Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Neurocognitive Dysfunction in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Association with Antiphospholipid Antibodies, Disease Activity and Chronic Damage

Introduction Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by frequent neuropsychiatric involvement, which includes cognitive impairment (CI). We aimed at assessing CI in a cohort of Italian SLE patients by using a wide range of neurocognitive tests specifically designed to evaluate the fronto-subcortical dysfunction. Furthermore, we aimed at testing whether CI in SLE is associated with serum autoantibodies, disease activity and chronic damage. Methods Fifty-eight consecutive patients were enrolled. Study protocol included data collection, evaluation of serum levels of ANA, anti-dsDNA, anti-cardiolipin, anti-β2-glycoprotein I, anti-P ribosomal, anti-endothelial cell, and anti-Nedd5 antibodies. SLEDAI-2000 and SLICC were used to assess disease activity and chronic damage. Patients were administered a test battery specifically designed to detect fronto-subcortical dysfunction across five domains: memory, attention, abstract reasoning, executive function and visuospatial function. For each patient, the raw scores from each test were compared with published norms, then transformed into Z scores (deviation from normal mean), and finally summed in the Global Cognitive Dysfunction score (GCDs). Results Nineteen percent of patients had mild GCDs impairment (GCDs 2–3), 7% moderate (GCDs 4–5) and 5% severe (GCDs≥6). The visuospatial domain was the most compromised (MDZs = −0.89±1.23). Anti-cardiolipin IgM levels were associated with visuospatial domain impairment (r = 0.331, P = 0.005). SLEDAI correlated with GCDs, and attentional and executive domains; SLICC correlated with GCDs, and with visuospatial and attentional domains impairment. Conclusions Anti-phospholipids, disease activity, and chronic damage are associated with cognitive dysfunction in SLE. The use of a wide spectrum of tests allowed for a better selection of the relevant factors involved in SLE cognitive dysfunction, and standardized neuropsychological testing methods should be used for routine assessment of SLE patients.
Wildcard Rules Caching and Cache Replacement Algorithms in Software-Defined Networking

In software-defined networking, flow tables of OpenFlow switches are implemented by ternary content addressable memory (TCAM). Although TCAM can process input packets in high speed, it is a scarce and expensive resource providing only a few thousands of rule entries on a network switch. Rules caching is a technique to solve the TCAM capacity problem. However, the rule dependency problem is a challenging issue for wildcard rules caching where packets can mismatch rules. In this paper, we use a cover-set approach to solve the rule dependency problem and cache important rules to TCAM. We also propose a rule cache replacement algorithm considering the temporal and spatial traffic localities. Simulation results show that our algorithms have better cache hit ratio than previous works.
Quality of Care in Chinese Hospitals: Processes and Outcomes After ST‐segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Background China has gaps in the quality of care provided to patients with ST‐elevation myocardial infarction, but little is known about how quality varies between hospitals. Methods and Results Using nationally representative data from the China PEACE‐Retrospective AMI Study, we characterized the quality of care for ST‐elevation myocardial infarction at the hospital level and examined variation between hospitals. Two summary measures were used to describe the overall quality of care at each hospital and to characterize variations in quality between hospitals in 2001, 2006, and 2011. The composite rate measured the proportion of opportunities a hospital had to deliver 6 guideline‐recommended treatments for ST‐elevation myocardial infarction that were successfully met, while the defect‐free rate measured the proportion of patients at each hospital receiving all guideline‐recommended treatments for which they were eligible. Risk‐standardized mortality rates were calculated. Our analysis included 12 108 patients treated for ST‐elevation myocardial infarction at 162 hospitals. The median composite rate increased from 56.8% (interquartile range [IQR], 45.9–72.0) in 2001 to 80.5% (IQR, 74.7–84.8) in 2011; however, substantial variation remained in 2011 with defect‐free rates ranging from 0.0% to 76.9%. The median risk‐standardized mortality rate increased from 9.9% (IQR, 9.1–11.7) in 2001 to 12.6% (IQR, 10.9–14.6) in 2006 before falling to 10.4% (IQR, 9.1–12.4) in 2011. Conclusions Higher rates of guideline‐recommended care and a decline in variation between hospitals are indicative of an improvement in quality. Although some variation persisted in 2011, very top‐performing hospitals missed few opportunities to provide guideline‐recommended care. Quality improvement initiatives should focus on eliminating residual variation as well as measuring and improving outcomes. Clinical Trial Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials. gov. Unique identifier: NCT01624883.
Numerical Simulation of Critical Current and n-Value in ${\rm Nb}_{3}{\rm Sn}$ Strand Subjected to Bending Strain

Critical current of ITER model coil degraded with the increase of electromagnetic force. Analysis based on results of the experiments in which periodic transverse load is artificially applied to single strand showed that periodic bending of the strand by transverse load caused this degradation. However, since the experiments were carried out under a certain condition, general relation between transverse load and critical current was not obtained. We have therefore developed a numerical simulation code to investigate the general relation. However, there were some disagreements between the simulation and experimental results in our previous study. Our simulation model was consequently modified, resulting in good agreement with the test results. The general dependence of the critical current on periodic transverse load, temperature, and pitch of periodic load is investigated using the modified simulation code. The simulation results reveal that the reduced critical current depends on the temperature, and is a function of the bending strain independent of the pitch of the periodic load.
Foundations of Non-Bayesian Social Learning

In this paper, we study the problem of non-Bayesian learning over social networks by taking an axiomatic approach. As our main behavioral assumption, we postulate that agents follow social learning rules that satisfy imperfect recall, according to which they treat the current beliefs of their neighbors as sufficient statistics for all the information available to them. We establish that as long as imperfect recall represents the only point of departure from Bayesian rationality, agents’ social learning rules take a log-linear form. Our approach also enables us to provide a taxonomy of behavioral assumptions that underpin various non-Bayesian models of learning, including the canonical model of DeGroot. We then show that for a fairly large class of learning rules, the form of bounded rationality represented by imperfect recall is not an impediment to asymptotic learning, as long as agents assign weights of equal orders of magnitude to every independent piece of information. Finally, we show how the dispersion of information among different individuals in the social network determines the rate of learning.
Successful live birth after rescue ICSI following failed fertilization

In a conventional IVF cycle unexpected complete fertilization failure may occur in 10-25% of infertile women. To overcome this barrier of fertilization failure, some investigators have suggested intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) on day 1 of an unfertilized mature oocyte, the so called “rescue ICSI”. We report a case of fertilization failure followed by rescue ICSI resulting in a live birth. Although the success of rescue ICSI is still questionable, this procedure is worth an attempt in order to give the best chance to the couple in that cycle.
Automated Reasoning Using Possibilistic Logic: Semantics, Belief Revision, and Variable Certainty Weights

An approach to automated deduction under uncertainty, based on possibilistic logic, is described; for that purpose we deal with clauses weighted by a degree that is a lower bound of a necessity or a possibility measure, according to the nature of the uncertainty. Two resolution rules are used for coping with the different situations, and the classical refutation method can be generalized with these rules. Also, the lower bounds are allowed to be functions of variables involved in the clauses, which results in hypothetical reasoning capabilities. In cases where only lower bounds of necessity measures are involved, a semantics is proposed in which the completeness of the extended resolution principle is proved. The relation between our approach and the idea of minimizing abnormality is briefly discussed. Moreover, deduction from a partially inconsistent knowledge base can be managed in this approach and captures a form of nonmonotonicity. >
Delirium in an adult acute hospital population: predictors, prevalence and detection

Background To date, delirium prevalence and incidence in acute hospitals has been estimated from pooled findings of studies performed in distinct patient populations. Objective To determine delirium prevalence across an acute care facility. Design A point prevalence study. Setting A large tertiary care, teaching hospital. Patients 311 general hospital adult inpatients were assessed over a single day. Of those, 280 had full data collected within the study's time frame (90%). Measurements Initial screening for inattention was performed using the spatial span forwards and months backwards tests by junior medical staff, followed by two independent formal delirium assessments: first the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) by trained geriatric medicine consultants and registrars, and, subsequently, the Delirium Rating Scale-Revised-98 (DRS-R98) by experienced psychiatrists. The diagnosis of delirium was ultimately made using DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition) criteria. Results Using DSM-IV criteria, 55 of 280 patients (19.6%) had delirium versus 17.6% using the CAM. Using the DRS-R98 total score for independent diagnosis, 20.7% had full delirium, and 8.6% had subsyndromal delirium. Prevalence was higher in older patients (4.7% if <50 years and 34.8% if >80 years) and particularly in those with prior dementia (OR=15.33, p<0.001), even when adjusted for potential confounders. Although 50.9% of delirious patients had pre-existing dementia, it was poorly documented in the medical notes. Delirium symptoms detected by medical notes, nurse interview and patient reports did not overlap much, with inattention noted by professional staff, and acute change and sleep-wake disturbance noted by patients. Conclusions Our point prevalence study confirms that delirium occurs in about 1/5 of general hospital inpatients and particularly in those with prior cognitive impairment. Recognition strategies may need to be tailored to the symptoms most noticed by the detector (patient, nurse or primary physician) if formal assessments are not available.
Poststroke “Pushing”: Natural History and Relationship to Motor and Functional Recovery

Background and Purpose— Patients with hemiparetic stroke have impaired balance control. Some patients (“pushers”) are resistant to accepting weight on and actively “push” away from the nonparetic side. This research identified pushers from stroke patients with moderate to severe hemiparesis and examined longitudinal changes in symptoms, level of impairment, and functional independence. Methods— Prospective sample of hemiparetic stroke patients (n=65) located in Toronto, Canada. Detailed clinical assessments were performed within 10 days postonset, at 6 weeks, and at 3 months. Results— At 1 week after stroke, 63% of patients demonstrated features of pushing. In 62% of pushers, symptoms resolved by 6 weeks, whereas in 21%, pushing symptoms persisted at 3 months. Motor recovery and functional abilities at 3 months were significantly lower among the pushers compared with the nonpushers. Pushers also had a significantly longer hospital length of stay (89 days versus 57 days). It is noteworthy that motor and functional recovery improved significantly over the 3-month study period for both pushers and nonpushers. Conclusions— Identification of stroke patients with pushing symptoms has prognostic implications for recovery. In light of this potential recovery, rehabilitation specialists need to refine treatment approaches for the pushers to further improve functional outcome.
Perfect-reconstruction filter banks having linear-phase FIR filters with equiripple response

The design of equiripple linear-phase analysis and synthesis FIR filters of two-channel perfect-reconstruction (PR) filter banks is formulated as the minimization of a weighted peak-error under both linear inequality (arising from the desired responses of the analysis filters) and nonlinear equality (PR) constraints. The effectiveness of a proposed method to solve the design problem (a modified dual-affine scaling variant of Karmarkar's (1989) algorithm and an approximation scheme) is illustrated through several design examples.
The Distance to the Hyades Cluster Based on Hubble Space Telescope Fine Guidance Sensor Parallaxes

Trigonometric parallax observations made with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Fine Guidance Sensor (FGS) 3 of seven Hyades members in six fields of view have been analyzed along with their proper motions to determine the distance to the cluster. Knowledge of the convergent point and mean proper motion of the Hyades is critical to the derivation of the distance to the center of the cluster. Depending on the choice of the proper-motion system, the derived cluster center distance varies by 9%. Adopting a reference distance of 46.1 pc or m - M = 3.32, which is derived from the ground-based parallaxes in the General Catalogue of Trigonometric Stellar Parallaxes (1995 edition), the FK5/PPM proper-motion system yields a distance 4% larger, while the Hanson system yields a distance 2% smaller. The HST FGS parallaxes reported here yield either a 14% or 5% larger distance, depending on the choice of the proper-motion system. Orbital parallaxes (Torres et al.) yield an average distance 4% larger than the reference distance. The variation in the distance derived from the HST data illustrates the importance of the proper-motion system and the individual proper motions to the derivation of the distance to the Hyades center; therefore, a full utilization of the HST FGS parallaxes awaits the establishment of an accurate and consistent proper-motion system.
Prospective Randomized Evaluation of Short-Term Complications When Using Buffered or Unbuffered Lidocaine 1% With Epinephrine for Blepharoplasty Surgery

Purpose: To determine whether there is a difference in the incidence of short-term complications using plain lidocaine with epinephrine versus the buffered equivalent in eyelid surgery. Methods: The authors performed a prospective, double-masked, randomized study in patients scheduled for combined upper eyelid blepharoplasty and levator advancement ptosis repair surgery with local anesthesia. Exclusion criteria included: documented allergies to lidocaine and/or epinephrine; known pregnancy; profound cognitive impairment; inability to understand the visual analog scale or the informed consent; and previous eyelid surgery. Each subject was his/her own control by using the unbuffered local anesthetic in one eye, while the buffered solution was used in the other eye. The surgeon completed a specific standardized data collection form for quantifying both intraoperative and postoperative complications, such as bleeding, bruising, and edema. Data regarding pain on injection and postoperative pain were collected from patients using a visual analog pain scale. Results: Thirty-nine patients were included in this study, of which 18 experienced less pain during the injection on the side where buffered lidocaine was used, 11 reported no difference, and 10 reported less pain in the eye injected with unbuffered lidocaine. Injection pain revealed a mean operative pain rating of 4.01 ± 2.45 in the eye with buffered lidocaine versus 4.49 ± 2.58 in the control (p = 0.06). There were no significant differences between the buffered and unbuffered lidocaine eyes as regards postoperative bleeding, swelling, or pain, and there was a trend toward less pain on injection with the buffered solution. Conclusions: There were no significant differences in postoperative pain, swelling, or bleeding with the use of plain versus buffered lidocaine in eyelid surgery. There was a trend for the buffered anesthetic to cause less pain on injection.
Relative Survival Benefit and Morbidity with Fluids in Severe Sepsis - A Network Meta-Analysis of Alternative Therapies

Background: Fluid resuscitation is widely practiced in intensive care units for the treatment of sepsis. A comparison of the evidence base of different fluids may inform therapeutic choice. Methods: The risks of mortality and morbidity (the need for renal replacement therapies (RRT)) were assessed in patients with severe sepsis. A network meta-analysis compared trials for crystalloids, albumin and hydroxyethyl starch (HES). A literature search of human randomized clinical trials was conducted in databases, the bibliographies of other recent relevant systematic reviews and data reported at recent conferences. Mortality outcomes and RRT data with the longest follow up period were compared. A Bayesian network meta-analysis assessed the risk of mortality and a pair-wise meta-analysis assessed RRT using crystalloids as the reference treatment. Results: 13 studies were identified. A fixed-effects meta-analysis of mortality data in the trials demonstrated an odds-ratio (OR) of 0.90 between crystalloids and albumin, 1.25 between crystalloids and HES and 1.40 between albumin and HES. The probability that albumin is associated with the highest survival was 96.4% followed by crystalloid at 3.6%, with a negligible probability for HES. Sub-group analyses demonstrated the robustness of this result to variations in fluid composition, study source and origin of septic shock. A random-effects pairwise comparison for the risk of RRT provided an OR of 1.52 favoring crystalloid over HES. Conclusion: Fluid therapy with albumin was associated with the highest survival benefit. The higher morbidity with HES may affect mortality and requires consideration by prescribers.
TH17 predominant T‐cell responses in radiation‐induced bowel disease are modulated by treatment with adipose‐derived mesenchymal stromal cells

Radiation proctitis is an insidious disease associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. It may develop following the treatment of several cancers by radiotherapy when normal colorectal tissues are present in the irradiation field. There is no unified approach for the assessment and treatment of this disease, partly due to insufficient knowledge about the mechanism involved in the development of radiation proctitis. However, unresolved inflammation is hypothesized to have an important role in late side effects. This study aimed to analyse the involvement of specific immunity in colorectal damage developing after localized irradiation, and evaluate the benefit of immunomodulatory mesenchymal stromal cells isolated from adipose tissue (Ad‐MSCs) for reduction of late side effects. Our experimental model of colorectal irradiation induced severe colonic mucosal damage and fibrosis that was associated with T‐cell infiltration. Immune cell activation was investigated; adoptive transfer of T cells in nude rats showed stronger colonization by T cells isolated from irradiated rats. The predominant role of T cells in late radiation‐induced damage and regeneration processes was highlighted by in vivo depletion experiments. Treatments using Ad‐MSCs reduced T‐cell infiltration in the colon and reduced established colonic damage as measured by histological score, functional circular muscle contractibility, and collagen deposition. Here, we have demonstrated for the first time the predominance of the TH17 population compared to TH1 and TH2 in radiation‐induced bowel disease, and that this is reduced after Ad‐MSC treatment. Additionally, we demonstrated in vitro that IL17 acts directly on colonic smooth muscle cells to induce expression of pro‐inflammatory genes that could participate in the development of radiation‐induced injury. Our data demonstrate that the TH17 population is specifically induced during development of radiation‐induced side effects in the colon. Moreover, Ad‐MSC treatment modulates the TH17 population and reduces the extracellular matrix remodelling process induced following irradiation. Copyright © 2015 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
REPAYMENT FREQUENCY AND DEFAULT IN MICROFINANCE: EVIDENCE FROM INDIA

In stark contrast to bank debt contracts, most micro-finance contracts require that repayments start nearly immediately after loan disbursement and occur weekly thereafter. Even though economic theory suggests that a more flexible repayment schedule would benefit clients and potentially improve their repayment capacity, micro-finance practitioners argue that the fiscal discipline imposed by frequent repayment is critical to preventing loan default. In this paper we use data from a field experiment which randomized client assignment to a weekly or monthly repayment schedule and find no significant effect of type of repayment schedule on client delinquency or default. Our findings suggest that, among micro-finance clients who are willing to borrow at either weekly or monthly repayment schedules, a more flexible schedule can significantly lower transaction costs without increasing client default. (JEL: O12, O16, O22) (c) 2008 by the European Economic Association.
On Approximate Coincidence Point Properties and Their Applications to Fixed Point Theory

We first establish some existence results concerning approximate coincidence point properties and approximate fixed point properties for various types of nonlinear contractive maps in the setting of cone metric spaces and general metric spaces. From these results, we present some new coincidence point and fixed point theorems which generalize Berinde-Berinde's fixed point theorem, Mizoguchi-Takahashi's fixed point theorem, and some well-known results in the literature.