Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of compliance with treatment on survival among patients with hematologic malignancies.

Ninety-four newly diagnosed patients with hematologic malignancies were monitored for compliance with oral medication and scheduled clinic appointments over a 6-month treatment period. They were assigned at entry either to a control condition or an intervention condition designed to improve compliance. Compliance with medication was assessed objectively with serial serum drug and metabolite levels, as well as with self-report indices obtained on a monthly basis. Medical records were abstracted to obtain data on the number of appointments kept, treatment given, disease characteristics, and survival. On univariate analyses using the log-rank test, five variables were found to be significantly related to survival. These included compliance with allopurinol (probably acting as a surrogate for self-medication with other chemotherapeutic agents) (P = .007), control versus educational program cohort (P less than .001), disease severity (P = .009), Karnofsky at diagnosis (P = .011), sex (P = .084), and clinic appointments kept (P = .043). In hierarchical proportional hazards models, the following variables were associated with decreased risk of death: disease severity (P less than .025), keeping over 60% of appointments (P less than .05), allopurinol/oxipurinol compliance (P less than .01), and educational program cohort (P less than .05). After controlling for all other variables, three variables were associated with increased survival: high disease severity (relative risk [RR] = 2.48), high compliance with allopurinol (RR = .45), and educational program cohort (RR = .39). We conclude that compliance with oral medication has a significant effect on patient survival. In addition, the use of special educational and supportive programs designed to improve patient compliance are associated with significant prolongation of patient survival due to, as well as independent of their effects on compliance.
Low Back Pain During Pregnancy: Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Outcomes

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the severity of the low back pain (LBP) during pregnancy, including prevalence, risk factors, impact on daily living, and health provider management. METHODS: An anonymous survey consisting of 36 questions was distributed to pregnant women participating in various prenatal care clinics and educational classes in New Haven County, Connecticut. A total of 950 surveys was returned from May 2002 through October 2003. At each site, a researcher was available each week to answer questions and gather surveys. RESULTS: Six hundred forty-five (68.5%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 65–72%) respondents reported experiencing LBP during their current pregnancy. The prevalence was not affected by gestational age (P = .56). Low back pain during the current pregnancy was predicted by age (younger women were more likely to develop it; P = .004), history of LBP without pregnancy (P = .002), during menstruation (P = .01), and during a previous pregnancy (P = .002). The majority of respondents reported that LBP during pregnancy caused sleep disturbances (58%; 95% CI 54–62%) and impaired daily living (57%; 95% CI 53–62%). Average pain was moderate in severity. Nearly 30% of respondents stopped performing at least one daily activity because of pain and reported that pain also impaired the performance of other routine tasks. Only 32% (95% CI 28–36%) of the respondents with LBP during pregnancy informed their prenatal care providers of this problem, and only 25% (95% CI 21–28%) of prenatal care providers recommended a treatment. CONCLUSION: Low back pain during pregnancy is a common problem that causes hardship in this population. Further studies are indicated in the areas of prevention and treatment. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III
Radar equipment fault diagnosis method based on support vector domain description

To surmount the problem that radar equipment fault detection data to be hard get, support vector domain description is be used to diagnose radar fault, and have established the kind of classification model based on a classification. This model uses few fault sample and the sample under normal state to establish fault classification model, realizes the fault diagnosis of fault identification and complete radar equipment. Finally, through diagnose fault of logarithm magnifying circuit to verify the feasibility of this method, and reach a good diagnosis result.
Microbat paraphyly and the convergent evolution of a key innovation in Old World rhinolophoid microbats

Molecular phylogenies challenge the view that bats belong to the superordinal group Archonta, which also includes primates, tree shrews, and flying lemurs. Some molecular studies also challenge microbat monophyly and instead support an alliance between megabats and representative rhinolophoid microbats from the families Rhinolophidae (horseshoe bats, Old World leaf-nosed bats) and Megadermatidae (false vampire bats). Another molecular study ostensibly contradicts these results and supports traditional microbat monophyly, inclusive of representative rhinolophoids from the family Nycteridae (slit-faced bats). Resolution of the microbat paraphyly/monophyly issue is essential for reconstructing the temporal sequence and deployment of morphological character state changes associated with flight and echolocation in bats. If microbats are paraphyletic, then laryngeal echolocation either evolved more than once in different microbats or was lost in megabats after evolving in the ancestor of all living bats. To examine these issues, we used a 7.1-kb nuclear data set for nine outgroups and twenty bats, including representatives of all rhinolophoid families. Phylogenetic analyses and statistical tests rejected both Archonta and microbat monophyly. Instead, bats are in the superorder Laurasiatheria and microbats are paraphyletic. Further, the superfamily Rhinolophoidea is polyphyletic. The rhinolophoid families Rhinolophidae and Megadermatidae belong to the suborder Yinpterochiroptera along with rhinopomatids and megabats. The rhinolophoid family Nycteridae belongs to the suborder Yangochiroptera along with vespertilionoids, noctilionoids, and emballonuroids. These results resolve the apparent conflict between previous molecular studies that sampled different rhinolophoid families. An important implication of rhinolophoid polyphyly is independent evolution of key anatomical innovations associated with the nasal-emission of echolocation pulses.
Quality Assessment for Nonlinear Dimensionality Reduction using Procrustes Analysis

In order to achieve of PNL-ICA (Post-Nonlinear Independent Component Analysis) by using Dimensionality Reduction [1] the data set has to be embedded in a hyperplane, i.e. linear combination of the latent variables. This condition must be fulfilled in order to ensure that there is an unique solution to the problem. This article describes a new quality measure for Nonlinear Dimensionality Reduction based on Procrustes Analysis. This approach aims to solve the question of how to evaluate if a low-dimensional embedding (outcome of the process of dimensional reduction) can be used to recover data by using ICA methods.
Collaboration in public construction—contractual incentives, partnering schemes and trust

It is increasingly common that public construction projects are procured and managed with explicit intentions to establish closer collaboration between partners. Opportunities for negotiation and the freedom to choose partners are more restricted in a public setting than in a private one. Thus, many relational requirements that are generally considered essential to trust-based collaboration are more difficult to fulfil. Based on two case studies from the Netherlands and one from Sweden, we investigate how this formalized context, including formal partnering models to support relationship management, influences relational development in public sector construction contracts. Collaboration is primarily needed in projects where uncertainty is high and exchange conditions cannot be comprehensively defined. The contractual ambiguities, together with the limited opportunities for pre-contractual sense-making and relationship-building, imply that the early post-contractual phase is of significantly higher importance in public projects than in private ones. After signing a contract, it is important that the parties use the interpretive flexibility to signal trust and commitment and also that joint learning processes are organized to resolve ambiguities and enable joint learning. Formal partnering models are helpful in structuring this interaction, but also incentive arrangements may be important in shaping interaction and signalling trust.
Consumer Complaint Intentions and Behavior: Definitional and Taxonomical Issues

Researchers and practitioners recently have given increasing attention to the antecedents and consequences of postpurchase consumer complaint intentions and behaviors. Issues pertaining to the nature and structure of the consumer complaint behavior (CCB) concept, however, have not received such attention. The author assesses the validity of the three current operationalizations and taxonomies of CCB using intentions data from four different and independent CCB situations. None is an adequate representation of the empirical observations. Consequently a taxonomy is proposed that is based on exploratory analysis of one of the CCB situations. Confirmatory analysis of the other three CCB situations supports the proposed taxonomy. A validity analysis using complaint behavior data for the four CCB situations also supports the proposed CCB taxonomy.
An O(n log n log log n) Algorithm for the On-Line Closest Pair Problem

Let V be a set of n points in k -dimensional space. It is shown how the closest pair in V can be maintained under insertions in O (log n log log n ) amortized time, using O ( n ) amortized time, using O ( n ) space. Distances are measured in the L t -metric, where 1 ≤ ∞. This gives an O ( n log n log log n 0 time on-line algorithm or computing the closest pair. The algorithm is based on Bentley's logarithmic method for decomposable searching problems. It uses a non-trivial extension of fractional cascading to k -dimensional space.
Super Resolution Mapping of Agricultural Parcel Boundaries based on Localized Partial Unmixing

Operational mapping of crop/agricultural parcel boundaries is a challenging task. It should be efficient and inexpensive process resulting with data useful for wide range of purposes. Hard classification of medium resolution (>15 m, <30 m) remote sensing data could be a solution but the spatial resolution of the imagery is not sufficient for many applications. In this paper a method for soft classification of medium remote sensing data and super-resolution mapping of crop boundaries is presented. The method is developed based on localized partial unmixing with estimating both target and background end-member spectra. The output was subjected to pixel swapping as super resolution mapping technique. Testing is done on real Landsat ETM+ imagery. The method is evaluated quantitatively and the results show significant increase of accuracy when compared to mapping from original remote sensing data.
Thailand’s experiences with rising capital flows: recent challenges and policy responses

Over the past decade, the Thai economy has continued its financial integration with the global markets. This greater integration has brought benefits in terms of lowering the cost of capital and greater diversification, but it also presents greater risks associated with the increased volatility of flows that comes with a greater share of portfolio inflows. In 2006, the surge in capital inflows, coupled with a current account surplus, put tremendous pressure on the baht, leading to excessive baht appreciation. If left unchecked, this could have threatened export performance and, more importantly, economic instability as domestic demand was marred by political uncertainties and in no condition to provide an alternative engine for growth. Therefore, the Bank of Thailand (BOT) decided to step in to curb the excessive appreciation of the currency. However, several conventional methods to manage the exchange rate proved to be ineffective as the pace of baht appreciation continued to accelerate.
Migration, particles, and fluid pressure. A discussion of causes of prosthetic loosening

Distal migration of the femoral component of a total hip replacement by as little as 0.33 mm during the first 6 postoperative months is predictive of the need for revision many years later. Because the fate of the prostheses is defined so early, it is unlikely that wear particles initiate loosening.
Investigating the Significance of VFR Visits to International Students

ABSTRACT Higher education, particularly in the area of international education has exhibited significant growth since the mid-1980s. Whilst it is beginning to attract research from both educational and tourism industry perspectives, the current body of knowledge regarding this market is still quite limited. This is particularly the case in the area of associated visiting friends and relatives' travel patterns and expenditure. The findings of a research project on international students at a leading university in Western Australia are presented in this paper. The importance of tourism arising from visits by family and friends of international (higher education) students within WA is estimated at between A$10.3 million and A$17.4 million per annum. This represents between 1.0% and 1.7% of international tourist expenditure in WA in 1999. The significance of international student family and friends' travel behaviour within WA is presented, followed by a discussion regarding marketing implications, based on conclusions arising from this research.
Differences in consumer price knowledge between Germany and Finland

Abstract Price knowledge studies are a key to understanding behavioural pricing strategies. Consumer price knowledge is an ongoing concern in the literature. It is also generally acknowledged that price awareness is subject to cross-cultural differences. This is important because the retailer market is dominated by global players who use standardized marketing-mix instruments. However, there are no studies about price knowledge between countries. This study examines differences in price knowledge between German and Finnish consumers. The results show that Finnish consumers were able to give at least some price estimate for a product more often, but the estimates of German consumers were more accurate. Due to data limitations of our study more research is needed about cross-cultural price knowledge.
Reducing Adverse Effects of Immunosuppressive Agents in Kidney Transplant Recipients

Success in solid organ transplantation with minimal complications can now be achieved for most patients, and a remarkable rate of graft and patient survival can also be expected. However, the potential for adverse events and comorbid conditions increases with longer graft survival. Although the immunosuppressive regimen is central to the outcome of the transplant recipient and directly impacts the survival of the graft, chronic use of immunosuppressive agents is associated with metabolic disturbances such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, loss of bone density, nephrotoxicity, and diabetes, which may contribute to other comorbid conditions. In addition, changes in appearance, gingival hyperplasia, hirsutism, alopecia, and weight gain disrupt quality of life and may lead to noncompliance with the immunosuppressive regimen. New immunosuppressive medications, including mycophenolate mofetil, sirolimus, basiliximab, and daclizumab, have allowed for experimentation with new regimens designed to reduce or allow discontinuation of corticosteroids and calcineurin inhibitors. This review highlights the impact and cost of immunosuppressive side effects and the potential for new immunosuppressive regimens to reduce this substantial clinical burden in transplantation.
Providing informational support in an online discussion group and a Q&A site: The case of travel planning

This study examines the ways in which informational support based on user‐generated content is provided for the needs of leisure‐related travel planning in an online discussion group and a Q&A site. Attention is paid to the grounds by which the participants bolster the informational support. The findings draw on the analysis of 200 threads of a Finnish online discussion group and a Yahoo! Answers Q&A (question and answer) forum. Three main types of informational support were identified: providing factual information, providing advice, and providing personal opinion. The grounds used in the answers varied across the types of informational support. While providing factual information, the most popular ground was description of the attributes of an entity. In the context of providing advice, reference to external sources of information was employed most frequently. Finally, although providing personal opinions, the participants most often bolstered their views by articulating positive or negative evaluations of an entity. Overall, regarding the grounds, there were more similarities than differences between the discussion group and the Q&A site.
Genetic susceptibility to asthma--bronchial hyperresponsiveness coinherited with a major gene for atopy.

BACKGROUND Bronchial hyperresponsiveness, a risk factor for asthma, consists of a heightened bronchoconstrictor response to a variety of stimuli. The condition has a heritable component and is closely related to serum IgE levels and airway inflammation. The basis for these relations is unknown, as is the mechanism of genetic susceptibility to bronchial hyperresponsiveness. We attempted to define the interrelation between atopy and bronchial hyperresponsiveness and to investigate the chromosomal location of this component of asthma. METHODS We studied 303 children and grandchildren of 84 probands with asthma selected from a homogeneous population in the Netherlands. Ventilatory function, bronchial responsiveness to histamine, and serum total IgE were measured. The association between the last two variables was evaluated. Using analyses involving pairs of siblings, we tested for linkage between bronchial hyperresponsiveness and genetic markers on chromosome 5q31-q33, previously shown to be linked to a genetic locus regulating serum total IgE levels. RESULTS Serum total IgE levels were strongly correlated (r = 0.65, P < 0.01) in pairs of siblings concordant for bronchial hyperresponsiveness (defined as a > or = 20 percent decrease in the forced expiratory volume in one second produced by histamine [threshold dose, < or = 16 mg per milliliter]), suggesting that these traits are coinherited. However, bronchial hyperresponsiveness was not correlated with serum IgE levels (r = 0.04, P > 0.10). Analyses of pairs of siblings showed linkage of bronchial hyperresponsiveness with several genetic markers on chromosome 5q, including D5S436 (P < 0.001 for a histamine threshold value of < or = 16 mg per milliliter). CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that a trait for an elevated level of serum total IgE is coinherited with a trait for bronchial hyperresponsiveness and that a gene governing bronchial hyperresponsiveness is located near a major locus that regulates serum IgE levels on chromosome 5q. These findings are consistent with the existence of one or more genes on chromosome 5q31-q33 causing susceptibility to asthma.
Monitoring of Structures by a Laser Pointer. Dynamic Measurement of Rotations and Displacements of the Elastic Line of a Bridge: Methodology and First Test

14 Deck inclination and vertical displacements are among the most important technical parameters to 15 evaluate the health status of a bridge and to verify its bearing capacity. Several methods, both 16 conventional and innovative, are used for structural rotations and displacement monitoring; no 17 one of these does allow, at the same time, precision, automation, static and dynamic monitoring 18 without using high cost instrumentation. The proposed system uses a common laser pointer and 19 image processing. The elastic line inclination is measured by analyzing the single frames of a HD 20 video of the laser beam imprint projected on a flat target. For the image processing, a code was 21 developed in Matlab® that provides instantaneous rotation and displacement of a bridge, charged 22 by a mobile load. An important feature is the synchronization of the load positioning, obtained by a 23 GNSS receiver or by a video. After the calibration procedures, a test was carried out during the 24 movements of a heavy truck maneuvering on a bridge. Data acquisition synchronization allowed to 25 relate the position of the truck on the deck to inclination and displacements. The inclination of 26 elastic line was obtained with a precision of 0.01 mrad. The results demonstrate the suitability of 27 the method for dynamic load tests, control and monitoring of bridges. 28 29
Field dissipation of four personal care products in biosolids‐amended soils in North China

The present study investigated the dissipation behaviors of 4 typical personal care products (PCPs)—triclocarban (TCC), triclosan (TCS), tonalide (AHTN), and galaxolide (HHCB)— in soils amended with biosolids under field conditions in North China. The results showed that the 4 target compounds were detected in all biosolids‐amended soils at levels of a few nanograms per gram to thousands of nanograms per gram (dry wt). The residual concentrations of the 4 PCPs were found in the following order: TCC > TCS > AHTN > HHCB. Significant dissipation of the 4 PCPs was observed in the biosolids‐amended soils, with half‐lives ranging from 26 d to 133 d. Furthermore, repeated biosolids applications and a higher biosolids application rate could lead to higher accumulation of the 4 PCPs in the agricultural soils. Based on the detected concentrations in the field trial and limited ecotoxicity data, high risks to soil organisms are expected for TCC, whereas low to medium risks are expected in most cases for AHTN, HHCB, and TCS. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014;33:2413–2421. © 2014 SETAC
Antibacterial and osteo-stimulatory effects of a borate-based glass series doped with strontium ions

This work considered the effect of both increasing additions of Strontium (Sr2+) and incubation time on solubility and both antibacterial and osteo-stimulatory effects of a series of glasses based on the B2O3–P2O5–CaCO3–Na2CO3–TiO2–SrCO3 series. The amorphous nature of all the glasses was confirmed by X-ray diffraction. Discs of each glass were immersed in de-ionized water for 1, 7 and 30 days, and the water extracts were used for ion release profiles, pH measurements and cytotoxicity testing. Atomic absorption spectroscopy was employed to detect the release of Na+, Ca2+ and Sr2+ ions from the glasses with respect to maturation, which indicated that the addition of Sr2+ retarded solubility of the glass series. This effect was also confirmed by weight loss analysis through comparing the initial weight of glass discs before and after periods of incubation. The incorporation of Sr2+ in the glasses did not influence the pH of the water extracts when the glasses were stored for up to 30 days. Cytotoxicity testing with an osteoblastic cell line (MC3T3-E1) indicated that glasses with the higher (20 mol% and 25 mol%) Sr2+ incorporation promoted proliferation of osteoblast cells, while the glasses with lower Sr2+ contents inhibited cell growth. The glass series, except for Ly-B5 (which contained the highest Sr2+ incorporation; 25 mol%), were bacteriostatic against S. aureus in the short term (1–7 days) as a result of the dissolution products released.