Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Practice improvement in cervical screening and management: symposium on management of cervical abnormalities in adolescents and young women.

To the Editor: Drs Moscicki and Cox [1] reported the outcome of the Practice Improvement in Cervical Screening and Management symposium on the management of cervical abnormalities in adolescents and young women. One of the most important conclusions from the meeting was that there were no data to support screening of adolescent women (G21 y old). Importantly, one of the participating organizations, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG), now recommends that cervical cancer screening begins at age 21, rather than the previous recommendation to begin screening within 3 years of beginning sexual activity or at age 21 (whichever is younger) [2]. As noted [1], the annual rates of cervical cancer incidence in adolescent women have been very low and are unchanged in the last 30 years. Using recently updated data from National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program [3], we graphed the annual cervical cancer incidence rates to 2006 (Figure 1A) and mortality rates to 2002 (Figure 1B) specifically for women younger than 21 years (vs G20 y [1]). Cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates for women aged 21 to 24 and 25 to 29 years are shown for reference. The annual incidence of cervical cancer in adolescent women was approximately 1 to 2 cases per 1 million women at all time points since 1973, supporting the conclusions from the Practice Improvement in Cervical Screening and Management symposium [1] and the change in recommendations by ACOG [2]. More than 80% of the nearly 7 million Pap tests done on adolescent women are done on women who reportedly are virgins [4] and therefore are at no risk of cervical cancer because they could not have yet acquired human papillomavirus, the necessary cause of cervical cancer [5]. There is a lack of evidence that early screening women up to the age of 25 years prevents cervical cancer at these ages [6] or provides protection against cervical cancer later in life. Also, there is no evidence that diagnosis of these rare cases in adolescence leads to an improved likelihood of survival (Figure 1B). Finland, which has the lowest worldwide annual incidence [7], starts screening at age 30, suggesting that excellent screening coverage and follow-up of screen positives are probably more important to achieve the lowest incidence of cervical cancer than unnecessary widespread screening of adolescents. In the Unite States, more than 60% of cervical cancers occur in medically underserved, unscreened populations, which likely explains the discrepancies in the annual incidence of cervical cancer between Finland and the Unite States. The authors have no conflict of interest to report. This work was supported by the Intramural Research Program of the National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute.
Background noise reduction via dual-channel scheme for speech recognition in vehicular environment

This work concerns an effective dual-channel noise reduction method to increase the performance of robust speech recognition in a vehicular environment. While various single channel methods have already been developed and dual-channel methods have been studied somewhat, their effectiveness in real environments, such as in vehicular, has not yet been formally proven in terms of achieving an acceptable performance level. Our aim is to remedy the low performance of the single and dual-channel noise reduction methods. In particular, we propose a dual-channel noise reduction method based on a high-pass filter and front-end processing, using the eigendecomposition method. Representative experiments were conducted with a real multichannel car corpus and results were compared with respect to the microphone arrangements. From the analysis and results, we show that the enhanced eigendecomposition method, combined with high-pass filter, indeed significantly improves the speech recognition performance under a dual-channel environment.
Surfing Alone? The Internet and Social Capital: Evidence from an Unforeseeable Technological Mistake

Does the Internet undermine social capital or facilitate inter-personal and civic engagement in the real world? Merging unique telecommunication data with geo-coded German individual-level data, we investigate how broadband Internet affects several dimensions of social capital. One identification strategy uses panel information to estimate value-added models. A second exploits a quasi-experiment in East Germany created by a mistaken technology choice of the state-owned telecommunication provider in the 1990s that still hinders broadband Internet access for many households. We find no evidence that the Internet reduces social capital. For some measures including children's social activities, we even find significant positive effects.
Controller placement and flow based dynamic management problem towards SDN

The SDN architecture decouples the control plane and data plane, and multiple controllers are adopted to solve the scalability and reliability problem in SDN. However, most of the researches are focused on the control architecture and ignore the controller placement problem. Moreover, the mapping between the switches and controllers are static in current proposals, which will lead to the load unbalance of controllers under dynamic flow variations. In this paper, we define a new controller placement metric considering the node weight for a single domain at first, and then propose a dynamic switch migration algorithm to adapt to the flow dynamics and realize controller load balance in multiple SDN domains. Finally, a simple simulation platform is built to verify the proposed scheme.
Improved short-channel FET performance with virtual extensions

Here, for the first time, a method is presented to use electrostatic coupling from a metal of appropriate workfunction, separated from the extension region by a thin insulator, to create an electrostatically-induced charge layer in doped source/drain CMOS. This "virtual extension" allows for lower extension doping and increased underlap between the doped extension and the gate, "sharpening" the carrier profile and improving short-channel device performance. In one example, clock-limiting n-FET switching currents are improved 25% using this approach. However, the improvement in switching speed due to this higher current is partially offset by capacitance between the metal overlap and the extension.
Fully additive manufacturing of a polymer cantilever with a conductive layer

Nowadays, sensor devices have been increasingly attracted because of that they have been expected to play an important role to achieve the internet of things. Highly improved sensors have been proposed which can detect the condition of human [1-2], object [3] and environment [4]. These progresses indicate that a huge number of sensors will be produced in the near future to help us every scene in our life. In fact, it has been forecasted that the production amount of sensor will reach to one million per year [5]. For the forecasted future, it is all important that highly efficient manufacturing of them to keep the social sustainability.
Offshoring, Exporting, and Jobs

We construct a two-sector model - one producing a homogeneous good and the other producing differentiated goods - with labor market frictions to study the impact of offshoring on intrafirm, intrasectoral, and intersectoral reallocation of jobs, and on the economy-wide unemployment rate. A reduction in the offshoring cost affects intrafirm and intrasectoral reallocation in the differentiated-good sector through a job-relocation effect, a productivity effect, and a competition effect. The key parameters determining the impact of offshoring on reallocation of jobs at various margins as well as on the economy-wide unemployment rate are the elasticity of substitution between inputs and the elasticity of demand for differentiated goods. Allowing differentiated-good firms to export creates an additional channel through which a reduction in the cost of offshoring affects jobs and unemployment. We also show that the implications of a reduction in the cost of trading final goods are different from those of a reduction in the offshoring cost. "
Relationships between serum selenium and zinc concentrations versus profibrotic and proangiogenic cytokines (FGF-19 and endoglin) in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE Liver cirrhosis is a disease involving the liver parenchyma, which is characterised by fibrosis and impaired architectonics of the parenchyma with regenerative nodules. The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between stage of alcoholic liver cirrhosis, concentrations of selenium, zinc and profibrotic and proangiogenic cytokines (FGF-19, ENG). MATERIAL AND METHODS The study included 99 patients with alcoholic cirrhosis and 20 healthy subjects. Ion chromatography with UV/VIS detection was used for determination of zinc ions in the previously mineralized serum samples. The measurements of selenium were performed with the ContrAA700 high-resolution continuum source graphite tube atomic absorption spectrometer. ELISA was used to determine concentration of FGF-19 and ENG in serum samples. RESULTS Concentrations of zinc and selenium were significantly decreased in cirrhotic patients (p<0.001 for both). The highest concentration of FGF-19 was found in Child-Pugh stage C liver cirrhosis patients (806.9±650.3 pg/ml), and was significantly higher than observed in controls (p=0.005) and stage A patients (compensated cirrhosis) (p=0.02). The highest concentration of ENG was demonstrated in the control group (3.24±148 ng/ml) while the lowest in patients with decompensated cirrhosis (7.32±5.39 ng/ml and 7.92±4.18 ng/ml for stage B and C; p=0.03 and p=0.02, respectively). The use of the multiple-variable model demonstrated that the independent factors affecting the concentration of ENG were the concentration of bilirubin (p=0.02), INR (p=0.01) and duration of alcohol abuse (p=0.02). The independent determinants of FGF-19 concentrations were found to be the stage (severity) of liver cirrhosis (p=0.04) and INR (p=0.03). CONCLUSIONS Concentrations of zinc and selenium in serum of patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis are not independently related to concentrations of FGF-19 and ENG.
Electronic Implementation of Associative Memory Based on Neural Network Models

An electronic embodiment of a neural network based associative memory in the form of a binary connection matrix is described. The nature of false memory errors, their effect on the information storage capacity of binary connection matrix memories, and a novel technique to eliminate such errors with the help of asymmetrical extra connections are discussed. The stability of the matrix memory system incorporating a unique local inhibition scheme is analyzed in terms of local minimization of an energy function. The memory's stability, dynamic behavior, and recall capability are investigated using a 32-"neuron" electronic neural network memory with a 1024-programmable binary connection matrix.
DETERMINATION OF TYPES OF INDIVIDUALS IN APHIDS, ROTIFERS AND CLADOCERA 1

IN responding to the request of the editor for a review of the investigations into cycles involving alternating modes of reproduction, it has seemed wise to limit the field to the rotifers, aphids and cladocera. These three groups possess a cycle fundamentally alike. A unified discussion of them is therefore possible, even though a unified explanation has not yet been attained. Moreover, to treat adequately a larger field would require an article beyond any desirable limit of size.
Comparison of forced oscillometry and forced expirations for measuring dose-related responses to inhaled methacholine in asthmatic children.

The forced oscillation technique (FOT) is a lung function method which is applicable from the age of 2.5 years onwards, because only passive co-operation is needed. We used the method as described by Làndsér et al. The aim of this study was to compare indices of bronchial responsiveness obtained by FOT (Rrs6, Rrs, dRrs/df, Xrs), with indices derived from maximal and partial expiratory flow-volume curves (MEFV25, PEFV25, FEV1). Bronchial responsiveness was assessed by methacholine inhalation. Threshold dose (TD), i.e. the dose which caused a 2 SD change from baseline lung function, and provocation dose (PD), i.e. the dose which caused a 20% fall in FEV1, a 40% fall in MEFV25 and PEFV25 and a 40% increase in Rrs and Rrs6, were determined. We found that the indices derived from forced oscillometry compared well to those from maximal and partial flow-volume curves. PD20 FEV1 and PD40 Rrs6 were highly correlated (r = 0.84). TD appeared to be as good as PD to measure bronchial responsiveness and is preferred to PD because of the lower dose needed and limited bronchoconstriction obtained.
The Rise of the Universal Bank: Financial Architecture and Firm Volatility in the United States

This paper relates increases in firm-level volatility of publicly traded companies in the United States to the rise of universal banking following the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act. On the theoretical side, we argue that economies of scope in the provision of concurrent lending and underwriting improve the access to finance for risky enterprises. Empirically, we distinguish between financial intermediaries that become universal banks through mergers with investment banks or through establishing securities aliates (Section 20 subsidiaries), and exploit deregulatory shocks to the scope of their banking activities to identify the eect on risk taking. Using transaction-level data, we document a run-up in sales-growth volatility and idiosyncratic risk not just across but also within public firms that obtain financing from universal banks. Characterizing the risk-return relationship, we find that firms funded by universal banks exhibit lasting increases in total factor productivity of up to 9%, especially in the presence of close relationship banking and cross-selling. Our evidence points to increased eciency of financial intermediation by universal banks, thereby constituting a novel link between financial development and growth. By enabling firms to invest in riskier projects with higher return prospects, universal-bank finance is a key contributor, which we estimate to account for up to three-quarters of the increases in firm-level volatility and productivity since the late 1980s.
A simple new non‐invasive sweat indicator test for the diagnosis of diabetic neuropathy

A simple non‐invasive indicator test (Neuropad®) has been developed for the assessment of sweating and, hence, cholinergic innervation in the diabetic foot. The present review summarizes current knowledge on this diagnostic test. The diagnostic ability of this test is based on a colour change from blue to pink at 10 min, with excellent reproducibility, which lends itself to patient self‐examination. It has a high sensitivity (65.1–100%) and negative predictive value (63–100%), with moderate specificity (32–78.5%) and positive predictive value (23.3–93.2%) for the diagnosis of diabetic peripheral neuropathy. It also has moderate to high sensitivity (59.1–89%) and negative predictive value (64.7–91%), but low to moderate specificity (27–78%) and positive predictive value (24–48.6%) for the diagnosis of diabetic cardiac autonomic neuropathy. There are some data to suggest that Neuropad can detect early diabetic neuropathy, but this needs further evaluation. It remains to be established whether this test can predict foot ulceration and amputation, thereby contributing to the identification of high‐risk patients.
Min-max checkpoint placement under incomplete failure information

In this paper we consider two kinds of sequential checkpoint placement problems with infinite/finite time horizon. For these problems, we apply the approximation methods based on the variational principle and develop the computation algorithms to derive the optimal checkpoint sequence approximately. Next, we focus on the situation where the knowledge on system failure is incomplete, i.e. the system failure time distribution is unknown. We develop the so-called min-max checkpoint placement methods to determine the optimal checkpoint sequence under the uncertain circumstance in terms of the system failure time distribution. In numerical examples, we investigate quantitatively the min-max checkpoint placement methods, and refer to their potential applicability in practice.
Dynamics of the 2001 UK Foot and Mouth Epidemic: Stochastic Dispersal in a Heterogeneous Landscape

Foot-and-mouth is one of the world's most economically important livestock diseases. We developed an individual farm–based stochastic model of the current UK epidemic. The fine grain of the epidemiological data reveals the infection dynamics at an unusually high spatiotemporal resolution. We show that the spatial distribution, size, and species composition of farms all influence the observed pattern and regional variability of outbreaks. The other key dynamical component is long-tailed stochastic dispersal of infection, combining frequent local movements with occasional long jumps. We assess the history and possible duration of the epidemic, the performance of control strategies, and general implications for disease dynamics in space and time.
Categorization of indoor places by combining local binary pattern histograms of range and reflectance data from laser range finders

This paper presents an approach to categorize typical places in indoor environments using 3D scans provided by a laser range finder. Examples of such places are offices, laboratories, or kitchens. In our method, we combine the range and reflectance data from the laser scan for the final categorization of places. Range and reflectance images are transformed into histograms of local binary patterns and combined into a single feature vector. This vector is later classified using support vector machines. The results of the presented experiments demonstrate the capability of our technique to categorize indoor places with high accuracy. We also show that the combination of range and reflectance information improves the final categorization results in comparison with a single modality. Graphical Abstract
A resolver-to-digital conversion method for fast tracking

A resolver-to-digital (R/D) conversion method in which a bang-bang type phase comparator is used for fast tracking is proposed. The low-pass filter needed to reject carrier signal and noise is eliminated from the R/D conversion loop. Instead, two prefilters outside the R/D conversion loop take the role of the low-pass filter, resulting in a fast and accurate tracking R/D converter. Some simulation and experimental results and a mathematical performance analysis are presented to demonstrate the superior tracking performance. >
Evaluating Parkinson's disease patients at home: Utility of self‐videotaping for objective motor, dyskinesia, and ON–OFF assessments

The objective is to test feasibility and utility of home‐based videos for assessing Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. As part of a clinical trial, patients opted between coming to the study sites or learning to videotape assessments at home. Those opting for at‐home filming completed training on videotape techniques. Ten‐minute films were taken at 30‐minute intervals over 8.5 hours, 2 and 4 weeks after study entry using a protocol covering most items of the UDPRS motor examination and all Rush Dyskinesia Rating Scale items. After each filming, patients marked their ON/OFF status, based on prior training. We determined the number of patients who elected self‐taping and the quality of video segments obtained. To assess ON/OFF patient accuracy, we compared the rater's and patient's assessment of ON/OFF at each time point. Of 12 participants, 10 elected self‐videotaping and only 1 time point was missed (99.5% taping compliance). All self‐recorded video segments were clear with all protocol elements included. With the exception of one missed ON/OFF rating, patient‐based self‐ratings occurred on time. Rating ON/OFF, UPDRS, and RDRS assessments for 8.5 hours required 170 minutes by the blinded rater. In spite of patient training, mean ON/OFF concordance between rater and patients was only 64%. At home video‐based self‐recordings are feasible and allow accurate rater‐based ON/OFF assessments. In this group of patients with no or mild fluctuations, in spite of pretrial training, patients were inaccurate in separating ON vs. OFF status. © 2008 Movement Disorder Society
Psychometric Evaluation of the Cigarette Withdrawal Scale (Chinese Version) in Male Smokers in Taiwan

Background: Symptoms of smoking withdrawal are a central feature of nicotine dependence. A valid and reliable measure of these symptoms is important to better understand nicotine dependence and to develop effective interventions. Purpose: The objective of this study was to examine the validity and reliability of the Chinese version of the Cigarette Withdrawal Scale (CWS-C). Methods: This study conducted cross-sectional surveys in two phases. In the first phase, exploratory factor analysis was used to test the underlying factor structure, the criterion validity, and the reliability of the CWS-C. A reliability test was conducted to assess the internal consistency and stability of the instrument. In the second phase, confirmatory factor analysis validated the factor model that had been proposed in earlier empirical research. The total sample size used in analysis was 497. Results: The CWS-C achieved a level of efficacy that was similar to the English version. Exploratory factor analysis showed that the six factors of the instrument accounted for 80.3% of the variance. The full scale and all of the subscale items, with the exception of the appetite–weight gain subscale (r = .12, p = .09), were significantly associated with the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (r = .25–.50, p < .05). The Cronbach’s alpha of the full scale was . 93, with retest coefficient of . 84. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed that the CWS-C had six correlated factors. Field testing showed that the CWS-C is a reliable and valid Chinese-language instrument for assessing the symptoms of cigarette withdrawal. Conclusions/Implications for Practice: The CWS-C performed well in terms of reliability and validity in several tests conducted on male Taiwanese smokers. Accurate measurement is expected to help health professionals better understand smoker quitting patterns and the severity of withdrawal symptoms and to develop improved withdrawal-symptom treatment interventions.
Attacks on a wild infant ring‐tailed lemur (Lemur catta) by immigrant males at Berenty, Madagascar: interpreting infanticide by males

An orphaned infant ring‐tailed lemur (Lemur catta) was attacked persistently by immigrant males and disappeared with severe wounds at Berenty Reserve, Madagascar. Prior to the attacks, two troop members disappeared. On 20 November 1998, the only resident male in Troop C2B disappeared suddenly. After the disappearance, nine males from three neighboring troops approached, but only six males continued to shadow the troop. Of the females, the one lactating female attacked the males the most frequently. On 21 January 1999, the lactating female disappeared and her infant was orphaned. Subsequently, five attacks on the infant by immigrant males were observed for five consecutive days from January 23 to 27. The aggression was persistent and specifically targeted the infant, suggesting that the attacks were purposeful aggression, rather than redirected or accidental aggression. The primary attacker was the most dominant of the immigrant males, and mated with females in the next mating season. Am. J. Primatol. 67:267–272, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.