cometadata/datacite-rtg-text-other-reclassification-records huggingface dataset:
Robust Blind Image Reconstruction from Low Resolution Corrupted Data Using Proximal Deep Networks
Creators: name: Raied Aljadaany
Publisher: name: Figshare
Year: 2019
Subjects: subject: 90699 Electrical and Electronic Engineering not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering

description: Image restoration problems are typically ill-posed, requiring the design of suitable priors. These priors are typically hand-designed and are fully instantiated throughout the process, and these hand-designed priors might not contain good approximations of the real data. We introduce a novel framework called proximal splitting network (PSN) for
handling inverse problems related to image restoration based on elements from the half quadratic splitting method and proximal operators of the prior term. Modeling the proximal operator of the prior term as a convolutional network, we defined an implicit prior to the image space as a function class during training. We assume the point spread function (PSF) is known for PSN. However, in blind image restoration, the PSF is completely unknown. To remedy this, we develop another approach where the PSF is not known. Recovering images typically requires estimates of the PSF. We present a method called
DR-Net, which does not require any such estimate and is further able to invert the effects of the blurring in blind image recovery tasks. These image recovery problems typically
have two terms, the data fidelity term (for faithful reconstruction) and the image prior (for realistic-looking reconstructions). We use the Douglas-Rachford iterations to solve these problems since it is a more generally applicable optimization procedure than methods such as the proximal gradient descent algorithm. Two proximal operators originate from these iterations, one for the data fidelity term and the second for the image prior. It is non-trivial to design a hand-crafted function to represent these proximal operators which
would work with real-world image distributions. We therefore approximate both theseproximal operators using deep networks. The last part of the thesis deals with face images
super-resolution, which is a special case of image reconstruction. We propose a novel neural network to recover face identity features. The proposed approach improves the performance of face recognition systems on low resolutions. Here, the neural network aims to minimize the identity difference between the recovered and the original images, where other approaches try to minimize the element-wise (pixel-by-pixel) difference. All the proposed methods are shown to be efficient and accurate for image restoration tasks.
Analytical approach to swift nonleaky entangling gates in superconducting qubits
Creators: name: Economou, Sophia E.
name: Barnes, Edwin
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2014
Subjects: subject: Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics (cond-mat.mes-hall)
subject: Quantum Physics (quant-ph)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: We develop schemes for designing pulses that implement fast and precise entangling quantum gates in superconducting qubit systems despite the presence of nearby harmful transitions. Our approach is based on purposely involving the nearest harmful transition in the quantum evolution instead of trying to avoid it. Using analytical tools, we design simple microwave control fields that implement maximally entangling gates with fidelities exceeding 99% in times as low as 40 ns. We demonstrate our approach in a two-qubit circuit QED system by designing the two most important quantum entangling gates: a conditional-NOT gate and a conditional-Z gate. Our results constitute an important step toward overcoming the problem of spectral crowding, one of the primary challenges in controlling multi-qubit systems.
description: 5 pages, 4 figures
Not-quite-Hamiltonian reduction
Creators: name: Bates, Larry
name: Sniatycki, Jedrzej
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2014
Subjects: subject: Differential Geometry (math.DG)
subject: FOS: Mathematics

description: The not-quite-Hamiltonian theory of singular reduction and reconstruction is described. This includes the notions of both regular and collective Hamiltonian reduction and reconstruction.
description: 12 pages
Improving dietary behavior: the effectiveness of tailored messages in primary care settings.
Creators: name: Ammerman, A S
name: DeVellis, B M
name: Campbell, M K
name: Sandler, R S
name: Strecher, V J
name: DeVellis, R F
Publisher: name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries
Year: 1994

description: OBJECTIVES. To achieve the Healthy People 2000 objectives, public health professionals must develop effective dietary interventions that address psychosocial and behavioral components of change. This study tested the effect of individually computer-tailored messages designed to decrease fat intake and increase fruit and vegetable intake. METHODS. Adult patients from four North Carolina family practices were surveyed at baseline and then randomly assigned to one of two interventions or to a control group. The first intervention consisted of individually computer-tailored nutrition messages; the second consisted of nontailored nutrition information based on the 1990 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Patients were resurveyed 4 months postintervention. RESULTS. The tailored intervention produced significant decreases in total fat and saturated fat scores compared with those of the control group (P < .05). Total fat was decreased in the tailored group by 23%, in the nontailored group by 9%, and in the control ...
Jüdische Sekten zur Zeit Jesu
Creators: name: Manns, Frédéric
Publisher: name: Internationale katholische Zeitschrift Communio
Year: 2022

description: Internationale katholische Zeitschrift Communio, Bd. 20 Nr. 2 (1991): Internationale katholische Zeitschrift Communio, Band 20, Heft 2
Pesticide exposures, cholinesterase depression, and symptoms among North Carolina migrant farmworkers.
Creators: name: Loomis, D P
name: Mims, S R
name: Auer, A
name: Ciesielski, S
Publisher: name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries
Year: 1994

description: OBJECTIVES: We conducted a clinic-based study of erythrocyte cholinesterase levels, pesticide exposures, and health effects among farmworkers and nonfarmworkers to determine risks for exposure and associated morbidity.

METHODS: Two hundred two farmworkers and 42 nonfarmworkers were recruited sequentially at two community health centers. Erythrocyte cholinesterase levels were measured colorimetrically. Questionnaires obtained data on demographics, occupational history, exposures, and symptoms.

RESULTS: Cholinesterase levels were significantly lower among farmworkers (30.28 U/g hemoglobin) than among nonfarmworkers (32.3 U/g hemoglobin). Twelve percent of farmworkers, but no nonfarmworkers, had very low levels. Farmworkers applying pesticides also had lower cholinesterase levels. One half of farmworkers reported being sprayed by pesticides and working in fields with an obvious chemical smell. Of reported symptoms, only diarrhea was associated with cholinesterase levels. Reported exposures, however, were strongly associated with symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS: Farmworkers reported many pesticide exposures that violate state and federal regulations. Farmworkers had cholinesterase levels significantly lower than those of nonfarmworkers, although only spraying pesticides was associated with very low levels.
Thick-target yields of radioactive targets deduced from inverse kinematics
Creators: name: Aikawa, Masayuki
name: Ebata, Shuichiro
name: Imai, Shotaro
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2014
Subjects: subject: Nuclear Theory (nucl-th)
subject: Nuclear Experiment (nucl-ex)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: The thick-target yield (TTY) is a macroscopic quantity reflected by nuclear reactions and matter properties of targets. In order to evaluate TTYs on radioactive targets, we suggest a conversion method from inverse kinematics corresponding to the reaction of radioactive beams on stable targets. The method to deduce the TTY is theoretically derived from inverse kinematics. We apply the method to the natCu(12C,X)24Na reaction to confirm availability. In addition, it is applied to the 137Cs + 12C reaction as an example of a radioactive system and discussed a conversion coefficient of a TTY measurement.
description: 8 pages, 3 figures, Accepted to Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B
Biological Activity of Soil and Rate of Decomposition of Plant Residues
Creators: name: M.A. Nesmeyanova, S.I. Korzhov
Publisher: name: TuEngr Group
Year: 2020
Subjects: Degradation of soil fertility
Biologization
Binary sowing
Legumes
Biological activity
Soil microorganisms
Plant residues decomposition
Soil-inhabiting microorganism.

description: International Transaction Journal of Engineering, Management, & Applied Sciences & Technologies, 11, 14, 11A14M: 1-13
Physicians' recommendations for mammography: do tailored messages make a difference?
Creators: name: Strecher, V J
name: Hospers, H
name: Skinner, C S
Publisher: name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries
Year: 1994

description: OBJECTIVES. Message tailoring, based on individual needs and circumstances, is commonly used to enhance face-to-face patient counseling. Only recently has individual tailoring become feasible for printed messages. This study sought to determine whether printed tailored recommendations addressing women's specific screening and risk status and perceptions about breast cancer and mammography are more effective than standardized printed recommendations. METHODS. Computer-assisted telephone interviews were conducted with 435 women, aged 40 to 65 years, who had visited family practice groups within the previous 2 years. Subjects were randomly allocated to receive individually tailored or standardized mammography recommendation letters mailed from physicians to patients' homes. Follow-up interviews were conducted 8 months later. RESULTS. Tailored letter recipients were more likely to remember and to have read more of their letters than standardized version recipients. After controlling for baseline status, tailo...
Coexistence of continuous variable QKD with intense DWDM classical channels
Creators: name: Kumar, Rupesh
name: Qin, Hao
name: Alléaume, Romain
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2014
Subjects: subject: Quantum Physics (quant-ph)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: We demonstrate experimentally the feasibility of continuous variable quantum key distribution (CV-QKD) in dense-wavelength-division multiplexing networks (DWDM), where QKD will typically have to coexist with several co- propagating (forward or backward) C-band classical channels whose launch power is around 0dBm. We have conducted experimental tests of the coexistence of CV-QKD multiplexed with an intense classical channel, for different input powers and different DWDM wavelengths. Over a 25km fiber, a CV-QKD operated over the 1530.12nm channel can tolerate the noise arising from up to 11.5dBm classical channel at 1550.12nm in forward direction (9.7dBm in backward). A positive key rate (0.49kb/s) can be obtained at 75km with classical channel power of respectively -3dBm and -9dBm in forward and backward. Based on these measurements, we have also simulated the excess noise and optimized channel allocation for the integration of CV-QKD in some access networks. We have, for example, shown that CV-QKD could coexist with 5 pairs of channels (with nominal input powers: 2dBm forward and 1dBm backward) over a 25km WDM-PON network. The obtained results demonstrate the outstanding capacity of CV-QKD to coexist with classical signals of realistic intensity in optical networks.
description: 19 pages, 9 figures. Revised version, to appear in New Journal of Physics
Maximising trichiasis surgery success (MTSS) trial: rationale and design of a randomised controlled trial to improve trachomatous trichiasis surgical outcomes
Creators: name: Sisay, A.
name: Sullivan, K.M.
name: Bayissasse, B.
name: Munoz, B.
name: Singer, A.
name: Merbs, S.L.
name: Keil, A.
name: Gower, E.W.
Publisher: name: NLM (Medline)
Year: 2020

description: INTRODUCTION: Trachomatous trichiasis (TT) is a condition in which the eyelid turns inward and eyelashes abrade the front part of the eye. To prevent eventual blindness, surgery is recommended. Two surgical procedures are commonly used, bilamellar tarsal rotation (BLTR) and posterior lamellar tarsal rotation (PLTR). Evidence suggests that incision height and surgery type may affect the risk of postoperative TT (PTT) and other surgical outcomes. However, these studies have not prospectively compared the impact of incision height on surgical outcomes. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Maximising trichiasis surgery Success (MTSS) is a three-arm, randomised clinical trial being conducted in Ethiopia. Participants will be randomly assigned on a 1:1:1 basis to BLTR with a 3 mm incision height, BLTR with a 5 mm incision height, or PLTR 3 mm incision height. Patients are eligible for the trial if they have previously unoperated upper eyelid TT. Follow-up visits will be conducted by trained eye examiners at 1 day, 2 weeks, 6 weeks and 12 months after surgery. The primary outcome is incident PTT within 1 year following surgery. Logistic regression will be used in an intention-to-treat analysis to assess outcome incidence by surgical approach. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The University of North Carolina and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine institution review boards, Ethiopian National Research Ethics Review Committee and Ethiopian Food, Medicine, Healthcare and Administration and Control Authority provided ethics approval for the trial. On completion, trial results will be disseminated at local and international meetings and in peer-reviewed journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03100747.
Pre-operative trichiatic eyelash pattern predicts post-operative trachomatous trichiasis
Creators: name: Rajak, S.
name: Gebre, T.
name: Merbs, S.L.
name: Habtamu, E.
name: Gower, E.W.
name: Harding, J.C.
name: Burton, M.J.
name: Emerson, P.M.
name: Kelly Callahan, E.
name: West, S.K.
name: Munoz, B.
name: Alemayehu, W.
Publisher: name: Public Library of Science
Year: 2019

description: Importance Trichiasis surgery programs globally have faced high rates of poor surgical outcomes. Identifying correctable risk factors for improving long-term outcomes is essential for countries targeting elimination of trachoma as a public health problem. Objective To determine whether the location of trichiatic eyelashes prior to surgery influences development of post-operative trichiasis (PTT) within two years after surgery. Design Secondary data analysis of four randomized clinical trials evaluating methods to improve trichiasis surgery outcomes. These include the Surgery for Trichiasis, Antibiotics for Recurrence (STAR) trial, Partnership for Rapid Elimination of Trachoma (PRET-Surgery), absorbable versus silk sutures trial, and epilation versus surgery for minor trichiasis trial. Setting Primary trials were conducted in rural areas of Ethiopia and Tanzania Interventions or exposures Trichiasis surgery performed with either the bilamellar tarsal rotation procedure or posterior lamellar rotation procedure Main outcomes Prevalence of PTT within two years after surgery, location of trichiatic eyelashes pre-operatively and post-operatively Results 6,747 eyelids that underwent first-time trichiasis surgery were included. PTT rates varied by study, ranging from 10–40%. PTT was less severe (based on number of trichiatic eyelashes) than initial trichiasis for 72% of those developing PTT, and only 2% of eyelids were worse at follow up than pre-operatively. Eyelids with central only-trichiasis pre-operatively had lower rates of PTT than eyelids with peripheral only trichiasis in each of the three trials that included severe TT cases. 10% of eyelids with peripheral trichiasis pre-operatively that develop PTT have central TT post-operatively. Conclusions and relevance Pre-operative central trichiasis is less likely than peripheral trichiasis to be associated with subsequent PTT. Regardless of type of surgery, surgeon skill levels, or pre-operative trichiasis severity, the presence of peripheral trichiasis pre-operatively is associated with higher rates of PTT. Making an incision that extends the length of the eyelid and adequately rotating the nasal and temporal aspects of the eyelid when suturing may help to minimize the chance of developing peripheral PTT.
The Adequacy of Prenatal Care Utilization Index: its US distribution and association with low birthweight.
Creators: name: Kotelchuck, M
Publisher: name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries
Year: 1994

description: The proposed Adequacy of Prenatal Care Utilization Index is applied to data from the 1980 National Natality Survey to assess the adequacy of prenatal care utilization and its association with low birth-weight in the United States. The index suggests that only 61.1% of women received adequate prenatal care, including 17.7% with more intensive care; 16.7% received inadequate care. More White women (63.4%) than Black women (51.9%) received adequate prenatal care.
The incidence of tuberculosis among North Carolina migrant farmworkers, 1991.
Creators: name: Piehl, M
name: Ciesielski, S
name: Protiva, J
name: Esposito, D
Publisher: name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries
Year: 1994

description: All locatable subjects (n = 94) for whom tuberculosis prevalence had been determined in an earlier study were tested with purified protein derivative (PPD) and control antigens, sputum sampling, and chest x-rays. Of the 46 who had been tuberculin negative (confirmed with control antigens) 3 years earlier, 2 had developed active tuberculosis in the interim and 14 (30%) were tuberculin positive. All had been engaged continuously in migrant farmwork. Lack of access to health care, an institutional feature of migrant farmwork, was significantly associated with primary infection.
Reducing the risk of postoperative trichiasis: lessons from a clinical trial
Creators: name: Gower, E.W.
Publisher: name: Elsevier Ltd
Year: 2018

description: Considerable efforts are ongoing across nearly 50 countries to eliminate trachoma—one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide—as a public health problem by 2020. The provision of high-quality surgery for people with trichiasis (end-stage trachoma) is crucial for the achievement of the WHO elimination targets. Estimates suggest that more than 3 million individuals require trichiasis surgery to prevent blindness due to trichiatic eyelashes that scratch the surface of the eye. Previous trichiasis surgery programmes have reported poor surgical outcomes, with more than 40% of patients developing postoperative trichiasis in some settings.
Why do patients refuse trichiasis surgery? Lessons and an education initiative from Mtwara Region, Tanzania
Creators: name: Gupta, K.M.
name: Othman, M.S.
name: Harding, J.C.
name: Gower, E.W.
name: Merbs, S.L.
Publisher: name: Public Library of Science
Year: 2018

description: Background: Trachomatous trichiasis is one of the leading causes of preventable blindness worldwide. A relatively simple surgery can spare vision. Although this surgery is usually performed free of charge in endemic regions, multiple studies indicate that surgical refusal is common. Prior studies have attempted to examine these reasons, although they generally rely on patient recall months to years after the surgery was offered. This study set out to determine major decision-making factors at the time of refusal. In addition, this study looked for ways to help increase surgical uptake by targeting modifiable factors. Methodology/Principal findings: We used a combination of focus groups, interviews with community health workers, and individual interviews with trichiasis patients who refused surgery to understand their decision-making. We found that several factors influenced surgical refusals, including misconception regarding recovery time, inability to find a post-surgical caregiver, and the time of year of the surgical campaign. Fear of the surgery itself played a minimal role in refusals. Conclusions/Significance: Trichiasis patients refuse surgery for many reasons, but a large percentage is due to lack of information and education, and is, therefore, modifiable within the structure of a surgical outreach project. To address this, we developed a “frequently asked questions” (FAQ) document aimed at community health workers, which may have helped to decrease some of the misconceptions that had led to prior refusals.
Inversion of the spherical means transform in corner-like domains by reduction to the classical Radon transform
Creators: name: Kunyansky, Leonid
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2015
Subjects: subject: Analysis of PDEs (math.AP)
subject: FOS: Mathematics
subject: 44A12 (primary), 92C55, 65R32 (secondary)

description: We consider an inverse problem arising in thermo-/photo- acoustic tomography that amounts to reconstructing a function $f$ from its circular or spherical means with the centers lying on a given measurement surface. (Equivalently, these means can be expressed through the solution $u(t,x)$ of the wave equation with the initial pressure equal to $f$.) An explicit solution of this inverse problem is obtained in 3D for the surface that is the boundary of an open octet, and in 2D for the case when the centers of integration circles lie on two rays starting at the origin and intersecting at the angle equal to $π/N$, $N=2,3,4,...$. Our formulas reconstruct the Radon projections of a function closely related to $f$, from the values of $u(t,x)$ on the measurement surface. Then, function $f$ can be found by inverting the Radon transform.
A matter of opinion about hysterectomies: experts' and practicing community gynecologists' ratings of appropriateness.
Creators: name: Evans, A T
name: Bickell, N A
name: Bernstein, S J
name: Earp, J
Publisher: name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries
Year: 1995

description: The degree to which national expert panel survey rating of the appropriateness of hysterectomy differed from those of a random sample of practicing community gynecologists was determined. Community gynecologists rated hysterectomy as more appropriate on six of eight cervical dysplasia scenarios. Experts agreed among themselves on 19 of 32 indications (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.66); community gynecologists agreed on 12 of 32 indications (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.50). Although few differences of opinion existed between experts and community gynecologists, for common clinical scenarios there was a large variation of opinion about the appropriateness of hysterectomy within each group. For areas of clinical uncertainty in which experts' opinions are used in guideline development, additional measures such as process of care, quality of life, and patient preference should be included in discussions about guidelines.
Home pesticide use and childhood cancer: a case-control study.
Creators: name: Savitz, D A
name: Leiss, J K
Publisher: name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries
Year: 1995

description: The association between childhood cancer and home pesticide use was examined in a case-control study of children under 15 years of age. Parents of 252 children diagnosed with cancer in the Denver area between 1976 and 1983 and of 222 control subjects were interviewed regarding use of home pest extermination, yard treatment, and pest strips. The strongest associations were found for yard treatments and soft tissue sarcomas (odds ratios [ORs] around 4.0) and for use of pest strips and leukemias (ORs between 1.7 and 3.0). These results suggest that use of home pesticides may be associated with some types of childhood cancer.
Artificial Neural Networks and Data Mining Techniques for Summer Crop Discrimination: A New Approach
Creators: name: Clóvis Cechim Júnior
name: Shemmer, Rosangela Carline
name: Johann, Jerry Adriani
name: Pereira, Gabriel Henrique De Almeida
name: Deppe, Flávio
name: Opazo, Miguel Angel Uribe
name: Junior, Carlos Antonio Da Silva
Publisher: name: Figshare
Year: 2019
Subjects: subject: Neuroscience
subject: Biotechnology
subject: 69999 Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: 80699 Information Systems not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Computer and information sciences
subject: Plant Biology

description: The objective of this research was to distinguish and estimate cultivated areas of soybean and corn in Paraná State, Brazil, in the 2014/2015 crop season. The main obstacle in mapping summer crops using vegetation index images is to separate the cultivated areas with soybean and corn. These crops planted in a similar period present similar spectral signatures. Thus, with the use of Data Mining techniques (DM) and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) it was possible to carry out the crop mapping, even for those that present similarities in spectral-temporal profile of vegetation indexes. The accuracy obtained in the mappings resulted in a KI (Kappa Index) of 0.78 and 89% of OA (overall accuracy) indicating a high accuracy in the separation of soybean and corn summer crops.
Increasing Medicaid child health screenings: the effectiveness of mailed pamphlets, phone calls, and home visits.
Creators: name: Selby-Harrington, M
name: Stearns, S C
name: Tesh, A S
name: Quade, D
name: Sorenson, J R
name: Donat, P L
Publisher: name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries
Year: 1995

description: OBJECTIVES: A randomized controlled trial was conducted to test the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of three outreach interventions to promote well-child screening for children on Medicaid.

METHODS: In rural North Carolina, a random sample of 2053 families with children due or overdue for screening was stratified according to the presence of a home phone. Families were randomly assigned to receive a mailed pamphlet and letter, a phone call, or a home visit outreach intervention, or the usual (control) method of informing at Medicaid intake.

RESULTS: All interventions produced more screenings than the control method, but increases were significant only for families with phones. Among families with phones, a home visit was the most effective intervention but a phone call was the most cost-effective. However, absolute rates of effectiveness were low, and incremental costs per effect were high.

CONCLUSIONS: Pamphlets, phone calls, and home visits by nurses were minimally effective for increasing well-child screenings. Alternate outreach methods are needed, especially for families without phones.
Non-Hermitian Hamiltonian approach to quantum transport in disordered networks with sinks: validity and effectiveness
Creators: name: Giusteri, Giulio G.
name: Mattiotti, Francesco
name: Celardo, G. Luca
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2014
Subjects: subject: Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics (cond-mat.mes-hall)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: We investigate the validity of the non-Hermitian Hamiltonian approach in describing quantum transport in disordered tight-binding networks connected to external environments, acting as sinks. Usually, non-Hermitian terms are added, on a phenomenological basis, to such networks to summarize the effects of the coupling to the sinks. Here we consider a paradigmatic model of open quantum network for which we derive a non-Hermitian effective model, discussing its limit of validity by a comparison with the analysis of the full Hermitian model. Specifically, we consider a ring of sites connected to a central one-dimensional lead. The lead acts as a sink which absorbs the excitation initially present in the ring. The coupling strength to the lead controls the opening of the ring system. This model has been widely discussed in literature in the context of light-harvesting systems. We analyze the effectiveness of the non-Hermitian description both in absence and in presence of static disorder on the ring. In both cases, the non-Hermitian model is valid when the energy range determined by the eigenvalues of the ring Hamiltonian is smaller than the energy band in the lead. Under such condition, we show that results about the interplay of opening and disorder, previously obtained within the non-Hermitian Hamiltonian approach, remain valid when the full Hermitian model in presence of disorder is considered. The results of our analysis can be extended to generic networks with sinks, leading to the conclusion that the non-Hermitian approach is valid when the energy dependence of the coupling to the external environments is sufficiently smooth in the energy range spanned by the eigenstates of the network.
description: Final version, 20 pages, 15 figures
Comparisons of diabetic retinopathy events associated with glucose-lowering drugs in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A network meta-analysis
Creators: name: Shi, L.
name: Wang, T.
name: Gower, E.W.
name: Li, G.
name: Tang, H.
name: Wang, F.
name: Zhao, Y.
Publisher: name: Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Year: 2018

description: Aim: To assess the comparative effects of glucose-lowering drugs (GLDs) on the risk of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: We systematically searched Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PUBMED and EMBASE from inception to January 17, 2017 to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that reported DR events among T2DM patients receiving any GLD. Random-effects pairwise and network meta-analyses were performed to calculate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: A total of 37 independent RCTs with 1806 DR events among 100 928 patients with T2DM were included. The mean duration of diabetes was 8.7 years and mean baseline HbA1c was 8.2% (SD, 0.5%). Our network meta-analysis found that DPP-4i (OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 0.87-1.65), GLP-1RA (OR, 1.19; 95% CI, 0.94-1.52) and SGLT2 inhibitors (OR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.49-1.28) were not associated with a higher risk of DR than placebo; however, a significantly increased risk of DR was associated with DPP-4i in the pairwise meta-analysis (OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.05-1.53). Sulfonylureas, on the other hand, were associated with a significantly increased risk of DR compared to placebo (OR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.01-2.76). Conclusions: Current evidence indicates that the association between DPP-4i, GLP-1RA or SGLT2 inhibitors and risk of DR remains uncertain in patients with T2DM. Some evidence suggests that sulfonylureas may be associated with increased risk of DR. However, given that DR events were not systematically assessed, these effects should be explored further in large-scale, well-designed studies.
Spin Dynamics with Inertia in Metallic Ferromagnets
Creators: name: Kikuchi, Toru
name: Tatara, Gen
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2015
Subjects: subject: Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics (cond-mat.mes-hall)
subject: High Energy Physics - Theory (hep-th)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: Non-adiabatic contribution of environmental degrees of freedom yields effective inertia of spin in effective spin dynamics. In this paper, we study several aspects of the inertia of spin in metallic ferromagnets. (i) a concrete expression of the spin inertia $m_s$: $m_s=\hbar S_c/(2g_{\rm sd})$, where $S_c$ is the spin polarization of conduction electrons and $g_{\rm sd}$ is the $sd$ coupling constant. (ii) dynamical behavior of spin with inertia, discussed from viewpoints of a spinning top and of a particle on a sphere. (iii) behavior of spin waves and domain walls in the presence of inertia, and behavior of spin with inertia in the case of a time-dependent magnetic field.
description: 31 pages, 7 figures; v2. references, contents and discussion added
Hoffnung auf eine leere Hölle - Wiederherstellung aller Dinge?
Creators: name: Ambaum, Jan
Publisher: name: Internationale katholische Zeitschrift Communio
Year: 2022

description: Internationale katholische Zeitschrift Communio, Bd. 20 Nr. 1 (1991): Internationale katholische Zeitschrift Communio, Band 20, Heft 1
Syphilis in the South: rural rates surpass urban rates in North Carolina.
Creators: name: Schoenbach, V J
name: Thomas, J C
name: Kulik, A L
Publisher: name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries
Year: 1995

description: We studied primary and secondary syphilis rates in North Carolina for 1985 through 1993 to elucidate demographic trends and the role of rurality in the state's high rates. Each of the state's 100 counties was classicfled by rural-urban character ; and county-level rates, adjusted for gender, race, and age group, were compared. Syphilis rates rose dramatically during the 9-year period, with most of the increase occurring among women, non-whites, and rural counties. The rural rates recently surpassed urban rates, with the greatest increase experienced by non-White rural women. The exchange of sex for drugs and characteristics of rural poverty may be fueling these trends.
Deep Narrow Boltzmann Machines are Universal Approximators
Creators: name: Montufar, Guido
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2014
Subjects: subject: Machine Learning (stat.ML)
subject: Machine Learning (cs.LG)
subject: Probability (math.PR)
subject: FOS: Computer and information sciences
subject: FOS: Mathematics

description: We show that deep narrow Boltzmann machines are universal approximators of probability distributions on the activities of their visible units, provided they have sufficiently many hidden layers, each containing the same number of units as the visible layer. We show that, within certain parameter domains, deep Boltzmann machines can be studied as feedforward networks. We provide upper and lower bounds on the sufficient depth and width of universal approximators. These results settle various intuitions regarding undirected networks and, in particular, they show that deep narrow Boltzmann machines are at least as compact universal approximators as narrow sigmoid belief networks and restricted Boltzmann machines, with respect to the currently available bounds for those models.
description: Published as a conference paper at ICLR 2015
Analysis of pig transcriptomes suggests a global regulation mechanism enabling temporary bursts of circular RNAs
Creators: name: Robic, Annie
name: Faraut, Thomas
name: Djebali, Sarah
name: Weikard, Rosemarie
name: Feve, Katia
name: Maman, Sarah
name: Kuehn, Christa
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2019
Subjects: subject: Genetics
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: 69999 Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Developmental Biology

description: To investigate the dynamics of circRNA expression in pig testes, we designed specific strategies to individually study circRNA production from intron lariats and circRNAs originating from back-splicing of two exons. By applying these methods on seven Total-RNA-seq datasets sampled during the testicular puberty, we detected 126 introns in 114 genes able to produce circRNAs and 5,236 exonic circRNAs produced by 2,516 genes. Comparing RNA-seq our datasets to datasets from litterature (embryonic cortex and postnatal muscle stages) revealed highly abundant intronic and exonic circRNAs in one sample each in pubertal testis and embryonic cortex, respectively. This abundance was due to higher production of circRNA by the same genes in comparison to in other testis samples, rather than to the recruitment of new genes. No global relationship between circRNA and mRNA production was found. We propose ExoCirc-9244 (SMARCA5) as a marker of a particular stage in testis, which is characterized by a very low plasma estradiol level and high abundance of circRNA in testis. We hypothesize that the abundance of testicular circRNA is associated with an abrupt switch of the cellular process to overcome a particular challenge that may have arisen in the early stages of steroid production. We also hypothesize that, in certain circumstances, isoforms and circular transcripts from different genes share functions and that a global regulation of circARN production is established. Our data indicate that this massive production of circRNAs is much more related to the structure of the genes generating circRNAs than to their function.
Das ewige Leben in den Johanneischen Schriften
Creators: name: Luzarraga, Jesús
Publisher: name: Internationale katholische Zeitschrift Communio
Year: 2022

description: Internationale katholische Zeitschrift Communio, Bd. 20 Nr. 1 (1991): Internationale katholische Zeitschrift Communio, Band 20, Heft 1
The relationship between structural and health services variables and state-level infant mortality in the United States
Creators: name: Bauman, Karl
name: Bird, Sheryl
Publisher: name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries
Year: 1995

description: Objectives. This study compared the relative strength of the associations of a set of structural (social, economic, and political) variables and a set of health services variables with state-level infant, neonatal, and postneonatal mortality. It also examined whether health services mediate the relationships between structural variables and state-level infant, neonatal, and postneonatal mortality. Methods. With the state as the unit of analysis, data for all 50 states were analyzed by means of multiple regression. Results. Structural variables accounted for substantially more variance in infant, neonatal, and postneonatal mortality than health services variables, and health services variables were more strongly related to infant mortality than to neonatal or postneonatal mortality. When health services variables were controlled, the strengths of the associations between the structural variables and infant, neonatal, and postneonatal mortality were reduced but remained statistically significant. Conclusions. A substantial portion of the variance in state-level infant mortality is accounted for by states' structural characteristics, which are partially mediated by health services.
Evaluation of a Web-Based Training in Smoking Cessation Counseling Targeting U.S. Eye-Care Professionals
Creators: name: Murchison, A.P.
name: Gower, E.W.
name: McGwin, G.
name: Owsley, C.
name: Lam, B.L.
name: Saaddine, J.
name: Lee, D.J.
name: Friedman, D.S.
name: Mayro, E.L.
name: Asfar, T.
Publisher: name: SAGE Publications Inc.
Year: 2018

description: Background. Smoking causes blindness-related diseases. Eye-care providers are uniquely positioned to help their patients quit smoking. Aims. Using a pre-/postevaluation design, this study evaluated a web-based training in smoking cessation counseling targeting eye-care providers. Method. The training was developed based on the 3A1R protocol: “Ask about smoking, Advise to quit, Assess willingness to quit, and Refer to tobacco quitlines,” and made available in the form of a web-based video presentation. Providers (n = 654) at four academic centers were invited to participate. Participants completed pretraining, posttraining, and 3-month follow-up surveys. Main outcomes were self-reported improvement in their motivation, confidence, and counseling practices at 3-month follow-up. Generalized linear mixed models for two time-points (pretraining and 3-month) were conducted for these outcomes. Results. A total of 113 providers (54.0% males) participated in the study (17.7% response rate). At the 3-month evaluation, 9.8% of participants reported improvement in their motivation. With respect to the 3A1R, 8% reported improvement in their confidence for Ask, 15.5% for Advise, 28.6% for Assess, and 37.8% for Refer. Similarly, 25.5% reported improvement in their practices for Ask, 25.5% for Advise, 37.2% for Assess, and 39.4% for Refer to tobacco quitlines (p <.001 for all except for Refer confidence p =.05). Discussion. Although participation rate was low, the program effectively improved providers’ smoking cessation counseling practices. Conclusions. Including training in smoking cessation counseling in ophthalmology curriculums, and integrating the 3A1R protocol into the electronic medical records systems in eye-care settings, might promote smoking cessation practices in these settings.
title: «А посолские де писма…все в воду пометали»: опыт изучения одного преступления в Новгородской земле начала XVII века
Creators: name: Попова, Елизавета
Publisher: name: Новгородский государственный университет имени Ярослава Мудрого (НовГУ)
Year: 2022

description: В рамках данной статьи рассматривается один из неординарных аспектов Смутного времени, а именно, пример преступной деятельности в Новгородской земле начала XVII века, который попадал под юрисдикцию новгородского воеводского суда. Исследование произведено на основе ряда воеводских отписок и расспросных речей из Архива Санкт-Петербургского института истории РАН, часть впервые публикуется в полном объеме и тем самым вводится в научный оборот. Документальный комплекс, использованный в данной работе, касается ограбления судна английского посла Джона Меррика, видного дипломата, который участвовал в переговорном процессе по поводу заключения Столбовского мира 1617 года. В 1615 году корабль Меррика был ограблен новгородскими крестьянами и казаками. Документы, представленные в статье, раскрывают содержание криминального инцидента и освещают ход судебного расследования. В рамках данной статьи автор уделяет внимание описанию и анализу источников, а также приводит их содержание.
The 2D Distribution of Iron Rich Ejecta in the Remnant of SN 1885 in M31
Creators: name: Fesen, Robert A.
name: Hoeflich, Peter
name: Hamilton, Andrew J. S.
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2014
Subjects: subject: High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena (astro-ph.HE)
subject: Solar and Stellar Astrophysics (astro-ph.SR)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: We present Hubble Space Telescope (HST) ultraviolet Fe I and Fe II images of the remnant of Supernova 1885 (S And) which is observed in absorption against the bulge of the Andromeda galaxy, M31. We compare these Fe I and Fe II absorption line images to previous HST absorption images of S And, of which the highest quality and theoretically cleanest is Ca II H & K. Because the remnant is still in free expansion, these images provide a 2D look at the distribution of iron synthesized in this probable Type Ia explosion, thus providing insights and constraints for theoretical SN Ia models. The Fe I images show extended absorption offset to the east from the remnant's center as defined by Ca II images and is likely an ionization effect due to self-shielding. More significant is the remnant's apparent Fe II distribution which consists of four streams or plumes of Fe-rich material seen in absorption that extend from remnant center out to about 10,000 km/s. This is in contrast to the remnant's Ca II absorption, which is concentrated in a clumpy, roughly spherical shell at 1000 to 5000 km/s but which extends out to 12,500 km/s. The observed distributions of Ca and Fe rich ejecta in the SN 1885 remnant are consistent with delayed detonation white dwarf models. The largely spherical symmetry of the Ca-rich layer argues against a highly anisotropic explosion as might result from a violent merger of two white dwarfs.
description: 14 pages, 8 figures, and 1 table; revised to match ApJ published version
Fractional Josephson Effect in Number-Conserving Systems
Creators: name: Cheng, Meng
name: Lutchyn, Roman M.
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2015
Subjects: subject: Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics (cond-mat.mes-hall)
subject: Superconductivity (cond-mat.supr-con)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: We study fractional Josephson effect in a particle-number conserving system consisting of a quasi-one-dimensional superconductor coupled to a nanowire or an edge carrying $e/m$ fractional charge excitations with $m$ being an odd integer. We show that, due to the topological ground-state degeneracy in the system, the periodicity of the supercurrent on magnetic flux through the superconducting loop is non-trivial which provides a possibility to detect topological phases of matter by the $dc$ supercurrent measurement. Using a microscopic model for the nanowire and quasi-one-dimensional superconductor, we derived an effective low-energy theory for the system which takes into account effects of quantum phase fluctuations. We discuss the stability of the fractional Josephson effect with respect to the quantum phase slips in a mesoscopic superconducting ring with a finite charging energy.
description: 16 pages, 7 figures; revised version, new section added
Computational Modeling of Transition Temperatures in Spin-Crossover Systems
Creators: name: Cirera, Jordi
name: Ruiz, Eliseo
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2019
Subjects: subject: Biophysics
subject: Biotechnology
subject: 39999 Chemical Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Chemical sciences
subject: 69999 Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: 80699 Information Systems not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Computer and information sciences
subject: Computational Biology

description: A survey of different computational approaches to compute thermochemical properties and, in particular, transition temperatures (T1/2) in spin-crossover (SCO) systems are presented. Asides from the possibility of computing accurate values, this work centers its efforts in the use of computational tools to explain trends in different families of SCO molecules. Understanding the impact that chemical modifications (both electronic and steric) have over the ligand-field around the metal center is key in rationalizing the observed trends in T1/2. By using concepts from molecular orbital theory combined with the results from the calculations, a simple yet, accurate depiction of the shift in T1/2 can be outlined. Therefore, the presented results allow for a rational design of new SCO systems with tailored properties.
Cognitive Function and Changes in Cognitive Function as Predictors of Incident Cardiovascular Disease: The Women's Health Initiative Memory Study
Creators: name: Hayden, K.M.
name: Leng, X.
name: Espeland, M.A.
name: Wallace, R.
name: Shumaker, S.A.
name: Wassertheil-Smoller, S.
name: Manson, J.E.
name: Limacher, M.C.
name: Stefanick, M.L.
name: Robinson, J.
name: Yaffe, K.
name: Vaughan, L.
name: Gower, E.W.
Publisher: name: Oxford University Press
Year: 2018

description: Background Cognitive impairment and decline may signal the increased risk of incident cardiovascular disease (CVD). We examined associations of global cognitive function, as measured by the Modified Mini-Mental State Examination (3MS) and changes in 3MS over time, with incident CVD, individual CVD outcomes, CVD death, and all-cause mortality. Methods A total of 5,596 women (≥ 60) from the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study free of CVD at baseline were followed for an average of 7.1 years. The 3MS was measured at baseline and annually thereafter. Cox proportional hazards regressions were used to model associations between baseline 3MS and changes in 3MS and time to events. Results In the fully-adjusted models for every 5-point lower baseline 3MS score, the risk was 12% greater for incident CVD, 37% for HF, 35% for CVD death, and 24% for all-cause mortality. No significant relationships were found for coronary heart disease (CHD), angina, stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA), or coronary revascularization. When change in 3MS was added as a time-varying covariate in the fully-adjusted models, for every 1-point/year greater decline in 3MS, the risk was 4% greater for incident CVD, 10% for CHD, 9% for Stroke/TIA, 17% for CVD death, and 13% for all-cause mortality. Conclusions In older women free of prevalent CVD at baseline, lower baseline global cognitive function or decline in global cognitive function over time, increased risk of incident CVD, CVD death, and all-cause mortality.