Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reducing Test Utilization in Hospital Settings: A Narrative Review

Background Studies addressing the appropriateness of laboratory testing have revealed approximately 20% overutilization. We conducted a narrative review to (1) describe current interventions aimed at reducing unnecessary laboratory testing, specifically in hospital settings, and (2) provide estimates of their efficacy in reducing test order volume and improving patient-related clinical outcomes. Methods The PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health-Health Technology Assessment databases were searched for studies describing the effects of interventions aimed at reducing unnecessary laboratory tests. Data on test order volume and clinical outcomes were extracted by one reviewer, while uncertainties were discussed with two other reviewers. Because of the heterogeneity of interventions and outcomes, no meta-analysis was performed. Results Eighty-four studies were included. Interventions were categorized into educational, (computerized) provider order entry [(C)POE], audit and feedback, or other interventions. Nearly all studies reported a reduction in test order volume. Only 15 assessed sustainability up to two years. Patient-related clinical outcomes were reported in 45 studies, two of which found negative effects. Conclusions Interventions from all categories have the potential to reduce unnecessary laboratory testing, although long-term sustainability is questionable. Owing to the heterogeneity of the interventions studied, it is difficult to conclude which approach was most successful, and for which tests. Most studies had methodological limitations, such as the absence of a control arm. Therefore, well-designed, controlled trials using clearly described interventions and relevant clinical outcomes are needed.
Crop recognition under weedy conditions based on 3D imaging for robotic weed control

A 3D time‐of‐flight camera was applied to develop a crop plant recognition system for broccoli and green bean plants under weedy conditions. The developed system overcame the previously unsolved problems caused by occluded canopy and illumination variation. An efficient noise filter was developed to remove the sparse noise points in 3D point cloud space. Both 2D and 3D features including the gradient of amplitude and depth image, surface curvature, amplitude percentile index, normal direction, and neighbor point count in 3D space were extracted and found effective for recognizing these two types of plants. Separate segmentation algorithms were developed for each of the broccoli and green bean plant in accordance with their 3D geometry and 2D amplitude characteristics. Under the experimental condition where the crops were heavily infested by various types of weed plants, detection rates over 88.3% and 91.2% were achieved for broccoli and green bean plant leaves, respectively. Additionally, the crop plants were segmented out with nearly complete shape. Moreover, the algorithms were computationally optimized, resulting in an image processing speed of over 30 frames per second.
Access to a scale and self‐weighing habits among public housing residents

Having access to a scale is essential for individuals to engage in self‐weighing; however, few studies examine scale access, particularly among low‐income individuals. Our objectives were to (i) determine how many public housing residents have access to a scale and (ii) describe their self‐weighing habits. We conducted a cross‐sectional survey of public housing residents in Baltimore, MD, from August 2014 to August 2015. Participants answered questions about their access to a scale (‘yes’/‘no’) and daily self‐weighing habits (‘no scale/never or hardly ever’ vs. ‘some/about half/much of the time/always’). We used t‐tests or chi‐square tests to examine the association of scale access with respondent characteristics. Overall, 266 adults participated (48% response rate). Mean age was 45 years with 86% women, 95% black and 54% with obesity. Only 32% had access to a scale; however, 78% of those with this access reported engaging in some self‐weighing. Residents who lacked access to a scale were younger (P = 0.03), and more likely to be unemployed/disabled (P = 0.01) or food insecure (P < 0.01). While few public housing residents have access to a scale, those who do report daily self‐weighing with some regularity. Financial hardship may influence scale access in this population, as potential proxies of this status were associated with no scale access.
Development and Validation of a HPLC-MS/MS Method for Simultaneous Determination of Twelve Bioactive Compounds in Epimedium: Application to a Pharmacokinetic Study in Rats

A rapid and reliable HPLC-MS/MS method has been developed and validated for the simultaneous quantification of twelve bioactive compounds (baohuoside II, baohuoside I, sagittatoside A, sagittatoside B, magnoflorine, epimedin A, epimedin B, epimedin C, chlorogenic acid, neochlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid and icariin) in rat plasma. The collected plasma samples were prepared by protein precipitate with acetonitrile. The twelve compounds were separated on a CORTECS®C18 column (4.6 mm × 150 mm, 2.7 μm) with a gradient mobile phase system of 0.1% (v/v) formic acid and acetonitrile at a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. All of the analytes were quantitated using electrospray ionization (ESI) in negative ion mode with selected reaction monitoring (SRM). The intra- and inter-day accuracy ranged from −5.6% to 13.0%, and the precisions of the analytes were less than 10.9%. The mean recoveries of the analytes were in the range of 60.66% to 99.77% and the matrix effect ranged from 93.08% to 119.84%. Stability studies proved that the analytes were stable under the tested conditions, with a relative standard deviation (RSD) lower than 11.7%. The developed method was successfully applied to evaluating the pharmacokinetic study of twelve bioactive compounds after oral administration of Epimedium extract in rat.
Allometric patterning in the limb skeleton of bats: Implications for the mechanics and energetics of powered flight

Allometric analysis was employed to compare linear dimensions of forelimb and hindlimb bones (humeri, radii, third and fifth metacarpals, third and fifth manual phalanges, femora, and tibiae) of 227 species of bats and 105 species of nonvolant mammals of varying degrees of phylogenetic affinity to bats. After accounting for body size, all forelimb bones are longer in bats than in nonvolant species, with the exception of humeri and radii of a few highly arboreal primates. Hindlimb bones are generally, but not uniformly, shorter in bats than in other mammals. For the humerus, radius, and metacarpals, midshaft diameters are greater in bats than in their comparably sized relatives. Proximal phalangeal midshaft diameters are statistically indistinguishable from those of other mammals, and distal phalanges show significantly reduced outer diameters. The pattern of relative reduction in wing bone diameters along the wing's proximodistal axis parallels the reduction in bone mineralization along the same axis, and a similar pattern of change in cortical thickness from the smallest wall thicknesses among mammals in the humerus and radius to the greatest wall thicknesses among mammals in the phalanges. The combination of altered cross‐sectional geometry and mineralization appears significantly to reduce the mass moment of inertia of the bat wing relative to a theoretical condition in which elongated bones preserve primitive mammalian mineralization levels and patterns of scaling of long bone diameters. This intercorrelated suite of skeletal specializations may significantly reduce the inertial power of flight, contributing significant energetic savings to the total energy budgets of the only flying mammals. J. Morphol. 234: 277–294, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Predictive As-grown-generation model for NBTI of advanced CMOS devices and circuits

Increasing pressure on the quest towards low power applications with stringent reliability demands requires narrowing the gap between NBTI models and real circuit operation for design optimization. In this work, we reviewed the recent-proposed As-grown-Generation (AG) model. By separating different types of defects through experiment, we demonstrated that it can make reliable prediction beyond the measurement window. Compared with other existing models, the proposed model delivered its original mission: Reliably predicting long term aging at low Vg based on a model extracted from Vg-accelerated short tests. Its simple formula makes it readily implementable for circuit level simulation.
Combined hormonal contraceptives use and bone mineral density changes in adolescent and young women in a prospective population-based Canada-wide observational study

Objectives: To assess combined hormonal contraceptives (CHC) use and adolescent women’s peak areal bone mineral density (BMD) accrual. Methods: We enrolled 527 randomly selected women across Canada (2004-6) divided by age into adolescents (16-19) and young adults (20-24) and by CHC use to ever (E-CHC)/never (N-CHC) users. At baseline and year 2 we measured height, weight, and BMD at lumbar spine (L1-4), femoral neck, and total hip sites. Interviewer-administered questionnaires addressed menarche age, cigarette and alcohol use, calcium/vitamin D intakes, physical activity and estrogen dose (≤30/>30 micrograms). Linear regression models examined associations of CHC use with 2-year BMD change adjusted for bone-related variables. Results: Of 307 women with complete data, 229 (75%) used CHC. N-CHC adolescents gained significantly more unadjusted total hip BMD +0.012 g/cm2/2-y (95% C.I.: 0.001, 0.023) with similar trends at all sites. N-CHC adolescents tended to have greater adjusted femoral neck BMD gain: mean difference +0.009 g/cm2 (95% CI:-0.002; 0.021). In young women N-CHC, however, adjusted femoral neck BMD decreased significantly more -0.021 g/cm2 (95%CI:-0.006; -0.036) with similar trends at other sites. BMD changes were unrelated to estrogen dose and age at starting CHC. Conclusions: Adolescent CHC users in a random population demonstrated less hip region peak BMD accrual than non-users. This requires randomized control trial confirmation.
Morphogenesis of placental membranes in the viviparous, placentotrophic lizard Chalcides chalcides (Squamata: Scincidae)

In the scincid lizard Chalcides chalcides, females ovulate small ova and supply most of the nutrients for development by placental means. The yolk is enveloped precocially by extraembryonic ectoderm and endoderm during the gastrula stage, establishing a simple bilaminar yolk sac placenta. The shell membrane begins to degenerate at this time, resulting in apposition of extraembryonic and maternal tissues. A true chorioplacenta has developed by the early pharyngula stage, as has a choriovitelline placenta and the first stages of an omphaloplacenta. Although the choriovitelline membrane disappears rapidly, the omphaloplacenta spreads to occupy the entire abembryonic pole. The yolk cleft is not confluent with the exocoelom, and no omphalallantoic placenta develops. By the limb‐bud stage, an allantoplacenta has been established, with a mesometrial placentome composed of interdigitating ridges of chorioallantois and uterine mucosa. The discovery of five distinct placental arrangements in this species, three of which are transitory and two of which have not previously been recorded in reptiles, emphasizes the need for accounts that specify ontogenetic stages and the precise identity and composition of squamate placental membranes. Contrary to previous interpretations, the pattern of extraembryonic membrane development in C. chalcides is evolutionarily conservative, despite the presence of a reduced yolk mass and cytological specializations for nutrient transfer. Our observations indicate that substantial placentotrophy can evolve in squamates without major modifications of morphogenetic patterns. J Morphol 232:35–55, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Characters discriminating two seed husking mechanisms in finches (Fringillidae: Carduelinae) and estrildids (Passeridae: Estrildinae)

Finches have two major types of seed husking, each with two phases: crushing and seed husk disposal. Recent observations show that both Spice Finches and Greenfinches husk seeds by a crushing mechanism, but the Greenfinch, Carduelis chloris, applies mediolateral movements of the lower mandible, especially during seek husk disposal, while such movements are not‐found in the Spice Finch, Lonchura punctulata. A detailed comparison of the anatomies of their jaw apparatuses elucidates that numerous discriminating characters form an integrated complex that parallels the difference in seed husking. These focus on 1) a more flattened shape of the articular facets in the quadratomandibular articulation and a lack of the postorbital ligament, resulting in decoupling of the quadratomandibular joint facets, and release of the pseudotemporal muscle from jaw elevation only and 2) adductor mandibulae and pterygoid muscles with an increased medial component in the Greenfinch. Muscles built heavier in the Greenfinch than the Spice Finch, especially mediolaterally oriented muscles, are in concurrence with muscle asymmetries found in crossbills (Loxia sp.), a finch‐species employing unilateral mandibular rotation. These two groups of differences are conditions to transform a dorsoventrally oriented into an improved, mediolaterally oriented husking design. These features, though in concert with many others, are proposed as they key innovations that released the increase of crushing forces by extending forces from jaw muscles and improvement of the disposal of the crushed shell by left‐right lower mandible manipulation. Such an improved husking capacity may have opened the vast food‐array of hard‐shelled, dicotyledon seeds, allowing extensive trophic radiation. J. Morphol 232:1–33, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Association of clinical measures of periodontal disease with blood pressure and hypertension among postmenopausal women

BACKGROUND Hypertension and periodontal disease are common conditions among postmenopausal women. Periodontal disease has been found associated with hypertension in previous studies, but data in postmenopausal women is limited. METHODS We assessed the cross-sectional associations of clinically measured periodontal disease with prevalent hypertension and measured systolic blood pressure (SBP) among 1341 postmenopausal women enrolled in the Buffalo Osteoporosis and Periodontal Disease (OsteoPerio) study, an ancillary study of the Women's Health Initiative-Observational Study. RESULTS Clinical attachment level (CAL) and number of teeth missing were positively associated with SBP among those not taking antihypertensive medication in crude and multivariable adjusted linear regression models (both P < 0.05). Alveolar crestal height (ACH) and gingival bleeding on probing were associated with higher SBP in crude but not multivariable adjusted models. Neither probing pocket depth (PPD) nor severity categories of periodontitis were associated with SBP. Number of teeth missing was significantly associated with prevalent hypertension in crude and multivariable adjusted models (OR = 1.14, per 5 teeth; P = 0.04). ACH was associated with prevalent hypertension in crude but not adjusted models. CAL, PPD, gingival bleeding, and severity of periodontitis were not significantly associated with prevalent hypertension. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that measures of oral health including CAL and number of teeth missing are associated with blood pressure in postmenopausal women. Prospective studies are needed to further investigate these associations and the potential underlying mechanisms for these relationships.
Development and Validation of a Functional Behavioural Assessment Ontology to Support Behavioural Health Interventions

Background In the cognitive-behavioral approach, Functional Behavioural Assessment is one of the most effective methods to identify the variables that determine a problem behavior. In this context, the use of modern technologies can encourage the collection and sharing of behavioral patterns, effective intervention strategies, and statistical evidence about antecedents and consequences of clusters of problem behaviors, encouraging the designing of function-based interventions. Objective The paper describes the development and validation process used to design a specific Functional Behavioural Assessment Ontology (FBA-Ontology). The FBA-Ontology is a semantic representation of the variables that intervene in a behavioral observation process, facilitating the systematic collection of behavioral data, the consequential planning of treatment strategies and, indirectly, the scientific advancement in this field of study. Methods The ontology has been developed deducing concepts and relationships of the ontology from a gold standard and then performing a machine-based validation and a human-based assessment to validate the Functional Behavioural Assessment Ontology. These validation and verification processes were aimed to verify how much the ontology is conceptually well founded and semantically and syntactically correct. Results The Pellet reasoner checked the logical consistency and the integrity of classes and properties defined in the ontology, not detecting any violation of constraints in the ontology definition. To assess whether the ontology definition is coherent with the knowledge domain, human evaluation of the ontology was performed asking 84 people to fill in a questionnaire composed by 13 questions assessing concepts, relations between concepts, and concepts’ attributes. The response rate for the survey was 29/84 (34.52%). The domain experts confirmed that the concepts, the attributes, and the relationships between concepts defined in the FBA-Ontology are valid and well represent the Functional Behavioural Assessment process. Conclusions The new ontology developed could be a useful tool to design new evidence-based systems in the Behavioral Interventions practices, encouraging the link with other Linked Open Data datasets and repositories to provide users with new models of eHealth focused on the management of problem behaviors. Therefore, new research is needed to develop and implement innovative strategies to improve the poor reproducibility and translatability of basic research findings in the field of behavioral assessment.
Position of the greater trochanter and functional femoral antetorsion: WHICH FACTORS MATTER IN THE MANAGEMENT OF FEMORAL ANTETORSION DISORDERS?

Aims The primary aim of this study was to define and quantify three new measurements to indicate the position of the greater trochanter. Secondary aims were to define ‘functional antetorsion' as it relates to abductor function in populations both with and without torsional abnormality. Patients and Methods Three new measurements, functional antetorsion, posterior tilt, and posterior translation of the greater trochanter, were assessed from 61 CT scans of cadaveric femurs, and their reliability determined. These measurements and their relationships were also evaluated in three groups of patients: a control group (n = 22), a ‘high‐antetorsion' group (n = 22) and a ‘low‐antetorsion' group (n = 10). Results In the cadaver group, the mean anatomical antetorsion was 14.7° (sd 8.5; 0 to 36.5) and the functional antetorsion 21.5° (sd 8.1; 3.6 to 44.3): the posterior tilt was 73.3° (sd 10.8; 46.9 to 88.7) and the posterior translation 0.59 (sd 0.2; 0.2 to 0.9). These measurements had excellent intra and interobserver agreement with a range from 0.93 to 0.99. When the anatomical antetorsion decreased, the greater trochanter was more tilted and translated posteriorly in relation to the axis of the femoral neck, and the difference between functional and anatomical antetorsion increased. The results the three patient groups were similar to those of the cadaver group. Conclusion The position of the greater trochanter and functional antetorsion varied with anatomical antetorsion. In the surgical management of femoral retrotorsion, subtrochanteric osteotomy can result in an excessively posterior position of the greater trochanter and an increase in functional antetorsion.
Genetic risk for neurodegenerative disorders, and its overlap with cognitive ability and physical function

INTRODUCTION It is unclear whether polygenic risk for neurodegenerative disease is associated with cognitive performance and physical health. METHODS This study tested whether polygenic scores for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), or frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are associated with cognitive performance and physical health. Group-based analyses were performed to compare associations with cognitive and physical function outcomes in the top and bottom 10% for the three neurodegenerative polygenic risk scores. RESULTS Higher polygenic risk scores for AD, ALS, and FTD were associated with lower cognitive performance. Higher polygenic risk scores for FTD was also associated with increased forced expiratory volume in 1s and peak expiratory flow. A significant group difference was observed on the symbol digit substitution task between individuals with high polygenic risk for FTD and high polygenic risk for ALS. DISCUSSION Our results suggest overlap between polygenic risk for neurodegenerative disorders, cognitive function and physical health.
NLP Lean Programming Framework: Developing NLP Applications More Effectively

This paper presents NLP Lean Programming framework (NLPf), a new framework for creating custom Natural Language Processing (NLP) models and pipelines by utilizing common software development build systems. This approach allows developers to train and integrate domain-specific NLP pipelines into their applications seamlessly. Additionally, NLPf provides an annotation tool which improves the annotation process significantly by providing a well-designed GUI and sophisticated way of using input devices. Due to NLPf’s properties developers and domain experts are able to build domain-specific NLP application more effectively. Project page: https://gitlab.com/schrieveslaach/NLPf Video Tutorial: https://www.youtube. com/watch? v=44UJspVebTA (Demonstration starts at 11:40 min) This paper is related to: - Interfaces and resources to support linguistic annotation - Software architectures and reusable components - Software tools for evaluation or error analysis