Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Irrational Diversification: An Examination of the Portfolio Construction Decision

We study individual portfolio choice in a laboratory experiment and find strong evidence for heuristic behavior. The subjects tend to focus on the marginal distribution of an asset, while largely ignoring its diversification benefits. They follow a conditional 1/n diversification heuristic as they exclude the assets with an “unattractive” marginal distribution and divide the available funds equally between the remaining, “attractive” assets. This strategy is applied even if it leads to allocations that are dominated in terms of first-order stochastic dominance and is clearly irrational. In line with these findings, we find that framing and problem presentation have substantial influence on portfolio decisions.
Risks Related to Lean Six Sigma Deployment and Sustainment Risks: How Project Management Can Help

Lean Six Sigma is a set of tools utilized by organizations to reduce cost and waste. There are risks associated with deploying and sustaining Six Sigma. The risks are different at each stage of the process. To ensure success, these risks must be identified and mitigated. From an organizational standpoint, companies need to understand the differences between Lean Six Sigma deployment and sustainment. The risk factors discussed in this article are leadership, human resource, and project selection. Since Lean Six Sigma is a project-based approach, many tools offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI) can be utilized to complement DMAIC structure. Since risks in improper management are inherent, using project management and Lean Six Sigma tools together is beneficial. This research attempts to identify and analyze the different risks associated with deploying and sustaining Lean Six Sigma. This article presents recommendations based on an analysis of collected information.
Baseline Knowledge of Potential Pet Toxins among the US General Public

ABSTRACT In 2014, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty toAnimals Animal Poison Control Center fielded more than 167,000cases of potential nonhuman animal toxicosis. Concomitantly, thereremain limited free and reputable veterinary toxicology resourcesavailable for companion-animal (pet) caregivers (owners) seekingassistance and advice about potentially harmful exposures inanimals. The objective of this study was to assess pet toxicantknowledge among a representative sample of Americans andgauge the need for additional toxicology resources. The studyinvolved a survey designed to capture participants’ ability to identifypotential animal toxicants and what resource they would use ifan accidental toxic ingestion occurred. Participants were ableto correctly identify 52% of potential pet toxins. Women, olderparticipants and participants from the South expressed moreconcern about each potential pet poison. Approximately halfof participants indicated they would consult a veterinarian andwhereas most others indicated they would search the Internet formore information about pet toxicology. The findings suggest moreveterinary poisoning education is needed for pet owners to be ableto accurately distinguish potential pet toxicants from nontoxicants.
Subcarrier Delay Spread Based Adaptive OFDM for Mobile Wideband Waveguide Channels

We propose the use of subcarrier delay spread based adaptive orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) for communication through wideband waveguide channels. The technique has important communication applications when robots or vehicles are traveling inside waveguide channels such as tunnels or pipes. The delay spread in these mobile wideband waveguide channels varies significantly across subcarriers because propagation occurs in modes whose characteristics change significantly with frequency. Using knowledge of the delay spread in each subcarrier can then be used to adaptively select and avoid subcarriers with delay spread exceeding the cyclic prefix length. With this approach it is possible to create an OFDM system that is more efficient than systems satisfying the delay spread of all subcarriers. In this paper, we therefore propose subcarrier delay spread based adaptive OFDM to enhance the performance of OFDM systems operating in mobile wideband waveguide channels. To identify the delay spread of individual subcarriers we propose two methods. Using these methods, we provide simulation results to demonstrate the effectiveness of the technique. We also make use of experimental waveguide channel measurements to demonstrate the technique in realistic settings. Results show that performance can be significantly improved by using the proposed approach.
The Application of Lateral Flow Immunoassay in Point of Care Testing: A Review

Point-of-care testing (POCT) is essential for providing a rapid diagnostic result in a prompt onsite diagnosis and treatment. A quick analysis time and a high sensitivity, with a sample-to-answer format, are the most important features for current POCT diagnostic systems. This review covers recent advances in POCT technologies with an emphasis on demonstrated and commercially available POCT diagnostic systems with laboratory quality using lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA). The system includes the integration of nanoparticles (NPs) in lateral flow test strips (LFTSs) and the mechanism through which particles improve the analytical performance of the fabricated strips. Several examples of NP-based LFTSs were selected to illustrate novel concepts or devices with promising applications as screening tools and superior alternatives to existing conventional strategies in clinical analysis, food safety, and environmental monitoring. In each analyte category, detection methods, configuration of LFIA modules, and advantages of POCT systems are reviewed and discussed along with future prospects. This review also discusses novel signal-enhancement strategies, optimal reader systems, and multiplex design prototypes, which have been employed for highly sensitive multiplex assay of LFTSs.
Clopidogrel in addition to aspirin reduces in-hospital major cardiac and cerebrovascular events in unselected patients with acute ST segment elevation myocardial

Summary We sought to assess the effect of clopidogrel on in-hospital events in unselected patients with acute ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). In a retrospective analysis of consecutive patients enrolled in the Acute Coronary Syndromes (ACOS) registry with acute STEMI we compared outcomes of either adjunctive therapy with aspirin alone or aspirin plus clopidogrel within 24 hours after admission. A total of 7,559 patients were included in this analysis, of whom 3,541 were treated with aspirin alone, and 4,018 with dual antiplatelet therapy. The multivariable analysis with adjustment for baseline characteristics and treatments showed that the rate of in-hospital MACCE (death, non-fatal reinfarction, non-fatal stroke) was significantly lower in the aspirin plus clopidogrel group, compared to the aspirin alone group in the entire cohort and all three reperfusion strategy groups (entire group odds ratio 0.60, 95% CI 0.49–0.72, no reperfusion OR 0.69,95% CI 0.51–0.94,fibrinolysis OR 0.62,95% CI 0.44–0.88, primary PCI OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.39–0.74). There was a significant increase in major bleeding complications with clopidogrel (7.1% vs. 3.4%, p<0.001). In clinical practice early adjunctive therapy with clopidogrel in addition to aspirin in patients with STEMI is associated with a significant reduction of in-hospital MACCE regardless of the initial reperfusion strategy. This advantage was associated with an increase in major bleeding complications.
Mechanism of Reduced Sintering Temperature of Al2O3–ZrO2 Nanocomposites Obtained by Microwave Hydrothermal Synthesis

A novel method to obtain Al₂O₃⁻ZrO₂ nanocomposites is presented. It consists of the co-precipitation step of boehmite (AlO(OH)) and ZrO₂, followed by microwave hydrothermal treatment at 270 °C and 60 MPa, and by calcination at 600 °C. Using this method, we obtained two nanocomposites: Al₂O₃⁻20 wt % ZrO₂ and Al₂O₃⁻40 wt % ZrO₂. Nanocomposites were characterized by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. Sintering behavior and thermal expansion coefficients were investigated during dilatometric tests. The sintering temperatures of the nanocomposites were 1209 °C and 1231 °C, respectively-approximately 100 °C lower than reported for such composites. We attribute the decrease of the sintering temperature to the specific nanostructure obtained using microwave hydrothermal treatment instead of conventional calcination. Microwave hydrothermal treatment resulted in a fine distribution of intermixed highly crystalline nanoparticles of boehmite and zirconia. Such intermixing prevented particle growth, which is a factor reducing sintering temperature. Further, due to reduced grain growth, stability of the θ-Al₂O₃ phase was extended up to 1200 °C, which enhances the sintering process as well. For the Al₂O₃⁻20 wt % ZrO₂ composition, we observed stability of the zirconia tetragonal phase up to 1400 °C. We associate this stability with the mutual separation of zirconia nanoparticles in the alumina matrix.
Future Perspectives on Endoscopic Ultrasonography-Guided Therapy for Pancreatic Neoplasm

Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS)-guided therapy with ethanol injection or catheter-based radiofrequency ablation for pancreatic neoplasm has been conducted as a potential alternate treatment modality for patients who are not eligible for surgery. On the basis of the limited number of studies available, EUS-guided ablation therapy with the aforementioned methods for small pancreatic neoplasms has demonstrated promising technical feasibility and safety profiles. To be considered as a legitimate alternative option to surgery, however, EUS-guided ablation therapy must provide a long-term efficacy profile along with the consensus among experts regarding its treatment parameter. This review focuses on the clinical issues and future perspectives of EUS-guided therapy for pancreatic neoplasm.
Association of Brain CD163 Expression and Brain Injury/Hydrocephalus Development in a Rat Model of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Hemoglobin contributes to brain cell damage and death following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). While CD163, a hemoglobin scavenger receptor, can mediate the clearance of extracellular hemoglobin it has not been well-studied in SAH. In the current study, a filament perforation SAH model was performed in male rats. T2-weighted and T2*-weighted scans were carried out using a 7.0-Tesla MR scanner 24 h after perforation. T2 lesions and hydrocephalus were determined on T2-weighted images. A grading system based on MRI was used to assess SAH severity. The effects of SAH on CD163 were determined by immunohistochemistry staining and Western blots. SAH led to a marked increase in CD163 levels in cortex, white matter and periventricular regions from days 1 to 7. CD163 stained cells were co-localized with neurons, microglia/macrophages, oligodendrocytes and cleaved caspase-3-positive cells, but not astrocytes. Furthermore, CD163 protein levels were increased in rats with higher SAH grades, the presence of T2 lesions on MRI, or hydrocephalus. In conclusion, CD163 expression is markedly upregulated after SAH. It is associated with more severe hemorrhage, as well as MRI T2 lesion and hydrocephalus development.
Distributed Reinforcement Learning with Neural Networks for Robotics

We propose and investigate a novel type of parameterized policy based on a two-layered stochastic spiking neural network consisting of multiple populations of stochastic spiking neurons. We show that the proposed policy type is a spatially distributed generalization of a discrete basic policy with lookup table parameterization. Our policy reveals remarkable capabilities but also crucial limitations. In particular, our policy is able to deal with high-dimensional state and action spaces but loses expressive power such that it cannot represent certain functions like XOR. Furthermore, we propose corresponding reinforcement learning methods to train the policy. These methods are based on value function methods and generalize these to train our distributed policy type. We compare these methods to state-ofthe-art methods including black-box approaches and likelihood ratio approaches. It turns out that our proposed methods outperform these methods significantly. In our experiments we demonstrate that our policy can be trained effectively from rewards to guide a 10-link robot-arm in a toy task through a grid world to reach a specified target without hitting obstacles.
Effects of Antiepileptic Drugs on Spontaneous Recurrent Seizures in a Novel Model of Extended Hippocampal Kindling in Mice

Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder characterized by naturally-occurring spontaneous recurrent seizures and comorbidities. Kindling has long been used to model epileptogenic mechanisms and to assess antiepileptic drugs. In particular, extended kindling can induce spontaneous recurrent seizures without gross brain lesions, as seen clinically. To date, the development of spontaneous recurrent seizures following extended kindling, and the effect of the antiepileptic drugs on these seizures are not well understood. In the present study we aim to develop a mouse model of extended hippocampal kindling for the first time. Once established, we plan to evaluate the effect of three different antiepileptic drugs on the development of the extended-hippocampal-kindled-induced spontaneous recurrent seizures. Male C57 black mice were used for chronic hippocampal stimulations or handling manipulations (twice daily for up to 70 days). Subsequently, animals underwent continuous video/EEG monitoring for seizure detection. Spontaneous recurrent seizures were consistently observed in extended kindled mice but no seizures were detected in the control animals. The aforementioned seizures were generalized events characterized by hippocampal ictal discharges and concurrent motor seizures. Incidence and severity of the seizures was relatively stable while monitored over a few months after termination of the hippocampal stimulation. Three antiepileptic drugs with distinct action mechanisms were tested: phenytoin, lorazepam and levetiracetam. They were applied via intra-peritoneal injections at anticonvulsive doses and their effects on the spontaneous recurrent seizures were analyzed 10–12 h post-injection. Phenytoin (25 mg/kg) and levetiracetam (400 mg/kg) abolished the spontaneous recurrent seizures. Lorazepam (1.5 mg/kg) decreased motor seizure severity but did not reduce the incidence and duration of corresponding hippocampal discharges, implicating its inhibitory effects on seizure spread. No gross brain lesions were observed in a set of extended hippocampal kindled mice submitted to histological evaluation. All these data suggests that our model could be considered as a novel mouse model of extended hippocampal kindling. Some limitations remain to be considered.
An Educational Video Scoring Scheme for Level and Topic-based Recommendation

Recently, a huge amount of educational video contents have become available due to diverse IT technologies and rapidly growing demand for online learning. Popular resources for various high quality educational contents include OCW (OpenCourseWare), MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) and TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design). Moreover, learners can easily access such contents via the Internet by using common video sharing platforms such as YouTube and Vimeo. However, one critical problem that many users experience in this environment is that it is difficult and time consuming to find out educational contents that is appropriate to them in terms of topic and difficulty level. To solve this problem, in this paper, we propose an educational contents scoring scheme for topic and difficulty level based contents recommendation. The scoring is based on the linguistic difficulty of the video and the topic similarity. To measure the linguistic difficulty, we apply various readability metrics to the video script. To measure the topic similarity between videos, we extract keywords from each video script and then calculate their cosine similarity. We show the effectiveness of our proposed scheme by various experiments.
Lack of Association Between Shape and Volume of Subcortical Brain Structures and Restless Legs Syndrome

Objective Previous studies on patients with restless legs syndrome (RLS) yielded inconclusive results in the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based analyses of alterations of subcortical structures in the brain. The aim of this study was to compare volumes as well as shapes of subcortical structures and the hippocampus between RLS cases and controls. Additionally, the associations between the genetic risks for RLS and subcortical volumes were investigated. Methods We compared volumetric as well as shape differences assessed by 3 T MRI in the caudate nucleus, hippocampus, globus pallidus, putamen, and thalamus in 39 RLS cases versus 117 controls, nested within a population-based sample. In a subsample, we explored associations between known genetic risk markers for RLS and the volumes of the subcortical structures and the hippocampus. Results No significant differences between RLS cases and controls in subcortical and hippocampal shapes and volumes were observed. Furthermore, the genetic risk for RLS was unrelated to any alterations of subcortical and hippocampal gray matter volume. Interpretation We conclude that neither RLS nor the genetic risk for the disease give rise to changes in hippocampal and subcortical shapes and gray matter volumes.
Cross-digitizer robustness of a knowledge-based CAD system for mass detection in mammograms

Multiplatform application of CAD systems in mammography is often limited due to image preprocessing steps that are tailored to the acquisition protocol such as the digitizer. The purpose of this study was to validate our knowledge-based CAD system across two different digitizers. Our system relies on the similarity of a query image with known cases stored in a knowledge database. Image similarity is assessed using information theory, without any image preprocessing. Therefore, we hypothesize that our CAD system can operate robustly across digitizers. We tested the hypothesis using two different datasets of mammographic regions of interest (ROIs) for mass detection. The two databases consisted of 1,820 and 1,809 ROIs extracted from DDSM mammograms digitized using a Lumisys and a Howtek scanner respectively. Three experiments were performed. First, we evaluated the CAD system on each dataset independently. Then, we evaluated the system on each dataset when the other dataset was used as the knowledge database. Finally, we assessed the CAD detection performance when the knowledge database contained mixed cases. Our CAD system had similar performance across digitizers (Az=0.87±0.01 for Lumisys vs. Az=0.8±0.01 for Howtek) when assessed independently. When the system was tested on one dataset while the other was used as the knowledge database, ROC performance declined marginally, mainly based on the partial ROC area index. This result suggests that blind translation of the system without some experience with cases digitized with the same digitizer is not recommended when the system is expected to operate at high sensitivity decision thresholds. When the system operated with a knowledge database of mixed cases, its performance across digitizers was robust yet slightly inferior to what observed independently.
Power and Frequency Fluctuations of MPPT Algorithms in Variable Irradiance Environments

Solar cells use the natural sunlight for a variety of purposes including electrical power generation. In order to maximize the power obtained from a solar cell, it has to operate at what is known as the Maximum Power Point (MPP). Intelligent algorithms that can track MPP for a given cell are crucial for the success of a large scale deployment of solar panels. This paper investigates the performance of two well-known Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) algorithms. A variable irradiance environment has been considered in this work, where sunlight varies significantly during the day. Towards the end, frequency stability analysis is conducted to evaluate the relevant impact of MPPT algorithms on frequency stability of system.
Mortality of adult intensive care units in Turkey using the APACHE II and SOFA systems (outcome assessment in Turkish intensive care units)

Introduction The aim of this study was to evaluate intensive care unit (ICU) performance using risk-adjusted ICU mortality rates nationally, assessing patients who died or had been discharged from the ICU. For this purpose, this study analyzed the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) databases, containing detailed clinical and physiological information and mortality of mixed critically ill patients in a medical ICU at secondary and tertiary referral ICUs in Turkey. Material and methods A total of 690 adult intensive care units in Turkey were included in the study. Among 690 ICUs evaluated, 39.7% were secondary and 60.3% were tertiary ICUs. A total of 4188 patients were enrolled in this study. Intensive care units of ministry, university, and private hospitals were evaluated all over Turkey. During the study period, clinical data that were collected concurrently for each patient contained demographic details and the diagnostic category leading to ICU admission. APACHE II and SOFA scores following ICU admission were calculated and recorded. Patients were followed up for outcome data until death or ICU discharge. Results The mean age of patients was 68.8 ±19 and 54% of them were male. The mean APACHE II score was 20 ±8.7. The ICUs’ mortality rate was 46.3%, and mean predicted mortality was 37.2% for APACHE II. The standardized mortality ratio was 1.28 (95% confidence interval: 1.21–1.31). Conclusions There was a wide difference in outcome for patients admitted to different ICUs and severity of illness using risk adjustment methods. The high mortality rate in patients could be related to comorbid diseases, high mechanical ventilation rates and older ages.
Identification of Transposable Elements Contributing to Tissue-Specific Expression of Long Non-Coding RNAs

It has been recently suggested that transposable elements (TEs) are re-used as functional elements of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). This is supported by some examples such as the human endogenous retrovirus subfamily H (HERVH) elements contained within lncRNAs and expressed specifically in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), as required to maintain hESC identity. There are at least two unanswered questions about all lncRNAs. How many TEs are re-used within lncRNAs? Are there any other TEs that affect tissue specificity of lncRNA expression? To answer these questions, we comprehensively identify TEs that are significantly related to tissue-specific expression levels of lncRNAs. We downloaded lncRNA expression data corresponding to normal human tissue from the Expression Atlas and transformed the data into tissue specificity estimates. Then, Fisher’s exact tests were performed to verify whether the presence or absence of TE-derived sequences influences the tissue specificity of lncRNA expression. Many TE–tissue pairs associated with tissue-specific expression of lncRNAs were detected, indicating that multiple TE families can be re-used as functional domains or regulatory sequences of lncRNAs. In particular, we found that the antisense promoter region of L1PA2, a LINE-1 subfamily, appears to act as a promoter for lncRNAs with placenta-specific expression.