Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Validation of Omron RS8, RS6, and RS3 home blood pressure monitoring devices, in accordance with the European Society of Hypertension International Protocol revision 2010

Background Allowing patients to measure their blood pressure at home is recognized as being of clinical value. However, it is not known how often these measurements are taken correctly. Blood pressure monitors for home use fall into two types based on the position of the cuff, ie, at the upper arm or the wrist. The latter is particularly convenient, as measurements can be taken fully clothed. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of the wrist-type blood pressure monitors Omron RS8 (HEM-6310F-E), Omron RS6 (HEM-6221-E), and Omron RS3 (HEM-6130-E). Methods A team of three trained doctors validated the performance of these devices by comparing the measurements obtained from these devices with those taken using a standard mercury sphygmomanometer. All the devices met the validation requirements of the European Society of Hypertension International Protocol revision 2010. Results The difference in blood pressure readings between the tested device and the standard mercury sphygmomanometer was within 3 mmHg, which is acceptable according to the European Society of Hypertension guidelines. Conclusion All the home devices tested were found to be suitable for measuring blood pressure at home because their performance fulfilled the requirement of the guidelines.
Title Time-dependent discrete road network design with both tacticaland strategic decisions

This paper aims to model and investigate the discrete urban road network design problem, using a multi-objective time-dependent decision making approach. Given a base network made up with two-way links, candidate link expansion projects, and candidate link construction projects, the problem determines the optimal combination of one-way and two-way links, the optimal selection of capacity expansion projects, and the optimal lane allocations on two-way links over a dual time scale. The problem considers both the total travel time and the total CO emissions as the two objective function measures. The problem is modeled using a time-dependent approach which considers a planning horizon of multiple years and both morning and evening peaks. Under this approach, the model allows determining the sequence of link construction, the expansion projects over a predetermined planning horizon, the configuration of street orientations, and the lane allocations for morning and evening peaks in each year of the planning horizon. This model is formulated as a mixed-integer programming problem with mathematical equilibrium constraints. In this regards, two multi-objective metaheuristics, including a modified non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) and a multi-objective B-cell algorithm, are proposed to solve the above-mentioned problem. Computational results for various test networks are also presented in this paper.
The dimensional salience solution to the expectancy-value muddle: An extension

The theory of reasoned action (TRA) specifies a set of expectancy-value, belief-based frameworks that underpin attitude (behavioural beliefs × outcome evaluations) and subjective norm (normative beliefs × motivation to comply). Unfortunately, the most common method for analysing these frameworks generates statistically uninterpretable findings, resulting in what has been termed the ‘expectancy-value muddle’. Recently, however, a dimensional salience approach was found to resolve this muddle for the belief-based framework underpinning attitude. An online survey of 262 participants was therefore conducted to determine whether the dimensional salience approach could also be applied to the belief-based framework underpinning subjective norm. Results revealed that motivations to comply were greater for salient, as opposed to non-salient, social referents. The belief-based framework underpinning subjective norm was therefore represented by evaluating normative belief ratings for salient social referents. This modified framework was found to predict subjective norm, although predictions were greater when participants were forced to select five salient social referents rather than being free to select any number of social referents. These findings validate the use of the dimensional salience approach for examining the belief-based frameworks underpinning subjective norm. As such, this approach provides a complete solution to addressing the expectancy-value muddle in the TRA.
Environment and Its Impact on the Organization

This paper sets forth several testable propositions relating properties of the environment to the responses of the organization. Three features of the organization's external environment are considered: the extent to which it is uncertain, the extent to which it is malevolent or hostile, and the extent to which it is heterogeneous. The propositions relate these features to a wide range of organizational phenomena such as decentralization, the style of decisionmaking, the use of controls, norms and values, communication, technology, etc. Hopefully, these propositions will help to systematize the increasing volume of ad hoc research in this area, and will stimulate further theoretical and empirical work. A review of the literature (e.g., Child, 1972) suggests that the foregoing environmental features are perceived by researchers to be three of the most important environmental properties affecting organizations. Environmental uncertainty -
Combining deep neural network and traditional image features to improve survival prediction accuracy for lung cancer patients from diagnostic CT

Lung cancer is caused by abnormal and uncontrolled growth of cells in the lungs and the mortality rate of lung cancer is the highest among all types of cancer. It can be identified and treated with the help of computed tomography (CT) images. For an automated classifier, identifying good features from an image is a key concern. Deep feature extraction using pre-trained convolutional neural networks has been successful for some image domains recently. In our study, we apply a pre-trained convolutional neural network (CNN) to extract deep features from lung cancer CT images and then train classifiers to predict short and long term survivors. The best accuracy of 77.5% was with a cropping approach using a decision tree classifier in a leave one out cross validation with ten features chosen using symmetric uncertainty feature ranking. We mixed extracted deep neural network features along with quantitative (traditional image) features and obtained the best accuracy of 82.5% with a nearest neighbor classifier in a leave one out cross validation using the symmetric uncertainty feature ranking algorithm.
Financial Literacy for Increasing Sustainable Access to Finance in Nepal

Recent policies and practices of Nepali financial sector are focused to establish financial institutions to increase people’s ‘access to finance’. As a result, the numbers of financial institutions licensed both by Nepal Rastra Bank and Government of Nepal are growing rapidly. All the institutions are doing the similar functions in the same market. The financial institutions licensed by Nepal Rastra Bank are classified into commercial banks, development banks, finance companies and micro finance development banks, whereas the Government of Nepal licenses to the saving and credit cooperative socieites (SACCOS). Despite the supply sided endeavors, the demand side considerations in financial sector is more silent. This creates a concern about the capability of people in consuming financial services. As a result, quality and sustainable access to finance are in question. Furthermore, the expansions of such institutions are also concentrated in urban, semi-urban and priviledged areas causing unequal distribution of institutions and limited access to finance. This situation has given rise to unhealthy competition among the actors focusing on earning rather than empowering the financial consumers. This paper explores how far the expansion of Banks and Financial Institutions including cooperatives assures the access to finance and its sustainability. The secondary data shows a significant growth of financial sector and an increment of number of people involved in financial transactions in the banking industry. However, the primary data of the study shows that such expansion is necessary but not sufficient condition to assure a sustainable access to finance. The study also explores the worth of financial literacy among the people both in urban and rural areas as one of the means to enhance people’s access to finance and its sustainability. The paper is based more on the discussion and analytical approach with a mix of secondary and primary sources of data.
The Impact of Dietary and Metabolic Risk Factors on Cardiovascular Diseases and Type 2 Diabetes Mortality in Brazil

Background Trends in food availability and metabolic risk factors in Brazil suggest a shift toward unhealthy dietary patterns and increased cardiometabolic disease risk, yet little is known about the impact of dietary and metabolic risk factors on cardiometabolic mortality in Brazil. Methods Based on data from Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study, we used comparative risk assessment to estimate the burden of 11 dietary and 4 metabolic risk factors on mortality due to cardiovascular diseases and diabetes in Brazil in 2010. Information on national diets and metabolic risks were obtained from the Brazilian Household Budget Survey, the Food and Agriculture Organization database, and large observational studies including Brazilian adults. Relative risks for each risk factor were obtained from meta-analyses of randomized trials or prospective cohort studies; and disease-specific mortality from the GBD 2010 database. We quantified uncertainty using probabilistic simulation analyses, incorporating uncertainty in dietary and metabolic data and relative risks by age and sex. Robustness of findings was evaluated by sensitivity to varying feasible optimal levels of each risk factor. Results In 2010, high systolic blood pressure (SBP) and suboptimal diet were the largest contributors to cardiometabolic deaths in Brazil, responsible for 214,263 deaths (95% uncertainty interval [UI]: 195,073 to 233,936) and 202,949 deaths (95% UI: 194,322 to 211,747), respectively. Among individual dietary factors, low intakes of fruits and whole grains and high intakes of sodium were the largest contributors to cardiometabolic deaths. For premature cardiometabolic deaths (before age 70 years, representing 40% of cardiometabolic deaths), the leading risk factors were suboptimal diet (104,169 deaths; 95% UI: 99,964 to 108,002), high SBP (98,923 deaths; 95%UI: 92,912 to 104,609) and high body-mass index (BMI) (42,643 deaths; 95%UI: 40,161 to 45,111). Conclusion suboptimal diet, high SBP, and high BMI are major causes of cardiometabolic death in Brazil, informing priorities for policy initiatives.
Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Nakhon Sawan population.

OBJECTIVE Determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome for comparison. MATERIAL AND METHOD A cross-sectional survey of Nakhon Sawan population aged 15 years and over was conducted in March 2002. There were 636 persons included in the present study, age range from 15 to 87 years, and mean age of 41.4 +/- 16.7 years. RESULTS The prevalence of metabolic syndrome using World Health Organization (WHO), The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol In Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III, ATP III), and International Diabetes Federation (IDF) definition was 6.2, 20.0, and 18.7%, respectively. This prevalence was high compared with the previous study in Thailand and the estimated global metabolic syndrome for adults above 20 years of age. Women and elders had a higher prevalence than men and youngsters. The authors should search for Thai cut-off values of abdominal obesity in children and adults to have the correct data for public health plan and management. This is because there are variations among the different ethnic background and countries, even within Asia. CONCLUSION The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was high. The interventions in prevention and management of the metabolic syndrome should be started for overweight children.
Nutrition education improves dietary diversity of children 6-23 months at community-level: Results from a cluster randomized controlled trial in Malawi

Background: Low dietary quality and quantity and inappropriate feeding practices can cause undernutrition. Poor nutritional status in early childhood is associated with growth faltering. The objective of the study was to assess the potential of community-based nutrition education to improve height-for-age z-scores in children 6–23 months of age. Methods and Findings: We carried out a cluster-randomized-controlled trial to assess the effectiveness of nutrition education. A total of 24 Extension Planning Area Sections served as clusters. The selection criteria were: the position of the extension officer was staffed and the sections had been selected by the project for activities in its first project year. The sections were randomized into intervention and control restricted on mean height for age Z-score using baseline information. In the intervention area, food security activities and community-based nutrition education was implemented. The control area received food security activities only. At baseline (2011) and endline (2014), caregivers with a child below two years of age were enrolled. Data assessment included anthropometric measurements, interviews on socio-economic status, dietary intake and feeding practices. A difference-in-differences estimator was used to calculate intervention effects. A positive impact on child dietary diversity was observed (B (SE) = 0.39 (0.15), p = 0.01; 95%CI 0.09–0.68). There was a non-significant positive intervention effect on mean height-for-age z-scores (B (SE) = 0.17 (0.12), p = 0.15; 95%CI -0.06–0.41). Limitations: The 24h dietary recalls used to measure dietary diversity did not consider quantities of consumed foods. Unrecorded poor quality of consumed foods might have masked a potential benefit of increased child dietary diversity on growth. Conclusions: Participatory community-based nutrition education for caregivers improved child dietary diversity even in a food insecure area. Nutrition education should be part of programs in food insecure settings aiming at ameliorating food insecurity among communities.
Prevalence of fatigue in Guillain-Barre syndrome in neurological rehabilitation setting

Background: Fatigue contributes significantly to the morbidity and affects the quality of life adversely in Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS). Objective: To determine the prevalence of fatigue in GBS in neurological rehabilitation setting and to study its clinical correlates. Materials and Methods: We performed secondary analysis of data of patients with GBS admitted in neurological rehabilitation ward of a tertiary care centre, recorded at both admission and discharge. Assessment of fatigue was done by Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), disability-status by Hughe's Disability Scale (HDS), functional-status by Barthel Index, anxiety/depression by Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale, sleep disturbances by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and muscle weakness by Medical Research Council sum scores. Results: A total of 90 patients (62 men) with mean age 34 years (95% CI 32.2, 37.7) were included. Median duration of, stay at neurological rehabilitation ward was 30 days, while that of symptoms was 18.5 days. Presence of fatigue at admission (FSS ≥ 4 in 39% patients) was associated with ventilator requirement (P = 0.021) and neuropathic pain (P = 0.03). Presence of fatigue at discharge (FSS ≥ 4 in 12% patients) was associated with disability- HDS (≥3) (P = 0.008), presence of anxiety (P = 0.042) and duration of stay at rehabilitation ward (P = 0.02). Fatigue did not correlate with age, gender, antecedent illness, muscle weakness, depression and sleep disturbances. Conclusion: Fatigue is prevalent in GBS during early recovery phase of illness. Despite motor recovery fatigue may persist. Knowledge about fatigue as burden of disease in these patients will improve patient care.
Prolonged extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for children with respiratory failure

Objective: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is used to support children with respiratory failure. When extracorporeal membrane oxygenation duration is prolonged, decisions regarding ongoing support are difficult as a result of limited prognostic data. Design: Retrospective case series. Setting: Multi-institutional data reported to the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization Registry. Patients: Patients aged 1 month to 18 yrs supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for respiratory failure from 1993 to 2007 who received support for ≥21 days. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: Of the 3213 children supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation during the study period, 389 (12%) were supported ≥21 days. Median patient age was 9.1 months (interquartile range, 2.5–41.7 months). Median weight was 6.7 kg (interquartile range, 3.5–15.8 kg). Survival for this group was 38%, significantly lower than survival reported for children supported ⩽14 days (61%, p < .001). Among children supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for ≥21 days, no differences were found between survivors and nonsurvivors with regard to acute pulmonary diagnosis, pre-extracorporeal membrane oxygenation comorbidities, pre-extracorporeal membrane oxygenation adjunctive therapies, or pre-extracorporeal membrane oxygenation blood gas parameters. Only peak inspiratory pressure was significantly different in survivors. Complications occurring on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation were more common among nonsurvivors. The use of inotropic infusion (odds ratio 1.64; 95% confidence interval 1.07–2.52), acidosis (pH <7.2) during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (odds ratio 2.62; 95% confidence interval 1.51–4.55), and male gender (odds ratio 1.95; 95% confidence interval 1.21–3.15) were independently associated with increased odds of death. Conclusion: Survival declines with duration of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Male gender and inadequate cardiorespiratory status during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation increased the risk of death. Prolonged support with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation appears reasonable unless multiorgan failure develops.
Regional Administrative Levels,Information Infrastructure and Route Selection of Financial Agglomeration:Empirical Analysis Based on the Panel Data of the Yangtze River Delta City Group

Based on relevant theories of regional economics,information economics and finance,this paper studies the determinants of financial agglomeration in China by the panel data of the Yangtze River Delta city group from 2003 to 2008 and modern quantitative analysis.The results show that the information source as the integration of regional administrative levels and information infrastructure is the dominant force of financial industrial agglomeration;financial industry is apt to concentrate in regions with high per capita income,high consumption level and developed international trade;the restraint of human capital on financial agglomeration is not significant;the investment in fixed assets has a crowding-out effect on financial agglomeration.Owing to current unsound market-oriented mechanism of information centers in China,the pursuit of information source in the financial agglomeration routes is more displayed by the preference for regional administrative levels in order to gain more policy information and policy rents.Therefore,on the basis of the grasp of current route,the governments should pay attention to the improvement of market-oriented mechanism of financial information,carefully handle the boundary issue of administrative management and market in the formation process of financial center,and provide foundation for the construction of sound multi-level financial center system.
A modified Wheeler cap method for measuring antenna efficiency

An antenna efficiency measurement technique is presented which is based on the classic Wheeler Cap method. Wheeler's original method is regarded as one of the simplest and most accurate for measuring electrically small antennas, but the assumed RLC equivalent circuit model may not be appropriate for all antennas. In the present method we transform measured reflection coefficient data such that either a series or parallel RLC approximation is always valid in the vicinity of resonance. This procedure provides the capability to achieve significant improvements in accuracy over measuring the efficiency of VHF and UHF antennas in anechoic chambers.
A high-efficiency soft-switched AC/DC converter with current-doubler synchronous rectification

An improved ac/dc converter based on asymmetrical half-bridge topology is proposed in this paper. To substantially enhance the efficiency for low-voltage/high-current output applications, a current-doubler synchronous rectifier is combined with a modified asymmetrical half-bridge converter that retains the inherent zero-voltage-switching property. The power losses in the secondary rectification stage and the primary switches can be significantly reduced. The proposed architecture exhibits extreme simplicity and lower cost while providing unity power factor, well-regulated output, and high power density. The detailed operating principles and design procedures for the proposed converter are described in this paper. Simulation and experimental results for a laboratory prototype are discussed to verify the feasibility.
Southern crossroads of the Western Palaearctic during the Late Pleistocene and their imprints on current patterns of genetic diversity: insights from the mosquito Aedes caspius

Aim Climatic changes have strongly reshaped the Western Palaearctic biota throughout the Late Pleistocene. For animals, most studies so far have focused on species having low to moderate dispersal abilities, while strong dispersers have remained understudied, despite their abundance. With the aim of contributing to filling this gap, we here investigate the Late Pleistocene evolutionary history of one such species, the mosquito Aedes caspius.
Executive function moderates the relation between coping and depressive symptoms

Background and Objectives: Identifying risk factors early in the course of depression has important implications for prevention, given that the likelihood of recurrence increases with each successive episode. Design: This study examined relations among coping, executive functioning, and depressive symptom trajectories in a sample of remitted-depressed (n = 32) and never-depressed (ND; n = 36) young adults (aged 18–31). Methods: Participants completed a clinical interview, a measure of coping, and tasks assessing two components of executive function – inhibition and cognitive flexibility. Participants were reassessed regarding the timing and severity of depressive symptoms that had occurred during the interval period (mean = 35.16 weeks, SD = 9.03). Results: Among ND individuals, less primary control coping (e.g., problem-solving) and greater disengagement coping (e.g., avoidance) predicted increases in depressive symptoms. Greater secondary control coping (e.g., acceptance) predicted decreases in depressive symptoms and was unrelated to depression history. Higher inhibition scores predicted less increase in depressive symptoms for individuals reporting less primary control coping or more disengagement coping. Higher cognitive flexibility scores predicted less increase in depressive symptoms among individuals reporting less secondary control coping. Conclusions: Interventions aiming to enhance either coping strategies or executive functions may reduce risk of depression recurrence.