Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Is Routine Histopathologic Examination Beneficial in All Medicolegal Autopsies?

Postmortem examinations are performed for a number of reasons. Medical autopsies are performed at the request of and with the consent of the next of kin of a decedent and are often requested to determine the extent of a disease process or to evaluate therapy. In contrast, medicolegal autopsies are performed by a forensic pathologist primarily to determine cause and manner of death but also to document trauma, diagnose potentially infectious diseases and report them to the appropriate agencies, provide information to families about potentially inheritable diseases, provide information to family members and investigative agencies, and testify in court. As medicolegal and hospital autopsies differ in their purpose, so do they differ in procedure. Medicolegal autopsies often include histologic analysis, but not always, as with medical autopsies. We designed a prospective study to address the question of whether or not routine histologic examination is useful in medicolegal cases, defining a routine case as one where histology would not normally be performed and where the cause and manner of death were readily apparent during the gross autopsy. We reviewed brain, heart, liver, kidney, and lung sections on 189 routine forensic cases and compared the results to the gross anatomic findings. Of the 189 cases, in only 1 case did microscopic examination affect the cause of death and in no case did microscopic examination affect the manner of death. Thus, we feel that routine microscopic examination (performing histologic examination in all cases regardless of cause and manner of death) in forensic autopsy is unnecessary. Microscopic examination should be used, as needed, in certain circumstances but is not necessary as a matter of routine.
Empathy in individuals clinically at risk for psychosis: brain and behaviour.

BACKGROUND Empathy is a basic human ability, and patients with schizophrenia show dysfunctional empathic abilities on the behavioural and neural level. AIMS These dysfunctions may precede the onset of illness; thus, it seems mandatory to examine the empathic abilities in individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis. METHOD Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we measured 15 individuals at clinical high risk of psychosis (CHR group) and compared their empathy performance with 15 healthy volunteers and 15 patients with schizophrenia. RESULTS Behavioural data analysis indicated no significant deficit in the CHR group. Functional data analysis revealed hyperactivation in a frontotemporoparietal network including the amygdala in the CHR group compared with the other two groups. CONCLUSIONS Despite normal behavioural performance, the CHR group activated the neural empathy network differently and specifically showed hyperactivation in regions critical for emotion processing. This could suggest a compensatory mechanism reflecting emotional hypersensitivity or dysfunctional emotion regulation. Further investigations should clarify the role of these neural alterations for development and exacerbation of psychosis.
Body Fat Is Associated With Reduced Aortic Stiffness Until Middle Age

Obesity is a major risk factor for cardiometabolic disease, but the effect of body composition on vascular aging and arterial stiffness remains uncertain. We investigated relationships among body composition, blood pressure, age, and aortic pulse wave velocity in healthy individuals. Pulse wave velocity in the thoracic aorta, an indicator of central arterial stiffness, was measured in 221 volunteers (range, 18–72 years; mean, 40.3±13 years) who had no history of cardiovascular disease using cardiovascular MRI. In univariate analyses, age (r=0.78; P<0.001) and blood pressure (r=0.41; P<0.001) showed a strong positive association with pulse wave velocity. In multivariate analysis, after adjustment for age, sex, and mean arterial blood pressure, elevated body fat% was associated with reduced aortic stiffness until the age of 50 years, thereafter adiposity had an increasingly positive association with aortic stiffness (&bgr;=0.16; P<0.001). Body fat% was positively associated with cardiac output when age, sex, height, and absolute lean mass were adjusted for (&bgr;=0.23; P=0.002). These findings suggest that the cardiovascular system of young adults may be capable of adapting to the state of obesity and that an adverse association between body fat and aortic stiffness is only apparent in later life.
Adaptive density estimation under weak dependence

Assume that $(X_t)_{t\in\Z}$ is a real valued time series admitting a common marginal density $f$ with respect to Lebesgue's measure. Donoho {\it et al.}~(1996) propose a near-minimax method based on thresholding wavelets to estimate $f$ on a compact set in an independent and identically distributed setting. The aim of the present work is to extend these results to general weak dependent contexts. Weak dependence assumptions are expressed as decreasing bounds of covariance terms and are detailed for different examples. The threshold levels in estimators $\widehat f_n$ depend on weak dependence properties of the sequence $(X_t)_{t\in\Z}$ through the constant. If these properties are unknown, we propose cross-validation procedures to get new estimators. These procedures are illustrated via simulations of dynamical systems and non causal infinite moving averages. We also discuss the efficiency of our estimators with respect to the decrease of covariances bounds.
On the High SNR Capacity of Stationary Gaussian Fading Channels

We present results on the high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) asymptotic capacity of peak-power limited single-antenna discrete-time stationary complex-Gaussian fading channels with memory, where the transmitter and receiver, while fully cognizant of the fading law, have no access to its realization. Complementing recent results of Lapidoth & Moser about the case where the fading process is regular, we consider here the non-regular case, i.e., the case where the entropy-rate of the fading process is negative infinity. It is demonstrated that while in the former case capacity grows double logarithmically in the SNR with a fading number that is determined by the prediction error in predicting the present fading from noiseless observations of its past, here the asymptotics require a careful analysis of the noisy prediction error, i.e., the asymptotic functional dependence of the prediction error in predicting the present fading from noisy observations of its past. This functional dependence, which can be made explicit in terms of the spectrum of the fading process, may lead to dramatically different asymptotic dependencies of capacity on SNR, e.g., double-logarithmic, logarithmic, or fractional powers of the logarithm of the SNR. The “pre-log”, i.e., the asymptotic ratio of channel capacity to the logarithm of the SNR takes on a particularly simple form: it is the Lebesgue measure of the set of harmonics where the spectral density is zero. The pre-log is unrelated to the “bandwidth” of the process or its “coherence time”. In the light of these results we re-examine some of the models in the literature on fading channels and the asymptotic behaviors associated with them. It is found that what may appear as slight changes in the channel model may lead to dramatically different high-SNR asymptotics.
British family heart study: its design and method, and prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors.

AIM The aim of this paper is to describe the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in families screened systematically by nurses in British general practice, and in subgroups with reported hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, diabetes and coronary heart disease. METHOD Twenty six general practices (13 intervention and 13 control practices) in 13 towns in England, Wales and Scotland were involved in a randomized control trial. Randomly ordered invitations were sent for a family health check to 4158 households (men aged 40-59 years and their partners) registered with the 13 intervention practices. RESULTS One or more adult members from 2373 households (57%) were screened; in 1477 visits the selected man and his female partner attended of whom 98% were married. In all, 3850 individuals were screened (2246 men and 1604 women); 15% of men and women were in the predefined top quintile of the British family heart study risk score. Twenty four per cent of men and 22% of women smoked cigarettes and 62% of men and 44% of women were overweight (body mass index 25+). One third of men and one sixth of women with no known history of high blood pressure had a diastolic blood pressure of 90+ mmHg. Among the 491 individuals with previously reported high blood pressure 64% were not adequately controlled, having a diastolic blood pressure of 90+ mmHg, while 26% had diastolic blood pressure of 100+ mmHg. Eighteen per cent of men and women with no known history of a high cholesterol level had a random cholesterol level of 6.5+ mmol l-1. In the 173 people with a previously reported high cholesterol level and who had their level measured over half had a cholesterol level of 6.5+ mmol l-1 and in 7% this level was 8.0+ mmol l-1. One per cent of men and 0.3% of women were newly identified as diabetic (random glucose level of 10.0+ mmol l-1). In the 52 with previously diagnosed diabetes unsatisfactory control was found in 52% (random level of 10.0+ mmol l-1). A total of 3034 men and women overall (79%) qualified for follow up for one or more risk factor; 1909 men (85%) and 1125 women (70%). Among the 139 with pre-existing coronary heart disease 119 (86%) had modifiable risk factors: 27% were cigarette smokers, 68% had a body mass index of 25+, 40% had diastolic hypertension, 29% had hypercholesterolaemia and 19% had hyperglycaemia. Five per cent of men and women were taking antihypertensive drugs, 0.3% cholesterol lowering drugs and 0.7% drugs for diabetes. CONCLUSION There is considerable scope for primary and secondary prevention among families registered with general practices, but whether nursing and medical intervention can reduce the risk factors related to cardiovascular disease in this setting remains unknown.
Influence of Boundary Conditions on Higher Order Terms of Near-Crack-Tip Stress Field in a WST Specimen

A precise description of the stress and deformation fields in a cracked body is provided using multi-parameter fracture mechanics based on the approximation of the fields by means of the Williams’ power series. This paper presents a detailed analysis of the stress field in a wedge-splitting test geometry specimen aimed at the calculation of coefficients of the higher order terms (up to 14) of the Williams’ expansion. The numerical study is conducted with the use of a conventional finite element package; however, for processing of the results an over-deterministic method is employed. Special attention is paid to the influence of boundary conditions of the test geometry on the values of the coefficients of the higher order terms of the Williams’ series. The results are compared to data from the literature; a strong effect of the boundary conditions is observed.
Multiple Integrated Copies and High-Level Production of the Human Retrovirus XMRV (Xenotropic Murine Leukemia Virus-Related Virus) from 22Rv1 Prostate Carcinoma Cells

ABSTRACT The human retrovirus XMRV (xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus) is associated with prostate cancer, most frequently in humans with a defect in the antiviral defense protein RNase L, suggesting a role for XMRV in prostate carcinogenesis. However, XMRV has not been found in prostate carcinoma cells. Here we show that 22Rv1 prostate carcinoma cells produce high-titer virus that is nearly identical in properties and sequence to XMRV isolated by others and consist primarily of a single clone of cells with at least 10 integrated copies of XMRV, warranting further study of a possible role for XMRV integration in carcinogenesis.
Control Strategy in Movements with Transmission Delay

ABSTRACT The strategy used by participants was studied when making movements in a Fitts movement paradigm with transmission delay between control input and display output. Fitts' law in the modified form developed by E. R. Hoffmann (1992) gave an excellent description of the data. Movement time could also be expressed as a function of the total delay time (number of submovements × transmission delay) and Fitts' index of difficulty (ID). Two types of submovement were identified, being step and drag forms. The number of step submovements was the most important in determining movement time. These were related to a move-and-wait strategy used by participants. Number of submovements increased with the level of ID and transmission delay and was linearly related to the ID and product of ID by transmission delay.
Phylogeography of the olive sea snake, Aipysurus laevis (Hydrophiinae) indicates Pleistocene range expansion around northern Australia but low contemporary gene flow

Pleistocene sea‐level fluctuations profoundly changed landmass configurations around northern Australia. The cyclic emergence of the Torres Strait land bridge and concomitant shifts in the distribution of shallow‐water marine habitats repeatedly sundered east and west coast populations. These biogeographical perturbations invoke three possible scenarios regarding the directions of interglacial range expansion: west to east, east to west, or bidirectional. We evaluated these scenarios for the olive sea snake, Aipysurus laevis, by exploring its genetic structure around northern Australia based on 354 individuals from 14 locations in three regions (Western Australia, WA; Gulf of Carpentaria, GoC; Great Barrier Reef, GBR). A 726‐bp fragment of the mitochondrial DNA ND4 region revealed 41 variable sites and 38 haplotypes, with no shared haplotypes among the three regions. Population genetic structure was strong overall, φST = 0.78, P < 0.001, and coalescent analyses revealed no migration between regions. Genetic diversity was low in the GBR and GoC and the genetic signatures of these regions indicated range or population expansions consistent with their recent marine transgressions around 7000 years ago. By contrast, genetic diversity on most WA reefs was higher and there were no signals of recent expansion events on these reefs. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that GBR and GoC haplotypes were derived from WA haplotypes; however, statistical parsimony suggested that recent range expansion in the GBR‐GoC probably occurred from east coast populations, possibly in the Coral Sea. Levels of contemporary female‐mediated gene flow varied within regions and reflected potential connectivity among populations afforded by the different regional habitat types.
Galaxy and Mass Assembly: the evolution of bias in the radio source population to z ∼ 1.5

We present a large-scale clustering analysis of radio galaxies in the Very Large Array Faint Images of the Radio Sky at Twenty-cm survey over the Galaxy and Mass Assembly (GAMA) survey area, limited to S1.4 GHz > 1 mJy with spectroscopic and photometric redshift limits up to r 1. This is indicative of an increasing (rather than fixed) halo mass and/or active galactic nuclei fraction at higher redshifts or a larger typical halo mass for the more abundant Fanaroff and Riley Class I sources.
Glycemic thresholds for activation of counterregulatory hormone and symptom responses in islet transplant recipients.

CONTEXT In patients with type 1 diabetes and reduced awareness of hypoglycemia, the glycemic thresholds for activation of counterregulatory hormone and symptom responses to hypoglycemia are impaired, in part due to recurrent episodes of hypoglycemia. Islet transplantation can ameliorate occurrences of hypoglycemia in these patients. OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to determine whether the avoidance of hypoglycemia achieved through islet transplantation results in improved glycemic thresholds for counterregulatory responses. SETTING The study was conducted at a general clinical research center. PARTICIPANTS Seven islet transplant recipients, six type 1 diabetic, and eight nondiabetic control subjects participated in the study. INTERVENTION We performed a stepped hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemic clamp and, in 12 subjects, a paired hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp to calculate the glycemic thresholds for and magnitude of counterregulatory responses. RESULTS The glycemic thresholds for all counterregulatory hormone and symptom responses in the islet transplant group were comparable with normal and higher than in the type 1 diabetes group (P < 0.01 for glucagon; P < 0.05 for epinephrine). The magnitude of the glucagon and epinephrine responses in the islet transplant group, although greater than in the type 1 diabetes group (P < 0.05 for both), remained less than normal (P < 0.01 for glucagon; P < 0.05 for epinephrine). The magnitude of GH secretion in the islet transplant group was comparable with normal and greater than in the type 1 diabetes group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The glycemic thresholds for activation of counterregulatory hormone and symptom responses appear normal after islet transplantation; however, the magnitudes of the glucagon and epinephrine responses remain impaired.
Binary halftone image resolution increasing by decision tree learning

This paper presents a new, accurate, and efficient technique to increase the spatial resolution of binary halftone images. It makes use of a machine learning process to automatically design a zoom operator starting from pairs of input-output sample images. To accurately zoom a halftone image, a large window and large sample images are required. Unfortunately, in this case, the execution time required by most of the previous techniques may be prohibitive. The new solution overcomes this difficulty by using decision tree (DT) learning. Original DT learning is modified to obtain a more efficient technique (WZDT learning). It is useful to know, a priori , sample complexity (the number of training samples needed to obtain, with probability 1-/spl delta/, an operator with accuracy /spl epsiv/): we use the probably approximately correct (PAC) learning theory to compute the sample complexity. Since the PAC theory usually yields an overestimated sample complexity, statistical estimation is used to evaluate, a posteriori, a tight error bound. Statistical estimation is also used to choose an appropriate window and to show that DT learning has good inductive bias. The new technique is more accurate than a zooming method based on simple inverse halftoning techniques. The quality of the proposed solution is very close to the theoretical optimal obtainable quality for a neighborhood-based zooming process using the Hamming distance to quantify the error.
The use of long-term monitoring data for studies of planktonic diversity: a cautionary tale from two Swiss lakes

SUMMARY 1. Long-term data have been suggested as resources for investigating environmental influences on biodiversity and, in turn, the role of biodiversity for ecosystem dynamics. However, scientists analysing biodiversity patterns in long-term data need to recognise that multidecadal time series are likely to suffer from inconsistencies in methodology, which might strongly complicate the interpretation of diversity patterns. Unfortunately, such inconsistencies are usually difficult to detect, and consequently, it is not known how strongly they affect the conclusions drawn. 2. Here, we highlight two long-term data sets sampled by one laboratory to analyse patterns in phytoplankton richness in two Swiss lakes, Lake Zurich and Lake Walen. Apparent patterns in the long-term species richness in the two lakes arise from: (i) inconsistencies in species identification (changes in taxonomic literature and/or taxonomic expertise of the counting personnel) and (ii) changes in the detection limits of taxa. Hence, bias in these two case studies was strong enough to obscure any possible effects on species richness of environmental change (oligotrophication). 3. We show that in the case of these two data sets, inconsistency confounds estimates of phytoplankton richness not only at the species level but even at the generic and familial levels. This suggests that a solution often proposed for inconsistency, that is, reanalysis of the data after aggregation to genus or family, may be insufficient. 4. We suggest the use of two diagnostic plots, which may be used in other studies examining richness patterns in either long-term time series or comparative studies in which several scientists/laboratories contributed to data acquisition. These plots illustrate temporal or spatial patterns in (i) the percentage of taxa identified only to genus and (ii) in the 5% percentile of the concentrations of individual algal taxa. They will help to identify inconsistency problems due to changes or differences in (i) taxonomic expertise and (ii) detection limits.
Mapping the Free Energy Landscape of PKA Inhibition and Activation: A Double-Conformational Selection Model for the Tandem cAMP-Binding Domains of PKA RIα

Protein Kinase A (PKA) is the major receptor for the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) secondary messenger in eukaryotes. cAMP binds to two tandem cAMP-binding domains (CBD-A and -B) within the regulatory subunit of PKA (R), unleashing the activity of the catalytic subunit (C). While CBD-A in RIα is required for PKA inhibition and activation, CBD-B functions as a “gatekeeper” domain that modulates the control exerted by CBD-A. Preliminary evidence suggests that CBD-B dynamics are critical for its gatekeeper function. To test this hypothesis, here we investigate by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) the two-domain construct RIα (91–379) in its apo, cAMP2, and C-bound forms. Our comparative NMR analyses lead to a double conformational selection model in which each apo CBD dynamically samples both active and inactive states independently of the adjacent CBD within a nearly degenerate free energy landscape. Such degeneracy is critical to explain the sensitivity of CBD-B to weak interactions with C and its high affinity for cAMP. Binding of cAMP eliminates this degeneracy, as it selectively stabilizes the active conformation within each CBD and inter-CBD contacts, which require both cAMP and W260. The latter is contributed by CBD-B and mediates capping of the cAMP bound to CBD-A. The inter-CBD interface is dispensable for intra-CBD conformational selection, but is indispensable for full activation of PKA as it occludes C-subunit recognition sites within CBD-A. In addition, the two structurally homologous cAMP-bound CBDs exhibit marked differences in their residual dynamics profiles, supporting the notion that conservation of structure does not necessarily imply conservation of dynamics.
A Near Minimax Risk Bound: Adaptive Lasso with Heteroskedastic Data In Instrumental Variable Selection

In this paper we use adaptive lasso estimator select between relevant and irrelevant instruments in heteroskedastic and non Gaussian data. To do so limit theory of Zou (2006) is extended from univariate iid case. Next, it is shown that adaptive lasso estimator can achieve near minimax risk bound even in the case of heteroskedastic data. To achieve that a new proof is used that benefits from Stein’s Lemma. This is a new result and extends the iid Gaussian case. It is also shown in the paper that Lasso estimators are not model selection consistent whereas adaptive lasso can select the correct model in fixed number of instruments case. The case of weak versus strong instruments are also handled by adaptive lasso. Simulations show that compared to alternatives in econometrics it does well in terms of bias.