Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluating rate of change as an index of glycemic variability, using continuous glucose monitoring data.

BACKGROUND There is no consensus as to the best method to assess glycemic variability from continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) data. Rate of change has been suggested as a preferred method of assessing glycemic variability, but this assertion has not been validated. METHODS Forty-eight hours of CGM data were analyzed from 22 subjects (seven controls and 15 with type 1 diabetes) purposively sampled to reflect a range of glycemic variability. SD, mean amplitude of glycemic excursion, continuous overall net glycemic action, SD of rate of change (SDRC), and average absolute rate of change (AARC) were calculated and correlated with a clinical assessment of variability. SDRC and AARC were recalculated following a data smoothing process involving aggregation. RESULTS SDRC calculated from non-aggregated glucose readings gives a weaker correlation (r = 0.66) with the clinical assessment of variability than the correlations obtained by other indices (r = 0.90-0.96). Following a process of data aggregation, to exclude clinically insignificant fluctuations of blood glucose, we demonstrated that 60 min was the optimal aggregation period. The correlation between clinical assessment of variability and SDRC, 60-min aggregated, is 0.93, which is comparable to correlations shown by other established indices. Similar results are obtained for AARC. CONCLUSIONS Rate of change calculated after appropriate data aggregation is a valid index of glycemic variability. Optimal data aggregation is achieved by aggregating into 1-h blocks.
Transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt

Background The decreased portal blood flow and the potential decrease in arterial nutrient hepatic blood flow after creation of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) makes the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) challenging. Purpose To evaluate the safety and efficacy of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) after TIPS in patients with HCC. Material and Methods From 1998 to 2009, 20 patients underwent selective (segmental or subsegmental) TACE for HCC after TIPS. Among 20 patients, seven patients had undergone one to three sessions of TACE for HCC before TIPS creation. TACE was performed using a mixture of iodized oil and cisplatin, and absorbable gelatin sponge particles. Tumor response, complications, and patient survival were evaluated after TACE. Results After TACE, 14 of the 20 (70%) patients showed a tumor response, with only one (5%) experiencing a TACE-related major complication, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. None of the patients who underwent TACE after TIPS died within 30 days. During the follow-up period (range 2.2–107 months; mean 32.6 months), 18 patients died and two remained alive. The median survival period after TACE was 23 months. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that tumor stage was the only independent prognostic factor for patient survival (P = 0.049). Conclusion Selective TACE may be safe and effective for the palliative treatment of HCC in patients with TIPS. Late tumor stage ( ≥III) was poor prognostic factor for determining the patient survival period after post-TIPS TACE.
Distribution of CD44 variant isoforms in human skin: differential expression in components of benign and malignant epithelia

Expression of cell adhesion molecules regulates epithelial cell differentiation and organization of complex tissues such as skin. The CD44 family of adhesion molecules is generated by alternative splicing of up to 10 variant exons encoding inserts into the extracellular domain. Expression of CD44 variant exons has been correlated with metastatic potential of some epithelial malignancies. We studied the distribution of total and variant CD44 isoforms containing exons v4, v6, and v9 in normal skin, basal cell carcinoma, and in control tissues using immunohistologic assays. While normal epidermis and other stratified squamous epithelia reacted strongly with antibodies specific for standard CD44 (CD44S) and CD44 isoforms containing exons v4, v6, and v9, the epithelium of eccrine glands was reactive, often in a polarized distribution, only with antibodies specific for CD44S and isoforms containing exon v9. These studies suggest that differential expression of CD44 variant exons may be important in development and organization of epithelial structures within skin. Malignant cells in basal carcinoma tissues were found to have low reactivity with antibodies specific for CD44S or variant CD44 molecules. The low expression of CD44 molecules in basal cell carcinomas may play a role in the relatively low probability of metastasis of these neoplasms.
A Factor-Analytic Probit Model for Representing the Market Structure in Panel Data

Internal market structure analysis infers both brand attributes and consumer preferences for those attributes from preference or choice data. The authors exploit a new method for estimating probit models from panel data to infer market structures that can be displayed in few dimensions, even though the model can represent every possible vector of purchase probabilities. The result outperforms each of several other models, including Choice Map, SCULPTRE, and Chintagunta's latent class model in terms of goodness of fit, predictive validity, and face validity for a detergent data set. Because theirs is the only market structure model to outperform the structureless Dirichlet-multinomial stochastic brand choice model, the other methods cannot claim to have recovered market structure for these data.
Adult equivalence scales and food expenditures: an application to Mexican beef and pork purchases

In the analysis of food expenditures, the use of a simple count of household members as an estimate of household size implicitly assumes each household member has the same marginal impact. In this analysis of Mexican food expenditures, endogenously determined adult equivalence scales are estimated in such a way that these marginal impacts are allowed to vary by household member age and gender. The results of a series of hypothesis tests indicate a rejection of the implied null hypothesis of equal marginal expenditure impacts associated with the use of the traditional count based household size variable. This study also rejects the null hypothesis of the equality of adult equivalent scales across the commodities included in this analysis.
Detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts in water: techniques for generating precise recovery data

D.T. REYNOLDS, R.B. SLADE, N.J. SYKES, A. JONAS and C.R. FRICKER.1999. When determining the recovery efficiency of a procedure for the detection of Cryptosporidium or the removal efficiency of a treatment process, it is necessary to accurately enumerate a ‘seed dose’. Conventional techniques for this are highly variable and consequently, can result in misleading data. In this study, a flow cytometric method was developed for the production of suspensions of Cryptosporidium oocysts in which the number of organisms could be precisely determined. A Becton Dickinson FACScalibur flow cytometer was employed to produce oocyst suspensions containing 100 oocysts. Analysis of these suspensions resulted in a mean dose of 99·5 oocysts ( s. d. = 1·1, %cv = 1.1). These results indicate that the use of such suspensions to seed test systems generates far more accurate data than is presently possible using conventional techniques. In addition, the use of immunomagnetic separation (IMS) for the isolation of oocysts from three different water matrices, after seeding with oocysts counted using flow cytometry, was investigated. The recovery efficiency of the IMS procedure was found to be high, with the percentage recovery of oocysts ranging from 82·3 to 86·3%, and the use of precise numbers of oocysts allowed accurate recovery efficiency data to be generated. A laser scanning instrument (ChemScan RDI) was employed for the rapid detection and enumeration of oocysts after capture using membrane filtration. This technique was found to be faster and easier to perform than conventional epifluorescence microscopy. These findings demonstrate that the ChemScan RDI system may be used as alternative procedure for the routine examination of IMS supernatant fluids for the presence of Cryptosporidium.
Human Development in East and Southeast Asian Economies: 1990-2010

This report reviews patterns and trends in human development (HD) in East and Southeast Asia (ESA) since 1990, analyzes causes and consequences of this development, highlighting both structural and institutional factors, and identifies the basic principles for durable enhancements in HD. The basic arguments are that most ESA economies have experienced rapid socioeconomic structural changes through industrialization and urbanization in the last two decades. From a HD perspective, these processes offer enormous room for expanding people's capabilities. However, to successfully seize such opportunities, appropriate institutions and public policies are needed, and so is public participation in policy making and implementation. Public policies are also important for equitable distribution of the expanded opportunities, which in turn contribute to the legitimacy of institutions and social cohesion. And while industrialization does often cause more environmental pollution, technological advances also offer the means to reduce such pollution, so long as appropriate environmental policies are implemented to ensure the use of such cleaner technologies. Subject to such appropriate public policies, in net terms industrialization and urbanization should expand people's capabilities and ensure sustainable HD. Six principles are critical to a successful HD strategy-agricultural and rural development to facilitate structural transformation and to increase employment; human capital accumulation to promote continued economic and income growth; inclusive urbanization to reduce dualism and enhance social integration; cleaner industrialization to ensure sustainability; people's participation and empowerment to improve decision making and governance; closer regional and international cooperation to ensure a better future for all on our fragile planet.
A Novel Therapy for Laryngotracheal Stenosis

Purpose: The purpose of our article was to explore the effect of ethosomes containing 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) with different sizes on laryngotracheal stenosis treatment. Methods: The physical characteristics of ethosomes containing 5-FU were investigated, including size, shape, and entrapment percentage. The effect of ethosomes containing 5-FU was evaluated on the airway stenosis rabbit model. The formation of fibrous/scar tissue was investigated by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, and the permeation depth was observed under fluorescence microscope. Results: The mean sizes of 5-FU ethosomes extruded by D = 50 nm and D = 100 nm pore were 60 ± 10 nm and 110 ± 13 nm, respectively. The 5-FU entrapment percentage of ethosomes was determined to be 15% (D = 60 ± 10 nm) and 32% (D = 110 ± 13 nm). After being treated by ethosomes containing 5-FU (D = 60 ± 10 nm), the fibroblast and collagenous fiber distributed sparsely in the deep scar tissue. The permeation capability of ethosomes containing 5-FU (D = 60 nm) was significantly better than ethosomes (D = 110 nm). Besides, the 5-FU ethosomes resulted in less stenosis than 5-FU only. Conclusions: Topical administration of 5-FU ethosomes may be a novel candidate therapy for laryngotracheal stenosis treatment.
Ceratopsian dinosaurs from the Two Medicine formation, Upper Cretaceous of Montana

Three expeditions for dinosaurian remains have now been conducted by me to the Two Medicine formation, as exposed on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in northern Montana. These explorations have resulted in the accumulation of a considerable number of dinosaurian specimens, among which are several pertaining to the Ceratopsia that are of more than ordinary interest. The first expedition, in 1913, under the auspices of the U. S.
Improved Conditions for Passivity of Neural Networks With a Time-Varying Delay

The passivity of neural networks with a time-varying delay and norm-bounded parameter uncertainties is investigated in this paper. A complete delay-decomposing approach is employed to construct a Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional. Then, by utilizing a segmentation technique to consider the time-varying delay and its derivative and introducing some free-weighting matrices to express the relationship between the time-varying delay and its varying interval, some improved passivity criteria are derived. Finally, two numerical examples are given to show the effectiveness and the merits of the proposed method.
Bio-inspired animated characters: A mechanistic & cognitive view

Unlike traditional animation techniques, which attempt to copy human movement, ‘cognitive’ animation solutions mimic the brain's approach to problem solving, i.e., a logical (intelligent) thinking structure. This procedural animation solution uses bio-inspired insights (modelling nature and the workings of the brain) to unveil a new generation of intelligent agents. As with any promising new approach, it raises hopes and questions; an extremely challenging task that offers a revolutionary solution, not just in animation but to a variety of fields, from intelligent robotics and physics to nanotechnology and electrical engineering. Questions, such as, how does the brain coordinate muscle signals? How does the brain know which body parts to move? With all these activities happening in our brain, we examine how our brain ‘sees’ our body and how it can affect our movements. Through this understanding of the human brain and the cognitive process, models can be created to mimic our abilities, such as, synthesizing actions that solve and react to unforeseen problems in a humanistic manner. We present an introduction to the concept of cognitive skills, as an aid in finding and designing a viable solution. This helps us address principal challenges, such as: How do characters perceive the outside world (input) and how does this input influence their motions? What is required to emulate adaptive learning skills as seen in higher life-forms (e.g., a child's cognitive learning process)? How can we control and ‘direct’ these autonomous procedural character motions? Finally, drawing from experimentation and literature, we suggest hypotheses for solving these questions and more. In summary, this article analyses the biological and cognitive workings of the human mind, specifically motor skills. Reviewing cognitive psychology research related to movement in an attempt to produce more attentive behavioural characteristics. We conclude with a discussion on the significance of cognitive methods for creating virtual character animations, limitations and future applications.
Tarsitis as an initial manifestation of juvenile spondyloarthropathy.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of tarsitis as one of the first symptoms of juvenile spondyloarthropathy (JSpA) and to analyze whether patients with tarsitis at onset differ from those without it. METHODS A retrospective chart review was performed, from January 1996 to September 2007, at a paediatric rheumatology unit of a tertiary university hospital. RESULTS Tarsitis was detected in one-third of the children diagnosed with JSpA. They had fever and received antibiotics due to a suspected infection more frequently than those without tarsitis. Inflammatory low back pain was extremely unusual among these patients. CONCLUSION There were some differences between children diagnosed with JSpA initially affected with tarsitis and those without it. Patients with tarsitis as one of the first symptoms were often misdiagnosed as soft tissue infections.
How does changing age distribution impact stock prices? A nonparametric approach

This paper examines whether variations in demographic structure have influenced stock prices. The study employs a nonparametric approach based on the Fourier Flexible Form representation, which relates variations in the entire age distribution to the normalized stock price under a flexible functional form. The main findings of this paper are that there is a significant impact from prime working-age consumers on the stock price, and that this impact is robust for all G5 countries (France, Germany, Japan, the UK and the USA). These findings survive many robust tests, and are consistent with the predictions from the life‐cycle models. Copyright (C) 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Overview

The major objective for many physicians in starting an anti-hypertensive treatment is to prevent strokes. The first manuscript by Nigel Beckett concerns this topic. He considers both the population strategies for reducing stroke; namely a small reduction in blood pressure throughout the population and the usual high-risk strategy where hypertensive individuals are identified and treated. Obviously both strategies are needed for the control of stroke. He points out that hypertension is the biggest risk factor for stroke and discusses both primary and secondary prevention. The PROGRESS trial has recently demonstrated the important place that blood pressure lowering plays in the secondary prevention of stroke. Under the discussion of which treatment to employ, he notes that the calcium channel blockers may have some advantages in stroke prevention although they may have less advantage in the prevention of cardiac events. He also refers to the ALLHAT trial where doxasozin was less effective than a diuretic and that arm of the study has been stopped.
To Be or Not To Be?—China's Cultural Policy and Counterhegemony Strategy Toward Global Hollywood from 1994 to 2000

Abstract The study critically reviews China's cultural policy and counterhegemony strategy against global Hollywood from 1994 to 2000. The central argument is that the Chinese government's strategy of using the so-called main melody propagandistic films to battle against Hollywood from 1994 to 2000 is ineffective in terms of film market recouped and quality films produced, but may be considered partially successful in terms of the technological renovation of film exhibition infrastructure. The reason lies in the conflict between a planned production and a market demand, plus an ambivalent explanation of the function of the film industry and an unclear definition of the cultural policy. This conflict not only speaks to the complexity of global-local interplay, but also reflects the fundamental dilemma of China's “one-party market economy” (Kahn, 2002, ¶ 2), and its contradictory perspective on globalization. The study also revisits the thesis of “cultural imperialism” and calls for a more synthesized way to explain the complex global-local dialectic.
The diffusion of new environmental policy instruments

Abstract. New Environmental Policy Instruments (NEPIs) are becoming increasingly attractive. From a global perspective, there has been a rapid diffusion of these market-based, voluntary or informational instruments. This article examines the spread of four different NEPIs – eco-labels, energy or carbon taxes, national environmental policy plans or strategies for sustainable development, and free-access-of-information (FAI) provisions. The adoption of NEPIs by national policy makers is not simply a reaction to newly emerging environmental problems or to real or perceived deficits of traditional command and control regulation, rather the use of NEPIs can also be ascribed to the inner dynamics of international processes of policy transfer or policy diffusion. These processes make it increasingly difficult for national policy makers to ignore new approaches in environmental policy that have already been put into practice in ‘forerunner’ countries.
Design and analysis of simple robust controllers via structured singular value

In this paper, design and analysis of controller with PID structure for SISO plant is performed. Controller is obtained via optimisation of nominal closed-loop poles and the structured singular value denoted µ is used for the assessment of robust performance and stability. The controller is a solution to linear equations in the ring of proper and Hurwitz-stable rational functions. As an optimisation tool an evolutionary algorithm, Differential Migration (DM), is used in order to overcome the problem of multimodality of the cost function. Final controllers are compared with the D-K iteration as a standard method for µ-synthesis.
Use of insecticide-impregnated ear tags for the control of face flies and horn-flies on pastured cattle.

Three studies were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of insecticide-impregnated ear tags in controlling face flies, Musca autumnalis DeGeer, and horn flies, Haematobia irritans (Linn.), on pastured beef cattle. In one 16-week trial, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) ear tags treated with stirofos (Rabon) insecticide reduced horn fly numbers by 79% (P less than .05) and face fly numbers by 30% (P less than .05). Coumaphos (Co-Ral) insecticide dust bags used in a separate herd produced an 86% (P less than .05) reduction in horn flies and an 18% (P less than .05) reduction in face flies. In the second study, 5 and 10% permethrin (Atroban), PVC-treated ear tags in a one-piece design were tested. In this 11 week trial, horn fly control averaged 95% (P less than .05) with the 10% tag and 77% (P less than .05) with the 5% tag. Face fly control averaged 49% (P less than .05) for 8 weeks with the 10% permethrin tag. No significant face fly control was achieved with the 5% permethrin tag. In a herd treated with coumaphos dust bags, horn fly control averaged 93% (P less than .05) and face fly control averaged 34% (P less than .05). The third study tested 5 and 10% permethrin, PVC-treated ear tags in a two-piece design and two-piece 5% permethrin-treated ear tags in a polyurethane matrix. Fourteen-week horn fly control averaged 88% (P less than .05) with the 10% PVC-treated tag, 83% (P less than .05) with the 5% PVC-treated tag, 71% (P less than .05) with the 5% polyurethane-treated tag and 74% (P less than .05) with coumaphos dust bags. Face fly control averaged less than 50% (P greater than .05) throughout the trial with all treatments.
COMMUNICATION STYLES AMONG ORGANIZATIONAL PEERS

Communication styles are representative of the individuals and identifying the communication styles of an individual allows the understanding of individual background, the way of thinking and perception of social reality. In the organizational context, studying the communicator styles of a group of organizational employees can be equated with learning the organizational culture. The purposes of this study are to determine the predominant communication styles among organizational employees and to examine if an individual’s communication styles in an organization differ according to demographic variables. An exploratory study involving 48 employees of a local Research & Development organization was conducted in which self-administered questionnaires were used. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA and Pearson Correlation. The findings of this study showed that communication styles differ significantly according to gender, age, years of working, educational background, positions held and departments represented. Attentive, relaxed, and friendly styles are found to be the top three predominant styles among organizational employees.