Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Medical costs of treating venous stasis ulcers: evidence from a retrospective cohort study

Venous stasis ulcers (VSU) account for approximately 80-90% of lower extremity ulcerations. Given their prevalence and chronic nature, VSU are thought to impose a significant economic burden on Medicare (the USA's largest health insurance program) and other third party payers. However, comprehensive studies on the costs of VSU treatment are lacking. The objective of this study therefore was to examine comprehensively the direct medical costs of treating patients with a VSU in routine clinical practice. A cohort of 78 patients who presented with a VSU to the Cleveland Clinic Foundation (CCF), a large primary and tertiary referral center, was studied retrospectively. All inpatient and out-patient costs related to VSU treatment that were incurred during the year following VSU presentation or until the ulcer healed, whichever occurred first, were quantified. A total of 71 (91%) patients healed during the study. The average duration of follow-up was 119 days (median: 84 days). The average number of visits per patient was seven (range: 2 to 57). A total of 14 (18%) patients underwent 18 hospitalizations for VSU care. The average total medical cost per patient was $9685 (median: $3036). Home health care, hospitalizations and home dressing changes accounted for 48%, 25% and 21% of total costs, respectively. Total costs were related to duration of active therapy, ulcer size and the presence of at least one comorbidity (p,0.05). VSU are costly to manage, especially when time to healing is prolonged. The present findings reflect an underestimate of VSU costs since indirect costs were not examined. Time absent from work, forced early retirement, loss of functional independence and unquantifiable suffering may be additional factors that contribute to the overall burden of VSU.
Effects of Experimental Human Endotoxemia on Diaphragm Function

Introduction: Systemic inflammation is a well-known risk factor for respiratory muscle weakness. Studies using animal models of inflammation have shown that endotoxin administration induces diaphragm dysfunction. However, the effects of in vivo endotoxin administration on diaphragm function in humans have not been studied. Our aim was to evaluate diaphragm function in a model of systemic inflammation in healthy subjects. Methods: Two groups of 12 male volunteers received an intravenous bolus of 2 ng/kg of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and were monitored until 8 h after LPS administration. In the first group, the twitch transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pditw) and compound muscle action potential of the diaphragm (CMAPdi) were measured. In addition, plasma levels of cytokines, heart rate, and arterial blood pressure were measured. In the second group, catecholamines as well as respiratory rate and blood gas values were measured. Diaphragm ultrasonography was performed in four subjects with severe shivering. Results: Lipopolysaccharide administration resulted in flulike symptoms, hemodynamic alterations, and increased plasma levels of cytokines. The Pditw increased after LPS administration from 31.2 ± 2.0 cmH2O (baseline) to 38.8 ± 2.0 cmH2O (t = 1 h) and 35.4 ± 2.0 cmH2O (t = 1.5 h). There was no correlation between cytokine plasma levels and the Pditw. We found a trend toward a gradual decrease in the CMAPdi from 0.78 ± 0.07 mV (baseline) to 0.58 ± 0.05 mV (t = 2 h). Respiratory rate increased after LPS administration from 16.8 ± 0.5 breaths/min (baseline) to 20.3 ± 0.6 breaths/min (t = 4 h), with a resulting decrease in PaCO2 of 0.5 ± 0.1 kPa. Plasma levels of epinephrine peaked at t = 1.5 h, with an increase of 1.3 ± 0.3 nmol/L from baseline. Rapid diaphragm contractions consistent with shivering were observed. Conclusions: This study shows that, in contrast to diaphragm dysfunction observed in animal models of inflammation, in vivo diaphragm contractility is augmented in the early phase after low-dose endotoxin administration in humans.
An analytical model for trace cache instruction fetch performance

This paper presents an analytical model of instruction fetch performance of a trace cache. This paper also presents an analytical model of miss rate of a trace cache. These models can be used to analyze performance and behavior of a microarchitecture of a processor. These models are implemented in a new microarchitecture tool Tulip. Performances of several benchmark programs based on Tulip are also presented in this paper.
Sagittal measurements of the cervical spine in subaxial fractures and dislocations. An analysis of two hundred and eighty-eight patients with and without neurological deficits.

We analyzed three factors involved in fractures and dislocations of the cervical spine and their relation to the degree of injury of the spinal cord. The three factors were the space available for the spinal cord at the level of the injury, the sagittal diameter of the spinal canal at the uninjured levels, and the Pavlov ratio at the uninjured levels. Of the 288 patients analyzed, eighty-three had a complete injury of the spinal cord, ninety-two had an incomplete injury of the spinal cord, thirty had an isolated nerve-root injury, and eighty-three had no neurological deficit. The mean space available for the spinal cord at the level of the injury was 10.5 millimeters for the patients who had a complete injury of the spinal cord, 13.1 millimeters for those who had an incomplete injury of the spinal cord, 15.9 millimeters for those who had an isolated nerve-root injury, and 16.7 millimeters for those who had no neurological deficit. The difference between the groups was significant (p < 0.001) except for the difference between the patients who had an isolated nerve-root injury and those who had no neurological deficit. The mean sagittal diameter of the canal at the uninjured levels was 16.1 millimeters for the patients who had a complete injury of the spinal cord, 16.1 millimeters for those who had an incomplete injury of the spinal cord, 17.9 millimeters for those who had an isolated nerve-root injury, and 18.1 millimeters for those who had no neurological deficit. The difference between the patients who had a complete injury of the spinal cord and those who had an incomplete injury of the spinal cord and that between the patients who had an isolated nerve-root injury and those who had no neurological deficit were not significant (p > 0.05). However, the patients who had a complete injury of the spinal cord and those who had an incomplete injury of the spinal cord were significantly different from the patients who had an isolated nerve-root injury and those who had no neurological deficit (p < 0.001). The mean Pavlov ratio at the uninjured levels was 0.82 for the patients who had a complete injury of the spinal cord, 0.84 for those who had an incomplete injury of the spinal cord, 0.96 for those who had an isolated nerve-root injury, and 0.96 for those who had no neurological deficit. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Will Fuel Cells Replace Batteries in Mobile Devices?

No matter how much wireless vendors improve their processors, memory systems, and networks, it does no good if a mobile device's battery dies or has such a short life that users are virtually tethered to an electrical outlet. With this in mind, researchers are seeking to improve portable-power technology, and many are exploring a single alternative: fuel cells.
Borreliacidal OspC Antibody Response of Canines with Lyme Disease Differs Significantly from That of Humans with Lyme Disease

ABSTRACT Humans reliably produce high concentrations of borreliacidal OspC antibodies specific for the seven C-terminal amino acids shortly after infection with Borrelia burgdorferi. We show that dogs also produce OspC borreliacidal antibodies but that their frequencies, intensities, and antigenicities differ significantly. The findings therefore confirm a major difference between the borreliacidal antibody responses of humans and canines with Lyme disease.
Endothelin-1 potently induces Leão's cortical spreading depression in vivo in the rat: a model for an endothelial trigger of migrainous aura?

According to the 'neuronal' theory, cortical spreading depression (CSD) is the pathophysiological correlate of migrainous aura. However, the 'vascular' theory has implicated altered vascular function in the induction of aura symptoms. The possibility of a vascular origin of aura symptoms is supported, e.g. by the clinical observation that cerebral angiography frequently provokes migrainous aura. This suggests that endothelial irritation may somehow initiate one of the pathways resulting in migrainous aura. Up to now, an endothelium-derived factor has never been shown to trigger CSD. Here, for the first time, we demonstrate and characterize the ability of the vasoconstrictor and astroglial/neuronal modulator endothelin-1 to trigger Leão's 'spreading depression of activity' in vivo in rats. At a concentration range between 10 nM and 1 microM, endothelin-1 induced changes characteristic of CSD with regard to the rate of propagation, steady (direct current) potential and extracellular K(+)-concentration. A spreading hyperaemia followed by oligaemia was observed similar to those in K(+)-induced CSD. Endothelin-1 did not provoke changes characteristic of a terminal depolarization. The mechanism by which endothelin-1 generated CSD involved the N-methyl-D-asparate receptor. Cerebral blood flow decreased slightly, but significantly, before endothelin-1 generated CSD. A vasodilator (NO*-donor) shifted the threshold for CSD induction to higher concentrations of endothelin-1. Endothelin-1, in contrast to K(+), did not induce CSD in rat brain slices suggesting indirectly that endothelin-1 may require intact perfusion to exert its effects. In conclusion, endothelin-1 was found in the experiment to be the most potent inducer of CSD currently known. We propose endothelin-1 as a possible candidate for the yet enigmatic link between endothelial irritation and migrainous aura.
On-chip mid-infrared gas detection using chalcogenide glass waveguide

We demonstrate an on-chip sensor for room-temperature detection of methane gas using a broadband spiral chalcogenide glass waveguide coupled with off-chip laser and detector. The waveguide is fabricated using UV lithography patterning and lift-off after thermal evaporation. We measure the intensity change due to the presence and concentration of methane gas in the mid-infrared (MIR) range. This work provides an approach for broadband planar MIR gas sensing.
Contribution à l'analyse de stabilité des convertisseurs à découpage monolithiques : application à la téléphonie mobile

Le marche de la telephonie mobile est toujours tres actif en depit des baisses prevues par les analystes. La guerre technologique fait rage chez les constructeurs qui n'arretent pas d'enrichir leur plate-forme mobile en fonctionnalites. L'alimentation electrique repose sur des batteries. Celles-ci ne sont pas capables de fournir une tension constante pendant toute la periode de fonctionnement de l'appareil. Elles ne peuvent pas non plus garantir une tension constante quelque soit la charge placee a leurs bornes. Or, pour fonctionner correctement, l'electronique embarquee de precision a besoin d'une source de tension stable. L'autonomie est maintenant un facteur clef pour assurer le succes d'un telephone aupres des consommateurs. C'est dans ce contexte dynamique que les convertisseurs a decoupage ont fait leur apparition dans le monde de la telephonie mobile. Ils doivent etre stables, precis et posseder un rendement eleve. Mais c'est precisement le premier point (la stabilite) qui est tres complexe a maitriser. Cette these propose une contribution a l'etude de stabilite du regulateur a decoupage de type abaisseur de tension. Les approches classiques basees sur les methodes lineaires sont explorees mais tres vite abandonnees. La methode dite du premier harmonique est elle aussi rapidement abordee. L'expose s'oriente ensuite sur les approches de type non-lineaires et les modeles hybrides. Ces dernieres methodes vont permettre de definir un critere de stabilite general, valide aussi pour les autres types de regulateurs (elevateur et abaisseur-elevateur). Le critere trouve est ensuite eprouve de differentes manieres : simulations mathematiques de modeles dits hybrides ; simulations basees sur des modeles VHDL-AMS ; simulations electriques basees sur des modeles niveau transistors ; realisation d'un prototype base sur des composants discrets. Le critere est a chaque fois verifie. Un outil exploitant ces resultats a ete cree et sera bientot insere dans le flot de conception a STMicroelectronics. Les convertisseurs a decoupage realises durant cette etude ont ete analyses a posteriori et une tres bonne concordance a ete constatee entre les predictions de l'outil et la realite du fonctionnement.
Rat Sciatic Nerve Regeneration within an Acrylic Semipermeable Tube and Comparison with a Silicone Impermeable Material

Sectioned rat sciatic nerves were placed in tubes to study the regrowth of injured nerve processes. First, we characterized quantitatively the regeneration of myelinated fibers at different levels of an acrylic semipermeable tube, from two to 27 weeks postoperatively. From the fifth week, myelinated fiber counts at mid-tube level were equal to the value of an intact nerve, but at the distal part the number of fibers exceeded both mid-tube level and unsectioned nerve values. At the proximal part of the tube an important fiber disorganization was observed. Second, we have compared acrylic semipermeable and totally impermeable silicone tubes at four and 27 weeks postoperatively. In terms of the number of myelinated fibers and the surface of the endoneurium at the mid-tube level, the most effective tube was the impermeable one. This study points out the importance of the tube wall permeability in nerve regeneration.
Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) predation on adult thick-billed murres (Uria lomvia) at Coats Island, Nunavut, Canada

Although the diet of walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) is considered varied, records of walrus consuming marine birds are rare in the published literature. In 2001 and 2002 we observed walrus foraging on adult thick-billed murres (Uria lomvia) at Coats Island in Nunavut, Canada. Approximately 46% of the attacks on murres were successful, and as many as 67 murres may have been killed in one day in August 2002. All soft parts of the murres were sucked out, with carcasses of only bones, feathers and skin left floating on the water. The extent to which predation on seabirds by walrus occurs across the eastern Arctic is unknown, but it could represent an important source of mortality for murres at some breeding colonies.
Induction of Autoimmune Diabetes by Oral Administration of Autoantigen

An antigen administered orally can induce immunological tolerance to a subsequent challenge with the same antigen. Evidence has been provided for the efficacy of this approach in the treatment of human autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. However, oral administration of autoantigen in mice was found to induce a cytotoxic T lymphocyte response that could lead to the onset of autoimmune diabetes. Thus, feeding autoantigen can cause autoimmunity, which suggests that caution should be used when applying this approach to the treatment of human autoimmune diseases.
Tamoxifen and carboplatin for children with low-grade gliomas: a pilot study at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

PURPOSE The authors conducted a single-arm, prospective study using tamoxifen and carboplatin for the treatment of children with progressive or symptomatic low-grade gliomas. PATIENTS AND METHODS Fourteen children with consecutively diagnosed cases of low-grade glioma were enrolled in this Study; all patients were younger than 14 years. One patient was excluded after induction chemotherapy because of the diagnosis of a nonmalignant condition. Patients were treated with daily tamoxifen (20 mg/m2 administered twice per day) in addition to targeted, monthly intravenous carboplatin at an area under the curve (AUC) exposure of 6.5 mg/mL x minute for 1 year or until they had clinical or radiologic evidence of disease progression. RESULTS The median age at diagnosis was 5.3 years, the median age at initiation of chemotherapy was 8.3 years. Eight patients had tumors of the hypothalamus/optic pathway, two patients had thalamic tumors, and one patient each had tumors in the temporal lobe, tectum, and brain stem. Tumor histologic findings included fibrillary astrocytoma (n = 2), juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma (n = 6), and oligodendroglioma (n = 1). The best response to therapy was a partial response in two patients, stable disease in nine patients, and progressive disease in two patients. The overall survival at 3 years is 69%. The 3-year progression-free survival is 47%. Tamoxifen and carboplatin chemotherapy did not result in a significant number of objective responses in children with low-grade gliomas. The progression-free survival is similar to that of other published series. Nonmyelosuppressive agents such as tamoxifen deserve additional evaluation in the treatment of children with low-grade gliomas.
Multi-Scale Human Pose Tracking in 2D Monocular Images

In this paper we address the problem of tracking human poses in multiple perspective scales in 2D monocular images/videos. In most state-of-the-art 2D tracking approaches, the issue of scale variation is rarely discussed. However in reality, videos often contain human motion with dynamically changed scales. In this paper we propose a tracking framework that can deal with this problem. A scale checking and adjusting algorithm is proposed to automatically adjust the perspective scales during the tracking process. Two metrics are proposed for detecting and adjusting the scale change. One metric is from the height value of the tracked target, which is suitable for some sequences where the tracked target is upright and with no limbs stretching. The other metric employed in this algorithm is more generic, which is invariant to motion types. It is the ratio between the pixel counts of the target silhouette and the detected bounding boxes of the target body. The proposed algorithm is tested on the publicly available datasets (HumanEva). The experimental results show that our method demonstrated higher accuracy and efficiency compared to state-of-the-art approaches.
Processing, Valorization and Application of Bio-Waste Derived Compounds from Potato, Tomato, Olive and Cereals: A Review

The vast and ever-growing amount of agricultural and food wastes has become a major concern throughout the whole world. Therefore, strategies for their processing and value-added reuse are needed to enable a sustainable utilization of feedstocks and reduce the environmental burden. By-products of potato, tomato, cereals and olive arise in significant amounts in European countries and are consequently of high relevance. Due to their composition with various beneficial ingredients, the waste products can be valorized by different techniques leading to economic and environmental advantages. This paper focuses on the waste generation during industrial processing of potato, tomato, cereals and olives within the European Union and reviews state-of-the-art technologies for their valorization. Furthermore, current applications, future perspectives and challenges are discussed.
Prehospital hypertonic saline resuscitation of patients with hypotension and severe traumatic brain injury: a randomized controlled trial.

CONTEXT Prehospital hypertonic saline (HTS) resuscitation of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) may increase survival but whether HTS improves neurological outcomes is unknown. OBJECTIVE To determine whether prehospital resuscitation with intravenous HTS improves long-term neurological outcome in patients with severe TBI compared with resuscitation with conventional fluids. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS Double-blind, randomized controlled trial of 229 patients with TBI who were comatose (Glasgow Coma Scale score, <9) and hypotensive (systolic blood pressure, <100 mm Hg). The patients were enrolled between December 14, 1998, and April 9, 2002, in Melbourne, Australia. INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomly assigned to receive a rapid intravenous infusion of either 250 mL of 7.5% saline (n = 114) or 250 mL of Ringer's lactate solution (n = 115; controls) in addition to conventional intravenous fluid and resuscitation protocols administered by paramedics. Treatment allocation was concealed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Neurological function at 6 months, measured by the extended Glasgow Outcome Score (GOSE). RESULTS Primary outcomes were obtained in 226 (99%) of 229 patients enrolled. Baseline characteristics of the groups were equivalent. At hospital admission, the mean serum sodium level was 149 mEq/L for HTS patients vs 141 mEq/L for controls (P<.001). The proportion of patients surviving to hospital discharge was similar in both groups (n = 63 [55%] for HTS group and n = 57 [50%] for controls; P =.32); at 6 months, survival rates were n = 62 (55%) in the HTS group and n = 53 (47%) in the control group (P =.23). At 6 months, the median (interquartile range) GOSE was 5 (3-6) in the HTS group vs 5 (5-6) in the control group (P =.45). There was no significant difference between the groups in favorable outcomes (moderate disability and good outcome survivors [GOSE of 5-8]) (risk ratio, 0.99; 95% confidence interval, 0.76-1.30; P =.96) or in any other measure of postinjury neurological function. CONCLUSION In this study, patients with hypotension and severe TBI who received prehospital resuscitation with HTS had almost identical neurological function 6 months after injury as patients who received conventional fluid.