Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Modified Locally Weighted Method for Developing Reference Standards for Height, Weight, and Body Mass Index of Boys and Girls Aged 4 to 18 in Taiwan

The objectives of this study are to modify the locally weighted method to obtain reference values for height, weight, and body mass indices (BMI); to describe the median growth velocity of children aged 4 to 18 in Taiwan; and to compare those values with data from other countries. We modified the LOCAL method to generate empirical percentiles and used the locally weighed regression to smooth the percentiles. We examined the smoothed percentiles against original data to ensure that smoothed percentiles were within 1% of errors. We used numerical differentiation of the 50th percentiles of height and weight to obtain the velocity of growth in height and weight, respectively. We applied our method to the data of the Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan, 1993-1996, which was a multistaged stratified sample. The sample included 2351 boys and 2355 girls aged 4 to 18. Our results indicate that (a) the proposed method, which utilizes the original data, guarantees the percentiles within 1% errors; (b) before puberty, the height, weight, and BMI of Taiwanese children are not much different from those of their counterparts in Western countries; and (c) after puberty and at the stage of young adulthood, the height, weight, and BMI of Taiwanese youth are below the levels of those in Western young adults. Genetic makeup and dietary patterns may contribute to these phenomena.
Performance evaluation of the suitability of Opportunistic Networks for the Future Internet

The wireless world is migrating towards an era that will comprise wireless network infrastructure, as well as more local/temporary structures which, for instance, can be called Opportunistic Networks (ONs). ONs can comprise various terminals/devices, potentially organized in an infrastructure-less (ad-hoc) network mode, and be terminated at a set of access points of the infrastructure-based network. The decision of the infrastructure-based network, to create or not such a ONs will be dynamic, should respect traffic, energy and mobility aspects and should also envisage anticipated QoS related benefits for the whole network. Framed within this statement, this paper aims at recommending whether and when the creation of such a ONs will be beneficiary for the overall network. Indicative simulation results are presented, which yield the conditions in which the adoption of such a solution can lead to enhanced application provision, extended access capabilities, better resource utilization, lower costs and management decisions with a “greener” footprint.
Presence of herpesvirus DNA in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with tick‐borne encephalitis and enteroviral meningoencephalitis

Reactivation of HHVs in the CNS due to inflammation has not been well described yet. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of HHV DNA detection in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of immunocompetent patients with meningoencephalitis of other than HHV origin. The secondary aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of herpesvirus co‐infection on the clinical course and patient outcome. Ninety‐six patients with clinically and laboratory proven tick‐borne encephalitis (TBE) and 77 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of enteroviral meningitis (EVM), along with a control group of 107 patients without evidence of inflammation in the CSF were retrospectively tested by nested PCR for the presence of DNA of the neurotropic herpesviruses HSV1, HSV2, VZV, and HHV6 in the CSF. The clinical course, laboratory tests, antiviral treatment, and neurological complications in a 6‐month follow‐up were compared between the groups positive or negative for HHV DNA in the CSF. HHV DNA was found in the CSF of 12 (6.9%) patients (6.3% and 7.8% in the TBE and EVM groups, respectively) and in 1 (0.9%) control patient. None of the patients had recent blisters or rash. The clinical course was comparably mild in all patients. No permanent neurological sequelae were observed. Only the CSF total protein level was significantly higher in HHV DNA‐positive than in HHV‐negative patients. J. Med. Virol. 87:1235–1240, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Increased pulse pressure is associated with left atrial enlargement in resistant hypertensive patients

Abstract Resistant hypertension (RH) is frequently associated with a high prevalence of target organ damage, which impairs the prognosis of these patients. Considering cardiac alterations in RH, most attention has been devoted to left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), but data concerning left atrial enlargement (LAE) is less known. This cross-sectional study assessed the factors associated with LAE, with special focus on blood pressure (BP) estimates obtained by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), in 250 patients with RH, aged 64 ± 11 years. LAE and LVH were observed in 10.0% (95% CI 6.3–13.7) and 57.1% (95% CI 50.8–63.5) of patients, respectively. Compared with patients with normal atrium size, those exhibiting LAE were older, more frequently women, had elevated pulse pressure (PP) measured both at the office and by ABPM, and showed higher prevalence of LVH (83% vs 54%; p = 0.016). In a logistic regression analysis, adjusting for age, gender, body mass index, left ventricular mass index and BP pressure estimates, night-time PP was independently associated with LAE (OR for 5 mmHg = 1.28, 95% CI 1.24–1.32; p = 0.001). In conclusion, besides classical determinants of LAE, such as age and LVH, an elevated night-time PP was independently associated with LAE in patients with RH.
A syllable-based framework for unit selection synthesis in 13 Indian languages

In this paper, we discuss a consortium effort on building text to speech (TTS) systems for 13 Indian languages. There are about 1652 Indian languages. A unified framework is therefore attempted required for building TTSes for Indian languages. As Indian languages are syllable-timed, a syllable-based framework is developed. As quality of speech synthesis is of paramount interest, unit-selection synthesizers are built. Building TTS systems for low-resource languages requires that the data be carefully collected an annotated as the database has to be built from the scratch. Various criteria have to addressed while building the database, namely, speaker selection, pronunciation variation, optimal text selection, handling of out of vocabulary words and so on. The various characteristics of the voice that affect speech synthesis quality are first analysed. Next the design of the corpus of each of the Indian languages is tabulated. The collected data is labeled at the syllable level using a semiautomatic labeling tool. Text to speech synthesizers are built for all the 13 languages, namely, Hindi, Tamil, Marathi, Bengali, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, Gujarati, Rajasthani, Assamese, Manipuri, Odia and Bodo using the same common framework. The TTS systems are evaluated using degradation Mean Opinion Score (DMOS) and Word Error Rate (WER). An average DMOS score of ≈3.0 and an average WER of about 20 % is observed across all the languages.
Bilateral Simultaneous Angle-closure Glaucoma Associated With Septic Condition of Korean Hemorrhagic Fever (KHF)

Purpose:To report a case of bilateral simultaneous angle-closure glaucoma caused by septic condition of Korean hemorrhagic fever. Methods:A 62-year-old man visited our emergency center with signs of sepsis (fever, leukocytosis, and oliguria). After 4 days of hospitalization, the patient reported blurred vision. Upon ophthalmologic examination, elevated intraocular pressure, edematous cornea, closed anterior chamber angle, and shallow anterior chamber without iris bowing were found in both eyes in slit-lamp examination and in Pentacam (Oculus, Wetzlar, Germany) Scheimpflug images. Bilateral choroidal effusion was observed on an ultrasound B scan as well. The serologic test for anti-hantaan virus immunoglobulin G (IgG) was positive. Results:Along with the sepsis treatment, intravenous hyperosmotic agent, antiglaucoma eye drops, and 1% atropine eye drop were administered immediately. To control the choroidal effusion, systemic steroid was also administered. After 4 months, anterior chamber depth and choroidal effusion were normalized. Conclusions:Systemic causes should be considered in patients with bilateral angle-closure glaucoma, and Korean hemorrhagic fever can be one of the causes in endemic areas.
‘Should I stay or should I go?’ Bacterial attachment vs biofilm formation on surface-modified membranes

A number of techniques are used for testing the anti-biofouling activity of surfaces, yet the correlation between different results is often questionable. In this report, the correlation between initial bacterial deposition (fast tests, reported previously) and biofilm growth (much slower tests) was analyzed on a pristine and a surface-modified reverse osmosis membrane ESPA-1. The membrane was modified with grafted hydrophilic polymers bearing negatively charged, positively charged and zwitter-ionic moieties. Using three different bacterial strains it was found that there was no general correlation between the initial bacterial deposition rates and biofilm growth on surfaces, the reasons being different for each modified surface. For the negatively charged surface the slowest deposition due to the charge repulsion was eventually succeeded by the largest biofilm growth, probably due to secretion of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) that mediated a strong attachment. For the positively charged surface, short-term charge attraction by quaternary amine groups led to the fastest deposition, but could be eventually overridden by their antimicrobial activity, resulting in non-consistent results where in some cases a lower biofilm formation rate was observed. The results indicate that initial deposition rates have to be used and interpreted with great care, when used for assessing the anti-biofouling activity of surfaces. However, for a weakly interacting ‘low-fouling’ zwitter-ionic surface, the positive correlation between initial cell deposition and biofilm growth, especially under flow, suggests that for this type of coating initial deposition tests may be fairly indicative of anti-biofouling potential.
Housing Associations and Housing Policy: A Historical Perspective

Introduction PART I The Origins of Voluntary Housing, before 1890 Multiple Visions of Housing Reform, 1890-1914 False Dawns, 1914-1933 PART II An Unequal Struggle, 1933-1939 Voluntary Housing and the Welfare State, 1939-1961 Housing's Third Arm, 1961-1974 Instruments in Housing Policy, 1974-1988 PART III Housing and Housing Policy Since 1988 Finance Development Governance Conclusion References
Obesity, metabolism, and the sympathetic nervous system.

The association of hypertension and obesity is poorly understood. Studies conducted in our laboratory over the last decade, in conjunction with recent clinical and epidemiological observations, suggest that hypertension in the obese is derived from a fundamental relationship between dietary intake and sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity. The application of kinetic techniques to the measurement of norepinephrine (NE) turnover rate in sympathetically innervated tissues of laboratory rodents has defined a relationship between the SNS and dietary intake. Fasting or caloric restriction suppresses sympathetic activity in a variety of organs of the rat, including heart and interscapular brown adipose tissue. Overfeeding a mixed, palatable, "cafeteria" diet stimulates sympathetic activity in these same tissues. The stimulatory effect of mixed diets is due to the carbohydrate and fat content, because these two latter nutrients stimulate sympathetic activity even when total caloric intake is not increased. Insulin-mediated glucose metabolism within central neurons associated with the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) plays an important role in the relationship between dietary intake and SNS activity as indicated by the following observations: (1) Hypoglycemia (noninsulin-mediated) is associated with suppression of the SNS (despite concomitant adrenal medullary stimulation); (2) 2-deoxyglucose, an intracellular inhibitor of glucose metabolism, decreases sympathetic activity. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The aging athlete

In summary, the purpose of this material is to demonstrate that the aging athlete does differ from the younger competitor in many facets. There are physiological, structural, and psychosocial differences which distinguish them as a unique entity in the athletic world. Despite the unavoidable alterations that the passage of time imposes on our bodies, these competitors are still capable of incredible performances of strength, skill, and endurance. In reference to injury, these athletes are at risk from both their current program and their past indiscretions. The literature strongly suggests that the greatest threat to the health of the aging athlete is not the aging process itself but rather inactivity. Astrand concurs with this and states that "there is less risk in activity than in continuous inactivity--it is more advisable to pass a careful physical examination if one intends to be sedentary in order to establish whether one's state of health is good enough to stand the inactivity. " It appears that the body systems were designed to reinforce activity and when there is disuse, a large number of atrophic changes take place. It has been estimated that regular exercise may be able to retard the physiologic decline associated with old age as much as 50%. Taken in this light, exercise is truly a fountain of youth from which we can all rejuvenate ourselves. Science has proven that life does not begin at 40, but it has also demonstrated that it does not have to end there. As one author so aptly states, "Not too many years ago the words grandma and grandpa conjured images of rocking chairs and inactivity. "(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Optimal numerical design of forced convection heat sinks

The objective of this paper is to describe the development of a computationally efficient computer-aided design (CAD) method, which uses a finite element numerical model (FEM) coupled with empirical correlations, to create an optimum heat sink design, subject to multiple constraints. A thermal optimization "challenge" problem, representative of anticipated heat sink requirements in the near future, is solved to demonstrate the proposed methodology. Particular emphasis is placed upon micro-processor central processing unit (CPU) chip cooling applications where, in addition to thermal requirements, the heat sink design specification includes constraints upon size, total mass, and air coolant pressure drop across the heat sink.
Potentiation of mouse vagal afferent mechanosensitivity by ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate receptors

Glutamate acts at central synapses via ionotropic (iGluR – NMDA, AMPA and kainate) and metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs). Group I mGluRs are excitatory whilst group II and III are inhibitory. Inhibitory mGluRs also modulate peripherally the mechanosensitivity of gastro‐oesophageal vagal afferents. Here we determined the potential of excitatory GluRs to play an opposing role in modulating vagal afferent mechanosensitivity, and investigated expression of receptor subunit mRNA within the nodose ganglion. The responses of mouse gastro‐oesophageal vagal afferents to graded mechanical stimuli were investigated before and during application of selective GluR ligands to their peripheral endings. Two types of vagal afferents were tested: tension receptors, which respond to circumferential tension, and mucosal receptors, which respond only to mucosal stroking. The selective iGluR agonists NMDA and AMPA concentration‐dependently potentiated afferent responses. Their corresponding antagonists AP‐5 and NBQX alone attenuated mechanosensory responses as did the non‐selective antagonist kynurenate. The kainate selective agonist SYM‐2081 had minor effects on mechanosensitivity, and the antagonist UBP 302 was ineffective. The mGluR5 antagonist MTEP concentration‐dependently inhibited mechanosensitivity. Efficacy of agonists and antagonists differed on mucosal and tension receptors. We conclude that excitatory modulation of afferent mechanosensitivity occurs mainly via NMDA, AMPA and mGlu5 receptors, and the role of each differs according to afferent subtypes. PCR data indicated that all NMDA, kainate and AMPA receptor subunits plus mGluR5 are expressed, and are therefore candidates for the neuromodulation we observed.
A comparison of prediction models for fractures in older women: is more better?

BACKGROUND A Web-based risk assessment tool (FRAX) using clinical risk factors with and without femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD) has been incorporated into clinical guidelines regarding treatment to prevent fractures. However, it is uncertain whether prediction with FRAX models is superior to that based on parsimonious models. METHODS We conducted a prospective cohort study in 6252 women 65 years or older to compare the value of FRAX models that include BMD with that of parsimonious models based on age and BMD alone for prediction of fractures. We also compared FRAX models without BMD with simple models based on age and fracture history alone. Fractures (hip, major osteoporotic [hip, clinical vertebral, wrist, or humerus], and any clinical fracture) were ascertained during 10 years of follow-up. Area under the curve (AUC) statistics from receiver operating characteristic curve analysis were compared between FRAX models and simple models. RESULTS The AUC comparisons showed no differences between FRAX models with BMD and simple models with age and BMD alone in discriminating hip (AUC, 0.75 for the FRAX model and 0.76 for the simple model; P = .26), major osteoporotic (AUC, 0.68 for the FRAX model and 0.69 for the simple model; P = .51), and clinical fracture (AUC, 0.64 for the FRAX model and 0.63 for the simple model; P = .16). Similarly, performance of parsimonious models containing age and fracture history alone was nearly identical to that of FRAX models without BMD. The proportion of women in each quartile of predicted risk who actually experienced a fracture outcome did not differ between FRAX and simple models (P > or = .16). CONCLUSION Simple models based on age and BMD alone or age and fracture history alone predicted 10-year risk of hip, major osteoporotic, and clinical fracture as well as more complex FRAX models.
Study of CS-GE Classification Algorithm

In data mining, the classification algorithms usually pursue more highly accuracy. It is based on the assumption that all misclassifications have the same cost. Obvious, the assumption is not suitable. By improving the encode/decode methods and taking different misclassification cost into account, this paper concerns a new cost-sensitive algorithm called CS-GE based on Gene Expression. The experimental results show that the new algorithm is effective.
Evaluating for learning and accountability in system innovation: Incorporating reflexivity in a logical framework

Approaches to accelerate innovation have become more integrated and systemic over time, such as Agricultural Innovation Systems and co-innovation. Primary Innovation is a New Zealand co-innovation programme in which innovation is conceived as being ‘co-produced’ by stakeholders who contribute their unique knowledge to solving a problem or realizing an opportunity. In co-innovation, cyclical processes of planning, doing, observing and reflecting enable innovation to emerge from interactive learning among stakeholders. In this article, we argue that when flexibly applied and adapted to capture dynamics typical in systems innovation projects, the log frame approach and logical frameworks have considerable utility to support evaluation for both learning and accountability and for identifying and addressing institutional logics, which lead to system innovation. We demonstrate this for the case of Primary Innovation and compare our experiences with the limitations and solutions suggested by other recent researchers when applying logic models, logical frameworks, programme theories or theories of change as part of an ‘adapted accountability framework’.
Postnatal depression: a hidden illness

The main objectives of this study were (i) to find out to what extent postnatal depression (PND) in mothers was recognized at Well Baby Clinics (WBCs) in Stockholm, (ii) to study the prevalence of PND using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), (iii) to test the positive predictive value of the EPDS against an interview‐based Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC) diagnosis of depression and (iv) to identify sociodemographic risk factors for PND. Case‐records of 1128 infants were reviewed at WBCs to obtain a baseline rate of PND. Two per cent of the mothers were identified in the routine service of the WBCs as being depressed during the first 3 months postpartum. During a project year, 309 Swedish‐speaking mothers completed a set of EPDS 3 months postpartum. In total, 14.5% of the women scored >12 on the EPDS and 67% of these women had a depression according to RDC. At least 8.4% of the mothers investigated had a clinical depression. A positive link was found between being single with more than one child and having PND. In conclusion, very few women with PND are identified in routine WBC care in Sweden. The use of the EPDS as a screening measure at the WBC is recommended. The scale is well accepted both by the mothers and by the nurses, and its use significantly increases the number of identified cases of PND.
VHL tumor suppressor gene alterations associated with good prognosis in sporadic clear-cell renal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND Somatic alteration of the von Hippel-Lindau disease tumor suppressor gene (VHL) is one of the most common genetic changes observed in the sporadic, clear-cell subtype of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, the prognostic utility of VHL mutations has not been examined. The purpose of this study was to explore the association between VHL mutations and the risk of death from sporadic clear-cell RCC. METHODS A total of 187 Japanese patients with clear-cell RCC who underwent nephrectomy from October 1986 through December 1995 were examined for somatic VHL gene alteration. Clinicopathologic and survival data were also collected. Kaplan-Meier analyses and Cox proportional hazards models were used to explore associations. All statistical tests were two-sided. RESULTS A VHL alteration (mutation or hypermethylation) was detected in 108 RCC tumor samples: intragenic mutations in 98 (52%) and hypermethylation in 10 (5.3%). VHL alterations were strongly associated with better cancer-free survival and cancer-specific survival for the 134 patients with stage I-III clear-cell RCC treated by radical nephrectomy (log-rank P =.024 and.023, respectively). These associations were more statistically significant among patients with relatively advanced disease (stage III [P =.014 and.010, respectively] or stage II + III [P =.002 and.009]) or higher grade tumors (G3 or higher [P =.013 and.032] or G2 or higher [P =.013 and.018]) and among patients who presented with symptoms (P =.005 and.012). VHL alterations remained an independent prognostic factor for patients with stage I-III tumors after adjustment for sex, age, stage, grading, and symptomatic presentation. VHL alterations were not associated with cancer-specific survival for the 53 patients with stage IV tumors treated with palliative or adjunctive nephrectomy (log-rank P =.760). CONCLUSION The VHL alteration status may provide useful prognostic information, as a biomolecular marker, for patients with stage I-III clear-cell RCC who have undergone nephrectomy.