Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genomic signal processing

Genomics is a highly cross-disciplinary field that creates paradigm shifts in such diverse areas as medicine and agriculture. It is believed that many significant scientific and technological endeavors in the 21st century will be related to the processing and interpretation of the vast information that is currently revealed from sequencing the genomes of many living organisms, including humans. Genomic information is digital in a very real sense; it is represented in the form of sequences of which each element can be one out of a finite number of entities. Such sequences, like DNA and proteins, have been mathematically represented by character strings, in which each character is a letter of an alphabet. In the case of DNA, the alphabet is size 4 and consists of the letters A, T, C and G; in the case of proteins, the size of the corresponding alphabet is 20. As the list of references shows, biomolecular sequence analysis has already been a major research topic among computer scientists, physicists, and mathematicians. The main reason that the field of signal processing does not yet have significant impact in the field is because it deals with numerical sequences rather than character strings. However, if we properly map a character string into, one or more numerical sequences, then digital signal processing (DSP) provides a set of novel and useful tools for solving highly relevant problems. For example, in the form of local texture, color spectrograms visually provide significant information about biomolecular sequences which facilitates understanding of local nature, structure, and function. Furthermore, both the magnitude and the phase of properly defined Fourier transforms can be used to predict important features like the location and certain properties of protein coding regions in DNA. Even the process of mapping DNA into proteins and the interdependence of the two kinds of sequences can be analyzed using simulations based on digital filtering. These and other DSP-based approaches result in alternative mathematical formulations and may provide improved computational techniques for the solution of useful problems in genomic information science and technology.
Current Trends in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a painful and debilitating disorder affecting mainly one or more extremities. The key features are spontaneous pain, hyperalgesia, allodynia, edema, temperature change, abnormal vasomotor and sudomotor activity, trophic changes, and motor dysfunction (see Appendix). CRPS has two types, and the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) has established diagnostic criteria for both. The criteria required to diagnose CRPS type I include: (1) the presence of an initiating noxious event or a cause of immobilization; (2) continuing pain, allodynia, or hyperalgesia with pain disproportionate to the inciting event; (3) evidence at some time of edema, changes in skin blood flow, or abnormal sudomotor activity in the region of the pain; and (4) the exclusion of medical conditions that would otherwise account for the degree of pain and dysfunction. CRPS type II requires: (1) the presence of continuing pain, allodynia, or hyperalgesia after a nerve injury, not necessarily limited to the distribution of the injured nerve; (2) evidence at some time of edema, changes in skin blood flow, or abnormal sudomotor activity in the region of the pain; and (3) the exclusion of any medical condition that would otherwise account for the degree of pain and dysfunction (Table 1).
Peritoneal dialysis after renal transplant failure

Background: Controversy remains over the optimal dialysis technique following renal transplant failure. Aim: To compare clinical outcomes between patients beginning peritoneal dialysis after renal transplant failure and the remaining patients on peritoneal dialysis. Methods: A retrospective evaluation of all patients beginning peritoneal dialysis at our centre between October 1985 and 31 December 2005. Results: 336 patients began peritoneal dialysis: 32 after renal transplant failure (group I), 180 as first renal replacement therapy (group II) and 124 after haemodialysis (group III). Group I patients were younger (37±12 years old vs. 51±15 and 48±15 years old, in groups II and III; p<0.001). Group I had more prevalence of anuria than group II (group I 31.3%, group II 8.9%; p<0.001) and had more total renal replacement therapy time than group III (group I 123±89 months, group III 68±96 months; p<0.001). Patient survival at 12 and 24 months was 93% / 83%, 92.5% / 82.4% and 88.9% / 75% in groups I, II and III, respectively (p=0.13). Technique survival at 12 and 24 months was 86.4% / 82.3%, 82.2% / 73.5% and 83.8% / 77.0% in groups I, II and III (p=0.82). During follow -up 127 patients were transferred to haemodialysis: 12 (9.4%) in group I, 69 (54.3%) in group II and 46 (36.3%) in group III. The causes of transfer showed no significant differences between the groups: peritonitis (group I 66.7%, group II 36.2%, group III 37.0%; p=0.12) and ultrafiltration failure (group I 25%, group II 20.3%, group III 28.3%; p=0.61). Peritonitis free survival at 12 and 24 months was 65.6% / 45.1%, 66.4 %/ 42.3% and 54.8% / 37.6% in groups I, II and III (p=0.36). Conclusions: Patients commencing peritoneal after renal allograft failure experienced outcomes comparable with other peritoneal dialysis patients. Peritoneal dialysis is a suitable choice after renal transplant failure. Key -Words: Peritoneal dialysis; renal transplant failure.
Trauma, war and violence. Public mental health in socio-cultural context

International co-operation in health focuses on transboundary public health issues and examines the influence of global factors on human health. Historically, the earliest examples arose from changes in the natural environment such as climate changes during the last ice age. Other global events are less obvious but also had important implications (positive and negative) for human health, such as the widespread migration of populations, the enormous effects of international trade, war …
Configuring terrorism in the age of ISIS: The New York Times’ coverage of the 2015 Beirut and Paris attacks

This study inquires whether cultural proximity may explain how media handle terrorism in a global village era where cultural proximity may have given way to cosmopolitanism in news-making. Findings indicate that although loss of life is not culture-bound, cultural proximity persists, as comes through in the sheer contrast in the amount of coverage devoted to Paris versus Beirut. This distinction ought to be qualified, for even with Paris, the self-interest of the nation-state was prioritized, meaning that national security and welfare come first, followed by those of culturally proximate locales. Sensational violence was emphasized for both Lebanese and French victims.
Does incidental exposure on social media equalize or reinforce participatory gaps? Evidence from a panel study

Existing research indicates that incidental exposure to political information on social media may function as an equalizer, stimulating political engagement among the politically detached. In this article, we challenge this notion and propose that there are good reasons to assume that incidental exposure may reinforce existing gaps. We test the equalizing against the reinforcing hypothesis using data from a two-wave panel study (N = 559). We find a positive main effect of incidental exposure on low-effort digital participation. However, this effect was not conditional on political interest, as the equalizing assumption would have suggested. More interestingly, we found that the effect of incidental exposure on high-effort digital participation was conditional on political interest. However, against the assumption of equalization, individuals with low levels of political interest were negatively affected by incidental exposure, thus lending support for the reinforcement hypothesis. Possible reasons for these findings are discussed.
Cognitive functioning and associated factors in older adults in South Africa

Objective. To investigate cognitive functioning and associated factors in a national probability sample of older South Africans who participated in the Study of Global AGEing and Adult Health (SAGE) in 2008. Methods. In 2008 we conducted a national population-based cross-sectional study with a sample of 3 840 adults aged ≥50 years in South Africa. We administered a questionnaire surveying socio-demographic characteristics, health variables, and anthropometric and blood pressure measurements. Multivariate regression analyses were used to assess the association of socio-demographic factors and health variables with cognitive functioning. Results. Mean variables in the sample were: 5.9 recalled words, a verbal fluency of 9.9 words in a specified category (animals), a forward and backward digit span of 5.2 and 3.2, respectively, and an overall mean cognition score of 48.5. Higher overall cognitive functioning (a combination of memory and executive functioning) was positively associated with: younger age; white, Indian/Asian or coloured ethnicity; being married; a higher level of education; greater wealth; a higher level of physical activity; a greater quality of life; and a better subjective health status. Conclusions. Our findings can be used to refine future projections of cognitive function and healthcare needs in ageing middle-income societies such as those in South Africa.
Some antecedent factors that shape actors’ adoption of enterprise systems

ABSTRACT This paper proposes a conceptual model based on technology-organization-environment (T-O-E) and institutional frameworks and examines how the traditional and isomorphic factors explain adoption of enterprise systems (ES) by service small and medium enterprise (SMEs) in Nigeria. The model extends the T-O-E framework by integrating environmental typology with institutional changes in order to recognize homologous behavior in the social systems. Logistic regression and Wald’s statistics were used to analyze the data from field survey questionnaire administered to a purposive and snow-ball sample of 262 executives. The results show that adoption of ES is significantly influenced by organizational, technological and isomorphic factors though normative and mimetic isomorphism had negative coefficients; a unit increase in the complexity of the two attracts less analogous modeling and mimicry or vice versa. The technical, economic and legitimated elements are critical adoption determinants; thus, managers make informed decisions that improve competitive advantage when they understand the institutional homogeneity that drives less efficiency in the social structure.
A Predictive Model for Dementia Risk in Elderly Adults with Prediabetes

A Predictive Model for Dementia Risk in Elderly Adults with Prediabetes by Susan Alford BS, Syracuse University, 1984 MS, Syracuse University, 1990 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Health Walden University November 2014 Abstract Dementia is a serious public health concern in the United States, with a prevalence of 5.2 million. There is currently no effective way to prevent or cure dementia, and the precise etiology is unknown, but it appears there are multiple risk factors. Prediabetes (PD) has been identified as a risk factor although the scientific evidence is conflicting. This studyDementia is a serious public health concern in the United States, with a prevalence of 5.2 million. There is currently no effective way to prevent or cure dementia, and the precise etiology is unknown, but it appears there are multiple risk factors. Prediabetes (PD) has been identified as a risk factor although the scientific evidence is conflicting. This study is important to those at high risk for dementia and to healthcare professionals who lack substantiated dementia prevention strategies. The purpose of this case control study was to determine whether PD is associated with dementia in adults aged 65–95 years and whether the association varies according to demographic (age, gender, race, and socioeconomic status [SES]) and health (atherosclerosis, body weight, cerebrovascular disease, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and stroke) risk factors. The ecosocial theory was selected to bridge the study findings to life-course exposures and risk factors. Cases (n = 574) and controls (n = 2,157) were sampled from a large ambulatory care dataset, and multivariable logistic regression was used to test the research hypotheses. No unadjusted association between PD and dementia was found (OR 1.08, 95% CI = .854, 1.241, p = .604). The regression analysis revealed no association between PD and dementia; however, atherosclerosis, hypertension, low body weight, and low/average SES were found to be significantly and independently associated with dementia. A stratified analysis revealed that race and SES did not alter the effect of PD on dementia. The implications for positive social change include the potential reduction of incident dementia through initiatives targeted toward demographic and health risk factors including atherosclerosis, hypertension, low body weight, and low/average SES. A Predictive Model for Dementia Risk in Elderly Adults with Prediabetes
The overlap between Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder symptoms and their association with reading skills and social cognition ability

ADHD and ASD are both associated with social cognition and literacy deficits in childhood. Although ADHD and ASD are highly comorbid conditions, few studies have sought to examine to the role that co-occurring diagnoses has on these important life skills. This thesis aimed to address this lack of research by first investigating the effect of ASD traits on reading comprehension performance in a large scale sample of children with ADHD, together with an examination of the full profile of literacy ability in ADHD. Results revealed that basic reading was an area of strength for some children with ADHD, while reading comprehension represented the largest literacy deficit. However, additional ASD trait severity was not shown to exacerbate this reading comprehension deficit. Secondly, the effect of ASD symptoms on the social cognition abilities of adolescents with ADHD was investigated. Each social cognition ability (facial emotion recognition, empathy and theory of mind) were explored in turn with differing results. Social cognition was tested using behavioural tasks, and both FER and empathy were also examined using eye tracking technology. Results showed that ASD symptoms were not found to affect the facial emotion recognition ability of children with ADHD, or alter their eye looking patterns. However, ASD symptoms were shown to have a significant effect on cognitive empathy for fear, alongside reducing the amount of time children spent looking at the eyes and increasing the amount of time spent looking at the face of a character experiencing fear. In the investigation of theory of mind, co-occurring conduct disorder symptoms were also investigated alongside ASD symptoms, as a gap in the literature was identified. Results showed that theory of mind was impaired in children with ADHD compared to controls, and that conduct disorder symptoms seemed to be driving this deficit. ASD symptoms, on the other hand, had no additional effect on performance. Thirdly, the relationship between reading comprehension and social cognition was explored in relation to a sample of adolescents with ASD and typically developing peers. Participants with ASD were found to be impaired in reading comprehension, facial emotion recognition and cognitive empathy compared to controls. In addition, the association between ASD diagnosis and reading comprehension was shown to be mediated by cognitive empathy. Taken together, these results provide a valuable insight into the dimensional overlap between ADHD and ASD, and suggest that practitioners should take co-occurring ASD and conduct disorder symptoms into account when choosing appropriate interventions for young people with ADHD. The findings from our ASD sample additionally indicate that interventions which focus on improving both reading comprehension and social cognition simultaneously could be viable, and should be considered for future implementation into schools to support the learning of individuals with ASD.
Obesity, High Blood Pressure, and Physical Activity Determine Vascular Phenotype in Young Children: The EXAMIN YOUTH Study

Cardiovascular disease often develops during childhood, but the determinants of vascular health and disease in young children remain unclear. The study aimed to investigate the association of obesity and hypertension, as well as physical fitness with retinal microvascular health and large artery stiffness, in children. In this cross-sectional study, 1171 primary school children (aged 7.2±0.4 years) were screened for central retinal arteriolar equivalent (CRAE) and central retinal venular equivalent (CRVE) diameters, pulse wave velocity (PWV), body mass index, blood pressure (BP), and cardiorespiratory fitness by standardized procedures for children. BP was categorized according to the reference values of the population-based German KiGGS study (Kinder- und Jugendgesundheitssurvey [Children- and Adolescents Health Survey]) and the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines. Overweight (mean [95% CI]: CRAE, 200.5 [197.9–203.2] µm; CRVE, 231.4 [228.6–234.2] µm; PWV, 4.46 [4.41–4.52] m/s) and obese children (CRAE, 200.5 [196.4–204.7] µm; CRVE, 233.3 [229.0–237.7] µm; PWV, 4.51 [4.43–4.60] m/s) had narrower CRAE, wider CRVE, and higher PWV compared with normal-weight children (CRAE: 203.3 [202.5–204.1] µm, P<0.001; CRVE: 230.1 [229.1–230.9] µm, P=0.07; PWV: 4.33 [4.31–4.35] m/s, P<0.001). Children with high-normal BP (CRAE, 202.5 [200.0–205.0] µm; PWV, 4.44 [4.39–4.49] m/s) and BP in the hypertensive range (CRAE, 198.8 [196.7–201.0] µm; PWV, 4.56 [4.51–4.60] m/s) showed narrower CRAE, as well as higher PWV, compared with normotensive peers (CRAE: 203.7 [202.9–204.6] µm, P<0.001; PWV: 4.30 [4.28–4.32] m/s, P<0.001). With each unit increase of body mass index and systolic BP, CRAE decreased and PWV increased significantly. Children with the highest cardiorespiratory fitness had wider CRAE, narrower CRVE, and lower PWV compared with least fit children. Childhood obesity and hypertension, even at preclinical stages, are associated with microvascular and macrovascular impairments in young children. Primary prevention programs targeting physical activity behavior may have the potential to counteract development of small and large vessel disease early in life. Clinical Trial Registration— URL: http://www.clinicaltrials. gov. Unique identifier: NCT02853747.
Glucagon-like peptide-1 modulation of calcium homeostasis in human coronary microvascular endothelial cells after ischemia and reperfusion.

Diabetic patients are at extreme risk for cardiovascular disease. Endothelial dysfunction plays a key role in the development of cardiovascular complications in diabetes. The effects of diabetes on the endothelium are multi-factorial, and include impaired intracellular calcium [Ca2+]i handling, particularly during reperfusion after ischemia. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) forms the basis of a group of agents currently used for glycemic control in type 2 diabetic patients. GLP-1 also improves endothelial function and is cardioprotective after ischemia and reperfusion. The mechanisms behind these effects are unknown. We determined the effects of GLP1 on cytosolic calcium [Ca2+]i in human coronary microvascular endothelial cells (HCMVECs), under physiologic conditions and also after simulated ischemia and reperfusion. In HCMVECs, [Ca2+]i was measured with and without treatment with GLP1 (10 nM) and with and without simulated ischemia and reperfusion. We found that GLP-1 significantly modulates calcium handling in HCMVECs. The rise of ATPinduced [Ca2+]i was attenuated after treatment with GLP-1, both under physiologic conditions and after ischemia and reperfusion. These data reveal a role for GLP-1 in the modulation of [Ca2+]i in HCMVECs, which may be one mechanism by which it improves endothelial function. Given the increased risk of coronary microvascular dysfunction in type 2 diabetes, these findings suggest another potential benefit to the use of GLP-1 based therapies in diabetic patients.
Voluntary zero-dividend paying firms: characteristics and performance

ABSTRACT We investigate the characteristics of ‘voluntary zero dividend paying’ firms and their subsequent performance. We define NDR_HP (no dividends or repurchases, with high profitability) firms as those with profits above the industry median and yet pay out zero dividends (including share repurchases). Signalling, agency, residual dividend, and life cycle theories explain firm characteristics and dividend payouts, to which we add the novel variables CEO overconfidence and market competition. We discover that growth opportunity, capital expenditure, and CEO overconfidence are positively related to NDR_HP. In addition, we find that the NDR_HP group outperforms all other groups in terms of future performance.
Pengetahuan Ibu Hamil Trimester III tentang Perawatan Payudara di Klinik Pratama Bina Sehat Kasihan, Bantul, Yogyakarta

There are many breastfeeding mothers who suffer from mastitis and nipples blister. The nipples blister happened because the condition of a nipple who rarely cleaned and incorrect position when breastfeeding. To get the succeed in breastfeeding, breast care regularly during pregnancy will conduct the increase of milk production. The purpose of this study was to know the knowledge level of pregnant women about breast care. There was an observational study with quantitative descriptive design. The populations were 250 of pregnant women third trimester at the Clinic Pratama Bina Sehat in November 2014–Januari 2015. The samples were 71 women selected by random sampling tecniques and data were analysed by univariat analysis. The results showed that most of pregnant women in third trimester at the Clinic Pratama Bina Sehat Kasihan Bantul Yogyakarta aged 20-35 year (70.4%), graduated from senior high school (53.5%), housewife (60.6%) and having the parity of even multipara (47.9%). The level of knowledge of third trimester pregnant women about breast care based on age, education, occupation and parity were 68.0%, 63.2%, 69.8%, 61.8% that were included in medium category. In conclusion, the knowledge levels of pregnant women about breast care at Clinic Pratama Bina Sehat were in medium category.
Developing Global Champions: Why National Oil Companies Expand Abroad

National oil companies (NOCs) have invested hundreds of billions of dollars in foreign oil and gas assets. Why have some governments increased their NOC outward investments, while others have not? I argue that domestic structures can influence a government's calculus that potential benefits, such as added revenues and fuel supply, outweigh potential costs, such as information asymmetries and inefficiencies associated with NOCs. Nationally, partisan competition limits democratic tolerance for failures by NOCs. Bureaucratically, overlapping authority in energy policy undermines coherent NOC governance. Based on investments by NOCs hailing from 79 countries, 2000-2013, I find robust evidence for the national hypothesis.