Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Performance of antigen lateral flow devices in the United Kingdom during the Alpha, Delta, and Omicron waves of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

Background Antigen lateral flow devices (LFDs) have been widely used to control SARS-CoV-2. Changes in LFD sensitivity and detection of infectious individuals during the pandemic with successive variants, vaccination, and changes in LFD use are incompletely understood. Methods Paired LFD and PCR tests were collected from asymptomatic and symptomatic participants, across multiple settings in the UK between 04-November-2020 and 21-March-2022. Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyse LFD sensitivity and specificity, adjusting for viral load, LFD manufacturer, setting, age, sex, assistance, symptoms, vaccination, and variant. National contact tracing data were used to estimate the proportion of transmitting index cases (with [≥]1 PCR/LFD-positive contact) potentially detectable by LFDs over time, accounting for viral load, variant, and symptom status. Findings 4131/75,382 (5.5%) participants were PCR-positive. Sensitivity vs. PCR was 63.2% (95%CI 61.7-64.6%) and specificity 99.71% (99.66-99.74%). Increased viral load was independently associated with being LFD-positive. There was no evidence LFD sensitivity differed between Delta vs. Alpha/pre-Alpha infections, but Omicron infections were more likely to be LFD positive. Sensitivity was higher in symptomatic participants, 68.7% (66.9-70.4%) than in asymptomatic participants, 52.8% (50.1-55.4%). 79.4% (68.6-81.3%) of index cases resulting in probable onward transmission with were estimated to have been detectable using LFDs, this proportion was relatively stable over time/variants, but lower in asymptomatic vs. symptomatic cases. Interpretation LFDs remained able to detect most SARS-CoV-2 infections throughout vaccine roll-out and different variants. LFDs can potentially detect most infections that transmit to others and reduce risks. However, performance is lower in asymptomatic compared to symptomatic individuals. Funding UK Government.
Optimization of levitation forces [in superconducting magnetic bearings]

In this contribution, the authors present a systematic approach to the calculation of levitation forces in plane-parallel (infinitely extended in one direction) arrangements of permanent magnets and superconductors. Starting from an extremely idealized geometry with a very simple expression for the levitation force, they go step by step to more realistic arrangements and present the corrections in the force equations. In particular, magnet configurations with an increased field gradient which allow a higher stiffness are investigated. Finally, numerical calculations are presented which show the dependance of the levitation force on the size and the critical current density of the superconductor and the effect of magnet-iron combinations instead of magnets without iron. The calculations show that the stiffness can be increased by using magnets which consist of several sections with alternating polarity. However, this improvement can only be used for reduced bearing gaps and increased critical current density. The use of magnet-iron combinations has only little advantage.
HIERARCHICAL ASSOCIATIVE MEMORY IN NEURAL NETWORKS WITH LOW ACTIVITY LEVEL

A Hopfield-like neural network that can store hierarchically correlated patterns with low level of activity is studied. Three learning rules are proposed which enable to obtain nearly optimal storage capacity. These learning rules have different rate of biological relevancy and the restrictions they put upon the structure of hierarchical tree. By varying the value of the neural threshold, it is possible to climb up and down the hierarchical tree.
River discharge-related nutrient effects on North Sea coastal and offshore phytoplankton communities

Abstract As a result of climate change, an increasing number of extreme weather events can be observed. Heavy precipitation events can increase river discharge which causes an abrupt increase of nutrient-rich freshwater into coastal zones. We investigated the potential consequences of nutrient-rich freshwater pulses on phytoplankton communities from three stations in the North Sea. After incubating the phytoplankton cultures with a gradient of nutrient-rich freshwater, we analyzed changes in community diversity, average cell size, growth rate and elemental stoichiometry. Pulses of nutrient-rich freshwater have caused an increase in the growth rate of the phytoplankton communities at two of the three stations and a decrease in cell size within the taxonomic groups of flagellates and diatoms at all stations, indicating a positive selection in favor of smaller taxa. In addition, we observed a decrease in the molar N:P ratio of the phytoplankton communities. Overall, the response of phytoplankton was highly dependent on the initial community structure at each sampling site. Our study demonstrates that the biomass and functional structure of North Sea phytoplankton communities could be altered by an abrupt increase in river discharge, which could have further consequences for higher trophic levels and short-term food web dynamics in the North Sea.
Hybrid neural-based decision level fusion architecture: application to road traffic collision avoidance

A hybrid decision level architecture for a road collision risks avoidance system is presented. The goal of the decision level is to clas- sify the behavior of the vehicles observed by a smart system or vehicle. The knowledge of vehicle behavior enables the best management of the smart system resources. The association of a model to each observed vehicle mainly enables the limitation of inference and of the set of actions to be activated; thus the interactions between system levels can be more intelligent. The decision level of this architecture is composed of a neural classifier, which is associated to a numerical classifier. Each of these classifiers provides decisions that are expressed within the framework of fuzzy theory. An optimal fusion policy is reached using the functional neural network tool. © 1998 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. (S0091-3286(98)01202-1)
SPECTRAL EMISSION OF A SAMPLE OF IRAS GALAXIES. II

Observations of seven objects selected from the de Grijp et al. Catalog of AGN candidates (1987) and two from the list of Maia et al. (1987) are reported. From their optical spectral characteristics they are classified according to their degree of nuclear activity: two of them as Seyfert 2 types, two others as Seyfert 1.9 types, one as a Liner, adn three as H II region-like galaxies; the reamining one turns out to be a star. Far infrared properties are also used to analyze these objects. Very good correlations between the far IR luminosity and H-alpha and [O III] lambda-5007 luminosities are found for the Seyfert galaxies. The far infrared luminosity of these seems to depend on both, the amount of the dust present and strongly on the number of ionizing photons.
Anticoagulant Treatment in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation and Chronic Kidney Disease: Practical Issues

Up to 20% of patients with chronic kidney disease have atrial fibrillation, and 40%-50% of atrial fibrillation patients suffer from chronic kidney disease. The 2 diseases share several risk factors and frequently coincide with each other. Both entities are associated with a prothrombotic state, which contributes to increased thromboembolic risk. Atrial fibrillation patients with chronic kidney disease have elevated risk of stroke, major bleeding, and mortality. Clinical risk scores, including CHA2DS2-VASc score, HAS-BLED score, or ORBIT score have a limited value in adverse clinical outcome risk stratification in patients with severe chronic kidney disease. However, the inclusion of renal function in the R(2)-CHA2DS2-VASc score does not improve significantly thromboembolic risk prediction in atrial fibrillation. There is growing evidence suggesting that biomarkers, including N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, high-sensitivity cardiac troponin, cystatin C, or growth differentiation factor-15, might be helpful in the assessment of thromboembolic, bleeding, and/or mortality risk in atrial fibrillation patients with chronic kidney disease. The first-choice anticoagulant therapy is based on direct oral anticoagulants in this subgroup. The highest risk of adverse events is observed in end-stage renal disease, and in Europe, in contrast to the USA, solely warfarin is recommended in such atrial fibrillation patients. Treatment of atrial fibrillation patients with chronic kidney disease should be closely monitored with the selection of right anticoagulant agents at the appropriate dose. The current review paper summarizes available evidence and the challenges of the management of atrial fibrillation patients with chronic kidney disease with practical implications.
The Effects of Sexual Violence Victimization on Perceived Peer Norms and Social Barriers to Bystander Intervention Among High School Students

The experience of sexual victimization may lead to increased threat-biased information processing, including increased perceptions of peer attitudes that condone sexual violence. The perception that peers generally condone sexual violence may in turn inhibit survivors of sexual violence from intervening to address risk for harm among their peers. To assess this possibility, the present study examined the direct and indirect association between sexual victimization by a romantic partner, perceived peer rape myth acceptance (RMA), perceived social barriers to bystander intervention, and bystander behaviors over 2-month follow-up in a sample of 843 high school students. Multiple regression path analyses revealed a sequence of positive associations between sexual victimization, perceived peer RMA, and perceived social barriers to bystander intervention, respectively. These direct associations to be significant among girls, but not boys, and revealed an additional negative direct association between perceived social barriers to bystander intervention and bystander behavior over 2-month follow-up among girls. Furthermore, sexual victimization was indirectly associated with decreased bystander behaviors among girls through perceived peer RMA and perceived social barriers to bystander intervention, respectively. Taken together, the current findings highlight the importance of addressing misperceptions of peer norms among survivors of sexual violence in bystander intervention programs.
Diamond Ablators for Inertial Confinement Fusion

Abstract Diamond has a unique combination of physical properties for the inertial confinement fusion ablator application, such as appropriate optical properties, high atomic density, high yield strength, and high thermal conductivity. Here, we present a feasible concept for fabrication of diamond ablator shells. The fabrication of diamond capsules is a multi-step process which involves diamond chemical vapor deposition on silicon mandrels followed by polishing, microfabrication of holes, and removing of the silicon mandrel by an etch process. We also discuss the pros and cons of coarse-grained optical quality and nanocrystalline chemical vapor deposition diamond films for the ablator application.
Alerting Faculty, Staff, and Students? Public Opinion on Sex Offender Notification on College Campuses

Institutes of higher education have been called to action to address and prevent sexual violence perpetrated against college students. Based on legislation, one potential pathway is the extension of sex offender registration and notification (SORN) to the campus community. No research has assessed public perceptions of extending SORN, and in particular the perceived importance of notifying faculty, staff, and/or students about an enrolled student on campus that is registered. Via an online survey, this research assessed public perceptions of 1,269 U.S. adults in relation to campus notification. Using logistic regression, influencing factors that increased the odds respondents would find notification important for faculty/staff and students included their level of concern about registered persons attending college, number of children, and perceptions of social problems being worse now compared to 10 years ago. In regard to notifying students, African American respondents were more likely to think notifying students was important. Findings are discussed in relation to prior work on SORN as well as policy implications and considerations.
Public health services and intersectional stigma: a social sciences perspective with implications for HIV service design and delivery

Purpose of review Understanding stigma is important for improving HIV care services and gaps in HIV service delivery have been attributed to stigma. This review article synthesizes recent evidence on stigma and its implications for HIV service design and delivery. Given the intersectional nature of stigma, we will focus on HIV stigma as well as related forms of stigma based on one's race, sexual identity, gender identity and other identities. Recent findings Stigma remains a barrier to achieving equity in HIV services. Individualistic measures of stigma remain influential and are associated with barriers to accessing HIV health services. Recent work also highlights stigma measured at a structural level and its impact on HIV services contexts. Individuals situated at intersections of marginalized identities continue to face greatest injustices, and although intersectional approaches have been adapted to design services at a micro level, few focus on structural change. Recent evidence for mitigating stigma indicates some success for psychosocial interventions that target internalized stigma. Furthermore, community-led approaches show promise in addressing stigma that manifests in HIV health services settings. Summary Interventions that address individual-level stigma and structural stigma are needed. Theoretical and applied antistigma research is needed to make HIV services more equitable.
Motor Unit Identification in the M Waves Recorded by High-Density Electromyogram

Objective: We describe and test the methodology supporting the identification of individual motor unit (MU) firings in the motor response (M wave) to percutaneous nerve stimulation recorded by surface high-density electromyography (HD-EMG) on synthetic and experimental data. Methods: A set of simulated voluntary contractions followed by 100 simulated M waves with a normal distribution (MU mean firing latency: 10 ms, Standard Deviation - SDLAT 0.1-1.3 ms) constituted the synthetic signals. In experimental condition, at least 52 progressively increasing M waves were elicited in the soleus muscle of 12 males, at rest (REST), and at 10% (C10) and 20% (C20) of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). The MU decomposition filters were identified from 15-20 s long isometric plantar flexions performed at 10-70% of MVC and, afterwards, applied to M waves. Results: Synthetic signal analysis demonstrated high accuracy of MU identification in M waves (precision ≥ 85%). In experimental conditions 42.6 ± 11.2 MUs per participant were identified from voluntary contractions. When the MU filters were applied to the M wave recordings, 28.4 ± 14.3, 23.7 ± 14.9 and 20.2 ± 13.5 MU firings were identified in the maximal M waves, with individual MU firing latencies of 10.0 ± 2.8 (SDLAT: 1.2 ± 1.2), 9.6 ± 3.0 (SDLAT: 1.5 ± 1.3) and 10.1 ± 3.7 (SDLAT: 1.7 ± 1.6) ms in REST, C10 and C20 conditions, respectively. Conclusion and significance: We present evidence that supports the feasibility of identifying MU firings in M waves recorded by HD-EMG.
Electron-count imaging in SEM

We propose a method and a system for counting secondary electrons and for displaying micrographs from the SEM in real time. Evaluating the images obtained by the new system, we confirm that electron counting images have a higher signal to noise ratio than analogue images. This tendency is remarkable when the secondary electron signal is weak. We present the method and show experimental results obtained with our novel system for the detection of the secondary electron signal.
Occupational performance and prioritized problematic everyday occupations among people with advanced cancer living alone versus living with someone

Abstract Background People living at home with advanced cancer wish to maintain and preserve domestic life, but they experience several barriers in their everyday occupations and thereby occupational performance. There is little knowledge of these barriers experienced by people living alone versus people living with someone. Objective/Aim To investigate differences in self-perceived occupational performance and the prioritisation of getting self-reported problematic everyday occupations solved among people with advanced cancer, taking living status into consideration. Method A cross-sectional study using baseline data from an RCT including 174 participants with advanced cancer living at home. Difficulty and priorisation of everyday occupations were assessed using the Individually Prioritised Problem Assessment (IPPA). Results In total, 731 problematic everyday occupations were reported, mainly related to the categories of housework, self-care and leisure. Conclusions/significance Overall, no statistically significant difference in self-reported occupational performance was found. However, people living alone perceived statistically significantly more frequently showering/bathing and doing laundry as difficult and therefore important to address. In contrast, people living with someone prioritised social interaction and home maintenance statistically significantly more frequently.
Fingerprints as Predictors of Schizophrenia: A Deep Learning Study

Abstract Background and Hypothesis The existing developmental bond between fingerprint generation and growth of the central nervous system points to a potential use of fingerprints as risk markers in schizophrenia. However, the high complexity of fingerprints geometrical patterns may require flexible algorithms capable of characterizing such complexity. Study Design Based on an initial sample of scanned fingerprints from 612 patients with a diagnosis of non-affective psychosis and 844 healthy subjects, we have built deep learning classification algorithms based on convolutional neural networks. Previously, the general architecture of the network was chosen from exploratory fittings carried out with an independent fingerprint dataset from the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The network architecture was then applied for building classification algorithms (patients vs controls) based on single fingers and multi-input models. Unbiased estimates of classification accuracy were obtained by applying a 5-fold cross-validation scheme. Study Results The highest level of accuracy from networks based on single fingers was achieved by the right thumb network (weighted validation accuracy = 68%), while the highest accuracy from the multi-input models was attained by the model that simultaneously used images from the left thumb, index and middle fingers (weighted validation accuracy = 70%). Conclusion Although fitted models were based on data from patients with a well established diagnosis, since fingerprints remain lifelong stable after birth, our results imply that fingerprints may be applied as early predictors of psychosis. Specially, if they are used in high prevalence subpopulations such as those of individuals at high risk for psychosis.
The moderating role of everyday discrimination on the association between post-traumatic stress and loneliness among older Puerto Ricans

Abstract Objectives This study examines the relationship between post-traumatic stress and loneliness and whether this relationship varies by perceived everyday discrimination among older Puerto Ricans. Methods A total of 304 Puerto Ricans aged 60 and above from Wave 3 of the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study were included. Ordinary least squares regression examined the association between post-traumatic stress, perceived everyday discrimination, and loneliness. Results Post-traumatic stress was significantly associated with a higher level of loneliness (β = 0.282; p < 0.001; 95% CI: 0.142, 0.423). The interaction effect between post-traumatic stress and perceived everyday discrimination on loneliness was statistically significant (β = 0.083; p < 0.05; 95% CI: 0.062, 0.230). More specifically, the positive association between post-traumatic stress and loneliness becomes more robust with the increase in perceived everyday discrimination. Conclusion Given an increase in population size on the U.S. mainland and migration from Puerto Rico due to natural disasters and declining economic conditions, it is essential to better understand the effect of perceived discrimination against older Puerto Ricans on the mainland United States as well as those who immigrated and stayed through older age. Outreach strategies and interventions that address perceived discrimination can help mitigate loneliness among older Puerto Ricans who experienced trauma.
Turkish Adaptation of the Executive Functions and Occupational Routines Scale: Validity and Reliability Among Children with Dyslexia

The purpose of the present study was to provide a Turkish cultural adaptation (EFORTS-T) of the Executive Functions and Occupational Routines Scale (EFORTS) and to investigate its psychometric quality in children with dyslexia. We culturally adapted the original English version of this instrument with internationally suggested methods. Participants included the mothers of either randomly selected children with dyslexia (study group, n = 158) or age and sex-matched typically developing children (control group, n = 167). These participants completed a demographic form, the EFORTS-T, and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Parent form (BRIEF-P). For internal consistency, the alpha coefficient of the new instrument was excellent (.93), and it showed satisfactory test-retest reliability over a 14-day interval (.91). The criterion-related validity between the EFORTS-T and the BRIEF-P was moderate (.73). Fit indices of the model supported its factor structure. In conclusion, our findings support the validity and reliability of the new Turkish version of EFORTS for evaluating EF and contributing to the daily occupational routines of children with dyslexia for Turkish respondents. Further studies are needed to apply this instrument to children of different age groups and psychiatric conditions.
Testing the Rank and Definiteness of Estimated Matrices with Applications to Factor, State-Space and ARMA Models

Abstract Consider any consistent, asymptotically normal estimate ǎ of an arbitrary rectangular or square matrix A. This article derives an explicit test for the rank of A and a related test of (semi) definiteness of A. Potential applications include testing for identification of structural models, testing for the number of state variables in state-space models (including tests for the order of autoregressive moving average (ARMA) processes), consumer demand analysis applications, and testing for the number of factors in factor analysis and related procedures. The test is based on the Gaussian elimination Lower-Diagonal-Upper triangular (LDU) decomposition. The test is illustrated with an empirical application to testing the order of ARMA processes.