Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Screening for risky alcohol use among caregivers of pediatric trauma patients: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND Injury is the leading cause of death for children and has been linked to caregiver drinking. Screening and brief intervention for risky drinking has been successful in adult trauma centers but has not been evaluated in caregivers of pediatric trauma patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate a pilot screening process for risky drinking caregivers, to determine rates of risky alcohol use, and to assess potential relationships between risky drinking and child safety behaviors. METHODS Caregivers of pediatric trauma patients were screened by trained injury prevention educators. The screening assessed risky drinking, tobacco and illicit drug use, and child safety behaviors. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, frequency comparisons, and univariate logistic regression. RESULTS Over 7 months, 295 caregivers were screened; 32.5% (n = 96) screened positive for risky alcohol use. For 173 injured children, one caregiver was screened, and for 61 children, two caregivers were screened. In the one-caregiver group, 29% (n = 50) screened positive for risky drinking. For the two-caregiver group, in 18% (n = 11) of the cases, both caregivers screened positive, whereas in 39% (n = 24) only one caregiver screened positive. Males were more likely to screen positive (p < 0.01). Relationships between reported child safety behaviors and risky drinking were of interest, but not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS The results of our study demonstrate that a substantial number of caregivers of pediatric trauma patients will self-report risky drinking behaviors, and therefore, an opportunity exists for these families to receive the benefits of screening and brief intervention programs in pediatric trauma care settings.
Energy expenditure of transfemoral amputees during floor and treadmill walking with different speeds

Background: Walking energy expenditure, calculated as the percent utilization of the maximal aerobic capacity, is little investigated in transfemoral amputees. Objectives: Compare the energy expenditure of healthy participants (control participants) and transfemoral amputees walking with their respective preferred walking speeds on the treadmill (TPWS) and floor (FPWS). Study design: Randomized cross-over study. Methods: Oxygen uptake (VO2) was measured when walking with the FPWS and TPWS. VO2max was measured by an incremental treadmill test. Results: Mean ± standard deviation VO2max of the transfemoral amputees and control participants were 30.6 ± 8.7 and 49.0 ± 14.4 mL kg−1 min−1, respectively (p < 0.05). TPWS for the transfemoral amputees and control participants was 0.89 ± 0.2 and 1.33 ± 0.3 m s−1, respectively (p < 0.01). FPWS for the transfemoral amputees and control participants was 1.22 ± 0.2 and 1.52 ± 0.1 m s−1, respectively (p < 0.01). Walking on floor with the FPWS, the energy expenditure of the transfemoral amputees and control participants was 54% and 31% of VO2max, respectively (p < 0.01). Walking on the treadmill with the TPWS, the energy expenditure of the transfemoral amputees and control participants was 42% and 29% of the VO2max, respectively (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Energy expenditure is higher for the transfemoral amputees than the control participants, regardless of walking surface. There are minimal differences in energy expenditure between treadmill and floor walking for the control participants but large differences for the transfemoral amputees. Clinical relevance During walking, the transfemoral amputees expend a larger percentage of their maximal aerobic capacity than healthy participants. With a low VO2max, ordinary activities, such as walking, become physically more challenging for the transfemoral amputees than the control participants, and this may, in turn, have a negative effect on the walking range of the transfemoral amputees.
Synergistic verification and validation of systems and software engineering models

In this paper, we present a unified approach for the verification and validation of software and systems engineering design models expressed in UML 2.0 and SysML 1.0. The approach is based on three well-established techniques, namely formal analysis, programme analysis and software engineering (SwE) techniques. More precisely, our contribution consists of the synergistic combination of model checking, static analysis and SwE metrics that enables the automatic and efficient assessment of design models from static and dynamic perspectives. Additionally, we present the design and implementation of an automated computer-aided assessing framework integrating the proposed approach. Moreover, we discuss the related technical details and the underlying synergism. Finally, we illustrate the proposed approach by assessing a design case study that is composed of state machine and sequence diagrams.
Phase-type approximation of stochastic Petri nets for analysis of manufacturing systems

NonMarkovian stochastic Petri nets (SPN) have received special attention due to their functionality in reflecting nonexponential dynamic behavior encountered in modeling and analysis of real systems. In this paper, a novel analysis approach, based on phase-type approximation, is proposed to provide transient and steady-state probabilities and determine performance measures of these nonMarkovian SPN. The approach can accommodate a wide variety of nonexponential distributions and provide a stronger mechanism than other methods proposed to date for analyzing system performance. The proposed procedure primarily consists of three steps. First, all generally distributed transitions are fitted with phase-type transitions. Next, the nonMarkovian SPN with the approximated phase-type transitions is converted into a Markov chain. Last, transient-state probabilities are obtained by employing the uniformization method and steady-state probabilities are determined by utilizing the preconditioned biconjugate gradient method. Pertinent performance measures can be computed by using these probabilities. The proposed methodology is validated through a real example with respect to its accuracy and speed.
Incidence of chronic hyperostotic rhinosinusitis in patients undergoing primary sinus surgery compared to revision surgery.

HYPOTHESIS The incidence of chronic hyperostotic rhinosinusitis has been underreported due to poor recognition of the disease process. The surgical management of chronic hyperostotic rhinosinusitis with prolonged pre and post-operative antibiotic therapy can alter clinical course of the disease process. STUDY DESIGN A prospective study of 40 patients based at two teaching tertiary care institutions. MATERIAL AND METHODS CT scans of twenty patients (ten undergoing primary sinus surgery and ten undergoing revision sinus surgery) were randomly selected from each institution and reviewed by an independent radiologist for evidence of hyperostosis and compared to original reading of the CT scans. RESULTS The finding of sinus hyperostosis is rarely reported by the radiologist on the sinus CT scan where the focus is always on mucosal disease. The incidence of sinus hyperostosis is higher, in patients undergoing revision sinus surgery than patients undergoing primary sinus surgery. CONCLUSION Sinus hyperostosis is not an uncommon finding in chronic refractory sinusitis which may require long term intravenous antibiotic therapy in conjunction with surgery to provide symptomatic relief.
Role of Mitochondria in Progesterone-evoked Intracellular Calcium Signals in Ejaculated Spermatozoa from Infertile Men

Сalcium ions plays a pivotal role in sperm physiology [1]. Specifically, sperm hyperactivation, chemotaxis and motility depend on intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca]i) [2]. [Ca]i has intracellular and extracellular sources. Regulation of [Ca]i is achieved by a combination of channels, pumps and exhanges on both the plasma membrane and intracellular stores. Sperm mitochondria may serve as intracellular Ca2+ stores, although their contribution to [Ca]i homeostasis and signalling cascades in spermatozoa is still unclear [3,4]. Mitochondria facilitate Ca2+ uptake via the mitochondrial uniporter, which is dually mediated by the electrochemical membrane potential gradient. Subsequently, Ca2+ can be released from mitochondria either by Na+/Ca2+ or H+/Ca2+ exchangers [5]. Also at elevated mitochondrial calcium level and upon mitochondrial depolarization it can be released thorough permeability transition pore [6]. The stored Ca2+ can be liberated from intracellular Ca2+ stores as a result of adequate stimuli [7]. Progesterone plays a crucial role in human sperm physiology, since it affects sperm motility, acrosomal reaction and chemotaxis [8]. It is a Ca2+-mobilizing classical agonist which is able to deplete the intracellular Ca2+ stores. Also, progesterone induces Ca2+ influx into the spermatozoa and intracellular alkalization potentiates this effect [7]. Since mitochondria are important in the regulation of the [Ca]i in sperm, we set out to describe the progesterone-evoked intracellular Ca2+-signals in response to uncoupling agent CCCP in spermatozoa of fertile (normozoospermia) and infertile men (oligoand asthenozoospermia). Materials and methods. Donors and semen sample preparation. Human semen was obtained from 10 healthy volunteers (control group) and 16 pathozoospermic men undergoing routine semen analysis for couple infertility at Lviv Regional Clinical Hospital (Ukraine). Control group consisted of men with somatic fertility, normozoospermia and confirmed parenthood (married for 3–10 years and have healthy 1–3 children). Before turning to study, all men were aware of patient information leaflets and gave informed consent to participate in research. Terms of sample selection meet the requirements of the principles of Helsinki Declaration on protection of human rights, Convention of Europe Council on human rights and biomedicine and the provisions of laws of Ukraine. Approval for study was taken from the ethics committe of Danylo Halytskyi Lviv National Medical University (Ethical Committee Approval, protocol No 6 from March 29, 2017). All patients and healthy donors
Single-tree method for grammar-directed search

We present a very fast and accurate fast-match algorithm which, when followed by a regular beam search restricted within only the subset of words selected by the fast-match, can speed up the recognition process by at least two orders of magnitude in comparison to a typical single-pass speech recognizer utilizing the Viterbi (or beam) search algorithm. In this search strategy, the recognition vocabulary is structured as a single phonetic tree in the fast-match pass. The search on this phonetic tree is a variation of the Viterbi algorithm. Especially, we are able to use a word bigram language model without making copies of the tree during the search. This is a novel fast-match algorithm that has two important properties: high-accuracy recognition and run-time proportional to only the cube root of the vocabulary size.
Fiber-Optic Biosensor to Detect pH and Glucose

In this paper, we propose fast, highly sensitive, and wide-dynamic-range fiber-optic probe-type biosensors to detect pH and glucose. The operation principle of the proposed biosensors is based on the Fabry–Perot interferometry technique. Three pH-sensitive dyes (methyl orange, methyl red, and thymol blue) and three solvatochromic dyes (Nile red, rhodamine-B, and 4-amino-N-methylphthalimide) were individually mixed with polymers to obtain five pH- and three glucose-sensitive sensing membranes. These membranes were subsequently deposited on eight gold nanoparticles coated on fiber-optic probes to obtain five pH and three glucose fiber-optic probe sensors. To ascertain the effectiveness of the sensors, various concentrations of pH buffer solutions and glucose solutions were tested. The proposed fiber-optic pH and glucose probe sensors showed sensitivities of 1.95 nm/pH and 3.25 nm/mM, respectively, with high-sensing stability with the relative standard deviation about 2.5%. The proposed sensors offer a linear sensing ability over wide ranges of pH (2–12) and glucose ( $1~\mu \text{M}$ –1 M) with an R2 value of approximately 0.996. The response and recovery times of the proposed sensors were approximately 8 and 9 s, respectively. Finally in this paper, we compared the performance of the proposed fiber-optic probe sensors with that of other pH and glucose sensors and determined that the proposed sensors achieve better sensing performance.
The Impact of Stress Scenarios on VaR and Expected Shortfall

In the wake of Basel II, stress tests are recommended by most central banks, for their supervisory review process. However, most of these tests fail to consider the probability of occurrence of the shocks. Using data on USD-INR and GBP-INR between January 2000 and February 2001, we couch stress testing in a probabilistic, Value-at-Risk (VaR), framework. This allows us to estimate the impact of stress scenarios on VaR and Expected Shortfall under Variance-Covariance and Historical Simulation. Our analysis also tells us how sensitive VaR and Expected Shortfall are to these shocks.
Exodus to the Virtual World: How Online Fun Is Changing Reality

Virtual worlds have exploded out of online game culture and now capture the attention of millions of ordinary people: husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, workers, retirees. Devoting dozens of hours each week to massively multiplayer virtual reality environments (like World of Warcraft and Second Life), these millions are the start of an exodus into the refuge of fantasy, where they experience life under a new social, political, and economic order built around fun. Given the choice between a fantasy world and the real world, how many of us would choose reality? Exodus to the Virtual World explains the growing migration into virtual reality, and how it will change the way we live--both in fantasy worlds and in the real one.
Selective Harvesting in Headwater Streams: Investigating the Effects of Habitat Discontinuity on Adult Aquatic Insect Populations

Connectivity in aquatic ecosystems is a broad concept that refers to the transfer of both abiotic (i.e. matter and energy) and biotic (organisms) elements through the landscape across a range of spatial and temporal scales. The present study focuses on the patterns of connectivity between populations of aquatic insects in headwater streams. Dispersal, emigration and immigration are the demographic forms of population connectivity, which are largely thought to be by the winged adult stages that spend much of their lives in the riparian zone. These flying adults may disperse laterally and longitudinally to circumvent terrestrial barriers between headwater streams and catchments, thus allowing gene flow between populations in different streams. Riparian vegetation has a potentially strong influence on the survival and success of adult stages through the alteration of the microclimate, habitat structure and potential food sources. Habitat fragmentation caused by forest harvesting can reduce population connectivity by increasing the area of open forest and altering microclimatic conditions, particularly air temperature and humidity. Degradation of adjacent terrestrial habitat through forest harvesting may egatively affect adult dispersal because altered microclimatic conditions may create a barrier to dispersal. For example, the extreme conditions caused by harvesting may exceed tolerance limits of adult aquatic insects. In addition, aquatic insect life history traits may influence the degree to which forest harvesting affects their populations. For example, if a species with a short emergence period emerges during peak summer temperatures, temperatures could be higher in cleared areas compared to forested, thus exceeding the tolerance limit of the species. However, little direct evidence exists on the effects of selective harvesting and the associated changes to the microclimate on adult dispersal and genetic population connectedness.
Cortical pathology in multiple sclerosis

Purpose of reviewMultiple sclerosis is the most common chronic, disabling central nervous system disease in young adults, characterized by inflammatory demyelinating white matter lesions with glial scar formation and axonal loss. Lately, evidence has accumulated that large areas of grey matter are affected in multiple sclerosis patients. Recent findingsFindings in post-mortem brain tissue support the notion that cortical demyelination is frequent and extensive, especially in patients with chronic multiple sclerosis. Cortical lesions differ from white matter lesions with respect to inflammatory cell infiltration, gliosis, and remyelination. Thus, differences in cortical and white matter lesion pathogenesis have been proposed. Experimental models suggest a decisive role for antimyelin antibodies in cortical demyelination. Topical studies focus on damage to neurons, dendrites, and synapses in cortical multiple sclerosis lesions. Improved imaging techniques for the detection of cortical lesions are currently developed and will provide the basis for future clinicopathological correlative studies. SummaryIn summary, recent years have opened our eyes to the extensive grey matter involvement in multiple sclerosis. Studies on the pathogenesis of cortical demyelination, cortical damage, and repair will elucidate basic principles of multiple sclerosis lesion formation. However, more sensitive imaging tools are required to study the impact of cortical lesions on clinical symptoms, disability, and disease progression.
Developments in understanding acquired immunity and innate susceptibility to norovirus and rotavirus gastroenteritis in children.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW We discuss recent advances in the understanding of acquired immunity and susceptibility to the two major pediatric enteric viral pathogens, norovirus and rotavirus. RECENT FINDINGS The prominent decline in severe rotavirus gastroenteritis in areas with mature rotavirus vaccination programmes has correspondingly unmasked the significant burden of disease associated with norovirus gastroenteritis among children. As epidemiologists and vaccinologists set their sights on this next vaccine target, we provide an update on norovirus vaccine development.In addition to these developments regarding acquired immunity, refinements to our understanding of innate susceptibility to norovirus has advanced. Significant recent advances now describe similar immunologic mechanisms in understanding susceptibility for both norovirus and rotavirus, involving histo-blood group antigenic associations, which may also prove to be genotype specific. SUMMARY This information can potentially be used to tailor both applied and developmental efforts to public health interventions against these important pediatric enteric viral pathogens.
Adaptive Color Curve Models for Image Matting

Image matting is the process of extracting a foreground element from a single image with limited user input. To solve the inherently ill-posed problem, there exist various methods which use specific color model. One representative method assumes that the colors of the foreground and background elements satisfy the linear color model. The other recent method considers line-point color model and point-point color model. In this paper we present a new adaptive color curve model for image matting. We assume that the colors of local region form curve. Based on these pixels in the local region, we adaptively construct a curve model using quadratic Bézier curve model. This curve model enables us to derive a matting equation for estimating alphas of pixels forming a curve using quadratic formula. We show that our model estimates alpha mattes comparable or more accurately than recent existing methods.
Assessing the Effectiveness of Accounting Courses Through Facet Analysis

In recent years considerable attention has been given to alternative methods of teaching accounting at the academic level. Horngren [12] critically reviewed major developments in the teaching of accounting and concluded that the curriculum must be recast in view of the constantly changing demands on the profession. Similarly, Firmin and Linn [5] have suggested that accounting should be considered a subsystem of an overall information system and be taught accordingly. Other authors have sought to improve teaching effectiveness within the traditional framework. ' However, Doney and Neumann [2] studied five groups of students who were exposed to different teaching methods and concluded that there were no significant differences in student performance (as measured by the knowledge acquired). This concern over teaching accounting has also led to a reconsideration of the goals and structure of training in accounting. Many authors, e.g., Hawkins and Allen [11] and Smyth [15], emphasize both technical and
Pattern of mid-facial fractures in Tehran, Iran.

BACKGROUND/AIM One of the highest rates of car accidents and related morbidities and mortalities in the world is reported from Iran. Facial structures are usually injured in such accidents. This study is conducted to find the patterns and etiologies of mid-facial fractures in Iran. MATERIAL AND METHODS During three consecutive years, patients with mid-facial fractures who were referred to a major oral and maxillofacial surgery center were studied for fracture etiologies and fracture locations. RESULTS Two-hundred and forty-three patients with mid-facial fractures were studied. Male-to-female ratio was 4.5-1. The average age of the patients was 31.7 years, but the 20-29 age group bears the highest rate of mid-facial fractures. Forty-four percent of fractures were related to automobile accidents, and 21% were attributed to motorcycle accidents. Other etiologies are 13.2% for collisions, 10.3% for falls, 6.2% for physical abuse, 2.9% for bicycle events, 1.6% for occupational events, and 0.8% for sport events. Most fractures occurred in zygoma followed by Le Fort and nasal bone fractures. More than half of all patients (80% of automobile and motorcycle accidents) were not either fastening the seat belt or wearing protective helmets. CONCLUSIONS The main etiology of mid-facial fractures is automobile and motorcycle accidents. Protective measures were not observed in the majority of patients.
The impact of trade liberalization on women's job opportunities and earnings in developing countries

This paper analyses how trade affects women's job opportunities and earnings through five case studies: Mauritius, Mexico, Peru, the Philippines and Sri Lanka. Women's share of the labour force has increased over time and the wage gap between men and women has narrowed. A positive and statistically significant correlation between exports and women's share of employment is found while there is a statistically significant and negative correlation between women's share in employment and imports. The correlations stem from variation between sectors rather than within sectors over time, indicating that export-competing industries tend to employ women while import-competing industries tend to employ men. Trade liberalization is likely to create jobs for women and over time increase their relative wages.