Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of home single-channel nasal pressure for recommending continuous positive airway pressure treatment in sleep apnea.

INTRODUCTION Unlike other prevalent diseases, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has no simple tool for diagnosis and therapeutic decision-making in primary healthcare. Home single-channel nasal pressure (HNP) may be an alternative to polysomnography for diagnosis but its use in therapeutic decisions has yet to be explored. OBJECTIVES To ascertain whether an automatically scored HNP apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), used alone to recommend continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment, agrees with decisions made by a specialist using polysomnography and several clinical variables. METHODS Patients referred by primary care physicians for OSA suspicion underwent randomized polysomnography and HNP. We analyzed the total sample and both more and less symptomatic subgroups for Bland and Altman plots to explore AHI agreement; receiver operating characteristic curves to establish area under the curve (AUC) measurements for CPAP recommendation; and therapeutic decision efficacy for several HNP AHI cutoff points. RESULTS Of the 787 randomized patients, 35 (4%) were lost, 378 (48%) formed the more symptomatic and 374 (48%) the less symptomatic subgroups. AHI bias and agreement limits were 5.8 ± 39.6 for the total sample, 5.3 ± 38.7 for the more symptomatic, and 6 ± 40.2 for the less symptomatic subgroups. The AUC were 0.826 for the total sample, 0.903 for the more symptomatic, and 0.772 for the less symptomatic subgroups. In the more symptomatic subgroup, 70% of patients could be correctly treated with CPAP. CONCLUSION Automatic HNP scoring can correctly recommend CPAP treatment in most of more symptomatic patients with OSA suspicion. Our results suggest that this device may be an interesting tool in initial OSA management for primary care physicians, although future studies in a primary care setting are necessary. CLINICAL TRIALS INFORMATION Clinicaltrial.gov identifier: NCT01347398.
Regulation of Reinsurance Recoverables: Protection or Protectionism?

United States regulators and alien insurers are currently debating the appropriateness and efficacy of existing collateralization requirements. U.S. insurers are required to report the provision for reinsurance which decreases statutory assets to reflect the possibility that a portion of reinsurance recoverables may be uncollectible. To avoid this penalty, unauthorized reinsurers must fully collateralize gross U.S. liabilities. Regulators view the collateralization requirements as necessary to protect U.S. consumers, given the differences in accounting practices and regulatory legal authority in the U.S. and abroad. Alien reinsurers contend the collateralization requirements impose unjustified costs on some financially secure reinsurers, effectively limiting market capacity. We measure the impact of insurers' balance sheet entries for the provision for unauthorized reinsurance on the price of insurance. This provides a test of the market's valuation of uncollateralized reinsurance recoverables from unauthorized alien reinsurers. We find no significant relation between the use of unauthorized reinsurance and price, suggesting the required collateralization of recoverables is not necessary to protect U.S. insurers and insurance consumers. The result is consistent across numerous specifications, including variations based on the domicile and size of reinsurers.
THE DETERMINANTS OF VOLUNTARY DISCLOSURES IN MALAYSIA: THE CASE OF INTERNET FINANCIAL REPORTING

Previous research suggests that there is a rather heterogeneous use of the Internet as an instrument for investor relations strategies and corporate reporting among Malaysian firms [i.e. types of informati on disclosed (Ruhaya, Nafisah & Normahiran, 2000; Noor & Mohamad, 2000), qualitative nature of Internet reporting (Nik & Amdan, 2001) and benefits of reporting on the websites (Salleh, Nariah, Mazlin & Shireejit, 2000). This study has investigated whether the differences in Internet Financial Reporting (IFR) policies might be due to a firm’s specific characteristics. Given there is no mandatory requirement for IFR disclosure, the study adopts the traditional voluntary disclosure variables in an attempt to e xplain such practices by Malaysian main board listed firms in Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (KLSE). A total of 100 firms were selected based on their market capitalization for the year 2001. All selected firms were analyzed via their web sites or linkage to KLSE web site if present and traceable. The regression results show that firm size, leverage, growth, foreign share ownership and shareholders concentration were directly attributed to the adoption of IFR by the listed firms. In conclusion, a bigger firm, a more leveraged firm, a high growth firm, a firm with high foreign share ownership and a firm with highly concentrated shareholders has a higher tendency to adopt IFR.
Evaluation of red blood cell distribution width as a prognostic indicator in cats with acquired heart disease, with and without congestive heart failure

Objectives Congestive heart failure secondary to cardiomyopathy is a common manifestation of cardiac disease in cats, carrying a variable prognosis. The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate the relationship between red blood cell distribution width (RDW) and survival time in feline patients with acquired heart disease with and without congestive heart failure (CHF). Methods Three hundred and forty-nine client-owned cats with echocardiograms and complete blood count, including RDW measurement, performed between March 2006 and December 2011, were included in the study. Patient characteristics, including signalment, hematocrit, RDW, echocardiographic parameters and survival, were recorded. Comparisons between RDW in cats with asymptomatic acquired heart disease and those with CHF were made. Survival was documented and compared at 30 days and 6 months. Results CHF was present in 80 cats and absent in 269 cats. Cats with CHF had an increase in mortality compared with cats without CHF at 30 days and 6 months (P = 0.007 and P = 0.04, respectively). RDW was not significantly associated with survival in cats with or without CHF at 30 days or 6 months. A significant difference was found between median RDW values in cats with CHF vs cats without CHF (16.3% vs 15.8%; P = 0.02). The median RDW value was significantly higher in cats with unclassified cardiomyopathy compared with cats with other types of cardiomyopathy (16.3% vs 15.8%; P = 0.03). Conclusions and relevance Single RDW values did not predict mortality in cats with acquired heart disease but may be useful in determining if cats have decompensated heart disease and CHF. Human studies indicate that incremental increases in serial RDW measurements are associated with decreased survival; serial RDW measurements in cats may be an area of future study.
Inverse regulation of target genes at the brink of the BMP morphogen activity gradient

Summary BMP-dependent patterning in the Drosophila melanogaster wing imaginal disc serves as a paradigm to understand how morphogens specify cell fates. The observed profile of the transcriptional response to the graded signal of BMP relies upon two counter-active gradients of pMad and Brinker (Brk). This patterning model is inadequate to explain the expression of target genes, like vestigial and spalt, in lateral regions of the wing disc where BMP signals decline and Brk levels peak. Here, we show that in contrast to the reciprocal repressor gradient mechanism, where Brk represses BMP targets in medial regions, target expression in lateral regions is downregulated by BMP signalling and activated by Brk. Brk induces lateral expression indirectly, apparently through repression of a negative regulator. Our findings provide a model explaining how the expression of an established BMP target is differentially and inversely regulated along the anterior-posterior axis of the wing disc.
Consumption of L‐arginine mediated by Entamoeba histolytica L‐arginase (EhArg) inhibits amoebicidal activity and nitric oxide production by activated macrophages

In this study we discuss the cloning and expression of Entamoeba histolytica arginase (EhArg), an enzyme that catalyses the hydrolysis of l‐arginine to l‐ornithine and urea. l‐norvaline, a competitive inhibitor of E. histolytica l‐arginase, inhibits the growth of the parasite, which suggests that the catabolism of l‐arginine mediated by EhArg is essential. Nitric oxide (NO) is an antimicrobial agent that inhibits some key enzymes in the metabolism of Entamoeba histolytica. NO is synthesized by activated macrophages from l‐arginine, the substrate of NO synthase (NOS‐II). We show that E. histolytica inhibits NO mediated amoebicidal activity of activated macrophages by consuming l‐arginine present in the medium.
Error probability performance for multi-hop decode-and-forward relaying over Rayleigh fading channels

This paper provides a complete study on the end-to-end performance of multi-hop wireless communication systems equipped with re-generative (decode-and-forward) relays over Rayleigh fading channels assuming single-antenna terminals. More specifically, the probability density function (pdf) of the tightly approximated end-to-end SNR of the systems is derived. Using this approximation allows us to avoid considering all possible combinations of correct and erroneous decisions at the relays and the destination for which the end-to-end transmission is error-free, thus reducing computation burden in evaluating important multi-hop system's performance metrics. Simulations are performed to verify the accuracy and to show the tightness of the theoretical analysis.
Virulence Factors and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Escherichia coli Isolated from Calves in Turkey

Escherichia coli isolates from calves were investigated by multiplex PCR assays for the presence of genes encoding K99, F41, F17‐related fimbriae, heat‐stabile enterotoxin a (STa), intimin (eae) and Shiga toxins (stx1 and stx2). A total of 120 E. coli isolates, 75 isolated from diarrhoeic or septicemic calves and 45 from clinically healthy calves aged between 1 day and 2 months were tested. Each isolate was obtained from different calves in different herds. Among the isolates from diseased animals, 12 (16%) isolates from 1‐ to 7‐day‐old diarrhoeic calves were detected as enterotoxigenic E. coli which possessed K99, F41 and STa in combination; F17‐related fimbriae genes were detected in 33 (44%) isolates and they were found in combination with K99 + F41 + STa in two isolates. Of 120 isolates, 16 carried eae, eight stx1 and five stx2 genes alone or in combination. None of the eae‐ or stx‐positive strains was identified as O157:H7. However, results indicate that calves may be carrier of Shiga toxin‐producing E. coli which have potential as a human pathogen. Antimicrobial susceptibility of 75 isolates from diseased calves was determined by agar disk diffusion method for 14 antimicrobial agents. In 77.3% of the isolates, multiresistance was detected. Higher resistance rates were detected for cephalothin (72%), tetracycline (69.3%), kanamycin (69.3%), ampicillin (65.3%), nalidixic acid (53.3%), trimethoprim‐sulphamethoxazole (52%) and enrofloxacin (41.3%), respectively. No resistance was found for ceftiofur and cefoxitin.
MDMX Overexpression Prevents p53 Activation by the MDM2 Inhibitor Nutlin*

The p53 tumor suppressor plays a key role in maintaining genomic stability and protection against malignant transformation. MDM2 and MDMX are both p53-binding proteins that regulate p53 stability and activity. Recent development of the MDM2 inhibitor Nutlin 3 has greatly facilitated functional analysis of MDM2-p53 binding. We found that although MDMX is homologous to MDM2 and binds to the same region on p53 N terminus, Nutlin does not disrupt p53-MDMX interaction. The ability of Nutlin to activate p53 is compromised in tumor cells overexpressing MDMX. Combination of Nutlin with MDMX siRNA resulted in synergistic activation of p53 and growth arrest. These results suggest that MDMX is also a valid target for p53 activation in tumor cells. Development of novel compounds that are MDMX-specific or optimized for dual-inhibition of MDM2 and MDMX are necessary to achieve full activation of p53 in tumor cells.
Methodical Evaluation of Arabic Word Embeddings

Many unsupervised learning techniques have been proposed to obtain meaningful representations of words from text. In this study, we evaluate these various techniques when used to generate Arabic word embeddings. We first build a benchmark for the Arabic language that can be utilized to perform intrinsic evaluation of different word embeddings. We then perform additional extrinsic evaluations of the embeddings based on two NLP tasks.
The Value of Customer Co-Created Knowledge during the Innovation Process

Customer co-creation during the innovation process has recently been suggested to be a major source for firms’ competitive advantage. Hereby, customers actively engage in a firm’s innovation process and take over innovation activities traditionally performed by a firm’s employees. Despite its suggested importance, previous research has revealed contradictory findings regarding its impact, the nature of involved customers, and the channels of communication that enable co-creation. To provide a more fine-grained picture, customer co-created knowledge is first delineated into its key value dimensions of relevance, novelty, and costs, and then their impact on various innovation outcomes is investigated. Next, the study examines the antecedent role of customer determinants, i.e. lead user characteristics and customer-firm closeness, on these knowledge value dimensions. Finally, it is explored how these effects are moderated by the type of communication channel used. An empirical validation of the conceptual model is performed by means of survey data from 126 customer co-creation projects. The data analysis indicates that customer co-creation is most successful for the creation of highly relevant but moderately novel knowledge. Co-creation with customers who are closely related to the innovating firm results in more highly relevant knowledge at a low cost. Yet, co-creation with lead users produces novel and relevant knowledge. These effects are contingent on the richness and reach of the communication channels enabling co-creation. Overall, the findings shed light on opportunities and limitations of customer co-creation for innovation and reconcile determinants originating in relationship marketing and innovation management. At the same time, managers obtain recommendations for selecting customers and communication channels to enhance the success of their customer co-creation initiatives.
Increasing efficiency of an electricity production system from solar energy with a method of reducing solar panel temperature

Renewable energy sources have been of great interest to electricity producers in Thailand. There are many renewable energy sources usually used: wind power, hydropower, geothermal energy, bio energy and solar energy. Thailand is located near the equator, leading to high solar radiation all year. Hence, production of electricity from solar energy has become a more reasonable alternative than other resources in order to solve energy crisis. However, a solar energy system has a negative point, which is the high temperature of a solar panel, resulting in reduced efficiency of electricity production. Typically, Thailand has tropical monsoon climate, hence hot weather, especially during the hottest time of the year (from March to May), when temperature usually reaches up to 40 °C. In this paper, an experimental setup of a solar energy system integrated with a heat ventilation system is proposed. The experimental setup consists of a 258-watt solar panel, a charge controller, an inverter, a battery, a temperature controller and a cooling system. To decrease temperature of the solar panel, a cooling system of a vehicle is modified. Experimental results indicate that, at temperature of 35–38 °C, it can be noticed that the solar panel can generate voltage around 34 – 35 V; the temperature of the solar panel is around 50 – 55 °C. When the cooling system is activated, the solar panel temperature is significantly decreased from 50 – 55 °C to 25 – 35 °C. Hence, the solar panel can deliver voltage of around 43 – 45 V.
Sleep efficiency during sleep studies: results of a prospective study comparing home‐based and in‐hospital polysomnography

To date, the clinical use of unattended home‐based polysomnography (PSG) is not recommended. To assess whether sleep efficiency is better at home, we have performed a prospective, crossover, single‐blind study comparing unattended home‐ versus attended in‐hospital PSG in a population referred for high clinical suspicion of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSA). Within 2 weeks, all the patients underwent both PSG performed by the same sleep technician, which were analysed by another blinded technician. Payments for each procedure were also calculated. Sixty‐six patients (mean age: 49 ± 13 years; mean body mass index: 30 ± 7; mean Epworth Sleepiness Scale: 10 ± 5) were included. The quality of recordings was poor in 1.5% of the attended PSG versus 4.7% for unattended PSG (P = 0.36). Sleep efficiency at home was better (82% versus 75%, P < 0.001), and sleep duration longer (412 min versus 365 min, P < 0.001). Sleep latency was also shorter at home (28 min versus 45 min, P = 0.004), and patients spent more time in rapid eye movement sleep (19% versus 16%, P = 0.006). Apnoea–hypopnoea index (23 versus 26, P = 0.08) was similar at home and in the sleep lab. Sixty‐seven per cent of patients preferred home‐based PSG. PSG payment was also lower at home (268 Euros versus 1057 Euros). We conclude that home‐based PSG is associated with a better sleep efficiency. It also appears as feasible and reliable in patients with high preclinical suspicion for OSA. It is also more comfortable for the patients whose sleep efficiency is better and allows cost saving related to the absence of hospitalization.
Hedge Funds Performance Ratios Adjusted to Market Liquidity Risk

Market liquidity is complex to measure empirically. This explains why there is no consensus about performance ratios adjusted to its risk. We summarize market liquidity by two major characteristics: a costly one because of the loss of illiquidity premium; and a profitable one when investors can withdraw when they want. Then, in this paper, three new performance indicators are proposed to integrate, to a certain extent, market liquidity risk, especially for hedge funds investment: Liquidity-loss ratio will capture the cost characteristic whereas Liquidity-Sharpe ratio and Liquidity-profit ratio the profitable one. These new ratios try to be simple enough and also precise to help investors to choose between hedge funds strategies according to their liquidity profile: do they want to capture illiquidity risk premium? Do they want to be free to withdraw?
No association with common Caucasian genotypes in exons 8, 13 and 14 of the human cytoplasmic dynein heavy chain gene (DNCHC1) and familial motor neuron disorders

We have shown in a mouse model of motor neuron disease, the legs‐at‐odd‐angles (Loa) mutant, and that mutations in the cytoplasmic dynein heavy chain gene (Dnchc1) cause motor neuron degeneration. Mice exhibiting the Loa phenotype suffer progressive loss of locomotor function and homozygous animals have neuronal inclusion bodies that are positive for SOD1, CDK5, neurofilament and ubiquitin proteins. As this phenotype models some aspects of human motor neuron degeneration disorders, we think there is a reasonable likelihood that dynein may be a causative gene or susceptibility factor in human motor neuron disease. Therefore we have screened exons of this gene in a set of human patients with familial forms of disparate motor neuron degeneration diseases, affecting both upper and lower motor neurons: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), and hereditary spastic paraplegia. As part of this study, we have determined that DNCHC1 is a large gene of 78 exons spanning 86 kb genomic length. We have focused on the exons known to be mutated in Loa, and in a very similar mouse mutation, cramping 1 (Cra1); both mutations result in loss of anterior horn cells. The exons studied are highly conserved in a wide range of eukaryotes. We screened our patient samples by sequencing and although we detect single nucleotide polymorphisms, our results show these occur at the same frequency in our patient group as in control samples of unaffected individuals. Therefore we do not find any association between familial motor neuron disease and the genotypes presented here in the exons screened.
A Hafnium-Oxide Memristive Dynamic Adaptive Neural Network Array

— Power and precise scaling are signiﬁcant restraining elements to advancements in computing. This paper presents a power efﬁcient memristive device technology in the design of a neuromorphic architectural model that promises to overcome many of the performance limitations of conventional Von Neumann systems. The resulting memristive Dynamic Adaptive Neural Network Array (mrDANNA) addresses contemporary application challenges while also enabling continued performance scaling. The mrDANNA system is a mixed-mode neuromorphic computing system built with reconﬁgurable structure, dynamic adaptation, low-power operation, and is well suited for processing spatio-temporal data. This work is speciﬁcally based on a HfO 2 memristor device, experimental results for which are presented in this paper. Proof-of-concept simulation results for a mrDANNA pattern recognition network are also presented showing high accuracy for recognizing basic shapes.
An Evaluation of the British Columbia Asthma Monitoring System (BCAMS) and PM2.5 Exposure Metrics during the 2014 Forest Fire Season

The British Columbia Asthma Monitoring System (BCAMS) tracks forest fire smoke exposure and asthma-related health outcomes, identifying excursions beyond expected daily counts. Weekly reports during the wildfire season support public health and emergency management decision-making. We evaluated BCAMS by identifying excursions for asthma-related physician visits and dispensations of the reliever medication salbutamol sulfate and examining their corresponding smoke exposures. A disease outbreak detection algorithm identified excursions from 1 July to 31 August 2014. Measured, modeled, and forecasted concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) were used to assess exposure. We assigned PM2.5 levels to excursions by choosing the highest value within a seven day window centred on the excursion day. Smoky days were defined as those with PM2.5 levels ≥ 25 µg/m3. Most excursions (57%–71%) were assigned measured or modeled PM2.5 concentrations of 10 µg/m3 or higher. Of the smoky days, 55.8% and 69.8% were associated with at least one excursion for physician visits and salbutamol dispensations, respectively. BCAMS alerted most often when measures of smoke exposure were relatively high. Better performance might be realized by combining asthma-related outcome metrics in a bivariate model.