Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
End-of-life preferences in elderly patients admitted for heart failure.

BACKGROUND Heart failure is increasing in prevalence and incidence, with considerable mortality among the elderly. AIM To determine preferences concerning cardiopulmonary-resuscitation (CPR) and end-of-life care in elderly patients hospitalized for heart failure. DESIGN Prospective interview-based survey. METHODS Patients >64 years old admitted for acute heart failure were interviewed to address their preferences regarding end-of-life care and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) when facing the last stages of their disease. RESULTS We interviewed 80 patients (mean age 79 years; 58% women). Thirty-two (40%) expressed a wish not to have CPR. Only two had previously discussed their CPR preferences with their physicians. When recovery from the illness was considered unlikely, 40 (50%) participants preferred to receive treatment at home, 32 (40%) preferred in-hospital management, and 8 (10%) were unsure. Thirty-three patients (41%) expressed a desire for spiritual support, 38 (48%) said not and the remaining 9 (11%) were indifferent. DISCUSSION Advance planning of end-of-life procedures and doctor-patient communication regarding these items remains poor and must be improved.
Expandable and fault tolerant computers and communications systems -autonomous decentralized systems

Under the evolutionary situation in market and technology, computers and communications application systems are required to attain not only the online property for non-stop operation during partial expansion, maintenance and at the time of a fault but also the flexibility and timeliness to supply the new products and services. Autonomous decentralized systems (ADS) are proposed for these requirements. In the ADS, each system has its own autonomy to control itself and coordinate among the others. The data field architecture for ADS has been realized, where each system judges the sending and receiving of the data on the basis of the content of the data, and the starting of its execution of the function when all the necessary content data is received. Based on this system architecture, technologies for the on-line property have been developed. Moreover the ADS technologies have been extended to adapt to the rapidly and largely changing situation through the integration of the heterogeneous and autonomous systems without mutually violating their objectives. These technologies have been applied in various fields including information service, factory automation, transportation operation, building facilities management and so on, and their effectiveness has been shown. Some of these technologies have been approved to be de-facto standard in the factory automation system.
Gap Junctional Communication Among Motor and Other Neurons Shapes Patterns of Neural Activity and Synaptic Connectivity During Development

We are studying the functional roles of neuronal gap junctional coupling during development, using motor neurons and their synapses with muscle fibers as a model system. At neuromuscular synapses, several studies have shown that the relative pattern of activity among motor inputs competing for innervation of the same target muscle fiber determines how patterns of innervation are sculpted during the first weeks after birth. We asked whether gap junctional coupling among motor neurons modulates the relative timing of motor neuron activity in awake, behaving neonatal mice. We found that the activity of motor neurons innervating the same muscle is temporally correlated perinatally, during the same period that gap junction-mediated electrical and dye coupling are present. In vivo blockade of gap junctions abolished temporal correlations in motor neuron activity, without changing overall motor behavior, motor neuron activity patterns or firing frequency. Together with preliminary studies in mice lacking gap junction protein Cx40, our data suggest that developmentally regulated gap junctional coupling among motor and other neurons affects the activity in nascent neural circuits and thus in turn affects synaptic connectivity. Dynamic monitoring of dye coupling can be used to explore this possibility in normal mice and in mice lacking gap junction proteins during embryonic and neonatal development.
Religion and depression: a review of the literature

Abstract We reviewed data from approximately 80 published and unpublished studies that examined the association of religious affiliation or involvement with depressive symptoms or depressive disorder. In these studies, religion was measured as religious affiliation; general religious involvement; organizational religious involvement; prayer or private religious involvement; religious salience and motivation; or religious beliefs. People from some religious affiliations appear to have an elevated risk for depressive symptoms and depressive disorder, and people with no religious affiliation are at an elevated risk in comparison with people who are religiously affiliated. People with high levels of general religious involvement, organizational religious involvement, religious salience, and intrinsic religious motivation are at reduced risk for depressive symptoms and depressive disorders. Private religious activity and particular religious beliefs appear to bear no reliable relationship with depression. People with high levels of extrinsic religious motivation are at increased risk for depressive symptoms. Although these associations tend to be consistent, they are modest and are substantially reduced in multivariate research. Longitudinal research is sparse, but suggests that some forms of religious involvement might exert a protective effect against the incidence and persistence of depressive symptoms or disorders. The existing research is sufficient to encourage further investigation of the associations of religion with depressive symptoms and disorder. Religion should be measured with higher methodological standards than those that have been accepted in survey research to date.
Data Collection through Vehicular Sensor Networks

Now a days Many car manufacturers are planning to install wireless connectivity equipment in their vehicles to enable communications with "roadside base station" and also between vehicles, for the purposes of safety, driving assistance, and entertainment. One distinct feature is that vehicles are highly mobile, with speed up to 30 m/s, though their mobility patterns are more predictable than those of nodes in Mobile Ad-hoc Networks (MANET) due to the constraints imposed by road, speed limits, and commuting habits. Therefore, these networks require specific solutions and identify a novel research area, i.e., Vehicular Ad-hoc Networks (VANET). In this paper, we focus on a particular VSN architecture, where the ad hoc network is operated by a telecommunication/service provider to combine non-valuable individual sensed data and extract from them effective feedbacks about the situation of the road in a geographical area. In operated VSNs, providers tend to reduce the traffic load on their network, using the free-frequency communication medium (IEEE 802.11p, for example). To do so, we propose TCDGP (Tree Clustered Data Gathering Protocol), a cross layer protocol based on hierarchical and geographical data collection, aggregation and dissemination mechanisms. We analyze the performances of our solution using a simulation environment and realistic mobility models. We demonstrate the feasibility of such solution and show that TCDGP offers the operator precious information without overloading his network.
Receding horizon guaranteed cost control for norm-bounded uncertain systems with actuator saturation

This paper investigates the receding horizon H∞ guaranteed cost control for a class of norm-bounded uncertain systems subject to actuator saturation. A sufficient condition for the existence of the controller is proposed to handle the amplitudes of control input signals and guarantee both of the H∞ norm and quadratic cost performance for all admissible uncertainties and external disturbances. Furthermore, the optimal receding horizon controller can be obtained by on-line solving a convex optimization problem with linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) constraints. The effectiveness of the proposed controller is demonstrated with a numerical example.
Adverse behavioral effects of treatment for acute exacerbation of asthma in children: a comparison of two doses of oral steroids.

OBJECTIVE To determine the relative adverse symptomatic effects and benefits of therapy with oral corticosteroids at doses of 2 mg/kg vs 1 mg/kg daily in children with acute exacerbations of asthma. METHODS Using a questionnaire that addressed symptoms, we conducted a prospective study of the adverse effects and benefits of therapy with prednisone or prednisolone at two dose levels in 86 children who were 2 to 16 years of age with mild persistent asthma during an acute exacerbation and were unresponsive to therapy with inhaled steroids and beta-adrenergic agents. Parents and physicians were blinded to the dose level. Children were assigned to either of the two doses by random allocation. Behavioral side effects were assessed via a questionnaire administered by a physician. Benefits were measured by the resolution of asthma symptoms (cough, shortness of breath, and wheeze) at the completion of the treatment with oral steroids. RESULTS Behavioral side effects, particularly anxiety (p < 0.02) and aggressive behavior (p < 0.002), were twice as common in patients receiving a dose of 2 mg/kg/d. Benefits were comparable in the two groups. The number needed to harm (ie, the number of patients receiving experimental treatment that would lead to one additional person being harmed vs patients receiving standard treatment) was 6.1 for anxiety, 8.6 for hyperactivity, and 4.8 for aggressive behavior. CONCLUSIONS Because the adverse side effects were greater at the higher dose but the benefits were comparable, we recommend using an oral corticosteroid dose of 1 mg/kg daily for children with mild persistent asthma who present with an acute exacerbation of asthma.
Requirement for the RIIβ Isoform of PKA, But Not Calcium-Stimulated Adenylyl Cyclase, in Visual Cortical Plasticity

The cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) signaling pathway plays a key role in visual cortical plasticity. Inhibitors that block activation of all PKA regulatory subunits (RIα,RIβ, RIIα, RIIβ) abolish long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD) in vitro and ocular dominance plasticity (ODP) in vivo. The details of this signaling cascade, however, including the source of PKA signals and which PKA subunits are involved, are unknown. To investigate these issues we have examined LTP, LTD, and ODP in knock-out mice lacking either the two cortically expressed Ca2+-stimulated adenylyl cyclases (AC1 and AC8) or the predominant neocortical subunit of PKA (RIIβ). Here we show that plasticity remains intact in AC1/AC8-/- mice, whereas ODP and LTD, but not LTP, are absent in RIIβ-/- mice. We conclude that (1) plasticity in the visual cortex does not require the activity of known Ca2+-stimulated adenylyl cyclases, (2) the PKA dependence of ODP and LTD, but not LTP, is mediated by RIIβ-PKA, and (3) multiple isoforms of PKA contribute to LTD.
Gender-related influences of parental alcoholism on the prevalence of psychiatric illnesses: analysis of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions.

BACKGROUND Offspring of individuals with alcoholism are at increased risk for psychiatric illness, but the effects of gender on this risk are not well known. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the gender of the parent with alcoholism and the gender of offspring affect the association between parental alcoholism and offspring psychiatric illness. METHOD We analyzed the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) data to examine the gender-specific prevalence of axis I and axis II disorders in 23,006 male and 17,368 female respondents with and without a history of paternal or maternal alcoholism. Adjusted odds ratios were calculated for the disorders based on gender and presence of maternal or paternal alcoholism. RESULTS Maternal or paternal alcoholism was associated with a higher prevalence of every disorder examined, regardless of the gender of offspring. Gender-related differences in prevalences were present in nearly all examined disorders, and the association between parental alcoholism and offspring psychiatric disorders was significantly different in men and women. These differences included stronger associations in female offspring of men with alcoholism (alcohol abuse without dependence); in female offspring of women with alcoholism (mania, nicotine dependence, alcohol abuse, and schizoid personality disorder); in male offspring of men with alcoholism (mania); and in male offspring of women with alcoholism (panic disorder). CONCLUSIONS Interactions between gender and parental alcoholism were specific to certain disorders but varied in their effects, and in general female children of women with alcoholism appear at greatest risk for adult psychopathology.
IEEE standard upper ontology: a progress report

The IEEE Standard Upper Ontology (IEEE, 2001) is an effort to create a large, general-purpose, formal ontology. The ontology will be an open standard that can be reused for both academic and commercial purposes without fee, and it will be designed to support additional domain-specific ontologies. The effort is targeted for use in automated inference, semantic interoperability between heterogeneous information systems and natural language processing applications. The effort was begun in May 2000 with an e-mail discussion list, and since then there have been over 6000 e-mail messages among 170 subscribers. These subscribers include representatives from government, academia and industry in various countries. The effort was officially approved as an IEEE standards project in December 2000. Recently a successful workshop was held at IJCAI 2001 to discuss progress and proposals for this project (IJCAI, 2001).
T-cell function and migration. Two sides of the same coin.

Since the pioneering work of Gowans and colleagues in the 1960s,1,2 much progress has been made in understanding the pivotal role of cell migration in immunity. We now have considerable knowledge of the way in which specialized leukocytes are channeled to distinct target tissues in immune responses and inflammation (Figure 1). This review will concentrate on the migration of T cells, which are at the heart of most adaptive immune responses. Since T cells respond to pathogens only on direct contact with pathogen-derived antigen, they must migrate to sites where antigen is found. The T-cell receptor recognizes a peptide .
Interannual Variability of Temperature at a Depth of 125 Meters in the North Atlantic Ocean

Analyses of historical ocean temperature data at a depth of 125 meters in the North Atlantic Ocean indicate that from 1950 to 1990 the subtropical and subarctic gyres exhibited linear trends that were opposite in phase. In addition, multivariate analyses of yearly mean temperature anomaly fields between 20�N and 70�N in the North Atlantic show a characteristic space-time temperature oscillation from 1947 to 1990. A quasidecadal oscillation, first identified at Ocean Weather Station C, is part of a basin-wide feature. Gyre and basin-scale variations such as these provide the observational basis for climate diagnostic and modeling studies.
Ranking Construction Project Alternatives with the Analytic Network Process Method

In evaluating construction investments, public or private sector owners often have several project alternatives, e.g. different sites for development and different types of building. Assessing each of them so as to identify the best for implementation is owners’ most important decision in the project planning stage. The traditional net present worth method has difficulty in including intangible benefits and risks, so the result of it may not represent the overall value of an alternative. The multi-attribute utility theory method can include all factors in producing a total utility score for an alternative, but it has difficulty in determining criteria weights and utility functions. The analytic hierarchy process method can derive criteria weights and priority scores of alternatives from paired comparisons, but it cannot incorporate feedback relations between criteria and alternatives as it is done hierarchically in a top-down manner. This paper proposes an improved model for assessing project alternatives using the analytic network process method as the generalized analytic hierarchy process method to include the feedback impacts absent from the analytic hierarchy process. To illustrate the model, three recent housing projects in Kaohsiung, Taiwan were used as hypothetical alternatives being considered by a medium developer. A study of related factors that influenced their economics as well as feedback relations between factors and alternatives were conducted to determine the criteria and the dependency links in the network model. Based on company and project conditions, values of inputs for the model were set and were processed to produce the criteria weights and the relative scores of the alternatives for establishing their priority ordering. The ANP model results in changes in the ranking of the sites from those produced by the AHP method due to the additional relations.
Simple Unified Approach to Develop a Time-Domain Modulation Strategy for Single-Phase Multilevel Converters

Single-phase power converters are widely used in power applications as photovoltaics and fuel-cell power conditioners. In addition, multilevel converters are a well-known solution in order to achieve high-quality output waveforms in power systems. In this paper, a time-domain duty-cycle computation technique for single-phase multilevel converters named 1DM is presented. The proposed technique is based on geometrical calculations with outstanding simplicity and generality. The proposed modulation technique can be easily applied to any multilevel converter topology carrying out the necessary calculations. The most common multilevel converter topologies have been studied in this paper as examples to introduce the proposed modulation strategy. Any other multilevel converter topology could be studied, and the corresponding 1DM could be easily developed. In addition, the well-known optimized voltage balance strategy for voltage capacitor control using the redundant switching states of the system is applied working with the proposed 1DM method, showing that both techniques are compatible. Experimental and simulation results for several single-phase multilevel converters are shown to validate the proposed modulation technique.
Anémie maternelle pendant la grossesse: conséquence sur le poids du nouveau-né

L'anemie due a une carence en fer constitue un probleme majeur de santepublique dans les pays en voie de developpement. L'Organisation Mondiale de la Sante estime que pour l'ensemble du monde, l'anemie atteint le chiffre ahurissant de 2 milliards d�individus affectes. Elle estime aussi qu�environ 50% des cas est du a la carence en fer. Objectif: En vue de determiner la correlation entre l�anemie decouverte au dernier trimestre de la grossesse et le poids du nouveau-ne, une etude prospective a ete effectuee dans le service de gyneco-obstetrique de la maternite de Sidi Bel Abbes sur une population composee de 119 femmes enceintes. La relation entre l'anemie et certains facteurs comme (l'âge, le nombre de grossesse, nombre d'avortement, la duree de l'allaitement, le niveau d'instruction, etc.) n'a pas ete negliger dans cette etude. Materiel et Methode: La population cible est composee de 119 couples mere - bebe, les mamans ayantete supplementees en fer au cours de leur grossesse selon la strategie nationale duministere de la sante. Les femmes ont beneficie d'un bilan sanguin comportant l'hemogramme, pour les bebes, seule l'estimation du poids a la naissance fut realisee. Resultats: Sur un echantillon constitue de 119 femmes enceintes, nous avons releve un nombre de 83 femmes soit 69,74% enceintes presentant une anemie Hb =2500g, alors que le reste soit 5,50%) ont un poids < 2500g. Une correlation a ete releve entre le taux de l'hemoglobine et la CCMH (r = 0.11). Par contre, aucune correlation n'a ete trouve entre le poids du nouveau-ne et l'anemie decouverte au dernier trimestre de grossesse (r = 0,004). Conclusion: Il apparait qu'une supplementassions en fer est necessaire pour toutes les femmes enceintes anemiques.
Transposon Mutations in the 5′ End of glnD, the Gene for a Nitrogen Regulatory Sensor, That Suppress the Osmosensitive Phenotype Caused by otsBA Lesions in Escherichia coli

ABSTRACT GlnD of Escherichia coli is a bifunctional signal-transducing enzyme (102.4 kDa) which uridylylates the allosteric regulatory protein PII and deuridylylates PII-UMP in response to growth with nitrogen excess or limitation, respectively. GlnD catalyzes these reactions in response to high or low levels of cytoplasmic glutamine, respectively, and indirectly directs the expression of nitrogen-regulated genes, e.g., the glnK-amtB operon. We report that chromosomal mini-Tn10 insertions situated after nucleotide number 997 or 1075 of glnD partially suppressed the osmosensitive phenotype of ΔotsBA or otsA::Tn10 mutations (defective osmoregulatory trehalose synthesis). Strains carrying these glnD::mini-Tn10 mutations either completely repressed the expression of trp::(glnKp-lacZ) or induced this reporter system to nearly 60% of the wild-type glnD level in response to nitrogen availability, an essentially normal response. This was in contrast to the much-studied glnD99::Tn10 mutation, which carries its insertion in the 3′ end of the gene, causes a complete repression of glnKp-lacZ expression under all growth conditions, and also confers leaky glutamine auxotrophy. When expressed from the Pm promoter in plasmid constructs, the present glnD mutations produced proteins with an apparent mass of 39 or 42 kDa. These proteins were deduced to comprise 344 or 370 N-terminal residues, respectively, harboring the known nucleotidyltransferase domain of GlnD, plus a common C-terminal addition of 12 residues encoded by IS10. They lacked three other domains of GlnD. Apparently, the transferase domain by itself enabled the cells to catalyze the uridylylation reaction and direct nitrogen-regulated gene expression. Our data indicate that there exists a link between osmotic stress and the nitrogen response.
Generating Trust in Online Consumer Reviews through Signaling: An Experimental Study

With the availability of online consumer reviews, consumers' consumption behaviors are gradually changing. They are increasingly relying on reviews for information prior to purchase. The influences of reviews on sales have been identified and verified by many empirical studies. However, little research has explored how review content characteristics affect the trustworthiness in online consumer reviews (TIOCR) and consumers' willingness to purchase (WTP) experience goods. Based on signaling theory and related literature, we construct a model to explain the TIOCR and WTP for experience goods. We hypothesize that TIOCR and WTP are influenced by review content characteristics, i.e., Prevalence of negative statements, prevalence of conflicting information, and availability of emotions. A pilot laboratory experiment is carried out to test the hypotheses. Preliminary results are discussed. The results will be validated in a large scale experiment.