Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Iodine status of the U.S. population, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2005–2006 and 2007–2008.

BACKGROUND This report presents urinary iodine (UI) concentrations for the general U.S. population during 2005-2006 and 2007-2008. These findings are the fourth and fifth assessments of the population since National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III (1988-1994), when the median UI concentration for the population decreased from NHANES I (1971-1974). METHODS During 2005-2006 and 2007-2008, ~ 5000 participants per year were selected to participate in NHANES. The participants were interviewed and examined. UI concentration was measured on a random one third subsample of 2649 participants, aged 6 years and older in 2005-2006, and in all participants in 2007-2008. These urine iodine concentrations are representative of the general U.S. population by age, sex, and race/ethnicity. RESULTS (i) The median UI concentrations for the general U.S. population in 2005-2006 and 2007-2008 were 164 mg/L (95% confidence interval [CI] 154-174) and 164 mg/L (95% CI 154-173), respectively. Also, the proportions of the population with a UI concentration of < 50 mg/L during these survey periods were 9.8% ± 1.3% and 8.8% ± 0.4%, respectively. The median UI concentration and prevalence of ≥ 200 mg/L appeared to be higher in children and persons ≥ 70 years than in other age groups. (ii) In both surveys, children aged 6-11 years had median UI concentrations of ≥ 200 mg/L, and about 5% of them had a UI concentration of < 50 mg/L. (iii) All pregnant women (sample size 184) surveyed during 2005-2008 had a median UI concentration of 125 mg/L (95% CI 86-198), and 56.9% ± 7.9% of this group had a UI concentration of < 150 mg/L. UI concentrations were lower among non-Hispanic black survey participants than non-Hispanic white and Mexican-American participants. CONCLUSIONS These findings affirm the stabilization of UI concentration and adequate iodine nutrition in the general U.S. population since 2000. However, certain groups likely do not achieve a sufficient dietary iodine intake according to the World Health Organization. The needs of these vulnerable groups and the inadequacy of their dietary iodine intake should be addressed in future efforts.
The influence of partner's behavior on health behavior change: the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing.

IMPORTANCE Couples are highly concordant for unhealthy behaviors, and a change in one partner's health behavior is often associated with a change in the other partner's behavior. However, no studies have explicitly compared the influence of having a partner who takes up healthy behavior (eg, quits smoking) with one whose behavior is consistently healthy (eg, never smokes). OBJECTIVE To examine the influence of partner's behavior on making positive health behavior changes. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS We used prospective data from married and cohabiting couples (n, 3722) participating in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, a large population-based cohort of older adults (≥50 years). Studying men and women who had unhealthy behaviors in 3 domains at baseline (ie, smoking, physically inactive, or overweight/obese), we used logistic regression analysis to examine the influence of the partner's behavior in the same domain on the odds of positive health behavior change over time. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Smoking cessation, increased physical activity, and 5% weight loss or greater. RESULTS Across all domains, we found that when one partner changed to a healthier behavior (newly healthy), the other partner was more likely to make a positive health behavior change than if their partner remained unhealthy (smoking: men 48% vs 8%, adjusted odds ratio [OR], 11.82 [95% CI, 4.84-28.90]; women 50% vs 8%, OR, 11.23 [4.58-27.52]) (physical activity: men 67% vs 26%, OR, 5.28 [3.70-7.54]; women 66% vs 24%, OR, 5.36 [3.74-7.68]) (weight loss: men 26% vs 10%, OR, 3.05 [1.96-4.74]; women 36% vs 15%, OR, 3.08 [1.98-4.80]). For smoking and physical activity, having a consistently healthy partner also predicted positive change, but for each domain, the odds were significantly higher in individuals with a newly healthy partner than those with a consistently healthy partner (smoking: men OR, 3.08 [1.43-6.62]; women OR, 5.45 [2.44-12.16]) (physical activity: men OR, 1.92 [1.37-2.70]; women OR, 1.84 [1.33-2.53]) (weight loss: men OR, 2.28 [1.36-3.84]; women OR, 2.86 [1.55-5.26]). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Men and women are more likely to make a positive health behavior change if their partner does too, and with a stronger effect than if the partner had been consistently healthy in that domain. Involving partners in behavior change interventions may therefore help improve outcomes.
Efficient Evaluation of Answer Set Programs with External Sources Based on External Source Inlining

HEX-programs are an extension of answer set programming(ASP) towards external sources. To this end, external atomsprovide a bidirectional interface between the program and anexternal source. Traditionally, HEX -programs are evaluatedusing a rewriting to ordinary ASP programs which guess truthvalues of external atoms; this yields answer set candidateswhose guesses are verified by evaluating the source. Despitethe integration of learning techniques into this approach, whichreduce the number of candidates and of necessary verificationcalls, the remaining external calls are still expensive. In thispaper we present an alternative approach based on inliningof external atoms, motivated by existing but less general approaches for specialized formalisms such as DL-programs. External atoms are then compiled away such that no verification calls are necessary. To this end, we make use of supportsets, which describe conditions on input atoms that are sufficient to satisfy an external atom. The approach is implementedin the DLVHEX reasoner. Experiments show a significant performance gain.
Indirect assessment of web navigation success

Despite much research on hypertext and web navigation, relatively little is known about the relationship between web navigation strategies and success. We present two exploratory studies designed to explore the relationships between several web navigation metrics that are based on similarity to an optimal path to predict task success. The data suggest that the relationships between these measures depend on the particular web navigation task.
Exploring Acculturation Experiences and Cultural Dialogues among Iranian Refugees in the Netherlands by Means of the Self-Confrontation Method

In this study we explored the most important topics of acculturation experiences among Iranian refugees in the Netherlands, using the Self-Confrontation Method (Hermans & Hermans-Jansen, 1995). We discussed the Dialogical Self Theory reffering to the multiple selves of people who have to deal with different cultures. Ewing (1990) and Hermans and Kempen (1993) argued that a person could have contrasting or even conflicting identities and still experience her or his life as a whole. Personal life-stories of Iranian refugees were described from multiple cultural points of view: cultural I-positions “I as Iranian”, “I as Dutch” and “I as Iranian/Dutch”. Cultural position themes in self-narratives of thirty Iranian refugees in the Netherlands were considered, and relationships were examined between priorities and values (positive and negative) in the self-narratives. We highlighted positive and negative aspects of the acculturation process, such as homesickness and perceived discrimination. Three important acculturation topics were revealed: relationships (family, spouse, colleagues, and friends), traumatic experiences (flight and prison) and norms and values (Iranian and Dutch). It turned out that many Iranian refugees felt homesick and experienced unfulfilled longings for lost loved ones in Iran. Participating refugees experienced discrimination by mainstreamers, such as colleagues who take advantage of their weak position as immigrants. The present research emphasizes the power of storytelling in relation to acculturation research - the power generated by the experience of wholeness in life of an acculturating person. It was found that it is healthier to acknowledge all “cultural I-positions” and give a place to all experiences of the multiple selves, even conflicting or traumatic ones. By acknowledging the past, one understands the present reactions and ambiguous feelings towards the future. Positive feelings such as enjoyment (e.g., music and sports) can then become a normal way of life once more.
Pupil Dilation and Eye Tracking

A video-based eye-tracker (e.g., the mobile Eyelink II or Eyelink Remote of SR research, Osgoode, Ontario, Canada) uses video cameras to rec ord the eye position of human subjects, and hence, record pupil dilation and eye movements. Th e eyetracker puts a video cameras and infrared illuminators in front of the eye to record the position of the eye, cornea reflections, and the size of the pupil. Using the movements of one’ s pupil (with respect to cornea reflections), the eye-tracker tracks the movement of one’s eyes, which is then mapped into locations on the screen by calibration and adjustments for head move ents. With the eyetracker, we can measure gaze locations, the time length of fixations, and pupil dilation. Hence, using the eyetracker, we can inve stigate how fixations (looking at the same place for a while), saccades (fast eye movements) a d pupil dilation responses (changes in pupil sizes) are related to the information on the screen and behavioral choices during an experiment. Understanding the relationship between these observ ables can help us understand how human behavior in the economy can be affected by what inf ormation people acquire, where their attention is focused on, what emotional state they ar in, and even what brain activity they are engaged in. This is because fixations and saccades (matched with information shown on screen) indicate how people acquire information (and what t ey see), time lengths of fixations indicate attention, and pupil dilation responses indicate em otion, arousal, stress, pain, or cognitive load.
Utility of digital rectal examination, serum prostate specific antigen, and transrectal ultrasound in the detection of prostate cancer: a developing country perspective.

PURPOSE To determine the utility of digital rectal examination (DRE), serum total prostate specific antigen (tPSA) estimation, and transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) for the detection of prostate cancer (PCa) in men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). MATERIALS AND METHODS All patients with abnormal DRE, TRUS, or serum tPSA >4ng/ml, in any combination, underwent TRUS-guided needle biopsy. Eight cores of prostatic tissue were obtained from different areas of the peripheral prostate and examined histopathologically for the nature of the pathology. RESULTS PCa was detected in 151 (50.3%) patients, remaining 149 (49.7%) showed benign changes with or without active prostatitis. PCa was detected in 13 (56.5%), 9 (19.1%), 26 (28.3%), and 103 (74.6%) of patients with tPSA <4 ng/ml, 4-10 ng/ml, 10-20 ng/ml and >20 ng/ml respectively. Only 13 patients with PCa had abnormal DRE and TRUS with serum PSA <4 ng/ml. The detection rate was highest in patients with tPSA >20 ng/ml. The association between tPSA level and cancer detection was statistically significant (p<0.01). Among 209 patients with abnormal DRE and raised serum PSA, PCa was detected in 128 (61.2%). CONCLUSIONS The incidence of PCa increases with increasing serum level of tPSA. The overall screening and detection rate can be further improved by using DRE, TRUS and TRUS-guided prostate needle biopsies.
Common Blue Nevus with Satellite Lesions Needs a Differential Diagnosis from Malignant Melanoma

Malignant blue nevus is rare, and a common blue nevus rarely needs a differential diagnosis from malignant melanoma. Although a melanocytic nevus with a satellite lesion is usually suggestive of a peripherally disseminating malignant melanoma, very few cases of blue nevus with satellite lesions have been reported thus far. To our knowledge, this is the seventh case of a blue nevus with satellitosis. Periappendageal and perivascular concentrations of the nevus cells were observed in the main papule as well as in the satellite lesions. These findings suggest that blue nevus cells could infiltrate along the perivascular area in the dermis and form multiple satellite lesions. Blue nevus should be considered as a differential diagnosis when a locally disseminating malignant melanoma is suspected.
Antifactor Xa activity correlates to thrombin generation time, platelet contractile force and clot elastic modulus following ex vivo enoxaparin exposure in patients with and without renal dysfunction

Summary. Antifactor Xa activity is the gold standard monitoring parameter for low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) derivatives. It is frequently measured in high‐risk populations, such as patients with renal dysfunction. Despite antifactor Xa monitoring, however, bleeding in renal dysfunction patients receiving LMWH remains a problem. This study determined the relationship between antifactor Xa activity and three novel coagulation monitoring parameters: thrombin generation time (TGT), platelet contractile force (PCF) and clot elastic modulus (CEM). This study also assessed the effect of renal dysfunction on these relationships. This was an ex vivo pharmacodynamic study of the relationship between antifactor Xa activity and TGT, PCF and CEM in subjects both with and without renal dysfunction. Thirty subjects completed this study (10 controls, 10 chronic kidney disease subjects, and 10 end‐stage renal disease subjects receiving hemodialysis). Blood samples obtained from participants were spiked with increasing enoxaparin concentrations (0.25, 0.5, 1.0 and 3.0 IU mL−1). Samples were analyzed for TGT, PCF and CEM. The relationship between antifactor Xa activity and TGT, PCF and CEM was determined by Pearson's correlation. The effect of renal dysfunction on the relationship between antifactor Xa activity and TGT, PCF and CEM was determined by analysis of covariance. There is strong correlation between antifactor Xa activity and TGT, CEM and PCF. The presence of renal dysfunction significantly prolongs the TGT, and decreases the CEM relative to controls. These results suggest that patients with renal dysfunction have a greater pharmacodynamic response to LMWH, independent of the pharmacokinetics of LMWH.
The Effect of Endoscopic Sinus Surgery on Asthma: Management of Patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis, Nasal Polyposis, and Asthma

We attempted to determine the efficacy of endoscopic sinus surgery in adult patients with asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis or nasal polyposis. Fifty asthmatic patients from 17 to 74 years of age with a history of either chronic rhinosinusitis or nasal polyposis were examined. Sinonasal disease was confirmed endoscopically and with computerized tomography, and all had failed aggressive medical management of their sinonasal disease before undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery performed by the same surgeon in all cases. The following were compared for 12 months: preoperative and postoperative overall asthma control, peak flow measurements, asthma medication requirements, including the use of oral steroids, and hospitalizations for asthma. Twenty patients felt that their asthma control had improved postoperatively. Twenty per cent used less steroid inhaler, and 28% less bronchodilator inhaler. Of those 23 patients measuring peak flows, seven achieved higher levels and seven noted fewer dips and swings. Significant reductions in oral steroid requirements (p < 0.001) and hospitalization for asthma (p < 0.025) were also recorded postoperatively. Irrespective of whether the patient had chronic rhinosinusitis or nasal polyposis, both groups improved postoperatively. The commonest symptoms experienced by the group as whole and by the nasal polyposis patients were hyposmia and nasal obstruction. Postnasal discharge and headache were more important in the chronic rhinosinusitis group. Mean visual analog scores improved for all symptoms; in particular for nasal obstruction and sense of smell. Aggressive management of sinonasal pathology can improve asthma status. No major differences were recorded for outcomes when comparing patients with chronic rhinosinusitis or nasal polyposis; in particular there was no evidence for a worsening of asthma after nasal polypectomy.
In situ surface cleaning on a Ge substrate using TMA and MgCp2 for HfO2-based gate oxides

Comparative studies of the in situ surface cleaning effect on Ge substrates using trimethyl aluminum (TMA) and dicyclopentadienyl magnesium (MgCp2) were performed. The surface cleaning process is the direct exposure of either a TMA or MgCp2 precursor on a Ge surface prior to the deposition of a HfO2 gate dielectric. Also, we studied a HfO2/Al2O3 and MgO bilayer on uncleaned Ge using the same precursors for comparison with surface treatment. From the correlation of chemical composition, line profile, atomic scale imaging and electrical evaluation, MgCp2 was the most effective method for reducing Ge diffusion into the HfO2 dielectric layer via the efficient surface cleaning process. MgCp2 cleaning produces thermally-stable Ge oxides while TMA cleaning reduces all types of Ge sub-oxides. As a result, the process can form a thermally-stable interface layer primarily composed of Ge3+, leading to better electrical properties than TMA.
The Causal Influence of Neighborhood Design on Physical Activity within the Neighborhood: Evidence from Northern California

Purpose. Test for a causal relationship between neighborhood design and physical activity within the neighborhood by controlling for self-selection. Design. Cross-sectional and quasi-longitudinal analyses of residents of selected neighborhoods. Setting. Eight Northern California neighborhoods. Subjects. Random sample of 1682 adults stratified by movers (moved within 1 year) and nonmovers (moved > 1 year ago) responding to self-administered mail surveys (24.7% response rate). Measures. Self-reported number of days in last 7 days of moderate to vigorous physical activity somewhere in the neighborhood and self-reported change in physical activity in the neighborhood from prior to moving (for movers) or from 1 year ago (for nonmovers). Analysis. Zero-inflated Poisson regression for cross-sectional analysis (n = 1497); ordered probit model for quasi-longitudinal analysis (n = 1352). Results. After we controlled for physical activity attitudes and neighborhood preferences, selected neighborhood design characteristics were associated with physical activity within the neighborhood and changes in selected neighborhood design characteristics were associated with changes in physical activity within the neighborhood. Conclusions. Both cross-sectional and quasi-longitudinal analyses provided evidence of a causal impact of neighborhood design. Improving physical activity options, aesthetic qualities, and social environment may increase physical activity. Critical limitations included self-report measures of physical activity, lack of measures of duration and intensity of neighborhood physical activity, lack of measures of total physical activity, and limited measures of preferences related to physical activity.
A Bayesian model predicts the response of axons to molecular gradients

Axon guidance by molecular gradients plays a crucial role in wiring up the nervous system. However, the mechanisms axons use to detect gradients are largely unknown. We first develop a Bayesian “ideal observer” analysis of gradient detection by axons, based on the hypothesis that a principal constraint on gradient detection is intrinsic receptor binding noise. Second, from this model, we derive an equation predicting how the degree of response of an axon to a gradient should vary with gradient steepness and absolute concentration. Third, we confirm this prediction quantitatively by performing the first systematic experimental analysis of how axonal response varies with both these quantities. These experiments demonstrate a degree of sensitivity much higher than previously reported for any chemotacting system. Together, these results reveal both the quantitative constraints that must be satisfied for effective axonal guidance and the computational principles that may be used by the underlying signal transduction pathways, and allow predictions for the degree of response of axons to gradients in a wide variety of in vivo and in vitro settings.
Contextual Dueling Bandits

We consider the problem of learning to choose actions using contextual information when provided with limited feedback in the form of relative pairwise comparisons. We study this problem in the dueling-bandits framework of Yue et al. (2009), which we extend to incorporate context. Roughly, the learner's goal is to find the best policy, or way of behaving, in some space of policies, although "best" is not always so clearly defined. Here, we propose a new and natural solution concept, rooted in game theory, called a von Neumann winner, a randomized policy that beats or ties every other policy. We show that this notion overcomes important limitations of existing solutions, particularly the Condorcet winner which has typically been used in the past, but which requires strong and often unrealistic assumptions. We then present three efficient algorithms for online learning in our setting, and for approximating a von Neumann winner from batch-like data. The first of these algorithms achieves particularly low regret, even when data is adversarial, although its time and space requirements are linear in the size of the policy space. The other two algorithms require time and space only logarithmic in the size of the policy space when provided access to an oracle for solving classification problems on the space.
Fast and Globally Convergent Structure and Motion Estimation for General Camera Models

This paper presents a novel algorithm to solve the Structure and Motion problem. The novelty is in the use of a general camera model, which does not constrain the algorithm to a specic camera, and the use of the Object Space Error for General Camera Models as cost function. We show that, using this cost function, the structure and the translation part of the motion can be estimated from the rotation part of the motion in closed form. So only the rotation part of the motion needs to be optimized to estimate the minimum of the total cost function. This results in an iterative algorithm which has a theoretical speedup factor of 8 compared to the bundle adjustment method. We also prove the global convergence of the presented algorithm.
Metabolic Engineering of Oleaginous Yeasts for Production of Fuels and Chemicals

Oleaginous yeasts have been increasingly explored for production of chemicals and fuels via metabolic engineering. Particularly, there is a growing interest in using oleaginous yeasts for the synthesis of lipid-related products due to their high lipogenesis capability, robustness, and ability to utilize a variety of substrates. Most of the metabolic engineering studies in oleaginous yeasts focused on Yarrowia that already has plenty of genetic engineering tools. However, recent advances in systems biology and synthetic biology have provided new strategies and tools to engineer those oleaginous yeasts that have naturally high lipid accumulation but lack genetic tools, such as Rhodosporidium, Trichosporon, and Lipomyces. This review highlights recent accomplishments in metabolic engineering of oleaginous yeasts and recent advances in the development of genetic engineering tools in oleaginous yeasts within the last 3 years.