Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Pregnancy on the Levels of Urinary Metals for Females Aged 17–39 Years Old: Data From National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003–2010

Data from National Health and Nutrition Examination survey for the years 2003–2010 were used (n = 1565) to evaluate the effect of age, parity, body mass index (BMI), race/ethnicity, pregnancy, iron (Fe) storage status, smoking status, and fish/shellfish consumption on the levels of urine barium (Ba), cadmium (Cd), cesium (Cs), cobalt (Co), molybdenum (Mo), lead (Pb), antimony (Sb), thallium (TI), tungsten (W), uranium (U), and mercury (Hg) for females aged 17–39 yr old. Regression analysis was used to fit models for each of the 11 metals. For Cd, Cs, TI, and Hg, age was positively associated with levels of these metals. Body mass index was negatively associated with levels of Cs, Co, and TI. Levels of Co, Mo, and W increased over the period 2003–2010. Over the same period, levels of Pb, Sb, and Hg declined. Non-Hispanic blacks showed lower levels of almost all metals compared to either Mexican American or other unclassified race/ethnicities. Non-Hispanic whites displayed higher levels than non-Hispanic blacks for 9 of 11 metals. Smokers displayed significantly higher levels of Pb, Sb, W, and U than nonsmokers but significantly lower levels of Cd and Mo than nonsmokers. Pregnancy was found to be associated with higher levels of Ba, Cs, Co, Mo, Pb, W, and Hg compared to nonpregnant females. Levels of Mo, Cs, and Cd declined significantly during the pregnancy period but levels of Co rose during the same period.
MMC03-4: On the Optimal Scheduling for Media Streaming in Data-driven Overlay Networks

The Internet has witnessed a rapid growth in deployment of data-driven overlay network (DON) based streaming applications during recent years. In these applications, each node independently selects some other nodes as its neighbors (i.e. overlay construction), and exchanges streaming data with these neighbors (i.e. data scheduling). This scheme improves the robustness of the system. However, most of the work in the literature focused on the construction problem, and very few addressed its scheduling problem which is also very important for the overall performance. In this paper, we analytically study the scheduling problem in DON and model it as a classical min-cost network flow problem. We then propose both the global optimal scheduling scheme and distributed heuristic algorithm to maximize the system throughput. Experimental results indicate that our algorithms outperform other schemes and the throughput gain is up to 80%.
Evaluation of Oral Health in Type II Diabetes Mellitus Patients

Background: Oral cavity reflects the general health status of a person and diagnosing and treating oral manifestations of systemic disease pose a greater challenge. Even though there is strong evidence that supports the relationship between oral health and diabetes mellitus, oral health awareness is lacking among diabetic patients and health professionals. The present study was undertaken to determine the oral health status in type II diabetic patients and also to compare the oral changes in controlled diabetes and uncontrolled diabetes. Materials and methods: Study population consists of 60 diabetic patients which is divided into 30 controlled and 30 uncontrolled diabetics; 60 healthy subjects. Each of these diabetic groups were again subdivided according to their duration as patients having a disease duration below 10 years 15 and patients having a disease duration above 10 years. 15 Various oral manifestations were examined and also CPI score and loss of attachment were recorded. Statistical analysis was done. Results: The most frequent oral signs and symptoms observed in both controlled and uncontrolled diabetic patients was perio­ dontitis followed by hyposalivation, taste dysfunction, halitosis, fissured tongue, burning mouth, angular cheilitis, ulcer and lichen planus. These oral manifestation showed an increase in distribution in diabetic patients when compared to nondiabetic. Community periodontal index (CPI) scores for assessing periodontal status showed higher scores in diabetics than nondiabetics and also in uncontrolled diabetes than controlled diabetes. For periodontal status assessment based on disease duration, patient with higher disease duration showed higher CPI scores than those with a lesser disease duration. Assessment of loss of attachment in our study showed higher values in diabetic patients compared to healthy controls. Conclusion: From our present study, it was clear that oral manifestations in uncontrolled diabetes are more severe and intense monitoring of prevention as well as early treatment is necessary in both controlled and uncontrolled diabetes.
Self-organized criticality of the fracture processes associated with hydrogen precipitation in niobium by acoustic emission.

The statistical analysis of the acoustic signals, emitted by hydrogenated Nb samples during hydrogen precipitation from solid solution, reveals that the distribution of their amplitudes follows the Gutenberg-Richter power law, N(A'gA)\ensuremath{\sim}${\mathit{A}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{c}}$ with c=0.9 over more than 2 orders of magnitude. This behavior can be considered as evidence that fracture processes due to hydride precipitation in the Nb-H system determine a self-orignized critical state.
Does routine repeat testing of critical values offer any advantage over single testing?

CONTEXT Before being communicated to the caregiver, critical laboratory values are verified by repeat testing to ensure their accuracy and to avoid reporting false or erroneous results. OBJECTIVE To determine whether 2 testing runs offered any advantage over a single testing run in ensuring accuracy or in avoiding the reporting of false or erroneous results. DESIGN Within the hematology laboratory, 5 tests were selected: hemoglobin level, white blood cell count, platelet count, prothrombin time, and activated partial thromboplastin time. A minimum of 500 consecutive critical laboratory test values were collected retrospectively for each test category. The absolute value and the percentage of change between the 2 testing runs for each critical value were calculated and averaged for each test category and then compared with our laboratory's preset, acceptable tolerance limits for reruns. RESULTS The mean results obtained for the absolute value and the percentage of change between the testing runs were 0.08 g/dL (1.4%) for hemoglobin levels, 50 cells/µL (10.2%) for white blood cell counts, 1500 cells/µL (9.9%) for platelet counts, 0.7 seconds (1.4%) for prothrombin time, and 5.1 seconds (4.4%) for activated partial thromboplastin time (all within our laboratory's acceptable tolerance limits for reruns). The percentage of specimens with an absolute value or a mean percentage of change outside our laboratory's acceptable tolerance limits for reruns ranged between 0% and 2.2% among the test categories. No false or erroneous results were identified between the 2 testing runs in any category. CONCLUSIONS Routine, repeat testing of critical hemoglobin level, platelet count, white blood cell count, prothrombin time, and activated partial thromboplastin time results did not offer any advantage over a single run.
Differential Nuclear Translocation and Transactivation Potential of β-Catenin and Plakoglobin

β-Catenin and plakoglobin are homologous proteins that function in cell adhesion by linking cadherins to the cytoskeleton and in signaling by transactivation together with lymphoid-enhancing binding/T cell (LEF/TCF) transcription factors. Here we compared the nuclear translocation and transactivation abilities of β-catenin and plakoglobin in mammalian cells. Overexpression of each of the two proteins in MDCK cells resulted in nuclear translocation and formation of nuclear aggregates. The β-catenin-containing nuclear structures also contained LEF-1 and vinculin, while plakoglobin was inefficient in recruiting these molecules, suggesting that its interaction with LEF-1 and vinculin is significantly weaker. Moreover, transfection of LEF-1 translocated endogenous β-catenin, but not plakoglobin to the nucleus. Chimeras consisting of Gal4 DNA-binding domain and the transactivation domains of either plakoglobin or β-catenin were equally potent in transactivating a Gal4-responsive reporter, whereas activation of LEF-1– responsive transcription was significantly higher with β-catenin. Overexpression of wild-type plakoglobin or mutant β-catenin lacking the transactivation domain induced accumulation of the endogenous β-catenin in the nucleus and LEF-1–responsive transactivation. It is further shown that the constitutive β-catenin–dependent transactivation in SW480 colon carcinoma cells and its nuclear localization can be inhibited by overexpressing N-cadherin or α-catenin. The results indicate that (a) plakoglobin and β-catenin differ in their nuclear translocation and complexing with LEF-1 and vinculin; (b) LEF-1–dependent transactivation is preferentially driven by β-catenin; and (c) the cytoplasmic partners of β-catenin, cadherin and α-catenin, can sequester it to the cytoplasm and inhibit its transcriptional activity.
Bid Preference Programs and Participation in Highway Procurement Auctions

We use data from highway procurement auctions subject to California's Small Business Preference program to study the effect of bid preferences on auction outcomes. Our analysis is based on an estimated model of firms' bidding and participation decisions, which allows us to evaluate the effects of current and alternative policy designs. We show that incorporating participation responses significantly alters the assessment of preferential treatment policies. (JEL D44, H76, R42)
Interpersonal Divide: The Search for Community in a Technological Age

Electronic communication now keeps us connected, wired, and cabled to the entire world. Why, then, do we often feel displaced and increasingly isolated in the global village? Interpersonal Divide: The Search for Community in a Technological Age seeks to answer the question: have media and technology created a social gap, eroding our sense of community? Author Michael Bugeja tackles this question by taking a broad and interdisciplinary approach, incorporating a number of different viewpoints, including global, ethical, philosophical, corporate, pop cultural, and sociological perspectives. Bugeja analyzes the "interpersonal divide"-the void that develops between people when we spend too much time in virtual rather than in real communities-and makes a case for face-to-face communication in a technological world. He traces media history to show how other generations have coped with similar problems during periods of great technological change, recommending ways to "repatriate to the village. " Interpersonal Divide, a ground-breaking book, documents how long-standing media theories-including ones by Marshall McLuhan-may no longer hold in the wake of new media and intrusive technology. Bugeja investigates the impact and motives of media ecosystems that have polluted the Internet and other digital devices with marketing ploys, delivering to consumers a global mall rather than a global village. Interpersonal Divide informs readers how to use media and technology wisely so that they enhance rather than replace community.
Continuous measure of word learning supports associative model

Cross-situational learning, the ability to learn word meanings across multiple scenes consisting of multiple words and referents, is thought to be an important tool for language acquisition. The ability has been studied in infants, children, and adults, and yet there is much debate about the basic storage and retrieval mechanisms that operate during cross-situational word learning. It has been difficult to uncover the learning mechanics in part because the standard experimental paradigm, which presents a few words and objects on each of a series of training trials, measures learning only at the end of training after several occurrences of each word-object pair. Thus, the exact learning moment-and its current and historical context-cannot be investigated directly. This paper offers a version of the cross-situational learning task in which a response is made each time a word is heard, as well as in a final test. We compare this to the typical cross-situational learning task, and examine how well the response distributions match two recent computational models of word learning.
CD59 or C3 are not requred for angiotensin II‐dependent hypertension or hypertrophy in mice

Summary Complement is a major pro‐inflammatory innate immune system whose serum activity correlates with systolic blood pressure in humans. To date, no studies using in vivo models have directly examined the role of individual complement components in regulating vessel function, hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy. Herein, in vivo responses to angiotensin (ang) II were characterized in mice deficient in CD59a or C3. CD59a–/– mice had slightly but significantly elevated systolic blood pressure (107·2 ± 1·7 mmHg versus 113·8 ± 1·31 mmHg, P < 0·01, for wild‐type and CD59a–/–, respectively). Aortic rings from CD59a–/– mice showed significantly less platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule‐1 (PECAM‐1) expression, with elevated deposition of membrane attack complex. However, acetylcholine‐ and sodium nitroprusside‐dependent dilatation, plasma nitrate/nitrite and aortic cyclic guanosine monophosphate levels were unchanged from wild‐type. Also, in vivo infusion with either ang II or noradrenaline caused similar hypertension and vascular hypertrophy to wild‐type. Mice deficient in C3 had similar basal blood pressure to wild type and showed no differences in hypertension or hypertrophy responses to in vivo infusion with ang II. These data indicate that CD59a deficiency is associated with some vascular alterations that may represent early damage occurring as a result of increased complement attack. However, a direct role for CD59a or C3 in modulating development of ang II‐dependent hypertension or hypertrophy in vivo is excluded and we suggest caution in development of complement intervention strategies for hypertension and heart failure.
HLOC: Hints-based geolocation leveraging multiple measurement frameworks

Geographically locating an IP address is of interest for many purposes. There are two major ways to obtain the location of an IP address: querying commercial databases or conducting latency measurements. For structural Internet nodes, such as routers, commercial databases are limited by low accuracy, while current measurement-based approaches overwhelm users with setup overhead and scalability issues. In this work we present our system HLOC, aiming to combine the ease of database use with the accuracy of latency measurements. We evaluate HLOC on a comprehensive router data set of 1.4M IPv4 and 183k IPv6 routers. HLOC first extracts location hints from rDNS names, and then conducts multi-tier latency measurements. Configuration complexity is minimized by using publicly available large-scale measurement frameworks such as RIPE Atlas. Using this measurement, we can confirm or disprove the location hints found in domain names. We publicly release HLOC's ready-to-use source code, enabling researchers to easily increase geolocation accuracy with minimum overhead.
Increased Efficiency of Case-Control Association Analysis by Using Allele-Sharing and Covariate Information

Objective: We compared the efficiency of case selection strategies for following up a genome-wide linkage screen of multiplex families. We simulated datasets under three models by which continuous environmental or clinical covariates may contribute to disease risk or linkage heterogeneity: (i) a quantitative trait locus (QTL) underlying a continuous disease risk factor, (ii) a gene-environment interaction model, (iii) a heterogeneity model defined by distinct covariate distributions in linked and unlinked families. Methods: Marker genotypes and covariate values were generated for affected sibling pair (ASP) families, according to the three models above. We evaluated two case selection strategies relative to a reference design, which compared all family probands to a sample of unrelated controls (‘all’). The first strategy ignored covariates and selected probands from families with NPL scores ≧0 (‘linked best’). The second strategy selected probands from families identified by an ordered subset analysis (OSA), which utilizes family-specific linkage and covariate information. Results: The ‘linked best’ design provided power very similar to the ‘all’ design under all three models. Under some QTL and heterogeneity models, the OSA design was both most powerful and most efficient. Conclusions: Incorporating allele sharing and covariate information from ASP families into a case-control study design can increase power and reduce genotyping cost.
Exploring the core: An examination of required courses in ALA-accredited

This paper examines the required courses of ALA-accredited Library and Information Science programs as published on their websites. The study expands on previous research in this area. Findings show that the typical core curriculum has grown to include both research and information technology in addition to the more traditional subjects. The number of programs that require a secondary set of required courses (semi-core curriculum) in addition to the primary core curriculum increased. The paper concludes by suggesting that LIS programs keep a robust general core curriculum while considering the “career-track” model to help students best meet their professional objectives.
Student Acceptance of Web-based Learning System

The study has modified UTAUT (Venkatesh et. al., 2003) to determine technology acceptance of web-based learning system of Taiwan technical university students. This study used cluster sampling and stepwise regression analysis to determine the relationships among constructs. Research results showed that performance expectancy, attitude toward using technology, facilitating conditions, self-efficacy, and social influence have significant influence on behavior intention. Additionally, only behavior intention, attitude toward using technology, and social influence have direct impact on system usage.
Third grade students' writing attitudes, self-efficacy beliefs, and achievement

Title of Thesis: THIRD GRADE STUDENTS’ WRITING ATTITUDES, SELFEFFICACY BELIEFS, AND ACHIEVEMENT Heather Michelle Williams, Master of Arts 2012 Thesis directed by: Professor Allan Wigfield Department of Education and Human Development In order to become successful members of society in the United States, students m ust be able to write effectively. However, many students are unwilling or unable to wr ite by the time they leave high school. Two major factors linked to writing performance i nclude writing attitudes and self-efficacy beliefs. The first objective of t his research is an investigation of the effectiveness of an intervention designed to improve writi ng at itudes, self-efficacy beliefs, and achievement. The second objective is an exami nation of the relation between those constructs. Participants were given the Writing At tude Survey, a writing skills self-efficacy scale, and a short writing assess ment. Further, 50% of the participants participated in an intervention designed to increase positive writi ng attitudes, self-efficacy beliefs, and achievement. The study found a significant posi tive relation between writing self-efficacy and attitudes. The intervention was found to have no e ff ct on the self-efficacy, attitudes, or performance of participants. THIRD GRADE STUDENTS’ WRITING ATTITUDES, SELFEFFICACY BE LIEFS, AND ACHIEVEMENT
Ecogeographic Isolation and Speciation in the Genus Mimulus

Despite a long history of examining the geographic context of speciation, differences in geographic range have rarely been considered a legitimate isolating mechanism. This likely results from the complex relationship between historical and ecological processes in determining the spatial distribution of species. Ecogeographic isolation is the proportion of geographic isolation that results from genetically based ecological differences between taxa and should therefore be measured as an isolating mechanism under the biological species concept. In this study, species distribution modeling was used to evaluate the potential ranges of 12 recently diverged pairs of species in the genus Mimulus. Variation in the distribution models showed that these species differ significantly in the niches they occupy. These differences result in substantial ecogeographic isolation, with an average strength of 0.67, revealing that, on average, Mimulus species exhibit only 33% overlap in the extent of suitable habitat with their closest relatives. Because prezygotic barriers act early in the life cycle of organisms, this strong barrier has the potential to contribute greatly to the total isolation experienced between diverging species. Therefore, ecogeographic isolation appears to play an important role in Mimulus, and estimating the strength of this barrier is essential to our general understanding of speciation.
An energy-efficient comparison of classical detectors for CDMA code synchronization

This paper studies the performance of coherent and noncoherent code alignment detectors in the uplink of a flat-fading CDMA wireless network. A distributed resource allocation scheme in which each pair transmitter-receiver can set its own transmit power and detection threshold is considered to maximize the probability of code detection per consumed energy at the transmitter under a constraint on the maximum probability of spurious code locks. The proposed analytical framework proves that the coherent detector slightly outperforms noncoherent synchronizers in terms of energy efficiency at the Nash equilibrium, although the performance of the two classes is substantially equivalent.
Efficacy of Epidural Injections in the Treatment of Lumbar Central Spinal Stenosis: A Systematic Review

Context: Lumbar central spinal stenosis is common and often results in chronic persistent pain and disability, which can lead to multiple interventions. After the failure of conservative treatment, either surgical or nonsurgical modalities such as epidural injections are contemplated in the management of lumbar spinal stenosis. Evidence Acquisition: Recent randomized trials, systematic reviews and guidelines have reached varying conclusions about the efficacy of epidural injections in the management of central lumbar spinal stenosis. The aim of this systematic review was to determine the efficacy of all three anatomical epidural injection approaches (caudal, interlaminar, and transforaminal) in the treatment of lumbar central spinal stenosis. A systematic review was performed on randomized trials published from 1966 to July 2014 of all types of epidural injections used in the management of lumbar central spinal stenosis. Methodological quality assessment and grading of the evidence was performed. Results: The evidence in managing lumbar spinal stenosis is Level II for long-term improvement for caudal and lumbar interlaminar epidural injections. For transforaminal epidural injections, the evidence is Level III for short-term improvement only. The interlaminar approach appears to be superior to the caudal approach and the caudal approach appears to be superior to the transforaminal one. Conclusions: The available evidence suggests that epidural injections with local anesthetic alone or with local anesthetic with steroids offer short- and long-term relief of low back and lower extremity pain for patients with lumbar central spinal stenosis. However, the evidence is Level II for the long-term efficacy of caudal and interlaminar epidural injections, whereas it is Level III for short-term improvement only with transforaminal epidural injections.