Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
EVALUATION OF CONVENTIONAL RENAL FUNCTION TESTS IN PATIENTS WITH β-THALASSEMIA MAJOR USING DEFERASIROX

β-thalassemia major is characterised by grossly defective synthesis of haemoglobin A along with increased production of haemoglobin F, impaired red blood cells production and increased haemolysis of the defective red blood cells. Affected individuals are dependent on repeated blood transfusions and iron chelating therapy. Patients on blood transfusion may develop complications related to iron overload and adverse effects of chelating agent which has harmful effects on many organs in the body including the kidneys. The present study was aimed to investigate renal functions in paediatric patients with transfusion dependent β-thalassemia major using deferasirox. This study consisted of two groups of β-thalassemia patients; group A, 25 transfusion dependent β-thalassemia patients, age range 0.5–5.0 years; group B, 25 transfusion dependent β-thalassemia patients receiving deferasirox as chelating agent, age range 1.75–5.0 years. In addition, 25 subjects (age range 0.5–5.0 years) served as control group C. Blood samples were collected and serum was tested for creatinine, urea and ferritin. The results showed a significant increase in the mean of serum creatinine, and a significant decrease in the mean creatinine clearance in group B when compared with the control group (p≤0.05). In addition, there was a significant increase in the mean serum ferritin in group A and B when compared with the control group (p≤0.001). On the other hand, there were no significant changes in the mean serum urea between groups A and B when compared with the control group. In conclusion the results of the present study indicated no deterioration in renal functions tests (estimated using serum creatinine, urea and creatinine clearance) in β-thalassemia patients in both groups A and B. Nevertheless, subclinical alteration in renal functions could be expected in those patients, so that measurement of other early marker of glomerular and tubular dysfunction is recommended.
Embryonic response to long-term exposure of the marine crustacean Nephrops norvegicus to ocean acidification and elevated temperature

Due to anthropogenic CO2 emissions, our oceans have gradually become warmer and more acidic. To better understand the consequences of this, there is a need for long-term (months) and multistressor experiments. Earlier research demonstrates that the effects of global climate change are specific to species and life stages. We exposed berried Norway lobsters (Nephrops norvegicus), during 4 months to the combination of six ecologically relevant temperatures (5–18°C) and reduced pH (by 0.4 units). Embryonic responses were investigated by quantifying proxies for development rate and fitness including: % yolk consumption, mean heart rate, rate of oxygen consumption, and oxidative stress. We found no interactions between temperature and pH, and reduced pH only affected the level of oxidative stress significantly, with a higher level of oxidative stress in the controls. Increased temperature and % yolk consumed had positive effects on all parameters except on oxidative stress, which did not change in response to temperature. There was a difference in development rate between the ranges of 5–10°C (Q10: 5.4) and 10–18°C (Q10: 2.9), implicating a thermal break point at 10°C or below. No thermal limit to a further increased development rate was found. The insensitivity of N. norvegicus embryos to low pH might be explained by adaptation to a pH-reduced external habitat and/or internal hypercapnia during incubation. Our results thus indicate that this species would benefit from global warming and be able to withstand the predicted decrease in ocean pH in the next century during their earliest life stages. However, future studies need to combine low pH and elevated temperature treatments with hypoxia as hypoxic events are frequently and increasingly occurring in the habitat of benthic species.
Technical Note - An Expectation-Maximization Method to Estimate a Rank-Based Choice Model of Demand

We propose an expectation-maximization (EM) method for estimating customer preferences for a category of products using only sales transaction and product availability data. The demand model combines a general, rank-based discrete choice model of preferences with a Bernoulli process of customer arrivals over time. The discrete choice model is dened by a probability mass function (pmf) on a given set of preference rankings of alternatives, including the nopurchase alternative. Each customer is represented by a preference list, and when faced with a given choice set is assumed to purchase the available option that ranks highest in her preference list { or does not purchase at all if no product ranks higher than the no-purchase alternative. We apply the EM method to jointly estimate the arrival rate of customers and the pmf of the rank-based choice model, and show that it leads to a simple and highly ecient estimation procedure. All limit points of the procedure are provably stationary points of the associated incomplete data log-likelihood function, and the estimates produced are maximum likelihood estimates (MLE). Our numerical experiments conrm the practical potential of the proposal.
The DFNA15 Deafness Mutation Affects POU4F3 Protein Stability, Localization, and Transcriptional Activity

ABSTRACT A mutation in the POU4F3 gene (BRN-3.1, BRN3C) is responsible for DFNA15 (MIM 602459), autosomal-dominant nonsyndromic hearing loss. POU4F3 is a member of the POU family of transcription factors and is essential for inner-ear hair cell maintenance. To test the potential effects of the human POU4F3 mutation, we performed a series of experiments in cell culture to mimic the human mutation. Mutant POU4F3 loses most of its transcriptional activity and most of its ability to bind to DNA and does not function in a dominant-negative manner. Moreover, whereas wild-type POU4F3 is found exclusively in the nucleus, our studies demonstrate that the mutant protein is localized both to the nucleus and the cytoplasm. Two nuclear localization signals were identified; both are essential for proper nuclear entry of POU4F3 protein. We found that the mutant protein half-life is longer than that of the wild type. We propose that the combination of defects caused by the mutation on the function of the POU4F3 transcription factor eventually leads to hair cell morbidity in affected family H members.
Identificação de riscos em projetos de TI

Neste artigo apresenta-se uma revisao das tecnicas de gerenciamento de projeto, em especial das ferramentas de gestao de riscos aplicadas a projetos de Tecnologia da Informacao (TI). Existe um leque de modelos teoricos adotados pelas empresas, tanto de cunho organizacional como no âmbito especifico do projeto. O modelo teorico discutido em maior profundidade neste artigo e o do Project Management Body of Knowledge – PMBoK, proposto pelo Instituto de Gestao de Projetos PMI (Project Management Institute). A abordagem metodologica foi a de estudo de caso, desenvolvida em uma empresa de tecnologia em um projeto de telecomunicacoes. Palavras chave: Gerenciamento de Projetos, Riscos, Tecnologia da Informacao.
Imperfect and unmatched CSIT is still useful for the frequency correlated MISO broadcast channel

Since Maddah-Ali and Tse showed that the completely stale transmitter-side channel state information (CSIT) still benefits the Degrees of Freedom (DoF) of the Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MISO) Broadcast Channel (BC), there has been much interest in the academic literature to investigate the impact of imperfect CSIT on DoF region of time correlated broadcast channel. Even though the research focus has been on time correlated channels so far, a similar but different problem concerns the frequency correlated channels. Indeed, the imperfect CSIT also impacts the DoF region of frequency correlated channels, as exemplified by current multi-carrier wireless systems. This contribution, for the first time in the literature, investigates a general frequency correlated setting where a two-antenna transmitter has imperfect knowledge of CSI of two single-antenna users on two adjacent subbands. A new scheme is derived as an integration of Zero-Forcing Beamforming (ZFBF) and the scheme proposed by Maddah-Ali and Tse. The achievable DoF region resulted by this scheme is expressed as a function of the qualities of CSIT.
Is nurse education sexist? An exploratory study

Abstract A cross-sectional population survey of students enrolled at an Australian university was undertaken using a web-based survey, to examine the perceived prevalence of sexism and gender discrimination in each of their programs, with the aim of determining how nursing student perceptions compare to those of non-nursing students. A total of 221 students participated in the study. Results indicated that there was a perception of sexism involved in a range of programs, as well as perceived gender discrimination. Male students in general felt significantly more affected by this perceived discrimination than did female students. Moreover, students in the nursing program felt significantly more affected by both sexism and discrimination than non-nursing students, and this was particularly the case for male nursing students. These findings may have implications for the recruitment and retention of males in nursing, in a context where shortages of nurses is a problem internationally.
Diabetes, hyperglycemia and the management of cerebrovascular disease.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Hyperglycemia is frequent in patients with cerebrovascular disease. This review article aims to summarize the recent evidence from observational studies that examined the adverse cerebrovascular effects of dysglycemic states as well as interventional studies assessing intensive management strategies for hyperglycemia. RECENT FINDINGS In recent years, diabetes, prediabetic states and insulin resistance and their association with cerebrovascular disease were an important focus of research. The cerebrovascular consequences of these metabolic abnormalities were found to extend beyond ischemic stroke to covert brain infarcts, other structural brain changes and to cognitive impairment with and without dementia. Interventional studies did not reveal that more intensive management of chronic hyperglycemia and of hyperglycemia in the setting of acute stroke improves outcome. There is clear evidence, however, that the overall management of multiple risk factors and behavior modification in patients with dysglycemia may reduce the burden of cerebrovascular disease. SUMMARY Observational studies reveal the growing burden and adverse cerebrovascular effects of dysglycemic states. Currently available interventional studies assessing more intensive strategies for the management of hyperglycemia did not prove, however, to be effective. We discuss the current evidence, pathophysiological considerations and management implications.
Economic evaluation of arthritis self management in primary care

Objective To assess the cost effectiveness of a self management programme plus education booklet for arthritis in primary care. Design Cost effectiveness and cost utility analysis from health and social care and societal perspectives alongside a randomised controlled trial. Setting 74 general practices in the United Kingdom. Participants 812 patients aged 50 or more with osteoarthritis of the hips or knees, or both, and pain or disability, or both. Interventions Randomisation to either six sessions of an arthritis self management programme plus an education booklet (intervention group) or the education booklet alone (standard care control group). Main outcome measures Total health and social care costs and total societal costs at 12 months; cost effectiveness (incremental cost effectiveness ratios and cost effectiveness acceptability curves) on basis of quality of life (SF-36, primary outcome measure), EuroQol visual analogue scale, and quality adjusted life years (QALYs). Results At 12 months health and social care costs in the intervention group were £101 higher (95% confidence interval £3 to £176) than those in the control group because the additional costs of the arthritis self management programme did not seem to be fully offset by savings elsewhere. There were no significant differences in societal costs (which were up to 13 times the size of health and social care costs) or any of the outcomes. From the health and social care perspective the intervention was dominated by the control on the basis of QALYs (which were non-significantly lower in the intervention group) and had incremental cost effectiveness ratios between £279 and £13 473 for the other outcomes. From the societal perspective the intervention seemed superior to the control owing to non-significantly lower costs and non-significantly better outcomes on all measures except QALYs. Probabilities of the arthritis self management programme’s cost effectiveness ranged between 12% and 97% (for thresholds ranging £0 to £1000) based on one point improvements in SF-36 outcomes, but the clinical significance of this is debatable. Probabilities of cost effectiveness on the basis of the visual analogue scale and QALYs were low. Conclusions Cost effectiveness of an arthritis self management programme is not suggested on the basis of current National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence cost perspectives and QALY thresholds. The probability of cost effectiveness is greater when broader costs and other quality of life outcomes are considered. These results suggest that the cost effectiveness of the Department of Health’s expert patients programme cannot be assumed across all clinical conditions and that further rigorous evaluations for other conditions may be needed. Trial registration Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN79115352.
Shared parenting agreements after marital separation : the role of narcissism and child-centerednessMarion Felix Ehrenberg.

Although marital separation usually involves the ending of an intimate relationship between two adults, most separated parents continue to share mutual concerns about the upbringing of their children after the marriage is over. This study examined the characteristics of 16 parent pairs who were able to come to mutual agreement about their parenting plans after separation, in comparison to 16 parent pairs who disagreed about parenting arrangements. The focus of this comparison was the parents' selfversus child-centeredness. It was expected that disagreed parents would be more narcissistic and self-centered than agreed parents, less able to separate their own needs from those of their children, and less able to empathize with children's concerns. The sample of 64 separated parents completed individual interviews and a battery of self-report measures designed to evaluate the "child-centeredness" dimension of parenting. The test battery included the Narcissistic Personality Inventory, the Selfism Scale, the AdultAdolescent Parenting Inventory, and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index. The data were reduced to a set of eight variables to reflect the hypothesized childcenteredness dimension: narcissism, self-centeredness, perspective-taking ability, empathic concern, personal distress, empathic parenting attitudes, narcissistic parenting beliefs, and relationship satisfaction. A correlational and principal components analysis indicated that parents' scores on these eight variables were interrelated in theory-consistent directions. As expected, the results of a multiple regression analysis revealed that the agreed parent pairs were more childcentered than the disagreed parent pairs (p1.01), and that ex-spouses' averaged scores on the set of eight child-centeredness variables accounted for 43% of the variance in predicting shared parenting agreement. The results are discussed with reference to theories of narcissism and object relations psychology. It is concluded that child-centeredness may be an important dimension in understanding the process of shared parenting. In the context of custody and access
Immunochromatographic Assay for Measurement of Total IgE in Tears, Nasal Mucus, and Saliva of Patients with Allergic Rhinoconjunctivitis

Objective Measurement of total immunoglobulin E (IgE) is clinically important for the diagnosis of allergic diseases. The total serum IgE level is normally measured because of its widespread use and convenience, but little attention has been paid to the measurement of local IgE concentrations. We evaluated whether the measurement of local production of IgE in tears, saliva, and nasal mucus was useful for the diagnosis of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis. Methods. A prospective, nonrandomized, cross-sectional study was conducted in 33 consecutive patients with seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (allergic group) and in 30 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects (control group). The total IgE level was measured in tears, saliva, and nasal mucus from all subjects. Using a 4- or 5-point scale, symptoms (sneezing, rhinorrhea, nasal obstruction, ocular itching, and lacrimation) were assessed in each subject along with the activities of daily living (ADL) score and total symptom score for allergic conjunctivitis. Results. Total IgE could be assayed within 10 minutes of collection in all samples. The scores for all symptoms were higher in the allergic group than in the control group (p < .00001). The IgE scores for tear fluid samples (p < .00001) and undiluted saliva (p = .00003) were significantly higher in the allergic group than in the control group. The total IgE score of tear fluid samples was strongly correlated with the severity of symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis, including ocular itching (r = 0.769, p < .00001), tearing (r = 0.560, p = .00035), and ocular symptom score (r = 0.329, p = .03452). On the contrary, the total IgE scores for both saliva and nasal mucus were correlated with the severity of rhinitis-related symptoms, including sneezing (saliva r = 0.897, p < .00001; nasal mucus r = 0.871, p = .00024), nose blowing (saliva r = 0.764, p < .00001; nasal mucus r = 0.829, p = .00080), and nasal obstruction (saliva r = 0.519, p = .00099; nasal mucus r = 0.745, p = .00429). The ADL score was correlated with the total IgE level in each specimen (tear r = 0.705, p < .00001; saliva r = 0.468, p = .00301; nasal mucus r = 0.479, p = .06816). Conclusions. These results suggest that local production of IgE is closely correlated with local allergic symptoms. This rapid test for the measurement of local IgE is easy to perform on an outpatient basis and may be helpful in the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis.
Multilevel Channel Polarization for Arbitrary Discrete Memoryless Channels

It is shown that polar codes, with their original (u,u+v) kernel, achieve the symmetric capacity of discrete memoryless channels with arbitrary input alphabet sizes. It is shown that in general, channel polarization happens in several, rather than only two levels so that the synthesized channels are either useless, perfect or “partially perfect. ” Any subset of the channel input alphabet which is closed under addition induces a coset partition of the alphabet through its shifts. For any such partition of the input alphabet, there exists a corresponding partially perfect channel whose outputs uniquely determine the coset to which the channel input belongs. By a slight modification of the encoding and decoding rules, it is shown that perfect transmission of certain information symbols over partially perfect channels is possible. Our result is general regarding both the cardinality and the algebraic structure of the channel input alphabet; i.e., we show that for any channel input alphabet size and any Abelian group structure on the alphabet, polar codes are optimal. Due to the modifications, we make to the encoding rule of polar codes, the constructed codes fall into a larger class of structured codes called nested group codes.
Centre De Referència En Economia Analítica Barcelona Economics Working Paper Series Working Paper Nº 175 a Test between Matching Theories a Test between Matching Theories. *

This paper tests whether aggregate matching is consistent with random matching or stock-flow matching. Using U.K. matching data and correcting for temporal aggre-gation bias, estimates of the random matching function are consistent with previous work in this field. The data however support the 'stock-flow' matching hypothesis. Estimates find that around 50% of newly unemployed workers match quickly. The remaining workers match slowly, their re-employment rates depending statistically on the inflow of new vacancies and not on the vacancy stock. The interpretation is that these latter workers, having failed to match with existing vacancies, wait for new, more suitable vacancies to come onto the market. The results have important policy implications, particularly for long term unemployment and the design of optimal unemployment insurance programs.
The ‘Born-free’ Non-voting Youth: A Study of Voter Apathy Among a Selected Cohort of South African Youth

ABSTRACT Many studies have engaged youth’s apathy to electoral participation, but there is a special interest in South African youth. They are beneficiaries of long history of struggle for political equality. This study examines why some ‘born-frees’, those born since 1994, did not vote in 2014 General Election. It explores the socio-economic and political reasons affecting their participation in electoral process, and their opinions of the political process in the 2014 General Election. This study reveals that cynicism about politics and social economic concerns are some of the reasons affecting youth turnout. However, they are like youth in many nations with apathetic attitude to politics. The idealisation of struggle, freedom and democracy has created a narrative of a ‘born-free’ generation that should honour the legacies of the struggle by voting. Perhaps, they should not be burdened with this emotional expectation, but to address their concerns about poverty, unemployment and inequality.
A robotic manipulator design with novel soft actuators

Soft robots are inherently compliant and adaptive, therefore they are promising candidates for interacting with humans. However robotic manipulators utilizing soft actuators are often constrained by a series of actuator performance limitations. In this work we design a novel linear soft robotic actuator with significantly improved performances over the existing products, achieving 300% deformation ratio, quasi-constant output force over a wide motion range, while maintaining passive compliance and adaptability. Moreover, the novel actuator is less prone to friction, and could be fabricated using inject molding and 3D printing, hence having high repeatability at very low cost. An analytical model was developed to characterize the actuator behavior and provide a guideline for actuator design according to performance specifications. A 6 DOF soft manipulator was designed and fabricated utilizing the novel soft actuator. The manipulator arm had a serial kinematic structure with a biomimetic wrist and was driven by 12 soft actuators mounted onto the arm links. With 1.2m workspace radius and 1kg payload, the working air pressure could be as low as 1bar. Preliminary results have shown the validity of the novel soft actuator and manipulator designs, as well as the strong potential of soft robots in human-oriented applications.