Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bending the health care cost curve.

Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI)-Section 6301: is a non-profit, tax exempt corporation established by the ACA to develop and provide comparative effectiveness information to assist patients, clinicians, purchasers, and policy makers in making more informed and effective healthcare decisions. The Institute will focus on clinical comparative effectiveness research, defined as research evaluating and comparing health outcomes and the clinical effectiveness, risks, and benefits of 2 or more medical treatments or services. The Institute will prioritize the healthcare areas to address, engage in research and evidence synthesis efforts, and disseminate its findings to all stakeholders in an understandable manner. While the function of the Institute is solely informational, it is expected that the information produced by this entity will assist all healthcare stakeholders in making better, more value-based decisions regarding their healthcare needs and purchases.
Design and implementation of real-time digital video streaming system over IPv6 network using feedback control

In this paper, we discuss a design of a real-time DV (Digital Video) streaming system, which dynamically adjusts packet transmission rate from the source host according to feedback information from the network. In our DV streaming system, the destination host continuously notifies the source host of network status (e.g., the end-to-end packet transmission delay and the packet loss probability in the network). The source host dynamically adjusts its packet transmission rate by lowering the quality of the video stream using a feedback-based control mechanism. Our DV streaming system achieves an efficient utilization of network resources, and prevents packet losses in the network. Thus, our DV streaming system realizes high-quality and real-time video streaming services on the Internet. By modifying the existing DVTS (Digital Video Transmission System), we implement a prototype of our real-time DV streaming system. Through several experimental results, we demonstrate the effectiveness of our DV streaming system.
Real Color Image Enhanced by Illumination - Reflectance Model and Wavelet Transform

Because the color restoration functions of real color image enhancement are greatly at random and not proved, and the enhanced real color images which are based on illumination-reflectance model have the loss of details and the 'halos', we proposed a new algorithm to overcome these disadvantages. Firstly, we transform the real color image from RGB space to HSV space which is approximately orthonormal between color and value, and keep the color of image. Secondly, the illumination and the reflectance of value are separated by homomorphic decomposition based on illumination-reflectance model. We have discovered that the high dynamic range of image including high bright lights is mainly caused by the reflectance. Thirdly, the details of reflectance are preserved by wavelet transform. Lastly, the dynamic range of reflectance is compressed by Butterworth filtering. Experiments show that the color of image enhanced is not obviously distorted, the preservation of the details is good and the 'halos' is effectively restrained. Real color image enhanced by the algorithm is much better than the multi-scale Retinex's with color restoration (MSRCR).
PedAM: a database for Pediatric Disease Annotation and Medicine

Abstract There is a significant number of children around the world suffering from the consequence of the misdiagnosis and ineffective treatment for various diseases. To facilitate the precision medicine in pediatrics, a database namely the Pediatric Disease Annotations & Medicines (PedAM) has been built to standardize and classify pediatric diseases. The PedAM integrates both biomedical resources and clinical data from Electronic Medical Records to support the development of computational tools, by which enables robust data analysis and integration. It also uses disease-manifestation (D-M) integrated from existing biomedical ontologies as prior knowledge to automatically recognize text-mined, D-M-specific syntactic patterns from 774 514 full-text articles and 8 848 796 abstracts in MEDLINE. Additionally, disease connections based on phenotypes or genes can be visualized on the web page of PedAM. Currently, the PedAM contains standardized 8528 pediatric disease terms (4542 unique disease concepts and 3986 synonyms) with eight annotation fields for each disease, including definition synonyms, gene, symptom, cross-reference (Xref), human phenotypes and its corresponding phenotypes in the mouse. The database PedAM is freely accessible at http://www.unimd. org/pedam/.
Broadband coupler using improved vertically installed planar structure

A novel vertically installed planar structure with patterned ground plane had been presented in this paper. It eliminates the existing limitations of conventional vertically installed planar structure, resulting in a simple structure with less fabrication efforts. For demonstration purpose, a 3-dB hybrid coupler was designed based on the proposed improved structure. It was measured to have a good performance both in amplitude and phase from 2.5 to 5.5 GHz.
A Novel Zero-Voltage-Switching PWM Full Bridge Converter

Introducing resonant inductance and clamping diodes into the full-bridge converter can eliminate the voltage oscillation across the rectifier diodes and increase the load range for zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) achievement. The resonant inductance is shorted and its current keeps constant when the clamping diode is conducting, and the clamping diode is hard turned-off, causing significant reverse recovery loss if the output filter inductance is relatively larger. This paper improves the full-bridge converter by introducing a reset winding in series with the resonant inductance to make the clamping diode current decay rapidly when it conducts. The reset winding not only reduces the conduction losses, but also makes the clamping diodes naturally turn-off and avoids the reverse recovery. The operation principle of the proposed converter is analyzed. The design of the turns ratio of transformer is discussed. A 1 kW prototype converter is built to verify the operation principle and the experimental results are also demonstrated.
Approximation via cost sharing

We present constant-factor approximation algorithms for several widely-studied NP-hard optimization problems in network design, including the multicommodity rent-or-buy, virtual private network design, and single-sink buy-at-bulk problems. Our algorithms are simple and their approximation ratios improve over those previously known, in some cases by orders of magnitude. We develop a general analysis framework to bound the approximation ratios of our algorithms. This framework is based on a novel connection between random sampling and game-theoretic cost sharing.
Separating Transrepression and Transactivation: A Distressing Divorce for the Glucocorticoid Receptor?

Glucocorticoids (corticosteroids) are highly effective in combating inflammation in the context of a variety of diseases. However, clinical utility can be compromised by the development of side effects, many of which are attributed to the ability of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) to induce the transcription of, or transactivate, certain genes. By contrast, the anti-inflammatory effects of glucocorticoids are due largely to their ability to reduce the expression of pro-inflammatory genes. This effect has been predominantly attributed to the repression of key inflammatory transcription factors, including AP-1 and NF-κB, and is termed transrepression. The ability to functionally separate these transcriptional functions of GR has prompted a search for dissociated GR ligands that can differentially induce transrepression but not transactivation. In this review, we present evidence that post-transcriptional mechanisms of action are highly important to the anti-inflammatory actions of glucocorticoids. Furthermore, we present the case that mechanistically distinct forms of glucocorticoid-inducible gene expression are critical to the development of anti-inflammatory effects by repressing inflammatory signaling pathways and inflammatory gene expression at multiple levels. Considerable care is therefore required to avoid loss of anti-inflammatory effectiveness in the development of novel transactivation-defective ligands of GR.
The Neuroanatomical Basis of Panic Disorder and Social Phobia in Schizophrenia: A Voxel Based Morphometric Study

Objective It is known that there is a high prevalence of certain anxiety disorders among schizophrenic patients, especially panic disorder and social phobia. However, the neural underpinnings of the comorbidity of such anxiety disorders and schizophrenia remain unclear. Our study aims to determine the neuroanatomical basis of the co-occurrence of schizophrenia with panic disorder and social phobia. Methods Voxel-based morphometry was used in order to examine brain structure and to measure between-group differences, comparing magnetic resonance images of 20 anxious patients, 20 schizophrenic patients, 20 schizophrenic patients with comorbid anxiety, and 20 healthy control subjects. Results Compared to the schizophrenic patients, we observed smaller grey-matter volume (GMV) decreases in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and precentral gyrus in the schizophrenic-anxiety group. Additionally, the schizophrenic group showed significantly reduced GMV in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, precentral gyrus, orbitofrontal cortex, temporal gyrus and angular/inferior parietal gyrus when compared to the control group. Conclusions Our findings suggest that the comorbidity of schizophrenia with panic disorder and social phobia might be characterized by specific neuroanatomical and clinical alterations that may be related to maladaptive emotion regulation related to anxiety. Even thought our findings need to be replicated, our study suggests that the identification of neural abnormalities involved in anxiety, schizophrenia and schizophrenia-anxiety may lead to an improved diagnosis and management of these conditions.
Increase in serum bilirubin in HIV/hepatitis-C virus-coinfected patients on atazanavir therapy following initiation of pegylated-interferon and ribavirin

Atazanavir use is associated with increases in serum bilirubin. Ribavirin, used to treat hepatitis-C infection, cause hemolysis and may worsen hyperbilirubinemia. We studied HIV/hepatitis-C virus-coinfected patients who initiated hepatitis-C therapy. Hyperbilirubinemia grade 3–4 increased from 9% to 45% after the start of hepatitis-C treatment in patients who used atazanavir concomitantly. Atazanavir use and hemoglobin (Hb) drops were predictors of increases in bilirubin. A substantial proportion of patients under atazanavir-therapy experienced significant hyperbilirubinemia and jaundice following initiation of hepatitis-C therapy.
Passt das deutsche Dreisäulensystem in eine zunehmend harmonisierte Bankenstruktur für Europa

Das deutsche Bankensystem ruht seit Jahrzehnten auf drei Saulen: den privaten Kreditbanken, einschlieslich der grosen Banken in Aktionarsbesitz, den offentlichen Banken und den Genossenschaftsbanken. Fast nirgendwo anders in Europa hat ein solches Dreisaulensystem uberlebt. Passt es also noch in ein Europa, in dem die Bankpolitik, die Regulierung und die Aufsicht inzwischen weitgehend in die Zustandigkeit der EU fallen? Fur eine Bewahrung des Systems sprechen vor allem Gesichtspunkte der Stabilitat. Angesichts ihrer Gruppenzugehorigkeit sind die deutschen "stakeholder-value-orientierten" Banken der Saulen 2 und 3 finanziell keineswegs weniger erfolgreich, sogar ein wenig erfolgreicher als die "shareholder-value-orientierten" Grosbanken der Saule 1. Insbesondere schwanken ihre Geschaftszahlen deutlich weniger als jene der Grosbanken, die in der Regel ein riskanteres Geschaftsmodell verfolgen. In vielen Privatbanken ist die Gewinnorientierung und damit auch die Bereitschaft, hohe Risiken einzugehen, aus ordnungspolitischer Sicht zu hoch, was die Systemstabilitat tendenziell gefahrdet. Zudem erfullen die Genossenschaftsbanken und Sparkassen eine regionalpolitische Ausgleichsfunktion und haben eine gesamtwirtschaftlich stabilisierende Wirkung.
National, Regional, State, and Selected Local Area Vaccination Coverage Among Adolescents Aged 13–17 Years — United States, 2016

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that adolescents routinely receive tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap), meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MenACWY), and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine (1) at age 11-12 years. ACIP also recommends catch-up vaccination with hepatitis B vaccine, measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, and varicella vaccine for adolescents who are not up to date with childhood vaccinations. ACIP recommends a booster dose of MenACWY at age 16 years (1). In December 2016, ACIP updated HPV vaccine recommendations to include a 2-dose schedule for immunocompetent adolescents initiating the vaccination series before their 15th birthday (2). To estimate adolescent vaccination coverage in the United States, CDC analyzed data from the 2016 National Immunization Survey-Teen (NIS-Teen) for 20,475 adolescents aged 13-17 years. * During 2015-2016, coverage increased for ≥1 dose of Tdap (from 86.4% to 88.0%) and for each HPV vaccine dose (from 56.1% to 60.4% for ≥1 dose). Among adolescents aged 17 years, coverage with ≥2 doses of MenACWY increased from 33.3% to 39.1%. In 2016, 43.4% of adolescents (49.5% of females; 37.5% of males) were up to date with the HPV vaccination series, applying the updated HPV vaccine recommendations retrospectively. † Coverage with ≥1 HPV vaccine dose varied by metropolitan statistical area (MSA) status and was lowest (50.4%) among adolescents living in non-MSA areas and highest (65.9%) among those living in MSA central cities. § Adolescent vaccination coverage continues to improve overall; however, substantial opportunities exist to further increase HPV-associated cancer prevention.
Neutropenia as an Adverse Event following Vaccination: Results from Randomized Clinical Trials in Healthy Adults and Systematic Review

Background In the context of early vaccine trials aimed at evaluating the safety profile of novel vaccines, abnormal haematological values, such as neutropenia, are often reported. It is therefore important to evaluate how these trials should be planned not to miss potentially important safety signals, but also to understand the implications and the clinical relevance. Methodology We report and discuss the results from five clinical trials (two with a new Shigella vaccine in the early stage of clinical development and three with licensed vaccines) where the absolute neutrophil counts (ANC) were evaluated before and after vaccination. Additionally, we have performed a systematic review of the literature on cases of neutropenia reported during vaccine trials to discuss our results in a more general context. Principal Findings Both in our clinical trials and in the literature review, several cases of neutropenia have been reported, in the first two weeks after vaccination. However, neutropenia was generally transient and had a benign clinical outcome, after vaccination with either multiple novel candidates or well-known licensed vaccines. Additionally, the vaccine recipients with neutropenia frequently had lower baseline ANC than non-neutropenic vaccinees. In many instances neutropenia occurred in subjects of African descent, known to have lower ANC compared to western populations. Conclusions It is important to include ANC and other haematological tests in early vaccine trials to identify potential safety signals. Post-vaccination neutropenia is not uncommon, generally transient and clinically benign, but many vaccine trials do not have a sampling schedule that allows its detection. Given ethnic variability in the level of circulating neutrophils, normal ranges taking into account ethnicity should be used for determination of trial inclusion/exclusion criteria and classification of neutropenia related adverse events. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02017899, NCT02034500, NCT01771367, NCT01765413, NCT02523287
Tackling Inherited Blindness

Objectives: To assess the effect of variations in GTP cyclohydrolase gene (GCH1) on pain sensitivity in humans. Methods: Thermal and cold pain sensitivity were evaluated in a cohort of 735 healthy volunteers. Among this cohort, the clinical pain responses of 221 subjects after the surgical removal of impacted third molars were evaluated. Genotyping was done for 38 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) whose heterozygosity > 0.2 in GCH1. Influence of the genetic variations including SNPs and haplotypes on pain sensitivity were analyzed. Results: Minor allele frequencies and linkage disequilibrium show significant differences in European Americans, African Americans, Hispanic Americans and Asian Americans. Association analyses in European Americans do not replicate the previously reported important influence of GCH1 variations on pain sensitivity. Conclusion: Considering population stratification, previously reported associations between GCH1 genetic variations and pain sensitivity appear weak or negligible in this well characterized model of pain. Background The role of 6(R)-t-erythro-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) in pain is suggested by the up-regulation of two of the three enzymes in the synthesis cascade of BH4 in the dorsal root ganglion following sciatic nerve injury [1]. GTP cyclohydrolase (GCH) catalyzes the rate limiting step, and sepiapterin reductase catalyzes the final conversion of 6-pyruvoyltetrahydropterin to the BH4. It was recently reported that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the gene encoding GCH (GCH1) alter both responses in healthy humans to noxious stimuli and the susceptibility of patients to development of neuropathic and inflammatory pain [2]. The authors also suggest a pain protective haplotype associated with the risk of developing persistent pain syndromes, which could be a useful tool to assess an individual's risk potential for chronic pain [2]. Based on this reported role of GCH in pain both in animals and humans, we investigated its contribution to genetic inter-individual variation in clinical pain sensitivity and analgesic responses. We have investigated the association between pain responses to experimental and clinical painful stimuli and genetic variations including SNPs and haplotypes of GCH1. Published: 7 March 2007 Molecular Pain 2007, 3:6 doi:10.1186/1744-8069-3-6 Received: 23 February 2007 Accepted: 7 March 2007 This article is available from: http://www.molecularpain. com/content/3/1/6 © 2007 Kim and Dionne; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Offset distortion traces for trace-based evaluation of video quality after network transport

Video traces containing the sizes and (PSNR) qualities of the individual frames of a video encoding are a convenient video representation for the evaluation of video networking mechanisms. These video traces can be used to find the frame loss probabilities of a lossy networking mechanism, but can not give the PSNR video quality after lossy network transport. To date the video quality after lossy network transport could only be determined through experiments with actual video or by approximating the quality of the frames affected by a loss with some low PSNR quality. In this paper we introduce and evaluate offset distortion traces with which the video quality after lossy network transport can be accurately determined without requiring experiments with actual video. We explain how the offset distortion traces can be used by networking researchers without equipment or experience in video signal processing to accurately evaluate video networking mechanisms in terms of the PSNR video quality.
The Extracellular Calcium-Sensing Receptor in the Intestine: Evidence for Regulation of Colonic Absorption, Secretion, Motility, and Immunity

Different from other epithelia, the intestinal epithelium has the complex task of providing a barrier impeding the entry of toxins, food antigens, and microbes, while at the same time allowing for the transfer of nutrients, electrolytes, water, and microbial metabolites. These molecules/organisms are transported either transcellularly, crossing the apical and basolateral membranes of enterocytes, or paracellularly, passing through the space between enterocytes. Accordingly, the intestinal epithelium can affect energy metabolism, fluid balance, as well as immune response and tolerance. To help accomplish these complex tasks, the intestinal epithelium has evolved many sensing receptor mechanisms. Yet, their roles and functions are only now beginning to be elucidated. This article explores one such sensing receptor mechanism, carried out by the extracellular calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR). In addition to its established function as a nutrient sensor, coordinating food digestion, nutrient absorption, and regulating energy metabolism, we present evidence for the emerging role of CaSR in the control of intestinal fluid homeostasis and immune balance. An additional role in the modulation of the enteric nerve activity and motility is also discussed. Clearly, CaSR has profound effects on many aspects of intestinal function. Nevertheless, more work is needed to fully understand all functions of CaSR in the intestine, including detailed mechanisms of action and specific pathways involved. Considering the essential roles CaSR plays in gastrointestinal physiology and immunology, research may lead to a translational opportunity for the development of novel therapies that are based on CaSR's unique property of using simple nutrients such as calcium, polyamines, and certain amino acids/oligopeptides as activators. It is possible that, through targeting of intestinal CaSR with a combination of specific nutrients, oral solutions that are both inexpensive and practical may be developed to help in conditioning the gut microenvironment and in maintaining digestive health.
A Review of Collagen Cross-Linking in Cornea and Sclera

Riboflavin/UVA cross-linking is a technique introduced in the past decades for the treatment of keratoconus, keratectasia, and infectious keratitis. Its efficacy and safety have been investigatedwith clinical and laboratory studies since its first clinical application by Wollensak for the treatment of keratoconus. Although its complications are encountered during clinical practice, such as infection inducing risk, minimal invasion merits a further investigation on its future application in clinical practice. Recently, collagen cross-linking in sclera shows a promising prospect. In present study, we summarized the representative studies describing the clinical and laboratory application of collagen cross-linking published in past decades and provided our opinion on the positive and negative results of cross-linking in the treatment of ophthalmic disorders.