Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Home care by outreach nursing for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

BACKGROUND Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterised by progressive airflow obstruction, worsening exercise performance and health deterioration. It is associated with significant morbidity, mortality and health system burden. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effectiveness of outreach respiratory health care worker programmes for COPD patients in terms of improving lung function, exercise tolerance and health related quality of life (HRQL) of patient and carer, and reducing mortality and medical service utilisation. SEARCH METHODS The Cochrane Airways Group Specialised Register of Trials was searched (November 2011). Study references were hand-searched for additional studies we contacted study authors to identify other unpublished studies. SELECTION CRITERIA We included only randomised controlled trials of COPD patients. We included interventions involving an outreach nurse visiting patients in their homes, providing support, education, monitoring health and liaising with physicians. Studies in which the therapeutic intervention under test was physical training were not included. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two reviewers independently assessed trial quality and extracted data. We contacted study authors for additional information. MAIN RESULTS We pooled mortality data from eight studies and found a non-significant reduction in mortality at 12 months (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.45 to, 1.15). We pooled four studies that assessed disease-specific heath-related quality of life (HRQL) and found a statistically significant improvement in HRQL (mean difference -2.61, 95% CI -4.82 to -0.40). Hospitalisations were reported in five studies. Although there was no statistically significant difference in the number of hospitalisations (OR 1.01, 95% CI 0.71 to 1.44), there was significant heterogeneity. Although this heterogeneity appeared to be caused by one outlying study with a statistically significant decrease in hospitalisations in patients receiving home care, whereas the other studies showed a non-significant increase in hospitalisations, we could not draw firm conclusions about why this heterogeneity exists. Data on GP visits and emergency department presentations were available, however no consistent effect in these was observed with the intervention. The intervention also incurred higher health care costs than standard care as reported in a single study.Very few studies provided data on lung function or exercise performance, so there was insufficient evidence to assess impact on these outcomes. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Outreach nursing programmes for COPD improved disease-specific HRQL. However the effect on hospitalisations was heterogeneous, reducing admissions in one study, but increasing them in others, therefore we could not draw firm conclusions for this outcome.
A Balloon-Shaped Monopole Antenna for Passive UWB-RFID Tag Applications

A balloon-shaped ultrawideband (UWB) antenna is developed, and its scattering characteristics are theoretically and experimentally studied in both the frequency and time domain. The radar cross-section (RCS) and scattering waveforms of the UWB antenna terminated with three different kinds of loads are simulated and measured. The results which are in good agreement show that, the balloon-shaped antenna is with almost omnidirectional scattering pattern, and its scattering of antenna mode and structural mode are obviously separated in the time domain. Therefore, this antenna is an eligible candidate for the passive ultrawideband-enabled radio-frequency identification (UWB-RFID) tag applications. Furthermore, the scattering waveform of this antenna is valuable to clarify the differences on the definitions of structural and antenna modes.
Vitamin D and Myocardial Infarction

A detailed investigation was carried out into the consumption of vitamin D from different sources in patients who had suffered from myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, and degenerative joint diseases. Randomly selected controls of the same ages and sex were drawn from the Central Bureau of Statistics. The consumption was significantly higher in infarction patients. A daily intake of 30 μg may be the critical level. Student's t test for trend showed increasing probability of myocardial infarction with increasing intake of vitamin D, and more infarction patients than controls had a history of kidney stone. Long-term high consumption of vitamin D may be a precipitating cause of myocardial infarction.
Design and Analysis of Fast Driver's Fatigue Estimation and Drowsiness Detection System using Android

The purpose of doing this research is to design an application for fast drowsiness detection system, so the rate of traffic accidents due to negligence of the driver can be lowered. This research uses several methods such as the method of analysis that includes literature study, design method and testing method. Then we design and test on how accurate the given data when compared to the real condition. The results achieved from the Drowsiness Detection System application design based on Computer Vision are the parameters which affect the performance of application such as distance and direction of camera to the eyes, and the ability to detect drowsiness around 90%. The conclusion obtained in this research is that application supports the theory that the average duration of eye closure which above 400 ms were classified into sleepy, while below 400ms, driver declared in normal state. With the ability to detect drowsiness of the drivers, this application can reduce the rate of traffic accidents every year, by giving the increasing awareness of the driver against driver's fatigue.
Educational reflections from Eritrea Learning for All : Eritrea-Finland collaboration project in higher education (2015-2017)

The aim is of this chapter is to provide a general presentation of the Eritrean educational system and its governance as an overall framework for the chapters dealing with literacy and numeracy in more detail. The chapter begins with an introduction, probing into the role of school leadership to justify the educational leadership scope on literacy and numeracy. This is followed by a brief description of the Eritrean educational system and its governance based on the corresponding education policy documents in Eritrea. The main part of the chapter focuses on Eritrean school directors’ views on the educational system and its governance at the school level as reported by them in a survey to a sample of school directors in the Central Region (Asmara and its vicinity). In this examination, too, literacy and numeracy are a central standpoint.
Vibration diagnostic method of permanent magnets generators - detecting of vibrations caused by unbalance

This paper presents a new vibration diagnostic method designed for diagnose of permanent magnets (PM) generators. Those machines are commonly used in small wind turbines. The described method is very innovative and unique. Specific structural properties of machines excited by permanent magnets are used in this method - electromotive force (EMF) generated due to vibrations. There was analysed number of publications which describe vibration diagnostic methods and tests of electrical machines with permanent magnets and there was no method found to determine the technical condition of such machine basing on their own signals [1,2,3,4]. In this article several issues will be discussed: the method genesis, the similarity of permanent magnet machines to vibration sensor, mathematical model, and results of simulation and laboratory tests. The method of determination the technical condition of PM electrical machine basing on its own signals is the subject of patent application No P.405669 [5], and it is the main thesis of author's doctoral dissertation.
Analysis and experimental comparison of spoke type and surface mounted PM machines with fractional slot concentrated winding

This paper proposes an advanced spoke type permanent magnet (PM) servo motor with high torque density. The optimizations of split ratio and trapezoidal magnet dimensions are performed, and unequal airgap is employed to reduce the cogging torque. The designed trapezoidal magnets are used in one 3 Nm prototype to remove the rotor iron bridge, which introduces heavy leakage flux especially for the brushless PM motors with small size. The comparison of the proposed spoke type PM machine and regular surface mounted PM (SPM) machine is presented by finite element analysis (FEA) and validated by experiments. The results show that the torque density of the proposed spoke type PM motor can be 22% higher than that of the regular SPM motor under same temperature rise.
Reciprocal "flipping" underlies substrate recognition and catalytic activation by the human 8-oxo-guanine DNA glycosylase.

Both 8oxo-guanine and formamidopyrimidines are major products of oxidative DNA damage that can result in the fixation of transversion mutations following replication if left unrepaired. These lesions are targeted by the N-DNA glycosylase hOgg1, which catalyses excision of the aberrant base followed by cleavage of the phosphate backbone directly 5' to the resultant abasic site in a context, dependent manner. We present the crystal structure of native hOgg1 refined to 2.15 A resolution that reveals a number of highly significant conformational changes on association with DNA that are clearly required for substrate recognition and specificity. Changes of this magnitude appear to be unique to hOgg1 and have not been observed in any of the DNA-glycosylase structures analysed to date where both native and DNA-bound forms are available. It has been possible to identify a mechanism whereby the catalytic residue Lys 249 is "primed" for nucleophilic attack of the N-glycosidic bond.
The late open artery hypothesis--a decade later.

BACKGROUND Early reperfusion after myocardial infarction has been proved to preserve left ventricular function and reduce mortality. However, a significant number of patients have persistent occlusion of the infarct-related artery late (days to weeks) after myocardial infarction because of ineligibility for thrombolytic therapy, failure of reperfusion, or reocclusion. METHODS In this report we review the data on the potential mechanisms and benefits of late reperfusion and present prospective data on the incidence of and current practice patterns for the management of persistently occluded infarct-related arteries late after myocardial infarction. RESULTS Although several studies have associated late patency of the infarct-related artery with improved long-term clinical outcome, they were nonrandomized and reflect selection bias. Furthermore, data on late patency from the largest study, Global Utilization of Steptokinase and Tissue Plasminogen Activator for Occluded Arteries (GUSTO-I), failed to confirm independent benefits of an open infarct-related artery 1 year after myocardial infarction. The randomized data on the effects of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty for occluded infarct-related arteries late after myocardial infarction are limited and inconclusive. CONCLUSIONS The hypothesis that late reperfusion by percutaneous coronary intervention days to weeks after myocardial infarction results in improved long-term clinical outcomes in asymptomatic patients with occluded infarct-related artery is currently being tested in the randomized, multicenter Occluded Artery Trial.
Multiple GTPases Participate in the Assembly of the Large Ribosomal Subunit in Bacillus subtilis

ABSTRACT GTPases have been demonstrated to be necessary for the proper assembly of the ribosome in bacteria and eukaryotes. Here, we show that the essential GTPases YphC and YsxC are required for large ribosomal subunit biogenesis in Bacillus subtilis. Sucrose density gradient centrifugation of large ribosomal subunits isolated from YphC-depleted cells and YsxC-depleted cells indicates that they are similar to the 45S intermediate previously identified in RbgA-depleted cells. The sedimentation of the large-subunit intermediate isolated from YphC-depleted cells was identical to the intermediate found in RbgA-depleted cells, while the intermediate isolated from YsxC-depleted cells sedimented slightly slower than 45S, suggesting that it is a novel intermediate. Analysis of the protein composition of the large-subunit intermediates isolated from either YphC-depleted cells or YsxC-depleted cells indicated that L16 and L36 are missing. Purified YphC and YsxC are able to interact with the ribosome in vitro, supporting a direct role for these two proteins in the assembly of the 50S subunit. Our results indicate that, as has been demonstrated for Saccharomyces cerevisiae ribosome biogenesis, bacterial 50S ribosome assembly requires the function of multiple essential GTPases.
Modelling the distributions of Culicoides bluetongue virus vectors in Sicily in relation to satellite‐derived climate variables

Abstract. Surveillance data from 268 sites in Sicily are used to develop climatic models for prediction of the distribution of the main European bluetongue virus (BTV) vector Culicoides imicola Kieffer (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) and of potential novel vectors, Culicoides pulicaris Linnaeus, Culicoides obsoletus group Meigen and Culicoides newsteadi Austen. The models containing the ‘best’ climatic predictors of distribution for each species, were selected from combinations of 40 temporally Fourier‐processed remotely sensed variables and altitude at a 1 km spatial resolution using discriminant analysis. Kappa values of around 0.6 for all species models indicated substantial levels of agreement between model predictions and observed data. Whilst the distributions of C. obsoletus group and C. newsteadi were predicted by temperature variables, those of C. pulicaris and C. imicola were determined mainly by normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), a variable correlated with soil moisture and vegetation biomass and productivity. These models were used to predict species presence in unsampled pixels across Italy and for C. imicola across Europe and North Africa. The predicted continuous presence of C. pulicaris along the appenine mountains, from north to south Italy, suggests BTV transmission may be possible in a large proportion of this region and that seasonal transhumance (seasonal movement of livestock between upland and lowland pastures) even in C. imicola‐free areas should not generally be considered safe. The predicted distribution of C. imicola distribution shows substantial agreement with observed surveillance data from Greece and Iberia (including the Balearics) and parts of mainland Italy (Lazio, Tuscany and areas of the Ionian coast) but is generally much more restricted than the observed distribution (in Sardinia, Corsica and Morocco). The low number of presence sites for C. imicola in Sicily meant that only a restricted range of potential C. imicola habitats were included in the training set and that predictions could only be made within this range. Future modelling exercises will use abundance data collected according to a standardized protocol across the Mediterranean and, for Sicily in particular, should include non‐climatic environmental variables that may influence breeding site suitability such as soil type.
Preventive services in a health maintenance organization: how well do pediatricians screen and educate adolescent patients?

OBJECTIVE To determine whether pediatricians in managed care settings adhere to national guidelines concerning the provision of clinical preventive services. DESIGN Surveys were mailed between September 1996 and April 1997 to all pediatricians practicing in a California group-model health maintenance organization. The survey asked pediatricians about their screening and education practices on 34 recommended services and the actions taken with adolescent patients who have engaged in risk behavior. RESULTS The response rate was 66.2% (N = 366). Pediatricians, on average, screened 92% of their adolescent patients for immunization status and blood pressure; 85% for school performance; 60% to 80% for obesity, sexual intercourse, cigarette use, alcohol use, drug use, and seat belt and helmet use; 30% to 47% for access to handguns, suicide, eating disorders, depression, and driving after drinking alcohol; fewer than 20% for use of smokeless tobacco, sexual orientation, sexual and physical abuse, and riding a bike or swimming after drinking alcohol; and 26% to 41% for close friends' engagement in risk behavior. Pediatricians' assessment and education with adolescent patients who screened positive for risk behavior was particularly low. Female physicians, physicians who saw a greater proportion of older adolescents, and recent medical school graduates were more likely to provide preventive services. CONCLUSIONS Pediatricians in this health maintenance organization provide preventive services to adolescent patients at rates below recommendations but at rates greater than physicians in other practice settings. Improvement is especially needed in the areas that contribute most to adolescent mortality and for patients who screen positive for a risk behavior.
The Accuracy of Endoscopic Ultrasonography in Differentiating Mucosal from Deeper Gastric Cancer

BACKGROUND AND AIM:With the advent of endoscopic mucosal resection and endoscopic submucosal dissection techniques, pretreatment differentiation between mucosal and deeper gastric cancer has become increasingly important. The aim of this study was to systematically review published data on the diagnostic performance of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) in differentiating between mucosal and deeper gastric cancer.METHODS:A systematic search for relevant studies was performed of the PubMed/MEDLINE and Embase databases. Two reviewers independently assessed the methodological quality of each study. Sensitivity and specificity of EUS were calculated for each study and a summary receiver operating characteristic curve (sROC) was constructed. Subgroup analyses were performed if results of individual studies were heterogeneous.RESULTS:The inclusion criteria were met by 18 studies. The studies had poor methodological quality. Sensitivity and specificity of EUS in detecting cancerous extension beyond the mucosa ranged from 18.2 to 100% (median 87.8%) and from 34.7 to 100% (median 80.2%), with an area under the sROC of 0.8924. There was significant heterogeneity in both sensitivities and specificities among the included studies (P < 0.0001). Studies which only included patients endoscopically suspected of having EGC and studies which only used transducer frequencies ≥15 MHz were homogeneous in sensitivities (P= 0.1828 and 0.4501, respectively). CONCLUSION:It is unclear yet whether EUS can accurately differentiate between mucosal and deeper gastric cancer. Factors that may influence its diagnostic performance should be further explored.
Comovement among returns of the private Chilean pension system

Abstract The measurement of comovement among economic variables is key in several areas of economics and finance. This article examines the comovement among Pension Fund Administrators (AFPs) in the Chilean private pension system from 2005 to 2016. We use several statistical methods to assess the comovement among the returns during this period. We found evidence of strong comovement among the returns of all AFPs; the higher the percentage of risk rate of the investment instrument, the higher the comovement was. The introduction of a new AFP in 2010 did not change the comovement patterns. The comovement analysis study shows that the quality attributes of the products offered by the AFPs are homogeneous, supporting the idea that concentrated markets with homogeneous products could incentivize tacit collusive behavior, which could distort the functioning of the pension market, thereby affecting the aggregate well-being of workers.
Does citizen participation affect municipal performance? Electoral competition and fiscal performance in Japan

ABSTRACT Subnational fiscal performance has been receiving a lot of attention from researchers in various disciplines. However, there is very little published on the impact of citizen involvement on fiscal performance. This paper shows that a lack of citizen involvement in the electoral process was associated with fiscal performance in all 807 city-level Japanese municipalities from 2006 to 2012.
Presentation of the microscopic vascular architecture of the radial head using a sequential plastination technique

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the peri‐ and intraosseous vascular architecture of the radial head and vascular interaction with surgical implants. Seventeen fresh human cadaveric elbows were sequentially plastinated beginning with arterial injection, followed by block and slice plastination of the whole elbow. With this technique, we obtained completely transparent cadaveric slices in which the peri‐ and intraosseous vascular architecture could be studied in its neutral position. In six of these elbows, radial head osteosynthesis was imitated with miniplates or fine threaded K‐wires. Vascularization of the radial head occurred via branches of the radial recurrent artery on the ventral, lateral, and dorsal sides of the radial head and a branch of the ulnar artery—ramus periostalis ulnaris—medially and dorsomedially. Both arteries create a pericervical arterial ring around the radial neck. A branch of the interosseous artery—R. interosseous recurrence—supports the ventral and dorsal sides of the radial neck and the final branches of the nutrient artery support intraosseous vascularization. Vascular structures were damaged more severely by plates than by screws. The peri‐ and intraosseous vascularization of the radial head and the interaction between vascularization and the implants was shown. Plate fixation of radial head fractures leads to a higher level of implant‐related destruction of the periosseous vascularization than screw fixation. Besides devascularization of the radial head due to the injury leading to a certain risk of fracture nonunion, additional implant‐related injuries to the blood supply might increase the chance of radial head fracture non‐union. Clin. Anat. 24:721–732, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
On Testing an Unspecified Function Through a Linear Mixed Effects Model with Multiple Variance Components

Summary We examine a generalized F‐test of a nonparametric function through penalized splines and a linear mixed effects model representation. With a mixed effects model representation of penalized splines, we imbed the test of an unspecified function into a test of some fixed effects and a variance component in a linear mixed effects model with nuisance variance components under the null. The procedure can be used to test a nonparametric function or varying‐coefficient with clustered data, compare two spline functions, test the significance of an unspecified function in an additive model with multiple components, and test a row or a column effect in a two‐way analysis of variance model. Through a spectral decomposition of the residual sum of squares, we provide a fast algorithm for computing the null distribution of the test, which significantly improves the computational efficiency over bootstrap. The spectral representation reveals a connection between the likelihood ratio test (LRT) in a multiple variance components model and a single component model. We examine our methods through simulations, where we show that the power of the generalized F‐test may be higher than the LRT, depending on the hypothesis of interest and the true model under the alternative. We apply these methods to compute the genome‐wide critical value and p‐value of a genetic association test in a genome‐wide association study (GWAS), where the usual bootstrap is computationally intensive (up to 108 simulations) and asymptotic approximation may be unreliable and conservative.