Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Successful Treatment of Coexisting Paraganglioma of the Retroperitoneum and Urinary Bladder by Intermediate-Dose 131I-MIBG Therapy

AbstractParagangliomas (PGLs) are rare neuroendocrine neoplasms of the autonomic nervous system dispersed from the skull base to the pelvic floor. We reported an extremely rare case with coexisting PGL of the retroperitoneum and urinary bladder. The patient complained of episodes of severe headache and palpitation during micturition, with a 1-year history of uncontrolled hypertension. The 131I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (131I-MIBG) scintigraphy revealed high uptake in both of the retroperitoneum and urinary bladder mass accompanied with increasing 24 hour urinary norepinephrine and epinephrine. The patient received 6 doses of high-specific activity 131I-MIBG from October 2009 to April 2015, each treatment dose was 400 mCi. The patient got symptomatic, hormonal, and radiographic tumor complete response without life-threatening adverse events.Intermediate-dose 131I-MIBG therapy may be an alternative choice for patients with multicentric PGLs with positive MIBG scintigraphy.
Confidential clinician-reported surveillance of adverse events among medical inpatients

BACKGROUND: Although iatrogenic injury poses a significant risk to hospitalized patients, detection of adverse events (AEs) is costly and difficult.METHODS: The authors developed a confidential reporting method for detecting AEs on a medicine unit of a teaching hospital. Adverse events were defined as patient injuries. Potential adverse events (PAEs) represented errors that could have, but did not result in harm. Investigators interviewed house officers during morning rounds and by e-mail, asking them to identify obstacles to high quality care and iatrogenic injuries. They compared house officer reports with hospital incident reports and patients’ medical records. A multivariate regression model identified correlates of reporting.RESULTS: One hundred ten events occurred, affecting 84 patients. Queries by e-mail (incidence rate ratio [IRR]=0.16; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.05 to 0.49) and on days when house officers rotated to a new service (IRR=0.12; 95% CI, 0.02 to 0.91) resulted in fewer reports. The most commonly reported process of care problems were inadequate evaluation of the patient (16.4%), failure to monitor or follow up (12.7%), and failure of the laboratory to perform at test (12.7%). Respondents identified 29 (26.4%) AEs, 52 (47.3%) PAEs, and 29 (26.4%) other house officer-identified quality problems. An AE occurred in 2.6% of admissions. The hospital incident reporting system detected only one house officer-reported event. Chart review corroborated 72.9% of events.CONCLUSIONS: House officers detect many AEs among inpatients. Confidential peer interviews of front-line providers is a promising method for identifying medical errors and substandard quality.
Single-Image Superresolution of Natural Stochastic Textures Based on Fractional Brownian Motion

Texture enhancement presents an ongoing challenge, in spite of the considerable progress made in recent years. Whereas most of the effort has been devoted so far to enhancement of regular textures, stochastic textures that are encountered in most natural images, still pose an outstanding problem. The purpose of enhancement of stochastic textures is to recover details, which were lost during the acquisition of the image. In this paper, a texture model, based on fractional Brownian motion (fBm), is proposed. The model is global and does not entail using image patches. The fBm is a self-similar stochastic process. Self-similarity is known to characterize a large class of natural textures. The fBm-based model is evaluated and a single-image regularized superresolution algorithm is derived. The proposed algorithm is useful for enhancement of a wide range of textures. Its performance is compared with single-image superresolution methods and its advantages are highlighted.
Effects of System Characteristics on Users' Self-Disclosure in Social Networking Sites

Social networking sites (SNSs) (e.g., Facebook) are increasingly used in people’s daily life and business worlds. With SNSs, people’s social networks are expanded by connecting to others with shared interests or values based on other users’ self-disclosed personal information. Business organizations can mine the personal information embedded in SNSs to identify potential customers to generate revenues. However, the benefits of SNSs cannot be completely achieved if their users do not disclose enough personal information. In this research, we relate users’ self-disclosure intentions and self-disclosure behaviors to certain characteristics of SNSs based on Technology Acceptance Model. Our research model is empirically tested through an online survey of 113 users in the context of Renren, the most popular SNS in China, and we find that users’ perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use of a SNS closely associate with their self-disclosure intentions, which further leads to users’ actual self-disclosure behaviors.
Crowdsourcing Control: Moving Beyond Multiple Choice

To ensure quality results from crowdsourced tasks, requesters often aggregate worker responses and use one of a plethora of strategies to infer the correct answer from the set of noisy responses. However, all current models assume prior knowledge of all possible outcomes of the task. While not an unreasonable assumption for tasks that can be posited as multiple-choice questions (e.g. n-ary classification), we observe that many tasks do not naturally fit this paradigm, but instead demand a free-response formulation where the outcome space is of infinite size (e.g. audio transcription). We model such tasks with a novel probabilistic graphical model, and design and implement LAZYSUSAN, a decision-theoretic controller that dynamically requests responses as necessary in order to infer answers to these tasks. We also design an EM algorithm to jointly learn the parameters of our model while inferring the correct answers to multiple tasks at a time. Live experiments on Amazon Mechanical Turk demonstrate the superiority of LAZYSUSAN at solving SAT Math questions, eliminating 83.2% of the error and achieving greater net utility compared to the state-of-the-art strategy, majority-voting. We also show in live experiments that our EM algorithm outperforms majority-voting on a visualization task that we design.
Effects of shaping of binaural room impulse responses on localization

This contribution describes effects on perceived direction, distance, and externalization of auditory events by changing or shaping two energy based parameters of recorded binaural room impulse responses using a binaural headphone synthesis. A controlled modification of the distance perception in non-individualized binaural headphone reproduction is presented and evaluated. The algorithms change systematically time and energy based distance-dependent properties of impulse responses. The new binaural room impulse responses (BRIRs) are shaped by an energy adaption based on the initial time delay gap. Listening tests show that measured BRIRs and the newly synthesized BRIRs cause similar distance perception. In a second experiment the direct-to-reverberant-ratio (DRR) is changed until the test person perceived congruence between the synthesized and the listening room. All of the presented tests also investigate perceptual effects of congruence and divergence between the synthesized room and the listening room.
Bacteria Associated with Spores of the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Glomus geosporum and Glomus constrictum

ABSTRACT Spores of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) Glomus geosporum and Glomus constrictum were harvested from single-spore-derived pot cultures with either Plantago lanceolata or Hieracium pilosella as host plants. PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis revealed that the bacterial communities associated with the spores depended more on AMF than host plant identity. The composition of the bacterial populations linked to the spores could be predominantly influenced by a specific spore wall composition or AMF exudate rather than by specific root exudates. The majority of the bacterial sequences that were common to both G. geosporum and G. constrictum spores were affiliated with taxonomic groups known to degrade biopolymers (Cellvibrio, Chondromyces, Flexibacter, Lysobacter, and Pseudomonas). Scanning electron microscopy of G. geosporum spores revealed that these bacteria are possibly feeding on the outer hyaline spore layer. The process of maturation and eventual germination of AMF spores might then benefit from the activity of the surface microorganisms degrading the outer hyaline wall layer.
A rare IL33 loss-of-function mutation reduces blood eosinophil counts and protects from asthma

IL-33 is a tissue-derived cytokine that induces and amplifies eosinophilic inflammation and has emerged as a promising new drug target for asthma and allergic disease. Common variants at IL33 and IL1RL1, encoding the IL-33 receptor ST2, associate with eosinophil counts and asthma. Through whole-genome sequencing and imputation into the Icelandic population, we found a rare variant in IL33 (NM_001199640:exon7:c.487-1G>C (rs146597587-C), allele frequency = 0.65%) that disrupts a canonical splice acceptor site before the last coding exon. It is also found at low frequency in European populations. rs146597587-C associates with lower eosinophil counts (β = -0.21 SD, P = 2.5×10–16, N = 103,104), and reduced risk of asthma in Europeans (OR = 0.47; 95%CI: 0.32, 0.70, P = 1.8×10–4, N cases = 6,465, N controls = 302,977). Heterozygotes have about 40% lower total IL33 mRNA expression than non-carriers and allele-specific analysis based on RNA sequencing and phased genotypes shows that only 20% of the total expression is from the mutated chromosome. In half of those transcripts the mutation causes retention of the last intron, predicted to result in a premature stop codon that leads to truncation of 66 amino acids. The truncated IL-33 has normal intracellular localization but neither binds IL-33R/ST2 nor activates ST2-expressing cells. Together these data demonstrate that rs146597587-C is a loss of function mutation and support the hypothesis that IL-33 haploinsufficiency protects against asthma.
Identification and management of failure to thrive: a community perspective

See related article on page 10 The term failure to thrive (FTT) can imply very different conditions, depending on the context. To a general paediatrician, it might conjure up a respectably clad child, sitting on an anxious mother's lap as you study growth charts and test results in the hope of inspiration. To a social worker it might imply a wasted, miserable child found in a cold, dirty house. These differing images reflect not just the wide range of children who might receive the label “failure to thrive”, but also a diversity of ideas about what FTT is and how it should be managed. The term was first coined to describe a syndrome of delayed growth and development also called the “maternal deprivation syndrome”. 1 Although it is now accepted that FTT has a predominantly nutritional cause,2the implication of an association with emotional and physical deprivation persists. However, all the early studies were of highly selected children, referred to hospital, and it is only in the past 15 years that population based studies have been conducted. What light have these studies shed on the subject and what implications do they have for practice? FTT has been defined as “a failure of expected growth (usually weight) and well being”. 3 Therefore, does this make it a problem of growth alone, or something more? A previous consensus concluded pragmatically that definitions should be growth based, because growth can be measured objectively, whereas well being cannot.4 However, even growth based definitions present problems. Many reference texts and research papers provide no objective definition, and the remainder offer a wide range of differing criteria.5 The most common definitions require cases to drop below a low centile, a method that identifies many children with poor weight gain. However, such approaches will …
Serum amyloid P-component-induced enhancement of macrophage listericidal activity

Purified serum amyloid P component (SAP), the major acute-phase reactant of mice, augmented the in vitro listericidal activity of inflammatory (elicited) macrophages, bone marrow-derived monocytes, and macrophages from a subcutaneous site of inflammation. Monocytes and macrophages from C57BL/B6 mice, which are relatively resistant to Listeria monocytogenes, exhibited a significantly greater enhanced killing capacity for listeria than macrophages from listeria-susceptible A/J mice. SAP did not alter the extent of phagocytosis by macrophages of opsonized L. monocytogenes, nor was SAP opsonic for listeria. Mannose-derived simple sugars inhibited the binding of SAP to macrophages and consequently prevented the enhanced SAP-dependent listericidal activity. Macrophages from lipopolysaccharide-hyporesponsive mice also had increased microbicidal activity following incubation with SAP. SAP activated macrophages independently of lymphokine. Therefore, SAP may serve as a mediator of the heightened nonspecific host defense response that is associated with the acute phase of the systemic inflammatory response.
Comparison of links selection criteria for mobile terminal positioning in cooperative heterogeneous networks

In this paper we consider using different links selection criteria to assist mobile terminals positioning in heterogeneous wireless networks. These indicators enable parsimonious cooperation under power, latency and complexity constraints. In particular, we verify that the Geometric Dilution of Precision (GDOP) and the approximated Cramer Rao Lower Bound (CRLB) indicators can reliably characterize instantaneous Weighted Least Squares (WLS) location errors along mobile trajectories, while experiencing varying and limited connectivity. These indicators are thus helpful to identify and predict relevant combinations of range measurements based on Received Signal Strength Indicators (RSSI). Links selection is performed with respect to fixed Access Points (APs) (e.g. WiFi) and/or mobile terminals over short-range peer-to-peer links (e.g. Zigbee). Simulations are herein carried out in a realistic dynamic heterogeneous context to assess the reliability of such indicators, as well as the benefits of the proposed selection strategy, in comparison with exhaustive cooperation or random/nearest neighbors selection schemes.
Frontal EEG asymmetry during symptom provocation predicts subjective responses to intrusions in survivors with and without PTSD.

Studies suggest that frontal alpha asymmetry is closely linked to psychological adjustment following stressful experiences, such that more left-sided frontal activation during symptom provocation might predict lower levels of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Here, we tested whether frontal asymmetry at rest and during exposure to neutral, positive, negative, and trauma-related images would be associated with PTSD, and particularly with characteristic reexperiencing symptoms. Symptoms were assessed in trauma victims with (n = 24) and without PTSD (n = 15), using both retrospective measures and 1-week ambulatory assessments with a diary and a smartphone. While resting frontal asymmetry was unrelated to all retrospective measures, left-sided activation in response to the negative picture correlated with lower levels of psychopathology. Left-sided activation in the trauma-related picture condition was more specifically associated with less emotionally intense intrusions and responses to viewing the picture, even when corrected for other symptoms of psychopathology. These effects tended to increase when participants with possible overreporting tendencies were removed from the analyses. Moreover, trauma victims without PTSD (i.e., relatively more resilient individuals) displayed higher left-sided frontal activation in response to the negative picture, also when compared with a third group of healthy, trauma-free individuals (n = 15). Our findings suggest that state-dependent changes in frontal asymmetry could serve as a biological marker of PTSD symptoms and could eventually be used for diagnostic purposes or as a target for neuromodulation interventions. Future studies should establish whether this marker can serve as an early predictor of psychopathology in recently traumatized individuals.
Phosphotyrosine-containing proteins and expression of transformation parameters in cells infected with partial transformation mutants of Rous sarcoma virus

We have examined the phosphorylation state of five proteins known to become phosphorylated on tyrosine during transformation by Rous sarcoma virus by using cells infected with a panel of partially transforming mutant viruses. Situations of viral mutant and growth temperature were found in which phosphorylation of some proteins occurred more extensively than that of others, indicating that mutations in the src gene had affected the specificity of pp60src for some of its substrates as well as affecting the activity of the enzyme. To obtain insight into the biological functions of these phosphorylations, comparisons were made between the degree of phosphorylation of these proteins and the expression of various indicators of the transformed phenotype. The data suggest that phosphorylation of proteins l, p, and q (Mr of 46,000, 39,000 and 28,000, respectively) is not sufficient to induce changes in adhesiveness, hexose transport or morphology. The phosphorylation of protein p or l or total phosphotyrosine content correlated well with the production of plasminogen activator, and the phosphorylation of proteins l and q correlated well with increased hexose transport. However, even when good correlations were observed, significant exceptions were sometimes noted. It thus remains possible that some phosphorylations on tyrosine observed in Rous sarcoma virus-transformed cells are not causally related to the expression of the measured parameters of transformation.
Tree Topological Features for Unlexicalized Parsing

As unlexicalized parsing lacks word token information, it is important to investigate novel parsing features to improve the accuracy. This paper studies a set of tree topological (TT) features. They quantitatively describe the tree shape dominated by each non-terminal node. The features are useful in capturing linguistic notions such as grammatical weight and syntactic branching, which are factors important to syntactic processing but overlooked in the parsing literature. By using an ensemble classifier-based model, TT features can significantly improve the parsing accuracy of our unlexicalized parser. Further, the ease of estimating TT feature values makes them easy to be incorporated into virtually any mainstream parsers.
Extracellular Matrix Remodeling in Hypertension

Increases in arterial blood pressure cause cumulative changes in tissue structure and function, resulting ultimately in end-organ damage. One of the pathological hallmarks of hypertensive tissue injury is an increase in tissue fibrosis, which leads to reductions in tissue compliance and function. Fibrosis (or sclerosis) occurs as result of marked changes in the amount and composition of the extracellular matrix. This extracellular matrix is a complex mixture of structural proteins and glycoproteins, including collagens, fibronectins, and proteoglycans. Hypertension is known to be associated with increases in the synthesis of extracellular matrix proteins and changes in their degradation. These processes are mediated by several mediators, in particular the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Since these changes play an important role in the formation of vascular sclerosis, cardiac dysfunction, and renal damage, understanding the mechanisms, and finding interventions to prevent or reverse these changes are clinically important. In this review we discuss the alterations in the extracellular matrix during hypertension, as well as the effects of antihypertensive agents in animal models and human patients.
Multiple Forces Contribute to Cell Sheet Morphogenesis for Dorsal Closure in Drosophila

The molecular and cellular bases of cell shape change and movement during morphogenesis and wound healing are of intense interest and are only beginning to be understood. Here, we investigate the forces responsible for morphogenesis during dorsal closure with three approaches. First, we use real-time and time-lapsed laser confocal microscopy to follow actin dynamics and document cell shape changes and tissue movements in living, unperturbed embryos. We label cells with a ubiquitously expressed transgene that encodes GFP fused to an autonomously folding actin binding fragment from fly moesin. Second, we use a biomechanical approach to examine the distribution of stiffness/tension during dorsal closure by following the response of the various tissues to cutting by an ultraviolet laser. We tested our previous model (Young, P.E., A.M. Richman, A.S. Ketchum, and D.P. Kiehart. 1993. Genes Dev. 7:29–41) that the leading edge of the lateral epidermis is a contractile purse-string that provides force for dorsal closure. We show that this structure is under tension and behaves as a supracellular purse-string, however, we provide evidence that it alone cannot account for the forces responsible for dorsal closure. In addition, we show that there is isotropic stiffness/tension in the amnioserosa and anisotropic stiffness/tension in the lateral epidermis. Tension in the amnioserosa may contribute force for dorsal closure, but tension in the lateral epidermis opposes it. Third, we examine the role of various tissues in dorsal closure by repeated ablation of cells in the amnioserosa and the leading edge of the lateral epidermis. Our data provide strong evidence that both tissues appear to contribute to normal dorsal closure in living embryos, but surprisingly, neither is absolutely required for dorsal closure. Finally, we establish that the Drosophila epidermis rapidly and reproducibly heals from both mechanical and ultraviolet laser wounds, even those delivered repeatedly. During healing, actin is rapidly recruited to the margins of the wound and a newly formed, supracellular purse-string contracts during wound healing. This result establishes the Drosophila embryo as an excellent system for the investigation of wound healing. Moreover, our observations demonstrate that wound healing in this insect epidermal system parallel wound healing in vertebrate tissues in situ and vertebrate cells in culture (for review see Kiehart, D.P. 1999. Curr. Biol. 9:R602–R605).
Correlates of phonological awareness in preschoolers with speech sound disorders.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among variables that may contribute to poor phonological awareness (PA) skills in preschool-aged children with speech sound disorders (SSD). METHOD Ninety-five 4- and 5-year-old children with SSD were assessed during the spring of their prekindergarten year. Linear structural equation modeling was used to compare the fit of 2 models of the possible relationships among PA, speech perception, articulation, receptive vocabulary, and emergent literacy skills. RESULTS Half the children had significant difficulty with speech perception and PA despite demonstrating receptive language skills within or above the average range. The model that showed the best fit to the data indicated that speech perception is a pivotal variable that has a direct effect on PA and an indirect effect that is mediated by vocabulary skills. Articulation accuracy did not have a direct impact on PA. Emergent literacy skills were predicted by PA abilities. CONCLUSIONS Children with SSD are at greatest risk of delayed PA skills if they have poor speech perception abilities and/or relatively poor receptive vocabulary skills. Children with SSD should receive assessments of their speech perception, receptive vocabulary, PA, and emergent literacy skills.