Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Okay to Stay? A new plan to help people with long-term conditions remain in their own homes

Abstract Aims To assess the ‘Okay to Stay’ plan to investigate if this reduces visits to emergency departments, unplanned admissions and elective admission to hospital in elderly patients with long-term health conditions. Background The incidence of long-term conditions is rising as the elderly population increases, resulting in more people from this group attending emergency departments and being admitted to hospital. Okay to Stay is a simple plan for people with long-term conditions to help them remain in their own home if they suffer an acute exacerbation in their health. It was co-designed with professional and patient representatives with the aim of empowering patients and their carers to more effectively manage their long-term conditions. Methods Data from 50 patients (20 males, 30 females, mean baseline age 77.5 years) were compared 12 months before implementation of the plan and in the subsequent 12 months, with the significance of effects assessed at the 5 per cent significance level using t-tests. Findings Visits to emergency departments were reduced by 1.86; unplanned emergency admissions were reduced by 1.28 and planned elective admissions were raised by 0.22 admissions per annum. The reduction in visits to the emergency department was significant (p = 0.009) and the reduction in emergency admissions was significant (p = 0.015). The change in elective admissions was not significant (p = 0.855). The Okay to Stay plan is effective in reducing visits to the emergency department and unplanned hospital admissions in people with long-term conditions. This is a positive step to supporting vulnerable and complex patients who are cared for at home, and facilitates the recognition by the individual of the possibility to stay at home with the support of health professionals. There are potential cost benefits to the investment of initiating an Okay to Stay plan through the avoidance of visits to the emergency department and non-elective admissions to hospital.
The pressure-dependency of local measures of arterial stiffness

Objective: To determine which ultrasound-based, single-point arterial stiffness estimate is least dependent on blood pressure (BP) to improve assessment of local vascular function. Methods: Ultrasound was used to assess blood flow and diameters at the left brachial artery of 20 healthy adults [55% female, 27.9 years (5.2), 24.2 (2.8) kg/m2]. BP of both arms was measured simultaneously. Experimental (left) arm BP was then systematically manipulated by adjusting its position ABOVE (+30°) and BELOW (−30°) heart level in a randomized order following measurement at heart level (0°). The control (right) arm remained at heart level. Six stiffness measurements were calculated: compliance, distensibility, beta-stiffness, and three estimates of pulse wave velocity (PWV) (Bramwell Hill, blood flow, and beta-stiffness). We considered the measurement technique with the least significant change across positions to be the least pressure-dependent. Results: There was a large effect change in mean arterial pressure (n2p = 0.75, P < 0.001) in the experimental arm when it was ABOVE (&Dgr;−4.4 mmHg) and BELOW (&Dgr;10.4 mmHg) heart level. There was a main effect (P < 0.05) of arm position on all arterial stiffness measures. From least to most pressure-dependent, the arterial stiffness measurements were: PWV (blood flow method), compliance coefficient, beta-stiffness, distensibility coefficient, PWV (Bramwell-Hill method), and PWV (beta-stiffness index method). Conclusion: All single-point measures assessed are pressure-dependent. The PWV (blood flow method) may be the least pressure-dependent single-point measure, and may be the most suitable single-point measure to assess local vascular function.
Parametric Estimation in Hamiltonian Systems

Here we present two numerical procedures for the identification of Hamiltonian systems, applying the Lagragian and Hamiltonian formalism. The property of First Integrals and their characteristics are used to treats the identification as stabilization. The derivative of first integrals is realized by a super-twist differentiator. The convergence of this numerical procedure and its implementation for two dimensional models are presented.
Robust Spatio-temporal Context Tracking Algorithm Based on Correlation Filter*

Spatio-temporal context (STC) algorithm transforms the tracking process into a series of processes to find the extremum of the confidence map and fully uses the density context information around the target, which makes the algorithm rapidity and robustness. However, STC cannot deal with the situation of scale variation, motion blur and occlusion, which will cause the spatial model update error and result in the failure of the algorithm to accurately extract the target area. To deal with the problem, an improved spatio-temporal context algorithm is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the target sidelobe ratio (PSR) is used to determine the occlusion of the target. The lower the PSR value is, the more serious the target is blocked. PSR can be obtained by analyzing the response map of the target area. Secondly, the scale correlation filter is used to improve the STC algorithm, so that the algorithm can accurately and completely extract the target area. Thirdly, in order to avoid contamination of the target template when the target is occluded, a template update strategy is introduced to adapt to the appearance change of the target. The template update strategy enables our algorithm to locate the target quickly when the occlusion disappearing. Finally, experiment results on public data set are provided to show the effectiveness and robustness of our proposed algorithm.
Transcriptional trajectories of human kidney injury progression.

BACKGROUND The molecular understanding of the progression from acute to chronic organ injury is limited. Ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) triggered during kidney transplantation can contribute to progressive allograft dysfunction. METHODS Protocol biopsies (n = 163) were obtained from 42 kidney allografts at 4 time points after transplantation. RNA sequencing-mediated (RNA-seq-mediated) transcriptional profiling and machine learning computational approaches were employed to analyze the molecular responses to IRI and to identify shared and divergent transcriptional trajectories associated with distinct clinical outcomes. The data were compared with the response to IRI in a mouse model of the acute to chronic kidney injury transition. RESULTS In the first hours after reperfusion, all patients exhibited a similar transcriptional program under the control of immediate-early response genes. In the following months, we identified 2 main transcriptional trajectories leading to kidney recovery or to sustained injury with associated fibrosis and renal dysfunction. The molecular map generated by this computational approach highlighted early markers of kidney disease progression and delineated transcriptional programs associated with the transition to chronic injury. The characterization of a similar process in a mouse IRI model extended the relevance of our findings beyond transplantation. CONCLUSIONS The integration of multiple transcriptomes from serial biopsies with advanced computational algorithms overcame the analytical hurdles related to variability between individuals and identified shared transcriptional elements of kidney disease progression in humans, which may prove as useful predictors of disease progression following kidney transplantation and kidney injury. This generally applicable approach opens the way for an unbiased analysis of human disease progression. FUNDING The study was supported by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine and by the Swiss National Science Foundation.
Applying Reciprocal Peer Teaching to Personalized Assessment

Reciprocal peer teaching is summarized by the Roman proverb “Qui Docet Discet” meaning those who teach learn. Students increase their understanding of the concepts when they teach and explain these to other students. Reciprocal peer teaching is therefore used in many disciplines as a way to enhance learning: it helps both the teachers and learners. With a personalized assessment, every student gets their own assessment task. It enables students to work independently but lets them collaborate on concepts. While such an assessment has several positive aspects, including its resistance to plagiarism, it takes a lot of effort to create and mark them. This paper discusses a reciprocal peer teaching approach where students at higher levels create personalized assessment for students at lower levels. The approach has a number of pedagogical positives: students who develop the assessments increase their domain knowledge; students who use the assessments learn through practice, where they share with their peers concepts and not solutions; instructors are able to use (and re-use) many assessments which they would not have had the time to develop. The paper shares some of the experience from using the approach in engineering and science. Students create a specification, answer sheet, and a marking routine for the assessment in their chosen topic. The specification and answer sheet are delivered online to students who practice them, and the marking routine is automatically applied upon submission of solutions. The assessment creation is an assessed activity, and students get marks for the assessment they create. In addition, each student is required to work on a different topic, thereby the assessment creation itself is personalized. Students who developed the assessments felt that the exercise of developing them enhanced their knowledge of the topic and rendered them the experience of committing to a large software system. They also felt positive about being able to contribute to helping their peers learn. Students who used the assessment felt the personalization helped them to focus on concepts rather than mere answers.
Treadmill exercise improves memory function by inhibiting hippocampal apoptosis in pilocarpine-induced epileptic rats

Epilepsy is characterized by recurrent seizures and loss of neurons with abnormal rhythmic firing in the brains. In the present study, we investigated the effect of treadmill exercise on memory function in relation with cell proliferation and apoptosis in the hippocampus using pilocarpine-induced seizure rats. Epilepsy was initiated by intraperitoneal injection of pilocarpine hydrochloride. The rats in the exercise group were forced to run on a motorized treadmill for 30 min once a day for 2 weeks. In the present results, treadmill exercise alleviated short-term and spatial learning memory impairments in the epileptic rats. Treadmill exercise suppressed neuronal degeneration and enhanced neuronal maturation in the epileptic rats. Treadmill exercise suppressed cell proliferation and apoptosis in the epileptic rats. Treadmill exercise alleviated pilocarpine-induced memory impairments and suppressed neuronal loss in the hippocampus through down-regulation of apoptosis. These findings offer a possibility that treadmill exercise may provide a preventive or therapeutic value to the epilepsy-induced learning and memory impairments.
Effect of an activated charcoal product (DOAC Stop™) intended for extracting DOACs on various other APTT-prolonging anticoagulants

Abstract Background The aim of the study was to investigate the specificity of an activated charcoal-based product (DOAC Stop™) initially intended for the specific extraction of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) from test plasmas on a range of other anticoagulants. Methods Test plasmas were prepared by adding various anticoagulants to pooled normal plasma at concentrations prolonging an activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) test by a factor of 1.5–3. These plasmas were treated with DOAC Stop™ for 5 and 20 min. Then APTTs were repeated and residual anticoagulant concentrations estimated from dose-response curves. Results The activated charcoal (AC)-based product was found to extract DOACs efficiently. It also bound the intravenous anticoagulants argatroban and lepirudin, but it had no effect on heparin, enoxaparin or danaparoid in plasma. Among other APTT-inhibiting agents that might be present in test plasmas from patients, it extracted protamine, aprotinin and polymyxin. It had no effect on annexin V, thrombomodulin, a typical lupus anticoagulant, a factor VIII antibody, activated protein C or its activator, but it did bind some cationic inhibitors of the APTT with molecular weight below approximately 30 kDa. Conclusions The AC-based product extracted DOACs efficiently with no effect on heparin-type anticoagulants. It did bind argatroban and hirudin-type anticoagulants, which might occur in plasmas from some inpatients, and APTT results obtained after its use should be interpreted after due consideration of patient medications.
Life expectancy of HIV-positive patients after diagnosis in Iran from 1986 to 2016: A retrospective cohort study at national and sub-national levels

OBJECTIVES Little is known about the life expectancy of individuals with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Iran. This study therefore aimed to estimate the life expectancy of HIV-positive patients in Iran. METHODS In this retrospective cohort study, we extracted data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education and the Death Registration System. We included patients aged 20 years and older who had a specified date of diagnosis. We estimated life expectancy and its 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using Chiang’s methodology. RESULTS The overall life expectancy at the national level was 23.1 years (95% CI, 22.6 to 23.5). Life expectancy was 21.6 years (95% CI, 21.1 to 22.0) for men and 32.7 years (95% CI, 31.4 to 34.0) for women. The life expectancy of patients who did or did not receive antiretroviral therapy (ART) was 37.0 years (95% CI, 36.2 to 37.8) and 15.5 years (95% CI, 15.1 to 15.9), respectively. The life expectancy of patients with or without tuberculosis (TB) was 21.6 years (95% CI, 20.4 to 22.9) and 36.5 years (95% CI, 35.7 to 37.4), respectively. CONCLUSIONS The life expectancy of Iranian HIV-positive patients was found to be very low. To improve their longevity, improvements in ART coverage and the control and treatment of TB are advised.
A Multiple Utterances based Neural Network Model for Joint Intent Detection and Slot Filling

Spoken language understanding(SLU), which usually involves slot filling and intent detection, is an important task in natural language processing. Most of the state-of-the-art methods are usually take single utterance as input, which would introduce much ambiguity because the loss of context information. To address this issue, we propose a new neural network based joint intent detection and slot filling model which takes multiple utterances as input. In our method, we use an utterance2utterance attention mechanism to combine the information of multiple continuous utterances. We also combine the intent information to the slot filling process with a gating mechanism. Using this proposed model, we participated in the task2 of CCKS2018. Finally, our model ranks NO.2 among the hugely competitive models.
Erythrocyte Aging, Protection via Vesiculation: An Analysis Methodology via Oscillatory Flow

We demonstrate that erythrocyte deformations, specifically of a type as occur in splenic flow (Zhu et al., 2017), and of the type that promote vesiculation can be caused by simple, yet tailored, oscillatory shear flow. We show that such oscillatory shear flow provides an ideal environment to explore a wide variety of metabolic and biochemical effects that promote erythrocyte vesiculation. Deformation details, typical of splenic flow, such as in-folding and implications for membrane/skeleton interaction are demonstrated and quantitatively analyzed. We introduce a theoretical, essentially analytical, vesiculation model that directly couples to our more complex numerical, multilevel, model that clearly delineates various fundamental elements, i.e., sub-processes, that are involved and mediate the vesiculation process. This analytical model highlights particulary important vesiculation precursors such as areas of membrane/skeleton disruptions that trigger the vesiculation process. We demonstrate, using flow cytometry, that the deformations we experimentally induce on cells, and numerically simulate, do not induce lethal forms of cell damage but do induce vesiculation as theoretically forecasted. This, we demonstrate, provides a direct link to cell membrane/skeletal damage such as is associated with metabolic and aging damage. An additional noteworthy feature of this approach is the avoidance of artificial devices, e.g., micro-fluidic chambers, in which deformations and their time scales are often unrepresentative of physiological processes such as splenic flow.
A Dual-Band Decoupling Method for 2 Elements Monopole Antenna by Using a Short Stub and a Branch Element

MIMO technology which uses multiple antennas is widely utilized to increase channel capacity in recent years. For introducing MIMO antenna into the small wireless terminal, it is necessary to put multiple antennas closely. Then, a mutual coupling occurs, and it causes decrease of channel capacity. Thus, the mutual coupling needs to be reduced. Besides, CA technology which uses multiple frequencies is also utilized. Therefore, the decoupling method is required not only for single frequency but also for multiple frequencies. In this paper, we proposed a dual-band decoupling method by using a short stub and a branch element.
Association Between Radiation Therapy, Surgery, or Observation for Localized Prostate Cancer and Patient-Reported Outcomes After 3 Years

Importance Understanding the adverse effects of contemporary approaches to localized prostate cancer treatment could inform shared decision making. Objective To compare functional outcomes and adverse effects associated with radical prostatectomy, external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), and active surveillance. Design, Setting, and Participants Prospective, population-based, cohort study involving 2550 men (⩽80 years) diagnosed in 2011-2012 with clinical stage cT1-2, localized prostate cancer, with prostate-specific antigen levels less than 50 ng/mL, and enrolled within 6 months of diagnosis. Exposures Treatment with radical prostatectomy, EBRT, or active surveillance was ascertained within 1 year of diagnosis. Main Outcomes and Measures Patient-reported function on the 26-item Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC) 36 months after enrollment. Higher domain scores (range, 0-100) indicate better function. Minimum clinically important difference was defined as 10 to 12 points for sexual function, 6 for urinary incontinence, 5 for urinary irritative symptoms, 5 for bowel function, and 4 for hormonal function. Results The cohort included 2550 men (mean age, 63.8 years; 74% white, 55% had intermediate- or high-risk disease), of whom 1523 (59.7%) underwent radical prostatectomy, 598 (23.5%) EBRT, and 429 (16.8%) active surveillance. Men in the EBRT group were older (mean age, 68.1 years vs 61.5 years, P < .001) and had worse baseline sexual function (mean score, 52.3 vs 65.2, P < .001) than men in the radical prostatectomy group. At 3 years, the adjusted mean sexual domain score for radical prostatectomy decreased more than for EBRT (mean difference, −11.9 points; 95% CI, −15.1 to −8.7). The decline in sexual domain scores between EBRT and active surveillance was not clinically significant (−4.3 points; 95% CI, −9.2 to 0.7). Radical prostatectomy was associated with worse urinary incontinence than EBRT (−18.0 points; 95% CI, −20.5 to −15.4) and active surveillance (−12.7 points; 95% CI, −16.0 to −9.3) but was associated with better urinary irritative symptoms than active surveillance (5.2 points; 95% CI, 3.2 to 7.2). No clinically significant differences for bowel or hormone function were noted beyond 12 months. No differences in health-related quality of life or disease-specific survival (3 deaths) were noted (99.7%-100%). Conclusions and Relevance In this cohort of men with localized prostate cancer, radical prostatectomy was associated with a greater decrease in sexual function and urinary incontinence than either EBRT or active surveillance after 3 years and was associated with fewer urinary irritative symptoms than active surveillance; however, no meaningful differences existed in either bowel or hormonal function beyond 12 months or in in other domains of health-related quality-of-life measures. These findings may facilitate counseling regarding the comparative harms of contemporary treatments for prostate cancer.
Application of silicon planar structures for the spectrum determination of the proton beams produced by laser-driven particle accelerators. Theoretical approach.

Development of the laser-driven particle accelerators to produce the proton beams necessary for the nuclear medicine is a rapidly upcoming field. Laser-accelerated proton spectra feature a broad energy spread in comparison with the case of proton beams produced by conventional accelerators. The thin silicon planar p-i-n structures can be used for the diagnostic of such beams due to their real-time readout, compactness and standard fabrication technologies. In the present work, the application of thin silicon planar p-i-n diodes for the proton spectrum determination of the laser-driven proton beams is theoretically investigated. The method of the proton spectrum reconstruction from the temporal response of the detector irradiated with a single laser-driven proton burst for different distances between proton source of the laser-driven accelerator and detector position has been developed. The temporal response of the detector was modeled for the ultra-thin ultra-fast silicon diode.
Amplified O-Band WDM Transmission Using a Bi-Doped Fibre Amplifier

We demonstrate WDM transmission on both a coarse and dense spacing over 100km and 120km of SMF-28e, respectively, using mid-span amplification with a Bismuth-doped fibre amplifier exhibiting 7THz (42nm) of gain bandwidth. Negligible power penalties are observed for all signals.
Bilateral Quadriceps Strength Asymmetry Is Associated With Previous Knee Injury in Military Special Tactics Operators

Abstract Eagle, SR, Keenan, KA, Connaboy, C, Wohleber, M, Simonson, A, and Nindl, BC. Bilateral quadriceps strength asymmetry is associated with previous knee injury in military special tactics operators. J Strength Cond Res 33(1): 89–94, 2019—Bilateral strength asymmetries have been related to lower-limb injury in athletes. Given that military populations often participate in recreational sport, in addition to a physically demanding workload, bilateral strength asymmetries may be related to injury in military populations. The purpose of this study was to determine whether isokinetic strength differs between Operators with/without self-reported knee injury (KI), and to examine the odds of displaying a lower-extremity strength asymmetry based on previous KI history. Operators (n = 150) self-reported injury history and performed isokinetic knee strength testing. Cohorts were separated by those who reported/not reported KI. Mean isokinetic knee strength and odds ratios, with subjects' KI history compared with strength differences: <10, 10–20, and >20%, were calculated. Operators who reported KI demonstrated larger bilateral knee extension (KE) strength differences compared with those who did not report an injury (injured: 13.5 ± 12.9% vs. noninjured: 8.1 ± 5.9%, p = 0.01). Operators with <10 or 10–20% KE strength difference had 76–77% reduced odds of previous KI, compared to those with >20% strength difference (p < 0.05). Operators with previous KI demonstrated bilateral differences in KE strength. Those with <10 or 10–20% strength differences had reduced odds of reporting previous KI. Strength and conditioning professionals should consider unilateral, targeted exercises in reducing bilateral asymmetry to rectify more balanced strength between limbs. Targeted exercise programs may improve bilateral strength differences and limit reinjury risk.