Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Team-Based Primary Care on Health Care Services Utilization and Costs: Quebec's Family Medicine Groups

We investigate the effects on health care costs and utilization of team-based primary care delivery: Quebec's Family Medicine Groups (FMGs). FMGs include extended hours, patient enrolment and multidisciplinary teams, but they maintain the same remuneration scheme (fee-for-service) as outside FMGs. In contrast to previous studies, we examine the impacts of organizational changes in primary care settings in the absence of changes to provider payment and outside integrated care systems. We built a panel of administrative data of the population of elderly and chronically ill patients, characterizing all individuals as FMG enrollees or not. Participation in FMGs is voluntary and we address potential selection bias by matching on GP propensity scores, using inverse probability of treatment weights at the patient level, and then estimating difference-in-differences models. We also use appropriate modelling strategies to account for the distributions of health care cost and utilization data. We find that FMGs significantly decrease patients' health care services utilization and costs in outpatient settings relative to patients not in FMGs. The number of primary care visits decreased by 11% per patient per year among FMG enrolees and specialist visits declined by 6%. The declines in costs were of roughly equal magnitude. We found no evidence of an effect on hospitalizations, their associated costs, or the costs of ED visits. These results provide support for the idea that primary care organizational reforms can have impacts on the health care system in the absence of changes to physician payment mechanisms. The extent to which the decline in GP visits represents substitution with other primary care providers warrants further investigation.
Nicotinic Agonists, Phorbol Esters, and Growth Factors Activate Two Extracellular Signal‐Regulated Kinases, ERK1 and ERK2, in Bovine Chromaffin Cells

Abstract: Treatment of bovine chromaffin cells with nicotinic agonists, phorbol esters, and growth factors increases protein kinase activity toward microtubule‐associated protein‐2 and myelin basic protein (MBP) in vitro. To characterize the kinases that are activated by these agents, we separated chromaffin cell proteins by electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gels into which MBP had been incorporated, allowed the proteins to renature, and then assayed MBP kinase activity by incubating the gels with [γ‐32P]ATP. Chromaffin cells contain a family of kinases that phosphorylate MBP in vitro. Two of these kinases, of Mr 46,000 and 42,000 (PK46 and PK42), were activated by treatment of the cells with dimethylphenylpiperazinium (DMPP), phorbol 12,13‐dibutyrate (PDBu), or insulin‐like growth factor I (IGF‐I). Activation of PK46 and PK42 by DMPP was dependent on extracellular Ca2+, whereas the effects of PDBu and IGF‐I were Ca2+ independent. Down‐regulation of protein kinase C by incubation of the cells with PDBu abolished the activation of PK46 and PK42 by DMPP, PDBu, and IGF‐I. Staurosporine, a protein kinase C inhibitor, prevented the activation of PK46 and PK42 by DMPP and PDBu but did not block the activation of these kinases by IGF‐I. Immunoblotting experiments with antiphosphotyrosine (anti‐PTyr) antibodies demonstrated that agents that increased the kinase activities of PK46 and PK42 also increased the apparent PTyr content of Mr 46,000 and 42,000 proteins. PK46 and PK42 comigrated with proteins that reacted with antibodies against extracellular signal‐regulated kinases (ERKs). Thus, PK46 and PK42 appear to be the bovine homologues of ERK1 and ERK2. These kinases are regulated by multiple pathways and may play a role in the mechanism by which a variety of agonists regulate chromaffin cell function.
The economic burden placed on healthcare systems by childhood obesity

The obesity epidemic has transformed children’s healthcare, such that diabetes, hypertension and the metabolic syndrome are phrases more commonly used by child health providers than ever before. This article reviews the economic consequences of this epidemic for healthcare delivery systems, both in the short term when obesity has been associated with increased utilization, and in the long term where increased likelihood of adult obesity and cardiovascular disease is well documented. Large investments through research and prevention are needed and are likely to provide strong returns in cost savings, and would optimally emerge through a cooperative effort between private and government payers alike.
Complement Component C5a Predicts Restenosis after Superficial Femoral Artery Balloon Angioplasty

Purpose: To investigate whether balloon angioplasty of the superficial femoral artery (SFA) increases serum levels of C5a and whether C5a predicts risk of restenosis. Methods: C5a antigen was measured at baseline and 8 hours after intervention in 131 consecutive patients (76 women; median age 72 years) with intermittent claudication who underwent successful primary SFA balloon angioplasty. Patients were followed for a median 10 months [interquartile range (IQR) 6 to 14] for the occurrence of >50% restenosis by duplex ultrasound. Results: Median C5a levels increased significantly from 39.7 ng/mL (IQR 27.8 to 55.0) at baseline to 53.8 ng/mL (IQR 35.6 to 85.1, p<0.001) 8 hours post intervention. During the follow-up period, 70 (53%) patients developed restenosis. Increasing levels of C5a (quartiles) at baseline were significantly associated with an increased risk for restenosis (p=0.0092). Adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) for restenosis with increasing quartiles of baseline serum C5a levels were 1.24 (0.60 to 2.58), 1.93 (0.95 to 3.93), and 2.08 (1.02 to 4.21), respectively, compared to the lowest quartile. This effect was independent of nonspecific inflammation as reflected by plasma levels of C-reactive protein. Conclusion: Inflammatory mechanisms play a major role in the development of restenosis after angioplasty. The complement component C5a exerts strong chemotactic and proinflammatory effects. Enhanced complement activation prior to PTA, as measured by higher levels of C5a, was significantly associated with restenosis after SFA balloon angioplasty. Pathways of complement inhibition thus may be worth investigating with respect to improving patency rates.
Elevated TGF-β1 Secretion and Down-Modulation of NKG2D Underlies Impaired NK Cytotoxicity in Cancer Patients1

NK cell function in cancer patients is severely impaired, but the mechanism underlying this impairment is not clearly understood. In this study we show evidence that TGF-β1 secreted by tumors is responsible for the poor NK lytic activity via down-regulating an NK-activating receptor, NKG2D. The plasma level of TGF-β1 in human lung cancer or colorectal cancer patients was elevated compared with that in normal volunteers, and this elevation was inversely correlated with surface expression of NKG2D on NK cells in these patients. Incubation of NK cells with plasma obtained from cancer patients specifically down-modulated surface NKG2D expression, whereas addition of neutralizing anti-TGF-β1 mAbs completely restored surface NKG2D expression. Likewise, incubation of NK cells and lymphokine-activated killer cells with TGF-β1 resulted in dramatic reduction of surface NKG2D expression associated with impaired NK cytotoxicity. Modulation of NKG2D by TGF-β1 was specific, as expression of other NK receptors, CD94/NKG2A, CD44, CD16, 2B4, or CD56, was not affected by TGF-β1. Impaired NK cytotoxicity by TGF-β1 was not due to alteration of lytic moieties, such as perforin or Fas, or apoptotic pathway, but, rather, appeared to be due to lack of NKG2D expression. Taken together, our data suggest that impaired NK function in cancer patients can be attributed to down-modulation of activating receptors, such as NKG2D, via secretion of TGF-β1.
P-selectin Glycoprotein Ligand-1 Is the Major Counter-receptor for P-selectin on Stimulated T Cells and Is Widely Distributed in Non-functional Form on Many Lymphocytic Cells *

P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) is the high affinity counter-receptor for P-selectin on myeloid cells (Sako, D., Chang, X. J., Barone, K. M., Vachino, G., White, H. M., Shaw, G., Veldman, G. M., Bean, K. M., Ahern, T. J., Furie, B., Cumming, D. A., and Larsen, G. R.(1993) Cell 75, 1179-1186). Here we demonstrate that PSGL-1 is also widely distributed on T- and B-lymphocytic tumor cell lines, resting peripheral blood T and B cells, and on stimulated peripheral blood T cell and intestinal intraepithelial lymphocyte (IEL) lines. However, the majority of PSGL-1-positive resting peripheral blood lymphocytic cells and lymphoid tumor cell lines do not display significant P-selectin binding. In contrast, in vitro stimulated peripheral blood T cell and IEL lines avidly bind P-selectin, and PSGL-1 is the sole high affinity counter-receptor mediating this binding. During the course of in vitro stimulation, cell surface expression levels of PSGL-1 do not change as P-selectin binding increases. Rather, the activities of two glycosyltransferases reportedly involved in the production of functional PSGL-1 in myeloid cells are substantially higher in the stimulated T-lymphocytic lines than in resting T lymphocytes, consistent with the hypothesis that activation-dependent post-translational events contribute to the expression of functional PSGL-1 on lymphocytes.
The Law Machine

In a low-rise building in Menlo Park, Calif. , just upstairs from a Mexican restaurant and a nail salon, a Stanford University spin-off is crunching data in ways that could shake the foundations of the legal profession.Here, a small group of patent lawyers and computer scientists is applying the latest in machine learning and natural-language processing to reams of documents related to intellectual property lawsuits. The result is a massive statistical database on IP litigation like nothing the world has seen before.Which attorney has the best track record in defending against semiconductor-related infringement claims? Has a particular judge ruled on cases involving patent trolls, and if so, what was the outcome? Which companies tend to go to trial, and which settle out of court? By offering up such information, the database provides corporate lawyers, law lirms, and government agencies with hard numbers that will reduce the guesswork, as well as the enormous expense, of patent litigation. In short, the company is building a “law machine,” from whichcomes its name: Lex Machina.
The strategic paths and performances of Italian mutual banks: a nonparametric analysis

This paper investigates an Italian group of Mutual Banks (MBs) over the period 2001â€“2005. We identify homogeneous groups by cluster analysis and then measure their performance ratios. We evaluate the groups' efficiency and productivity by means of nonparametric techniques (Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and Luenberger Indicator). Finally, we assess the strategic positioning in order to identify the competitive rank of each group. The aim of the study is to offer an innovative perspective of analysis that combines different methods. The integration of statistical and managerial analyses enables us to establish the competitive positioning of each group in the selected market and yields some suggestions for the assessment of banks. The results obtained reveal a prevailing trend towards 'traditional intermediation', which is not always matched by the highest efficiency and productivity scores. Most MBs pursue strategies linked with 'conservative policies', which are not always suited to ensuring competitiveness in the credit market.
Hospitality quality: new directions and new challenges

Purpose – This article aims to discuss issues related to service quality in the hotel industry. It highlights unique aspects of hotel work and the implications for service delivery, and discusses methods used to measure service quality and expectations. Design/methodology/approach – Through an assessment of the extensive body of literature on quality service in general and within hotel contexts, some key themes emerge which have been explored in detail. Much of the analysis focuses on how the body of knowledge has developed over time and points to strengths and weaknesses in the literature. Findings – There has been much debate about what constitutes quality service and more specifically how this applies to the hotel industry. The industry is a dynamic one in which the guest dictates the pace and type of service, and in which increasing competitiveness has resulted in satisfactory service being the minimum expectation of guests. Different measurements of service expectations have been proposed for the hot.
Exploring the Impact of Customer Satisfaction on Food Retailers' Evolution: Managerial Lessons From Austria

Many studies have shown that customer satisfaction affects customer behavior and loyalty. There are, however, relatively few studies that examine the impact of customer satisfaction on store repatronage behavior by store-type choice. This study examines why Austrian consumers choose a certain store type (i.e., supermarket or bakery) for purchases in a particular product category (i.e., baked goods). Moreover, it assesses the impact of customer satisfaction on customer loyalty (i.e., the repatronage intention). The study found that customers valued different attributes for each store type. It also suggested that customer satisfaction and customers' intention to recommend varied by store type. Additionally, the bakery customers' tendency to spend more is positively related to their satisfaction level. Managerial implications for both types of stores are provided.
Design and Analysis of a High Sensitivity FBG Accelerometer Based on Local Strain Amplification

A fiber Bragg grating (FBG) accelerometer based on a push-pull elastic cylinder structure is demonstrated. First, the model based on the uniform cylinder structure is analyzed and the optimized accelerometer parameters are given. Then, by designing a radius-varying cylinder structure, the FBG strain becomes larger than the cylinder strain, which leads to enhanced sensitivity amplification for a small accelerometer size and relatively high resonant frequency. Meanwhile, the influence of the transverse force on the accelerometer is theoretically analyzed. These results indicate that the transverse-induced FBG deformation is very big so that a strict transverse constrain is needed. The formula of the strain magnification is derived and the design rules of the strain magnification are given. After structure optimization according to the rules, the FBG strain increases to 1.5 times, the sensitivity increases to 1.82 times, whereas the resonant frequency reduces to 0.9 times compared with the parameters of accelerometer based on uniform cylinder structure. Finally, the accelerometer size reduces to Φ20 mm × 34 mm, the sensitivity increases to 623 pm/g, and the resonant frequency reduces to 449 Hz.
Usage of distinctive classifiers for text categorization using distributional features

Predefined categories can be assigned to the natural language text using Text categorization. This paper explores the effect of other types of values, which express the distribution of a word in the document. These values are called distributional features. These different features are calculated for Window passage using distinctive classifiers. The classifier which gives the more accurate result is selected for categorization. Experiments show that the distributional features are useful for text categorization. These results are simulated using Weka tool.
Entropy and Environmental Mystery

Two studies are reported regarding the effects of entropy, lighting, and occlusion on impressions of mystery in physical environments. The theoretical context of this study was the “informational theory” of environmental preference, which, among other claims, holds that mystery can be measured by the extent to which people perceive a promise of more information if they move deeper into an environment. Entropy, in the context of this article, is visual diversity as measured using information theory. Mystery was measured by a semantic differential scale. The definition of mystery was left up to each individual participant. Entropy of occluded objects was used to obtain an objective, experimentally manipulatable and operational definition of “promise of more information. ” Exp. 1 had 12 stimuli and 15 participants. Exp. 2 had 12 stimuli and 16 participants. Entropy of occluded objects ranged from 0 to 6 bits. Entropy of occluded objects was used to measure the promise that there would be more information if one moved deeper into an environment. Overall, amount of light had the strongest effect on responses of mystery (r = −.63, darker was more mysterious), followed by occlusion (r = .26, occluding objects made a scene seem more mysterious), and by the promise of more information if one moved about in the scene (r = .13), the more entropy in occluded objects, the greater the impression of mystery). The theoretical contribution of this work is that a relationship between subjective impressions of mystery and an objective measure of “promise of more information” was found.
Plantar Foot Pressures During Treadmill Walking with High-Heel and Low-Heel Shoes

The effect of walking with high-heel shoes on plantar foot pressure distribution was investigated. Ten normal women walking in shoes with low heels were compared to women walking in high-heel shoes. It was shown that high-heel shoes increased the load on the forefoot and relieved it on the hindfoot. The load passed toward the medial forefoot and the hallux. The lateral side of the forefoot showed a decrease in contact area, reduced forces, and peak pressures. The medial side of the forefoot had a higher force-time and pressure-time integral. It is suggested that these higher loads on the medial forefoot may aggravate symptoms in patients with hallux valgus deformity.
Initial analysis of the second FIG 3D cadastres questionnaire: Status in 2014 and expectations for 2018

Valuation of real estate/ properties is in many countries/ cities the basis for fair taxation. The value depends on many aspects, including the physical real world aspects (geometries, material of object as build) and legal/virtual aspects (rights, restrictions, responsibilities, zoning/development plans applicable to the objects spaces). Current property valuation and taxation seems not to be significantly benefiting from digital 3D building models and/or 3D Cadastres as a result of low awareness regarding the possibilities provided by semantically rich 3D models. The current valuation practices in various countries are analyzed: Turkey, United Kingdom, USA, Germany, and the Netherlands. The (possible) role of semantically rich 3D building models and 3D cadastres in relation to valuation and taxation is explored.
Simulation Evidence of Hexagonal‐to‐Tetragonal ZnSe Structure Transition: A Monolayer Material with a Wide‐Range Tunable Direct Bandgap

2D material with tunable direct bandgap in the intermediate region (i.e., ≈2–3 eV) is key to the achievement of high efficiency in visible‐light optical devices. Herein, a simulation evidence of structure transition of monolayer ZnSe from the experimental pseudohexagonal structure to the tetragonal structure (t‐ZnSe) under lateral pressure is shown, suggesting a possible fabrication route to achieve the t‐ZnSe monolayer. The as‐produced t‐ZnSe monolayer exhibits highly tunable bandgap under the biaxial strains, allowing strain engineering of t‐ZnSe's bandgap over a wide range of 2–3 eV. Importantly, even under the biaxial strain up to 7%, the t‐ZnSe monolayer still keeps its direct‐gap property in the desirable range of 2.40–3.17 eV (corresponding to wavelength of green light to ultraviolet). The wide‐range tunability of direct bandgap appears to be a unique property of the t‐ZnSe monolayer, suggesting its potential application as a light‐emitting 2D material in red–green–blue light emission diodes or as complementary light‐absorption material in the blue–yellow region for multijunction solar cells. The straddling of the band edge of the t‐ZnSe monolayer over the redox potential of water splitting reaction also points to its plausible application for visible‐light‐driven water splitting.
Impaired erythrocytes deformability in H(2)O(2)-induced oxidative stress: protective effect of L-carnosine.

Impaired red blood cell deformability is a hemorheological perturbation induced by many kinds of diseases. An increase in free radicals causes a reduction in erythrocyte flexibility and deformability. Carnosine is a dipeptide abundant in skeletal muscle and brain of humans. One of the main function of carnosine is its antioxidant and free-radical scavenger effect. In this study our aim is to investigate the protective effect of L-carnosine on RBCs in H(2)O(2)-induced oxidative stress in vitro conditions. Twenty male wistar albino rats, 10 were 3 months old, 10 were 12 months old used. The blood from each rat were divided into ten tubes and these blood samples divided into two groups. The first tube of the first group was the control and the rest 4 tubes were treated with different concentrations of L-carnosine. All tubes in the second group were incubated with H(2)O(2) additively. The deformability indexes of the erythrocytes were measured by a laser diffractometer (Myrenne Rheodyne SSD). L-carnosine has improved the RBC deformability significantly which is impaired by H(2)O(2) treatment (p<0.05). Increase in deformability is more significant in young rat group when compared to old rat group.L-carnosine, as an antioxidant molecules, has a dose dependent positive effect on RBC deformability and has improved or protect the deformability of erythrocytes, especially in young rat group which impaired by H(2)O(2)-induced oxidative stress in vitro conditions. The results of this study first suggest that L-carnosine supplemention can be used to improve the RBC quality or to protect them from oxidative damage in survival of RBC in the circulation.
Complementary Climate Change Policies: A Framework for Evaluation

There has been much debate about the role of carbon prices in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Australia. However there has been far less attention paid to the evaluation of complementary and other non-price policies designed to accompany the carbon price. The purpose of this article is to develop a framework for considering the case for, and effectiveness of, the wide range of existing and proposed complementary policies that are designed to accompany the carbon price in the effort to reduce Australia's greenhouse gas emissions. The article concludes that an effective evaluation of complementary policies should include identifying the market failure the policy is aimed at correcting. The complementary policy should work in conjunction with, not opposition to, other polices aimed at reducing emissions. It should be complementary with the policies of other levels of government and it should also consider issues of efficiency, equity, accountability and adaptability.