Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Intensive Versus Moderate Lipid-Lowering Therapy on Myocardial Ischemia in Older Patients With Coronary Heart Disease: Results of the Study Assessing Goals in the Elderly (SAGE)

Background— Clinical trials have demonstrated that, compared with placebo, intensive statin therapy reduces ischemia in patients with acute coronary syndromes and in patients with stable coronary artery disease. However, no studies to date have assessed intensive versus moderate statin therapy in older patients with stable coronary syndromes. Methods and Results— A total of 893 ambulatory coronary artery disease patients (30% women) 65 to 85 years of age with ≥1 episode of myocardial ischemia that lasted ≥3 minutes during 48-hour ambulatory ECG at screening were randomized to atorvastatin 80 mg/d or pravastatin 40 mg/d and followed up for 12 months. The primary efficacy parameter (absolute change from baseline in total duration of ischemia at month 12) was significantly reduced in both groups at month 3 and month 12 (both P<0.001 for each treatment group) with no significant difference between the treatment groups. Atorvastatin-treated patients experienced greater low-density lipoprotein cholesterol reductions than did pravastatin-treated patients, a trend toward fewer major acute cardiovascular events (hazard ratio, 0.71; 95% confidence interval, 0.46, 1.09; P=0.114), and a significantly greater reduction in all-cause death (hazard ratio, 0.33; 95% confidence interval, 0.13, 0.83; P=0.014). Conclusions— Compared with moderate pravastatin therapy, intensive atorvastatin therapy was associated with reductions in cholesterol, major acute cardiovascular events, and death in addition to the reductions in ischemia observed with both therapies. The contrast between the therapies’ differing efficacy for major acute cardiovascular events and death and their nonsignificant difference in efficacy for reduction of ischemia suggests that low-density lipoprotein cholesterol–lowering thresholds for ischemia and major acute cardiovascular events may differ. The Study Assessing Goals in the Elderly (SAGE) demonstrates that older men and women with coronary artery disease benefit from intensive statin therapy.
Factors associated with breast cancer mortality after local recurrence.

PURPOSE We aimed to identify risk factors for mortality after local recurrence in women treated for invasive breast cancer with breast-conserving surgery. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Our prospective cohort study included 267 women who were treated with breast-conserving surgery at Women's College Hospital from 1987 to 1997 and who later developed local recurrence. Clinical information and tumour receptor status were abstracted from medical records and pathology reports. Patients were followed from the date of local recurrence until death or last follow-up. Survival analysis used a Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS Among the 267 women with a local recurrence, 97 (36.3%) died of breast cancer within 10 years (on average 2.6 years after the local recurrence). The actuarial risk of death was 46.1% at 10 years from recurrence. In a multivariable model, predictors of death included short time from diagnosis to recurrence [hazard ratio (hr) for <5 years compared with ≥10 years: 3.40; 95% confidence interval (ci): 1.04 to 11.1; p = 0.04], progesterone receptor positivity (hr: 0.35; 95% ci: 0.23 to 0.54; p < 0.001), lymph node positivity (hr: 2.1; 95% ci: 1.4 to 3.3; p = 0.001), and age at local recurrence (hr for age >45 compared with age ≤45 years: 0.61; 95% ci: 0.38 to 0.95; p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS The risk of death after local recurrence varies widely. Risk factors for death after local recurrence include node positivity, progesterone receptor negativity, young age at recurrence, and short time from diagnosis to recurrence.
CoMoFoD — New database for copy-move forgery detection

Due to the availability of many sophisticated image processing tools, a digital image forgery is nowadays very often used. One of the common forgery method is a copy-move forgery, where part of an image is copied to another location in the same image with the aim of hiding or adding some image content. Numerous algorithms have been proposed for a copy-move forgery detection (CMFD), but there exist only few benchmarking databases for algorithms evaluation. We developed new database for a CMFD that consist of 260 forged image sets. Every image set includes forged image, two masks and original image. Images are grouped in 5 categories according to applied manipulation: translation, rotation, scaling, combination and distortion. Also, postprocessing methods, such as JPEG compression, blurring, noise adding, color reduction etc., are applied at all forged and original images. In this paper we present database organization and content, creation of forged images, postprocessing methods, and database testing. CoMoFoD database is available at http://www.vcl. fer.hr/comofod.
Sorted Consecutive Local Binary Pattern for Texture Classification

In this paper, we propose a sorted consecutive local binary pattern (scLBP) for texture classification. Conventional methods encode only patterns whose spatial transitions are not more than two, whereas scLBP encodes patterns regardless of their spatial transition. Conventional methods do not encode patterns on account of rotation-invariant encoding; on the other hand, patterns with more than two spatial transitions have discriminative power. The proposed scLBP encodes all patterns with any number of spatial transitions while maintaining their rotation-invariant nature by sorting the consecutive patterns. In addition, we introduce dictionary learning of scLBP based on kd-tree which separates data with a space partitioning strategy. Since the elements of sorted consecutive patterns lie in different space, it can be generated to a discriminative code with kd-tree. Finally, we present a framework in which scLBPs and the kd-tree can be combined and utilized. The results of experimental evaluation on five texture data sets-Outex, CUReT, UIUC, UMD, and KTH-TIPS2-a-indicate that our proposed framework achieves the best classification rate on the CUReT, UMD, and KTH-TIPS2-a data sets compared with conventional methods. The results additionally indicate that only a marginal difference exists between the best classification rate of conventional methods and that of the proposed framework on the UIUC and Outex data sets.
Effect of thrombocytopenia on mode of analgesia/anesthesia and maternal and neonatal outcomes

Abstract Objectives: The purpose was to correlate the use of regional analgesia/anasthesia among women with different degrees of thrombocytopenia relative to women with normal platelet counts, and note maternal and neonatal outcome, and mode of delivery. Methods: A case-control paradigm was developed based on women who delivered during 2007–2011 with platelet counts ≤80 000/mm3. For each woman in this “severe” thrombocytopenic group, an age- and parity-matched control was found who delivered a singleton within the same year but whose platelets were either 81 000–150 000/mm3 (“moderate” thrombocytopenia) or ≥151 000/mm3 (normal platelet counts). Results: 168 women were identified for each group; mean maternal age (28.4 years), mean gravidity (4.3), mean parity (3.7), mean gestational age (39.2 weeks) and mean birth weight (3283 g) were comparable. However, only in the severe thrombocytopenic women were there very early preterm deliveries, lowest birth weight, lowest Apgar scores, the greatest number with serious post-partum hemorrhage (>500 ml); use of regional analgesia/anesthesia was lowest, and percent cesarean sections highest. Conclusions: This study highlights potential for adverse maternal outcome of post-partum hemorrhage and adverse neonatal outcomes of prematurity, low birth weight, and low Apgar scores (but not neonatal death), and limited regional analgesia/anesthesia in women who present at delivery with severe (≤80 000/mm3) thrombocytopenia.
Pulmonary and circulatory parameter guided anesthesia in patients with ischemic stroke undergoing endovascular recanalization

Background and purpose Endovascular recanalization in ischemic stroke is often performed under general anesthesia. Some studies have shown a detrimental effect of general anesthesia. The reasons are unknown. Methods This was an observational study with retrospective and prospective phases. From 2008 to 2010, 60 patients treated by endovascular recanalization due to proximal vessel occlusion were analyzed with regard to ventilation parameters, blood gas values, blood pressure, and clinical parameters (pre-protocol phase). Subsequently, a protocol with target values for end-tidal CO2 (Petco2) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) was introduced and prospectively analyzed in 64 patients in 2012 (protocol phase). Results In the pre-protocol phase, significant hypocapnia (<30 mm Hg), a decrease in SBP after intervention (p<0.001), and an increase in SBP after extubation (p<0.001) were observed. After implementing the protocol in 2012, 63% of Petco2 values and 55% of SBP values (median) of the duration of intervention were within the predefined range. Severe hypocapnia and hypotension (SBP <100 mm Hg) after the intervention were significantly reduced. Longer duration of Petco2 values within 40–45 mm Hg, intracerebral hemorrhage, longer door to needle time, older age, unsuccessful recanalization, longer duration of endovascular treatment, and higher cumulative dose of norepinephrine were associated with an unfavorable outcome (modified Rankin Scale score >2). Intracerebral hemorrhage (OR 0.028, p=0.001), age (OR 0.9, p=0.013), and cumulative dose of norepinephrine (OR 0.142, p=0.003) were independent predictors of an unfavorable outcome. Conclusions In patients receiving endovascular stroke treatment under general anesthesia, the cumulative dose of norepinephrine was an independent predictor of an unfavorable outcome. Further studies are needed to evaluate the optimal management of blood pressure in these patients, and whether avoidance of catecholamines could partly explain the improved outcomes for patients treated under conscious sedation in retrospective studies.
Modeling Compressive Strength Of Recycled Aggregate Concrete Using Neural Networks And Regression Analysis

Recycled aggregates are used in concrete and is called as Recycled Aggregate Concrete (RAC). This paper aims at predicting the 28 day compressive strength of RAC using two techniques namely Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Non-linear regression (NLR). Five ANN and NLR models were developed with input parameters as per cubic proportions of cement, sand, natural coarse aggregate , recycled coarse aggregate, water , admixtures used in the mix designs and non-dimensional parameters sand aggregate ratio , water to total materials ratio and the replacement ratio of recycled coarse aggregates to natural aggregates(by volume) in concrete. The effects of each parameter on networks in both techniques were studied. Comparing the techniques shows that ANN performs better than NLR equations. With limited amount of input parameters also, ANN1 predicted the strength of RAC better as compared to NLR1. The performance of ANN models and NLR models improved with the use of non-dimensional parameters.
Cortical Networks for Correcting Errors in Sensorimotor Synchronization Depend on the Direction of Asynchrony

ABSTRACT Recent work provides clues that different cortical mechanisms may be employed when correcting for errors in sensorimotor synchronization that increase tap-tone asynchrony compared with those that decrease it. The authors tested this hypothesis by recording 64-channel electroencephalography while participants synchronized with an auditory metronome. We systematically introduced positive and negative phase-shift perturbations that were either liminal (10%) and subliminal (3%). We used a distributed source modeling approach to evaluate oscillatory activity and connectivity of discrete cortical sources. Three key findings support our hypothesis. First was a theta band response indicative of error detection and top-down control observed in frontomedial presupplementary motor area (pre-SMA) and anterior cingulate for liminal positive perturbations. Second was an increase in theta band coupling between the SMA and contralateral motor cortex exclusively for positive perturbations suggesting a top-down modulation of motor parameters. Third, when compared with other conditions, liminal positive perturbations result in an increase in postmovement beta rebound within contralateral primary motor cortex. The authors propose that frontomedial motor areas exert a top-down inhibitory influence over the primary motor cortex to effectively lengthen tap intervals in response to lengthening tap-tone asynchronies.
Folding helical proteins in explicit solvent using dihedral-biased tempering

Using a single-trajectory-based tempering method with a high-temperature dihedral bias, we repeatedly folded four helical proteins [α3D (PDB ID: 2A3D, 73 residues), α3W (1LQ7, 67 residues), Fap1-NRα (2KUB, 81 residues) and S-836 (2JUA, 102 residues)] and some of the mutants in explicit solvent within several microseconds. The lowest root-mean-square deviations of backbone atoms from the experimentally determined structures were 1.9, 1.4, 1.0, and 2.1 Å, respectively. Cluster analyses of folding trajectories showed the native conformation usually occupied the most populated cluster. The simulation protocol can be applied to large-scale simulations of other helical proteins on commonly accessible computing platforms.
Effect of crosslink density on molecular relaxations in diepoxide-diamine network polymers. Part 2. The rubbery plateau region

A comparison of the prediction of the theory of rubber elasticity with the experimentally observed variation of the shear storage modulus, G, as a function of crosslink concentration shows that deviations occur when the network strand concentration in diepoxide-diamine polymers exceeds approximately 1.5 mole kg−1. The rapid rise in G above this level is accounted for in terms of the increasing importance of non-Gaussian chain statistics and steric interactions. It is also established that the contribution from entanglements is significant and the behavior over the entire crosslink density range can be described by the following equation where v and ϵTe are the concentrations of elastically active strands which orginate from fixed points and entanglements respectively, ψ is an empirical constant related to the importance of the non-ideal behavior, and ϕ is the so-called “front factor”. This latter constant is found to depend on the functionality of the network junctions, varying from 0.9, for a system with tetrafunctional junctions, to an average of 0.53 for those networks with trifunctional junctions.
Use of Soybean Meal in the Diets of Non-Salmonid Marine Fish

For several years, there has been continuing interest in identifying and developing ingredients as alternatives to fish meal for use within aquafeeds (Hardy, 1995; Tacon et al., 1998). Originally, the impetus for this was the often-variable nature of the price and supply of fish meal of suitably high quality for the aquafeed industry. Recently, however, the concern raised about the negative impact of fish meal production on global fish stocks has heightened this interest (Naylor et al., 2000). Among the ingredients being investigated as alternatives to fish meal, the products derived from soybeans (Glycine max L.) are some of the most promising (Lim et al., 1998; Hardy, 1999; Storebakken et al., 2000; Swick, 2002) because of the security of supply, price and protein/amino acid composition. According to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations statistics, global soybean meal production has increased from about 15 million tons in 1961 to about 107 million tons in 2001, whereas fish meal production has remained fairly static at 5 to 7 million tons (Figure 1) and is expected to remain at these levels for the foreseeable future.
Directs NK Cell Expansion In Vitro Killer Ig-Like Receptor Ligand Mismatch

NK cell alloreactivity is governed largely through failure to detect self-HLA class I ligands by the clonally distributed inhibitory killer Ig-like receptors (KIR) expressed on the NK cell surface. In this study, we investigated the extent to which HLA class I-KIR interactions inﬂuence human NK cell proliferation in the allogeneic setting. NK cells were cultured with feeder cells either matched or mismatched for inhibitory KIR ligands, the latter lacking one or more ligands present in the NK cell donor. In postculture cytotoxicity assays, the ability of polyclonal NK cells to kill KIR ligand-mismatched targets was enhanced by exposure to appropriately mismatched feeder cells in prior culture. This corresponded with an increased frequency of postculture donor NK cells expressing a given inhibitory KIR if the allogeneic feeder cells used in the culture lacked its ligand. Similar skewing of KIR distribution was seen in clonally expanded NK cells. Finally, a ﬂow cytometry-based proliferation assay was used to show KIR-speciﬁc NK cell division in response to missing self. The ﬁndings demonstrate that KIR distribution among a population of alloresponding peripheral blood NK cells is shaped by the HLA class I environment. The Journal of Immunology, 2009, 183: 4502–4508.
Significance of intraoperative peritoneal culture of fungus in perforated peptic ulcer

The incidence of postoperative fungal infection is increasing and the gastrointestinal tract is the major source, but antifungal therapy in perforated peptic ulcer (PPU) is still controversial. The aim of this study was to determine the significance of intraoperative peritoneal fluid culture of fungus and establish the indications for treatment.
Delay-range-dependent Robust Stability for Uncertain Singular Systems with Interval Time-varying Delays

In this paper, we consider the delay-range- dependent robust stability problem of uncertain singular system with interval time-varying delays. Stability criteria, which guarantee the concerned singular system is regular, free and stable, is derived in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) by introducing some identical equations with integral inequality approach (IIA) and using the Leibniz-Newton formula to reduce the conservatism of the results. The upper bound of time-delay can be obtained by using the modified generalized eigenvalue minimization problem (GEVP) technique such that the system can be stabilized for all time-delays. Finally, numerical examples show the method presented in our paper is more effective and less conservative than the existing ones.
Building an Efficient Functional-Tag Labeling System for Vietnamese

Functional tags represent the role of syntactic constituents such as noun phrases and verb phrases in a tree. Functional-tag labeling has been studied for languages such as English and Chinese. In this paper, we present a new system for tagging Vietnamese sentences functionally. We used maximum entropy model for this task with six tree-based features. Besides, a new feature based on word cluster has also been made use of. Our experiments on Vietnamese tree bank showed that the system achieved a good performance and the word cluster feature brought a significant improvement.
Trigeminal neuralgia involving supraorbital and infraorbital nerves

Supraorbital neuralgia is a rare disorder accounting for 4% of incidence with hallmark of localized pain in or above the eyebrow, clinically characterized by the following triad: (1) forehead pain in the area supplied by the supraorbital nerve, (2) tenderness on either the supraorbital notch and (3) absolute, but transitory relief of symptoms upon supraorbital nerve blockade. The pain presents with a chronic or intermittent pattern. The persistence of protracted unilateral forehead/occular pain, tenderness over the nerve and repeated blockade effect strongly suggest the diagnosis. Surgical treatment can be used when the medical treatment fails or in patients who do not tolerate the pharmacological treatment.
TOOKAD ) Mediated Photodynamic Therapy as an Alternative Modality in Treatment of Prostate Cancer

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) utilizes optical energy to activate a pre-administered photosensitizer drug to achieve a localized tumor control. In the presented study, PDT mediated with a second-generation photosensitizer, WST09 (TOOKAD, Steba Biotech, The Netherlands), is investigated as an alternative therapy in the treatment of prostate cancer. In vivo canine prostate is used as the animal model. PDT was performed by irradiating the surgically exposed prostates both superficially and interstitially with a diode laser (763 nm) to activate the intra-operatively i.v. infused photosensitizer. During light irradiation, tissue optical properties, and temperature were monitored. During the one-week to 3-month period post PDT treatment, the dogs recovered well with little or no complications. The prostates were harvested and subjected to histopathological evaluations. Maximum lesion size of over 3 cm in dimension could be achieved with a single treatment, suggesting the therapy is extremely effective in destroying prostatic tissue. Although we found there was loss of epithelial lining in prostatic urethra, there was no evidence it had caused urinary tract side effects as reported in those studies utilizing transurethral irradiation. In conclusion, we found second generation photosensitizer WST09 mediated PDT may provide an excellent alternative to treat prostate cancer.
Why and when five test users aren’t enough

Nielsen’s claim that “Five Users are Enough” [5] is based on a statistical formula [2] that makes unwarranted assumptions about individual differences in problem discovery, combined with optimistic setting of values for a key variable. We present the initial Landauer-Nielsen formula and recent evidence that it can fail spectacularly to calculate the required number of test users for a realistic web-based test. We explain these recent results by examining the assumptions behind the formula. We then re-examine some of our own data, and find that, while the Landauer-Nielsen formula does hold, this is only the case for simple problem counts. An analysis of problem frequency and severity indicates that highly misleading results could have resulted when the number of required users is almost doubled.
C1858T Polymorphism of Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase Non-receptor Type 22 (PTPN22): an eligible target for prevention of type 1 diabetes?

ABSTRACT Introduction: In type 1 diabetes (T1D), several genetic factors are associated to β-cell autoimmunity onset and clinical progression. HLA-genes play a major role in susceptibility and initiation of β-cell autoimmunity, whereas non-HLA genes may influence the destruction rate. Areas covered: Our review focuses on the possible role of the PTPN22 C1858 T variant as a prognostic factor, given its influence on disease variability. Moreover, we present the potential role of C1858 T as a target for tertiary prevention trials and new therapeutic strategies, such as the LYP inhibitors. We used PubMed for literature research; key words were ‘PTPN22’, ‘C1858 T polymorphism’, ‘lymphoid-specific tyrosine phosphatase’ and ‘type 1 diabetes’. We selected publications between 2000 and 2016. Expert commentary: Current data suggest that PTPN22 can be a promising target for therapeutic interventions and identification of at-risk subjects in autoimmune diseases such as T1D.