Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Change in emergency department providers' beliefs and practices after use of new protocols for suicidal patients.

OBJECTIVE The study examined changes in self-reported attitudes and practices related to suicide risk assessment among providers at emergency departments (EDs) during a three-phase quasi-experimental trial involving implementation of ED protocols for suicidal patients. METHODS A total of 1,289 of 1,828 (71% response rate) eligible providers at eight EDs completed a voluntary, anonymous survey at baseline, after introduction of universal suicide screening, and after introduction of suicide prevention resources (nurses) and a secondary risk assessment tool (physicians). RESULTS Among participants, the median age was 40 years old, 64% were female, and there were no demographic differences across study phases; 68% were nurses, and 32% were attending physicians. Between phase 1 and phase 3, increasing proportions of nurses reported screening for suicide (36% and 95%, respectively, p<.001) and increasing proportions of physicians reported further assessment of suicide risk (63% and 80%, respectively, p<.01). Although increasing proportions of providers said universal screening would result in more psychiatric consultations, decreasing proportions said it would slow down clinical care. Increasing proportions of nurses reported often or almost always asking suicidal patients about firearm access (18%-69%, depending on the case), although these numbers remained low relative to ideal practice. Between 35% and 87% of physicians asked about firearms, depending on the case, and these percentages did not change significantly over the study phases. CONCLUSIONS These findings support the feasibility of implementing universal screening for suicide in EDs, assuming adequate resources, but providers should be educated to ask suicidal patients about firearm access.
Crystal Structure of Escherichia coli Thiol Peroxidase in the Oxidized State

Thioredoxin-dependent thiol peroxidase (Tpx) from Escherichia coli represents a group of antioxidant enzymes that are widely distributed in pathogenic bacterial species and which belong to the peroxiredoxin (Prx) family. Bacterial Tpxs are unique in that the location of the resolving cysteine (CR) is different from those of other Prxs. E. coli Tpx (EcTpx) shows substrate specificity toward alkyl hydroperoxides over H2O2 and is the most potent reductant of alkyl hydroperoxides surpassing AhpC and BCP, the other E. coli Prx members. Here, we present the crystal structure of EcTpx in the oxidized state determined at 2.2-Å resolution. The structure revealed that Tpxs are the second type of atypical 2-Cys Prxs with an intramolecular disulfide bond formed between the peroxidatic (CP, Cys61) and resolving (Cys95) cysteine residues. The extraordinarily long N-terminal chain of EcTpx folds into a β-hairpin making the overall structure very compact. Modeling suggests that, in atypical 2-Cys Prxs, the CR-loop as well as the CP-loop may alternately assume the fully folded or locally unfolded conformation depending on redox states, as does the CP-loop in typical 2-Cys Prxs. EcTpx exists as a dimer stabilized by hydrogen bonds. Its substrate binding site extends to the dimer interface. A modeled structure of the reduced EcTpx in complex with 15-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid suggests that the size and shape of the binding site are particularly suited for long fatty acid hydroperoxides consistent with its greater reactivity.
Energy Management Problems Under Uncertainties for Grid-Connected Microgrids: A Chance Constrained Programming Approach

This paper studies two energy management problems under uncertainties for a grid-connected microgrid. The problems are motivated by practical microgrid applications such as peak power shaving and frequency regulation. These applications require constraints on the microgrid energy output, which is uncertain due to the integration with renewable resources and random loads. Both problems are formulated as chance constrained programming problems to systematically incorporate uncertainties. We also show that the resulting chance constrained programming problems can both be solved using linear programming. The proposed formulation and solution are verified by two case studies originated from real world applications.
Measuring Income Mobility in Canada

Key findings:•This study measures income mobility in Canada over two five-year periods (1996-2001 and 2002-2007) and over a 10-year and a 19-year period (1990-2000 and 1990-2009). In all periods, Canadians initially in the lowest income group (the bottom 20%) experienced the greatest relative income increase. •Over the 10-year period (1990 to 2000), 83 percent of Canadians who started in the bottom 20% moved to a higher income group. Over the 19-year period (1990 to 2009), 87 percent in the bottom 20% moved up with 21 percent of them reaching the highest income group (the top 20%). •Some Canadians experienced a relative decline in income. Of those in the top 20% in 1990, 36 percent moved down at least one income group by 2009. •The average income of those initially in the bottom 20% in 1990 grew an impressive 635 percent by 2009, while the average income of those initially in the top 20% grew by only 23 percent over the same period. •In 1990, the average income of individuals in the highest income group was 13 times that of individuals initially in the lowest group. By 2009, those who had been in the highest group in 1990 had an average income only twice that of those who had been in the lowest group in 1990.
Shapley Allocation, Diversification and Services in Operational Risk

A method of allocating Operational Risk regulatory capital using the Shapley method for a large number of business units, supported by a service, is proposed. A closed-form formula for Shapley allocations is developed under two principal assumptions. First, if business units form coalitions, the value added to the coalition by a new entrant depends on a constant proportionality factor. This factor represents the diversification that can be achieved by combining operational risk losses. Second, that the service should reduce the capital payable by business units, and that this reduction is calculated as an integral part of the allocation process. We ensure that allocations of capital charges are acceptable to and are understandable by both risk and senior managers. The results derived are applied to recent loss data.
Shift work and age as interactive predictors of body mass index among offshore workers.

OBJECTIVES This study investigated shift pattern (day shifts versus day-night rotation) and its interactions with age, and with years of shiftwork exposure, as predictors of body mass index (BMI). METHODS Survey data were collected from offshore personnel working day shifts (N=787) or day-night shifts (N=787); information was obtained about shift pattern and years of shiftwork exposure, height, weight, demographic factors, and smoking habits. Hierarchical multiple regression was used to test a model in which BMI was predicted by additive and interactive effects of shift pattern, age, and exposure years with control for confounding variables. RESULTS In a multivariate analysis (controlling for job type, education and smoking), BMI was predicted by the main effects of age and years of shiftwork exposure. Shift pattern was not significant as a main effect, but it interacted significantly with the curvilinear age term and with the linear and curvilinear components of shiftwork exposure. In the day shift group, age but not exposure predicted BMI; the opposite was true of the day-night shift group. The increase in BMI with an increase in age and exposure years was steeper for the day-night shift group than for the day shift group. CONCLUSIONS The significant interaction effects found in this study were consistent with the view that continued exposure to day-night shift work gives rise to increases in BMI, over and above the normative effects of ageing on BMI shown by day-shift workers.
Developing a Managed Learning Environment Using 'Roundtables': An Activity Theoretic Perspective

The current focus on the development of systems contributing to a managed learning enviroment (MLE) in universities in the UK has prompted institutions to examine how administrative systems and support for learning and teaching fit together. However, it is difficult for academic and adminstrative staff to find opportunities to describe their needs to developers. This paper focuses on a project at University College London to examine systems for academic administration. A roundtable discussion group (Kemp et al,2002)was created to identify issues central to participants' perspectives. The paper uses Activity Theory (Kuutti, 1996) to analyse its outputs, and examines how the methodology has influenced the process of developing the MLE.
Altered cerebrovascular responsiveness to N-methyl-D-aspartate after asphyxia in piglets.

We examined effects of prior asphyxia and reventilation on pial arteriolar responses to arterial hypercapnia, topical application of forskolin, and topical application of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) in newborn pigs. Piglets were anesthetized and ventilated with a respirator. Pial arteriolar diameter was determined using a closed cranial window and intravital microscopy. After baseline diameter was determined, the respirator was turned off for 10 min. Then the respirator was turned on, and the piglet was ventilated for 4 h. At 1, 2, and 4 h after asphyxia, arteriolar diameter was determined during control conditions and during arterial hypercapnia (inspiration of 10% CO2 in air; n = 4), topical application of 2.4 x 10(-8) M forskolin (n = 6), and topical application of 10(-5) M NMDA (n = 6). At 1 h after asphyxia, arterial hypercapnia dilated pial arterioles by 39 +/- 3%, topical forskolin dilated pial arterioles by 24 +/- 3%, and NMDA dilated pial arterioles by 10 +/- 1%. For arterial hypercapnia and forskolin application, arteriolar responses were not different from 1 h at 2 and 4 h postasphyxia. In contrast, for NMDA, arteriolar responses were greater at 2 h (23 +/- 6%) and 4 h (30 +/- 5%) than at 1 h. In time-control animals, NMDA dilated arterioles by 20 +/- 5% at 1 h, by 24 +/- 8% at 2 h, and by 21 +/- 4% at 4 h (n = 5). Indomethacin administration (5 mg/kg iv) before asphyxia resulted in a 23 +/- 3% arteriolar dilation in response to NMDA at 1 h (n = 7). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Inhibitory activities of microalgal extracts against Epstein-Barr virus DNA release from lymphoblastoid cells

This study aimed to assess the inhibitory activities of methanol extracts from the microalgae Ankistrodesmus convolutus, Synechococcus elongatus, and Spirulina platensis against Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in three Burkitt’s lymphoma (BL) cell lines, namely Akata, B95-8, and P3HR-1. The antiviral activity was assessed by quantifying the cell-free EBV DNA using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. The methanol extracts from Ankistrodesmus convolutus and Synechococcus elongatus displayed low cytotoxicity and potent effect in reducing cell-free EBV DNA (EC50<0.01 μg/ml) with a high therapeutic index (>28 000). After fractionation by column chromatography, the fraction from Synechococcus elongatus (SEF1) reduced the cell-free EBV DNA most effectively (EC50=2.9 μg/ml, therapeutic index>69). Upon further fractionation by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), the sub-fraction SEF1’a was most active in reducing the cell-free EBV DNA (EC50=1.38 μg/ml, therapeutic index>14.5). This study suggests that microalgae could be a potential source of antiviral compounds that can be used against EBV.
Diffuse Duodenitis Associated With Ulcerative Colitis

Backwash ileitis and postcolectomy pouchitis are well-recognized complications of ulcerative colitis (UC), whereas inflammation of the proximal small intestine is not. In contrast, small intestinal disease at any level is common in Crohn's disease (CD). Despite this well-established and accepted dogma, rare cases of histologically proven diffuse duodenitis (DD) associated with UC appear in the literature. In this study, we report our experience with similar cases exhibiting this unusual inflammatory phenomenon. Routine histologic sections from four cases of DD associated with well-documented UC were reviewed and the findings correlated with all available medical records. Multiple endoscopic biopsies showing histologic features of UC and colectomy specimens confirming severe ulcerative pancolitis were available for all cases. Varying degrees of active chronic inflammation and architectural mucosal distortion identical to UC were observed in pre-and postcolectomy duodenal biopsies of one of four and four of four cases, respectively. Similar inflammatory patterns were present postoperatively in the ileum in three of four cases and in the jejunum in one case. Endorectal pull-through (ERPT) procedures were performed in three of four patients and an end-to-end ileorectal anastomosis was done in one patient. Despite extensive upper gastrointestinal tract involvement, none of the patients developed postsurgical Crohn's-like complications during a follow-up period of 12 to 54 months. This suggests that patients with pancolitis and DD do not necessarily have CD, but rather may have UC and, most importantly, that successful ERPT procedures may be performed in these patients.
A Compactness Lemma and Its Application to the Existence of Minimizers for the Liquid Drop Model

The ancient Gamow liquid drop model of nuclear energies has had a renewed life as an interesting problem in the calculus of variations: Find a set $\Omega \subset \mathbb{R}^3$ with given volume $A$ that minimizes the sum of its surface area and its Coulomb self energy. A ball minimizes the former and maximizes the latter, but the conjecture is that a ball is always a minimizer---when there is a minimizer. Even the existence of minimizers for this interesting geometric problem has not been shown in general. We prove the existence of the absolute minimizer (over all $A$) of the energy divided by $A$ (the binding energy per particle). A second result of our work is a general method for showing the existence of optimal sets in geometric minimization problems, which we call the “method of the missing mass. ” A third point is the extension of the pulling back compactness lemma [E. H. Lieb, Invent. Math., 74 (1983), pp. 441--448] from $W^{1,p}$ to $BV$.
The role of capsaicin‐sensitive muscle afferents in fatigue‐induced modulation of the monosynaptic reflex in the rat

1 The role of group III and IV afferent fibres of the lateral gastrocnemious muscle (LG) in modulating the homonymous monosynaptic reflex was investigated during muscle fatigue in spinalized rats. 2 Muscle fatigue was induced by a series of increasing tetanic electrical stimuli (85 Hz, 600 ms) delivered to the LG muscle nerve. Series consisted of increasing train numbers from 1 to 60. 3 Potentials from the spinal cord LG motor pool and from the ventral root were recorded in response to proprioceptive afferent stimulation and analysed before and during tetanic muscle activations. Both the pre‐ and postsynaptic waves showed an initial enhancement and, after a ‘12‐train’ series, an increasing inhibition. 4 The enhancement of the responses to muscle fatiguing stimulation disappeared after L3‐L6 dorsal root section, while a partial reflex inhibition was still present. Conversely, after section of the corresponding ventral root, there was only a reduction in the inhibitory effect. 5 The monosynaptic reflex was also studied in animals in which a large number of group III and IV muscle afferents were eliminated by injecting capsaicin (10 mM) into the LG muscle. As a result of capsaicin treatment, the fatigue‐induced inhibition of the pre‐ and postsynaptic waves disappeared, while the response enhancement remained. 6 We concluded that the monosynaptic reflex inhibition, but not the enhancement, was mediated by those group III and IV muscle afferents that are sensitive to the toxic action of capsaicin. The afferents that are responsible for the response enhancement enter the spinal cord through the dorsal root, while those responsible for the inhibition enter the spinal cord through both the ventral and dorsal roots.
Antibody‐dependent macrophage‐mediated activity against Helicobacter pylori in the absence of complement

Helicobacter pylori is a Gram‐negative bacterium, which chronically infects the stomach. Little is known about the immune mechanisms limiting the spread of infection and/or contributing to protection after experimental immunization. In this study, we investigated the hypothesis that specific antibodies and host cells cooperate in the immunity against H. pylori. Antibody‐dependent cellular activity against H. pylori was assessed using specific immune serum, or purified IgG, in an in vitro assay, with peritoneal cells as effector cells. The naturalantibacterial activity of peritoneal cells was significantly augmented by H. pylori‐specific antibodies in a dose‐dependent manner. A novel finding was that this killing effect did not require functional complement. Most of the bactericidal activity was associated with cells that were adherent, DX5–, CD19–, CD11c–, Thy‐1.2–, CD11b+ and CD16/32+, indicating that the main effector population was represented by macrophages. Similar antibacterial killing was obtained with the macrophage cell line GG2EE. Cytochalasin D significantly impaired this antibacterial activity, suggesting that phagocytosis plays a major role in the antibody‐mediated H. pylori killing.
Demonstration of 6kW/kg 50kW grid facing power converter for future aircraft

This paper demonstrates a 60kHz 50kW/400Hz grid facing three-phase power converter using commercially off-the-shelf Silicon Carbide (SiC) module. The power converter is designed to achieve high gravimetric density for possible application in future aircraft. In order to achieve high power density, the power converter is operated with high switching frequency to minimize its LCL filter size that connects to the grid. The high switching frequency is achieved by optimizing circuit design that consider minimum parasitic inductances in the power loop and high speed gate driver. As a result, the grid facing power converter with 60kHz switching frequency and total efficiency 97.7% are demonstrated. Gravimetric power density of the converter is above 6kW/kg with 50% of its total weight coming from its output inductors.
Polarizing animal cells via mRNA localization in oogenesis and early development

The localization of mRNAs in developing animal cells is essential for establishing cellular polarity and setting up the body plan for subsequent development. Cellular and molecular mechanisms by which maternal mRNAs are localized during oogenesis have been extensively studied in Drosophila and Xenopus. In contrast, evidence for mechanisms used in the localization of mRNAs encoded by developmentally important genes has also been accumulating in several other organisms. This offers the opportunity to unravel the fundamental mechanisms of mRNA localization shared among many species, as well as unique mechanisms specifically acquired or retained by animals based on their developmental needs. In addition to maternal mRNAs, the localization of zygotically expressed mRNAs in the cells of cleaving embryos is also important for early development. In this review, mRNA localization dynamics in the oocytes/eggs of Drosophila and Xenopus are first summarized, and evidence for localized mRNAs in the oocytes/eggs and cleaving embryos of other organisms is then presented.
Fatty acid and long‐chain base composition of gangliosides isolated from adult human brain

A series of major and minor ganglioside species were isolated from a single human adult brain and analyzed for their lipophlic composition. Hematosides, GM3 and GD3, each showing double bands on thin‐layer chromatograms, were separated into the upper band and lower band fractions to be analyzed for the heterogeneity of their ceramide moieties. The upper band fractions of GM3 and GD3 were found to contain relatively high amounts of longer‐chain fatty acids (C20C26), whereas the lower band fractions contained high amounts of shorterchain fatty acids (C16C18). Compared to other gangliosides which contain hexosamine, the two hematosides contained a smaller proportion of stearic acid. The proportion of 4‐eicosasphingenine was found to increase with increasing sialic acid content in gangliosides. These findings suggest that, in the biosynthesis of various gangliosides, N‐acetylhexosamine is preferentially transferred to hematosides rich in stearic acid, and sialic acid residues are preferentially transfered to 4‐eicosasphingenine‐containing species.
Nonlinear Plasma Dynanics in the Plasma Wakefield Accelerator

Excitation of nonlinear plasma oscillations by an ultrarelativistic electron beam is considered in this paper. It is shown, by analytical solutions of the fully relativistic nonlinear fluid equations in one dimension, that under certain conditions on the relative densities of the electron beam and the plasma, extremely large longitudinal electric fields can be generated in the wake of the beam. This scheme can be considered as a nonlinear regime of the plasma wakefield accelerator (PWFA), and is seen to have the advantage that the transformer ratio, the ratio of the maximum amplitude of the accelerating field behind the driving beam over the maximum amplitude of the decelerating field inside of the beam, can be made arbitrarily large, dependent only on the length of the driving beam. The effects of beam loading on the efficiency of this scheme are considered, and are shown to be equivalent to those predicted in the linear regime.
Oxidative stress induces DNA fragmentation and caspase activation via the c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase pathway in H9c2 cardiac muscle cells.

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that oxidative stress induces apoptosis in the H9c2 cardiac muscle cell line, and that signaling via mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways is involved. Three forms of oxidative stress were utilized: the superoxide generator menadione; hydrogen peroxide; or simulated ischemia followed by reperfusion. Relatively low concentrations of menadione (10 micrometer) or H2O2 (250 micrometer) caused maximal DNA fragmentation and caspase activation, both markers for apoptotic cell death, and preferential activation of the c-Jun NH 2-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 MAPK pathways. In contrast, higher concentrations of menadione or H 2O2 caused less DNA fragmentation, more necrotic cell death and preferential activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway. Simulated ischemia alone did not induce DNA fragmentation or caspase activation and activated only the p38 MAPK pathway. However, ischemia plus reperfusion resulted in DNA fragmentation, caspase activation, necrotic cell death and activation of all three MAPK pathways. Selective inhibition of the ERK or p38 MAPK pathways (by PD98059 or SB-203580, respectively) had no effect on the extent of oxidative stress-induced DNA fragmentation or caspase activation. In contrast, inhibition of the JNK pathway by transfection of a dominant negative mutant of JNK markedly reduced the extent of DNA fragmentation and caspase activation induced by oxidative stress. In conclusion, these data suggest that the JNK pathway plays an important role in signaling oxidative stress-induced apoptosis of H9c2 cardiac muscle cells.