Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Utility of Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Differentiating Causes of Shock in Resource-Limited Setup

Background: Delivering early diagnosis of shock in resource-limited setting is challenging, especially with limited availability of point-of-care laboratory and radiological diagnostic facilities. There is growing urgency to provide point-of-care diagnosis and treatment for time-sensitive condition like shock. Aims: We tried to evaluate the application of point-of-care ultrasound (Rapid Ultrasound for Shock and Hypertension [RUSH] protocol) considering different disease cohort and practice realities in our setup. Settings and Design: This study was a single-center prospective diagnostic study to check the diagnostic accuracy of point-of-care ultrasound (RUSH protocol). This study was approved by the ethics committee. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted at the emergency medicine department of a tertiary care government hospital in Central Gujarat from November 16 to October 17. All adult patients with clinical features of shock with systolic blood pressure <90 mmHg and shock index >1 presenting to emergency department were included as participants. The results of point-of-care ultrasound (RUSH protocol) were compared with the diagnosis given by consultants of respective department as per standard departmental practices. Statistical Analysis and Results: A total of 130 patients were enrolled in this study. Mean time taken to examine by the point-of-care Ultrasound (RUSH protocol) was 12 min (range 11–14 min). Kappa index was 0.860. This protocol was able to correctly diagnose 100% of obstructive shock, 96.3% of cardiogenic shock, 94.4% of hypovolemic shock, 80.9% of mixed type of shock, and 75% of distributive type of shock. Conclusion: This study highlights the role of point-of-care ultrasound (RUSH protocol) for early diagnosis of the shock etiology in emergency medicine department. Diagnosis using point-of-care ultrasound (RUSH protocol) significantly agreed with medical diagnosis. It showed good efficacy of point-of-care ultrasound (RUSH protocol) to differentiate causes of shock with good accuracy except distributive shock.
Unstimulated salivary flow rate, pH and buffer capacity of saliva in healthy volunteers.

OBJECTIVES To assess the salivary flow rate, pH, and buffer capacity of healthy volunteers, and their relationships with age, gender, obesity, smoking, and alcohol consumption, and to establish the lower-end value of normal salivary flow (oligosialia). METHODS A prospective study was conducted in 159 healthy volunteers (age > 18 years, absence of medical conditions that could decrease salivary flow). Unstimulated whole saliva was collected during ten minutes, and salivary flow rate (ml/min), pH, and bicarbonate concentration (mmol/l) were measured using a Radiometer ABL 520. The 5 percentile of salivary flow rate and bicarbonate concentration was considered the lower limit of normality. RESULTS Median salivary flow rate was 0.48 ml/min (range: 0.1-2 ml/min). Age younger than 44 years was associated with higher flow rates (OR 2.10). Compared with women, men presented a higher flow rate (OR 3.19) and buffer capacity (OR 2.81). Bicarbonate concentration correlated with salivary flow rate. The lower-end values of normal flow rate and bicarbonate concentration were 0.15 ml/min and 1.800 mmol/l, respectively. The presence of obesity, smoking, and alcohol consumption did not influence salivary parameters. CONCLUSIONS In healthy volunteers, salivary flow rate depends on age and gender, and correlates with buffer capacity. Obesity, smoking, and alcohol use do not influence salivary secretion.
Identification of the Xenobiotic-Metabolizing Enzyme Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase 1 as a New Target of Cisplatin in Breast Cancer Cells: Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Inhibition

Arylamine N-acetyltransferase 1 (NAT1) is a phase II xenobiotic-metabolizing enzyme that plays an important role in the biotransformation of aromatic drugs and carcinogens. NAT1 activity has long been associated with susceptibility to various cancers. Evidence for a role of NAT1 in malignant progression has also been obtained, particularly for breast and prostate cancer. Cisplatin is widely used in chemotherapy against human cancers, and it is thought to act principally by forming DNA adducts. However, recent studies have suggested that some of the pharmacological and/or toxicological effects of cisplatin may be due to the direct targeting and inhibition of certain cellular enzymes. We show here that the exposure of breast cancer cells, known to express functional NAT1 enzyme, to therapeutically relevant concentrations of cisplatin impairs the catalytic activity of endogenous NAT1. Endogenous NAT1 was also found to be inactivated, in vivo, in the tissues of mice treated with cisplatin. Mechanistic studies with purified human NAT1 indicated that this inhibition resulted from the irreversible formation of a cisplatin adduct with the active-site cysteine residue of the enzyme. Kinetic studies suggested that NAT1 interacts rapidly with cisplatin, with a second-order rate inhibition constant of 700 M-1 min-1. This rate constant is one the highest ever reported for the reaction of cisplatin with a biological macromolecule. Few enzymes have been clearly shown to be inactivated by cisplatin. We provide here molecular and cellular evidence suggesting that NAT1 is one of the targets of cisplatin in cells.
Categorizing bi-object video activities using bag of segments and causality features

We address the recognition problem of video activities involving two interacting moving objects under a surveillance camera. We develop a novel video activity representation scheme --'bag of segments'. In this scheme, the video sessions are represented as a collection of independent segments, with memberships to each pre-learned visual patterns that we call codewords. To better represent the video segments with object interaction, we design a set of new features based on the prediction filter responses and the Granger Causality Test (GCT). These features capture the inter-relationship between moving objects and are combined with conventional features such as position and velocity. We validate the proposed method for the task of video activities classification with extensive experiments on a surveillance database with 867 video sessions.
Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist Treatment Does Not Reduce Abuse-Related Effects of Opioid Drugs

Abstract Dependence on opioids and the number of opioid overdose deaths are serious and escalating public health problems, but medication-assisted treatments for opioid addiction remain inadequate for many patients. Glucagon-like pepide-1 (GLP-1) is a gut hormone and neuropeptide with actions in peripheral tissues and in the brain, including regulation of blood glucose and food intake. GLP-1 analogs, which are approved diabetes medications, can reduce the reinforcing and rewarding effects of alcohol, cocaine, amphetamine, and nicotine in rodents. Investigations on effects of GLP-1 analogs on opioid reward and reinforcement have not been reported. We assessed the effects of the GLP-1 receptor agonist Exendin-4 (Ex4) on opioid-related behaviors in male mice, i.e., morphine-conditioned place preference (CPP), intravenous self-administration (IVSA) of the short-acting synthetic opioid remifentanil, naltrexone-precipitated morphine withdrawal, morphine analgesia (male and female mice), and locomotor activity. Ex4 treatment had no effect on morphine-induced CPP, withdrawal, or hyperlocomotion. Ex4 failed to decrease remifentanil self-administration, if anything reinforcing effects of remifentanil appeared increased in Ex4-treated mice relative to saline. Ex4 did not significantly affect analgesia. In contrast, Ex4 dose dependently decreased oral alcohol self-administration, and suppressed spontaneous locomotor activity. Taken together, Ex4 did not attenuate the addiction-related behavioral effects of opioids, indicating that GLP-1 analogs would not be useful medications in the treatment of opioid addiction. This difference between opioids and other drug classes investigated to date may shed light on the mechanism of action of GLP-1 receptor treatment in the addictive effects of alcohol, central stimulants, and nicotine.
An Analysis of the Economic Burden of the Trauma Services at a Level 1 Public Sector Trauma Center in South Asia

Background: Incidence of road traffic injuries (RTIs) is increasing and accounting for country's 3% gross domestic product. It is crucial to perform a cost analysis of trauma systems to allocate resources judiciously. Aim and Objectives: To study the economic burden of trauma care on the patient attending a level I trauma center including stratification of costs according to injury. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective study, with patients of polytrauma (Injury Severity Score >16) admitted in the center. Cost analysis (cost descriptive study) was done by calculating direct costs to hospital by bottom-up microcosting considering fixed and recurrent costs including reference unit prices (RUPs). According to the anatomical site of injuries, major injury groups (MIGs) costs were also analyzed. Results: The demographics including mode of injury were similar to other studies. The RUP's and MIG's were defined which represented majority of the sample size. Due to highly subsidized nature of services in this Government institute, the cost to patient is less compared to other countries. Still, the total expenditure incurred by the low-income group was higher than the minimum wages at that time. The creation of plausible RUP's and the grouping of MIG's can help in reducing the costs by targeting and implementing strategic cost reduction measures. Conclusion: The study has shown that microcosting is feasible. Considering the low-income population demanding trauma services, further efforts are required to reduce costs substantially.
Ovarian histology of the placentotrophic Mabuya mabouya (Squamata, Scincidae)

Ovarian structure and folliculogenesis of females at different reproductive stages are described for the viviparous placentotrophic lizard Mabuya mabouya. The small ovaries have a thin wall formed by the ovarian epithelium and a thin tunica albuginea. One to two germinal beds that contain numerous oogonia and developing primordial follicles are derived from the ovarian epithelium and are next to the ovarian hilum. The ovarian cortex contains follicles at different stages of development, corpora lutea, and atretic follicles. The yolk nucleus and Balbiani complex were not evident in the ooplasm of previtellogenic follicles. The follicular epithelium of these follicles is polymorphic, as in other species of Squamata, but the larger cells are spherical and monolayered rather than pyriform. The zona radiata of the preovulatory follicles is less developed than in lecithotrophic species. These features suggest a decrease in metabolic and absorptive processes during follicular growth. In preovulatory follicles (1.5–1.8 mm diameter), primordial yolk vacuoles and small cortical granules are deposited in the ooplasm instead of fatty yolk platelets, so that only one stage of vitellogenesis is observed. Polyovular atretic follicles occur in some females. Follicular atresia is minimal for preovulatory follicles, but is more frequent in follicles with polymorphic epithelia. In the corpus luteum, the luteal tissue is formed from granulosa cells and luteolysis occurs during the late gastrula – late neurula embryonic stages. Thus, the maintenance of gestation from the pharyngula to preparturition stages seems to be related to secretion of extraluteal progesterone, possibly of placental origin. These observed ovarian features are related to the high degree of placental complexity of this species and show that the evolution of advanced placentotrophy in species of this lineage has been accompanied by concomitant changes in ovarian function. J. Morphol. 259:90–105, 2004. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Auto-Tuned Induction Coil Conductivity Sensor for In-Vivo Human Tissue Measurements

Auto-Tuned Induction Coil Conductivity Sensor for In-Vivo Human Tissue Measurements Auto-tuned induction coil technology, based upon phase-locked loop circuitry (PLL), was developed and shown to be an effective tool for in-vivo measurement of electrical conductivity of human tissues. Because electrical contact is not required, several disadvantages of the electrode method for conductivity determination are avoided, such as electrode polarization and variable conductivity associated with the stratum corneum of the epidermis. Fixed frequency excitation is supplied to a parallel tuned RLC circuit, or "sensor", while bias applied to a varactor diode is automatically adjusted via PLL circuitry to maintain the RLC sensor at resonance. Since resonant impedance of a coil positioned near a conductive object is known to be frequency dependent, such an arrangement permits precise calibration of the sensor against a set of standard Potassium Chloride solutions. In our experiments, a two-layer spiral coil is used with upper and lower spiral arms staggered so as to reduce inter-winding coil capacitance. Preliminary in-vivo testing was done on the forearms of a single male subject as a prelude to more extensive use in a clinical setting. In that instance, electrical conductivity at the proximal volar forearm location was shown to depend on forearm elevation. Clinical studies using our prototype, as well as further consideration of the "elevation effect", are discussed in a companion paper.
An overview of active and passive targeting strategies to improve the nanocarriers efficiency to tumour sites

This review highlights both the physicochemical characteristics of the nanocarriers (NCs) and the physiological features of tumour microenvironment (TME) to outline what strategies undertaken to deliver the molecules of interest specifically to certain lesions. This review discusses these properties describing the convenient choice between passive and active targeting mechanisms with details, illustrated with examples of targeting agents up to preclinical research or clinical advances.
Integrated sub-MM wave receivers

The concept of a fully integrated superconducting receiver looks very attractive for sub-mm space astronomy where low weight, power consumption and volume are required. The possibility to integrate on a few chips the different planar components: a SIS mixer, a superconducting local oscillator (LO), an intermediate frequency amplifier followed by superconducting circuits for digitizing and processing of down converted signals, is discussed. A first implementation of a real integrated quasioptical receiver for frequencies up to 500 GHz is described. The one-chip receiver comprises a double dipole antenna, parallel biased SIS array mixer and Josephson Flux Flow Oscillator (FFO) with matching circuits. The results of extensive investigations of the integrated receiver as well as design and investigation of novel superconducting elements are presented. <<ETX>>
On the scaling of emitter stripes of SiGe power HBTs

The lateral scaling issues of the emitter stripe width of large-area power SiGe heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs) are analytically studied and experimentally verified. It is found that, due to increased parasitics along with the increase of device area, the maximum oscillation frequency (fmax) of a power SiGe HBT cannot be improved monotonically with the shrinking of the emitter stripe width, which is different from the downscaling of the low-power (few emitter stripes) counterparts. It is concluded that the emitter stripe width of large-area devices ought to be properly upscaled, relative to that of low-power devices, in order to optimize the RF performance of large-area SiGe power HBTs.
Naive Bayes face-nonface classifier: a study of preprocessing and feature extraction techniques

This paper presents a classifier of face and nonface patterns that is based on the naive Bayes model. Using this classifier as a tool. We analyze the effects on classification performance of preprocessing, feature extraction and classifier combination techniques. Our analysis shows that image normalization techniques that reduce the effects of different lighting conditions improve face-nonface classification significantly. In addition, techniques such as background masking and combining classifiers that use different feature vectors are shown to enhance classification performance. Over a test set of 12,000 patterns, the combined classifier using four feature vectors has correct detection rates (CDRs) of 96.2% and 99.2% at false detection rates (FDRs) of 1% and 5%, respectively.
Relationship Among Diabetes Distress, Decisional Conflict, Quality of Life, and Patient Perception of Chronic Illness Care in a Cohort of Patients With Type 2 Diabetes and Other Comorbidities

OBJECTIVE The primary outcome is to evaluate the relationship between diabetes distress and decisional conflict regarding diabetes care in patients with diabetes and two or more comorbidities. Secondary outcomes include the relationships between diabetes distress and quality of life and patient perception of chronic illness care and decisional conflict. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS This was a cross-sectional study of 192 patients, ≥18 years of age, with type 2 diabetes and two or more comorbidities, recruited from primary care practices in the Greater Toronto Area. Baseline questionnaires were completed using validated scales: Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS), Decisional Conflict Scale (DCS), Short-Form Survey 12 (SF-12), and Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (PACIC). Multiple linear regression models evaluated associations between summary scores and subscores, adjusting for age, education, income, employment, duration of diabetes, and social support. RESULTS Most participants were >65 years old (65%). DCS was significantly and positively associated with DDS (β = 0.0139; CI 0.00374–0.0246; P = 0.00780). DDS–emotional burden subscore was significantly and negatively associated with SF-12–mental subscore (β =−3.34; CI −4.91 to −1.77; P < 0.0001). Lastly, DCS was significantly and negatively associated with PACIC (β = −6.70; CI −9.10 to −4.32; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS We identified a new positive relationship between diabetes distress and decisional conflict. Moreover, we identified negative associations between emotional burden and mental quality of life and patient perception of chronic illness care and decisional conflict. Understanding these associations will provide valuable insights in the development of targeted interventions to improve quality of life in patients with diabetes.
Do we still need morphologic evaluation in new era of advanced minimal residual disease analyses?

Dear Editor, Bone marrow (BM) evaluation is mandatory to decide remis‐ sion or relapse of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). 1 A diagnosis of relapsed AML requires the presence of 5% leukemic cells or more on BM morphologic evaluation, and AML relapses in approximately two‐thirds of patients even though leukemic cells are less than 5% in BM.1,2 Multimodal approaches for minimal residual disease (MRD) are performed to predict early relapse, including flow cytometric,
Rate Constants for the Decay and Reactions of the Lowest Electronically Excited Singlet State of Molecular Oxygen in Solution. An Expanded and Revised Compilation

An expanded and revised compilation on the reactivity of singlet oxygen, the lowest electronically excited singlet state of molecular oxygen, 1O2*(1Δg), in fluid solution is presented, which supersedes the publication of Wilkinson and Brummer, J. Phys. Chem. Ref. Data 10, 809 (1981). Rate constants for the chemical reaction and physical deactivation of singlet oxygen available through 1993 have been critically compiled. Solvent deactivation rates (kd) are tabulated for 145 solvents or solvent mixtures and second‐order rate constants for interaction of singlet oxygen with 1915 compounds are reported.
New mechanisms of resistance in virological failure to protease inhibitors: selection of non-described protease, Gag and Gp41 mutations.

OBJECTIVES To further characterize HIV-1 viruses of patients experiencing unexplained virological failure (VF) on PI-containing regimens, ultradeep sequencing was performed on protease, gag and gp41 genes in patients failing a first-line treatment. METHODS All naive patients initiating an antiretroviral treatment based on boosted darunavir, atazanavir or lopinavir and experiencing VF without any transmitted drug resistance mutation detected by Sanger sequencing on protease and reverse transcriptase genes were selected. Ultradeep sequencing (IlluminaTM Nextera®) was performed on protease, gag and gp41 genes in plasma before initiation of treatment and at VF to identify emergent mutations. RESULTS Among the 32 patients included in the study, emergent and previously undescribed mutations in the viral protease gene were identified in five patients at VF: 64M (1 CRF02_AG), 64M/70R with mutation 15V (2 CRF02_AG), 79A (1 CRF06_cpx) and 79A with mutation 15V (1 CRF02_AG). Two patients showed the emergence of R286K in the gag region, outside of cleavage sites (2 CRF02_AG). In the gp41 region, the V321I mutation emerged inside the cytoplasmic tail (1 subtype A and 1 subtype B). All these patients were treated with a darunavir/ritonavir-based regimen. CONCLUSIONS In some cases of VF to PIs, we observed the emergence of protease, Gag or Gp41 mutations that had not previously been associated with VF or PI resistance. These mutations should be further studied, in particular the 15V/64M/70R pattern in the protease gene identified among CRF02_AG viruses.
The Anticonvulsant Activity of Acetone, the Major Ketone Body in the Ketogenic Diet, Is Not Dependent on Its Metabolites Acetol, 1,2‐Propanediol, Methylglyoxal, or Pyruvic Acid

Summary: Background: Acetone, one of the principal ketone bodies elevated during treatment with the ketogenic diet, exhibits anticonvulsant properties that may contribute to the seizure protection conferred by the diet. The anticonvulsant mechanism of acetone is unknown, but it is metabolized to several bioactive substances that could play a role.
Organizational issues of end-user computing

End-user computing environments are rapidly growing in many organizations. This growth is due primarily to the proliferation of microcomputers and the availability of user-friendly software. However, the end-user computing environment is still poorly understood by practitioners, academics, and vendors. Most managers agree that a basic understanding of the end-user computing environment is necessary in order to effectively manage it. This article attempts to define the scope of the end-user computing and integrate a variety of publications into a common research framework. Several managerial frameworks are presented which address the risks of end-user development. Finally, implications are drawn from the available literature in order to provide managerial direction to firms with growing end-user computing environments.
Early neuron differentiation in the mouse olfactory bulb. I. Light microscopy

Olfactory bulb development in mouse embryos from day 10 of gestation (E10) to E15 was studied with 1 μ plastic sections and Golgi impregnations. Olfactory nerve axons reach the presumptive olfactory bulb region of the cerebral vesicle at E12, the same time that the first young neurons (postmitotic neuroblasts) are seen in the newly‐formed intermediate (mantle) layer. By E14 many of the presumptive mitral cells are oriented tangential to the surface and have grown a long axon that enters the lateral olfactory tract on the surface of the presumptive piriform cortex.