Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The management of antiretroviral treatments in Europe: the Italian experience

The Italian National Health Service (NHS) is composed of 21 Regional Health Services (RHS) with widely different dimensions (e.g. 9 992 548 inhabitants in Lombardy vs. 128 672 inhabitants in Valle d’Aosta in 2012 – Eurostat, Statistics online database, accessed April 2013). The role of the NHS is to address, plan priorities and monitor performances, whereas the RHS delivers services for prevention, hospital care and community care. Each RHS reimburses public and accredited private provider. They are both accredited using the same standards; each private provider is contracted for service every year for outpatient department (OPD) visits and diagnostic activities. Patient admissions are reimbursed through a diagnosis-related groups (DRG) system [1]. Each region may set its own reimbursement tariffs for OPDs and for DRGs. Prevention activities are provided by public providers, with limited use of outsourcing.
HEPARIN, LOW MOLECULAR WEIGHT HEPARIN, AND HEPARIN ANALOGUES

In 1976, Johnson and colleagues first showed that a low molecular weight heparin, when given subcutaneously to man, produced higher anti-Xa blood levels than did unfractionated heparin. Shortly afterwards a heparin analogue, called SSHA (semi-synthetic heparin analogue), was reported to produce blood levels comparable to heparin, as measured by an anti-Xa clotting assay, despite low anticoagulant activity in vitro and evidence that the analogue did not bind to antithrombin 111 (Thomas et al, 19 7 7; Lane et al, 19 7 7). It is now clear that some low molecular weight heparins and heparin analogues with unremarkable in vitro specifications by clotting assays, nevertheless have significant effects in vivo. Conversely, certain oligosaccharide heparin fragments, with very high anti-Xa activity in vitro, are not as effective as might be expected in preventing experimental thrombosis (Thomas et al, 1982). In contrast to unfractionated heparin, these low molecular weight materials demonstrate a lack of correlation between in vitro assays and in vivo events, thus complicating the assessment of their anti-thrombotic effectiveness. While understanding at the molecular level of the mode of action of heparin is now quite sophisticated, the relationship between in vitro kinetics and the anti-thrombotic action of heparin is still far from being fully understood.
VITRECTOMY FOR FLOATERS: Prospective Efficacy Analyses and Retrospective Safety Profile

Purpose: Floaters impact vision but the mechanism is unknown. We hypothesize that floaters reduce contrast sensitivity function, which can be normalized by vitrectomy, and that minimally invasive vitrectomy will have lower incidences of retinal tears (reported at 30%) and cataracts (50–76%). Methods: Seventy-six eyes (34 phakic) with floaters were evaluated in 2 separate studies. Floater etiologies were primarily posterior vitreous detachment in 61 of 76 eyes (80%) and myopic vitreopathy in 24 of 76 eyes (32%). Minimally invasive 25G vitrectomy was performed without posterior vitreous detachment induction, leaving anterior vitreous, and using nonhollow probes for cannula extraction. Efficacy was studied prospectively (up to 9 months) in 16 floater cases with Freiburg Acuity Contrast Testing (Weber index [%W] reproducibility = 92.1%) and the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire. Safety was separately evaluated in 60 other cases followed up on an average of 17.5 months (range, 3–51 months). Results: Floater eyes had 67% contrast sensitivity function attenuation (4.0 ± 2.3 %W; control subjects = 2.4 ± 0.9 %W, P < 0.013). After vitrectomy, contrast sensitivity function normalized in each case at 1 week (2.0 ± 1.4 %W, P < 0.01) and remained normal at 1 month (2.0 ± 1.0 %W, P < 0.003) and 3 months to 9 months (2.2 ± 1.5 %W, P < 0.018). Visual Function Questionnaire was 28.3% lower in floater patients (73.2 ± 15.6, N = 16) than in age-matched control subjects (93.9 ± 8.0, N = 12, P < 0.001), and postoperatively improved by 29.2% (P < 0.001). In the safety study of 60 floater cases treated with vitrectomy, none developed retinal breaks, infection, or glaucoma after a mean follow-up of 17.5 months. Only 8 of 34 cases (23.5%) required cataract surgery (none younger than 53 years) at an average of 15 months postvitrectomy. Conclusion: Floaters lower contrast sensitivity function, which normalizes after vitrectomy. Visual Function Questionnaire quantified improvement in satisfaction. Not inducing posterior vitreous detachment reduced retinal tear incidence from 30% to 0% (P < 0.007). Postvitrectomy cataract incidence was reduced from 50% to 23.5% (P < 0.02). This approach thus seems effective and safe in alleviating the visual dysfunction induced by floaters.
Competitiveness and sustainable development in public services

Abstract The last years were of profound transformation in public services that knows more or less the challenge from the private sector. A second dimension of competitiveness for the public services staring from 2007 was the free access of the citizens to at least education and health services in European Union. The paper aims to show the evolution of the cohabitation of the public and private sectors on the services of public interest, their development and evolution in different regions. Identifying and highlighting the key issues in competitiveness and quality of the services provided, will give us the main lines for the further development and public policies that should be considered. Considering the cohesion policy of European Union, an analysis of the public and private sectors in public services in Romanian counties could drive us to a conclusion about the affordability and the quality of the services. Using the statistics it can be show the regional distribution of the service providers especially for education, health, water supply and other services. The integrated analysis we offer a global picture of the regional potential and development. Based on the findings the public decision makers could better set up the sectorial public policies and the public spending. Never the less, the European support could be also directed to increase the quality and efficiency of the public services.
On the congestion control within VANET

The basic objective of congestion control is to best exploit the available network resources while preventing sustained overloads of network nodes and links. Appropriate congestion control mechanisms are essential to maintain the efficient operation of a network. Ensuring congestion control within vehicular ad hoc networks address special challenges, due to the characteristic and specificities of such environment (High dynamic and mobility of nodes, high rate of topology changes, high variability in nodes density and neighborhood, broadcast/geocast communication nature .). In this context, we present in this paper a congestion control approach, based on the concept of dynamic priorities-based scheduling, to ensure a reliable and safe communications architecture within VANET. Messages priorities are dynamically evaluated according to their types, the network context and the neighborhood.
USP15 regulates dynamic protein–protein interactions of the spliceosome through deubiquitination of PRP31

Abstract Post-translational modifications contribute to the spliceosome dynamics by facilitating the physical rearrangements of the spliceosome. Here, we report USP15, a deubiquitinating enzyme, as a regulator of protein–protein interactions for the spliceosome dynamics. We show that PRP31, a component of U4 snRNP, is modified with K63-linked ubiquitin chains by the PRP19 complex and deubiquitinated by USP15 and its substrate targeting factor SART3. USP15SART3 makes a complex with USP4 and this ternary complex serves as a platform to deubiquitinate PRP31 and PRP3. The ubiquitination and deubiquitination status of PRP31 regulates its interaction with the U5 snRNP component PRP8, which is required for the efficient splicing of chromosome segregation related genes, probably by stabilizing the U4/U6.U5 tri-snRNP complex. Collectively, our data suggest that USP15 plays a key role in the regulation of dynamic protein–protein interactions of the spliceosome.
Das germanische Verb für 'tun' und die Ausgänge des germanischen schwachen Präteritums

The Germanic verb for 'do' - directly attested in West Germanic languages only - displays in its paradigm a number of unexpected features, for which no plausible historical explanation has yet been provided. The problems can be resolved if the reduplicated preterit of Germanic 'do' is not deduced from a Pre-Germanic imperfect stem but is conceived to continue a perfect which has the same structure as precursors of preterits to the so called verba pura. The inflection of Germanic 'do' in the present tense and the phonological form of its preterit participle correspond with what must be expected once one rejects the traditional connection to the Indo-European reduplicated presents and starts from the subjunctive of the corresponding aorist. This approach has the added advantage of supplying an unforced explanation for the otherwise mysterious vocalism of the Germanic weak preterit endings which are traditionally connected with the 'do' finite inflections.
Caregiver Burden During the Year Following Severe Traumatic Brain Injury

Fifty-two primary caregivers of people with a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) were assessed at 6-months and 1-year postinjury. Caregiver appraisal of the person with TBI's physical, cognitive, emotional, behavioural, and social functioning was assessed. Caregiver psychosocial functioning and levels of subjective and objective burden were also assessed. Some aspects of the difficulties reported for the people with TBI remained stable, while others increased in frequency, over time. At 6-months postinjury, approximately one third of caregivers reported clinically significant symptoms of anxiety and depression, and poor social adjustment. By 1-year postinjury, the prevalence of anxiety and depression remained the same, although only one-quarter continued to report poor social adjustment. There was some evidence of adaptation by care-givers, as the frequency with which various types of objective burden were reported remained stable, while the distress caused by these decreased in the first year postinjury. It appears that the impact on caregivers of physical impairment is comparatively short-lived and that caregivers learn some practical ways to manage the behavioural problems of the people with TBI. Despite this, over time the person with TBI's behavioural and cognitive problems begins to play a larger role in the level of distress experienced by the caregiver. However, it is the person with TBI's social isolation that has a stable and consistent role in the experience of subjective burden for primary caregivers in the first year postinjury.
Simulation and experimental verification of a cageless synchronous reluctance motor

This paper presents mathematical modeling and computer simulation of a synchronous reluctance motor, of which cageless rotor was designed and built to replace an original cage rotor of a 4 pole, 2 hp three-phase induction motor. Two axes dq modeling is employed. Simulation studies are carried out for continuous operation and torque with different loads. Results of test bench of the cageless rotor synchronous reluctance motor are also included.
Incentivizing user participation in cooperative content delivery for wireless networks

The aim of this thesis is to propose an array of novel cooperative content delivery (CCD) methods and related incentive mechanisms for future fifth-generation (5G) and beyond networks. CCD using multiple air interfaces is a powerful solution to mitigate the problem of congestion in wireless networks, in which the available multiple air interfaces on smart devices are utilized intelligently to distribute data content among a group of users that are in the vicinity of one another. The requirements for higher capacity, reliability, and energy efficiency in the 5G networks have warranted the development of methods focusing on CCD. Moreover, critical to the efficiency of a CCD process are incentive mechanisms to induce cooperation among the mobile users engaged in CCD. The first part of the thesis studies an ideal condition of reliable and error-free distribution of content using cellular and short-range links. The main contribution is to introduce different device selection CCD methods that take into account only the link quality of the devices' primary (cellular) interfaces. The proposed methods provide frequency carrier savings for the operator while allowing users to enjoy higher downlink rates. The second part of the thesis studies a more realistic CCD situation where users with low data rate wireless links can be a bottleneck in terms of CCD performance. The main contribution is to propose a novel device selection CCD method that considers the link quality of both primary (cellular) and secondary (short-range) interfaces of the devices. Additionally, a carrier aggregation-based incentive mechanism for the proposed method is introduced to address the challenge of selfish deviating users. The proposed mechanism maximizes individual and network payoffs, and is an equilibrium against unilateral selfish deviations. The third part of the thesis addresses the adverse selection problem in CCD scenarios. The operator is assumed to have incomplete information about the willingness of the users to participate in CCD. The main contribution is to introduce contract-based methods through which the operator could motivate users to reveal their true willingness towards participation. The proposed methods incentivize users according to their willingness and improve system performance in terms of the utility of the operator and the users.
Un análisis de la flexibilidad del Cuadro de Mando integral (CMI) en su adaptación a la naturaleza de las organizaciones

El trabajo que presentamos surge en el marco de un proyecto mucho mas amplio que estamos realizando acerca del diseno e implantacion del Cuadro de Mando Integral (CMI) en la gestion sanitaria y que, en esta ocasion, se concreta en la problematica existente acerca de la delimitacion de las perspectivas en las entidades hospitalarias. Para ello, a partir de una breve introduccion al CMI fundamentada en los planteamientos teoricos de sus precursores Kaplan y Norton, reflexionamos acerca de su evolucion a partir del Cuadro de Mando (CM) tradicional y tratamos de delimitar las diferencias fundamentales que, en nuestra opinion, pueden ser significativas, con el objetivo de contrastar las criticas que han surgido desde distintos posicionamientos que cuestionan la versatilidad de este modelo en la gestion de las unidades socio-economicas. Con este enfoque, y ya dentro del ambito de las organizaciones sanitanas, realizamos una propuesta generica acerca de la naturaleza, numero y prelacion de las distintas perspectivas a considerar en el diseno de un CMI, con una orientacion estrategica e integradora
Predicting the success of caudal block

anesthesia even with low dose of fentanyl. Whether this intraoperative supplementation can cause a more severe decrease in thoracic compliance requiring naloxone or muscle relaxation waits to be seen. Lenin Babu Elakkumanan Jyotsna Punj Praveen Talwar Prabhu Rajaraman R. Pandey V. Darlong Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India (email: jyotsna_punj@yahoo.com)
Quantification of efflux into the blood and brain of intraventricularly perfused [3H]thymidine in the anaesthetized rabbit

Studies using choroid plexuses incubated in vitro have led to the conclusion that pyrimidine deoxyribonucleosides, such as thymidine, enter the brain predominantly through the blood‐cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barrier across the choroid plexuses. In order to examine this hypothesis, ventriculocisternal perfusions were carried out to determine the magnitude of the passage of [3H]thymidine from the CSF into the brain and blood. These experiments demonstrated that approximately 50% of the [3H]thymidine was eliminated from the CSF perfusate, some 41.6 +/− 5.6% passing into the blood and only 7.6 +/− 0.6% to the brain. Efflux into both the blood and brain was saturable, with a Km of 17.8 microM and a Vmax of 0.46 nM min‐1, and partially nitrobenzylthioinosine (NBMPR) sensitive. However, a non‐saturable component did exist (Kd, 13.8 microliters min‐1). Overall, the rapid removal of [3H]thymidine from the CSF and its low uptake from the CSF into the brain suggests that the choroid plexuses would be an inefficient pathway for the entry of this pyrimidine deoxyribonucleoside into the brain.
Multivessel versus culprit vessel percutaneous coronary intervention in ST-elevation myocardial infarction: is more worse?

AIMS We examined what type of STEMI patients are more likely to undergo multivessel PCI (MPCI) in a "real-world" setting and whether MPCI leads to worse or better outcomes compared with single-vessel PCI (SPCI) after stratifying patients by risk. METHODS AND RESULTS Among STEMI patients enrolled in the Swiss AMIS Plus registry between 2005 and 2012 (n=12,000), 4,941 were identified with multivessel disease. We then stratified patients based on MPCI use and their risk. High-risk patients were identified a priori as those with: 1) left main (LM) involvement (lesions, n=263); 2) out-of-hospital cardiac arrest; or 3) Killip class III/IV. Logistic regression models examined for predictors of MPCI use and the association between MPCI and in-hospital mortality. Three thousand eight hundred and thirty-three (77.6%) patients underwent SPCI and 1,108 (22.4%) underwent MPCI. Rates of MPCI were greater among high-risk patients for each of the three categories: 8.6% vs. 5.9% for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (p<0.01); 12.3% vs. 6.2% for Killip III/IV (p<0.001); and 14.5% vs. 2.7% for LM involvement (p<0.001). Overall, in-hospital mortality after MPCI was higher when compared with SPCI (7.3% vs. 4.4%; p<0.001). However, this result was not present when patients were stratified by risk: in-hospital mortality for MPCI vs. SPCI was 2.0% vs. 2.0% (p=1.00) in low-risk patients and 22.2% vs. 21.7% (p=1.00) in high-risk patients. CONCLUSIONS High-risk patients are more likely to undergo MPCI. Furthermore, MPCI does not appear to be associated with higher mortality after stratifying patients based on their risk.
Reduced levels of GABA-benzodiazepine receptor in alcohol dependency in the absence of grey matter atrophy

Background We tested the hypothesis that reduced levels of the GABA-benzodiazepine receptor occur in alcohol dependency using single photon emission tomography (SPET) and the specific GABA-benzodiazepine ligand, 123l-iomazenil. Method Neurologically and cognitively unimpaired abstinent alcohol-dependent (n=12) and non-alcohol-dependent male subjects (n=14) underwent a 123l–iomazenil SPET scan. SPET and magnetic resonance images were co-registered and voxel-based statistical tests performed. Subjects' clinical and alcohol history were obtained with standard questionnaires. The relationships between clinical and alcohol variables and the regional level of GABA-benzodiazepine receptors were investigated using multiple regression analysis. Results Abstinent alcohol-dependent subjects had decreased levels of GABA-benzodiazepine receptor compared with non-alcohol-dependent subjects within the frontal, parietal and temporal cortices, including regions in which grey matter atrophy was absent. Conclusions Alcohol dependency is associated with reduced GABA-benzodiazepine receptor levels in the absence of grey matter atrophy in some cortical regions, such as within the parietal lobe. Regional variability of reduction in GABA-benzodiazepine receptors demonstrates that alcohol does not have a global, toxic effect on the brain.
Acquaintance to Anti-smoking related Laws amongst College Students of a North Indian Medical University

Background: In submission to the increasing burden of tobacco use, an Act named Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act 2003 (COTPA) has been made to regulate tobacco use. Despite various rules and regulations initiated by the government, tobacco is easily accessible to minors and students of educational institutions. The present study is an attempt to assess the prevalence and patterns of tobacco use among college-going students, their perceptions about tobacco use and the level of acquaintance with COTPA Methods: A cross-sectional study in September 2014 was conducted among 237 students. A pre-designed, semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire was used to assess perceptions related to tobacco use and acquaintance with COTPA 2003. Results: Ever or current use of tobacco was present among 3.8% students. Tobacco consumption was present among family members of 74(31.2%) study participants. Ban on smoking in public places and on tobacco advertisement was known to 92.82% and 49.8%, respectively. Smoking in their institution was noticed by 53.2% study participants. Conclusions: COTPA, even after 13 years of implementation, has not been completely enforced. Strict compliance to rules is necessary by legal enforcement. The lack of awareness about the Act among medical students has to be looked upon seriously.
Parámetros de forma en láminas de base rectangular

En este articulo se presenta la reflexion sobre el diseno optimo de laminas reticulares en la cubricion de espacios de grandes luces de planta rectangular y la busqueda de los parametros de forma que mas incidencia tienen en el coste de acuerdo con la Teoria de Diseno de Estructuras1,2 (TDE) de manera semejante a estructuras planas2,3. Para cumplir con este objetivo se ha creado un programa4,5 de busqueda de optimos en laminas reticulares que aplica el Recocido Simulado (tecnica de aproximacion numerica que encuentra soluciones cercanas al optimo). Se vera la definicion de la TDE y de ella se extraera la funcion objetivo utilizada: el volumen estructural. Se muestraran diversas soluciones que resuelven problemas similares, cambiando la forma de la planta a cubrir, estudiando diferentes proporciones. Para finalizar se extraen en las conclusiones los parametros de forma encontrados: la repeticion de una pauta estructural en las soluciones relacionada con la proporcion de la planta a cubrir, se establecen coeficientes de coste en funcion de la forma de trabajo (unidireccional o bidireccional), etc.