Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The optimal delivery of palliative care: a national comparison of the outcomes of consultation teams vs inpatient units.

BACKGROUND Growing attention to end-of-life care has led to intensive efforts to provide better palliative care. However, it is not known whether palliative care is best provided by consultative teams or in dedicated units. METHODS This nationwide telephone survey was conducted in 77 Veterans Affairs medical centers that offer palliative care consultation services and dedicated palliative care units. One family member per patient who died at a participating Veterans Affairs medical center between July 1, 2008, and December 31, 2009, was invited to participate. The telephone survey included 1 global rating item and 9 core items describing the patient's care in the last month of life. RESULTS Interviews were completed with family members for 5901 of 9546 patients. Of these, 1873 received usual care, 1549 received a palliative care consultation, and 2479 received care in a palliative care unit. After nonresponse weighting and propensity score adjustment, families of patients who received a palliative care consultation were more likely than those who received usual care to report that the patient's care in the last month of life had been "excellent" (adjusted proportions: 51% vs 46%; odds ratio [OR], 1.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-1.55; P = .04). However, families of patients who received care in a palliative care unit were even more likely to report excellent care (adjusted proportions: 63% vs 53%; OR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.25-1.85; P < .001). CONCLUSION Care received in palliative care units may offer more improvements in care than those achieved with palliative care consultations.
Until I get off parole … then I can swim in it if I want to: Facilitators of and barriers to drug use among formerly incarcerated Black drug offenders

ABSTRACT Black Americans are overrepresented among those incarcerated for drug-related offenses. Drug use, postincarceration, is associated with high risk of recidivism and overdose deaths. We explored factors influencing drug use among former Black drug offenders. Qualitative interviews with 30 Black Americans released from prison within the past year explored drug behavior as well as institutional, environmental, and social factors that influence drug use. Findings show participants reentered drug-enticing environments and social networks. Being on parole, drug programs, and social support influenced abating drug use. Drug interventions postincarceration should consider the environment and social networks as leverage points for behavior change.
Natural Language Interface for a Multi Agent System

This paper presents the natural language interface for an agent-based system, called MACS (Multi-Agent Contracting System). The MACS system is designed to provide advice in the pre-award phase of a defense contract. The original version of MACS allowed the users to query using only a list of predetermined keywords using pulldown menus. The second version of MACS incorporated a natural language interface in order to increase its usability. This study further enhances the natural language interface of MACS with a more robust parser. The paper presents the overall architecture of MACS and the parser used to further enhance the natural language interface.
Asymptomatic Autonomic and Sweat Dysfunction in Patients With Adie's Syndrome

A study was conducted to determine by using noninvasive tests whether autonomic dysfunction occurs in patients with Adie's syndrome. Eighteen consecutive patients with Adie's syndrome prospectively underwent a standardized battery of five noninvasive tests of autonomic function, including three that predominantly reflected parasympathetic function and two that predominantly reflected sympathetic function. Eight of these patients additionally underwent thermoregulatory sweat testing. Of the 18 patients 10 (56%) had no abnormal autonomic test results, 5 (28%) had one abnormal result, 2 (11%) had two abnormal results, and 1 (6%) had three abnormal results. None of the patients had more than three abnormal results. Tests that predominantly reflected parasympathetic function produced abnormal results more frequently than those that predominantly reflected sympathetic function. Three of eight (38%) patients who underwent thermoregulatory sweat testing showed abnormal patterns of sweating. Although abnormal autonomic and sweat functions are not uncommon in patients with Adie's syndrome, the abnormalities are mild and are generally unassociated with symptoms of dysautonomia. Such abnormalities have little clinical significance but may be important from a nosologic point of view.
Prospective cohort study of transarterial chemoembolization for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma in 8510 patients.

BACKGROUND & AIMS To elucidate the survival of the patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who underwent transcatheter arterial lipiodol chemoembolization (TACE) and to analyze the factors affecting the survivals. METHODS During the last 8 years, a nationwide prospective cohort study was performed in 8510 patients with unresectable HCC who underwent TACE using emulsion of lipiodol and anticancer agents followed by gelatin sponge particles as an initial treatment. Exclusion criteria were extrahepatic metastases and/or any previous treatment prior to the present TACE. The primary end point was survival. The survival rates were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. The multivariate analyses for the factors affecting survival were evaluated by the Cox proportional hazard model. The mean follow-up period was 1.77 years. RESULTS For overall survival rates by TACE, median and 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year survivals were 34 months, 82%, 47%, 26%, and 16%, respectively. Both the degree of liver damage and the tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) system proposed by the Liver Cancer Study Group of Japan demonstrated good stratification of survivals (P = .0001). The multivariate analyses showed significant difference in degree of liver damage (P = .0001), alpha-fetoprotein value (P = .0001), maximum tumor size (P = .0001), number of lesions (P = .0001), and portal vein invasion (P = .0001). The last 3 factors could be replaced by TNM stage. The TACE-related mortality rate after the initial therapy was . 5%. CONCLUSIONS TACE showed safe therapeutic modality with a 5-year survival of 26% for unresectable HCC patients. The degrees of liver damage, TNM stage, and alpha-fetoprotein values were independent risk factors for patient survival.
Leakage magnetic field reduction from Wireless Power Transfer system embedding new eddy current-based shielding method

The latest Electric Vehicles (EV)-related power electronics have attracted special interest as one of effective solutions to energy and environmental issues. In order to implement a promising EV battery charging equipment and its EMS infrastructures for carports in private houses and public buildings, Wireless Power Transfer (WPT)-based on-board chargers (OBC) are more suitable and acceptable from a practical point of view. The authors have developed cost-effective WPT-OBC embedding the voltage-fed quasi-resonant ZVS high-frequency inverter with a single IGBT switch, which operates under the condition of PWM-dependent PFM control scheme. In actual, leakage magnetic field exposure emitted from WPT assembly should follow the feasible guideline of ICNIRP. This paper presents a new conceptual magnetic shielding method which is able to reduce the leakage magnetic field exposure from the wireless Inductive Power Transfer (IPT) assembly. It is noted that this method is based on the combined magnetic shielding implementation which makes use of both magnetic flux path concept by magnetic material and magnetic field cancellation principle eddy current induced into the conductive plates. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the leakage magnetic shielding technique in WPT is proven by the analytical considerations and experimentally-observed data.
The ClC-3 Cl−/H+ Antiporter Becomes Uncoupled at Low Extracellular pH*

Adenovirus expressing ClC-3 (Ad-ClC-3) induces Cl−/H+ antiport current (IClC-3) in HEK293 cells. The outward rectification and time dependence of IClC-3 closely resemble an endogenous HEK293 cell acid-activated Cl− current (IClacid) seen at extracellular pH ≤ 5.5. IClacid was present in smooth muscle cells from wild-type but not ClC-3 null mice. We therefore sought to determine whether these currents were related. IClacid was larger in cells expressing Ad-ClC-3. Protons shifted the reversal potential (Erev) of IClC-3 between pH 8.2 and 6.2, but not pH 6.2 and 5.2, suggesting that Cl− and H+ transport become uncoupled at low pH. At pH 4.0 Erev was completely Cl− dependent (55.8 ± 2.3 mV/decade). Several findings linked ClC-3 with native IClacid; 1) RNA interference directed at ClC-3 message reduced native IClacid; 2) removal of the extracellular “fast gate” (E224A) produced large currents that were pH-insensitive; and 3) wild-type IClC-3 and IClacid were both inhibited by (2-sulfonatoethyl)methanethiosulfonate (MTSES; 10–500 μm)-induced alkanethiolation at exposed cysteine residues. However, a ClC-3 mutant lacking four extracellular cysteine residues (C103_P130del) was completely resistant to MTSES. C103_P130del currents were still acid-activated, but could be distinguished from wild-type IClC-3 and from native IClacid by a much slower response to low pH. Thus, ClC-3 currents are activated by protons and ClC-3 protein may account for native IClacid. Low pH uncouples Cl−/H+ transport so that at pH 4.0 ClC-3 behaves as an anion-selective channel. These findings have important implications for the biology of Cl−/H+ antiporters and perhaps for pH regulation in highly acidic intracellular compartments.
[DEVELOPMENT OF HYPOXIA-INDUCIBLE FACTOR 1α IN TISSUE ENGINEERED ANGIOGENESIS AND OSTEOGENESIS].

OBJECTIVE To review the development and applications of hypoxia-inducible factor la (HIF-1α) in the strategy of tissue engineered angiogenesis and osteogenesis. METHODS The literature about HIF-1α in tissue engineering technology was reviewed, analyzed, and summarized. RESULTS HIF-1α plays a key role in arigiogenic-osteogenic coupling, and as an upstream regulator, HIF-1α can regulate the expressions of its target genes related with angiogenesis and osteogenesis. In addition, HIF-1α not only can control and improve the angiogenesis, but also has important significance in proliferation and differentiation of seed cells, especially stem cells, which is the foundation for bone healing. CONCLUSION With the development of tissue engineering technology, the problems in the applications of HIF-1α, such as the effective dose of targeting controlled-release, pro-inflammatory effect, and carcinogenicity, will be explored and solved in the future, so it can be used better in clinical.
Acute Toxic Impacts of Three Heavy Metals ( Copper , Zinc and Cadmium ) on Ceriodaphnia reticulata ( Cladocera )

Ceriodaphnia reticulata (Cladocera: Daphniidae) is a common limnetic species in summer-temperate and tropical water bodies. In this study, that performed acute toxicity tests of three heavy metals, copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and cadmium (Cd), to C. reticulata. For C. reticulata, the lethal concentration (LC50) values of Cu (24-h LC50=18.7 μg/L, 48-h LC50= 12.7 μg/L) and Zn (24-h LC50=258.5 μg/L, 48-h LC50=182.1 μg/L) were lower than those for D. magna and L. Kindtii, esed test organisms for toxic chemicals. On the other hand, for C. reticulatathe 24-h LC50 of Cd (183.2 μg/L) was much greater than that for D. magna and L. Kindtii, and the 48-h LC50 of Cd (82.1 μg/L) was comparable. This results indicate that C. reticulatamay be more strongly influenced by Zn and Cu than is D. magna and L. kindtii. It is likely that the summer plankton community in which Ceriodaphnia species is dominant is more sensitive to heavy metals than a community in which Daphnia species are dominant.
1 A 2 . 9 TOPS / W Deep Convolutional Neural Network SoC in FD-SOI 28 nm for Intelligent Embedded Systems

2:30 PM 14.3 A 28nm SoC with a 1.2GHz 568nJ/Prediction Sparse Deep-Neural-Network Engine with >0.1 Timing Error Rate Tolerance for IoT Applications P. N. Whatmough, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA In Paper 14.3, Harvard University presents a fully connected (FC)-DNN accelerator SoC in 28nm CMOS, which achieves 98.5% accuracy for MNIST inference with 0. 36μJ/prediction at 667MHz and 0. 57μJ/pred at 1.2GHz. Subcommittee Chair: Byeong-Gyu Nam, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea
Fast image search on a VQ compressed image database

A fast and efficient image search method is developed for a compressed image database using vector quantization (VQ). An image search on an image database requires an exhaustive sequential scan of all the images, given the similarity measure. If compressed images are dealt with, images are decompressed as an initial operation and then the previously mentioned exhaustive search is performed using the predetermined similarity measure. If the images in the database are compressed using VQ, the image search process is reduced to codebook index match tests. A pixel by pixel similarity test of two images computationally costs too much. This bottleneck is overcome by using VQ, where the similarity test of the two image block is performed by a precalculated distortion lookup table. The same is valid for the object search in the image database. The object image is vector quantized first; then the index map of the object image is scanned over the entire index area of the compressed image database. Significant image search speed gains on the VQ image database are obtained. Results show that the VQ compressed image search is faster than a sequential search, and compressed and decompressed JPEG search. Actual speed gain obtained here depends on the application area and required image quality for the database.
Blocking HES1 Expression Initiates GABAergic Differentiation and Induces the Expression of p21CIP1/WAF1 in Human Neural Stem Cells*

Mammalian neural stem cells can develop into a variety of neuronal and glial cell types. This involves a highly coordinated process of differentiation in which the Notch signaling pathway and the system of helix-loop-helix (HLH) transcriptional regulators play a key role. By exercising control over proliferation, initiation of differentiation, neurite outgrowth, and synaptogenesis, the network of HLH transcription factors regulates the fate of neural stem cells and progenitors. Here we show that the HLH transcription factor HES1 regulates the proliferation of human neural stem cells and that blocking its expression stimulates the expression of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21CIP1/WAF1. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the suppression of HES1 expression initiates differentiation of neural stem cells into neurons, the majority of which develop the GABAergic phenotype. These findings underscore the importance of the HLH network, and HES1 in particular, in guiding the phenotypic development of neural stem cells.
A novel non‐parametric regression reveals linkage on chromosome 4 for the number of externalizing symptoms in sib‐pairs

In this report, we present results of a genome‐wide linkage scan using as a phenotype the number of externalizing symptoms associated with alcohol use disorders. Subjects were collected by the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism project from families in which at least three first degree relatives were affected by alcohol dependence. We use a novel non‐parametric regression method based on kernel smoothing for our analysis. We report a statistically significant linkage close to the ADH gene cluster on Chromosome 4. We also obtain evidence for epistatic interaction between a region on Chromosome 1 and one on Chromosome 15. Although alcoholism as a covariate does not have any effect on the linkage scan, it has an effect on the epistatic interaction. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
ASSOCIATION OF MURINE SPLENOCYTE CD3 COMPLEX TO THE CYTOSKELETON: ABSENCE OF MODULATION BY EXOGENOUS FATTY ACIDS

The cytoplasmic regions of the CD3 complex are presumably involved in signal transduction following ligand—receptor binding. We investigated the effects of incubating either stearic or oleic acid on the association of murine lymphocyte CD3 complex with the cytoskeleton. Both cytochalasin D, an inhibitor of microfilament formation, and W7, an inhibitor of calmodulin, inhibited capping of CD3. The association of CD3 with the cytoskeleton was confirmed by confocal laser scanning microscopy studies, which showed co‐localization of the cross‐linked CD3 receptors and the membrane attachment proteins ankyrin and fodrin. Although exogenous oleic acid increased plasma membrane fluidity, neither expression nor capping of CD3 receptors was increased. Nonetheless, oleic acid did increase uptake of tritiated thymidine after binding of anti‐CD3 antibodies. Lymphoproliferation was progressively inhibited by both cytochalasin D and W7, confirming the importance of intact cytoskeleton for cellular activation.
Why are proteins so robust to site mutations?

There have been repeated observations that proteins are surprisingly robust to site mutations, enduring significant numbers of substitutions with little change in structure, stability, or function. These results are almost paradoxical in light of what is known about random heteropolymers and the sensitivity of their properties to seemingly trivial mutations. To address this discrepancy, the preservation of biological protein properties in the presence of mutation has been interpreted as indicating the independence of selective pressure on such properties. Such results also lead to the prediction that de novo protein design should be relatively easy, in contrast to what is observed. Here, we use a computational model with lattice proteins to demonstrate how this robustness can result from population dynamics during the evolutionary process. As a result, sequence plasticity may be a characteristic of evolutionarily derived proteins and not necessarily a property of designed proteins. This suggests that this robustness must be re-interpreted in evolutionary terms, and has consequences for our understanding of both in vivo and in vitro protein evolution.
Activity mediates conscientiousness' relationship to diurnal cortisol slope in a national sample.

OBJECTIVE The present study explored pathways from the personality traits of neuroticism and conscientiousness through health-related behaviors to diurnal patterns of the stress hormone cortisol using data from a large national study. METHOD Using prospective data from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS II) study and the National Study of Daily Experiences (NSDE II, a MIDUS substudy), hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) and Monte Carlo estimation for multilevel model mediation were used to test direct and indirect effects (via general activity level, moderate and vigorous physical activity, lifetime history of regular smoking, and alcohol consumption) of neuroticism and conscientiousness on cortisol at wakeup, diurnal cortisol slope, and cortisol awakening response (N = 960). RESULTS Initial HLM models showed greater levels of conscientiousness were associated with steeper (i.e., healthier) diurnal cortisol slope. Consistent with a hypothesized indirect biobehavioral pathway, when controlling for demographic factors, cortisol-related medications, daily stressors, and positive affect, HLM models showed the relationship between conscientiousness and diurnal cortisol slope was mediated by general activity levels. Lifetime history of smoking was associated with flatter diurnal cortisol slope, but did not mediate the effect of conscientiousness on diurnal cortisol slope. No effects were found for neuroticism. CONCLUSIONS The results support a psychophysiological model of resilience--one that provides a more complete rendering of the health-protective mechanisms of conscientiousness via hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis functioning. Specifically, the mediated pathway suggests greater engagement in the activities of day-to-day life are an instrumental means by which conscientious individuals experience healthier patterns of stress hormone secretion.
Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events in patients treated for human immunodeficiency virus infection.

BACKGROUND Metabolic abnormalities associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, including dysglycemia and hyperlipidemia, are increasingly prevalent, and there is concern about the possibility of an association with accelerated cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. METHODS We conducted a retrospective study of the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease among the 36,766 patients who received care for HIV infection at Veterans Affairs facilities between January 1993 and June 2001. RESULTS For antiretroviral therapy, 70.2 percent of the patients received nucleoside analogues, 41.6 percent received protease inhibitors, and 25.6 percent received nonnucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors for a median of 17 months, 16 months, and 9 months, respectively. Approximately 1000 patients received combination therapy with a protease inhibitor for at least 48 months, and approximately 1000 patients received combination therapy with a nonnucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor for at least 24 months. Between 1995 and 2001, the rate of admissions for cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease decreased from 1.7 to 0.9 per 100 patient-years, and the rate of death from any cause decreased from 21.3 to 5.0 deaths per 100 patient-years. Patient-level regression analyses indicated that there was no relation between the use of nucleoside analogues, protease inhibitors, or nonnucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors and the hazard of cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events, but the use of antiretroviral drugs was associated with a decreased hazard of death from any cause. CONCLUSIONS Use of newer therapies for HIV was associated with a large benefit in terms of mortality that was not diminished by any increase in the rate of cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events or related mortality. Fear of accelerated vascular disease need not compromise antiretroviral therapy over the short term. However, prolonged survival among HIV infected patients means that longer-term observation and analysis are required.
α-glucosidase inhibitors from plants: A natural approach to treat diabetes

Diabetes is a common metabolic disease characterized by abnormally high plasma glucose levels, leading to major complications, such as diabetic neuropathy, retinopathy, and cardiovascular diseases. One of the effective managements of diabetes mellitus, in particular, non–insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) to decrease postprandial hyperglycemia, is to retard the absorption of glucose by inhibition of carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes, such as α-glucosidase and α-amylase, in the digestive organs. α-Glucosidase is the key enzyme catalyzing the final step in the digestive process of carbohydrates. Hence, α-glucosidase inhibitors can retard the liberation of d-glucose from dietary complex carbohydrates and delay glucose absorption, resulting in reduced postprandial plasma glucose levels and suppression of postprandial hyperglycemia. In recent years, many efforts have been made to identify effective α-glucosidase inhibitors from natural sources in order to develop a physiologic functional food or lead compounds for use against diabetes. Many α-glucosidase inhibitors that are phytoconstituents, such as flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids,anthocyanins, glycosides, phenolic compounds, and so on, have been isolated from plants. In the present review, we focus on the constituents isolated from different plants having α-glucosidase inhibitory potency along with IC50 values.