Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Single-center experience with pediatric laparoscopic extravesical reimplantation: safe and effective in simple and complex anatomy.

PURPOSE Minimally invasive approaches to the surgical management of vesicoureteric reflux (VUR) have become more prominent over the last 10 years with progress in both endoscopic and laparoscopic/robotic surgery. We hypothesized that laparoscopic extravesical detrussoraphy (LED) for the management of VUR in children with complex bladders and/or bilateral VUR was safe and effective. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Under institutional review board approval we evaluated the charts of all patients seen at our institution over the last 8 years who had undergone LED for the management of VUR. We evaluated demographic variables, surgical variables, and postoperative results. Postoperative bladder function was examined in the patients as well as need for secondary procedures. Patients with complex bladders included all patients who had previous surgery on the affected side, neurogenic bladders, and duplex or complex anatomy. RESULTS Ninety-eight patients with 144 ureters were treated during this time period. The overall VUR resolution by voiding cystourethrogram was 95.2%. The average age was 6.74 years, with 13 children over the age of 12 years old. Average length of stay (LOS) was 1.7 days for children 5 years and older and 1.0 days for children less than 5 years old (P=.004). LOS was not affected by body mass index or complexity of the procedure. There were 46 bilateral procedures, and the incidence of urinary retention was 6.5% versus 0% in the unilateral group (P=.09). Of our patients, 27.6% had complex bladders, including 9 patients with complete ureteral duplications, 10 with periureteral diverticula, and 8 with prior surgery on the affected side. There were two complications requiring a second procedure in this group (7%). No patient with a complex bladder had persistent VUR. CONCLUSION LED for the management of children with complex bladders and VUR is safe and effective. This technique is versatile and achieves high VUR resolution rates with minimal morbidity.
Text mining and IRT for psychiatric and psychological assessment

The information age has made it easy to store and process large amounts of data, including both structured data (e.g., responses to questionnaires) and unstructured data (e.g., natural language or prose). As an additional source of information in assessments, textual data has been increasingly used by cognitive, personality, clinical, and social psychologists in attempt to understand human beings. The questions how to handle these textual data and how to combine them with structured data in psychiatric and psychological assessments are the major themes in this thesis. The research initiates a new intake procedure for psychiatric screening for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which combines the utilization of advanced text mining techniques and item response modeling in one framework. The project consists of three parts: (1) computerized text classification on patients’ self narratives to screen for PTSD. (2) exploring the generalizability of DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for PTSD using item response modeling and identifying the differential symptom functioning related to various background variables such as gender, marital status and educational level. And (3) combining textual assessment on patients’ self-narratives and item-based assessments in one systematic framework to further improve the screening efficiency. Further, the automated intake framework is also validated in two psychological assessments. One focused on the application of text mining techniques in learning patterns among undergraduate students’ personality adaption with their life stories. The other engaged in an interesting analysis of Internet data that was collected from Facebook. This study investigated the relationship between people’s self-monitoring skills and verbal features in their textual posts on the Facebook wall. To sum up, the combination of the text mining technique with item response modeling is an innovation in psychiatric and psychological assessments. It is promising to be applied for a broader scope within the field of education, psychology, sociology in both research settings and practical use.
An Adaptive System Based on Roadmap Profiling to Enhance Warning Message Dissemination in VANETs

In recent years, new applications, architectures, and technologies have been proposed for vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs). Regarding traffic safety applications for VANETs, warning messages have to be quickly and smartly disseminated in order to reduce the required dissemination time and to increase the number of vehicles receiving the traffic warning information. In the past, several approaches have been proposed to improve the alert dissemination process in multihop wireless networks, but none of them were tested in real urban scenarios, adapting its behavior to the propagation features of the scenario. In this paper, we present the Profile-driven Adaptive Warning Dissemination Scheme (PAWDS) designed to improve the warning message dissemination process. With respect to previous proposals, our proposed scheme uses a mapping technique based on adapting the dissemination strategy according to both the characteristics of the street area where the vehicles are moving and the density of vehicles in the target scenario. Our algorithm reported a noticeable improvement in the performance of alert dissemination processes in scenarios based on real city maps.
Spectrum of confining strings in SU(N) gauge theories

We study the spectrum of the conflning strings in four-dimensional SU(N) gauge theories. We compute, for the SU(4) and SU(6) gauge theories formulated on a lattice, the string tensions aek related to sources with ZN charge k, using Monte Carlo simulations. Our results are consistent with the sine formula aek=ae = sink … N =sin … N for the ratio between aek and the standard string tension ae. For the SU(4) and SU(6) cases the accuracy is approximately 1% and 2%, respectively. The sine formula is known to emerge in various realizations of supersymmetric SU(N) gauge theories. On the other hand, our results show deviations from Casimir scaling. We also discuss an analogous behavior exhibited by two-dimensional SU(N)£ SU(N) chiral models.
Rewards, Task Difficulty, and Intrinsic Motivation: A Test of Learned Industriousness Theory

The use of incent ives i n e d u c a t i o n a l settings as a w a y to increase s tudent m o t i v a t i o n a n d p e r f o r m a n c e is a n issue that has generated a great deal of debate. S o m e researchers argue that r e w a r d s are h a r m f u l (Dec i , Koes tner , & R y a n , 1999; K o h n , 1993). T h e concern is that if a s tudent is r e w a r d e d for p e r f o r m i n g a n ac t iv i ty , the s tudent w i l l c o m e to s p e n d less t i m e o n the task, p e r f o r m at a l o w e r l e v e l , a n d enjoy the ac t iv i ty less once the r e w a r d s are n o longer a v a i l a b l e . T h e c l a i m is that r e w a r d s u n d e r m i n e s tudents ' in t r ins ic m o t i v a t i o n . O n the other s ide of the debate are researchers w h o argue that negat ive effects of r e w a r d s are l i m i t e d a n d that w h e n p r o p e r l y a r r a n g e d , r e w a r d s c a n be u s e d to enhance s tudent m o t i v a t i o n a n d p e r f o r m a n c e ( C a m e r o n & Pierce , 2002; D i c k i n s o n , 1989; F l o r a & F l o r a , 1999). Based o n a meta -ana ly t i c r e v i e w of 145 exper iments o n r e w a r d s a n d i n t r i n sic m o t i v a t i o n ( C a m e r o n , B a n k o , & Pierce, 2001) a n d o n recent e x p e r i m e n t s o n the topic (Eisenberger , R h o a d e s , & C a m e r o n , 1999; Pierce, C a m e r o n , B a n k o , & So, 2003), r e w a r d s h a v e been f o u n d to p r o d u c e negat ive effects w h e n they s i g n i f y fa i lure or are loosely t ied to p e r f o r m a n c e . Pos i t ive effects are detected w h e n the r e w a r d s are g i v e n for a t t a i n i n g specif ic p e r f o r m a n c e s tandards . These f i n d i n g s suggest that r e w a r d s s h o u l d be used in e d u c a t i o n a l e n v i r o n ments w h e n s tudents achieve set goals a n d s tandards . It is not clear, h o w e v e r , h o w r i g o r o u s the s t a n d a r d s s h o u l d be. The present e x p e r i m e n t w a s d e s i g n e d to address this issue. T h e p u r p o s e of this research w a s to e x a m i n e h o w r e w a r d s affected m o t i v a t i o n a n d p e r f o r m a n c e w h e n students were r e w a r d e d for s u c c e e d i n g at a n easy task versus a m o d e r a t e l y d i f f i c u l t task. T h e s t u d y w a s also d e s i g n e d to test E isenberger ' s (1992) theory of learned indus t r iousness . A c c o r d i n g to E i s e n berger, i n d i v i d u a l di f ferences i n i n d u s t r i o u s n e s s are l earned . L e a r n e d i n dus t r iousness theory is b u i l t o n the concept of effort. F r o m this perspect ive ,
Model-Based Engineering of Multi-platform, Synchronous and Collaborative UIs - Extending UsiXML for Polymorphic User Interface Specification

The paper describes an engineering method for building user interfaces for ubiquitous environments. The method comprises of several extensions in the UsiXML family of modes as well as design and runtime support so as to enable multi-platform, synchronous and collaborative interactions. We demonstrate key concepts of the method and their application by elaborating a scenario of collaborative co-play of the 'tic-tac-toe' game. The specific use case features synchronous co-engagement in game play by remote users (players or observers) using desktop PCs or Android devices.
Online multiclass learning by interclass hypothesis sharing

We describe a general framework for online multiclass learning based on the notion of hypothesis sharing. In our framework sets of classes are associated with hypotheses. Thus, all classes within a given set share the same hypothesis. This framework includes as special cases commonly used constructions for multiclass categorization such as allocating a unique hypothesis for each class and allocating a single common hypothesis for all classes. We generalize the multiclass Perceptron to our framework and derive a unifying mistake bound analysis. Our construction naturally extends to settings where the number of classes is not known in advance but, rather, is revealed along the online learning process. We demonstrate the merits of our approach by comparing it to previous methods on both synthetic and natural datasets.
The Induction of Colitis and Ileitis in Mice Is Associated with Marked Increases in Intestinal Concentrations of Stimulants of TLRs 2, 4, and 5

Background Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) appear to be modulated by the interaction of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) derived from intestinal bacteria with their respective innate immune receptors, including Toll-like receptors (TLRs). We aimed to establish if intestinal concentrations of proinflammatory bacterial ligands of TLR2, TLR4, or TLR5 may be altered in murine IBD models, and to characterize which of the major bacterial groups may contribute to each signal. Methodology/Principal Findings PAMPs specific for TLR2 (lipopeptide equivalents), TLR4 (lipopolysaccharide equivalents), and TLR5 (flagellin equivalents) in human and murine fecal and intestinal samples were quantified using HEK-293 cells transfected with respective TLRs and calibrated with defined standard PAMPs. The induction of colitis in mice by dextran-sodium-sulphate treatment significantly increased colonic lipopeptide (fourfold) and LPS equivalent (550-fold) concentrations, while flagellin equivalent concentrations remained similar. The induction of ileitis by oral infection with Toxoplasma gondii dramatically increased ileal concentrations of lipopeptide (370-fold), LPS (3,300-fold), and flagellin equivalents (38-fold), all P<0.01. Analysis of representative strains of the major bacterial groups of the human intestine revealed that enterobacterial species are likely to be more significant contributors of soluble TLR2 and TLR4 stimulants to the intestinal milieu than Bacteroides species or Gram-positive Firmicutes. Conclusions/Significance We conclude that the induction of colitis or ileitis in mice is associated with significant disease-specific alterations to the PAMP profile of the gut microbiota.
The neonatal thymus and antenatal steroids

Editor—To investigate the effect of antenatal steroids on thymic size, we reviewed the chest x ray pictures taken in the first 36 hours of life in two groups, each of 25 infants. The first group of infants was born in 1992–3; none of their mothers had received antenatal steroids. The second group was born in 1995–6; all of these mothers had received two doses of dexamethasone before delivery. The groups were matched for sex, birthweight (± 100 g), and gestation (±1 week). There was no significant difference in the causes of premature delivery; the most common stated cause of premature …
Genetic Predisposition of Donors Affects the Allograft Outcome in Kidney Transplantation; Polymorphisms of Stromal-Derived Factor-1 and CXC Receptor 4

Genetic interaction between donor and recipient may dictate the impending responses after transplantation. In this study, we evaluated the role of the genetic predispositions of stromal-derived factor-1 (SDF1) [rs1801157 (G>A)] and CXC receptor 4 (CXCR4) [rs2228014 (C>T)] on renal allograft outcomes. A total of 335 pairs of recipients and donors were enrolled. Biopsy-proven acute rejection (BPAR) and long-term graft survival were traced. Despite similar allele frequencies between donors and recipients, minor allele of SDF1 rs1801157 (GA+AA) from donor, not from recipients, has a protective effect on the development of BPAR compared to wild type donor (GG) (P = 0.005). Adjustment for multiple covariates did not affect this result (odds ratio 0.39, 95% C.I 0.20–0.76, P = 0.006). CXCR4 rs2228014 polymorphisms from donor or recipient did not affect the incidence of acute rejection. SDF1 was differentially expressed in renal tubular epithelium with acute rejection according to genetic variations of donor rs1801157 showing higher expressions in the grafts from GG donors. Contrary to the development of BPAR, the presence of minor allele rs1801157 A, especially homozygocity, predisposed poor graft survival (P = 0.001). This association was significant after adjusting for several risk factors (hazard ratio 3.01; 95% C.I = 1.19–7.60; P = 0.020). The allelic variation of recipients, however, was not associated with graft loss. A donor-derived genetic polymorphism of SDF1 has influenced the graft outcome. Thus, the genetic predisposition of donor should be carefully considered in transplantation.
Immunochemical specificity of the combining site of murine myeloma protein CAL20 TEPC1035 reactive with dextrans

The immunochemical specificity of the combining sites of murine myeloma protein CAL20 TEPC1035 was studied by quantitative precipitin and precipitin inhibition assays. Myeloma protein CAL20 TEPC1035 precipitated with only three dextrans, B1355S4, B1498S, and B1501S, with high proportions of alpha(1 leads to 3) linkages, but not with any other dextrans, glycogen, and pullulan. Inhibition tests with various sugars show that the combining site of myeloma protein CAL20 TEPC1035 is most complementary to panose, a trisaccharide DGlc alpha(1 leads to 6)DGlc alpha(1 leads to 4)DGlc. Panose was 3.3 times more potent than a tetrasaccharide DGlc alpha(1 leads to 6)DGlc alpha(1 leads to 4)DGlc alpha(1 leads to 4)DGlc and 8, 23, 42, > 42 times more active than maltose, nigerose, isomaltose, and kojibiose, respectively. These findings were paralleled by their binding properties as determined by affinity electrophoresis. The association constants (Ka) of these three dextrans to myeloma protein CAL20 TEPC1035 ranged from 3.8 X 10(3) ml/g to 5.02 X 10(3) ml/g. The association constant of inhibitor (Kia) of panose was 8.19 X 10(3) M-1. Myeloma protein CAL20 TEPC1035 is an antidextran with specificity different from those of other murine myeloma antidextrans and from human antidextrans reported previously and its combining site size is at least as large as a trisaccharide. The binding constant of methyl alpha-D-glucoside (7.2 X 10(2)) was 73% of that of panose and comparable to that of myeloma protein W3129 (9.4 X 10(2)) with a cavity-type site and 600 times lower (1.6 X 10(0)) for QUPC52 with a groove type site, indicating that the terminal nonreducing residue is held in a cavity. Inhibition data with various alpha(1 leads to 4)-linked oligosaccharides also indicate that the internal portions of these inhibitors may react directly with a portion of the combining site. These findings suggest that myeloma antidextran CAL20 TEPC1035 has a partial cavity-type combining site in which the terminal nonreducing dGlc alpha(1 leads to 6) moiety is held in a cavity with the other two sugars forming a groove. However, oligosaccharides with one or more alternating [leads to 3DGlc alpha(1 leads to 6)DGlc alpha(1 leads to 3)DGlcl leads to] units with and without terminal nonreducing DGlc alpha(1 leads to 6) or DGLc alpha(1 leads to 3) side chains remain to be tested to determine whether structures known to be present in the three dextrans which precipitate CAL20 TEPC1035 may not prove to be more active than panose.
Age Effects in Temporal Envelope Processing: Speech Unmasking and Auditory Steady State Responses

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether temporal envelope processing is reduced in older listeners. Experiment 1 tested the hypothesis that older listeners exhibit reduced speech unmasking at higher modulation rates. Experiment 2 tested the hypothesis that auditory steady state response (ASSR) amplitudes are reduced in older listeners at high modulation rates. Design: Two groups of observers with relatively normal hearing (younger, mean age = 25.0 years and older, mean age = 68.7 years) participated in two experiments. Experiment 1 examined speech unmasking in modulated noise as a function of masker modulation rate (16 and 32 Hz) and target speech rate (normal and 33% time compressed). Experiment 2 measured ASSR amplitudes as a function of modulation rate (32 and 128 Hz) and carrier frequency (500 and 2000 Hz). Results: Experiment 1 indicated that older listeners show reduced speech unmasking for normal-rate speech and reduced recognition of rapid speech in steady noise. However, for rapid speech, there is no age effect for speech unmasking and no difference in the magnitude of masking release as a function of modulation rate. In general, effects of listener age and masker modulation rate on the magnitude of masking release are observed only for normal-rate speech. Experiment 2 showed that the ASSR amplitudes of older listeners are reduced for a 128-Hz modulation rate but not for a 32-Hz modulation rate, irrespective of carrier frequency. Conclusion: These results suggest that the reduced speech unmasking seen in older listeners for relatively slow modulation rates is not caused by deficits in envelope processing but rather is associated with the more constrained redundancy of the speech material available during the masker minima. Deficits in temporal envelope processing are evident in advanced age but only for relatively high envelope frequencies.
The overtaking of undertaking: feminization and the changing gender type of funeral directing

Despite the predictions that the influence of women into male-dominated fields would eventually eliminate women’s disadvantaged positions in paid work, most research finds that feminization results in the reconfiguration of gender inequality. These studies tended to investigate the material consequences and conditions of feminization and how the “gendering” of the occupation develops to justify the reconfiguration of inequality. Scholarship has begun to examine how individuals in occupations negotiate the existing occupational gender-type and how this shapes gender inequality in feminizing occupations. My dissertation takes up this call by looking at the relationship between gender-typing (i.e., how occupations or jobs come to be understood as appropriate for men or women) and feminization (i.e., women in a formerly maledominated occupation) in the funeral industry. The funeral industry has traditionally been a male-dominated and gender-typed masculine occupation; however, since the 1970s funeral directing has been experiencing feminization. In recent history, women were not seen as appropriate for funeral directing. They were considered too physically and emotionally “unfit;” however, the movement of women into the occupation complicates how funeral directing was traditionally gender-typed. Using text excerpts about gender (n=101) from 35 funerary trade journal articles ranging from 1995-2013, my dissertation explores competing cultural beliefs about gender at the occupational-level (“old boy,” gender essential, gender blind, and genderprogressive) accompanying women’s movement into funeral directing. Through semi-structured interviews with twenty (11 women, 9 men) mortuary science students who are studying to become funeral directors and twenty-two (13 women, 9 men) licensed funeral directors, I explore how these occupational scripts about gender affect workplaces in terms of the workplace experiences (practices and hiring, the division of labor, relations between employees and supervisors) and educational experiences (occupational entry, structure and training); and how current and future funeral directors negotiate cultural gender beliefs about funeral directing to challenge existing explanations and create new explanations about women’s suitability for funeral directing. My findings indicate that occupational cultural beliefs about gender are both reproduced and challenged in workplace and educational settings and in how students and funeral directors negotiate cultural gender beliefs. THE OVERTAKING OF UNDERTAKING: FEMINIZATION AND THE CHANGING GENDER TYPE OF FUNERAL DIRECTING
Purify and Destroy: The Political Uses of Massacre and Genocide

There is a popular movement in genocide research to portray genocide as arising from anything other than hate (e.g. Moshman, 2005). From a topdown perspective, this makes sense. After all, the case has been made that there are instrumental (e.g. land grabs) and social psychological considerations— careerism, social bonding—as well as ideological and contextual considerations that all contribute to the genocide recipe and have little to do with hate per se. Yet the current trend makes it seem as if hate crimes and old ethnic enmities do not exist.