Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Health expenditures among high-risk patients after gastric bypass and matched controls.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether bariatric surgery is associated with reduced health care expenditures in a multisite cohort of predominantly older male patients with a substantial disease burden. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study of bariatric surgery. Outpatient, inpatient, and overall health care expenditures within Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers were examined via generalized estimating equations in the propensity-matched cohorts. SETTING Bariatric surgery programs in VA medical centers. PARTICIPANTS Eight hundred forty-seven veterans who were propensity matched to 847 nonsurgical control subjects from the same 12 VA medical centers. INTERVENTION Bariatric surgical procedures. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Health expenditures through December 2006. RESULTS Outpatient, inpatient, and total expenditures trended higher for bariatric surgical cases in the 3 years leading up to the procedure and then converged back to the lower expenditure levels of nonsurgical controls in the 3 years after the procedure. CONCLUSIONS Based on analyses of a cohort of predominantly older men, bariatric surgery does not appear to be associated with reduced health care expenditures 3 years after the procedure.
Application of colon capsule endoscopy (CCE) to evaluate the whole gastrointestinal tract: a comparative study of single-camera and dual-camera analysis

Background and study aims Colon capsule endoscopy (CCE) was developed for the evaluation of colorectal pathology. In this study, our aim was to assess if a dual-camera analysis using CCE allows better evaluation of the whole gastrointestinal (GI) tract compared to a single-camera analysis. Patients and methods We included 21 patients (12 males, mean age 56.20 years) submitted for a CCE examination. After standard colon preparation, the colon capsule endoscope (PillCam Colon™) was swallowed after reinitiation from its “sleep” mode. Four physicians performed the analysis: two reviewed both video streams at the same time (dual-camera analysis); one analyzed images from one side of the device (“camera 1”); and the other reviewed the opposite side (“camera 2”). We compared numbers of findings from different parts of the entire GI tract and level of agreement among reviewers. Results A complete evaluation of the GI tract was possible in all patients. Dual-camera analysis provided 16% and 5% more findings compared to camera 1 and camera 2 analysis, respectively. Overall agreement was 62.7% (kappa = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.373–0.510). Esophageal (kappa = 0.611) and colorectal (kappa = 0.595) findings had a good level of agreement, while small bowel (kappa = 0.405) showed moderate agreement. Conclusion The use of dual-camera analysis with CCE for the evaluation of the GI tract is feasible and detects more abnormalities when compared with single-camera analysis.
The Role of microRNAs in Medulloblastoma

Medulloblastomas (MBs) are the most frequent brain tumors in children and remained a major therapeutic challenge. Clinical and histopathological features are used for disease classification and patient prognostication. Currently, several molecular studies using transcriptomic and genomic approaches suggested the existence of four molecular subtypes, increasing the complexity, and knowledge of MB biology. Despite these significant advances, the molecular basis of MBs is not fully understood. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of small nonprotein coding RNA molecules that target genes by inducing mRNA degradation or translational repression. They represent an evolutionary conserved mechanism that controls fundamental cellular processes, such as development, differentiation, metabolism, proliferation, and apoptosis. Aberrant expression of miRNAs correlates with various cancers. This altered expression can arise from mutation, methylation, deletion, and gain of miRNA-encoding regions. We here review the knowledge of miRNAs in MBs. The expression patterns of miRNAs in MBs were comprehensively evaluated and their diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic biomarker role assessed. miRNAs are important players in MB tumorigenesis and their therapeutic exploitation can constitute an alternative approach to this devastating disease.
A statistical mechanics approach to the modelling and analysis of place-cell activity

Place cells in the hippocampus are neurons with interesting properties such as the corre-lation between their activity and the animal’s position in space. It is believed that theseproperties can be for the most part understood by collective behaviours of models of inter-acting simplified neurons. Statistical mechanics provides tools permitting to study thesecollective behaviours, both analytically and numerically.Here, we address how these tools can be used to understand place-cell activity withinthe attractor neural network paradigm, a theory for memory. We first propose a modelfor place cells in which the formation of a localized bump of activity is accounted for byattractor dynamics. Several aspects of the collective properties of this model are studied.Thanks to the simplicity of the model, they can be understood in great detail. The phasediagram of the model is computed and discussed in relation with previous works on at-tractor neural networks. The dynamical evolution of the system displays particularly richpatterns. The second part of this thesis deals with decoding place-cell activity, and theimplications of the attractor hypothesis on this problem. We compare several decodingmethods and their results on the processing of experimental recordings of place cells in afreely behaving rat.
Associations of Proteinuria, Fluid Volume Imbalance, and Body Mass Index with Circadian Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients

Background/Aims: Obesity and hypervolemic status are the main causes of hypertension in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, it is difficult to differentiate between them. We aimed to assess the associations of body mass index (BMI) and total body water (TBW) with ambulatory blood pressure (ABP). Methods: Body composition by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and 24-h ABP were measured in 40 patients with CKD. TBW was assessed using corrected TBW<sub>BIA</sub> adjusted for body surface area (cTBW<sub>BIA</sub>) and the TBW<sub>BIA</sub>/TBW<sub>Watson</sub> ratio obtained using an anthropometric formula (Watson). Results: Elevated ABP (average 24-h BP ≥ 135/85 mmHg) was noted in 23 patients, who were more likely to have a higher cTBW<sub>BIA</sub> and TBW<sub>BIA</sub>/TBW<sub>Watson</sub> ratio than patients without elevated BP. Patients with nocturnal non-dipping (<10% drop in BP during sleep) were more likely to have a higher TBW<sub>BIA</sub>/TBW<sub>Watson</sub> ratio. Proteinuria and the TBW<sub>BIA</sub>/TBW<sub>Watson</sub> ratio were significant independent factors for 24-h ABP. BMI had a positive correlation with the cTBW<sub>BIA</sub>, TBW<sub>BIA</sub>/TBW<sub>Watson</sub> ratio and furosemide use. Conclusion: Hypertension is dependent on proteinuria and fluid volume imbalance. The TBW<sub>BIA</sub>/TBW<sub>Watson</sub> ratio can serve as an indicator of fluid volume-dependent hypertension. BMI is affected by TBW, in which case BMI can become less involved with 24-h ABP.
The effect of sulphurous air pollutant exposures on symptoms, lung function, exhaled nitric oxide, and nasal epithelial lining fluid antioxidant concentrations in normal and asthmatic adults

Aims: To explore the effects in normal and asthmatic adults of exposure to 200 ppb sulphur dioxide (SO2) and 200 μg/m3 and 2000 μg/m3 aerosols of ammonium bisulphate (AB) and sulphuric acid (SA) (MMD 0.3 μm). Methods: Exposures were placebo controlled, for one hour at rest, double blind in random order. ΔFEV1 was the primary outcome; secondary outcomes included symptoms, ventilation, exhaled nitric oxide (NO) concentrations, and nasal lavage fluid ascorbic (AA) and uric acid (UA) concentrations. Results: There were no significant changes in spirometry or symptoms with any exposure in either group. SO2 exposure was associated with an increased respiratory rate relative to air exposure in the asthmatic group (SO2: 958.9 breaths/hour; air: 906.8 breaths/hour) but the mean volume breathed did not differ significantly (SO2: 318.8 litres; air: 311.4 litres). AB exposures were associated with a significant rise in [NO] in the asthmatic (+1.51 ppb, and +1.39 ppb), but not in the normal group. Mean pre- and post-exposure [AA] tended to be higher in the normal than in the asthmatic group. Within each group, [AA] did not change significantly with any exposure. Post-exposure [UA] were greater than pre-exposure concentrations for all exposures, significantly so in the normal group for all exposures except SO2. There were no significant differences in the mean change in [UA] for any exposure relative to air. Conclusions: The pollutant exposure concentrations employed in this study were generally much greater than ambient. It is unlikely that short lived exposures at lower concentrations would show significant effects, but effects of longer term lower concentration exposures cannot be ruled out.
Cancer Talk on Twitter: Community Structure and Information Sources in Breast and Prostate Cancer Social Networks

This study suggests taking a social networks theoretical approach to predict and explain patterns of information exchange among Twitter prostate and breast cancer communities. The authors collected profiles and following relationship data about users who posted messages about either cancer over 1 composite week. Using social network analysis, the authors identified the main clusters of interconnected users and their most followed hubs (i.e., information sources sought). Findings suggest that users who populated the persistent-across-time core cancer communities created dense clusters, an indication of taking advantage of the technology to form relationships with one another in ways that traditional one-to-many communication technologies cannot support. The major information sources sought were very specific to the community health interest and were grassroots oriented (e.g., a blog about prostate cancer treatments). Accounts associated with health organizations and news media, despite their focus on health, did not play a role in these core health communities. Methodological and practical implications for researchers and health campaigners are discussed.
Preschoolers' Beliefs About Overt and Relational Aggression

This paper describes the development of the Beliefs About Overt and Relational Aggression Scale. The Beliefs About Overt and Relational Aggression Scale was designed to assess preschoolers' normative beliefs about these two types of aggression. Findings about the scale's internal reliability and test-retest reliability are presented. Findings about similarities and differences between beliefs about relational and overt aggression and gender are also discussed. Discussions about correlates of aggression, measuring aggression, and measuring beliefs are included.
Influence of array interspacing on the force required for successful microneedle skin penetration: theoretical and practical approaches.

Insertion behaviour of microneedle (MN) arrays depends upon the mechanical properties of the skin and, MN geometry and distribution in an array. In addressing this issue, this paper studies MN array insertion mechanism into skin and provides a simple quantitative basis to relate the insertion force with distance between two MNs. The presented framework is based on drawing an analogy between a beam on an elastic foundation and mechanism of needle insertion, where insertion force is separated into different components. A theoretical analysis indicates that insertion force decreases as interspacing increases. For a specified skin type, insertion force decreased from 0.029 to 0.028 N/MN when interspacing at MN tip was increased from 50 μm (350 μm at MN base) to 150 μm (450 μm at MN base). However, dependence of insertion force seems to decrease as the interspacing is increased beyond 150 μm. To assess the validity of the proposed model, a series of experiments was carried out to determine the force required for skin insertion of MN. Experiments performed at insertion speed of 0.5 and 1.0 mm/s yielded insertion force values of 0.030 and 0.0216 N, respectively, for 30 μm interspacing at MN base (330 μm interspacing at tip) and 0.028 and 0.0214 N, respectively, for 600 μm interspacing at MN base (900 μm interspacing at tip). Results from theoretical analysis and finite element modelling agree well with experimental results, which show MN interspacing only begins to affect insertion force at low interspacing (<150 μm interspacing at MN base). This model provides a framework for optimising MN devices, and should aid development of suitable application method and determination of force for reliable insertion into skin.
Gastro-oesophageal reflux and bronchial asthma: current status and future directions

In recent years there have been several reports suggesting an association between bronchial asthma and gastro-oesophageal reflux; however a cause and effect relationship has not been proven yet. Confirmation of such a relationship is likely to have far reaching implications on the management of asthma. Reliable assessment of this issue is hampered by the presence of various lacunae in most of the published studies. Hence it is essential to carefully examine the strength of data suggesting a link between asthma and reflux. This article critically analyses currently available literature on the subject (including published reviews, meta-analyses, and randomised clinical trials in the English language) and summarises valid conclusions that can be drawn; it also proposes a framework for future studies to resolve the issue.
Galileo: Perceiving Physical Object Properties by Integrating a Physics Engine with Deep Learning

Humans demonstrate remarkable abilities to predict physical events in dynamic scenes, and to infer the physical properties of objects from static images. We propose a generative model for solving these problems of physical scene understanding from real-world videos and images. At the core of our generative model is a 3D physics engine, operating on an object-based representation of physical properties, including mass, position, 3D shape, and friction. We can infer these latent properties using relatively brief runs of MCMC, which drive simulations in the physics engine to fit key features of visual observations. We further explore directly mapping visual inputs to physical properties, inverting a part of the generative process using deep learning. We name our model Galileo, and evaluate it on a video dataset with simple yet physically rich scenarios. Results show that Galileo is able to infer the physical properties of objects and predict the outcome of a variety of physical events, with an accuracy comparable to human subjects. Our study points towards an account of human vision with generative physical knowledge at its core, and various recognition models as helpers leading to efficient inference.
Primary Hyperoxaluria – The German Experience

Background: Primary hyperoxaluria (PH) is a heterogeneous disease with variable age of onset and inconsistent progression into renal failure (ESRF). Aims: In 1994 we initiated a survey within our Pediatric Nephrology working group to ascertain epidemiologic data and current practices. Updates were performed in 2000 and 2004. Results: Diagnosis of PH was made in 65 patients (42 with PH type I, 3 with PH type II, 12 unclassified and 8 reported dead), which suggests a minimum prevalence of 0.7 per 1 million of the population. First symptoms were urolithiasis, nephrocalcinosis, urinary tract infection or hematuria. Diagnosis was often delayed and was made only in ESRF in 11% of patients. Measurement of urine metabolites or plasma oxalate in ESRF was performed in 76 and 57%, respectively. Determination of enzyme activity in liver biopsy (55% overall) and mutation analysis have increasingly been performed since 2000 (84.2 and 51%). Treatment included high fluid intake, pyridoxine, citrate and magnesium preparations. Pyridoxine response was reported in 21% of patients. No genotype/phenotype correlation was seen. Most patients (39) do not require renal replacement therapy, 5 patients receive chronic hemodialysis. Preemptive liver (n = 5) and combined liver-kidney transplantation (n = 9) were the preferred transplantation procedures. Conclusion: Despite increasing knowledge and awareness, diagnosis of PH is still too often delayed and diagnosis only made in ESRF. Most German patients, however, do currently not require renal replacement therapy. Genotype/phenotype correlations were not found. Combined liver kidney transplantation is the preferred procedure, but has its specific risks. Additional treatment options are clearly needed.
eWOM: the effects of online consumer reviews on purchasing decision of electronic goods

Internet has become the primary source of information for a large number of consumers and it has dramatically changed the consumer behaviour. One of the main changes in modern consumer behaviour has been the transition from a passive to an active and informed consumer. Internet enables customers to share their opinions on, and experiences with, goods and services with a multitude of other consumers. Online consumer reviews are used by prospective buyers of related products who are interested in obtaining more information from people who have purchased and used a product of interest. Word-of-mouth (WOM) is one of the most important information sources when a consumer is making a purchase decision. The arrival and expansion of the Internet has extended consumers' options for gathering product information by including other consumers' comments, posted on the Internet, and has provided consumers opportunities to offer their own consumption-related advice by engaging in electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM). eWOM can be defined as all informal communications directed at consumers through Internet-based technology related to the usage or characteristics of particular goods and services, or their sellers. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of, one type of electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM), the online consumer review, on purchasing decision of electronic products. This empirical study also focuses on the relationship between reviews and purchasing behaviour. An instrument was prepared to measure the proposed constructs, with questionnaire items taken from prior studies but adapted to fit the context of e-commerce. The survey was applied to academicians in Turkey through internet. The data was analyzed using the SPSS package. The results show that consumer reviews have a causal impact on consumer purchasing behaviour and they have an effect on choosing the products by consumer. Finally, the results and their implications are discussed.
Polygon mesh repairing: An application perspective

Nowadays, digital 3D models are in widespread and ubiquitous use, and each specific application dealing with 3D geometry has its own quality requirements that restrict the class of acceptable and supported models. This article analyzes typical defects that make a 3D model unsuitable for key application contexts, and surveys existing algorithms that process, repair, and improve its structure, geometry, and topology to make it appropriate to case-by-case requirements. The analysis is focused on polygon meshes, which constitute by far the most common 3D object representation. In particular, this article provides a structured overview of mesh repairing techniques from the point of view of the application context. Different types of mesh defects are classified according to the upstream application that produced the mesh, whereas mesh quality requirements are grouped by representative sets of downstream applications where the mesh is to be used. The numerous mesh repair methods that have been proposed during the last two decades are analyzed and classified in terms of their capabilities, properties, and guarantees. Based on these classifications, guidelines can be derived to support the identification of repairing algorithms best-suited to bridge the compatibility gap between the quality provided by the upstream process and the quality required by the downstream applications in a given geometry processing scenario.
Age-related morphometric characteristics of human skeletal muscle in male subjects.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of the present study is to investigate the age-related changes in muscle biopsies from the quadriceps femoris in male subjects of different ages. METHODS A histological and histochemical study was performed on specimens from the quadriceps femoris from 8 males divided into two groups, under 50 and over 70 years of age. The following measurements were performed: a) number of type 1 and 2 fibres, b) diameter of type 1 and 2 fibres, c) percentage of the number and mean diameter of the two types in the interior and the peripheral area of fascicles. RESULTS The proportion of type 2 fibres decreased significantly with age (p < 0.005), especially in the periphery of the fascicles, but the proportion of type 1 fibres was not significantly changed. The correlation of fibre size with age showed that type 2 fibres decrease in size with age. This finding was more evident in the periphery of the fascicles (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION We found that type 2 skeletal muscle fibres decreased in size and proportion with increasing age. The existence of these age changes should be taken into account in the interpretation of muscle biopsies of aged individuals.
Efficacy of 17α- hydroxy progestrone on decreasing preterm labor in ART pregnancies: A randomized clinical trial

Background: Preterm labor (PTL) is one of the most important causes in neonatal mortality and morbidity. Late preterm labor (34-36w) includes 75% of such birth. Assisted reproductive technology (ART) pregnant women are at increased risk of PTL. Objective: The study has been undertaken to determine whether beginning and continuing 17-α hydroxy progesterone caproate can reduce risk of PTL or change neonatal mortality. Materials and Methods: In a double-blind clinical randomized control trial, 106 women were treated by ART technique for their infertility and in gestational age at 16 weeks entered in our study. In one group, 17-α hydroxy progesterone caproate (Femolife) was injected intramuscularly every week until 36 weeks of gestation and in another group; placebo was injected from 16 until 36 weeks of gestetion. Data collected from pregnancy outcomes, infancy, and subsidiary problems were statistically analyzed by a questionnaire. Results: The risk of PTL in placebo group was 2.48 higher than control group that was not significant (Cl: 0.81-9.94). Femolife side effect in case group was gestational diabetes and local complication was not frequent. NICU admission was not significantly different between groups. Conclusion: Although it seems that 17-α hydroxy progesterone caproate does not cause significantly decrease in PTL in singleton ART gestations but any reduction of PTL in such high risk pregnancies may improve final gestational outcome. There is critical need for larger clinical trials to better understanding causes of PTL, specifically late preterm labor, to prevent mortality and morbidity in ART gestation. This article extracted from Residential thesis. (Hoora Amouzegar) Registration ID in IRCT: IRCT2012101611132N1