Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predictors of bankruptcy probability among Malaysian civil servants: examining the subjective measurement

Bankruptcy and its impact on the quality of life among Malaysian civil servants has received considerable attention from many authorities. The purpose of this study is to examine the determinant factors of civil servants’ bankruptcy probability in Malaysia. The results of this study can be used to predict the possibility of bankruptcy. The knowledge of this early warning model may help to prevent the consequences or reduce the possibility of bankruptcy among Malaysian civil servants. It can be also used for a better understanding of the relationship on bankruptcy probability by highlighting the determinant factors such as asset ownership, attitude towards debt, and financial management practices. Samples were selected by using multi-stage cluster sampling technique among civil servants in public sectors. A total of 399 completed questionnaires were analysed using logistic regression to identify the probability of bankruptcy among the civil servants. The results identified that the possibility of bankruptcy is significantly determined by asset ownership, attitude towards debt, and financial management practices.
Gastrointestinal stromal tumors: Clinical profile, pathogenesis, treatment strategies and prognosis

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), although the most common mesenchymal neoplasms of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, account for <1% of all GI malignancies. Up to 94% of these tumors express the CD117 antigen. Most patients present in the fifth to seventh decade, the commonest symptom being that of an abdominal mass. Surgery is the main modality of therapy, but even after adequate resection the vast majority of GIST reoccur, and in approximately 50% the liver is the main site of the metastasis. Long‐term, maybe even lifelong follow up of these patients after initial resection cannot be over‐emphasized. Initial tumor size and mitotic rate are the most useful parameters to predict malignant potential. In view of high postoperative recurrence, adjuvant forms of therapy are being explored, and the tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib holds the most promise.
Population trends influence species ability to track climate change

Shifts of distributions have been attributed to species tracking their fundamental climate niches through space. However, several studies have now demonstrated that niche tracking is imperfect, that species’ climate niches may vary with population trends, and that geographic distributions may lag behind rapid climate change. These reports of imperfect niche tracking imply shifts in species’ realized climate niches. We argue that quantifying climate niche shifts and analyzing them for a suite of species reveal general patterns of niche shifts and the factors affecting species’ ability to track climate change. We analyzed changes in realized climate niche between 1984 and 2012 for 46 species of North American birds in relation to population trends in an effort to determine whether species differ in the ability to track climate change and whether differences in niche tracking are related to population trends. We found that increasingly abundant species tended to show greater levels of niche expansion (climate space occupied in 2012 but not in 1980) compared to declining species. Declining species had significantly greater niche unfilling (climate space occupied in 1980 but not in 2012) compared to increasing species due to an inability to colonize new sites beyond their range peripheries after climate had changed at sites of occurrence. Increasing species, conversely, were better able to colonize new sites and therefore showed very little niche unfilling. Our results indicate that species with increasing trends are better able to geographically track climate change compared to declining species, which exhibited lags relative to changes in climate. These findings have important implications for understanding past changes in distribution, as well as modeling dynamic species distributions in the face of climate change.
Adaptive techniques for packet-oriented transmissions in future multicarrier wireless systems

Future wireless systems are expected to provide even more high data rates and reliable communications to support the ever increasing demand of heterogeneous applications and services. Furthermore, these strict requirements must be satisfied in the harsh environment of the wireless propagation channel, and must cope with the scarcity of the available radio spectrum. For such systems, the multicarrier modulation technique known as orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) emerged as the key technology at the physical layer thanks to its high spectral efficiency, rather simple transceiver structure and robustness to multipath fading. Within this context, this thesis investigates novel adaptive techniques where the transmission resources and parameters are adapted according to the channel state information in order to provide reliable and efficient data packet delivering over frequency selective channels. These techniques, known in the literature as link resource adaptation (LRA) and resource allocation (RA), are proposed in combination with a number of advanced features such as the efficient channel coding technique represented by the bit interleaved coded modulation (BICM) and hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) mechanisms. Differently from the majority of LRA and RA problems considered in the literature, this thesis focuses on the goodput figure of merit, defined as the number of information bits delivered in error-free packets per unit of time. The latter represents in fact an adequate metric to give a reliable picture of the actual link performance, when features such as practical modulation and coding, packet oriented transmissions and HARQ mechanisms are employed. In detail, the main contributions of the thesis are: the derivation of a LRA strategy that assigns modulation, coding rate and power to a cognitive BIC-OFDM system; a novel performance prediction method, which exploits the effective signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) methodology, for BIC-OFDM systems featuring HARQ protocols with packet combing; a LRA algorithm that selects the best bit loading distribution and coding rate for BIC-OFDM systems; a fair RA scheme that assigns power, modulation order, coding rate and subcarriers to users on the downlink of a BIC orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) system to maximize the performance of the user having the lowest goodput value.
Efficient computation of spatial joins with intersection predicates

We introduce a new algorithm to compute the spatial join of two or more spatial data sets, when indexes are not available on them. Size Separation Spatial Join (S3 J) imposes a hierarchical decomposition of the data space and, in contrast to previous approaches, requires no replication of entities from the input data sets. Thus its execution time depends only on the sizes of the joined data sets. We described S3 J and present an analytical evaluation of its I/O and processor requirements comparing them with those of previously proposed algorithms for the same problem. We show that S3 J has relatively simple cost estimation formulas that can be exploited by a query optimizer. S3 J can be efficiently implemented using software already present in many relational systems. In addition, we introduce Dynamic Spatial Bitmaps (DSB), a new technique that enables S3 J dynamically or statically to exploit bitmap query processing techniques. Finally, we present experimental results for a prototype implementation of S3 J involving real and synthetic data sets for a variety of data distributions. Our experimental results are consistent with our analytical observations and demonstrate the performance benefits of S3 J over alternative approaches that have been proposed recently.W
The Identification of War-fighting Symbology With the Use of a Small Display

Abstract : Two studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of symbol size and screen clutter on symbol identification when one is using a small map display. The purpose of the first study was to determine the minimum threshold symbol size for a group of selected war-fighting symbols that could be discriminated and identified on a 3.5-inch simulated wrist map display. The Best PEST (Parameter Estimation by Sequential Testing) psychophysical adaptive procedure was used to obtain symbol size thresholds for a no-map and map environment with 20 active-duty Soldiers. A True Type font of 16 points was found as the minimum symbol size at which 95% of the responses were predicted to be accurate. The second study aimed to determine the number of symbols (defined as clutter) that could be displayed on the 3.5-inch display, when one is using a rural and urban map display, without significant decreases in performance. Eight active-duty Soldiers determined if target symbols were present on or absent from map images containing distractor symbols. Performance was measured via scan time and response accuracy. For the urban map display only, mean scan times began to increase at the clutter level of nine symbols and continued to increase at a clutter level of 12 symbols. A response accuracy of 92% was obtained with incorrect responses falling randomly across treatments. These results show that a symbol size of 16 points is adequate for symbol identification when the symbol is embedded on a 3.5-inch map display. Also, if the map background does not perceptibly contribute to display clutter, superimposing as few as three or as many as 12 symbols over the map will yield no change in scan time for a target symbol.
Repetitive sequences cloned from Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo genotype hardjoprajitno and their application to serovar identification

We selected, from a genomic library of Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo genotype hardjoprajitno, two probes containing repetitive sequences (pL1 and pL590). The hybridization patterns of these probes to DNA isolated from a variety of Leptospira serovars were examined and their ability to detect subtle differences at the genomic organization level was established. We identified the DNA fragments within pL1 and pL590 which are sufficient to yield polymorphic hybridization patterns; these results define the upper size limit of two novel repetitive elements in the Leptospira genome. The pattern and degree of hybridization observed for the serovars tested in this work were used to divide Leptospira spp. into groups which share genetic relatedness; our conclusions are consistent with previous classifications by other authors.
Test–retest reliability of grip strength measurement in full elbow extension to evaluate maximum grip strength

The objective of this study was to investigate the test–retest reliability of measurement of grip strength in full elbow extension. The grip strengths of 19 healthy participants were measured using the Jamar dynamometer by the same rater on two occasions with an interval of 7 days between measures. Test–retest reliability of grip strength measurement was excellent in full elbow extension and associated with low values of standard error of measurement and small variations in the differences between the two measurements in both testing sessions.
Voltage gating and permeation in a gap junction hemichannel.

Gap junction channels are formed by members of the connexin gene family and mediate direct intercellular communication through linked hemichannels (connexons) from each of two adjacent cells. While for most connexins, the hemichannels appear to require an apposing hemichannel to open, macroscopic currents obtained from Xenopus oocytes expressing rat Cx46 suggested that some hemichannels can be readily opened by membrane depolarization [Paul, D. L. , Ebihara, L. , Takemoto, L. J., Swenson, K. I. & Goodenough, D. A. (1991), J. Cell Biol. 115, 1077-1089]. Here we demonstrate by single channel recording that hemichannels comprised of rat Cx46 exhibit complex voltage gating consistent with there being two distinct gating mechanisms. One mechanism partially closes Cx46 hemichannels from a fully open state, gammaopen, to a substate, gammasub, about one-third of the conductance of gammaopen; these transitions occur when the cell is depolarized to inside positive voltages, consistent with gating by transjunctional voltage in Cx46 gap junctions. The other gating mechanism closes Cx46 hemichannels to a fully closed state, gammaclosed, on hyperpolarization to inside negative voltages and has unusual characteristics; transitions between gammaclosed and gammaopen appear slow (10-20 ms), often involving several transient substates distinct from gammasub. The polarity of activation and kinetics of this latter form of gating indicate that it is the mechanism by which these hemichannels open in the cell surface membrane when unapposed by another hemichannel. Cx46 hemichannels display a substantial preference for cations over anions, yet have a large unitary conductance (approximately 300 pS) and a relatively large pore as inferred from permeability to tetraethylammonium (approximately 8.5 angstroms diameter). These hemichannels open at physiological voltages and could induce substantial cation fluxes in cells expressing Cx46.
Magnitude and characteristics of arthritis and other rheumatic conditions on ambulatory medical care visits, United States, 1997.

OBJECTIVE To describe ambulatory medical care utilization, defined to exclude injury-related visits, for persons with arthritis and other rheumatic conditions. METHODS National estimates, rates, and other characteristics of ambulatory care visits were calculated from a national sample of patient visits to physician offices and acute care hospital outpatient and emergency departments. RESULTS An estimated 36.5 million ambulatory care visits were related to arthritis and other rheumatic conditions. Visit rates increased with age and, overall, were twice as high among women as men. Rates of visits by race varied by ambulatory care setting. Soft tissue disorders (9.3 million), osteoarthritis (7.1 million), nonspecific joint pain/effusion (7.0 million), and rheumatoid arthritis (3.9 million) were the most common diagnoses. CONCLUSIONS Arthritis and other rheumatic conditions account for about as many ambulatory care visits as cardiovascular disease or essential hypertension. These visits serve as excellent opportunities to counsel patients regarding prevention messages for arthritis.
Secondary Osteoporosis in Liver Transplant Recipients: a Longitudinal Study in Patients With and Without Cholestatic Liver Disease

Background: Metabolic bone disease is one of the major long-term complications in liver transplant recipients, but it remains unclear which patients are at highest risk for developing severe bone disease following transplantation. Methods: A total of 46 consecutive, adult patients with chronic liver disease accepted for a liver transplantation waiting list were prospectively included in the study. The patients were classified into two groups: group A—chronic cholestatic liver disease (n = 28), and group B—chronic non-cholestatic liver disease (n = 18). Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured at acceptance for the waiting list and at 3, 12 and 36 months following transplantation. Markers of bone turnover (serum-bone specific alkaline phosphatases (bALP), s-osteocalcin, s-l-collagen-C-terminal telopeptide (1-CTP) and urine N-terminal telopeptides u-Ntx) were measured at acceptance and at 3, 6, 12, 24 and 36 months following transplantation. BMD and markers of bone turnover were compared with similar values in a matched control group of 42 healthy individuals. Results: BMD decreased significantly during the early post-transplantation period (median bone loss femoral neck (FN) 3 months post-transplant 8.5%). BMD levels declined slightly from 3 to 12 months following transplantation and increased thereafter. The relative bone loss was greatest among group B patients (relative bone loss FN 3 months post-transplant: group A, 8% versus group B, 13%; P = 0.04). At 36 months, 8/17 group A and 2/9 group B patients had BMD levels that exceeded the pretransplant levels (P = 0.12). The early bone loss was positively correlated with an increase in resorption markers (s-1-CTP and u-Ntx). Group B had higher levels of both s-1-CTP and u-Ntx at 3 and 6 months post-transplant than group A patients (P = 0.03). Bone formation markers increased slowly from 6 months post-transplant and onwards. Relative bone loss was positively correlated to total glucocorticoid dose during the first 3 months post-transplant. There were no differences in BMD between patients receiving tacrolimus versus those receiving'cyclosporin A. Conclusion: Bone loss following liver transplantation is considerable in patients with both cholestatic and non-cholestatic liver disease, the first group has the poorest starting-point while the latter group has the greatest bone loss following transplantation. Bone loss is closely correlated with biochemical markers of bone resorption and total dose of glucocorticoids given post-transplant.
Emerging drugs for restless legs syndrome

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common, but often underdiagnosed, neurological disorder, which is characterised by an imperative urge to move the extremities associated with paraesthesias, worsening of symptoms at rest and in the evening or at night, and, as a consequence, sleep disturbances. RLS affects 1 – 10% of the population. The aetiology of RLS is unknown, but besides genetic factors the dopaminergic and opioidergic system may play a crucial role and new developments also point to an exciting iron–dopamine connection in the pathophysiology of this burdening disorder. Due to the limited disease-specific knowledge, current treatment strategies are not curative, but nevertheless may produce an effective and lasting relief of symptoms. Although clinically based treatment has focused on levodopa, opioids and benzodiazepines for a long time, evidence-based and clinical guidelines identify dopamine agonists as a first-line treatment for daily restless legs symptoms. These substances are now in the process of registration for this indication. Ropinirole is the first dopamine agonist that has been approved by the FDA in May 2005. In addition, several promising new therapies with nondopamine profiles are under development for RLS.
The fission yeast MTREC and EJC orthologs ensure the maturation of meiotic transcripts during meiosis

Meiosis is a highly regulated process by which genetic information is transmitted through sexual reproduction. It encompasses unique mechanisms that do not occur in vegetative cells, producing a distinct, well-regulated meiotic transcriptome. During vegetative growth, many meiotic genes are constitutively transcribed, but most of the resulting mRNAs are rapidly eliminated by the Mmi1-MTREC (Mtl1-Red1 core) complex. While Mmi1-MTREC targets premature meiotic RNAs for degradation by the nuclear 3′–5′ exoribonuclease exosome during mitotic growth, its role in meiotic gene expression during meiosis is not known. Here, we report that Red5, an essential MTREC component, interacts with pFal1, an ortholog of eukaryotic translation initiation factor eIF4aIII in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. In mammals, together with MAGO (Mnh1), Rnps1, and Y14, elF4AIII (pFal1) forms the core of the exon junction complex (EJC), which is essential for transcriptional surveillance and localization of mature mRNAs. In fission yeast, two EJC orthologs, pFal1 and Mnh1, are functionally connected with MTREC, specifically in the process of meiotic gene expression during meiosis. Although pFal1 interacts with Mnh1, Y14, and Rnps1, its association with Mnh1 is not disrupted upon loss of Y14 or Rnps1. Mutations of Red1, Red5, pFal1, or Mnh1 produce severe meiotic defects; the abundance of meiotic transcripts during meiosis decreases; and mRNA maturation processes such as splicing are impaired. Since studying meiosis in mammalian germline cells is difficult, our findings in fission yeast may help to define the general mechanisms involved in accurate meiotic gene expression in higher eukaryotes.
A Characterization of Superlinear Convergence and its Application to Quasi-Newton Methods

Let F be a mapping from real n-dimensional Euclidean space into itself. Most practical algorithms for finding a zero of F are of the form $x_{k+1} = x_{k} B_{k}^{-1_{Fx_{k}}}$ where $\{B_{k}\}$ is a sequence of non-singular matrices. The main result of this paper is a characterization theorem for the superlinear convergence to a zero of F of sequences of the above form. This result is then used to give a unified treatment of the results on the superlinear convergence of the Davidon-Fletcher-Powell method obtained by Powell for the case in which exact line searches are used, and by Broyden, Dennis, and More for the case without line searches. As a by-product, several results on the asymptotic behavior of the sequence $\{B_{k}\}$ are obtained. An interesting aspect of these results is that superlinear convergence is obtained without any consistency conditions; i.e. without requiring that the sequence $\{B_{k}\}$ converge to the Jacobian.
Global End-Diastolic Volume During Different Loading Conditions in a Pediatric Animal Model

BACKGROUND:Estimating volume status in infants and neonates is challenging. Global end-diastolic volume (GEDV) and dynamic variables of preload, such as pulse pressure variation (PPV), may be alternative variables for estimating cardiac preload and fluid responsiveness. Therefore, we designed the present study to evaluate whether GEDV and PPV are suitable variables of preload and fluid responsiveness during rapidly changing loading conditions in a pediatric animal model. METHODS:Nineteen anesthetized and mechanically ventilated piglets (6.5 ± 0.8 kg) were studied during different loading conditions. Hemodynamic measurements, including central venous pressure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, PPV, GEDV, and cardiac output derived by transpulmonary thermodilution, cardiac output, and stroke volume index obtained by pulmonary artery thermodilution were performed at normovolemia, and after fluid administration, with 25 mL/kg of hydroxylethyl starch 6%. RESULTS:There was a significant percentage change of GEDV after volume loading (25% ± 17%) that resulted in significant changes of all hemodynamic variables except of heart rate and systemic vascular resistance index. GEDV was the only preload variable that significantly correlated with volume-induced percentage change in stroke volume index (r = −0.61, P = 0.005). Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.8 for GEDV (P < 0.02) and 0.6 for PPV (P = ns). CONCLUSIONS:In this pediatric animal model, GEDV derived from transpulmonary thermodilution was a reliable indicator of cardiac preload. Moreover, GEDV but not PPV, central venous pressure and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure accurately reflected fluid responsiveness.