Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Virtual and Peer Reviews of Grant Applications at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Objectives This study documents the first six unplanned virtual review (VR) sessions conducted during the 2012 hurricane season at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and their effects on review outcomes. It also compares these VR sessions with five face-to-face (FF) sessions. Methods In the first part of this study, six VR sessions are analyzed in terms of feasibility, reproducibility, and reviewers’ responses to a questionnaire about VR. In the second part, the VR sessions are compared with five other FF meetings in terms of costs and duration per discussed application. Results Despite their technical novelty, all of the VR sessions have been successfully conducted to the satisfaction of reviewers and agency organizers. Special emphasis panel reviewers are more receptive to the new technology than study section reviewers: 75% versus 42%, respectively (P < 0.05). Although the duration per discussed application is comparable to FF, the cost per reviewer is much lower for VR sessions than FF sessions. Conclusions VR has successfully been used in six review sessions with a maximum of 34 discussed applications per session, special emphasis panel reviewers are more receptive to VR than SS reviewers, VR is a duplicable and low-cost method of review, and practitioners and scientists are urged to serve as reviewers because doing so may assist them in receiving funding.
Some observations on the influence of the micro-environment on loss of M substance in strains of Streptococcus pyogenes

1. An M-producing strain of Streptococcus pyogenes type-12 was shown to be carried on the surface of apparently healthy tonsils for at least 3 years. 2. Loss of M substance in a strain of type-3 in a tonsillar carrier was shown to be by gradual replacement of matt forms by glossy variants. This pair of naturally occurring variants showed very different growth rates as mixtures in liquid media. 3. Under suitable conditions, glossy variants regularly appeared and replaced the M-producing strain from which they were derived in these and all other strains of type-3 and type-12 tested from a wide variety of sources. 4. It is suggested that the selection of variants by the differential nutrient value of the micro-environment is the deciding factor in carrier strains showing loss of M substance.
A Nonderivative Version of the Gradient Sampling Algorithm for Nonsmooth Nonconvex Optimization

We give a nonderivative version of the gradient sampling algorithm of Burke, Lewis, and Overton for minimizing a locally Lipschitz function $f$ on $\mathbb{R}^n$ that is continuously differentiable on an open dense subset. Instead of gradients of $f$, we use estimates of gradients of the Steklov averages of $f$ (obtained by convolution with mollifiers) which require $f$-values only. We show that the nonderivative version retains the convergence properties of the gradient sampling algorithm. In particular, with probability 1, it either drives the $f$-values to $-\infty$ or each of its cluster points is Clarke stationary for $f$.
The Herschel–ATLAS Data Release 2, Paper I. Submillimeter and Far-infrared Images of the South and North Galactic Poles: The Largest Herschel Survey of the Extragalactic Sky

We present the largest submillimeter images that have been made of the extragalactic sky. The Herschel Astrophysical Terahertz Large Area Survey (H-ATLAS) is a survey of 660 deg2 with the PACS and SPIRE cameras in five photometric bands: 100, 160, 250, 350, and 500 μm. In this paper we present the images from our two largest fields, which account for ∼75% of the survey. The first field is 180.1 deg2 in size, centered on the north Galactic pole (NGP), and the second is 317.6 deg2 in size, centered on the south Galactic pole. The NGP field serendipitously contains the Coma cluster. Over most (∼80%) of the images, the pixel noise, including both instrumental noise and confusion noise, is approximately 3.6, and 3.5 mJy pix−1 at 100 and 160 μm, and 11.0, 11.1 and 12.3 mJy beam−1 at 250, 350 and 500 μm, respectively, but reaches lower values in some parts of the images. If a matched filter is applied to optimize point-source detection, our total 1σ map sensitivity is 5.7, 6.0, and 7.3 mJy at 250, 350, and 500 μm, respectively. We describe the results of an investigation of the noise properties of the images. We make the most precise estimate of confusion in SPIRE maps to date, finding values of 3.12 ± 0.07, 4.13 ± 0.02, and 4.45 ± 0.04 mJy beam−1 at 250, 350, and 500 μm in our un-convolved maps. For PACS we find an estimate of the confusion noise in our fast-parallel observations of 4.23 and 4.62 mJy beam−1 at 100 and 160 μm. Finally, we give recipes for using these images to carry out photometry, both for unresolved and extended sources.
Cemented single crowns on osseointegrated implants after 5 years: results from a prospective study on CeraOne.

PURPOSE The aim of this prospective study was to present the results after 5 years of loading of 65 CeraOne (Nobel Biocare) crowns. MATERIALS AND METHODS Sixty-two implants in the maxilla and 3 implants in the mandible were placed in 57 patients. Sixty-two all-ceramic and three metal-ceramic crowns were cemented. The group comprised the first patients treated with the CeraOne prosthodontic concept. RESULTS Eight patients did not complete the study. Only one implant failed, giving a cumulative success rate for implants of 98.5%. The failed implant was replaced: a crown was cemented and then followed for 5 years without any complications. Four crowns were recorded as failures, giving a cumulative success rate for crowns of 93.7%. It should be observed that this result was very positive, as all crown failures were related to extraordinary causes and not one was a result of common bite forces or fatigue. The initial bone loss was in accordance with other studies on Brånemark implants, and a stable situation was recorded after 2 years for the supporting bone around implants and adjacent teeth when the conical implants were excluded. Soft tissues around implants and adjacent teeth appeared healthy, and the cementation and the placement of the abutment shoulder in the peri-implant sulcus did not cause any recession of the peri-implant mucosa. CONCLUSION CeraOne experienced virtually no complications and proved to be a highly predictable and safe prosthodontic concept. CeraOne also eliminated problems with abutment screw loosening and created a platform for good esthetic results and satisfied patients.
Sex Differences in Genetic and Environmental Influences on Educational Attainment and Income

In many Western countries, women now reach educational levels comparable to men, although their income remains considerably lower. For the past decades, it has become increasingly clear that these measures of socio-economic status are influenced by genetic as well as environmental factors. Less is known about the relationship between education and income, and sex differences. The aim of this study was to explore genetic and environmental factors influencing education and income in a large cohort of young Norwegian twins, with special emphasis on gender differences. National register data on educational level and income were obtained for 7,710 twins (aged 29–41 years). Bivariate Cholesky models were applied to estimate qualitative and quantitative gender differences in genetic and environmental influences, the relative contribution of genetic and environmental factors to the correlation between education and income, and genetic correlations within and between sexes and phenotypes. The phenotypic correlation between educational level and income was 0.34 (0.32–0.39) for men and 0.45 (0.43–0.48) for women. An ACE model with both qualitative and quantitative sex differences fitted the data best. The genetic correlation between men and women (rg) was 0.66 (0.22–1.00) for educational attainment and 0.38 (0.01–0.75) for income, and between the two phenotypes 0.31 (0.08–0.52) for men and 0.72 (0.64–0.85) for women. Our results imply that, in relatively egalitarian societies with state-supported access to higher education and political awareness of gender equality, genetic factors may play an important role in explaining sex differences in the relationship between education and income.
Preparation for adulthood: Benefits of assistive technologies in social skills training of children with autism

Humanoids as a form of assistive technologies have been shown to have positive effects on the social-cognitive behavior of brain-impaired children, particularly those with autism. However, evidences on the socio-economic benefits in social-skill training on brain-impaired children have been lacking. At the preliminary stage, a case study of a primary school with special classes for gifted children is the case study for pretesting purposes. As it is, interviewers with teachers at the special integration classes form the basis for primary data collection. Findings indicated that the teachers, parents and guardians of these children are not ready for humanoids to train their children but in future such attempts are encouraged. Nonetheless, this paper will highlight the socio-economic benefits of humanoid-assisted social skills training of children with autism. This is important in preparing them for adulthood and independence. In addition, from the literature reviewed, content analyses on humanoid-mediated research articles provide the preliminary empirical support. Evidences and outcomes from similar research projects conducted from social scientists in developing nations further narrows the objectives of the investigation. Theoretical implication from this study is also discussed.
Anatomical and Behavioral Consequences of Cholinergic‐rich Grafts to the Neocortex of Rats with Lesions of the Nucleus Basalis Magnocellularis a

It has recently been proposed that cognitive, and in particular memory, impairments associated with aging might be attributable to a decline in forebrain cholinergic function. Several lines of evidence have been adduced in support of this hypothesis: 1) In addition to a more general age-related decline in cortical and hippocampal markers of cholinergic function, such as choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity, a decline in ChAT activity is particularly marked in patients dying of Alzheimer's d i~ease . ~ '~ Moreover, the postmortem decline in ChAT activity has been found to correlate with the patients' mental test scores before death.6 2) There is a corresponding loss' or atrophy' of the cholinergic cells of the nucleus basalis of Meynert (NBM) in Alzheimer's brains, from which originate the extrinsic cortical cholinergic innervation. 3) Anticholinergic drugs in young subjects induce functional impairments akin to the pattern of deficits manifested by demented elderly patients3 4) There is some limited evidence that cholinergic drugs, such as physostigmine or choline, can enhance memory in aged subjects. ',3 Nevertheless, much of the evidence on the role of cholinergic systems in dementia remains indirect, and there continues to be disagreement about whether this is a primary factor in the disease etiology, or whether it is secondary to other cortical and subcortical pathology, in particular, to the development of neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. One approach to this issue is to consider whether more selective lesions of cortical or hippocampal cholinergic systems in animals yield deficits that reproduce some of the symptomatology of Alzheimer's disease. In particular, whether destruction of the
Impacts of wildfire on the permafrost in the boreal forests of Interior Alaska

[1] The impact to the permafrost during and after wildfire was studied using 11 boreal forest fire sites including two controlled burns. Heat transfer by conduction to the permafrost was not significant during fire. Immediately following fire, ground thermal conductivity may increase 10-fold and the surface albedo can decrease by 50% depending on the extent of burning of the surficial organic soil. The thickness of the remaining organic layer strongly affects permafrost degradation and aggradation. If the organic layer thickness was not reduced during the burn, then the active layer (the layer of soil above permafrost that annually freezes and thaws) did not change after the burn in spite of the surface albedo decrease. Any significant disturbance to the surface organic layer will increase heat flow through the active layer into the permafrost. Approximately 3–5 years after severe disturbance and depending on site conditions, the active layer will increase to a thickness that does not completely refreeze the following winter. This results in formation of a talik (an unfrozen layer below the seasonally frozen soil and above the permafrost). A thawed layer (4.15 m thick) was observed at the 1983 burned site. Model studies suggest that if an organic layer of more than 7–12 cm remains following a wildfire then the thermal impact to the permafrost will be minimal in the boreal forests of Interior Alaska.
The proportion of excessive fast-food consumption attributable to the neighbourhood food environment among youth living within 1 km of their school.

The study objective was to estimate the proportion of excessive fast-food consumption by youth that is attributable to living and attending school in a neighbourhood with a moderate or high density of fast-food restaurants. This was a cross-sectional study of 6099 Canadian youths (aged 11-15 years) from 255 school neighbourhoods. All participants lived within 1 km of their school. The density of chain fast-food restaurants within a 1-km circular buffer surrounding each school was determined using geographic information systems. Excessive fast-food consumption (≥2 times per week) was assessed by questionnaire. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was used to examine associations. The population attributable risk estimates of excessive fast-food consumption due to neighbourhood exposure to fast-food restaurants were determined based on the prevalence of exposure and the results from the logistic regression. Eight percent of participants were excessive fast-food consumers. After adjusting for sociodemographic factors (i.e., gender, race, and socioeconomic status), it was found that youths from neighbourhoods with a moderate (odds ratio (OR), 1.68; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.11-2.54) or high (OR 1.70; 95% CI 1.12-2.56) density of chain fast-food restaurants were more likely to be excessive fast-food consumers than were youths from neighbourhoods with no chain fast-food restaurants. Approximately 31% of excessive consumption was attributable to living in neighbourhoods with a moderate or high density of fast-food restaurants. Thus, the fast-food retail environment within which youth live and go to school is an important contributor to their eating behaviours.
Glucocorticoid-Induced Changes in Insulin Secretion Related to the Metabolism and Ultrastructure of Pancreatic Islets

The effect of adrenalectomy and dexamethasone-treatment on insulin secretion was studied and related to the changes observed in the glucose oxidation, calcium uptake, cAMP and insulin content, as well as the ultrastructure of pancreatic rat islets. It was found that adrenalectomy was followed by a decreased glucose-induced insulin secretion, glucose oxidation, calcium uptake, cAMP and insulin content without any remarkable change observed at the ultrastructural level. Conversely, adrenalectomized-rats supplemented with dexamethasone showed an increased glucose-induced insulin secretion, glucose oxidation, calcium uptake and cAMP content but a diminished islet insulin content. At the ultrastructural level, a clear picture of increased secretory activity was found, with diminished number of mature B granules and greater number of pale granules, while rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complex frequently appeared hypertrophic. These changes were only observed in the B cells. On account of our results, we might suggest that insulin secretion is partially controlled by glucocorticoid circulating levels throughout their effect on pancreatic islet metabolism.
Evaluation of a single-item screening tool for depression after stroke: a cohort study

Objectives: To determine the accuracy and utility of a single-item screening tool for depression (the Yale, taken from the Yale—Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale) in patients who have recently had a stroke. Design: Comparison of a clinical classification of depression with a screening tool in a defined cohort. Setting: A large teaching hospital in Liverpool, UK. Subjects: One hundred and twenty-two consecutive people admitted with an acute stroke who did not have severe cognitive or communication problems, and who were still in hospital in the second week post stroke. Main measures: Classification of depression using the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale was compared with the Yale, a single-item screening tool. Results: When comparing the classification of depression according to the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale and the response to the Yale we found that at week 2 the Yale had a sensitivity of 86% (57/66), a specificity of 84% (46/55), a positive predictive value of 86% (57/66) and a negative predictive value of 84% (46/55), with an overall efficiency of 85% (103/121); prevalence of depression was 54% (according to the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale). At month 3 the Yale had a sensitivity of 95% (52/55), a specificity of 89% (32/36), a positive predictive value of 93% (52/56) and a negative predictive value of 91% (32/35), with an overall efficiency of 92% (84/91); prevalence of depression was 60%. Conclusions: The Yale, which only requires a `yes' or `no' answer to a single question, may prove a useful screening tool in identifying possible depression in people with stroke both two weeks and three months post stroke.
Day-to-Day Variation in Heart Rate at Different Levels of Submaximal Exertion: Implications for Monitoring Training

Lamberts, RP and Lambert, MI. Day-to-day variation in heart rate at different levels of submaximal exertion: implications for monitoring training. J Strength Cond Res 23(3): 1005-1010, 2009-The HIMS test, which consists of controlled exercise at increasing workloads, has been developed to monitor changes in training status and accumulative fatigue in athletes. As the workload can influence the day-to-day variation in heart rate, the exercise intensity, which is associated with the highest sensitivity, needs to be established with the goal of refining the interpretability of these heart rate measurements. The aim of the study was to determine the within-subject day-to-day variation of submaximal and recovery heart rate in subjects who reached different exercise intensities. Thirty-eight subjects participated in this study and after familiarization were allocated to 1 of 4 groups based on the percentage of predicted heart rate maximum that was elicited during the first test (i.e., groups: <85, 85-90, 90-95, and >95% maximum heart rate). Variation in heart rate was determined for the following 4 days at a range of intensities (61-98% of maximum heart rate) and recovery periods. Variation in heart rate decreased with increasing exercise intensity in all groups. The lowest variation in heart rate was found at the end of the last stage of the test in the 85-90% group (3 ± 1 b·min−1) and >95% group (3 ± 2 b·min−1). The lowest variation during the recovery periods occurred at the first minute after the last stage. Although there were no significant differences between the groups, the 85-90% group showed a tendency to have the lowest variation in heart rate. If changes in heart rate and heart rate recovery are to be monitored in athletes, a submaximal protocol should elicit heart rate between 85 and 90% of maximum heart rate, because this intensity is associated with the least day-to-day variation.
Relationship of Urinary Bisphenol A Concentration to Risk for Prevalent Type 2 Diabetes in Chinese Adults

BACKGROUND Greater bisphenol A exposure has been shown to be associated with a higher risk for self-reported adverse health outcomes, including diabetes. OBJECTIVE To examine the association between bisphenol A exposure and type 2 diabetes in adults. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING Songnan, Baoshan District, Shanghai, China. PARTICIPANTS 3423 local residents aged 40 years or older who were enrolled from 27 June 2008 to 10 August 2009. MEASUREMENTS Urinary concentrations of bisphenol A from morning spot urine samples (exposure) and fasting plasma glucose concentration, plasma glucose concentration 2 hours after an oral glucose tolerance test, and serum insulin concentration (outcomes). RESULTS Median age of the participants was 59.0 years (interquartile range, 53.0 to 68.7 years), 40% were men, and 1087 had type 2 diabetes. The median urinary bisphenol A level was 0.81 ng/mL (interquartile range, 0.47 to 1.43 ng/mL). Clinical characteristics differed between participants with normal glucose regulation and those with impaired glucose regulation and by bisphenol A quartile, but in multivariable analyses, there was no clear association between bisphenol A levels and type 2 diabetes. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) of type 2 diabetes was slightly increased for participants in the second bisphenol A quartile (0.48 to 0.81 ng/mL) (adjusted OR, 1.30 [95% CI, 1.03 to 1.64]) and the fourth quartile (>1.43 ng/mL) (adjusted OR, 1.37 [CI, 1.08 to 1.74]) but not the third quartile (0.82 to 1.43 ng/mL) (adjusted OR, 1.09 [CI, 0.86 to 1.39]), and a test of the trend of the association was not statistically significant. LIMITATIONS The cross-sectional study design and nonrandom sample of participants limit the conclusions that can be drawn. Many patients in the study already had diabetes, successful treatment of which could have obscured apparent associations. Dietary variables were not measured; however, this is necessary in observational studies of bisphenol A and diabetes because the presence of the chemical in the body may reflect consumption of sugared drinks in plastic bottles. CONCLUSION These findings do not confirm a previously reported association between urinary bisphenol A levels and self-reported type 2 diabetes.
Age discrimination and the Great Recession

The Great Recession led to large increases in unemployment rates and unemployment durations for workers of all ages, but durations rose far more for older workers than for younger workers. This difference was apparent both during and after the recession, fueling speculation that age discrimination played a role. Research indicates that in states with stronger age discrimination protections, older-worker unemployment durations increased more relative to increases for younger workers. This suggests that state age discrimination laws may need to be modified to strengthen protections during downturns.
Organizational characteristics as prescriptive factors of knowledge management initiatives

Purpose – The use of knowledge in organizations is largely a discretionary behavior that can be encouraged but not demanded. As such, the firm can only attempt to provide the right conditions for employees to endorse the role of knowledge workers. The purpose of this paper is to examine how the organization of the firm affects knowledge management.Design/methodology/approach – This research proposes a new framework showing the prescriptive role of organizational characteristics onto knowledge management (KM) initiatives. Based on this framework, data were generated from nine semi‐structured interviews conducted in the American, British and Japanese offices of a major Japanese pharmaceutical company, using a Boolean approach and qualitative content analysis.Findings – Organizational characteristics, specifically – structure, membership, relationship, and strategy affect KM, namely – knowledge acquisition, storage, diffusion, and application respectively.Research limitations/implications – Even though the d.