Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of saline flush on the onset time of sugammadex: A randomized clinical study

Aim: Several methods have been tried out to shorten the onset time of sugammadex. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of 20 mL saline flush administered immediately after sugammadex on its onset time by using train-of-four (TOF) monitoring. Methods: This study was initiated after obtaining the approval of the institutional Medical Research Ethics Committee. A total of 60 ASA I-II patients aged between 18-65 years scheduled for elective abdominal surgery in our hospital between August 2017 and January 2018, which would last 1-3 hours under general anesthesia, were enrolled in this study. Patients were randomly divided into two groups as Group S (saline flush group, n=30) and Group C (control group, n=30). Saline flush group received 2 mg/kg sugammadex and 20 ml isotonic saline flush immediately after sugammadex administration, while the control group received 2 mg/kg sugammadex only. TOF monitoring was used to assess neuromuscular block. Electrocardiography, oxygen saturation, noninvasive arterial pressure as well as acceleromyography values measured by TOF monitoring device were recorded and compared between the groups. All patients were continuously monitored intraoperatively and 30 minutes postoperatively. Results: Both groups were similar in terms of basic clinical characteristics and demographics. There was a statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of the time of TOF to reach 0.9 from 0.2. The mean time of TOF to reach 0.9 from 0.2 was lower in Saline flush group than in control group (85.4 vs 130.5 seconds; P=0.001). Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that 20 mL saline flush administered immediately after sugammadex shortened the onset time of sugammadex.
An ultrasonic-assisted synthesis of rice-straw-based porous carbon with high performance symmetric supercapacitors

Biomass porous carbon materials are ideal supercapacitor electrode materials due to their low price, rich source of raw materials and environmental friendliness. In this study, an ultrasonic-assisted method was applied to synthesize the rice-straw-based porous carbon (UPC). The obtained UPC exhibited a two-dimensional structure and high specific surface area. In addition, the electrochemical test results showed that the UPC with a 1 hour ultrasonic treatment and lower activation temperature of 600 °C (UPC-600) demonstrated optimal performance: high specific capacitances of 420 F g−1 at 1.0 A g−1 and 314 F g−1 at a high current of 10 A g−1. Significantly, the symmetric supercapacitors showed a high energy density of 11.1 W h kg−1 and power density of 500 W kg−1. After 10 000 cycles, 99.8% of the specific capacitance was retained at 20 A g−1. These results indicate that UPC-600 is a promising candidate for supercapacitor electrode materials.
The 21st century psychiatrists need to reestablish their identity as healers of the human psyche and not just pill pushers

In his book “Unhinged: The Trouble with Psychiatry—A Doctor’s Revelations about a Profession”, Daniel Carlit, describes his motivation to pursue a career in psychiatry to be related to the tragic death of his mother who committed suicide as a result of her depression. So he went on and graduated from medical school and completed his psychiatry residency at Massachusetts General Hospital, which is the main affiliate of Harvard Medical School. After completing his residency, he, like most psychiatrists of his generation, specialized in psychopharmacology, where he spent 15 to 20 minute medication visits prescribing psychotropic medications to his patients. Over the past few decades, beginning in 1992, following the introduction of the second generation antidepressant fluoxetine (Prozac®) psychiatrists in the US have devoted most of their time to prescribing medications while referring their patients to other mental health professionals for psychotherapy and counseling. As a result the general public and the mass media began and continue to portray psychiatrists exclusively as pill pushers, who have abandoned the need to understand and connect with their patients ‘ most inner being ,and their psyche. The purpose of this commentary is twofold: First is to review some of the factors that influenced psychiatrists to limit their profession to prescribing psychotropic medications. Second, to reemphasize the identity of psychiatrists as physicians who collaborate and combine the benefits of psychotherapy, social and spiritual interventions with medications to practice their time honored mission of restoring and healing the human psyche from the suffering and pain that are inflicted by mental illness. Correspondence to: Hani Raoul Khouzam, MD; MPH; FAPA, Department of Psychiatry, One Medical Center Drive Lebanon, NH 03756-0001, USA; Tel: 603 650 6188; 559 930 6406; E-mail: Hani.R. Khouzam@hitchcock.org
Wireless data transfer through biological tissues using near-infrared light: testing skull and skin phantoms

Light in the range of 700-1100 nm has many proven diagnostics and therapeutic medical applications. In this study, we demonstrate another potential application of light. We implemented a testbed to transmit data wirelessly through a human skull and biological phantoms mimicking skin tissues properties using near-infrared (NIR) light. Currently, radio frequency (RF) is widely used to transmit data wirelessly through biological tissues, example includes implants communications. However, RF communications contain interference and security challenges. In this study, we present a novel use of NIR light for wireless data transfer, for which a phantom is exposed to an externally modulated light source and the transmitted light through phantom is captured with a receiver. Initially, a high-resolution picture is successfully transmitted through skin phantom of 2 cm in depth. In the second phase, we successfully communicated through a human skull. Due to hardware limitations, we are able to achieve data rates in tens of kilobits per second. The minimum power applied to the phantoms measured during the data transmission from 810 nm light-emitting-diode (LED) is 0.098 W/cm2. The measured optical power values are within the safe limit set by ANSI.Z136. 1-2007 standard on laser safety, which is 2 W/cm2 for 1 sec exposure of 830 nm wavelength. Initial results are encouraging and there are many possible applications for a system using light to transmit data wirelessly through biological tissues, including communication with brain implants and performing brain therapies.
Analytical Solution of the Characteristic Function in the Trolle-Schwartz Model

In 2009, Trolle and Schwartz (2008) produced an instantaneous forward interest rate model with several stylised facts such as stochastic volatility. They derived pricing formulae in order to price bonds and bond options, which can be altered to price interest rate options such as caplets, caps and swaptions. These formulae involve implementing numerical methods for solving an ordinary differential equation (ODE). Schumann (2016) confirmed the accuracy of the pricing formulae in the Trolle and Schwartz (2008) model using Monte-Carlo simulation. Both authors used a numerical ODE solver to estimate the ODE. In this dissertation, a closed-form solution for this ODE is presented. Two solutions were found. However, these solutions rely on a simplification of the instantaneous volatility function originally proposed in the Trolle and Schwartz (2008) model. This case happens to be the stochastic volatility version of the Hull and White (1990) model. The two solutions are compared to an ODE solver for one stochastic volatility term and then extended to three stochastic volatility terms.
Provider Attitudes and Support of Patients’ Autonomy for Phosphate Binder Medication Adherence in ESRD

This cross-sectional study of 56 dialysis providers from 3 dialysis clinics examined providers’ attitudes and perception of autonomy support for patients’ medication adherence behaviors. Respondents completed surveys assessing attitudes and perception of autonomy support. Compared to all other provider types, physicians and nurse practitioners (MD/NP) thought it was “less true” that phosphate binder medications are very important for dialysis patients (MD/NP vs others: 5.1 [1.4] vs 6.1 [1.1]; P = 0.02). More dialysis technicians (19%) offered the highest level of support. Attitudes and perception of autonomy support for medication adherence are suboptimal, vary by dialysis provider type, and are targets for quality improvement in dialysis care. This study addresses critical gap in existing knowledge about these two novel provider-based psychosocial factors and their potential impact on phosphate binder medication adherence.
Using 30 Years of Institutional Data to Discover Critical Trends Among Freshmen

Each year colleges and universities across the country are flooded with new students at orientation and welcome week. These students come from “diverse backgrounds, went through different secondary school environments and experiences, have varying levels of academic preparation, and seek different types of college experiences” (Keup, 2004, p. 8). As we welcome our new cohorts of students at our institution and assist them through their transition to college, we are challenged to understand them on both an individual and collective level in order to provide services and programs that suit their needs and facilitate the fulfillment of their goals in college and beyond (Coomes & DeBard, 2004). A simple assessment of incoming students’ background characteristics, and personal histories, expectations, and aspirations, is the most common and effective means to capture information and represents the first step of a comprehensive model for assessing first-year students (Crissman & Upcraft, 2001; Upcraft, 2005). These data collected from our new students allow an institution to create a comprehensive profile of the incoming cohort, which provides a descriptive story that may be used “to educate faculty, staff, students, and many interested external constituents about the nature of our student population” (Hansen & Denzine, 2000, p. 6). When we use these data to answer the question “Who are our students? ” we become better equipped to summarize their preparation for the academic rigors of college, identify critical areas of need and interest, and recognize potential points for advisement and intervention (Hansen & Denzine, 2000; Keup & Kinzie, 2007; Swing, 2004). Further, when we collect data from our incoming cohort of students, the gathered information can often have broader policy implications for the campus, including helping “colleges to determine their impact on student recruitment, student development, and student retention and career preparation” (Pryor, Hurtado, Saenz, Santos, & Korn, 2007, p. viii). One of the most commonly used instruments for this baseline assessment is the Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP) Freshman Survey, which is used by hundreds of colleges nationwide each year to collect a wide array of information on students’ academic, social, and personal experiences and identity (Astin, 2003; Pryor, Hurtado, Saenz, Santos, et al., 2007; Pryor, Hurtado, Saenz, FEATURED ARTICLE
A subset of broadly responsive Type III taste cells contribute to the detection of bitter, sweet and umami stimuli

Taste receptor cells use multiple signaling pathways to detect chemicals in potential food items. These cells are functionally grouped into different types: Type I cells act as support cells and have glial-like properties; Type II cells detect bitter, sweet, and umami taste stimuli; and Type III cells detect sour and salty stimuli. We have identified a new population of taste cells that are broadly tuned to multiple taste stimuli including bitter, sweet, sour and umami. The goal of this study was to characterize these broadly tuned (BR) taste cells. We used an IP3R3-KO mouse (does not release calcium (Ca2+) from Type II cells when stimulated with bitter, sweet or umami stimuli) to characterize the BR cells without any potentially confounding input from Type II cells. Using live cell Ca2+ imaging in isolated taste cells from the IP3R3-KO mouse, we found that BR cells are a subset of Type III cells that respond to sour stimuli but also use a PLCβ3 signaling pathway to respond to bitter, sweet and umami stimuli. Unlike Type II cells, individual BR cells are broadly tuned and respond to multiple stimuli across different taste modalities. Live cell imaging in a PLCβ3-KO mouse confirmed that BR cells use a PLCβ3 signaling pathway to generate Ca2+ signals to bitter, sweet and umami stimuli. Analysis of c-Fos activity in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) and short term behavioral assays revealed that BR cells make significant contributions to taste.
Towards coherent control of the 229Th isomeric transition in VUV-transparent crystals

The Th isomeric state at approximately 8.28 eV has generated significant interest as a possible candidate for the development of a nuclear clock with cutting edge precision and stability. One of the approaches to build such a clock relies on the excitation of thorium nuclei doped into VUV-transparent crystals. Excitation in the crystal environment has yet to be achieved experimentally. In this dissertation we investigate from the theoretical side, two methods aimed at exciting thorium’s isomeric state within the crystal environment. We study first the possibility to carry out nuclear forward scattering style experiments which could provide a unique signature of the nuclear excitation along with quantifying the detuning of the driving laser systems to the transition energy in question. This work includes analysis of the phase difference and time delay between excitation pulses along with the role of magnetic fields and dopant orientations on the level schemes available for driving. As a second method we investigate Electronic Bridge (EB) processes within the crystal environment which have never been addressed so far in the literature. EB exploits the coupling between the nucleus and the electronic shell which is neglected in the direct laser excitation approach. Novel EB schemes in the crystal environment are introduced which aim to increase the isomeric population with the use of broadband excitation sources. Rates of such EB processes are calculated and their advantages with respect to the direct laser excitation are discussed. These findings support the development of a solid-state nuclear clock. Within the framework of this dissertation the following article was published in a refereed journal Collective effects in Th-doped crystals Brenden S. Nickerson, Wen-Te Liao, and Adriana Pálffy Phys. Rev. A 98, 062520 Published 26 December 2018 And the following article is in preparation Electronic Bridge processes in Th-doped crystals Brenden S. Nickerson, Martin Pimon, Pavlo V. Bilous, Peter Mohn, Thorsten Schumm and Adriana Pálffy
Perceptions of Junior Medical Students Undergoing Formative OSCE assessed by Senior Medical Students

Assessment drives education programmes. Objective Structured Clinical Examination(OSCE) assesses clinical competencies more efficiently than MCQ or essay questions. However OSCE demand intensive preparation, logistics and resource input. Senior medical students were recruited as assessors for the formative OSCE conducted after the introductory clinical appointment. Feedback of participating students was considered vital to evaluate the OSCE. The objective is to evaluate perceptions of 3 rd year medical students undergoing and OSCE regarding fairness, suitability, acceptability and comprehensiveness when senior medical students assess and role-playas simulated patients. Fourteen stations OSCE for the 3 rd years medical students was developed by senior academics of all clinical departments. Final year (5 th Year) students were trained to perform as simulated patients and assessors. The entire batch of third year medical students was given a pre tested self-administered questionnaire within two weeks of completion of the OSCE. The questionnaire was designed with adaptations from a similar study done by Russell B Pierre et al. Majority of students felt that the OSCE was fair (87.5%), comprehensive (78%), motivate learning (88%)and gives an opportunity to identify their weaknesses (72%). However 38% found it a very stressful experience and 38% of students felt that having senior students as simulated patients hindered their performance. On a par with the Jamaican students, our students also felt that the OSCE was fair and comprehensive. Compared to 67% of Jamaican students, only 38% of our students found the OSCE very stressful. Reasons for reported concern about senior students' performing as simulated patients by some students should evaluated further in order to make use of advantages of senior students involvement in OSCE. Our students reiterated fairness, suitability, acceptability and comprehensiveness of OSCE as a method of assessment. Careful planning should foster students' acceptance of senior students as assessors. The faculty should use OSCE more often in evaluating students.
The Presentation of Academic Self in The Digital Age: The Role of Electronic Databases

A growing number of online electronic resources present academic work. We are not focusing here on specialised electronic databases that store bibliographic research data, such as Medline, PubMed, ASSIA, ERIC, JSTOR, but databases or social networking websites /platforms for academics/researchers that profile research, academic and professional activities, such as SCOPUS, WoS (Web of Science), Academia.edu, KUDOS, ORCiD, ResearchGate, LinkedIn, GoogleScholar and Mendeley. We discuss databases or platforms can promote the profile of an individual academic, highligthing their research interests, grants and publications. These databases are good outlets for Early Career Researchers (ECRs) to build, improve and promote their public profile. However, the level of efforts requires to open an account or to maintain these databases regularly can be a daunting task for some scholars. This paper outlines some of these key databases and their functions and reflects on advantages and disadvantages of engaging with the most popular ones. We remind the reader that many of these databases require academics’ attention and input, and thus create more work.
Evaluation of Tissue Properties in MR Images

Image processing in biomedical applications is strongly developing issue. Many methods and approaches for image preprocessing, segmentation and visualization were described. This paper deals with image evaluation obtained by magnetic resonance tomography. Soft tissues can be observed in these images and their characteristics can be used to further processing and to diagnose diseases. Intensity distribution (mean, maximum, minimum, standard deviation and area) in regions of human head tissues are evaluated and compared for two healthy persons. The obtained values will be compared with the same parameters of unhealthy persons in studying jawbone diseases. The aim of this research is to flnd relations between tissue parameters which can be observed by often available magnetic resonance measuring sequences (T1/T2 weighted images, difiusion weighted images). The relations and similarity of some tissues and regions in mentioned images could help to increase yield of data obtained by magnetic resonance tomography and thus use of MR to pathological tissues and diseases recognition which must currently be diagnoses by other, often invasive, methods.
EKSPRESI EPIDERMAL GROWTH FACTOR RECEPTOR PADA KARSINOMA NASOFARING SUBTIPE TIDAK BERKERATIN DI RSUP Dr. M. DJAMIL, PADANG

Latar belakang: Penderita karsinoma nasofaring mempunyai prognosis yang buruk, terdapat beberapa faktor yang menyebabkan hal itu terjadi, salah satunya respon terapi yang ada selama ini tidak adekuat. Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) merupakan salah satu sinyal biomolekuler penanda adanya keganasan pada nasofaring, sehingga ekspresi EGFR ini telah dipakai sebagai marker biologis terapi target pada karsinoma nasofaring. Subtipe histopatologis tumor juga menentukan prognosis penderita karsinoma nasofaring, World Health Organization (WHO) mengklasifikasikan karsinoma nasofaring berdasarkan tipe histopatologisnya menjadi karsinoma nasofaring berkeratin, tidak berkeratin berdiferensiasi dan tidak berdiferensiasi serta karsinoma sel skuamosa basaloid. Tujuan: Mengetahui ekspresi Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor pada karsinoma nasofaring subtipe tidak berkeratin. Metode: Penelitian analitik dengan menggunakan desain potong lintang komparatif (cross sectional comparative study) pada 36 sampel blok parafin patologi anatomi, masing- masing 18 blok parafin karsinoma nasofaring subtipe tidak berkeratin berdiferensiasi dan 18 blok parafin tidak berdiferensiasi. Semua sampel dilakukan pemeriksaan ekspresi EGFR dengan metode pewarnaan imunohistokimia, kemudian data dianalisis dengan bantuan komputer, bermakna bila p 0,05). Kesimpulan: Tidak terdapat perbedaan ekspresi EGFR karsinoma nasofaring antara subtipe tidak berkeratin berdiferensiasi dengan subtipe tidak berdiferensiasi. Kata kunci: Karsinoma nasofaring, subtipe tidak berkeratin, epidermal growth factor receptor, stadium
Long-Term Follow-up of Survival, Complications, Arsenic Retention and Quality of Life in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia Treated with All-Trans Retinoic Acid/Arsenic Trioxide Combination Therapy

Objective: All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA)/arsenic trioxide (ATO) combination therapy for newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) has yielded high efficacy in clinical trials, but there are few studies focusing on the long-term follow-up of survival and complications. Methods: In this study, we followed up 217 patients with newly diagnosed APL treated with ATRA/ATO combination therapy between 2001 and 2010. Health assessment for long-term complications and quality of life was performed for 112 of these patients, meanwhile the arsenic retention in their plasma, urine, hair and nails was detected by inductively coupled argon plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Results: A total of 199 patients (91.7%) achieved complete remission (CR). The estimated 10-year event-free survival (EFS), overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS) and cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) were 78.0%, 86.3%, 87.0% and 12.0%, respectively. High white blood cell (WBC) count remained as the only unfavorable prognostic factor for remission duration and led to significant differences between low-to-intermediate and high-risk groups in EFS (82.1% vs. 63.9%, P=0.016), DFS (90.6% vs. 73.1%, P=0.008) and CIR (8.0% vs. 26.9%, P=0.003). For the 112 patients who received health assessment, there were no significant long-term complications associated with ATRA/ATO therapy, except for higher incidence of grade-1 liver dysfunction (15.2%) and hepatic steatosis (42.9%) compared to healthy controls (both P Conclusion: This study with long-term follow-up clearly demonstrated that ATRA/ATO in newly diagnosed APL patients was associated with long-term survival, particularly for patients with low-to-intermediate risk diseases, as well as few complications, minimal arsenic retention and good quality of life. Disclosures Zhao:National Natural Science Foundation of China (81300451): Research Funding. Chen:National High-tech R&D Program (863 Program) (2012AA02A505): Research Funding.