Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Glidescope versus Airtraq DL for double-lumen tracheal tube insertion in patients with a predicted or known difficult airway: A randomised study

BACKGROUND Double-lumen tracheal tube (DLT) insertion can be managed with videolaryngoscopes such as the Glidescope or indirect laryngoscopes like the Airtraq DL. No study has compared both devices when a difficult intubation is predicted. OBJECTIVE Our hypothesis was that the Glidescope is superior to the Airtraq for double-lumen tube insertion in patients with a predicted or known difficult airway. DESIGN Randomised study. PATIENTS Adults scheduled for thoracic elective surgery, requiring one-lung ventilation with a predicted difficult intubation score of at least 7 (Arné risk index). INTERVENTION Between March 2014 and March 2015, adult patients, scheduled for elective thoracic surgery, requiring double-lumen tracheal tube placement, and with a predicted risk (evaluated preoperatively using the Arné score) or a history of difficult intubation, were allocated to a Glidescope or an Airtraq group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome was the overall success rate of tracheal intubation after two attempts. Secondary outcomes were success rates on the first attempt, duration of intubation, need for laryngeal pressure, Cormack and Lehane grade and side-effects. RESULTS Of 277 patients, 78 were predicted to have a difficult airway. Finally, 72 patients were enrolled. Neither the overall success rates of tracheal intubation [Glidescope group 31/36 (86%) versus Airtraq group 34/36 (94%), P = 0.43] nor the side-effects differed between groups. There was no difference concerning visualisation of the glottis using the Cormack and Lehane grade (P = 0.18) or intubation time [Glidescope group 67 s (49 to 90) versus Airtraq group 81 s (59 to 101), P = 0.28]. All patients with a previous history of difficult intubation were intubated successfully. CONCLUSION There is no difference in success rates of tracheal intubation with a double-lumen tube in patients with a predicted or known difficult airway when using either a Glidescope or Airtraq device. TRIAL REGISTRATION National register of the French National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety No. 2014-A00143-44.
Photoreceptor membrane proteins, phototransduction, and retinal degenerative diseases. The Friedenwald Lecture.

Rod and cone photoreceptor cells are specialized neurons of the vertebrate retina that function in the primary events of vision. Rod cells are highly sensitive to light and operate under dim lighting conditions. Cones are less sensitive and function in bright light and in color vision. Both photoreceptors are elongated cells consisting of several morphologically and functionally distinct regions (Fig. 1). The photoreceptor outer segment located adjacent to the retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell layer is a specialized compartment uniquely designed to carry out phototransduction, i.e., the capture of light and its conversion to an electrical signal. This membrane-rich organelle undergoes a continual renewal process in which newly synthesized membrane is added at the base of the outer segment, whereas packets of outer segment membrane are phagocytized at the distal end by the RPE cells. '" A thin, nonmotile cilium links the outer segment to the inner segment, a cellular compartment that contains the mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, golgi apparatus, and other subcellular organelles. Adjoining the inner segment is the cell body containing the nucleus. This region further extends into the synaptic region where the electrical signal generated in the photoreceptor cell is transmitted to other neurons of the retina. Photoreceptor outer segments have been extensively studied at a cellular level/'" In the rod cell, the outer segment appears as a cylindrical structure up to 60 /xm in length and 1.5 to 2 jam in diameter for mammals and 6 to 8 jam in diameter for amphibians. The cone outer segment is generally shorter and often is tapered or conical. The outer segment consists of hundreds of flattened disk membranes assembled in an ordered axial array (Fig. 1). In rod cells, the stack of closed disks is surrounded by a separate plasma membrane over the entire length of the outer segment except at its base. Here, newly formed disk membranes evaginate from the ciliary membrane to form a folded membrane system. Each rod outer segment (ROS) disk consists of two closely spaced lamellar membranes circumscribed by a hairpin
Seamless Integration of Distance Functions and Feature Vectors for Similarity-Queries Processing

Searching on complex data, such as medical images and financial time-series has attracted several research efforts in recent years. Feature extraction methods (FEM) and distance-functions (DF) play a crucial role when comparing such data, once they can help bridging the semantic gap between users' intent and the Content-Based Retrieval Systems (CBRS). Metric access methods (MAM), in turn, are important structures aimed at reducing the CBRS answer time. Integrating all these components into a single framework is quite challenging. In fact, such framework should provide flexibility to allow the database administrator (DBA) to add new FEM, DF and MAMs on the fly, as they are being required and developed, combining them according to the requirements of each CBRS application. An adequate way to create a framework is extending the Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS) and the SQL language to allow integrating the definition of the FEM, DF and MAMs into the core search engine. In this paper we extend and improve the original strategy of the existing middleware SIREN into a new, complete similarity-enabled framework called SimbA. Based on a new approach, SimbA allows a much tighter and flexible handling of new complex data types, FEM, DF and MAM in a seamless abstraction. We adopted a SQL extension in order to represent the users' queries. Our extension of the SELECT command for similarity comparisons also provides a canonical query execution plan, which allows using data distribution estimates to generate cost-based optimization plans. To illustrate our architecture, we exemplify the developed concepts showing how to add a new complex data type (the ''financial time-series'') as well as its corresponding FEM into our framework. Through the extended-SQL and by using complex predicates, we provide example applications to store and query two real datasets as relational tables in commercial RDBMS. The first one (DDSM_ROI) is composed of mammograms, while the second (BM&F_BOVESPA) contains weeks of the Brazilian stock exchange index. The experiments performed confirm that our approach can be used as a generic backend for CBRS, whereas maintaining all the desirable features of a RDBMS.
Modeling and reliability analysis of lead-free solder joints of bottom leaded plastic (BLP) package

The electronic packaging and assembly technology is developing to high-density, fine-pitch and micromation. At the same time, an ever increasing need has developed for a lead-free solder joint interconnection due to the restrictions on the use of lead, and the upward spiraling market demand of green products. As a result the reliability of solder joint has attracted a great deal of attention, especially the lead-free solder joint. In this study, the three-dimensional (3D) shape of bottom leaded plastic (BLP) solder joints are predicted by the surface evolver software tool based on the minimum energy theory. And the geometrical models for reliability analysis are built directly from 3D shape models of BLP solder joints predicted by surface evolver using interface software of model converting. The lead-free solders considered are 96.5Sn3. 5Ag and 95.5Sn3. 8Ag0.7Cu. The 63Sn37Pb and 62Sn36Pb2Ag leaded solders are also considered to establish baselines. The Anand unified viscoplastic constitutive law is applied to represent the viscoplastic deformation behaviors for these solder alloys. Time-temperature-dependent nonlinear analysis of BLP solder joints on printed circuit board (PCB) assemblies subjected to thermal cycling conditions are presented using ANSYS finite element simulation software tool. The stress distribution, strain distribution and failure location of BLP-I and BLP-II solder joints are presented. The comparisons of Von Mises stress time history and equivalent plastic strain time history between different solder joints are provided also. The thermal fatigue life of BLP solder joints is predicted by the modified Coffin-Manson model based on the equivalent plastic strain range. Also, the effects of various solders and solder joint shape on BLP solder joint reliability are provided
Evolving Frequency and Outcomes of Liver Transplantation Based on Etiology of Liver Disease

Background In the background of availability of better treatments for specific liver diseases and listing of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) as an etiology for liver transplantation (LT), data are unclear on the impact of disease etiology on the frequency of LT and liver posttransplantation outcomes. Methods The United Network for Organ Sharing database (1994–2009) was queried for adults receiving first LT for primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC; n=3052), primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC; n=3854), hepatitis C virus (HCV; n=15,147), alcoholic cirrhosis (AC; n=8940), HCV+alcohol (n=6066), NASH (n=1368), cryptogenic cirrhosis (CC; n=5856), hepatitis B virus (HBV; n=1816), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC; n=8588). Graft and patient survival were compared and Cox models were built to determine independent prediction of outcomes by disease etiology. Results The frequency of LT increased for NASH, HCC, and HCV+alcohol, remained stable for AC, and decreased for PBC, PSC, HCV, CC, and HBV. The proportion of simultaneous liver-kidney transplants increased from approximately 3% in 2001 to 10% in 2009. Compared with PBC, 5-year graft and patient survival were (a) similar for PSC, NASH, and HBV (80–85%), (b) poorer for AC and CC (hazard ratio, 1–1.5), and (c) worst for HCV, HCV+alcohol, and HCC (hazard ratio, 1.5–2.4). Five-year outcomes for HCV-associated HCC were poorer compared with HCC due to other etiologies. Conclusions LT performed for NASH and HCC are increasing. Potent treatment options resulted in a decrease in number of transplants for HBV, HCV, and PBC. Better treatment modalities for HCV are expected to further reduce the number of LT for HCV. Excellent posttransplantation outcomes for NASH and AC are encouraging, resulting in wider acceptance of transplants for these etiologies.
Improving Cardiovascular Risk Stratification in Argentina: an Impossible Task or “Impossible is Nothing”?

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is mainly caused by atherosclerosis complications (1) and is the leading cause of death worldwide. (2) Although new therapies are being developed, (3) 32.3% of mortality in the United States is still due to CVD. (2) The therapeutic strategy “to reduce CVD depends” on the specific cardiovascular risk (CVR) of “each individual patient”. However, the correct CVR stratification and therapy required “at each CVR level” are still controversial.
Reversal of topical antiglaucoma medication effects on the conjunctiva.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether the adverse effects of antiglaucoma medications could be reversed before filtration surgery, potentially reducing the risk of subsequent failure. METHODS One month before surgery, 30 patients who were receiving multiple antiglaucoma medications underwent an inferior bulbar conjunctival biopsy, ceased using sympathomimetic drops, and began treatment with topical corticosteroid, (1% fluorometholone four times daily). At the time of surgery two conjunctival biopsy specimens were obtained, one from the operation site (superior bulbar region), and one from the inferior bulbar region. The biopsy specimens were quantitatively analyzed by light microscopy. In addition, the outcome of first trabeculectomy for 16 of these patients was compared with that of 16 matched patients who had not undergone an altered preoperative regimen of topical therapy. RESULTS During a 1-month period a notable decrease occurred in the number of fibroblasts and inflammatory cells throughout the conjunctiva. Inferior bulbar conjunctiva was found to be representative of superior bulbar conjunctiva with respect to these changes. Furthermore, evidence comparing the matched patients suggested that the altered preoperative regimen may have improved the success rate of trabeculectomy. CONCLUSIONS The preoperative regimen used reversed the adverse conjunctival effect of topical medication. The regimen may be of clinical benefit in improving the success rate of trabeculectomy.
Apparent anticipation in SOD1 familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Abstract Although anticipation has been previously reported in the copper/zinc superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1) associated familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FALS), some have argued that this may represent ascertainment bias. Consequently, the aim of the present study was to determine whether anticipation was a feature in SOD1 FALS. From a cohort of 112 individuals, the clinical and genetic history of 34 SOD1 patients was assessed. Clinical history was collected with the age of death and disease duration determined in successive generations (generation 1, grandparent; generation 2, parents; generation 3, children), from five large SOD1 families. Results showed that the age of death was significantly less in generation 3 (40.1 ± 2.8 years) compared to generation 2 (46.2 ± 2.0 years, p < 0.05) and generation 1 (56.7 ± 4.5 years, p < 0.01). Furthermore, disease duration was longer in generation 1 (18.4 ± 3.7 months) compared to the disease duration in generation 2 (12.6 ± 2.6 months) and generation 3 (12.3 ± 1.9 months, p = 0.08). Positive intergenerational differences were evident in 92% of parent-offspring transmissions in the present SOD1 FALS cohort (c2 = 70.6, p < 0.001). In conclusion, the present study supports anticipation as a phenomenon in FALS, possibly due to co-inheritance of modifier genes.
Timing of Dietary Estrogenic Exposures and Breast Cancer Risk

Abstract: The same dietary component, such as fat or phytochemicals in plant foods, can have an opposite effect on breast cancer risk if exposed in utero through a pregnant mother or at puberty. Dietary exposures during pregnancy often have similar effects on breast cancer risk among mothers and their female offspring. High fat intake and obesity are illustrative examples: excessive pregnancy weight gain that increases high birth weight is associated with increased breast cancer risk among mothers and daughters. High body weight during childhood is inversely linked to later breast cancer risk. The main reason why the age when dietary exposures occur determines their effect on breast cancer risk likely reflects the extensive programming of the mammary gland during fetal life and subsequent reprogramming at puberty and pregnancy. Programming is a series of epigenetic/transcriptional modifications in gene expression that can be influenced by changes in the hormonal environment induced, for example, by diet. Because epigenetic modifications are inherited by daughter cells, they can persist throughout life if they occur in mammary stem cells or uncommitted mammary myoepithelial or luminal progenitor cells. Our results indicate that the estrogen receptor (ER), mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK), and the tumor suppressors BRCA1, p53, and caveolin‐1 are among the genes affected by diet‐induced alterations in programming/reprogramming . Consequently, mammary gland morphology may be altered in a manner that increases or reduces susceptibility to malignant transformation, including an increase/reduction in cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival, or in the number of terminal end buds (TEBs) or pregnancy‐induced mammary epithelial cells (PI‐MECs) that are the sites where breast cancer is initiated. Thus, dietary exposures during pregnancy and puberty may play an important role in determining later risk by inducing epigenetic changes that modify vulnerability to breast cancer.
Transient analysis of an offshore wind farm connected to Taiwan power system using PSS/E

This paper presents the transient simulation results of an offshore wind farm connected to Taiwan Power System using a commercial power-system simulation software of PSS/E. A three-phase short-circuit fault is suddenly applied to one of the six feeders of the studied system. The simulated transient voltage variations, power fluctuations, and frequency deviations can be employed as an operation reference for a practical power system connected with different large-scale wind farms. The simulation transient results can also serve as a reference for the development of future offshore wind farms in Taiwan.
Localization of TGF-Bs and perlecan in mouse skull development.

Post-natal growth of the skull vault occurs by the addition of new bone at the margins of individual calvarial bones. Continued growth depends on the maintenance of a proliferating osteogenic precursor cell population in the sutural membrane between the bones. Mutations in fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) have recently been detected as the cause of a number of human abnormalities characterized by premature sutural closure, i.e., craniosynostosis. These are activating mutations causing early differentiation of osteogenic precursor cells. Transforming growth factor-betas (TGF-Bs) are another family of developmentally important growth factors. In particular, they play important roles in bone differentiation and are known to be expressed in cranial sutures, and to be upregulated at the time of sutural fusion. It is therefore clear that the FGF and TGF-B signalling pathways interact co-operatively in calvarial bone growth and sutural fusion. The purpose of this study is to investigate this interaction. The long term aim of this work is to gain information that can be used to slow down the process of craniosynostosis after detection of this problem at birth.
ILC Learning filter synthesis based on frequency response coefficients, application to a piezo shaker

Many control systems in the practical environment perform repetitive tasks. For this class of tasks, ILC has proven to be a successful approach to acquire a feedforward signal that results in high performance, i.e., a small tracking error. In this work, the continuously repeating behavior of signals is exploited to acquire a time-domain input-output mapping of the process-sensitivity based on frequency response coefficients, i.e. omitting the parametrization step of the plant. Using this mapping, the optimal iterative update law with respect to a general quadratic criterion is obtained. The link with the frequency domain is exploited to impose both time-domain as well as frequency domain weighting on: the error, the feed-forward signal and the change of the feed-forward signal. The proposed approach is practically evaluated on a piezo shaker application.
THE EFFECTS OF PARTICIPATION IN DECISION MAKING ON ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITMENT: SOME EMPIRICAL EVIDENCES

This study examines the relationship between attitudes of non-management professional staff members in Saudi Public Works Department (PWD) toward participation in decision-making (PDM) and their organizational commitment (OC). It also intends to analyze the extent to which organizational variables and individual/personality variables moderate the participation organizational commitment. From a total of 384 questionnaires which were distributed to non-management professional staff, 328 (85.4%) were returned and usable for the analysis. The results of this study show that the male non-management professional staff in the Saudi PWD perceived that they are not satisfied with the level of participation in decision making in their organization. However, those respondents who perceived they enjoy a higher level of participation tended to feel more committed to the organization. The analyses of moderator variables revealed that increased participation in decision-making would increase commitment to the organization among the non-management professional staff who perceive their superiors as having favorable attitudes toward PDM. For the respondents who perceive they have a high competency level, an increase in participation in all the three decision areas (social, personnel, economic/strategic) heightens their commitment to extra effort and to develop professionally but decreases their desire to remain in the organization. Non-management professional staff who perceive they have high opportunities for career advancement tend to demonstrate high commitment to remain in the organization, to exert extra effort, and to develop professionally. For those who were highly satisfied with communication process in organization, increased participation in decision making on social and economic/strategic related issues raised their commitment to conform with the rules, remain in the organization, exert extra effort, and develop professionally. Some recommendations were proposed at the end of the paper.
Determinants of the Match between Student Ability and College Quality

We examine how students of varying abilities sort (and are sorted) into colleges of varying qualities. Our data indicate substantial amounts of both academic undermatch (high-ability students at low-quality colleges) and academic overmatch (low-ability students at high-quality colleges). Student application and enrollment decisions, rather than college admission decisions, drive most deviations from academic assortative matching. Financial constraints, information, and the public college options facing students all affect this sorting, but mainly via college quality rather than the match between ability and quality. More informed students attend higher-quality colleges, even when doing so involves overmatching.
The impact of institutional culture, policy and process on student engagement in university decision-making

ABSTRACT There is a strong focus on the importance of student engagement in higher education, with increasing attention on how students can participate in their university’s decision-making processes. Yet, although the concept appears to be almost universally accepted, it is rarely problematised. This has led some commentators to conclude that student engagement lacks theoretical clarity. Consequently, an increasing number of authors have sought to address this. This paper adds to those efforts by proposing a model for student engagement that recognises the importance of institutional action in facilitating different types of participation. These are aligned with expectations for student activity, but the key message is that the university shapes its students’ engagement. This reinforces arguments that engagement needs to be cognisant of the power dynamics of higher education. In line with this, the paper borrows from debates around public participation to enhance understanding of student engagement in institutional governance.
Outcome expectations drive learned behaviour in larval Drosophila

Why does Pavlov's dog salivate? In response to the tone, or in expectation of food? While in vertebrates behaviour can be driven by expected outcomes, it is unknown whether this is true for non-vertebrates as well. We find that, in the Drosophila larva, odour memories are expressed behaviourally only if animals can expect a positive outcome from doing so. The expected outcome of tracking down an odour is determined by comparing the value of the current situation with the value of the memory for that odour. Memory is expressed behaviourally only if the expected outcome is positive. This uncovers a hitherto unrecognized evaluative processing step between an activated memory trace and behaviour control, and argues that learned behaviour reflects the pursuit of its expected outcome. Shown in a system with a simple brain, an apparently cognitive process like representing the expected outcome of behaviour seems to be a basic feature of behaviour control.