Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Temporal variability in birth prevalence of cardiovascular malformations

OBJECTIVE To investigate changes over time in the prevalence at live birth of cardiovascular malformations and to compare “anatomical” and “physiological” diagnostic hierarchies within a population. DESIGN Retrospective and prospective ascertainment of all congenital cardiovascular malformations diagnosed in infancy. SETTING The resident population of one health region. PATIENTS All infants live born from 1985 to 1997 with cardiovascular malformations confirmed by echocardiography, cardiac catheterisation, surgery or autopsy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Year to year variation in prevalence of individual malformations and of “complex”, “significant”, and “minor” groups. RESULTS 2671 babies with cardiovascular malformations were confirmed in a denominator population of 477 960 live births (5.6 per 1000). There was no change over 13 years in the birth prevalence of “complex” or “significant” defects, but a highly significant increase in “minor” defects (p < 0.0001), mainly small ventricular septal defects. Termination of pregnancy increased from no cases in 1985 to 16 in 1997 with no demonstrable effect on live born babies with heart defects. A one dimensional “anatomical” diagnostic hierarchy led to under ascertainment of pulmonary atresia by 27%, coarctation of the aorta by 39%, and interruption of the aorta by 100%. CONCLUSIONS The apparent increase in live born cardiovascular malformations results mainly from improved diagnosis of minor defects. There has been no change over time in birth prevalence of more serious defects. Spontaneous year to year variation in numbers will make it difficult to ascribe any short term changes to any particular intervention. A two dimensional diagnostic hierarchy is offered as a standard.
Blended Learning in Indian Colleges with Massively Empowered Classroom

Students in the developing world are frequently cited as being among the most important beneficiaries of online education initiatives such as massive open online courses (MOOCs). While some predict that online classrooms will replace physical classrooms, our experience suggests that blending online and in-person instruction is more likely to succeed in developing regions. However, very little research has actually been done on the effects of online education or blended learning in these environments. In this paper we describe a blended learning initiative that combines videos from a large online course with peer-led sessions for undergraduate technical education in India. We performed a randomized controlled trial (RCT) that indicates our intervention was associated with a small but significant improvement in performance on a summative exam. We discuss the results of the RCT and an ethnographic study of the intervention to make recommendations for future, scalable blended learning initiatives for places such as India.
The Changes in the Endothelial Function and Haemostatic and Inflammatory Parameters in Subclinical and Overt Hyperthyroidism

Introduction. The aim of the present study was to compare the levels of circulating markers of endothelial function and low-grade inflammation in patients with subclinical and overt hyperthyroidism (OH) due to Graves disease (GD) and toxic nodular goiter (TNG). Material and Methods. The group studied consisted of 42 patients with GD, 75 patients with TNG, and 39 healthy controls. Results. Circulating markers of endothelial dysfunction were elevated in the patients with both SH and OH, but the concentrations of interleukin-12 (IL-12) (P < 0.05), IL-18 (P < 0.05), fibrinogen (P < 0.01), and von Willebrand factor (vWF) (P < 0.05) were significantly higher in the OH than in the SH group. The highest levels of IL-6, IL-12, IL-18, vWF, sVCAM-1, and fibrinogen were found in the patients with GD, but the differences between the GD, and TNG groups were not significant. In the subjects with OH serum IL-6 was positively associated with FT3 (R = 0.276, P < 0.05), FT4 (R = 0.273, P < 0.05), and thyroid peroxidase antibodies (R = 0.346, P < 0.01) levels. Conclusion. Our results may suggest that both SH and OH may be associated with endothelial dysfunction, which is reflected by decreased fibrinolytic activity, hypercoagulability, and increased levels of IL-6, IL-12, and IL-18 and depends not only on the cause but also on the degree of hyperthyroidism.
Prevention of Protein Glycation by Natural Compounds

Non-enzymatic protein glycosylation (glycation) contributes to many diseases and aging of organisms. It can be expected that inhibition of glycation may prolong the lifespan. The search for inhibitors of glycation, mainly using in vitro models, has identified natural compounds able to prevent glycation, especially polyphenols and other natural antioxidants. Extrapolation of results of in vitro studies on the in vivo situation is not straightforward due to differences in the conditions and mechanism of glycation, and bioavailability problems. Nevertheless, available data allow to postulate that enrichment of diet in natural anti-glycating agents may attenuate glycation and, in consequence, ageing.
A New HMM-Based Voice Conversion Methodology Evaluated on Monolingual and Cross-Lingual Conversion Tasks

The work presented here proposes a new voice conversion (VC) approach based on hidden Markov models (HMMs) for spectral conversion and excitation estimation. This paper is divided in two main parts: First, an initial HMM-based VC system is presented and compared to a state-of-the-art ML-GMM VC system in a monolingual conversion scenario with parallel training data; The second part shows the necessary modifications to use the HMM VC system in a cross-lingual conversion scenario and compares it with a cross-lingual VC system based on artificial neural networks (ANNs). The results of the tests show improved performance of the proposed HMM VC system compared with both the ML-GMM and ANN-based VC alternatives, while at the same time keeping most of the flexibility afforded by the ANN approach with respect to training data requirements.
Gambling-related harms and homelessness: Findings from a scoping review

People experiencing homelessness are being identified as a potentially vulnerable group in relation to gambling-related harm. The purpose of this paper is to explore the links between gambling-related harm and homelessness. ,A scoping review of the English-language literature was conducted in 2016-2017 using a wide range of international sources. Qualitative content analysis was employed to code and identify key themes within the literature. ,Five themes were identified: emerging knowledge about why people experiencing homelessness may participate in gambling; emerging knowledge about the prevalence of gambling within the homeless population; the likelihood that gambling-related harm is under-reported within the homeless population; emerging knowledge about the extent that people experiencing homelessness access gambling support services; and limited awareness about the potential impact of gambling participation among people experiencing homelessness. ,The paper reviews research concerning the links between gambling, gambling-related harm and homelessness, which may be relevant to those working with people experiencing homelessness.
Three-Tier Security Model for E-Business : Building Trust and Security for Internet Banking Services

The biggest problem facing Internet banking today is the thorny issues of trust and security of online transactions. In fact, the vast majority of customers are concerned about the safety of their transaction, and they can’t simply trust the web fearing that their transactions and credentials might not be safe due to the increasing number of online Internet attacks. A new model for processing Internet banking transactions is presented in this paper, it increases trust and security over the existing model, by allowing customers and banks to authenticate each other, and sign processed transactions online, It enhances security through use of a three-tier, trusted, layered, and secure channel. The model ensures that only qualified people can access Internet banking accounts, that the information viewed remains private and can’t be modified by third parties, and that any transactions made are traceable and verifiable.
Interest Rate Rules, Endogenous Cycles, and Chaotic Dynamics in Open Economies

We present an extensive analysis of the consequences for global equilibrium determinacy in flexible-price open economies of implementing active interest rate rules, i.e., monetary rules where the nominal interest rate responds more than proportionally to inflation. We show that conditions under which these rules generate aggregate instability by inducing liquidity traps, endogenous cycles, and chaotic dynamics depend on specific characteristics of open economies. In particular, rules that respond to expected future inflation are more prone to induce endogenous cyclical and chaotic dynamics the more open the economy to trade.
Potential impact of pre-exposure prophylaxis for female sex workers and men who have sex with men in Bangalore, India: a mathematical modelling study

In Bangalore, new HIV infections of female sex workers and men who have sex with men continue to occur, despite high condom use. Pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has high anti‐HIV efficacy for men who have sex with men. PrEP demonstration projects are underway amongst Indian female sex workers. We estimated the impact and efficiency of prioritizing PrEP to female sex workers and/or men who have sex with men in Bangalore.
NCEP and GISS solar radiation data sets available for ecosystem modeling: Description, differences, and impacts on net primary production

Downwelling surface solar radiation is an important input to ecosystem models, and global models require spatially extensive data sets that vary interannually to capture effects that potentially drive changes in ecosystem function. In this paper, I describe and compare solar radiation data sets from two representative sources, National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) reanalyses and Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) calculations that included satellite observations of cloud properties. The CASA ecosystem model, which uses solar radiation and satellite‐derived vegetation information, was run with the two solar radiation data sets to explore how differences affect estimated net primary production (NPP). GISS solar radiation matched ground‐based observations better than NCEP solar radiation. Mean global NCEP solar radiation exceeded that from GISS by 16%, likely as a result of lower cloudiness within the NCEP reanalyses compared to satellite observations. Neither data set resulted in a significant trend over the study period (1984–2000). Locally, relative differences were up to 40% in the mean and 10% in the trend of solar radiation and NPP, and varied in sign across the globe. Because reanalysis solar radiation is only indirectly constrained by observations in contrast to the satellite‐derived data, it is recommended that studies use the GISS solar radiation when possible.
Effects of a Dynamic Warm-Up, Static Stretching or Static Stretching with Tendon Vibration on Vertical Jump Performance and EMG Responses

Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate the short-term effects of static stretching, with vibration given directly over Achilles tendon, on electro-myographic (EMG) responses and vertical jump (VJ) performances. Fifteen male, college athletes voluntarily participated in this study (n=15; age: 22±4 years old; body height: 181±10 cm; body mass: 74±11 kg). All stages were completed within 90 minutes for each participant. Tendon vibration bouts lasted 30 seconds at 50 Hz for each volunteer. EMG analysis for peripheral silent period, H-reflex, H-reflex threshold, T-reflex and H/M ratio were completed for each experimental phases. EMG data were obtained from the soleus muscle in response to electro stimulation on the popliteal post tibial nerve. As expected, the dynamic warm-up (DW) increased VJ performances (p=0.004). Increased VJ performances after the DW were not statistically substantiated by the EMG findings. In addition, EMG results did not indicate that either static stretching (SS) or tendon vibration combined with static stretching (TVSS) had any detrimental or facilitation effect on vertical jump performances. In conclusion, using TVSS does not seem to facilitate warm-up effects before explosive performance.
PRELIMINARY AND INCOMPLETE

If players learn to play an inflnitely repeated game using Foster and Young’s (Games and Economic Behavior 45, 2003, 73{96) hypothesis testing, then their strategies almost always approximate equilibria of the repeated game. If, in addition, they are su‐ciently \conservative" in their hypothesis revision, then almost all of the time is spent approximating an e‐cient subset of \forgiving" equilibria. Journal of Economic Literature Classiflcation: C72; C12.
SCIE Research briefing 35: Black and minority ethnic people with dementia and their access to support and services

Black and minority ethnic (BME) people are generally under-represented in dementia services and the development of appropriate health and social care services to meet their needs has been a longstanding policy priority.1–5 The government wants to identify new indicators for local health and social care services, based upon the outcomes that people with dementia and their carers want.6 The number of BME people with dementia in the UK is increasing as people who moved here during the period from the 1950s to the 1970s are reaching their seventies and eighties, so it is important that these new indicators pay attention to the wishes of this group of people and their carers.
Proficiency in Motivational Interviewing among Nurses in Child Health Services Following Workshop and Supervision with Systematic Feedback

Background Research on training in motivational interviewing (MI) has shown eroding skills after workshops not followed by additional training input (supervision/coaching). There is a need for more research evaluating different types and lengths of post-workshop training with follow-up periods extending six months. This study is an extension of a previous evaluation of the level of proficiency in MI after workshop and four sessions of supervision among nurses in Swedish child health services. Aims To explore the level of MI proficiency among nurses participating in an intervention to prevent childhood obesity (n = 33), after receiving five additional sessions of supervision including feedback on observed practice, as well as level of proficiency at follow-up. Methods Level of proficiency was measured 4 and 12 months after completed supervision using recorded practice samples coded according to the Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity (MITI) Code. Potential predictors of outcome were investigated. Results Proficiency remained on the same levels after nine sessions of supervision as after four sessions, and was generally low. The percentage of nurses reaching the proficiency level ranged from 18.2 to 54.5% across indicators. MI-spirit had increased significantly at follow-up, and the rest of the indicators remained on the same levels. No predictors of outcome were found. Conclusions Comprehensive training programs with prolonged post-workshop supervision and feedback on observed practice may help to sustain but not improve participants’ proficiency in MI. Potential explanations to the results and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Journal of Family and Reproductive Health Review Eview Eview Eview

Osteoporosis is considered as an important public health problem especially in postmenopausal women. There are some hypotheses support the contributory effect of pregnancy and lactation on osteoporosis later in life. High calcium demand during pregnancy and lactation and low estrogenic state support those hypotheses. Numerous studies have investigated on the issue but there is no consensus about the contributory effect of pregnancy and lactation on osteoporosis. To explore the current state of fact, in the present study, all bibliographic databases were searched and all relevant studies on the topic of osteoporosis, lactation, and pregnancy were reviewed. The review shows that despite of controversial results, pregnancy may have protective effect on bone especially if followed by lactation.
Aging , Neuropsychology , and Cognition : A Journal on Normal and Dysfunctional Development

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SURVEY OF INTERNET USERS’ ATTITUDES TOWARD INTERNET ADVERTISING

Many have speculated about the current state of Internet advertising (IA), how it compares to advertising in general (GA), and its implications for traditional marketing models and practices. Although many estimates exist regarding who uses the Internet as well as guidelines about how best to design IA, little is known about Internet users’ attitudes toward IA, much less what characterizes these attitudes. To test this, a national sample of over 400 participants with at least some exposure to the Internet was surveyed. The results revealed no majority opinion of IA: approximately a third of respondents liked, disliked, and felt neutrally toward IA, respectively. A regression analysis indicated that enjoyment of looking at Internet advertisements, its informativeness, and its utility for making behavioral (purchasing) decisions © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and Direct Marketing Educational Foundation, Inc. CCC 1094-9968/99/030034-21
An analysis of intra-vehicle optical wireless communications from a passenger perspective

In this paper, the first results to show the power, bandwidth and RMS delay spread of an intra-vehicle optical wireless communication system from a passenger perspective are presented. This work builds upon a previous investigation of ours which had demonstrated potential for optical wireless deployment within a vehicle as a potential competitor to RF based systems. By now incorporating the presence of passengers into our system and along with some slight updates to the vehicles dimensions, we further show the viability of optical wireless for this application. In particular, it is shown that locations around the passengers arms and legs can be provided with an infrared signal large enough, and with enough bandwidth, to host high speed, reliable wireless communications.
Multi-Agent Chemotherapy Overcomes Glucocorticoid Resistance Conferred by a BIM Deletion Polymorphism in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

A broad range of anti-cancer agents, including glucocorticoids (GCs) and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), kill cells by upregulating the pro-apoptotic BCL2 family member, BIM. A common germline deletion in the BIM gene was recently shown to favor the production of non-apoptotic BIM isoforms, and to predict inferior responses in TKI-treated chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and EGFR-driven lung cancer patients. Given that both in vitro and in vivo GC resistance are predictive of adverse outcomes in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), we hypothesized that this polymorphism would mediate GC resistance, and serve as a biomarker of poor response in ALL. Accordingly, we used zinc finger nucleases to generate ALL cell lines with the BIM deletion, and confirmed the ability of the deletion to mediate GC resistance in vitro. In contrast to CML and lung cancer, the BIM deletion did not predict for poorer clinical outcome in a retrospective analysis of 411 pediatric ALL patients who were uniformly treated with GCs and chemotherapy. Underlying the lack of prognostic significance, we found that the chemotherapy agents used in our cohort (vincristine, L-asparaginase, and methotrexate) were each able to induce ALL cell death in a BIM-independent fashion, and resensitize BIM deletion-containing cells to GCs. Together, our work demonstrates how effective therapy can overcome intrinsic resistance in ALL patients, and suggests the potential of using combinations of drugs that work via divergent mechanisms of cell killing to surmount BIM deletion-mediated drug resistance in other cancers.
Matching-based Spectrum Allocation in Cognitive Radio Networks

In this paper, a novel spectrum association approach for cognitive radio networks (CRNs) is proposed. Based on a measure of both inference and confidence as well as on a measure of quality-of-service, the association between secondary users (SUs) in the network and frequency bands licensed to primary users (PUs) is investigated. The problem is formulated as a matching game between SUs and PUs. In this game, SUs employ a soft-decision Bayesian framework to detect PUs' signals and, eventually, rank them based on the logarithm of the a posteriori ratio. A performance measure that captures both the ranking metric and rate is further computed by the SUs. Using this performance measure, a PU evaluates its own utility function that it uses to build its own association preferences. A distributed algorithm that allows both SUs and PUs to interact and self-organize into a stable match is proposed. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can improve the sum of SUs' rates by up to 20 % and 60 % relative to the deferred acceptance algorithm and random channel allocation approach, respectively. The results also show an improved convergence time.
Ambidexterity and Performance in Small-to Medium-Sized Firms: The Pivotal Role of Top Management Team Behavioral Integration

While a firm’s ability to jointly pursue both an exploitative and exploratory orientation has been posited as having positive performance effects, little is currently known about the antecedents and consequences of such ambidexterity in small-to medium-sized firms (SMEs). To that end, this study focuses on the pivotal role of top management team (TMT) behavioral integration in facilitating the processing of disparate demands essential to attaining ambidexterity in SMEs. Then, to address the bottom-line importance of an ambidextrous orientation, the study hypothesizes its association with relative firm performance. Multisource survey data, including CEOs and TMT members from 139 SMEs, provide support for both hypotheses.
Data-Based Controllability and Observability Analysis of Linear Discrete-Time Systems

In this brief, we develop data-based methods for analyzing the controllability and observability of linear discrete-time systems which have unknown system parameters. These data-based methods will only use measured data to construct the controllability matrix as well as the observability matrix, in order to verify the corresponding properties. The advantages of our methods are threefold. First, they can directly verify system properties based on measured data without knowing system parameters. Second, our calculation precision is higher than traditional approaches, which need to identify the unknown parameters. Third, our methods have lower computational complexities when constructing the controllability and observability matrices.