Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Carbon Monoxide Intoxication - Review

CO, binds to the iron atoms in hemoglobin, with an affinity 200-250 times that of oxygen, and impairs oxygen carrying capacity of the blood. Hence, CO toxicity is a situation characterized by impairment of oxygen transportation and consumption. It has been reported that 30% of such cases are not diagnosed since the signs and symptoms in CO intoxication. Definitive diagnosis of CO intoxication is established by measuring the COHb concentration in arterial or venous blood. Elimination half life of COHb and partial oxygen pressure produced by inspired oxygen concentration is closely related. High levels of inspired oxygen fractions both accelerate CO removal and improve oxygenation. Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment is first discussed in 1890’s and was initially used in 1960’s. Although, acceleration of removal of the CO from hemoglobin was aimed initially, other effects were recognized in time. When HBO treatment is not possible, high flow 100% oxygen is applied via tight-fitting face mask. for 6-12 hours. Although, the dominance of f HBO to normobaric oxygen theraphy has been supported by several studies, more randomized clinical trials are needed. In general, most of the CO intoxications are nonfatal. Cases with mild symptoms and those that do not show any neurological symptoms can be discharged from hospital after 4-6 hours of treatment. Despite the therapy, it is still impossible to predict long term results of CO intoxication.
[Antipsychotics, anticonvulsants, antiadrenergics and other drugs: what to do when posttraumatic stress disorder does not respond to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors?].

OBJECTIVES In this narrative review, we aimed to describe different pharmacological strategies for the treatment of patients with post-traumatic stress disorder who display different levels of intolerance, resistance, refractoriness, or who are unable to take to antidepressants, especially serotonin reuptake inhibitors. METHOD We searched the ISI web of science and the PubMed for original studies focusing in the treatment of PTSD in different clinical scenarios. RESULTS Preliminary evidence pointed towards the efficacy of drugs such as risperidone, olanzapine, lamotrigine and prazosin as strategies to be employed in the above mentioned clinical scenarios. The choice of a specific "second line" drug should take into account not only symptoms, but also pattern of comorbidities, previous response to other treatments, pharmacological interactions, side-effects, and patient's physical conditions. CONCLUSIONS Future randomized controlled trials should be performed in order to unveil which drugs should be prescribed in the absence of adequate treatment and response to serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
Trafficking and Human Smuggling: A European Perspective

The article reviews the empirical evidence for trafficking and human smuggling in Europe. It argues that a market for irregular migration services has emerged, in which the mechanisms and forms of organization are still relatively unknown. Irregular migrants using these services are exposed both to unscrupulous service providers and to the immigration and policing authorities, thereby generating a dependence on safeguards provided by the trafficking networks. Thus a symbiosis has developed between trafficker and trafficked. The enormous interest and concern for trafficking and human smuggling in governmental, inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations, in the media and popular opinion, is running ahead of theoretical understanding and factual evidence. This has implications for policy measures designed to combat trafficking and human smuggling, which may not work and also have unintended side effects. The article begins with a discussion of the main conceptual and definitional issues confronting researchers and politicians. This is followed by an assessment of the main theoretical approaches that have been developed and an evaluation of current statistical knowledge. Information on the organizational structure of trafficking organizations is then reviewed, followed by a summary of the characteristics of migrants involved, based on empirical studies that have been carried out. The article concludes by indicating some of the main research priorities.
Comparison of Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems patient satisfaction scores for specialty hospitals and general medical hospitals: confounding effect of survey response rate.

BACKGROUND Specialty hospitals are a subset of acute-care hospitals that provide a narrower set of services than general medical hospitals (GMHs), predominantly in areas such as cardiac disease and surgery. Although specialty hospitals also advertise high patient satisfaction, this has not been examined using national data. We examined the differences in Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) satisfaction scores in a national sample. METHODS HCAHPS results were obtained for July 2007 to June 2010. Specialty hospitals were identified using the American Hospital Association's Annual Survey, the Physician Hospital Association's directory, a name search of hospitals on the HCAHPS database, contact with experts, and online searches. Multiple linear regression was performed to examine the relationship between overall satisfaction and hospital specialty status, survey response rate, and subdomains of patient satisfaction. RESULTS We identified 188 specialty hospitals and 4368 GMHs. Specialty hospitals were disproportionately located in states that do not require Certification Of Need (47.9%), and had a higher overall patient satisfaction score (86.6 vs 67.8%, P < 0.0001) and survey response rates (49.6% vs 32.2%, P < 0.0001). After adjusting for response rate, the difference in overall patient satisfaction decreased by >50% (from 18.5 to 8.7) but remained significantly higher (P < 0.0001). Similar results were obtained for patient satisfaction subdomains. CONCLUSION Specialty hospitals have a significantly higher overall HCAHPS patient satisfaction score than GMHs, although more than half of this difference disappears when adjusted for survey response rate. Comparisons among healthcare organizations should take into account survey response rates.
Chromophore photophysics and dynamics in fluorescent proteins of the GFP family

Proteins of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) family are indispensable for fluorescence imaging experiments in the life sciences, particularly of living specimens. Their essential role as genetically encoded fluorescence markers has motivated many researchers over the last 20 years to further advance and optimize these proteins by using protein engineering. Amino acids can be exchanged by site-specific mutagenesis, starting with naturally occurring proteins as templates. Optical properties of the fluorescent chromophore are strongly tuned by the surrounding protein environment, and a targeted modification of chromophore-protein interactions requires a profound knowledge of the underlying photophysics and photochemistry, which has by now been well established from a large number of structural and spectroscopic experiments and molecular-mechanical and quantum-mechanical computations on many variants of fluorescent proteins. Nevertheless, such rational engineering often does not meet with success and thus is complemented by random mutagenesis and selection based on the optical properties. In this topical review, we present an overview of the key structural and spectroscopic properties of fluorescent proteins. We address protein-chromophore interactions that govern ground state optical properties as well as processes occurring in the electronically excited state. Special emphasis is placed on photoactivation of fluorescent proteins. These light-induced reactions result in large structural changes that drastically alter the fluorescence properties of the protein, which enables some of the most exciting applications, including single particle tracking, pulse chase imaging and super-resolution imaging. We also present a few examples of fluorescent protein application in live-cell imaging experiments.
daptive degree penalization for link prediction

Many systems of interest are best described using networks that represent binary relationships among their elements. Link prediction aims to infer the link formation process by predicting missed or future relationships based on currently observed connections. Different techniques and measures have been proposed in the literature to solve this problem. Similarity-based local methods achieve high precision with a low computational complexity. However, determining which particular technique should be
Phase Synchrony Measurement of ERP Based on Complex Wavelet During Visual-Audio Multisensory Integration

In this paper, we employ the measurement of phase synchrony to investigate the activities of multisensory integration during cognitive process. This approach is illustrated by exploiting a complex Morlet wavelet to quantify the frequency-specific synchronization (i.e., transient phase-locking value, PLV) between two neuroelectric signals at a predefined frequency range. The motivation for its development is to be able to investigate the role of neural synchronies as a putative mechanism for neural integration during cognitive tasks. Unlike the more traditional method of spectral coherence, PLV separates the phase and amplitude components and can be directly interpreted in the framework of neural integration. We apply PLV to investigate electrode recordings from subjects performing a visual and auditory discrimination task. We find different synchronies in brain regions between unisensory and multisensory stimuli conditions. We argue that phase synchrony effects do reflect cognitive processing. Obtaining results indicate a possible relevance of this method based on Morlet wavelet in the context of cognitive science as well as in other fields.
Understanding Cancer Clusters

Each year, state and local health departments respond to more than 1,000 inquiries about suspected cancer clusters. Three quarters of these reports involve situations that are clearly not clusters and can be resolved by telephone. For the remainder, follow‐up is needed, first to confirm the number of persons affected, their age, type of cancer, dates of diagnosis, and other factors, and then to compare cancer incidence in the affected population with background rates in state tumor registries. In approximately 5% to 15% of the reported situations, formal statistical testing confirms that the number of observed cases exceeds the number expected in a specific area, given the age, sex, and size of the affected population. Even in these instances, however, chance remains a plausible explanation for many clusters, and further epidemiologic investigation almost never identifies the underlying cause of disease with confidence. The few exceptions have involved clusters of extremely rare cancers occurring in well‐defined occupational or medical settings, generally involving intense and sustained exposure to an unusual chemical, occupation, infection, or drug. This article discusses the resources and scientific tools currently available to investigate cancer clusters. It also provides a framework for understanding cancer clusters and a realistic appraisal of what cluster investigations can and cannot provide in the context of community expectations.
Mitochondrial Dysfunction Plus High-Sugar Diet Provokes a Metabolic Crisis That Inhibits Growth

The Drosophila mutant tko25t exhibits a deficiency of mitochondrial protein synthesis, leading to a global insufficiency of respiration and oxidative phosphorylation. This entrains an organismal phenotype of developmental delay and sensitivity to seizures induced by mechanical stress. We found that the mutant phenotype is exacerbated in a dose-dependent fashion by high dietary sugar levels. tko25t larvae were found to exhibit severe metabolic abnormalities that were further accentuated by high-sugar diet. These include elevated pyruvate and lactate, decreased ATP and NADPH. Dietary pyruvate or lactate supplementation phenocopied the effects of high sugar. Based on tissue-specific rescue, the crucial tissue in which this metabolic crisis initiates is the gut. It is accompanied by down-regulation of the apparatus of cytosolic protein synthesis and secretion at both the RNA and post-translational levels, including a novel regulation of S6 kinase at the protein level.
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia. An illustrated review highlighting developments in the diagnosis and management of this potentially fatal condition

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia is an inherited, progressive condition. Characterised by fatty infiltration of the right ventricle, it frequently results in life threatening cardiac arrhythmias, and is one of the important causes of sudden cardiac death in the young. There are characteristic electrocardiographic and echocardiographic features that all physicians need to be aware of if we are to reduce these occurrences of premature death. Diagnosis with magnetic resonance imaging is discussed along with current treatment options.
Proteinases and proteinase-activated receptor 2: a possible role to promote visceral hyperalgesia in rats.

BACKGROUND & AIMS PAR-2s are highly expressed throughout the gastrointestinal tract. These receptors are cleaved by trypsin and mast cell tryptase and can be activated by peptides corresponding to the tethered ligand of the receptor (SLIGRL-NH2 for rat). The aim of this study was to determine whether colonic administration of PAR-2 agonists affects visceral sensitivity to rectal distention in conscious rats. METHODS Abdominal contractions (a criteria of visceral pain) were recorded in rats equipped with intramuscular electrodes. Rectal distention was performed at various times after intracolonic infusion of SLIGRL-NH2 and trypsin. Inflammation parameters and permeability were followed in the colon after the intracolonic injections. Fos expression at a spinal level (L4-L6) was also studied 2 hours after intracolonic injection of SLIGRL-NH2. RESULTS Rectal distention significantly increased abdominal contractions starting at the RD volume of 0.8 mL. Intracolonic injection of SLIGRL-NH2 (200 microg/rat) and trypsin (200 U/rat), but not vehicle, LRGILS-NH2 (control peptide), boiled trypsin, or SLIGRL-NH2 injected IP, significantly increased (P < 0.05) abdominal contractions for high volumes of distention, 10- and 24-hour postinfusion. SLIGRL-NH2-induced hyperalgesia was inhibited by a NK1 receptor antagonist (SR 140333) but not by indomethacin. Intracolonic injection of SLIGRL-NH2 elevated spinal Fos expression and caused increased intestinal permeability but did not cause detectable inflammation. CONCLUSIONS Intracolonic infusion of subinflammatory doses of PAR-2 agonists activated spinal afferent neurons and produced a delayed rectal hyperalgesia that involves changes in intestinal permeability and the activation of NK1 receptors. These results identify a possible role for proteinases and PAR-2 in the genesis of visceral hyperalgesia.
A new consulting mode to improve the level of China railway consulting industry—Sino-foreign joint consulting

In these years, China has made greater investment into railway projects, especial the high-speed rail projects, to adapt to the rapid economic development and to meet the demand of improving people's life. This creates a vast market and favorable opportunities for China's railway consulting industry. However, after joining the WTO, China has opened its construction market to the whole world, which brings both opportunities and challenges to China's railway consulting industry. This article describes the development of China's state railway consulting industry, analyzes its current status, achievements, opportunities and challenges, and on this basis, introduces a Sino-foreign joint projects consulting model. Considering the actual situation in China and the projects' status, we should give full play to the role of joint consultation, to optionally absorb and apply the advanced technologies and mature experience of management abroad and thus to practically and significantly promote the development of China's railway consulting industry.
A Gas Concentration Detection Algorithm Based on Biochemistry Molecular Relaxation Models

In this paper, we establish some multi-dimensional biochemistry molecular relaxation recognition pattern models for the concentrations of gas mixture constituents versus effective relaxation frequency, multi-relaxation absorption, and acoustic velocity, respectively. Based on these match models and measured parameters, we propose a biochemistry molecular relaxation pattern recognition algorithm to detect concentration of each component in gas mixture. As a sample of carbon monoxide, water vapor, nitrogen and oxygen gas mixture, the simulation results demonstrate that this algorithm can gain the concentration of gas with arbitrary concentration and polar.
Cross-coupling of the oscillation modes of vibratory gyroscopes

This paper reports for the first time on the results of the advanced gyroscope design of HSG-IMIT with the double decoupling mechanism. In connection with the measurement results, particularly to characterize the effectiveness of the decoupling, the cross-coupling of the driven oscillation and the detection oscillation is investigated, discussed and evaluated in detail by theoretical modeling. A description of the measurement signal and the so-called quadrature signal is deduced and a comparison with the gyroscopes of HSG-IMIT realized according to the single decoupling principle DAVED is accomplished.
High-frequency subharmonic imaging of liposome-loaded microbubbles

The therapeutic application of microbubbles is a highly active area of research, since they can be used for drug or gene delivery. The mouse model is a necessary step in the validation of any new therapeutic agent and high-frequency ultrasound imaging is a common tool used to study this. Attachment of drug-filled liposomes to the shell of a phospholipid microbubble is a common approach for the delivery of a therapeutic payload with ultrasound contrast agents. This study demonstrated that the attachment these drug-filled liposomes had a negligible effect on their response under high frequency ultrasound imaging at 40 MHz and resulted in subharmonic emissions at lower transmit power and greater magnitude in vitro and in vivo.
Conversion of control dependence to data dependence

Program analysis methods, especially those which support automatic vectorization, are based on the concept of interstatement dependence where a dependence holds between two statements when one of the statements computes values needed by the other. Powerful program transformation systems that convert sequential programs to a form more suitable for vector or parallel machines have been developed using this concept [AllK 82, KKLW 80]. The dependence analysis in these systems is based on data dependence. In the presence of complex control flow, data dependence is not sufficient to transform programs because of the introduction of control dependences. A control dependence exists between two statements when the execution of one statement can prevent the execution of the other. Control dependences do not fit conveniently into dependence-based program translators.One solution is to convert all control dependences to data dependences by eliminating goto statements and introducing logical variables to control the execution of statements in the program. In this scheme, action statements are converted to IF statements. The variables in the conditional expression of an IF statement can be viewed as inputs to the statement being controlled. The result is that control dependences between statements become explicit data dependences expressed through the definitions and uses of the controlling logical variables.This paper presents a method for systematically converting control dependences to data dependences in this fashion. The algorithms presented here have been implemented in PFC, an experimental vectorizer written at Rice University.
Cost effectiveness of the Oregon quitline “free patch initiative”

Objective: We estimated the cost effectiveness of the Oregon tobacco quitline’s “free patch initiative” compared to the pre-initiative programme. Methods: Using quitline utilisation and cost data from the state, intervention providers and patients, we estimated annual programme use and costs for media promotions and intervention services. We also estimated annual quitline registration calls and the number of quitters and life years saved for the pre-initiative and free patch initiative programmes. Service utilisation and 30-day abstinence at six months were obtained from 959 quitline callers. We compared the cost effectiveness of the free patch initiative (media and intervention costs) to the pre-initiative service offered to insured and uninsured callers. We conducted sensitivity analyses on key programme costs and outcomes by estimating a best case and worst case scenario for each intervention strategy. Results: Compared to the pre-intervention programme, the free patch initiative doubled registered calls, increased quitting fourfold and reduced total costs per quit by $2688. We estimated annual paid media costs were $215 per registered tobacco user for the pre-initiative programme and less than $4 per caller during the free patch initiative. Compared to the pre-initiative programme, incremental quitline promotion and intervention costs for the free patch initiative were $86 (range $22–$353) per life year saved. Conclusions: Compared to the pre-initiative programme, the free patch initiative was a highly cost effective strategy for increasing quitting in the population.
Modal analysis of power systems with eigendecomposition of multivariate autoregressive models

Analysis of electromechanical modes provides substantial information regarding the power system stability. This paper introduces a novel approach to the measurement based modal analysis of power systems by using a multivariate autoregressive model (MAR). The MAR model utilizes data that are simultaneously measured from several locations in the power system through a wide area monitoring system (WAMS). The performance of the MAR model is analyzed by applying it to data generated with a 39-bus New England test system. In addition, the model is utilized for analyzing data generated with a detailed simulation model of the Nordic power system. The results indicate that the frequencies and damping ratios of electromechanical oscillatory modes can be accurately analyzed with the eigendecomposition of the MAR model. Thus, the MAR model is a promising identification technique for wide-area monitoring of electromechanical oscillations.
A systematic design methodology of PD fuzzy logic controller using cellular fuzzy logic concept

The present paper proposes a new approach for designing PD type fuzzy controllers, which employs the idea of fuzzy input space partitioning using the cellular fuzzy logic (CFL) framework, deploying the dynamical behaviour of the system to be controlled. The objective is to design PD type fuzzy controllers, determining both its structures and free parameters, such that the designed controller can provide satisfactory transient performance. A novel algorithm is presented to design the generalised proportional derivative fuzzy logic controller (PD-FLC). The proposed design methodology is detailed for the synthesis of both the Mamdani type and Takagi-Sugeno (T-S) type fuzzy controller equivalent to a PD control action. The validity of the design procedure is demonstrated by simulation case studies.