LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Six novel mutations in the proopiomelanocortin and melanocortin receptor 4 genes in severely obese adults living in southern Italy.

BACKGROUND
The genetic characterization of obese individuals could clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying body weight regulation and lead to targeted therapy. Here we report variants of the proopiomelanocortin (POMC) and melanocortin receptor 4 (MC4R) genes detected in severely obese adults living in southern Italy.


METHODS
A total of 196 unrelated nondiabetic severely obese individuals [111 females and 85 males; mean (SD) age, 32.2 (11.5) years; mean body mass index, 48.8 (8.1) kg/m(2)] and 100 normal-weight healthy volunteers (34 males and 66 females) entered the study. POMC and MC4R were genotyped by sequencing analysis. Leptin, insulin, glucose, and the lipid profile were measured in fasting serum samples. We used the protein truncation test to verify the stop-codon mutation. Anthropometric measurements, sitting blood pressure, and heart rate were also recorded.


RESULTS
Of the obese participants, 1.5% had mutations in POMC exon 3 (new mutations, P231L and E244X; known, R236G) and 2.5% had MC4R mutations (new mutations, W174C, Q43X, S19fsX51, and I317V; known, A175T). These mutations were not present in the controls. Gene polymorphisms were identified in similar percentages of severely obese and nonobese individuals, i.e., respectively, 52.5% and 51% (POMC) and 1% and 2% (MC4R).


CONCLUSIONS
We detected 2 new POMC mutations and 4 new MC4R mutations in a large number of severely obese adults living in southern Italy. These mutations, not present in normal-weight individuals, are further evidence that defects in the melanocortin pathway are related to severe obesity.
The risk of systemic lupus erythematosus associated with vaccines: an international case-control study.

OBJECTIVE
Studies have suggested that systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may be triggered by vaccinations. We undertook this study to investigate the relationship between vaccination and onset of SLE.


METHODS
This international case-control study was conducted between April 2008 and June 2012 in 36 specialist referral centers (34 in France and 2 in Quebec, Canada) and recruited patients ≤60 years old recently diagnosed as having either definite SLE (meeting ≥4 American College of Rheumatology [ACR] criteria including at least 1 immunologic criterion) or probable SLE (meeting 3 ACR criteria including at least 1 immunologic criterion). Controls were recruited from general practice settings through a closely monitored protocol and matched to patients by age, sex, region of residence, and date of recruitment. Vaccinations and other potential risk factors for SLE were assessed using a standardized telephone interview. We compared proportions of patients and controls who were vaccinated 12 and 24 months before the index date (date of first clinical symptom presented by the patient) using odds ratios (ORs) from conditional logistic regression.


RESULTS
We assessed 105 patients (89 with definite SLE and 16 with probable SLE) and 712 controls. Twenty-two of the 105 patients (21.0%) and 181 of the 712 controls (25.4%) had received at least 1 vaccination within 24 months before the index date (adjusted OR 0.9 [95% confidence interval 0.5-1.5]). The proportions of patients and controls vaccinated within the previous 12 months were also similar.


CONCLUSION
Our study showed no association between exposure to vaccination and risk of developing SLE.
Exploring the Black Box of Community Supervision

Community supervision has been an integral part of corrections since the establishment of probation more than 100 years ago. It has commonly been assumed that offenders benefit from community supervision much more than if they were incarcerated. However, empirical evidence in support of the effectiveness of community supervision in reducing recidivism questions this assumption. A detailed examination of audio taped interviews between 62 probation officers and their clients found relatively poor adherence to some of the basic principles of effective intervention–the principles of Risk, Need and Responsivity. For the most part, probation officers spent too much time on the enforcement aspect of supervision (i.e., complying with the conditions of probation) and not enough time on the service delivery role of supervision. Major criminogenic needs such as antisocial attitudes and social supports for crime were largely ignored and probation officers evidenced few of the skills (e.g., prosocial modeling, differential reinforcement) that could influence behavioral change in their clients. As a snapshot of present practices, this study begins a path to a systematic and structured training agenda to help probation officers become more effective agents of
Introduction to Arabic Natural Language Processing

This book provides system developers and researchers in natural language processing and computational linguistics with the necessary background information for working with the Arabic language. The goal is to introduce Arabic linguistic phenomena and review the state-of-the-art in Arabic processing. The book discusses Arabic script, phonology, orthography, morphology, syntax and semantics, with a final chapter on machine translation issues.The chapter sizes correspond more or less to what is linguistically distinctive about Arabic, with morphology getting the lion’s share, followed by Arabic script. No previous knowledge of Arabic is needed. This book is designed for computer scientists and linguists alike. The focus of the book is on Modern Standard Arabic; however, notes on practical issues related to Arabic dialects and languages written in the Arabic script are presented in different chapters.
Knowledge transfer in SVM and neural networks

The paper considers general machine learning models, where knowledge transfer is positioned as the main method to improve their convergence properties. Previous research was focused on mechanisms of knowledge transfer in the context of SVM framework; the paper shows that this mechanism is applicable to neural network framework as well. The paper describes several general approaches for knowledge transfer in both SVM and ANN frameworks and illustrates algorithmic implementations and performance of one of these approaches for several synthetic examples.
From Poincare's Divergences to Quantum Mechanics with Broken Time Symmetry

für Naturforschung in cooperation with the Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Dieses Werk wurde im Jahr 2013 vom Verlag Zeitschrift für Naturforschung in Zusammenarbeit mit der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften e.V. digitalisiert und unter folgender Lizenz veröffentlicht: Creative Commons Namensnennung 4.0 Lizenz. From Poincare's Divergences to Quantum Mechanics with Broken Time Symmetry *
PolyCut: monotone graph-cuts for PolyCube base-complex construction

PolyCubes, or orthogonal polyhedra, are useful as parameterization base-complexes for various operations in computer graphics. However, computing quality PolyCube base-complexes for general shapes, providing a good trade-off between mapping distortion and singularity counts, remains a challenge. Our work improves on the state-of-the-art in PolyCube computation by adopting a graph-cut inspired approach. We observe that, given an arbitrary input mesh, the computation of a suitable PolyCube base-complex can be formulated as associating, or labeling, each input mesh triangle with one of six signed principal axis directions. Most of the criteria for a desirable PolyCube labeling can be satisfied using a multi-label graph-cut optimization with suitable local unary and pairwise terms. However, the highly constrained nature of PolyCubes, imposed by the need to align each chart with one of the principal axes, enforces additional global constraints that the labeling must satisfy. To enforce these constraints, we develop a constrained discrete optimization technique, PolyCut, which embeds a graph-cut multi-label optimization within a hill-climbing local search framework that looks for solutions that minimize the cut energy while satisfying the global constraints. We further optimize our generated PolyCube base-complexes through a combination of distortion-minimizing deformation, followed by a labeling update and a final PolyCube parameterization step. Our PolyCut formulation captures the desired properties of a PolyCube base-complex, balancing parameterization distortion against singularity count, and produces demonstrably better PolyCube base-complexes then previous work.
Fetal spinal anomalies in a first-trimester sonographic screening program for aneuploidy.

OBJECTIVES
To review the sonographic features of spinal anomalies in first-trimester fetuses presenting for screening for chromosomal abnormalities.


METHODS
Fetuses with a spinal abnormality diagnosed prenatally or postnatally that underwent first-trimester sonographic evaluation at our institution had their clinical information retrieved and their sonograms reviewed.


RESULTS
A total of 21 fetuses complied with the entry criteria including eight with body stalk anomaly, seven with spina bifida, two with Vertebral, Anal, Cardiac, Tracheal, Esophageal, Renal, and Limb (VACTERL) association, and one case each of isolated kyphoscoliosis, tethered cord, iniencephaly, and sacrococcygeal teratoma. One fetus with body stalk anomaly and another with VACTERL association also had a myelomeningocele, making a total of nine cases of spina bifida in our series. Five of the nine (56%) cases with spina bifida, one of the two cases with VACTERL association, and the cases with tethered cord and sacrococcygeal teratoma were undiagnosed in the first trimester. Although increased nuchal translucency was found in seven (33%) cases, chromosomal analysis revealed only one case of aneuploidy in this series.


CONCLUSIONS
Fetal spinal abnormalities diagnosed in the first trimester are usually severe and frequently associated with other major defects. The diagnosis of small defects is difficult and a second-trimester scan is still necessary to detect most cases of spina bifida.
Safety and efficacy of the nonsystemic chewable complex carbohydrate dietary supplement PAZ320 on postprandial glycemia when added to oral agents or insulin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE
Our primary objective was to evaluate the effect of the dietary supplement PAZ320 on postprandial glucose excursion. PAZ320 is derived from glucomannan and acts by blocking carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes and by binding to ingested polysaccharides. Endpoints included area under the curve during postprandial glucose excursion (gAUC) and adverse reactions.


METHODS
In an open-label, sequential dose-escalation, prospective study, we examined the efficacy and safety of PAZ320 in 24 subjects with type 2 diabetes treated with oral agents and/or insulin. Subjects consumed 75 g jasmine rice alone or with low-dose (8 g) or high-dose (16 g) PAZ320. A real-time blinded continuous glucose monitor (CGM) was used to assess 3-hour postprandial glycemia.


RESULTS
We found that 45% of subjects responded to high-dose PAZ320 as evidenced by a decrease in gAUC of 40% compared to baseline in a dose-dependent manner. The effect of PAZ320 does not correlate with duration of diabetes and seems to work regardless of concurrent diabetes medications. The responders had higher postmeal glucose elevation at baseline, while the nonresponders showed no effect or paradoxic glucose response to PAZ320. There was no severe hypoglycemia, and the gastrointestinal side effects were mild.


CONCLUSIONS
PAZ320 may be useful as an adjunct to decrease postprandial glycemia in type 2 diabetes, although patients should verify its effect on postprandial glucose due to a possible paradoxic response. Its safety profile is reassuring. Further study is required to determine its long-term effects on glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and to further define which subpopulation may respond to PAZ320.
Opioids Switching with Transdermal Systems in Chronic Cancer Pain

BACKGROUND
Due to tolerance development and adverse side effects, chronic pain patients frequently need to be switched to alternative opioid therapy


OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy and tolerability of an alternative transdermally applied (TDS) opioid in patients with chronic cancer pain receiving insufficient analgesia using their present treatment.


METHODS
A total of 32 patients received alternative opioid therapy, 16 were switched from buprenorphine to fentanyl and 16 were switched from fentanyl to buprenorphine. The dosage used was 50% of that indicated in equipotency conversion tables. Pain relief was assessed at weekly intervals for the next 3 weeks


RESULTS
Pain relief as assessed by VAS, PPI, and PRI significantly improved (p < 0.0001) in all patients at all 3 follow up visits. After 3 weeks of treatment, the reduction in the mean VAS, PPI, and PRI scores in the fentanyl and buprenorphine groups was 68, 77, 74, and 69, 79, and 62%, respectively. Over the same time period the use of oral morphine as rescue medication was reduced from 27.5 +/- 20.5 (mean +/- SD) to 3.75 +/- 8.06, and 33.8 +/- 18.9 to 3.75 +/- 10.9 mg/day in the fentanyl and buprenorphine groups, respectively. There was no significant difference in either pain relief or rescue medication use between the two patient groups The number of patient with adverse events fell during the study. After the third week of the treatment the number of patients with constipation was reduced from 11 to 5, and 10 to 4 patients in the fentanyl and buprenorphine groups, respectively. There was a similar reduction in the incidence of nausea and vomiting. No sedation was seen in any patient after one week of treatment.


CONCLUSION
Opioid switching at 50% of the calculated equianalgesic dose produced a significant reduction in pain levels and rescue medication. The incidence of side effects decreased and no new side effects were noted. Further studies are required to provide individualized treatment for patients according to their different types of cancer.
Improvements to the design of the 0-180/spl deg/ rat race coupler and its application to the design of balanced mixers with high LO to RF isolation

An improved rat-race coupler is described which, in the ideal case, has a pair of ports with infinite isolation between them at all frequencies. This improved rat-race coupler is useful in such applications as the design of balanced mixers with high LO to RF isolation.
Cloud Data Patterns for Confidentiality

Cloud computing enables cost-effective, self-service, and elastic hosting of applications in the Cloud. Applications may be partially or completely moved to the Cloud. When hosting or moving the database layer to the Cloud, challenges such as avoidance of disclosure of critical data have to be faced. The main challenges are handling different levels of confidentiality and satisfying security and privacy requirements. We provide reusable solutions in the form of patterns.
Clonal populations of hematopoietic cells with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria phenotype in patients with splanchnic vein thrombosis.

INTRODUCTION
Splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT) is a serious complication in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). Mutant PNH clones can be associated with an increased risk of SVT even in the absence of overt disease, but their prevalence in non-selected SVT patients remains unknown.


MATERIALS AND METHODS
Patients with objective diagnosis of SVT and without known PNH were tested for the presence of PNH clone using high-sensitivity flow cytometric analysis.


RESULTS
A total of 202 SVT patients were eligible, 58.4% were males, mean age was 54.6years (range 17-94), site of thrombosis was portal in 103 patients, mesenteric in 67, splenic in 37, and supra-hepatic in 10. SVT was associated with JAK2 V6167F in 28 of 126 (22.2%) screened patients, liver cirrhosis in 15.3% patients, recent surgery in 10.9%, and myeloproliferative neoplasm in 10.6%, whereas in 34.6% of patients neither permanent nor transient risk factors were detected. None of the patients had a clearly demonstrable PNH clone, but in two patients (0.99%, 95% CI 0.17-3.91) we observed very small PNH clones (size 0.014% and 0.16%) confirmed in two independent samples. One patient had portal vein thrombosis and no associated risk factors, the second had superior mesenteric vein thrombosis and inflammatory bowel disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Very small PNH clones can be detected in patients with SVT and no clinical manifestations of disease. Future studies are needed to explore the potential role of this finding in the pathogenesis of SVT.
Introduction to Augmented Reality

This paper presents an overview of basic aspects of Augmented Reality (AR) and the main concepts of this technology. It describes the main fields in which AR is applied nowadays and important AR devices. Some characteristics of Augmented Reality systems will be discussed and this paper will provide an overview of them. Future directions are discussed.
Fabrication of High Aspect Ratio TSV and Assembly With Fine-Pitch Low-Cost Solder Microbump for Si Interposer Technology With High-Density Interconnects

Fabrication of high aspect ratio through silicon vias (TSVs) in a Si interposer and fine pitch solder microbumps on a top Si die is discussed in this paper. Chip stacking result of the Si interposer and the top Si die is also presented. TSVs with 25 μm in pitch and aspect ratio higher than 10 are etched with BOSCH process. To avoid difficulties in wetting the sidewall of the TSVs, bottom-up plating method is used to fill the TSVs with Cu. In order to fill the TSVs from bottom, the TSVs are first sealed from the bottom by plated Cu with plating current of 1 A. The plated Cu is used as a seed layer and bottom-up plating is then conducted with plating current of 0.1 A. Good filling without voids or with only tiny voids has been achieved. Electroless nickel/immersion gold is plated on top of the TSVs as under bump metallurgy pads. On the top Si die, Cu pillars/Sn caps with 16 μm in diameter and 25 μm in pitch are fabricated with electroplating method. After chip stacking, interconnections are formed between them through the solder microbumps and the TSVs.
Pharmacological evidence for the potential of Daucus carota in the management of cognitive dysfunctions.

The present study was aimed at investigating the effects of Daucus carota seeds on cognitive functions, total serum cholesterol levels and brain cholinesterase activity in mice. The ethanolic extract of Daucus carota seeds (DCE) was administered orally in three doses (100, 200, 400 mg/kg) for seven successive days to different groups of young and aged mice. Elevated plus maze and passive avoidance apparatus served as the exteroceptive behavioral models for testing memory. Diazepam-, scopolamine- and ageing-induced amnesia served as the interoceptive behavioral models. DCE (200, 400 mg/kg, p.o.) showed significant improvement in memory scores of young and aged mice. The extent of memory improvement evoked by DCE was 23% at the dose of 200 mg/kg and 35% at the dose of 400 mg/kg in young mice using elevated plus maze. Similarly, significant improvements in memory scores were observed using passive avoidance apparatus and aged mice. Furthermore, DCE reversed the amnesia induced by scopolamine (0.4 mg/kg, i.p.) and diazepam (1 mg/kg, i.p.). Daucus carota extract (200, 400 mg/kg, p.o.) reduced significantly the brain acetylcholinesterase activity and cholesterol levels in young and aged mice. The extent of inhibition of brain cholinesterase activity evoked by DCE at the dose of 400 mg/kg was 22% in young and 19% in aged mice. There was a remarkable reduction in total cholesterol level as well, to the extent of 23% in young and 21% in aged animals with this dose of DCE. Therefore, DCE may prove to be a useful remedy for the management of cognitive dysfunctions on account of its multifarious beneficial effects such as, memory improving property, cholesterol lowering property and anticholinesterase activity.
Key Factors for Determining Student Satisfaction in Online Courses

H istorically, retention of distance learners has been problematic with dropout rates disproportionably high compared to traditional course settings (Richards & Ridley, 1997; Wetzel, Radtke, & Stern, 1994). Dropout rates of 30 to 50% have been common (Moore & Kearsley, 1996). Students may experience feelings of isolation in distance courses compared to prior faceto-face educational experiences (Shaw & Polovina, 1999). If the distance courses feature limited contact with instructors and fellow students, the result of this isolation can be unfinished courses or degrees (Keegan, 1990). Student satisfaction in traditional learning environments has been overlooked in the past (Astin, 1993; DeBourgh, 1999; Navarro & Shoemaker, 2000). Student satisfaction has also not been given the proper attention in distance learning environments (Biner, Dean, & Mellinger, 1994). Richards and Ridley (1997) suggested further research is necessary to study factors affecting student enrollment and satisfaction. Prior studies in classroom-based courses have shown there is a high correlation between student satisfaction and retention (Astin, 1993; Edwards & Waters, 1982). This high correlation has also been found in studies in which distance learners were the target population (Bailey, Bauman, & Lata, 1998). The purpose of this study was to identify factors influencing student satisfaction in online courses, and to create and validate an instrument to measure student satisfaction in online courses.
External Validation of Risk Stratification Models Predicting the Immediate Mortality After Open Repair of Ruptured AAA

Preoperative risk stratification of the immediate postoperative death after surgery may be helpful for the decision-making for patients with ruptured AAAs (rAAs). The purpose of this study was to apply and validate the Glasgow aneurysm score (GAS) and the Hardman Index (HI) in predicting 30-day/in-hospital mortality in open surgical repair (OSR) and endovascular repair (rEVAR) of rAAAs. We conducted a retrospective review of a prospectively created database including all patients with a rAAA referred to our Institution between August 1998 and December 2014. Primary outcome was 30-day/in-hospital mortality. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent risk factors. The receiver–operator characteristic curve was used to determine the value of the HI and GAS in predicting 30-day/in-hospital death. A total of 150 patients (130 patients received OSR, 20 patients rEVAR) were included in our analysis. The 30-day/in-hospital mortality was 34.0 % for the entire cohort: 36.15 % for OSR group and 20.0 % for rEVAR group (p 0.210). A multivariate analysis in the OSR group evidenced that unconsciousness was a statistically significant [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 8.00] predictor of 30-day/in-hospital mortality. The mean GAS was 86.9 ± 16.1 for the OSR group and 88.1 ± 11.2 for the rEVAR group (p 0.773). The AUC for GAS was 0.805 among OSR patients and 0.975 among rEVAR patients. The mean HI in the OSR group was 1.11 ± 1.0 and the AUC for HI was 0.82. Surgical repair of rAAAs is still associated with a considerable mortality rate. We confirmed the great discriminative ability of GAS in patients with rAAAs treated with OSR. With regard to HI, this scoring system could accurately predict early mortality after OSR in our cohort but failed to identify patients at highest risk for postoperative mortality.