Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A pragmatic method for electronic medical record-based observational studies: developing an electronic medical records retrieval system for clinical research

Objective The use of electronic medical record (EMR) data is necessary to improve clinical research efficiency. However, it is not easy to identify patients who meet research eligibility criteria and collect the necessary information from EMRs because the data collection process must integrate various techniques, including the development of a data warehouse and translation of eligibility criteria into computable criteria. This research aimed to demonstrate an electronic medical records retrieval system (ERS) and an example of a hospital-based cohort study that identified both patients and exposure with an ERS. We also evaluated the feasibility and usefulness of the method. Design The system was developed and evaluated. Participants In total, 800 000 cases of clinical information stored in EMRs at our hospital were used. Primary and secondary outcome measures The feasibility and usefulness of the ERS, the method to convert text from eligible criteria to computable criteria, and a confirmation method to increase research data accuracy. Results To comprehensively and efficiently collect information from patients participating in clinical research, we developed an ERS. To create the ERS database, we designed a multidimensional data model optimised for patient identification. We also devised practical methods to translate narrative eligibility criteria into computable parameters. We applied the system to an actual hospital-based cohort study performed at our hospital and converted the test results into computable criteria. Based on this information, we identified eligible patients and extracted data necessary for confirmation by our investigators and for statistical analyses with our ERS. Conclusions We propose a pragmatic methodology to identify patients from EMRs who meet clinical research eligibility criteria. Our ERS allowed for the efficient collection of information on the eligibility of a given patient, reduced the labour required from the investigators and improved the reliability of the results.
Statistical Learning of Serial Visual Transitions by Neurons in Monkey Inferotemporal Cortex

If monkeys repeatedly, over the course of weeks, view displays in which two images appear in fixed sequence, then neurons of inferotemporal cortex (ITC) come to exhibit prediction suppression. The response to the trailing image is weaker if it follows the leading image with which it was paired during training than if it follows some other leading image. Prediction suppression is a plausible neural mechanism for statistical learning of visual transitions such as has been demonstrated in behavioral studies of human infants and adults. However, in the human studies, subjects are exposed to continuous sequences in which the same image can be both predicted and predicting and statistical dependency can exist between nonadjacent items. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether prediction suppression in ITC develops under such circumstances. To resolve this issue, we exposed monkeys repeatedly to triplets of images presented in fixed order. The results indicate that prediction suppression can be induced by training not only with pairs of images but also with longer sequences.
A Focus on Others and Commitment to Social Justice

As the importance of social justice advocacy is increasingly emphasized in vocational psychology, it is imperative for researchers to explore the development of individuals’ interest in and commitment to social justice work. With a diverse sample of 298 undergraduate students, this study sought to replicate findings from Miller et al. which supported the use of social cognitive career theory in predicting social justice interest and commitment from social justice self-efficacy and outcome expectations. In addition, person inputs related to a focus on others were examined as predictors of social justice variables. Specifically, we explored whether collectivistic values and a calling orientation toward work predicted social justice outcomes. Results demonstrated replicability of Miller et al.’s model. Additionally, collectivism and sense of calling were each found to directly and indirectly predict social justice variables. Findings indicate that extent to which individuals endorse collectivism and a sense of calling may be useful in predicting how committed they are to social justice work.
Identifying Functional Binding Motifs of Tumor Protein p53 Using Support Vector Machines

Identification of transcription factor binding site in DNA sequences is a frequently performed task in bioinformatics. However, current methods of search produce a large number of false positives as these motifs are short and degenerate. We propose an implicit model of cooperative binding of transcription factors. We hypothesize that flanking regions of binding sites have a different composition compared to regions which do not have that binding site. Using statistically significant motifs in flanking region of true binding sites as features, we design a SVM classifier for discriminating true binding sites from false positives. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our method on a data set of experimentally verified p53 binding sites. We were able to obtain an overall accuracy of 80% and 76% on cross- validation and independent test set, respectively. By analyzing the features, we identified known as well as potentially new binding partners of p53.
Cerebrospinal Fluid Viral Load and Intrathecal Immune Activation in Individuals Infected with Different HIV-1 Genetic Subtypes

Background HIV-1 exhibits a high degree of genetic diversity and is presently divided into 3 distinct HIV-1 genetic groups designated major (M), non-M/non-O (N) and outlier (O). Group M, which currently comprises 9 subtypes (A-D, F-H, J and K), at least 34 circulating recombinant forms (CRFs) and several unique recombinant forms (URFs) is responsible for most of the HIV-1 epidemic. Most of the current knowledge of HIV-1 central nervous system (CNS) infection is based on subtype B. However, subtypes other than subtype B account for the majority of global HIV-1 infections. Therefore, we investigated whether subtypes have any influence on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) markers of HIV-1 CNS infection. Methodology/Principal Findings CSF HIV-1 RNA, CSF neopterin and CSF white blood cell (WBC) count were measured in patients infected with different HIV-1 subtypes. Using multivariate regression analysis, no differences in the CSF WBC count, neopterin and viral load were found between various HIV-1 subtypes. Conclusions We did not find any subtype-dependent differences in the markers evaluated in this study.
Dimensionally Invariant Numerical Laws Correspond to Meaningful Qualitative Relations

In formal theories of measurement meaningfulness is usually formulated in terms of numerical statements that are invariant under admissible transformations of the numerical representation. This is equivalent to qualitative relations that are invariant under automorphisms of the measurement structure. This concept of meaningfulness, appropriately generalized, is studied in spaces constructed from a number of conjoint and extensive structures some of which are suitably interrelated by distribution laws. Such spaces model the dimensional structures of classical physics. It is shown that this qualitative concept corresponds exactly with the numerical concept of dimensionally invariant laws of physics.
Sea Surface Temperature Retrieval from MODIS Radiances Using Truncated Total Least Squares with Multiple Channels and Parameters

Global sea-surface temperatures (SST) from MODIS measured brightness temperatures generated using the regression methods, have been available to users for more than a decade, and are used extensively for a wide range of atmospheric and oceanic studies. However, as evidenced by a number of studies, there are indications that the retrieval quality and cloud detection are somewhat sub-optimal. To improve the performance of both of these aspects, we endorse a new physical deterministic algorithm, based on truncated total least squares (TTLS), using multiple channels and parameters, in conjunction with a hybrid cloud detection scheme using a radiative transfer model atop a functional spectral difference method. The TTLS method is a new addition that improves the information content of the retrieval compared to our previous work using modified total least squares (MTLS), which is feasible because more measurements are available, allowing a larger retrieval vector. A systematic study is conducted to ascertain the appropriate channel selection for SST retrieval from the 16 thermal infrared channels available from the MODIS instrument. Additionally, since atmospheric aerosol is a well-known source of degraded quality of SST retrieval, we include aerosol profiles from numerical weather prediction in the forward simulation and include the total column density of all aerosols in the retrieval vector of our deterministic inverse method. We used a slightly modified version of our earlier reported cloud detection algorithm, namely CEM (cloud and error mask), for this study. Time series analysis of more than a million match-ups shows that our new algorithm (TTLS+CEM) can reduce RMSE by ~50% while increasing data coverage by ~50% compared to the operationally available MODIS SST.
Factoring Cycling in Transportation Infrastructure: Design Considerations Based on Risk Exposure

Transportation planners and engineers are facing a challenge in safely accommodating bicycles within the right of way of roads in both urban and rural areas. Risk-based methods can help characterize and evaluate suitable designs for these shared facilities. This paper describes methodologies for developing risk-based design guidelines and strategies. There are two common categories of risks. First, a bicyclist and a motor vehicle in a shared lane may end up in the same space, which is a precursor to collision. Second, the aerodynamic effects of large motor vehicles passing a cyclist can lead to an accident. A previously developed model is applied for quantifying the risk of common occupancy of a defined length of a travel lane. This information is necessary to estimate collisions. A Monte Carlo simulation model is applied that can treat stochastic variables of aerodynamic lateral force and the tolerance limit. These methodologies are applied to examples to demonstrate how they can be used as a starting point for treating risk and improving decision-making. Directions for future research are discussed.
A novel discrete coefficient IIR digital filter design based on a lattice structure

Based on a “tapped numerator” and “injected numerator” hybrid lattice structure, a novel discrete coefficient IIR digital filter design is proposed in this paper. This lattice structure possesses much improved finite word length properties such as very low parameter sensitivity and very uniform signal powers across signal nodes, so it is very suitable for FWL implementation. There are three sets of parameters in this lattice structure, and in [8], only one set of parameters was optimized in a discrete coefficient space. In [9], all sets of parameters were optimized together over a discrete power-of-two coefficient space but the approach fails when the filter order becomes high due to the fact that the searching space gets very big and the nonlinearity of the cost function increases greatly. Our proposed method can efficiently obtain high order discrete coefficient IIR filter with lower complexity, better satisfactory frequency response and very uniform signal power ratio.
The creative citizen unbound: How social media and DIY culture contribute to democracy, communities and the creative economy

Drawing upon the findings of a 30-month research project, The Creative Citizen Unbound: How Social Media and DIY Culture Contribute to Democracy, Communities and the Creative Economy, edited by Ian Hargreaves and John Hartley, explores the potential of civic-minded individuals to participate in ‘creative citizenship’ by utilising social media and engaging with the creative economy. Although she would have welcomed more detailed discussion of the book’s guiding concepts, Paz Concha recommends its wealth of case studies and examples to academics and practitioners looking to enhance their research impact or build strategies for knowledge exchange.
Third Factors and the Performance Interface in Language Design

This paper shows that systematic properties of performance systems can play an important role within the biolinguistic perspective on language by providing third-factor explanations for crucial design features of human language. In particular, it is demonstrated that the performance interface in language design contributes to the biolinguistic research program in three ways: (i) it can provide additional support for current views on UG, as shown in the context of complex center-embedding; (ii) it can revise current conceptions of UG by relegating widely assumed grammatical constraints to properties of the performance systems, as pointed out in the context of lin-ear ordering; (iii) it can contribute to explaining heretofore unexplained data that are disallowed by the grammar, but can be explained by systematic properties of the performance systems.
THE ROLE OF INSIDERS AND DIVIDEND POLICY : A COMPARISON OF REGULATED AND UNREGULATED FIRMS

This paper explicitly recognizes the potential differences in dividend policy between regulated and unregulated firms and focuses on agency-cost and monitoring explanations for the relevance of dividends. The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of insiders in determining dividend policy for unregulated firms, utilities, and financial-services firms. Since utilities, and to some extent, financial-services firms, have regulators who serve as the low-cost informants to market participants, insiders play a reduced role in determining dividend policy compared to unregulated firms. A regression model is developed that addresses whether the role of regulators and insiders are substitutes or complements for utilities and financial-services firms. The regression results reveal fundamental differences in the relationship between insider holdings and dividend policy for unregulated firms and utilities, but suggest that the regulatory environment enhances -rather than mitigates -the importance of the insiders” role for utilities. For financial-services firms, the results do not support the hypothesis that increased equity risk through fixed-rate deposit insurance enhances the role of insiders when determining dividend policy.
Konsummotive bei Stimulanzienkonsum

Zusammenfassung Ziel der Studie: Ermittlung und Vergleich von Konsummotiven bei Personen, die Amphetamin bzw. Methamphetamin konsumieren. Methoden: Anhand einer Literaturrecherche und einer zusätzlichen Expertenbefragung wurde ein Fragebogen entwickelt, der 145 Patienten in ambulanter und stationärer Behandlung sowie 247 Personen über das Internet vorgelegt wurde. Diese wiesen in den zurückliegenden 12 Monaten einen Amphetaminkonsum auf (N=205) oder konsumierten (teilweise zusätzlich zu Amphetamin) auch Methamphetamin (N=187). Ergebnisse: Während freizeit- und genussbezogene Motive bei allen Befragten eine große Rolle spielten, wurden von der Methamphetamingruppe auffallend häufig weitere Motive berichtet, etwa der Konsum zur Tagesstrukturierung (39,0%), zur Unterdrückung von Albträumen (14,4%), zur Selbstbehandlung von Störungen (36,9%) sowie um Sexualität überhaupt möglich zu machen (18,7%). Schlussfolgerung: Bei Personen, die Methamphetamin konsumieren, scheint im Vergleich zu Amphetamin ein breiteres Spektrum von Konsummotiven eine Rolle zu spielen. Hierbei handelt es sich teilweise um Motive, die mit dem Funktionsniveau im Alltag sowie mit psychischen Belastungen in Zusammenhang zu stehen scheinen. Eine sorgfältige Analyse der vielfältigen und komplexen Konsummotive bei Stimulanzienkonsumenten könnte dazu beitragen, therapeutische und präventive Interventionen optimal auf deren individuelle Bedürfnisse abzustimmen.
A User-Centric Study Of Reputation Metrics in Online Communities

With the growing importance of online markets and communities, users increasingly have to interact with unknown people. When choosing their interaction partners, they often lack direct experience and are forced to rely on ratings provided by others who are often unknown themselves. A number of reputation systems have been developed with the aim of improving the credibility of inferred reputation values. Most of these reputation systems proved their accuracy and robustness against manipulation in evaluations and therefore are believed to enhance the users trust in the system. However, what also matters is the users’ experience with the reputation system. To investigate whether a reputation systems good functionality is sufficient to enhance the users’ rating behavior and the users’ trust in the provided reputation values and therefore also the entire system two substantially different reputation metrics were evaluated in an experimental game. The results obtained by this user-centric study are presented in this paper.
Experimental bacteriophage treatment of honeybees (Apis mellifera) infected with Paenibacillus larvae, the causative agent of American Foulbrood Disease

ABSTRACT American Foulbrood Disease (AFB) is an infection of honeybees caused by the bacterium Paenibacillus larvae. One potential remedy involves using biocontrol, such as bacteriophages (phages) to lyse P. larvae. Therefore, bacteriophages specific for P. larvae were isolated to determine their efficacy in lysing P. larvae cells. Samples from soil, beehive materials, cosmetics, and lysogenized P. larvae strains were screened; of 157 total samples, 28 were positive for at least one P. larvae bacteriophage, with a total of 30. Newly isolated bacteriophages were tested for the ability to lyse each of 11 P. larvae strains. Electron microscopy demonstrated that the phage isolates were from the family Siphoviridae. Seven phages with the broadest host ranges were combined into a cocktail for use in experimental treatments of infected bee larvae; both prophylactic and post-infection treatments were conducted. Results indicated that although both pre- and post-treatments were effective, prophylactic administration of the phages increased the survival of larvae more than post-treatment experiments. These preliminary experiments demonstrate the likelihood that phage therapy could be an effective method to control AFB.
Star-Burst Regions in the LMC

Abstract Filamentary structures of early type stars are found to be a common feature of the MCs formed ~0.9 − 2 × 108yr ago. As we go to younger ages these large structures appear fragmented and sooner or later form young clusters and associations. In the optical domain we have detected 56 such large structures of young objects, known as stellar complexes in the LMC (Maragoudaki, Kontizas, Kontizas, et al. (1998)) and investigate their properties. IRAS data of the LMC stellar complexes were compared with observations of starburst galaxies (Helou (1986); Lehnert & Heckman (1996)). It has been found that nearly 1/4 of the stellar complexes are extremely active resembling the IR behaviour of starburst galaxies and HII regions. These stellar complexes are called here “starburst regions”. They host an increased number of HII regions, SNRs, stellar associations and nebulae. The main starburst tracers are their IR luminosity F60 and the 8.6-GHz radio emission (8.6-GHz data: Dickel, McIntire, Gruendl, et al. (2005)). In Table 1 the characteristics of the various types of complexes are given. Finally the evolution of all stellar complexes is discussed based on the CO emission (CO data: Fukui, Mizuno, Yamagushi, et al. (1999)). More than 50% of the starburst and starburst candidate regions show enhanced CO emission, indicating ongoing and future evolution.
Neural network simulation at Warp speed: how we got 17 million connections per second

A fast back-propagation algorithm for a linear array of processors is described. Results of an implementation of this algorithm on Warp, a ten-processor, programmable systolic array computer, are reviewed and compared with back-propagation implementations on other machines. The current Warp simulator is about eight times faster at simulating the NETtalk text-to-speech network than the fastest back-propagation simulator previously reported in the literature. This fast simulator on Warp is being used routinely in a road-recognition experiment for robot navigation. Results indicate that linear systolic array machines can be efficient neural network simulators. Planned extensions and improvements to the current algorithm are discussed. <<ETX>>
Task-effects in the L2 perception and production of English sentence types by L1 Spanish speakers

In the present paper, we investigated the acquisition of three English sentence types, statements (S), absolute yes-no questions (AQ), and declarative questions (DQ), by L1 Spanish-L2 English adult speakers. Learners of English must acquire not only the syntactic and intonational cues that distinguish AQs from DQs, but also the pragmatic distinction between the two. Participants completed two production and three perception tasks involving increasing levels of access to contextual meaning, in order to determine learners’ ability to combine both syntactic and intonational cues in the correct pragmatic context. Results indicate that second language (L2) English speakers demonstrate difficulty acquiring the distinction between AQs and DQs. Learners incorrectly selected AQs in contexts where DQs should have been used in both perception and production, although error rates were much higher in production. Evidence of cross-linguistic influence (CLI) in the use of prosodic cues was observed in the production tasks, where learners tended to produce a higher pitch accent in interrogatives than statements, a characteristic of Spanish interrogatives. The results of this study provide further support for the claim that more open-ended tasks increase the degree of CLI.