Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
'A giant mess'--making sense of complexity in the accounts of people with fibromyalgia.

OBJECTIVES The diagnosis of fibromyalgia is based on self-report and indirect measures and thus is unavoidably influenced by patients' own understanding of their symptoms. In order to provide appropriate support for people with fibromyalgia, it is important to understand variation in patients' interpretations of their own symptoms. METHODS Twenty people with fibromyalgia participated in email interviews exploring their experiences, history and diagnosis. Respondents answered a series of questions in their own time. Rich accounts were elicited. A hermeneutic phenomenological approach linked two stages of analysis. In the first instance, an in-depth, inductive analysis was developed around a subset of eight transcripts, using interpretative phenomenological analysis. The outcomes of this work were then used to inform a template analysis, which was applied to the remaining 12 transcripts, in order to extend and check the credibility of the in-depth analysis. RESULTS Participants described enduring the course of a 'giant mess' of unpleasant symptoms, some of which were understood to be symptoms of fibromyalgia and some the interactive or parallel effects of comorbid illness. The respondents also demonstrated their considerable efforts at imposing order and sense on complexity and multiplicity, in terms of the instability of their symptoms. They expressed ambivalence towards diagnosis, doctors and medication, and we noted that each of the above areas appeared to come together to create a context of relational uncertainty, which undermined the security of connections to family, friends, colleagues and the workplace. CONCLUSIONS Three key issues were discussed. First, there was not one overall symptom (e.g., pain) driving the unpleasantness of fibromyalgia; second, participants spent excessive time and energy trying to manage forces outside their control; third, because there is no definitive 'fibromyalgia experience', each diagnosis is unique, and our participants often appeared to be struggling to understand the course of their illness. Issues of stigma and legitimacy need to be considered carefully by health professionals in the context of the complex and uncertain experience of patients.
Non-invasive optical interferometry for the assessment of biofilm growth in the middle ear

Otitis media (OM) is the most common illness in children in the United States. Three-fourths of children under the age of three have OM at least once. Children with chronic OM, including OM with effusion and recurrent OM, will often have conductive hearing loss and communication difficulties, and need surgical treatment. Recent clinical studies provide evidence that almost all chronic OM cases are accompanied by a bacterial biofilm behind the tympanic membrane (eardrum) and within the middle ear. Biofilms are typically very thin, and cannot be recognized using a regular otoscope. Here we demonstrate how optical low coherence interferometry (LCI) noninvasively depth-ranges into the middle ear to detect and quantify biofilm microstructure. A portable diagnostic system integrating LCI with a standard video otoscope was constructed and used to detect and quantify the presence of biofilms in a newly-developed pre-clinical animal model for this condition. Using a novel classification algorithm for acquired LCI data, the system identified the presence of a biofilm with 86% sensitivity and 90% specificity, compared to histological findings. This new information on the presence of a biofilm, its structure, and its response to antibiotic treatment, will not only provide better understanding of fundamental principles that govern biofilm formation, growth, and eradication, but may also provide much needed clinical data to direct and monitor protocols for the successful management of otitis media.
Recognition of Isolated Fingerspelling Gestures Using Depth Edges

Although steady progress has been made on developing vision-based gesture recognition systems, state-of-the-art approaches are still limited to discriminate hand configurations with high amounts of finger occlusions, a common scenario in most fingerspelling alphabets. In this article, we propose a novel method for recognition of isolated fingerspelling gestures based on depth edge features. Our approach is based on a simple and inexpensive modification of the capture setup: a multi-flash camera is used with flashes strategically positioned to cast shadows along depth discontinuities in the scene, allowing efficient and accurate extraction of depth edges. We then use a shift and scale invariant shape descriptor for fingerspelling recognition, demonstrating great improvement over methods that rely on features acquired by traditional edge detection and segmentation algorithms.
Tailored Pore Sizes in Integral Asymmetric Membranes Formed by Blends of Block Copolymers

A simple way to generate isoporous membranes with tailored pore sizes is shown. Block copolymers of different compositions are blended in solution, and membranes are obtained by solution casting followed by nonsolvent-induced phase separation. This enables the preparation of integral asymmetric membranes with a defined pore size for given sets of block copolymers just by choosing the right blend composition.
A Comparison of the Efficiency of Mobile and Stationary Acoustic Bat Surveys

Acoustic surveys with echolocation detectors have become a common method for monitoring bats worldwide. In the eastern United States, the spread of white-nose syndrome and the threat it poses for many bat species, particularly endangered species such as the Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis), has increased the need to monitor bat populations. Two popular methods, stationary and mobile surveys, are currently used by agencies in the United States to inform management and conservation efforts and by researchers to monitor and study bat populations. Despite the widespread use of these methods, no study has compared the efficiency in echolocation ‘capture’ success relative to human-hour of effort of these two methods. To compare these techniques we collected acoustic data with Anabat detectors in state forests of southern Indiana using stationary and mobile surveys in the way they are typically implemented. We compared the efficiency of each method at recording identifiable call files and Myotis bat call files per survey hour and hour of human effort, the proportion of call files recorded that were identified as Myotis bats, and the total number of bat species detected. Stationary surveys detected higher species richness, a higher proportion of Myotis bats, and were more efficient at recording Myotis bat call files per hour of effort than mobile surveys. Because of limitations in resources faced by many agencies, it is important to understand the efficiency of these methods relative to the effort expended implementing them. Whenever possible, we recommend the preferential use of stationary survey over mobile surveys.
Plane impact response of PBX 9501 and its components below 2 GPa

The Hugoniot equation of state was measured for PBX 9501, the binder, and estane below 2 GPa using a light-gas gun facility. Time-resolved wave profiles were also obtained for these materials as well as for HMX single crystals in a state of uniaxial strain. The dynamic strength of PBX 9501 was measured at high strain rates in both compression and tension. In addition, elastic moduli were obtained from measurements of longitudinal and shear sound speeds.
The Responses of Mouse Preimplantation Embryos to Leptin In Vitro in a Transgenerational Model for Obesity

The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that leptin can directly mediate the negative effect of maternal obesity on preimplantation embryos. As previously shown, maternal obesity retards early embryonic development in vivo and increases the incidence of apoptosis in blastocysts. When two-cell embryos isolated from control and obese mice were transferred to identical (leptin free) conditions in vitro, no differences in any growth or quality parameters were recorded, including apoptosis incidence in blastocysts. Embryos isolated from control mice responded to transfer to environments with a high concentration of leptin (10 ng/mL) with a significant increase in arrest at the first or subsequent cell cycle. However, the majority of non-arrested embryos developed into blastocysts, showing morphology comparable to those cultured in the leptin-free group. On the other hand, the exposure of embryos isolated from obese mice to high leptin concentration in vitro did not retard their development. Furthermore, these embryos developed into blastocysts, showing a lower incidence of apoptosis. In vivo-developed blastocysts recovered from obese mice showed elevated expression levels of the proapoptotic gene BAX and the insulin-responsive glucose transporter gene SLC2A4. In conclusion, elevated leptin levels have both positive and negative effects on preimplantation embryo development in vitro, a response that likely depends on the body condition of the embryo donor. Moreover, these results suggest that leptin acts as a survival factor rather than an apoptotic inductor in embryonic cells. Since no elevations in the expression of the leptin receptor gene (LEPR) or fat metabolism-associated genes (PLIN2, SLC27A4) were recorded in blastocysts recovered from obese mice, the role of leptin in mediating the effects of obesity on embryos at the peripheral level is likely lower than expected.
Interleukin 2 induces antigen-reactive T cell lines to secrete BCGF-I

Antigen-activated T lymphocytes produce within 24 h of stimulation a factor that is indistinguishable biochemically and functionally from the B cell co-stimulating growth factor, BCGF-I, originally identified in induced EL4 supernatants: Supernatants from antigen-stimulated T cell lines are not directly mitogenic for resting B cells, but synergize in an H-2-unrestricted manner with anti-Ig activated B cells to produce polyclonal proliferation but not antibody-forming-cell development; biochemical studies reveal the B cell co-stimulating factor present in antigen-stimulated T cell line supernatants is identical by phenyl Sepharose chromatography and isoelectric focusing (IEF) to EL4 supernatant BCGF-I. We thus conclude that normal T cells produce BCGF-I in response to antigenic stimulation. Analysis of the mechanism of BCGF-I production by antigen-stimulated T cells showed that optimum amounts of BCGF-I were obtained as quickly as 24 h post- stimulation, and that the factor producing cells in the T cell line investigated bore the Lyt-1+2- phenotype. As few as 10(4) T cells produced sufficient BCGF-I to support the proliferation of 5 X 10(4) purified anti-Ig activated B cells. Finally, the activation of normal T cell lines to produce BCGF-I required either antigen presented in the context of syngeneic antigen-presenting cells (APC) or interleukin 2 (IL-2).
Molecular Profiling of ADAM12 in Human Bladder Cancer

Purpose: We have previously found ADAM12, a disintegrin and metalloprotease, to be an interesting biomarker for breast cancer. The purpose of this study was to determine the gene and protein expression profiles of ADAM12 in different grades and stages of bladder cancer. Experimental Design: ADAM12 gene expression was evaluated in tumors from 96 patients with bladder cancer using a customized Affymetrix GeneChip. Gene expression in bladder cancer was validated using reverse transcription-PCR, quantitative PCR, and in situ hybridization. Protein expression was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining on tissue arrays of bladder cancers. The presence and relative amount of ADAM12 in the urine of cancer patients were determined by Western blotting and densitometric measurements, respectively. Results: ADAM12 mRNA expression was significantly up-regulated in bladder cancer, as determined by microarray analysis, and the level of ADAM12 mRNA correlated with disease stage. Reverse transcription-PCR, quantitative PCR, and in situ hybridization validated the gene expression results. Using immunohistochemistry, we found ADAM12 protein expression correlated with tumor stage and grade. Finally, ADAM12 could be detected in the urine by Western blotting; ADAM12 was present in higher levels in the urine from patients with bladder cancer compared with urine from healthy individuals. Significantly, following removal of tumor by surgery, in most bladder cancer cases examined, the level of ADAM12 in the urine decreased and, upon recurrence of tumor, increased. Conclusions: ADAM12 is a promising biomarker of bladder cancer.
Molecular epidemiology of Pseudomonas cepacia determined by polymerase chain reaction ribotyping

Traditional ribotyping detects genomic restriction fragment length polymorphisms by probing chromosomal DNA with rRNA. Although it is a powerful method for determining the molecular epidemiology of bacterial pathogens, technical difficulties limit its application. As an alternative, polymorphisms were sought in the 16S-23S spacer regions of bacterial rRNA genes by use of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Chromosomal DNA from isolates of Pseudomonas cepacia was used as a template in the PCR with oligonucleotide primers complementary to highly conserved sequences flanking the spacer regions of the rRNA genes. Length polymorphisms in the amplified DNA distinguished unrelated isolates of P. cepacia. Isolates of P. cepacia previously implicated in person-to-person transmission were shown to have identical amplification patterns. These data demonstrate the utility of this new PCR ribotyping method for determining the molecular epidemiology of bacterial species.
Stochastic analysis of self-sustainability in peer-assisted VoD systems

We consider a peer-assisted Video-on-demand system, in which video distribution is supported both by peers caching the whole video and by peers concurrently downloading it. We propose a stochastic fluid framework that allows to characterize the additional bandwidth requested from the servers to satisfy all users watching a given video. We obtain analytical upper bounds to the server bandwidth needed in the case in which users download the video content sequentially. We also present a methodology to obtain exact solutions for special cases of peer upload bandwidth distribution. Our bounds permit to tightly characterize the performance of peer-assisted VoD systems as the number of users increases, for both sequential and non-sequential delivery schemes. In particular, we rigorously prove that the simple sequential scheme is asymptotically optimal both in the bandwidth surplus and in the bandwidth deficit mode, and that peer-assisted systems become totally self-sustaining in the surplus mode as the number of users grows large.
Parametric Method Performance for Dynamic 3′-Deoxy-3′-18F-Fluorothymidine PET/CT in Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor–Mutated Non–Small Cell Lung Carcinoma Patients Before and During Therapy

The objective of this study was to validate several parametric methods for quantification of 3′-deoxy-3′-18F-fluorothymidine (18F-FLT) PET in advanced-stage non–small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) patients with an activating epidermal growth factor receptor mutation who were treated with gefitinib or erlotinib. Furthermore, we evaluated the impact of noise on accuracy and precision of the parametric analyses of dynamic 18F-FLT PET/CT to assess the robustness of these methods. Methods: Ten NSCLC patients underwent dynamic 18F-FLT PET/CT at baseline and 7 and 28 d after the start of treatment. Parametric images were generated using plasma input Logan graphic analysis and 2 basis functions–based methods: a 2-tissue-compartment basis function model (BFM) and spectral analysis (SA). Whole-tumor–averaged parametric pharmacokinetic parameters were compared with those obtained by nonlinear regression of the tumor time–activity curve using a reversible 2-tissue-compartment model with blood volume fraction. In addition, 2 statistically equivalent datasets were generated by countwise splitting the original list-mode data, each containing 50% of the total counts. Both new datasets were reconstructed, and parametric pharmacokinetic parameters were compared between the 2 replicates and the original data. Results: After the settings of each parametric method were optimized, distribution volumes (VT) obtained with Logan graphic analysis, BFM, and SA all correlated well with those derived using nonlinear regression at baseline and during therapy (R2 ≥ 0.94; intraclass correlation coefficient > 0.97). SA-based VT images were most robust to increased noise on a voxel-level (repeatability coefficient, 16% vs. >26%). Yet BFM generated the most accurate K1 values (R2 = 0.94; intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.96). Parametric K1 data showed a larger variability in general; however, no differences were found in robustness between methods (repeatability coefficient, 80%–84%). Conclusion: Both BFM and SA can generate quantitatively accurate parametric 18F-FLT VT images in NSCLC patients before and during therapy. SA was more robust to noise, yet BFM provided more accurate parametric K1 data. We therefore recommend BFM as the preferred parametric method for analysis of dynamic 18F-FLT PET/CT studies; however, SA can also be used.
N-Acetylcysteine– and MK-801–Induced Changes in Glutamate Levels Do Not Affect In Vivo Binding of Metabotropic Glutamate 5 Receptor Radioligand 11C-ABP688 in Rat Brain

Abnormal glutamate transmission is involved in various neurologic disorders, such as epilepsy, schizophrenia, and Parkinson disease. At present, no imaging techniques are capable of measuring acute fluctuations in endogenous glutamate levels in vivo. We evaluated the potential of 11C-ABP688, a PET ligand that binds to an allosteric site of the metabotropic glutamate 5 receptor, in rats by using small-animal PET and β-microprobes after pharmacologic challenges with N-acetylcysteine (NAc) and MK-801. Both compounds are known to induce increases in endogenous glutamate levels. Methods: Three experiments with 11C-ABP688 were performed to validate our study setup: first, metabolite analyses during workup (n = 3) and after a selected treatment (n = 3); second, a test–retest (n = 12) small-animal PET experiment (1 h scan; 27.75 MBq of 11C-ABP688 administered intravenously; <3 nmol/kg); and third, a small-animal PET and β-microprobe cold blocking study (n = 6/condition) with unlabeled ABP688. After this experimental validation, rats were pretreated with either NAc (intravenous infusion of 50 mg/kg/h) or MK-801 (0.16 mg/kg; given intraperitoneally); this step was followed by small-animal PET with 11C-ABP688 (n = 12) or β-microprobe measurements (n = 10/condition) of 11C-ABP688. Time–activity curves were extracted, and the nondisplaceable binding potential (BPND) was calculated by use of the simplified reference tissue model with the cerebellum as a reference region. Results: 11C-ABP688 BPND measurements were highly reproducible (test–retest), and both small-animal PET and β-microprobes were able to discriminate changes in 11C-ABP688 binding (cold blocking). The average small-animal PET BPND measurements in the test experiment for the caudate putamen, frontal cortex, cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and thalamus were 2.58, 1.40, 1.60, 1.86, and 1.09, respectively. However, no significant differences in BPND measurements were observed with small-animal PET in the test and retest conditions on the one hand and the NAc and MK-801 conditions on the other hand for any of these regions. When β-microprobes were used, the average BPND in the caudate putamen was 0.94, and no significant changes in the test and MK-801 conditions were observed. Conclusion: Pharmacologic challenges with NAc and MK-801 did not affect the 11C-ABP688 BPND in the rat brain. These data suggest that the in vivo affinity of 11C-ABP688 for binding to an allosteric site of the metabotropic glutamate 5 receptor is not modulated by changes in glutamate levels and that 11C-ABP688 is not capable of measuring acute fluctuations in endogenous levels of glutamate in vivo in the rat brain.
Quantum chaos on discrete graphs

Adapting a method developed for the study of quantum chaos on quantum (metric) graphs (Kottos and Smilansky 1997 Phys. Rev. Lett. 79 4794, Kottos and Smilansky 1999 Ann. Phys., NY 274 76), spectral ζ functions and trace formulae for discrete Laplacians on graphs are derived. This is achieved by expressing the spectral secular equation in terms of the periodic orbits of the graph and obtaining functions which belong to the class of ζ functions proposed originally by Ihara (1966 J. Mat. Soc. Japan 18 219) and expanded by subsequent authors (Stark and Terras 1996 Adv. Math. 121 124, Kotani and Sunada 2000 J. Math. Sci. Univ. Tokyo 7 7). Finally, a model of ‘classical dynamics’ on the discrete graph is proposed. It is analogous to the corresponding classical dynamics derived for quantum graphs (Kottos and Smilansky 1997 Phys. Rev. Lett. 79 4794, Kottos and Smilansky 1999 Ann. Phys., NY 274 76).
Petrography and Geochemistry of Oligocene Rhyolitic Volcanic Rocks, Western Mogollon-Datil Volcanic Field, New Mexico

The Mogollon-Datil volcanic field (MDVF), located in southern New Mexico, is the remnant of extreme and punctuated volcanism over ~12 m.y. of activity. The Bursum caldera is the youngest of three nested calderas in the Mogollon Mountains in the western MDVF. Here I present data from a high-silica, large volume tuff associated with the Bursum caldera, the Bloodgood Canyon Tuff (BCT). Extensive mapping by previous workers have provided a limited whole rock geochemical dataset and descriptions of the unit, but a detailed study had not been conducted. I present new whole-rock majorand trace-element analyses, Sr, Nd, and Pb isotope ratios, mineral chemistry, and petrographic textures to suggest an evolution model for the BCT. I suggest a model of assimilation and fractional crystallization of a dacite composition magma followed by the remobilization of a crystal mush by the upwelling of mafic magma at the peak of ignimbrite flare-up in southern New Mexico. Thermal disequilibrium induced by an intrusion of high-temperature mafic magma initiated the eruption of the BCT, and remobilization of this mush mixed with rhyolitic composition magma lenses within the mush that interacted locally with the amphibolitic-composition crust. Further destabilization of the magma chamber initiated a trapdoor style collapse of the Bursum caldera and erupted most of the remaining eruptible magma.
Optically visualized sound field reconstruction based on sparse selection of point sound sources

Visualization is an effective way to understand the behavior of a sound field. There are several methods for such observation including optical measurement technique which enables a non-destructive acoustical observation by detecting density variation of the medium. For audible sound propagating through the air, however, smallness of the variation requires high sensitivity of the measuring system that causes problematic noise contamination. In this paper, a method for reconstructing two-dimensional audible sound fields from noisy optical observation is proposed.