Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Developing institutional investors in People's Republic of China

This note describes the existing structure and activities of institutional investors in China. It identifies key principles for building a solid institutional investor base going forward. The nation's institutional investors are largely comprised of life insurance companies and pension- and investment- fund managers. In addition, trust and investment companies (TICs) and securities companies offer their clients discretionary asset management services. Overall, China's ratio of institutionally- managed assets is small compared to developed markets, representing around 10 percent of GDP. According to some estimates, unregulated privately placed funds may be roughly of equal size. The life insurance industry is the largest repository of savings outside banking, and is enjoying strong growth in premium income. At present, life insurance companies are limited mainly to investing in government bonds and bank deposits, but may obtain CIRC permission to invest in other instruments, e.g., privately placed infrastructure bonds. The pension system entails a pay-as-you- go (PAYG) first pillar, individual defined contribution accounts as a second pillar, and a voluntary contribution third pillar. In some regions, second pillar accounts are used to cover shortfalls in the first pillar. Overall, the prospects for significant accumulations in the second pillar are limited; the odds are better that the voluntary third pillar schemes could eventually accumulate sizeable reserves. In addition, the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) could become a major capital market investor once a means is discovered for funding the establishment of reserves.
Interpreting deep learning models for entity resolution: an experience report using LIME

Entity Resolution (ER) seeks to understand which records refer to the same entity (e.g., matching products sold on multiple websites). The sheer number of ways humans represent and misrepresent information about real-world entities makes ER a challenging problem. Deep Learning (DL) has provided impressive results in the field of natural language processing, thus recent works started exploring DL approaches to the ER problem, with encouraging results. However, we are still far from understanding why and when these approaches work in the ER setting. We are developing a methodology, Mojito, to produce explainable interpretations of the output of DL models for the ER task. Our methodology is based on LIME, a popular tool for producing prediction explanations for generic classification tasks. In this paper we report our first experiences in interpreting recent DL models for the ER task. Our results demonstrate the importance of explanations in the DL space, and suggest that, when assessing performance of DL algorithms for ER, accuracy alone may not be sufficient to demonstrate generality and reproducibility in a production environment.
Estimates of the prevalence of arthritis and other rheumatic conditions in the United States. Part II.

OBJECTIVE To provide a single source for the best available estimates of the US prevalence of and number of individuals affected by osteoarthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis, gout, fibromyalgia, and carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as the symptoms of neck and back pain. A companion article (part I) addresses additional conditions. METHODS The National Arthritis Data Workgroup reviewed published analyses from available national surveys, such as the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the National Health Interview Survey. Because data based on national population samples are unavailable for most specific rheumatic conditions, we derived estimates from published studies of smaller, defined populations. For specific conditions, the best available prevalence estimates were applied to the corresponding 2005 US population estimates from the Census Bureau, to estimate the number affected with each condition. RESULTS We estimated that among US adults, nearly 27 million have clinical osteoarthritis (up from the estimate of 21 million for 1995), 711,000 have polymyalgia rheumatica, 228,000 have giant cell arteritis, up to 3.0 million have had self-reported gout in the past year (up from the estimate of 2.1 million for 1995), 5.0 million have fibromyalgia, 4-10 million have carpal tunnel syndrome, 59 million have had low back pain in the past 3 months, and 30.1 million have had neck pain in the past 3 months. CONCLUSION Estimates for many specific rheumatic conditions rely on a few, small studies of uncertain generalizability to the US population. This report provides the best available prevalence estimates for the US, but for most specific conditions more studies generalizable to the US or addressing understudied populations are needed.
Paper : SE — Structures and Environment A review of ammonia emission mitigation techniques for concentrated animal feeding operations

P.M. Ndegwa , A.N. Hristov, J. Arogo, R.E. Sheffield Biological Systems Engineering, Washington State University, PO Box 646120, Pullman, WA 99164, USA Dairy and Animal Science Department, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech. 212 Seitz Hall, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Louisiana State University AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
The prevalence of viral hepatitis C in Latvia: a population-based study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Chronic viral hepatitis C (VHC) is one of the most discussed infectious diseases worldwide. The number of infected persons worldwide is approximately 170 million, and in Europe, it exceeds 9 million. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV prevalence) and prevalence of HCV viremia (HCV-RNA prevalence) in Latvia. MATERIAL AND METHODS A multistage randomized selection was used. A total of 42 primary care physicians (PCPs) were randomly selected from the register of PCPs from different regions of Latvia. From each PCP register, 60 subjects were selected (1651 individuals in total) and invited for the anti-HCV test with a screening method (ELISA). In case of positive results, antibodies were confirmed by the Western blot test, and all these subjects were tested for HCV-RNA by polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS Of the 1459 subjects tested, 57 were positive for anti-HCV (3.9%; 95% CI 3% to 5%); 35 of them were positive for anti-HCV with a confirmatory test (2.4%; 95% CI, 1.7% to 3.3%): 19 men and 16 women (3.8% and 1.7%, respectively; P=0.011). The results of HCV RNA test were positive in 25 subjects (1.7%; 95% CI, 1.2% to 2.5%): 15 men and 10 women (3% and 1% respectively, P=0.019). CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of anti-HCV and HCV-RNA in Latvia was found to be 2.4% and 1.7%, respectively. The prevalence of anti-HCV and HCV-RNA was higher in men than women.
Probe pressure optimisation in bio-impedance spectroscopy

Bio-electrical impedance of the human tissue is measured using a customer designed probe. The applied op-timal probe pressure for electrical impedance measurements is considered here. For this purpose, different impedance data were obtained using different small applied pressure amounts over the bladder tissue. Then, it was decided whether there is the suitable pressure to have a real readable amount of the impedance (first record-able reading) on the tissue (these data were taken on benign histology area). The optimum applied pressure to the bladder was found to be between about 4.69-24.05 KPa using a 2 mm diameter of probe. It was shown strongly that an excessive amount of the applied pressure beyond this defined pressure has a significant effect on the measured impedance of the bladder tissue (p<0.001). This first record-able reading condition can be used as an indicator for taking impedance readings of the human bladder tissue. Therefore, we can expand our findings to the other living tissues.
New York City Department of Health.

The community air survey is designed to measure pollution levels and see how they vary across New York City. The results are helping to inform the public and city officials about neighborhood air quality and local air pollution sources. Together with other information, the survey results will help City agencies better understand the sources and health effects of air pollution and plan measures to reduce it.
Iatrogenic patellar tendon deficiency treated with rectus femoris tendon turndown autograft

1. Uptodate. Chylous, bloody and pancreatic ascites. Waltham, MA. [updated October 2013; Cited 12 Mar 2014. ] Available from URL http:// www.uptodate. com/contents/chylous-bloody-and-pancreatic-ascites? source=search_result&search=chylous+ascites&selectedTitle=1%7E19#H24 2. Almakdisi T, Massou S, Makdisi G. Lymphomas and chylous ascites: review of the literature. Oncologist 2005; 10: 632–5. 3. Akbulut S, Yilmaz D, Bakir S, Cucuk E, Tas M. Case report: acute appendicitis together with chylous ascites: is it a coincidence? Case Rep. Med. 2010; 206860: 1–4. 4. Fang FC, Hsu SD, Chen CW, Chen TW. Spontaneous chylous peritonitis mimicking acute appendicitis: a case report and review of literature. World J. Gastroenterol. 2006; 12: 154–6.
The Mectizan Donation Program: 20 years of successful collaboration — a retrospective

Abstract Merck is a global research-driven pharmaceutical company that, throughout its history, has devoted considerable effort to bringing its medicines, vaccines, expertise and experience to people in need around the world. Its primary responsibilities are: to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines and vaccines that address major burdens of illness globally and/or address specific poor or vulnerable groups; to develop long-term business models that help its products reach as many people as possible; and to promote and participate in partnerships with governments, multilateral and non-governmental organizations, other private-sector organizations and communities, to build healthcare capacity and to address specific health and development challenges around the world. Merck believes that responding to global health challenges is a strategic and humanitarian necessity and that, through public–private partnerships, significant progress can be achieved. Twenty years ago, in October 1987, before collaboration between public and private sectors was common, Merck launched the Mectizan Donation Program (MDP) — a unique, multisectoral coalition involving Merck, the Mectizan Expert Committee (MEC), the Task Force for Child Survival and Development, the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Bank, the United Nations Children's Fund, national ministries of health, more than 35 non-governmental development organizations, and thousands of local community healthworkers — to treat a debilitating, disfiguring and often blinding disease called onchocerciasis (river blindness). Through this programme, Merck made the commitment to donate Mectizan (ivermectin) for as long as needed and wherever needed, to combat this disease. Since the MDP's inception in 1987, Merck has donated >1800 million tablets of Mectizan, with >530 million treatments for onchocerciasis administered since 1987. The programme currently reaches >68 million people in Africa, Latin American and Yemen annually, via community-based treatment programmes in 125,000 communities in 33 endemic countries. This 20-year-old effort has achieved a number of notable results, including positive health impacts, economic benefits, strengthened health systems, and the empowerment of communities where the delivery and administration of Mectizan are managed. The MDP serves as a model for similar health programmes in the developing world and has also laid the foundation for the current integration efforts around 'neglected' tropical diseases. It has also taught the world many valuable lessons — about how to mobilize resources to address significant health challenges — and has demonstrated that it is possible, through public–private partnerships, to deliver healthcare to long-neglected populations, despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles including inadequate financial and human resources, lack of social, economic and health infrastructures, civil unrest and political strife, and competing, high-priority health issues.
Functional characterization of THY1 as a tumor suppressor gene with antiinvasive activity in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

THY1 was previously identified as a candidate tumor suppressor gene (TSG) associated with lymph node metastases in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) through functional studies. It was identified by oligonucleotide microarray analysis as an interesting differentially expressed gene. However, direct functional evidence is still lacking for THY1 being a TSG in NPC, as in vivo tumorigenicity assays have not been previously reported in our last study of THY1. In this study, a tetracycline‐inducible expression vector, pETE‐Bsd, was used to obtain stable transfectants of THY1. The stringent in vivo tumorigenicity assay results show that the activation of THY1 suppresses tumor formation of HONE1 cells in nude mice, and the tumor formation ability was restored in the presence of doxycycline (a tetracycline analog), when the gene is shut off. Functional inactivation of this gene is observed in all the tumors derived from the tumorigenic transfectant. The tumor suppressive effect could be repressed by knockdown of THY1 expression in nontumorigenic microcell hybrids. Further studies indicate that expression of THY1 inhibits HONE1 cell growth in vitro by arresting cells in G0/G1 phase. It greatly reduces the ability for anchorage‐independent growth. The invasiveness of HONE1 cells was also inhibited by the expression of THY1. These findings suggest that THY1 is a TSG in NPC, which is involved in invasion and shows an association with tumor metastasis. Taken together, THY1 clearly plays an important functional role in tumor suppression in NPC.
Agonists of Proteinase-Activated Receptor-2 Enhance IFN-γ-Inducible Effects on Human Monocytes: Role in Influenza A Infection1

Proteinase-activated receptor-2 (PAR2) is expressed by different types of human leukocytes and involved in the development of inflammatory and infectious diseases. However, its precise role in the regulation of human monocyte and macrophage function during viral infection remains unclear. Also, the ability of PAR2 agonists to enhance the effects induced by immune mediators during infection or inflammation is still poorly investigated. Therefore, we investigated the ability of a PAR2 agonist to enhance IFN-γ-induced suppression of influenza A virus replication in human monocytes. We found that this effect correlates with an increased abundance of IκBα after costimulation of cells with PAR2 agonist and IFN-γ. Remarkably, coapplication of PAR2 agonist and IFN-γ also enhances the effects of IFN-γ on IFN-γ-inducible protein 10 kDa release, and CD64 and αVβ3 surface expression by human monocytes. Together, these findings indicate a potentially protective role of PAR2 activation during the progression of influenza A virus infection. This effect could be associated with the ability of PAR2 agonists to enhance IFN-γ-induced protective effects on human monocytes.
Does Reporting Transparency Affect Industry Coordination? Evidence from the Duration of International Cartels

Firms coordinate their actions with industry peers, thereby affecting product market competition. Using the cartel setting, we investigate how financial reporting transparency affects industry coordination. Economic theory predicts that transparency might either prolong cartel duration through increased contracting efficiency, or destabilize cartels due to earlier detection of deviating members. We test these predictions on firms indicted by the European Commission for anticompetitive behavior between 1980 and 2010. Using reporting under internationally recognized accounting standards (IFRS or U.S. GAAP) as our measure of reporting transparency, we find that following a transparent accounting framework decreases cartel duration. We show this finding is partly explained by transparent segment disclosure, which provides a means for the verification of agreed-upon sales for a product or region. Consistent with the view that transparent reporting leads to earlier detection of deviating members, we further show that transparency lowers cartel duration when the likelihood of cheating is high.
Association of Education and Occupation with Myopia in COMET Parents

Purpose. To investigate refractive error, especially myopia, in parents of myopic children and its association with education and occupation. Methods. Six hundred twenty-seven parents (n = 375 mothers and 252 fathers) of the 469 myopic 6- to <12-year-old children enrolled in COMET provided refraction data as well as answered questions about their education and occupation. Eighty-five percent of the refractions were obtained by non-cycloplegic autorefraction (Nidek ARK 700A), and 15% were obtained from the most recent prescription. Results. The mean age ± SD of the parents was 44.26 ± 5.81 years, and their mean spherical equivalent refraction was −2.34 ± 2.94 D. Parents with higher education (college degree or greater) had significantly more myopia (−2.97 ± 2.98 D) than parents with lower education (−1.72 ± 2.76 D). The odds of being myopic were significantly higher in the higher education group (multivariate odds ratio = 2.12, 95% confidence interval = 1.41 to 3.19). Mean myopia also differed significantly by occupation, with parents in white collar jobs (−2.87 ± 3.10 D) significantly more myopic than those in blue collar jobs (−1.21 ± 2.02 D) by 1.66 D (p < 0.001). The odds of being myopic between the two occupation groups were of borderline significance (multivariate odds ratio = 1.61, 95% confidence interval = 0.999 to 2.60). Conclusions. The parents of myopic children participating in a clinical trial of lenses to slow the progression of myopia had a high prevalence of myopia that was associated with their level of education and to a lesser extent with their choice of occupation. To our knowledge, this is the first account of refractive errors, education, and occupation in parents of a large group of myopic children.
Cautious Use of Administrative Data for Decubitus Ulcer Outcome Reporting

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate that caution should be exercised when using administrative data, exclusively, to report quality and safety outcomes. Investigators identified hospital-acquired decubitus ulcers using Agency for Health-care Research and Quality (AHRQ) patient safety indicator definitions. As validation of this method, investigators abstracted 123 medical charts of patients identified through AHRQ methodology as having hospital-acquired decubitus ulcers. Abstraction of these cases produced a change in rate from 23.3 decubitus ulcers per 1000 patients, derived through administrative data, to a true rate of 7.9 decubitus ulcers per 1000 patients, a 66% reduction. Investigators found 2 additional flaws (1 internal and 1 methodological) that further decreased the decubitus ulcer rate to 6.14 per 1000, a 74% variance. The results of this study suggest that administrative data, when used alone, are not sufficient in measuring the true rate of hospital-acquired decubitus ulcers.
Automated Quantification of the Relation between Resistor-capacitor Subcircuits from an Impedance Spectrum

In epithelial physiology, it is common to use an equivalent electric circuit with two resistor-capacitor (RC) subcircuits in series as a model for the electrical behavior of body cells. The relation between these two subcircuits can be quantified by a quotient of their time constants t. While this quotient is a direct indicator of the shape of impedance spectra, its value cannot be determined directly. Here, we suggest a machine learning-based approach to predict the t quotient from impedance spectra. We perform systematic extraction of statistical features, algorithmic feature ranking and dimension reduction on model impedance spectra derived from tissue-equivalent electric circuits. Our results demonstrate that this quotient can be predicted reliably enough from implicit features to discriminate semicircular against non-semicircular impedance spectra.
Splanchnic blood flow during halothane‐relaxant anaesthesia in elderly patients

We have previously found that halothane‐relaxant anaesthesia in elderly patients causes a change towards a hyperkinetic circulation, with a decrease in the arterial‐mixed venous oxygen content difference. This could be attributed to vasodilation. In the present study the splanchnic contribution to these changes was investigated. Nine patients were studied during halothane‐relaxant anaesthesia prior to surgery. During anaesthesia splanchnic blood flow was markedly reduced, while splanchnic oxygen uptake decreased only moderately compared with the awake level. This resulted in an increase in splanchnic oxygen extraction. It is concluded that the splanchnic vascular bed does not contribute to thr “hyperkinetic” circulation during halothane anaesthesia.
Cell Sorting Experiments Link Persistent Mitochondrial DNA Damage with Loss of Mitochondrial Membrane Potential and Apoptotic Cell Death*

In order to understand the molecular events following oxidative stress, which lead to persistence of lesions in the mtDNA, experiments were performed on normal human fibroblast (NHF) expressing human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT). The formation and repair of H2O2-induced DNA lesions were examined using quantitative PCR. It was found that NHF hTERTs show extensive mtDNA damage (∼4 lesions/10 kb) after exposure to 200 μm H2O2, which is partially repaired during a recovery period of 6 h. At the same time, the nDNA seemed to be completely resistant to damage. Cell sorting experiments revealed persistent mtDNA damage at 24 h only in the fraction of cells with low mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm). Further analysis also showed increased production of H2O2 by these cells, which subsequently undergo apoptosis. This work supports a hypothesis for a feed-forward cascade of reactive oxygen species generation and mtDNA damage and also suggested a possible mechanism for persistence of lesions in the mtDNA involving a drop in ΔΨm, compromised protein import, secondary reactive oxygen species generation, and loss of repair capacity.