Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Vulnerability to suicide in short, elderly men: a nationwide survey in Korea

Some anthropometric indices, mainly on adiposity, have been studied in association with suicide. Height is a relatively neglected index in that area and remains relatively unexplored. Previous studies of the association between suicide and adult height explored only a crude association, had a small sample size, or were limited to a specific group (Magnusson et al., 2005;Mukamal et al., 2007; Song et al., 2003). To date, no nationwide study that fully investigates the possible mediators of suicide has been performed. We used data from the 2007–2013 Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey. We identified a total of 42,117 individuals over 18 years of age with available height information. Of those, we excluded 3,299 patients who had a history of any cancer ormajor vascular disease or who had received ongoing treatment for major depression. After excluding missing data, we obtained a dataset of 37,566 participants for our analysis. We assessed suicidal ideation on the basis of self-reported responses to the question: “Have you ever thought about committing suicide within the last 12 months? ” We collected information on height, demographics, medical conditions, and other mental issues. In this study, we found that short height was significantly associated with suicidal ideation in elderly men, even after adjustment for socioeconomic status, medical conditions, and current mental health (Table 1). Additional information about the participants will be available on request. If our findings are reproduced in future studies, more attention will need to be paid to suicidal ideation in short, elderly men. A large-scale population-based study, the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (the HUNT study) (Bjerkeset et al., 2008), with a rigorous methodology, comparable to ours, reported no association between height and the incidence of suicide. Our study differed from the HUNT study in certain aspects. First, the outcome in the HUNT study was suicide mortality, not suicidal ideation. Suicidal death is the most severe outcome, passing through ideation or attempt, and might be influenced by the preventive system for suicide of each country. Second, the HUNT study used the bottom quartile of the overall height distribution as the cutoff value for short height, but the distribution of height is different across individuals of different ages as well as genders. Our results should be interpreted carefully. The lack of an association between height and suicide in women means a relatively higher contribution of other factors. In addition, we hypothesized that the lack of association between height and suicide in young and middle-aged men was an example of the “Napoleon effect. ” In general, most societies set
Clinical performance of direct anterior composite restorations: a systematic literature review and critical appraisal.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature on the clinical behavior of direct anterior composite restorations and to identify the factors potentially influencing restoration success and longevity. MATERIALS AND METHODS The search included all existing references until September 2016 cited in the PubMed database, the Cochrane central register of controlled trials and Cochrane Library, EMBASE, an internet search using Google internet search engine (possibly including unpublished data), a hand search (University of Geneva library), and the perusal of the references of relevant articles. Studies with appropriate research protocols and that clearly reported data about the performance of anterior composite restorations were included. Yearly failure rates (YFRs) were computed for each study based on survival rates or, when not reported, using United States Public Health Service (USPHS) scores leading to reintervention. The potential impact of the following factors was evaluated: composite filler technology (microfilled, macrofilled, nanofilled or hybrid), polymerization mode (chemical or light cured), treatment environment (academic, private or social) and operator (single or multiple). The studies were analyzed according to the observation time (< 2 years, 2 to 5 years, and > 5 years). RESULTS 39 potential studies were identified, from which 24 met the review inclusion criteria: nine randomized controlled trials (CTs), two prospective CTs, one retrospective CT, six prospective case series (CSs), and four retrospective CSs. CONCLUSION This review followed a standard approach and explored an alternative review process that limited the significant data loss that occurs when the meta-analysis method is used. Overall, anterior composite restorations have shown a large heterogeneity in performance, as is typically observed in reviews of clinical studies, but the present appraisal identified influential factors such as treatment environment and the number of operators.
Metabolic Profiling and Cold-Starvation Stress Response of Oxygen-Tolerant Lactobacillus gasseri Strains Cultured in Batch Bioreactor

Phenotypic and genotypic evidence indicates that many LAB strains can grow in presence of oxygen and can shift from fermentative to aerobic and/or respiratory metabolism. The aerobic and respiratory growth of several LAB species have been studied, allowing the selection of strains showing improved biomass production, long-term survival, and resistance under oxygen and stress conditions. The aim of this work was to observe the adaptation of two Lactobacillus gasseri strains, described in a previous work, to aerobic (air injection) and respiratory (air injection plus hemin and menaquionone) conditions obtained in a batch bioreactor. One strain showed the higher biomass production and oxygen consumption as well as the lower acidification in respiratory condition. Instead, the other one grew better in aerobic condition, even though the higher resistance to cold-starvation stress was registered in respiratory condition. In silico analysis revealed notable differences between AL3 and AL5 genomes and that of the type strain. This work contributes to understanding the adaptation response of lactobacilli to aerobic and respiratory metabolism. We demonstrated that the supposed activation of respiratory metabolism may provide several modifications to cell physiology. These features may be relevant in some technological and health-promoting applications, including starter and probiotic formulations.
Management of aplastic anemia after failure of frontline immunosuppression

ABSTRACT Introduction: About 60% of aplastic anemia (AA) patients are in need of further treatment after frontline standard immunosuppressive therapy (IST). This along with the prolonged survival of AA subjects who do not respond to or relapse after this treatment makes management of these patients a rising and very challenging issue. Areas covered: Literature research, carried out from the most commonly used databases, included the following keywords: aplastic anemia, immunosuppressive treatment, antithymocyte globuline, ciclosporine A, refractory aplastic anemia, relapsing aplastic anemia, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation including haploidentical and cord blood transplantations thrombopoietin mimetics, supportive treatment, chelation and infections. Studies on the treatment of aplastic anemia with different levels of evidence were included. Top level of evidence studies (metanalyses and randomized prospective controlled trials) were a minority because severe AA, particularly in the subset of patients who fail upfront IST, is an extremely rare disease. Guidelines from National Societies and review articles were also included. Expert opinion: The most commonly used treatments after failure of upfront immunosuppression are hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, a second course of immunosuppression and thrombopoietin mimetics alone or in combination with immunosuppression. Other potential options are alemtuzumab, androgens, oral cyclosporine A in monotherapy. Not many comparative studies exist to clearly establish the superiority of one over another strategy. Therefore, the choice of the best treatment for these patients should rely on major driving factors like patient’s age and comorbidities, availability of a matched unrelated donor, donor’s characteristics and drug-availability.
Functional MRI Signature of Chronic Pain Relief From Deep Brain Stimulation in Parkinson Disease Patients.

BACKGROUND Chronic pain occurs in 83% of Parkinson disease (PD) patients and deep brain stimulation (DBS) has shown to result in pain relief in a subset of patients, though the mechanism is unclear. OBJECTIVE To compare functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data in PD patients with chronic pain without DBS, those whose pain was relieved (PR) with DBS and those whose pain was not relieved (PNR) with DBS. METHODS Functional MRI (fMRI) with blood oxygen level-dependent activation data was obtained in 15 patients in control, PR, and PNR patients. fMRI was obtained in the presence and absence of a mechanical stimuli with DBS ON and DBS OFF. Voxel-wise analysis using pain OFF data was used to determine which regions were altered during pain ON periods. RESULTS At the time of MRI, pain was scored a 5.4 ± 1.2 out of 10 in the control, 4.25 ± 1.18 in PNR, and 0.8 ± 0.67 in PR cohorts. Group analysis of control and PNR groups showed primary somatosensory (SI) deactivation, whereas PR patients showed thalamic deactivation and SI activation. DBS resulted in more decreased activity in PR than PNR (P < .05) and more activity in anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in PNR patients (P < .05). CONCLUSION Patients in the control and PNR groups showed SI deactivation at baseline in contrast to the PR patients who showed SI activation. With DBS ON, the PR cohort had less activity in SI, whereas the PNR had more anterior cingulate cortex activity. We provide pilot data that patients whose pain responds to DBS may have a different fMRI signature than those who do not, and PR and PNR cohorts produced different brain responses when DBS is employed.
Safety of the subconjunctival injection of doxycycline in rabbits

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate the safety of subconjunctival injection of doxycycline in rabbit eyes. Methods: Eight white New Zealand rabbits were selected. Different concentrations of 250 micrograms (μg), 500 μg, 1000 μg, and 2000 μg in 0.1 ml were prepared for subconjunctival injection. Each concentration was injected into the two eyes of each rabbit. For each dose, dextrose was injected in one contralateral eye and the other fellow eye remained non-injected. All rabbits underwent ocular examination in the 1st, 3rd, and 30th day after injection. The rabbits were sacrificed 30 days after injections and the histopathological examination was performed. Results: No obvious change was detected in all four groups from the 1st day to the 3rd day after injection in terms of tearing, hyperaemia, and chemosis. There was no visible sign of inflammation or necrosis, and also no histological change in both clinical and histopathological examinations. Conclusion: Subconjunctival injection of doxycycline with different dosages of 250 to 2000 ug in 0.1cc in rabbit eyes was safe and no clinical or histological changes were observed after one month.
Cold adaptation in the Asian tiger mosquito's native range precedes its invasion success in temperate regions

Adaptation to environmental conditions within the native range of exotic species can condition the invasion success of these species outside their range. The striking success of the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, to invade temperate regions has been attributed to the winter survival of diapause eggs in cold environments. In this study, we evaluate genetic polymorphisms (SNPs) and wing morphometric variation among three biogeographical regions of the native range of A. albopictus. Reconstructed demographic histories of populations show an initial expansion in Southeast Asia and suggest that marine regression during late Pleistocene and climate warming after the last glacial period favored expansion of populations in southern and northern regions, respectively. Searching for genomic signatures of selection, we identified significantly differentiated SNPs among which several are located in or within 20 kb distance from candidate genes for cold adaptation. These genes involve cellular and metabolic processes and several of them have been shown to be differentially expressed under diapausing conditions. The three biogeographical regions also differ for wing size and shape, and wing size increases with latitude supporting Bergmann's rule. Adaptive genetic and morphometric variation observed along the climatic gradient of A. albopictus native range suggests that colonization of northern latitudes promoted adaptation to cold environments prior to its worldwide invasion.
Assessment and prevention of cytomegalovirus infection in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant and in solid organ transplant: A multidisciplinary consensus conference by the Italian GITMO, SITO, and AMCLI societies

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo‐HSCT) and solid organ transplantation (SOT) recipients. In view of the uncertainties on the assessment and prevention of CMV infection in both transplant procedures, three Italian scientific societies for HSCT and SOT and for Clinical Microbiology appointed a panel of experts to compose a framework of recommendations. Recommendations were derived from a comprehensive analysis of the scientific literature and from a multidisciplinary consensus conference process. The lack of adequate clinical trials focused on certain diagnostic procedures, and antiviral intervention forced the panel to use the methods of consensus for shaping some recommendations. Recommendations concerning the two types of transplant were given for the following issues: assessment of pretransplant CMV serostatus, immunological monitoring after transplant, CMV prophylaxis with antivirals, CMV preemptive strategy, and CMV prophylaxis with immunoglobulin infusion and with adoptive immunotherapy. The questions raised by and the recommendations resulting from this consensus conference project may contribute to the improvement of certain crucial aspects of the management of CMV infections in allo‐HSCT and in SOT populations.
Examination of Students’ Perceptions about Computer Lessons Carried out with Gamification

Bu calismada, oyunlastirma unsurlarinin ogretim etkinliklerine dahil edilmesinin, ogrencilerin derslere karsi ilgi, motivasyon ve ders katilimi uzerindeki etkileri hakkinda ogrenci goruslerinin tespit edilmesi amaclanmistir. Arastirmada nitel yaklasim benimsenmis olup, arastirma durum calismasi deseninde tasarlanmistir. Arastirmanin orneklemini bir Mesleki ve Teknik Anadolu Lisesi, Bilisim Teknolojileri Bolumunun ikinci sinifinda (10. Sinif) ogrenim goren toplam 27 ogrenci olusturmaktadir. Calismada “Sayi Sistemleri” ve “Mantiksal Kapi Devreleri” konulari 4 hafta boyunca dersin ogretmeni tarafindan ogrencilerle islenmistir. Daha onceleri geleneksel ogretim yontemleri ile yurutulen ders icerisine, cesitli oyunlastirma etkinlikleri dahil edilmistir. Oyunlastirma sureclerinde ogrencilerin verilen gorevleri yerine getirmelerine bagli olarak sergilemis olduklari performanslar, sinif icinde cesitli materyallerle (yildiz, rozet, lig tablosu gibi) ve sinif disinda elektronik grafiksel sunumlar halinde sosyal medya araciligiyla kendileriyle surekli paylasilmistir. Bu surecte ogrenciler, yari yapilandirilmis gozlem formlariyla gozlenmis ve performanslari kayit altina alinmistir. Ek olarak 4 haftalik uygulama sonunda rastgele secilen 7 ogrenci ile bire-bir mulakatlar yapilmis ve oyunlastirma ile islenen dersler hakkindaki gorusleri alinmistir. Analiz sonuclarina gore, oyunlastirma unsurlarinin katildigi derslerde ogrencilerin derslere karsi ilgi ve motivasyonlarinin yukseldigi ve derse katilimlari konusundaki isteklerinin arttigi bulgularina ulasilmistir. Calisma sonunda ogretmenlere ve arastirmacilara oyunlastirma uygulamalarinin derslerde etkin kullanilmasina yonelik cesitli oneriler sunulmustur.
A multimodal tangible interface for the sonification of phenological data at multiple time-scales

The study of periodic biological processes, such as when plants flower and birds arrive in the spring is known as Phenology. In recent years this field has gained interest from the scientific community because of the applicability of this data to the study of climate change and other ecolog- ical processes. In this paper we propose the use of tangible interfaces for interactive sonification with a specific example of a multimodal tangible interface consisting of a physical paper map and tracking of fiducial markers combined with a novel drawing interface. The designed interface enables one or more users to specify point queries with the map inter- face and to specify time queries with the drawing interface. This allows the user to explore both time and space while receiving immediate sonic feedback of their actions. This system can be used to study and explore the effects of cli- mate change, both as tool to be used by scientists, and as a way to educate and involve members of the general public in a dynamic way in this research.
INFLUÊNCIA DO DELINEAMENTO AMOSTRAL NA INFERÊNCIA ESPACIAL POR GEOESTATÍSTICA APLICADA A DADOS DE CLOROFILA-A ADQUIRIDOS EM TRANSECTOS

A disposição dos elementos amostrais na área de estudo e sua inï¬‚uência nos resultados de análises espaciais é algo que vem sendo discutido frequentemente por pesquisadores da área de geociências, já que a qualidade de uma inferência espacial vai depender do tamanho da amostra e da distribuição espacial dos pontos amostrais. Nesse sentido, este trabalho tem o objetivo de analisar o impacto que diferentes delineamentos amostrais podem causar nos resultados da inferência espacial por Krigagem Ordinária. Para isso, primeiramente utilizou-se um conjunto de dados coletado em forma de transectos em uma parte do Reservatório de Nova Avanhandava, composto por 978 observações. Esse conjunto foi submetido a reduções sistemáticas no número de elementos amostrais, com o intuito de analisar o efeito do tamanho da amostra no resultado da inferência espacial. Em seguida, para analisar os resultados por diferentes tipos de amostras, simulou-se um grande conjunto de dados à partir da Krigagem Ordinária, utilizando o conjunto de dados em transecto. Nesse conjunto, aplicaram-se as técnicas de Amostragem Simples, Amostragem Sistemática e Amostragem Estratiï¬cada para obter variados tipos e tamanhos de amostras. A análise espacial foi realizada através do processo de Krigagem Ordinária, possibilitando obter diversos mapeamentos da variável cloroï¬la-a na região de interesse. A validação da inferência foi realizada pela análise comparativa do Erro Quadrático Médio e do índice Kappa. Os resultados mostraram que uma redução gradativa no tamanho da amostra original dos dados em transectos não causou alterações no resultado da inferência. Na análise dos diferentes métodos de amostragem, veriï¬cou-se que as amostras obtidas pela técnica de Amostragem Sistemática foram as mais eï¬cazes ao mapear a variável cloroï¬la-a por Krigagem Ordinária.
Calibration of miniature prism-based stereoscopic imagers for precise spatial measurements

The paper is targeted to find the optimal mathematical model and the calibration algorithm for the industrial endoscope equipped with the prism-based attachable stereo adapter, which allows imaging from two different points by a single sensor. We consider the conventional calibration methods for the pinhole camera model with polynomial distortion approximation and compared them with the ray tracing model based on the vector form of Snell’s law. In order to evaluate each of the proposed models we have developed the software for the imitation of various calibration procedures using different types of calibration targets. We use the computer simulation to prove that the pinhole camera models, widely used in machine vision, are very limited for describing prism-based endoscopic measurement systems. Our analysis identified the main problems for these models, such as entrance pupil shift, non-homocentric beams and required number of coefficients for polynomial models and the iterative forward ray aiming for the ray-tracing model. The proposed technique is flexible and can also be used to test stability and convergence of the parameter estimation procedures and to compare calibration targets and strategies.
N-gram Feature Generation for Conditional Random Fields based Chinese Word Segmentation

This thesis proposes an approach to generating n-gram features for Conditional Random Fields (CRFs) based Chinese word segmentation (CWS) systems. Current systems typically adopt only unigrams or bigrams of either Chinese character themselves or certain traits of characters (e.g. tones, whether it is a digit) as features, though longer n-grams may be useful to describe long-distance dependencies and other phenomena. Inspired by works in error mining, a framework of n-gram expansion has been proposed to generate n-gram of arbitrary length as features for CRF based CWS. The expansion is only triggered when certain criteria are satisfied. Under this framework, we have proposed three specific expansion methods, based on mutual information, label-entropy and label distribution bin, respectively. Expanded n-grams can be further fed to an iterative process that ranks these candidates and selects most promising ones. Those n-gram features are added into the feature set of CRFs algorithm, and the usefulness of selected features is evaluated by measuring overall performance gain of the CWS system. Using the UPUC corpus in SIGHAN Bakeoff 2006, experiments show that error reductions between 5%~13% are achieved by adding these generated features to a CRFs based CWS system that adopts standard features. Besides, the overall system performance is comparable to top results in Bakeoff 2006.
Una aproximación a la clasificación de las universidades chilenas An approach toward a classification of Chilean higher education institutions

The knowledge society and globalization have impacted higher education, generating a series of changes in recent decades. These changes make reference to the growing demand, widespread growth of enrollment and diversification of higher education institutions, with or without profit, in addition to a large increase in the presence of universities from private sources. Therefore, universities have different missions, thus forming graduates with heterogeneous quality. The quality assurance, therefore, is seen as crucial to safeguard the quality of the academic training of students. In this sense, the aim of this paper is to generate a ranking of universities, for which a spatial arrangement of 52 Chilean universities is carried out in a scatter plot, using for this purpose the variables of institutional accreditation and return of equity, besides using the average of both. These two aspects conceive in forming four groups of universities, thus generating a new approach for the analysis of existing universities in Chile.