Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Variation in medication adherence across patient behavioral segments: a multi-country study in hypertension

Objectives This study determines the following for a hypertensive patient population: 1) the prevalence of patient worldview clusters; 2) differences in medication adherence across these clusters; and 3) the adherence predictive power of the clusters relative to measures of patients’ concerns over their medication’s cost, side effects, and efficacy. Methods Members from patient panels in the UK, Germany, Italy, and Spain were invited to participate in an online survey that included the Medication Adherence Report Scale-5 (MARS-5) adherence instrument and a patient segmentation instrument developed by CoMac Analytics, Inc, based on a linguistic analysis of patient talk. Subjects were screened to have a diagnosis of hypertension and treatment with at least one antihypertensive agent. Results A total of 353 patients completed the online survey in August/September 2011 and were categorized against three different behavioral domains: 1) control orientation (n=176 respondents [50%] for I, internal; n=177 respondents [50%] for E, external); 2) emotion (n=100 respondents [28%] for P, positive; n=253 respondents [72%] for N, negative); and 3) agency or ability to act on choices (n=227 respondents [64%] for H, high agency; n=126 [36%] for L, low agency). Domains were grouped into eight different clusters with EPH and IPH being the most prevalent (88 respondents [25%] in each cluster). The prevalence of other behavior clusters ranged from 6% (22 respondents, INH) to 12% (41 respondents, IPL). The proportion of patients defined as perfectly adherent (scored 25 on MARS-5) varied sharply across the segments: 51% adherent (45 of 88 respondents) for the IPH vs 8% adherent (2 of 25 respondents) classified as INL. Side effects, being employed, and stopping medicine because the patient got better were all significant determinants of adherence in a probit regression model. Conclusion By categorizing patients into worldview clusters, we identified wide differences in adherence that can be used to prioritize interventions and to customize adherence messages. Also, the predictive power of segments was greater than that for variables measuring concerns over cost, side effects, and efficacy.
Predictors of overall satisfaction of cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy

Background Reporting the experiences and satisfaction of patients, as well as their quality of care scores is an emerging recommendation in health care systems. Many aspects of patients’ experience determine their overall satisfaction. The aim of this evaluation was to define the main factors contributing to the satisfaction of patients undergoing radiotherapy in an outpatient setting. Patients and methods A total of 1,710 patients with a histologically proven cancer, who were treated in our department between 2012 and 2014, were recruited for this prospective evaluation. At the end of therapy, each patient was asked to grade the skills and the care provided by radiation therapists, physicians, and physician’s assistants, as well as the overall satisfaction during therapy. Statistical analysis was performed to determine which parameters had the greatest influence on overall satisfaction. Results Overall satisfaction with the provided care was high with a mean satisfaction score of 1.4. Significant correlations were found between overall satisfaction and each of the following survey items: courtesy, protection of privacy, professional skills and care provided by the radiation therapists and physicians, accuracy of provided information, and cleanliness. Linear regression analysis demonstrated that courteous behavior and the protection of privacy were the strongest predictors for overall satisfaction (P<0.001), followed by care and skills of physicians and radiation therapists. Patients suffering from head and neck cancer expressed lower overall satisfaction. Conclusion Based on our prospectively acquired data, we were able to identify and confirm key factors for patient satisfaction in an outpatient radiooncological cancer center. From these results, we conclude that patients want most importantly to be treated with courtesy, protection of privacy and care.
ACMAC ’ s PrePrint Repository

The force-based quasicontinuum (QCF) approximation is a nonconservative atomistic/continuum hybrid model for the simulation of defects in crystals. We present an a priori error analysis of the QCF method, applied to a one-dimensional periodic chain, that is valid for an arbitrary interaction range, large deformations, and takes coarse-graining into account. Our main tool in this analysis is a new concept of atomistic stress. Moreover, we formulate a new atomistic/continuum coupling mechanism based on coupling stresses instead of forces and extend the a priori analysis to this new method. We show that the new method has several theoretical advantages over the original QCF method. This work was supported by the EPSRC Critical Mass Programme “New Frontiers in the Mathematics of Solids” (OxMOS). CM wishes to acknowledge the hospitality of OxMOS while visiting the Oxford Mathematical Institute. The research of CM was partially supported by the FP7-REGPOT project “Archimedes Centre for Modeling, Analysis and Computations. ” The research of CO was partially supported by the EPSRC grant “Analysis of atomistic-to-continuum coupling methods. ” C. Makridakis Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Crete, GR 714 09 Heraklion-Crete Tel. : +3
A Markov Chain Sampler for Plane Curves

Abstract A plane curve is a knot diagram in which each crossing is replaced by a 4-valent vertex, and so are dual to a subset of planar quadrangulations. The aim of this article is to introduce a new tool for sampling diagrams via sampling of plane curves. At present the most efficient method for sampling diagrams is rejection sampling, however that method is inefficient at even modest sizes. We introduce Markov chains that sample from the space of plane curves using local moves based on Reidemeister moves. By then mapping vertices on those curves to crossings we produce random knot diagrams. Combining this chain with flat histogram methods we achieve an efficient sampler of plane curves and knot diagrams. By analyzing data from this chain we are able to estimate the number of knot diagrams of a given size and also compute knotting probabilities and so investigate their asymptotic behavior.
IL-7–dependent maintenance of ILC3s is required for normal entry of lymphocytes into lymph nodes

IL-7 is essential for the development and homeostasis of T and B lymphocytes and is critical for neonatal lymph node organogenesis because Il7−/− mice lack normal lymph nodes. Whether IL-7 is a continued requirement for normal lymph node structure and function is unknown. To address this, we ablated IL-7 function in normal adult hosts. Either inducible Il7 gene deletion or IL-7R blockade in adults resulted in a rapid loss of lymph node cellularity and a corresponding defect in lymphocyte entry into lymph nodes. Although stromal and dendritic cell components of lymph nodes were present in normal numbers and representation, innate lymphoid cell (ILC) subpopulations were substantially decreased after IL-7 ablation. Testing lymphocyte homing in bone marrow chimeras reconstituted with Rorc−/− bone marrow confirmed that ILC3s in lymph nodes are required for normal lymphocyte homing. Collectively, our data suggest that maintenance of intact lymph nodes relies on IL-7–dependent maintenance of ILC3 cells.
Clinically defined subgroups of mycosis fungoides display differing histopathological features at initial biopsy

Abstract Most patients with mycosis fungoides (MF) remain in early disease stages but some progress to tumor stage. The individual course of the disease cannot be predicted. We wanted to assess the clinical and histological characteristics of the first available biopsy. An end-of-spectrum approach with two groups was used, comparing MF remaining long-term stable in T1a (‘MF stable’) and MF with later tumor development or present T3 stage (‘MF tumor’). The clinical and histomorphological features of the initial skin biopsy were compared. Patients in the ‘MF tumor’ group presented initially with higher disease stages. The first biopsies of ‘MF tumor’ patients showed significantly higher infiltrate density and depth, more large cells and a higher proliferative index. In summary, long-term stable MF seems to differ in clinical and histopathological parameters from MF with T3 evolution/presence already at the time point of the initial biopsy. Our findings might indicate a predetermined biologic behavior.
Bladder Cancer: New Insights into Its Molecular Pathology

Bladder cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide. Unfortunately, there have been few advances in its clinical management due to a poor understanding of the correlations between its molecular and clinical features. Mounting evidence suggests that bladder cancer comprises a group of molecularly heterogeneous diseases that undergo a variety of clinical courses and possess diverse therapeutic responses. Owing to the close association between its molecular subtypes and clinicopathological features, specific therapeutic strategies have recently been suggested. This review summarizes the current understanding of the molecular pathology of bladder cancer, including its molecular biomarkers/pathways and molecular subtypes that have been newly identified using high-throughput technologies. It also discusses advances in our understanding of personalized treatments for specific molecular subtypes.
Effects of inulin on faecal bifidobacteria in human subjects

A controlled study with eight healthy free-living subjects was carried out, in which energy intake was adjusted to the individual energy requirements. On administration of inulin, blood lipids, the faecal microflora, short-chain fatty acids and accompanying gastrointestinal symptoms were characterized in order to investigate the long-term effect of inulin. During the run-in phase (8 d), subjects received a typical Western diet providing 45 % energy as fat and 40 % energy as carbohydrate. Subsequently, the subjects consumed a fat-reduced diet which provided 30 % energy as fat and 55 % energy as carbohydrate for a period of 64 d using inulin as a fat replacer. The amounts of inulin consumed by the subjects (up to 34 g/d) were based on individual energy requirements with the aim to keep the diet isoenergetic with that used in the run-in period. To assess the effects of inulin administration, a control study (run-in and intervention) was carried out in which subjects consumed the same diet but devoid of inulin during the whole course of the study. To investigate the effect of inulin on faecal flora composition total bacteria and bifidobacteria in the faeces were enumerated by in situ hybridization with 16S rRNA targeted oligonucleotide probes. Inulin significantly increased bifidobacteria from 9·8 to 11·0 log10/g dry faeces and caused a moderate increase in gastrointestinal symptoms such as flatulence and bloatedness, whereas blood lipids and short-chain fatty acids remained essentially unaffected.
Coastal Storms, Toxic Runoff, and the Sustainable Conservation of Fish and Fisheries

Nonpoint source pollution in the form of stormwater runoff is one of the most important emerging threats to ecosystems along the coastal margins of the United States. A wide diversity of potentially toxic chemicals is commonly found in stormwater. These include the various pesticides, petroleum hydrocarbons, heavy met- als, and other common contaminants that originate from commercial, industrial, resi- dential, and agricultural land-use activities. These chemicals are mobilized from roads, lawns, crops, and other surfaces by rainfall and then transported to aquatic habitats via terrestrial runoff. The ongoing development of coastal watersheds nationwide is increasing the loading of nonpoint source pollutants to rivers, estuaries, and the near- shore marine environment. A central aim of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's national Coastal Storms Program (CSP) is to enhance the resiliency of coastal ecosystems by improving the ability of coastal communities to anticipate and reduce the impacts of contaminated terrestrial runoff. Toxic chemicals in stormwater can adversely impact the health of fish, including threatened and endangered species. Nonpoint source pollution can also degrade the biological integrity of aquatic com- munities that support productive fish populations. This article examines the effects of stormwater runoff on fish and fisheries. Using case studies drawn from CSP project work in the Pacific Northwest and Southern California pilot regions, we show how de - graded water quality can impact the health of fish during critical life history stages (i.e., spawning and rearing) as well as limit the overall effectiveness of fish habitat restora - tion. We also discuss some of the resources currently available to local communities to reduce the loading of toxics in stormwater, thereby increasing the resilience of aquatic communities. Finally, we identify priority areas for new research to help guide the fu- ture conservation and recovery of at-risk fish populations. Coastal waters are one of the nation's greatest assets, yet they are being bom- barded with pollutants from a variety of sources. While progress has been made in reducing point sources of pollution, nonpoint source pollution has increased and is the primary cause of nutrient enrichment, hypoxia, harmful algal blooms, toxic contaminants, and other problems that plague coastal wa- ters. Nonpoint source pollution occurs when rainfall and snowmelt wash pol- lutants such as fertilizers, pesticides, bacteria, viruses, pet waste, sediments, oil, chemicals, and litter into our rivers and coastal waters… Our failure to manage the human activities that affect the nation's oceans is compromising their ecological integrity, diminishing our ability to fully realize their poten- tial, costing us jobs and revenue, threatening human health, and putting our future at risk (U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy 2004). Today, nonpoint sources represent the greatest pollution threat to our oceans and coasts. Every acre of farmland and stretch of road in a watershed is a non-
Facial Expression Recognition and Analysis: A Comparison Study of Feature Descriptors

Facial expression recognition (FER) is a crucial technology and a challenging task for human–computer interaction. Previous methods have been using different feature descriptors for FER and there is a lack of comparison study. In this paper, we aim to identify the best features descriptor for FER by empirically evaluating five feature descriptors, namely Gabor, Haar, Local Binary Pattern (LBP), Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG), and Binary Robust Independent Elementary Features (BRIEF) descriptors. We examine each feature descriptor by considering six classification methods, such as k-Nearest Neighbors (k-NN), Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Adaptive Boosting (AdaBoost) with four unique facial expression datasets. In addition to test accuracies, we present confusion matrices of FER. We also analyze the effect of combined features and image resolutions on FER performance. Our study indicates that HOG descriptor works the best for FER when image resolution of a detected face is higher than 48×48 pixels.
Cellular Effects in an In Vitro Human 3D Cellular Airway Model and A549/BEAS-2B In Vitro Cell Cultures Following Air Exposure to Cerium Oxide Particles at an Air–Liquid Interface

Abstract There is a need for representative in vitro models to assess the effects of airborne particles on lung health. The objective of this study was to assess the cellular effects of cerium oxide (CeO2) particles exposed via an air–liquid interface in three relevant cell models in parallel. BEAS-2B, A549, and MucilAir™ cells were exposed for 1 hour to CeO2 particles comprising a range of doses (0.04–3.0 μg/cm2) and sizes (0.75 μm and 13.8 nm primary particle size). MucilAir cells are complex 3D cell systems with intact mucocilairy system and are cultured at air–liquid interface, in contrast to the simple cell lines A549 and BEAS 2B, which are essentially immersion models. Cell responses varied according to cell type used. BEAS-2B and A549 cells (normally cultured in liquid media) were sensitive to air exposure alone and exposure to CeO2 particles in terms of cytotoxicity, inflammation, and genotoxicity. MucilAir cells normally cultured at an air–liquid interface were insensitive to the air stream alone.
Pulmonary endarterectomy for patients with chronic thromboembolic disease

Objective: Chronic thromboembolic disease (CTED) is characterized by persistent pulmonary thromboembolic occlusions without pulmonary hypertension. Early surgical treatment by performing pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) may improve symptoms. The goal of the study was to review our experience and early outcome of PEA in patients with CTED. Methods: Data were prospectively collected on all patients who underwent PEA between 2011 and 2015. Patients with CTED and a mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) of <25 mm Hg were identified. All patients were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class II or III. Measured outcomes were in-hospital complications, improvement in cardiac function and exercise capacity, and survival after PEA. Patients were reassessed at 6 months following surgery. Results: A total of 23 patients underwent surgery. There was no in-hospital mortality, but complications occurred in six patients (26%). At 6 months following surgery, 93% of the patients remained alive. Following PEA, the mPAP fell significantly from 21.0±2.7 mm Hg to 18.2±5.5 mm Hg (p<.001). Pulmonary vascular resistance also significantly decreased from 2.2±0.7 wood to 1.5±0.5 wood (p<.001). The 6-min walking distance significantly increased from 322.6±80.4 m to 379.9±68.2 m (p<.001). There was a significant symptomatic improvement in all survivors in NYHA functional classes I or II at 6 months following surgery (p=.001). Conclusion: PEA in selected patients with CTED resulted in significant improvement in symptoms. The selection of patients for undergoing PEA in the absence of pulmonary hypertension must be made based on patients’ expectations and their acceptance of the perioperative risk.
Genetic analysis of yield and yield related attributes in Brassica napus

Diallel analysis in Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) was carried out during 2011-2012 at The University of Agriculture, Peshawar to estimate the pattern of inheritance and heritability for important traits. During 2010-2011 four contrasting genotypes of Brassica napus. viz. G2, G4, G6 and G9 were crossed in a diallel manner and in the following season (2011-2012) all the F1 hybrids along with parents were evaluated under field condition in a randomized complete block design. Highly significant (P ≤ 0.01) differences were observed for plant height, primary branches plant -1 , seeds pod -1 , pods plant -1 , weight of 1000 seed, seed weight plant -1 . Additive-dominance model was fully adequate for plant height, primary branches plant -1 , pods plant -1 , seeds pod -1 , whereas for the rest of the traits it was partially adequate. Diallel analysis showed significant additive (a) and dominance (b) variances for all parameters. Genetic parameters estimation showed significant and higher magnitude of dominance component for all the studied traits. Graphical analysis showed overdominance for all of the parameters. The value of average degree of dominance for plant height (1.858), primary branches plant -1 (4.355), pods plant -1 (3.704), seeds pod -1 (2.417), 1000 seed weight (3.995) and seed weight plant -1 (1.852) also indicated the presence of overdominance gene action controlling these yield attributes, as it was greater than one. Low narrow (0.16-0.31) and broad (0.81-0.96) sense heritabilities were estimated for all the studied parameters, suggesting the low value of additive gene action and genetic potential for the improvement of such traits through selection in later generations.
TIE: An Ability Test of Emotional Intelligence

The Test of Emotional Intelligence (TIE) is a new ability scale based on a theoretical model that defines emotional intelligence as a set of skills responsible for the processing of emotion-relevant information. Participants are provided with descriptions of emotional problems, and asked to indicate which emotion is most probable in a given situation, or to suggest the most appropriate action. Scoring is based on the judgments of experts: professional psychotherapists, trainers, and HR specialists. The validation study showed that the TIE is a reliable and valid test, suitable for both scientific research and individual assessment. Its internal consistency measures were as high as . 88. In line with theoretical model of emotional intelligence, the results of the TIE shared about 10% of common variance with a general intelligence test, and were independent of major personality dimensions.
Differences in plasma metabolomics between sows fed dl-methionine and its hydroxy analogue reveal a strong association of milk composition and neonatal growth with maternal methionine nutrition

The aim of the present study was to determine whether increased consumption of methionine as dl-methionine (DLM) or its hydroxy analogue dl-2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid (HMTBA) could benefit milk synthesis and neonatal growth. For this purpose, eighteen cross-bred (Landrace × Yorkshire) primiparous sows were fed a control (CON), DLM or HMTBA diet (n 6 per diet) from 0 to 14 d post-partum. At postnatal day 14, piglets in the HMTBA group had higher body weight (P= 0·02) than those in the CON group, tended (P= 0·07) to be higher than those in the DLM group, and had higher (P< 0·05) mRNA abundance of jejunal fatty acid-binding protein 2, intestinal than those in the CON and DLM groups. Compared with the CON diet-fed sows, milk protein, non-fat solid, and lysine, histidine and ornithine concentrations decreased in the DLM diet-fed sows (P< 0·05), and milk fat, lactose, and cysteine and taurine concentrations increased in the HMTBA diet-fed sows (P< 0·05). Plasma homocysteine and urea N concentrations that averaged across time were increased (P< 0·05) in sows fed the DLM diet compared with those fed the CON diet. Metabolomic results based on 1H NMR spectroscopy revealed that consumption of the HMTBA and DLM diets increased (P< 0·05) both sow plasma methionine and valine levels; however, consumption of the DLM diet led to lower (P< 0·05) plasma levels of lysine, tyrosine, glucose and acetate and higher (P< 0·05) plasma levels of citrate, lactate, formate, glycerol, myo-inositol and N-acetyl glycoprotein in sows. Collectively, neonatal growth and milk synthesis were regulated by dietary methionine levels and sources, which resulted in marked alterations in amino acid, lipid and glycogen metabolism.