Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genetic counseling globally: Where are we now?

The genetic counseling profession is continuing to develop globally, with countries in various stages of development. In some, the profession has been in existence for decades and is increasingly recognized as an important provider of allied health, while in others it is just beginning. In this article, we describe the current global landscape of the genetic counseling specialty field's professional development. Using examples of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, South Africa, and various countries in Asia, we highlight the following: (a) status of genetic counseling training programs, (b) availability of credentialing through government and professional bodies (certification, registration, and licensure), and potential for international reciprocity, (c) scope of clinical practice, and (d) health‐care system disparities and cultural differences impacting on practice. The successful global implementation of precision medicine will require both an increased awareness of the importance of the profession of “genetic counselor” and flexibility in how genetic counselors are incorporated into each country's health‐care market. In turn, this will require more collaboration within and across nations, along with continuing engagement of existing genetic counseling professional societies.
Characterization of Rod Function Phenotypes Across a Range of Age-Related Macular Degeneration Severities and Subretinal Drusenoid Deposits

Purpose To examine spatial changes in rod-mediated function in relationship to local structural changes across the central retina in eyes with a spectrum of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) disease severity. Methods Participants were categorized into five AMD severity groups based on fundus features. Scotopic thresholds were measured at 14 loci spanning ±18° along the vertical meridian from one eye of each of 42 participants (mean = 71.7 ± 9.9 years). Following a 30% bleach, dark adaptation was measured at eight loci (±12°). Rod intercept time (RIT) was defined from the time to detect a −3.1 log cd/m2 stimulus. RITslope was defined from the linear fit of RIT with decreasing retinal eccentricity. The presence of subretinal drusenoid deposits (SDD), ellipsoid (EZ) band disruption, and drusen at the test loci was evaluated using optical coherence tomography. Results Scotopic thresholds indicated greater rod function loss in the macula, which correlated with increasing AMD group severity. RITslope, which captures the spatial change in the rate of dark adaptation, increased with AMD severity (P < 0.0001). Three rod function phenotypes emerged: RF1, normal rod function; RF2, normal scotopic thresholds but slowed dark adaptation; and RF3, elevated scotopic thresholds with slowed dark adaptation. Dark adaptation was slowed at all loci with SDD or EZ band disruption, and at 32% of loci with no local structural changes. Conclusions Three rod function phenotypes were defined from combined measurement of scotopic threshold and dark adaptation. Spatial changes in dark adaptation across the macula were captured with RITslope, which may be a useful outcome measure for functional studies of AMD.
The Concealed Information Test is Susceptible to Misleading Information

An approach toward detecting hidden knowledge is the Concealed Information Test (CIT). It relies on the memory of crime‐relevant information. This study investigated whether its validity is susceptible to memory distortion by misleading information. A misleading information paradigm was employed to distort memory prior to an interrogation with a CIT. Forty‐one participants watched a video with specific crime‐related information. After a 1‐week retention interval, misleading information was introduced. Afterward, a CIT was performed, followed by a threefold memory test. When misleading information was presented, memory performance was reduced, and no physiological response differences between crime‐relevant and crime‐irrelevant information were found. Without presenting misleading information, physiological responses differed between responses to crime‐relevant and crime‐irrelevant information. However, responses in all physiological measures also differed between misleading and irrelevant information. The results indicate that the CIT is susceptible to misleading information, which reduces its validity in specific constellations.
Process discovery from event data: Relating models and logs through abstractions

Event data are collected in logistics, manufacturing, finance, health care, customer relationship management, e‐learning, e‐government, and many other domains. The events found in these domains typically refer to activities executed by resources at particular times and for a particular case (i.e., process instances). Process mining techniques are able to exploit such data. In this article, we focus on process discovery. However, process mining also includes conformance checking, performance analysis, decision mining, organizational mining, predictions, recommendations, and so on. These techniques help to diagnose problems and improve processes. All process mining techniques involve both event data and process models. Therefore, a typical first step is to automatically learn a control‐flow model from the event data. This is very challenging, but in recent years, many powerful discovery techniques have been developed. It is not easy to compare these techniques since they use different representations and make different assumptions. Users often need to resort to trying different algorithms in an ad‐hoc manner. Developers of new techniques are often trying to solve specific instances of a more general problem. Therefore, we aim to unify existing approaches by focusing on log and model abstractions. These abstractions link observed and modeled behavior: Concrete behaviors recorded in event logs are related to possible behaviors represented by process models. Hence, such behavioral abstractions provide an “interface” between both of them. We discuss four discovery approaches involving three abstractions and different types of process models (Petri nets, block‐structured models, and declarative models). The goal is to provide a comprehensive understanding of process discovery and show how to develop new techniques. Examples illustrate the different approaches and pointers to software are given. The discussion on abstractions and process representations is also presented to reflect on the gap between process mining literature and commercial process mining tools. This facilitates users to select an appropriate process discovery technique. Moreover, structuring the role of internal abstractions and representations helps broaden the view and facilitates the creation of new discovery approaches.
Potential role of cyclin F mRNA expression in the survival of skin melanoma patients: Comprehensive analysis of the pathways altered due to cyclin F upregulation

Cyclin F is a part of the Skp, Cullin, F-box containing ligase complex. The activity of cyclin F includes cell cycle control, centrosome duplication and response to DNA damage. The cyclin F expression pattern is very similar to cyclin A, but cyclin F is an orphan cyclin without its cyclin-dependent kinase partner. There is little evidence concerning the role of cyclin F in cancer. In the present study, for the first time, we present analysis from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data in the context of expression of cyclin F mRNA in melanoma patients. Our original in silico analysis, not published elsewhere before, revealed that high expression of cyclin F in melanoma patients is associated with worse overall survival. Cyclin F and ribonucleotide reductase family member 2 (RRM2) compose a functional axis responsible for nucleotide metabolism. Impairment in this pathway may contribute to increased DNA damage repair and drug resistance. Additionally, we analyzed the expression of RRM2 mRNA and discovered that high expression of RRM2 is associated with worse overall survival. To shed more light on cyclin F overexpression in melanoma, we analyzed all protein data available in the TCGA melanoma dataset. It was found that in patients with upregulated cyclin F mRNA, we noted increased activity of pathways related to cell cycle and DNA damage repair. These data will support further in vitro and in vivo studies on the involvement of cyclin F in skin cutaneous melanoma.
Keep Doing the Good Work: Impact of Coworker and Community Support on Continuation of Breastfeeding

ABSTRACT Returning to work poses a challenge to new mothers’ breastfeeding success during the first 6 months postpartum. While previous research has shown that breastfeeding-related workplace policy plays a significant role in women’s decision to continue breastfeeding, the extent to which interpersonal factors such as coworkers’ (lack of) support and stigma affect women’s breastfeeding behavior is less understood. Through a cross-sectional survey with 500 working mothers, this research found that female coworker support of other women played an important role in affecting mothers’ decision to continue breastfeeding after returning to work and contributed to breastfeeding self-efficacy. The findings suggest that mothers’ perception of supportive coworker communication has an impact on sustained breastfeeding. Workplaces need to enhance the mother-friendly climate by encouraging and rewarding coworkers and providing support necessary for breastfeeding colleagues.
A Hybrid DSP/Deep Learning Approach to Real-Time Full-Band Speech Enhancement

Despite noise suppression being a mature area in signal processing, it remains highly dependent on fine tuning of estimator algorithms and parameters. In this paper, we demonstrate a hybrid DSP/deep learning approach to noise suppression. We focus strongly on keeping the complexity as low as possible, while still achieving high-quality enhanced speech. A deep recurrent neural network with four hidden layers is used to estimate ideal critical band gains, while a more traditional pitch filter attenuates noise between pitch harmonics. The approach achieves significantly higher quality than a traditional minimum mean squared error spectral estimator, while keeping the complexity low enough for real-time operation at 48 kHz on a low-power CPU.
Inflation, Real Stock Prices and Earnings: Friedman Was Right

Milton Friedman argued that inflation imposes real costs on the economy, in particular, by decreasing firms’ real earnings. This implies a negative correlation between realized inflation and real stock prices. While we do observe such negative correlation, there has so far been scant evidence that inflation is indeed bad for real earnings. This has led authors to favor behavioral theories, such as money illusion. In this paper I test for real channels by using data on Emerging Markets. These have the advantage of offering high variation in inflation both across time and countries. Results provide robust evidence for real channels in three ways. First, there is a negative correlation between realized inflation and future real earnings, as Friedman (1971, 1977) claimed. Second, inflation correlates positively with risk, as recently discussed in Bekaert and Engstrom (2010). Third, as suggested by Ritter and Warr (2002), leverage ameliorates the negative correlation between inflation and real stock prices.
Factors Associated with Outcomes of Combined Phacoemulsification and Ahmed Glaucoma Valve Implantation

Purpose To evaluate outcomes and factors associated with surgical failure in patients who underwent combined phacoemulsification and Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) implantation. Methods This retrospective and longitudinal study enrolled 40 eyes (38 patients) that underwent combined phacoemulsification and AGV implantation. Visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), and number of antiglaucoma medications were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively. Complete success was defined as a last follow-up IOP of 6 to 21 mmHg without medication, qualified success as an IOP of 6 to 21 mmHg with medication, and failure as an IOP of >21 or <6 mmHg. Results The mean follow-up period was 18 ± 10 months. Preoperative diagnoses were chronic angle closure glaucoma (35.0%), neovascular glaucoma (22.5%), uveitic glaucoma (17.5%), primary open-angle glaucoma (15.0%), and other (10.0%). IOP decreased from a mean of 30.5 ± 8.7 to 14.5 ± 3.7 mmHg at the last follow-up visit (p < 0.001). Treatment was classified as qualified success in 18 eyes (45%), complete success in 15 (37.5%), and failure in seven (17.5%). Twenty-two eyes (55%) showed improvement in visual acuity. The most common postoperative complication was a transient hypertensive phase (five eyes, 12.5%). Tube-iris touch was associated with surgical failure (hazard ratio, 8.615; p = 0.008). Conclusions Combined phacoemulsification and AGV implantation is an effective and safe surgical option for patients with refractory glaucoma and cataract. Postoperative tube-iris touch is an indicator of poor prognosis.
Effectiveness of XP-endo Finisher and XP-endo Finisher R in removing root filling remnants: a micro-CT study.

AIM To evaluate the efficacy of filling material removal from oval-shaped canals after the use of supplementary files (XP-endo Finisher and XP-endo Finisher R) through microcomputed tomographic (micro-CT) analysis. METHODOLOGY The root canals of twenty maxillary single-rooted teeth were prepared with Reciproc R25 files and filled with gutta-percha and AH Plus sealer using the continuous wave of condensation technique. The root canals were then retreated using Reciproc R25 and R40 instruments. After this, the specimens were assigned to two groups according to the supplementary cleaning approach, using XP-endo Finisher and XP-endo Finisher R. The surface area and volume of removed filling material was assessed using micro-CT imaging before and after the use of the XP-endo instruments. Data were analysed statistically with a significance level of 5%. RESULTS Removal of filling material at 66.8% and 59.4% in volume and 67.3% and 61.4% in surface area was seen for the XP-endo Finisher and the XP-endo Finisher R files, respectively. The amount of filling material removed by both supplementary files was highly significant (P = 0.000). No significant difference in the percentage of removed filling material was detected for the XP-endo instruments (P = 0.636 for volume and P = 0.667 for surface area). CONCLUSIONS Both XP-endo files were equally effective in the removal of remaining filling material from straight oval-shaped canals. None of the instruments were able to remove all the residual filling material.
Determinants of Capital Structure Among Non-Quoted Mauritian Firms Under Specificity of Leverage: Looking for a Modified Pecking Order Theory

This study explores on the capital structure for non-listed non-financial firms in Mauritius. In this study, recourse is made towards various forms of measurement for leverage variable, ranging from liabilities to leases, loans and debt. Above all, each of these elements is considered with their short term and long term components to gain deeper insight of their capital structure. Results showed that liquidity and size entailed a negative impact on leverage. While tangibility of assets triggered a positive effect on leverage, profitability, non-debt tax shield and growth were found to be impotent. Interestingly, investment was found to be positively related to the use of leases but negatively related to loans, symptomatic to crowding out of loans by leases. Age of the company was also found to affect some of the various components of leverage. Results advocated a Modified Pecking Order Theory whereby short term leverage preceded long term leverage.
The effects of delaying tracking in secondary school: evidence from the 1999 education reform in Poland

ABSTRACT Delaying tracking, extending students’ exposure to a general academic education and increasing their time on task on basic competences (reading, mathematics) could improve academic outcomes. To test the hypothesis that delayed vocational streaming improves academic outcomes, this paper analyzes Poland's significant improvements in international achievement tests and the restructuring of the system which expanded general schooling. Estimates using propensity-score matching and difference-in-differences estimates show that delaying vocational education and increasing time on task have a positive and significant impact on student performance on the order of a standard deviation.
Urogenital tuberculosis: patient classification in seven different groups according to clinical and radiological presentation.

PURPOSE To describe and classify 80 cases of urogenital tuberculosis in seven groups of similar clinical and radiological presentation. MATERIALS AND METHODS 80 patients (56 males, 70%; median age 34 years; age range 12 to 75) with urogenital tuberculosis were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were divided in seven groups: 1) Bilateral parenchymatous renal lesions; 2) No or minimal changes on radiographic examination; 3) Unilateral renal tuberculosis; 4) Contracted bladder; 5) Contracted bladder with renal failure; 6) Tuberculosis on a transplanted kidney; 7) Isolated genital tuberculosis. RESULTS 1) Seven (8.8%) patients had multiple bilateral parenchymatous renal lesions with fever and malaise, characteristic of miliary tuberculosis. Three of these patients had AIDS. 2) Six (7.5%) cases had an early diagnosis, with minimal or no radiographic lesions. Two did not have any urologic symptoms. 3) Twelve (15%) patients had unilateral renal tuberculosis with partial (1 case) or total non-function kidney. 4) Thirty-seven (46.3%) patients had contracted bladder associated with unilateral partial (1 case) or total non-function kidney. 5) Ten (12.5%) patients had end stage renal disease due to tuberculosis with contracted bladder. 6) Four (5.0%) patients had tuberculosis on a transplanted kidney, with graft loss in half the cases. 7) Four (5.0%) patients had prostate or epididymis tuberculosis without associated renal lesion. CONCLUSIONS Urogenital tuberculosis is a destructive disease of the urogenital tract with variable clinical and radiographic presentation. A classification according to similar patterns correlating with disease stage is feasible although early diagnosis is the only prevention of the most severe forms.
Psychological and Behavioral Responses to Interval and Continuous Exercise

Purpose To compare psychological responses to, and preferences for, moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT), high-intensity interval training (HIIT), and sprint interval training (SIT) among inactive adults; and to investigate the relationships between affect, enjoyment, exercise preferences, and subsequent exercise behavior over a 4-wk follow-up period. Methods Thirty inactive men and women (21.23 ± 3.81 yr), inexperienced with HIIT or SIT, completed three trials of cycle ergometer exercise in random order on separate days: MICT (45 min continuous; approximately 70% to 75% of HR maximum (HRmax)); HIIT (10 × 1 min bouts at approximately 85% to 90% HRmax with 1-min recovery periods); and SIT (3 × 20-s “all-out” sprints with 2-min recovery periods). Perceived exertion (RPE), affect, and arousal were measured throughout the trials and enjoyment was measured postexercise. Participants rank-ordered the protocols (1–3) according to preference and logged their exercise over a 4-wk follow-up. Results Despite elevated HR, RPE, and arousal during work periods (P’s < 0.05), and negative affect during HIIT and SIT, enjoyment and preferences for MICT, HIIT, and SIT were similar (P’s > 0.05). In-task affect was predictive of postexercise enjoyment for each type of exercise (r’s = 0.32 to 0.47; P’s < 0.05). In-task affect and postexercise enjoyment predicted preferences for HIIT and SIT (rs’s = −0.34 to −0.61; P’s < 0.05), but not for MICT (P’s > 0.05), respectively. Over the follow-up, participants completed more MICT (M = 6.11 ± 4.12) than SIT sessions (M = 1.39 ± 1.85; P < 0.01, d = 1.34). Although participants tended to complete more sessions of MICT than HIIT (M = 3.54 ± 4.23; P = 0.16, d = 0.56), and more sessions of HIIT than SIT (P = 0.07, d = 0.60), differences were not significant. In-task affect predicted the number of sessions of MICT (r = 0.40; P < 0.05), but not HIIT or SIT (P’s > 0.05). Conclusions This study provides new evidence that a single session of HIIT and SIT can be as enjoyable and preferable as MICT among inactive individuals and that there may be differences in the exercise affect–behavior relationship between interval and continuous exercise.
Aggregation without Separability: A Generalized Composite Commodity Theorem

This paper provides general conditions for aggregating commodities without separable utility. These conditions impose weaker and more empirically plausible restrictions on price movements than the currently existing alternative to separability, the Hicks-Leontief composite commodity theorem. The idea is to allow departures from Hicks-Leontief that take the form of well-behaved error terms. Utility functions that permit generalized composite commodity aggregation include the AIDS model, the translog, all homothetic utility functions, and any utility function when demands are aggregated to two groups of goods. Implications of empirical nonstationarity of relative prices for aggregation and demand estimation are considered. Copyright 1996 by American Economic Association.
Differences in Leaf Temperature between Lianas and Trees in the Neotropical Canopy

Leaf temperature (Tleaf) influences photosynthesis and respiration. Currently, there is a growing interest in including lianas in productivity models due to their increasing abundance and their detrimental effects in the carbon stock of tropical ecosystems. Therefore, understanding the differences of Tleaf between lianas and trees is important for future predictions of productivity. Here, we determined the displayed leaf temperature (Td = Tleaf − air temperature) of several species of lianas and their host trees during El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and non-ENSO years to evaluate if the presence of lianas affects the Td of their host trees, and if leaves of lianas and their host trees exhibit differences in Td. Our results suggest that close to midday, the presence of lianas does not affect the Td of their host trees; however, lianas tend to have higher values of Td than their hosts across seasons, in both ENSO and non-ENSO years. Although lianas and trees tend to have similar physiological-temperature responses, differences in Td could lead to significant differences in rates of photosynthesis and respiration based on temperature response curves. Future models should thus consider differences in leaf temperature between these two life forms to achieve robust predictions of productivity.