Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A pragmatic randomized trial of a polypill-based strategy to improve use of indicated preventive treatments in people at high cardiovascular disease risk

Background Most individuals at high cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk worldwide do not receive any or optimal preventive drugs. We aimed to determine whether fixed dose combinations of generic drugs (‘polypills’) would promote use of such medications. Methods We conducted a randomized, open-label trial involving 623 participants from Australian general practices. Participants had established CVD or an estimated five-year CVD risk of ≥15%, with indications for antiplatelet, statin and ≥2 blood pressure lowering drugs (‘combination treatment’). Participants randomized to the ‘polypill-based strategy’ received a polypill containing aspirin 75 mg, simvastatin 40 mg, lisinopril 10 mg and either atenolol 50 mg or hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg. Participants randomized to ‘usual care’ continued with separate medications and doses as prescribed by their doctor. Primary outcomes were self-reported combination treatment use, systolic blood pressure and total cholesterol. Results After a median of 18 months, the polypill-based strategy was associated with greater use of combination treatment (70% vs. 47%; relative risk 1.49, (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.30 to 1.72) p < 0.0001; number needed to treat = 4.4 (3.3 to 6.6)) without differences in systolic blood pressure (−1.5 mmHg (95% CI −4.0 to 1.0) p = 0.24) or total cholesterol (0.08 mmol/l (95% CI −0.06 to 0.22) p = 0.26). At study end, 17% and 67% of participants in polypill and usual care groups, respectively, were taking atorvastatin or rosuvastatin. Conclusion Provision of a polypill improved self-reported use of indicated preventive treatments. The lack of differences in blood pressure and cholesterol may reflect limited study power, although for cholesterol, improved statin use in the polypill group counter-balanced use of more potent statins with usual care.
Computer Aided Detection for breast calcification clusters based on improved instance selection and an adaptive neuro-fuzzy network

In this paper, we propose an novel instance selection algorithm and an improved adaptive neuro-fuzzy algorithm for Computer Aided Detection (CAD) of mammography. Firstly, the X-Ray images are partitioned into blocks. Secondly, the texture model is built for all negative packages instances. The distances from the unknown instances to the average model of negative packages are calculated. The instance with the fastest distance is selected as the suspicious area. Afterwards, the main features of suspicious regions are extracted for classification. Specifically, we propose to use an adaptive neuro-fuzzy classification Linguistic hedge (ANFC-LH) algorithm for CAD. The experimental results show that this method not only has the ability to automatically extract Regions of Interest (ROI), but also can greatly reduce the computation time while keeping the detection performance. At the same time, the better accuracy rate and true positive rate are achieved compared with traditional methods.
Thrombin generation and procoagulant microparticle profiles after acute trauma: A prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE The two sides of trauma-induced coagulopathy, the hypocoagulable and the hypercoagulable states, are poorly understood. To identify potential mechanisms for venous thromboembolism and bleeding after acute trauma, we estimated changes in circulating procoagulant microparticles (MPs) and thrombin activity during hospitalization for trauma. METHODS Whole blood was collected by venipuncture into 3.2% trisodium citrate at 0, 6, 12, 24, and 72 hours after injury and discharge. Platelet-poor plasma was harvested and stored at −80°C until analysis. Thrombin generation was determined using the calibrated automated thrombogram (CAT), reported as lag time (minutes), peak height (nM thrombin), and time to reach peak height (ttPeak, minutes). The concentration of total procoagulant MPs (number/&mgr;L) was measured by flow cytometry. Data are presented as median (interquartile range [IQR]). RESULTS Among 443 trauma patients (1,734 samples; Injury Severity Score [ISS], 13.0 [IQR, 6.0–22.0]; hospital length of stay, 4.0 days [IQR, 2.0–10.0]; age, 48 years [IQR, 28–65]; 70.7% male; 95% with blunt mechanism; mortality, 3.2%), no discernable patterns in thrombin generation or MP concentration were observed over time. The peak height and MPs were significantly different from healthy volunteers and were 337 nM (IQR, 285–395) and 400/&mgr;L plasma (IQR, 211–772), respectively. Extreme (defined as highest or lowest 5%) values reflecting a possible “hypercoagulable state” (lag time ⩽ 1.98, peak height ≥ 486.2, ttPeak ⩽ 3.61, and total procoagulant MP ≥ 2,278) were reached within 12 hours after acute trauma, while extreme values representing a possible “hypocoagulable state” (lag time ≥ 18.6, peak height ⩽ 17.8, and ttPeak ≥ 29.45) were not reached until 1 day to 3 days. CONCLUSION Although there was no predictable pattern of coagulopathy observed in each patient after trauma, those who reached extreme values did so relatively early after injury. These findings should be taken into account when designing risk model tools involving coagulation laboratory parameters. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Epidemiologic study, level III.
Effect of unilateral partial cochlear lesions in adult cats on the representation of lesioned and unlesioned cochleas in primary auditory cortex

We examined the effect of unilateral restricted cochlear lesions in adult cats on the topographic representations (“maps”) of the lesioned and unlesioned cochleas in the primary auditory cortex (AI) contralateral to the lesioned cochlea. Frequency (tonotopic) maps were derived by conventional multineuron mapping procedures in anesthetized animals. In confirmation of a study in adult guinea pigs (Robertson and Irvine [1989] J. Comp. Neurol. 282:456–471), we found that 2–11 months after the unilateral cochlear lesion the map of the lesioned cochlea in the contralateral AI was altered so that the AI region in which frequencies with lesion‐induced elevations in cochlear neural sensitivity would have been represented was occupied by an enlarged representation of lesion‐edge frequencies (i.e., frequencies adjacent to those with elevated cochlear neural sensitivity). Along the tonotopic axis of AI the total representation of lesion‐edge frequencies could extend up to ≈ 2.6 mm rostral to the area of normal representation of these frequencies. There was no topographic order within this enlarged representation. Examination of threshold sensitivity at the characteristic frequency (CF, frequency to which the neurons were most sensitive) in the reorganized regions of the map of the lesioned cochlea established that the changes in the map reflected a plastic reorganization rather than simply reflecting the residue of prelesion input.
Perspectives on populuation growth and gender equality in Kerala, India

Kerala is a state often cited for its strong social development within the Indian context. It is considered a model for widely available health care, universally available primary education, and significantly lower birth rates. This study examines these assertions in India on a more human level through 30 extended interviews in Kerala. These interviews exposed strong differences between women and men’s views about population growth and gender equality. It also highlights the difference of perspectives between doctors, teacher, and politicians’ opinions concerning the issue. This study finds that Kerala’s development experience, when gender issues are included, is far more complicated than generally discussed in the literature, and that these complications temper basic assumptions about Kerala as a model of development.
Controlling non-player characters using support vector machines

Developing believable behaviours for non-player characters is an ongoing problem in the video game industry. A method to use support vector machines to control non-player characters is proposed as an alternative to classic techniques like finite state machines (FSMs). Also, the method proposed is designed to be used to achieve continuous learning even after the game is released.
Rapid reversible modulation of human motor outputs after transient deafferentation of the forearm

Reorganization of corticospinal pathways after spinal cord injury and amputations leads to increased excitability of motor pathways targeting muscles proximal to the level of interruption of efferents from the CNS. To study the timing of these changes, we have recorded motor evoked potentials (MEPs) in the arm muscles of three normal subjects before, during, and after anesthetic block of the forearm and hand. The amplitudes of MEPs from biceps, which was the muscle immediately proximal to the block, gradually increased with anesthesia and then returned to preanesthesia levels within approximately 20 minutes after anesthesia was ended. MEPs from the contralateral arm were unaffected. Such rapid changes strongly suggest unmasking of preexisting synaptic connections, due to disinhibition at cortical or subcortical levels, as the mechanism underlying acute modulation of motor outputs.
Liquid Sensors Based on Enhanced Fabry–Perot Etalons

An optically enhanced Fabry–Perot etalon was demonstrated to accurately measure the refractive index of sugar solutions. The etalon consisted of two silver/SiO<sub>2</sub>-coated glass substrates separated by a spacer. The semi-transparent silver films of ~15-nm thickness greatly enhanced the interference of light. The SiO<sub>2</sub> layer coated on the silver created a hydrophilic surface in addition to protecting the silver from oxidation. The hydrophilic behavior of the SiO<sub>2</sub> films together with a capillary action allowed the tested liquids to easily flow into and wet the cavity between the two pieces of glass. Optical spectrophotometer was used to measure the transmission spectra of the etalon with and without a sugar solution. The refractive indices of sugar solutions with different brix concentrations were subsequently determined from the interference peak positions. The results showed a linear response of the refractive index to the brix concentration with a ratio of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\sim 1.7\times 10^{-3}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> refractive index per brix%, making the etalons promising for analyzing specific chemicals in liquids.
Upside‐down transfer of porcine keratinocytes from a porous, synthetic dressing to experimental full‐thickness wounds

Currently, the use of cultured epithelial autografts as an alternative to split‐thickness skin autografts for coverage of full‐thickness wounds is limited due to fragility of the sheet and variability in the outcome of healing. This could be circumvented by the transfer of proliferating keratinocytes, instead of differentiated sheets, to the wound bed and the “in vivo” regeneration of epidermis. The aim of this study was to achieve re‐epithelialization on experimental full‐thickness wounds in the pig using a porous, synthetic carrier seeded with proliferating keratinocytes. Porcine keratinocytes were isolated by enzymatic digestion and cultured in Optimem® basal medium with mitogens. In a full‐thickness wound model, carriers with different seeding densities were transplanted upside down onto the wound bed. Keratinocytes were labeled using a fluorescent red membrane marker, PKH‐26 GL. Transfer of keratinocytes and re‐epithelialization were recorded macroscopically and histologically. On day 4 after transplantation, transfer of fluorescently labeled keratinocytes was shown by their presence in the granulation tissue. An immature epidermis, as well as epithelial cords and islands, formed as early as day 8. At day 12 a stratified epidermis and wound closure were established and epithelial cysts were formed by differentiation of epithelial islands. Wounds treated with seeding densities as low as 50,000 cells/cm2 showed wound closure within 12 days, whereas wounds treated with 10,000 cells/cm2 or the nonseeded (acellular) carriers did not show complete re‐epithelialization before day 17 after treatment. This study showed that porcine keratinocytes, transplanted “upside down” in experimental full‐thickness wounds using a synthetic carrier, continued to proliferate and started to differentiate, enabling the formation of a new epidermis in a time frame of 12 days.
The beta-VLDL receptor pathway of murine P388D1 macrophages.

Very low density lipoproteins Sf 100-400 (VLDL1) from hypertriglyceridemic (HTG) subjects and chylomicrons cause receptor-mediated lipid engorgement in unstimulated macrophages in vitro via the beta-VLDL receptor pathway. We now report that the murine macrophage P388D1 cell line possesses the characteristics of the beta-VLDL receptor pathway observed previously in freshly isolated resident murine peritoneal macrophages or human monocyte-macrophages. HTG-VLDL1 isolated from the plasma of subjects with hypertriglyceridemia types 3, 4, and 5 interact with P388D1 macrophages in a high-affinity, curvilinear manner. beta-VLDL, HTG-VLDL1, chylomicrons, and thrombin-treated HTG-VLDL1 (which do not bind to the LDL receptor) compete efficiently and similarly for the uptake and degradation of HTG-VLDL1. LDL and acetyl LDL do not compete, indicating that uptake of HTG-VLDL1 is via neither the LDL receptor nor the acetyl LDL receptor. Binding of thrombin-treated HTG-VLDL1 to the beta-VLDL receptor indicates that the thrombin-accessible apoE, which is absolutely required for interaction of HTG-VLDL Sf greater than 60 with the LDL receptor, is not required for binding to the beta-VLDL receptor. The uptake and degradation of 125I-labeled HTG-VLDL1 is suppressed up to 80-90% by preincubation of the cells with sterols, acetyl LDL, or beta-VLDL, indicating that this process is not via the irrepressible chylomicron remnant (apoE) receptor. Chylomicrons, HTG-VLDL1, and thrombin-treated HTG-VLDL1-but not normal VLDL1, beta-VLDL, LDL, or acetyl LDL-produce massive triglyceride accumulation (10-20-fold mass increases in 4 hr) in P388D1 macrophages. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Increasing Wage Gap, Spatial Structure and Market Access: Evidence from Swedish Micro Data

The new economic geography predicts that the wage gap will increase with accessibility to markets but does not consider the impact of spatial proximity. In contrast, urban economic theory explains wage differences by density without accounting for accessibility. Using a rich Swedish micro-panel, we empirically examine the two rival theories for males and females separately, controlling for individual, firm and regional characteristics. The regression results indicate that wage dispersion is correlated with both accessibility to markets and density. However, the urban economic theory has greatest explanatory power when we control for factors such as occupation, ethnical background, skill, firm size, technical change, ownership, commuting time, unobserved heterogeneity and spatial autocorrelation.
Networked monitoring and fault-tolerant control of nonlinear process systems

This work focuses on a general class of nonlinear process systems controlled by a two-tier networked control system integrating a local control system using continuous sensing/actuation with a networked control system using asynchronous sensing/actuation. To deal with control actuator faults that may occur in the closed-loop system and eliminate the ability of the two-tier networked control system to stabilize the process, a networked fault detection and isolation (FDI) and fault-tolerant control (FTC) system is designed which detects and isolates actuator faults and determines how to reconfigure the two-tier networked control system to handle the actuator faults and ensure closed-loop stability. The method is demonstrated using a reactor-separator process example.
The influence of volume conduction effects on the EEG/MEG reconstruction of the sources of the Early Left Anterior Negativity

To achieve a deeper understanding of language processing in the human brain, scientists and clinicians use Electroencephalography (EEG) and Magnetoencephalography (MEG) inverse methods to reconstruct sources of Event Related Potentials. There exists a persistent uncertainty regarding the influence of volume conduction effects such as the anisotropy of tissue conductivity of the skull and the white matter layers on the inverse results. In this paper, we will study the sensitivity to anisotropy of the source reconstruction of the Early Left Anterior Negativity (ELAN) component in language processing. For EEG, the presence of tissue anisotropy substantially compromises the restoration ability of an L1-norm current density approach. The centers of activity are strongly shifted along the Sylvian fissure in the anterior direction. In contrast, MEG in combination with the L1 norm approach is able to reconstruct the main features of the ELAN source distribution even in the presence of anisotropic conductivity.
Calibration of the CryoSat-2 Interferometer and Measurement of Across-Track Ocean Slope

This paper describes the calibration of the CryoSat-2 interferometer, whose principal purpose is to accurately measure the height of the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets. A sequence of CryoSat-2 data acquisitions over the tropical and midlatitude oceans were obtained between June and September 2010, from the SIRAL “A” and redundant SIRAL “B” radars operating in their “SARIN” mode, during a sequence of satellite rolls between -0.6° and 0.4°. Using the arrival angle of the echo relative to the interferometer baseline, the attitude of the satellite determined by the star trackers, and estimates of the ocean surface across-track slope from the EGM08 geoid, we determined the errors in the interferometer estimate of surface slope as functions of the roll angle and ocean surface waveheight. These were found to be in close agreement with the theoretical description. The scale factor of the interferometric measurement of angle was determined to be 0.973 ± 0.002. We estimate the accuracy of the across-track slope measurement of the interferometer by applying this scale factor to the measured phase. In applying this scale factor to the measurements, the across-track slope of the marine geoid was obtained with an accuracy of 26 μrad at 10 km and 10 μrad at 1000 km. We conclude that the instrument performance considerably exceeds that needed for the accurate determination of height over the sloping surfaces of the continental ice sheets. The results also demonstrate that CryoSat-2 provides the first observations of the instantaneous vector gradient of the ocean surface, and that the normal-incidence interferometric configuration has a greater potential for the measurement of the ocean across-track slope than has been previously recognized.
Programmauswahl in digitalen Fernsehwelten: Der EPG als Gatekeeper?

Seit über zehn Jahren sind in Deutschland digitale Fernsehangebote empfangbar. Nicht nur die Verspartung der Programme, sondern auch die größere Vielfalt macht die digitale Fernsehwelt für den Zuschauer unübersichtlich. Orientierungshilfe in der neuen Programmfülle soll der Elektronische Programmführer (EPG) bieten. Das Spektrum möglicher Funktionen und damit die Auswirkungen auf die Wahrnehmung der Angebote sind groß. Die hier vorgestellte Untersuchung präsentiert EPG-Nutzungsdaten, die im Rahmen einer Nutzerstudie zum digitalen Fernsehen aus der Uses-and-GratificationsPerspektive erhoben wurden. Mithilfe eines standardisierten Fragebogens wurden rund 600 digitale Fernsehabonnenten eines Kabelnetzbetreibers postalisch interviewt. Die Ergebnisse bestätigen zum einen die Schlüsselfunktion von EPGs im digitalen Fernsehen, da eine hohe Nutzungsintensität zu differenzierter Kanalkenntnis und -nutzung führt. Zum anderen zeigen sich auch unterschiedliche Verwendungszusammenhänge, die maßgeblich von etablierten Fernsehgewohnheiten und Programmsuchstrategien beeinflusst werden. Alles in allem haben EPGs langfristig das Potenzial, weitaus mehr als nur Bildschirm-Programmzeitschriften zu werden.
Deletion of the Cardiolipin-specific Phospholipase Cld1 Rescues Growth and Life Span Defects in the Tafazzin Mutant

Background: Cardiolipin (CL) is deacylated by Cld1 to monolysocardiolipin, which is transacylated by tafazzin (Taz1) to form unsaturated CL. Results: Deletion of CLD1 rescues growth and respiration defects in taz1Δ, whereas overexpression is deleterious to growth and respiration. Conclusion: Decreased CL/MLCL, not decreased unsaturated CL, causes defects in tafazzin-deficient cells. Significance: Attenuation of CL phospholipases may potentially treat Barth syndrome. Cardiolipin (CL) that is synthesized de novo is deacylated to monolysocardiolipin (MLCL), which is reacylated by tafazzin. Remodeled CL contains mostly unsaturated fatty acids. In eukaryotes, loss of tafazzin leads to growth and respiration defects, and in humans, this results in the life-threatening disorder Barth syndrome. Tafazzin deficiency causes a decrease in the CL/MLCL ratio and decreased unsaturated CL species. Which of these biochemical outcomes contributes to the physiological defects is not known. Yeast cells have a single CL-specific phospholipase, Cld1, that can be exploited to distinguish between these outcomes. The cld1Δ mutant has decreased unsaturated CL, but the CL/MLCL ratio is similar to that of wild type cells. We show that cld1Δ rescues growth, life span, and respiratory defects of the taz1Δ mutant. This suggests that defective growth and respiration in tafazzin-deficient cells are caused by the decreased CL/MLCL ratio and not by a deficiency in unsaturated CL. CLD1 expression is increased during respiratory growth and regulated by the heme activator protein transcriptional activation complex. Overexpression of CLD1 leads to decreased mitochondrial respiration and growth and instability of mitochondrial DNA. However, ATP concentrations are maintained by increasing glycolysis. We conclude that transcriptional regulation of Cld1-mediated deacylation of CL influences energy metabolism by modulating the relative contribution of glycolysis and respiration.
Simulation of Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM) with Variation of Process Parameters

A previously developed and verified thermal model for Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM) was used to investigate the effects of various processing parameters on the temperature profile in a LOM part during the build cycle. The mathematical model, based on 3-dimensional transient heat conduction in a rectangular geometry LOM part, allows calculation of the transient temperature distribution within the part during the application of a new layer as well as during other periods of the LOM build cycle. The parameters roller temperature, roller speed, chamber air temperature, base plate temperature, and laser cutting time were independently varied, and the LOM process response simulated. The results were analyzed in order to gain insight into potential strategies for intelligent process control.