Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predictors for the development of microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria in patients with type 1 diabetes: inception cohort study

Abstract ObjectiveTo evaluate baseline predictors for the development of persistent microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria prospectively in patients with type 1 diabetes. DesignProspective observational study of an inception cohort. SettingOutpatient diabetic clinic in a tertiary referral centre, Gentofte, Denmark. Participants286 patients (216 adults) newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes consecutively admitted to the clinic between 1 September 1979 and 31 August 1984. Main outcome measuresPersistent microalbuminuria and persistent macroalbuminuria. ResultsDuring the median follow up of 18.0 years (range 1.0-21.5 years), total of 4706 patient years of follow up, 79 of 277 (29%) patients developed persistent microalbuminuria. 27 of 79 progressed further to persistent macroalbuminuria. The cumulative incidence of persistent microalbuminuria and persistent macroalbuminuria was 33.6% (95% confidence interval 27.2% to 40.0%) and 14.6% (8.9% to 20.3%), respectively. Significant predictors for the development of persistent microalbuminuria were a 10-fold increase in urinary albumin excretion rate (relative risk 3.78, 1.57 to 9.13), being male (2.41, 1.43 to 4.06), a 10 mm Hg increase in mean arterial blood pressure (1.38, 1.20 to 1.57), a 1% increase in haemoglobin A1c(1.18, 1.04 to 1.32), and a 1 cm increase in height (0.96, 0.95 to 0.98). 28 patients with microalbuminuria (35%) regressed to normoalbuminuria either transiently (n = 15) or permanently (n = 13). ConclusionsAround one third of patients newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes develop persistent microalbuminuria within the first 20 years of diabetes. Several potentially modifiable risk factors predict the development of persistent microalbuminaria and persistent macroalbuminuria.
The Link between Chemical Anomalies along the Red Giant Branch and the Horizontal Branch Extension in Globular Clusters

We find a strong correlation between the extension of the Na-O anticorrelation observed in red giant branch (RGB) stars and the high-temperature extension of the horizontal branch (HB) blue tail of Galactic globular clusters (GCs). The longer is the O-depleted tail of the Na-O anticorrelation observed in the RGB stars, the higher the maximum temperature reached by the bluest HB stars in the GC. This result provides clear, empirical evidence of a link between the extension of the HB and the presence of star-to-star abundance variations of proton-capture elements in GC stars. We discuss the possible interpretation of this correlation.
Perceptual encryption of JPEG compressed images using DCT coefficients and splitting of DC coefficients into bitplanes

Perceptual Encryption is required in many of the multimedia content preview application. There is always a need of an efficient technique that reduces the overhead of encryption in real-time. In this paper we take advantage of the energy present in DCT block and have studied the effects of encrypting the selected DCT coefficient. Also the DC coefficient is further divided into bitplanes and an investigation is carried out to study the resulting depth of perceptual encryption. To measure the level of perceptual degradation, objective image quality assessment metrics such as SSIM, MS-SSIM, VIF, VIFP, VSNR, IFC and UQI are used. The presented results can help one chose the desired level of perceptual encryption according to the application with very little overhead.
THE EFFECTS OF BRANCHIAL CHLORIDE CELL PROLIFERATION ON RESPIRATORY FUNCTION IN THE RAINBOW TROUT ONCORHYNCHUS MYKISS

The objectives of this study were to induce chloride cell (CC) proliferation on the gill lamellae of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss and to evaluate the consequences for respiratory function. Chronic elevation of hormone levels was used to induce CC proliferation; fish were injected with a combination of cortisol (8 mg kg-1 intramuscularly every day for 10 days) and ovine growth hormone (2 mg kg-1 intraperitoneally every second day for 10 days). The extent of CC proliferation was quantified using scanning electron microscopy and a two-dimensional analysis. An extracorporeal preparation in combination with environmental hypoxia was used to assess the effects of CC proliferation on respiratory function. Arterial blood was routed from the coeliac artery through an external circuit in which pH (pHa), partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) and partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) were monitored continuously. Environmental hypoxia was imposed by gassing a water equilibration column supplying the experimental chamber with N2. The hormone treatment increased the average CC surface area by 2.7-fold and CC density by 2.2-fold; the combined effect was a fivefold increase in CC fractional area. While the PaO2 values of hormone-treated and control fish were similar at PwO2>12.0 kPa, the arterial O2 tensions of treated fish were significantly lower than those of the control group for PwO2¾12.0 kPa. In comparison with control fish at all environmental O2 tensions, the hormone-treated fish exhibited elevated PaCO2 values and a significant acidosis. The effects of CC proliferation on blood gas variables in hormone-treated fish were accompanied by a significantly elevated ventilation amplitude and a lowered ventilation frequency. The results of this study demonstrated (i) that impairment of respiratory gas transfer coincides with CC proliferation, (ii) that O2 and CO2 transfer are influenced differently and (iii) that partial compensation is achieved through physiological adjustments.
Foundations of regular variation

The theory of regular variation is largely complete in one dimen- sion, but is developed under regularity or smoothness assumptions. For functions of a real variable, Lebesgue measurability su¢ ces, and so does having the property of Baire. We nd here that the preceding two properties have two kinds of common generalization, both of a combinatorial nature; one is exempli ed by �containment up to trans- lation of subsequences�, the other, drawn from descriptive set theory, requires non-emptiness of a Souslin 1 2 -set. All of our generalizations are equivalent to the uniform convergence property
H i IN LOCAL GROUP DWARF GALAXIES AND STRIPPING BY THE GALACTIC HALO

We examine the H i content and environment of all of the Local Group dwarf galaxies (Mtot < 1010 M☉), including the numerous newly discovered satellites of the Milky Way and M31. All of the new dwarfs, with the exception of Leo T, have no detected H i. The majority of dwarf galaxies within ∼270 kpc of the Milky Way or Andromeda are undetected in H i (<104 M☉ for Milky Way dwarfs), while those further than ∼270 kpc are predominantly detected with masses ∼105 to 108 M☉. Analytical ram-pressure arguments combined with velocities obtained via proper motion studies allow for an estimate of the halo density of the Milky Way at several distances. This halo density is constrained to be greater than 2× 10−4–3 × 10−4 cm−3 out to distances of at least 70 kpc. This is broadly consistent with theoretical models of the diffuse gas in a Milky Way-like halo and is consistent with this component hosting a large fraction of a galaxy's baryons. Accounting for completeness in the dwarf galaxy count, gasless dwarf galaxies could have provided at most 2.1 × 108 M☉ of H i gas to the Milky Way, which suggests that most of our Galaxy's star formation fuel does not come from accreted small satellites in the current era.
Visual Function Assessment in Simulated Real-Life Situations in HIV-Infected Subjects

Visual function abnormalities are common in people living with HIV disease (PLWH) without retinitis, even after improvement in immune status. Abnormalities such as reduced contrast sensitivity, altered color vision, peripheral visual field loss, and electrophysiological changes are related to a combination of retinal dysfunctions, involving inner and outer retinal structures. The standard protocol for testing vision performance in clinical practice is the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) chart. However, this method poorly correlates with activities of daily living that require patients to assess visual stimuli in multiple light/contrast conditions, and with limited time. We utilized a novel interactive computer program (Central Vision Analyzer) to analyze vision performance in PLWH under a variety of light/contrast conditions that simulate stressful and real-world environments. The program tests vision in a time-dependent way that we believe better correlates with daily living activities than the non-timed ETDRS chart. We also aimed to correlate visual scores with retinal neuro-fiber layer thickness on optical coherence tomography. Here we show that visual acuity is more affected in PLWH in comparison to HIV-seronegative controls in varying contrast and luminance, especially if the nadir CD4+ T-cell count was lower than 100 cells/mm3. Visual impairment reflects the loss of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness especially of the temporal-inferior sector. In PLWH the ETDRS chart test led to better visual acuity compared to the Central Vision Analyzer equivalent test, likely because patients had indefinite time to guess the letters. This study confirms and strengthens the finding that visual function is affected in PLWH even in absence of retinitis, since we found that the HIV serostatus is the best predictor of visual loss. The Central Vision Analyzer may be useful in the diagnosis of subclinical HIV-associated visual loss in multiple light/contrast conditions, and may offer better understanding of this entity called “neuroretinal disorder”.
Real-time panoramic mapping and tracking on mobile phones

We present a novel method for the real-time creation and tracking of panoramic maps on mobile phones. The maps generated with this technique are visually appealing, very accurate and allow drift-free rotation tracking. This method runs on mobile phones at 30Hz and has applications in the creation of panoramic images for offline browsing, for visual enhancements through environment mapping and for outdoor Augmented Reality on mobile phones.
Broadband Diffusion: Lags from Vintage Capital, Learning by Doing, Information Barriers and Network Effects

Executive Summary Broadband access to the Internet is high-speed access relative to the existing modem technologies that most Internet users employ to access their Internet Service Provider (ISP), and through the ISO, the Internet. It has been widely predicted by the telecommunications industry and the general media that broadband Internet will quickly penetrate the residential and small/medium business (SME) markets, providing a platform for online video, entertainment and other services. However, in practice broadband uptake has been sluggish compared to predictions. This paper examines the factors that affect the uptake of broadband in the residential and SME markets. We searched the economics literature on diffusion theory and identified five different models that potentially provide insights into the broadband phenomenon. These models were applied to the New Zealand market, using detailed product and market data from an index ISP and the major telecommunications network provider, which we consider representative of the market as a whole. We find evidence to suggest that the adoption of ADSL, the dominant broadband technology in New Zealand, is driven differently in the residential and SME markets. SMEs pay a fixed fee for each telephone circuit plus a toll tariff for all calls including local calls. An SME with multiple computers accessing the Internet, requiring multiple telephone lines, or with a reasonable level of traffic, generating toll charges, can cost-justify prematurely retiring modem capital and introducing ADSL as there are immediate cost benefits. However, an SME with little traffic and only one telephone line may still find that dial-up modems provide adequate service at a lower price. The residential market does not pay toll tariffs or connection charges for local calls. The New Zealand ISP's all offer toll-free access for modems dialing up Internet connection. In addition, the dominant ISP account type is unlimited Internet access time for a fixed monthly fee. As a result, there is no additional charge for residential users to access the Internet by modem, and hence, no cost-saving incentive to adopt ADSL. Mild evidence is found of learning effects in the residential market and weaker effects in the SME market where users are learning a wider range of Internet applications and how to use these applications more extensively for productivity and personal utility advantage. We conclude that this learning increases an individual user's data transfer requirements until modems become a constraint on what can be achieved in available time, at which point …
Extracting Opinions and Facts for Business Intelligence

Finding information about companies on multiple sources on the Web has become increasingly important for business analysts. In particular, since the emergence of the Web 2.0, opinions about companies and their services or products need to be found and distilled in order to create an accurate picture of a business entity. Without appropriate text mining tools, company analysts would have to read hundreds of textual reports, newspaper articles, forums’ postings and manually dig out factual as well as subjective information. This paper describes a series of experiments to assess the value of a number of lexical, morpho-syntactic, and sentiment-based features derived from linguistic processing and from an existing lexical database for the classification of evaluative texts. The paper describes experiments carried out with two different web sources: one source contains positive and negative opinions while the other contains fine grain classifications in a 5-point qualitative scale. The results obtain are positive and in line with current research in the area. Our aim is to use the result of classification in a practical application that will combine factual and opinionated information in order to create the reputation of a business entity.
Refining Abacavir Hypersensitivity Diagnoses using a Structured Clinical Assessment and Genetic Testing in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study

Background We aimed to assess the value of a structured clinical assessment and genetic testing for refining the diagnosis of abacavir hypersensitivity reactions (ABC-HSRs) in a routine clinical setting. Methods We performed a diagnostic reassessment using a structured patient chart review in individuals who had stopped ABC because of suspected HSR. Two HIV physicians blinded to the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing results independently classified these individuals on a scale between 3 (ABC-HSR highly likely) and -3 (ABC-HSR highly unlikely). Scoring was based on symptoms, onset of symptoms and comedication use. Patients were classified as clinically likely (mean score ≥2), uncertain (mean score ≥-1 and ≤1) and unlikely (mean score ≤-2). HLA typing was performed using sequence-based methods. Results From 131 reassessed individuals, 27 (21%) were classified as likely, 43 (33%) as unlikely and 61 (47%) as uncertain ABC-HSR. Of the 131 individuals with suspected ABC-HSR, 31% were HLA-B*5701-positive compared with 1% of 140 ABC-tolerant controls (P<0.001). HLA-B*5701 carriage rate was higher in individuals with likely ABC-HSR compared with those with uncertain or unlikely ABC-HSR (78%, 30% and 5%, respectively, P<0.001). Only six (7%) HLA-B*5701-negative individuals were classified as likely HSR after reassessment. Conclusions HLA-B*5701 carriage is highly predictive of clinically diagnosed ABC-HSR. The high proportion of HLA-B*5701-negative individuals with minor symptoms among individuals with suspected HSR indicates overdiagnosis of ABC-HSR in the era preceding genetic screening. A structured clinical assessment and genetic testing could reduce the rate of inappropriate ABC discontinuation and identify individuals at high risk for ABC-HSR.
Malaysian economic development: some lessons for Tanzania

Malaysia achieved independence in 1957, but remained a typical underdeveloped country until 1970, with low rates of economic growth, high incidence of poverty and continued dependence on the rural sector, agriculture and mineral extraction. The race riots of May 1969 awakened the government to the need for major reforms and social and economic transformation to push the m~ority of the population into the mainstream of the economy, and achieve a more equitable distribution of wealth. As a consequence, the government implemented various strategies and programmes, namely, the New Economic Policy, the National Development Policy, Vision 2020 and the Multimedia Super Corridor. The government also implemented the National Economic Recovery Plan in response to the Asian Storm. These various measures have assured for Malaysia high GDP growth rates, and major social and economic transformation which have enabled it to join the group of upper middle income economies from the low income group of countries where it had remained until the 1970s. While Tanzania continues to languish in the group oflow income countries since the 1960s, Malaysia shows all the promise of achieving fully developed nation status by the year 2020. Thus the Malaysian development experience widens the scope of lessons available to Tanzania and other developing countries and provides evidence that it is possible for a less developed Third World nation to achieve prosperity and economic development as well as eradicate poverty within the space of a single generation.
Symmetry motivates a new consistent fragment of NF and an extension of NF with semantic motivation

A sequence of theories of sets and classes is presented, indexed by a natural number parameter k. The criterion for determining which classes are sets has to do with symmetry. The theories with k 2 are shown to entail Quine’s New Foundations, which is interesting as the criteria for sethood do not involved typed set theory or syntax of formulas. The theories with k = 0;1 are shown to be consistent. The case k = 0 is related to recent work of Sergei Tupailo. Consideration of the case k = 1 yields a new subtheory of New Foundations extending the theory recently described by Tupailo and the theory NF3 shown to be consistent by Grishin in 1969; the consistency proof for the case k = 1 thus yields a consistency proof for a new fragment of NF.
Secure and Efficient Multi-Variant Execution Using Hardware-Assisted Process Virtualization

Memory error exploits rank among the most serious security threats. Of the plethora of memory error containment solutions proposed over the years, most have proven to be too weak in practice. Multi-Variant eXecution (MVX) solutions can potentially detect arbitrary memory error exploits via divergent behavior observed in diversified program variants running in parallel. However, none have found practical applicability in security due to their non-trivial performance limitations. In this paper, we present MvArmor, an MVX system that uses hardware-assisted process virtualization to monitor variants for divergent behavior in an efficient yet secure way. To provide comprehensive protection against memory error exploits, MvArmor relies on a new MVX-aware variant generation strategy. The system supports user-configurable security policies to tune the performance-security trade-off. Our analysis shows that MvArmor can counter many classes of modern attacks at the cost of modest performance overhead, even with conservative detection policies.
Odontogenic Myxoma: a study based on biopsy material over a 40-year period.

AIM Odontogenic tumors, including odontogenic myxomas (OMs) are regarded as rare neoplasms in the human body. Nevertheless, they may be problematic for diagnosis and treatment planning due to possible variations between different races and countries. The aim of the current study was to present the clinicopathologic features of OM in an Iranian population over a 40-year period and compare them with those reported elsewhere. MATERIALS AND METHODS Clinical/demographic data and histologic slides of OMs and all lesions that could be considered in their differential diagnosis, reported from 1967-2008 were analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed using χ(2) and t-test and p < 0.05 was regarded significant. RESULTS Forty OMs were identified, of which 42.5% occurred in men (mean age, 27.4 years) and 57.5% in women (mean age, 28.2 years). Most tumors were observed in the posterior mandible. All cases possessed the classic World Health Organization histologic features; while 3, 15 and 6 cases showed epithelial rests, residual bone and conspicuous collagen bundles, respectively. Five patients were followed and none of their tumors recurred. CONCLUSION The clinicopathologic characteristics of the current Iranian population are similar to most other reports with a predilection for the posterior mandible, 3rd decade and female subjects; however, there were variations in microscopic features of the studied cases. Clinical significance: Clinical and histologic information on OM in different populations may be useful in clinical settings and treatment planning. Reporting more detailed histologic data can help clarify the biology of this tumor and aid in its histopathologic diagnosis. i
Prudence, Emotional State, Personality, and Cognitive Ability

We report an experiment to consider the emotional correlates of prudent decision making. In the experiment, we present subjects with lotteries and measure their emotional response with facial recognition software. They then make binary choices between risky lotteries that distinguish prudent from imprudent individuals. They also perform tasks to measure their cognitive ability and a number of personality characteristics. We find that a more negative emotional state correlates with greater prudence. Higher cognitive ability and less conscientiousness is also associated with greater prudence.
Query preserving graph compression

It is common to find graphs with millions of nodes and billions of edges in, e.g., social networks. Queries on such graphs are often prohibitively expensive. These motivate us to propose query preserving graph compression, to compress graphs relative to a class Λ of queries of users' choice. We compute a small Gr from a graph G such that (a) for any query Q Ε Λ Q, Q(G) = Q'(Gr), where Q' Ε Λ can be efficiently computed from Q; and (b) any algorithm for computing Q(G) can be directly applied to evaluating Q' on Gr as is. That is, while we cannot lower the complexity of evaluating graph queries, we reduce data graphs while preserving the answers to all the queries in Λ. To verify the effectiveness of this approach, (1) we develop compression strategies for two classes of queries: reachability and graph pattern queries via (bounded) simulation. We show that graphs can be efficiently compressed via a reachability equivalence relation and graph bisimulation, respectively, while reserving query answers. (2) We provide techniques for aintaining compressed graph Gr in response to changes ΔG to the original graph G. We show that the incremental maintenance problems are unbounded for the two lasses of queries, i.e., their costs are not a function of the size of ΔG and changes in Gr. Nevertheless, we develop incremental algorithms that depend only on ΔG and Gr, independent of G, i.e., we do not have to decompress Gr to propagate the changes. (3) Using real-life data, we experimentally verify that our compression techniques could reduce graphs in average by 95% for reachability and 57% for graph pattern matching, and that our incremental maintenance algorithms are efficient.