Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fall-related Deterioration of Subjective Symptoms in Patients with Cervical Myelopathy

Study design. Retrospective multi-center study. Objective. This study was conducted to clarify the incidence and neurological outcomes of fall-related deterioration of subjective symptoms in patients undergoing surgical treatment. Summary of Background Data. The evidence that minor trauma, including falls, increases the risk of worsening cervical myelopathy is insufficient. Methods. A retrospective analysis of patients who had undergone surgery for cervical myelopathy at 12 participating institutes was conducted. Patients who had undergone surgery for symptomatic cervical myelopathy from January 2012 to December 2013 and completed at least 1-year follow-up were included in this study. Data were collected by chart review and a questionnaire that included numbers of recalled falls during the last preoperative year and first postoperative year, circumstances of falls, and whether the patient had experienced fall-related deterioration of subjective symptoms. Results. A total of 360 eligible patients were recruited into the study. Of these, 177 (49%) reported at least one fall during the last preoperative year, and 105 (29%) experienced fall-related deterioration of subjective symptoms. Forty (11%) reported deterioration of numbness in the arms or legs, and 65 (18%) reported deterioration of motor deficits. Incidences of falls and fall-related deterioration of symptoms decreased significantly after surgery. Patients who experienced fall-related deterioration of motor deficits showed significantly worse surgical outcomes as assessed by Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score compared with those who did not experience deterioration. The optimal cut-off for preoperative JOA score in predicting an increased risk of fall-related deterioration in motor deficits was 8. Conclusion. Patients with cervical myelopathy commonly experienced preoperative fall-related deterioration of subjective symptoms, associated with significantly worse neurological outcomes. Surgical treatment significantly reduced the incidence of both falls and fall-related deterioration of subjective symptoms. Level of Evidence: 4
MDC1 Regulates DNA-PK Autophosphorylation in Response to DNA Damage*

DNA damage initiates signaling events through kinase cascades that result in cell cycle checkpoint control and DNA repair. However, it is not yet clear how the signaling pathways relay to DNA damage repair. Using the repeat region of checkpoint protein MDC1 (mediator of DNA damage checkpoint protein 1), we identified DNA-PKcs/Ku as MDC1-associated proteins. Here, we show that MDC1 directly interacts with the Ku/DNA-PKcs complex. Down-regulation of MDC1 resulted in defective phospho-DNA-PKcs foci formation and DNA-PKcs autophosphorylation, suggesting that MDC1 regulates autophosphorylation of DNA-PKcs following DNA damage. Furthermore, DNA-PK-dependent DNA damage repair is defective in cells depleted of MDC1. Taken together, these results suggest that the MDC1 repeat region is involved in protein-protein interaction with DNA-PKcs/Ku, and MDC1 regulates DNA damage repair by influencing DNA-PK autophosphorylation. Therefore, MDC1 acts not only as a mediator of DNA damage checkpoint but also as a mediator of DNA damage repair.
Vinculin, VASP, and profilin are coordinately regulated during actin remodeling in epithelial cells, which requires de novo protein synthesis and protein kinase signal transduction pathways

Transformation progression of epithelial cells involves alterations in their morphology, polarity, and adhesive characteristics, all of which are associated with the loss and/or reorganization of actin structures. To identify the underlying mechanism of formation of the adhesion‐dependent, circumferential actin network, the expression and localization of the actin binding and regulating proteins (ABPs), vinculin, VASP, and profilin were evaluated. Experimental depolarization of epithelial cells results in the loss of normal F‐actin structures and the transient upregulation of vinculin, VASP, and profilin. This response is due to the loss of cell–cell, and not cell–substrate interactions, since cells that no longer express focal adhesions or stress fibers are still sensitive to changes in adhesion and manifest this in the altered profile of expression of these ABPs. Transient upregulation is dependent upon de novo protein synthesis, and protein kinase‐, but not phosphatase‐sensitive signal transduction pathway(s). Inhibition of the synthesis of these proteins is accompanied by dephosphorylation of the ribosomal S6 protein, but does not involve inhibition of the PI3‐kinase‐Akt‐mTOR pathway. Constitutive expression of VASP results in altered cell morphology and adhesion and F‐actin and vinculin structures. V12rac1 expressing epithelial cells are constitutively nonadhesive, malignantly transformed, and constitutively express high levels of these ABPs, with altered subcellular localizations. Transformation suppression is accompanied by the restoration of normal levels of the three ABPs, actin structures, adhesion, and epithelial morphology. Thus, vinculin, VASP, and profilin are coordinately regulated by signal transduction pathways that effect a translational response. Additionally, their expression profile maybe indicative of the adhesion and transformation status of epithelial cells. J. Cell. Physiol. 200: 277–290, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Trust in Mobile Banking: The Effect of Culture

Mobile banking is a new financial innovation that is gaining acceptance at varying levels in different parts of the world. Mobile banking is a technological innovation whose acceptance can be explained by the technology acceptance model in information systems. Furthermore, intentions to use a mobile banking service can be explained by an individual’s initial trust in the banker. Previous research has also established the role of culture in the acceptance and use of technology. Our study integrates all these three perspectives and examines them in order to understand their linkage to behavior.
Tandem Sequence Duplications Functionally Complement Deletions in the D1 Protein of Photosystem II (*)

Obligate photoheterotrophic mutants of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 that carry deletions of conserved residues in the plastoquinone-binding niche of the D1 protein were used to select for spontaneous mutations that restore photoautotrophic growth. Spontaneous pseudorevertants emerged from two deletion mutants, ΔYNIV and ΔNN, when the cultures were maintained long after the carbon source (glucose) had been depleted from the medium and cells had reached stationary phase. Most pseudorevertants were found to contain tandem duplications of 6-45-base pair DNA sequences located close to the domain carrying the deletion; none of them restored the wild-type sequence. Three pseudorevertants isolated from the ΔYNIV mutant contained a duplication (7-15 codons) of the DNA sequence immediately downstream of the deletion; the protein region encoded by this DNA may include part of the putative de helix, an important constituent of the plastoquinone-binding niche. Three pseudorevertants isolated from the ΔNN mutant contained duplications corresponding to 2-8 amino acid residues adjacent to the site of the deletion. In all six pseudorevertants carrying duplications, the length of the D1 protein in the modified regions was restored to at least the length present in wild type, suggesting that a minimal length of these protein domains may be required for functional integrity. In another photoautotrophic strain isolated from ΔNN, no secondary mutations could be identified in the gene coding for the D1 protein; such mutations apparently reside on another protein subunit of the photosystem II complex. Photosystem II function in the pseudorevertants was altered as compared with wild type in terms of growth and oxygen evolution rates, photosystem II concentration, the semiquinone equilibrium at the acceptor side, and thermostability. A mechanism leading to tandem sequence duplication may involve DNA damage followed by DNA synthesis, strand displacement, and ligation.
Evaluating the use of TLS and DTLS protocols in IoT middleware systems applied to E-health

The evolution of the Internet of Things (IoT) has brought new security requirements in terms of communication services with respect to data transmitted in mobile networks. Although IoT middleware systems have been used to cope with the most relevant requirements demanded by different IoT applications, security is a special topic that is not mature enough in this kind of technology. E-health is an example of environment that exposes sensitive data. The security challenges regarding e-health applications are concentrated mainly on issues surrounding the communication layer, specially those cases where data are transmitted over insecure networks. TLS and DTLS protocols have been chosen by most of the existing IoT systems in order to protect such communications. However, none of them was designed to be used in IoT situations. In addition, none of the existing works analyzes their suitability to the IoT regarding the usage of mobile networks, which are common in real-world scenarios of e-health. In this paper, we analyze the use of TLS and DTLS protocols in IoT middleware systems applied to the e-health environment regarding performance (i.e., response time), overhead, network latency and packet loss when operating in mobile networks. We evaluated both protocols through a specific e-health scenario. Tests revealed the usage of mobile networks increases response time and overhead of both protocols, on average, when compared to traditional networks.
Fuel-Switching Capability

Taking into account the link between energy demand and equipment choice, leads to a new model of energy demand where the key variables are energy prices, price volatility and the costs of equipment. In particular we show that adjustment to changes in relative energy prices are generally asymmetric, as the adjustment involves adaptation of equipment costs. As a consequence, the optimal equipment choice in the long run could imply short-term allocative ine¢ ciency in energy use. This model can be seen as a mix or a generalization of the Putty-Putty versus Putty-Clay models of energy use. Depending on the technology and in particular costs of energy equipment, the model gives drastically di¤erent predictions about the e¤ect of energy prices and uncertainty on energy demand. Key Words : Energy Use, Equipment choice, Investment JEL Classi cation : 022, 640, 723 We are grateful to the Institut Francais de lEnergie for its nancial research support. University of Toulouse, CEA and LEERNA, 21 allee de Brienne, 31000 Toulouse Cedex, tel: (33) 5 61 12 85 91, fax: (33) 5 61 12 86 37, Email : bousquet@cict.fr. yUniversity of Toulouse, IDEI and LEERNA, 21 allee de Brienne, 31000 Toulouse Cedex, tel: (33) 5 61 12 85 90, fax: (33) 5 61 12 86 37, Email : ladoux@cict.fr.
Identifying Odometer Fraud: Evidence from the Used Car Market in the Czech Republic

This paper investigates the presence of odometer fraud in the used-car market in the Czech Republic using a unique dataset of 250,000 car-sale ads. Alternative identification techniques are also discussed. However, selection into the market as well as the practice of rounding odometer readings---possibly strategic yet innocent---render the standard statistical tests unusable. A modification of the last-digit test, which was previously used to detect fraud in election and accounting data, is therefore developed and employed. The results suggest that suspicious patterns are more prevalent in the segment of cars imported from abroad. I also show that this methodology can be used at the firm-level, which may be of interest to authorities and market participants.
Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres Constraints to do realistic modeling of the electric field ahead of the tip of a lightning leader

Several computer models exist to explain the observation of terrestrial gamma-ray flashes (TGFs). Some of these models estimate the electric field ahead of lightning leaders and its effects on electron acceleration and multiplication. In this paper, we derive a new set of constraints to do more realistic modeling. We determine initial conditions based on in situ measurements of electric field and vertical separation between the main charge layers of thunderclouds. A maximum electric field strength of 50 kV/cm at sea level is introduced as the upper constraint for the leader electric field. The threshold for electron avalanches to develop of 2.86 kV/cm at sea level is introduced as the lower value. With these constraints, we determine a region where acceleration and multiplication of electrons occur. The maximum potential difference in this region is found to be ∼52 MV, and the corresponding number of avalanche multiplication lengths is ∼3.5. We then quantify the effect of the ambient electric field compared to the leader field at the upper altitude of the negative tip. Finally, we argue that only leaders with the highest potential difference between its tips (∼600 MV) can be candidates for the production of TGFs. However, with the assumptions we have used, these cannot explain the observed maximum energies of at least 40 MeV. Open questions with regard to the temporal development of the streamer zone and its effect on the shape of the electric field remain.
A Data Mining Model for Detecting Financial and Operational Risk Indicators of SMEs

In this paper, a data mining model to SMEs for detecting financial and operational risk indicators by data mining is presenting. The identification of the risk factors by clarifying the relationship between the variables defines the discovery of knowledge from the financial and operational variables. Automatic and estimation oriented information discovery process coincides the definition of data mining. During the formation of model; an easy to understand, easy to interpret and easy to apply utilitarian model that is far from the requirement of theoretical background is targeted by the discovery of the implicit relationships between the data and the identification of effect level of every factor. In addition, this paper is based on a project which was funded by The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK). Keywords—Risk Management, Financial Risk, Operational Risk, Financial Early Warning System, Data Mining, CHAID Decision Tree Algorithm, SMEs.
Pediatric Optical Coherence Tomography in Clinical Practice-Recent Progress.

PURPOSE Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has revolutionized the diagnosis and management of adult retinal and optic nerve disease. Children were deprived of this technology until the recent development of handheld spectral-domain OCT (HH-SDOCT). In this article, we review the applications of OCT imaging in pediatric ophthalmology. METHODS This study was a review of the literature. RESULTS The acquisition and interpretation of pediatric tomograms differ significantly from those for adults, with adjustments needed to account for the shorter axial lengths, higher refractive errors, and ongoing retinal and optic nerve development in the pediatric eye. Handheld SDOCT is increasingly being used as an adjunctive diagnostic tool in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and nonaccidental injury (NAI) by providing additional morphologic information that is not normally clinically discernible. The role of HH-SDOCT in streamlining diagnosis in infantile nystagmus syndrome, retinal dystrophies, and degenerations has been established. Optical coherence tomography can also help differentiate between pediatric intraocular tumors, for example, hamartomas and retinoblastoma; monitor tumor progression; and monitor treatment response. In addition, HH-SDOCT is establishing its role as a noninvasive monitoring tool in children affected by optic nerve pathology such as glaucoma, optic nerve atrophy and hypoplasia, optic pathway glioma, and pseudotumor cerebri. CONCLUSIONS Handheld SDOCT can provide novel insights into the natural history of retinal and optic nerve diseases in young children. For example, in achromatopsia and albinism, in vivo OCT studies have provided evidence of altered but ongoing retinal development in early childhood, which suggests that potentially targeting treatment at an earlier age may optimize visual function by normalizing retinal development.
An integrated inventory policy with deterioration for a single vendor and multiple buyers in supply chain when demand is quadratic

In this paper, an integrated inventory policy for deteriorating item is developed considering single vendor and multi buyers in supply chain system, when demand of a product is increasing function with time. The model assumed constant rate of deterioration at each level of supply chain. A numerical example is shown to validate the results of the proposed development. The sensitivity analysis is carried out for certain model parameters. It is observed that the integrated decision for inventory policy between the players of supply chain lowers the total joint cost compared with an independent decision made by the supplier and all N buyers.
Static Deformation due to Two-Dimensional Seismic Sources Embedded in an Isotropic Half-Space in Welded Contact with an Orthotropic Half-Space.

Closed-form analytic expressions for the displacements and stresses at any point of a two-phase medium consisting of a homogeneous, isotropic, perfectly elastic half-space in welded contact with a homogeneous, orthotropic, perfectly elastic half-space caused by two-dimensional seismic sources located in the isotropic half-space are obtained. The method consists of first finding the integral expressions for two half-spaces in welded contact from the corresponding expressions for an unbounded medium by applying suitable boundary conditions at the interface and then evaluating the integrals analytically. Numerical computations indicate that the deformation field due to a source in an isotropic half-space in welded contact with an anisotropic half-space may differ substantially from the deformation field when both the half-spaces are isotropic.
Chinese Currency Controversies

This Paper reviews the controversy over China’s exchange rate regime. Placing the issue in the context of the literature on exit strategies, it argues that now is the best time for China to exit from its peg. Moving to a managed float would be in the country’s own interest; it would help the Chinese authorities to gain better control of domestic money and credit conditions. The Paper argues that the principal objections to this recommendation – that the country’s banking system is weak, many of its state enterprises are bankrupt, and its capital account is not yet sufficiently open – are unconvincing. Finally it assesses the likely impact on other Asian countries, concluding contrary to the conventional wisdom that these are likely to be minor at best.
Multi-product firms, exports and exchange rate policies. Evidence from an emerging economy

Bulgaria follows a currency board tied to the euro. The analysis of the effects that adopting the euro might have on its export sector is crucial for Bulgaria and other similar Eastern European countries. Bulgaria, a middle-income country has now more multi-product firms (MPFs) than single-product firms (SPFs). Thus, MPFs is not only a characteristic of only high-income countries. The contribution of adding and dropping products within a single firm is important to the export sector and the aggregate economy. MPFs benefit from exporting to EU markets by becoming more productive and encouraged to exporting more product varieties while beating down the costs of producing these new varieties and the cannibalization effect. These MPFs might be in advantage as a result of facing lower exchange rate costs and being better exposed to the acquisition of know-how and technology from participating in EU markets. MPFs cut their product diversity only to non-EU countries to keep core competence and in response to adverse changes in the exchange rate.
Generalization Effects of k-Neighbor Interpolation Training

This paper describes a new training method for a continuous mapping and/or pattern classification neural network that performs local sample-density smoothing. A conventional training method uses point-to-point mapping from an input space to an output space. Even though the mapping may be precise at two given training sample points, there are no guarantees of mapping accuracy at points on a line segment connecting the sample points. This paper first discusses a theory for formulating line-to-line mapping. The theory is called interpolation training. This paper then expands the theory to k-nearest neighbor interpolation. The k-neighbor interpolation training (KNIT) method connects an input sample training point to its k-neighbor points via k line segments. Then, the method maps these k line segments in the input space for each training sample to linear line segments in the output space that interpolate between training output values. Thus, a web structure made by connecting input samples is mapped into the same structure in an output space. The KNIT method reduces the over learning problem caused by point-to-point training by smoothing input/output functions. Simulation tasks show that KNIT improves vowel recognition on a small speech database.
Air pollution and asthma control in the Epidemiological study on the Genetics and Environment of Asthma

Background The associations between exposure to air pollution and asthma control are not well known. The objective of this study was to assess the association between long-term exposure to NO2, O3 and PM10 and asthma control in the follow-up of the Epidemiological study on the Genetics and Environment of Asthma (EGEA2) (2003–2007). Methods Modelled outdoor NO2, O3 and PM10 estimates were linked to each residential address using the 4 km grid air pollutant surface developed by the French Institute of Environment in 2004. Asthma control was assessed in 481 subjects with current asthma using a multidimensional approach following the 2006–2009 Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines. Multinomial and ordinal logistic regressions were conducted adjusted for sex, age, body mass index, education, smoking and use of inhaled corticosteroids. The association between air pollution and the three domains of asthma control (symptoms, exacerbations and lung function) was assessed. ORs are reported per IQR. Results Median concentrations (in micrograms per cubic metre) were 32 (IQR 25–38) for NO2 (n=465), 46 (41–52) for O3 and 21 (18–21) for PM10 (n=481). In total, 44%, 29% and 27% had controlled, partly controlled and uncontrolled asthma, respectively. The ordinal ORs for O3 and PM10 with asthma control were 1.69 (95% CI 1.22 to 2.34) and 1.35 (95% CI 1.13 to 1.64), respectively. When including both pollutants in the same model, both associations persisted. Associations were not modified by sex, smoking status, use of inhaled corticosteroids, atopy, season of examination or body mass index. Both pollutants were associated with each of the three main domains of control. Conclusions The results suggest that long-term exposure to PM10 and O3 is associated with uncontrolled asthma in adults, defined by symptoms, exacerbations and lung function.
Weighted PCM

A modified form of pulse-code modulation, called weighted pcm, is described in which the relative amplitudes of the pulses within the pulse-code groups are adjusted so as to minimize the noise power in the reconstructed signal due to errors in transmission. A performance analysis shows the knee of the output signal-to-noise ratio curve to be moved 1.4 db to the left for a weighted seven-digit pcm system. An information rate study reveals that the maximum improvement which can ever be achieved by any encoding process over a conventional seven-digit pcm system is only 8 db. The importance of selecting a suitable system worth criterion is emphasized by showing that weighting increases the information rate relative to an rms fidelity criterion but decreases it on a pure equivocation basis.