Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Micafungin-Induced Suicidal Erythrocyte Death

Background/Aims: The antifungal drug Micafungin is used for the treatment of diverse fungal infections including candidiasis and aspergillosis. Side effects of Micafungin treatment include microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia with microvascular thrombosis. The development of thrombosis may be fostered by stimulation of eryptosis, the suicidal death of erythrocytes characterized by cell shrinkage and cell membrane scrambling with phosphatidylserine translocation to the erythrocyte surface. Triggers of eryptosis include increase of cytosolic Ca2+ activity ([Ca2+]i), oxidative stress, ceramide, activated protein kinase C (PKC), casein kinase 1α or p38 kinase and activated caspases. The present study explored, whether Micafungin induces eryptosis. Methods: Flow cytometry was employed to estimate phosphatidylserine abundance at the erythrocyte surface from annexin-V-binding, cell volume from forward scatter, [Ca2+]i from Fluo3-fluorescence, abundance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) from DCFDA dependent fluorescence, and ceramide abundance at the erythrocyte surface utilizing specific antibodies. Hemolysis was quantified by measuring haemoglobin concentration in the supernatant. Results: A 48 hours exposure of human erythrocytes to Micafungin (10 - 25 µg/ml) significantly increased hemolysis and the percentage of annexin-V-binding cells, and significantly decreased forward scatter. Micafungin (25 µg/ml) did not significantly modify Fluo3-fluorescence, DCFDA fluorescence, or ceramide abundance. The effect of Micafungin on annexin-V-binding was not significantly modified by removal of extracellular Ca2+, by PKC inhibitor staurosporine (1 µM), p38 kinase inhibitor SB203580 (2 µM), casein kinase 1α inhibitor D4476 (10 µM) or pancaspase inhibitor zVAD (10 µM). Conclusions: Micafungin triggers hemolysis and eryptosis with cell shrinkage and phospholipid scrambling of the erythrocyte cell membrane.
Impact of deductibles on initiation and continuation of psychotherapy for treatment of depression.

OBJECTIVE To estimate the impact of deductibles on the initiation and continuation of psychotherapy for depression. DATA SOURCES/STUDY SETTING Data from health care encounters and claims from Group Health Cooperative, a large integrated health care system in Washington State, was merged with information from a centralized behavioral health triage call center to conduct study analyses. STUDY DESIGN A retrospective observational design using a hierarchical logistic regression model was used to estimate initiation and continuation probabilities for use of psychotherapy, adjusting for key sociodemographic/economic factors and prior use of behavioral health services relevant to individual decisions to seek mental health care. DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION METHODS Analyses were based on merged datasets on patient enrollment, insurance benefits, use of mental health and general medical services and information collected by a triage specialist at a centralized behavioral health call center. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Among individuals with unmet deductibles between $100 and $500, we found a statistically significant lower likelihood of making an initial visit, but there was no statistically significant effect on making an initial or subsequent visit among individuals that had met their deductible. CONCLUSIONS Unmet deductibles appear to influence the likelihood of initiating psychotherapy for treating depression.
Trial Penalties in Federal Sentencing: Extra‐Guidelines Factors and District Variation

The guarantee of the right to a jury trial lies at the heart of the principles that underlie the American criminal justice system's commitment to due process of law. We investigate the differential sentencing of those who plead guilty and those convicted by trial in U.S. District Courts. We first investigate how much of any federal plea/trial sentencing differences are accounted for by substantial assistance to law enforcement, acceptance of responsibility, obstruction of justice, and other Guideline departures. Second, we investigate how such differences vary according to offense and defendant characteristics, as well as court caseloads and trial rates. We use federal sentencing data for fiscal years 2000–02, along with aggregate data on federal district court caseload features. We find that meaningful trial penalties exist after accounting for Guidelines‐based rationales for differentially sentencing those convicted by guilty plea versus trial. Higher district court caseload pressure is associated with greater trial penalties, while higher district trial rates are associated with lesser trial penalties. In addition, trial penalties are lower for those with more substantial criminal histories, and black men. Trial penalties proportionately increase, however, as Guideline minimum sentencing recommendations increase. We also supplement our analysis with interview and survey data from federal district court participants, which provide insights into the plea reward/trial penalty process, and also suggest important dimensions of federal court trial penalties that we cannot measure.
QoSBeeManet: A new QoS multipath routing protocol for mobile ad-hoc networks

In the few last years, there is an increasing need of QoS guarantees for multimedia and real time applications in mobile ad hoc networks. While several QoS routing protocols were proposed, adaptive routing has not be enough exploited. This paper introduces a new multipath quality of service (QoS) routing protocol for mobile ad-hoc networks (MANETs) called QoSBeeManet. Based on the autonomic bee communication principle, the protocol guarantees, in addition to the basic routing functionality, a set of measurable QoS metrics used for multimedia and real time applications. To reduce the network congestion, QoSBeeManet uses a stochastic broadcasting of scouts as routing packets. Moreover, an evaluation of each discovered path is executed and is taken into account by the source node in the aim to transmit fairly data packets through the paths found. The simulation results reached in NS2 were compared to the conventional AODV and DSR routing protocols and have shown that QoSBeeManet has improved the average bandwidth and has reduced the average end-to-end delay. In addition, packet delivery ratio and routing protocol overhead were very close to those of AODV and DSR.
The Canadian CT Head Rule Study for patients with minor head injury: rationale, objectives, and methodology for phase I (derivation).

Head injuries are among the most common types of trauma seen in North American emergency departments, with an estimated 1 million cases seen annually. "Minor" head injury (sometimes known as "mild") is defined by a history of loss of consciousness, amnesia, or disorientation in a patient who is conscious and talking, that is, with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 13 to 15. Although most patients with minor head injury can be discharged without sequelae after a period of observation, in a small proportion, their neurologic condition deteriorates and requires neurosurgical intervention for intracranial hematoma. The objective of the Canadian CT Head Rule Study is to develop an accurate and reliable decision rule for the use of computed tomography (CT) in patients with minor head injury. Such a decision rule would allow physicians to be more selective in their use of CT without compromising care of patients with minor head injury. This paper describes in detail the rationale, objectives, and methodology for Phase I of the study in which the decision rule was derived. [Stiell IG, Lesiuk H, Wells GA, McKnight RD, Brison R, Clement C, Eisenhauer MA, Greenberg GH, MacPhail I, Reardon M, Worthington J, Verbeek R, Rowe B, Cass D, Dreyer J, Holroyd B, Morrison L, Schull M, Laupacis A, for the Canadian CT Head and C-Spine Study Group. The Canadian CT Head Rule Study for patients with minor head injury: rationale, objectives, and methodology for phase I (derivation). Ann Emerg Med. August 2001;38:160-169. ]
Prevalence and significance of vitamin D deficiency in multiple myeloma patients

internal tandem duplication in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) adds important prognostic information to cytogenetic risk group and response to the first cycle of chemotherapy: analysis of 854 patients from the United Kingdom Medical Research Council AML 10 and 12 trials. Blood, 98, 1752–1759. Noguera, N. , Ammatuna, E. , Zangrilli, D. , Lavorgna, S. , Divona, M. , Buccisano, F. , Amadori, S. , Mecucci, C. , Falini, B. & Lo-Coco, F. (2005) Simultaneous detection of NPM-1 and FLT3-ITD mutations by capillary electrophoresis in acute myeloid leukemia. Leukemia, 19, 1479–1483. Rombouts, W.J., Blokland, I. , Lowenbery, B. & Ploemacher, R.E. (2000) Biologic characteristics and prognosis of adult acute myeloid leukemia with internal tandem duplication in the Flt3 gene. Leukemia, 14, 675–683.
Estimation and display for Vector Doppler Imaging using planewave transmissions

Vector Doppler Imaging (VDI) reveals the blood flow velocity vector at each pixel. We present a multiple-angle planewave transmission (PWT) scheme that enables vector velocity imaging at a high frame-rate. The method employs a fast, aliasing-resistant velocity vector estimator and captures transitory flow dynamics, as demonstrated on a carotid artery with a 5 MHz linear array using a novel synthetic particle flow visualization method. Conventional color Doppler processing applied to several PWT angles produces a set of Doppler images. These are combined into a small weighted least squares (WLS) problem for each pixel, conditioned for bias due to aliasing. Weights account for signal quality at each PWT angle. The WLS covariance provides metrics to qualify pixels. To visualize the resulting velocity vector image, we use a novel technique which synthesizes a moving field of points representing particles entrained in the fluid. Each particle is generated by Bernoulli trial at detected flow pixels, and given motion by the velocity vector estimate. The motion is scaled down so the viewer may easily perceive flow in “real-time slow-motion”. Particles migrate across the image from frame to frame, under conservation rules mimicking fluid flow. The user controls displayed density of particles that overlay the detected flow regions, which are color-coded for velocity magnitude. Using a Verasonics VDAS acquisition system and a Philips L7-4 transducer, we demonstrate in vivo VDI on neck vasculature. PWT ensembles collected at seven angles are processed with the VDI algorithm giving an imaging rate of 30 fps. Video display reveals dynamics of the flow field and shows good detection of flow during diastole.
Evaluation of a Humidified Nasal High-Flow Oxygen System, Using Oxygraphy, Capnography and Measurement of Upper Airway Pressures

In this study, we evaluated the performance of a humidified nasal high-flow system (Optiflow™, Fisher and Paykel Healthcare) by measuring delivered FiO2 and airway pressures. Oxygraphy, capnography and measurement of airway pressures were performed through a hypopharyngeal catheter in healthy volunteers receiving Optiflow™ humidified nasal high flow therapy at rest and with exercise. The study was conducted in a non-clinical experimental setting. Ten healthy volunteers completed the study after giving informed written consent. Participants received a delivered oxygen fraction of 0.60 with gas flow rates of 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 l/minute in random order. FiO2, FEO2, FECO2 and airway pressures were measured. Calculation of FiO2 from FEO2 and FECO2 was later performed. Calculated FiO2 approached 0.60 as gas flow rates increased above 30 l/minute during nose breathing at rest. High peak inspiratory flow rates with exercise were associated with increased air entrainment. Hypopharyngeal pressure increased with increasing delivered gas flow rate. At 50 l/minute the system delivered a mean airway pressure of up to 7.1 cmH2O. We believe that the high gas flow rates delivered by this system enable an accurate inspired oxygen fraction to be delivered. The positive mean airway pressure created by the high flow increases the efficacy of this system and may serve as a bridge to formal positive pressure systems.
EMC influence of the charge pump in linear regulators - Design, simulation and measurements

The charge pump belongs to the most critical blocks for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) of low dropout linear regulators (LDO) because of its switching nature. The goal of this paper is to contribute charge pump design practice and a prediction method for the LDO EMC performance already in an early design phase. LDO noise coupling mechanisms are analyzed. EMC aware circuit design includes the choice of low noise architectures, the right switching frequency and noise filtering. The derived simulation method shows very good matching with EMC test results for an LDO with two different charge pumps fabricated in 350nm high-voltage BiCMOS technology. For a realistic prediction of the EMC noise magnitude, a relatively simple simulation setup gives results with &#60;3dBµV accuracy. A trippler current mode charge pump turned out to be well suitable for EMC. Conducted emissions could be predicted and confirmed to be improved by ∼50dBµV versus a conventional voltage mode charge pump.
Designing for shareable interfaces in the wild

Despite excitement about the potential of interactive tabletops to support collaborative work, there have been few empirical demonstrations of their effectiveness (Marshall et al., 2011). In particular, while lab-based studies have explored the effects of individual design features, there has been a dearth of studies evaluating the success of systems in the wild. For this technology to be of value, designers and systems builders require a better understanding of how to develop and evaluate tabletop applications to be deployed in real world settings. This dissertation reports on two systems designed through a process that incorporated ethnography-style observations, iterative design and in the wild evaluation. The first study focused on collaborative learning in a medical setting. To address the fact that visitors to a hospital emergency ward were leaving with an incomplete understanding of their diagnosis and treatment, a system was prototyped in a working Emergency Room (ER) with doctors and patients. The system was found to be helpful but adoption issues hampered its impact. The second study focused on a planning application for visitors to a tourist information centre. Issues and opportunities for a successful, contextually-fitted system were addressed and it was found to be effective in supporting group planning activities by novice users, in particular, facilitating users’ first experiences, providing effective signage and offering assistance to guide the user through the application. This dissertation contributes to understanding of multi-user systems through literature review of tabletop systems, collaborative tasks, design frameworks and evaluation of prototypes. Some support was found for the claim that tabletops are a useful technology for collaboration, and several issues were discussed. Contributions to understanding in this field are delivered through design guidelines, heuristics, frameworks, and recommendations, in addition to the two case studies to help guide future tabletop system creators.
Secondary acute myeloid leukemia in children previously treated with alkylating agents, intercalating topoisomerase II inhibitors, and irradiation.

PURPOSE Patient records were reviewed to identify cases of secondary acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with clinical and cytogenetic features characteristic of classic epipodophyllotoxin-related AML in patients whose prior treatment for cancer did not include these agents. PATIENTS AND METHODS Four cases of secondary AML with chromosomal abnormalities involving bands 11q23 and 21q22, in the absence of prior treatment with etoposide or teniposide, were identified among patients treated at St Jude Children's Research Hospital between January 1980 and April 1992. RESULTS The four identified patients were initially treated for rhabdomyosarcoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (n = 2), and Hodgkins' disease. Prior chemotherapy included relatively low cumulative doses of doxorubicin (median, 150 mg/m2; range, 120 to 375 mg/m2) and cyclophosphamide (median, 3,100 mg/m2; range, 2,250 to 11,400 mg/m2). All four patients had received radiation therapy: 59.4 Gy to the right middle ear for rhabdomyosarcoma; 15 Gy and 12 Gy to the abdomen and right lower quadrant, respectively, for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma; 27 Gy to the right orbit for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma; and 36.6 Gy to the mantle-paraaortic-spleen regions plus 20.4 Gy inverted-Y radiation at relapse for Hodgkin's disease. Secondary AML was diagnosed a median of 38 months after initial diagnosis (range, 14 to 55). Leukemic cell translocations involved band 11q23 in two cases and band 21q22 in two. Although all patients obtained a complete remission (CR), only one remains disease-free (at 34 months), following an allogeneic bone marrow transplant. CONCLUSION Intercalating topoisomerase II inhibitors (doxorubicin, dactinomycin), when combined with alkylating agents and irradiation, may cause secondary AML.
Network resilience through multi-topology routing

In this paper we propose the use of multi-topology (MT) routing for network resilience against link and node failures. We describe the multi-topologies by an n-dimensional vector of different link costs for all links in the network. It is the base for the calculation of n shortest path trees from any node to all other destinations, i.e. for n virtual routing topologies. We define the link costs in such a way that the routing topologies complement each other in the sense that at least one valid route remains in a single link or node failure scenario for each pair of nodes in at least one routing topology. In such a failure case, packets are rather deviated over the intact routing topology than discarded. The recovery speed of the presented mechanism is very fast and can be compared to fast rerouting mechanisms in MPLS, which reduce packet drops to a minimum. In contrast to MPLS, MT routing is still a pure IP-based solution that retains the scalability and the robustness of IP routing.
Automatically Extracting Academic Papers from Web Pages Using Conditional Random Fields Model

A huge amount of academic papers(including research reports) are being released in web pages. It is important to extract these papers in a structured way for many popular applications, such as science and technology information retrieval and digital library. However, few investigations have been done on the issue of academic paper extraction. This paper proposed a unified approach for automatically extracting academic papers from web pages based on CRF model. In the proposed approach, both academic paper extraction and semantic labeling are performed simultaneously by employing the theoretical Conditional Random Fields(CRF) model. Experimental results show that our approach can achieve significantly better extraction results.
How does my smartphone manage network connections ?

We are immerse in a world that becomes more and more mobile every day, with ubiquitous connectivity and increasing demand for mobile services. Current mobile terminals support several access technologies, enabling users to gain connectivity in a plethora of scenarios and favouring their mobility. However, the management of network connectivity using multiple interfaces is still starting to be deployed. The lack of smart connectivity management in multi-interface devices forces applications to be explicitly aware of the variations in the connectivity state (changes in active interface, simultaneous access from several interfaces, etc.). In this paper, we analyse the present state of the connection management and handover capabilities in the three major mobile operating systems (OSs): Android, iOS and Windows. To this aim, we conduct a thorough experimental study on the connectivity management of each operating system, including several versions of the OS on different mobile terminals, analysing the differences and similarities between them. Moreover, in order to assess how mobility is handled and how this can affect the final user, we perform an exhaustive experimental analysis on application behavior in intraand inter-technology handover. Based on this experience, we identify open issues in the smartphone connectivity management policies and implementations, highlighting easy to deploy yet unimplemented improvements, as well as potential integration of mobility protocols.
Implementation of Novel EPC UHF RFID Tag with Sensor Data Transmission Capability

This paper proposed a novel EPC (Electronic Product Code) UHF RFID tag architecture to transmit both EPC code and sensor data. The RFID tag module contains a RF transceiver, command interpreter and digital anti-collision finite state machines, and sensor data input interface. The demo circuits were realized by combining an ALTERA Cyclone II EP2C5T144C7 FPGA chip with a hybrid RF front-end circuit and antenna. The digital anti-collision technique was adapted with the “Slotted Random” anti-collision algorithm and implemented in the FPGA chip. The EPC standard compatibility of anti-collision function is successfully verified by an Alien ALR-9780 UHF RFID reader. Furthermore, when we use the microprocessor to send internal temperature sensor data into the RFID tag interface, the tag will insert the data to MSB of EPC code. The experiment shows that Alien ALR-9780 UHF RFID reader can continuously receive the temperature information from the EPC code of proposed demo tag and the EPC code from the other standard UHF tags simultaneously.
Design makes a difference: a meta-analysis of antidepressant response rates in placebo-controlled versus comparator trials in late-life depression.

OBJECTIVE Qualitative reviews of late-life antidepressant clinical trials suggest that antidepressant response rates in comparator trials are higher than antidepressant response rates in placebo-controlled trials. No quantitative review has been conducted to test this hypothesis. METHODS A meta-analysis was conducted of all published articles in peer-reviewed journals from 1985 to the present to identify randomized clinical trials contrasting antidepressant pharmacotherapy to placebo or an active comparator in late-life depressed outpatients. Sixteen studies (nine comparator trials and seven placebo-controlled trials) were identified. Antidepressant response rates in both placebo-controlled and comparator trials were extracted and submitted for analysis using multilevel meta-analysis procedures. RESULTS The authors found significant variability in antidepressant response rates beyond chance. This variability decreased by 27% when the authors included study type in the model. As expected, antidepressant response rates in comparator trials were significantly higher (60%) than antidepressant response rates in placebo-controlled trials (46%). CONCLUSION Antidepressant response rates are higher in comparator trials as compared to placebo-controlled trials. These findings have important implications for combined medication and psychotherapy trials that use placebo-controlled medication conditions because the response rates from these conditions are likely to be lower than those from unblinded conditions.