Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Acetaminophen Improves Analgesia but Does Not Reduce Opioid Requirement After Major Spine Surgery in Children and Adolescents

Study Design. A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study to evaluate the effect of intravenously (IV) administered acetaminophen on postoperative pain in children and adolescents undergoing surgery for idiopathic scoliosis or spondylolisthesis. Objective. To evaluate effectiveness of IV-administered acetaminophen on postoperative analgesia, opioid consumption, and acetaminophen concentrations after major spine surgery in adolescents. Summary of Background Data. Scoliosis surgery is associated with severe postoperative pain, most commonly treated with IV-administered opioids. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), as adjuvant to opioids, improve analgesia and reduce the need for opioids. However, by inhibiting cyclo-oxygenase enzymes peripherally, NSAIDs may inhibit bone healing. Acetaminophen, a centrally acting analgesic, does not have the adverse effects of NSAIDs and has improved analgesia in children after another orthopedic surgery. Methods. In an institutional review board approved study, 36 American Society of Anesthesiology patient classification I to III patients of 10 to 18 years of age were analyzed. Acetaminophen 30 mg/kg, administered IV or 0.9% NaCl was administered at the end of scoliosis or spondylolisthesis surgery, and thereafter twice at 8-hour intervals. Timed blood samples for acetaminophen determination were taken between 0.25 and 20 hours after the first dose. All patients received standard propofol-remifentanil anesthesia. Pain scores (visual analogue scale [VAS], 0–10), opioid consumption, and adverse effects were recorded. Results. In the surgical ward, 7 (39%) patients in the acetaminophen and 13 (72%) in the placebo group had a VAS pain score 6 or more (P < 0.05). There were fewer hours with VAS score 6 or more in the acetaminophen group compared with the placebo group (8.7% vs. 17.8% of the hours, P < 0.05). There was no difference in oxycodone consumption during the 24-hour follow-up between the 2 groups. Conclusion. IV-administered acetaminophen 90 mg/kg/day, adjuvant to oxycodone, did improve analgesia, but did not diminish oxycodone consumption during 24 hours after major spine surgery in children and adolescents. All acetaminophen concentrations were in nontoxic levels.
Highly Infectious Prions Generated by a Single Round of Microplate-Based Protein Misfolding Cyclic Amplification

ABSTRACT Measurements of the presence of prions in biological tissues or fluids rely more and more on cell-free assays. Although protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA) has emerged as a valuable, sensitive tool, it is currently hampered by its lack of robustness and rapidity for high-throughput purposes. Here, we made a number of improvements making it possible to amplify the maximum levels of scrapie prions in a single 48-h round and in a microplate format. The amplification rates and the infectious titer of the PMCA-formed prions appeared similar to those derived from the in vivo laboratory bioassays. This enhanced technique also amplified efficiently prions from different species, including those responsible for human variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. This new format should help in developing ultrasensitive, high-throughput prion assays for cognitive, diagnostic, and therapeutic applications. IMPORTANCE The method developed here allows large-scale, fast, and reliable cell-free amplification of subinfectious levels of prions from different species. The sensitivity and rapidity achieved approach or equal those of other recently developed prion-seeded conversion assays. Our simplified assay may be amenable to high-throughput, automated purposes and serve in a complementary manner with other recently developed assays for urgently needed antemortem diagnostic tests, by using bodily fluids containing small amounts of prion infectivity. Such a combination of assays is of paramount importance to reduce the transfusion risk in the human population and to identify asymptomatic carriers of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. The method developed here allows large-scale, fast, and reliable cell-free amplification of subinfectious levels of prions from different species. The sensitivity and rapidity achieved approach or equal those of other recently developed prion-seeded conversion assays. Our simplified assay may be amenable to high-throughput, automated purposes and serve in a complementary manner with other recently developed assays for urgently needed antemortem diagnostic tests, by using bodily fluids containing small amounts of prion infectivity. Such a combination of assays is of paramount importance to reduce the transfusion risk in the human population and to identify asymptomatic carriers of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
Automatic generation of functional coverage models

This paper proposes a framework to automatically generate functional coverage model for the Design under Verification (DUV). The coverage goals are identified to cover different combinations of the design inputs, outputs, Finite State Machines (FSMs) valid states/transitions and internal signals that control the guard expressions of the design control flow. Additionally the cross coverage of highly correlated design variables is added to the final coverage model and generated using data mining techniques. The proposed framework illustrates how formal methods can be used to automate the identification of unreachable coverage-points and then automatically generate the exclusion of those coverage items for final accurate coverage results calculations. Formal verification is also utilized to generate test scenarios (counter examples) for reachable coverage goals that have not been covered in initial random simulation runs. Our experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach in closing the coverage loop for a set of today's RTL designs.
Evolution of storage management: Transforming raw data into information

Exponential growth in storage requirements and an increasing number of heterogeneous devices and application policies are making enterprise storage management a nightmare for administrators. Back-of-the-envelope calculations, rules of thumb, and manual correlation of individual device data are too error prone for the day-to-day administrative tasks of resource provisioning, problem determination, performance management, and impact analysis. Storage management tools have evolved over the past several years from standardizing the data reported by storage subsystems to providing intelligent planners. In this paper, we describe that evolution in the context of the IBM Total Storage® Productivity Center (TPC)--a suite of tools to assist administrators in the day-to-day tasks of monitoring, configuring, provisioning, managing change, analyzing configuration, managing performance, and determining problems. We describe our ongoing research to develop ways to simplify and automate these tasks by applying advanced analytics on the performance statistics and raw configuration and event data collected by TPC using the popular Storage Management Initiative-Specification (SMI-S). In addition, we provide details of SMART (storage management analytics and reasoning technology) as a library that provides a collection of data-aggregation functions and optimization algorithms.
Circulating adiponectin, leptin and adiponectin–leptin ratio and endometrial cancer risk: Evidence from a meta‐analysis of epidemiologic studies

We performed this meta‐analysis of epidemiologic studies to investigate the associations between circulating adiponectin, leptin and adiponectin–leptin (A/L) ratio and endometrial cancer risk. Relevant manuscripts were identified by searching PubMed and ISI Web of Science databases as well as by manual searching the references cited in retrieved manuscripts. Random‐effects models were used to estimate summary odds ratio (SOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for aforementioned associations. Fourteen manuscripts with 13 studies (five nested case–control and eight case–control studies) cumulatively involving a total of 1,963 endometrial cancer cases and 3,503 noncases were included in the analyses. Overall, comparing persons with circulating concentrations of adiponectin, leptin and A/L ratio in the top tertile with persons with concentrations of these biomarkers in the bottom tertile yielded SORs of 0.47 (95% CI: 0.34–0.65; I2 = 63.7%; n = 13), 2.19 (95% CI: 1.44–3.31; I2 = 64.2%; n = 7),and 0.45 (95% CI: 0.24–0.86; I2 = 90.1%; n = 5), respectively. Notably, there was an 18% reduction in risk for per each 5 μg/mL increment in circulating adiponectin concentrations (SOR = 0.82; 95% CI: 0.74–0.90; I2 = 49%; n = 8). Stratifying by study characteristics and whether these studies considered or adjusted for potential confounders, the findings were robust in the analyses of circulating adiponectin and leptin. No evidence of publication bias was detected. In conclusion, the findings from this meta‐analysis suggest that increased circulating adiponectin and A/L ratio or decreased leptin concentrations were associated with reduced risk of endometrial cancer. Further prospective designed studies are warranted to confirm our findings.
A Multiprocessor Approach for Meeting the Processing Requirements for OSI

To meet the increased communication processing requirements of high-speed networks, a multiprocessing network interface is considered for processing multiple layers of a communication protocol stack. In particular, the processing of the open systems interconnection (OSI) layers 2 to 6 on the network interface are considered. OSI processing is computationally expensive because of the inclusion of the transfer syntax conversion at the presentation layer. The approach taken is to process different packets in parallel. The results obtained from simulations indicate that the approach has promise for OSI processing at higher rates. >
A model of professional development: teachers’ perceptions of their professional development

Abstract This research aims to evaluate the manner in which teachers perceive their professional development process. Forty-three teachers from Israeli schools participated in the study. I used a semi-structured interview to understand the teachers’ perceptions about their professional development. The qualitative analysis identified two dimensions that teachers referred to in their professional development stories: the professional development motivation (intrinsic/extrinsic) and types of aspirations (lateral/vertical). Using these dimensions, four ‘professional development patterns’ emerged. Participants’ professional trajectories are described in terms of these patterns: Hierarchically Ambitious, Hierarchically Compelled, the Laterally Ambitious and the Laterally Compelled. This categorisation could serve as an essential tool to help principals and decision-makers analyse teachers’ personal course of professional development. Hence, the categorisation of the teaching staff according to individuals’ professional aspirations could be utilised to design professional development programmes and incentives that would correspond to teachers’ particular needs.
Michael Tsapatsis.

Looking back over my career, I . am hopeful, based on the progress achieved so far, that molecular sieve films will become a widespread energy-efficient separation technology. I am waiting for the day when someone will discover . the “aeik nhton” (perpetual motion machine). The biggest challenge facing scientists is . to ensure the peaceful use of their discoveries. My first experiment was . a failure. My favorite quote is . “never give up, never surrender” from the film “Galaxy Quest”. My biggest inspiration is . my wife. My favorite way to spend a holiday is . with my family somewhere warm and sunny. My favorite reaction is . A + 2B! 3B (the prototype autocatalytic reaction). My science “heroes” are . my teachers and advisors. If I had one year of paid leave I would . take it immediately. If I could be a piece of lab equipment, I would be . the first electron microscope. My favorite book is . “The Structure of Scientific Revolutions” by Thomas S. Kuhn.
Influence of arylamine n‐acetyltransferase, sex, and age on 4‐aminobiphenyl‐induced in vivo mutant frequencies and spectra in mouse liver

One model for cancer initiation by 4‐aminobiphenyl (ABP) involves N‐oxidation by cytochrome P450 CYP1A2 followed by O‐conjugation by N‐acetyltransferase(s) NAT1 and/or NAT2 and decomposition to a DNA‐binding nitrenium ion. We recently observed that neonatal ABP exposure produced liver tumors in male but not in female mice, and that NAT deficiency reduced liver tumor incidence. However, ABP‐induced liver tumor incidence did not correlate with liver levels of N‐(deoxyguanosin‐8‐yl)‐ABP adducts 24 hr after exposure. In this study, we compared in vivo ABP‐induced DNA mutant frequencies and spectra between male and female wild‐type and NAT‐deficient Muta™Mouse using both the tumor‐inducing neonatal exposure protocol and a 28‐day repetitive dosing adult exposure protocol. ABP produced an increase in liver DNA mutant frequencies in both neonates and adults. However, we observed no sex or strain differences in mutant frequencies in neonatally exposed mice, and higher frequencies in adult females than males. Neonatal ABP exposure of wild‐type mice increased the proportion of G‐T transversions in both males and females, while exposure of Nat1/2(‐/‐) mice produced increased G‐T transversions in males and a decrease in females, even though females had higher levels of N‐(deoxyguanosin‐8‐yl)‐4‐ABP adducts. There was no correlation of mutant frequencies or spectra between mice dosed as neonates or as adults. These results suggest that observed sex‐ and NAT‐dependent differences in ABP‐induced liver tumor incidence in mice are not due to differences in either mutation rates or mutational spectra, and that mechanisms independent of carcinogen bioactivation, covalent DNA binding and mutation may be responsible for these differences. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. , 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Predictive factors of recurrent angina after acute coronary syndrome: the global registry acute coronary events from China (Sino-GRACE).

BACKGROUND Many patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) develop recurrent angina (RA) during hospitalization. The aim of this non-randomized, prospective study was to investigate the predictive factors of RA in unselected patients with ACS enrolled in the global registry acute coronary events (GRACE) during hospitalization in China. METHODS Between March 2001 and October 2004, enrolled were 1433 patients with ACS, including ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (662, 46.2%), non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (239, 16.7%) and unstable angina (532, 37.1%). The demographic distribution, medical history and clinical data were collected to investigate the predictive factors of RA by Logistic regression. RESULTS During hospitalization 275 (19.2%) patients were documented with RA including unstable angina (53.2%), non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (27.5%), ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (19.3%). A comorbidity of dyslipidemia, prior angina, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) within 6 months was more common in patients with RA, P < 0.05. In the patients with RA, a significantly higher proportion of patients with acute pulmonary edema was observed, 23 (8.4%) versus 43 (3.7%), P = 0.001. Acute renal failure was present in 8 (2.9%) of patients with RA versus 19 (1.6%) of patients without RA, P = 0.165. Hemorrhagic events were present in 6 (2.2%) of patients with RA versus 8 (0.7%) of patients without RA, ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation events in 12 patients (4.3%) versus 22 patients (1.9%), congestive heart failure in 69 patients (25.0%) versus 94 patients (8.1%), myocardial re-infarction in 28 patients (10.1%) versus 15 patients (1.3%), P < 0.05, respectively. A lower proportion of patients with RA underwent in-hospital PCI, 687 (59.3%) versus 114 (41.5%), P = 0.000. A higher proportion of patients with RA received heparin, 260 (94.5%) versus 1035 (89.4%), P = 0.006; and beta-blockers 176 (64.0%) versus 864 (74.5%), P = 0.000. Multivarible regression analysis showed that RA was associated with prior angina (OR 2.086, 95% CI 1.466 - 2.967), in-hospital PCI (OR 0.579, 95% CI 0.431 - 0.778), in-hospital congestive heart failure (OR 2.410, 95% CI 1.634 - 3.555), myocardial re-infarction (OR 7.695, 95% CI 3.701 - 15.999), beta-blocker (OR 0.626, 95% CI 0.458 - 0.855), and heparin (OR 3.411, 95% CI 1.604 - 7.382). CONCLUSIONS In-hospital congestive heart failure, myocardial re-infarction, prior angina history and use of heparin are stronger independent predictors of RA; beta-blockers and PCI are also important predictive factors for RA.
Allelic Landscape of Human Blood Cell Trait Variation and Links

blood trait explained by the polygenic signal across different genome regulatory domains. Finally, through Mendelian randomization, we provide evidence of shared genetic pathways linking blood cell indices with complex pathologies, including autoimmune diseases, schizophrenia, and coronary heart disease and evidence suggesting previously reported population associations between blood cell indices and cardiovascular disease may be non-causal. in humans and opens potential avenues for targeting key pathways involved in abnormal or dysregulated hematopoiesis. poor signal intensity (dish QC < 0.82) and samples with low call rate (< 97%) based on (cid:3) 20,000 high quality probesets. Variants were excluded if they had low call rate (< 95%), had more than three clusters (indicative of off-target measurement), had cluster statistics (Fisher’s linear discriminant, heterozygous cluster strength, homozygote ratio offset) indicative of poor quality genotyping or were complicated multi-allelic variants that couldn’t easily be called.
Torque generation in the flagellar motor of Escherichia coli: evidence of a direct role for FliG but not for FliM or FliN

Among the many proteins needed for assembly and function of bacterial flagella, FliG, FliM, and FliN have attracted special attention because mutant phenotypes suggest that they are needed not only for flagellar assembly but also for torque generation and for controlling the direction of motor rotation. A role for these proteins in torque generation is suggested by the existence of mutations in each of them that produce the Mot- (or paralyzed) phenotype, in which flagella are assembled and appear normal but do not rotate. The presumption is that Mot- defects cause paralysis by specifically disrupting functions essential for torque generation, while preserving the features of a protein needed for flagellar assembly. Here, we present evidence that the reported mot mutations in fliM and fliN do not disrupt torque-generating functions specifically but, instead, affect the incorporation of proteins into the flagellum. The fliM and fliN mutants are immotile at normal expression levels but become motile when the mutant proteins and/or other, evidently interacting flagellar proteins are overexpressed. In contrast, many of the reported fliG mot mutations abolish motility at all expression levels, while permitting flagellar assembly, and thus appear to disrupt torque generation specifically. These mutations are clustered in a segment of about 100 residues at the carboxyl terminus of FliG. A slightly larger carboxyl-terminal segment of 126 residues accumulates in the cells when expressed alone and thus probably constitutes a stable, independently folded domain. We suggest that the carboxyl-terminal domain of FliG functions specifically in torque generation, forming the rotor portion of the site of energy transduction in the flagellar motor.
Using the World Wide Web to Support Classroom Lectures in a Psychology Course

Information and computing technology is pervasive in tertiary institutions and in the world of work. This short report critically evaluates two website development initiatives for undergraduate psychology modules, developed to support traditional face-to-face psychology lectures. In the first initiative, emphasis was placed on developing supplementary course material and exercises to complement lectures. Students expressed favourable attitudes towards the provision of the supplementary course material and content but less favourable attitudes towards training in how to use the World Wide Web. In the second initiative, emphasis was placed on the interactive qualities of the Web. Students expressed favourable attitudes towards the interactive discussion facilities and the provision of past examination and test papers (and answers). The lessons learned from these initiatives are discussed in relation to access to technology on university campuses in South Africa and in relation to the qualities of the web to facilitate learning.
Biomarkers in canine parvovirus enteritis

Canine parvovirus (CPV) enteritis has, since its emergence in 1978, remained a common and important cause of morbidity and mortality in young dogs. The continued incidence of parvoviral enteritis is partly due to the virus' capability to evolve into more virulent and resistant variants with significant local gastrointestinal and systemic inflammatory sequelae. This paper reviews current knowledge on historical-, signalment-, and clinical factors as well as several haematological-, biochemical- and endocrine parameters that can be used as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in CPV enteritis. These factors include season of presentation, purebred nature, bodyweight, vomiting, leukopaenia, lymphopaenia, thrombocytopaenia, hypercoagulability, hypercortisolaemia, hypothyroxinaemia, hypoalbuminaemia, elevated C-reactive protein and tumour necrosis factor, hypocholesterolaemia and hypocitrullinaemia. Factors contributing to the manifestations of CPV infection are multiple with elements of host, pathogen, secondary infections, underlying stressors and environment affecting severity and outcome. The availability of several prognosticators has made identification of patients at high risk of death and their subsequent targeted management more rewarding.
Socio-Economic Status and Inequalities in Exposure to Transportation Noise in Hong Kong

Environmental inequality has been validated with social data in many cities worldwide but not in Hong Kong. By applying the latest 3D noise mapping technique and using census data, this study tries to (1) determine the transporta- tion noise exposure of urban inhabitants in Hong Kong; (2) ascertain the extent to which differences in transportation noise exposure are related to the socio-economic status of the inhabitants; and (3) ascertain if socio-economic variations across the city is related to the variations in noise exposure levels associated with varying urban forms and planning his- tory. The results provide evidence for environmental inequality in Hong Kong, showing that noise exposure is weakly but significantly correlated to education attainment and income. Significant differences in socio-economic indicators are also observed among residents of different housing types associated with different time periods. Residents less exposed to road traffic noise are generally in newer buildings, wealthier and better educated.