Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Early signs of cardiac involvement in hypertension.

BACKGROUND Whether abnormalities of diastolic function are the earliest cardiac change in hypertension is still a matter for dispute. The aim of this study was to assess whether left ventricular diastolic dysfunction is an early sign of cardiac involvement in hypertension. METHODS In 578 young patients with stage I hypertension from the Hypertension and Ambulatory Recording Venetia Study (HARVEST) and 101 normotensive control patients echocardiographic Doppler examination and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring were performed. RESULTS Left ventricular mass, wall thickness, and relative wall thickness, adjusted for confounders, were greater in the hypertensive than in the normotensive patients (all P <.0001). After adjustment for confounders, the A-wave peak velocity was higher in the hypertensive patients (51.5 +/- 11.5 vs 43.4 +/- 8 cm/s, P <.001) as were A-wave velocity time integral (5.6 +/- 1.7 vs 4.6 +/- 1.3 cm, P =.01), total area (16.9 +/- 4.4 vs 15.6 +/- 3.1 cm, P =.04), and E-wave peak velocity (69.9 +/- 15.2 vs 67.5 +/- 13.3 cm/s, P =.03). All indexes of diastolic function were similar in the hypertensive subjects subdivided according to whether they had "white-coat" or sustained hypertension. Among the hypertensive subjects, age and heart rate were the strongest predictors of diastolic indexes, whereas ambulatory blood pressure explained only a marginal part of the E/A ratio, A-wave peak velocity, and the first one third total area ratio (P =.04, P =.02, and P =.05, respectively). Left ventricular mass and wall thickness were not associated with any Doppler index. When a clustering of diastolic indexes (E/A wave ratio, deceleration time, first one third of diastole, and peak E-wave-velocity) was used to identify subjects with diastolic dysfunction, no significant differences in either clinic or ambulatory blood pressure were observed between the group with diastolic dysfunction and the group with normal function. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that the earliest signs of cardiac involvement in hypertension are left ventricular structural abnormalities. Left ventricular diastolic function is only marginally affected, even when multiple parameters of left ventricular filling are taken into account.
Option Pricing with Greed and Fear Factor: The Rational Finance Approach

In this article, we explain main concepts of prospect theory and cumulative prospect theory within the rational dynamic asset pricing framework. We derive option pricing formulas when asset returns are altered by a generalized prospect theory value function or a modified Prelec’s weighting probability function. We introduce new parametric classes for prospect theory value functions and probability weighting functions consistent with rational dynamic pricing theory. After studying the behavioral finance notion of “greed and fear” from the perspective of rational dynamic asset pricing theory, we derive the corresponding option pricing formulas when asset returns follow continuous diffusions or discrete binomial trees. We define a mixed subordinated variance gamma process to model asset return and derive the corresponding option pricing formula. Finally, we apply the proposed probability weighting functions to study the greedy or fearful disposition of option traders when asset returns follow a mixed subordinated variance gamma process. The results indicate availability bias and diminishing sensitivity of option traders.
International Transmission with Heterogeneous Sectors

This paper documents new facts about the behavior of capital- and labor-intensive goods over the business cycle and also identifies a mechanism that generates international investment co-movement through shifting compositional changes of production and trade across sectors. Our model’s quantitative predictions not only match aggregate and sectoral statistics but also generate empirically plausible sectoral composition effects. Finally, we show that essential segments of the transmission process receive empirical support. (JEL E23, E24, E32, F44, L16)
p21 (WAF1/CIP1) protein expression is associated with prolonged survival but not with p53 expression in epithelial ovarian carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to clarify the influence of p21 protein expression in ovarian cancer. p21 (WAF1 [wild-type p53 activated fragment 1]/CIP1) is a universal cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor and can be induced as a downstream effector of the p53 tumor suppressor gene. METHODS The expression of p21 was evaluated by immunohistochemical analysis with the monoclonal antibody WAF1 (Oncogene Science) on 106 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples of epithelial ovarian cancer. RESULTS p21 was expressed in 65 (61%) of all cases. p21 expression was associated with early stage in FIGO classification (FIGO I and II, P = 0.003) and no tumor residues after primary tumor resection (P = 0.018). Immunohistochemical staining results were judged as negative if no tumor nuclei were stained, as weak positive if 1-49% were stained, and as strong positive if over 50% of nuclei were stained. Clinical follow-up showed a better overall survival for cases with strong p21 expression (79 months) versus 40 months for weak expression and 30 months for no expression (P = 0.033). Previously determined p53 expression of this cohort was compared with p21 status. p53 overexpression was observed in 49 cases (48%) and showed no association with p21 expression. CONCLUSION No correlation was found between p21 and p53 expression. p21 expression is a significant prognostic marker for improved survival in ovarian cancer and is associated with early FIGO stage and zero tumor residues after primary tumor resection.
Predictive Ability of Positive Clinical Culture Results and International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, to Identify and Classify Noninvasive Staphylococcus aureus Infections: A Validation Study

Objective. To develop and validate an algorithm to identify and classify noninvasive infections due to Staphylococcus aureus by using positive clinical culture results and administrative data. Design. Retrospective cohort study. Setting. Veterans Affairs Maryland Health Care System. Methods. Data were collected retrospectively on all S. aureus clinical culture results from samples obtained from nonsterile body sites during October 1998 through September 2008 and associated administrative claims records. An algorithm was developed to identify noninvasive infections on the basis of a unique S. aureus-positive culture result from a nonsterile site sample with a matching International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9-CM), code for infection at time of sampling. Medical records of a subset of cases were reviewed to find the proportion of true noninvasive infections (cases that met the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Healthcare Safety Network [NHSN] definition of infection). Positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated for all infections and according to body site of infection. Results. We identified 4,621 unique S. aureus-positive culture results, of which 2,816 (60.9%) results met our algorithm definition of noninvasive S. aureus infection and 1,805 (39.1%) results lacked a matching ICD-9-CM code. Among 96 cases that met our algorithm criteria for noninvasive S. aureus infection, 76 also met the NHSN criteria (PPV, 79.2% [95% confidence interval, 70.0%–86.1%]). Among 98 cases that failed to meet the algorithm criteria, 80 did not meet the NHSN criteria (NPV, 81.6% [95% confidence interval, 72.8%–88.0%]). The PPV of all culture results was 55.4%. The algorithm was most predictive for skin and soft-tissue infections and bone and joint infections. Conclusion. When culture-based surveillance methods are used, the addition of administrative ICD-9-CM codes for infection can increase the PPV of true noninvasive S. aureus infection over the use of positive culture results alone.
The distribution of African swine fever virus isolated from Ornithodoros moubata in Zambia

SUMMARY African swine fever (ASF) has been reported in the Eastern Province of Zambia since 1912 and is now considered to be enzootic there. A survey of the distribution of ASF virus in Zambia was carried out by virus isolation from Ornithodoros moubata ticks collected from animal burrows in National Parks and Game Management Areas in northern, eastern, central and southern Zambia. ASF virus was isolated from ticks in all areas examined. The prevalence of infection in O. moubata was between 0·4% in South Luangwa National Park and 5·1% in Livingstone Game Park and mean infectious virus titres ranged from 103–4 HAD50/tick in Kakumbe Game Management Area to 105·9 HAD50/tick in Chunga and Nalusanga Game Management Areas. The prevalence of infection in adult ticks was between 4·7% and 5·3% in all areas examined except Sumbu National Park and Livingstone Game Park, where the prevalence was 15·1% and 13·2% respectively in adult ticks. The ratio of infected females to males for all the infected adult ticks in all areas of Zambia was 3·2:1.
Biophysical and biochemical alterations in erythrocyte membranes from chronic alcoholics.

Erythrocyte membranes from healthy controls and alcoholic patients, examined within 24 h of abstinence, were studied for basal membrane fluidity and membrane sensitivity to ethanol by fluorescence polarization of the apolar probe 1,6-diphenyl-1, 3,5-hexatriene (DPH) and its cationic derivative 1,4(trimethylammonium phenyl)-6-phenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (TMA-DPH). The membrane partition (Kp) of ethanol and phenobarbital, and the concentrations of membrane-bound sialic acid and galactose, were also determined. The apolar hydrocarbon region of the membrane (DPH) was less fluid, in the alcoholics than in the controls (p less than 0.005). In the patients this membrane layer, as well as the polar lipid head group region (TMA-DPH), showed reduced fluidizing effect of ethanol (p less than 0.01). This resistance or tolerance to ethanol correlated with a markedly impaired (-59%, p less than 0.025) partition of ethanol into the membrane. The low Kp of ethanol in turn was partly related to reduced concentrations of polar carbohydrates such as sialic acid and galactose (p less than 0.01) at the membrane surface. The Kp of phenobarbital was reduced in the patients (-59%, p less than 0.005) but, apparently unrelated to the carbohydrate changes. These results indicate that in man, chronic alcohol abuse is associated with complex changes of membrane properties at different membrane levels e.g. at the charged surface, in the polar lipid head group region and in the hydrocarbon core. A partial basis for biophysical membrane tolerance to ethanol is suggested, implying that apart from phospholipid alterations, structural changes in membrane-bound glycoconjugates participate in this adaptive process.
Persistent Hyperglycemia in Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: An Independent Predictor of Outcome

In patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), admission hyperglycemia is associated with poor outcome. The effect of persistent hyperglycemia (PH) on outcome in severe TBI, however, remains unknown. We performed a retrospective review of all blunt trauma patients with severe TBI (head Abbreviated Injury Score ≥ 3) admitted to the intensive care unit at a Level I trauma center from January 1998 through December 2005. Admission and daily intensive care unit blood glucose levels up to the end of the first week were measured. PH was defined as an average daily blood glucose ≥ 150 mg/dL on all days for the first week of the hospital stay. TBI patients with and without PH were compared with respect to baseline demographics, injury characteristics, and outcomes. Independent risk factors for mortality were identified using logistic regression analysis. One hundred and five (12.6%) out of 834 severe TBI patients had PH. Patients with PH were older, more severely injured, and had worse head injury compared with patients without PH. After adjusting for significant risk factors, PH was identified as an independent risk factor for mortality (odds ratio (OR): 4.91 [95% confidence interval (CI), 2.88–8.56, P < 0.0001]). PH is associated with significantly higher mortality rates in severe TBI patients.
Glyceryl Monooleate/Poloxamer 407 Cubic Nanoparticles as Oral Drug Delivery Systems: I. In Vitro Evaluation and Enhanced Oral Bioavailability of the Poorly Water-Soluble Drug Simvastatin

Glyceryl monooleate (GMO)/poloxamer 407 cubic nanoparticles were investigated as potential oral drug delivery systems to enhance the bioavailability of the water-insoluble model drug simvastatin. The simvastatin-loaded cubic nanoparticles were prepared through fragmentation of the GMO/poloxamer 407 bulk cubic-phase gel using high-pressure homogenization. The internal structure of the cubic nanoparticles was identified by cryo-transmission electron microscopy. The mean diameter of the cubic nanoparticles varied within the range of 100–150 nm, and both GMO/poloxamer 407 ratio and theoretical drug loading had no significant effect on particle size and distribution. Almost complete entrapment with efficiency over 98% was achieved due to the high affinity of simvastatin to the hydrophobic regions of the cubic phase. Release of simvastatin from the cubic nanoparticles was limited both in 0.1 M hydrochloride solution containing 0.2% sodium lauryl sulfate and fasted-state simulated intestinal fluid with a total release of <3.0% at 10 h. Pharmacokinetic profiles in beagle dogs showed sustained plasma levels of simvastatin for cubic nanoparticles over 12 h. The relative oral bioavailability of simvastatin cubic nanoparticles calculated on the basis of area under the curve was 241% compared to simvastatin crystal powder. The enhancement of simvastatin bioavailability was possibly attributable to facilitated absorption by lipids in the formulation rather than improved release.
Instagram, e-Commerce, Media Pemasaran – Kode Etik dan Studi Kasus

Online shopping transaction has become today’s trend in all societies life, it facilitates the customers to make transaction everywhere and every time. A wide range of products offered by online stores can be very attractive for the customers to make such purchase, but there are some many online accounts which do not obey code of ethics in promoting and advertising their products. This issue has turned into the main cause back grounding why the marketing method and advertisement method upon such product must be improved on online media. This research aimed to find out of how to implement code of ethic properly in ecommerce as the product marketing and advertisement media. This research engaged qualitative method with descriptive analysis, observation, case study and literature review to compare the advertisement used by such product which implements code of ethic and vice versa according to the amendment of Indonesian Advertising Ethics Year 2014, while case study for this research was done through Instagram as one of the online media, in order to conduct the analysis phase upon the implementation of the code of ethics in e- commerce. This research led into a result that several instagram accounts had not applied code of ethics in promoting and advertising their products of which was not in accordance with the prevailing Indonesian Advertising Ethics, while the other instagram accounts had implemented proper code of ethics, in which by this implementation, it could bring positive impact and fairness in product selling and marketing.
The effect of language knowledge on speech perception: what are we really assessing?

OBJECTIVE The authors examined whether open-set speech perception scores are limited by knowledge of vocabulary and syntax and further considered whether remediation of vocabulary and syntax will increase open-set speech perception scores. STUDY DESIGN This was a repeated-measures study design in the setting of a primary (elementary) school for the hearing-impaired. PATIENTS The study population was composed of three hearing-impaired children using Nucleus 22-channel cochlear implant. INTERVENTION Intervention used was language remediation sessions. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The main outcome measures were assessment of auditory-alone speech perception benefit using open-set words and sentences and assessment of syntactic knowledge using the Test of Syntactic Ability. Outcome measures were applied before and after remediation. RESULTS Child 1 and child 2 showed a significant postremediation improvement in their overall scores on the Test of Syntactic Ability and in their ability to perceive words learned during remediation. Child 1 and child 2 also showed a significant improvement in their scores on a modified Bamford-Kowal-Bench open-set sentence test, which specifically targeted grammatical constructs trained in remediation sessions. CONCLUSIONS Remediation of language knowledge deficits significantly improved open-set speech perception for two children, suggesting a need to include language remediation in cochlear implant habilitation programs.
Performance of screening tests for child physical abuse in accident and emergency departments.

OBJECTIVES To determine the clinical effectiveness of screening tests for physical abuse in children attending accident and emergency (A&E) departments in the UK. DATA SOURCES Searches were limited to studies published after 1974 and were carried out from August 2004 to October 2006 using the following methods: searching electronic databases, searching the publications catalogue of the NSPCC, scanning reference lists, hand-searching journals, searching the internet, approaching professional contacts for unpublished data, and searching in three key journals. REVIEW METHODS A simple decision-analytic model was used to integrate the findings of nine systematic reviews regarding the incidence of physical abuse, the characteristics of children attending A&E, and the performance of screening tests for physical abuse. RESULTS A total of 66 studies, including 11 unpublished studies, were included in the nine systematic reviews. Overall the quality was poor. There was consistent evidence that physical abuse affects about 1 in 11 children in the UK each year. The proportion of abused children requiring medical attention is small but poorly quantified. Approximately 1% of all attendances of injured children at A&E are for physical abuse. There was clear evidence that physically abused children attending A&E are missed, but the performance of the clinical screening assessment was poorly quantified. There was no evidence that any test was highly predictive of physical abuse. Among severely injured children admitted to hospital, those under 1 year were more likely to be abused than older children. However, evidence that young age was a risk factor for abuse among all injured children attending A&E was inconsistent. There was weak evidence that a community liaison nurse improved the performance of the screening assessment in A&E, and it was estimated that combining a nurse with the standard screen would result in referral to social services of about half of the abused children attending A&E. However, given the poor quality of the data, this is highly uncertain. The addition of screening protocols to the clinical screening assessment offered marginal benefits, and additional false-positive referrals exceeded additional abused children detected. The benefits of protocols declined as the accuracy of the clinical screening assessment improved. The most effective protocol was to refer all injured infants and children who were social work active. CONCLUSIONS Improving clinical screening assessment is likely to be more useful than protocols in improving the detection of physically abused children attending A&E. Further improvements might be achieved by following up children referred to paediatricians for suspected abuse who fail to reach the high level of certainty required to justify referral to social services. Many professionals voiced a need for access to experienced social services advice that is not under pressure to minimise referrals to an overloaded service, and consideration might be given to making such advice centrally available.
Waveform-aware ambient RF energy harvesting

In this paper we suggest a new class of RF energy harvesters, which we call “waveform aware harvesters”. In contrast to traditional rectenna designs, which are usually designed for high efficiency with continuous wave (CW) signals, waveform aware harvesters are RF to DC converters which are optimized for their performance with non-CW signals. We suggest that waveform aware harvesters may have significant advantages in ambient energy harvesting, where the available RF energy is in the form of communication waveforms of a variety of types. We present an initial proof-of-concept demonstration of a waveform aware harvester optimized for harvesting energy from 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi (802.11b/g) signals with a realistic traffic model. Under realistic traffic conditions, 802.11b/g client transmissions are bursty, with a high peak-to-average ratio and a low duty cycle. We demonstrate optimized recovery of harvested energy from single 802.11b/g transmission bursts on the order of 1 ms in duration. We present an expression for maximizing usable energy stored in an energy reservoir given a signal model and parameters of the energy-harvester circuit. In contrast to other work where assumptions of CW sources lead to the desirability of a large storage capacitor, our approach considers the existing communication signal model and optimizes capacitor size to maximize the stored usable energy for a short transmission burst.
The Impact of a Transition of Care Program on Acute Myocardial Infarction Readmission Rates

Hospital discharge is a high-risk time period, and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients often have early readmissions. The authors hypothesized that a multifaceted AMI care coordination program would reduce early hospital readmission rates. The outcomes of patients receiving care coordination (n = 304) were compared to patients receiving standard care (n = 192). Multivariable analyses of the outcomes were conducted by conditional logistic regression of propensity score matched sets. The primary outcome—hospital readmission within 30 days of discharge—occurred in 18% of standard care patients and 11.8% of care coordination patients. Patients receiving care coordination demonstrated a 48% reduction in odds of readmission within 30 days (odds ratio = 0.52; P = .04; 95% CI = 0.28-0.97). These results are the first to demonstrate that inclusion in an AMI-specific care coordination program is associated with a significantly lower risk of 30-day hospital readmission.