Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Validation of the critical-care pain observation tool in adult patients.

BACKGROUND Little research has been conducted to validate pain assessment tools in critical care, especially for patients who cannot communicate verbally. OBJECTIVE To validate the Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool. METHODS A total of 105 cardiac surgery patients in the intensive care unit, recruited in a cardiology health center in Quebec, Canada, participated in the study. Following surgery, 33 of the 105 were evaluated while unconscious and intubated and 99 while conscious and intubated; all 105 were evaluated after extubation. For each of the 3 testing periods, patients were evaluated by using the Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool at rest, during a nociceptive procedure (positioning), and 20 minutes after the procedure, for a total of 9 assessments. Each patient's self-report of pain was obtained while the patient was conscious and intubated and after extubation. RESULTS The reliability and validity of the Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool were acceptable. Interrater reliability was supported by moderate to high weighted kappa coefficients. For criterion validity, significant associations were found between the patients' self-reports of pain and the scores on the Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool. Discriminant validity was supported by higher scores during positioning (a nociceptive procedure) versus at rest. CONCLUSIONS The Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool showed that no matter their level of consciousness, critically ill adult patients react to a noxious stimulus by expressing different behaviors that may be associated with pain. Therefore, the tool could be used to assess the effect of various measures for the management of pain.
The British Journal of Surgery

SUMMARY Recent collective experience with thyroid cancer in children in Britain is reported. Fifteen out of 16patients with papillary carcinoma treated in the years 1962-7 are still living at least 5-10 years later; the sixteenth patient died of an unrelated cause. Two patients with follicular carcinoma also survived. Seven deaths between 1957 and 1970 were due to anaplastic or medullary carcinomas and 1 death was caused by a papillary carcinoma. These data emphasize that in the treatment of papillary carcinoma we should take account of its prolonged natural history. Radical operations which have serious associated morbidity do not appear to be indicated.
Intra-industrial Trade and Horizontal FDI: A Unified Model

On the basis of previous research literature, this paper constructs a unified general equilibrium model of intra-industrial trade which can endogenize horizontal foreign direct investment (FDI) by introducing the horizontal multinational enterprises (MNEs) into the model of the new trade theory to illuminate the rationale for coexistence of intra-industrial trade and horizontal FDI between developed countries from the perspective of the theory. Based on the analysis of general equilibrium and its inframarginal comparative statics of local equilibrium structures of the model, this paper deeply analyzes such theoretical problems as the choice on the specific mode of openness made by north developed countries while opening to each other and the relationship between intra-industrial trade and horizontal FDI of north developed countries.
Deep Neural Network Architecture for Character-Level Learning on Short Text

Character-level deep learning for text classiﬁcation tasks enables models to be trained without any prior knowledge of the data or language; however, an optimal neural network design for different text domains is not known and may vary. In this paper, we expand on current efforts to train neural networks from character-level data by conducting an experimental investigation on neural network design for text classiﬁcation of short text documents. We trained and evaluated four networks, two consisting of convolutional layers followed by dense layers and two consisting of convolutional layers followed by a LSTM layer. Our experimental re-sults show tweets need network architectures compatible with their short length. Networks found effective for other sentiment classiﬁcation tasks may not produce an effective classiﬁer in this domain, if their architecture is ill-suited for short instances.
MG132 treatment during oocyte maturation improves embryonic development after somatic cell nuclear transfer and alters oocyte and embryo transcript abundance in pigs

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of treating pig oocytes during in vitro maturation (IVM) with a proteasome inhibitor, MG132, on oocyte maturation and embryonic development. In one series of experiments, oocytes from medium‐sized follicles (3–8 mm in diameter) were untreated (MCO) or treated with MG132 during 0–22 hr (M0–22) or 30–42 hr (M30–42) of IVM. There was no significant effect of MG132 on nuclear maturation or cytoplasmic maturation (as assessed by intracellular amounts of glutathione and p34cdc2 kinase activity). Blastocyst formation after parthenogenetic activation (PA) and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), however, was increased for M30–42 (65.2% and 27.7% for PA and SCNT, respectively) compared to MCO (42.6% and 13.6%, respectively) and M0–22 (45.3% and 19.5%, respectively; P < 0.05). Expression of PCNA and ERK2 was increased in M30–42 for IVM oocytes while transcript abundance for POUF51, DNMT1, FGFR2, and PCNA was increased in M30–42 for 4‐cell SCNT embryos. When oocytes derived from small follicles (<3 mm in diameter) were untreated (SCO) or treated with MG132 during 0–22 hr (S0–22), 30–42 hr (S30–42) of IVM, or 0–22 and 30–42 hr of IVM (S0–22/30–42), expression of POU5F1, DNMT1, FGFR2, and PCNA and blastocyst formation were increased for SCNT embryos derived from S30 to 42 (16.5%) and S0–22/30–42 oocytes (20.8%) as compared to embryos from SCO (8.7%) or S0–22 oocytes (8.8%; P < 0.05). Results demonstrate that treatment of oocytes with MG132 during the later stage of IVM improves embryonic development and alters gene expression in pigs. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 79:41–50, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The role of rigidity in fracture fixation. An overview.

UNLABELLED The optimal degree of rigidity of internal fixation of fractures is still a matter of controversy. Since any attempt to clarify this situation must rest on a clear terminology, we propose terms relating to different degrees of rigidity. They are based on the material and the design of implants as well as the morphologic features of repair. From our morphologic findings it is obvious that the healing response and the subsequent structural remodelling depend on bone deformation and gap motion. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE For sound patient care, the most ideal mode of internal fixation by plates, yielding rapid and efficient fracture healing, has to be established scientifically in a comparative study.
Skeletal muscle damage following halothane anaesthesia in the domestic fowl: plasma biochemical responses.

The effects of a short period (10 minutes) of halothane anaesthesia upon skeletal muscle have been examined in broiler chickens. Integrity of the muscle membrane was assessed by measurement of plasma activities of intracellular enzymes. Creatine kinase activity was greatly increased during the first 12 hours post-anaesthesia and remained elevated for at least 48 hours. Lactate dehydrogenase activity exhibited a similar pattern which was less pronounced. Halothane anaesthesia induced transient hypercapnic acidosis and hypokalemia and increased corticosterone secretion but there was no significant effect upon deep body temperature. It is proposed that halothane may act directly upon skeletal muscle, perhaps influencing intracellular calcium homeostasis, to alter membrane permeability and increase enzyme efflux reflecting a degree of post-anaesthetic muscle damage. The transient changes in electrolyte and acid-base balance may contribute to these effects. Precautions should be taken to minimise the incidence or extent of halothane induced myopathy in birds particularly in rapidly growing broiler chickens where susceptibility may be increased.
vidence for the presence of full-length PARK 2 m RNA and Parkin protein in uman blood

Research on Parkinson’s disease fails to pinpoint a single gene or a gene product as the causative factor. However, the early onset form of the disease may be caused by mutations in PARK2 gene. Some studies related to the biochemistry or other aspects of the PARK2 gene or its product mostly used cDNA generated
Toxicity testing using esterase inhibition as a biomarker in three species of the genus Lecane (Rotifera)

We have developed an esterase inhibition test to investigate the effects of 10 toxicants, including six metals (cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercuric chloride, and titanium) and four organics (benzene, ethyl acetate, toluene, and vinyl acetate) in three species of the benthic rotifer genus Lecane (L. hamata, L. luna, and L. quadridentata). Metals affect esterase inhibition by an average value of 4,957‐fold greater than the four organics tested for the three rotifer species. Most of the EC50 (effect concentration where a 50% reduction in esterase activity is observed) values correspond to environmentally realistic concentrations. Comparisons of acute‐to‐chronic ratios among these three species showed that in two species, L. luna and L. quadridentata, esterase inhibition is an outstanding biomarker for most of the toxicants tested.
Estudio comparativo de universidades mexicanas (ECUM): otra mirada a la realidad universitaria

El 27 de enero del ano en curso, la Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM) realizo la presentacion oficial del Estudio Comparativo de las Universidades Mexicanas (ECUM) y de su herramienta de exploracion de datos en linea denominado ExECUM. Ambos proyectos fueron desarrollados por la Direccion General de Evaluacion Institucional (DGEI) de la UNAM, cuyo proposito central consiste en aportar informacion comparable sobre las caracteristicas y funciones de las universidades y de otras instituciones mexicanas de educacion superior. Este documento constituye una invitacion a conocer dicho estudio y a valorar sus alcances y limitaciones en un contexto donde la publicacion de rankings universitarios se ha constituido en un referente importante en la valoracion social del desempeno de las instituciones de educacion superior. El documento se divide en tres partes; en la primera se describen algunas diferencias entre el enfoque y metodologia del ECUM y los utilizados por algunos de los rankings (nacionales e internacionales) mas importantes; en la segunda parte, se describen las caracteristicas del ECUM y de su herramienta de exploracion de datos ( ExECUM), los rubros de datos que actualmente contiene y las posibilidades que brinda a sus potenciales usuarios para analizar la informacion disponible; en la tercera parte se presentan algunos de sus principales resultados.
Patterns of Myocardial Gene Expression after Cycles of Brief Coronary Occlusion and Reperfusion

Short periods of coronary occlusion lasting between 2 and 15 min make the affected myocardium transiently more tolerant to the untoward effects of a subsequent long period of coronary occlusion: infirction, usually transmural after a 1-h occlusion, can be minimized or avoided when the reperfusion time between the short and the subsequent long occlusion is not longer than 30-45 min. This phenomenon is called ischemic preconditioning (IP) . 1-3 IP is believed to be mediated via adenosine A]-receptors coupled to Gi proteins or any other receptor coupled to Gi proteins.4 Short occlusions (4 to 15 min) also lead to the phenomenon of “stunned myocardium,” i.e., a regional contractile dysfunction that is of long duration, but is completely reversible, and does not lead to cell death.5~6 The molecular mechanisms of both syndromes are not sufficiently clear but free radicals have been implicated in both: the oxygen-centered radicals in stunning and the NO-radical in ischemic preconditioning. ’ Although the etiology remains unknown, the pathomechanism of stunned myocardium is believed to be related to the intracellular calcium ion homeostasis. We based our experiments on the premise that although cell death does not occur in both IP and stunning, molecular damage may have occurred and given rise to repair reactions. The long duration of recovery from contractile dysfunction in stunned myocardium is suggestive of protein synthesis as a repair mechanism. To replace damaged protein molecules gene transcription must be activated. We hoped that the pattern of transcriptional activity after cycles of brief occlusion and reperfusion would indicate where damage had occurred and by which mechanism it had been inflicted, which is now easier to study on the mRNA level than on the protein level.
Prospective assessment of donor blood screening for antibody to hepatitis C virus by first‐ and second‐generation assays as a means of preventing posttransfusion hepatitis

In November 1989, the Japanese Red Cross began screening blood donors for the hepatitis C virus antibody (anti‐HCV) by first‐generation assay and high‐titer hepatitis B virus core antigen antibody. A significant reduction in the incidence of acute posttransfusion hepatitis was reported; however, the incidence still ranged from 2% to 4%. The Red Cross changed to the second‐generation assay in February 1992, the objective being the complete elimination of potential posttransfusion hepatitis. The aim was to elucidate the advantage of second‐generation assay as a blood‐donor screening test. The incidence of posttransfusion hepatitis after the introduction of second‐generation assay was compared with that before the introduction of the first‐generation assay and with that during its use. The incidence of posttransfusion hepatitis was 9.6% (216/2,240) before anti‐HCV‐s donor screening. It was 3.7% (24/655) and 0.9% (3/326) after the introductions of the first‐and second‐generation hepatitis C virus (HCV) assays, respectively (χ2 = 50.0, P < .01). Blood‐donor screening by second‐generation anti‐HCV provided a significant benefit compared with the first‐generation assay.
Uniting pattern and process in plant-animal mutualistic networks: a review.

BACKGROUND Ecologists and evolutionary biologists are becoming increasingly interested in networks as a framework to study plant-animal mutualisms within their ecological context. Although such focus on networks has brought about important insights into the structure of these interactions, relatively little is still known about the mechanisms behind these patterns. SCOPE The aim in this paper is to offer an overview of the mechanisms influencing the structure of plant-animal mutualistic networks. A brief summary is presented of the salient network patterns, the potential mechanisms are discussed and the studies that have evaluated them are reviewed. This review shows that researchers of plant-animal mutualisms have made substantial progress in the understanding of the processes behind the patterns observed in mutualistic networks. At the same time, we are still far from a thorough, integrative mechanistic understanding. We close with specific suggestions for directions of future research, which include developing methods to evaluate the relative importance of mechanisms influencing network patterns and focusing research efforts on selected representative study systems throughout the world.
Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder in patients with connective tissue disease and myelitis

Introduction Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a demyelinating, organspecific, autoimmune disease that preferentially targets the optic nerve and spinal cord. The clinical syndrome was first described by Devic and Gault in 1894, and was considered a variant of multiple sclerosis (MS). A resurgence of interest has followed the recent identification of a disease-specific autoantibody, NMO-IgG, and its target antigen, the aquaporin 4 (AQP-4) receptor (1). NMO is classically defined by the presence of both optic neuritis (ON) and longitudinal myelitis (LM), with contiguous spinal cord involvement spanning 3 or more vertebrae. The clinical course is characterized by disease relapse and significant morbidity in more than 90% of cases (2). Research suggests that by 5 years, more than one-half of the patients will be unable to ambulate without assistance and/or be functionally blind (3). Formal diagnosis requires the presence of transverse myelitis (TM), ON, and 2 of 3 supporting criteria (Figure 1), one of which is the serum NMO-IgG antibody. The sensitivity of this assay ranges from 60– 70%, with a specificity of 90% (1,4). Given the potential for permanent disability following isolated attacks of myelitis or ON, efforts have been made to identify individuals at high risk for disease relapse or progression to full-spectrum NMO. Researchers have shown that patients with a single episode of LM in the setting of NMO-IgG positivity have a 50% risk of myelitis relapse or conversion to full-spectrum NMO over the subsequent 12 months (5). Similar data have shown an increased risk for myelitis in NMO-IgG–positive patients that experience recurrent ON (6). Recognition that incomplete forms of NMO are at an increased risk for progression based on the presence of antibody positivity has resulted in the designation of NMO spectrum disorders (NMOSD) (Figure 1). An association between the NMO-IgG antibody and LM in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) has been reported in the literature (7,8), and has spurred interest in NMO/NMOSD from the field of rheumatology. Herein we describe a cohort of patients with autoimmune myelitis and discuss the implications of coexistent NMO/NMOSD for subsequent clinical management. Our objective was to identify the presence of NMOSD in patients with acute myelitis and suspected connective tissue disease (CTD), and to discuss the utility of this distinction in establishing a diagnostic and therapeutic plan.
Custos dos direitos federativos nos clubes brasileiros

O presente artigo analisa a evidenciacao e estruturacao dos custos dos direitos federativos nos clubes brasileiros integrantes do Clube dos 13, bem como fatores contabeis indispensaveis a boa leitura financeira deste ativo. Para tanto, foi feita analise das demonstracoes contabeis, dos anos de 2010 a 2013, e feito um checklist de 10 itens relacionados a direitos federativos. Como resultado verificou-se que os times do Rio Grande do Sul, Internacional e Gremio, demonstraram maior frequencia de evidenciacao dos pontos verificados, demonstrando o maior grau de profissionalismo empresarial dessas equipes, por outro lado, as equipes do Bahia seguidas de Atletico Mineiro e Portuguesa, foram as que menos evidenciaram os aspectos referentes aos direitos federativos denotando um menor grau de profissionalismo contabil na gestao dessas equipes.
Agent-based simulation of twitter for building effective recommender system

This paper presents a framework to extract real-time information found in tweets using a multi-agent system for simulation of both a Twitter user and its attached agent. Agents communicate with each other and finally the framework is used to provide recommendation to its users. This process consists of the following tasks: extraction of distributed data using multi-agents from a social network website (i.e. Twitter), data cleansing, tweet analysis using Term Frequency/Inverse Document Frequency (TF/IDF), and providing recommendations. The aim of the proposed framework is to simulate Twitter users and analyze different information retrieval methods in a real-time distributed environment. Therefore, this simulator is capable of evaluating the performance metrics of the information retrieval methods together with scalability and distributed processing effectiveness. Simulation of Twitter users and reporting the scalability of information retrieval methods for processing the tweets are the new ideas presented in this paper.
Linear Time Membership in a Class of Regular Expressions with Counting, Interleaving, and Unordered Concatenation

Regular Expressions (REs) are ubiquitous in database and programming languages. While many applications make use of REs extended with interleaving (shuffle) and unordered concatenation operators, this extension badly affects the complexity of basic operations, and, especially, makes membership NP-hard, which is unacceptable in most practical scenarios. In this article, we study the problem of membership checking for a restricted class of these extended REs, called conflict-free REs, which are expressive enough to cover the vast majority of real-world applications. We present several polynomial algorithms for membership checking over conflict-free REs. The algorithms are all polynomial and differ in terms of adopted optimization techniques and in the kind of supported operators. As a particular application, we generalize the approach to check membership of Extensible Markup Language trees into a class of EDTDs (Extended Document Type Definitions) that models the crucial aspects of DTDs (Document Type Definitions) and XSD (XML Schema Definitions) schemas. Results about an extensive experimental analysis validate the efficiency of the presented membership checking techniques.
Robust Mean Field Games with Application to Production of an Exhaustible Resource

Abstract In this paper, we study mean field games under uncertainty. We consider a population of players with individual states driven by a standard Brownian motion and a disturbance term. The contribution is three-fold: First, we establish a mean field system for such robust games. Second, we apply the methodology to an exhaustible resource production. Third, we show that the dimension of the mean field system can be significantly reduced by considering a functional of the first moment of the mean field process.
Using a Genetic Algorithm to Produce Slogans

Creative tasks, such as creation of slogans for companies, products or similar entities, can be viewed from the combinatorial perspective – as a search through the space of possible combinations. To solve such a combinatorial optimization problem, we can use evolutionary algorithms. In this paper, we present our solution for generation of slogans based on a genetic algorithm and linguistic resources. We also compare it to the unguided slogan generator.
Assessing multimodal spoken word-in-sentence recognition in children with normal hearing and children with cochlear implants.

PURPOSE To examine multimodal spoken word-in-sentence recognition in children. METHOD Two experiments were undertaken. In Experiment 1, the youngest age with which the multimodal sentence recognition materials could be used was evaluated. In Experiment 2, lexical difficulty and presentation modality effects were examined, along with test-retest reliability and validity in normal-hearing children and those with cochlear implants. RESULTS Normal-hearing children as young as 3.25 years and those with cochlear implants just under 4 years who have used their device for at least 1 year were able to complete the multimodal sentence testing. Both groups identified lexically easy words in sentences more accurately than lexically hard words across modalities, although the largest effects occurred in the auditory-only modality. Both groups displayed audiovisual integration with the highest scores achieved in the audiovisual modality, followed sequentially by auditory-only and visual-only modalities. Recognition of words in sentences was correlated with recognition of words in isolation. Preliminary results suggest fair-to-good test-retest reliability. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that children's audiovisual word-in-sentence recognition can be assessed using the materials developed for this investigation. With further development, the materials hold promise for becoming a test of multimodal sentence recognition for children with hearing loss.