By applying a fully self-consistent solution of the Schrodinger-Poisson equations, a simple unified approach has been developed in order to study the gate current and gate capacitance of nanoscale-MOS structures with ultrathin dielectric layer. In this paper, the model has been employed to investigate various gate structure and material combinations, thereby demonstrating wide applicability of the present model in the design of nanoscale-MOSFET devices. The results obtained by applying the proposed model are in good agreement with experimental data and previous models in the literature. A new result concerning optimum nitrogen content in HfSiON high-k gate-dielectric structure reported in this paper requires experimental verification through device fabrication
Homeowners Insurance with Bundled Catastrophe Coverage

We estimate the demand for homeowners insurance in Florida and New York with indicated loss costs as our proxy for the quantity of real insurance services demanded. We decompose the demand into the demand for coverage of catastrophe perils and the demand for noncatastrophe coverage and estimate these demand functions separately. Our results are relatively consistent in New York and Florida, including evidence that catastrophe demand is more price elastic than noncatastrophe demand. We also find evidence that consumers value options that expand coverage, buy more insurance when it is subsidized through regulatory price constraints, and consider state guaranty fund provisions when purchasing insurance.
LEARNERS ’ DICTIONARY OF I-ADJECTIVE-NOUN COLLOCATIONS

This paper demonstrates a method for creating Japanese learners dictionary of i-adjective-noun collocations. After an introduction of the importance of collocations and the necessity of their inclusion in Japanese language learning, we present various corpora types and corpus query tools that are used to obtain variety of collocational usage in different types of discourse. The Japanese language proficiency word-list is also used to provide levels of difficulty for dictionary headwords and their collocations. Further on, the process of collocation selection, analysis, and description of the i-adjective-noun collocation dictionary is presented. Keyword: collocations, Japanese language, learners’ dictionaries, i-adjective-noun collocations, corpora
Effects of Visual Separation and Physical Discontinuities when Distributing Information across Multiple Displays

Systems that include multiple integrated displays distributed throughout the working environment are becoming prevalent. Compared to traditional desktop displays, information presented on such systems is typically separated at much wider visual angles. Additionally, since displays are often placed at different depths or are framed by physical bezels, they introduce physical discontinuities in the presentation of information. In this paper, we describe a study that utilizes a divided attention paradigm to explore the effects of visual separation and physical discontinuities when distributing information across multiple displays. Results show reliable, though small, detrimental effects when information is separated within the visual field, but only when coupled with an offset in depth. Surprisingly, physical discontinuities such as monitor bezels and even separation in depth alone do not seem to affect performance on the set of tasks tested. Following the findings, we provide recommendations for the design of hardware and software in multiple display environments.
A collaborative infrastructure for scalable and robust news delivery

In this paper we describe the model used for the NewsWire collaborative content delivery system. The system builds on the robustness and scalability of Astrolabe to weave a peer-to-peer infrastructure for real time delivery of news items. The goal of the system is to deliver news updates to hundreds of thousands of subscribers within tens of seconds of the moment of publishing. The system significantly reduces the compute and network load at the publishers and guarantees delivery even in the face of publisher overload or denial of service attacks.
Validación del pensamiento y persuasión

Thought-validation and persuasion. Persuasion depends on how people respond (cognitive responses) to the information they receive. Two aspects of these cognitive responses have been emphasized so far on the study of persuasion: the direction of thinking (whether thinking is favorable or unfavorable) and the extent of thinking (whether thinking is extensive or minimal). Recent research has demonstrated that it is necessary to take into account a third dimension of thinking based on people's confidence in their own thoughts. The present research explores a new variable that influences persuasion by affecting thought-confidence: self-affirmation. We predicted and found that when participants were affirmed (by expressing personal values) after message processing, self-affirmation affected attitude change by influencing the confidence with which cognitive responses to the message were held. As a consequence, self-affirmation magnified the impact of thoughts on attitudes enhancing persuasion when thoughts were favorable and undermined it when thoughts were unfavorable.
Tobramycin pharmacokinetics in morbidly obese patients

Tobramycin kinetics were examined in 9 morbidly obese women following a single intavenous (120 mg) bolus. After the injection, serum elimination conformed to a 2‐compartment open model with a and β t½s of 0.285 and 2.1 hr. The volume of distribution (Varea) was determined to be 0.44 l/kg ideal body weight (IBW) and 0.20 l/kg total body weight (TBW). To normalize Varea to 0.26 l/kg, 58% of the patients’ adipose weight (TBW — IBW) must also be taken into account.
Pemodelan dinamik fitoplankton menggunakan model nutrien-fitoplankton-zooplankton (Dynamic modelling of Phytoplankton using nutrient-phytoplankton-zooplankton model)

Kadar pertumbuhan fitoplankton yang berlebihan boleh membawa impak yang negatif kepada ekosistem di Tasik Chini. Walau bagaimanapun, fitoplankton merupakan komponen penting dalam jaringan makanan akuatik. Oleh itu, kajian terhadap kepekatan fitoplankton dalam Tasik Chini adalah penting agar dapat memantau keadaan ekosistem tasik. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk membangunkan model matematik dinamik yang sesuai bagi fitoplankton di Tasik Chini dengan menggunakan model nutrien-fitoplankton-zooplankton, serta untuk mengenal pasti bahawa input nutrien adalah faktor kawalan bagi model ini. Persamaan pembezaan biasa (PPB) digunakan untuk simulasi model fitoplankton di Tasik Chini. Model fitoplankton ini terdiri daripada kepekatan nutrien (Nu), fitoplankton (F) dan zooplankton (Z). Sistem PPB ini diselesaikan dengan kaedah Runge-Kutta-Fehlberg, menggunakan perisian Maple 13. Model NuFZ yang dibangunkan ini memilih input nutrien sebagai parameter bifurkasi, iaitu model ini dikawal oleh input nutrien. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahawa kesan daripada peningkatan input nutrien ke dalam sistem tasik telah menyebabkan sistem menjadi tidak stabil dan kepadatan fitoplankton berubah-ubah. Model ini berguna untuk membantu dalam pemahaman populasi fitoplankton di Tasik Chini.
doppioDB: A hardware accelerated database

Relational databases provide a wealth of functionality to a wide range of applications. Yet, there are tasks for which they are less than optimal, for instance when processing becomes more complex (e.g., regular expression evaluation, data analytics) or the data is less structured (e.g., text or long strings). With the increasing amount of user-generated data stored in relational databases, there is a growing need to analyze unstructured text data. At the same time more complex analytical operators are required to extract useful information from the vast amount of collected data. However, many analytical operators incur a significant compute complexity not suitable to database engines where multiple queries share the available resources. In this demonstration we show the benefit of using specialized hardware for such tasks and highlight the importance of a flexible, reusable mechanism for extending database engines with hardware-based operators. Our hybrid database engine, doppioDB, is deployed on an emerging Xeon+FPGA multicore architecture where the CPU and FPGA have cache-coherent access to the same memory, such that the hardware operators can directly access the database tables. The demonstration is illustrating the acceleration benefits of hardware operators, as well as doppioDB's flexibility in accommodating changing workloads.
Optical OFDM Scheme Using Uniform Power Transmission to Mitigate Peak-to-Average Power Effect Over 1040 km Single-Mode Fiber

We investigate the nonlinear effects resulting from the high peak-to-average power ratio of optical orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signals in the optical fiber transmission. To mitigate this nonlinear impairment of optical signals in long-haul communication systems, we propose and experimentally demonstrate a new scheme of the uniform power transmission of 10 Gb/s OFDM signals over 1040 km single-mode fibers in the direct-detection optical OFDM system.
Colt: A System for Developing Software that Supports Synchronous Collaborative Activities

This paper presents Colt, a system designed to aid in the development of applications that support close collaboration between two or more users. The Colt system is comprised of three parts: a design methodology, a software toolkit, and visualization and analysis tools. The software toolkit includes computational objects that support simultaneous manipulations from multiple users. This paper defines and gives examples of these “Cooperatively Controlled Objects” (CCOs) and discusses design and interface issues for developing them. Finally, four example collaborative activities that were built using Colt and CCOs are described: a drawing program, a jigsaw puzzle, a coordination game and a color matching activity.
Quantitative Assessment of Hepatic Function During Liver Regeneration in a Standardized Rat Model

Reliable assessment of hepatic function during liver regeneration is crucial after liver surgery or liver transplantation. 99mTc-galactosyl human serum albumin (99mTc-GSA) scintigraphy, 99mTc-mebrofenin hepatobiliary scintigraphy (HBS), the indocyanine green (ICG) clearance test, and the galactose elimination capacity (GEC) are common quantitative liver function tests. However, to our knowledge, comparative analysis between these tests has never been performed during liver regeneration. The aim of this study was therefore to compare 99mTc-GSA scintigraphy, 99mTc-mebrofenin HBS, the ICG clearance test, and GEC in the assessment of hepatic function during liver regeneration in rats. Methods: Rats were subjected to 70% partial hepatectomy (PHx). Liver function and functional volume were determined at predefined times after PHx and expressed as a percentage of baseline (pre-PHx) values. Results: During liver regeneration, functional liver volume measured by 99mTc-GSA SPECT correlated strongly with conventional liver volume based on wet weight. One day after 70% PHx, conventional liver volume overestimated liver function as measured by 99mTc-mebrofenin uptake and excretion rates, 99mTc-GSA uptake rate, and ICG clearance. On days 5 and 7, 99mTc-mebrofenin uptake and ICG clearance had recovered to levels similar to conventional liver volume, whereas 99mTc-GSA uptake reflected a reduced liver function in relation to conventional liver volume and 99mTc-mebrofenin uptake. The GEC measurements consistently overestimated liver function during regeneration. Conclusion: Volumetric assessment of the liver should be complemented by liver function–specific assays. Functional regeneration is impaired, compared with volumetric regeneration, in the early phase of liver regeneration. In later stages of liver regeneration, 99mTc-GSA uptake underestimates hepatic regeneration in comparison to liver volume and 99mTc-mebrofenin uptake. GEC is of less value because it is only minimally affected by 70% PHx and is influenced by factors not related to liver function. 99mTc-mebrofenin HBS has the advantage of providing visual and quantitative information regarding both uptake and excretory liver function.
Regulation of eye development by frizzled signaling in Xenopus

Eye development in both invertebrates and vertebrates is regulated by a network of highly conserved transcription factors. However, it is not known what controls the expression of these factors to regulate early eye formation and whether transmembrane signaling events are involved. Here we establish a role for signaling via a member of the frizzled family of receptors in regulating early eye development. We show that overexpression of Xenopus frizzled 3 (Xfz3), a receptor expressed during normal eye development, functions cell autonomously to promote ectopic eye formation and can perturb endogenous eye development. Ectopic eyes obtained with Xfz3 overexpression have a laminar organization similar to that of endogenous eyes and contain differentiated retinal cell types. Ectopic eye formation is preceded by ectopic expression of transcription factors involved in early eye development, including Pax6, Rx, and Otx2. Conversely, targeted overexpression of a dominant-negative form of Xfz3 (Nxfz3), consisting of the soluble extracellular domain of the receptor, results in suppression of endogenous Pax6, Rx, and Otx2 expression and suppression of endogenous eye development. This effect can be rescued by coexpression of Xfz3. Finally, overexpression of Kermit, a protein that interacts with the C-terminal intracellular domain of Xfz3, also blocks endogenous eye development, suggesting that signaling through Xfz3 or a related receptor is required for normal eye development. In summary, we show that frizzled signaling is both necessary and sufficient to regulate eye development in Xenopus.
Inhibition of Megakaryocyte Development in the Bone Marrow Underlies Dengue Virus-Induced Thrombocytopenia in Humanized Mice

ABSTRACT A characteristic clinical feature of dengue virus infection is thrombocytopenia, though its underlying mechanism is not definitively determined. By adoptive transfer of human CD34+ fetal liver cells into immunodeficient mice, we have constructed humanized mice with significant levels of human platelets, monocytes/macrophages, and hepatocytes. Infection of these mice with both lab-adapted and clinical strains of dengue virus induces characteristic human hematological changes, including transient leukopenia and thrombocytopenia. We show that the specific depletion of human platelets is not mediated by antibodies in the periphery or reduced production of human thrombopoietin in the liver but reduction of human megakaryocytes and megakaryocyte progenitors in the bone marrow of the infected mice. These findings identify inhibition of platelet production in the bone marrow as a key mechanism underlying dengue-induced thrombocytopenia and suggest the utility of the improved humanized mouse model in studying dengue virus infection and pathogenesis in a human cell context.
Stroke Intensive Care Units: Objectives and Results

ASSESSMENT of the value of Stroke Intensive Care Units has been mainly related to reports dealing with mortality from stroke in patients cared for in such units — an easily definable end point. The reports in the literature vary from that of Kennedy et al., which concludes that "special intensive care units devoted only to the acute phase care of the stroke patient, even with specially trained nurses, are not productive in terms of a reduction in stroke deaths," to that of Taylor, who reported mortality was lowered from 49% to 13%. Drake et al. reported that "hospitals with neurovascular care units showed a 50% reduction in secondary complications; hospitals without neurovascular care units showed no reduction. " Associated with this decreased complication rate was a decrease in mortality for non-hemorrhagic strokes. Experience in a combined (cardiac and cerebrovascular disease) unit was described by Cooper et al. but is difficult to interpret. The mortality rate for patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage in the unit was 40%; before the unit was formed, 6/6 patients died. The authors mention that the accuracy of diagnosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage and intracerebral hemorrhage was uncertain. When patients with each were grouped, there was no difference in the mortality in the control population and in the intensive care unit population. The authors reported several non-objective advantages of the unit; 1) efficiency of patient care was improved, 2) awakening of the interest of the medical, nursing and paramedical profession to the problem of acute stroke was noted and 3) the unit provided a focal area for education concerning stroke. Pitner and Cornelius wrote, "the conclusion seems inescapable that stroke ICUs are not productive in reducing mortality in the acute stroke patient, at least in a general hospital setting. " In this report 81 patients admitted to a 4-bed stroke intensive care unit were compared with 81 control cases. "No significant differences in overall mortality (33% versus 27%) or in mortality by diagnostic category were found. " Norris and Hachinski studied 199 patients with stroke admitted to an intensive stroke care unit during the first year. The results were not compared to
Serum Cholesterol in Rheumatic Diseases

in 70% alcohol (the office antiseptic) via sites of micro-injury on one or both cheeks or in the nostrils during a search for trigger sites in such and related cases. Stimulation of sensory receptors at sites of macroand micro-injury (inflammatory, traumatic, etc.) on relevant sentient surfaces (C5, 7, and 9) and not merely "physiological" stimulation of those in the mouth can thus be responsible for this phenomenon as well. Indeed, I would, with respect and humility, like to suggest that had the ears and nostrils in Case 1 been investigated on these lines evocative sites of micro-injury might well have been found, treatment of which might not only have led to recovery from the "unaccustomed" perennial reflex nasal responses but also the avoidance of the subsequent iatrogenic facial paralysis, crocodile tearing, and later necessary and fortunately most helpful resection of the tympanic nerve. But then, of course, we would have missed Mr. Golding-Wood's most instructive paper. After all, " to understand Nature we must consult her" (Bacon); and progress is never easy. -I am, etc., Capetown, S. Africa. M. GLASS.