Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Health-related quality of life in women with newly diagnosed polycystic ovary syndrome randomized between clomifene citrate plus metformin or clomifene citrate plus placebo.

STUDY QUESTION What is the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) undergoing ovulation induction with clomifene citrate (CC) combined with metformin compared with those using CC combined with placebo? SUMMARY ANSWER Overall quality of life in women with PCOS treated with CC plus metformin was significantly lower than in women treated with CC plus placebo. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY There are no data on HRQoL in adult women who receive ovulation induction with the purpose of conceiving. Women with PCOS have higher scores on depression and anxiety scales and lower QoL scores than women without PCOS. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE AND DURATION This study was a secondary analysis of a multi-centre RCT completed between June 2001 and May 2004. The randomization was stratified per centre, and the centres received blinded, numbered containers with medication. There were172 women available for the HRQoL assessment: 85 were allocated to metformin and 87 were allocated to placebo. PARTICIPANTS, SETTING AND METHODS The Rotterdam Symptom Checklist (RSCL), a standard self-administered questionnaire, was used to assess physical symptoms, psychological distress, activity levels and overall HRQoL. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE In the intention to treat analysis, we found differences between the treatment groups with respect to physical symptoms and overall HRQoL. Physical well-being was significantly impaired in women allocated to metformin but not in women allocated to placebo. The increase in physical symptoms in the metformin group was caused by side-effects typical of metformin, and was most pronounced at Week 1 (mean difference 12 [95% confidence interval (CI): 8-16] and still apparent at Week 16 [mean difference 7 (95% CI 2-12]. Overall well-being was significantly impaired in the metformin group compared with the placebo group [mean difference 13 (95% CI 6-20)]. LIMITATIONS AND REASONS FOR CAUTION RSCL measurements were available only for three quarters of the participants. Although the number of missing questionnaires and the baseline measurements, were comparable between the treatment groups, some form of selection bias cannot be ruled out. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Our finding that metformin was more burdensome than placebo, strengthens the recommendation that CC only and not CC plus metformin should be the drug of choice in this patient population. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) None of the authors declared a conflict of interest. There was no study funding. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER ISRCTN55906981.
A spatio-temporal fastICA algorithm for separating convolutive mixtures

The paper presents a spatio-temporal extension of the well-known fastICA algorithm of Hyva/spl uml/rinen and Oja that is applicable to both convolutive blind source separation and multichannel blind deconvolution tasks. Our time-domain algorithm combines multichannel spatio-temporal prewhitening via multi-stage least-squares linear prediction with a fixed-point iteration involving a new adaptive technique for imposing paraunitary constraints on the multichannel separation filter. Our technique also allows for efficient reconstruction of individual signals as observed in the sensor measurements for single-input, multiple-output (SIMO) BSS tasks. Analysis and simulations verify the utility of the proposed methods.
Research and Analysis of Topology Control in NS-2 for Ad-hoc Wireless Network

Topology control is an effective measure at network layer to implement power control for energy-saving, which is a critical issue in ad-hoc wireless networks. Topology control also affects other significant performances of network, such as packet delivery radio, end-to-end delay, and network capacity etc. Various techniques and algorithms have been proposed to achieve the optimal topology which can minimize the energy consumption and optimize the network performance. Almost all the algorithms are evaluated with simulations. However, most of the simulations in current literature are performed in static scenarios; very few refer to dynamic topology control which can reflect the real situation better. In this article, we study the topology control for both the static and dynamic scenarios in ns-2 for ad-hoc network, and two models of topology are considered correspondingly. Besides, a topology control algorithm is proposed and we analyze the simulation results, comparing with the network without topology control. The results indicate that the performances of network with topology control are improved to some extent.
CA-ESB: Context Aware Enterprise Service Bus

Service Bus (ESB) is responsible for publishing and discovery of services in such environments. Context- aware systems offer entirely new opportunities for application developers and for end users by gathering context data and adapting systems' behavior accordingly. In this paper, we propose a Context Aware ESB (CA-ESB) that will publish and discover services based on location context. The main modules of the framework consist of Context Provider (senses location context), Context Aware Logic Module (decides which regional service to be selected based on location context) and Service Choreographer (choreographs selected services). We propose a graphical model named Context Aware Graph (CA-Graph) that will help us to dynamically choreograph the services. These modules along with other modules of SOA reference architecture will help the ESB to sense the location of users, to select the required services and dynamically choreograph those services. We define a set of metrics based on CA-graph and analyse of performance CA- ESB. An algorithm is proposed that will dynamically choreograph the selected services based on location context. The results of the case study of an Insurance System are used to illustrate our approach.
Technology Mediated Interruptions: The Effects of Task and Interruption Characteristics on Decision-Making

Interruptions are uncontrollable attention breakers that create stress in the work environment. Past literature has shown that interruptions impair performance. This study examines two common interruption characteristics; frequency and complexity, and investigates their effect on decision-making performance by employing cognitive fit theory (Vessey, 1991), distraction conflict theory (Baron, 1986), and research on cognitive capacity. We propose that complex interruptions will impair performance less than frequent interruptions for simple tasks. On the other and, we hypothesize that complex interruptions will deteriorate performance more than frequent interruptions when the task is complex. This research has implications on the design and appropriation of information systems to reduce potential negative effects.
A Predictive Approach for an End-to-End Touch-Latency Measurement

With direct-touch interaction, users are sensitive to very low levels of latency, in the order of a few milliseconds. Assessing the end-to-end latency of a system is thus becoming an important part of touch-devices evaluation, and this must be precise and accurate. However, current latency estimation techniques are either imprecise, or they require complex setups involving external devices such as high-speed cameras. In this paper, we introduce and evaluate a novel method that does not require any external equipment and can be implemented with minimal efforts. The method is based on short-term prediction of the finger movement. The latency estimation is obtained on the basis of user calibration of the prediction to fully compensate the lag. In a user study, we show that the technique is more precise than a similar "low overhead' approach that was recently presented.
RLIP76 Gene Variants are not Associated with Drug Response in Turkish Epilepsy Patients

RLIP76 Gene Variants are not Associated with Drug Response in Turkish Epilepsy Patients Approximately 30% of epileptic patients remain untreated, in spite of trials with maximum tolerable doses of more than one drug. The RalA binding protein 1 (RALBP1/RLIP76), a multifunctional, anti-apoptotic, multidrug transporter protein, has been proposed as being responsible for the drug resistance mechanism in epilepsy. We have investigated polymorphic differences in the coding regions and exon-intron boundaries of the RLIP76 gene, between 146 refractory and 155 non refractory epileptic patients in Turkey, using denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and sequencing analysis techniques. We have detected the following sequence variants: c.160-4G>A, c.187C>G, c.1562-38G>A, c.1670+107G>A, c.1670+93G>A, c.1670+96G>A, c.1670+100C>T, c.1670+130C>T, c.1670+131G>C, c.1670+140 G>C, and found no statistically significant correlation between allele frequencies and drug response status. We conclude that sequence variants of this gene are not involved in drug resistance in epilepsy.
Effect change of obesity on diabetes depending on measurement: self-reported body mass index from 2012 Community Health Survey vs. directly measured from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

OBJECTIVES: Obesity is a well-recognized risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) among young and middle-aged adults in South Korea. To elaborate on the association between obesity and DM, subjective data from self-reporting survey or objective data from health examination is generally used. This study was conducted to validate the change of association from using these different measurements. METHODS: Community Health Survey data and Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, as subjective and objective data respectively, were used. Population, resident in Seoul and over 45 aged, were selected for the study and the association between obesity and DM were defined by using multivariate logistic regression model. RESULTS: In subjective data, DM prevalence was 12.4% (male, 14.7; female, 10.6) and obesity prevalence was 26.0% (male, 29.2; female, 23.4). Whereas, in objective data, DM prevalence was 15.0% (male, 17.8; female, 12.9), and obese population was 32.4% (male, 34.4; female, 30.8). Based on the effect of obesity on DM prevalence from each data, using objective data increased the impact of obesity. Difference of relative risk of obesity between from subjective data and from objective was bigger in female than male and statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The differences of association pattern between subjective and objective data were found, due to higher obesity prevalence in objective data, and discrepancies of socio-economic status. These discrepancies could be inevitable Therefore we have to face them proactively, and understand the different aspect of various variables from different measurement.
Structural insights into dynamics of RecU–HJ complex formation elucidates key role of NTR and stalk region toward formation of reactive state

Holliday junction (HJ) resolving enzyme RecU is involved in DNA repair and recombination. We have determined the crystal structure of inactive mutant (D88N) of RecU from Bacillus subtilis in complex with a 12 base palindromic DNA fragment at a resolution of 3.2 Å. This structure shows the stalk region and the essential N-terminal region (NTR) previously unseen in our DNA unbound structure. The flexible nature of the NTR in solution was confirmed using SAXS. Thermofluor studies performed to assess the stability of RecU in complex with the arms of an HJ indicate that it confers stability. Further, we performed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of wild type and an NTR deletion variant of RecU, with and without HJ. The NTR is observed to be highly flexible in simulations of the unbound RecU, in agreement with SAXS observations. These simulations revealed domain dynamics of RecU and their role in the formation of complex with HJ. The MD simulations also elucidate key roles of the NTR, stalk region, and breathing motion of RecU in the formation of the reactive state.
Governing Through Critique: Post-Conditionality and Bottom-Up Governance in the Merida Initiative

Abstract This article is about how the governmentality critique of top-down governance feeds into current interventionary policy thinking. Drawing on the Merida Initiative, a US–Mexican security cooperation agreement signed in 2007, the article brings out how neo-liberal civil society discourse continuously deconstructs the normative and analytical assumptions, categories, and concepts of modern liberal-universalism. In the Merida Initiative, civil society representatives were repeatedly delegitimized for being part of a detached internationalized NGO bubble. The goal was to enable idiosyncratic local knowledge-power to unfold its creative governing potential unencumbered by the oppressive and counterproductive reductions and exclusions of liberal-universal episteme. In this way, policy thinking actually coincides with the governmentality critique of standardized knowledge and top-down imposition. One of the negative implications is that international policy-makers lose their ability to arbitrate according to fixed normative standards.
Infection of Taenia asiatica in a Bai Person in Dali, China

We report here a human case of Taenia asiatica infection which was confirmed by genetic analyses in Dali, China. A patient was found to have symptoms of taeniasis with discharge of tapeworm proglottids. By sequencing of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene, we observed nucleotide sequence identity of 99% with T. asiatica and 96% with T. saginata. Using the cytochrome b (cytb) gene, 99% identity with T. asiatica and 96% identity with T. saginata were found. Our findings suggest that taeniasis of people in Dali, China may be mainly caused by T. asiatica.
A kernel-based RLS algorithm for nonlinear adaptive filtering using sparse approximation theory

In the last ten years, there has been an explosion of activity in the field of learning algorithms utilizing reproducing kernels, most notably for classification and regression. A common characteristic in kernelbased methods is that they deal with models whose order equals the number of input data, making them unsuitable for online applications. In this paper, we investigate a new kernel-based RLS algorithm that makes unnecessary the use of any computationally demanding sparsification procedure. The increase in the model order is controlled by the coherence parameter, a fundamental quantity that is used to characterize the behavior of dictionaries in sparse approximation problems.
Reiki na ansiedade de idosos institucionalizados

Estudo com objetivo de identificar a contribuicao do Reiki no controle da ansiedade dos idosos institucionalizados em uma instituicao de longa permanencia. Pesquisa de abordagem quali-quantitativa, descritiva, exploratoria e de campo. A populacao estudada foram 14 idosos. Realizaram-se aplicacao da Escala de Avaliacao de Ansiedade de Hamilton para os idosos, antes e apos a aplicacao do Reiki, e entrevista semiestruturada. Depois disso, foram selecionados 5 idosos para a realizacao do Reiki, no entanto apenas dois idosos aceitaram a aplicacao das tres sessoes de Reiki. Organizou-se a analise e interpretacao dos dados qualitativos atraves da analise de conteudo. A analise quantitativa foi realizada a partir dos resultados da Escala de Ansiedade de Hamilton. Os resultados da pesquisa apontaram que 100% dos idosos institucionalizados apresentaram nivel de ansiedade, sendo 64,29% nivel leve; 28,57% nivel moderado; 7,14% nivel intenso. Os idosos que aceitaram receber a aplicacao de Reiki tiveram diminuicao de ansiedade do nivel moderado para leve. O Reiki e uma tecnica que pode ser utilizada pelo enfermeiro na assistencia humanizada aos idosos institucionalizados, como forma de melhorar o controle da ansiedade. Palavras-chave: Reiki, idoso, enfermagem, institucionalizacao, ansiedade.
Cross Haplotype Sharing Statistic : Haplotype length based method for whole genome association testing

We analyzed a dataset of 2,300 SNPs from a region of 10 Mb of chromosome 18q, which had shown linkage evidence for Rheumatoid Arthritis [1]. To test for disease association, a novel method, called the Cross-test, was used, which is based on differences between direct sharing of a patient and a control haplotype and sharing of two patients or two control haplotypes. We found highly significant association at a position ~4,407 kb from the starting SNP and a second less significant one at position ~4,863 kb. These results are supported by a single marker chi-square test and the Haplotype Sharing Statistic, but the Cross-test outperforms them with respect to significance and signal-to-noise ratio. For determining the significances, a sequential randomization procedure is implemented to render the method fast enough and hence practically useful even for whole genome screens with marker densities of 500,000 SNPs/genome.
Bloodlines of haematopoietic stem cell research in Japan

Haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) can supply all blood cells throughout the adult life of individuals. Based on this property, HSCs have been used for bone marrow and cord blood transplantation. Among various stem cells, HSCs were recognized earliest and were studied most extensively, providing a model for other stem cells. Knowledge of HSC regulation has rapidly accumulated of late. Contributions of scientists in Japan to progress HSC biology are here briefly overviewed. Focusing on the original work accomplished in Japan in the last two decades, people who have led such activities are introduced and their relationships with one another are sketched.
Design and Implementation of Energy Efficient Approximate Multiplier

Modern Digital signal processing and image processing applications are aiming towards energy efficiency. The prime arithmetic operation performed for these processes is multiplication. Hence energy efficiency of multiplication is critical. Since many digital applications use fixedpoint arithmetic, it exhibits computational error tolerance. In this brief, a multiplier is proposed that can trade-off computational accuracy with energy consumption. Segmenting the original operands with significant bits and performing the multiplication only for those segments is the main principle. The proposed method of approximate multiplier consumes lesser power and hence notably lesser energy with average computational error of ~1%, when compared to the existing approximate multipliers with similar principle. Further optimization of the proposed multiplier is also done which improves the average computational accuracy along with a considerable reduction in the area consumed by the proposed multiplier.
Combined Incremental and Decremental Redundancy in Joint Source-Channel Coding

In [1] a new lossless source coding scheme was presented. Thereby lossless compression is guaranteed by finely puncturing encoded data of a parallel concatenated turbo code while verifying the integrity of the source information at the source encoder. We extend this method to include transmission of the compressed data through a noisy channel and also ensure lossless recovery of the information at the receiver. Compression and error protection are achieved by adapting the puncturing strategy to the statistics of the source and the channel.
Using Gaussian processes to model light curves in the presence of flickering: the eclipsing cataclysmic variable ASASSN-14ag

The majority of cataclysmic variable (CV) stars contain a stochastic noise component in their light curves, commonly referred to as flickering. This can significantly affect the morphology of CV eclipses and increases the difficulty in obtaining accurate system parameters with reliable errors through eclipse modelling. Here we introduce a new approach to eclipse modelling, which models CV flickering with the help of Gaussian processes (GPs). A parameterised eclipse model - with an additional GP component - is simultaneously fit to 8 eclipses of the dwarf nova ASASSN-14ag and system parameters determined. We obtain a mass ratio $q$ = 0.149 $\pm$ 0.016 and inclination $i$ = 83.4 $^{+0.9}_{-0.6}$ $^{\circ}$. The white dwarf and donor masses were found to be $M_{w}$ = 0.63 $\pm$ 0.04 $M_{\odot}$ and $M_{d}$ = 0.093 $^{+0.015}_{-0.012}$ $M_{\odot}$, respectively. A white dwarf temperature $T_{w}$ = 14000 $^{+2200}_{-2000}$ K and distance $d$ = 146 $^{+24}_{-20}$ pc were determined through multicolour photometry. We find GPs to be an effective way of modelling flickering in CV light curves and plan to use this new eclipse modelling approach going forward.
Engaging Learning Environment (ELE) for Leadership Training: Fostering Interest and Epistemic Change

The aim was to apply Engaging Learning Environment (ELE) model for training insurance company middle managers in supporting their employees' occupational health, engagement, and productivity at work. The effects of ELE intervention on the managers were examined by using a questionnaire administered before and after the training. In the present study, we focused on task value, mindset and epistemic change. Participants were managers participating in intervention (ELE group, n=23) and managers who were randomized in those who had access to the e-learning part only (ELE-E group, n=43) and in those who did not participate in any training (control group, n=42). Differences between the pre- and posttest scores were examined with repeated-measures MANOVAs. Among ELE group, reactions towards training were positive. In ELE group, the interest value increased significantly between pre- and posttest. Epistemic change also took place: ELE group increased in growth mindset, practical values, and valuing collaboration.
Effects of Latency and Spatial Jitter on 2D and 3D Pointing

We investigate the effects of input device latency and spatial jitter on 2D pointing tasks and a 3D movement. First, we characterize jitter and latency in a 3D tracking device and an optical mouse used for baseline comparison. We present an experiment based on ISO 9241-9, which measures performance of pointing devices. We added latency and jitter to the mouse and compared it to a 3D tracker. Results indicate that latency has a stronger effect on performance than small spatial jitter. A second experiment found that erratic jitter "spikes" can affect 3D movement performance.
Cataclysmic Variables and a Candidate Helium White Dwarf in the Globular Cluster NGC 6397

We have used the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and the Faint Object Spectrograph (FOS) to study faint UV stars in the core of the nearby globular cluster NGC 6397. We confirm the presence of a fourth cataclysmic variable (CV) in NGC 6397 (hereafter CV 4), and we use the photometry of Cool et al. to present evidence that CVs 1-4 all have faint disks and probably low accretion rates. By combining these results with new UV spectra of CV 1 and the published spectra of Grindlay et al., we present new evidence that CVs 1-3 may be DQ Her systems, as originally suggested by Grindlay et al., and we show that CV 4 may either be a dwarf nova or another magnetic system. Another possibility is that the CVs could be old novae in hibernation between nova eruptions. We also present the first spectrum of a member of a new class of UV bright stars in NGC 6397. These faint, hot stars do not vary, unlike the CVs, and are thus denoted as "nonflickerers" (NFs). Like the CVs, their spatial concentration is strongly concentrated toward the cluster center. Using detailed comparisons with stellar atmosphere models, we have determined log g=6.25 ± 1.0 and Teff=17,500 ± 5,000 K for this NF. Using these line parameters and the luminosity of the NF, we show that the NF spectrum is consistent with a helium WD having a mass of ~0.25 M☉ and an age between 0.1 and 0.5 Gyr (depending on the models used). The NF spectrum appears to be significantly Doppler shifted from the expected wavelength, suggesting the presence of a dark, massive companion, probably a carbon-oxygen (CO) WD.