Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Outbreak investigation of pertussis in an elementary school: a case-control study among vaccinated students

Purpose A pertussis patient from an elementary school, in Gyeonggi Province, Korea, was notified to public health authority on July 25, 2017. Epidemiologic investigation was conducted to identify the magnitude, possible source of infection and risk factors for this outbreak on August 17, 2017. Materials and Methods A case was defined as the school student experiencing cough for more than two weeks with or without paroxysmal, whoop, or post-tussive vomiting. Control was defined as the student polymerase chain reaction-negative at the school. School based surveillance was implemented to identify additional cases. Results From June 29 to August 27, 2017, nine patients of pertussis were identified from an elementary school. Among nine cases, eight were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction positive. All cases had cough, one (11%) had post-tussive vomiting, and one (11%) had fever. Eight cases had macrolide for 7 days in outpatient clinic, and one case admitted in a hospital. There was no significant difference of demographic factors including gender (p=0.49), age group (p=0.97), number of series of vaccination of pertussis (p=0.52), the number of participation of after school activity (p=0.28), and the time elapsed since last vaccination (p=0.42). However, we found the history of contact within the classroom or after-school activity was only the independent risk factor among all the demographic factors collected (odds ratio, 63.61; 95% confidence interval, 4.35 to 930.79). Conclusion The contributing factor for transmission is associated with the case-contact. Immediate identification of pertussis with use of appropriate diagnostic test may help to avoid a large number of cases.
The Constrained Laplacian Rank Algorithm for Graph-Based Clustering

Graph-based clustering methods perform clustering on a fixed input data graph. If this initial construction is of low quality then the resulting clustering may also be of low quality. Moreover, existing graph-based clustering methods require post-processing on the data graph to extract the clustering indicators. We address both of these drawbacks by allowing the data graph itself to be adjusted as part of the clustering procedure. In particular, our Constrained Laplacian Rank (CLR) method learns a graph with exactly k connected components (where k is the number of clusters). We develop two versions of this method, based upon the L1-norm and the L2-norm, which yield two new graph-based clustering objectives. We derive optimization algorithms to solve these objectives. Experimental results on synthetic datasets and real-world benchmark datasets exhibit the effectiveness of this new graph-based clustering method.
Computing the Distance to Infeasibility: Theoretical and Practical Issues

Some recent papers have established interesting connections between the distance to infeasibility of a conic linear system and properties of certain optimization problems. In this work those ideas are exploited further to give approximation schemes for the distance to infeasibility. We analyze the theoretical performance of such schemes and also investigate their behavior in practice.
Dietary cholesterol, fats and risk of Parkinson's disease in the Singapore Chinese Health Study

Background Prospective studies on lipids and risk of Parkinson's disease (PD) in Asian populations are sparse. This study prospectively examined the associations between dietary cholesterol and major fatty acids, and risk of PD among the Chinese in Singapore. Methods This study used data from the Singapore Chinese Health Study, a population-based prospective cohort of 63 257 men and women aged 45–74 years in Singapore enrolled in 1993–1998. Dietary intakes of cholesterol and fatty acids were derived from a validated semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire and the Singapore Food Composition Table. Incident PD cases were identified either through follow-up interviews or record linkage analysis with hospital discharge and PD outpatient registries. Results After an average of 14.6 years, 218 men and 193 women in the cohort developed PD. Dietary cholesterol was associated with statistically significantly lower risk of PD in a dose–dependent manner among men after adjustment for established risk factors for PD and intakes of major fatty acids. Compared to the lowest quartile, HR (95% CI) for the highest quartile was 0.53 (95% CI 0.33 to 0.84) (P for trend=0.006). Among women, dietary monounsaturated fatty acid was inversely associated with PD risk (P for trend=0.033). Compared to the lowest quartile, HR for the highest quartile was 0.44 (95% CI 0.22 to 0.88). There was no statistically significant association between dietary saturated, n-3 and n-6 fatty acids and PD risk. Conclusions Higher intakes of cholesterol and monounsaturated fatty acids may reduce risk of PD in men and women, respectively.
The peculiarities of Transient Recovery Voltage in presence of Post Arc Current in Vacuum Circuit Breakers

The post arc phase is a critical part in the current interruption process of Vacuum Circuit Breakers (VCB). During this step, the dielectric strength of VCB has to be recovered. In order to improve the performance of VCB, investigation of Post Arc Current (PAC) in the presence of Transient Recovery Voltage (TRV) is presented in this paper.
Light intensity and the oestrous cycle in albino and normally pigmented mice

The effects of light intensity (15-20 lux & 220-290 lux) on the oestrous cycle of albino and normally pigmented mice were examined. The oestrous cycle of both types of mice was shorter at the lower intensity but the difference was significant only with the black mice. The proportion of albino mice from which embryos were recovered was significantly smaller than the proportion of black mice at 15-20 lux but not at 220-290 lux. No significant differences due to strain or light intensity were found in the number of embryos recovered. We conclude that pigmented mice respond in the same way as albino mice to changes in light intensity within the range normally found in laboratory animal accommodation. That is, increased light intensity prolongs the oestrous cycle and the period of vaginal cornification.
Media concepts and cultures: progressing learning from and for everyday life

This chapter draws on data from a three-year ESRC funded research project based at the Institute of Education, University of London, titled Developing Media Literacy: Towards a model of learning progression (2009-2012) and led by Professors David Buckingham and Andrew Burn. The two researchers on the project were Dr Mandy Powell and Dr Becky Parry. Working with learners from the ages of 5 to 16 in locations with contrasting socio-economic and geographic profiles in the UK, the project brought learners' and teachers' media cultures into dialogue with formal media and cultural studies concepts to develop media literacies. The project drew upon Bruner's idea of a spiral curriculum and mapped learning cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Such an approach raised questions about the organisation of learning in ages and stages. More significantly, perhaps, teaching for conceptual understanding enabled a dialectic between learners' popular media cultures and the formal curriculum to develop. The research findings suggest that the cultural, creative and critical challenge generated by the dialectic has the potential to progress the intellectual development of all learners n the context of formal schooling. When teachers focus on disciplinary concepts and the relationship between them rather than facts, learners can be located more centrally in the topic and identify what counts as meaningful progress for each learner. However, this may not always correspond with what counts for teachers but by maintaining a pedagogy of inquiry teachers and learners can navigate social, cultural and educational orthodoxies and challenge received wisdoms. The research findings suggest than an explicit and visible focus on locating a desirable exchange value in both out-of-school and in-school practices and experiences is a complex and contentious process but crucial to the progression of meaningful learning for all.
Clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the Rehabilitation Enablement in Chronic Heart Failure (REACH-HF) facilitated self-care rehabilitation intervention in heart failure patients and caregivers: rationale and protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial

Introduction The Rehabilitation EnAblement in CHronic Heart Failure (REACH-HF) trial is part of a research programme designed to develop and evaluate a health professional facilitated, home-based, self-help rehabilitation intervention to improve self-care and health-related quality of life in people with heart failure and their caregivers. The trial will assess the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the REACH-HF intervention in patients with systolic heart failure and impact on the outcomes of their caregivers. Methods and analysis A parallel two group randomised controlled trial with 1:1 individual allocation to the REACH-HF intervention plus usual care (intervention group) or usual care alone (control group) in 216 patients with systolic heart failure (ejection fraction <45%) and their caregivers. The intervention comprises a self-help manual delivered by specially trained facilitators over a 12-week period. The primary outcome measure is patients’ disease-specific health-related quality of life measured using the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure questionnaire at 12 months’ follow-up. Secondary outcomes include survival and heart failure related hospitalisation, blood biomarkers, psychological well-being, exercise capacity, physical activity, other measures of quality of life, patient safety and the quality of life, psychological well-being and perceived burden of caregivers at 4, 6 and 12 months’ follow-up. A process evaluation will assess fidelity of intervention delivery and explore potential mediators and moderators of changes in health-related quality of life in intervention and control group patients. Qualitative studies will describe patient and caregiver experiences of the intervention. An economic evaluation will estimate the cost-effectiveness of the REACH-HF intervention plus usual care versus usual care alone in patients with systolic heart failure. Ethics and dissemination The study is approved by the North West—Lancaster Research Ethics Committee (ref 14/NW/1351). Findings will be disseminated via journals and presentations to publicise the research to clinicians, commissioners and service users. Trial registration number ISRCTN86234930; Pre-results.
Necrosis and apoptosis associated with distinct Ca2+ response patterns in target cells attacked by human natural killer cells.

1. During the process of cell death, rises in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) together with structural changes were investigated in target cells attacked by purified CD3‐,CD16+ human natural killer (NK) cells. 2. In the target cell line K562, a rapid [Ca2+]i rise to 1‐2 microM occurred a few minutes after NK cell‐target cell contact, immediately followed by leakage of the Ca2+ indicator dye fura‐2 from the cell. Cells were permeabilized, but their chromatin was not fragmented. The changes were basically consistent with those seen in necrosis induced by activated complement. 3. In the target cell line MOLT‐4, which expressed the apoptosis‐inducing surface antigen Fas much more strongly than K562, the majority of attacked cells displayed a [Ca2+]i rise to 0.7‐1 microM followed by a slow decline, often associated with diminishing [Ca2+]i oscillations. As a whole, [Ca2+]i remained higher than 150 nM for at least 1.5‐3 h (approximately 100 nM in control cells). 4. MOLT‐4 cells attacked by NK cells became bubble shaped within 20 min of the main [Ca2+]i rise reaching its peak, and then both the cell and chromatin were fragmented into small pieces. These findings were basically consistent with those in apoptosis induced by a monoclonal antibody against the surface antigen Fas. 5. NK cells induced both necrosis and apoptosis in cell lines insensitive to NK cells in the presence of an antibody against the major histocompatibility complex class I (antibody‐dependent cell‐mediated cytotoxicity, ADCC). The distinct Ca2+ responses patterns described above corresponded to necrosis or apoptosis in different cells stimulated by the common ADCC pathway. 6. Human NK cells were found to be capable of inducing necrosis (membrane damage) or apoptosis (nuclear damage) depending on the target cell types. The characteristic Ca2+ response profile was a good indicator for distinguishing between the modes of cell death induced by the cytotoxicity of the killer cells.
Neurochemical and neurophysiological bases of executive control

The aim of this work is to further understanding into the biological bases of human executive control through an integration of neuropsychology, psychopharmacology and functional imaging. Executive control includes the prototypical executive functions of response inhibition and error awareness. Response inhibition can be further divided into action cancellation and action restraint, which were assayed with the stop signal (SST) and Error Awareness (EAT) tasks, respectively. The EAT, which is a modified go-no go paradigm, was also used to measure error awareness behaviour. Monoamine neurotransmitters, specifically dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin, were modulated during task performance with acute doses of methylphenidate (a dopamine and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor), atomoxetine (a noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor), citalopram (a serotonin reuptake inhibitor) and cabergoline (a D2 agonist). The pharmacoimaging correlates of task performance were also examined with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). All experiments adhered to a randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design and were limited to 18-35 year old healthy right-handed
Do physical capacity and interchange rest periods influence match exercise-intensity profile in Australian football?

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to determine if Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery level 2 (Yo-Yo IR2) and the number of interchange rotations affected the match activity profile of elite Australian footballers. METHOD Fifteen elite Australian footballers completed the Yo-Yo IR2 before the beginning of the season and played across 22 matches in which match activity profiles were measured via microtechnology devices containing a global positioning system (GPS) and accelerometer. An interchange rotation was counted when a player left the field and was replaced with another player. Yo-Yo IR2 results were further split into high and low groups. RESULTS Players match speed decreased from 1st to 4th quarter, while average-speed (m/min: P = .05) and low-speed activity (LSA, <15 km/h) per minute (LSA m/min; P = .06) significantly decreased in the 2nd half. Yo-Yo IR2 influenced the amount of m/min, high-speed running (HSR, >15 km/h) per minute (HSR m/min) and accelerometer load/min throughout the entire match. The number of interchanges significantly influenced the HSR m/min and m/min throughout the match except in the 2nd quarter. Furthermore, the low Yo-Yo IR2 group had significantly less LSA m/min in the 4th quarter than the high Yo-Yo IR2 group (92.2 vs 96.7 m/min, P = .06). CONCLUSIONS Both the Yo-Yo IR2 and number of interchanges contribute to m/min and HSR m/min produced by elite Australian footballers, affecting their match activity. However, while it appears that improved Yo-Yo IR2 performance prevents reductions in LSA m/min during a match, higher-speed activities (HSR m/min) and overall physical activity (m/min and load/min) are still reduced in the 4th quarter compared with the 1st quarter.
Action theory and communication research: Recent developments in Europe

The action theoretical approach has already proved its value as a framework for communication research, most especially in the study of media audiences and media use. It has deep roots in Weberian sociology, symbolic interactionism and phenomenology and it has been a robust survivor of the various storms that have beset the practice of the social sciences since the collapse of structuralist and social system paradigms. The social action approach privileges the perspective of the acting individual but offers guidelines for connecting the subjective orientation with networks of social interaction and for treating 'behaviour' as a social process. Research within this framework takes account of the wider social context and calls for a careful combination of empirical observation and interpretation, with a corresponding diversity of methodologies. The appeal of the approach stems also from its flexibility, wide range of applications and sensitivity to cultural and social meanings. The contributions assembled in this book, despite their diversity, can all be placed within the framework of social action theory. Some are reports of empirical inquiries, others reflections on theory but each one sheds some light on the significance of media use in everyday experience and contributes to an understanding of communication in society.
A Longitudinal Study of Very Low‐birthweight Infants. IV: An Overview of Performance at Eight Years of Age

A cohort of 169 very low‐birth weight infants (800 to 1500g) was followed prospectively to the age of eight years. Information on 159 of the children was available at that age, and for a further five to the age of six years. A comparison group of 67 normal‐birthweight children was also followed, but only 43 of these children were seen at the age of eight years.
Automatic Arabic Hand Written Text Recognition System

Despite of the decent development of the pattern recognition science applications in the last decade of the twentieth century and this century, text recognition remains one of the most important problems in pattern recognition. To the best of our knowledge, little work has been done in the area of Arabic text recognition compared with those for Latin, Chins and Japanese text. The main difficulty encountered when dealing with Arabic text is the cursive nature of Arabic writing in both printed and handwritten forms. An Automatic Arabic Hand-Written Text Recognition (AHTR) System is proposed. An efficient segmentation stage is required in order to divide a cursive word or sub-word into its constituting characters. After a word has been extracted from the scanned image, it is thinned and its base line is calculated by analysis of horizontal density histogram. The pattern is then followed through the base line and the segmentation points are detected. Thus after the segmentation stage, the cursive word is represented by a sequence of isolated characters. The recognition problem thus reduces to that of classifying each character. A set of features extracted from each individual characters. A minimum distance classifier is used. Some approaches are used for processing the characters and post processing added to enhance the results. Recognized characters will be appended directly to a word file which is editable form.
Neuronal hypersynchronization, creativity and endogenous psychoses.

I have investigated a neuronal hypersynchronism, currently included under the general subject of epilepsy, and termed interictal activity. I suggest that it is a physiological activity of the mammalian brain and propose it be termed Hyperia. After a thorough study of the extraordinary psychic manifestations of this neuronal hypersynchronism shown by mystics and artists, I have reviewed several scientific publications bearing on my hypothesis. I conclude by elaborating on a variety of cerebral hypersynchronous functions whose cause I consider to be physiological. Such behaviour is a common basis for extraordinary psychic manifestations found not only in mystics and artists, but also in patients suffering from endogenous psychoses, especially Bipolar Disorder.
Effects of nano-TiO2 on antibiotic resistance transfer mediated by RP4 plasmid

Abstract The potential risks of nano-materials and the spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) have become two major global public concerns. Studies have confirmed that nano-alumina can promote the spread of ARGs mediated by plasmids. Nano-titanium dioxide (TiO2), an excellent photocatalytic nano-material, has been widely used and is often present in aqueous environments. At various nano-material concentrations, bacterial density, matting time, and matting temperature, nano-TiO2 can significantly promote the conjugation of RP4 plasmid in Escherichia coli. We developed a mathematical model to quantitatively describe the conjugation process and used this model to evaluate the effects of nano-TiO2 on the spread of ARGs. We obtained analytical solutions for total and resistant bacteria, which were enumerated by the abundance of genetic loci unique to the plasmid and the chromosome using qPCR. Our results showed that the mathematic model was able to fit the experimental data well and can be used to quantitatively evaluate the effects of nano-TiO2. According to our model, the presence of nano-TiO2 decreased the bacterial growth rate from 0.0360 to 0.0323 min−1 and increased the conjugative transfer rate from 6.69 × 10−12 to 3.93 × 10−10 mL cell−1 min−1. These results indicate that nano-TiO2 inhibited bacterial growth and promoted conjugation simultaneously. The data for morphology and mRNA expression also demonstrated this phenomenon. Our results confirm that environmental nano-TiO2 may cause the spread of ARGs and thus poses an environmental risk. In addition, we provide a potential method for monitoring changes in ARGs that result from conjugation and evaluating the effects of antimicrobial substances on ARG expression.
Leaders and Negotiators: An Influence-based Metric for Rank

We propose influence as a measure of the centrality of nodes in a network. Influence takes into account not only direct links but also all paths between nodes. We parametrize the influence metric by a variable alpha that measures the strength of links. Variations in rankings as alpha changes provides a mechanism to identify the central nodes within communities (leaders), as well as nodes that act as bridges between communities (negotiators).
X-Ray-Irradiated Protoplanetary Disk Atmospheres. I. Predicted Emission-Line Spectrum and Photoevaporation

We present mocassin two-dimensional photoionization and dust radiative transfer models of a prototypical T Tauri disk irradiated by X-rays from the young pre-main-sequence star. The calculations demonstrate a layer of hot gas reaching temperatures of ~106 K at small radii and ~104 K at a distance of 1 AU. The gas temperatures decrease sharply with depth, but appear to be completely decoupled from dust temperatures down to a column depth of ~5 × 1021 cm−2. We predict that several fine-structure and forbidden lines of heavy elements, as well as recombination lines of hydrogen and helium, should be observable with current and future instrumentation, although optical lines may be smothered by the stellar spectrum. Predicted line luminosities are given for the brightest collisionally excited lines (down to ~10−8 L☉) and for recombination transitions from several levels of H I and He I. The mass-loss rate due to X-ray photoevaporation estimated from our models is of the order of 10−8 M☉ yr−1, implying a dispersal timescale of a few Myr for a disk of mass 0.027 M☉, which is the mass of the disk structure model we employed. We discuss the limitations of our model and highlight the need for further calculations that should include the simultaneous solution of the two-dimensional radiative transfer problem and the one-dimensional hydrostatic equilibrium problem in the polar direction.