Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A low cost mobile ECG monitoring device using two active dry electrodes

Mobile electrocardiograph (ECG) monitoring provides crucial information about the cardiac rhythm and system anomaly helping doctors to efficiently diagnose heart diseases. This paper presents the development of a low cost mobile ECG monitoring device, which early warms abnormalities throughout long-term ECG observation. For user convenience, two active dry electrodes are used as touch sensors. A buffer circuit is applied to remove the over-sensitivity effect of the electrodes. Experimental results indicated that ECG quality when using active dry electrodes is equivalent to that of wet Ag/AgCl electrodes application.
Intravenous Thrombolysis in Posterior Cerebral Artery Infarctions

Background: Approximately 5–10% of all acute ischemic strokes (AIS) occur in the territory of the posterior cerebral artery (PCA). Little is known about intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) in this infarct subgroup in terms of outcome and intracerebral hemorrhage rates. The aim of our study was to evaluate differences between supratentorial PCA infarcts and anterior circulation infarcts regarding baseline characteristics, stroke severity, outcome, safety and clinical findings, which would implicate a change in the existing thrombolysis practice in patients with PCA stroke. Methods: All patients with AIS in the supratentorial PCA territory receiving IVT between 01/2006 and 01/2010 were selected from the Erlangen Thrombolysis Database (group 1, n = 21). They were compared to all IVT patients with strokes in other supratentorial vascular territories over the same period of time (group 2, n = 398). Baseline demographic data, as well as clinical and laboratory findings were analyzed. The outcome was assessed using the modified Rankin Scale at 3 months. Results: Only serum glucose levels at baseline (110.5 ± 36.1 vs. 127.2 ± 48.2 mg/dl; p = 0.036) and the baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (median 6.5 vs. 9; p = 0.016) were significantly lower in group 1 compared to group 2. Favorable clinical outcome (57.1 vs. 48.6%; p = 0.445) and intracerebral hemorrhage rates (4.8 vs. 4%; p = 1.000) were comparable in both groups. Conclusions: No substantial differences were found between supratentorial PCA and anterior circulation infarcts. Our data on safety and efficacy support the present common thrombolysis practice in supratentorial PCA infarct patients, though an indication for IVT should rather be based on the existence of functionally disabling deficit than merely on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale.
On overfitting and asymptotic bias in batch reinforcement learning with partial observability

This paper provides an analysis of the tradeoff between asymptotic bias (suboptimality with unlimited data) and overfitting (additional suboptimality due to limited data) in the context of reinforcement learning with partial observability. Our theoretical analysis formally characterizes that while potentially increasing the asymptotic bias, a smaller state representation decreases the risk of overfitting. This analysis relies on expressing the quality of a state representation by bounding $L_1$ error terms of the associated belief states. Theoretical results are empirically illustrated when the state representation is a truncated history of observations, both on synthetic POMDPs and on a large-scale POMDP in the context of smartgrids, with real-world data. Finally, similarly to known results in the fully observable setting, we also briefly discuss and empirically illustrate how using function approximators and adapting the discount factor may enhance the tradeoff between asymptotic bias and overfitting in the partially observable context.
Annotation: Tourette syndrome: a relentless drumbeat--driven by misguided brain oscillations.

OBJECTIVE This annotation reviews recent evidence that points to the likely role of aberrant neural oscillations in the pathogenesis of Tourette syndrome (TS). METHODS The available anatomic and electrophysiological findings in TS are reviewed in the context of an emerging picture of the crucial role that neural oscillations play in maintaining normal central nervous system (CNS) function. RESULTS Neurons form behavior-dependent oscillating networks of various sizes and frequencies that bias input selection and facilitate synaptic plasticity, mechanisms that cooperatively support temporal representation as well as the transfer and long-term consolidation of information. Coherent network activity is likely to modulate sensorimotor gating as well as focused motor actions. When these networks are dysrhythmic, there may be a loss of control of sensory information and motor action. The known electrophysiological effects of medications and surgical interventions used to treat TS likely have an ameliorative effect on these aberrant oscillations. Similarly, a strong case can be made that successful behavioral treatments involve the willful training regions of the prefrontal cortex to engage in tic suppression and the performance of competing motor responses to unwanted sensory urges such that these prefrontal regions become effective modulators of aberrant thalamocortical rhythms. CONCLUSIONS A deeper understanding of neural oscillations may illuminate the complex, challenging, enigmatic, internal world that is TS.
Do Investors Learn? Evidence from a Gold Market Anomaly

This study finds evidence that supports the investor learning hypothesis using data from the gold market. Consistent with conventional wisdom, the prior returns on an equally-weighted portfolio of gold-producing stocks are found to predict gold returns. However, the predictive power is shown to have diminished since the first public discussion of the anomaly, a finding consistent with the investor learning hypothesis. Copyright 1997 by MIT Press.
Assessment of the endo-1,4-beta-glucanase components of Ruminococcus flavefaciens FD-1

The extracellular endo-1,4-beta-glucanase components of Ruminococcus flavefaciens FD-1 were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) by using DEAE ion-exchange, hydroxylapatite, and gel filtration chromatography and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). Two endo-1,4-beta-glucanase peaks were resolved by DEAE-HPLC and termed endoglucanases A and B. Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) zymograms were achieved by enzyme separation using nondenaturing PAGE followed by incubation of the gel on top of a CMC-agarose gel. This revealed no less than 13 and 5 endo-1,4-beta-glucanase components present in endoglucanases A and B, respectively. Hydroxylapatite chromatography of endoglucanases A and B revealed one activity peak for each preparation, which contained 4 and 5 endo-1,4-beta-glucanase components, respectively. Gel filtration chromatography of endoglucanase A following hydroxylapatite chromatography resolved the most active carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase) component from other endo-1,4-beta-glucanase activities. Gel filtration of endoglucanase B following hydroxylapatite chromatography showed one CMCase activity peak. Protein stains of sodium dodecyl sulfate-PAGE and nondenaturing PAGE gels of endoglucanases A and B from hydroxylapatite and gel filtration chromatography revealed multiple protein components. When xylan was substituted for CMC in zymograms, identical separation patterns for CMCase and xylanase activities were observed for both endoglucanases A and B. These data suggest that both 1,4-beta linkage-hydrolyzing activities reside on the same polypeptide or protein complex. The highest endo-1,4-beta-glucanase-specific activities were observed following DEAE-HPLC chromatography, with 16.2 and 7.5 mumol of glucose equivalents per min per mg of protein for endoglucanases A and B, respectively. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Recent Progress in the Pathophysiology and Treatment of FSGS Recurrence

Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a glomerular disease characterized by proteinuria, frequent progression to end‐stage renal disease, and recurrence after kidney transplantation in ∼25% of patients, which negatively impacts long‐term allograft survival. Experimental studies suggest that abnormalities in T and, possibly, B cells may represent one initial pathogenic trigger, leading to podocyte injury and progressive loss. New data also support the existence of circulating permeability factors able to damage the podocytes, but no single molecule has been consistently identified as the causal pathogenic element in FSGS recurrence. Unfortunately, major progress from mechanistic studies has not translated into substantial advancements in patient treatment, with plasmapheresis (PP) and high doses of cyclosporine (CsA) remaining the mainstays of therapy. Despite consistent experimental and clinical evidence that treatment of proteinuria slows renal function decline in proteinuric nephropathies, maximal use of antiproteinuric agents such as renin angiotensin system antagonists is not routine in the management of FSGS recurrence. More recently, encouraging results have been reported with anti‐CD20 depleting antibody rituximab, but further studies are needed to establish its safety/efficacy profile.
Pushed or pulled? Transfer of reward management policies in MNCs

This paper investigates the transfer of reward management policies using case studies of American multinationals operating in Turkey. Extensive evidence suggests smooth transfer of a similar set of sophisticated home-grown corporate policies to a developing European ‘periphery’ country. Strong ‘pull’ and ‘dominance’ effects as a result of the willingness of Turkish companies and managers to ‘import’ most recent developments in human resource management (HRM) from the US operating within the permissive business system are found as the most significant explanatory factors.
USING PROJECT BASED LEARNING FOR CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT AT THE CLASSROOM LEVEL: A CASE STUDY

Curriculum planning occurs at several levels – classroom, school, national and international. Teachers have always had an important role in implementing classroom level curricula. Teachers have traditionally determined the amount of learning (Bellon et al. 1992), as well as the learning activities used in achieving learning outcomes. They are also responsible for creating a classroom learning environment and engage students in learning communities to accomplish learning outcomes. Project Based Learning, as a classroom activity, provides the teacher with a way to help students learn through experience This paper is a case study of an international project between US students and Basque students (Spain) in which the two countries work together analyzing the effects of Project Based Learning and social media on project outcome. The conclusions and recommendations focus on classroom level curriculum development.
Population ageing in Ireland: projections 2002 - 2021.

It has been proposed that this 'crisis' will arise because an ageing population will result in a smaller proportion of people of working age supporting an increasingly dependent older age group causing an unsustainable depletion of our public finances. In response to this 'threat', proposed policy solutions have focused on greater fiscal discipline, reduced public provision of services in favour of greater self-sufficiency, increasing productivity and increasing population growth. The 'apocalyptic scenarios' that have been presented are often based on the following assumptions: that older people are a social and economic burden; that the ageing of the population will result in correspondingly higher dependency ratios; and that there is a linear relationship between the size of the older population and public expenditure. These assumptions are at best erroneous and at worst promote ageism in society.
Declining Protection in Developing Countries: Fact or Fiction?

This paper explores whether and to what extent evident trade reform, falling average tariffs and rising exports in recent decades overstate the extent to which protectionism has declined in developing countries, especially low‐income developing countries. It identifies remaining significant protection, especially of final manufactured goods; this being associated with the presence of peak tariffs, escalating tariff structures by stage of production and replacement of old forms of non‐tariff protection with new instruments of non‐tariff protection. It also identifies significant protection arising from high international trade costs induced by inefficiencies in transportation, ports and customs, and from the growth of exports to preference‐receiving, export markets.
Four-year behavioral outcomes of an intervention for parents living with HIV and their adolescent children

Objective: The adjustment of parents living with HIV (PLH) and their adolescent children was examined over 4 years in response to an intervention. Outcomes at 2 years had been previously published. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted, with a representative sample from New York City. Results: In the intervention condition, fewer adolescents became teenage parents, and conduct problems tended to be lower over 4 years than in the standard care condition. Fewer parents were drug dependent and tended to relapse into substance use or use passive coping styles compared with the standard care condition over 4 years. The time-trend analysis showed that the significant reductions in problem behaviors and emotional distress previously observed over 15–24 months in the intervention condition, then eroded over time and were non-significant at 48 months. Conclusions: Ongoing support and skills are needed to maintain intervention effects over longer periods.
Promoting remittance as a tool for economic development in South Africa

Global capital inflows particularly foreign direct investment, official development assistance and portfolio flows, have over time, played a prominent role in strengthening developing economies. There is, however, a recent phenomenon in which migrant remittances have turned out to be the leading source of capital inflows to developing countries after foreign direct investment. Remittance flows have reacted largely to an increasing international migration, albeit more rapidly than the latter. It is observed nevertheless that in the case of South Africa, the impact of neither of the two phenomena on economic development is least understood. This formed the basis for this study. The study aims to sensitise policy officials to the positive potential impacts of remittances on economic development whilst also arguing that international migration is an exogenous phenomenon that cannot be prohibited. However, it is a source of a much needed resources, provided realistic instruments are in place to examine, monitor and ensure that remittances are used appropriately. The study is empirical and is based on the literature review on the subjects of remittances and migration. The research has consistently demonstrated that remittances improve economic development. It is within this context that South Africa should, as a matter of urgency, develop an effective policy framework to influence remittances for development.
Bridging Ral GTPase to Rho Pathways

RalA and RalB are GTPases of unknown function and are activated by proteins, RalGDS, that interact with the active form of another GTPase, Ras. To elucidate Ral function, we have searched for proteins interacting with an activated form of RalA using the two-hybrid method and a Jurkat cell library. We have identified a partial cDNA encoding a protein, RLIP1, which binds to activated RalA and this binding requires an intact effector domain of RalA. Biochemical data with purified RalA confirm the genetic results. This protein also bears a region of homology with GTPase-activating protein (GAP) domains that are involved in the regulation of GTPases of the Rho family and, indeed, RLIP1 displays a GAP activity acting upon Rac1 and CDC42, but not RhoA. This GAP region is not required for RLIP1 binding to Ral. The whole cDNA was cloned, and it encodes a 76-kDa polypeptide, RLIP76, which also binds RalA. The Rho pathway is involved in membrane and cytoskeleton modifications after mitogenic stimulation and acts in parallel to and synergistically with the Ras pathway. We propose that these pathways are linked through a cascade composed of Ras RalGDS Ral RLIP76 CDC42/Rac1/Rho, allowing modulation of the Rho pathway by the Ras pathway.
Heart Rate Variability Analysis of Ischemic and Heart Rate Related ST-segment Deviation Episodes Based on Time-frequency Method

ST-segment deviation is the routine method for the diagnosis of coronary heart diseases. However, other phenomena, such as heart rate changes and a posture change can cause similar manifestations in the ST segment, lowing the sensitivity and specificity of the detection. In this study, a different method, based on time-frequency analysis of heart rate variability, was proposed to evaluate the possibility of detecting the existence of ST-segment deviation episodes and the classification of them. From 43 free download ECG in Long-term ST-T (LTST) database, 87 ST-segment deviation episodes (61 ischemic and 26 heart rate related) were selected with the duration of 36 s to 3 min 28 s. RR intervals were got and preprocessed for heart rate variability (HRV) analysis based on SPVWD. The time-frequency analysis parameters were calculated in different periods of time (before ST-segment deviation, during ST-segment deviation and after ST-segment deviation) and different frequency bands (VLF, LF, HF and AF). Fisher linear discriminant analysis were used to find out sensitive parameters for the detection of ST-segment deviation episodes and the classification of ischemic and heart rate related episodes among the detected episodes. Jackknife method was employed for the accuracy test. Fisher linear discriminant analysis revealed that 8 parameters were sensitive for the detection of the ST-segment deviation episodes with the accuracy of 89.7%, and 6 parameters were sensitive for the classification of ischemic and heart rate related episodes with the accuracy of 86.2%. The proposed method was promising for both detection of ST-segment deviation episodes and the classification of them.
SOFTWARE ARCHITECTURE FOR A MULTI-SITE PRODUCTION PLANNING AND CONTROL

In order to gain competitive advantage in the globalization today, effective management strategies need to be incorporated, especially in collaborating information sharing among multi-site manufacturing facilities. Information visibility within the supply chain is the process of sharing critical data required to manage the flow of products, services, and information in real time between suppliers and customers. If the information is available but cannot be accessed by the parties most able to react to a given situation, its value degrades drastically. We propose a software system, which incorporates mathematical models, user-interface and web application to solve the collaborative planning problems between multiple sites. Model validations proved the architecture to be robust and suggested cost savings through priority goal structuring. This paper offers a practical solution to real-life industrial problems often faced by the management of manufacturing industry in the world today.
Harnessing the Hidden Enterprise Culture of Advanced Economies

Purpose – In the majority (third) world, informal employment has been long viewed as an asset to be harnessed rather than a hindrance to development. The purpose of this paper is to show how a similar perspective is starting to be embraced in advanced economies and investigates the implications for public policy of this re-reading.Design/methodology/approach – Documents the shifts in how informal employment in western economies is conceptualised in both the academic literature and public policy.Findings – This paper reveals that the representation of informal employment as an exploitative, low-paid sweatshop realm is being replaced with a depiction of such work as a hidden enterprise culture that needs to be harnessed. Evaluating how this might be achieved, the need for a shift in public policy away from a deterrence approach and towards an approach that combines deterrents with enabling initiatives to pull this hidden enterprise culture into the formal economy is identified. Specific enabling measures to achieve this in the context of advanced economies are then discussed.Practical implications – This paper displays how western governments can harness the hidden enterprise culture by setting out specific initiatives to enable its transfer into the formal economy.Originality/value – This paper provides one of the first attempts to re-read informal employment as a hidden enterprise culture and to evaluate its implications for public policy.
Regional Polarization under Transition: The Case of Slovakia

Abstract This paper analyses trends in regional polarization in Slovakia on the NUTS II and NUTS IV levels for the period 1985–2002 from the neo-classical and polarization approaches to regional development. Development of disparities in regional incomes was examined via an econometric model. The model was based on extensive datasets from Slovak districts for the period 1985–2002. It identified unemployment rates, urbanization rates, shares of population with university degree and share of foreign investors in total enterprises as major factors behind regional divergence. Strong polarization between Bratislava and the rest of the country was the most remarkable feature of regional development after 1989.
Ten Weeks of Home-Based Exercise Attenuates Symptoms of Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Breast Cancer Patients

The purpose of this investigation was to determine if a structured, home-based exercise program was beneficial to reduce symptoms of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy and improve quality of life (QOL). A total of 50 women who are breast cancer survivors and are listed in the Breast Cancer Registry of Greater Cincinnati database were recruited by mail. Participants were initially asked to complete the McGill QOL questionnaire and the Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs, before beginning a 10-week home-based exercise program. At the completion of the exercise program, subjects were asked again to complete the same two questionnaires. Pre- and post-intervention data were analyzed using a repeated measures ANOVA, at a significance level of α<0.05. Six individuals completed the investigation. Prior to the 10-week exercise program, participants described their pain as unpleasant skin sensations (Pre-HBEx, N=6), abnormally sensitive to touch (Pre-HBEx, N=6), and coming on suddenly in bursts for no apparent reason (Pre-HBEx, N=5). Following 10-weeks of exercise, participants reported experiencing less of these symptoms (Post-HBEx, N=3, 1, and 4 respectively; P=0.05). It was also determined that troublesome symptoms were significantly reduced after 10-weeks of home-based exercise (P=0.05).
Hypertriglyceridemia may be severe in CML patients treated with interferon‐α

We analyzed serum triglyceride (TG) levels in 22 chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients treated with interferon‐α (IFN‐α). Hypertriglyceridemia was present in one‐half of patients at diagnosis, and IFN‐α treatment was associated with a further increase in 90% of the total group of patients. This increase was maximal during the first months of therapy. Four patients (18%) reached levels higher than 1,000 mg/dl. This is the first report describing this secondary effect in CML patients treated with IFN‐α. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.