Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ethnicity and the diagnosis gap in liver disease: a population-based study

Background Liver disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Large numbers of liver function tests (LFTs) are performed in primary care, with abnormal liver biochemistry a common finding. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver injury. Metabolic syndrome, common in people from South Asia, is an important risk factor for NAFLD. Aim It is hypothesised that a large gap exists between numbers of patients with abnormal LFTs and those with recorded liver diagnoses, and that NAFLD is more common among adults of South Asian ethnic groups. Design and setting A cross-sectional study of 690 683 adults in coterminous general practices in a region with high ethnic diversity. Method Data were extracted on LFTs, liver disease, and process of care measures from computerised primary care medical records. Results LFTs were performed on 218 032 patients, of whom 31 627 had elevated serum transaminases. The prevalence of abnormal LFTs was highest among individuals of Bangladeshi ethnicity. Of the patients with abnormal LFTs, 88.4% did not have a coded liver diagnosis. NAFLD was the most frequently recorded liver disease and was most common among Bangladeshi patients. In a multivariate analysis, independent risk factors for NAFLD included Bangladeshi ethnicity, diabetes, raised BMI, hypertension, and hypercholesterolaemia. Conclusion Abnormal LFTs are common in the population, but are underinvestigated and often remain undiagnosed. Bangladeshi ethnicity is an important independent risk factor for NAFLD.
A Memory-Efficient Tables-and-Additions Method for Accurate Computation of Elementary Functions

The tables-and-additions methods for accurate computation of elementary functions are fast in computation speed but require large memory. A memory-efficient method named as the integrated Add-Table Lookup-Add (iATA) is proposed in this paper. In iATA, the mathematical formulation for computing the elementary functions is derived without using the central difference formulation to save memory. Three additional techniques, specifically the carry select technique, symmetry property exploitation and unequal partitioning of input with the aid of error analysis, are integrated in iATA to further reduce the memory size. The experimental results show that the proposed method is able to achieve higher memory efficiency than the best existing tables-and-additions methods. For the reciprocal and the natural logarithm function, iATA saves 23.63 and 61.39 percent of memory when compared to the best existing results obtained, respectively, by the unified Multipartite Table Method [39] and the Symmetric Table Addition Method [37].
Regeneration ecology of sugar maple (Acer saccharum): seedling survival in relation to nutrition, site factors, and damage by insects and pathogens

The possible regeneration failure of sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) as part of their decline has been not well explored using field studies. We sought to clarify the roles of maternal effects and dynamics of early-season survival in contributing to the previously documented pattern of larger seedlings and higher seedling densities on a Ca-treated watershed (CAL) at Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest. We used a reciprocal seed planting experiment at four sites, two sites per watershed blocked by elevation. Regardless of maternity, sugar maple seedlings planted in CAL had higher survival than seedlings in the reference watershed. However, this advantage was not as clearly linked to the Ca amendment as in our previous work, probably, in part, because Ca availability has decreased over time. Maternal effects on seed chemistry and some seedling traits were detected, but these were not strong determinants of survival. Site was a good predictor of early seedling survival with litter layer depth, pathogen pre.
The Publication History of the Journal of Organizational Behavior Management: An Objective Review and Analysis: 1998–2009

The purpose of this study was to extend into a third decade previous reviews conducted by Balcazar, Shupert, Daniels, Mawhinney, and Hopkins (1989) and Nolan, Jarema, and Austin (1999) of the Journal of Organizational Behavior Management (JOBM). Every article published in JOBM between 1998 and 2009 was objectively reviewed and analyzed for trends and patterns. Based on data collected in the current review it was determined that JOBM has demonstrated growth and has continued to meet its first objective: JOBM would encourage Organizational Behavior Management researchers to conduct thorough research on organizational problems with the hope that the ensuing data and results would be useful to those individuals resolving organizational concerns. The fulfillment of JOBM's second and third objectives were identified as possible areas for improvement. Increases in “organizationally relevant” research and in reliability measures, follow-up data, cost/benefit analyses, and social validity measures, and inclusion of executive-level employee participants are recommended.
Teacher understanding of ADHD as reflected in attributions and classroom strategies

Teacher understanding of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) was examined by analyzing teacher reports of attributions about the behavior of individual students with the condition, and by using teacher reports of management strategies. Participants, 21 elementary education teachers in three states, were interviewed twice using a semistructured format. The narratives provided by teachers indicated a wide range of techniques for addressing disruptive behaviors and/or underachievement. However, teachers lacked information on the behavioral profiles of ADHD and lacked comprehensive plans of action for classroom management. These findings have substantial implications for teacher training and for general classroom functioning, as well as for the valid identification of children in need of supportive services and for their treatment.
Mycophenolate Mofetil Ameliorates Arteriolopathy and Decreases Transforming Growth Factor‐β1 in Chronic Cyclosporine Nephrotoxicity

Afferent arteriolopathy is the most characteristic lesion of chronic cyclosporine (CsA) nephrotoxicity. We investigated the effect of therapeutic doses of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in a model of chronic CsA nephrotoxicity where transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) was shown to play a central role.
Particle transport in low-energy ventilation systems. Part 1: theory of steady states.

UNLABELLED Many modern low-energy ventilation schemes, such as displacement or natural ventilation, take advantage of temperature stratification in a space, extracting the warmest air from the top of the room. The adoption of these energy-efficient ventilation systems still requires the provision of acceptable indoor air quality. In this work we study the steady state transport of particulate contaminants in a displacement-ventilated space. Representing heat sources as ideal sources of buoyancy, analytical models are developed that allow us to compare the average efficiency of contaminant removal between traditional and modern low-energy systems. We found that on average traditional and low-energy systems are similar in overall pollutant removal efficiency, although quite different vertical distributions of contaminant can exist, thus affecting individual exposure. While the main focus of this work is on particles where the dominant mode of deposition is by gravitational settling, we also discuss additional deposition mechanisms and show that the qualitative observations we make carry over to cases where such mechanisms must be included. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS We illustrate that while average concentration of particles for traditional mixing systems and low energy displacement systems are similar, local concentrations can vary significantly with displacement systems. Depending on the source of the particles this can be better or worse in terms of occupant exposure and engineers should take due diligence accordingly when designing ventilation systems.
Effect of malaria on rural households’ farm income in oyo state, nigeria.

Malaria is one of the commonest tropical diseases plaguing the African continent and the rural areas of the continent in particular. Hence this study was carried out to analyze the effect of malaria on the overall farm income of the rural households, the level of awareness and use of modern preventive measures of treating malaria in Ido Local Government Area, classified as rural in Oyo State. Stratified random sampling procedure was employed for the research survey in which the first level of stratification involved the random selection of one Local Government Area (LGA), the second level of stratification was that of selection of four villages and the third level of stratification was the selection of twenty five households each from the villages . A total number of 100 respondents were finally used for data analysis using both descriptive and multiple regression techniques. Low level of awareness, (56%), use of modern preventive measures (12%), poor sanitary conditions, and large household size (8 persons), were the major factors responsible for the high malaria incidence in the rural household. The increase in malaria incidence however had a significant effect on the health and farm income of the farmers through increase in the number of days of incapacitation of an average of 22 days and an income loss of N15231.50 during the days of incapacitation. The recommended policies arising from the economic implications of these empirical findings were that public enlightenment under the aegis of the “Roll Back Malaria Campaign” should be intensified in the rural areas in particular and treated mosquito bed nets provided at subsidized rates to rural households. Farmers on their part should keep clean environment. (Afr. J. Biomed. Res. 11: 259- 266) Key words: malaria, environment, agricultural farm income. Incapacitation, awareness of preventive measure.
The Role of the Plasma Membrane in the Response of Plant Roots to Aluminum Toxicity

Al3+, the predominant form of solubilized aluminum at pH values below 5.0, has been shown to exert a profound inhibitory effect on root elongation. Al is known to accumulate at the root apex. The plasma membrane represents the first potential target for Al toxicity, due to its pronounced binding to phospholipids. Al appears to alter both the structure and functions of the plasma membrane, and a great deal of research has been conducted concerning the interactions between Al and the plasma membrane. In this review, recent findings regarding the interactions between Al and the plasma membrane are described, specifically findings involving Al-induced alterations in the structure and function of the plasma membrane.
A Statewide Case Management, Surveillance, and Outcome Evaluation System for Children with Special Health Care Needs

Objectives. To evaluate the feasibility of implementing a statewide children with special health care needs (CSHCN) program evaluation, case management, and surveillance system using a standardized instrument and protocol that operationalized the United States Health and Human Services CSHCN National Performance Measures. Methods. Public health nurses in local public health agencies in Washington State jointly developed and implemented the standardized system. The instrument was the Omaha System. Descriptive statistics were used for the analysis of standardized data. Results. From the sample of CSHCN visit reports (n = 127), 314 problems and 853 interventions were documented. The most common problem identified was growth and development followed by health care supervision, communication with community resources, caretaking/parenting, income, neglect, and abuse. The most common intervention category was surveillance (60%), followed by case management (24%) and teaching, guidance, and counseling (16%). On average, there were 2.7 interventions per problem and 6.7 interventions per visit. Conclusions. This study demonstrates the feasibility of an approach for statewide CSHCN program evaluation, case management, and surveillance system. Knowledge, behavior, and status ratings suggest that there are critical unmet needs in the Washington State CSHCN population for six major problems.
Chronic Hepatitis C

The goal of antiviral therapy for patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is to attain a sustained virologic response (SVR), which is defined as undetectable serum HCV-RNA levels at 6 months after the cessation of treatment. Major improvements in antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C have occurred in the past decade. The addition of ribavirin to interferon-alfa therapy and the introduction of pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) have substantially improved SVR rates in patients with chronic hepatitis C. The optimization of HCV therapy with PEG-IFN and ribavirin continues to evolve. Studies are ongoing that use viral kinetics to tailor therapy to an individual's antiviral response and determine the ideal length of treatment to maximize the chance of SVR. Improved SVR can be achieved with new specific inhibitors that target the HCV NS3/4A protease and the NS5B polymerase. Several long-term follow-up studies have shown that SVR, when achieved, is associated with a very low risk of virologic relapse. Furthermore, antiviral therapy can reduce the morbidity and mortality rates associated with chronic hepatitis C by reducing fibrosis progression, the incidence of cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma.
Cultural Intelligence in Cross-Cultural Selling: Propositions and Directions for Future Research

Despite the fact a growing number of firms now derive a large percentage of their revenues from global operations, our understanding of the means though which cross-cultural sales relationships are best managed is limited. This paper provides a framework for research on the issue. The framework incorporates theories from several disciplines, interlacing what we know about cross-cultural effectiveness and adaptive selling in focusing on the ability of the salesperson to adapt to the cultural background of the customer. A series of research propositions are advanced in support of the framework, and opportunities for future research in the area are discussed.
A Narrative-Expectation-Based Approach to Temporal Update in Discourse Comprehension

This study concerns the mechanisms involving temporal update in discourse comprehension, comparing traditional approaches based on Aktionsart and Iconicity against an approach based on narrative expectations. Our experiments suggest that readers pay more attention to fine-grained discourse properties (such as salient temporal boundaries and event complexity) pertaining to the eventualities they encounter in the narrative in determining whether narrative time will be moved or not as opposed to strictly adhering to coarse-grained defaults imposed by Aktionsart and Iconicity. These results suggest a more active view of discourse comprehension, where readers actively generate expectations about when the next-mentioned eventuality is likely to take place.
Cholesterol‐promoted synaptogenesis requires the conversion of cholesterol to estradiol in the hippocampus

Cholesterol of glial origin promotes synaptogenesis (Mauch et al., (2001) Science 294:1354–1357). Because in the hippocampus local estradiol synthesis is essential for synaptogenesis, we addressed the question of whether cholesterol‐promoted synapse formation results from the function of cholesterol as a precursor of estradiol synthesis in this brain area. To this end, we treated hippocampal cultures with cholesterol, estradiol, or with letrozole, a potent aromatase inhibitor. Cholesterol increased neuronal estradiol release into the medium, the number of spine synapses in hippocampal slice cultures, and immunoreactivity of synaptic proteins in dispersed cultures. Simultaneous application of cholesterol and letrozole or blockade of estrogen receptors by ICI 182 780 abolished cholesterol‐induced synapse formation. As a further approach, we inhibited the access of cholesterol to the first enzyme of steroidogenesis by knock‐down of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein, the rate‐limiting step in steroidogenesis. A rescue of reduced synaptic protein expression in transfected cells was achieved by estradiol but not by cholesterol. Our data indicate that in the hippocampus cholesterol‐promoted synapse formation requires the conversion of cholesterol to estradiol. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The economic burden of traumatic spinal cord injury in Canada.

INTRODUCTION The purpose of this study is to estimate the current lifetime economic burden of traumatic spinal cord injury (tSCI) in Canada from a societal perspective, including both direct and indirect costs, using an incidence-based approach. METHODS Available resource use and cost information for complete/incomplete tetraplegia and paraplegia was applied to the estimated annual incidence of tSCI, by severity, in Canada. RESULTS The estimated lifetime economic burden per individual with tSCI ranges from $1.5 million for incomplete paraplegia to $3.0 million for complete tetraplegia. The annual economic burden associated with 1389 new persons with tSCI surviving their initial hospitalization is estimated at $2.67 billion. CONCLUSION While the number of injuries per year in Canada is relatively small, the annual economic burden is substantial.
Training and Evaluating Multimodal Word Embeddings with Large-scale Web Annotated Images

In this paper, we focus on training and evaluating effective word embeddings with both text and visual information. More specifically, we introduce a large-scale dataset with 300 million sentences describing over 40 million images crawled and downloaded from publicly available Pins (i.e. an image with sentence descriptions uploaded by users) on Pinterest. This dataset is more than 200 times larger than MS COCO, the standard large-scale image dataset with sentence descriptions. In addition, we construct an evaluation dataset to directly assess the effectiveness of word embeddings in terms of finding semantically similar or related words and phrases. The word/phrase pairs in this evaluation dataset are collected from the click data with millions of users in an image search system, thus contain rich semantic relationships. Based on these datasets, we propose and compare several Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs) based multimodal (text and image) models. Experiments show that our model benefits from incorporating the visual information into the word embeddings, and a weight sharing strategy is crucial for learning such multimodal embeddings. The project page is: http://www.stat.ucla.edu/~junhua.mao/multimodal_embedding. html (The datasets introduced in this work will be gradually released on the project page.).
Improved Subspace Estimation for Multivariate Observations of High Dimension: The Deterministic Signals Case

We consider the problem of subspace estimation in situations where the number of available snapshots and the observation dimension are comparable in magnitude. In this context, traditional subspace methods tend to fail because the eigenvectors of the sample correlation matrix are heavily biased with respect to the true ones. It has recently been suggested that this situation (where the sample size is small compared to the observation dimension) can be very accurately modeled by considering the asymptotic regime where the observation dimension M and the number of snapshots N converge to +∞ at the same rate. Using large random matrix theory results, it can be shown that traditional subspace estimates are not consistent in this asymptotic regime. Furthermore, new consistent subspace estimate can be proposed, which outperform the standard subspace methods for realistic values of M and N . The work carried out so far in this area has always been based on the assumption that the observations are random, independent and identically distributed in the time domain. The goal of this paper is to propose new consistent subspace estimators for the case where the source signals are modelled as unknown deterministic signals. In practice, this allows to use the proposed approach regardless of the statistical properties of the source signals. In order to construct the proposed estimators, new technical results concerning the almost sure location of the eigenvalues of sample covariance matrices of Information plus Noise complex Gaussian models are established. These results are believed to be of independent interest.
Error Estimation for Reduced Order Models of Dynamical Systems ∗

The use of reduced order models to describe a dynamical system is pervasive in science and engineering. Often these models are used without an estimate of their error or range of validity. In this paper we consider dynamical systems and reduced models built using proper orthogonal decomposition. We show how to compute estimates and bounds for these errors, by a combination of the small sample statistical condition estimation method and of error estimation using the adjoint method. More importantly, the proposed approach allows the assesment of so-called regions of validity for reduced models, i.e., ranges of perturbations in the original system over which the reduced model is still appropriate. This question is particularly important for applications in which reduced models are used not just to approximate the solution to the system that provided the data used in constructing the reduced model, but rather to approximate the solution of systems perturbed from the original one. Numerical examples validate our approach: the error norm estimates approximate well the forward error while the derived bounds are within an order of magnitude. This work was supported by DOE DE-FG03-00ER25430, NSF/NCSA ACI-9619019, and NSF/ITR ACI-0086061. The work of the last author was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by the University of California, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under contract No. W-7405-Eng-48. Department of Computer Science, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106 (homescu@cs.ucsb.edu) Department of Computer Science, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106 (petzold@engineering.ucsb.edu) Center for Applied Scientific Computing, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551 (radu@llnl.gov)
System combination with log-linear models

Improved speech recognition performance can often be obtained by combining multiple systems together. Joint decoding, where scores from multiple systems are combined during decoding rather than combining hypotheses, is one efficient approach for system combination. In standard joint decoding the frame log-likelihoods from each system are used as the scores. These scores are then weighted and summed to yield the final score for a frame. The system combination weights for this process are usually empirically set. In this paper, a recently proposed scheme for learning these system weights is investigated for a standard noise-robust speech recognition task, AURORA 4. High performance tandem and hybrid systems for this task are described. By applying state-of-the-art training approaches and configurations for the bottleneck features of the tandem system, the difference in performance between the tandem and hybrid systems is significantly smaller than usually observed on this task. A log-linear model is then used to estimate system weights between these systems. Training the system weights yields additional gains over empirically set system weights when used for decoding. Furthermore, when used in a lattice rescoring fashion, further gains can be obtained.