Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predicting the effectiveness of insulin pump therapy on glycemic control in clinical practice: a retrospective study of patients with type 1 diabetes from 10 outpatient diabetes clinics in Sweden over 5 years.

BACKGROUND Multicenter long-term studies of predictors for the effectiveness of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) in clinical practice are lacking. We hypothesized that there are substantially greater reductions in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in patients with poor glycemic control and that other predictors may also exist. SUBJECTS AND METHODS We used data from 10 outpatient diabetic clinics in Sweden and studied CSII treatment over 5 years. Patients with HbA1c values available ≤ 6 months before starting CSII and at 5 years were included (n = 272, 82% of CSII patients) along with 2,437 contemporaneous controls on multiple daily insulin injections (MDI). Baseline variables evaluated were age, sex, diabetes duration, insulin dose, body mass index (BMI), HbA1c at baseline, and outpatient clinical care unit. RESULTS At 5 years, significantly greater reductions in HbA1c by CSII compared with MDI were found for patients with higher baseline HbA1c (P = 0.032) and lower baseline BMI (P = 0.013). For baseline HbA1c levels of 7.0%, 8.0%, and 9.0% and a BMI of 25 kg/m(2), the reduction in HbA1c level by CSII was 0.08% (difference not significant), 0.16% (95% confidence interval, 0.03-0.29%), and 0.25% (95% confidence interval, 0.11-0.39%), respectively. Corresponding analyses for the change in HbA1c level from start to 1 and 2 years revealed a significant interaction of insulin pump therapy only with baseline HbA1c levels (P < 0.001 and P = 0.030, respectively). The interaction term between outpatient clinical care unit and CSII treatment was statistically significant for some care units, with some care units demonstrating a benefit from CSII and others demonstrating a detriment. CONCLUSIONS Patients with high HbA1c levels have a greater probability of improved HbA1c after initiating pump therapy, but effects remain relatively modest even for patients with poor control. Factors predicting successful insulin pump use need further study.
Planning-based optimized path for automatic robot navigation

Automatic navigation is one of the primary features of a fully autonomous robotic system i.e, achieving the goal without human intervention. Laser-based navigation requires map of the environment in order to move around. The map not only imposes memory overhead but also asserts processing load for its access all the time. Moreover Laser sensor is an expensive device to be used. Instead we present a low-cost, simple, and faster approach for robot navigation based on PDDL-based planning. A wheeled mobile humanoid robot having one functioning arm, built for navigation and communication with other differential drive robots. Robot uses 2m/s as translation velocity and π/8 rad/s as rotational velocity. Ultrasonic sensor has been used for obstacle avoidance. In order to automatically navigate a PDDL-based path planner is used that requires a problem with initial and goal states and a set of actions as input. Planner generates a path plan e.g., {turn-left, turn-left, move-forward} which is also shared with other robots. The robot environment is represented as state space where robot's pose (position+orientation) is state, and connection between states are the actions Left, Right, and Forward. Our PDDL-based plan execution time is 30% time less than that of Logic-based planner time. Robot doesn't requre to calculate odometry data. We assume that robot can turn either left or right only 90degree. It can move only to adjacent state block not diagonal block. The planner takes average instantiation time 0.31secs and planning time 0.0177secs.
Effects of nutritional deprivation on development and behavior in the subsocial bee Ceratina calcarata (Hymenoptera: Xylocopinae)

ABSTRACT By manipulating resources or dispersal opportunities, mothers can force offspring to remain at the nest to help raise siblings, creating a division of labor. In the subsocial bee Ceratina calcarata, mothers manipulate the quantity and quality of pollen provided to the first female offspring, producing a dwarf eldest daughter that is physically smaller and behaviorally subordinate. This daughter forages for her siblings and forgoes her own reproduction. To understand how the mother's manipulation of pollen affects the physiology and behavior of her offspring, we manipulated the amount of pollen provided to offspring and measured the effects of pollen quantity on offspring development, adult body size and behavior. We found that by experimentally manipulating pollen quantities we could recreate the dwarf eldest daughter phenotype, demonstrating how nutrient deficiency alone can lead to the development of a worker-like daughter. Specifically, by reducing the pollen and nutrition to offspring, we significantly reduced adult body size and lipid stores, creating significantly less aggressive, subordinate individuals. Worker behavior in an otherwise solitary bee begins to explain how maternal manipulation of resources could lead to the development of social organization and reproductive hierarchies, a major step in the transition to highly social behaviors. Summary: Experimental alteration of pollen levels to recreate conditions of maternal manipulation of resources leads to the development of a worker phenotype and hence reproductive hierarchy in a subsocial bee.
Examination of the Degradation of the Antineoplastic Drug 5-Fluorouracil by Chlorine at Varying Treatment Conditions

Examination of the Degradation of the Antineoplastic Drug 5-Fluorouracil by Chlorine at Varying Treatment Conditions Jessica Tanumihardja Chair of the Supervisory Committee: Professor Gregory V. Korshin Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Trace-level organic contaminants that belong to the group of chemotherapeutic (antineoplastic) drugs have been detected in municipal wastewaters and, at lower concentrations, surface waters. The presence of even trace levels of these compounds is of concern due to their inherently high toxicity and low biodegradability. In this study, we examined effects of chlorine concentrations, pH and other reaction conditions such as reaction time, ionic strength, and concentrations of bromide and chloride on the removal of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). The experimental procedure was primarily based on the spectrophotometric determination of 5-FU concentrations. The data were processed to obtain pseudo first-order reaction rates of the removal of 5FU. Apparent rates of 5-FU removal were strongly pH-dependent reaching a maximum at a pH close to 7.3. Variation of bromide and chloride levels resulted in strong changes of pH-dependent apparent kinetic rates. The obtained data allowed estimating half-times of 5-FU in chlorinated water. For a typical chlorine concentration of 1 mg/L, and in the absence of bromide, 50% of 5FU can be removed within ca. one hour of exposure at pH close to 7.3. The half time decreases rapidly in the presence of even trace levels of bromide. The obtained results show that water treatment conditions play a critical role in the removal of 5-FU and other trace-level antineoplastic agents that may be present in wastewater and drinking water supplies.
Patients’ perception and adherence to vaginal dilator therapy: a systematic review and synthesis employing symbolic interactionism

Background Vaginal dilator (VD) therapy is often recommended for women receiving pelvic radiation therapy or experiencing pain and discomfort during intercourse, as well as for women with a congenital malformation of the vagina. VD use has both physical and psychological benefits; however, it often causes pain, discomfort, and adverse emotions, including embarrassment and loss of modesty, which often result in low adherence to therapy. Objectives The aims of this study were to explore the use and adherence of VD therapy in women, identify barriers and facilitators of therapy adherence, and suggest improvement strategies from the theoretical perspective of symbolic interactionism. Methods A systematic review of the literature was conducted using PubMed, CINAHL, and Scopus databases, with no year restrictions. Articles addressing the experience of women using VD therapy, as well as barriers and facilitators of therapy adherence were selected and analyzed. Then, the theoretical perspective of symbolic interactionism was introduced and applied to synthesize the results. Results A total of 21 articles were selected for the review. Most of the reviewed studies explored VD therapy in women who had undergone pelvic radiation therapy for gynecological cancer. Women’s adherence to the therapy ranged between 25% and 89.2%, with great variance in definitions and methods for assessing therapy adherence. Among the five categories of identified barriers to therapy adherence, “unhelpful circumstances” and “negative perceptions toward the VD” were the two most frequently mentioned. The two most frequently reported facilitators of adherence among the six identified categories were “supportive interactions with health care providers” and “risk perception and positive outcome expectancies”. On the basis of the perspective of symbolic interactionism, strategies for strengthening interactions with others (eg, health care providers, significant others, and support groups) are discussed in detail. Conclusion Strategic intervention regarding the decisive factors identified in the review can benefit women by enhancing their experience and adherence to VD therapy.
E-Mailed Prompts and Feedback Messages to Reduce Energy Consumption: Testing Mechanisms for Behavior Change by Employees at a Green University

ABSTRACT E-mail is a common mechanism for communication within organizations. Extending prior research on effects of informational messages on behavior change, the present study evaluated effects of e-mailed prompts and feedback on energy consumption at a green university. A nonconcurrent multiple baseline design was used to evaluate the effects of messages to occupants of 5 campus buildings over a period of 12 weeks. Energy consumption changes were tracked using the university’s energy dashboard. Results and implications for further research and organizational behavior change efforts are discussed.
The sonAIR sound source model : spectral three-dimensional directivity patterns in dependency of the flight condition

The recently developed aircraft noise simulation model sonAIR is designed to precisely predict single flights with the scope to investigate and optimize noise abatement procedures. For this purpose, its sound source model overcomes the limitations of conventional models as it predicts airframe and engine noise separately in dependency of the flight parameters like power setting, Mach number and flight configuration. The acoustical description is decoupled from the propagation and based on spectral and directional source power distribution levels, which allow predicting realistic spectra at the source but also at the receiver. This paper provides an overview of the sound source model and studies the effects of the model parameters on the sound emission. Flight conditions for typical flight phases of approach and departure are depicted at the emission as well as at the receiver side and compared to measurements. In addition, different reduced model approaches are compared with the full model approach to show the importance of lateral directivity and flight parameters.
Dynamics in Gun Ownership and Crime - Evidence from the Aftermath of Sandy Hook

Gun rights activists in the United States frequently argue that the right to bear arms, as guaranteed by the Second Amendment, can help deter crime. Advocates of gun control usually respond that firearm prevalence contributes positively to violent crime rates. In this paper, we provide quasi-experimental evidence that a positive and unexpected gun demand shock led to an increase in murder rates after the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School and the resulting gun control debate in December 2012. In states where purchases were delayed due to mandatory waiting periods and bureaucratic hurdles in issuing a gun permit, firearm sales exhibited weaker increases than in states without any such delays. We show that this finding is hard to reconcile with standard economic theory, but is in line with findings from behavioral economics. States that saw more gun sales then experienced significantly higher murder rates in the months following the demand shock, as murders increased by 6-15% over the course of a year.
Early, postinjection MIBI-SPECT as the only preoperative localizing study for minimally invasive parathyroidectomy.

HYPOTHESIS Early, postinjection technetium Tc 99m sestamibi scintigraphy-single-photon emission computed tomography (MIBI-SPECT) can be used as the only localizing study for focused parathyroidectomy in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. DESIGN During a 26-month period, 82 consecutive patients with primary hyperparathyroidism underwent a standard planar scan using a double-tracer subtraction technique for localization. On the morning of surgery, each patient received radiolabeled technetium Tc 99m sestamibi for intraoperative detection and validation. We performed an early, postinjection SPECT study for comparison with the planar study. RESULTS The SPECT study revealed a sensitivity of 96% vs 78% for the planar study. The SPECT study was helpful in locating adenomas in 10 patients with multinodular goiter disease, of whom 3 patients had ectopic adenomas and 2 patients had 2 adenomas each. A significant correlation was noted between uptake ratio and preoperative parathyroid hormone levels (r = 0.41; P =.04). No recurrent or persistent hyperparathyroidism was reported during a follow-up period of at least 6 months. CONCLUSIONS Our results encourage the use of preoperative SPECT as the only localizing study on the morning of the operation, both to select patients for minimally invasive radioguided surgery and to provide accurate 3-dimensional information on deeply seated or ectopic adenomas. This approach lowers the costs of preoperative localization and intraoperative validation to a single study. The intraoperative gamma probe technique enables the surgeon to focus the search, provides instant feedback regarding the progress of the operation, reduces surgical trauma and complications, and yields better cosmetic results.
Comparison of duodenal flow and digestibility in fauna-free sheep inoculated with Holotrich protozoa, Entodinium monofauna or total mixed protozoa population

The present results are the last part of a series of experiments conducted in this laboratory on metabolism of major individual rumen ciliate protozoa species and their combinations in sheep. These species were inoculated into the rumen of fauna-free (FF) sheep to study digestibility of dietary fibre and duodenal flow of N. Sixteen rumen- and duodenum-cannulated FF sheep were divided into four equal groups and used in the present experiment. One group remained FF, while the other three were each inoculated intraruminally with the Holotrich protozoa sp. (HT), Entodinium sp. (EN) or total mixed fauna (TF). In comparison with the FF group, the HT did not affect (P>0·05) the duodenal flow of non-NH3-N and bacterial-N, while the flow was decreased (P < 0·05) by both the EN and TF populations. The digestibility of fibre was increased (P < 0·05) by both the EN and TF populations, but the results for the HT group were mostly similar to those for the FF sheep. The fibre digestibility in the stomach for TF was intermediate between that for EN and FF. It was concluded that except when fed high-carbohydrate diets, the presence in the rumen of the HT protozoa are of no significant value or major detriment to ruminant production.
A cross-culture, cross-gender comparison of perspective taking mechanisms

Being able to judge another person's visuo-spatial perspective is an essential social skill, hence we investigated the generalizability of the involved mechanisms across cultures and genders. Developmental, cross-species, and our own previous research suggest that two different forms of perspective taking can be distinguished, which are subserved by two distinct mechanisms. The simpler form relies on inferring another's line-of-sight, whereas the more complex form depends on embodied transformation into the other's orientation in form of a simulated body rotation. Our current results suggest that, in principle, the same basic mechanisms are employed by males and females in both, East-Asian (EA; Chinese) and Western culture. However, we also confirmed the hypothesis that Westerners show an egocentric bias, whereas EAs reveal an other-oriented bias. Furthermore, Westerners were slower overall than EAs and showed stronger gender differences in speed and depth of embodied processing. Our findings substantiate differences and communalities in social cognition mechanisms across genders and two cultures and suggest that cultural evolution or transmission should take gender as a modulating variable into account.
Demo abstract: Distributed machine learning at resource-limited edge nodes

The Internet of Things (IoT) produces an unprecedented amount of data, generated by billions of connected devices. Due to the distributed nature of IoT devices, datasets are distributed and it is often infeasible to move all the locally collected data to a centralized location. Bandwidth and storage are too limited for the transmission of raw data, or such transmission can be prohibited due to privacy constraints. Due to these constraints, distributed machine learning algorithms which work on local datasets with limited global coordination are needed. In this demonstration, we present an distributed learning system that enables edge devices to collaboratively learn a shared model while keeping all the raw data stored distributedly at the edge. The system estimates parameters related to data distribution and resource consumption, and adapts the learning process based on these estimations in real time.
Seeking Pleasure and Seeking Pain: Differences in Prohedonic and Contra-Hedonic Motivation From Adolescence to Old Age

Using a mobile-phone-based experience-sampling technology in a sample of 378 individuals ranging from 14 to 86 years of age, we investigated age differences in how people want to influence their feelings in their daily lives. Contra-hedonic motivations of wanting either to maintain or enhance negative affect or to dampen positive affect were most prevalent in adolescence, whereas prohedonic motivations of wanting either to maintain, but not enhance, positive affect or to dampen negative affect were most prevalent in old age. This pattern was mirrored by an age-related increase in self-reported day-to-day emotional well-being. Analyses of the emotional experiences that accompanied prohedonic and contra-hedonic motivations are consistent with the notions that contra-hedonic motivations are more likely to serve utilitarian than hedonic functions, and that people are more likely to be motivated to maintain negative affect when it is accompanied by positive affect. Implications for understanding affective development are discussed.
Homophobic bullying in Mexico: Results of a national survey

ABSTRACT Homophobic and transphobic bullying, through teasing, physical violence, and other forms of aggression, is a problem that affects lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students at all levels of education. Even though there have been legal changes in Mexico to protect human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, schools are spaces where discrimination and violence toward them are still common. In 2012, using an online survey asking participants about their experiences with bullying, its consequences, and responses from adults, the authors collected responses from 912 participants younger than 30 years of age who self-identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender and who lived in the 32 states of Mexico. Two thirds of participants said that they were victims of bullying during their school years; the majority of these students indicated that they did not have support from teachers or parents to avoid or stop the violence. The consequences of bullying were truancy, dropouts, depression, and suicide attempts. Attitudes that normalize bullying may impede the effective prevention of or response to homophobic and transphobic bullying by teachers and parents. To eliminate homophobic bullying in school, there is a need for sexual diversity trainings for teachers and media campaigns for the general public.
URA/SISA Analysis for GPS-Galileo ARAIM Integrity Support Message

This paper presents a URA/SISA analysis to support ARAIM based on a time-dependent statistical characterization of orbit and clock errors observations. For each individual GPS and Galileo satellites, by comparing precise orbits to broadcast ephemeris data, this work computes the Signal in Space Range Error (SISRE) which needs to be overbounded by the URA/SISA value included in the ISM. Over seven years of service history data for GPS and four months for Galielo are computed in this analysis, showing that range error is manly driven by satellite's clock performance. Satellites that historically have presented well behaved $\sigma_{SISRE}$ are equipped with stable clocks which display small error dispersion. A particular example is provided through GPS SVN65/PRN24 whose Cesium clock worsens satellite's performance as compared to the rest of the GPS block IIF equipped with Rubidium clocks. Time-dependent results show that orbit and clock error distributions are not zero mean on a monthly basis, although they do not exhibit a significant bias in a long-term scale. This fact might open the possibility of a short-time adaptable $b_{nom}$ and $\sigma_{URA}$ overbounding parameters contained in the ISM.
Tranexamic acid reduces intraoperative occult blood loss and tourniquet time in obese knee osteoarthritis patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty: a prospective cohort study

Purpose Obesity can result in increased blood loss, which is correlated with poor prognosis in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Clinical application of tranexamic acid is effective in reducing blood loss in TKA. However, most previous studies focused on the effect of tranexamic acid in the whole population, neglecting patients with specific health conditions, such as obesity. We hypothesized that tranexamic acid would reduce blood loss to a greater extent in obese patients than in those of normal weight. Patients and methods A total of 304 patients with knee osteoarthritis treated with TKA from October 2013 to March 2015 were separated into tranexamic, non-tranexamic, obese, and non-obese groups. The demographic characteristics, surgical indices, and hematological indices were all recorded. We first investigated the ability of intravenous tranexamic acid to reduce intraoperative blood loss in knee osteoarthritis patients undergoing unilateral TKA. Second, we performed subgroup analysis to compare the effects of tranexamic acid between obese and non-obese patients separately. Results Of the 304 patients, 146 (52.0%) received tranexamic acid and 130 (42.8%) were obese. In the analysis of the whole group, both the actual and occult blood loss volume were lower in the tranexamic acid group (both P < 0.05). Tourniquet time was shorter in the tranexamic acid group (P < 0.05). In subgroup analysis, tranexamic acid was shown to reduce theoretical and actual blood loss in both the obese and non-obese groups (P < 0.05). Tranexamic acid reduced occult blood loss and tourniquet time in the obese group (P < 0.05), while no such effects were observed in the non-obese group (P > 0.05). Conclusion Tranexamic acid can reduce occult blood loss and tourniquet time in obese patients to a greater extent than in patients of normal weight. Therefore, obese knee osteoarthritis patients undergoing TKA can benefit more from tranexamic acid.