LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Abnormal pattern of lymphocyte subpopulations in the endometrium of infertile women with chronic endometritis.

PROBLEM
Endometrial lymphocytes play a critical role in endometrial receptivity. This study aimed at evaluating the variations induced by chronic endometritis (CE) on endometrial lymphocyte subsets. We compared the results in infertile women diagnosed with CE with those in unexplained infertile women without any sign of CE.


METHOD OF STUDY
Twenty-three women referring for unexplained infertility had hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy in the follicular phase; in nine women, CE was diagnosed (group CE+), while in 14 it was not (group CE-). All patients in the late secretory phase of the subsequent cycle underwent endometrial biopsy. By flow cytometry, the percentage and phenotype of the endometrial lymphocyte subpopulations were analyzed.


RESULTS
The secretory endometrium of patients with CE displayed significantly lower percentage of CD56(+) CD16(-) and of CD56(bright) CD16(-) cells (47.8% +/- 18.6 and 30.1% +/- 20.5 versus 79.5% +/- 3.9 and 67.3% +/- 8.1, respectively; P < 0.01) as compared with group CE(-), while the percentage of CD3(+) cells was significantly higher (25% +/- 12.2 versus 10.5 +/- 5; P < 0.01).


CONCLUSION
Infertile women with CE showed an abnormal percentage of endometrial lymphocyte subsets compared with unexplained infertile women suggesting that different mechanisms underlie the adverse pregnancy outcome of the two groups of patients.
Measuring the crowd within: probabilistic representations within individuals.

A crowd often possesses better information than do the individuals it comprises. For example, if people are asked to guess the weight of a prize-winning ox (Galton, 1907), the error of the average response is substantially smaller than the average error of individual estimates. This fact, which Galton interpreted as support for democratic governance, is responsible for the success of polling the audience in the television program ‘‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire’’ (Surowiecki, 2004) and for the superiority of combined over individual financial forecasts (Clemen, 1989). Researchers agree that this wisdom-of-crowds effect depends on a statistical fact: The crowd’s average will be more accurate as long as some of the error of one individual is statistically independent of the error of other individuals—as seems almost guaranteed to be the case. Whether a similar improvement can be obtained by averaging two estimates from a single individual is not, a priori, obvious. If one estimate represents the best information available to the person, as common intuition suggests, then a second guess will simply add noise, and averaging the two will only decrease accuracy. Researchers have previously assumed this view and focused on improving the best estimate (Hirt & Markman, 1995; Mussweiler, Strack, & Pfeiffer, 2000; Stewart, 2001). Alternatively, initial estimates may represent samples drawn from an internal probability distribution, rather than deterministic best guesses. According to this account, the average of two estimates from one person will be more accurate than a single estimate, so long as the noise contained in the two estimates is at least somewhat independent. Ariely et al. (2000) predicted that such a benefit would accrue from averaging probability judgments within one individual, but did not find evidence of such an effect. However, probability judgments are known to be biased toward extreme values (0 or 1), and averaging should not reduce the bias of estimates; if guesses are sampled from an unbiased distribution, however, averaging should reduce error (variance; Laplace, 1812/1878; Wallsten, Budescu, Erev, & Diederich, 1997). Probabilistic representations have been postulated in recent models of memory (Steyvers, Griffiths, & Dennis, 2006), perception (Kersten & Yuille, 2003), and neural coding (Ma, Beck, Latham, & Pouget, 2006). It is consistent with such models that responses of many people are distributed probabilistically, as shown by the wisdom-of-crowds effect. However, despite the theoretical appeal of these models, there has been scant evidence that, within a given person, knowledge is represented as a probability distribution. Finding any benefit of averaging two responses from one person would yield support for this hypothesis.
Review: Comparison of QRS detection algorithms

An Electrocardiogram (ECG) is graphical representation of the electrical movement of human heart and used in diagnosis of various heart diseases. The primary function of ECG analysis is correct detection of QRS complex and other ECG characteristics [1]. In this review paper, researchers provide a comparative study between four popular algorithms: namely Window pair algorithm, Dynamic Plosion Index algorithm, KNN algorithm, Slope vector waveform algorithm [2-5] against three assessment criteria 1) Cross Validation, 2) Threshold and 3) Robustness to noise in order to obtain a fast, robust and highly accurate QRS detection algorithm which helps in the development of a more robust clinical instrument by making the front end signal processing more effective [6].
Discovering Hierarchy in Reinforcement Learning with HEXQ

An open problem in reinforcement learning is discovering hierarchical structure. HEXQ, an algorithm which automatically attempts to decompose and solve a model-free factored MDP hierarchically is described. By searching for aliased Markov sub-space regions based on the state variables the algorithm uses temporal and state abstraction to construct a hierarchy of interlinked smaller MDPs.
The topology of dark networks

Knowing the structure of criminal and terrorist networks could provide the technical insight needed to disrupt their activities.
Basics of PD-1 in self-tolerance, infection, and cancer immunity

Successful cancer treatment requires understanding host immune response against tumor cells. PD-1 belongs to the CD28 superfamily of receptors that work as “checkpoints” of immune activation. PD-1 maintains immune self-tolerance to prevent autoimmunity and controls T-cell reaction during infection to prevent excessive tissue damage. Tumor cells that arise from normal tissue acquire mutations that can be targeted by lymphocytes. Accumulating lines of evidence suggest that tumor cells evade host immune attack by expressing physiological PD-1 ligands and stimulating PD-1 on the lymphocytes. Based on this idea, researchers have successfully demonstrated that systemic administration of monoclonal antibodies that inhibit the binding of PD-1 to the ligands reactivated T cells and augmented the anti-cancer immune response. In this review, I summarize the basics of T-cell biology and its regulation by PD-1 and discuss the current understanding and questions about this multifaceted molecule.
Metformin decreases angiogenesis via NF-kappaB and Erk1/2/Erk5 pathways by increasing the antiangiogenic thrombospondin-1.

AIMS
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with insulin resistance (IR), obesity, and cardiovascular complications. Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) is a novel antiangiogenic adipokine highly expressed in obese insulin-resistant subjects. We sought to assess TSP-1 levels in adipose tissue (AT) from PCOS women and matched controls. The effects of metformin treatment on circulating TSP-1 levels in PCOS subjects, the effects of serum from normal and PCOS women on in vitro migration and angiogenesis before and after metformin treatment, and ex vivo regulation of AT TSP-1 by D-glucose were also studied.


METHODS AND RESULTS
Serum TSP-1 (ELISA), subcutaneous and omental AT TSP-1 mRNA (reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction), and protein (western blotting) were significantly lower in PCOS women (P < 0.05). Corresponding plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and PAI-1 activity were significantly higher (P < 0.01). After 6 months of metformin treatment, there was a significant increase in serum TSP-1 (P < 0.05) and a corresponding decrease in PAI-1 and PAI-1 activity (P < 0.01). In vitro migration and angiogenesis were significantly increased in serum from PCOS women (P < 0.01); these effects were significantly attenuated by metformin treatment (P < 0.01) through the regulation of TSP-1 levels via nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), extracellular regulated-signal kinase 1/2 (Erk1/2) and Erk5 pathways. Importantly, changes in the intima media thickness were predictive of changes in serum TSP-1 (P = 0.049). In AT explants, glucose significantly decreased TSP-1 protein production and secretion into conditioned media (ELISA) (P < 0.05, P < 0.001).


CONCLUSION
TSP-1 levels are lower in PCOS women. Metformin treatment increases serum TSP-1 in these women. Our findings provide novel insights into the relationship between obesity, IR, and angiogenesis.
The frontal branch of the facial nerve across the zygomatic arch: anatomical relevance of the high-SMAS technique.

BACKGROUND
The frontal branch has a defined course along the Pitanguy line from tragus to lateral brow, although its depth along this line is controversial. The high-superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) face-lift technique divides the SMAS above the arch, which conflicts with previous descriptions of the frontal nerve depth. This anatomical study defines the depth and fascial boundaries of the frontal branch of the facial nerve over the zygomatic arch.


METHODS
Eight fresh cadaver heads were included in the study, with bilateral facial nerves studied (n = 16). The proximal frontal branches were isolated and then sectioned in full-thickness tissue blocks over a 5-cm distance over the zygomatic arch. The tissue blocks were evaluated histologically for the depth and fascial planes surrounding the frontal nerve. A dissection video accompanies this article.


RESULTS
The frontal branch of the facial nerve was identified in each tissue section and its fascial boundaries were easily identified using epidermis and periosteum as reference points. The frontal branch coursed under a separate fascial plane, the parotid-temporal fascia, which was deep to the SMAS as it coursed to the zygomatic arch and remained within this deep fascia over the arch. The frontal branch was intact and protected by the parotid-temporal fascia after a high-SMAS face lift.


CONCLUSIONS
The frontal branch of the facial nerve is protected by a deep layer of fascia, termed the parotid-temporal fascia, which is separate from the SMAS as it travels over the zygomatic arch. Division of the SMAS above the arch in a high-SMAS face lift is safe using the technique described in this study.
High diagnostic stability of confirmed migraine and confirmed tension-type headache according to the ICHD-3 beta in adolescents

Stable headache diagnosis classification is a prerequisite for identification of headache type specific risk factors. Does the stability of a headache diagnosis over time vary between migraine and tension-type headache (TTH)? Are there differences in diagnosis stability between a probable and a definite headache diagnosis? In a sample of 783 students (ages 12 to 18 years) participating in a headache intervention study in greater Munich, the stability of headache classification according to the International Classification of Headache Disorder - third edition (beta version) (ICHD-3 beta) after a follow-up of 7 months was examined. Differences in stability of probable or definite migraine and probable or definite TTH were assessed. The stability of the headache diagnosis was assessed as predictive value of headache diagnosis with regard to confirmation of the headache type using the same diagnostic instrument 7 months later. Predictive values with 95% confidence intervals (CI) are reported. Of students with initial migraine, a diagnosis of migraine was confirmed in 65.71% of students after 7 months (95%-CI [59.40-71.64]). A clear distinction between probable (44.71%, 95%-CI [33.91-53.89]) and confirmed diagnosis (76.88% 95%-CI [69.56-83.17]) of migraine was observed. For TTH the predictive value was 62.66% (95%-CI [57.07-68.01]) overall with a lower stability for probable (46.10%, 95%-CI [37.68-54.69]) compared to the confirmed diagnosis (69.71%, 95%-CI [23.58-37.67]). While confirmed migraine and confirmed TTH diagnoses seem stable over time, stability of a probable diagnosis for either headache type was lower. The trial was registered at the German Clinical Trial Register with the ID DRKS00003308 .
Investigation of semi-active control for seismic protection of elevated highway bridges

The applicability of semi-active control for seismic protection of elevated highway bridges is investigated through comparison with active and passive systems. A bridge pier–bearing–deck structure is modeled as a linear two-degree-of-freedom system and three design goals are studied: reduction of pier response, reduction of bearing response and reduction of both responses. The passive system is assumed to have a high-damping rubber bearing and linear quadratic regulator (LQR) control is used for the active system. Normalized peak displacements are used to optimize bearing damping and LQR parameters. LQR-based clipped optimal control is used to command a magneto-rheological (MR) damper in semi-active control, where the MR damper is designed according to deterministic analysis of the active system. Numerical simulations show that semi-active control can reach active control performance if the design goal is to reduce bearing response, while it shows similar behavior to the passive system if the design goal is to reduce pier response. All strategies showed similar performance for the reduction of both responses.  2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Behavioral Theories of the Business Cycle

We explore the business cycle implications of expectation shocks and of two well-known psychological biases, optimism and overconfidence. The expectations of optimistic agents are biased toward good outcomes, while overconfident agents overestimate the precision of the signals that they receive. Both expectation shocks and overconfidence can increase business-cycle volatility, while preserving the model's properties in terms of comovement, and relative volatilities. In contrast, optimism is not a useful source of volatility in our model. Nir Jaimovich Stanford University Department of Economics 579 Serra Mall Stanford, CA 94305-6072 njaimo@stanford.edu Sergio Rebelo Kellogg Graduate School of Management Northwestern University Leverone Hall Evanston, IL 60208-2001 and NBER s-rebelo@northwestern.edu
Edge computing for situational awareness

Situational awareness involves the timely acquisition of knowledge about real-world events, distillation of those events into higher-level conceptual constructs, and their synthesis into a coherent context-sensitive view. We explore how convergent trends in video sensing, crowd sourcing and edge computing can be harnessed to create a shared real-time information system for situational awareness in vehicular systems that span driverless and drivered vehicles.
Changes in Airway Histone Deacetylase2 in Smokers and COPD with Inhaled Corticosteroids: A Randomized Controlled Trial

UNLABELLED
The expression of HDAC2 is reported as reduced in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We assessed HDAC2 expression within the airways of smokers and subjects with COPD and effects of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), using immuno-histology to contrast with previous molecular methodology. Endobronchial biopsies (ebb) from current smokers with COPD (COPD-CS; n = 15), ex-smokers with COPD (COPD-ES; n = 17), smokers with normal lung function (NS; n = 16) and normal controls (NC; n = 9) were immunostained for HDAC2. A double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled 6 months intervention study assessed effects of ICS on HDAC2 in 34 COPD subjects. There was no difference in epithelial HDAC2 staining in all groups. There was a significant reduction in total cell numbers in the lamina propria (LP) in COPD-CS and NS (p<0.05). LP cellularity correlated inversely with smoking history in COPD-CS (R = -0.8, p<0.003). HDAC2 expression increased markedly in NS (p<0.001); in contrast COPD-CS was associated with suppressed signal (p<0.03), while normal in COPD-ES. ICS did not affect HDAC2 cell staining. Our findings suggest that airway HDAC2 expression is increased in the LP by smoking itself, but is reduced in COPD. Ex-smokers have normalised HDAC2 cell expression, but ICS had no effect. The paper emphasise the pit-falls of relying on molecular data alone to define airway changes.


CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION INFORMATION



NAME OF REGISTRY
The Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR). REGISTRY NUMBER: ACTRN12612001111864.
A phenomenological model of EEG based on the dynamics of a stochastic Duffing-van der Pol oscillator network

In this work, we propose a novel phenomenological model of the EEG signal based on the dynamics of a coupled Duffing-van der Pol oscillator network. An optimization scheme is adopted to match data generated from the model with clinically obtained EEG data from subjects under resting eyes-open (EO) and eyes-closed (EC) conditions. It is shown that a coupled system of two Duffing-van der Pol oscillators with optimized parameters yields signals with characteristics that match those of the EEG in both the EO and EC cases. The results, which are reinforced using statistical analysis, show that the EEG recordings under EC and EO resting conditions are clearly distinct realizations of the same underlying model occurring due to parameter variations with qualitatively different nonlinear dynamic characteristics. In addition, the interplay between noise and nonlinearity is addressed and it is shown that, for appropriately chosen values of noise intensity in the model, very good agreement exists between the model output and the EEG in terms of the power spectrum as well as Shannon entropy. In summary, the results establish that an appropriately tuned stochastic coupled nonlinear oscillator network such as the Duffing-van der Pol system could provide a useful framework for modeling and analysis of the EEG signal. In turn, design of algorithms based on the framework has the potential to positively impact the development of novel diagnostic strategies for brain injuries and disorders. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Induced mood change and dysfunctional attitudes in remitted bipolar I affective disorder.

This study investigated the possibility that, in remitted bipolar I affective disorder, dysfunctional attitudes are mood-state dependent. Participants were 120 individuals with remitted bipolar I disorder, remitted unipolar depression, or no history of affective disorder. The Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale (DAS; Weissman, 1979) was completed before and after positive or negative mood challenge. Following mood increase, the bipolar group changed significantly less in DAS total score than did the other 2 groups, and in goal-striving and achievement attitudes relative to the unipolar group. These findings did not provide clear support for the mood-state dependency theory in bipolar disorder, arguing instead for the presence in bipolar I disorder of dysfunctional cognitions that show characteristic resilience in the face of minor positive mood increase.
Vegetarianism . A blossoming field of study q

0195-6663/$ see front matter 2011 Elsevier Ltd. A doi:10.1016/j.appet.2011.09.019 q Acknowledgements: The author wishes to thank Ste Paul Rozin for their invaluable feedback on earlier dr E-mail address: matt@psych.ubc.ca Vegetarianism, the practice of abstaining from eating meat, has a recorded history dating back to ancient Greece. Despite this, it is only in recent years that researchers have begun conducting empirical investigations of the practices and beliefs associated with vegetarianism. The present article reviews the extant literature, exploring variants of and motivations for vegetarianism, differences in attitudes, values and worldviews between omnivores and vegetarians, as well as the pronounced gender differences in meat consumption and vegetarianism. Furthermore, the review highlights the extremely limited cultural scope of the present data, and calls for a broader investigation across non-Western cultures. 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Learning Dexterous Manipulation Policies from Experience and Imitation

We explore learning-based approaches for feedback control of a dexterous five-finger hand performing non-prehensile manipulation. First, we learn local controllers that are able to perform the task starting at a predefined initial state. These controllers are constructed using trajectory optimization with respect to locally-linear time-varying models learned directly from sensor data. In some cases, we initialize the optimizer with human demonstrations collected via teleoperation in a virtual environment. We demonstrate that such controllers can perform the task robustly, both in simulation and on the physical platform, for a limited range of initial conditions around the trained starting state. We then consider two interpolation methods for generalizing to a wider range of initial conditions: deep learning, and nearest neighbors. We find that nearest neighbors achieve higher performance under full observability, while a neural network proves advantages under partial observability: it uses only tactile and proprioceptive feedback but no feedback about the object (i.e. it performs the task blind) and learns a time-invariant policy. In contrast, the nearest neighbors method switches between time-varying local controllers based on the proximity of initial object states sensed via motion capture. While both generalization methods leave room for improvement, our work shows that (i) local trajectory-based controllers for complex non-prehensile manipulation tasks can be constructed from surprisingly small amounts of training data, and (ii) collections of such controllers can be interpolated to form more global controllers. Results are summarized in the supplementary video: https://youtu.be/E0wmO6deqjo
Interannual variations of monthly and seasonal normalized difference vegetation index ( NDVI ) in China from 1982 to 1999

[1] In this paper, we analyzed interannual variations of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and their relationships with climatic variables (temperature and precipitation) and human activity in China between 1982 and 1999. Monthly and seasonal NDVI increased significantly at both the country and biome scales over the study period. NDVI shows the largest increase (14.4% during the 18 years and a trend of 0.0018 yr ) over 85.9% of the total study area in spring and the smallest increase (5.2% with a trend of 0.0012 yr ) over 72.2% of the area in summer. The NDVI trends show a marked heterogeneity corresponding to regional and seasonal variations in climates. There is about a 3-month lag for the period between the maximum trend in temperature (February) and that in NDVI (April or May) at the country and biome scales. Human activity (urbanization and agricultural practices) also played an important role in influencing the NDVI trends over some regions. Rapid urbanization resulted in a sharp decrease in NDVI in the Yangtze River and Pearl River deltas, while irrigation and fertilization may have contributed to the increased NDVI in the North China plain.