Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Second hip fracture in older men and women: the Framingham Study.

BACKGROUND Older persons with hip fractures remain at increased risk of subsequent hip fractures. However, little is known about the frequency and characteristics of persons who sustain a second hip fracture. METHODS Participants included 481 members of the Framingham Heart Study who sustained an initial hip fracture between April 1952 and December 31, 2003. Participants were followed up until a second hip fracture, death, dropout, or study completion. Age, sex, falls, stroke, dementia, residence, recent weight change, body mass index, and functional status were considered potential predictors of a second hip fracture. RESULTS During a median of 4.2 years of follow-up, 71 subjects (14.8%) experienced a second hip fracture. Following a first hip fracture, 2.5% of subjects experienced a second hip fracture within 1 year, and 8.2% of subjects (9.7% of women) experienced a second hip fracture within 5 years. One-year mortality following an initial hip fracture was 15.9% compared with 1-year mortality following a second hip fracture of 24.1%. The risk of a second hip fracture increased with age (hazard ratio [HR] per 5-year increase in age, 1.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-1.8) and with high functional status (HR compared with moderate functional status, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.1-6.9). There was a statistically nonsignificant association between low functional status and the risk of second hip fracture (HR compared with moderate functional status, 3.7; 95% CI, 0.9-14.8). CONCLUSIONS Among survivors of an initial hip fracture, the incidence of a second hip fracture is substantial. Older age and functional status may be important predictors of a second hip fracture. There seems to be adequate time between the first and second hip fractures for interventions that may reduce second hip fractures.
Ontology-Based Mission Modeling and Analysis for System of Systems

The traditional mission model is not convenient to be modeled and analyzed during the System of Systems (SoS) requirement modeling process. In order to address the problem, we propose an approach to SoS mission modeling and analysis using ontology technology. The concept model of SoS mission is constructed according to the analysis that mission represent an essential information in the SoS context. According to the concept model, the mission decomposition method is designed, which use the related attributes to make the decomposition scientific and rigorous. The decomposition method contains decomposition patterns, decomposition principles and algorithm. The SoS mission model is translated into OWL DL ontology to analyze and verify And some rules are defied according to these problems which are analyzed. Then the ontology reason engine—pellet can query the OWL DL ontology with these rules to verify the rationality of SoS mission model.
Role of reactive oxygen species and sulfide-quinone oxoreductase in hydrogen sulfide-induced contraction of rat pulmonary arteries

Application of H2S (“sulfide”) elicits a complex contraction in rat pulmonary arteries (PAs) comprising a small transient contraction (phase 1; Ph1) followed by relaxation and then a second, larger, and more sustained contraction (phase 2; Ph2). We investigated the mechanisms causing this response using isometric myography in rat second-order PAs, with Na2S as a sulfide donor. Both phases of contraction to 1,000 μM Na2S were attenuated by the pan-PKC inhibitor Gö6983 (3 μM) and by 50 μM ryanodine; the Ca2+ channel blocker nifedipine (1 μM) was without effect. Ph2 was attenuated by the mitochondrial complex III blocker myxothiazol (1 μM), the NADPH oxidase (NOX) blocker VAS2870 (10 μM), and the antioxidant TEMPOL (3 mM) but was unaffected by the complex I blocker rotenone (1 μM). The bath sulfide concentration, measured using an amperometric sensor, decreased rapidly following Na2S application, and the peak of Ph2 occurred when this had fallen to ~50 μM. Sulfide caused a transient increase in NAD(P)H autofluorescence, the offset of which coincided with development of the Ph2 contraction. Sulfide also caused a brief mitochondrial hyperpolarization (assessed using tetramethylrhodamine ethyl ester), followed immediately by depolarization and then a second more prolonged hyperpolarization, the onset of which was temporally correlated with the Ph2 contraction. Sulfide application to cultured PA smooth muscle cells increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production (recorded using L012); this was absent when the mitochondrial flavoprotein sulfide-quinone oxoreductase (SQR) was knocked down using small interfering RNA. We propose that the Ph2 contraction is largely caused by SQR-mediated sulfide metabolism, which, by donating electrons to ubiquinone, increases electron production by complex III and thereby ROS production.
Integrating Quantitative Pupillometry Into Regular Care in a Neurotrauma Intensive Care Unit

ABSTRACT In the setting of acute traumatic brain injury (TBI), an abnormal pupil assessment may suggest a worsening intracranial lesion. Early detection of pupillary changes may expedite emergent care to improve outcomes. Automated, handheld pupillometers have been commercially available for 20 years, and several studies suggest that their use may facilitate early recognition of worsening injury and intracranial hypertension. The use of pupillometry as a bedside tool in the routine care of patients with severe TBI (Glasgow Coma Scale score ⩽ 8) has not been described. We performed a quality improvement project to implement routine use of quantitative pupillometry in our neurotrauma intensive care unit. Nursing staff were trained on device use and the project’s aims in a 30-minute in-service session. Nurses caring for severe TBI patients completed standard pupil assessments using (a) a flashlight and (b) a pupillometer to quantify pupil size and reactivity (Neurological Pupil index) every hour. Abnormal results were reported to on-call providers. We administered surveys to evaluate knowledge, practical use of the pupillometer data, and satisfaction with the device every 3 months. Data were available for 22 nurses at 4 separate time points. Staff were positive about their ability to use and understand the device (µ = 8.7 and 9.1, respectively, on a 10-point scale) and reported that it added value to patient care and critical decision-making. Use of automated pupillometry is acceptable to nursing staff in a neurotrauma intensive care unit, and staff believed that pupillometry results enhanced clinical decision-making.
Numerical Analysis of the Resin Flow in Resin Transfer Molding

This report presents a study of modeling of the resin transfer molding. A numerical model for resin transfer molding simulation has been developed on the bases of Darcy's law and the numerical generation of boundary fitted coordinate system. The resin pressure distributions, the resin front positions and profiles can be obtained through the computer simulation to help in the mold design and the process control Calculated results on selected mold geometries are compared with the experimental observations and with those obtained by other investigators.
Qumran Letter Restoration by Rotation and Reflection Modified PixelCNN

The task of restoring fragmentary letters is fundamental to the reading of ancient manuscripts. We present a method to complete broken letters in the Dead Sea Scrolls, which is based on PixelCNN++. Since the generation of the broken letters is conditioned on the extant scroll, we modify the original method to allow reconstructions in multiple directions. Results on both simulated data and real scrolls demonstrate the advantage of our method over the baseline. The implementation may be found at https://github.com/ghostcow/pixel-cnn-qumran.
Fasting is not routinely required for determination of a lipid profile: clinical and laboratory implications including flagging at desirable concentration cut-points—a joint consensus statement from the European Atherosclerosis Society and European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Med

Abstract Aims To critically evaluate the clinical implications of the use of non-fasting rather than fasting lipid profiles and to provide guidance for the laboratory reporting of abnormal non-fasting or fasting lipid profiles. Methods and results Extensive observational data, in which random non-fasting lipid profiles have been compared with those determined under fasting conditions, indicate that the maximal mean changes at 1–6 h after habitual meals are not clinically significant [+0.3 mmol/L (26 mg/dL) for triglycerides; −0.2 mmol/L (8 mg/dL) for total cholesterol; −0.2 mmol/L (8 mg/dL) for LDL cholesterol; +0.2 mmol/L (8 mg/dL) for calculated remnant cholesterol; −0.2 mmol/L (8 mg/dL) for calculated non-HDL cholesterol]; concentrations of HDL cholesterol, apolipoprotein A1, apolipoprotein B, and lipoprotein(a) are not affected by fasting/non-fasting status. In addition, non-fasting and fasting concentrations vary similarly over time and are comparable in the prediction of cardiovascular disease. To improve patient compliance with lipid testing, we therefore recommend the routine use of non-fasting lipid profiles, while fasting sampling may be considered when non-fasting triglycerides >5 mmol/L (440 mg/dL). For non-fasting samples, laboratory reports should flag abnormal concentrations as triglycerides ≥2 mmol/L (175 mg/dL), total cholesterol ≥5 mmol/L (190 mg/dL), LDL cholesterol ≥3 mmol/L (115 mg/dL), calculated remnant cholesterol ≥0.9 mmol/L (35 mg/dL), calculated non-HDL cholesterol ≥3.9 mmol/L (150 mg/dL), HDL cholesterol ≤1 mmol/L (40 mg/dL), apolipoprotein A1 ≤1.25 g/L (125 mg/dL), apolipoprotein B ≥1.0 g/L (100 mg/dL), and lipoprotein(a) ≥50 mg/dL (80th percentile); for fasting samples, abnormal concentrations correspond to triglycerides ≥1.7 mmol/L (150 mg/dL). Life-threatening concentrations require separate referral when triglycerides >10 mmol/L (880 mg/dL) for the risk of pancreatitis, LDL cholesterol >13 mmol/L (500 mg/dL) for homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia, LDL cholesterol >5 mmol/L (190 mg/dL) for heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia, and lipoprotein(a) >150 mg/dL (99th percentile) for very high cardiovascular risk. Conclusion We recommend that non-fasting blood samples be routinely used for the assessment of plasma lipid profiles. Laboratory reports should flag abnormal values on the basis of desirable concentration cut-points. Non-fasting and fasting measurements should be complementary but not mutually exclusive.
Oxidation‐Based Model for Thermal Barrier Coating Life

A procedure is described for modeling the lives of thermal barrier coatings subjected to high-temperature environments. The model is used to calculate cycles-to-failure as a function of heating cycle duration. It is based on the presumption that oxidation is the single important time-dependent factor which limits the life of these coatings, and that oxidation-induced strains combine with cyclic strains to promote slow crack growth in the ceramic layer. Good agreement is obtained between calculated and experimental lives for specimens tested in a furnace. This shows that an oxidation-based approach is promising. The importance of reproducible specimen preparation is also discussed.
A Novel Rhamnose-Rich Hetero-exopolysaccharide Isolated from Lactobacillus paracasei DG Activates THP-1 Human Monocytic Cells

ABSTRACT Lactobacillus paracasei DG is a bacterial strain with recognized probiotic properties and is used in commercial probiotic products. However, the mechanisms underlying its probiotic properties are mainly unknown. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the ability of strain DG to interact with the host is at least partly associated with its ability to synthesize a surface-associated exopolysaccharide (EPS). Comparative genomics revealed the presence of putative EPS gene clusters in the DG genome; accordingly, EPS was isolated from the surface of the bacterium. A sample of the pure EPS from strain DG (DG-EPS), upon nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and chemical analyses, was shown to be a novel branched hetero-EPS with a repeat unit composed of l-rhamnose, d-galactose, and N-acetyl-d-galactosamine in a ratio of 4:1:1. Subsequently, we demonstrated that DG-EPS displays immunostimulating properties by enhancing the gene expression of the proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6), and particularly that of the chemokines IL-8 and CCL20, in the human monocytic cell line THP-1. In contrast, the expression of the cyclooxygenase enzyme COX-2 was not affected. In conclusion, DG-EPS is a bacterial macromolecule with the ability to boost the immune system either as a secreted molecule released from the bacterium or as a capsular envelope on the bacterial cell wall. This study provides additional information about the mechanisms supporting the cross talk between L. paracasei DG and the host. IMPORTANCE The consumption of food products and supplements called probiotics (i.e., containing live microbial cells) to potentially prevent or treat specific diseases is constantly gaining popularity. The lack of knowledge on the precise mechanisms supporting their potential health-promoting properties, however, greatly limits a more appropriate use of each single probiotic strain. In this context, we studied a well-known probiotic, Lactobacillus paracasei DG, in order to identify the constitutive molecules that can explain the documented health-promoting properties of this bacterium. We found a novel polysaccharide molecule, named DG-EPS, that is secreted by and covers the bacterium. We demonstrated that this molecule, which has a chemical structure never identified before, has immunostimulatory properties and therefore may contribute to the ability of the probiotic L. paracasei DG to interact with the immune system.
Multi-resource Load Balancing for Virtual Network Functions

Middleboxes are widely deployed to perform various network functions to ensure security and improve performance. The recent trend of Network Function Virtualization (NFV) makes it easy for operators to deploy software implementations of these network functions on commodity servers. However, virtual network functions consume different amounts of resources when processing packets. Thus a multi-resource load balancing (MRLB) mechanism is needed to efficiently utilize server resources. MRLB problem in the context of NFV is fundamentally different from multi-resource allocation problems, as well as traditional single-resource load balancing and multi-resource load balancing problems in task scheduling. In this paper, we tackle the MRLB problem in NFV by first proposing dominant load-the load of the most stressed resource on a server-as the load balancing metric. We then formulate the MRLB problem as an optimization to minimize the maximum dominant load of all NFV servers given the demand. Based on proximal Jacobian ADMM, we propose an efficient algorithm to solve the problem in large scale settings. Through extensive trace-driven simulations and prototype experiments on a testbed, we show that our MRLB algorithm with dominant load performs significantly better and faster than benchmarking algorithms.
Neuroadaptive technology enables implicit cursor control based on medial prefrontal cortex activity

Significance The human brain continuously and automatically processes information concerning its internal and external context. We demonstrate the elicitation and subsequent detection and decoding of such “automatic interpretations” by means of context-sensitive probes in an ongoing human–computer interaction. Through a sequence of such probe–interpretation cycles, the computer accumulates responses over time to model the operator’s cognition, even without that person being aware of it. This brings human cognition directly into the human–computer interaction loop, expanding traditional notions of “interaction. ” The concept introduces neuroadaptive technology—technology which automatically adapts to an estimate of its operator’s mindset. This technology bears relevance to autoadaptive experimental designs, and opens up paradigm-shifting possibilities for human–machine systems in general. The effectiveness of today’s human–machine interaction is limited by a communication bottleneck as operators are required to translate high-level concepts into a machine-mandated sequence of instructions. In contrast, we demonstrate effective, goal-oriented control of a computer system without any form of explicit communication from the human operator. Instead, the system generated the necessary input itself, based on real-time analysis of brain activity. Specific brain responses were evoked by violating the operators’ expectations to varying degrees. The evoked brain activity demonstrated detectable differences reflecting congruency with or deviations from the operators’ expectations. Real-time analysis of this activity was used to build a user model of those expectations, thus representing the optimal (expected) state as perceived by the operator. Based on this model, which was continuously updated, the computer automatically adapted itself to the expectations of its operator. Further analyses showed this evoked activity to originate from the medial prefrontal cortex and to exhibit a linear correspondence to the degree of expectation violation. These findings extend our understanding of human predictive coding and provide evidence that the information used to generate the user model is task-specific and reflects goal congruency. This paper demonstrates a form of interaction without any explicit input by the operator, enabling computer systems to become neuroadaptive, that is, to automatically adapt to specific aspects of their operator’s mindset. Neuroadaptive technology significantly widens the communication bottleneck and has the potential to fundamentally change the way we interact with technology.
The burden of online friends: The effects of giving up Facebook on stress and well-being

ABSTRACT People occasionally choose to cut themselves off from their online social network by taking extended breaks from Facebook. This study investigated whether abstaining from Facebook reduces stress but also reduces subjective well-being because of the resulting social disconnection. Participants (138 active Facebook users) were assigned to either a condition in which they were instructed to give up Facebook for 5 days or continue to use Facebook as normal. Perceived stress and well-being, as well as salivary cortisol, were measured before and after the test period. Relative to those in the Facebook Normal condition, those in the No Facebook condition experienced lower levels of cortisol and life satisfaction. Our results suggest that the typical Facebook user may occasionally find the large amount of social information available to be taxing, and Facebook vacations could ameliorate this stress—at least in the short term.
A software-equivalent SNN hardware using RRAM-array for asynchronous real-time learning

Spiking Neural Network (SNN) naturally inspires hardware implementation as it is based on biology. For learning, spike time dependent plasticity (STDP) may be implemented using an energy efficient waveform superposition on memristor based synapse. However, system level implementation has three challenges. First, a classic dilemma is that recognition requires current reading for short voltage-spikes which is disturbed by large voltage-waveforms that are simultaneously applied on the same memristor for real-time learning i.e. the simultaneous read-write dilemma. Second, the hardware needs to exactly replicate software implementation for easy adaptation of algorithm to hardware. Third, the devices used in hardware simulations must be realistic. In this paper, we present an approach to address the above concerns. First, the learning and recognition occurs in separate arrays simultaneously in real-time, asynchronously — avoiding non-biomimetic clocking based complex signal management. Second, we show that the hardware emulates software at every stage by comparison of SPICE (circuit-simulator) with MATLAB® (mathematical SNN algorithm implementation in software) implementations. As an example, the hardware shows 97.5% accuracy in classification which is equivalent to software for a Fisher's Iris dataset. Third, the STDP is implemented using a model of synaptic device implemented using HfO2 memristor. We show that an increasingly realistic memristor model slightly reduces the hardware performance (85%), which highlights the need to engineer RRAM characteristics specifically for SNN.
Plasticity in the Structure of Visual Space

Visual Abstract Visual space embodies all visual experiences, yet what determines the topographical structure of visual space remains unclear. Here we test a novel theoretical framework that proposes intrinsic lateral connections in the visual cortex as the mechanism underlying the structure of visual space. The framework suggests that the strength of lateral connections between neurons in the visual cortex shapes the experience of spatial relatedness between locations in the visual field. As such, an increase in lateral connection strength shall lead to an increase in perceived relatedness and a contraction in perceived distance. To test this framework through human psychophysics experiments, we used a Hebbian training protocol in which two-point stimuli were flashed in synchrony at separate locations in the visual field, to strengthen the lateral connections between two separate groups of neurons in the visual cortex. After training, participants experienced a contraction in perceived distance. Intriguingly, the perceptual contraction occurred not only between the two training locations that were linked directly by the changed connections, but also between the outward untrained locations that were linked indirectly through the changed connections. Moreover, the effect of training greatly decreased if the two training locations were too close together or too far apart and went beyond the extent of lateral connections. These findings suggest that a local change in the strength of lateral connections is sufficient to alter the topographical structure of visual space.
Shift-and-Persist Strategies: Associations With Socioeconomic Status and the Regulation of Inflammation Among Adolescents and Their Parents

Objective Shift-and-persist is a resilience construct hypothesized to be beneficial to physical health among individuals with low socioeconomic status (SES). This shift-and-persist construct entails a combination of reframing stressors more positively while also enduring adversity through finding purpose in life. In this study, we investigated how shift-and-persist relates to key inflammatory processes that are implicated in cardiovascular and other diseases. We also obtained validation information on a new shift-and-persist measure. Method A sample of 122 adolescents and 122 parents from a diverse range of SES backgrounds completed our shift-and-persist measure, a battery of other psychosocial questionnaires and interviews, and provided blood samples. Parents also provided SES information. Results Reliability and validity of the shift-and-persist measure were demonstrated across both adolescents and adults. Shift-and-persist moderated the association between SES and indicators of inflammatory regulation. Specifically, as SES declined, shift-and-persist was associated with greater sensitivity to glucocorticoids' anti-inflammatory properties (interaction in adolescents: &bgr; = .21, p = .033; interaction in adults: &bgr; = .25, p = .011), and also with less low-grade, chronic inflammation (interaction in adolescents: &bgr; = .18, p = .044). Conversely, as SES increased, the opposite pattern was evident. Conclusions These findings suggest that adaptive psychosocial characteristics have the potential to regulate inflammatory processes in ways that may mitigate risk for a number of chronic diseases, particularly among disadvantaged groups.