Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Mortality for Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in Middle-Aged, Old, and Very Old Critically Ill Patients*

Objective:We investigated the epidemiology of ventilator-associated pneumonia in elderly ICU patients. More precisely, we assessed prevalence, risk factors, signs and symptoms, causative bacterial pathogens, and associated outcomes. Design:Secondary analysis of a multicenter prospective cohort (EU-VAP project). Setting:Twenty-seven European ICUs. Patients:Patients who were mechanically ventilated for greater than or equal to 48 hours. We compared middle-aged (45–64 yr; n = 670), old (65–74 yr; n = 549), and very old patients (≥ 75 yr; n= 516). Measurements and Main Results:Ventilator-associated pneumonia occurred in 103 middle-aged (14.6%), 104 old (17.0%), and 73 very old patients (12.8%). The prevalence (n ventilator-associated pneumonia/1,000 ventilation days) was 13.7 in middle-aged patients, 16.6 in old patients, and 13.0 in very old patients. Logistic regression analysis could not demonstrate older age as a risk factor for ventilator-associated pneumonia. Ventilator-associated pneumonia in elderly patients was more frequently caused by Enterobacteriaceae (24% in middle-aged, 32% in old, and 43% in very old patients; p = 0.042). Regarding clinical signs and symptoms at ventilator-associated pneumonia onset, new temperature rise was less frequent among very old patients (59% vs 76% and 74% for middle-aged and old patients, respectively; p = 0.035). Mortality among patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia was higher among elderly patients: 35% in middle-aged patients versus 51% in old and very old patients (p = 0.036). Logistic regression analysis confirmed the importance of older age in the risk of death (adjusted odds ratio for old age, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.2–3.9 and adjusted odds ratio for very old age, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.2–4.4). Other risk factors for mortality in ventilator-associated pneumonia were diabetes mellitus, septic shock, and a high-risk pathogen as causative agent. Conclusions:In this multicenter cohort study, ventilator-associated pneumonia did not occur more frequently among elderly, but the associated mortality in these patients was higher. New temperature rise was less common in elderly patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia, whereas more episodes among elderly patients were caused by Enterobacteriaceae.
Sea Ice Emissivity Modeling at L-Band and Application to 2007 Pol-Ice Campaign Field Data

Sea ice emissivity models for the L-band frequency range are described and then tested on Pol-Ice campaign field measurements. Pol-Ice was conducted in March 2007 in the Northern Baltic in preparation for the launch of the Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) instrument, a satellite microwave radiometer operating at 1.4 GHz. The campaign comprised airborne measurements from the EMIRAD L-band radiometer and the E-M Bird ice thickness meter. Because of the translucency of sea ice at L-band, it is hoped that SMOS will render information on ice thickness. Three variations on radiative transfer are used to model EMIRAD brightness temperatures from collocated E-M Bird measurements: a single plane-parallel model, an ensemble of such models, and a ridged Monte Carlo model based on geometric optics that includes both the top- and bottom-surface topography. All three models accurately account for the instrument antenna pattern, relevant to satellite-mounted radiometers that sample a large and heterogeneous area. Because of ice growth processes, salinity and, by extension, permittivity are partial functions of ice thickness; thus, the models are further refined so that permittivity varies with ice thickness, which was necessary to correctly model the polarization difference. Other issues related to effective permittivities, an intermediate quantity in the models, are discussed. Analysis of partial correlations shows that ice ridging makes a significant contribution to the measured signal, commending further study using scattering models that are more appropriate to the scale of the ridging relative to the wavelength.
Economic Growth and Income Convergence in Ethiopia: A Critique

In its review of Ethiopia’s economy, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has indicated that Ethiopia has been attaining economic growth for the past seven years. In addition, the IMF highlights that the lifestyle of the Ethiopian people has been getting better for the last two decades. In his recent statement, the Prime Minister of Ethiopia has stated that Ethiopia has not only registered rapid economic growth but the income from economic growth has been redistributed equitably. Over the last twenty years, Ethiopia has gone through various structural changes. However, unless the Ethiopian population is experiencing extreme poverty that is undetected, or the economy is completely controlled and managed by the state inducing minimal differences in wages and salaries, or instituting poverty-reducing public programs, though inconclusive, the economic literature does not seem to support Ethiopia’s Gini coefficient of 0.29 which is far below the Gini coefficient of newly industrialized countries. Therefore, the policy implication of this study is that the study that gave the entire world an impression that Ethiopia’s Gini coefficient is 0.29 needs to be replicated by other sound methodologies in order to confirm or invalidate the study.
Sensory Dysfunction Following Stroke: Incidence, Significance, Examination, and Intervention

Abstract Recent studies have provided evidence of the widespread incidence of sensory dysfunction following stroke. The importance of these findings lies in the association between sensory loss poststroke and poorer outcomes in motor capacity, functional abilities, length of inpatient stay, and quality of life. Since literature suggests that clinicians can use information about clients’ sensory status to predict rehabilitation outcomes and select appropriate interventions, the accuracy of somatosensory assessment is extremely clinically relevant. However, many of the clinical tests that are commonly used to examine sensation have not been found to be valid or reliable. Emerging evidence supports the efficacy of several interventions that target the sensory systems. This article reviews the incidence, significance, examination, and interventions for sensory dysfunction following stroke and summarizes the important characteristics of interventions directed at somatosensation.
New Insights into the Composition and Functions of the Acquired Enamel Pellicle

The acquired enamel pellicle (AEP) is a thin acellular film that forms on tooth surfaces upon exposure to the oral environment. It consists predominantly of salivary proteins, but also includes non-salivary-derived proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids. Since it is the interface between teeth and the oral environment, the AEP plays a key role in the maintenance of oral health by regulating processes including lubrication, demineralization, and remineralization and shaping the composition of early microbial flora adhering to tooth surfaces. Knowledge of the 3D structure of the AEP and how that correlates with its protective functions may provide insight into several oral pathological states, including caries, erosion, and periodontal disease. This review intends to update readers about the latest discoveries related to the formation, ultrastructure, composition, and functions of the AEP, as well as the future of pellicle research, with particular emphasis on the emerging role of proteomic and microscopy techniques in oral diagnosis and therapeutics.
The Effect of the Alternation in the Ruling Party on Three-Factor Risks and Returns in ETF: The Case of Presidential Elections in Taiwan

Abstract This study discusses the effect of alternation in the ruling party in presidential elections on three-factor risks and returns of the three main exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in Taiwan, which has an unclearly defined international status and whose citizens have the right to vote directly for the president. We find that after the ruling party has been determined, in the period between Election Day and inauguration day, both the stock market and ETFs show a slight rise in prices. This suggests that most investors are initially optimistic after the election results have been announced. Meanwhile, the reverse book-to-market risk value deteriorates significantly. These results indicate that political uncertainty increases the risk premium of market factors and reverse book-to-market factors for some ETFs.
Research 16 p 11 . 2 Deletion mice display cognitive deficits in touchscreen learning and novelty recognition tasks

Chromosomal 16p11.2 deletion syndrome frequently presents with intellectual disabilities, speech delays, and autism. Here we investigated the Dolmetsch line of 16p11.2 heterozygous (+/2) mice on a range of cognitive tasks with different neuroanatomical substrates. Robust novel object recognition deficits were replicated in two cohorts of 16p11.2+/2 mice, confirming previous findings. A similarly robust deficit in object location memory was discovered in +/2, indicating impaired spatial novelty recognition. Generalizability of novelty recognition deficits in +/2 mice extended to preference for social novelty. Robust learning deficits and cognitive inflexibility were detected using Bussey–Saksida touchscreen operant chambers. During acquisition of pairwise visual discrimination, +/2 mice required significantly more training trials to reach criterion than wild-type littermates (+/+), and made more errors and correction errors than +/+. In the reversal phase, all +/+ reached criterion, whereas most +/2 failed to reach criterion by the 30-d cutoff. Contextual and cued fear conditioning were normal in +/2. These cognitive phenotypes may be relevant to some aspects of cognitive impairments in humans with 16p11.2 deletion, and support the use of 16p11.2+/2 mice as a model system for discovering treatments for cognitive impairments in 16p11.2 deletion syndrome.
Integrated 5.8 GHz phased array antenna, for electronic toll collection

An integrated 3/spl times/8 element phased array receiving antenna combined with a 4/spl times/8 element transmit antenna for 5.8 GHz DSRC D_edicated S_hort R_ange C_ommunication has been built. The number of analog phaseshifters and antenna elements has been optimized to meet the specific requirements of the application and of the DSRC-standard. A sophisticated concept for the integration of analog beamformer, RF-chain, and array antenna has been developed to enable a design of the complete antenna system on a thin multilayer structure. The size of the whole antenna is 280 mm/spl times/400 mm/spl times/20 mm.
The Urban Geography of Boxing: Race, Class, and Gender in the Ring

Introduction 1. On the Barrio's Ropes 2. Wo/Manly Art at the Gym 3. Business is Business Backdoors 4. The Limelight of the Ring 5. Through the Media's Lens 6. Politicking in Combat Zones 7. The Ivory Tower in the Real World. Epilogue.
Building home-school partnerships with parents of English language learners in a high school community: A mixed methods phenomenological study of one high school in Southern California

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to examine home-school partnerships practices between the high school community and English Language Learner (ELL) parents. More specifically, this study examined the experiences and benefits, if any, of ELL parents who participated in 1 or more of the following four ELL parent engagement practices implemented at 1 high school in Southern California during the 2009-2012 school years: 1. ELAC Parent education meetings 2. ELL Parent Handbook 3. ELL Parent Orientation Day 4. ELL Guidance Counselor The convergent parallel mixed methods design allowed for qualitative data of parent interviews and quantitative data of student performance scores to be used in parallel, analyzed separately, and then summarized separately, looking for contradictions or relationships between the 2 data sets. A total of 7 parents participated in the interview process. The parent interview responses were coded to highlight key words and statements, forming them into emerging themes in regard to the 4 implemented parent engagement practices. The quantitative data of student performance scores on the California English Language Development Test (CELDT), Math California Standards Test (CST), and English language arts CST were compared among the students whose parents participated in 1 or more of the engagement practices to the total population of identified ELL students at this one school site during the 2009-2012 school years. The quantitative data also compared ELL student performance scores from the year prior to the implementation of the parent engagement practices.
Common antigenicity between Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) pollen and Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) pollen, I. H‐2 complex affects cross responsiveness to Cry j 1 and Cha o 1 at the T‐ and B‐cell level in mice

Common antigenicity among two purified Japanese cedar pollen allergens (Cry j 1 and Cry j 2) and one Japanese cypress pollen allergen (Cha o 1) was explored at the T‐cell and B‐cell level in mice of different H‐2 haplotypes. Cry j 2 did not show any common antigenicity with Cry j 1 or Cha o 1. B10.S (H‐2S) mice immunized with Cry j 1 or Cha o 1 generated T cells and antibodies reactive to both antigens, indicating the common antigenicity of these antigens. C57BL/6 (H‐2b) mice were non‐responders to Cry j 1. BALB/c (H‐2d) mice immunized with Cry j 1 or Cha o 1 and C57BL/6 mice immunized with Cha o 1 generated T cells that were only reactive with the respective immunogen, but produced antibody reactive to both Cry j 1 and Cha o 1, indicating that Cry j 1 and Cha o 1 share their B‐cell epitope but not their T‐cell epitope. This finding may provide a clue for the clarification of the T‐cell and B‐cell epitopes of Cry j 1 and Cha o 1, even though the data are influenced by H‐2 complex restriction in mice. Considering that H‐2 complex restriction affects cross responsiveness to Cry j 1 and Cha o 1 at the T‐ and B‐cell level in mice, we assessed the possible situation in humans exposed sequentially to Japanese cedar pollen and Japanese cypress pollen.
Plankton stress responses from PAH exposure and nutrient enrichment

The hypothesis that the nature and force of PAH stress responses from plankton systems are coupled to the nutrient status of that system was tested in a mesocosm experiment. Four treat­ ments were applied consisting of control (Cn), pyrene exposed (PYl. nutrient spiked (Nul. and nutri­ ent spiked and pyrene exposed (NuPy) groups in replicate bags (n = 3) representing plankton com­ munities including bacteria, phytoplankton and zooplankton. Regardless of nutrient status, all the Py mesocosms were affected directly with decreases in chlorophyll a concentrations to 20 % of control values on Day 1. Primary production was also significantly lower « 50 %) than Cn communities in both Py and NuPy communities after the first pyrene exposure. Indirect effects were observed as increased bacterial activity due to nutrient release from algal death, thereby channelling growth to another trophic level. With time the plankton system became top-down controlled, dominated by zoo­ plankton, which was also the trophic group experiencing the longest lasting effect on structure. The occurrence of late effects in the zooplankton communities were seen in all treatments, but the mag­ nitude of the effects was dependent on the nutrient status, most probably because of a larger trophic transfer of the contaminant. To improve our understanding of contaminant effects on food webs in natural communities, it is imperative that interactions between trophic levels in relation to abiotic fac­ tors are investigated.
Pulsed multi-tone measurements for time domain load pull characterizations of power transistors

Real-time active load-pull (RTALP) characterization of power transistors with a large signal network analyzer (LSNA) has the benefit of greatly accelerating the design of power amplifiers. However RTALP has been so far limited to devices operating under CW excitations and constant biasing and was therefore mostly applicable to transistors with small memory effects. In TDMA communication or radar systems, amplifiers are excited by pulsed or modulated RF signals and operate under pulsed biasing. For such applications the measurement of modulated/pulsed RF signals under pulsed biasing/RF conditions is required for a more realistic understanding of the behavior of transistors with memory effects. This paper demonstrates that under appropriate conditions it is possible to effectively combine these two excitation modes while performing large-signal measurement by sub-sampling down-conversion with a LSNA. In this demonstration, the acquisition of CW two-tone and three-tone excitations is performed using multiple-recording with pulse duty rate of 1.5% and 0.15%. The pulse-recorded measurements for the three-tone excitation are found to be consistent with CW measurements (100% duty rate). This preliminary work indicates that either intermodulation or real-time active load-pull measurements under pulsed operation can be readily realized for RF samplers with sufficiently short settling time while operating under pulsed RF modulation.
Animated operational scenarios for microgrid systems using scenario visualization and simulation tools

The modernization of energy infrastructure otherwise called Power Grid, with integration of renewable energy sources like Solar, Wind has emerged as a key focus area across the world. Over 1.2 billion people do not have access to electricity which incudes over 550 million people in Africa and 300 million in India. Further to this situation, the report from International Energy Agency forecasts power generation from renewable energy sources to nearly triple from year 2010 to 2035 reaching 31%. Microgrid or Distributed Energy Island System plays a vital role to overcome these challenges. Microgrid, which comprises of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) serving few community loads, are key enabler for renewable integration. These systems also play a significant role in rural electrification. These systems can be operated in semiautonomous manner or in autonomous/islanding mode. Some of the operational scenarios in these systems are related to modernization of power systems and hence explorative. This leaves a huge potential for Industry and academia collaborative approach. The purpose of this study is to analyze the operational scenarios both existing or new and how the visualization tools and ecosystem play a major role in the direction of collaboration and optimization that leads to benefit the community in the future.
GPS kinematic Precise Point Positioning based on sequential least squares estimation

Precise Point Positioning (PPP) is a method that performs precise position determination in static or kinematic mode using a single GPS receiver. It has been recognized as a very valuable tool in many applications such as in geodetic and geodynamic, in geophysics and meteorology. This paper focuses on a sequential least squares estimation for unknown parameters and accuracy analysis of GPS kinematic Precise Point Positioning (PPP) with marine data. A least squares solution with a priori weighted constraints to the parameters is mainly introduced. The adjustment procedure which is an effectively sequential filter, considers the variations in the states of the parameters between observation epochs and uses appropriate stochastic process noise to update their variances. Combining IGS precise orbit and clock products with ship-borne GPS dual-frequency code and carrier phase observations collected in the sailing and floating state, the validity of the sequential least squares solution and accuracy of GPS kinematic PPP is tested and verified. The results show that the precision of centimeter can be obtained, which can meet the requirements of oceanographic kinematic users.
Competitive advantages as source of excess stock returns

The perspectives assessment of any given company is a vital step to the efficiency of the valuation process. A correct assessment will result in the definition of assumptions that will lead to better valuation results. Wrong conclusions are frequently taken because a bad assessment was made and this is the result of the lack of a proper framework that guides the analysis of company perspectives. To solve this problem we decided to use strategic management theory and test the relation between stock returns and competitive advantages relevant for a given industry. We applied this method to the Steel Industry and tested it statistically. The results showed us that, generally, improvements in the operational efficiency, measured by the first differences in gross margin , provide excess returns. This results show us that the use of Competitive Advantages to select portfolios, in the Steel Industry, yields better than average returns.
Individual Differences in Search and Monitoring for Color Targets in Dynamic Visual Displays

Many real-world tasks now involve monitoring visual representations of data that change dynamically over time. Monitoring dynamically changing displays for the onset of targets can be done in two ways: detecting targets directly, post-onset, or predicting their onset from the prior state of distractors. In the present study, participants’ eye movements were measured as they monitored arrays of 108 colored squares whose colors changed systematically over time. Across three experiments, the data show that participants detected the onset of targets both directly and predictively. Experiments 1 and 2 showed that predictive detection was only possible when supported by sequential color changes that followed a scale ordered in color space. Experiment 3 included measures of individual differences in working memory capacity (WMC) and anxious affect and a manipulation of target prevalence in the search task. It found that predictive monitoring for targets, and decisions about target onsets, were influenced by interactions between individual differences in verbal and spatial WMC and intolerance of uncertainty, a characteristic that reflects worry about uncertain future events. The results have implications for the selection of individuals tasked with monitoring dynamic visual displays for target onsets.
Race, Coping Strategies, and Substance Use Behaviors: A Preliminary Analysis Examining White and American Indian Adolescents

The association between stress exposure and substance use has been the subject of numerous studies. However, no prior study has explored the role of coping strategies in moderating the stress-substance use association for American Indian adolescents. Our preliminary study of coping strategies and substance use among a sample (n = 568) of rural American Indian and white adolescents revealed a number of similarities across both groups, but also some important differences. Results of logistic regression analyses revealed that the relationship between an avoidant coping strategy and marijuana use differed for whites and American Indians. Study limitations and future research directions are discussed.
A preliminary study on applying character-level RNNLM to text-to-speech system

High quality linguistic features extraction is the key component to the success of speech synthesis. However, traditional linguistic feature extraction methods are all based on natural language processing (NLP) frontends that relies heavily on feature engineering and ignores backend synthesis errors in feedback. In order to approach the goal of establishing an end-to-end speech synthesis system, in this paper, a character-level recurrent neural networks (RNNs) is adopted to directly convert input character sequences into latent linguistic feature vectors. Experimental results showed that proposed approach provides comparable performance with conventional NLP parser-based methods.