Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Frailty as a Predictor of Future Fracture in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

Background: Studies have identified frailty as an effective predictor of fracture; however, the correlation between frailty and fracture differs between various stages of frailty. Objectives: The main aim is to determine the correlation between various stages of frailty and fracture risk; a secondary purpose is to determine the correlation between subgroups (e.g., females, females with a hip fracture, or aged 65 years or older) within the stages of frailty and fracture risk. Finally, effect of frailty criteria on the association between stages of frailty and fracture risk was tested. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis. The inclusion criteria were as follows: (a) a prospective study design; (b) subjects aged 55 years or older; (c) a division into robust, prefrail, and frail groups; and (d) reported confidence intervals of hazard ratio. Two investigators independently assessed quality and discussed their findings to reach consensus. The quality of the literature was assessed and the level of evidence was also determined. Results: In total, five studies included 103,783 older people and recorded 2,960 fractures. The results identified that the risk of fracture in the frail people was higher than that in both the robust people (summary HR: 1.67; 95% CI [1.46–1.91]) and prefrail people (summary HR: 1.28; 95% CI [1.16–1.40], and that the risk of fracture in the prefrail people was higher than that in the robust people (summary HR: 1.30; 95% CI [1.20–1.41]). A subgroup analysis revealed that among female adults, older females with hip fracture, or those aged 65 years or more, those who were categorized as frail showed the highest fracture risk, followed by those who were categorized as prefrail. Linking Evidence to Action: Professional nurses caring for frail or prefrail people should actively develop fracture prevention measures to reduce the risk of death caused by fractures.
Adaptive Control for Flexible-Joint Electrically Driven Robot With Time-Varying Uncertainties

Almost all present control strategies for electrically driven robots are under the rigid robot assumption. Few results can be found for the control of electrically driven robots with joint flexibility. This is because the presence of the joint flexibility greatly increases the complexity of the system dynamics. What is worse is when some system dynamics are not available and a good performance controller is required. In this paper, an adaptive design is proposed to this challenging problem. A backstepping-like procedure incorporating the model reference adaptive control is employed to circumvent the difficulty introduced by its cascade structure and various uncertainties. A Lyapunov-like analysis is used to justify the closed-loop stability and boundedness of internal signals. Computer simulation results are presented to demonstrate the usefulness of the proposed scheme
Sexual Assault of Young Children as Reported to Law Enforcement: Victim, Incident, and Offender Characteristics. A NIBRS Statistical Report.

To study the sexual assault of young children, two research bases (differing by unit of count) were extracted from the 1991 through 1996 NIBRS master files. One base summarized the information for each of the 60,991 victims of sexual assault, the incident characteristics, and (where available) information on their offender(s). The second base compiled information for each of the 57,762 victim-identified offenders in sexual assault incidents, their victims, and related incident characteristics.
The Structural Virality of Online Diffusion

Viral products and ideas are intuitively understood to grow through a person-to-person diffusion process analogous to the spread of an infectious disease; however, until recently it has been prohibitively difficult to directly observe purportedly viral events, and thus to rigorously quantify or characterize their structural properties. Here we propose a formal measure of what we label “structural virality” that interpolates between two conceptual extremes: content that gains its popularity through a single, large broadcast and that which grows through multiple generations with any one individual directly responsible for only a fraction of the total adoption. We use this notion of structural virality to analyze a unique data set of a billion diffusion events on Twitter, including the propagation of news stories, videos, images, and petitions. We find that across all domains and all sizes of events, online diffusion is characterized by surprising structural diversity; that is, popular events regularly grow via both broadcast and viral mechanisms, as well as essentially all conceivable combinations of the two. Nevertheless, we find that structural virality is typically low, and remains so independent of size, suggesting that popularity is largely driven by the size of the largest broadcast. Finally, we attempt to replicate these findings with a model of contagion characterized by a low infection rate spreading on a scale-free network. We find that although several of our empirical findings are consistent with such a model, it fails to replicate the observed diversity of structural virality, thereby suggesting new directions for future modeling efforts. This paper was accepted by Lorin Hitt, information systems.
Approximate Quantum Error Correction for Correlated Noise

Most of the research on quantum error-correcting codes studies an error model in which each noise operator acts on a bounded number of qubits. In this paper we study a different noise model where the noise operators act on all qubits together, but are otherwise restricted in their action. One example to such an operator is a controlled bit-flip operator, where the control depends on all qubits, i.e., we allow restricted, highly correlated noise. We show both positive and negative results. On the positive side, we show that even though controlled bit-flip errors cannot be perfectly corrected, they can be approximately corrected with a subconstant approximation error. On the negative side, we show that no nontrivial quantum error-correcting code can approximately correct controlled phase error with a subconstant approximation error.
Spiral Recurrent Neural Network for Online Learning

Autonomous, self* sensor networks require sensor nodes with a certain degree of "intelligence". An elementary component of such an "intelligence" is the ability to learn online predicting sensor values. We consider recurrent neural network (RNN) models trained with an extended Kalman filter algorithm based on real time recurrent learning (RTRL) with teacher forcing. We compared the performance of conventional neural network architectures with that of spiral recurrent neural networks (Spiral RNN) - a novel RNN architecture combining a trainable hidden recurrent layer with the "echo state" property of echo state neural networks (ESN). We found that this novel RNN architecture shows more stable performance and faster convergence.
Children Intoxications

The curiosity and the natural tendency to explore the environment put young children at an increased risk of poisoning over older children and adults. Poisonings are a significant area of concern from 1 year of age and progressively contribute more to overall rates of morbidity and mortality until children reach adulthood. Particularly, the abuse of children by poisoning is also highly common with thousands of fatalities. A practical strategy is presented that aims to alert health, forensic, and law enforcement professionals to this problem and to demystify the preconception that it is a rare form of abuse or neglect. Compounds that are foreign to a living organism (xenobiotics) and those present within body (endobiotics), mainly involved in children intoxications and contextual examples related to exposure are also reviewed. Particular concern is given to concepts in the field of children poisoning. The described history and the clinical and toxicological evaluation are discussed, and harmonized protocols regarding correct procedures for sample collection to forensic toxicological analysis are proposed. Since children are particularly vulnerable to the toxic effects of high doses of xenobiotics and endobiotics, special consideration on the preparation of the environment that surrounds children in order minimize all possible risks will be also considered.
Targeted case finding in the prevention of cardiovascular disease: a stepped wedge cluster randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND Individuals at high risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) are undertreated. AIM To evaluate the effectiveness of a programme of targeted, nurse-led case finding for CVD prevention in primary care. DESIGN AND SETTING Targeted case finding for CVD prevention was implemented in urban West Midlands general practices between February 2009 and August 2012, and evaluated as a stepped wedge cluster randomised trial. METHOD Untreated patients aged 35-74 years and at ≥20% 10-year CVD risk were identified, invited for assessment by a project nurse, and referred to their GP for treatment initiation. The primary outcome was the proportion of high-risk patients prescribed antihypertensives or statins after exposure to the intervention compared with an equivalent period of time prior to exposure. Secondary outcomes included assessment of CVD risk factors. RESULTS In 26 sequentially randomised general practices the exposed group consisted of 2926 untreated high-risk patients identified at the start of the intervention, with 2969 patients identified at the start of the unexposed period. The trial was well balanced in terms of age, sex, and cardiovascular risk factors. In the exposed period 19.7% of patients were prescribed antihypertensives or statins, and 10.8% of patients in the unexposed period. After adjustment for clustering and temporal effects the risk difference was 15.5% (95% CI = 3.9 to 27.1, P = 0.009). Assessment of lipid levels increased significantly, at 26.4% (99% CI = 5.3 to 47.5, P = 0.001) CONCLUSION: Targeted case finding programmes can increase the number of high-risk patients started on antihypertensive and statin treatment.
The Automatic Interpretation of Nominalizations

This paper discusses the interpretation of nominalizations in domain independent wide-coverage text. We present a statistical model which interprets nominalizations based on the cooccurrence of verb-argument tuples in a large balanced corpus. We propose an algorithm which treats the interpretation task as a disambiguation problem and achieves a performance of approximately 80% by combining partial parsing, smoothing techniques and domain independent taxonomic information (e.g., WordNet).
Review of Subcontracting Practice in Construction Industry

Great numbers of traders from different specialisation makes construction industry is a complicated and unique industry. To overcome the demand on special expertise, advanced equipment, and huge investment cost, letting out work to subcontractors has been a norm in construction industry. Nevertheless, large presence of subcontracting poses challenges to contractors, client and their project management teams to manage such a large, diverse and fragmented group of subcontractors. Success of a construction project is essentially depending on the ability of general contractor to select the appropriate subcontractor during bidding process, and the sufficient management of subcontractor during construction. This paper served as a summary of literature review done on types of subcontractor, problems generated by subcontractor, and current proposed methods to enhance the subcontracting practice.
Eye-Movement Control in RAN and Reading

ABSTRACT The present study examined the visual scanning hypothesis, which suggests that fluent oculomotor control is an important component underlying the predictive relationship between Rapid Automatized Naming (RAN) tasks and reading ability. Our approach was to isolate components of saccadic planning, articulation, and lexical retrieval in 3 modified RAN tasks. We analyzed 2 samples of undergraduate readers (ages 17–27). We evaluated the incremental contributions of these components and found that saccadic planning to nonlinguistic stimuli alone explained roughly one third of the variance that conventional RAN tasks explained in eye movements registered during text reading for comprehension. We conclude that the well-established predictive role of RAN for reading performance is in part due to the individual ability to coordinate rapid sequential eye movements to visual nonlinguistic stimuli.
Regulation of astrocyte pathology by fluoxetine prevents the deterioration of Alzheimer phenotypes in an APP/PS1 mouse model

Studies have implicated astrocytic dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the role of astrocytes in the pathophysiology and treatment of the disease is poorly characterized. Here, we identified astrocytes as independent key factors involved in several Alzheimer‐like phenotypes in an APP/PS1 mouse model, including amyloid pathology, altered neuronal and synaptic properties, and impaired cognition. In vitro astrocytes from APP/PS1 mice induced synaptotoxicity as well as reduced dendritic complexity and axonal branching of hippocampal neurons. These astrocytes produced high levels of soluble β‐amyloid (Aβ) which could be significantly inhibited by fluoxetine (FLX) via activating serotonin 5‐HT2 receptors. FLX could also protect hippocampal neurons against astrocyte‐induced neuronal damage in vitro. In the same APP/PS1 mice, FLX inhibited activation of astrocytes, lowered Aβ products, ameliorated neurotoxicity, and improved behavioral performance. These findings may provide a basis for the clinical application of FLX in patients, and may also lay the groundwork for exploration of other novel astrocyte‐based therapies of AD. GLIA 2016;64:240–254
Down-Regulation of Interleukin-8 Secretion fromMycobacterium tuberculosis-Infected Monocytes by Interleukin-4 and -10 but Not by Interleukin-13

ABSTRACT Interleukin-8 (IL-8), a CXC chemokine, has a central role in leukocyte recruitment to areas of granuloma formation in tuberculosis. In the present studies, we investigated the effect of the TH2-derived cytokines IL-4, IL-10, and IL-13 onMycobacterium tuberculosis-induced IL-8 secretion from purified human monocytes. Our results demonstrate that IL-4 and IL-10 have a down-regulatory effect on IL-8 secretion and that this effect is dose dependent. IL-10 has a greater effect than IL-4 on secretion, and autologous IL-10 secreted from M. tuberculosis-infected monocytes also down-regulates IL-8 secretion. The down-regulatory effect is partly a result of reduced IL-8 mRNA accumulation analyzed by reverse transcription-PCR. When combined, 1 μM IL-4 and IL-10 had an additive effect in decreasing IL-8 secretion and transcription; there was no synergy of action. IL-13 did not have any significant effect on IL-8 gene expression or secretion. The inhibitory effect of IL-10 but not of IL-4 is associated with decreased nuclear binding of the key activating transcription factor NF-κB. We show for the first time that M. tuberculosis causes up-regulation of nuclear binding of Oct-1 detected by electromobility gel shift assay. However, neither AP-1 nor Oct-1 nuclear binding was altered by IL-4 or IL-10. In summary, this study demonstrates that type 2 responses have an important role in the regulation of M. tuberculosis-induced IL-8 expression but that the mechanisms by which the different cytokines act are distinct.
The Frequencies of IFNγ+IL2+TNFα+ PPD-Specific CD4+CD45RO+ T-Cells Correlate with the Magnitude of the QuantiFERON® Gold In-Tube Response in a Prospective Study of Healthy Indian Adolescents

Background QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT) is an IFNγ-release assay used in the diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection. The risk of TB progression increases with the magnitude of the MTB-specific IFNγ-response. QFT reversion, also associated with low Tuberculin Skin Test responses, may therefore represent a transient immune response with control of M. tuberculosis infection. However, studies at the single cell level have suggested that the quality (polyfunctionality) of the T-cell response is more important than the quantity of cytokines produced. Objective To explore the quality and/or magnitude of mycobacteria-specific T-cell responses associated with QFT reversion and persistent QFT-positivity. Methods Multi-color flowcytometry on prospectively collected peripheral blood mononuclear cells was applied to assess mycobacteria-specific T-cell responses in 42 QFT positive Indian adolescents of whom 21 became QFT negative (reverters) within one year. Ten QFT consistent negatives were also included as controls. Results There was no difference in the qualitative PPD-specific CD4+ T-cell response between QFT consistent positives and reverters. However, compared with QFT consistent positives, reverters displayed lower absolute frequencies of polyfunctional (IFNγ+IL2+TNFα+) CD4+ T-cells at baseline, which were further reduced to the point where they were not different to QFT negative controls one year later. Moreover, absolute frequencies of these cells correlated well with the magnitude of the QFT-response. Conclusion Whereas specific polyfunctional CD4+ T-cells have been suggested to protect against TB progression, our data do not support that higher relative or absolute frequencies of PPD-specific polyfunctional CD4+ T-cells in peripheral blood can explain the reduced risk of TB progression observed in QFT reverters. On the contrary, absolute frequencies of these cells correlated with the QFT-response, suggesting that this readout reflects antigenic load.
Behavioral and Neural Evidence for Item-specific Performance Monitoring

Abstract How cognitive control is recruited and implemented has become a major focus of researchers in cognitive psychology and neuroscience. Current theories posit that cognitive control operates at the level of general rules—for example, in a Stroop task, “attend to the color of the stimulus. ” Here we report behavioral evidence suggesting that cognitive control is implemented much more locally, operating at the level of specific stimuli appearing in a task block. In addition, we report neural evidence that many of the regions implicated in cognitive control on the Stroop task, including anterior cingulate cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, operate at a local level.
Management of Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae) with Insecticides on Tomatoes

Tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum Mill is a vegetable crop of large importance throughout the world. Its annual production accounts for 107 million metric tons with fresh market tomato representing 72 % of the total (FAO, 2002). It is the first horticultural crop in Tunisia with a production area of 25,000 hectares and a total harvest of 1.1 million metric tons (DGPA, 2009) of which nearly 70 % are processed (Tomatonews, 2011). Tomatoes are grown both under plastic covered greenhouses and in open field. The tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta Meyrick, (Lepidoptera : Gelechiidae) is a serious pest of both outdoor and greenhouse tomatoes. The insect deposits eggs usually on the underside of leaves, stems and to a lesser extent on fruits (photo 1). After hatching, young larvae penetrate into tomato fruits (photo 2), leaves (photo 3) on which they feed and develop creating mines and galleries. On leaves, larvae feed only on mesophyll leaving the epidermis intact (OEPP, 2005). Tomato plants can be attacked at any developmental stage, from seedlings to mature stage.
Evaluation of an extended-release formulation of ceftiofur crystalline-free acid in koi (Cyprinus carpio).

The use of an extended release ceftiofur crystalline-free acid formulation (CCFA, Excede For Swine(®) , Pfizer Animal Health) in koi was evaluated after administration of single intramuscular (i.m.) or intracoelomic (i.c.) doses. Twenty koi were divided randomly into a control group and four treatment groups (20 mg/kg i.m., 60 mg/kg i.m., 30 mg/kg i.c., and 60 mg/kg i.c.). Serum ceftiofur-free acid equivalents (CFAE) concentrations were quantified. The pharmacokinetic data were analyzed using a nonlinear mixed-effects approach. Following a CCFA injection of 60 mg/kg i.m. , time durations that serum CFAE concentrations were above the target concentration of 4 μg/mL ranged from 0.4 to 2.5 weeks in 3 of 4 fish, while serum CFAE concentrations remained below 4 μg/mL for lower doses evaluated. Substantial inter-individual variations and intra-individual fluctuations of CFAE concentrations were observed for all treatment groups. Histological findings following euthanasia included aseptic granulomatous reactions, but no systemic adverse effects were detected. Given the unpredictable time vs. CFAE concentration profiles for treated koi, the authors would not recommend this product for therapeutic use in koi at this time. Further research would be necessary to correlate serum and tissue concentrations and to better establish MIC data for Aeromonas spp. isolated from naturally infected koi.
Design and chip implementation of an instruction scheduling free ubiquitous processor

Instruction scheduling is a crucial issue for cutting edge VLSI processors that exploit parallelism to solve the tradeoff between clock speed and power dissipation. A double scheme for multiple pipelines merges their scalar units into a multifunctional unit (MFU) and makes the MFU wave-pipeline. Parallelizing a resultant pipeline achieves instruction scheduling free due to multifunctionality. Applied such approach to the latest design of a ubiquitous processor, HCgorilla, this is implemented by using 0.18-µm CMOS standard cell chip.
Design and Representation of the Virtual Campus as a Place

Virtual worlds as places are networked environments that may look like the physical world as well as create a sense of place for a person to communicate, navigate, and do things. The virtual world, as a basis for creating a virtual learning environment, has the advantages of providing a familiar and rich environment that is inherently collaborative. The familiarity comes from the likeness of the virtual world to the physical world. The richness is possible through the design of the virtual world to have many of the characteristics of the physical world. The virtual world is inherently collaborative when awareness of other people in the world is included in the design. Virtual learning environments have used ideas from virtual worlds to varying degrees, including metaphorical references to a spatial world for navigational or organizational purposes. In this paper we present a framework for designing the virtual campus as a place that has the potential to provide as rich an environment for students studying in the virtual campus as the physical campus provides. The framework separates the design into three levels: the implementation level, the representation level, and the user interface level.