Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Analyzing the Performance of Voice over Internet Protocol in a 3G Network

This paper presents an analytical study on voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) performance in a third generation (3G) network evaluated under certain IP conditions. The mouth-to-ear delay is analysed using different types of coding schemes to estimate the actual voice packet arrival as traffic sources are very bursty in nature. The simulation results closely match to the theoretical model and it also indicates that encoder types have an impact on the system performance. The stability of a system is also affected by the rate of voice traffic
Current controversies in prenatal diagnosis 2: for those women screened by NIPT using cell free DNA, maternal serum markers are obsolete

Genetic Institute, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Sydney, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada *Correspondence to: Sylvie Langlois. E-mail: slanglois@cw.bc. ca This written debate summarizes the oral presentations made at the 2016 International Society for Prenatal Diagnosis meeting in Berlin, Germany. It does not necessarily reflect the personal opinions of each of the authors. Both authors contributed equally to this work.
Eligibility and Self Selection: Discontinuities in Transition to Tertiary Education in Victoria

Most studies of transition to tertiary education focus on a single outcome variable: expectations of further study, a dichotomous indicator of participation in college and university, or simply years of further education achieved. In this paper, the authors contend that a more complete analysis of the social and personal factors which determine tertiary participation can be gained by regarding transition as a series of discontinuities in the individual's educational history. If an analysis was to commence with a cohort of Year 12 students, indicators of these discontinuities could include completion of Year 12, application to a college or university, receipt of an offer, self-selection at enrolment, and delayed entry. In a recent published study of college and university applicants in Victoria, the authors used administrative and survey data to develop causal models of the decision of successful applicants to enrol either full- or part-time rather than defer or decline. In this paper the administrative data are used to specify a model which includes two transition variables. The variables identify those who received an offer, from a defined cohort of applicants, and those who subsequently took up the offer. This model enables a distinction to be made between factors which affect the students’ eligibili! y to enrol and factors that affect subsequent self-selection into tertiary education. Group and individual inequalities can therefore be assessed in terms of their total effecton transition and their separate effects on eligibility and self-selection.
Effectiveness of Action to Reduce Exposure of Free-Ranging California Condors in Arizona and Utah to Lead from Spent Ammunition

California condors (Gymnogyps californianus) released into the wild in Arizona ranged widely in Arizona and Utah. Previous studies have shown that the blood lead concentrations of many of the birds rise because of ingestion of spent lead ammunition. Condors were routinely recaptured and treated to reduce their lead levels as necessary but, even so, several died from lead poisoning. We used tracking data from VHF and satellite tags, together with the results of routine testing of blood lead concentrations, to estimate daily changes in blood lead level in relation to the location of each bird. The mean daily increment in blood lead concentration depended upon both the location of the bird and the time of year. Birds that spent time during the deer hunting season in two areas in which deer were shot with lead ammunition (Kaibab Plateau (Arizona) and Zion (Utah)) were especially likely to have high blood lead levels. The influence upon blood lead level of presence in a particular area declined with time elapsed since the bird was last there. We estimated the daily blood lead level for each bird and its influence upon daily mortality rate from lead poisoning. Condors with high blood lead over a protracted period were much more likely to die than birds with low blood lead or short-term elevation. We simulated the effect of ending the existing lead exposure reduction measures at Kaibab Plateau, which encourage the voluntary use of non-lead ammunition and removal of gut piles of deer and elk killed using lead ammunition. The estimated mortality rate due to lead in the absence of this program was sufficiently high that the condor population would be expected to decline rapidly. The extension of the existing lead reduction program to cover Zion (Utah), as well as the Kaibab plateau, would be expected to reduce mortality caused by lead substantially and allow the condor population to increase.
Further In Vitro Studies with 5-Fluorocytosine

Susceptibilities of 53 isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans and of 15 isolates identified as either Candida albicans or Candida species to 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) were measured. Thirteen, or 24.5%, of all isolates of C. neoformans were resistant to 5-FC. Eight of these isolates were recovered from patients treated with 100 mg of 5-FC per kg per day, whereas only one was from a patient receiving 150 mg per kg per day. Only one isolate of C. neoformans recovered before treatment was resistant. In 14 cases of cryptococcosis treated with 5-FC at one institution, therapeutic failures associated with resistant isolates of C. neoformans occurred in 6 of 10 cases receiving 100 mg per kg per day but in only one of 4 cases treated with 150 mg per kg per day. Mean concentrations of 5-FC in serum and cerebrospinal fluid were twofold higher in those patients receiving the larger dose. Of 15 isolates of Candida, 5 were susceptible to clinically meaningful concentrations of 5-FC and 8 were totally resistant. Seven of the resistant Candida isolates were isolated before treatment, and selection of resistant isolates during treatment was not observed. Resistant isolates were associated with three of five therapeutic failures. Treatment with 5-FC at 100 mg per kg per day was successful in four of nine patients with systemic candidiasis.
Association of CFH and CFB Gene Polymorphisms with Retinopathy in Type 2 Diabetic Patients

Objectives. The complement system is a key component of innate immunity and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy (DR). This study aimed at investigating whether polymorphisms of two genes in the complement pathway, complement factor H (CFH) and complement factor B (CFB), are associated with DR. Methods. 552 well-defined subjects with type 2 diabetes, consisting of 277 DR patients and 275 diabetic controls, were recruited. Four Tag-SNPs rs1048709, rs537160, rs4151657, and rs2072633 in CFB and rs800292 (I62V) in CFH were examined using TaqMan Genotyping Assays. Results. There were significant increases in the frequencies of A allele and AA genotype for rs1048709 in DR patients compared with diabetic controls (P corr = 0.035, OR = 1.42; P corr = 0.02, OR = 2.27, resp.): meanwhile, significant decreases in the frequencies of A allele and AA genotype for rs800292 were observed in DR patients compared with diabetic controls (P corr = 0.04, OR = 0.72; P corr = 0.015, OR = 0.51, resp.). Joint effect of these two loci was also identified. Moreover, rs800292/AA genotype was found to be related with delayed progression to DR. Conclusions. CFH-rs800292 and CFB-rs1048709 are associated with the presence of DR, which strengthens the concept that complement system plays an important role in the pathogenesis of DR.
Issues of Application of Machine Learning Models for Virtual and Real-Life Buildings

The current Building Energy Performance Simulation (BEPS) tools are based on first principles. For the correct use of BEPS tools, simulationists should have an in-depth understanding of building physics, numerical methods, control logics of building systems, etc. However, it takes significant time and effort to develop a first principles-based simulation model for existing buildings—mainly due to the laborious process of data gathering, uncertain inputs, model calibration, etc. Rather than resorting to an expert’s effort, a data-driven approach (so-called “inverse” approach) has received growing attention for the simulation of existing buildings. This paper reports a cross-comparison of three popular machine learning models (Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Gaussian Process (GP)) for predicting a chiller’s energy consumption in a virtual and a real-life building. The predictions based on the three models are sufficiently accurate compared to the virtual and real measurements. This paper addresses the following issues for the successful development of machine learning models: reproducibility, selection of inputs, training period, outlying data obtained from the building energy management system (BEMS), and validation of the models. From the result of this comparative study, it was found that SVM has a disadvantage in computation time compared to ANN and GP. GP is the most sensitive to a training period among the three models.
Commercial use of Burkholderia cepacia.

toxicity, no antidiphtheria serum was administered. The patient became well and was discharged on day 4. In the first case, a throat culture could not be done because the patient had already received local antiseptic paint. However, the diagnosis was clinically consistent with classic diphtheria with features of toxicity. In the second case, diphtheria was suspected only after bacteriologic examination. Unlike patient 1, patient 2 had no evident features of systemic toxicity. Hence the isolate could be nontoxigenic. Localized diphtheria due to nontoxigenic C. diphtheriae is known to occur (1). The two patients did not give a complete history of immunization and may not have been vaccinated (or may have been partially vaccinated) with DPT. On the Indian subcontinent, DPT vaccination coverage is reported to be 80%. However, it may not be so in all areas, and immunization may have decreased to approximately 50% in certain areas of Southeast Asia (2). This may also be true in certain areas of eastern Nepal. An immunization status survey done in midwestern Nepal from 1989 to 1990 showed that DPT coverage was unsatisfactory (3). Lack of sustained immunization may even result in outbreaks. The recent epidemics of diphtheria in the Ukraine, Russian Federation, and other countries of the former Soviet Union are examples of resurgence due to ineffectively maintained immunization programs (4,5). Diphtheria, still occasionally seen in many Southeast Asian countries including India and Nepal, is thought to be declining in these areas. However, accurate data have not been recently available, particularly from Nepal, because reporting is infrequent, laboratory confirmation is not available, and the extent of carriers is not clearly known (2). These two cases show the persistence of diphtheria in a population in Nepal immunized with DPT and underscore the need for careful surveillance, laboratory documentation of clinical diphtheria, and increased immunization of children in this area.
Behavioral dimensions of retirement economics

Deciding when and how to retire are among the most important decisions most people make. Can they be depended on to plan with foresight and make sound decisions? According to standard economic analysis the answer is a qualified ""yes. "" But studies by psychologists, sociologists, and economists themselves raise doubts about this comforting appraisal. This volume by analysts trained in economics and other disciplines suggests that retirement planning and decisions fall far short of the rational ideal. Gary Burtless explains what economic research has to say about retirement behavior. Annamaria Lusardi reports that many people in their fifties and older say they have not even thought about retirement. Mathey Rabin and Ted O'Donoghue show that procrastination can cause huge economic losses. Robert Axtell and Joshua Epstein show that herd behavior explains observed patterns of retirement behavior better than does the assumption of rational decisionmaking. George Loewenstein, Drazen Prelec, and Roberto Weber report that many people incorrectly anticipate what retirement will be like and rationalize whatever decision they have made. David Fetherstonhaugh and Lee Ross report experimental evidence that the effect of Social Security provisions may depend on how these policies are ""framed"" as well as on the specific content of those policies. These and other authors also explore the broader implications of these behavioral patterns. Copublished with Russell Sage Foundation
Construction of compactly supported orthonormal wavelets with beautiful structure

In this paper, a new method of constructing symmetric (antisymmetric) scaling and wavelet filters is introduced, and we get a new type of wavelet system that has very beautiful structure. Using this kind of wavelet system, we can achieve filters with the properties: rational, symmetric or antisymmetric, the lengths of the filters are shorter and the corresponding functions have higher smoothness, so they have good prospect in applications.
Impact of contextuality on mobile learning acceptance: An empirical study based on a language learning app

Purpose This paper aims to focus on contextualized features for mobile language learning apps. The scope of this paper is to explore students’ perceptions of contextualized mobile language learning. Design/methodology/approach An extended Technology Acceptance Model was developed to analyze the effect of contextual app features on students’ usage intention. The suggested app concept applies context-triggered push notifications to initiate learning sessions based on a location-aware vocabulary. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used for an empirical validation of the proposed research model. Findings The results of the analysis revealed, that students perceived the proposed app as beneficial for their learning endeavors. The location-aware feature is essentially relevant to improve the perceived usefulness of the system, as it may increase the learning effectiveness of the app in their everyday life. Research limitations/implications The study was conducted in quite a homogenous population. The sample size of the survey was rather small (n = 45). Further research is necessary to confirm the promising results of the research. Originality/value The results give some first evidence that the integration of innovative contextual features in mobile language learning apps may increase the usage intention and motivation to engage in a learning activity.
Contaminants in milk and impact of heating: an assessment study.

BACKGROUND The major contaminants usually encountered in milk and milk products include pesticide residues, heavy metals, and aflatoxin M1 (AFM1). Primarily, milk get contaminated before milching, from the cattle feed, from sources/materials used during the processing of milk as well as improper handling of the milk during the pre- and postprocessing period. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of household practices on milk contaminants. MATERIALS AND METHODS Samples of pasteurized as well as unpasteurized milk (Vendor's milk) were analyzed for AFM1, pesticide residues, and heavy metals. Simulating the household practices, the impact of boiling on these contaminants was assessed. RESULTS The contaminant Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) was detected at a concentration ranging from 0.071-0.075 ppb in unpasteurized as well as pasteurized milk samples analyzed during the course of study. Moreover, boiling had no impact on the quantity of AFM1 present in the milk. Pesticides and heavy metal contents were found to be within acceptable limits in all the milk samples tested. CONCLUSION Mycotoxins especially aflatoxins in cattle feed and their consequential presence in milk and milk products is a serious concern world over as they are reported carcinogens. These fungal toxins are resistant to high temperatures and may lead to various health hazards. Preventive steps must be taken at each stage to ensure good quality of milk and milk products free from these contaminants. Awareness programs and education for the dairy farmers and milk processors may be helpful in this regard.
Prevention of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis

Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis is the most common cause of secondary osteoporosis. The role of the Wnt signaling pathway in bone formation and the ratio of receptor activator for NF-κB ligand versus osteoprotegerin in bone resorption are exciting new insights. The absolute fracture risk helps both clinicians and patients to interpret the results of bone density measurement, which may have a positive influence on adherence to therapy. The bisphosphonates alendronate and risedronate are the first-line treatment in the prevention of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis, because both increase the bone mineral density of the spine and hips and reduce the vertebral fracture rate. Treatment with the anabolic agent parathyroid hormone (1 – 34) strongly stimulates bone turnover, and seems to be superior to treatment with alendronate. It might be attractive for glucocorticoid-treated patients with new vertebral fractures during treatment with bisphosphonates, and/or with severe fracture risk.
Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Characterization of Focal Liver Masses: Impact of Parallel Imaging (SENSE) and b Value

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of parallel imaging (sensitivity encoding [SENSE] technique) on diffusion-weighted (DW) magnetic resonance imaging, compare DW imaging techniques with 2 different b values for characterization of focal hepatic lesions, and determine apparent diffusion coefficient cutoff values. Materials and Methods: Seventy-eight patients with 86 lesions were examined with 4 different DW techniques with 2 different b values (400 and 1000 s/mm2) and with/without the use of SENSE. The differences in signal-noise ratio values and image quality between DW images obtained with different techniques were compared using repeated-measures analysis of variance and Friedman test, respectively. A receiver operating characteristic analysis was applied to evaluate the apparent diffusion coefficient values as a discriminating variable to differentiate malignant lesions from benign ones; sensitivity and specificity were calculated. Results: There was no significant difference in the signal-noise ratio value and image quality between DW images obtained with b = 400 s/mm2 without SENSE (DW400) and b = 1000 s/mm2 with SENSE (DW1000SENSE). DW1000SENSE had the highest Az values for discriminating malignant from benign hepatic lesions (0.97) and hemangioma from metastasis (0.89). Using 1.63 × 10−3 mm2/s as the cutoff value, DW1000SENSE had a sensitivity of 95.2% (40/42) and a specificity of 91.0% (40/44) for differentiating benign from malignant hepatic lesions. Using a cutoff value of 1.45 × 10−3 mm2/s, DW1000SENSE had a sensitivity of 90.5% (19/21) and a specificity of 93.7% (15/16) for differentiating metastases from hemangiomas. Conclusions: Diffusion-weighted imaging with a b value of 1000 s/mm2 and SENSE has the potential to differentiate hepatic focal lesions with improved sensitivity and specificity.
INTRODUCTION In spite of recent advances in our understanding of pain mechanisms and the development of highly effective pain Postoperative pain relief following abdominal operations : A prospective randomised study of comparison of patient controlled analgesia with conventional parenteral opioids

Background: Parenteral opioids are traditionally used for pain management following abdominal operations. Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA) is replacing the conventional method for postoperative pain relief nowadays. Aims: To find out the effectiveness of PCA in postoperative pain relief following abdominal operations. Settings and Design: This prospective randomised study was conducted in the Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research, Pondicherry, India. Materials and Methods: Sixty-two consecutive patients undergoing abdominal operations were randomly divided into PCA group (n=32) who received intravenous PCA morphine and IM group (n=30) who received conventional intramuscular morphine in the postoperative period. Morphine consumption, pain relief, detailed pulmonary function tests and side-effects of morphine were assessed. Statistical Analysis: This was performed by “Epi Info 2000 version 6”. Chi-square and Students ’t’ tests were used to relate the variables. Results: The total morphine consumption of the PCA group was significantly lesser than IM group (mean 30.84 mg versus 37.36 mg P-0.015) and it was less at different intervals in the postoperative period. The PCA group had better pain relief when compared to the IM group (mean pain score 3.42 versus 4.97 P<0.001). Pulmonary function parameters did not show a significant difference at different intervals in the postoperative period except for Peak Expiratory Flow Rate. None of the patients had major morphine-related complications. Conclusions: Intravenous PCA provides better pain relief with less morphine consumption as compared to the conventional IM method. Recovery of postoperative pulmonary functions showed no significant difference in the two groups apart from Peak Expiratory Flow Rate, which showed significant early recovery in the PCA group.
Reading fluency measurements in EFA FTI partner countries : outcomes and improvement prospects

Students in lower-income countries often acquire limited literacy in school and often drop out illiterate. For those who stay, the problem is not detected until it is too late to intervene. Oral reading fluency tests given in the early grades can quickly and inexpensively assess student literacy. For this reason, one-minute reading studies have been popular. A search carried out in early 2010 showed that over 50 fluency studies have been conducted in various countries, and that norms have been established in the U.S., Mexico, and Chile. The studies often reported data in ways that were not easily comparable, and few had collected nationally representative data. However, the findings consistently showed very limited achievement. A multi-country study matching reading and instructional time data showed that the deficits are largely due to limited reading practice. The findings also suggest that few governments have taken action to improve reading outcomes on the basis of test scores. However, a number of pilot reading programs that emphasized phonics and practice were financed by donors and implemented by Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). These brought about substantial improvements within a few months. Their success suggests that it is eminently feasible to raise student outcomes significantly through evidence based reading methods. Overall, the oral reading fluency tests have shown good psychometric properties, although reading achievement typically shows much variability within classes and sampling procedures could improve. Cross-linguistic comparability is rough and approximate, but overall it is possible to monitor reading outcomes across time and countries.