Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Minimal Covering Location Problem with single and multiple location coverage

The covering of Location Problems represents very important class of combinatorial problems. One of the most known problem from this class is Maximal Covering Location Problem (MCLP). Its objective is to cover as more as possible location with given facilities. The opposite problem is called Minimal (or Minimum) Covering Location Problem and its aim is to find places for given facilities such as they cover as few as possible location. This paper will present two models of MinCLP derived from the model of classical MCLP.
Comparison of Common Amplitude Metrics in Event-Related Potential Analysis

Abstract Waveform data resulting from time-intensive longitudinal designs require careful treatment. In particular, the statistical properties of summary metrics in this area are crucial. We draw on event-related potential (ERP) studies, a field with a relatively long history of collecting and analyzing such data, to illustrate our points. In particular, three summary measures for a component in the average ERP waveform feature prominently in the literature: the maximum (or peak amplitude), the average (or mean amplitude) and a combination (or adaptive mean). We discuss the methodological divide associated with these summary measures. Through both analytic work and simulation study, we explore the properties (e.g., Type I and Type II errors) of these competing metrics for assessing the amplitude of an ERP component across experimental conditions. The theoretical and simulation-based arguments in this article illustrate how design (e.g., number of trials per condition) and analytic (e.g., window location) choices affect the behavior of these amplitude summary measures in statistical tests and highlight the need for transparency in reporting the analytic steps taken. There is an increased need for analytic tools for waveform data. As new analytic methods are developed to address these time-intensive longitudinal data, careful treatment of the statistical properties of summary metrics used for null hypothesis testing is crucial.
Subacute Interstitial Pneumonia

Idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIPs) is a broad category which usually involve interstitium and alveolar space. American thoracic society (ATS)/European respiratory society (ERS)/ published international official statement about IIPs. And this guideline divided into three subgroups of major IIPs such as chronic fibrosing, smoking-related and acute/ subacute. This classification is understandable and practical. However, we sometimes see who present subacute progressive dyspnea with imaging pattern of organizing pneumonia (OP) associated with bronchial dilatation and volume loss. Previously, these patients were diagnosed as cellular and fibrosing non-specific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP). However, NSIP is categorized as chronic interstitial pneumonia in latest international guideline. Clinical problem is whether NSIP with subacute presentation match current classification. And differential diagnosis and management strategy of subacute interstitial pneumonia (IP) are different from acute and chronic interstitial pneumonia. In this mini-review, I focus on the clinical meaning and treatment of subacute IP. Citation: Tomoo Kishaba (2017). Subacute Interstitial Pneumonia
Photoreforming of Nonrecyclable Plastic Waste over a Carbon Nitride/Nickel Phosphide Catalyst

With over 8 billion tons of plastic produced since 1950, polymers represent one of the most widely used—and most widely discarded—materials. Ambient-temperature photoreforming offers a simple and low-energy means for transforming plastic waste into fuel and bulk chemicals but has previously only been reported using precious-metal- or Cd-based photocatalysts. Here, an inexpensive and nontoxic carbon nitride/nickel phosphide (CNx|Ni2P) photocatalyst is utilized to successfully reform poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) to clean H2 fuel and a variety of organic chemicals under alkaline aqueous conditions. Ni2P synthesized on cyanamide-functionalized carbon nitride is shown to promote efficient charge separation and catalysis, with a photostability of at least 5 days. The real-world applicability of photoreforming is further verified by generating H2 and organics from a selection of nonrecyclable waste—including microplastics (polyester microfibers) and food-contaminated plastic—and upscaling the system from 2 to 120 mL while maintaining its efficiency for plastic conversion.
Supplementary Material for Evaluation of Statistical and Machine Learning Models for Time Series Prediction : Identifying the State-ofthe-art and the Best Conditions for the Use of Each Model

This supplementary material consists of two pieces of information organized as follows: Section 1 reports the systematic review protocol, including the selected publications and a detailed interpretation of the related work. In Section 2, we briefly described the public files that store, for each predictor and dataset, the values of Mean Square Error (MSE), Theil’s U (TU) coefficient, Prediction Of Change In Direction (POCID), as well as the parameters used to obtain such results. The direct links to these files are listed throughout this section.
Neuromorphic Spiking Neural Networks and Their Memristor-CMOS Hardware Implementations

Inspired by biology, neuromorphic systems have been trying to emulate the human brain for decades, taking advantage of its massive parallelism and sparse information coding. Recently, several large-scale hardware projects have demonstrated the outstanding capabilities of this paradigm for applications related to sensory information processing. These systems allow for the implementation of massive neural networks with millions of neurons and billions of synapses. However, the realization of learning strategies in these systems consumes an important proportion of resources in terms of area and power. The recent development of nanoscale memristors that can be integrated with Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor (CMOS) technology opens a very promising solution to emulate the behavior of biological synapses. Therefore, hybrid memristor-CMOS approaches have been proposed to implement large-scale neural networks with learning capabilities, offering a scalable and lower-cost alternative to existing CMOS systems.
Association between psychosocial factors at work and health outcomes after retirement: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction The world’s population is rapidly ageing, and health among older people is thus an important issue. Several previous studies have reported an association between adverse psychosocial factors at work before retirement and postretirement health. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to examine the association between psychosocial factors at work and health outcomes after retirement, based on a synthesis of well-designed prospective studies. Methods and analysis The participants, exposures, comparisons and outcomes of the studies in this systematic review and meta-analysis are defined as follows: (P) people who have retired from their job, (E) presence of adverse psychosocial factors at work before retirement, (C) absence of adverse psychosocial factors at work before retirement and (O) any physical and mental health outcomes after retirement. Published studies were searched using the following electronic databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES and Japan Medical Abstracts Society. The included studies will be statistically synthesised in a meta-analysis to estimate pooled coefficients and 95% CIs. The quality of each included study will be assessed using the Risk Of Bias In Non-randomised Studies-of Interventions. For the assessment of meta-bias, publication bias will be assessed by using Egger’s test, as well as visually on a funnel plot. Heterogeneity will be assessed using the χ² test with Cochran’s Q statistic and I2. Ethics and dissemination Results and findings will be submitted and published in a scientific peer-reviewed journal and will be disseminated broadly to researchers and policy-makers interested in the translatability of scientific evidence into good practices. PROSPERO registration number CRD42018099043.
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring to Guide Clinical Decision Making in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients with Loss of Response to Anti-TNF: A Delphi Technique-Based Consensus

Background: Loss of response is frequently encountered in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treated with antitumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) and antidrug antibody measurement are increasingly used in this setting. Methods: To establish a consensus on the use of TDM in the context of loss of response to anti-TNFs, we performed a vote using a Delphi-style process followed by an expert panel discussion among 8 IBD specialists practicing in Switzerland, Europe. Statements were rated on an even Likert-scale ranging from 1 (strong disagreement) to 4 (strong agreement), based on expert opinion and the available literature. Results: The experts agreed on the following statements: (i) loss of response is associated with inadequate drug levels in both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis; (ii) best timepoint for measuring drug levels is prior to the next application (= trough levels) with different thresholds for anti-TNF agents (infliximab 5 μg/mL, adalimumab 8 μg/mL, certolizumab pegol 10 μg/mL); (iii) antidrug antibodies are predictive for loss of response; and (iv) antidrug-antibody titers and drug trough levels are key determinants in the treatment algorithm. Data about non-anti-TNF biologics were considered too limited to propose recommendations. Conclusion: A Delphi-style consensus among 8 IBD experts shows that TDM and measurement of antidrug-antibody titers are useful in the context of loss of response to anti-TNF. Optimal cutoff levels depend on the type of anti-TNF. These values are critical in the decision making process. More studies are needed to address the value of such measurements for non-anti-TNF biologics.
The effects of obesity on pulmonary function in adults with asthma

Objective: While the effects of obesity on asthma are unclear, an increased body mass index (BMI) is known to enhance the symptoms and severity of asthma and to impair asthma control. The present study evaluates the effects of nutritional habits and obesity on pulmonary function and asthma control in individuals with asthma. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 60 obese respondents and 60 respondents with normal body weight, who were referred to pulmonology clinics over a period of 2 months. The anthropometric measurements and macro–micro nutrient consumption records of the patients in both groups were obtained, and the two groups were compared in terms of pulmonary function and asthma control test (ACT) scores. Results: The mean age of the normal weight and obese respondents was 39.55 ± 11.0 and 45.1 ± 10.3 years, respectively. The ACT scores of the respondents decreased significantly with increasing BMI, waist circumference (WC), and waist–hip ratio (WHR) measurements (P < 0.05). The obese respondents had a lower mean forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), midexpiratory flow (MEF) between 25% and 75% of the maximal expiration (MEF25–75), MEF75, MEF50, MEF25, and FEV1/FVC values when compared to the respondents with normal weight (P < 0.05). The total energy and carbohydrate intake was higher in the obese respondents, while their total protein intake was lower when compared to the normal weight respondents (P < 0.05), and a significant positive correlation was found between the omega 3 intake and ACT scores of the respondents (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Pulmonary functions and ACT scores decrease with increasing BMI, WC, and WHR. Obese respondents with asthma should be referred to diet clinics to improve their asthma symptoms.
Shift work sleep disorders and associated factors among nurses at federal government hospitals in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

Objective The current study was conducted to assess the prevalence and associated factors of shift work sleep disorder among nurses working at Ethiopian federal government hospitals in Addis Ababa. Methods An institutional-based, cross-sectional study was conducted from April to June 2018 using self-administered structured questionnaires. Computer-generated simple random sampling technique was used to select a total of 422 nurses as study participants. The International Classification of Sleep Disorders - Third Edition, Bargen Insomnia Scale and/or Epworth Sleepiness Scale were used to measure the outcome shift work sleep disorder. Descriptive statistics and bivariate and multivariate binary logistic regression were used. OR with 95% CI was used to measure the strength of association, and a p value <0.05 was considered statistically significant in multivariate analysis. Results About a quarter (25.6%) of the study participants have shift work sleep disorder. The average number of nights per month for the last 1 year (adjusted OR=6.3, 95% CI 3.513 to 12.35) and working in three-shift rotation (adjusted OR=3.1, 95% CI 1.68 to 5.83) were significantly associated with shift work sleep disorder. Conclusion A quarter of shift worker nurses are suffering from shift work sleep disorder. The number of nights on average per month for the last 1 year and working in three-shift rotation were significantly associated with shift work sleep disorder. Shift working conditions should be improved to provide less stressful conditions for nurses, ensuring at the same time an appropriate quality of care over a 24-hour period. More studies are necessary to better highlight the burden of shift work on the health and well-being of both nurses and patients.
Hepatitis C Virus NS3 Protein Plays a Dual Role in WRN-Mediated Repair of Nonhomologous End Joining

HCV infection is a worldwide problem of public health and a major contributor to hepatocellular carcinoma. The single-stranded RNA virus with RNA-dependent RNA polymerase experiences a high error rate and develops strategies to escape the immune system and hepatocarcinogenesis. Studies have revealed the involvement of HCV proteins in the impairment of DNA repair. The present study aimed to further elucidate mechanisms by which the viral NS3 protein impairs the repair of DNA damage. Our results clearly indicate that HCV NS3/4A protease targets WRN for degradation, and, at the same time, diminishes the repair efficiency of nonhomologous end joining by interfering with the recruitment of Ku protein to the DNA double-strand break sites. The study describes a novel mechanism by which the NS3 protein influences DNA repair and provides new insight into the molecular mechanism of HCV pathogenesis. ABSTRACT Hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3 protein possesses protease and helicase activities and is considered an oncoprotein in virus-derived hepatocellular carcinoma. The NS3-associated oncogenesis has been studied but not fully understood. In this study, we have identified novel interactions of the NS3 protein with DNA repair factors, Werner syndrome protein (WRN) and Ku70, in both an HCV subgenomic replicon system and Huh7 cells expressing NS3. HCV NS3 protein inhibits WRN-mediated DNA repair and reduces the repair efficiency of nonhomologous end joining. It interferes with Ku70 recruitment to the double-strand break sites and alters the nuclear distribution of WRN-Ku repair complex. In addition, WRN is a substrate of the NS3/4A protease; the level of WRN protein is regulated by both the proteasome degradation pathway and HCV NS3/4A protease activity. The dual role of HCV NS3 and NS3/4A proteins in regulating the function and expression level of the WRN protein intensifies the effect of impairment on DNA repair. This may lead to an accumulation of DNA mutations and genome instability and, eventually, tumor development. IMPORTANCE HCV infection is a worldwide problem of public health and a major contributor to hepatocellular carcinoma. The single-stranded RNA virus with RNA-dependent RNA polymerase experiences a high error rate and develops strategies to escape the immune system and hepatocarcinogenesis. Studies have revealed the involvement of HCV proteins in the impairment of DNA repair. The present study aimed to further elucidate mechanisms by which the viral NS3 protein impairs the repair of DNA damage. Our results clearly indicate that HCV NS3/4A protease targets WRN for degradation, and, at the same time, diminishes the repair efficiency of nonhomologous end joining by interfering with the recruitment of Ku protein to the DNA double-strand break sites. The study describes a novel mechanism by which the NS3 protein influences DNA repair and provides new insight into the molecular mechanism of HCV pathogenesis.
STAT3 controls osteoclast differentiation and bone homeostasis by regulating NFATc1 transcription

The transcription factor signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) plays a central role in cell survival and function. STAT3 has been demonstrated to participate in the maintenance of bone homeostasis in osteoblasts, but its role in osteoclasts in vivo remains poorly defined. Here, we generated a conditional knockout mouse model in which Stat3 was deleted in osteoclasts using a cathepsin K-Cre (Ctsk-Cre) driver. We observed that osteoclast-specific Stat3 deficiency caused increased bone mass in mice, which we attributed to impaired bone catabolism by osteoclasts. Stat3-deficient bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) showed decreased expression of nuclear factor of activated T cells, cytoplasm 1 (NFATc1), and reduced osteoclast differentiation determined by decreases in osteoclast number, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity, and expression of osteoclast marker genes. Enforced expression of NFATc1 in Stat3-deficient BMMs rescued the impaired osteoclast differentiation. Mechanistically, we revealed that STAT3 could drive the transcription of NFATc1 by binding to its promoter. Furthermore, preventing STAT3 activation by using an inhibitor of upstream phosphorylases, AG490, also impaired osteoclast differentiation and formation in a similar way as gene deletion of Stat3. In summary, our data provide the first evidence that STAT3 is significant in osteoclast differentiation and bone homeostasis in vivo, and it may be identified as a potential pharmacological target for the treatment of bone metabolic diseases through regulation of osteoclast activity.
Segmentation-Based Video Upscaling without Motion Estimation

This paper shows an effective method for video upscaling or super resolution (SR) without using an explicit motion estimation step. Exploiting the Non-Local Means (NLM) algorithm in order to bypass motion estimation, which is often complicated, our method proposes some modifications to ensure a good compromise between noise cancelling and detail preservation. A detailed consideration of the NLM algorithm is carried out to propose an efficient distance computation and the best eighbors for the reconstruction of each SR pixel. Moreover, efficient segmentation algorithms are also considered to build a novel upscaling framework that is adapted to spatial contrast. The satisfying results with real videos illustrated the advantages of upscaling without motion estimation compared to motion estimation-based upscaling, as well as the role of segmentation in video super resolution.
Pre-Impact Detection Algorithm to Identify Tripping Events Using Wearable Sensors

This study aimed to investigate the performance of an updated version of our pre-impact detection algorithm parsing out the output of a set of Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) placed on lower limbs and designed to recognize signs of lack of balance due to tripping. Eight young subjects were asked to manage tripping events while walking on a treadmill. An adaptive threshold-based algorithm, relying on a pool of adaptive oscillators, was tuned to identify abrupt kinematics modifications during tripping. Inputs of the algorithm were the elevation angles of lower limb segments, as estimated by IMUs located on thighs, shanks and feet. The results showed that the proposed algorithm can identify a lack of balance in about 0.37 ± 0.11 s after the onset of the perturbation, with a low percentage of false alarms (<10%), by using only data related to the perturbed shank. The proposed algorithm can hence be considered a multi-purpose tool to identify different perturbations (i.e., slippage and tripping). In this respect, it can be implemented for different wearable applications (e.g., smart garments or wearable robots) and adopted during daily life activities to enable on-demand injury prevention systems prior to fall impacts.
Receiving the home care service offered by certified care workers prior to a patients’ death and the probability of a home death: observational research using an instrumental variable method from Japan

Objectives To assess the association between receiving the certified care workers’ home care service, which is provided by non-medical professionals prior to a patients’ death and the probability of a home death. Design Observational research using the full-time translated number of certified care workers providing home care service per member of the population aged 65 or above, during the year prior to patient’s death per municipality as an instrumental variable. Setting The certified care workers’ home care service covered by the public long-term care insurance (LTCI) system in Japan. Participants In total, 1 613 391 LTCI beneficiaries aged 65 or above who passed away, except by an external cause of death, between January 2010 and December 2013 were included in the analysis. Primary outcome measures Death at home or death at other places, including hospitals, nursing homes and clinics with beds. Results Out of all participants, 173 498 (10.8%) died at home. The number of patients who used the certified care workers’ home care service more than once per each month during 1, 2 or 3 months prior to the month of death numbered 213 848, 176 686 and 155 716, respectively. This was associated with an increased probability of death at home by 9.1% points (95% CI 2.9 to 15.3), 10.5% points (3.3 to 17.6) and 11.4% points (3.6 to 19.2), respectively. Conclusions The use of the certified care workers’ home care service prior to death was associated with the increased probability of a home death.
Cis‐control of Six1 expression in neural crest cells during craniofacial development

Six1 is a transcriptional factor that plays an important role in embryonic development. Mouse and chick embryos deficient for Six1 have multiple craniofacial anomalies in the facial bones and cartilages. Multiple Six1 enhancers have been identified, but none of them has been reported to be active in the maxillary and mandibular process.