Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Determinants of Antenatal Care Attendance among Pregnant Women Living in Endemic Malaria Settings: Experience from the Democratic Republic of Congo

Background. Antenatal care (ANC) attendance helps pregnant women to benefit from preventive and curative services. Methods. Determinants for ANC attendance were identified through a cross-sectional survey in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Sociocultural bottlenecks were assessed via focus groups discussion of married men and women. Results. In this survey, 28 of the 500 interviewed pregnant women (5.6%) did not attend ANC services and 82.4% booked over the first trimester. The first visit is positively influenced by the reproductive age (OR: 0.52, 95% CI(0.28–0.95), p < 0.04), the educational level (OR: 0.41,95% CI(0.17–0.97), p < 0.04), the nearby health center (OR: 0.43, 95% CI(0.2–0.92), p < 0.03), and the presence of a male partner (OR: 10.48, 95% CI(2.1–52.23), p < 0.001). The barriers to early booking were (i) the cost of service; (ii) the appearance or individual income; (iii) the geographical inaccessibility or distance to health facilities; (iv) social and religious prohibitions; (v) the stigmatization from other women when conceiving in the late ages or young or while still lactating (parity); (vi) the time for waiting for services. Conclusion. The early ANC attendance is delayed among poor women with little education and living alone.
International Journal of Food Engineering Fuzzy Identification and Modeling of a Gum-Protein Emulsifier in a Model Mayonnaise Color Development System

The aim of this study was to employ iota-carrageenan (IC) and wheat protein (WP) as an emulsifier alternative to egg yolk in a model mayonnaise system. A solution of 0.1% IC and 4% WP was prepared and used as an emulsifier in five different mayonnaise formulas. All mayonnaise treatments were evaluated and compared based on lightness and yellowness (i.e., L and b values respectively) at 4, 23, and 40°C. In addition, an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) was used to model and identify the properties of the resulted mayonnaise, with the temperature and ratios. Experimental validation runs were conducted to compare the measured values and the predicted ones. The L value of the mayonnaise produced from different emulsifiers decreased at the lower storage temperature. The b-value was significantly the highest for mayonnaise formulated from 100% egg yolk. The comparison showed that the adoption of this neuro-fuzzy modeling technique (i.e., ANFIS) achieved a very satisfactory prediction accuracy of about 98%.
Two-way speech-to-speech translation on handheld devices

This paper presents a two-way speech translation system that is completely hosted on an off-the-shelf handheld device. Specifically, this end-to-end system includes an HMM-based large vocabulary continuous speech recognizer (LVCSR) for both English and Chinese using statistical -grams, a two-way translation system between English and Chinese, and, a multilingual speech synthesis system that outputs speech in the target language. This paper describes the system development and the functionality of the major components, focusing on the optimization efforts employed to achieve real time results on such a limited platform.
WRITTEN GRAMMAR FEEDBACK ON STUDENTS’ WRITING WITH VISUAL LEARNING STYLE

This research was intended to measure the effectiveness in the students’ writing achievement by using note-written and marked-written grammar feedback on students’ writing with visual learning styles. Based on the result of the computation, that in the experimental group using note-written grammar feedback, mean score for visual learning style is 78.78, while in the control group the visual learning style is 69.25. It means that there is a difference means score between experimental group and control group. Based on the statistical computation, the F value of Corrected Model was . 519. It > . 05 with the level of confidence 95% (α = .05). It means that was not valid. Further, the F value of Intercept was . 000. It . 05 with the level of confidence 95% (α = .05). It means that there is no a significance of note-written grammar feedback in students’ writing. Furthermore, for the technique on learning style was . 347> . 05 with the level of confidence 95% (α = .05). It means that there was no a significance of written grammar feedback techniques and students’ learning style on the students’ writing.
Reverse Engineering MAC

This paper reverse engineers backoff-based random-access MAC protocols in ad-hoc networks. We show that the contention resolution algorithm in such protocols is implicitly participating in a non-cooperative game. Each link attempts to maximize a selfish local utility function, whose exact shape is reverse engineered from the protocol description, through a stochastic subgradient method in which the link updates its persistence probability based on its transmission success or failure. We prove that existence of a Nash equilibrium is guaranteed in general. The minimum amount of backoff aggressiveness needed for uniqueness of Nash equilibrium and convergence of the best response strategy are established as a function of user density. Convergence properties and connection with the best response strategy are also proved for variants of the stochastic-subgradient-based dynamics of the game. Together with known results in reverse engineering TCP and BGP, this paper completes the recent efforts in reverse engineering the main protocols in layers 2-4.
Predicting cumulative risk of disease onset by redistributing weights

We propose a simple approach predicting the cumulative risk of disease accommodating predictors with time‐varying effects and outcomes subject to censoring. We use a nonparametric function for the coefficient of the time‐varying effect and handle censoring through self‐consistency equations that redistribute the probability mass of censored outcomes to the right. The computational procedure is extremely convenient and can be implemented by standard software. We prove large sample properties of the proposed estimator and evaluate its finite sample performance through simulation studies. We apply the method to estimate the cumulative risk of developing Huntington's disease (HD) from subjects with huntingtin gene mutation using a large collaborative HD study data and illustrate an inverse relationship between the cumulative risk of HD and the length of cytosine–adenine–guanine repeats in the huntingtin gene. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Different Profile of mRNA Expression in Sinoatrial Node from Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rat

Background Experiments in isolated perfused heart have shown that heart rate is lower and sinoatrial node (SAN) action potential duration is longer in streptozotocin (STZ)–induced diabetic rat compared to controls. In sino-atrial preparations the pacemaker cycle length and sino-atrial conduction time are prolonged in STZ heart. To further clarify the molecular basis of electrical disturbances in the diabetic heart the profile of mRNA encoding a wide variety of proteins associated with the generation and transmission of electrical activity has been evaluated in the SAN of STZ-induced diabetic rat heart. Methodology/Principal Findings Heart rate was measured in isolated perfused heart with an extracellular suction electrode. Expression of mRNA encoding a variety of intercellular proteins, intracellular Ca2+-transport and regulatory proteins, cell membrane transport proteins and calcium, sodium and potassium channel proteins were measured in SAN and right atrial (RA) biopsies using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction techniques. Heart rate was lower in STZ (203±7 bpm) compared to control (239±11 bpm) rat. Among many differences in the profile of mRNA there are some worthy of particular emphasis. Expression of genes encoding some proteins were significantly downregulated in STZ-SAN: calcium channel, Cacng4 (7-fold); potassium channel, Kcnd2 whilst genes encoding some other proteins were significantly upregulated in STZ-SAN: gap junction, Gjc1; cell membrane transport, Slc8a1, Trpc1, Trpc6 (4-fold); intracellular Ca2+-transport, Ryr3; calcium channel Cacna1g, Cacna1h, Cacnb3; potassium channels, Kcnj5, Kcnk3 and natriuretic peptides, Nppa (5-fold) and Nppb (7-fold). Conclusions/Significance Collectively, this study has demonstrated differences in the profile of mRNA encoding a variety of proteins that are associated with the generation, conduction and regulation of electrical signals in the SAN of STZ-induced diabetic rat heart. Data from this study will provide a basis for a substantial range of future studies to investigate whether these changes in mRNA translate into changes in electrophysiological function.
Intrarater and Interrater Reliability of the Flexicurve Index, Flexicurve Angle, and Manual Inclinometer for the Measurement of Thoracic Kyphosis

Objective. This study aimed to describe the interrater and intrarater reliability of the flexicurve index, flexicurve angle, and manual inclinometer in swimmers. A secondary objective was to determine the level of agreement between the inclinometer angle and the flexicurve angle and to provide an equation to approximate one angle from the other. Methods. Thirty swimmers participated. Thoracic kyphosis was measured using the flexicurve and the manual inclinometer. Intraclass correlation coefficient, 95% confidence interval, and standard error of measurement were computed. Results. The flexicurve angle and index showed excellent intrarater (ICC = 0.94) and good interrater (ICC = 0.86) reliability. The inclinometer demonstrated excellent intrarater (ICC = 0.92) and interrater (ICC = 0.90) reliability. The flexicurve angle was systematically smaller and correlated poorly with the inclinometer angle (R 2 = 0.384). The following equations can be used for approximate conversions: flexicurve angle = (0.275 × inclinometer angle) + 8.478; inclinometer angle = (1.396 × flexicurve angle) + 8.694. Conclusion. The inclinometer and flexicurve are both reliable instruments for thoracic kyphosis measurement in swimmers. Although the flexicurve and inclinometer angles are not directly comparable, the approximate conversion factors provided will permit translation of flexicurve angle to inclinometer angle and vice versa.
Complex Dynamics and Systemic Change: How Things Can Go Very Wrong

Peter Murrell (1991) instigated a debate regarding the appropriate nature and speed of the process of systemic transformation in the formerly centrally planned economies (CPEs). 1 Murrell's essential position is that advocates of "big bang" or "shock therapy" approaches to transition may be overly optimistic about the outcomes of their proposed policies and that a more gradualistic, "evolutionary" approach may be more appropriate in many cases. Murrell (1991) argues that this can be the case because of numerous difficulties in information and decision-making coordination that can arise in decentralized market economies,2 drawing on the literature on informational asymmetries (Grossman and Stiglitz, 1976), information
Moving Canadian governmental policies beyond a focus on individual lifestyle: some insights from complexity and critical theories

This paper explores why Canadian government policies, particularly those related to obesity, are ‘stuck’ at promoting individual lifestyle change. Key concepts within complexity and critical theories are considered a basis for understanding the continued emphasis on lifestyle factors in spite of strong evidence indicating that a change in the environment and conditions of poverty isare needed to tackle obesity. Opportunities to get ‘unstuck’ from individual-level lifestyle interventions are also suggested by critical concepts found within these two theories, although getting ‘unstuck’ will also require cross-sectoral collective action. Our discussion focuses on the Canadian context but will undoubtedly be relevant to other countries, where health promoters and others engage in similar struggles for fundamental government policy change.
On the fluctuations of the mutual information for non centered MIMO channels: The non Gaussian case

The use of Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) systems has been widely recognized as an efficient solution to increase the data rate of wireless communications. In this regard, several contributions investigate the performance improvement of MIMO systems in terms of Shannon's mutual information. In most of these contributions, elements of the MIMO channel matrix are assumed to belong to a multivariate Gaussian distribution. The non Gaussian case, which is realistic in many practical environments, has been much less studied. This contribution is devoted to the study of the mutual information of MIMO channels when the channel matrix elements are Ricean with the non-Ricean component being iid but non-Gaussian. In this context, the mutual information behavior is studied in the large dimensional regime where both channel matrix dimensions converge to infinity at the same pace. In this regime, a Central Limit Theorem on the mutual information is provided. In particular, the mutual information variance is determined in terms of the parameters of the channel statistical model. Since non Gaussian entries are allowed, a new term proportional to the fourth cumulant of their distribution arises in the expression of the asymptotic variance. In addition, a bias term proportional to this fourth order cumulant appears.
Exhaustive Study of Cosmic Microwave Background Anisotropies in Quintessential Scenarios

Recent high-precision measurements of the CMB anisotropies performed by the BOOMERanG and MAXIMA-1 experiments provide an unmatched set of data allowing us to probe different cosmological models. Among these scenarios, motivated by the recent measurements of the luminosity distance versus redshift relation for type Ia supernovas, is the quintessence hypothesis. It consists of assuming that the acceleration of the Universe is due to a scalar field whose final evolution is insensitive to the initial conditions. Within this framework we investigate the cosmological perturbations for two well-motivated potentials: the Ratra-Peebles and the SUGRA tracking potentials. We show that the solutions of the perturbed equations possess an attractor and that, as a consequence, the insensitivity to the initial conditions is preserved at the perturbed level. Then, we study the predictions of these two models for structure formation and CMB anisotropies and investigate the general features of the multipole moments in the presence of quintessence. We also compare the CMB multipoles calculated with the help of a full Boltzmann code with the BOOMERanG and MAXIMA-1 data. We pay special attention to the location of the second peak and demonstrate that it significantly differs from the location obtained in the cosmological constant case. Finally, we argue that the SUGRA potential is compatible with all the recent data with standard values of the cosmological parameters. In particular, it fits the MAXIMA-1 data better than a cosmological constant or the Ratra-Peebles potential.
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND FUNCTIONAL PROPERTIES OF KIDNEY BEAN / WHEAT FLOUR BLENDS

The chemical and functional characteristics of kidn ey bean and wheat flour blends were examined. The kidney bean flour (KF) was compo site with wheat flour (WF) at the levels of 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50%. The flour blends were analysed for their chemical composition and functional characteristics . From the results, the protein content of the blends increased with increasing sup plementation with kidney bean flour from 22.74% in 50.50 (KF:WF) to 27.24% in 90: 1 (KF:WF) samples, while the carbohydrate decreased. Contrarily, the energy cont ent of the blends increased gradually as the level of fortification with kidney bean flour decreased from 360.60KJ in 90:10 (KF:WF) to 362.15KJ in 50:50 (KF:WF). The results also showed that there were significant differences (p<0.05) in emulsion c apacity, and oil and water absorption capacities of the blends.
Part or parcel? Contextual binding of events in episodic memory

© Oxford University Press 2006. All rights reserved. This chapter examines whether events are the units of episodic memory. It investigates the binding of the context of an event with the event's content in episodic memory using a computer-based virtual reality (VR) paradigm involving pseudo-realistic simulated events. In a chain of pseudo-realistic events which consist of the same element categories throughout, each event appears to be encoded in terms of independent pairwise associations between its elements. There was no evidence of a more holistic encoding in which all elements are associated together. On the contrary, performance on remembering the content of an event via one element of its context appeared to be independent of performance in remembering it via a second element. This finding argues against the idea that whole events are the units of episodic memory and are necessarily re-experienced in all their detail at retrieval.
Inhibition of Myeloperoxidase Activity in Cystic Fibrosis Sputum by Peptide Inhibitor of Complement C1 (PIC1)

Myeloperoxidase is the major peroxidase enzyme in neutrophil granules and implicated in contributing to inflammatory lung damage in cystic fibrosis. Free myeloperoxidase is present in cystic fibrosis lung fluid and generates hypochlorous acid. Here we report a new inhibitor of myeloperoxidase activity, Peptide Inhibitor of Complement C1 (PIC1). Using TMB as the oxidizing substrate, PIC1 inhibited myeloperoxidase activity in cystic fibrosis sputum soluble fractions by an average of a 3.4-fold decrease (P = 0.02). PIC1 also dose-dependently inhibited myeloperoxidase activity in a neutrophil lysate or purified myeloperoxidase by up to 28-fold (P < 0.001). PIC1 inhibited myeloperoxidase activity similarly, on a molar basis, as the specific myeloperoxidase inhibitor 4-Aminobenzoic acid hydrazide (ABAH) for various oxidizing substrates. PIC1 was able to protect the heme ring of myeloperoxidase from destruction by NaOCl, assayed by spectral analysis. PIC1 incubated with oxidized TMB reversed the oxidation state of TMB, as measured by absorbance at 450 nm, with a 20-fold reduction in oxidized TMB (P = 0.02). This result was consistent with an antioxidant mechanism for PIC1. In summary, PIC1 inhibits the peroxidase activity of myeloperoxidase in CF sputum likely via an antioxidant mechanism.
A randomized, double-blind, prospective study of caspofungin vs. amphotericin B for the treatment of invasive candidiasis in newborn infants.

BACKGROUND Caspofungin is an echinocandin agent with fungicidal activity against Candida species. OBJECTIVE To assess the efficacy, safety and tolerability of caspofungin relative to amphotericin B in neonates with invasive candidiasis. PATIENTS AND METHODS Thirty-two neonates with invasive candidiasis were randomly assigned to receive either caspofungin (n = 15) or amphotericin B (n = 17). Efficacy was evaluated, with a successful outcome defined as fulfilling all the components of a prespecified five-part composite endpoint. Evaluation of safety was done by monitoring drug-related adverse events. RESULTS At the end of intravenous therapy, evaluation showed that caspofungin was superior, with a favorable response in 86.7% of patients as compared with 41.7% of those who received amphotericin B (p = 0.04). There were significantly fewer adverse events in the caspofungin group than in the amphotericin B group. CONCLUSION Caspofungin is more effective, safer and alternative to amphotericin B for the treatment of invasive candidiasis in newborn infants.
Endurance Analysis of Automotive Vehicle's Door W/H System Using Finite Element Analysis

In the automotive electronics industry, demand for low-cost, high strength-to in-service performance for electronic components continues to drive the development of vehicles’ door Wiring Harness (W/H) system for new applications. The problem of the fatigue strength estimation of materials or components containing natural defects, inclusions or in homogeneities is of great importance from both a scientific and industrial point of view. This article gives some insight into the dimensioning process, with special focusing on fatigue analysis of W/H in a vehicle’s door structures. An en-durance life prediction of door W/H was calculated using finite element analyses. Endurance test data for slim test specimens were compared with the predicted fatigue life for verification. The final life expectancy of the component combines the effects of these microstructural features with the complex stress state arising from the combined service loading and residual stresses.
A Methodology for Generating Disk Drive Energy Models Using Performance Data

The ability to make intelligent decisions with respect to reducing the energy consumption of mechanical disk drives is dependent upon accurately tracking and accounting the runtime energy consumption of the mechanical and electrical components of the drive in both active and idle states. This work outlines a simple methodology for creating accurate hard drive runtime energy models through the use of easily obtainable data derived from published specifications and performance measurements. We use the generated models to create a TRADE estimator (TRAce-Driven disk drive Energy estimator). Validation of our estimator against a diverse range of disk drives shows that results obtained from the models are within 5% of measured results.
Exchangeable lower previsions

We extend de Finetti's notion of exchangeability to finite and countable sequences of variables, when a subject's beliefs about them are modelled using coherent lower previsions rather than (linear) previsions. We derive representation theorems in both the finite and the countable case, in terms of sampling without and with replacement, respectively.
Intrasexual competition and contrast effects on men's self-ratings of attractiveness and social ascendancy : Status, physical fitness or looks?

In order to determine which of the three male perception foci, stams, physical dominance, or looks, lead to contrast effects on men's self-rated physical and sexual attractiveness, and social ascendancy men were exposed to a high or low stams and physically fir or unfir man (Experiment 1) or (0 3 physically fit or unfit and attractive or unattractive man (Experimenr 2). Since men can effecrive1y derogate the physical dominance of 3 male competirof bur cannot effectively derogate the attractiveness of a male competiror higher self-rarings of social ascendancy were hypothesized for exposure ro a fit man and lower rarings of attractiveness were hypothesized for exposure to an attractive man. The resuJrs were consistent with the hypotheses. Conuast effects are a function of exposure ro the physically dominant and physically amactive in accordance with evolutionary biological explanarions of male intrascxuaJ