Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
E0 370 Statistical Learning Theory Support Vector Machines

In the last lecture we introduced the probabilistic/batch learning setting, where a learner receives a finite sample of labeled training examples S = ((x1, y1), . , (xm, ym)), the xi being instances in some instance space X and yi being labels in some label space Y, and the goal is to learn from these examples a function h : X→Y that predicts accurately labels of new instances. We also mentioned briefly the binary classification problem in this setting, where there are just two labels denoted Y = {−1, 1}, and the loss incurred on predicting a label ŷ when the true label is y is simply `0-1(y, ŷ) = 1(ŷ 6= y).
Hybrid BBO and GA algorithms based on elites operation

As a novel heuristic optimisation algorithm, biogeography-based optimisation (BBO) has a huge potential to be further developed. Genetic algorithm (GA) is a famous algorithm in optimisation as well. In this paper, two hybrid algorithms of BBO and GA are proposed based on elites operations. According to the property of the two algorithms, we optimised the elites' migration model in BBO by using GA. The one is named global migration hybrid strategy (GMHS), and the other is hierarchical migration hybrid strategy (HMHS). From the test results, it is obvious that the two strategies both perform better than BBO or GA alone. In addition, some comparisons among the new two hybrid strategies and other famous hybrid algorithms are shown in this paper. And an application of semiconductor manufacturing lines is implemented by the hybrid algorithm. According to the results, we know the hybrid strategies have a better capability to solve optimisation problems.
Cardiac Angiography in Renally Impaired Patients (CARE) Study: A Randomized Double-Blind Trial of Contrast-Induced Nephropathy in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease

Background— No direct comparisons exist of the renal tolerability of the low-osmolality contrast medium iopamidol with that of the iso-osmolality contrast medium iodixanol in high-risk patients. Methods and Results— The present study is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind comparison of iopamidol and iodixanol in patients with chronic kidney disease (estimated glomerular filtration rate, 20 to 59 mL/min) who underwent cardiac angiography or percutaneous coronary interventions. Serum creatinine (SCr) levels and estimated glomerular filtration rate were assessed at baseline and 2 to 5 days after receiving medications. The primary outcome was a postdose SCr increase ≥0.5 mg/dL (44.2 &mgr;mol/L) over baseline. Secondary outcomes were a postdose SCr increase ≥25%, a postdose estimated glomerular filtration rate decrease of ≥25%, and the mean peak change in SCr. In 414 patients, contrast volume, presence of diabetes mellitus, use of N-acetylcysteine, mean baseline SCr, and estimated glomerular filtration rate were comparable in the 2 groups. SCr increases ≥0.5 mg/dL occurred in 4.4% (9 of 204 patients) after iopamidol and 6.7% (14 of 210 patients) after iodixanol (P=0.39), whereas rates of SCr increases ≥25% were 9.8% and 12.4%, respectively (P=0.44). In patients with diabetes, SCr increases ≥0.5 mg/dL were 5.1% (4 of 78 patients) with iopamidol and 13.0% (12 of 92 patients) with iodixanol (P=0.11), whereas SCr increases ≥25% were 10.3% and 15.2%, respectively (P=0.37). Mean post-SCr increases were significantly less with iopamidol (all patients: 0.07 versus 0.12 mg/dL, 6.2 versus 10.6 &mgr;mol/L, P=0.03; patients with diabetes: 0.07 versus 0.16 mg/dL, 6.2 versus 14.1 &mgr;mol/L, P=0.01). Conclusions— The rate of contrast-induced nephropathy, defined by multiple end points, is not statistically different after the intraarterial administration of iopamidol or iodixanol to high-risk patients, with or without diabetes mellitus. Any true difference between the agents is small and not likely to be clinically significant.
Gastric ventilation: A new approach to metal phosphide fumigant ingestion

Abstract Introduction. Phosphine is absorbed rapidly across mucous membranes causing systemic poisoning including functional cellular hypoxia. Following ingestion of metal phosphides, continuous absorption of phosphine could contribute to the intractable systemic manifestations. Case report. A 16-year-old male was admitted to hospital 1-hour post-ingestion of two fresh 3 g tablets of aluminum phosphide 56%. He complained of abdominal discomfort and burning pain, thirst, nausea, and foul-odor vomitus. The silver nitrate test was positive by exhaled breath and gastric content, confirming exposure to phosphine. Initial therapy included intravenous fluids and gastric lavage with sodium bicarbonate and potassium permanganate. Hypotension, severe agitation and tachypnea prompted endotracheal intubation and treatment with gastric ventilation. This procedure involves insertion of a nasogastric tube to insufflate air into the distal part of the stomach. An orogastric tube is inserted near the gastro-esophageal junction as an inflow air tract. Ventilation was provided by blowing fresh air using an air-pump into the naso-gastric tube and phosphine contaminated air escaped via the wide-bore orogastric tube; the treatment continued for several hours. Although there was some evidence of progression of poisoning, including metabolic acidosis, arterial fibrillation, and mild gastrointestinal bleeding, the patient subsequently recovered and was discharged 6 days later with no persisting complications. This case report discusses probable benefit, availability, and simplicity of this treatment. We suggest that further clinical trials are required to confirm that this treatment improves outcomes in this highly toxic poisoning.
Multidimensions of perfectionism and self concept in school aged children

Perfectionism is a personality construct that involves striving for flawlessness and setting high standards. Self-concept is an individual’s self-perceptions of personal attributes and competence. This study investigated the relationship between the multidimensions of both perfectionism and self-concept in Australian students. Over 300 children in grades 4 to 6 completed the Child and Adolescent Perfectionism Scale (CAPS, Flett & Hewitt, 1990), the Adaptive/Maladaptive Perfectionism Scale (AMPS, Rice & Preusser, 2002) and Self Description Questionnaire I (SDQI, Marsh, 1990). CAPS focused on the sources of perfectionism (i.e., self-oriented perfectionism and socially-prescribed perfectionism). AMPS focused on perfectionistic behavioral tendencies such as sensitivity to mistakes and compulsiveness (i.e., preference for order and persistence). SDQ-I examined academic self-concept, non-academic self-concept and general self-worth. It had been suggested that self-oriented perfectionism and compulsiveness are adaptive, whereas socially-prescribed perfectionism and sensitivity to mistakes are maladaptive. Unlike studies with adults, results from the present study indicated that there was a positive correlation between perfectionism dimensions and self-concept domains for school-aged children. Self-oriented perfectionism was significantly associated with academic self-concept and general self-worth. Compulsiveness was significantly associated with academic, non-academic self-concept and general self-worth. Socially-prescribed perfectionism and sensitivity to mistakes were not significantly associated with general self-worth. Implications of these findings are discussed within the education context.
Differential control of Yorkie activity by LKB1/AMPK and the Hippo/Warts cascade in the central nervous system

Significance The correct regulation of tissue growth in developing organisms is essential for functional organ formation. The evolutionarily conserved transcriptional coactivator Yorkie (Yki)/Yes-activated protein (YAP) responds to a variety of upstream inputs to promote tissue growth. Yki/YAP is known to regulate stem cell proliferation, thus affecting final organ size. The Hippo (Hpo)/Warts kinase cascade is a key inhibitor of Yki activity in many epithelial tissues. Here, we show that Yki is inhibited by the nutrient-sensing liver kinase B1 (LKB1)/AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) cascade independent of Hpo/Warts in a population of neural progenitors in the developing Drosophila larval brain. Our results suggest a tissue-specific nutrient-dependent mode of Yki activity regulation. Furthermore, a tissue-specific differential wiring of Hpo signaling could represent an adjustment to the proliferation requirements of different tissue types. The Hippo (Hpo) pathway is a highly conserved tumor suppressor network that restricts developmental tissue growth and regulates stem cell proliferation and differentiation. At the heart of the Hpo pathway is the progrowth transcriptional coactivator Yorkie [Yki–Yes-activated protein (YAP)/transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) in mammals]. Yki activity is restricted through phosphorylation by the Hpo/Warts core kinase cascade, but increasing evidence indicates that core kinase-independent modes of regulation also play an important role. Here, we examine Yki regulation in the Drosophila larval central nervous system and uncover a Hpo/Warts-independent function for the tumor suppressor kinase liver kinase B1 (LKB1) and its downstream effector, the energy sensor AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), in repressing Yki activity in the central brain/ventral nerve cord. Although the Hpo/Warts core cascade restrains Yki in the optic lobe, it is dispensable for Yki target gene repression in the late larval central brain/ventral nerve cord. Thus, we demonstrate a dramatically different wiring of Hpo signaling in neighboring cell populations of distinct developmental origins in the central nervous system.
Applied Microbial and Cell Physiology

The susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus CIP 65.8 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9721 cells to the bactericidal action of nanostructured Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis damselfly wing surfaces Abstract Nanostructured insect wing surfaces have been reported to possess the ability to resist bacterial colonization through the mechanical rupture of bacterial cells coming into contact with the surface. In this work, the susceptibility of physiologically young, mature and old Staphylococcus aureus CIP 65.8 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9721 bacterial cells, to the action of the bactericidal nano-pattern of damsel-fly Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis wing surfaces, was investigated. The results were obtained using several surface characterization techniques including optical profilometry, scanning electron microscopy, synchrotron-sourced Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy, water contact angle measurements and antibacterial assays. The data indicated that the attachment propensity of physiologically young S. aureus CIP 65.8 T and mature P. aeruginosa ATCC 9721 bacterial cells was greater than that of the cells at other stages of growth. Both the S. aureus CIP 65.8 T and P. aeruginosa ATCC 9721 cells, grown at the early (1 h) and late stationary phase (24 h), were found to be most susceptible to the action of the wings, with up to 89.7 and 61.3% as well as 97.9 and 97.1% dead cells resulting from contact with the wing surface, respectively.
Do iatrogenic serosal injuries result in small bowel perforation in a rabbit model?

BACKGROUND Surgical dogma dictates that serosal injuries should be repaired during laparotomy as these injuries may result in localised areas of bowel ischaemia and may perforate. No study has investigated whether there is a correlation between the extent of serosal injuries and the risk for perforation under normal physiological conditions. We hypothesized that small bowel serosal injuries do not result in early or late perforation at physiological intraluminal pressures regardless of their size. METHOD An in-vivo rabbit small bowel serosal injury model was developed and two experiments were conducted. The first - to determine whether and at which pressures various lengths and circumferences of serosal injuries in small bowel result in immediate bowel perforation - was performed infusing saline into isolated bowel segments with or without a variety of serosal injuries. In the second study - to determine whether or not serosal injuries result in delayed perforation - a range of injuries was created in rabbits and the effect assessed at re-laparotomy 5 days after the creation of the injury. RESULTS No perforations were observed at the site of serosal injuries at physiological intraluminal pressures. Perforations occurred at 43.7+ 18.6 cmH₂O, 23.3+ 14.4 cmH₂O, and 24.4+ 23.9 cmH₂O for controls, 4 cm long and 100% circumference serosal injuries respectively (p-value = 0.18 for various lengths and 0.71 for various circumferences). No serosal injuries perforated within 72 or 120 hours after creation. CONCLUSION Small bowel serosal injuries do not perforate or leak at physiological intraluminal pressures, either at the time of creation or up to 120 hours thereafter.
Development and Validation of the Athlete Fear Avoidance Questionnaire.

CONTEXT The fear-avoidance model was developed in an attempt to explain the process by which "pain experience" and "pain behavior" become dissociated from the actual pain sensation in individuals who manifest the phenomenon of exaggerated pain perception. High levels of fear avoidance can lead to chronic pain and disability and have successfully predicted rehabilitation time in the work-related-injury population. Existing fear-avoidance questionnaires have all been developed for the general population, but these questionnaires may not be specific enough to fully assess fear avoidance in an athletic population that copes with pain differently than the general population. OBJECTIVE To develop and validate the Athlete Fear Avoidance Questionnaire (AFAQ). DESIGN Qualitative research to develop the AFAQ and a cross-sectional study to validate the scale. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS For questionnaire development, a total of 8 experts in the fields of athletic therapy, sport psychology, and fear avoidance were called upon to generate and rate items for the AFAQ. For determining concurrent validity, 99 varsity athletes from various sports participated. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS A total of 99 varsity athletes completed the AFAQ, the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire, and the Pain Catastrophizing Scale. We used Pearson correlations to establish concurrent validity. RESULTS Concurrent validity was established with significant correlations between the AFAQ and the Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire-Physical Activity (r = 0.352, P > .001) as well as with the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (r = 0.587, P > .001). High internal consistency of our questionnaire was established with a Cronbach α coefficient of 0.805. The final version of the questionnaire includes 10 items with good internal validity (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS We developed a questionnaire with good internal and external validity. The AFAQ is a scale that measures sport-injury-related fear avoidance in athletes and could be used to identify potential psychological barriers to rehabilitation.
Electricity production from and biodegradation of quinoline in the microbial fuel cell

Quinoline has become one of the common contaminants in groundwater and soil, discharged from the process of coal tar distillation and creosote wood preservation, as well as fossil fuel facilities. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of electricity production from and biodegradation of quinoline in the microbial fuel cell (MFC). Experiments were conducted in the MFC using an initial 500 mg/L quinoline with different glucose concentrations as substrates. Results showed maximum voltages of 558, 469, and 328 mV for the substrates with ratios of quinoline to glucose of 1:1, 5:3, 5:1, respectively. The MFC accomplished complete quinoline biodegradation within 6 h. Experiments were then conducted using 200 mg/L quinoline only as the MFC fuel, resulting in the maximal voltage of 145 mV and maximal power density of 16.4 mW/m2. GC/MS analyses showed that 2(1H)quinolinone accumulated in the anode solution and later disappeared. The results clearly demonstrated the feasibility to use quinoline as the MFC fuel to generate electricity and enhance quinoline biodegradation simultaneously.
Homogeneous Nuclear Background for Mitochondrial Cline in Northern Range of Notochthamalus scabrosus

A mitochondrial cline along the Chilean coast in the barnacle Notochthamalus scabrosus suggests a species history of transient allopatry and secondary contact. However, previous studies of nuclear sequence divergence suggested population genetic homogeneity across northern and central Chile. Here, we collect single-nucleotide polymorphism data from pooled population samples sequenced with restriction site−associated DNA sequencing procedures, confirm these data with the use of a GoldenGate array, and identify a discordance between population genetic patterns in the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes. This discordance was noted in previous work on this species, but here it is confirmed that the nuclear genome exhibits only slight phylogeographic variation across 3000 km of coastline, in the presence of a strong and statistically significant mitochondrial cline. There are nevertheless markers (approximately 5% of nuclear single-nucleotide polymorphisms) exhibiting cytonuclear disequilibrium relative to mitotype. Although these data confirm our previous explorations of this species, it is likely that some of the nuclear genomic diversity of this species has yet to be explored, as comparison with other barnacle phylogeography studies suggest that a divergence of similar magnitude should be found in the nuclear genome somewhere else in the species range.
Readability: An Important Issue Impacting Healthcare for Women with Postpartum Depression

PurposeTo evaluate the reading level of depression-screening instruments commonly used in postpartum depression (PPD) and evaluate the reading level of prevalent consumer pamphlets and books on PPD. Design and MethodsDescriptive study evaluating the reading level of four PPD instruments (the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, The Center for Epidemiologic Symptoms of Depression, the Postpartum Depression Screening Scale, and the Beck Depression Inventory-II), five pamphlets from grassroots organizations, and seven consumer books using the Fry Readability Graph. ResultsThe readability of the postpartum screening instruments varied, but all were at or below the recommended 6th grade reading level. CES-D had the lowest reading level (grade 2). The readability of the consumer publications also varied, but all had a higher reading level than the recommended 6th grade level, some at the college reading level. Clinical ImplicationsReadability is an important consideration in the choice of depression-screening instruments and written materials for consumers. Nurses using any of the four postpartum screening instruments studied can feel confident that women who can read will be able to read them. The readability of a book, pamphlet, or instrument should be of concern to nurses who work with women during the postpartum period.
Early pathologic and biochemical changes in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

We examined brain biopsy tissue from five patients with a neurologic syndrome consistent with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease using Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry for the detection of protease-resistant prion protein, in addition to histopathologic examination. Our results indicate that the formation of protease-resistant prion protein is an early event in disease pathogenesis and Western blot analysis can detect protease-resistant prion protein in the absence of structural lesions using a small amount of brain biopsy tissue. NEUROLOGY 1996;46: 1690-1693
Political Competition in Dual Economies: Clientelism in Latin America

Resumen:Este articulo presenta el proyecto de investigacion que intenta iluminar los mecanismos que vinculan el clientelismo con la informalidad. En particular la investigacion se concentra en las interacciones que tienen lugar durante la competencia electoral e intenta proporcionar un marco analitico para comprender los mecanismos economicos subyacentes en la competencia electoral en America Latina. Esta competencia esta caracterizada por asimetrias entre los politicos (credibilidad y habilidad para movilizar votantes) y asimetrias entre los votantes (ingreso y participacion en cierto segmento de la economia) ambos inmersos en un ambiente de baja calidad institucional (debil imperio de la ley). El articulo expone la evidencia empirica que motivo la investigacion, discute los conceptos y literatura centrales y presenta un ejercicio exploratorio basado en el modelo de votacion probabilistica como un punto de partida en la formalizacion del problema. En esta primera aproximacion se muestra que el politico clientelista en el poder puede proveer mas bienes publicos cuando su maquinaria politica es suficientemente rentable y la sociedad es altamente inequitativa. En la medida en que el politico entrante tiene su nicho en los votantes ricos quienes demandan bajos impuestos, el politico clientelista redistribuye mas ingreso aunque a costa de una mayor informalidad.
The Nature of the Problem: Muscles and Their Loads

For years, students have been introduced to the function of muscle during movement by descriptions of isotonic loading in which the load remains constant as the muscle shortens (Fig. 1). Leaving aside the fact that what is depicted in Fig. 1 is actually a rather poorly designed isotonic lever, we can ask how this simple loading regime constrains our view of muscle function. In isotonic loading, the properties of the muscle determine how fast and how far the muscle will shorten. Depending on the conditions employed, these properties will include the force–velocity relationship, the length–tension relationship and the kinetics of activation and deactivation. Series elastic elements typically play no role because, once the muscle begins to move the load, the force on these elements remains constant during shortening. Despite the almost universal realization that this type of loading is unrealistically simple, thinking about muscle and movement has been influenced extensively over the years by the constraints inherent in isotonic loading. Discussions have often focused on how muscle properties are matched to the load with less thought given to how evolution has also matched the load to the properties of muscle. During in vivo movements, muscles seldom, if ever, act on loads that are constant (Fig. 2). Muscles can contract against five basic types of loads: gravitational, elastic, inertial, viscous and drag. Of course, the load faced by the muscle may be a combination of two or more of these basic types of loads, and the quantitative importance of the various types may change during the movement. Of the five types, only gravity imposes a load that is expected to be constant during the movement. Even in this case, the load experienced by the muscle is often not constant because of changing mechanical advantage during the movement. For most realistic conditions, the movement itself creates changes in the load. When shortening stretches an elastic 3377 The performance of skeletal muscles in vivo is determined by the feedback received when the muscle interacts with the external environment via various morphological structures. This interaction between the muscle and the 'real-world load' forces us to reconsider how muscles are adapted to suit their in vivo function. We must consider the co-evolution of the muscles and the morphological structures that 'create' the load in concert with the properties of the external environment. This complex set of interactions may limit muscle performance acutely and may also …