Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Traffic management techniques to face the effects of intrinsic delays in geostationary satellite networks

A new scheme for the management of real-time traffic over high-latency broadband satellite networks is described. Early studies on this topic have been reported by Iera, Molinaro and Marano (see IEEE J. Select Areas Commun.,, vol.18, p.2393-2403, 2000), with reference to an integrated terrestrial-satellite platform. In this paper, further enhancement is introduced into the traffic management scheme with a view to both the reduction of intrinsic impairments caused by the adverse operational environment and the achievement of better performance levels and QoS guarantees. A real-time traffic handling strategy, including distributed connection admission control (CAC) and traffic resource management (TRM) schemes, is harmonized with an in-band signaling technique for burst-based bandwidth request and with an effective policy for the allocation of radio resources. Furthermore, the impact of traffic reshaping at the satellite terminal on the CAC-TRM technique is tested. Added features reduce the adverse effects of the long propagation delay across the satellite link and show outstanding effectiveness in improving CAC-TRM performance and network resource efficiency, while matching service quality requirements. The main reason for the improved performance of the overall management scheme is the adaptability to different traffic profiles conveyed over satellite links.
How Reliable Is Structure from Motion (SfM) over Time and between Observers? A Case Study Using Coral Reef Bommies

Recent efforts to monitor the health of coral reefs have highlighted the benefits of using structure from motion-based assessments, and despite increasing use of this technique in ecology and geomorphology, no study has attempted to quantify the precision of this technique over time and across different observers. This study determined whether 3D models of an ecologically relevant reef structure, the coral bommie, could be constructed using structure from motion and be reliably used to measure bommie volume and surface area between different observers and over time. We also determined whether the number of images used to construct a model had an impact on the final measurements. Three dimensional models were constructed of over twenty coral bommies from Heron Island, a coral cay at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef. This study did not detect any significant observer effect, and there were no significant differences in measurements over four sampling days. The mean measurement error across all bommies and between observers was 15 ± 2% for volume measurements and 12 ± 1% for surface area measurements. There was no relationship between the number of pictures taken for a reconstruction and the measurements from that model, however, more photographs were necessary to be able to reconstruct complete coral bommies larger than 1 m3. These results suggest that structure from motion is a viable tool for ongoing monitoring of ecologically-significant coral reefs, especially to establish effects of disturbances, provided the measurement error is considered.
Frequency Measurement System of Optical Clocks Without a Flywheel Oscillator.

We developed a system for the remote frequency comparison of optical clocks. The system does not require a flywheel oscillator at the remote end, making it possible to evaluate optical frequencies even in laboratories, where no stable microwave reference, such as an Rb clock, a Cs clock, or a hydrogen maser exists. The system is established by the integration of several systems: a portable carrier-phase two-way satellite frequency transfer station and a microwave signal generation system by an optical frequency comb from an optical clock. The measurement was as quick as a conventional method that employs a local microwave reference. We confirmed the system uncertainty and instability to be at the low $10^{-15}$ level using an Sr lattice clock.
Performance comparison of the systems employing multiple antennas over spatially correlated Rayleigh fading channel

In this paper, we extend the open-loop and closed-loop diversity schemes for the systems employing multiple antennas at both transmitter and receiver, and analyze the performance of those schemes in the spatially correlated Rayleigh fading channel. The SNR and average symbol error rate of the open-loop diversity are analytically derived, and those of the closed-loop diversity are investigated via Monte-Carlo simulation. The performance of the closed-loop diversity is always better than that of the open-loop diversity over the same diversity order channel. While transmit-only and receive-only diversity schemes can make the full diversity gain, the systems employing multiple antennas at both transmitter and receiver cannot. Therefore it is better to put all the antennas at transmitter or receiver for the closed-loop diversity to obtain the full diversity gain.
Unusual neuroimaging in superficial siderosis

Superficial CNS siderosis from bleeding into the subarachnoid space causes sensorineural hearing loss and cerebellar ataxia.1 Spinal origins of superficial siderosis are rare but can include nerve root pathology.2 A 42-year-old man presented with an 8-year history of gait difficulty, dysarthria, and hearing loss. Past history was remarkable for a motor vehicle accident at age 10. Abnormalities on neurologic examination included decreased hearing, dysarthria, positive Babinski, and a wide-based …
Interstitial lung disease in polymyositis and dermatomyositis: clinical course and response to treatment.

OBJECTIVES To assess the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and treatment options of patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) in polymyositis and dermatomyositis (PM/DM). PATIENTS AND METHODS Sixty-three consecutive patients with PM/DM underwent standardized screening. Patients with ILD were monitored prospectively, and graded immunosuppression was administered according to the rate of clinical progression. RESULTS ILD was diagnosed in 20 of 63 patients (32%). Generally, the clinical and serologic findings of the anti-Jo1 syndrome were present. Follow-up evaluation disclosed either a progressive or a nonprogressive course. The 10 patients with progressive ILD were distinguished from the nonprogressive group by extensive ground-glass opacities on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) neutrophilia. Intravenous pulse cyclophosphamide prevented further progression in all 10 patients and led to some functional improvement. In the 10 patients without rapidly progressive lung disease, immunosuppression of moderate intensity stabilized pulmonary findings during a median 35 months of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of ILD in our patients with PM/DM was 32%; this emphasizes the need for pulmonary screening in all PM/DM patients. Progressive disease, featuring ground-glass opacities on HRCT and an inflammatory BAL cell profile, is amenable to intensive immunosuppression. Conversely, patients who do not have these HRCT and BAL features appear to have a low risk of pulmonary deterioration. RELEVANCE Because the treatment for ILD seems to depend on the rate of clinical progression, future therapeutic trials of lung disease in PM/DM should stratify patients accordingly.
Emergency ABO‐incompatible liver transplant secondary to fulminant hepatic failure: Outcome, role of TPE and review of the literature

The increasing demand for solid organ transplants has brought to light the need to utilize organs in critical situations despite ABO‐incompatibility. However, these transplantations are complicated by pre‐existing ABO antibodies which may be potentially dangerous and makes the transplantation prone to failure due to rejection with resulting necrosis or intrahepatic biliary complications. We report the clinical outcome of an emergency ABO‐incompatible liver transplant (due to fulminant hepatic failure with sudden and rapidly deteriorating mental status) using a modified therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) protocol. The recipient was O‐positive with an initial anti‐B titer of 64 and the cadaveric organ was from a B‐positive donor. The patient underwent initial TPE during the peri‐operative period, followed by a series of postoperative daily TPE, and later a third series of TPE for presumptive antibody‐mediated rejection. The latter two were performed in conjunction with the use of IVIg and rituximab. The recipient's anti‐B titer was reduced and maintained at 8 or less 8 months post‐op. However, an elevation of transaminases 3 months post‐transplant triggered a biopsy which was consistent with cellular rejection and with weak C4d positive staining suggestive of antibody mediated rejection. Additional plasma exchange procedures were performed. The patient improved rapidly after modification of her immunosuppression regimen and treatment with plasma exchange. This case illustrates that prompt and aggressive plasma exchange, in conjunction with immunosuppression, is a viable approach to prevent and treat antibody mediated transplant rejection in emergency ABO‐incompatible liver transplant. J. Clin. Apheresis, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Promoter Hypermethylation of Mismatch Repair Gene hMLH1 Predicts the Clinical Response of Malignant Astrocytomas to Nitrosourea

Purpose: In certain types of human cancers, transcriptional inactivation of hMLH1 by promoter hypermethylation plays a causal role in the loss of mismatch repair functions that modulate cytotoxic pathways in response to DNA-damaging agents. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of promoter methylation of the hMLH1 gene in malignant astrocytomas. Experimental Design: We examined the hMLH1 promoter methylation in a homogeneous cohort of patients with 41 malignant astrocytomas treated by 1-(4-amino-2-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl)methyl-3-2(2-chloroethyl)-3-nitrosourea chemotherapy in combination with radiation and interferon therapy, and assessed the correlation of such methylation with clinical outcome. Results: hMLH1 promoter methylation was found in 6 (15%) of the 41 newly diagnosed malignant astrocytomas. Hypermethylation of the hMLH1 promoter corresponded closely with a loss of immunohistochemical staining for hMLH1 protein (P = 0.0013). Patients with hMLH1-methylated tumors displayed a greater chance of responding to adjuvant therapy as compared with those with hMLH1-unmethylated tumors (P = 0.0150). The presence of hMLH1 hypermethylation was significantly associated with a longer progression-free survival on both univariate analysis (P = 0.0340) and multivariate analysis (P = 0.0161). Conclusions: The present study identified hMLH1 methylation status as a predictor of the clinical response of malignant astrocytomas to chloroethylnitrosourea-based adjuvant therapy. The findings obtained suggest that determination of the methylation status of hMLH1 could provide a potential basis for designing rational chemotherapeutic strategies, as well as for predicting prognosis.
Registered Nurses’ and Behavior Health Associates’ Responses to Violent Inpatient Interactions on Behavioral Health Units

BACKGROUND: Violence carried out by patients against nursing staff unsettles and threatens coworkers as they care for individuals admitted to inpatient psychiatric units. OBJECTIVE: This study explored nursing staff’s individual and group responses to violent incidents performed by patients against caregivers. DESIGN: This qualitative study used focus groups to collect data from professional nurses and behavioral health associations (N = 19) recruited from urban, inpatient psychiatric unit. Data were analyzed thematically. RESULTS: Sharing information about violence, intervening therapeutically, intervening nontherapeutically, recognizing team influences, experiencing emotions following violence, and understanding the work environment comprised the major themes of the experience. CONCLUSIONS: Findings may stimulate discussions and education sessions that address strategies helpful to nursing staff so that incidents are prevented and staff is supported following such disturbing events. Events of workplace violence, including those occurring on behavioral mental health in inpatient units, require accurate individual and aggregate reporting to develop interventions and evaluate effectiveness of violence reduction strategies.
Evaluation of Early Head Start: Effect of Income and Education on Cognitive Development of Children Prior to Age Three

The present evaluation of Early Head Start concerns the effects of household income and mother’s education on child cognitive development. A secondary data analysis is performed on the Early Head Start Research and Evaluation study public use file, in which cognitive development is measured using the Bayley Mental Development Index and the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test. Household income is measured as a percentage of the federal poverty level, with households earning up to 100 percent of the poverty level annually considered low income. Mother’s education is determined by possession of a high school diploma. Results of multiple and simultaneous linear regressions are presented. Early Head Start is found to positively affect cognitive development among children whose mothers have earned a high school diploma, while its effectiveness for low income households is less significant. Implications for early childhood interventions are discussed, as well as areas for future research. Introduction When we speak of early child development we speak broadly of both cognitive and social/behavioral development in the first three years of life. We are concerned presently with cognitive development, which is characterized primarily by the development of language and pattern recognition (Whitehurst & Lonigan, 1998). The extent to which these cognitive abilities are expressed at an early age has implications for cognitive development throughout elementary school and beyond. Children with more advanced cognitive functioning relative to their peers prior to elementary school go on to perform better in school (Blachman, 1984; Blatchford & Plewis, 1990). Importantly, research suggests cognitive development is not achieved at the same rate or to the same extent equally among all children. Numerous studies (Duncan et al, 1994; Entwisle & Alexander, 1995; Korenman et al, 1995; Blau, 1999; Fazio et al, 1996; To et al, 2004; Phipps & Lethbridge 2006) have indicated that household income, or the income
The effect of pharmacogenetic profiling with a clinical decision support tool on healthcare resource utilization and estimated costs in the elderly exposed to polypharmacy

Abstract Objective: To compare healthcare resource utilization (HRU) and clinical decision-making for elderly patients based on cytochrome P450 (CYP) pharmacogenetic testing and the use of a comprehensive medication management clinical decision support tool (CDST), to a cohort of similar non-tested patients. Methods: An observational study compared a prospective cohort of patients ≥65 years subjected to pharmacogenetic testing to a propensity score (PS) matched historical cohort of untested patients in a claims database. Patients had a prescribed medication or dose change of at least one of 61 oral drugs or combinations of ≥3 drugs at enrollment. Four-month HRU outcomes examined included hospitalizations, emergency department (ED) and outpatient visits and provider acceptance of test recommendations. Costs were estimated using national data sources. Results: There were 205 tested patients PS matched to 820 untested patients. Hospitalization rate was 9.8% in the tested group vs 16.1% in the untested group (RR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.39–0.95, p = 0.027), ED visit rate was 4.4% in the tested group vs 15.4% in the untested group (RR = 0.29, 95% CI = 0.15–0.55, p = 0.0002) and outpatient visit rate was 71.7% in the tested group vs 36.5% in the untested group (RR = 1.97, 95% CI = 1.74–2.23, p < 0.0001). The rate of overall HRU was 72.2% in the tested group vs 49.0% in the untested group (RR = 1.47, 95% CI = 1.32–1.64, p < 0.0001). Potential cost savings were estimated at $218 (mean) in the tested group. The provider majority (95%) considered the test helpful and 46% followed CDST provided recommendations. Conclusion: Patients CYP DNA tested and treated according to the personalized prescribing system had a significant decrease in hospitalizations and emergency department visits, resulting in potential cost savings. Providers had a high satisfaction rate with the clinical utility of the system and followed recommendations when appropriate.
Satisfaction with life in adolescents: : The role of potential health promoting factors

The present master’s thesis comprises an investigation of the biopsychosocial health model and the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions for use within a health promoting context in an adolescent sample. It also comprises an investigation of leisure time physical activity and self-esteem as potential promotive factors of satisfaction with life. The thesis further investigates the relationship between satisfaction with life, leisure time physical activity, and self-esteem in adolescents. Thorough description and conceptualization of all measurements are provided, in addition to a conceptualization of the adolescent maturation period. Empirical evidence suggests that there are several relationships among the three constructs and that they influence one another. Physical activity, life satisfaction, and self-esteem might influence one another both directly and indirectly through other outcomes. The theoretical relationships also propose that positive emotions or personal resourced, resilience, and flourishing promoted through positive emotions can influence both participating in leisure time physical activity and level of life satisfaction and self-esteem in adolescents because all aspects in life mutually influence one other.Results showed that a higher frequency of leisure time physical activity was positively associated with both increments in life satisfaction and self-esteem among the adolescents in the survey. Increased self-esteem was also positively associated with increments in life satisfaction levels. Adolescent boys reported higher mean levels of life satisfaction and self-esteem than their female counterparts, whereas younger adolescents reported higher life satisfaction levels than the older adolescents. An indirect effect test based on a bootstrap macro showed a significant indirect effect between leisure time physical activity and satisfaction with life, and showed also that this relationship was partly mediated by self-esteem. Girls and younger adolescents scored higher on the outcome variable life satisfaction than did their contrary peers when all initial constructs in the model were controlled for.
UC San Francisco UC San Francisco Previously Published Works Title Erythropoietin for neuroprotection in neonatal encephalopathy : Safety and pharmacokinetics

OBJECTIVE: To determine the safety and pharmacokinetics of erythropoietin (Epo) given in conjunction with hypothermia for hypoxicischemic encephalopathy (HIE). We hypothesized that high dose Epo would produce plasma concentrations that are neuroprotective in animal studies (ie, maximum concentration = 6000–10 000 U/L; area under the curve = 117 000–140 000 U*h/L). METHODS: In this multicenter, open-label, dose-escalation, phase I study, we enrolled 24 newborns undergoing hypothermia for HIE. All patients had decreased consciousness and acidosis (pH , 7.00 or base deficit $ 12), 10-minute Apgar score # 5, or ongoing resuscitation at 10 minutes. Patients received 1 of 4 Epo doses intravenously: 250 (N = 3), 500 (N = 6), 1000 (N = 7), or 2500 U/kg per dose (N = 8). We gave up to 6 doses every 48 hours starting at,24 hours of age and performed pharmacokinetic and safety analyses. RESULTS: Patients received mean 4.8 6 1.2 Epo doses. Although Epo followed nonlinear pharmacokinetics, excessive accumulation did not occur during multiple dosing. At 500, 1000, and 2500 U/kg Epo, half-life was 7.2, 15.0, and 18.7 hours; maximum concentration was 7046, 13 780, and 33 316 U/L, and total Epo exposure (area under the curve) was 50 306, 131 054, and 328 002 U*h/L, respectively. Drug clearance at a given dose was slower than reported in uncooled preterm infants. No deaths or serious adverse effects were seen. CONCLUSIONS: Epo 1000 U/kg per dose intravenously given in conjunction with hypothermia is well tolerated and produces plasma concentrations that are neuroprotective in animals. A large efficacy trial is needed to determine whether Epo add-on therapy further improves outcome in infants undergoing hypothermia for HIE. Pediatrics 2012;130:683–691 AUTHORS: Yvonne W. Wu, MD, MPH,ab Larry A. Bauer, PharmD,c Roberta A. Ballard, MD,b Donna M. Ferriero, MD,ab David V. Glidden, PhD,d Dennis E. Mayock, MD,e Taeun Chang, MD,f David J. Durand, MD,g Dongli Song, MD, PhD,h Sonia L. Bonifacio, MD,b Fernando F. Gonzalez, MD,b Hannah C. Glass, MD,ab and Sandra E. Juul, MD, PhDe Departments of aNeurology, bPediatrics, and dEpidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, California; Departments of ePediatrics and cPharmacy, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; fDepartment of Neurology, Children’s National Medical Center, Washington, DC; gDepartment of Neonatology, Children’s Hospital Oakland, Oakland, California; and hDepartment of Neonatology, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, San Jose, California
On Differentiating Parameterized Argmin and Argmax Problems with Application to Bi-level Optimization

Some recent works in machine learning and computer vision involve the solution of a bi-level optimization problem. Here the solution of a parameterized lower-level problem binds variables that appear in the objective of an upper-level problem. The lower-level problem typically appears as an argmin or argmax optimization problem. Many techniques have been proposed to solve bi-level optimization problems, including gradient descent, which is popular with current end-to-end learning approaches. In this technical report we collect some results on differentiating argmin and argmax optimization problems with and without constraints and provide some insightful motivating examples.
Do Perceived Needs Affect Willingness to Use Traditional Chinese Medicine for Survivorship Care Among Chinese Cancer Survivors? A Cross-Sectional Survey

Purpose We aimed to quantify Chinese cancer survivors’ perceived needs for survivorship care and to evaluate whether these needs could impact their willingness to use traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey with members of the Beijing Anti-Cancer Association in China. We measured perceived needs with the seven-item Brief Chinese Cancer Survivorship Needs Scale that assesses psychological, functional, nutritional, social, body image, pain, and symptom needs. The outcome variable was willingness to use TCM for survivorship care. We performed multivariable logistic regression analyses to evaluate whether perceived needs are associated with willingness. Results A total of 600 patients were invited, with a response rate of 81%. The mean (standard deviation) score of the perceived needs scale (0 to 10) was 4.4 (2.2), with the majority of participants endorsing nutritional (72%), symptom (65%), and psychological (54%) needs. Among survivors, 387 (80%; 95% CI, 76% to 83%) were willing to use TCM for survivorship care. In multivariable analysis, a higher perceived needs score (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.33; 95% CI, 1.14 to 1.56; P < .001) was associated with greater willingness to use TCM. Specifically, nutritional (OR, 3.17; 95% CI, 1.79 to 5.62; P < .001) and symptom needs (OR, 3.15; 95% CI, 1.79 to 5.55; P < .001) had the strongest relationship. Conclusion A higher level of perceived needs, especially in the areas of nutrition and symptoms, was associated with greater willingness to use TCM for survivorship care.