Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
NLP Methods for Extraction of Symptoms from Unstructured Data for Use in Prognostic COVID-19 Analytic Models

Statistical modeling of outcomes based on a patient's presenting symptoms (symptomatology) can help deliver high quality care and allocate essential resources, which is especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patient symptoms are typically found in unstructured notes, and thus not readily available for clinical decision making. In an attempt to fill this gap, this study compared two methods for symptom extraction from Emergency Department (ED) admission notes. Both methods utilized a lexicon derived by expanding The Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Symptoms of Coronavirus list. The first method utilized a word2vec model to expand the lexicon using a dictionary mapping to the Uni ed Medical Language System (UMLS). The second method utilized the expanded lexicon as a rule-based gazetteer and the UMLS. These methods were evaluated against a manually annotated reference (f1-score of 0.87 for UMLS-based ensemble; and 0.85 for rule-based gazetteer with UMLS). Through analyses of associations of extracted symptoms used as features against various outcomes, salient risks among the population of COVID-19 patients, including increased risk of in-hospital mortality (OR 1.85, p-value < 0.001), were identified for patients presenting with dyspnea. Disparities between English and non-English speaking patients were also identified, the most salient being a concerning finding of opposing risk signals between fatigue and in-hospital mortality (non-English: OR 1.95, p-value = 0.02; English: OR 0.63, p-value = 0.01). While use of symptomatology for modeling of outcomes is not unique, unlike previous studies this study showed that models built using symptoms with the outcome of in-hospital mortality were not significantly different from models using data collected during an in-patient encounter (AUC of 0.9 with 95% CI of [0.88, 0.91] using only vital signs; AUC of 0.87 with 95% CI of [0.85, 0.88] using only symptoms). These findings indicate that prognostic models based on symptomatology could aid in extending COVID-19 patient care through telemedicine, replacing the need for in-person options. The methods presented in this study have potential for use in development of symptomatology-based models for other diseases, including for the study of Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC).
The Correlation between Frailty and Recurrent Vascular Access Failure in the Elderly Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients

Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is the preferred method of hemodialysis vascular access which is necessary prior to hemodialysis treatment. When an AVF is placed, an artery is anastomosed to a vein and over a period of 2–3 months the vein becomes arterialized. AVF provides the best access and fewest complications, however, a substantial number of these fistulas fail for unknown reasons. The pooled 12-month primary AVF patency rates were 53.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 47.3–59.9). Once venous stenosis occurs with clinical symptoms such as painful swelling of an extremity and subsequent poor function of the access point, treatment options include percutaneous transluminal angioplasty or surgical revision. Frailty, regardless of how it is assessed, remains highly associated with mortality in dialysis patients and more recently frailty has been associated with negative outcomes such as falls, cognitive impairment, vascular access failure (VAF), and poor quality of life. The prevalence of frailty is estimated to be between 7–16% among a non-institutionalized population and has been reported to be greater than 60% among dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease patients. Using Fried’s widely accepted assessment of physical performance criteria, the frailty phenotype framework is a common geriatric syndrome. Epidemiologic research has identified risk factors for frailty, including chronic diseases (such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, depression, and cognitive impairment physiologic impairments), inflammation, anemia or coagulation systems, and atherosclerosis. The Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (K/DOQI) guidelines recommend autologous AVF as the primary vascular access in hemodialysis given its lower complication rates. VAF may lead to negative clinical outcomes for patients who are exposed to inadequate dialysis performance and to infectious risks as a result of temporary placement of catheters. Vascular access-related morbidity accounts for 20% of all hospitalizations among hemodialysis patients, which leads to higher medical costs. Previous research indicates that frailty is associated with an increased risk of VAF. The goal of this study is to evaluate the factors, including frailty status and vascular access characteristics, demographic data, BMI, arteriInternational Journal of Gerontology 14 (2020) 159 162 https://doi.org/10.6890/IJGE. 202008_14(3). 0002
EXAMINING KEY DRIVERS FOR ONLINE IMPULSE BUYING IN MALAYSIAN’S PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES STUDENTS

With the current growth of the internet, there are signs of e-commerce in Malaysia growing and booming, such as Lazada, Mudah.my, Shopee, and others. Malaysians have been increasingly reliant on the internet to obtain product details and to make purchases. This motivates e-commerce entrepreneurs to devise a new strategy for increasing sales by increasing the rate of online impulse purchases among visitors to online shopping platforms. The aim of this research is to look into the connection between key-driven and online impulse buying. The aim of this research is to create a framework that represents the main drivers of online impulse buying among Malaysian public universities. The study also addresses empirical results from a 303-respondent online survey conducted with SPSS version 22.0 and Smart-PLS version 3.0. The research paradigm is focused on the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) Model, which includes online impulse buying as a dependent variable and three independent variables (Flow Experience, Perceived Usefulness, and Trust). Non-probability methods, judgement sampling, and convenience sampling were used to select respondents in this research, who ranged in age from 19 to over 30 years old and were university students in Malaysia. In addition, this research paves the way for future studies by identifying relevant online purchase platform providers and product categories to conduct a new study.
up. See the monograph Bishwal (2008) for recent results on likelihood asymptotics and Bayesian asymptotics for drift estimation of finite and infinite dimensional stochastic differential equations. Huebner and Rozovskii (1995). introduced spectral method to study

We study statistical inference for stochastic partial differential equations (SPDEs). Though inference linear SPDEs have been studied well (with lot of problems still remain to be investigated) in the last two decades, inference for nonlinear SPDEs is in its infancy. The inference methods use both inference for finite-dimensional diffusions and inference for classical i.i. d. sequences. Solving 2D Navier-Stokes equation is one of the challenging problem of the last century. However, with additive white noise, the equation has a strong solution. We estimate the viscosity coefficient of the 2D stochastic Navier-Stokes (SNS) equation by minimum contrast method. We show n consistency in contrast to n consistency in the classical i.i. d. case where n is the number of observations. We consider both continuous and discrete observations in time. We also obtain the Berry-Esseen bounds. Then we estimate and control the Type I and Type II error of a simple hypothesis testing problem of the viscosity coefficient of the SNS equation. We study a class of rejection regions and provide thresholds that guarantee that the statistical errors are smaller than the given upper bound. The tests are of likelihood ratio type. The proofs are based on the large deviation bounds. Finally we give Monte Carlo test procedure for simulated data.
Social Networks and Hedge Fund Activism

We study the role of social networks in hedge fund activism. Actively managed funds whose managers are socially connected to activists are more likely than unconnected managers to invest in target stocks; their investment decisions are informative and profitable. Importantly, such effects are greater for funds facing more severe information asymmetry, highlighting the heterogeneous effects of social networks. Socially connected funds are 14.2 percentage points more likely to support activists in proxy contests and contribute to reducing proxy contest costs. Overall, our results suggest that social networks reduce information asymmetry around activist campaigns by increasing trust and facilitating information exchange.
Remarkable Cryogenic Strengthening and Toughening in Nano-Coherent CoCrFeNiTi 0.2 High-Entropy Alloys via Energetically-Tuning Polymorphous Precipitates

In the present work, three kinds of precipitates with different morphologies, structures, sizes, and volume fractions were obtained via energetically-tuning the microstructures of the nano-precipitated CoCrFeNiTi0.2 high-entropy alloy (HEA). Subjected to the heavy cold rolling immediately after homogeneous precipitation, L12 structured spherical nano-particles with an average size of 16.5 nm rapidly grow into 200 nm-sized spherical ones due to Ostwald ripening. On the other hand, superfluous mechanical energy storage energetically facilitates the phase transformation from spherical L12 to rod-shaped D024 structures for initially formed nano-precipitates. Besides, some other newly formed nano-precipitates with an average size of 6.5 nm are available, originating from heavily plastically deformed-induced nucleated sites. Multi-scale precipitates interact with dislocations in different ways. The strengthening provided by dislocations cutting through smaller nano-particles and bypassing grown ones account for 57.7% and 42.3% of precipitation strengthening, respectively, while rod-shaped precipitates can act as equivalent interfaces to hinder dislocation movement. Their synergistic effect has achieved remarkable strengthening and toughening. Specially, dislocation slips dominate at 298 K, while stacking faults (SFs) assist plastic deformation at 77 K. Compared with 298 K, the yield strength (YS) and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of the current HEAs at 77 K are increased by 38.9% and 38.2% to 1 GPa and 1.5 GPa, respectively, and the tensile strain is slightly increased to 35% instead of loss, realizing excellent strength and plasticity combination. Theoretically established strengthening models agree well room-temperature and cryogenic yield strengths experimentally. Moreover, the tensile elongation is effectively predicted by the Whitehouse-Clyne model. This strengthening strategy of energetically-tuning polymorphous precipitates provides the basic guidance to develop high-performance nano-precipitated alloys. The current strengthening and plasticity models can be employed to well predict the mechanical properties of such kinds of alloys at cryogenic temperatures.
Retail Customer Reactions to Private Equity Acquisitions

We study short-term changes in customer visits to retail outlets around the announcement of private equity (PE) acquisitions, using aggregated and anonymized mobile phone data covering approximately ten percent of all mobile devices in the United States. Given the monthly frequency of the data, we can separate the announcement reaction of customers from the effect on operational improvements, which can only take place after the completion of the acquisition. There is a significant reduction in customer visits in retail outlets immediately following a PE acquisition. The decrease in visits is larger for larger PE firms and those previously involved in more lawsuits. The customer reaction also varies depending on income level, stock market participation, and self-employment rate, as well as religious and political orientation of the outlet location. It also depends on local competition.
Whither Weather?: High Temperature, Climate Change and Mortgage Default

We investigate the relationship between temperature and residential mortgage default using fine-scale weather information and comprehensive loan performance data. Conditional on a rich set of default risk controls and fixed effects, we identify a significant high temperature-mortgage default relation. An additonal day of mean temperatures above 90oF (32.2oC) in each month for the last 12 months is associated with a 3.2% and 3.5% increase in the probability of 30-day delinquency and foreclosure, respectively. To explain the effect, tests are specified to differentiate between three plausible channels: behavioural-psychological, income-liquidity, and rational belief updating. Evidence favors the belief updating channel as dominant. All three channels help explain the link between high temperature and 30-day delinquency, but, given the long lags from delinquency to foreclosure and the pronounced costs, belief updating best explains the effects of high temperature on foreclosure outcomes. High temperatures paired with higher rates of default indicate that borrowers mark down their own estimate of house value, perceiving a mismatch between their current home-location and their preferred home-location. Our findings have direct monetary and bank regulatory policy implications.
Investing Like My Parents: Do Parents Affect Children’s Risk Taking Behavior?

We find that learning from parents explains heterogeneity in financial decisions later in life. Using parents’ stock market experiences before parenthood as instrumental variables for parents’ risk-taking, we show that parents’ risk-taking positively affects children’s stock market decisions. More importantly, exploiting a finding that parents spend more quality time with their first child, we find that this parental effect is mainly driven by learning from parents through one’s childhood interactions with parents. We also examine the wealth outcomes implied. Our results contribute to the understanding of how family traits passed down over generations could lead to wealth inequality across families.
A framework for utilizing stock trend prediction outputs in stock selection and portfolio optimization

In this paper, we show how the long short-term memory (LSTM) class of neural networks can be used in stock selection and portfolio optimization. We use LSTM networks to predict the direction of stock movement and a stock price proxy measure, and use these in stock selection and within the Markowitz mean-variance portfolio optimization framework. Four types of LSTM models are constructed using the Indian SENSEX stock data - individual and ensemble models, each trained using both batch and incremental learning methods. We utilize the accuracy of classification of stock movement direction in shortlisting stocks for the portfolio optimization stage. Diversified and short-selling enabled Markowitz formulations in addition to the standard Markowitz formulation are constructed in the portfolio optimization stage. We also propose using the complement of the LSTM classification accuracies as a risk measure in lieu of the covariance matrix within the Markowitz framework. Results from each of the above combinations of LSTM construction and portfolio optimization formulation type are bench-marked against the SENSEX and the standard optimal Markowitz portfolios without stock selection. We also derive the conditions under which Markowitz formulations with stock price predictors more accurate than the mean stock price outperform the standard Markowitz formulations.
Assessment of the efficacy and safety of a Judo exercise program in improving the quality of life among elderly patients

Objectives: Several reports have shown that Tai Chi Chuan can be an effective way to prevent falls among the elderly. However, an exercise program that can prevent injury during falls has not been reported previously. The judo technique called ukemi is used to prevent injuries. To evaluate whether a judo-based exercise program could prevent falls in the elderly, we had the participants practice ukemi as part of a therapeutic routine. The purpose of this study was to examine the clinical significance of the program and to predict its safety. Methods: From July 2016 to March 2017, we examined 53 individuals who participated in the exercise program. The individuals were divided into high (n=39) and low (n=14) movement ability groups (HMA and LMA groups, respectively), and their physical and psychological functions were evaluated using scores from the Short-Form Health Survey 36. We also collected and analyzed data from questionnaires obtained from 384 patients who participated in the program from July 2016 to July 2019. Results: The HMA group showed a significant increase in the mental component summary scores before and after the exercise program. In the LMA group, physical functioning, social functioning, and physical component summary scores were significantly improved. Of the participants surveyed, 94.8% had a high level of satisfaction, and 93.2% began accepting the exercise as a daily habit. No adverse events were observed during these exercises. Conclusion: This novel exercise program was performed safely, and positive effects were observed, especially in individuals with a low quality of life.
Two sexes respond equally to food restriction in a sexually dimorphic but not body mass dimorphic jumping spider

Abstract Natural selection favors animals that evolve developmental and behavioral responses that buffer the negative effects of food restrictions. These buffering responses vary both between species and within species. Many studies have shown sex‐specific responses to environmental changes, usually in species with sexual size dimorphism (SSD), less found in species with weak or no SSD, which suggests that sizes of different sexes are experiencing different selections. However, previous studies usually investigated development and behavior separately, and the balanced situation where males and females of sexually dimorphic species respond in the same way to food restriction remains little known. Here, we investigated this in Phintelloides versicolor (Salticidae) that presents sexual dimorphism in color and shape but weak SSD. We examined whether food restriction induced the same responses in males and females in development duration, adult body size and weight, daily time allocated to foraging, and hunting. We found food restriction induced similar responses in both sexes: both exhibited longer development duration, smaller adult body size and weight, higher probability of staying outside nests and noticing prey immediately, and higher hunting success. However, there were sexual differences regardless of food condition: females showed faster development, smaller adult body size, higher probability of staying outside of nests, and higher hunting success. These indicated the differential selection on male and female sizes of P. versicolor could be under a balanced situation, where males and females show equal developmental and behavioral plasticity to environmental constraints.
Association between metabolic syndrome and healthcare work status in Ekiti State, Nigeria

Introduction metabolic syndrome portends an increased risk of cardiovascular events and death. Evidence showed that healthcare workers are at higher risk of cardiovascular events because of their engagement in night-shift work. Therefore, this study determined the association between metabolic syndrome and healthcare work status in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Methods this was a cross-sectional study involving 105 healthcare workers and 143 non-healthcare workers. The diagnosis of metabolic syndrome was made based on the International Diabetic Federation criteria: abdominal obesity plus, any two of: elevated blood pressure ≥ 130/85 mmHg or previous diagnosis of hypertension on the use of antihypertensive medications; impaired fasting glucose; elevated triglycerides; and low HDL-cholesterol. Factors associated with metabolic syndrome were analysed using univariable and multivariable analysis. Results men comprised 37.9% of the study population and the mean age was 42.1 ± 9.7 years. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was similar in both groups (HCWs-29.5% vs non-HCWs- 28.0%, p-value=0.789); overall prevalence was 28.6%. Abdominal obesity, elevated total cholesterol and elevated LDL-cholesterol occurred more frequently in HCWs than in non-HCWs: (68.6% vs 55.2%, p-value=0.034; 65.7% vs 39.2%, p-value= < 0.001 and 50.5 vs 28.7%; p-value < 0.001) respectively. Female sex (aOR: 3.67, 95% CI: 1.74-7.45; p < 0.001) and obesity (aOR: 4.39, 95% CI: 2.31-8.37; p < 0.001) were associated with metabolic syndrome. Conclusion a similar prevalence of metabolic syndrome was observed in the healthcare workers and the non- healthcare workers. However, abdominal obesity, elevated total cholesterol and elevated LDL-cholesterol occurred more frequently in healthcare workers than in non- healthcare workers.
Sonoclot Signature Analysis: A New Point-of-Care Testing Method for Defining Heat Stroke-Induced Coagulopathy

Purpose Data regarding the incidence of a coagulable state following heat stroke as assessed by Sonoclot signature analysis are limited. Our purpose was to appraise coagulopathy using a dynamic test capable of analyzing the entire coagulation cascade and to characterize coagulation in patients with heat stroke prior to transfusion. Materials and Methods The data of 106 patients were collected prospectively from the Critical Care Center of the General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Command. Coagulable state was defined as normal. Both hyper- and hypo-coagulable states were defined as coagulation defects. Hypercoagulability was defined as an activated clotting time (ACT) ≦195s and a clot rate (CR) >23, and hypocoagulability was defined as an ACT ≧119s and a CR < 7. The Sonoclot signature t examination was performed at the time of admission. Conventional tests, such as the prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), were compared with Sonoclot monitoring to identify coagulation defects. Results The average age of the 106 patients was 23.2±2.5 years. There were 102 males (96.3%) and 4 females (3.7%). Thirty-four patients (32.1%) were hypercoagulable and 44 patients (41.5%) were hypocoagulable at the time of admission; 28 patients (26.4%) had no evidence of a coagulopathy. Patients with hypocoagulability, unlike patients with hypercoagulability, had a higher sequential Organ Failure Assessment score, indicating a more severe multiple organ dysfunction score. Mortality was 5.9% in patients with hypercoagulability compared with 3.5% in patients with normal coagulation, and 18.1% in patients with a hypocoagulable state (P < 0.05). ACT was a predictor of mortality, while the CR and platelet function did not show statistical significance. Conclusion This study determined the clinical outcomes and prognostic value of coagulability in patients with heat stroke, as defined by Sonoclot signature analysis at the time of admission.