Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bradycardia during critical care intubation: mechanisms, significance and atropine

Bradycardia occurs during the intubation of some critically ill children as a result of vagal stimulation due to hypoxia and/or laryngeal stimulation; such ‘stable’ bradycardia is accompanied by selective vasoconstriction. Some induction drugs also induce bradycardia which may be accompanied by vasodilatation which is also a feature of certain pathologies, which influence the progression to ‘unstable’ bradycardia, which does not respond to re-oxygenation and a pause in laryngoscopy. Preintubation atropine diminishes the overall incidence of stable bradycardia during routine anaesthesia. However, clinical studies of critical care intubation show that atropine does not prevent all episodes of bradycardia and specifically cannot affect vasodilatation. As such, there is insufficient evidence to support a recommendation for the indiscriminate use of atropine for intubation during critical care illness, including simple neonatal respiratory distress. Atropine is appropriate during septic or late stage hypovolaemic shock where abnormal vasomotor tone and bradycardia may potentially set up a negative feedback loop of cardiac hypo-oxygenation and hypoperfusion and during premedication when using suxamethonium.
Neural network control of functional neuromuscular stimulation systems: computer simulation studies

A neural network control system has been designed for the control of cyclic movements in functional neuromuscular stimulation (FNS) systems. The design directly addresses three major problems in FNS control systems: customization of control system parameters for a particular individual, adaptation during operation to account for changes in the musculoskeletal system, and attaining resistance to mechanical disturbances. The control system was implemented by a two-stage neural network that utilizes a combination of adaptive feedforward and feedback control techniques. A new learning algorithm was developed to provide rapid customization and adaptation. The control system was evaluated in a series of studies on a computer simulated musculoskeletal model. The model of electrically stimulated muscle used in the study included nonlinear recruitment, linear dynamics, and multiplicative nonlinear torque-angle and torque-velocity scaling factors. The skeletal model consisted of a one-segment planar system with passive constraints on joint movement. Results of the evaluation have demonstrated that the control system can provide automated customization of the feedforward controller parameters for a given musculoskeletal system. It can account for changes in the musculoskeletal system by adapting the feedforward controller parameters on-line and it can resist the effects of mechanical disturbances. These results suggest that this design may be suitable for the control of FNS systems and other dynamic systems. <<ETX>>
Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing of Yeasts: a Turbidimetric Technique Independent of Inoculum Size

The current development of potent antifungal drugs necessitates reliable methods of in vitro susceptibility testing of clinical isolates. Other laboratories have noted with some antimicrobials that conventional tube dilution visual end points for determining minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) vary markedly with the inoculum. With seven isolates (four species) we compared the conventional method with one developed with a spectrophotometer. Yeasts were diluted to inocula of 102 to 105 cells/ml and incubated at 37°C with 5-fluorocytosine or miconazole or without drug in a synthetic defined medium. At frequent intervals MICs were determined by the lowest drug concentration without visible turbidity. Concurrently, the percent transmission of each tube was measured and an inhibitory concentration (IC½) was calculated from the turbidimetric measurements. MICs of both drugs for all strains varied with the inoculum. Intrastrain differences averaged 128-fold for miconazole and greater than 8-fold with 5-fluorocytosine. This variability in MIC occurred when readings were made after 12 to 48 h of incubation. In contrast, IC½ values of all isolates varied less than two-fold with the same range of inocula. Most isolates showed this independence when measured at 48 h. Fast-growing yeasts showed greater IC½ variability unless the turbidimetric measurements were taken earlier while the drug-free growth was still in a rapid growth phase. This method is reproducible, inoculum independent, rapid, free from subjectivity and observer variability, and suitable for adaptation to a clinical setting.
Recommending prolonged bedaquiline use for the treatment of highly resistant strains of tuberculosis

We read with interest the article by Caminero et al. [1] proposing a standardised approach to treating both pre-extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (pre-XDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB). This proposal is welcome considering the dearth of evidence-based recommendations on the optimal management of highly resistant tuberculosis (TB) [2]. Given the increasing recognition of the prevalence, morbidity and mortality associated with pre-XDR and XDR-TB, as well as the significant improvement in treatment outcomes with the use of novel and repurposed drugs [3], a clear policy for optimal management of these forms of TB is urgently needed. Treatment of XDR-TB by prolonged use of bedaquiline is appropriate for some individuals http://ow.ly/VmpN30fzReK
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF ORGANIZATION. AN EXTENDED LITERATURE REVIEW

In our paper we review the general topic of social involvement of organizations, in the light of business-society relationship. For this aim we analyze the extensive international literature of corporate social responsibility, corporate citizenship, social philanthropy, sustainable corporation and other related concepts. In this endeavor we categorize the main body of knowledge in three broad areas: (1) papers investigating the definitions and measures of these concepts, including practitioners' opinions, (2) predictors of such involvement and actions, (3) effects of social responsibility manifested by organizations. The second section of our paper focuses on the Romanian literature on this topic, as it is less systematized so far. In this section we focus on the main findings of studies conducted on Romanian companies regarding CSR or related concepts. In the final, concluding section we propose a research methodology for CSR in Romania meant to clarify the impact of the most frequently considered predictors.
Clinical features associated with the A → G transition at nucleotide 8344 of mtDNA (“MERRF mutation”)

We looked for the A → G transition at position 8344 of mtDNA in 150 patients, most of them with diagnosed or suspected mitochondrial disease, to assess the specificity of this mutation for the MERRF phenotype, to define the clinical spectrum associated with the mutation, and to study the relationship between percentage of mutation in muscle and clinical severity. Our results confirm the high correlation between the A → G transition at position 8344 and the MERRF syndrome, but they also show that this mutation can be associated with other phenotypes, including Leigh's syndrome, myoclonus or myopathy with truncal lipomas, and proximal myopathy. The absence of the mutation in four typical MERRF patients suggests that other mutations in the tRNALys gene, or elsewhere in the mitochondrial DNA, can produce the same phenotype.
Is modulation of the rate of proton pumping a key event in osmoregulation?

The net uptake of 3-O-methylglucose into leaf segments obtained from Senecio mikanioides Otto, and net proton efflux from the segments, were both promoted when the osmotic potential of the medium was decreased by addition of mannitol, sorbitol, or polyethylene glycol (optimal osmolarity, 0.3 Osmolar for mannitol and sorbitol). The effect was not due to promotion of ;aging', since the antibiotic cerulenin suppressed aging without reducing the size of the mannitol stimulation; further, mannitol did not accelerate aging. Neither was the effect ascribable to diminished efflux (i.e. reduced ;leak' because: first, visualization of the unidirectional sugar fluxes by double labeling indicated that the effect of added osmoticum was to promote influx rather than to reduce efflux; second, compartment analysis did not suggest any effect of mannitol on the rate constants for efflux from either the slowly equilibrating or more rapidly equilibrating compartment. The effect was not specific to poly-ols since it was also obtained with betaine and choline chloride. Since methyl glucose is not taken up into the phloem it could not be ascribed to a turgor effect on phloem loading. We conclude that the effect may reflect osmoregulation. As the sugar flux is probably driven by protonmotive force, it is likely that the effects on proton flux and on sugar flux are related. We suggest that the plasmalemma-sited proton pump is sensitive to the hydrostatic pressure gradient across the plasmalemma-cell wall complex, and functions both as detector and as effector in osmoregulation.
Orbital Angular Momentum (OAM) Generation by Cylinder Dielectric Resonator Antenna for Future Wireless Communications

In this paper, we demonstrate that the solid cylinder dielectric resonator antenna (CDRA) is a high radiation efficient device to generate orbital angular momentum (OAM) waves with different OAM modes at different frequencies. Theoretical formulations of its radiation fields are deduced in the cylindrical coordinate system, which shows that all components of the electric and magnetic fields have the azimuth dependence of $e^{jm\varphi }$ . A full-wave simulation on a practical size CDRA is then implemented to validate the theoretical derivations. The simulation results show that different separated OAM modes can be obtained at different frequencies. Specifically, the higher order OAM modes are generated at higher electron magnetic modes, which makes CDRA a promising method to overcome the narrow band and multiband issues existing in the design of current OAM devices. Furthermore, a maximum radiation efficiency of 97.1% at 13.3 GHz, and a minimum radiation efficiency of 72.4% at 19.45 GHz are obtained in our simulation, which is a high radiation efficiency feature at the OAM resonant frequencies.
Entrepreneurial Team's Prior Experience, Commitment and New Technology Venture's Initial Performance——An Interaction Effect Model and Its Implication

From the view of initial entrepreneurial team,it empirically examines the impact of prior experience on the performance of new technology enterprises in early stage,using data from 103 early stage technological new ventures which applied for "Tianjin technological small and medium business innovation fund program". It further explores the influence by taking the entrepreneurial team's commitment into consideration.The results show that the more prior working experience and start-up experience team members had,the better the initial performance of new technology ventures.Meanwhile,the entrepreneurial team's commitment plays a positive medium role in the relationship.High committed team would be more likely to explore tacit knowledge and the resources embedded in prior experience,and make the advantage amplified to improve their initial performance.
Under-notification of giardiasis in Auckland, New Zealand: a capture–recapture estimation

Estimation of the degree of undercount is important for disease surveillance. Capture–recapture techniques are now being used to evaluate the completeness of disease ascertainment. This study estimated the level of under-notification of giardiasis in the Auckland adult population using a capture–recapture method. Two independent datasets of giardiasis cases [ges ]15 years were generated from the 1998–1999 Auckland Giardiasis Study (AGS) case database and cases notified to Auckland Regional Public Health Services (ARPHS) for the same period of time. Cases were matched and under-notification was estimated using a two-sample capture–recapture method. During the 12-month period, 199 cases participated in the AGS and 413 cases were notified to ARPHS. The capture–recapture calculation indicated that only 49% of cases were notified. Under-notification by a factor of 2 obscures the true burden of giardiasis. Socio-economic conditions and water quality may influence disease notification inversely. Capture–recapture techniques are useful in evaluating the completeness of surveillance.
The Adjustment of Maltese Firms to the Post-crisis Economic Environment: Evidence from a Firm-level Survey

In contrast to the experience of southern and peripheral economies in the euro area, Malta has weathered the financial crisis relatively well and its labour market remained resilient in the face of shocks. Using information from a firm-level survey conducted in 2014, this paper focuses on the nature of the shocks hitting the economy after the crisis and the reaction of Maltese firms to these shocks. Concerning the latter, a distinction is made between the firmsi¯ decisions to adjust their workforce and on the wages given to new hires compared to incumbents. The empirical analysis is conducted with a multivariate probit framework that controls for both firm and workforce specific characteristics as well as the nature of the shocks faced by the firms. The results highlight the high degree of heterogeneity in demand conditions across sectors although concerns about skill shortages were broad-based.
The Relationship Between Profit and Export Performance Revisited: Evidence from Turkish Companies

In this study, the linkage between export and profit performance is analyzed. In order to see the relation, we employ least square analysis for the period of 1993-2014 by taking 500 largest companies in Turkey. It is concluded that both export and profit performance have positive effect on each other’s. On the other hand, export positive effect is more powerful than profit effect on export.
Production rules as programming

Programming with rules is a small part of or not present at all in most curricula. We feel that is unfortunate. For a broad spectrum of problems rule based programs express the essentials of the algorithms well. Despite the common wisdom that some languages are best for certain types of problems, we find that rule based programs are as simple as procedural programs, even for typical 'procedural' problems.In this paper we first give a brief example of rule programming concentrating on its differences from procedural programming. We then show examples of how directly rule programs can follow the common conceptualizations of certain types of problems. In order to quantify the simplicity of rule programs, we compare entropies of procedural and rule based programs for typical procedural programming tasks.
RenalGuard System for the prevention of acute kidney injury in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

AIMS We aimed to assess whether the RenalGuard™ System is effective in preventing acute kidney injury (AKI) following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). METHODS AND RESULTS Forty-eight consecutive patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) scheduled for TAVI were assigned to: 1) hydration with sodium bicarbonate solution (Control group), or 2) hydration with RenalGuard Therapy (RenalGuard group). Hypotension was defined as periprocedural mean blood pressure <55 mmHg. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of AKI (i.e., an increase of ≥0.3 mg/dL in the serum creatinine concentration at seven days). AKI occurred in 10/26 (38.5%) patients in the Control group and in 1/22 (4.5%) patients in the RenalGuard group (p=0.005, odds ratio [OR] 0.076, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.009-0.66). RenalGuard Therapy protected against AKI (OR 0.71, 95% CI: 0.07-0.775, p=0.026), whereas post-procedural hypotension (OR 3.88, 95% CI: 1.06-14.24, p=0.040), and contrast media volume (OR 3.65, 95% CI: 1.15-5.75, p=0.043) increased the risk of AKI. CONCLUSIONS This non-randomised pilot study suggests that RenalGuard Therapy may be effective in preventing AKI in CKD patients undergoing TAVI.
Refolding and proton pumping activity of a polyethylene glycol‐bacteriorhodopsin water‐soluble conjugate

Bacteriorhodopsin (BR), from the purple membrane (PM) of Halobacterium halobium, was chemically modified with methoxypolyethylene glycol (m‐PEG; molecular weight = 5, 000 Da) succinimidyl carbonate. The polyethylene glycol‐bacteriorhodopsin (m‐PEG‐SC‐BR33) conjugate, containing one polyethylene glycol chain, was water soluble. The secondary structure of the conjugate in water appeared partially denatured, but was shown to contain α‐helical segments by circular dichroism spectroscopy. The isolated bacteriorhodopsin conjugate, with added retinal, was refolded in a mixed detergent‐lipid micelle and had an absorption maximum at 555 nm. The refolded conjugate was transferred into vesicles that pumped protons, upon illumination, as efficiently as did native BR. Modification of the PM with m‐PEG did not alter the native structure or inhibit proton pumping, and therefore it is suggested that the glycol polymer is present as a moiety covalently linked to residues unnecessary for proton pumping and proper folding. The site of attachment of m‐PEG was determined to be at either Lys 129 or Lys 159, with position Lys 129 the most probable site of attachment. The m‐PEG‐SC‐BR33 could be stepwise refolded to the native conformation by the addition of trifluoroethanol to lower the dielectric constant, simulating the insertion of the BR into the phospholipid bilayer.
Electrophysiological actions of cocaine on noradrenergic neurons in rat locus ceruleus.

Extracellular microelectrode experiments were conducted to study the effects of cocaine HCl on the activity of spontaneously firing single locus ceruleus (LC) noradrenergic neurons in vivo. The responses of single identified noradrenergic LC neurons to the systemic (i.v.) administration of cocaine were observed over a wide range of doses (0.0625-2.0 mg/kg). The spontaneous activity of all LC neurons receiving doses greater than the threshold dose (0.0625 mg/kg) was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner. The local anesthetics, procaine and mepivacaine, did not affect LC neuronal activity, action potential amplitude or slope. The inhibitory effects of cocaine on spontaneous LC neuron activity was reversed by the subsequent i.v. administration of the specific alpha-2 adrenoceptor antagonist, piperoxone, but not the opiate receptor antagonist, naloxone. Pretreatment with another alpha-2 adrenoceptor antagonist, yohimbine (5 mg/kg i.p.), attenuated significantly the inhibition of spontaneous LC activity elicited by i.v. cocaine. Intravenous cocaine produced a brief increase in mean arterial pressure which did not appear to be correlated with the more sustained inhibition of LC neurons. Reserpine pretreatment (10 mg/kg i.p.) attenuated significantly the inhibitory effects of cocaine on LC activity. These results suggest that the inhibition of spontaneous LC neuron activity by i.v. cocaine is most likely mediated by an augmented action of catecholamines at central alpha-2 adrenoceptors and not by the local anesthetic effects of cocaine.
Meso‐scale ecology of anthrax in southern Africa: a pilot study of diversity and clustering

It has only recently been possible to detect sufficient genetic diversity among anthrax isolates to allow genotype grouping ( Keim et al. 1997 ). Early results of such grouping suggest that the southern African subcontinent may be the geographical origin of Bacillus anthracis. This report describes a pilot investigation of the genetic diversity of a study group of isolates from the Kruger National Park, South Africa, and efforts to detect spatio‐temporal clustering within the study group. This study has also served as further validation for the newly developed Multi‐Locus VNTR Analysis (MLVA), designed to simplify genotyping of B. anthracis isolates. The results reveal a diverse range of genotypes within the park allied with three genotype reference groups, and show that the MLVA procedure is robust for rapid analysis of B. anthracis genotypes. We also observed multiple genotype groups within epidemics and between geographically and temporally close epidemic episodes. This is in contrast to earlier characterizations of anthrax epidemics. The result of a Mantel test for time–space clustering indicates clustering of the anthrax isolates selected for the study.
Adaptive hybrid beamformer for mobile reception of ATSC DTV

An adaptive hybrid beamformer is proposed to improve the reception performance of the advanced television system committee (ATSC) digital television (DTV) in a mobile environment. Dynamic multipaths and Doppler shifts severely degrade the reception performance of the ATSC DTV receiver. Accordingly, a hybrid beamformer, called a Capon and least mean square (CLMS) beamformer, is presented that uses direction of arrival (DOA) information and the least mean square (LMS) beamforming algorithm. The proposed CLMS algorithm efficiently removes dynamic multipaths and compensates for the phase distortion caused by Doppler shifts in mobile receivers. When the CLMS beamformer has an insufficient degree of freedom (DOF), the subsequent use of an equalizer removes any residual multipath effects, thereby significantly improving the performance of DTV receivers. The performances of the proposed CLMS, Capon, and LMS beamformers are compared based on computer simulations. In addition, the overall performance of the CLMS beamformer followed by an equalizer is also considered.
Human Factors for Designing a Haptic Interface for Interaction with a Virtual Environment

Designing haptic displays is one of the main challenges in creating virtual reality systems with the sense of touch. The design of the hardware and software of haptic interfaces depends critically on the capabilities of the human haptic system. For example, force feedback interfaces, due to inherent hardware limitations such as friction and actuator saturation, present forces to users in the case of interactions with a virtual environment which are only approximations of the forces that they would feel if they were interacting with the real world. Thus, quantitative human studies are required to obtain the impact on human performance of these approximations in the forces from the haptic devices. First, the focus of this paper is on the quantitative measures of human factors (force thresholds) that affect the design specifications of force feedback haptic interfaces when the human user or the object are in relative motion. Second, the effects of two direction of forces and the increment/decrement of forces are also studied through two experiments. It appears that the JNDs of human force perception depend on the force direction and the force increment/decrement, and these two variables must be incorporated in an efficient haptic design technique when the user's hand is in motion.
Influence of acquisition conditions on forest classification using L-band Pol-inSAR data

This paper introduces an approach to forest mapping and classification using complementary polarimetric and interferometric information. Strictly polarimetric and polarimetric interferometric data are first analyzed and classified separately. Pertinent polarimetric indicators permit to classify the observed scene into three canonical scattering types, whereas the segmentation of an optimized interferometric coherency set leads to the discrimination of decorrelating volumetric media used ton infer a forest map. The classification of forest constituents is achieved by means of a supervised Pol-inSAR classifier. The influence of temporal and spatial baselines is investigated and it is shown that temporal decorrelation may be a severe limitation for forest classification at L band