Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Equity in Diabetes Health Care in Relation to African and Caribbean Ethnicity

Objective. Many US studies have shown that ethnic minority groups have less access to health care. We evaluated whether black African and black Caribbean people with diabetes in the UK gain access to diabetes health care on an equitable basis compared with white people. Design. Cross-sectional questionnaire survey set in 29 general practices in south London. Main measures were self-reported morbidity, SF-36 scores and utilisation of health care. Analyses of utilisation variables were adjusted for age, sex, ethnic group, duration of diabetes, and socio-economic and health status. Results. There were 1,899 respondents (64%) from 2,983 individuals registered with diabetes. These included 799 white, 522 black Caribbean, 163 black African and 415 other subjects with type 2 diabetes. After adjusting for need, black Caribbeans reported higher utilisation of health care than white subjects for four of nine utilisation variables, and black Africans for two. For the remaining variables utilisation was equivalent in different ethnic groups. Black Caribbean subjects were more likely to be treated for hypertension if hypertensive (odds ratio 1.84, 95% CI 1.05 to 3.22), to use blood or urine self-monitoring (1.40, 1.04 to 1.88) and to have attended a diabetes nurse (1.34, 1.04 to 1.74) or dietician (1.49, 1.19 to 1.86). Black Africans were more likely to have attended a dietician (2.15, 1.40 to 3.29) or an ophthalmologist (1.72, 1.10 to 2.70) in the past year. Conclusion. There was no evidence from this study that black African or black Caribbean subjects had less access to diabetes health care in relation to need.
High doses wireless radiation sensor using electromagnetic transducers

This communication reports the last results obtained on the development of a wireless passive chipless sensor for high doses radiation monitoring. The sensor is based on polymer out-gazing inside a micro-chamber coupled with electromagnetic pressure transducer. Previous results on test structures have validated the principle of polymer out-gazing under nuclear radiation. An hermetic sealed prototype including the micro-chamber and the pressure transducer is reported here for the first time. This sensor has been fabricated successfully. Experimental results are reported and discussed.
Si usted fuera migrante.: Las preferencias de candidato como hipótesis

Based on data from a survey of all countries in the European Union (UE25), we attempt to comprehend the way in which European societies link concepts of citizenship (based on the possible transfer of voting rights in cases of geographic mobility) with their voting preferences (based on preference for a candidate from either their country of origin or the destination country) in the hypothetical case that survey respondents were to migrate to another country in the European Union. The results show a significant correlation between four different notions of citizenship in cases of mobility (nation-based, state-based, cosmopolitan, and based on the forfeiture of voting rights) and the preferred candidate's country of origin. A nation-based view of citizenship is linked to a preference for candidates from the respondent's country of origin, while respondents with a state-oriented view of citizenship are likely to prefer candidates from their country of destination. The conclusions drawn from this exploratory study allow us to further reflect on the explanatory factors that influence these conceptions of nationality and citizenship (within the current context of economic and social crisis), as well as on the effect this set of public opinion may have on the future of the European Union as a supranational, democratic political project.
Sustainable Networks of Public Spaces

Considering the increasing importance of immigrants for demographic and socioeconomic sustainability of countries and regions, the research reported in this article aims at developing a methodology for the planning of public spaces, especially targeted to immigrants. It considers their specific demographic, socio-economic and professional characteristics, as well as their needs and expectations. This study is applied, as a case study, to the Oporto Metropolitan Area (Portugal). The public spaces, where individuals interact, expose them to different types of conflicts, namely lack of safety, discomfort, and social exclusion. Thus, in the first part of the article, statistical data is collected and treated in order to identify the residential locations of immigrants in the studied territory. These locations, as well as density of land use, are cartographically displayed. Then an analysis is pursued, that relates spatial building densities with immigrants ́ characteristics, in order to identify trends and problems. It consists in the definition of a typology for immigrants’ location, where some characteristics of immigrants (country of origin, economic activity, profession) are crossed with the places of residence, according to their morphological and typological characteristics (namely in the metropolitan core and in the suburban area). Considering the characteristics of residential neighbourhoods, a plan for public space provision is finally proposed that stresses the need to qualify these spaces, so that they can properly receive immigrants, according to their characteristics and needs. It is hoped this proposal promotes higher sociability, mutual help and leisure levels in more sustainable outdoor places.
Secondary structure of the C-terminal DNA-binding domain of the transcriptional activator NifA from Klebsiella pneumoniae: spectroscopic analyses.

The conformation of the C-terminal DNA-binding domain of the transcriptional activator NifA from Klebsiella pneumoniae has been probed by circular dichroism (CD), Fourier-transformed infrared (FT-IR), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy in combination. Secondary structure prediction suggests that the C-terminal half of the domain contains three alpha-helices. The spectra show that the domain is folded in the absence of DNA and of the N-terminal and central domains of NifA. The three spectroscopic techniques suggest slightly different proportions of secondary structural elements but all suggest that it contains about 33% alpha-helix. These results are in agreement with a previous prediction suggesting that NifA contains a helix-turn-helix motif and with the amount of alpha-helix predicted. The environment of the aromatic residues was examined by CD and NMR spectroscopy, which suggest that one or both of the tryptophan residues are involved in the tertiary structure of the protein but that the tyrosine residue in the helix-turn-helix motif is solvent exposed and so available to bind to DNA. The thermal melting profiles and pH-dependent structural changes were also examined by CD spectroscopy. This technique indicates that at low pH there is an increase in the secondary structure and interactions contributing to the tertiary structure. Many of the acidic residues are predicted to be on a single helix, before the helix-turn-helix motif, which may therefore be important for maintaining the structure and function of the C-terminal peptide; alternatively, the N-terminal half of the domain may become more folded at low pH.
Novel power control algorithm by decomposed Geometric Programming method for CDMA cognitive radio networks

Traditionally, the frequency spectrum is licensed to users in a rigid manner where the licensee has the exclusive right to access the allocated band. However, an unlicensed (cognitive) user may share a frequency band with a licensed (primary) owner as long as the interference is below a certain threshold. This makes power control a critical important issue in these networks. In this paper, we consider a decentralized power control algorithm that satisfies the most two significant metrics in cognitive radio network, capacity of cognitive network and total interference to primary users. The problem might be formulated as a power optimization problem, where rate allocation and power control are modeled through the objective function in which each user utility depends not only on its variables but also on the variables of other user utilities. Geometric Programming (GP) Problem is used to convert nonconvex optimization problem to convex optimization problem by introducing auxiliary variables and adding extra equality constraints, thus transferring the coupling in the objective to coupling in the constraints, which can be decoupled by primal-dual decomposition method, then can be efficiently solved even with a large number of users. The benefits of the method are illustrated through numerical results.
Growth Hormone Ameliorates Adipose Dysfunction During Oxidative Stress and Inflammation and Improves Glucose Tolerance in Obese Mice

Abstract Patients with adult growth hormone deficiency exhibit visceral fat accumulation, which gives rise to a cluster of metabolic disorders such as impaired glucose tolerance and dyslipidemia. Plasma growth hormone levels are lower in obese patients with metabolic syndrome than in healthy subjects. Here we examined the hypothesis that exogenous growth hormone administration regulates function of adipose tissue to improve glucose tolerance in diet-induced obese mice. Twelve-week-old obese male C57BL/6 J mice received bovine growth hormone daily for 6 weeks. In epididymal fat, growth hormone treatment antagonized diet-induced changes in the gene expression of adiponectin, leptin, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and significantly increased the gene expression of interleukin-10 and CD206. Growth hormone also suppressed the accumulation of oxidative stress marker, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, in the epididymal fat and enhanced the gene expression of anti-oxidant enzymes. Moreover, growth hormone significantly restored glucose tolerance in obese mice. In cultured 3T3-L1 adipocytes, growth hormone prevented the decline in adiponectin gene expression in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. These results suggest that growth hormone administration ameliorates glucose intolerance in obese mice presumably by decreasing adipose mass, oxidative stress, and chronic inflammation in the visceral fat.
Option to reveal an R&D Investment

Research & Development (R&D) projects comprise several risk factors. In particular, they carry two types of uncertainty. Stochastic uncertainty related to the expected cash flow of the project and probabilistic uncertainty that captures the likelihood of innovation happen. Furthermore, R&D investments are likely to be hidden from the market. Sometimes companies choose to disclose the investment at the moment they make it, sometimes choose to wait for a while after investing, in some cases they never reveal it in case of failure of the research and in other cases they choose to signal the will to investing to the market before the investment itself. The decision to reveal an investment in R&D is a powerful tool that managers hold to maximize the value of their companies and they have flexibility about the timing of doing so. Therefore, the decision to do reveal an investment in R&D is an option for the company that should be exercised in the optimal timing. We developed a real options model, with three different settings, which aims to demonstrate that the optimal decision for the moment of revelation varies according to the parameters of the model. The three settings are: the benchmark setting; the compound option setting (monopoly and exogenous competition); and the independent options setting. In the first setting, it is assumed that both options are a unique one and therefore always exercised at the same time. In the second, it is considered that the option to reveal the investment is received when the firm invests, assumption inspired in Delaney and Thijssen (2015). In this setting, we take two different approaches. In the first one, the firm does not face any competition at all, so we consider that the firm is enrolled in a monopoly framework. In the second approach, we assume that there is exogenous competition over the option to reveal the investment. In the last setting, we abandon the assumption of the compound option and allow the firm to disclose information before investing if this is the optimal behavior. We show that, depending on the parameters, other strategies can be better than the benchmark strategy. In addition, we also found theoretical evidence demonstrating that every time the firm must choose to reveal before investing, the optimal timing to exercise the option to invest will be anticipated relative to the case where it would be better to invest and reveal later, due to reputational cost savings.
The Cost of Sustaining a Patient-Centered Medical Home: Experience From 2 States

PURPOSE As medical practices transform to patient-centered medical homes (PCMHs), it is important to identify the ongoing costs of maintaining these “advanced primary care” functions. A key required input is personnel effort. This study’s objective was to assess direct personnel costs to practices associated with the staffing necessary to deliver PCMH functions as outlined in the National Committee for Quality Assurance Standards. METHODS We developed a PCMH cost dimensions tool to assess costs associated with activities uniquely required to maintain PCMH functions. We interviewed practice managers, nurse supervisors, and medical directors in 20 varied primary care practices in 2 states, guided by the tool. Outcome measures included categories of staff used to perform various PCMH functions, time and personnel costs, and whether practices were delivering PCMH functions. RESULTS Costs per full-time equivalent primary care clinician associated with PCMH functions varied across practices with an average of $7,691 per month in Utah practices and $9,658 in Colorado practices. PCMH incremental costs per encounter were $32.71 in Utah and $36.68 in Colorado. The average estimated cost per member per month for an assumed panel of 2,000 patients was $3.85 in Utah and $4.83 in Colorado. CONCLUSIONS Identifying costs of maintaining PCMH functions will contribute to effective payment reform and to sustainability of transformation. Maintenance and ongoing support of PCMH functions require additional time and new skills, which may be provided by existing staff, additional staff, or both. Adequate compensation for ongoing and substantial incremental costs is critical for practices to sustain PCMH functions.
Screening for Glaucoma: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement

DESCRIPTION Update of the 2004 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendation on screening for glaucoma. METHODS The USPSTF reviewed evidence on the benefits and harms of screening for glaucoma and of medical and surgical treatment of early glaucoma. Beneficial outcomes of interest included improved vision-related quality of life and reduced progression of early asymptomatic glaucoma to vision-related impairment. The USPSTF also considered evidence on the accuracy of glaucoma screening tests. POPULATION This recommendation applies to adults who do not have vision symptoms and are seen in a primary care setting. RECOMMENDATION The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening for primary open-angle glaucoma in adults. (I statement)
Host Erythrocyte Environment Influences the Localization of Exported Protein 2, an Essential Component of the Plasmodium Translocon

ABSTRACT Malaria parasites replicating inside red blood cells (RBCs) export a large subset of proteins into the erythrocyte cytoplasm to facilitate parasite growth and survival. PTEX, the parasite-encoded translocon, mediates protein transport across the parasitophorous vacuolar membrane (PVM) in Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes. Proteins exported into the erythrocyte cytoplasm have been localized to membranous structures, such as Maurer's clefts, small vesicles, and a tubovesicular network. Comparable studies of protein trafficking in Plasmodium vivax-infected reticulocytes are limited. With Plasmodium yoelii-infected reticulocytes, we identified exported protein 2 (Exp2) in a proteomic screen of proteins putatively transported across the PVM. Immunofluorescence studies showed that P. yoelii Exp2 (PyExp2) was primarily localized to the PVM. Unexpectedly, PyExp2 was also associated with distinct, membrane-bound vesicles in the reticulocyte cytoplasm. This is in contrast to P. falciparum in mature RBCs, where P. falciparum Exp2 (PfExp2) is exclusively localized to the PVM. Two P. yoelii-exported proteins, PY04481 (encoded by a pyst-a gene) and PY06203 (PypAg-1), partially colocalized with these PyExp2-positive vesicles. Further analysis revealed that with P. yoelii, Plasmodium berghei, and P. falciparum, cytoplasmic Exp2-positive vesicles were primarily observed in CD71+ reticulocytes versus mature RBCs. In transgenic P. yoelii 17X parasites, the association of hemagglutinin-tagged PyExp2 with the PVM and cytoplasmic vesicles was retained, but the pyexp2 gene was refractory to deletion. These data suggest that the localization of Exp2 in mouse and human RBCs can be influenced by the host cell environment. Exp2 may function at multiple points in the pathway by which parasites traffic proteins into and through the reticulocyte cytoplasm.
An automatic glioma grading method based on multi-feature extraction and fusion.

BACKGROUND An accurate assessment of tumor malignancy grade in the preoperative situation is important for clinical management. However, the manual grading of gliomas from MRIs is both a tiresome and time consuming task for radiologists. Thus, it is a priority to design an automatic and effective computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) tool to assist radiologists in grading gliomas. OBJECTIVE To design an automatic computer-aided diagnosis for grading gliomas using multi-sequence magnetic resonance imaging. METHODS The proposed method consists of two steps: (1) the features of high and low grade gliomas are extracted from multi-sequence magnetic resonance images, and (2) then, a KNN classifier is trained to grade the gliomas. In the feature extraction step, the intensity, volume, and local binary patterns (LBP) of the gliomas are extracted, and PCA is used to reduce the data dimension. RESULTS The proposed "Intensity-Volume-LBP-PCA-KNN" method is validated on the MICCAI 2015 BraTS challenge dataset, and an average grade accuracy of 87.59% is obtained. CONCLUSIONS The proposed method is an effective method for automatically grading gliomas and can be applied to real situations.
Evaluation of Source Leaf Responses to Water-Deficit Stresses in Cotton Using a Novel Stress Bioassay1[OA]

Water-deficit stresses preferentially reduce shoot growth, thereby disrupting the flow of carbohydrates from source leaves to the developing sinks. Here, we use a novel stress bioassay to dissect responses of field and greenhouse-grown cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) source leaves to water-deficit stresses. Fifth main stem leaf samples were harvested at sunrise and subjected to a prolonged elevated respiratory demand in the dark. Sucrose levels are lower in nonstressed cotton at sunrise compared to water-deficit stressed cotton, potentially predisposing the nonstressed tissue to succumb more rapidly. Tissue death was determined initially using the cell viability stain 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride, but was determined in subsequent experiments by monitoring the decline in chlorophyll fluorescence yield. Fluorescence yield measurements were obtained within minutes of harvesting and individual samples were monitored over the time course of the treatment. Analyses of the time course and magnitude of chlorophyll fluorescence yield decline in samples from irrigated and dryland plots permitted the detection of stress responses within 24 h of the cessation of irrigation. The rate of fluorescence yield decline during the elevated respiratory demand treatment slowed as the water-deficit stress increased. Upon irrigation, the source leaves of the water-stressed plants recovered to prestress values within 4 d. Well-watered cotton overexpressing heat shock protein 101 had identical rates of fluorescence yield decline as nontransgenic cotton. These results suggest that the delayed decline in fluorescence yield of water-stressed tissue exposed to prolonged elevated respiratory demand can be used as a sensitive indicator of water-deficit stress responses.
Differential Encoding of Time by Prefrontal and Striatal Network Dynamics

Telling time is fundamental to many forms of learning and behavior, including the anticipation of rewarding events. Although the neural mechanisms underlying timing remain unknown, computational models have proposed that the brain represents time in the dynamics of neural networks. Consistent with this hypothesis, changing patterns of neural activity dynamically in a number of brain areas—including the striatum and cortex—has been shown to encode elapsed time. To date, however, no studies have explicitly quantified and contrasted how well different areas encode time by recording large numbers of units simultaneously from more than one area. Here, we performed large-scale extracellular recordings in the striatum and orbitofrontal cortex of mice that learned the temporal relationship between a stimulus and a reward and reported their response with anticipatory licking. We used a machine-learning algorithm to quantify how well populations of neurons encoded elapsed time from stimulus onset. Both the striatal and cortical networks encoded time, but the striatal network outperformed the orbitofrontal cortex, a finding replicated both in simultaneously and nonsimultaneously recorded corticostriatal datasets. The striatal network was also more reliable in predicting when the animals would lick up to ∼1 s before the actual lick occurred. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that temporal information is encoded in a widely distributed manner throughout multiple brain areas, but that the striatum may have a privileged role in timing because it has a more accurate “clock” as it integrates information across multiple cortical areas. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The neural representation of time is thought to be distributed across multiple functionally specialized brain structures, including the striatum and cortex. However, until now, the neural code for time has not been compared quantitatively between these areas. Here, we performed large-scale recordings in the striatum and orbitofrontal cortex of mice trained on a stimulus–reward association task involving a delay period and used a machine-learning algorithm to quantify how well populations of simultaneously recorded neurons encoded elapsed time from stimulus onset. We found that, although both areas encoded time, the striatum consistently outperformed the orbitofrontal cortex. These results suggest that the striatum may refine the code for time by integrating information from multiple inputs.