Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relationship Between Risk-Adjustment Tools and the Pediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction Score

Background: The Risk-Adjusted Classification for Congenital Heart Surgery (RACHS-1) method and Aristotle Basic Complexity (ABC) scores correlate with mortality. However, low mortality rates in congenital heart disease (CHD) make use of mortality as the primary outcome measure insufficient. Demonstrating correlation between risk-adjustment tools and the Pediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction (PELOD) score might allow for risk-adjusted comparison of an outcome measure other than mortality. Methods: Data were obtained from the Virtual PICU Systems database. Patients with postoperative CHD between 2009 and 2010 were included. Correlation between RACHS-1 category and PELOD score and between ABC level and PELOD score was examined using Spearman rank correlation. Consistency of PELOD scores across institutions for given levels of case complexity was examined using Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric analysis of variance. Results: A total of 1,981 patient visits among 12 institutions met inclusion criteria. Positive correlations between PELOD score and RACHS-1 category (r s = .353, P < .0001) as well as between PELOD score and ABC level (r s = .328, P < .0001) were demonstrated. Variability in PELOD scores across individual centers for given levels of case complexity was observed (P < .04). Conclusions: Risk-Adjusted Classification for Congenital Heart Surgery categories and ABC levels correlate with postoperative organ dysfunction as measured by PELOD. However, the correlation was weak, potentially due to limitations of the PELOD score itself. Identification of a more accurate metric of morbidity for the congenital heart disease population is needed.
Dietary protein adequacy and lower body versus whole body resistive training in older humans

This study assessed the effects of long‐term consumption of the United States Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for protein by older people who were sedentary or performed resistive training (RT) on body composition, skeletal muscle size and protein metabolism, and if the number of muscle groups trained influenced the muscle hypertrophy response to RT. Twelve men and 17 women (age range 54–78 years) completed this 14 week controlled diet and exercise study. Throughout the study, each subject completely consumed daily euenergetic menus that provided the RDA of 0.8 g protein kg−1 day−1. From study weeks 3–14 (weeks RT1‐RT12), 10 subjects (four men, six women) performed whole body RT (WBRT), nine subjects (four men, five women) performed lower body RT (LBRT) and 10 subjects (four men, six women) remained sedentary (SED). Both the LBRT and WBRT groups performed knee extension and flexion exercises, and the WBRT group also performed chest press and arm pull exercises (three sets per exercise at 80 % of one repetition maximum, 3 days per week for 12 weeks). From week 2 (baseline) to week RT12, muscle strength increased in muscle groups trained in the LBRT and WBRT groups, and was not changed in the SED group. From baseline to week RT12, whole body muscle mass and protein‐mineral mass were not changed, fat‐free mass (P= 0.004) and total body water (P= 0.013) were decreased, and percentage body fat was increased (P= 0.011) in these weight‐stable older people, independent of group assignment. The RT‐induced increases in mid‐thigh muscle area (from computed tomography scans) were comparable in the LBRT and WBRT groups (2.13 ± 1.26 cm2 and 2.17 ± 1.24 cm2, respectively), and were different from those in the SED group, which lost muscle area (‐1.74 ± 0.57 cm2; group‐by‐time P < 0.05). From baseline to week RT12, 24 h urinary total nitrogen excretion decreased (P < 0.001), nitrogen balance shifted from near equilibrium to positive, whole body leucine oxidation (from the infusion of L‐[13C]leucine) decreased (P < 0.05) and net (postabsorptive vs. postprandial) leucine balance (P < 0.05) increased from near equilibrium to positive, with no differences in responses over time among the three groups. In conclusion, the number of muscle groups trained did not influence whole body protein metabolism or RT‐induced muscle hypertrophy in older people. Most of these data are consistent with a successful adaptation to the RDA for protein. However, research should continue to question whether the decreases in fat‐free mass and total body water observed in all subjects, and the decrease in mid‐thigh muscle area in the SED group, are physiological accommodations, and whether the RDA for protein might be marginally inadequate for older people to maintain skeletal muscle.
A model of saliency-based visual attention for movie retrospection

Visual saliency modeling is becoming important and challenging for many scientific disciplines (robotic systems, psychophysics, cognitive neuroscience and computer science). Proposed model indicates possible salient regions by taking into consideration face presence and motion which is essential in motion pictures. By combining face presence and motion we can obtain credible saliency map with low computational costs.
A clinical study of motor imagery-based brain-computer interface for upper limb robotic rehabilitation

Non-invasive EEG-based motor imagery brain-computer interface (MI-BCI) holds promise to effectively restore motor control to stroke survivors. This clinical study investigates the effects of MI-BCI for upper limb robotic rehabilitation compared to standard robotic rehabilitation. The subjects are hemiparetic stroke patients with mean age of 50.2 and baseline Fugl-Meyer (FM) score 29.7 (out of 66, higher = 3D better) randomly assigned to each group respectively (N = 3D8 and 10). Each subject underwent 12 sessions of 1-hour rehabilitation for 4 weeks. Significant gains in FM scores were observed in both groups at post-rehabilitation (4.9, p = 3D0.001) and 2-month post-rehabilitation (4.9, p = 3D0.002). The experimental group yielded higher 2-month post-rehabilitation gain than the control (6.0 versus 4.0) but no significance was found (p = 3D0.475). However, among subjects with positive gain (N = 3D6 and 7), the initial difference of 2.8 between the two groups was increased to a significant 6.5 (p = 3D0.019) after adjustment for age and gender. Hence this study provides evidence that BCI-driven robotic rehabilitation is effective in restoring motor control for stroke.
Noradrenaline induces expression of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) in murine primary astrocytes and neurons

Cerebral inflammatory events play an important part in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Agonists of the peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), a nuclear hormone receptor that mediates anti‐inflammatory actions of non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and thiazolidinediones, have been therefore proposed as a potential treatment of AD. Experimental evidence suggests that cortical noradrenaline (NA) depletion due to degeneration of the locus ceruleus (LC) – a pathological hallmark of AD – plays a permissive role in the development of inflammation in AD. To study a possible relationship between NA depletion and PPARγ‐mediated suppression of inflammation we investigated the influence of NA on PPARγ expression in murine primary cortical astrocytes and neurons. Incubation of astrocytes and neurons with 100 µm NA resulted in an increase of PPARγ mRNA as well as PPARγ protein levels in both cell types. These effects were blocked by the β‐adrenergic antagonist propranolol but not by the α‐adrenergic antagonist phentolamine, suggesting that they might be mediated by β‐adrenergic receptors. Our results indicate for the first time that PPARγ expression can be modulated by the cAMP signalling pathway, and suggest that the anti‐inflammatory effects of NA on brain cells may be partly mediated by increasing PPARγ levels. Conversely, decreased NA due to LC cell death in AD may reduce endogenous PPARγ expression and therefore potentiate neuroinflammatory processes.
Role of Antiproliferative B Cell Translocation Gene-1 as an Apoptotic Sensitizer in Activation-Induced Cell Death of Brain Microglia 1

Mouse brain microglial cells undergo apoptosis on exposure to inflammatory stimuli, which is considered as an autoregulatory mechanism to control their own activation. Here, we present evidence that an antiproliferative B cell translocation gene 1 (BTG1) constitutes a novel apoptotic pathway of LPS/IFN-γ-activated microglia. The expression of BTG1 was synergistically enhanced by LPS and IFN-γ in BV-2 mouse microglial cells as well as in primary microglia cultures. Levels of BTG1 expression inversely correlated with a proliferative capacity of the microglial cells. Tetracycline-based conditional expression of BTG1 not only suppressed microglial proliferation but also increased the sensitivity of microglial cells to NO-induced apoptosis, suggesting a novel mechanism of cooperation between LPS and IFN-γ in the induction of microglial apoptosis. An increase in BTG1 expression, however, did not affect microglial production of NO, TNF-α, or IL-1β, indicating that the antiproliferative BTG1 is important in the activation-induced apoptosis of microglia, but not in the activation itself. The synergistic action of LPS and IFN-γ in the microglial BTG1 induction and apoptosis was dependent on the Janus kinase/STAT1 pathway, but not IFN-regulatory factor-1, as demonstrated by a pharmacological inhibitor of Janus kinase (AG490), STAT1 dominant negative mutant, and IFN-regulatory factor-1-deficient mice. Taken together, antiproliferative BTG1 may participate in the activation-induced cell death of microglia by lowering the threshold for apoptosis; BTG1 increases the sensitivity of microglia to apoptogenic action of autocrine cytotoxic mediator, NO. Our results point out an important link between the proliferative state of microglia and their sensitivity to apoptogenic agents.
An Evaluation of Prognostic Factors and Tumor Staging of Resected Carcinoma of the Esophagus

Objective:To evaluate prognostic factors and tumor staging in patients after esophagectomy for cancer. Summary Background Data:Several reports have questioned the appropriateness of the sixth edition of the International Union Against Cancer (UICC) TNM guidelines for staging esophageal cancer. Additional pathologic characteristics, besides the 3 basic facets of anatomic spread (tumor, node, metastases), might also have prognostic value. Methods:All patients who underwent resection of the esophagus for carcinoma between January 1995 and March 2003 were extracted from a prospective database. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to identify prognostic factors for survival. The goodness of fit and accuracy of 3 staging models (UICC-TNM, Korst classification, Rice classification) predicting survival were assessed. Results:A total of 292 patients (mean age, 63 years) underwent esophagectomy. The 5-year overall survival rate was 29% (median, 21 months). pT-, pN-, pm-stage, and radicality of the resection were independent prognostic factors. Subdivision of T1 tumors into mucosal and submucosal showed significant differences in 5-year survival between both groups: 90% versus 47%, respectively (P = 0.01). Subdivision of pN-stage into 3 groups based on the number of positive nodes (0, 1–2, and >3 nodes positive) or the lymph node ratio (0, 0.01–0.2, and >0.2) also refined staging (P = 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). The current subclassification of M1 (M1a and M1b) is not warranted (P = 0.41). The staging model of Rice was more accurate than the UICC-TNM classification in predicting survival. Conclusion:This study supports the view that the current (6th edition) UICC-TNM staging model for esophageal cancer needs to be revised.
Trunk Muscle Performance and Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders among Manual Lifting with Back Belt Wearing Workers.

OBJECTIVE to determine the effects ofback belt use on trunk muscle performance and the association between those performance outcomes with Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs). MATERIAL AND METHOD All manual lifting workers in one grocery distribution, warehouse center were interviewed about the history of illness, back injury, WMSDs, lifting manner and experience of back belt use. They were assessedfor trunk muscles performance including the flexion (F), the extension (E) and the right and left side bridge (RSB and LSB) endurance test and Exercise Level of Lumbar Stabilization test (ELLS). Pearson s correlation and Spearman's rank correlation statistics were used to determine the association. RESULTS One hundred and seven males, aged 18 to 42 years participated in the study. Most participants had ELLS at levels 2 (31.1%) and 3 (30.2%). The mean F, E, RSB and LSB endurance times were 62.33, 88.62, 77.17 and 77.33 seconds, respectively. The greatest area of WMSDs was the lower back (53.33%). Significant correlations were found between the ELLS and RSB (r = 0.244, p = 0.012) and between the ELLS and LSB (r = 0.199, p = 0.041). Significant correlations were found between pain scale of backpain and ELLS (r = -0.299, p = 0.016). Significant correlations were found between the number of WMSD areas and trunkflexion endurance (r = -0.263, p = 0.007), right trunk endurance (r,= -0.195, p = 0.044), left trunk endurance (r = -0.325, p = 0.001) and endurance ratio of RSB/LSB (r(s) = 0.224, p = 0.022). Furthermore, most participants (84.1%) had imbalanced endurance of RSB/LSB. Duration andfrequency ofback belt use did not correlate with any trunk muscle performance. This may have been because few participants did not wear belts (10.1%) or wore belts sometimes (26.6%). CONCLUSION Low correlation was found between back belt use and WMSDs. To prevent back injury, the lifting workers should be trained to balance their trunk muscles endurance, especially right and left trunk muscles and to stabilize their lower back while lifting.
The importance of innovation leadership in cultivating sustainable supply chain management and enhancing organisation performance

The purpose of the study is to examine the importance of innovation leadership in cultivating sustainable supply chain practices of an organisation, and enhancing the organisation performance outcomes. This study explores how innovation leadership enables an organisation to adopt sustainable supply chain practices and by implication enhance organisation performance. The results of data collected from 103 firms show that innovation leadership, both directly and indirectly through adopting sustainable supply chain management, significantly enhances organisation performance. The approach extends the domain of sustainable supply chain research and produce interdisciplinary theories that have greater explanatory power than the current practices.
Nonlinear feedback control of compound active-clamp soft-switching three-phase PFC converter base on load observer

The compound active-clamp zero-voltage switching (CAC-ZVS) three-phase power factor correction (PFC) converter is a kind of improved topology converter used for high efficiency and high power factor applications. The load of the converter varies with the working condition. The conventional control methods cannot adapt to such variation and lead to the degraded performance. To solve this problem, we proposed a nonlinear feedback control method with the sliding-mode observer. The sliding mode observer is developed to estimate the uncertain load online, and then the load estimation is used in nonlinear feedback controller to regulate the output voltage. This method does not need the load information in the controller design process, avoiding the difficulty faced with many existing methods. Comparison results of the proposed method to the conventional PI control and the feedback linearization control methods show the priority of the proposed method.
Postgastrulation effects of fibroblast growth factor on Xenopus development

We have investigated postgastrulation functions of FGFs in Xenopus development by the implantation of heparin beads soaked in FGF2 to various positions at various stages. Anterior implantations show different effects depending on whether they are made to early neurulae or to later stages. At stage 13–14 there is a total or partial suppression of anterior structures including the forebrain, eyes, and midbrain. From stage 15 onwards there is no loss of anterior parts but there is a change in the structure of the eye such that the neural retina remains continuous with the wall of the diencephalon and the territories normally forming the optic stalk and pigment epithelium instead become neural retina. Posterior implantations cause a disruption of somite segmentation without affecting the differentiation of muscle cells. This is associated with a prolongation of the uniform expression of X‐Delta‐2 during the phase of segmental determination. There is also an induction of ectopic otocysts, which can lie either ipsilateral or contralateral to the FGF‐bead. The results are discussed in terms of the known late expression domains of the various Xenopus FGFs, and of the late functions of FGFs in higher vertebrates. They provide new evidence for a role of endogenous FGFs in the development of the eye, somites, and otocysts. Dev. Dyn. 1998; 212:75–85. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Penalized Discriminant Analysis of [15O]-water PET Brain Images with Prediction Error Selection of Smoothness and Regularization

The authors propose a flexible, comprehensive approach for analysis of [/sup 15/O]-water positron emission tomography (PET) brain images using a penalized version of linear discriminant analysis (PDA). They applied it to scans from 20 subjects (eight scans/subject) performing a finger movement task and analyzed: (1) two classes to obtain a covariance-normalized baseline-activation image, and (2) eight classes for the mean within subject temporal structure which contained baseline-activation and time-dependent changes in a two-dimensional canonical subspace. The authors imposed spatial smoothness on the resulting image(s) by expanding it in five tensor-product B-spline (TPS) bases of varying smoothness, and further regularized with a ridge-type penalty on the noise covariance matrix. The discrimination approach of PDA provides a probabilistic framework within which prediction error (PE) estimates are derived. The authors used these to optimize over TPS bases and a ridge hyperparameter (expressed as equivalent degrees of freedom, EDF). They obtained unbiased, low variance PE estimates using modern resampling tools (.632+ Bootstrap and cross validation), and compared PDA of (1) TPS-projected, mean-normalized and unnormalized scans and (2) mean-normalized scans with and without additional presmoothing. By examining the tradeoffs between PE and EDF, as a function of basis selection and image smoothing the authors demonstrate the utility of PDA, the PE framework, and the relationship between singular value decomposition and smooth TPS bases in the analysis of functional neuroimages.
G-HITS: A Link Analysis Algorithm Based on Gravitation Model

Link Analysis plays an important role in Web Information Retrieval. Most of the existing link analysis algorithms use link as the main factor to determine the importance of a Web page, which can not reflect complicated relationships among Web pages. In this paper, we propose G-HITS (Gravitation-Based HITS), which condenses useful information associate to a Web as its "mass ", and reflects relationship between two Web pages as "attractive force" inspired by Newton's theory of gravitation, thus giving a physical interpretation for link analysis. Experimental results show that G-HITS is more reasonable to interpret link analysis problems and it can identify higher quality authorities on given topics.
Identifying cancer biomarkers from leukemia data using feature selection and supervised learning

The disease Leukemia are continuously increasing among the people. The cause of leukemia is unknown but several factors, however are associated with the development of leukemia that are exposure to ionising radiation, exposure to benzene in rubber industry workers, cytotoxic drug particularly alkylating agent exposure, genetic disorder like down syndrome and immunological deficiency states. There are certain medical diagnosis that can reduce the burden on doctors. This paper explores some algorithms for the classification of Leukemia patients dataset. The algorithms considered here are Naive Bayes (NB), K Nearest Neighbour (KNN) and Support Vector Machines (SVMs).
On the Aggregate Labor Supply: A Progress Report

Abstract At the aggregate level, the labor supply elasticity can significantly depart from the micro elasticity. In an economy where households make decisions on the labor market participation, the slope of the aggregate labor supply curve is determined by the distribution of reservation wages rather than by the willingness to substitute leisure intertemporally. We present a model economy where earnings and wealth distributions are comparable to those in the micro data. We find that the aggregate labor supply elasticity of such an economy is around 1, which is greater than the typical micro estimates but smaller than those often assumed in the aggregate models. Our model also sheds some light on the recent debate on the failure of the representative agent model.
Media framing of complex issues: The case of endangered languages

This study investigates how media frame a global trend that is complex in nature, emergent in terms of scientific understanding, and has public policy implications: the rapid disappearance of languages. It analyzes how English-language media from 15 western, industrialized countries frame the causes and implications of endangered languages over 35 years (1971–2006) – a time period notable for growing, interdisciplinary concerns over the potential negative impacts of losing the world’s linguistic diversity. The results reveal a media discourse characterized by three complementary frames that are sympathetic to the plight of endangered languages, but that present the problem, its cause, and societal implications in a logical structure that would promote public complacency.
OIL PRICES AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN SOUTH AFRICA: AN ARDL- BOUNDS TESTING APPROACH

In this paper we examine the causal relationship between oil prices, oil consumption and economic growth in South Africa using a multivariate causality model. We apply the newly developed ARDL-Bounds testing approach to examine this linkage in a trivariate setting. Contrary to the results of some previous studies, our results show that there is a distinct unidirectional causal flow from oil prices to economic growth in South Africa. In addition, our results show that oil consumption Granger-causes both economic growth and oil prices without any feedback. Given the deterrent effect of oil prices on economic growth and the fact that South Africa has adopted inflation targeting as its policy anchor, we recommend that monetary policies should be relaxed during the global oil price shocks in order to protect the country from any possible outcome of a full-blown stagflation scenario. Our results apply irrespective of whether the causality is estimated in the short-run or in the long-run. JEL Classifications: Q43, C32