Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of local subcutaneous anesthesia versus intramuscular opioid sedation in extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy: a randomized study.

PURPOSE To evaluate the analgesic efficacy of local subcutaneous (SC) anesthesia compared with intramuscular (IM) opioid sedation during extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) in a randomized study. PATIENTS AND METHODS After informed consent was obtained, 125 patients with urolithiasis who were scheduled for SWL were included in the study. The patients in each treatment session were randomized to receive either IM meperidine (group A) or SC infiltration of 10 mL 2% lidocaine and 10 mL 0.5% bupivacaine at the area of shockwave entry (group B). Degree of pain was rated by the patient using a five-point visual analogue scale (VAS). RESULTS The study included 88 (70.4%) men and 37 (29.6%) women with a mean age of 47.6 ± 12.5 years and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 28.16 ± 4.67 kg/m2. Of the patients, 89, 26, and 10 received a single, two, or more than two treatment sessions, respectively (176 sessions). Maximum stone length was 10.68 ± 5.12 mm. Pretreatment stent placement was performed in 17 (13.6%) patients (28 sessions). Group A comprised 89 treatment sessions while 87 were involved in group B. Both groups were similar. Supplemental intrvenous sedation was needed in two (2.5%) and four (4.6%) sessions in groups A and B, respectively. VAS was not different between both groups (P = 0.063). Patients with pretreatment stent placement had significantly lower VAS score compared with patients without stents (P = 0.012). Sex and BMI had no impact on the VAS score. CONCLUSIONS Local SC anesthesia alone is effective for analgesic purposes during extracorporeal SWL. Sex, age, and BMI have no relation to analgesia requirement.
A Statistical Reanalysis of the Classical Rutherford's Experiment

Modified chi-squared and some newly developed tests for the Poisson, binomial, and an approximated Feller's distribution are discussed. A reanalysis of the classical Rutherford's experimental data on alpha decay is done. Previous analyses of the data were not correct from the point of view of the theory of statistical testing. Tests used show that the data contradict to both Poisson and binomial distribution and do not contradict to a precise “binomial” approximation of Feller's distribution that takes into account a counter's dead time. This gives a plausible statistically correct confirmation of the well-established exponential law of radioactive decay.
What does the crowd believe? A hierarchical approach to estimating subjective beliefs from empirical data

People’s beliefs about everyday events are both of theoretical interest in their own right and an important ingredient in model building—especially in Bayesian cognitive models of phenomena such as logical reasoning, future predictions, and language use. Here, we explore several recently used methods for measuring subjective beliefs about unidimensional contiguous properties, such as the likely price of a new watch. We use a hierarchical Bayesian data-analysis model for inferring likely population-level beliefs as the central tendency of participants’ individual-level beliefs. Three different dependent measures are used to infer latent beliefs: (i) slider ratings of (relative) likelihood of intervals of values, (ii) a give-a-number task, and (iii) choice of the more likely of two intervals of values. Our results suggest that using averaged normalized slider ratings for binned quantities is a practical and fairly good approximator of inferred population-level beliefs.
Terms of use : Click here Self-monitoring as a familial vulnerability marker for psychosis : an analysis of patients , unaffected siblings and healthy controls

Psychological Medicine / Volume 42 / Issue 02 / February 2012, pp 235 245 DOI: 10.1017/S0033291711001152, Published online: 07 July 2011 Link to this article: http://journals.cambridge. org/abstract_S0033291711001152 How to cite this article: J. Hommes, L. Krabbendam, D. Versmissen, T. Kircher, J. van Os and R. van Winkel (2012). Self-monitoring as a familial vulnerability marker for psychosis: an analysis of patients, unaffected siblings and healthy controls. Psychological Medicine, 42, pp 235-245 doi:10.1017/S0033291711001152 Request Permissions : Click here
Crowd Development

Collaborative crowdsourcing is an increasingly common way of accomplishing work in our economy. Yet, we know very little about how the behavior of these crowds changes over time and how these dynamics impact their performance. In this paper, we take a group development approach that considers how the behavior of crowds change over time in anticipation and as a result of their evaluation and recognition. Towards this goal, this paper studies the collaborative behavior of groups comprised of editors of articles that have been recognized for their outstanding quality and given the Good Articles (GA) status and those that eventually become Featured Articles (FA) on Wikipedia. The results show that the collaborative behavior of GA groups radically changes just prior to their nomination. In particular, the GA groups experience increases in the level of activity, centralization of workload, and level of GA experience and decreases in conflict (i.e., reverts) among editors. After being promoted to GA, they converge back to their typical behavior and composition. This indicates that crowd behavior prior to their evaluation period is dramatically different than behavior before or after. In addition, the collaborative behaviors of crowds during their promotion to GA are predictive of whether they are eventually promoted to FA. Our findings shed new light on the importance of time in understanding the relationship between crowd performance and collaborative measures such as centralization, conflict and experience.
The INTERSPEECH 2013 computational paralinguistics challenge: social signals, conflict, emotion, autism

The INTERSPEECH 2013 Computational Paralinguistics Challenge provides for the first time a unified test-bed for Social Signals such as laughter in speech. It further introduces conflict in group discussions as a new task and deals with autism and its manifestations in speech. Finally, emotion is revisited as task, albeit with a broader range of overall twelve enacted emotional states. In this paper, we describe these four Sub-Challenges, their conditions, baselines, and a new feature set by the openSMILE toolkit, provided to the participants. Index Terms: Computational Paralinguistics, Challenge, Social Signals, Conflict, Emotion, Autism
Effects of n-3 fatty acids on major cardiovascular events in statin users and non-users with a history of myocardial infarction.

AIMS Recent secondary prevention trials have failed to demonstrate a beneficial effect of n-3 fatty acids on cardiovascular outcomes, which may be due to the growing use of statins since the mid-1990s. The aim of the present study was to assess whether statins modify the effects of n-3 fatty acids on major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with a history of myocardial infarction (MI). METHODS AND RESULTS Patients who participated in the Alpha Omega Trial were divided into consistent statin users (n = 3740) and consistent statin non-users (n = 413). In these two groups of patients, the effects of an additional daily amount of 400 mg eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) plus docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), 2 g α-linolenic acid (ALA), or both on major cardiovascular events were evaluated. Multivariable Cox's proportional hazard models were used to calculate adjusted hazard rate ratios (HR(adj)). Among the statin users 495 (13%) and among the statin non-users 62 (15%) developed a major cardiovascular event. In statin users, an additional amount of n-3 fatty acids did not reduce cardiovascular events [HR(adj) 1.02; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.80, 1.31; P = 0.88]. In statin non-users, however, only 9% of those who received EPA-DHA plus ALA experienced an event compared with 18% in the placebo group (HR(adj) 0.46; 95% CI: 0.21, 1.01; P= 0.051). CONCLUSION In patients with a history of MI who are not treated with statins, low-dose supplementation with n-3 fatty acids may reduce major cardiovascular events. This study suggests that statin treatment modifies the effects of n-3 fatty acids on the incidence of major cardiovascular events.
Stream Order and Order Statistics: Quantile Estimation in Random-Order Streams

When trying to process a data stream in small space, how important is the order in which the data arrive? Are there problems that are unsolvable when the ordering is worst case, but that can be solved (with high probability) when the order is chosen uniformly at random? If we con- sider the stream as if ordered by an adversary, what happens if we restrict the power of the adversary? We study these questions in the context of quantile estimation, one of the most well studied problems in the data-stream model. Our results include an O(polylog n)-space, O(log logn)-pass algorithm for exact selection in a randomly ordered stream of n elements. This resolves an open question of Munro and Paterson (Theoret. Comput. Sci., 23 (1980), pp. 315-323). We then demonstrate an exponential separation between the random-order and adversarial-order models: using O(polylog n) space, exact selection requires Ω(log n/ log logn) passes in the adversarial-order model. This lower bound, in contrast to previous results, applies to fully general randomized algorithms and is estab- lished via a new bound on the communication complexity of a natural pointer-chasing style problem. We also prove the first fully general lower bounds in the random-order model: finding an element with rank n/2 ± n δ in the single-pass random-order model with probability at least 9/10 requires Ω( � n 1−3δ / logn) space.
Quantitative evaluation of altered hepatic spaces and membrane transport in fibrotic rat liver

Four animal models were used to quantitatively evaluate hepatic alterations in this study: (1) a carbon tetrachloride control group (phenobarbital treatment only), (2) a CCl4‐treated group (phenobarbital with CCl4 treatment), (3) an alcohol‐treated group (liquid diet with alcohol treatment), and (4) a pair‐fed alcohol control group (liquid diet only). At the end of induction, single‐pass perfused livers were used to conduct multiple indicator dilution (MID) studies. Hepatic spaces (vascular space, extravascular albumin space, extravascular sucrose space, and cellular distribution volume) and water hepatocyte permeability/surface area product were estimated from nonlinear regression of outflow concentration versus time profile data. The hepatic extraction ratio of 3H‐taurocholate was determined by the nonparametric moments method. Livers were then dissected for histopathologic analyses (e.g., fibrosis index, number of fenestrae). In these 4 models, CCl4‐treated rats were found to have the smallest vascular space, extravascular albumin space, 3H‐taurocholate extraction, and water hepatocyte permeability/surface area product but the largest extravascular sucrose space and cellular distribution volume. In addition, a linear relationship was found to exist between histopathologic analyses (fibrosis index or number of fenestrae) and hepatic spaces. The hepatic extraction ratio of 3H‐taurocholate and water hepatocyte permeability/surface area product also correlated to the severity of fibrosis as defined by the fibrosis index. In conclusion, the multiple indicator dilution data obtained from the in situ perfused rat liver can be directly related to histopathologic analyses.
A different outlook on the role of bone marrow stem cells in vascular growth: bone marrow delivers software not hardware.

Blood vessel growth in adult organisms is a process occurring under various physiological and pathological conditions. Two forms of blood vessel growth have been described after birth: angiogenesis, ie, capillary sprouting, and arteriogenesis, ie, growth of large conductance arteries from preexisting arterial anastomoses (collaterals). 1,2 It is increasingly recognized that blood flow deficits caused by occlusion or stenosis of a major artery can only be efficiently compensated by arteriogenesis. Fluid shear stress (FSS) is suggested to be the molding force for arteriogenesis. The activation of the collateral endothelium caused by increased FSS is reflected by an upregulation of adhesion molecules and release of cytokines that attract circulating blood cells, mainly monocytes, to adhere to and invade the collateral vessel wall.3 Besides this monocyte/macrophage accumulation around growing collaterals, also an increase in numbers of T cells and granulocytes has been reported, underlining the paradigm that circulating cells are of a great importance in this type of vascular growth.4,5 A variety of different cytokines and proteases (ie, MCP-1, FGF-2, TGF-β, uPA, and MMPs) produced by these invading cells have been identified to stimulate endothelial and smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration as well as tissue degradation.6 This has led to a number of animal studies and clinical phase I trials demonstrating the short-term safety of administering several cytokines. However, recent clinical phase II trials have failed to extrapolate the promising results from animal studies into the therapeutic realm in human patients.7,8 New therapeutic approaches to promote arteriogenesis have evolved when …
Evaluation of the clinical and antimicrobial effects of the Er:YAG laser or topical gaseous ozone as adjuncts to initial periodontal therapy.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and microbiological results of treatment with the Er:YAG laser and topical gaseous ozone application as adjuncts to initial periodontal therapy in chronic periodontitis (CP) patients. BACKGROUND DATA Although many studies have evaluated the effectiveness of the Er:YAG laser as an adjunct to initial periodontal therapy, few studies have focused on the use of gaseous ozone as an adjunct. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirty patients with CP were randomly divided into three parallel groups, each composed of 10 individuals with at least four teeth having at least one approximal site with a probing depth (PD) of ≥5 mm and a sulcus bleeding index (SBI) ≥2 in each quadrant. Groups of patients received: (1) Scaling and root planing (SRP)+Er:YAG laser; (2) SRP+topical gaseous ozone; or (3) SRP alone. The microbiological and clinical parameters were monitored at day 0 and day 90. RESULTS At the end of the observation period, statistically significant improvements in clinical parameters were observed within each group. Parallel to the clinical changes, all treatments reduced the number of total bacteria and the proportion of obligately anaerobic microorganisms. Although intergroup comparisons of microbiological parameters showed no significant differences, clinical findings, including attachment gain and PD reduction, were found to be statistically significant in favor of the SRP+Er:YAG laser group. CONCLUSIONS Although statistically nonsignificant, the fact that the obligate anaerobic change was mostly observed in the SRP+Er:YAG laser group, and a similar decrease was noted in the SRP+topical gaseous ozone group, shows that ozone has an antimicrobial effect equivalent to that of the Er:YAG laser.
Loading mechanisms of ring helicases at replication origins

Threading of DNA through the central channel of a replicative ring helicase is known as helicase loading, and is a pivotal event during replication initiation at replication origins. Once loaded, the helicase recruits the primase through a direct protein–protein interaction to complete the initial ‘priming step’ of DNA replication. Subsequent assembly of the polymerases and processivity factors completes the structure of the replisome. Two replisomes are assembled, one on each strand, and move in opposite directions to replicate the parental DNA during the ‘elongation step’ of DNA replication. Replicative helicases are the motor engines of replisomes powered by the conversion of chemical energy to mechanical energy through ATP binding and hydrolysis. Bidirectional loading of two ring helicases at a replication origin is achieved by strictly regulated and intricately choreographed mechanisms, often through the action of replication initiation and helicase‐loader proteins. Current structural and biochemical data reveal a wide range of different helicase‐loading mechanisms. Here we review advances in this area and discuss their implications.
Whole Genome Amplification and De novo Assembly of Single Bacterial Cells

Background Single-cell genome sequencing has the potential to allow the in-depth exploration of the vast genetic diversity found in uncultured microbes. We used the marine cyanobacterium Prochlorococcus as a model system for addressing important challenges facing high-throughput whole genome amplification (WGA) and complete genome sequencing of individual cells. Methodology/Principal Findings We describe a pipeline that enables single-cell WGA on hundreds of cells at a time while virtually eliminating non-target DNA from the reactions. We further developed a post-amplification normalization procedure that mitigates extreme variations in sequencing coverage associated with multiple displacement amplification (MDA), and demonstrated that the procedure increased sequencing efficiency and facilitated genome assembly. We report genome recovery as high as 99.6% with reference-guided assembly, and 95% with de novo assembly starting from a single cell. We also analyzed the impact of chimera formation during MDA on de novo assembly, and discuss strategies to minimize the presence of incorrectly joined regions in contigs. Conclusions/Significance The methods describe in this paper will be useful for sequencing genomes of individual cells from a variety of samples.
Accuracy of phase measurements in noise radar

The paper is devoted to theoretical and experimental investigation of specific influence of the randomness onto the accuracy of phase measurements made with the help of ground based noise waveform synthetic aperture radar. Noise waveform used in this system ensures high electromagnetic compatibility and interference immunity. Random nature of probing signals used in noise radars leads to randomness of the output signals and preserving residual fluctuation in the images generated. These random residuals along with the external noise introduce influence onto the overall accuracy of the phase measurements in Noise Radar. It has been shown a good agreement between theory and experiment.
Physical Layer Security in Downlink Multi-Antenna Cellular Networks

In this paper, we study physical layer security for the downlink of cellular networks, where the confidential messages transmitted to each mobile user can be eavesdropped by both; 1) the other users in the same cell and 2) the users in the other cells. The locations of base stations and mobile users are modeled as two independent two-dimensional Poisson point processes. Using the proposed model, we analyze the secrecy rates achievable by regularized channel inversion (RCI) precoding by performing a large-system analysis that combines tools from stochastic geometry and random matrix theory. We obtain approximations for the probability of secrecy outage and the mean secrecy rate, and characterize regimes where RCI precoding achieves a non-zero secrecy rate. We find that unlike isolated cells, if one treats interference as noise, the secrecy rate in a cellular network does not grow monotonically with the transmit power, and the network tends to be in secrecy outage if the transmit power grows unbounded. Furthermore, we show that there is an optimal value for the base station deployment density that maximizes the secrecy rate, and this value is a decreasing function of the transmit power.
BRANCHLESS TRICHOMES links cell shape and cell cycle control in Arabidopsis trichomes

Endoreplication, also called endoreduplication, is a modified cell cycle in which DNA is repeatedly replicated without subsequent cell division. Endoreplication is often associated with increased cell size and specialized cell shapes, but the mechanism coordinating DNA content with shape and size remains obscure. Here we identify the product of the BRANCHLESS TRICHOMES (BLT) gene, a protein of hitherto unknown function that has been conserved throughout angiosperm evolution, as a link in coordinating cell shape and nuclear DNA content in endoreplicated Arabidopsis trichomes. Loss-of-function mutations in BLT were found to enhance the multicellular trichome phenotype of mutants in the SIAMESE (SIM) gene, which encodes a repressor of endoreplication. Epistasis and overexpression experiments revealed that BLT encodes a key regulator of trichome branching. Additional experiments showed that BLT interacts both genetically and physically with STICHEL, another key regulator of trichome branching. Although blt mutants have normal trichome DNA content, overexpression of BLT results in an additional round of endoreplication, and blt mutants uncouple DNA content from morphogenesis in mutants with increased trichome branching, further emphasizing its role in linking cell shape and endoreplication.
NMR Structure and Mutagenesis of the Third Bir Domain of the Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein XIAP*

The inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) regulate the caspase family of cysteine proteases, which play an important role in the execution of programmed cell death. Human X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) is a potent inhibitor of caspases-3, -7, and -9. Here we show that the Bir3 domain is the minimal region of XIAP that is needed for potent caspase-9 inhibition. The three-dimensional structure of the Bir3 domain of XIAP, determined by NMR spectroscopy, resembles a classical zinc finger and consists of five α-helices, a three-stranded β-sheet, and a zinc atom chelated to three cysteines and one histidine. The structure of the Bir3 domain is similar to that of the Bir2 domain of XIAP but differs from the previously determined structure of the Bir3 domain of MIHB. Based on site-directed mutagenesis, we have identified the regions of the Bir3 domain of XIAP that are important for inhibiting caspase-9. Despite the structural similarities of the Bir2 and Bir3 domain of XIAP, a different set of residues were found to be critical for inhibiting the individual caspases. These results suggest that XIAP inhibits caspase-3 and caspase-9 in a different manner.
Use of the electrohysterogram signal for characterization of contractions during pregnancy

This article proposes a method to evaluate the ability of the electrohysterogram signal to characterize the contractions during pregnancy, in a population with high risk of preterm deliveries. This study constitutes a first stage of a project intended to develop a monitoring system for the early diagnosis of preterm deliveries. After a proper signal denoising, the authors calculate some parameters characteristic of the extracted contractions. These contractions are then divided into classes of different physiological terms. Classical techniques of data analysis, such as principal component analysis and discriminant analysis, permit the authors to show an evolution of the contractions during pregnancy, which is different between the groups of preterm deliveries and that of deliveries at term. The authors show that, in an early term of pregnancy, they can separate the two populations: women delivering at term from women delivering preterm. The authors then show that these two kinds of pregnancy are of different evolutions. These results are encouraging, because they would permit, in a follow-up medical study, to diagnose a possible preterm delivery, as well as the proximity of the delivery.