Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Primary care funding, contract status, and outcomes: an observational study.

BACKGROUND The introduction of the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) provides a quantitative way of assessing quality of care in general practice. We explore the achievements of general practice in the first year of the QOF, with specific reference to practice funding and contract status. AIM To determine the extent to which differences in funding and contract status affect quality in primary care. DESIGN OF STUDY Cross-sectional observational study using practice data obtained under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. SETTING One hundred and sixty-four practices from six primary care trusts (PCTs) in England. METHOD Practice data for all 164 practices were collated for income and contract status. The outcome measure was QOF score for the year 2004-2005. All data were analysed statistically. RESULTS Contract status has an impact on practice funding, with Employed Medical Services (EMS) and Personal Medical Services (PMS) practices receiving higher levels of funding than General Medical Services (GMS) practices (P<0.001). QOF scores also vary according to contract status. Higher funding levels in EMS practices are associated with lower QOF scores (P=0.04); while GMS practices exhibited the opposite trend, with higher-funded practices achieving better quality scores (P<0.001). CONCLUSION GMS practices are the most efficient contract status, achieving high quality scores for an average of pound 62.51 per patient per year. By contrast, EMS practices are underperforming, achieving low quality scores for an average of pound 105.37 per patient per year. Funding and contract status are therefore important factors in determining achievement in the QOF.
Initial Binding of Ions to the Interhelical Loops of Divalent Ion Transporter CorA: Replica Exchange Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study

Crystal structures of Thermotoga maritima magnesium transporter CorA, reported in 2006, revealed its homo-pentameric constructions. However, the structure of the highly conserved extracellular interhelical loops remains unsolved, due to its high flexibility. We have explored the configurations of the loops through extensive replica exchange molecular dynamics simulations in explicit solvent model with the presence of either Co(III) Hexamine ions or Mg2+ ions. We found that there are multiple binding sites available on the interhelical loops in which the negatively charged residues, E316 and E320, are located notably close to the positively charged ions during the simulations. Our simulations resolved the distinct binding patterns of the two kinds of ions: Co(III) Hexamine ions were found to bind stronger with the loop than Mg2+ ions with binding free energy −7.3 kJ/mol lower, which is nicely consistent with the previous data. Our study provides an atomic basis description of the initial binding process of Mg2+ ions on the extracellular interhelical loops of CorA and the detailed inhibition mechanism of Co(III) Hexamine ions on CorA ions transportation.
Phase-Field Simulation Studies of Multiple Grains Coupled with Force Flow Field

Coupling the force flow field with the phase field model for the isothermal growth of dendrite multiple grains, Sola algorithm is used to calculate the flow speed and pressure of liquid metal, double grid numerical method was used to reduce the calculation amount of computer simulation, the space factor and time factor were introduced to improve the accuracy of double grid numerical calculation, Taking Al-2%-Cu alloy for example, the dendrite growth process of the binary alloy was simulated under forced convection environment; Simulation results can capture the real dendrite growth and interactions of the liquid metal flow in the process of dendrite growth under forced convection environment: The flow of metal liquid affects the growth morphology of dendrite multi-grain. The flow of liquid metal changes the growth speed of dendrite tip in different directions for each dendrite, the greater of the liquid metal initial flow speed, the worse of dendrite morphology symmetry; different initial flow speeds result in the different distance between each dendrite. The metal liquid forced flow causes the instability of dendrite growth interface, it changes the degree of undercooling, composition, dendrite tip growth rate and the curvature radius of dendrite tip in the dendrite growth forefront interface. For the forefront dendrite growth interface free energy system, the dendrite tip growth speed and curvature radius were adjusted by the competitive growth of dendrite tips, thus reached a new stable state for the interface, which resulted in the emergence of bifurcation in dendrite tips. The liquid metal flow speed between different grains was affected by the relative position and morphology between different grains, and also affected by the initial inflow speed of the liquid metal.
A refined range image registration technique for multi-stripe laser scanner

Nowadays, visual inspection is very important in the quality control for many industrial applications. However, the complexity of most 3D objects constrains the registration of range images; a complete surface is required to compare the acquired surface to the model. Range finders are very used to digitalize free form shape objects with large resolutions. Moreover, one single view is not enough to reconstruct the whole surface due to occlusions, shadows, etc. In these situations, the motion between reconstructed partial views are required to integrate all surfaces in a single model. However, the use of positioning systems is not always available or adequate due mainly to the size of the objects or the environmental conditions imposed by the precise mechanics which suffer from vibrations present in the industry. In order to solve this problem, a 3D hand sensor is developed to reconstruct 3D objects that let us to compare them with respect the original one.
Study of Spaceborne Spotlight SAR Coregistration Algorithm

The azimuth resolution of Spotlight SAR is analyzed from the azimuth antenna pattern weighting, and the effect of the azimuth-varying Doppler on Spotlight SAR interferometry is studied. A coregistration algorithm based on adaptive subspace projection is proposed for Spotlight SAR interferometry. In this method, an adaptive factor is introduced to select the sample number of joint covariance matrix based on the coherence value. Moreover, the Doppler centroid drift in the azimuth direction is also considered in spotlight SAR images coregistration. The method is validated with the real data from the GERMAN radar satellite TerraSAR-X.
Multi-Criteria Decision Making Approaches for Quality Control of Genome-Wide Association Studies

Experimental errors in the genotyping phases of a Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) can lead to false positive findings and to spurious associations. An appropriate quality control phase could minimize the effects of this kind of errors. Several filtering criteria can be used to perform quality control. Currently, no formal methods have been proposed for taking into account at the same time these criteria and the experimenter’s preferences. In this paper we propose two strategies for setting appropriate genotyping rate thresholds for GWAS quality control. These two approaches are based on the Multi-Criteria Decision Making theory. We have applied our method on a real dataset composed by 734 individuals affected by Arterial Hypertension (AH) and 486 nonagenarians without history of AH. The proposed strategies appear to deal with GWAS quality control in a sound way, as they lead to rationalize and make explicit the experimenter’s choices thus providing more reproducible results.
Multi-objective optimization of sensor quality with efficient marine vehicle task execution

This paper describes the in-field operation of two interacting autonomous marine vehicles to demonstrate the suitability of interval programming (IvP), a novel mathematical model for multiple-objective optimization. Broadly speaking, IvP coordinates competing control needs such as primary task execution that depends on a sufficient position estimate, and vehicle maneuvers that will improve that position estimate. In this work, vehicles cooperate to improve their position estimates using a sequence of vehicle-to-vehicle range estimates from acoustic modems. Coordinating primary task execution and sensor quality maintenance is a ubiquitous problem, especially in underwater marine vehicles. This work represents the first use of multiobjective optimization in a behavior-based architecture to address this problem
Dietary validation of a new Australian food-frequency questionnaire that estimates long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids

Currently, there is no FFQ designed to capture the intakes of the long-chain (LC) n-3 PUFA. The objectives of this study were to validate a new LC n-3 PUFA FFQ by comparison with 3 d weighed food records (FR) and to determine its reproducibility assessed 4 to 6 weeks apart. Healthy male and female subjects (n 53) were recruited from Wollongong and the Australian Capital Territory, Australia. The FFQ and FR were analysed for LC n-3 PUFA intakes using a nutrient analysis software package and these intakes were compared using Wilcoxon signed rank tests and Spearman correlation coefficients. Bland–Altman analysis and quintile assignment assessed the agreement between the two methods and the FFQ's ability to rank individuals according to intakes, respectively. Comparison of intakes from FFQ and FR correlated significantly for total LC n-3 PUFA, EPA, docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) and DHA, 0·75, 0·64, 0·62 and 0·72, respectively (P < 0·05); hence, there is reasonable agreement between the FFQ and the FR in assessing LC n-3 PUFA intakes. Quintile assignments correctly assigned 49 % of subjects into the same quintiles and 87 % of subjects were correctly assigned either to the same or adjacent quintiles. The FFQ was reproducible for intakes of LC n-3 PUFA, EPA, DPA and DHA with Spearman correlation coefficients of 0·88, 0·88, 0·90 and 0·87, respectively. In conclusion, the new FFQ is a valid and reproducible method that can be used to estimate the LC n-3 PUFA intake of healthy adults.
Spatial Degrees of Freedom of Large Distributed MIMO Systems and Wireless Ad Hoc Networks

We consider a large distributed MIMO system where wireless users with single transmit and receive antenna cooperate in clusters to form distributed transmit and receive antenna arrays. We characterize how the capacity of the distributed MIMO transmission scales with the number of cooperating users, the area of the clusters and the separation between them, in a line-of-sight propagation environment. We use this result to answer the following question: can distributed MIMO provide significant capacity gain over traditional multi-hop in large ad hoc networks with n source-destination pairs randomly distributed over an area A? Two diametrically opposite answers [24] and [26] have emerged in the current literature. We show that neither of these two results are universal and their validity depends on V the relation between the number of users n and √A/λ, which we identify as the spatial degrees of freedom in the network. λ is the carrier wavelength. When √A/λ ≥ n, there are n degrees of freedom in the network and distributed MIMO with hierarchical cooperation can achieve a capacity scaling linearly in n as in [24], while capacity of multihop scales only as √n. On the other hand, when √A/λ ≤ √n as in [26], there are only √n degrees of freedom in the network and they can be readily achieved by multihop. Our results also reveal a third regime where √n ≤ √A/λ ≤ n. Here, the number of degrees of freedom are smaller than n but larger than what can be achieved by multi-hop. We construct scaling optimal architectures for this intermediate regime.
A randomized implementation of multiple functional arrays

The array update problem in the implementation of a purely functional language is the following: once an array is updated, both the original array and the newly updated one must be preserved to maintain referential transparency. Previous approaches have mainly based on the detection or enforcement of single-threaded accesses to an aggregate, by means of compiler-time analyses or language restrictions. These approaches cannot deal with aggregates which are updated in a multi-threaded manner. Baker's shallow binding scheme can be used to implement multi-threaded functional arrays. His scheme, however, can be very expensive if there are repeated alternations between long binding paths. We design a scheme that fragments binding paths randomly. The randomization scheme is on-line, simple to implement, and its expected performance comparable to that of the optimal off-line solutions. All this is achieved without using compiler-time analyses, and without restricting the languages. The expected performance of the randomization scheme is analyzed in details, and some preliminary results are shown. Applications of the randomization technique to other functional aggregates, as well as its implications, are briefly outlined.
A Reader’s Guide to Visualizing Categorical Data

Visualizing Categorical Data presents a comprehensive overview of graphical methods for discrete data— count data, cross-tabulated frequency tables, and discrete response data. These methods are designed to complement traditional numerical summaries and statistical models, expose patterns in the data, and to aid in diagnosing model defects. They are illustrated with real data problems, and implemented in a large collection of SAS macro programs available with the book. A number of these methods are somewhat novel, and the macro programs may take some effort to use effectively with your own data. In this paper I present an overview of these methods and illustrate the use of the macro programs for graphic analysis to reveal features of the data not apparent in traditional numerical summaries. The goal is to translate ”theory into practice,” and enable readers to use these techniques productively with their own data.
User-level dynamic page migration for multiprogrammed shared-memory multiprocessors

This paper presents algorithms for improving the performance of parallel programs on multiprogrammed shared-memory NUMA multiprocessors, via the use of user-level dynamic page migration. The idea that drives the algorithms is that a page migration engine can perform accurate and timely page migrations in a multiprogrammed system if it can correlate page reference information with scheduling information obtained from the operating system. The necessary page migrations can be performed as a response to scheduling events that break the implicit association between threads and their memory affinity sets. We present two algorithms that use feedback from the kernel scheduler to aggressively migrate pages upon thread migrations. The first algorithm exploits the iterative nature of parallel programs, while the second targets generic codes without making assumptions on their structure. Performance evaluation on an SGI Origin2000 shows that our page migration algorithms provide substantial improvements in throughput of up to 264% compared to the native IRIX 6.5. 5 page placement and migration schemes.
Perioperative problems in patients with brainstem tumors and their influence on patient outcome

Background and Aims: Patients with brainstem tumors have many associated systemic abnormalities and are prone to develop perioperative complications. We studied the problems associated with brainstem tumors and their influence on the postoperative neurological outcome. Material and Methods: Retrospective review of records of patients who underwent surgery for brainstem tumors over a period of 8 years was done. Preoperative variables, perioperative complications and neurological outcome as assessed by Glasgow Outcome Scale at the time of hospital discharge were noted. Association between perioperative factors and the unfavorable neurological outcome was evaluated. Results: Data of 70 patients were retrieved, 7 patients were excluded from the study because of incomplete data and data analysis was carried out for 63 patients. We found that lower cranial nerve palsies (32%) and hydrocephalus (43%) were common preoperatively. Various intraoperative problems encountered were hemodynamic instability (56%), major blood loss requiring blood transfusion (40%) and venous air embolism (11%), and postoperative problems were meningitis (51%), hypokalemia (38%), chest infection (21%), seizure (11%), deterioration of Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS, 11%), hyponatremia (8%), hydrocephalus (6%), respiratory distress (3%) and operatives site hematoma (3%). Fifty-six (89%) patients had favorable outcome at hospital discharge whereas, 7 (11%) had an unfavorable outcome. There was no association between pre- and intra-operative factors and the neurological outcome. Deterioration of GCS, chest infection, and the need for reintubation and tracheostomy were associated with unfavorable neurological outcome. Conclusion: Patients of brainstem tumors are at increased risk of perioperative complications. Some of the postoperative complications were associated with unfavorable neurological outcome.
Online photography assistance by exploring geo-referenced photos on MID / UMPC

Consumers are making increasing use of digital camera, phone camera, and camcorder every minute. Normal users have desires to produce high-quality photos although they are less of photography techniques. Consumers hunger for online instructing on how to capture a good photograph in terms of camera pose (location, orientation, field of view, etc.) Making it ubiquitously accessible is essential which requires excessive computation and communication capabilities over existing portable devices. The emerging Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs) and Ultra Mobile PCs (UMPCs) have been equipped with enabling features and turn into an alternative. This paper presents a new Location Based Service for photography assistance. It consists of three major components, focus of attention modeling, image quality assessment, and camera pose matching, to deal with the geo-referenced photos retrieved from Internet. Those techniques have been widely studied in the research domains of computer vision and pattern recognition. Having the MID / UMPC platforms at hand, richer experiences on Internet, such as instant travel blogging and photo sharing are more convenient.
Clearance of hepatitis C infection is associated with the early appearance of broad neutralizing antibody responses

The contribution of humoral immune responses to spontaneous control of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains unclear. We assessed neutralizing antibody (nAb) responses during acute HCV infection to determine whether infection outcome is associated with the nAb response, specifically, its timing or breadth (neutralization of multiple genotype‐matched variants). A representative genotype 1 HCV pseudoparticle (HCVpp) library, consisting of 19 genetically distinct genotype 1 HCVpp that comprise the natural variability of genotype 1 E1E2 sequences, was used to assess anti‐genotype 1 nAb responses during acute infection in at‐risk persons followed prospectively. Neutralization of individual library HCVpp by the last viremic plasma sample obtained before clearance was compared to either 1‐year post‐initial viremia or clearance time‐matched specimens obtained from subjects developing persistent infection. In persistently infected persons nAb responses were delayed then progressively broadened, whereas in persons who controlled viremia broader responses were detected early and contracted after clearance of viremia. Surprisingly, the breadth of anti‐genotype 1 nAb responses was not dependent on subjects' infection genotype. Also, individual library HCVpp neutralization sensitivity was not associated with any known E2 sequence determinants. Interestingly, two single nucleotide polymorphisms in the HLA‐DQ locus were associated with nAb breadth. Conclusion: Control of HCV infection is associated with more rapid development of a broad nAb response, independent of the infection viral genotype, providing further evidence for the role of nAb in controlling HCV infection and the potential benefit of generating broad anti‐HCV nAb responses by vaccination. (Hepatology 2014;59:2140–2151)
Pupillary responses to single and sinusoidal light stimuli in diabetic patients

We examined effects of diabetes mellitus (DM) on the pupillary light reflex (PLR). Phasic pupillary response to a single light stimulus (200 ms) (pPLR) and to continuous sinusoidal stimuli with four different frequencies (0.1, 0.3, 0.7, 1.3Hz) (cPLR) were examined in 52 DM patients and 21 control subjects. We asked: does recording and frequency analysis of cPLR together with short time fourier [STFT] analysis of pPLR differentiate better between DM patients and normal subjects than pPLR only? Initial pupil diameter was significantly decreased in the DM group. For pPLR. maximal contraction velocity (Vmax), Vmax of redilation 1, reflex-amplitude and pPLR latency were significantly reduced in those patients who also showed signs of diabetic autonomic neuropathy (DNP). Tests of dynamic pupillary light reflex (cPLR) revealed that all DM patients had a significantly reduced gain at lower frequencies. Pupil phase lag was greater at 0.1 and 0.3Hz and smaller at 0.7 and 1.3 Hz in the DNP group (p<0.001). Comparison of single pPLR recordings of 5 DNP patients with 5 subjects using short time fast fourier (STFT) analysis revealed a characteristic change from low frequency content in healthy subjects to high frequency content in DNP patients. Significant changes in the PLR in DM can be found only when symptoms of autonomic neuropathy have been shown. Both sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous systems are affected by diabetic autonomic neuropathy. Only recording of cPLR, together with STFT of pPLR can identify significant pathological deficits of pupillary control in single cases.
Interleukin-15 Affects Patient Survival through Natural Killer Cell Recovery after Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas

Natural killer cells at day 15 (NK-15), after autologous peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (APHSCT), is a prognostic factor for overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). The potential role of the immunologic (homeostatic) environment affecting NK-15 recovery and survival post-APHSCT has not been fully studied. Therefore, we evaluate prospectively the cytokine profile in 50 NHL patients treated with APHSCT. Patients with an interleukin-15 (IL-15) ≥ 76.5 pg/mL at day 15 post-APHSCT experienced superior OS and PFS compared with those who did not; median OS; not reached versus 19.2 months, P < . 002; and median PFS; not reached versus 6.8 months, P < . 002, respectively. IL-15 was found to correlate with (r s = 0.7, P < .0001) NK-15. Multivariate analysis showed only NK-15 as a prognostic factor for survival, suggesting that the survival benefit observed by IL-15 is most likely mediated by enhanced NK cell recovery post-APHSCT.
Preparation of Silicalite-1 Membranes on α-Al2O3 Tubes and its Concentration Performance of Low Ethanol/water Mixtures

Silicalite-1 membranes were successfully synthesized on α-Al2O3 tubes by in-situ hydrothermal synthesis after filling the tubes with water and glycerol mixtures, and all the membranes show high concentration performance towards ethanol/water mixtures after pretreating tubes with different NaOH solution. The results show that the flux enhances with the enhancement of NaOH solution concentration, but the separation selectivity decreases with the enhancement of NaOH solution concentration. After pretreating the α-Al2O3 tubes with different NaOH solution, the weight of all the α-Al2O3 tube decreases, but the Si/Al ratio increases, which shows that suitable pretreatment of α-Al2O3 is useful for improving the hydrophobicity of silicalite-1 membranes.