Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Consumption of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages in Mississippi: Is There A Disparity? Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2012

Although consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) is a key contributor to epidemic obesity and has dramatically increased over the past decade in the United States, little is known about its prevalence and associated factors. Data from the 2012 Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) were used to estimate the prevalence of SSB consumption and to explore the associations between socio-demographic characteristics, behavioral factors and SSB intake in Mississippi (n = 7220). Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests and logistic regressions were conducted using SAS Proc Survey procedures, to account for the BRFSS′s multistage complex survey design and sample weights. Overall prevalence of self-reported daily SSB intake was 41.1%. Our findings showed that males (aOR = 1.4, 95% CI: 1.2–1.7, ref = female), blacks (aOR = 1.7, 95% CI: 1.4–2.1, ref = whites), adults aged 18–24 years (aOR = 5.0, 95% CI: 3.4–7.5, ref = 65 years or older), those with less than high school education (aOR = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.4–2.6, ref = college graduate), annual income <$25,000 (aOR = 1.3, 95% CI: 1.1–1.7, ref ≥ $50,000) and $25,000–49,999 (aOR = 1.3, 95% CI: 1.1–1.6, ref ≥ $50,000), those with no physical activity (OR = 1.3, 95% CI: 1.1–1.6, ref = physically active), daily smokers (aOR = 2.2, 95% CI: 1.7–2.7, ref = non-smokers), and those who reported eating at fast food or chain restaurants (aOR = 1.8, 95% CI: 1.2–2.5, ref = do not eat at fast food or chain restaurants) were more likely to consume SSBs, raising concerns about overweight and obesity in Mississippi.
Dynamic write limited minimum operating voltage for nanoscale SRAMs

Dynamic stability analysis for SRAM has been growing in importance with technology scaling. This paper analyzes dynamic writability for designing low voltage SRAM in nanoscale technologies. We propose a definition for dynamic write limited VMIN. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first definition of a VMIN based on dynamic stability. We show how this VMIN is affected by the array capacity, the voltage scaling of the word-line pulse, the bitcell parasitics, and the number of cycles prior to the first read access. We observe that the array can be either dynamically or statically write limited depending on the aforementioned factors. Finally, we look at how voltage-bias based write assist techniques affect the dynamic write limited VMIN.
Two nonequivalent structures for widely-linear decision-feedback MMSE equalization over MIMO channels

The paper deals with the design of the equalizer based on the widely linear processing combined with the decision-feedback (DF) procedure and operating over time-dispersive multiple-input multiple-output channel. A basic issue concerns the choice between two widely-linear/widely-linear decision-feedback structures: the former is based on the complex-valued signal representation, whereas the latter utilizes the real-valued representation of the involved signals. Indeed, in previous contributions, both structures have been indifferently used since, in the considered scenarios, they resulted to be equivalent. In this paper, we recognize that there is an important scenario where the above structures are not equivalent. To fairly compare them, the issue of decision-error propagation has been addressed. An extensive set of experimental results shows that the real-valued signal representation-based equalizer outperforms significantly the complex-valued representation-based equalizer as well as the conventional DF equalizer when the effects of decision errors in the feedback filters are taken into account.
Effect of Sponsored Search on Consumer Trust and Choice

This study examines consumers’ trust of and purchase choice from vendors listed in organic and sponsored search results. We conducted an experimental study with 132 subjects and controlled for several factors related to consumers’ online experiences (website quality, duration of search, product familiarity, and online shopping frequency). Our study shows that trust is lower for sponsored links compared with organic links, and consumers are less likely to buy from vendors in sponsored search results. However, the disclosure of information about vendors’ reliability reduces this negative effect. Specifically, the disclosure of vendors’ reliability ratings increases consumers’ perceptions of trust in the sponsored results and significantly influences consumers’ selections of vendors in terms of reliability.
Efficient computation of the Pareto boundary for the MISO interference channel with perfect CSI

We consider the two-user multiple-input singleoutput (MISO) interference channel and the rate region which is achieved when the receivers treat the interference as additive Gaussian noise and the transmitters have perfect channel state information (CSI). We propose a computationally efficient method for calculating the Pareto boundary of the rate region. We show that the problem of finding an arbitrary Pareto-optimal rate pair, along with its enabling beamforming vector pair, can be cast as a sequence of second-order cone programming (SOCP) feasibility problems. The SOCP problems are convex and they are solved very efficiently using standard off-the-shelf (namely, interior-point) algorithms. The number of SOCP problems that must be solved, for the computation of a Pareto-optimal point, grows only logarithmically with the desired accuracy of the solution.
Corneal epithelial rejection in the rat.

PURPOSE To investigate clinical and histologic changes in the epithelium during corneal graft rejection in the rat. METHODS LEW (RT1(l)) or PVG (RT1(c)) strain corneas were transplanted to PVG strain recipients and examined by slit lamp for clinical signs of rejection. Recipients were killed, and corneal epithelial sheets were removed and examined by adenosine diphosphatase (ADPase) staining for Langerhans cells (LC) and by immunohistology for leukocytes and adhesion molecules (T cells, macrophages, granulocytes, major histocompatibility complex [MHC] class II, CD2 and CD54 intercellular adhesion molecule [ICAM]-1) at a range of time points before, during, and after rejection, depending on the cell type sought. Normal and contralateral eyes were examined for ADPase(+) and MHC class II(+) cells. RESULTS Clinical rejection, as defined by stromal opacity, occurred between days 10 and 15 after transplantation. In 94% of allografts, a curved clinical epithelial rejection line was observed in which ADPase(+)/MHC class II(+), CD4(+), or CD8(+) T cells were identified. There were significantly more infiltrating cells of all types in epithelia of allografts than in those of isografts. The most numerous cells were CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells, suggesting preferential migration of these cells into the epithelium from underlying layers. Expression of MHC class II and ICAM-1 was induced on epithelial cells. CONCLUSIONS Epithelial rejection in rats is clinically similar to that in humans and occurs simultaneously with stromal infiltration. It may be mediated by T cells rather than macrophages. In isolation, its recognition in humans may be a useful indication that the patient is at high risk of endothelial rejection.
Object-Oriented Knowledge Base for a Multimedia E-Learning System

This paper describes the object-oriented model representing the contents of a multimedia knowledge base in the MKBe-Learning System [2]. The object-oriented analysis of the system had produced a set of use cases which were used to derive the model. The instructor view consists of objects in a course, whereas the knowledge base view consists of conceptual objects in a subject. The model combines the instructor view and knowledge base view into classes that will be used for further development of the system. KEY-WORDS: Knowledge Base, Object-Orientation, Multimedia Knowledge Base, E-learning System, Knowledge Objects
Multimodality Assessment of Brain Tumors and Tumor Recurrence

Neuroimaging plays a significant role in the diagnosis of intracranial tumors, especially brain gliomas, and must consist of an assessment of location and extent of the tumor and of its biologic activity. Therefore, morphologic imaging modalities and functional, metabolic, or molecular imaging modalities should be combined for primary diagnosis and for following the course and evaluating therapeutic effects. MRI is the gold standard for providing detailed morphologic information and can supply some additional insights into metabolism (MR spectroscopy) and perfusion (perfusion-weighted imaging) but still has limitations in identifying tumor grade, invasive growth into neighboring tissue, and treatment-induced changes, as well as recurrences. These insights can be obtained by various PET modalities, including imaging of glucose metabolism, amino acid uptake, nucleoside uptake, and hypoxia. Diagnostic accuracy can benefit from coregistration of PET results and MRI, combining the high-resolution morphologic images with the biologic information. These procedures are optimized by the newly developed combination of PET and MRI modalities, permitting the simultaneous assessment of morphologic, functional, metabolic, and molecular information on the human brain.
Toward Real-Time Vehicle Detection Using Stereo Vision and an Evolutionary Algorithm

A new approach for vehicle detection and distance estimation based on stereo vision and evolutionary algorithm (SEA) is described in this paper. First, we reuse our recent work on FPGA implementation of census-based correlations for stereo matching. Next, the SEA uses the gray scale left image and disparity information obtained from the FPGA system to detect the preceding vehicle and estimate its distance. This paper introduces an effective fitness function that allows our proposed method to have an improved performance and higher accuracy when compared with the existing evolutionary algorithm (EA) based methods. A new crossover type, tourna-ment crossover, is introduced to reduce the convergence time of our proposed. This paper also introduces a new approach for estimating the fitness function parameters. This estimation differs from the traditional EA because these parameters were generally created via experiments. Moreover, the processing time and accuracy of SEA can be improved by converting the global search to the local search with V disparity map. The robust experiments have proved that SEA successfully detects vehicles in front and sustains noise from different objects appearing along the road. The detection range is 10m-140m, the detection rate is 95% and the average processing-time is approximately 31 ms/frame on CPU. These results prove that SEA is suitable for a real-time system.
Population-Based Incremental Learning With Associative Memory for Dynamic Environments

In recent years, interest in studying evolutionary algorithms (EAs) for dynamic optimization problems (DOPs) has grown due to its importance in real-world applications. Several approaches, such as the memory and multiple population schemes, have been developed for EAs to address dynamic problems. This paper investigates the application of the memory scheme for population-based incremental learning (PBIL) algorithms, a class of EAs, for DOPs. A PBIL-specific associative memory scheme, which stores best solutions as well as corresponding environmental information in the memory, is investigated to improve its adaptability in dynamic environments. In this paper, the interactions between the memory scheme and random immigrants, multipopulation, and restart schemes for PBILs in dynamic environments are investigated. In order to better test the performance of memory schemes for PBILs and other EAs in dynamic environments, this paper also proposes a dynamic environment generator that can systematically generate dynamic environments of different difficulty with respect to memory schemes. Using this generator, a series of dynamic environments are generated and experiments are carried out to compare the performance of investigated algorithms. The experimental results show that the proposed memory scheme is efficient for PBILs in dynamic environments and also indicate that different interactions exist between the memory scheme and random immigrants, multipopulation schemes for PBILs in different dynamic environments.
The Antimicrobial Resistance Crisis: Causes, Consequences, and Management

The antimicrobial resistance (AMR) crisis is the increasing global incidence of infectious diseases affecting the human population, which are untreatable with any known antimicrobial agent. This crisis will have a devastating cost on human society as both debilitating and lethal diseases increase in frequency and scope. Three major factors determine this crisis: (1) the increasing frequency of AMR phenotypes among microbes is an evolutionary response to the widespread use of antimicrobials; (2) the large and globally connected human population allows pathogens in any environment access to all of humanity; and (3) the extensive and often unnecessary use of antimicrobials by humanity provides the strong selective pressure that is driving the evolutionary response in the microbial world. Of these factors, the size of the human population is least amenable to rapid change. In contrast, the remaining two factors may be affected, so offering a means of managing the crisis: the rate at which AMR, as well as virulence factors evolve in microbial world may be slowed by reducing the applied selective pressure. This may be accomplished by radically reducing the global use of current and prospective antimicrobials. Current management measures to legislate the use of antimicrobials and to educate the healthcare world in the issues, while useful, have not comprehensively addressed the problem of achieving an overall reduction in the human use of antimicrobials. We propose that in addition to current measures and increased research into new antimicrobials and diagnostics, a comprehensive education program will be required to change the public paradigm of antimicrobial usage from that of a first line treatment to that of a last resort when all other therapeutic options have failed.
Heterogeneity in Risk of Pelvic Inflammatory Diseases After Chlamydia Infection: A Population-Based Study in Manitoba, Canada

Background. The association between chlamydia infection and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a key parameter for models evaluating the impact of chlamydia control programs. We quantified this association using a retrospective population-based cohort. Methods. We used administrative health data sets to construct a retrospective population-based cohort of women and girls aged 12–24 years who were resident in Manitoba, Canada, between 1992 and 1996. We performed survival analysis on a subcohort of individuals who were tested for chlamydia to estimate the risk of PID diagnosed in a primary care, outpatient, or inpatient setting after ≥1 positive chlamydia test. Results. A total of 73 883 individuals contributed 625 621 person years of follow-up. Those with a diagnosis of chlamydia had an increased risk of PID over their reproductive lifetime compared with those who tested negative (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR], 1.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.43–1.70). This risk increased with each subsequent infection: the AHR was 1.17 for first reinfection (95% CI, 1.06–1.30) and 1.35 for the second (95% CI, 1.04–1.75). The increased risk of PID from reinfection was highest in younger individuals (AHR, 4.55 (95% CI, 3.59–5.78) in individuals aged 12–15 years at the time of their second reinfection, compared with individuals older than 30 years). Conclusions. There is heterogeneity in the risk of PID after a chlamydia infection. Describing the progression to PID in mathematical models as an average rate may be an oversimplification; more accurate estimates of the cost-effectiveness of screening may be obtained by using an individual-based measure of risk. Health inequalities may be reduced by targeting health promotion interventions at sexually active girls younger than 16 years and those with a history of chlamydia.
Opposite effects of NMDA receptor blockade on dopaminergic D1- and D2-mediated behavior in the 6-hydroxydopamine model of turning: relationship with c-fos expression.

In rats with unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesions of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway, I-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) induces contralateral turning through activation of denervated D1 and D2 receptors. Blockade of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors by the noncompetitive antagonist (+)MK-801 (0.1 mg/kg, i.p.), potentiated L-DOPA-induced contralateral turning. In 6-OHDA lesioned rats, selective agonists of D1 (SKF 38393, CY 208-243) or D2 (LY 171555) receptors also induce contralateral turning; however, (+)MK-801 pretreatment, although markedly potentiating D1, almost completely inhibited D2-mediated turning. The potentiation of SKF 38393-induced contralateral turning by MK-801 was stereospecific and was observed also with the noncompetitive NMDA antagonist phencyclidine, and with the competitive antagonist CPP. Administration of the D1 antagonist SCH 23390 (0.1 mg/kg s.c.) blocked (+)MK-801-induced potentiation of L-DOPA contralateral turning, confirming the D1 nature of the effects observed. Expression of the early gene c-fos in the caudate-putamen (CPu) is known to be activated by stimulation of supersensitive D1 receptors. Immunohistochemical studies on c-fos revealed sparse c-fos positive nuclei in the lesioned CPu after 1.5 mg/kg of SKF 38393, whereas after combined administration of (+)MK-801 and SKF 38393, dense labeling of nuclei was obtained in the dorso-lateral aspect of the CPu. Therefore, blockade of NMDA receptors acts synergistically with D1 and antagonistically with D2 receptor stimulation in the 6-OHDA model of turning, suggesting that different neuronal pathways are involved in the mediation of D1 and D2 responses.
ENU induced mutations causing congenital cardiovascular anomalies

We used non-invasive high frequency ultrasound to screen N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea mutagenized mouse fetuses for congenital cardiovascular anomalies. We ultrasound scanned 7546 mouse fetuses from 262 mutagenized families, and identified 124 families with cardiovascular defects. Represented were most of the major congenital cardiovascular anomalies seen clinically. The ENU-induced mutations in several families were mapped using polymorphic microsatellite DNA markers. One family with forelimb anomalies and ventricular septal defects, phenotypes similar to Holt-Oram syndrome, and one family with transposition of the great arteries and heart situs anomalies were mapped to different regions of mouse chromosome 4. A third mutation causing persistent truncus arteriosus and craniofacial defects, phenotypes reminiscent of DiGeorge syndrome, was mapped to mouse chromosome 2. We note that mouse chromosomes 4 and 2 do not contain Tbx5 or Tbx1, genes previously linked to Holt-Oram and DiGeorge syndromes, respectively. In two other families, the ENU-induced mutation was identified – Sema3CL605P was associated with persistent truncus arteriosus with interrupted aortic arch, and the Gja1W45X connexin43 mutation caused conotruncal malformation and coronary aneurysms. Although our screen was designed as a recessive screen, a number of the mutations showed cardiovascular phenotypes in both heterozygote and homozygote animals. These studies show the efficacy of ENU mutagenesis and high-throughput ultrasound phenotyping in recovering mutations causing a wide spectrum of congenital heart defects. These ENU-induced mutations hold promise in yielding new insights into the genetic basis for human congenital heart disease.
Complete Atrioventricular Block-Induced Torsade de Pointes, Manifested by Epilepsy

Complete atrioventricular (AV) block is frequently regarded as a cause of informed syncopal attacks, even though the escape rhythm is maintained. Torsade de pointes (TdP) may be a significant complication of AV block associated with QT prolongation. Here, we report the case of a 42-year-old female who was referred to our hospital due to recurrent seizure-like attacks while taking anti-convulsant drugs at a psychiatric hospital. TdP with a long QT interval (corrected QT = 0.591 seconds) was observed on an electrocardiogram (ECG) taken in the emergency department. The patient's drug history revealed olanzapine as the suspicious agent. Even after the medication was stopped, however, the QT interval remained within an abnormal range and multiple episodes of TdP and related seizure-like symptoms were found via ECG monitoring. A permanent pacemaker was thus implanted, and the ventricular rate was set at over 80 beats/min. There was no recurrence of tachyarrhythmia or other symptoms.
Understanding Location-Based Information Sharing in a Mobile Human Computation Game

Human Computation Games (HCGs), harness the element of fun from games and information is generated as a byproduct of game play. A number of location-based mobile HCGs have emerged recently. Understanding actual usage and usability issues is crucial in identifying the challenges users face while using such applications. We introduce SPLASH (Seek, Play, Share), a mobile HCG that blends game play with location-based information sharing. This paper also highlights the actual usage and users' perspective of SPLASH by 40 participants who took part in an evaluation of the application. Participants kept a six day diary and completed a post study questionnaire. Results suggested the participants were encouraged to contribute to information by the games in SPLASH. The implications of this study are discussed.
Under Consideration for Publication in Theory and Practice of Logic Programming Transforming Floundering into Success

We show how logic programs with " delays " can be transformed to programs without delays in a way which preserves information concerning floundering (also known as deadlock). This allows a declarative (model-theoretic), bottom-up or goal independent approach to be used for analysis and debugging of properties related to floundering. We rely on some previously introduced restrictions on delay primitives and a key observation which allows properties such as groundness to be analysed by approximating the (ground) success set.
Nonlinear observers for autonomous Lipschitz continuous systems

This paper considers the state observation problem for autonomous nonlinear systems. An observation mapping is introduced, which is defined by applying a linear integral operator (rather than a differential operator) to the output of the system. It is shown that this observation mapping is well suited to capture the observability nature of smooth as well as nonsmooth systems, and to construct observers of a remarkably simple structure: A linear state variable filter followed by a nonlinearity. The observer is established by showing that observability and finite complexity of the system are sufficient conditions for the observer to exist, and by giving an explicit expression for its nonlinearity. It is demonstrated that the existence conditions are satisfied, and hence our results include a new observer which is not high-gain, for the wide class of smooth systems. It is shown that the observer can as well be designed to realize an arbitrary, finite accuracy rather than ultimate exactness. On a compact region of the state space, this requires only observability of the system. A corresponding numerical design procedure is described, which is easy to implement and computationally feasible for low order systems.