Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Functional Iron Deficiency, Infection and Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome in Critical Illness

To investigate the prevalence and clinical relevance of functional iron deficiency in the critically ill, we performed a prospective observational study in a university hospital general intensive care unit. We collected patient demographics, severity of illness data, haematological and biochemical variables in 51 consecutive admissions. We recorded episodes of culture-positive infection. Functional iron deficiency (FID), measured by red cell hypochromasia on flow cytometry, was present in 35% of patients at admission to intensive care. FID patients were of similar age, diagnosis, APACHE score, sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, haemoglobin, serum B12, folate and ferritin to patients without FID. However, patients with FID had a prolonged intensive care stay compared with non-FID patients (P<0.001) and increased time to hospital discharge (P=0.09). Duration of intensive care stay correlated with severity of FID (r=0.33, P<0.02). Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) was present for longer in those with FID (P<0.02). Overall mortality did not differ between groups. No difference was seen in the incidence of positive cultures between those with FID (9/18 patients) and those without FID (15/33 patients). FID was independently associated only with abnormal white blood cell count (WBC <4 or >11x109.l-1) at admission to ICU, P=0.007, but not with positive cultures. There is a high prevalence of FID in intensive care, associated with an increased duration of stay and duration of SIRS. We have been unable to demonstrate a link with infection, either as a predisposing factor or as an acute response.
Nursery Cities: Urban Diversity, Process Innovation and the Life-Cycle of Products

A simple model of process innovation is proposed, where firms learn about their ideal production process by making prototypes. We build around this a dynamic general equilibrium model, and derive conditions under which diversified and specialised cities coexist. New products are developed in diversified cities, trying processes borrowed from different activities. On finding their ideal process, firms switch to mass-production and relocate to specialised cities with lower costs. When in equilibrium, this configuration welfare-dominates those with only diversified or only specialised cities. We find strong evidence of this relocation pattern in establishment relocations across French employment areas 1993u1996.
Determination of sex from tooth pulp tissue

Objective: This study was carried out to determine the reliability of sex determination from teeth pulp tissue. Patients and methods: This study was carried on 60 maxillary and mandibular premolars and permanent molars (30 male teeth and 30 female teeth) which were indicated for extraction. The teeth were categorized into three groups of 20 each (10 from males and 10 from females). Group 1-pulp tissue from teeth examined immediately after extraction. Group 2- and Group 3-pulp tissue examined from teeth one and five month after extraction, respectively. Teeth was sectioned and pulpal cells were stained with quinacrine dihydrochloride. The cells were observed with fluorescent microscope for fluorescent body. Gender was determined by identification of Y chromosome fluorescence in dental pulp. Results: Freshly extracted teeth and for those examined one month later, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and efficiency were all 100%. Conclusion: The fluorescent Y body test is shown to be a reliable, simple, and cost-effective technique for gender identification in the immediate postmortem period up to one month.
Palmprint Classification Algorithm Based on Wavelet Multi-scale Analysis

Palmprint recognition inherently implements many of the same matching characteristics that have allowed fingerprint recognition to be one of the most well-known and best publicized biometrics. Because of palm region has obvious principle line features in outline and texture features in detail, in order to describe different patterns based on palmprint, a new feature extraction and match algorithm is proposed in this paper. The feature extraction algorithm based on wavelet analysis can be used to achieve multi-scale features, and a layered match algorithm for different scale features can be used to calculate similarity score between palms. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm has high classification correct rate.
Eating Patterns Described by a Group of Treatment Seeking Overweight Women and Normal Weight Women

Abstract The eating behaviours reported by 144 Swedish overweight middleaged women seeking treatment were analysed. The findings were compared with data from 60 randomly selected, age matched normal weight women. Repeated open ended interviews and questionnaires were used. The main question to the overweight women was “Do you think that there is anything in your eating behaviour which could be associated with your overweight? ”. Twelve eating patterns reported by the overweight women were identified. The four most common patterns were I. eating because of carbohydrate craving, 2. sandwich eating, 3. excessive food consumption and 4. weekend and holiday overeating. In six out of twelve patterns the frequencies were significantly higher in overweight women than in the normal weight group. The reported eating patterns do not indicate whether they are a cause or a consequence of the overweight. However, it might be worthwile to research these patterns to identify critical eating habits that could be subjected .
Implementation of Psychoacoustic model in Audio Compression using Munich and Gammachirp Wavelets

Abstract: Audio compression is the technology of converting human speech into an efficiently encoded representation that can later be decoded to produce a close approximation of the original signal. This paper presents an algorithm to compress high quality audio signal and maintaining transparent quality at low bit rates. Most psychoacoustic models for coding applications use a uniform spectral decomposition to approximate the frequency selectivity of the human auditory system; however the equal filter properties of the uniform subbands do not match the non uniform characteristics of the cochlear filters. For implementing this algorithm a design of psycho-acoustic model was developed following the model used in the standard MPEG-1 audio layer 3. The architecture is based on appropriate wavelet packet decomposition instead of Short Term Fourier Transformation. Wavelet transform can be efficiently used to represent human speech with less number of bits that can be decoded to produce a close approximation of the original speech signal. The psycho-acoustic model is designed to take advantage of the masking effect in human hearing. They minimize the number of bits required to represent each frame of audio material at a fixed distortion level . This paper compares the performance of Munich and Gammachirp audio coders based on compression ratio. For evaluating the best model five different audio signals are considered and applied for these two coders. This analysis shows that the Gammachirp offers best compression ratio and sound quality in comparison to the Munich coders. Keywords---Psychoacoustic model, Wavelet packet decomposition, Munich and Gammachirp models.
A comparison of in situ precipitation with soil moisture retrieved from AMSR-E

Soil moisture retrieved from AMSR-E is compared with in situ precipitation. Since precipitation and soil moisture may be closely related with each together, we will check a change of soil moisture with a event of precipitation. We will use precipitation data obtained from the Global Telecommunication System (GTS) against various regions of climate and vegetation. Keywords-component;Soil moisture;GTS;precipitation;AMSRE,GLI
Serum amyloid A (SAA) protein and high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hsCRP) in healthy newborn infants and healthy young through elderly adults

Aim: To determine the levels of serum amyloid A (SAA) protein and high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hsCRP) in different age groups. Methods: Serum samples from 70 healthy newborn infants, 80 blood donors and 81 healthy elderly individuals were analysed using a nephelometric method. The 231 samples were grouped as follows: 35 umbilical cords, 35 newborns, 48 young adults, 28 middle‐aged adults, and 85 elderly adults. Results: Serum levels of both SAA and hsCRP were lower in umbilical cords than in the newborns and young, middle‐aged and elderly adults (p<0.0001). The SAA and hsCRP levels were comparable in newborns, and young and middle‐age adults, but higher in elderly adults (p<0.0001–0.03). SAA (r2=0.159, p<0.0001) and hsCRP (r2=0.059, p<0.0001) were positively correlated with age and to each other (r2=0.385, p<0.0001).
A Filter Correlation Method for Feature Selection

Biological data is undergoing exponential growth in volume and complexity. Often, the selection of biological features is a crucial step that aims to defy the curse of dimensionality to improve prediction performance in classification systems, facilitate viewing, understanding and analyzing data. In this paper we present an adaptation of the Fast Correlation Based Filter algorithm (FCBF) whose aims is to identify relevant, not redundant features to improve the capacity of prediction and reduce the search space.
Investigation of dual-polarization antenna scheme in TD-LTE systems

Downlink beamforming technology has been adopted in time division long term evolution (TD-LTE) systems as a promising scheme to exploit array gains and diversity gains by the development of uplink-downlink reciprocity at the base station (BS). Downlink beamforming is typically utilized with closely spaced uniform linear array (ULA) at BS where high channel correlation is achieved between antennas. Significant promotion of spectrum efficiency and transmission reliability is provided by this scheme; however, the large span of eight-element antenna array will take tremendous cost on the deployment of BS, which is not encouraged to be applied in the future LTE architectures. In comparison with ULA (also called co-polarization), dual-polarization scheme has two groups of antenna arrays which are configured on different polarization planes, and each group owns one half of antenna elements compared with ULA antenna array. It could not only reduce the installation cost and the size of BS equipment, but also provide multiplexing gains. The authors in [1] and [2] analyzed the performance of dual-polarization in TD-SCDMA and TD-HSPA+ systems, respectively. To our best knowledge, however, there is no literature emphasizing on the impact of dual-polarization scheme on the cellular performance in TD-LTE systems. In this paper, we first investigate the downlink beamforming technology in TD-LTE, which includes single-layer and dual-layer transmission. Then the channel model for dual-polarization antenna is developed to derive the expression of downlink channel response. The performance of single-layer and dual-layer beamforming is evaluated by the system level simulation for dual-polarization and ULA in various scenarios. According to the simulation results, the performance of dual polarization array is worse than that of ULA in single-layer transmission, while the former outperforms the latter in dual-layer and rank adaptation transmission modes in the scenario of small cell radius. The performance of dual-polarization declines drastically when the cell radius increases, and therefore it is not preferable to be applied to serve the users at the cell edge.
An Examination of Domestic Violence in an African American Community in North carolina

Every 15 seconds, a woman is battered. Domestic violence is one of the most underestimated and underreported crimes in the United States today. It represents the single greatest cause of injury to women. Domestic violence is found across ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic classes. The most frequently studied topic is spouse abuse. The National Violence against Women Prevention Center (NVAA) has reported that about 1.8 million to 4 million women in the United States are physically abused by their partners annually (Wallace & Seymour, 1999). Women experienced a total estimation of 840,000 rapes, sexual assaults, robberies, aggravated assaults, and simple victimization at the hands of an intimate in 1996. Women were significantly more likely to be physically or sexually abused than men. Women of all races were about equally vulnerable to violence by an intimate partner. However, only about half of all incidents of intimate violence experienced by women are reported to the police (Wallace & Seymour, 1999). Roth (1997, p. 503) defined domestic violence as "any physical, emotional, psychological, and sexual abuse occurring between
Relation of gemfibrozil treatment and lipid levels with major coronary events: VA-HIT: a randomized controlled trial.

CONTEXT A low plasma level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD). A secondary prevention study, the Veterans Affairs High-Density Lipoprotein Intervention Trial (VA-HIT), demonstrated that CHD events were significantly reduced during a median follow-up of 5.1 years by treating patients with the fibric acid derivative gemfibrozil when the predominant lipid abnormality was low HDL-C. OBJECTIVE To determine if the reduction in major CHD events with gemfibrozil in VA-HIT could be attributed to changes in major plasma lipid levels. DESIGN Multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted from September 1991 to August 1998. SETTING The Department of Veterans Affairs Cooperative Studies Program, in which 20 VA medical centers were participating sites. PARTICIPANTS A total of 2531 men with a history of CHD who had low HDL-C levels (mean, 32 mg/dL [0.83 mmol/L] ) and low low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels (mean, 111 mg/dL [2.88 mmol/L]). INTERVENTION Participants were randomly assigned to receive gemfibrozil, 1200 mg/d (n = 1264), or matching placebo (n = 1267). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Relation of lipid levels at baseline and averaged during the first 18 months of gemfibrozil treatment with the combined incidence of nonfatal myocardial infarction and CHD death. RESULTS Concentrations of HDL-C were inversely related to CHD events. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis showed that CHD events were reduced by 11% with gemfibrozil for every 5-mg/dL (0.13-mmol/L) increase in HDL-C (P =.02). Events were reduced even further with gemfibrozil beyond that explained by increases in HDL-C values, particularly in the second through fourth quintiles of HDL-C values during treatment. During gemfibrozil treatment, only the increase in HDL-C significantly predicted a lower risk of CHD events; by multivariable analysis, neither triglyceride nor LDL-C levels at baseline or during the trial predicted CHD events. CONCLUSIONS Concentrations of HDL-C achieved with gemfibrozil treatment predicted a significant reduction in CHD events in patients with low HDL-C levels. However, the change in HDL-C levels only partially explained the beneficial effect of gemfibrozil.
Cytomegalovirus drives Vδ2neg γδ T cell inflation in many healthy virus carriers with increasing age

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) usually causes lifelong asymptomatic infection, but over time can distort immune profiles. Recent reports describe selective expansion of Vδ2neg γδ T cells in healthy and immunocompromised CMV carriers. Having shown previously that virus‐specific CD8+ and CD4+ T cell responses are increased significantly in elderly CMV carriers, probably driven by chronic stimulation, we hypothesized that Vδ2neg γδ T cells may also be expanded with age. Our results show that Vδ2neg γδ T cells are increased significantly in CMV‐seropositive healthy individuals compared to CMV‐seronegative controls in all age groups. The differences were most significant in older age groups (P < 0·0001). Furthermore, while Vδ2neg γδ T‐ cells comprise both naive and memory cells in CMV‐seronegative donors, highly differentiated effector memory cells are the dominant phenotype in CMV carriers, with naive cells reduced significantly in numbers in CMV‐seropositive elderly. Although phenotypically resembling conventional CMV‐specific T cells, Vδ2neg γδ T cells do not correlate with changes in magnitude of CMV‐specific CD4+ or CD8+ T cell frequencies within those individuals, and do not possess ex‐vivo immediate effector function as shown by CMV‐specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. However, after short‐term culture, Vδ2neg γδ T cells demonstrate effector T cell functions, suggesting additional requirements for activation. In summary, Vδ2neg γδ T cells are expanded in many older CMV carriers, demonstrating a further level of lymphocyte subset skewing by CMV in healthy individuals. As others have reported shared reactivity of Vδ2neg γδ T cells towards tumour cells, the composition of γδ T cell subsets may also have implications for risk of developing cancer in elderly people.
Development, Reliability And Validity Of Self-Report Alcohol-Use Measures with Young Adolescents

Data concerning adolescent alcohol use and abuse are collected primarily with self-report instruments. The accuracy of epidemiologic, etiologic, and prevention research depends on the reliability and validity of these measures. This study details several steps in the development of reliable and valid mesures for alcohol use prevention research with young adolescents, including item selection, pretesting using focus group methods, a deductive scale development approach, and identification of inconsistent responders. Reliability and validity analyses are presented for samples of sixth- and eight-grade students for newly constructed scales measuring adolescent alcohol use and its risk factors. Results demonstrate that young adolescents can give reliable and valid responses to self-report measures previously used with older adolescents, thus supporting the utility of such instruments in prevention research.
No difference in pain reduction after epidural steroid injections in diabetic versus nondiabetic patients: A retrospective cohort study

Background and Aims: Diabetes affects peripheral and central neurons causing paresthesia, allodynia, hyperalgesia, and spontaneous pain. However, the effect of diabetes on response to epidural steroid injection (ESI) remains unknown. We hypothesized that diabetic patients receiving ESI will have different pain scores compared to nondiabetic patients. We tested a secondary hypothesis that pain reduction differs at different levels of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) for patients with diabetes. Material and Methods: Data from 284 consecutive patients given ESIs for radiculopathy were obtained via a manual review of electronic medical records. We initially compared diabetic and nondiabetic groups with respect to balance on baseline demographic and morphometric characteristics. Next, a linear regression model was developed to evaluate the association between existing diabetes and postinjection reduction in pain scores. And finally, we univariably characterized the association between HbA1c and pain reduction. Results: After exclusion of nine patients, 275 patients were analysed, including 55 (20%) who were diabetic. Pain reduction after ESI was comparable in diabetic and nondiabetic patients (Wald test P = 0.61). The degree of pain reduction generally decreased with the level of HbA1c until reaching HbA1c levels of approximately 7.5%, after which point it stayed fairly constant. Conclusion: There was no difference in pain reduction after ESIs comparing diabetic with nondiabetic patients; however, for diabetic patients, pain reduction may decrease with uncontrolled diabetes determined by high HbA1c values, thus suggesting pain physicians to take an active role in guiding their patients to have their blood glucose levels better regulated to improve outcomes of their ESIs.
Puesta al dı́a : Insuficiencia cardiaca aguda ( III ) Sı́ndrome cardiorrenal en la insuficiencia cardiaca aguda : revisando paradigmas

Cardiorenal syndrome has been defined as the simultaneous dysfunction of both the heart and the kidney. Worsening renal function that occurs in patients with acute heart failure has been classified as cardiorenal syndrome type 1. In this setting, worsening renal function is a common finding and is due to complex, multifactorial, and not fully understood processes involving hemodynamic (renal arterial hypoperfusion and renal venous congestion) and nonhemodynamic factors. Traditionally, worsening renal function has been associated with worse outcomes, but recent findings have revealed mixed and heterogeneous results, perhaps suggesting that the same phenotype represents a diversity of pathophysiological and clinical situations. Interpreting the magnitude and chronology of renal changes together with baseline renal function, fluid overload status, and clinical response to therapy might help clinicians to unravel the clinical meaning of renal function changes that occur during an episode of heart failure decompensation. In this article, we critically review the contemporary evidence on the pathophysiology and clinical aspects of worsening renal function in acute heart failure. Full English text available from: www.revespcardiol. org/en 2014 Sociedad Española de Cardiologı́a. Published by Elsevier España, S.L. U. All rights reserved.
Worst-case attacker models for two-layered networks based on the Minimum Overlay Cut

Appropriate attacker models are generally known to be a fundamental prerequisite for any security evaluation of complex systems or networks. This paper deals with worst-case attacker models targeted to cause maximum damage in an overlay network by deliberately disturbing links within the underlying transport network topology. The flexibility of rerouting in underlay and overlay networks leads to complex dynamics in the topology of such two-layered overlay networks, which needs to be appropriately considered in attacker modeling. In this article, we present two worst-case attacker models based on the Minimum Overlay Cut, which either try to maximize network damage with a given number of possible outages, or aim at a given level of damage with minimal effort. For this, we developed a novel Integer Linear Programming (ILP) formulation for the Minimum Cut, that uses less binary variables than existing approaches, and is therefore better suited to deal with larger networks as well as multiple demands. An evaluation of a typical VPN overlay scenario shows that our worst-case models give significantly more realistic assessments of potential damages than two alternatively evaluated random and greedy strategies.