Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hospital prices and market structure in the hospital and insurance industries

Abstract There has been substantial consolidation among health insurers and hospitals, recently, raising questions about the effects of this consolidation on the exercise of market power. We analyze the relationship between insurer and hospital market concentration and the prices of hospital services. We use a national US dataset containing transaction prices for health care services for over 11 million privately insured Americans. Using three years of panel data, we estimate how insurer and hospital market concentration are related to hospital prices, while controlling for unobserved market effects. We find that increases in insurance market concentration are significantly associated with decreases in hospital prices, whereas increases in hospital concentration are non-significantly associated with increases in prices. A hypothetical merger between two of five equally sized insurers is estimated to decrease hospital prices by 6.7%.
Geographical variation in the importance of water and energy for oak diversity

The water–energy dynamics hypothesis posits that species diversity is correlated with water availability and temperatures; diversity is lowest when water availability is reduced at low temperatures because few species can persist under such conditions. However, the relationship between water and energy availability and diversity likely varies geographically along environmental gradients. Here, we examined the drivers of such variability, using a global‐scale data set on oaks.
The Antigenicity of Ex Vivo Cultivated Human Corneal Limbal Epithelial and Stromal Cells: Temporal Changes In Vitro

Purpose: To investigate the effect of ex vivo culture on the expression of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) in human corneal limbal epithelial cells (LECs), and to evaluate the expression of HLA and costimulatory molecules on human corneal limbal stromal cells (LSCs). Methods: The expression of HLA-ABC and HLA-DR were evaluated using flow cytometry on cultured human LECs and LSCs after serial passage and compared with that on freshly isolated cells. Additionally, the expression of costimulatory molecules CD80, CD86, CD40, and immunoregulatory molecule HLA-G were investigated on LSCs with or without an addition of interferon (IFN) γ (250 U/mL, 4 days). Results: HLA-ABC and HLA-DR were expressed in 99.12 ± 1.02% and 25.86 ± 4.34% of freshly isolated LECs, respectively. After culture, the HLA-DR-expressing cells significantly decreased with serial passage, whereas the percentage of HLA-ABC-expressing cells did not change. More than 90% of LSCs expressed HLA-ABC and HLA-G, whereas the expression of HLA-DR, CD80, CD86, and CD40 was negligible. This expression profile did not change after serial passage. However, the treatment with IFN-γ induced a significant increase in HLA-DR (0.17% vs. 17.68%) and CD40 (0.19% vs. 13.19%) expression on LSCs. Conclusions: The immunogenicity of LECs can be lowered after ex vivo cultivation, whereas LSCs can be immunogenic in the presence of IFN-γ.
Improving the Measurement Accuracy of Three-Dimensional Topography Changes Using Optical Satellite Stereo Image Data

We describe a methodology that allows the more accurate detection and investigation of 3-D terrain changes using digital elevation models (DEMs) derived from stereoscopic pushbroom cameras on board satellites. Repeat 15-m-resolution orthorectified images and stereophotogrammetric DEMs were produced from the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer for displacement analysis. The column and line numbers in the sensor geometry are included to each pixel. We reveal that the attitude oscillation of the satellite has a considerable effect on geometric accuracy, which is, in this paper, corrected along the scan lines of pushbroom sensors by destriping in the sensor geometry. Our results show that the distortion in DEMs is reduced by about 40% in terms of standard deviation under similar sun elevation conditions by correcting the effect of pitch and yaw oscillations. The proposed methodology was applied to the measurement of ground deformation generated by a swarm of earthquakes between September 14 and October 4, 2005, which occurred in Dabbahu, Ethiopia. We successfully detected the horizontal displacements and DEM differences with about 0.1-pixel accuracy.
The Nonverbal Communication of Positive Emotions: An Emotion Family Approach

This review provides an overview of the research on nonverbal expressions of positive emotions, organised into emotion families, that is, clusters sharing common characteristics. Epistemological positive emotions (amusement, relief, awe, and interest) are found to have distinct, recognisable displays via vocal or facial cues, while the agency-approach positive emotions (elation and pride) appear to be associated with recognisable visual, but not auditory, cues. Evidence is less strong for the prosocial emotions (love, compassion, gratitude, and admiration) in any modality other than touch, and there is little support for distinct recognisable signals of the savouring positive emotions (contentment, sensory pleasure, and desire). In closing, some limitations of extant work are noted and some proposals for future research are outlined.
Inherited mutations in 17 breast cancer susceptibility genes among a large triple-negative breast cancer cohort unselected for family history of breast cancer.

PURPOSE Recent advances in DNA sequencing have led to the development of breast cancer susceptibility gene panels for germline genetic testing of patients. We assessed the frequency of mutations in 17 predisposition genes, including BRCA1 and BRCA2, in a large cohort of patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) unselected for family history of breast or ovarian cancer to determine the utility of germline genetic testing for those with TNBC. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with TNBC (N = 1,824) unselected for family history of breast or ovarian cancer were recruited through 12 studies, and germline DNA was sequenced to identify mutations. RESULTS Deleterious mutations were identified in 14.6% of all patients. Of these, 11.2% had mutations in the BRCA1 (8.5%) and BRCA2 (2.7%) genes. Deleterious mutations in 15 other predisposition genes were detected in 3.7% of patients, with the majority observed in genes involved in homologous recombination, including PALB2 (1.2%) and BARD1, RAD51D, RAD51C, and BRIP1 (0.3% to 0.5%). Patients with TNBC with mutations were diagnosed at an earlier age (P < .001) and had higher-grade tumors (P = .01) than those without mutations. CONCLUSION Deleterious mutations in predisposition genes are present at high frequency in patients with TNBC unselected for family history of cancer. Mutation prevalence estimates suggest that patients with TNBC, regardless of age at diagnosis or family history of cancer, should be considered for germline genetic testing of BRCA1 and BRCA2. Although mutations in other predisposition genes are observed among patients with TNBC, better cancer risk estimates are needed before these mutations are used for clinical risk assessment in relatives.
Reply from J. S. Blouin, H. J. Brown, M. E. Héroux, J. T. Inglis and G. P. Siegmund

We recently showed that low to medium threshold motor units in the human medial gastrocnemius muscle have territories that vary widely in size, from a few centimetres to the full length or width of the muscle (Héroux et al. 2015). In their Letter, Vieira et al. (2016) argue that our results are not necessarily at odds with their previous findings that medial gastrocnemius motor units are spatially localized. We disagree. Our experiment was designed to favour the identification of localized motor units. First, we performed multi-unit electromyographic recordings with indwelling electrodes. The small area and high impedance of our electrodes limited the volume of muscle from which the electrodes recorded. We also carefully positioned the recording electrodes at a constant depth and ensured their recording areas were oriented perpendicular to the direction (longitudinal or mediolateral) of the muscle territories we were investigating. The configuration and small recording volume of our electrodes favoured capturing the activity of nearby muscle fibres belonging to the motor unit of interest, and if anything, our approach may have underestimated the size of the motor unit territories. Second, subjects performed contractions at intensities that primarily recruited low-threshold motor units. Compared to higher threshold motor units, those recorded in our study were likely to possess smaller motoneurones innervating fewer muscle fibres. This too should have favoured the identification of localized motor units. Despite experimental procedures well suited to identifying localized motor units, we observed that 46–67% of motor units spanned at least half the muscle length and width, with 16–36% spanning the entire muscle volume. There was no evidence that medial gastocnemius motor units are spatially localized or functionally grouped. In their Letter, Viera and colleagues (2016) raise the possibility that, even though the territories we identified were large, the distribution of muscle fibres within these large motor unit territories is not uniform, thus supporting the presence of functionally grouped muscle fibre units. This argument is difficult to accept and currently unfounded in the context of functionally grouped muscle fibres. Our results showed no pattern of localized muscle activation in ramp isometric contractions. It is not clear what functional role muscle fibres located outside a proposed functional unit could play. Why would humans have evolved to possess motoneurones innervating remote muscle fibres that do not generate force contributing to the desired action of a functional muscle sub-volume? Instead, we favour a simpler explanation of the evidence and conclude that, in humans, muscle fibres belonging to medial gastrocnemius motor units are widely distributed.
Dipyridamole May Induce Migraine in Patients With Migraine Without Aura

Dipyridamole inhibits phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) and adenosine re-uptake. The most prominent side-effect is headache. We examined the migraine-generating effects of dipyridamole as well as the cerebral blood velocity response in a single-blind study, including 10 patients with migraine without aura and 10 healthy subjects. Dipyridamole 0.142 mg/kg per min was administered intravenously. Headache intensity was scored on a verbal rating scale along with pain characteristics and accompanying symptoms. Blood velocity in the middle cerebral artery (V mca), blood pressure and heart rate were recorded repeatedly. Headache was induced in all migraine patients and in eight of 10 healthy subjects (P = 0.47) with no significant difference in headache intensity (P = 0.53). However, five patients but only one healthy subject experienced the symptoms of migraine without aura, according to ICHD-2 criteria, within 12 h (P = 0.14). Four patients reported photophobia after dipyridamole compared with no healthy subjects (P = 0.087). V mca decreased (P < 0.001) during and after dipyridamole infusion with no difference between groups (P = 0.15) coinciding with initiation, but not cessation of immediate headache. Thus, dipyridamole induces symptoms of migraine and an initial decrease in V mca in migraine patients, but not significantly more than in healthy subjects. This relatively low frequency of migraine induction, compared with nitric oxide donors and sildenafil, is probably due to the less specific action of dipyridamole on the cGMP signalling pathway as well as a possible bidirectional effect of adenosine on migraine induction.
Dichotomy between opsonization and serum complement activation by encapsulated staphylococci

Previous studies have demonstrated that encapsulated Staphylococcus aureus strains are not effectively opsonized by the serum complement system. Encapsulated staphylococci thereby "resist phagocytosis. " To test whether this phenomenon might be explained by an inability of encapsulated strains to activate complement, the relationship between staphylococcal opsonization and serum complement activation was studied. Although encapsulation was found to interfere with opsonization by pooled human serum (human polymorphonuclear leukocytes phagocytized significantly fewer encapsulated bacteria than unencapsulated bacteria after incubation in this opsonic source), encapsulated (S. aureus M and Smith diffuse) and unencapsulated (S. aureus M variant and Smith compact) strains had similar capacities for complement activation as measured by C3-C9 consumption. When C2-deficient and immunoglobulin-deficient sera were studied, again C3-C9 consumption was not influenced by the presence or absence of a capsule. In addition, C3 was detected on the surface of both S. aureus M and M variant strains after incubation in pooled serum and staining with fluorescein-conjugated anti-C3 antibody. Thus, encapsulated staphylococci are not effectively opsonized even though complement is activated and C3 is present on the bacterial surface. The exact mechanism by which the capsule interferes with opsonization is still not known; however, inhibition of complement activation appears not to be the explanation of this phenomenon.
Design of an Omnidirectional Circularly Polarized Antenna

In this letter, an omnidirectional circularly polarized (CP) antenna is proposed. This new antenna has a simple structure, which is composed of two dielectric substrates, four shorting pins, and a feeding pin. A CP radiation can be realized at the azimuth plane. This antenna can cover broad communication bands, such as GSM900, GSM1990, PCS, and UMTS bands. To validate the correctness of the simulation results, the omnidirectional CP antenna was fabricated and measured. With a profile of 0.066 <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">${\lambda _0}$</tex-math></inline-formula> (<inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">${\lambda _0}$</tex-math></inline-formula> is the free-space wavelength at the lowest frequency during the operating bandwidth), the antenna has a −10-dB impedance bandwidth of 25.6% (range from 1.7 to 2.2 GHz) and a 3-dB axial-ratio bandwidth of 34.7% (range from 1.57 to 2.23 GHz). At the center frequency 1.95 GHz, the measured average axial ratio and right-hand circularly polarized gain are 2.69 dB and −1.12 dBic at the azimuthal plane, respectively.
Abruptio placenta and adverse pregnancy outcome.

OBJECTIVE To determine the risk factors in pregnancies complicated with abruptio placenta METHODS Case-control study. The study was conducted at department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit 3, Civil Hospital, Dow University of Health Sciences Karachi. The study period was from January to December 2008. All pregnant women who were diagnosed with abruptio placenta after 28 weeks of gestation were included in the study. They were compared with women who had live birth during the study period. This group was taken as controls. Both groups were identified from the admission, labour room registers. RESULTS Total number of deliveries during the study period was 2610. Patients identified with abrupio placenta were 81, giving a frequency of 3.75%. Majority (44%) of women were between 26-30 years of age group. Forty three (54%) of the women were second, third or fourth gravida. The mean gestational age was 34 +/- 4.21 weeks. Forty one (51%) delivered preterm before 37 weeks and 40 (49%) delivered at or after 37 completed weeks of gestation. Vaginal delivery was the main mode of delivery, followed by Caesarean section. Vaginal bleeding was the most common clinical finding seen in 80% (68/81) women, followed by blood stained amniotic fluid in 45% (37/81). Foetal heart sounds were absent on admission in 65% (53/81). There were two maternal deaths due to postpartum haemorrhage. The perinatal mortality rate was 66% (54/81). Parity and gestational age were found to be significant risk factors for abruptio placentae (p < 0.031 and p < 0.001 respectively). CONCLUSION Abruptio placenta is associated with poor maternal and foetal outcomes.
What can be found in scalp EEG spectrum beyond common frequency bands. EEG–fMRI study

Objective. The scalp EEG spectrum is a frequently used marker of neural activity. Commonly, the preprocessing of EEG utilizes constraints, e.g. dealing with a predefined subset of electrodes or a predefined frequency band of interest. Such treatment of the EEG spectrum neglects the fact that particular neural processes may be reflected in several frequency bands and/or several electrodes concurrently, and can overlook the complexity of the structure of the EEG spectrum. Approach. We showed that the EEG spectrum structure can be described by parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC), a method which blindly uncovers the spatial–temporal–spectral patterns of EEG. We used an algorithm based on variational Bayesian statistics to reveal nine patterns from the EEG of 38 healthy subjects, acquired during a semantic decision task. The patterns reflected neural activity synchronized across theta, alpha, beta and gamma bands and spread over many electrodes, as well as various EEG artifacts. Main results. Specifically, one of the patterns showed significant correlation with the stimuli timing. The correlation was higher when compared to commonly used models of neural activity (power fluctuations in distinct frequency band averaged across a subset of electrodes) and we found significantly correlated hemodynamic fluctuations in simultaneously acquired fMRI data in regions known to be involved in speech processing. Further, we show that the pattern also occurs in EEG data which were acquired outside the MR machine. Two other patterns reflected brain rhythms linked to the attentional and basal ganglia large scale networks. The other patterns were related to various EEG artifacts. Significance. These results show that PARAFAC blindly identifies neural activity in the EEG spectrum and that it naturally handles the correlations among frequency bands and electrodes. We conclude that PARAFAC seems to be a powerful tool for analysis of the EEG spectrum and might bring novel insight to the relationships between EEG activity and brain hemodynamics.
Frequency of Mutations Associated with Rifampicin Resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis Strains Isolated from Patients in West of Iran.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Tuberculosis (TB) is a devastating infectious disease causing high mortality and morbidity worldwide. The most serious threat related to tuberculosis control is the recent emergence of drug-resistant tuberculosis strains. The aim of the present study was to identify various types of mutations in the rpoB region in rifampicin-resistant strains isolated from sputum of tuberculosis patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS Drug susceptibility of 125 Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates was determined using the CDC standard conventional proportional method. Target DNA of M. tuberculosis was amplified by polymerase chain reaction, hybridized, and scanned. We used the low cost density array (LCD-array) to detect mutations within the 90-bp rpoB region. Each array is a transparent, prestructured polymer support using a nonfluorescent detection principle based on the precipitation of a clearly visible dark substrate. RESULTS Of the 125 M. tuberculosis isolates, 35 (28%) were found to be rifampicin-resistant and using the LCD array revealed point mutations at nine different codons as follows: S512T (AGC→ACC) (20%), D516V (GAC→GTC) (20%), H526D (CAC→GAC) (6%), H526R (CAC→CGC) (20%), H526Y (CAC→TAC) (23%), and S531W (TCG→TGG) (8%), and the most frequent site mutations were L511P (CCG→CTG) (46%), followed by S531l (TCG→TTG) (40%) and D516Y (GAC→TAC) (26%). CONCLUSION Our data significantly differs from previously reported mutation frequencies for codon 526 (CAC to GAC) among Italian isolates (40.1%) and Greek isolates (17.6%). Phenotypic testing is time-consuming and requires laboratory resources. Microarray rpoB is useful in detecting rifampicin resistance-determining region-associated site mutations of rifampicin-resistant M. tuberculosis isolates.
Exploration of the Factors Affecting the Choices of Nursing Students Who Choose Psychiatric Nursing as the First and Last Choice

ABSTRACT The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the factors that affect the choices of nursing students who chose a psychiatric nursing internship. The sample group of the study consisted of 13 students who listed psychiatric nursing as their first choice and 11 students who listed psychiatric nursing as their last choice. Four themes were determined: personal reasons, stigmatization, experiences related to psychiatric nursing, and perception of care. Providing activities in nursing education to reduce stigmatization and increasing the time allocated for psychiatric nursing theory and practice are recommended.
ROCK2 is involved in accelerated fetal lung development induced by in vivo lung distension

Lung development is strongly influenced by its state of distension. For instance, increasing distension induced by fetal tracheal occlusion (TO) stimulates lung development. In contrast, oligohydramnios (OH) reduces lung distending forces and results in lung hypoplasia. We hypothesize that Rho/Rho‐associated kinase (ROCK) pathway plays an important role as mechanosensor in vivo acting either directly or indirectly in the translation of increased distension into acceleration of lung growth. TO was done in fetal mice sacrificed either 3 or 24 hr later; in a subset of dam, fasudil, a specific ROCK inhibitor, or vehicle was injected intra‐peritoneally. OH was done by puncture of the amniotic sac. ROCK2 protein levels were assessed by Western blot and immunohistochemistry (IHC); lung development was assessed by measuring the generation of distal respiratory airway. Significant differences were found in ROCK2 protein levels between TO and Sham‐TO at 3 and 24 hr, but not for ROCK1. Indeed, IHC revealed that ROCK2 staining was sparse and restricted to a few mesenchymal cells in Sham‐TO, whereas it was strong in acini of TO lungs. OH lungs expressed lower levels of ROCK2 in the acini when compared to untouched controls. In fasudil‐treated animals, the degree of lung development following TO was significantly lower than in the group injected with vehicle. At the dose regimen used, fasudil did not affect normal lung development, as observed in the untouched animals. In summary, ROCK2 protein levels was affected by the degree of lung expansion and blunting ROCK activity abolished the response to increased lung distension, suggesting that ROCK is a key regulator in TO‐induced accelerated lung development. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2010; 45:966–976. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.