Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Patient-centered medical home characteristics and staff morale in safety net clinics.

BACKGROUND We sought to determine whether perceived patient-centered medical home (PCMH) characteristics are associated with staff morale, job satisfaction, and burnout in safety net clinics. METHODS Self-administered survey among 391 providers and 382 clinical staff across 65 safety net clinics in 5 states in 2010. The following 5 subscales measured respondents' perceptions of PCMH characteristics on a scale of 0 to 100 (0 indicates worst and 100 indicates best): access to care and communication with patients, communication with other providers, tracking data, care management, and quality improvement. The PCMH subscale scores were averaged to create a total PCMH score. RESULTS Six hundred three persons (78.0%) responded. In multivariate generalized estimating equation models, a 10% increase in the quality improvement subscale score was associated with higher morale (provider odds ratio [OR], 2.64; 95% CI, 1.47-4.75; staff OR, 3.62; 95% CI, 1.84-7.09), greater job satisfaction (provider OR, 2.45; 95% CI, 1.42-4.23; staff OR, 2.55; 95% CI 1.42-4.57), and freedom from burnout (staff OR, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.31-4.12). The total PCMH score was associated with higher staff morale (OR, 2.63; 95% CI, 1.47-4.71) and with lower provider freedom from burnout (OR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.30-0.77). A separate work environment covariate correlated highly with the quality improvement subscale score and the total PCMH score, and PCMH characteristics had attenuated associations with morale and job satisfaction when included in models. CONCLUSIONS Providers and staff who perceived more PCMH characteristics in their clinics were more likely to have higher morale, but the providers had less freedom from burnout. Among the PCMH subscales, the quality improvement subscale score particularly correlated with higher morale, greater job satisfaction, and freedom from burnout.
Exercise-related lower leg pain: an overview.

Exercise-related lower leg pain (ERLLP) is an extremely common complaint amongathletes. Patients may present with shin, calf, ankle, or foot pain, but the main feature is that pain is brought on or aggravated by exercise and diminishes or ceases altogether when exercise ceases.The most common presen
Conjunctival Impression Cytology, Ocular Surface, and Tear-Film Changes in Patients Treated With Systemic Isotretinoin

Purpose: To evaluate the ocular surface changes and tear-film functions in patients treated with systemic isotretinoin. Methods: Fifty subjects treated with 0.8 mg/kg oral isotretinoin were enrolled in this prospective clinical trial. All patients underwent a full ophthalmoscopic examination before, during, and after treatment with isotretinoin. Ocular surface changes of the cell content of the surface conjunctival epithelium were evaluated by conjunctival impression cytology and tear-film functions using the Schirmer test, anesthetized Schirmer test, tear breakup time, and rose bengal staining. Subjective ocular complaints were scored with an Ocular Surface Disease Index questionnaire. Results: There were no significant differences observed in average Schirmer test scores for patients before, during, or after isotretinoin treatment. Mean anesthetized Schirmer test scores and tear breakup time decreased significantly during treatment (P < 0.001). Mean impression cytology scores, Ocular Surface Disease Index scores, and rose bengal staining scores increased significantly during treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). Blepharitis was seen in 36% of patients. All abnormal findings disappeared 1 month after the cessation of treatment. Conclusions: Conjunctival epithelial cells, tear basal secretion, and tear quality are markedly affected in patients during systemic treatment with isotretinoin (0.8 mg/kg). Ocular adverse effects of isotretinoin are generally not serious and are reversible after discontinuation.
Cytogenetic tests for animal production: state of the art and perspectives

Cytogenetic tests are effective tools for monitoring the health status of livestock and improving their genetic value. Cytogenetic screening allows for the detection of animals carrying chromosomal aberrations and to avoid using them as breeders. Progress in karyotype monitoring, with new molecular probes and automation, has greatly increased the productivity of this procedure. Several genotoxicity tests are available to detect the possible presence and effects of pollutants or drugs. Among these, the micronucleus test and the Comet assay are the most convenient in terms of costs and benefits. Finally, analysis of telomeres, the end of chromosomes and markers of genomic instability, may be developed into a new marker of stress and genetic value.
Ignoring Ecosystem-Service Cascades Undermines Policy for Multifunctional Agricultural Landscapes

Over and above food, agricultural landscapes provide citizens with crucial public-good ecosystem services, such as biodiversity conservation, cultural values, recreational opportunities and food security. Because continuing agricultural intensification undermines the ability of landscapes to provide public goods, policies have been implemented to preserve landscape multifunctionality, but with limited success. We suggest that one reason for this lack of success is that the cascading nature of ecosystem services has not been sufficiently addressed. While different definitions of multifunctionality emphasize different parts of the service cascades, we argue that efficient policies targeting multifunctionality simultaneously need to consider ecosystem services along the entire cascade, i.e. both intermediate and final ones. By understanding how multiple final ecosystem services are promoted by single measures with effects on multiple intermediate ecosystem services or by single intermediate ecosystem services with effects on multiple final ecosystem services, measures can be identified that simultaneously benefit private and public goods, allowing the latter to hitchhike on management for the former. Even if such synergistic solutions are less efficient in terms of promoting yields compared to non-synergistic solutions, policies such as payment for ecosystem services to promote them may be cost-efficient since the private benefit reduces the need for public payment. Furthermore, by focusing on the ecosystem service cascade, social-ecological scale-mismatches along the cascade hampering the implementation of synergistic solutions can be identified and targeted by policy. We exemplify our reasoning with the potential benefit to biodiversity conservation from yield-enhancing ecosystem services.
Parameter identification methods for non-linear discrete-time systems

This paper presents three techniques for parameter identification for non-linear, discrete-time systems. The methods presented are intended to improve the performance of adaptive control systems. The first two methods rely on system excitation and a regressor matrix, in either case, the true parameters are identified when the regressor matrix is of full rank and can be inverted. The third case uses a novel method developed in to define a parameter uncertainty set. The uncertainty set is periodically updated to shrink around the true parameters. Each method guarantees convergence of the parameter estimation error, provided an appropriate persistence of excitation condition is met. Each method is subsequently demonstrated using a simulation example, displaying convergence of the parameter error estimation error.
Non-Convex Distributed Optimization

We study distributed non-convex optimization on a time-varying multi-agent network. Each node has access to its own smooth local cost function, and the collective goal is to minimize the sum of these functions. The perturbed push-sum algorithm was previously used for convex distributed optimization. We generalize the result obtained for the convex case to the case of non-convex functions. Under some additional technical assumptions on the gradients we prove the convergence of the distributed push-sum algorithm to some critical point of the objective function. By utilizing perturbations on the update process, we show the almost sure convergence of the perturbed dynamics to a local minimum of the global objective function, if the objective function has no saddle points. Our analysis shows that this perturbed procedure converges at a rate of $O(1/t)$ .
Improving outcome and prognosis prediction in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer using a gene expression score

Bladder cancer is the ninth most common malignancy worldwide considering both genders and approximately 75% of the patients are initially diagnosed with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) (1,2). About 10–20% of the patients will suffer from progression to muscle-invasive disease (2-4). Due to long-term follow-up regimen with cystoscopies over many years, bladder cancer carries the highest cost among cancers per patient from diagnosis to death (5).
Thick metal CMOS technology on high resistivity substrate for monolithic 980 MHz and 1.9 GHz CMOS LNAs

Thick metal CMOS technology on high resistivity substrate (RF CMOS technology) is demonstrated for the RF IC applications, and we firstly implemented it in monolithic 900 MHz and 1.9 GHz LNAs. The 1.9 GHz LNA shows a NF of 2.8 dB that is an excellent noise performance compared with the off-chip matched CMOS LNAs. Also the 900 MHz LNA shows a high gain of 18.8 dB and NF of 3.2 dB. The proposed RF CMOS technology is a very simple process, showing a high reproducibility, and the monolithic LNAs employing the technology show a good and uniform RF performances.
[Conceptual changes in cancer chemotherapy--biochemical modulation of 5-FU].

Recently, the demand for more useful therapies for cancer patients has increased. We describe in this paper a therapeutic modality based on a self-rescuing concept (SRC), and which features dual activity, i.e., an effect-enhancing activity and an adverse reaction-reducing activity. We present the theory and practice of S-1, a novel oral fluoropyrimidine anticancer agent designed to enhance anticancer activity and reduce gastrointestinal toxicity through the deliberate combination of the following components: the oral fluoropyrimidine agent tegafur; a DPD inhibitor (CDHP) which is more potent than uracil, which is used in UFT; and an ORTC inhibitor (Oxo) which localizes in the gastrointestinal tract. S-1 is a combination drug with a molar ratio of 1:0.4:1 in FT, CDHP, and Oxo, respectively. A clinical pharmacology study was conducted to examine blood concentrations of 5-FU after twice-a-day administration of S-1 at a dose of 40 mg/m2. Blood concentrations of 5-FU were found to be 60 to 200 ng/ml in all twelve patients examined. The overall response rate was 44.6% (45/101). In addition, the incidence of adverse reactions judged to be grade 3 or higher was 10% or less. We have also reported a combination therapy with 5-FU (civ) (5-FU: 250 to 350 mg/body, 24-hour cvi, consecutive days) and low-dose cisplatin (CDDP: 3 to 5 mg/body, i.v., 5 days/week), in which CDDP was used as a modulator of 5-FU. Low-dose FP therapy provided response rates as high as 40 to 60% in 163 patients with various gastrointestinal cancers other than pancreas cancer. The incidence of the adverse reactions of nausea and vomiting which were judged to be grade 3 or higher was 2.5% (4/163). The incidences of other adverse reactions were 1% or less. In line with the theory and practice of combination therapy with 5-FU (cvi) 24 hr cvi; 5-FU: 750 to 1,000 mg/body/day on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday (withdrawal on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday) intermittent administration and low-dose CDDP (3 to 5 mg/body/day day 1-5/w) consecutive administration was utilized in which there was a difference in cell cycle between gastrointestinal mucosal cell and tumor cell, or between bone marrow cell and tumor cell. Few adverse reactions, e.g., diarrhea and stomatitis, were observed despite the overall response rate being as high as 52.4% (22/42). The incidence of adverse reaction judged to be grade 3 or higher was as low as 9.3% (5/54), with an incidence of 9.3% (5/54) in Grade 3 or higher myelotoxicity. We intend in the future to combine the abovementioned therapeutic modalities, which provoke fewer adverse reactions and are easy on patients with cancer in an effort to further increase their life expectancy.
The extraction method of the word meaning class

In natural language processing, the semantic class information about a word is an important piece of knowledge. For a thesaurus dictionary, which shows the semantic information between words, the editing work is normally carried out manually, which means that a great number of man-hours is necessary for the editing work. This paper proposes a method of extracting the semantic class information on a word from a set of documents. This information is extracted by using the characteristic that the frequency of abstract words is high while the frequency of concrete words is small. As a result of this experiment, it was confirmed that about 20% of the extracted words should be registered in the thesaurus dictionary.
Using species co-occurrence networks to assess the impacts of climate change

This study is part of a broader research program sponsored by the CSIC-PUC International Laboratory for Global Change (LINC-Global); MBA is also funded by EC FP6 ECOCHANGE project (036866-GOCE) and by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (CGL2008-01198-E/BOS); CR thanks the Danish National Research Foundation for its support of the Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate. PAM acknowledges support from FONDECYT-FONDAP 1501-0001, ICM P05-002 and CONICYT PFB-23.
High expression of dopamine receptor subtype 2 in a large series of neuroendocrine tumors

Background/Aims: Recent data in vitro and in vivo support that dopaminergic drugs might exert an inhibitory effect on hormone secretion and, possibly, on tumor growth in neuroendocrine tumors (NET)s. Their potential therapeutic role needs the demonstration of dopamine receptors (DR) in tumor cells. Little is known on the expression of DR in NETs. Aim: to evaluate by immumohistochemistry the presence of DR subtype 2 (D2R) in well differentiated NETs of different sites and in normal islet cells. Methods: 46 NET samples from 44 patients and normal endocrine pancreatic tissue were studied. D2R-staining was performed on NETs and compared with six non-secreting pituitary adenomas and related to clinical-pathological data. Results: 85% of samples (100% of bronchial carcinoids and 93% of islet cell tumors) showed positivity for D2R; intensity of immunoreaction in NETs was similar or higher than in pituitary (54% and respectively 31% of cases). D2R positivity in more than 70% of tumor cells was observed in 46% of samples. Same intensity of D2R-immunoreactivity was found in pituitary and normal islet cells. No differences in D2R expression were recorded on considering tumor grading, size, proliferative activity, presence of metastases, endocrine activity and gender. A significant difference (62,5% vs 96,4%, P=0,039) was observed in the prevalence of D2R expression between patients with more aggressive tumors and patients without recurrence/progression of disease during follow-up. Conclusion: The present data demonstrate a high expression of D2R in NETs; this finding is of clinical relevance in view of the potential role of dopaminergic drugs in inhibiting secretion and/or cell proliferation in NETs.
Operation analysis of an AC/DC converter with quasi-active power factor correction

In this paper an attempt has been made to analysis the operation of an ac/dc converter with quasi-active power factor correction. This investigation has been made in two steps. In the first step, an analytical investigation is made considering some logical assumptions. In the second step, one of the assumptions has been neglected for a more precise analysis and the principal operation of the circuit has been investigated analytically again. To confirm the accuracy of the theoretical analysis results, the circuit operation has been analyzed numerically and simulated. The obtained results admit the previous assessments.
Selective cloning of a DNA single-strand initiation determinant from phi X174 replicative-form DNA

An M13 phage deletion mutant, M13 delta E101, developed as a vector for selecting DNA sequences that direct DNA strand initiation on a single-stranded template, has been used for cloning restriction enzyme digests of phi X174 replicative-form DNA. Initiation determinants, detected on the basis of clear-plaque formation by the chimeric phage, were found only in restriction fragments containing the unique effector site in phi X174 DNA for the Escherichia coli protein n' dATPase (ATPase). Furthermore, these sequences were functional only when cloned in the orientation in which the phi X174 viral strand was joined to the M13 viral strand. A 181-nucleotide viral strand fragment containing this initiation determinant confers a phi X174-type complementary-strand replication mechanism on M13 chimeras. The chimeric phage is converted to the parental replicative form in vivo by a mechanism resistant to rifampin, a specific inhibitor of the normal RNA polymerase-dependent mechanism of M13. In vitro, the chimeric single-stranded DNA promotes the assembly of a functional multiprotein priming complex, or primosome, identical to that utilized by intact phi X174 viral strand DNA. Chimeric phage containing the sequence complementary to the 181-nucleotide viral strand sequence shows no initiation capability, either in vivo or in vitro.
Towards Efficient Hardware Implementation of Elliptic and Hyperelliptic Curve Cryptography

Implementation of elliptic and hyperelliptic curve cryptographic algorithms has been the focus of a great deal of recent research directed at increasing e ciency. Elliptic curve cryptography (ECC) was introduced independently by Koblitz and Miller in the 1980s. Hyperelliptic curve cryptography (HECC), a generalization of the elliptic curve case, allows a decreasing eld size as the genus increases. The work presented in this thesis examines the problems created by limited area, power, and computation time when elliptic and hyperelliptic curves are integrated into constrained devices such as wireless sensor network (WSN) and smart cards. The lack of a battery in wireless sensor network limits the processing power of these devices, but they still require security. It was widely believed that devices with such constrained resources cannot incorporate a strong HECC processor for performing cryptographic operations such as elliptic curve scalar multiplication (ECSM) or hyperelliptic curve divisor multiplication (HCDM). However, the work presented in this thesis has demonstrated the feasibility of integrating an HECC processor into such devices through the use of the proposed architecture synthesis and optimization techniques for several inversion-free algorithms. The goal of this work is to develop a hardware implementation of binary elliptic and hyperelliptic curves. The focus is on the modeling of three factors: register allocation, operation scheduling, and storage binding. These factors were then integrated into architecture synthesis and optimization techniques in order to determine the best overall implementation suitable for constrained devices. The main purpose of the optimization is to reduce the area and power. Through analysis of the architecture optimization techniques for both datapath and control unit synthesis, the number of registers was reduced by an average of 30%. The use of the proposed e cient explicit formula for the di erent algorithms also enabled a reduction in the number of read/write operations from/to the register le, which reduces the processing power consumption. As a result, an overall HECC processor requires from 1843 to 3595 slices for a Xilinix XC4VLX200 and the total computation time is limited to between 10.08 ms to 15.82 ms at a maximum frequency of 50 MHz for a varity of inversion-free coordinate systems in hyperelliptic curves. The value of the new model has been demonstrated with respect to its implementation in elliptic and hyperelliptic
T cell responses to a non-glycosylated epitope predominate in type II collagen-immunised HLA-DRB1*0101 transgenic mice

Aim: To study collagen-induced arthritis in human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-DR1 transgenic mice lacking endogenous major histocompatibility complex class II molecules (MHC-II) and to determine T cell specificity against the arthritogenic CII259–273 epitope of type II collagen either unmodified or post-translationally glycosylated at Lys264. Methods: Arthritis was induced by immunisation with human type II collagen in complete Freund’s adjuvant and measured by footpad swelling, clinical score and histology. T cell responses were assessed by proliferation of spleen and lymph node cells and in antigen presentation assays, using T cell hybridomas specific for the glycosylated and non-glycosylated CII259–273 epitope. Results: The incidence of arthritis was 50% in DR1-transgenic mice lacking endogenous MHC-II molecules. Recall T cell responses in draining lymph nodes and spleen were consistently greater against the non-glycosylated epitope than to the glycosylated CII259–273. Most of the T cell hybridomas generated from CII-immunised mice recognised the non-glycosylated CII epitope and this form of the epitope was also presented with 100-fold higher efficiency and 1 h faster kinetics by both macrophages and dendritic cells. Conclusion: This study shows that T cell responses to the non-glycosylated epitope of heterologous (human) CII are dominant in HLA-DR1 transgenic mice lacking MHC-II, which could contribute to the pathogenicity of autoimmune arthritis.
Quantitative trait locus mapping identifies candidate alleles involved in adaptive introgression and range expansion in a wild sunflower

The wild North American sunflowers Helianthus annuus and H. debilis are participants in one of the earliest identified examples of adaptive trait introgression, and the exchange is hypothesized to have triggered a range expansion in H. annuus. However, the genetic basis of the adaptive exchange has not been examined. Here, we combine quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping with field measurements of fitness to identify candidate H. debilis QTL alleles likely to have introgressed into H. annuus to form the natural hybrid lineage H. a. texanus. Two 500‐individual BC1 mapping populations were grown in central Texas, genotyped for 384 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers and then phenotyped in the field for two fitness and 22 herbivore resistance, ecophysiological, phenological and architectural traits. We identified a total of 110 QTL, including at least one QTL for 22 of the 24 traits. Over 75% of traits exhibited at least one H. debilis QTL allele that would shift the trait in the direction of the wild hybrid H. a. texanus. We identified three chromosomal regions where H. debilis alleles increased both female and male components of fitness; these regions are expected to be strongly favoured in the wild. QTL for a number of other ecophysiological, phenological and architectural traits colocalized with these three regions and are candidates for the actual traits driving adaptive shifts. G × E interactions played a modest role, with 17% of the QTL showing potentially divergent phenotypic effects between the two field sites. The candidate adaptive chromosomal regions identified here serve as explicit hypotheses for how the genetic architecture of the hybrid lineage came into existence.