Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Use of Hospital Appointment Registration Systems in China: A Survey Study

Background: Hospitals have expressed no knowledge of patients’ opinions regarding diversified appointment registration systems, despite efforts to develop novel appointment registration systems that assist patients and increase hospital efficiency. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the use of diversified appointment registration systems and explore the factors influencing patients’ registration system choices. Methods: A survey study using a questionnaire was conducted in West China Hospital in February 2012. Outpatients were randomly selected from different hospital departments and the questionnaire was distributed and collected on-site. Results: Data from 1,009 patients were available for analysis. Of these, 63.4% used appointment systems to register while others chose a traditional queuing method to register. 114 telephone (30.4%) and on-site (22.9%) appointments were made, whereas other systems were less used by patients. Between the non-appointment and appointment groups there were significant differences in gender, educational degree, and residence location (P < 0.05), but no significant difference in age (P > 0.05). While the clinical appointment system had the greatest number of appointment days (25.75), the bank's self-service terminal appointment had the least number of appointment days (5.05). Leaflets sent from the hospital (50.70%) and the recommendations of friends or families (40.77%) were the two main ways of knowing about the appointment registration systems. With the exception of those who felt no need to make an appointment (30.12%), not having the capability to use the appointment systems (24.10%) and the lack of a registered health card (34.53%) were the two main reasons for not using appointment registration systems. Conclusions: Convenience was a major motivation for patients’ use of appointment registration systems. Personal knowledge and capability were the two important factors that influenced patients’ appointment system choices. Hospitals must improve the design and promotion of appointment registration systems to better facilitate their use.
Reconstructing mass profiles of simulated galaxy clusters by combining Sunyaev-Zeldovich and X-ray images

We present a method to recover mass profiles of galaxy cluster s by combining data on thermal Sunyaev‐Zeldovich (tSZ) and X‐ray imaging, thereby avoiding to use any information on X‐ ray spectroscopy. This method, which represents a development of the geometrical deprojection technique presented in Ameglio et al. (2007), implements the solution of the hydrostatic equilibrium equation. In order to quantify the efficiency of our mass reconstructions, we apply our technique to a set of hydrodynamical simulations of galaxy clusters. We propose two versions of our method of mass reconstruction. Method 1 is completely model‐independent and assumes as fitting parameters the values of gas density an d total mass within different radial bins. Method 2 assumes instead the analytic mass profi le proposed by Navarro et al. (1997) (NFW). We find that the main source of bias in recoverin g the mass profiles is due to deviations from hydrostatic equilibrium, which cause an underestimate of the mass of about 10 per cent at r500 and up to 20 per cent at the virial radius. Method 1 provides a reconstructed mass which is biased low by about 10 per cent, with a 20 per cent scatter, with respect to the true mass profiles. Method 2 proves to be more stable, reducin g the scatter to 10 per cent, but with a larger bias of 20 per cent, mainly induced by the deviations from equilibrium in the outskirts. To better understand the results of Method 2, we check how well it allows to recover the relation between mass and concentration parameter. When analyzing the 3D mass profiles we find that including in the fit the inner 5 per cent of the viria l radius biases high the halo concentration, thus suggesting that the NFW profile is not a p erfect fit in the central regions of our simulations including cooling and star formation. Also, at a fixed mass, hotter clusters tend to have larger concentration. Our procedure recovers the concentration parameter essentially unbiased but with a scatter of about 50 per cent. In gen eral, our analysis demonstrates that combining X‐ray imaging with spatially resolved tSZ data is a valid alternative to using X‐ray spectroscopy to recover the mass of galaxy clusters.
Family environment predictors of outcome in schizophrenic patients in Spain: a nine‐month follow‐up study

This study investigates the effects of perceived family environment on clinical outcome among patients in Spain who suffer from schizophrenia. Forty‐five consecutively admitted DSM‐111‐R schizophrenic patients were assessed monthly with the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale during a 9‐month period. Patients and parents rated the family environment through the Family Environment Scale (FES). FES factors were considered separately for each family member, since parents' and patient's perceptions of the family environment were weakly correlated. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that patients' perceptions of family control and intellectual‐cultural orientation predicted rehospitalization. Patients' and mothers' ratings of family control and fathers' scores of conflict and moral religious emphasis predicted psychotic relapse. However, fathers' scores of family cohesion predicted higher negative symptoms. Prior admissions, age of onset and use of depot medication tended to predict outcome in conjunction with the family variables.
Understanding Bias in Nonlinear Panel Models: Some Recent Developments ∗

The purpose of this paper is to review recently developed methods of estimation of nonlinear fixed effects panel data models with reduced bias properties. We begin by describing fixed effects estimators and the incidental parameters problem. Next we explain how to construct analytical bias correction of estimators, followed by bias correction of the moment equation, and bias corrections for the concentrated likelihood. We then turn to discuss other approaches leading to bias correction based on orthogonalization and their extensions. The remaining sections consider quasi maximum likelihood estimation for dynamic models, the estimation of marginal effects, and automatic methods based on simulation.
Cytogenetic Findings of Patients with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Fars Province

Background: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the sixth most common malignancy in Iran. Cytogenetic analysis of leukemic blasts plays an important role in classification and prognosis in ALL patients. The purpose of this study was to define the frequency of chromosomal abnormalities of ALL patients in adults and children in Fars province, Iran. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated karyotype results of bone marrow specimens in 168 Iranian patients with ALL (154 B-ALL and 14 T-ALL) in Fars Province using the conventional cytogenetic G-banding method. Results: The frequency of cytogenetic abnormalities, including numerical and/or structural changes, was 61.7% and 53.8% in the B-ALL and T-ALL patients, respectively. Hyperdiploidy was the most common (32%) cytogenetic abnormality. Among structural abnormalities, the most common was t(9;22) in 11% of the patients. The children showed a higher incidence of hyperdiploidy and lower incidence of t(9;22) than adults (P<0.05). We found a lower incidence of recurrent abnormalities such as 11q23, t(1;19), and t(12;21) than those reported in previous studies. Conclusion: Normal karyotype was more frequent in our study. The frequencies of some cytogenetic abnormalities such as hyperdiploidy and t(9;22) in our study were comparable to those reported in the literature. The results of this study in Fars Province can be used as baseline information for treatment decision and research purposes in ALL patients. We recommend the use of advanced molecular techniques in the future to better elucidate cryptic cytogenetic abnormalities.
Tandem's remote data facility

Computer systems frequently store data that are critical to the organization that owns the system. Any unplanned breach of service can have disastrous effects. The system cannot be expected to continue operating after fires, floods, and earthquakes. Upgrades to air conditioning, power, and basic system software may all require that a system be taken out of service temporarily. To support availability despite these outages, Tandem has introduced the Replicated Data Facility (RDF). RDF extends the component replication strategy to allow a redundant copy of an entire system. Since the second system typically is at a remote site, it will generally be unimpaired. RDF allows an organization to maintain a geographically remote backup system with an up-to-date copy of the database. Should the first system fail, this second system can rapidly take over the workload, minimizing downtime. RDF is an extension of Tandem's Transaction Monitoring Facility (TMF). TMF provides transaction atomicity and transaction, system, and media recovery. TMF supports distributed transactions in a network of systems using a presumed-abort two-phase commit protocol. <<ETX>>
Utilization of In-Hospital Care among Foreign-Born Compared to Native Swedes 1987–1999

In previous longitudinal studies of mortality and morbidity among foreign-born and native-born Swedes, increased mortality and dissimilarities in mortality pattern were found. The aim of this study is to describe, compare, and analyse the utilization of in-hospital care among deceased foreign- and Swedish-born persons during the years 1987–1999 with focus on four diagnostic categories. The study population consisted of 361,974 foreign-born persons aged 16 years and upward who were registered as living in Sweden in 1970, together with 361,974 matched Swedish controls for each person. Data from Statistics Sweden (SCB) and the National Board of Health and Welfare Centre for Epidemiology, covering the period 1970–1999, was used. Persons were selected if they were admitted to hospital during 1987–1999 and the cause of death was in one of four ICD groups. The results indicate a tendency towards less health care utilization among migrants, especially men, as regards Symptoms, signs, and ill-defined conditions and Injury and poisoning. Further studies are needed to explore the possible explanations and the pattern of other diseases to see whether migrants, and especially migrant men, are a risk group with less utilization of health care.
Selective sweeps and genetic lineages of Plasmodium falciparum drug -resistant alleles in Ghana.

BACKGROUND In 2005, Ghana adopted artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) for primary treatment of falciparum malaria. A comprehensive study of the drug-resistance-associated mutations and their genetic lineages will lead to a better understanding of the evolution of antimalarial drug resistance in this region. METHODS The pfcrt, pfmdr1, dhps, and dhfr mutations associated with chloroquine (CQ) and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) resistance and the microsatellite loci flanking these genes were genotyped in Plasmodium falciparum isolates from Ghana. RESULTS The prevalence of mutations associated with both CQ and SP resistance was high in Ghana. However, we observed a decrease in prevalence of the pfcrt K76T mutation in northern Ghana after the change in drug policy from CQ to ACT. Analysis of genetic diversity and differentiation at microsatellite loci flanking all 4 genes indicated that they have been under strong selection, because of CQ and SP use. The triple-mutant pfcrt and dhfr alleles in Ghana were derived from Southeast Asia, whereas the double-mutant dhfr, dhps, and pfmdr1 alleles were of African lineage. CONCLUSION Because of the possible role of pfmdr1 in amodiaquine and mefloquine resistance, demonstrating selection on pfmdr1 and defining lineages of resistant alleles in an African population holds great importance.
Is docosahexaenoic acid, an n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid, required for development of normal brain function? An overview of evidence from cognitive and behavioral tests in humans and animals.

This review is part of a series intended for nonspecialists that will summarize evidence relevant to the question of whether causal relations exist between micronutrient deficiencies and brain function. Here, we focus on experiments that used cognitive or behavioral tests as outcome measures in experimental designs that were known to or were likely to result in altered brain concentrations of the n-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) during the perinatal period of "brain growth spurt. " Experimental designs reviewed include observational breastfeeding studies and randomized controlled trials in humans and studies in rodents and nonhuman primates. This review is based on a large number of expert reviews and commentaries and on some 50 recent studies in humans and animals that have not yet been included in published reviews. Expert opinion regarding the strengths and weaknesses of the major experimental systems and uncertainties associated with interpreting results is summarized. On the basis of our reading of this literature, we conclude that evidence from several types of studies, particularly studies in animals, suggests that, within the context of specific experimental designs, changes in brain concentrations of DHA are positively associated with changes in cognitive or behavioral performance. Additional experimental information required to conclude that a causal association exists is discussed, as are uncertainties associated with applying results from specific experimental designs to the question of whether infant formula should be supplemented with DHA.
The quality of young people's heterosexual relationships: a longitudinal analysis of characteristics shaping subjective experience.

CONTEXT Research on young people's sexual relationships often overlooks subjective experiences and enjoyment. Perceived quality of sexual relationships may be related to gender, background characteristics, circumstances of first intercourse and subsequent sexual history. METHODS Longitudinal data from 13-16-year-olds who participated in randomized trials of school sex education in either Scotland (N=5,356) or England (N=6,269) were used to examine young people's subjective experiences of heterosexual relationships. Logistic regression models tested for associations between selected variables and pressure and regret at first intercourse, pressure and enjoyment at most recent intercourse, and three measures of relationship quality. RESULTS Of the 42% of youth who reported having had sex by follow-up, most assessed their first and most recent sexual relationships positively. Greater proportions of females than of males felt pressure at first sexual intercourse (19% vs. 10%), regretted their first time (38% vs. 20%) and did not enjoy their most recent sex (12% vs. 5%). Younger age at first sex was an important correlate of partner pressure and regret at first intercourse (odds ratios, 2.0 each, for those 13 or younger vs. 15-16-year-olds). Negative experiences were associated with less control (e.g., feeling pressure, being drunk or stoned, and not planning sex) and with less intimacy (e.g., sex with a casual partner and less frequent sex). Background social characteristics had limited influence compared with circumstances of first intercourse and subsequent sexual history. CONCLUSION Most young people evaluated their early sexual experiences positively. The quality of relationships was enhanced by better communication and greater physical intimacy. For a vulnerable minority, however, early sexual experiences were negative. They could be protected by delaying first intercourse, restricting sexual activity to established relationships and learning skills to improve control in sexual encounters.
Optimal Lifetime Model of Heterogeneous Surveillance Sensor Network in Cellular Coverage Condition

Abstract-The heterogeneous surveillance sensor network can balance the energy consumption better than homogeneous one, and cellular can cover the whole surveillance field without any gap or overlap. Based on the preconditions above, the authors propose the energy consumption and network lifetime models of heterogeneous surveillance sensor network in the condition of cellular coverage. The optimal solution of the network lifetime model is gotten. Then the lifetimes of the heterogeneous surveillance sensor network in different distribution intensities are obtained through the simulations. The authors compare these lifetimes and conclude that the network can get an optimal performance if the intensity of normal nodes is fivefold of the cluster nodes.
New Insights into Plagiogrammaceae (Bacillariophyta) Based on Multigene Phylogenies and Morphological Characteristics with the Description of a New Genus and Three New Species

Plagiogrammaceae, a poorly described family of diatoms, are common inhabitants of the shallow marine littoral zone, occurring either in the sediments or as epiphytes. Previous molecular phylogenies of the Plagiogrammaceae were inferred but included only up to six genera: Plagiogramma, Dimeregramma, Neofragilaria, Talaroneis, Psammogramma and Psammoneis. In this paper, we describe a new plagiogrammoid genus, Orizaformis, obtained from Bohai Sea (China) and present molecular phylogenies of the family based on three and four genes (nuclear-encoded large and small subunit ribosomal RNAs and chloroplast-encoded rbcL and psbC). Also included in the new phylogenies is Glyphodesmis. The phylogenies suggest that the Plagiogrammaceae is composed of two major clades: one consisting of Talaroneis, Orizaformis and Psammoneis, and the second of Glyphodesmis, Psammogramma, Neofragilaria, Dimeregramma and Plagiogramma. In addition, we describe three new species within established genera: Psammoneis obaidii, which was collected from the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia; and Neofragilaria stilus and Talaroneis biacutifrons from the Mozambique Channel, Indian Ocean, and illustrate two new combination taxa: Neofragilaria anomala and Neofragilaria lineata. Our observations suggest that the biodiversity of the family is strongly needed to be researched, and the phylogenetic analyses provide a useful framework for future studies of Plagiogrammaceae.
Dead Tumor Cells Expressing Infectious Salmon Anemia Virus Fusogenic Protein Favor Antigen Cross-Priming In Vitro

Antigen cross-presentation is a crucial step in the assembly of an antitumor immune response leading to activation of naïve CD8 T cells. This process has been extensively used in clinical trials, in which dendritic cells generated in vitro are loaded with tumor antigens and then autotransplanted to the patients. Recently, the use of autologous transplant of dendritic cells fused with dying tumor cells has demonstrated good results in clinical studies. In this work, we generated a similar process in vivo by treating mice with dead tumor cells [cell bodies (CBs)] expressing the fusogenic protein of the infectious salmon anemia virus (ISAV). ISAV fusion protein retains its fusogenic capability when is expressed on mammalian cells in vitro and the CBs expressing it facilitates DCs maturation, antigen transfer by antigen-presenting cells, and increase cross-presentation by DCs in vitro. Additionally, we observed in the melanoma model that CBs with or without ISAV fusion protein reduce tumor growth in prophylactic treatment; however, only ISAV expressing CBs showed an increase CD4 and CD8 cells in spleen. Overall, our results suggest that CBs could be used as a complement with other type of strategies to amplify antitumor immune response.
Autocrine epidermal growth factor signaling stimulates directionally persistent mammary epithelial cell migration

Cell responses to soluble regulatory factors may be strongly influenced by the mode of presentation of the factor, as in matrix-bound versus diffusible modes. The possibly diverse effect of presenting a growth factor in autocrine as opposed to exogenous (or paracrine) mode is an especially important issue in cell biology. We demonstrate here that migration behavior of human mammary epithelial cells in response to stimulation by epidermal growth factor (EGF) is qualitatively different for EGF presented in exogenous (paracrine), autocrine, and intracrine modes. When EGF is added as an exogenous factor to the medium of cells that express EGF receptor (EGFR) but not EGF, cell migration speed increases while directional persistence decreases. When these EGFR-expressing cells are made to also express via retroviral transfection EGF in protease-cleaveable transmembrane form on the plasma membrane, migration speed similarly increases, but directional persistence increases as well. Addition of exogenous EGF to these cells abrogates their enhanced directional persistence, reducing their directionality to a level similar to wild-type cells. If the EGFR-expressing cells are instead transduced with a gene encoding EGF in a soluble form, migration speed and directional persistence were unaffected. Thus, autocrine presentation of EGF at the plasma membrane in a protease-cleavable form provides these cells with an enhanced ability to migrate persistently in a given direction, consistent with their increased capability for organizing into gland-like structures. In contrast, an exogenous/paracrine mode of EGF presentation generates a “scattering” response by the cells. These findings emphasize the functional importance of spatial restriction of EGFR signaling, and suggest critical implications for growth factor–based therapeutic treatments.
Shear Behavior and Diagonal Crack Width for Reinforced Concrete Beams with High-Strength Shear Reinforcement

ACI 318-11 specifies that the yield strength of shear reinforcement be limited to 420 MPa (60,000 psi) in a shear design equation. However, this is not the case in other design codes, such as EC2-04, CSA-04, and JSCE-02, where a yield strength of shear reinforcement of more than 420 MPa (60,000 psi) is allowed in shear design. The primary reason for the limit of 420 MPa (60,000 psi) in ACI 318-11 is to provide enough transverse reinforcement and, hence, control diagonal crack width. To investigate this, a total of 18 reinforced concrete (RC) beam specimens incorporating high-strength shear reinforcement were tested and the applicability of the reinforcement was then assessed. In addition, the diagonal crack widths from the current test results and the 38 RC beam experimental results available in the technical literature have been evaluated by comparison with the crack regulation of ACI 318-11. Comparative results reveal that diagonal crack width can be influenced by the amount of shear reinforcement and compressive concrete strength. In short, the width is inversely proportional to amount of shear reinforcement divided by compressive concrete strength.