Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Artesunate versus quinine for treating severe malaria.

BACKGROUND Severe malaria results in over a million deaths every year, most of them in children aged under five years and living in sub-Saharan Africa. This review examines whether treatment with artesunate, instead of the standard treatment quinine, would result in fewer deaths and better treatment outcomes. OBJECTIVES To compare artesunate with quinine for treating severe malaria. SEARCH STRATEGY We searched the Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group Specialized Register, CENTRAL (The Cochrane Library), MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, ISI Web of Science, the metaRegister of Controlled trials (mRCT), conference proceedings, and reference lists of articles to November 2010. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomized controlled trials comparing intravenous, intramuscular, or rectal artesunate with intravenous or intramuscular quinine for treating adults and children with severe malaria who are unable to take medication by mouth. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two authors independently assessed the eligibility and risk of bias of trials, and extracted and analysed data. The primary outcome was all-cause death. Dichotomous outcomes were summarized using risk ratios (RR) and continuous outcomes by mean differences (MD). Where appropriate, we combined data in meta-analyses. MAIN RESULTS Eight trials enrolling 1664 adults and 5765 children are included in this review.Treatment with artesunate significantly reduced the risk of death both in adults (RR 0.61, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.50 to 0.75; 1664 participants, five trials) and children (RR 0.76, 95% CI 0.65 to 0.90; 5765 participants, four trials)In children, treatment with artesunate increased the incidence of neurological sequelae at the time of hospital discharge. The majority of these sequelae were transient and no significant difference between treatments was seen at later follow up. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS The evidence clearly supports the superiority of parenteral artesunate over quinine for the treatment of severe malaria in both adults and children and in different regions of the world.
Use of Academic Libraries by High School Students: Implications for Research.

This article presents a comprehensive review of the litera ture concerning use of academic libraries by high school students. Three types of literature are identified: (1) de scriptive articles delineating either the problems or bene fits related to the use of academic libraries by high school students: (2) research studies examining particular aspects of high school students' use of academic libraries; and (3) questionnaire data referring to secondary school students' use of academic libraries. Problems associated with the lit
The non-linearity of hospitals’ proximity on property prices: experiences from Taipei, Taiwan

Given the semi-obnoxious characteristic of hospitals, either being right next to hospitals or being too farther away without easy medical access indicates inconvenience to residents. Quantile regression is applied to examine the potentially non-linear effects of hospital spline distance on quantiles of property prices in Taipei Metropolis, Taiwan. The conventional continuous distance (from property to hospital) showed consistent negative impact on property prices, implying hospitals as amenities as generally believed. Nevertheless, the splines of hospital distance demonstrated a non-linear effect on property prices: the positive effect of spline k1 (0–500 m) on property prices indicates farther away from the hospital, higher the prices, possibly due to stronger negative externalities; the negative impact of spline k2 (500–1000 m) on property prices implies the negative impact of hospitals wears off as the positive impact reveals itself gradually; thus, the property prices fall as the distance increases; splines k5 (2000–2500 m) and k6 (2500–3000 m) also demonstrated significant negative effects. In short, hospitals would only be highly evaluated in a ‘close-but-not-too-close’ geographic location. From urban planning perspective, hospitals, which are crucial in ageing societies, may reduce its externalities by creating spatial barriers such as scenic roads to keep distance from adjacent properties.
Comparative analysis of glucose and glutamine metabolism in transformed mammalian cell lines, insect and primary liver cells

Glucose and glutamine metabolism in several cultured mammalian cell lines (BHK, CHO, and hybridoma cell lines) were investigated by correlating specific utilization and formation rates with specific maximum activities of regulatory enzymes involved in glycolysis and glutaminolysis. Results were compared with data from two insect cell lines and primary liver cells. Flux distribution was measured in a representative mammalian (BHK) and an insect (Spodoptera frugiperda) cell line using radioactive substrates. A high degree of similarity in many aspects of glucose and glutamine metabolism was observed among the cultured mammalian cell lines examined. Specific glucose utilization rates were always close to specific hexokinase activities, indicating that formation of glucose‐6‐phosphate from glucose (catalyzed by hexokinase) is the rate limiting step of glycolysis. No activity of the key enzymes connecting glycolysis with the tricarboxylic acid cycle, such as pyruvate dehydrogenase, pyruvate carboxylase, and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, could be detected. Flux distribution in BHK cells showed glycolytic rates very similar to lactate formation rates. No glucose‐ or pyruvate‐derived carbon entered the tricarboxylic acid cycle, indicating that glucose is mainly metabolized via glycolysis and lactate formation. About 8% of utilized glucose was metabolized via the pentose phosphate shunt, while 20 to 30% of utilized glucose followed pathways other than glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, or the pentose phosphate shunt. About 18% of utilized glutamine was oxidized, consistent with the notion that glutamine is the major energy source for mammalian cell lines. Mammalian cells cultured in serum‐free low‐protein medium showed higher utilization rates, flux rates, and enzyme activities than the same cells cultured in serum‐supplemented medium. Insect cells oxidized glucose and pyruvate in addition to glutamine. Furthermore, insect cells produced little or no lactate and were able to channel glycolytic intermediates into the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Metabolic profiles of the type presented here for a variety of cell lines may eventually enable one to interfere with the metabolic patterns of cells relevant to biotechnology, with the hope of improving growth rate and/or productivity. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cardiovascular Effects of and Interaction between Calcium Blocking Drugs and Anesthetics in Chronically Instrumented Dogs. 11. Verapamil, Enflurane, and Isoflurane

The effects of enflurane and isoffurane on the cardiovascular system and cellular calcium kinetics are somewhat different. Consequently, the interaction with the calcium channel blocking drug, verapamil, may also differ. In order to compare the anesthetics, the authors studied the effects of two infusion doses of verapamil (which produced plasma levels of 90 and 180 ng. ml−1) on cardiovascular dynamics and regional blood flow in awake dogs. On two other days, in the same dogs, the effects of approximately 1.1 and 2 MAC enflurane and isoflurane were first studied and then the same verapamil dose regimens while the same anesthetic concentrations were maintained. Verapamil produced only increases in heart rate and the P-R interval in the awake animal. The high dose of both anesthetics markedly decreased mean aortic pressure and left ventricular rate of tension development (dP/dt), and increased heart rate. However, only enflurane also decreased myocardial segment length shortening and increased left atrial pressure. Neither anesthetic alone affected coronary or renal blood flow, while both increased carotid blood flow at the low dose. Verapamil infusion during 1.2 MAC enflurane was more depressant than during 1.2 MAC isoflurane, but the combination of verapamil with 2 MAC concentration of both anesthetics was equally depressant. Both doses of both anesthetics increased plasma verapamil levels compared with the same verapamil dosing regimen awake. When these results are compared with those previously reported for halothane, the effects of verapamil during all three anesthetics are more similar than different. All anesthetics increased plasma verapamil levels at both doses of verapamil, and verapamil was profoundly depressant to the cardiovascular system during high concentrations of all three anesthetics. However, because of a tendency for increased incidence of sinus arrest and bradycardia and more hemodynamic depression during enflurane, the authors conclude that intravenous verapamil is better tolerated during low-dose isoflurane and halothane anesthesia than during comparable concentrations of enflurane anesthesia in healthy dogs.
How Much Fiscal Equalisation?

We treat fiscal equalisation as an insurance device against regional tax revenue variance. This insurance comes at the price of a moral hazard: regional government will spend too little effort on the development of the local tax base. In a simple bargaining model with two identical regions we show that less than total fiscal equalisation combined with lump sum transfers will be optimal. Taking a step back to the constitutional bargaining behind some veil of ignorance which determines the fallback position for later negotiations, we show that writing total fiscal equalisation into the constitution will be optimal.
The relationship between organised physical recreation and mental health.

ISSUE ADDRESSED The mental health benefit of participation in organised physical recreation is investigated as strategies aimed at enhancing mental health and well-being in the community have the potential to decrease social and economic costs. METHODS A literature review was undertaken to explore evidence relating to the mental health benefits of participation in organised physical recreation. RESULTS Regular physical activity is widely recognised as protective against the overall burden of disease. Evaluations by government departments in Australia and the United States (US) found that people who participate in sports clubs and organised recreational activity enjoy better mental health, are more alert, and more resilient against the stresses of modern living. Participation in recreational groups and socially supported physical activity is shown to reduce stress, anxiety and depression, and reduce symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, yet more than one-third of adult Australians report no participation in sports and physical recreation. Evaluations of some programs found that physical activity is increased when the social environment is supportive and that the mental and physical benefits of participating in organised recreational activity can be experienced by people other than those directly involved with the sport or activity. CONCLUSION This review supports the development and maintenance of organised sport and recreational activities that are socially and culturally appropriate. An increase in valid and reliable evaluations of sport and physical recreation programs would contribute to the international body of evidence of the mental health benefits of organised physical recreation.
Forecasting exchange rates with linear and nonlinear models

In this paper, the exchange rate forecasting performance of neural network models are evaluated against the random walk, autoregressive moving average and generalised autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity models. There are no guidelines available that can be used to choose the parameters of neural network models and therefore, the parameters are chosen according to what the researcher considers to be the best. Such an approach, however, implies that the risk of making bad decisions is extremely high, which could explain why in many studies, neural network models do not consistently perform better than their time series counterparts. In this paper, through extensive experimentation, the level of subjectivity in building neural network models is considerably reduced and therefore giving them a better chance of performing well. The results show that in general, neural network models perform better than the traditionally used time series models in forecasting exchange rates.
More than a feeling: using hotel room attendants to improve understanding of job quality

Recent research by Adler and Adler reveals contradictory claims about the job quality of hotel room attendants; suggesting that an objectively ‘bad’ job can be perceived as subjectively ‘good’ by workers. This contradiction resonates with wider issues about how job quality is conceived – objectively and/or subjectively. Drawing on empirical research of room attendant jobs in upper market hotels in three cities in the UK and Australia, this paper addresses the contradiction by examining both the objective and subjective dimensions of job quality for room attendants. In doing so it refines Adler and Adler's work, constructs a new typology of workers and a new categorisation of job quality informed by workers characteristics and preferences. This categorisation improves conceptual understanding of job quality by enjoining its objective and subjective dimensions.
Selective neuron loss after cerebral ischemia in the rat: Possible role of transmitter glutamate

Male Wistar rats were subjected to 20 min of cerebral ischemia by means of 4‐vessel occlusion. The topography of regional, selective neuron loss in this model corresponded to areas with pronounced glutamate high affinity uptake (presynaptic receptors), suggesting that transmitter glutamate is involved in the mechanism of neuron damage. One group of animals was injected with the glutamate antagonist, glutamic acid diethyl ester (GDEE) before ischemia. The regional neuron loss was rated using a semiquantitative scale. No statistically significant difference was found between the groups. The results do not exclude a possible role of transmitter glutamate in the pathogenesis of ischemic brain damage. More specific and potent glutamate antagonists are needed in order to clarify such a mechanism.
The d3/fl-growth hormone (GH) receptor polymorphism does not influence the effect of GH treatment (66 microg/kg per day) or the spontaneous growth in short non-GH-deficient small-for-gestational-age children: results from a two-year controlled prospective study in 170 Spanish patients.

CONTEXT The d3/fl-GH receptor (d3/fl-GHR, exon 3-deleted/full-length GHR) has recently been associated with responsiveness to GH therapy. OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to evaluate whether the d3/fl-GHR genotypes influence the intensity of spontaneous and/or GH therapy-stimulated growth in small-for-gestational-age (SGA) patients. DESIGN This was a 2-yr prospective, controlled, randomized trial. SETTING Thirty Spanish hospitals participated. Auxologic and GH secretion evaluation was hospital based, whereas molecular analyses and auxologic data computation were centralized. PATIENTS Patients included 170 short SGA children: 140 remained prepubertal and 30 entered puberty during the second follow-up year. INTERVENTION Eighty-six were treated with GH (66 microg/kg.d) for 2 yr and 84 were not treated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Previous and 2-yr follow-up auxologic data were recorded at each hospital, d3/fl-GHR genotypes determined, and data analyzed for patients who remained prepubertal (group 1, 68 GH treated and 72 non-GH treated) and for all the patients (group 2). RESULTS In group 1 GH-treated patients, growth velocity, and height-sd score during the first and second years, total 2-yr height gain (18.5 +/- 2.4 cm in d3/d3; 18.4 +/- 2.6 in d3/fl; 19.5 +/- 2.3 in fl/fl), Delta 2-yr height increase (9.1 +/- 2.4 cm in d3/d3; 9.4 +/- 3.0 in d3/fl; 10.4 +/- 2.1 in fl/fl), first-year growth prediction and studentized residual values (0.08 +/- 1.26 in d3/d3; 0.28 +/- 1.21 in d3/fl; 0.67 +/- 0.95 in fl/fl) did not differ among the d3/fl-GHR genotypes. In group 1 non-GH-treated patients, neither growth velocity nor height-sd score changed significantly, and values were similar in each d3/fl-GHR genotype. Results in all patients (group 2) were similar to those in group 1. CONCLUSIONS In short non-GH-deficient SGA children, both spontaneous growth rate and responsiveness to 66 microg/k.d GH therapy were similar for each d3/fl-GHR genotype carried.
Formal microeconomic foundations and the first welfare theorem

Economic activity has always been a fundamental part of society. With recent social and political changes economics has gained even more influence on our lives. In this paper we formalize two economic models in Isabelle/HOL: the pure exchange economy, where the only economic actors are consumers, as well as a version of the Arrow-Debreu Model, a private ownership economy, which includes production facilities. Interestingly, the definitions of various components of the economic models differ in the economic literature. We therefore show the equivalences and implications between various presentations, which allows us to create an extensible foundation for formalizing microeconomics and game theory compatible with multiple economic theories. We prove the First Theorem of Welfare Economics in both economic models. The theorem is the mathematical formulation of Adam Smith’s famous invisible hand and states that a group of self-interested and rational actors will eventually achieve an efficient allocation of goods. The formal proofs allow us to find more precise assumptions than those found in the economic literature.
The ‘council manager’ and ‘strong mayor’ forms of government in the USA

In the debate over the future structure of local government in Britain, reference is quite often made to the example of the United States. It appears, however, that British impressions of the American scene are inclined to be distorted or misunderstood (Henschel, 1990), and certainly there is a dearth of accessible information in this country. On the initiative of the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE) and with sponsorship from Save & Prosper Group, the author made a study‐tour of American local government in mid 1991. This article describes two case‐studies of local authorities, in Phoenix (Arizona) and Seattle (Washington), and the impact of structure on the quality of management.
Comprehensive Characterization of Extracellular Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Virions

ABSTRACT The herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) genome is contained in a capsid wrapped by a complex tegument layer and an external envelope. The poorly defined tegument plays a critical role throughout the viral life cycle, including delivery of capsids to the nucleus, viral gene expression, capsid egress, and acquisition of the viral envelope. Current data suggest tegumentation is a dynamic and sequential process that starts in the nucleus and continues in the cytoplasm. Over two dozen proteins are assumed to be or are known to ultimately be added to virions as tegument, but its precise composition is currently unknown. Moreover, a comprehensive analysis of all proteins found in HSV-1 virions is still lacking. To better understand the implication of the tegument and host proteins incorporated into the virions, highly purified mature extracellular viruses were analyzed by mass spectrometry. The method proved accurate (95%) and sensitive and hinted at 8 different viral capsid proteins, 13 viral glycoproteins, and 23 potential viral teguments. Interestingly, four novel virion components were identified (UL7, UL23, UL50, and UL55), and two teguments were confirmed (ICP0 and ICP4). In contrast, UL4, UL24, the UL31/UL34 complex, and the viral UL15/UL28/UL33 terminase were undetected, as was most of the viral replication machinery, with the notable exception of UL23. Surprisingly, the viral glycoproteins gJ, gK, gN, and UL43 were absent. Analyses of virions produced by two unrelated cell lines suggest their protein compositions are largely cell type independent. Finally, but not least, up to 49 distinct host proteins were identified in the virions.
Automated segmentation and classification of chemical and other equations from document images

Segmentation of mathematical equations from document images is already a major research area for improved performance of OCR systems. Though chemical equations are also sharing similar spatial properties as that of non-chemical equations (for example, mathematical equations), efforts to segment those are still to be explored. This paper presents a novel method for segmenting and identifying chemical and any other equations in heterogeneous document images that may contain graphics, tables, text and the classifying them into two categories; chemical and non-chemical equations. This study, a first of its kind, as far our knowledge goes, not only improves the OCR performance, but also leads to creation of chemical database and formation of bond electron matrix from chemical equations or formulae. In our proposed method we extracted the equations using morphological operators and histogram analysis and the extracted equations are classified using an open source OCR engine. The effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated by testing it on 152 document images. Test results show an accuracy of 97.4% and 97.45% for segmentation and classification, respectively.
Innovation and Development: The Evidence From Innovation Surveys

ABSTRACT In this article we investigate the existing evidence on innovation produced by innovation surveys in developing and emerging countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. We review the relevant literature, discuss methodological issues, and analyze the results for the countries with the most comparable surveys, considering the well-established findings of innovation surveys for Europe as a benchmark. From the evidence we considered, regional patterns are identified and some stylized facts on innovation and development are proposed, pointing out the specificity of innovation processes in economies engaged in industrialization and catching up.
Data mining in IoT: data analysis for a new paradigm on the internet

This paper provides an overview on Data Mining (DM) technologies for the Internet of Things (IoT). IoT has become an active area of research, since IoT promises among other to improve quality of live and safety in Smart Cities, to make resource supply and waste management more efficient, and optimize traffic. DM is highly domain specific and depends on what is being mined for. For instance, if IoT is used to optimize traffic in a Smart City to reduce traffic jams and to find parking spaces quicker, different types of data needs to be collected and analysed from an eHealth solution, where IoT is used in a Smart Home to monitor the well being of patients or elderly people. IoT connects things that can collect numeric data from smart sensors, streaming data from cameras or route information on maps. Depending on the type of data, different techniques need to be adopted to analyse them. Also, many IoT applications analyse data from different devices and correlate them to make predictions about possible machine failures in production sites or looming emergency situations in Smart Buildings in a home security application. DM techniques need to handle the heterogeneity of IoT data, the large volumes of data and the speed at which they are produced. This paper explores the state of the art DM techniques for IoT.