Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance Impact of Centor scores on determining antibiotic prescribing in children

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to establish the effect of incorporating Centor scoring into antibiotic prescribing in primary care in London, UK, before and after the introduction of an educational package and prescribing software tool. Design/methodology/approach –Aquality improvement project with analysis of all sore throat presentations in patients aged 3-14 years, in two phases. Phase 1 (retrospective): 1 January-31 December 2013, followed by an intervention (software tool/education package) and Phase 2 (prospective): 1 March 2014-28 February 2015. Findings – In the initial analysis, 162 out of 202 (80.2 per cent) patients were prescribed antibiotics. Following the educational/software intervention, 191 out of 231 (82.7 per cent) patients were prescribed antibiotics ( p1⁄4 0.56, χ test). The mean Centor score decreased significantly following the education/software intervention (3.1 vs 2.7, po0.001, χ test). In all, 100 per cent of patients with tonsillar exudate were prescribed antibiotics in both phases. The apparent order of importance for predictive signs/symptoms given by the prescribers in both phases of the study was tonsillar exudateW lymphadenopathyWfeverWabsence of cough. Originality/value – This is the first time a differential importance given by practitioners on individual Centor criteria has been described. With a low probability of bacterial infection, children with exudate or anterior lymphadenopathy almost always received antibiotics. This is interesting, since studies have previously found that the presence of tonsillar exudate had no significant association with culture-confirmed streptococcal tonsillitis.
Influence of Intellectual Capital Investment, Risk, Industry Membership and Corporate Governance Mechanisms on the Voluntary Disclosure of Intellectual Capital by UK Listed Companies

This research examines the cross-sectional effect of intellectual capital investment, financial measures of market and company specific risk, industry membership and corporate governance on the extent of voluntary disclosure of intellectual capital (VDIC) in a sample of 443 FTSE All Share Index company annual reports for the year 2003/2004. The extent of disclosure is measured by a disclosure index (DI) based on intellectual capital (IC) attributes included in the narratives and illustrations of the annual reports. The research predicts that agency costs are mitigated by VDIC and that the benefits of signalling IC may outweigh competitive and proprietary costs that may be more prevalent in innovative and technological companies; furthermore, that effective corporate governance measures enhance VDIC particularly in those companies found to have a higher level of intangible assets (IA) in their resource base. The results suggest that companies associated with less financial risk, reduced debt, higher levels of liquidity and accompanied by growth are characterised with higher levels of VDIC. Although less significant, the results on market risk indicate a positive influence on VDIC. Furthermore, the extent of VDIC in annual reports is enhanced when large companies operating in high-tech and innovative industries are characterised by investments in employees; in contrast, companies associated with research and development processes tend to be more secretive with respect to VDIC. The results suggest that companies that are able to maintain adequate governance systems through segregation of executive and non-executive duties and to a less extent through the presence of experienced non-executive directors exhibit higher levels of disclosure.
Maternal environment and craniofacial growth: geometric morphometric analysis of mandibular shape changes with in utero thyroxine overexposure in mice

An estimated 3% of US pregnancies are affected by maternal thyroid dysfunction, with between one and three of every 1000 pregnancies being complicated by overactive maternal thyroid levels. Excess thyroid hormones are linked to neurological impairment and excessive craniofacial variation, affecting both endochondral and intramembranous bone. Using a geometric morphometric approach, this study evaluates the role of in utero thyroxine overexposure on the growth of offspring mandibles in a sample of 241 mice. Canonical variate analysis utilized 16 unilateral mandibular landmarks obtained from 3D micro‐computed tomography to assess shape changes between unexposed controls (n = 63) and exposed mice (n = 178). By evaluating shape changes in the mandible among three age groups (15, 20 and 25 days postnatal) and different dosage levels (low, medium and high), this study found that excess maternal thyroxine alters offspring mandibular shape in both age‐ and dosage‐dependent manners. Group differences in overall shape were significant (P < 0.001), and showed major changes in regions of the mandible associated with muscle attachment (coronoid process, gonial angle) and regions of growth largely governed by articulation with the cranial base (condyle) and occlusion (alveolus). These results compliment recent studies demonstrating that maternal thyroxine levels can alter the cranial base and cranial vault of offspring, contributing to a better understanding of both normal and abnormal mandibular development, as well as the medical implications of craniofacial growth and development.
Sensors and Actuators A: Physical

Robotic applications often require robust tactile sensing capabilities on curved surfaces, such as artiﬁcial ﬁngertips. Flexible tactile sensors could be conformally wrapped around curved digits and could enhance grip by cushioning impacts and increasing the effective contact area during grasp. Flexible microfabricated devices that use thin ﬁlm or solid electrical components are susceptible to failure due to cracking and fatigue. Conductive ﬂuids have been used as transduction media, electrical connections
Cattle Grazing Effects on Macroinvertebrates in an Oregon Mountain Stream

Abstract Cattle grazing effects on aquatic macroinvertebrates were assessed in a 4-year experiment of a mountain stream in northeastern Oregon. From 1996 through 1999, 10 cow–calf pairs were introduced into 6 experimental units along the stream for 42 days between July and September, and effects on aquatic macroinvertebrates were compared with 3 units in which no grazing occurred. Streambank and geomorphological variables were also measured to provide context for interpretation of effects on aquatic macroinvertebrates. Macroinvertebrate response to grazing was subtle, indicated by significantly lower abundance in grazed units. We measured more profound effects on streambanks: grazing caused an average decrease of 18% in bank length of the highest stability/cover class and caused an average increase of 8% in the lowest condition class over the course of each summer. By June of each following year, banks had recovered to their previous June condition, but grazing each summer caused a progressively larger decline in bank condition by September. Streambank effects were accompanied by an increase in cobble embeddedness over time in grazed units and were correlated with grazing-associated stream widening. Treatment effects were overwhelmed, however, by a profound decline in the abundance of most macroinvertebrates over the study period, with a drop in September 1999 to 14% of the initial September abundance of 1997. While the drop was more precipitous in grazed units, declines were common to all study units, suggesting that something more widespread affected the system during this time. Logging on lands just upstream of the study area in 1998 and 1999, in which trucks drove through the study stream without the benefit of a culvert, sent sediment plumes into the study area each of those 2 years and could have caused the precipitous decline in aquatic macroinvertebrates.
Coupled simulation‐optimization model for coastal aquifer management using genetic programming‐based ensemble surrogate models and multiple‐realization optimization

Approximation surrogates are used to substitute the numerical simulation model within optimization algorithms in order to reduce the computational burden on the coupled simulation‐optimization methodology. Practical utility of the surrogate‐based simulation‐optimization have been limited mainly due to the uncertainty in surrogate model simulations. We develop a surrogate‐based coupled simulation‐optimization methodology for deriving optimal extraction strategies for coastal aquifer management considering the predictive uncertainty of the surrogate model. Optimization models considering two conflicting objectives are solved using a multiobjective genetic algorithm. Objectives of maximizing the pumping from production wells and minimizing the barrier well pumping for hydraulic control of saltwater intrusion are considered. Density‐dependent flow and transport simulation model FEMWATER is used to generate input‐output patterns of groundwater extraction rates and resulting salinity levels. The nonparametric bootstrap method is used to generate different realizations of this data set. These realizations are used to train different surrogate models using genetic programming for predicting the salinity intrusion in coastal aquifers. The predictive uncertainty of these surrogate models is quantified and ensemble of surrogate models is used in the multiple‐realization optimization model to derive the optimal extraction strategies. The multiple realizations refer to the salinity predictions using different surrogate models in the ensemble. Optimal solutions are obtained for different reliability levels of the surrogate models. The solutions are compared against the solutions obtained using a chance‐constrained optimization formulation and single‐surrogate‐based model. The ensemble‐based approach is found to provide reliable solutions for coastal aquifer management while retaining the advantage of surrogate models in reducing computational burden.
Measuring and Validating the Levels of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Human Serum

Visual Abstract Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) secreted by neurons is a significant component of synaptic plasticity. In humans, it is also present in blood platelets where it accumulates following its biosynthesis in megakaryocytes. BDNF levels are thus readily detectable in human serum and it has been abundantly speculated that they may somehow serve as an indicator of brain function. However, there is a great deal of uncertainty with regard to the range of BDNF levels that can be considered normal, how stable these values are over time and even whether BDNF levels can be reliably measured in serum. Using monoclonal antibodies and a sandwich ELISA, this study reports on BDNF levels in the serum of 259 volunteers with a mean value of 32.69 ± 8.33 ng/ml (SD). The mean value for the same cohort after 12 months was not significantly different (N = 226, 32.97 ± 8.36 ng/ml SD, p = 0.19). Power analysis of these values indicates that relatively large cohorts are necessary to identify significant differences, requiring a group size of 60 to detect a 20% change. The levels determined by ELISA could be validated by Western blot analyses using a BDNF monoclonal antibody. While no association was observed with gender, a weak, positive correlation was found with age. The overall conclusions are that BDNF levels can be reliably measured in human serum, that these levels are quite stable over one year, and that comparisons between two populations may only be meaningful if cohorts of sufficient sizes are assembled.
Derived Operating Rules for Reservoirs in Series or in Parallel

This paper reviews a variety of derived single-purpose operating policies for reservoirs in series and in parallel for water supply, flood control, hydropower, water quality, and recreation. Such rules are useful for real-time operations, conducting reservoir simulation studies for real-time, seasonal, and long-term operations, and for understanding the workings of multireservoir systems. For reservoirs in series, several additional new policies are derived for special cases of optimal short-term operation for hydropower production and energy storage. For reservoirs in parallel, additional new special-case rules are derived for water quality, water supply, and hydropower production. New operating policies also are derived for reservoir recreation.
Social Sentiment Sensor in Twitter for Predicting Cyber-Attacks Using ℓ1 Regularization

In recent years, online social media information has been the subject of study in several data science fields due to its impact on users as a communication and expression channel. Data gathered from online platforms such as Twitter has the potential to facilitate research over social phenomena based on sentiment analysis, which usually employs Natural Language Processing and Machine Learning techniques to interpret sentimental tendencies related to users’ opinions and make predictions about real events. Cyber-attacks are not isolated from opinion subjectivity on online social networks. Various security attacks are performed by hacker activists motivated by reactions from polemic social events. In this paper, a methodology for tracking social data that can trigger cyber-attacks is developed. Our main contribution lies in the monthly prediction of tweets with content related to security attacks and the incidents detected based on ℓ1 regularization.
DNA binding partners of YAP/TAZ

Hippo signaling plays critical roles in regulation of tissue homeostasis, organ size, and tumorigenesis by inhibiting YES-associated protein (YAP) and PDZ-binding protein TAZ through MST1/2 and LATS1/2 pathway. It is also engaged in cross-talk with various other signaling pathways, including WNT, BMPs, Notch, GPCRs, and Hedgehog to further modulate activities of YAP/TAZ. Because YAP and TAZ are transcriptional coactivators that lack DNA-binding activity, both proteins must interact with DNA-binding transcription factors to regulate target gene’s expression. To activate target genes involved in cell proliferation, TEAD family members are major DNA-binding partners of YAP/TAZ. Accordingly, YAP/TAZ were originally classified as oncogenes. However, YAP might also play tumor-suppressing role. For example, YAP can bind to DNA-binding tumor suppressors including RUNXs and p73. Thus, YAP might act either as an oncogene or tumor suppressor depending on its binding partners. Here, we summarize roles of YAP depending on its DNA-binding partners and discuss context-dependent functions of YAP/TAZ.
Randomization inference for treatment effect variation

Applied researchers are increasingly interested in whether and how treatment effects vary in randomized evaluations, especially variation that is not explained by observed covariates. We propose a model‐free approach for testing for the presence of such unexplained variation. To use this randomization‐based approach, we must address the fact that the average treatment effect, which is generally the object of interest in randomized experiments, actually acts as a nuisance parameter in this setting. We explore potential solutions and advocate for a method that guarantees valid tests in finite samples despite this nuisance. We also show how this method readily extends to testing for heterogeneity beyond a given model, which can be useful for assessing the sufficiency of a given scientific theory. We finally apply our method to the National Head Start impact study, which is a large‐scale randomized evaluation of a Federal preschool programme, finding that there is indeed significant unexplained treatment effect variation.
The Retrieval Effectiveness of Web Search Engines: Considering Results Descriptions

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to compare five major web search engines (Google, Yahoo, MSN, Ask.com, and Seekport) for their retrieval effectiveness, taking into account not only the results, but also the results descriptions.Design/methodology/approach – The study uses real‐life queries. Results are made anonymous and are randomized. Results are judged by the persons posing the original queries.Findings – The two major search engines, Google and Yahoo, perform best, and there are no significant differences between them. Google delivers significantly more relevant result descriptions than any other search engine. This could be one reason for users perceiving this engine as superior.Research limitations/implications – The study is based on a user model where the user takes into account a certain amount of results rather systematically. This may not be the case in real life.Practical implications – The paper implies that search engines should focus on relevant descriptions. Searchers are advised to.
AN ALGORITHM FOR THE NUMERICAL SOLUTION OF DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS OF FRACTIONAL ORDER

Differential equations involving derivatives of non-integer order have shown to be adequate models for various physical phenomena in areas like damping laws, diffusion processes, etc. A small number of algorithms for the numerical solution of these equations has been suggested, but mainly without any error estimates. In this paper, we propose an implicit algorithm for the approximate solution of an important class of these equations. The algorithm is based on a quadrature formula approach. Error estimates and numerical examples are given.
Open Knowledge Accessing Method in IoT-Based Hospital Information System for Medical Record Enrichment

For a medical treatment with IoT-based facilities, physicians always have to pay much more attentions to the raw medical records of target patients instead of directly making medical advice, conclusions or diagnosis from their experiences. Because the medical records in IoT-based hospital information system (HIS) are dispersedly obtained from distributed devices such as tablet computer, personal digital assistant, automated analyzer, and other medical devices, they are raw, simple, weak-content, and massive. Such medical records cannot be used for further analyzing and decision supporting due to that they are collected in a weak-semantic manner. In this paper, we propose a novel approach to enrich IoT-based medical records by linking them with the knowledge in linked open data. A case study is conducted on a real-world IoT-based HIS system in association with our approach, the experimental results show that medical records in the local HIS system are significantly enriched and useful for healthcare analysis and decision making, and further demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of our approach for knowledge accessing.
Different Amounts of DNA in Newborn Cells of Escherichia coli Preclude a Role for the Chromosome in Size Control According to the “Adder” Model

According to the recently-revived adder model for cell size control, newborn cells of Escherichia coli will grow and divide after having added a constant size or length, ΔL, irrespective of their size at birth. Assuming exponential elongation, this implies that large newborns will divide earlier than small ones. The molecular basis for the constant size increment is still unknown. As DNA replication and cell growth are coordinated, the constant ΔL could be based on duplication of an equal amount of DNA, ΔG, present in newborn cells. To test this idea, we measured amounts of DNA and lengths of nucleoids in DAPI-stained cells growing in batch culture at slow and fast rates. Deeply-constricted cells were divided in two subpopulations of longer and shorter lengths than average; these were considered to represent large and small prospective daughter cells, respectively. While at slow growth, large and small prospective daughter cells contained similar amounts of DNA, fast growing cells with multiforked replicating chromosomes, showed a significantly higher amount of DNA (20%) in the larger cells. This observation precludes the hypothesis that ΔL is based on the synthesis of a constant ΔG. Growth curves were constructed for siblings generated by asymmetric division and growing according to the adder model. Under the assumption that all cells at the same growth rate exhibit the same time between initiation of DNA replication and cell division (i.e., constant C+D-period), the constructions predict that initiation occurs at different sizes (Li) and that, at fast growth, large newborn cells transiently contain more DNA than small newborns, in accordance with the observations. Because the state of segregation, measured as the distance between separated nucleoids, was found to be more advanced in larger deeply-constricted cells, we propose that in larger newborns nucleoid separation occurs faster and at a shorter length, allowing them to divide earlier. We propose a composite model in which both differential initiation and segregation leads to an adder-like behavior of large and small newborn cells.
NUDA: Non-Uniform Directory Architecture for Scalable Chip Multiprocessors

Chip multiprocessors (CMPs) involve directory storage overhead if cache coherence is realized via sharer tracking. This work proposes a novel framework dubbed <underline>n</underline>on-<underline>u</underline>niform <underline>d </underline>irectory <underline>a</underline>rchitecture (NUDA), by leveraging our two insights in that the number of “active” directory entries required to stay on chip is usually small for a short execution time window due to high directory locality, and that the fraction of interrogated directory entries drops as the core count rises. Unlike earlier storage overhead reduction techniques that require all cached LLC blocks to have their directory entries fully on chip, NUDA dynamically buffers only most active <underline>d</underline>irectory <underline>v </underline>ectors (DVs) on chip while keeping DVs of all LLC blocks in a backing store at low level storage. NUDA attains its superior efficiency via an inventive <underline>c</underline>riticality-<underline>a</underline>ware <underline>r</underline>eplacement <underline>p</underline>olicy (CARP) for on-chip buffer management and effective prefetching to <underline>p</underline>re-<underline>a</underline>ctivate <underline>ve</underline>ctors (PAVE) for upcoming coherence interrogations. We have evaluated NUDA by gem5 simulation for 64-core CMPs under PARSEC and SPLASH benchmarks, demonstrating that CARP and PAVE enhance on-chip directory storage efficiency significantly. NUDA with a small on-chip buffer for DVs exhibits negligible performance degradation (to stay within 2.6 percent) compared to a full on-chip directory, while outperforming its previous counterparts for directory area reduction when on-chip directory budget is provisioned scarcely for high scalability.