Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Association of anthropometric measures and cardiovascular risk factors in children and adolescents: Findings from the Aboriginal Birth Cohort study

This study examined the association of anthropometric measures including height, leg length, trunk length and body mass index (BMI) at 11 and 18 years with systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) at 11 and 18 years. We analysed data from 661 participants from the Aboriginal Birth Cohort study–a longitudinal study based in the Northern Territory, Australia. Associations between anthropometric measures and cardiovascular risk factors were investigated in linear regression analyses adjusted for confounding, with imputation for missing data. In adjusted analyses, increasing leg length [males: 0.47mmHg/cm (0.23, 0.72); females: 0.50mmHg/cm (0.18, 0.83)], trunk length [males: 0.50mmHg/cm (0.28, 0.73); females: 0.57mmHg/cm (0.33, 0.81)] and height [males: 0.32mmHg/cm (0.16, 0.48); females: 0.32mmHg/cm (0.12, 0.52)] at 11 years was associated with higher SBP at 11 years. When these exposures were measured at 18 years the effect on SBP at 18 years had attenuated, and only increased trunk length was associated with higher SBP at 18 years for both sexes [males: 0.46mmHg/cm (0.05, 0.87); females: 0.69mmHg/cm (0.30, 1.08)]. We observed little association between height, leg length and trunk length and DBP, total cholesterol, LDL-c and HDL-c. Increased BMI was associated with elevated SBP and DBP at 11 and 18 years. Our findings suggest that height, leg length, and trunk length measured at 11 and 18 years was generally not associated with cardiovascular risk factors at 11 and 18 years. However, greater childhood BMI was associated with higher blood pressure and this association persisted into adolescence. This study contributes to the limited body of evidence on the association between measures of early anthropometry and cardiovascular risk among the Australian Aboriginal population.
How should private investors diversify? : An empirical evaluation of alternative asset allocation policies to construct a "world market portfolio"

This study evaluates the out-of-sample performance of numerous asset allocation strategies from the perspective of a Euro zone investor. Besides an increased sample period from January 1973 to December 2008, our contribution to the literature is twofold. First, we compare the performance of a broad spectrum of heuristic portfolio policies with a large set of well-established model extensions of the Markowitz (1952) mean-variance framework. Second, we explicitly differentiate between two prominent ways of diversification that are usually analyzed separately: international diversification in the stock market and diversification over different asset classes. Our analysis allows us to compare and discuss different diversification strategies to construct a "world market portfolio" that is as ex-ante efficient as possible. For international equity diversification, we find that none of the Markowitz-based portfolio models is able to significantly outperform simple heuristics. Among those, the GDP weighting dominates the traditional cap-weighted approach. In the asset allocation case, Markowitz models are again not able to beat a broad spectrum of fixed-weight alternatives out-of-sample. Analyzing more than 5000 heuristics, we find that in fact almost any form of well-balanced allocation over asset classes offers similar diversification gains as even very sophisticated and recently developed portfolio optimization approaches. Based on our findings, we suggest a simple and cost-efficient allocation approach for private investors.
An integrated phenology modelling framework in r

Phenology is a first‐order control on productivity and mediates the biophysical environment by altering albedo, surface roughness length and evapotranspiration. Accurate and transparent modelling of vegetation phenology is therefore key in understanding feedbacks between the biosphere and the climate system. Here, we present the phenor r package and modelling framework. The framework leverages measurements of vegetation phenology from four common phenology observation datasets, the PhenoCam network, the USA National Phenology Network (USA‐NPN), the Pan European Phenology Project (PEP725), MODIS phenology (MCD12Q2) combined with (global) retrospective and projected climate data. We show an example analysis, using the phenor modelling framework, which quickly and easily compares 20 included spring phenology models for three plant functional types. An analysis of model skill using the root mean squared (RMSE) error shows little or no difference regardless of model structure, corroborating previous studies. We argue that addressing this issue will require novel model development combined with easy data assimilation as facilitated by our framework. In conclusion, we hope the phenor phenology modelling framework in the r language and environment for statistical computing will facilitate reproducibility and community driven phenology model development, in order to increase their overall predictive power, and leverage an ever growing number of phenology data products.
Coherence Models for Dialogue

Coherence across multiple turns is a major challenge for state-of-the-art dialogue models. Arguably the most successful approach to automatically learning text coherence is the entity grid, which relies on modelling patterns of distribution of entities across multiple sentences of a text. Originally applied to the evaluation of automatic summaries and the news genre, among its many extensions, this model has also been successfully used to assess dialogue coherence. Nevertheless, both the original grid and its extensions do not model intents, a crucial aspect that has been studied widely in the literature in connection to dialogue structure. We propose to augment the original grid document representation for dialogue with the intentional structure of the conversation. Our models outperform the original grid representation on both text discrimination and insertion, the two main standard tasks for coherence assessment across three different dialogue datasets, confirming that intents play a key role in modelling dialogue coherence.
Cultures of Proximal and Distal Segments of Silicone Tubes After Dacryocystorhinostomy.

PURPOSE To compare the results of cultures of the proximal and distal segments of silicone tubes after dacryocystorhinostomy. METHODS The medical records of patients undergoing a dacryocystorhinostomy and silicone intubation were reviewed. The inclusion criteria were cultures of both distal and proximal stent segments after removal, dye testing, evaluation of the tear meniscus, and notation of the presence or absence of discharge before and after removal. The exclusion criteria included the use of systemic or topical antibiotics within 1 month before tube removal. RESULTS Forty-six lacrimal systems in 40 patients were included, with 6 patients having bilateral dacryocystorhinostomies. There were no cases of dacryocystitis at the time of or after tube removal. Four (9%) of the dacryocystorhinostomies failed. Forty-one (89%) of the distal tube segments had positive cultures. The distal tube cultures grew 17 (36%) gram-positive bacteria, 21 (45%) gram-negative bacteria, 7 (15%) skin flora, and 2 (4%) fungi (6 distal segments had mixed cultures). Thirteen (28%) of the proximal tube segments had positive cultures. The proximal tube cultures were 5 (38%) gram-negative bacteria, 4 (31%) gram-positive bacteria, 3 (23%) skin flora, and 1 (8%) acid-fast bacteria. Four (31%) of the proximal tubes with positive cultures grew the same organism as the distal tube segment. Nine (69%) of the proximal tubes with positive cultures grew different organisms than the distal segment. Forty-two (91%) of all the proximal tube cultures were either negative or grew different organisms than the distal segment cultures. CONCLUSIONS The proximal segment of a silicone tube after a dacryocystorhinostomy may be a "privileged" area. There is usually a lack of growth or the growth of different organisms than those present on the distal tube segments. This may be explained by the protective nature of the tear film. The findings may also help to explain the low incidence of dacryocystitis in spite of the growth of virulent organisms on the distal tube segment after a dacryocystorhinostomy.
Reconfiguration of electrical distribution network for loss reduction and voltage enhancement

This paper recommends a new technique for reconfiguration of the network based on Loss Sensitivity Factor to decide the switching combinations and to achieve best combination of switches for minimum active power loss, as well as improvement in voltage profile that progresses the voltage stability in ERDS (Electrical Radial Distribution Systems). The impact of the proposed algorithm has been tested for 33-bus Radial Distribution System.
The Influence of Self-Efficacy and Emotional Intelligence toward Caring Behavior among Nurses in Public Hospital Denpasar Bali

Although self-efficacy has been incorporated into the work of many professions, including clinical nursing profession, minimal research has been conducted by using this concept as determinant of caring behavior, especially about individual's attitude mechanism. On the other side, emotional intelligence has been known as determinant of individual behavior, especially individual performance. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of nurses' self-efficacy and emotional intelligence toward their caring behavior, so that implications and suggest could broaden insight about significance of self-efficacy and emotional intelligence to the nursing profession. 138 nurses in public hospital in Denpasar Bali was taken as respondent in this study. By using PLS as statistical tool to analyze data, result has shown that self-efficacy has no significant effect on caring behavior. Only emotional intelligence, which mainly characterized by nurse interpretation about how someone else was feeling and maintain a positive outlook, has a positive significant effect toward caring
Differential Effects of Dietary Lipids on Growth Performance, Digestibility, Fatty Acid Composition and Histology of African Catfish (Heterobranchus longifilis) Fingerlings

The present study was performed to investigate the influence of fish oil (FO), two terrestrial animal fats (lard (PL) and poultry oil (CF)) and three vegetable oils (palm kernel (PKO), sheabutter (SBO) and sunflower (SFO)) as the dietary lipid sources on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fatty acid (FA) composition and histology of Hetero-branchus longifilis. Six isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets containing 6% of added fat from the lipid sources were formulated and used. Each diet was fed to triplicate groups of 20 fish. The lipid source influenced (P < 0.05) weight gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio, hepatosomatic index and nutrient digestibility. Liver morphology of H. longifilis fed CF showed intense steatosis with hepatocytes containing numerous lipid vacuoles. However, fish fed PKO and SFO showed regular-shaped hepatocytes with few lipid vacuoles in the cytoplasm. Fillet FA profile of fish fed PKO, SBO, PL and CF diets had significantly higher (P < 0.05) concentrations of SFA and MUFA, but lower PUFA com-pared to fish fed FO and SFO diets. Fillet of fish fed the FO diet had higher (P < 0.05) concentrations of EPA and DHA compared with fish fed the other diets. The results of this study shows that alternative lipids sources could be used in H. longifilis diets however, inclusion of PKO or SBO in the diet of H. longifilis produced fillets with low concentrations of long chain n-3 PUFA.
Tissue engineering toward temporomandibular joint disc regeneration

Tissue-engineered implants integrate with native tissue, are capable of adaptive remodeling, and improve healing of temporomandibular joint disc defects in minipigs. Disjointed no more Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction causes pain and limits movement of the jaw joint. Thinning of the TMJ disc, a fibrocartilage structure that allows for smooth joint movement, is an early sign of TMJ dysfunction. To help prevent joint degeneration, Vapniarsky et al. implanted engineered discs derived from rib cartilage cells into a minipig model of TMJ disc thinning. The implants had biomechanical and biochemical properties similar to native discs and improved closure of disc defects, reduced osteoarthritis scores, and reduced degenerative changes in the jaw joint. This scaffold-free approach to tissue engineering disc implants could help advance development of regenerative therapies for TMJ dysfunction. Treatments for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc thinning and perforation, conditions prevalent in TMJ pathologies, are palliative but not reparative. To address this, scaffold-free tissue-engineered implants were created using allogeneic, passaged costal chondrocytes. A combination of compressive and bioactive stimulation regimens produced implants with mechanical properties akin to those of the native disc. Efficacy in repairing disc thinning was examined in minipigs. Compared to empty controls, treatment with tissue-engineered implants restored disc integrity by inducing 4.4 times more complete defect closure, formed 3.4-fold stiffer repair tissue, and promoted 3.2-fold stiffer intralaminar fusion. The osteoarthritis score (indicative of degenerative changes) of the untreated group was 3.0-fold of the implant-treated group. This tissue engineering strategy paves the way for developing tissue-engineered implants as clinical treatments for TMJ disc thinning.
Use of serology and polymerase chain reaction to detect atypical respiratory pathogens during acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background/Aims To use serological and multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays to examine sputum samples from patients experiencing acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) for the presence of atypical pathogens, including Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia pneumoniae, and Legionella pneumophila. Methods From September 2012 to February 2014, 341 patients with AECOPD attending outpatient clinics were enrolled as part of a randomized, double-blind, multicenter study. A commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure serum immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG antibody titers on the first day of the study and at 36 days post-enrollment. Multiplex PCR was used to test sputum samples for the presence of atypical pathogens. A urinary antigen test for L. pneumophila was performed on the first day. Results Nineteen patients (5.6%) showed serological evidence of acute infection with M. pneumoniae. Also, one and seven patients (2%) showed serological evidence of acute infection with C. pneumoniae and L. pneumophila, respectively. All DNA samples were negative for M. pneumoniae, C. pneumoniae, and L. pneumophila according to PCR. Only one urine sample was positive for L. pneumophila antigen, but serologic evidence was lacking. Conclusions Serological testing suggested that infection by atypical pathogens during AECOPD was relatively uncommon. In addition, PCR provided no direct evidence of infection by atypical pathogens. Thus, atypical pathogens may not be a major cause of AECOPD in South Korea.
Advances in colonoscopic imaging and the approach to dysplasia in IBD

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common types of cancer in the western world. CRC develops from dysplastic precursor lesions. Colonoscopy is the gold standard to detect these precursor lesions, so called polyps. Despite colonoscopy is the gold standard; it is not yet 100% protective against CRC. The first part of this thesis focuses on the development of advanced colonoscopic imaging techniques and their ability to detect and differentiate the lesions found during colonoscopy. Patients with longstanding inflammatory bowel disease have a 2-3x increased risk on colorectal cancer. Due to the longstanding inflammation inflammation-related dysplastic lesions can develop, which harbour an increased on CRC. The second part of this thesis addresses the detection, differentiation and management of potentially malignant lesions in patients with IBD.
The impact of traditional neuroimaging methods on the spatial localization of cortical areas

Significance Most human brain-imaging studies have traditionally used low-resolution images, inaccurate methods of cross-subject alignment, and extensive blurring. Recently, a high-resolution approach with more accurate alignment and minimized blurring was used by the Human Connectome Project to generate a multimodal map of human cortical areas in hundreds of individuals. Starting from these data, we systematically compared these two approaches, showing that the traditional approach is nearly three times worse than the Human Connectome Project’s improved approach in two objective measures of spatial localization of cortical areas. Furthermore, we demonstrate considerable challenges in comparing data across the two approaches and, as a result, argue that there is an urgent need for the field to adopt more accurate methods of data acquisition and analysis. Localizing human brain functions is a long-standing goal in systems neuroscience. Toward this goal, neuroimaging studies have traditionally used volume-based smoothing, registered data to volume-based standard spaces, and reported results relative to volume-based parcellations. A novel 360-area surface-based cortical parcellation was recently generated using multimodal data from the Human Connectome Project, and a volume-based version of this parcellation has frequently been requested for use with traditional volume-based analyses. However, given the major methodological differences between traditional volumetric and Human Connectome Project-style processing, the utility and interpretability of such an altered parcellation must first be established. By starting from automatically generated individual-subject parcellations and processing them with different methodological approaches, we show that traditional processing steps, especially volume-based smoothing and registration, substantially degrade cortical area localization compared with surface-based approaches. We also show that surface-based registration using features closely tied to cortical areas, rather than to folding patterns alone, improves the alignment of areas, and that the benefits of high-resolution acquisitions are largely unexploited by traditional volume-based methods. Quantitatively, we show that the most common version of the traditional approach has spatial localization that is only 35% as good as the best surface-based method as assessed using two objective measures (peak areal probabilities and “captured area fraction” for maximum probability maps). Finally, we demonstrate that substantial challenges exist when attempting to accurately represent volume-based group analysis results on the surface, which has important implications for the interpretability of studies, both past and future, that use these volume-based methods.
The Evil Queen's Dilemma: Linking Narcissistic Admiration and Rivalry to Benign and Malicious Envy

It is widely assumed that narcissists are envious. Nevertheless, evidence supporting this claim has remained elusive. In five studies (N = 1,225), we disentangle how grandiose narcissism predicts divergent envious inclinations. Specific facets of narcissism and forms of envy shared the same underlying motivational orientations (Study 1) and distinctively related to each other (Studies 1 to 5) via differences in emotional appraisal (Study 4). Moreover, envy was linked to opposing social consequences of different narcissism facets (Study 5). Specifically, hope for success related to narcissistic admiration, predicting benign envy, which entails the motivation to improve performance, translating into the ascription of social potency by the self and others. In contrast, fear of failure related to narcissistic rivalry, predicting malicious envy, which entails hostility, translating into the ascription of a proneness for social conflict by others. These results converged with envy measured as a trait (Studies 1 and 5) or state in recall tasks (Studies 2 and 4) and as response to an upward standard in the situation (Study 3). The findings provide important insights into narcissists‘ emotional complexities, integrate prior isolated and conflicting evidence, and open up new avenues for research on narcissism and envy. Copyright © 2016 European Association of Personality Psychology
Mobile phone-based interventions for improving adherence to medication prescribed for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in adults (Review)

Palmer, Melissa J; Barnard, Sharmani; Perel, Pablo; Free, Caroline; (2018) Mobile phone-based interventions for improving adherence to medication prescribed for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in adults. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 6 (6). CD012675-. ISSN 1469-493X DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD012675. pub2 Downloaded from: http://researchonline.lshtm. ac.uk/id/eprint/4648268/ DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD012675. pub2
Gravitational collapse of the continental crust : definition , regimes and modes

The concept of gravitational collapse has fundamentally improved our understanding of orogenic processes. This concept has its roots in pioneers’ works, such as those of Jeffreys, van Bemmelen, Bucher and Ramberg, who were among the first to recognise the importance of gravity in the evolution of mountain belts. The development of this concept slowed down during the late 1960s and the 1970s before reemerging in the 1980s. Gravitational collapse corresponds to the decay of lateral contrast in gravitational potential energy that builds up during lithospheric deformation. When the forces that support this anomaly (i.e., tectonic forces and the strength of both the deformed and surrounding lithosphere) decrease, the gravitational potential anomaly may relax. Depending on the sign of the anomaly, two fundamental regimes of gravitational collapse can be defined. During divergent gravitational collapse, an excess in gravitational potential energy drives crustal material away from the deformed lithosphere. Divergent collapse is the regime that may affect the thickened crust. In contrast, during convergent gravitational collapse, a deficit in gravitational potential energy drives crustal material towards the deformed lithosphere. This regime can be expected to occur following thinning of the continental crust. For each regime, two end-member modes of collapse with contrasted characteristics are defined depending on the behaviour of the lithosphere surrounding the deformed domain. When the surrounding lithosphere is fixed (fixed-boundary collapse), collapse occurs through a transfer of gravitational potential energy from the elevated regions towards the low lands. This transfer is accommodated by a combination of gravitational sliding of the brittle crust and horizontal spread of the lower crust. In orogenic domains, fixed-boundary divergent collapse implies the lateral growth of the orogenic domain at the expense of the surrounding lithosphere. In contrast, when the surrounding lithosphere is free to move (free-boundary divergent collapse), the thickened crust is homogeneously thinned without transfer of gravitational potential energy towards the forelands. D 2001 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.