Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Experience of Being Occupied—Some Elderly People's Positive Experiences of Occupations at Community-based Activity Centers

The aim of this study was to explore elderly people's positive experiences of being occupied and spending time at community-based activity centers. Interviews were conducted with nine elderly persons who attended activity centers. The interviews were analyzed by the empirical, phenomenological, psychological method (EPP method). The constituents that describe the phenomenon of the experience of being occupied and spending time at a community-based activity center were: the center was a safe and familiar setting to attend on a regular basis; doing was absorbing and gave pleasure; it was a challenge to be able to accomplish something; and the activity center was a meeting-place where doing is shared with others. The study suggests that the activity center is experienced as a meeting-place where the social component and the engaging in an occupation are essential for the experience and contribute to the health and well-being of the individual.
Interpersonal Conflict at Work: An Analysis of Behavioral Responses

Interest and research in interpersonal conflict has led to the development of a number of instruments for measuring conflict style. These instruments lack the more demonstrative responses that sometimes occur during interpersonal conflict, and each determines conflict style through abstract measures. Two hundred and sixty-three participants were asked to describe one conflict that they were involved in at work. Given a list of 21 conflict responses, participants were asked to (1) rank-order the responses in the order in which they actually responded to the conflict, (2) identify the responses they were currently using, (3) identify those responses they had not used but might, and (4) identify those responses they would never use. The results indicate some well-defined clusters of responses, including an emotive category.
Noise robust exemplar matching with coupled dictionaries for single-channel speech enhancement

In this paper, we propose a single-channel speech enhancement system based on the noise robust exemplar matching (N-REM) framework using coupled dictionaries. N-REM approximates noisy speech segments as a sparse linear combination of speech and noise exemplars that are stored in multiple dictionaries based on their length and associated speech unit. The dictionaries providing the best approximation of the noisy mixtures are used to estimate the speech component. We further employ a coupled dictionary approach that performs the approximation in the lower dimensional mel domain to benefit from the reduced computational load and better generalization, and the enhancement in the short-time Fourier transform (STFT) domain for higher spectral resolution. The proposed enhancement system is shown to have superior performance compared to the exemplar-based sparse representations approach using fixed-length exemplars in a single overcomplete dictionary.
Molecular detection and identification of Candida and Aspergillus spp. from clinical samples using real-time PCR.

This report describes the development of a real-time LightCycler assay for the detection and identification of Candida and Aspergillus spp. , using the MagNa Pure LC Instrument for automated extraction of fungal DNA. The assay takes 5-6 h to perform. The oligonucleotide primers and probes used for species identification were derived from the DNA sequences of the 18S rRNA genes of various fungal pathogens. All samples were screened for Aspergillus and Candida to the genus level in the real-time PCR assay. If a sample was Candida-positive, typing to species level was performed using five species-specific probes. The assay detected and identified most of the clinically relevant Aspergillus and Candida spp. with a sensitivity of 2 CFU/mL blood. Amplification was 100% specific for all Aspergillus and Candida spp. tested. To assess clinical applicability, 1,650 consecutive samples (1,330 blood samples, 295 samples from other body fluids and 25 biopsy samples) from patients with suspected invasive fungal infections were analysed. In total, 114 (6.9%) samples were PCR-positive, 5.3% for Candida and 1.7% for Aspergillus spp. In patients with positive PCR results for Candida and Aspergillus, verification with conventional methods was possible in 83% and 50% of cases, respectively. In conclusion, the real-time PCR assay allows sensitive and specific detection and identification of fungal pathogens in vitro and in vivo.
Identifying Topics in Microblogs Using Wikipedia

Twitter is an extremely high volume platform for user generated contributions regarding any topic. The wealth of content created at real-time in massive quantities calls for automated approaches to identify the topics of the contributions. Such topics can be utilized in numerous ways, such as public opinion mining, marketing, entertainment, and disaster management. Towards this end, approaches to relate single or partial posts to knowledge base items have been proposed. However, in microblogging systems like Twitter, topics emerge from the culmination of a large number of contributions. Therefore, identifying topics based on collections of posts, where individual posts contribute to some aspect of the greater topic is necessary. Models, such as Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA), propose algorithms for relating collections of posts to sets of keywords that represent underlying topics. In these approaches, figuring out what the specific topic(s) the keyword sets represent remains as a separate task. Another issue in topic detection is the scope, which is often limited to specific domain, such as health. This work proposes an approach for identifying domain-independent specific topics related to sets of posts. In this approach, individual posts are processed and then aggregated to identify key tokens, which are then mapped to specific topics. Wikipedia article titles are selected to represent topics, since they are up to date, user-generated, sophisticated articles that span topics of human interest. This paper describes the proposed approach, a prototype implementation, and a case study based on data gathered during the heavily contributed periods corresponding to the four US election debates in 2012. The manually evaluated results (0.96 precision) and other observations from the study are discussed in detail.
A general perspective on Gaussian filtering and smoothing: Explaining current and deriving new algorithms

We present a general probabilistic perspective on Gaussian filtering and smoothing. This allows us to show that common approaches to Gaussian filtering/smoothing can be distinguished solely by their methods of computing/approximating the means and covariances of joint probabilities. This implies that novel filters and smoothers can be derived straight forwardly by providing methods for computing these moments. Based on this insight, we derive the cubature Kalman smoother and propose a novel robust filtering and smoothing algorithm based on Gibbs sampling.
Successes Achieved and Challenges Ahead in Translating Biomarkers into Clinical Applications

Biomarkers are important tools for identifying and stratifying diseases, predicting their progression and determining the effectiveness, safety, and doses of therapeutic interventions. This is important for common chronic diseases such as diabetic nephropathy, osteoporosis, and rheumatoid arthritis which affect large numbers of patients worldwide. This article summarizes the current knowledge of established and novel biomarkers for each of these diseases as presented at the 2008 AAPS/ACCP joint symposium “Success Achieved and Challenges Ahead in Translating Biomarkers into Clinical Applications,” in Atlanta, Georgia. The advantages and disadvantages of various proteomic, metabolomic, genomic, and imaging biomarkers are discussed in relation to disease diagnosis and stratification, prognosis, drug development, and potential clinical applications. The use of biomarkers as a means to determine therapeutic interventions is also considered. In addition, we show that biomarkers may be useful for adapting therapies for individual needs by allowing the selection of patients who are most likely to respond or react adversely to a particular treatment. They may also be used to determine whether the development of a novel therapy is worth pursuing by informing crucial go/no go decisions around safety and efficacy. Indeed, regulatory bodies now suggest that effective integration of biomarkers into clinical drug development programs is likely to promote the development of novel therapeutics and more personalized medicine.
DCFMS: Data Handling Distributed System for Achieving High Data Availability

High data availability is crucial in every high performance environment. Even though network environments have improved a lot, costly data transfers remain the main drawback in achieving high performance in complex distributed applications which need to come up with additional design techniques to overcome this drawback. Continuing our previous research which focused on the design and implementation of a computational steering enabled distributed framework, we have developed a data flow management system that is able to isolate the data handling from the computational environment. The system does not focus on defining new transfer techniques for the physical environment, instead the innovation comes from two main techniques that avoid costly transfers: logical partitioning and data localization. The experimental evaluation of the system is also included.
A pictorial presentation of 3.0 Chicago Classification for esophageal motility disorders

ABSTRACT High resolution manometry changed several esophageal motility paradigms. The 3.0 Chicago Classification defined manometric criteria for named esophageal motility disorders. We present a pictorial atlas of motility disorders. Achalasia types, esophagogastric junction obstruction, absent contractility, distal esophageal spasm, hypercontractile esophagus (jackhammer), ineffective esophageal motility, and fragmented peristalsis are depicted with high-resolution manometry plots.
Designing distributed programs with dynamic communication structures

The growing interest in using clusters of workstations as the target platform for high-performance applications, has again emphasized the need for support tools that can be used during application design. In this paper we present a graphical technique, called ADL-D, that allows a developer to construct an application in terms of communicating processes. The technique distinguishes itself from others by its use of highly orthogonal concepts, and the support for automated code generation. Developers are encouraged to concentrate on designing components in isolation, making the complex design space more manageable than would otherwise be the case. ADL-D can be used from the early phases of application design through phases that concentrate on algorithmic design, and final implementation on some target platform. Rather than presenting details of ADL-D, we use it here as a vehicle for a more general discussion on design level support for parallel and distributed applications. In this discussion, an emphasis is put on the design of dynamic communication structure, i.e. structures that can change during runtime.
High prevalence of celiac disease in Swedish children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes and the relation to the Swedish epidemic of celiac disease: a cohort study

Abstract Aim. The aim was to determine the prevalence and clinical and temporal relationship of celiac disease (CD) in a population of Swedish children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) before, during, and after the Swedish epidemic of CD (birth cohorts 1984–1996). Methods. Retrospective chart review between 1995 and 2005 was conducted of 1151 children (0–18 years old, born 1981–2004) with T1DM. Results. A prevalence of 9.1% (95% CI: 7.2–11.2) of CD in T1DM children was found. No significant difference in prevalence of CD was observed in different birth years, in contrast to the Swedish epidemic of CD. Sixty-two percent of children diagnosed with CD after T1DM onset had pathological levels of antibodies within the first 24 months. The presence or absence of gastrointestinal symptoms had no predictable value for biopsy-confirmed CD or not. Conclusion. The onset of CD in the T1DM population does not follow the pattern of the general population during the Swedish epidemic of CD. The shared genetic component in the human leukocyte antigen region in cases with comorbidity of CD and T1DM may overrule other CD-causing factors in the general population. Children with T1DM should be screened for CD at diagnosis and repeatedly at least during the first 2 years, even if asymptomatic.
The eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79 and the death of Gaius Plinius Secundus

The effect of the volcanic eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79, which led inter alia to the death of Pliny the Elder, is reviewed. Pliny, the admiral of the Roman imperial fleet, wished as scientist to witness the event from close by and set sail in the direction of Vesuvius, but got trapped in Stabiae, a few kilometers from Pompeii, where he died together with thousands of inhabitants of nearby villages. Various reasons have been advanced to account for his death (asphyxiation caused by respiratory problems, carbon dioxide poisoning, heart failure, advanced coronary sclerosis). Basing our findings on the description of the catastrophe in the letters of his nephew, the younger Pliny, we believe that the most probable diagnosis which also fits his description of his uncle’s behaviour and symptoms during his last hours, is that of acute and fatal bronchoconstriction in a chronic asthmatic.
Pricing in Multiple Currencies in Domestic Markets

We document that in emerging economies a significant fraction of prices in do- mestic markets are set in dollars. The currency of prices is not homogeneous across goods. More expensive goods are more likely to be set in dollars and also take longer time to sell. We rationalize these facts using a model of price setting in multiple currencies with search frictions. Pricing in dollars prevents erosion of real prices caused by inflation at the expense of a lower willingness to pay from buyers. When goods take longer to sell the relative value of preventing price erosion is higher. Consistent with empirical evidence, our model predicts that the share of prices in foreign currency increases when domestic inflation is high.
Goal-directed Intraoperative Fluid Administration Reduces Length of Hospital Stay after Major Surgery

Background Intraoperative hypovolemia is common and is a potential cause of organ dysfunction, increased postoperative morbidity, length of hospital stay, and death. The objective of this prospective, randomized study was to assess the effect of goal-directed intraoperative fluid administration on length of postoperative hospital stay. Methods One hundred patients who were to undergo major elective surgery with an anticipated blood loss greater than 500 ml were randomly assigned to a control group (n = 50) that received standard intraoperative care or to a protocol group (n = 50) that, in addition, received intraoperative plasma volume expansion guided by the esophageal Doppler monitor to maintain maximal stroke volume. Length of postoperative hospital stay and postoperative surgical morbidity were assessed. Results Groups were similar with respect to demographics, surgical procedures, and baseline hemodynamic variables. The protocol group had a significantly higher stroke volume and cardiac output at the end of surgery compared with the control group. Patients in the protocol group had a shorter duration of hospital stay compared with the control group: 5 ± 3 versus 7 ± 3 days (mean ± SD), with a median of 6 versus 7 days, respectively (P = 0.03). These patients also tolerated oral intake of solid food earlier than the control group: 3 ± 0.5 versus 4.7 ± 0.5 days (mean ± SD), with a median of 3 versus 5 days, respectively (P = 0.01). Conclusions Goal-directed intraoperative fluid administration results in earlier return to bowel function, lower incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting, and decrease in length of postoperative hospital stay.
Tumor uptake and metabolism of copper-67-labeled monoclonal antibody chCE7 in nude mice bearing neuroblastoma xenografts.

METHODS ChCE7, an internalizing, neuroblastoma-specific monoclonal antibody (MAb), and its F(ab')2 fragments were derived with the bifunctional ligand 4-(1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradec-1-yl)-methyl benzoic acid tetrahydrochloride (CPTA) and labeled with the potential therapeutic nuclide 67Cu. After internalization and degradation of these immunoconjugates in SKN-AS human neuroblastoma cells, the terminal degradation product was found to be the lysine adduct of the copper complex. In vivo distributions in nude mice bearing neuroblastoma xenografts were studied and extracts from tumor and tissue samples were analyzed. RESULTS The intact MAb showed high tumor uptake, stable over 4 days postinjection (33.7% +/- 2.8% ID/g), with tumor/blood ratios increasing from 4.4 on Day 1 to 23.0 on Day 7 postinjection and low levels of radioactivity in other tissues. Analysis of tumor extracts by gel filtration chromatography and high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) showed that over the period of 4 days radioactivity was present both in a high M(r) form, consisting of the MAb/antigen complex, as well as in a low M(r) form, consisting of the copper complex attached to short peptides, including the lys-CPTA complex. There was no evidence of aggregates or MAb/antigen complexes in the blood, radioactivity being exclusively in the form of intact MAb, and radioactivity in the liver was found to consist of intact MAb, MAb fragments and the lys-CPTA metabolite. In the case of the F(ab')2 fragments, high accumulation of radioactivity in the kidneys was observed and analysis of kidney extracts showed it to be due to rapid accumulation of the lys-CPTA complex. When kidney uptake and retention of the CPTA complex as well as of its lysine and glycine adducts was investigated, the lysine complex was taken up more strongly and retained longer in the kidneys than the other compounds. CONCLUSION Copper-67-labeled MAb chCE7 F(ab')2 fragments were prepared using a novel bifunctional copper ligand 1-(p-aminobenzyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclodecane-4,7,10-triacetate (DO3A). Compared with MAb-chCE7 F(ab')2 fragments labeled by the CPTA ligand, labels using the DO3A ligand showed improved biodistributions resulting, 48 hr postinjection, in a 4-fold increase in tumor uptake and a 4-fold reduction of radioactivity in the kidneys.
Low-Molecular-Weight Cyclin E Can Bypass Letrozole-Induced G1 Arrest in Human Breast Cancer Cells and Tumors

Purpose: Low-molecular-weight cyclin E (LMW-E) in breast cancer cells induces genomic instability and resistance to inhibition by p21, p27, and fulvestrant therapy. Here, we sought to determine if LMW-E renders breast cancer cells unresponsive to aromatase inhibitors (AI), elucidate the mechanism of such resistance, and ascertain if inhibitors of LMW-E–associated kinase activity could overcome this resistance. Experimental Design: The antiproliferative effects of the AIs were examined in aromatase-overexpressing MCF-7/Ac1 cells in the presence or absence of full-length cyclin E and LMW-E. Inhibition of LMW cyclin E kinase activity by roscovitine [a cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor] was examined in letrozole-unresponsive MCF-7/Ac1 cells. The role of LMW-E and CDK2 in mediating recurrence following AI treatment was also assessed in breast cancer patients. Results: Overexpression of LMW-E in postmenopausal patients was associated with a poor prognosis. Letrozole, but not exemestane or anastrozole, mediated a pronounced G1 arrest in MCF-7/Ac1 cells. Androstenedione-induced G1 exit correlated with increased cyclin E–associated kinase activity and increased CDK2 levels. Letrozole treatment inhibited cyclin E-CDK2 kinase activity by preventing the androstenedione-induced increase in CDK2. LMW-E bypassed this effect and rendered the cells resistant to letrozole inhibition. Roscovitine blocked the androstenedione-induced increase in CDK2, and LMW-E overexpression could not bypass this effect. Lastly, breast cancer patients whose tumors overexpress LMW-E were not responsive to AI treatment. Conclusions: Roscovitine treatment can reverse intrinsic or acquired resistance to letrozole due to LMW-E expression in breast cancer cells. These data support the clinical investigation of CDK2 inhibitor therapy for postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor–positive, LMW-E–expressing breast cancer. Clin Cancer Res; 16(4); 1179–90
Least square method robustness of computations: What is not usually considered and taught

There are many practical applications based on the Least Square Error (LSE) approximation. It is based on a square error minimization “on a vertical” axis. The LSE method is simple and easy also for analytical purposes. However, if data span is large over several magnitudes or non-linear LSE is used, severe numerical instability can be expected. The presented contribution describes a simple method for large span of data LSE computation. It is especially convenient if large span of data are to be processed, when the “standard” pseudoinverse matrix is ill conditioned. It is actually based on a LSE solution using orthogonal basis vectors instead of orthonormal basis vectors. The presented approach has been used for a linear regression as well as for approximation using radial basis functions.
Effects of exposure to job insecurity on workplace expectations of interns in the United States and Australia

Purpose – Linkages between downsizing, job insecurity, and negative employee outcomes have been established, but little is known about the impact they have on interns who observe them. This article aims to examine the relationship between interns' exposure to downsizing and job insecurity and their ongoing workplace perceptions and expectations.Design/methodology/approach – Two studies analyze the negative workplace experiences that influence interns' vocational socialization and pre‐employment schemata. Study 1 surveyed 96 students interning in the United States and Australia, and Study 2 surveyed 100 interns in the United States. Linear regressions were used to test hypotheses.Findings – Study 1 reveals that interns at organizations with low employee morale, previous downsizing, and job insecurity are pessimistic about the organization in which they interned and the typical organizational culture. Study 2 indicates that interns exposed to job insecurity expect less trust and support in future employment.
System-level power/performance evaluation of 3D stacked DRAMs for mobile applications

Convergence of communication, consumer applications and computing within mobile systems pushes memory requirements both in terms of size, bandwidth and power consumption. The existing solution for the memory bottle-neck is to increase the amount of on-chip memory. However, this solution is becoming prohibitively expensive, allowing 3D stacked DRAM to become an interesting alternative for mobile applications. In this paper, we examine the power/performance benefits for three different 3D stacked DRAM scenarios. Our high-level memory and Through Silicon Via (TSV) models have been calibrated on state-of-the-art industrial processes. We model the integration of a logic die with TSVs on top of both an existing DRAM and a DRAM with redesigned transceivers for 3D. Finally, we take advantage of the interconnect density enabled by 3D technology to analyze an ultra-wide memory interface. Experimental results confirm that TSV-based 3D integration is a promising technology option for future mobile applications, and that its full potential can be unleashed by jointly optimizing memory architecture and interface logic.