Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The importance of considering LDL cholesterol response as well as cardiovascular risk in deciding who can benefit from statin therapy

Purpose of review Guidelines seeking to deploy statin treatment rely heavily on the use of estimates of absolute cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk as an arbiter of who should receive statins. We question whether this is an effective strategy unless the LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) response is also considered. Recent findings Recently, meta-analyses of randomized clinical trials of statins have revealed that CVD risk decreases linearly by 22% for each 1 mmol/l reduction in LDL-C. Calculation of the number needed to treat with statins to prevent one CVD event using both the pretreatment absolute CVD risk and the LDL-C response that can be achieved is thus possible. Application of this evidence reveals that many people (including younger ones) with high LDL-C levels can benefit more than people currently receiving statin treatment solely on the basis of their absolute CVD risk, whereas others at higher CVD risk, but with lower LDL-C, will derive little benefit. This does not seem to have been adequately considered in recent clinical guidelines. Summary A simple additional mathematical step in risk assessment to take account of the LDL-C response to statins and provide knowledge of number needed to treat would greatly improve individual management, cost-effectiveness and the population impact of statins.
Performance analysis of the clustering-based multihop wireless energy harvesting sensor networks over symmetric and asymmetric fading channels

In this work, we propose a clustering-based multihop relaying with the partial relay selection scheme for an energy harvesting relaying network and analyze the performance in the framework of the decode-and-forward relaying and adaptive power splitting protocol over symmetric and asymmetric fading channel models. In particular, we analyze the system performance in terms of the outage probability, effective transmission rate, and throughput. Through extensive numerical analysis, we show that the proposed scheme can substantially outperform the conventional multihop relaying without clustering as well as direct transmission, which suggests that the proposed scheme can be used to extend the network coverage without any extra energy from the network. We also demonstrate that the proposed scheme can compensate for the performance loss due to poor radio frequency to DC conversion efficiency as well as path loss by exploiting the gain associated with multihop relaying as well as the diversity gain achieved through the partial relay selection scheme. Moreover, we investigate the relationship between the total number of relay nodes in the network and the number of hops and show that there is an optimal number of hops that can maximize the throughput for a given transmission power of the source. The effect of the asymmetric channels in our clustering-based multihop relaying is also investigated and it is revealed that the existence of Rician fading will help improve the throughput at the destination side, rather than the source side, as opposed to the conventional multihop relaying scenarios without clustering.
System identification for process control: recent experience and outlook

This work reports the development of an identification technology and its application to advanced process control (APC) in the refining/petrochemical industry. The author will introduce model predictive control (MPC) technology which, in the last two decades, has become the standard tool in industrial APC. Model identification plays a crucial role in MPC technology and it is also the most time consuming and difficult task in MPC projects and maintenance. Key issues of identification for MPC will be discussed. The so called ASYM method of identification is outlined that provides systematic solutions to problems from plant test to model validation. Based on the method, both off-line and online identification packages have been developed. A large-scale industrial application will be shown. Considerable benefits are obtained using the new identification technology: 1 reduction of identification test time and model building time by over 70% 2 higher model quality for control 3 easier in use. Then, several MPC relevant identification problems will be introduced. Based on his industrial experience, the author will provide an optimistic outlook of future APC/MPC and he will point out that identification technology can play a key role in next generation control systems.
Tiered Electron Anions in Multiple Voids of LaScSi and Their Applications to Ammonia Synthesis

Electrides—compounds in which electrons localized in interstitial spaces periodically serve as anions—have attracted broad attention for their exotic properties, such as extraordinary electron‐donating ability. In our efforts to expand this small family of phases, LaScSi emerges as a promising candidate. Its electron count is 2e− f.u. −1 in excess of that expected from the Zintl concept, while its structure offers interstitial spaces that can accommodate these extra electrons. Herein, this potential is explored through density functional theory (DFT) calculations and property measurements on LaScSi. DFT calculations (validated by heat capacity and electrical transport measurements) reveal electron density peaks at two symmetry‐distinct interstitial sites. Importantly, this electride‐like character is combined with chemical stability in air and water, an advantage for catalysis. Ru‐loaded LaScSi shows outstanding catalytic activity for ammonia synthesis, with a turnover frequency (0.1 s−1 at 0.1 MPa, 400 °C) an order of magnitude higher than those of oxide‐based Ru catalysts, e.g., Ru/MgO. As with other electrides, LaScSi's ability to reversibly store hydrogen prevents the hydrogen poisoning of Ru surfaces. The better performance of LaScSi, however, hints at the importance of the high concentration (>1.6 × 1022 cm−3) and tiered nature of its anionic electrons, which offers guidance toward new catalysts.
Dimensionality reduction and information-theoretic divergence between sets of LADAR images

This paper presents a preliminary study of information-theoretic divergence between sets of LADAR image data. This study has been motivated by the hypothesis that despite the huge dimensionality of raw image space, related images actually lie on embedded manifolds within this set of all possible images and can be represented in much lowerdimensional sub-spaces. If these low-dimensional representations can be found, information theoretic properties of the images can be exploited while circumventing many of the problems associated with the so-called "curse of dimensionality. " In this study, PCA techniques are used to find a low-dimensional sub-space representation of LADAR image sets. A real LADAR image data set was collected using the AFSTAR sensor and a synthetic image data set was created using the Irma LADAR image modeling program. One unique aspect of this study is the use of an entirely synthetic data set to find a sub-space representation that is reasonably valid for both the synthetic data set and the real data set. After the sub-space representation is found, an information-theoretic density divergence measure (Cauchy- Schwarz divergence) is computed using Parzen window estimation methods to find the divergence between and among the sets of synthetic and real target classes. These divergence measures can then be used to make target classification decisions for sets of images. In practice, this technique could be used to make classification decisions on multiple images collected from a moving sensor platform or from a geographically distributed set of cooperating sensor platforms operating in a target region.
Short-Term Institutions, Analyst Recommendations, and Mispricing: The Role of Higher-Order Beliefs

This paper documents how the interaction between short-term investors and analyst recommendations relates to a speculative component in stock prices that results in temporary overvaluation with predictable, large price reversals. In particular, stocks held by short-term institutions with optimistic analyst recommendations have large past outperformance, followed by large negative future alphas. Our results are robust to using Russell 2000 index reconstitutions to capture exogenous changes in institutional ownership, short-term trading and analyst coverage, and are stronger among stocks that are harder to short, consistent with limited arbitrage.
CTD Tyrosine Phosphorylation Impairs Termination Factor Recruitment to RNA Polymerase II

Don't Terminate Me! DNA transcription progresses through three phases—initiation, elongation, and termination—of messenger RNA chains. The transcribing enzyme, RNA polymerase (Pol) II, recruits factors that assist in each of these phases. Mayer et al. (p. 1723) now show that the C-terminal domain (CTD) of actively elongating Pol II is phosphorylated at conserved tyrosine residues. This modification impairs recruitment of termination factors. Factor exchange on the transcribing polymerase enzyme may be explained by an extended CTD code that is based on differential phosphorylation of the tyrosines and two well-characterized serine residues in the CTD. Phosphorylation of a tyrosine inhibits the binding of termination factors and promotes the binding of elongation factors. In different phases of the transcription cycle, RNA polymerase (Pol) II recruits various factors via its C-terminal domain (CTD), which consists of conserved heptapeptide repeats with the sequence Tyr1-Ser2-Pro3-Thr4-Ser5-Pro6-Ser7. We show that the CTD of transcribing yeast Pol II is phosphorylated at Tyr1, in addition to Ser2, Thr4, Ser5, and Ser7. Tyr1 phosphorylation stimulates binding of elongation factor Spt6 and impairs recruitment of termination factors Nrd1, Pcf11, and Rtt103. Tyr1 phosphorylation levels rise downstream of the transcription start site and decrease before the polyadenylation site, largely excluding termination factors from gene bodies. These results show that CTD modifications trigger and block factor recruitment and lead to an extended CTD code that explains transcription cycle coordination on the basis of differential phosphorylation of Tyr1, Ser2, and Ser5.
Defense Mechanism using Overlay against DDoS Attacks on Converged Networks

The DDoS attack that is one of the most threatening attacks in the wired network has been already extended in the wireless mobile network, owing to the appearance of DDoS attack tool against mobile phone. In the future, the latent threats for DDoS attacks should be resolved for the induction of successful convergence network. However, due to the current problems to defend them, such as the absence of the converged defense or internetworking between each defense system, the research for cooperation architecture between them allowing each defense process is indispensable. In this paper, we propose a scalable defense architecture based on overlay routing against DDoS attacks in consideration of the capacity of each node, providing speedy notification of attack detection on converged network and detouring of the normal packets before the fundamental exclusion of attack agents. Our simulation results show that our architecture provides the speedy notification and decreases the damage of normal traffic even in the form of converged DDoS attacks.
PATUS: A Code Generation and Auto-Tuning Framework For Parallel Stencil Computations

PATUS is a code generation and auto-tuning framework for stencil computations targeted at modern multiand many-core processors, such as multicore CPUs and graphics processing units. Its ultimate goals are to provide a means towards productivity and performance on current and future multiand many-core platforms. The framework generates the code for a compute kernel from a specification of the stencil operation and a Strategy: a description of the parallelization and optimization methods to be applied. We leverage the auto-tuning methodology to find the optimal hardware architecture-specific and Strategy-specific parameter configuration.
Deceleration area and fetal acidemia

Abstract Aims: To compare the predictive ability for neonatal acidemia of individual components of intrapartum cardiotocography (CTG) described by National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) system and deceleration area. Design: Case–control study. Setting: Spanish tertiary obstetrical hospital. Population: CTG patterns of 102 acidemic fetus (umbilical arterial cord gas pH ≤7.10, base deficit (BD) > 8) and 102 nonacidemic controls (umbilical arterial cord gas pH > 7.10). Methods: Two reviewers blind to clinical and outcome data analyzed the last thirty minutes before delivery of 204 fetal heart rate (FHR) tracings, extracting those features defined by NICHD and certain measures of FHR decelerations, including deceleration area, not considered by this system. Outcome measures: The primary outcome was the predictive ability of NICHD features and non-NICHD deceleration measures for fetal acidemia. The secondary outcome was the impact of deceleration area in the last 30 min of labor on gasometry components (pH, BD and lactate). Results: Minimal variability (area under the curve (AUC) 0.74), total number of late (AUC: 0.75) and prolonged decelerations (0.77) were the three NICHD features with the greatest predictive ability for fetal acidemia in the last thirty minutes of labor. Total deceleration area demonstrated the highest discrimination power (AUC: 0.83) of all the analyzed elements. For each cm2 the area increases in the last 30 min of labor, pH decreases 0.08 units, BD increases 0.272 mEq/L and lactate 0.183 mEq/L. Conclusions: Total deceleration area showed the greatest predictive ability for fetal acidemia and its measure could help to estimate intrapartum fetal acid-base status.
Potential structural and functional biomarkers of upper motor neuron dysfunction in ALS

Abstract Assessment of upper motor neuron (UMN) function in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) remains clinically based. Given the potential difficulties in identifying UMN signs, objective biomarkers of UMN dysfunction are important. Consequently, the present study assessed utility of cortical thickness analysis combined with threshold tracking transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) as biomakers of UMN dysfunction in ALS. Cortical thickness analysis and threshold tracking TMS studies were undertaken on 25 ALS patients and results were compared to healthy control subjects, with different control groups used for each technique. Structural and functional abnormalities were evident in both motor cortices in the ALS cohort and were heralded by marked reduction of short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI RAPB 1.4 ± 2.4%; SICI LAPB 3.6 ± 1.9%; SICI CONTROLS10.5 ± 1.1%, p <0.01), resting motor threshold (p <0.05) and cortical silent period duration (p <0.001) combined with increase in MEP amplitude (p <0.05) and intracortical facilitation (p <0.05). Significant cortical thinning was evident in the bitemporal regions (p <0.05), while precentral gyrus cortical thinning was evident in 56% of cases and when combined with TMS abnormalities disclosed UMN dysfunction in 88% of cases. In conclusion, findings from the present study establish that a combination of structural and functional assessment of corticomotoneurons may increase the yield of objectively identifying UMN dysfunction in ALS.
Development and clinical gains of nurse-led medication monitoring profiles.

AIM This paper reports on the development of an instrument for nurse-led medication monitoring, the West Wales Adverse Drug Reaction profile for respiratory medicines, as part of a strategy to reduce avoidable adverse drug reactions. BACKGROUND Preventable adverse drug reactions account for 3.7% hospital admissions. Nurse-led medication monitoring may reduce drug-related harm. However, development of medication monitoring strategies is not reported elsewhere. METHODS The profile was developed by: (1) cognitive interviews (n = 4), (2) the content validity index (n = 10) involving academics, clinicians and service users prescribed respiratory medicines, (3) inter-rater reliability (n = 48) and clinical gains in a nurse-led outpatient clinic. RESULTS Cognitive interviews prompted more profile changes than either the content validity index or inter-rater reliability testing. Cohen's κ for inter-rater reliability for each item ranged from 0.73-1.00 (good to complete agreement). The profile identified previously unsuspected problems in all participants, including muscular weakness, skin and mouth problems. CONCLUSIONS The West Wales Adverse Drug Reaction profile was valid and reliable, and helped to detect and ameliorate drug-related harm. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT The West Wales Adverse Drug Reaction profile offers opportunities to improve care. Medication monitoring provides the structure to concurrently monitor known adverse drug reactions. Practice-based adverse drug reaction profiles benefit from cognitive, content validity and inter-rater reliability testing.
Outlier detection for high-dimensional data

Outlier detection is an integral component of statistical modelling and estimation. For high-dimensional data, classical methods based on the Mahalanobis distance are usually not applicable. We propose an outlier detection procedure that replaces the classical minimum covariance determinant estimator with a high-breakdown minimum diagonal product estimator. The cut-off value is obtained from the asymptotic distribution of the distance, which enables us to control the Type I error and deliver robust outlier detection. Simulation studies show that the proposed method behaves well for high-dimensional data.
Pain assessment in patellar tendinopathy using pain pressure threshold algometry: an observational study.

OBJECTIVE Assessing pain in patellar tendinopathy (PT) is difficult to perform in a standardized way. With this study, we measured pain in athletes with PT by means of pain pressure threshold (PPT) algometry in a standardized manner. Subsequently, the goal of this study is to determine normative values for clinical use. DESIGN Observational study. SETTING Patients and healthy subjects were recruited from an outpatient clinic of a university medical center and at different sports clubs in northern Netherlands. SUBJECTS A total of 234 athletes, 114 diagnosed with PT and 120 healthy controls, were included. OUTCOME MEASURES PPT, Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-Patellar tendinopathy questionnaire, and visual analog scale-pain. RESULTS PPT scores of PT athletes with tendinopathy were significantly lower compared with healthy athletes (Mann-Whitney U-test; U = 293.5; P < 0.001). With a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the optimal cut-off point to distinguish between healthy athletes and PT athletes was calculated at 36.8 N. The area under the ROC curve was 0.98 (95% CI: 0.96-1.0). There was a positive predictive value of 96.5% that athletes with a PPT below 36.8 N. had PT. CONCLUSIONS PPT algometry should be considered by clinicians as a pain assessment tool in patients with PT. The optimal cut-off point for the PPT to distinguish between PT athletes and healthy athletes was 36.8 N.
Cloning and characterization of the astaxanthin biosynthetic gene encoding phytoene desaturase of Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous.

The first carotenoid biosynthetic gene from the basidiomycetous yeast Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous was isolated by heterologous complementation in Escherichia coli. The isolated gene, denominated as crtI, was found to encode for phytoene desaturase. The coding region is interrupted by 11 introns. The deduced amino acid sequence showed significant homology with its bacterial and eukaryotic counterparts, especially those of fungal origin. A plasmid containing the geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase and phytoene synthase encoding genes from Erwinia uredovora was introduced in E. coli together with the phytoene desaturase encoding cDNA from X. dendrorhous. As a result, lycopene accumulation was observed in these transformants. We conclude that in X. dendrorhous the four desaturase steps, by which phytoene is converted into lycopene, are carried out by a single gene product.
The Importance of Radiological Findings in Disseminated ( Rhinocerebral and Pulmonary ) Invasive Fungal İnfection with Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia : Case Report

The diagnosis of invasive fungal infection (IFI) is particularly difficult in immunocompromised patients. Clinical and radiological findings supporting the diagnosis of IFI are very important. We presented a case report to emphazise the radiological findings of IFI as a diagnostic tool in an acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patient with rhinocerebral and pulmonary IFI.
Small Retailer’s Merchandise Decision Making: A Grounded Theory Approach

This study is focused on small retail stores of Jammu province of J&K and examines the relationship between retailer’s perceptions of the trading area and their assortment policy decisions and their reported performance levels for a FMCG product category. The study focuses on the external environment as well as internal environment of the small stores which affect the decision making of the assortment. Retailers keep a small range of assortments as market uncertainty is high. Moreover, the study focuses on the impact of store attributes on the assortment policies. This study controls for both store space and the store location factors. The impact of customer profile and the local market environment faced by small retailers is also analyzed as an important factor towards the assortment policy decision. A grounded theory based analysis was carried out. The analysis brought out four criteria used by the retailers in selecting products for their store based on the evaluation of the external and internal environment.
The Effects of Alcohol Problems and Smoking on Delay Discounting in Individuals with Gambling Problems

Abstract Problem gambling is an addictive behavior with high comorbidity with alcohol problems and smoking. A common feature shared by these conditions is impulsivity. Past research shows that individuals with any of these addictions discount delayed money at higher rates than those without, and that the presence of gambling and substance use lead to additive effects on discounting. To date, however, no study examined the impact of smoking on these associations. The goals of this study were to compare the discounting rates of gamblers with and without histories of alcohol problems and smoking, and assess the associations these addictions might have on discounting. We analyzed the discounting rates of treatment-seeking gamblers categorized into four groups based on their histories of alcohol and smoking. Results revealed effects of history of alcohol problems, and an interaction between smoking and alcohol problems, on discounting. Never smokers with histories of alcohol problems discounted money less steeply than the other groups of gamblers. These results suggest that smoking does not produce additional increases on discounting rates in individuals with other addiction problems and the small subpopulation of gamblers with alcohol problems who never smoked is less impulsive and may have unique risk and/or protective behaviors.