Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of cardiac resynchronization on morbidity and mortality in heart failure.

BACKGROUND Cardiac resynchronization reduces symptoms and improves left ventricular function in many patients with heart failure due to left ventricular systolic dysfunction and cardiac dyssynchrony. We evaluated its effects on morbidity and mortality. METHODS Patients with New York Heart Association class III or IV heart failure due to left ventricular systolic dysfunction and cardiac dyssynchrony who were receiving standard pharmacologic therapy were randomly assigned to receive medical therapy alone or with cardiac resynchronization. The primary end point was the time to death from any cause or an unplanned hospitalization for a major cardiovascular event. The principal secondary end point was death from any cause. RESULTS A total of 813 patients were enrolled and followed for a mean of 29.4 months. The primary end point was reached by 159 patients in the cardiac-resynchronization group, as compared with 224 patients in the medical-therapy group (39 percent vs. 55 percent; hazard ratio, 0.63; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.51 to 0.77; P<0.001). There were 82 deaths in the cardiac-resynchronization group, as compared with 120 in the medical-therapy group (20 percent vs. 30 percent; hazard ratio 0.64; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.48 to 0.85; P<0.002). As compared with medical therapy, cardiac resynchronization reduced the interventricular mechanical delay, the end-systolic volume index, and the area of the mitral regurgitant jet; increased the left ventricular ejection fraction; and improved symptoms and the quality of life (P<0.01 for all comparisons). CONCLUSIONS In patients with heart failure and cardiac dyssynchrony, cardiac resynchronization improves symptoms and the quality of life and reduces complications and the risk of death. These benefits are in addition to those afforded by standard pharmacologic therapy. The implantation of a cardiac-resynchronization device should routinely be considered in such patients.
Security Evaluation of ES&S Voting Machines and Election Management System

This paper summarizes a security analysis of the DRE and optical scan voting systems manufactured by Election Systems and Software (ES&S), as used in Ohio (and many other jurisdictions inside and outside the US). We found numerous exploitable vulnerabilities in nearly every component of the ES&S system. These vulnerabilities enable attacks that could alter or forge precinct results, install corrupt firmware, and erase audit records. Our analysis focused on architectural issues in which the interactions between various software and hardware modules leads to systemic vulnerabilities that do not appear to be easily countered with election procedures or software updates. Despite a highly compressed schedule (ten weeks) during which we audited hundreds of thousands of lines of source code (much of which runs on custom hardware), we discovered numerous security flaws in the ES&S system that had escaped the notice of the certification authorities. We discuss our approach to the audit, which was part of Project EVEREST, commissioned by Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner.
You'll Never Walk Alone: An Experimental Study on Receiving Money

Is more money better than less? Not always. It depends on the situation. If more money for oneself means less money for a stranger, the majority of participants in dictator games choose less money for themselves. But if they really are alone - and thus do not have to share with a stranger - will they always choose to receive more money instead of less? Here, I report results from seven experiments. On average, one-third of a total of 3,351 participants chose to receive less money instead of more. In one experiment even a majority choose to receive less money. In four of the experiments the participants also faced the corresponding dictator experiment where there is an explicit anonymous recipient of the foregone money. There is a high positive correlation between “giving” as a dictator and when alone. This result opens up possibilities for broader interpretations that go beyond social the preference interpretation of giving in the dictator game.
Energy-Efficient Data Collection Protocol for Wireless Sensor Network Based on Tree

An energy-efficient data collection protocol for wireless sensor network based on tree (EEDCP-TB) is proposed in this paper. EEDCP-TB constructs data collection tree through the method of flooding avoidance and use the cascading timing scheme to allocate aggregation time in order to save node's energy; further more, this protocol introduce the node energy state parameter to meet energy balance to a certain extent when we choose forwarding nodes. Finally, compared with Flooding protocol and tree based data collection scheme (TBDCS), simulations show that the EEDCP-TB requires less transmission and receiving, saves node’s energy and prolongs network lifetime.
A subset of group A-like var genes encodes the malaria parasite ligands for binding to human brain endothelial cells

Cerebral malaria is the most deadly manifestation of infection with Plasmodium falciparum. The pathology of cerebral malaria is characterized by the accumulation of infected erythrocytes (IEs) in the microvasculature of the brain caused by parasite adhesins on the surface of IEs binding to human receptors on microvascular endothelial cells. The parasite and host molecules involved in this interaction are unknown. We selected three P. falciparum strains (HB3, 3D7, and IT/FCR3) for binding to a human brain endothelial cell line (HBEC-5i). The whole transcriptome of isogenic pairs of selected and unselected parasites was analyzed using a variant surface antigen-supplemented microarray chip. After selection, the most highly and consistently up-regulated genes were a subset of group A-like var genes (HB3var3, 3D7_PFD0020c, ITvar7, and ITvar19) that showed 11- to >100-fold increased transcription levels. These var genes encode P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein (PfEMP)1 variants with distinct N-terminal domain types (domain cassette 8 or domain cassette 13). Antibodies to HB3var3 and PFD0020c recognized the surface of live IEs and blocked binding to HBEC-5i, thereby confirming the adhesive function of these variants. The clinical in vivo relevance of the HBEC-selected parasites was supported by significantly higher surface recognition of HBEC-selected parasites compared with unselected parasites by antibodies from young African children suffering cerebral malaria (Mann–Whitney test, P = 0.029) but not by antibodies from controls with uncomplicated malaria (Mann–Whitney test, P = 0.58). This work describes a binding phenotype for virulence-associated group A P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 variants and identifies targets for interventions to treat or prevent cerebral malaria.
The effects of Campsis grandiflora on the model rats with endometriosis.

Endometriosis is associated with pelvic pain and in fertility, which affects approximately 10% of women of reproductive age. In recent years, Curcuma xanthorrhiza (CG) has been administered by some clinical practitioners to trea t endometriosis and get satisfactory curative effects. The present study was then designed t o investigate the effects of CG on the model rats with endometriosis. Forty female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into CG group, Danazol group (DAN group), model control group (MOD group) and the sham-operation group (SHAM group). After all the treatment ended, the levels of Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin (IL)-18 in the peritoneal fluids and the lev els of cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) and IL-6 in the serum were detected using enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay (ELISA) as directed by the manufacturer. The levels of TNF-alpha, VEGF and IL-18 in the peritoneal fluids and the levels of CA-125 and IL-6 in the serum of CG group, DAN group and SHAM group were significantly lower than those of the MOD group, respectively (P<0.05). CG significantly decreased the levels of TNF-alpha, VEGF and IL-18 in the peritoneal fluids and the levels of CA-125 and IL-6 in the serum of the model rats with endometriosis (P<0.05). It may be through decreasing the levels of TNF-alpha, VEGF and IL-18 in the peritoneal fluids and the levels of CA125 and IL-6 in the serum o f model rats with endometriosis that CG relieves the disease significantly.
PENGARUH PEMBELAJARAN BERBASIS PEMECAHAN MASALAH BERBANTUAN JURNAL BELAJAR TERHADAP KEMAMPUAN METAKOGNITIF

: The aim of this research is to find out whether the metacognitive ability of students involved in problem-solving based learning combined with learning journal is higher than that of the student in problem-solving without learning journal. This study employed a quasi-experimental by using the matching only-Postest only control group design. The population involved 2 (two) classes: offering I as an experiment group, and offering G as the control group. The control group was taught by problem-solving model, and the experiment group was taught by problem-solving augmented with learning journal. The measurements are learning journal scores and metacognitive awareness. The result shows metacognitive ability of students involved in problem-solving method combined with learning journal is higher than that of students involved in problem-solving without learning journal.
Volatiles and Water- and Fat-Soluble Precursors of Saanen Goat and Cross Suffolk Lamb Flavour

This paper evaluates the concentrations of water- and fat-soluble precursors of meat flavour, with the aim of characterising the effect of species on the volatile profile of grilled goat and lamb meat. Compared to goat, lamb meat had higher levels of saturated fatty acids—SFA, monounsaturated fatty acids—MUFA and polyunsaturated fatty acids—PUFA and similar levels of sugars and free amino acids, except for lysine and glycine, which were higher in goat. Major differences were detected in lipid-derived volatiles; only pyrazine, thiazole, and some Strecker aldehydes were at different concentrations in these species. Volatile compounds derived from the oxidation of linoleic acid were at higher levels in meat from lamb due to the higher concentration of the latter, while compounds formed from α-linolenic acid were at higher levels in goat. It can be concluded that lamb meat has a stronger flavour profile compared to goat meat because it has the highest concentrations of lipid-derived volatile compounds, primarily straight saturated alkanals, pyrazines and thiazole.
Betaglycan can act as a dual modulator of TGF-beta access to signaling receptors: mapping of ligand binding and GAG attachment sites

Betaglycan, also known as the TGF-beta type III receptor, is a membrane- anchored proteoglycan that presents TGF-beta to the type II signaling receptor, a transmembrane serine/threonine kinase. The betaglycan extracellular region, which can be shed by cells into the medium, contains a NH2-terminal domain related to endoglin and a COOH-terminal domain related to uromodulin, sperm receptors Zp2 and 3, and pancreatic secretory granule GP-2 protein. We identified residues Ser535 and Ser546 in the uromodulin-related region as the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) attachment sites. Their mutation to alanine prevents GAG attachment but does not interfere with betaglycan stability or ability to bind and present TGF-beta to receptor II. Using a panel of deletion mutants, we found that TGF-beta binds to the NH2-terminal endoglin-related region of betaglycan. The remainder of the extracellular domain and the cytoplasmic domain are not required for presentation of TGF-beta to receptor II; however, membrane anchorage is required. Soluble betaglycan can bind TGF-beta but does not enhance binding to membrane receptors. In fact, recombinant soluble betaglycan acts as potent inhibitor of TGF-beta binding to membrane receptors and blocks TGF-beta action, this effect being particularly pronounced with the TGF-beta 2 isoform. The results suggest that release of betaglycan into the medium converts this enhancer of TGF-beta action into a TGF-beta antagonist.
The Use of Google Trends in Health Care Research: A Systematic Review

Background Google Trends is a novel, freely accessible tool that allows users to interact with Internet search data, which may provide deep insights into population behavior and health-related phenomena. However, there is limited knowledge about its potential uses and limitations. We therefore systematically reviewed health care literature using Google Trends to classify articles by topic and study aim; evaluate the methodology and validation of the tool; and address limitations for its use in research. Methods and Findings PRISMA guidelines were followed. Two independent reviewers systematically identified studies utilizing Google Trends for health care research from MEDLINE and PubMed. Seventy studies met our inclusion criteria. Google Trends publications increased seven-fold from 2009 to 2013. Studies were classified into four topic domains: infectious disease (27% of articles), mental health and substance use (24%), other non-communicable diseases (16%), and general population behavior (33%). By use, 27% of articles utilized Google Trends for casual inference, 39% for description, and 34% for surveillance. Among surveillance studies, 92% were validated against a reference standard data source, and 80% of studies using correlation had a correlation statistic ≥0.70. Overall, 67% of articles provided a rationale for their search input. However, only 7% of articles were reproducible based on complete documentation of search strategy. We present a checklist to facilitate appropriate methodological documentation for future studies. A limitation of the study is the challenge of classifying heterogeneous studies utilizing a novel data source. Conclusion Google Trends is being used to study health phenomena in a variety of topic domains in myriad ways. However, poor documentation of methods precludes the reproducibility of the findings. Such documentation would enable other researchers to determine the consistency of results provided by Google Trends for a well-specified query over time. Furthermore, greater transparency can improve its reliability as a research tool.
Active Inference for Collective Classification

Labeling nodes in a network is an important problem that has seen a growing interest. A number of methods that exploit both local and relational information have been developed for this task. Acquiring the labels for a few nodes at inference time can greatly improve the accuracy, however the question of figuring out which node labels to acquire is challenging. Previous approaches have been based on simple structural properties. Here, we present a novel technique, which we refer to as reflect and correct,that can learn and predict when the underlying classification system is likely to make mistakes and it suggests acquisitions to correct those mistakes.
Prefrontal Contributions to Metacognition in Perceptual Decision Making

Neuroscience has made considerable progress in understanding the neural substrates supporting cognitive performance in a number of domains, including memory, perception, and decision making. In contrast, how the human brain generates metacognitive awareness of task performance remains unclear. Here, we address this question by asking participants to perform perceptual decisions while providing concurrent metacognitive reports during fMRI scanning. We show that activity in right rostrolateral prefrontal cortex (rlPFC) satisfies three constraints for a role in metacognitive aspects of decision-making. Right rlPFC showed greater activity during self-report compared to a matched control condition, activity in this region correlated with reported confidence, and the strength of the relationship between activity and confidence predicted metacognitive ability across individuals. In addition, functional connectivity between right rlPFC and both contralateral PFC and visual cortex increased during metacognitive reports. We discuss these findings in a theoretical framework where rlPFC re-represents object-level decision uncertainty to facilitate metacognitive report.
A Missense Mutation in PPP1R15B Causes a Syndrome Including Diabetes, Short Stature, and Microcephaly

Dysregulated endoplasmic reticulum stress and phosphorylation of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α (eIF2α) are associated with pancreatic β-cell failure and diabetes. Here, we report the first homozygous mutation in the PPP1R15B gene (also known as constitutive repressor of eIF2α phosphorylation [CReP]) encoding the regulatory subunit of an eIF2α-specific phosphatase in two siblings affected by a novel syndrome of diabetes of youth with short stature, intellectual disability, and microcephaly. The R658C mutation in PPP1R15B affects a conserved amino acid within the domain important for protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) binding. The R658C mutation decreases PP1 binding and eIF2α dephosphorylation and results in β-cell apoptosis. Our findings support the concept that dysregulated eIF2α phosphorylation, whether decreased by mutation of the kinase (EIF2AK3) in Wolcott-Rallison syndrome or increased by mutation of the phosphatase (PPP1R15B), is deleterious to β-cells and other secretory tissues, resulting in diabetes associated with multisystem abnormalities.
Progressive Changes in Walking Kinematics and Kinetics After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury and Reconstruction: A Review and Meta-Analysis.

CONTEXT Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and ACL reconstruction (ACLR) result in persistent alterations in lower extremity movement patterns. The progression of lower extremity biomechanics from the time of injury has not been described. OBJECTIVE To compare the 3-dimensional (3D) lower extremity kinematics and kinetics of walking among individuals with ACL deficiency (ACLD), individuals with ACLR, and healthy control participants from 3 to 64 months after ACLR. DATA SOURCES We searched PubMed and Web of Science from 1970 through 2013. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION We selected only articles that provided peak kinematic and kinetic values during walking in individuals with ACLD or ACLR and comparison with a healthy control group or the contralateral uninjured limb. DATA SYNTHESIS A total of 27 of 511 identified studies were included. Weighted means, pooled standard deviations, and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for the healthy control, ACLD, and ACLR groups at each reported time since surgery. The magnitude of between-groups (ACLR versus ACLD, control, or contralateral limb) differences at each time point was evaluated using Cohen d effect sizes and associated 95% confidence intervals. Peak knee-flexion angle (Cohen d = -0.41) and external knee-extensor moment (Cohen d = -0.68) were smaller in the ACLD than in the healthy control group. Peak knee-flexion angle (Cohen d range = -0.78 to -1.23) and external knee-extensor moment (Cohen d range = -1.39 to -2.16) were smaller in the ACLR group from 10 to 40 months after ACLR. Reductions in external knee-adduction moment (Cohen d range = -0.50 to -1.23) were present from 9 to 42 months after ACLR. CONCLUSIONS Reductions in peak knee-flexion angle, external knee-flexion moment, and external knee-adduction moment were present in the ACLD and ACLR groups. This movement profile during the loading phase of gait has been linked to knee-cartilage degeneration and may contribute to the development of osteoarthritis after ACLR.
Meta-Analysis Persistent Human Papillomavirus Infection and Cervical Neoplasia : A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Detection of persistent cervical carcinogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA is used as a marker for cervical cancer risk in clinical trials. The authors performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between persistent HPV DNA and high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN2-3), high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL), and invasive cervical cancer (together designated CIN2-3/HSILþ) to evaluate the robustness of HPV persistence for clinical use. MEDLINE and Current
Computational Docking Study of p7 Ion Channel from HCV Genotype 3 and Genotype 4 and Its Interaction with Natural Compounds

Background The current standard care therapy for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection consists of two regimes, namely interferon-based and interferon-free treatments. The treatment through the combination of ribavirin and pegylated interferon is expensive, only mildly effective, and is associated with severe side effects. In 2011, two direct-acting antiviral (DAA) drugs, boceprevir and telaprevir, were licensed that have shown enhanced sustained virologic response (SVR) in phase III clinical trial, however, these interferon-free treatments are more sensitive to HCV genotype 1 infection. The variable nature of HCV, and the limited number of inhibitors developed thus aim in expanding the repertoire of available drug targets, resulting in targeting the virus assembly therapeutically. Aim We conducted this study to predict the 3D structure of the p7 protein from the HCV genotypes 3 and 4. Approximately 63 amino acid residues encoded in HCV render this channel sensitive to inhibitors, making p7 a promising target for novel therapies. HCV p7 protein forms a small membrane known as viroporin, and is essential for effective self-assembly of large channels that conduct cation assembly and discharge infectious virion particles. Method In this study, we screened drugs and flavonoids known to disrupt translation and production of HCV proteins, targeted against the active site of p7 residues of HCV genotype 3 (GT3) (isolatek3a) and HCV genotype 4a (GT4) (isolateED43). Furthermore, we conducted a quantitative structure–activity relationship and docking interaction study. Results The drug NB-DNJ formed the highest number of hydrogen bond interactions with both modeled p7 proteins with high interaction energy, followed by BIT225. A flavonoid screen demonstrated that Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), nobiletin, and quercetin, have more binding modes in GT3 than in GT4. Thus, the predicted p7 protein molecule of HCV from GT3 and GT4 provides a general avenue to target structure-based antiviral compounds. Conclusions We hypothesize that the inhibitors of viral p7 identified in this screen may be a new class of potent agents, but further confirmation in vitro and in vivo is essential. This structure-guided drug design for both GT3 and GT4 can lead to the identification of drug-like natural compounds, confirming p7 as a new target in the rapidly increasing era of HCV.
Learning Fine-Scaled Depth Maps from Single RGB Images

Inferring the underlying depth map from a single image is an ill-posed and inherently ambiguous problem. State-of-the-art deep learning methods can now estimate accurate depth maps, but when projected into 3D, still lack local detail and are often highly distorted. We propose a multi-scale convolution neural network to learn from single RGB images fine-scaled depth maps that result in realistic 3D reconstructions. To encourage spatial coherency, we introduce spatial coordinate feature maps and a local relative depth constraint. In our network, the three scales are closely integrated with skip fusion layers, making it highly efficient to train with large-scale data. Experiments on the NYU Depth v2 dataset shows that our depth predictions are not only competitive with state-of-the-art but also leading to 3D reconstructions that are accurate and rich with detail.