Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Health Care Merged With Senior Housing: Description and Evaluation of a Successful Program

Objective: This article describes and evaluates a successful partnership between a large health care organization and housing for seniors. The program provides on-site, primary care visits by a physician and a nurse in addition to intensive social services to residents in an affordable senior housing apartment building located in Pennsylvania. Per Donabedian’s “Structure–Process–Outcome” model, the program demonstrated positive health care outcomes for its participants via a prescribed structure. To provide guidance for replication in similar settings, we qualitatively evaluated the processes by which successful outcomes were obtained. Methods: With program structures in place and outcomes measured, this case study collected and analyzed qualitative information taken from key informant interviews on care processes involved in the program. Themes were extracted from semistructured interviews and used to describe the processes that helped and hindered the program. Results and Discussion: Common processes were identified across respondents; however, the nuanced processes that lead to successful outcomes suggest that defined structures and processes may not be sufficient to produce similar outcomes in other settings. Further research is needed to determine the program’s replicability and policy implications.
Isolation of Two Novel Alternative Splicing Variants of Allograft Inflammatory Factor-1

Abstract Allograft inflammatory factor-1 (AIF-1) was initially cloned from rat cardiac allografts undergoing chronic rejection. AIF-1, possessing an EF-hand-like motif, is thought to be a Ca2+ binding protein. In this study, we identified two novel alternatively spliced variants of AIF-1 by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. One variant encodes an AIF-1 protein that lacks 14 amino acids corresponding to one exon. The other variant encodes a truncated AIF-1 protein due to a frameshift introduced by an 85-bp insertion, and its C-terminal region differs from that of AIF-1. Interestingly, these variants have incomplete and no EF-hand-like motifs, respectively. The expression level of the latter variant is high in peripheral blood leukocytes, and it is selectively expressed in macrophage-like cell lines.
The Ontario Quandary: Principals’ Perceptions of Accountability Policy and Social Justice

This qualitative study examines how accountability policies impact school principals’ social justice commitment. The study involved semi-structured interviews with twenty-two Ontario principals. Findings show that principals responded to the accountability policies with strikingly mixed emotions. Some grudgingly accepted the mandates and reluctantly sought to accommodate directives in their agenda. Some critiqued the reforms by highlighting the inequities and drawbacks in the performance-based tests. Others showed significant resistance to the reform and strategically used their power to navigate toward what they felt was best for their students. Such mixed sentiments among principals revealed a deeper struggle among them in navigating the system.
Models of exogenous and endogenous sleep perturbation as diagnostic and therapeutic predictors in depression.

In a group of 60 samples divided into three subgroups: a) healthy, b) exogenic (non-psychotic) and c) endogenic (psychotic) depressives, nocturnal sleep (10 p.m. to 6 a.m.) was registered according to accepted standards. 130 parameters (variables) of hypnograms were exposed to exact statistical testing. Mathematical modes were formed through satisfactory conditions of N-distribution by the method of discriminative analysis ("step by step"). These models were called "The Discriminative Profile of Sleep" (DPS). The Model of Exogenic Perturbation of Sleep is characteristic of exogenic (reactive) depressive disturbances. The dominant discriminative factors of this model are: increased number of nocturnal awakenings (NAW) and fragmentation of nocturnal sleep. The Model of Endogenic Perturbation of Sleep is formed by: shortened REM-latency, reduction of delta-sleep, increase of the Index of Endogenic Periodicity/Perturbation (IEP). These models contribute not only to the problem of correct differential diagnosis, but also to the accurate choice of therapy, the appraisal of therapeutic sensitivity-insensitivity following the course of illness, and a more precise final result. According to these models, depression in relation to the structure of nocturnal sleep is defined as: hypnofragmentic exogenic (reactive) depression, and hypnodisrrhythmic endogenic depression (or where endogenic perturbation developed during the illness).
Carotid Intima‐Media Thickness Score, Positive Coronary Artery Calcium Score, and Incident Coronary Heart Disease: The Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Background Common carotid artery and internal carotid artery intima‐media thicknesses (IMT) are associated with coronary heart disease (CHD) and increase with age. Using age, sex, and race/ethnicity IMT percentiles may improve CHD prediction when added to Framingham risk factors and coronary artery calcium score. We study these possibilities in the Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), a multi‐ethnic cohort of whites, Chinese, blacks, and Hispanics. Methods and Results IMT data were acquired in the age range 45 to 84 years. Common carotid artery and internal carotid artery IMT, sex, and race/ethnic specific normative values were calculated for each MESA participant and combined as an IMT score. Multivariable Cox‐proportional hazards models and logistic regression models were generated with CHD as outcome adding the IMT score to (1) a base model with Framingham risk factors, sex, race/ethnicity and (2) the base model with coronary artery calcium added. Harrell's C‐statistics and area under the curve were estimated. Median follow‐up was 10.2 years (interquartile range: 9.7, 10.7 years) with 429 first‐time CHD events. Mean age was 62.1 years and 52.6% of participants were women. IMT score increased the base area under the curve from 0.7210 to 0.7396 (P=0.0008) and with positive coronary artery calcium score added to the model, from 0.7627 to 0.7714 (P=0.02). Conclusions A carotid IMT score based on normative data incrementally adds to Framingham risk factors and a positive calcium score in predicting first‐time CHD in an ethnically diverse cohort.
LIGHT Regulates Inflamed Draining Lymph Node Hypertrophy

Lymph node (LN) hypertrophy, the increased cellularity of LNs, is the major indication of the initiation and expansion of the immune response against infection, vaccination, cancer, or autoimmunity. The mechanisms underlying LN hypertrophy remain poorly defined. In this article, we demonstrate that LIGHT (homologous to lymphotoxins, exhibits inducible expression, and competes with HSV glycoprotein D for HVEM, a receptor expressed by lymphocytes) (TNFSF14) is a novel factor essential for LN hypertrophy after CFA immunization. Mechanistically, LIGHT is required for the influx of lymphocytes into but not egress out of LNs. In addition, LIGHT is required for dendritic cell migration from the skin to draining LNs. Compared with wild type mice, LIGHT−/− mice express lower levels of chemokines in skin and addressins in LN vascular endothelial cells after CFA immunization. We unexpectedly observed that LIGHT from radioresistant rather than radiosensitive cells, likely Langerhans cells, is required for LN hypertrophy. Importantly, Ag-specific T cell responses were impaired in draining LNs of LIGHT−/− mice, suggesting the importance of LIGHT regulation of LN hypertrophy in the generation of an adaptive immune response. Collectively, our data reveal a novel cellular and molecular mechanism for the regulation of LN hypertrophy and its potential impact on the generation of an optimal adaptive immune response.
Regulatory Role of miRNA-375 in Expression of BMP15/GDF9 Receptors and its Effect on Proliferation and Apoptosis of Bovine Cumulus Cells

Background: Bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) and growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) are members of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) superfamily. Through autocrine and paracrine mechanisms, these two factors can regulate cell differentiation, proliferation, and other functions in the ovary locally. Furthermore, GDF9 and BMP15 play vital roles in follicular growth, atresia, ovulation, fertilization, reproduction, and maintenance. Numerous studies have demonstrated a synergy between BMP15 and GDF9. Studies in humans and mice have indicated that the synergy between BMP15 and GDF9 is primarily mediated by the bone morphogenetic protein type II receptor (BMPR2). The BMP15/GDF9 heterodimer needs to bind to the BMPR2-ALK4/5/7-ALK6 receptor complex to activate the SMAD2/3 signaling pathway. However, it is not clear which genes mediate and regulate the effects of the BMP15/GDF9 proteins on bovine cumulus cells (CCs). Methods: Our earlier study showed that BMPR2 is a gene that is directly targeted and regulated by miR-375. Therefore, we designed and synthesized an miR-375 mimics/inhibitor and regulated BMPR2 expression in bovine CCs by the overexpression or inhibition of miR-375. After the overexpression or inhibition of miR-375, the apoptosis rate of bovine CCs was measured by flow cytometry; changes in critical gene expression were measured by RT-qPCR and western blot assays; and the proliferation of bovine CCs was measured by CCK-8 assay. Results: In bovine CCs, the overexpression of miR-375 resulted in decreased BMPR2 and ALK7 expression, whereas the inhibition of miR-375 caused increased BMPR2 and ALK7 expression. The overexpression of miR-375 attenuated the proliferation ability and significantly increased the apoptosis rate of bovine CCs, whereas the inhibition of miR-375 did not significantly change the proliferation ability or apoptosis rate. Conclusions: BMPR2, a target of miR-375, is regulated by this molecule, thereby affecting expression of BMP15/GDF9 receptors, and the proliferation and apoptosis of bovine CCs.
Association Between Low Birth Weight and Infant Mortality in Children Born to Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1-Infected Mothers in Tanzania

Background: The relationship between low birth weight and infant mortality among children born to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected mothers has not been thoroughly investigated. Methods: A total of 1078 HIV-infected pregnant women in Tanzania were followed up until delivery and with their infants thereafter. The babies’ HIV status was assessed at birth, 6 weeks and every 3 months thereafter. Using Cox proportional hazards models, we estimated the associations of low birth weight with neonatal, post-neonatal and infant mortality and further examined whether the association between low birth weight and mortality was modified by pediatric HIV infection. Results: Among 823 singletons, low birth weight was strongly related to neonatal mortality (relative risk, 5.14; 95% confidence interval, 2.32–11.39). The association with postneonatal mortality was modified by child’s HIV status. Among infants who were either negative or indeterminate at 6 weeks of age, low birth weight was associated with a 3-fold increased risk of mortality (relative risk, 3.16; 95% confidence interval, 1.36–7.37). In the positive infants, however, the association was no longer significant. Conclusions: Although the importance of preventing HIV transmission cannot be overemphasized, efforts to reduce the incidence of low birth weight would enhance the benefit of preventing HIV transmission. Even in populations with no access to antiretroviral treatments, interventions to reduce the incidence of low birth weight would result in a significant reduction in infant mortality.
Sensitivity of myofibroblasts to H2O2‐mediated apoptosis and their antioxidant cell network

During wound healing, the transition from granulation to scar tissue shows a decrease in myofibroblast cellularity. Previous results have correlated the disappearance of these cells with the induction of apoptotic cell death by some unknown stimuli. In contrast, hypertrophic scar appearance after wound healing is thought to be linked to a disorder of apoptotic function which induces myofibroblast persistence in granulation tissue. Oxidative stress being an important mediator of apoptosis, we have evaluated the apoptotic response of normal and pathological wound myofibroblasts (WMyo and HMyo respectively) in their interaction with two oxidative stress inducers: hydrogen peroxide, using a high concentration as a single dose, and sodium ascorbate which induced a continuous release of H2O2 at a low concentration. Our results showed that, according to the H2O2 treatment type, HMyo were more sensitive (after ascorbate treatment) or less sensitive (after H2O2 treatment) when compared to WMyo and Fb. We next assessed the presence of several molecules known to be involved in the antioxidant network protecting cells against H2O2 injury and found HMyo to have a higher level of activity of glutathione peroxidase and a lower level of activity of catalase than WMyo. These results can help explain the contradictory responses of myofibroblasts according to the oxidative stress treatment. This is the first study linking refractory oxidative stress mediated cell death to cellular phenotype in hypertrophic myofibroblasts, and indicates a pivotal role for the antioxidant enzyme system in this type of resistance. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cognitive function and mood in MDMA/THC users, THC users and non-drug using controls

Repeated ecstasy (MDMA) use is reported to impair cognition and cause increased feelings of depression and anxiety. Yet, many relevant studies have failed to control for use of drugs other than MDMA, especially marijuana (THC). To address these confounding effects we compared behavioural performance of 11 MDMA/THC users, 15 THC users and 15 non-drug users matched for age and intellect. We tested the hypothesis that reported feelings of depression and anxiety and cognitive impairment (memory, executive function and decision making) are more severe in MDMA/THC users than in THC users. MDMA/THC users reported more intense feelings of depression and anxiety than THC users and non-drug users. Memory function was impaired in both groups of drug users. MDMA/THC users showed slower psychomotor speed and less mental . exibility than non-drug users. THC users exhibited less mental . exibility and performed worse on the decision making task compared to non-drug users but these functions were similar to those in MDMA/THC users. It was concluded that MDMA use is associated with increased feelings of depression and anxiety compared to THC users and non-drug users. THC users were impaired in some cognitive abilities to the same degree as MDMA/THC users, suggesting that some cognitive impairment attributed to MDMA is more likely due to concurrent THC use.
A Novel Three-phase Approach for Highly Corrupted Color Images

To reduce impulse noise in color images, a novel three-phase iterative filter is presented in this paper. The proposed filter first detects noisy components in each color channel by applying the detection scheme of the adaptive median filter (AMF). It then utilizes detected noise-free components to construct the combined gradient for each pixel, iteratively. Finally, an iterative variant of the vector median filter (VMF) is utilized to remove the rest of completely corrupted vectors. Extensive experiments show that the presented filter achieves significant improvement over other existing vector-based filters when the images are highly corrupted by impulse noise.
“Oh! she doesn’t speak english!” assessing resident competence in managing linguistic and cultural barriers

AbstractBACKGROUND: Residents must master complex skills to care for culturally and linguistically diverse patients. METHODS: As part of an annual 10-station, standardized patient (SP) examination, medical residents interacted with a 50-year-old reserved, Bengali-speaking woman (SP) with a positive fecal occult blood accompanied by her bilingual brother (standardized interpreter (SI)). While the resident addressed the need for a colonoscopy, the SI did not translate word for word unless directed to, questioned medical terms, and was reluctant to tell the SP frightening information. The SP/SI, faculty observers, and the resident assessed the performance. RESULTS: Seventy-six residents participated. Mean faculty ratings (9-point scale) were as follows: overall 6.0, communication 6.0, knowledge 6.3. Mean SP/SI ratings (3.1, range 1.9 to 3.9) correlated with faculty ratings (overall r=.719, communication r=.639, knowledge r=.457, all P<.01). Internal reliability as measured by Cronbach’s α coefficients for the 20 item instrument was 0.91. Poor performance on this station was associated with poor performance on other stations. Eighty-nine percent of residents stated that the educational value was moderate to high. CONCLUSION: We reliably assessed residents communication skills conducting a common clincal task across a significant language barrier. This medical education innovation provides the first steps to measuring interpreter facilitated skills in residency training.
A measurement study on Amazon wishlist and its privacy exposure

User preference plays an important factor in E-commerce websites for advertising and marketing, and the disclosure of user preference could also raise privacy concerns. As one of the largest E-commerce platform, Amazon features a wishlist that allows users to keep track of their desired products. In this paper, we investigate Amazon wishlist, and its possible privacy exposure. To this end, we collect complete wishlists of over 30,000 users, by analyzing which we are able to make interesting observations based on user online shopping preference in multiple dimensions. Specifically, we show user preference variation from different demographical groups, including gender and geo-locations. Taking timing factors into consideration, we also observe that unlike traditional walk-in-shop type of shopping, there is no significant difference in the dynamics of Amazon wishlists between weekdays and weekend. In the investigation of user information exposure in Amazon wishlists, we parse and analyze list-descriptions, illustrating which and to what extent user personal information is exposed to the public. Finally, we demonstrate that the information in wishlists has potential to leak a user's private personal information. Based on the collected user data, we can predict user gender with over 80% accuracy by just exploiting items present in Amazon wishlists.
Bilateral population receptive fields in congenital hemihydranencephaly

Congenital hemihydranencephaly (HH) is a very rare disorder characterised by prenatal near‐complete unilateral loss of the cerebral cortex. We investigated a patient affected by congenital right HH whose visual field extended significantly into the both visual hemifields, suggesting a reorganisation of the remaining left visual hemisphere. We examined the early visual cortex reorganisation using functional MRI (7T) and population receptive field (pRF) modelling.
Spatial Variation of the Gut Microbiota in Broiler Chickens as Affected by Dietary Available Phosphorus and Assessed by T-RFLP Analysis and 454 Pyrosequencing

Molecular fingerprinting and sequencing based techniques have been widely used to characterize microbial communities. Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) and 454-pyrosequencing were used to determine the microorganisms present in the different sections of the chicken gastrointestinal tract (GIT) (crop, jejunum, ileum and caeca). Broilers fed with diets differing in phosphorous (P) and calcium (Ca) as well as in phytase levels were used to study the microbiota of the upper and lower part of the GIT. A database with terminal restriction fragments (T-RF) of the most important organism present in the different gastrointestinal sections was constructed. The analysis revealed a distinct microbial assemblage on each section. Regardless of the diet, crop, jejunum and ileum were mainly colonized by Lactobacillaceae, and caeca were the most diverse site. The correlation between Lactobacillus crispatus and L. reuteri was positive in the crop, but negative in the jejunum. In crop samples, higher P and Ca levels led to a shift in the abundance of L. reuteri and L. crispatus to L. salivarius and L. taiwanensis whereas in the ileum supplementation of phytase favored L. salivarius and L. taiwanensis but resulted in decreased abundance of L. crispatus. Both methods were correlating significantly, being T-RFLP a reliable fingerprinting method to rapidly analyze large numbers of samples in a cost-effective and rapid manner. Results are easy to interpret with no need of deep bioinformatics knowledge and can be integrated with taxonomic information.
Intestinal mitochondrial dysfunction in surgical stress.

BACKGROUND Surgical stress is associated with altered intestinal function. Our earlier study using a rat model indicated that oxidative stress plays an important role in this process. Since mitochondria are crucial to cellular function and survival and are both a target as well as a source of reactive oxygen species, the present study looks at the changes in enterocyte mitochondria during surgical stress. METHODS Surgical stress was induced by opening the abdominal wall and handling the intestine as done during laparotomy. Mitochondria were prepared from the isolated enterocytes at different time periods after surgical stress. The effect of surgical stress on enterocyte mitochondrial ultrastructure, respiration, anti-oxidant enzyme activity, thiol redox status, calcium flux, permeability, and matrix enzymes was then studied. RESULTS Surgical stress resulted in alterations in mitochondrial respiration and thiol redox status. It was also associated with altered mitochondrial matrix enzyme activity, decreased superoxide dismutase activity, induction of mitochondrial permeability transition, and swelling, as well as impairment of mitochondrial calcium flux. These alterations were seen at a maximum of 60 min following surgical stress and were reversed by 24 h. CONCLUSIONS Laparotomy and mild intestinal handling itself results in enterocyte mitochondrial damage. Since mitochondria are important cellular organelles, this damage can probably lead to compromised intestinal function.
The procollagen type III, alpha 1 (COL3A1) gene first intron expresses poly‐A+ RNA corresponding to multiple ESTs and putative miRNAs

The mouse COL3A1 first intron is 9684 bp. RNA's of approximately 1.6 and 3.0 kb were detected by Northern hybridization analysis of poly‐A RNA from fetal mice and total RNA from suckling and adult mouse intestine using 32P‐labeled, anti‐sense RNA synthesized from a mouse COL3A1 first intron, 5 prime region, 5.4 kb Xba I fragment (1655–7030 bp), recombinant plasmid (pPI5.4x). Expression of the 1.6 and 3.0 kb RNA's was significantly reduced in adult mouse intestine, indicating that these RNAs are developmentally regulated. “BLAST” analysis indicated that the mouse first intron 5 prime sequence has 94–100% identity to 13 mouse ESTs. These mouse first intron EST's lie within the 5.4 Xba I fragment of the mouse COL3A1 first intron. Two of the mouse first intron EST's have significant identity to known miRNA, mature sequences, mmu‐miR‐466f‐3P, mmu‐miR‐1187, and mmu‐miR‐574‐5P as well as others. Predicted targets for mmu‐miR‐466f‐3P include COL1A1, COL19A1, COL11A2, COL4A1, and COL4A5 indicating that COL3A1 intronic miRNAs may regulate the expression of other collagen genes in development. J. Cell. Biochem. 112: 541–547, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.