Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluating Readmission Rates: How Can We Improve?

Objectives: To detect the readmission rates of a hospitalist group at a community hospital, to identify probable causes of rehospitalizations, and to propose solutions to decrease the rate of readmissions. Methods: We conducted a retrospective medical chart review on patients who were rehospitalized with the same diagnosis within 30 days over a period of one year. Results: Among 5,206 patients who were admitted to the hospitalist service over one year, 85 (1.6%) were rehospitalized within 30 days due to the same condition. Of the 85 readmitted patients, 47% were male and 82% were Caucasian, with a mean age of 58 ± 17 years. The top diagnoses were pneumonia, sepsis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Follow-up appointments were made for only 27% of patients at first admission. Ninety percent of patients received an accurate medication list at discharge. Mortality within three months was higher in patients with sepsis, more comorbidities, longer length of stay at first hospitalization, and those discharged to a nursing home after readmission. Only 4.7% of readmissions were concluded to be preventable. Conclusion: Our readmission rate (1.6%) is significantly lower than that of previous studies (23.2%), as we included the readmissions only due to the same diagnosis. Patient education, family involvement in discharge process, and scheduling follow-up appointments could potentially reduce readmissions, despite multiple unmodifiable factors. We suspect all-cause readmissions have room for more improvement, which should be the focus of intervention.
Multiple Description Convolutional Neural Networks for Image Compression

Multiple description coding (MDC) is able to stably transmit signal in un-reliable and non-prioritized networks, which has been broadly studied for several decades. However, traditional MDC does not well leverage image’s context features to generate multiple descriptions. In this paper, we propose a novel standard-compliant convolutional neural network-based MDC framework, which efficiently leverages image’s context information to compress the image. First, multiple description generator network (MDGN) is designed to produce appearance-similar yet feature-different multiple descriptions automatically according to image’s content, which are compressed by a standard codec. Second, we present multiple description reconstruction network (MDRN) including side reconstruction networks (SRNs) and central reconstruction network (CRN). When any one of two lossy descriptions is received at decoder, SRN network is used to improve the quality of this decoded lossy description by simultaneously removing compression artifact and up-sampling. Meanwhile, we utilize CRN network with two decoded descriptions as inputs for better reconstruction, if both of lossy descriptions are available. Third, multiple description virtual codec network is proposed to bridge the gap between MDGN network and MDRN network in order to train an end-to-end MDC framework. Here, two learning algorithms are provided to train our whole framework. In addition to structural dis-similarity loss function, the produced descriptions are used as opposing labels with multiple description distance loss function to regularize the training of MDGN network. These losses guarantee that the generated descriptions are structurally similar yet finely diverse. Experimental results show a great deal of objective and subjective quality measurements to validate the effectiveness of our framework.
Oat β-glucan: physico-chemical characteristics in relation to its blood-glucose and cholesterol-lowering properties

The water-soluble, mixed-linkage β-glucan, a form of soluble dietary fibre, is considered the main biologically active component responsible for the capacity of many oat products to lower postprandial glycaemia and fasting plasma cholesterol in human subjects. The present review discusses the physical and chemical properties of oat β-glucan that are considered important predictors of these beneficial metabolic effects. In vitro modelling and animal and human studies have provided compelling evidence showing that the ability of oat β-glucan to increase the viscosity of digesta in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is a primary determinant of its blood-glucose and cholesterol-lowering properties. Therefore, the chemical structure, molecular weight (MW), the rate and extent of dissolution and solution rheology of oat β-glucan are key factors in determining the physiological function of oat-containing foods. The structure and properties of oat β-glucan vary between species and varieties of oats, and are also affected by the growing and storage conditions and processing of oat grain. In addition, the extraction and analysis methods may also contribute to the variations in the structure, MW, hydration and solution rheology of β-glucan obtained from different laboratories. Recent work has demonstrated that β-glucan solubility in foods depends on the source of the material and processing conditions; solubility may also be subject to changes during food preparation and storage (such as freezing). In conclusion, both the amount and MW of β-glucan that are solubilised in the GIT need to be considered when assessing the blood-glucose and cholesterol-lowering properties of oat-containing foods.
A Multivariate GARCH Model of International Transmissions of Stock Returns and Volatility: The Case of the United States and Canada

This study examines the short-run dynamics of returns and volatility for stocks traded on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges. The main finding is that inferences about the magnitude and persistence of return innovations that originate in either market and that transmit to the other market depend importantly on how the cross-market dynamics in volatility are modeled. Moreover, much weaker cross-market dynamics in returns and volatility prevail during later subperiods and especially for Canadian stocks with shares dually listed in New York. Implications for international asset pricing, hedging strategies, and regulatory policy are discussed.
Inventories, Liquidity, and the Macroeconomy

It is widely believed in the literature that inventory fluctuations are destabilizing to the economy. This paper re-assesses this view by developing an analytically-tractable general-equilibrium model of inventory dynamics based on a precautionary stockout-avoidance motive. The model's predictions are broadly consistent with the U.S. business cycle and key features of inventory behavior, including (i) a large inventory stock-to-sales ratio and a small inventory investment-to-sales ratio in the long run, (ii) excess volatility of production relative to sales, (iii) procyclical inventory investment but countercyclical stock-to-sales ratio over the business cycle, and (iv) more volatile input inventories than output inventories. However, contrary to common beliefs, the model predicts that inventories are stabilizing, rather than destabilizing. The volatility of aggregate output could rise by 30% if inventories were eliminated from the economy. Key to this seemingly counter-intuitive result is that a stockout-avoidance motive leads to procyclical liquidity-value of inventories (hence, procyclical relative prices of final goods), which acts as an automatic stabilizer that discourages final sales in a boom and encourages final sales during a recession, thereby reducing the variability of GDP.
Patients' experiences from an education programme ahead of orthopaedic surgery - a qualitative study.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to investigate how patient education in a surgical department was experienced by patients who had undergone total knee arthroplasty or total hip arthroplasty. BACKGROUND Total knee arthroplasty and total hip arthroplasty are two of the most common and clinically effective surgical treatments performed in the Western world. Patient education efforts related to these procedures have been studied, but usually only to evaluate clinical outcome and little in a patient perspective. DESIGN The empirics consist of qualitative in-depth interviews with 11 patients admitted to the surgical department at a Norwegian hospital. The interviews were carried out in 2011. METHODS The study has a qualitative design with a phenomenological approach. The data have been analysed through meaning condensation, in accordance with Amadeo Giorgi's four-step method. N = 11. RESULTS The education programme made the patients feel mentally prepared for surgery and the postsurgical situation. Three themes were identified: (1) realistic information preparing for surgery, (2) involvement and sense of control and (3) trust in staff. CONCLUSION A relationship seems to exist between how informed patients feel and how much they trust the department in which they are undergoing treatment. There may also be a relationship between a sense of control and trust. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE To build a trustful relationship between healthcare providers and patients, patient education both in groups and individually should be implemented, and be designed in a way that supports trust. Information should be realistic and accurate.
Induction, binding specificity and function of human ICOS

Recently, we have identified the inducible co‐stimulator (ICOS), an activation‐dependent, T cell‐specific cell surface molecule related to CD28 and CTLA‐4. Detailed analysis of human ICOS presented here shows that it is a 55‐60‐kDa homodimer with differently N‐glycosylated subunits of 27 and 29 kDa. ICOS requires both phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate and ionomycin for full induction, and is sensitive to Cyclosporin A. ICOS is up‐regulated early on all T cells, including the CD28– subset, and continues to be expressed into later phases of T cell activation. On stimulation of T cells by antigen‐presenting cells, the CD28/B7, but not the CD40 ligand/CD40 pathway is critically involved in the induction of ICOS. ICOS does not bind to B7‐1 or B7‐2, and CD28 does not bind to ICOS ligand; thus the CD28 and ICOS pathways do not cross‐interact on the cell surface. In vivo, ICOS is expressed in the medulla of the fetal and newborn thymus, in the T cell zones of tonsils and lymph nodes, and in the apical light zones of germinal centers (predominant expression). Functionally, ICOS co‐induces a variety of cytokines including IL‐4, IL‐5, IL‐6, IFN‐γ, TNF‐α, GM‐CSF, but not IL‐2, and superinduces IL‐10. Furthermore, ICOS co‐stimulation prevents the apoptosis of pre‐activated T cells. The human ICOS gene maps to chromosome 2q33 – 34.
1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 Prevents Puromycin Aminonucleoside-Induced Apoptosis of Glomerular Podocytes by Activating the Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/Akt-Signaling Pathway

Background: Accumulating evidence suggests that vitamin D and its analogs reduce proteinuria and slow the decline in kidney function in chronic kidney disease. Given a rich literature identifying podocyte apoptosis as an early step in the pathophysiological progression to proteinuria and glomerulosclerosis, we hypothesized that vitamin D protects podocytes from undergoing apoptosis. Methods: A rat model of podocyte apoptosis was created by a single intravenous injection of 100 mg·kg–1 puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN) and received either solvent or 1,25(OH)2D3 treatment. Proteinuria, podocyte apoptosis, the expression of nephrin protein and mRNA, TGF-β/Smad and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt-signaling pathway were evaluated, respectively. Results: PAN induced massive proteinuria, serum creatinine elevation and podocyte apoptosis in PAN nephropathy rats, which was associated with the loss of nephrin, an adhesion molecule specific for the glomerular slit and the reduced of p-Akt/Akt ratio. Moreover, PAN induced foot process retraction, redistribution of nephrin and the activation of TGF-β/Smad-signaling pathway. Compared with PAN nephropathy rats, 1,25(OH)2D3 significantly prevented loss of nephrin, foot process retraction and podocyte apoptosis by stimulating Akt phosphorylation and suppressing TGF-β/Smad-signaling pathway. Conclusion: 1,25(OH)2D3 reduced the PAN-induced podocyte apoptosis and loss of nephrin in PAN nephropathy rat. The anti-apoptotic effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 on podocytes may be partly attributable to activation of a PI3K/Akt survival pathway.
Construct Validity of the Auditory Continuous Performance Test for Preschoolers

Development of diagnostic instruments directed toward neuropsychological assessment of preschoolers lags significantly behind those available for school-age children (DeWolfe, Byrne, & Bawden, 2000). This is particularly true for measures of executive function (EF). The Auditory Continuous Performance Test for Preschoolers (ACPT-–P; Mahone, Pillion, & Hiemenz, 2001) is a computerized, Go-No-go test developed to measure selected EF skills in preschoolers. First, to determine whether performance on the ACPT-–P is associated with hearing impairment, we compared performance of children with mild hearing loss (MHL) to controls on the ACPT-–P, and measures of spatial working memory (SWM) and motor persistence (MP). There were no differences between performance of the MHL group and controls on any of these measures. Second, to examine the construct validity of the ACPT-–P, we compared performance of 40 preschoolers with ADHD to 40 age- and sex-matched controls, using the ACPT-–P to measure response preparation, sustained attention, and inhibitory control. We also compared these groups on measures of SWM and MP. The group with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) performed significantly worse than controls on the ACPT-–P (omissions, mean response time, variability) and MP. The ACPT-–P was correlated with the MP, but not with the SWM measure. Both the ACPT-–P and the MP measures showed low to moderate correlations with parent ratings of behavior associated with ADHD. These findings support the use of performance-based assessment of executive control skills in preschoolers suspected of having ADHD. In this age group, the ACPT-–P may be particularly useful in assessing sustained attention and response preparation and may complement behavior rating scales.
Insulin‐like growth factor I gene transfer to cirrhotic liver induces fibrolysis and reduces fibrogenesis leading to cirrhosis reversion in rats

We investigated whether gene transfer of insulin‐like growth factor I (IGF‐I) to the hepatic tissue was able to improve liver histology and function in established liver cirrhosis. Rats with liver cirrhosis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) given orally for 8 weeks were injected through the hepatic artery with saline or with Simian virus 40 vectors encoding IGF‐I (SVIGF‐I), or luciferase (SVLuc). Animals were sacrificed 8 weeks after vector injection. In cirrhotic rats we observed that, whereas IGF‐I was synthesized by hepatocytes, IGF‐I receptor was predominantly expressed by nonparenchymal cells, mainly in fibrous septa surrounding hepatic nodules. Rats treated with SVIGF‐I showed increased hepatic levels of IGF‐I, improved liver function tests, and reduced fibrosis in association with diminished α‐smooth muscle actin expression, up‐regulation of matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) and decreased expression of the tissue inhibitors of MMPs TIM‐1 and TIM‐2. SVIGF‐I therapy induced down‐regulation of the profibrogenic molecules transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ), amphiregulin, platelet‐derived growth factor (PDGF), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), and vascular endothelium growth factor (VEGF) and induction of the antifibrogenic and cytoprotective hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). Furthermore, SVIGF‐I‐treated animals showed decreased expression of Wilms tumor‐1 (WT‐1; a nuclear factor involved in hepatocyte dedifferentiation) and up‐regulation of hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha (HNF4α) (which stimulates hepatocellular differentiation). The therapeutic potential of SVIGF‐I was also tested in rats with thioacetamide‐induced liver cirrhosis. Also in this model, SVIGF‐I improved liver function and reduced liver fibrosis in association with up‐regulation of HGF and MMPs and down‐regulation of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP‐1). Conclusion: IGF‐I gene transfer to cirrhotic livers induces MMPs and hepatoprotective factors leading to reversion of fibrosis and improvement of liver function. IGF‐I gene therapy may be a useful alternative therapy for patients with advanced cirrhosis without timely access to liver transplantation. (HEPATOLOGY 2010;51:912–921.)
Arsenite induces DNA damage via mitochondrial ROS and induction of mitochondrial permeability transition

Arsenite is an established DNA-damaging agent and human carcinogen. We initially selected conditions in which the metalloid causes DNA strand scission in the absence of detectable apoptotic DNA degradation in U937 cells. This response was suppressed by catalase and by treatments (rotenone and ascorbic acid), or manipulations (respiration-deficient phenotype), preventing the mitochondrial formation of O2-. ( mitoO2-.). MitoO2-. , and its dismutation product, H2 O2 , are therefore critically involved in the arsenite-dependent DNA-damaging response. We then established a link between mitoO2-. /H2 O2 and mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT), and found that this second event also promoted the formation of DNA-damaging species. As a consequence, the DNA damage induced by arsenite, in addition to being abolished by the aforementioned treatments/manipulations, was also significantly reduced by the MPT inhibitor cyclosporin A (CsA). A CsA-sensitive induction of p53 mRNA expression was also detected. Finally, evidence of CsA-sensitive DNA strand scission was also obtained in MCF-7, HT22, and NCTC-2544 cells. MitoO2-. /H2 O2 therefore directly mediates DNA damage induced by arsenite and indirectly promotes the formation of additional DNA-damaging species via the induction of MPT. © 2017 BioFactors, 43(5):673-684, 2017.
Optimal Monetary Policy Under Low Trend Inflation

In the monetary policy literature it is commonly assumed that trend inflation is zero, despite overwhelming evidence that zero inflation is neither empirically relevant nor a practical objective for central bank policy. We therefore extend the standard New Keynesian model to allow for positive trend inflation, showing that even low trend inflation has strong effects on optimal monetary policy and the dynamics of inflation, output, and interest rates. Under discretion, the efficient policy deteriorates and there is no guarantee of determinacy. Even with commitment, targeting non-zero trend inflation leads to substantial welfare losses. Our results serve as a warning against indiscriminate use of models assuming zero trend inflation.
Seasonal adjustment and the univariate testing of asymmetry

Following Holly and Stannett, a standard approach has emerged in the implementation of Sichel's tests of business cycle asymmetry, whereby seasonally adjusted data is detrended via Hodrick-Prescott filtering. While Speight and MacMillan have considered the impact of alternative methods of detrending upon these tests, the role of seasonal adjustment has yet to be examined. In this letter the impact of seasonal adjustment is examined by means of an application to durable, non-durable and aggregate UK consumers' expenditure. Whereas alternative means of detrending most noticeably effect the deepness test and its significance, alternative methods of seasonal adjustment are shown to primarily effect the steepness statistic and its size.
Asset Bubbles and Market Crises

Asset bubbles—characterized by investment booms, euphoria, and then panic—have been a feature of the financial landscape for centuries. They have become more frequent in recent times as global wealth, the variety of assets being traded, and the mobility and velocity of capital have increased. Although the asset classes involved have changed over time, many of the key drivers and characteristics of bubbles remain the same. And yet markets appear to remain highly susceptible to them—indeed, much of the blame for the current crisis has been put on the bubble in housing. This article explains why asset bubbles occur and what investors can learn from them. It first examines how asset bubbles are formed and why it is critical that investors understand them. Next it examines the economic reasons for the inter-temporal increase in asset bubbles. In the third section, the authors conduct an empirical experiment to evaluate if they can predict asset bubbles, using the technology bubble as an example. The following section discusses the impact of bubbles on both active and passive equity investment strategies. The article concludes with some insights into how both active and passive strategies should be conditioned to address the perverse effects of asset bubbles.
How Schools Define Success: The Influence of Local Contexts on the Meaning of Success in Three Schools in Ontario, Canada

Creating successful schools is a priority for governments, district officials, administrators, teachers and parents around the world, but just what does ‘school success’ mean? Grounded in theories of collective sense-making and learning, this article presents how school success is defined in three schools in Ontario, Canada, and draws on Ball, Maguire and Braun’s theory of policy enactment to explain similarities and differences between the schools’ definitions. A comparative case study of three elementary schools in the same neighbourhood finds that students’ happiness and academic learning (rather than achievement on standardized tests) are common aspects of each school’s multifaceted definition of success. Each school also has unique elements in its definition that can be attributed to differences in the schools’ situated, material, and professional contexts. In addition to local influences, class-based deficit ideology and professional discourses in their external contexts impact the schools’ definitions of success. Notably, the schools’ definitions emphasize individual growth and outcomes that reproduce rather than transform social
Methanogen prevalence throughout the gastrointestinal tract of pre-weaned dairy calves

The methanogenic community throughout the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of pre-weaned calves has not been well studied. The current study firstly investigated the distribution and composition of the methanogenic community in the rumen, ileum, and colon of 3–4 week-old milk-fed dairy calves (n = 4) using 16S rRNA gene clone library analysis. The occurrence of methanogens in the GIT of pre-weaned calves was further validated by using PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE), and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) was applied to quantify the methanogenic community in the rumen, jejunum, ileum, cecum, colon and rectum of 8 3–4 week old animals. Both cloning libraries and PCR-DGGE revealed that phylotypes close to Methanobrevibacter were the main taxon along the GIT in pre-weaned sucking calves. The composition and abundance of methanogens varied significantly among individual animals, suggesting that host conditions may influence the composition of the symbiotic microbiota. Segregation of methanogenic communities throughout the GIT was also observed within individual animals, suggesting possible functional differences among methanogens residing in different GIT regions. This is the first study to analyze methanogenic communities throughout the GIT of milk-fed newborn dairy calves and reveal both their diversity and abundance. The identification of methanogens in the lower GIT of pre-weaned dairy calves warrants further investigation to better define methanogen roles in GIT function and their impact on host metabolism and health.