Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Upper Endoscopy for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: Best Practice Advice From the Clinical Guidelines Committee of the American College of Physicians

BACKGROUND Upper endoscopy is commonly used in the diagnosis and management of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Evidence demonstrates that it is indicated only in certain situations, and inappropriate use generates unnecessary costs and exposes patients to harms without improving outcomes. METHODS The Clinical Guidelines Committee of the American College of Physicians reviewed evidence regarding the indications for, and yield of, upper endoscopy in the setting of GERD, and to highlight how clinicians can increase the delivery of high-value health care. BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 1: Upper endoscopy is indicated in men and women with heartburn and alarm symptoms (dysphagia, bleeding, anemia, weight loss, and recurrent vomiting). BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 2: Upper endoscopy is indicated in men and women with: Typical GERD symptoms that persist despite a therapeutic trial of 4 to 8 weeks of twice-daily proton-pump inhibitor therapy. Severe erosive esophagitis after a 2-month course of proton-pump inhibitor therapy to assess healing and rule out Barrett esophagus. Recurrent endoscopy after this follow-up examination is not indicated in the absence of Barrett esophagus. History of esophageal stricture who have recurrent symptoms of dysphagia. BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 3: Upper endoscopy may be indicated: In men older than 50 years with chronic GERD symptoms (symptoms for more than 5 years) and additional risk factors (nocturnal reflux symptoms, hiatal hernia, elevated body mass index, tobacco use, and intra-abdominal distribution of fat) to detect esophageal adenocarcinoma and Barrett esophagus. For surveillance evaluation in men and women with a history of Barrett esophagus. In men and women with Barrett esophagus and no dysplasia, surveillance examinations should occur at intervals no more frequently than 3 to 5 years. More frequent intervals are indicated in patients with Barrett esophagus and dysplasia.
Prevalence of age-related hearing loss in older adults: Blue Mountains Study.

A recent article in the Archives investigated the prevalence of hearing loss among US adults aged 20 to 69 years, based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 1999-2004). A hearing loss prevalence of 16.1% was observed in this study. In addition, associations between demographic characteristics, noise exposure, cardiovascular risk factors, and hearing loss were assessed. Potential associations between the severity of hearing loss and the described risk factors were not explored. We aimed to confirm the associations between severity of hearing loss and the risk factors assessed by Agrawal et al and to compare our prevalence findings with theirs.
Robust Synchronization of Chaotic Lur'e Systems via replacing Variables Control

The sufficient conditions for chaos synchronization of two nonidentical systems by replacing variables control have not been proposed until now. In this paper, synchronization of two chaotic Lur’e systems with parameter mismatch by replacing variables control is studied. First of all, we present a master-slave Lur’e systems synchronization scheme with both parameter mismatch and replacing variables control, and derive a responsive error system for the scheme. A new definition of synchronization with finite L2-gain is then introduced. Based on the definition, the sufficient synchronization criteria which are in the form of linear matrix inequality (LMI) are proved using a quadratic Lyapunov function. By means of MKY lemma the frequency domain criteria are further derived from the obtained LMIs. These frequency domain criteria are illustrated on the master-slave Chua’s circuits with parameter mismatch so that the ranges of the parameters of Chua’s circuit are analytically solved in the sense of the synchronization with finite L2-gain by replacing singe-variable control. The illustrative examples verify that within the ranges of the parameters it is possible to synchronize the master-slave Chua’s circuits up to a small synchronization error bound, even the qualitative behaviors of the slave circuit are different from that of the master one, such as the trajectory of the master circuit is chaotic and that of the slave divergent. The relation between the synchronization error bound and parameter mismatch is shown.
Clinical results of treatment with E. coli L‐asparaginase in adults with leukemia, lymphoma, and solid tumors

E. coli L‐asparaginase (A‐ase) was administered to 163 adults with different forms of leukemia, lymphoma, and solid tumors. Six of 11 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and 4 of 32 patients with acute myeloblastic, myelomonoblastic, or undifferentiated leukemia had complete or good partial remissions. Doses of 10 to 5000 IU/kg/day were used, but there was no clear correlation between dose and therapeutic response, nor with any particular preparation of A‐ase. Some of the others had transient physical and/or hematologic improvement, but remission was not achieved. Nineteen patients with myeloblastic leukemia, 4 with lymphoblastic and 3 with undifferentiated, had no response. Eight patients with acute leukemia (7 lymphoblastic and one myeloblastic), who were already in complete remission induced with other agents, were treated with 1000 IU/kg/day or higher doses of A‐ase for one month or longer. Seven were given no further therapy. The disease relapsed within 2‐5 months in 6 patients, but one is still in remission after 8 months. The eighth patient is still in remission after 3 months but is receiving other chemotherapy. Partial hematologic responses occurred in one patient with untreated chronic granulocytic leukemia, in 4 of 5 patients in a blastic phase of chronic granulocytic leukemia, and in 2 of 3 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, but in none of these patients was the response of substantial clinical benefit. Two patients with disseminated lymphosarcoma or reticulum cell sarcoma had excellent therapeutic responses to A‐ase, and 4 others showed some improvement while 14 had no detectable response. Eight patients with advanced Hodgkin's disease showed no response. One patient with malignant melanoma with multiple cutaneous metastases had temporary regression of his metastatic nodules with A‐ase on several occasions, but evaluation of this case was complicated by other chemotherapy. Twenty‐nine other patients with melanoma had no response nor did 45 patients with other types of solid tumors. Some toxic manifestations of A‐ase occurred in almost all patients; these were generally more severe and sometimes were intolerable at higher dosage levels. The toxicity will be discussed in detail in an accompanying report.
Dehydration and muscular work.

Abstract : In order to evaluate the benefit to be derived from the use of the E47 field protective mask drinking device, endurance in exhausting work in grade walking in a warm environment (46 C dry bulb, 23 C wet bulb) was measured before and after 6 hr of sweating. In nine men, the average dehydration was 4.3% of the body weight on the first day with restricted water intake, and 1.9% on a second day with unrestricted water intake by means of the drinking device. Endurance was reduced by 48% on the first day and by 22% on the second day. One canteen full of water would provide only a marginal benefit. Under these conditions, an intake of four canteens would be required to maintain optimal endurance. Exposure to heat and dehydration was accompanied by a hyperventilation that in four of the men exceeded 21 1/min. (Author)
Attraction and Feeding Responses of Melon Flies and Oriental Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) to Various Protein Baits with and without Toxicants

Studies were conducted to determine attraction and feeding propensity of oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), and melon fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillet) to different protein bait mixtures with and without the insecticides spinosad and malathion. The type of protein bait (Provesta ® 621autolyzed yeast extract, Mazoferm ® E802, GF-120 ® Fruit Fly Bait, or Nu-Lure ® Insect Bait) had a major influ- ence on B. dorsalis and B. cucurbitae attraction and feeding, which was strongest to fresh Provesta, GF-120, and Mazoferm. There was no significant response to bait aged for 4 d. In feeding propensity studies, highest response was observed for Mazoferm. On the basis of attraction and feeding responses Provesta (attraction) and Mazoferm (feeding) outperformed the standard Nu-Lure. A mixture of Provesta and malathion was significantly less attractive to B. dorsalis and B. cucurbitae, compared to a mix- ture of Provesta and spinosad. Our studies suggest that protein-starved B. dorsalis flies were much more likely to feed on protein compared to protein-fed flies. Spinosad has low contact toxicity, and, when mixed with protein baits, offers a reduced risk alterna- tive for control of B. dorsalis and B. cucurbitae, without many of the nontarget effects of broad spectrum contact poisons such as malathion.
Kehren deutsche Firmen ihrer Heimat den Rücken? - Ausländische Direktinvestitionen deutscher Unternehmen

Auslandischen Direktinvestitionen deutscher Unternehmen und deren Auswirkungen auf den heimischen Arbeitsmarkt wird in der Offentlichkeit und Politik erhebliche Aufmerksamkeit zuteil. Angesichts vorschneller Urteile im offentlichen Diskurs versucht dieser Artikel auf Grundlage der DIREK-(Direktinvestitionsstatistik)-Datenbank der Deutschen Bundesbank die wesentlichen Veranderungen des letzten Jahrzehnts deskriptiv zusammenzufassen und in Kurze den Forschungsstand fur Deutschland zu kommentieren. Die Eroberung der Markte in den mittel- und osteuropaischen Staaten (MOE) erfolgte vermutlich vorrangig mit dem Ziel, die Wertschopfung uber Landesgrenzen hinweg, aber innerhalb der multinationalen Konzerne vertikal zu zergliedern. Direktinvestitionen deutscher Firmen in den transatlantischen Industrienationen weisen deutliche Unterschiede zu Investitionen in den MOE-Landern auf. In den Industriestaaten Nordamerikas lasst vor allem das hohe Kapital-Arbeitsverhaltnis in Tochterunternehmen deutscher Firmen darauf schliesen, dass in diesen Landern neben der Uberwindung von Exportschranken die Nahe zu grosen Absatzmarkten eine entscheidende Rolle spielt. Allein auf der Basis dieser deskriptiven Darstellungen sind aber weder die Beweggrunde deutscher Unternehmen bei ihrer Standortentscheidung noch deren Arbeitsmarktwirkungen zu erschliesen.
A small area 2.8pJ/pulse 7th derivative Gaussian pulse generator for IR-UWB

This paper presents an UWB pulse transmitter design using 0. 35μm CMOS process. A 7th order derivative Gaussian pulse is generated using a Phase Detector (PD), which consists of four D-Latches and a pulse shaping stage to generated 5th order pulse, and at the output a 2nd order derivative RLC using a cross inductor is added. An interesting feature of these inductors is that it consumes a small area of 140×160μm2, while the traditional square planar inductor would occupy an area of 180×180μm2. Thus, the last one needs 45% more area than the cross inductor, so this cross inductor leads to an extra reduction in Silicon area, what is one of the main purposes of this work to get a small UWB transmitter. The whole circuit has been simulated and the results had demonstrated the circuit capability to operate as a pulse generator; the simulations shows ∼70mV of pulse amplitude and 650ps of the pulse duration, dynamic energy consumption of around 2.8pJ and an average power consumption of 288μW per pulse respectively at input frequency of 100MHz@3.3V power supply voltage. The complete circuit occupies a very small area of 168×234 μm2 (excluding the PADs).
Establishment of exposure-response functions of air particulate matter and adverse health outcomes in China and worldwide.

OBJECTIVE To obtain the exposure-response functions that could be used in health-based risk assessment of particulate air pollution in China. METHODS Meta analysis was conducted on the literatures on air particulate matter and its adverse health outcomes in China and worldwide. RESULTS For each health outcome from morbidity to mortality changes, the relative risks were estimated when the concentration of air particulate matter increased to some certain units. CONCLUSION The exposure-response functions recommended here can be further applied to health risk assessment of air particulate matter in China.
Deploying four optical UAV-based sensors over grassland: challenges and limitations

Abstract. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with lightweight spectral sensors facilitate non-destructive, near-real-time vegetation analysis. In order to guarantee robust scientific analysis, data acquisition protocols and processing methodologies need to be developed and new sensors must be compared with state-of-the-art instruments. Four different types of optical UAV-based sensors (RGB camera, converted near-infrared camera, six-band multispectral camera and high spectral resolution spectrometer) were deployed and compared in order to evaluate their applicability for vegetation monitoring with a focus on precision agricultural applications. Data were collected in New Zealand over ryegrass pastures of various conditions and compared to ground spectral measurements. The UAV STS spectrometer and the multispectral camera MCA6 (Multiple Camera Array) were found to deliver spectral data that can match the spectral measurements of an ASD at ground level when compared over all waypoints (UAV STS: R2=0.98; MCA6: R2=0.92). Variability was highest in the near-infrared bands for both sensors while the band multispectral camera also overestimated the green peak reflectance. Reflectance factors derived from the RGB (R2=0.63) and converted near-infrared (R2=0.65) cameras resulted in lower accordance with reference measurements. The UAV spectrometer system is capable of providing narrow-band information for crop and pasture management. The six-band multispectral camera has the potential to be deployed to target specific broad wavebands if shortcomings in radiometric limitations can be addressed. Large-scale imaging of pasture variability can be achieved by either using a true colour or a modified near-infrared camera. Data quality from UAV-based sensors can only be assured, if field protocols are followed and environmental conditions allow for stable platform behaviour and illumination.
E-Including the Illiterate

In present-day society, we communicate over the Internet in several media forms. We put videos and images online, listen to music made by famous bands or by our friends, and read and write a lot of text. Never in the history of mankind have we produced more text than at this present moment, so being able to read and write is an important way of taking part in our society. We tend to forget that, even in our educated communities, not all people can read or write and there exist several degrees of literateness. People with reduced cognitive capacities and those migrating from cultures with a different language, or even a completely different writing system, are excluded from fully taking part in written online communication: they are e-excluded.
Value of HAMA--determination in clinical practice--an overview.

HAMAs (human anti mouse antibodies) in serum of patients may be stimulated as an immunologic reaction to the application of animal protein. They are differentiated into heterophilic (species-unspecific) and mouse-specific anti-isotypic (often IgG1) or-idiotypic antibodies as well as according to the human immunoglobulin type (IgG or IgM). Besides infrequent clinically immunologic side effects (anaphylactic reaction), their influence on tumor marker measurements predominates in the follow-up of tumor patients by the possible impairment of newly applied monoclonal antibodies. The detection of HAMAs is performed on suspicion of a tumor by self-made or commercial tests, however, there is no consensus standardization of tests, standards and controls. Experiences are reported herein on the occurrence of heterophilic antibodies, reasons of suspicion, detection and removal, comparative determination of HAMAs by two commercially available tests (ImmunoSTRIP HAMA, Enzygnost) and HAMA induction in patients following immunoscintigraphy (OC-125, n = 27). Besides the rare appearance of HAMAs in patients without pretreatment or following biologic therapy, i.v. application of monoclonal antibodies for diagnosis (immunoscintigraphy) or therapy represents the most frequent reason for HAMA development that should always be ruled out in case of anamnestic indication and clinically unexplained tumor marker changes.
Total Systemic Vascular Compliance Measured as Incremental Volume‐Pressure Ratio

We developed a method to measure the compliance, defined as ΔVΔP, of the total systemic vascular bed (Ct) without stopping systemic flow. In 10 open-chest dogs, venous return (and cardiac output) was maintained at a constant level by inserting a perfusion pump (with no reservoir) between the caval veins and the right atrium. About 5% of the estimated total blood volume was withdrawn from the dog within 45 seconds. Resultant changes in central venous pressure were measured 10, 30, 60, 120, and 180 seconds after the volume change. The bled volume was then reinfused to repeat similar venous pressure measurements for another 180 seconds. The measurements were repeated after slightly increasing the blood volume or sectioning the vagi. The mean value of Ct measured 10 seconds after hemorrhage or reinfusion was 1.96 ± 0.10 (SE) ml/mm Hg/kg body weight before vagotomy. Paired t-tests indicated no significant difference between measurements of bleeding and reinfusion, measurements with different initial venous pressures or blood volume, or measurements before and after vagotomy. However, Ct increased with time during the 2-minute period by about 25% of the initial 10-second value (P<0.001) and remained constant thereafter.
Repeated exposure to moderate doses of ethanol augments hippocampal glutamate neurotransmission by increasing release

The present study used conventional and quantitative microdialysis to assess glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmission in the hippocampal CA3 area of the rat following a moderate‐dose ethanol treatment regimen. Male Wistar rats received 3.4 g/kg of ethanol or water for 6 days via gastric gavage. Microdialysis experiments commenced 2 days later. Basal and depolarization‐induced glutamate overflow were significantly elevated in ethanol‐treated animals. Basal and depolarization‐induced gamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) overflow were unaltered. Quantitative no‐net‐flux microdialysis was used to determine if changes in dialysate glutamate levels following ethanol administration are due to an increase in release or a decrease in uptake. To confirm the validity of this method for quantifying basal glutamate dynamics, extracellular concentrations of glutamate and the extraction fraction, which reflects changes in analyte clearance, were quantified in response to retro‐dialysis of the glutamate uptake blocker trans‐pyrrolidine‐2,4‐dicarboxylic acid (tPDC). tPDC significantly decreased the extraction fraction for glutamate, resulting in augmented extracellular glutamate concentrations. Repeated ethanol administration did not alter the glutamate extraction fraction. However, extracellular glutamate concentrations were significantly elevated, indicating that glutamate release is increased as a consequence of repeated ethanol administration. These data demonstrate that repeated bouts of moderate ethanol consumption alter basal glutamate dynamics in the CA3 region of the dorsal hippocampus. Basal glutamate release is augmented, whereas glutamate uptake is unchanged. Furthermore, they suggest that dysregulation of glutamate transmission in this region may contribute to the previously documented deficits in cognitive function associated with moderate dose ethanol use.
Germanium doping challenges

Ideal source and drain regions rely on high dopant solubility in the crystalline substrate, in order to boost activation and reduce sheet resistance, and low dopant diffusivity, to facilitate device scaling. High-concentration doping of Ge can be quite a substantial problem, as it is difficult to activate impurity atoms to a high enough level, prevent them escaping during thermal treatments, while maintaining good crystalline integrity of the semiconductor substrate. With future FET devices fabricated with nanowire, fin, or ultra-thin-body architectures, as reiterated by The International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors, this problem may be challenging for many years to come. In this paper Ge doping challenges will be reviewed, including our ability to model such materials, as well as looking at potential future solutions.
Effects of Neonatal Programming on Hypothalamic Mechanisms Controlling Energy Balance

Abstract The prevalence of overweight and obesity in most developed countries has markedly increased during the last decades. In addition to genetic, hormonal, and metabolic influences, environmental factors like fetal and neonatal nutrition play key roles in the development of obesity. Interestingly, overweight during critical developmental periods of fetal and/or neonatal life has been demonstrated to increase the risk of obesity throughout juvenile life into adulthood. In spite of this evidence, the specific mechanisms underlying this fetal/neonatal programming are not perfectly understood. However, it is clear that circulating hormones such as insulin and leptin play a critical role in the development and programming of hypothalamic circuits regulating energy balance. Here, we review what is currently known about the impact of perinatal malnutrition on the mechanisms regulating body weight homeostasis. Understanding these molecular mechanisms may provide new targets for the treatment of obesity.
Circuit Resistance Training Improves The Atherogenic Lipid Profiles Of Persons With Chronic Paraplegia

Abstract Background: People with chronic paraplegia frequently experience dyslipidemias characterized by depressed levels of high-densitylipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). These anormal lipid profiles andpoor fitness levels increase their risk for cardiovascular disease. Methods: To test the hypothesis that circuit resistance exercise training improves both upper-extremity fitness and the atherogenic lipid profile in persons with chronic paraplegia, a homogeneous cohort of 5 men with neurologically complete spinal cord injuriesat T6 to L 1 underwent 3 months of exercise training using uninterrupted resistance and endurance exercises of the upper extremities.Training was performed 3 times a week on alternating days. Results: Results of graded arm exercise testing showed a 30.3% improvement in peak oxygen consumption (P ° .01 ), a 33.5% increasein time to fatigue (P ° .01) and a 30.4% increase in peak power output (P <.05). Pretraining total cholesterol levels (TC) were in thelow-risk category and were nonsignificantly lowered following training. Similar nonsignificant reductions of plasma triglycerides averaging12 mgldL were attained. Conversely, a 25.9% lowering of LDL-C (P <.05) and 9.8% elevation of HDL-C (P <.05) were observed aftertraining. These changes reduced the average LDL-C- to- HDL-C ratio by 1 unit (P <.05) and the TC-to- HDL-C ratio from 5.0 ± 1.1(mean ± SO) to 3.9 ± 0.7 (P <.05). Conclusions: This change reflects a cardiovascular risk reduction of almost 25%; the TC/ HDL-C declined from the high-risk scoreof 5.0 to near the desired score of 3.5. These findings support the beneficial effects of circuit exercise resistance training on fitnessand atherogenic lipid profiles in persons with chronic paraplegia.