Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluating the effectiveness of an integrated community continuum of care program for individuals with serious mental illness

Objective To evaluate effectiveness of an “Continuum of Care Program” (CCCP) for persons with serious mental health conditions in reducing inpatient use, and building a continuum of integrated care that enhanced employment and residential stability. The program combined components of Assertive Community Treatment with a comprehensive wrap-around program. Methods A cohort of 1154 individuals admitted to four outpatient CCCPs between December 2003 and May 31 2004 was identified and followed for 1 year. Outcome measures included clinical functioning level, drug/alcohol use, employment, residential arrangement and inpatient use. Regression was employed to explain changes in outcomes between baseline and follow-up as a function of services. Results Statistically significant changes were seen over a 1-year period in all outcomes. Housing, employment and mental health improved, whereas inpatient utilization and level of care need increased. Older individuals receiving higher levels of care at baseline and those with higher case management and medical service utilization reported higher inpatient use. Outcomes also varied by provider suggesting the contribution of workforce differences to outcomes. Conclusions Although significant, changes in outcomes were small. Outcome effectiveness was mixed and generally unrelated to services. These findings imply that significant changes in outcomes may require several years to obtain.
In Vitro Activity, Synergism, and Testing Parameters of Amikacin, with Comparisons to Other Aminoglycoside Antibiotics

The activity of the new aminoglycoside antibiotic, amikacin, was evaluated in vitro against 219 clinical bacterial isolates. One hundred eighty-nine of the 219 strains had agar dilution minimal inhibitory concentration values of 8.0 μg/ml or less for amikacin. Comparative agar dilution studies were performed for gentamicin, kanamycin, and tobramycin. Gentamicin was the most active overall, but tobramycin and amikacin also had significant activity against most bacterial groups. The effects of divalent cations on the susceptibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to amikacin were evaluated, and the minimal inhibitory concentration values varied sixfold over a range of divalent cation concentrations from 0.2 to 8.75 mg%. The effects of media and inoculum size on disk susceptibility testing with amikacin were also evaluated. In addition, a synergistic interaction between carbenicillin and amikacin against P. aeruginosa was demonstrated. Amikacin appears to be a promising new broad spectrum antimicrobial agent.
Teaching 3D geometry to deformable part models

Current object class recognition systems typically target 2D bounding box localization, encouraged by benchmark data sets, such as Pascal VOC. While this seems suitable for the detection of individual objects, higher-level applications such as 3D scene understanding or 3D object tracking would benefit from more fine-grained object hypotheses incorporating 3D geometric information, such as viewpoints or the locations of individual parts. In this paper, we help narrowing the representational gap between the ideal input of a scene understanding system and object class detector output, by designing a detector particularly tailored towards 3D geometric reasoning. In particular, we extend the successful discriminatively trained deformable part models to include both estimates of viewpoint and 3D parts that are consistent across viewpoints. We experimentally verify that adding 3D geometric information comes at minimal performance loss w.r. t. 2D bounding box localization, but outperforms prior work in 3D viewpoint estimation and ultra-wide baseline matching.
Utility of the NIH Stroke Scale as a Predictor of Hospital Disposition

Background and Purpose— Early identification of stroke patients in need of rehabilitation or long-term nursing facility (NF) care may promote more efficient use of health care resources and lead to better outcomes. The NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) is an attractive candidate predictor of disposition because it is widely used, is easily learned, and can be performed rapidly on admission. Methods— We present a retrospective study of stroke patients admitted within 24 hours of symptom onset to a university hospital from March through June 2000. Medical records were reviewed for demographic information, stroke type, prestroke living arrangement and independence, initial NIHSS, and medical complications during hospitalization. Results— Among 94 patients evaluated during the study period, 59% were discharged home, 30% to rehabilitation, and 11% to NF. In multivariate analyses, disposition was associated only with initial NIHSS. For each 1-point increase in NIHSS, the likelihood of going home was significantly reduced (odds ratio, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.70 to 0.89, P <0.001). Categorization of NIHSS was also predictive of disposition, with NIHSS ≤5 being most strongly associated with discharge home, NIHSS 6 to 13 with rehabilitation, and NIHSS >13 with NF (P <0.001). Although no other baseline characteristics predicted disposition, major medical complications during hospitalization tended to reduce the odds of going home (odds ratio, 0.30; 95% CI, 0.08 to 1.0, P =0.07). Conclusion— The NIHSS predicts postacute care disposition among stroke patients. Predicting disposition on the first day of admission may facilitate the time-consuming and costly process of securing a bed at rehabilitation or NF, and perhaps decrease unnecessary length of stay in acute care settings.
State-, Timing-, and Pattern-Dependent Neuromodulation of Synaptic Strength by a Serotonergic Interneuron

Here we report that a serotonergic neuron evokes two distinct neuromodulatory actions with different state, timing, and firing pattern dependencies. These neuromodulatory actions may have important behavioral functions. In the mollusc, Tritonia diomedea, EPSCs evoked by ventral swim interneuron B (VSI) exhibited intrinsic plasticity; after a spike train, EPSC amplitude increased from a basal state to a potentiated state, which usually lasted >10 min. While the synapse was in a potentiated state, stimulation of a serotonergic dorsal swim interneuron (DSI) decreased VSI synaptic strength, returning it to a basal state. The extent of the DSI-evoked decrement was strongly correlated with the magnitude of the homosynaptic potentiation. This synaptic reset, or depotentiation, by DSI was blocked by the serotonin receptor antagonist methysergide and mimicked by a serotonin puff. In contrast to this state-dependent neuromodulatory action, we found that a previously described DSI-evoked transient enhancement of VSI synaptic strength was state-independent, producing the same multiplicative increase in EPSC amplitude regardless of whether the synapse was in a potentiated or basal state. These two actions also differed in their dependencies on the firing pattern of DSI and VSI action potentials. Results suggest that state-independent synaptic enhancement by DSI may play a short-term role during a swim motor pattern, whereas state-dependent actions may have longer-lasting consequences, resetting VSI synaptic strength after a swim bout. Thus, differences in two neuromodulatory actions at one synapse may allow a serotonergic neuron to play distinct roles at different stages of a motor pattern.
Adaptive heterogeneous scheduling for integrated GPUs

Many processors today integrate a CPU and GPU on the same die, which allows them to share resources like physical memory and lowers the cost of CPU-GPU communication. As a consequence, programmers can effectively utilize both the CPU and GPU to execute a single application. This paper presents novel adaptive scheduling techniques for integrated CPU-GPU processors. We present two online profiling-based scheduling algorithms: naïve and asymmetric. Our asymmetric scheduling algorithm uses low-overhead online profiling to automatically partition the work of dataparallel kernels between the CPU and GPU without input from application developers. It does profiling on the CPU and GPU in a way that doesn't penalize GPU-centric workloads that run significantly faster on the GPU. It adapts to application characteristics by addressing: 1) load imbalance via irregularity caused by, e.g., data-dependent control flow, 2) different amounts of work on each kernel call, and 3) multiple kernels with different characteristics. Unlike many existing approaches primarily targeting NVIDIA discrete GPUs, our scheduling algorithm does not require offline processing. We evaluate our asymmetric scheduling algorithm on a desktop system with an Intel 4th Generation Core Processor using a set of sixteen regular and irregular workloads from diverse application areas. On average, our asymmetric scheduling algorithm performs within 3.2% of the maximum throughput with a CPU-and-GPU oracle that always chooses the best work partitioning between the CPU and GPU. These results underscore the feasibility of online profile-based heterogeneous scheduling on integrated CPU-GPU processors.
An Anytime Algorithm for Optimal Coalition Structure Generation

Coalition formation is a fundamental type of interaction that involves the creation of coherent groupings of distinct, autonomous, agents in order to efficiently achieve their individual or collective goals. Forming effective coalitions is a major research challenge in the field of multi-agent systems. Central to this endeavour is the problem of determining which of the many possible coalitions to form in order to achieve some goal. This usually requires calculating a value for every possible coalition, known as the coalition value, which indicates how beneficial that coalition would be if it was formed. Once these values are calculated, the agents usually need to find a combination of coalitions, in which every agent belongs to exactly one coalition, and by which the overall outcome of the system is maximized. However, this coalition structure generation problem is extremely challenging due to the number of possible solutions that need to be examined, which grows exponentially with the number of agents involved. To date, therefore, many algorithms have been proposed to solve this problem using different techniques -- ranging from dynamic programming, to integer programming, to stochastic search -- all of which suffer from major limitations relating to execution time, solution quality, and memory requirements. With this in mind, we develop an anytime algorithm to solve the coalition structure generation problem. Specifically, the algorithm uses a novel representation of the search space, which partitions the space of possible solutions into sub-spaces such that it is possible to compute upper and lower bounds on the values of the best coalition structures in them. These bounds are then used to identify the sub-spaces that have no potential of containing the optimal solution so that they can be pruned. The algorithm, then, searches through the remaining sub-spaces very efficiently using a branch-and-bound technique to avoid examining all the solutions within the searched subspace(s). In this setting, we prove that our algorithm enumerates all coalition structures efficiently by avoiding redundant and invalid solutions automatically. Moreover, in order to effectively test our algorithm we develop a new type of input distribution which allows us to generate more reliable benchmarks compared to the input distributions previously used in the field. Given this new distribution, we show that for 27 agents our algorithm is able to find solutions that are optimal in 0.175% of the time required by the fastest available algorithm in the literature. The algorithm is anytime, and if interrupted before it would have normally terminated, it can still provide a solution that is guaranteed to be within a bound from the optimal one. Moreover, the guarantees we provide on the quality of the solution are significantly better than those provided by the previous state of the art algorithms designed for this purpose. For example, for the worst case distribution given 25 agents, our algorithm is able to find a 90% efficient solution in around 10% of time it takes to find the optimal solution.
RNAi-Based Strategies for Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibition in Cancer

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme has been involved in the tumorigenesis and in the progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). The use of traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or selective COX-2 inhibitors has been proposed for the prevention and the treatment of this relevant neoplastic disease. In the light of an innovative alternative to these pharmacological approaches, we review here the possible strategies to achieve a strong and selective inhibition of COX-2 enzyme by using the mechanism of RNA Interference (RNAi) targeted against its mRNA. Anti-COX-2 siRNA molecules (siCOX-2) can be generated in CRC cells from short hairpin RNA (shRNA) precursors, delivered in vitro by a retroviral expression system, and induce a significant and stable silencing of overexpressed COX-2 in human colon cancer cells. As a safer alternative to viral approach, nonpathogenic bacteria (E. coli) can be engineered to invade eukaryotic cells and to generate siCOX-2 molecules in cancer cells. Moreover, the involvement of miRNAs in COX-2 posttranscriptional regulation opens up the possibility to exploit an endogenous silencing mechanism to knockdown overexpressed COX-2. Thus, these recent strategies disclose new challenging perspectives for the development of clinically compatible siRNA or miRNA capable of selectively inhibiting COX-2 enzyme.
Traffic Modeling of LTE Mobile Broadband Network Based on NS-2 Simulator

Recently, Long-Term Evolution (LTE) is the result of ongoing work by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) toward Fourth Generation (4G) systems. LTE will be used for mobile, fixed and portable wireless broadband access, and will offer several benefits to operators, aimed at increasing capacity, reducing network complexity and thus lowering deployment and operational costs. It will enable operators to meet the growing demand for mobile data solutions, making it possible for richer services to be delivered to consumers more cost effectively. The targets for LTE indicate bandwidth increases as high as 100 Mbps on the downlink, and up to 50 Mbps on the uplink. However, this potential increase in bandwidth is just a small part of the overall improvement LTE aims to provide. This study illustrates the model and representation of LTE links and traffics using NS-2 network simulator and observation of TCP Reno performance investigated. The Evaluation of the network performance with TCP Reno is mainly based on congestion window behavior, throughput, average delay and lost packet.
Direct Detection of Fungal Siderophores on Bats with White-Nose Syndrome via Fluorescence Microscopy-Guided Ambient Ionization Mass Spectrometry

White-nose syndrome (WNS) caused by the pathogenic fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans is decimating the populations of several hibernating North American bat species. Little is known about the molecular interplay between pathogen and host in this disease. Fluorescence microscopy ambient ionization mass spectrometry was used to generate metabolic profiles from the wings of both healthy and diseased bats of the genus Myotis. Fungal siderophores, molecules that scavenge iron from the environment, were detected on the wings of bats with WNS, but not on healthy bats. This work is among the first examples in which microbial molecules are directly detected from an infected host and highlights the ability of atmospheric ionization methodologies to provide direct molecular insight into infection.
Morphodynamic assessment of side channel systems using a simple one‐dimensional bifurcation model and a comparison with aerial images

Side channel construction is a common intervention applied to increase a river's conveyance capacity and to increase its ecological value. Past modelling efforts suggest two mechanisms affecting the morphodynamic change of a side channel: (1) a difference in channel slope between the side channel and the main channel and (2) bend flow just upstream of the bifurcation. The objective of this paper was to assess the conditions under which side channels generally aggrade or degrade and to assess the characteristic timescales of the associated morphological change. We use a one‐dimensional bifurcation model to predict the development of side channel systems and the characteristic timescale for a wide range of conditions. We then compare these results to multitemporal aerial images of four side channel systems. We consider the following mechanisms at the bifurcation to be important for side channel development: sediment diversion due to the bifurcation angle, sediment diversion due to the transverse bed slope, partitioning of suspended load, mixed sediment processes such as sorting at the bifurcation, bank erosion, deposition due to vegetation, and floodplain sedimentation. There are limitations to using a one‐dimensional numerical model as it can only account for these mechanisms in a parametrized manner, but the model reproduces general behaviour of the natural side channels until floodplain‐forming processes become important. The main result is a set of stability diagrams with key model parameters that can be used to assess the development of a side channel system and the associated timescale, which will aid in the future design and maintenance of side channel systems. © 2017 The Authors. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Study of Natural Radioactivity and Radiological Hazard of Sand, Sediment, and Soil Samples from Inani Beach, Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh

The radionuclide contents and their activity concentrations in beach sand, sediment and adjacent soil samples collected from Inani sea beach, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh were determined by using a high resolution germanium detector (HPGe) of 20% relative efficiency. A total of eighteen samples of three categories were collected and analysed. The activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in the sand samples of the beach were found to be varied from 15.14 ± 2.62 to 28.67 ± 3.09 Bqkg-1, 24.39 ± 2.50 to 49.46 ± 3.58 Bqkg-1 and 362.00 ± 79.61 to 560.87 ± 81.40 Bqkg-1 respectively. For sediment samples the activity concentrations of the corresponding radionuclides ranged between 18.09 ± 2.66 to 53.32 ± 4.01 Bqkg-1, 31.01 ± 2.73 to 78.37 ± 4.35 Bqkg-1, 390.26 ± 76.37 to 733.61 ± 85.80 Bqkg-1, respectively where as for soil samples the values were 26.11 ± 2.99 to 61.66 ± 5.88 Bqkg-1, 41.93 ± 4.18 to 89.39 ± 6.15 Bqkg-1 and 467.16 ± 77.62 to 1304.11 ± 147.07 Bqkg-1 respectively. The calculated average absorbed dose rates due to these radionuclides in the three types of samples were found as 52.24 nGyh-1, 62.96 nGyh-1, and 104.97 nGyh-1, respectively. The estimated outdoor annual effective dose ranged from 0.05 to 0.08 mSvy-1, 0.05 to 0.11 mSvy-1 and 0.07 to 0.17 mSvy-1 with the mean values of 0.06 mSvy-1, 0.08 mSvy-1, and 0.13 mSvy-1 for sand, sediment, and soil samples, respectively. The values of radium equivalent activity in almost all the samples were less than 370 Bq.kg-1. On the other hand, the values of external hazard index for sand, sediment, and soil samples varied between 0.22 to 0.37, 0.25 to 0.54, and 0.33 to 0.78 with the average values of 0.30, 0.37, and 0.59, respectively. The values are less than unity in all the samples that indicate the non-hazardous nature of the samples.
Systematic Characterisation of Cellular Localisation and Expression Profiles of Proteins Containing MHC Ligands

Background Presentation of peptides on Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules is the cornerstone in immune system activation and increased knowledge of the characteristics of MHC ligands and their source proteins is highly desirable. Methodology/Principal Finding In the present large-scale study, we used a large data set of proteins containing experimentally identified MHC class I or II ligands and examined the proteins according to their expression profiles at the mRNA level and their Gene Ontology (GO) classification within the cellular component ontology. Proteins encoded by highly abundant mRNA were found to be much more likely to be the source of MHC ligands. Of the 2.5% most abundant mRNAs as much as 41% of the proteins encoded by these mRNAs contained MHC class I ligands. For proteins containing MHC class II ligands, the corresponding percentage was 11%. Furthermore, we found that most proteins containing MHC class I ligands were localised to the intracellular parts of the cell including the cytoplasm and nucleus. MHC class II ligand donors were, on the other hand, mostly membrane proteins. Conclusions/Significance The results contribute to the ongoing debate concerning the nature of MHC ligand-containing proteins and can be used to extend the existing methods for MHC ligand predictions by including the source protein's localisation and expression profile. Improving the current methods is important in the growing quest for epitopes that can be used for vaccine or diagnostic purposes, especially when it comes to large DNA viruses and cancer.
Mining tourist information from user-supplied collections

Tourist photographs constitute a large part of the images uploaded to photo sharing platforms. But filtering methods are needed before one can extract useful knowledge from noisy user-supplied metadata. Here we show how to extract clean trip related information (what people visit, for how long, panoramic spots) from Flickr metadata. We illustrate our technique on a sample of metadata and images covering 183 cities of different size and from different parts of the world.
Risk factors of parents abused as children: a mediational analysis of the intergenerational continuity of child maltreatment (Part I).

BACKGROUND This study provides an exploration of factors implicated in the intergenerational cycle of child maltreatment. Families with newborns where at least one of the parents was physically and/or sexually abused as a child (AP families) were compared in terms of risk factors to families where the parents had no childhood history of victimization (NAP families). The mediational properties of risk factors in the intergenerational cycle of maltreatment were then explored. METHODS Information was collected by community nurses as a part of the 'health visiting' service. Data was collated across 4351 families, of which 135 (3.1%) had a parent who self-reported a history of abuse in childhood. The health visitor visited each family at home when the child was 4 to 6 weeks of age to assess the presence of risk factors. RESULTS Within 13 months after birth, 9 (6.7%) AP families were referred for maltreating their own child in comparison to 18 (.4%) NAP families. Assessments found a significantly higher number of risk factors for AP families. Mediational analysis demonstrated that the presence of three significant risk factors (parenting under 21 years, history of mental illness or depression, residing with a violent adult) provided partial mediation of the intergenerational continuity of child maltreatment, explaining 53% of the total effect. CONCLUSION Prevention may be possible, once a history of parental childhood abuse has been identified, by offering services in priority to those families where a parent is under 21 years, has a history of mental illness/depression and/or there is a violent adult residing in the household. However, it must also be acknowledged that these factors do not provide a full causal account of the intergenerational transmission and consideration should be given to additional factors, such as parenting styles (see Part II of this mediational model, Dixon, Hamilton-Giachritsis, and Browne, 2004).