Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
THE POLLS—A REPORT1980–1988 NEW HAMPSHIRE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY POLLS

The New Hampshire primary remains a pivotal event in the presidential campaign. Vice President George Bush overcame a dismal third-place finish in the 1988 Iowa caucus to surge to victory in New Hampshire, dealing a fatal blow to the campaign of Sen. Robert Dole. Gov. Michael Dukakis's victory in the 1988 New Hampshire primary, following his third-place finish in Iowa, cemented his position as the Democratic frontrunner. In 1984 Sen. Gary Hart was soundly beaten in the Iowa caucus, but his surprise finish in second place catapulted him into the limelight, and his upset win in New Hampshire shortly thereafter led to a sustained challenge for the nomination. In 1980 Ronald Reagan overcame defeat in Iowa to beat George Bush in the Granite State. Tracking polls and other surveys have chronicled major developments in every seriously contested New Hampshire presidential primary in the 1980s. Although private tracking surveys were conducted in 1980, the first public tracking poll gauging day-by-day changes in New Hampshire preference was conducted by the Washington Post and ABC News in 1984. For the purposes of this article, "tracking polls" are defined as polls in which fieldwork is conducted every day in the week prior to election day and in which results are analyzed and/or reported several times over that period. Reporting of such "tracking polls" can be based on figures covering a single day, more than one day, or on overlapping rolling averages with each covering multiple days of interviewing. A compilation of New Hampshire presidential primary polls follows this article, including data from tracking polls and other surveys conducted in the 1980s. Final election results are also presented. The main objective of tracking polling before the New Hampshire
Patterns of Asthma Control Perception in Adolescents: Associations with Psychosocial Functioning

Objective. The purpose was to identify and describe the patterns of asthma control perception in relation to actual symptom reports in adolescents and to compare the group with accurate control perception with those of inaccurate perception in relationship to sociodemographic characteristics, illness-related factors, and psychosocial factors. Methods. A sample of 126 adolescents from 13 through 20 years of age participated in the study. Patterns of control perception were constructed based on participants' rating of their perception of asthma control and self-reported asthma symptoms using Latent Class Analysis. Analyses of variance (ANOVAs) and multinomial logistic regressions were computed for group comparisons. Results. Participants were classified into four groups according to the patterns of control perception. Accurate groups were divided into either the well-controlled (62%) or the poorly-controlled group (7%), and inaccurate groups were manifested inaccuracy either with nighttime symptoms (25%) or daytime symptoms (6%). Minority participants (p < 0.001) or those with low socioeconomic status (p < 0.001) were more likely to be represented in the inaccurate group than their counterparts. The well-controlled accurate group consistently reported higher asthma-related knowledge (p = 0.02), more positive attitude toward asthma (p < 0.001), fewer barriers to self-management (p = 0.04), and higher quality of life (p < 0.001) than the inaccurate group. Conclusion. This study demonstrated that accuracy of asthma control perception can be classified into four criteria based on patterns of various asthma symptoms. Adolescents' tendency toward underperception was evident. The inaccurate groups are at greater risk for psychosocial impairments. This study underscores the importance of an intervention that improves the accuracy of asthma control perception in adolescents while promoting psychosocial well-being among adolescents with inaccurate perception.
Bayesian deblurring with integrated noise estimation

Conventional non-blind image deblurring algorithms involve natural image priors and maximum a-posteriori (MAP) estimation. As a consequence of MAP estimation, separate pre-processing steps such as noise estimation and training of the regularization parameter are necessary to avoid user interaction. Moreover, MAP estimates involving standard natural image priors have been found lacking in terms of restoration performance. To address these issues we introduce an integrated Bayesian framework that unifies non-blind deblurring and noise estimation, thus freeing the user of tediously pre-determining a noise level. A sampling-based technique allows to integrate out the unknown noise level and to perform deblurring using the Bayesian minimum mean squared error estimate (MMSE), which requires no regularization parameter and yields higher performance than MAP estimates when combined with a learned high-order image prior. A quantitative evaluation demonstrates state-of-the-art results for both non-blind deblurring and noise estimation.
Mini Drug Pump for Ophthalmic Use

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of developing a novel mini drug pump for ophthalmic use. Methods: Using principles of microelectromechanical systems engineering, a mini drug pump was fabricated. The pumping mechanism is based on electrolysis and the pump includes a drug refill port as well as a check valve to control drug delivery. Drug pumps were tested first on the bench-top and then after implantation in rabbits. For the latter, we implanted 4 elliptical (9.9 × 7.7 × 1.8 mm) non-electrically active pumps into 4 rabbits. The procedure is similar to implantation of a glaucoma aqueous drainage device. To determine the ability to refill and also the patency of the cannula, at intervals of 4–6 weeks after implantation, we accessed the drug reservoir with a transconjunctival needle and delivered approximately as low as 1 µL of trypan blue solution (0.06%) into the anterior chamber. Animals were followed by slit lamp examination, photography, and fluorescein angiography. Results: Bench-top testing showed 2.0 µL/min delivery when using 0.4 mW of power for electrolysis. One-way valves showed reliable opening pressures of 470 mmHg. All implanted devices refilled at 4–6 weeks intervals for 4–6 months. No infection was seen. No devices extruded. No filtering bleb formed over the implant. Conclusions: A prototype ocular mini drug pump was built, implanted, and refilled. Such a platform needs more testing to determine the long term biocompatibility of an electrically-controlled implanted pump. Testing with various pharmacological agents is needed to determine its ultimate potential for ophthalmic use.
Effects of surface-modifying ligands on the colloidal stability of ZnO nanoparticle dispersions in in vitro cytotoxicity test media

The extrinsic physicochemical properties of nanoparticles (NPs), such as hydrodynamic size, surface charge, surface functional group, and colloidal stabilities, in toxicity testing media are known to have a significant influence on in vitro toxicity assessments. Therefore, interpretation of nanotoxicity test results should be based on reliable characterization of the NPs’ extrinsic properties in actual toxicity testing media. Here, we present a set of physicochemical characterization results for commercially available ZnO NPs, including core diameter, hydrodynamic diameter, surface charges, and colloidal stabilities, in two in vitro toxicity testing media (Roswell Park Memorial Institute [RPMI] and Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle’s Medium [DMEM]), as well as simple cell viability assay results for selected ZnO NPs. Four commercially available and manufactured ZnO NPs, with different core sizes, were used in this study, and their surface charge was modified with five different surface coating materials (sodium citrate, tris(2-aminoethyl)amine, poly(acrylic acid), poly(allylamine hydrochloride), and poly-L-lysine hydrochloride). The results showed that ZnO NPs were better dispersed in cell culture media via surface modification with positively or negatively charged molecules. Moreover, in the presence of fetal bovine serum (FBS) in RPMI and DMEM media, ZnO NPs were found even better dispersed for a longer period (at least 48 hours). For the HeLa cells exposed to ZnO NPs in DMEM media without FBS, surface charge-dependent cytotoxicity trends were observed, while these trends were not observed for those cells cultured in FBS-containing media. This confirmed the important roles of surface-modifying compounds and of surface charge on the resultant cytotoxicities of NPs.
Performance comparison of process and adaptive cellular layouts using simulation

Group technology and cellular manufacturing have renovated the method of manufacturing of mid-volume, mid-variety products. Many researchers have compared the performances of cellular manufacturing systems with those systems using process layouts. Such studies have brought out the merits and de-merits of both the systems and have helped in determining the suitable system for a given demand environment. They also give valuable information about the effect of factors like batch size, setup time, demand fluctuations, etc., on the performance of a manufacturing system and help in organising a selected system for better results. Previous studies suggest that the advantages of cellular manufacturing systems diminish in unstable demand. But the performance of adaptive cellular designs, which are suitable for dynamic demands, has not been tested. The best way to analyse the performance of manufacturing systems is by using simulation. This study compares, using simulation, the performance of an adaptive cellular l.
Prognostic significance of hemoglobin concentration in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: does treatment-induced anemia have negative effect?

PURPOSE To assess the value of hemoglobin concentration (HC) in predicting treatment outcomes in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients treated with chemotherapy (CT) and radiotherapy (RT). PATIENTS AND METHODS Ninety-eight NPC patients treated with three courses of platinum-based neoadjuvant CT (NCT) and conventional RT were grouped as having normal HC (> or = 12.0 g/dl in females and > or = 13 g/dl in males), having mild anemia (MA) (13.0 g/dl > Hb > or = 11 g/dl in males, 12.0 g/dl > Hb > or = 11 g/dl in females) and having severe anemia (SA) (Hb < 11 g/dl). Massive decrease in HC (MDHC) was defined as > or = 1.5 g/dl decline with NCT. Along with other known risk factors (sex, age, histopathology, T stage, N stage, bilateral neck involvement, cranial nerve involvement and total RT time), the prognostic value of SA and MDHC were evaluated by Cox-regression. RESULTS SA increased from 7 to 33% with NCT (p < 0.0001). Patients with SA had lower 5-year locoregional control (LRC) (49 vs. 73%, p = 0.03), disease-free survival (DFS) (42 vs. 68%, p = 0.01) and overall survival (OS) (43 vs. 69%, p = 0.01) rates than patients with normal HC or MA. The presence of MDHC worsened 5-year LRC (p = 0.002), DFS (p = 0.001) and OS (p = 0.02) rates. In multivariate analyses, MDHC and SA had pronounced effect on LRC and survival, respectively. CONCLUSION MDHC and SA adversely affect treatment outcome in NPC patients treated with CT and RT. This may favour concomitant scheduling of RT and CT over neoadjuvant setting. Correction of HC before RT can improve the efficacy of RT and should be further evaluated.
Estimation of Errors in Determining Intrathoracic Blood Volume Using the Single Transpulmonary Thermal Dilution Technique in Hypovolemic Shock

Background: The transpulmonary thermal dilution technique has been widely adopted for monitoring cardiac preload and extravascular lung water in critically ill patients. This method assumes intrathoracic blood volume (ITBV) to be a fixed proportion of global end-diastolic volume (GEDV). This study determines the relation between GEDV and ITBV under normovolemic and hypovolemic conditions and quantifies the errors in estimating ITBV. Methods: Nineteen pigs allocated to control (n = 9) and shock (n = 10) groups were studied. Shock was maintained for 60 min followed by volume resuscitation. The dual dye–thermal dilution technique was used to measure GEDV and ITBV (ITBVm) at baseline (time 0), shock phase (30 and 90 min), and after resuscitation (150 min). The regression equations estimated from paired GEDV and ITBVm measurements under normovolemic and hypovolemic conditions were used to estimate ITBV from the corresponding GEDV, and the estimation errors were quantified. A more simplified equation, used in a commercially available clinical monitor (ITBV = 1.25 × GEDV), was then used to estimate ITBV. Results: The regression equation in the control group was ITBVm = 1.21 × GEDV + 99 (r 2 = 0.89, P < 0.0001) and in the shock group at 30 and 90 min was ITBVm = 1.45 × GEDV + 0.6 (r 2 = 0.95, P < 0.0001). The 95% confidence interval for the y-intercept was relatively wide, ranging from 31 to 168 and −47 to 49, respectively, for the two equations. The equation estimated in the control group led to overestimation of ITBV and a significant (P < 0.05) increase in errors in the shock group at 30 and 90 min. Errors in estimating ITBV using the simplified commercial algorithm were less than 15% under normovolemic and hypovolemic conditions. Conclusions: The linear relation between GEDV and ITBV is maintained in hypovolemic shock. Even though the relation between GEDV and ITBV is influenced by circulatory volume and cardiac output, the mean errors in predicting ITBV were small and within clinically tolerable limits.
A Comprehensive Model of Perceived Risk of E-Commerce Transactions

Perceived risk is an important construct in e-commerce research, but it has not been approached in a manner sufficiently systematic, comprehensive, or detailed to be understood along multiple dimensions instructive for information systems designers. This paper fills the gap by proposing a model of perceived risk based on a well-established marketing theory of risk. It identifies events that expose consumers to harm in e-commerce transactions and measures the dimensions of perceived risk with rigorously developed formative indicators that incorporate the almost unlimited range of unwanted events of potential concern to consumers. This risk construct is placed in a nomological network and tested through an on-line field study of 411 participants aggregated with structural equation modeling. Test results show that the construct e-commerce transaction perceived risk is an aggregate factor with three dimensions: risk of functionality inefficiency, risk of information misuse, and risk of failure to gain product benefit.
Intrinsic Features in MicroRNA Transcriptomes Link Porcine Visceral Rather than Subcutaneous Adipose Tissues to Metabolic Risk

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding small RNA ∼22 nucleotides in length that can regulate the expression of a wide range of coding genes at the post-transcriptional level. Visceral adipose tissues (VATs) and subcutaneous adipose tissues (SATs), the two main fat compartments in mammals, are anatomically, physiologically, metabolically, and clinically distinct. Various studies of adipose tissues have focused mainly on DNA methylation, and mRNA and protein expression, nonetheless little research sheds directly light on the miRNA transcriptome differences between these two distinct adipose tissue types. Here, we present a comprehensive investigation of miRNA transcriptomes across six variant porcine adipose tissues by small RNA-sequencing. We identified 219 known porcine miRNAs, 97 novel miRNA*s, and 124 miRNAs that are conserved to other mammals. A set of universally abundant miRNAs (i.e., miR-148a-3p, miR-143-3p, miR-27b-3p, miR-let-7a-1-5p, and miR-let-7f-5p) across the distinct adipose tissues was found. This set of miRNAs may play important housekeeping roles that are involved in adipogenesis. Clustering analysis indicated significant variations in miRNA expression between the VATs and SATs, and highlighted the role of the greater omentum in responding to potential metabolic risk because of the observed enrichment in this tissue of the immune- and inflammation-related miRNAs, such as the members of miR-17-92 cluster and miR-181 family. Differential expression of the miRNAs between the VATs and SATs, and miRNA target prediction analysis revealed that the VATs-specific enriched miRNAs were associated mainly with immune and inflammation responses. In summary, the differences of miRNA expression between the VATs and SATs revealed some of their intrinsic differences and indicated that the VATs might be closely associated with increased risk of metabolic disorders.
Children’s Revision of Textual Flaws

Two studies are reported here that investigated elementary school children’s text revision. In the first experiment, both semantic and surface flaws were inserted in texts that varied in reading difficulty. Second-grade through fifth-grade students revised these experimenter-generated passages, presented as examples of submissions to a class newspaper. Differences in text reading difficulty did not affect revision effectiveness, nor were the semantic flaws especially difficult to detect and revise. An age effect showed growth in the revision of both semantic and surface errors from grades 2 to 4 with 2nd-graders revising one-third of the inserted errors, and 4th- and 5th-graders revising three-quarters of them. Revision and cloze reading comprehension skills were correlated. A second study compared students’ revision of their own as well as another’s text flaws. Fifth-graders wrote a narrative for a classroom anthology, and they revised both their own and inserted flaws. Their writing was evaluated holistically. Rates of both semantic and surface revision were somewhat lower for their own as opposed to another’s text errors, but revision rates were nevertheless relatively high, and they correlated with writing quality; that is, children who wrote high-quality texts also revised more errors, especially experimenter-inserted flaws. These data confirm that children respond positively to writing challenges in the area of revision, a skill in process of development, which is amenable to inspection and appears ripe for facilitation.
OnSet: A Visualization Technique for Large-scale Binary Set Data

Visualizing sets to reveal relationships between constituent elements is a complex representational problem. Recent research presents several automated placement and grouping techniques to highlight connections between set elements. However, these techniques do not scale well for sets with cardinality greater than one hundred elements. We present OnSet, an interactive, scalable visualization technique for representing large-scale binary set data. The visualization technique defines a single, combined domain of elements for all sets, and models each set by the elements that it both contains and does not contain. OnSet employs direct manipulation interaction and visual highlighting to support easy identification of commonalities and differences as well as membership patterns across different sets of elements. We present case studies to illustrate how the technique can be successfully applied across different domains such as bio-chemical metabolomics and task and event scheduling.
Long-term medical complications in patients surviving > or = 5 years after liver transplant.

BACKGROUND Short-term outcomes of liver transplantation are well reported. Little is known, however, about long-term results in liver recipients surviving > or =5 years. We sought to analyze long-term complications in liver recipients surviving > or =5 years after transplant, to assess their medical condition and to compare findings to the general population. METHODS We analyzed the chart and database records of all patients (n=139) who underwent liver transplantation at a major transplant center before January 1, 1991. Outcome measures included the presence of diabetes, hypertension, heart, renal or neurological disease, osteoporosis, incidence of de novo malignancy or fracture, or other pathology, body mass index, serum cholesterol and glucose, liver function, blood pressure, frequency of laboratory and clinic follow-up, current pharmacological regimen, and late rejection episodes. RESULTS Ninety-six patients (70%) survived > or =5 years. Compared to numbers expected based on U.S. population rates, transplant recipients had significantly higher overall prevalences of hypertension (standardized prevalence ratio [SPR]=3.07, 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.35-3.93) and diabetes (SPR=5.99, 95% CI, 4.15-8.38), and higher incidences of de novo malignancy (standardized incidence ratio [SIR]=3.94, 95% CI, 2.09-6.73), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (SIR=28.56, 95% CI, 7.68-73.11), non-melanoma skin cancer (estimated SIR> or =3.16) and fractures in women (SIR=2.05, 95% CI, 1.12-3.43). Forty-one of 87 (47.1%) patients were obese, and 23 patients (27.4%) had elevated serum cholesterol levels (> or =240 mg/dl, 6.22 mmol/L), compared to 33% and 19.5% of U.S. adults, respectively. Prevalences of heart or peptic ulcer disease were not significantly higher. CONCLUSIONS Liver transplantation is being performed with excellent 5-year survival. Significant comorbidities exist, however, which appear to be related to long-term immunosuppression.
Differential Expression Analysis for RNA-Seq Data

RNA-Seq is increasingly being used for gene expression profiling. In this approach, next-generation sequencing (NGS) platforms are used for sequencing. Due to highly parallel nature, millions of reads are generated in a short time and at low cost. Therefore analysis of the data is a major challenge and development of statistical and computational methods is essential for drawing meaningful conclusions from this huge data. In here, we assessed three different types of normalization (transcript parts per million, trimmed mean of M values, quantile normalization) and evaluated if normalized data reduces technical variability across replicates. In addition, we also proposed two novel methods for detecting differentially expressed genes between two biological conditions: (i) likelihood ratio method, and (ii) Bayesian method. Our proposed methods for finding differentially expressed genes were tested on three real datasets. Our methods performed at least as well as, and often better than, the existing methods for analysis of differential expression.
Coherent teacher education programmes: taking a student perspective

Abstract This study draws upon survey data of 486 student teachers from five different programmes based in five different countries (one programme in each country), and programmes that have varied in their efforts to become more coherent. We explore students’ perceptions of the coherence within their teacher education programmes and across the five programmes to investigate whether teachers in these programmes actually experience their teacher education programmes to be coherent. Descriptive analyses and analysis of variance were used for this purpose. Students in a programme which has explicitly made efforts to connect theory and practice over a period of 15 years do report more coherence. Students from a programme that has been constantly working on improvements but not a major redesign conceptualized around coherence, report experiencing less coherence. Based on students’ reports across all programmes, we conclude that the relationship between courses and field placements is in need of tighter links. Investing in collaboration across settings, i.e. field placement settings and university, remains a challenge for all teacher education programmes, even those engaged in substantial change efforts. Investigating how teacher educators might create closer links to school sites is a promising means of developing our understanding of teacher education programme coherence.