Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Telemedicine for Chronic Heart Failure: An Update

Background: This is a short narrative review of the literature pertaining to telemedicine projects developed in the field of chronic heart failure (CHF), with particular focus on non-invasive telemonitoring projects including the French ones. Results: Numerous non-invasive telemonitoring projects based on connected objects and information and communication technology (ICT) have emerged in the CHF field over the last 10 years. Others are under development, such as the main international randomized telemonitoring studies TELE-HF, TIM-HF, and BEAT-HF, or the French telemonitoring projects SCAD, OSICAT, PIMS, MEDICA, and E-care. The E-care project is a new-generation project supporting patients’ returning home after hospital discharge. It perfectly fits within the framework of telemedicine 2.0 projects, including for the first time artificial intelligence (AI). This project has been specifically designed to automatically detect situations at risk for CHF. The potential contribution of these French projects (OSICAT, E-care), in terms of mortality, morbidity, number of hospitalizations prevented, as well as economic benefits, is currently studied or documented.
The ParaView Guide: A Parallel Visualization Application

ParaView is an open-source, multi-platform data analysis and visualization application. ParaView users can quickly build visualizations to analyze their data using qualitative and quantitative techniques. The data exploration can be done interactively in 3D or programmatically using ParaViews batch processing capabilities. ParaView was developed to analyze extremely large datasets using distributed memory computing resources. It can be run on supercomputers to analyze datasets of petascale size as well as on laptops for smaller data, has become an integral tool in many national laboratories, universities and industry, and has won several awards related to high performance computation. ParaView is open-source (BSD licensed, commercial software friendly). As with any of successful open-source project, ParaView is supported by an active user and developer community.
Software Maintenance Methods for Preprocessed Languages

Preface So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who has mercy. While this Bible verse above primarily tells us about attaining salvation, its truth may be discovered in everyday life. Our salvation is not simply the product of human will and effort, but a gift of God. In a similar way, God's undeserved goodness can be observed in many areas of a person's life and activities. In research work this may be even more apparent, where the outcome of a challenging initiation usually can not be predicted. Sometimes the result of a thoroughly performed, promising work becomes average, and at other times a sudden idea is accepted and honored. I believe that writing this thesis was made possible by the grace of God. I should like to acknowledge several people who have contributed to this thesis in some way. First of all, I should like to thank my supervisor Tibor Gyimóthy, for providing interesting research topics and aims, and for his guidance over the years. Then I would like to express my gratitude to Árpád Beszédes and Rudolf Ferenc, with whom I discussed aspects of my research, for their valuable ideas and the time spent on joint work. My thanks also goes to my colleagues and friends, including Richárd Dévai. I would like to thank Martin Gogolla as well, for his kind hospitality and support during the time I spent in his research group in Bremen. I am also grateful to András Kolozsi, Ferenc Havasi, Miklós Árgyelán and Zoltán Tasnády-Szeőcs, who are friends of mine; and especially to my love Katalin Horváth for her patience and support. Finally, I would like to thank my family for their continuous support and encouragement.
A newly designed shoulder orthosis for patients with glenohumeral subluxation: a clinical evaluation study

Background: Shoulder complaints from glenohumeral subluxation are a common problem and limit patients during daily activities. Objective: To assess the clinical pros and cons and usability of a newly developed shoulder orthosis (Roessingh Omo Support [ROS]) in patients with chronic shoulder complaints. Study design: Retrospective cross-sectional study. Methods: All patients older than 18 years who received the ROS were invited. Medical information was collected from medical records. Two questionnaires were sent to the patient: The “Shoulder Rating Questionnaire” (SRQ, max 100 points) for evaluation before and during use and a custom orthosis usability questionnaire. Results: In total, 28 patients (34 orthoses) participated in the study. Neuralgic amyotrophy was the most common diagnosis (64.3%). The SRQ showed a significant positive change of 8.9 points (from 35.0 [SD 12.6] to 43.9 [SD 14.3]). The most described goal was pain reduction (76.5%). 47.1% of the patients achieved their goal(s), and 71.4% were still using the orthosis. The mean satisfaction rate was 7.1 (SD 1.4). Conclusion: The use of the ROS shows a significant functional improvement (SRQ), a decrease of pain, and a high degree of satisfaction, although the individual experiences of the patients are highly variable. Some modifications to the design to improve comfort may be needed.
A computational approach to the syntax of displacement and the semantics of scope

This dissertation is about the syntax and semantics of non-local dependencies. It focuses on wh-displacement and operator scope and addresses the challenge they pose to theoretical linguistics: How are form and meaning related and to which extent do syntax and semantics operate in parallel? A common approach of formal grammar theories is to assume that displacement and scope construal go hand in hand, and consequently to impose a strict correspondence between syntax and semantics. This approach is challenged, however, by a considerable amount of cases where the syntactic position of an operator expression does not coincide with its semantic scope position. This dissertation therefore pursues the opposite approach. It argues that syntactic displacement and semantic scope-taking do not interact at all. The overall picture that is developed is that grammar consists of two parts: a core system for establishing local dependencies, with syntax and semantics operating in parallel, and extensions to this core system for establishing non-local dependencies, with syntax and semantics operating independently. In developing this picture, it is shown that a substantial amount of data (such as pronunciation in wh-clusters, order preservation with multiple displacement, remnant movement and freezing, as well as different scopal behavior) can indeed be accounted for with a syntax and semantics that are largely independent from one another
Calcitonin gene-related peptide levels in tear fluid are elevated in migraine patients compared to healthy controls

Background Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) released from trigeminal nerve fibres indicates trigeminal activation and has a key role in migraine pathophysiology. The trigeminal nerve directly innervates the eye. Therefore, in this study, we compared Calcitonin gene-related peptide in tear fluid of migraine patients and healthy controls. Methods Calcitonin gene-related peptide concentrations in tear fluid and plasma of 48 episodic and 45 chronic migraine patients and 48 controls were assessed using ELISA. Results Calcitonin gene-related peptide levels in tear fluid (0.94 ± 1.11 ng/ml) were ∼140 times higher than plasma concentrations (6.81 ± 4.12 pg/ml). Tear fluid CGRP concentrations were elevated in interictal migraine patients (1.10 ± 1.27 ng/ml, n = 49) compared to controls (0.75 ± 0.80 ng/ml, p = 0.022). There was no difference in tear fluid CGRP levels between interictal episodic and chronic migraine patients (episodic: 1.09 ± 1.47 ng/ml, n = 30 and chronic: 1.10 ± 0.89 ng/ml, n = 19) and no correlation of tear fluid CGRP levels with headache frequency in interictal patients (rho = 0.062, p = 0.674). Unmedicated ictal migraine patients had even more elevated tear fluid CGRP levels than interictal migraine patients (1.92 ± 1.84 ng/ml, n = 13, p = 0.102), while medicated ictal migraine patients had lower levels (0.56 ± 0.47 ng/ml, n = 25, p = 0.011 compared to interictal patients), which were undistinguishable from controls (p = 0.609). In contrast to tear fluid, no significant group differences were found in plasma CGRP levels. Conclusion To the best of our knowledge, this study shows, for the first time, increased CGRP tear fluid levels in migraine patients compared to healthy subjects. Detection of calcitonin gene-related peptide in tear fluid is non-invasive, and likely allows a more direct access to CGRP released from the trigeminal nerve than plasma sampling.
What are the knowledge needs of teachers to inform the multimodal authoring of their students in years 1–8?

Pervasive use of communication methods mediated by technology has been a catalyst for a rethink of valued knowledge practices in the teaching and learning of writing. Although widespread in many areas, this way of communicating has been slow to gain a foothold in formal education settings. Teachers appear to lack clarity as to the types of knowledge that are now needed to inform teaching practice in this area, including how technology use is shaped, the types of learning that are supported and, therefore, what aspects are valued for assessment and evaluation purposes. To address this gap, a corresponding body of knowledge requires development in order to inform teacher practice and student learning. Although teachers are using technology in their personal lives to meet specific communication and information sourcing goals, this use does not necessarily translate to their practice when teaching multimodal authoring. Responses from teachers to changed roles and responsibilities as part of engagement with digitally literate practices reveal that teachers cannot implement technology to enhance teaching and learning through the provision of technological tools alone. Rather, they need enablers including necessary technological infrastructure, a supportive school vision and leadership, resourcing and professional learning that tap into the insight and creativity of all those with an interest in improving student learning, informed by relevant subject knowledge. This thesis aims to connect with the work that teachers do in teaching multimodal authoring in Years 1–8. It draws on the knowledge and expertise of 15 classroom teachers’ practical subject content knowledge in teaching multimodal authoring and examines their current understandings. Subsequently, a place to begin to deepen and extend what they need to know is suggested in order to debate, engage with, challenge and improve practice in digital literacy. This thesis explores, also, the practices of digital designers engaged in state-of-the-art practice in both media and paper design. They share their experiences of how these practices are operationalised in various settings. Based on these data, a body of content knowledge and a corresponding model of writing instruction are proposed as an introduction and suggested means by which more sophisticated understandings can be developed of the fundamentals of teaching and learning multimodal authoring. These tools may provide insight into what teacher knowledge around multimodal authoring currently looks like, why this practice is not as pervasive in the classroom as would be expected and possible ‘next steps’ to inform teaching and learning.
Structural abnormalities within the episodic prospection and decision making circuitry in cigarette smokers: a DTI and sMRI analysis

AUDREY ROSE VERDE: STRUCTURAL ABNORMALITIES WITHIN THE EPISODIC PROSPECTION AND DECISION MAKING CIRCUITRY IN CIGARETTE SMOKERS: A DTI AND SMRI ANALYSIS. (Under the direction of Charlotte Boettiger and Martin Styner) Smokers characteristically show a heightened tendency to select smaller, sooner over larger, delayed rewards, and the neurobiology of such decision−making is beginning to come to light. For instance, recent studies in healthy people show that engaging episodic prospection during such decision−making can reduce impulsive choices, and that this effect is mediated by enhanced functional connectivity between medial temporal lobe regions implicated in episodic prospection and frontal areas. Through this study we sought to determine if there are any structural differences between cigarette smokers and non−smokers in the episodic prospection and decision making circuitry through the use of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and structural MRI (sMRI) analysis. Further, we investigated whether there were any structural changes in this circuitry within smokers that correlated with measurements of cigarette consumption (cigarettes per day, breath carbon monoxide), and addiction severity (cigarette dependence scale). Specifically we studied the white matter (WM) tracts the cingulum, fornix, and uncinate, and the grey matter (GM) regions that these tracts connect, namely regions of the medial temporal lobe and the prefrontal cortex. Our hypotheses were that smokers would have decreased WM structural integrity in the tracts bilaterally compared to nonsmokers, and that the brain regions served by these tracts would have decreased volume and thickness in smokers compared to non−smokers. Within smokers, we hypothesized that with increasing cigarette consumption and addiction severity there would be decreased
Nonlinear Time Series: Semiparametric and Nonparametric Methods

Useful in the theoretical and empirical analysis of nonlinear time series data, semiparametric methods have received extensive attention in the economics and statistics communities over the past twenty years. Recent studies show that semiparametric methods and models may be applied to solve dimensionality reduction problems arising from using fully nonparametric models and methods. Answering the call for an up-to-date overview of the latest developments in the field, "Nonlinear Time Series: Semiparametric and Nonparametric Methods" focuses on various semiparametric methods in model estimation, specification testing, and selection of time series data.After a brief introduction, this book examines semiparametric estimation and specification methods and then applies these approaches to a class of nonlinear continuous-time models with real-world data. It also assesses some newly proposed semiparametric estimation procedures for time series data with long-range dependence. Even though this book only deals with climatological and financial data, the estimation and specifications methods discussed can be applied to models with real-world data in many disciplines. This resource covers key methods in time series analysis and provides the necessary theoretical details. The latest applied finance and financial econometrics results and applications presented in this book enable researchers and graduate students to keep abreast of developments in the field.
Challenging clubfeet: the arthrogrypotic clubfoot and the complex clubfoot

Abstract Within the realm of clubfoot deformities, teratologic and complex (or atypical) clubfeet stand out as the most difficult. Exemplarities of the teratologic types of clubfoot are those associated with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita. Treatment of arthrogrypotic clubfoot deformities has been controversial; many different procedures have been advocated, with variable success rates. These clubfeet have a high recurrence rate, regardless of treatment type. Often, the high recurrence rate has led to a high repeat surgery rate, and poor outcomes. Treatment strategies should highlight care that avoids the development of a stiffened foot and allows for a variety of options to regain correction when a relapse occurs. Modifications of the Ponseti method for idiopathic clubfeet have been successful in managing the deformity. The equinocavus variant of the arthrogrypotic clubfoot should be distinguished from the classic clubfoot, as it requires a different treatment method. The equinocavus clubfoot is very similar to the complex or atypical clubfoot. The complex, or atypical, clubfoot also requires a different treatment strategy compared with the typical idiopathic congenital clubfoot. The complex clubfoot appears to be idiopathic in some cases and iatrogenic (due to slipping stretching casts) in others. Dr. Ponseti's modification of his protocol has been effective in treating the deformity. The high recurrence rate suggests the difficulty in maintaining the deformity after correction. The author's preferred treatment for each deformity is included, with an emphasis on minimally invasive methods. Level of Evidence Level V, expert opinion
Barriers and Facilitators to the Implementation of a Mobile Insulin Titration Intervention for Patients With Uncontrolled Diabetes: A Qualitative Analysis

Background In 2016, a short message service text messaging intervention to titrate insulin in patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes was implemented at two health care facilities in New York City. Objective This study aimed to conduct a qualitative evaluation assessing barriers to and the facilitators of the implementation of the Mobile Insulin Titration Intervention (MITI) program into usual care. Methods We conducted in-depth interviews with 36 patients enrolled in the MITI program and the staff involved in MITI (n=19) in the two health care systems. Interviews were transcribed and iteratively coded by two study investigators, both inductively and deductively using a codebook guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. Results Multiple facilitator themes emerged: (1) MITI had strong relative advantages to in-person titration, including its convenience and time-saving design, (2) the free cost of MITI was important to the patients, (3) MITI was easy to use and the patients were confident in their ability to use it, (4) MITI was compatible with the patients’ home routines and clinic workflow, (5) the patients and staff perceived MITI to have value beyond insulin titration by reminding and motivating the patients to engage in healthy behaviors and providing a source of patient support, and (6) implementation in clinics was made easy by having a strong implementation climate, communication networks to spread information about MITI, and a strong program champion. The barriers identified included the following: (1) language limitations, (2) initial nurse concerns about the scope of practice changes required to deliver MITI, (3) initial provider knowledge gaps about the program, and (4) provider perceptions that MITI might not be appropriate for some patients (eg, older or not tech-savvy). There was also a theme that emerged during the patient and staff interviews of an unmet need for long-term additional diabetes management support among this population, specifically diet, nutrition, and exercise support. Conclusions The patients and staff were overwhelmingly supportive of MITI and believed that it had many benefits and that it was compatible with the clinic workflow and patients’ lives. Initial implementation efforts should address staff training and nurse concerns. Future research should explore options for integrating additional diabetes support for patients.
Reliability and Validity of the Berg Balance Scale in the Stroke Population: A Systematic Review

Abstract Aims: The aim of this systematic review is to assemble literature on the reliability and validity of the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) to determine its suitability as a clinical tool in patients post-stroke. Methods: Systematic searches of PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and ProQuest were completed. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were utilized. Methodological quality was assessed using the McGill Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Results: A total of 33 articles were included. The BBS was found to have excellent reliability and validity. The scores were predictive of factors contributing to patient function and performance. Fall risk was unable to be strongly predicted from scores. Conclusion: The BBS is a reliable and valid tool to assess balance and functional mobility in the post-stroke population. However, this tool should not be used as a strong predictor of fall risk in the stroke population as the scoring descriptions indicate.
Association of Circulating Branched-Chain Amino Acids with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Meta-Analysis

Context Recently, the relationship between branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) and diabetes mellitus (DM) has attracted worldwide attention. However, the results related to plasma BCAAs concentrations and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) lack statistical power due to the small sample size of a single article. Objectives This study quantitatively summarized current observational studies to evaluate the association between plasma BCAAs concentration levels and GDM. Methods A systematic search was performed to select eligible publications using PubMed and EMBASE databases until July 23, 2018. The references of relevant articles were also manually searched. The quality evaluation of included studies was according to the guidelines of the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Data were analyzed with Review Manager 5.3 and STATA 14.0 software. In total, seven articles (including eight studies) involving 432 subjects were included. Results The results showed that all three-individual plasma BCAAs concentration levels in the GDM group were higher than those in the control group (leucine: SMD = 3.76, 95% CI: 1.70 - 5.82, P (SMD) < 0.001; isoleucine: SMD = 3.15, 95% CI: 1.42 - 4.87, P (SMD) < 0.001; valine: SMD = 2.77, 95% CI: 1.21 - 4.32, P (SMD) = 0.001), and the differences were statistically significant. In addition, subgroup analysis indicated that age, body mass index (BMI), publication year, and ethnicity were positively associated with plasma BCAAs concentrations in GDM. Conclusions Plasma BCAAs, as potential biomarkers, might be associated with GDM risk, which provides useful information for the prevention and early diagnosis of GDM.
Synthesis and Evaluation of BMMSC-seeded BMP-6/nHAG/GMS Scaffolds for Bone Regeneration

Bioactive scaffolding materials and efficient osteoinductive factors are key factors for bone tissue engineering. The present study aimed to mimic the natural bone repair process using an osteoinductive bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-6-loaded nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA)/gelatin (Gel)/gelatin microsphere (GMS) scaffold pre-seeded with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs). BMP-6-loaded GMSs were prepared by cross-linking and BMP-6/nHAG/GMS scaffolds were fabricated by a combination of blending and freeze-drying techniques. Scanning electron microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and CCK-8 assays were carried out to determine the biocompatibility of the composite scaffolds in vitro. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was measured to evaluate the osteoinductivity of the composite scaffolds. For in vivo examination, critical-sized calvarial bone defects in Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly implanted with BMMSC/nHAG/GMS and BMMSC/BMP-6/nHAG/GMS scaffolds, and compared with a control group with untreated empty defects. The BMP-6-loaded scaffolds showed cytocompatibility by favoring BMMSC attachment, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation. In radiological and histological analyses, the BMMSC-seeded scaffolds, especially the BMMSC-seeded BMP-6/nHAG/GMS scaffolds, significantly accelerated new bone formation. It is concluded that the BMP-6/nHAG/GMS scaffold possesses excellent biocompatibility and good osteogenic induction activity in vitro and in vivo, and could be an ideal bioactive substitute for bone tissue engineering.