Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of acupoint catgut embedding therapy combined with Chinese medicine for nourishing the kidneys and promoting blood circulation and improving blood glucose and lipid levels as well as the pregnancy rate in obese PCOS patients with infertility

In this study, we explored the effect of acupoint catgut embedding combined with Chinese medicine for nourishing kidney and promoting blood circulation as well as improving the glucose and lipid levels and pregnancy rate in obese polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients with infertility. A total of 62 obese patients with PCOS were randomly divided into three groups, 21 of whom were treated with acupoint catgut embedding combined with Chinese medicine, another 21 with catgut embedding therapy, and 20 only with Chinese medicine. We compared the improvement of clinical symptoms and the glucose and lipid levels in the three groups three months after surgery. We found that the effective rate of obesity treatment, body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio of acupuncture-drug group and catgut embedding group were significantly lower than those of the Chinese medicine group (P<0.05). A comparison between the acupuncture-drug group and catgut embedding group was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The triglyceride (TG) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) levels of the three groups were significantly decreased and increased, respectively, following treatment, with the total cholesterol (TC) level being decreased significantly only in the acupuncture-drug group (P<0.05), and the LDL level showing no significant difference (P>0.05). The fast insulins, HOMA-IR, TG, TC levels and periodic cancellation rate of the acupuncture-drug group was significantly reduced compared to those of the catgut embedding group and Chinese medicine group after treatment, whereas the HDL levels, periodic ovulation rate and clinical pregnancy rate were higher (P<0.05). However, a comparison between Chinese medicine group and catgut embedding group was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The incidence rate of luteinized unruptured follicle and ovarian hyper-stimulation syndrome of the three groups showed no statistical difference (P>0.05). In conclusion, the study has shown that acupoint catgut embedding therapy combined with Chinese medicine for nourishing the kidneys and promoting blood circulation and improving blood glucose and lipid levels as well as the pregnancy rate in obese PCOS patients with infertility is useful.
A Hierarchical Aggregate Data Model with Spatially Correlated Disease Rates

Summary. The aggregate data study design (Prentice and Sheppard, 1995, Biometrika82, 113–125) estimates individual‐level exposure effects by regressing population‐based disease rates on covariate data from survey samples in each population group. In this work, we further develop the aggregate data model to allow for residual spatial correlation among disease rates across populations. Geographical variation that is not explained by model predictors and has a spatial component often arises in studies of rare chronic diseases, such as breast cancer. We combine the aggregate and Bayesian disease‐mapping models to provide an intuitive approach to the modeling of spatial effects while drawing correct inference regarding the exposure effect. Based on the results of simulation studies, we suggest guidelines for use of the proposed model.
i Trading Rules and Trading Volume

Investors who use fixed trading rules conditioned on stock characteristics must rebalance their portfolios regularly because characteristics fluctuate over time. This paper presents evidence that such rule-driven rebalancing accounts for a substantial portion of trading volume in stock markets. I develop a statistical model in which trading volume depends on fluctuations in stock characteristics and on the heterogeneity and persistence over time of investors’ trading rules. To calibrate the model, I estimate these heterogeneity and persistence parameters from mutual fund holdings data. Applied to observed changes in stock characteristics, the calibrated model suggests that rule-driven trading generates about 25% of NYSE/AMEX trading volume. Panel regression results are consistent with the magnitudes obtained in the calibration: Stocks for which rule-driven trading volume is predicted to be higher tend to have higher actual trading volume, controlling for other determinants of volume and using instrumental variables to account for the endogeneity of stock characteristics.
Innover avec la foule : une étude du processus d'adoption du crowdsourcing

Le crowdsourcing (CS) pour innover consiste pour une organisation a externaliser une tâche creative ou un probleme complexe a la foule. Si le CS pour innover suscite un interet tant theorique qu’empirique, l’adoption croissante de cette nouvelle pratique par les entreprises pose de nombreuses questions restant sans reponses. Cette these a pour objectif d’etudier l’adoption du CS pour innover en identifiant plus particulierement les facteurs qui vont influencer ce processus. Pour ce faire, ce travail prend appui sur un cadre d’analyse qui combine les approches basees sur les ressources (RBV, KBV, open innovation) avec les theories de l’adoption de l’innovation, qui envisagent l’adoption comme un processus et non comme une simple decision. Pour decrire et comprendre l’influence des facteurs sur le processus d’adoption, cette recherche mobilise une demarche qualitative basee sur l’etude de six entreprises. Elle donne lieu a trois articles qui debouchent sur trois contributions majeures. En premier lieu, nous identifions l’influence de quatre categories de facteurs (strategiques, culturels, organisationnels et epistemiques) sur l’adoption du CS pour innover. Les facteurs strategiques semblent avoir une influence moindre alors que les facteurs de types culturels influencent principalement l’etape de decision, les facteurs organisationnels l’etape de mise en œuvre et les facteurs epistemiques l’etape de maturite. En outre, il apparait que ces trois types de facteurs sont interdependants. En second lieu, ce travail questionne la notion de foule en suggerant que le CS pour innover, et notamment le CS d’activites creatives, repose plutot sur des communautes et non sur une foule desincarnee composee d’individus anonymes et isoles. Enfin, il semble que lorsque l’entreprise adopte une plateforme proprietaire de CS pour innover, cette nouvelle pratique peut etre assimilee a une innovation organisationnelle. Ces contributions repondent a la question de recherche mais proposent egalement une vision plus globale de l’adoption du CS pour innover. Elles alimentent plusieurs recommandations manageriales a destination des organisations souhaitant adopter cette demarche.
Subfoveal Choroidal Thickness in Central Serous Chorioretinopathy: A Meta-Analysis

Purpose To evaluate the relationship between subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) and eyes with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) versus fellow or control eyes. Methods We performed a meta-analysis using databases including PubMed, Embase and ISI Web of Science to find relevant studies. Weighted mean difference (WMD) was calculated for the SFCT in CSC eyes, the unaffected fellow eyes and normal controls. Results Twelve studies were selected for this meta-analysis, including 1108 eyes (397 CSC eyes, 228 unaffected fellow eyes and 483 eyes of normal controls). The meta-analysis clearly demonstrated that the subfoveal choiroid of eyes with a clinical presentation of CSC was thickened compared to unaffected fellow eyes (WMD = 52.81, 95% confidence interval (CI), 39.13–66.49, P<0.00001) and was thickened compared to control eyes (WMD = 145.03, 95%CI, 121.33–168.73, P<0.00001). The mean SFCT measurement of the unaffected fellow eyes showed also significantly increased choroidal thickness compared to that of normal control eyes (WMD = 77.20, 95% CI, 44.98–109.42, P<0.00001). Similar results were obtained in a sub-analysis based on the same instrument. Conclusion It is demonstrated that SFCT is significantly increased in eyes with clinical manifestation of CSC, and in the clinically non-manifested fellow eyes. These results support the hypothesis that CSC is a bilateral disorder with an initial unilateral clinical presentation.
Analysis of Serum Ascites Albumin Gradient Test in Ascitic Dogs

The aim of the study was to evaluate Serum Ascites Albumin Gradient (SAAG) in ascitic dogs. Study was conducted at Referral Veterinary Poly Clinic, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar. Sick dogs were brought with clinical signs suggestive of distended abdomen and inappetance. General clinical examination, biochemical, ultrasound examination, abdominocentesis and peritoneal fluid examination were performed. Spitz dogs had more incidences of ascites followed by Labrador Retrievers. Male dogs had more incidence than female dogs and most ascites were noticed in 4-5 years aged dogs. Mean ± SE of serum ascites albumin gradients (SAAG) are 1.793 ± 0.185. SAAG can be used as a screening test in ascetic due to chronic liver disease.
Rejection Sensitivity as a Predictor of Affective and Behavioral Responses to Interpersonal Stress: A Defensive Motivational System.

The Legacy of Rejection Die Stabilisierung und Sicherung von Akzeptanz bei einer gleichzeitigen Vermeidung von Ablehnung besonders im Hinblick auf Bezugspersonen (significant others) wird schon seit l_ngerem als starker Motivationsantrieb angesehen (Baumeister & Leary, 1995; gleiche Ausgabe Fiske & Yamamoto; Sommer & Rubin; Williams & Zadro). Menschen unterscheiden sich hinsichtlich ihrer Informationsverarbeitung von Ablehnung und Akzeptanz. Ihr Individueller Entwicklungshintergrund l_sst unterschiedliche kognitive-Netzwerke entstehen, die dann in bestimmten Situationen mit verschiedenen gelernten Verhaltensweisen (coping) versuchen Ablehnung zu vermeiden. Eines dieser Netzwerke hei_t Ablehnungssensitivit_t (rejection sensitivity im Folgenden RS genannt) (Downey & Feldman, 1996). Im folgenden Artikel sollen Beweise daf r erbracht werden, dass Ablehnungssensitivit_t als Defensive Motivational System (im Folgenden DMS genannt) einschl_gige Einfl sse darauf hat wie Individuen in Situationen potentieller Ablehnung denken. Generell gesagt f hrt RS zu unangebrachten Reaktionen auf Ablehnung, die weitere Ablehnungen zur Folge haben.
The ballbot: An omnidirectional balancing mobile robot

The ballbot is a human-sized dynamically stable mobile robot that balances on a single ball. Unlike statically stable mobile robots, the ballbot is tall and narrow with a high center of gravity and a small footprint. Moreover, its dynamic stability enables it to be physically interactive. These characteristics make it better suited to navigate and interact in cluttered human environments. This paper presents the evolved hardware design of the ballbot with a four-wheel inverse mouse-ball drive to actuate the ball, and a yaw drive mechanism that enables unlimited rotation about its vertical axis. The ballbot also has a triad of legs that provide static stability when powered down. This paper presents a detailed description of the ballbot’s control architecture, and it presents several experimental results that demonstrate its balancing and locomotion capabilities. This paper also presents a trajectory planning algorithm that plans for body lean motions, which, when tracked, result in the desired rest-to-rest motions of the robot. Finally, the paper illustrates some interesting human–robot physical interaction behaviors that can be achieved as a result of the ballbot’s dynamic stability.
Automatic Generation of Dungeons for Computer Games

The genre of dungeon games, or first-person shooter games as they are more commonly known, has emerged over the last ten years to become one of the most popular types of computer game. At present, the levels in this type of game are generated manually, which is a very expensive and time-consuming process for games companies. If levels could be generated automatically then this would not only reduce development costs, but allow levels to be generated at run-time, giving game players a new playing experience each time a game was played and greatly improving the replayability of the game. In this project, a technique known as graph grammars will be used in order to allow descriptions of randomly generated game levels to be created automatically. As part of the project, algorithms to assess the size, difficulty and fun-value of a level will be developed, to allow individual levels to be tailored to particular requirements. This project is being undertaken in cooperation with Infogrames. Figure 0a: Screenshot from the dungeon game Half Life [57]
Rapid Acute Physiology Score versus Rapid Emergency Medicine Score in Trauma Outcome Prediction; a Comparative Study

Introduction: Rapid acute physiology score (RAPS) and rapid emergency medicine score (REMS) are two physiologic models for measuring injury severity in emergency settings. The present study was designed to compare the two models in outcome prediction of trauma patients presenting to emergency department (ED). Methods: In this prospective cross-sectional study, the two models of RAPS and REMS were compared regarding prediction of mortality and poor outcome (severe disability based on Glasgow outcome scale) of trauma patients presenting to the EDs of 5 educational hospitals in Iran (Tehran, Tabriz, Urmia, Jahrom and Ilam) from May to October 2016. The discriminatory power and calibration of the models were calculated and compared using STATA 11. Results: 2148 patients with the mean age of 39.50±17.27 years were studied (75.56% males). The area under the curve of REMS and RAPS in predicting in-hospital mortality were calculated to be 0.93 (95% CI: 0.92-0.95) and 0.899 (95% CI: 0.86-0.93), respectively (p=0.02). These measures were 0.92 (95% CI: 0.90-0.94) and 0.86 (95% CI: 0.83-0.90), respectively, regarding poor outcome (p=0.001). The optimum cut-off point in predicting outcome was found to be 3 for REMS model and 2 for RAPS model. The sensitivity and specificity of REMS and RAPS in the mentioned cut offs were 95.93 vs. 85.37 and 77.63 vs. 83.51, respectively, in predicting mortality. Calibration and overall performance of the two models were acceptable. Conclusion: The present study showed that adding age and level of arterial oxygen saturation to the variables included in RAPS model can increase its predictive value. Therefore, it seems that REMS could be used for predicting mortality and poor outcome of trauma patients in emergency settings.
Modeling the impacts of biomass burning on air quality in and around Mexico City

Abstract. The local and regional impacts of open fires and trash burning on ground-level ozone (O3) and fine carbonaceous aerosols in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area (MCMA) and surrounding region during two high fire periods in March 2006 have been evaluated using WRF-CHEM model. The model captured reasonably well the measurement-derived magnitude and temporal variation of the biomass burning organic aerosol (BBOA), and the simulated impacts of open fires on organic aerosol (OA) were consistent with many observation-based estimates. We did not detect significant effects of open fires and trash burning on surface O3 concentrations in the MCMA and surrounding region. In contrast, they had important influences on OA and elemental carbon (EC), increasing primary OA (POA) by ~60%, secondary OA (SOA) by ~22%, total OA (TOA = POA + SOA) by ~33%, and EC by ~22%, on both the local (urban) and regional scales. Although the emissions of trash burning are substantially lower than those from open fires, trash burning made slightly smaller but comparable contributions to OA as open fires did, and exerted an even higher influence on EC. Of the ~22% enhancement in SOA concentrations (equivalent to a ~15% increase in TOA) simulated, about two third was attributed to the open fires and one-third to the trash burning. On the annual basis and taking the biofuel use emissions into consideration, we estimated that open fires, trash burning and biofuel use together contributed about 60% to the loading of POA, 30% to SOA, and 25% to EC in both the MCMA and its surrounding region, of which the open fires and trash burning contributed about 35% to POA, 18% to SOA, and 15% to EC. The estimates of biomass burning impacts in this study may contain considerable uncertainties due to the uncertainties in their emission estimates in magnitude, temporal and spatial distribution, extrapolations and the nature of spot comparison. More observation and modeling studies are needed to accurately assess the impacts of biomass burning on tropospheric chemistry, regional and global air quality, and climate change.
Psychiatric Morbidity and Other Factors Affecting Treatment Adherence in Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients

As the overall prevalence of TB remains high among certain population groups, there is growing awareness of psychiatric comorbidity, especially depression and its role in the outcome of the disease. The paper attempts a holistic approach to the effects of psychiatric comorbidity to the natural history of tuberculosis. In order to investigate factors associated with medication nonadherence among patients suffering from tuberculosis, with emphasis on psychopathology as a major barrier to treatment adherence, we performed a systematic review of the literature on epidemiological data and past medical reviews from an historical perspective, followed by theoretical considerations upon the relationship between psychiatric disorders and tuberculosis. Studies reporting high prevalence rates of psychiatric comorbidity, especially depression, as well as specific psychological reactions and disease perceptions and reviews indicating psychiatric complications as adverse effects of anti-TB medication were included. In sum, data concerning factors affecting medication nonadherence among TB patients suggested that better management of comorbid conditions, especially depression, could improve the adherence rates, serving as a framework for the effective control of tuberculosis, but further studies are necessary to identify the optimal way to address such issues among these patients.
The Effect of Anthocyanins on Blood Pressure

AbstractThe findings of clinical studies concerning the association between anthocyanins supplementation and blood pressure (BP) are inconsistent.In order to provide a more precise estimate of the overall effect of anthocyanins on systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), we conducted a meta-analysis of clinical trials about anthocyanins supplementation and BP.PubMed, Web of Science, Wanfang Database, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) (until October 2015) were searched to identify potential studies with information on anthocyanins extract supplementation and arterial BP. The weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were used as a summary statistic. Net changes in SBP and DBP between anthocyanins supplementation and placebo groups were calculated by subtracting the values at end of follow-up from those at baseline. Meta regression was used to explore the potential moderators of effect size. The publication bias was assessed using Begger's Funnel plots and Egger's tests; P < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.Finally, 6 clinical studies with 472 participants for the effect of anthocyanins consumption on BP were included in the present meta-analysis. There is no significant effect on either SBP (WMD: 1.15 mm Hg, 95% CI: −3.17 to 5.47, I2 = 56%) or DBP (WMD: 1.06 mm Hg, 95% CI: −0.71 to 2.83, I2 = 0%) following supplementation with anthocyanins.In summary, results from this meta-analysis do not favor any clinical efficacy of supplementation with anthocyanins in improving blood pressure. Further well-designed large randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with long follow-up period are needed to verify the association of anthocyanins supplementation and blood pressure.
Synaptic Basis for Differential Orientation Selectivity between Complex and Simple Cells in Mouse Visual Cortex

In the primary visual cortex (V1), orientation-selective neurons can be categorized into simple and complex cells primarily based on their receptive field (RF) structures. In mouse V1, although previous studies have examined the excitatory/inhibitory interplay underlying orientation selectivity (OS) of simple cells, the synaptic bases for that of complex cells have remained obscure. Here, by combining in vivo loose-patch and whole-cell recordings, we found that complex cells, identified by their overlapping on/off subfields, had significantly weaker OS than simple cells at both spiking and subthreshold membrane potential response levels. Voltage-clamp recordings further revealed that although excitatory inputs to complex and simple cells exhibited a similar degree of OS, inhibition in complex cells was more narrowly tuned than excitation, whereas in simple cells inhibition was more broadly tuned than excitation. The differential inhibitory tuning can primarily account for the difference in OS between complex and simple cells. Interestingly, the differential synaptic tuning correlated well with the spatial organization of synaptic input: the inhibitory visual RF in complex cells was more elongated in shape than its excitatory counterpart and also was more elongated than that in simple cells. Together, our results demonstrate that OS of complex and simple cells is differentially shaped by cortical inhibition based on its orientation tuning profile relative to excitation, which is contributed at least partially by the spatial organization of RFs of presynaptic inhibitory neurons. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Simple and complex cells, two classes of principal neurons in the primary visual cortex (V1), are generally thought to be equally selective for orientation. In mouse V1, we report that complex cells, identified by their overlapping on/off subfields, has significantly weaker orientation selectivity (OS) than simple cells. This can be primarily attributed to the differential tuning selectivity of inhibitory synaptic input: inhibition in complex cells is more narrowly tuned than excitation, whereas in simple cells inhibition is more broadly tuned than excitation. In addition, there is a good correlation between inhibitory tuning selectivity and the spatial organization of inhibitory inputs. These complex and simple cells with differential degree of OS may provide functionally distinct signals to different downstream targets.
Tradução e adaptação cultural da Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) para aplicação em adultos brasileiros Translation and cultural adaptation of Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) for administration in Brazilian adults

Objectives: The objective of this study was to translate, make transcultural adaptation and assess the semantic, idiomatic and literal equivalence of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11). Methods: This scale assesses the presence of impulsive manifestations from the theoretical model proposed by Ernst Barratt. Firstly, the BIS-11 original version in English was translated to Portuguese by six bilingual researches. After this, was made the back-translation to English by a translator that was born in United States. Then, the three versions (original, translated and back-translated) were assessed by a specialists committee which made and analyze and comments about the process and then we reach the final translated version of BIS-11. The original and translated version of BIS-11 was applied in two samples from general population with proficiency both in English and Portu guese. This method was adopted to assess the literal, semantic e idiomatic equivalence of these versions by mean of correlation analyses. Conclusion: The final results of quantitative analyses show that the final version of BIS-11 is satisfactory.