Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Accounting for model error in strong‐constraint 4D‐Var data assimilation

The strong‐constraint formulation of four‐dimensional variational data assimilation (4D‐Var) assumes that the model used in the process perfectly describes the true dynamics of the system. However, this assumption often does not hold and the use of an erroneous model in strong‐constraint 4D‐Var can lead to a sub‐optimal estimation of the initial conditions. We show how the presence of model error can be correctly accounted for in strong constraint 4D‐Var by allowing for errors in both the observations and the model when considering the statistics of the innovation vector. We demonstrate that, when these combined model error and observation‐error statistics are used in place of the standard observation error statistics in the strong‐constraint formulation of 4D‐Var, a statistically more accurate estimate of the initial state is obtained.
Usability Principles for Augmented Reality Applications in a Smartphone Environment

Through the rapid spread of smartphones, users have access to many types of applications similar to those on desktop computer systems. Smartphone applications using augmented reality (AR) technology make use of users' location information. As AR applications will require new evaluation methods, improved usability and user convenience should be developed. The purpose of the current study is to develop usability principles for the development and evaluation of smartphone applications using AR technology. We develop usability principles for smartphone AR applications by analyzing existing research about heuristic evaluation methods, design principles for AR systems, guidelines for handheld mobile device interfaces, and usability principles for the tangible user interface. We conducted a heuristic evaluation for three popularly used smartphone AR applications to identify usability problems. We suggested new design guidelines to solve the identified problems. Then, we developed an improved AR application prototype of an Android-based smartphone, which later was conducted a usability testing to validate the effects of usability principles.
Medication adherence to oral hypoglycemic agents among type II diabetic patients and their clinical outcomes with special reference to fasting blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin levels.

BACKGROUND Oral hypoglycemic agents (OHAs) are the major treatment for people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2). However, non-adherence to OHAs remains as one of the main reasons for poor glycemic control. OBJECTIVES To assess the adherence pattern to OHAs and clinical outcomes with special reference to fasting blood glucose (FBG) level and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels. METHODS Informed consent was obtained from patients fulfilling the criteria and from the patient party in case of incapacitated patients. Information was obtained by interviewing them and filled in the appropriate questionnaire. All the medical information of the patients was obtained from the medical case records and laboratory reports. RESULTS OHAs had been discontinued by 25% of patients. Overall 38% had ever discontinued and/ or often missed OHAs. Intentional discontinuation of OHAs attributed for 72% of the patients, followed by forgetfulness (42.9%), carelessness (30.6%), and hypoglycemia, (24%). There were 50.50% patients who had uncontrolled FBG (>130 mg/dl) level and 39% had uncontrolled HbA1c (≥ 7%) level. Taking reference age group 51-60 years, control of FBG level was found to be statistically associated with the decreasing age group (p = 0.006, OR = 4.8) as well as increasing age group (p = 0.008, OR = 4.034). There was significant association between controlled HbA1c level and patients' knowledge about the precautions to be taken while using OHAs (p = 0.044, OR = 4). However, there was no significant association between glycemic control and OHAs adherence. CONCLUSION Majority of the patients who had missed OHAs attributed it to forgetfulness. Hypoglycemia may also be one of the contributing factors for poor adherence to OHAs. However no association was found between adherence and various other factors like age groups, treatment complexity, health literacy and social or family support.
Serious Mortality: the Date of the Fussell's Lodge Long Barrow

Twenty-seven radiocarbon results are now available from the Fussell's Lodge long barrow, and are presented within an interpretive Bayesian statistical framework. Three alternative archaeological interpretations of the sequence are given, each with a separate Bayesian model. It is hard to decide between these, though we prefer the third. In the first (following the excavator), the construction is a unitary one, and the human remains included are by definition already old. In the second, the primary mortuary structure is seen as having two phases, and is set within a timber enclosure; these are later closed by the construction of a long barrow. In that model of the sequence, deposition began in the thirty-eighth century cal. bc and the mortuary structure was extended probably in the 3660s–3650s cal. bc; the long barrow was probably built in the 3630s–3620s cal. bc; ancestral remains are not in question; and the use of the primary structure may have lasted for a century or so. In the third, preferred model, a variant of the second, we envisage the inclusion of some ancestral remains in the primary mortuary structure alongside fresh remains. This provides different estimates of the date of initial construction (probably in the last quarter of the thirty-eighth century cal. bc or the first half of the thirty-seventh century cal. bc) and the duration of primary use, but agrees in setting the date of the long barrow probably in the 3630s–3620s cal. bc. These results are discussed in relation to the development and meanings of long barrows at both national and local scales.
In vitro susceptibilities of sucrose-negative Candida tropicalis, Candida lusitaniae, and Candida norvegensis to amphotericin B, 5-fluorocytosine, miconazole, and ketoconazole

The MICs and minimal lethal concentrations of four antimycotics, amphotericin B, 5-fluorocytosine, miconazole nitrate, and ketoconazole, were determined for 25 yeast isolates representing species uncommonly implicated in candidiasis. A microdilution procedure was employed with complex and synthetic media. The isolates, in general, were susceptible to the same antimicrobial agents shown to be effective against Candida albicans, but differences between some of the species in relative susceptibilities to the antifungal agents were noted. Isolates of atypical sucrose-negative Candida tropicalis were similar in their susceptibility patterns to typical isolates of the species. Relative resistance to amphotericin B, miconazole nitrate, and ketoconazole was noted for two Candida lusitaniae isolates, but all strains were susceptible to 5-fluorocytosine. Candida norvegensis isolates were more resistant to miconazole and ketoconazole than C. albicans clinical isolates. The microtiter system was satisfactory for determining minimal inhibitory concentrations, but the system is not recommended for detecting finite differences in drug susceptibilities or for detecting drug synergism.
Linkage disequilibrium in human populations

Whereas the human linkage map appears on limited evidence to be constant over populations, maps of linkage disequilibrium (LD) vary among populations that differ in gene history. The greatest difference is between populations of sub-Saharan origin and populations remotely derived from Africa after a major bottleneck that reduced their heterozygosity and altered their Malecot parameters, increasing the intercept M that reflects association in founders and decreasing the exponential decline ɛ. Variation among populations within this ethnic dichotomy is much smaller. These observations validate use of a cosmopolitan LD map based on a sizeable sample representing a large population reliably typed for markers at high density. Then an LD map for a region or isolate within an ethnic group may be created by fitting the sample LD to the cosmopolitan map, estimating Malecot parameters simultaneously. The cosmopolitan map scaled by ɛ recovers 95% of the information that a local map at the same density gives and therefore more than the information in a low-resolution local map. Relative to a Eurasian cosmopolitan map the scaling factors are estimated to be 0.82 for isolates of European descent, 1.53 for Yorubans, and 1.74 for African Americans. These observations are consistent with a common bottleneck (perhaps but not necessarily speciation) ≈173,500 years ago, if the bottleneck associated with migration out of Africa was 100,000 years ago. Eurasian populations (especially isolates with numerous cases) are efficient for genome scans, and populations of recent African origin (such as African Americans) are efficient for identification of causal polymorphisms within a candidate sequence.
The outcome of Japanese anorexia nervosa patients treated with an inpatient therapy in an internal medicine unit

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the outcome of Japanese anorexia nervosa (AN) patients who were treated with the standard Japanese inpatient therapy. METHOD: Of the 88 female AN patients treated with our inpatient therapy between January 1997 and December 2002, 67 (76.1%) who agreed to cooperate in this study were assessed by the Global Clinical Score (GCS) at admission and follow-up, 6.3±1.8 years after discharge. Their clinical characteristics at admission and discharge were also examined. RESULTS: Four (6.0%) patients had died before follow-up. BMI was significantly increased during inpatient therapy. At follow-up, excellent, much improved, symptomatic, and poor outcomes on GCS were 57.1%, 14.3%, 14.3% and 14.3%, respectively. Younger age at admission and larger BMI at discharge were significantly associated with a better outcome. DISCUSSION: This study shows the potential for the use of this method for the treatment of AN patients in countries without specialized eating disorder units.
Regional specialization of the rat retina: Catecholamine‐containing amacrine cell characterization and distribution

The distribution of catecholaminergic amacrine cells has been investigated in rats by means of immunohistochemical labelling of wholemounted retinas. Two groups of catecholamine‐containing cells could be distinguished on the basis of their catecholamine and biosynthetic enzyme content. Both groups could be stained with an anti–tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) antiserum. The first group was composed of large, strongly TH‐immunoreactive stellate amacrine cells, located principally in the innermost row of the inner nuclear layer (INL) and sending processes to the outermost sublamina of the inner plexiform layer (IPL). Some were displaced in the IPL or in the ganglion cell layer (GCL). This first group of cells can be regarded as dopaminergic since they were also stained by an anti‐dopamine (DA) antiserum. The second group was composed of small, weakly TH‐positive cell bodies, located slightly more sclerad within the INL. Their processes were usually not labelled with anti‐TH. Identical cells could be better visualized with an anti‐phenylethanolamine‐N‐methyltransferase (PNMT) antiserum. Their processes were observed in the middle sublamina of the IPL. A great number of these cells were displaced in the GCL. They could be regarded as epinephrine cells.
Gendering Guilt among Dependent Family Members’ Caregivers

Abstract This study analyzes guilt among family caregivers of dependent patients, from a gender perspective. A qualitative design was used, conducting in-depth interviews and focus groups. Using purposive sampling, we selected 73 family caregivers and 23 health professionals (family medicine, community nursing, and social work) from the Primary Care District of Seville. The content of the information collected was analyzed in terms of the following categories: a) guilt for abandoning family and friends; b) guilt for the relationship with the dependent person; and c) guilt for placing the relative in a nursing home. To validate the findings, data sources, methodological techniques, and researchers’ disciplines were all triangulated. Results indicated that women report more guilt than men for abandoning family and friends, and because of their relationship with the dependent person. However, with respect to nursing home placement, no difference was observed as a function of gender. The high incidence of caregiver guilt needs to be addressed by health professionals to avoid the emergence of other mental health issues.
Postprandial 2-hr C-peptide Concentration as a Guide for Insulin Treatment in Patient with NIDDM

To determine the usefulness of postpradial-2hr serum C-peptide as a guide for insulin treatment in NIDDM, the 67 NIDDM patients admitted in Kyung Hee University Hospital from Nov. 1981 to May 1984 were classified according to postprandial 2-hr insulin, C-peptide levels and 24-hr urine C-peptide levels. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to the level of insulin or C-peptide in normal persons reported previously.9) In 22 patients with postprandial 2-hr values of more than 5.8 ng/ml for C-peptide, 12 patients (55%) were diet controllable and only 5 patients (22%) required insulin treatment. On the other hand, in the classification according to postprandial 2-hr insulin or 24-hr urine C-peptide levels, higher response groups should be controlled by diet alone, but 9 of 18 patients (50%) for insulin, 8 of 14 patients (57%) for 24-hr urine C-peptide required insulin treatment. The classification according to postprandial 2hr C-peptide levels was a more sensitive guide for insulin treatment than that with postprandial 2hr insulin level or 24hr urine C-peptide level.
Finite-Amplitude Lagrangian-Mean Wave Activity Diagnostics Applied to the Baroclinic Eddy Life Cycle

AbstractLagrangian-mean wave activity diagnostics are applied to the nonlinear baroclinic eddy life cycle in a simple general circulation model of the atmosphere. The growth of these instabilities through baroclinic conversion of potential temperature gradients and their subsequent barotropic decay can exhibit two distinct life cycles. One life cycle results in equatorward propagation of the growing eddy, anticyclonic wave breaking, and a poleward shift of the mean jet. The second life cycle is distinguished by limited equatorward propagation and cyclonic wave breaking on the poleward flank of the jet. Using a conservative finite-amplitude, Lagrangian-mean wave activity (negative pseudomomentum) to quantify wave growth and propagation reveals more details about the life cycles than could be discerned from eddy kinetic energy (EKE) or other Eulerian metrics. It is shown that the distribution of pseudomomentum relative to the latitude of the axis of the jet can be used to provide a clear distinction between.
Adjuvant oral chemotherapy to prevent recurrence after curative resection for hepatocellular carcinoma

Adjuvant oral chemotherapy was studied in 67 patients with stage II hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent curative resection between May 1988 and December 1990. Patients were stratified into two groups according to preoperative liver dysfunction: 55 had stage I disease (mild dysfunction) and 12 had stage II (moderate dysfunction). A randomized controlled study of postoperative oral administration of 1‐hexylcarbamoyl‐5‐fluorouracil (HCFU) was conducted in each group. From October 1994 HCFU administration was suspended because of side‐effects in nine patients with stage I liver dysfunction and in three with stage II dysfunction who had received the drug for more than 4 weeks. Cumulative survival and recurrence‐free survival rates of patients with stage I disease in the treatment group were higher (P = 0·08 and P = 0·04 respectively) than those in the control group. However, in patients with stage II disease no significant difference was observed (P = 0·77 and P= 1·0 respectively). This study suggests that the potential benefits of HCFU on tumour recurrence should be weighed against the risks of adverse reactions in patients with mild liver dysfunction.
Longitudinal relationships between workplace bullying and psychological distress.

OBJECTIVES The aims of this study were to examine reciprocal longitudinal associations between exposure to workplace bullying and symptoms of psychological distress and to investigate how self-labeled victimization from bullying explains the effects of bullying on health. METHODS Logistic regression analysis was employed to examine the longitudinal relationships between workplace bullying and psychological distress in a representative cohort sample of 1775 Norwegian employees. The time-lag between baseline and follow-up was two years. Exposure to bullying behavior was measured with the revised version of the Negative Acts Questionnaire. Perceived victimization from bullying was measured by a single self-labeling question. Psychological distress was measured with the 25-item Hopkins Symptom Checklist. All variables were measured at both baseline and follow-up. RESULTS After adjustment for psychological distress at baseline, exposure to bullying behavior [odds ratio (OR) 1.68, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.07-2.62) was found to predict subsequent psychological distress. This effect of bullying behaviors disappeared when victimization from bullying (OR 2.47, 95% CI 1.17-5.22) was entered into the regression. Both psychological distress (OR 2.49, 95% CI 1.64-3.80) and victimization (OR 2.61, 95% CI 1.42-4.81) at baseline were associated with increased risks of being a target of bullying behaviors at follow-up. Psychological distress (OR 2.51, 95% CI 1.39-4.52) and bullying behaviors (OR 2.95, 95% CI 1.39-4.52) at follow-up were associated with victimization. CONCLUSION The mutual relationship between bullying and psychological distress indicates a vicious circle where bullying and distress reinforce their own negative effects. This highlights the importance of early interventions to stop workplace bullying and provide treatment options to employees with psychological distress.
New causes of immunologic occupational asthma, 2012–2014

Purpose of reviewThe objective of this study was to review all new causes of well documented immunologic occupational asthma (IOA) published in the English and French medical literature between January 2012 and mid-2014. Recent findingsTen case reports of new causes of IOA were reported during that period. The diagnosis was either confirmed by specific inhalation challenges (n = 5) or a combination of peak expiratory flow monitoring at and off work, confirmation of specific sensitisation, and asthma (n = 3). These involved both high (mites contaminating cured ham, various enzymes used as detergents and food additives, aquarium fish food, and orange allergens) and low-molecular-weight agents (spruce wood dust, a biocide, and an halogenated platinum compound used in cytotoxic drugs). Furthermore, eight studies reported cases of IOA with agents already known as airway sensitizers but in working environments that were unusual and reported for the first time. SummaryThere are more than 400 known causes of IOA and the list grows continuously with the development of new technologies and better recognition of the diagnosis by physicians. IgE-mediated sensitization was confirmed in all new cases involving high-molecular-weight agents and in two of the three new cases involving low-molecular-weight agents. Symptoms of rhinitis were often associated with both types of agents. Physicians should stay alert and suspect occupational asthma in any adult with new-onset asthma or with newly uncontrolled asthma.
Nursing Students’ Willingness to Care for Human Immunodeficiency Virus–Infected Patients in the Future

Recent studies in various countries have shown controversy regarding students’ willingness to care for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–infected patients as well as factors associated with students’ decisions about this issue. This survey, based on the Theory of Planned Behavior, explored factors associated with Israeli nursing students’ willingness to care for HIV-infected patients in the future. The results suggest that appropriate education and experience in caring for HIV-infected patients are critical for improving students’ willingness to care for these patients.
False discovery rate control for non-positively regression dependent test statistics

In this paper we present a modification of the Benjamini and Hochberg false discovery rate controlling procedure for testing non-positive dependent test statistics. The new testing procedure makes use of the same series of linearly increasing critical values. Yet, in the new procedure the set of p-values is divided into subsets of positively dependent p-values, and each subset of p-values is separately sorted and compared to the series of critical values. In the first part of the paper we introduce the new testing methodology, discuss the technical issues needed to apply the new approach, and apply it to data from a genetic experiment. In the second part of the paper we discuss pairwise comparisons. We introduce FDR controlling procedures for testing pairwise comparisons.We apply these procedures to an example extensively studied in the statistical literature, and to test pairwise comparisons in gene expression data. We also use the new testing procedure to prove that the Simes procedure can, in some cases, be used to test all pairwise comparisons. The control over the FDR has proven to be a successful alternative to control over the family wise error rate in the analysis of large data sets; the Benjamini and Hochberg procedure has also made the application of the Simes procedure to test the complete null hypothesis unnecessary. Our main message in this paper is that a more conservative approach may be needed for testing nonpositively dependent test statistics: apply the Simes procedure to test the complete null hypothesis; if the complete null hypothesis is rejected apply the new testing approach to determine which of the null hypotheses are false. It will probably yield less discoveries, however it ensures control over the FDR. © 2007 Published by Elsevier B.V.
Feasibility of a home-based telerehabilitation system compared to usual care: arm/hand function in patients with stroke, traumatic brain injury and multiple sclerosis

We conducted a randomized controlled multicentre trial to investigate the feasibility of a telerehabilitation intervention for arm/hand function (the Home Care Activity Desk [HCAD] training) in a home setting. Usual care was compared to HCAD training. The hypothesis was that the clinical outcomes of the HCAD intervention would be at least the same as those measured after a period of usual care for patients with stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI) and multiple sclerosis (MS) with respect to their arm/hand function. Eighty-one patients with affected arm/hand function resulting from either stroke, MS or TBI were recruited in Italy, Spain and Belgium; 11 were lost during follow-up (14%). The outcome measures were the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) and the Nine Hole Peg Test (NHPT). There were no significant differences between the two groups on the outcome measures (ARAT and NHPT); in both groups, patients maintained or even improved their arm/hand function. The HCAD training was found to be as feasible as usual care in terms of clinical outcomes, and both therapists and patients were satisfied with the HCAD intervention. A telerehabilitation intervention using HCAD may increase the efficiency of care.