Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Extracorporeal Ultrafiltration for Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Heart Failure: Report from the Acute Dialysis Quality Initiative

This report from a work group affiliated with the Acute Dialysis Quality Initiative is a critical assessment of the use of extracorporeal ultrafiltration (UF) in the management of acutely decompensated heart failure (HF). In addition to assessing UF in this setting, the report also provides background information on HF, including classification, pathophysiology, and the importance of concomitant renal failure. A summary of important results from clinical trials in this area is provided, along with a discussion of technical considerations. Finally, specific recommendations for future clinical evaluations are given.
Permeability and morphology of dentin after erosion induced by acidic drinks.

BACKGROUND The aims of this study were to evaluate 1) the alterations of dentin permeability after single exposure of dentin to several acidic soft drinks with different acid composition; 2) the effectiveness of smear layer on dentin surface to prevent erosion of sound dentin; and 3) the role of brushing procedures. METHODS Dentin discs from human third molars were prepared. Each disc was treated with 0.5 M neutral EDTA for 5 minutes to remove the smear layer and to calculate the maximum fluid flow rate for each disc (to which an arbitrary value of 100% was assigned) using a pressure apparatus working at 1.0 psi. An homogeneous thin smear layer was then recreated with an abrasive paper under water. The following acidic drinks were applied for 5 minutes onto dentin surface: cola drink (phosphoric acid), orange fruit juice (ascorbic + citric acid), white wine (tartaric acid), vinegar (acetic acid), and mucolytic syrup (benzoic and tartaric acid). Each sample was then brushed for 3 minutes. Finally, each sample was brushed with a toothpaste and, as the final step, etched with phosphoric acid for 1 minute. Permeability was measured after each step. RESULTS All acidic drinks were able to statistically increase dentin permeability and to open dentinal tubules by removing the smear layer. CONCLUSIONS The study demonstrated that acidic drinks increased dentin permeability by removing and dissolving the smear layer and smear plugs. The erosion of peritubular dentin and smear plug removal is the main agent responsible for the increase in dentin permeability and probably for clinical dentin hypersensitivity. Brushing procedures reduced dentin permeability, creating a new fine and thin smear layer. Toothpaste may play a protective role in preventing complete smear layer removal and reducing dentin hypersensitivity by producing a new artificial smear layer and deposit inside tubules. The use and the abuse of acidic drinks may damage dentin and increase the risk for dentin hypersensitivity.
Iterative sparse matrix-vector multiplication on in-memory cluster computing accelerated by GPUs for big data

Iterative SpMV (ISpMV) is a key operation in many graph-based data mining algorithms and machine learning algorithms. Along with the development of big data, the matrices can be so large, perhaps billion-scale, that the SpMV can not be implemented in a single computer. Therefore, it is a challenging issue to implement and optimize SpMV for large-scale data sets. In this paper, we used an in-memory heterogeneous CPU-GPU cluster computing platforms (IMHCPs) to efficiently solve billion-scale SpMV problem. A dedicated and efficient hierarchy partitioning strategy for sparse matrices and the vector is proposed. The partitioning strategy contains partitioning sparse matrices among workers in the cluster and among GPUs in one worker. More, the performance of the IMHCPs-based SpMV is evaluated from the aspects of computation efficiency and scalability.
AutoCross: Automatic Feature Crossing for Tabular Data in Real-World Applications

Feature crossing captures interactions among categorical features and is useful to enhance learning from tabular data in real-world businesses. In this paper, we present AutoCross, an automatic feature crossing tool provided by 4Paradigm to its customers, ranging from banks, hospitals, to Internet corporations. By performing beam search in a tree-structured space, AutoCross enables efficient generation of high-order cross features, which is not yet visited by existing works. Additionally, we propose successive mini-batch gradient descent and multi-granularity discretization to further improve efficiency and effectiveness, while ensuring simplicity so that no machine learning expertise or tedious hyper-parameter tuning is required. Furthermore, the algorithms are designed to reduce the computational, transmitting, and storage costs involved in distributed computing. Experimental results on both benchmark and real-world business datasets demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of AutoCross. It is shown that AutoCross can significantly enhance the performance of both linear and deep models.
AIDS in Latin America: assessing the current status of the epidemic and the ongoing response.

BACKGROUND This article provides a summary of the current status of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Latin America, as well as an outline of the diverse responses to it. METHODS A search of international databases (Pubmed and ISI-Web of Science), regional databases (Scielo and Lilacs), regional and national documents and UNAIDS reports. Data are presented according to subregion. RESULTS In Mexico HIV remains concentrated among urban men who have sex with men (MSM), and has been growing among injecting drug users (IDU) and in rural areas in relation to migration. An increasing proportion of women among those affected is observed in all countries in Central America, the most affected region, as well as increasing the impact on other vulnerable groups, such as indigenous populations. The Andean Countries have urban epidemics concentrated among MSM. In Peru, non-traditional vulnerable populations were identified. In the Southern Cone heterosexual transmission became more relevant, probably in connection with IDU epidemics and is increasingly affecting lower income groups. Incidence rates have been declining since 2002 in Brazil, the first country to guarantee free, universal access to antiretrovirals, where one-third of drug-naïve patients are still initiating treatment at an advanced stage. Generally, access to treatment has improved as a result of support from the Global Fund and other initiatives, but there are concerns regarding coverage, equity and sustainability. CONCLUSIONS HIV is still concentrated among MSM in Latin America. Non-traditional vulnerable groups such as migrants and lower income populations, usually considered part of the general population, deserve attention. Programmes confronting sexual exclusion are still needed. Access to treatment has improved over time, but inequalities persist.
Sharp Roll-Off Lowpass Filter With Wide Stopband Using Stub-Loaded Coupled-Line Hairpin Unit

A novel application of shunt open-stubs at the feed points of a center fed coupled-line hairpin resonator is presented for the design of compact lowpass filter (LPF) with very wide stopband. The transmission zeros of the basic unit are minimally affected by its association with the stubs. The stopband bandwidth and filter roll-off rates achieved here are larger than those achieved earlier. A prototype microstrip LPF having a very wide stopband up to nine times the filter cutoff frequency is fabricated.
The differential stimulatory effect of thyroid hormone on growth hormone synthesis and estrogen on prolactin synthesis due to accumulation of specific messenger ribonucleic acids.

Thyroid and steroid hormones bind to chromatin-associated nuclear protein receptors which appear to be hormone specific and are believed to mediate the action of these hormones through synthesis of mRNA. The purpose of this investigation was to test the hypothesis of hormonal control through regulation of specific gene expression. Rat GH and PRL were chosen as a model, since previous work has indicated that the synthesis of these hormones is regulated by thyroid hormone and estrogen, respectively. Male rats were kept intact (N) or were thyroidectomized (Tx) and treated with estradiol (N + E or Tx + E) or replaced with T4, (Tx + T4). GH and PRL synthesis was determined in quarter pituitaries by the in vitro incorporation of [3H]leucine into specific immunoprecipitates. GH and PRL mRNA activity was measured by cell-free translation of total RNA extracted from the remaining pituitary tissue. Tx suppressed both GH synthesis and mRNA activity to 2.8% and 1.4% of the level in N rats and was not affected by trea.
Opportunities and challenges for promoting psychotherapy in contemporary China

Summary China’s first mental health law, which went into effect last year, envisages a world in which psychotherapy is an integral part of all levels of medical care. There are many obstacles to achieving this goal. The new law empowers psychiatrists to provide psychotherapy but few of them have the time or inclination to do so because of the lower incomes generated by non-biological treatments. Trained clinical psychologists are in very short supply partly because of the lack of supervised training opportunities and partly because the current medical system – and the new mental health law – does not empower them to diagnose or treat patients without the direct supervision of a physician. Achieving the laudable goals of the new law will require substantial changes in the regulations and, perhaps more importantly, in attitudes about the role and status of psychologists within the medical care delivery system.
Apolipoprotein B mRNA abundance is decreased by eicosapentaenoic acid in CaCo-2 cells. Effect on the synthesis and secretion of apolipoprotein B.

The regulation of apolipoprotein B (apo B) metabolism by eicosapentaenoic acid was investigated in CaCo-2 cells. Cells cultured on semipermeable membranes that separated an upper from a lower well were incubated for 48 hours with albumin alone or 1 mM eicosapentaenoic acid or oleic acid attached to albumin (4:1, mol/mol). Compared with cells incubated with oleic acid, cells incubated with eicosapentaenoic acid synthesized and secreted less [3H]glycerol-labeled triglycerides. Although both fatty acids increased cellular triglyceride mass compared with control cells, less triglycerides accumulated in cells incubated with the n-3 fatty acid. The secretion of triglyceride and apo B mass by cells incubated with eicosapentaenoic acid was less than that observed by cells incubated with oleate. The amount of apo B mass within cells, however, was not altered by either of the fatty acids and was similar to amounts found in control cells. Apo B mRNA abundance was decreased fourfold in cells exposed for 48 hours to eicosapentaenoic acid. In contrast, in cells incubated with oleic acid, apo B mRNA levels were not significantly altered. Pulse-chase experiments were performed to investigate the regulation of apo B synthesis and degradation by the fatty acids. In cells incubated with eicosapentaenoic acid, the synthesis and basolateral secretion of newly synthesized apo B-100 and apo B-48 were significantly less compared with control cells or cells incubated with oleic acid. In contrast, the synthesis and secretion of newly synthesized apo B in cells exposed to oleic acid were similar to control cells. Rates of apo A-I synthesis were similar in cells incubated with either of the fatty acids. Compared with control cells and cells incubated with eicosapentaenoic acid, the residence time of labeled apo B in cells incubated with oleic acid was prolonged. The percentage of newly synthesized apo B that was degraded was less in cells incubated with oleic acid. In contrast, residence times and the percentages of apo A-I and apo B-48 degraded were similar in control cells and cells incubated with the fatty acids. Thus, in CaCo-2 cells, compared with the effects of oleic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid impairs triglyceride transport in part by inhibiting apo B synthesis and secretion. The inhibition of apo B synthesis by eicosapentaenoic acid may be related to a decrease in gene transcription or a decrease in mRNA stability, as apo B mRNA levels were significantly decreased in cells incubated with this fatty acid. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
'Hitting You Over the Head': Oncologists' Disclosure of Prognosis to Advanced Cancer Patients

The disclosure of prognosis to terminally ill patients has emerged as a recent concern given greater demands for patient involvement in medical decision-making in the United States. As part of the informed consent process, American physicians are legally and ethically obligated to provide information to such patients about risks, benefits, and alternatives of all available treatment options including the use of experimental therapies. Although not legally required, the disclosure of terminal prognosis is ethically justified because it upholds the principle of self-determination and enables patients to make treatment decisions consistent with their life goals. To understand oncologists' attitudes about disclosing prognostic information to cancer patients with advanced disease, we interviewed fourteen oncologists and conducted one focus group of medical fellows. Although oncologists reported to disclose prognosis in terms of cancer not being curable, they tend to avoid using percentages to convey prognosis. Oncologists' reported reluctance to disclosing prognosis was conveyed through the use of metaphors depicting the perceived violent impact of such information on patients. Oncologists' reluctance to disclose prognosis and preserve patient hope are held in check by their need to ensure that patients have 'realistic expectations' about therapy. We discuss these data in light of the cultural, ethical, and legal dimensions of prognosis disclosure, patient hope and the doctor-patient relationship, and recommend ways to enhance the communication process.
The 3DGD: a database of genome 3D structure

UNLABELLED The studies of chromatin 3D structure help us to understand its formation and function. Techniques combining chromosome conformation capture and next generation sequencing can capture chromatin structure information and has been applied to several different species and cell lines. We built 3DGD (3D Genome Database), a database that currently collected Hi-C data on four species, for easy accessing and visualization of chromatin 3D structure data. With the integration of other omics data such as genome-wide protein-DNA-binding data, this data source would be useful for researchers interested in chromatin structure and its biological functions. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION The 3DGD v1.1, data browser, downloadable files and documentation are available at: http://3dgd.biosino. org/.
A high step-down dual output non-isolated DC/DC converter

This paper presents a DC/DC buck-boost converter topology with high voltage gain and dual outputs. Unlike many of the high step-down / step-up DC/DC converters, this topology uses relatively less number of LC components and three active semiconductor devices, switched in a non-overlapping way. In the proposed converter, the overall gains at both the output ports are non-linear functions of duty-cycles of the power devices, which help achieve an overall step-down/step-up gain of 10 to 15. An experimental prototype, converting 48V DC to ±5V DC at 100W output power is developed, in order to verify the operation and effectiveness of the proposed converter structure. An output voltage ripple of ±1% and a conversion efficiency of 94% are achieved according to the experimental results.
Chemical composition of chicken of various commercial brands available in market

The chemical composition of the meat from various cuts of poultry obtained from three commercial brands (brand I, II and III) of chicken from different processing plants available in the Saudi Arabian market were studied. Six raw meat samples of whole chicken and mixed portions (Breast fillet with skin, breast fillet without skin, drumsticks with skin, thigh cut skin on bone in and wings with skin in) from each brand were collected on same production date. The collected samples were analyzed for pH, moisture, fat percent and protein content. The results revealed that, in whole chicken the pH values and moisture content differ significantly (P<0.05) among different brands. The fat percent is significantly higher in brand I (22.30±0.91) where as brand II (18.06±0.13) has significantly higher protein content. The pH, moisture, fat percent and protein content of mixed portions differ significantly among different brands. However, the fat percent of whole chicken, breast fillet with skin was higher by 8.56% and 3.62% respectively, in brand I when compare to brand II. The higher values of protein content of breast fillet with skin, breast fillet without skin, drumsticks with skin, thigh cut skin on bone in and wings with skin in were 21.31±0.21, 23.34±0.09, 19.75±0.06, 15.45±0.10 and 18.32±0.15 respectively. The observations made out of the research indicate that the chemical composition of meat from whole chicken and various cuts differ significantly among the three different commercially available brands.
Qué dicen los maestros que hacen para enseñar a leer y a escribir

La preocupación institucional y política por las dificultades que tienen los escolares para entender lo que leen se agudiza ante los resultados de las evaluaciones internacionales y nacionales. Los educadores se preguntan, la investigación educativa y psicológica busca razones y propone soluciones. Las propuestas de solución van, fundamentalmente, en dos líneas: a) La primera defiende que hay que centrarse en la enseñanza precoz, sistemática y explícita de las habilidades específicas implicadas en el aprendizaje de la lectura para garantizar que los niños aprendan el descifrado automático de palabras, piedra fundamental de la comprensión lectora (Perfetti, 1985). Por ejemplo enfatizar en las correspondencias letra/sonido, la conciencia fonológica, la decodificación de palabras. De esa manera, el lector se libera de la presión del descifrado y puede dedicarse a entender el texto. La lectura se concibe como una habilidad cognitiva y su enseñanza ha de garantizar inicialmente el dominio de la mecánica de la lectura. De los tres componentes que incluyen los modelos explicativos de la lectura: el cognitivo, el psicológicos y el ecológicos, estos últimos que abarcan aspectos tales como la motivación, el estilo de aprendizaje, las expectativas docentes, las diferencias de género, el entorno del hogar, el social y el cultural en interacción (Joshi & Aaron, 2000), privilegian el componente cognitivo. b) La segunda propuesta de solución enfatiza la necesidad de crear un entorno alfabetizador, en el cual tenga sentido leer y escribir con distintos propósitos. Se recomienda abordar una lectura estratégica desde los primeros momentos en que los niños se enfrentan a los textos. Por ejemplo, fomentar inferencias, cuestionar al texto, vincular el mensaje con la experiencia propia. La enseñanza de la lectura ha de facilitar un aumento en la participación activa de los aprendices en las prácticas letradas de su comunidad. Esta postura privilegia los componentes ecológicos y psicológicos de los modelos de lectura. En principio, estas dos propuestas no parecen excluyentes. ¿Acaso no se pueden trabajar las correspondencias letra–sonido, los nombres de las letras, la identificación de
Communication Network Formation with Link Specificity and Value Transferability

We model strategic communication network formation with (i) link specificity: link maintenance lowers specific attention and thus value (negative externality previously ignored for communication) and (ii) value transferability via indirect links for informational but not for social value (positive externality modeled uniformly before). Assuming only social value, the pairwise stable set includes many nonstandard networks under high and particular combinations of complete components under low link specificity. Allowing for social and informational value reduces this set to certain fragmented networks under high and the complete network under low link specificity. These extremes are efficient, whereas intermediate link specificity generates inefficiency.
MIMO TECHNIQUE FOR SPACE-TIME BLOCK CODED SPATIAL MODULATION

-In this research we deal with a novel multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) transmission scheme, called space-time block coded spatial modulation (STBC-SM) , is proposed. It combines spatial modulation (SM) and space-time block coding (STBC) to take advantage of the benefits of both while avoiding their drawbacks. In the STBCSM scheme, the transmitted information symbols are expanded not only to the space and time domains but also to the spatial (antenna) domain which corresponds to the on/off status of the transmit antennas available at the space domain, and therefore both core STBC and antenna indices carry information. A general technique is presented for the design of the STBC-SM scheme for any number of transmit antennas. Besides the high spectral efficiency advantage provided by the antenna domain, the proposed scheme is also optimized by deriving its diversity and coding gains to exploit the diversity advantage of STBC. A low-complexity maximum likelihood (ML) decoder is given for the new scheme which profits from the orthogonality of the core STBC. The performance advantages of the STBC-SM over simple SM and over V-BLAST are shown by simulation results for various spectral efficiencies and are supported by the derivation of a closed form expression for the union bound on the bit error probability. Glossary term: Maximum likelihood decoding
Complications of Vena Cava Filters: a Comprehensive Clinical Review

Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) constitute common preventable causes of morbidity and mortality. Despite the success of aggressive prophylaxis and screening, the occurrence of DVT and/or PE is not likely to be further reduced. The traditional treatment algorithm of anticoagulation therapy has been very effective. Heparin therapy has been shown to decrease the risk of fatal PE by 75% and to reduce the risk of recurrent PE from 25% to 2%. Long-term therapy with warfarin reduces the incidence of documented DVT from 47% to 2%. However, some patients have contraindication(s) to anticoagulation or prove intolerant of therapy. For this group of patients, a vena cava filter (VCF) may be of benefit. While VCF and the techniques of VCF deployment have evolved significantly over the last four decades, significant complications related to VCF are occasionally seen. This review provides a comprehensive overview of reported VCF-related complications.
Social spam detection

The popularity of social bookmarking sites has made them prime targets for spammers. Many of these systems require an administrator's time and energy to manually filter or remove spam. Here we discuss the motivations of social spam, and present a study of automatic detection of spammers in a social tagging system. We identify and analyze six distinct features that address various properties of social spam, finding that each of these features provides for a helpful signal to discriminate spammers from legitimate users. These features are then used in various machine learning algorithms for classification, achieving over 98% accuracy in detecting social spammers with 2% false positives. These promising results provide a new baseline for future efforts on social spam. We make our dataset publicly available to the research community.