Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Qualitative evaluation of a mobile phone and web-based collaborative care intervention for patients with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND Drawing on previous web-based diabetes management programs based on the Chronic Care Model, we expanded an intervention to include care management through mobile phones and a game console web browser. METHODS The pilot intervention enrolled eight diabetes patients from the University of Washington in Seattle into a collaborative care program: connecting them to a care provider specializing in diabetes, providing access to their full electronic medical record, allowing wireless glucose uploads and e-mail with providers, and connecting them to the program's web services through a game system. To evaluate the study, we conducted qualitative thematic analysis of semistructured interviews. RESULTS Participants expressed frustrations with using the cell phones and the game system in their everyday lives, but liked the wireless system for collaborating with a provider on uploaded glucoses and receiving automatic feedback on their blood sugar trends. A majority of participants also expressed that their participation in the trial increased their health awareness. DISCUSSION Mobile communication technologies showed promise within a web-based collaborative care program for type 2 diabetes. Future intervention design should focus on integrating easy-to-use applications within mobile technologies already familiar to patients and ensure the system allows for sufficient collaboration with a care provider.
On the Usage of Spectral and Broadband Satellite Instrument Measurements to Differentiate Climate Models with Different Cloud Feedback Strengths

AbstractTop-of-atmosphere radiometric signals associated with different high- and low-cloud–radiative feedbacks have been examined through the use of an observing system simulation experiment (OSSE). The OSSE simulates variations in the spectrally resolved and spectrally integrated signals that are due to a range of plausible feedbacks of the climate system when forced with CO2 concentrations that increase at 1% yr−1. This initial version of the OSSE is based on the Community Climate System Model, version 3 (CCSM3), and exploits the fact that CCSM3 exhibits different cloud feedback strengths for different model horizontal resolutions. In addition to the conventional broadband shortwave albedos and outgoing longwave fluxes, a dataset of shortwave spectral reflectance and longwave spectral radiance has been created. These data have been analyzed to determine simulated satellite instrument signals of poorly constrained cloud feedbacks for three plausible realizations of Earth's climate system produced by CCS.
A physical model for aftershocks triggered by dislocation on a rectangular fault

Abstract We ﬁnd the static displacement, stress, strain and the modiﬁed Coulomb failure stress pro-duced in an elastic medium by a ﬁnite size rectangular fault after its dislocation with uniformstress drop but a non uniform dislocation on the source. The time-dependent rate of triggeredearthquakes is estimated by a rate-state model applied to a uniformly distributed population offaults whose equilibrium is perturbated by a stress change caused only by the ﬁrst dislocation.The rate of triggered events in our simulations is exponentially proportional to the Coulombstress change, but the time at which the maximum rate begins to decrease is variable from frac-tions of hour for positive stress changes of the order of some MPa, up to more than a year forsmaller stress changes. As a consequence, the ﬁnal number of triggered events is proportional tothe Coulomb stress change. The model predicts that the total number of events triggered on aplane containing the fault is proportional to the 2/3 power of the seismic moment. Indeed, thetotal number of aftershocks produced on the fault plane scales in magnitude as 10
From Holophrases to Abstract Grammatical Constructions : Insights from Simulation Studies

The construction grammar framework provides a rich formalism for the characterization of development in language acquisition, in part because it allows for a graceful transition from idiom-like holophrases, to fully abstract argument constructions. From the perspective of learning complexity, this means that rather than mastering the grammar used by an adult to generate or understand an utterance, the child can exploit more direct correspondences between fixed utterances and their meanings in the form of holophrases, and then progressively apply procedures for generalization in order to develop an abstract argument construction repertoire. The current chapter presents a neuro-computational model that addresses aspects of the construction grammar formalism, and uses this model to explain a possible trajectory from idiom-like holophrases to progressively more abstract argument constructions. The goal of the current research is thus to test a theory of form to meaning mapping that takes substantial input from the proposals of usage based construction grammar analogical mapping from sentence to meaning (Fisher 1996), and cue coalitions that specify or identify the mappings (Bates et al. 1982). In particular, the model will provide a functional framework for analysis of the progression of schematicity (Croft 2001) or abstraction (Tomasello 2003) in the evolution of grammatical constructions from fixed structure " holophrases "-i.e. unparsed holistic utterances that correspond directly to a meaning-to fully productive abstract schematic constructions. The 2 essential idea that will be developed is that there are two complimentary mechanisms for mapping form to meaning. The first, which will be exploited during early development in the holophrase period, involves a direct link between the utterance structure representation and the meaning. The second involves a process that can " cut and paste " arguments into the representation of the utterance structure. The combination of the two mechanisms allows the development of progressively abstract argument constructions in which the form of the construction is processed by the first mechanism, and the insertion of specific arguments into the construction is processed by the second. The advantage of this approach is that the system can get started early with holistic form to meaning mappings before learning about word categories and the possible roles they can play in more abstract constructions. Within the nativist vs. usage-based debate, this work is positioned near the later. In the nativist context Chomsky (1959) defined a research program for linguistics in which language acquisition was characterized in terms of grammar induction, and …
Is Promoting Beliefs Useful to Make Them Accepted in Networks of Agents?

We consider the problem of belief propagation in a network of communicating agents, modeled in the recently introduced Belief Revision Game (BRG) framework. In this setting, each agent expresses her belief through a propositional formula and revises her own belief at each step by considering the beliefs of her acquaintances, using belief change tools. In this paper, we investigate the extent to which BRGs satisfy some monotonicity properties, i.e., whether promoting some desired piece of belief to a given set of agents is actually always useful for making it accepted by all of them. We formally capture such a concept of promotion by a new family of belief change operators. We show that some basic monotonicity properties are not satisfied by BRGs in general, even when the agents merging-based revision policies are fully rational (in the AGM sense). We also identify some classes where they hold.
Functional Plasticity in Ventral Temporal Cortex following Cognitive Rehabilitation of a Congenital Prosopagnosic

We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG) to measure neural changes associated with training configural processing in congenital prosopagnosia, a condition in which face identification abilities are not properly developed in the absence of brain injury or visual problems. We designed a task that required discriminating faces by their spatial configuration and, after extensive training, prosopagnosic MZ significantly improved at face identification. Event-related potential results revealed that although the N170 was not selective for faces before training, its selectivity after training was normal. fMRI demonstrated increased functional connectivity between ventral occipital temporal face-selective regions (right occipital face area and right fusiform face area) that accompanied improvement in face recognition. Several other regions showed fMRI activity changes with training; the majority of these regions increased connectivity with face-selective regions. Together, the neural mechanisms associated with face recognition improvements involved strengthening early face-selective mechanisms and increased coordination between face-selective and nonselective regions, particularly in the right hemisphere.
Modelling dispersal of metals from a copper smelter at Rouyn-Noranda (Québec, Canada) using peatland data

Copper, Pb and Zn levels in surface growth sampled from 37 peat hummocks (ombrotrophic) occurring in peatlands around a smelter in western Québec show that metal levels decrease exponentially with increasing distance from the smelter. The spatial pattern of metal in peat forms a circular map pattern, centred on the smelter and skewed by the predominant wind direction. An empirical model fitted to the data provides an estimate of the rate of concentration decrease with radial distance, and the background metal level far away from the smelter. For Cu, Pb and Zn, the smelter-related anomaly is statistically indistinguishable from background levels at about 50 km from the smelter. Using approximate measurements of peat accumulation rate and bulk density of peat, the amount of metal in the smelter-centred anomaly was calculated by integration. The Cu anomaly can account for about 30% of reported emissions in the sampling year (1996–1997); the Pb and Zn anomalies account for about 10 and 26% of reported emissions, respectively. The discrepancy between the peat-derived metal anomaly and the reported emissions may be due in part to various sources of error and bias. The major causes, however, are probably long-range transport of atmospheric emissions, particularly during dry weather periods, and incomplete physical trapping and chemical fixation of metal in the peat hummocks.
Injuries among World Cup ski and snowboard athletes

There is little information available on injuries to World Cup skiers and snowboarders. The aim of this study was to describe and compare the injury risk to World Cup athletes in alpine skiing, freestyle skiing, snowboarding, ski jumping, Nordic combined and cross country skiing. We performed retrospective interviews with the International Ski Federation (FIS) World Cup athletes from selected nations during the 2006–2007 and 2007–2008 winter seasons and recorded all acute injuries occurring during the seasons. We interviewed 2121 athletes and recorded 705 injuries. There were 520 (72%) time‐loss injuries and 196 (28%) severe injuries (absence >28 days). In freestyle skiing, alpine skiing and snowboarding, there were 27.6, 29.8 and 37.8 time‐loss and 14.4, 11.3 and 13.8 severe injuries per 100 athletes per season, respectively. In Nordic combined, ski jumping and cross country skiing, there were 15.8, 13.6 and 6.3 time‐loss and 3.3, 5.6 and 0.7 severe injuries per 100 athletes per season, respectively. In conclusion about 1/3 of the World Cup alpine, freestyle and snowboard athletes sustain a time‐loss injury each season, while the risk is low in the Nordic disciplines. A particular concern was the high proportion of severe injuries observed among alpine, freestyle and snowboard athletes, which is in contrast to most other sports.
Closed-Loop Control During Intense Prolonged Outdoor Exercise in Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes: The Artificial Pancreas Ski Study

OBJECTIVE Intense exercise is a major challenge to the management of type 1 diabetes (T1D). Closed-loop control (CLC) systems (artificial pancreas) improve glycemic control during limited intensity and short duration of physical activity (PA). However, CLC has not been tested during extended vigorous outdoor exercise common among adolescents. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Skiing presents unique metabolic challenges: intense prolonged PA, cold, altitude, and stress/fear/excitement. In a randomized controlled trial, 32 adolescents with T1D (ages 10–16 years) participated in a 5-day ski camp (∼5 h skiing/day) at two sites: Wintergreen, VA, and Breckenridge, CO. Participants were randomized to the University of Virginia CLC system or remotely monitored sensor-augmented pump (RM-SAP). The CLC and RM-SAP groups were coarsely paired by age and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). All subjects were remotely monitored 24 h per day by the study physicians and clinical team. RESULTS Compared with physician-monitored open loop, percent time in range (70–180 mg/dL) improved using CLC: 71.3 vs. 64.7% (+6.6% [95% CI 1–12]; P = 0.005), with maximum effect late at night. Hypoglycemia exposure and carbohydrate treatments were improved overall (P = 0.001 and P = 0.007) and during the daytime with strong ski level effects (P = 0.0001 and P = 0.006); ski/snowboard proficiency was balanced between groups but with a very strong site effect: naive in Virginia and experienced in Colorado. There was no adverse event associated with CLC; the participants’ feedback was overwhelmingly positive. CONCLUSIONS CLC in adolescents with T1D improved glycemic control and reduced exposure to hypoglycemia during prolonged intensive winter sport activities, despite the added challenges of cold and altitude.
Optimization of Passive Low Power Wireless Electromagnetic Energy Harvesters

This work presents the optimization of antenna captured low power radio frequency (RF) to direct current (DC) power converters using Schottky diodes for powering remote wireless sensors. Linearized models using scattering parameters show that an antenna and a matched diode rectifier can be described as a form of coupled resonator with different individual resonator properties. The analytical models show that the maximum voltage gain of the coupled resonators is mainly related to the antenna, diode and load (remote sensor) resistances at matched conditions or resonance. The analytical models were verified with experimental results. Different passive wireless RF power harvesters offering high selectivity, broadband response and high voltage sensitivity are presented. Measured results show that with an optimal resistance of antenna and diode, it is possible to achieve high RF to DC voltage sensitivity of 0.5 V and efficiency of 20% at −30 dBm antenna input power. Additionally, a wireless harvester (rectenna) is built and tested for receiving range performance.
Loneliness and HIV-related stigma explain depression among older HIV-positive adults

Abstract Advances in the treatment of HIV have resulted in a large growing population of older adults with HIV. These aging adults face added social, psychological, and physical challenges associated with the aging process. Correlations between depression, loneliness, health, and HIV/AIDS-related stigma have been studied, but there is little evaluation of these associations among HIV-positive adults over the age of 50. Data for these analyses were taken from the Research on Older Adults with HIV study of 914 New York City-based HIV-positive men and women over the age of 50. In total, 39.1% of participants exhibited symptoms of major depression (CES-D>23). Multivariate modeling successfully explained 42% of the variance in depression which was significantly related to increased HIV-associated stigma, increased loneliness, decreased cognitive functioning, reduced levels of energy, and being younger. These data underscore the need for service providers and researchers to assert more aggressive and innovative efforts to resolve both psychosocial and physical health issues that characterize the graying of the AIDS epidemic in the USA. Data suggest that focusing efforts to reduce HIV-related stigma and loneliness may have lasting effects in reducing major depressive symptoms and improving perceived health.
An Algebraic Substructuring Method for Large-Scale Eigenvalue Calculation

We examine sub-structuring methods for solving large-scale generalized eigenvalue problems from a purely algebraic point of view. We use the term algebraic sub-structuring to refer to the process of applying matrix reordering and partitioning algorithms to divide a large sparse matrix into smaller submatrices from which a subset of spectral components are extracted and combined to provide approximate solutions to the original problem. We are interested in the question of which spectral componentsone should extract from each sub-structure in order to produce an approximate solution to the original problem with a desired level of accuracy. Error estimate for the approximation to the small esteigen pair is developed. The estimate leads to a simple heuristic for choosing spectral components (modes) from each sub-structure. The effectiveness of such a heuristic is demonstrated with numerical examples. We show that algebraic sub-structuring can be effectively used to solve a generalized eigenvalue problem arising from the simulation of an accelerator structure. One interesting characteristic of this application is that the stiffness matrix produced by a hierarchical vector finite elements scheme contains a null space of large dimension. We present an efficient scheme to deflate this null space in the algebraic sub-structuring process.
Management of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia at high risk of relapse on ibrutinib therapy

Abstract The past two decades have witnessed a paradigm shift in the management of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), particularly with the introduction of targeted therapies to clinical practice. Ibrutinib is an irreversible inhibitor of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) and has shown significant efficacy and tolerability, even in heavily treated patients. Despite improvement in outcomes, patients do ultimately relapse. Those who develop disease progression on ibrutinib are a particularly high-risk population with poor outcomes. Identifying patients at higher risk of relapse while on therapy is needed for individualized clinical monitoring and timely subsequent management upon relapse. In this article, we discuss characteristics of CLL progression, risk factors for relapse on ibrutinib including clinical and molecular biomarkers, and a risk-adapted approach to identifying, monitoring, and managing CLL patients during ibrutinib therapy.
Enable Efficient Compound Image Compression in H.264/AVC Intra Coding

This paper presents an efficient compound image compression approach based on H.264/AVC intra coding. The text blocks are distinguished from the picture blocks and compressed with a new coding mode. In particular, the text blocks are represented by base colors and index map in spatial domain. A color quantization algorithm optimized for compression is designed to generate this representation. As for the entropy coding of text blocks, a structure-aware context-based arithmetic coder is developed. The mode selection algorithm based on rate distortion optimization is used to select the text blocks along with H.264/AVC intra modes, which can adapt to the targeted bit-rate. Experimental results show that the proposed scheme can achieve 2.8dB gain on average for compound images compared with H.264/AVC intra coding.
Test–re-test reliability and inter-rater reliability of a digital pelvic inclinometer in young, healthy males and females

Objective. The purpose of this study was to investigate the reliability of a digital pelvic inclinometer (DPI) for measuring sagittal plane pelvic tilt in 18 young, healthy males and females. Method. The inter-rater reliability and test–re-test reliabilities of the DPI for measuring pelvic tilt in standing on both the right and left sides of the pelvis were measured by two raters carrying out two rating sessions of the same subjects, three weeks apart. Results. For measuring pelvic tilt, inter-rater reliability was designated as good on both sides (ICC = 0.81–0.88), test–re-test reliability within a single rating session was designated as good on both sides (ICC = 0.88–0.95), and test–re-test reliability between two rating sessions was designated as moderate on the left side (ICC = 0.65) and good on the right side (ICC = 0.85). Conclusion. Inter-rater reliability and test–re-test reliability within a single rating session of the DPI in measuring pelvic tilt were both good, while test–re-test reliability between rating sessions was moderate-to-good. Caution is required regarding the interpretation of the test–re-test reliability within a single rating session, as the raters were not blinded. Further research is required to establish validity.
A new seismogeodetic approach applied to GPS and accelerometer observations of the 2012 Brawley seismic swarm: Implications for earthquake early warning

The 26 August 2012 Brawley seismic swarm of hundreds of events ranging from M1.4 to M5.5 in the Salton Trough, California provides a unique data set to investigate a new seismogeodetic approach that combines Global Positioning System (GPS) and accelerometer observations to estimate displacement and velocity waveforms. First in simulated real‐time mode, we analyzed 1–5 Hz GPS data collected by 17 stations fully encircling the swarm zone at near‐source distances up to about 40 km using precise point positioning with ambiguity resolution (PPP‐AR). We used a reference network of North American GPS stations well outside the region of deformation to estimate fractional‐cycle biases and satellite clock parameters, which were then combined with ultrarapid orbits from the International GNSS Service to estimate positions during the Brawley seismic swarm. Next, we estimated seismogeodetic displacements and velocities from GPS phase and pseudorange observations and 100–200 Hz accelerations collected at three pairs of GPS and seismic stations in close proximity using a new tightly coupled Kalman filter approach as an extension of the PPP‐AR process. We can clearly discern body waves in the velocity waveforms, including P‐wave arrivals not detectable with the GPS‐only approach for earthquake magnitudes as low as Mw 4.6 and significant static offsets for magnitudes as low as Mw 5.4. Our study shows that GPS networks upgraded with strong motion accelerometers can provide new information for improved understanding of the earthquake rupture process and be of critical value in creating a robust early warning system for any earthquake of societal significance.
Exposure induced by WCDMA mobiles phones in operating networks

The objective of this study is to investigate the transmitted (Tx) power of 3G terminals during real use. Such analysis reveals the exposure induced by mobile phone devices and provides a precise idea about the margin between time averaged and maximum (standardized) exposure. For this purpose, data streams exchanged on a live network were recorded and processed to extract a histogram of received power at the handset in indoor, outdoor, rural, and urban environments. The real Tx power is found to be generally a few percents of the maximum power. Moreover, the influences of some main factors like the handset model and the usage mode are investigated. A data mode for example increases the Tx power of about 6 dB compared to a voice call.