Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Distribution of Viral Hepatitis in Indigenous Populations of North America and the Circumpolar Arctic

The burden of viral hepatitis among indigenous populations of the United States, Canada and Greenland is greater than in non-indigenous populations. In particular, throughout the circumpolar Arctic regions, chronic hepatitis B infection is highly prevalent, although incidence rates have declined considerably in certain regions due to infant HBV vaccination. Unique HBV (sub)genotypes having distinct clinical outcomes and distribution patterns are also observed within this region. In conjunction with hepatitis B infection, hepatitis delta infection is also apparent within North American indigenous peoples, particularly with outbreaks in Greenlandic Inuit communities. Incidence rates for hepatitis C infection are higher for indigenous populations within the United States and Canada; however, some hepatitis C antibody-positive indigenous patients are more likely to be HCV RNA-negative compared to non-indigenous patients. Thus, an increased understanding of the epidemiology, clinical consequences and pathogenicity of viral hepatitis affecting the indigenous populations will help to address and balance the burden of infection.
Overconfidence Mediates How Perception of past Portfolio Returns Affects Investment Behaviors

ABSTRACT Investors’ perception of past portfolio returns predicts their investment behavior, but does this relationship mediate by overconfidence? Taking into account different aspects of overconfidence, this paper examines whether overconfidence manifested as illusion of control, miscalibration and better-than-average mediates the association between perception of past portfolio returns and investment behavior. In a survey study with individual and institutional investors from Malaysia, the results indicate that perception of higher past portfolio returns increases investors’ trading, percentage of risky share investment and the number of financial asset holding, through the mediating channel of better-than-average effect. While individual investors are influenced by this overconfidence mechanism, institutional investors are not sensitive. This finding has theoretical implication for overconfidence model, house money effect and naïve reinforcement learning. Practically, the results imply that individual investors should be careful about underlying overconfidence biases as it can lead to inefficient decisions.
Target Reliability Approach to Study the Effect of Fiber Reinforcement on UCS Behavior of Lime Treated Semiarid Soil — Source link

This paper evaluates the effectiveness of stabilizing expansive soil with two different types of fibers, Fiber Mesh® (FM) and Fiber Cast® (FC), in conjunction with chemical stabilization. The intention of this study is to evaluate the effect of these fibers and lime in stabilizing expansive soil by improving its UCS behavior. The effect of varying lengths (6 mm and 12 mm) and amounts (0.2, 0.4 and 0.6% dosage by weight of soil) of FC and FM fibers and curing periods (0, 7, 28, 60, 120, 180 and 360 days) on the UCS and on secant modulus of a semi-arid expansive soil, in the presence of lime, was investigated. The main focus of this paper is on the determination of optimum fiber reinforcement parameters (in terms of fiber type, length and dosage) for the stabilization of expansive soil in terms of UCS, which is of a prime importance in soil stabilization projects for practicing engineers. In deterministic optimization, the uncertainties associated with subgrade soil of the pavement system are not explicitly taken into account. Hence, resulting optimal solutions may lead to reduced reliability levels of the pavement. Therefore, this paper also focuses on determining the optimum amounts of reinforcement for desired UCS performance of lime blended expansive soil using target reliability approach (TRA). The experimental data was used to develop a parabolic model using factors such as, length and dosage of fiber types to predict UCS as a response variable. In addition, it was concluded that the TRA can be successfully employed in expansive soil stabilization applications in determining the optimum length and dosage of fiber reinforcements. stiffness, the loss of post-peak strength weakens the brittle behavior of cemented soil. The increase in strength of combined fiber and cement inclusions is much larger than the sum of the the inclusion of either one individually. The ‘‘bridge’’ effect of efficiently impede d the further development of tension cracks and deformations in the soil. Bond strength and friction at the interface seem to be the dominant mechanisms controlling the reinforcement benefit. In fiber-reinforced uncemented soil, interactions occur at the interface between the fiber surface and the clay grains that play key role in the mechanical behavior.
Autism: A Neurodevelopmental Disorder and a Stratum for Comorbidities

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder which is more common in males than females. It is characterized by social communication disorders and restricted repetitive behaviors. There is wide heterogeneity in its etiology, clinical presenta-tions, management and consequently prognosis. Although the etiology of autism remains unclear, the most currently proven theory is that it is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that displays “brain network abnormalities”. fMRI studies have shown decreased brain connectivity or functional synchronization between frontal and more posterior cortical regions. Dynamic brain activity through high resolution electroencephalograghy (EEG) has revealed local overconnectivity and long-range underconnectivity. This disrupted connectivity pattern would involve connectivity between hemispheres (corpus callosum), together with axonal and synaptic connectivity within each hemisphere. Inconsistent morphometric changes involving both gray and white matter structure also exist. Clinically, autism is associated with multiple comorbidities (somatic, neurologic and psychiatric); some of which are attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, dyspraxia, and sensory processing disorders.
Trends in HIV Diagnoses, HIV Care, and Uptake of Antiretroviral Therapy Among Heterosexual Adults in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland

Aim To examine epidemiological trends among heterosexual adults (≥15 years) in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland (E,W&NI) newly diagnosed as having HIV between 1992 and 2011, or seen for HIV care in 2011. Methods Trend analyses of heterosexual adults newly diagnosed as having HIV in E,W&NI in 1992 to 2011 was performed, as well as univariate and multivariate analyses examining the late diagnosis of HIV, integration into care, AIDS, uptake of antiretroviral therapy, and mortality in 2002 to 2011. Data are as reported to the national HIV and AIDS Reporting System. Results The number of heterosexual adults newly diagnosed as having HIV in E,W&NI increased steadily between 1992 (731) and 2004 (4676), before declining (2631 in 2011). Nonetheless, in 2011, heterosexuals accounted for 49% (2631/5423) of all newly diagnosed adults in E,W&NI. Of 38,228 heterosexual adults as having HIV between 2002 and 2011, 72% were black African, of whom 99% were born abroad. Over the decade, there was an increase in the percentage of HIV diagnosed heterosexuals integrated into care within 28 days of diagnosis (61%–78%) and in receipt of antiretroviral therapy within 1 year of diagnosis (45%–52%) and a decline in the percentage with AIDS (16%–7%; all, P < 0.01). Late HIV diagnoses (CD4 <350 mm3) among heterosexuals exceeded 60% in all years. Conclusions Our analyses highlight the impact of migration on the epidemiology of heterosexually acquired HIV in E,W&NI. Although there was evidence of an improvement in clinical care over time, continued high rates of late diagnosis suggest that current testing policies are failing among heterosexuals.
A NEW APPROACH FOR MEASUREMENT OF TENSILE STRENGTH OF CONCRETE

Tensile strength is one of the important strength parameters of concrete. Indirect methods have been used up till now for its measurement. These methods though widely accepted, do not furnish the true tensile strength of concrete. This paper presents a new approach for the experimental determination of true tensile strength of concrete. Results obtained by this test are quite encouraging and show 34% lower values than the splitting cylinder strength of concrete.
Impact pronostique du débit cardiaque dans la sténose valvulaire aortique

La stenose aortique (SA) est la maladie valvulaire cardiaque ayant la plus forte prevalence dans les pays occidentaux. On s’apercoit que, malgre le respect des recommandations pour les indications operatoires, les patients presentent des evolutions tres variables apres chirurgie : certains patients restent symptomatiques, decedent precocement, ou presentent une dysfonction ventriculaire gauche persistante. Il a ete montre que les patients presentant a la fois une SA en bas debit (c’est-a-dire un volume d’ejection bas), une fraction d’ejection ventriculaire gauche (FEVG) alteree et un gradient de pression entre le ventricule et l’aorte abaisse avaient un pronostic pejoratif, avec un risque operatoire majore lorsqu’ils subissaient un remplacement valvulaire chirurgical. Il a aussi ete recemment demontre que, dans le contexte de la SA, un bas debit peut survenir alors que la FEVG est normale. Les objectifs generaux de ce doctorat sont d’etudier l’impact du debit (plus precisement le volume d’ejection ventriculaire gauche) sur le pronostic des patients atteints de SA, ainsi que l’evolution du debit apres intervention et les determinants de son evolution. Les resultats indiquent que le volume d’ejection ventriculaire gauche, que ce soit avant intervention, ou son evolution apres TAVI (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation), sont des predicteurs independants puissants de mortalite chez ces patients.
Robust Stabilization of a Class of Underactuated Mechanical Systems Using Time Scaling and Lyapunov Redesign

This paper presents a controller-design methodology for a class of underactuated mechanical systems that are affected by parametric uncertainties and external disturbances. The perturbations due to parametric uncertainties are mismatched, whereas those caused by external disturbances are of the matched type. Their effects are canceled by employing a novel strategy that combines time scaling and Lyapunov redesign. The control methodology is applied to a two-wheeled mobile inverted pendulum and a ball-beam system. Along the way, the nonexistence of a smooth control law for point-to-point stabilization of the mobile inverted pendulum is established. Simulation and experimental studies are used to verify the efficacy of the proposed controller-design method.
Reducing Disparities in Cancer Screening and Prevention through Community‐Based Participatory Research Partnerships with Local Libraries: A Comprehensive Dynamic Trial

Reduction of cancer-related disparities requires strategies that link medically underserved communities to preventive care. In this community-based participatory research project, a public library system brought together stakeholders to plan and undertake programs to address cancer screening and risk behavior. This study was implemented over 48 months in 20 large urban neighborhoods, selected to reach diverse communities disconnected from care. In each neighborhood, Cancer Action Councils were organized to conduct a comprehensive dynamic trial, an iterative process of program planning, implementation and evaluation. This process was phased into neighborhoods in random, stepped-wedge sequence. Population-level outcomes included self-reported screening adherence and smoking cessation, based on street intercept interviews. Event-history regressions (n = 9374) demonstrated that adherence outcomes were associated with program implementation, as were mediators such as awareness of screening programs and cancer information seeking. Findings varied by ethnicity, and were strongest among respondents born outside the U.S. or least engaged in care. This intervention impacted health behavior in diverse, underserved and vulnerable neighborhoods. It has been sustained as a routine library system program for several years after conclusion of grant support. In sum, participatory research with the public library system offers a flexible, scalable approach to reduce cancer health disparities.
Purification and characterization of bovine gastricsin.

The results reported in the present paper and N-terminal sequence homologies established by other authors strongly support the assumption that the gastric protease previously called bovine pepsin I or bovine pepsin B belongs to the aspartate protease group and corresponds to gastricsin (or pepsin C) (EC 3.4.23.3) from other species. Bovine gastricsin was prepared from commercial extracts of adult bovine vells by a procedure involving DEAE-cellulose chromatography, gel filtration on Sephacryl S-200 and a further DEAE-cellulose chromatography. The preparation thus obtained was shown to be free of chymosin and bovine pepsin A by immunodiffusion, selective inactivation in urea and isoelectric focusing. Its molecular weight was estimated by gel filtration to be 32800. Bovine gastricsin displayed microheterogeneity on isoelectric focusing with pl values of the components ranging from 3.5 to 4.0. Chromatography of bovine gastricsin on hydroxyapatite separated three fractions, none of them being homogeneous by isoelectric focusing. Concanavalin-A-Sepharose 4B bound bovine gastricsin to some extent, but without any significant fractionation. Proteolytic activity could be detected directly on the isoelectric focusing gel for all the components of gastricsin and its fractions from hydroxyapatite and concanavalin-A- Sepharose 4B. Bovine gastricsin and its fractions from hydroxyapatite have similar amino acid compositions, different from those of bovine chymosin and pepsin A but obviously related to those of human, simian and porcine gastricsins. Bovine gastricsin which is inactivated by reaction with diazoacetyl-DL-norleucine methyl ester and with 1,2-epoxy-(p-nitrophenoxy)propane in a 1:1 and 1:2 stoichiometry, respectively, is able to hydrolyse a synthetic hexapeptide, Leu-Ser-Phe(NO2)-Nle-Ala-Leu-OMe, used as reference substrate for aspartate proteases, and exhibits a low activity towards N-acetyl-l-phenylalanyl-l-diiodotyrosine. Its specific clotting activity with x-casein as substrate is only half of that of chymosin and pepsin A.
Simulatenous glucose sensing and powering of glucometer

Although recent research has theoretically demonstrated that enzymatic glucose biofuel cell can be used to power a contact lens-based glucose sensor, such a practical system does not exist. Here, we developed a novel closed loop system consisting of a charge pump circuit and a step up DC converter circuit that is powered by a single enzymatic glucose biofuel cell at physiological conditions. This system is capable of simultaneously sensing glucose with a sensitivity of 86.42 Hz/cm2.M and producing a steady 3.25 Vdc output supply to drive low power devices such as commercially available glucometer. Moreover, this system relies on a novel glucose sensing technique which involves the monitoring of the charge/discharge frequency of the transducer capacitor as opposed to the invasive technique currently employed by commercially available glucose monitoring systems that require the implementation of battery-operated potentiostat.
The complete mitochondrial genome of the giant pill millipede, Sphaerotheriidae sp. (Myriapoda: Diplopoda: Sphaerotheriida)

The complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of the millipede Sphaerotheriidae sp. has been studied. The genome is 14,970 bp long and contains the typical complement of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and 2 ribosomal RNA genes. Gene order in Sphaerotheriidae sp. mitogenome is assumed to represent the myriapod ground pattern, which is shared by myriapod–chelicerate clade.
Lateral Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection in Treatment of Advanced Rectal Cancer

Rectal cancer constitutes about one third of all colorectal cancer cases. Total mesorectal excision (TME), first described by Heald, has become the gold standard in rectal cancer treatment, since it was shown to provide a dramatic reduction in local recurrence rates. However, TME does not involve any approaches for lateral pelvic lymph nodes (LPLN), which may be a source of local recurrences. Tumor containing LPLNs were reported to be found in about 10% 20% of the rectal cancer patients. In Western countries, lateral pelvic node involvement is considered as metastatic disease, therefore the standard treatment is total mesorectal excision combined with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Whereas in Japan, lateral pelvic node metastasis is accepted to be curable with excision, and dissection of lateral pelvic lymph nodes is performed along with total mesorectal excision for the treatment of locally advanced rectal cancers.
Dual regulation of BCR‐mediated growth inhibition signaling by CD72

CD72 has been reported to regulate BCR‐mediated signals both positively and negatively. SHP‐1 and Grb2 bind, respectively, to ITIM1 and ITIM2 of CD72. We generated transformed B cell lines with an immature phenotype following J2 virus infection of splenocytes from CD72–/– and wild‐type (Wt) mice. The transformed lines were infected with retroviral vectors carrying Tyr (Y) to Phe (F) substitutions in the ITIM sequences (ITIM1 mutated: Y7/F; ITIM2 mutated: Y39/F; and both ITIM mutated: Y7,39/F). Cross‐linking of the BCR induced growth inhibition in transfectants expressing Wt CD72, but this response was less sensitive in transfectants with Y7,39/F. The Y7/F transfectants demonstrated the least sensitive response. We were not able to obtain transfectants with Y39/F, suggesting that CD72 associated with SHP‐1, but not with Grb2, delivers a strong negative signal. Pre‐ligation of CD72, which induces dephosphorylation of the molecule, partially rescued the Wt transfectants from growth inhibition, leading to a growth response profile similar to that of Y7,39/F transfectants. These results suggest that ITIM1/SHP‐1 delivers a very strong negative signal that is down‐modulated by signals through ITIM2/Grb2, leading to delivery of an attenuated negative signal. Thus, pre‐ligation of CD72 results in the manifestation of an ostensible positive signal.
Convection Regularization of High Wavenumbers in Turbulence ANS Shocks

Abstract : This manuscript discusses the recent results in the research project on inviscid regularization techniques with emphasis on applications to compressible gas flows. It is well-established that general systems of quasilinear, first-order hyperbolic PDEs exhibit finite-time blowup of smooth solutions, thus restricting well-posedness of classical solutions in short-time. For instance, with conservation laws, one must generally seek global-in-time solutions in a larger class of discontinuous solutions. Further physically motivated admissibility conditions are placed in order to obtain the uniqueness and stability of such solutions.
Stability Analysis and Performance Design for Fuzzy-Model-Based Control System Under Imperfect Premise Matching

This paper investigates the stability analysis and performance design of nonlinear systems. To facilitate the stability analysis, the Takagi-Sugeno (T-S) fuzzy model is employed to represent the nonlinear plant. Under the imperfect premise matching in which T-S fuzzy model and fuzzy controller do not share the same membership functions, a fuzzy controller with enhanced design flexibility and robustness property is proposed to control the nonlinear plant. However, the nice characteristic given by the perfect premise matching, leading to conservative stability conditions, vanishes. In this paper, under the imperfect premise matching, information of membership functions of the fuzzy model and controller are considered in stability analysis. With the introduction of slack matrices, relaxed linear matrix inequality (LMI)-based stability conditions are derived using Lyapunov-based approach. Furthermore, LMI-based performance conditions are provided to guarantee system performance. Simulation examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Dynamic long leg casting fixation for treating 12- to 18-month-old infants with developmental dysplasia of the hip

Objective To evaluate the effect of dynamic long leg casting in paediatric patients with developmental dysplasia of hip (DDH) diagnosed at 12–18 months. Methods The adductor tenotomy, closed reduction, and dynamic long leg casting method was adopted to treat paediatric patients with DDH. The hips were divided into four groups according to the Tonnis radiographic dislocation classification. Groups were also classified according to the baseline acetabular index (AI): 30°–35°, 36°–40°, and > 40°. The outcomes of the reductions were evaluated according to McKay’s hip function criteria and Severin’s radiological criteria. Results A total of 246 patients (339 hips) had complete follow-up data. After 3 months of orthosis fixation, the results were satisfactory in 264 hips (77.88%). Hip function was rated as ‘excellent’ or ‘good’ in 43 of 51 (84.31%) Tonnis type 1 hips, 125 of 155 (80.65%) type 2 hips, 70 of 90 (77.78%) type 3 hips, and 34 of 43 (79.07%) type 4 hips. The higher the baseline AI, the lower the rates of ‘excellent’ and ‘good’ hip function. Favourable radiological results (Severin types I and II) were found in 266 of 339 (78.47) hips. Conclusions Dynamic long leg casting is an effective method for treating patients with DDH aged 12–18 months at diagnosis.
Longitudinal Genetic Analysis of Internalizing and Externalizing Problem Behavior in Adopted Biologically Related and Unrelated Sibling Pairs

Abstract To obtain a better understanding of how genetic and environmental processes are involved in the stability and change in problem behavior from early adolescence into adulthood, studies with genetically informative samples are important. The present study used parent-reported data on internalizing and externalizing problem behavior of adoptees at mean ages 12.4, 15.5 and 26.3. In this adoption study adopted biologically related sibling pairs shared on average 50% of their genes and were brought up in the same family environment, whereas adopted biologically unrelated sibling pairs only shared their family environment. The resemblance between these adopted biologically related (N = 106) and unrelated sibling pairs (N = 230) was compared and examined over time. We aimed to investigate (1) to what extent are internalizing and externalizing problem behavior stable from early adolescence into adulthood, and (2) whether the same or different genetic and environmental factors affect these problem behaviors at the 3 assessments. Our results show that both internalizing (rs ranging from .34 to .58) and externalizing behavior (rs ranging from .47 to .69) were rather stable over time. For internalizing and externalizing problem behavior it was found that both genetic and shared environmental influences could be modeled by an underlying common factor, which explained variance in problem behavior from early adolescence into adulthood and accounted for stability over time. The nonshared environmental influences were best modeled by a Cholesky decomposition for internalizing behavior, whereas a time-specific influence of the nonshared environment was included in the final model of externalizing behavior.