Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of C-reactive protein and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in the prediction of first cardiovascular events*

The following abstracts of articles from leading journals and from the ABOG recertification examination have been selected on the basis of their importance to the practice of obstetrics and gynecology. Comparison of C-reactive protein and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in the prediction of first cardiovascular events* BACKGROUND: C-reactive protein (CRP) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels are both elevated in persons at risk for cardiovascular (CV) events. However, data directly comparing these two biologic markers are not available. METHODS: CRP and LDL cholesterol were measured at base line in 27,939 healthy American women. These women were then followed for a mean of eight years for the occurrence of myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, coronary revascularization, or death from CV causes. The initial levels of CRP and LDL were analyzed to determine if they predicted the risk of CV events in the study population. RESULTS: Base line levels of both CRP and LDL cholesterol had a strong linear relation to the incidence of CV events. After adjustment for age, smoking, diabetes, blood pressure, and HRT, the relative risks of a first CV event, by quintile of CRP levels were 1.4, 1.6, 2.0, and 2.3 (P 0.001). The corresponding risks by quintile level for LDL cholesterol were 0.9, 1.1, 1.3, and 1.5 (P 0.001). Overall, 77 percent of CV events occurred in women with LDL cholesterol 160 mg per deciliter. Screening for both markers provided better prognostic information than screening for either alone. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that CRP levels are a stronger predictor of CV events than LDL cholesterol levels. Ridker PM, Rifai N, Rose L, Buring JE, Cook NR. N Engl J Med
The Use of High-oil Corn in Young Broiler Chicken Diets

The objective of this study was to measure performance of young broiler chickens fed three varieties of high-oil corn (HOC 1, 2, and 3) compared with eight varieties of normal corn (NC). HOC varieties contained about 80% more oil than NC (average crude fat; 6.71% vs 3.72%) and about 29% more protein (average CP; 9.54% vs 7.38%). Each experimental diet was formulated with the same amount (55.205%) of each corn hybrid. Experiment 1 had by six dietary treatments (HOC1 and five NC varieties, 360 chickens) and Experiment 2 had five treatments (HOC2, HOC3, and three NC varieties, 250 chickens). In Exp. 1, for feed efficiency (F/G), the treatment contained HOC1 had better performance (p 0.05) among dietary treatments. The dietary treatment of HOC1 gave an improvement of 4.3% in F/G that came from 6% higher gross energy (GE) value of HOC1. Compared with Exp. 2, the dietary treatments contained HOC hybrids gave 4.4% higher F/G than NC dietary treatments, which came from a 5% increase in GE value. HOC varieties had superior nutrients content to NC for poultry, due to the fact that HOC contained higher concentrations of energy, protein, lysine, and methionine, thus improving growth and F/G. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2003. Vol 16, No. 6 : 880-883)
The bright spiky emission of pulsar B0656+14

There is provided a method and apparatus for categorizing substantially simultaneous inputs to a touchscreen. The method is described within a computer device having a display screen adapted to receive touchscreen input. In a first step, the display screen is divided into a plurality of sectors. Next, the sectors are sequentially scanned for input. When a plurality of substantially simultaneous inputs are sensed in respective sectors, the location by sector of each input is ascertained. A unique value is then assigned to each input received, the assigned values corresponding to the sequence in time of the respective inputs based upon the sequentially scanned sectors in which the inputs occurred. The apparatus includes a display screen adapted to receive touchscreen input. A touchscreen driver/sensor is provided to divide the display screen into a plurality of sectors and to sense input in each of the sectors. A sequence counter is used to actuate the driver/sensor to scan the display screen sectors sequentially and at predetermined intervals for input, and to assign a unique value to each input received.
Estimating a marginal causal odds ratio in a case‐control design: analyzing the effect of low birth weight on the risk of type 1 diabetes mellitus

Estimation of marginal causal effects from case‐control data has two complications: (i) confounding due to the fact that the exposure under study is not randomized, and (ii) bias from the case‐control sampling scheme. In this paper, we study estimators of the marginal causal odds ratio, addressing these issues for matched and unmatched case‐control designs when utilizing the knowledge of the known prevalence of being a case. The estimators are implemented in simulations where their finite sample properties are studied and approximations of their variances are derived with the delta method. Also, we illustrate the methods by analyzing the effect of low birth weight on the risk of type 1 diabetes mellitus using data from the Swedish Childhood Diabetes Register, a nationwide population‐based incidence register. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The multi-agent rendezvous problem - the asynchronous case

This paper is concerned with the collective behavior of a group of n > 1 mobile autonomous agents, labelled 1 through n, which can all move in the plane. Each agent is able to continuously track the positions of all other agents currently within its "sensing region" where by an agent's sensing region is meant a closed disk of positive radius r centered at the agent's current position. The multi-agent rendezvous problem is to devise "local" control strategies, one for each agent, which without any active communication between agents, cause all members of the group to eventually rendezvous at single unspecified location. This paper describes a family of asynchronously functioning strategies for solving the problem. Correctness is established appealing to the concept of "analytic synchronization".
When Pol I Goes into High Gear: Processive DNA Synthesis by Pol I in the Cell

Pol I is the most abundant polymerase in E. coli and plays an important role in short patch repair. In accord with this role in the cell, the purified polymerase exhibits low processivity and high fidelity in vitro. Pol I is also the polymerase responsible for leader strand synthesis during ColE1 plasmid replication. In a previous publication, we described the generation of a highly error-prone DNA polymerase I. Expression of this mutant Pol I results in errors during the replication of a ColE1 plasmid. The distribution and spectrum of mutations in the ColE1 plasmid sequence downstream the ori indicates that Pol I is capable of more processive replication in vivo than previously accepted. Here, we review evidence suggesting that Pol I may be recruited into a replisome-like holoenzyme and speculate that processive DNA replication by Pol I in the cell may play a role in recombination-dependent DNA replication.
An information hiding algorithm based on RDWT for fingerprint biometric, system

Digital watermarking based on biometric identification is a novel Information hiding technology. The paper presents a 3-level RDWT biometric watermarking algorithm to embed fingerprints minutiae data in a color face image of the same individual for increased information hiding robustness, security and accuracy. The hidden minutiae data can be extracted accurately from the carrier image using a secret key. Result shows that the proposed RDWT watermarking algorithm is robust to different attacks, and can provide the multimodal biometric verification accuracy of 94%.
Parent implemented early intervention for young children with autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND Recent estimates concerning the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) suggest that at least one in 200 children is affected. This group of children and families have important service needs. The involvement of parents in implementing intervention strategies designed to help their autistic children has long been accepted as helpful. The potential benefits are increased skills and reduced stress for parents as well as children. METHODS This research review focused on interventions for children aged 1-6 years, and was carried out using systematic methodology: a comprehensive search of psychological, educational and biomedical databases, as well as bibliographies and reference lists of key articles, contact with experts in the field, and hand search of key journals. Only studies which involved a concurrent element of control were included. RESULTS The review found very few studies that had adequate research design from which to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of parent-implemented early intervention. Both randomized and controlled studies tended to suggest that parent training leads to improved child communicative behaviour, increased maternal knowledge of autism, enhanced maternal communication style and parent child interaction, and reduced maternal depression. CONCLUSION It seems that parent training can successfully contribute to intervention for young children with ASD. However, the review highlights the need for improved research in this area.
Identification of a Novel Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule-related Gene with a Potential Role in Selective Axonal Projection*

We describe here the cloning of mouse complementary DNAs encoding a novel protein, Rb-8 neural cell adhesion molecule (RNCAM), with a predicted extracellular region of five immunoglobulin C2-type domains followed by two fibronectin type III domains. Alternative splicing is likely to generate two RNCAM isoforms, which are differently attached to the cell membrane. These structural features and overall sequence identity identify this protein as a novel member of a cell adhesion molecule subgroup together with vertebrate neural cell adhesion molecule, Aplysia cell adhesion molecule, and Drosophila fasciclin II. In insects, fasciclin II is present on a restricted subset of embryonic central nervous system axons where it controls selective axon fasciculation. Intriguingly, RNCAM likewise is expressed in subsets of olfactory and vomeronasal neurons with topographically defined axonal projections. The spatial expression RNCAM corresponds precisely to that of certain odorant receptor expression zones of the olfactory epithelium. These expression patterns thus render RNCAM the first described cell adhesion molecule with a potential regulatory role in formation of selective axonal projections important for olfactory sensory information coding.
High Step-Up Trans-Inverse (Tx−1) DC–DC Converter for the Distributed Generation System

This paper introduces a new magnetically coupled single-switch nonisolated dc-dc converter with a high-voltage gain. The topology utilizes magnetic coupling for boosting its output voltage, but unlike other converters with coupled magnetics, its voltage gain is increased by reducing its magnetic turns ratio. The name “Trans-inverse (Tx-1)” is thus used for representing this inverse operating principle of the converter. The converter draws a continuous current from the source and is, hence, suitable for many types of renewable sources. Its leakage energy from the coupled magnetics has further been recycled and transferred to the load by an integrated regenerative snubber circuit. Its inclusion of dc-current-blocking capacitors has also helped to prevent core saturation, which, together with other performance features, has been verified experimentally.
Integrative and Comparative Genomic Analysis of HPV-Positive and HPV-Negative Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas

Purpose: The genetic differences between human papilloma virus (HPV)–positive and –negative head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) remain largely unknown. To identify differential biology and novel therapeutic targets for both entities, we determined mutations and copy-number aberrations in a large cohort of locoregionally advanced HNSCC. Experimental Design: We performed massively parallel sequencing of 617 cancer-associated genes in 120 matched tumor/normal samples (42.5% HPV-positive). Mutations and copy-number aberrations were determined and results validated with a secondary method. Results: The overall mutational burden in HPV-negative and HPV-positive HNSCC was similar with an average of 15.2 versus 14.4 somatic exonic mutations in the targeted cancer-associated genes. HPV-negative tumors showed a mutational spectrum concordant with published lung squamous cell carcinoma analyses with enrichment for mutations in TP53, CDKN2A, MLL2, CUL3, NSD1, PIK3CA, and NOTCH genes. HPV-positive tumors showed unique mutations in DDX3X, FGFR2/3 and aberrations in PIK3CA, KRAS, MLL2/3, and NOTCH1 were enriched in HPV-positive tumors. Currently targetable genomic alterations were identified in FGFR1, DDR2, EGFR, FGFR2/3, EPHA2, and PIK3CA. EGFR, CCND1, and FGFR1 amplifications occurred in HPV-negative tumors, whereas 17.6% of HPV-positive tumors harbored mutations in fibroblast growth factor receptor genes (FGFR2/3), including six recurrent FGFR3 S249C mutations. HPV-positive tumors showed a 5.8% incidence of KRAS mutations, and DNA-repair gene aberrations, including 7.8% BRCA1/2 mutations, were identified. Conclusions: The mutational makeup of HPV-positive and HPV-negative HNSCC differs significantly, including targetable genes. HNSCC harbors multiple therapeutically important genetic aberrations, including frequent aberrations in the FGFR and PI3K pathway genes. Clin Cancer Res; 21(3); 632–41. ©2014 AACR. See related commentary by Krigsfeld and Chung, p. 495
Abnormal myelograms in asymptomatic patients.

I N THE evaluation of the patient with back, neck, arm, or leg pain, great reliance has been placed on the results of myelography. Occasionally, difficulties arise in the correlation of the results of this study with the clinical examination. The myelogram may be normal in the face of a clear-cut clinical syndrome, or defects in the positive contrast column may be found at levels other than those thought to be involved. Accordingly, more information has been needed relative to the incidence of myelographic abnormalities in the asymptomatic patient. This paper reports the incidence of myelographic abnormalities in 300 patients who were studied by posterior fossa myelography to establish a diagnosis of acoustic tumor. Myelograms of the spinal axis were obtained even though these patients had no symptoms of cervical or lumbar nerve root compression at the time of the examination.
Battery Modeling

The use of mobile devices is often limited by the capacity of the employed batteries. The battery lifetime determines how long one can use a device. Battery modeling can help to predict, and possibly extend this lifetime. Many different battery models have been developed over the years. However, with these models one can only compute lifetimes for specific discharge profiles, and not for workloads in general. In this paper, we give an overview of the different battery models that are available, and evaluate these models in their suitability to combine them with a workload model to create a more powerful battery model.
A 3-D parasitic extraction flow for the modeling and timing analysis of FinFET structures

The FinFET technology is considered as the best candidate to extend the CMOS technology down to 10 nm. In this paper, a three-dimensional (3-D) parasitic extraction flow is proposed for modeling and timing analysis of the FinFET based circuits. The flow fully considers the 3-D geometry of the FinFET and employs accurate field solvers for extracting resistances and capacitances. Thus, it accurately captures the prominent coupling effect between the FinFET and lower-layer interconnects. With the input of industry-standard layout data, the flow outputs the SPICE RC netlist for timing analysis. Numerical experiments on FinFET structures and other digital design demonstrate the efficiency and accuracy of the proposed extraction flow. This work provides an efficient supplement to the exiting parasitic extraction methodology for the FinFET technology.
Female labor force participation: an international perspective.

This article gives an international perspective in regard to female participation in the labor force. In most countries women contribute less than men toward the value of recorded production. Social environment, statistical inconsistencies and methods of recording labor all contribute to this inequity. In Britain for instance, women caring for the household duties are in some studies considered to be part of the labor force and in other studies they are not. Further, internationally, women often find themselves in casual, temporary, or seasonal work that goes unrecorded. Defining what "labor force participation" constitutes is a key starting point to any survey. At what age is one considered employable? What constitutes a person "actively seeking" employment? Economists often try to explain labor force participation rate by age, sex, race and income groups and use this information to cite trends. The income-leisure model theorizes that choice of work or non-work by women is based primarily upon wages for work vs. wages for non-work. This theory sees non-labor income exerting a negative influence. Empirical evidence, however, suggests that women will choose work if wages are good regardless of any non-work benefits. Because most men are permanently in the labor force, estimates of labor reserves and projections of supply focus mostly on women. International generalizations are often misleading since trends vary widely among countries. During the last 20 years the global female participation rate has remained almost constant, but this is misleading. The percentage of working women in industrial countries increased 10%; developing countries showed a decrease of 7%. Female rates are often tied closely to shifts in the overall economy, (e.g., a transition from an agricultural to an industrial economy often sees a drop in female labor because subsistence jobs are lost). Of course the ability of women to bear children and the social expectations regarding child care often play a role. It is common in western industrialized countries to see drops in female participation during childbearing years. Countries with the lowest female participation rates are those with strong religious views about women in society, (e.g., Catholic and Muslim countries).
Performance discrepancies on the California Verbal Learning Test–Children's Version in the standardization sample

The standardization data for the California Verbal Learning Test–Children's Version (CVLT–C) were used to evaluate statistically significant discrepancies between key quantitative variables of this instrument, as well as the base rate of specific discrepancies. The results indicated that apparently large discrepancies between the respective standard scores were actually fairly common. However, for 3 of the 4 contrasts, discrepancies that equaled or exceeded 1.5 z-score points in the hypothesized direction were sufficiently unusual to be considered clinically significant. For a 4th contrast, discrepancies that equaled or exceeded 1 z-score point in the hypothesized direction appeared to meet this criterion. It is suggested that the interpretation of clinically obtained CVLT–C profiles should focus primarily on specific quantitative variables, with inclusion of consideration of the presented base rates of discrepancies between the respective z scores. (JINS, 1999, 5, 26–31.)
A Genetic Algorithm for Motion Estimation

Summary We derive a robust algorithm for estimating motion parameters of rigid features resulted from a segmentation of dynamic scenes into several differently moving objects. Thus each objects is characterized by a transform h (x, T) with a parameter vector T which implicitly describes the surface shape and the three- dimensional motion of the objects in the scene. In this paper, a split and merge technique for the segmentation is used. Moreover, in order to estimates the vector parameter T we propose to use a genetic algorithm.
NBER WORKING PAPER SERIES OPTIMAL INTEREST-RATE RULES IN A FORWARD-LOOKING MODEL, AND INFLATION STABILIZATION VERSUS PRICE-LEVEL STABILIZATION

This paper characterizes the properties of various interest-rate rules in a basic forward-looking model. We compare simple Taylor rules and rules that respond to price-level fluctuations (called Wicksellian rules). We argue that by introducing an appropriate amount of history dependence in policy, Wicksellian rules perform better than optimal Taylor rules in terms of welfare, robustness to alternative shock processes, and are less prone to equilibrium indeterminacy. A simple Wicksellian rule augmented with a high degree of interest rate inertia resembles a robustly optimal rule, i.e., a monetary policy rule that implements the optimal plan and that is also completely robust to the specification of exogenous shock processes. Marc P. Giannoni Columbia Business School 3022 Broadway, Uris Hall 824 New York, NY 10027-6902 and NBER mg2190@columbia.edu
Response to Ticagrelor in Clopidogrel Nonresponders and Responders and Effect of Switching Therapies: The RESPOND Study

Background— The antiplatelet effects of the Platelet Inhibition and Patient Outcomes (PLATO) trial dose of ticagrelor in patients nonresponsive to clopidogrel and after they switch agents are unknown. Methods and Results— Patients with stable coronary artery disease on aspirin therapy received a 300-mg clopidogrel load; nonresponders were identified by light transmittance aggregometry. In a 2-way crossover design, nonresponders (n=41) and responders (n=57) randomly received clopidogrel (600 mg/75 mg once daily) or ticagrelor (180 mg/90 mg twice daily) for 14 days during period 1. In period 2, all nonresponders switched treatment; half of the responders continued the same treatment, whereas the others switched treatment. Inhibition of platelet aggregation was higher in nonresponders treated with ticagrelor compared with clopidogrel (P<0.05). Treatment with ticagrelor among nonresponders resulted in a >10%, >30%, and >50% decrease in platelet aggregation from baseline in 100%, 75%, and 13% of patients, respectively. Platelet aggregation fell from 59±9% to 35±11% in patients switched from clopidogrel to ticagrelor and increased from 36±14% to 56±9% in patients switched from ticagrelor to clopidogrel (P<0.0001 for both). Platelet reactivity was below the cut points previously associated with ischemic risk measured by light transmittance aggregometry, VerifyNow P2Y12 assay, and vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein phosphorylation in 98% to 100% of patients after ticagrelor therapy versus 44% to 76% of patients after clopidogrel therapy. Conclusions— Ticagrelor therapy overcomes nonresponsiveness to clopidogrel, and its antiplatelet effect is the same in responders and nonresponders. Nearly all clopidogrel nonresponders and responders treated with ticagrelor will have platelet reactivity below the cut points associated with ischemic risk. Clinical Trial Registration— http://www.clinicaltrials. gov. Unique Identifier: NCT00642811.