Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Children adopted from China: a prospective study of their growth and development.

BACKGROUND China has become a lead country for international adoption because of the relatively young age of the children and reported positive conditions of the orphanages. This study examined the process and outcome of growth and development of children adopted from China over their first two years with their adoptive families. METHOD Seventy infant girls adopted from China at 8 to 21 months of age (Mean age = 13 months) were examined on arrival in Canada and 6, 12, and 24 months later. Comparisons were made with non-adopted Canadian girls of similar age and from a similar family background as adoptive parents on indices of growth and standardized measures of mental, psychomotor, and language development. RESULTS At arrival, children adopted from China were smaller physically and exhibited developmental delays compared to current peers. Children adopted from China were functioning in the average range on physical and developmental measures within the first 6 months following adoption. However, they were not performing as well as current peers until the end of their second year after adoption. Even then, there was developmental variation in relation to comparison children and continuation of relatively smaller size with respect to height, weight, and head circumference. Physical measurement was related to outcomes at various points on all developmental measures. CONCLUSIONS Deprivation in experience in the first year of life has more long-lasting effects on physical growth than on mental development. The variable most consistently related to development was height-to-age ratio. As a measure of nutritional status, the findings reinforce the critical importance of early nutrition.
Endothelial Dysfunction in Mexican Obese Children, is there A Role of the Gut Microbiota?

Endothelial dysfunction is a predisposing factor for atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases; and at the same time, endothelial dysfunction is associated to obesity. The prevalence of endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerosis and obesity is quite high among Mexican children; on the other hand, gut microbiota has been associated to obesity in the same population. Atherosclerosis is associated to gut microbiota in humans, and this association raise the possibility that endothelial dysfunction is also related with the gut microbiota in obese population. This review addresses the current knowledge of association of endothelial dysfunction, with obesity and atherosclerosis; however, there are no reports of association of endothelial dysfunction with gut microbiota through the measurement of adhesion molecules like ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and selectins. You can submit your Manuscripts at: https://symbiosisonlinepublishing.com/submitManuscript.php
Extended Random Walker for Shadow Detection in Very High Resolution Remote Sensing Images

The existence of shadows in very high resolution satellite images obstructs image interpretation and the following applications, such as target detection and recognition. Traditional shadow detection methods consider only the pixel-level properties, such as color and intensity of image pixels, and thus, may produce errors around object boundaries. To overcome this problem, a novel shadow detection algorithm based on extended random walker (ERW) is proposed by jointly integrating both shadow property and spatial correlations among adjacent pixels. First, a set of training samples is automatically generated via an improved Otsu-based thresholding method. Then, the support vector machine is applied to obtain an initial detection map, which categorizes all the pixels in the scene into shadow and nonshadow. Finally, the initial detection map is refined with the ERW model, which can simultaneously characterize the shadow property and spatial information in satellite images to further improve shadow detection accuracy. Experiments performed on five real remote sensing images demonstrate the superiority of the proposed method over several state-of-the-art methods in terms of detection accuracy.
LTR: A low-overhead and reliable routing algorithm for network on chips

A fault tolerant routing algorithm is presented in this paper. The proposed routing algorithm is based on making a redundant copy of each packet as well as sending the redundant packets through the paths with low traffic loads. Since two copies of each packet reach the destination node, the erroneous packets are detected and replaced with the correct ones. To effectively use the paths with lower traffic loads, the redundant packets are routed according to YX routing while the original packets are routed according to Duato's routing algorithm. Minimizing the number of sent redundant packets and exploiting different paths for sending the original and redundant packets enable the proposed algorithm to improve the reliability of NoCs with negligible power and performance overheads. VHDL simulations confirm that the proposed routing algorithm imposes lower power and performance overheads while providing almost the same reliability in comparison with flood-based routing algorithms.
Effects of exercise training on health status in patients with chronic heart failure: HF-ACTION randomized controlled trial.

CONTEXT Findings from previous studies of the effects of exercise training on patient-reported health status have been inconsistent. OBJECTIVE To test the effects of exercise training on health status among patients with heart failure. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS Multicenter, randomized controlled trial among 2331 medically stable outpatients with heart failure with left ventricular ejection fraction of 35% or less. Patients were randomized from April 2003 through February 2007. INTERVENTIONS Usual care plus aerobic exercise training (n = 1172), consisting of 36 supervised sessions followed by home-based training, vs usual care alone (n = 1159). Randomization was stratified by heart failure etiology, which was a covariate in all models. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) overall summary scale and key subscales at baseline, every 3 months for 12 months, and annually thereafter for up to 4 years. The KCCQ is scored from 0 to 100 with higher scores corresponding to better health status. Treatment group effects were estimated using linear mixed models according to the intention-to-treat principle. RESULTS Median follow-up was 2.5 years. At 3 months, usual care plus exercise training led to greater improvement in the KCCQ overall summary score (mean, 5.21; 95% confidence interval, 4.42 to 6.00) compared with usual care alone (3.28; 95% confidence interval, 2.48 to 4.09). The additional 1.93-point increase (95% confidence interval, 0.84 to 3.01) in the exercise training group was statistically significant (P < .001). After 3 months, there were no further significant changes in KCCQ score for either group (P = .85 for the difference between slopes), resulting in a sustained, greater improvement overall for the exercise group (P < .001). Results were similar on the KCCQ subscales, and no subgroup interactions were detected. CONCLUSIONS Exercise training conferred modest but statistically significant improvements in self-reported health status compared with usual care without training. Improvements occurred early and persisted over time. TRIAL REGISTRATION clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00047437.
A Unified Approach to Combinational Hazards

Transients in combinational circuits are approached through an analysis of the transition process in a pure delay circuit model that completely separates delay from structure and logic. During any transition, only monotonically increasing sequences of transient input vertices can occur because no transient input variable can change more than once. This restriction to the shortest trajectories through the transition subcube yields a common criterion for all types of hazards in feedback-free combinational circuits: a transition is hazard-free iff the transient switching function is unate in the transition subcube with respect to the initial and final vertices.
Aerodynamic Parameter Estimation Using Two-Stage Radial Basis Function Neural Network

In this paper, we present the application of radial basis function (RBF) neural network for aerodynamic parameter estimation. The Two-Stage RBF neural network (NN) architecture is proposed for complete aerodynamic modelling. The RBF NN is trained by hybrid learning using K-means clustering and recursive least squares (RLS) methods. The proposed architecture yields the significant improvements for model parameter estimation as compared to other neural network based techniques. The results of proposed method are compared with delta method, partial derivative method and equation error method. This approach reduces the post training efforts for finding stability and control derivatives by running a 2nd stage of Two-Stage RBF NN. The significant improvements in mean square error (MSE), relative standard deviation (RSD) and convergence rate are noticed. The estimated derivatives are validated with reconstructed lateral-directional force and moment coefficients.
A Quantile Estimation Approach to Identify Income and Age Variation in the Value of a Statistical Life

In theory, heterogeneity in individual characteristics translates into variation in the marginal willingness to pay for a mortality risk reduction. Two dimensions of heterogeneity, with respect to income and age, have recently received attention due to their policy relevance. We propose a quantile regression approach to simultaneously explore these two sources of heterogeneity and their interactions within the context of the hedonic wage model, the most common revealed preference approach for obtaining value of statistical life estimates. We illustrate the approach using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). We find that the impact of age on the wage-risk tradeoff varies across the wage distribution. This result indicates important interactions between age and income heterogeneity. Thus, the conventional mean hedonic wage regression, even when the mean effect is allowed to vary with age, masks important hetereogeneity.
Body Composition and Quality of Life as Markers of the Efficacy of Growth Hormone Replacement Therapy in Adults

Growth hormone (GH) replacement therapy in GH-deficient adults should be initiated with a low dose, independent of body weight or body surface area. Measurements of serum insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) concentrations, as well as clinical examinations aimed at detecting signs of fluid excess, are important as safety markers to avoid overtreatment with GH. At present, there is no optimal marker for the long-term efficacy of GH replacement therapy. The long-term maintenance dose of GH should, therefore, be titrated in each individual based on the clinical response, with the aim of normalizing body hydration, other measurements of body composition, quality of life and well-being, and biochemical indices such as serum IGF-I concentration.
Gout and Hyperuricemia

Drs Wyngaarden and Kelley are among the foremost scholars of urate metabolism, and this book reflects their experience and wisdom. Although the two authors are of different temperaments and personality, the writing blends so well that I was unable to assign given sections to either individual. Thus, the book would seem to represent a truly close collaborative effort. The authors have a strong research interest in purine metabolism, and those sections of the book flow easily and are readily comprehended. The methodology of various metabolic studies was covered in principle, and the limits of interpretation of data derived from specific experiments was carefully presented. With all the research to date, we still do not have much understanding of the heterogenous disorders we recognize as hyperuricemia and clinical gout. There is an excellent discussion of renal mechanisms of urate excretion in gouty subjects. About 75% to 90% of patients show diminished
Towards region-level IP geolocation based on the path feature

While the delay-distance correlation among nodes is weak, calculating the distance constraints according to delay may fail to geolocate the target into a right region. Aiming at this problem, a new geolocation method is proposed in this paper, and according to extract path features for all possible regions in use of a large number of landmarks, this method can estimate the region for a target IP. The experiment results shown that, the proposed method can give the geolocation region with high accuracy.
Analysis of Chaotic Runoff Data Based on Chebyshev Polynomials Local Model

In this paper, we analyze dynamics of runoff data from actual hydrologic station on the basis of the chaos theory. Through analyzing Characteristics of power spectrum, geometric structure of attractors and calculating Lyapunov index, it confirmed that actual runoff has chaos dynamics behavior. Local prediction model based on chaotic runoff data is inferior for heavy computation load and poor accuracy under high order of polynomial and big sample size. To address these problems, combined the phase-space reconstruction technology, we propose a chaos local prediction model for runoff data based on Chebyshev Polynomials. Integrating the advantage of approximation effect of Chebyshev Polynomials with the nonlinear prediction ability of local prediction model, the proposed model could express dynamic characteristics of hydrologic runoff system well, increases prediction accuracy and enhances anti-noise performance of the model. Result of simulation shows that the model still gets relatively satisfying prediction effect under data pollution by white noise.
Symposium on ‘Nutrition and health in children and adolescents’ Session 1: Nutrition in growth and development Nutrition and bone growth and development

The growth and development of the human skeleton requires an adequate supply of many different nutritional factors. Classical nutrient deficiencies are associated with stunting (e.g. energy, protein, Zn), rickets (e.g. vitamin D) and other bone abnormalities (e.g. Cu, Zn, vitamin C). In recent years there has been interest in the role nutrition may play in bone growth at intakes above those required to prevent classical deficiencies, particularly in relation to optimising peak bone mass and minimising osteoporosis risk. There is evidence to suggest that peak bone mass and later fracture risk are influenced by the pattern of growth in childhood and by nutritional exposures in utero, in infancy and during childhood and adolescence. Of the individual nutrients, particular attention has been paid to Ca, vitamin D, protein and P. There has also been interest in several food groups, particularly dairy products, fruit and vegetables and foods contributing to acid–base balance. However, it is not possible at the present time to define dietary reference values using bone health as a criterion, and the question of what type of diet constitutes the best support for optimal bone growth and development remains open. Prudent recommendations (Department of Health, 1998; World Health Organization/Food and Agriculture Organization, 2003) are the same as those for adults, i.e. to consume a Ca intake close to the reference nutrient intake, optimise vitamin D status through adequate summer sunshine exposure (and diet supplementation where appropriate), be physically active, have a body weight in the healthy range, restrict salt intake and consume plenty of fruit and vegetables.
Administrative data algorithms to identify second breast cancer events following early-stage invasive breast cancer.

BACKGROUND Studies of breast cancer outcomes rely on the identification of second breast cancer events (recurrences and second breast primary tumors). Cancer registries often do not capture recurrences, and chart abstraction can be infeasible or expensive. An alternative is using administrative health-care data to identify second breast cancer events; however, these algorithms must be validated against a gold standard. METHODS We developed algorithms using data from 3152 women in an integrated health-care system who were diagnosed with stage I or II breast cancer in 1993-2006. Medical record review served as the gold standard for second breast cancer events. Administrative data used in algorithm development included procedures, diagnoses, prescription fills, and cancer registry records. We randomly divided the cohort into training and testing samples and used a classification and regression tree analysis to build algorithms for classifying women as having or not having a second breast cancer event. We created several algorithms for researchers to use based on the relative importance of sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value (PPV) in future studies. RESULTS The algorithm with high specificity and PPV had 89% sensitivity (95% confidence interval [CI] = 84% to 92%), 99% specificity (95% CI = 98% to 99%), and 90% PPV (95% CI = 86% to 94%); the high-sensitivity algorithm had 96% sensitivity (95% CI = 93% to 98%), 95% specificity (95% CI = 94% to 96%), and 74% PPV (95% CI = 68% to 78%). CONCLUSIONS Algorithms based on administrative data can identify second breast cancer events with high sensitivity, specificity, and PPV. The algorithms presented here promote efficient outcomes research, allowing researchers to prioritize sensitivity, specificity, or PPV in identifying second breast cancer events.
Radio frequency identification technology for advanced library management

RFID systems usage had become one of the most used technology which improves automation in our modern day life. RFID in libraries had replaced the barcode technology which is the previous technology used in the libraries. RFID technology is for the automation of things and easy authorization of books and RFID technology detects the book which comes into its area of detection but not like the barcode technology using particular line of sight. This project's core idea is about automation of book authorization and prevents the misplacement of books in the respective shelves.
Heterochromatin-associated interactions of Drosophila HP1a with dADD1, HIPP1, and repetitive RNAs

Heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1a) plays conserved roles in gene silencing and heterochromatin and is also implicated in transcription, DNA replication, and repair. Using BioTAP-XL mass spectrometry and sequencing across multiple life stages of Drosophila, Alekseyenko et al. identify HP1a chromatin-associated protein and RNA interactions. They discover 13 novel candidates among the top interactions. Furthermore, HP1a selectively associates with a broad set of RNAs transcribed from repetitive regions. The validation of several novel HP1a protein interactors reveals new HP1a links to chromatin organization and function.
Data transformations.

Additive and multiplicative effects In the statistical analyses for comparing two groups of continuous observations which I have so far considered, certain assumptions have been made about the data being analysed. One of these is Normality of distribution; in both the paired and the unpaired situation, the mathematical theory underlying the significance probabilities attached to different values of t is based on the assumption that the observations are drawn from Normal distributions. In the unpaired situation, we make the further assumption that the distributions in the two groups which are being compared have equal standard deviations this assumption allows us to simplify the analysis and to gain a certain amount of power by utilising a single pooled estimate of variance. It is necessary to stress that the importance of these assumptions is often exaggerated. Although they form part of the mathematical framework, departures from them have very little effect upon the outcome of the analyses unless they are particularly marked. A third assumption is a good deal less obvious and a good deal more important. This is the assumption that the effect of the factor which defines the two groups is additive, meaning by this that it produces (apart from error) a constant difference between the readings in the two groups. Consider for example a paired situation, as when we compare readings before and after a treatment on the same subjects. For the purposes of analysis, we form the differences between the before and after readings for each subject, and the variability between these differences is regarded as error. Put another way, we assume that we can derive the after readings on the subjects (error apart) by
Cloud radar Doppler spectra in drizzling stratiform clouds: 2. Observations and microphysical modeling of drizzle evolution

sites is presented. The evolution of the Doppler spectra moments is consistent with the onset and growth of drizzle particles and can be used to assist modeling studies of drizzle onset and growth. Time‐height radar observations are used to exhibit the coherency of the Doppler spectra shape parameters and demonstrate their potential to improve the interpretation and use of radar observations. In addition, a simplified microphysical approach to modeling the vertical evolution of the drizzle particle size distribution in warm stratiform clouds is described and used to analyze the observations. The formation rate of embryonic drizzle droplets due to the autoconversion process is not calculated explicitly; however, accretion and evaporation processes are explicitly modeled. The microphysical model is used as input to a radar Doppler spectrum forward model, and synthetic radar Doppler spectra moments are generated. Three areas of interest are studied in detail: early drizzle growth near the cloud top, growth by accretion of the well‐developed drizzle, and drizzle depletion below the cloud base due to evaporation. The modeling results are in good agreement with the continental and maritime observations. This demonstrates that steady state one‐dimensional explicit microphysical models coupled with a forward model and comprehensive radar Doppler spectra observations offer a powerful method to explore the vertical evolution of the drizzle particle size distribution.
The Software Architecture Mapping Framework for Managing Architectural Knowledge

Within a software architecture design (SAD) project, designers deal with software design artifacts (SDAs) such as scenarios, patterns, and tactics. Each SDA has its unique issues and related architectural knowledge (AK) that may threaten the success of a project. This paper introduces the Software Architecture Mapping (SAM) framework to manage AK and associated issues by using finer-grained SDAs and networks of weighted arguments. These networks of data may be used to produce quantitative information in multi-dimensional views to facilitate the identification of critical SDAs and issues in a project. This paper illustrates how the SAM framework has been used to manage AK related to the template method (TM) design pattern in the context of an academic case study.
Complementary and alternative medicine: what the NHS should be funding?

Chronically embedded in the tension between Royal patronage and scientific reasoning, the UK debate about complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is heating up. Currently the Academy of Medical Sciences is developing a ‘CAM policy paper’, the King's Fund is trying to reach a ‘consensus on appropriate research methods’ in CAM, the Arthritis Research Campaign is ‘reviewing the role of CAM in the management of rheumatic diseases’, and the Prince of Wales Foundation for Integrated Health are about to publish guidelines on the role of CAM in mental health. In November 2007, the Lancet (again) published several critical comments on homeopathy and, in December 2007, the government's most senior scientist, Sir David King, warned that homeopathy ‘is a risk to the population’. 1 Patients are being systematically misled2 and remain confused: of the 21 questions most frequently asked by consumers to NHS Direct, six related to CAM.3 Even GPs are often uncertain how to advise their patients, and decision makers or regulators struggle when forced to decide …