Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessing text characteristics of electronic discharge summaries and their implications for patient readability

A Discharge Summary provides critical information to patients for managing their post-discharge care. This study analyzes the characteristics of a corpus of Electronic Discharge Summaries (EDSs) with respect to content and readability of its sections in terms of text length and grade level complexity, use of abbreviations and noun phrase complexity based on the Open Access Consumer Health Vocabulary. We find that the Advice to Patient section has acceptable readability but is brief, and does not tend to lengthen in proportion to the Clinical Management section of the EDS. Conversely, the Clinical Management section, while acceptable by traditional readability measures, has a higher density of abbreviations than Advice to Patient and considerable density of noun phrases that are unlikely to be understood by consumers. If patients are intended to be a primary audience of the EDS, then efforts should be made to improve readability for ordinary health consumers.
Risk of Cause-Specific Death in Individuals With Diabetes: A Competing Risks Analysis

OBJECTIVE Diabetes is a common cause of shortened life expectancy. We aimed to assess the association between diabetes and cause-specific death. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We used the pooled analysis of individual data from 12 Spanish population cohorts with 10-year follow-up. Participants had no previous history of cardiovascular diseases and were 35–79 years old. Diabetes status was self-reported or defined as glycemia >125 mg/dL at baseline. Vital status and causes of death were ascertained by medical records review and linkage with the official death registry. The hazard ratios and cumulative mortality function were assessed with two approaches, with and without competing risks: proportional subdistribution hazard (PSH) and cause-specific hazard (CSH), respectively. Multivariate analyses were fitted for cardiovascular, cancer, and noncardiovascular noncancer deaths. RESULTS We included 55,292 individuals (15.6% with diabetes and overall mortality of 9.1%). The adjusted hazard ratios showed that diabetes increased mortality risk: 1) cardiovascular death, CSH = 2.03 (95% CI 1.63–2.52) and PSH = 1.99 (1.60–2.49) in men; and CSH = 2.28 (1.75–2.97) and PSH = 2.23 (1.70–2.91) in women; 2) cancer death, CSH = 1.37 (1.13–1.67) and PSH = 1.35 (1.10–1.65) in men; and CSH = 1.68 (1.29–2.20) and PSH = 1.66 (1.25–2.19) in women; and 3) noncardiovascular noncancer death, CSH = 1.53 (1.23–1.91) and PSH = 1.50 (1.20–1.89) in men; and CSH = 1.89 (1.43–2.48) and PSH = 1.84 (1.39–2.45) in women. In all instances, the cumulative mortality function was significantly higher in individuals with diabetes. CONCLUSIONS Diabetes is associated with premature death from cardiovascular disease, cancer, and noncardiovascular noncancer causes. The use of CSH and PSH provides a comprehensive view of mortality dynamics in a population with diabetes.
Pilot Study: Individualized Training for Caregivers of Hospitalized Older Veterans

Background:The hospital-to-home transition represents a vulnerable time for older veterans who are more medically and socioeconomically challenged than the general population of older adults. Objectives:The aim of this study was examine the feasibility of delivering an individualized caregiver training program before hospital discharge of older veterans. As an exploratory aim, the impact of this training on caregiver self-efficacy and preparedness was determined. Methods:The sample consisted 50 caregiver-patient dyads. Training included medication management, identification of medical red flags, identification of Veterans Affairs community-based resources, and specific caregiver concerns about home care. Program feasibility was determined by whether caregivers could be recruited and could complete the training before patients were discharged from the hospital. Caregiver self-efficacy (using modified Lorig's self-efficacy scale) and preparedness (using Preparedness in Caregiving Scale) were assessed before the training (T1), immediately after the training (T2), and 1 week (T3) and 4 weeks (T4) after hospital discharge. Results:One thousand six hundred ninety inpatients were screened, 252 of whom (15%) met study eligibility criteria. Of these, 112 were approached, and 50 dyads (44.6%) agreed to participate. Of the 50 consented dyads, 40 caregivers (80%) received the training. The mean self-efficacy among caregivers improved at T2, and the improvement was sustained at T3 and T4 (T1, 783.86; T2, 903.64; T3, 867.85; T4, 877.02). The same trend was observed in caregiving preparedness (T1, 26. 95; T2, 30.55; T3, 28.88; T4, 28.91). Discussion:Providing an individualized training program to informal caregivers of hospitalized older veterans was not only feasible but was also associated with increased self-efficacy and caregiving preparedness. This study has the potential to assist caregivers in their home care of older veterans after hospital discharge.
The sero-prevalence and sero-incidence of African horse sickness and equine encephalosis in selected horse and donkey populations in Zimbabwe

Sentinel herds and samples submitted by private equine practitioners were used to determine the sero-prevalence and sero-incidence of African horse sickness virus (AHSV) and equine encephalosis virus (EEV) in horse and donkey populations in the Highveld region of Zimbabwe. The sero-prevalence and sero-incidence of antibodies against these viruses were determined using the competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of serum antibodies. In donkeys, the median sero-prevalence of AHSV antibodies, across the three rainy seasons under study, was 75% (inter quartile range [IQR] 67–83), with a seasonal median sero-incidence of 45% (IQR 40–63). In horses, the median sero-prevalence of EEV antibodies was 63% (IQR 21–73), with a median seasonal sero-incidence of 10.5% (IQR 10–14), while in donkeys the median sero-prevalence of EEV antibodies was 80% (IQR 67–90), with a median seasonal sero-incidence of 50% (IQR 40–60). This study highlighted the significant levels of exposure of donkeys to AHSV and horses and donkeys to EEV in Zimbabwe despite equine encephalosis remaining unreported by Zimbabwean veterinarians to date. Most seroconversions in sentinel herd animals to AHSV and EEV occurred towards the end of the rainy season in March, April and May corresponding to the time of the year when the Culicoides vectors are in high abundance. In order to determine the clinical significance of these infections, blood and spleen samples, submitted by private equine veterinary practitioners over a 5-year period, from horses showing characteristic clinical signs of African horse sickness were tested for the presence of viral antigen using the antigen capture ELISA. The median sero-prevalence of AHSV antigen in horses recorded from these samples was 38% (IQR 33–88). The predominant AHSV antigen from these samples was serotype 7 (33%) followed by serotype 2 (26%) and serotypes 4 and 8 (16% each). African horse sickness virus serotypes 3 and 9, identified in this study, had not been previously reported in Zimbabwe.
Microalbuminuria, Pulse Pressure, Left Ventricular Hypertrophy, and Myocardial Ultrasonic Tissue Characterization In Essential Hypertension

Microalbuminuria (UAE) may be considered a marker of systemic vascular dysfunction, while pulse pressure (PP) is an indicator of the stiffness of vascular conduits. Both these parame ters, together with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), are linked to cardiovascular morbidity in hypertensive patients. The aim of this study was the analysis of the possible relationships among UAE, PP, and LVH with ultrasonic myocardial textural parameters, which are altered in hypertensives patients. A group of male (n = 70) essential hypertensive patients (mean age: 58 ±7 yr) was analyzed with a group of age-comparable normotensive healthy subjects as controls (n = 32). Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) was performed with an oscil lometric monitor; UAE was measured by nephelometry. A conventional 2D-Doppler echocar diography (to analyze left ventricular mass: LVM) and a quantitative analysis of the echocar diographic digitized imaging with the use of a calibrated digitization system (to calculate the septum and the posterior wall textural parameters) were performed on all subjects. The myocardial mean gray level was calculated to derive the cyclic variation index (CVI). The CVI was significantly lower in hypertensives both for the septum (-16.3 ±22.8 vs 34.7 ±15.3%; p < 0.001 ) and for the posterior wall (-15.2 ±23.6 vs 38.2 ±15.4%; p < 0.001 ). A signifi cant negative correlation was found between logUAE and the CVI of the septum (r = -0.42; p<0.001), between the PP and the CVI of the septum (r = -0.40; p<0.002) and between the CVI and the LVM (r = -0.38; p<0.001). Multiple regression analysis having as dependent variable the CVI at septum level showed as significantly related independent variables: PP (p<0.01), logUAE (p < 0.001), and LVM (p<0.05) (multiple R: 0.76, squared multiple R: 0.57; p<0.001 ). It was found that LVM, logUAE, and PP are all correlated with textural parameters, and the CVI can be considered a sensitive parameter in the identification of an abnormal myocardial texture in hypertension. A high level of arterial stiffness and the presence of vascular dysfunc tion in essential hypertension could participate in the determination of myocardial alterations and permit the identification of patients with the worst prognosis in terms of morbidity or mortality due to cardiovascular events.
The Impact of Person-Organization Fit and Psychological Ownership on Turnover in Open Source Software Projects

Open source software (OSS) projects represent an alternate form of software production by relying primarily on voluntary contributions. Despite the immense success of several mainstream OSS projects such as Mozilla, Linux, and Apache, a vast majority of such projects fail to sustain their development due to high levels of developer turnover. While existing research in the area has offered a rich foundation, we know little about how developers’ perceptions of fit with the project environment may be moderated by the sense of ownership they have toward the project and how it may impact their turnover intentions. Using survey data from 574 GitHub developers, we tested a model to examine the impact of Person-Organization fit and psychological ownership on developers’ turnover intentions. Our results suggest that two relevant dimensions of fit, namely, value and demands-abilities fit, negatively impact turnover intentions and that their sense of ownership moderates these effects.
A platform for actively loading cargo RNA to elucidate limiting steps in EV-mediated delivery

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) mediate intercellular communication through transfer of RNA and protein between cells. Thus, understanding how cargo molecules are loaded and delivered by EVs is of central importance for elucidating the biological roles of EVs and developing EV-based therapeutics. While some motifs modulating the loading of biomolecular cargo into EVs have been elucidated, the general rules governing cargo loading and delivery remain poorly understood. To investigate how general biophysical properties impact loading and delivery of RNA by EVs, we developed a platform for actively loading engineered cargo RNAs into EVs. In our system, the MS2 bacteriophage coat protein was fused to EV-associated proteins, and the cognate MS2 stem loop was engineered into cargo RNAs. Using this Targeted and Modular EV Loading (TAMEL) approach, we identified a configuration that substantially enhanced cargo RNA loading (up to 6-fold) into EVs. When applied to vesicles expressing the vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein (VSVG) – gesicles – we observed a 40-fold enrichment in cargo RNA loading. While active loading of mRNA-length (>1.5 kb) cargo molecules was possible, active loading was much more efficient for smaller (~0.5 kb) RNA molecules. We next leveraged the TAMEL platform to elucidate the limiting steps in EV-mediated delivery of mRNA and protein to prostate cancer cells, as a model system. Overall, most cargo was rapidly degraded in recipient cells, despite high EV-loading efficiencies and substantial EV uptake by recipient cells. While gesicles were efficiently internalized via a VSVG-mediated mechanism, most cargo molecules were rapidly degraded. Thus, in this model system, inefficient endosomal fusion or escape likely represents a limiting barrier to EV-mediated transfer. Altogether, the TAMEL platform enabled a comparative analysis elucidating a key opportunity for enhancing EV-mediated delivery to prostate cancer cells, and this technology should be of general utility for investigations and applications of EV-mediated transfer in other systems.
Very-low-density lipoprotein assembly and secretion

The assembly of apolipoprotein B (apoB) into VLDL is broadly divided into two steps. The first involves transfer of lipid by the microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) to apoB during translation. The second involves fusion of apoB-containing precursor particles with triglyceride droplets to form mature VLDL. ApoB and MTP are homologs of the egg yolk storage protein, lipovitellin. Homodimerization surfaces in lipovitellin are reutilized in apoB and MTP to achieve apoB-MTP interactions necessary for first step assembly. Structural modeling predicts a small lipovitellin-like lipid binding cavity in MTP and a transient lipovitellin-like cavity in apoB important for nucleation of lipid sequestration. The formation of triglyceride droplets in the endoplasmic reticulum requires MTP however, their fusion with apoB may be MTP-independent. Second step assembly is modulated by phospholipase D and A2. Phospholipases may prime membrane transport steps required for second step fusion and/or channel phospholipids into a pathway for VLDL triglyceride production. The enzymology of VLDL triglyceride synthesis is still poorly understood; however, it appears that ACAT2 is the sole source of cholesterol esters for VLDL and chylomicron assembly. VLDL production is controlled primarily at the level of presecretory degradation. Recently, it was discovered that the LDL receptor modulates VLDL production through its interactions with nascent VLDL in the secretory pathway.
Global Strichartz estimates for approximations of the Schrödinger equation

We consider a semidiscrete scheme for the linear Schrodinger equation with high order dissipative term. We obtain maximum norm estimates for its solutions and we prove global Strichartz estimates for the considered model, estimates that are uniform with respect to the mesh size. The methods we employ are based on classical arguments of harmonic analysis.
Geometric morphometrics for biologists : a primer

The first edition of "Geometric Morphometrics for Biologists" has been the primary resource for teaching modern geometric methods of shape analysis to biologists who have a stronger background in biology than in multivariate statistics and matrix algebra. These geometric methods are appealing to biologists who approach the study of shape from a variety of perspectives, from clinical to evolutionary, because they incorporate the geometry of organisms throughout the data analysis. The second edition of this book retains the emphasis on accessible explanations, and the copious illustrations and examples of the first, updating the treatment of both theory and practice. The second edition represents the current state-of-the-art and adds new examples and summarizes recent literature, as well as provides an overview of new software and step-by-step guidance through details of carrying out the analyses. This title contains updated coverage of methods, especially for sampling complex curves and 3D forms and a new chapter on applications of geometric morphometrics to forensics. It offers a reorganization of chapters to streamline learning basic concepts. It presents detailed instructions for conducting analyses with freely available, easy to use software. It provides numerous illustrations, including graphical presentations of important theoretical concepts and demonstrations of alternative approaches to presenting results.
Regulation of ciliary retrograde protein trafficking by the Joubert syndrome proteins ARL13B and INPP5E

ABSTRACT ARL13B (a small GTPase) and INPP5E (a phosphoinositide 5-phosphatase) are ciliary proteins encoded by causative genes of Joubert syndrome. We here showed, by taking advantage of a visible immunoprecipitation assay, that ARL13B interacts with the IFT46–IFT56 (IFT56 is also known as TTC26) dimer of the intraflagellar transport (IFT)-B complex, which mediates anterograde ciliary protein trafficking. However, the ciliary localization of ARL13B was found to be independent of its interaction with IFT-B, but dependent on the ciliary-targeting sequence RVEP in its C-terminal region. ARL13B-knockout cells had shorter cilia than control cells and exhibited aberrant localization of ciliary proteins, including INPP5E. In particular, in ARL13B-knockout cells, the IFT-A and IFT-B complexes accumulated at ciliary tips, and GPR161 (a negative regulator of Hedgehog signaling) could not exit cilia in response to stimulation with Smoothened agonist. This abnormal phenotype was rescued by the exogenous expression of wild-type ARL13B, as well as by its mutant defective in the interaction with IFT-B, but not by its mutants defective in INPP5E binding or in ciliary localization. Thus, ARL13B regulates IFT-A-mediated retrograde protein trafficking within cilia through its interaction with INPP5E. Summary: Mutations in the genes encoding ARL13B and INPP5E are causative for Joubert syndrome. ARL13B interacts with INPP5E and regulates IFT-A-mediated retrograde protein trafficking within cilia.
A resistance sign-based method for voltage sag source detection

A method to determine the origin of voltage sag disturbance is proposed in this paper. Its principle is to estimate the equivalent impedance of the nondisturbance side by utilizing the voltage and current changes caused by the disturbance. The sign of the real part of the estimated impedance can reveal if the disturbance is from upstream or downstream. The proposed method can be easily implemented into power quality meters for troubleshooting applications or into digital revenue meters to document the responsibility for disturbances. Extensive field and laboratory test results have proven the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed method.
Spring partitioning of Disko Bay, West Greenland, by Arctic and Subarctic baleen whales

Movements of co-occurring bowhead (Balaena mysticetus) and humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae) whales in Disko Bay, West Greenland, were examined using satellite telemetry. Data on movements, habitat use, and phenology were collected from tagged 49 bowheads and 44 humpbacks during the transition from sea-ice breakup to open water between 2008 and 2010. Bowhead whales began their northward spring migration around 27 May (median day-of-the-year departure date ¼ 147, interquartile range 141 –153) and were distributed broadly in northern and central Disko Bay in water depths between 100 and 400 m. Humpback whales arrived in Disko Bay no later than 2 June and were located in shallow water (,100 m) along the coasts of the mainland or Disko Island. Trends in departure date from Disko Bay were significant for bowhead whales (� 15 d later, p , 0.001) between two periods: 2001 – 2006 and 2008 –2010. Many species are predicted to arrive earlier in the Arctic and to expand their range northwards with reduced sea ice and increasing temperatures under climate change. Quantifying the spatial and temporal relationships between co-occurring Arctic and Subarctic top predators allows for baseline insight to be gained on how climate change might alter interspecies interactions.
Anatomy of primary incisor and molar root canals.

Knowledge of the size, morphology, and variation of the root canals of a primary tooth is useful in visualizing the pulp cavity during treatment. The roots of the primary teeth are formed completely approximately 16 to 20 months following eruption.1 In approximately three years the roots begin to resorb at the apex or on a lateral surface near the apex.2 The form and shape of the root canals roughly correspond to the form and shape of the external anatomy of the teeth. However, as root resorption of primary teeth begins, dentin is deposited within the root canal system and may change the number, size, and/or shape of the root canals significantly. 3 The presence of necrotic pulp or the unsuccessful outcome of pulpotomy procedures may make endodontic therapy of the root canal systems desirable if extraction of the tooth is to be avoided. The purpose of this study was to determine the length of the root canals of primary maxillary incisors and mandibular molars, and to examine the root canal anatomy visually using a clearing technique.
Disruption of Doppel prevents neurodegeneration in mice with extensive Prnp deletions

The Prnp gene encodes the cellular prion protein PrPC. Removal of its ORF does not result in pathological phenotypes, but deletions extending into the upstream intron result in cerebellar degeneration, possibly because of ectopic cis-activation of the Prnd locus that encodes the PrPC homologue Doppel (Dpl). To test this hypothesis, we removed Prnd from Prnpo/o mice by transallelic meiotic recombination. Balanced loxP-mediated ablation yielded mice lacking both PrPC and Dpl (Prno/o), which developed normally and showed unimpaired immune functions but suffered from male infertility. However, removal of the Prnd locus abolished cerebellar degeneration, proving that this phenotype is caused by Dpl upregulation. The absence of compound pathological phenotypes in Prno/o mice suggests the existence of alternative compensatory mechanisms. Alternatively, Dpl and PrPC may exert distinct functions despite having partly overlapping expression profiles.
Decision Rules and Arguments in Defeasible Decision Making

In this paper we present a model for defeasible decision making that combines decision rules and arguments. In this decision framework we can change the agent's decision policy in a flexible way, with minor changes in the criteria that influence the agent's preferences and the comparison of arguments. Our approach includes a simple methodology for developing the decision components of the agent. A decision framework designed with this methodology exhibits some interesting properties. If the agent (decision maker) has available all the relevant knowledge about its preferences among the different alternatives that could be conceivably posed to it, then our proposal implements a rational preference relation. In opposition, if the agent has partial knowledge about its preferences, the decisions made by the agent still exhibits a behavior consistent with the weak axiom of revealed preference of the choice-based approach, a more flexible approach to Individual Decision Making than the preference-based approach. The principles stated in this work are exemplified in a robotic domain, where a robot should make decisions about which box must be transported next.
Function of the Dräger Oxylog Ventilator at High Altitude

We have assessed the performance of the Dräger Oxylog ventilator at high altitude using a decompression chamber and a lung simulator set to mimic the normal and non-compliant lung. In the normal lung, tidal volume increased by 28% at 2040 metres and by 106% at 9120 metres. A lesser change, but in the opposite direction, occurred in respiratory rate. The net effect was a linear increase in minute volume with altitude. At 2040 and 9144 metres minute volume increased by 13% and by 45%, and rate decreased by 10% and 30% respectively. In the abnormal lung stimulation, similar, but slightly less marked, changes occurred in all variables. These changes are of sufficient magnitude to require frequent observation of tidal volume and respiratory rate during aircraft ascent and descent.