Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development of a Multimorbidity Illness Perceptions Scale (MULTIPleS)

Background Illness perceptions are beliefs about the cause, nature and management of illness, which enable patients to make sense of their conditions. These perceptions can predict adjustment and quality of life in patients with single conditions. However, multimorbidity (i.e. patients with multiple long-term conditions) is increasingly prevalent and a key challenge for future health care delivery. The objective of this research was to develop a valid and reliable measure of illness perceptions for multimorbid patients. Methods Candidate items were derived from previous qualitative research with multimorbid patients. Questionnaires were posted to 1500 patients with two or more exemplar long-term conditions (depression, diabetes, osteoarthritis, coronary heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Data were analysed using factor analysis and Rasch analysis. Rasch analysis is a modern psychometric technique for deriving unidimensional and intervally-scaled questionnaires. Results Questionnaires from 490 eligible patients (32.6% response) were returned. Exploratory factor analysis revealed five potential subscales ‘Emotional representations’, ‘Treatment burden’, ‘Prioritising conditions’, ‘Causal links’ and ‘Activity limitations’. Rasch analysis led to further item reduction and the generation of a summary scale comprising of items from all scales. All scales were unidimensional and free from differential item functioning or local independence of items. All scales were reliable, but for each subscale there were a number of patients who scored at the floor of the scale. Conclusions The MULTIPleS measure consists of five individual subscales and a 22-item summary scale that measures the perceived impact of multimorbidity. All scales showed good fit to the Rasch model and preliminary evidence of reliability and validity. A number of patients scored at floor of each subscale, which may reflect variation in the perception of multimorbidity. The MULTIPleS measure will facilitate research into the impact of illness perceptions on adjustment, clinical outcomes, quality of life, and costs in patients with multimorbidity.
Impermanence of bacterial clones

Bacteria reproduce asexually and pass on a single genome copied from the parent, a reproductive mode that assures the clonal descent of progeny; however, a truly clonal bacterial species is extremely rare. The signal of clonality can be interrupted by gene uptake and exchange, initiating homologous recombination that results in the unique sequence of one clone being incorporated into another. Because recombination occurs sporadically and on local scales, these events are often difficult to recognize, even when considering large samples of completely sequenced genomes. Moreover, several processes can produce the appearance of clonality in populations that undergo frequent recombination. The rates and consequences of recombination have been studied in Escherichia coli for over 40 y, and, during this time, there have been several shifting views of its clonal status, population structure, and rates of gene exchange. We reexamine the studies and retrace the evolution of the methods that have assessed the extent of DNA flux, largely focusing on its impact on the E. coli genome.
Computational methods for trajectory inference from single‐cell transcriptomics

Recent developments in single‐cell transcriptomics have opened new opportunities for studying dynamic processes in immunology in a high throughput and unbiased manner. Starting from a mixture of cells in different stages of a developmental process, unsupervised trajectory inference algorithms aim to automatically reconstruct the underlying developmental path that cells are following. In this review, we break down the strategies used by this novel class of methods, and organize their components into a common framework, highlighting several practical advantages and disadvantages of the individual methods. We also give an overview of new insights these methods have already provided regarding the wiring and gene regulation of cell differentiation. As the trajectory inference field is still in its infancy, we propose several future developments that will ultimately lead to a global and data‐driven way of studying immune cell differentiation.
Cross-regional results on income inequality in Italy:issues and evidence from survey data

In this paper we analyze the differences in household income inequality among Italian regions. Using data from the 2008 Bank of Italy's Survey on Household Income and Wealth, a remarkable gap in inequality among different geographic areas of the country has been observed. Besides, a thorough analysis of the theoretical and practical aspects of obtaining parametric and non parametric confidence intervals for Gini's and Zenga's inequality measures has been provided. The performance of the inferential procedures has been assessed and their effectiveness in developing a cross-regional study is shown. Cross-regional results on income inequality in Italy: issues and evidence from survey data 3 1 Introdution and motivation Since more than a century, economists and statisticians have been concerned with the problem of modeling income and wealth distributions and measuring inequality. Such research helps in making well informed decisions for elected representatives, businesses, unions and non-profit organizations, as well as individuals. In particular, the assessment of relationships between inequality and growth is getting an increased attention among scholars and policy makers, in connection with other variables such as human capital, employment, and so on. Furthermore, in recent studies about EU countries the evolution in time of regional disparities appears to be related to the dynamics of economic and monetary integration. Measuring inequality is hence a crucial issue for economics and social sciences. Unfortunately, we cannot rely only on point estimates of inequality measures, because in many empirical studies large standard errors are observed (see, among many others, Maasoumi 1997). Therefore, it is important to provide methodologies to assess whether differences in estimates are statistically significant. In this work we contribute to the issue by comparing parametric and non parametric estimation techniques. In particular, we will consider two parametric families, the Lognormal and the Dagum models. Our purpose is to obtain confidence intervals for Zenga's new inequality measure (Zenga, 2007) and for Gini's traditional index (Gini, 1914). The aim is to verify what is actually gained when we exploit the information about the underlying model. We will compare the two methodologies (parametric versus non-parametric) firstly in a simulation study, in order to assess coverage accuracy and length. Afterwards, we employ the same techniques on real income data, from Bank of Italy's Survey on Household Income and Wealth, to obtain a cross-regional analysis of differences in inequality. Our results show a remarkable gap in inequality among different geographic areas of the country, ranging …
Imaging Guided Percutaneous Irreversible Electroporation: Ultrasound and Immunohistological Correlation

Preliminary results of percutaneous irreversible electroporation (PIE) on swine liver as a novel non-thermal ablation are presented. The goal of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using irreversible electroporation in more clinically applicable manner, a percutaneous method, and to investigate a possible role of apoptosis in PIE-induced cell death. We performed PIE on four swine livers under real-time ultrasound guidance. The lesions created by PIE were imaged with ultrasound and were correlated with histology data, including pro-apoptotic marker. A total of 11 lesions were created with a mean size of 16.8 cm3 in 8.4 ± 1.8 minutes. Real-time monitoring was performed and a correlation of (+) 2 ± 3.2 mm in measurement comparison between ultrasound and gross pathologic measurements was demonstrated. Complete hepatic cell death without structural destruction, unaffected by heat-sink effect, and with a sharp demarcation between the ablated zone and the non-ablated zone were observed. Immunohistological analysis confirmed complete apoptotic cell death by PIE on Von Kossa, BAX, and H&E staining. In summary, PIE can provide a novel and unique ablative method with real-time monitoring capability, ultra-short procedure time, non-thermal ablation, and well-controlled and focused apoptotic cell death.
Lactate influx into red blood cells of athletic and nonathletic species.

Transport of lactate across the erythrocyte membrane proceeds by three distinct pathways: 1) nonionic diffusion of lactic acid, 2) inorganic anion exchange (band 3), and 3) a monocarboxylate-specific (MC) carrier mechanism. This study determined the contributions of these three pathways in the red blood cells (RBCs) of "athletic" and "nonathletic" species. Blood samples were obtained from four male animals of each species: 1) Canis familiaris (dogs), 2) Capra hircus (goats), 3) Equus caballus (horses), and 4) Bos taurus (cattle). Contribution of each pathway to total lactate influx was determined by measuring L-[14C]lactate influx into lactate-depleted control RBCs, p-chloromercuribenzenesulfonic acid (PCMBS)-treated (1 mM) RBCs, and 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS)-treated (0.2 mM) RBCs at three lactate concentrations ([La] values 1.6, 8.1, and 41 mM). PCMBS blocked MC transport and DIDS blocked the band 3 pathway. Lactate influx into the RBCs of the athletic species was 4-160 times faster (P < 0.05) than influx into the RBCs of the nonathletic species at 8.1 and 41 mM [La] values. Nonionic diffusion was greater in the RBCs of nonathletic animals (approximately 7-25%) than in the RBCs of athletic animals (approximately 4%). A significantly higher percentage of the total lactate influx occurred via the band 3 system in the RBCs from the nonathletic animals (approximately 56-83%) vs. the RBCs from the athletic animals (approximately 6-7%) at all [La] values. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Family Caregivers’ Experiences of Caring for Patients With Heart Failure: A Descriptive, Exploratory Qualitative Study

Background: Living with heart failure is a complex situation for family caregivers. Many studies addressing the challenges faced by heart failure family caregivers have already been conducted in Western societal settings. Sociocultural factors and perspectives influence the family caring experience and roles. The ethnic/culturally based differences in family caring behavior make this a subject worth further exploration and clarification. Purpose: This study explores the experiences of family caregivers in Iran of caring for patients with heart failure. Methods: A descriptive, exploratory, and qualitative approach was applied to gain authentic insight into the experiences of participants. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 21 family caregivers from three educational hospitals in Isfahan, Iran. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and field notes. Interviews and field notes were transcribed verbatim and concurrently analyzed. Results: Three major themes emerged from the analysis of the transcripts: caregiver uncertainty, lack of familial and organizational support, and Allah-centered caring. Participants believed that they did not have the basic knowledge related to their disease and drugs. In addition, they received little guidance from the healthcare team. Lack of support and insurance as well as financial issues were major problems faced by the caregivers. They accepted the providence of Allah and noted that Allah always helps them accomplish their caregiving responsibilities. Conclusions/Implications for Practice: The care performed by the caregivers of patients with heart failure exceeds their individual capabilities. Nurses, other healthcare providers, and health policy makers may use the findings of this study to develop more effective programs to address these challenges and to provide more effective support. Sociocultural factors and perspectives were the primary factors affecting the caregiving experiences of participants in this study. Improved understanding of these factors and perspectives will help healthcare providers develop and implement suitable intervention programs for caregivers. Healthcare professionals should develop context-based intervention programs to promote caregiver capabilities and encourage caregivers to participate to facilitate the caregiving roles of caregivers.
Taxa de juros e prêmio de risco: investigando a hipótese Bresser-Nakano para a economia brasileira, 1995-2005

The Bresser-Nakano's proposal raised a wide discussion on the monetary policy in Brazil and several critiques were brought about as well as contributions for its improvement. Their main argument is based upon a causality relation that runs from interest rate to risk premium with a positive correlation. In this case a cut in the interest rate shifts down the risk premium, and could even reduce the price inflation by the exchange rate. This assumption is linked to others issues in financial integration in an open economy context. The traditional view is that the interest rate is determined by the interest rate parity condition and that the monetary authority has no autonomy to set different rates from those determined by the "capital's flows". An alternative approach defends that is possible to peg with wide autonomy the domestic interest rate, even in this context. The results endorse Bresser-Nakano's proposal and suggest it could be feasible for Brazilian real situation.
From full employment to employability: a new deal for Britain’s unemployed?

Britain’s New Labour Government has radically shifted its policy aims away from securing traditional full employment towards the improvement of “employability”. This paper briefly assesses what is meant by employability and how the Government has integrated its “supply side” approach to the unemployed with the stricter benefit regime it inherited from its Conservative predecessor. It describes the various New Deal and area‐based employment programmes that have been introduced during an intense phase of policy development and experimentation and outlines the immediate impact they have had. The Government’s long‐term aim is to build on this experience and create a “work‐based welfare state” for all those of working age who receive state benefits. In conclusion, the paper highlights some of the weaknesses of the new strategy and draws out the implications that existing evaluations of active labour market programmes have for the likely impact of the New Deals.
Immunogenicity and safety of an inactivated 2012/2013 trivalent influenza vaccine produced in mammalian cell culture (Optaflu®)

Background: The present study aimed to evaluate immunogenicity and safety of the 2012/2013 seasonal influenza vaccine (Optaflu®) after the World Health Organization recommended two new strains for the composition. Results: Twenty-one days post-vaccination geometric mean titers (GMTs) against A(H1N1), A(H3N2) and the B strain were 528, 935, and 201 for adults and 272, 681, and 101 for elderly subjects, respectively. The proportion of subjects with a HI titer of ≥ 40 against the three strains A(H1N1), A(H3N2) and B was 98%, 100%, and 98% in adults and 100%, 100%, and 85% in elderly subjects, respectively. Optaflu® met the CHMP criteria of the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CPMP/BWP/214/96). Pre-vaccination titers indicated seroprotection against the A(H1N1), the A(H3N2) and the B strain in 56%, 86%, and 54% of the adults and in 61%, 85%, and 40% of the elderly with highest titers against the A(H3N2) strain. In the safety analysis injection site pain (37%) and myalgia (31%) were the most common local and systemic reactions. No serious adverse events were recorded. Conclusion: The 2012/2013 seasonal influenza vaccine Optaflu® showed good immunogenicity and an acceptable safety profile in both adults and elderly. Methods: In this trial, 126 subjects (63 adults ≥18 to ≤60 y, 63 elderly ≥61 y) were vaccinated with a single dose Optaflu® containing each of the three virus strains recommended for the 2012/2013 season (A/California/7/2009(H1N1)-like strain, A/Victoria/361/2011(H3N2)-like strain, and B/Wisconsin/1/2010-like strain). Immunogenicity was assessed by hemagglutinin inhibition (HI) and single radial hemolysis (SRH) assays on day 22, the safety profile was investigated throughout the whole study period.
Prefrontal cortical dysfunction in depression determined by Wisconsin Card Sorting Test performance.

OBJECTIVE Neuroimaging studies have demonstrated reduced prefrontal cortical blood flow and metabolism in depression, but the neurobehavioral significance of these observations is not yet established. METHOD The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, a widely used neuropsychological index of prefrontal cortical function, was administered to 79 patients with major depression who had been unmedicated for at least 28 days, to 47 patients with schizophrenia who had never received antipsychotic medication, and to 61 healthy comparison subjects. RESULTS Depressed patients demonstrated significant deficits on multiple Wisconsin Card Sorting Test measures compared with healthy individuals. These deficits were correlated with the severity of depression and were less severe than those demonstrated by patients with schizophrenia. CONCLUSIONS These results provide neuropsychological evidence for significant prefrontal cortical dysfunction in depression.
NIH State-of-the-Science Conference Statement on manifestations and management of chronic insomnia in adults.

OBJECTIVE To provide health care providers, patients, and the general public with a responsible assessment of currently available data on manifestations and management of chronic insomnia in adults. PARTICIPANTS A non-DHHS, non-advocate 12-member panel representing the fields of psychology, psychiatry, neuroscience, anesthesiology, sleep disorders, geriatric medicine, epidemiology, health services research, nursing, and community medicine. In addition, 19 experts from fields related to the subject matter of the conference presented data to the panel and to the conference audience. EVIDENCE Presentations by experts and a systematic review of the medical literature prepared by the University of Alberta Evidence-based Practice Center, through the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's Evidence-based Practice Centers Program. Scientific evidence was given precedence over clinical anecdotal experience. CONFERENCE PROCESS Answering pre-determined questions, the panel drafted its statement based on scientific evidence presented in open forum and on the published scientific literature. The draft statement was read in its entirety on the final day of the conference and circulated to the audience for comment. The panel then met in executive session to consider the comments received, and released a revised statement later that day at http://www.consensus. nih.gov. This statement is an independent report of the panel and is not a policy statement of the NIH or the Federal Government. This statement and all past statements from the NIH Consensus Development Program are available at the same web address of http://www.consensus. nih.gov. CONCLUSIONS Chronic insomnia is a major public health problem affecting millions of individuals, along with their families and communities. Little is known about the mechanisms, causes, clinical course, comorbidities, and consequences of chronic insomnia. Evidence supports the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy and benzodiazepine receptor agonists in the treatment of this disorder, at least in the short term. Very little evidence supports the efficacy of other treatments, despite their widespread use. Moreover, even for those treatments that have been systematically evaluated, the panel is concerned about the mismatch between the potential lifelong nature of this illness and the longest clinical trials, which have lasted 1 year or less. A substantial public and private research effort is warranted, including developing research tools and conducting longitudinal studies of randomized clinical trials. Finally, there is a major need for educational programs directed at physicians, health care providers, and the public.
Chimeric Rhinoviruses Obtained via Genetic Engineering or Artificially Induced Recombination Are Viable Only if the Polyprotein Coding Sequence Derives from the Same Species

ABSTRACT Recombination is a widespread phenomenon that ensures both the stability and variation of RNA viruses. This phenomenon occurs with different frequencies within species of the Enterovirus genus. Intraspecies recombination is described frequently among non-rhinovirus enteroviruses but appears to be sporadic in rhinoviruses. Interspecies recombination is even rarer for rhinoviruses and mostly is related to ancient events which contributed to the speciation of these viruses. We reported that artificially engineered 5′ untranslated region (UTR) interspecies rhinovirus/rhinovirus or rhinovirus/non-rhinovirus enterovirus recombinants are fully viable. Using a similar approach, we demonstrated in this study that exchanges of the P1-2A polyprotein region between members of the same rhinovirus species, but not between members of different species, give rise to competent chimeras. To further assess the rhinovirus intra- and interspecies recombination potential, we used artificially induced recombination by cotransfection of 5′-end-deleted and 3′-end-deleted and replication-deficient genomes. In this system, intraspecies recombination also resulted in viable viruses with high frequency, whereas no interspecies rhinovirus recombinants could be recovered. Mapping intraspecies recombination sites within the polyprotein highlighted recombinant hotspots in nonstructural genes and at gene boundaries. Notably, all recombinants occurring at gene junctions presented in-frame sequence duplications, whereas most intragenic recombinants were homologous. Taken together, our results suggest that only intraspecies recombination gives rise to viable rhinovirus chimeras in the polyprotein coding region and that recombination hotspots map to nonstructural genes with in-frame duplications at gene boundaries. These data provide new insights regarding the mechanism and limitations of rhinovirus recombination. IMPORTANCE Recombination represents a means to ensure both the stability and the variation of RNA viruses. While intraspecies recombination is described frequently among non-rhinovirus enteroviruses, it seems to occur more rarely in rhinoviruses. Interspecies recombination is even rarer in this virus group and is mostly related to ancient events, which contributed to its speciation. We used engineered chimeric genomes and artificially induced RNA recombination to study experimentally the recombination potential of rhinoviruses and analyze recombination sites. Our results suggest that only intraspecies recombination gives rise to viable chimeras in the polyprotein coding region. Furthermore, characterization of intraspecies chimeras provides new insight into putative recombination hotspots within the polyprotein. In summary, we applied two powerful and complementary experimental approaches to improve current knowledge on rhinovirus recombination.
Cooperative operating mode featuring tight-strong coupling for wireless power transmission

In order to address the short distance transmission of inductive coupling wireless power transmission and the poor stability of power supply of near-field resonant wireless power transmission, achieving high-power, efficient and stable wireless power supply for dynamic load on meter level, the cooperative operating mode with tight-strong coupling is proposed and analysed. By establishing unified mathematical expression, the transmission characteristic in time domain is discussed, and the influences of coupling coefficient and quality factor on system performance are studied. The design of cooperative coil is analysed using cooperating coefficient. Finally, a prototype is built to validate the obtained analytical results.