Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A 229-year dendroclimatic-inferred record of forest fire activity for the Boreal Shield of Canada

Six independent tree-ring reconstructions of summer drought were calibrated against instrumental fire data to develop a 229-year dendroclimatic-inferred record of fire activity (annual area burned and fire occurrence) on the Boreal Shield, Canada. As a means of validating the statistical reconstructions of the fire activity, a comparison was made with a stand age distribution derived from a regional time-since-last-fire map for an area located at the transition between the mixedwood and coniferous boreal forests of south-western Quebec. Calibration statistics indicated that 31% of the area burned variance and 45% of the fire occurrence variance could be accounted for by the six drought reconstructions. The verification statistics indicated a tendency for the statistical reconstructions of the fire activity to reproduce with confidence both high and relatively low frequency variations in fire. Episodes of succeeding years with important fire activity were estimated for 1789-1796, 1820-1823, 1837-1841, 1862-1866, 1906-1912, 1919-1922, 1933-1938, and 1974-1977. Also estimated were periods of reduced forest fire activity, particularly in the occurrence rate of extreme fire years, from c. 1850 to 1900 and again during the second half of the 20th century. Correlation analysis between the statistical reconstruction of the area burned and the stand age distribution suggested that both proxies shared similar information on the fire activity. Correlation maps, however, indicated that variability in the statistical reconstructions was not necessarily representative of fire activity in all regions of the Boreal Shield.
Study of the impact of oseltamivir on the risk for pneumonia and other outcomes of influenza, 2000-2005.

CONTEXT Influenza results in large numbers of secondary complications and hospitalizations. OBJECTIVE To assess the impact of oseltamivir on influenza-related complications and hospitalizations by analyzing health insurance claims data for 6 influenza seasons. DESIGN A retrospective cohort study utilizing claims data from the 2000-2005 influenza seasons. SETTING Claims data were obtained from Thomson Healthcare MarketScan Research Databases. PATIENTS Patients prescribed oseltamivir within 1 day of influenza diagnosis were compared to those prescribed no antiviral therapy (controls). OUTCOMES Frequencies of pneumonia, other respiratory illnesses, and otitis media, and rates of hospitalization, were compared for the oseltamivir and no antiviral groups. Expenditure was also analyzed. Relative risk (RR) for each outcome was assessed using Cox proportional hazards regression. RESULTS Overall, 31,674 patients received oseltamivir and were propensity matched to patients with no antiviral prescription. Oseltamivir reduced the risk of diagnosis of pneumonia by 15% (RR 0.85, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.73, 0.98), other respiratory illnesses by 20% (RR 0.80, 95% CI: 0.76, 0.83), and otitis media and its complications by 31% (RR 0.69, 95% CI: 0.61, 0.79). The greatest reductions in pneumonia risk, of 57% and 52%, were observed for children aged 6-12 years (RR 0.43, 95% CI: 0.26, 0.71) and 1-2 years (RR 0.48, 95% CI: 0.24, 0.99), respectively. Overall, hospitalization rates were reduced by 38% (RR 0.62, 95% CI: 0.52, 0.74) in the oseltamivir group compared with the no antiviral group. Total adjusted expenditures in the oseltamivir and no antiviral groups were not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS Oseltamivir reduced the relative risk of influenza-related complications and hospitalization when prescribed immediately upon presentation of influenza.
Complementary and alternative medicine patients are talking about: PC-SPES.

Digital Object Identifier: 10.1188/05.CJON. 113-114 PC-SPES is an herbal supplement containing eight Chinese herbs (see Table 1). PC stands for prostate cancer, and spes is Latin for hope. PC-SPES was formulated according to traditional Chinese medicine principles involving ingredients that may counteract cytotoxic agents, minimize toxicity, and reduce the development of drug resistance in target cells (Hsieh, Lu, Chea, & Wu, 2002). PC-SPES experienced widespread use from 1996 until 2002, when the California Department of Health Services Food and Drug Branch discovered warfarin (Coumadin, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, New York, NY) and alprazolam in PC-SPES samples (U.S. Food and Drug Administration [FDA], 2002). Separate independent laboratory analyses also discovered diethylstilbesterol (also known as DES) in some samples. At that time, PC-SPES was active in clinical trial until it was recalled by the FDA and voluntarily withdrawn from the market.
A Novel Subspace Based Method for Compensation of Multiple CFOs in Uplink MIMO OFDM Systems

The tri-linear data model for an arbitrary multi-user uplink multiple input multiple output (MIMO) orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) system comprising orthogonal frequency division multiplexing access users and co-channel (CC) users is formulated in this letter. A novel subspace-based method for multi-access interference cancellation and CC data separation in multi-user MIMO OFDM systems, utilizing the independent manifolds spanned by user’s carrier frequency offset matrix, is proposed in this letter. The system constraints under which the proposed subspace nulling method works are derived, which includes the under-determined cases, where minimum mean square error/zero forcing methods fail.
Fabrication of superhydrophobic nanostructured films by Physical Vapour Deposition

This work reports on recent advances in the deposition of non-wettable coatings with high water contact angles (WCAs). We propose a simple and easily-controlled method for fabricating different types of nanoestructured films of Al2O3 with hydrophobic properties by Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD). The films have been deposited over three types of hydrophilic substrates with very different values of roughness and free surface energy. The results of this study showed that the hydrophobicity of the Al2O3 coatings do not depend on the starting conditions of the substrate. GD-OES and FESEM showed a 50-250 nm surface flake structure of Al2O3. This surface flake structure, which is responsible of the hydrophobic effects, is optimized in thicker films. These Al2O3 hydrophobic films presented similar values of contact angle in water to the classic polymeric films based on methyl and fluorocarbons groups.
Symptom control in palliative care--Part III: dyspnea and delirium.

D defined as an uncomfortable awareness of breathing,1 is a frequent symptom in patients with advanced illness and has been well documented to have prognostic value.2 It is often described in terms of air hunger, suffocation, choking, or heavy breathing and is very distressing for family members. Caregivers consistently appear to overrate symptom scores of dyspnea, pain and constipation in cancer patients newly admitted to hospice.3 In a sample of 49 patients admitted to a palliative care unit, physicians consistently underrated symptoms of dyspnea.4 There are large variations in the reported prevalence of dyspnea in both cancer patients (21%–79%)5–9 and in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) (11%–62%). 10–13 A comparison of patients with lung cancer and those with chronic lung disease revealed significantly more breathlessness during the last year of life in the latter group.14 In patients with advanced cancer, dyspnea is more common in those with lung cancer or metastasis to lungs,15 but it is also frequent in patients with no demonstrable lung involvement. Dyspnea as a lone symptom or in association with other parameters is a prognostic indicator of survival16 and an independent predictor of the will to live.17
Proteomic Analysis of Endothelial Cell Autoantigens Recognized by Anti-Dengue Virus Nonstructural Protein 1 Antibodies

We previously showed the occurrence of autoimmune responses in dengue virus (DV) infection, which has potential implications for the pathogenesis of dengue hemorrhagic syndrome. In the present study, we have used a proteomic analysis to identify several candidate proteins on HMEC-1 endothelial cells recognized by anti-DV nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) antibodies. The target proteins, including ATP synthase β chain, protein disulfide isomerase, vimentin, and heat shock protein 60, co-localize with anti-NS1 binding sites on nonfixed HMEC-1 cells using immunohistochemical double staining and confocal microscopy. The cross-reactivity of anti-target protein antibodies with HMEC-1 cells was inhibited by NS1 protein pre-absorption. Furthermore, a cross-reactive epitope on NS1 amino acid residues 311–330 (P311–330) was predicted using homologous sequence alignment. The reactivity of dengue hemorrhagic patient sera with HMEC-1 cells was blocked by synthetic peptide P311–330 pre-absorption. Taken together, our results identify putative targets on endothelial cells recognized by anti-DV NS1 antibodies, where NS1 P311–330 possesses the shared epitope.
Excess noise measurement in In/sub 0.53/Ga/sub 0.47/As

The excess noise due to impact ionization has been measured explicitly for the first time in In/sub 0.53/Ga/sub 0.47/As. By using a phase sensitive detection technique, the noise due to avalanche current was determined even in the presence of high tunneling currents. The excess noise due to pure electron injection measured on a series of thick In/sub 0.53/Ga/sub 0.47/As p/sup +/-i-n/sup +/ diodes suggests large electron to hole ionization coefficient ratio between 3.7 at electric field of 310 kV/spl middot/cm/sup -1/ to 5.3 at 260 kV/spl middot/cm/sup -1/. Excess noise was also measured at fields as low as 155 kV/spl middot/cm/sup -1/ suggesting that significant impact ionization occurs at these low fields. The multiplication and excess noise calculated using published ionization coefficients and ignoring dead space effects, gave good agreement with the experimental data for mixed and pure electron injection.
What Words Do We Use to Lie?: Word Choice in Deceptive Messages

Text messaging is the most widely used form of computer- mediated communication (CMC). Previous findings have shown that linguistic factors can reliably indicate messages as deceptive. For example, users take longer and use more words to craft deceptive messages than they do truthful messages. Existing research has also examined how factors, such as student status and gender, affect rates of deception and word choice in deceptive messages. However, this research has been limited by small sample sizes and has returned contradicting findings. This paper aims to address these issues by using a dataset of text messages collected from a large and varied set of participants using an Android messaging application. The results of this paper show significant differences in word choice and frequency of deceptive messages between male and female participants, as well as between students and non-students.
Fatal injuries to teenage construction workers in the US.

BACKGROUND The construction industry is second only to agriculture in the annual number of fatal injuries in workers less than 18 years of age. We examined fatal injury reports for youth and adult workers to determine risk factors for injury and applicability of existing child labor regulations. METHODS The US Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) investigation data for fatal work injuries from 1984 through 1998 were reviewed with respect to type of event, employer characteristics, and apparent violations of existing child labor laws under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). We also examined whether the employer met exemption criteria for federal enforcement of child labor or OSHA regulations. RESULTS The fatality rate for teenage construction workers age 19 and younger was 12.1 per 100,000 per year, slightly less than for adult workers. Teenage workers who were fatally injured were more likely than adults to have been employed at non-union construction firms (odds ratio (OR) = 4.96, P < 0.05), firms with fewer than 11 employees (OR = 1.72, P < 0.05), and their employers were more likely to have been cited by OSHA for safety violations (OR = 1.66, P < 0.05) than for firms which were investigated because of a fatality in an adult worker. Fatalities in teenagers were more likely to occur in special construction trades such as roofing. Among fatalities in workers less than 18 years of age, approximately one-half (49%) of the 76 fatal injuries were in apparent violation of existing child labor regulations. We estimated that in 41 of the 76 cases (54%) the employer's gross annual income exceeded the $500,000 threshold for federal enforcement of child labor laws. Only 28 of 76 cases (37%) were at construction firms with 11 or more employees, which are subject to routine OSHA inspections. CONCLUSIONS Fatal injuries in teenage construction workers differed from those in adults in that they were more likely to be at small, non-union firms of which a substantial proportion were exempt from federal enforcement of child labor laws and from routine OSHA inspections. Safety programs for young construction workers should include small, non-union construction firms and those in special construction trades such as roofing. We did not identify specific areas for new regulation but the number of fatalities reviewed was small.
Synthesizing Multi-View Video Frames for Coding Patient Monitoring Video

This paper presents a method to synthesize multi-view video frames to facilitate coding and transmission of patient monitoring video. The synthesis is carried out in the DCT domain by means of interlacing. The synthesized video provides a higher video coding efficiency, better synchronization of the video streams from multiple cameras, as well as the improved data loss resilience and protection of the video content. The viability of the presented method was demonstrated by experimental results on patient monitoring video
About Using Carbon Nanotubes with Amino Group Modification as Sensors

The article representes the research of single-walled carbon nanotubes with amino group modified sensor activity to metal atoms and their ions. The process of the amino group binding to the open edge of the nanotube has been perfomed. Investigation of the interaction between the nanotube, used as sensor, and metal atoms and ions are represented. The mechanism of scanning process in relation to atoms of metals has been modeled and the chemical activity of amine group is defined. The calculations have been carried out by the MNDO method within the framework of the molecular cluster model.
An adverse event screening tool based on routinely collected hospital-acquired diagnoses.

OBJECTIVE The aim was to develop an electronic adverse event (AE) screening tool applicable to acute care hospital episodes for patients admitted with chronic heart failure (CHF) and pneumonia. DESIGN Consensus building using a modified Delphi method and descriptive analysis of hospital discharge data. PARTICIPANTS Consultant physicians in general medicine (n = 38). INTERVENTION In-hospital acquired (C-prefix) diagnoses associated with CHF and pneumonia admissions to 230 hospitals in Victoria, Australia, were extracted from the Victorian Admitted Episodes Data Set between July 2004 and June 2007. A 9-point rating scale was used to prioritize diagnoses acquired during hospitalization (routinely coded as a 'C-prefix' diagnosis to distinguish from diagnoses present on admission) for inclusion within an AE screening tool. Diagnoses rated a group median score between 7 and 9 by the physician panel were included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Selection of C-prefix diagnoses with a group median rating of 7-9 in a screening tool, and the level of physician agreement, as assessed using the Interpercentile Range Adjusted for Symmetry. RESULTS Of 697 initial C-prefix diagnoses, there were high levels of agreement to include 113 (16.2%) in the AE screening tool. Using these selected diagnoses, a potential AE was flagged in 14% of all admissions for the two index conditions. Intra-rater reliability for each clinician ranged from kappa 0.482 to 1.0. CONCLUSIONS A high level of physician agreement was obtained in selecting in-hospital diagnoses for inclusion in an AE screening tool based on routinely collected data. These results support further tool validation.
Prebiotics: the concept revisited.

A prebiotic is "a selectively fermented ingredient that allows specific changes, both in the composition and/or activity in the gastrointestinal microflora that confers benefits upon host well-being and health. " Today, only 2 dietary nondigestible oligosaccharides fulfill all the criteria for prebiotic classification. The daily dose of the prebiotic is not a determinant of the prebiotic effect, which is mainly influenced by the number of bifidobacteria/g in feces before supplementation of the diet with the prebiotic begins. The ingested prebiotic stimulates the whole indigenous population of bifidobacteria to growth, and the larger that population, the larger is the number of new bacterial cells appearing in feces. The "dose argument" is thus not supported by the scientific data: it is misleading for consumers and should not be allowed. A prebiotic index is proposed, defined as "the increase in the absolute number of bifidobacteria expressed divided by the daily dose of prebiotic ingested. "
Evaluating Clinical Simulations for Learning Procedural Skills: A Theory-Based Approach

Simulation-based learning is becoming widely established within medical education. It offers obvious benefits to novices learning invasive procedural skills, especially in a climate of decreasing clinical exposure. However, simulations are often accepted uncritically, with undue emphasis being placed on technological sophistication at the expense of theory-based design. The author proposes four key areas that underpin simulation-based learning, and summarizes the theoretical grounding for each. These are (1) gaining technical proficiency (psychomotor skills and learning theory, the importance of repeated practice and regular reinforcement), (2) the place of expert assistance (a Vygotskian interpretation of tutor support, where assistance is tailored to each learner's needs), (3) learning within a professional context (situated learning and contemporary apprenticeship theory), and (4) the affective component of learning (the effect of emotion on learning). The author then offers four criteria for critically evaluating new or existing simulations, based on the theoretical framework outlined above. These are: (1) Simulations should allow for sustained, deliberate practice within a safe environment, ensuring that recently-acquired skills are consolidated within a defined curriculum which assures regular reinforcement; (2) simulations should provide access to expert tutors when appropriate, ensuring that such support fades when no longer needed; (3) simulations should map onto real-life clinical experience, ensuring that learning supports the experience gained within communities of actual practice; and (4) simulation-based learning environments should provide a supportive, motivational, and learner-centered milieu which is conducive to learning.
Sensitivity and specificity of photopic negative response of focal electoretinogram to detect glaucomatous eyes

Aims To determine the sensitivity and specificity of the photopic negative response (PhNR) of the focal electroretinograms (ERG; focal PhNR) to detect glaucomatous eyes with different degrees of visual field defects. Methods One-hundred and fourteen eyes of 114 patients with open angle glaucoma and 42 eyes of 42 normal controls were studied. The focal ERGs were elicited by a 15° stimulus spot centred on the macula, and on the supero-temporal and on the infero-temporal areas of the macula. The receiver operating characteristic curves were determined to obtain optimal cut-off values. Eyes were classified as being glaucomatous when their focal PhNRs were less than the cut-off values in either retinal area (combined criterion). Results The focal PhNR amplitudes were significantly reduced with an advance in the stage of glaucoma. In early glaucoma, the sensitivities of the PhNR measured for each retinal area ranged from 58.1% to 80.7%. The sensitivities were significantly increased to 90.6% and 96.9% for the focal PhNR amplitude and the focal PhNR/b-wave amplitude ratio, respectively, when the combined criterion was employed. The specificity was >90%. Conclusions Focal PhNRs have diagnostic ability in detecting early glaucoma with high sensitivity and specificity, especially when the combined criterion is used.
Are Two Heads Better than One for Software Development? The Productivity Paradox of Pair Programming

Extreme programming is currently gaining popularity as an alternate software development methodology. Pair programming, a core practice of this methodology, involves two programmers working collaboratively to develop software. This study examined the efficacy of pair programming by comparing the performance effectiveness and affective responses of collaborating pairs with those of individual programmers treated as nominal pairs. In a controlled laboratory experiment involving student subjects, proxies for entry level programmers working on entry level tasks, two factors were manipulated: programming setting (collaborative pair versus individuals) and programming task complexity (high versus low). Participants who worked in the individual condition were randomly combined into nominal pairs. The performance and affective responses of the collaborating pairs were then compared with those of the best performers and the second best performers of each nominal pair. Results indicated that programming pairs performed at the level above the second best performers and at the level of the best performers in each nominal pair. This relationship was found to be consistent across both levels of task complexity. Consequently, there was no evidence of an "assembly bonus effect," where the performance of a collaborating pair exceeds the performance of its best member working alone. While this finding may appear counterintuitive due to the general perception of two heads being better than one, it is consistent with the findings in small group research. When affective responses were considered, programming pairs reported higher levels of satisfaction than those of the best and second-best performing members in nominal pairs. They also showed higher levels of confidence in their performance compared to those of the second-best members. But the confidence levels of pairs were no different from those of the best performing members in nominal pairs. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are presented.
Adenovirus-vectored Ebola vaccines

The 2014 outbreak of Ebola virus disease in West Africa has highlighted the need for the availability of effective vaccines against outbreak pathogens that are suitable for use in frontline workers who risk their own health in the course of caring for those with the disease, and also for members of the community in the affected area. Along with effective contact tracing and quarantine, use of a vaccine as soon as an outbreak is identified could greatly facilitate rapid control and prevent the outbreak from spreading. This review describes the progress that has been made in producing and testing adenovirus-based Ebola vaccines in both pre-clinical and clinical studies, and considers the likely future use of these vaccines.