Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Concept detectors: how good is good enough?

Today, semantic concept based video retrieval systems often show insufficient performance for real-life applications. Clearly, a big share of the reason is the lacking performance of the detectors of these concepts. While concept detectors are on their endeavor to improve, following important questions need to be addressed: "How good do detectors need to be to produce usable search systems? " and "How does the detector performance influence different concept combination methods? ". We use Monte Carlo Simulations to provide answers to the above questions. The main contribution of this paper is a probabilistic model of detectors which outputs confidence scores to indicate the likelihood of a concept to occur. This score is also converted into a posterior probability and a binary classification. We investigate the influence of changes to the model's parameters on the performance of multiple concept combination methods. Current web search engines produce a mean average precision (MAP) of around 0.20. Our simulation reveals that the best performing video search method achieve this performance using detectors with 0.60 MAP and is therefore usable in real-life. Furthermore, perfect detection allows the best performing combination method to produce 0.39 search MAP in an artificial environment with Oracle settings. We also find that MAP is not necessarily a good evaluation measure for concept detectors since it is not always correlated with search performance.
Reversal of Fortune: Induced Endoleak to Resolve Neurological Deficit after Endovascular Repair of Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm

Purpose: To describe a direct anatomical treatment approach using an induced type Ib endoleak to increase spinal cord perfusion and reverse paraplegia occurring after endovascular exclusion of a type 2 thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA). Technique: The approach is illustrated in an 82-year-old woman who underwent branched endovascular repair of an asymptomatic, 6.8-cm-diameter type 2 TAAA. In 4-hour procedure, 3 aortic components were implanted beginning 50 mm distal to the origin of the left subclavian artery and ending 33 mm proximal to the aortic bifurcation. Upon awakening, the patient had sluggish movement in her legs. She responded to vasoactive agents and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage, but 3 recurrent episodes of paraplegia within 24 hours and severe headache indicated that the limits of CSF drainage had been reached. The patient was taken back to the operating room, and a type Ib (distal) endoleak was created by placing a balloon-expandable stent between the distal end of the infrarenal stent-graft component and the aortic wall, partially re-establishing flow into the aneurysm. The patient had no further recurrence of lower extremity paraplegia or paraparesis. At 3.5 months postoperatively, a Palmaz stent was deployed inside the distal end of the infrarenal stent-graft component to crush and occlude the Express LD stent, re-establishing a complete seal to preclude flow into the aneurysm. The patient remains clinically stable without lower extremity neurological deficit 3 months after the last procedure and 7 months after endovascular TAAA repair. Conclusion: A direct anatomical approach to reverse spinal cord ischemia following endovascular TAA or TAAA repair is feasible by creating a type I or type III endoleak to afford partial, temporary reperfusion of the excluded aorta.
Selection of scale-invariant parts for object class recognition

We introduce a novel method for constructing and selecting scale-invariant object parts. Scale-invariant local descriptors are first grouped into basic parts. A classifier is then learned for each of these parts, and feature selection is used to determine the most discriminative ones. This approach allows robust pan detection, and it is invariant under scale changes-that is, neither the training images nor the test images have to be normalized. The proposed method is evaluated in car detection tasks with significant variations in viewing conditions, and promising results are demonstrated. Different local regions, classifiers and feature selection methods are quantitatively compared. Our evaluation shows that local invariant descriptors are an appropriate representation for object classes such as cars, and it underlines the importance of feature selection.
Associations of unhealthy lifestyle factors with sexual inactivity and sexual dysfunctions in Denmark.

INTRODUCTION Studies have linked obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, and tobacco smoking to erectile dysfunction, but the evidence linking unhealthy lifestyle factors to other sexual dysfunctions or to sexual inactivity is conflicting. AIM To examine associations between unhealthy lifestyle factors and sexual inactivity with a partner and four specific sexual dysfunctions in each sex. METHODS We used nationally representative survey data from 5,552 Danish men and women aged 16-97 years in 2005. Cross-sectional associations of lifestyle factors with sexual inactivity and sexual dysfunctions were estimated by logistic regression-derived, confounder-adjusted odds ratios (ORs). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES We calculated ORs for sexual inactivity with a partner and for sexual dysfunction and sexual difficulties overall in both sexes, for erectile dysfunction, anorgasmia, premature ejaculation, and dyspareunia in men, and for lubrication insufficiency, anorgasmia, dyspareunia, and vaginismus in women. RESULTS Obesity (body mass index [BMI]≥30 kg/m(2) ) or a substantially increased waist circumference (men ≥102 cm; women ≥88 cm), physical inactivity, and, among women, tobacco smoking were each significantly associated with sexual inactivity in the last year. Among sexually active men, both underweight (BMI <20 kg/m(2) ) and obesity, a substantially increased waist circumference, physical inactivity in leisure time, high alcohol consumption (>21 alcoholic beverages/week), tobacco smoking, and use of hard drugs were each significantly positively associated with one or more sexual dysfunctions (ORs between 1.71 and 22.0). Among sexually active women, the only significant positive association between an unhealthy lifestyle factor and sexual dysfunction was between hashish use and anorgasmia (OR 2.85). CONCLUSION In both sexes, several unhealthy lifestyle factors were associated with sexual inactivity with a partner in the last year. Additionally, among sexually active participants, men with unhealthy lifestyles were significantly more likely to experience sexual dysfunctions. Considering the importance of a good sex life, our findings may be useful in attempts to promote healthier lifestyles.
Treatment of capecitabine-induced hand-foot syndrome using a topical retinoid: A case report

Capecitabine is a chemotherapeutic drug used in patients with breast, colon and gastric cancer. Hand-foot syndrome (HFS) is a type of dermatitis that frequently occurs as a reaction to capecitabine. To date, no effective strategies have been found to prevent or reverse HFS. Furthermore, chemotherapy induces an elevation in the expression of heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF), and this activation represents a critical mechanism for the induction of chemotherapeutic resistance. Adapalene is a third-generation synthetic retinoid. Topical retinoids are important therapeutic anti-aging agents for managing photodamaged skin, and are known to increase HB-EGF levels, which is important for skin wound healing. Accordingly, the current report focused on the topical retinoids that increase HB-EGF expression in the skin, and we hypothesized that these topical retinoids induce local chemotherapeutic resistance in the skin of patients receiving chemotherapy and consequently, decrease the cutaneous side-effects of chemotherapy. This report presents a case of the successful treatment of refractory HFS induced by capecitabine using the topical application of adapalene. Topical adapalene was applied for 3 months and significantly reduced inflammation and pain following chemotherapy. Topical retinoids may have the potential to effectively treat capecitabine-induced HFS by increasing HB-EGF expression and decreasing cutaneous side-effects. Further studies are required to establish the therapeutic efficacy of topical retinoids on HFS.
Identification and Functional Analyses of Two cDNAs That Encode Fatty Acid 9-/13-Hydroperoxide Lyase (CYP74C) in Rice

Fatty acid hydroperoxide lyase (HPL), a member of cytochrome P450 (CYP74), produces aldehydes and oxo-acids involved in plant defensive reactions. In monocots, HPL that cleaves 13-hydroperoxides of fatty acids has been reported, but HPL that cleaves 9-hydroperoxides is still unknown. To find this type of HPL, in silico screening of candidate cDNA clones and subsequent functional analyses of recombinant proteins were performed. We found that AK105964 and AK107161 (Genbank accession numbers), cDNAs previously annotated as allene oxide synthase (AOS) in rice, are distinctively grouped from AOS and 13-HPL. Recombinant proteins of these cDNAs produced in Escherichia. coli cleaved both 9- and 13-hydroperoxide of linoleic and linolenic into aldehydes, while having only a trace level of AOS activity and no divinyl ether synthase activity. Hence we designated AK105964 and AK107161 OsHPL1 and OsHPL2 respectively. They are the first CYP74C family cDNAs to be found in monocots.
Non-convex optimization and rate control for multi-class services in the Internet

In this paper, we investigate the problem of distributively allocating transmission data rates to users in the Internet. We allow users to have concave as well as sigmoidal utility functions as appropriate for different applications. In the literature, for simplicity, most works have dealt only with the concave utility function. However, we show that applying rate control algorithms developed for concave utility functions in a more realistic setting (with both concave and sigmoidal types of utility functions) could lead to instability and high network congestion. We show that a pricing-based mechanism that solves the dual formulation can be developed based on the theory of subdifferentials with the property that the prices "self-regulate" the users to access the resources based on the net utility. We discuss convergence issues and show that an algorithm can be developed that is efficient in the sense of achieving the global optimum when there are many users.
Cost-effectiveness of strategies to reduce mother-to-child HIV transmission in Mexico, a low-prevalence setting.

OBJECTIVE To estimate and compare the cost-effectiveness of selected interventions to reduce mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV in Mexico. METHODS A spreadsheet-based model was used to examine five scenarios, each estimated using both zidovudine (ZDV) and nevirapine (NVP). Scenarios differ according to coverage, type of voluntary counselling and testing (VCT), restriction to women at higher risk, and whether rapid testing is offered at delivery. Averted adult infections due to VCT are also estimated, as are savings due to averted treatment costs. Results are reported as cost per child infection prevented, net of averted treatment costs (C/CIP). RESULTS Among 958294 women attending public antenatal clinics, increasing VCT coverage from 4% to 85% is estimated to prevent 102 paediatric and 8 adult infections at a C/CIP of US dollars 42517 using ZDV. In the most restrictive scenario (III), 46 paediatric infections are prevented with a C/CIP of US dollars 39220. Use of NVP increases C/CIP because the reduced drug cost is more than offset by its reduced assumed effectiveness. The cost of detecting infected women (approximately 90% of total) far exceeds treatment costs in such a low-prevalence setting. CONCLUSION Minimization of MTCT costs in low-prevalence settings should focus on VCT costs rather than drug costs. Even the most cost-effective scenario modelled compares unfavourably with other, highly cost-effective maternal/child interventions that still do not reach many Mexicans. However, it compares favourably against several therapeutic maternal/child interventions available in the public sector's tertiary care hospitals.
Skill underutilization and collective turnover in a professional service firm

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine skill underutilization and collective turnover in a large professional service firm (PSF). The authors hypothesize that skill underutilization is positively related to collective turnover, that skill underutilization is greater among professionals than nonprofessionals, and that the positive relationship between skill underutilization and collective turnover is stronger for professionals than for nonprofessionals. Design/methodology/approach – Using survey data from a large PSF, the authors test these predictions across 191 groups (professional and nonprofessional) in 80 offices. Collective turnover rates were taken from company records one year after the survey was administered. Findings – The authors find support for the prediction that skill underutilization is positively related to collective turnover. In addition, skill underutilization is greater among professionals than nonprofessionals within a PSF. However, the relationship between skill underutil.
Predictors of elevated blood lead level in Thai children: a pilot study using risk assessment questionnaire.

INTRODUCTION In the era post leaded-gasoline use, the risk of exposure to environmental lead in Thai children is not well described. This is a pilot study using a risk assessment questionnaire to identify children with elevated blood lead level. MATERIAL AND METHOD Children from 4 communities, 2 in the Bangkok metropolitan area and 2 in Kanchanaburi province, were recruited during their well child visits. Blood lead levels were obtained in all children and parents are asked to fill out a 25-item risk assessment questionnaire. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS The relationship between the blood lead level and dependent variables were tested using linear regression and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) as appropriate. RESULTS There were 296 children included in the study; 33 from Klong Toey and 114 from Siriraj community in Bangkok while 149 were from two different communities in Kanchanaburi province. The average blood lead level was 5.65 +/- 3.05 mcg/dL. The overall prevalence of children with blood lead level > 10 mcg/dL was 8.1%, while that of the Klong Toey community was 12.5%. The questionnaire identified 3 independent predictors of elevated blood lead levels; the presence of peeling paint in or outside the house, eating paints chips, and the geographic location of children. CONCLUSION Using a risk assessment questionnaire, together with obtaining blood lead level has proven effective in identifying key environmental features associated with elevated blood lead level in children from sampled Thai communities. The challenge now is to conduct a larger epidemiological study of a similar type in order to guide the screening and preventive efforts.
The effect of low-level laser therapy on healing of skin incisions made using a diode laser in diabetic rats.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on healing of skin incisions made using a diode laser in diabetic rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS Eighteen diabetic Wistar rats were used for this study. One incision was performed on the left side of the dorsum using a diode laser, and the other two incisions were made with a scalpel and diode laser on the right side of each rat. The wound on the left side of each rat received laser stimulation (10 J/cm(2)). The rats were assigned to three experimental groups. Group 1, scalpel (n = 18); Group 2, diode (n = 18); Group 3, diode + biostimulation (n = 18). RESULTS Reepithelialization was fastest in Group 2 than Group 1 at day 10. The difference between Groups 1 and 3 was also statistically significant in reepithelialization at day 10. There was a significant difference between Groups 1 and 2 and between Groups 2 and 3 in inflammation at day 10. There was no difference between any of the groups in inflammation and reepithelialization at day 20. CONCLUSIONS Scalpel incisions heal more slowly than diode and diode + biostimulation incisions in diabetic rats. We can suggest that diode + biostimulation may produce the least amount of tissue injury, with the fastest resolution of inflammatory response in diabetic rats. Diode laser incision (4 W) with 10-J/cm(2) LLLT seems to have a beneficial effect on skin incisions in diabetic rats.
Joint offloading decision and resource allocation for multi-user multi-task mobile cloud

We consider a general multi-user mobile cloud computing system where each mobile user has multiple independent tasks. These mobile users share the communication resource while offloading tasks to the cloud. We aim to jointly optimize the offloading decisions of all users as well as the allocation of communication resource, to minimize the overall cost of energy, computation, and delay for all users. The optimization problem is formulated as a non-convex quadratically constrained quadratic program, which is NP-hard in general. An efficient approximate solution is proposed by using separable semidefinite relaxation, followed by recovery of the binary offloading decision and optimal allocation of the communication resource. For performance benchmark, we further propose a numerical lower bound of the minimum system cost. By comparison with this lower bound, our simulation results show that the proposed algorithm gives nearly optimal performance under various parameter settings.
Ice‐driven creep on Martian debris slopes

Accumulations of rocky debris at the base of bedrock escarpments on Mars have mean inclinations of ∼20°, well below the angle of repose (∼35°). These inclinations decrease with increasing latitude, suggesting a climatic influence. We present evidence that these low inclinations are the result of gravitational creep driven by repeated deposition and sublimation of ground ice. We estimate the rates of bedrock erosion and ice‐driven creep on Mars and use a simple model to show that the probable time scale for debris slope development is between 20 Myr and 2 Gyr. Our results suggest that water ice has shaped Martian landscapes throughout the late Amazonian period.
Dysfunction of dendritic cells in aged C57BL/6 mice leads to failure of natural killer cell activation and of tumor eradication

Significance Immunosenescence is an important phenomenon that leads to enhanced susceptibility both to bacterial and virus infections and to tumorigenesis. The reciprocal activation of dendritic cells (DCs) and natural killer cells (NKs) is a critical point in the maturation of both the adaptive and innate immune systems. Its failure could be a key point in immunosenescence. In this article, we show that in aged C57BL/6 mice that were known to be susceptible to mousepox virus, DCs are dysfunctional and unable to activate NKs. This defect also results in failure to eliminate RMA-S lymphoma mutant tumor cells in an NK-sensitive tumor model. A more complex situation regarding DC dysfunction is also described in a small sample of the outbred human population. The reciprocal activation of dendritic cells (DCs) and natural killer cells (NKs) plays a key role in both innate and adaptive immunity. The effect of aging on this cross-talk, a critical step in virus disease control and tumor immunology, has not been reported. Splenic DCs and NKs were purified from both young and old C57BL/6 mice and cocultured in the presence of polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly I:C). The resulting activation of NKs was measured as expression of CD69 and secretion of IFN-γ. However, DCs from old mice could not activate NKs from either young or old mice in vitro or in vivo. In contrast, DCs from young mice efficiently activated NKs from both young and old mice. DCs from old mice were deficient in poly I:C-stimulated secretion of IL-15, IL-18, and IFN-α. Gene expression analysis revealed many other differences between DCs of old and young mice. Young mice strongly eradicated MHC class I-negative NK-sensitive RMA-S lymphoma mutant tumor cells, but old mice did not, in concert with the previous report that mousepox kills aged, but not young, C57BL/6 mice. Furthermore, a similar dysfunction of DC and its key role in NK activation was found in 27 out of 55 healthy human donors.
Global patient outcomes after elective surgery: prospective cohort study in 27 low-, middle- and high-income countries

Background: As global initiatives increase patient access to surgical treatments, there remains a need to understand the adverse effects of surgery and define appropriate levels of perioperative care. Methods: We designed a prospective international 7-day cohort study of outcomes following elective adult inpatient surgery in 27 countries. The primary outcome was in-hospital complications. Secondary outcomes were death following a complication (failure to rescue) and death in hospital. Process measures were admission to critical care immediately after surgery or to treat a complication and duration of hospital stay. A single definition of critical care was used for all countries. Results: A total of 474 hospitals in 19 high-, 7 middle- and 1 low-income country were included in the primary analysis. Data included 44 814 patients with a median hospital stay of 4 (range 2–7) days. A total of 7508 patients (16.8%) developed one or more postoperative complication and 207 died (0.5%). The overall mortality among patients who developed complications was 2.8%. Mortality following complications ranged from 2.4% for pulmonary embolism to 43.9% for cardiac arrest. A total of 4360 (9.7%) patients were admitted to a critical care unit as routine immediately after surgery, of whom 2198 (50.4%) developed a complication, with 105 (2.4%) deaths. A total of 1233 patients (16.4%) were admitted to a critical care unit to treat complications, with 119 (9.7%) deaths. Despite lower baseline risk, outcomes were similar in low- and middle-income compared with high-income countries. Conclusions: Poor patient outcomes are common after inpatient surgery. Global initiatives to increase access to surgical treatments should also address the need for safe perioperative care. Study registration: ISRCTN51817007
An Investigation of the Psychometric Properties of the MMPI–2 Restructured Clinical (RC) Scales With Mental Health Inpatients

In this study, we compared the internal psychometric properties and external correlates of the MMPI–2 (Butcher et al., 2001; Tellegen et al., 2003) Restructured Clinical (RC) scales and corresponding MMPI–2 non-K-corrected Clinical scales in a sample of 280 men and 264 women admitted to inpatient psychiatric units. We evaluated the internal psychometric properties of the RC and Clinical scales by intercorrelation analyses and alpha coefficients. We investigated external correlates of scores from the RC and Clinical scales using selected chart variables, selected Symptom Checklist 90–Revised (Derogatis, 1983, 1994) items, and clinician ratings on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (Overall & Gorham, 1988). Results showed psychometric support for the RC scales in terms of improved intercorrelation patterns and comparable or greater alpha coefficients. Further, external correlational analyses revealed varying degrees of evidence of improvement in convergent and discriminant validity.