Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) in Children Sedated With Propofol or Midazolam

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) requires patient immobility and children generally need to be sedated. The ideal sedative agent for functional MRI (fMRI) should only minimally hamper the neurophysiologic effect of the administered sensorial stimulation. This study compares the effect of propofol and midazolam on the fMRI auditory activation pattern in children. Fourteen children in the 3 to 7 year age group without neurologic or auditory deficits were randomly assigned to receive propofol or midazolam for sedation during auditory fMRI. Two patients in the midazolam group were excluded due to positive baseline MRIs. The children were stimulated using a passive listening task. The fMRI signal was modeled using various functions (hemodynamic response function, temporal derivative, and dispersion derivative) to check for the differing temporal characteristics of the signal between the groups. Patients in the propofol group showed activation only in the primary auditory cortex and exhibited a pattern more similar to that of nonsedated adults. Patients in the midazolam group exhibited a more complex pattern, presenting activation areas other than the primary auditory cortex; a delay in the functional response and higher duration variability were also observed. Our sample sizes are too small to derive a conclusive inference. Our preliminary study encourages the hypothesis that propofol is preferable to midazolam to maintain sedation in 3 to 7-year-old children during auditory fMRI because it facilitates the elicitation of a more focused auditory cortical activation pattern with less temporal and spatial dispersion.
The potential of nuts in the prevention of cancer

Cancer is a disease that is characterized by the loss of genetic control over cell growth and proliferation, mainly as a result of the exposure to environmental factors. Cessation of smoking and a high consumption of fruits and vegetables are the most important means of reducing the risk of cancer in our society. Like fruits and vegetables, nuts are a source of vegetable protein, monounsaturated fatty acids, vitamin E, phenolic compounds, selenium, vegetable fibre, folic acid and phytoestrogens. There are numerous mechanisms of action by which these components can intervene in the prevention of cancer, although they have not been fully elucidated. There are very few epidemiological studies analyzing the relationship between nuts consumption and risk of cancer. One of the greatest difficulties in interpreting the results is that the consumption of nuts, seeds and legumes are often presented together. The most commonly studied location is the colon/rectum, an organ in which the effect of nuts is biologically plausible. Although the results are not conclusive, a protective effect on colon and rectum cancer is possible. Likewise, some studies show a possible protective effect on prostate cancer, but there is insufficient data on other tumour locations. New epidemiological studies are required to clarify the possible effects of nuts on cancer, particularly prospective studies that make reliable and complete estimations of their consumption and which make it possible to analyse their effects independently of the consumption of legumes and seeds.
Professional Development and the Impact on Teacher Growth and Development

This study involved examining the beliefs of teachers at one urban elementary school regarding how professional development has helped them meet the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse students. The study included a series of in-depth interviews with three teacher leaders. The goal was to obtain consent from the teacher leaders to participate in this study at their school. The qualitative study included a narrative inquiry method to illuminate teachers’ perceptions of whether professional development had a positive impact on their instruction. A series of in-depth one-on-one interviews further shed insight on which types of professional development teachers felt improved their practice for meeting the needs of a culturally and linguistically diverse population.
A prospective study to evaluate the efficacy of Cistiquer in improving lower urinary tract symptoms in females with urethral syndrome.

AIM The aim of the study was to compare Cistiquer, a new phytotherapeutic product developed for chronic bladder inflammatory diseases, and intra-vesical administration of gentamicin plus betametasone, in females with urethral syndrome. METHODS Between september 2013 and may 2014, 60 women with urethral syndrome and trigonitis were incuded in this study. Patients were randomly assigned to treatment with intra-vesical administration of betametasone 8 mg plus gentamicin 80 mg (group A), and oral administration of Cistiquer (group B) for 7 weeks. Before and after the therapeutic protocol, symptoms were assessed by three days voiding diary, the overactive bladder questionnaire short form and a ten points visual analogic scale adopted to assess the micturition discomfort. Histologic findings were assessed by the examination of specimens obtained by cold bladder biopsies of the bladder trigone at baseline in all the subjects. RESULTS The two groups had significant and comparable symptoms improvement. However, the score obtained from the visual analogic scale decreased significantly only in the group submitted to oral therapy. Furthermore, in the group treated with endovesical approach, higher drop out rate and higher incidence of urinary infection were observed. CONCLUSION Patients with urethral syndrome and trigonitis improved symptoms either with oral therapy with Cistiquer and with intra-vesical administration of gentamicin plus betametasone. However, treatment adherence resulted higher for patients treated by oral therapy and rate of adverse events resulted higher for those submitted to endovesical treatment.
Analytical expression for storage time and injection ratio of a non-uniformly doped n-Si SBD

In this work, a closed form equation for minority carrier density p(x) is obtained based on a proposed relation between electric field and hole profile p(x). Two important parameters of a Schottky Barrier Diode (SBD) namely storage time and injection ratio can be obtained from p(x). In previous analytical works, such study was done for SBDs with uniformly doped Si. The closed form solution for p(x) is applicable for all levels of injection. The effect of low-high (n-n+) junction is also studied in this work. Present analysis shows that minority current, charge storage time and current injection ratio depend on the logarithmic slope and effective surface recombination velocity.
Quantifying the Characteristics of the Acetabulum and Proximal Femur using a Semi-automated Hip Morphology Software Programme (SHIPS)

Background Hip-joint shape is an important factor that affects an individual's risk of developing osteoarthritis (OA). However, validated tools to quantify these morphological characteristics on clinical plain radiographs are few. We developed a Matlab-based Semi-automated HIP Software programme (SHIPS) that measures 10 morphologic characteristics of the hip that are risk factors for OA using a plain digitised antero-posterior pelvic radiograph. In this study we validated the accuracy and repeatability of this freeware-tool. Methods Software accuracy was assessed using a test pelvic radiograph, and by repeated measurements of an AP-pelvic radiograph digitally recreated from pelvis computed-tomography images reformatted to create images rotated in 2-dimensions (2.5° increments, range −15° to +15°). Intra- and inter-observer repeatability was assessed using pelvic radiographs from 30 subjects analysed twice using the software by two readers, and expressed as coefficient of variation (CV). Clinical-repeatability was assessed by measuring sequential pelvic radiographs taken on the same day after re-positioning in 23 subjects. Results Software accuracy was within 0.1% for linear-ratios and 0.4° for angular-measurements. Changes in pelvic inclination and rotation of ±15° resulted in <14% change in linear-measurement ratios and <7° change in angular-measurements. The intra-observer CV was between 0.3 to 4.1%, and inter-observer CV 0.7 to 9.7% with the exception of horizontal-toit-externa (HTE, 14.6 and 24.2% respectively). Short-term clinical-repeatability varied from 0.4 to 6.1%, with the exception of HTE (37.4%). Conclusion The software showed good accuracy and repeatability for measurement of most hip-joint morphologic risk factors for OA apart from HTE. This tool has particular value in studying large or retrospective datasets where cross-sectional imaging is not feasible or available.
Fibronectin, Laminin, Type IV Collagen Distribution, and Myofibroblastic Stromal Reaction in Aggressive and Nonaggressive Basal Cell Carcinoma

The stromal myofibroblastic reaction and extracellular matrix in a series of 19 morphologically and clinically aggressive basal cell carcinomas (BCC) were examined by an immunohistochemical staining panel for myofibroblastic markers (vimentin, actin, and desmin), for basement membrane components (laminin and type IV collagen), and for fibronectin. Results were compared with a series of 19 nonaggressive BCC. The aggressive BCC showed discontinuous staining for laminin and type IV collagen, a marked myofibroblastic response, and increased stromal fibronectin. Conversely, the nonaggressive BCC showed a continuous basement membrane and a total lack of staining for fibronectin and myofibroblastic markers in all but three cases. This report suggests that a combined analysis of extracellular matrix components and myofibroblastic markers may be useful for evaluating the clinical behavior including the metastatic capability of aggressive BCC.
The problem of mounting income inequalities in the world vis-a-vis the phenomenon of harmful tax competition. The ICIJ tracking down the greatest financial scandals of the 21st century

W maju 2016 roku ponad 350 ekonomistow z 30 krajow świata podpisalo sie pod listem do światowych liderow politycznych z grupą G-7 na czele, ostrzegając, ze dzialanie rajow podatkowych jest nie tylko niesprawiedliwe spolecznie, ale tez nie ma wspolcześnie jakiegokolwiek uzasadnienia ekonomicznego. Autor bestsellerowej pracy naukowej Kapital w XXI wieku Thomas Piketty, profesor Columbia University i doradca sekretarza generalnego ONZ Jeffrey Sachs, profesor Princeton University i laureat Nagrody Nobla Angus Denton oraz wielu innych cenionych autorytetow naukowych wezwali do wprowadzenia wiekszej przejrzystości w globalnym systemie podatkowym i wprowadzenia regula cji ograniczających funkcjonowanie tzw. OFC. Takze organizacja pozarządowa Oxfam International, ktora koordynowala stworzenie listu, wezwala światowych liderow do ustalenia wspolnego stanowiska w sprawie ukrocenia tajemnicy związanej z funkcjonowaniem spolek w rajach podatkowych, ujawniając szkody, jakie one przynoszą. Tzw. optymalizacja podatkowa w opinii cytowanych w artykule analitykow Oxfam, Credit Suisse i UNCTAD przyczynia sie do poglebiania globalnych nierowności dochodowych, traktowanych jako najwiekszy problem globalny XXI wieku. Autor, powolując sie na ww. analizy naukowe oraz wyniki śledztwa dziennikarskiego Miedzynarodowego Zrzeszenia Dziennikarzy Śledczych (ICIJ), stara sie zdiagnozowac i przyblizyc te wzajemne zalezności, ukazac wielorakie szkody, jakie proceder ten przynosi gospodarkom i spoleczenstwom, prezentując wlasne oceny i prognozy na przyszlośc.
Risk factors associated with early reintubation in trauma patients: a prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND After mechanical ventilation, extubation failure is associated with poor outcomes and prolonged hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) stays. We hypothesize that specific and unique risk factors exist for failed extubation in trauma patients. The purpose of this study was to identify the risk factors in trauma patients. METHODS We performed an 18-month (January 2008-June 2009) prospective, cohort study of all adult (8 years or older) trauma patients admitted to the ICU who required mechanical ventilation. Failure of extubation was defined as reintubation within 24 hours of extubation. Patients who failed extubation (failed group) were compared with those who were successfully extubated (successful group) to identify independent risk factors for failed extubation. RESULTS A total of 276 patients were 38 years old, 76% male, 84% sustained blunt trauma, with an mean Injury Severity Score = 21, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score = 7, and systolic blood pressure = 125 mm Hg. Indications for initial intubation included airway (4%), breathing (13%), circulation (2%), and neurologic disability (81%). A total of 17 patients (6%) failed extubation and failures occurred a mean of 15 hours after extubation. Independent risk factors to fail extubation included spine fracture, airway intubation, GCS at extubation, and delirium tremens. Patients who failed extubation spent more days in the ICU (11 vs. 6, p = 0.006) and hospital (19 vs. 11, p = 0.002). Mortality was 6% (n = 1) in the failed group and 0.4% (n = 1) in the successful extubation group. CONCLUSIONS Independent risk factors for trauma patients to fail extubation include spine fracture, initial intubation for airway, GCS at extubation, and delirium tremens. Trauma patients with these four risk factors should be observed for 24 hours after extubation, because the mean time to failure was 15 hours. In addition, increased complications, extended need for mechanical ventilation, and prolonged ICU and hospital stays should be expected for trauma patients who fail extubation.
Influence of Promethazine on Symptom‐Therapy Scores for Nausea During Patient‐Controlled Analgesia With Morphine

We assessed whether adding promethazine to the syringe containing morphine for patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) decreases nausea after gynecologic surgery. Patients were assigned randomly to receive PCA (morphine 1.5 mg, 6-min lockout interval) with or without promethazine (0.625 mg/PCA dose, providing an average of 17.6 mg/24 h). Assessments included a visual analogue scale (VAS) for nausea (0 = none, 10 = worst possible) at scheduled times, rescue therapy requirements, and a maximum symptom-therapy score that provided an aggregate assessment of nausea intensity, duration, and response to rescue therapy (0 = no nausea; 1 = mild; 2 = moderate, requiring droperidol; 3 = severe or persistent, requiring droperidol; 4 = requiring droperidol + transdermal scopolamine; 5 = unrelieved). Nausea scores on the visual analogue scale at 2, 6, 8, and 24 h and use of rescue droperidol identified no significant differences between the groups. However, symptom-therapy scores differed significantly, with median values of 0 and 2, respectively, for the promethazinetreated and control groups. We conclude that simultaneous titration of morphine and promethazine de-creases nausea associated with PCA therapy; the difference may best be appreciated with use of the combined symptom-therapy score.
A Low THD Current Mode DC/AC Converter Apply Power Flow Waveform Library Analysis

A novel bi-directional series resonant inverter is present in this paper, which all switch can work in a ZCS condition with fixed frequency. A bilateral switch is connected to primary side of transformer which will control the energy following more perfectly. With the bi-directional switch k degree of current control was improved. Power flow with different switch combination was analyzed and its waveform library was used to control the energy following. The topology has a bright prospect in low THD inverter and special inverter. Experimental result proves the validity of the theoretical analysis
The Effects of Teachers Teaching Teachers, an Indiana Staff Development Model, on Educator Attitudes and Beliefs.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect Teachers Teaching Teachers, a staff development project incorporating peer coaching methods, had on public school educators' attitudes and beliefs toward various personal and professional components. Forty-four teachers, administrators, and other school personnel participated in the Teachers Teaching Teachers project from February, 1986, to May, 1987. All project participants were given eight separate pretest and posttest versions of both the Likert Bipolar Attitude Inventory and Osgood's Semantic Differential Scale. Mean pretest and posttest scores were compared to determine project effectiveness. The results indicated that pretest-posttest gains were obtained in seven of the eight desired outcomes, four of these were significant. One measure showed a decrease in posttest score, but this difference was not significant. Overall, the results support the effectiveness of Teachers Teaching Teachers in enhancing educator attitudes and beliefs.
Brazil: capital goods industry during the 2003-2008 boom and following the global crisis

The capital goods industry is essential for technological development and long-term economic growth without external restrictions. After a long period of stagnation, investment growth resumed in Brazil in 2003 and brought renewed vigor to the capital goods industry. Nevertheless, the industry is very diverse, and some sectors have failed to meet rising demand where others have succeeded, namely those with high technological potential such as suppliers of machinery for the oil, mining and construction industries and makers of transportation and electrical generation and distribution equipment. Those sectors continued to expand even in the wake of the 2008 global crisis and have been barely touched by foreign competition.
The financial development–energy consumption nexus revisited

ABSTRACT This study investigates the impact of financial development on energy consumption for a panel of 32 high-income countries over the period 1990–2014. Unlike previous studies, this analysis incorporates the bond market alongside the banking sector and the stock market in defining financial development. This study utilizes principal component analysis to construct indices for each of the three financial sectors (banking sector, stock market, and bond market) as well as an overall financial development index. Moreover, unlike previous studies, this study also implements heterogeneity panel estimation techniques. The results of this study reveal the absence of a statistical relationship between the overall financial development index and energy consumption. However, it is observed that an increase in the stock market index yields a slight decline in energy consumption. Policy implications pertaining to the empirical results are also discussed.
Tumor cell expression of immune inhibitory molecules and tumor‐infiltrating lymphocyte count predict cancer‐specific survival in pancreatic and ampullary cancer

Understanding the mechanisms of immune resistance in pancreatic and ampullary cancers is crucial for the development of suitable biomarkers and effective immunotherapeutics. Our aim was to examine the expression of the immune inhibiting molecules PD‐L1, Galectin‐9, HVEM, IDO and HLA‐G, as well as CD8+ and FoxP3+ tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL), in pancreatic and ampullary cancers, and to relate their individual, as well as their combined expression, to cancer survival. Tumor tissue from 224 patients with resected pancreatic (n = 148) and ampullary (n = 76) cancer was used to construct tissue‐microarrays. Expression of immune inhibitory molecules and TIL was examined by immunohistochemistry. We show that immune inhibitory molecules are prevalently expressed. Moreover, high tumor expression of PD‐L1 (p = 0.002), Gal‐9 (p = 0.003), HVEM (p = 0.001), IDO (p = 0.049), HLA‐G (p = 0.004) and high CD8/FoxP3 TIL ratio (p = 0.006) were associated with improved cancer‐specific survival. All immune biomarkers, with the exception of IDO, were individually predictive of cancer‐specific survival when adjusted for clinicopathologic characteristics. For every additional immune biomarker present survival was almost two‐fold prolonged (HR 0.57 95%CI 0.47–0.69, p < 0.0001). When patients with pancreatic and ampullary cancer were analyzed separately the results were similar. We conclude that pancreas and ampullary cancers are rich in expression of immune‐inhibitory molecules. These molecules can be targets for future immunotherapeutics, as well as form powerful immunological biomarkers. We propose that such immune biomarker panels be included in future prospective immunotherapy trials.
Molecular evidence for Pleistocene glacial cycles driving diversification of a North American desert spider, Agelenopsis aperta

The influence of historical climatic vs. geological changes on species diversification patterns was investigated in a widely distributed North American desert spider, Agelenopsis aperta (Araneae: Agelenidae), with particular reference to Pleistocene glacial cycles and earlier patterns of mountain building. Levels of sequence divergence obtained from the mitochondrial gene, cytochrome oxidase I, dated to the Pleistocene, eliminating Rocky Mountain orogeny as a cause of diversification, as orogeny ended 4 million years ago. The results of phylogenetic and network analyses showed the presence of three geographically defined clades, which were consistent with the presence of at least three glacial refugia: (i) east of the Rocky Mountains; (ii) between the Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevadas; and (iii) west of the Sierra Nevadas. In addition, populations within the Rocky Mountains exhibited significantly lower genetic diversity than populations east of the Rocky Mountains and the haplotypes found within the Rockies were a subset of eastern haplotypes. These patterns suggest that a post‐Pleistocene range expansion occurred out of an eastern glacial refugium into the Rocky Mountains. Examination of phylogeographical studies of other North American desert taxa indicated that mountain building explained diversification patterns more effectively for some taxa but Pleistocene climate change was more important for others, including A. aperta.
Distribution of an antigenically related iron-regulated protein among the Neisseria spp

Several iron-regulated proteins of Neisseria gonorrhoeae have been reported. One of these, a 37,000-molecular-weight protein (37K protein), appears to be common to all gonococcal isolates. Recently, the occurrence of a similar protein has also been noted in N. meningitidis. The gonococcal 37K protein has been purified and used to produce both rabbit monospecific antiserum and murine monoclonal antibodies. Using these antibody reagents, we analyzed 57 strains from nine species of Neisseria and the closely related organism Branhamella catarrhalis for the presence of proteins antigenically related to the gonococcal 37K protein. Strains grown on medium with low iron content were probed for antigenic reactivity by Western blot techniques and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Proteins which cross-reacted with the rabbit monospecific antiserum were designated as AgR-37K proteins. The data indicated that the AgR-37K proteins were conserved among the 40 strains of N. gonorrhoeae, N. meningitidis, N. lactamica, and N. cinerea tested. Seventeen strains from other species of Neisseria and Branhamella did not express AgR-37K proteins with the exception of one N. subflava isolate. All AgR-37K proteins appeared to be regulated by the amount of available iron in the growth medium. Murine monoclonal antibodies were used to probe the antigenic heterogeneity of the AgR-37K proteins from different Neisseria spp. Two of seven monoclonal antibodies were broadly cross-reactive, recognizing the AgR-37K proteins from all species examined. The remaining five monoclonal antibodies were more discriminating, recognizing the AgR-37K proteins from certain species. The antigenic conservation of these AgR-37K proteins, particularly among the pathogenic members of the genus Neisseria, may imply that these proteins serve a common function in pathogenicity.