Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Social Web for Large-Scale Biosensors

Recent technological developments on mobile technologies associated with the growing computational capabilities of sensing enabled devices have given rise to mobile sensing systems that can target community level problems. These systems are capable of inferring intelligence from acquired raw sensed data, through the use of data mining and machine learning techniques. However, due to their recent advent, associated issues remain to be solved in a systematized way. Various areas can benefit from these initiatives, with public health systems having a major application gain. There has been interest in the use of social networks as a mean of epidemic prediction. Still, the integration between large-scale sensor networks and these initiatives, required to achieve seamless epidemic detection and prediction, is yet to be achieved. In this context, it is essential to review systems applied to epidemic prediction. This paper will present as well an application scenario for such predictions, namely fetus health monitoring in pregnant woman, presenting a new non-invasive portable alternative system that allows long-term pregnancy surveillance.
Big Data Anonymization Method for Demand Response Services

A demand response services as smart grid application produces and requires large amount of information about electric power consumption. This data can be regarded as big data and is needed to be anonymized for preserving privacy and reducing the amount. Electric power consumption data must be used carefully because it contains private information. The proposed method can convert data to existence probabilities by considering anonymity. In addition, the proposed method can anonymize data according to a required degree of anonymity. An evaluation of demand response services using data anonymized by the proposed method was performed, and the results show that the error rate of the demand and supply balance was smaller than the required level. Keywords—Anonymization method, Demand response, Privacy Preserving, k-member clustering
In vivo Activation of Tetracycline Rep ressor by Cre/lox-Mediated Gene Assembly

Tetracycline repressor (TetR) bears an unstructured loop region between helices α8 and α9, which is moderately permissive to amino acid exchanges and length variations. Recognition sites for the site-specific recombinases Flp (FRT) or Cre (lox) were inserted in-frame into tetR, substituting some of this loop’s codons. A number of the deduced TetR variants displayed efficient regulation in vivo, thus allowing the establishment of a new mode of TetR activation on the genetic level. Chromosomally encoded tetR in Bacillus subtilis was disrupted and inactivated by insertion of a lox66-aphAIII-lox71 kanamycin resistance cassette. Marker excision by Cre recombinase led to the assembly of a novel tetR allele. The encoded regulator, termed TetRlox72/1, is distinguished from wt-TetR by a slightly elongated and altered α8–α9 loop only, harboring an amino acid stretch encoded by lox72. Despite decreased intracellular protein amounts, TetRlox72/1 displayed efficient in vivo activity in B. subtilis and E. coli, indistinguishable from that of wt-TetR. These results underline the sequence flexibility of TetR in the α8-α9 loop and demonstrate the possible use of the regulator as a read-out tool for the activity of site-specific recombinases.
Response-level probability effects on reaction time: Now you see them, now you don't

Many reaction time (RT) experiments have tested for response-level probability effects. Their results have been mixed, which is surprising because psychophysiological studies provide clear evidence of motor-level changes associated with an anticipated response. A survey of the designs used in the RT studies reveals many potential problems that could conceal the effects of response probability. We report five new RT experiments testing for response-level probability effects with the most promising of the previous designs—that of Blackman (1972)—and with new designs. Some of these experiments yield evidence of response-level probability effects, but others do not. It appears that response-level probability effects are present primarily in simple tasks with a strong emphasis on response preparation, possibly because participants only expend effort on response preparation in these tasks.
[High-dose induction therapy followed by maintenance with recombinant human erythropoietin for 30 patients with tumor-related anemia].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE Anemia is a common complication of cancer patients. Recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) can alleviate the symptoms of cancer-related anemia. However, the optimal use of rhEPO is still on investigation. This study was to find out the optimal use of rhEPO in anemic cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. METHODS From May, 2004 to Feb, 2005, 30 patients with cancer-related anemia receiving concurrent chemotherapy were enrolled. This open-labeled, non-randomized, and pilot study evaluated the response rate of induction rhEPO 120,000 U (40,000 U was subcutaneously injected on d1, 3, 5) followed by subcutaneous injection of maintenance dose of 40,000 U once a week for 3 weeks (d8, 15, 22). Hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (Hct) were measured before treatment and fortnightly during the treatment. RESULTS Mean Hb maintained increasing during treatment. In week 2 (n=29) and week 4 (n=21), there were 27.59% and 61.90% patients, respectively, whose Hb value had increased more than 20 g/L from the baseline (79.56 g/L) and mean Hb were 90.26 g/L and 96.81 g/L respectively (P<0.05). And mean Hct at week 2 and week 4 were 27.01% and 30.17% respectively, which were higher than the baseline (24.29%)(P=0.062 and 0.001 respectively). All patients demonstrated fine tolerance. CONCLUSION Induction therapy followed by maintenance with rhEPO can improve the level of hemoglobin significantly and quickly in anemic cancer patients.
Regulation of cholesterol and progesterone synthesis in human placental cells in culture by serum lipoproteins.

Employing dispersed human trophoblastic cells in primary culture, the role of serum lipoproteins in regulating the synthesis of cholesterol and progesterone by the human placenta was investigated. The rate of secretion of progesterone by trophoblastic cells maintained in medium containing lipoprotein- poor serum was 100—190 ng mg−1 cell protein, whereas progesterone secretion by cells maintained in medium containing low density lipoprotein (LDL) increased as a function of LDL concentration, reaching a rate of 390 ng mg−1 cell protein 24 h−1 at an LDL concentration of 420 μg protein/ml. The rate of progesterone secretion by trophoblastic cells maintained in media containing high density lipoprotein in various concentrations (0—1000 /xg protein/ml) was also investigated. At high density lipoprotein concentrations of 1000 ng/ml, the rate of progesterone secretion by the trophoblastic cells was half that attained by cells maintained in medium containing LDL. The rate of incorporation of [14C]acetate into chol.
Influence of metabolic syndrome on hypertension‐related target organ damage

Objectives. The aim of our study was to analyse, in a wide group of essential hypertensive patients without diabetes mellitus, the influence of metabolic syndrome (MS) (defined according to the criteria laid down in the Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults) on markers of preclinical cardiac, renal and retinal damage.
Examples of Outcomes and Associated Indicators Mortality Physiological variable Clinical event Symptom Health function Patient experience Infant death rate Blood pressure Stroke Difficulty breathing

Medication practice encompasses the processes of prescribing, dispensing, preparing, administering, and monitoring the clinical effects of medicines. The mission for hospital pharmacy services is to ensure the safe, effective, and economic uses of medicines. Medication practice measures monitor one or more of these elements. Outcome measures providing quantitative data related to the outcomes of health-system performance are the hardest to develop and use in practice. Voluntary medication-error reporting systems provide qualitative information about negative or unsafe outcomes, but the quantitative use of medication error reports should be used with great caution because only a small percentage of incidents will be reported. Trigger tools have recently been developed to enable adverse drug events to be more easily identified and provide a quantitative outcome measure of medication practice. Because outcome measures are difficult to develop and implement in practice, process and structural measures are frequently used to measure medication practice. Measures for unsafe use and negative outcomes of medication are usually used before measures of safe and effective use. Product-defect and adverse-drug-reaction reporting systems comprise the basic elements of pharmacovigilance worldwide. Hospitals and hospital pharmacy services should monitor for incidents of this type, manage the risks locally, and share these data with national and regional pharmacovigilance reporting systems where available. The development of medication practice measures are linked with the development of hospital pharmacy practice. Where practice is confined to the hospital pharmacy department, then measures will reflect this (e.g., measuring dispensing errors). Where hospital pharmacy practice has developed to provide services outside the pharmacy department, a more comprehensive set of measures can be developed. This usually involves recording pharmacist clinical interventions intended to modify medication therapy for individual patients. These interventions are usually intended to improve medicine safety, clinical effectiveness, and costeffectiveness outcomes. Advanced clinical pharmacy practice provides further opportunities to measure more definitive health care outcome data, such as clinical mortality; morbidity; and disease-specific clinicaleffectiveness measures. Like other aspects of health care monitoring, medication use in a hospital can be monitored in terms of structures, processes, and outcomes.
A Motion Correction Framework for Time Series Sequences in Microscopy Images

Abstract With the advent of in vivo laser scanning fluorescence microscopy techniques, time-series and three-dimensional volumes of living tissue and vessels at micron scales can be acquired to firmly analyze vessel architecture and blood flow. Analysis of a large number of image stacks to extract architecture and track blood flow manually is cumbersome and prone to observer bias. Thus, an automated framework to accomplish these analytical tasks is imperative. The first initiative toward such a framework is to compensate for motion artifacts manifest in these microscopy images. Motion artifacts in in vivo microscopy images are caused by respiratory motion, heart beats, and other motions from the specimen. Consequently, the amount of motion present in these images can be large and hinders further analysis of these images. In this article, an algorithmic framework for the correction of time-series images is presented. The automated algorithm is comprised of a rigid and a nonrigid registration step based on shape contexts. The framework performs considerably well on time-series image sequences of the islets of Langerhans and provides for the pivotal step of motion correction in the further automatic analysis of microscopy images.
Two-dimensional device simulation for radio frequency performance of AlGaN/GaN HEMT

In order to obtain better high frequency performance for GaN-based devices, we investigate the influence of the gate length L<sub>g</sub>, the gate-source space L<sub>gs</sub>, the gate-drain space L<sub>gd</sub>, and the thickness of barrier AlGaN on frequency performance of AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) using silvaco TCAD simulation. Besides, the importance of Ohmic contact resistance R<sub>c</sub> to current-gain cutoff frequency f<sub>T</sub> is also presented by our simulation. It presents that the f<sub>T</sub> increases dramatically with the decrease of L<sub>g</sub> and R<sub>c</sub> while L<sub>gd</sub> and L<sub>gs</sub> affect f<sub>T</sub> lightly. Meanwhile, the optimized thickness of AlGaN barrier layer is obtained in our structure.
Overexpression of Cinnamate 4-Hydroxylase and 4-Coumaroyl CoA Ligase Prompted Flavone Accumulation in Scutellaria baicalensis Hairy Roots

Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, a species of the Lamiaceae family, is considered as one of the 50 fundamental herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine. In order to enhance flavone (baicalein, baicalin, and wogonin) content in S. baicalensis roots, we overexpressed a single gene of cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H) and 4-coumaroyl coenzyme A ligase (4CL) using an Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated system. SbC4H- and Sb4CL-overexpressed hairy root lines enhanced the transcript levels of SbC4H and Sb4CL compared with those in the control and also increased flavones contents by approximately 3- and 2.5-fold, respectively. We successfully engineered the flavone biosynthesis pathway for the production of beneficial flavones in S. baicalensis hairy roots. The importance of upstream gene C4H and 4CL in flavone biosynthesis and the efficiency of metabolic engineering in promoting flavone biosynthesis in S. baicalensis hairy roots have been indicated in this study.
Inhibition of Helicobacter pylori Adhesion to Human Gastric Mucus by a High-Molecular-Weight Constituent of Cranberry Juice

Abstract A high–molecular–weight constituent of cranberry juice has been found to inhibit the sialyllactose specific adhesion of Helicobacter pylori strains to immobilized human mucus, erythrocytes, and cultured gastric epithelial cells. Different isolates of H. pylori differ in thenaffinity to the cranberry juice constituent. Cranberry juice may also inhibit adhesion of bacteria to the stomach in vivo, and may prove useful for the prevention of stomach ulcer that is caused by H. pylori.
Analgesic and Antioxidant Activity of the Hydromethanolic Extract of Mikania scandens (L.) Willd. Leaves

Problem statement: Mikania scandens (L.) Willd. , a medicinal plant, is popularly used as herbal remedy for various ailments in Bangladesh. But the scientific basis for its medicinal use especially in pain and inflammation remains unknown. Therefore, the present study was designed to evaluate analgesic and antioxidant potential of the hydromethanol extract of the leaves of the plant. Approach: The analgesic activity was determined for its central and peripheral pharmacological actions using hotplate and tail immersion method and acetic acid-induced writhing test in mice respectively. The hydromethanol extract was also investigated for its antioxidant action using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, Nitric Oxide (NO) scavenging and reducing power assays. Results: The extract, at the dose of 250 and 500 mg kg-1, produced a significant (p<0.05) increase in pain threshold in hotplate and tail immersion methods in a dose dependent manner. In acetic acid-induced writhing test, the extract (500 mg kg-1) produced a maximum of 53.73% inhibition (p<0.001) of writhing reaction compared to the reference drug Diclofenac-Na (76%). A dose dependent scavenging of DPPH radical and NO was observed with good reducing power with the extract. In DPPH radical scavenging assay, the IC50 value of the extract was 375.40 μg mL-1 while the IC50 value for the reference ascorbic acid was 55.89 μg mL-1. The IC50 values of the extract and ascorbic acid were 220.43 and 125.10 μg mL-1, respectively in NO scavenging assay. Conclusion: The findings of the study suggested that the extract from Mikania scandens has strong analgesic and antioxidant effects.
Suicide attempts and completions in the emergency department in Veterans Affairs Hospitals

Background This is the first study of suicide attempts and completions in the emergency department (ED) in a large national medical system. Methods All root cause analysis (RCA) reports completed of suicides and suicide attempts that occurred in ED in the Veterans Health Administration between 1 December 1999 and 31 December 2009 were reviewed. The method, location, anchor point for hanging and implement for cutting as well as the root causes were categorised. Results Ten per cent of all RCA reports of suicides and suicide attempts that occur within the hospital occur in the ED. Hanging, cutting and strangulation were the most common methods. The most common anchor point for hanging was doors, and the most common implement for cutting was a razor blade. In eight of the 10 cases of cutting, the implement was brought into the ED. The most common root causes were problems communicating risk and being short-staffed. Conclusions Based on these results the following recommendations are made for helping to reduce suicide attempts in the ED: (1) use a systematic protocol and checklist to review mental health holding areas periodically in the ED for suicidal hazards; (2) develop and implement specialised protocols for suicidal patients that include continuous observation when possible; (3) conduct thorough contraband searches with suicidal patients; (4) designate specialised holding areas, when practically possible, for suicidal patients that are free of anchor points for hanging, sharps and medications, and medical equipment; and are isolated from exits to reduce the risk of elopement.
For better or for worse: Social influences on risk-taking

ABSTRACT This study investigated changes in risk-taking propensity on a behavioral decision-making task as a function of varying social conditions with peers. In contrast to the effects of direct peer influence (pro-risk and anti-risk messages by peers), we included a socially ambiguous context (neutral messages by peers) and a no-peer control (participants alone) as comparison conditions. Using a counterbalanced mixed factorial design, college students (N = 187) completed the Balloon Analogue Risk Task-Youth (BART-Y) twice during two consecutive sessions, including once alone and once with a confederate; the control group completed two sessions of the task alone. The findings showed that, in general, direct pro-risk messages led to the most robust and consistent changes in risk-taking. The findings are discussed in terms of the multidimensional and multidirectional nature of peer influence during the college years.
Effect of Time of Insemination on the Fertility and Hatchability Rates of Anak 2000 Broiler Breeder Hens

The present study was conducted to determine the effect of time of insemination on the fertility and hatchability rates of Anak 2000 broiler breeder hens. Fifty hens used for the study were divided into groups A and B and inseminated at 9:00 hours and 17:00 hours, respectively, with pooled semen collected from Anak 2000 broiler breeder cocks for six weeks. Fertile eggs were collected two days after the first insemination, and subsequently on daily basis throughout the six weeks period. Collected eggs were stored at a temperature of 16oC for seven days before incubation. The mean fertility rates for Groups A and B hens (65.51 ± 2.17 % versus 66.53 ± 2.18 %) showed no significant difference (P > 0.05). Similarly, the mean hatchability rates for Groups A and B hens (65.46 ± 4.34 % versus 72.37 ± 2.10 %) showed no significant difference (P > 0.05). Correlation analysis between fertility and hatchability rates within each group showed positive relationship for group A hens (r = 0.48, P > 0.05) and group B hens (r = 0.75, P > 0.05). This study suggests that artificial insemination at 09:00 hours and 17:00 hours could give similar results.
Marijuana abstinence effects in marijuana smokers maintained in their home environment.

BACKGROUND Although withdrawal symptoms are commonly reported by persons seeking treatment for marijuana dependence, the validity and clinical significance of a marijuana withdrawal syndrome has not been established. This controlled outpatient study examined the reliability and specificity of the abstinence effects that occur when daily marijuana users abruptly stop smoking marijuana. METHODS Twelve daily marijuana smokers were assessed on 16 consecutive days during which they smoked marijuana as usual (days 1-5), abstained from smoking marijuana (days 6-8), returned to smoking marijuana (days 9-13), and again abstained from smoking marijuana (days 14-16). RESULTS An overall measure of withdrawal discomfort increased significantly during the abstinence phases and returned to baseline when marijuana smoking resumed. Craving for marijuana, decreased appetite, sleep difficulty, and weight loss reliably changed across the smoking and abstinence phases. Aggression, anger, irritability, restlessness, and strange dreams increased significantly during one abstinence phase, but not the other. Collateral observers confirmed participant reports of these symptoms. CONCLUSIONS This study validated several specific effects of marijuana abstinence in heavy marijuana users, and showed they were reliable and clinically significant. These withdrawal effects appear similar in type and magnitude to those observed in studies of nicotine withdrawal.
Medical evacuation management and clinical characteristics of 3,255 inpatients after the 2010 Yushu earthquake in China

BACKGROUND A catastrophic earthquake struck the Yushu prefecture of China’s Qinghai province on April 14, 2010. Supported by the China National Ministry of Health, this study performed a detailed medical analysis of injuries and diseases, based on comprehensive medical data of hospitalized patients to share the experiences and lessons learned from emergency medical aid operations in high-altitude regions. METHODS To survey the management of medical relief, more than 10 interviews with rescuers were held and more than 100 documents were reviewed. Medical records of 3,255 patients from 57 hospitals were analyzed retrospectively. Patient demographic data, complaints, diagnoses, prognoses, injury types, dispositions, and means of transportation were all reviewed. RESULTS A total of 3,255 patients were admitted to hospitals. Of these, 1,426 (43.8%) were middle-aged (31–50 years), 2,574 (79.07%) were transported by plane, and the first 3 days were the peak period for air transportation. The records of 2,622 patients with earthquake-related injuries were analyzed, and 1,775 (68.32%) of them were admitted to hospital within the first 3 days. Bone fractures were diagnosed in 1,431 (55.08%) patients and crush syndrome was observed in 23 (0.89%). Illnesses accounted for 657 patients who were admitted to surveyed hospitals. Of these, 143 (20.63%) suffered from respiratory diseases and 259 (39.97%) from acute high-altitude sickness. Of the latter, 224 (86.49%) were rescuers. The overall mortality rate was 0.2% (7 of 3,255). Four patients died from earthquake-related injuries and three from other illnesses. CONCLUSIONS A devastating earthquake occurring in a remote, high-altitude region presented a variety of challenges for external medical aid. Air transportation for those with severe injuries and diseases played a crucial role in decreasing the mortality and morbidity. It is necessary for hospitals to initiate effective emergency measures while facing the peak admission flow within the initial 72-hour period. Characteristic factors such as high altitude, low-oxygen content, local construction features, and lifestyle may contribute to complex injuries and illnesses. More attention should be paid to medical aid training for rescuers, and effecive measures should be developed to deal with destructive natural disasters occurring in special geographical environments. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Epidemiological study, level III.