Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ethnic differences in participation in flexible sigmoidoscopy screening in the UK

Objectives The aim of the study was to examine ethnic differences in participation in colorectal cancer screening by flexible sigmoidoscopy (FS). It assessed both intentions to be screened and actual screening uptake, and considered whether demographic, health and psychosocial factors mediated the ethnic differences. The setting of this study follows a subset of participants from the UK FS Trial. Methods A postal questionnaire assessed ethnicity, demographic characteristics, health, attitudes to screening and FS screening intentions. Data on screening intentions were available for 17,333 adults aged 55–64 years (Sample 1). Screening uptake was recorded in a subsample of 4303 respondents who were subsequently randomized to receive an invitation to screening (Sample 2). Results Screening intentions in Sample 1 were equally high across all the ethnic groups (>80% [13,724/17,042] reported they were interested). In contrast, attendance (Sample 2) was considerably lower among Asians (54% [43/79]) compared with White (69% [2843/4123]) or Black (80% [33/41]) respondents. Multivariate analysis showed that potential explanatory factors, including socioeconomic deprivation, poor health and fearful and fatalistic attitudes did not account for the lower screening attendance among Asians. Conclusion Further research is required to identify explanations for the gap between intentions and behaviour in UK Asians if any future FS screening programme is to be introduced equitably.
Intensive insulin therapy and pentastarch resuscitation in severe sepsis.

BACKGROUND The role of intensive insulin therapy in patients with severe sepsis is uncertain. Fluid resuscitation improves survival among patients with septic shock, but evidence is lacking to support the choice of either crystalloids or colloids. METHODS In a multicenter, two-by-two factorial trial, we randomly assigned patients with severe sepsis to receive either intensive insulin therapy to maintain euglycemia or conventional insulin therapy and either 10% pentastarch, a low-molecular-weight hydroxyethyl starch (HES 200/0.5), or modified Ringer's lactate for fluid resuscitation. The rate of death at 28 days and the mean score for organ failure were coprimary end points. RESULTS The trial was stopped early for safety reasons. Among 537 patients who could be evaluated, the mean morning blood glucose level was lower in the intensive-therapy group (112 mg per deciliter [6.2 mmol per liter]) than in the conventional-therapy group (151 mg per deciliter [8.4 mmol per liter], P<0.001). However, at 28 days, there was no significant difference between the two groups in the rate of death or the mean score for organ failure. The rate of severe hypoglycemia (glucose level, < or = 40 mg per deciliter [2.2 mmol per liter]) was higher in the intensive-therapy group than in the conventional-therapy group (17.0% vs. 4.1%, P<0.001), as was the rate of serious adverse events (10.9% vs. 5.2%, P=0.01). HES therapy was associated with higher rates of acute renal failure and renal-replacement therapy than was Ringer's lactate. CONCLUSIONS The use of intensive insulin therapy placed critically ill patients with sepsis at increased risk for serious adverse events related to hypoglycemia. As used in this study, HES was harmful, and its toxicity increased with accumulating doses. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00135473.)
Optimal routing and channel assignments for hypercube communication on optical mesh-like processor arrays

This paper considers optimal routing and channel assignment (RCA) schemes to realize hypercube communication on optical mesh-like networks. Specifically, we identify lower bounds on the number of channels required to realize hypercube communication on top of array and ring topologies and develop optimal RCA schemes that achieve the lower bounds on these two topologies. We further extend the schemes to mesh and torus topologies and obtain RCA schemes that use at most 2 more channels than the optimal for these topologies.
Irreversibility , Sunk Costs , “ News ” and Evolutionary Economic Methodology by

An enlarged conceptual framework for understanding systemic adjustment processes in economics highlights the impact of news on agents’ reoptimized behavior and strategic interdependencies in the presence of market imperfections. Unforeseen contingencies redefine the systemic option value of existing and prospective irreversibilities by determining the degree of recuperability of existing investments, while also generating divergencies between revised market values and private returns to holding assets. State dependent, or endogenous, sunk cost evaluations, in turn, depend on simultaneous market entry, exit, and reinvestment decisions. The anatomy of strategic interactions between agents, following their internalization of news, along with associated adjustment processes, is shown to be defined by realized and potential sunk costs. Associated pecuniary historical externalitities, which capture key channels by which history conditions the evolution of economic systems, as well as the interrelation between market and non-market decisions. The distinction between ex ante sunk costs, contingent on agents’ initial information spaces, fixed costs and ex post or endogenous sunk costs points to their critical role as building-blocks for modeling evolutionary economic processes. Paradoxically, sunk costs can entail quite divergent implications for the decisions of individual agents and for the evolution of economic systems, as a whole. An examination of the interrelation between information revelation, the hold-up and the lock-in problems, highlights the endogeneity of sunk cost evaluations, as well as how agents’ decision trees are redefined in response to news. A subsequent extension of Owen and Ulph (2002) focuses on the systemic impact of an unanticipated integration shock, hence “pure news”, on endogenous market entry and exit in a framework of international oligopoly. A unique correspondence between alternative trade regimes and different configurations of sunk and fixed costs points to a central identification issue in economic modeling. Specifically, in scenarios of market imperfections and strategic interdependence, the historical evolution of an economic system is defined by the interface between existing and newly incurred sunk costs, which also correspond to asymmetric choice sets and optimization problems across agents. Generic implications of the analysis include a defining role for endogenous sunk costs in explaining microfoundations of evolutive learning processes and commitment, expectations formation, new branches in game-theoretic decision trees and the economics of time. JEL classification codes: B4, D8, F1, L1
Therapeutic (High) Doses of Rituximab Activate Calcium Mobilization and Inhibit B-cell Growth via an Unusual Mechanism Triggered Independently of Both CD20 and Fcγ Receptors

Rituximab is a CD20-specific monoclonal antibody that effectively targets and depletes B lymphocytes in vivo, primarily via indirect cytotoxic mechanisms. Direct effects on B cells may also contribute to B-cell depletion but are less clearly defined. In this report, we demonstrate that monomeric rituximab, at the high concentrations found in plasma following infusion of therapeutic doses, induces prolonged low-amplitude release of calcium from thapsigargin-sensitive intracellular stores and reduces the growth of Ramos B cells in culture. Intracellular calcium release was triggered via a signaling pathway distinct from the lipid raft-dependent and src family kinase-dependent pathway that is activated by CD20 hypercrosslinking or B-cell receptor association. The response was independent of both CD20 and Fc receptor binding, and was also triggered by some, but not all, irrelevant monoclonal IgG1 antibodies. The data indicate that unique regions within IgG may contribute to direct effects of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies delivered at suprasaturating concentrations.
Analysis of twisted cable options for reducing low frequency magnetic fields due to traction currents in vehicles with electric powertrains

Low frequency magnetic field distributions around twisted and un-twisted three-phase power cables of finite length have been calculated using analytical models, quasi-static Biot-Savart calculations, and 3D finite element simulations. For cable geometries that could be used in electric vehicles, the models suggest that the expected enhanced field decay rate due to cable twisting is not maintained at large distances for cables of finite length. Nonetheless, twisting could still be beneficial in electric vehicle applications. Magnetic fields from cables with lengths of 1-5 m could be reduced at distances of around 5-30 cm, where field levels are in any case higher than at more distant points.
Natural auditory scene statistics shapes human spatial hearing

Significance Auditory pitch has an intrinsic spatial connotation: Sounds are high or low, melodies rise and fall, and pitch can ascend and descend. In a wide range of cognitive, perceptual, attentional, and linguistic functions, humans consistently display a positive, sometimes absolute, correspondence between sound frequency and perceived spatial elevation, whereby high frequency is mapped to high elevation. In this paper we show that pitch borrows its spatial connotation from the statistics of natural auditory scenes. This suggests that all such diverse phenomena, such as the convoluted shape of the outer ear, the universal use of spatial terms for describing pitch, or the reason why high notes are represented higher in musical notation, ultimately reflect adaptation to the statistics of natural auditory scenes. Human perception, cognition, and action are laced with seemingly arbitrary mappings. In particular, sound has a strong spatial connotation: Sounds are high and low, melodies rise and fall, and pitch systematically biases perceived sound elevation. The origins of such mappings are unknown. Are they the result of physiological constraints, do they reflect natural environmental statistics, or are they truly arbitrary? We recorded natural sounds from the environment, analyzed the elevation-dependent filtering of the outer ear, and measured frequency-dependent biases in human sound localization. We find that auditory scene statistics reveals a clear mapping between frequency and elevation. Perhaps more interestingly, this natural statistical mapping is tightly mirrored in both ear-filtering properties and in perceived sound location. This suggests that both sound localization behavior and ear anatomy are fine-tuned to the statistics of natural auditory scenes, likely providing the basis for the spatial connotation of human hearing.
An investigation into the relationship between children's ratings of their engagement in the classroom and their working alliance with teachers

This document contains three parts: a review of the literature relating to the subject area; an empirical review; and a reflective account. First, the literature review examines a selection of the literature relating to the conceptualization and measures of teacher-pupil relationships and also literature relating to the association between these relationships and a number of outcomes including children’s behaviour, academic attainment and engagement in the classroom. Secondly, the empirical review comprises a quantitative study carried out with a sample of 110 children and four teachers. It examines a specific construction of the teacher-pupil relationship, the classroom working alliance, investigating whether there is an association between children’s and teachers’ ratings of alliance and children’s ratings of classroom engagement. The study also examines whether children’s characteristics, specifically gender, have an effect on teachers’ and children’s ratings of alliance and/or engagement. Finally, the reflective account provides a more reflexive and personal exploration of the process of the research project. It includes: discussion of the inception of the research question and design; ethical and other issues that arose during the course of the study; possible implications for the practice of educational psychologists; and the contribution to knowledge at the level of personal professional development and also the contribution to the wider literature base.
Assessment of the radii of the medial and lateral femoral condyles in varus and valgus knees with osteoarthritis.

BACKGROUND Understanding the relationship between the radii of the medial and lateral femoral condyles in varus and valgus knees is important for aligning the femoral component and for restoring kinematics in total knee arthroplasty. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that the asymmetry between the radii of the medial and lateral femoral condyles in varus and valgus knees with osteoarthritis is small enough to be clinically unimportant. METHODS A magnetic resonance imaging scan was obtained with use of a biplanar, rotational alignment protocol in a consecutive series of subjects with end-stage osteoarthritis prior to total knee arthroplasty. The alignment protocol oriented the scanning plane so that both condyles were imaged in a plane perpendicular to the primary femoral axis of the knee about which the tibia flexes and extends. The study included 155 varus knees and forty-four valgus knees. Radii were calculated from the area of the best-fit circle overlaid from 10 degrees to 160 degrees on the subchondral corticocancellous bone interface of the medial and lateral femoral condyles. The radius of a condyle was the average of the radii on four adjacent images that showed the femoral condyle with the largest curvature. RESULTS In the 155 varus knees, the radius of the lateral condyle was an average of 0.1 mm larger than that of the medial condyle (p = 0.003). In the forty-four valgus knees, the radius of the lateral condyle was an average of 0.2 mm larger than that of the medial condyle (p < 0.006). There was a strong association between the radii of the medial and lateral femoral condyles in both the varus (r(2) = 0.9210) and the valgus (r(2) = 0.9129) knees. CONCLUSIONS As determined by imaging of the femoral condyles perpendicular to the primary femoral axis of the knee, the asymmetry between the radii of the medial and lateral femoral condyles in varus and valgus knees with end-stage osteoarthritis was < or =0.2 mm, which is small enough to be considered clinically unimportant when aligning a total knee prosthesis.
Gliadin-specific, HLA-DQ(alpha 1*0501,beta 1*0201) restricted T cells isolated from the small intestinal mucosa of celiac disease patients

Celiac disease (CD) is most probably an immunological disease, precipitated in susceptible individuals by ingestion of wheat gliadin and related proteins from other cereals. The disease shows a strong human HLA association predominantly to the cis or trans encoded HLA- DQ(alpha 1*0501,beta 1*0201) (DQ2) heterodimer. T cell recognition of gliadin presented by this DQ heterodimer may thus be of immunopathogenic importance in CD. We therefore challenged small intestinal biopsies from adult CD patients on a gluten-free diet in vitro with gluten (containing both gliadin and other wheat proteins), and isolated activated CD25+ T cells. Polyclonal T cell lines and a panel of T cell clones recognizing gluten were established. They recognized the gliadin moiety of gluten, but not proteins from other cereals. Inhibition studies with anti-HLA antibodies demonstrated predominant antigen presentation by HLA-DQ molecules. The main antigen- presenting molecule was established to be the CD-associated DQ(alpha 1*0501, beta 1*0201) heterodimer. The gluten-reactive T cell clones were CD4+, CD8-, and carried diverse combinations of T cell receptor (TCR) V alpha and V beta chains. The findings suggest preferential mucosal presentation of gluten-derived peptides by HLA-DQ(alpha 1*0501, beta 1*0201) in CD, which may explain the HLA association.
Chapter 2 Iron

Fe is an essential micronutrient for Brucella strains. Meeting their physiologic need for this metal is especially challenging for these bacteria because they live in close association with their mammalian hosts, and Fe-sequestration is a well-documented host defense against microbial pathogens. The following chapter will describe what is presently known about Fe homeostasis in Brucella strains, and how the individual cellular components involved in this process contribute to virulence.
Normalization of Negative T-Wave on Electrocardiography and Right Ventricular Dysfunction in Patients with an Acute Pulmonary Embolism

Background/Aims Right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) is associated with poor prognosis in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (APE). Echocardiography and computed tomography (CT)-angiography may be difficult to perform in a serial follow up, unlike electrocardiography (ECG). Many ECG findings specific for APE have been reported, and many studies have found that negative T-waves (NTW) in precordial leads are most frequently observed in patients with APE. We analyzed serial changes in precordial NTW to detect RVD and predict the recovery of RVD in patients with APE. Methods We examined 81 consecutive patients diagnosed with APE using CT-angiography or echocardiography. ECG, transthoracic echocardiography, and laboratory tests were performed within 24 hours of admission, and daily ECG follow-up was performed. Precordial NTWs were defined by the new development of pointed and symmetrical inverted T-waves in at least three leads. Recovery of NTW was defined as flattening or upright inverted T-waves in more than two leads. Results Of the 81 patients with APE, 52 (64%) had RVD according to echocardiography. Among the patients with RVD, 33 (63%) showed precordial NTW. The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that NTW was the strongest independent predictor for RVD (odds ratio, 22.8; 95% confidence interval, 2.4 to 221.4; p = 0.007). Time to normalization of NTW was associated with improvement of RVD on echocardiography (r = 0.84, p < 0.01). Conclusions Precordial NTW was a reliable finding to identify RVD in patients with APE. Improvements in RVD can be predicted by normalizing precordial NTW.
Baroreflex control of muscle sympathetic nerve activity during skin surface cooling.

Skin surface cooling improves orthostatic tolerance through a yet to be identified mechanism. One possibility is that skin surface cooling increases the gain of baroreflex control of efferent responses contributing to the maintenance of blood pressure. To test this hypothesis, muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA), arterial blood pressure, and heart rate were recorded in nine healthy subjects during both normothermic and skin surface cooling conditions, while baroreflex control of MSNA and heart rate were assessed during rapid pharmacologically induced changes in arterial blood pressure. Skin surface cooling decreased mean skin temperature (34.9 +/- 0.2 to 29.8 +/- 0.6 degrees C; P < 0.001) and increased mean arterial blood pressure (85 +/- 2 to 93 +/- 3 mmHg; P < 0.001) without changing MSNA (P = 0.47) or heart rate (P = 0.21). The slope of the relationship between MSNA and diastolic blood pressure during skin surface cooling (-3.54 +/- 0.29 units.beat(-1). mmHg(-1)) was not significantly different from normothermic conditions (-2.94 +/- 0.21 units.beat(-1). mmHg(-1); P = 0.19). The slope depicting baroreflex control of heart rate was also not altered by skin surface cooling. However, skin surface cooling shifted the "operating point" of both baroreflex curves to high arterial blood pressures (i.e., rightward shift). Resetting baroreflex curves to higher pressure might contribute to the elevations in orthostatic tolerance associated with skin surface cooling.
Online F-Measure Optimization

The F-measure is an important and commonly used performance metric for binary prediction tasks. By combining precision and recall into a single score, it avoids disadvantages of simple metrics like the error rate, especially in cases of imbalanced class distributions. The problem of optimizing the F-measure, that is, of developing learning algorithms that perform optimally in the sense of this measure, has recently been tackled by several authors. In this paper, we study the problem of F-measure maximization in the setting of online learning. We propose an efficient online algorithm and provide a formal analysis of its convergence properties. Moreover, first experimental results are presented, showing that our method performs well in practice.
Shear and Flexural Stiffnesses of Reinforced Concrete Shear Walls Subjected to Cyclic Loading

Seismic analyses of concrete structures under maximum-considered earthquakes require the use of reduced stiffness accounting for cracks and degraded materials. Structural walls, different to other flexural dominated components, are sensitive to both shear and flexural stiffness degradations. Adoption of the gross shear stiffness for walls in seismic analysis prevails particularly for the design codes in the US. Yet available experimental results indicate that this could overstate the shear stiffness by more than double, which would hamper the actual predictions of building periods and shear load distributions among columns and walls. In addition, the deformation capacity could be drastically understated if the stipulated constant ductility capacity is adopted. This paper reviews the available simplified shear and flexural models, which stem from classical mechanics, empirical formulations and/or parametric studies, suitable for structural walls at the state-of-the-art. Reviews on the recommended flexural and shear stiffnesses by prominent design codes such as ACI318-11, Eurocode 8 and CSA are included. A database comprised of walls subjected to reverse-cyclic loads is formed to evaluate the performance of each model. It is found that there exist classical models that could outweigh overconservative codified values with comparable simplicity for practical uses.
On the Equivalence between Kernel Quadrature Rules and Random Feature Expansions

We show that kernel-based quadrature rules for computing integrals can be seen as a special case of random feature expansions for positive definite kernels, for a particular decomposition that always exists for such kernels. We provide a theoretical analysis of the number of required samples for a given approximation error, leading to both upper and lower bounds that are based solely on the eigenvalues of the associated integral operator and match up to logarithmic terms. In particular, we show that the upper bound may be obtained from independent and identically distributed samples from a specific non-uniform distribution, while the lower bound if valid for any set of points. Applying our results to kernel-based quadrature, while our results are fairly general, we recover known upper and lower bounds for the special cases of Sobolev spaces. Moreover, our results extend to the more general problem of full function approximations (beyond simply computing an integral), with results in L2- and L$\infty$-norm that match known results for special cases. Applying our results to random features, we show an improvement of the number of random features needed to preserve the generalization guarantees for learning with Lipschitz-continuous losses.