Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On the possibility of direct Fourier reconstruction from divergent-beam projections

A great number of tomographic systems, especially those equipped with fast data acquisition techniques, scan the objects investigated by divergent (fan) X-ray beams. Fan-beam projection data require special reconstruction techniques to be implemented. Among reconstruction techniques from parallel projection data, the direct Fourier method (DFM) proved to be one of the most promising ones, especially for high-speed image reconstruction in the high-end 3-D and dynamic tomographic systems. The goal of this work is to answer the topical question: how would direct use of the DFM influence the quality of image reconstruction from the fan-beam data? The formula describing the error caused by such an approximation is derived. The conclusions deduced from the formula are confirmed by computer simulations. The boundary values of data acquisition geometry parameters have been estimated for the case of using the DFM without recalculating the fan-beam data.
CaffePresso: An optimized library for Deep Learning on embedded accelerator-based platforms

Off-the-shelf accelerator-based embedded platforms offer a competitive energy-efficient solution for lightweight deep learning computations over CPU-based systems. Low-complexity classifiers used in power-constrained and performance-limited scenarios are characterized by operations on small image maps with 2- 3 deep layers and few class labels. For these use cases, we consider a range of embedded systems with 5-20W power budgets such as the Xilinx ZC706 board (with MXP soft vector processor), NVIDIA Jetson TX1 (GPU), TI Keystone II (DSP) as well as the Adapteva Parallella board (custom multi-core with NoC). Deep Learning computations push the capabilities of these platforms to the limit through compute-intensive evaluations of multiple 2D convolution filters per layer, and high communication requirements arising from the movement of intermediate maps across layers. We present CaffePresso, a Caffe-compatible framework for generating optimized mappings of user-supplied ConvNet specifications to target various accelerators such as FPGAs, DSPs, GPUs, RISC-multicores. We use an automated code generation and auto-tuning approach based on knowledge of the ConvNet requirements, as well as platform-specific constraints such as on-chip memory capacity, bandwidth and ALU potential. While one may expect the Jetson TX1 + cuDNN to deliver high performance for ConvNet configurations, (1) we observe a flipped result with slower GPU processing compared to most other systems for smaller embedded-friendly datasets such as MNIST and CIFAR10, and (2) faster and more energy efficient implementation on the older 28nm TI Keystone II DSP over the newer 20nm NVIDIA TX1 SoC in all cases.
Tailoring Direct Instruction techniques for use with elementary students with brain injury

This article describes three case studies in which Direct Instruction techniques were used to teach students with brain injuries who participated in a 6-week tutoring program. The subjects were three children with closed head injuries who exhibited significant learning problems: two boys, ages 8 and 10, and a girl, age 6. After approximately 12 hourly instructional sessions, all three students made substantial academic progress as demonstrated by probe data collected in their targeted instructional areas (reading, language, math, and keyboarding). The gains were seen in both discrete and more complex skills, and some of the gains made represented new learning. In addition, the aggressive outbursts of one student were decreased substantially through use of a self-monitoring technique in the context of academic instruction. Results from these case studies suggest that Direct Instruction is a promising approach for teaching both academic and behavioral skills to students with TBI.
Gender differences in weight related concerns in early to late adolescence

Among adults, women are more likely than men to perceive themselves as too heavy for their height, the gender discrepancy being greatest among those within a “normal” weight range.1,2 This finding has been explained in terms of the equation of female beauty with extreme thinness.2 As the physical changes of puberty are differentiated by gender, with males experiencing increased skeletal and muscle mass but females a gain in fat, this life stage has been seen as key for the development of female body dissatisfaction and associated problems such as lowered self esteem and eating disorders.3 In this analysis we compare changes in worries about putting on weight and dieting with actual body mass index at ages 11, 13, and 15. Data are from the West of Scotland 11 to 16 Study: Teenage Health, a longitudinal school based survey of health and health behaviours in a cohort resident in and around Glasgow.4 Respondents were recruited in 1994–5 during their final year of primary schooling (aged 11, n=2586, a response rate of 93% of the issued sample). They were re-surveyed after the transition to secondary …
Astaxanthin: A Potential Therapeutic Agent in Cardiovascular Disease

Astaxanthin is a xanthophyll carotenoid present in microalgae, fungi, complex plants, seafood, flamingos and quail. It is an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties and as such has potential as a therapeutic agent in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Synthetic forms of astaxanthin have been manufactured. The safety, bioavailability and effects of astaxanthin on oxidative stress and inflammation that have relevance to the pathophysiology of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, have been assessed in a small number of clinical studies. No adverse events have been reported and there is evidence of a reduction in biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation with astaxanthin administration. Experimental studies in several species using an ischaemia-reperfusion myocardial model demonstrated that astaxanthin protects the myocardium when administered both orally or intravenously prior to the induction of the ischaemic event. At this stage we do not know whether astaxanthin is of benefit when administered after a cardiovascular event and no clinical cardiovascular studies in humans have been completed and/or reported. Cardiovascular clinical trials are warranted based on the physicochemical and antioxidant properties, the safety profile and preliminary experimental cardiovascular studies of astaxanthin.
The Effectiveness of Antilock Brake Systems on Motorcycles in Reducing Real-Life Crashes and Injuries

This study set out to evaluate the effectiveness of antilock brake system (ABS) technology on motorcycles in reducing real-life injury crashes and to mitigate injury severity. The study comprised an analysis of in-depth fatal crash data in Sweden during 2005–2008 to investigate the potential of ABS as well an estimate of the effectiveness of ABS in crash reduction in Sweden between 2003 and 2008 using induced exposure methods. Findings show that head-on collisions were the least ABS-affected crash types and collisions at intersections the most influenced. Induced exposure analysis showed that the overall effectiveness of ABS was 38 percent on all crashes with injuries and 48 percent on all severe and fatal crashes, with a minimum effectiveness of 11 and 17 percent, respectively. The study recommends the fitment of ABS on all new motorcycles as soon as possible and that customers only purchase motorcycles with ABS.
Merged Computation for Whirlpool Hashing

This paper presents an improved hardware structure for the computation of the Whirlpool hash function. By merging the round key computation with the data compression and by using embedded memories to perform part of the Galois Field (2s) multiplication, a core can be implemented in just 43% of the area of the best current related art while achieving a 12% higher throughput. The proposed core improves the Throughput per Slice compared to the state of the art by 160%, achieving a throughput of 5.47 Gbit/s with 2110 slices and 32 BRAMs on a VIRTEX II Pro FPGA. Results for a real application are also presented by considering a polymorphic computational approach.
p53: its alteration and gallbladder cancer

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is the most common malignancy of the biliary tract. Despite the recent advancements in the understanding of cancer biology the disease still remains a therapeutic challenge with poor survival, and with early surgical resection as the only powerful treatment. Understanding the molecular events in gallbladder carcinogenesis may provide a novel targeted therapeutic approach. Of these, alterations in the tumour suppressor gene, p53, are commonly observed in most human cancers. However, its impact on the pathogenesis of GBC remains obscure. This study attempts to outline the p53 structure, function and its alterations, with special attention to GBC.
CHANGES IN CHEMICAL, SENSORY AND RHEOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF MANCHEGO CHEESES DURING RIPENING

Manchego cheese is a high-fat pressed ewe's-milk cheese made in Castilla-La Mancha (Spain) and produced by enzymatic coagulation. The minimum ripening time before marketing required by the Regulatory Board of the Manchego Cheese Appellation of Origin is 60 days This paper describes the physicochemical, proteolysis, sensory and texture characteristics of Manchego cheese, and the degree of homogeneity of cheeses made under the Manchego Appellation of Origin. The data gathered in this study indicate that sensory and instrumental analysis are useful tools for detecting changes in Manchego cheese during ripening. These changes were first detected by the instrumental analysis (2 months). The panelists detected differences after 4 months' ripening in all the factories. With physicochemical analysis, on the other hand, longer ripening times (6-8 months) are required before such changes become appreciated. Le manchego est un fromage espagnol au lait de brebis. La duree d'affinage est de 60 jours comme determinee par l'AOC. Les proprietes physicochimiques, sensorielles et texturales du Manchego sont determinees. L'homogeneite des fromage d'AOC est observee. Les analyses sont faites par mesures sensorielles et instrumentales.
Certain and Uncertain Aspects of a Trauma: Response to Doris Brothers

In this response to Doris Brothers’ discussion in which she describes the process by which a “survival-threatening event” can create emotional meaning, I have attempted to illustrate two aspects of trauma; the trauma of a “bad” event and the trauma of “nothing. ” A human being, existing in an uncertain world, faces a difficult task in maintaining the sense of being human. Despite the difficulty, the potential for finding meaningful experience in an empty and uncertain world, and perceiving a hopeful future, is one of the significant gifts of being human. As indicated in Kohut’s concept of “tragic man” (Kohut, 1977), though, it is inherently tragic for us that meaningful experience can be found only in a human relationship with others.
A New Approach to Modeling Sector Stock Returns in China

This article analyzes the relationship between excess stock returns and the macroeconomy of China. A factor-augmented regression is applied to a panel of 123 monthly Chinese macroeconomic time series. Eight fundamental macroeconomic factors are identified and used to examine the excess returns in industrial, commercial, real estate, and utilities sectors of the market. It is found that interest rate, output level, as well as property supply factors possess explanatory power for sector stock returns in China.
Clinical Characteristics of Neonatal Meningomyelocele Cases and Effect of Operation Time on Mortality and Morbidity

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the clinical features, short-term prognosis, and effect of operation time on mortality and morbidity in neonates with meningomyelocele. Methods: This prospective study was conducted between January 2006 and December 2008. Clinical features, defective area, existence of additional anomalies, operation time, and morbidity and mortality data were recorded. The effectof operation time on mortality and morbidity was evaluated. Results: Patients (n = 28) were assessed during the study period. Mean birth weight, height, and head circumference were found to be 3,160 ± 582 g, 46.2 ± 3.3 cm, and 36.7 ± 4.1 cm, respectively. None of the mothers received folate supplementation. Hydrocephaly (n = 13), pes equinovarus (n = 4), pelvicalyceal ectasia (n = 4), acetabular dysplasia (n = 2), Chiari II malformation (n = 2), and hydronephrosis (n = 2) accounted for additional anomalies. The mean postnatal age for surgical operation was 3.2 ± 2.8 days; mean length of hospital stay was 10.2 ± 9.7 days. The cases operated after 72 h were hospitalized longer, received antibiotherapies for a longer duration and had higher total complication rates (p = 0.04, 0.02, and 0.01, respectively). Conclusion: Surgical operation of patients with meningomyelocele within 72 h after delivery significantly reduces not only the duration of hospitalization and antibiotic usage, but also complication rates.
Localisation of VIP-binding sites exhibiting properties of VPAC receptors in chromaffin cells of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

SUMMARY The current model for the neuronal control of catecholamine release from piscine chromaffin cells advocates that the neurotransmitters vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) are co-released with acetylcholine from preganglionic fibres upon nerve stimulation. Both VIP and PACAP elicit the secretion of exclusively adrenaline from rainbow trout chromaffin cells, which presumably arises from the activation of VPAC type receptors. Thus, the goals of the present study were (1) to localise VPAC receptors in the chromaffin cell fraction of the posterior cardinal vein (PCV) of trout and (2) to test the hypothesis that the selective secretion of adrenaline elicited by VIP could be explained by the absence of the VPAC receptors from the noradrenaline-containing cells. Fluorescent labelling of chromaffin cells using aldehyde-induced fluorescence of catecholamines and antisera raised against dopamineβ -hydroxylase (DβH) revealed a distinct layer of chromaffin cells lining the walls of the PCV. Furthermore, specific VIP-binding sites were demonstrated on chromaffin cells using a biotinylated VIP that was previously established as being bioactive. Although multiple labelling experiments revealed that a number of DβH-positive cells were immunonegative for phenylethanolamine N-methyl transferase (PNMT; noradrenaline-containing cells versus adrenaline-containing cells, respectively), labelling of VIP-binding sites was similar to that of DβH labelling, suggesting that all chromaffin cells possess VIP-binding sites. Pharmacological assessment of the VIP-binding sites indicated that they exhibited characteristics of VPAC receptors. Specifically, the labelling of VIP-binding sites was prevented after pre-treatment of PCV tissue sections with unlabelled VIP, PACAP or the specific VPAC receptor antagonist VIP 6-28. By contrast, sections pre-treated with the PAC1 receptor blocker PACAP 6-27 displayed normal labelling of VIP-binding sites. Finally, partial cDNA clones for the trout VPAC1 and VPAC2 receptor were obtained and sequenced. Tissue distribution experiments using RT-PCR revealed the presence of VPAC1 receptor mRNA but not that of the VPAC2 receptor in the PCV tissue. The results provide direct evidence that VIP and PACAP can elicit the secretion of adrenaline from the chromaffin tissue via specific VIP-binding sites that exhibit properties of VPAC receptors. However, the selective secretion of adrenaline by VIP or PACAP cannot be explained by a lack of VIP-binding sites on the noradrenaline-containing cells.
The hidden benefits of sex: Evidence for MHC‐associated mate choice in primate societies

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC)‐associated mate choice is thought to give offspring a fitness advantage through disease resistance. Primates offer a unique opportunity to understand MHC‐associated mate choice within our own zoological order, while their social diversity provides an exceptional setting to examine the genetic determinants and consequences of mate choice in animal societies. Although mate choice is constrained by social context, increasing evidence shows that MHC‐dependent mate choice occurs across the order in a variety of socio‐sexual systems and favours mates with dissimilar, diverse or specific genotypes non‐exclusively. Recent research has also identified phenotypic indicators of MHC quality. Moreover, novel findings rehabilitate the importance of olfactory cues in signalling MHC genes and influencing primate mating decisions. These findings underline the importance to females of selecting a sexual partner of high genetic quality, as well as the generality of the role of MHC genes in sexual selection.
The Smarter Crowd : Active Learning , Knowledge Corroboration , and Collective IQs

Crowdsourcing mechanisms such as Amazon Mechanical Turk (AMT) or the ESP game are now routinely being used for labelling data for machine learning and other computational intelligence applications. I will discuss three important aspects of crowdsourcing which can help us tap into this powerful new resource in a more efficient way. When obtaining training data from a crowdsourcing system for the purpose of machine learning we can either collect all the training data in one batch or proceed sequentially and decide which labels to obtain based on the model learnt from the data labelled so far, a method often referred to as active learning. I will discuss which criteria can be used for selecting new examples to be labelled and demonstrate how this approach has been used in the FUSE/MSRC news recommender system projectemporia.com to categorise news stories in a cost-efficient way. Data obtained from crowdsourcing systems is typically plentiful and cheap, but noisy. The redundancy in the data can be used to improve the quality of the inferred labels based on models that take into account the reliability and expertise of the workers as well as the nature and difficulty of the tasks. I will present an algorithm for such a corroboration process based on graphical models, and show its application on the example of verifying the truth values of facts in the entity-relationship knowledge base Yago. Finally, I will talk about some very recent results on the effects of parameters of crowdsourcing marketplaces (such as price and required track record for participation) on the quality of results. This work is based on methods from psychometrics, effectively measuring the IQ of the Mechanical Turk when viewed as a form of collective intelligence. This is joint work with Ralf Herbrich, Ulrich Paquet, David Stern, Jurgen Van Gael, Gjergji Kasneci, and Michal Kosinksi.
Differential Record Linkage by Hispanic Ethnicity and Age in Linked Mortality Studies

Objectives: This study examines how the linkage of surveys to death records differs for Hispanics and non-Hispanic Whites and how such differences affect estimates of ethnic differences in U.S. adult mortality. Method: I use data from the 1989-2000 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) linked to the National Death Index (NDI) through 2002. Analyses assess how match score and match class vary by ethnicity, nativity, and age and whether mortality hazard ratios are sensitive to shifts in match criteria. Results: Linkage quality is lower for Hispanic and foreign-born adults than for non-Hispanic White and U.S.-born adults. Modification of the linkage criteria determine whether the Hispanic mortality advantage is observed among middle-aged adults. Discussion: The accuracy of adult mortality estimates depends on the quality of the linkage between surveys and death records.
Medial collateral ligament healing

Medial collateral ligament healing without treatment has been studied in a rabbit model. Complete midsubstance gaps were found to heal by distinct scar formation over time. This healing process was fast since the gap was bridged quickly; however, more subtle changes in ap pearance of the healing tissue continued for many months. The ligament "scar" was found to be structur ally abnormal chemically and mechanically even at long- term followup. A plateau in its improvement suggests that the scar may never approach normal ligament characteristics (without treatment). A baseline of liga ment healing by scar formation has been established.
Parasympathetic Coronary Vasoconstriction Induced by Nicotine in Conscious Calves

We studied the effects of intracoronary injection of nicotine and acetylcholine on coronary blood flow in nine conscious calves chronically instrumented to measure coronary blood flow, left ventricular (LV) and mean arterial pressure, LV dP/dt, and heart rate. Nicotine (5 n.g/kg i.e.) elicited a biphasic response in coronary blood flow consisting of an initial vasoconstriction (phase 1; blood flow fell by 52 ± 5.4% from a baseline of 66 ± 7.5 ml/min) followed by vasodilation (phase 2, blood flow rose 119 ± 12.7% above baseline). The change in coronary blood flow with nicotine was not associated with changes in LV systolic pressure, mean arterial pressure, or heart rate. The change in coronary blood flow was unaffected by combined α- and β-adrenoceptor blockade with prazosin, rauwolscine, and propranolol but was abolished by either muscarinic blockade with atropine or ganglionic blockade with hexamethonium. Acetylcholine (0.5 μg/kg i.e.), without affecting mean arterial pressure, elicited changes in coronary blood flow similar to those observed with nicotine, producing an initial phase of coronary vasoconstriction (blood flow fell by 71 ± 4.9%) followed by vasodilation (blood flow rose by 228 ± 20.7%). Both phases of the response to acetylcholine were abolished by muscarinic blockade but were unaffected by ganglionic blockade. When nicotine was injected into the left circumflex coronary artery, no change in blood flow was observed in the left anterior descending coronary artery, indicating the lack of involvement of global reflex pathways. These results suggest that nicotine locally stimulates parasympathetic nerves, which constrict the coronary circulation via a muscarinic mechanism.
Prefrontal lactate predicts exercise-induced cognitive dysfunction in Gulf War Illness.

BACKGROUND 25% to 30% of Veterans deployed to the 1990 to 1991 Persian Gulf War exhibit an idiopathic syndrome of chronic fatigue, exertional exhaustion, pain, hyperalgesia, cognitive and affective dysfunction known as Gulf War Illness (GWI). METHODS Gulf War veterans (n=15) and sedentary veteran and civilian controls (n=11) completed a 2-back working memory test in an fMRI before and after two bicycle exercise stress test. We performed single voxel (1)H MRS to evaluate brain metabolic differences in the left anterior cingulate cortex and the changes associated with exercise. RESULTS Eight GWI subjects increased their 2-back scores after exercise (labelled increasers) and seven GWI subjects decreased their 2-back scores after exercise (labelled decreasers). These phenotypic responses were absent for controls. Decreasers had significantly elevated prefrontal lactate levels compared to Increasers prior to completion of the exercise stress tests. Evaluation of prefrontal lactate levels prior to exercise demonstrated predictability (ROC analysis) of the two diametrically opposed subgroups. CONCLUSION Prefrontal lactate levels may be a potential biomarker for exercise-induced subgroups in GWI. The alterations in brain energetics may be in part responsible for a subgroup of GWI and underlie some of the symptoms present in the patient population.