Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A nationwide study of SLE in Japanese identified subgroups of patients with clear signs patterns and associations between signs and age or sex

We performed a nationwide study to determine the distributions of the signs and clinical markers of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and identify any patterns in their distributions to allow patient subclassification. We obtained 256,999 patient-year records describing the disease status of SLE patients from 2003 to 2010. Of these, 14,779 involved patients diagnosed within the last year, and 242,220 involved patients being followed up. Along with basic descriptive statistics, we analyzed the effects of sex, age and disease duration on the frequencies of signs in the first year and follow-up years. The patients and major signs were clustered using the Ward method. The female patients were younger at onset. Renal involvement and discoid eczema were more frequent in males, whereas arthritis, photosensitivity and cytopenia were less. Autoantibody production and malar rash were positively associated with young age, and serositis and arthritis were negatively associated. Photosensitivity was positively associated with a long disease duration, and autoantibody production, serositis and cytopenia were negatively associated. The SLE patients were clustered into subgroups, as were the major signs. We identified differences in SLE clinical features according to sex, age and disease duration. Subgroups of SLE patients and the major signs of SLE exist.
Single-Microphone LP Residual Skewness-Based Inverse Filtering of the Room Impulse Response

This paper presents a method based on higher order statistics (HOS), namely the normalized third-order moment (skewness), for blind estimation of the inverse filter of the room impulse response (RIR). Skewness is used as a measure of asymmetry, and a comprehensive comparison with the commonly used metric (kurtosis) is presented. It is shown that a sufficiently long linear predictive (LP) residual of the speech signal has an asymmetric pdf with sufficient skewness to be used as a score function for the HOS-based approach. The proposed algorithm is optimized for the inverse filter estimation problem. This optimization includes an efficient initialization for high reverberation intensities, enabling the method to be employed in highly reverberant rooms. The direct-to-reverberation ratio (DRR) as well as the equalized impulse response clearly show that our method can estimate the inverse filter even in highly reverberant environments. In addition, performance results using recorded background noise and in time-varying environments illustrate that our approach is applicable in real world situations. The proposed method is shown to be superior to the method by Wu and Wang, particularly in terms of reducing the coloration effect. Experiments under different acoustic conditions confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method for time delay estimation (TDE). Finally, the proposed algorithm is used as the first-stage of monaural segregation, and it is shown to improve the performance under different conditions.
Feedforward Active Noise Control With a New Variable Tap-Length and Step-Size Filtered-X LMS Algorithm

The fixed tap-length and step-size filtered-X least mean-square (FxLMS) algorithm is conventionally used in active noise control (ANC) systems. A tradeoff between the performance and the convergence rate is a well-known problem due to the choice of the step size. Although the variable-step-size FxLMS algorithms have been proposed for fast convergence, a long tap-length filter is frequently required in order to deal with different environments such that the convergence rate is still subject to a small step size for the long tap length. In this paper, we study a new ANC system with a variable tap-length and step-size FxLMS algorithm. Based on the assumption of an unsymmetric and two-sided exponential decay response model for the ANC control filter, the new FxLMS algorithm has the minimum mean-square deviation for the optimal filter coefficients. In the online secondary path modeling ANC system, simulation results show that the new algorithm with different kind of variable step sizes can provide significant improvements of convergence rate and noise reduction ratio, compared to the fixed-tap-length FxLMS algorithms.
Implementation of Prehospital Trauma Triage Guidelines Decreases Mortality of Trauma Patients

われわれは,傷病者のアンダートリアージを回避するために,2001年より泉州二次医療圏に米国外科学会の基準を一部改変した搬送先選定基準を導入した。 今回,その導入が外傷死亡率に及ぼす効果について検討した。 対象は,1999年1月より2003年8月の間に泉州医療圏内から当センターに搬入された鈍的外傷患者である。 このうち,搬入時期が1999年1月から2000年12月までの2年間の症例を基準導入前群,救急隊員への周知が徹底した2001年9月から2003年8月までの症例を基準導入後群と群分けし,搬入経路,直送時間,重症度,トリアージ,死亡率の変化を検討した。 搬送先選定基準の導入に伴い,各2年間に搬入された鈍的外傷の数は,基準導入前の270例から501例へと増加した。 基準の導入により,現場での救急隊員のオーバートリアージは37. 6%から55. 9%へと増加し(p<0.001),アンダートリアージは23. 4%から14. 8%へと減少した(p<0.05)。 オーバートリアージの容認による軽症例の増加に伴い,重症度の指標であるISS (Injury Severity Score)は22. 3±18. 3から導入後には17. 0±15. 3へと低下した(p<0.05)。 現場CPAの症例を除外したうえでISS別の死亡率を比較したところ,ISSが30から44の症例では39. 3%から30. 8%に,ISSが45から59の症例では63. 6%から47. 6%に,統計学的有意差は得られないものの死亡率が低下する傾向が認められた。 そしてISSが15から29の重症度では,基準導入前の21. 9%から11. 5%へと死亡率が有意に低下した(p<0.05)。 さらに,予測生存率が0. 5以上であったにもかかわらず死亡した予測外死亡は,導入前の34. 1%から26. 0%へと低下傾向を示し(p=0.39),予測外死亡から80歳以上とGCSが5以下の重症急性硬膜下血腫例を除外した修正予測外死亡率も18. 2%から10. 0%へと減少傾向を示した(p=0.25)。 以上の結果は,搬送先選定基準の導入により現場でのアンダートリアージが減少し,外傷の死亡率が低下することを実証したものである。
Emerging diseases. Researchers scramble to understand camel connection to MERS.

The discovery that camels in Oman harbor antibodies to the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronavirus has reenergized the hunt for the source of the virus. But whether the camels really were infected with MERS is still unclear; some believe the animals9 peculiar immune system may have led to a wrong result.
Performance of HIV-1 DNA or HIV-1 RNA Tests for Early Diagnosis of Perinatal HIV-1 Infection During Anti-retroviral Prophylaxis

M Burgard, S Blanche, C Jasseron. J Pediatr. 2012;160(1):60–66.e1 The identification of HIV-derived nucleic acid in the blood of perinatally exposed infants is the most sensitive and specific method for the early detection of HIV infection in this population. HIV DNA is measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and HIV RNA in the plasma. This study compares the performance of HIV DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and HIV RNA PCR for the diagnosis of HIV infection in exposed infants. A total of 1567 children, …
PPM*-style context sorting compression method using a prefix list

Summary form only given. We present a new implementation of the context sorting data compression method (Yokoo, 1997), which is an on-line adaptive algorithm for text compression. Our key idea is to utilize a new data structure called a prefix list (Yokoo, 1999). The original context sorting compression method, which uses neither explicit modeling nor arithmetic coding can be viewed as a symbol ranking text compressor. In the method presented here, in contrast, we form a context model with the frequency distribution to predict the current symbol. Our context model can exploit contexts of unlimited length, and it is combined with arithmetic coding. In these respects, the proposed method can also be viewed as giving an implementation of PPM* (Cleary and Teahan, 1997). Our space requirement is linear in the string length without depending on the context order. The prefix list is a dynamic data structure, which was proposed primarily to maintain a set of contexts in reverse lexicographic order. We can easily gather previous contexts according to the similarity to the current context. Predicted symbols can also be enumerated as the following symbols in those contexts. While enumerating those predicted symbols, we can completely simulate PPM*. If a set of contexts whose similarities to the current context are d or larger gives only one prediction, then their common d-symbol suffix is said to be a deterministic context. In our method, we begin the PPM mechanism with the shortest deterministic context if any, or with the contexts most similar to the current one otherwise. An escape symbol is emitted each time the similarity between the current, context and the existing context pointed to by a pointer in the prefix list decreases.
Archaeology. European hunter-gatherers dined on domestic pigs.

What happened when Near Eastern farmers moved into Europe and met native hunter-gatherers about 8500 years ago? DNA from ancient pigs suggests that fishing peoples in Germany may have adopted at least one custom from their farming neighbors: the keeping of domesticated pigs. If the claim holds up, it suggests that farming spread through locals adopting the technology, as well as farmers moving into new territory, processes that have often been seen as opposed to each other.
Intensive child-centered play therapy with child witnesses of domestic violence.

Examined the effectiveness of child-centered play therapy sessions every day for 2 wks as an intervention for child witnesses of domestic violence. 22 children (aged 4-10 yrs) participated. The analyses of covariance indicated that children in the experimental group experience a significant increase in self-concept, a significant decrease in external and total behavior problems, a significant increase in the play behavior of physical proximity to the therapist, and a significant increase in the play behavior of nurturing and creative play themes. The results support utilizing intensive play therapy to treat child witnesses of domestic violence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Speech enhancement using a minimum mean-square error log-spectral amplitude estimator

In this correspondence we derive a short-time spectral amplitude (STSA) estimator for speech signals which minimizes the mean-square error of the log-spectra (i.e., the original STSA and its estimator) and examine it in enhancing noisy speech. This estimator is also compared with the corresponding minimum mean-square error STSA estimator derived previously. It was found that the new estimator is very effective in enhancing the noisy speech, and it significantly improves its quality.
General Mental Health Practitioners as EAP Affiliates: Do They Make Referrals Beyond the EAP?

SUMMARY The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) field has identified the skills and knowledge needed to provide EAPs as unique from other helping professions. The most prevalent model in the delivery of EAPs is the Affiliate Network, where EAP vendors contract with a network of independent behavioral health clinicians, or “Affiliates,” to provide EAP services in a private office to employees and family members. One of the “core technologies” of EAPs is to refer clients beyond the EAP for ongoing treatment or specialized assistance. What has not been systematically examined until this study is if and when affiliates enrolled in EAP networks make specialized referrals for ongoing care or services. This study examines how affiliates make referrals with EAP specific cases sent to affiliates by EAP vendors. It also addresses how referrals in EAP, as practiced by affiliates, duplicates or overlaps with referrals made in the context of “general practice” counseling or psychotherapy. A “one-time” survey with 34 questions was created using subject matter experts and deployed over the Internet as a Web-based survey. A “working population” of 3,000 EAP affiliates was used as the sampling frame, and a random sample of 400 was drawn. Of the 400 randomly selected potential respondents, 222 surveys were completed and returned resulting in a standard error (SE) of 3.5% and a response rate of 55%. The McNemar nonparametric test was used because the same respondent compared general practice cases to EAP cases. An open-ended question was analyzed through a process of content analysis and the identification of themes. Major threats to validity include the potential for desirability, unavailable information leading to “guessing,” memory problems, and no direct, naturalistic observations. Findings indicate the core concepts of “referral” and “postreferral follow-up” as a distinguishing aspect of EAP are no more apparent in the EAP Affiliate Network model than in the general practice setting.
Realization of power spectra from partial covariance sequences

In this paper, we address the problem of realization of a spectral density function from incomplete information about the underlying stochastic process. The standing assumption is the availability of an (incomplete) partial sequence of covariance samples of the process. We study the set of rational extensions of this finite sequence to an infinite covariance function that agrees with the available samples. The classical theory of orthogonal polynomials (with respect to the unit circle) and the theory of moments have been utilized extensively in a variety of engineering problems, including the one we are dealing with. These have been known to provide a unifying framework for a variety of current spectral estimation techniques (maximum entropy method, Pisarenko's harmonic decomposition, etc.). In this work, we consider and study the set of all covariance realizations of dimension lower than or equal to the length of the partial sequence (and equal to the dimension of the maximum entropy realization). The ME solution is a point in this set. Other points correspond to "pole-zero" models. A general formula is obtained for recursively updated "pole-zero" models of dimension increasing with the data record. Information about the "zeros" is obtained from the asymptotic behavior of the "partial autocorrelation coefficients. " Our approach combines techniques from the theory of orthogonal polynomials on the unit circle, the theory of moments, and also techniques from degree theory/topology. Our objective is to develop a theory that will provide a frame for constructing recursively "pole-zero" realizations of increasing dimension.
Transmitter identification using embedded pseudo random sequences

A transmitter identification system for DTV distributed transmission network using embedded pseudo random sequences is investigated. Different orthogonal pseudo random sequences and their suitability for transmitter identification are discussed. Code generators are developed to study the auto-correlation and cross-correlation properties of the Kasami sequences. To speed up the identification process, the embedded pseudo random sequence is preferred to be time-synchronized with the DTV frame structure. Therefore, the length of the identification code has to be truncated before it is fitted into each field of the ATSC DTV signal. The impact of truncation noise and in-band DTV interference on transmitter identification is also investigated. It is shown that the auto-correlation and cross-correlation properties are only slightly affected by truncation. It is also found that the dominant interference to the transmitter identification is the in-band DTV signal. The signal to truncation noise ratio and signal to DTV interference ratio in the correlation output are derived, and verified via simulation. It is further recognized that in-band DTV interference can only be mitigated by increasing the code length or by time-domain averaging technique to smoothen out the in-band interference.
Timing synchronization for ATSC DTV receivers using the Nyquist sidebands

Gardner's timing method for BPSK or QPSK is actually one of the timing methods using the Nyquist sidebands. However, it requires at least two samples per symbol; and it is more suitable for two-level modulations. This paper presents another timing synchronization method that is suitable for ATSC DTV receivers, in which 8-VSB modulation is used. The correlation of both arms of the VSB signal is exploited. The S-curve of the proposed method is derived. Derivation shows the proposed method is also using the Nyquist sidebands. It can estimate the timing error even at symbol-rate. Simulations show the proposed method has good performance even in multi-path conditions.
Hidden Pilots with Precoding for OFDMA Communiation Systems

In this paper, we propose the precoder with hidden pilots for orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) systems in order to enhance the transmission efficiency of the system and reduce peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) which is the problem in OFDMA uplink. In wireless communication systems, the way to improve transmission efficiency is 1) to reduce bit error rate (BER) or 2) to increase data rate. In the proposed scheme, we design the precoder and hidden pilots in the transmitter and use them in the receiver for increasing data rate, caused by the saved transmission bandwidth thanks to the hidden pilots. In addition, we improve BER performance with the help of the frequency diversity gain caused by precoding. Also using hidden pilots, we enhance the PAPR performance by increasing the average output power of the signal.
Epidemiology of hepatitis B in the United States

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is transmitted parenterally via infected blood or body fluids, including perinatal exposures. In the United States, the incidence of new HBV infection has decreased since the 1980s, primarily because of prevention programs such as immunization in children. Nonetheless, the prevalence and burden of chronic HBV infection remain substantial, especially among the Asian/Pacific Islander racial group. Public health efforts must continue to control transmission of HBV and minimize its future impact by identifying and providing effective interventions for individuals with chronic infection.
Joint latent class models for longitudinal and time-to-event data: A review

Most statistical developments in the joint modelling area have focused on the shared random-effect models that include characteristics of the longitudinal marker as predictors in the model for the time-to-event. A less well-known approach is the joint latent class model which consists in assuming that a latent class structure entirely captures the correlation between the longitudinal marker trajectory and the risk of the event. Owing to its flexibility in modelling the dependency between the longitudinal marker and the event time, as well as its ability to include covariates, the joint latent class model may be particularly suited for prediction problems. This article aims at giving an overview of joint latent class modelling, especially in the prediction context. The authors introduce the model, discuss estimation and goodness-of-fit, and compare it with the shared random-effect model. Then, dynamic predictive tools derived from joint latent class models, as well as measures to evaluate their dynamic predictive accuracy, are presented. A detailed illustration of the methods is given in the context of the prediction of prostate cancer recurrence after radiation therapy based on repeated measures of Prostate Specific Antigen.
Temporal Video Transcoding Based on Frame Complexity Analysis for Mobile Video Communication

Mobile communication systems provide more kinds of advanced video services. One of the most significant problems of mobile video communication is to adapt video content to different network characteristics, which is critical to acceptable visual quality of the transmitted videos. This paper proposes a frame selection scheme for temporal video transcoding through frame complexity analysis that consists of visual complexity and temporal coherence. Visual complexity represents the importance of frames and temporal coherence reveals the consequences of frame skipping; both of these two features are good indicators to determine if a frame should be kept. Experimental results show that our proposed method achieves higher visual quality and has more encoded frames than other existing schemes in the same bitrate, which means that our proposed method achieves high accuracy in selecting the representative frames for temporal video transcoding. The proposed method also has better video quality assessment scores than that of other existing methods, which means the proposed method keeps higher level of integrity of the transcoded videos.
Adaptive Interpolation for Pilot-Aided Channel Estimator in OFDM System

In OFDM system, channel estimator with fixed-coefficient interpolation gives rise to significant estimation errors when the estimator mismatches the experienced time-varying channel. This paper presents a pilot-aided channel estimator adopting a double one-dimensional (1-D) polyphase subfilter structure, in which a few interpolating coefficients are applicable to all subcarriers of an OFDM symbol. By analyzing the channel interpolation for OFDM receiver, we propose a two-dimensional (2-D) adaptation scheme of the interpolating coefficient, based on a block least-mean-square algorithm, which requires none of knowledge on channel statistics. The 2-D adaptation scheme is simplified as two types of 1-D schemes respectively for the time and frequency dimensions, based on the known frequency- and time-direction interpolating coefficients. By simultaneously exploiting channel correlation in the time and frequency dimensions, the adaptive interpolators are trained to match channel properties. Furthermore, the proposed schemes of adaptive interpolation demand lower implementation cost, compared with the existing methods. Simulation results show that the adaptive interpolators converge at a high rate, and that the simplified schemes outperform the conventional methods in the high-speed mobile channel and the single-frequency-networks channel with long-delay echoes, while preserving a low implementation complexity.
A MIMO-Channel-Precoding Scheme for Next Generation Terrestrial Broadcast TV Systems

To cope with increasing demands for spectral efficiency, multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technology is being considered for next generation terrestrial broadcasting television systems. In this paper, we propose a MIMO channel-precoder that utilizes channel statistical structure and is suitable for terrestrial broadcasting systems, while being potentially transparent to the receivers. The performance of the channel-precoder is evaluated in a wide set of channel scenarios and mismatched channel conditions, a typical situation in the broadcast setup. Capacity results show performance improvements in the case of strong line-of-sight scenarios with correlated antenna components and resilience against mismatched condition. Finally, we present bit-error-rate simulation results for state-of-the-art digital terrestrial broadcast systems based on digital video broadcasting-next generation handheld to compare the performance of single-input single-output, 2 × 2 and 4 × 2 MIMO systems and proposed MIMO channel-precoder.
Efficient index structures for spatio-temporal objects

We present a family of four tree-based access structures for indexing spatio-temporal objects. Our indexing methods support spatio-temporal, as well as purely spatial and purely temporal queries. In order to handle sets of extended spatio-temporal objects we propose to specialize generalized search trees by combining the advantages of the well-known spatial structures R*-tree (Beckmann et al., 1990) and SS-tree (White and Jain, 1996). We consider size-based (R*-tree like) and distance-based (SS-tree like) penalty metrics for insertions, and we view the temporal dimension either as a regular third or as a special dimension. We evaluate the four access methods on different real-life datasets and identify one of them to be the most efficient access structure for the case of general spatio-temporal data with known extents in every dimension. This method continues the R*-tree split policy with penalty metric and insertion policy from the SS-tree and treats the temporal dimension as a special dimension.