Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prescription Rates of Cardiovascular Medications in a Large UK Primary Care Chronic Kidney Disease Cohort

Background and Aims: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with increased cardiovascular (CV) risk. Guidelines have suggested the universal use of statins in CKD but aspirin's role is less well defined. The aim of this study was to determine prescription rates for statins and aspirin in a UK-based CKD cohort and to establish factors that influenced prescription rates. Methods: We used data from a UK primary care CKD cohort to study rates of prescription of statins and aspirin. Simple rates were initially calculated. Binary logistic regression was utilized with either statin or aspirin prescription as the outcome variable and covariates including demographic details and comorbidities. Results: There were 31,056 individuals in the cohort with at least one estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of <60 ml/min/1.73 m2, and 65.1% individuals had 2 eGFR results <60 ml/min/1.73 m2 more than 3 months apart. Mean eGFR at baseline was 51.1 ml/min/1.73 m2 (SD 9.1), and 64.9% had a diagnosis of hypertension (HTN), 18.8% had diabetes mellitus (DM) and 29.8% a history of CV disease. Statins were prescribed to 14,972 (48.2%) and aspirin to 11,023 (35.5%). The regression model suggested that CV disease, HTN and DM influenced the prescriptions of statins and aspirin but overall CKD stage, calculated by either eGFR or proteinuria, did not. Conclusions: Prescriptions of statins and aspirin in CKD is based more on the presence of comorbidities than the CKD severity. Further physician and patient education of the increased CV risk associated with CKD and its suitability for CV medication intervention is required.
Desktop Microsimulation: A Tool to Improve Efficiency in the Medical Office Practice

&NA; Because the economic crisis in the United States continues to have an impact on healthcare organizations, industry leaders must optimize their decision making. Discrete‐event computer simulation is a quality tool with a demonstrated track record of improving the precision of analysis for process redesign. However, the use of simulation to consolidate practices and design efficiencies into an unfinished medical office building was a unique task. A discrete‐event computer simulation package was used to model the operations and forecast future results for four orthopedic surgery practices. The scenarios were created to allow an evaluation of the impact of process change on the output variables of exam room utilization, patient queue size, and staff utilization. The model helped with decisions regarding space allocation and efficient exam room use by demonstrating the impact of process changes in patient queues at check‐in/out, x‐ray, and cast room locations when compared to the status quo model. The analysis impacted decisions on facility layout, patient flow, and staff functions in this newly consolidated practice. Simulation was found to be a useful tool for process redesign and decision making even prior to building occupancy.
Optimal trajectory planning of manipulators subject to motion constraints

This paper presents a novel approach to plan an optimal joint trajectory for a manipulator robot performing a compliant motion task. In general, a two-step scheme are deployed to find the optimal robot joint curve. Firstly, we approximate the functional and use Newton's iteration to numerically calculate the joint trajectory's intermediate discretized points, instead of solving a corresponding nonlinear, implicit Euler-Lagrange equation. Secondly, we interpolate these points to get the final joint curve in a way such that the motion constraints will always be sustained throughout the movement. An example of motion planning for a 4-degree-of-freedom robot WAM are given at the end of this paper
Effects of dietary energy concentration, nonstarch polysaccharide concentration, and particle sizes of nonstarch polysaccharides on digesta mean retention time and gut development in laying hens

1. From an experiment with 504 laying hens (ISA Brown strain, 18–40 weeks of age), 90 40-week old hens were used for determining digesta mean retention time (MRT) and gut weight development. This experiment comprised 6 dietary treatments according to a 2 × 3 factorial design. Factors were dietary apparent metabolisable energy (AME) concentration (11·8 vs 10·6 MJ/kg), insoluble nonstarch polysaccharides (NSP) concentration (65 vs 134 g/kg), and fine vs coarse particle sizes of added NSP. Titanium recovery in different gut segments was used as an indicator of MRT. 2. Increasing NSP concentration prolonged MRT in the crop (68 vs 34 min) and total foregut (91 vs 57 min) compared with control NSP. Reducing energy concentration prolonged MRT in the colon (26 vs 7 min), and total hind gut (30 vs 9 min), compared with control energy. Overall MRT was not affected by dietary treatments. 3. Increasing NSP concentration increased relative weights of the empty proventriculus-gizzard and its contents by 30% (25·2 vs 19·4 g/kg) and 18% (15·4 vs 13·0 g/kg), respectively, compared with control NSP diets. 4. MRT in the foregut was prolonged as daily insoluble NSP intake increased, and this was more pronounced in hens given coarsely ground NSP, compared with finely ground. A prolonged MRT in the foregut seemed to indicate a higher level of satiety, which may contribute to a lower feather pecking pressure in laying hens.
Effect of Inflammation on the Aging Microcirculation: Impact on Skeletal Muscle Blood Flow Control

To meet the metabolic demands of skeletal muscle, the vasculature supplying these vascular beds has to be connected to respond in a coordinated uniform manner, thus providing the necessary oxygen and nutrients during increased activity. The skeletal muscle microcirculation is the major resistance network controlling vascular blood supply and it is the integrity of the endothelium lining the blood vessels that is paramount in facilitating this action. Aging is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and is associated with significant increases in inflammatory agents that negatively impact the vasculature. Several inflammatory agents such as cytokines (tumor necrosis factor‐α), advanced glycation products (AGEs), and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) along with storage cells for inflammatory mediators (mast cells) are associated with a chronic “low‐grade inflammation” state that has been observed over the course of the aging process. Current research suggests that these age‐related increases in inflammatory agents can disrupt the microvascular endothelium and thus impair blood flow. This impairment could exacerbate the common age‐related disease states such as hypertension, diabetes, congestive heart failure, and sarcopenia, leading to increased mortality and morbidity.
Penrose's Enterprise Growth Theory on China's Enterprise Development

This paper uses the theory of deductive method to analyze the issues of Enterprise Development. First Penrose's Enterprise Growth Theory is briefly introduced and then an in-depth analysis of Penrose Effect is made. The theoretical expansion of Penrose Effect is also discussed. Finally inspirations brought by Penrose's Enterprise Growth Theory are summarized. Penrose Effect tells us that the fast-growing of the enterprise at one time is often accompanied by the slowing down of the enterprise growth during the next period. It is put forward in the paper that after a period of relatively slow growth stage, fast growth stage will arrive, which has supplemented the theory of Penrose Effect. Five inspirations have also been put forward on the development of Chinese enterprise growth: predicting scientifically the enterprise growth based on Penrose's Enterprise Growth Theory; creating diversified enterprise resource; concerning on the new resources of the enterprise; searching for the best point for resources replacement and utilizing diversification strategy with caution, which have offered the theoretical guidance for Chinese enterprises to develop rapidly.
The New Transmission Protocol with CSMA Mechanism for Rotating Omega Network

The basic structure of the rotating omega network do not contain mechanisms for ensuring sufficiently high quality of service for the selected group of messages. For this reason, an attempt has been made to develop a new transmission protocol utilizing the same transmission ring configuration and at the same time meeting the requirements of real-time applications. The article describes the new version of the transmission protocol, equipped with the CSMA mechanism. A essential feature of the proposed solution is to introduce different handled message classes, ensuring some of them priority in accessing the common base channel. The article also contains the most significant results of completed simulation tests, at the same time comparing them with the results obtained for earlier solutions
Increase and change in pattern of hospital antimicrobial use, Denmark, 1997-2001.

OBJECTIVES To analyse the changes and compare antimicrobial consumption in public hospitals in Denmark over the period 1997-2001. METHODS Data on the number of WHO defined daily doses (DDD) were obtained from the Danish Medicines Agency. Data on the number of bed-days were obtained from the National Board of Health. We calculated antimicrobial consumption in hospitals as the number of DDD per 100 bed-days for all antibacterials for systemic use i.e. group J01 of the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification and for classes of this group. RESULTS During 1997-2001, antimicrobial use in hospitals in Denmark significantly increased by 18%, from 38.0 to 44.8 DDD per 100 bed-days (P < 0.005). Most of this increase (55%) was attributed to an increase in consumption of commonly used classes of antimicrobials, mainly penicillins with extended spectrum (ATC group J01CA), beta-lactamase-sensitive penicillins (J01CE) and beta-lactamase-resistant penicillins (J01CF). The 'broad-spectrum' and newer antimicrobials, i.e. combinations of penicillins with beta-lactamase inhibitor (J01CR), cephalosporins (J01DA), carbapenems (J01DH) and fluoroquinolones (J01MA) contributed to 36% of the increase. Together, these amounted to 16% of total consumption in hospitals in Denmark in 1997, rising to 19% in 2001. CONCLUSIONS Although antimicrobial consumption in public hospitals in Denmark is low compared with other countries, the steady increase and change in pattern of their use are causes of concern, deserving close monitoring and further investigations.
Psychological factors and trimester-specific gestational weight gain: a systematic review

Abstract Excess gestational weight gain (GWG), which has reached epidemic proportions, is associated with numerous adverse pregnancy outcomes. Early pregnancy provides a unique opportunity for counseling pregnant women since many women are motivated to engage in healthy behaviors. A systematic review was conducted to summarize the relation between psychological factors and trimester-specific GWG, i.e. GWG measured at the end of each trimester. Eight databases were searched for affect, cognition and personality factors. The guidelines on meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology were followed. The methodological quality of each study was assessed using a modified Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Of 3620 non-duplicate titles and abstracts, 74 articles underwent full-text review. Two cohort studies met the inclusion criteria. Distress was negatively associated with first trimester GWG among both adolescents and non-adolescents. Body image dissatisfaction was associated with second trimester GWG only among non-adolescents. No association emerged between perceived stress, state and trait anxiety and body image dissatisfaction among adolescents and trimester-specific GWG. The relation between trimester-specific GWG and a number of weight-related and dietary-related cognitions, affective states and personality traits remain unexplored. Given the limited number of studies, further high-quality evidence is required to examine the association between psychological factors and trimester-specific GWG, especially for cognitive and personality factors.
Time to Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization Refractoriness in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Kinki Criteria Stages B1 and B2

Background: Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is recommended for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage B. However, because of the heterogeneity of HCC in BCLC stage B; various subclassification systems have been proposed to predict the prognosis of patients. Previously, we proposed the Kinki criteria for precise classification of HCC cases in BCLC stage B. In this study, we compared the time to TACE refractoriness in HCC patients with Kinki criteria substages B1 and B2-HCC. Summary: Between January 2006 and December 2013, 592 HCC patients (substage B1, n = 118; substage B2, n = 170) underwent TACE. Time to progression under TACE treatment was defined as the time to untreatable progression (TTUP). TTUP and changes in liver function were analyzed in patients with substages B1 and B2-HCC. The median TTUP was 25.7 months (95% CI 19.3-37.3) and 16.4 months (95% CI 13.1-20.2) in patients with substage B1-HCC and substage B2-HCC, respectively (p = 0.0050). In patients with substage B2-HCC, median Child-Pugh scores after the first TACE session was significantly different from those after third and fifth TACE sessions (first-third, p = 0.0020; first-fifth, p = 0.0008). Key Message: TACE refractoriness occurred earlier in patients with substage B2-HCC than those with substage B1-HCC; deterioration of liver function with repeated TACE was more obvious in HCC cases with stage-B1 tumor. Shorter TTUP and impaired liver function due to repeated TACE could be responsible for the shorter survival in patients with substage B2-HCC.
ROC Graphs for Assessing the Ability of a Diagnostic Marker to Detect Three Disease Classes with an Umbrella Ordering

Summary Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and the area under these curves are commonly used to assess the ability of a continuous diagnostic marker (e.g., DNA methylation markers) to correctly classify subjects as having a particular disease or not (e.g., cancer). These approaches, however, are not applicable to settings where the gold standard yields more than two disease states or classes. ROC surfaces and the volume under the surfaces have been proposed for settings with more than two disease classes. These approaches, however, do not allow one to assess the ability of a marker to differentiate two disease classes from a third disease class without requiring a monotone order for the three disease classes under study. That is, existing approaches do not accommodate an umbrella ordering of disease classes. This article proposes the construction of an ROC graph that is applicable for an umbrella ordering. Furthermore, this article proposes that a summary measure for this umbrella ROC graph can be used to summarize the classification accuracy, and corresponding variance estimates can be obtained using U‐statistics theory or bootstrap methods. The proposed methods are illustrated using data from a study assessing the ability of a DNA methylation marker to correctly classify lung specimens into three histologic classes: squamous cell carcinoma, large cell carcinoma, and nontumor lung.
Strict decentralized nonlinear controller for synchronous generator set

Three kinds of strict decentralized nonlinear controllers for synchronous generator set, including the excitation controller, governor controller, excitation and governor coordinated controller, are designed in the paper. The proposed nonlinear controllers are all based on complex model of generator set without ignoring the transient saliency of generator, and they all only feedback local measurements of the generator set. In the paper, the structural model of generator set is used to construct the relation between the local immeasurable variables of generator and the local measurements of generator set, and thus it is easy to transform the immeasurable variables into local measurements when designing strict decentralized controllers. Meanwhile, the ANN-inversion method is used to design the nonlinear controller in the paper. Finally, the simulation of the proposed strict decentralized nonlinear excitation controller and coordinated controller is given, and the results demonstrate the validity of the proposed controller
Microbial Production of 4,4′-Dihydroxybiphenyl: Biphenyl Hydroxylation by Fungi

Of 15 species of fungi examined for their ability to hydroxylate biphenyl, 10 produced 4-hydroxybiphenyl. Seven of the 10 also produced 4,4′-dihydroxybiphenyl. The most efficient strains, Absidia pseudocylindrospora NRRL 2770 and Absidia sp. NRRL 1341, were more closely examined to determine their growth characteristics and the kinetics of biphenyl hydroxylation in batch fermentation. In the absence of biphenyl, A. pseudocylindrospora 2770 and Absidia sp. 1341 grew about as rapidly and efficiently in a defined glucose minimal medium as in a complex medium. Substrate yield coefficients for glucose in both media were 0.4 to 0.5 g of biomass per g of glucose, and the specific growth rate was about 0.17 h−1 (doubling time, about 4 h). In this unoptimized system, 10 to 15 g of biomass per liter (dry weight) could be produced, using a defined salt solution and glucose as sole carbon and energy source. In the presence of biphenyl, growth was inhibited, more so for strain 1341 than for strain 2770. However, the specific activity for biphenyl hydroxylation (milligrams of biphenol per gram of biomass) was about 3.5 times greater for strain 1341. Furthermore, biphenyl hydroxylation appeared to require the presence of an oxidizable carbon and energy source (and perhaps growth) to proceed and, at least for strain 1341, hydroxylation seemed to be more efficient in the complex medium.
Super-recognition in development: A case study of an adolescent with extraordinary face recognition skills

ABSTRACT Face recognition abilities vary widely. While face recognition deficits have been reported in children, it is unclear whether superior face recognition skills can be encountered during development. This paper presents O.B. , a 14-year-old female with extraordinary face recognition skills: a “super-recognizer” (SR). O.B. demonstrated exceptional face-processing skills across multiple tasks, with a level of performance that is comparable to adult SRs. Her superior abilities appear to be specific to face identity: She showed an exaggerated face inversion effect and her superior abilities did not extend to object processing or non-identity aspects of face recognition. Finally, an eye-movement task demonstrated that O.B. spent more time than controls examining the nose - a pattern previously reported in adult SRs. O.B. is therefore particularly skilled at extracting and using identity-specific facial cues, indicating that face and object recognition are dissociable during development, and that super recognition can be detected in adolescence.
The usability of a modified Åstrand bicycle test to assess the aerobic capacity in patients with musculoskeletal pain and healthy controls

Purpose. The aim of this study was to assess the usability of a modified Åstrand bicycle test in subjects with musculoskeletal pain disorder (MSPD) and healthy controls. Methods. In a random cross-over design, 31 subjects with a MSPD who have been referred to rehabilitation medicine and 33 healthy subjects matched for age, gender, height and body weight, performed an Åstrand bicycle test and a modified test with a time interval of 7 days. Drop-out rates, VO2max values (in mL/kg lean body mass (LBM) min−1), intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and critical difference (Bland-Altman plots) for both tests within each group of subjects were compared. Results. The drop-out rate in both tests for the MSPD group was comparable, and mainly caused by pain, fatigue or breathlessness. Compared with the modified version, the Åstrand test showed higher VO2max-scores: 4.83 mL/kg LBM min−1 (9.96%) in the MSPD group and 3.5 mL/kg LBM min−1 (5.57%) in the healthy group. ICCs were 0.79 and 0.87 and the limits of agreement were 8.5 mL/kg LBM min−1 (15.9%) and 10.2 mL/kg LBM min−1 (18.1%), respectively. Conclusion. The usability of the modified test is acceptable, as well as in healthy individuals as subjects suffering from MSPD being referred to rehabilitation medicine. However, a slight under estimation of VO2max with the modified test has to be taken into account.
[Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection: factors associated with infertility in women treated at a human reproduction public service].

PURPOSE To evaluate the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae in women undergoing assisted reproduction in a public reference service in the midwestern region of Brazil. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted on 340 women aged from 20 to 47 years with a history of infertility, undergoing assisted reproduction techniques. Infections with Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae identified in urine specimens by PCR, and the profile of infertility were analyzed. We used the χ(2) test or Fisher's exact test to evaluate the association between infection and variables. RESULTS The prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection was 10.9%, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae co-infection was observed in 2 cases. Women infected with Chlamydia trachomatis had more than 10 years of infertility (54.1%; p<0.0001). The tubal factor was the main cause in infected cases (56.8%; p=0.047). Tubal occlusion was found in 67.6% of cases with positive infection (p=0.004). CONCLUSION There was an association of tubal obstruction with infection by Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, reinforcing the need for effective strategies for an early detection of sexually transmitted diseases, especially in asymptomatic women of childbearing age.
Diagnostic significance of Ki67, CK19, Galectin-3 and HBME-1 expression for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma

The incidence of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma (PTC) has increased gradually in recent years, especially for Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma (PTMC). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the expression of Ki67, CK19, Galectin-3 and HBME-1 protein in PTMC and evaluate the clinical significance of differential diagnosis. The specimens of 80 PTMC cases and 40 benign papillary hyperplasia thyroid cases were collected in our study. Ki67, CK19, Galectin-3 and HBME-1 protein expression were evaluated in these specimens by using immunohistochemistry.The positive expression rates of Ki67, CK19, Galectin-3 and HBME-1 in PTMC were 43%, 99%, 95% and 71%. Respectively, the rates were 15%, 38%, 25% and 15% in benign thyroid (P<0.01). Sensitivity of Ki67, CK19, Galectin-3 and HBME-1 in differential diagnosis were 43%, 99%, 95% and 71%; Specificity were 85%, 63%, 75% and 85%;Diagnostic accuracy were 57%, 87%, 88% and 76%; The area under the ROC curve were 0.638, 0.806, 0.850 and 0.781. Our study suggested that detection of Ki67, CK19, Galectin-3 and HBME-1 protein may be helpful for differential diagnosis of PTMC, and Galectin-3 was the best one in these four markers for differential diagnosis.
High density vertical interconnects for 3-D integration of silicon integrated circuits

This paper describes a technology platform being developed for three-dimensional (3-D) integration of thin stacked silicon integrated circuits (ICs). 3-D integration technology promises to dramatically enhance on-chip signal processing capabilities of a variety of sensor and actuator array devices hybridized with silicon read-out electronics. Currently, advanced 3-D integrated infrared focal plane array detectors are being developed within the DARPA vertically integrated sensor arrays (VISA) program. Here, we describe the 3-D integration process flow and demonstrations developed in the VISA program