Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Age differences in reported social networks and well-being.

Social networks can consist of close friends, family members, and neighbors as well as peripheral others. Studies of social networks and associations with well-being have mostly focused on age-restricted samples of older adults or specific geographic areas, thus limiting their generalizability. We analyzed 2 online surveys conducted with RAND's American Life Panel, a national adult life span sample recruited through multiple probability-based approaches. In Survey 1, 496 participants assessed the sizes of their social networks, including the number of close friends, family members, neighbors, and peripheral others. Of those, 287 rated their social satisfaction and well-being on Survey 2. Older participants reported smaller social networks, largely because of reporting fewer peripheral others. Yet older age was associated with better well-being. Although the reported number of close friends was unrelated to age, it was the main driver of well-being across the life span-even after accounting for the number of family members, neighbors, and peripheral others. However, well-being was more strongly related to social satisfaction than to the reported number of close friends-suggesting that it is the perception of relationship quality rather than the perception of relationship quantity that is relevant to reporting better well-being. We discuss implications for social network interventions that aim to promote well-being. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).
Anomalous Data Detection in Vehicular Networks Using Traffic Flow Theory

The world is embracing the presence of connected autonomous vehicles which are expected to play a major role in the future of intelligent transport systems. Given such connectivity, vehicles in the networks are vulnerable to making incorrect decisions due to anomalous data. No sophisticated attacks are required; just a vehicle reporting anomalous speeds would be sufficient to disrupt the entire traffic flow. Detection of such anomalies is vital for a secured vehicular network. Nevertheless, the attention given for the use of physics of traffic flow to secure vehicular networks is relatively less. We propose to integrate traffic flow phenomena within anomalous data detection techniques to improve the evaluation of threats in vehicular networks. We apply traffic flow theory under steady state assumptions to identify anomalous data. The numerical results indicate the proposed method to provide reliable and consistent predictions.
Children with Hearing Impairment: Experience at Child Assessment Service

Permanent significant congenital hearing loss is a condition with serious potential consequences on the language, speech, learning and emotional development of affected children. In 2009 the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention Hearing Screening and Follow-up Survey reported that 1.4 per 1,000 babies screened were identified with hearing loss, while populationbased studies in Europe and North America have identified a consistent prevalence of approximately 0.1% of children having a hearing loss of more than 40 decibels (dB) through review of health or education records, or both.
Idiopathic and immune‐related pulmonary fibrosis: diagnostic and therapeutic challenges

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) encompasses a large group of pulmonary conditions sharing common clinical, radiological and histopathological features as a consequence of fibrosis of the lung interstitium. The majority of ILDs are idiopathic in nature with possible genetic predisposition, but is also well recognised as a complication of connective tissue disease or with certain environmental, occupational or drug exposures. In recent years, a concerted international effort has been made to standardise the diagnostic criteria in ILD subtypes, formalise multidisciplinary pathways and standardise treatment recommendations. In this review, we discuss some of the current challenges around ILD diagnostics, the role of serological testing, especially, in light of the new classification of Interstitial Pneumonia with Autoimmune Features (IPAF) and discuss the evidence for therapies targeted at idiopathic and immune‐related pulmonary fibrosis.
A Face Emotion Recognition Method Using Convolutional Neural Network and Image Edge Computing

To avoid the complex process of explicit feature extraction in traditional facial expression recognition, a face expression recognition method based on a convolutional neural network (CNN) and an image edge detection is proposed. Firstly, the facial expression image is normalized, and the edge of each layer of the image is extracted in the convolution process. The extracted edge information is superimposed on each feature image to preserve the edge structure information of the texture image. Then, the dimensionality reduction of the extracted implicit features is processed by the maximum pooling method. Finally, the expression of the test sample image is classified and recognized by using a Softmax classifier. To verify the robustness of this method for facial expression recognition under a complex background, a simulation experiment is designed by scientifically mixing the Fer-2013 facial expression database with the LFW data set. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm can achieve an average recognition rate of 88.56% with fewer iterations, and the training speed on the training set is about 1.5 times faster than that on the contrast algorithm.
Toward Large-Scale Rogue Base Station Attacks Using Container-Based Virtualization

Long Term Evolution (LTE) is governing mobile communication technology in recent years, and its security issue always receives lots of attention. Due to the popularity of software defined radio (SDR), low-cost development hardware, and open source LTE project, rouge Base Station (BS) attack can be achieved with much lower price in recent years. However, the current rouge BS attack suffers from limited by the non-commercial antennas, which results in a very small attack range. In this paper, we encapsulate the functions of LTE into different Docker containers located in different physical network entities following the concept of network function virtualization (NFV). By networking those Docker containers using the recent innovation, overlay network, a cooperative and large-scale rouge BS attack can be achieved. Under the coordination of the proposed controller, multiple victims supported by multiple telecommunication operators (and the multiple spectra), using multiple types of equipment (and thus the chipset), or located in multiple locations are targeted in a simultaneous fashion. We verify the feasibility of the proposed attack using the proposed experimental platform.
Cerebrospinal fluid complement system biomarkers in demyelinating disease

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) can be difficult to differentiate from other demyelinating diseases, notably neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). We previously showed that NMOSD is distinguished from MS by plasma complement biomarkers. Objective: Here, we measure cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) complement proteins in MS, NMOSD and clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), a neurological episode that may presage MS, to test whether these distinguish NMOSD from MS and CIS. Materials and methods: CSF (53 MS, 17 CIS, 11 NMOSD, 35 controls) was obtained; complement proteins (C4, C3, C5, C9, C1, C1q, Factor B (FB)), regulators (Factor I (FI), Factor H (FH), FH-Related Proteins 1, 2 and 5 (FHR125), C1 Inhibitor (C1INH), Properdin) and activation products (terminal complement complex (TCC), iC3b) were quantified by ELISA and results expressed relative to CSF total protein (μg/mg). Results: Compared to control CSF, (1) levels of C4, C1INH and Properdin were elevated in MS; (2) TCC, iC3b, FI and FHR125 were increased in CIS; and (3) all complement biomarkers except TCC, FHR125, Properdin and C5 were higher in NMOSD CSF. A statistical model comprising six analytes (C3, C9, FB, C1q, FI, Properdin) plus age/gender optimally differentiated MS from NMOSD.
Racemisation in Chemistry and Biology.

The two enantiomers of a compound often have profoundly different biological properties and so their liability to racemisation in aqueous solutions is an important piece of information. We have reviewed the available data concerning the process of racemisation in vivo, in the presence biological molecules (e.g. racemase enzymes, serum albumin, cofactors and derivatives) and under purely chemical but aqueous conditions (acid, base and other aqueous systems). Mechanistic studies are described critically in light of reported kinetic data. The types of experimental measurement that can be used to effectively determine rate constants of racemisation in various conditions are discussed and the data they provide is summarised. The proposed origins of enzymatic racemisation are presented and suggest ways to promote the process that are different from processes taking place in bulk water. Experimental and computational studies that provide understanding and quantitative predictions of racemisation risk are also presented.
CLINICAL ASPECTS Cancer Incidence among Patients with Alcohol Use Disorders—Long-Term Follow-Up

Aims: The aim of this study was to compare the cancer morbidity in a large cohort of patients with alcohol use disorders in the general Danish population. Methods: We included 15,258 men and 3552 women free of cancer when attending the Copenhagen Outpatient Clinic for Alcoholics in the period from 1954 to 1992. The cancer incidence until 1999 of the patients and the general Danish population was obtained through linkage with the Danish Cancer Registry. The incidence rates were standardized (SIR) according to sex, age and calendar time. Results: A total of 2145 men developed cancer compared to 1140.8 expected cases (SIR = 1.9; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.8-2.0), while 601 women developed cancer compared to 239.1 expected cases (SIR = 2.5; 95% CI 2.3-2.7). Highly significant and strongly elevated incidence rates were found for cancer of the tongue, mouth, pharynx, oesophagus, liver, larynx and lung. A higher incidence rate was seen for renal cancer for both men (1.4; 1.1-1.8) and women (2.1; 1.0-3.8). The incidence of breast cancer in women was non-significantly elevated, but significantly elevated incidence rate was found for cervical cancer (1.8; 1.2-2.6). We did not observe increased incidence of colon, rectal or urinary bladder cancer. Conclusions: In conclusion, this study confirms the well-established association between high alcohol intake and cancer of the upper digestive tract and liver. In addition, the results indicate a significantly elevated occurrence of renal cancer, but not of breast cancer and colorectal cancer, in patients with alcohol use disorders.
Corneal collagen cross-linking with and without simultaneous intrastromal corneal ring segment implantation: One-year pilot study

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess and compare the visual, refractive, and topographic outcomes of keratoconic eyes treated with corneal collagen cross-linking combined with and without same day intrastromal corneal ring segment over the first 12 months. Methods: This prospective randomized study analyzed 38 eyes of 30 consecutive keratoconus patients aged 26.21 ± 6.97 (range = 15–41) years. A total of 20 eyes were treated with collagen cross-linking alone, and 18 eyes underwent collagen cross-linking combined with simultaneous femtosecond laser-assisted intrastromal corneal ring segment. Visual acuity, manifest refraction, and corneal topography (using a rotating Scheimpflug topographer) were assessed and compared between the two groups at baseline, 6, and 12 months. Results: On an average follow-up duration of 12.2 ± 0.50 (range = 11–13) months, both collagen cross-linking alone and collagen cross-linking with simultaneous intrastromal corneal ring segment implantation were effective. However, collagen cross-linking plus intrastromal corneal ring segment resulted in an additional improvement of uncorrected distance visual acuity of 0.16 (95% confidence interval = 0.01 to 0.32) logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution units (p = 0.035), cylindrical power by 1.16 D (95% confidence interval = 0.25 to 2.06, p = 0.014), and spherical equivalent by 1.40 D (95% confidence interval = −2.71 to −0.08, p = 0.038) at 1 year. During the study period, no serious intraoperative or postoperative complications were noted in either group. Conclusion: One-year follow-up results suggest that collagen cross-linking with simultaneously combined intrastromal corneal ring segment implantation could yield an additive visual and refractive outcome. The combined procedure is safe and merits consideration for the treatment of progressive keratoconus to achieve better visual rehabilitation.
The desire for children among adult survivors of childhood cancer: Psychometric evaluation of a cancer‐specific questionnaire and relations with sociodemographic and psychological characteristics

Long‐term childhood cancer survivors (CCS) are less likely to become parents than their peers of the same age. Previous research has suggested that besides fertility, this outcome is shaped by psychosocial factors such as emotional motives toward having a child. Drawing from a sample of CCS with survival times >25 years, we present the validation of a questionnaire assessing cancer‐specific reproductive motives and concerns.
TRADITIONAL AND BLENDED TEACHING IN AN ESL CLASSROOM: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Given the growing demand of the use of ICT in the classroom, there is still the dialectical method of whether the traditional or blended teaching is more effective in the classroom. Using a quasi-experimental method, this study explores the comparison between the traditional and blended teaching with the use of YouTube in an ESL classroom as part of the blended teaching method. The study was conducted in the basic department of one private school in Laguna, with Grade four students as respondents. From the pair result using value and p-value, pre-tests of both groups show no significant difference while the post-tests show a significant difference. However, details show that the scores of the traditional group show a bigger improvement compared to the group that used blended teaching. The study showed a disquieting revelation from the pre-test and post-test scores. Thus, the traditional type of teaching is more effective for the students rather than those who are exposed to YouTube.
Lifestyle modifications for treatment of atrial fibrillation

The management of atrial fibrillation (AF) has focused on anticoagulation, rhythm control and ventricular rate control. Recently, a fourth pillar of AF management has been incorporated recognising the importance of risk factor management (RFM). There are several risk factors that contribute to the development and progression of AF, these include traditional risk factors such as age, hypertension, heart failure, diabetes and valvular heart disease. However, increasingly it is recognised that obesity, sleep apnoea, hyperlipidaemia, smoking, alcohol, physical inactivity, genetics, aortic stiffness are associated with the development of AF. Importantly, several of these risk factors are modifiable. We have seen the evolution of RFM programmes which have demonstrated promising results. Indeed, the evidence is now so compelling that major clinical guidelines strongly advocate that aggressive treatment of these risk factors as a key component of AF management. Patients with AF who comprehensively managed their risk factors demonstrate greater reduction in symptoms, AF burden, more successful ablations and improved outcomes with greater AF freedom. In this article, we will review the evidence for the association between cardiac risk factors and AF and assess the burgeoning evidence for improved AF outcomes associated with aggressive cardiac RFM.
Effect of Fermented Cottonseed Meal on the Lipid-Related Indices and Serum Metabolic Profiles in Broiler Chickens

Simple Summary Excessive fat deposition in broiler chickens is detrimental for both producers and consumers. Fermented cottonseed meal (FCSM) was proposed as a potential method to relieve fat deposition in broilers’ rearing, while the physiological and metabolic mechanisms behind that still remain unclear. This study showed that both abdominal fat content and subcutaneous fat thickness significantly decreased in response to dietary FCSM supplementation at the age of 21 d, and altered the lipid-related metabolites index in serum, liver, and abdominal fat. Moreover, serum metabolic pathways were clustered into organic acid metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, and amino acid metabolism. Abstract This study aimed to investigate the changes of lipid-related gene and serum metabolites in broiler chickens fed with fermented cottonseed meal (FCSM) diet, through quantitative real-time PCR and metabolomics analysis. Totally, 180 1-day-old Cobb broilers were randomly assigned to two groups with six replicates of 15 birds in each. The two diets consisted of a control diet supplemented with 0% FCSM (CON group) and an experimental diet with 6% FCSM (fermented by Candida tropicalis) replacing the soybean meal (FCSM group). The results showed that both abdominal fat content and subcutaneous fat thickness significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in response to dietary FCSM supplementation at the age of 21 d. Serum concentrations of glucose, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased (p < 0.05) in FCSM fed broilers compared with CON fed broilers, while the levels of epinephrine and growth hormone in serum, liver and abdominal fat tissue were higher (p < 0.05) in FCSM than in CON fed broilers. The activity of hormone-sensitive esterase and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) in the liver and abdominal fat were higher (p < 0.05) in FCSM than CON group. Additionally, compared with the CON group (p < 0.05), the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha and LPL genes were upregulated in the livers of FCSM group broilers. Gene expressions of hormone-sensitive lipase and LPL in the abdominal fat tissue were also upregulated (p < 0.05) with the broilers fed with FCSM diets. A total of 20 significantly different metabolites were obtained in the serum of different dietary FCSM supplemented fed broilers. The mainly altered pathways were clustered into organic acid metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, and amino acid metabolism. These results not only provide a better understanding of broilers’ lipid metabolism with FCSM but also can be helpful in further improvement of the broilers’ healthy production and utilization of FCSM.
Efficacy and safety of low-intensity shockwave therapy plus tadalafil 5 mg once daily in men with type 2 diabetes mellitus and erectile dysfunction: a matched-pair comparison study

Low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy (LiESWT) represents a promising treatment for patients with erectile dysfunction (ED). We investigated the efficacy of LiESWT combined with tadalafil 5 mg once daily in men with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and ED and compared LiESWT protocols administering different number of shockwaves. We performed a retrospective matched-pair comparison using data from a prospectively maintained database. Seventy-eight patients who received tadalafil 5 mg once daily for 12 weeks + LiESWT performed with an electrohydraulic source for 3 weeks (Group A) were matched 1:1 to patients who received tadalafil 5 mg once daily alone for 12 weeks (Group B). A subgroup analysis was performed according to the number of shockwaves delivered during each session (1500, 1800, and 2400 in subgroup A1, A2, and A3, respectively). The mean International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) score variations with respect to baseline recorded at 4, 12, and 24 weeks after the end of the treatment were investigated as treatment outcomes. The mean IIEF-5 scores significantly improved in all groups and subgroups at 4-week follow-up without intergroup differences. At 12- and 24-week follow-up, the mean IIEF-5 improvement was significantly higher among patients in the A3 subgroup (+5.0 ± 2.1 [P < 0.001] and +4.7 ± 2.3 [P < 0.001], respectively). The combined approach with tadalafil 5 mg once daily and LiESWT with a protocol involving 2400 shockwaves provides significant advantages in terms of IIEF-5 improvement and durability compared to tadalafil 5 mg once daily alone in patients with T2DM and ED.
Optimal Hybrid Beamforming Design for Millimeter-Wave Massive Multi-User MIMO Relay Systems

As a promising technology in the next generation mobile network, millimeter-wave (mmWave) communication can mitigate the spectrum crunch of improving the network capacity by exploiting the large underutilized spectrum bands of the mmWave frequencies. The hybrid (analog/digital) beamforming of multi-data streams are widely used to further the spectrum efficiency of mmWave relay system when faced with the complex environment or long distance communication. This paper investigates the hybrid beamforming scheme for the decode-and-forward (DF) mmWave massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) relay system with mixed structure and full-connected structure. We optimize hybrid beamforming of relay system by maximizing the sum rate of the overall system as an objective function. To reduce the computational complexity, we reformulate the original problem as two single-hop mmWave MIMO sum-rate maximization subproblems. Then, the piecewise successive approximation method is proposed based on the criterion which jointly designs the analog and digital beamforming stages by trying to avoid the loss of information at each stage. The hybrid beamforming of the two subproblems can be solved by the proposed scheme united with the idea of successive interference cancelation (SIC), the baseband block diagonalization (BD) scheme, and waterfilling power allocation method. Finally, simulation results confirm that the proposed optimal method can achieve good performance in hybrid beamforming design of relay system with both mixed and full-connected structures.
PHARMACEUTICAL EVALUATION OF DIFFERENT BRANDS OF LEVOFLOXACIN TABLETS (250MG) AVAILABLE IN LOCAL MARKET OF KARACHI (PAKISTAN)

Purpose: Main purpose of the present study is to minimize health risk factors while maximizing the safety of the people of Karachi to maintain and improve their health. The present study is concerned to investigate and compare the physicochemical equivalence, in‐vitro activity of drug against hospital isolates of bacteria and efficacy of different brands of tablets containing Levofloxacin prepared by various Pharmaceutical industries under different trade names. Methodology: The assessment included the evaluation of physical parameters i.e. weight variation, thickness, hardness, friability, disintegration time, dissolution test as well as chemical assay. The susceptibility test of drug was also carried out using agar dilution method on standard strains of E. coli (ATCC‐25922) and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC ‐ 25923) along different isolates obtained from health care setups. Result: Weight variation of the tablets proved statistically that all of the tablets were in accordance to the required limits that is not more then ±5% deviations. Dissolution test was carried out; none had potency less than 85% within 45minutes the required specification, not less than Q+5%. Pharmaceutical assay was carried out none had potency less than the required specification (95.00% ‐ 105.00%). Levofloxacin had M IC90; 0. 03µg/mL against E.coli standard and MIC90; 0. 12µg/mL against Staphylococcus aureus that are similar to previous studies. Conclusion: I n conclusion, this study will help in the availability of economical and Quality products in the market, whether they are manufactured by local or Multinational Pharmaceutical companies – resulting in a better health care of our country. Promoting conditions that enable people to make healthy choices and providing information so that they can make appropriate decisions about their health.