Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Placebo - More hatred than love

A placebo is a sham medical intervention that can produce a placebo effect. Laboratory evidence supports the existence of several mechanisms of placebo effects in both healthy population and patients with a variety of medical conditions. The ethics of placebos have long been debated. However, accumulating ethical concern has arisen from the worldwide use of placebo in randomized control trials (RCTs), which may render their participants without early and optimal treatment. Although the pilgrimage of placebo is still on the way, refinement of controls in RCTs is worth paying new attention to.
Different Imaging Strategies in Patients With Possible Basilar Artery Occlusion

Background and Purpose— This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of different noninvasive imaging strategies in patients with possible basilar artery occlusion. Methods— A Markov decision analytic model was used to evaluate long-term outcomes resulting from strategies using computed tomographic angiography (CTA), magnetic resonance imaging, nonenhanced CT, or duplex ultrasound with intravenous (IV) thrombolysis being administered after positive findings. The analysis was performed from the societal perspective based on US recommendations. Input parameters were derived from the literature. Costs were obtained from United States costing sources and published literature. Outcomes were lifetime costs, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), incremental cost-effectiveness ratios, and net monetary benefits, with a willingness-to-pay threshold of $80 000 per QALY. The strategy with the highest net monetary benefit was considered the most cost-effective. Extensive deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed to explore the effect of varying parameter values. Results— In the reference case analysis, CTA dominated all other imaging strategies. CTA yielded 0.02 QALYs more than magnetic resonance imaging and 0.04 QALYs more than duplex ultrasound followed by CTA. At a willingness-to-pay threshold of $80 000 per QALY, CTA yielded the highest net monetary benefits. The probability that CTA is cost-effective was 96% at a willingness-to-pay threshold of $80 000/QALY. Sensitivity analyses showed that duplex ultrasound was cost-effective only for a prior probability of ⩽0.02 and that these results were only minimally influenced by duplex ultrasound sensitivity and specificity. Nonenhanced CT and magnetic resonance imaging never became the most cost-effective strategy. Conclusions— Our results suggest that CTA in patients with possible basilar artery occlusion is cost-effective.
Public support for a sugar-sweetened beverage tax and pro-tax messages in a Mid-Atlantic US state

Abstract Objective To examine the characteristics of supporters and opponents of a sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) tax and to identify pro-tax messages that resonate with the public. Design A survey was administered by telephone in February 2013 to assess public opinion about a penny-per-ounce tax on SSB. Support was also examined for SSB consumption reduction and pro-tax messages. Individual characteristics including sociodemographics, political affiliation, SSB consumption behaviours and beliefs were explored as predictors of support using logistic regression. Setting A representative sample of voters was recruited from a Mid-Atlantic US state. Subjects The sample included 1000 registered voters. Results Findings indicate considerable support (50 %) for an SSB tax. Support was stronger among Democrats, those who believe SSB are a major cause of childhood obesity and those who believe childhood obesity warrants a societal intervention. Belief that a tax would be effective in lowering obesity rates was associated with support for the tax and pro-tax messages. Respondents reporting that a health-care provider had recommended they lose weight were less convinced by pro-tax messages. Women, Independents and those concerned about childhood obesity were more convinced by the SSB reduction messages. Overall, the most popular messages focused on the importance of reducing consumption among children without mentioning the tax. Conclusions Understanding who supports and opposes SSB tax measures can assist advocates in developing strategies to maximize support for this type of intervention. Messages that focus on the effect of consumption on children may be useful in framing the discussion around SSB tax proposals.
A 1-MHz Zero-Voltage-Switching Asymmetrical Half-Bridge DC/DC Converter: Analysis and Design

The asymmetrical half-bridge (AHB) topology discussed in this paper is one of the complementary driven pulse-width modulated converter topologies, which presents an inherent zero-voltage switching (ZVS) capability. In the previous work, the ideal operation of the converter and the ZVS realization process have been analyzed. However, the influence of the circuit parasitics on the output voltage drop and the design constraints of the circuit parameters to ensure the ZVS operation have not been investigated. The minimum load needed to ensure the ZVS operation is also not readily available. This paper presents a detailed and practical design for a 1-MHz AHB converter. A revised voltage transfer ratio of the converter is derived considering the influence of circuit parasitics and the ZVS transition. Two circuit parameters responsible for maintaining the ZVS operation are the transformer leakage inductance and the interlock delay time between the gate signals of two switches. A design method of the two parameters is proposed, which can ensure the ZVS transition. The possible ZVS range of the load variation is also investigated. A 50-W AHB converter with 1-MHz switching frequency was constructed, and a maximum efficiency of 91% was achieved.
PeerReview: practical accountability for distributed systems

We describe PeerReview, a system that provides accountability in distributed systems. PeerReview ensures that Byzantine faults whose effects are observed by a correct node are eventually detected and irrefutably linked to a faulty node. At the same time, PeerReview ensures that a correct node can always defend itself against false accusations. These guarantees are particularly important for systems that span multiple administrative domains, which may not trust each other.PeerReview works by maintaining a secure record of the messages sent and received by each node. The record isused to automatically detect when a node's behavior deviates from that of a given reference implementation, thus exposing faulty nodes. PeerReview is widely applicable: it only requires that a correct node's actions are deterministic, that nodes can sign messages, and that each node is periodically checked by a correct node. We demonstrate that PeerReview is practical by applying it to three different types of distributed systems: a network filesystem, a peer-to-peer system, and an overlay multicast system.
Nonrigid registration of medical image by Maxwell model of viscoelasticity

Nonrigid medical image registration has many potentially applications for diagnosis and monitoring disease progression in the clinic, and is very hot in computational anatomy. However, there are not very efficient methods to solve the problem until now. In this paper, we proposed a nonrigid medical image registration approach based on the physics laws. There are two novelties of proposed method. One is that we model the template image as a viscoelastic matter since the mechanical behaviors of brain are shown to be viscoelastic. The local shape variations are assumed to meet the property of Maxwell model of viscoelasticity, and the deformable fields are constrained by the corresponding partial differential equations. The other is that an adaptive force is introduced to decrease the computation cost. We applied the proposed algorithm to 2D simulated data and 3D real data of different subjects, and compared the results of the proposed approach to those obtained by affine registration and other physics based method, fluid method. We found the results of proposed method were satisfied in accuracy and speed.
Laparoscopic Versus Open Intersphincteric Resection and Coloanal Anastomosis for Low Rectal Cancer: Intermediate-Term Oncologic Outcomes

Objective:To compare the surgical outcome and intermediate oncological outcomes for laparoscopic versus open intersphincteric resection (ISR). Background:Intersphincteric resection has been proposed as an alternative to abdominoperineal resection for selected low rectal cancer cases, but the oncological adequacy of laparoscopic ISR has not been established. Methods:A total of 210 consecutive patients with low rectal cancer who underwent ISR between 1997 and 2009 in 2 institutions were evaluated retrospectively. Patients were classified into an open surgery (OS, n = 80) group and a laparoscopy (LAP, n = 130) group. The primary endpoint was 3-year disease-free survival. Results:The major complication rates were similar in the LAP and OS groups (5.4% vs 3.8%, respectively; P = 0.428). However, the LAP group had a shorter hospital stay and time to bowel movement compared with the OS group. In the LAP group, operating time was 16 minutes shorter (P = 0.230) and intraoperative blood loss was less (P = 0.002). Median follow-up was 34 months (interquartile range: 20.0–42.5 months). The local recurrence rates were similar in the 2 groups (LAP, 2.6% vs OS, 7.7%; P = 0.184). The combined 3-year disease-free survival for all stages was 82.1% (95% CI: 73.7–90.2%) in the LAP group and 77.0% (95% CI: 66.9%–86.9%) in the OS group (P = 0.523). Conclusions:Laparoscopic ISR can be performed safely and offers a minimally invasive sphincter-sparing alternative. The oncological adequacy of laparoscopic ISR requires long-term follow-up data, but the intermediate-term outcomes seem equivalent to those achieved with OS.
Legionnaires' disease: evaluation of a quantitative microbial risk assessment model.

BACKGROUND The quantities of Legionella vary considerably from natural waters to water in contaminated domestic hot water supplies, whirlpool spas and cooling towers, with the risk for LD rising as the Legionella counts grow. We currently report the results from our Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) model evaluation. We developed the LD QMRA model to better understand Legionella exposure risks. METHODS Using an animal data derived model for LD, we calculated risks from estimated exposures for a whirlpool spa outbreak, two hot spring spa outbreaks and compared the results to the reported LD risks. RESULTS The QMRA model shows agreement (generally less than an order of magnitude discrepancy) with the reported Legionnaires' disease sub-clinical severity infection, clinical severity infection, and mortality risks. CONCLUSIONS The LD QMRA model may lead to risk based limits to supplement the current guidance on Legionella control in cooling towers, whirlpool spas and other potential exposure sources. The verification of QMRA for LD also suggests the techniques, given suitable animal model data, may be useful in quantifying human response to other airborne pathogens.
Topologies on the group of Borel automorphisms of a standard Borel space

The paper is devoted to the study of topologies on the group $\text{\rm Aut}(X,{\Cal B})$ of all Borel automorphisms of a standard Borel space $(X, {\mathcal B})$. Several topologies are introduced and all possible relations between them are found. One of these topologies, $\tau$, is a direct analogue of the uniform topology widely used in ergodic theory. We consider the most natural subsets of $\text{\rm Aut}(X,{\mathcal B})$ and find their closures. In particular, we describe closures of subsets formed by odometers, periodic, aperiodic, incompressible, and smooth automorphisms with respect to the defined topologies. It is proved that the set of periodic Borel automorphisms is dense in $\text{\rm Aut}(X,{\mathcal B})$ (Rokhlin lemma) with respect to $\tau$. It is shown that the $\tau$-closure of odometers (and of rank $1$ Borel automorphisms) coincides with the set of all aperiodic automorphisms. For every aperiodic automorphism $T\in \text{\rm Aut}(X,{\mathcal B})$, the concept of a Borel-Bratteli diagram is defined and studied. It is proved that every aperiodic Borel automorphism $T$ is isomorphic to the Vershik transformation acting on the space of infinite paths of an ordered Borel-Bratteli diagram. Several applications of this result are given.
Insights into supporting complex systems under conditions of obsolescence

Maintaining and supporting complex systems within a developing world context has many challenges including dealing with systems that are being operated beyond their designed life or where obsolescence is a major concern. Current methodologies to develop an integrated logistics support system (ILSS) are based on assumptions that are not valid in all cases, and a more robust framework with grounded design rules is required. The approach followed in developing the grounded technological rules was by deconstructing the available ILSS and related literature six case studies into the a framework. After analysis of this qualitative work, a third phase was added on where a questionnaire was used to explore the key areas of concern. Some of the insights regarding obsolete and beyond life complex systems were found to be: the effect of obsolescence is significantly wider than the obsolescence and retirement element of the existing frameworks; obsolescence planning must be done on reliability data for the specific operating environment, it is essential to understand technological changes and scan continuously for the impact on system or component obsolescence and that a risk based approach is essential to develop a obsolescence plan as part of the ILSS.
Analysis of the Roles of the Arabidopsis nMAT2 and PMH2 Proteins Provided with New Insights into the Regulation of Group II Intron Splicing in Land-Plant Mitochondria

Plant mitochondria are remarkable with respect to the presence of numerous group II introns which reside in many essential genes. The removal of the organellar introns from the coding genes they interrupt is essential for respiratory functions, and is facilitated by different enzymes that belong to a diverse set of protein families. These include maturases and RNA helicases related proteins that function in group II intron splicing in different organisms. Previous studies indicate a role for the nMAT2 maturase and the RNA helicase PMH2 in the maturation of different pre-RNAs in Arabidopsis mitochondria. However, the specific roles of these proteins in the splicing activity still need to be resolved. Using transcriptome analyses of Arabidopsis mitochondria, we show that nMAT2 and PMH2 function in the splicing of similar subsets of group II introns. Fractionation of native organellar extracts and pulldown experiments indicate that nMAT2 and PMH2 are associated together with their intron-RNA targets in large ribonucleoprotein particle in vivo. Moreover, the splicing efficiencies of the joint intron targets of nMAT2 and PMH2 are more strongly affected in a double nmat2/pmh2 mutant-line. These results are significant as they may imply that these proteins serve as components of a proto-spliceosomal complex in plant mitochondria.
State-Specific Prevalence of Current Cigarette Smoking and Smokeless Tobacco Use Among Adults Aged ≥18 Years — United States, 2011–2013

Cigarette smoking and the use of smokeless tobacco both cause substantial morbidity and premature mortality. The concurrent use of these products might increase dependence and the risk for tobacco-related disease and death. State-specific estimates of prevalence and relative percent change in current cigarette smoking, smokeless tobacco use, and concurrent cigarette smoking and smokeless tobacco use among U.S. adults during 2011-2013, developed using data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), indicate statistically significant (p<0.05) changes for all three behaviors. From 2011 to 2013, there was a statistically significant decline in current cigarette smoking prevalence overall and in 26 states. During the same period, use of smokeless tobacco significantly increased in four states: Louisiana, Montana, South Carolina, and West Virginia; significant declines were observed in two states: Ohio and Tennessee. In addition, the use of smokeless tobacco among cigarette smokers (concurrent use) significantly increased in five states (Delaware, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, and West Virginia). Although annual decreases in overall cigarette smoking among adults in the United States have occurred in recent years, there is much variability in prevalence of cigarette smoking, smokeless tobacco, and concurrent use across states. In 2013, the prevalence ranged from 10.3% (Utah) to 27.3% (West Virginia) for cigarette smoking; 1.5% (District of Columbia and Massachusetts) to 9.4% (West Virginia) for smokeless tobacco; and 3.1% (Vermont) to 13.5% (Idaho) for concurrent use. These findings highlight the importance of sustained comprehensive state tobacco-control programs funded at CDC-recommended levels, which can accelerate progress toward reducing tobacco-related disease and deaths by promoting evidence-based population-level interventions. These interventions include increasing the price of tobacco products, implementing comprehensive smoke-free laws, restricting tobacco advertising and promotion, controlling access to tobacco products, and promoting cessation assistance for smokers to quit, as well as continuing and implementing mass media campaigns that contain graphic anti-smoking ads, such as the Tips from Former Smokers (TIPS) campaign.
Efficient Control Allocation for Fault Tolerant Embedded Systems on Small Autonomous Aircrafts

In this paper, a control allocation module with explicit laws has been designed for fast operation and low computational load, so that this algorithm can run in a small processor or microcontroller with limited floating point operation capability. The control allocation method is capable of compensating for actuator faults. Given the appropriate fault detection system, there is no need to redesign the controller, since the control allocator compensates for any fault occurring. A comparison shows that this method yields satisfactory results, provides optimal solutions in some cases, and is simpler and faster than conventional methods.
Functional Redundancy in the Maize Meiotic Kinetochore

Kinetochores can be thought of as having three major functions in chromosome segregation: (a) moving plateward at prometaphase; (b) participating in spindle checkpoint control; and (c) moving poleward at anaphase. Normally, kinetochores cooperate with opposed sister kinetochores (mitosis, meiosis II) or paired homologous kinetochores (meiosis I) to carry out these functions. Here we exploit three- and four-dimensional light microscopy and the maize meiotic mutant absence of first division 1 (afd1) to investigate the properties of single kinetochores. As an outcome of premature sister kinetochore separation in afd1 meiocytes, all of the chromosomes at meiosis II carry single kinetochores. Approximately 60% of the single kinetochore chromosomes align at the spindle equator during prometaphase/metaphase II, whereas acentric fragments, also generated by afd1, fail to align at the equator. Immunocytochemistry suggests that the plateward movement occurs in part because the single kinetochores separate into half kinetochore units. Single kinetochores stain positive for spindle checkpoint proteins during prometaphase, but lose their staining as tension is applied to the half kinetochores. At anaphase, ∼6% of the kinetochores develop stable interactions with microtubules (kinetochore fibers) from both spindle poles. Our data indicate that maize meiotic kinetochores are plastic, redundant structures that can carry out each of their major functions in duplicate.
Distributed Opportunistic Scheduling for Wireless Ad-Hoc Networks with Block-Fading Model

In this paper, we study a distributed opportunistic scheduling problem to exploit the channel fluctuations in wireless ad-hoc networks. In this problem, channel probing is followed by a transmission scheduling procedure that is executed independently within each link in the network. We study this problem for the popular block-fading channel model, where channel dependencies are inevitable between different time instances during the channel probing phase. Different from existing works, we explicitly consider this type of channel dependencies and its impact on the transmission scheduling and hence the system performance. We use optimal stopping theory to formulate this problem, but at carefully chosen time instances at which effective decisions are made. The problem can then be solved by a new stopping rule problem where the observations are independent between different time instances. Since the stopping rule problem has an implicit horizon determined by the network size, we first characterize the system performance using backward induction. We develop one recursive approach to solve the problem and show that the computational complexity is linear with respect to the network size. Due to its computational complexity, we present an approximation for performance analysis and develop a metric to check how good the approximation is. We characterize the achievable system performance if we ignore the finite horizon constraint and apply the stopping rules based on the infinite horizon analysis nevertheless. We present an improved protocol to reduce the probing costs which requires no additional cost. We characterize the performance improvement and the energy savings in terms of the probing signals. We show numerical results based on our mathematical analysis with various settings of parameters.
Mobilization of MHC class I molecules from late endosomes to the cell surface following activation of CD34-derived human Langerhans cells

Langerhans cells are a subset of dendritic cells (DCs) found in the human epidermis with unique morphological and molecular properties that enable their function as “sentinels” of the immune system. DCs are pivotal in the initiation and regulation of primary MHC class I restricted T lymphocyte immune responses and are able to present both endogenous and exogenous antigen onto class I molecules. Here, we study the MHC class I presentation pathway following activation of immature, CD34-derived human Langerhans cells by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). LPS induces an increase in all components of the MHC class I pathway including the transporter for antigen presentation (TAP), tapasin and ERp57, and the immunoproteasome subunits LMP2 and LMP7. Moreover, in CD34-derived Langerhans cells, the rapid increase in expression of MHC class I molecules seen at the cell surface following LPS activation is because of mobilization of MHC class I molecules from HLA-DM positive endosomal compartments, a pathway not seen in monocyte-derived DCs. Mobilization of class I from this compartment is primaquine sensitive and brefeldin A insensitive. These data demonstrate the regulation of the class I pathway in concert with the maturation of the CD34-derived Langerhans cells and suggest potential sites for antigen loading of class I proteins.
Photodynamic Therapy for Eye Cancer

Photodynamic therapy is well-established as a treatment for a number of conditions in ophthalmology, principally in the field of medical retina, but less so in ocular oncology. Cancer of the eye is rare, the commonest lesions to affect the globe being choroidal melanoma (as a primary malignancy) and choroidal metastases (a secondary malignancy). The mainstay of treatment of such lesions remains radiotherapy in various forms, however, photodynamic therapy does have a useful role to play in the management of such patients. In this article, I hope to review the current indications, treatment regimes, and the risks and benefits of photodynamic therapy (PDT) as a treatment for eye cancer.