Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Protective efficacy of seasonal influenza vaccination against seasonal and pandemic influenza virus infection during 2009 in Hong Kong.

BACKGROUND The relationship between seasonal influenza vaccine and susceptibility to 2009 pandemic A/H1N1 virus infection is not fully understood. METHODS One child 6-15 years of age from each of 119 households was randomized to receive 1 dose of inactivated trivalent seasonal influenza vaccine (TIV) or saline placebo in November 2008. Serum samples were collected from study subjects and their household contacts before and 1 month after vaccination (December 2008), after winter (April 2009) and summer influenza (September-October 2009) seasons. Seasonal and pandemic influenza were confirmed by serum hemagglutinination inhibition, viral neutralization titers, and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction performed on nasal and throat swab samples collected during illness episodes. RESULTS TIV recipients had lower rates of serologically confirmed seasonal A/H1N1 infection (TIV group, 8%; placebo group, 21%; P=.10) and A/H3N2 infection (7% vs 12%; P=A9), but higher rates of pandemic A/H1N1 infection (32% vs 17%; [Formula: see text]). In multivariable analysis, those infected with seasonal influenza A during the study had a lower risk of laboratory-confirmed pandemic A/H1N1 infection (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.35; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.14-0.87), and receipt of seasonal TIV was unassociated with risk of pandemic A/H1N1 infection (adjusted OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.54-2.26). CONCLUSIONS TIV protected against strain-matched infection in children. Seasonal influenza infection appeared to confer cross-protection against pandemic influenza. Whether prior seasonal influenza vaccination affects the risk of infection with the pandemic strain requires additional study. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT00792051 .
Labeled random finite sets in multi-target Track-Before-Detect

In this paper we address the problem of tracking multiple targets based on raw measurements by means of particle filtering. Bayesian multitarget tracking, in the Random Finite Set framework, propagates the multitarget posterior density recursively in time. Sequential Monte Carlo (SMC) approximations of the optimal filter are computationally expensive and lead to high-variance estimates as the number of targets increases. We propose a novel, efficient and reliable Labeled RFS based tracking algorithms suitable for, among others, the TBD surveillance application. This algorithm uses the Interacting Population based MCMC-PF (IP-MCMCPF), first introduced in [6], as the core engine of a Multiple Cardinality Hypotheses Tracker (MCHT), where each cardinality is treated independently. The proposed multi-target filter is built upon the concept of labeled Random Finite Set (RFS) [40], [41], and formally incorporates the propagation and estimation of track labels within the RFS filtering framework. Simulation analyses demonstrate that the proposed Multiple Cardinality Hypotheses Particle Filter (MCHPF) yields higher consistency, accuracy and reliability in multitarget tracking.
High-frequency multiplier based on GaN planar Schottky barrier diodes

In this letter, we report GaN planar Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs) with the DC and RF performance. The air-bridge structure is adopted to reduce the parasitic parameters. The cut-off frequency (fc) of the diode with an anode diameter of 5 μm is calculated to be 655 GHz at zero bias. By using four anodes series GaN SBDs chip, a frequency tripler with a peak output power of 2.1 mW at 103.5 GHz is demonstrated for the first time.
Journeying to connect: Promoting post-natal healing and relationship formation through the CONNECT group art-therapy program for distressed mothers and infants

This paper describes the CONNECT Group Art-Therapy Program, a post-natal group therapy intervention for distressed mothers and infants/toddlers. The paper reflects on pregnancy and birth as life-changing events for women-mothers, made vulnerable through gestation, parturition and the demands of relating to, and caring for, the new baby. Each woman-mother is seen as in a process of 'becoming' occurring in relation to her just-born baby - a 'Journeying to Connect'. The CONNECT Program uses singing/play, art-expression and talking therapy to promote post-natal healing and relationship formation. Group parameters include a time-limited, closed, eightweek structure, with a conjoint/parallel format. By providing a safe therapeutic space for the women-mothers, the therapists encourage participants to reflect on their motherhood journeys, and to give visual form to these experiences through collage and painting. Through examining society's 'motherhood myths' and pregnancy/birthing stories, in words and in art, the group hears about difficult and traumatic aspects of livedmaternity. Affirmation is provided by mothers and therapists. Qualitative outcome measures indicate that participation in CONNECT fosters healing, engagement, enhanced well-being and improved relationships with their baby and other mothers. Examples of art-expression pertaining to pregnancy/birthing, anger and depression/loss are shown, as are statements by women-mothers about their experience of CONNECT.
Deterministic traffic specification via projections under the min-plus algebra

We address the parameterization problem for traffic envelopes needed for deterministic traffic regulation and service guarantees. A parameterized function is a good "substitute" for a traffic envelope if (i) the substitute is not smaller than the envelope and (ii) no other functions not smaller than the envelope are smaller than the substitute. Analogous to the least square approximation problem in a vector space, we use projections under the (min, +)-algebra to find a substitute for a traffic envelope. To facilitate the computation of operations under the (min, +)algebra, we develop the concept of ordered orthogonal buses. A substitute for a traffic envelope can be represented by a coordinate vector with respect to an ordered orthogonal basis. Operations under the (min, +)-algebra, including pointwise minimum, convolution, subadditive closure, and pointwise maximum, can then be computed on the domain of coordinate vectors. A substitute and its coordinate vector forms a transform pair, called C-transform in the paper. The C-transform is related to the Legendre (or convex) transform and has many properties such as Parseval's formula.
Corporate Investments in College Readiness and Access.

Conclusions References 2 6 10 16 18 20 24 26 aCknowledgmenTs this report was written by wendy erisman, Ph.d., director of research and evaluation, and shannon m. looney, research associate, at the Institute for higher education Policy (IheP). other IheP staff members who contributed to the report include alisa f. cunningham, vice president for research and programs; tia t. gordon, managing director of communications and marketing; Jennifer ramsey, research project coordinator; david heller, former research intern; and Phil Perrin, former research intern. courtney mcswain, former research analyst, was also responsible for much of the preliminary work that went into this report. this report would not have been possible without considerable support from staff members at the business-higher education forum (bhef): christopher roe, deputy director; Jeanne contardo, Ph.d., director of programs; and Kirstin mccarthy, assistant director. this report benefited from conversations with a number of corporate leaders and others involved in college readiness and access initiatives: Jonathan beam, executive director, education and youth leadership programs, time warner Inc. research. we appreciate the assistance of these individuals and note that they are not responsible for any errors of omission or interpretation in this report. we would like to offer special thanks to usa funds for its financial support for this project. the views expressed in the report are those of IheP and bhef and do not necessarily reflect the views of usa funds. International competitiveness, while always an important concept for american business, has become a critical issue in recent years. as both the world standing and the capabilities of the united states visibly decline, it becomes impossible not to take note of the barriers to college access that have plagued disadvantaged populations in the american educational system for so long. with the growing need for postsecondary education in almost every occupation, these barriers prevent an important segment of the u.s. population from adequately preparing for life and work in a 21st-century economy. as a result, leaders in all arenas who have long been interested in educational issues are now refocusing their attention on college readiness and access. In particular, many business leaders have sharpened their interest in the education and training of the future workforce, recognizing the growing need for individuals with college degrees. with the combination of the business community's financial resources and business leaders' public prominence, strategically targeted philanthropy initiatives have a chance to make an important impact on …
Cross-Disciplinary Professional Development at Community Colleges

ABSTRACT Community college teaching is a complex endeavor requiring not only the mastery of disciplinary knowledge but also the pedagogical skills needed to serve this diverse population of students. While many community college faculties are hired with advanced academic degrees, professional experience or both, many often have not had formal pedagogical training. Thus, the challenge for institutions is to determine how best to support faculty in their teaching. This article reports on one college’s attempt at such support. The participants in this study were full-time community college professors engaged in an elective four-semester cross-disciplinary professional development program. This study investigates what these professors perceived to be the benefits and drawbacks of cross-disciplinary professional development, particularly with regard to group peer observation. Data were collected through online surveys, the results of which were complemented by responses in participants’ applications to the program, written reflections and assignments, and exit interviews. The data were recursively coded, categorized, and analyzed through constant comparison method. This article highlights the benefits and drawbacks of cross-disciplinary professional development, particularly in the context of peer observation in faculty learning communities. The findings suggest that departments and college centers for teaching and learning may provide different but complementary forms of pedagogical faculty development.
Diffusion Tensor Imaging and Axonal Tracking in the Human Brainstem

Diffusion tensor MRI was used to demonstrate in vivo anatomical mapping of brainstem axonal connections. It was possible to identify the corticospinal tract (CST), medial lemniscus, and the superior, medial, and inferior cerebellar peduncles. In addition, the cerebral peduncle could be subparcellated into component tracts, namely, the frontopontine tract, the CST, and the temporo-/parieto-/occipitopontine tract. Anatomical landmarks and tracking thresholds were established for each fiber and, using these standards, reproducibility of automated tracking as assessed by intra- and interrater reliability was found to be high (kappa > 0.82). Reconstructed fibers corresponded well to existing anatomical knowledge, validating the tracking. Information on the location of individual tracts was coregistered with quantitative MRI maps to automatically measure MRI parameters on a tract-by-tract basis. The results reveal that each tract has a unique spatial signature in terms of water relaxation and diffusion anisotropy.
Notice of RetractionExponential stability for a larger class of neural network with multiple delays

Exponential stability for a larger class of neural network with multiple constant or time-varying delays is considered. Based on the Lyapunov-Krasovskii stability theory for functional differential equations and the linear matrix inequality (LMI) approach, some sufficient conditions for exponential stability of neural networks with multiple constant or time-varying delays are obtained. The conditions presented here are related to the size of delay. Some examples are given to illustrate the feasibility of our results.
Noise robust continuous digit recognition with reservoir-based acoustic models

Notwithstanding the many years of research, more work is needed to create automatic speech recognition (ASR) systems with a close-to-human robustness against confounding factors such as ambient noise, channel distortion, etc. Whilst most work thus far focused on the improvement of ASR systems embedding Gaussian Mixture Models (GMM)s to compute the acoustic likelihoods in the states of a Hidden Markov Model (HMM), the present work focuses on the noise robustness of systems employing Reservoir Computing (RC) as an alternative acoustic modeling technique. Previous work already demonstrated good noise robustness for continuous digit recognition (CDR). The present paper investigates whether further progress can be achieved by driving reservoirs with noise-robust inputs that have been shown to raise the robustness of GMM-based systems, by introducing bi-directional reservoirs and by combining reservoirs with GMMs in a single system. Experiments on Aurora-2 demonstrate that it is indeed possible to raise the noise robustness without significantly increasing the system complexity.
New QC-LDPC codes implementation on FPGA platform in Rayleigh fading environment

This paper presents performance of Quasi-Cyclic low-density parity-check (QC-LDPC) codes on a flat Rayleigh fading channels by employing DPSK modulation scheme. The BER curves show that large girth and diversity level robust the system performance. Moreover, Prototype architecture of the LDPC codes has been implemented by writing Hardware Description Language (VHDL) code and targeted to a Xilinx Spartan-3E XC3S500E FPGA chip. Simulation results show that the proposed QC-LDPC codes achieve a 0.1dB coding gain over randomly constructed codes and perform 1.3 dB from the Shannon-limit at a BER of 10−6 with a code rate of 0.89 for block length of 1332.
Care of elderly people by the general practitioner and the geriatrician in Belgium: a qualitative study of their relationship

Objectives The care of elderly people is a large part of a general practitioner’s work. The growing elderly population means that the medical community must give thought to the management of their care. Within this large field, we focused on the relationship between general practitioners and hospital geriatricians. Methods Focus group discussions were performed to describe the collaboration between general practitioners and hospital geriatricians: four of these focus groups contained only general practitioners, two groups contained only hospital geriatricians, and one group was made up of general practitioners and hospital specialists. Participants were invited to speak about bad or good experiences of intercollaboration. The discussions were recorded, transcribed, and coded. Results An important regional disparity was observed: better relationships and easier collaboration were reported in those regions that benefit from a wider range of geriatric services. In areas with few geriatric services, doctors knew little of other professionals and reported suspicion and even conflicts. Positive experiences and communication favor good relationships. Conclusions The collaboration between general practitioners and hospital geriatricians should be enhanced: information, exchanges, and reflection on roles and competencies are essential.
Tumor breast phantom vs breast phantom Microwave ablation: Thermal experimentation and electric property measurements

Thermal experimentation and electric properties measurements are presented, using tumor breast phantom and breast phantom built in our laboratory. Electric properties were measured to find similar characteristics between breast and tumor breast tissue and phantoms. For tumor breast phantom, we obtained a variation of 4.1216 for dielectric constant and 0.3798 S/m for electric conductivity. Breast phantom had a variation of 0.7065 for permittivity and electric conductivity had a variation of 0.0066 S/m. Microwave ablation therapy was applied on both phantoms for five minutes, with 10 watts of power. According to literature reports, tumor breast tissue presents higher temperature than breast tissue, but our results present breast phantom temperature higher than tumor tissue. It is necessary to find other materials for tumor breast phantom to get higher temperatures than breast phantom.
A Formal Model of Policy Reconciliation

This paper proposes a novel approach to perform the reconciliation of security policies by means of user-defined reconciliation strategies. The proposed policy reconciliation model allows several degree of freedom when specifying reconciliation strategies, which can be based not only on rule actions, like most of the works in literature, but also on other rule data (e.g., the conditions) and other external data (e.g., rule priorities, policy priorities). Additionally, it can be applied to reconcile policies at runtime and off-line, that is, it allows the generation of a reconciled policy. Moreover, the reconciliation process generates a detailed report on all the decision taken. Given its expressiveness, the approach can be also applied to simplify the policy specification process. The model has been validated against a practical example, the definition of the application layer filtering policy in a corporate scenario, and its performance has been tested with synthetic policies. Both validation and performance analysis gave encouraging results.
SERUM LEVEL OF HIGH SENSITIVE C-REACTIVE PROTEIN IN NORMAL AND PREECLAMPTIC PREGNANCIES

Background and Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the level of plasma high sensitive c-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in preeclampsia and to compare hs-CRP levels between normal pregnant women, mild preeclamptic, and severe preeclamptic women. Materials and Methods: Serum hs-CRP levels were investigated in 40 cases of normal pregnant women, 37 cases with mild preeclampsia and 38 cases with severe preeclampsia in the third trimester of pregnancy. Venous blood samples were collected at admission to the hospital at least 6h before delivery for measurement of hs-CRP by immuno turbidometric method. The student t-test was used for comparison of proportions. Results: There were significant difference in the means serum hs-CRP between normal pregnant women and mild preeclamptic women (P<0.05). Serum concentration of hs-CRP were significantly higher in severe prceclampsia (p<0.05) than normal pregnancy. There were also significant differences in hs-CRP levels between mild and severe preclampsia (P<0.05). Conclusion: We found higher levels of hs-CRP in mild and severe preeclampsia than normal pregnancy and also these results suggest that hs- CRP are increased more in severe preeclamsia than mild preeclampsia , and may be useful in prediction and diagnosis of the severity of preeclampsia.
Tax Avoidance in Response to a Decline in the Funding Status of Defined Benefit Pension Plans

We examine the effect of the funding status of defined benefit (DB) pension plans on company tax avoidance behavior. Our results reveal that firms engage more in tax avoidance when the pension deficit, defined as pension liabilities minus pension assets scaled by total assets, increases. We find that for an average pension deficit firm one standard deviation increase in pension deficit is associated with annual tax savings of $3.64million. For 2014 we find that, on the aggregate level, for firms with underfunded DB pension plans a one standard deviation increase in pension deficit is associated with annual tax savings of more than 2.7billion dollars. Our results hold after controlling for factors such as profitability, financial constraints, operating losses, and foreign income.
Team Mental Models, Team Goal Orientations, and Information Elaboration, Predicting Team Creative Performance

This study aimed to enhance understanding of team creativity by investigating the type of team mental models that team members develop during their work on a creative problem solving task. We hypothesized that teams that develop dissimilar team mental models, compared to similar and complementary team mental models, will achieve a higher information elaboration. This effect will be moderated by the development of a high learning-performance team goal orientation. Information elaboration in turn was hypothesized to predict team creative performance. In a 3 (similar/dissimilar/complementary team mental models) × 3 (learning/performance/learning-performance goal orientation) experimental study on a sample of 33 teams (N = 98) we found that teams that developed more dissimilar team mental models and experienced a learning-performance goal orientation intervention engaged in more information elaboration. Information elaboration, in turn, mediated the relationship between the interaction between team mental models and team goal orientations and team creative performance. Implications for research on team mental models and team creativity are discussed.
From selection to complementarity: shifts in the causes of biodiversity–productivity relationships in a long-term biodiversity experiment

In a 10-year (1996–2005) biodiversity experiment, the mechanisms underlying the increasingly positive effect of biodiversity on plant biomass production shifted from sampling to complementarity over time. The effect of diversity on plant biomass was associated primarily with the accumulation of higher total plant nitrogen pools (N g m−2) and secondarily with more efficient N use at higher diversity. The accumulation of N in living plant biomass was significantly increased by the presence of legumes, C4 grasses, and their combined presence. Thus, these results provide clear evidence for the increasing effects of complementarity through time and suggest a mechanism whereby diversity increases complementarity through the increased input and retention of N, a commonly limiting nutrient.
TEXT CATEGORIZATION EXPERIMENTS USING WIKIPEDIA

O(1) Abstract. Over the years many models had been proposed for text catego- rization. One of the most widely applied is the vector space model, assuming independence between indexing terms. Since training corpora sizes are rel- atively small { compared to 1 { the generalization power of the learning algorithms is relatively low. Using a bigger unannotated text corpus can boost the representation and hence the learning process. Based on the work of Gabrilovich and Markovitch we use Wikipedia articles to give word dis- tributional representation for documents. Since this causes dimensionality increase, some feature clustering is needed. For this end we use LSA.
Scheduled seeding for latent viral marketing

One highly studied topic in the field of social networks is the search for influential nodes, that when seeded (i.e. infected intentionally), may infect a large portion of the network through a viral process. However, when it comes to the spread of new products, such viral processes are rather rare. Social influence is indeed an important factor when it comes to the act of adopting a new product. However, this influence is usually latent and does not trigger the purchase action by itself, it therefore requires an additional sales effort. We propose a model and a method that better fit the product adoption scenario. Our method allocates the seeding efforts not only to precise nodes but also at precise points in time, such that the product adoption rate increases. By conducting a set of empirical simulations, we show that under realistic assumptions, our method improves the product adoption rate by 25%-50%.