Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Factors influencing the quality of life perception in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Purpose To evaluate the impact of several factors on the patient’s perception on quality of life in a group of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Patients and methods In this cross-sectional study, 198 patients with T2DM were enrolled according to a consecutive-case population-based study design. In all participants, the perception on the quality of life was measured using the quality of life index – diabetes version III proposed by Ferrans and Powers. We evaluated the impact of several anthropometric and diabetes-related (ie, diabetes history and quality of glycemic control) factors on the patient’s perception on the quality of life. Results The presence of diabetes complications was associated with a decreased quality of life: retinopathy (1 vs 5 points; P<0.001), chronic kidney disease (−1 vs 5 points; P<0.001), and neuropathy (−1 vs 5 points; P<0.001). A significant reverse correlation was found between the patient’s quality of life and depression’s severity (Spearman’s r=−0.345; P<0.001) and body mass index (Spearman’s r=−0.158; P=0.026). A positive association between the quality of life and the quality of diabetes-related self-care activities was found (Spearman’s r=0.338; P<0.001). No significant association was found between the patient’s quality of life and the quality of glycemic control, diabetes duration, age, gender, or smoking status. Conclusion To improve the patient’s quality of life, special care should be given to the modifiable diabetes-related factors: the prevention and treatment of diabetes complications, treatment of depression, and weight loss in obese and overweight patients.
Meta‐analysis of two surgical approaches for calcaneal fractures: sinus tarsi versus extensile lateral approach

There remains a controversy between extensile lateral approach and sinus tarsi approach (STA) to treat calcaneal fractures. The aim of this study is to evaluate the medium‐ and long‐term outcomes of the STA versus extensile lateral approach in terms of intraoperative variables, quality of alignment on a lateral radiograph incidence of wound healing complication, visual analogue scale and American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society for the treatment of calcaneal fractures.
Access to Medicines by Seguro Popular Beneficiaries: Pending Tasks towards Universal Health Coverage

Objective In the context of aiming to achieve universal health coverage in Mexico, this study compares access to prescribed medicines (ATPM) between Seguro Popular (SP) and non-SP affiliated outpatient health service users. Materials and Methods ATPM by 6,123 users of outpatient services was analyzed using the National Health and Nutrition Survey 2012. Adjusted bi-probit models were performed incorporating instrumental variables. Results 17.3% of SP and 10.1% of the non-SP population lacked ATPM. Two-thirds of all outpatient SP and 18.5% of all outpatient non-SP received health services at Ministry of Health facilities, among whom, 64.6 and 53.6% of the SP and non-SP population respectively reported ATPM at these facilities. Lack of medicines in health units, chronic health problems (compared to acute conditions) and prescription ≥3 medicines were risk factors for non-ATPM. Adjusted models suggest that when using Ministry of Health services, the SP population has a higher probability of ATMP compared to the non-SP population. Conclusion Given the aspirations of achieving universal health coverage in Mexico, it is important to increase ATPM in Ministry of Health facilities thereby ensuring basic rights to health care are met.
What is an Effective Feature for a Detection Problem? Feature Evaluation in Multiple Scenes

We investigated effective features for human detection. The histogram of oriented gradients (HOG), which was proposed by N. Dalal, is an important representation that accumulates the edge-magnitude into a quantized histogram. Effective features similar to the HOG have been proposed. We question what the most effective feature is. We thus evaluate several features on three datasets of pedestrians, faces, and vehicles. We select the scale-invariant feature transform, local binary pattern, higher-order local auto correlation (HLAC), co-occurrence HOG, and extended CoHOG in addition to the HOG as features. These features have been adopted as effective features in related works. The features are applied to human detection on each dataset employing the real AdaBoost classifier. A comparison of classification results reveals that the combination of the HLAC and CoHOG is an effective feature for human detection.
Retrieving radio news broadcasts in Danish: accuracy and categorization of unrecognized words

Digital archives of radio news broadcasts can possibly be made searchable by combining speech recognition with information retrieval. We explore this possibility for the retrieval of news broadcasts in Danish. An average of 84% of the words in the broadcasts was recognized. Most of the unrecognized words were compounds, names, and other words that appear of value to retrieval. Thus, the set of words describing a broadcast has to be expanded to compensate for the recognition errors. We discuss doing this by exploiting the alternative matches from the speech recognizer and by extracting words from a related corpus.
Morphometric and reproductive traits of tropical Caridean shrimps

Life-history traits were studied in one marine and four fresh-water shrimps from tropical regions of western South America: Palaemon northropi, P. pandaliformis, Macrobrachium acanthurus, and M. olfersi (Palaemonidae). Occasional data are given for Macrobrachium carcinus and an atyid shrimp, Potimirim potimirim. Size was measured as total body length (TBL), carapace length (CL), and telson length (TL), weight as dry weight (W), and realized fecundity as number of eggs per female. Size and W of eggs were determined in an early stage of development. Relationships between measurements of size, weight, and fecundity are described with regression equations. Significant species- and sex-specific variation was found in the slopes of the allometric TBL-W relationship. In the 2 species of Palaemon, females grew to a larger size than males; they showed also a steeper W increase with increasing TBL. Opposite patterns were observed in M. acanthurus and M. olfersii, suggesting different traits on the generic level. The minimum sexable size (minimum size of males with appendix masculina) was unrelated to the species-specific maximum size. Size at the onset of female maturity (minimum size with eggs) was larger in M. acanthurus than in the other species (29 versus 20-22 mm); W at the onset of female maturity increased with the maximum size of a species. Regressions of egg number on TBL indicated the highest overall level as well as the strongest size-dependence of fecundity in M. olfersii; these parameters were lowest in P. pandaliformis. The reproductive output (RO:W of egg mass in relation to female body W) was lowest in the only marine species studies here, P. northropi (14.4 versus 18.6-21.7%). With the possible exception of the RO, the life-history traits of these tropical shrimps appear unrelated to the climatic origin or habitat of a species.
Study of the Track–Train Continuous Information Transmission Process in a High-Speed Railway

In the experiments and practical applications in a high-speed railway, it is observed that the carrier frequency of the sampled signal in a track circuit reader (TCR) is changed with train speed and goes beyond the upper permissive range prescribed for a jointless track circuit (JTC) in some cases. This can directly affect the availability of train target speed in train control systems and thus has an effect on the generation of the distance-to-go profile. It not only reduces the safety and efficiency of train traveling but also limits the improvement of train speed. To find the primary cause of the deviation in carrier frequency of the sampled signal in TCR (CFSST), this paper models the track-to-train continuous information transmission process using the transmission line theory based on the structures and principles of JTC and TCR. Then, the relation between the deviation in CFSST and the train speed is derived. Experimental results in high-speed railway have verified the correctness of the analysis, and the study can provides a strong theoretical basis for improving the safety level of railway traffic. Moreover, it can be a good reference for other countries where the similar track circuits are applied.
The Data Civilizer System

In many organizations, it is often challenging for users to ﬁnd relevant data for speciﬁc tasks, since the data is usually scattered across the enterprise and often inconsistent. In fact, data scientists routinely report that the majority of their effort is spent ﬁnding, cleaning, integrating, and accessing data of interest to a task at hand. In order to decrease the “grunt work” needed to facilitate the analysis of data “in the wild”, we present D ATA C IVILIZER , an end-to-end big data management system. D ATA C IVILIZER has a linkage graph computation module to build a linkage graph for the data and a data discovery module which utilizes the linkage graph to help identify data that is relevant to user tasks. It also uses the linkage graph to discover possible join paths that can then be used in a query. For the actual query execution, we use a polystore DBMS, which federates query processing across disparate systems. In addition, D ATA C IVILIZER integrates data cleaning operations into query processing. Because different users need to invoke the above tasks in different orders, D ATA C IVILIZER embeds a workﬂow engine which enables the arbitrary composition of different modules, as well as the handling of data updates. We have deployed our preliminary D ATA C IVILIZER system in two institutions, MIT and Merck and describe initial positive experiences that show the system shortens the time and effort required to ﬁnd, prepare, and analyze data
Optimal investment and consumption strategies for small investor using Bellman's principle of optimality

This paper discusses optimal investment and consumption strategies in discrete-time setting for a small utility-maximizing investor in a finite-time horizon. The investor is interested in maximizing his/her final utility of wealth with respect to his/her investment and consumption strategies. Within discrete-time framework, we solve the problem using Bellman's principle of optimality. To illustrate the problem, we give some numerical examples based on lattice modelling of stock price movement and make use of MAPLE programming language.
Unsupervised Nonlinear Manifold Learning

This communication deals with data reduction and regression. A set of high dimensional data (e.g., images) usually has only a few degrees of freedom with corresponding variables that are used to parameterize the original data set. Data understanding, visualization and classification are the usual goals. The proposed method reduces data considering a unique set of low-dimensional variables and a user-defined cost function in the multidimensional scaling framework. Mapping of the reduced variables to the original data is also addressed, which is another contribution of this work. Typical data reduction methods, such as Isomap or LLE, do not deal with this important aspect of manifold learning. We also tackle the inversion of the mapping, which makes it possible to project high-dimensional noisy points onto the manifold, like PCA with linear models. We present an application of our approach to several standard data sets such as the SwissRoll.
ISOTYPE Visualization: Working Memory, Performance, and Engagement with Pictographs

Although the infographic and design communities have used simple pictographic representations for decades, it is still unclear whether they can make visualizations more effective. Using simple charts, we tested how pictographic representations impact (1) memory for information just viewed, as well as under the load of additional information, (2) speed of finding information, and (3) engagement and preference in seeking out these visualizations. We find that superfluous images can distract. But we find no user costs -- and some intriguing benefits -- when pictographs are used to represent the data.
Executive Function and IQ Predict Mathematical and Attention Problems in Very Preterm Children

Objective of this study was to examine the impact of executive function (EF) on mathematical and attention problems in very preterm (gestational age ≤ 30 weeks) children. Participants were 200 very preterm (mean age 8.2 ± 2.5 years) and 230 term children (mean age 8.3 ± 2.3 years) without severe disabilities, born between 1996 and 2004. EFs assessed included verbal fluency, verbal working memory, visuospatial span, planning, and impulse control. Mathematics was assessed with the Dutch Pupil Monitoring System and parents and teachers rated attention problems using standardized behavior questionnaires. The impact of EF was calculated over and above processing speed indices and IQ. Interactions with group (very preterm versus term birth status) were examined. Analyses were conducted separately for two subsamples: children in preschool and children in primary school. Very preterm children performed poorer on tests for mathematics and had more parent and teacher rated attention problems than term controls (ßs>.11, Ps<.01). IQ contributed unique variance to mathematics in preschool and in primary school (ßs>.16, Ps<.007). A significant interaction of group with IQ (ß = −. 24, P = .02) showed that IQ contributed unique variance to attention problems as rated by teachers, but that effects were stronger for very preterm than for term infants. Over and above IQ, EF contributed unique variance to mathematics in primary school (ß = .13, P<.001), to parent rated inattention in preschool and in primary school (ßs>−.16, Ps<.04), and to teacher rated inattention in primary school (ß = −.19; ß = .19, Ps<.009). In conclusion, impaired EF is, over and above impaired IQ, an important predictor for poor mathematics and attention problems following very preterm birth.
The Equivalence of Semidefinite Relaxation MIMO Detectors for Higher-Order QAM

In multi-input multi-output (MIMO) detection, semidefinite relaxation (SDR) has been shown to be an efficient high-performance approach. For BPSK and QPSK, it has been found that SDR can provide near-optimal bit error probability performance. This has stimulated a number of recent research endeavors that aim to apply SDR to the high-order QAM cases. These independently developed SDRs are different in concept, structure and complexity, and presently no serious analysis has been given to compare these methods. This paper analyzes the relationship of three such SDR methods, namely the polynomial-inspired SDR (PI-SDR) by Wiesel , the bound-constrained SDR (BC-SDR) by Sidiropoulos and Luo, and the virtually-antipodal SDR (VA-SDR) by Mao Rather unexpectedly, we prove that the three SDRs are equivalent in the following sense: The three SDRs yield the same optimal objective values, and their optimal solutions have strong correspondences. Specifically, we establish this solution equivalence between BC-SDR and VA-SDR for any 4q -QAM constellations, and that between BC-SDR and PI-SDR for 16-QAM and 64-QAM. Moreover, the equivalence result holds for any channel, problem size, and signal-to-noise ratio. Our theoretical findings are confirmed by simulations, where the three SDRs offer identical symbol error probabilities. Additional simulation results are also provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of SDR compared to some other MIMO detectors, in terms of complexity and symbol error performance.
Hybrid co-planar diffuse optical tomography and photoacoustic imaging

The accurate quantification of lesions located in deep tissue is an important challenge in diffuse optical tomography (DOT), while photoacoustic tomography (PAT) as a non-invasive optical imaging provides high-resolution imaging of optical contrast in deep tissue that can be served as a complementary modality to improve the accuracy of DOT. Here, we coupled advantages of photoacoustic tomography (PAT) to diffuse optical tomography (DOT) for enhancing reconstructed DOT images. Using a priori information provided by PAT was used to reasonably regularize the DOT inversion procedure. The results show that hybrid DOT-PAT can provide high-resolution image in deep tissue.
Hierarchical power budgeting for Dark Silicon chips

The emerging Dark Silicon limitation has led the application designers to carefully consider the available Thermal Design Power (TDP) budgets, hardware resources, and software characteristics. In this paper, we propose a hierarchical scheme for distributing the resources and TDP budget among concurrently executing applications with multi-threaded workloads under throughput constraints. Afterwards, the application-level TDP budget is partitioned among its threads depending upon their workloads, which can then be fine-tuned at run time considering workload variations. We evaluate our scheme for the next-generation, multi-threaded, High Efficiency Video Codec and demonstrate that up to 30.86% higher throughput is achieved compared to the state-of-the-art.
INTERFEROMETRIC FOLLOW-UP OF WISE HYPER-LUMINOUS HOT, DUST-OBSCURED GALAXIES

The Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) has discovered an extraordinary population of hyper-luminous dusty galaxies that are faint in the two bluer passbands (3.4 μm and 4.6 μm) but are bright in the two redder passbands of WISE (12 μm and 22 μm). We report on initial follow-up observations of three of these hot, dust-obscured galaxies, or Hot DOGs, using the Combined Array for Research in Millimeter-wave Astronomy and the Submillimeter Array interferometer arrays at submillimeter/millimeter wavelengths. We report continuum detections at ∼1.3 mm of two sources (WISE J014946.17+235014.5 and WISE J223810.20+265319.7, hereafter W0149+2350 and W2238+2653, respectively), and upper limits to CO line emission at 3 mm in the observed frame for two sources (W0149+2350 and WISE J181417.29+341224.8, hereafter W1814+3412). The 1.3 mm continuum images have a resolution of 1″–2″ and are consistent with single point sources. We estimate the masses of cold dust are 2.0 × 108 M☉ for W0149+2350 and 3.9 × 108 M☉ for W2238+2653, comparable to cold dust masses of luminous quasars. We obtain 2σ upper limits to the molecular gas masses traced by CO, which are 3.3 × 1010 M☉ and 2.3 × 1010 M☉ for W0149+2350 and W1814+3412, respectively. We also present high-resolution, near-IR imaging with the WFC3 on the Hubble Space Telescope for W0149+2653 and with NIRC2 on Keck for W2238+2653. The near-IR images show morphological structure dominated by a single, centrally condensed source with effective radius less than 4 kpc. No signs of gravitational lensing are evident.
Towards The Generation of Functionalized Magnetic Nanowires to Target Leukemic Cells

Towards The Generation of Functionalized Magnetic Nanowires to Target Leukemic Cells Nouf Adnan Alsharif In recent years, magnetic nanowires (NWs) have been widely used for their therapeutic potential in biomedical applications. The use of iron (Fe) NWs combines two important properties, biocompatibility and remote manipulation by magnetic fields. In addition the NWs can be coated and functionalized to target cells of interest and, upon exposure to an alternating magnetic field, have been shown to induce cell death on several types of adherent cells, including several cancer cell types. For suspension cells, however, using these NWs has been much less effective primarily due to the free-floating nature of the cells minimizing the interaction between them and the NWs. Leukemic cells express higher levels of the cell surface marker CD44 (Braumüller, Gansauge, Ramadani, & Gansauge, 2000), compared to normal blood cells. The goal of this study was to functionalize Fe NWs with a specific monoclonal antibody towards CD44 in order to target leukemic cells (HL-60 cells). This approach is expected to increase the probability of a specific binding to occur between HL-60 cells and Fe NWs.
Type Qualifiers for Java

We describe Jqual, a practical framework for type qualifier inference in Java. Jqual is implemented as an Eclipse plug-in that allows researchers to quickly develop and test modifications to the Java type system based on the flexible, lightweight and familiar mechanism of type qualifiers. We demonstrate one such analysis which supports specification and checking of reference immutability for Java types modeled on the Javari language[2]. Finally, we describe the results of applying this analysis to a moderate-sized
A Naturalistic, Functional Approach to Modeling Language Comprehension

This paper describes a naturalistic approach to the development of a large-scale, functional, cognitively plausible model of language comprehension, and contrasts the approach with mainstream cognitive modeling and computational linguistic research. An approach to research is described which accepts the theoretical constraints of a cognitive architecture, while replacing the fine-grained empirical validation typical of small-scale cognitive modeling research with a functionalist methodology and gross level empirical validation more consistent with largescale AI and theoretical/computational linguistic research.
Using human extra-cortical local field potentials to control a switch

Individuals with profound paralysis and mutism require a communication channel. Traditional assistive technology devices eventually fail, especially in the case of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) subjects who gradually become totally locked-in. A direct brain-to-computer interface that provides switch functions can provide a direct communication channel to the external world. Electroencephalographic (EEG) signals recorded from scalp electrodes are significantly degraded due to skull and scalp attenuation and ambient noise. The present system using conductive skull screws allows more reliable access to cortical local field potentials (LFPs) without entering the brain itself. We describe an almost locked-in human subject with ALS who activated a switch using online time domain detection techniques. Frequency domain analysis of his LFP activity demonstrates this to be an alternative method of detecting switch activation intentions. With this brain communicator system it is reasonable to expect that locked-in, but cognitively intact, humans will always be able to communicate.
Analysis and modeling of fundamental frequency contours of Greek utterances

A quantitative model for the process of 0 contour generation, originally developed for Japanese by Fujisaki and his co-workers, has already been shown to be valid for several other languages. The present study aims at testing its applicability to 0 contours of Greek utterances. Analysis of 0 contours of 200 utterances by two native speakers of Greek, produced by reading texts of narrations and conversations, has shown that the model is essentially valid, and suggests the model’s usefulness for Text-to-Speech synthesis of Greek.
How the initialization affects the stability of the $k$-means algorithm

We investigate the role of the initialization for the stability of the қ-means clustering algorithm. As opposed to other papers, we consider the actual қ-means algorithm (also known as Lloyd algorithm). In particular we leverage on the property that this algorithm can get stuck in local optima of the қ-means objective function. We are interested in the actual clustering, not only in the costs of the solution. We analyze when different initializations lead to the same local optimum, and when they lead to different local optima. This enables us to prove that it is reasonable to select the number of clusters based on stability scores.