Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Application of Liver Stiffness Measurement in Residents Without Overt Liver Diseases Through a Community-Based Screening Program

AbstractThe application of liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by transient elastography (TE) in general population remains to clarify. This cohort study aimed to examine the usefulness of TE and to identify factors associated with significant liver fibrosis in community-based population.We conducted a hepatitis screening program in 2 remote villages of Southern Taiwan. All residents participated voluntarily and received questionnaire evaluation, blood tests, abdominal sonography, and LSM by TE. Residents with any one of following criteria including hepatitis B virus infection, hepatitis C virus infection, more than moderate alcohol drinking, and failure to obtain valid or reliable LSM were excluded.There were 831 residents participated in program. The valid and reliable LSM were obtained in 98.3% and 96.3% of residents, respectively. Finally, a total of 559 residents including 283 residents with nonalcoholic steatotic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were enrolled for analysis. The mean liver stiffness was 4.9 ± 1.9 kPa. The liver stiffness increased in residents with diabetes mellitus (DM), higher body mass index (BMI), hypertension, abnormal waist–hip circumference ration (WHR), higher waist circumference (WC), and presence of fatty liver. Higher body weight, higher BMI, higher WC, abnormal WHR, abnormal aspartate aminotransferase (AST), abnormal alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and DM were the factors associated with significant fibrosis (liver stiffness ≥7 kPa) in either all participants or NAFLD residents. As determined by multivariate analysis, abnormal AST values and DM were the 2 independent factors in all participants (abnormal AST: OR 3.648, 95% CI 1.134–11.740, P = 0.03; DM: OR 2.882, 95% CI 1.282–6.478, P = 0.01) and in residents with NAFLD (abnormal AST: OR 4.197, 95% CI 1.154–15.262, P = 0.03; DM: OR 3.254, 95% CI 1.258–8.413, P = 0.02). LSM by TE is a useful screening tool in community. In residents, who were absence of chronic hepatitis virus infection or consumed less than moderate alcohol drinking, exhibited DM or abnormal AST values may consider a substantial group with significant fibrosis in community.
Development of a structural deformable model for handwriting recognition

Deformable models (DMs) generally possess shape-varying capability, making them particularly suitable for extracting and recognizing non-rigid objects. However, most of the existing DMs are limited to model a close or open contour and hence they are not applicable to complex handwriting patterns like Chinese characters and signatures of which structure plays an important role. In the paper, a new type of DMs called structural deformable models (SDMs) is proposed and preliminary results are reported. The new model takes structural information into account by representing handwriting patterns as a set of active contours that are structurally connected with each other and contain information about the orientation of stroke segments. Appropriate internal and external energy functions are formulated to preserve the model structure and satisfy the data match criterion. By applying the steepest descent method and proposing an effective initialization scheme, the deformation process is derived. The performance of the new model is demonstrated through a small scale Chinese character recognition experiment.
Health inequalities by education and age in four Nordic countries, 1986 and 1994

Study objective: To compare the age pattern of educational health inequalities in four Nordic countries in the mid-1980s and the mid-1990s. Design: Cross sectional interview surveys at two points of time. Setting: Data on self reported limiting longstanding illness, and perceived health were collected from Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden in 1986/87 and in 1994/95. Participants: Representative samples of the non-institutionalised population at 15 years or older. Analyses were restricted to respondents aged between 25 and 75 (n= 23 325 men and 24 184 women). Response rates varied from 73% to 87%. Main results: The age adjusted prevalence of limiting longstanding illness in Finland was 10% higher in men and 6% higher in women than in other Nordic countries in 1986/87 but the gap narrowed by 1994/95. Educational health inequalities were largest in Norway. In 1986/87 the odds ratio (OR) for limiting longstanding illness was 11.25 (95% CI 8.66 to 14.62) among men and 8.23 (95% CI 6.60 to 10.27) among women in the oldest age group (65–74 years old) in Finland when the youngest age group (25–34 years old) was used as the reference category (OR=1.00). The age pattern in Finland was steeper than in Sweden (OR=5.02, 95% CI 3.97 to 6.34 in men and 5.29, 95% CI 4.18 to 6.71 in women) or Norway (OR=6.32, 95% CI 4.06 to 9.84 and 5.45, 95% CI 3.81 to 7.82, respectively). In 1994/95 relative health improved in the oldest age group in Finland (OR=5.80, 95% CI 4.33 to 7.78 in men and 5.94, 95% CI 4.52 to 7.79 in women) and in Norway (OR=4.55, 95% CI 3.01 to 6.88 and 3.96, 95% CI 2.70 to 5.81, respectively) but remained stable in Sweden. The study compared health differences by age in different educational categories and found that in Finland in 1986/87 the health in the oldest age group was poorer for secondary (OR=10.59, 95% CI 5.96 to 18.82) or basic educated (OR=9.76, 95% CI 6.66 to 14.30) men than for men with higher education (OR=5.15, 95% CI 2.59 to 10.22). The difference was not found among women or in other Nordic countries and it diminished among men in Finland in 1994/95. The results of perceived health were broadly similar to the above results of limiting longstanding illness. Conclusion: The results suggest that compared with other Nordic countries the comparatively poorer health in Finland is partly attributable to a cohort effect. This may be associated with the lower standard of living in Finland that lasted until the mid-1950s. The cohort effect is also likely to contribute to educational health inequalities among older Finnish men. The results suggest that not only current social policies but also past economic circumstances are likely to affect the overall health status as well as health inequalities.
Sub-Quantum Thermodynamics as a Basis of Emergent Quantum Mechanics

This review presents results obtained from our group’s approach to model quantum mechanics with the aid of nonequilibrium thermodynamics. As has been shown, the exact Schrodinger equation can be derived by assuming that a particle of energy is actually a dissipative system maintained in a nonequilibrium steady state by a constant throughput of energy (heat flow). Here, also other typical quantum mechanical features are discussed and shown to be completely understandable within our approach, i.e., on the basis of the assumed sub-quantum thermodynamics. In particular, Planck’s relation for the energy of a particle, the Heisenberg uncertainty relations, the quantum mechanical superposition principle and Born’s rule, or the “dispersion of the Gaussian wave packet”, a.o. , are all explained on the basis of purely classical physics.
Active participation or just more information?

Given increasing calls for children and young people to participate via the Internet in civic and political activities), this article examines how far, and with what success, such participation is occurring among UK teenagers. Findings from a national survey conducted by the UK Children Go Online project show that young people are using the Internet for a wide range of activities that could be considered ‘participation’, including communicating, peer-to-peer connection, seeking information, interactivity, webpage/content creation and visiting civic/political websites. The findings are closely examined using path analysis techniques to identify the direct and indirect relations among different factors that may explain how and why some young people participate more than others. The results suggest that interactive and creative uses of the Internet are encouraged by the very experience of using the Internet (gaining in interest, skills, confidence, etc.) but that visiting civic websites depends primarily on demographic factors (with older, middle-class girls being most likely to visit these sites). Finally, cluster analysis is used to identify three groups of young people – interactors, the civic-minded and the disengaged – each of which is distinctive in its social context and approach to the Internet.
The Activity of the Vinculin Binding Sites in Talin Is Influenced by the Stability of the Helical Bundles That Make Up The Talin Rod*

The talin rod contains ∼11 vinculin binding sites (VBSs), each defined by hydrophobic residues in a series of amphipathic helices that are normally buried within the helical bundles that make up the rod. Consistent with this, talin failed to compete for binding of the vinculin Vd1 domain to an immobilized talin polypeptide containing a constitutively active VBS. However, talin did bind to GST-Vd1 in pull-down assays, and isothermal titration calorimetry measurements indicate a Kd of ∼9 μm. Interestingly, Vd1 binding exposed a trypsin cleavage site in the talin rod between residues 898 and 899, indicating that there are one or more active VBSs in the N-terminal part of the talin rod. This region comprises a five helix bundle (residues 482-655) followed by a seven-helix bundle (656-889) and contains five VBSs (helices 4, 6, 9, 11, and 12). The single VBS within 482-655 is cryptic at room temperature. In contrast, talin 482-889 binds Vd1 with high affinity (Kd ∼ 0.14 μm), indicating that one or more of the four VBSs within 656-889 are active, and this likely represents the vinculin binding region in intact talin. In support of this, hemagglutinin-tagged talin 482-889 localized efficiently to focal adhesions, whereas 482-655 did not. Differential scanning calorimetry showed a strong negative correlation between Vd1 binding and helical bundle stability, and a 755-889 mutant with a more stable fold bound Vd1 much less well than wild type. We conclude that the stability of the helical bundles that make up the talin rod is an important factor determining the activity of the individual VBSs.
Partially disordered proteins studied by ion mobility-mass spectrometry: implications for the preservation of solution phase structure in the gas phase.

The coupling of electrospray ionization (ESI) with ion mobility-mass spectrometry (IM-MS) allows structural studies on biological macromolecules in a solvent-free environment. Collision cross sections (CCSs) measured by IM-MS provide a measure of analyte size. For native proteins and their complexes, many structural features can be preserved in the gas phase, making IM-MS a powerful approach for a range of bioanalytical applications. In addition to tightly folded conformers, a large number of partially disordered proteins participate in biological processes and disease mechanisms. It remains unclear to what extent IM-MS is suitable for exploring structural properties of these semifolded species. The current work addresses this question, using myoglobin as model system. This protein follows a sequential unfolding pathway that comprises two partially disordered states, i.e., apo-myoglobin (aMb) at pH 7 and pH 4. IM-MS data acquired for these two conformers were compared to those of native holo-myoglobin (hMb) at pH 7 and extensively unfolded aMb at pH 2. When examining individual aMb charge states, the degree of gas phase unfolding is not strongly correlated with the corresponding solution behavior. A key problem is that non-native conformers generate high ESI charge states, resulting in conformational transitions caused by intramolecular electrostatic repulsion. It is possible to establish a link between solution phase and gas phase structure when normalizing CCS distributions according to their respective ESI-MS signal intensities. This approach yields CCS averages that follow the expected progression hMbpH 7 < aMbpH 7 < aMbpH 4 < aMbpH 2. However, this trend mainly reflects the protonation behavior of the conformers during the ESI process, rather than a genuine memory of solution structure. Overall, our data reveal that electrostatically driven expansion as well as collapse events can lead to disparities between gaseous and solution structures for partially unfolded proteins. IM-MS data on non-native conformers should therefore be interpreted with caution.
A Dynamic Multimedia User-Weight Classification Scheme for IEEE_802.11 WLANs

In this paper we expose a dynamic traffic-classification scheme to support multimedia applications such as voice and broadband video transmissions over IEEE 802.11 Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs). Obviously, over a Wi-Fi link and to better serve these applications– which normally have strict bounded transmission delay or minimum link rate requirement – a service differentiation technique can be applied to the media traffic transmitted by the same mobile node using the well-known 802.11e Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA) protocol. However, the given EDCA mode does not offer user differentiation, which can be viewed as a deficiency in multi-access wireless networks. Accordingly, we propose a new inter-node priority access scheme for IEEE 802.11e networks which is compatible with the EDCA scheme. The proposed scheme joins a dynamic user-weight to each mobile station depending on its outgoing data, and therefore deploys inter-node priority for the channel access to complement the existing EDCA inter-frame priority. This provides efficient quality of service control across multiple users within the same coverage area of an access point. We provide performance evaluations to compare the proposed access model with the basic EDCA 802.11 MAC protocol mode to elucidate the quality improvement achieved for multimedia communication over 802.11 WLANs.
Robust and Efficient Estimation of Elasticity Parameters using the linear Finite Element Method

Realistic elasticity parameters are important for the accurate simulation of deformable objects, e. g. in medical simulations. In this paper, we present an approach for estimating elasticity parameters for isotropic elastic materials using the linear Finite Element Method. Employing the initial undeformed geometry and a measured forcedeformation relation, the method computes the elasticity parameters based on Quadratic Programming. The structure of the stiffness matrix is employed to accelerate the estimation process. Experiments suggest, that the parameter estimation approach can be used for noisy data.
Síndrome de Burnout: diferenças segundo níveis de ensino

The Burnout Syndrome is the result of chronic stress that is typical of daily work, especially when excessive pressure, conflicts, few emotional rewards and recognition are present. The study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the Burnout Syndrome, varying levels of education and employment. The sample of the study consisted of 171 teachers in Porto Alegre and the metropolitan region, 34 of childhood education, 48 elementary school, 31 high school and 58 of university education. Results obtained through analysis of variance revealed that teachers of children’s education have lower levels of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization in relation to other levels of education. High school has increased rate of depersonalization than child and university level. With regard to professional achievement, all levels differ, the higher being children education, followed by basic and university, and the lowest submitted by high school. Labor variables evaluated through the Pearson correlations were associated in differentiate ways into the groups of children and high school teaching. Levels of elementary school and university showed no association with the labor variables investigated. Results suggest differentiated actions according to educational levels.
The PASCAL Recognising Textual Entailment Challenge

This paper describes the PASCAL Network of Excellence first Recognising Textual Entailment (RTE-1) Challenge benchmark 1 . The RTE task is defined as recognizing, given two text fragments, whether the meaning of one text can be inferred (entailed) from the other. This application-independent task is suggested as capturing major inferences about the variability of semantic expression which are commonly needed across multiple applications. The Challenge has raised noticeable attention in the research community, attracting 17 submissions from diverse groups, suggesting the generic relevance of the task.
Evaluation of similarity measures in contrast enhanced echocardiography motion detection and registration

In the present work, a similarity metric based on image difference entropy has been investigated for myocardial contrast echocardiography non-rigid registration. The image histogram size has shown to influence registration accuracy, improving results for difference entropy, which has presented better results when compared to other two well known similarity metric in literature, namely, normalized cross correlation and mutual information. The displacement field has been smoothed with a Gaussian convolution, allowing controlling the smoothness in geometric transformation and attenuating displacement field miscalculations. Therefore, registration parameters can be set to privilege more local or global image transformation. Difference image entropy has shown robust accurate registration for myocardial contrast echocardiography at parameter values found in this study.
Comparison of Gentamicin, Carbenicillin and Gentamicin, and Carbenicillin in Pseudomonas Sepsis in Monkeys

Intravenous inoculation of 6.0 × 1010Pseudomonas aeruginosa organisms into rhesus monkeys 4 days after intratracheal inoculation of 2.5 mg of vincristine sulfate resulted in fatal sepsis in all of three untreated control monkeys. After intramuscular administration of either 2.5 mg of gentamicin or 50 mg of carbenicillin per kg per day, three of four monkeys in each group survived. When both antibiotics were given at the same dose but in separate sites, six of eight monkeys survived. Antibacterial activity of serum from infected monkeys or normal monkeys was not appreciably different when the two antibiotics were combined. Under the conditions of this study, there was no apparent difference in response of monkeys treated either with gentamicin or carbenicillin alone or with the combination of the two antibiotics.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INTELLIGENCE AREAS AND INTERPERSONAL PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS ACCORDING TO MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES THEORY

The aim of this research is to analyse relationship between intelligence areas and problem solving skills of the students of Faculty of Education according to multiple intelligences theory of Gardner. Research sample is composed of 311 (64.3% female, 35.7% male) students who attended the Faculty of Education. Research data has been collected through “Multiple Intelligences Scale” developed by Yesildere (2003) and “Problem Solving Inventory” developed by Heppner and Peterson (1982). It was determined that problem solving skill perception of the teacher candidates according to the gender differentiated meaningfully according to scores of mathematical, visual, kinesthetic intelligence areas. it was found that problem solving skills of the male teacher candidates are higher than the female teacher candidates. There is a negative meaningful relation among all intelligence areas and problem solving skill perception of the candidate teachers. There is a meaningful relationship in a positive aspect between problem solving skill and emotional intelligence. Keywords: Problem solving skills,intelligence area, Faculty of Education,candidate teacher, multiple intelligence.
Positive and negative control of translation by the leader sequence of cauliflower mosaic virus pregenomic 35S RNA.

We have studied the influence of the 600 nt long leader sequence of cauliflower mosaic virus 35S RNA on downstream translation. Plant protoplasts were transfected with plasmids expressing a CAT reporter gene from a mRNA, containing wild‐type or mutant forms of the 35S RNA leader. Deletion analysis revealed the presence of three separate stimulatory sequence regions, S1, S2 and S3. The latter two interact with each other to enhance downstream translation 5‐ to 10‐fold. This enhancement was not observed in protoplasts from a non‐host plant. In the absence of either S2 or S3, the region I2, located in between, exerts an inhibitory effect on downstream translation, probably due to the presence of short open reading frames. Expression of a reporter gene inserted into I2 increases 2‐fold upon deletion of either S2 or S3. We propose that mRNA regions S2 and S3 form a complex with cellular factors that allows scanning ribosomes to bypass region I2.
Unpacking change to inform intimate partner violence prevention : exploring couples' processes of change and the influence of intervention and social network factors in Uganda

Background and aims: Intimate partner violence (IPV) prevention ultimately hinges on change at the level of the household where relationships are conducted. There is little research examining the process of relational change among couples with a history of IPV following exposure to a community level IPV prevention intervention, particularly in low-income settings. This thesis aims to fill this gap by examining how relational change occurred (or did not) among couples in Uganda exposed to SASA! , a community mobilization intervention aimed to prevent IPV and HIV. The study first explores relationship change processes among couples exposed to the intervention. Secondly, it examines the key aspects of the intervention and social network factors that influenced these changes, illuminating the pathways through which the intervention diffused. Methods: This thesis comprises: i) a methodological examination of qualitative dyadic (couple) data collection and analysis; ii) a qualitative study of couples exposed to the SASA! intervention using in-depth interviews to examine processes of relationship change; iii) a mixed methods analysis of the influence of intervention and social network factors in the diffusion of new ideas and behaviour around intimate relationships and IPV. Findings & Conclusions: Through examining relationship trajectories from both partner’s perspectives the sphere in which IPV occurs comes through clearly, revealing the common challenges couples faced, how they were shaped by gender roles and, also, how they were able to change, preventing IPV. Change is possible through key community-level interventions working with both men and women that generate hope and belief in an alternative way of achieving fulfilling relationships and family life. This includes providing simple tools to improve relationships and local change agents to support change, all within the context of a wider community that is changing together, generating new norms in the process. Thus, the IPV prevention field may benefit from the inclusion of relationship education/skills and support for both men and women at the community level.