Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ask-Advise-Connect: a new approach to smoking treatment delivery in health care settings.

IMPORTANCE Several national health care-based smoking cessation initiatives have been recommended to facilitate the delivery of evidence-based treatments, such as quitline (telephone-based tobacco cessation services) assistance. The most notable examples are the 5 As (Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, Arrange) and Ask. Advise. Refer. (AAR) programs. Unfortunately, rates of primary care referrals to quitlines are low, and most referred smokers fail to call for assistance. OBJECTIVE To evaluate a new approach--Ask-Advise-Connect (AAC)--designed to address barriers to linking smokers with treatment. DESIGN A pair-matched, 2-treatment-arm, group-randomized design in 10 family practice clinics in a single metropolitan area. Five clinics were randomized to the AAC (intervention) and 5 to the AAR (control) conditions. In both conditions, clinic staff were trained to assess and record the smoking status of all patients at all visits in the electronic health record, and smokers were given brief advice to quit. In the AAC clinics, the names and telephone numbers of smokers who agreed to be connected were sent electronically to the quitline daily, and patients were called proactively by the quitline within 48 hours. In the AAR clinics, smokers were offered a quitline referral card and encouraged to call on their own. All data were collected from February 8 through December 27, 2011. SETTING Ten clinics in Houston, Texas. PARTICIPANTS Smoking status assessments were completed for 42,277 patients; 2052 unique smokers were identified at AAC clinics, and 1611 smokers were identified at AAR clinics. INTERVENTIONS Linking smokers with quitline-delivered treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Impact was based on the RE-AIM (Reach, Efficacy, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance) conceptual framework and defined as the proportion of all identified smokers who enrolled in treatment. RESULTS In the AAC clinics, 7.8% of all identified smokers enrolled in treatment vs 0.6% in the AAR clinics (t4 = 9.19 [P < .001]; odds ratio, 11.60 [95% CI, 5.53-24.32]), a 13-fold increase in the proportion of smokers enrolling in treatment. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE The system changes implemented in the AAC approach could be adopted broadly by other health care systems and have tremendous potential to reduce tobacco-related morbidity and mortality.
Disagreement-based combinatorial pure exploration: Efficient algorithms and an analysis with localization

We design new algorithms for the combinatorial pure exploration problem in the multi-arm bandit framework. In this problem, we are given K distributions and a collection of subsets $\mathcal{V} \subset 2^K$ of these distributions, and we would like to find the subset $v \in \mathcal{V}$ that has largest cumulative mean, while collecting, in a sequential fashion, as few samples from the distributions as possible. We study both the fixed budget and fixed confidence settings, and our algorithms essentially achieve state-of-the-art performance in all settings, improving on previous guarantees for structures like matchings and submatrices that have large augmenting sets. Moreover, our algorithms can be implemented efficiently whenever the decision set V admits linear optimization. Our analysis involves precise concentration-of-measure arguments and a new algorithm for linear programming with exponentially many constraints.
Dissection of the Control of Anion Homeostasis by Associative Transcriptomics in Brassica napus1[W][OPEN]

Associative transcriptomics in Brassica napus identified candidate genes for the control of variation in nitrate, phosphate, and sulfate contents. To assess the variation in nutrient homeostasis in oilseed rape and to identify the genes responsible for this variation, we determined foliar anion levels in a diversity panel of Brassica napus accessions, 84 of which had been genotyped previously using messenger RNA sequencing. We applied associative transcriptomics to identify sequence polymorphisms linked to variation in nitrate, phosphate, or sulfate in these accessions. The analysis identified several hundred significant associations for each anion. Using functional annotation of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) homologs and available microarray data, we identified 60 candidate genes for controlling variation in the anion contents. To verify that these genes function in the control of nutrient homeostasis, we obtained Arabidopsis transfer DNA insertion lines for these candidates and tested them for the accumulation of nitrate, phosphate, and sulfate. Fourteen lines differed significantly in levels of the corresponding anions. Several of these genes have been shown previously to affect the accumulation of the corresponding anions in Arabidopsis mutants. These results thus confirm the power of associative transcriptomics in dissection of the genetic control of complex traits and present a set of candidate genes for use in the improvement of efficiency of B. napus mineral nutrition.
Digital playgrounds for early computing education

For our community 2013 could be called the year of Code.org. It made a big splash in February 2013 with its suite of YouTube videos featuring celebrities (tech pioneers Bill Gates, Jack Dorsey, Mark Zuckerburg, Ruchi Sanghvi, to NBA star Chris Bosch, rock star will.i.am and follow-up videos featuring former US president Bill Clinton). If 12+ million views in less than three weeks are any indicator of potential interest among students, then the big challenge is how to tap into and deliver on the opportunities for learning computing to school-age kids? Hadi and Ali Partovi, founders of Code. org have an uncanny and tireless ability to attract the superstar talent, which includes thousands of teachers and practitioners, the resources, and perhaps the most effective PR campaign our field has ever seen. Enter Hour of Code, Code.org’s partnership with ACM, CSTA, and other computing organizations (read also as “friendly takeover”) for the annual Computer Science Education Week [7] and, in December of 2013, it reached out to inspire over 20 million students to learn to code. Crowdsourcing of local volunteers across the world seems to have solved the issue of reaching out to ten million kids. However, two big questions loom: What will we teach them in an hour of coding? And, what will we do beyond that? True to the nature of our discipline, the tools that were used for this unprecedented event are going to be somewhat of a last minute development exercise. Or so it seemed. Code.org featured a selection of tools and tutorials many of which were put together just days before the event. It was only a few weeks before the event when Rovio [15] generously made available the design and API for its Angry Birds app, as did PopCap Games [14] for its Plants vs. Zombies game. There was a lot of game or game style programming in these first time coding sessions. Many readers of this magazine might cringe at that, or perhaps jump with joy depending on what side of the pedagogic dichotomy they fall on. One set of Hour of Code tutorials targeted for elementary and middle school kids exploits visual programming environments for teaching programming. These include familiar environments like Scratch [16] and AppInventor [13] plus a whole host of new browser or tablet based interactive multimedia tutorial IDEs like Tynker [18], LightBot [12], Kodable [11], Blockly [1], and Code.org’s Angry Birds and Plants vs. Zombies based environment [4]. Most of the lessons employ maze-based, adventure puzzle games. Kids go through a set of graded exercises/puzzles to drive characters in a scene: a red Angry Bird going after a Green Pig; a robot like creature navigating a block of squares, etc. Kids learn the basics of programming: sequencing, selection, and iteration by using command blocks like moveForward or turnLeft. All of these environments use Scratch-like drag-and-drop command blocks to construct scripts or programs. Not all tutorials require computers or tablets. Several in Thinkersmith’s tutorials are completely unplugged, no computer is required [17]. Digital Playgrounds for Early Computing Education
Quantifying the Regularity of Perturbed Triangular Lattices Using CoV-Based Metrics for Modeling the Locations of Base Stations in HetNets

In this paper, we give qualitative and quantitative arguments for the use of perturbed triangular lattice (PTL) models for generating base station deployments with any amount of spatial regularity, which is useful notably in modeling different tiers of HetNets. We use the coefficient of variation of three spatial properties of point processes to measure the regularity of two common types of PTL: uniform on disc and Gaussian. From these measurements, we are able to derive a simple formula that allows matching and interchanging the two PTL models, within about 0.1 dB error in SIR.
Influence of supply frequency on dissipation factor measurement and stator insulation diagnosis

This paper deals with influence of the supply frequency for dissipation factor measurements, mainly for tests under power frequency and low frequency. After a theoretical reminder, we present some experiments on single coils and stators of high voltage motors. Finally, we discuss the results and the desirability of choosing one or the other of these methods.
Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 3 (PARP3), a newcomer in cellular response to DNA damage and mitotic progression

The ADP ribosyl transferase [poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase] ARTD3(PARP3) is a newly characterized member of the ARTD(PARP) family that catalyzes the reaction of ADP ribosylation, a key posttranslational modification of proteins involved in different signaling pathways from DNA damage to energy metabolism and organismal memory. This enzyme shares high structural similarities with the DNA repair enzymes PARP1 and PARP2 and accordingly has been found to catalyse poly(ADP ribose) synthesis. However, relatively little is known about its in vivo cellular properties. By combining biochemical studies with the generation and characterization of loss-of-function human and mouse models, we describe PARP3 as a newcomer in genome integrity and mitotic progression. We report a particular role of PARP3 in cellular response to double-strand breaks, most likely in concert with PARP1. We identify PARP3 as a critical player in the stabilization of the mitotic spindle and in telomere integrity notably by associating and regulating the mitotic components NuMA and tankyrase 1. Both functions open stimulating prospects for specifically targeting PARP3 in cancer therapy.
Auto-propagation of contours for adaptive prostate radiation therapy

The purpose of this work is to develop an effective technique to automatically propagate contours from planning CT to cone beam CT (CBCT) to facilitate CBCT-guided prostate adaptive radiation therapy. Different from other disease sites, such as the lungs, the contour mapping here is complicated by two factors: (i) the physical one-to-one correspondence may not exist due to the insertion or removal of some image contents within the region of interest (ROI); and (ii) reduced contrast to noise ratio of the CBCT images due to increased scatter. To overcome these issues, we investigate a strategy of excluding the regions with variable contents by a careful design of a narrow shell signifying the contour of an ROI. For rectum, for example, a narrow shell with the delineated contours as its interior surface was constructed to avoid the adverse influence of the day-to-day content change inside the rectum on the contour mapping. The corresponding contours in the CBCT were found by warping the narrow shell through the use of BSpline deformable model. Both digital phantom experiments and clinical case testing were carried out to validate the proposed ROI mapping method. It was found that the approach was able to reliably warp the constructed narrow band with an accuracy better than 1.3 mm. For all five clinical cases enrolled in this study, the method yielded satisfactory results even when there were significant rectal content changes between the planning CT and CBCT scans. The overlapped area of the auto-mapped contours over 90% to the manually drawn contours is readily achievable. The proposed approach permits us to take advantage of the regional calculation algorithm yet avoiding the nuisance of rectum/bladder filling and provide a useful tool for adaptive radiotherapy of prostate in the future.
Tool for Screening Visual Acuity in Older Individuals With Dementia

Rationale/Objective: To develop a screening and referral algorithm tool to help identify which older institutionalized individuals with dementia need an eye examination. Methods: The visual acuity (VA) screening test was developed on an iPad retina display. Three optotypes were used (letters, numbers, and tumbling E’s) to determine whether one works best with dementia. The screening VA results and algorithm decision were validated against those obtained by an optometrist performing a complete eye examination. Results: Of the 150 participants, 14.7% did not respond to any optotype, while 85.3% responded to letters, 84.0% to numbers, and 66.0% to tumbling E’s. The VA achieved was superior for letters. The concordance for the screening versus eye examination was >80% for VA and 90% for the algorithm. Conclusion: The results indicate that the tool was successful at identifying older individuals with dementia needing an eye examination.
Influence of Asthma Status on Serotype-Specific Pneumococcal Antibody Levels

Abstract Background: Asthma has been reported to be associated with an increased risk of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). Objective: We compared serotype-specific antibody responses with pneumococcal polysaccharide antigens of individuals with and without asthma. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted for 16 subjects with asthma and 14 subjects without asthma from the community of Rochester, MN. Asthma was determined by predetermined criteria based on comprehensive medical record reviews. Serotype-specific antibody to 23 pneumococcal polysaccharide antigens was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and seropositivity was considered ≥ 1.3 μg/mL. Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin-5 (IL-5) were measured from peripheral blood mononuclear cells cultured with house dust mites and staphylococcal enterotoxin B. Results: Of the 30 subjects, 16 (53%) were male, 21 (70%) were white, and the median age was 26 years. The median numbers of positive serotype-specific antibodies for asthmatics and nonasthmatics were 8.5 and 15.5, respectively (P = 0.034). There was an inverse relationship between the ratio of log-transformed IL-5/IFN-γ and the number of positive serotype-specific antibodies (r = –0.36; P = 0.052). As potential covariates and confounders, a history of pneumococcal vaccination (P = 0.84), having a high-risk condition for IPD (P = 0.68), and taking asthma medications, including inhaled/systemic corticosteroids (P = 0.79), were not associated with the number of positive serotype-specific antibodies. Conclusion: Asthmatics had significantly lower serotype-specific pneumococcal antibody levels than nonasthmatics. House dust mite-induced T-helper 2 (Th2) cytokine immune profile may be related to the association. This may account for an increased risk of IPD in asthmatics and deserves further investigation.
Gestion agroécologique des pucerons sur culture de pois par l'implantation d'une bande fleurie en bordure de parcelle

En Bretagne, le puceron vert du pois, Acyrthosyphon pisum, est un insecte problematique sur culture de pois. La culture est sensible aux pullulations a partir du stade de floraison. Dans le but de reduire l’utilisation des produits phytosanitaires, des methodes alternatives sont testees et notamment la lutte biologique par conservation. La cooperative Triskalia a sollicite l’entreprise Nova-Flore pour participer a cet essai ayant pour but d’evaluer l’effet de l’implantation d’une bande fleurie sur l’entomofaune et la production de pois par rapport a une bande enherbee, a trois dates differentes. Une etude comparative des methodes d’echantillonnage est realisee. Les populations d’insectes sont comparees dans les bordures et dans la culture, en prenant en compte l’eloignement a l’amenagement. Les resultats montrent que lors des derniers releves, l’abondance des syrphes est plus importante dans les bandes fleuries et que les auxiliaires des pucerons sont plus nombreux dans la culture avec l’amenagement fleuri a proximite. Ce resultat peut etre lie a la floraison de bande fleurie, faible au debut de l’essai puis a 75% a la recolte du pois. Un effet de la distance a l’amenagement est presque toujours releve, avec une diminution des abondances avec l’eloignement. Le nombre de momies de pucerons suit cette dynamique, avec des momies retrouvees a 75 m de la bordure. La production du pois n’est pas differente en fonction de l’amenagement en bordure. Il serait interessant de realiser un semis en automne pour que la floraison de la bande couvre la periode de sensibilite du pois.
Mechanism of hERG Channel Block by the Psychoactive Indole Alkaloid Ibogaine

Ibogaine is a psychoactive indole alkaloid. Its use as an antiaddictive agent has been accompanied by QT prolongation and cardiac arrhythmias, which are most likely caused by human ether a go-go–related gene (hERG) potassium channel inhibition. Therefore, we studied in detail the interaction of ibogaine with hERG channels heterologously expressed in mammalian kidney tsA-201 cells. Currents through hERG channels were blocked regardless of whether ibogaine was applied via the extracellular or intracellular solution. The extent of inhibition was determined by the relative pH values. Block occurred during activation of the channels and was not observed for resting channels. With increasing depolarizations, ibogaine block grew and developed faster. Steady-state activation and inactivation of the channel were shifted to more negative potentials. Deactivation was slowed, whereas inactivation was accelerated. Mutations in the binding site reported for other hERG channel blockers (Y652A and F656A) reduced the potency of ibogaine, whereas an inactivation-deficient double mutant (G628C/S631C) was as sensitive as wild-type channels. Molecular drug docking indicated binding within the inner cavity of the channel independently of the protonation of ibogaine. Experimental current traces were fit to a kinetic model of hERG channel gating, revealing preferential binding of ibogaine to the open and inactivated state. Taken together, these findings show that ibogaine blocks hERG channels from the cytosolic side either in its charged form alone or in company with its uncharged form and alters the currents by changing the relative contribution of channel states over time.
Amplitude and Timing of EMG Activity in the Human Masseter Muscle during Selected Motor Tasks

Electromyographic (EMG) activity in the human masseter muscle was registered from six different sites, in the anterior, middle, and posterior regions of the superficial and deep layers of the muscle, during static clenching tasks (intercuspal and incisal), selected jaw movements (alternating protrusion/retrusion, right/left latero-deviation, and open/close excursions), and unilateral chewing on right and left sides. Peak-EMG amplitudes and the timing of the peaks were compared. Activity in the regions of the deep masseter was either higher (in mastication and intercuspal open/close excursions) or lower (incisal clenching) than the activities in the superficial masseter. Superficial and deep masseter also differed in their timing of peak EMG: During chewing, peak activity passed from superficial to deep in the balancing-side muscle, and from deep to superficial on the chewing side. During free latero-deviations, peak activity started in the deep masseter, when the jaw moved to the right side (i.e., the side of the muscle), and then passed to the superficial regions, after the jaw movement was reversed to the left side. In addition, within the deep masseter there existed clear anteroposterior differences in activation level (during incisal clenching and open/close excursions) and in timing (during latero-deviation). Such a differentiation of activity was not found in the superficial masseter.
Association of Nox1 and Vinculin With Colon Cancer Progression

Nox1 mRNA, protein, and activities were compared in the paired primary and metastatic colon adenocarcinoma cell lines SW480 and SW620, and in normal colon tissues and colon cancer tissues. Our results demonstrated that Nox1 levels were higher in the primary SW480 cells than that in metastatic SW620 cells and were not associated with colon cancer progression. We further discovered that vinculin protein level in SW620 was much higher than that in SW480 cells, whereas E-cadherin was lower. We conclude that vinculin and E-cadherin, but not Nox1, may serve as biomarkers for colon cancer progression.
Random Features for Shift-Invariant Kernels with Moment Matching

In order to grapple with the conundrum in the scalability of kernel-based learning algorithms, the method of approximating nonlinear kernels via random feature maps has attracted wide attention in large-scale learning systems. Specifically, the associated sampling procedure is one critical component that dictates the quality of random feature maps. However, for high-dimensional features, the standard Monte Carlo sampling method has been shown to be less effective in producing low-variance random samples. In consequence, it demands constructing a large number of features to attain the desired accuracy for downstream use. In this paper, we present a novel sampling algorithm powered by moment matching techniques to reduce the variance of random features. Our extensive empirical studies and comparisons with several highly competitive peer methods verify the superiority of the proposed algorithm in Gram matrix approximation and generalization errors in regression. Our rigorous theoretical proofs justify that the proposed algorithm is guaranteed achieving lower variance than the standard Monte Carlo method in high dimensional settings.
Project Investment Decision-Making

Project evaluation is the control of the planning and implementation of project activities with regard to the objectives to be achieved. In this paper we assume the objective to be efficient outcome and profit maximization. This means that project evaluation puts normative assessments into the context of planning and management and hence into the context of intentional action and cycles of action. The model for project evaluation we propose has two money holders who must decide how to invest their money in two investment funds (financial intermediaries) that, in turn, will use the money to bid to acquire ownership in two projects. The general case when the number of money holders, the number of funds, and the number of investments are arbitrary may be handled in a similar manner to the development below, but at a cost of greater complexity. As a result no mechanism to achieve the maximum outcome is present and different methods to find optimal structure under uncertainty and different cost structures are discussed.