Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gastroenteritis Outbreaks in Greece

The outbreaks notified to both local Human Public Health (HPH) and Hellenic Center for Diseases Control and Prevention (HCDCP), from 1 st January 2005 to 31 st December 2007, were analyzed via the comprehensive forms filled in by HCDCP professionals. The attack rate was similar to other European countries 0.5/100 000 population. A total of 160 outbreaks were reported, 36% domestic, 42% restaurant/pastry shop/hotel restaurant/catering service (RPHC), 3% school/day care and 3% hospital/nursing homes based. Among them 84.4% were foodborne, 5.9% with person to person transmission (PTP), 7.1% with both routes, and 2.6% waterborne. Stool samples and food specimens from foodborne outbreaks were collected. The pathogen was identified in 76%, among which, 63% was salmonella spp, associated with raw shell eggs and chicken, shorter duration and higher attack rates outbreaks, and 4.5% norovirus, the latter with unidentified setting in the community, and mainly with PTP transmission. Continuous food safety education will contribute to the already existing governmental legislation and guidance and relevant public health measures. Routine use of existing diagnostic facilities and techniques and timely notification will further enable the public health stakeholders to diagnose and control gastroenteritis outbreaks promptly.
Impact noise suppression using spectral phase estimation

In impact noise suppression, only a perfect estimation of the speech spectral amplitude does not perfectly suppress the impact noise because of remain of the noisy phase which is a linear phase. The remained linear phase may cause another impulsive noise. This paper proposes a speech spectral phase estimator for impact noise suppression. Under the assumption that an impact noise can be modeled as a symmetrical signal, i.e., its spectral phase has a linear characteristics, we obtain the speech spectral phase by removing the linear characteristics from the noisy spectral phase. The spectral phase estimator is combined with a conventional spectral amplitude estimator established in zero phase domain. Evaluation results showed that the proposed method improved 2 dB in SNR, 0.2 points in PESQ, and 0.05 points in STOI in comparison to the conventional impact noise suppressors.
Early surgery for acute gallstone pancreatitis: evaluation of a systematic approach.

A consecutive series of I32 patients with acute gallstone pancreatitis admitted within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms was studied. According to the treatment employed, the series was divided into two groups. Both groups were similar in regard to age,-incidence of associated conditions, and delay in receiving therapy. Group I was comprised of 86 patients who, betweeen I964 and 1972, received conventional medical treatment complemented in most cases with surgery, either elective to treat the associated gallstone disease or urgent to treat acute abdominal complications of pancreatitis. In these latter patients, lesions of advanced acute pancreatitis, such as extensive hemorrhagic necrosis, pseudocysts, and abscesses, were found at operation. croup II included 46 patients, who, between 1972 and 1975, were operated on upon admission-between 6 and 48 hours from the onset of the crisis (average, 28 hours), without receiving any other treatment. Operative findings in these patients showed edematous pancreatitis in the majority of patients. A gallstone impacted at the ampulla of Vater was found in 33 of the 46 patients. Disobstruction, including sphincterotomy in 14 patients, was carried out in all of them. Other surgical procedures indicated in gallstone disease were performed concomitantly. Overall mortality rate was 11% for the whole series: 16% for group I and 2% for Group II (chi square = 4.60; p < 0.05). The admission period averaged 25 days in group I and I3 days in group II. These fkdings suggest that the degree and duration of ampullary obstruction are important determinants for the severity of pancreatitis. Therefore, ear& relief of the obstruction is a critical factor for recovery. To achieve this goal, early and systematic surgical removal of the impacted gallstone seems to be more reliable and more safe than classic conservative therapy.
Adherence to antiretroviral therapy in a context of universal access, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Abstract Adherence is integral to improving and maintaining the health and quality of life of people living with HIV. Two-hundred HIV-positive adults recruited from teaching hospitals and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Rio de Janeiro City were assessed on socio-demographic factors, adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and psychosocial factors hypothesized to be associated with ART. Predictors of non-adherence were analyzed using bivariate and multivariate analyses. Self-reported medication adherence was high (82% had adherence >90%). Non-adherence was associated with personal factors (i.e. sexual orientation, self-efficacy), physical factors (i.e. loss of appetite) and interpersonal factors (i.e. doctor-patient relationship). Adherence in Brazil is as good, if not better, than that seen in the US and western Europe, which is noteworthy since the sample was derived predominantly from public healthcare settings. It is possible that the connection to NGOs in Rio de Janeiro City played a helpful role in achieving high levels of adherence in this sample of people living with HIV and AIDS. Recommendations, based on study findings, include enhancing and sustaining supportive services for NGOs, promoting patient self-efficacy and behavioral skills for adherence, increasing social network support and having healthcare providers directly address patients’ medication beliefs, attitudes and experience with side effects.
Visual information retrieval using synthesized imagery

In this project (VIRSI) we investigate the promising content-based retrieval paradigm known as interactive search or relevance feedback, and aim to extend it through the use of synthetic imagery. In relevance feedback methods, the user himself is a key factor in the search process as he provides positive and negative feedback on the results, which the system uses to iteratively improve the set of candidate results. In our approach we closely integrate the generation of synthetic imagery in the relevance feedback process through a new fundamental paradigm: Artificial Imagination (AIm).
Influence of Endogenous Albumin Binding on Blood‐Material Interactions a

A method has been developed to enhance the albumin affinity of a number of medical polymers, based on alkylation of the surface with straight-chain 16- or 18-carbon alkyl groups. This method has been demonstrated to induce the rapid binding of albumin from single and binary protein solutions, from plasma, and apparently, from whole blood. The bound albumin resists fluid shear or chemically induced desorption. Fibrinogen adsorption is inhibited in vitro and in vivo. Complement protein C3 activation from plasma is inhibited. Fibrin formation and platelet aggregation is inhibited in short-term in vivo experiments. Long-term catheter implant studies suggest that the C18 alkylation is more effective than most, if not all, currently available treatments for the retention of a clean, biocompatible, blood-contacting surface. No data have been obtained to date that conflict with the hypothesis that a renewable albumin layer, so formed, blocks the adsorption or conformational alteration of plasma proteins that otherwise might initiate or participate in various host defenses.
Relationship between Acculturation, Cognitive Style, and Intelligence

The relationship of degree of Anglo-American acculturation to analytic cognitive style, nonverbal intelligence, and verbal intelligence was investigated using a cross-sectional development design. The results suggest that cognitive style does not play a particularly important role in an individual's performance on intelligence tests. In this study Mexican-Americans were no different from Anglos in nonverbal intellectual ability, but they performed less well on the vocabulary subtest. Overall this suggests that a relatively lower verbal facility, rather than analytic ability or cognitive style, contributed to the poorer performance of Mexican-Americans on standardized verbal intelligence tests. However, when Mexican-Americans become similar to Anglos in acculturation there is no significant difference between the groups on these important reference tests.
Changes in brain glioma incidence and laterality correlates with use of mobile phones--a nationwide population based study in Israel.

INTRODUCTION Mobile phones are in extensive use worldwide and concerns regarding their role in tumor formation were raised. Over the years multiple studies were published in order to investigate this issue using several approaches. The current study looks at secular trends of brain gliomas (low and high grade) incidence and changes in tumor's laterality over 30 years in a population extensively using this technology with a possible correlation to the spread of use of mobile phones. MATERIALS AND METHODS All brain gliomas that were diagnosed from 1980-2009 were included and subdivided into two groups--low and high grade. Secular and periodic time trend analyses of incidence rates and changes in laterality were performed. Preferred side of head using mobile phones was assessed with a questionnaire in a sample of adult individuals. RESULTS A decrease in incidence of low grade giomas (LGG) that correlated with introduction of mobile technology was found from 2.57, 2.34 and 2.79 for every 100,000 in the period 1980 to the end of 1994 to 1.72, 1.82 and 1.57, respectively, over the last three 5-years periods (1995-2009). High-grade glioma incidences increased significantly from 1980-2009 but in the period after mobile phones were introduced (1994-2009) a lower, non significant, rate of increase was observed in males and a lower one (significant) in females. A shift towards left sided tumor location for all adult gliomas combined and separately for LGG and HGG was noted from 1995 onward. The shift was more marked for those who were diagnosed in ages 20-49 (p=0.03). CONCLUSIONS We found a statistically significant decrease in LGG's over 30-years period that correlates with introducing of mobile phones technology and a shift in laterality towards left-sided tumors, the latter occurred in both low and high-grade gliomas.
Student modeling using intelligent agents in a web-based teaching and learning environment

In this paper, we present an approach for student modeling by means of intelligent agents at USD (“Unitats de Suport a la Docència”["Teaching Support Units"]), a tutoring system that has been designed and used to support distance learning on the web. Considering that the aim of pedagogical design of intelligent tutors is to engage students in sustained reasoning activity and to interact with them based on a deep understanding of their behavior, we want to create an intelligent student agent that by means of CaseBased Reasoning techniques be capable of dynamically building a representation of the student’s interests and characteristics (subjective likes) taking into consideration learning styles. At this point, we will examine opportunities to improve the teaching and to motivate the students to learn what they want, in a userfriendly environment that suits their learning style. The system perceives the first student profile approximation by evaluating the diagnostic questionnaire proposed by the learning style model applied. Subsequently, this profile should be fine-tuned through the student interaction at the USD learning environment and applying CBR techniques. Therefore, the USD system will adapt the learning scenarios (teaching contents, navigation tools and navigation strategies) according to the type of the student that uses it.
The Effects of Terrorism: The Aftermath of the London Terror Attacks1

The July 2005 London bombings highlight prevailing terrorist threats to the UK. The present study addressed the psychological response of a community indirectly exposed to the attacks. Using structural equation modeling (SEM), specific hypotheses examined associations between coping mechanisms (resilience, religious faith), emotions, and risk outcomes. Qualitative content analysis demonstrated the complexity of responses to terrorism. SEM analysis showed that resilience helped attenuate the effect of negative emotions; negative emotions heightened risk judgments; and respondents higher on religious faith displayed more positive emotions regarding the attacks. The content analysis supplemented quantitative results. Combined, these results highlight the importance of conveying accurate risk appraisals proportionate to the threat, as well as consideration of psychological operations, including resilience and religious faith.
Die Prävention von Lese-Rechtschreibschwierigkeiten

Zusammenfassung. Der Erfolg von vorschulischen Programmen zur Forderung der phonologischen Bewusstheit ist mittlerweile hinlanglich belegt. Unklar ist allerdings, inwieweit auch Kinder mit Migrationshintergrund von solchen Forderprogrammen profitieren. In der vorliegenden Langsschnittstudie nahmen Kinder mit deutscher Muttersprache und Kinder mit Migrationshintergrund an einem vorschulischen Training der phonologischen Bewusstheit und der Buchstabe-Laut-Zuordnung teil. Vor Trainingsbeginn wurde eine umfangreiche Testbatterie zur Erfassung der phonologischen Informationsverarbeitung und der Buchstabenkenntnis eingesetzt. Unmittelbar nach Trainingsende wurden erneut die phonologische Bewusstheit und die Buchstabenkenntnis der Kinder erhoben. Am Ende des ersten Schuljahres wurden dann die Lese-Rechtschreibleistungen bestimmt. Kinder mit Migrationshintergrund zeigten bei den Vortests deutlich niedrigere Leistungen in der phonologischen Informationsverarbeitung als Kinder mit deutscher Muttersprache. Sie profi.
Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies for aflatoxin B1

Hybridomas that secreted antibodies for aflatoxin B1 were selected using two immunization protocols referred to as A and B. Protocol A is a standard immunization method and resulted in the selection of only two clones that produced monoclonal antibodies against aflatoxin B1. In protocol B a unique immunization schedule which resulted in the generation of 10 hybridomas is described. Of the 10, one antibody was highly specific to B1, four antibodies reacted equally strongly with B1, G1 and weakly with B2. Another four reacted strongly with B1 and weakly with B2 and G1. One clone reacted equally strongly with B1, G1 and B2. Interestingly all the 10 antibodies showed little or no cross‐reaction with G2.
Wavelet domain Bayesian denoising of string signal in the cosmic microwave background

An algorithm is proposed for denoising the signal induced by cosmic strings in the cosmic microwave background. A Bayesian approach is taken, based on modelling the string signal in the wavelet domain with generalized Gaussian distributions. Good performance of the algorithm is demonstrated by simulated experiments at arcminute resolution under noise conditions including primary and secondary cosmic microwave background anisotropies, as well as instrumental noise.
Analysis of the technology acceptance model in examining students' behavioural intention to use an e-portfolio system

In recent years, instructors have had an increasing interest in integrating Internet based technologies into their classroom as part of the learning environment. Compared to studies on other information systems, student users' behaviour towards e-portfolios have not been assessed and thoroughly understood. This paper analyses the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) in order to examine students' behavioural intention to use an electronic portfolio system, meaning how students use and appropriate it within the specific framework of a course. An E-Portfolio Usage Questionnaire was developed using existing scales from prior TAM instruments and modified where appropriate. Seventy-two participants completed the survey questionnaire measuring their responses to perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use (PEOU), attitudes towards usage (ATU) and behavioural intention to use (BIU) the e-portfolio system. The results of the study indicated that students' perceived ease of use (PEOU) had a significant influence on attitude towards usage (ATU). Subsequently, perceived ease of use (PEOU) had the strongest significant influence on perceived usefulness (PU). The research further demonstrated that individual characteristics and technological factors may have a significant influence on instructors to adopt e-portfolio into their courses. Results suggest that TAM is a solid theoretical model where its validity can extend to an e-portfolio context.
Optimal viewing position effect in word recognition: A challenge to current theory.

Through the use of high- and low-frequency words of lengths 4, 5, 7, 9, and 11 letters, it is shown that the time it takes to name a word or to decide if a stimulus is a word or a nonword depends strongly on the position in the word where the eye is fixating at the moment the word appears. There is an optimal viewing position near the middle or slightly left of middle, where the time taken is shortest. For each letter of deviation from this optimal position, about 20 ms is added to lexcial decision time or naming latency. The effect is present even in short 4- and 5-letter words
Investigating Alternatives To Diesel In Oil Based Drilling Mud Formulations Used in the Oil Industry

The investigation of jatropha and groundnut oils as alternatives to diesel in oil based mud (OBM) formulations reveal comparable performance characteristics to that of diesel. The viscosity values of the mud samples from the three oils varied considerably. At the same viscometer dial speed of 600 RPM and temperature of 60 o C, the viscosities were 155, 135 and 50 centi poises (cP) for jatropha, groundnut and diesel oils based mud samples respectively. The jatropha and groundnut oil based mud samples were respectively 3 and 2.7 times more viscous than diesel oil based mud. The increasing order of mud densities was 7.5 ppg, 7.9 ppg and 8.5 ppg for diesel, groundnut and jatropha oils based mud samples respectively. Gel strength values at 10 secs and 10 mins were highest for diesel based mud than for jatropha and groundnut oil based muds while the True and Bingham yield points expectedly decreased as the mud temperature was increased. Keywords: Drilling mud, Alternatives, Oil based formulations
“What’s Past Is Prologue”

Organizational researchers have long used imprinting as a theoretical lens for a historically embedded understanding of diverse, significant phenomena for explanatory, evaluative, and managerial purposes. The intuitive appeal of imprinting has facilitated its widespread diffusion throughout numerous disciplines and research fields, but the growing fragmentation of associated theory and evidence has blurred our understanding of the nature, sources, and mechanisms of imprinting as well as the context in which imprinting shapes the behavior and outcomes of distinct entities. To address these issues, we begin by developing a framework for generalizing theoretical constructs, statements, and relationships across levels of analysis, contexts, and disciplinary boundaries. Using the core themes of this framework, we next provide a systematic review of 119 imprinting studies allowing for more definitive statements about what we know, do not know, and should know about imprinting. Finally, by building on the review, together with the proposed framework, we chart a focused course for future inquiry and applications for organizational research on imprinting.
Media relations in an evolving media landscape

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to test the viability of the media relations framework, Mediating the Media model (Pang, 2010), and ascertains its relevance to practitioners in a changing media landscape in Singapore where social media is emerging as an alternative source of information tool. Design/methodology/approach – In-depth interviews with 20 media relations practitioners who were former journalists. Practitioners with journalism experience were chosen as they perform better at media relations (Sallot and Johnson, 2006a; Sinaga and Callison, 2008). Findings – The model posits two sets of influences, i.e. internal (journalist mindset, journalist routines and newsroom routines) and external (extra-media forces and media ideology) in media relations. Internal influences were found to be more prevalent than external influences and journalist mindset was the most pervasive factor influencing media relations. Research limitations/implications – Findings are based solely on interviews and some clai.
Development and Validation of an Expert System for Special Educators

The authors describe the development and initial validation of a computer-based expert system, Mandate Consultant (Parry, 1985), designed to review the regulatory procedures for developing Individual Education Programs (IEP). The formative process involved three phases: (a) definition of need and proposed solution, (b) design of a prototype, and (c) progressive refinement through field-testing and revision cycles. The summative component included a two-phase experimental design for validating the accuracy of expert system output through comparisons with human experts. The findings indicated that the expert system-generated conclusions matched the conclusions of the “better” human experts, and were considered more appropriate than the conclusions of the majority of experts. Furthermore, “blinded” evaluators judged the expert system-generated conclusions as being equally acceptable as those produced by the “better” human experts, and more acceptable than those of the majority of experts.