Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PCR–POSITIVE TUBERCULAR RETINAL VASCULITIS: Clinical Characteristics and Management

Background Inflammation of retinal vessels is a known association of systemic tuberculosis. Patients with retinal vasculitis are subjected to extensive but unrewarding systemic workup. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is now commonly used to detect DNA of infective organisms including Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This study was undertaken to characterize the clinical characteristics of PCR-positive tubercular retinal vasculitis, so as to determine the clinical presentation, associated systemic features, management, and course of this form of vasculitis. Methods The clinical records of 13 patients seen between 1997 and 1999 with the diagnosis of PCR-positive tubercular retinal vasculitis from the aqueous or vitreous humor were reviewed. Recorded data included age, sex, race, visual acuity, anterior and posterior segment findings, and results of diagnostic evaluations. All received antituberculosis therapy with or without concomitant corticosteroids. Laser scatter photocoagulation was done in eyes with neovascularization. One eye with vitreous hemorrhage was subjected to pars plana vitrectomy. Results There were 9 (69.2%) male and 4 (30.7%) female patients with a median age of 20 years. The disease was bilateral in seven. The most consistent finding was the presence of vitritis in all the eyes followed by vitreous snowball opacities in 17 eyes (89.4%), neovascularization in 11 eyes (57.8%), retinal hemorrhages in 10 eyes (52.6%), neuroretinitis in 10 eyes (52.6%), focal choroiditis in 9 eyes (47.3%), vitreous/preretinal hemorrhage in 5 eyes (26.3%), and serous retinal detachment in 3 eyes (15.7%). Over a median follow-up of 12 months, all showed resolution of vasculitis with no recurrences. Conclusions Polymerase chain reaction–positive tubercular retinal vasculitis had varied associated fundus findings. Its recognition is important so as to order only relevant diagnostic tests.
Thy-1 antigen-bearing dendritic cells populate murine epidermis.

Two distinct cell populations, melanocytes and Langerhans cells (LC), have been recognized previously to possess dendritic configuration in normal mammalian epidermis. Employing immunofluorescence microscopy with monoclonal antibodies against Thy-1.2 antigen to identify cells in whole mounts of murine epidermis, we have identified a third dendritic cell population which differs from both LC and melanocytes. Thy-1 antigen-bearing (Thy-1+) epidermal cells are primarily dendritic, although round and angular forms may be found. They are distributed relatively evenly across skin surfaces, although densities vary greatly from site to site and from strain to strain. Densities were highest in ear epidermis from the pigmented strain B10.A (580 cells/mm2), a value approaching that of epidermal LC, and were lowest in ear epidermis from the albino strain BALB/c (5 cells/mm2). Thy-1+ epidermal cells possess neither Ia antigens nor substantial amounts of melanin, and their surface distributions are disparate from those of both LC and mature melanocytes. We propose that at least some of these cells are T lymphocytes whose malignant counterparts account for cutaneous T-cell lymphomas.
Respiratory disorders during sleep in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Patients with COPD may show slow, progressive deteriorations in arterial blood gases during the night, particularly during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. This is mainly due to hypoventilation, while a deterioration of ventilation/perfusion mismatch plays a minor role. The severity of gas exchanges alterations is proportional to the degree of impairment of diurnal pulmonary function tests, particularly of partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) and of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) in arterial blood, but correlations between diurnal and nocturnal blood gas levels are rather loose. Subjects with diurnal PaO2 of 60–70 mmHg are distinguished in “desaturators” and “nondesaturators” according to nocturnal oxyhemoglobin saturation behavior. The role of nocturnal hypoxemia as a determinant of alterations in sleep structure observed in COPD is dubious. Effects of the “desaturator” condition on pulmonary hemodynamics, evolution of diurnal blood gases, and life expectancy are also controversial. Conversely, it is generally accepted that occurrence of sleep apneas in COPD is associated with a worse evolution of the disease. Nocturnal polysomnographic monitoring in COPD is usually performed when coexistence of sleep apnea (“overlap syndrome”) is suspected, while in most other cases nocturnal oximetry may be enough. Nocturnal oxygen attenuates sleep desaturations among stable patients, without increases in PaCO2 of clinical concern. Nocturnal treatment with positive pressure ventilators may give benefit to some stable hypercapnic subjects and patients with the overlap syndrome.
Perceiving layered information on 3D displays using binocular disparity

3D displays are hitting the mass market. They are integrated in consumer TVs, notebooks, and mobile phones and are mainly used for virtual reality as well as video content. We see large potential in using depth also for structuring information. Our specific use case is 3D displays integrated in cars. The capabilities of such displays could be used to present relevant information to the driver in a fast and easy-to-understand way, e.g., by functionality-based clustering. However, excessive parallaxes can cause discomfort and in turn negatively influence the primary driving task. This requires a reasonable choice of parallax boundaries. The contribution of this paper is twofold. First, we identify the comfort zone when perceiving 3D content. Second, we determine a minimum depth distance between objects that still enables users to quickly and accurately separate the two depth planes. The results yield that in terms of task completion time the optimum distance from screen level is up to 35.9 arc-min angular disparity behind the screen plane. A distance of at least 2.7 arc-min difference in angular disparity between the objects significantly decreases time for layer separation. Based on the results we derive design implications.
Effect of soy isoflavone protein and soy lecithin on endothelial function in healthy postmenopausal women

Objective: To assess the effects of soy isoflavone protein concentrate and soy lecithin on endothelial function, measured as flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery in healthy postmenopausal women. Design: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial with 25 participants (mean age, 61 years; body mass index, 25.46 kg/m2). The women underwent endothelial function testing at baseline and after 4 weeks of randomly assigned treatment with intervening 4-week washout periods. Treatment assignments included soy isoflavone protein (25 g/day) and soy lecithin (20 g/day), soy isoflavone protein (25 g/day) and placebo lecithin, placebo protein and soy lecithin (20 g/day), and double placebo. FMD and serum lipid levels were assessed at baseline and the end of each 4-week treatment phase. Results: Twenty-two women completed the trial. No statistically significant (P > 0.05) difference was seen in FMD between treatment groups. A trend was suggested with FMD highest after treatment with soy protein plus lecithin (7.50 ± 9.85), followed by soy protein (5.51 ± 10.11), soy lecithin (5.35 ± 6.13), and lowest after placebo (4.53 ± 7.84). Soy isoflavone protein and soy lecithin significantly increased the high-density lipoprotein/low-density lipoprotein ratio (soy isoflavone protein plus soy lecithin, 0.64 ± 0.19, P < 0.0001; soy isoflavone protein plus placebo lecithin, 0.58 ± 0.17, P = 0.0058; placebo protein plus soy lecithin, 0.65 ± 0.18, P < 0.0001) relative to the baseline value (0.49 ± 0.15). Conclusions: In this sample of healthy postmenopausal women, soy isoflavone protein and soy lecithin significantly improved the lipid profile. A favorable influence on endothelial function could not be confirmed.
Optimization of a tutoring system from a fixed set of data

In this paper, we present a general method for optimizing a tutoring system with a target application in the domain of second language acquisition. More specifically, the optimisation process aims at learning the best sequencing strategy for switching between teaching and evaluation sessions so as to maximise the increase of knowledge of the learner in an adapted manner. The most important feature of the proposed method is that it is able to learn an optimal strategy from a fixed set of data, collected with a hand-crafted strategy. This way, no model (neither cognitive nor probabilistic) of learners is required but only observations of their behavior when interacting with a simple (non-optimal) system. To do so, a particular batch-mode approximate dynamic programming algorithm is used, namely the Least Square Policy Iteration algorithm. Experiments on simulated data provide promising results.
Hyperspectral cytometry at the single‐cell level using a 32‐channel photodetector

Despite recent progress in cell‐analysis technology, rapid classification of cells remains a very difficult task. Among the techniques available, flow cytometry (FCM) is considered especially powerful, because it is able to perform multiparametric analyses of single biological particles at a high flow rate–up to several thousand particles per second. Moreover, FCM is nondestructive, and flow cytometric analysis can be performed on live cells. The current limit for simultaneously detectable fluorescence signals in FCM is around 8–15 depending upon the instrument. Obtaining multiparametric measurements is a very complex task, and the necessity for fluorescence spectral overlap compensation creates a number of additional difficulties to solve. Further, to obtain well‐separated single spectral bands a very complex set of optical filters is required. This study describes the key components and principles involved in building a next‐generation flow cytometer based on a 32‐channel PMT array detector, a phase‐volume holographic grating, and a fast electronic board. The system is capable of full‐spectral data collection and spectral analysis at the single‐cell level. As demonstrated using fluorescent microspheres and lymphocytes labeled with a cocktail of antibodies (CD45/FITC, CD4/PE, CD8/ECD, and CD3/Cy5), the presented technology is able to simultaneously collect 32 narrow bands of fluorescence from single particles flowing across the laser beam in <5 μs. These 32 discrete values provide a proxy of the full fluorescence emission spectrum for each single particle (cell). Advanced statistical analysis has then been performed to separate the various clusters of lymphocytes. The average spectrum computed for each cluster has been used to characterize the corresponding combination of antibodies, and thus identify the various lymphocytes subsets. The powerful data‐collection capabilities of this flow cytometer open up significant opportunities for advanced analytical approaches, including spectral unmixing and unsupervised or supervised classification. © 2011 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
Deep-HiTS: Rotation Invariant Convolutional Neural Network for Transient Detection

We introduce Deep-HiTS, a rotation-invariant convolutional neural network (CNN) model for classifying images of transient candidates into artifacts or real sources for the High cadence Transient Survey (HiTS). CNNs have the advantage of learning the features automatically from the data while achieving high performance. We compare our CNN model against a feature engineering approach using random forests (RFs). We show that our CNN significantly outperforms the RF model, reducing the error by almost half. Furthermore, for a fixed number of approximately 2000 allowed false transient candidates per night, we are able to reduce the misclassified real transients by approximately one-fifth. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time CNNs have been used to detect astronomical transient events. Our approach will be very useful when processing images from next generation instruments such as the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope. We have made all our code and data available to the community for the sake of allowing further developments and comparisons at https://github.com/guille-c/Deep-HiTS.
Proteins of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus: Kinetics and Cellular Sites of Synthesis

Five viral peptides synthesized in L cells infected with vesicular stomatitis (VS) virus were identified by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and designated as follows: nucleoprotein N, a membrane glycoprotein G, a membrane surface protein S, and two nonstructural proteins NS1 and NS2. A slowly migrating minor structural protein L also present in infected cells is probably an aggregate. Incorporation of 3H-amino acids into each viral protein could be detected by the 2nd hr after infection and even earlier for protein N which is synthesized in the greatest amount. There was no evidence of regulation of viral protein synthesis at the transcriptive level; nonstructural and structural proteins were synthesized throughout the cycle of infection. Short pulses of 3H-amino acids revealed no uncleaved precursor peptides that could be chased into structural peptides. Proteins N and S were chased into released virions but protein G was apparently incorporated into virions as it was being synthesized. VS viral proteins of infected cells were released by mechanically disrupting cytoplasmic membrane by nitrogen decompression and fractionated by high-speed centrifugation. Protein NS1 was present in the nonsedimentable cytoplasmic fraction throughout the cycle of infection. The nucleoprotein N was recovered primarily from the nonsedimentable fraction early in infection but aggregated into a sedimentable component, presumably the nucleocapsid, later in infection. Proteins G and S were always present in the sedimentable fraction of mechanically disrupted infected cells, presumably in association with plasma membrane. Exposure of infected cells to the membrane-dissolving agent, digitonin, resulted in solubilization of most of protein G and all of protein S but not of protein N. These experiments are compatible with the hypothesis that VS viral proteins G and S are synthesized at and inserted into plasma membrane which envelopes a nucleocapsid core to form the VS virion.
Robust L‐type calcium current expression following heterozygous knockout of the Cav1.2 gene in adult mouse heart

Non‐technical summary Appropriate regulation of ion channel expression is critical for the maintenance of both electrical stability and normal contractile function in the heart. A classic way to study the robustness of biological systems is to examine the effects of changes in gene dosage. We have studied how the heart responds to changes in the L‐type calcium channel gene dosage. Homozygous Cav1.2 knockout in the adult heart is lethal, without compensatory responses in expression of other calcium channel genes. Following heterozygous knockout, Cav1.2 mRNA levels are not buffered, Cav1.2 membrane protein levels are partly buffered and L‐type calcium current expression is relatively well buffered. These data are consistent with a passive model of Cav1.2 biosynthesis that includes saturated steps, which act to buffer Cav1.2 protein and L‐type calcium current expression. The results suggest that there is little or no homeostatic regulation of calcium current expression in either heterozygous or homozygous knockout mice.
Rare Gastric Lesions Associated with Helicobacter pylori Infection: A Histopathological Review

Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, gastric adenocarcinoma, and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. However, some rare gastric lesions exhibiting distinctive histological features may also be associated with H. pylori infection, including lymphocytic gastritis, granulomatous gastritis, Russell body gastritis, or crystal-storing histiocytosis. Although diverse factors can contribute to their development, there is convincing evidence that H. pylori infection may play a pathogenic role. These findings are mainly based on studies in patients with these lesions who exhibited clinical and histological improvements after H. pylori eradication therapy. Thus, H. pylori eradication therapy might be indicated in patients with no other underlying disease, particularly in countries with a high prevalence of H. pylori infection. This review describes the characteristic histological features of these rare lesions and evaluates the evidence regarding a causative role for H. pylori infection in their pathogenesis.
The Leader Programme as an Impulse for New Projects in Rural Areas

Abstract The article aims to present the stages of the LEADER programme and its influence on greater activity and integration of inhabitants by, e.g. extending the knowledge of tradition and national heritage and the actions intended for the integration of local communities. It is noticeable particularly in the implementation of the activities within Axis 4 of the 2007–2013 Rural Development Programme. Positive changes in rural areas are a result of building strong social and human capitals, which are important factors of local development. The skills and the ability for cooperation of a local community allows it to implement many projects. The investments made by beneficiaries of the LEADER programme improve the level of living and the quality of life in the countryside. The effect is an improvement in physical infrastructure and tourist attractiveness as a result of care for the rural landscape and cultural heritage. The implementation of the LEADER programme is presented on the example of Wielkopolskie Voivodeship where the participation in actions for local communities is deeply ingrained. In order to show spatial differences in the activity of local entities under Local Action Groups in Wielkopolskie Voivodeship, classes were selected on the basis of funds received by local entities in the LAG areas. There are 36 Local Action Groups operating in Wielkopolska (of which 31 have seats in this region).
Obesity and persisting sleep apnea after adenotonsillectomy in Greek children.

BACKGROUND The relative importance of obesity and adenotonsillar hypertrophy in the pathogenesis of obstructive sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in childhood is unclear. Adenotonsillectomy (AT) for SDB is not always curative, and obese children are at increased risk for residual disease postoperatively. OBJECTIVE The aim of this investigation was to assess the efficacy of AT as treatment for SDB in obese and nonobese children. METHODS Children with adenoidal and/or tonsillar hypertrophy who underwent AT for the treatment of SDB underwent polysomnography preoperatively and postoperatively. A body mass index (BMI) z score of > 1.645 was used to define obesity. The achievement of a postoperative obstructive apnea-hypopnea index (OAHI) of less than one episode per hour (ie, the cure of SDB) was the primary outcome measure. RESULTS Twenty-two obese children (mean [+/- SD] age, 5.8 +/- 1.8 years; mean BMI z score, 2.6 +/- 0.8; mean OAHI, 9.5 +/- 9.7 episodes per hour) and 48 nonobese children (mean age, 6.9 +/- 2.6 years; mean BMI z score, 0.09 +/- 1.1; OAHI, 6 +/- 5.4 episodes per hour) were recruited. After surgery, obese and nonobese subjects did not differ in the efficacy of AT (postoperative OAHI of less than one episode per hour, 22.7% vs 25% of subjects, respectively; p > 0.05). The presence of obesity, adenoidal or tonsillar hypertrophy, gender, and postoperative BMI change were not significant predictors of SDB cure. CONCLUSIONS Obesity does not necessarily predict an unfavorable outcome of AT as treatment for SDB.
Allpass section-based mixed-mode quadrature sinusoidal oscillator

This paper presents a new electronically tunable mixed-mode quadrature sinusoidal oscillator using new allpass section as an building block. The oscillator is consisted of two allpass sections. Each allpass section employs one current-controlled current differencing transconductance amplifier and one grounded capacitor. The condition of oscillation and the frequency of oscillation can be controlled independently and electronically by adjusting the bias currents. The oscillator also offers two explicit quadrature voltage and quadrature current outputs into a single topology. The workability of the proposed structure is verified by PSPICE simulators based on 0.25 μm TSMC CMOS process.
Timing of formation of the Keketale Pb–Zn deposit, Xinjiang, Northwest China, Central Asian Orogenic Belt: Implications for the metallogeny of the South Altay Orogenic Belt

The Keketale is the largest Pb–Zn deposit in the volcano‐sedimentary Maizi Basin of the South Altay Orogenic Belt (AOB), Northwest China. The stratabound orebodies are hosted in a suite of meta‐sedimentary rocks intercalated with volcanic rocks of the Lower Devonian Kangbutiebao Formation. The massive and banded ores representing the main mineralization stage are relatively well‐preserved in the ore district. This paper reports systematic geochronological results including the zircon laser ablation–multiple collector–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (LA‐MC‐ICP‐MS) U–Pb analyses on two meta‐felsic volcanic rocks from the Kangbutiebao Formation and Rb–Sr isotope dating on seven sphalerite samples from the main mineralization stage, together with some sulphur isotopic data to constrain the mineralization age and the genesis of the deposit. Rb–Sr isotope dating yield an isochron age of 398.2 ± 3.3 Ma generally synchronous with the zircon (LA‐MC‐ICP‐MS) U–Pb analyses of a meta‐rhyolite and a meta‐dacite from the strata (410.5 ± 1.3 Ma and 394.8 ± 1.9 Ma, respectively). The δ34S values of seven pyrite samples in the main massive and banded ores vary from −12.4‰ to −6.2‰, indicating that the main ore‐forming sulphur of the deposit was derived from bacterial reduction of seawater sulphate. By integrating the field, chronological, and isotopic evidences, we conclude that the Keketale Pb–Zn deposit is a VMS‐type deposit. Combining our results with the isotopic geochronology in the South AOB, we argue that the South AOB has undergone three mineralization episodes: the syndepositional mineralization (412–387 Ma), the subvolcanic hydrothermal‐related mineralization (382–379 Ma), and the epigenetic mineralization that is genetically linked to regional metamorphism and deformation (260–204 Ma). The Keketale Pb–Zn deposit is a product of the Devonian seafloor hydrothermal exhalation system in the South AOB.
Feature enhancement for robust speech recognition on smartphones with dual-microphone

Latest smartphones often have more than one microphone in order to perform noise reduction. Although research on speech enhancement is already exploiting this new feature, robust speech recognition is not still benefiting from it. In this paper we propose two feature enhancement methods especially developed for the case of a smartphone with a dual-microphone operating in an adverse acoustic environment. In order to test these proposals, we have already developed a new experimental framework which includes a noisy speech database (based on AURORA2) which emulates the acquisition of dual-microphone data. Our experimental results show a clear improvement in terms of word accuracy in comparison with both using a power level difference-based speech enhancement algorithm and a single channel feature compensation approach.