Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cost savings associated with US hospital palliative care consultation programs.

BACKGROUND Hospital palliative care consultation teams have been shown to improve care for adults with serious illness. This study examined the effect of palliative care teams on hospital costs. METHODS We analyzed administrative data from 8 hospitals with established palliative care programs for the years 2002 through 2004. Patients receiving palliative care were matched by propensity score to patients receiving usual care. Generalized linear models were estimated for costs per admission and per hospital day. RESULTS Of the 2966 palliative care patients who were discharged alive, 2630 palliative care patients (89%) were matched to 18,427 usual care patients, and of the 2388 palliative care patients who died, 2278 (95%) were matched to 2124 usual care patients. The palliative care patients who were discharged alive had an adjusted net savings of $1696 in direct costs per admission (P = .004) and $279 in direct costs per day (P < .001) including significant reductions in laboratory and intensive care unit costs compared with usual care patients. The palliative care patients who died had an adjusted net savings of $4908 in direct costs per admission (P = .003) and $374 in direct costs per day (P < .001) including significant reductions in pharmacy, laboratory, and intensive care unit costs compared with usual care patients. Two confirmatory analyses were performed. Including mean costs per day before palliative care and before a comparable reference day for usual care patients in the propensity score models resulted in similar results. Estimating costs for palliative care patients assuming that they did not receive palliative care resulted in projected costs that were not significantly different from usual care costs. CONCLUSION Hospital palliative care consultation teams are associated with significant hospital cost savings.
Use of the COPES, A Measure of Work Values, in Career Assessment

The Career Orientation Placement and Evaluation Survey (COPES; L. Knapp, Knapp-Lee, & R. R. Knapp, 1995), a measure of work values, was developed for use as part of the COPSystem to comprehensively assess interests, abilities, and values to facilitate career exploration. The development of the COPES and the structure of the work values it measures are presented. The 1995 revision of the COPES and its validity data are discussed in the context of career assessment and counseling; future directions for research are proposed.
Effect of apolipoprotein E genotype on in‐hospital mortality following intracerebral haemorrhage

Objective– To determine the relationship between the apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele and in‐hospital mortality from intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH). Material and methods ‐‐ Patients admitted to two acute stroke units with ICH were prospectively evaluated and APOE genotyped. In‐hospital survival was recorded in 176 patients. Results– There were 85 men and 91 women, mean age 68 years. Fifty‐two (30%) of the 176 patients died in hospital. After adjusting for sex, age, hospital, and race, increased age (P = 0.009) and the presence of the APOEε4 allele (P = 0.026) significantly reduced in‐hospital survival. Conclusion– The APOEε4 allele in this population may be associated with poor survival following ICH.
Traffic Identification of Tor and Web-Mix

With the wide use of anonymity tools, both blocking and anti-blocking of these tools have become hot topics. And the traffic identifications of the corresponding tools are key issues of both blocking and anti-blocking. In this paper, we address on identifying Tor and Web-Mix traffics, which are two of the most famous anonymity tools. Taking advantage of the typical methods for traffic identification, we proposed a traffic identification scheme based on traffic fingerprint extraction and matching. The fingerprints comprise of the specific strings, packet length and frequency of the packets' sending time. The details of design and implementation of such traffic identification scheme for both Tor and Web-Mix are presented. The feasibility of the proposed scheme is shown by the simulation experiments results.
Substance use disorders in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder: a review of the literature.

OBJECTIVE Alcohol use disorders and other substance use disorders are extremely common among patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This article reviews studies pertaining to the epidemiology, clinical phenomenology, and pathophysiology of comorbid PTSD and substance use disorders. METHOD Studies were identified by means of computerized and manual searches. The review of research on the pathophysiology of PTSD and substance use disorders was focused on studies of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the noradrenergic system. RESULTS High rates of comorbidity suggest that PTSD and substance use disorders are functionally related to one another. Most published data support a pathway whereby PTSD precedes substance abuse or dependence. Substances are initially used to modify PTSD symptoms. With the development of dependence, physiologic arousal resulting from substance withdrawal may exacerbate PTSD symptoms, thereby contributing to a relapse of substance use. Preclinical work has led to the proposal that in PTSD, corticotropin-releasing hormone and noradrenergic systems may interact such that the stress response is progressively augmented. Patients may use sedatives, hypnotics, or alcohol in an effort to interrupt this progressive augmentation. CONCLUSIONS Vigorous control of withdrawal and PTSD-related arousal symptoms should be sought during detoxification of patients with comorbid PTSD and substance use disorders. Inclusion of patients with comorbid PTSD and substance use disorders in neurobiologic research and in clinical trials will be critical for development of effective treatments for this severely symptomatic patient population.
History of Single Episode and Recurrent Major Depressive Disorder Among Smokers in Cessation Treatment: Associations With Depressive Symptomatology and Early Cessation Failure

ObjectivesResearch and theory provide initial support for the potential utility in distinguishing between recurrent and single episode MDD smokers for cessation treatment. However, no study to date has examined differences in clinical presentation at the outset of treatment among these two groups and whether these clinical profiles are indicative of early cessation failure (smoking on quit day). MethodsIn a secondary analysis of a sample of 179 smokers entering cessation treatment, we examined baseline differences in dysfunctional attitudes, maladaptive coping, self-efficacy to manage negative affect, depressive symptoms, depressed mood, and experienced pleasure from life events between smokers with a history of recurrent major depression (MDD-R; 54.7%) and single episode major depression (MDD-S). ResultsResults showed that MDD-R smokers reported lower self-efficacy to cope with negative affect, greater depressive symptoms, and greater depressed mood than MDD-S smokers, although no differences were found on dysfunctional attitudes, avoidance coping, and level of experienced pleasure from daily life events. A greater number of MDD-R compared to MDD-S smokers were not abstinent on their quit day, however a history of recurrent MDD did not increase risk for early cessation failure. ConclusionsThe findings indicate that although depressed mood, negative affect-regulation ability, and depression severity distinguish recurrent and single episode MDD smokers at the start of cessation treatment, these differences do not necessarily portend greater risk for cessation failure in the early stages of treatment.
ARDC: An adaptive file replication method based on dynamic community in peer-to-peer networks

In a peer-to-peer network, file replication technology is widely used to reduce hot spots and improve search performance. Most current file replication methods replicate files in all nodes or two endpoints on a client-server query path. However, these methods either have low effectiveness or come at a cost of high overhead. This paper presents an adaptive file replication method based on dynamic community (ARDC) that addresses the issue of where replicas should be placed. Simulation results demonstrate the efficiency and effectiveness of ARDC in comparison with other approaches. It dramatically reduces the overhead of file replication, and yields significant improvements on the efficiency and effectiveness of file replication in terms of query efficiency, replica hit rate and overloaded nodes reduction.
Comparison of metrics to remove the influence of geometrical conditions on soil reflectance

The objective of this work is to find the best metric to ignore the variations of soil reflectance induced by the solar-view angles geometry. Differences between spectra measured for the same soil under different observation and illumination configurations can leads to misclassifications. Using ninety two soils of different composition measured under twenty eight solar- view angles geometries, we tested 3 metrics : RMSE, SAM, R2 (the coefficient of determination) and we compared their performances. The best metric seems to be the coefficient of determination with 93 % of good classifications.
Pulmonary Atelectasis: A Pathogenic Perioperative Entity

Atelectasis occurs in the dependent parts of the lungs of most patients who are anesthetized. Development of atelectasis is associated with decreased lung compliance, impairment of oxygenation, increased pulmonary vascular resistance, and development of lung injury. The adverse effects of atelectasis persist into the postoperative period and can impact patient recovery. This review article focuses on the causes, nature, and diagnosis of atelectasis. The authors discuss the effects and implications of atelectasis in the perioperative period and illustrate how preventive measures may impact outcome. In addition, they examine the impact of atelectasis and its prevention in acute lung injury.
Neural Basis of Impaired Cognitive Flexibility in Patients with Anorexia Nervosa

Background Impaired cognitive flexibility in anorexia nervosa (AN) causes clinical problems and makes the disease hard to treat, but its neural basis has yet to be fully elucidated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the brain activity of individuals with AN while performing a task requiring cognitive flexibility on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), which is one of the most frequently used neurocognitive measures of cognitive flexibility and problem-solving ability. Methods Participants were 15 female AN patients and 15 age- and intelligence quotient-matched healthy control women. Participants completed the WCST while their brain activity was measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging during the task. Brain activation in response to set shifting error feedback and the correlation between such brain activity and set shifting performance were analyzed. Results The correct rate on the WCST was significantly poorer for AN patients than for controls. Patients showed poorer activity in the right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex and bilateral parahippocampal cortex on set shifting than controls. Controls showed a positive correlation between correct rate and ventrolateral prefrontal activity in response to set shifting whereas patients did not. Conclusion These findings suggest dysfunction of the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex and parahippocampal cortex as a cause of impaired cognitive flexibility in AN patients.
MetaViz: Visual Interaction with Geospatial Digital Libraries

Recent initiatives to geospatial digital libraries provide access to a wealth of distributed data, but offer only basic levels of interactivity and user assistance. Consequently, users find it difficult and time-consuming to browse through data collections and locate those data sets that meet their requirements. The MetaViz project addresses two of the major barriers preventing the extensive use of digital libraries: lack of usability and information overload. This research focuses on geospatial data, making it possible to develop effective visualization and interaction methods that are based on familiar spatial metaphors. The visualization methods developed employ three-dimensional techniques, combining several characteristics or dimensions of metadata into single graphical views. As those visualizations are based on map and landscape metaphors, they are easy to understand and provide instant overviews of complex data characteristics. The visualization methods have been integrated into MetaViz, an interactive system for browsing and searching geospatial data. In MetaViz, graphical views of data characteristics can be created and combined dynamically, levels of detail can be adjusted and the data sets found can be previewed and accessed. MetaViz helps users to locate and select appropriate geospatial data from various sources and to combine and use them in an effective way.
A flexible and innovative platform for autonomous mobile robots

In building a new system for control and morphological design of autonomous mobile robots one must be certain that the system they are presenting is flexible, stable, easy to use, and meets the needs of the people that will be using that system. Over the past year, people at MIT have been designing a new platform for autonomous mobile robots that is designed to meet all of these goals. I hope to prove through the course of research proposed herein that these goals are indeed met. Our system is made whole by two distinct components: a programming language called CREAL and a hardware platform that it may run upon. The programming language caters specifically to behavior based autonomous robots and there is great flexibility offered in the types and numbers of sensors and actuators that may be used with this system. I plan to test the limits of the hardware offered and expand the control system to facilitate the use of multiple control architectures in a user friendly way. In particular I will be creating an abstraction framework so that there is a simple way to implement various architectures within our platform.
The Effect of tPA on Inpatient Rehabilitation after Stroke: A Cost Comparison

Background: Tissue plasminogen activator has been found to significantly improve patient outcomes post stroke. Previous economic evaluations have adjusted for fewer admissions to inpatient rehabilitation but not for decreased length of stay in rehabilitation. Our objective was to estimate the potential cost savings associated with a decreased length of stay in inpatient rehabilitation for patients who receive tissue plasminogen activator compared to those who do not, in a Canadian context. Methods: Decreased length of stay in inpatient rehabilitation for patients who received tissue plasminogen activator compared to controls was reported previously in a population of 1962 patients admitted to hospital with an ischemic stroke in Ontario between July 1, 2003 and March 31, 2008. Average per diem cost savings associated with the use of tissue plasminogen activator were calculated using a literature based cost estimate. Sensitivity analysis varying the length of stay in inpatient rehabilitation was performed. Results: The estimated mean per diem cost of inpatient rehabilitation derived from the literature was $626. Based on previously reported estimates for reduced length of stay, receipt of tissue plasminogen activator was estimated to result in savings of $939 per patient during inpatient rehabilitation. Sensitivity analysis suggested that these cost savings could range from $501 to $1377 per patient on average. Conclusions: Future economic evaluations of tissue plasminogen activator should consider adjusting for shortened length of stay in inpatient rehabilitation for patients who receive tissue plasminogen activator.
Pathogenic Reactions of the Ovarian Surface Epithelium to Ovulation, Dimethylbenzanthracene, and Estrogen are Negated by Vitamin E

Objective: Acute effects of ovulation, the tumor suppressor disruptor dimethylbenzanthracene, the mitogen estradiol-17β, and the antioxidant vitamin E on the ovarian epithelium were assessed in seasonally anestrous ewes. Methods: Dimethylbenzanthracene and vitamin E were administered before and estradiol after gonadotropin-induced ovulation. Ovaries were removed for histopathology one and three weeks following ovulation. Surface epithelial cells isolated at one week were immunostained for 8-oxoguanine and assayed for urokinase plasminogen activator secretion—markers of genotoxic and invasive potentials. Results: Ovarian surface invaginations and cortical inclusion cysts containing stratified epithelium were observed at three weeks in ovulated animals treated with dimethylbenzanthracene and estradiol. Progenitor cells were 8-oxoguanine positive and hypersecreted urokinase plasminogen activator. Untoward responses were circumvented by vitamin E. Conclusion: Antioxidant therapy appears to be of value in precluding periovulatory disturbances to the ovarian surface epithelium that has been associated with carcinogenesis.
Relationships between the constructs of a theory of curriculum implementation

Planned educational change occurs regularly throughout the world. With the enormous political change the 1994 elections brought to South Africa, a complete change in education policies was called for. The new Curriculum 2005 (C2005; Department of Education, RSA, 1997) embraced new teaching and learning approaches such as outcomes-based education and learner-centered teaching practices. To explore the progress of the implementation of C2005, a theoretical framework specifically designed to elucidate curriculum implementation in developing countries was applied to 10 case studies. The framework consists of interrelating constructs with subconstructs which impact on curriculum implementation. It enables one to look at the levels of implementation achieved both in terms of the capacity of the school and the extent to which outside support and pressure is provided. The case studies were carried out in a representative sample of schools in Mpumalanga, one of the nine South African provinces. The aim of this article is to investigate the possible interrelationships of the constructs and the subconstructs. Some predictable relationships emerged from the data while other expected relationships failed to materialize. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 42: 313–336, 2005
FUNCTIONAL ORIGINS OF RELIGIOUS CONCEPTS: ONTOLOGICAL AND STRATEGIC SELECTION IN EVOLVED MINDS*

Culturally successful religious concepts are the outcome of selective processes that make some concepts more likely than others to be easily acquired, stored and transmitted. Among the constructs of human imagination, sonle connect to intuitive ontological principles in such a way that they constitute a small catalogue of culturally successful supernatural con­ cepts. Experimental and anthropological evidence confirm the salience and transmission potential of this catalogue. Among these supernatural concepts, cognitive capacities for social interaction introduce a further selection. As a result, some concepts of supernatural agents are connected to morality, group identity, ritual and emotion. These typical 'religious' super­ natural agents are tacitly presumed to have access to information that is crucial to social interaction, an assumption that boosts their spread in human groups. What is the origin of religious concepts? How come we can find concepts of supernatural agency more or less the world over, with important recurrent features? This lecture is a 'progress report', an account of how these previously intractable questions are now a matter of empirical, indeed experimental enquiry. What brought about this remarkable change is substantial progress in our understanding of how human minds work. This allows a naturalistic account of cultural representations 1 that describes how evolved conceptual dispositions Inake humans likely to acquire certain concepts more easily than others. Cultural transmission, like other forms of human communication, does not consist in 'downloading' concepts from one mind to another. It requires infer­ ential processes, whereby people attend to cues in other people's behaviour, infer their communicative intentions and build concepts on the basis of what they inferred (Sperber 1996; Tomasello, Kruger & Ratner 1993). As a result, people constantly create variants of other people's representations. To call some representations 'cultural' is to point to a relative similarity between repre­ sentations held by members of a particular group. The similarity suggests that some concepts are selected in the transmission process, against a whole variety of variants that are forgotten, discarded and modified. Obviously, an indefinite variety of factors contribute to the stability and recurrence of any particular set of representations in a historical context.
Post-translational modifications of microtubules

Microtubules – polymers of tubulin – perform essential functions, including regulation of cell shape, intracellular transport and cell motility. How microtubules are adapted to perform multiple diverse functions is not well understood. Post-translational modifications of tubulin subunits diversify the outer and luminal surfaces of microtubules and provide a potential mechanism for their functional specialization. Recent identification of a number of tubulin-modifying and -demodifying enzymes has revealed key roles of tubulin modifications in the regulation of motors and factors that affect the organization and dynamics of microtubules.
Stimulation cognitive et fonctions exécutives dans la maladie d'Alzheimer : une étude pilote

Cette etude pilote avait pour objectif principal d’evaluer l’effet de la stimulation cognitive sur des processus cognitifs de base (memoire a court terme et vitesse de traitement) et les principales fonctions executives (alternance, inhibition et mise a jour) de patients Alzheimer a un stade leger a modere. L’objectif secondaire etait d’evaluer les benefices de l’intervention sur l’etat thymique (anxiete, depression) des patients. Vingt personnes vivant en institution (MMSE entre 20 et 26), ont ete reparties aleatoirement dans deux groupes : « stimulation cognitive » et « temoin ». Les patients du groupe stimulation cognitive ont beneficie durant trois mois de 12 seances d’exercices a visee cognitive et psychosociale. Les resultats ont montre une amelioration des performances aux mesures d’alternance, de memoire a court terme et de vitesse de traitement, ainsi que de la depression, pour le groupe stimulation cognitive, compare au groupe temoin. Les resultats de cette etude soulignent l’interet de la stimulation cognitive dans la prise en charge de la maladie d’Alzheimer et tend a confirmer l’hypothese selon laquelle la plasticite cerebrale reste possible chez les patients Alzheimer durant les premieres phases de la maladie.
Systems Thinking, Decision Making: What Is Known and What Needs to Be Learned

The understanding and use of systems has been studied in numerous environments, particularly among leadership and management. However, as yet it is unclear what people at large know about systems thinking, where they gained their knowledge, or how important the role they perceive it to have in their decision making processes. Through a mixed model survey and follow-on interviews, this first phase of a two-year exploratory study considered these questions. Results indicated that, although the 172 respondents agreed systems thinking is important to 79.7% of decisions made, and approximately half believed they understood the meaning of systems and application of systems thinking, most demonstrated no or limited understanding of either. Finally, most participants’ latently gleaned impressions of systems and systems thinking were gained through informal experiences since completing their secondary school education.