Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Burden of Illness Score for Elderly Persons: Risk Adjustment Incorporating the Cumulative Impact of Diseases, Physiologic Abnormalities, and Functional Impairments

Background/Objectives. To develop and validate a new risk adjustment index–the Burden of Illness Score for Elderly Persons (BISEP)–which integrates multiple domains, including diseases, physiologic abnormalities, and functional impairments. Research Design Subjects. The index was developed in a prospective cohort of 525 patients aged ≥70 years from the medicine service of a university hospital. The index was validated in a cohort of 1246 patients aged ≥65 years from 27 hospitals. The outcome was 1-year mortality. Results. Five risk factors were selected from diagnosis, laboratory, and functional status axes: high-risk diagnoses, albumin ≤3.5 mg/dL, creatinine >1.5 mg/dL, dementia, and walking impairment. The BISEP score (range 0–7) created four groups of increasing risk: group I (score 0–1), group II (2), group III (3), and group IV (≥4). In the development cohort, where overall mortality was 154/525 (29%), 1-year mortality rates increased significantly across each risk group, from 8% to 24%, 51%, and 74%, in groups I to IV respectively (&khgr;2 trend, P = 0.001)—an overall 17-fold increased risk by hazard ratio. The c-statistic for the final model was 0.83. Corresponding rates in the validation cohort, where overall mortality was 488/1246 (39%), were 5%, 17%, 33%, and 61% in groups I to IV, respectively (&khgr;2 trend, P = 0.001)—an overall 18-fold increased risk by hazard ratio. The c-statistic for the final model was 0.77. In each cohort, sequential addition of variables from different sources (eg, administrative, laboratory, and chart) substantially improved model fit and predictive accuracy. BISEP had significantly superior mortality prediction compared with five widely used measures. Conclusions. BISEP provides a useful new risk adjustment system for hospitalized older persons. Although index performance using different data sources has been evaluated, the full BISEP model, incorporating disease, laboratory, and functional impairment information, demonstrates the best performance.
A New Formula for Predicting Liver Metastasis in Patients with Colorectal Cancer: Immunohistochemical Analysis of a Large Series of 439 Surgically Resected Cases

Objective: The purpose of this study was to establish a new formula predicting liver metastasis in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods: Nine previously reported predictive markers for liver metastasis and/or prognosis (COX-2, dysadherin, E-cadherin, β-catenin, Ki-67, p53, laminin5γ2, matrilysin and MUC-1) were immunohistochemically investigated in 439 consecutive patients with CRC. We tried to determine the combination of molecules which best predicted liver metastasis. A formula for predicting liver metastasis was constructed using a training cohort comprising 150 cases, and applied to a validation cohort comprising 190 cases and another comprising 99 cases from an outside hospital. Results: A combination of dysadherin, E-cadherin and matrilysin was identified to be best for predicting liver metastasis (area under the curve value, 0.807). The predictive formula: 3× dysadherin score [0 for low expression (≤50% of tumor cells positive) or 1 for high expression (>50%)] + 4× E-cadherin score [0 for preserved (>80% of tumor cells positive) or 1 for reduced (≤80%)] + 2× matrilysin score [0 for low expression (≤30% of tumor cells positive) or 1 for high expression (>30%)] was able to discriminate patients with liver metastasis in the training cohort with a sensitivity of 85.7% and a specificity of 58.9%. The discriminative capacity of the formula was validated in the first cohort with a sensitivity of 87.0% and a specificity of 66.5%, and in the second cohort with a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 60.0%. Conclusions: We have established a formula for predicting liver metastasis in patients with CRC, and confirmed that it has a high sensitivity potentially useful for clinical application.
Defending Wireless Sensor Networks from Jamming Attacks

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are used in many applications which often include the monitoring and recording of sensitive information. Hence, their critical importance raises many security concerns. In the context of WSNs, jamming is the type of attack which interferes with the radio frequencies used by network nodes. In the event that an attacker uses a rather powerful jamming source, disruptions of WSNs proper function are likely to occur. As a result, the use of countermeasures against jamming in WSN environments is of immense importance. The main contribution of this article is the discussion of various defence methods against jamming that would allow a WSN to survive and work properly in a hostile jamming environment. Our focus is on frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) and direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS), two of the most effective countermeasures against jamming. We suggest the use of a specific FHSS technique in 5 GHz band with 55 frequency channels wherein the channel sequence is generated using a secret word, known only to the sink and the sensor nodes, as a seed. Each channel uses DSSS modulation with 16 bit Pseudo Noise (PN) code, which derives from the same secret word used for FHSS channel generation.
Factors driving behavioural intentions: Study of Serbian mobile operator customers

The concept of perceived value is increasingly becoming a subject of interest for authors and researchers in the field of services marketing. Perceived value represents a multi-dimensional concept that consists of a number of components. In the conducted study, four key components were analyzed: emotional value, social value, functional value and monetary value. The objective of the study was to determine the impact of four identified components of value on customer satisfaction, as well as to test impact of customer satisfaction, corporate social responsibility and corporate reputation on behavioural intentions among Serbian mobile operator customers. Research originates from the assumption that to establish long-term relationships with customers, apart from generating customer satisfaction, issues like customer perception of corporate reputation and corporate responsibility are also of great significance.
Testing for faecal calprotectin (PhiCal) in the Norwegian Colorectal Cancer Prevention trial on flexible sigmoidoscopy screening: comparison with an immunochemical test for occult blood (FlexSure OBT)

Background: Screening for colorectal cancer (CRC) using guaiac based faecal occult blood tests (FOBT) has an estimated programme sensitivity of >60% but <30% for strictly asymptomatic CRC in a single screening round. In search for improved non-invasive tests for screening, we compared a test for faecal calprotectin (PhiCal) with a human haemoglobin immunochemical FOBT (FlexSure OBT). Methods: In the Norwegian Colorectal Cancer Prevention (NORCCAP) trial, screenees in one screening arm were offered screening with combined flexible sigmoidoscopy (FS) and FlexSure OBT. They were also requested to bring a fresh frozen sample of stool for the PhiCal test which was performed on samples from screenees with CRC (n = 16), high risk adenoma (n = 195), low risk adenoma (n = 592), and no adenoma (n = 1518) (2321 screenees in total). A positive PhiCal test was defined by a calprotectin level ⩾50 μg/g. Results: The PhiCal test was positive in 24–27% of screenees whether they had no adenoma, low risk adenoma, or high risk adenoma. Ten (63%) of 16 CRCs gave a positive PhiCal test. The total positivity rate in this population was 25% for the PhiCal test compared with 12% for FlexSure OBT, with a sensitivity for advanced neoplasia of 27% and 35%, respectively. Specificity for “any neoplasia” was 76% for the PhiCal test and 90% for FlexSure OBT. Conclusions: In colorectal screening, the performance of the PhiCal test on a single spot from one stool sample was poorer than a single screening round with FlexSure OBT and cannot be recommended for population screening purposes. The findings indicate a place for FlexSure OBT in FOBT screening.
TFIIH Operates through an Expanded Proximal Promoter To Fine-Tune c-myc Expression

ABSTRACT A continuous stream of activating and repressing signals is processed by the transcription complex paused at the promoter of the c-myc proto-oncogene. The general transcription factor IIH (TFIIH) is held at promoters prior to promoter escape and so is well situated to channel the input of activators and repressors to modulate c-myc expression. We have compared cells expressing only a mutated p89 (xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group B [XPB]), the largest TFIIH subunit, with the same cells functionally complemented with the wild-type protein (XPB/wt-p89). Here, we show structural, compositional, and functional differences in transcription complexes between XPB and XPB/wt-89 cells at the native c-myc promoter. Remarkably, although the mean levels of c-Myc are only modestly elevated in XPB compared to those in XPB/wt-p89 cells, the range of expression and the cell-to-cell variation of c-Myc are markedly increased. Our modeling indicates that the data can be explained if TFIIH integrates inputs from multiple signals, regulating transcription at multiple kinetically equivalent steps between initiation and promoter escape. This helps to suppress the intrinsic noise of transcription and to ensure the steady transcriptional output of c-myc necessary for cellular homeostasis.
Effect of Exercise Intensity on Fat Utilization in Males and Females

This study was conducted to assess fat utilization across different exercise intensities and between males and females. Eleven males and 11 females completed a maximal test and four submaximal trials at 40%, 50%, 60%, and 70% VO2 peak. The VO2 peak and ventilatory threshold (VT) were assessed during the maximal test. Caloric expenditure (Cal), carbohydrate (COX), and fat oxidation (FOX) were measured during each submaximal trial. Maximal fat oxidation (Fmax) was determined as the intensity where the highest FOX was observed. There was no main effect of intensity on FOX. FOX was higher in (p < 0.05) in women than in men at 40% VO2peak. The Fmax occurred most frequently at 60% VO2peak and correlated with VT (r = 0.62) and VO2 peak (r = 0.64). In conclusion, despite the fact that Fmax is most frequently observed at 60% VO2 peak, rates of fat oxidation remained statistically similar across intensities from 40% to 70% VO2peak. Women oxidized more fat than men at 40% VO2peak, but this gender difference did not occur at higher intensities. It appears that exercising within the moderate intensity domain will produce similar rates of fat utilization.
Amine oxidase activity regulates the development of pulmonary fibrosis

In pulmonary fibrosis, an inflammatory reaction and differentiation of myofibroblasts culminate in pathologic deposition of collagen. Amine oxidase copper containing‐3 (AOC3) is a cell‐surface‐expressed oxidase that regulates leukocyte extravasation. Here we analyzed the potential role of AOC3 using gene‐modified and inhibitor‐treated mice in a bleomycin‐induced pulmonary fibrosis model. Inflammation and fibrosis of lungs were assessed by histologic, flow cytometric, and quantitative PCR analysis. AOC3‐deficient mice showed a 30–50% reduction in fibrosis, collagen synthesis, numbers of myofibroblasts, and accumulation of CD4+ lymphocytes, NK T cells, macrophages, and type 2 innate lymphoid cells compared with wild‐type control mice. AOC3‐knock‐in mice, which express a catalytically inactive form of AOC3, were also protected from lung fibrosis. In wild‐type mice, a small‐molecule AOC3 inhibitor treatment reduced leukocyte infiltration, myofibroblast differentiation, and fibrotic injury both in prophylactic and early therapeutic settings by about 50% but was unable to reverse the established fibrosis. AOC3 was also induced in myofibroblasts in human idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Thus, the oxidase activity of AOC3 contributes to the development of lung fibrosis mainly by regulating the accumulation of pathogenic leukocyte subtypes, which drive the fibrotic response. —Marttila‐Ichihara, F. , Elima, K. , Auvinen, K. , Veres, T. Z. , Rantakari, P., Weston, C. , Miyasaka, M. , Adams, D. , Jalkanen, S. , Salmi, M. Amine oxidase activity regulates the development of pulmonary fibrosis. FASEB J. 31, 2477–2491 (2017). www.fasebj. org
The dolutegravir R263K resistance mutation in HIV-1 integrase is incompatible with the emergence of resistance against raltegravir

Objective:Although the integrase inhibitor dolutegravir (DTG) has demonstrated greater resilience than other antiretroviral drugs at withstanding the emergence of HIV-1 resistance mutations, such substitutions can develop, albeit rarely, in treatment-experienced integrase inhibitor-naïve individuals. The most common substitution in integrase under those circumstances is R263K whereas another substitution that was selected against DTG in tissue culture was G118R. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of these DTG-specific resistance substitutions on the ability of HIV-1 to become resistant against either of two other integrase inhibitors, raltegravir (RAL) and elvitegravir (EVG). Design and methods:We performed tissue culture selection experiments using DTG-resistant viruses containing integrase substitutions at positions R263K, H51Y/R263K, E138K/R263K, G118R and H51Y/G118R in the presence of increasing concentrations of either RAL or EVG. Changes in integrase sequences were monitored by genotyping. Results:The presence of the R263K substitution delayed the emergence of resistance against RAL whereas the simultaneous presence of either the H51Y or E138K secondary substitutions in combination with R263K somewhat mitigated this inhibitory effect. In contrast, resistance against EVG appeared earlier than in wild-type virus in viruses containing the R263K and E138K/R263K DTG-associated resistance substitutions. Conclusion:The DTG-resistant R263K substitution antagonized the development of HIV-1 resistance against RAL while partially facilitating the occurrence of resistance against EVG.
Water behaviour in nanoporous aluminosilicates

This paper briefly reviews results of molecular dynamics simulation studies of water confined in nanoporous aluminosilicates. The behaviour of confined molecules is shown to be influenced by the nature of the host structure, and the size and the topology of the voids. For some of the systems discussed the ambiguity in results of different modelling studies call for the use of extended potential and structural models. Thus, the use of polarizable force fields was shown to be necessary to take into account the variation of the molecular dipole of confined molecules in different environments.
Cyclosporin A (CsA) modulates the glomerular production of inflammatory mediators and proteoglycans in experimental nephrosis

Nephrosis is characterized by glomerular epithelial cell injury and a decrease in the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) proteoglycan content. Although CsA is a useful treatment for a group of patients with this disease, its mechanism of action is unclear. We have previously shown that in experimental nephrosis there is an increase in the glomerular production of tumour necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α) and platelet‐activating factor (PAF). Here we have studied the effect of CsA on kidney generation of TNF‐α and PAF in puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN) nephrosis as well as on the synthesis of proteoglycans by cultured glomerular epithelial cells. Rats receiving CsA had. on day 8 of PAN injection, a significant reduction in proteinuria, blood cholesterol levels and in interstitial mononuclear cells. A diminution in glomerular production and urinary excretion of TNF‐α and PAF was also noted. In in vitro studies, at 24 h of incubation PAF and TNF‐a induced in glomerular epithelial cells a significant decrease in proteoglycan synthesis. Neither PA F nor TNF‐α had any significant effect on glomerular epithelial cell proliferation. CsA alone induced a dose‐response increase in proteoglycan synthesis and a slight decrease in cell proliferation, CsA also reversed the inhibitory effect of PAF and TNF‐α on proteoglycan synthesis. However, CsA did not alter the pattern of proteoglycan prtxiuction, remaining around 50% chondroitinase ABC‐, 15% heparitinase‐sensitive. Our results indicate that PAF and TNF‐α could be implicated in the pathogenesis of nephrosis through the inhibition of proteoglycan synthesis by glomerular epithelial cells. The beneficial effect of CsA in nephrosis may be due to the recovery of the GBM charge selectivity caused by the normalization of glomerular PAF and TNF‐α synthesis and the increase in proteoglycan synthesis by glomerular epithelial cells.
Cultivation of Adult Teleost Tissues in vitro.

Summary Normal tissues from trout—a coldwater teleost—have been successfully cultured for as long as 65 days at 19°C or lower in 20% serum, 30% SM 199, 45% Earle's solution and 5% embryo extract. Excellent results were obtained with human cord, human, homologous sera or bovine amniotic fluid when used at 20% level by volume. Manipulation and incubation temperatures below 22°C are thought to be essential.
Effect of remifentanil on requirements for propofol administered by use of a target-controlled infusion system for maintaining anesthesia in dogs.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of remifentanil administered by use of a constant rate infusion on the predicted plasma concentration (Cp(predicted)) of propofol required to prevent awareness in 50% of anesthetized dogs (Cp50(predicted)). ANIMALS 6 healthy dogs. PROCEDURES Each dog received 2 treatments (1-week interval): induction and maintenance of anesthesia with propofol alone and induction of anesthesia with propofol and maintenance of anesthesia by use of propofol and a constant rate infusion of remifentanil (0.3 microg/kg/min). To induce anesthesia, propofol was administered by use of a target-controlled infusion system to achieve Cp(predicted) of 6.0 microg/mL. Propofol Cp(predicted) was adjusted in 0.5 microg/mL increments or decrements; the motor response to a supramaximal electrical nociceptive stimulus was assessed after each change to determine Cp50(predicted) (mean of the highest Cp(predicted) at which gross purposeful movement was detected in response to stimulation and the lowest Cp(predicted) at which such movement was not detected). RESULTS Mean +/- SD duration of anesthesia for dogs receiving propofol (148 +/- 35 minutes) and dogs receiving propofol-remifentanil treatment (141 +/- 28 minutes) did not differ. Overall mean propofol Cp(predicted) for induction of anesthesia was 6.0 +/- 0.5 microg/mL. For maintenance of anesthesia, propofol Cp50(predicted) was significantly reduced following addition of remifentanil to the protocol (2.0 +/- 0.5 microg/mL vs 0.9 +/- 0.4 microg/mL; 55% decrease). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE In nonpremedicated dogs, propofol Cp50(predicted) of 6.0 microg/mL may be recommended for induction of anesthesia. Propofol requirements for maintaining target-controlled infusion system-based anesthesia were reduced via infusion of remifentanil at a rate of 0.3 microg/kg/min.
Gesture-based control of the 3D visual representation of document collections for exploration and search

This paper describes an approach towards the interaction with 3D representations of large document collections. The goal was to provide the user with a highly dynamic environment in which even the very mapping strategy to position documents in space can be adjusted by the user depending on the specific task at hand, on his preferences, or on the context. A modification to the FDP algorithm is proposed, as well as a new gesture-based interaction paradigm in which the user can explore and search information in the collection just by simple hand movements. An experimental user evaluation was conducted to investigate the impact of the proposed approach on the precision of the mental model built by users through exploration, on the effectiveness in information search tasks, and on the general user satisfaction and perception of utility.
Emotional Reactivity Assessment of Healthy Elderly with an Emotion-Induction Procedure

Background/Study Context: No emotion-induction procedure is clearly recommended to assess the emotional reactivity in the elderly. This study aimed to validate an emotional reactivity procedure in healthy old patients. Methods: Nineteen healthy elders (age range: 66–91 years old) were compared with 19 education- and sex-matched young adults (age range: 20–33 years old) using a cross-sectional design. The main outcome measure was the evaluation of emotional reactivity to commercial film excerpts used as stimuli (joy, anger, fear, sadness, disgust, or neutral state) according to Philippot's procedure and using a 5-point questionnaire assessing 10 emotion dimensions (Differential Emotions Scale, DES). Results: In the elderly sample, targeted emotions of fear, disgust, anger, and sadness were significantly induced compared with the baseline status. The global emotional reactivity to each film showed that the elderly subjects rated the DES in the same manner as the young adults, but with significantly higher global intensity for the excerpts inducing fear, anger, disgust, and sadness. Conclusion: The Philippot procedure is accurate for studying emotional reactivity in healthy elderly. The simplicity and rapidity of this procedure makes it suitable for emotion studies in different elderly populations.
Modelling the Government/Cultural Tourism Marketing Interface

ABSTRACT The arts and cultural sector is recognised as an important driver of urban and regional development, with empirical evidence linking it to economic growth, social inclusion and increased social capital. Despite best efforts, however, government-sponsored cultural tourism policy development has been met with mixed results; researchers and practitioners alike agreeing that there are fundamental issues regarding government policy conceptualisation and implementation in this regard. In order to explore the policy development decisions that underpinned a successful cultural tourism-based economic and social development, this paper examines the relationship between a regional government and the globally renowned Museum of Old and New Art located in Tasmania, Australia. The quasi-longitudinal data revealed four critical interactions underpinning the regional government’s cultural tourism policy development: cooperation between the Tasmanian government and (a) the cultural organisation and (b) related industries; the provision of supportive infrastructure, and; the ability of the cultural organisation to provide immersive experiences.
AlgW regulates multiple Pseudomonas syringae virulence strategies

Gram‐negative bacterial pathogens have evolved a number of virulence‐promoting strategies including the production of extracellular polysaccharides such as alginate and the injection of effector proteins into host cells. The induction of these virulence mechanisms can be associated with concomitant downregulation of the abundance of proteins that trigger the host immune system, such as bacterial flagellin. In Pseudomonas syringae, we observed that bacterial motility and the abundance of flagellin were significantly reduced under conditions that induce the type III secretion system. To identify genes involved in this negative regulation, we conducted a forward genetic screen with P. syringae pv. maculicola ES4326 using motility as a screening phenotype. We identified the periplasmic protease AlgW as a key negative regulator of flagellin abundance that also positively regulates alginate biosynthesis and the type III secretion system. We also demonstrate that AlgW constitutes a major virulence determinant of P. syringae required to dampen plant immune responses. Our findings support the conclusion that P. syringae co‐ordinately regulates virulence strategies through AlgW in order to effectively suppress host immunity.