Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quality of Life of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting Qualidade de Vida de pacientes submetidos à revascularização do miocárdio

Objective: Determining the impact of coronary artery bypass grafting on the Quality of Life of patients, analyzing and comparing dimensions of Quality of Life before and after surgery; comparing sociodemographic and clinical variables with the aspects of depression and anxiety, in the pre and postoperative periods. Methods: A descriptive exploratory study in which 78 patients were included in the pre and postoperative periods. International instruments of research were used and validated to assess quality of life and the aspects of depression and anxiety. Results: There was significant improvement in all domains of the Quality of Life, depression and anxiety (p=0.05). The physical and social domains of the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey showed lower scores (13.46 and 3.03, respectively), as well as the social domain of the Macnew instrument (3.03). Conclusion: Coronary artery bypass surgery caused positive impact on the Quality of Life of these patients. Resumo Objetivo: Determinar o impacto da cirurgia de revascularizacao do miocardio na Qualidade de Vida dos pacientes; analisar e comparar dimensoes da Qualidade de Vida antes e apos a intervencao cirurgica; comparar variaveis sociodemograficas e clinicas aos aspectos de depressao e ansiedade, pre e pos-operatorios. Metodos: Estudo descritivo exploratorio no qual foram incluidos 78 pacientes no pre e pos-operatorio. Foram utilizados instrumentos de pesquisa internacionais e validados para avaliar a qualidade de vida e os aspectos de depressao e ansiedade. Resultados: Houve melhora significativa em todos os dominios da Qualidade de Vida, depressao e ansiedade (p=0,05). Dominios fisico e social do 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey apresentaram menor pontuacao dos escores (13,46 e 3,03, respectivamente), bem como o dominio social do instrumento Macnew (3,03). Conclusao: Cirurgia de revascularizacao ocasionou impacto positivo na Qualidade de Vida desses pacientes.
CacheShield: Detecting Cache Attacks through Self-Observation

Microarchitectural attacks pose a great threat to any code running in parallel to other untrusted processes. Especially in public clouds, where system resources such as caches are shared across several tenants, microarchitectural attacks remain an unsolved problem. Cache attacks rely on evictions by the spy process, which alter the execution behavior of the victim process. Similarly, all attacks exploiting shared resource access will influence these resources, thereby influencing the process they are targeting. We show that hardware performance events reveal the presence of such attacks. Based on this observation, we propose CacheShield, a tool to protect legacy code by self-monitoring its execution and detecting the presence of microarchitectural attacks. CacheShield can be run by users and does not require alteration of the OS or hypervisor, while previously proposed software-based countermeasures require cooperation from the hypervisor. Unlike methods that try to detect malicious processes, our approach is lean, as only a fraction of the system needs to be monitored. It also integrates well into today's cloud infrastructure, as concerned users can opt to use CacheShield without support from the cloud service provider. Our results show that CacheShield detects attacks fast, with high reliability, and with few false positives, even in the presence of strong noise.
D-XMAN: A Platform For Total Compositionality in Service-Oriented Architectures

Current software platforms for service composition are based on orchestration, choreography or hierarchical orchestration. However, such approaches for service composition only support partial compositionality; thereby, increasing the complexity of SOA development. In this paper, we propose DX-MAN, a platform that supports total compositionality. We describe the main concepts of DX-MAN with the help of a case study based on the popular MusicCorp.
How do language-specific characteristics affect the acquisition of different relative clause types? Evidence from Finnish*

Abstract We report three studies (one corpus, two experimental) that investigated the acquisition of relative clauses (RCs) in Finnish-speaking children. Study 1 found that Finnish children's naturalistic exposure to RCs predominantly consists of non-subject relatives (i.e. oblique, object) which typically have inanimate head nouns. Study 2 tested children's comprehension of subject, object, and two types of oblique relatives. No difference was found in the children's performance on different structures, including a lack of previously widely reported asymmetry between subject and object relatives. However, children's comprehension was modulated by animacy of the head referent. Study 3 tested children's production of the same RC structures using sentence repetition. Again we found no subject–object asymmetry. The pattern of results suggested that distributional frequency patterns and the relative complexity of the relativizer contribute to the difficulty associated with particular RC structures.
Sulforaphane Inhibits c‐Myc‐Mediated Prostate Cancer Stem‐Like Traits

Preventive and therapeutic efficiencies of dietary sulforaphane (SFN) against human prostate cancer have been demonstrated in vivo, but the underlying mechanism(s) by which this occurs is poorly understood. Here, we show that the prostate cancer stem cell (pCSC)‐like traits, such as accelerated activity of aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1), enrichment of CD49f+ fraction, and sphere forming efficiency, are attenuated by SFN treatment. Interestingly, the expression of c‐Myc, an oncogenic transcription factor that is frequently deregulated in prostate cancer cells, was markedly suppressed by SFN both in vitro and in vivo. This is biologically relevant, because the lessening of pCSC‐like phenotypes mediated by SFN was attenuated when c‐Myc was overexpressed. Naturally occurring thio, sulfinyl, and sulfonyl analogs of SFN were also effective in causing suppression of c‐Myc protein level. However, basal glycolysis, a basic metabolic pathway that can also be promoted by c‐Myc overexpression, was not largely suppressed by SFN, implying that, in addition to c‐Myc, there might be another SFN‐sensitive cellular factor, which is not directly involved in basal glycolysis, but cooperates with c‐Myc to sustain pCSC‐like phenotypes. Our study suggests that oncogenic c‐Myc is a target of SFN to prevent and eliminate the onset of human prostate cancer. J. Cell. Biochem. 117: 2482–2495, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Machine learning-assisted virtual patching of web applications

Web applications are permanently being exposed to attacks that exploit their vulnerabilities. In this work we investigate the application of machine learning techniques to leverage Web Application Firewall (WAF), a technology that is used to detect and prevent attacks. We propose a combined approach of machine learning models, based on one-class classification and n-gram analysis, to enhance the detection and accuracy capabilities of MODSECURITY, an open source and widely used WAF. The results are promising and outperform MODSECURITY when configured with the OWASP Core Rule Set, the baseline configuration setting of a widely deployed, rule-based WAF technology. The proposed solution, combining both approaches, allow us to deploy a WAF when no training data for the application is available (using one-class classification), and an improved one using n-grams when training data is available.
Immigrant community integration in world cities

As a consequence of the accelerated globalization process, today major cities all over the world are characterized by an increasing multiculturalism. The integration of immigrant communities may be affected by social polarization and spatial segregation. How are these dynamics evolving over time? To what extent the different policies launched to tackle these problems are working? These are critical questions traditionally addressed by studies based on surveys and census data. Such sources are safe to avoid spurious biases, but the data collection becomes an intensive and rather expensive work. Here, we conduct a comprehensive study on immigrant integration in 53 world cities by introducing an innovative approach: an analysis of the spatio-temporal communication patterns of immigrant and local communities based on language detection in Twitter and on novel metrics of spatial integration. We quantify the Power of Integration of cities –their capacity to spatially integrate diverse cultures– and characterize the relations between different cultures when acting as hosts or immigrants.
Perivascular-Like Cells Contribute to the Stability of the Vascular Network of Osteogenic Tissue Formed from Cell Sheet-Based Constructs

In recent years several studies have been supporting the existence of a close relationship in terms of function and progeny between Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) and Pericytes. This concept has opened new perspectives for the application of MSCs in Tissue Engineering (TE), with special interest for the pre-vascularization of cell dense constructs. In this work, cell sheet technology was used to create a scaffold-free construct composed of osteogenic, endothelial and perivascular-like (CD146+) cells for improved in vivo vessel formation, maturation and stability. The CD146 pericyte-associated phenotype was induced from human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) by the supplementation of standard culture medium with TGF-β1. Co-cultured cell sheets were obtained by culturing perivascular-like (CD146+) cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) on an hBMSCs monolayer maintained in osteogenic medium for 7 days. The perivascular-like (CD146+) cells and the HUVECs migrated and organized over the collagen-rich osteogenic cell sheet, suggesting the existence of cross-talk involving the co-cultured cell types. Furthermore the presence of that particular ECM produced by the osteoblastic cells was shown to be the key regulator for the singular observed organization. The osteogenic and angiogenic character of the proposed constructs was assessed in vivo. Immunohistochemistry analysis of the explants revealed the integration of HUVECs with the host vasculature as well as the osteogenic potential of the created construct, by the expression of osteocalcin. Additionally, the analysis of the diameter of human CD146 positive blood vessels showed a higher mean vessel diameter for the co-cultured cell sheet condition, reinforcing the advantage of the proposed model regarding blood vessels maturation and stability and for the in vitro pre-vascularization of TE constructs.
Autonomous vehicle self-localization based on probabilistic planar surface map and multi-channel LiDAR in urban area

Autonomous vehicle self-positioning based on 3D light detection and ranging (Lidar) has become popular recently due to disadvantages of global navigation satellite system (GNSS) in urban areas. As LiDAR-based simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) methods suffer from error accumulation, state-of-the-art approaches match the point cloud data acquired by LiDAR to the priori known 3D point cloud map to obtain the position of the vehicle within the map. However, 3D point cloud map is very expensive to store and download as it contains an enormous amount of data even for a small area (around 300 million points per km2). In this study, rather than using 3D point cloud directly as a map, we focused on the planar surfaces which are mostly available in urban areas, easy to extract, and at the same time clearly observable by LiDAR. Therefore, in our proposed map, we extract the planar surfaces from the 3D point cloud and calculate its uncertainty (deviation) and store them as a prior map. Accordingly, in this map, we can abstract several thousands of points by only one plane. As a result, we can extremely shrink the map size (25 million points to around 1000 planes). Later in the localization phase, we reconstruct Gaussian mixture model for each planar surface based on previously stored deviation, and match LiDAR data to it to obtain the precise location of the vehicle. Experiments conducted in one of the urban areas of Tokyo show that even though we extremely shrank the map size, we could preserve the mean error of the localization less than 43cm comparing to other point cloud based methods.
Next steps for electronic health records to improve the diagnostic process

Abstract Electronic health record (EHR) usage is accelerating while preventable diagnostic error persists. EHRs may even contribute to diagnostic error through several pathways including poor usability and an over reliance on electronic chart based communication. The changing context of healthcare delivery offers potential financial incentives for organizations to leverage EHRs to reduce diagnostic error. The lack of standard quality metrics for reporting rates of diagnostic error, a lack of diagnostic feedback systems for physicians and organizations, and a lack of compelling evidence for specific interventions underscore the need for further research in preventing diagnostic error. Many potential strategies exist for EHRs to reduce the likelihood of diagnostic error. Practical next steps for leveraging EHR systems to assist in the diagnostic process are suggested. These include patient engagement strategies, closed loop result tracking, targeted next step reminder systems, and expansion of a list of actionable patient states based on diagnosis triggers.
Variables associated with HbA1c and weight reductions when adding liraglutide to multiple daily insulin injections in persons with type 2 diabetes (MDI Liraglutide trial 3)

Objective To evaluate variables associated with hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and weight reduction when adding liraglutide to persons with type 2 diabetes treated with multiple daily insulin injections (MDI). Research design and methods This was a reanalysis of a previous trial where 124 patients were enrolled in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter randomized trial carried out over 24 weeks. Predictors for effect on change in HbA1c and weight were analyzed within the treatment group and with concurrent interaction analyses. Correlation analyses for change in HbA1c and weight from baseline to week 24 were made. Results The mean age at baseline was 63.7 years, 64.8% were men, the mean number of insulin injections was 4.4 per day, the mean daily insulin dose was 105 units and the mean HbA1c was 74.5 mmol/mol (9.0%). The mean HbA1c and weight reductions were 12.3 mmol/mol (1.13%; P<0.001) and 3.8 kg (P<0.001) greater in liraglutide than placebo-treated persons. There was no significant predictor for greater effect on HbA1c that existed in all analyses (univariate, multivariate and interaction analyses against controls). For a greater weight reduction when adding liraglutide, a lower HbA1c level at baseline was a predictor (liraglutide group P=0.002, P=0.020 for liraglutide group vs placebo). During follow-up in the liraglutide group, no significant correlation was found between change in weight and change in HbA1c (r=0.09, P=0.46), whereas a correlation existed between weight and insulin dose reduction (r=0.44, P<0.001). Conclusion Weight reduction becomes greater when adding liraglutide in patients with type 2 diabetes treated with MDI who had a lower HbA1c level compared with those with a higher HbA1c level. There was no correlation between reductions in HbA1c and weight when liraglutide was added, that is, different patient groups responded with HbA1c and weight reductions. Trial registration number EudraCT nr: 2012-001941-42.
Graph-based Approximate Counting for Relational Probabilistic Models

One of the key operations inside most relational probabilistic models is counting be it for parameter/structure learning or for efficient inference. However, most approaches use the logical structure for counting and do not exploit any fast counting methods. In this work-inprogress, we explore the closer connections to graph data bases and propose methods that obtain both exact and approximate counts effectively. We demonstrate the efficiency in the task of parameter learning.
Micro-Meso-Macro Practice Tensions in Using Patient-Reported Outcome and Experience Measures in Hospital Palliative Care

This article applies a micro-meso-macro analytical framework to understand clinicians’ experiences and perspectives of using patient-reported outcome and experience measures (PROMs and PREMs) in routine hospital-based palliative care. We structure our discussion through qualitative analysis of a design and implementation project for using an electronic tablet-based tool among hospital-based palliative clinicians to assess patients’ and their family caregivers’ quality of life concerns and experiences of care. Our analysis identified three categories of practice tensions shaping clinicians’ use of PROMs and PREMs in routine care: tensions surrounding implementation, tensions in standardization and quantification, and tensions that arose from scope of practice concerns. Our findings highlight that clinicians necessarily work within the confluence of multiple system priorities, that navigating these priorities can result in irreducible practice tensions, and that awareness of these tensions is a critical consideration when integrating PROMs and PREMs into routine practice.
Injection of Cultured Cells with a ROCK Inhibitor for Bullous Keratopathy

BACKGROUND Corneal endothelial cell (CEC) disorders, such as Fuchs's endothelial corneal dystrophy, induce abnormal corneal hydration and result in corneal haziness and vision loss known as bullous keratopathy. We investigated whether injection of cultured human CECs supplemented with a rho‐associated protein kinase (ROCK) inhibitor into the anterior chamber could increase CEC density. METHODS We performed an uncontrolled, single‐group study involving 11 persons who had received a diagnosis of bullous keratopathy and had no detectable CECs. Human CECs were cultured from a donor cornea; a total of 1×106 passaged cells were supplemented with a ROCK inhibitor (final volume, 300 μl) and injected into the anterior chamber of the eye that was selected for treatment. After the procedure, patients were placed in a prone position for 3 hours. The primary outcome was restoration of corneal transparency, with a CEC density of more than 500 cells per square millimeter at the central cornea at 24 weeks after cell injection. Secondary outcomes were a corneal thickness of less than 630 μm and an improvement in best corrected visual acuity equivalent to two lines or more on a Landolt C eye chart at 24 weeks after cell injection. RESULTS At 24 weeks after cell injection, we recorded a CEC density of more than 500 cells per square millimeter (range, 947 to 2833) in 11 of the 11 treated eyes (100%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 72 to 100), of which 10 had a CEC density exceeding 1000 cells per square millimeter. A corneal thickness of less than 630 μm (range, 489 to 640) was attained in 10 of the 11 treated eyes (91%; 95% CI, 59 to 100), and an improvement in best corrected visual acuity of two lines or more was recorded in 9 of the 11 treated eyes (82%; 95% CI, 48 to 98). CONCLUSIONS Injection of human CECs supplemented with a ROCK inhibitor was followed by an increase in CEC density after 24 weeks in 11 persons with bullous keratopathy. (Funded by the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development and others; UMIN number, UMIN000012534.)
Cognitive Profiles associated with Responsiveness to Fraction Intervention

This study examined differences in cognitive processing between 4th–grade students who respond adequately, as opposed to inadequately, to intervention on 3 fraction outcomes: number–line estimation, calculation, and word problems. Students were assessed on 7 cognitive processes and on the 3 fraction outcomes. Students were grouped as adequate or inadequate responders, using as the cut–point the control–group mean on pre–to–post improvement on the relevant measure. Between–group differences identified reasoning, concept formation, and listening comprehension related to all 3 fraction outcomes. On the number–line outcome, within–group profile analysis indicated that inadequate responders experienced low reasoning ability relative to their other forms of cognitive processing.
The Association Between Osteoporosis and Alveolar Crestal Height in Postmenopausal Women.

BACKGROUND Evidence supporting an association between osteoporosis and loss of alveolar crestal bone is limited. This study investigated that association in a large cohort of postmenopausal women. METHODS A cohort of 1,341 postmenopausal women aged 53 to 85 were assessed for alveolar crestal height (ACH) and bone density. ACH was determined from oral radiographs with subjects dichotomized by disease severity. Bone density was assessed by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry, with severity determined by worst T score measured (normal >-1.00; low -1.00 to -2.00; moderate -2.01 to -2.49; osteoporotic <-2.5). RESULTS Compared to subjects in the normal T-score group, the odds of worse ACH increased by 39%, 59%, and 230% for those in the low, moderate, and osteoporotic groups, respectively. Adjustment for weight, education, hormone use, calcium or vitamin D supplementation, and smoking did not appreciably change the findings. Further adjustment for age attenuated the association, with osteoporotic subjects having a 1.9-fold increase of being in the worst ACH group (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.19 to 3.05). After age stratification, in women younger than 70 there was a significant trend by decreasing T-score category (P <0.02). Osteoporotic subjects had worse ACH (odds ratio [OR] = 1.95; 95% CI 1.20 to 3.17). In women aged 70 and older, worse ACH was 2.5- to 4.6-fold increased for decreasing T-score category. After adjustment, the OR (95% CI) for the low, moderate, and osteoporotic groups were 2.66 (1.12 to 6.29), 2.31 (0.89 to 6.01), and 3.57 (1.42 to 8.97), respectively (P trend = 0.026). CONCLUSIONS This study found a strong and consistent association between T score and ACH in postmenopausal women. Increasing age is an important modifier of that association.
Codon usage bias controls mRNA and protein abundance in trypanosomatids

Protein abundance differs from a few to millions of copies per cell. Trypanosoma brucei presents an excellent model for studies on codon bias and differential gene expression because transcription is broadly unregulated and uniform across the genome. T. brucei is also a major human and animal protozoal pathogen. Here, an experimental assessment, using synthetic reporter genes, revealed that GC3 codons have a major positive impact on both mRNA and protein abundance. Our estimates of relative expression, based on coding sequences alone (codon usage and sequence length), are within 2-fold of the observed values for the majority of measured cellular mRNAs (n > 7000) and proteins (n > 2000). Our estimates also correspond with expression measures from published transcriptome and proteome datasets from other trypanosomatids. We conclude that codon usage is a key factor affecting global relative mRNA and protein expression in trypanosomatids and that relative abundance can be effectively estimated using only protein coding sequences.