Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Whole-body MRI of patients with polymyalgia rheumatica identifies a distinct subset with complete patient-reported response to glucocorticoids

Objectives To determine whether whole-body MRI defines clinically relevant subgroups within polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) including glucocorticoid responsiveness. Methods 22 patients with PMR and 16 with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), untreated and diagnosed by consultant rheumatologists, underwent whole-body, multiple-joint MRI, scored by two experts. Patients with PMR reported whether they felt ‘back to normal’ on glucocorticoid therapy and were followed for a median of 2 years. Results All patients with PMR were deemed to respond to glucocorticoids clinically. A characteristic pattern of symmetrical, extracapsular inflammation, adjacent to greater trochanter, acetabulum, ischial tuberosity and/or symphysis pubis, was observed in 14/22 of the PMR cases. In PMR, this pattern was associated with complete glucocorticoid response (p=0.01), higher pretreatment C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), and better post-treatment fatigue and function. Only 1/14 in the extracapsular group could stop glucocorticoids within 1 year, compared with 4/7 of the others. A score derived from the five sites discriminating best between PMR and RA correlated with IL-6 (p<0.002). IL-6 levels ≥16.8 pg/mL had 86% sensitivity and 86% specificity for the extracapsular MRI pattern. Conclusions A subset of patients with rheumatologist-diagnosed PMR had a characteristic, extracapsular pattern of MRI inflammation, associated with elevated IL-6/CRP and with complete patient-reported glucocorticoid responsiveness.
Spatiotemporal Sequential Influence Modeling for Location Recommendations

Recommending to users personalized locations is an important feature of Location-Based Social Networks (LBSNs), which benefits users who wish to explore new places and businesses to discover potential customers. In LBSNs, social and geographical influences have been intensively used in location recommendations. However, human movement also exhibits spatiotemporal sequential patterns, but only a few current studies consider the spatiotemporal sequential influence of locations on users’ check-in behaviors. In this article, we propose a new gravity model for location recommendations, called LORE, to exploit the spatiotemporal sequential influence on location recommendations. First, LORE extracts sequential patterns from historical check-in location sequences of all users as a Location-Location Transition Graph (L2TG), and utilizes the L2TG to predict the probability of a user visiting a new location through the developed additive Markov chain that considers the effect of all visited locations in the check-in history of the user on the new location. Furthermore, LORE applies our contrived gravity model to weigh the effect of each visited location on the new location derived from the personalized attractive force (i.e., the weight) between the visited location and the new location. The gravity model effectively integrates the spatiotemporal, social, and popularity influences by estimating a power-law distribution based on (i) the spatial distance and temporal difference between two consecutive check-in locations of the same user, (ii) the check-in frequency of social friends, and (iii) the popularity of locations from all users. Finally, we conduct a comprehensive performance evaluation for LORE using three large-scale real-world datasets collected from Foursquare, Gowalla, and Brightkite. Experimental results show that LORE achieves significantly superior location recommendations compared to other state-of-the-art location recommendation techniques.
DEFLAGRATION RATES OF SECONDARY EXPLOSIVES UNDER STATIC MPA - GPA PRESSURE

We provide measurements of the chemical reaction propagation rate (RPR) as a function of pressure using diamond anvil cell (DAC) and strand burner technologies. Materials investigated include HMX and RDX crystalline powders, LX‐04 (85% HMX and 15% Viton A), and Composition B (63% RDX, 36% TNT, 1% wax). The anomalous correspondence between crystal structure, including in some instances isostructural phase transitions, on pressure dependent RPRs of HMX and RDX are correlated to confocal micro‐Raman spectroscopic results. The contrast between DAC GPa and strand burner MPa regime measurements yield insight into explosive material burn phenomena. Here we highlight physicochemical mechanisms that appear to affect the deflagration rate of precompressed energetic materials.
The environmental dependence of the relations between stellar mass, structure, star formation and nuclear activity in galaxies

We use a complete sample of galaxies drawn from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey to study how structure, star formation and nuclear activity depend on local density and on stellar mass. Local density is estimated by counting galaxies above a fixed absolute magnitude limit within cylinders 2 Mpc in projected radius and ±500 km s -1 in depth. The stellar mass distribution of galaxies shifts by almost a factor of two towards higher masses between low-and high-density regions. At fixed stellar mass both star formation and nuclear activity depend strongly on local density, while structural parameters such as size and concentration are almost independent of it. Only for low-mass galaxies (M * 1-Gyr) time-scales. Since structure does not depend on environment for galaxies with masses greater than 3 x 10 10 M ○. , the trends in recent SFH, dust and nuclear activity in these systems cannot be driven by processes that alter structure, for example mergers or harassment. The SFH-density correlation is strongest for small-scale estimates of local density. We see no evidence that star formation history depends on environment more than 1 Mpc from a galaxy. Finally, we highlight a striking similarity between the changes in the galaxy population as a function of density and as a function of redshift. We use mock catalogues derived from N-body simulations to explain how this may be understood.
Antiviral Effects of Lamivudine, Emtricitabine, Adefovir Dipivoxil, and Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate Administered Orally Alone and in Combination to Woodchucks with Chronic Woodchuck Hepatitis Virus Infection

ABSTRACT Adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) are nucleotide analogs that inhibit the replication of wild-type hepatitis B virus (HBV) and lamivudine (3TC)-resistant virus in HBV-infected patients, including those who are coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus. The combination of ADV or TDF with other nucleoside analogs is a proposed strategy for managing antiviral drug resistance during the treatment of chronic HBV infection. The antiviral effect of oral ADV or TDF, alone or in combination with 3TC or emtricitabine (FTC), against chronic woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) infection was evaluated in a placebo-controlled study in the woodchuck, an established and predictive model for antiviral therapy. Once-daily treatment for 48 weeks with ADV plus 3TC or TDF plus FTC significantly reduced serum WHV viremia levels from the pretreatment level by 6.2 log10 and 6.1 log10 genome equivalents/ml serum, respectively, followed by TDF plus 3TC (5.6 log10 genome equivalents/ml), ADV alone (4.8 log10 genome equivalents/ml), ADV plus FTC (one survivor) (4.4 log10 genome equivalents/ml), TDF alone (2.9 log10 genome equivalents/ml), 3TC alone (2.7 log10 genome equivalents/ml), and FTC alone (2.0 log10 genome equivalents/ml). Individual woodchucks across all treatment groups also demonstrated pronounced declines in serum WHV surface antigen, characteristically accompanied by declines in hepatic WHV replication and the hepatic expression of WHV antigens. Most woodchucks had prompt recrudescence of WHV replication after drug withdrawal, but individual woodchucks across treatment groups had sustained effects. No signs of toxicity were observed for any of the drugs or drug combinations administered. In conclusion, the oral administration of 3TC, FTC, ADV, and TDF alone and in combination was safe and effective in the woodchuck model of HBV infection.
High Chlamydia and Gonorrhea Incidence and Reinfection Among Performers in the Adult Film Industry

Background: Adult film industry (AFI) performers engage in unprotected oral, vaginal, and anal sex with multiple partners, increasing the likelihood of acquisition and transmission of human immunodeficiency virus and other sexually transmitted diseases. Current industry practice does not require condom use; instead it relies upon limited testing. We sought to estimate the annual cumulative incidence of chlamydia (CT) and gonorrhea (GC) and assess the rate of reinfection among AFI performers. Methods: We retrieved all CT and GC cases diagnosed among performers between 2004 and 2008 in Los Angeles, CA and reported to the health department surveillance registry. Using 2008 data, we estimated ranges for CT and GC annual cumulative incidences based on assumptions of the population size of performers. For cases reported between 2004 and 2007, we determined the CT and/or GC reinfection rate within 1 year. Results: Lower bounds for the annual cumulative incidences of CT and GC among AFI performers were estimated to be 14.3% and 5.1%, respectively. The reinfection rate within 1 year was 26.1%. Female performers were 27% more likely to be reinfected as compared with male performers (prevalence ratio, 1.27; 95% confidence interval, 1.09–1.48). Conclusion: CT and GC infections are common and recurrent among performers. Control strategies, including promotion of condom use, are needed to protect workers in this industry, as testing alone will not effectively prevent workplace acquisition and transmission. Additional legislation that places more responsibility on the production companies is needed to ensure the safety and health of performers.
Radiation Dosimetry of the Fibrin-Binding Probe 64Cu-FBP8 and Its Feasibility for PET Imaging of Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism in Rats

The diagnosis of deep venous thromboembolic disease is still challenging despite the progress of current thrombus imaging modalities and new diagnostic algorithms. We recently reported the high target uptake and thrombus imaging efficacy of the novel fibrin-specific PET probe 64Cu-FBP8. Here, we tested the feasibility of 64Cu-FBP8 PET to detect source thrombi and culprit emboli after deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism (DVT-PE). To support clinical translation of 64Cu-FBP8, we performed a human dosimetry estimation using time-dependent biodistribution in rats. Methods: Sprague–Dawley rats (n = 7) underwent ferric chloride application on the femoral vein to trigger thrombosis. Pulmonary embolism was induced 30 min or 2 d after DVT by intrajugular injection of a preformed blood clot labeled with 125I-fibrinogen. PET imaging was performed to detect the clots, and SPECT was used to confirm in vivo the location of the pulmonary emboli. Ex vivo γ counting and histopathology were used to validate the imaging findings. Detailed biodistribution was performed in healthy rats (n = 30) at different time points after 64Cu-FBP8 administration to estimate human radiation dosimetry. Longitudinal whole-body PET/MR imaging (n = 2) was performed after 64Cu-FBP8 administration to further assess radioactivity clearance. Results: 64Cu-FBP8 PET imaging detected the location of lung emboli and venous thrombi after DVT-PE, revealing significant differences in uptake between target and background tissues (P < 0.001). In vivo SPECT imaging and ex vivo γ counting confirmed the location of the lung emboli. PET quantification of the venous thrombi revealed that probe uptake was greater in younger clots than in older ones, a result confirmed by ex vivo analyses (P < 0.001). Histopathology revealed an age-dependent reduction of thrombus fibrin content (P = 0.006), further supporting the imaging findings. Biodistribution and whole-body PET/MR imaging showed a rapid, primarily renal, body clearance of 64Cu-FBP8. The effective dose was 0.021 mSv/MBq for males and 0.027 mSv/MBq for females, supporting the feasibility of using 64Cu-FBP8 in human trials. Conclusion: We showed that 64Cu-FBP8 PET is a feasible approach to image DVT-PE and that radiogenic adverse health effects should not limit the clinical translation of 64Cu-FBP8.
How to handle informed consent in longitudinal studies when participants have a limited understanding of the study

Empirical findings from a Swedish longitudinal screening study show that many of the research subjects had a limited understanding of the study. Nevertheless they were satisfied with the understanding they had and found it sufficient for informed continued participation. Were they wrong? In this paper, it is argued that the kind of understanding that is morally required depends partly on the kind of understanding on which the research subjects want to base their decisions, and partly on what kind of knowledge they lack. Researchers must ensure that the information process is not flawed and that participants receive the information they want. To achieve this, new information efforts may be needed. Researchers must also ensure that research subjects have knowledge about aspects of importance to them. Lack of understanding may, however, be the result of conscious choices by research subjects to disregard some of the information because it is not important to them. Such choices should normally be respected.
Approximating Minimum-Cost k-Node Connected Subgraphs via Independence-Free Graphs

We present a 6-approximation algorithm for the minimum-cost k-node connected spanning sub graph problem, assuming that the number of nodes is at least k3(k-1)+k. We apply a combinatorial preprocessing, based on the Frank-Tardos algorithm for k-out connectivity, to transform any input into an instance such that the iterative rounding method gives a 2-approximation guarantee. This is the first constant-factor approximation algorithm even in the asymptotic setting of the problem, that is, the restriction to instances where the number of nodes is lower bounded by a function of k.
A Revision of Male Ants of the Malagasy Amblyoponinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with Resurrections of the Genera Stigmatomma and Xymmer

In a male-based revision of ants of the subfamily Amblyoponinae from the Southwest Indian Ocean islands (SWIO: Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mayotte, Reunion, and Seychelles), we explore and reconsider male morphological characters that distinguish genera within the group. Our investigation redefines Amblyopone Erichson sensu Brown (1960), here referred to as Amblyopone sensu lato, into three genera: Xymmer Santschi stat. rev., Amblyopone sensu stricto, Stigmatomma Roger stat. rev. All species names under Amblyopone s. l. reassign into Xymmer and Amblyopone s. s. , which are small, well-defined genera, and Stigmatomma, a large group with a generic delimitation that still needs further refinement. Based on a study of male mandible characters and our scenario for mandibular evolution of the worker caste within Amblyopone s. l, we conclude that Amblyopone s. s. nests outside of XMAS (Xymmer+Mystrium+Adetomyrma+Stigmatomma) clade. The following names are transferred from Amblyopone s. l. to Xymmer as comb. rev.: muticus. The following names are transferred from Amblyopone s. l. to Stigmatomma as comb. rev.: amblyops, armigerum, bellii, bierigi, bruni, celata, chilense, denticulatum, elongatum, emeryi, feae, impressifrons, luzonicum, minuta, normandi, oregonense, pallipes, quadratum, reclinatum, rothneyi, santschii, saundersi, silvestrii, zwaluwenburgi; as comb. nov.: agostii, annae, besucheti, boltoni, caliginosum, cleae, crenatum, degeneratum, egregium, electrinum, eminia, exiguum, falcatum, ferrugineum, fulvidum, gaetulicum, gingivalis, glauerti, gnoma, gracile, groehni, heraldoi, lucidum, lurilabes, monrosi, mystriops, noonadan, octodentatum, ophthalmicum, orizabanum, papuanum, pertinax, pluto, punctulatum, rubiginoum, sakaii, smithi, trigonignathum, trilobum, wilsoni, zaojun, and testaceum. A male-based key to the genera of Malagasy amblyoponine ants, their diagnoses, and a discussion of the evolution of the morphological character of males in the subfamily are given, and the distinguishing characters of each are illustrated. In addition, our results predict that Paraprionopelta belongs in the XMAS clade and that Concoctio should have males with two mandibular teeth.
Exercise and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Graduate Students: A Longitudinal, Observational Study

Abstract Objective: To evaluate cardiometabolic risk of students longitudinally and compare them with age-matched national samples. Participants: Participants are 134 graduate students enrolled between August 2005 and May 2010. Methods: Students were assessed at the beginning and end of their 3-year curriculum. Comparative samples included 966 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey participants and 5,154 National College Health Assessment respondents. Results: Most students had desirable weight, blood glucose, lipids, and fitness at both time points. However, 26.9% had elevated blood pressure, 29.9% performed aerobic exercise < 3 days/week, and 80.6% consumed < 5 fruits/vegetables daily. Relative to young adults nationwide, these students exhibited more favorable exercise patterns, dietary patterns, and cardiometabolic indices. Over time, increases in adiposity and decreases in exercise frequency correlated with adverse changes in lipid concentrations and fitness. Conclusions: Small changes in lifestyle behaviors and adiposity within a healthy cohort of young adults significantly influenced cardiometabolic indices during their graduate career.
Lung recruitment and breathing pattern during variable versus continuous flow nasal continuous positive airway pressure in premature infants: an evaluation of three devices.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether lung volume changes and breathing pattern parameters differ among 3 devices for delivery of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in premature infants. METHODS Thirty-two premature infants receiving nasal CPAP for apnea or mild respiratory distress were enrolled. Birth weight was (mean +/- standard deviation) 1081 +/- 316 g, gestational age 29 +/- 2 weeks, age at study 13 +/- 12 days, and fraction of inspired oxygen (FIO(2)) at study.29 +/-. 1. Three devices, applied in random order, were studied in each infant: continuous flow nasal CPAP via CPAP prongs, continuous flow nasal CPAP via modified nasal cannula, and variable flow nasal CPAP. After lung recruitment to standardize volume history, changes in lung volume (DeltaV(L)) were assessed at nasal CPAP of 8, 6, 4, and 0 cm H(2)O using calibrated direct current-coupled respiratory inductance plethysmography. RESULTS DeltaV(L) was significantly greater overall with the variable flow device compared with both the nasal cannula and CPAP prongs. However, DeltaV(L) was not different between the cannula and the prongs. Respiratory rate, tidal volume, thoraco-abdominal asynchrony, and FIO(2) were greater with the modified cannula than for either of the other 2 devices. CONCLUSION Compared with 2 continuous flow devices, the variable flow nasal CPAP device leads to greater lung recruitment. Although a nasal cannula is able to recruit lung volume, it does so at the cost of increased respiratory effort and FIO(2).
Stratification criteria and rewriting techniques for checking chase termination

The Chase is a fixpoint algorithm enforcing satisfaction of data dependencies in databases. Its execution involves the insertion of tuples with possible null values and the changing of null values which can be made equal to constants or other null values. Since the chase fixpoint evaluation could be non-terminating, in recent years the problem know as chase termination has been investigated. It consists in the detection of sufficient conditions, derived from the structural analysis of dependencies, guaranteeing that the chase fix-point terminates independently from the database instance. Several criteria introducing sufficient conditions for chase termination have been recently proposed [9, 8, 13, 12]. The aim of this paper is to present more general criteria and techniques for chase termination. We first present extensions of the well-known stratification conditions and introduce a new criterion, called local stratification (LS), which generalizes both super-weak acyclicity and stratification-based criteria (including the class of constraints which are inductively restricted). Next the paper presents a rewriting algorithm, whose structure is similar to the one presented in [10]; the algorithm takes as input a set of tuple generating dependencies and produces as output an equivalent set of dependencies and a boolean value stating whether a sort of cyclicity has been detected. The output set, obtained by adorning the input set of constraints, allows us to perform a more accurate analysis of the structural properties of constraints and to further enlarge the class of tuple generating dependencies for which chase termination is guaranteed, whereas the checking of acyclicity allows us to introduce the class of acyclic constraints (AC), which generalizes LS and guarantees chase termination.
Absolute Conductivity Reconstruction in Magnetic Induction Tomography Using a Nonlinear Method

Magnetic induction tomography (MIT) attempts to image the electrical and magnetic characteristics of a target using impedance measurement data from pairs of excitation and detection coils. This inverse eddy current problem is nonlinear and also severely ill posed so regularization is required for a stable solution. A regularized Gauss-Newton algorithm has been implemented as a nonlinear, iterative inverse solver. In this algorithm, one needs to solve the forward problem and recalculate the Jacobian matrix for each iteration. The forward problem has been solved using an edge based finite element method for magnetic vector potential A and electrical scalar potential V, a so called A, A-V formulation. A theoretical study of the general inverse eddy current problem and a derivation, paying special attention to the boundary conditions, of an adjoint field formula for the Jacobian is given. This efficient formula calculates the change in measured induced voltage due to a small perturbation of the conductivity in a region. This has the advantage that it involves only the inner product of the electric fields when two different coils are excited, and these are convenient computationally. This paper also shows that the sensitivity maps change significantly when the conductivity distribution changes, demonstrating the necessity for a nonlinear reconstruction algorithm. The performance of the inverse solver has been examined and results presented from simulated data with added noise