Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Validity of ICD codes to identify do-not-resuscitate orders among older adults with heart failure: A single center study

Background Observational research on the advance care planning (ACP) process is limited by a lack of easily accessible ACP variables in many large datasets. The objective of this study was to determine whether International Classification of Disease (ICD) codes for do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders are valid proxies for the presence of a DNR recorded in the electronic medical record (EMR). Methods We studied 5,016 patients over the age of 65 who were admitted to a large, mid-Atlantic medical center with a primary diagnosis of heart failure. DNR orders were identified in billing records from ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes. DNR orders were also identified in the EMR by a manual search of physician notes. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were calculated as well as measures of agreement and disagreement. In addition, estimates of associations with mortality and costs were calculated using the DNR documented in EMR and the DNR proxy identified in ICD codes. Results Relative to the gold standard of the EMR, DNR orders identified in ICD codes had an estimated sensitivity of 84.6%, specificity of 96.6%, positive predictive value of 90.5%, and negative predictive value of 94.3%. The estimated kappa statistic was 0.83, although McNemar’s test suggested there was some systematic disagreement between the DNR from ICD codes and the EMR. Conclusions ICD codes appear to provide a reasonable proxy for DNR orders among hospitalized older adults with heart failure. Further research is necessary to determine if billing codes can identify DNR orders in other populations.
Generation and Implementation of Grasping Rectangle Based on Hierarchical Shape Context and Kernel Density Estimation towards Robotic Grasping Unknown Objects

This paper focuses on the perception step of robotic grasping unknown objects in order to get a stable grasping hypothesis. At first, hierarchical shape context feature is proposed to depict the local and global shape character of a sample point along the edges of the object. Moreover a kind of random forests classifier is adopted to recognize the grasping candidates in the image from vision system so that a 2D grasping rectangle can be generated through kernel density estimation. Finally, by means of stereo matching, the grasping rectangle can be mapped into the 3D space. Thus, the center of the grasping rectangle can be applied as the center of the gripper. The approaching vector and the grasping rectangle direction can be employed to determine the pose of the gripper. Simulated experiments showed that a reasonable and stable grasping rectangle can be generated for various unknown objects.
Immature platelet fraction in cardiovascular diagnostics and antiplatelet therapy monitoring

Immature platelet fraction (IPF), circulating platelets still containing RNA, can be easily calculated by automated flow cytometry, this makes them an accessible biomarker. Higher IPF concentrations were reported in patients with thrombocytopenia, patients who were smokers, and also those who were diabetics. Several studies have reported their diagnostic and prognostic importance in patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes, especially ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, where increased IPF level is an independent predictor of cardiovascular death. In addition, higher IPF were reported in patients with inadequate response to either clopidogrel or prasugrel, suggesting their potential role in antiplatelet therapy monitoring. Their prognostic significance was also observed in both coronary artery disease and postcardiac surgery status, where their higher levels correlated with the risk of major adverse cardiac events. The current review aims to present the current evidence on diagnostic, prognostic and potentially therapeutic roles of IPF in cardiovascular medicine.
PrEP and HIV prevention decision-making among social network members of women who have experienced incarceration: a qualitative study

ABSTRACT Incarceration and HIV are a syndemic for US women, yet very few women who have experienced incarceration use pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 32 participants recruited by women who have experienced incarceration from their social networks, informed by the modified social ecological model for PrEP. Emergent themes from the interviews included individual-level (low personal HIV risk assessment, personal responsibility for HIV prevention, and decisions in addiction versus recovery), network-level (influential sex partners and the importance of trust, supportive treatment peers, and high-risk but indifferent drug use networks), community-level (stigma, and mitigation of stigma in supportive substance use disorder treatment environments), and public policy-level (incarceration and PrEP cost and access) determinants. PrEP interventions for women who have experienced incarceration and their networks will need to incorporate contingency planning into HIV risk assessment, navigate complex network dynamics, and be situated in trusted contexts to address structural barriers.
Composition and Bioactivity of a Placental Tissue Particulate (PTP-001) Indicate Greater Potential than Platelet-Rich Plasma for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis

Objective This study was conducted to compare therapeutically relevant properties of platelet-rich plasma (PRP), a commonly used autologous intra-articular treatment for osteoarthritis (OA), with those of a novel placental tissue particulate, PTP-001, which is in development as a regulated biologic treatment for knee OA. Design Quantitative immunoassays were performed to determine the content of key growth/regulatory biofactors in PTP-001, and in leukocyte-rich (LR)-PRP or leukocyte-poor (LP)-PRP. An anti-inflammatory bioassay was used to evaluate the effects of each treatment on pro-inflammatory cytokine (tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α) production in a macrophage cell culture system. Gene expression experiments were conducted using a co-culture system of human synoviocytes (pre-stimulated with interleukin (IL)-1β) and articular chondrocytes, with quantitative polymerase chain reaction analyses of the separate cellular compartments. Results The concentrations of several biofactors (e.g., basic fibroblast growth factor, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteases-3, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist) representative of diverse disease-relevant mechanisms of action were significantly higher for PTP-001 relative to LR-PRP or LP-PRP. PTP-001 and PRP preparations were able to reduce TNF-α production in macrophage cell cultures; however, greater variability was observed for PRP in comparison with PTP-001. In the chondrocyte/synoviocyte co-culture experiments, PTP-001 and LR-PRP (but not LP-PRP) significantly reduced chondrocyte MMP13 expression in cultures containing IL-1-pretreated synoviocytes. In addition, ADAMTS5 expression was reduced in the chondrocyte compartment following treatment with PTP-001 relative to PRP. Conclusion These findings support evidence of a potent, multifactorial mechanism of action for a consistently manufactured biologic (PTP-001), which may be of greater therapeutic benefit in comparison with more heterogeneous preparations of PRP which may be generated at the time of treatment.
Analytical and Numerical Results for Some Classes of Nonlinear Schrödinger Equations

Analytical and numerical results for some classes of nonlinear Schrödinger equations Xiao Liu Doctor of Philosophy Graduate Department of Mathematics University of Toronto 2013 This thesis is devoted to the study of nonlinear dispersive partial differential equations of Schrödinger type. The main questions we investigate are long-time behavior or occurrence of a finite time singularity, as well as stability properties of solitary wave solutions. The derivative nonlinear Schrödinger (DNLS) equation is a nonlinear dispersive model that appears in the description of wave propagation in plasmas. The first part of this thesis concerns a DNLS equation with a generalized nonlinearity (gDNLS). We first investigate numerically the possible occurrence of singularities. We show that, in the Lsupercritical regime, singularities can occur. We obtain a precise description of the local structure of the solution in terms of the blowup rate and asymptotic profile, in a form similar to that of the nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLS) with supercritical power law nonlinearity. We also show that the gDNLS equation possesses a two-parameter family of solitary wave solutions and study their stability. We fully classify their orbital stability or orbital instability properties according to the strength of the nonlinearity and, in some instances, their velocity. In linear quantum mechanical scattering theory, the phenomenon of resonant tunneling refers to the situation where incoming waves are fully transmitted through potential barriers at certain energies. In the second part of this thesis, we consider the onedimensional cubic NLS equation with two classes of external potentials, namely the ‘box’ potential and a repulsive 2-delta potential. We demonstrate numerically that resonant
Cognitive Development and Prenatal Air Pollution Exposure in the CHAMACOS Cohort

Background: Because fine particulate matter [PM, with aerodynamic diameter ≤2. 5μm (PM2.5)] is a ubiquitous environmental exposure, small changes in cognition associated with PM2.5 exposure could have great societal costs. Prior studies have demonstrated a relationship between in utero PM2.5 exposure and cognitive development in urban populations, but it is not known whether these effects are similar in rural populations and whether they persist into late childhood. Objectives: In this study, we tested for associations between prenatal PM2.5 exposure and both full-scale and subscale measures of IQ among a longitudinal cohort at age 10.5 y. Methods: This analysis used data from 568 children enrolled in the Center for the Health Assessment of Mothers and Children of Salinas (CHAMACOS), a birth cohort study in California’s agricultural Salinas Valley. Exposures were estimated at residential addresses during pregnancy using state of the art, modeled PM2.5 surfaces. IQ testing was performed by bilingual psychometricians in the dominant language of the child. Results: A 3-μg/m3 higher average PM2.5 over pregnancy was associated with −1.79 full-scale IQ points [95% confidence interval (CI): −2.98, −0.58], with decrements specifically in Working Memory IQ (WMIQ) and Processing Speed IQ (PSIQ) subscales [WMIQ −1.72 (95% CI: −2.98, −0.45) and PSIQ −1.19 (95% CI: −2.54, 0.16)]. Flexible modeling over the course of pregnancy illustrated mid-to-late pregnancy (months 5–7) as particularly susceptible times, with sex differences in the timing of susceptible windows and in which subscales were most affected [Verbal Comprehension IQ (VCIQ) and WMIQ in males; and PSIQ in females]. Discussion: We found that small increases in outdoor PM2.5 exposure in utero were associated with slightly lower IQ in late childhood, robust to many sensitivity analyses. In this cohort there was a larger effect of PM2.5 on childhood IQ than has previously been observed, perhaps due to differences in PM composition or because developmental disruption could alter the cognitive trajectory and thus appear more pronounced as children get older. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP10812
Isolation and molecular identification of nematode surface mutants with resistance to bacterial pathogens

Abstract Numerous mutants of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans with surface abnormalities have been isolated by utilizing their resistance to a variety of bacterial pathogens (Microbacterium nematophilum, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, and 2 Leucobacter strains), all of which are able to cause disease or death when worms are grown on bacterial lawns containing these pathogens. Previous work led to the identification of 9 srf or bus genes; here, we report molecular identification and characterization of a further 10 surface-affecting genes. Three of these were found to encode factors implicated in glycosylation (srf-2, bus-5, and bus-22), like several of those previously reported; srf-2 belongs to the GT92 family of putative galactosyltransferases, and bus-5 is homologous to human dTDP-D-glucose 4,6-dehydratase, which is implicated in Catel–Manzke syndrome. Other genes encoded proteins with sequence similarity to phosphatidylinositol phosphatases (bus-6), Patched-related receptors (ptr-15/bus-13), steroid dehydrogenases (dhs-5/bus-21), or glypiation factors (bus-24). Three genes appeared to be nematode-specific (srf-5, bus-10, and bus-28). Many mutants exhibited cuticle fragility as revealed by bleach and detergent sensitivity; this fragility was correlated with increased drug sensitivity, as well as with abnormal skiddy locomotion. Most of the genes examined were found to be expressed in epidermal seam cells, which appear to be important for synthesizing nematode surface coat. The results reveal the genetic and biochemical complexity of this critical surface layer, and provide new tools for its analysis.
Improved Carrier Management via a Multifunctional Modifier for High‐Quality Low‐Bandgap Sn–Pb Perovskites and Efficient All‐Perovskite Tandem Solar Cells

All‐perovskite tandem solar cells (TSCs) hold great promise in terms of ultrahigh efficiency, low manufacturing cost, and flexibility, stepping forward to the next‐generation photovoltaics. However, their further development is hampered by the relatively low performance of low‐bandgap (LBG) tin (Sn)–lead (Pb) perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Improving the carrier management, including suppressing trap‐assisted non‐radiative recombination and promoting carrier transfer, is of great significance to enhance the performance of Sn–Pb PSCs. Herein, a carrier management strategy is reported for using cysteine hydrochloride (CysHCl) simultaneously as a bulky passivator and a surface anchoring agent for Sn–Pb perovskite. CysHCl processing effectively reduces trap density and suppresses non‐radiative recombination, enabling the growth of high‐quality Sn–Pb perovskite with greatly improved carrier diffusion length of >8 µm. Furthermore, the electron transfer at the perovskite/C60 interface is accelerated due to the formation of surface dipoles and favorable energy band bending. As a result, these advances enable the demonstration of champion efficiency of 22.15% for CysHCl‐processed LBG Sn–Pb PSCs with remarkable enhancement in both open‐circuit voltage and fill factor. When paired with a wide‐bandgap (WBG) perovskite subcell, a certified 25.7%‐efficient all‐perovskite monolithic tandem device is further demonstrated.
Holistic processing and visual characteristics of regulated and spontaneous expressions

The rapid and efficient recognition of facial expressions is crucial for adaptive behaviors, and holistic processing is one of the critical processing methods to achieve this adaptation. Therefore, this study integrated the effects and attentional characteristics of the authenticity of facial expressions on holistic processing. The results show that both regulated and spontaneous expressions were processed holistically. However, the spontaneous expression details did not indicate typical holistic processing, with the congruency effect observed equally for aligned and misaligned conditions. No significant difference between the two expressions was observed in terms of reaction times and eye movement characteristics (i.e., total fixation duration, fixation counts, and first fixation duration). These findings suggest that holistic processing strategies differ between the two expressions. Nevertheless, the difference was not reflected in attentional engagement.
MIRELLA: a mathematical model explains the effect of microRNA-mediated synthetic genes regulation on intracellular resource allocation

Abstract Competition for intracellular resources, also known as gene expression burden, induces coupling between independently co-expressed genes, a detrimental effect on predictability and reliability of gene circuits in mammalian cells. We recently showed that microRNA (miRNA)-mediated target downregulation correlates with the upregulation of a co-expressed gene, and by exploiting miRNAs-based incoherent-feed-forward loops (iFFLs) we stabilise a gene of interest against burden. Considering these findings, we speculate that miRNA-mediated gene downregulation causes cellular resource redistribution. Despite the extensive use of miRNA in synthetic circuits regulation, this indirect effect was never reported before. Here we developed a synthetic genetic system that embeds miRNA regulation, and a mathematical model, MIRELLA, to unravel the miRNA (MI) RolE on intracellular resource aLLocAtion. We report that the link between miRNA-gene downregulation and independent genes upregulation is a result of the concerted action of ribosome redistribution and ‘queueing-effect’ on the RNA degradation pathway. Taken together, our results provide for the first time insights into the hidden regulatory interaction of miRNA-based synthetic networks, potentially relevant also in endogenous gene regulation. Our observations allow to define rules for complexity- and context-aware design of genetic circuits, in which transgenes co-expression can be modulated by tuning resource availability via number and location of miRNA target sites.
Iron, ferroptosis, and ischemic stroke

Over 30 million people suffer from the consequences of ischemic stroke. The precise molecular mechanism of neuronal damage during ischemic stroke remains unclear; therefore, the effective treatment of post‐ischemic stroke remains a critical challenge. Recently, iron has emerged as a crucial factor in post‐reperfusion injuries, participating in cell peroxidation, excitotoxicity, and a distinctive cell death pathway, namely, ferroptosis. Since iron is tightly regulated in the brain and important for brain functions, the imbalance of its metabolism, including its overload and deficiency, has been shown to impact ischemic stroke outcomes. This review summarizes the current understanding of pathological events associated with iron in ischemic stroke and discusses relevant drug development.
Recent trends in nanocomposite packaging films utilising waste generated biopolymers: Industrial symbiosis and its implication in sustainability

Abstract Uncontrolled waste generation and management difficulties are causing chaos in the ecosystem. Although it is vital to ease environmental pressures, right now there is no such practical strategy available for the treatment or utilisation of waste material. Because the Earth's resources are limited, a long‐term, sustainable, and sensible solution is necessary. Currently waste material has drawn a lot of attention as a renewable resource. Utilisation of residual biomass leftovers appears as a green and sustainable approach to lessen the waste burden on Earth while meeting the demand for bio‐based goods. Several biopolymers are available from renewable waste sources that have the potential to be used in a variety of industries for a wide range of applications. Natural and synthetic biopolymers have significant advantages over petroleum‐based polymers in terms of cost‐effectiveness, environmental friendliness, and user‐friendliness. Using waste as a raw material through industrial symbiosis should be taken into account as one of the strategies to achieve more economic and environmental value through inter‐firm collaboration on the path to a near‐zero waste society. This review extensively explores the different biopolymers which can be extracted from several waste material sources and that further have potential applications in food packaging industries to enhance the shelf life of perishables. This review‐based study also provides key insights into the different strategies and techniques that have been developed recently to extract biopolymers from different waste byproducts and their feasibility in practical applications for the food packaging business.
Heat transfer in particle-laden wall-bounded turbulent flows

In present work heat transfer in particle-laden wall-bounded turbulent flows has been study with the fluid-particle one way interaction approach. Direct Numerical Simulation of the flow, combined with Lagrangian particle tracking technique has been performed to study the problem. In presented configuration small solid and dense particles carrying by fluid forces are influence by turbulent non-isothermal flow. Numerical computation was performed for various grids for Reynolds number 180, 395 and the molecular Prandtl number 1.0. The effect of particle diameter and density as well as the effect of the Reynolds and Prandtl number on the statistical quantities was examined. The flow field, spatial pattern of particle concentration and particle temperature were presented. It has been shown that particles finally were distributed not uniformly nor hydrodynamic nor thermally.
New fMRI methods for hearing and speech

In this short review, we outline the challenges presented by the hostile environment for auditory fMRI. There are two main elements to this: the high level magnetic fields and the intense sound generated by the scanner operation. We then describe a series of techniques that have been employed to minimize the effects of the scanner noise on the subject and upon the subject’s evoked responses to sound stimuli. These include scanner designs, passive attenuation, use of specifically designed scanning sequences, specially designed sound delivery systems and active noise control. Finally, we briefly describe the use of some of these in combination to allow measurement of sound activation of different brain areas non-invasively using fMRI.
Morning affect or sleep inertia? Comparing the constructs and their measurement

ABSTRACT The construct of Morning Affect (MA; alertness upon awakening/time required to feel fully awake) emerged from exploratory factor analysis of morningness-eveningness questionnaires, and while it has been equated with morningness-eveningness preference it has much conceptual overlap with sleep inertia (SI; the transitional state between sleep and being fully awake). The current study compared questionnaire measures of these constructs to help clarify their inter-relationships. A volunteer sample of 453 students at an English-medium university in China completed an online survey including the Sleep Inertia Questionnaire (SIQ), the Morningness-Eveningness-Stability-Scale-improved (MESSi), with subscales for MA, Eveningness, and Distinctness (amplitude of diurnal variation), and the reduced Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (rMEQ). Measures of depression, sleep quality, mindfulness, and personality were also included. Exploratory factor analysis of the SIQ, MESSi, and rMEQ items revealed seven factors: Cognitive, Emotional, and Physiological SI, Responses to SI (including one MA item), and Duration of SI (one SIQ item, 3/5 MA items, and one rMEQ item); Morningness-Eveningness (MESSi Eveningness items, plus 3/5 rMEQ items); Distinctness (3/5 MESSi items). These results suggest that Morning Affect may be better characterised as a general measure of sleep inertia, and may contribute to ongoing development/refinement of questionnaire measures of circadian functioning.