Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Extrafoveal photostress recovery test in glaucoma and idiopathic central serous chorioretinopathy

BACKGROUND/AIMS A photostress recovery test was designed to differentiate macular diseases from optic nerve disorders, but recently an abnormal recovery time was reported in glaucoma. The purpose of this study was to search for the difference in abnormality of the photostress recovery test between glaucoma and idiopathic central serous chorioretinopathy (ICSC). METHODS This study involved 21 normal subjects, 14 patients, with ICSC and 10 patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). A scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO) was used with microperimetry for bleaching the test point and measuring the recovery of sensitivity. Photostress recovery time (SLO-PSRT) could be measured at extrafoveal points outside and inside the affected area. The initial sensitivity change and the time constant of recovery after bleaching were calculated by fitting an exponential equation to the data. RESULTS In normal subjects, neither the initial sensitivity change nor the time constant were correlated with the location of the test point. In 14 patients with ICSC, the initial sensitivity change in the detached area was significantly smaller than that in the unaffected area which was not significantly different from that in the age matched normal subjects. The time constant in the detached area was significantly longer than that in the unaffected area, which was not significantly different from that in the normal subjects. In 10 patients with POAG, the initial sensitivity change inside and outside the scotoma was not significantly different from that of age matched normal subjects. The time constant inside the scotoma was significantly longer than that outside the scotoma, which was not significantly different from that of the age matched normal subjects. CONCLUSION Both ICSC and POAG showed a prolonged time constant of recovery, but the initial sensitivity change was reduced only in ICSC. The difference in our results between ICSC and POAG may be caused by the difference of the retinal pathology. Further, the SLO-PSRT is very useful when the lesion is located outside the fovea.
Redox potential affects the measured heat resistance of Escherichia coli O157:H7 independently of oxygen concentration

Cells of Escherichia coli O157:H7 were heat‐treated at 59 °C and enumerated in (i) anaerobic medium with a low redox potential, (ii) anaerobic media with the oxidizing agents potassium ferricyanide or 2,6‐dichloroindophenol (DPIP) added to raise the redox potential, (iii) aerobic medium with a high redox potential and (iv) aerobic medium with the reducing agent dithiothreitol added to lower the redox potential. The measured heat‐resistance was greatest when the enumeration medium was highly anaerobic due to the absence of oxygen and the presence of hydrogen and cysteine HCl. Measured heat resistance was influenced by the redox potential of the enumeration medium independently of the chemical used to adjust it and therefore, independently of the presence of oxygen. Sub‐lethally heat‐damaged cells regained their ability to grow in media of high redox potential at a similar rate whether the redox potential was increased by the addition of potassium ferricyanide, DPIP or oxygen.
Synaptonemal complex formation and meiotic checkpoint signaling are linked to the lateral element protein Red1

Meiosis generates four haploid daughters from a diploid parental cell. Central steps of meiosis are the pairing and recombination of homologous chromosomes followed by their segregation in two rounds of cell division. Meiotic recombination is monitored by a specialized DNA damage checkpoint pathway and is guided by a unique chromosomal structure called synaptonemal complex (SC), but how these events are coordinated is unclear. Here, we identify the SC protein Red1 as a crucial regulator of early meiosis. Red1 interacts with two subunits of the 9-1-1 checkpoint complex via two distinct 9-1-1 subunit-specific motifs. Association of 9-1-1 with Red1 is essential not only for meiotic checkpoint activation but for SC formation. Moreover, Red1 becomes SUMO-modified, which fosters interaction of Red1 with the central SC element Zip1, thereby securing timely SC formation. Thus, Red1, in addition to its structural role in the SC, is a crucial coordinator of meiosis by coupling checkpoint signaling to SC formation.
Ensemble Segmentation Using Efficient Integer Linear Programming

We present a method for combining several segmentations of an image into a single one that in some sense is the average segmentation in order to achieve a more reliable and accurate segmentation result. The goal is to find a point in the &#x201C;space of segmentations&#x201D; which is close to all the individual segmentations. We present an algorithm for segmentation averaging. The image is first oversegmented into superpixels. Next, each segmentation is projected onto the superpixel map. An instance of the EM algorithm combined with integer linear programming is applied on the set of binary merging decisions of neighboring superpixels to obtain the average segmentation. Apart from segmentation averaging, the algorithm also reports the reliability of each segmentation. The performance of the proposed algorithm is demonstrated on manually annotated images from the Berkeley segmentation data set and on the results of automatic segmentation algorithms.
The industry effects of monetary policy in Spain

The aim of this paper is to analyze the presence of sectoral asymmetries in monetary policy transmission in Spain in the period prior to the introduction of the single monetary policy in Europe (1988-1998). Monetary policy shocks are identified both through a standard vector auto-regression model (VAR-shock) and the specification of a reaction function (RF-shock) for the monetary authority in Spain. The responses of the different industrial branches with regard to the estimated monetary shocks are then analyzed at national accounting sector and sub-sector levels. Our results confirm the presence of significant differences in the sectoral responses with respect to national monetary shocks in Spain. In addition, the sectoral asymmetries found in our study show a strong correlation with regard to the regional asymmetries found in a previous study (Rodríguez Fuentes et al. 2004)
Extract Fetal ECG from Single-Lead Abdominal ECG by De-Shape Short Time Fourier Transform and Nonlocal Median

The multiple fundamental frequency detection problem and the source separation problem from a single-channel signal containing multiple oscillatory components and a nonstationary noise are both challenging tasks. To extract the fetal electrocardiogram (ECG) from a single-lead maternal abdominal ECG, we face both challenges. In this paper, we propose a novel method to extract the fetal ECG signal from the single channel maternal abdominal ECG signal, without any additional measurement. The algorithm is composed of three main ingredients. First, the maternal and fetal heart rates are estimated by the de-shape short time Fourier transform, which is a recently proposed nonlinear time-frequency analysis technique; second, the beat tracking technique is applied to accurately obtain the maternal and fetal R peaks; third, the maternal and fetal ECG waveforms are established by the nonlocal median. The algorithm is evaluated on a simulated fetal ECG signal database ({\em fecgsyn} database), and tested on two real databases with the annotation provided by experts ({\em adfecgdb} database and {\em CinC2013} database). In general, the algorithm could be applied to solve other detection and source separation problems, and reconstruct the time-varying wave-shape function of each oscillatory component.
Effectiveness of a modified version of the applied relaxation technique in treatment of perimenopausal and postmenopausal symptoms

Background Awareness of the risks associated with hormone therapy for menopausal symptoms has sparked a global decline in this treatment. Alternative treatments to relieve menopausal symptoms are therefore required. The applied relaxation (AR) technique has proven to be successful for symptom amelioration, but requires participation in 12 weekly classes. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a modified relaxation version (MR) of AR for treatment of hot flashes, night sweats, and sleep disturbances. Methods We conducted a12-week, randomized, parallel, open-label, controlled trial in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women visiting the menopausal clinic. Participants were randomly assigned to an MR or AR group. The MR group (n=36) received a single session of (MR) training and the AR group (n=35) received conventional 12-week training. Participants were instructed to practice the techniques daily at home for 12 weeks. The main outcome was the measure on the severity scale and frequency of hot flashes, night sweats, and sleep disturbances. Results All participants completed the study. Total severity scores in both groups decreased after 12 weeks, but there was no difference between the groups (P=0.93). The severity score for hot flashes in the MR group decreased more than in the AR group (P=0.02). The severity scores for night sweats and sleep disturbances decreased in both groups. The frequency of hot flashes, night sweats, and sleep disturbances were also decreased in both groups. Conclusion A shorter, modified version of the AR was equally effective or slightly better than the conventional AR for the relief of hot flashes, night sweats, and sleep disturbances in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. Recommendations for future research include confirmatory studies and trials with larger samples.
Modeling and Statistical Analysis of the Spatio-Temporal Patterns of Seasonal Influenza in Israel

Background Seasonal influenza outbreaks are a serious burden for public health worldwide and cause morbidity to millions of people each year. In the temperate zone influenza is predominantly seasonal, with epidemics occurring every winter, but the severity of the outbreaks vary substantially between years. In this study we used a highly detailed database, which gave us both temporal and spatial information of influenza dynamics in Israel in the years 1998–2009. We use a discrete-time stochastic epidemic SIR model to find estimates and credible confidence intervals of key epidemiological parameters. Findings Despite the biological complexity of the disease we found that a simple SIR-type model can be fitted successfully to the seasonal influenza data. This was true at both the national levels and at the scale of single cities.The effective reproductive number Re varies between the different years both nationally and among Israeli cities. However, we did not find differences in Re between different Israeli cities within a year. R e was positively correlated to the strength of the spatial synchronization in Israel. For those years in which the disease was more “infectious”, then outbreaks in different cities tended to occur with smaller time lags. Our spatial analysis demonstrates that both the timing and the strength of the outbreak within a year are highly synchronized between the Israeli cities. We extend the spatial analysis to demonstrate the existence of high synchrony between Israeli and French influenza outbreaks. Conclusions The data analysis combined with mathematical modeling provided a better understanding of the spatio-temporal and synchronization dynamics of influenza in Israel and between Israel and France. Altogether, we show that despite major differences in demography and weather conditions intra-annual influenza epidemics are tightly synchronized in both their timing and magnitude, while they may vary greatly between years. The predominance of a similar main strain of influenza, combined with population mixing serve to enhance local and global influenza synchronization within an influenza season.
Hepatitis B virus infection is dependent on cholesterol in the viral envelope

The viral and cellular determinants leading to binding and entry of hepatitis B virus (HBV) are still not fully understood. We found that HBV infection of primary hepatocyte cultures is dependent on the presence of cholesterol in the viral envelope. Extraction of cholesterol from HBV purified from plasma of HBV‐infected patients with methyl‐beta‐cyclodextrin (MβCD) leads to a strongly reduced level of infection. The cholesterol‐depleted virions showed higher buoyant density (1.23 versus 1.17 g ml−1), a smaller diameter (39 versus 48 nm), but maintained particle integrity, antigenicity and ability to bind to hepatocytes. Although addition of exogenous cholesterol and cholesterol analogues restored the physical appearance of cholesterol‐depleted virions, infectivity was only regained by cholesterol add‐back. Infectivity of HBV produced from cell culture in the presence of inhibitors of cholesterol‐synthesis is severely impaired. Interestingly, cholesterol extraction from cellular membranes, incubation with filipin and the protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein showed no effect on HBV infection, excluding a role of lipid rafts for the infection process of HBV. In summary, presence of cholesterol within the viral envelope is not important for viral binding, but indispensable for the entry process of HBV and might be important for a later step in viral uptake, e.g. fusion in a yet unknown compartment.
Clinical and neuroanatomical signatures of tissue pathology in frontotemporal lobar degeneration

Relating clinical symptoms to neuroanatomical profiles of brain damage and ultimately to tissue pathology is a key challenge in the field of neurodegenerative disease and particularly relevant to the heterogeneous disorders that comprise the frontotemporal lobar degeneration spectrum. Here we present a retrospective analysis of clinical, neuropsychological and neuroimaging (volumetric and voxel-based morphometric) features in a pathologically ascertained cohort of 95 cases of frontotemporal lobar degeneration classified according to contemporary neuropathological criteria. Forty-eight cases (51%) had TDP-43 pathology, 42 (44%) had tau pathology and five (5%) had fused-in-sarcoma pathology. Certain relatively specific clinicopathological associations were identified. Semantic dementia was predominantly associated with TDP-43 type C pathology; frontotemporal dementia and motoneuron disease with TDP-43 type B pathology; young-onset behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia with FUS pathology; and the progressive supranuclear palsy syndrome with progressive supranuclear palsy pathology. Progressive non-fluent aphasia was most commonly associated with tau pathology. However, the most common clinical syndrome (behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia) was pathologically heterogeneous; while pathologically proven Pick's disease and corticobasal degeneration were clinically heterogeneous, and TDP-43 type A pathology was associated with similar clinical features in cases with and without progranulin mutations. Volumetric magnetic resonance imaging, voxel-based morphometry and cluster analyses of the pathological groups here suggested a neuroanatomical framework underpinning this clinical and pathological diversity. Frontotemporal lobar degeneration-associated pathologies segregated based on their cerebral atrophy profiles, according to the following scheme: asymmetric, relatively localized (predominantly temporal lobe) atrophy (TDP-43 type C); relatively symmetric, relatively localized (predominantly temporal lobe) atrophy (microtubule-associated protein tau mutations); strongly asymmetric, distributed atrophy (Pick's disease); relatively symmetric, predominantly extratemporal atrophy (corticobasal degeneration, fused-in-sarcoma pathology). TDP-43 type A pathology was associated with substantial individual variation; however, within this group progranulin mutations were associated with strongly asymmetric, distributed hemispheric atrophy. We interpret the findings in terms of emerging network models of neurodegenerative disease: the neuroanatomical specificity of particular frontotemporal lobar degeneration pathologies may depend on an interaction of disease-specific and network-specific factors.
Student and Faculty Perceptions of the Impact of Plus-Minus Grading: A Management Department Perspective.

The authors examined the overall effect of a plus/minus grading system on management students and faculty at a mid-sized public university. The effect of the grading system on students was examined mathematically by determining the grade distribution of students under both the old grading system and the new system. The attitude of students and faculty toward the new system was examined through responses to a questionnaire. The results of the study showed that both students and faculty had negative perceptions of the plus/minus system the university adopted when it was introduced and that the new system had virtually no effect on the aggregate GPA of the students.
Cation competition in a natural subsurface material: Prediction of transport behavior

Predicting the transport of reactive chemicals in subsurface porous media requires accurate adsorption models. This study compares the ability of various cation exchange models to quantitatively capture the transport behavior of major cations (i.e., calcium and sodium) in soil laboratory columns over a wide range of pore water composition. Experimental breakthrough curves were compared with model predictions without adjustable parameters. Various one‐site and multisite cation exchange models were independently calibrated with batch adsorption data. Our results show that a one‐site cation exchange model based on the well‐known Gaines‐Thomas convention yields good predictions of cation transport behavior, although some deviations from experimental data remain. The most reliable predictions were obtained with multisite cation exchange models with a distribution of various types of exchange sites.
Electronic Apex Locators —A Review

The establishment of a correct working length is one of the fundamental parameters for endodontic success. Traditionally this has been determined using radiography, but electronic apex locators are increasingly being used. Electronic apex locators reduce the number of radiographs required and assist where radiographic methods create difficulty. The use of an electronic apex locator in combination with the radiograph is greater precision in the determination of root canal length. The aim of this paper is to review the electronic determination of the length of the root canal.
The Measurement of Posthypnotic Amnesia with the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility, Form A

The Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility (HGSHS:A) has proven to be a reliable and efficient measure of hypnotizability (Siuta, 2010). However, the psychometric properties of the posthypnotic amnesia suggestion on this scale lack integrity (Sadler & Woody, 2004; Piesbergen & Peter, 2006). It is hypothesized that the ambiguously written instructions explaining the recall test to participants are obscuring measurement, resulting in non-amnesic participants being scored amnesic. To show participants can be scored amnesic for reasons not attributable to the suggestion, 81 participants were administered the HGSHS:A without the amnesia suggestion. No difference in amnesia pass rate was observed between this group compared to 78 participants administered the standard HGSHS:A. Modifying the instructions to more directly explain the task to participants significantly lowered the frequency of passing this suggestion. In addition, no lows were scored amnesic and the concordance between behavioural and subjective scores was improved with the new instructions. Retesting the modified instructions on participants not administered the amnesia suggestion (N = 65) resulted in participants nevertheless being scored amnesic. The results from this study indicate that 1) the HGSHS:A scoring is improperly classifying participants as amnesic 2) the modified instructions better capture the classic suggestion effect 3) a significant proportion of participants experience difficulty remembering the hypnotic suggestions post-session, regardless of whether a suggestion for amnesia is administered. It is recommended that the written amnesia test instructions on the HGSHS:A be modified.
Too much, too little, or just right? Ways explanations impact end users' mental models

Research is emerging on how end users can correct mistakes their intelligent agents make, but before users can correctly “debug” an intelligent agent, they need some degree of understanding of how it works. In this paper we consider ways intelligent agents should explain themselves to end users, especially focusing on how the soundness and completeness of the explanations impacts the fidelity of end users' mental models. Our findings suggest that completeness is more important than soundness: increasing completeness via certain information types helped participants' mental models and, surprisingly, their perception of the cost/benefit tradeoff of attending to the explanations. We also found that oversimplification, as per many commercial agents, can be a problem: when soundness was very low, participants experienced more mental demand and lost trust in the explanations, thereby reducing the likelihood that users will pay attention to such explanations at all.
Cytotoxicity of Phenol Red in Toxicity Assays for Carbon Nanoparticles

To explore the novel properties of carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) in nanotoxicity assays, the adsorption of phenol red (a pH indicator for culture medium) by multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) and three kinds of carbon blacks (CBs) with nanosize, and its effects on cytotoxicity were studied. Results indicated that the phenol red adsorbed and delivered into cells by CBs was responsible for the toxicity to Hela cells in the medium without serum. The cellular uptake of phenol red was verified using 125I-labeling techniques. The size-dependent cytotoxicity of CBs was found to closely correlate to adsorption of phenol red, cellular uptake of phenol red-CB complexes and the amount of phenol red delivered into the cells by CBs. Although the CBs were either nontoxic or slightly toxic, as vehicles of phenol red, they played an essential role in the cytotoxicity induced by phenol red. However, MWNTs showed an intrinsic cytotoxicity independent of phenol red. The implications associated with these findings are discussed.
User-Centred Systems Design as Organizational Change: A Longitudinal Action Research Project to Improve Usability and the Computerized Work Environment in a Public Authority

This paper presents a longitudinal case study in which six Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) researchers worked extensively in an action research cooperation with a public authority over a period of four years. The purpose of the cooperation was to increase the focus on usability in the authority, and the main research question was how user centered systems design and increased awareness on work environment in relation to computer usage could promote organizational change in a public authority. The overarching research approach in this project has been action research and the data used in this paper is derived from an evaluation performed at the end of the project, as well as through our experiences from working with the project. The results involve aspects relating to organizational issues, management support, strategic documents and end-user participation. Moreover the results include methodological support for bringing users and developers closer together and individual and organizational attitudes to development. The purpose of this paper is to make some general conclusions on how to bring about change when approaching a large public authority with the purpose of introducing usability and user centered systems design.