Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Treatment of ethylene glycol poisoning with ethyl alcohol.

In the course of phylogenetic evolution, the substrate specificity of alcohol dehydrogenase, the enzyme which detoxicates ethyl alcohol, has apparently broadened. Thus, while the enzyme from yeast oxidizes ethyl alcohol and only a few other alcohols, 1 the enzyme of the horse liver is capable of oxidizing a range of other alcohols. 1,2 The human enzyme has an even wider range, 3 since contrary to the horse enzyme it oxidizes both ethyl alcohol and ethylene glycol. While chemically ethylene glycol is very similar to ethyl alcohol, both these compounds are toxic to man. Detailed studies of the enzymatic oxidation of ethylene glycol demonstrate that ethyl alcohol, the natural substrate, is a potent competitive inhibitor of the oxidation of ethylene glycol. 3 Hence, low concentrations of ethyl alcohol prevent the oxidation of large concentrations of ethylene glycol. These biochemical features of the catalytic behavior of human-liver alcohol dehydrogenase have served as
The gray divorce revolution: rising divorce among middle-aged and older adults, 1990-2010.

PURPOSE Our study documents how the divorce rate among persons aged 50 and older has changed between 1990 and 2010 and identifies the sociodemographic correlates of divorce among today's middle-aged and older adults. DESIGN AND METHOD We used data from the 1990 U.S. Vital Statistics Report and the 2010 American Community Survey (ACS) to examine the change in the divorce rate over time. ACS data were analyzed to determine the sociodemographic correlates of divorce. RESULTS The divorce rate among adults aged 50 and older doubled between 1990 and 2010. Roughly 1 in 4 divorces in 2010 occurred to persons aged 50 and older. Demographic characteristics, economic resources, and the marital biography were associated with the risk of divorce in 2010. The rate of divorce was 2.5 times higher for those in remarriages versus first marriages, whereas the divorce rate declined as marital duration rose. IMPLICATIONS The traditional focus of gerontological research on widowhood must be expanded to include divorce as another form of marital dissolution. Over 600,000 people aged 50 and older got divorced in 2010 but little is known about the predictors and consequences of divorces that occur during middle and later life.
Onco-nephrology: an invitation to a new field.

TO THE EDITOR: Kidney disease is common in patients with cancer and includes disorders that occur in people without cancer as well as entities that are unique to people with cancer, such as tumor lysis syndrome. However, as the field of oncology hasdevelopedareasofincreasingsubspecializationandthearrayof treatment options with novel agents has expanded, the need has been created for a new field: onco-nephrology. Such a necessity resultsfromseveralfactors.First,certainrenaldisordersareunique to patients with cancer, related either to therapy or the malignancy itself. Paraneoplastic glomerulonephritis, posthematopoietic stem-cell transplantation microangiopathy and sinusoidal obstruction syndrome, and kidney injury from graft-versus-host disease are prime examples. Therefore, it is a requirement that nephrologistsbeknowledgeableabouttheseuniquedisorders.Second, many patients with cancer are now cared for at comprehensive cancer centers where nephrologists have become integral members of treatment teams. Nephrologists must provide expertiseintheevaluationandmanagementofacuteandchronickidney disease, fluid and electrolyte disorders, and the use of various extracorporeal therapies in patients with cancer. Third, the presence of acute and chronic kidney disease in patients with cancer can adversely affect treatment and outcome. Patients with cancer are at increased risk of developing acute kidney injury (AKI) 1 ; survival rates are significantly lower in patients with cancer and AKI compared with patients with similar disease severity who do not have cancer. 2 In patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), therapeutic doses may need to be reduced (thus decreasing the so-called killing effect), or some promising agents may need to be omitted altogether. Fourth, given that the prevalence of both cancer and CKD are high, a growing number of patients require the expertise of onco-nephrologists, who must be knowledgeable about the array of new chemotherapeutic agents and their potential effects on kidney function. The hypertension, CKD, and proteinuria that are associated with the use of antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents are examples. 3 Onconephrology in general, and the effects of anti-VEGF agents in particular, provide fertile ground for both clinical and basic research. Understanding the effects of anti-VEGF therapy has led to more insight into the function of the glomerular filter and the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. Onco-nephrologists must also be awareoftheeffectsofvariousdialyticmodalitiesondrugclearance.
Magnetostimulation in MRI

In national and international bodies, there is active discussion of appropriate safety regulations of levels of magnetic field strength in MRI. Present limits are usually expressed in terms of the switching rate dB/dt, but the validity of this is open to debate. Application of the fundamental law of electrostimulation is well‐established, both on theoretical and experimental grounds. Application of this law, in combination with Maxwell's law, yields a very simple equation that we call the fundamental law of magnetostimulation. This law has the hyperbolic form of a strength‐duration curve and allows an estimation of the lowest possible value of the magnetic flux density capable of stimulating nerves and muscles. Calculations prove that the threshold for heart excitation is much higher than those for nerve and muscle stimulations. Experimental results from us and other authors confirm the correctness of the derived laws for magnetostimulation. In light of these findings, proposed safety limits should be reconsidered.
Modelling exposure in flour processing sectors in the Netherlands: a baseline measurement in the context of an intervention program.

INTRODUCTION Recent studies have shown that even low exposure levels to flour dust and related allergens can cause severe respiratory symptoms. In The Netherlands the Dutch government and responsible branch organizations [from bakeries (traditional & industrial), flour mills and bakery ingredient producers] signed a covenant to reduce exposure to flour dust and decrease the prevalence of work-related occupational airway disease. This paper describes a sector wide survey to measure exposure to flour dust, wheat allergens and fungal alpha-amylase. The results are being used to underpin various elements of the covenant. METHODS A dataset containing 910 personal measurements was compiled from four field studies containing information on exposure and potential determinants. The dataset represents a baseline estimate of exposure for four major flour processing sectors in The Netherlands. Exposure models for all sectors and agents were generated, based on job, tasks and company size, taking into account worker and company as random effect components. Use of control measures and, where possible, their effect were evaluated. RESULTS Flour dust and enzyme exposures vary strongly between sectors. The job performed and specific tasks were identified as important determinants of exposure. The number of identified control measures during walk-through surveys, and their effectiveness in reduction of dust exposure was generally limited. The exposure models explained significant exposure variability between companies and workers but performed poorly in explaining day to day differences in exposure. DISCUSSION The dataset serves as a baseline estimate and will be compared with a post intervention survey in the near future. The information obtained on control measures can be used to optimize the intervention scenarios that will be implemented in the different sectors by external occupational hygienists. The predictive exposure models will provide a relevant measure of average personal exposure that will be used in the sector wide health surveillance system.
An Integrated Analysis of the Efficacy of Desvenlafaxine Compared with Placebo in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder

ABSTRACT Introduction: To assess the efficacy of desvenlafaxine (administered as desvenlafaxine succinate) in outpatients with major depressive disorder. Methods: A meta-analysis of individual patient data was performed on the complete set of registration trials (nine randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled 8-week studies) of desvenlafaxine. Patients received fixed (50, 100, 200, or 400 mg/day; n = 1,342) or flexible doses (100–400 mg/day; n = 463) of desvenlafaxine or placebo (n = 1,108). The primary efficacy variable was the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D17); the primary intent to treat analyses used the last-observation-carried-forward method. Results: Significantly greater improvement with desvenlafaxine versus placebo on the HAM-D17 total score was observed for the full data set (difference in adjusted means: −1.9; P<.001), each fixed-dose group (all P<.001), and the flexible-dose group (P=.024). Overall rates of HAM-D17 response (≥50% decrease from baseline score: 53% vs 41%) and remission (HAM-D17 ≤7: 32% vs 23%) were significantly greater for desvenlafaxine versus placebo (all P<.001). Discontinuation rates due to adverse events increased with dose (4% to 18%; placebo: 3%). Conclusion: Desvenlafaxine demonstrated short-term efficacy for treating major depressive disorder across the range of doses studied. No evidence of greater efficacy was observed with doses >50 mg/day; a strong dose-response effect on tolerability was observed.
Effects of animal-assisted therapy on agitated behaviors and social interactions of older adults with dementia

The effects of a therapeutic recreation intervention using animal-assisted therapy (AAT) on the agitated behaviors and social interactions of older adults with dementia were examined using the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory and the Animal-Assisted Therapy Flow Sheet. In a pilot study, 15 nursing home residents with dementia participated in a daily AAT intervention for three weeks. Results showed statistically significant decreases in agitated behaviors and a statistically significant increase in social interaction pretest to post-test.
Intrinsic and Extrinsic Neuromodulation of Olfactory Processing

Neuromodulation is a ubiquitous feature of neural systems, allowing flexible, context specific control over network dynamics. Neuromodulation was first described in invertebrate motor systems and early work established a basic dichotomy for neuromodulation as having either an intrinsic origin (i.e., neurons that participate in network coding) or an extrinsic origin (i.e., neurons from independent networks). In this conceptual dichotomy, intrinsic sources of neuromodulation provide a “memory” by adjusting network dynamics based upon previous and ongoing activation of the network itself, while extrinsic neuromodulators provide the context of ongoing activity of other neural networks. Although this dichotomy has been thoroughly considered in motor systems, it has received far less attention in sensory systems. In this review, we discuss intrinsic and extrinsic modulation in the context of olfactory processing in invertebrate and vertebrate model systems. We begin by discussing presynaptic modulation of olfactory sensory neurons by local interneurons (LNs) as a mechanism for gain control based on ongoing network activation. We then discuss the cell-class specific effects of serotonergic centrifugal neurons on olfactory processing. Finally, we briefly discuss the integration of intrinsic and extrinsic neuromodulation (metamodulation) as an effective mechanism for exerting global control over olfactory network dynamics. The heterogeneous nature of neuromodulation is a recurring theme throughout this review as the effects of both intrinsic and extrinsic modulation are generally non-uniform.
Quantifying Audit Quality: A Proposal Inspired by Recent Initiatives

Audit quality has gained intensive attention since the cascade of audit failures in the concluding years of the last century and the first few years of our new century. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 [hereafter identified as the Act] introduced a new oversight strategy to enhance the quality of audits. To assure the performance of quality audits, the PCAOB was charged with responsibility for inspecting registered public accounting firms that perform financial audits for publicly-owned companies in the United States. To date, however, this process has not resulted in measurement of audit quality. Since 2002, there have been two additional significant initiatives related to audit quality. One was the Federal Government’s Single Audit Sampling Project which was reported in 2007; the other, the establishment of the Center for Audit Quality, as an affiliate of the American Institute of CPA (AICPA) in early 2007. From a reading of these three initiatives, it was evident that while each makes a contribution none is sufficient to determine audit quality of publicly owned entities. This paper includes a review of these initiatives, as well as a general structure for undertaking an objective statistical study to measure audit quality. The task is feasible, but will require several years of well designed efforts. The development of criteria and of their measurement is not a one-step research effort. Several years of experience of data gathering and careful statistical testing are necessary. Over time, criteria identified must be tested for reliability and validity. The initial years of efforts at objective measurement should be considered experimental; such efforts will not result in ranking or rating particular accounting firms. Only after validity and reliability of measurement are assured will there be a basis for measurement of individual firms. (Note: An earlier draft of this Working Paper was presented at a session of the American Accounting Association: Mid-Atlantic Region Meeting April 24-26, 2008, Hyatt Regency Hotel, Penn’s Landing, Philadelphia, PA).
An Expert System for Locating Distribution System Faults

A rule-based expert system designed to locate the faults in a distribution system is presented. Distribution system component data and network topology are stored in the database. A set of heuristic rules is compiled from the dispatcher's experience and imbedded in the rule base. To locate distribution system faults, an inference engine is developed to perform deductive reasoning on the rules in the knowledge base. The inference engine comprises three major parts: the dynamic searching method, the backtracking approach, and the set intersection operation. The expert system is implemented on a personal computer using the artificial intelligence language Prolog. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach, the expert system has been used to locate faults in a real underground distribution system within the service area of the Taipei City District Office of the Taiwan Power Company. It is found that the expert system can identify fault location very efficiently. Therefore, it can serve as a valuable tool to help distribution system dispatchers determine fault locations. >
The management of transient monocular visual loss.

Louis R. Caplan, MD: The most likely cause of his transient monocular visual loss (TMVL) is retinal ischemia (1–3). Occasionally, transient optic nerve ischemia can present similar symptoms (3). Most ocular ischemia is caused by embolism to the ophthalmic artery, and its branches that feed the retina and optic nerve. Sources of embolism to the eye include the heart, aorta, ipsilateral extracranial and siphon portions of the internal carotid artery, and the ophthalmic artery. In this patient, a normal ophthalmologic examination excludes impending central retinal vein occlusion (4), optic disc drusen (5), and pre-retinal loops (6), which are occasional causes of ocular ischemia. There were no Hollenhorst plaques, white platelet-fibrin thrombi, or calcific emboli within the retinal arteries—clues to the origin of emboli. The risk factors in this patient make internal carotid artery (ICA) disease the most likely source of TMVL. Atheromatous disease of the aorta or heart is another important possibility. Patients with polycythemia and thrombocytosis can occasionally develop TMVL. Temporal arteritis is an infrequent cause. I would begin by ordering a complete blood count and sedimentation rate, an electrocardiogram (EKG), a duplex ultrasound study of the neck arteries, and a transcranial Doppler (TCD) exploration of the cranial arteries. The duplex examination should detect significant ICA disease at the common carotid artery bifurcation. TCD can help detect disease of the carotid siphon proximal to the ophthalmic artery, disease of the ophthalmic artery itself, and help to quantify any reduction in blood flow related to ICA disease in the neck (7). If the duplex findings in the neck are equivocal, 20–30 minutes of TCD monitoring of the intracranial middle cerebral arteries (MCAs) might help identify the presence and source of emboli (8,9). If the source is the ipsilateral ICA, embolic signals would be detected only in the ipsilateral MCA; if the source is cardiac or aortic, emboli should be detected bilaterally. If a four-probe embolic detection system is available, the ICAs can also be probe sites. Emboli from the heart or aorta would first be detected in the ICA and shortly thereafter in the ipsilateral MCA. If the emboli arise from the ICA, no embolic signals would be heard in the neck. Louis R. Caplan, MD Professor of Neurology Harvard Medical School Chief of Section in Cerebrovascular Disease Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Boston, Massachusetts Norman R. Hertzer, MD Emeritus Chairman Department of Vascular Surgery The Cleveland Clinic Foundation Cleveland, Ohio Editor’s note: In this section, two experts have debated a controversial issue based on case material and questions directed to them via e-mail. Neither contestant was aware of the other’s responses until all of the questions were answered. Then they were shown all responses and asked to write a rebuttal. The editor’s summary appears at the end.
Discrete-time Incremental ISS: A framework for Robust NMPC

In this paper, Incremental Input-to-State Stability is studied as a system theoretic framework to address the challenges of robust nonlinear model predictive control. In the first part of the paper, a Lyapunov framework for Incremental Input-to-State Stability of nonlinear discrete-time dynamical systems is established. In the second part, Incremental Input-to-State Stability is shown to lead to an efficient MPC method for disturbed nonlinear systems. Based on the Incremental Input-to-State Stability Lyapunov function, a tightening of the constraints is proposed. Satisfaction of the tightened constraints can be guaranteed under the disturbances. By this concept, a robust nonlinear model predictive control problem is handled and the effectiveness is shown through an example from the literature.
Optimal allocation of smart metering systems for enhanced distribution system state estimation

Smart meters are the backbone of advanced metering systems for accurate billing, load estimation and demand side response in smart distribution grids. By appropriately selecting their installation locations, it is feasible to achieve more precise distribution state estimation. This paper presents a semidefinite programming method to optimally allocate smart metering systems in distribution grids in order to minimize the state estimation error variances. The placement problem is formulated as an M-optimal experimental design model and is transformed into a binary semidefinite programming model, with binary decision variables, minimizing a linear objective function subject to linear matrix inequality constraints. Simulations using a 55-bus distribution grid are carried out in order to verify the optimality of the chosen meter locations in terms of minimizing bus voltage magnitude and angle variances.
EWI-2 and EWI-F Link the Tetraspanin Web to the Actin Cytoskeleton through Their Direct Association with Ezrin-Radixin-Moesin Proteins*

EWI-2 and EWI-F, two members of a novel subfamily of Ig proteins, are direct partners of tetraspanins CD9 (Tspan29) and CD81 (Tspan28). These EWI proteins contain a stretch of basic charged amino acids in their cytoplasmic domains that may act as binding sites for actin-linking ezrin-radixin-moesin (ERM) proteins. Confocal microscopy analysis revealed that EWI-2 and EWI-F colocalized with ERM proteins at microspikes and microvilli of adherent cells and at the cellular uropod in polarized migrating leukocytes. Immunoprecipitation studies showed the association of EWI-2 and EWI-F with ERM proteins in vivo. Moreover, pulldown experiments and protein-protein binding assays with glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins containing the cytoplasmic domains of EWI proteins corroborated the strong and direct interaction between ERMs and these proteins. The active role of ERMs was further confirmed by double transfections with the N-terminal domain of moesin, which acts as a dominant negative form of ERMs, and was able to delocalize EWIs from the uropod of polarized leukocytes. In addition, direct association of EWI partner CD81 C-terminal domain with ERMs was also demonstrated. Functionally, silencing of endogenous EWI-2 expression by short interfering RNA in lymphoid CEM cells augmented cell migration, cellular polarity, and increased phosphorylation of ERMs. Hence, EWI proteins, through their direct interaction with ERM proteins, act as linkers to connect tetraspanin-associated microdomains to actin cytoskeleton regulating cell motility and polarity.
EC-Trust (Trust in Electronic Commerce): Exploring the Antecedent Factors

With the open system environment of the Internet and the intensive communication requirement of being a remote shopping channel, consumer-based electronic commerce becomes more complex and dependent on trust development in a business relationship. This paper examines the concept of trust and proposes a trust development life-cycle for EC adoption. Besides, it suggests and analyses a number of antecedent factors toward initial trust formation. These factors include information quality, web interface design and company reputation. This paper contributes to a better understanding of the EC trust concept, which is important for the successful implementation of consumer-based electronic commerce.
A Short Open-End Slot Antenna With Equivalent Circuit Analysis

A novel configuration is described for a compact microstrip-line fed slot antenna which is shorter than one-eighth wavelength at the operating frequency. Antenna size is reduced by placing two matching capacitors at both sides of an electrically small open-end slot, through the use of a wideband antenna equivalent circuit model established by considering the physical geometry. With the proposed antenna configuration, a 2.45 GHz slot antenna is first designed using an open-end slot of size 9 mm by 1.5 mm that is originally resonant at 4.8 GHz in a conventional design. Experimental results correlate well with those of the full-wave simulation and the equivalent circuit calculation, which shows a bandwidth of 109 MHz and peak gain of 1.89 dBi. By using the same slot size, several slot antennas operating at even lower frequencies (1.9, 1.64, 1.57 GHz) are then designed and demonstrated. Nearly omni-directional radiation patterns with peak gains 0 dBi and radiation efficiencies larger than 45% are obtained. Given its simplicity and compactness, the proposed electrically small antenna is feasible for circuit integration and highly promising for wireless mobile devices.