Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hospital effectiveness from administrative data: the Lombardy case

Purpose – The aim of this paper is the discussion and the dissemination of initiatives promoted by the Lombardy region for the construction of benchmarking systems between regional health structures of care utilizing administrative archives.Design/methodology/approach – The paper focuses on relative effectiveness (specific effect of care on patients) in a benchmarking framework, considering the dimension of sentinel outcomes. From Lombardy Hospital Discharge Cards proxies of sentinel outcomes are identified, defined as “context indicators” useful for a benchmarking analysis.Findings – First, the authors present outcomes and covariates at different levels (patient and healthcare structure) extracted from the Lombardy Hospital Discharge Cards for a benchmarking analysis. Second, empirical results show a consistent quota of outcome variability between structures of care and weak agreement between estimated rankings for context indicators. Finally, a slicing approach is suggested in order to apply an equitabl.
Type 2 diabetes–related foot care knowledge and foot self-care practice interventions in the United States: a systematic review of the literature

Introduction The purpose of this systematic literature review is to review published studies on foot care knowledge and foot care practice interventions as part of diabetic foot care self-management interventions. Methods Medline, CINAHL, CENTRAL, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases were searched. References from the included studies were reviewed to identify any missing studies that could be included. Only foot care knowledge and foot care practice intervention studies that focused on the person living with type 2 diabetes were included in this review. Author, study design, sample, intervention, and results were extracted. Results Thirty studies met the inclusion criteria and were classified according to randomized controlled trial (n=9), survey design (n=13), cohort studies (n=4), cross-sectional studies (n=2), qualitative studies (n=2), and case series (n=1). Improving lower extremity complications associated with type 2 diabetes can be done through effective foot care interventions that include foot care knowledge and foot care practices. Conclusion Preventing these complications, understanding the risk factors, and having the ability to manage complications outside of the clinical encounter is an important part of a diabetes foot self-care management program. Interventions and research studies that aim to reduce lower extremity complications are still lacking. Further research is needed to test foot care interventions across multiple populations and geographic locations.
Items on the left are better remembered

Neurologically intact individuals show a spatial processing bias in perception tasks, specifically showing a bias towards the left in bisecting lines. We present evidence for a novel finding that a leftwards bias occurs in short-term memory for recently presented arbitrary bindings of visual features. Three experiments are reported, two of which involve a total of over 60,000 participants with a small number of trials for each. Experiment 3 involved a larger number of trials for each of 144 participants. Participants reproduced from immediate memory arrays of shape–colour–location bindings. In all three experiments, significantly more errors were observed in reproduction of items presented on the right of the array than on the left. Results could not be accounted for by perceptual errors, or by order of presentation or order of reproduction. Findings suggest that items presented on the left are better remembered, indicating a spatial asymmetry in forming or retrieving feature bindings in visual short-term memory.
Clonal populations of hematopoietic cells with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria genotype and phenotype are present in normal individuals.

In paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), acquired somatic mutations in the PIG-A gene give rise to clonal populations of red blood cells unable to express proteins linked to the membrane by a glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor. These proteins include the complement inhibitors CD55 and CD59, and this explains the hypersensitivity to complement of red cells in PNH patients, manifested by intravascular hemolysis. The factors that determine to what extent mutant clones expand have not yet been pinpointed; it has been suggested that existing PNH clones may have a conditional growth advantage depending on some factor (e.g., autoimmune) present in the marrow environment of PNH patients. Using flow cytometric analysis of granulocytes, we now have identified cells that have the PNH phenotype, at an average frequency of 22 per million (range 10-51 per million) in nine normal individuals. These rare cells were collected by flow sorting, and exons 2 and 6 of the PIG-A gene were amplified by nested PCR. We found PIG-A mutations in six cases: four missense, one frameshift, and one nonsense mutation. PNH red blood cells also were identified at a frequency of eight per million. Thus, small clones with PIG-A mutations exist commonly in normal individuals, showing clearly that PIG-A gene mutations are not sufficient for the development of PNH. Because PIG-A encodes an enzyme essential for the expression of a host of surface proteins, the PIG-A gene provides a highly sensitive system for the study of somatic mutations in hematopoietic cells.
Late Effects of Therapy for Pediatric Brain Tumor Survivors

Approximately 2 of every 3 of all pediatric patients with brain tumors will be long-term survivors. However, there is a steep cost for pediatric brain tumor survivors, and the group as a whole faces significantly more late effects than many other survivors of pediatric cancers. Most of these effects can be attributed to direct neurologic damage to the developing brain caused by the tumor and its removal, the long-term toxicity of chemotherapy, or the effects of irradiation on the central nervous system. The late effects experienced by childhood brain tumor survivors involve multiple domains. This article will review the significant late effects that occur within the medical, neurocognitive, psychosocial, and economic domains of the survivorship experience. We conclude by discussing how the late effects in different domains often coexist and can create a complex set of obstacles that pose significant challenges for a survivor of a pediatric brain tumor on a daily basis.
Forced displacement in Colombia: Magnitude and causes

The article describes the magnitude, geographical extent, and causes of forced populationdisplacements in Colombia. Forced migration in Colombia is a war strategy adopted by armed groups to strengthen territorial strongholds, weaken civilian support to the enemy, seize valuable lands, and produce and transport illegal drugs with ease. Forced displacement in Colombia today affects 3.5 million people. Equivalent to 7.8 percent of Colombia’s population, and second worldwide only to Sudan, this shows the magnitude of the humanitarian crisis the country is facing. The phenomenon involves all of Colombia’s territory and nearly 90 percent of the country’s municipalities expel or receive population. In contrast to other countries, forced migration in Colombia is largely internal. Illegal armed groups are the main responsible parties, migration does not result in massive refugee streams but occurs on an individual basis, and the displaced population is dispersed throughout the territory and not focused in refugee camps. These characteristics pose unique challenges for crafting state policy that can effectively mitigate the impact of displacement.
Exploring the Variability of Segregation Index D with Scale and Zonal Systems: An Analysis of Thirty US Cities

In this paper, we propose a methodology to study the scale effect and zoning effect of the modifiable areal unit problem (MAUP). Instead of aggregating basic spatial units by the neighborhood criterion, we suggest placing a square lattice over the centroids representing the enumeration units in the study area. Areal units are aggregated if their centroids are in the same square. By changing the size of the square in the lattice, we can study the scale effect. By randomly placing the lattice, we can study the zoning effect. This methodology links the MAUP effects to specific scale reflected by the size of grids. We use this method to study the MAUP effects on the segregation index D. Among the thirty selected cities in the USA, values of D respond to the MAUP in a diverse pattern. We assess the scale effect on D by examining the changes of averaged values of D over the range of scale levels. We also borrow concepts from fractal analysis to assess the scale effect on D and to measure how sensitive the D values of these cities are to different zonal patterns.
The Great Divides: Ardipithecus ramidus Reveals the Postcrania of Our Last Common Ancestors with African Apes

Genomic comparisons have established the chimpanzee and bonobo as our closest living relatives. However, the intricacies of gene regulation and expression caution against the use of these extant apes in deducing the anatomical structure of the last common ancestor that we shared with them. Evidence for this structure must therefore be sought from the fossil record. Until now, that record has provided few relevant data because available fossils were too recent or too incomplete. Evidence from Ardipithecus ramidus now suggests that the last common ancestor lacked the hand, foot, pelvic, vertebral, and limb structures and proportions specialized for suspension, vertical climbing, and knuckle-walking among extant African apes. If this hypothesis is correct, each extant African ape genus must have independently acquired these specializations from more generalized ancestors who still practiced careful arboreal climbing and bridging. African apes and hominids acquired advanced orthogrady in parallel. Hominoid spinal invagination is an embryogenetic mechanism that reoriented the shoulder girdle more laterally. It was unaccompanied by substantial lumbar spine abbreviation, an adaptation restricted to vertical climbing and/or suspension. The specialized locomotor anatomies and behaviors of chimpanzees and gorillas therefore constitute poor models for the origin and evolution of human bipedality.
National registry of long-term dialysis patients.

The recently established National Dialysis Registry is an organ of the Artificial Kidney-Chronic Uremia Program of the National Institute of Arthritis and Metabolic Diseases of the National Institutes of Health. At present there are about 5,000 patients in irreversible kidney failure who are kept alive with the aid of long-term dialysis; a small number are awaiting renal transplants. A progressive trend from hospital-based treatment to home dialysis is discernible. The gross annual death rate (based on an observation of less than two years) is approximately 9%. The most common immediate causes of death terminating long-term dialysis are (in order of decreasing importance) cardiac disorders, cerebrovascular disease, and other vascular complications and infections.
Genome-wide protective response used by group A Streptococcus to evade destruction by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes

Group A Streptococcus (GAS) evades polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) phagocytosis and killing to cause human disease, including pharyngitis and necrotizing fasciitis (flesh-eating syndrome). We show that GAS genes differentially regulated during phagocytic interaction with human PMNs comprise a global pathogen-protective response to innate immunity. GAS prophage genes and genes involved in virulence, oxidative stress, cell wall biosynthesis, and gene regulation were up-regulated during PMN phagocytosis. Genes encoding novel secreted proteins were up-regulated, and the proteins were produced during human GAS infections. We discovered an essential role for the Ihk-Irr two-component regulatory system in evading PMN-mediated killing and promoting host–cell lysis, processes that would facilitate GAS pathogenesis. Importantly, the irr gene was highly expressed during human GAS pharyngitis. We conclude that a complex pathogen genetic program circumvents human innate immunity to promote disease. The gene regulatory program revealed by our studies identifies previously undescribed potential vaccine antigens and targets for therapeutic interventions designed to control GAS infections.
An Analysis of Mercosur's Regional Trading Arrangements

After six years of stop-start negotiations, Mercosur is no closer to signing a regional trading agreement (RTA) with the EU, whilst negotiations to finalise a Free Trade of the Americas Agreement (FTAA) have also stalled. This is due to various factors: economic crises in Mercosur, intransigence by member countries and uncertainty surrounding the outcome of the Doha Round. Estimates from the trade literature predict welfare gains to Mercosur from both RTAs whilst only one study assesses the additional benefits of removing non-tariff barrier (NTB) trade costs which have remained largely unchallenged within the multilateral forum. Copyright 2007 The Authors Journal compilation 2007 Blackwell Publishing Ltd .
Human RNA Polymerase I-Driven Reverse Genetics for Influenza A Virus in Canine Cells

ABSTRACT We have established a human RNA polymerase I (pol I)-driven influenza virus reverse genetics (RG) system in the Madin-Darby canine kidney 33016-PF cell line, which is approved for influenza vaccine manufacture. RNA pol I polymerases are generally active only in cells of species closely related to the species of origin of the polymerases. Nevertheless, we show that a nonendogenous RNA pol I promoter drives efficient rescue of influenza A viruses in a canine cell line. Application of this system allows efficient generation of virus strains and presents an alternative approach for influenza vaccine production.
Long-term continuous oxygen treatment in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: proper use, benefits and unresolved issues

Purpose of review Long-term oxygen treatment is one of the few interventions that improve survival in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and it is widely used even though published evidence supporting the use of this treatment in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is scanty. In addition, some studies do not demonstrate a mortality benefit for long-term oxygen treatment in this disease. It is important that long-term oxygen treatment be administered only to those patients who will benefit and in a manner that maximizes its efficacy. New studies are urgently needed to address these questions. Recent findings The published evidence for and against the use of long-term oxygen treatment in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is summarized and problems with current guidelines and important areas for future research are discussed. Summary Future research will address the optimal timing and duration of oxygen therapy during rest, exercise and sleep, ways of identifying chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients who are most likely to benefit and ways of improving patient compliance, all of which may have a profound effect on clinical practice.
European consumers' conceptions of organic food: A review of available research

This report is a publication from the project entitled 'Recommendations for Improved Procedures for Securing Consumer Oriented Food Safety and Quality of Certified Organic Foods from a Consumer Perspective' (acronym: 'Organic HACCP'), supported by the European Commission, Fifth Framework Programme, Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources, and co-ordinated by Dr. Kirsten Brandt. The report includes a summary and 9 chapters, which respectively regard a statement of objectives and methods (Chapter 1), critical considerations regarding current approaches to consumer studies (Chapter 2), an overview of factors related to the production, distribution and regulation of organic foods, which differentially affect patterns of consumption in European countries (Chapter 3), 4 case studies regarding the consumption of organic foods and the contextual features influencing consumption patterns in Denmark (Chapter 4), United kingdom (Chapter 5), Italy (Chapter 6) and Hungary (Chapter 7). These case studies are followed by a summary review of trends in Europe with regard to consumer characteristics, buying behaviour and consumer concerns (Chapter 8), as well as a series of recommendations with regard to future research regarding the consumption of organic foods within the European region (Chapter 9).
Reconsideration of Harm's Way: Onsets and Comorbidity Patterns of Disorders in Preschool Children and Their Caregivers Following Hurricane Katrina

This study examined posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and comorbid disorders in 70 preschool children (ages 3–6) and their caregivers following Hurricane Katrina. Children's rate of PTSD was 50.0% using age-modified criteria. The rate of PTSD was 62.5% for those who stayed in the city and 43.5% in those who evacuated. Of those with PTSD, 88.6% had at least one comorbid disorder, with oppositional defiant disorder and separation anxiety disorder being most common. Caregivers' rate of PTSD was 35.6%, of which 47.6% was new post-Katrina. No children and only 2 caregivers developed new non-PTSD disorders in the absence of new PTSD symptoms. Differences by race and gender were largely nonsignificant. Children's new PTSD symptoms correlated more strongly to caregivers with new symptoms compared to caregivers with old or no symptoms.
A credible property of resistance distance on real-world networks

On the basis of introducing the development of resistance distance, an important property of resistance distance was discussed. That is, Vertices in the same cluster of a graph have a small commute distance, whereas two vertices in different clusters of a graph have a “large” commute distance. The credible property was proved to be flawed on random geometric graphs by a research team. For the corrections of resistance distance mentioned by the research team, some experiments were made on real-world network data sets instead. The experiments showed that the property did not hold on rather small real-world network. Moreover, the computation results showed that the correction by von Luxburg did better than the correction by Brand.
Precision and Variability in Postsynaptic Target Selection of Inhibitory Cells in the Hippocampal CA3 Region

Non‐pyramidal cells were filled intracellularly with biocytin in the CA3 region of the guinea‐pig hippocampus in vitro, within or close to stratum pyramidale. On the basis of camera lucida reconstructions and electron microscopy, six different cell types with distinct laminar distribution of axon terminals could be distinguished. The axon of three axo‐axonic cells, three typical basket cells, and atypical basket cells of two types arborized in the perisomatic and proximal dendritlc region of CA3 pyramidal cells. Two cells with axons innervating the distal dendritlc segments of pyramidal cells were also found; one terminated in stratum radiatum and the other in stratum lacunosum‐moleculare. Electron microscopy demonstrated that symmetrical synapses were formed by the labelled boutons on axon initial segments, somata, and proximal or distal dendrites of mostly pyramidal neurons. Axo‐axonic cells showed absolute target selectivity for axon initial segments, whereas for the other cells the distribution of contacted elements was determined by the laminar distribution of axon terminals. In two cases, where additional cells were labelled with biocytin, multiple (up to nine) light microscopically identified contacts (presumed synaptic contacts) were established by the interneurons on several pyramidal cells and on an axo‐axonic cell. Our results show that a restricted set of inhibitory cells, with somata within or close to CA3 stratum pyramldale, possess variable patterns of axonal arborization. Various types of postsynaptic elements are contacted, but precision in selecting certain targets and ignoring others is maintained within a particular cell type and layer. In contrast to the diversity of axonal arbors the structure of the dendritic trees shows no consistent differences, suggesting that the cells may be activated by a similar set of afferents. It seems probable that the innervation of precise regions of postsynaptic pyramidal cells by different types of interneurons–often in conjunction with particular excitatory afferents (Han et at., Eur. J. Neurosci., 5, 395–410, 1993)–underlies functional differences in inhibitory synaptic actions.
Numerical simulation of a turbulent hydraulic jump : Characterization of the free interface and large bubble structure

Bubble generation is a ubiquitous and complex phenomenon occurring as a result of non-linear behavior of the free surfaces. Plunging breakers, spilling breakers and plunging jets are just a few scenarios where bubble generation occurs. Due to its complexity and our lack of complete understanding of this phenomenon, the models developed in the literature are far from being predictive (Moraga et al. 2008) (Ma et al. 2011). In addition to macro-bubble generation another mechanism has been discovered by Sigler & Mesler (1990), which generates micro bubbles, bubbles which are generated as a result of impact of two interfaces. A thin air film is trapped in a gap between the surfaces at impact. This thin film becomes unstable and fragments into tens to hundreds of micro bubbles (Thoroddsen et al. 2012). The sizes of these bubbles are in the range of tens to hundreds of microns. One important instance of bubble generation is near the ship hulls, where turbulent boundary layer interactions with the free surface result in a large amount of macro and micro bubble entrainment. Due to their dominant buoyancy forces, large bubbles come to the interface and leave the domain much faster than micro bubbles. Micro bubbles stay under the interface for a long time and leave a trail behind the ships. Due to the complexity of this problem, we have considered a simpler case of a hydraulic jump, where turbulence interactions with a free surface generating a continuous stream of wave breaking. In this work we aim to understand the structure of the interface, the length scales associated with them, and the local shape of the interface. Finally, we assess whether micro-bubble generation is plausible in this scenario. Pumphrey & Elmore (1990) have characterized different bubble-generation scenarios for the case of a drop impacting a flat surface, parameterized on the drop diameter and impact velocity. Based on this study, we can assess whether the impact phenomena occurring in a turbulent hydraulic jump are prone to producing micro bubbles. A hydraulic jump with a Froude number of 2 and a Reynolds number of 11000, based on inlet height and velocity, is simulated with the physical density ratio of 831 after an experiment by Murzyn et al. (2005). Large bubbles are observed to form in a patch structure with the specific frequency matching the peak in the velocity energy spectrum.