Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of a clinical pharmacist-led training programme on intravenous medication errors: a controlled before and after study

Background Little is known about interventions to reduce intravenous medication administration errors in hospitals, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Objective To assess the effect of a clinical pharmacist-led training programme on clinically relevant errors during intravenous medication preparation and administration in a Vietnamese hospital. Methods A controlled before and after study with baseline and follow-up measurements was conducted in an intensive care unit (ICU) and a post-surgical unit (PSU). The intervention comprised lectures, practical ward-based teaching sessions and protocols/guidelines, and was conducted by a clinical pharmacist and a nurse. Data on intravenous medication preparation and administration errors were collected by direct observation 12 h/day for seven consecutive days. Generalised estimating equations (GEE) were used to assess the effect of the intervention on the prevalence of clinically relevant erroneous doses, corrected for confounding factors. Results 1204 intravenous doses were included, 516 during the baseline period (236 on ICU and 280 on PSU) and 688 during the follow-up period (407 on ICU and 281 on PSU). The prevalence of clinically relevant erroneous doses decreased significantly on the intervention ward (ICU) from 64.0% to 48.9% (p<0.001) but was unchanged on the control ward (PSU) (57.9% vs 64.1%; p=0.132). GEE analysis showed that doses on the intervention ward were 2.60 (1.27–5.31) times less likely to have clinically relevant errors (p=0.013). Conclusions The pharmacist-led training programme was effective, but the error rate remained relatively high. Further quality improvement strategies are needed, including changes to the working environment and promotion of a safety culture.
Predicting Future Sensorimotor States Influences Current Temporal Decision Making

Accurate motor execution is achieved by estimating future sensory states via a forward model of limb dynamics. In the current experiment, we probed the time course over which state estimation evolves during movement planning by combining a bimanual arm crossing movement with a temporal order judgment (TOJ) task. Human participants judged which of two successive vibrotactile stimuli delivered to each index finger arrived first as they were preparing to either cross or uncross their hands. TOJ error rate was found to systematically vary in a time- and direction-dependent manner. When planning to cross the hands, error rate systematically increased as the vibrotactile stimuli were delivered closer in time to the onset of the movement. By contrast, planning to uncross the hands led to a gradual reduction in error rate as movement planning progressed. In both cases, these changes occurred before the actual alteration in hand configuration. We suggest that these systematic changes in error represent an interaction between the evolving state estimation processes and decisions regarding the timing of successive events.
Human Cytomegalovirus US28 Facilitates Cell-to-Cell Viral Dissemination

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) encodes a number of viral proteins with homology to cellular G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). These viral GPCRs, including US27, US28, UL33, and UL78, have been ascribed numerous functions during infection, including activating diverse cellular pathways, binding to immunomodulatory chemokines, and impacting virus dissemination. To investigate the role of US28 during virus infection, two variants of the clinical isolate TB40/E were generated: TB40/E-US28YFP expressing a C-terminal yellow fluorescent protein tag, and TB40/E-FLAGYFP in which a FLAG-YFP cassette replaces the US28 coding region. The TB40/E-US28YFP protein localized as large perinuclear fluorescent structures at late times post-infection in fibroblasts, endothelial, and epithelial cells. Interestingly, US28YFP is a non-glycosylated membrane protein throughout the course of infection. US28 appears to impact cell-to-cell spread of virus, as the ΔUS28 virus (TB40/E-FLAGYFP) generated a log-greater yield of extracellular progeny whose spread could be significantly neutralized in fibroblasts. Most strikingly, in epithelial cells, where dissemination of virus occurs exclusively by the cell-to-cell route, TB40/E-FLAGYFP (ΔUS28) displayed a significant growth defect. The data demonstrates that HCMV US28 may contribute at a late stage of the viral life cycle to cell-to-cell dissemination of virus.
Exposure to a heat wave under food limitation makes an agricultural insecticide lethal: a mechanistic laboratory experiment

Extreme temperatures and exposure to agricultural pesticides are becoming more frequent and intense under global change. Their combination may be especially problematic when animals suffer food limitation. We exposed Coenagrion puella damselfly larvae to a simulated heat wave combined with food limitation and subsequently to a widespread agricultural pesticide (chlorpyrifos) in an indoor laboratory experiment designed to obtain mechanistic insights in the direct effects of these stressors in isolation and when combined. The heat wave reduced immune function (activity of phenoloxidase, PO) and metabolic rate (activity of the electron transport system, ETS). Starvation had both immediate and delayed negative sublethal effects on growth rate and physiology (reductions in Hsp70 levels, total fat content, and activity levels of PO and ETS). Exposure to chlorpyrifos negatively affected all response variables. While the immediate effects of the heat wave were subtle, our results indicate the importance of delayed effects in shaping the total fitness impact of a heat wave when followed by pesticide exposure. Firstly, the combination of delayed negative effects of the heat wave and starvation, and the immediate negative effect of chlorpyrifos considerably (71%) reduced larval growth rate. Secondly and more strikingly, chlorpyrifos only caused considerable (ca. 48%) mortality in larvae that were previously exposed to the combination of the heat wave and starvation. This strong delayed synergism for mortality could be explained by the cumulative metabolic depression caused by each of these stressors. Further studies with increased realism are needed to evaluate the consequences of the here‐identified delayed synergisms at the level of populations and communities. This is especially important as this synergism provides a novel explanation for the poorly understood potential of heat waves and of sublethal pesticide concentrations to cause mass mortality.
Influences on the Development of Children's Eating Behaviours: From Infancy to Adolescence.

Eating behaviours evolve during the first years of life; children learn what, when, and how much to eat through direct experiences with food and by observing the eating behaviours of others. In light of the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity in North America among all age groups1, including very young children, an understanding of the factors that influence eating behaviours during childhood is needed to improve the dietary patterns and health status of this age group. In this review, we will describe behavioural factors that shape the development of food acceptance, including food selection and food preferences, as well as the regulation of food intake in young children. Although a range of environmental factors may directly influence the development of child eating behaviours2,3, the primary focus of this review will be on ways in which caregivers influence children's eating environments and eating behaviours.
Soziale Unterstützung, Stresserleben und Zufriedenheit beim Auslandsaufenthalt

Diese Studie mit 127 Entsandten betrachtet im Unterschied zu bisherigen Studien soziale Unterstützung im Kontext von Auslandsentsendungen differenzierter und untersucht deren Auswirkung auf Zufriedenheit und Stresserleben. Es wurde nach Quelle – Familie, Freunde, Arbeitskollegen und Vorgesetzte – und nach Art der sozialen Unterstützung (instrumentell oder sozioemotional) differenziert. Die Unterstützung durch den Vorgesetzten und instrumentelle Unterstützung mindern das Stresserleben im Ausland. Lebenszufriedenheit kann durch die Unterstützung des Ehepartners und durch Freunde vorhergesagt werden, die Arbeitszufriedenheit hingegen durch die Unterstützung des Vorgesetzten und durch instrumentelle Unterstützung.
An Optimistic Fair Peer-to-Peer Payment System

As a decentralized technology, peer-to-peer architecture arises as a new model for electronic commerce transaction in the last few years; consequently there is a need for a scheme to incorporate payment services to enable electronic payment via peer-to-peer systems. In this paper, a transferable token scheme is proposed for peer-to-peer payment system, in which the tokens can float from a peer to another. When this kind of token is used, the fraud such as double spending can be found out but the broker need not be involved online in the payment. A new optimistic fair payment protocol for peer-to-peer transaction is presented. The arbitrator (i.e. trusted third party) need not be involved into the normal exchanges unless the disputes occur.
Head‐To‐Head Assessment of Diagnostic Performance of Testosterone Immunoassays in Patients With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Determination of plasma testosterone is critical for the proper diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), but the interpretation of biochemical tests is hampered by inadequate specificity and precision of available immunoassays. We here compared the diagnostic performance of three testosterone immunoassays (Advia Centaur, Immulite 2000 XPi, Cobas e411) in PCOS patients using receiver operator characteristics curve analysis.
The International Workshop on Computer Architecture for Machine Perception and Sensing An Ultra-Low Power , Fully Integrated VCO for an Implantable Wireless Sensor Microsystem in 90-nm CMOS

A fully-integrated, low-power 1830 MHz voltagecontrolled oscillator (VCO) used in the frequency synthesizer of an implantable wireless multisensor microsystem (IWSM) dedicated to in vivo monitoring of biological parameters is presented. The VCO, implemented in a 90-nm CMOS process, draws 380 uA from a 1V supply. Post-layout simulations show that the amplitude of oscillations is 450 mV, the phasenoise is -120 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset from the carrier and thefrequency tuning range is over 150 MHz.
FAWN-DLi : A Data Library for a Fast Array of Wimpy Nodes

Energy efficient computing is growing in importance as a means to cut costs and conserve power. One recent approach to reducing the energy cost of data management is to use large clusters of energy efficient but slow computers rather than smaller clusters of more conventional high-power machines. For these systems to perform similarly to high-power machines but on slower computers they often support only the simple data interface of a key-value storage system, which can incur high communication costs if sophisticated data operations are needed. In this project we extend one existing lowpower system, FAWN-KV, to support more sophisticated sever-side data operations. We added support for lists, sets, and maps and compared the performance of our modifications to the performance of unmodified FAWN-KV on data operations like those used in modern systems. Our modifications improved performance by up to a factor of three and outperformed the basic system in all tests.
A histochemical study of the fibrinolytic activity. Cornea, conjunctiva, and lacrimal gland.

Studied by the histochemical fibrin slide technique sections of normal cornea of man and several mammals are fibrinolytically inactive. After corneal injury plasminogen activator can be demonstrated in relation to the epithelial or endothelial linings and in detached epithelial or endothelial cells. In general, severely degenerated cells show the highest fibrinolytic activity. In fragments of corneal epithelium a weak protease effect could be demonstrated. The possible origin of the plasminogen activator and its possible physiological functions are discussed.
The corticoid environment: a determining factor for neural progenitors' survival in the adult hippocampus

New neurons continue to be generated in the adult dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. Corticosterone (CORT), a steroid secreted by the adrenal glands, had been shown to regulate progenitor proliferation. High levels of CORT suppress proliferation while low levels of the steroid stimulate it. Here we present an investigation into the regulation of survival by corticoids, with emphasis on the differential effects of the pre‐mitotic and post‐mitotic corticoid environments. Post‐mitotic adrenalectomy increased subsequent survival of progenitors at 28 days, while additional CORT administered during the post‐mitotic period decreased survival. In contrast, a corticoid‐free environment prior to progenitor division resulted in a reduced survival rate of new cells and, similarly, high levels of CORT before proliferation reduced subsequent survival. In addition, phased treatment with CORT during a 27‐day post‐mitotic interval showed that newly formed cells lose their sensitivity to administered CORT after about 18 days. These results are the first to show that the corticoid environment both before and after cell division regulates survival.
The Sound of Deafness: Smetana and Traumatic Tinnitus

Bed ř ich Smetana’s autobiographical String Quartet No. 1 gives musical representation to his experience of the onset of deafness via extreme tinnitus. In that work, his artistic choices relate an initial traumatic event (an explosive chord) to his climactic experience of tinnitus via musical structures that recall and transform that event. As a young violinist, he would often have been exposed to similar loud chords close to his ears. Though his deafness probably resulted from syphilis, Smetana chose to narrate his illness through specific musical evocations of sonic trauma and its tragic recurrence.
L-arginine and pulmonary embolism.

To the Editor: Dr. Chu and colleagues (1) recently reported interesting results showing that L-arginine can prevent air embolisminduced acute lung injury in an isolated rat lung perfusion model. They found that pretreatment with L-arginine produced no significant effects on pulmonary artery pressure (PAP), and they suggested that this lack of effect on PAP is due to persistent air bubble obstruction (1). The increase in PAP after air embolism, however, is not caused solely by obstruction of pulmonary vessels. Indeed, air bubbles are propelled into the pulmonary circulation, and their rapid disappearance from the pulmonary vascular bed is attributed mainly to gas diffusion into the alveoli (2). I believe that the rapid decay in PAP after air embolism may have precluded Dr. Chu and colleagues from finding significant effects for L-arginine on PAP. In fact, we have previously shown that nitric oxide inhalation significantly attenuated the increases in PAP during a continuous air infusion or massive air embolism in dogs (2, 3). Moreover, we have recently examined the effects of L-arginine in a model of acute pulmonary embolism (APE) using isolated rat lung perfusion. We found that pretreatment with L-arginine attenuated APE-induced pulmonary hypertension through antioxidant mechanisms involving increased nitric oxide synthesis (4). Similar reductions in PAP and antioxidant effects were found when sildenafil, a specific phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor that indirectly activates the nitric oxide-cyclic guanosine monophosphate pathway, was administered during APE (5, 6). However, L-arginine produced no effects when it was administered after APE was induced in anesthetized dogs (7) or in isolated lung perfusion preparations (4). It is possible that increased oxidative stress during APE or air embolism causes endothelial nitric oxide synthase uncoupling, and stimulation of dysfunctional endothelial nitric oxide synthase with Larginine may increase superoxide/peroxynitrite formation, thus precluding Larginine from producing beneficial hemodynamic effects (4, 7).
Impulse compression for OFDM transmission over time-varying multipath channels

In today's multicarrier modulation systems such as orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) a circular extended guard interval is inserted between successive multicarrier symbols in order to reduce intersymbol and interchannel interference. The length of the guard interval is determined by the length of the channel impulse response. In this paper, we consider an equalizer to compress the channel impulse response for OFDM transmission. Due to the compression effect, the guard interval can be reduced and the efficiency of the OFDM system increases. The system performance is demonstrated for transmission over several time-varying multipath channels with additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN).
From Supergirl to Invisible Woman

While increasing numbers of women are studying law, females remain under-represented in the senior ranks of the legal profession. One factor influencing the participation of women in corporate legal practice is the dominant conception of the legal professional as a person with a single-minded commitment to the firm. Many law schools properly promote participation in the legal profession as a reason for studying law. However, the full story should also involve a discussion with students about the range of possible work options available to them in the law, and a commitment to promoting a range of representations of 'legal practice' in the law school culture. In this way, concern with the inevitable progression of super girl to invisible woman may be replaced by a critical analysis of the very structure of legal practice.
Ocular component growth curves among Singaporean children with different refractive error status.

PURPOSE To describe and compare ocular component growth curves among different refractive error groups in Singaporean children. METHODS Data collected yearly in 1775 Asian children aged 6 to 10 years with at least three visits were analyzed. Cycloplegic refractive error and biometry variables were measured by autorefractor and A-scan ultrasound machine. Growth curves were compared between five groups: persistent hyperopia of spherical equivalent (SE) > +1.00 D, emmetropizing hyperopia of SE > +1.00 D on the first visit and between -0.50 D and +1.00 D subsequently, persistent emmetropia of SE between -0.50 D and +1.00 D, incident myopia of SE <or= -0.50 D at subsequent visits, and persistent myopia of SE <or= -0.50 D. RESULTS The axial length and vitreous chamber elongated faster in the children younger than 10 years, but elongation slowed with age. Growth patterns of axial length and vitreous chamber in the children with newly developed or persistent myopia (P < 0.01) showed faster elongation than in the emmetropic children. The anterior chamber deepened until approximately 9 or 10 years of age but became shallower as the myopic and emmetropic children grew older. Conversely, the lens thinned at younger ages and thickened at older ages for all except the persistently hyperopic children. CONCLUSIONS In young Asian children, the axial length and vitreous chamber depth increased, but the elongation slowed with age. There was a U-shaped growth curve for lens thickness and an inverted U-shaped curve for anterior chamber depth. The findings of early lens thinning followed by thickening suggest a two-phase growth of the lens.
Evaluation of center-line extraction algorithms in quantitative coronary angiography

Objective testing of centerline extraction accuracy in quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) algorithms is a very difficult task. Standard tools for this task are not yet available. The authors present a simulation tool that generates synthetic angiographic images of a single coronary artery with predetermined centerline and diameter function. This simulation tool was used creating a library of images for the objective comparison and evaluation of QCA algorithms. This technique also provides the means for understanding the relationship between the algorithms performance and limitations and the vessel's geometrical parameters. In this paper, two algorithms are evaluated and the results are presented.
The pathologies are precursors of failure - A reply to Funke

Dans un article publie en 1994, l'A. a montre qu'un grand nombre de pathologies sont presentes a un plus haut degre chez les sujets ayant de mauvaises performances que chez les sujets ayant de bonnes performances, lors d'exercices de prise de decision dynamique. Il a ainsi montre que tous les comportements examines devaient etre interpretes comme precurseurs plutot que comme consequences de l'echec. Dans le present article, il repond au commentaire de Funke (1995) qui considere qu'aucune de ses conclusions ne sont convaincantes, que les pathologies ne sont pas clairement definies et que leur observation est influencee par le feedback des resultats
Functional traits predict relationship between plant abundance dynamic and long-term climate warming

Significance Although the response of the Plant Kingdom to climate change is acknowledged as one of the fundamental feedback mechanisms of environmental changes on the Earth, until now, the response of plant species to in situ climate warming has been described at the level of a few fixed plant functional types (i.e. grasses, forbs, shrubs etc.). This approach is very coarse and inflexible. Here, we show that plant functional traits (i.e., plant features) can be used as predictors of vegetation response to climate warming. This finding enlarges possibilities for forecasting ecosystem responses to climate change. Predicting climate change impact on ecosystem structure and services is one of the most important challenges in ecology. Until now, plant species response to climate change has been described at the level of fixed plant functional types, an approach limited by its inflexibility as there is much interspecific functional variation within plant functional types. Considering a plant species as a set of functional traits greatly increases our possibilities for analysis of ecosystem functioning and carbon and nutrient fluxes associated therewith. Moreover, recently assembled large-scale databases hold comprehensive per-species data on plant functional traits, allowing a detailed functional description of many plant communities on Earth. Here, we show that plant functional traits can be used as predictors of vegetation response to climate warming, accounting in our test ecosystem (the species-rich alpine belt of Caucasus mountains, Russia) for 59% of variability in the per-species abundance relation to temperature. In this mountain belt, traits that promote conservative leaf water economy (higher leaf mass per area, thicker leaves) and large investments in belowground reserves to support next year’s shoot buds (root carbon content) were the best predictors of the species increase in abundance along with temperature increase. This finding demonstrates that plant functional traits constitute a highly useful concept for forecasting changes in plant communities, and their associated ecosystem services, in response to climate change.