Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cardiovascular risk scores in the prediction of subclinical atherosclerosis in young adults: evidence from the cardiovascular risk in a young Finns study

Aim To study the utility of risk scores in the prediction of subclinical atherosclerosis in young adults. Methods and results Participants were 2204 healthy Finnish adults aged 24–39 years in 2001 from a population-based follow-up study Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns. We examined the performance of the Framingham, Reynolds, Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE), PROCAM, and Finrisk cardiovascular risk scores to predict subclinical atherosclerosis, that is carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque, carotid artery distensibility (CDist), and brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) 6 years later. In a 6-year prediction of high IMT (highest decile or plaque), areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) for baseline Finrisk (0.733), SCORE (0.726), PROCAM (0.712), and Reynolds (0.729) risk scores were similar as for Framingham risk score (0.728, P always ≥ 0.15). All risk scores had a similar discrimination in predicting low CDist (lowest decile) (0.652, 0.642, 0.639, 0.658, 0.652 respectively, P always ≥ 0.41). In the prediction of low FMD (lowest decile), Finrisk, PROCAM, Reynolds, and Framingham scores had similar AUCs (0.578, 0.594, 0.582, 0.568, P always ≥ 0.08) and SCORE discriminated slightly better (AUC = 0.596, P<0.05). The prediction of subclinical outcomes was consistent when estimated from other statistical measures of discrimination, reclassification, and calibration. Conclusion Cardiovascular disease risk scores had equal value in predicting subclinical atherosclerosis measured by IMT and CDist in young adults. SCORE was more accurate in predicting low FMD than Framingham risk score.
Electronic Discourse, Agency, and Organizational Change at Enron Corporation

This essay expands on Turnage’s (2013) examination of employees’ use of metaphor at the now defunct Enron Corporation. That article analyzed metaphors found in employee e-mail messages sent directly to former CEO Ken Lay before and during the Enron organizational crisis. Turnage argued that the metaphors employees used represented “organizational resistance through technological means. ” Following that argument, the current essay more theoretically explores the role of e-mail messages as technological objects that can create, maintain, and instigate change in organizational discourse. Using actor-network theory, the analysis provides a rare, real-world example of “hybrid agency” taking place between user and technology.
Combining Active Sampling with Parameter Estimation and Prediction in Single Networks

A typical assumption in network classification methods is that the full network is available to both learn the model and apply the model for prediction. Often this assumption is appropriate (publicly visible friendship links in social networks), however in other domains, while the underlying relational structure exists, there may be a cost associated with acquiring the edges. In this preliminary work we explore the problem domain of active sampling—where our goal is to maximize the number of positive (e.g., fraudulent) nodes identified, while simultaneously querying for network structure that is likely to improve estimates. We outline the problem domain formally and discuss five subdomains that are likely to be observed in real world scenarios. For our key finding, we show when the parameter estimates are learned from the distribution of labeled samples they are biased with respect to the parameters for the distribution of unlabeled samples, which negatively impacts the number of positive instances recalled. Additionally, we demonstrate that the estimation of the generative distribution from the labeled samples is also biased.
Reward value of loved familiar faces: an FMRI study

We have known since decades about the positive influence of social support and positive emotions on health. Different hypoth esis have been made in order to understand the relationship between these factors and physiological and psychological indexes of health and wellbeing. One of these hypothesis suggest that secure, caring and loving environments act as safety cues that activates the reward system and inhibits defensive reactions. Previous studies from our lab have shown that viewing loved familiar faces activates the appetitive motivational system and inhibits defensive responses. In these study we compared central activation during the passive viewing of loved familiar faces with the activation associated with other highly rewarding stimuli (attractive faces). Our results show that loved familiar faces provoked a higher activation of the brain reward system, e.g. the medial orbitofrontal cortex.
The internet and the internationalisation of small knowledge-intensive firms: promises, problems and prospects

Based on case studies, this paper presents some exploratory insights, supplemented by a preliminary quantitative study from a developing economy context (i.e., the software industry in Bangalore), concerning the role of the internet in the internationalisation of small knowledge-intensive firms. Three main points are made in this paper. First, the internet holds great promise in facilitating the internationalisation of small firms – especially those in peripheral regions like developing economies; the four Bangalore-based small case-firms shared this view. Second, internet technology notwithstanding, traditional aspects of business such as the importance of face-to-face interaction and the building of trust remain vital; here a potential facilitator for small firms to overcome this barrier comes in the form of internet-supported intermediaries. Third, ultimately the prospect that the internet holds for internationalising resource-poor firms is that of international growth; a preliminary study of 30 Bangalore-based small software firms suggests that this notion holds credence and is worthy of further study, on a larger scale. These findings have implications for future research, practice and policy making in terms of taking a holistic view of the use of internet technology and the leveraging of social capital.
Adapting zone routing protocol for heterogeneous scenarios in ad hoc networks

In recent years, a variety of new routing protocols for mobile ad hoc wireless NETworks (MANETs) have been developed. Performance evaluation and comparison of many of these routing protocols have been done using detailed simulation models. Zone routing protocol (ZRP) is one of these routing protocols, which is a hybrid routing protocol that proactively maintains routing information for a local neighborhood (routing zone), while reactively acquiring routes to destinations beyond the routing zone. The studies on ZRP have assumed homogeneous scenarios where all mobile nodes are statistically identical, lacking the studies on heterogeneous scenarios where mobile nodes behave differently in the same network. We study the performance of ZRP in such scenarios. We propose an efficient scheme for ZRP to adapt to the heterogeneous mobility scenario and study its performance for different mobility scenarios, network loads and network sizes
Achievability Proof via Output Statistics of Random Binning

This paper introduces a new and ubiquitous framework for establishing achievability results in network information theory problems. The framework uses random binning arguments and is based on a duality between channel and source coding problems. Furthermore, the framework uses pmf approximation arguments instead of counting and typicality. This allows for proving coordination and strong secrecy problems, where certain statistical conditions on the distribution of random variables need to be satisfied. These statistical conditions include independence between messages and eavesdropper's observations in secrecy problems and closeness to a certain distribution (usually, i.i.d. distribution) in coordination problems. One important feature of the framework is to enable one to add an eavesdropper and obtain a result on the secrecy rates for free. We make a case for generality of the framework by studying examples in a variety of settings including channel coding, lossy source coding, joint source-channel coding, coordination, strong secrecy, feedback, and relaying. In particular, by investigating the framework for the lossy source coding problem over broadcast channel, it is shown that the new framework provides a simple alternative scheme to the hybrid coding scheme. In addition, new results on secrecy rate region (under strong secrecy criterion) of wiretap broadcast channel and wiretap relay channel are derived. In a set of accompanied papers, we have shown the usefulness of the framework to establish achievability results for coordination problems, including interactive channel simulation, coordination via relay and channel simulation via another channel.
Recovery From Adolescent Substance Use Disorder: Young People in Recovery Describe the Process and Keys to Success in an Alternative Peer Group

Though “recovery management” is the current paradigm for substance use disorder treatment, the mechanisms and processes by which adolescents achieve long-term recovery remain undefined. Seeking to learn from those with lived experience, the author conducted an extensive ethnography with participants of an established but previously unstudied recovery support program. The alternative peer group (APG) model blends positive peer influence with clinical practice to help adolescents achieve recovery. This overview manuscript expands the definition of adolescent recovery and identifies treatment and contextual elements that promote the recovery process. A model for adolescent recovery is proposed, and implications for research and practice are discussed.
1 Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy in Breast Cancer

Neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NST) has become a frequently used option for systemic therapy in primary operable breast cancer. All patients with a clear indication for adjuvant systemic treatment can be offered systemic therapy preoperatively. These recommendations focus on early response to NST and on tailoring therapy to response and biological and histological markers. Three main goals for NST in operable breast cancer were defined: To reduce mortality from breast cancer with reduced toxicity. To improve surgical options. To acquire early information on response and biology of the disease. A recent Oxford meta-analysis (EBCTCG, 2005) of randomized studies of more than 4000 women, comparing postoperative and neoadjuvant chemotherapy for operable breast cancer, demonstrated equivalent overall survival rates with a hazard ratio of 0.98 (p = 0.67). Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was associated with fewer adverse effects, and associated with a higher rate of breast conserving surgery (p < 0.001). In addition, patients who achieved a pCR had a better survival than those who had residual disease in the breast and lymph nodes. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is associated with a small increase in the risk of locoregional recurrence in patients who went on to receive radiotherapy without surgery as local therapy.
Secure Communication via Shared Knowledge and a Salted Hash in Ad-Hoc Environments

Decentralized, message-based communication networks commonly require mechanisms for message confidentiality and integrity. While these needs are traditionally provided through methods of channel encryption and signing, such mechanisms are often difficult or impossible to implement in the ad-hoc, decentralized environments seen in sensor networks, collaborative intrusion detection systems, or other similar peer-to-peer networks. Using the concepts from one-way hashing and language-derived relevance theory, we propose five novel contributions relevant to ad-hoc communications and security: one-way cryptographic hashing as a mechanism for securely communicating in an environment where preexisting shared knowledge exists, hashed shared knowledge messages as a basis for secure formation of self-selecting subgroups and trust building, adding salt to the shared knowledge hashes to remove the static nature of common messages and defend against precomputed table attacks, integration of variable complexity hash functions to dynamically adjust hash complexity relative to message complexity, and a message integrity element based on the secrecy of the original shared knowledge within a hashed message. Although our proposed mechanisms are likely implemented without difficulty from a network and encryption standpoint, they do require significant integration and awareness within the applications relying on them. The method also assumes a static value from a large existing set of shared knowledge, which does not always exist.
Wireless Networks With RF Energy Harvesting: A Contemporary Survey

Radio frequency (RF) energy transfer and harvesting techniques have recently become alternative methods to power the next-generation wireless networks. As this emerging technology enables proactive energy replenishment of wireless devices, it is advantageous in supporting applications with quality-of-service requirements. In this paper, we present a comprehensive literature review on the research progresses in wireless networks with RF energy harvesting capability, which is referred to as RF energy harvesting networks (RF-EHNs). First, we present an overview of the RF-EHNs including system architecture, RF energy harvesting techniques, and existing applications. Then, we present the background in circuit design as well as the state-of-the-art circuitry implementations and review the communication protocols specially designed for RF-EHNs. We also explore various key design issues in the development of RF-EHNs according to the network types, i.e., single-hop networks, multiantenna networks, relay networks, and cognitive radio networks. Finally, we envision some open research directions.
CHAPTER 3 Discriminative Validity

Donald Campbell has made many contributions of broad methodological, epistemological, and practical importance to psychology as a science. Within his discussions of methodological issues, validity was a prominent theme. This chapter discusses the more specific notion of discriminative validity. Among hindrances to the progress of scientific psychology, inventing new names for old concepts is one of the more troublesome (Miller & Pollock, 1994). In many areas of psychology, researchers have attached their own idiosyncratic term to a concept, thereby making it more distinctive (and self-referring). Giving a previous well-studied concept, process, or idea, a new label is akin to “reinventing the wheel. ” Rosenthal (1994), with a deft turn of phrase, introduced the term concept capture to describe this not uncommon tendency. There may well be positive features of this practice, such as calling attention to a concept or process, which in turn stimulates research on it and thereby increases scientific understanding. At the same time, however, it clutters the field with unnecessary terms and is antithetical to the scientific ideals of parsimony and conceptual integration. Put bluntly, instances of concept capture amount to a false assertion
Current Challenges in Pain Management in Hip Fracture Patients

Summary: The high incidence of hip fracture, together with considerable associated morbidity, mortality, and cost of care, makes this injury a major clinical challenge. Of particular importance is the pain associated with hip fracture, which can have potentially severe consequences and may lead to delayed recovery. The prevailing opioid-dependent model of analgesia, however, presents multiple drawbacks and risks that can compromise outcomes in the hip fracture population. The pain management process has essential preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative components, yet data on the comparative effectiveness of different pain management interventions in patients undergoing surgery for hip fracture are not clear cut. A Cochrane database review that included 83 different pain management studies indicated that there are not enough well-designed studies to show unequivocally which pain management approaches work well after hip fracture surgery. Yet a growing body of data on certain interventions, such as nerve blocks and multimodal analgesia, supports consideration of these options.
A multiscale crater function model for ion-induced pattern formation in silicon

The ion-induced formation of nanometer-scale ripples on semiconductors, long known as the sputter erosion surface instability, is explained using a coupled atomistic-continuum framework. Molecular dynamics simulations of individual medium energy ion impacts on an amorphous silicon target show that the average effect of an incident ion is to leave an ångström-scale crater-like impression on the surface, complete with a crater rim. The summation of many such impacts on a micron-scale surface, combined with the smoothing effect of surface diffusion, leads to the formation of surface ripples aligned perpendicular to the projected ion beam direction. The same numerical approach can be used to evaluate the standard analytical model for this process, known as the Bradley–Harper model. Both Bradley–Harper surface evolution and the atomistically determined crater function surface evolution are computed over time under conditions similar to those for known experimental data. The results show that the surface mass rearrangement associated with the finite atomistic crater rims explains a key experimental observation, ripple amplitude saturation, which cannot be accurately explained using the Bradley–Harper model or any other known numerical or analytical model for the sputter erosion surface instability.
A modular versatile chip carrier for high-throughput screening of cell–biomaterial interactions

The field of biomaterials research is witnessing a steady rise in high-throughput screening approaches, comprising arrays of materials of different physico-chemical composition in a chip format. Even though the cell arrays provide many benefits in terms of throughput, they also bring new challenges. One of them is the establishment of robust homogeneous cell seeding techniques and strong control over cell culture, especially for long time periods. To meet these demands, seeding cells with low variation per tester area is required, in addition to robust cell culture parameters. In this study, we describe the development of a modular chip carrier which represents an important step in standardizing cell seeding and cell culture conditions in array formats. Our carrier allows flexible and controlled cell seeding and subsequent cell culture using dynamic perfusion. To demonstrate the application of our device, we successfully cultured and evaluated C2C12 premyoblast cell viability under dynamic conditions for a period of 5 days using an automated pipeline for image acquisition and analysis. In addition, using computational fluid dynamics, lactate and BMP-2 as model molecules, we estimated that there is good exchange of nutrients and metabolites with the flowing medium, whereas no cross-talk between adjacent TestUnits should be expected. Moreover, the shear stresses to the cells can be tailored uniformly over the entire chip area. Based on these findings, we believe our chip carrier may be a versatile tool for high-throughput cell experiments in biomaterials sciences.
Minerals consumption by Acetobacter xylinum on cultivation medium on coconut water

The objective of this work is to verifying the consume of the minerals K, Na, Fe, Mg, P, S-SO4−2, B, N Total Kjedahl (NTK), NO3−-N, and NH4+-N in the production of bacterial cellulose by Acetobacter xylinum, according to the medium and the manner of cultivation. The fermentative process was in ripe and green coconut water. K and Na were determined by flame emission photometry, Mg and Fe by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, P by molecular absorption spectrophotometry, S-SO4−2 by barium sulphate turbidimetry, B by Azomethin-H method, NTK by Kjeldahl method, N-NO3− and N-NH4+ by vapor distillation with magnesium oxide and Devarda’s alloy, respectively. In Fermentation of ripe coconut water there were higher consumption of K (69%), Fe (84,3%), P (97,4%), S-SO2−2 (64,9%), B (56,1%), N-NO3− (94,7%) and N-NH4+ (95,2%), whereas coconut water of green fruit the most consumed ions were Na (94,5%), Mg (67,7%) and NTK (56,6%). The cultivation under agitation showed higher mineral consumption. The higher bacterial cellulose production, 6 g.L−1, was verified in the coconut water fermentative in ripe fruit, added KH2PO4, FeSO4 and NaH2PO4 kept under agitation.
Effect of the Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin 9 Monoclonal Antibody, AMG 145, in Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia

Background— Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia is a rare, serious disorder with a substantial reduction in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor function, severely elevated LDL cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, and often death in childhood. Response to conventional drug therapies is modest. Monoclonal antibodies to proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 (PCSK9) reduce LDL cholesterol in heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. The effect in homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia is unknown and uncertain. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of AMG 145 in an open-label, single-arm, multicenter, dose-scheduling pilot study in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. Methods and Results— Eight patients with LDL receptor–negative or –defective homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia on stable drug therapy were treated with subcutaneous 420 mg AMG 145 every 4 weeks for ≥12 weeks, followed by 420 mg AMG 145 every 2 weeks for an additional 12 weeks. All patients completed both treatment periods. Mean change from baseline in LDL cholesterol at week 12 was −16.5% (range, 5.2% to −43.6%; P=0.0781) and −13.9% (range, 39.9% to −43.3%; P=0.1484) with 4- and 2-week dosing, respectively. No reduction was seen in the 2 receptor-negative patients. Over the treatment periods, mean±SD LDL cholesterol reductions in the 6 LDL receptor–defective patients were 19.3±16% and 26.3±20% with 4- and 2-week dosing, respectively (P=0.0313 for both values), ranging from 4% to 48% with 2-week dosing. No serious side effects were reported. Conclusion— This study demonstrates significant and dose-related LDL cholesterol lowering with a PCSK9 monoclonal antibody in homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia patients with defective LDL receptor activity but no reduction in those who were receptor negative. Clinical Trial Registration— URL: http://www.clinicaltrials. gov. Unique identifiers: NCT01588496 and NCT01624142.
Super-resolution with depth-adapted gain control for depth-feel enhancement of landscape image

A super-resolution method that enhances the depth-feel of images is proposed. Our method controls the gain of the super-resolution effect by using a depth map. The proposed method is effective for landscape images containing far objects and large difference of distance. The proposed method creates an image from which viewers derive a feeling of high realism by clearly perceiving the difference of distances of near and far objects.