Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Epidural anesthesia in elderly patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of thoracic epidural anesthesia on postoperative N-terminal pro B-natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) release in elderly patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. DESIGN A case-matched, nonrandomized study. SETTING A university hospital, single institution. PARTICIPANTS 46 consecutive and 46 control patients. INTERVENTIONS Ninety-two elderly patients (>65 years old) undergoing elective CABG surgery were recruited. Forty-six patients receiving general and epidural anesthesia were case matched (preoperative medications, ejection fraction, and comorbidities) with 46 control subjects receiving general anesthesia. The primary outcome measure was postoperative NT-proBNP release. The preoperative or intraoperative variables significantly associated with an intensive care unit stay longer than 4 days were determined by logistic regression. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS The median (interquartile range) plasma concentrations of NT-proBNP before surgery were 402 (115-887 pg/mL) in the epidural group versus 508 (228-1,285 pg/mL) in the general anesthesia group (p = 0.9), whereas 24 hours after surgery it increased to 1846 (1,135-3,687 pg/mL) versus 5,005 (2,220-11,377 pg/mL) (p = 0.001), respectively. There were more patients (p = 0.043) in the control group (9/46 = 19.5%) than in the thoracic epidural anesthesia group (4/46 = 8.8%) with an intensive care unit stay longer than 4 days. The absence of preoperative beta-blocker therapy (odds ratio = 3.94; 95% confidence interval, 1.123-13.833; p =0.03) and of an epidural catheter (odds ratio = 3.91; 95% confidence interval, 1.068-14.619; p = 0.04) were the only preoperative and intraoperative variables independently associated with a prolonged intensive care unit stay. CONCLUSIONS Epidural anesthesia added to general anesthesia for CABG surgery significantly attenuates NT-proBNP release in elderly patients and reduces the incidence of prolonged intensive care unit stay.
Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Objective: To investigate differences in preand postoperative patient-relevant outcome between hybrid total hip replacement (THR) and cemented THR in patients with primary osteoarthritis (OA). Methods: 245 consecutive patients were included in the study. 68 of the patients (mean age 62) were operated on with hybrid THR and 177 (mean age 74) were operated on with cemented THR. All patients were investigated preoperatively and 0.5, 1 and 3.6 years postoperatively with two selfadministered questionnaires, SF-36 and WOMAC (Western Ontario and MacMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, LK 3.0). Results: Preoperatively, there was a difference in the SF-36 subscales RP (role physical) and GH (general health) where the patients with the hybrid THR attained better scores. At 3.6-years the patients with the hybrid THR reached better scores in all SF-36 subscales except BP (bodily pain) and GH. Further, they had better scores in WOMAC function. However, after adjusting for age, sex, follow-up time and baseline values there were no differences in outcome between the two different surgical techniques. Conclusion: This medium term (3–5 years), controlled, open cohort study, using patient-relevant outcome measures, did not reveal any differences between hybrid THR and cemented THR for OA at 3.6 years after surgery. Since the study had 75–94% power to detect the clinically significant score difference of 10 points, we suggest that any difference in outcome between these two methods is small and may require a large-scale, blinded, randomized trial to show. Introduction Since the development of total hip replacement (THR) there has been a wish to evaluate the results of the intervention. Approximately 20 different hip scores have been introduced [1]. The variables measured have been pain, walking distance, use of walking assistance, range of motion, ability to put on shoes, climb stairs, use of public transport, etc. Inconsistent results have been found when comparing outcomes with scores which used descriptive terms such as excellent, good or failure, whereas there was better correlation between outcomes when using different numerical scores [1]. Callaghan et al. [2] compared five different rating systems and found no uniformity in the results between ratings, nor any uniformity between the Published: 11 June 2003 Health and Quality of Life Outcomes 2003, 1:21 Received: 23 April 2003 Accepted: 11 June 2003 This article is available from: http://www.hqlo. com/content/1/1/21 © 2003 Nilsdotter and Lohmander; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article: verbatim copying and redistribution of this article are permitted in all media for any purpose, provided this notice is preserved along with the article's original URL.
A XACML-based access control model for Web service

One of the most important features of Web service is ease of access over the Internet. But the downside is that security is compromised. This paper presents an access control model for Web service. It uses XACML (extensible access control markup language) for the description of access control criteria and combines the power of XACML and SAML (security assertion markup language) to complete a distributed system's authorization needs. Finally, a detailed example is shown to describe the access control model.
[Vasomotor activity and coronary insufficiency].

Provocative testing has provided a method of evaluating the important role of vasomotor tone in coronary artery disease. The most sensitive test is the ergonovine (Methergin) test. This is a specific and reliable method of defining the clinical situations in which coronary spasm is common: --focal coronary artery spasm is mainly observed in resting angina alone or in association with effort angina. The prognosis of spasm is excellent with calcium antagonist therapy provided there is no other associated pathology such as left ventricular failure or triple vessel disease; --in the six weeks following myocardial infarction, focal coronary artery spasm is a common event: 20% of coronary angiographies. After six weeks, spasm is much less frequent. It does not influence the prognosis. This type of spasm is probably related to the scarring process; --coronary artery spasm is frequently associated with restenosis after coronary angioplasty, a process which is histologically related to proliferation of smooth muscle; --diffuse increase in coronary vasomotor tone is a much rarer pathology, perhaps related to global changes in vascular tone as its association with the Raynaud syndrome and with migraine would suggest. It presents clinically with resting angina and sometimes by typical Prinzmetal angina; --finally, vosomotor tone plays an important role in the daily life of coronary patients. Holter recordings for the detection of silent myocardial ischemia have shown episodes of myocardial ischemia at lower myocardial oxygen consumption levels than those usually recorded during exercise stress testing, which suggests a reduction in oxygen supply, that is to say coronary vasoconstriction. Changes in coronary vasomotor tone can modify the diameter of healthy coronary arteries by 100%. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Exercise Order Interacts With Rest Interval During Upper-Body Resistance Exercise

Miranda, H, Simão, R, dos Santos Vigário, P, de Salles, BF, Pacheco, MTT, and Willardson, JM. Exercise order interacts with rest interval during upper-body resistance exercise. J Strength Cond Res 24(6): 1573-1577, 2010-The purpose of this study was to compare repetition performance when resting 1 minute vs. 3 minutes between sets and exercises for an upper-body workout performed in 2 different sequences. Sixteen recreationally trained men completed 4 experimental resistance exercise sessions. All sessions consisted of 3 sets with an 8-repetition maximum load for 6 upper-body exercises. Two different exercise sequences (i.e., A or B) were performed with either 1- or 3-minute rest between sets and exercises, respectively. For sequence A1 (SEQA1) and sequence A3 (SEQA3), resistance exercises were performed in the following order: lat pull-down with a wide grip (LPD-WG), lat pull-down with a close grip (LPD-CG), machine seated row (SR-M), barbell row lying on a bench (BR-B), dumbbell seated arm curl (SAC-DB), and machine seated arm curl (SAC-M). Conversely, for sequence B1 (SEQB1) and sequence B3 (SEQB3), the exercises were performed in the opposite order. The results demonstrated that the effect of exercise order was stronger than the effect of rest interval length for LPD-WG (SEQA3 > SEQA1 > SEQB3 > SEQB1) and SAC-M (SEQB3 > SEQB1 > SEQA3 > SEQA1), whereas the effect of rest interval length was stronger than the effect of exercise order for LPD-CG, SR-M, SAC-DB (SEQA3 = SEQB3 > SEQA1 = SEQB1), and BR-B (SEQB3 > SEQA3 = SEQB1 > SEQA1). These results suggest that upper-body exercises involving similar muscle groups and neural recruitment patterns are negatively affected in terms of repetition performance when performed at the end vs. the beginning of a session, and the reduction in repetition performance is greater when using 1-minute vs. 3-minute rest interval between sets.
Feature Indented Assertions for Analog and Mixed-Signal Validation

The acceptance criteria for analog designs are traditionally defined in terms of real-valued features defined over behavioral responses. For example, rise time, peak overshoot, and settling time are features of the response of a second-order system under a step input. Designers of analog and mixed-signal (AMS) designs typically like to see whether the relevant features lie within their specified ranges, and if so, by what margin. Assertions are capable of capturing the acceptance criteria, but they do not help in evaluating how well (or by what margin) the design satisfies the specification. We introduce the notion of Feature Indented Assertions (FIAs) for overlaying the definition of real-valued features over the syntactic fabric of AMS assertions. In this paper, we present the formal syntax and semantics of our language, FIA, and demonstrate its ability to capture a wide variety of AMS features. We present our dynamic feature evaluation tool that plugs into standard AMS simulators through Verilog Procedural Interfaces and evaluates features over simulation. At the heart of this tool, we have our interval arithmetic-based algorithm for monitoring features over continuous time and value domains. This algorithm is presented with corresponding proofs of correctness and with results over industrial testcases.
Immunoglobulin M Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Using Recombinant Polypeptides for Diagnosis of Dengue

ABSTRACT We demonstrate that a mixture of four recombinant dengue virus E polypeptides corresponding to the N-terminal region of the envelope protein from all serotypes substitutes for standard antigens in two immunoglobulin M enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay formats with 100% concordance, making these polypeptides a useful and accessible reagent for serological diagnosis of dengue in endemic countries.
Controlling ecological bias in evidence synthesis of trials reporting on collapsed and overlapping covariate categories

Meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials based on aggregated data is vulnerable to ecological bias if trial results are pooled over covariates that influence the outcome variable, even when the covariate does not modify the treatment effect, or is not associated with the treatment. This paper shows how, when trial results are aggregated over different levels of covariates, the within‐study covariate distribution, and the effects of both covariates and treatments can be simultaneously estimated, and ecological bias reduced. Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo methods are used. The method is applied to a mixed treatment comparison evidence synthesis of six alternative approaches to post‐stroke inpatient care. Results are compared with a model using only the stratified covariate data available, where each stratum is treated as a separate trial, and a model using fully aggregated data, where no covariate data are used. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Introduction to the Special Issue

Exposure-based interventions have been shown to significantly reduce anxiety and avoidance. The efficacy of the approach is robust, and recent efforts have been made to expand the use of exposure as well as identify more effective ways to implement the procedure. This article introduces the special issue devoted to recent novel approaches to the dissemination and implementation of exposure.
The Mitochondrial TOM Complex Is Required for tBid/Bax-induced Cytochrome c Release*

Cytochrome c release from mitochondria is a key event in apoptosis signaling that is regulated by Bcl-2 family proteins. Cleavage of the BH3-only protein Bid by multiple proteases leads to the formation of truncated Bid (tBid), which, in turn, promotes the oligomerization/insertion of Bax into the mitochondrial outer membrane and the resultant release of proteins residing in the intermembrane space. Bax, a monomeric protein in the cytosol, is targeted by a yet unknown mechanism to the mitochondria. Several hypotheses have been put forward to explain this targeting specificity. Using mitochondria isolated from different mutants of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and recombinant proteins, we have now investigated components of the mitochondrial outer membrane that might be required for tBid/Bax-induced cytochrome c release. Here, we show that the protein translocase of the outer mitochondrial membrane is required for Bax insertion and cytochrome c release.
Influence of the implant design on osseointegration and crestal bone resorption of immediate implants: a histomorphometric study in dogs.

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to evaluate bone-to-implant contact after immediate implant placement at different levels in relation to crestal bone in American foxhound dogs. MATERIALS AND METHODS The mandibular second, third, and fourth premolars of six American foxhound dogs were extracted bilaterally. Randomly, three immediate implants were placed in the hemimandible of each dog at the bone crest (control group) or 2 mm subcrestally (test group). Three dogs were allowed an 8-week healing period; the other three were left a 12-week healing period. After healing periods, histomorphometric analyses of the specimens were carried out to measure BIC values and bone remodeling. RESULTS All implants healed uneventfully and were available for histological analysis. The total BIC mean values were 44.52% (± 8.67) and 39.50% (± 9.25) at 8 and 12 weeks, respectively, for the control group, and 47.33% (± 5.23) and 53.85% (± 4.21) at 8 and 12 weeks after healing for the test group, respectively. There was observed less bone resorption in the group of implants placed subcrestally. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that less resorption may be expected when implants are inserted 2 mm subcrestally. Moreover, higher BIC values in the group of subcrestal implants were found.
Atrial Fibrillation and Cardio-embolic Stroke, Incidence of Haemorrhagic Transformation and Rehabilitation Outcomes

Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia. The prevalence in general population is about 0.4 % and it increases with age. Stroke secondary to AF have high morbidity and mortality. We discuss the retrospective analysis of cardio-embolic strokes, in relation to the incidence of haemorrhagic transformation and its relation to AF along-with rehabilitation outcomes and mortality. 52 patient’s data with diagnosis of cardio-embolic stroke were reviewed. 75% (39) had diagnosis of AF before or on admission. Of all the patients, 82% (43) had diagnosis of HT. Within the HT group of patients, 67% (29) had underlying AF and all 9 patients with ischaemic stroke had underlying AF. Only 3 patients received rt-PA and 61% (32) were taking antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy at the time of admission. We found a high incidence of haemorrhagic conversion in stroke patients with AF, without thrombolysis, with some association with advancing age and possible antiplatelets. In our limited study group high mortality (32%) was associated
The Everyday Costs of Poverty in Childhood: A Review of Qualitative Research Exploring the Lives and Experiences of Low-Income Children in the UK

This review of 10 years of qualitative research with disadvantaged children in the UK shows that despite some gaps in the knowledge base, there is now a substantive body of evidence exploring children’s lives and experiences from their own perspectives. The review reveals that poverty penetrates deep into the heart of childhood, permeating every facet of children’s lives from economic and material disadvantage, through the structuring and limiting of social relationships and social participation to the most personal often hidden aspects of disadvantage associated with shame, sadness and the fear of social difference and marginalisation.
Developmental pattern analysis and age prediction by extracting speech features and applying various classification techniques

In speech development research, it's important to know how speech acoustic features vary as a function of age and the age when the variability and magnitude of acoustic features start to exhibit adult-like patterns. During the first few years of life, a child's speech changes from the cries and babbles of an infant to adult-like words and phrases of a young child. A number of acoustic studies observed that, adult's speech compared to children's speech, exhibits lower pitch and formant frequencies, shorter segmental durations, and lesser temporal and spectral variability. In this research we extracted acoustic, spectral and temporal features of a speech signal and then classify these features to predict the age of the subjects using different classification techniques. The feature vector comprised of fundamental frequency, formants, lpc coefficients and segmental duration. This study investigated the developmental patterns and the varying trends observed in speech acoustics with advancement in age and gender. The investigation then contributed in predicting the age of the speakers by analyzing these extracted features using various classification techniques and the result revealed maximum recognition rate by using neuro-fuzzy classifiers. This prediction of age may further help us in analyzing the speech samples in order to predict early speech disorders or language delay in children with neuro-developmental disorder.
Making refactoring decisions in large-scale Java systems: an empirical stance

Decisions on which classes to refactor are fraught with difficulty. The problem of identifying candidate classes becomes acute when confronted with large systems comprising hundreds or thousands of classes. In this paper, we describe a metric by which key classes, and hence candidates for refactoring, can be identified. Measures quantifying the usage of two forms of coupling, inheritance and aggregation, together with two other class features (number of methods and attributes) were extracted from the source code of three large Java systems. Our research shows that metrics from other research domains can be adapted to the software engineering process. Substantial differences were found between each of the systems in terms of the key classes identified and hence opportunities for refactoring those classes varied between those systems.
Linking Synaptic Plasticity and Spike Output at Excitatory and Inhibitory Synapses onto Cerebellar Purkinje Cells

Understanding the relationship between synaptic plasticity and neuronal output is essential if we are to understand how plasticity is encoded in neural circuits. In the cerebellar cortex, motor learning is thought to be implemented by long-term depression (LTD) of excitatory parallel fiber (PF) to Purkinje cell synapses triggered by climbing fiber (CF) input. However, theories of motor learning generally neglect the contribution of plasticity of inhibitory inputs to Purkinje cells. Here we describe how CF-induced plasticity of both excitatory and inhibitory inputs is reflected in Purkinje cell spike output. We show that coactivation of the CF with PF input and interneuron input leads not only to LTD of PF synapses but also to comparable, “balanced” LTD of evoked inhibitory inputs. These two forms of plasticity have opposite effects on the spike output of Purkinje cells, with the number and timing of spikes sensitively reflecting the degree of plasticity. We used dynamic clamp to evaluate plasticity-induced changes in spike responses to sequences of excitation and feedforward inhibition of varied relative and absolute amplitude. Balanced LTD of both excitatory and inhibitory components decreased the net spike output of Purkinje cells only for inputs with small inhibitory components, whereas for inputs with a larger proportion of feedforward inhibition CF-triggered LTD resulted in an increase in the net spike output. Thus, the net effect of CF-triggered plasticity on Purkinje cell output depends on the balance of excitation and feedforward inhibition and can paradoxically increase cerebellar output, contrary to current theories of cerebellar motor learning.
Effects of Intensive Exercise Training on Immunity in Athletes

A large number of studies have failed to show whether exercise-induced perturbations in immune function are associated with the incidence of infection. "Sports immunology", examining the interaction of physical, psychological and environmental stress on immunity, is emerging as a sub-discipline of sports medicine. A series of studies by our research team has profiled the immune responses of elite swimmers during training. Serum immunoglobulin and IgG subclass levels were lower in swimmers than controls. Suppression of mucosal immune parameters has been associated with the risk of upper respiratory tract infection. Swimmers with a lower pre-season salivary IgA and/or lower pre-exercise salivary IgA level were more likely to contract an URTI during a 7-month training period. In a shorter 12-week study, infected swimmers had a mean salivary IgM concentration that dropped more sharply after a single training session. Significant declines in natural killer cell count and neutrophil oxidative activity were not associated with URTI. Despite systemic and mucosal immunosuppression a cohort of swimmers were also able to mount an antibody response to pneumococcal vaccine equivalent to that of sedentary individuals. Observations of chronic suppression of aspects of host defence and the significant relationship between changes in mucosal immune parameters and URTI, provide a framework for assessment of the immune status of athletes. The underlying causes of upper respiratory tract distress symptoms may be infective, inflammatory or allergic in origin: a differential diagnosis has implications for treatment and management.