Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Physician–Hospital Team: A Successful Approach To Improving Care in a Large Academic Medical Center

Initiatives to improve the quality and efficiency of care in academic medical centers (AMCs, teaching hospitals) can benefit the performance of academic departments as well as the hospital. However, the value of performance improvement programs in an AMC is often challenging. At Jefferson Medical College, clinical efficiency and bed availability are important priorities to the Department of Medicine. To this end, a multidisciplinary program was designed to (1) improve the quality and consistency of care by adapting and adopting national guidelines for patients with heart failure and acute coronary syndrome; (2) identify and improve hospital operational supports and maximize resource utilization; (3) increase hospital functional capacity to make way for increased volume; and (4) improve housestaff education and practice by using evidence-based approaches and by optimizing teaching relationships between housestaff and attending faculty. The eight-month project (November 2002 to July 2003) resulted in improvement in several quality measures including increased use of beta blockers and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors for heart failure patients, reduced length of stay for heart failure and acute coronary syndrome patients, and increased satisfaction of the clinicians involved in caring for these patients. However, the project was not without barriers including individual physician’s unwillingness to embrace change and an inability to incentivize change. Development of faculty leadership skills and enhanced physician accountability helped in overcoming the challenges of change.
The Expansion of Faith‐Based Partnerships With Government

Social service partnerships between faith-based organizations and federal, state, and local government have been established for several decades; however, they have experienced significant expansion and increased support in recent years. These partnerships have long centered on helping individuals cope with issues of substance abuse and mental health, as well as overcoming other addictive behaviors, and establishing positive life practices for self-sufficiency. These partnerships are rather old in nature but relatively new in scope and focus bringing a myriad of resources into the public square as well as opportunities for additional research on their efficacy.
Suppression of fiber nonlinearities by appropriate dispersion management

A specific fiber dispersion management is proposed allowing the simultaneous suppression of linear dispersion penalties and of degradations arising from parametrical fiber nonlinearities. For the proposed dual dispersion configuration (DDCON) the number of optical channels that can be transmitted over 1000 km at a bit rate of 2.5 Gb/s is only limited by the available optical amplifier bandwidth. <<ETX>>
Mortality in a cohort of homeless adults in Philadelphia.

BACKGROUND Homeless people are at high risk for death from many causes, but age-adjusted death rates for well-defined homeless populations have not been determined. METHODS We identified 6308 homeless persons 15 to 74 years of age who were served by one or both of two agencies for the homeless in Philadelphia between January 1, 1985, and December 31, 1988. Using a data base that contained all deaths in Philadelphia and listings of all Philadelphia residents during the same period, we compared the mortality rate for this homeless population with the rate in the general population of Philadelphia. RESULTS The age-adjusted mortality rate among the homeless was 3.5 times that of Philadelphia's general population (95 percent confidence interval, 2.8 to 4.5). The age-adjusted number of years of potential life lost before the age of 75 years was 3.6 times higher for the homeless people than for the general population (345 vs. 97 years lost per 1000 person-years of observation). Fifty-one of the 96 deaths of homeless persons (53 percent) occurred during the summer months. Mortality rates were higher among the homeless than in the general population for nonwhites, whites, women, and men. Within the homeless cohort, white men and substance abusers had higher mortality rates than other subgroups, but even homeless people not known to be substance abusers had a threefold higher risk of death than members of the general population. Injuries, heart disease, liver disease, poisoning, and ill-defined conditions accounted for 73 percent of all the deaths among the homeless. CONCLUSIONS Homeless adults in Philadelphia have an age-adjusted mortality rate nearly four times that of Philadelphia's general population. White men and substance abusers are at particularly high risk. Matching cohorts of homeless people to death records is a useful way to monitor mortality rates over time, evaluate interventions, and identify subgroups with an increased risk of death.
OLYMPICS 北京?大阪?

2008年奥林匹克在哪儿举办? 听说很多城市都提出了在本城市举办的申请。 大阪和北京是申奥的城市之一,它们各自所在的国家又是相距很近的一衣带水的邻邦。 两国从历史上就一直往来不断,特别是近些年,两国之间的来往更加密切,更加
Constrained Codebook Design for a MISO Beamforming System in a Rician Channel

This study presents a limited feedback codebook design for a multiple-input single-output (MISO) beamforming system in a Rician fading channel. To support the Rician fading channel, the physical characteristics of the channel are exploited in designing the codebook by Grassmannian line packing (GLP). To this end, a portion of the total codewords is allocated for supporting the line-of-sight (LOS) channel. By a proposed design procedure, it is possible to design a codebook which can increase the system capacity in a large K-factor region without any capacity loss in a Rayleigh fading channel. The simulation results show that the overall capacity can be remarkably increased by the proposed codebook.
Distribution and Mortality of Saskatchewan-Banded White-Fronted Geese

At its annual spring meeting in 1959 the Technical Committee of the Central Flyway Council recognized a decreased population of the white-fronted goose (Anser albifrons). The recorded harvest in Canada and the United States had exceeded the estimated wintering population in some years. After summarizing records for the Central and Mississippi Flyways the Committee found them inadequate for management and to help fill this void, recommended banding on local concentration areas including Saskatchewan.
Effects of 49 Different Rare Hb Variants on HbA1c Measurement in Eight Methods

Background: Previous studies have shown interference with HbA1c measurement from the 4 most common heterozygous Hb variants (HbAS, HbAE, HbAC, and HbAD) with some assay methods. Here we examine analytical interference from 49 different less common variants with 7 different HbA1c methods using various method principles. Methods: Hb variants were screened using the Bio-Rad Variant or Variant II beta thal short program, confirmed by alkaline and acid electrophoresis, and identified by sequence analysis. The Trinity ultra2 boronate affinity high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method and Roche Tinaquant immunoassay were used as primary and secondary comparative methods, respectively, since these methods are least likely to show interference from Hb variants. Other methods included were the Tosoh G7 and G8, Bio-Rad D-10 and Variant II Turbo, Diazyme Enzymatic, and Sebia Capillarys 2 Flex Piercing. To eliminate any inherent calibration bias, results for each method were adjusted using regression verses the ultra2 with nonvariant samples. Each method’s calibration-adjusted results were compared and judged to be acceptable if within the 99% prediction interval of the regression line for nonvariant samples. Results: Almost all variant samples were recognized as such by the ion-exchange HPLC methods by the presence of abnormal peaks or results outside the reportable range. For most variants, interference was seen with 1 or more of the ion-exchange methods. Following manufacturer instructions for interpretation of chromatograms usually, but not always, prevented reporting of inaccurate results. Results: Laboratories must be cautious about reporting results when the presence of a variant is suspected.
Hemoglobin levels in a Himalayan high altitude population.

This report presents data on hemoglobin concentrations in a sample of Himalayan high altitude natives measured at their habitual altitude of residence. In this sample of 270 healthy Tibetan adults resident at 3250-3560 m in Upper Chumik , Nepal, the mean hemoglobin concentration is 16.1 +/- 1.2 gm/dl among adult males, 14.4 +/- 1.4 gm/dl among premenopausal and 15.0 +/- 1.1 gm/dl among postmenopausal adult females. 123 of 126 (98%) males, 96 of 100 (96%) premenopausal and 36 of 44 (82%) postmenopausal females have hemoglobin concentrations within two standard deviations of the sea level mean. These data demonstrate that a healthy population may reside at high altitude without the degree of elevation in hemoglobin widely known and cited for Andean highlanders. Comparing published data on mean hemoglobin concentrations of adult Himalayan and Andean samples residing between 3200 m and 4100 m reveals that Himalayan means are systematically lower. This in turn may account for the reported population differences in the prevalence of chronic mountain sickness ( Monge 's disease). It is hypothesized that Himalayan and Andean highlanders represent alternative patterns of high altitude hematological adaptation.
Role of Mitochondria in Alzheimer ́s Disease

Alzheimer's disease is the most common neurodegenerative disorder worldwide characterized by considerable atrophy and an enlargement and coarsening of the sulci, amyloid formation in neuritic plaques and brain vessels (amyloid angiopathy), neurofibrillary tangles, and neuronal loss, particularly in the limbic and association cortices. In addition, deficits in cholinergic transmission and associated loss of cholinergic cell bodies, granulovacuolar degeneration and rod-shaped eosinophilic inclusions (Hirano bodies) are common in Alzheimer’s disease patients. Clinical symptoms are characterized by progressive worsening of memory, and cognitive impairment accompanied by one of the following symptoms: aphasia, apraxia, agnosia and disorders in the executive function (Selkoe, 2004). The pathophysiological mechanisms that underlie the neurodegenerative characteristic of Alzheimer's disease are yet to be completely understood, although many factors in disease pathogenesis have been identified, and several theories are emerged. In the last years, mitochondrial dysfunction has been considered as a potential factor implicated at some stage of the pathogenic process (Anandatheerthavarada et al., 2003; Sullivan & Brown, 2005;
Ozone depletion and skin cancer.

1 Bowell PJ, MacKenzie IZ, Entwistle CC. Deaths from rhesus D haemolytic disease. BMJ 1985;291:1351. 2 Hussey R, Clarke C. Deaths from haemolytic disease of the newborn in 1990. BMJ 1992;304:444. (15 February.) 3 Office of Population Censuses and Surveys. Abortion statistics 1988-England and Wales. London: HMSO, 1989:62. (AB No 15.) 4 Office of Population Censuses and Surveys. Abortion statistics 1989-England and Wales. London: HMSO, 1990:66. (AB No 16.) 5 Office of Population Censuses and Surveys. Abortion statistics 1990-England and Wales. London: HMSO, 1991:66. (AB No 17.) 6 Bowell PJ, Brown SE, Dike AE, Inskip MJ. The significance of anti-c alloimamaunisation in pregnancy. Br Jf Obstet Gynaecol 1986;93: 1044-8. 7 Mayne KM, Bowell PJ, Pratt GA. The significance of anti-kell sensitization in pregnancy. Clin Lab Haematol 1990;12:379-85.
Biomechanical analysis of human ligament grafts used in knee-ligament repairs and reconstructions.

Virtually all types of collagenous tissues have been transferred in and around the knee joint for intra-articular and extra-articular ligament reconstructions. However, the mechanical properties (in particular, strength) of such grafts have not been determined in tissues from young adult donors, where age and disuse-related effects have been excluded. To provide this information, we subjected ligament graft tissues to high-strain-rate failure tests to determine their strength and elongation properties. The results were compared with the mechanical properties of anterior cruciate ligaments from a similar young-adult donor population. The study indicated that some graft tissues used in ligament reconstructions are markedly weak and therefore are at risk for elongation and failure at low forces. Grafts utilizing prepatellar retinacular tissues (as in certain anterior-cruciate reconstructions) and others in which a somewhat narrow width of fascia lata or distal iliotibial tract is utilized are included in this at-risk group. Wider grafts from the iliotibial tract or fascia lata would of course proportionally increase ultimate strength. The semitendinosus and gracilis tendons are stronger, having 70 and 49 per cent, respectively, of the initial strength of anterior cruciate ligaments. The bone-patellar tendon-bone graft (fourteen to fifteen millimeters wide, medial or central portion) was the strongest, with a mean strength of 159 to 168 per cent of that of anterior cruciate ligaments. Patellar tendon-bone units, based on grip-to-grip motions, were found to be three to four times stiffer than similarly gripped anterior cruciate ligaments, while gracilis and semitendinosus tendon preparations had values that were nearly identical to those of anterior cruciate ligaments. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
IDENTIFICATION OF CALMODULIN IN MITOCHONDRIA FROM RAT LIVER: A POSSIBLE ROLE IN REGULATION OF THE OLIGOMYCIN SENSITIVE ATPase

Although Caz+ is an important regulator of mitochondrial function, it is not clear that mitochondria, like the cytosol, use calmodulin as a coupling agent between Ca2+ and the Ca2+ response. Part of the problem stems from the lack of information concerning localization of calmodulin within the mitochondrial compartment. Previous cell fractionation studies,'. ' or antibody localization studies3 were not sufficient to detect mitochondrial calmodulin. In the present report, we describe the occurrence of calmodulin in mitochondria. Rat liver mitochondria, isolated in the presence of 0.5 mM EGTA, were boiled and the supernatant passed over 2 ml DEAE-cellulose collumns. The mitochondrial extract that eluted in the presence of 0.4 M NaCl contained a heat-stable, Ca2+ and chlorpromazine sensitive stimulator of brain phosphodiesterase which was presumed to be calmodulin (34 14 ng/mg protein, n = 13). The calmodulin associated with the mitochondrial fraction was still present after mitochondria were purified on 35%-50% w/w sucrose gradients (28 18 ng/mg protein, n = 3). Enzyme marker studies indicated that the plasma membrane contributed 0 ng calmodulin/mg mitochondrial protein while the endoplasmic reticulum contributed at most 3.6 ng calmodulin/mg mitochondrial protein in mitochondria purified on sucrose gradients. Further evidence that calmodulin resides within mitochondria is derived from the observation that [3H]trifluoperazine, a calmodulin binding agent, comigrated with mitochondria on sucrose gradients. Other calmodulin binding agents: including: penfluridol (16 pM). pimozide (20 pM), and chlorpromazine (100 pM); specifically inhibited ADP-stimulated respiration without affecting uncoupler-stimulated or Ca2+-stimulated respiration. This specific effect together with the observation that the inactive analogue, trifluoperazine sulfoxide (1 mM). does not inhibit ADP-stimulated respiration, suggest that calmodulin is involved in regulation of ADP phosphorylation. The site of regulation could occur at the level of adenine nucleotide translocation or the oligomycin-sensitive ATPase. Both processes are known to be affected by Ca2+. 5,6 These two possibilities were distinguished by analyzing the distribution of labeled adenine nucleotides in the presence of calmodulin binding agents. Addition of calmodulin binding agents prior to the addition of [3H]ADP (1.8 mM, 10 pCi] did not alter the specific activity of the ADP pool, but did diminish by 70% the ratio of [3H]ATP/[3H]ADP. Therefore, it is concluded that mitochondria contain calmodulin, and this calmodulin plays a role in regulation of the oligomycin sensitive ATPase.
Monoclonal immunoglobulin A antibodies directed against cholera toxin prevent the toxin-induced chloride secretory response and block toxin binding to intestinal epithelial cells in vitro

Secretory immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies directed against cholera toxin (CT) are thought to be important in resistance to oral challenge with virulent Vibrio cholerae, although alternative mechanisms for protection of intestinal epithelia against CT-induced fluid secretion have been proposed. The ability of anti-CT IgA to block the effects of CT on human enterocytes has not been directly tested because of the lack of a well-defined in vitro intestinal epithelial cell system to directly measure toxin action and the limited availability of purified anti-CT IgA antibodies. We have generated hybridomas that produce monoclonal IgA and IgG antibodies directed against CT by fusion of Peyer's patch cells with mouse myeloma cells after oral-systemic immunization of mice with CT and CT B-subunit protein. All of the anti-CT antibodies recognized the B subunit. Three clones (designated anti-CTB IgA-1, IgA-2, and IgA-3) which produced IgA antibodies in dimeric and polymeric forms were selected. Checkerboard immunoblotting demonstrated that IgA-1 recognized an epitope distinct from that recognized by IgA-2 and IgA-3 and that none of the antibodies were directed against the binding site of GM1, the intestinal cell membrane toxin receptor. The protective capacity of these IgAs was tested in vitro with human T84 colon carcinoma cells grown on permeable supports as confluent monolayers of polarized enterocytes. When each anti-CTB IgA was mixed with 10 nM CT and applied to the apical surfaces of T84 cell monolayers, all three IgAs blocked CT-induced Cl- secretion in a dose-dependent manner and completely inhibited binding of rhodamine-labelled CT to apical cell membranes. Thus, monoclonal anti-CTB IgA antibodies are sufficient to protect human enterocytes in vitro against CT binding and action.
PrPC Is Sorted to the Basolateral Membrane of Epithelial Cells Independently of its Association with Rafts

PrPC is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol‐anchored protein expressed in neurons as well as in the cells of several peripheral tissues. Although the normal function of PrPC remains unknown, a conformational isoform called PrPSc (scrapie) has been proposed to be the infectious agent of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies in animals and humans. Where and how the PrPC to PrPSc conversion occurs in the cells is not yet known. Therefore, dissecting the intracellular trafficking of the wild‐type prion protein, as well as of the scrapie isoform, can be of major relevance to the pathogenesis of the diseases. In this report we have analyzed the exocytic pathway of transfected mouse PrPC in thyroid and kidney polarized epithelial cells. In contrast to the majority of glycosylphosphatidylinositol‐anchored proteins, we found that PrPC is localized mainly on the basolateral domain of the plasma membrane of both cell lines. This is reminiscent of the predominant somatodendritic localization found in neurons. However, similarly to apical glycosylphosphatidylinositol‐proteins, PrPC associates with detergent‐resistant microdomains, which have been suggested to have a role in apical sorting of glycosylphosphatidylinositol‐proteins, as well as in the conversion process of PrPC to PrPSc. In order to discriminate whether detergent‐resistant microdomains have a direct role in PrPSc conversion, or whether they are involved in the transport of the protein to the site of its conversion, we have examined the effect of disruption of detergent‐resistant microdomain association on PrPC intracellular traffic. Consistent with the unusual basolateral localization of this glycosylphosphatidylinositol‐linked protein, our data exclude a classical role for detergent‐resistant microdomains in the post‐trans‐Golgi network sorting and transport of PrPC to the plasma membrane.
Adaptable Reconfigurable Antenna Array System with Multi-Angle and Tri-Polarization Diversity [Education Column]

A reconfigurable antenna system is proposed here that aims to find the best communication link with respect to power. The system consists of two arrays: one on the transmitter side and one on the receiver side. Both arrays were developed using microstrip transmission-line technology. The frequency of operation was (as required) 2.4 GHz, and was supplied by ZigBee chips. Each ZigBee chip was connected to a personal computer to facilitate power measurement, and hence determine the best communication link possible.
Meals on Wheels: Exploring Potential for and Barriers to Integrating Depression Intervention for Homebound Older Adults

The purpose of this study was to explore Meals on Wheels' (MOW) organizational potential for integrating depression screening, referral, and treatment for homebound older adults. In a survey of 164 MOW administrators, MOW's current practice of depression services was examined, and the administrators' perception of MOW's organizational potential was measured focusing on external environment, financial resources, staffing/skills, and values and goals. Only 20 out of 164 MOWs provide depression screening, and 19 provide in-home counseling for their clients, while 86 provide referral services. About 64–72% of MOWs that are not current providers of screening and/or referrals want to provide the services, and 21% of those that are not current providers of in-home counseling want to provide it.
Chronobiological theories of nonseasonal affective disorders and their implications for treatment.

Speculations on the pathogenetic significance of chronobiological disturbances in affective disorders have a respectable history. The interested reader is referred to Papousek’s excellent review of 1975. The present review is dedicated to some core issues concerning the validity of current views, hypotheses, and theories in this area. Two sets of data constitute the main basis of chronobiological theories. The first consists of classical clinical phenomena, such as diurnal variation of depressive state, early morning awakening, and seasonal modulation of onset. Diurnal variations suggest a circadian modulation of the clinical state; the severity of the symptoms appears to be linked either to the time
Design and optimization of self-microemulsifying drug delivery system ( SMEDDS ) of felodipine for chronotherapeutic application

The objective of this research work was to design, develop and optimize the self micro-emulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) of Felodipine (FL) filled in hard gelatine capsule coated with polymer in order to achieve rapid drug release after a desired time lag in the management of hypertension. Microemulsion is composed of a FL, Lauroglycol FCC, Transcutol P and Cremophor EL. The optimum surfactant to co-surfactant ratio was found to be 2:1. The resultant microemulsions have a particle size in the range of 65-85 nm and zeta potential value of -13.71 mV. FL release was adequately adjusted by using pH independent polymer i.e. ethyl cellulose along with dibutyl phthalate as plasticizer. Influence of formulation variables like viscosity of polymer, type of plasticizer and percent coating weight gain was investigated to characterize the time lag. The developed formulation of FL SMEDDS capsules coated with ethyl cellulose showed time lag of 5-7 h which is desirable for chronotherapeutic application.