Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Racial/ethnic differences in treatment recommendations: lifestyle changes and medication prescriptions for high cholesterol

ABSTRACT Objective: High cholesterol is a common condition in the United States, affecting nearly one third of adults, and is a leading precursor to coronary heart disease. This study investigates race/ethnic differences in treatment recommendations for patients with high cholesterol, including prescription medication and lifestyle changes such as eating less fat, losing weight, or exercising more. Design: Data were obtained from the 2005 to 2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (N = 4846), a representative sample of adults in the United States, and the 2005–2010 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (N = 12,113), a representative sample of patient visits in the United States. Logistic regression analyses were used to assess whether health professionals recommended lifestyle changes or medication prescriptions differently by patient race/ethnicity and age. Models adjusted for demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, health behaviors, health care access/utilization, and comorbidities. Results: Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic patients with high cholesterol were significantly and substantially more likely to receive recommendations for lifestyle changes compared to non-Hispanic White patients. These differences were exacerbated at younger ages and largely diminished for adults over the age of 65. These patterns were reflected in both datasets. However, non-Hispanic Black patients from the NHANES analysis were less likely than non-Hispanic White patients to receive medication prescriptions for high cholesterol, particularly at younger ages. There were no race/ethnic differences in odds of medication prescriptions for Hispanic patients compared to White patients. Conclusions: Results suggest widespread and pervasive race/ethnic differences in recommending lifestyle changes for patients with high cholesterol. Although lifestyle changes may lower cholesterol they are often less effective than prescription medication. Because differences in lifestyle recommendations were not reflected in prescription practices, results may indicate a form of discrimination within physician-patient interactions that could be addressed by increased provider education about most effective treatment practices.
Multi-objective optimization of takeoff and landing procedures:level abatement vs quality improvement of aircraft noise

The present paper deals with an original multi–objective optimization approach to the mitigation of the acoustic impact of commercial aircraft. The method is based on the coupling of the classical noise level reduction approach and an innovative sound-quality assessment method, developed during the EC–funded projects SEFA (Sound Engineering For Aircraft, FP6, 2004–2007) and COSMA (Community Noise Solutions to Minimise aircraft noise Annoyance, FP7, 2009–2012). Indeed, the increase of air traffic and the rapid expansion of urban areas around airports are making the aviation community noise a key aspect of the sustainable development of the transportation system. As a consequence, the scientific and industrial research community is focusing the attention on the development of innovative aircraft configurations, aimed at a substantial reduction of the acoustic impact of aircraft. Unfortunately, such a new concepts will be ready for operation only in the long–term, thus making extremely urgent the identification of alternative strategies to mitigate the impact on the residential community. The present work addresses the problem by integrating into the multi–objective, multi-disciplinary optimization framework developed and validated in COSMA, the sound–matching criterion developed within SEFA, with a noise–level based indicator minimization. Specifically, the two merit factors to be minimized are the norm of the difference between the noise produced by the configuration under analysis and a target sound, and the EPNL (effective perceived noise level) at a certification point. The target sounds are obtained by synthesis, using sound engineering techniques aimed at the sound quality improvement, on the basis of the results of the psychometric tests campaigns performed in SEFA and COSMA. The simultaneous reduction of the two objective functions is achieved through a multi-objective optimization problem adopting global evolution methods, as implemented within the MDO environment FRIDA (FRamework for Innovative Design in Aeronautics). Results will be presented for procedure optimization in terms of Pareto fronts, for two types of aircraft in both take off and landing conditions.
Determining Application-Specific Peak Power and Energy Requirements for Ultra-Low-Power Processors

Many emerging applications such as the Internet of Things, wearables, implantables, and sensor networks are constrained by power and energy. These applications rely on ultra-low-power processors that have rapidly become the most abundant type of processor manufactured today. In the ultra-low-power embedded systems used by these applications, peak power and energy requirements are the primary factors that determine critical system characteristics, such as size, weight, cost, and lifetime. While the power and energy requirements of these systems tend to be application specific, conventional techniques for rating peak power and energy cannot accurately bound the power and energy requirements of an application running on a processor, leading to overprovisioning that increases system size and weight. In this article, we present an automated technique that performs hardware–software coanalysis of the application and ultra-low-power processor in an embedded system to determine application-specific peak power and energy requirements. Our technique provides more accurate, tighter bounds than conventional techniques for determining peak power and energy requirements. Also, unlike conventional approaches, our technique reports guaranteed bounds on peak power and energy independent of an application’s input set. Tighter bounds on peak power and energy can be exploited to reduce system size, weight, and cost.
The Motivating Role of Violence in Video Games

Six studies, two survey based and four experimental, explored the relations between violent content and people's motivation and enjoyment of video game play. Based on self-determination theory, the authors hypothesized that violence adds little to enjoyment or motivation for typical players once autonomy and competence need satisfactions are considered. As predicted, results from all studies showed that enjoyment, value, and desire for future play were robustly associated with the experience of autonomy and competence in gameplay. Violent content added little unique variance in accounting for these outcomes and was also largely unrelated to need satisfactions. The studies also showed that players high in trait aggression were more likely to prefer or value games with violent contents, even though violent contents did not reliably enhance their game enjoyment or immersion. Discussion focuses on the significance of the current findings for individuals and the understanding of motivation in virtual environments.
Clinical impact of albumin in advanced head and neck cancer patients with free flap reconstruction—a retrospective study

Background Poor nutritional status among patients with advanced stage head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is common. Albumin is a common indicator of nutritional status and has been shown to be a predictor of oncological outcomes and perioperative morbidity. This study aims to determine the prognostic value of the serum albumin level among patients with advanced HNSCC undergoing surgery with simultaneous free flap reconstruction. Methods A total of 233 patients with advanced head and neck cancer undergoing tumor resection and immediate microvascular free flap reconstruction in a tertiary referral center were enrolled retrospectively between January 2009 and December 2011. Statistical analyses including Pearson’s chi-squared test were used to determine whether there was a significant difference between each selected clinical factors and postoperative major wound infection. Multiple regression analysis was performed to reveal the relationship between postoperative major wound infection and clinical factors. Kaplan–Meier curves and multivariate Cox regression were applied to analyse survival outcome for overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Results Postoperative serum albumin level (p < 0.001) and tumor location were both significantly associated with postoperative major wound infection (p = 0.018) in univariate analysis. Multiple regression analysis showed a higher risk of postoperative major wound infection among patients with postoperative hypoalbuminemia than in their counterparts (odds ratio [OR] 9.811, 95% CI [2.288–42.065], p = 0.002). Patients with a tumor located over the hypopharynx experienced increased risk of postoperative major wound infection (OR 2.591, 95% CI [1.095–6.129], p = 0.030). With respect to oncological outcomes, preoperative serum albumin level is a significant independent prognostic factor for overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Conclusions Postoperative hypoalbuminemia is a useful indicator for the development of postoperative complications. In addition, preoperative hypoalbuminemia is a negative prognostic factor for patients who have undergone tumor excision and free flap reconstruction for the advanced stage of HNSCC.
Effects of olanzapine on the elevation of macrophage infiltration and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in female rats

The metabolic side-effects of olanzapine have undermined drug compliance and increased concern for this otherwise-effective treatment for schizophrenia. As obesity and type 2 diabetes are associated with low-grade inflammation, and olanzapine-induced weight gain has three typical stages, the current study investigated the inflammatory effects of olanzapine in three treatment stages. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were treated orally with olanzapine (1 mg/kg three times daily) or vehicle for one week, two weeks, and five weeks. Olanzapine significantly increased body weight and white visceral fat deposition in all three treatment stages compared to control. Olanzapine enhanced average adipocyte size and level of macrophage infiltration in white adipose tissue (WAT) compared to control, with levels of macrophage infiltration increased over time. There was a high correlation between adipocyte size and macrophage infiltration rate. Olanzapine also caused increased macrophage infiltration in brown adipose tissue (BAT), but not liver. Additionally, pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 were upregulated by olanzapine in the hypothalamus, WAT, and BAT compared to control, but not the liver. Finally, plasma triglycerides were elevated by olanzapine compared to control, but not total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) or low density lipoprotein (LDL). These findings indicate that olanzapine-induced inflammation and adiposity are closely related, and that peripheral low-grade inflammation develops during olanzapine treatment.
Epidemiology of multiple myeloma in 17 Latin American countries: an update

The objective of this study was to describe incidence, mortality rates, and trends for multiple myeloma (MM) in Latin America (LA), contributing to better knowledge on the epidemiology of MM in this continent. Incidence data were extracted from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), for the period 1990–2007. Mortality data were obtained for 17 countries from the World Health Organization, for the period 1995–2013. Annual average percentage change (AAPC) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were calculated for incidence and mortality. The average incidence rate of MM was higher in Cali (Colombia). For the age‐group over 60 years old, rates were 14.2 and 12.8 per 100,000 inhabitants for men and women, respectively. Increasing incidence trends were verified for Cali (Colombia). Mortality rates were higher among men; most countries presented increasing trends, and the highest increments were observed in Guatemala (12.5% [95% CI: 10.6; 14.5] in men; 8.8% [95% CI: 7.8; 9.8] in women), Ecuador (5.5% [95% CI: 5.0; 6.0] in men; 3.7 [95% CI: 3.1; 4.3] in women), Paraguay (2.9% [95% CI: 2.3; 3.5] in men; 3.2% [95% CI: 2.1; 4.3] in women), and Brazil (1.4% [95% CI: 1.3; 1.5] in men; 0.9% [95% CI: 0.8; 1.0] in women). Multiple myeloma presented heterogeneous incidence patterns in Cali (Colombia), Quito (Ecuador), and Costa Rica. Increasing mortality trends were verified for most Latin American countries and could be related to limited access to diagnosis and new therapies.
Efficacy and safety of prolonged dual antiplatelet therapy: a meta-analysis of 15 randomized trials enrolling 85 265 patients.

AIMS The optimal duration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in patients with ischaemic cardiovascular (CV) disease is still debated. Previous meta-analyses reported conflicting results about prolonged DAPT on mortality and major CV events. Aim of this study was to assess the effects of prolonged vs. no/short-term DAPT on myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, bleeding, and mortality. METHODS AND RESULTS Trial inclusion criteria were: randomization to prolonged duration vs. no/short DAPT; reporting of at least one outcome among overall and CV death, MI, stroke, major non-fatal, fatal, and intracranial bleeding. Fifteen randomized studies including 85 265 patients were included. Prolonged DAPT, compared with no or short DAPT, significantly reduced MI (RR: 0.785, 95% CI: 0.729-0.845, P < 0.001) and stroke (RR: 0.851, 95% CI: 0.754-0.959, P = 0.008), but had no effect on overall (RR: 0.989, 95% CI: 0.921-1.061, P = 0.751) or CV (RR: 0.951, 95% CI: 0.872-1.037, P = 0.258) mortality. Prolonged DAPT significantly increased major non-fatal (RR: 1.690, CI: 1.322-2.159, P < 0.001), but not intracranial or fatal bleeding (RR: 1.236, CI: 0.899-1.698, P = 0.192, RR: 1.069, CI: 0.760-1.503, P = 0.703; respectively). The effects of DAPT were similar to those reported in the overall analysis in patients with stable CV disease, whereas in those with unstable CV disease only the significant reduction of stroke was not confirmed. Dual antiplatelet therapy prolonged beyond 1 year significantly reduced MI but not stroke, all-cause, or CV death. It significantly increased the risk of major non-fatal bleeding, with no difference in intracranial and fatal bleeding. CONCLUSION Prolonged DAPT significantly reduced ischaemic CV events but not mortality. Even if a significant increase of major non-fatal bleeding was detected, no increased risks of intracranial and fatal bleeding were observed.
Stereoselective Metabolism of Bupropion to OH-bupropion, Threohydrobupropion, Erythrohydrobupropion, and 4′-OH-bupropion in vitro

Bupropion is a widely used antidepressant, smoking cessation aid, and weight-loss therapy. It is administered as a racemic mixture, but the pharmacokinetics and activity of bupropion are stereoselective. The activity and side effects of bupropion are attributed to bupropion and its metabolites S,S- and R,R-OH-bupropion, threohydrobupropion, and erythrohydrobupropion. Yet the stereoselective metabolism in vitro and the enzymes contributing to the stereoselective disposition of bupropion have not been characterized. In humans, the fraction of bupropion metabolized (fm) to the CYP2B6 probe metabolite OH-bupropion is 5–16%, but ticlopidine increases bupropion exposure by 61%, suggesting a 40% CYP2B6 and/or CYP2C19 fm for bupropion. Yet, the CYP2C19 contribution to bupropion clearance has not been defined, and the enzymes contributing to overall bupropion metabolite formation have not been fully characterized. The aim of this study was to characterize the stereoselective metabolism of bupropion in vitro to explain the stereoselective pharmacokinetics and the effect of drug-drug interactions (DDIs) and CYP2C19 pharmacogenetics on bupropion exposure. The data predict that threohydrobupropion accounts for 50 and 82%, OH-bupropion for 34 and 12%, erythrohydrobupropion for 8 and 4%, and 4′-OH-bupropion for 8 and 2% of overall R- and S-bupropion clearance, respectively. The fm,CYP2B6 was predicted to be 21%, and the fm,CYP2C19, 6% for racemic bupropion. Importantly, ticlopidine was found to inhibit all metabolic pathways of bupropion in vitro, including threohydrobupropion, erythrohydrobupropion, and 4′OH-bupropion formation, explaining the in vivo DDI. The stereoselective pharmacokinetics of bupropion were quantitatively explained by the in vitro metabolic clearances and in vivo interconversion between bupropion stereoisomers.
The boundaries of reciprocal cooperation

The current research examines the role of social value orientation in determining the extent to which individuals are inclined to reciprocate cooperation exhibited by others perceived as either honest, intelligent, or unintelligent. Results revealed that individuals with prosocial orientation reciprocated high levels of cooperation regardless of other's characteristics. Individuals with proself orientation (i.e. individualists and competitors) exhibited some reciprocal cooperation toward others perceived as honest, yet took advantage of others perceived as intelligent or unintelligent. These results suggest that proselfs can be motivated to reciprocate cooperation by others if they have faith in others' benign intentions and trustworthiness. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pre-Training CNNs Using Convolutional Autoencoders

Despite convolutional neural networks being the state of the art in almost all computer vision tasks, their training remains a difficult task. Unsupervised representation learning using a convolutional autoencoder can be used to initialize network weights and has been shown to improve test accuracy after training. We reproduce previous results using this approach and successfully apply it to the difficult Extended Cohn-Kanade dataset for which labels are extremely sparse but additional unlabeled data is available for unsupervised use.
GREENHOUSE GAS FLUXES IN TROPICAL AND TEMPERATE AGRICULTURE : THE NEED FOR A FULL-COST ACCOUNTING OF GLOBAL WARMING POTENTIALS

Agriculture’s contribution to radiative forcing is principally through its historical release of carbon in soil and vegetation to the atmosphere and through its contemporary release of nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4). The sequestration of soil carbon in soils now depleted in soil organic matter is a well-known strategy for mitigating the buildup of CO2 in the atmosphere. Less well-recognized are other mitigation potentials. A full-cost accounting of the effects of agriculture on greenhouse gas emissions is necessary to quantify the relative importance of all mitigation options. Such an analysis shows nitrogen fertilizer, agricultural liming, fuel use, N2O emissions, and CH4 fluxes to have additional significant potential for mitigation. By evaluating all sources in terms of their global warming potential it becomes possible to directly evaluate greenhouse policy options for agriculture. A comparison of temperate and tropical systems illustrates some of these options.
Psychological factors as risk factors for poor hip function after total hip arthroplasty

Recovery after total hip arthroplasty (THA) is influenced by several psychological aspects, such as depression, anxiety, resilience, and personality traits. We hypothesized that preoperative depression impedes early functional outcome after THA (primary outcome measure). Additional objectives were perioperative changes in the psychological status and their influence on perioperative outcome. This observational study analyzed depression, anxiety, resilience, and personality traits in 50 patients after primary unilateral THA. Hip functionality was measured by means of the Harris Hip Score. Depression, state anxiety, and resilience were evaluated preoperatively as well as 1 and 5 weeks postoperatively. Trait anxiety and personality traits were measured once preoperatively. Patients with low depression and anxiety levels had significantly better outcomes with respect to early hip functionality. Resilience and personality traits did not relate to hip functionality. Depression and state anxiety levels significantly decreased within the 5-week stay in the acute and rehabilitation clinic, whereas resilience remained at the same level. Our study suggests that low depression and anxiety levels are positively related to early functionality after THA. Therefore, perioperative measurements of these factors seem to be useful to provide the best support for patients with risk factors.
Global transcriptome and coexpression network analyses reveal cultivar‐specific molecular signatures associated with seed development and seed size/weight determination in chickpea

Seed development is an intricate process regulated via a complex transcriptional regulatory network. To understand the molecular mechanisms governing seed development and seed size/weight in chickpea, we performed a comprehensive analysis of transcriptome dynamics during seed development in two cultivars with contrasting seed size/weight (small-seeded, Himchana 1 and large-seeded, JGK 3). Our analysis identified stage-specific expression for a significant proportion (>13%) of the genes in each cultivar. About one half of the total genes exhibited significant differential expression in JGK 3 as compared with Himchana 1. We found that different seed development stages can be delineated by modules of coexpressed genes. A comparative analysis revealed differential developmental stage specificity of some modules between the two cultivars. Furthermore, we constructed transcriptional regulatory networks and identified key components determining seed size/weight. The results suggested that extended period of cell division during embryogenesis and higher level of endoreduplication along with more accumulation of storage compounds during maturation determine large seed size/weight. Further, we identified quantitative trait loci-associated candidate genes harboring single nucleotide polymorphisms in the promoter sequences that differentiate small- and large-seeded chickpea cultivars. The results provide a valuable resource to dissect the role of candidate genes governing seed development and seed size/weight in chickpea.