Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multidetector computed tomography for acute pulmonary embolism.

BACKGROUND The accuracy of multidetector computed tomographic angiography (CTA) for the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism has not been determined conclusively. METHODS The Prospective Investigation of Pulmonary Embolism Diagnosis II trial was a prospective, multicenter investigation of the accuracy of multidetector CTA alone and combined with venous-phase imaging (CTA-CTV) for the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism. We used a composite reference test to confirm or rule out the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. RESULTS Among 824 patients with a reference diagnosis and a completed CT study, CTA was inconclusive in 51 because of poor image quality. Excluding such inconclusive studies, the sensitivity of CTA was 83 percent and the specificity was 96 percent. Positive predictive values were 96 percent with a concordantly high or low probability on clinical assessment, 92 percent with an intermediate probability on clinical assessment, and nondiagnostic if clinical probability was discordant. CTA-CTV was inconclusive in 87 of 824 patients because the image quality of either CTA or CTV was poor. The sensitivity of CTA-CTV for pulmonary embolism was 90 percent, and specificity was 95 percent. CTA-CTV was also nondiagnostic with a discordant clinical probability. CONCLUSIONS In patients with suspected pulmonary embolism, multidetector CTA-CTV has a higher diagnostic sensitivity than does CTA alone, with similar specificity. The predictive value of either CTA or CTA-CTV is high with a concordant clinical assessment, but additional testing is necessary when the clinical probability is inconsistent with the imaging results.
Vernalization-Mediated Epigenetic Silencing by a Long Intronic Noncoding RNA

Spring flowering enabled by a winter chill is regulated by interplay between protein-coding and noncoding RNA transcripts. Vernalization is an environmentally-induced epigenetic switch in which winter cold triggers epigenetic silencing of floral repressors and thus provides competence to flower in spring. In Arabidopsis, winter cold triggers enrichment of tri-methylated histone H3 Lys27 at chromatin of the floral repressor, FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC), and results in epigenetically stable repression of FLC. This epigenetic change is mediated by an evolutionarily conserved repressive complex, polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2). Here, we show that a long intronic noncoding RNA [termed COLD ASSISTED INTRONIC NONCODING RNA (COLDAIR)] is required for the vernalization-mediated epigenetic repression of FLC. COLDAIR physically associates with a component of PRC2 and targets PRC2 to FLC. Our results show that COLDAIR is required for establishing stable repressive chromatin at FLC through its interaction with PRC2.
Trust and Involvement in Tourism Social Media and Web-Based Travel Information Sources

While utilisation of electronic social media is increasingly relevant as tourism practices, there is still a deficiency of empirical research on tourists' creation and use of various types of online content. This study maps and explores Scandinavian tourists' perceptions of Web 1.0 and Web 2.0 information sources and scrutinises influence of electronic social media on holidaymakers' information sharing, based on a summer season survey in the mature and well-known destination of Mallorca, Spain. Empirical evidence is presented on perceived trustworthiness of social media platforms and other Internet-based information. The study also examines tourists' involvement in developing and sharing of virtual content. It critically analyses technological mediation through electronic word-of-mouth and involvement factors related to virtual dissemination of travel narratives. Moreover, the paper discusses information intensity, hedonic aspects and utilitarian values of tourist information in relation to interaction aspects of social media, in a context of holiday choices and online booking.
Population-Attributable Risk of Dietary Aflatoxins and Hepatitis B Virus Infection with Respect to Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background: Aflatoxins and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections are important risk factors of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study assesses the population-attributable risk of these two factors, both jointly and separately, with respect to HCC. Methods: A case-control study was conducted in Sudan between 1996 and1998. Among 114 cases and 198 controls the consumption of peanut butter (a major source of aflatoxins) and HBV infection were investigated, as were drinking and smoking habits. Results: A clear dose-response relation was observed between increasing peanut butter consumption and HCC in people without HBV infection. Age-adjusted odds ratios for peanut butter consumption, HBV infection, and for the combination of both factors were, respectively, 5.1 (95% confidence interval = 1.8-13.9), 32.2 (4.0-257), and 41.5 (11.2-155). In this study, about 80% of the HCC cases are attributable to either peanut butter consumption or HBV infection. Depending on assumptions in the data analysis, 27-60% of all cases can be attributed to aflatoxin exposure and 49-52% to HBV infection; of these figures, 7-34% reflect a shared responsibility of the two factors. Conclusions: Both reduction of aflatoxin contamination of foods and HBV vaccination may be useful public health strategies in HCC prevention in Sudan.
Are Intraday Volume and Volatility U‐Shaped after Accounting for Public Information?

No matter how pronounced intraday patterns may appear, it is difficult to account for cross-correlations among related assets when those assets trade continuously and simultaneously. Futures contracts are auctioned periodically and sequentially on the Tokyo Grain Exchange (TGE). Even though intraday TGE volume is U-shaped, intraday volatility is closer to L-shaped. After accounting for the public information in immediately preceding auctions for the same commodity, for earlier trading in other commodities, and for trading on overseas markets open overnight in Tokyo, the intraday patterns are effectively flat. Thus, the timing of privately informed traders cannot be the source of intraday patterns.
Apology of Socrates

Plato (~428-~348 BC)-One of the greatest and most influential Greek philosophers, he was a disciple of Socrates and the teacher of Aristotle. Most of his works are written dialogues, many with Socrates as the main character. Plato founded a school of philosophy known as the Academy. Apology (380 BC)-An account of Socrates' defense of himself during his trial for impiety and the corruption of youth that some believe may be an actual record, as recalled by Plato, of the words Socrates spoke.
The Associational Economy: Firms, Regions, and Innovation

Philip Cooke and Kevin Morgan explore important issues of corporate reorganization in the context of heightened global competition. Their special focus is upon how firms associate with regional milieux. Innovation is a key factor in corporate and regional economic performance and the authors show how interactive innovation based on collective learning and associative practices are becoming increasingly significant. In-depth studies of inter-firm and firm-agency interactions are presented for four European regions: Baden-Wurttemberg and Emilia-Romagna as accomplished regional economies; Wales and the Basque Country as learning regions. The book is theoretically informed by an evolutionary economics perspective and draws policy conclusions which emphasise the importance of decentralized industrial policy in support of both corporate and regional economic development ambitions. It concludes that the associational economy may be the `third way' between state and market co-ordination of modern economies.
Sleeve Gastrectomy for Weight Loss.

Some operations are very effective in assisting weight loss for patients with obesity. One of these operations is the sleeve gastrectomy. In this operation, part of the stomach is removed by a surgeon, which results in a patient eating less and losing weight. Sleeve gastrectomy can help people lose more than 20% of their total body weight in about a year. For example, persons with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or who are approximately 100 lb over their ideal body weight can expect to lose about 60 lb from the surgery. Once a patient loses the weight, he or she tends not to gain it back. In the January 16, 2017, issue of JAMA, several articles report on laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for treating obesity. These articles show both lasting long-term weight loss and improvement in weight-related medical conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
A constrained capital budgeting problem with applications to repair kit selection

We consider a capital budgeting problem in which each potential project requires the performance of a known set of activities. In general, these sets of activities are not mutually exclusive. However, when a particular activity is common to the requirements of multiple projects, a single performance of the activity simultaneously satisfies the requirements of the multiple projects. Associated with the performance of each activity are two quantities: a known fixed cost and a consumption of a known amount of a scarce resource. Because the sets of activities required by the projects are not mutually exclusive, we cannot apportion an activity's fixed cost or resource consumption to a single project. In this paper, we formulate this capital budgeting problem (and a slight variant) as a maximal network flow problem with a side constraint, and we report computational experience using Lagrangian relaxation to find an optimal solution. We also discuss an application to the selection of parts and tools to include in a field repair kit used to fix a variety of types of breakdowns.
Composition and Chemical Variability of Leaf Oil of Myrtus Communis from North-Eastern Algeria

The chemical composition of 27 oil samples of Myrtus communis isolated from leaves collected in three locations in north–eastern Algeria was investigated by GC(RI) and 13C NMR spectroscopy. Yields ranged between 0.2-1.2% (w/w). The chemical composition of the oils was largely dominated by monoterpene hydrocarbons, with α-pinene (40.5-64.0%), 1,8-cineole (10.9-29.1%) and limonene (6.7-8.2%) being the major compounds. In all the samples, 3,3,5,5,8,8-hexamethyl-7-oxabicyclo[4.3. 0]non-1(6)-ene-2,4-dione was identified (0.8-1.5%). The composition is similar to that reported for myrtle oils from Corsica, Sardinia and Tunisia, but differed from that of Moroccan and Spanish myrtle oils.
Phytosterol Screening of Skin and Seed Extracts of Wild Grape Ampelocissus Martinii Planch. Fruits

Reports on phytosterol in wild grape, Ampelocissus martinii Planch fruits are rarely available world wide. We have investigated the total triterpenoid content (TTC) and total sterol content (TSC) in skin and seed extracts from different growth stages of wild grape fruits using a spectrophotometric assay. In addition, we analyzed some free sterols using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The mature fruit showed the highest content of TTC in both the skin and seed extracts. The TSC content was found the highest from skin extract in the ripe stage. The two most common phytosterols found were stig masterol and β-sitosterol. The stig masterol content was found the highest in the skin extract of the immature, while β-sitosterol was found in the seed extract of the ripe fruits. This work indicated that the skin and seed of wild grape fruits might be new sources of phytosterol.
Open slot antenna for smartwatch application

This paper presents an open slot antenna for the Bluetooth smartwatch with a metallic frame. The proposed antenna is formed by an open slot and a 50-Ω microstring line. The size of the metal frame selected here is 42 × 42 × 5 mm3 in total. This bandwidth of the antenna can cover the 2.4-GHz band (2400 ∼ 2485 MHz) for Bluetooth operation. The user's wrist effects on the antenna performance are also studied.
Effects of Ionizing Radiation on Digital Single Event Transients in a 180-nm Fully Depleted SOI Process

Effects of ionizing radiation on single event transients are reported for Fully Depleted SOI (FDSOI) technology using experiments and simulations. Logic circuits, i.e. CMOS inverter chains, were irradiated with cobalt-60 gamma radiation. When charge is induced in the n-channel FET with laser-probing techniques, laser-induced transients widen with increased total dose. This is because radiation causes charge to be trapped in the buried oxide, and reduces the p-channel FET drive current. When the p-channel FET drive current is reduced, the time required to restore the output of the laser-probed FET back to its original condition is increased, i.e. the upset transient width is increased. A widening of the transient pulse is also observed when a positive bias is applied to the wafer without any exposure to radiation. This is because a positive wafer bias reproduces the shifts in FET threshold voltages that occur during total dose irradiation. Results were also verified with heavy ion testing and mixed mode simulations.
Test anxiety in UK schoolchildren: prevalence and demographic patterns.

BACKGROUND Despite a large body of international literature concerning the antecedents, correlates of and treatments for test anxiety, there has been little research until recently using samples of students drawn from the UK. There is a need to establish some basic normative data for test anxiety scores in this population of students, in order to establish whether international research findings may generalize to UK schoolchildren. AIM To collect some exploratory data regarding test anxiety scores in a sample of UK schoolchildren, along with socio-demographic variables identified in the existing literature as theoretically significant sources of individual and group differences in test anxiety scores. SAMPLE Key Stage 4 students (1348): 690 students in the Year 10 cohort and 658 students in the Year 11 cohort, drawn from seven secondary schools in the North of the UK. METHOD Data on test anxiety were collected using a self-report questionnaire, the Test Anxiety Inventory (Spielberger, 1980) and additional demographic variables through the Student Profile Questionnaire. The factor structure of the Test Anxiety Inventory was explored using principal components analysis and multiple regression analysis used to predict variance in self-reported test anxiety scores from individual and group variables. RESULTS The principal components analysis extracted two factors, worry and emotionality, in line with theoretical predictions. Gender, ethnic and socio-economic background were identified as significant predictors of variance in test anxiety scores in this dataset. Whether English was an additional, or native, language of students did not predict variance in test anxiety scores and year group was identified as a predictor of emotionality scores only. CONCLUSION Variance in the test anxiety scores of Key Stage 4 students can be predicted from a number of socio-demographic variables. Further research is now required to assess the implications for assessment performance, examination arrangements and appropriateness of using a North American measure of test anxiety in a UK context.
Relationship between response rate and reinforcement frequency in variable-interval schedules: II. Effect of the volume of sucrose reinforcement.

Three rats were exposed to variable-interval schedules specifying a range of different reinforcement frequencies, using three different volumes of . 32 molar sucrose (.10, .05, and .02 milliliters) as the reinforcer. With each of the three volumes, the rates of responding of all three rats were increasing, negatively accelerated functions of reinforcement frequency, the data conforming closely to Herrnstein's equation. In each rat the value of the constant K(H), which expresses the reinforcement frequency needed to obtain the half-maximal response rate, increased with decreasing reinforcer volume, the values obtained with . 02 milliliters being significantly greater than the values obtained with . 10 milliliters. The values of the constant R(max), which expresses the theoretical maximum response rate, were not systematically related to reinforcer volume. The effect of reinforcer volume upon the relationship between response rate and reinforcement frequency is thus different from the effect of the concentration of sucrose reinforcement: In a previous experiment (Bradshaw, Szabadi, & Bevan, 1978) it was found that sucrose concentration influenced the values of both constants, R(max) increasing and K(H) decreasing with increasing sucrose concentration.
Rapid formin-mediated actin-filament elongation is essential for polarized plant cell growth

Formins are present in all eukaryotes and are essential for the creation of actin-based structures responsible for diverse cellular processes. Because multicellular organisms contain large formin gene families, establishing the physiological functions of formin isoforms has been difficult. Using RNAi, we analyzed the function of all 9 formin genes within the moss Physcomitrella patens. We show that plants lacking class II formins (For2) are severely stunted and composed of spherical cells with disrupted actin organization. In contrast, silencing of all other formins results in normal elongated cell morphology and actin organization. Consistent with a role in polarized growth, For2 are apically localized in growing cells. We show that an N-terminal phosphatase tensin (PTEN)-like domain mediates apical localization. The PTEN-like domain is followed by a conserved formin homology (FH)1-FH2 domain, known to promote actin polymerization. To determine whether apical localization of any FH1-FH2 domain mediates polarized growth, we performed domain swapping. We found that only the class II FH1-FH2, in combination with the PTEN-like domain, rescues polarized growth, because it cannot be replaced with a similar domain from a For1. We used in vitro polymerization assays to dissect the functional differences between these FH1-FH2 domains. We found that both the FH1 and the FH2 domains from For2 are required to mediate exceptionally rapid rates of actin filament elongation, much faster than any other known formin. Thus, our data demonstrate that rapid rates of actin elongation are critical for driving the formation of apical filamentous actin necessary for polarized growth.
FFT snake: a robust and efficient method for the segmentation of arbitrarily shaped objects in image sequences

A robust and efficient algorithm for segmenting arbitrarily shaped objects in images, which is called FFT snake, is proposed in this paper. A low-pass filter with the fast Fourier transform (FFT) of the curve as theoretic internal force is first introduced to smooth the contours. In real algorithm, it is composed of the curves trimming and crossing chains cutting. At last the contours are evolved in the direction of normal vectors of the curve to match the feature-map. The algorithm is then applied to the rapid video feedback on the motion for the real-time diving training. The results are highly encouraging to capture the contours of arbitrarily shaped objects for real-time tracking systems. We believe that FFT snake has wide uses in video compression, multimedia applications, and so on.
An unfinished experiment: ambiguity and conflict in the implementation of higher skills policy

The higher skills policy of the UK New Labour Government emerged from the recommendations of the Leitch Review of Skills, and was implemented in England between 2007 and 2010. The policy aimed to encourage higher education (HE) institutions to engage with employers and employer representative bodies to design and deliver HE provision that reflected the needs of employers. Using key policy documents and evidence submitted to a select committee inquiry, aspects of ambiguity and conflict in the implementation of this policy are explored. This focuses on three specific areas where disagreements amongst parties, or with government, were observed, and ambiguities of policy means and objectives. Although conflict amongst interested parties is evident, this was not extensive within the HE sector as the policy was not seen as relevant to all institutions. The demonstrable ambiguity enables the policy to be absorbed and made appropriate to the norms and culture of the HE sector. The experimental structure of the policy, while always ambiguous, lost its rationale with the change of UK government in 2010.
Why Option Prices Lag Stock Prices: A Trading-Based Explanation

While many studies find that option prices lead stock prices, J. A. Stephan and R. E. Whaley (1990) find that stocks lead options. The authors find no evidence that options, even deep out-of-the-money options, lead stocks. After confirming Stephan and Whaley's results, they show their results can be explained as spurious leads induced by infrequent trading of options. The authors show that the stock lead disappears when the average of the bid and ask prices is used instead of transaction prices. Hence, they find no evidence of arbitrage opportunities associated with the stock lead. Copyright 1993 by American Finance Association.
The Eastern European referendum campaigns on the accession to the European Union–a critical analysis

This article analyses the communication campaigns organized to increase support for European Union (EU) membership, during referendums held between March and September 2003 in Central Europe. The focus is on the official campaigns, organized and sponsored by the Hungarian, Polish and Estonian governments. The first part of the paper reviews the special characteristics of referendums and information campaigns, followed by the challenges communication planners faced, during planning and implementing the campaigns. The common features and themes of the national campaigns, as well as the differences, are identified and analysed. The article concludes with some important lessons and recommendations to be used by future referendum campaign planners and implementers. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Identifying the Rebound: Theoretical Issues and Empirical Evidence from a German Household Panel

Using a panel of household travel diary data collected in Germany between 1997 and 2005, this study assesses the effectiveness of fuel efficiency improvements by econometrically estimating the rebound effect, describing the extent to which higher efficiency causes additional travel.Following a theoretical discussion outlining three alternative definitions of the rebound effect, the econometric analysis generates corresponding estimates using panel methods to control for the effects of unobservables that could otherwise produce spurious results. Our results, which range between 56% and 66%, indicate a rebound that is substantially larger than obtained in other studies, calling into question the efficacy of recently implemented measures in the European Union targeted at technological innovations in the automotive sector.