Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Invasive Aspergillosis Associated with a Foreign Body

Invasive aspergillosis is a serious complication in immunocompromised individuals. It is associated with a high mortality rate, which demands a combined approach involving radical surgery and antifungal therapy. Here, we describe a patient who presented with nonspecific fever, refractory to antimicrobial agents. Though it primarily involved the nasal cavity and sinuses, it perforated into the oral cavity causing palatal changes. Surprisingly, a foreign body was found in the involved tissues that might have acted as a nidus of infection. A sufficient dose (3 mg/kg/day) of liposomal amphotericin B was initiated soon after a thorough debridement procedure and the patient survived.
Switching under energy constraints

The performance metrics that network designers typically optimize their design for are: throughput, delay and queue back-logs. These metrics have guided the design of wireline networks, like the Internet, and network components (e.g. switches, routers, etc). In wireless networks, the energy consumed by transmission nodes is a precious resource whose conservation is very important. This has motivated the research community to design wireless networks so as to deliver high throughput, achieve low delays, and minimize energy consumption. This paper makes a start at understanding how minimizing communication energy impacts the design of high-performance network algorithms. Specially, we consider a "switch" topology as this captures most of the constraints of a general acyclic wireless network. We study the problem of designing minimum energy transmission schedules which deliver maximum throughput. We show that the optimal policy is the solution of a convex optimization problem. We provide an iterative scheme that exploits the structure of the problem to obtain the solution. We also obtain approximations which are implementationally simpler and interesting in their own right.
3D Facial model construction and expressions synthesis from a single frontal face image

In this paper we present a system which automatically generates 3D face model from a single frontal image of a face with the help of generic 3D model. Our system consists of three components. The first component detects the features like eyes, mouth, eyebrow and contour of face. After detecting features the second component automatically adapts the generic 3d model into face specific 3D model using geometric transformations. Once the model is ready six basic facial expressions are generated with the help of MPEG-4 facial animation parameters (FAPS). To generate transitions between these facial expressions we use 3D shape morphing between the corresponding face models and blending the corresponding textures. Our system has the advantage that it is fully automatic, robust and fast. It can be used in a variety of applications for which the accuracy of depths are not critical such as games, avatars, face recognition etc. Our morphing results show the accuracy of system. We have tested and evaluated using database BU-3DFE.
A Systematic Social Observation Study of Police De-Escalation Tactics

This study analyzes 131 police–citizen interactions observed during Fall 2016 and coded through systematic social observation. We assessed how often officers use de-escalation tactics, factors associated with their use, and the relationship between de-escalation and calm citizen demeanor. We found officers frequently employed de-escalation tactics, including the “respect” tactic of treating citizens in a respectful manner, the “human” tactic of getting on the citizen’s level and reducing power imbalances, and the “honest” tactic of being up front about the facts of the situation. Officers were more influenced by citizen demeanor than demographics in their use of de-escalation. The use of several tactics, including “human” (reducing the power differential between the cop and the citizen) and “calm” (the officer making an effort to control his or her own emotions), was associated with calm citizen demeanor. Directions for future research on this important topic are offered.
Refusing to provide a prenatal test: can it ever be ethical?

Although the article by Reilly et al on physical activity to prevent obesity in young children emphasises that adherence to protocol was good,1 an interview with Reilly on the Today programme (7.20 am, 6 October 2006) cited the difficulty in getting children to increase their activity as much as required—that is, not a negative outcome, but a problem in achieving sufficient increase to make the intervention effective. Which was the case?
Diverse role of neurogliaform cells in cortical microcircuits

Cortical circuits consist of two major types of neurons: the excitatory pyramidal cells and the inhibitory interneurons. While pyramidal cells mostly do not differ from each other in their morphological and physiological features, interneurons show diversity of great extent. The different interneuron populations can be described with distinct morphology and in accordance with this with distinct firing patterns. These inhibitory cells innervate their postsynaptic targets with GABAergic synapses in contrast with pyramidal cells which operate via glutamatergic synapses. During my Ph.D. studies I focused on scrutinizing the peculiar role of one of the numerous interneurons, the neurogliaform cells in information processing of neocortical circuits. Morphological and electrophysiological diversity of neocortical neurons The principal cells of the neocortex are the pyramidal cells (Zigmond et al., 1999). They are also the numerically dominant cell type of the cortex. In the association cortex pyramidal cells form about 80% of the neurons (Sloper et al., 1979; Winfield et al., 1980). They can be found in all cortical layers except layer I. Their common characteristic features are the spiny dendrites. A typical pyramidal cell has a triangular cell body, a thick, radially oriented apical dendrite, forming a terminal tuft in the most superficial cortical layer and a set of basal dendrites. Despite all of these, the term " pyramidal cells " is referred to a diverse cell group, where these principal cells differ from each other not only by their appearance but by their connectivity as well. Their variability in cell size, dendritic arborization and the presence of their axonal collaterals depends on the laminar localization of the neuron. Using glutamate as neurotransmitter, they are responsible for the majority of excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSP) evoked in their postsynaptic cell-pairs. Pyramidal cells mainly innervate dendritic spines of other pyramidal cells and dendritic shafts of aspiny interneurons through asymmetric synapses. No excitatory synapses are made on the somata of pyramidal cells. 4 GABAergic interneurons constitute only a minor fraction of the total number of GABAergic cells have influenced both the origin and the backpropagation of the action potentials, and play an important role in the synchronization of the activity of different cell-populations. Despite their small numbers, these interneurons are extremely diverse in their morphological, electrophysiological and molecular properties (Fairen et al. Gupta et al., 2000), therefore it is possible to classify between them on the basis of these characteristics. Functional characterization is based on action potential firing …
A Path‐Based Method for Simulating Large Deviations and Rare Events in Nonlinear Lightwave Systems

Errors in nonlinear lightwave systems are often associated with rare, noise‐induced, large deviations of the signal. We present a method to determine the most probable manner in which such rare events occur by solving a sequence of constrained optimization problems. These results then guide importance‐sampled Monte Carlo simulations to determine the events' probabilities. The method applies to a general class of intensity‐based optical detectors and to arbitrarily shaped and multiple pulses.
Androgen-deprivation therapy-induced aggressive prostate cancer with neuroendocrine differentiation

Most prostate cancers (PCas) are classified as acinar type (conventional) adenocarcinoma which are composed of tumor cells with luminal differentiation including the expression of androgen receptor (AR) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA). There are also scattered neuroendocrine (NE) cells in every case of adenocarcinoma. The NE cells are quiesecent, do not express AR or PSA, and their function remains unclear. We have demonstrated that IL8-CXCR2-P53 pathway provides a growth-inhibitory signal and keeps the NE cells in benign prostate and adenocarcinoma quiescent. Interestingly, some patients with a history of adenocarcinoma recur with small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (SCNC) after hormonal therapy, and such tumors are composed of pure NE cells that are highly proliferative and aggressive, due to P53 mutation and inactivation of the IL8-CXCR2-P53 pathway. The incidence of SCNC will likely increase due to the widespread use of novel drugs that further inhibit AR function or intratumoral androgen synthesis. A phase II trial has demonstrated that platinum-based chemotherapy may be useful for such therapy-induced tumors.
Granules of the human neutrophilic polymorphonuclear leukocyte.

POLYMORPHONUCLEAR leukocytes were discovered by Paul Ehrlich,[1][1] when fixation and staining techniques made it possible to identify the lobulated nucleus and the granules that have given name to these cells and allowed for their classification as eosinophils, basophils, and neutrophils.
X-Ray Spectroscopy of SN 1006 with Suzaku

We report on observations of SN 1006 with Suzaku. We firmly detected K-shell emission from Fe, for the first time, and found that the Fe ionization state is quite low. The broad-band spectrum extracted from southeast of the remnant was well-fitted with a model consisting of three optically thin thermal non-equilibrium ionization plasmas and a power-law component. Two of the thermal models are highly overabundant in heavy elements, and hence are likely due to ejecta. These components have different ionization parameters, net∼ 1.4×10 10 cm s and net∼ 7.7×10 8 cm s; it is the later one that produces Fe-K emission. This suggests that Fe has been heated by reverse shock more recently than the other elements, consistent with a picture where the ejecta are stratified by composition with Fe in the interior. On the other hand, the third thermal component is assumed to be solar abundance, and we associate it with emission from the interstellar medium (ISM). The electron temperature (kTe ∼ 0.5 keV) is lower than that expected from the shock velocity, which suggests a lack of collisionless electron heating at the forward shock. The extremely low ionization parameter and extreme non-equilibrium state are due to the low density of the ambient medium.
Authentic leadership – an antecedent for contextual performance of Indian nurses

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between authentic leadership and contextual performance of nursing staff while considering the mediating effect of psychological capital and moderating effect of autonomy on this association. Design/methodology/approach Data were gathered from 41 small and medium-sized hospitals situated in the state of Uttarakhand, India. The sample for the study included 530 nurses and their 146 supervisors. Process macro (Hayes) was used to examine the influence of authentic leadership on contextual performance and the mediating effect of psychological capital and moderating role of autonomy in the relationship between authentic leadership and contextual performance. Findings Results indicate that authentic leadership is positively linked to contextual performance of nurses. Furthermore, psychological capital is found to mediate the relationship between authentic leadership and contextual performance while autonomy acts as a moderator between psychological capital and contextual performance. Practical implications Findings of this investigation would help healthcare managers to understand the importance of developing the psychological capital of healthcare workers. The paper draws attention of hospital administrators toward the need for setting up an appropriate environment wherein nurses are given a certain degree of autonomy to perform their task more effectively. This study also highlights the importance of an effective leadership style, namely authentic leadership in influencing contextual performance in service-oriented organizations such as healthcare institutions, as investigated in this study. Originality/value While extensive literature is available on authentic leadership and its impact on followers’ behavior, very little work seems to have been done to show a linkage between authentic leadership and contextual performance, especially in the context of nurses in developing country such as India. This work, therefore, may be considered original and of significant value in understanding the relationships between the various constructs in the Indian scenario.
Open Problems in Testability Transformation

Testability transformation (tetra) seeks to transform a program in order to make it easier to generate test data. The test data is generated from the transformed version of the program, but it is applied to the original version for testing purposes. A transformation is a testability transformation with respect to a test adequacy criterion if all test data that is adequate for the transformed program is also adequate for the untransformed program. Testability transformation has been shown to be effective at improving coverage for search based test data generation. However, there are many interesting open problems. This paper presents some of these open problems. The aim is to show how testability transformation can be applied to a wide range of testing scenarios.
The impact of vegan diet on B-12 status in healthy omnivores: five-year prospective study.

BACKGROUND There are no long-term prospective studies assessing the impact of the vegan diet on vitamin B-12 (B-12) status. Many vegans take B-12 supplements irregularly or refuse to adopt them at all, considering them to be "unnatural" products. The use of B-12 fortified food may be an alternative. Therefore, we aimed to estimate the long-term effect of a vegan diet on serum B-12 concentrations in healthy omnivore adults, comparing the influence of natural products consumption and B-12 fortified food. MATERIAL AND METHODS A five year prospective study was carried out comprising 20 omnivore healthy adult subjects, who moved to strict vegan diet for 5 years. Ten volunteers followed vegan diet based entirely on natural products, while the remaining ten subjects consumed food fortified in B-12. In all subjects serum vitamin B-12 concentration was determined before and 6, 12, 24 and 60 months after the implementation of the diet. RESULTS A significant decrease (p < 0.0002) of serum B-12 concentrations in the whole studied group was noted after 60 months of vegan diet. However, observed changes were in fact limited to the subgroup consuming exclusively natural products (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Transition from omnivore to vegan diet is associated with the risk of vitamin B-12 deficiency. B-12 fortified products might constitute a valuable alternative in vegans refusing to take vitamin supplements.
Diffuse Baryons in Groups and Clusters of Galaxies

To predict the X-ray observables associated with the diffuse baryons in clusters of galaxies, we develop a new physical model for such a hot intracluster plasma. Our framework is provided by the hierarchical clustering cosmogony for the dark matter and by the standard FRW or Lemaître cosmologies constrained by cosmic ages. As to the plasma dynamics and thermodynamics we propose a semianalytical approach based on punctuated equilibria. This comprises the following blocks that we compute in detail: Monte Carlo "merging histories" to describe the dynamics of dark matter condensations on scales of order 1-10 Mpc and the associated evolution of the gravitational potential wells; the central hydrostatic disposition of the intracluster plasma (ICP), reset to a new equilibrium after each merging episode; conditions of shock, or of closely adiabatic compression at the boundary with the external gas, preheated by stellar energy feedbacks. Shocks of substantial strength are shown to prevail at the outskirts of rich clusters in a universe with decelerated expansion. From our model we predict the L-T relation, consistent with the data as for shape and scatter. This we combine with the mass distribution provided by the canonical hierarchical clustering; the initial perturbation spectra are dominated by cold dark matter but include enough baryons to account for the high abundance sampled by the X-ray clusters and are COBE normalized. Thus we predict the z-resolved luminosity functions, with the associated source counts and redshift distributions. We predict also the complementary contribution by the unresolved groups and clusters to the soft X-ray background. These results are compared to two recent surveys from ROSAT; one defines the local luminosity function over nearly three decades of L, and the other shows little or no evolution out to z ~ 0.8. Our results confirm that the critical cosmology coupled with standard cold dark matter (CDM) is ruled out by its overproduction of local clusters. On account of underproduction, instead, we rule out open cosmologies (the cheapest way to solve the baryonic crisis and to freeze evolution), except for a narrow range around Ω0 = 0.5; even there, we find the consistency with the full database to be barely marginal. For the CDM cosmogony with Ω0 = 0.3 but in flat geometry, we obtain acceptable fits. For the tilted CDM perturbation spectrum with high baryonic content in the critical universe, we obtain marginal consistency. The cosmogonical/cosmological sectors of the cluster history are independently testable by means of a lower bound to the evolved temperature distribution, as can be measured with BeppoSAX and XMM out to moderate z. Finally, we discuss the effective limitations of X-ray clusters and groups as cosmological signposts, and their brighter prospects toward the astrophysics of the ICP and the cosmogony of large, high-contrast structures.
Coping Strategies as a Mediator of Posttraumatic Growth among Adult Survivors of the Wenchuan Earthquake

Objective By testing the mediating effect of coping strategies on the relationship between social support (SS) and posttraumatic growth (PTG), the aim of this research was to develop a new approach for the study of post-disaster psychological intervention. Methods A mediating effect model analysis was conducted on 2080 adult survivors selected from 19 of the counties hardest-hit by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. The Social Support Rating Scale and the Coping Scale were used to predict the PTG. Results A bivariate correlation analysis showed that there was a correlation between posttraumatic growth, social support and coping strategies. The mediation analysis revealed that coping strategies played a mediating role between social support and posttraumatic growth in survivors after the earthquake. Conclusion The results demonstrated that mental health programs for survivors need to focus on the establishment of a good social support network, which was found to be conductive to maintaining and increasing mental health levels. At the same time, adequate social support is able to assist survivors in adopting mature coping strategies, such as problem solving and asking for help. Hence, social support was found to play a vital role in balancing and protecting mental health.
OXTR rs53576 genotype and gender predict trait gratitude

Abstract Dispositional gratitude was investigated in 190 (96 M, 94 F) participants with saliva samples genotyped for the oxytocin receptor gene single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs53576 (112 A-carriers, 78 GGs). Trait gratitude was measured using the Gratitude Questionnaire-6 (GQ-6), and trait empathy was assessed with the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI Perspective Taking and Empathic Concern). Due to non-normal distributions of the GQ-6 by SNP group and by gender, non-parametric analyses using simulations and bootstrap 95% CIs were conducted. Results show main effects of SNP group (with GGs scoring higher than A-carriers) and gender (with females scoring higher than males) on trait gratitude. Given the associations of both the OXTR SNP rs53576 and gender with empathy, and the prosocial associations of trait empathy and gratitude, we tested an indirect effects model using PROCESS. Results showed that both SNP group and gender had an indirect effect on trait gratitude through trait empathy.
Juror perceptions of false confessions versus witness recantations

In false confessions, someone confesses to a crime but then later retracts that confession, whereas in witness recantations, an eyewitness testifies but then later revokes that testimony. The revocations are conceptually similar, but they differ in the author of the revocation – the defendant versus a third party. The current study examines differences in juror perceptions of the legitimacy of false confessions versus witness recantations, and also takes contextual influences (coercion and crime severity) into account. False confessions were found to be judged more harshly than witness recantations, but, surprisingly, levels of coercion and the severity of the crime did not influence decision-making in the manner that the original hypotheses predicted. Implications for the application of this research are discussed.
International Journal of Nanomedicine Dovepress Evaluation of Iron Oxide Nanoparticle Biocompatibility

Nanotechnology is an exciting field of investigation for the development of new treatments for many human diseases. However, it is necessary to assess the biocompatibility of nanoparticles in vitro and in vivo before considering clinical applications. Our characterization of polyol-produced maghemite γ-Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles showed high structural quality. The particles showed a homogeneous spherical size around 10 nm and could form aggregates depending on the dispersion conditions. Such nanoparticles were efficiently taken up in vitro by human endothelial cells, which represent the first biological barrier to nanoparticles in vivo. However, γ-Fe 2 O 3 can cause cell death within 24 hours of exposure, most likely through oxida-tive stress. Further in vivo exploration suggests that although γ-Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles are rapidly cleared through the urine, they can lead to toxicity in the liver, kidneys and lungs, while the brain and heart remain unaffected. In conclusion, γ-Fe 2 O 3 could exhibit harmful properties and therefore surface coating, cellular targeting, and local exposure should be considered before developing clinical applications.