Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Place of Death and Use of Health Services in the Last Year of Life

Aim To investigate whether health service input in the last year of life differs between cancer patients who die at home versus those dying in inpatient care. Methods Post hoc exploratory case-control study of 127 home deaths and 200 inpatient deaths. Retrospective electronic record linkage of patients’ community and inpatient care during the last year of life. Results Patients who died at home began their home nursing care closer to death than those who died as inpatients. Their first contact with inpatient hospice care began further from death. Before their final month, home death patients also had more specialist and district nursing than patients who died in inpatient care. Conclusions Patients who began their home nursing early were less likely to die at home than those who began such care late. This suggests that it may be difficult to sustain end-of-life care at home for an extended period. Further research incorporating assessment of informal care input and disease trajectory is required to investigate this issue.
Carotid Plaque Rupture Is Accompanied by an Increase in the Ratio of Serum circR-284 to miR-221 Levels

Background— Atherosclerotic plaque rupture is accompanied by an acute decrease in the carotid plaque expression of micro-RNAs (miRs)-221 and miR-222. Circular RNA (circR)-284 is a potential inhibitor of miR-221/miR-222 activity. We aimed to determine whether changes in the serum levels of these noncoding RNAs are observed in patients with asymptomatic high-grade carotid disease versus patients with acutely symptomatic carotid disease and recent ischemic stroke. Additionally, we tested the use of functionally related noncoding RNA pairs to enhance the discriminatory power of noncoding RNAs as circulating biomarkers. Methods and Results— Serum levels of miR-221, miR-222, miR-145, and circR-284 were measured in 24 asymptomatic (asymptomatic) and 17 acutely symptomatic patients ([urgent] ischemic cerebrovascular event within the previous 5 days) undergoing carotid endarterectomy. miR-221 was significantly lower, whereas circR-284 was elevated in the serum of the urgent compared with the asymptomatic group. The ratio of serum circR-284:miR-221 was significantly elevated in the urgent group (P=0.0002) and exhibited favorable characteristics as a biomarker indicative of carotid plaque rupture and stroke. A validation study in 112 patients (47 asymptomatic, 41 urgent, and 24 patients with a cerebrovascular event between 5 and 180 days of the carotid endarterectomy [symptomatic]) confirmed elevation of serum circR-284:miR-221 uniquely in the urgent group (P<0.001) and favorable sensitivity and specificity for detecting plaque rupture and stroke. Conclusions— Serum circR-284:miR-221 has potential as a diagnostic biomarker of carotid plaque rupture and stroke. Moreover, we demonstrate the use of functionally related pairs of circulating noncoding RNAs as biomarkers in cardiovascular disease.
A Keyword-based Video Summarization Learning Platform with Multimodal Surrogates

In general, video-based learning contains rich media information, but displaying an entire video linearly is time-consuming. As an alternative, video summarization techniques extract important content provides short but informative fragments. In this paper, a video learning platform (KVSUM: Keyword-based Video Summarization) is presented that integrates image processing, text summarization, and keyword extraction techniques. Without human annotators, the learning platform can process an input video and transform it into online learning materials automatically. The video frames are first split from a given video while the transcription is used to generate the text summary and keywords. In the current study, the video surrogates are composed of extracted keywords, text and video summaries, and video frames. In other words, KVSUM is able to provide both visual and verbal surrogates. In order to validate the effect of surrogates in the KVSUM, a comparison with another video surrogate, the fast forward (FF), to evaluate learners¡¦ comprehension to video contents. Sixty undergraduate students took part in examining two different video surrogates. The experimental results show that KVSUM had a more positive effect than FF in comprehension to videos. In terms of system usage and satisfaction, KVSUM is significantly more attractive than FF to learners.
Sub-1V Oguey's Current Reference Without Resistance

The circuit proposed in this paper allows to generate a sub-1V 50 nA current reference. By changing the inversion mode of two transistors, the original Oguey's structure becomes compliant with ultra low voltage requirements, while preserving the topology inherent simplicity, guarantee of low cost. Furthermore, the use of EKV2.0 MOS model involves an inversion level free study. As a consequence, supply voltage and/or silicon area can be optimized unambiguously in regards to current target and technology. Simulation with a higher than 500 mV Vt technology, for an inversion level of only 2.78, gives a minimum supply voltage of 710 mV.
Carbon Dioxide Homeostasis and Recovery after General Anaesthesia

The influence of different levels of carbon dioxide during general anaesthesia on postoperative recovery was studied. Sixty female patients were divided into two age groups. Thirty patients were over 60 years old and 30 patients were under 46 years old. Artificial ventilation with added carbon dioxide during general anaesthesia with thiopentone, nitrous oxide‐oxygen, alcuronium and fentanyl was used. According to the arterial CO2 tension, patients were allocated to subgroups: hypercarbic, Paco2 7.3 kPa, normocarbic, Paco2 5.3 kPa and two different levels of hypocarbia: older patients Paco2 3.7 kPa and younger patients Paco2 2.9 kPa. As criteria for recovery, a battery of recovery tests and postoperative questionnaires were used. Regardless of age, patients subjected to hypercarbic ventilation scored better in the recovery tests than patients subjected to normo‐ or hypocarbia. Normocarbic ventilation also gave better results than hypocarbic ventilation. The level of hypocarbia used in the older patients and that used in the younger patients, though different, resulted in nearly the same deterioration of scoring in the recovery tests. This deterioration was seen in some patients up to 48 h postoperatively. No subjective differences were elicited from the questionnaires after various types of ventilation.
Giant Simple Hepatic Cyst (A Case Report) and Review of the Literature

Giant cysts of the liver are uncommon. The symptoms of cystic disease are related primarily to the mass effect of the slowly enlarging cyst: abdominal lump, palpable mass, right upper quadrant pain from the stretching hepatic capsule, jaundice from compression of the bile duct, or portal hypertension from portal vein obstruction. We report a case of a giant hepatic cyst in a 71-year-old female who was admitted to our clinic for abdominal lump and palpable mass. She was thoroughly investigated with ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging and computerized tomography scan of the abdomen along with other supportive investigations, and was diagnosed as having a 25 x 25 cm cyst in the left lobe of the liver. Cystectomy and drainage operations were performed in the patient.
Tactical Skills and Ball Speed during a Field Simulation of Penalty Kick Strategies in Soccer

This study investigates the efficacy of intermediate penalty kickers by comparing the effect of applying an automated WiFi system on the field of play to simulate a strategy that takes account of goalkeeper action (dependent) with another for which goalkeeper strategy is irrelevant (independent). Intermediate penalty kickers (n = 12) took a pretreatment test of 32 kicks in a “real-play” situation with intermediate goalkeepers (n = 3). Two groups of kickers underwent 11 treatment sessions using different strategies and then were administered a posttreatment test. The variables measured were the number of goals scored, whether the direction of the shot was the same or different from the direction of the goalkeeper's move (DDG), ball speed, and the duration of the kicking movement. Data suggested the goalkeepers had a greater capacity to identify advance cues when faced with independent strategy kickers and that dependent strategy kickers achieved lower ball speeds.
Breakthrough zygomycosis after voriconazole treatment in recipients of hematopoietic stem-cell transplants.

To the Editor: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved voriconazole for the treatment of invasive aspergillosis partly on the basis of data published in a report in the Journal, 1 which showed an improved clinical response and improved survival with voriconazole treatment as compared with a strategy of initial treatment with amphotericin B deoxycholate. In patients with neutropenia and persistent fever, the use of voriconazole as empirical therapy failed to fulfill criteria for noninferiority as compared with liposomal amphotericin B,2 and the results of that trial generated substantial discussion after the FDA declined approval of the drug for that indication.
The Histology of the Neurosecretory System of the Adult Female Desert Locust, Schistocerca gregaria

The pars intercerebralis of the brain of the desert locust contains about 2,400 cells in two groups, which stain with chrome-haematoxylin-phloxin and with paraldehydefuchsin. On the basis of differences in size and staining reactions, four types of cell, called A-, B-, C-, and D-cells may be differentiated. The A- and B-cells produce different kinds of material; they are not thought to be stages in a secretory cycle. The C- and D-cells are probably not neurosecretory. The corpora cardiaca are divided into two regions. One part stores neurosecretory material from the pars intercerebralis and the other is glandular in appearance. Material discharged from the A- and B-cells in the immature female passes along the nervi corporis cardiaci I to the anterior parts of the corpora cardiaca. The mature female is characterized by the presence of very much larger amounts of material in the corpora cardiaca, in the nervi corporis cardiaci I, and in the A-cells of the pars intercerebralis. The significance of this larger amount of material with respect to neurosecretory cell activity is discussed.
A quadrature based method of moments for nonlinear Fokker–Planck equations

Fokker–Planck equations which are nonlinear with respect to their probability densities and occur in many nonequilibrium systems relevant to mean field interaction models, plasmas, fermions and bosons can be challenging to solve numerically. To address some underlying challenges, we propose the application of the direct quadrature based method of moments (DQMOM) for efficient and accurate determination of transient (and stationary) solutions of nonlinear Fokker–Planck equations (NLFPEs). In DQMOM, probability density (or other distribution) functions are represented using a finite collection of Dirac delta functions, characterized by quadrature weights and locations (or abscissas) that are determined based on constraints due to evolution of generalized moments. Three particular examples of nonlinear Fokker–Planck equations considered in this paper include descriptions of: (i) the Shimizu–Yamada model, (ii) the Desai–Zwanzig model (both of which have been developed as models of muscular contraction) and (iii) fermions and bosons. Results based on DQMOM, for the transient and stationary solutions of the nonlinear Fokker–Planck equations, have been found to be in good agreement with other available analytical and numerical approaches. It is also shown that approximate reconstruction of the underlying probability density function from moments obtained from DQMOM can be satisfactorily achieved using a maximum entropy method.
Multidimensional Characterization of the Atrial Activity to Predict Electrical Cardioversion Outcome of Persistent Atrial Fibrillation

European Society of Cardiology guidelines recommend electrical cardioversion (ECV) as a rhythm control strategy in persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). Although ECV initially restores sinus rhythm (SR) in almost every patient, mid- and long-term AF recurrence rates are high, so that additional research is needed to anticipate ECV outcome and rationalize the management of AF patients. Although indices characterizing fibrillatory (f-) waves from surface lead V1, such as dominant frequency (DF), amplitude (FWA), and entropy, have reported good results, they discard the spatial information from the remaining leads. Hence, this work explores whether a multidimensional characterization approach of these parameters can improve ECV outcome prediction. The obtained results have shown that multidimensional FWA reported more balanced values of sensitivity and specificity, although the discriminant ability was similar in both cases. For DF, a similar outcome was also obtained. In contrast, multivariate entropy overcome discriminant ability of its univariate version by 5%, rightly anticipating result in more than 80% of ECV cases. Therefore, multidimensional entropy analysis seems to be able to quantify novel dynamics in the f-waves, which lead to a better ECV outcome prediction.
Opiate and sedative dependence predicts a poor outcome for patients receiving home parenteral nutrition.

BACKGROUND Home parenteral nutrition (HPN) is used to treat intestinal failure. A minority of HPN patients are dependent on opiates and benzodiazepines to control pain and anxiety. The aim of this study was to determine what effects such drug dependence had on patient outcomes. METHODS Ten dependent patients were prospectively compared with 10 well-matched, nondependent HPN patients for the same 12-month period. Episodes of line sepsis and other complications were documented and the cost of treatment estimated. Health status was measured using the SF36 and EuroQol instruments. RESULTS The dependent group had significantly more episodes of central line sepsis (p = .0007) as well as other complications (p = .0002). This led to significantly longer periods of inpatient care (p = .0004) and therefore higher costs of treatment. Health status was lower in the dependent group; they reported more pain (p = .04) and less energy (p = .04). CONCLUSIONS The complication rate and increased cost of treatment for opiate- and sedative-dependent patients receiving HPN significantly detract from the overall outcome of this therapy.
Genomic Scars Generated by Polymerase Theta Reveal the Versatile Mechanism of Alternative End-Joining

For more than half a century, genotoxic agents have been used to induce mutations in the genome of model organisms to establish genotype-phenotype relationships. While inaccurate replication across damaged bases can explain the formation of single nucleotide variants, it remained unknown how DNA damage induces more severe genomic alterations. Here, we demonstrate for two of the most widely used mutagens, i.e. ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) and photo-activated trimethylpsoralen (UV/TMP), that deletion mutagenesis is the result of polymerase Theta (POLQ)-mediated end joining (TMEJ) of double strand breaks (DSBs). This discovery allowed us to survey many thousands of available C. elegans deletion alleles to address the biology of this alternative end-joining repair mechanism. Analysis of ~7,000 deletion breakpoints and their cognate junctions reveals a distinct order of events. We found that nascent strands blocked at sites of DNA damage can engage in one or more cycles of primer extension using a more downstream located break end as a template. Resolution is accomplished when 3’ overhangs have matching ends. Our study provides a step-wise and versatile model for the in vivo mechanism of POLQ action, which explains the molecular nature of mutagen-induced deletion alleles.
60 Years After Brown: Trends and Consequences of School Segregation

Since the Supreme Court's 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision, researchers and policy makers have paid close attention to trends in school segregation. Here we review the evidence regarding trends and consequences of both racial and economic school segregation since Brown. The evidence suggests that the most significant declines in black-white school segregation occurred in the late 1960s and early 1970s. There is disagreement about the direction of more recent trends in racial segregation, largely driven by how one defines and measures segregation. Depending on the definition used, segregation has either increased substantially or changed little, although there are important differences in the trends across regions, racial groups, and institutional levels. Limited evidence on school economic segregation makes documenting trends difficult, but students appear to be more segregated by income across schools and districts today than in 1990. We also discuss the role of desegregation litigation, demogra.
Marine–freshwater transitions are associated with the evolution of dietary diversification in terapontid grunters (Teleostei: Terapontidae)

The ecological opportunities associated with transitions across the marine–freshwater interface are regarded as an important catalyst of diversification in a range of aquatic taxa. Here, we examined the role of these major habitat transitions and trophic diversification in a radiation of Australasian fishes using a new molecular phylogeny incorporating 37 Terapontidae species. A combined mitochondrial and nuclear gene analysis yielded a well‐supported tree with most nodes resolved. Ancestral terapontids appear to have been euryhaline in habitat affiliation, with a single transition to freshwater environments producing all Australasian freshwater species. Mapping of terapontid feeding modes onto the molecular phylogeny–predicted carnivorous dietary habits was displayed by ancestral terapontids, which subsequently diversified into a range of additional carnivorous, omnivorous, herbivorous and detritivorous dietary modes upon transition to freshwater habitats. Comparative analyses suggested that following the freshwater invasion, the single freshwater clade has exhibited an increased rate of diversification at almost three times the background rate evident across the rest of the family. The marine–freshwater transition within Terapontidae appears to have resulted in substantial dietary radiation in freshwater environments, as well as increased lineage diversification rates relative to euryhaline–marine habitats.
Some results on fast correlation attacks

This thesis presents new results on fast correlation attacks on stream ciphers. In particular, fast correlation attacks on stream ciphers containing linear shift registers with an arbitrary number of taps, are considered. A general introduction to stream ciphers and correlation attacks is given. The introduction also presents standard properties of linear feedback shift registers and Boolean functions. Three different algorithms for fast correlation attacks are presented. The first algorithm transforms a part of the code stemming from the LFSR sequence into a convolutional code, and decodes the convolutional code using the Viterbi algorithm. A theoretical analysis for the algorithm is performed, using a random coding bound for convolutional codes. This algorithm is then modified by using Turbo code techniques. The third algorithm is based on a method to recover multivariate linear polynomials. An overview and a comparison of recently proposed algorithms for fast correlations attacks, is given. The LILI-128 keystream generator, a recent stream cipher proposal, is attacked by a fast correlation attack. Several stream ciphers working over an extension field have been proposed in the last few years. Most algorithms for fast correlation attacks are described over the binary alphabet. An algorithm is presented that generalizes previous work to an attack over any field. This thesis also propose a new algorithm for decoding a general linear code. This decoding problem have several applications in cryptology, such as the McEliece public key cryptosystem, the Stern identification scheme, and also in correlation attacks. (Less)
A meta-EDSL for distributed web applications

We present a domain-specific language for constructing and configuring web applications distributed across any number of networked, heterogeneous systems. Our language is embedded in Haskell, provides a common framework for integrating components written in third-party EDSLs, and enables type-safe, access-controlled communication between nodes, as well as effortless sharing and movement of functionality between application components. We give an implementation of our language and demonstrate its applicability by using it to implement several important components of distributed web applications, including RDBMS integration, load balancing, and fine-grained sandboxing of untrusted third party code. The rising popularity of cloud computing and heterogeneous computer architectures is putting a strain on conventional programming models, which commonly assume that one application executes on one machine, or at best on one out of several identical machines. With our language, we take the first step towards a programming model better suited for a computationally multicultural future.
Differential mapping of the free barbed and pointed ends of actin filaments in cells

The actin cytoskeleton plays a pivotal role in many cellular processes. Detailed analysis of the architecture of cellular actin networks provides valuable insight into the dynamic self‐organization underlying these processes. In particular, since most of the actin turnover occurs at the tips of actin filaments, it is insightful to map the distribution of filament ends. Here we report a method for differentially labeling the pointed and the barbed ends of actin filaments in cellular networks by permeabilizing cells, following a brief fixation, and introducing labeled actin monomers in the presence or absence of capping protein, respectively. This method quantitatively maps the distributions of free barbed ends and free pointed ends in adherent cells, providing information on the polarity of cytoskeletal structures and mapping active sites available for actin assembly or disassembly. We demonstrate the use of this method by mapping the distribution of actin filament ends in motile fish epithelial keratocytes and in several mammalian cell lines, and show that free barbed ends are enriched near the tip of protruding lamellipodia while free pointed ends concentrate toward the rear. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Self-Control, Anxiety, and Loneliness in Siblings of Children with Cancer

ABSTRACT This study deals with sibling emotional response to the stress of childhood cancer in a brother or sister. Sixty-two healthy siblings aged 9 to 18 participated in the study. The children were asked to complete self-report questionnaires on state anxiety, loneliness, and self-control. The findings showed that the stress elicited emotional responses. Anxiety was related to the child's age and duration of the sibling's cancer, and loneliness was related to the child's sex and rank in the family. The outcomes also demonstrated a link between self-control as a coping skill and anxiety and loneliness as emotional distress responses. Healthy siblings' higher self-control rates were associated with their lower anxiety and loneliness reports. These findings support Lazarus and Folk-man's (1984) theory on stress, appraisal, and coping. The results also highlight the need to train and impart children with learned resourcefulness in order to increase their self-control skills and improve their coping with and adjustment to siblings' serious illness.