Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Statin Adherence Among Beneficiaries in MA-PD Plans Versus PDPs

BACKGROUND: Medicare Part D, which provides prescription drug coverage to Medicare beneficiaries, is delivered through either Medicare Advantage prescription drug (MA-PD) plans or stand-alone prescription drug plans (PDPs). MA-PD plans cover both drug therapy and other medical services, whereas PDPs provide prescription drug coverage only. Because of the potential substitutability between prescription drugs and other medical services, MA-PD plans may make greater efforts to improve enrollees’ adherence to recommended medications than PDPs. Prescription drug benefits are more generous in MA-PD plans than in PDPs. OBJECTIVES: To assess statin adherence, comparing Medicare beneficiaries in MA-PD plans with those in PDPs. METHODS: We used records from the Chronic Condition Warehouse 2007 Prescription Drug Event (PDE) file, associated Plan Characteristics files, and the Beneficiary Summary File (BSF) for a 5% random sample of Medicare beneficiaries. The study sample comprised Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 years or older in 2006 who filled at least 1 prescription for a statin during 2007, excluding beneficiaries with low-income subsidy or end-stage renal disease and those without both Medicare Part A and Part B enrollment in 2007. Medication adherence was measured by medication possession ratio (MPR), defined as the sum of days supply for all statin prescriptions filled in 2007 minus the days supply that would have carried over into 2008 from the final 2007 prescription filled, divided by the total number of days from the fill date of the first statin prescription to December 31, 2007. A binary indicator of good adherence was defined as MPR exceeding 80%. Propensity-score matching was used to reduce differences in observed characteristics of enrollees in MA-PD plans and PDPs. The propensity score was based on sociodemographic characteristics and health risk measures, including Hierarchical Condition Category (HCC) scores. RESULTS: In the unmatched sample, the mean MPR was 70.57% for MA-PD enrollees versus 70.54% for PDP enrollees (P = 0.780), and the proportion of enrollees with good adherence was 46.7% for MA-PD plans versus 46.9% for PDPs (P = 0.262). In the matched sample, statin adherence was slightly better among MA-PD enrollees than PDP enrollees. Mean MPRs were 70.80% and 69.44%, and the percentages of enrollees with good adherence were 47.0% and 45.3% in MA-PD plans and PDPs, respectively (both P less than 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: During an early year of the Part D program, MA-PD enrollees had slightly better adherence to statin therapy than PDP enrollees. While the difference was statistically significant, it was very small and unlikely to lead to clinically meaningful consequences. Less than one-half of MA-PD and PDP enrollees had good adherence in statin use, suggesting room for improvement in both types of Part D plans. Continuing evaluations of adherence in diverse therapy classes are needed for Medicare Part D beneficiaries.
Assessing Control Modalities Designed for Pan-Tilt Surveillance Cameras

Many modern video surveillance systems encompass pan-tilt cameras due to the flexibility they provide in selecting the fields-of-view, as compared to using just fixed cameras. Although patent the great potential of using the pan-tilt cameras, one has to design pan and tilt controllers whose effectiveness directly impacts on the surveillance performance. In this work we propose a metric tuned to assess the effectiveness of such control designs, and show the theoretical estimation of the metric for the case of a oneobject random-search controlling modality.
Distinguishing carcinoid tumor from small cell carcinoma of the lung: correlating cytologic features and performance in the College of American Pathologists Non-Gynecologic Cytology Program.

CONTEXT The cytologic features of carcinoid tumor of the lung are well described. Nevertheless, some carcinoids may be difficult to distinguish from small cell carcinomas. OBJECTIVE To correlate the cytologic features of individual cases of carcinoid tumor of the lung in fine-needle aspiration specimens in the College of American Pathologists Non-Gynecologic Cytology Program with the frequency of misclassification as small cell carcinoma. DESIGN We reviewed 1100 interpretations from 26 different cases of carcinoid tumor in lung fine-needle aspiration specimens in the College of American Pathologists Non-Gynecologic Cytology Program and correlated the cytologic features with the performance in the program. RESULTS Cases were divided into those that were frequently misclassified as small cell carcinoma (at least 20% of the responses, 19 cases) and those that were infrequently misclassified as small cell carcinoma (<10% of all responses, 7 cases). All cases had areas with classic features of carcinoid tumor. Cases were reviewed independently by 3 cytopathologists specifically looking for cytologic features that might be responsible for misclassification as small cell carcinoma. All 7 cases that were infrequently misclassified consisted of numerous monotonous well-preserved tumor cells that were either entirely round or were a mixture of round and spindle-shaped cells. Six of 7 cases showed a prominent streaming vascular pattern with tumor cells attached to the endothelial cell core. In contrast, cases that were frequently misclassified had 1 of 6 patterns that were not seen in cases that were rarely misclassified. These 6 patterns were: (1) poorly preserved and pale-staining cells with fine chromatin and a suggestion of molding (5 cases); (2) numerous large, well-preserved, spindle-shaped cells (2 cases); (3) numerous cells varying markedly in both size and shape (both round and spindle-shaped cells), with a common finding of degenerated, smudgy, small round and spindle-shaped cells (9 cases); (4) hypocellular specimens (8 cases); (5) obscuration of cells by blood (2 cases); and (6) tumor cells present predominantly in groups, with few isolated cells (8 cases). In none of these cases were mitoses or true necrosis identified. CONCLUSIONS Frequent misclassification of carcinoid tumor as small cell carcinoma in lung fine-needle aspiration specimens in this program correlates strongly with specific cytologic features, some of which are common in small cell carcinoma (fine chromatin, molding, smudgy chromatin) and others that are not (spindle-shaped cells). In addition, hypocellular specimens or specimens with cellular obscuration performed poorly, along with specimens exhibiting absence of the commonly described carcinoid feature of streaming vascularity. Awareness of these patterns may aid in avoiding misdiagnosis.
Behavioral economics and macroeconomic models 1

Over the past 20 years, macroeconomists have incorporated more and more results from behavioral economics into their models. We argue that doing so has helped fixed deficiencies with standard approaches to modeling the economy—for example, the counterfactual absence of inertia in the standard New Keynesian model of economic fluctuations. We survey efforts to use behavioral economics to improve some of the underpinnings of the New Keynesian model—specifically, consumption, the formation of expectations and determination of wages and employment that underlie aggregate supply, and the possibility of multiple equilibria and asset price bubbles. We also discuss more broadly the advantages and disadvantages of using behavioral economics features in macroeconomic models.
Human capital as an instrument of analysis for the economics of education

Dans cet article, l'auteur presente le capital humain comme etant un outil interessant d'analyse de l'economie de l'education. Il presente ici le concept du capital humain et les consequences principales de l'application de ce cadre de travail en relation avec des problemes educatifs generaux, tels que les structures institutionnelles, la repartition des diplomes sur le marche du travail . Son analyse permet d'avoir une approche precise et claire des concepts developpes par les economistes dans leur approche de l'education.
Predictive value of autoantibodies for activity of systemic lupus erythematosus

There is no serologic test that reliably measures disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The ‘gold standard’ is the anti-dsDNA antibody test, which has been used as a marker of disease activity by clinicians in SLE for over 35 years. Anti-dsDNA antibodies perform best in those with lupus nephritis, specifically in the presence of a proliferative lesion [World Health Organization (WHO) class III or IV] on renal biopsy. In one recent meta-analysis, the mean positivelikelihood ratio of anti-dsDNA antibodies as a marker of disease activity in SLE was 4.14, implying the overall predictive effect was small. More recently autoantibodyassays have been developed that show greater promise in gauging SLE disease activity, specifically anti-nucleosome and anti-C1q antibodies (especially with renal disease activity). Other tests thought previously to be lacking in specificity that refinements in ELISA technology now render possibly useful include anti-heparan sulfate, anti-ssDNA and anti-Scl-70 autoantibodies. Other tests that as yet have not been shown to be as reliable (and therefore are not as useful in clinical practice for serial determinationto measure disease activity) include other anti-extractablenuclear antibodies (anti-Ro, La, Sm, RNP), anti-cardiolipinantibodies, and anti-nuclear cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA). New technologies using proteomic determinations show promise as aids in the search for more reliable and feasible autoantibody determinations of disease activity in SLE.
Identity and Excellence

Citizens, practitioners, scholars, and elected officials continue to debate the range of skills, policy areas, responsibilities, roles, values, and work habits forming the city manager's identity. This study develops detailed profiles of three city managers identified by their peers as the best in their respective states. Seven specific recommendations are offered providing a "more coherent image " of the city manager. These profiles serve as role models (a) guiding the education of city managers, (b) orienting elected officials to the city manager' job, (c) enhancing the public's understanding and acceptance of this leadership position, and (d) testing theories of council-manager government.
Post-Materialism in an Environment of Insecurity

This article tests the hypothesis that postwar affluence led to an intergenerational shift from Materialist to Post-Materialist values among Western publics, and analyzes the consequences of the economic uncertainty prevailing since 1973. The young emphasize Post-Materialist values more than the old. Time-series data indicate that this reflects generational change far more than aging effects, but that the recession of the mid-1970s also produced significant period effects. As Post-Materialists aged, they moved out of the student ghetto and became a predominant influence among young technocrats, contributing to the rise of a “New Class. ” They furnish the ideologues and core support for the environmental, zero-growth and antinuclear movements; and their opposition to those who give top priority to reindustrialization and rearmament constitutes a distinctive and persisting dimension of political cleavage.
A Self Organizing Map Based Postural Transition Detection System

A high percentage of elderly people has been continually increased in every part of the world. This results from the successes of both the advancements of medical knowledge and the high coverage of medical services which altogether make people healthier and live longer. One of the consequences of advancing years is greater frailty due to declining health and mobility, leading to increased risk of injury and fatality due to accidents, especially in the home. It can be said that falls are the most common type of home accidents among elderly people and are a major threat to their health and independence (Najafi, 2002). Thirty-two percent of a sample of community dwelling persons 75 years and older fell at least once a year. Among them, 24% sustained serious injuries (Tinetti, 1988). In addition, falling can dramatically change elderly people’s self-confidence and motivation, affecting their ability to function independently and result in decreased activity, isolation and further functional decline. In addition, the cost of caring for elderly people after a fall is substantial, although estimates vary. Some suggest that fall-related injuries account for 6% of all medical expenditures in the USA (Stevens, 2006). Considering the growing proportion of old people (over 75) in the populations of industrial countries, falls will be one of the major problems of this important part of the population (Askham, 1990). In 2050, 16.4% of the world population and 27.6% of the European population are projected to be 65 years and above, and in 14 countries, including nine European countries, more than 10% of the total population will be 80 years or older. Most cases of falls sustained by elderly people appear to result from the cumulative effect of multiple specific disabilities. The normal changes of aging, like poor eyesight or poor hearing, can make elderly people more likely to fall. Illnesses and physical conditions can affect their strength and balance. Poor lighting or throw rugs in their home can make them more likely to trip or slip. The side effects of some medicines can upset elderly people’s balance and make them fall. Medicines for depression, sleep problems and high blood pressure often cause falls. Some medicines for diabetes and heart conditions can also make them unsteady on their feet. As a way to observe the activities of elderly people in order to prevent and/or alert when they fall, an EKG (Electrocardiogram) sensor, a pulse sensor and a blood pressure sensor are also employed. It is expected that if some measuring parameters are changed, they might result in a severe fall and unconsciousness of elderly people. To function correctly, these sensors must be firmly attached to the body of wearers by a well-trained medical staff. The sensors may cause uncomfortable for wearers and make them lack of self-confidence to live by their own. In addition, from the technical point of view, these sensors consume a high percentage of battery power if they are operated continuously or at the high sampling frequency. The aim 23
Intraoperative Assessment of Stapes Movement

A method is described that allows, for the first time, intraoperative vibration modes assessment of the acoustically stimulated stapes by means of scanning laser Doppler interferometry (LDI). The study was designed to answer the following questions: 1) Is LDI practical for taking measurements during surgery? 2) Are the results comparable to the findings in temporal bone preparations? and 3) Do the vibration characteristics of the stapes change after the posterior incudal ligament is detached from the incus? Seven patients with profound bilateral hearing loss who were undergoing cochlear implantation were included in the study. The measurement system was easily applicable for intraoperative measurements and allowed contact-free analysis with very high accuracy. No major differences in the results from the live human subjects and temporal bone preparations were observed. The stapes movement was predominantly pistonlike at the lower frequencies and became complex at higher frequencies. Sacrificing the posterior incudal ligament had no statistically significant effect on stapes vibration.
Spatial and temporal estimation of left ventricle wall from ultrasound images using optical flow algorithm

This paper proposes a new technique for 3D motion estimation of the left ventricle from a sequence of a heartbeat. Accurate motion estimation of the movement of cardiac walls has been shown to be very important for studying the cardiovascular illnesses. This technique is based on a processing chain from the acquisition to the 3D segmentation of the left ventricle area obtained from each image during the cardiac cycle. With the purpose of estimating the movement of the Left Ventricle we calculate the optical flow starting from a sequence of images using the method proposed by Horn and Schunck [1]. Our work demonstrates the applicability of Horn and Schunck algorithms for optical flow to estimate the 3D cardiac motion, and proposes to improve the accuracy of estimation by introducing constraints obtained by matching method.
MEDUSA: Middleware for End-User Composition of Ubiquitous Applications

Activity-oriented computing (AOC) is a paradigm promoting the run-time realization of applications by composing ubiquitous services in the user's surroundings according to abstract specifications of user activities. The paradigm is particularly well-suited for enacting ubiquitous applications. However, there is still a need for end-users to create and control the ubiquitous applications because they are better aware of their own needs and activities than any existing context-aware system could ever be. In this chapter, we give an overview of state of the art ubiquitous application composition, present the architecture of the MEDUSA middleware and demonstrate its realization, which is based on existing open-source solutions. On the basis of our discussion on state of the art ubiquitous application composition, we argue that current implementations of the AOC paradigm are lacking in end-user support. Our solution, the MEDUSA middleware, allows end-users to explicitly compose applications from networked services, while building on an activity-oriented computing infrastructure to dynamically realize the composition.
Co-residence of mid-life children with their elderly parents in England and Wales: Changes between 1981 and 1991

It is known that there have been large declines in the proportion of elderly people living in intergenerational households. Much less is known about trends in the proportion of adult children living with elderly parents. Here I show a large decline between 1981 and 1991 in the proportion of mid-life adults living with an elderly parent or parent-in-law in England and Wales. Declines in co-residence were higher among more advantaged groups so that the characteristics of intergenerational households were less favourable in 1991 than in 1981. Analysis of another data set, including information on the survival of parents, showed that associations between co-variates and co-residence are similar in models applied to all mid-life adults and only to those with a living parent. These changes suggest a continuing trend towards residential independence as a preferred option, with those unable to attain or maintain this coming to represent a more disadvantaged group.
Collateral circulation.

BACKGROUND The collateral circulation plays a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of cerebral ischemia. Current knowledge of the collateral circulation remains sparse, largely because of prior limitations in methods for evaluation of these diminutive routes of cerebral blood flow. SUMMARY OF REVIEW Anatomic descriptions of the collateral circulation often focus on more proximal anastomoses at the circle of Willis, neglecting secondary collateral pathways provided by leptomeningeal vessels. Pathophysiological recruitment of collateral vessels likely depends on the temporal course of numerous compensatory hemodynamic, metabolic, and neural mechanisms. Subsequent endurance of these protective vascular pathways may determine the severity of ischemic injury. Characterization of the collateral circulation with advanced neuroimaging modalities that provide angiographic information and perfusion data may elucidate critical determinants of collateral blood flow. Such information on the status of the collateral circulation may be used to guide therapeutic interventions. Prognostication and risk stratification may also be improved by routine evaluation of collateral blood flow. CONCLUSIONS Contemporary understanding of the collateral circulation may be greatly enhanced through further refinement of neuroimaging modalities that correlate angiographic findings with perfusion status, providing the basis for future therapeutic and prognostic applications.
Supermodeled sabercat, predatory behavior in Smilodon fatalis revealed by high-resolution 3D computer simulation

The American sabercat Smilodon fatalis is among the most charismatic of fossil carnivores. Despite broad agreement that its extraordinary anatomy reflects unique hunting techniques, after >150 years of study, many questions remain concerning its predatory behavior. Were the “sabers” used to take down large prey? Were prey killed with an eviscerating bite to the abdomen? Was its bite powerful or weak compared with that of modern big cats? Here we quantitatively assess the sabercat's biomechanical performance using the most detailed computer reconstructions yet developed for the vertebrate skull. Our results demonstrate that bite force driven by jaw muscles was relatively weak in S. fatalis, one-third that of a lion (Panthera leo) of comparable size, and its skull was poorly optimized to resist the extrinsic loadings generated by struggling prey. Its skull is better optimized for bites on restrained prey where the bite is augmented by force from the cervical musculature. We conclude that prey were brought to ground and restrained before a killing bite, driven in large part by powerful cervical musculature. Because large prey is easier to restrain if its head is secured, the killing bite was most likely directed to the neck. We suggest that the more powerful jaw muscles of P. leo may be required for extended, asphyxiating bites and that the relatively low bite forces in S. fatalis might reflect its ability to kill large prey more quickly, avoiding the need for prolonged bites.
Crystal structure of activated ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase from green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii complexed with 2-carboxyarabinitol-1,5-bisphosphate.

Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (rubisco) catalyzes the initial steps of photosynthetic carbon reduction and photorespiratory carbon oxidation cycles by combining CO(2) and O(2), respectively, with ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate. Many photosynthetic organisms have form I rubiscos comprised of eight large (L) and eight small (S) subunits. The crystal structure of the complex of activated rubisco from the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and the reaction intermediate analogue 2-carboxyarabinitol-1,5-bisphosphate (2-CABP) has been solved at 1.84 A resolution (R(cryst) of 15.2 % and R(free) of 18.1 %). The subunit arrangement of Chlamydomonas rubisco is the same as those of the previously solved form I rubiscos. Especially, the present structure is very similar to the activated spinach structure complexed with 2-CABP in the L-subunit folding and active-site conformation, but differs in S-subunit folding. The central insertion of the Chlamydomonas S-subunit forms the longer betaA-betaB loop that protrudes deeper into the solvent channel of rubisco than higher plant, cyanobacterial, and red algal (red-like) betaA-betaB loops. The C-terminal extension of the Chlamydomonas S-subunit does not protrude into the solvent channel, unlike that of the red algal S-subunit, but lies on the protein surface anchored by interactions with the N-terminal region of the S-subunit. Further, the present high-resolution structure has revealed novel post-translational modifications. Residue 1 of the S-subunit is N(alpha)-methylmethionine, residues 104 and 151 of the L-subunit are 4-hydroxyproline, and residues 256 and 369 of the L-subunit are S(gamma)-methylcysteine. Furthermore, the unusual electron density of residue 471 of the L-subunit, which has been deduced to be threonine from the genomic DNA sequence, suggests that the residue is isoleucine produced by RNA editing or O(gamma)-methylthreonine.