Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Clinical Significance of Colonoscopy in Patients with Upper Gastrointestinal Polyps and Neoplasms: A Meta-Analysis

Background Some authors have studied the relationship between the presence of polyps, adenomas and cancers of upper gastrointestinal tract (stomach and duodenum) and risk of colorectal polyps and neoplasms; however, the results are controversial, which may be due to study sample size, populations, design, clinical features, and so on. No meta-analysis, which can be generalized to a larger population and could provide a quantitative pooled risk estimate of the relationship, of this issue existed so far. Methods We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate risk of colorectal polyps or neoplasms in patients with polyps, adenomas or cancers in upper gastrointestinal tract comparing with controls. A search was conducted through PubMed, EMBASE, reference lists of potentially relevant papers, and practice guidelines up to 27 November 2013 without languages restriction. Odd ratios (ORs) were pooled using random-effects models. Results The search yielded 3 prospective and 21 retrospective case-control studies (n = 37152 participants). The principal findings included: (1) OR for colorectal polyps was 1.15 (95% CI, 1.04–1.26) in the gastric polyps group comparing with control groups; (2) Patients with gastric polyps and neoplasms have higher risk (OR, 1.31 [95% CI, 1.06–1.62], and 1.72 [95% CI, 1.42–2.09], respectively) of colorectal neoplasms comparing with their controls; and (3) Positive association was found between the presence of colorectal neoplasms and sporadic duodenal neoplasms (OR, 2.59; 95% CI, 1.64–4.11). Conclusions Findings from present meta-analysis of 24 case-control studies suggest that the prevalence of colorectal polyps was higher in patients with gastric polyps than in those without gastric polyps, and the risk of colorectal neoplasms increases significantly in patients with gastric polyps, neoplasms, and duodenal neoplasms. Therefore, screening colonoscopy should be considered for patients with upper gastrointestinal polyps and neoplasms.
MAPPING OF RIVER WATER QUALITY USING INVERSE DISTANCE WEIGHTED INTERPOLATION IN OGUN-OSUN RIVER BASIN, NIGERIA

Sustainable management of water resources involves inventory, conservation, efficient utilization, and quality management. Although, activities relating to quantity assessment and management in terms of river discharge and water resources planning are given attention at the basin level, water quality assessment are still being done at specific locations of major concern. The use of Geographical Information System (GIS) based water quality information system and spatial analysis with Inverse Distance Weighted interpolation enabled the mapping of water quality indicators in Ogun and Ona catchment of Ogun-Osun River Basin, Nigeria. Using 27 established gauging stations as sampling locations, water quality indicators were monitored over 12 months covering full hydrological season. Maps of seasonal variations in 10 water quality indicators as impacted by land-use types were produced. This ensured that trends of specific water quality indicator and diffuse pollution characteristics across the basin were better presented with the variations shown along the river courses than the traditional line graphs. The production of water quality maps will improve monitoring, enforcement of standards and regulations towards better pollution management and control. This strategy holds great potential for real time monitoring of water quality in the basin with adequate instrumentation.
Effect of physical and mechanical properties of cassava tubers on the performance of an automated peeling machine

Peeling of cassava tuber at all levels is still largely carried out manually; however, this work is presented with a view to investigate the effect of physical and mechanical properties of cassava tubers on mechanical peeling and hence provides a basis for cassava peeling mechanization. These properties include size of the tuber, tl, proportion by weight of peel, wp, average moisture content of the peel, map, peel thickness, tp, tuber diameter, td, tuber surface taper angle, α, peel penetration force, F, and peel shearing stress, ts. The results showed that for Slmhf; tl ranged from 140460mm, wp ranged from 13.12-20.06%, map was 76.27%, tp ranged from 1.62-4.34mm, td ranged from 31.08136. 63mm, α ranged from 9.03-23.13 0 , F ranged from 0.17-1.85N/mm, ts ranged from 0.85-9.25N/mm 2 and quality performance of the machine, QPE, for this tuber ranged from 70.82-96.21%. Similarly, for Ssmlf; tl ranged from 125362mm, wp ranged from 10.52-16.66%, map was 70.97%, tp ranged from 1.22-4.12mm, td ranged from 18.8699. 29mm, α ranged from 5.20-12.290, F ranged from 0.13-1.54N/mm, ts ranged from 0.65-7.70N/mm2 and quality performance of the machine, QPE, for this tuber ranged from 67.27-92.25 %. The results confirm influence of physicomechanical properties of cassava tuber on mechanical peeling.
Understanding Alcohol Use Trajectories from Adolescence to Young Adulthood: A Bioecological Approach

OF DISSERTATION UNDERSTANDING ALCOHOL USE TRAJECTORIES FROM ADOLESCENCE TO YOUNG ADULTHOOD: A BIOECOLOGICAL APPROACH The current study sought to better understand how alcohol use patterns develop over the transition to young adulthood by taking a bioecological approach in examining the joint influence of contextual and individual factors on drinking behaviors. Using a longitudinal design to include many factors that likely play key roles in this highly sensitive developmental period (e.g., peer norms, social activities, personality traits, access and exposure to substances), both mean levels of these variables and their change over time were considered in relation to alcohol use trajectories (AUTs). Participants were 525 students ages 18 to 25 recruited from the introductory psychology subject pool, who completed a larger battery of self-report measures and a structured interview assessing substance use annually for three years. Using Derefinko et al.’s (in press) group-based AUTs developed from the substance use interviews, individual differences and contextual factors were used to describe each AUT group and to determine what combination of factors predisposes one to membership in particular AUT groups using multinomial logistic regression analyses. Results indicated that, separately, each contextual and individual difference factor impacted the probability of drinking in some significant fashion; however, when examined together from a bioecological approach and with potential moderators, only a few key associations remained. Findings indicated that sensation seeking, enhancement motives, peer drinking, peer binge drinking, and access to a fake ID were significantly associated with shifting out of the Nil-to-Low AUT group. Evidence for significant moderating effects was also found for sensation seeking and peer drinking, sensation seeking and perceived peer approval of drinking, and lack of premeditation and peer binge drinking. Implications for prevention and intervention efforts for adolescents and young adults are discussed.
Carpal tunnel syndrome in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy.

OBJECTIVE Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) are common conditions in patients with diabetes and therefore frequently occur concomitantly. Diagnosis of CTS in patients with DPN is important, as therapeutic interventions directed toward relief of CTS may be effective irrespective of diffuse neuropathy. The prevalence of clinical CTS and the most efficient electrodiagnostic discriminators of CTS from diffuse neuropathy are uncertain. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A total of 478 subjects, including reference subjects (without diabetes and without neuropathy), nonneuropathic subjects with diabetes, and diabetic subjects with mild, moderate, and severe neuropathy, were evaluated in a cross-sectional design for clinical features of CTS. In the ascertainment of the cohort, a clinical stratification method was used to ensure a broad spectrum of neuropathy severity. All subjects underwent nerve conduction study determinations of median, ulnar, and sural nerve parameters. RESULTS The prevalence of clinical CTS was 2% in the reference population, 14% in diabetic subjects without DPN, and 30% in those with DPN. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that mean electrodiagnostic parameters are not significant predictors of clinical CTS in patients with diabetes. Generally, the parameters worsened with severity of neuropathy, but none reliably distinguished diabetic patients with and without CTS. CONCLUSIONS Given the high prevalence of CTS in patients with DPN and that electrodiagnostic criteria cannot distinguish those with clinical CTS, it is recommended that therapeutic decisions for CTS be made independently of electrodiagnostic findings.
Understanding Feedback Expectations on Facebook

When people share updates with their friends on Facebook they have varying expectations for the feedback they will receive. In this study, we quantitatively examine the factors contributing to feedback expectations and the potential outcomes of expectation fulfillment. We conducted two sets of surveys: one asking people about their feedback expectations immediately after posting on Facebook and the other asking how the amount of feedback received on a post matched the participant's expectations. Participants were more likely to expect feedback on content they evaluated as more important, and to a lesser extent more personal. Expectations also depended on participants' age, gender, and level of activity on Facebook. When asked about feedback expectations from specific friends, participants were more likely to expect feedback from closer friends, but expectations varied considerably based on recency of communication, geographical proximity, and the type of relationship (e.g. family, co-worker). Finally, receiving more feedback relative to expectations correlated with a greater feeling of connectedness to one's Facebook friends. The findings suggest implications for the theory and the design of social network sites.
The effect of infant massage on weight gain, physiological and behavioral responses in premature infants.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to evaluate the premature infants' responses to infant massage (tactile and kinesthetic stimulation). These responses measured by weight, physiological (vagal tone, heart rate, oxygen saturation) and behavioral responses (behavioral states, motor activities, and behavioral distress). METHODS This study was conducted using an equivalent control pretest-posttest design. The sample was divided into two groups of 13 infants with gestational age less than 36 weeks at birth, birth weight less than 2000 g, and no congenital anomalies. The experimental group received the massage intervention twice daily for 10 days. The data were collected for 10 minutes prior to and 10 minutes after the massage. RESULTS The vagal tone was significantly higher after massage than before massage in the experimental group, while no change in the control group. The experimental group had significantly higher scores for awake state and motor activity than the control group. Significantly greater awake state, more fidgeting or crying, and increased motor activity were reported after massage than before massage. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study showed that massage therapy might enhance optimal physiological responses and behavioral organization of premature infants. Nursing staff in the NICU can use massage to promote the infant's capability to respond positively to his environment and to provide developmental support for healthy premature infants.
Favoritism in Mutual Fund Families? Evidence on Strategic Cross-Fund Subsidization

We investigate whether mutual fund families strategically transfer performance across member funds to favour those more likely to increase overall family profits. We find that ‘high family value’ funds (i.e., high fees or high past performers) overperform at the expense of ‘low value’ funds. Such a performance gap is above the one existing between similar funds not affiliated with the same family. Better allocations of underpriced IPO deals and opposite trades across member funds partly explain why high value funds overperform. Our findings highlight how the family organization prevalent in the mutual fund industry generates distortions in delegated asset management.
Hopfield Neural Networks and Self-Stabilization

This paper studies Hopfield neural networks from the perspective of self-stabilizing distributed computation. Known self-stabilization results on Hopfield networks are surveyed. Key ingredients of the proofs are given. Novel applications of self-stabilization—associative memories and optimization—arising from the context of neural networks are discussed. Two new results at the intersection of Hopfield nets and of distributed systems are obtained: One involves convergence under a fine-grained implementation; the other is on perturbation analysis. Some possibilities for further research at the intersection of these two fields are discussed.
Wrench-closure workspace generation for cable driven parallel manipulators using a hybrid analytical

In this paper, a technique to generate the wrench-closure workspace for general case completely restrained cable driven parallel mechanisms is proposed. Existing methods can be classified as either numerically or analytically based approaches. Numerical techniques exhaustively sample the task space, which can be inaccurate due to discretisation and is computationally expensive. In comparison, analytical formulations have higher accuracy, but often provides only qualitative workspace information. The proposed hybrid approach combines the high accuracy of the analytical approach and the algorithmic versatility of the numerical approach. Additionally, this is achieved with significantly lower computational costs compared to numerical methods. It is shown that the wrench-closure workspace can be reduced to a set of univariate polynomial inequalities with respect to a single variable of the end-effector motion. In this form, the workspace can then be efficiently determined and quantitatively evaluated. The proposed technique is described for a 3-DOF and a 6-DOF cable driven parallel manipulator. A detailed example in workspace determination using the proposed approach and comparison against the conventional numerical approach are presented.
Student engagement and inclusive education: reframing student engagement

ABSTRACT Engagement, or student engagement, is widely used in educational research and public discourse to refer to the problem of public education. The underlying ontological and epistemological assumptions buoying engagement are rarely, if ever, addressed by educational researchers. The ‘silent omission’ (Sidorkin 2014. “On the Theoretical Limits of Education.” In Making a Difference in Theory: The Theory Question in Education and the Education Question in Theory, edited by Julie Allan Gert Biesta and Richard Edwards, 121–137. New York: Routledge) of engagement’s metaphysics has implications for inclusive education. This paper finds that despite being employed with good intent, engagement operates in a paradigm of normativity. In a gesture of bifocality (Weis and Fine 2012. “Critical Bifocality and Circuits of Privilege: Expanding Critical Ethnographic Theory and Design.” Harvard Educational Review 82 (2): 173–201), I critique engagement discourse and its historical context to find that it reproduces a longstanding tradition of psychologising public problems (Fine and Cross 2015. “Critical Race, Psychology and Social Policy: Refusing Damage, Cataloguing Oppression, and Documenting Desire.” In Contextualizing the Costs of Racism, edited by A. Alvarez and H. Neville. Washington, DC: APA Publications), thereby displacing conversations about what may be the most influential issue of public education: social and economic inequality. A reframing of engagement as [student/teacher] engagement is proposed. Highlighted in the reframing is the educational relationship and the context in which it is nested. Mitigated is the pathologising and exclusionary effect of engagement discourse which operates within a dialectic of normal/engaged // ab/normal/disengaged.
The Impact of Culturally Engaging Campus Environments on Sense of Belonging

Low rates of student persistence and degree completion are a major concern of colleges and universities across the United States. Of all incoming students enrolled at four-year institutions in 2005, less than 60% completed their bachelor’s degree within six years (National Center for Education Statistics [NCES], 2013). In addition, students of color exhibit lower rates of degree attainment than the overall population. While 62% of first-time, full-time White students who matriculate at a four-year college complete a bachelor’s degree in six years, that percentage is significantly lower for American Indian and Alaskan Native (39%), Black (40%), and Latino (50%) students (NCES,
Transfer Learning by Ranking for Weakly Supervised Object Annotation

Most existing approaches to training object detectors rely on fully supervised learning, which requires the tedious manual annotation of object location in a training set. Recently there has been an increasing interest in developing weakly supervised approach to detector training where the object location is not manually annotated but automatically determined based on binary (weak) labels indicating if a training image contains the object. This is a challenging problem because each image can contain many candidate object locations which partially overlaps the object of interest. Existing approaches focus on how to best utilise the binary labels for object location annotation. In this paper we propose to solve this problem from a very different perspective by casting it as a transfer learning problem. Specifically, we formulate a novel transfer learning based on learning to rank, which effectively transfers a model for automatic annotation of object location from an auxiliary dataset to a target dataset with completely unrelated object categories. We show that our approach outperforms existing state-of-the-art weakly supervised approach to annotating objects in the challenging VOC dataset.
Recovering Exchanged Data

The inversion of data exchange mappings is one of the thorniest issues in data exchange. In this paper we study inverse data exchange from a novel perspective. Previous work has dealt with the static problem of finding a target-to-source mapping that captures the "inverse" of a source-to-target data exchange mapping. As we will show this approach has some drawbacks when it come actually applying the inverse mapping in order to recover a source instance from a materialized target instance. More specifically (1): As is well known, the inverse mappings have to be expressed in a much more powerful language than the mappings they invert. (2): There are simple cases where a source instance computed by the inverse mapping misses sound information that one may easily obtain when the particular target instance is available. (3): In some cases the inverse mapping can introduce unsound information in the recovered source instance. To overcome these drawbacks we focus on the dynamic problem of recovering the source instance using the source-to-target mapping as well as a given target instance. Similarly to the problem of finding "good" target instances in forward data exchange, we look for "good" source instances to restore, i.e. to materialize. For this we introduce a new semantics to capture instance based recovery. We then show that given a target instance and a source-to-target mapping expressed as set of tuple generating dependencies, there are chase-based algorithms to compute a representative finite set of source instances that can be used to get certain answers to any union of conjunctive source queries. We also show that the instance based source recovery problem unfortunately is coNP-complete. We therefore present a polynomial time algorithm that computes a "small" set of source instances that can be used to get sound certain answers to any union of conjunctive source queries. This algorithm is then extended to extract more sound information for the case when only conjunctive source queries are allowed.
Physiological properties of neurons in the ventral nucleus of the lateral lemniscus of the rat: intrinsic membrane properties and synaptic responses.

The physiological properties including current-voltage relationships, firing patterns, and synaptic responses of the neurons in the ventral nucleus of the lateral lemniscus (VNLL) were studied in brain slices taken through the young rat's (17-37 days old) auditory brain stem. Intracellular recordings were made from VNLL neurons, and synaptic potentials were elicited by electrical stimulation of the lateral lemniscus ventral to the VNLL. Current-voltage relations and firing patterns were tested by recording the electrical potentials produced by intracellular injection of positive and negative currents. There were two types of VNLL neurons (type I and II) that exhibited different current-voltage relationships. In response to negative current, both type I and II neurons produced a graded hyperpolarization. Type I neurons responded to positive current with a graded depolarization and multiple action potentials the number of which was related to the strength of the current injected. The current-voltage relations of type I neurons were nearly linear. Type II neurons responded to positive current with a limited depolarization and only one or a few action potentials. The current-voltage relations of type II neurons were nonlinear near the resting potential. The membrane properties of the type II VNLL neurons may play an important role for processing information about time of onset of a sound. Type I neurons showed three different firing patterns, i.e., regular, onset-pause and adaptation, in response to small positive current. The onset-pause and adaptation patterns could become sustained when a large current was injected. The regular, onset-pause, and adaptation patterns in type I neurons and the onset pattern in type II neurons resemble "chopper," "pauser, " "primary-like," and "on" responses, respectively, as defined in in vivo VNLL studies. The results suggest that different responses to acoustic stimulation could be attributed to intrinsic membrane properties of VNLL neurons. Many VNLL neurons responded to stimulation of the lateral lemniscus with excitatory or inhibitory responses or both. Excitatory and inhibitory responses showed interaction, and the output of the synaptic integration depended on the relative strength of excitatory and inhibitory responses. Neurons with an onset-pause firing pattern were more likely to receive mixed excitatory and inhibitory inputs from the lower auditory brain stem.