Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A probability distribution kernel based on whitening transformation

A kernel function can change linearly inseparable vectors into linearly separable vectors by mapping the original feature space into another feature space. But the dimension of the new feature space is usually several times of the original feature space, which results in a more computational complexity. This paper aims at introducing a Dirichlet probability distribution kernel based on whitening transformation which is called DPWT kernel function for short. The DPWT kernel function first mapping feature vectors of the original feature space into new vectors of another same dimension feature space, and then classifies new vectors in the new feature space so as to achieve the purpose of classifying original feature vectors. The DPWT kernel doesn’t augment the dimension of the new feature space. What’s more, the DPWT kernel can effectively eliminate the correlation between vectors, and reduce the redundancy of data which can further improve the accuracy of classification. In this paper, we use the DPWT kernel and other five commonly used kernels on the three benchmark datasets (VOC2007, UIUCsport and Caltech101) for image classification experiments. Experiments show that the DPWT kernel exhibits superior performances compared to the other state of the art kernels.
Factors Affecting Caregivers’ Acceptance of the Use of Wearable Devices by Patients With Dementia: An Extension of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology Model

Purpose: This study aims to examine the factors affecting caregivers’ acceptance of the use of wearable devices by patients with dementia by extending the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model with 2 additional constructs: resistance to change (RC) and technology anxiety (TA). Methods: A structured online questionnaire was developed and distributed to caregivers who have either dealt previously with or were currently taking care of patients with dementia in sub-Saharan Africa. The selection of countries for the study was purely based on the availability of caregivers of patients with dementia and their readiness to take part in the survey. Questionnaire data from 350 respondents were analyzed and the hypothesis tested using partial least squares based on structural equation modeling. Result: The results of the extended model show that social influence, effort expectancy, facilitating conditions, and behavioral intention (BI) all had P < . 05, thus were statistically significant in explaining the perceived BI and actual use of health-care wearable devices among patients with dementia as reported by caregivers. However, P value for RC and TA was greater than . 05, hence were insignificant.
Demand and Supply in Romanian Commercial Courts: Generating Information for Institutional Reform

Institutional reform is much emphasized in transition countries, but the process of constructing workable institutions is not well understood. One element of this process that has often been neglected is the generation of empirical information that can aid in the process of institutional design. This paper examines how such information can be produced for one vital area of reform in transition and developing economies, commercial court reform. The paper estimates a supply-demand model for commercial court services in Romania. The model's construction suggests methodological problems in existing studies and the estimates quantify the possible biases, which would lead to erroneous conclusions on institutional design. The results show the simultaneous relation between congestion and caseload and the exogenous effects of resources, legal culture, options for appeal, and economic environment. Coincidentally, Romania recently implemented a reform for which the results have pertinence. The reform foreclosed options shown to be valuable to businesses. Perhaps some failures of institutional reform are due to lack of empirical input into institutional design.
The Nature of Perlocution

The perlocutionary act of Austin’s trichotomy on speech acts is significantly crucial to the understanding of communication, but has attracted the least attention ever since its formulation. This paper reviews its studies in the past and discusses the nature of perlocution within the framework of pragmatics. A proper understanding of perlocution will provide a fresh linguistic approach for literary criticism and will in turn shed light on the teaching of literature.
Comparison of short–term analgesic effects of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) and conservative treatment (CT) in men with chronic heel spur (HS)

Background. The surgical removal of heel spur (HS) provokes many controversial opinions, but clinical studies show the risk of complication after operation. An alternative to the surgical removal of HS is Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT), because it is non-invasive method. Objective. The aim of the study is to compare the short-term analgesic effects of ESWT and conservative treatment (CT) in males with chronic HS. Methods. Sixty patients (mean age 54.9±4.3 years; range 42 to 59 years) were examined who had pain associated with HS. In the shockwave group (group 1) patients received 1000–2000 impulses of shocks to the affected heel in a single session. The patients in this group took a series of 5 ESWT in 1 week intervals. Patients in the control group (group 2) at the same time received CT consisting of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), orthotics and a local cortisone injection. The basic method of research was to evaluate pain according to Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) 0–10. The patients of the two groups were tested before the treatment, after the last treatment and 3 months and 6 months after the treatment. Results. A significant decrease of VAS (p=0.000) was seen in the shockwave group. In the control group no significant decrease of VAS was seen. Conclusions. ESWT reduces pain more effectively than CT in men with chronic HS. KEY WORDS: extracorporeal shock wave therapy, conservative treatment, visual analogue scale, heel spur, pain.
Better Myocardial Function in Aortic Stenosis with Low Left Ventricular Mass: A Mechanism of Protection against Heart Failure Regardless of Stenosis Severity?

About one-tenth to one-third of patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) do not develop left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Intriguingly, the absence of LVH despite severe AS is associated with lower prevalence of heart failure (HF), which challenges the classical notion of LVH as a beneficial compensatory response. Notably, the few studies that have attempted to characterize AS subjects with inadequately low left ventricular (LV) mass relative to LV afterload (i-lowLVM) described better prognosis and enhanced LV performance in AS associated with i-lowLVM, but those reports were limited to severe AS. Our aim was to compare myocardial function between moderate and severe AS with i-lowLVM. We retrospectively analyzed in-hospital records of 225 clinically stable nondiabetic patients with isolated moderate or severe degenerative AS in sinus rhythm, free of coexistent diseases. Subjects with i-lowLVM were compared to those with appropriate or excessive LVM (a/e-LVM), defined on the basis of the ratio of a measured LVM to the LVM predicted from an individual hemodynamic load. Patients with i-lowLVM and a/e-LVM did not differ in aortic valve area, LV end-diastolic diameter (LVd, a measure of LV preload), and circumferential end-systolic LV wall stress (cESS), an estimate of LV afterload. Compared to a/e-LVM, patients with i-lowLVM had increased LV ejection fraction (EF) and especially higher LV midwall fractional shortening (a better index of LV myocardial function than EF in concentric LV geometry) (p < 0.001–0.01), in both moderate and severe AS. LVd and cESS were similar in the four subgroups of the study subjects, i.e., moderate AS with i-lowLVM, moderate AS with a/e-LVM, severe AS with i-lowLVM, and severe AS with a/e-LVM (p > 0.6). Among patients with i-lowLVM, LVM did not differ significantly between moderate and severe AS (p > 0.4), while in those with a/e-LVM, LVM was increased in severe versus moderate AS (p < 0.001). In conclusion, the association of the low-LVM phenotype with better myocardial contractility may already develop in moderate AS. Additionally, cESS appears to be a controlled variable, which is kept constant over AS progression irrespective of LVM category, but even when controlled (by increasing LVM), is not able to prevent deterioration of LV function. Whether improved myocardial performance contributes to favorable prognosis and the preventive effect against HF in AS without LVH, remains to be studied.
AVOIDING DISAFFECTION IN THE MATHEMATICS CLASS AT SECONDARY SCHOOL: THE ROLE OF TEACHER GENDER

Disaffection in the mathematics class is shown to be a good predictor of dropout intentions and to have a considerable impact on enrolment decisions taken before entering tertiary education. We explore a database containing information from 2,200 high school students in Catalonia enrolled at 91 schools. Apart from obvious effects, such as personality traits, pupils’ gender and satisfaction with their current teacher in that subject, we provide evidence in the form of higher satisfaction scores that students prefer female maths teachers. This finding is robust to the inclusion of school fixed effects, pupils’ features, household characteristics and other teacher characteristics. Although the teacher gender effect is more relevant for girls, it is also apparent among boys.ecto nivel (EN) y efecto distancia (ED).
Ef fi cacy of the Omega-3 Index in predicting non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in overweight and obese adults : a pilot study

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an independent predictor of CVD in otherwise healthy individuals. Low n-3 PUFA intake has been associated with the presence of NAFLD; however, the relationship between a biomarker of n-3 status – the Omega-3 Index – and liver fat is yet to be elucidated. A total of eighty overweight adults (fifty-six men) completed the anthropometric and biochemical measurements, including the Omega-3 Index, and underwent proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy assessment of liver fat. Bivariate correlations and multiple regression analyses were performed with reference to prediction of liver fat percentage. The mean Omega-3 Index was high in both NAFLD (intrahepatic lipid concentration≥ 5·5 %) and non-NAFLD groups. The Omega-3 Index, BMI, waist circumference, glucose, insulin, TAG, highsensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were positively correlated, and HDL and erythrocyte n-6:n-3 ratio negatively correlated with liver fat concentration. Regression analysis found that simple anthropometric and demographic variables (waist, age) accounted for 31 % of the variance in liver fat and the addition of traditional cardiometabolic blood markers (TAG, HDL, hsCRP and ALT) increased the predictive power to 43 %. The addition of the novel erythrocyte fatty acid variable (Omega-3 Index) to the model only accounted for a further 3 % of the variance (P= 0·049). In conclusion, the Omega-3 Index was associated with liver fat concentration but did not improve the overall capacity of demographic, anthropometric and blood markers to predict NAFLD.
Toward Broadband Imaging: Surface Engineered PbS Quantum Dot/Perovskite Composite Integrated Ultrasensitive Photodetectors.

PbS colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) passivated by thiocyanate anion (SCN-) are developed to combine with perovskite (CH3NH3PbI3) as building blocks for UV-vis-NIR broadband pho-todetectors. Both high electrical conductivity and appropriate energy level alignment are obtained by the in situ ligand exchange with SCN-. The PbS-SCN/CH3NH3PbI3 composite photodetectors are sensitive to a broad wavelength range covering the UV-vis-NIR region (365-1550 nm), possessing an excellent responsivity of 255 AW-1 at 365 nm and 1.58 AW-1 at 940 nm, remarkably high detectivity of 4.9×1013 Jones at 365 nm and 3.0×1011 Jones at 940 nm, and a fast response time ≤ 42 ms. Furthermore, a 10×10 photodetector array is fabricated and integrated, which constitutes a high-performance broadband image sensor. Our approach paves a way for the development of highly sensitive broadband photodetectors/imagers that can be easily integrated.
Young people ’ s expected and preferred futures and their significance for education

A recent Australian study sought to obtain a better understanding of what young people expect and want of their country in 2010, and to assess the value of scenarios as an investigative tool. The study had two components: a series of eight scenario-development workshops involving a total of 150 young people, most aged between 15 and 24 and from a variety of backgrounds; and a national opinion poll of 800 Australians in this age group. The study suggests there is a wide gap between young Australians’ expected and preferred futures. Most do not expect life to be better in 2010, either nationally or globally, but foresee a continuation, and even worsening, of today’s problems. Their dreams for Australia are of a society that places less emphasis on the individual, material wealth and competition, and more on community and family, the environment and cooperation.
Revisiting the "July Effect" in Plastic Surgery: New Data to Support Resident Autonomy.

BACKGROUND The "July Effect" represents a topic of considerable interest across residency programs. This study investigated the frequency of postoperative complications following procedures with plastic surgery resident participation (all postgraduate year [PGY] levels) during the first (quarter 3, July-September) and last academic quarters. METHODS The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was used to calculate complication rates from 2006 to 2010. Resident involvement was analyzed as a categorical variable consisting of "juniors" (PGY1-PGY3), and "seniors" (PGY4-PGY6). Outcomes from procedures during Q3 were compared with all quarters. Propensity score matching and adjustment enabled logistic regression identifying the effect of resident involvement and admission. RESULTS Among all cosmetic and reconstructive procedures (n = 6625), mean operative time was not significantly greater in Q3 compared with all other quarters (P = 0.069); no significant differences in complication rates were observed between Q3 and all other quarters, though superficial surgical site infection (SSI) approached significance (3.3% of procedures in Q3 vs 2.5% in all other quarters, P = 0.063). Among reconstructive procedures only (n = 5677), mean operative time was not significantly greater in Q3 compared with all other quarters (P = 0.119); the same held true for cosmetic procedures only (P = 0.275). Surgical site infection, however, was significantly more likely to occur with reconstructive procedures only, in Q3 compared with all other quarters (3.5% of cases vs 2.3%, P = 0.024). When adjusting for PGY status and matching populations, superficial SSI and return to the operating room were not significantly more common in Q3. When adjusting for quarter of admission, however, superficial SSI was significantly more common among the overall and noncosmetic cases with participation by junior residents (P = 0.013 and 0.020, respectively). CONCLUSIONS This may represent the first fully reproducible, transparent National Surgical Quality Improvement Program study in plastic surgery that demonstrates the absence of a clinically significant "July Effect," and suggests that an appropriate degree of resident autonomy may pose minimal risk during both cosmetic and reconstructive procedures in residency training. Additionally, the findings encourage the development a plastic surgery-specific database to remedy inherent difficulties with larger, more comprehensive surgical databases.
OPTIMIZATION STUDY OF A NIGERIAN DOLOMITE ORE DISSOLUTION BY HYDROCHLORIC ACID

The optimum condition for leaching dolomite ore in hydrochloric acid solutions was determined in this study. The optimized parameters referred to the temperature, the acid concentration, the time and particle size. It was found that the leaching temperature was 80°C, the acid concentration was 2 mol/L, the leaching time - 60 minutes, while the particle size - 0.01 mm. The dolomite ore leaching efficiency reached 99.3 % under these conditions. The dissolution kinetic data were analysed and found to follow diffusion control mechanism.
Following the screening of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) using the Limma package in R language, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways enrichment analysis was performed using the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery online tools. Sequentially, modulat

Postmenopausal osteoporosis (PO) is a common disease in females >50 years of age worldwide and is becoming an increasing burden to society. The present study aimed to assess the molecular mechanism of PO using bioinformatic methods. The gene expression data from patients with PO and normal controls were downloaded from the ArrayExpress database provided by European Bioinformatics Institute. Following the screening of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) using the Limma package in R language, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways enrichment analysis was performed using the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery online tools. Sequentially, modulators of the DEGs, including transcription factors (TFs) and microRNAs, were predicted by the ChIP Enrichment Analysis databases and WEB-based GEne SeT AnaLysis Toolkit system, respectively. In addition, the protein-protein interaction network of DEGs was constructed via the search tool for the retrieval of interacting genes and then the functional modules were further analyzed via the clusterMaker package and The Biological Networks Gene Ontology package within the Cytoscape software. A total of 482 DEGs, including 279 upregulated and 203 downregulated DEGs, were screened out. DEGs were predominantly enriched in the pathways of fatty acid metabolism, cardiac muscle contraction and DNA replication. TFs, including SMAD4, in addition to microRNAs, including the microRNA-125 (miR-125) family, miR-331 and miR-24, may be the modulators of the DEGs in PO. In addition, the five largest modules were identified with TTN, L1G1, ACADM, UQCRC2 and TRIM63 as the hub proteins, and they were associated with the biological processes of muscle contraction, DNA replication initiation, lipid modification, generation of precursor metabolites and energy, and regulation of acetyl-CoA biosynthetic process, respectively. SMAD4, CACNG1 and TRIM63 are suggested to be important factors in the molecular mechanisms of PO, and miR-331 may be novel potential biomarker for PO.
The DisGeNET knowledge platform for disease genomics: 2019 update

Abstract One of the most pressing challenges in genomic medicine is to understand the role played by genetic variation in health and disease. Thanks to the exploration of genomic variants at large scale, hundreds of thousands of disease-associated loci have been uncovered. However, the identification of variants of clinical relevance is a significant challenge that requires comprehensive interrogation of previous knowledge and linkage to new experimental results. To assist in this complex task, we created DisGeNET (http://www.disgenet.org/), a knowledge management platform integrating and standardizing data about disease associated genes and variants from multiple sources, including the scientific literature. DisGeNET covers the full spectrum of human diseases as well as normal and abnormal traits. The current release covers more than 24 000 diseases and traits, 17 000 genes and 117 000 genomic variants. The latest developments of DisGeNET include new sources of data, novel data attributes and prioritization metrics, a redesigned web interface and recently launched APIs. Thanks to the data standardization, the combination of expert curated information with data automatically mined from the scientific literature, and a suite of tools for accessing its publicly available data, DisGeNET is an interoperable resource supporting a variety of applications in genomic medicine and drug R&D.
ancer photothermal therapy in the near-infrared region y using single-walled carbon nanotubes

ei R. Chen outh China Normal University OE Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science & Institute of Laser Life Science uangzhou 510631, China and niversity of Central Oklahoma ollege of Mathematics and Science epartment of Engineering and Physics iomedical Engineering Program dmond, Oklahoma 73034 Abstract. Single-walled carbon nanotubes SWNTs have a high optical absorbance in the near-infrared NIR region. In this special optical window, biological systems are known to be highly transparent. The optical properties of SWNTs provide an opportunity for selective photothermal therapy for cancer treatment. Specifically, CoMoCAT nanotubes with a uniform size about 0.81 nm and a narrow absorption peak at 980 nm are ideal candidates for such a novel approach. Here, CoMoCAT SWNTs are conjugated to folate, which can bind specifically to the surface of the folate receptor tumor markers. FolateSWNT FA-SWNT targeted tumor cells were irradiated by a 980-nm laser. In our in vitro and in vivo experiments, FA-SWNT effectively enhanced the photothermal destruction on tumor cells and noticeably spared the photothermal destruction for nontargeted normal cells. Thus, SWNTs, combined with suitable tumor markers, can be used as novel nanomaterials for selective photothermal therapy for cancer treatment. © 2009 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. DOI: 10.1117/1.3078803
Chitosan-Hydroxyapatite Scaffold for Tissue Engineering in Experimental Lumbar Laminectomy and Posterolateral Spinal Fusion in Wistar Rats

Study Design Experimental study with an animal model. Purpose To evaluate the role of a chitosan and hydroxyapatite composite for spinal fusion in a lumbar experimental model based on regenerative tissue engineering principles. Overview of Literature Chitosan and hydroxyapatite represent an alternative biodegradable implant material for tissue engineering and regeneration. The combination of chitosan and hydroxyapatite in a 20:80 ratio could potentiate their individual properties as an implantable composite for experimental laminectomy. Methods Phase I: design and synthesis of a porous composite scaffold composed of chitosan-hydroxyapatite using a freeze drying technique. Phase II: experimental microsurgical lumbar laminectomy at L5. A total of 35 Wistar rats were categorized into three experimental groups: control (laminectomy alone), experimental (laminectomy with implant), and reference (intact spine) (n=5 per group). Postoperative structural and functional evaluations were performed using computed tomography scans. In addition, radiologic, clinical, histological, and immunohistochemical microstructures were evaluated. Results At the laminectomy site, the composite implant induced bone regeneration, which was observed in the axial reconstruction of the rat lumbar spine in all cases. Biomechanical changes in the lumbar spine were observed by radiology in both groups after the surgery. The posterolateral space was covered by a bone structure in the treated spine, a condition not seen in the control group. The range of motion was 7.662°±0.81° in the scaffold group versus 20.72°±3.47° in the control group. Histological findings revealed qualitatively more bone tissue formation in the implant group. Conclusions A composite of chitosan-hydroxyapatite at a 20:80 ratio induced bone formation after experimental laminectomy in rats and led to spinal fusion, which was assessed by radiology and biomechanical tests. No functional complications in posture or walking were observed at 90 days post-surgery, despite biomechanical changes in the spine.