Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Injury epidemiology after the 2001 Gujarat earthquake in India: a retrospective analysis of injuries treated at a rural hospital in the Kutch district immediately after the disaster

Background The number of injured far exceeds those dead and the average injury to mortality ratio in earthquakes stands at 3:1. Immediate effective medical response significantly influences injury outcomes and thus the overall health impact of earthquakes. Inadequate or mismanagement of injuries may lead to disabilities. The lack of precise data from immediate aftermath is seen as a remarkable weak point in disaster epidemiology and warrants evidence generation. Objective To analyze the epidemiology of injuries and the treatment imparted at a secondary rural hospital in the Kutch district, Gujarat, India following the January 26, 2001 earthquake. Design/Methods Discharge reports of patients admitted to the hospital over 10 weeks were analyzed retrospectively for earthquake-related injuries. Results Orthopedic injuries, (particularly fractures of the lower limbs) were predominant and serious injuries like head, chest, abdominal, and crush syndrome were minimal. Wound infections were reported in almost 20% of the admitted cases. Surgical procedures were more common than conservative treatment. The most frequently performed surgical procedures were open reduction with internal fixation and cleaning and debridement of contaminated wounds. Four secondary deaths and 102 transfers to tertiary care due to complications were reported. Conclusion The injury epidemiology reported in this study is in general agreement with most other studies reporting injury epidemiology except higher incidence of distal orthopedic injuries particularly to the lower extremities. We also found that young males were more prone to sustaining injuries. These results warrant further research. Inconsistent data reporting procedures against the backdrop of inherent disaster data incompleteness calls for urgent standardization of reporting earthquake injuries for evidence-based response policy planning.
Robustness analysis of GSVD based optimal filtering and generalized sidelobe canceller for hearing aid applications

Multi-microphone noise reduction techniques for hearing aid applications go together with the use of small-sized arrays. Considerable noise reduction can be achieved with such arrays, but at the expense of an increased sensitivity to model errors or a priori assumptions. We evaluate the robustness of the generalized sidelobe canceller (GSC) and a generalized singular value decomposition (GSVD) based optimal filtering technique both analytically and experimentally. Especially in complicated noise scenarios, the optimal filter appears to be more robust.
Differences in Preferences Towards the Environment: The Impact of a Gender, Age and Parental Effect

The paper investigates empirically the differences in preferences towards protection of the environment. Using seven different dependent variables to focus on the impact of age, gender and children we use a large micro data set covering data from 33 Western and Eastern European countries. The results indicate that women have both a stronger preference towards the environment and a stronger willingness to contribute. Moreover, we observe the tendency of a negative correlation between age and environmental preferences. However, a positive effect is visible once we focus on the impact of age on social norms (environmental morale). Finally, we were not able to observe that having children is positively correlated with a stronger preference towards the environment.
SIRT1 Is a Regulator in High Glucose-Induced Inflammatory Response in RAW264.7 Cells

Sepsis is defined as a systemic inflammatory response syndrome that disorders the functions of host immune system, including the imbalance between pro- and anti-inflammatory responses mediated by immune macrophages. Sepsis could also induce acute hyperglycemia. Studies have shown that the silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog 1 (SIRT1), an NAD+-dependent deacetylase, mediates NF-κb deacetylation and inhibits its function. Therefore, SIRT1 is likely to play an important role in high glucose-mediated inflammatory signalings. Here we demonstrate that high glucose significantly downregulates both the mRNA and protein levels of SIRT1 and upregulates the mRNA level and the release of two pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-1β and TNF-α, in RAW264.7 macrophages. Interestingly, the reduced level of SIRT1 by high glucose is remarkably upregulated by SIRT1 activator SRT1720, while the level and the release of IL-1β and TNF-α significantly decrease with the use of SRT1720. However, when the function of SIRT1 is inhibited by EX527 or its expression is suppressed by RNAi, the upregulated level and release of IL-1β and TNF-α by high glucose are further increased. Taken together, these findings collectively suggest that SIRT1 is an important regulator in many high glucose-related inflammatory diseases such as sepsis.
Costs of Banking System Instability: Some Empirical Evidence

This paper assesses the cross-country 'stylised facts' on empirical measures of the losses incurred during periods of banking crises. Firstly, the direct resolution costs to the government are considered, and then the broader costs to the welfare of the economy (proxied by losses in GDP). The cumulative output losses incurred during crisis periods are found to be large, roughly 15%-20% of annual GDP, on average. In contrast to previous research, it is also found that output losses incurred during crises in developed countries are as high, or higher, on average, than those in emerging market economies. Moreover, output losses during crisis periods in developed countries also appear to be significantly larger - 10%-15% - than in neighbouring countries that did not at the time experience severe banking problems. In emerging market economies, by contrast, banking crises appear to be costly only when accompanied by a currency crisis. These results seem robust to allowing for macroeconomic conditions at the outset of crisis - in particular low and declining output growth - that have also contributed to future output losses during episodes.
A neural-network approach to recognize defect spatial pattern in semiconductor fabrication

Yield enhancement in semiconductor fabrication is important. Even though IC yield loss may be attributed to many problems, the existence of defects on the wafer is one of the main causes. When the defects on the wafer form spatial patterns, it is usually a clue for the identification of equipment problems or process variations. This research intends to develop an intelligent system, which will recognize defect spatial patterns to aid in the diagnosis of failure causes. The neural-network architecture named adaptive resonance theory network 1 (ART1) was adopted for this purpose. Actual data obtained from a semiconductor manufacturing company in Taiwan were used in experiments with the proposed system. Comparison between ART1 and another unsupervised neural network, self-organizing map (SOM), was also conducted. The results show that ART1 architecture can recognize the similar defect spatial patterns more easily and correctly.
Hydration of Hybrid Alkaline Cement Containing a Very Large Proportion of Fly Ash: A Descriptive Model

In hybrid alkaline fly ash cements, a new generation of binders, hydration, is characterized by features found in both ordinary portland cement (OPC) hydration and the alkali activation of fly ash (AAFA). Hybrid alkaline fly ash cements typically have a high fly ash (70 wt % to 80 wt %) and low clinker (20 wt % to 30 wt %) content. The clinker component favors curing at ambient temperature. A hydration mechanism is proposed based on the authors’ research on these hybrid binders over the last five years. The mechanisms for OPC hydration and FA alkaline activation are summarized by way of reference. In hybrid systems, fly ash activity is visible at very early ages, when two types of gel are formed: C–S–H from the OPC and N–A–S–H from the fly ash. In their mutual presence, these gels tend to evolve, respectively, into C–A–S–H and (N,C)–A–S–H. The use of activators with different degrees of alkalinity has a direct impact on reaction kinetics but does not modify the main final products, a mixture of C–A–S–H and (N,C)–A–S–H gels. The proportion of each gel in the mix does, however, depend on the alkalinity generated in the medium.
Classifying peer-to-peer network coding schemes

Modern peer-to-peer file sharing systems distribute large files among peers using block partitioning. Blocks can be redistributed by a peer even before the whole file is available which highly decreases the distribution time. All peer-to-peer networks face the problem of dynamic participation of the peers and dynamic bandwidth in the network. A leaving peer can cause an unrecoverable loss of blocks and obstruct further downloads of the file. Furthermore, the choice which block needs to be sent to which peer is a hard question. A random choice leads to the coupon collector problem which decreases the transmission rate. Filesharing networks like BitTorrent or Splitstream face such problems. Network Coding overcomes this problem by using error redundant codes of all blocks of the file. An efficient randomized variant of it, Practical Network Coding, transmits and recombines random linear combinations of the blocks of the partitioned file. As soon as enough linear combinations have been gathered, the original file can be decoded by a matrix operation, optimizing the network flow in any peer-to-peer network. All known Network Coding schemes, however, suffer from a quadratic cost of read/write disk operations for both encoding and decoding. Since there is an increasing gap between the speed of mass storage devices and the main memory, this poses an obstacle to a wider use of Network Coding schemes. In this paper we present and investigate new network coding schemes, which form a compromise between Network Coding and uncoded block transfer schemes like BitTorrent. These schemes, called Paircoding and Treecoding have smaller read/write costs for encoding and decoding than Practical Network Coding and higher throughput than BitTorrent. We develop a new framework for comparing the throughput of data (performance) of such peer-to-peer file sharing systems and classify these systems, as well as a BitTorrent variant which uses forward error correction. The dynamics of peer-to-peer networks are described by a round model where the set of participating peers and their link quality changes after each round. The framework compares two schemes for all possible dynamic scenarios. If the transmission rate of scheme A is at least as well as scheme B, then we say A performs as well as B. If this is the case and there is a scenario where A is better than B, we say A outperforms B. We show that all of our proposed coding schemes outperform BitTorrent, while being outperformed by Network Coding. This leads to a hierarchy, where BitTorrent is the worst performer and Network Coding is the best performer regarding throughput. Regarding computation (disk read/write) complexity for decoding, BitTorrent and Foward Error Correction have linear time behavior, for Paircoding it is almost linear, Treecoding with one coding tree needs time O(n) and Network Coding has time O(n2).
Active Learning Selection Strategies for Information Extraction

The need for labeled documents is a key bottleneck in adaptive information extraction. One way to solve this problem is through active learning algorithms that require users to label only the most informative documents. We investigate several document selection strategies that are particularly relevant to information extraction. We show that some strategies are biased toward recall, while others are biased toward precision, but it is difficult to ensure both high recall and precision. We also show that there is plenty of scope for improved selection strategies, and investigate the relationship between the documents selected and the relative performance between two strategies.
Non-clausal Multi-ary alpha-Generalized Resolution Principle for a Lattice-Valued First-Order Logic

The present paper focuses on a resolution-based automated reasoning theory in a lattice-valued logic system with truth-values defined in a lattice-valued algebraic structure - lattice implication algebras (LIA) in order to handle automated deduction under an uncertain environment. Particularly, as a continuation and extension of the established work on binary resolution at a certain truth-value level α (called α-resolution), a non-clausal multi-ary α-generalized resolution principle and deduction are introduced in this paper for a lattice-valued first-order logic LF(X) based on LIA, which is essentially non-clausal generalized resolution avoiding the reduction to normal clausal form. Non-clausal multi-ary α-generalized resolution deduction in LF(X) is then proved to be sound and complete. The present work is expected to provide a theoretical foundation of more efficient resolution based automated reasoning in lattice-valued logic.
The U-shapes of Occupational Mobility * Fane Groes Copenhagen Business School

Using administrative panel data on the entire Danish population we document a new set of facts characterizing occupational mobility. For most occupations, mobility is U-shaped and directional: both low and high wage earners within an occupation have a particularly large probability of leaving this occupation, and the low (high) earners tend to switch to new occupations with lower (higher) average wages. Exceptions are occupations with steeply rising (declining) productivity, where mainly the lower (higher) paid workers within this occupation tend to leave. The facts conflict with several existing theories that are used to account for endogeneity in occupational choice, but it is shown analytically that the patterns are explained consistently within a theory of sorting under absolute advantage that includes learning about workers' abilities.
Poor Survival in Rheumatoid Arthritis Associated with Bronchiectasis: A Family-Based Cohort Study

Background Diffuse bronchiectasis (DB) may occur in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator) mutations predispose RA patients to DB, but the prognosis of RA-associated DB (RA-DB) is unclear. Methods We report long-term mortality data from a nationwide family-based association study of patients with RA only, DB only or RA-DB. We assessed mortality as a function of clinical characteristics and CF/CFTR-RD (CFTR-related disorders) mutations in 137 subjects from 24 kindreds. Potential risk factors were investigated by Cox proportional-hazard analysis with shared Gaussian random effects to account for within-family correlations. Results During a median follow-up of 11 years after inclusion, 18 patients died, mostly from cardiorespiratory causes. Survival was significantly lower for RA-DB patients than for unaffected relatives and for patients with RA or DB only. RA patients with DB had also a poorer prognosis in terms of survival after RA diagnosis (HR, 8.6; 95% CI, 1.5–48.2; P = 0.014) and from birth (HR, 9.6; 95% CI, 1.1–81.7; P = 0.039). Early onset of DB (HR, 15.4; 95% CI, 2.1–113.2; P = 0.007) and CF/CFTR-RD mutation (HR, 7.2; 95% CI, 1.4–37.1; P = 0.018) were associated with poorer survival in patients with RA-DB. Thus, CF/CFTR-RD mutations in RA patients with early-onset DB defined a subgroup of high-risk patients with higher mortality rates (log-rank test P = 1.28×10−5). Conclusion DB is associated with poorer survival in patients with RA. Early-onset DB and CFTR mutations are two markers that identify RA patients at a high risk of death, for whom future therapeutic interventions should be designed and evaluated.
A narrative study of the experience of feedback on a professional doctorate: ‘a kind of flowing conversation’

ABSTRACT Feedback has an important role in supporting learning. It is through feedback that learners can actively construct and clarify understanding, monitor their performance and direct their learning. Despite attention on feedback in higher education, limited research exists exploring the role and experience of feedback within doctoral programmes. This article focuses on student experiences of feedback during a professional doctorate in England. Analysis of the narrative of one recent Doctorate in Education graduate reveals several inter-related themes, illustrating the role of peers in supporting the move to autonomous researcher. This intensive focus on one student’s experience narrative contributes to a reconceptualization of feedback as dialogic, revealing feedback through the doctoral journey as an ongoing dialogue, with the doctoral researcher taking increasing responsibility for orchestrating the conversation. I argue that such a perspective moves beyond the traditional view of doctoral learning through the support of a supervisor to encompass both formal and informal learning experiences within a community of research practice, emphasising the active participation of the doctoral candidate in this community. I discuss the potential contribution of student experience stories to the development of doctoral relationships and practice.
Assessment of Natural Radioactivity Levels and Radiation Hazards in Agricultural and Virgin Soil in the State of Kedah, North of Malaysia

The activity concentrations of naturally occurring radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K were determined in 30 agricultural and virgin soil samples randomly collected from Kedah, north of Malaysia, at a fertile soil depth of 0–30 cm. Gamma-ray spectrometry was applied using high-purity germanium (HPGe) gamma-ray detector and a PC-based MCA. The mean radioactivity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K were found to be 102.08 ± 3.96, 133.96 ± 2.92, and 325.87 ± 9.83 Bq kg−1, respectively, in agricultural soils and 65.24 ± 2.00, 83.39 ± 2.27, and 136.98 ± 9.76 Bq kg−1, respectively, in virgin soils. The radioactivity concentrations in agricultural soils are higher than those in virgin soils and compared with those reported in other countries. The mean values of radium equivalent activity (Raeq), absorbed dose rates D (nGy h−1), annual effective dose equivalent, and external hazard index (H ex) are 458.785 Bq kg−1, 141.62 nGy h−1, and 0.169 mSv y−1, respectively, in agricultural soils and 214.293 Bq kg−1, 87.47 nGy h−1, and 0.106 mSv y−1, respectively, in virgin soils, with average H ex of 0.525. Results were discussed and compared with those reported in similar studies and with internationally recommended values.
Lexical-Semantic Activation in Broca's and Wernicke's Aphasia: Evidence from Eye Movements

Lexical processing requires both activating stored representations and selecting among active candidates. The current work uses an eye-tracking paradigm to conduct a detailed temporal investigation of lexical processing. Patients with Broca's and Wernicke's aphasia are studied to shed light on the roles of anterior and posterior brain regions in lexical processing as well as the effects of lexical competition on such processing. Experiment 1 investigates whether objects semantically related to an uttered word are preferentially fixated, for example, given the auditory target hammer, do participants fixate a picture of a nail? Results show that, like normal controls, both groups of patients are more likely to fixate on an object semantically related to the target than an unrelated object. Experiment 2 explores whether Broca's and Wernicke's aphasics show competition effects when words share onsets with the uttered word, for instance, given the auditory target hammer, do participants fixate a picture of a hammock? Experiment 3 investigates whether these patients activate words semantically related to onset competitors of the uttered word, for example, given the auditory target hammock, do participants fixate a nail due to partial activation of the onset competitor hammer? Results of Experiments 2 and 3 show pathological patterns of performance for both Broca's and Wernicke's aphasics under conditions of lexical onset competition. However, the patterns of deficit differed, suggesting different functional and computational roles for anterior and posterior areas in lexical processing. Implications of the findings for the functional architecture of the lexical processing system and its potential neural substrates are considered.
Magnetically Regulated Star Formation in Turbulent Clouds

We investigate numerically the combined effects of supersonic turbulence, strong magnetic fields, and ambipolar diffusion on cloud evolution leading to star formation. We find that in clouds that are initially magnetically subcritical, supersonic turbulence can speed up star formation, through enhanced ambipolar diffusion in shocks. The speedup overcomes a major objection to the standard scenario of low-mass star formation involving ambipolar diffusion, since the diffusion timescale at the average density of a molecular cloud is typically longer than the cloud lifetime. At the same time, the strong magnetic field can prevent the large-scale supersonic turbulence from converting most of the cloud mass into stars in one (short) turbulence crossing time and thus alleviate the high efficiency problem associated with the turbulence-controlled picture for low-mass star formation. We propose that relatively rapid but inefficient star formation results from supersonic collisions of somewhat subcritical gas in strongly magnetized turbulent clouds. The salient features of this shock-accelerated, ambipolar diffusion-regulated scenario are demonstrated with numerical experiments.
Monte carlo simulations of protein folding. I. Lattice model and interaction scheme

A new hierarchical method for the simulation of the protein folding process and the de novo prediction of protein three‐dimensional structure is proposed. The reduced representation of the protein α‐carbon backbone employs lattice discretizations of increasing geometrical resolution and a single ball representation of side chain rotamers. In particular, coarser and finer lattice backbone descriptions are used. The coarser (finer) lattice represents Cα traces of native proteins with an accuracy of 1.0 (0.7) Å rms. Folding is simulated by means of very fast Monte Carlo lattice dynamics. The potential of mean force, predominantly of statistical origin, contains several novel terms that facilitate the cooperative assembly of secondary structure elements and the cooperative packing of the side chains. Particular contributions to the interaction scheme are discussed in detail. In the accompanying paper (Kolinski, A., Skolnick, J. Monte Carlo simulation of protein folding. II. Application to protein A, ROP, and crambin. Proteins 18:353–366, 1994), the method is applied to three small globular proteins. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.