Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Epidemic of Genotype GII.2 Noroviruses during Spring 2004 in Osaka City, Japan

ABSTRACT Between March and May 2004, a GII.2 genotype norovirus strain caused an epidemic of acute gastroenteritis in Osaka, Japan. Phylogenetic analysis showed that this strain was distinct from all other GII.2 strains detected in Osaka City between April 1996 and March 2005.
Error Bounds for Approximate Eigenvalues of Periodic-Coefficient Linear Delay Differential Equations

We describe a new Chebyshev spectral collocation method for systems of variable-coefficient linear delay differential equations with a single fixed delay. Computable uniform a posteriori bounds are given for this method. When the coefficients are periodic, the system has a unique compact nonnormal monodromy operator whose spectrum determines the stability of the system. The spectral method approximates this operator by a dense matrix of modest size. In cases where the coefficients are smooth we observe spectral convergence of the eigenvalues of that matrix to those of the operator. Our main result is a computable a posteriori bound on the eigenvalue approximation error in the case that the coefficients are analytic.
HIV/AIDS and Fatalism: Should Prevention Campaigns Disclose the Transmission Rate of HIV?

Among non-specialists, estimates of the HIV transmission rate are generally upwardly biased. This overestimation may be perceived as beneficial because it increases the incentives to have protected sexual relationships. However, a fatalistic reaction may counterbalance this positive effect. Combined with the overestimation of the transmission rate, an occasional unprotected sexual encounter may induce the feeling that ‘the die is cast’, and hence lead to a permanent neglect of condom use. This paper proposes a theoretical model to predict this fatalistic reaction in both regular and casual relationships. Simulations of the model show that the expected transmission rate that would maximise condom use in high-risk populations lies between 0.55 and 8%.
Chronic kidney disease is associated with dementia independent of cerebral small-vessel disease

Objective: To determine whether chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with incident dementia independent of cerebral small-vessel disease (SVD) in patients with vascular risk factors. Methods: Using data from a Japanese cohort of participants with vascular risk factors in an ongoing observational study from 2001, we evaluated the association between CKD at baseline and incident dementia. Baseline brain MRI was used to determine SVD (lacunar infarction, white matter hyperintensities), medial-temporal atrophy, and subcortical atrophy. Cox proportional hazards analyses were performed for predictors of dementia adjusting for age, sex, APOE ε4 allele, educational level, baseline Mini-Mental State Examination score, cerebrovascular events, vascular risk factors, and MRI findings. Results: Of the 600 subjects (mean age 68 ± 8.3 years, 57% male, 12.8 ± 2.6 years of education; CKD: 29%), 50 patients with incident dementia (Alzheimer disease: 24; vascular dementia: 18; mixed-type dementia: 5; other types: 3) were diagnosed during the median 7.5-year follow-up. CKD at baseline was associated with an increased risk of all-cause dementia in models adjusted for age, sex, educational level, and APOE ε4 allele. The associations of CKD at baseline remained significant even after additional adjusting for MRI findings and confounding variables (hazard ratio: 1.96 [1.08–3.58], p = 0.026). Conclusions: CKD is independently related to the risk of all-cause dementia in patients with vascular risk factors. Our results reinforce the hypothesis that CKD exerts deleterious effects on dementia incidence.
Detection of Bacterial 16S rRNA and Identification of Four Clinically Important Bacteria by Real-Time PCR

Within the paradigm of clinical infectious disease research, Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa represent the four most clinically relevant, and hence most extensively studied bacteria. Current culture-based methods for identifying these organisms are slow and cumbersome, and there is increasing need for more rapid and accurate molecular detection methods. Using bioinformatic tools, 962,279 bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequences were aligned, and regions of homology were selected to generate a set of real-time PCR primers that target 93.6% of all bacterial 16S rRNA sequences published to date. A set of four species-specific real-time PCR primer pairs were also designed, capable of detecting less than 100 genome copies of A. baumannii, E. coli, K. pneumoniae, and P. aeruginosa. All primers were tested for specificity in vitro against 50 species of Gram-positive and –negative bacteria. Additionally, the species-specific primers were tested against a panel of 200 clinical isolates of each species, randomly selected from a large repository of clinical isolates from diverse areas and sources. A comparison of culture and real-time PCR demonstrated 100% concordance. The primers were incorporated into a rapid assay capable of positive identification from plate or broth cultures in less than 90 minutes. Furthermore, our data demonstrate that current targets, such as the uidA gene in E.coli, are not suitable as species-specific genes due to sequence variation. The assay described herein is rapid, cost-effective and accurate, and can be easily incorporated into any research laboratory capable of real-time PCR.
Reflections on key skills: implementing change in a traditional university

This paper begins by providing an overview of the UK's national key skills agenda, with a view to placing in context the subsequent description of the formulation and implementation of a skills policy by a traditional, research‐led university, namely Queen's University Belfast. The paper is written from the perspective of two members of academic staff who spent two years on part‐time secondment as Skills Development Officers. We outline how a number of small‐scale investigative projects informed our thoughts and decisions, how aspects of management and internal politics influenced the formulation of a university skills policy, and how a series of initiatives evolved that were aimed at supporting staff and students in implementation of that policy. We conclude that while external pressures to explicitly develop students' key skills within higher education are intense, institutions need to reflect more on the implications of any policies and strategies for implementation they impose upon their staff. Within traditional institutions progress can be slow, with the pace of change influenced not only by the level of support and drive from senior management, but also dependent upon the knowledge, experience, energy and enthusiasm of academic ‘champions’ who have a balanced view of the skills agenda.
Metrics driven security management framework for e-health digital ecosystem focusing on chronic diseases

Security is a major concern in the emergence of new digital ecosystems. We propose an initial metrics-driven framework to manage security in IoT (Internet of Things) E-Health applications. The framework enables informed self-care of chronic diseases such as diabetes, COPD and arthritis. The approach consists of security domain classification, security metrics use scenarios, modeling and visualization approaches, and monitoring and adaptive decision-making considerations. The underlying digital ecosystem considers a person with a chronic disease as a source of health data for his or her own treatment and other persons with similar conditions. In this type of ecosystems, the role of security effective solutions is important. Especially privacy is emphasized. Therefore, security solutions should be analyzed well in advance, even before specifying the new ecosystem.
Utilization of Serum Tryptase and Immunoglobulin E Assay in the Postmortem Diagnosis of Anaphylaxis

The postmortem diagnosis of anaphylaxis is difficult. Serum concentrations of tryptase (a mast cell product released during anaphylaxis) have been used after death as an indicator of possible antemortem anaphylaxis. However, studies have indicated that tryptase may be elevated with increasing postmortem interval (PMI), or in nonanaphylactic deaths with significant atherosclerosis or chest trauma. Serum total IgE has been used by some to confirm anaphylaxis when tryptase is elevated. Serum levels of tryptase from 57 decedents with varying PMI, all dying of presumed nonanaphylactic causes, were determined. In cases with elevated levels (>11.4 ng/mL), an assay of total serum IgE was also performed. Both tryptase and IgE demonstrated significant elevations with increasing PMI. Decedents were categorized according to presence of cardiovascular disease, chest trauma, or both; many demonstrated elevation of 1 or both markers, without statistically significant differences between categories. Postulated mechanisms for nonanaphylactic elevations of these markers are reviewed. The possible utility of allergen-specific IgE or allergen panels is discussed.
The Discourse of Pop Songs

hension. This adds more evidence to previous studies addressing this question. It is also important to notice that there was no significant difference between the groups hearing the syntactically simplified version and the groups hearing the complex version with repetition. This finding has important implications for teaching methodology and materials design. Listening texts are often syntactically simplified to aid comprehension. Although this may aid comprehension, this modification may not be necessary if other modifications, such as repetition, are employed. This is especially interesting in light of the fact that repetition is not frequently used in texts to facilitate comprehension; in fact, it seems to be intentionally avoided in order to give materials an "authentic" quality. It is still too early to make definitive statements, and further research is needed; however, it is clear that designers of listening materials and instructors of listening comprehension need to reevaluate their assumptions in light of the findings of this study and other empirical evidence.
Dried blood spots on filter paper as an alternative specimen for measles diagnostics: detection of measles immunoglobulin M antibody by a commercial enzyme immunoassay.

BACKGROUND We compared the results of a serum-based measles immunoglobulin M (IgM) test with results of tests using paired reconstituted dried filter paper blood spot (DBS) samples to assess the feasibility of using DBS samples for measles diagnostic procedures. METHODS We collected 588 paired serum and DBS samples from 349 children aged 8 months through 12 years at Mulago Hospital in Kampala, Uganda; of these samples, 513 (87%) were collected from children with a clinical diagnosis of measles 0-33 days after rash, and 75(13%) were collected from children hospitalized for other reasons. Eluted DBS and serum samples were tested using a commercial measles IgM enzyme immunoassay. Detection of viral RNA was attempted on a subset of 20 DBS by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS Among the 513 sample pairs collected from children with measles, the concordances for samples collected during days 0-6 and >1 week after rash were 95.7% and 100%, respectively (P<.01). The relative sensitivity and specificity of the DBS-based assay during the first week were 98.7% and 88.9%, respectively, and the sensitivity and specificity >1 week after rash were 100% and 100%, respectively. Viral RNA was detected in 5 (26%) of 19 DBS samples tested. Among 75 sample pairs collected from children hospitalized for other reasons, concordance was 94.7%. CONCLUSIONS DBS samples are a feasible alternative sample for measles diagnostic procedures in high-incidence settings.
Distributed fair scheduling in a wireless LAN

Fairness is an important issue when accessing a shared wireless channel. With fair scheduling, it is possible to allocate bandwidth in proportion to weights of the packet flows sharing the channel. This paper presents a fully distributed algorithm for fair scheduling in a wireless LAN. The algorithm can be implemented without using a centralized coordinator to arbitrate medium access. The proposed protocol is derived from the Distributed Coordination Function in the IEEE 802.11 standard. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm is able to schedule transmissions such that the bandwidth allocated to different flows is proportional to their weights. An attractive feature of the proposed approach is that it can be implemented with simple modifications to the IEEE 802.11 standard.
Students' reasoning about chemical reactions: what changes occur during a context-based post-16 chemistry course?

A longitudinal study of 250 students following the context-led Salters Advanced Chemistry (SAC) course explored changes in students' thinking about basic chemical ideas. Students at 36 UK schools and colleges completed the same diagnostic test at the start, after 7 months and 16 months of their 20 month course. Questions probed a range of chemistry topics, including conservation of mass in closed- and open-system chemical reactions, and reacting mass reasoning. Data suggest that many students begin post-16 studies with a wide range of misunderstandings about chemical reactions. However, students' understanding improves steadily as the course progresses. Although some misunderstandings are not addressed explicitly in SAC, these diminish in frequency as students' familiarity with chemical ideas develops. More direct and explicit teaching may accelerate this. Other misunderstandings appear resistant to change despite teaching interventions. This suggests a continuing need to review teaching approaches.
Late Perthes Disease After Satisfactory Treatment of Congenital Dislocation of the Hip

Late Perthes disease in children treated conservatively for congenital dislocation of the hip with good results seems rare. To our knowledge 14 cases have been reported in the literature. Three new cases, found among 2500 children with congenital dislocations of the hip, treated during the last 35 years are presented. The ages of the patients at admission were 14, 3, and 18 months, and late Perthes disease was seen 24, 26, and 36 months, respectively, after successful conservative treatment of congenital dislocation of the hip. This condition has differences from other types of ischemic necrosis of the proximal end of the femur. The changes are severe and involvement of the acetabulum contributes significantly to acetabular deficiency and subluxation. Severe deformities of the proximal end of the femur and the acetabulum are responsible for failure of reconstructive procedures such as shelf and Chiari’s operations in two of our patients. The cause of this condition is unknown.
Dynamic changes in the dendritic geometry of individual neurons visualized over periods of up to three months in the superior cervical ganglion of living mice

We describe a means of visualizing the same neuron in the superior cervical ganglion of young adult mice over intervals of up to 3 months. The dendrites of these neurons change during this interval; some branches retract, others elongate, and still others appear to form de novo. Thus, neuronal dendrites in this part of the nervous system are subject to continual change beyond what is usually considered the developmental period. The remodeling of postsynaptic processes further implies that the synaptic connections made onto these cells undergo substantial rearrangement well into adulthood.
CHARACTERISTICS OF HEPATITIS B VIRUS COINFECTION AMONG HIV-INFECTED PREGNANT WOMEN.

UNLABELLED The similar routes of transmission for HIV and HBV place patients with either infection at greater risk for HIV/HBV co-infection. AIM To determine the particularities of hepatitis B virus (HBV) coinfection in pregnant women infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and its influence on pregnancy. METHODS Retrospective study of 74 HIV-infected women monitored during pregnancy in the Iasi Regional HIV/AIDS Center (Romania) from 2010 to 2013. The subjects were divided into 2 groups according to the presence or absence of HBV coinfection. RESULTS Most subjects belonged to age group 20-24 years (90% in the HIV group versus 75.5% in the HIV/HBV-coinfected group). HIV infection was most commonly transmitted by parenteral route (65.5% vs. 48.9%). The majority of patients were married (60% vs. 65%) and primiparous at the time of enrollment (71.1% vs. 96.6%). In the HIV/HBV-coinfected group CD4 level was lower and mean plasma viral load higher (1.92 log10 copies/mL vs. 2.31 log10 copies/ml). The proportion of cases with severe immunosuppression was similar in both groups (18.1% vs. 17.9%). HBV-HIV coinfection induced a risk of prematurity of 1.51 times, but did not increase the risk of newborns with low birth weight. CONCLUSIONS Advanced stages of HIV disease, age group 21-30 years, low CD4 counts, and low levels of education are significant risk factors for preterm birth and low birth weight.
Alcohol’s harm to others: Quantifying a little or a lot of harm

Callinan, S. (2014). Alcohol’s harm to others: Quantifying a little or a lot of harm. The International Journal Of Alcohol And Drug Research, 3 (2), 127-133. doi: http://dx.doi. org/10.7895/ijadr.v3i2. 160 Aim: Harm to others from alcohol consumption has become a World Health Organization research priority and the subject of current or planned research in over 20 countries. The aim of the current study is to compare the efficacy of two measures commonly used to ascertain the subjective level of harm experienced by respondents that is attributable to the drinking of others. Design: A cross-sectional survey. Setting: Australian respondents were recruited using computer-assisted telephone interviewing. Participants: 448 adult respondents were asked about their experience of harm attributable to the alcohol consumption of others. Measures: Respondents were asked whether they were harmed a little or a lot by the drinking of both strangers and heavy drinkers known to them, and were asked to rate this level of harm from 1 to 10. They were also asked questions about the types of harm they experienced. Findings: Overall, respondents were fairly consistent in their responses to these two measures, with the mean score of a little or a lot of harm similar for both stranger and known drinker harms. Prediction of the two types of scores was similar, based on the respondents’ experience of harms; however, tangible stranger harm did not predict being harmed a lot. Conclusions: The 1 to 10 score is better predicted by harms experienced; however, this may be due to a lack of variance in the dichotomous question. Equivalence scores are outlined and discussed.
International Journal of Organ Transplantation Medicine Knowledge, Attitude and Practice regarding Organ Donation among Indian Dental Students

Background: Of the overall 9.5 million deaths annually in India, nearly 100,000 are due to organ failure. To save and extend lives, organ donation and organ transplantation have become the only hope. Health care professionals (HCPs) are a key element in facilitating cadaveric organ donation process.
Salivary A β-40 , A β-42 , IGF-I , IGF-II , Alpha Amylase , IL-1 β , and TNF-alpha in Alzheimer ' s Disease : A Useful Diagnostic Tool

A very significant challenge in Alzheimer's disease today is the discovery of suitable technologies for detection of the disease that are easy to use, cost effective and non-invasive. In this study we demonstrate that saliva biomarkers are a suitable option for detection of the disease. Accordingly, we collected saliva samples by three different methods from age and gender matched Alzheimer's patients and normal healthy subjects. Salivary Aβ-40, Aβ-42, IGF-I, IGF-II, alpha amylase, IL-1β, and TNF-alpha levels were analyzed. Of the three methods, passive drooling was found to be the best saliva collection method for analysis of biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease. There were significant differences in the salivary biomarkers evaluated between patients and controls. Additional results from our studies confirm that Aβ-40, Aβ-42, IGF-I, IGF-II, alpha amylase, IL-1β, and TNF-alpha are appropriate diagnostic biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease.
Statistical analysis of leakage current of trapezoidal FinFETs

A framework for statistical analysis of leakage current in tri-gate trapezoidal FinFETs is presented. Using Monte Carlo simulation, effect of random dopant fluctuation has been incorporated. A distribution of leakage current, associated with physical or process parameter variation, has been observed that is attributed to the random dopant fluctuation. It is found that the increase or decrease in leakage current due to different parameters variation is mainly due to the threshold voltage variation of the device. A comparative study of leakage current distribution of trapezoidal and rectangular FinFETs reveals the advantages of using trapezoidal fins over rectangular fins for FinFET technology.
person perception based on rape-victim testimony

ABSTRACT Is it possible for a person's face to appear differently to observers depending on the perceived personality of that person? Subjects read about a sexual assault in which a male or female witness either smiled and watched the rape, or called for help and scared off the attacker. Those who read about the harmful witness rated him or her as consistently more hostile, socially deviant, dominant, sadistic, and more likely to take risks than the helpful witness, and as having less empathy and nurturance. The subjects then received a composite photograph of the witness and were asked to make several global and specific facial feature ratings. Those who previously perceived the male or female witness as having negative personality traits, also rated him or her as having a more thin, narrow, and pale face, a more narrow and square chin, with a long nose and thin lips, compared to the witness who was judged in more positive terms. We discuss these results in terms of the validity of eyewitness testimony.
UAVSAR Polarimetric Calibration

Uninhabited aerial vehicle synthetic aperture radar (UAVSAR) is a reconfigurable polarimetric L-band SAR that operates in quad-polarization mode and is specifically designed to acquire airborne repeat-track SAR data for interferometric measurements. In this paper, we present details of the UAVSAR radar performance, the radiometric calibration, and the polarimetric calibration. For the radiometric calibration, we employ an array of trihedral corner reflectors, as well as distributed targets. We show that UAVSAR is a well-calibrated SAR system for polarimetric applications, with absolute radiometric calibration bias better than 1 dB, residual root-mean-square (RMS) errors of ~0.7 dB, and RMS phase errors ~5.3°. For the polarimetric calibration, we have evaluated the methods of Quegan and Ainsworth et al. for crosstalk calibration and find that the method of Quegan gives crosstalk estimates that depend on target type, whereas the method of Ainsworth et al. gives more stable crosstalk estimates. We find that both methods estimate leakage of the copolarizations into the cross-polarizations to be on the order of -30 dB.