Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Risk Factors Assessment of the Difficult Airway: An Italian Survey of 1956 Patients

Over the last decade, there has been a heightened awareness and an increase in the amount of literature being published on recognition and prediction of the difficult airway. During the preoperative evaluation of the airway, a thorough history and physical specifically related to the airway should be performed. Various measurements of anatomic features and noninvasive clinical tests can be performed to enhance this assessment. In this study we correlated the Mallampati modified score and several other indexes with the laryngoscopic view to identify anatomical and clinical risk factors related to the difficult airway. We prospectively collected data on 1956 consecutive patients scheduled to receive general anesthesia requiring endotracheal intubation for elective surgery. The Mallampati classification versus the Cormack-Lehane (C-L) linear correlation index was 0.904. A Mallampati Class 3 correlated with a C-L Grade 2 (0.94), whereas a Mallampati Class 4 correlated with a C-L Grade 3 (0.85) and a C-L Grade 4 (0.80). Operator evaluation, performed by a simplified tracheal intubation difficulty scale, showed a linear correlation of 0.96 compared with the C-L groups. Although there is a correlation between oropharyngeal volume and difficult intubation, the Mallampati score by itself is insufficient for predicting difficult endotracheal intubation.
Raster Image Districting and Its Application to Geoinformation

We propose a flexible raster image districting framework based on generalized Voronoi diagrams through Euclidean distance transforms. We introduce a three-scan algorithm that segments raster images in O(N) time when N is the number of pixels. The algorithm is capable of handling generators of complex types (point, line and area), Minkowski metrics and different weights. This paper also provides applications of the proposed method in various geoinformation datasets. Illustrated examples demonstrate the usefulness and robustness of our proposed method.
ION CHANNELS , RECEPTORS AND TRANSPORTERS HERG 1 channelopathies

Human ether a go-go-related gene type 1 (hERG1) K channels conduct the rapid delayed rectifier K current and mediate action potential repolarization in the heart. Mutations in KCNH2 (the gene that encodes hERG1) causes LQT2, one of the most common forms of long QT syndrome, a disorder of cardiac repolarization that predisposes affected subjects to ventricular arrhythmia and increases the risk of sudden cardiac death. Hundreds of LQT2-associated mutations have been described, and most cause a loss of function by disrupting subunit folding, assembly, or trafficking of the channel to the cell surface. Loss-of-function mutations in hERG1 channels have also recently been implicated in epilepsy. A single gain-offunction mutation has been described that causes short QT syndrome and cardiac arrhythmia. In addition, up-regulation of hERG1 channel expression has been demonstrated in specific tumors and has been associated with skeletal muscle atrophy in mice.
Risk Factors of Caries Progression in a Hispanic School-aged Population

The purpose of this Institutional Review Board-approved study was to identify risk factors of caries lesion progression in children enrolled in rural schools in Puerto Rico. A convenience sample of 408 children (5-13 yrs old) was examined at baseline and at 12 and 24 mos with the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS). A total of 395 caregivers completed a 25-item questionnaire including socio-demographic, dietary, protective factors, disease experience, and access to care. Caries progression was significant (89% and 91% at 12 and 24 mos, respectively). Multiple-variable models for predicting children with lesion progression and numbers of lesions progressing were calculated for 2 outcome variables (any-progression vs. progression-toward-cavitation). Models developed had areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve ranging between 0.70 and 0.79 and were very similar regardless of the outcome (progression criteria), prediction time (12-24 mos), or inclusion (or not) of previous caries experience. Significant predictors of disease progression collected through a parent-completed questionnaire included questions related to caries experience in the child or caregiver, and the caregiver’s rating of the child’s oral health.
Recent Progress in Multiferroic Magnetoelectric Composites: from Bulk to Thin Films

Multiferroic magnetoelectric composite systems such as ferromagnetic‐ferroelectric heterostructures have recently attracted an ever‐increasing interest and provoked a great number of research activities, driven by profound physics from coupling between ferroelectric and magnetic orders, as well as potential applications in novel multifunctional devices, such as sensors, transducers, memories, and spintronics. In this Review, we try to summarize what remarkable progress in multiferroic magnetoelectric composite systems has been achieved in most recent few years, with emphasis on thin films; and to describe unsolved issues and new device applications which can be controlled both electrically and magnetically.
What are the critical elements of sideline screening that can be used to establish the diagnosis of concussion? A systematic review

Background Sideline detection is the first and most significant step in recognising a potential concussion and removing an athlete from harm. This systematic review aims to evaluate the critical elements aiding sideline recognition of potential concussions including screening tools, technologies and integrated assessment protocols. Data sources Bibliographic databases, grey literature repositories and relevant websites were searched from 1 January 2000 to 30 September 2016. A total of 3562 articles were identified. Study selection Original research studies evaluating a sideline tool, technology or protocol for sports-related concussion were eligible, of which 27 studies were included. Data extraction A standardised form was used to record information. The QUADAS-2 and Newcastle-Ottawa tools were used to rate risk of bias. Strength of evidence was assessed using the Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation Working Group system. Data synthesis Studies assessing symptoms, the King-Devick test and multimodal assessments reported high sensitivity and specificity. Evaluations of balance and cognitive tests described lower sensitivity but higher specificity. However, these studies were at high risk of bias and the overall strength of evidence examining sideline screening tools was very low. A strong body of evidence demonstrated that head impact sensors did not provide useful sideline concussion information. Low-strength evidence suggested a multimodal, multitime-based concussion evaluation process incorporating video review was important in the recognition of significant head impact events and delayed onset concussion. Conclusion In the absence of definitive evidence confirming the diagnostic accuracy of sideline screening tests, consensus-derived multimodal assessment tools, such as the Sports Concussion Assessment Tool, are recommended. Sideline video review may improve recognition and removal from play of athletes who have sustained significant head impact events. Current evidence does not support the use of impact sensor systems for real-time concussion identification.
Quantitative Electroencephalographic Abnormalities in Fibromyalgia Patients

There is increasing acceptance that pain in fibromyalgia (FM) is a result of dysfunctional sensory processing in the spinal cord and brain, and a number of recent imaging studies have demonstrated abnormal central mechanisms. The objective of this report is to statistically compare quantitative electroencephalogram (qEEG) measures in 85 FM patients with age and gender matched controls in a normative database. A statistically significant sample (minimum 60 seconds from each subject) of artifact-free EEG data exhibiting a minimum split-half reliability ratio of 0.95 and test-retest reliability ratio of 0.90 was used as the threshold for acceptable data inclusion. FM subject EEG data was compared to EEGs of age and gender matched healthy subjects in the Lifespan Normative Database and analyzed using NeuroGuide 2.0 software. Analyses were based on spectral absolute power, relative power and coherence. Clinical evaluations included the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Beck Depression Inventory and Fischer dolorimetry for pain pressure thresholds. Based on Z-statistic findings, the EEGs from FM subjects differed from matched controls in the normative database in three features: (1) reduced EEG spectral absolute power in the frontal International 10–20 EEG measurement sites, particularly in the low- to mid-frequency EEG spectral segments; (2) elevated spectral relative power of high frequency components in frontal / central EEG measurement sites; and (3) widespread hypocoherence, particularly in low- to mid-frequency EEG spectral segments, in the frontal EEG measurement sites. A consistent and significant negative correlation was found between pain severity and the magnitude of the EEG abnormalities. No relationship between EEG findings and medicine use was found. It is concluded that qEEG analysis reveals significant differences between FM patients compared to age and gender matched healthy controls in a normative database, and has the potential to be a clinically useful tool for assessing brain function in FM patients.
Case-control study of severe life threatening asthma (SLTA) in adults: psychological factors

Background: Severe life threatening asthma (SLTA) is important in its own right and as a proxy for asthma death. In order to target hospital based intervention strategies to those most likely to benefit, risk factors for SLTA among those admitted to hospital need to be identified. Adverse psychological factors are purported risk factors for asthma death and SLTA /near fatal asthma. A study was undertaken to determine whether, in comparison with patients admitted to hospital with acute asthma, those with SLTA have specific adverse psychological factors. Methods: A case-control study was undertaken. Cases (n=77) were admitted to the intensive care unit with SLTA (mean (SD) pH 7.17 (0.15), Paco2 10.7 (5.0) kPa). Controls (n=239) were admitted to general wards with acute asthma and were matched only by date of index attack. An interviewer administered questionnaire was undertaken 24–48 hours after admission. A random sample of community based asthmatics was recruited to provide normative data on asthmatics for comparison with cases and hospital controls. Results: The risk of SLTA increased with age (OR 1.04/year, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.07) and was less for women (OR 0.36, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.68). These variables were controlled for in all further analyses. There was a high prevalence of psychological disorder in both cases and matched controls, but there was no difference in prevalence of caseness for anxiety or depression, total (or individual) life events in last 12 months, availability of general or disease specific social support, nor in any of the domains of the Attitudes and Beliefs about Asthma Questionnaire (emotional (mal) adjustment, doctor-patient relationship, stigma, self-efficacy). Cases (SLTA) were less likely to have had previous emotional counselling (25% v 35%, p<0.05). However, when comparison was made with a community based group of asthmatic patients, those admitted to hospital with acute asthma (SLTA and hospital controls) had a higher prevalence of anxiety and depression, higher total life events, and higher prevalence of certain specific life events. Conclusions: There was considerable psychological morbidity generally (and anxiety specifically) in those admitted with acute asthma. Specific adverse psychological factors were not risk factors for SLTA, when comparison was made with those admitted to hospital with acute asthma, but adverse psychological factors were a risk factor for hospitalisation for acute asthma (including SLTA). Psychological risk factors for adverse events in asthma are dependent both on the type of event under study and the comparison group used.
Basic study of variable magnetic flux dual-rotor IPMSM for automotive application

High efficiency permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs) are commonly used in electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). PMSMs are generally inefficient at high speed because of the use of the flux weakening control. This paper shows possibility that the variable magnetic flux dual-rotor IPMSM, which has a high efficiency in the high-speed and low-torque region. The efficiency of the proposed motor can be improved at high speeds by adjusting the relative angle between the inner rotor and outer rotors.
Ventilatory efficiency, capacity and lung volumes in healthy children.

The Ventilatory efficiency of healthy children was investigated with a N2 wash-out technique. N2 elimination time was considerably shorter than in adults and the reproducibility lower. The reproducibility of wash-out volume, functional residual capacity (FRC) and lung clearance index (LCI) was as high for the children as that reported for adults. The mean and SD values of LCI agreed with those found in adults, investigated with the same equipment. The range of the Lichtneckert-Lundgren index of alveolar ventilation (IAV) was in agreement with that found in adults. Lung volumes and ventilatory capacity differed in some respects from the findings in earlier investigations of healthy Swedish children.
Strategies for reducing solvent toxicity in extractive fermentations

The toxicity of an Alamine 336/oleyl‐alcohol extraction system on Lactobacillus delbrueckii was investigated. It was shown that the solvent affected the cells through the water‐soluble portion and the immiscible portion of the solvent. While immobilization significantly protected the cells from the immiscible solvent phase, the water‐soluble part of the solvent still caused toxicity to the microorganisms due to diffusion of the solvent into the matrix. Adding soybean oil to the κ‐carrageenan matrix could trap the diffusing solvent molecules, and therefore reduce the toxic effect from the water soluble portion of the solvent. The protective ability of soybean oil was quantified through mathematical modeling and experimentation.
An online technique for condition monitoring of capacitor in PV system

DC-DC converters are used to interconnect solar photovoltaic (PV) to a dc micro grid or to a battery. Capacitors are connected at the output of a PV terminal to minimize power pulsation. Operational life of capacitor decreases due to various electrical and environmental parameters. In this paper, a method for condition monitoring of the capacitors used in PV system is proposed. The technique combines the estimation of equivalent series resistance (ESR) and capacitance in one tool. This technique allows reliable prediction of capacitor life as compared to existing techniques. The proposed method can be implanted in the same microcontroller that is used for implementing the maximum power point tracking. To validate the efficacy of the method detailed simulation studies are performed in MATLAB-Simulink.
ABCA1 mutation carriers with low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol are characterized by a larger atherosclerotic burden.

AIMS Low HDL-C is a potent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Yet, mutations in ABCA1, a major determinant of circulating HDL-C levels, were previously not associated with CVD risk in cohort studies. To study the consequences of low plasma levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) due to ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) dysfunction for atherosclerotic vascular disease in the carotid arteries. METHODS AND RESULTS We performed 3.0 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements of the carotid arteries in 36 carriers of high impact functional ABCA1 mutations and 36 normolipidemic controls. Carriers presented with 42% lower HDL-C levels (P < 0.001), a larger mean wall area (18.6 ± 6.0 vs. 15.8 ± 4.3 mm(2); P = 0.02), a larger mean wall thickness (0.82 ± 0.21 vs. 0.70 ± 0.14 mm; P = 0.005), and a higher normalized wall index (0.37 ± 0.06 vs. 0.33 ± 0.04; P = 0.005) compared with controls, retaining significance after adjustment for smoking, alcohol consumption, systolic blood pressure, diabetes, body mass index, history of CVD, LDL-C, and statin use (P = 0.002). CONCLUSION Carriers of loss of function ABCA1 mutations display a larger atherosclerotic burden compared with age and sex-matched controls, implying a higher risk for CVD. Further studies are needed to elucidate the full function of ABCA1 in the protection against atherosclerosis. These data support the development of strategies to up-regulate ABCA1 in patients with established CVD.
Regulation of Glucose Uptake and Metabolism by Working Muscle: An In Vivo Analysis

To assess the mechanisms whereby muscular work stimulates glucose uptake and metabolism in vivo, dogs were studied during rest (–40–0 min), moderate exercise (0–90 min), and exercise recovery (90–180 min) with plasma glucose clamped at 5.0, 6.7, 8.3, and 10.0 mM (n = 5 at 5.0 mM and n = 4 at all other levels) using a variable glucose infusion. Basal insulin was maintained with somatostatin and insulin replacement. Whole-body glucose uptake, limb glucose uptake, and oxidative and nonoxidative glucose plus lactate metabolism, were assessed with tracers ([3H]glucose and [14C]glucose) and arteriovenous differences. The combined effects of glucose and exercise on the increment above resting values for limb glucose uptake, arteriovenous glucose difference, LGO, LGNO, and rate of glucose disappearance were synergistic (∼ 112, 90, 125, 76, and 90% > the additive values, respectively). Neither exercise nor recovery affected the Km for limb glucose uptake (4.7 ± 1.1, 4.8 ± 0.4, and 5.2 ± 0.3 mM during rest, exercise, and recovery, respectively), but both conditions increased the Vmax (44 ± 16, 217 ± 30, and 118 ± 14 mumol/min during rest, exercise, and recovery, respectively). Similarly, the Km for arteriovenous glucose differences were unaffected by exercise recovery (4.9 ± 0.6, 5.0 ± 0.4, and 5.3 ± 0.3 mM during rest, exercise, and recovery, respectively), but the maximum rose (272 ± 50, 650 ± 78, and 822 ± 111 microM during rest, exercise, and recovery, respectively). The LGO was unchanged by glycemia at rest (15 ± 4 mumol/min at 10.0 mM). The Km for LGO during exercise was 5.1 ± 0.3 mM, and the Vmax was 163 ± 15. The capacity for LGO returned to basal during recovery. LGNO increased gradually with increasing glycemia during rest, exercise, and recovery and did not approach saturation (38 ± 13, 105 ± 36, and 132 ± 45 mumol/min during rest, exercise, and recovery, respectively, at 10.0 mM). In general, the LGNO was elevated at every glucose level during exercise (∼ twofold) and recovery (∼ threefold) compared with rest. Arterial free fatty acid and glycerol levels decreased with increasing glycemia within all periods. Free fatty acids were suppressed by a greater amount during exercise compared with rest and recovery. This study shows that 1) the combined effects of exercise and increased glucose level act synergistically on glucose uptake and metabolism; 2) exercise increases the Vmax for limb glucose uptake and arteriovenous glucose difference without altering the Km for these variables; 3) the capacity for LGNO predominates at rest, whereas the capacity for LGO predominates during exercise; 4) during recovery the capacity for LGO returned to basal, whereas that for LGNO remained elevated; and 5) glucose-induced suppression of free fatty acid levels was greatest during exercise. In conclusion, an increase in circulating glucose within the physiological range, which has only minor effects at rest, profoundly increases muscle glucose metabolism and decreases free fatty acid availability during exercise.
Japanese sporadic case of erythrokeratodermia variabilis caused by the connexin‐30.3 (GJB4) mutation: Is Glycine 12 a mutational hotspot in the connexin family?

was treated with a recombinant growth hormone until adolescence, which resulted in her reaching the height of 153 cm. Until she was diagnosed as having DCM at the age of 33 years, her bodyweight had been 72 kg. After the diagnosis of DCM, her bodyweight dramatically decreased to 42 kg because of appetite loss. In our case, it seems that TS had something to do with the occurrence of GPP at the age of 26 years. Further studies are necessary to examine the genetic background including IL36RN mutation. Recently, psoriasis has been thought to be a systemic inflammatory disease, and the “inflammatory characteristic” in cardiomyopathies has also been unraveled. In our patient, chronic inflammation and persistent secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines from the age of 26 years may be considered the potential pathway, triggering the initiation and progression of DCM. Although there has been no other report of the association of GPP and DCM, we must be aware that severe psoriasis such as GPP occurring in a TS patient could possibly induce a cardiovascular disease including DCM. CONFLICT OF INTEREST: None declared.
Extensive Genetic Diversity within the Dutch Clinical Cryptococcus neoformans Population

ABSTRACT A set of 300 Dutch Cryptococcus neoformans isolates, obtained from 237 patients during 1977 to 2007, was investigated by determining the mating type, serotype, and AFLP and microsatellite genotype and susceptibility to seven antifungal compounds. Almost half of the studied cases were from HIV-infected patients, followed by a patient group of individuals with other underlying diseases and immunocompetent individuals. The majority of the isolates were mating type α and serotype A, followed by αD isolates and other minor categories. The most frequently observed genotype was AFLP1, distantly followed by AFLP2 and AFLP3. Microsatellite typing revealed a high genetic diversity among serotype A isolates but a lower diversity within the serotype D set of isolates. One patient was infected by multiple AFLP genotypes. Fluconazole and flucytosine had the highest geometric mean MICs of 2.9 and 3.5 μg/ml, respectively, while amphotericin B (0.24 μg/ml), itraconazole (0.08 μg/ml), voriconazole (0.07 μg/ml), posaconazole (0.06 μg/ml), and isavuconazole (0.03 μg/ml) had much lower geometric mean MICs. One isolate had a high flucytosine MIC (>64 μg/ml), while decreased susceptibility (≥16 μg/ml) for flucytosine and fluconazole was found in 9 and 10 C. neoformans isolates, respectively.