Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
WheelieMap: an exploratory system for qualitative reports of inaccessibility in the built environment

The built environment remains a persistent accessibility challenge for people with mobility impairments. Whilst platforms to report these inaccessible locations exist, the underlying documentation processes are verbose, time-consuming and fail to effectively communicate the barrier at hand. We propose WheelieMap, a platform which uses the motion of manual wheelchair users to support the identification and documentation of potentially problematic locations. WheelieMap captures and segments device video footage and GPS as evidence of the problematic space, which can then be shared with both other people with disabilities and the relevant authorities. We document the use of the WheelieMap prototype by both manual wheelchair users and planning experts through semi-structured interviews. The qualitative findings revealed this approach to be the most viable route for documenting inaccessibility, compared to the existing alternatives. We also offer guidance on how to design and develop similar community driven reporting and annotation systems in the accessibility setting.
Factores condicionantes de la productividad del sector industrial español

Resumen: El objetivo básico del trabajo consiste en analizar los factores determinantes de las ganancias de productividad de las ramas industriales de las regiones españolas durante el período 1980-1992, a la vez que investigar el grado de eficiencia técnica con que han actuado dichas ramas en el período mencionado. Para ello, se parte de funciones de producción ampliadas, que incluyen no sólo los inputs básicos (capital privado y trabajo) sino también las dotaciones de capital público productivo existentes en cada región. La metodología utilizada en el análisis hace uso tanto de métodos paramétricos (funciones de producción frontera estocásticas) como de métodos no paramétricos (análisis envolvente de datos), obteniéndose una clasificación de las regiones más (in)eficientes en cada sector durante el período analizado. Palabras clave: función de producción, eficiencia técnica, productividad, capital público.
Conservative Management of Congenital Muscular Torticollis: An Evidence-Based Algorithm and Preliminary Treatment Parameter Recommendations

ABSTRACT Purpose: To present an algorithm with accompanying treatment parameters for the management of congenital muscular torticollis (CMT) based on the best available literature. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, MEDLINE, CINHAL, and Cochrane databases was conducted to identify evidence to guide the conservative management of CMT. Results: An evidence-based algorithm was created based on three prognostic factors that influence treatment duration and outcome, including a sternocleidomastoid fibrotic mass, passive range of motion rotation deficit, and age at initiation of treatment. Preliminary treatment parameter recommendations for clinic and home programming accompany the algorithm. Conclusion: Use of the proposed evidence-based algorithm with accompanying preliminary treatment parameter recommendations may improve consistency of care and outcomes for infants with CMT. While a higher level of evidence supports the three prognostic factors utilized in the algorithm, research gaps continue to exist with regards to treatment parameters.
Improving the performance for task assignment in distributed server systems by partitioning the large tasks

Task Assignment in distributed server systems focuses on the policy that assigns the tasks reached these systems in order to improve the response time. These tasks, generally, have the property that there is a tiny fraction (about 3%) of the large tasks that makes half (50%) of the total load. However, this property creates additional problems: the large tasks make the load difficult to balance among the servers, and the small tasks will be delayed by the large ones when they are in the same queue. In this paper, we propose a new policy for the Web clusters that we call Partitioning Large Tasks (PLT) and which deals with these problems mostly under a high traffic demand and a high variability of task sizes. PLT partitions each large task into fragments and assigns them to be processed in a parallel way and completing at the same time to improve the mean response time, and separates the small tasks from the large tasks to avoid being delayed. Performance tests show a significantly improvement in performance of PLT over the existing task assignment policies.
Can the Pathology of a Thyroid Nodule Be Determined by Positron Emission Tomography Uptake?

Objectives. To determine if standardized uptake values (SUV) on positron emission tomography (PET) are predictive of thyroid pathology and the significance of serial SUV measurements of thyroid nodules over time. Study Design. Case series with chart review. Setting. Academic health center. Subjects. In total, 23,384 PET and PET/computed tomography (CT) scans were performed between December 2001 and April 2011. Methods. Patients with incidental thyroid uptake were identified. SUVmax, age, sex, size of thyroid lesion, indication for PET scan, and cytology/pathology were collected. Results. Incidental thyroid uptake was noted in 1309 PET scans (5.60%), focal uptake in 690 (2.95%), and diffuse uptake in 619 (2.65%). Complete data were available for 359 PET scans from 103 patients. Malignancy was identified in 28 patients (27%). Twenty-five of the 28 lesions (89%) were primary thyroid malignancies. A significant difference between malignant SUVmax and benign SUVmax was found (mean ± SD, 7.04 ± 7.88 for malignancies vs 3.85 ± 3.06 for benign tumors, P = .0292). Receiver operating characteristics curves were constructed on patients with PET data within 3 months of diagnosis and indicated that a SUVmax of 4.2 differentiated maximally between benign and malignant lesions. Serial SUV uptake had no significant change over time. Conclusion. All thyroid nodules with focal uptake on 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose–PET/CT should be considered at higher risk of malignancy than those discovered incidentally by other imaging modalities. Higher SUVmax values are more indicative of malignant lesions. All lesions should be evaluated with ultrasonography ± fine-needle aspiration if no clinical contraindications exist. Size of the primary nodule does not influence SUVmax uptake.
Low-glycemic index diets in the management of diabetes: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE The use of diets with low glycemic index (GI) in the management of diabetes is controversial, with contrasting recommendations around the world. We performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to determine whether low-GI diets, compared with conventional or high-GI diets, improved overall glycemic control in individuals with diabetes, as assessed by reduced HbA(1c) or fructosamine levels. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Literature searches identified 14 studies, comprising 356 subjects, that met strict inclusion criteria. All were randomized crossover or parallel experimental design of 12 days' to 12 months' duration (mean 10 weeks) with modification of at least two meals per day. Only 10 studies documented differences in postprandial glycemia on the two types of diet. RESULTS Low-GI diets reduced HbA(1c) by 0.43% points (CI 0.72-0.13) over and above that produced by high-GI diets. Taking both HbA(1c) and fructosamine data together and adjusting for baseline differences, glycated proteins were reduced 7.4% (8.8-6.0) more on the low-GI diet than on the high-GI diet. This result was stable and changed little if the data were unadjusted for baseline levels or excluded studies of short duration. Systematically taking out each study from the meta-analysis did not change the CIs. CONCLUSIONS Choosing low-GI foods in place of conventional or high-GI foods has a small but clinically useful effect on medium-term glycemic control in patients with diabetes. The incremental benefit is similar to that offered by pharmacological agents that also target postprandial hyperglycemia.
Postoperative Pain Control

Abstract The effective relief of pain is of the utmost importance to anyone treating patients undergoing surgery. Pain relief has significant physiological benefits; hence, monitoring of pain relief is increasingly becoming an important postoperative quality measure. The goal for postoperative pain management is to reduce or eliminate pain and discomfort with a minimum of side effects. Various agents (opioid vs. nonopioid), routes (oral, intravenous, neuraxial, regional) and modes (patient controlled vs. “as needed”) for the treatment of postoperative pain exist. Although traditionally the mainstay of postoperative analgesia is opioid based, increasingly more evidence exists to support a multimodal approach with the intent to reduce opioid side effects (such as nausea and ileus) and improve pain scores. Enhanced recovery protocols to reduce length of stay in colorectal surgery are becoming more prevalent and include multimodal opioid sparing regimens as a critical component. Familiarity with the efficacy of available agents and routes of administration is important to tailor the postoperative regimen to the needs of the individual patient.
Melatonin treatment improves blood pressure, lipid profile, and parameters of oxidative stress in patients with metabolic syndrome

Abstract: Experimental studies have proven that melatonin has many beneficial pleiotropic actions. The aim of this study was to assess melatonin efficacy in patients with metabolic syndrome (MS). The study included 33 healthy volunteers (who were not treated with melatonin) and 30 patients with MS, who did not respond to 3‐month lifestyle modification. Patients with MS were treated with melatonin (5 mg/day, 2 hr before bedtime) for 2 months. The following parameters were studied: systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP), levels of glucose, serum lipids, C‐reactive protein, fibrinogen, activities of antioxidative enzymes: catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), thiobarbituric acid reactive substrates (TBARS). After 2‐month therapy in comparison with baseline, the following significant changes were measured: systolic blood pressure (132.8 ± 9.8 versus 120.5 ± 11.0 mmHg, P < 0.001), DBP (81.7 ± 8.8 versus 75 ± 7.4 mmHg, P < 0.01), low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) (149.7 ± 26.4 versus 139.9 ± 30.2 mg/dL, P < 0.05), TBARS (0.5 ± 0.2 versus 0.4 ± 0.1 μm/gHb, P < 0.01), and CAT (245.9 ± 46.9 versus 276.8 ± 39.4 U/gHb). Melatonin administered for 2 months significantly improved antioxidative defense (increase in CAT activity, decrease in TBARS level) and lipid profile (decrease in LDL‐C), and lowered blood pressure. We conclude that melatonin therapy may be of benefit for patients with MS, particularly with arterial hypertension. Further studies with higher doses of melatonin or prolonged supplementation are awaited.
Expression of BCL‐2 via adeno‐associated virus vectors rescues thalamic neurons after visual cortex lesion in the adult rat

Lesions of the mammalian visual cortex cause the retrograde degeneration of the thalamic neurons projecting to the damaged cortex. The proto‐oncogene bcl‐2 is known to inhibit neuronal apoptosis induced by a variety of noxious stimuli and preserve the functional integrity of the injured cells. Here we have tested whether the overexpression of bcl‐2 via adeno‐associated virus (AAV) vectors is able to protect the neurons in the lateral geniculate nucleus after visual cortex ablation in adult rats. Recombinant AAV vectors encoding Bcl‐2 (AAV‐Bcl‐2) or green fluorescent protein (AAV‐GFP) as a control were stereotaxically injected into the geniculate. Three weeks after vector injection, the ipsilateral visual cortex was removed by aspiration, and cell survival was assessed 2 weeks later. We found that 20% of the geniculate neurons were transduced by the Bcl‐2 vector. These cells were completely protected from death following cortical ablation. Delivery of AAV‐GFP transduced an identical number of geniculate neurons but had no effect on cell survival after lesion. The total number of surviving geniculate neurons was found to be significantly higher in animals injected with AAV‐Bcl‐2 than in rats injected with AAV‐GFP or in control lesioned rats. These data indicate that Bcl‐2 gene therapy with AAV vectors represents an effective treatment to promote neuronal survival after central nervous system insults.
Primary and secondary prevention of myocardial infarction and strokes: an update of randomly allocated, controlled trials.

AIM To summarize the risk factors associated with coronary heart disease and strokes and to evaluate measures used in the prevention and treatment of these diseases. METHOD A review of the results of randomly allocated clinical trials of treatment for both primary and secondary prevention of coronary heart disease and strokes. RESULTS Reductions in elevated blood pressure and cholesterol and cessation of cigarette smoking have clearly been shown to reduce the incidence of coronary heart disease. A reduction in blood pressure has also been shown to reduce the risk of strokes. In addition to other classical risk factors, such as abnormal serum lipids, diabetes and a genetic predisposition, recent studies have shown that elevated levels of fibrinogen and other clotting factors, elevated levels of renin and decreased levels of anti-oxidant vitamins such as E, C and beta-carotene can predict coronary heart disease and strokes. Thrombolytic therapy, aspirin and beta-blockers have been shown to reduce mortality in patients with myocardial infarction, and the latter two agents reduce mortality, re-infarction and strokes with long-term use. Treatment with intravenous magnesium and nitrates has shown promise but larger trials are required to confirm the results. Both aspirin and heparin have proven value in reducing the incidence of myocardial infarction and death in unstable angina. Following an acute myocardial infarction, long-term therapy with aspirin, beta-blockers, lipid-lowering agents and oral anticoagulants has been shown to reduce mortality and re-infarction. In patients with large infarcts associated with a low ejection fraction or heart failure, the use of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors reduces mortality, hospitalization for heart failure and re-infarction. The use of diuretics to lower blood pressure reduces strokes. In contrast, calcium antagonists do not appear to consistently reduce mortality or prevent vascular events when used for primary or secondary prevention of either myocardial infarction or strokes. CONCLUSIONS Myocardial infarction and strokes can be prevented by refraining from smoking and maintaining appropriate blood pressure levels and a favourable balance of lipids. Following a myocardial infarction, further drug treatment should include aspirin, thrombolytic therapy (in acute myocardial infarction), beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors (in patients with a low ejection fraction) and perhaps anticoagulants.
The Hidden Side of Invasions: Massive Introgression by Local Genes

Abstract Despite hundreds of reports involving both plants and animals, the mechanisms underlying introgression remain obscure, even if some form of selection is frequently invoked. Introgression has repeatedly been reported in species that have recently colonized a new habitat, suggesting that demographic processes should be given more attention for understanding the mechanisms of introgression. Here we show by spatially explicit simulations that massive introgression of neutral genes takes place during the invasion of an occupied territory if interbreeding is not severely prevented between the invading and the local species. We also demonstrate that introgression occurs almost exclusively from the local to the invading species, especially for populations located far away from the source of the invasion, and this irrespective of the relative densities of the two species. This pattern is strongest at markers experiencing reduced gene flow, in keeping with the observation that organelle genes are often preferentially introgressed across species boundaries. A survey of the literature shows that a majority of published empirical studies of introgression during range expansions, in animals and in plants, follow the predictions of our model. Our results imply that speciation genes can be identified by comparing genomes of interfertile native and invading species pairs.
If FST does not measure neutral genetic differentiation, then comparing it with QST is misleading. Or is it?

The comparison between neutral genetic differentiation (FST) and quantitative genetic differentiation (QST) is commonly used to test for signatures of selection in population divergence. However, there is an ongoing discussion about what FST actually measures, even resulting in some alternative metrics to express neutral genetic differentiation. If there is a problem with FST, this could have repercussions for its comparison with QST as well. We show that as the mutation rate of the neutral marker increases, FST decreases: a higher within‐population heterozygosity (He) yields a lower FST value. However, the same is true for QST: a higher mutation rate for the underlying QTL also results in a lower QST estimate. The effect of mutation rate is equivalent in QST and FST. Hence, the comparison between QST and FST remains valid, if one uses neutral markers whose mutation rates are not too high compared to those of quantitative traits. Usage of highly variable neutral markers such as hypervariable microsatellites can lead to serious biases and the incorrect inference that divergent selection has acted on populations. Much of the discussion on FST seems to stem from the misunderstanding that it measures the differentiation of populations, whereas it actually measures the fixation of alleles. In their capacity as measures of population differentiation, Hedrick’s G′ST and Jost’s D reach their maximum value of 1 when populations do not share alleles even when there remains variation within populations, which invalidates them for comparisons with QST.
Logic-Level Countermeasures to Secure FPGA based Designs. (Contremesures au niveau logique pour sécuriser les architectures de crypto-processeurs dans un FPGA)

Modern field programmable gate arrays (FPGA) are capable of implementing complex system on chip (SoC) and providing high performance. Therefore, FPGAs are finding wide application. A complex SoC generally contains embedded cryptographic cores to encrypt/decrypt data to ensure security. These cryptographic cores are computationally secure but their physical implementations can be compromised using side channel attacks (SCA) or fault attacks (FA). This thesis focuses on countermeasures for securing cryptographic cores on FPGAs. First, a register-transfer level countermeasure called ''Unrolling'' is proposed. This hiding countermeasure executes multiple rounds of a cryptographic algorithm per clock which allows deeper diffusion of data. Results show excellent resistance against SCA. This is followed by dual-rail precharge logic (DPL) based countermeasures, which form a major part of this work. Wave dynamic differential logic (WDDL), a commonly used DPL countermeasure well suited for FPGAs is studied. Analysis of WDDL (DPL in general) against FA revealed that it is resistant against a majority of faults. Therefore, if flaws in DPL namely early propagation effect (EPE) and technological imbalance are fixed, DPL can evolve as a common countermeasure against SCA and FA. Continuing on this line of research we propose two new countermeasures: DPL without EPE and Balanced-Cell based DPL (BCDL). Finally advanced evaluation tools like stochastic model, mutual information and combined attacks are discussed which are useful when analyzing countermeasures.
Vorapaxar in Atherosclerotic Disease Management

Objective: To review the pharmacology, efficacy, and safety of vorapaxar, a protease activator receptor-1 (PAR-1) antagonist, in the management of atherosclerotic diseases. Data Sources: Peer-reviewed clinical trials and review articles were identified from MEDLINE and Current Content database (both 1966 to December 31, 2014) using the search terms vorapaxar and protease activator receptor antagonist. Study Selection and Data Extraction: A total of 30 clinical studies were identified (16 clinical trials, including subanalyses, 14 related to pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics and drug interactions). Data Synthesis: Two phase III clinical trials with vorapaxar have been published. In patients with non–ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (MI), vorapaxar failed to significantly reduce the primary efficacy end point (composite of cardiovascular death, MI, stroke, recurrent ischemia with hospitalization, and urgent coronary revascularization). Conversely, in a study of secondary prevention for patients with cardiovascular disease, the composite end point of cardiovascular death, MI, or stroke was significantly reduced. In both trials, the safety end points of major/minor bleeding were increased compared with placebo. In the secondary prevention trial, an increased incidence of intracranial hemorrhage led to the exclusion of patients with a prior history of stroke. Conclusion: Vorapaxar is approved for use with aspirin and/or clopidogrel in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular events in stable patients with peripheral arterial disease or a history of MI. However, the addition of vorapaxar to other antiplatelets can significantly increase the risk of bleeding. It is, therefore, essential to balance the need for further reduction of risk of thrombotic event with patient’s individual bleeding risk.
The level of the shadow economy, tax evasion and corruption: The empirical evidence for SEE countries

Abstract Economic theory and practice of developed countries have shown that the good functioning of market economies requires the existence of stable institutions that are effective in the application of legal rules as a precondition for the proper functioning of the economic and fiscal system. In the process of building a market economy in Southeast European countries, along with the sector of legal economy there coexists a large sector of shadow economy, tax evasion and high levels of corruption. Analyses made by many authors and relevant national and international institutions estimate that the amount of the shadow economy, tax evasion and corruption in the analyzed countries despite a declining trend in the last decade continues to be at the level of 25-50% compared with the legal sector of the economy. The author aims through a comparative approach to analyze the level of the shadow economy, tax evasion and corruption in the economies of Southeast Europe and provides some recommendations for governments to overcome these negative phenomena.
Excess Liquidity in Uncertain Business Environment: Evidence from the UPA 2 Regime in India

Confronted by economic uncertainty and bleak prospect during the UPA 2 regime in India large corporates hoarded cash accumulated through robust performance of earlier years. At variance with the existing literature empirical evidence indicates that the marginal value of liquidity seemed to increase with higher and longer liquidity holding and this aspect had a further depressing effect on investment, employment and growth during the regime. High persistent liquidity at firm level enabled stock market participants to gain at the expense of macro-economic under performance.