Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predictors of disability pension in long-term sickness absence: results from a population-based and prospective study in Norway 1994-1999.

BACKGROUND While several socio-demographic predictors of disability pension (DP) have been identified, less is known about the importance of the medical aspects. METHODS A representative sample of Norwegian long-term sickness absentees, 2043 women and 1585 men, with detailed diagnostic information based on the International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC) was followed up for 5 years. The date of granting DP was obtained from the Norwegian DP-register and used as the dependent variable in Cox multivariate regression analysis. Medical and socio-demographic factors were entered as explanatory variables. RESULTS Kaplan-Meier estimates of the 5 year risk of DP were 22.9% for the full sample, 22.5% for men and 23.3% for the women. Men on sick leave for mental health disorders had an increased disability risk. Except for pregnancy-related cases, which carried a very low risk for future DP, there was no significant difference between the main diagnostic groups among women. Previous sickness absence increased the disability risk but was significant only for total absence above 20 weeks in the 4 years preceding inclusion. Age was the strongest predictor of future DP. Increasing income decreased the risk, bur not linearly. Unemployment status in the year preceding inclusion increased disability risk for women, but not for men. Among cases with musculoskeletal disorders (54.5% of the sample), subgroups with different disability risks were identified in Cox' regression analysis, with a gender-specific pattern. CONCLUSION In addition to previously known socio-demographic predictors, medical variables were important in identifying sickness absentees with an increased risk of DP.
O-Plan: Architecture Guide

and Scheduling Initiative through the us Air Force Rome Laboratory through the Air Force OOce of Scientiic Research (afosr) and their European OOce of Aerospace Research a n d D e v elopment b y contract number F49620-92-C-0042 (eoard/92-0001) monitored by Northrup Fowler iii at the usaf Rome Laboratory. Additional resources for the O-Plan and O-Plan projects have b e e n p r o vided by the Artiicial Intelligence Applications Institute through the europa (Edinburgh University Research on Planning Architectures) institute development project. From 1989 to 1993, research o n s c heduling applications of the O-Plan architecture was funded by H i t a c hi Eu-rope Ltd. From 1989 to 1992, the uk Science and Engineering Research Council (grant n umber gr/f36545 { uk Information Engineering Directorate project number ied 4/1/1320) funded a collaborative project with icl, Imperial College and other partners in which the O-Plan architecture was used to guide the design and development of a planner with a exible temporal logic representation of the plan state. A number of other research and development contracts placed with aiai have led to research progress on the O-Plan prototype. O-Plan is a valuable asset of the Artiicial Intelligence Applications Institute and must not be used without the prior permission of a rights holder. Please contact aiai for more information.
An overview of face de-identification in still images and videos

Face-based identification is used in various application scenarios - from identification of a person based on still images in passport or identity card, to identification based on face images captured by a surveillance system without the cooperation of the person. In many application scenarios, especially in video surveillance, privacy can be compromised. One of the approaches to the preservation of privacy is de-identification, where de-identification is the process of concealing or removing personal identifiers, or replacing them with surrogate personal identifiers in personal information, captured in a multimedia content, in order to prevent the disclosure and use of data for purposes unrelated to the purpose for which the information was originally obtained. This paper presents a survey of approaches, methods and solutions for face de-identification in still images and videos.
Hypocritical Flip-Flop, or Courageous Evolution? When Leaders Change Their Moral Minds

How do audiences react to leaders who change their opinion after taking moral stances? We propose that people believe moral stances are stronger commitments, compared with pragmatic stances; we therefore explore whether and when audiences believe those commitments can be broken. We find that audiences believe moral commitments should not be broken, and thus that they deride as hypocritical leaders who claim a moral commitment and later change their views. Moreover, they view them as less effective and less worthy of support. Although participants found a moral mind changer especially hypocritical when they disagreed with the new view, the effect persisted even among participants who fully endorsed the new view. We draw these conclusions from analyses and meta-analyses of 15 studies (total N = 5,552), using recent statistical advances to verify the robustness of our findings. In several of our studies, we also test for various possible moderators of these effects; overall we find only 1 promising finding: some evidence that 2 specific justifications for moral mind changes—citing a personally transformative experience, or blaming external circumstances rather than acknowledging opinion change—help moral leaders appear more courageous, but no less hypocritical. Together, our findings demonstrate a lay belief that moral views should be stable over time; they also suggest a downside for leaders in using moral framings.
Empirical Evidence from the US #216

The past years were characterized by unprecedented rises in prices of commodities such as oil or wheat and infl ation rates moved up above the mark of two percent per annum. This led to a revival of the debate whether commodity prices indicate future CPI infl ation and if they can be used as indicator variables for central banks or not. We apply various econometric methods like Granger causality tests and SVAR models to US data. The results corroborate the notion that there was a strong link between commodity prices and CPI infl ation in the 1970s and the beginning of the 1980s. For a more recent sample, the relationship has weakened, respectively diminished. JEL Classifi cation: E44, E52, E58
Information Systems and Health Care VIII-Using Paper-Based Scenarios to Examine Perceptions of Interactive Health Communication Systems

While information and communication technologies can increase the health care provided to underserved populations, research concerning these technologies often involves only those patients who possess access to technology or who are otherwise willing and able to use it. This issue is important for both researchers and practitioners because non-users’ beliefs may not only be different from users’ beliefs, they may become more important to understand as access to technology increases. To address this problem: 1. We develop a model of the antecedents to perceived usefulness of an interactive health communication (IHC) system. While our research model combines health-related beliefs with technology perceptions, the antecedents can all be measured before an individual has contact with a particular IHC system. Thus, in the current (and in future) work, they can be used to assess the beliefs of individuals who may not currently be willing or able to use technology. 2. We test this model using paper-based scenarios that depict hypothetical interactions with an IHC system. These paper-based scenarios are more flexible and easier to use than a working system, thus we are able to obtain data from many sources, resulting in a perceptually diverse sample. Results of our hypothesis testing show that patients with higher knowledge and discipline are less likely than those with less knowledge and/or discipline to find an IHC system useful. In addition we learned several lessons from our research process including how to increase participation rates and what reactions to expect from participants.
Simulating Resistive-Bridging and Stuck-At Faults

The authors present a simulator for resistive-bridging and stuck-at faults. In contrast to earlier work, it is based on electrical equations rather than table look up, thus, exposing more flexibility. For the first time, simulation of sequential circuits is dealt with; interaction of fault effects in current time frame and earlier time frames is elaborated on for different bridge resistances. Experimental results are given for resistive-bridging and stuck-at faults in combinational and sequential circuits. Different definitions of fault coverage are listed, and quantitative results with respect to all these definitions are given for the first time
CLASSY: a clock analysis system for rapid prototyping of embedded applications on MPSoCs

This paper presents an abstract multi-clock oriented reasoning for the rapid prototyping of embedded applications executed on multiprocessor systems-on-chip (MPSoCs). The scheduling of applications on execution platforms composed of processors operating at various frequencies is described and analyzed with clocks. As in the static scheduling of synchronous dataflows (SDFs), requirements for admissible schedules are investigated, which come not only from expected application behavior, but also from execution platform. An algorithm is proposed to construct admissible schedules respecting identified requirements. It is then adapted to synthesize admissible schedules for adaptive system behaviors. The modeling, analysis and algorithms presented in this paper have been implemented in a prototype tool named CLASSY (standing for CLock AnalySis SYstem).
Validity of a Self-administered Food Frequency Questionnaire Used in the 5-year Follow-up Survey of the JPHC Study Cohort I to Assess Dietary Fiber Intake: Comparison with Dietary Records

We examined the validity of a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) used in the 5-year follow-up survey of the JPHC study for estimation of dietary fiber intake by comparing the intake estimated with dietary records (DR). We developed a food composition table for dietary fiber for the food items included in the FFQ using a substitution method. The Spearman correlation coefficients were slightly higher in crude values (0.48-0.51 in men, 0.40-0.45 in women) than in energy-adjusted values (0.43-0.44 in men, 0.36-0.40 in women). The correlation coefficients of food group-specific dietary fiber (crude) were 0.26 and 0.27 for vegetables, and 0.62 and 0.49 for fruits in men and women, respectively. The mean intakes assessed with the FFQ and DR were not statistically different either for water-soluble or -insoluble fiber in both men and women. However, the fruit fiber assessed with FFQ was significantly overand the vegetable fiber was underestimated compared with those assessed with DRs. The FFQ can be used for ranking individuals for dietary fiber intakes in epidemiologic studies, despite the difficulty in estimating mean intake.
Identical peptides recognized by MHC class I- and II-restricted T cells

Previous data from many groups show that both class I and class II- restricted T cells recognize short synthetic peptides in the context of their respective MHC molecules (9-18), all of the peptides described to date are restricted to only a single class of MHC molecules; however, structural homology between the class I and II MHC molecules and the use of similar TCRs by class I and II-restricted T cells suggest that antigen recognition mechanisms are similar in both systems. To directly compare antigen recognition in the two systems, we analyzed peptides for the ability to function in both a class I and II-restricted system and found that seven of seven individual peptides tested stimulate both class I and II-restricted T cell responses. In addition, two of the peptides can function in different species stimulating both human class I and murine class II T cell responses. Thus, the process of T cell recognition of antigen in the context of MHC molecules was highly conserved in evolution not only between the class I and class II MHC systems, but also between the murine and human species.
Antimyeloperoxidase-associated proliferative glomerulonephritis: an animal model

To develop an animal model for antimyeloperoxidase (MPO)-associated necrotizing crescentic glomerulonephritis (NCGN), we immunized Brown Norway rats with MPO and localized a neutrophil lysosomal enzyme extract, primarily consisting of MPO and elastinolytic enzymes, plus H2O2, the substrate of MPO, to the glomerular basement membrane (GBM). Upon immunization rats developed antibodies and positive skin tests to MPO. After unilateral perfusion of the left kidney with the lysosomal enzyme extract and H2O2, MPO and immunoglobulin (Ig)G localized transiently along the GMB. At the time of maximal inflammation, at 4 and 10 d after perfusion, MPO, IgG, and C3 could not be detected anymore. MPO-immunized rats perfused with the lysosomal enzyme extract and H2O2, in contrast to control-immunized and/or control-perfused rats, developed a proliferative GN characterized by intra- and extracapillary cell proliferation, ruptured Bowman's capsule, periglomerular granulomatous inflammation, and formation of giant cells. Monocytes, polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN), and to a far lesser extent T cells were found in the glomeruli. Interstitial infiltrates consisted of monocytes, PMN, and T cells. Granulomatous vasculitis of small vessels was found at 10 d after perfusion. The proliferative NCGN in this rat model closely resembles human anti-MPO- associated pauci-immune NCGN, and enables the study of the pathophysiology of anti-MPO-associated NCGN.
BRAF inhibitor resistance mediated by the AKT pathway in an oncogenic BRAF mouse melanoma model

Significance Using Sleeping Beauty transposon mutagenesis in a melanoma model driven by oncogenic BRAF (B-Raf proto-oncogene, serine/threonine kinase), we identified both known and novel candidate genes that mediate resistance to the BRAF inhibitor PLX4720. We validate ES-cell expressed Ras as a novel promoter of BRAF inhibitor resistance and propose that AKT (v-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog 1)-mediated inactivation of BAD (BCL2-associated agonist of cell death) constitutes a pathway that may contribute to hepatocyte growth factor-mediated therapy resistance. Our work establishes Sleeping Beauty mutagenesis as a powerful tool for the identification of novel resistance genes and mechanisms in genetically modified mouse models. BRAF (v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B) inhibitors elicit a transient anti-tumor response in ∼80% of BRAFV600-mutant melanoma patients that almost uniformly precedes the emergence of resistance. Here we used a mouse model of melanoma in which melanocyte-specific expression of BrafV618E (analogous to the human BRAFV600E mutation) led to the development of skin hyperpigmentation and nevi, as well as melanoma formation with incomplete penetrance. Sleeping Beauty insertional mutagenesis in this model led to accelerated and fully penetrant melanomagenesis and synchronous tumor formation. Treatment of BrafV618E transposon mice with the BRAF inhibitor PLX4720 resulted in tumor regression followed by relapse. Analysis of transposon insertions identified eight genes including Braf, Mitf, and ERas (ES-cell expressed Ras) as candidate resistance genes. Expression of ERAS in human melanoma cell lines conferred resistance to PLX4720 and induced hyperphosphorylation of AKT (v-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog 1), a phenotype reverted by combinatorial treatment with PLX4720 and the AKT inhibitor MK2206. We show that ERAS expression elicits a prosurvival signal associated with phosphorylation/inactivation of BAD, and that the resistance of hepatocyte growth factor-treated human melanoma cells to PLX4720 can be reverted by treatment with the BAD-like BH3 mimetic ABT-737. Thus, we define a role for the AKT/BAD pathway in resistance to BRAF inhibition and illustrate an in vivo approach for finding drug resistance genes.
Evaluation of the bactec MGIT 960 TB system for recovery and identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in a high through put tertiary care centre.

AIM To evaluate the performance of an automated BACTEC MGIT 960, a non-radioactive, non-invasive liquid culture system for cultivation of M. tuberculosis complex in terms of recovery rate and time. MATERIALS AND METHODS From March 2005 to December 2007, 14,597 specimens were processed using the MGIT 960 system and the results were compared with conventional L.J medium. We standardised r-nitro benzoic acid (PNBA) assay on MGIT 960 TB system for identification of M. tuberculosis complex and evaluated its usefulness by comparing the results with an in-house molecular assay and sequencing. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Of the total 6143 (42%) isolates positive for M. tuberculosis complex, 6015 (41%) were positive by MGIT 960 TB system. In contrast, 3526 (24%) M. tuberculosis complex isolates grew on the conventional L.J medium. The mean turn around time for mycobacterial growth in smear-positive specimens was nine days for MGIT 960, and 38 days for L.J. medium whereas in smear negative specimens it was 16 days by MGIT vs. 48 days by L.J. CONCLUSION MGIT 960 system with PNBA assay for identification of M. tuberculosis complex is a rapid and useful method in laboratories processing a large number of specimens.
Application-Aware Local-Global Source Deduplication for Cloud Backup Services of Personal Storage

In personal computing devices that rely on a cloud storage environment for data backup, an imminent challenge facing source deduplication for cloud backup services is the low deduplication efficiency due to a combination of the resource-intensive nature of deduplication and the limited system resources. In this paper, we present ALG-Dedupe, an Application-aware Local-Global source deduplication scheme that improves data deduplication efficiency by exploiting application awareness, and further combines local and global duplicate detection to strike a good balance between cloud storage capacity saving and deduplication time reduction. We perform experiments via prototype implementation to demonstrate that our scheme can significantly improve deduplication efficiency over the state-of-the-art methods with low system overhead, resulting in shortened backup window, increased power efficiency and reduced cost for cloud backup services of personal storage.
A note on cohomological localization

Given a cohomological functor from a triangulated category to an abelian category, we construct under appropriate assumptions for any localization functor of the abelian category a lift to a localization functor of the triangulated category. This discussion of Bousfield localization is combined with a basic introduction to the concept of localization for arbitrary categories.
Probing Transition Metal Dichalcogenides via Strain-Tuned and Polarization-Resolved Optical Spectroscopy

The strong light-matter interaction in the atomically thin transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) has allowed the use of optical spectroscopy to investigate these materials in great depth. It has been shown that optoelectronic properties of ultrathin TMDCs are remarkably different from their bulk counterparts. Among them, this dissertation focuses on ultrathin MoTe2 (molybdenum ditelluride) and ReS2 (rhenium disulfide). We first introduce the fundamental properties of the two material systems, MoTe2 and ReS2, investigated in this dissertation. Specific experimental methods for optical spectroscopy of 2D materials, 2D sample preparation, and related optics calculations are presented. Absorption and photoluminescence measurements are applied to demonstrate that semiconducting MoTe2, an indirect band gap bulk material, acquires a direct band gap in the monolayer limit. Furthermore, strain-tuned optical spectroscopy on MoTe2 shows that tensile strain can significantly redshift its optical gap and partially suppress the intervalley exciton-phonon scattering. This suppression results in a narrowing of the near-band excitonic transitions. We also discuss the effect of strain on the transport properties of MoTe2 due to this reduction in scattering. We investigate monolayer ReS2 as a TMDC system exhibiting strong in-plane anisotropy. These properties are explored by polarization-resolved spectroscopy. We show how the accessible optical properties vary with optical polarization. We find that the near-band excitons in ultrathin ReS2, absorb and emit light along specific polarizations. We also show that purely non-contact, optical techniques can determine the crystallographic orientation of ReS2.
Oroxylin-A Rescues LPS-Induced Acute Lung Injury via Regulation of NF-κB Signaling Pathway in Rodents

Background and Purpose Successful drug treatment for sepsis-related acute lung injury (ALI) remains a major clinical problem. This study was designed to assess the beneficial effects of post-treatment of oroxylin A (OroA), a flavonoid, in ameliorating lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced lung inflammation and fatality. Experimental Approach Rats were injected with LPS (10 mg/kg, iv) to induce ALI, and OroA was given (15 mg/kg, iv) 1 hr or 6 hrs after LPS challenge. Twenty four hrs after LPS challenge, biochemical changes in the blood and lung tissues, and morphological/histological alterations in the lung associated with inflammation and injury were examined. Therapeutic effect of OroA was assessed by measuring the survival rate in endotoxemic mice. Key Results LPS (10 mg/kg, iv) significantly altered WBC counts, elevated plasma tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and nitric oxide (NO), increased pulmonary edema, thickened alveolar septa, and decreased survival rate. These changes were ameliorated by OroA (15 mg/kg, iv) administered 1 hr or 6 hrs after LPS challenge. This post-treatment also significantly attenuated LPS-induced activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and the release of high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) in lung tissues. Furthermore, post-treatment with OroA (60 mg/kg, ip) administered 1 hr or 6 hrs after LPS challenge in mice significantly increased survival rate. Conclusion and Implication OroA administered after induction of ALI by LPS significantly prevent and revere lung tissues injuries with increased survival rate. Positive post-treatment effects of OroA suggest that OroA is a potentially useful candidate for managing lung inflammation in LPS-induced endotoxemia and septic shock.
Beliefs about insulin as a predictor of fear of hypoglycaemia

The present study extends previous research by exploring the predictive value of beliefs about insulin therapy in fear of hypoglycaemia (FoH). Data were collected on 81 Spanish adults (aged 18—58 years) with type 1 diabetes. Participants completed a survey questionnaire containing the following measures: state-trait anxiety inventory, beliefs about medicines questionnaire (specific scale), a modified version of the FoH Survey (worry scale) and different questions about demographic and clinical information (duration of diabetes, daily shots of insulin, severe hypoglycaemic episodes, metabolic control). Regression analyses showed that history of severe hypoglycaemic episodes and concerns about insulin therapy had the most predictive influence on FoH. Treatment perceptions, particularly concerns about insulin, were related to reported FoH. However, FoH is a complex phenomenon and more research is needed in order to gain a better understanding of its predictors and correlates.