Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Clinical analysis of Primary Gastrointestinal Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

Objective: To study the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of survival for patients with primary gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (PGI-NHL). Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed for 104 PGI-NHL patients who were admitted in Baoding First Central Hospital from July 2003 to January 2014. Results: There were 58 males and 46 females. The median age of onset was 53 (15-83) years old. In terms of pathogenic sites, there were 51 gastric cases (49.00%) and 53 intestinal cases (51.00%), with the median survival of 35 (1-130) months. The 1-, 3- and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 88.40%, 80.70% and 78.80%, respectively. The factors influencing the progression-free survival (PFS) and OS rates were studied by univariate and multivariate analyses. The PFS and OS rates of patients with B-cell PGI-NHL were significantly higher than those of patients with T-cell PGI-NHL (P<0.05). The PFS and OS rates of patients with primary gastric lymphoma were significantly higher than those of patients with primary intestinal lymphoma (P<0.05), but the data were not associated with Ann Arbor stage or LDH level (P>0.05). Compared with non-surgical patients, only patients with intestinal lymphoma benefited from surgery (P<0.05). Conclusion: The pathogenic site and pathological type are risk factors that affect the survival of PGI-NHL patients, and chemotherapy should be given the first priority for patients with primary gastric lymphoma.
Non-chord Tone Identification Using Deep Neural Networks

This paper addresses the problem of harmonic analysis by proposing a non-chord tone identification model using deep neural network (DNN). By identifying non-chord tones, the task of harmonic analysis is much simplified. Trained and tested on a dataset of 140 Bach chorales, an initial DNN was able to identify non-chord tones with F1-measure of 57.00%, using pitch-class information alone. By adding metric information, a small size contextual window, and fine-tuning DNN, the model's accuracy increased to a F1-measure of 72.19%. These results suggest that DNNs offer an innovative and promising approach to tackling the problem of non-chord tone identification, as well as harmonic analysis.
Prevalence of Multiple Forms of Sexting Behavior Among Youth: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Importance The existing literature on sexting among youth shows that sexting is a predictor of sexual behavior and may be associated with other health outcomes and risky behaviors. However, there remains a lack of consensus on the prevalence of sexting, which is needed to inform future research, intervention, and policy development. Objective To provide a meta-analytic synthesis of studies examining the prevalence of multiple forms of sexting behavior, analyzed by age, sex, geography, and method of sexting. Data Sources In an academic setting, electronic searches in MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE, and Web of Science were conducted for the period January 1990 to June 2016, yielding 1147 nonduplicate records. Study Selection Studies were included if participants were younger than 18 years and the prevalence of sexting explicit images, videos, or messages was reported. Data Extraction and Synthesis Literature review and data extraction followed established PRISMA guidelines. Two independent reviewers extracted all relevant data. Random-effects meta-analyses were used to derive the mean prevalence rates. Thirty-nine studies met final inclusion criteria. Main Outcomes and Measures Meta-analyses of the prevalence of sending, receiving, and forwarding without consent, as well as having one’s sext forwarded without consent. Results Among 39 included studies, there were 110 380 participants; the mean age was 15.16 years (age range, 11.9-17.0 years), and on average 47.2% were male. Studies were available for sending (n = 34), receiving (n = 20), forwarding without consent (n = 5), and having a sext forwarded without consent (n = 4). The mean prevalences for sending and receiving sexts were 14.8% (95% CI, 12.8%-16.8%) and 27.4% (95% CI, 23.1%-31.7%), respectively. Moderator analyses revealed that effect sizes varied as a function of child age (prevalence increased with age), year of data collection (prevalence increased over time), and sexting method (higher prevalence on mobile devices compared with computers). The prevalence of forwarding a sext without consent was 12.0% (95% CI, 8.4%-15.6%), and the prevalence of having a sext forwarded without consent was 8.4% (95% CI, 4.7%-12.0%). Conclusions and Relevance The prevalence of sexting has increased in recent years and increases as youth age. Further research focusing on nonconsensual sexting is necessary to appropriately target and inform intervention, education, and policy efforts.
Academic interventions for academic procrastination: A review of the literature

ABSTRACT Procrastination is a widespread phenomenon in academic settings. It has been studied from many different theoretical angles, and a variety of causes and consequences have been suggested. Recent studies support the notion that academic procrastination can be seen from a situational perspective and as a failure in learning self-regulation. It suggests that interventions should address situational as well as deficits in self-regulation to help students overcome their procrastinating tendencies. The present review examined the recent literature on causes and consequences of academic procrastination and the limited number of studies of academic interventions for academic procrastination. Findings of this review strengthen the need to further study the topic of academic interventions for academic procrastination and to develop effective interventions. At the end of this review, several suggestions for the development of academic interventions are outlined.
Group dynamics and relocation decisions of a trap-building predator are differentially affected by biotic and abiotic factors

Abstract Most habitats in nature are heterogeneous, incorporating favorable and unfavorable microhabitats for different animals, based on their ecological niche. Unsuitable microhabitats have negative consequences for individual growth and survival. Animals, therefore, should fine-tune their location within the habitat by dispersing away from such microhabitats. We studied the suitability of different constant microhabitat conditions for wormlion larvae, a trap-building predator, tested in groups under laboratory conditions. Wormlions construct pit-traps in loose soil and capture small arthropod prey. As wormlions occur in high densities in nature, testing in groups is thus more indicative of their natural behavior than testing individuals. Wormlions responded strongly to biotic conditions—high conspecific density, starvation, and large body mass of conspecifics—by either increasing pit-relocation events or moving away from the microhabitat center to the periphery of the arena, probably opting for a way out. In other instances, individuals increased their distance to the nearest neighbor, thereby changing the spatial pattern toward a more regular pattern, potentially indicating interference competition. The only abiotic condition apparently perceived by wormlions as unsuitable was shallow sand, which led to frequent relocations. The two other abiotic factors—illumination and sand particle size—had no observable effect on behavior, although wormlions in nature always occur under shade in fine sand, and prefer both shade and fine sand particle size under laboratory conditions when given a choice. Under the fine spatial scale of the present experiment, biotic factors appear to be more influential than abiotic ones.
Owner Assessment of Satiety and Begging Behaviors in Overweight Dogs

This study tested if a therapeutic weight loss diet or presentation of diet to owners would influence owners’ assessment of their dog’s satiety. Twenty-three overweight, but otherwise healthy, dogs were fed their usual diet and then a study diet with both a positive and neutral description in a randomized crossover design. Diets were fed in amounts to meet dogs’ resting energy requirements to maintain current body weight. Owners were asked questions on dogs’ satiety (e.g., begging, acting hungry) on a 1-5 Likert Scale. When comparing the dogs’ usual diet versus neutral description of the study diet and positive vs neutral descriptions of the study diet, there were no statistically significant differences for any survey questions (P = 0.16-0.75; P = 0.310.99, respectively). Wide variation in owner perception was noted for all dog begging behaviors and satiety. Based on this wide variation, individualization of dog weight loss programs could improve success.
Saliency-Guided Complexity Control for HEVC Decoding

The latest High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) standard significantly improves coding efficiency over its previous video coding standards. The expense of such improvement is enormous computational complexity, from both encoding and decoding sides. Since computational capability and power capacity are diverse across portable devices, it is necessary to reduce decoding complexity to a target with tolerable quality loss, so called complexity control. This paper proposes a saliency-guided complexity control (SGCC) approach for HEVC decoding, which reduces the decoding complexity to the target with minimal perceptual quality loss. First, we establish the SGCC formulation to minimize perceptual quality loss at the constraint on reduced decoding complexity, which is achieved via disabling deblocking filter (DF) and simplifying motion compensation (MC) of some non-salient coding tree units (CTUs). One important component in this formulation is the modeled relationship between decoding complexity reduction and DF disabling/MC simplification, which determines the control accuracy of our approach. Another component is the modeled relationship between quality loss and DF disabling/MC simplification, responsible for optimizing perceptual quality. By solving the SGCC formulation for a given target complexity, we can obtain the DF and MC settings of each CTU, and then decoding complexity can be reduced to the target. Finally, the experimental results validate the effectiveness of our SGCC approach, from the aspects of control performance, complexity-distortion performance, and fluctuation of quality loss and subjective quality.
A Study on AIN Film-Based SAW Attenuation in Liquids and Their Potential as Liquid Ethanol Sensors

In this paper, we report attenuation characteristics of aluminum nitride (AIN) film-based surface acoustic waves (SAWs) in liquids and their potential as liquid ethanol sensors. An AIN film-based SAW resonator was fabricated for liquid sensing application. The fabricated SAW device had a Rayleigh wave mode at a resonant frequency of 147.1 MHz and a low temperature coefficient of frequency (TCF) of −21.7 ppm/K. The signal attenuation in the transmission line of the SAW device was presented when ethanol (ETH) droplets and deionized water (DIW) with different concentrations and volume (0.2–1 µL) were dropped on the sensing area respectively. The attenuation of SAW as a function of time and liquid position was investigated. Residues left on the wave propagation path resulted in a frequency shift of the SAW device after liquid evaporation. For ETH, there was a 49 kHz frequency shift caused by a large amount of residues, while the frequency shift of DIW was not distinct, on account of a clean surface. The linear relationship between evaporation rate and ethanol concentration was demonstrated. The evaporation rate of ethanol droplets showed good consistency, and the evaporation time variation was less than 5% at each concentration level. Therefore, the proposed SAW device had great potentials to determine ethanol concentrations based on evaporation rate.
A systematic review of modifiable risk factors in the progression of multiple sclerosis

Background: The presenting symptoms and rate of progression of multiple sclerosis (MS) are very heterogeneous. The diverse clinical manifestations and the clinical course of the disease may vary with modifiable risk factors. Objective: To systematically review modifiable risk factors and exposures associated with MS progression. Methods: We searched six databases till March 2015, reference-mined reviews, and consulted with experts (PROSPERO 2015:CRD42015016461). Two reviewers screened and extracted data. We used random meta-analysis models and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) to assess the quality of evidence. Results: In total, 59 studies met inclusion criteria. Lower vitamin D levels were associated with higher Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores (r = −0.22; confidence interval (CI) = −0.32, −0.12; 11 studies; I2 = 66%), smokers had an increased risk of MS progression (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.55; CI = 1.10, 2.19; I2 = 72%; seven studies), and there was no association of MS progression with the use of epidural analgesics during childbirth delivery (three studies). There was insufficient evidence to draw conclusions for 11 risk factors due to conflicting results or use of different predictor and outcome measures. Conclusion: MS progression was consistently associated with low vitamin D levels, and smoking was associated with a more rapid decline in MS disability. Studies used a variety of methods, predictors, and outcomes making it difficult to draw conclusions. Future studies should focus on prospective assessments.
Comparison of the Rigid Rod System with Modular Plate with the Finite Element Analysis in Short-Segment Posterior Stabilization in the Lower Lumbar Region.

AIM Many studies are available in the literature on posterior spinal instrumentation, though the use of a rod and a plate is still controversial in the literature. In this study, a finite element analysis of the strength and superiority of modular rigid plate and rod systems, which are used in the lower lumbar region, in comparison with each other was used. MATERIAL AND METHODS A Ti6Al4V (Grade 5) titanium biocompatible alloy anterior plate was used for the lumbar spine fixation device, and a finite element analysis was conducted on the human lumbar spine model. In this study, an intact spine, a rigid system fixed with a rod, and modular plate systems were evaluated at flexion, extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation. RESULTS They did not show statistically significant superiority over one another in terms of limitations in movement during the range of motion exercises and rigidity. CONCLUSION The posterior rigid stabilization system and novel stabilization system do not have a significant superiority over one another. Equivalent results in the limitation of movement and rigidity allow for the use of these systems for short-segment posterior spinal instrumentation with the same indications.
Enhancing Time Synchronization Support in Wireless Sensor Networks

With the emerging Internet of Things (IoT) technology becoming reality, a number of applications are being proposed. Several of these applications are highly dependent on wireless sensor networks (WSN) to acquire data from the surrounding environment. In order to be really useful for most of applications, the acquired data must be coherent in terms of the time in which they are acquired, which implies that the entire sensor network presents a certain level of time synchronization. Moreover, to efficiently exchange and forward data, many communication protocols used in WSN rely also on time synchronization among the sensor nodes. Observing the importance in complying with this need for time synchronization, this work focuses on the second synchronization problem, proposing, implementing and testing a time synchronization service for low-power WSN using low frequency real-time clocks in each node. To implement this service, three algorithms based on different strategies are proposed: one based on an auto-correction approach, the second based on a prediction mechanism, while the third uses an analytical correction mechanism. Their goal is the same, i.e., to make the clocks of the sensor nodes converge as quickly as possible and then to keep them most similar as possible. This goal comes along with the requirement to keep low energy consumption. Differently from other works in the literature, the proposal here is independent of any specific protocol, i.e., it may be adapted to be used in different protocols. Moreover, it explores the minimum number of synchronization messages by means of a smart clock update strategy, allowing the trade-off between the desired level of synchronization and the associated energy consumption. Experimental results, which includes data acquired from simulations and testbed deployments, provide evidence of the success in meeting this goal, as well as providing means to compare these three approaches considering the best synchronization results and their costs in terms of energy consumption.
A dynamic self-scheduling scheme for heterogeneous multiprocessor architectures

Today's heterogeneous architectures bring together multiple general-purpose CPUs and multiple domain-specific GPUs and FPGAs to provide dramatic speedup for many applications. However, the challenge lies in utilizing these heterogeneous processors to optimize overall application performance by minimizing workload completion time. Operating system and application development for these systems is in their infancy. In this article, we propose a new scheduling and workload balancing scheme, HDSS, for execution of loops having dependent or independent iterations on heterogeneous multiprocessor systems. The new algorithm dynamically learns the computational power of each processor during an adaptive phase and then schedules the remainder of the workload using a weighted self-scheduling scheme during the completion phase. Different from previous studies, our scheme uniquely considers the runtime effects of block sizes on the performance for heterogeneous multiprocessors. It finds the right trade-off between large and small block sizes to maintain balanced workload while keeping the accelerator utilization at maximum. Our algorithm does not require offline training or architecture-specific parameters. We have evaluated our scheme on two different heterogeneous architectures: AMD 64-core Bulldozer system with nVidia Fermi C2050 GPU and Intel Xeon 32-core SGI Altix 4700 supercomputer with Xilinx Virtex 4 FPGAs. The experimental results show that our new scheduling algorithm can achieve performance improvements up to over 200% when compared to the closest existing load balancing scheme. Our algorithm also achieves full processor utilization with all processors completing at nearly the same time which is significantly better than alternative current approaches.
Partnering to create a more livable city: the Livable St Louis Network.

CONTEXT Physical inactivity is a major public health problem. While individual (eg, attitudes, values, beliefs) and social (eg, social support) factors play a role, access to an activity-safe local environment can have a significant influence. Environments that include accessible opportunities for physical activity, a component of livability, require cooperation from many sectors including nonprofit, government, educational, and for profit. OBJECTIVE/DESIGN/SETTING This study used a mixed-methods network mapping approach to evaluate a multisector network focused on increasing the livability of St Louis, Missouri. PARTICIPANTS Eighteen network members participated in in-depth interviews about their livability partners. OUTCOME MEASURES/RESULTS The participants identified 86 unique partners in the region, with a majority representing nonprofit and government organizations and fewer from the education and for-profit sectors. Participants trusted 88% of their partners and felt that 83% of partners shared their mission and vision. Trust and shared mission and vision varied across organization types. Specifically, 89% of nonprofit partners were thought to share a mission/vision and 87% were trusted. Participants felt that 87% of government partners shared their mission/vision and 91% were trusted. Participants shared mission/vision with 75% and trusted 75% of educational partners. Finally, 44% of for-profit partners were thought to share mission/vision and 100% were trusted. For-profit partners also had more positive influence than others, while government partners had the highest average negative influence. Finally, while most relationships were mutual, relationships with for-profit partners were mostly one-directional, with for-profit partners sending resources to other network members. CONCLUSION Livability efforts in St Louis might benefit from recruiting additional for-profit partners that provide the network with new perspectives and needed resources, and from cultivating positive partnerships with government organizations that can assist with local policy development and enforcement.
A novel sperm adaptation to evolutionary constraints on reproduction: Pre‐ejaculatory sperm activation in the beach spawning capelin (Osmeridae)

Abstract Reproduction of external fertilizing vertebrates is typically constrained to either fresh or salt water, not both. For all studied amphibians and fishes, this constraint includes immotile sperm that are activated after ejaculation only by the specific chemistry of the fertilizing medium in which the species evolved (fresh, brackish, or salt water). No amphibians can reproduce in the sea. Although diadromous fishes may migrate between salt and fresh water, they are shackled to their natal environment for spawning in part because of sperm activation. Here, we report for the first time among all documented external fertilizing vertebrates, that in the absence of any external media, sperm are motile at ejaculation in a marine spawning fish (Osmeridae, capelin, Mallotus villosus). To illuminate why, we evaluated sperm behavior at different salinities in M. villosus as well as the related freshwater spawning anadromous rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax). Surprisingly, sperm performance was superior in fresh water for both species. M. villosus spend their entire life at sea but our results show that their sperm are deactivated by sea water, suggesting a freshwater ancestry. By circumventing constraining water chemistry, we interpret the unique pre‐ejaculatory sperm activation in this species as a novel adaptation that enables fertilization in the marine environment. These findings also contribute to understanding the persistence of anadromy, despite great energetic costs to adult fishes.