Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of hospital outcomes and resource use in acute COPD exacerbation patients managed by teaching versus nonteaching services in a community hospital

RATIONALE, AIMS, AND OBJECTIVES The impact of teaching versus nonteaching services on outcomes and resource use in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) is unknown. The aim of the study is to evaluate the impact of an internal medicine teaching service compared to a nonteaching service on outcomes and resource use in patients admitted with AECOPD in a community teaching hospital. METHODS A retrospective cohort study of patients admitted for a primary diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation to Florida Hospital Orlando, a large community teaching hospital, between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2014. Data were extracted from Premier administrative database. Risk adjusted length of stay (LOS), cost of hospitalization, 30-day readmissions, and mortality rate were measured. Risk adjustment for outcomes was based on Premier CareScience methodology. RESULTS A total of 1419 patients were included, 306 in the teaching group and 1113 in the nonteaching group. Risk adjusted cost and LOS were significantly lower in the teaching group compared to the nonteaching group (observed/expected cost 0.66 vs 1.06, P < .001) and (observed/expected LOS 0.93 vs 1.69, P < .001), respectively. No significant difference was found between the 2 groups in risk adjusted mortality and readmissions (P = .48 and .89, respectively). Use of consults was significantly lower in the teaching groups with 73% vs 31% of the patient in the teaching group had no consults compared to the nonteaching group (P < .001). The teaching service was significantly associated with decreased use of consults after adjustment for other variables (odds ratio, 0.17, 95% CI, 0.15-0.23, P < .001). CONCLUSION The teaching service had more favorable outcomes compared to nonteaching services in patients hospitalized for AECOPD. The physician practice model has a major impact on the cost, LOS, and use of consults in patients with AECOPD.
A Discrete RET Model for Millimeter-Wave Propagation Through Vegetation

A modified discrete radiative energy transfer (dRET) model has been developed envisaging to overcome some of the limitations found in the original dRET formulation, namely in terms of angular resolution, oblique and nonuniform incidence, and antenna patterns. In addition, the discretized squared nature of the dRET model can lead to some amount of staircase error. Hence, this paper also proposes an input parameter scaling model, enabling the characterization of tree cells with reduced size. The performance of the modified dRET model is assessed not only against the current ITU-R P.833–8 recommendation for propagation in vegetation but also against directional spectra measurements conducted in an outdoor inhomogeneous forest at 20 and 62.4 GHz.
Liver stiffness measurement predicted liver‐related events and all‐cause mortality: A systematic review and nonlinear dose–response meta‐analysis

Numerous studies have investigated the prognosis value of the liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by transient elastography in assessing the risk of liver‐related events (LREs) and all‐cause mortality in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). However, the shape of the dose–response relationship between them remains unclear. We searched PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and reference lists of articles for studies published up to July 1, 2017, that assessed the LSM in predicting LREs and all‐cause mortality among subjects with CLD. Fifty‐four observational cohort studies with 35,249 participants were included. Summary relative risks (RRs) were calculated using a random‐effects model, and a restricted cubic spline function was used to model the dose–response association. LREs and all‐cause mortality were increased in subjects with a high LSM (LRE: RR, 7.90; 95% confidence interval [CI], 5.65, 11.05; I2 = 71.6%; all‐cause mortality: RR, 4.15; 95% CI, 2.56, 6.72; I2 = 68.5%). For each unit increment of liver stiffness, the summary RR was 1.06 (95% CI, 1.06, 1.07; I2 = 74.6%) for LREs and 1.06 (95% CI, 1.04, 1.07; I2 = 55.7%) for all‐cause mortality. A positive relationship with a nonlinear trend for LSM with LREs and all‐cause mortality was examined by a dose–response meta‐analysis (P < 0.001). When stratified by etiology, a nonlinear association was also found in patients infected with hepatitis C virus and those coinfected with hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus. In contrast, there was no evidence of departure from linearity among patients with hepatitis B virus infection (Pnonlinearity = 0.072). Conclusion: LSM is useful in screening LREs and all‐cause mortality in patients with CLD. Further studies are warranted in assessing the application of LSM in monitoring the risk of LREs and all‐cause mortality in clinical practice. (Hepatology Communications 2018;2:467‐476)
Stabilization of periodic orbits of the buck converter by time‐delayed feedback

Time-delay autosynchronization (TDAS) can be used to stabilize unstable periodic orbits in dynamical systems. The technique involves continuous feedback of signals delayed by the orbit's period so that the feedback signal vanishes on the target orbit and hence the later is a solution of the original dynamical system. Furthermore, this control method only requires the knowledge of the period of the unstable orbit. The feedback gain needed to achieve stabilization varies with the bifurcation parameter(s) of the system, resulting in a domain of control, the computation of which requires, in general, detailed information about the target orbit(s). In this paper we compute the domain of control of the unstable periodic orbits of the PWM controlled buck converter for a couple of TDAS schemes. For both schemes we get an analytical expression for the closed curve whose index determines the stability, and this index is then numerically computed. We run several simulations of the controlled systems and discuss the results. The main result is that TDAS greatly increases the range of values of the input voltage where the PWM control yields a periodic orbit with a small rippling.
Mandatory CCCTB implementation in the Eurozone and its impact on corporate tax revenues in the Czech republic

The European Commission has been attempting to coordinate the corporate taxation systems of the EU Member States since 1962. One of the most ambitious projects in the history of the harmonization effort was introduced on 16 March 2011, when the European Commission published, after more than ten years of work, the text of the CCCTB Directive proposal. The directive proposal suggests the consolidation regime and the allocation formula with three equally weighted factors – sales, labour and assets, i.e. the consolidated tax base should be shared among the members of the group based on those micro factors. That tax-sharing mechanism as a new allocation rule has raised much discussion and will defi nitely have an impact on EU Member States’ budgets. The aim of the paper is to research the impact of mandatory CCCTB implementation in the Eurozone on tax bases in the Czech Republic and consequently on Czech corporate tax revenues, and to identify whether the implementation of the system in the Eurozone will result in the outfl ow or infl ow of tax bases from/to the Czech Republic. The research is based on empirical data from the Amadeus and Bankscope databases covering 2,424 parent companies with 3,860 Czech subsidiaries. In order to verify the results of the research, a sensitivity analysis was also performed. The research revealed that mandatory implementation of the CCCTB system in the Eurozone would have negative impact on the tax bases currently generated and located in the Czech Republic. As a result of this fact, the Czech Republic would lose between 0.87% and 8.84% of the corporate tax liability recorded in 2011.
A Marine Bacterium, Bacillus sp. Isolated from the Sediment Samples of Algoa Bay in South Africa Produces a Polysaccharide-Bioflocculant

Bioflocculants mediate the removal of suspended particles from solution and the efficiency of flocculation is dependent on the characteristics of the flocculant. Apart from the merits of biodegradability and harmlessness, bioflocculants could be viable as industrially relevant flocculants as they are a renewable resource. Additionally, the shortcomings associated with the conventionally used flocculants such as aluminium salts and acrylamide polymers, which include dementia and cancer, highlight more the need to use bioflocculants as an alternative. Consequently, in this study a marine sediment bacterial isolate was screened for bioflocculant production. Basic local alignment search tools (BLAST) analysis of 16S ribosomal deoxyribonucleic acid (rDNA) sequence of the bacterial isolate showed 98% similarity to Bacillus thuringiensis MR-R1. The bacteria produced bioflocculant optimally with inoculum size (4% v/v) (85%), glucose (85.65%) and mixed nitrogen source (urea, ammonium chloride and yeast extract) (75.9%) and the divalent cation (Ca2+) (62.3%). Under optimal conditions, a maximum flocculating activity of over 85% was attained after 60 h of cultivation. The purified polysaccharide-bioflocculant flocculated optimally at alkaline pH 12 (81%), in the presence of Mn2+ (73%) and Ca2+ (72.8%). The high flocculation activity shown indicates that the bioflocculant may contend favourably as an alternative to the conventionally used flocculants in water treatment.
Thin, thick and dark discs in ΛCDM

In acold dark matter (� CDM) cosmology, the Milky Way accretes satellites into the stellar disc. We use cosmological simulations to assess the frequency of near disc plane and higher inclination accretion events, and collisionless simulations of satellite mergers to quantify the final state of the accreted material and the effect on the thin disc. On average, a Milky Way-sized galaxy has three subhaloes with vmax > 80 km s −1 ; seven with vmax > 60 km s −1 and 15 with vmax > 40 km s −1 merge at redshift z 1. Assuming isotropic accretion, a third of these merge at an impact angle θ 20 ◦ are twice as likely as low-inclination ones. These lead to structures that closely resemble the recently discovered inner and outer stellar haloes. They also do more damage to the Milky Way stellar disc creating a more pronounced flare, and warp; both long-lived and consistent with current observations. The most massive mergers (vmax 80 km s −1 ) heat the thin disc enough to produce a thick disc. These heated thin-disc stars are essential for obtaining a thick disc as massive as that seen in the Milky Way; they likely comprise some ∼50-90 per cent of the thick disc stars. The Milky Way thin disc must reform from fresh gas after z = 1. Only one in four of our sample Milky Way haloes experiences mergers massive and late enough to fully destroy the thin disc. We conclude that thick, thin and dark discs occur naturally within aCDM cosmology.
Influence of oxygen availability on the activities of ammonia‐oxidizing archaea

Recent studies point to the importance of oxygen (O2 ) in controlling the distribution and activity of marine ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA), one of the most abundant prokaryotes in the ocean. The AOA are associated with regions of low O2 tension in oceanic oxygen minimum zones (OMZs), and O2 availability is suggested to influence their production of the ozone-depleting greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2 O). We show that marine AOA available in pure culture sustain high ammonia oxidation activity at low μM O2 concentrations, characteristic of suboxic regions of OMZs (<10 µM O2 ), and that atmospheric concentrations of O2 may inhibit the growth of some environmental populations. We quantify the increasing N2 O production by marine AOA with decreasing O2 tensions, consistent with the plausibility of an AOA contribution to the accumulation of N2 O at the oxic-anoxic redox boundaries of OMZs. Variable sensitivity to peroxide also suggests that endogenous or exogenous reactive oxygen species are of importance in determining the environmental distribution of some populations.
Serological Evidence for Non-Lethal Exposures of Mongolian Wild Birds to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 Virus

Surveillance for highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIV) in wild birds is logistically demanding due to the very low rates of virus detection. Serological approaches may be more cost effective as they require smaller sample sizes to identify exposed populations. We hypothesized that antigenic differences between classical Eurasian H5 subtype viruses (which have low pathogenicity in chickens) and H5N1 viruses of the Goose/Guangdong/96 H5 lineage (which are HPAIV) may be used to differentiate populations where HPAIVs have been circulating, from those where they have not. To test this we performed hemagglutination inhibition assays to compare the reactivity of serum samples from wild birds in Mongolia (where HPAIV has been circulating, n = 1,832) and Europe (where HPAIV has been rare or absent, n = 497) to a panel of reference viruses including classical Eurasian H5 (of low pathogenicity), and five HPAIV H5N1 antigens of the Asian lineage A/Goose/Guangdong/1/96. Antibody titres were detected against at least one of the test antigens for 182 Mongolian serum samples (total seroprevalence of 0.10, n = 1,832, 95% adjusted Wald confidence limits of 0.09–0.11) and 25 of the European sera tested (total seroprevalence of 0.05, n = 497, 95% adjusted Wald confidence limits of 0.03–0.07). A bias in antibody titres to HPAIV antigens was found in the Mongolian sample set (22/182) that was absent in the European sera (0/25). Although the interpretation of serological data from wild birds is complicated by the possibility of exposure to multiple strains, and variability in the timing of exposure, these findings suggest that a proportion of the Mongolian population had survived exposure to HPAIV, and that serological assays may enhance the targeting of traditional HPAIV surveillance toward populations where isolation of HPAIV is more likely.
Self-Referential Encoding on Modules of Anticodon Pairs—Roots of the Biological Flow System

The proposal that the genetic code was formed on the basis of (proto)tRNA Dimer-Directed Protein Synthesis is reviewed and updated. The tRNAs paired through the anticodon loops are an indication on the process. Dimers are considered mimics of the ribosomes—structures that hold tRNAs together and facilitate the transferase reaction, and of the translation process—anticodons are at the same time codons for each other. The primitive protein synthesis system gets stabilized when the product peptides are stable and apt to bind the producers therewith establishing a self-stimulating production cycle. The chronology of amino acid encoding starts with Glycine and Serine, indicating the metabolic support of the Glycine-Serine C1-assimilation pathway, which is also consistent with evidence on origins of bioenergetics mechanisms. Since it is not possible to reach for substrates simpler than C1 and compounds in the identified pathway are apt for generating the other central metabolic routes, it is considered that protein synthesis is the beginning and center of a succession of sink-effective mechanisms that drive the formation and evolution of the metabolic flow system. Plasticity and diversification of proteins construct the cellular system following the orientation given by the flow and implementing it. Nucleic acid monomers participate in bioenergetics and the polymers are conservative memory systems for the synthesis of proteins. Protoplasmic fission is the final sink-effective mechanism, part of cell reproduction, guaranteeing that proteins don’t accumulate to saturation, which would trigger inhibition.
Fluoride Levels in Unstimulated Whole Saliva following Clinical Application of Different 5% NaF Varnishes

The aim of this study was to evaluate the fluoride release from differently formulated 5% NaF varnishes into unstimulated whole saliva in vivo. The fluoride concentration in unstimulated whole saliva was determined after the application of 3 different 5% NaF varnishes (5% NaF, 5% NaF + tricalcium phosphate [TCP], and 5% NaF + amorphous calcium phosphate [ACP]) or a placebo. Fifteen subjects were recruited and enrolled following Institutional Review Board approval based upon the inclusion/exclusion criteria of this study. A cross-over study design was used for the application of either one of the 5% NaF varnishes or a placebo. Unstimulated whole saliva was collected at baseline and at 1, 4, 6, 26, and 50 h following application and analyzed for supernatant ionic fluoride and whole fluoride by microdiffusion. Linear mixed-effects models (5% significance level) were used to determine the effects of varnish and time on the salivary fluoride concentration. The highest amount of fluoride in saliva was found 1 h after application of the fluoride varnishes, with no significant differences among the treatment varnishes with respect to whole fluoride but with lower levels for 5% NaF + ACP in the saliva supernatant. Salivary fluoride levels at 4, 6, and 26 h decreased at each time point and were generally significantly higher for 5% NaF and 5% NaF + TCP. After 50 h, fluoride levels in saliva for all groups were at or below baseline levels. In conclusion, the formulation of other ingredients in fluoride varnishes can affect the fluoride concentration in saliva. The reasons for this phenomenon warrant further investigation since it might affect efficacy of the treatment. This trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01629290).
Optic radiation injury in patients with aneurismal subarachnoid hemorrhage: A preliminary diffusion tensor imaging report

Visual field defect is one of the various clinical manifestations in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Little is known about the pathogenic mechanism of visual field defect in SAH. In the current study, we investigated the diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) finding of the optic radiation in patients with SAH following rupture of a cerebral artery aneurysm. We recruited 21 patients with aneurismal SAH (12 males, 9 females, mean age, 52.67 years; range, 41–68 years) who showed no definite lesion along the visual pathway. Twenty-one age-and sex-matched normal control subjects were also recruited. DTI data were acquired at an average of 5.9 weeks (range: 3–12 weeks) after onset and reconstruction of the optic radiation was performed using DTI-Studio software. The fractional anisotropy value, apparent diffusion coefficient value, and fiber number of the optic radiation were measured. The fractional anisotropy value of the optic radiation was significantly decreased, and the apparent diffusion coefficient value was significantly increased, in patients with aneurismal SAH than in normal control subjects. However, there was no significant difference in the fiber number of the optic radiation between patients with aneurismal SAH and normal control subjects. The decrement of fractional anisotropy value and increment of apparent diffusion coefficient value of the optic radiation in patients with aneurismal SAH suggest optic radiation injury. Therefore, we recommend a thorough evaluation for optic radiation injury in patient with aneurismal SAH.
Dance Pose Identification from Motion Capture Data: A Comparison of Classifiers

In this paper, we scrutinize the effectiveness of classification techniques in recognizing dance types based on motion-captured human skeleton data. In particular, the goal is to identify poses which are characteristic for each dance performed, based on information on body joints, acquired by a Kinect sensor. The datasets used include sequences from six folk dances and their variations. Multiple pose identification schemes are applied using temporal constraints, spatial information, and feature space distributions for the creation of an adequate training dataset. The obtained results are evaluated and discussed.
Research integrity among PhD students within clinical research at the University of Southern Denmark.

INTRODUCTION Responsible conduct of research is the basis for the credibility of all research. Research misconduct is defined as the fabrication, falsification or plagiarism committed willfully or grossly negligently in the planning, performing or reporting of research. We undertook a survey of knowledge of the attitudes towards and experiences with research misconduct among PhD students in clinical research. METHODS A questionnaire previously used in Swedish and Norwegian studies was distributed to PhD students (n = 330) affiliated with the Department of Clinical Research or Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark. RESULTS A total of 165 PhD students completed the questionnaire in full or in part, yielding an overall response rate of 50%. 18-34% reported to have heard (within the past year) about researchers who had plagiarised, falsified or fabricated data, or plagiarised publications. None reported this to occur in their own department. Few stated that they had felt under pressure to either falsify data (1%) or present results in a misleading way (3%). However, 22% stated to have felt an unethical pressure (within the past year) regarding the inclusion or order of authors. CONCLUSIONS Results indicate that, albeit at a low frequency, research misconduct involving PhD students is taking place. Likewise, a high fraction of respondents reported to have been under pressure regarding authorships, which points to questionable research practices in clinical research. FUNDING not relevant. TRIAL REGISTRATION not relevant.
Understanding Convolution for Semantic Segmentation

Recent advances in deep learning, especially deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs), have led to significant improvement over previous semantic segmentation systems. Here we show how to improve pixel-wise semantic segmentation by manipulating convolution-related operations that are of both theoretical and practical value. First, we design dense upsampling convolution (DUC) to generate pixel-level prediction, which is able to capture and decode more detailed information that is generally missing in bilinear upsampling. Second, we propose a hybrid dilated convolution (HDC) framework in the encoding phase. This framework 1) effectively enlarges the receptive fields (RF) of the network to aggregate global information; 2) alleviates what we call the "gridding issue"caused by the standard dilated convolution operation. We evaluate our approaches thoroughly on the Cityscapes dataset, and achieve a state-of-art result of 80.1% mIOU in the test set at the time of submission. We also have achieved state-of-theart overall on the KITTI road estimation benchmark and the PASCAL VOC2012 segmentation task. Our source code can be found at https://github.com/TuSimple/TuSimple-DUC.