Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II and Simplified Acute Physiology Score II in Predicting Hospital Mortality of Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit Patients

We study the predictive power of Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) and Simplified Acute Physiology Score II (SAPS II) in neurosurgical intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Retrospective investigation was conducted on 672 consecutive ICU patients during the last 2 yr. Data were collected during the first 24 hours of admission and analyzed to calculate predicted mortality. Mortality predicted by two systems was compared and, multivariate analyses were then performed for subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. Observed mortality was 24.8% whereas predicted mortalities were 37.7% and 38.4%, according to APACHE II and SAPS II. Calibration curve was close to the line of perfect prediction. SAPS II was not statistically significant according to a Lemeshow-Hosmer test, but slightly favored by area under the curve (AUC). In SAH patients, SAPS II was an independent predictor for mortality. In TBI patients, both systems had independent prognostic implications. Scoring systems are useful in predicting mortality and measuring performance in neurosurgical ICU setting. TBI patients are more affected by systemic insults than SAH patients, and this discrepancy of predicting mortality in each neurosurgical disease prompts us to develop a more specific scoring system targeted to cerebral dysfunction.
Integrated 18F-FDG PET/MR Imaging in the Assessment of Cardiac Masses: A Pilot Study

The objective of the present study was to evaluate whether integrated 18F-FDG PET/MR imaging could improve the diagnostic workup in patients with cardiac masses. Methods: Twenty patients were prospectively assessed using integrated cardiac 18F-FDG PET/MR imaging: 16 patients with cardiac masses of unknown identity and 4 patients with cardiac sarcoma after surgical therapy. All scans were obtained on an integrated 3-T PET/MR device. The MR protocol consisted of half Fourier acquisition single-shot turbo spin-echo sequence, cine, and T2-weighted images as well as T1-weighted images before and after injection of gadobutrol. PET data were acquired simultaneously with the MR scan after injection of 199 ± 58 MBq of 18F-FDG. Patients were prepared with a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet in a period of 24 h before the examination, and 50 IU/kg of unfractionated heparin were administered intravenously 15 min before 18F-FDG injection. Results: Cardiac masses were diagnosed as follows: metastases, 3; direct tumor infiltration via pulmonary vein, 1; local relapse of primary sarcoma after surgery, 2; Burkitt lymphoma, 1; scar/patch tissue after surgery of primary sarcoma, 2; myxoma, 4; fibroelastoma, 1; caseous calcification of mitral annulus, 3; and thrombus, 3. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) in malignant lesions was significantly higher than in nonmalignant cases (13.2 ± 6.2 vs. 2.3 ± 1.2, P = 0.0004). When a threshold of 5.2 or greater was used, SUVmax was found to yield 100% sensitivity and 92% specificity for the differentiation between malignant and nonmalignant cases. T2-weighted hyperintensity and contrast enhancement both yielded 100% sensitivity but a weak specificity of 54% and 46%, respectively. Morphologic tumor features as assessed by cine MR imaging yielded 86% sensitivity and 92% specificity. Consent interpretation using all available MR features yielded 100% sensitivity and 92% specificity. A Boolean ‘AND’ combination of an SUVmax of 5.2 or greater with consent MR image interpretation improved sensitivity and specificity to 100%. Conclusion: In selected patients, 18F-FDG PET/MR imaging can improve the noninvasive diagnosis and follow-up of cardiac masses.
Structural brain abnormalities in 12 persons with aniridia

Background: Aniridia is a disorder predominately caused by heterozygous loss-of-function mutations of the PAX6 gene, which is a transcriptional regulator necessary for normal eye and brain development. The ocular abnormalities of aniridia have been well characterized, but mounting evidence has implicated brain-related phenotypes as a prominent feature of this disorder as well. Investigations using neuroimaging in aniridia patients have shown reductions in discrete brain structures and changes in global grey and white matter. However, limited sample sizes and substantive heterogeneity of structural phenotypes in the brain remain a challenge. Methods: Here, we examined brain structure in a new population sample in an effort to add to the collective understanding of anatomical abnormalities in aniridia. The current study used 3T magnetic resonance imaging to acquire high-resolution structural data in 12 persons with aniridia and 12 healthy demographically matched comparison subjects. Results: We examined five major structures: the anterior commissure, the posterior commissure, the pineal gland, the corpus callosum, and the optic chiasm. The most consistent reductions were found in the anterior commissure and the pineal gland; however, abnormalities in all of the other structures examined were present in at least one individual. Conclusions: Our results indicate that the anatomical abnormalities in aniridia are variable and largely individual-specific. These findings suggest that future studies investigate this heterogeneity further, and that normal population variation should be considered when evaluating structural abnormalities.
Research Article Open Access Expression and Clinical Significance of Lxrα and Srebp-1c in Placentas of Preeclampsia

Objective: To evaluate the expression and correlations of liver X receptor alpha (LXRα) and its target gene sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SRE-BP-1c) in placentas of preeclampsia (PE) and their significance in PE. Methods: Pregnancies were divided into two groups, 60 cases (29 cases of mild and 31 cases of severe) of PE group and 56 cases of normal group. The level of mRNA and protein of LXRα and SREBP-1c were analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) in the placentas. Results: RT-PCR and IHC results showed that the mRNA and protein expression of both LXRα and SREBP-1c increased gradually with the extent of PE among normal pregnancy, mild PE and severe PE groups, and the differences were of statistically significance (P<0.01 or P<0.05). There were positive correlations between the expression of LXRα mRNA and SREBP-1c mRNA, also between LXRα mRNA and LXRα protein (r=0.521, P<0.01; r=0.422, P<0.01). The expression of SREBP-1c mRNA positively correlated with its protein level (r=0.598, P<0.01). There were positive correlations between the expression of LXRα protein and SREBP-1c protein (r=0.612, P<0.01). Conclusion: The expression of LXRα is elevated significantly in placentas of PE patients, and might contribute for promoting the transcription and translation of its target gene SREBP1-c, which is related to the occurrence and development of PE.
Machine Learning based Work Task Classification

Increasing the productivity of a knowledge worker via intelligent applications requires the identification of a user's current work task, i.e. the current work context a user resides in. In this work we present and evaluate machine learning based work task detection methods. By viewing a work task as sequence of digital interaction patterns of mouse clicks and key strokes, we present (i) a methodology for recording those user interactions and (ii) an in-depth analysis of supervised classification models for classifying work tasks in two different scenarios: a task centric scenario and a user centric scenario. We analyze different supervised classification models, feature types and feature selection methods on a laboratory as well as a real world data set. Results show satisfiable accuracy and high user acceptance by using relatively simple types of features.
jpHMM: Improving the reliability of recombination prediction in HIV-1

Previously, we developed jumping profile hidden Markov model (jpHMM), a new method to detect recombinations in HIV-1 genomes. The jpHMM predicts recombination breakpoints in a query sequence and assigns to each position of the sequence one of the major HIV-1 subtypes. Since incorrect subtype assignment or recombination prediction may lead to wrong conclusions in epidemiological or vaccine research, information about the reliability of the predicted parental subtypes and breakpoint positions is valuable. For this reason, we extended the output of jpHMM to include such information in terms of ‘uncertainty’ regions in the recombination prediction and an interval estimate of the breakpoint. Both types of information are computed based on the posterior probabilities of the subtypes at each query sequence position. Our results show that this extension strongly improves the reliability of the jpHMM recombination prediction. The jpHMM is available online at http://jphmm.gobics. de/.
Performance of the smart antenna aided generalized multicarrier DS-CDMA downlink using both time-domain spreading and steered space-time spreading

In this contribution a generalized MC DS-CDMA system invoking smart antennas for improving the achievable performance in the downlink of the system is studied, which is capable of minimizing the downlink interference inflicted upon co-channel mobiles, while achieving frequency, time and spatial diversity. In the MC DS-CDMA system considered the transmitter employs multiple antenna arrays and each of the antenna arrays consists of several antenna elements. More specifically, the space-time transmitter processing scheme considered is based on the principles of Steered Space-Time Spreading (SSTS). Furthermore, the generalized MC DS-CDMA system employs time and frequency (TF)-domain spreading, where a user-grouping technique is employed for reducing the effects of multiuser interference.
Comprehensive modeling of electromigration induced interconnect degradation mechanisms

The reliability requirements on modern interconnect and the physical complexity of electromigration phenomena demand close and systematic application of experimental and TCAD based methods for the assessment of interconnect failure and the development of sophisticated layout design rules. We present and discuss state-of-the art electromigration models for both phases of failure development: void nucleation and void evolution. The discussion includes the role of copper microstructure, mechanical stress, capping layer, and void nucleation conditions. A concept for usage of the presented models for prediction of time-to-failure in three- dimensional interconnect geometries is given and demonstrated on examples. The results of simulations are discussed and verified with results of accelerated interconnect testing.
The shadow of a doubt? Evidence for perceptuo-motor linkage during auditory and audiovisual close-shadowing

One classical argument in favor of a functional role of the motor system in speech perception comes from the close-shadowing task in which a subject has to identify and to repeat as quickly as possible an auditory speech stimulus. The fact that close-shadowing can occur very rapidly and much faster than manual identification of the speech target is taken to suggest that perceptually induced speech representations are already shaped in a motor-compatible format. Another argument is provided by audiovisual interactions often interpreted as referring to a multisensory-motor framework. In this study, we attempted to combine these two paradigms by testing whether the visual modality could speed motor response in a close-shadowing task. To this aim, both oral and manual responses were evaluated during the perception of auditory and audiovisual speech stimuli, clear or embedded in white noise. Overall, oral responses were faster than manual ones, but it also appeared that they were less accurate in noise, which suggests that motor representations evoked by the speech input could be rough at a first processing stage. In the presence of acoustic noise, the audiovisual modality led to both faster and more accurate responses than the auditory modality. No interaction was however, observed between modality and response. Altogether, these results are interpreted within a two-stage sensory-motor framework, in which the auditory and visual streams are integrated together and with internally generated motor representations before a final decision may be available.
ECT practices in Iraq: a national audit

Aims and method This national audit examined practice of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in Iraq against local standards. Data were collected by a questionnaire sent to heads of departments or medical directors in the 10 Iraqi hospitals which provide ECT and by examining case notes of all patients who had ECT in the first 6 months of 2013. Results Of the 26 psychiatric hospitals in Iraq, 10 provide ECT. There were some resource shortcomings in the ECT clinics (e.g. only 2 had a minimum of 2 rooms and all had no EEG monitoring). During the audit period, 251 patients had ECT. The mean age was 36.2 years and 51.8% were males. Bilateral ECT was used in all cases, general anaesthesia in 77.15%. The main indication for ECT was schizophrenia, followed by severe depression, resistant mania, catatonia and others. Clinical implications More work is needed to ensure all patients receive modified ECT. ECT is still used widely for schizophrenia. This needs further exploration and training.
Characterization of the Aspergillus nidulans Monodictyphenone Gene Cluster

ABSTRACT Deletion of cclA, a component of the COMPASS complex of Aspergillus nidulans, results in the production of monodictyphenone and emodin derivatives. Through a set of targeted deletions in a cclA deletion strain, we have identified the genes required for monodictyphenone and emodin analog biosynthesis. Identification of an intermediate, endocrocin, from an mdpHΔ strain suggests that mdpH might encode a decarboxylase. Furthermore, by replacing the promoter of mdpA (a putative aflJ homolog) and mdpE (a putative aflR homolog) with the inducible alcA promoter, we have confirmed that MdpA functions as a coactivator. We propose a biosynthetic pathway for monodictyphenone and emodin derivatives based on bioinformatic analysis and characterization of biosynthetic intermediates.
Cyclical caspofungin for chronic pulmonary aspergillosis in sarcoidosis

Abstract In sarcoidosis, chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) may be associated with significant morbidity, and treatment failure rates are often high, even with newer triazole antifungal agents. We report a treatment regimen of cyclical caspofungin infusions in 10 patients with sarcoidosis and worsening CPA despite oral triazoles.
Investigating Sensitivity of East Asian Monsoon to Orbital Forcing During the Late Pliocene Warm Period

The Late Pliocene climate (3.264–3.025 Ma) is thought to be relatively warm and stable compared with the Pleistocene, but with clear orbital‐scale climate variability. Using the Community Earth System Model, we investigate the sensitivity of East Asian monsoon to realistic orbital forcing during the Late Pliocene. Initial evaluation shows that the Community Earth System Model broadly captures modern East Asian monsoon climatology and reproduces the reconstructed stronger (weaker) East Asian summer (winter) monsoon in the Late Pliocene under the PRISM3D (Pliocene Research, Interpretation and Synoptic Mapping) boundary conditions that use present‐day orbital configurations. Sensitivity experiments indicate that summer and winter temperatures averaged over the East Asia continent remain higher for different orbital configurations in the Late Pliocene than the preindustrial, but with different warming magnitude. Variation of East Asian summer monsoon is significantly modulated by orbital forcing in the Late Pliocene. Under several extreme orbital configurations, the summer monsoon becomes weaker relative to the preindustrial. This is attributed to the fact that the orbitally induced decrease in land‐sea thermal contrast exceeds the increase arising from the PRISM3D boundary conditions. East Asian winter monsoon exhibits a relatively stable feature and remains weaker in the Late Pliocene even with extreme orbital forcing, as the effect of PRISM3D boundary conditions that lead to reduced land‐sea thermal contrast overwhelms the influence of orbital forcing. Given limitations of snapshot time slab simulation and different model sensitivity, the orbital‐scale variability of East Asian monsoon in the Late Pliocene should be further explored using transient simulation and with other coupled models.
Bacteriological incidence in pneumonia patients with pulmonary emphysema: a bacterial floral analysis using the 16S ribosomal RNA gene in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid

Pulmonary emphysema is an important radiological finding in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients, but bacteriological differences in pneumonia patients according to the severity of emphysematous changes have not been reported. Therefore, we evaluated the bacteriological incidence in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of pneumonia patients using cultivation and a culture-independent molecular method. Japanese patients with community-acquired pneumonia (83) and healthcare-associated pneumonia (94) between April 2010 and February 2014 were evaluated. The BALF obtained from pneumonia lesions was evaluated by both cultivation and a molecular method. In the molecular method, ~600 base pairs of bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA genes in the BALF were amplified by polymerase chain reaction, and clone libraries were constructed. The nucleotide sequences of 96 randomly selected colonies were determined, and a homology search was performed to identify the bacterial species. A qualitative radiological evaluation of pulmonary emphysema based on chest computed tomography (CT) images was performed using the Goddard classification. The severity of pulmonary emphysema based on the Goddard classification was none in 47.4% (84/177), mild in 36.2% (64/177), moderate in 10.2% (18/177), and severe in 6.2% (11/177). Using the culture-independent molecular method, Moraxella catarrhalis was significantly more frequently detected in moderate or severe emphysema patients than in patients with no or mild emphysematous changes. The detection rates of Haemophilus influenzae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were unrelated to the severity of pulmonary emphysematous changes, and Streptococcus species – except for the S. anginosus group and S. pneumoniae – were detected more frequently using the molecular method we used for the BALF of patients with pneumonia than using culture methods. Our findings suggest that M. catarrhalis is more frequently detected in pneumonia patients with moderate or severe emphysema than in those with no or mild emphysematous changes on chest CT. M. catarrhalis may play a major role in patients with pneumonia complicating severe pulmonary emphysema.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Identifying polyglutamine protein species in situ that best predict neurodegeneration

Jason Miller, Montserrat Arrasate, Elizabeth Brooks, Clare Peters Libeu, Justin Legleiter, Danny Hatters, Jessica Curtis, Kenneth Cheung, Preethi Krishnan, Siddhartha Mitra, Kartika Widjaja, Benjamin A. Shaby, Gregor P. Lotz, Yvonne Newhouse, Emily J. Mitchell, Alex Osmand, Michelle Gray, Vanitha Thulasiramin, Frédéric Saudou, Mark Segal, X. William Yang, Eliezer Masliah, Leslie M. Thompson, Paul J. Muchowski, Karl H. Weisgraber, and Steven Finkbeiner
Feedback on students' clinical reasoning skills during fieldwork education

Background/aim Feedback on clinical reasoning skills during fieldwork education is regarded as vital in occupational therapy students' professional development. The nature of supervisors' feedback however, could be confirmative and/or corrective and corrective feedback could be with or without suggestions on how to improve. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of supervisors' feedback on final-year occupational therapy students' clinical reasoning skills through comparing the nature of feedback with the students' subsequent clinical reasoning ability. Method A mixed-method approach with a convergent parallel design was used combining the collection and analysis of qualitative and quantitative data. From focus groups and interviews with students, data were collected and analysed qualitatively to determine how the students experienced the feedback they received from their supervisors. By quantitatively comparing the final practical exam grades with the nature of the feedback, their fieldwork End-of-Term grades and average academic performance it became possible to merge the results for comparison and interpretation. Results Students' clinical reasoning skills seem to be improved through corrective feedback if accompanied by suggestions on how to improve, irrespective of their average academic performance. Supervisors were inclined to underrate high performing students and overrate lower performing students. Conclusions Students who obtained higher grades in the final practical examinations received more corrective feedback with suggestions on how to improve from their supervisors. Confirmative feedback alone may not be sufficient for improving the clinical reasoning skills of students.
How Category Structure Influences the Perception of Object Similarity: The Atypicality Bias

Why do some faces appear more similar than others? Beyond structural factors, we speculate that similarity is governed by the organization of faces located in a multi-dimensional face space. To test this hypothesis, we morphed a typical face with an atypical face. If similarity judgments are guided purely by their physical properties, the morph should be perceived to be equally similar to its typical parent as its atypical parent. However, contrary to the structural prediction, our results showed that the morph face was perceived to be more similar to the atypical face than the typical face. Our empirical studies show that the atypicality bias is not limited to faces, but extends to other object categories (birds) whose members share common shape properties. We also demonstrate atypicality bias is malleable and can change subject to category learning and experience. Collectively, the empirical evidence indicates that perceptions of face and object similarity are affected by the distribution of stimuli in a face or object space. In this framework, atypical stimuli are located in a sparser region of the space where there is less competition for recognition and therefore, these representations capture a broader range of inputs. In contrast, typical stimuli are located in a denser region of category space where there is increased competition for recognition and hence, these representation draw a more restricted range of face inputs. These results suggest that the perceived likeness of an object is influenced by the organization of surrounding exemplars in the category space.
An Improved Multi-Rules-Based ACO algorithm for FJSS Problem in Cloud Manufacturing Environment

In cloud manufacturing environment, for a scheduling Job, there may be a lot of servicizing manufacturing resources and manufacturing capability that can be used to support for its realizing. Therefore, how to efficiently solve FJSS problem becomes more complex and significant. First, this paper uses disjunctive graph model to analyze the characteristic of FJSS problems, and then, focusing on machine selection sub problem, this paper designs multi-rules to solve machine selection conflicts in different scenarios. Finally, on this basis, an improved multi-rules-based ACO algorithm is proposed. The algorithm is applied to the typical examples of the flexible job-shop scheduling problem. Compared with other algorithms, final experimental results indicate that this algorithm is effective.