Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of distribution- and anchor-based approaches to infer changes in health-related quality of life of prostate cancer survivors.

OBJECTIVE To determine the minimal important difference (MID) in generic and prostate-specific health-related quality of life (HRQoL) using distribution- and anchor-based methods. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING Prospective cohort study of 602 newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients recruited from an urban academic hospital and a Veterans Administration hospital. Participants completed generic (SF-36) and prostate-specific HRQoL surveys at baseline and at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months posttreatment. Anchor-based and distribution-based methods were used to develop MID estimates. We compared the proportion of participants returning to baseline based on MID estimates from the two methods. RESULTS MID estimates derived from combining distribution- and anchor-based methods for the SF-36 subscales are physical function = 7, role physical = 14, role emotional = 12, vitality = 9, mental health = 6, social function = 9, bodily pain = 9, and general health = 8; and for the prostate-specific scales are urinary function = 8, bowel function = 7, sexual function = 8, urinary bother = 9, bowel bother = 8, and sexual bother = 11. Proportions of participants returning to baseline values corresponding to MID estimates from the two methods were comparable. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study to assess the MID for generic and prostate-specific HRQoL using anchor-based and distribution-based methods. Although variation exists in the MID estimates derived from these two methods, the recovery patterns corresponding to these estimates were comparable.
IVF within microfluidic channels requires lower total numbers and lower concentrations of sperm.

BACKGROUND Microfluidic technology has been utilized in numerous biological applications specifically for miniaturization and simplification of laboratory techniques. We sought to apply microfluidic technology to murine IVF. METHODS Microfluidic devices measuring 500 microm wide, 180 microm deep, and 2.25 cm in length were designed and fabricated using poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS). Controls were standard centre-well culture dishes with 500 microl of media, half of which also contained PDMS as a material control. Denuded mouse oocytes were placed into microchannels or centre-well dish controls in groups of 10, then co-incubated overnight with epididymal mouse sperm at various concentrations. Fertilization was assessed and Fisher's exact test was used for statistical analysis (P < 0.05 significant). RESULTS Fertilization rates between the two control groups (42%, no PDMS; 41%, with PDMS; not significant) were similar. Fertilization rates for denuded oocytes at standard mouse insemination sperm concentration (1 degrees 10(6) sperm/ml) was poorer in microchannels (12%) than controls (43%; P < 0.001). As insemination concentrations decreased, fertilization rates improved in microchannels with a plateau between 8 degrees 10(4) and 2 degrees 10(4) sperm/ml (4000-1000 total sperm). At these concentrations, combined fertilization rate for denuded oocytes was significantly higher in microchannels than centre-well dishes (27 versus 10%, respectively; P < 0.001), and was not significantly different from corresponding controls with a sperm concentration of 1 degrees 10(6) (37%; P = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS Murine IVF can be conducted successfully within microfluidic channels. Lower total numbers and concentrations of sperm are required. Microfluidic devices may ultimately be useful in clinical IVF.
Dynamic Nonlinear System Identification Using a Wiener-Type Recurrent Network with OKID Algorithm

This paper presents a novel Wiener-type recurrent neural network with the observer/Kalman filter identification (OKID) algorithm for unknown dynamic nonlinear system identification. The proposed Wiener-type recurrent network resembles the conventional Wiener model that consists of a dynamic linear subsystem cascaded with a static nonlinear subsystem. The novelties of our approach include: (1) the realization of a conventional Wiener model into a simple connectionist recurrent network whose output can be expressed by a nonlinear transformation of a linear state-space equation; (2) the overall network structure can be determined by the OKID algorithm effectively using only the input-output measurements; and (3) the proposed network is capable of accurately identifying nonlinear dynamic systems using fewer parameters. Computer simulations and comparisons with some existing recurrent networks and learning algorithms have successfully confirmed the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed Wienertype network with the OKID algorithm.
Inhomogeneous Radiative Forcing of NF3

Nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) has the potential to make a growing contribution to the Earth’s radiative budget. In this study, the global mean radiative efficiency of NF3 is calculated as 0.188 W·m−2·ppb−1 by line-by-line method. Global warming potentials of 14,700 for 100 years and global temperature potentials of 16,600 for 100 years are calculated. At the same time, inhomogeneous instantaneous radiative forcing of NF3 at the top of the atmosphere and its relationship to other atmospheric and surface variables are studied. A total of 42 atmospheric profiles are used. The results show NF3 instantaneous radiative efficiency range from 0.07 W·m−2·ppb−1 to 0.50 W·m−2·ppb−1 in clear sky conditions. The mean value is 0.25 W·m−2·ppb−1. In clear sky conditions, the correlation coefficient between surface temperature and NF3 instantaneous radiative forcing is 0.94 and the partial correlation coefficient is −0.88 between integrated water content and NF3 instantaneous radiative forcing. A regression model is constructed for NF3 instantaneous radiative forcing based on surface temperature and integrated water content. The average value of the relative error is 6.17% based on LBLRTM (Line-by-Line Radiative Transfer Model) results. The correlation coefficient is 0.985 between cloud radiative forcing and the difference of NF3 instantaneous radiative forcing between clear sky and all cloudy sky conditions. A regression model is constructed for NF3 instantaneous radiative forcing in all cloudy sky. The average relative error is 5.9% based on LBLRTM results.
The Investigation of Direct and Indirect Impact of Self-Efficacy Beliefs on Parent̓s Anxity and Marital Adjustment with Mediating Role of Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies Among Parents With Chronically Ill Children of Ahwaz

Background: The aim of this study was to test the proposed model for the impact of selfefficacy beliefs on parent’s anxiety and marital adjustment with mediating role of cognitive emotion regulation strategies among parents of chronically ill children of ahwaz city. Materials and Methods: The statistical universe was all the parents of chronically ill children who was selected by Convenience sampling method.The research tools are included the self-efficacy questionnaire (SES), anxiety questionnaire (STAI), Spanier marital adjustment questionnaire and Garnesfki cognitive emotion regulation strategies questionnaire.Amos 18 program software was applied for structural equation modeling (SEM). The indirect relationship was tested with bootstrap Amos 18 program software. Results: The results revealed that the tested model had good fit indices. Conclusion: Results revealed that self-efficacy beliefs directly influenced on parent's anxiety, marital adjustment, and adaptive and nonadaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies. Also, adaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies have a direct relation with parent's anxiety and marital adjustment. In addition, there was a direct relation between nonadaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies and marital adjustment. Alternatively, self-efficacy beliefs directly influenced on anxiety and marital adjustment with mediating role of adaptive cognitive emotion tegulation strategies and indirectly influenced on adjustment with mediating role of nonadaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies.
A Taxonomy of Approximate Computing Techniques

Approximate computing is the idea that systems can gain performance and energy efficiency if they expend less effort on producing a “perfect” answer. Approximate computing techniques propose various ways of exposing and exploiting accuracy– efficiency trade-offs. We present a taxonomy that classifies approximate computing techniques according to their most salient features: compute vs. data, deterministic vs. nondeterministic and coarsevs. fine-grained. These axes allow us to address questions about the visibility, testability and flexibility of different techniques. We use this taxonomy to inform future research in approximate architectures, compilers and applications that will catalyze mainstream adoption of approximate computing.
Forecasting annual excess stock returns via an adaptive network-based fuzzy inference system

In this study, an adaptive network-based fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) and a neural network were tested for the ability of these techniques to forecast the annual excess returns of three large publicly traded companies from a time series of said returns. The predictive ability of these techniques was compared with that of an autoregressive moving average (ARMA) model. The Fair–Shiller test was used in the comparisons in order to obtain results that were not subjective and so that conclusions could be made regarding the information used by the techniques in the generation of their forecasts. Since predictive ability does not translate to profitability, a simple trading strategy was used to determine the ability to generate profits from trading upon the forecasts of the respective techniques. As hypothesized, the ANFIS and neural network techniques are able to generate forecasts with significant predictive ability. However, neither technique dominates the other or the ARMA model. In tests of the ability of the techniques to generate profits from their forecasts, a simple trading strategy was used (trading on the predicted sign of the return). The ANFIS and the neural network generated profits in all of the trading scenarios. However, neither technique dominated the other, nor did they consistently outperform the traditional and naive models (strategies). The mixed results in the predictive ability tests and the profitability tests indicate that the conclusions from the study differ based upon the context in which the forecasts are used. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Automatically Mining Question Reformulation Patterns from Search Log Data

Natural language questions have become popular in web search. However, various questions can be formulated to convey the same information need, which poses a great challenge to search systems. In this paper, we automatically mined 5w1h question reformulation patterns from large scale search log data. The question reformulations generated from these patterns are further incorporated into the retrieval model. Experiments show that using question reformulation patterns can significantly improve the search performance of natural language questions.
ON THE MEASUREMENT OF NATURAL AND SEXUAL SELECTION: THEORY

The aim of this paper is to illustrate an approach to the empirical measurement of selection that is directly related to formal evolutionary theory. Recent field studies have demonstrated that it is feasible to measure fitness in natural populations. The most successful studies have yielded accurate tallies of survivorship, mating success and fertility (e.g., Tinkle, 1965; Howard, 1979; Downhower and Brown, 1980; Lennington, 1980; Kluge, 1981; Clutton-Brock et al., 1982). Despite this success, no concensus has been reached on how to analyze the data and relate them to evolutionary theory. We present here a mode of data analysis that describes selection in useful, theoretical terms, so that field or experimental results will have a tangible relationship to equations for evolutionary change. Multivariate, polygenic theory (Lande, 1979, 1980, 1981; Bulmer, 1980) is particularly useful as a conceptual framework because it is concerned with the evolution of continuously distributed traits such as those commonly studied in laboratory and field situations. Multivariate equations have been used for many years by plant and animal breeders in order to impose selection and predict its impact (Smith, 1936; Hazel, 1943; Dickerson et al., 1954, 1974; Yamada, 1977), but this quantitative genetic theory has only recently been applied to evolutionary problems. Definitions and Aims. -It is critical to distinguish between selection and evolutionary response to selection (Fisher, 1930; Haldane, 1954). Selection causes observable changes within a generation in the means, variances and covariances of phenotypic distributions. Thus selection can be described in purely phenotypic terms without recourse to the inheritance of characters. In contrast, evolutionary response to selection, for example, the change in phenotypic mean from one generation to the next, certainly does depend on inheritance. In the following sections we show how knowledge of inheritance can be combined with purely phenotypic measures of selection to predict evolutionary response to selection. By distinguishing between selection and response to selection we can measure selection on characters whose mode of inheritance may be unknown and make prediction of evolutionary response a separate issue. Thus knowledge of inheritance is essential for complete
A Comparison of Complete Genome Sequences of the Attenuated RC‐HL Strain of Rabies Virus Used for Production of Animal Vaccine in Japan, and the Parental Nishigahara Strain

In order to establish the molecular basis of the pathogenicity of the attenuated RC‐HL strain of rabies virus used for the production of animal vaccine in Japan, the complete genome sequence of this strain was determined and compared with that of the parental Nishigahara strain which is virulent for adult mice. The viral genome of both strains was composed of 11,926 nucleotides. The nucleotide sequences of the two genomes showed a high homology of 98.9%. The homology of the G gene was lower than those of N, P, M and L genes at both nucleotide and deduced amino acid levels, and the percentage of radical amino acid substitutions on the G protein was the highest among the five proteins. These findings raise the possibility that the structure of the G protein is the most variable among the five proteins of the two strains. Furthermore, we found two clusters of amino acid substitutions on the G and L proteins. The relevance of these clusters to the difference in the pathogenicity between the two strains is discussed.
Additional file 6

Presentation of network structure Figure 1 shows a network graph comparing anodal, cathodal, and dual tDCS and their corresponding stimulation location with their control interventions for improving functional communication after stroke. Figure 2 shows a network graph comparing anodal, cathodal, and dual tDCS and their corresponding stimulation location with their control interventions for improving language function (naming nouns) after stroke and Figure 3 for improving naming verbs. Figure 4 shows a network graph comparing tDCS and its corresponding stimulation location with their control interventions regarding safety (measured by the number of dropouts and adverse events).
Chromatin modifications and DNA repair: beyond double-strand breaks

DNA repair must take place in the context of chromatin, and chromatin modifications and DNA repair are intimately linked. The study of double-strand break repair has revealed numerous histone modifications that occur after induction of a DSB, and modification of the repair factors themselves can also occur. In some cases the function of the modification is at least partially understood, but in many cases it is not yet clear. Although DSB repair is a crucial activity for cell survival, DSBs account for only a small percentage of the DNA lesions that occur over the lifetime of a cell. Repair of single-strand gaps, nicks, stalled forks, alternative DNA structures, and base lesions must also occur in a chromatin context. There is increasing evidence that these repair pathways are also regulated by histone modifications and chromatin remodeling. In this review, we will summarize the current state of knowledge of chromatin modifications that occur during non-DSB repair, highlighting similarities and differences to DSB repair as well as remaining questions.
No Observable Relationship between the ACE Gene Insertion/Deletion Polymorphism and Psychometric IQ and Psychomotor Ability in Chinese Children

The primary aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the angiotensin I-converting enzyme gene (ACE) on general cognitive ability, specific cognitive ability and psychomotor function in Chinese children. In total, 450 children completed both C-WISC tests and ACE I/D genotyping. Of these, 320 children were examined using psychomotor tests. The quantitative traits of psychometric IQ and psychomotor abilities were calculated to determine whether there were any significant differences related to their ACE genotypes on the basis of an analysis of variance. F test results showed no significant differences with regard to any aspect of intelligence or psychomotor performance relative to the various ACE I/D genotypes (all p > 0.05). Our study suggests that ACE I/D do not have a measurable impact on any aspects of IQ or psychomotor ability and that psychomotor ability correlates well with IQ in Chinese children.
Allergic sensitisation to peanut may occur through inflamed skin

▴ Lack G, Fox D, Northstone K, Golding J. Factors associated with the development of peanut allergy in childhood. N Engl J Med2003;348:977–85 [OpenUrl][1][CrossRef][2][PubMed][3][Web of Science][4] The increasing incidence of peanut allergy prompted this group to look at the predisposing factors to the condition. A subgroup of 49 children with a clear history of peanut allergy was identified from the Avon longitudinal study (a … [1]: {openurl}? query=rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1056%252FNEJMoa013536%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F12637607%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/external-ref? access_num=10.1056/NEJMoa013536&link_type=DOI [3]: /lookup/external-ref? access_num=12637607&link_type=MED&atom=%2Fthoraxjnl%2F58%2F6%2F469.atom [4]: /lookup/external-ref? access_num=000181465200002&link_type=ISI
Mothers' Attitudes Toward the Use of CALL for Their Children's English Learning: A Focus on Individual Differences

In this chapter the attitude of mothers to the use of computer-assisted language learning (CALL) in their children’s language learning was investigated. 118 Iranian mothers were selected based on convenient sampling. Their attitude towards CALL was assessed by a 12-item questionnaire. The result of data analysis revealed that generally mothers have roughly positive attitudes towards CALL. Significant differences were reported when mothers with higher education were compared with those mothers who did not have university degrees. However, gender, age, and mother’s profession did not have any role in their attitudes towards CALL.
The Neuroanatomical Correlates of Training-Related Perceptuo-Reflex Uncoupling in Dancers

Sensory input evokes low-order reflexes and higher-order perceptual responses. Vestibular stimulation elicits vestibular-ocular reflex (VOR) and self-motion perception (e.g., vertigo) whose response durations are normally equal. Adaptation to repeated whole-body rotations, for example, ballet training, is known to reduce vestibular responses. We investigated the neuroanatomical correlates of vestibular perceptuo-reflex adaptation in ballet dancers and controls. Dancers' vestibular-reflex and perceptual responses to whole-body yaw-plane step rotations were: (1) Briefer and (2) uncorrelated (controls' reflex and perception were correlated). Voxel-based morphometry showed a selective gray matter (GM) reduction in dancers' vestibular cerebellum correlating with ballet experience. Dancers' vestibular cerebellar GM density reduction was related to shorter perceptual responses (i.e. positively correlated) but longer VOR duration (negatively correlated). Contrastingly, controls' vestibular cerebellar GM density negatively correlated with perception and VOR. Diffusion-tensor imaging showed that cerebral cortex white matter (WM) microstructure correlated with vestibular perception but only in controls. In summary, dancers display vestibular perceptuo-reflex dissociation with the neuronatomical correlate localized to the vestibular cerebellum. Controls' robust vestibular perception correlated with a cortical WM network conspicuously absent in dancers. Since primary vestibular afferents synapse in the vestibular cerebellum, we speculate that a cerebellar gating of perceptual signals to cortical regions mediates the training-related attenuation of vestibular perception and perceptuo-reflex uncoupling.
A Time Division Beacon Scheduling Mechanism for IEEE 802.15.4/Zigbee Cluster-Tree Wireless Sensor Networks

While the IEEE 802.15. 4/Zigbee protocol stack is being considered as a promising technology for low-cost low-power wireless sensor networks (WSNs), several issues in their specifications are still open. One of those ambiguous issues is how to build a synchronized cluster-tree network, which is quite suitable for ensuring QoS support in WSNs. In fact, the current IEEE 802.15. 4/Zigbee specifications restrict the synchronization in the beacon-enabled mode (by the generation of periodic beacon frames) to star-based networks, while they support multi-hop networking using the peer-to-peer mesh topology, but with no synchronization. Even though both specifications mention the possible use of cluster-tree topologies, which combine multi-hop and synchronization features, the description on how to effectively construct such a network topology is missing. This paper tackles this problem, unveiling the ambiguities regarding the use of the cluster-tree topology and proposing a synchronization mechanism based on Time Division Beacon Scheduling to construct cluster-tree WSNs. We also propose a methodology for an efficient duty-cycle management in each router (cluster-head) of a cluster-tree WSN that ensures the fairest use of bandwidth resources. The feasibility of the proposal is clearly demonstrated through an experimental test bed based on our own implementation of the IEEE 802.15. 4/Zigbee protocols.
Synchronization of a class of complex dynamical networks with time-varying delay couplings

This paper investigates synchronization dynamics of a complex delayed dynamical network as well as the effects of time-varying delay. Following the approach via Razumikhin Theorem, simple delay-dependent synchronization criteria are derived in terms of linear matrix inequalities, which can be verified via the interior-point algorithm. The proposed criteria can deal with a fast time-varying delay in coupling term and enabled removing the restriction on the derivative of the time-varying delay. The effectiveness of the proposed synchronization scheme and the theoretical results are illustrated by a numerical example.