Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prediction of 30-Day All-Cause Readmissions in Patients Hospitalized for Heart Failure: Comparison of Machine Learning and Other Statistical Approaches

Importance Several attempts have been made at developing models to predict 30-day readmissions in patients with heart failure, but none have sufficient discriminatory capacity for clinical use. Machine-learning (ML) algorithms represent a novel approach and may have potential advantages over traditional statistical modeling. Objective To develop models using a ML approach to predict all-cause readmissions 30 days after discharge from a heart failure hospitalization and to compare ML model performance with models developed using “conventional” statistically based methods. Design, Setting, and Participants Models were developed using ML algorithms, specifically, a tree-augmented naive Bayesian network, a random forest algorithm, and a gradient-boosted model and compared with traditional statistical methods using 2 independently derived logistic regression models (a de novo model and an a priori model developed using electronic health records) and a least absolute shrinkage and selection operator method. The study sample was randomly divided into training (70%) and validation (30%) sets to develop and test model performance. This was a registry-based study, and the study sample was obtained by linking patients from the Get With the Guidelines Heart Failure registry with Medicare data. After applying appropriate inclusion and exclusion criteria, 56 477 patients were included in our analysis. The study was conducted between January 4, 2005, and December 1, 2010, and analysis of the data was conducted between November 25, 2014, and June 30, 2016. Main Outcomes and Measures C statistics were used for comparison of discriminatory capacity across models in the validation sample. Results The overall 30-day rehospitalization rate was 21.2% (11 959 of 56 477 patients). For the tree-augmented naive Bayesian network, random forest, gradient-boosted, logistic regression, and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator models, C statistics for the validation sets were similar: 0.618, 0.607, 0.614, 0.624, and 0.618, respectively. Applying the previously validated electronic health records model to our study sample yielded a C statistic of 0.589 for the validation set. Conclusions and Relevance Use of a number of ML algorithms did not improve prediction of 30-day heart failure readmissions compared with more traditional prediction models. Although there will likely be further applications of ML approaches in prognostic modeling, our study fits within the literature of limited predictive ability for heart failure readmissions.
Antioxidant activity of Moringa oleifera and vegetables

The antioxidant activity of the leaves and flowers of the Moringa oleifera plant were investigated and the results were compared to those of selected vegetables (cabbage, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower and peas). Antioxidant activity was determined by analysing the total phenolics content, total flavonoids content, reducing power and radical scavenging activity using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical method. The total phenolics content of moringa was almost twice that of the vegetables and the total flavonoids content was three times that of the selected vegetables. The reducing power of moringa was higher than that of the vegetables and the percentage of free radicals remaining was lower compared with the vegetables. These results combined show that moringa is a good source of antioxidants. This finding also explains why moringa forms part of the diet of people in many developing countries, especially in the southern hemisphere.
Smad ubiquitination regulatory factor-2 controls gap junction intercellular communication by modulating endocytosis and degradation of connexin43

Summary Gap junctions consist of arrays of intercellular channels that enable adjacent cells to communicate both electrically and metabolically. Gap junction channels are made of a family of integral membrane proteins called connexins, of which the best-studied member is connexin43. Gap junctions are dynamic plasma membrane domains, and connexin43 has a high turnover rate in most tissue types. However, the mechanisms involved in the regulation of connexin43 endocytosis and transport to lysosomes are still poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate by live-cell imaging analysis that treatment of cells with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) induces endocytosis of subdomains of connexin43 gap junctions. The internalized, connexin43-enriched vesicles were found to fuse with early endosomes, which was followed by transport of connexin43 to the lumen of early endosomes. The HECT E3 ubiquitin ligase smad ubiquitination regulatory factor-2 (Smurf2) was found to be recruited to connexin43 gap junctions in response to TPA treatment. Depletion of Smurf2 by small interfering RNA resulted in enhanced levels of connexin43 gap junctions between adjacent cells and increased gap junction intercellular communication. Smurf2 depletion also counteracted the TPA-induced endocytosis and degradation of connexin43. Collectively, these data identify Smurf2 as a novel regulator of connexin43 gap junctions.
Space charge buildup in quantum-well infrared photodetectors leading to low-power nonlinear photoresponse

Space charge buildup in quantum-well infrared photodetectors (QWIPs) is shown to be the main reason for the low-power nonlinear photoresponse of the QWIPs. We present a model that takes into account the space charge distribution across the quantum wells and derive a simple expression for the intensity dependent responsivity of the QWIP. A comparison of our model with a set of intensity dependent responsivity measurements performed on a 50-period QWIP shows a very good agreement with our model as long as the QWIP is far from saturation.
Exact solution of the discrete (1+1)-dimensional RSOS model in a slit with field and wall interactions

We present the solution of a linear restricted solid-on-solid (RSOS) model confined to a slit. We include a field-like energy, which equivalently weights the area under the interface, and also include independent interaction terms with both walls. This model can also be mapped to a lattice polymer model of Motzkin paths in a slit interacting with both walls including an osmotic pressure. This work generalizes the previous work on the RSOS model in the half-plane which has a solution that was shown recently to exhibit a novel mathematical structure involving basic hypergeometric functions 3ϕ2. Because of the mathematical relationship between the half-plane and slit this work hence effectively explores the underlying q-orthogonal polynomial structure to that solution. It also generalizes two other recent works: one on Dyck paths weighted with an osmotic pressure in a slit and another concerning Motzkin paths without an osmotic pressure term in a slit.
The roles of glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and the carbonyl protein in pulmonary and extra pulmonary tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND This study determines the protein carbonyls which cause cellular damage and glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase act as antioxidants. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study was carried out in different categories of pulmonary and extra pulmonary tuberculosis cases of newly sputum culture positive diagnosed pulmonary categorie I (n=100), extra pulmonary patients categorie (n=35) before and after the DOTS treatment of 6 months, categorie II (n=100), categorie III (n=100) and in normal control subjects (n=100). RESULTS The serum protein carbonyl levels were significantly increased in the pulmonary and extra pulmonary tuberculosis patients. The activities of blood glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase were found to be significantly decreased in subjects of all the categories of pulmonary and extra pulmonary tuberculosis. A negative correlation between the carbonyl protein content and glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase was seen in pulmonary tuberculosis, p<0.001. CONCLUSION Increased antioxidant defense mechanism due to increase oxidative stress in tuberculosis. The changes were reversed after 6 months of antitubercular treatment in patients with a good recovery, but the increase in the oxidative stress was not completely reversed.
Postoperative effects of low dose intrathecal morphine in coronary artery bypass surgery: O-14

Mersin University Medical Faculty Department of Cardiovascular Surgery and Anesthesiology, Mersin, Turkey Introduction: Effective control of pain during the immediate postoperative period after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) may decrease morbidity and mortality [1]. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of low dose spinal morphine administration in CABG in the early postoperative period. Method: This study was approved by the ethical committee of Mersin University Medical Faculty and written informed consent was obtained from all patients. The patients were randomly allocated, prospectively, to receive general anaesthesia (Group K, n 11) or general anaesthesia with the addition of intrathecal morphine (0.7 g kg 1) just before anaesthetic induction (Group M, n 12). After standardized induction, anaesthesia was maintained with a remifentanil infusion 0.2–0.5 g kg 1 min 1 and 0.5–1% sevoflurane for all patients. After completion of surgery the remifentanil infusion was stopped and i.v. remifentanil consumption recorded. A propofol infusion, 1–2 mg kg 1 h 1 was then started in both group. All patients were transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) to receive standardized postoperative care. The propofol infusion was stopped and extubation was accomplished when extubation criteria were fulfilled. Diclofenac sodium (75 mg i.m.) was given for postoperative analgesia in both groups just when remifentanil was stopped. Pain scores, determined by visual analogue scale (VAS), were recorded directly after extubation and at 2, 4, 6 and 18 hours after admission to the ICU. Pethidine HCl (1 mg kg 1 i.m.) was administered if the patient’s pain score was 4. Sedation scores, determined by Ramsay scale, were recorded at the same time as VAS. Postoperative complications and sideeffects were recorded daily for all patients until hospital discharge. Results: Both groups were similar with respect to demographic data, surgical characteristics and remifentanil consumption. The mean extubation time was shorter in Group M (3.58 1.57 h) than Group K (4.86 1.38 h) (P 0.045). The mean VAS scores were less in Group M at each measured time than Group K.
Beta-keratin specific immunological reactivity in feather-like structures of the cretaceous alvarezsaurid, Shuvuuia deserti.

We report small fibrous structures associated with a new specimen of Shuvuuia deserti, which we hypothesize are remnants of feather-like epidermal appendages. Multiple analyses suggest that these structures are epidermally derived and contain epitopes consistent with beta-keratin, a protein expressed only in extant "reptiles" and birds. Morphological, microscopic, mass spectrometric, and immunohistochemical studies are consistent with the interpretation that these structures are related to feathers. These data suggest that proteinaceous components may survive across geological time and support the view that alvarezsaurids (Shuvuuia and its allies) are either a lineage of birds or are a lineage phylogenetically close to them. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 285:146-157, 1999.
IC test structures for multilayer interconnect stress determination

A new method for measuring strain in multilayer integrated circuit (IC) interconnects is presented. This method utilizes process compatible MEMS-based test structures and is applied to the determination of longitudinal interconnect stress in a standard dual-metal-layer CMOS process. Strain measurements are shown to be consistent for an array of similar test structures. Stress values, calculated from constitutive relations, are in good agreement with published results.
Tet determinants provide poor protection against some tetracyclines: further evidence for division of tetracyclines into two classes

Atypical tetracyclines were active against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus strains containing determinants that mediate resistance to typical tetracyclines by efflux (Tet B and Tet K) or ribosomal protection (Tet M) mechanisms. The results support recently published data that tetracyclines are divisible into at least two classes on the basis of their modes of action.
Analysis of clinical and radiological outcomes in microsurgical and endovascular treatment of basilar apex aneurysms.

OBJECTIVE We aimed to analyze clinical and radiological outcomes retrospectively in patients with basilar apex aneurysms treated by coiling or clipping. METHODS Outcomes of basilar bifurcation aneurysms were assessed retrospectively in 77 consecutive patients (61 women, 16 men), ranging in age from 25 to 79 years (mean, 53.7 years) from 1999 to 2007. RESULTS Forty-nine patients out of 77 patients (63.6%) presented with subarachnoid hemorrhages of the 49 patients treated with coiling, 27 (55.1%) showed complete occlusion of the aneurysm sac. Of these, 13 patients (26.5%) developed coil compaction on angiographic or MRI follow-up, with recoiling required in 9 patients (18.4%). Procedural complications of coiling were acute infarction in nine patients and the bleeding of the aneurysms in six patients. The remaining 28 patients underwent microsurgery: twenty-six of these (92.9%) with microsurgery followed up with conventional angiography. Complete occlusion of the aneurysm sac was achieved in 19 patients (73.1%). Operation-related complications of microsurgery were thalamoperforating artery injuries in three patients, retraction venous injury in two, postoperative epidural hemorrhage (EDH) in one, and transient partial or complete occulomotor palsy in 14 patients. Glasgow Outcome Scores (GOS) were 4 or 5 in 21 of 28 (75%) patients treated with microsurgery at discharge, and at 6 month follow-up, 20 of 28 (70.9%) maintained the same GOS. In comparison, GOS of four or 5 was observed in 36 of 49 (73.5%) patients treated with coiling at discharge and at 6 month follow-up, 33 of 49 patients (67.3%) maintained the GOS from discharge. CONCLUSION Basilar top aneurysms were still challenging lesions based on our series. Endovascular or microsurgery endowed with its inborn risks and procedural complications for the treatment of basilar apex aneurysms individually. Microsurgery provided better outcome in some specific basilar apex aneurysms. For reaching the most favorable outcome, endovascular modality as well as microsurgery was inevitably considered for each specific basilar apex aneurysm.
Rapid communication Argument disrupts interpersonal synchrony

Research on interpersonal convergence and synchrony characterizes the way in which interacting individuals come to have more similar affect, behaviour, and cognition over time. Although its dynamics have been explored in many settings, convergence during conflict has been almost entirely overlooked. We present a simple but ecologically valid study comparing how different situational contexts that highlight affiliation and argument impact interpersonal convergence of body movement and to what degree emotional states affect convergence in both conversational settings. Using linear mixed-effect models, we found that in-phase bodily synchrony decreases significantly during argument. However, affective changes did not significantly predict changes in levels of interpersonal synchrony, suggesting that differences in affect valences between affiliation and argument cannot solely explain our results.
Uptake of perfluoroalkyl acids in the leaves of coniferous and deciduous broad‐leaved trees

Analytical methods for determining perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in leaves were developed to quantify a suite of analytes in both coniferous and deciduous broad‐leaved trees. Sodium hydroxide‐methanol and solid‐phase extraction was selected as the extracting and cleanup strategy for PFAA analysis. Ten perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) and 4 perfluorosulfonic acids (PFSAs) were monitored in 7 kinds of leaves grown in the urban areas of Dalian, China. The results show that coniferous tree leaves take up more PFAAs than broad‐leaved tree leaves, with the highest amount of 150 ng/g in pine needles. Leaf PFCA levels were much higher than PFSAs level. Short carbon–chain PFCAs with 3 to 6 perfluorinated carbons account for approximately 40% to 80% of the total leaf PFAAs, where uptake decreased with increasing carbon chain length. Temporal observation of leaf PFAAs revealed no significant variation of concentrations in the leaves over a weekly interval and the absence of significant seasonal change in pine needles and sophora. The present study provides some evidence for the accumulation of PFAAs in leaves, which is valuable for understanding their environmental behavior and the development of alternative bioindicator. Environ Toxicol Chem 2015;34:1499–1504. © 2015 SETAC
Perceptions and Attitudes of Family Medicine Residency Program Directors Regarding Ranking Applicants for Residency Programs using their Social Media Accounts: A National Study in Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND: In contemporary times, employers use information available on the social media (SM) to assess attitudes before interviews and recruitment of potential employees. It is used as one of the criteria to rank applicants for acceptance as residents in the Middle East. In this study, an evaluation was done of this new practice in which program directors (PDs) take into account e-professionalism for the acceptance of applicants. It was a national study of all 41 hospitals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia involved in Saudi board family medicine training programs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 36-item questionnaire was administered to PDs. Next, a focus group discussion (FGD) was held, after which there was social listening. We recorded the FGD. There was verbatim transcription and coding of the qualitative data. We held social listening using Keyhole. The percentage of positive attitudes (PPAs) was normally distributed; we tested its relationship with different factors by comparing the mean score values among categories using the Student's t-test and one-way analysis of variance. RESULTS: The average PPA toward the ranking of applicants by using their SM was 55.5% ± 17.3% (median: 56.6%). The average PPA was higher in those who used SM to communicate with residents (60.2% ±19.5%) than those who did not (49.4% ±12%; P = 0.04), even after adjusting for familiarity with Internet use. Directors in hospitals of the Ministry of Education had higher percentages; these figures, however, are not statistically significant. PDs considered the importance of establishing culturally acceptable guidelines for the assessment of e-professionalism and social reputation. CONCLUSIONS: Culturally appropriate, bioethical regulations that meet the needs of modern times should be designed. We need to solve ethical dilemmas, especially with regard to privacy in SM.
Antidiabetic Activities of an LC/MS Fingerprinted Aqueous Extract of Fagonia cretica L. in Preclinical Models

Abstract Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease and one of the most important public health challenges facing mankind. Fagonia cretica is a medicinal plant used widely in the Punjab in Pakistan. A recent survey has demonstrated that traditional healers and herbalists frequently use this plant to treat diabetes. In the current study, the traditional medicine was prepared as a tea, and the profile of the main metabolites present in the traditional medicine was analysed via LC/MS/MS. The extract was shown to contain a number of phenolic glycosides including quercetin-3-O-rutinoside, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, kaempferol-3-O-glycoside, kaempferol-3(6′-malonylglucoside), isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside, and isorhamnetin 3-(6″-malonylglucoside) in addition to two unidentified sulphonated saponins. The traditional medicine inhibits α-glucosidase in vitro with an IC50 of 4.62 µg/mL. The hypoglycaemic effect of the traditional medicine was evaluated in normoglycaemic and streptozotocin-treated diabetic rats, using glibenclamide as an internal control. The preparation (250 or 500 mg/kg body weight) was administered once a day for 21 consecutive days. The dose of 500 mg/kg was effective in the management of the disease, causing a 45 % decrease in the plasma glucose level at the end of the experimental period. Histological analysis of pancreatic sections confirmed that streptozotocin/nictotinamide treatment caused destruction of pancreatic islet cells, while pancreatic sections from the treatment groups showed that both the extract and glibenclamide partially prevented this deterioration. The mechanism of this protective effect is unclear. However, such a finding suggests that ingestion of the tea could confer additional benefits and should be investigated further.
The Critical Phase for Random Graphs with a Given Degree Sequence

We consider random graphs with a fixed degree sequence. Molloy and Reed [11, 12] studied how the size of the giant component changes according to degree conditions. They showed that there is a phase transition and investigated the order of components before and after the critical phase. In this paper we study more closely the order of components at the critical phase, using singularity analysis of a generating function for a branching process which models the random graph with a given degree sequence.
Defective colorings of graphs in surfaces: Partitions into subgraphs of bounded valency

We call a graph (m, k)-colorable if its vertices can be colored with m colors in such a way that each vertex is adjacent to at most k vertices of the same color as itself. For the class of planar graphs, and the class of outerplanar graphs, we determine all pairs (m, k) such that every graph in the class is (m, k)-colorable. We include an elementary proof (not assuming the truth of the four-color theorem) that every planar graph is (4, 1)-colorable. Finally, we prove that, for each compact surface S, there is an integer k = k(S) such that every graph in S can be (4, k)-colored; we conjecture that 4 can be replaced by 3 in this statement.
Metabolic profiles in serum of mouse after chronic exposure to drinking water

The toxicity of Nanjing drinking water on mouse (Mus musculus) was detected by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabonomic method. Three groups of mice were fed with drinking water (produced by Nanjing BHK Water Plant), 3.8 μg/L benzo(a)pyrene as contrast, and clean water as control, respectively, for 90 days. It was observed that the levels of lactate, alanine, and creatinine in the mice fed with drinking water were increased and that of valine was decreased. The mice of drinking water group were successfully separated from control. The total concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phthalates (PAEs), and other organic pollutants in the drinking water were 0.23 μg/L, 4.57 μg/L, and 0.34 μg/L, respectively. In this study, Nanjing drinking water was found to induce distinct perturbations of metabolic profiles on mouse including disorders of glucose-alanine cycle, branched-chain amino acid and energy metabolism, and dysfunction of kidney. This study suggests that metabonomic method is feasible and sensitive to evaluate potential toxic effects of drinking water.