Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Application of the Formula for Rational Antimicrobial Therapy (FRAT) toCommunity-Acquired Pneumonia

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains a common condition for which patients seek medical advice in the outpatient setting and where antimicrobial agents are prescribed empirically–often based on therapeutic guideline recommendations. Antimicrobial resistance impacts on therapeutic choices as resistance is associated with clinical failure which in turn may impact morbidity and mortality. The Formal for Rational Antimicrobial Therapy (FRAT) considers etiology and antimicrobial susceptibility to generate a factor to predict the likely activity of an antimicrobial agent in CAP or any other infection for which etiology and susceptibility data can be considered. In considering the FRAT formula in CAP, amoxicillin and macrolides offer a predictability of 52.6-78.3% whereas for trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole the predictability was 45.2% as compared to 90.1% for tetracyclines/doxycycline and 98.2% for levofloxacin (and moxifloxacin) . The FRAT formula clearly differentiates antimicrobial agents based on spectrum of activity and impact of antimicrobial resistance and provides yet another factor for consideration in the selection of an antimicrobial agent for treatment of CAP.
Making Decision Trees Feasible in Ultrahigh Feature and Label Dimensions

Due to the non-linear but highly interpretable representations, decision tree (DT) models have significantly attracted a lot of attention of researchers. However, it is difficult to understand and interpret DT models in ultrahigh dimensions and DT models usually suffer from the curse of dimensionality and achieve degenerated performance when there are many noisy features. To address these issues, this paper first presents a novel data-dependent generalization error bound for the perceptron decision tree (PDT), which provides the theoretical justification to learn a sparse linear hyperplane in each decision node and to prune the tree. Following our analysis, we introduce the notion of budget-aware classifier (BAC) with a budget constraint on the weight coefficients, and propose a supervised budgeted tree (SBT) algorithm to achieve non-linear prediction performance. To avoid generating an unstable and complicated decision tree and improve the generalization of the SBT, we present a pruning strategy by learning classifiers to minimize cross-validation errors on each BAC. To deal with ultrahigh label dimensions, based on three important phenomena of real-world data sets from a variety of application domains, we develop a sparse coding tree framework for multi-label annotation problems and provide the theoretical analysis. Extensive empirical studies verify that 1) SBT is easy to understand and interpret in ultrahigh dimensions and is more resilient to noisy features. 2) Compared with state-of-the-art algorithms, our proposed sparse coding tree framework is more efficient, yet accurate in ultrahigh label and feature dimensions.
Natural history of stent edge dissection, tissue protrusion and incomplete stent apposition detectable only on optical coherence tomography after stent implantation – preliminary observation – .

BACKGROUND The clinical impact of stent edge dissection, tissue protrusion, and incomplete stent apposition (ISA) after stent implantation, detectable only on optical coherence tomography (OCT), is still unknown because the natural course has not been investigated. METHODS AND RESULTS All consecutive patients with angina pectoris in whom both intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and OCT were performed immediately after stenting and at follow-up were included in the present study. The natural history of OCT-detected stent edge dissection, tissue protrusion, and ISA during follow-up was investigated. A total of 36 patients with 39 lesions was analyzed. At baseline, OCT showed 12 stent edge dissections, 25 tissue protrusions, and 8 ISAs, whereas IVUS demonstrated 6 stent edge dissections, 5 tissue protrusions, and 3 ISAs. All IVUS findings were clearly visualized on OCT. The maximum length of dissection flap and depth of ISA visualized on OCT were significantly shorter than those visualized on IVUS. Maximum length of tissue protrusion tended to be smaller on OCT than on IVUS. At follow-up (median 188 days), all findings noted on OCT were healed or resolved without any restenosis or thrombus formation. CONCLUSIONS Acute findings after stenting, such as edge dissection, tissue protrusion, and ISA, detectable only on OCT, tended to be smaller than those seen on both OCT and IVUS. The majority of OCT-detected acute findings resolved completely at follow-up.
Effectiveness of a minimal contact smoking cessation program for Dutch general practitioners: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND Until recently, Dutch general practitioners contributed little to tobacco control. This is due to several factors, among which is the lack of a feasible intervention program for adult smokers. Such a minimal contact behavioral intervention, using the Stage-of-Change concept, is now available. Effectiveness was tested in a randomized trial. METHOD Twenty-two general practitioners and their practice assistants were trained in applying the program. In all, 530 smoking patients were enrolled, randomly assigned to either the intervention or the usual treatment condition. Analysis of treatment effects was performed with logistic regression analysis. In a backward stepwise procedure confounding effects of baseline differences were eliminated. RESULTS At 12-month follow-up, self-reported abstinence rates (including nonrespondents as smokers) differed significantly between intervention subjects and controls: 13.4 vs 7.3% point prevalence (odds ratio 1.51, P < 0.05). An analysis of consecutive abstinence, defined as being abstinent at both 6- and 12-month follow-up, showed that 8.2% of the intervention group compared to 3.1% of the controls had sustained abstinence for more than 6 months (odds ratio 3.04, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Results indicate that an effective smoking cessation program for use in Dutch general practice, already shown to be feasible, is now available. Outcomes are generally consistent with recent international literature.
Controllability of heterogeneous networked MIMO systems

In this study, we investigate the controllability of weighted and directed networks of multi-input-multi-output (MIMO) systems, in which the nodes obey heterogeneous linear time-invariant (LTI) dynamics. In particular, we analyze the effects of the node dynamics, the network topology, the external control inputs and the internal interactions on the controllability of the heterogeneous networked system. We find that the heterogeneous networked system can be controllable even if the network topology is uncontrollable. We derive a necessary and sufficient controllability condition for the heterogeneous networked system. For some special but meaningful cases, we present necessary or sufficient conditions on the node dynamics, the inner interactions, and the network topology to ensure controllability.
Metyrapone attenuates the sequential learning deficits but not monoamine depletions following d,l‐fenfluramine administration to adult rats

Fenfluramine (FEN) is a substituted amphetamine known for its anorectic effects, without the stimulatory or abuse potential associated with other amphetamine derivatives. FEN is a potent serotonin (5‐HT) releaser and reuptake inhibitor and has been shown to cause depletions of 5‐HT that can last days and even weeks after administration. Administration of FEN four times on a single day also causes a prolonged increase of corticosterone (CORT) that lasts ∼72 h following the first FEN dose. This dosing regimen also produces deficits in sequential learning as measured in the Cincinnati water maze (CWM). Adrenalectomy blocks this effect but removes more than CORT. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to determine whether inhibiting glucocorticoid production, by administration of the 11β‐hydroxylase inhibitor metyrapone (MET), will similarly attenuate or eliminate the sequential learning deficits seen with FEN exposure. MET (50 mg/kg) injections were administered 90 min prior to and for 3 days after FEN (four doses given at 2‐h intervals). Animals pretreated with MET and treated with FEN showed no sequential learning deficits when tested 1 week following FEN administration compared to FEN alone. The depletions of monoamines were similar following FEN administration, regardless of MET treatment. Taken together, this suggests that a potential mechanism for the sequential learning deficits in FEN‐treated animals is a result of prolonged increases in CORT output. Synapse 54:214–222, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Comprehensive Study of the Phenolics and Saponins from Helleborus niger L. Leaves and Stems by Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry

The aerial parts of the medicinal plant Helleborus niger L. comprise a substantial number of constituents with only few of them identified so far. To expand the knowledge of its secondary metabolite profile, extracts from H. niger leaves and stems were investigated by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MSn). Specific identification strategies using LC/MS are established and discussed in detail. The leaves turned out to contain acylated and non‐acylated quercetin and kaempferol oligoglycosides, protoanemonin and its precursor ranunculin, β‐ecdysone, and a variety of steroidal saponins, mainly in the furostanol form. The sapogenins were elucidated as of sarsasapogenyl, diosgenyl, and macranthogenyl structures, and confirmed by comparison with the respective reference compounds. The secondary metabolite profiles were almost identical in both plant parts except that the stems lacked kaempferol derivatives and some saponins. The ranunculin derivatives and β‐ecdysone were found in both plant parts. Correlations between the location of the compound groups and the plant's defense strategies are proposed. Additionally, the role of the detected secondary metabolites as protective substances against exogenic stress and as a defense against herbivores is discussed.
Dual-mode control of tri-state boost converter for improved performance

A tri-state boost converter with an additional boost-inductor free-wheeling interval was proposed earlier to eliminate the right-half-plane (RHP) zero that occurs in the control-to-output transfer function of a classical boost converter under continuous-conduction mode of operation. A "constant-D/sub o/" control scheme, in which the "capacitor-charging" interval of the converter was kept constant, was employed. This resulted in a relatively large inductor current, especially under high line and load conditions, thereby causing high circuit losses. This paper proposes two variations of a novel dual-mode control (DMC) scheme that vary both the "boost" and the "capacitor-charging" intervals. Control analysis, design, and limitations of the proposed DMC schemes are presented. Through computer simulations and hardware experiments the performance of the tri-state boost converter with DMC schemes are compared with those of the tri-state boost converter with "constant-D/sub o/" control scheme, and the classical PI-controlled boost converter. The DMC schemes achieve a significant (about 10%) improvement in converter's efficiency for a wide load range over the "constant-D/sub o/" control scheme.
Neurotoxic Effects of Anthracycline- vs Nonanthracycline-Based Chemotherapy on Cognition in Breast Cancer Survivors.

IMPORTANCE Chemotherapy exposure is a known risk factor for cancer-related cognitive impairments. Anthracycline-based regimens are commonly used chemotherapies that have been shown to be associated with cognitive impairment and brain changes in clinical studies. OBJECTIVE To directly compare the effects of anthracycline and nonanthracycline regimens on cognitive status and functional brain connectivity. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In this observational study, we retrospectively examined cognitive and resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging data acquired from 62 primary breast cancer survivors (mean [SD] age, 54.7 [8.5] years) who were more than 2 years off-therapy, on average. Twenty of these women received anthracycline-based chemotherapy as part of their primary treatment, 19 received nonanthracycline regimens, and 23 did not receive any chemotherapy. Participants were enrolled at a single academic institution (Stanford University) from 2008 to 2014, and the study analyses were performed at this time. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Cognitive status was measured using standardized neuropsychological tests, and functional brain connectivity was evaluated using resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging with a focus on the brain's default mode network. RESULTS The anthracycline group demonstrated significantly lower verbal memory performance including immediate recall (F = 3.73; P = .03) and delayed recall (F = 11.11; P < .001) as well as lower left precuneus connectivity (F = 7.48; P = .001) compared with the other 2 groups. Patient-reported outcomes related to cognitive dysfunction (F = 7.27; P = .002) and psychological distress (F = 5.64; P = .006) were similarly elevated in both chemotherapy groups compared with the non-chemotherapy-treated controls. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE These results suggest that anthracyclines may have greater negative effects than nonanthracycline regimens on particular cognitive domains and brain network connections. Both anthracycline and nonanthracycline regimens may have nonspecific effects on other cognitive domains as well as certain patient reported outcomes. Further research is needed to identify potential methods for protecting the brain against the effects of various chemotherapeutic agents.
Neuropsychological functioning in a cohort of HIV- and hepatitis C virus-infected women

Objective:To evaluate the neurocognitive function in 220 women enrolled in the Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS), a study of disease progression in women living with HIV/AIDS and in HIV-negative controls. Methods:We evaluated the prevalence of abnormal neuropsychological (NP) results in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive compared with HCV-negative women in combination with HIV serostatus. Results:NP impairment was significantly higher for HCV-positive women in comparison with HCV-negative women [odds ratio (OR), 2.03; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.17–3.51]. Women co-infected with HCV and HIV demonstrated greater abnormal NP performance than those not infected with either, particularly if there was evidence of CD4 T-lymphocyte immunosuppression [> 200 × 106 CD4 cells/l (OR, 3.48; 95% CI, 1.49–8.15) and ≤ 200 × 106 CD4 cells/l (OR, 5.38; 95% CI, 1.46–19.84)]. Women who were HCV-positive/HIV-positive and not taking antiretroviral therapy (ART) were more likely (OR, 7.03; 95% CI, 2.63–18.82) to demonstrate NP impairment than those who were HCV-negative/HIV-negative. In analyses controlling separately for education, intelligence quotient, depression, sedating drug use, head injury, ethnicity, and history of substance use, HCV continued to significantly predict NP impairment. The HCV effect did not reach significance when controlling for age in bivariate or multivariate analyses although the odds ratio for NP abnormalities in HCV-infected patients was only slightly reduced (ORs above 1.9). After testing for an interaction between age and infection status, we conducted age-stratified analysis and showed a significant effect of infection status for those aged under 40 years. Conclusions:The effect of aging on co-infected populations will require further study. This study has demonstrated the association of HCV with the risk of neurocognitive impairment in women living with HIV/AIDS and suggests that co-infection has an additive effect.
Injury of the Annulus Fibrosus and Disc Protrusions: An In Vitro Investigation on Human Lumbar Discs

Discs of 25 specimens of human lumbar motion segments were subjected to an internal division of the annulus fibrosus, sparing only a peripheral layer 1 mm thick. Thus an attempt was made to simulate an internal disruption of the annulus caused by a traumatic episode or a degenerative process. The disc bulge that develooed at the site of the injury was observed under axial loads in the physiologic load range, after axial compression fracture and after intradiscal injection. Under 1,000-N load, the bulge amounted to less than 0.5 mm; typically it increased to less than 1.0 mm after fracture. An extrusion of disc material at the site of the annulus injury was never observed. The results suggest that a radial division of the annulus is not sufficient to produce a clinically relevant disc herniation; further prerequisites are a fragmentation of the disc material and a separation from the endplates.
Observation of improved behavior by electrode biasing of a toroidal plasma having no poloidal magnetic field.

We observe an increase in plasma density and a significant reduction in fluctuations with bias electrode in a pure toroidal plasma having no poloidal magnetic field. The improved toroidal plasma behavior is found to depend upon the radial currents driven by positive biasing of a ring electrode. Although biasing establishes a radial electric field at the edge, we see suppression of fluctuations and density rise in the central core region of the plasma.
NOVEL LINSEED OIL-BASED MONOMERS: SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION

This paper presents the study of the functionalization reactions of the linseed oil (LO) structure. The main purpose of this study was to obtain oil-based monomers that meet both "green chemistry" properties and reactive sites for the polymerization and also to possess a hydrophilic character. Functionalization of LO chains was achieved by a three step reaction involving sequentially: double bonds epoxidation, partial methacrylation of the epoxy rings and polyethyleneglycole (PEG) grafting by opening of the epoxides unreacted in the previous stage.
Socrates Plays the Buffoon: Cautionary Protreptic in Euthydemus

PLATO’S Euthydemus is somewhat uninteresting to traditional philosophers, who tend to treat the dialogues from the aspect of their theoretical content.1 The arguments repeatedly presented by Socrates’ opponents are below Platonic standards,2 while Socrates carries on only a single, somewhat truncated logos of his own. The dialogue’s primary interest lies elsewhere, in the odd use it makes of protreptic or conversionary philosophical rhetoric and in its highly ambivalent examination of Socratic tactics. Socrates’ adversaries are a pair of ludicrous charlatans, caricatures of the other fifth–century “Sophists”3 whom Plato satirized; but the tactics of the two brothers, Euthydemus and Dionysodorus, are also awkwardly close to those of Socrates himself. No other Platonic dialogue features interlocutors who make a habit of practicing the Socratic question–and–answer mode, and in no other dialogue does Socrates allow anyone but himself to assume the dominant role of interrogator.4 The “sandwich” format, in which two Socratic discussions
A PROSÓDIA EM SENTENÇAS SINTATICAMENTE AMBÍGUAS DO PORTUGUÊS BRASILEIRO: PISTAS DE DURAÇÃO

Utilizando sentencas sintaticamente ambiguas pelas posicoes local e nao-local do Atributo, este artigo discute o uso da duracao como pista do mapeamento prosodico de sentencas no portugues brasileiro. O que se questiona e se os falantes diferenciam as leituras via alongamento conforme o dominio prosodico do significado pretendido. Para isso, o presente trabalho e baseado em um estudo comparativo da producao feita por 30 falantes do PB de 9 sentencas do tipo SN1-V-SN2-Atributo, em que, conforme a interpretacao, pode haver uma fronteira de frase fonologica entre SN2 e o Atributo. Para efeitos de discussao acerca do tema, a teoria prosodica de Nespor e Vogel (1986) foi adotada. Os resultados encontrados nao mostraram diferenca estatistica significativa na duracao do contexto analisado (da ultima silaba de SN2 ate a primeira silaba do Atributo) quando apenas as leituras sao consideradas, mas apontaram para uma forte correlacao entre interpretacao e informante, e em todos os casos significativos havia uma duracao maior dos contextos analisados quando o Atributo se referia a SN1, isto e, quando havia uma fronteira de frase fonologica entre SN2 e o Atributo.
Characterization of Staphylococcus aureus Isolates with a Partial or Complete Absence of Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome Elements

ABSTRACT Detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) by single-locus PCR assays that target the extremity of the staphylococcal cassette chromosome-mec (SCCmec) and part of the adjacent S. aureus-specific open reading frame gene (orfX) is a significant diagnostic advancement, since it provides real-time detection directly from screening specimens. However, isolates harboring mecA deletions within SCCmec may result in false-positive identification of MRSA in these assays. We characterized 24 methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) isolates that tested positive in one such assay to investigate this phenomenon. Seven isolates resembled USA100 and carried SCCmec II elements with mecA deletions that spanned 20 to 46 kbp. The mecA excisions in USA100-resembling isolates appeared to be linked with IS431 transposable elements present in SCCmec II. For 17 isolates that resembled USA400 and/or MSSA476, the identity and possible excision of SCC elements could not be confirmed. The downstream common sequence (dcs) shared by SCCmec I, II, and IV elements was detected in these isolates. Sequence analysis of the chromosomal regions flanking the missing SCC element revealed an intact SCC integration site, a duplicate dcs, and the enterotoxin gene cluster downstream of orfX. An annealing sequence for one of the SCCmec-specific primers (mecii574) in the single-locus PCR assay was identified in the duplicate dcs. In the absence of SCC, a 176-bp amplicon can be generated from this mecii574 annealing sequence to yield a false-positive result. In conclusion, partial SCCmec II excisions via IS431 elements in strains that resembled USA100 and the presence of a duplicate mecii574 annealing sequence in strains that resembled USA400/MSSA476 were identified as causes for false-positive results in a single-locus PCR assay that targets the SCCmec/orfX junction.
External Validation of Medicare Claims Codes for Digital Mammography and Computer-Aided Detection

Background: While Medicare claims are a potential resource for clinical mammography research or quality monitoring, the validity of key data elements remains uncertain. Claims codes for digital mammography and computer-aided detection (CAD), for example, have not been validated against a credible external reference standard. Methods: We matched Medicare mammography claims for women who received bilateral mammograms from 2003 to 2006 to corresponding mammography data from the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium (BCSC) registries in four U.S. states (N = 253,727 mammograms received by 120,709 women). We assessed the accuracy of the claims-based classifications of bilateral mammograms as either digital versus film and CAD versus non-CAD relative to a reference standard derived from BCSC data. Results: Claims data correctly classified the large majority of film and digital mammograms (97.2% and 97.3%, respectively), yielding excellent agreement beyond chance (κ = 0.90). Claims data correctly classified the large majority of CAD mammograms (96.6%) but a lower percentage of non-CAD mammograms (86.7%). Agreement beyond chance remained high for CAD classification (κ = 0.83). From 2003 to 2006, the predictive values of claims-based digital and CAD classifications increased as the sample prevalences of each technology increased. Conclusion: Medicare claims data can accurately distinguish film and digital bilateral mammograms and mammograms conducted with and without CAD. Impact: The validity of Medicare claims data regarding film versus digital mammography and CAD suggests that these data elements can be useful in research and quality improvement. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 21(8); 1344–7. ©2012 AACR.