Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
One Step Forward, One Step Back: Changes in News Coverage of Medical Interventions

ABSTRACT During 2005–2013, the award-winning website HealthNewsReview.org offered reviews of major media outlets’ news stories related to health interventions, including tests, treatments, dietary changes, and prescription drugs. The reviews offered a measure by which the public and journalists themselves could assess the completeness and usefulness of health coverage across 10 criteria for quality reporting. This study produced an analysis of those reviews from 2005 to 2013, indicating significant changes in key areas. Analysis of 1,889 health news story reviews published by HealthNewsReview.org (HNR) between 2005 and 2013 showed that, on average, the stories reviewed during 2005–2010 successfully met just less than half of the criteria, but by 2010–2013, that average had improved to almost 70%. There were significant improvements over time in news organizations’ success in meeting six of HNR’s 10 criteria for a successful health news story related to drugs, devices, surgery and other medical procedures, and diet; however, when data for television stories were excluded, only the improvement in avoiding disease-mongering remained significant. In addition, there was a statistically significant decline in the percentage of stories rated satisfactory on establishing the true novelty of the intervention discussed in the story. There was no improvement in quantification of possible harms from medical interventions. Changes over time in meeting the criteria were related to outlet type and story topic.
Differentiation of reinfection from relapse in recurrent Lyme disease.

BACKGROUND Erythema migrans is the most common manifestation of Lyme disease. Recurrences are not uncommon, and although they are usually attributed to reinfection rather than relapse of the original infection, this remains somewhat controversial. We used molecular typing of Borrelia burgdorferi isolates obtained from patients with culture-confirmed episodes of erythema migrans to distinguish between relapse and reinfection. METHODS We determined the genotype of the gene encoding outer-surface protein C (ospC) of B. burgdorferi strains detected in cultures of skin or blood specimens obtained from patients with consecutive episodes of erythema migrans. After polymerase-chain-reaction amplification, ospC genotyping was performed by means of reverse line-blot analysis or DNA sequencing of the nearly full-length gene. Most strains were further analyzed by determining the genotype according to the 16S-23S ribosomal RNA intergenic spacer type, multilocus sequence typing, or both. Patients received standard courses of antibiotics for erythema migrans. RESULTS B. burgdorferi isolates obtained from 17 patients who received a diagnosis of erythema migrans between 1991 and 2011 and who had 22 paired episodes of this lesion (initial and second episodes) were available for testing. The ospC genotype was found to be different at each initial and second episode. Apparently identical genotypes were identified on more than one occasion in only one patient, at the first and third episodes, 5 years apart, but different genotypes were identified at the second and fourth episodes. CONCLUSIONS None of the 22 paired consecutive episodes of erythema migrans were associated with the same strain of B. burgdorferi on culture. Our data show that repeat episodes of erythema migrans in appropriately treated patients were due to reinfection and not relapse. (Funded by the National Institutes of Health and the William and Sylvia Silberstein Foundation.).
Appropriate body mass index and waist circumference cutoffs for middle and older age group in Thailand: data of 19,621 participants from Thai epidemiologic stroke (TES) study.

OBJECTIVE To determine the appropriate body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) cutoff point for identification of at least one cardiovascular risk factor (hypertension, dyslipidemia, and type 2 diabetes) in Thailand, and to compare the discrimination ability of BMI with that of WC for discrimination of at least one cardiovascular risk factor. MATERIAL AND METHOD Baseline health survey data of participants of Thai Epidemiologic Stroke (TES) Study, who were free from stroke, enrolled from five geographic regions around the country, were studied as cross-sectional analysis. Receiver operating characteristics curve (ROC) analysis was performed to determine the appropriate cutoff points of BMI and WC in identifying those with presence of at least one cardiovascular risk factors. The BMI or WC value with the shortest distance on the ROC curve was considered to be appropriate cutoffs. Comparing the ability of BMI in discrimination of at least one cardiovascular risk factor with that of WC was performed by comparing ROC area under curve (AUC). RESULTS Among 19,621 (6,608 men and 13,013 women) participants with age range of 45 to 80 years, the average age was 59.8 years for men and 58.5 years for women. The appropriate cutoff point of BMI was 23 kg/m2 in men and 24 kg/m2 in women. The cutoffs of WC were 80 cm and 78 cm in men and women, respectively. In both gender, waist circumference (WC) (AUC in men = 0.684; 95% CI, 0.672-0.695, AUC in women = 0.673; 95% CI, 0.665-0.681) was significantly (p < 0.001) better than BMI (AUC in men = 0.667; 95% CI, 0.656-0.679, AUC in women = 0.636; 95% CI, 0.628-0.644) in discrimination of at least one cardiovascular risk factor. CONCLUSION In Thai adults aged 45 to 80 years, the cutoff points of BMI should be 23 kg/m2 in men and 24 kg/m2 in women. For WC, 80 cm and 78 cm should be considered to be appropriate cutoffs for men and women, respectively. Waist circumference (WC) as a simple obesity index should be advocated for public health screening.
Technical Note: An implementation of the dry removal processes DRY DEPosition and SEDImentation in the Modular Earth Submodel System (MESSy)

We present the submodels DRYDEP and SEDI for the Modular Earth Submodel System (MESSy). Dry deposition of gases and aerosols is calculated within DRYDEP, whereas SEDI deals with aerosol particle sedimentation. Dry deposition velocities depend on the near-surface turbulence and the physical and chemical properties of the surface cover (e.g. the roughness length, soil pH or leaf stomatal exchange). The dry deposition algorithm used in DRYDEP is based on the big leaf approach and is described in detail within this Technical Note. The sedimentation submodel SEDI contains two sedimentation schemes: a simple upwind zeroth order scheme and a first order approach.
αvβ3 Integrin Boosts the Innate Immune Response Elicited in Epithelial Cells through Plasma Membrane and Endosomal Toll-Like Receptors

ABSTRACT We report that αvβ3 integrin strongly affects the innate immune response in epithelial cells. αvβ3 integrin greatly increased the response elicited via plasma membrane Toll-like receptors (TLRs) by herpes simplex virus or bacterial ligands. The endosomal TLR3, not the cytosolic sensor interferon gamma-inducible protein 16 (IFI16), was also boosted by αvβ3 integrin. The boosting was exerted specifically by αvβ3 integrin but not by αvβ6 or αvβ8 integrin. Current and previous work indicates that integrin-TLR cooperation occurs in epithelial and monocytic cells. The TLR response should be considered an integrin-TLR response.
End-to-end learning of motion , appearance and interaction cues for multi-target tracking

The task of Multi-Object Tracking (MOT) largely consists of locating multiple objects at each time frame, and matching their identities in different frames yielding to a set of object trajectories in a video frame. There are several cues used for representing the individuals in a crowded scene. We demonstrate that in general, fusing appearance, motion, and interaction cues together can enhance the level of performance on the MOT task. In this paper we combined appearance, motion and interaction cues in one deep unified framework. An important contribution of this work is a generic scalable MOT method that can fuse rich features from different dynamic or static models.
Optimizing β-lactams treatment in critically-ill patients using pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics targets: are first conventional doses effective?

ABSTRACT Introduction: The pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic index determining β-lactam activity is the percentage of the dosing interval (%T) during which their free serum concentration remains above a critical threshold over the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Regrettably, neither the value of %T nor that of the threshold are clearly defined for critically-ill patients. Areas covered: We review and assess the targets proposed for β-lactams in critical illness by screening the literature since 1997. Depending on the study intention (clinical cure vs. suppression of resistance), targets proposed range from 20%T > 1xMIC to 100%T > 5xMIC. Assessment and comparative analysis of their respective clinical efficacy suggest that a value of 100%T > 4xMIC may be needed. Simulation studies, however, show that this target will not be reached at first dose for the majority of critically-ill patients if using the most commonly recommended doses. Expert commentary: Considering that critically-ill patients are highly vulnerable and likely to experience antibiotic underexposure, and because effective initial treatment is a key determinant of clinical outcome, we support the use of a target of 100%T > 4xMIC, which could not only maximize efficacy but also minimize emergence of resistance. Clinical and microbiological studies are needed to test for the feasibility and effectiveness of reaching such a demanding target.
Y‐chromosome diversity is inversely associated with language affiliation in paired Austronesian‐ and Papuan‐speaking communities from Solomon Islands

The Solomon Islands lie in the center of Island Melanesia, bordered to the north by the Bismarck Archipelago and to the south by Vanuatu. The nation's half‐million inhabitants speak around 70 languages from two unrelated language groups: Austronesian, a language family widespread in the Pacific and closely related to languages spoken in Island Southeast Asia, and “East Papuan”, generally defined as non‐Austronesian and distantly related to the extremely diverse Papuan languages of New Guinea. Despite the archipelago's presumed role as a staging post for the settlement of Remote Oceania, genetic research on Solomon Island populations is sparse. We collected paired samples from two regions that have populations speaking Austronesian and Papuan languages, respectively. Here we present Y‐chromosome data from these samples, the first from Solomon Islands. We detected five Y‐chromosome lineages: M‐M106, O‐M175, K‐M9*, K‐M230, and the extremely rare clade, K1‐M177. Y‐chromosome lineages from Solomon Islands fall within the range of other Island Melanesian populations but display markedly lower haplogroup diversity. From a broad Indo‐Pacific perspective, Y‐chromosome lineages show partial association with the distribution of language groups: O‐M175 is associated spatially with Austronesian‐speaking areas, whereas M‐M106 broadly correlates with the distribution of Papuan languages. However, no relationship between Y‐chromosome lineages and language affiliation was observed on a small scale within Solomon Islands. This pattern may result from a sampling strategy that targeted small communities, where individual Y‐chromosome lineages can be fixed or swept to extinction by genetic drift or favored paternal exogamy. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 18:35–50, 2006. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Osseointegration of titanium, titanium alloy and zirconia dental implants: current knowledge and open questions

Bone healing around dental implants follows the pattern and sequence of intramembraneous osteogenesis with formation of woven bone first of all followed later by formation of parallel-fibered and lamellar bone. Bone apposition onto the implant surface starts earlier in trabecular bone than in compact bone. While the first new bone may be found on the implant surface around 1 week after installation, bone remodeling starts at between 6 and 12 weeks and continues throughout life. Bone remodeling also involves the bone-implant interface, thus transiently exposing portions of the implant surface. Surface modifications creating micro-rough implant surfaces accelerate the osseointegration process of titanium implants, as demonstrated in numerous animal experiments. Sandblasting followed by acid-etching may currently be regarded as the gold standard technique to create micro-rough surfaces. Chemical surface modifications, resulting in higher hydrophilicity, further increase the speed of osseointegration of titanium and titanium-zirconium implants in both animals and humans. Surface modifications of zirconia and alumina-toughened zirconia implants also have an influence on the speed of osseointegration, and some implant types reach high bone-to-implant contact values in animals. Although often discussed independently of each other, surface characteristics, such as topography and chemistry, are virtually inseparable. Contemporary, well-documented implant systems with micro-rough implant surfaces, placed by properly trained and experienced clinicians, demonstrate high long-term survival rates. Nevertheless, implant failures do occur. A low percentage of implants are diagnosed with peri-implantitis after 10 years in function. In addition, a low number of implants seem to be lost for primarily reasons other than biofilm-induced infection. Patient factors, such as medications interfering with the immune system and bone cells, may be an element contributing to continuous bone loss and should therefore be monitored and studied in greater detail.
Evaluating Cell Metabolism Through Autofluorescence Imaging of NAD(P)H and FAD.

SIGNIFICANCE Optical imaging using the endogenous fluorescence of metabolic cofactors has enabled nondestructive examination of dynamic changes in cell and tissue function both in vitro and in vivo. Quantifying NAD(P)H and FAD fluorescence through an optical redox ratio and fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) provides sensitivity to the relative balance between oxidative phosphorylation and glucose catabolism. Since its introduction decades ago, the use of NAD(P)H imaging has expanded to include applications involving almost every major tissue type and a variety of pathologies. Recent Advances: This review focuses on the use of two-photon excited fluorescence and NAD(P)H fluorescence lifetime techniques in cancer, neuroscience, tissue engineering, and other biomedical applications over the last 5 years. In a variety of cancer models, NAD(P)H fluorescence intensity and lifetime measurements demonstrate a sensitivity to the Warburg effect, suggesting potential for early detection or high-throughput drug screening. The sensitivity to the biosynthetic demands of stem cell differentiation and tissue repair processes indicates the range of applications for this imaging technology may be broad. CRITICAL ISSUES As the number of applications for these fluorescence imaging techniques expand, identifying and characterizing additional intrinsic fluorophores and chromophores present in vivo will be vital to accurately measure and interpret metabolic outcomes. Understanding the full capabilities and limitations of FLIM will also be key to future advances. FUTURE DIRECTIONS Future work is needed to evaluate whether a combination of different biochemical and structural outcomes using these imaging techniques can provide complementary information regarding the utilization of specific metabolic pathways.
Study on the mechanical property of reusing the surplus alloy of a precious metal ceramic alloy

ObjectiveTo study the effect of reusing the surplus alloy of a precious metal ceramic alloy on the mechanical property.MethodsThe control group for reusing the surplus alloy by only remelting without adding any new alloy up to four generation,and the test group by adding one-third new alloy each generation,their ultimate tensile strength were surveied by tensile test.ResultsIn control group the ultimate tensile strength from one to four genera-tion were 472.08±16.41MPa, 406.58±16.56MPa, 399.47±21.07MPa, 376.33±14.74MParespectively,and appeared decrease tendency and existed significant difference.But in test group were 479.03±8.01MPa, 440.97±8.99MPa, 431.69±8.33MPa, 406.26±29.85MPa respectively,much superior to Ⅰ～Ⅳ castings but still existing significant difference.ConclusionAdding one-third may replenish the mechanical property but cann't thoroughly correct and make up for a loss of recasting.Reusing the excess alloy by adding one-third new alloy is effective way in practice and mechanical property of the castings produced by this way may meet the clinical requirements.
Primary healthcare policy implementation in South Asia

Primary healthcare is considered an essential feature of health systems to secure population health and contain costs of healthcare while universal health coverage forms a key to secure access to care. This paper is based on a workshop at the 2016 World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA) South Asia regional conference, where the health systems of Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka were presented in relation to their provision of primary healthcare. The five countries have in recent years improved the health of their populations, but currently face the challenges of non-communicable diseases and ageing populations. Primary healthcare should be a core component in restructuring health systems. However, there is a lack of understanding among policymakers of the unique contribution of primary healthcare to the health of populations. This results in insufficient investment in facilities and low priority of specialty training in the community setting. Regional collaboration could strengthen the advocacy for primary healthcare to policymakers and other stakeholders. Priorities were investment in community-based health facilities, and access to healthcare through professionals specialty-trained in the primary healthcare setting. This development fits the strategy of the WHO South East Asian Region to use community-based healthcare in achieving universal health coverage for the Asian populations.
Depressive symptoms and 24-hour urinary norepinephrine excretion levels in patients with coronary disease: findings from the Heart and Soul Study.

OBJECTIVE Depressive symptoms are associated with an increased risk of cardiac events in patients with heart disease. Elevated catecholamine levels may contribute to this association, but whether depressive symptoms are associated with catecholamine levels in patients with heart disease is unknown. METHOD The authors examined the association between depressive symptoms (defined by a Patient Health Questionnaire score > or =10) and 24-hour urinary norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine excretion levels in 598 subjects with coronary disease. RESULTS A total of 106 participants (18%) had depressive symptoms. Participants with depressive symptoms had greater mean norepinephrine excretion levels than those without depressive symptoms (65 microg/day versus 59 mug/day, with adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, smoking, urinary creatinine levels, comorbid illnesses, medication use, and cardiac function). In logistic regression analyses, participants with depressive symptoms were more likely than those without depressive symptoms to have norepinephrine excretion levels in the highest quartile and above the normal range. Depressive symptoms were not associated with dopamine or epinephrine excretion levels. CONCLUSIONS In patients with coronary disease, depressive symptoms are associated with elevated norepinephrine excretion levels. Future longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether elevations in norepinephrine contribute to adverse cardiac outcomes in patients with depressive symptoms.
The thickness dependence of dielectric permittivity in thin films

It is well known that the physical properties of thin films depend on their thickness. For a description of such dependences, it is proposed to use a classical model taking into account the presence of film interfaces. A dielectric ball near the half-space was chosen to adopt the approach. The dependence of the effective permittivity of the ball on geometrical and physical parameters of the system is analyzed. It is demonstrated that the dielectric constant of a film can be presented as a sum of the constant of a bulk material and the interface term.
Multipair signal states in entanglement-based quantum cryptography

Pairs of entangled photons can be employed for quantum key distribution. For each bit exactly one pair of photons is needed. Unfortunately, the quantum states produced by real sources, like a parametric down conversion, contain also terms with more than only one photon pair. We discuss several aspects of the use of such states for quantum key distribution. It is shown that the presence of multi-pair signals (together with low detection efficiencies) causes errors in transmission even in the absence of al1 eavesdropper. However, the most important result is that an individual eavesdropping on multi-pair signals increases the error rate. This fact represents the important advantage of the entanglement-based quantum key distribution.
Effect of Workplace Weight Management on Health Care Expenditures and Quality of Life

Objective: We examined the effectiveness of the weight management program used by the University of Minnesota in reducing health care expenditures and improving quality of life of its employees, and also in reducing their absenteeism during a 3-year intervention. Methods: A differences-in-differences regression approach was used to estimate the effect of weight management participation. We further applied ordinary least squares regression models with fixed effects to estimate the effect in an alternative analysis. Results: Participation in the weight management program significantly reduced health care expenditures by $69 per month for employees, spouses, and dependents, and by $73 for employees only. Quality-of-life weights were 0.0045 points higher for participating employees than for nonparticipating ones. No significant effect was found for absenteeism. Conclusions: The workplace weight management used by the University of Minnesota reduced health care expenditures and improved quality of life.
FEM Investigation of Load Carrying Capacity of Magnetic Vibration Isolating Supports

The load carrying capacity of self-centering permanent magnet based vibration isolating support is analyzed in the article. COMSOL Multiphysics® modeling software was used for numerical simulation. Results are presented as repulsion force versus support cap displacement graph as well as magnetic flux density distribution graphs. Repulsion force was also measured experimentally. It is established that differences between numerically and experimentally obtained values are only about 2–8%. It is also established that near-zero stiffness of the support is achieved in case of 70 N normal load force.
Social structure influences extra-pair paternity in socially monogamous mammals

Using the genetic estimates of paternity available for 22 species of socially monogamous mammals, we investigated the impact of the social structure and of the type of pair bonding on the interspecific variations of extra-pair paternity rates. To this purpose, we classified species in three categories of social structure—solitary, pair or family-living species—and in two categories of pair bonding—intermittent or continuous. We show that interspecific variations of extra-pair paternity rates are better explained by the social structure than by the type of pair bonding. Species with intermittent and continuous pair bonding present similar rates of extra-pair paternity, while solitary and family-living species present higher extra-pair paternity rates than pair-living species. This can be explained by both higher male–male competition and higher female mate choice opportunities in solitary and family-living species than in pair-living species.