Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Getting Under the Skin of Clinical Inertia in Insulin Initiation

Purpose The purpose of this cross-sectional study is to explore primary care providers’ (PCPs) perceptions about barriers to initiating insulin among patients. Studies suggest that many patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes do not receive insulin initiation by PCPs. Methods As part of the Translating Research Into Action for Diabetes study, the authors conducted structured interviews in health systems in Indiana, New Jersey, and California, asking PCPs about the importance of insulin initiation and factors affecting this decision. The authors calculated proportions choosing each multiple-choice response option and listed the most frequently offered open-ended response categories. Results Among 83 PCPs, 45% were women; 60% were white; and they averaged 13.4 years in practice. Four-fifths of PCPs endorsed guideline-concordant glycemic targets, but 54% individualized targets based on patient age, life expectancy, medical comorbidities, self-management capacity, and willingness. Most (64%) reported that many patients were resistant to new oral or insulin therapies due to fears about the therapy and what it meant about their disease progression. Two-thirds (64%) cited patient resistance as a barrier to insulin initiation, and 43% cited problems with patient self-management, including cognitive or mental health issues, dexterity, or ability to adhere. Eighty percent felt that patient nonadherence would dissuade them from initiating insulin at least some of the time. Conclusions PCPs perceived that patient resistance and poor self- management skills were significant barriers to initiating insulin. Future studies should investigate whether systems-level interventions to improve patient-provider communication about insulin and enhance providers’ perceptions of patient self-management capacity can increase guideline-concordant, patient-centered insulin initiation.
Natural regulatory IgM‐mediated autoimmune responses directed against malondialdehyde regulate oxidative and nitrosative pathways and coupled with IgM responses to nitroso adducts attenuate depressive and physiosomatic symptoms at the end of term pregnancy

We aimed to delineate the effects of immunoglobulin (Ig)M‐mediated autoimmune responses directed against malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitroso (SNO) adducts on nitro‐oxidative stress and depressive and physiosomatic symptoms (DPSS) at the end of term.
Symmetric motifs in random geometric graphs

We study symmetric motifs in random geometric graphs. Symmetric motifs are subsets of nodes which have the same adjacencies. These subgraphs are particularly prevalent in random geometric graphs and appear in the Laplacian and adjacency spectrum as sharp, distinct peaks, a feature often found in real-world networks. We look at the probabilities of their appearance and compare these across parameter space and dimension. We then use the Chen-Stein method to derive the minimum separation distance in random geometric graphs which we apply to study symmetric motifs in both the intensive and thermodynamic limits. In the thermodynamic limit the probability that the closest nodes are symmetric approaches one, whilst in the intensive limit this probability depends upon the dimension.
Delay-Tolerant Resource Allocation for D2D Communication Using Matching Theory

Establishing direct communication between cellular devices in proximity brings benefits for the overall system sum-rate while generating interference. To deal with this additional interference efficiently, a low complexity uplink resource allocation algorithm for device-to-device (D2D) communication has been proposed in the underlying cellular networks by considering application-level requirements and request time-out. The related resource allocation is formulated as a non-linear optimization problem to maximize the system weighted sum-rate. An explicitly distributed coordination between different sources of channel state information (CSI) is introduced to avoid gathering all CSI information at the Base Station (BS) thus leading to significantly reduced overhead. Also, users' data-rate probability density function (pdf) is theoretically derived to determine approximately, for how long a D2D pair should wait to get the requested service. To assist the BS in collecting D2D requests, a frame structure has been proposed. Through simulation, it has been demonstrated that the proposed scheme outperforms the scheme with random allocation. Also, it has been confirmed that the proposed algorithm and the Exhaustive search strategy performs very close to the Exhaustive search strategy that exhibits optimal performance when the D2D pairs are fewer in number.
A Wideband Reconfigurable Antenna With 360° Beam Steering for 802.11ac WLAN Applications

A novel 360° beam steering patch antenna with parasitic elements is presented in this paper. The designed antenna consists of a radiating patch and six parasitic elements, each of which is connected through a group of shorting vias controlled by p-i-n diode switches. By switching on the desired groups of the shorting vias, the electric field distribution inside substrate cavity appears at the desired beam direction. Rotationally switching on the groups of the shorting vias, the performance of 360° beam scanning is realized. To further understand operating mechanism, the antenna is modeled with equivalent circuit in terms of the on and off status of a sector of the antenna, which can be used as a design guide for shorting-vias-controlled reconfigurable microstrip patch antennas. The fabricated antenna achieves a bandwidth of 14.5%, a peak gain of 10 dBi, and the efficiency of 80.5%. The achieved beamwidths are 42° and 97° in azimuth and elevation planes, respectively. With an ability of being steered around zenith axis at six directions, the scanned beam range covers the entire 360°. The physical dimension is only <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$2.5\lambda _{g}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> for the size and <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$0.5\lambda _{g}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> for the profile. This antenna operates from 5.1 to 5.9 GHz and has significant meaning in the IEEE 802.11ac wireless local area network applications due to its capabilities of generating 360° steered beams.
Establishment of the First International Standard for Nucleic Acid Amplification Technology (NAT) Assays for HCV RNA

Background and Objectives: The aims of this study were the establishment of a WHO International standard for HCV RNA for nucleic acid amplification technology (NAT) assays and the determination of the HCV RNA content of the candidate standard. Materials and Methods: Twenty–two laboratories evaluated three candidate materials (two lyophilised, AA and BB, which were derived from the same source and one a liquid preparation, CC). All samples were HCV genotype 1 with a concentration of approximately 105 genome equivalents/ml. The methods used included the Roche Amplicor assay (version 1), Chiron Quantiplex (bDNA) assay, Organon Teknika NASBA assay, Transcription Mediated assay and various in–house assays, using single or nested primers. Results: There was reasonable agreement between the overall mean NAT detectable units/ml obtained by the different assays except for some of the in–house assays using single primers which gave substantially lower estimates. These titres were 5.0 log10 for samples AA and BB and 4.6 log10 for sample CC. Conclusions: Sample AA was accepted as the candidate standard and assigned a titre of 105 international units (IU)/ml. The International Standard consists of a batch of vials each containing 50,000 IU/vial. Preliminary studies indicated that the material is stable at +4°C and +20°C for up to 200 days.
Segmented polynomials for incidence rate estimation from prevalence data

The study considers the problem of estimating incidence of a non remissible infection (or disease) with possibly differential mortality using data from a(several) cross‐sectional prevalence survey(s). Fitting segmented polynomial models is proposed to estimate the incidence as a function of age, using the maximum likelihood method. The approach allows automatic search for optimal position of knots, and model selection is performed using the Akaike information criterion. The method is applied to simulated data and to estimate HIV incidence among men in Zimbabwe using data from both the NIMH Project Accept (HPTN 043) and Zimbabwe Demographic Health Surveys (2005–2006). Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Monitoring of ground deformation in Liulin district, China using InSAR approaches

ABSTRACT Coalbed methane (CBM) exploration generally refers to a technique that extracts natural gas from coal beds. The development of CBM in Liulin, China, has experienced a significantly growth period during the past two decades. Previous research mainly focused on the coal geological background or CBM technique itself, while time series InSAR (TS-InSAR) technique was conducted in this work to study the potential land deformation induced by CBM extraction from 2003 to 2011. In total, 21 ALOS-1 PALSAR images (acquired from 22 December 2006 to 2 January 2011) and 14 ENVISAT ASAR scenes (captured between 29 October 2003 and 7 November 2007) were used. The TS-InSAR outcome revealed that the annual deformation rates were ranging from 15 to −40 mm yr−1 over the study region. Then the time series deformation evolutions were analysed over 8 CBM sites (No. 4 coal seam) out of 20, and the subsidence rates between 1.9 and −6.5 mm yr−1 were derived. In addition, the average subsidence rate and standard deviation among these eight measurements were −3.0 and 2.6 mm yr−1 respectively, suggesting that these CBM extraction sites were quite stable and no obvious subsidence had been observed during this eight-year period.
Effectiveness of a Therapeutic Community Treatment in Spain: A Long-Term Follow-Up Study

In this paper, the effectiveness of the treatment program developed by Proyecto Hombre (‘Project Mankind’) in Asturias, Spain, is evaluated. In a long-term follow-up (range from 73 days to 8 years) with a sample of 249 subjects, the results obtained by subjects completing the treatment (194) were compared with pre-treatment results and with those of the group that dropped out (55). The measurements used were relapses in illegal drugs, alcohol, changes in family situation, educational level, employment, criminal involvement and state of health. External validation of self-report measures given in the questionnaire was carried out. Findings support the effectiveness of the treatment in all measures and the validity of self-report items. Relapse rate in ‘treatment-completed’ group was 10.3%, whilst in the non-completers group it reached 63.6% (significant difference, p < 0.001). Relapses of non-completers were more severe, occurred sooner after leaving the program (they stayed abstinent for shorter periods) and lasted longer than those of subjects completing the treatment.
Characterization of Stress and Innate Immunity Resistance of Wild-Type and Δp66 Borrelia burgdorferi

ABSTRACT Borrelia burgdorferi is a causative agent of Lyme disease, the most common arthropod-borne disease in the United States. B. burgdorferi evades host immune defenses to establish a persistent, disseminated infection. Previous work showed that P66-deficient B. burgdorferi (Δp66) is cleared quickly after inoculation in mice. We demonstrate that the Δp66 strain is rapidly cleared from the skin inoculation site prior to dissemination. The rapid clearance of Δp66 bacteria is not due to inherent defects in multiple properties that might affect infectivity: bacterial outer membrane integrity, motility, chemotactic response, or nutrient acquisition. This led us to the hypothesis that P66 has a role in mouse cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptide (mCRAMP; a major skin antimicrobial peptide) and/or neutrophil evasion. Neither wild-type (WT) nor Δp66 B. burgdorferi was susceptible to mCRAMP. To examine the role of neutrophil evasion, we administered neutrophil-depleting antibody anti-Ly6G (1A8) to C3H/HeN mice and subsequently monitored the course of B. burgdorferi infection. Δp66 mutants were unable to establish infection in neutrophil-depleted mice, suggesting that the important role of P66 during early infection is through another mechanism. Neutrophil depletion did not affect WT B. burgdorferi bacterial burdens in the skin (inoculation site), ear, heart, or tibiotarsal joint at early time points postinoculation. This was unexpected given that prior in vitro studies demonstrated neutrophils phagocytose and kill B. burgdorferi. These data, together with our previous work, suggest that despite the in vitro ability of host innate defenses to kill B. burgdorferi, individual innate immune mechanisms have limited contributions to controlling early B. burgdorferi infection in the laboratory model used.
Population Testing for High Penetrance Genes: Are We There Yet?

Recent technological advances make large-scale genetic testing possible. Current guidelines recommend testing in certain clinically affected individuals or those with strong family history (1). The successful use for high-risk groups has led many to con-sider extending genetic testing to the general population. In this issue, Manchanda and colleagues present a cost-effectiveness analysis of population-based testing for high-penetrance mutations associated with an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer (2). They conclude that population-based testing of women age 30 years and older for a limited set of genes is more cost-effective for preventing death than genetic testing in women with a personal or a family history. This conclusion dif-fers from a previous cost-effectiveness analysis that did not find population-based BRCA1/2 testing to be cost-effective (3). The previous results were based on a decision-analysis model developed for an Ashkenazi Jewish population that was applied to the general population (4), while the new model was developed using general population estimates (2). We discuss oppor-tunities and challenges of population-based genetic testing and emphasize where additional evidence is needed. Several parameters are important when considering population-based are related to the mutations under for the maximum number of cases that possibly be prevented or detected early genetic It is estimated that 5% to 10% of and up to 15% of all ovarian to germline in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations contribu-tions
The Impact of Contralateral Cooling on Skin Capillary Blood Cell Velocity in Patients with Diabetes mellitus

In healthy volunteers, cooling of the contralateral hand leads to a rapid decrease in the ipsilateral capillary perfusion via a nerval reflex arc. The aim of this study was to investigate whether this reflex arc after contralateral cooling might be altered in patients with diabetes mellitus with and without peripheral neuropathy. Therefore, 12 patients with diabetic neuropathy (4 IDDM, diabetes duration 17.2 ± 2.9 (SD) years, age 60.8 ± 4.0 years, HbA1c 6.5 ± 0.3%) and 12 patients with diabetes mellitus but without neuropathy (6 IDDM, diabetes duration 15.1 ± 2.7 years, age 55.9 ± 4.5 years, HbA1c 5.4 ± 0.1%) were investigated by nailfold capillaroscopy. Twelve healthy volunteers (age 56.8 ± 3.1 years, HbA1c 4.8 ± 0.2%) served as controls. Contralateral skin capillary blood cell velocity was determined at rest and during the following 20 min after cooling of the hand (3 min at 15°C). Blood pressure, heart rate and local skin temperature were examined regularly during the investigation. Resting capillary blood cell velocity did not differ between patients and controls. While contralateral cooling resulted in a decrease in capillary blood cell velocity (CBV) in controls (0.29 ± 0.05 vs. 0.42 ± 0.05 mm/s, p < 0.03), CBV remained unchanged or was delayed in patients. These results demonstrate that in diabetic patients nerval reflex arcs are impaired. A long-term follow-up in a larger number of patients is required to evaluate whether these findings might serve as a very early diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of developing diabetic neuropathy.
Psikologi Sosial : Psikologi Kelompok dan Psikologi Terapan

Psikologi sosial adalah cabang dari ilmu pengetahuan psikologi. Psikologi Sosial merupakan pengetahuan yang sejak tahun 1930 berkembang dengan sangat pesatnya sehingga pokok-pokok dan hasil penelitian yang semakin meluas. Buku ini membicarakan berbagai teori dan hasil penelitian mengenai perilaku kelompok.
National Age and Gender-Specific Costs in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction by A Single Nationwide Private Payer.

BACKGROUND Anterior cruciate ligament tears are an unfortunate, but common, event in the United States, with an estimated 100-300,000 reconstructions performed annually. Limited literature has been published analyzing the reimbursement patterns for the reconstruction of this ligament and, thus, cost-effectiveness studies have relied mainly on data from a limited number of subjects and hospitals. PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to perform an epidemiological cost analysis of anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions and to analyze and describe the reimbursement patterns for this procedure that can be used as reference for future cost-analysis studies. We conducted a retrospective review of a large private payers insurance company records to identify patients who underwent ACL reconstruction (ACLR) between 2007 and 2014. MATERIALS AND METHODS This was achieved through a structured query of the database with the use of current procedural terminology (CPT) codes. Inclusion criteria for this study were patients housed in the insurer database between the ages of 10 and 59. Reimbursements were calculated at the day of surgery and the 90-day global period. Statistical analysis was based on growth and cohort comparison according to demographic. The consumer price index (CPI) of the Bureau of Labor Statistics was used to calculate inflation. RESULTS The adjusted mean same-day costs were $11,462 (standard deviations [SD] of $869) for female patients and $12,071 (SD of 561) for males (p=0.07), with no significant difference among same-day costs in either females (p=0.023 for ages 10 to 34 and p=0.037 for ages 35 to 59) or males (p=0.46 for ages 10 to 34 and p=0.26 for ages 35 to 59). The adjusted mean 90-day costs were $14,569 (SD of $835) for females and $14,916 (SD of $780) for males, with no significant difference among 90-day costs in either females (p=0.229 for ages 10 to 34 and p= 0.386 for ages 35 to 39) or males (p=0.425 for ages 10 to 34 and p=0.637 for ages 35 to 39). A matched-age cost analysis demonstrated that gender did not play a significant role in costs (p<0.01 for all groups). CONCLUSION In the setting of arthroscopic ACLR, both same-day and 90-day costs do not significantly differ between age-matched males and females.
User Grouping with Load Balance in FDD Massive MIMO Systems

In this paper, we consider a multiple dimension resources allocation problem, including user grouping in the spatial domain and resource blocks (RBs) allocation in the time-frequency domain, in a frequency-division-duplexing (FDD) massive MIMO system. We formulate an optimization problem on joint user grouping and resource allocation to maximize the system capacity. Then, we propose two user grouping methods with load balance to fully use the resources in each user group and a corresponding greedy resource allocation algorithm to verify the effectiveness of the user grouping methods. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed schemes can obtain better performance over the existing ones and the optimal number of scheduled users can be obtained.
A systematic approach to analyze the social determinants of cardiovascular disease

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of human mortality worldwide. Among the many factors associated with the etiology, incidence, and evolution of such diseases; social and environmental issues constitute an important and often overlooked component. Understanding to a greater extent the scope to which such social determinants of cardiovascular diseases (SDCVD) occur as well as the connections among them would be useful for public health policy making. Here, we will explore the historical trends and associations among the main SDCVD in the published literature. Our aim will be finding meaningful relations among those that will help us to have an integrated view on this complex phenomenon by providing historical context and a relational framework. To uncover such relations, we used a data mining approach to the current literature, followed by network analysis of the interrelationships discovered. To this end, we systematically mined the PubMed/MEDLINE database for references of published studies on the subject, as outlined by the World Health Organization’s framework on social determinants of health. The analyzed structured corpus consisted in circa 1190 articles categorized by means of the Medical Subheadings (MeSH) content-descriptor. The use of data analytics techniques allowed us to find a number of non-trivial connections among SDCVDs. Such relations may be relevant to get a deeper understanding of the social and environmental issues associated with cardiovascular disease and are often overlooked by traditional literature survey approaches, such as systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
Grid-tied VSI protection against grid side faults based on voltage

With gradual increase in the integration of renewable energy resources into the existing power supply network, the need for reliable and efficient grid side fault detection and protection of inverters is crucial. The existing conventional protection schemes using over-current relay is insufficient as the fault current magnitude is low for solid state devices. This paper investigates a voltage based protection scheme involving grid side fault detection along with an automatic islanding scheme of a three-phase inverter after a grid fault. After islanding the inverter will take care of its own local load and works in islanded mode until the grid fault is cleared and the VSI is again transferred to grid tied mode.
Study of the Thermal Properties and the Fire Performance of Flame Retardant-Organic PCM in Bulk Form

The implementation of organic phase change materials (PCMs) in several applications such as heating and cooling or building comfort is an important target in thermal energy storage (TES). However, one of the major drawbacks of organic PCMs implementation is flammability. The addition of flame retardants to PCMs or shape-stabilized PCMs is one of the approaches to address this problem and improve their final deployment in the building material sector. In this study, the most common organic PCM, Paraffin RT-21, and fatty acids mixtures of capric acid (CA), myristic acid (MA), and palmitic acid (PA) in bulk, were tested to improve their fire reaction. Several flame retardants, such as ammonium phosphate, melamine phosphate, hydromagnesite, magnesium hydroxide, and aluminum hydroxide, were tested. The properties of the improved PCM with flame retardants were characterized by thermogravimetric analyses (TGA), the dripping test, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results for the dripping test show that fire retardancy was considerably enhanced by the addition of hydromagnesite (50 wt %) and magnesium hydroxide (50 wt %) in fatty acids mixtures. This will help the final implementation of these enhanced PCMs in building sector. The influence of the addition of flame retardants on the melting enthalpy and temperatures of PCMs has been evaluated.