Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Limits to sustained energy intake. XIX. A test of the heat dissipation limitation hypothesis in Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus)

SUMMARY We evaluated factors limiting lactating Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) at three temperatures (10, 21 and 30°C). Energy intake and daily energy expenditure (DEE) increased with decreased ambient temperature. At peak lactation (day 14 of lactation), energy intake increased from 148.7±5.7 kJ day−1 at 30°C to 213.1±8.2 kJ day−1 at 21°C and 248.7±12.3 kJ day−1 at 10°C. DEE increased from 105.1±4.0 kJ day−1 at 30°C to 134.7±5.6 kJ day−1 at 21°C and 179.5±8.4 kJ day−1 at 10°C on days 14–16 of lactation. With nearly identical mean litter sizes, lactating gerbils at 30°C exported 32.0 kJ day−1 less energy as milk at peak lactation than those allocated to 10 or 21°C, with no difference between the latter groups. On day 14 of lactation, the litter masses at 10 and 30°C were 12.2 and 9.3 g lower than those at 21°C, respectively. Lactating gerbils had higher thermal conductance of the fur and lower UCP-1 levels in brown adipose tissue than non-reproductive gerbils, independent of ambient temperature, suggesting that they were attempting to avoid heat stress. Thermal conductance of the fur was positively related to circulating prolactin levels. We implanted non-reproductive gerbils with mini-osmotic pumps that delivered either prolactin or saline. Prolactin did not influence thermal conductance of the fur, but did reduce physical activity and UCP-1 levels in brown adipose tissue. Transferring lactating gerbils from warm to hot conditions resulted in reduced milk production, consistent with the heat dissipation limit theory, but transferring them from warm to cold conditions did not elevate milk production, consistent with the peripheral limitation hypothesis, and placed constraints on pup growth.
Levodopa response in early Parkinson's disease

To further characterize the short‐term levodopa response in early PD, we performed a retrospective analysis of the ELLDOPA study which randomized 361 early PD subjects to placebo, levodopa 150, 300, or 600 mg/day. We evaluated change in UPDRS motor scores (UPDRSm) from baseline to weeks 9 and 24, and identified changes in UPDRSm that best discriminated treatment with levodopa from placebo. Linear regressions were used to determine associations between baseline characteristics and changes in UPDRSm. Mean percent improvement in UPDRSm in levodopa‐treated subjects was greater than that for placebo‐treated subjects (27.4% vs. 5.8% at 9 weeks, P < 0.001 and 26.2% vs. 4.0% at 24 weeks, P < 0.001). UPDRSm change at 9 weeks ranged from –92.9% (improvement) to 85.7% (worsening) for levodopa and –86.7% to 160% for placebo, and at 24 weeks ranged from –100.0% to 242.9% for levodopa and –87.5% to 112.5% for placebo. UPDRSm improvements of 22.0% at 9 weeks and 23.8% at 24 weeks best discriminated treatment with levodopa 300 mg/day (a common initial maintenance dosage in clinical practice) from placebo. Significant associations were not observed between baseline subject characteristics and magnitude of response from baseline to week 24. We conclude that although levodopa treatment significantly improved PD signs when compared with placebo, there was a wide range and considerable overlap in clinical responses to levodopa and placebo. A substantial proportion of subjects with early PD did not experience a robust response to levodopa. An improvement in UPDRSm of ∼22% best discriminated levodopa treatment from placebo. © 2009 Movement Disorder Society
Scope and design of the Following Rehabilitation, Economics and Everyday-Dialysis Outcome Measurements (FREEDOM) Study.

BACKGROUND Conventional thrice-weekly hemodialysis (HD) has limited the ability to generate further improvements in patient quality of life, morbidity, and mortality. Daily HD (DHD) offers the promise of providing clinical and economic benefits. The objectives of the Following Rehabilitation, Economics and Everyday-Dialysis Outcome Measurements Study are to evaluate outcomes of DHD (6 times/wk) with the NxStage System One (NxStage Medical Inc, Lawrence, MA) device. DESIGN Cohort study with matched control group. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS The DHD group will include up to 500 participants at 70 clinical sites, enrolling for 3 years with a minimum of 1-year follow-up. Study candidates include adult patients (age >or= 18 years) with end-stage renal disease who are considered suitable candidates for DHD with the NxStage System One device by the treating physician and who have Medicare as their primary insurance payer. The control group will consist of a matched thrice-weekly in-center HD cohort derived from the US Renal Data System database using a 10:1 ratio, totaling 5,000 patients. PREDICTOR Treatment with DHD and "standard of care" thrice-weekly HD. OUTCOMES & MEASUREMENTS The primary intent-to-treat analysis compares hospitalization days/patient-year between the DHD and thrice-weekly HD groups. Other outcomes recorded in both groups include non-treatment-related medical expenditures. In addition, in the DHD cohort, changes in quality-of-life measures (baseline, 4 and 12 months, and every 6 months thereafter); urea kinetics; parameters related to anemia, bone and mineral metabolism, and nutrition; vascular access interventions; and use of medications will be examined. CONCLUSIONS This study has the potential to elucidate the health and economic benefits of DHD and complement results of current clinical trials.
Ceftriaxone Monotherapy in the Treatment of Low-Risk Febrile Neutropenia

Febrile neutropenia in patients who have undergone chemotherapy is usually treated with a combination of broad-spectrum antibiotics. There are no exactly defined protocols for single-agent treatment because a clear definition of low risk febrile neutropenia is lacking. This paper examines the safety and efficacy of once-daily ceftriaxone in 376 cases. Material and Methods: In a prospective observational study carried out between February 1992 and January 1996, 959 febrile episodes at 48 hospitals were recorded. Inclusion criteria were neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count, ANC <1,000/µl) with fever (≥38.5°C) or a C-reactive protein concentration >1 mg/dl and suspected infection. Nine hundred and one episodes (acute leukemia n = 396, lymphoma n = 220, solid tumors n = 272 and other disorders n = 13) in 828 patients aged between 1 and 97 years were analyzed, of which 876 episodes were evaluable for response. All patients initially underwent empirical treatment with ceftriaxone (adults: 2 g/day; children: 80 mg/kg/day), either alone (376) or in combination with other agents (525). Results: The mean ANC was 423/µl (SD ± 316) and the median duration of neutropenia 10 days. Of the 363 episodes treated initially with ceftriaxone alone, 70.8% responded versus 56.9% in the combination therapy group. The favorable response to the initial monotherapy treatment was explained by a low-risk population in the monotherapy group. A KI >6 (p < 0.0001), ANC ≥500/µl (p = 0.0001) and a duration of ANC <5 days (p < 0.05) were significantly more frequent in the monotherapy arm and were predictive of lower risk at the commencement of treatment. Conclusion: Ceftriaxone is effective in febrile neutropenia. Treatment with ceftriaxone alone was safe and highly effective in low-risk patients. Single-agent regimens appear to be a suitable treatment option in low-risk febrile neutropenia.
Prevalence, severity and risk factors of asthma, rhinitis and eczema in a large group of Chinese schoolchildren

ABSTRACT Background: There is a lack of information on the prevalence, severity and risk factors of asthma, rhinitis and eczema in Chinese children. Objective: To establish baseline data for a major longitudinal study of factors affecting asthma, rhinitis and eczema in a large group of children from the industrialized city of Shijiazhuang, China. Methods: We used the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire and studied 10 338 children, ages 6–18, from Shijiazhuang. Results: The prevalence of childhood asthma, rhinitis and eczema is 1.2%, 13.5% and 11.8%, respectively. Boys had higher prevalence of these conditions than girls and younger children had higher prevalence of asthma and eczema but lower prevalence of rhinitis than older children. Breastfed children had lower prevalence of asthma and rhinitis, but not eczema, than non-breastfed children. Overweight children had higher prevalence of asthma and rhinitis than those who were not overweight. Children exposed to paternal smoking had higher prevalence of rhinitis and eczema than those not exposed; children exposed to pets had higher prevalence of asthma and rhinitis than those not exposed. Conclusions: The prevalence of asthma in this study group is low, but the prevalence of rhinitis is high, and could be considered a major public health problem. The prevalence of asthma, rhinitis and eczema is generally higher in boys and younger children generally have higher prevalence of asthma and eczema but lower prevalence of rhinitis. Exposure to pets is a risk factor for rhinitis, being overweight is a risk factor for asthma and rhinitis, and exposure to parental smoking is a risk factor for asthma, rhinitis and eczema in these children.
An audit of basic practical skills acquisition of final year medical students in a Nigerian medical school.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE Young medical graduates undertaking their housemanship are naturally expected to demonstrate reasonable competence in basic practical skills. Failure to do this may not only be a source of anxiety to the doctor but also potentially dangerous to the patient. The objective was to assess the level of exposure of final year medical students of a Nigerian medical school to basic practical skills. MATERIALS AND METHODS This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. Structured questionnaires were distributed to a set (all) of 86 final year medical students of the University of Port Harcourt immediately after their last lecture in their final posting in medicine and surgery. The questionnaires listed some selected basic practical skills (e.g. phlebotomy, male urethral catheter insertion, etc.) that house officers are expected to be competent in. The students were asked to anonymously fill them and return same before leaving the lecture hall. RESULTS Of the 86 students, 84 completed and returned the questionnaires, giving a 97.7% response rate. No student had performed an arterial puncture for an arterial blood sample. Seventy-six students (90.5%) had not inserted a naso-gastric tube. Only 14 (16.7%) students had successfully inserted more than 10 intravenous canulae. A significant number, 38 (45.2%), had never inserted a urinary catheter (for male patients) nor had any experience with bag/mask skills. Majority, 59 (70.2%) had had some experience with intravenous antibiotics administration. Forty-one (48.7%) students had had 6 or more successful attempts at venous blood sampling. CONCLUSION The exposure level of final year medical students to basic practical skills was low.
Signal degradation by multiple scattering in optical coherence tomography of dense tissue: a Monte Carlo study towards optical clearing of biotissues.

Multiple scattering is a major source that limits light penetration into biotissues, thereby preventing visualization of the deep microstructures for high-resolution optical imaging techniques. The optical clearing approach is a new adventure in biomedical optics for manipulating the optical properties of tissue; for example, the scattering coefficient and the degree of forward scattering of photons, by the use of the chemical administration method in order to improve the optical imaging depth, particularly for the recently developed optical coherence tomography (OCT). This paper investigates systematically how the multiple scattering affects signal attenuation and localization in general, and how the alterations of optical properties of tissue enhance the optical imaging depth and signal localization in particular, by the use of Monte Carlo simulations through the separate considerations of the least scattered photons (LSP) and multiple scattered photons (MSP). The LSP are those photons that contribute to the precise OCT signal, i.e. localization, and the MSP are those that degrade the OCT signal. It is shown that with either the reduction of the scattering coefficient or the increase of the degree of forward scattering, signal localization and imaging depth for OCT is enhanced. Whilst the increase of the anisotropic factor of the medium is more efficient in improving signal localization, it introduces more scattering events for the photons travelling within the tissue for both the LSP and MSP. It is also found that the OCT imaging resolution is almost reduced exponentially with the increase of the probing depth as opposed to the claimed system resolution. We demonstrate that optical clearing could be a useful tool to improve the imaging resolution when the light progressively penetrates the high scattering medium. Experimental results are also presented to show intuitively how multiple scattering affects OCT signal profiles by the use of intralipid solution and healthy human whole blood, representing moderately and highly scattering media respectively.
Social Security in Malaysia: Stock-Take on Players, Availablec Products and Databases

The main aim of this article is to provide an overview of social security in Malaysia. The focus is on relevant services, players and databases in the country. The development of social security in Malaysia is captured in Malaysia’s Five Year Development plans with a twin goal of achieving good growth and equitable development. Hence, social security policies in the more recent development plans were part of the distribution policies. The study uses the ILO’s three-dimensional approach to social protection as a benchmark for analysis. The first dimension refers to the proactive measures to provide social assistance to the non-productive and productive groups in society by ensuring access to basic essential goods and services. The basic protection floor has improved over the years with programmes targeted at equitable development and inclusive growth as seen in the NEM and the 10th MP. The second dimension refers to the social insurance system to prevent or at least mitigate the impact of risks borne by society. The four main schemes such as pension for civil servants, the LTAT, the EPF, and SOCSO have contributed to a relatively higher score forMalaysia (same income group), in the Social Protection Index (SPI) introduced by the ADB (2003). However, post-1997 Asian Financial Crisis saw social security policies beginning to incorporate labour market programmes, the third dimension of the ILO’s framework which aims at promoting the potentials and opportunities for individuals to contribute positively to society. Several agencies that are accountable to different authorities are responsible for the programmes. Yet, there is no effective coordination; in other words, no supreme body to oversee the products of social security and to link them all to meet the national framework and policy. The absence of an overarching social policy is not helping either. All social protection service providers and government agencies collect data and information in order to support their own programmes. As a result, the single-user data collection remains isolated with no mega-database as an interface among social securityproviders.
Estimating Demand Uncertainty Using Dispersion of Team Forecasts or Distributions of Forecast Errors

In this paper, we compare two fundamentally different judgmental demand forecasting approaches used to estimate demand and their corresponding demand distributions. In the first approach, parameters are obtained from a linear regression and maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) based on team forecasts and dispersion within the judgmental forecasts. The second approach ignores dispersion and instead estimates the demand distribution based on the mean demand forecast and the historic relative forecast errors as measured by A/F ratios — that is, the ratio of actual to forecast outcomes. We show that accounting for forecast dispersion (as a timely indicator of anticipated demand risk) explains demand uncertainty sublinearly whereas the mean demand forecast most often explains demand uncertainty as being more than linear. We use actual company data from an online retailer to show that the A/F ratio approach dominates the MLE approach in terms of de-biasing the mean demand forecast, predicting total season demand, predicting the percentage of demand actually served at a target service level, and maximizing realized gross profit. However, the MLE approach more closely follows the assumed standard normally distributed demand and hence yields better-fitting demand distributions. Product segmentation can further improve the forecast accuracy of both approaches. In the application case study described here, we fit the data and analyze accuracy of forecasts. The results indicate that, in order to maximize accuracy, demand forecasts should always employ product segmentation and should favor the A/F ratio approach for order quantities “close” to the mean; otherwise, the MLE approach is preferred.
On the Decision Threshold of Eigenvalue Ratio Detector Based on Moments of Joint and Marginal Distributions of Extreme Eigenvalues

Eigenvalue Ratio (ER) detector based on the two extreme eigenvalues of the received signal covariance matrix is currently one of the most effective solution for spectrum sensing. However, the analytical results of such scheme often depend on asymptotic assumptions since the distribution of the ratio of two extreme eigenvalues is exceptionally complex to compute. In this paper, a non-asymptotic spectrum sensing approach for ER detector is introduced to approximate the marginal and joint distributions of the two extreme eigenvalues. The two extreme eigenvalues are considered as dependent Gaussian random variables such that their joint probability density function (PDF) is approximated by a bivariate Gaussian distribution function for any number of cooperating secondary users and received samples. The PDF approximation approach is based on the moment matching method where we calculate the exact analytical moments of joint and marginal distributions of the two extreme eigenvalues. The decision threshold is calculated by exploiting the statistical mean and the variance of each of the two extreme eigenvalues and the correlation coefficient between them. The performance analysis of our newly proposed approximation approach is compared with the already published asymptotic Tracy-Widom approximation approach. It has been shown that our results are in perfect agreement with the simulation results for any number of secondary users and received samples.
Alpha-2B adrenoceptor polymorphism and peripheral vasoconstriction

Objectives Alpha-2B adrenoceptors (AR) mediate vasoconstriction in the mice. A human alpha-2B AR deletion (D) variant has been associated with loss of short-term agonist-promoted receptor desensitization, which may lead to increased vasoconstriction upon alpha-2 AR activation. This study tested the hypothesis that alpha-2 AR activation will induce enhanced vasoconstriction in carriers of the alpha-2B AR DD genotype, compared to carriers of the II or the DI genotypes. Methods We administered 1 μg/kg dexmedetomidine (an alpha-2 agonist) intravenously to 80 surgical patients in whom sympatholytic effects of the drug were attenuated by general anesthesia. Measurements were made of finger blood volume (an indicator of vasoconstriction) by photoplethysmographic determination of light transmission through a finger (LTF) and of hemodynamic variables. Results Dexmedetomidine increased LTF (vasoconstriction), induced an initial increase in systolic blood pressure and decreased heart rate in all genotype groups (P<0.0001 for all). Three min after the start of dexmedetomidine infusion, the increase in LTF was more pronounced (P=0.014) in the DD group compared to the DI and II groups. There were no significant differences in LTF values between the groups at the end of or 5 min after dexmedetomidine infusion. There were no differences in systolic blood pressure or heart rate values between the groups during or after the dexmedetomidine infusion. Conclusions The results of this study confirm that the alpha-2 agonist dexmedetomidine induced marked peripheral vasoconstriction. Subjects with the alpha 2B DD genotype had an enhanced vasoconstrictive response at the beginning of dexmedetomidine infusion. However, this enhanced vasoconstrictive response was not sustained throughout or after the 15-min dexmedetomidine infusion.
Clinical and genetic findings in five female patients with haemophilia A: Identification of a novel missense mutation, p.Phe2127Ser

Summary Severe manifestations of X-linked recessive disorders such as haemophilia A (HA) are rare in females. Here we describe the clinical and genetic findings in five female HA patients from two different Spanish families. Three sisters born to consanguineous parents presented moderate bleeding due to a known mutation (p.Ser1791Pro) detected in a homozygous state. In the second family, two sisters with Morris syndrome (46,XY) and mild/moderate illness were hemizygous for a novel missense mutation, p.Phe2127Ser. The mutation is predicted to impair binding to the factor VIII (FVIII) carrier protein, von Willebrand factor, and thus increased clearance of FVIII from plasma. Clinical and molecular characterisation of these patients is essential to optimise follow-up, genetic counselling and treatment of the disease.
Developing a Focused Scald-Prevention Program

Scalds account for a high percentage of burn injuries in young children. The purpose of this project was to use a formative evaluation process to design a pilot scald-prevention program for a high-risk population. The burn registry and U.S. Census were used to define a high-risk population. A total of 53 children younger than age 6 were admitted to a local burn center with scalds during a 4-year period. Cooking or food accounted for 84% of these injuries. A total of 21% of the patients resided in one zip code, representing an incidence rate of 23 per 100,000, which was statistically significant. Focus group meetings were conducted with parents in this zip code. They were queried about scald injury knowledge, prevention practices, and attitudes toward interventions. A prevention program was designed based on the findings. Workshops are conducted with high-risk groups in the zip code. Attendees consent to a home visit where prevention practices are assessed and taught. A pre/post test and home risk assessment survey is used to measure change. The Burn Registry, U.S. Census, and focus groups were complimentary formative evaluation measures that assisted in developing a targeted scald prevention project.
Notice of Violation of IEEE Publication PrinciplesImproving heterogeneous data clustering by using metadata and compression algorithms

Nowadays, we have to deal with a large quantity of unstructured, heterogeneous data, produced by an increasing number of sources. Clustering heterogeneous data is essential to getting structured information in response to user queries. In this paper, we assess the results of a new clustering technique - clustering by compression - when applied to metadata associated with heterogeneous sets of data. The clustering by compression procedure is based on a parameter-free, universal, similarity distance, the normalized compression distance or NCD, computed from the lengths of compressed data files (singly and in pair-wise concatenation). Experimental results show that using metadata could improve the average clustering performances with about 20% over clustering the same sample data set without using metadata.