Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spontaneous Reorientation Is Guided by Perceived Surface Distance, Not by Image Matching Or Comparison

Humans and animals recover their sense of position and orientation using properties of the surface layout, but the processes underlying this ability are disputed. Although behavioral and neurophysiological experiments on animals long have suggested that reorientation depends on representations of surface distance, recent experiments on young children join experimental studies and computational models of animal navigation to suggest that reorientation depends either on processing of any continuous perceptual variables or on matching of 2D, depthless images of the landscape. We tested the surface distance hypothesis against these alternatives through studies of children, using environments whose 3D shape and 2D image properties were arranged to enhance or cancel impressions of depth. In the absence of training, children reoriented by subtle differences in perceived surface distance under conditions that challenge current models of 2D-image matching or comparison processes. We provide evidence that children’s spontaneous navigation depends on representations of 3D layout geometry.
Congestion notification and probing mechanisms for endpoint admission control

There has been much interest in admission control schemes that place the burden of admission control decisions on the end users. In these schemes, referred to as Endpoint Admission Control, the decision to join the network is taken by the user, based on the probing of the network using probe packets. Depending on the level of congestion, routers mark the probe packets and thus inform the user of the state of the network. In this paper, we analyze three mechanisms for providing Endpoint Admission Control: virtual-queue marking, random-early marking and tail drop. For each scheme, we analyze the probing duration necessary to guarantee the required QoS and achieve high link utilization. Our main conclusion is that very few probe packets have to be sent when early marking is used, whereas tail drop requires a large number of probe packets
Feeding Preterm Infants after Hospital Discharge: Effect of Diet on Body Composition

Our purpose in this study was to examine whole body composition, using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) during dietary intervention in preterm infants (≤1750 g birthweight, ≤34 wk gestation). At discharge, infants were randomized to be fed either a preterm infant formula (discharge–6 mo; group A) or a term formula (discharge–6 mo; group B), or the preterm formula (discharge–term) and the term formula (term–6 mo; group C). Nutrient intake was measured between each clinic visit. To measure body composition, DEXA was used at discharge, term, 12 wk, 6 mo, and 12 mo corrected age. The data were analyzed by ANOVA. At discharge, no differences were noted in patient characteristics between groups A, B, and C. Although energy intakes were similar, protein and mineral intakes differed between groups (A > C > B;p< 0.0001). During the study, weight gain and LM gain were greater in group A than B. At 12 mo, weight, LM, FM, and BMM but not % FM or BMD were greater in group A than B. However, the effects of diet were confined to boys, with no lasting effects seen in girls. In summary, therefore, DEXA was precise enough to detect differences in whole body composition during dietary intervention. Increased weight gain primarily reflected an increase in LM and is consistent with the idea that the preterm formula more closely met protein and/or protein-energy needs in rapidly growing preterm male infants.
Defects in Innate Immunity Render Breast Cancer Initiating Cells Permissive to Oncolytic Adenovirus

Background Cancer stem cells/initiating cells (CSC/CIC), are thought to exist as a small population in malignant tissues. They are resistant to conventional cancer treatments and possibly underlie post-treatment relapse. The CIC population can be targeted with capsid modified oncolytic adenoviruses. Methodology/Principal Findings We studied the mechanisms of innate immunity to oncolytic adenovirus Ad5/3-Delta24 in conventional treatment resistant non-CIC breast cancer cells, breast cancer CD44+/CD24−/low CIC population and normal breast tissue CD44+/CD24−/low stem cells. We compared virus recognition by pattern recognition receptors for adenovirus, Toll-like receptors (TLR) 2 and 9 and virus induced type I interferon (IFN) response regulation in these cell types. We show TLR mediated virus recognition in these non-immune cell types. Normal tissue stem cells have intact type I IFN signaling. Furthermore, TLR9 and TLR2 reside constantly in recognition sites, implying constant activation. In contrast, breast cancer CD44+/CD24−/low CIC have dysregulated innate immune responses featuring dysfunctional virus recognition caused by impaired trafficking of TLR9 and cofactor MyD88 and the absence of TLR2, having a deleterious impact on TLR pattern recognition receptor signaling. Furthermore, the CIC have increased inhibitory signaling via the suppressor of cytokine signaling/Tyro3/Axl/Mer receptor tyrosine kinase (SOCS/TAM) pathway. These defects in contribute to dysfunctional induction of type I IFN response in CIC and therefore permissivity to oncolytic adenovirus. Conclusions/Significance CICs may underlie the incurable nature of relapsed or metastatic cancers and are therefore an important target regarding diagnostic and prognostic aspects as well as treatment of the disease. This study addresses the mechanisms of innate infection immunity in stem cells deepening the understanding of stem cell biology and may benefit not only virotherapy but also immunotherapy in general.
Percutaneous cryoablation of 40 solid renal tumors with US guidance and CT monitoring: initial experience.

PURPOSE To retrospectively determine the safety and effectiveness of percutaneous cryoablation, monitored with computed tomography (CT), for the treatment of solid renal masses. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study was compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and had institutional review board approval; informed consent was waived. From March 12, 2003, through August 4, 2005, 23 men and 17 women (mean age, 76 years +/- 9.7 [standard deviation]; range, 53-92 years), each with a single renal tumor, underwent one percutaneous cryoablation treatment session that combined ultrasonographic (US) guidance and CT monitoring. Technical success was defined as extension of the visible ice ball 5 mm beyond the tumor margin. Local tumor progression was defined as any tumor with intralesional enhancement or a serial increase in tumor size when compared with that on images obtained immediately after ablation. Tumor characteristics, complications, and follow-up were evaluated. RESULTS The maximum diameter of the 40 treated lesions ranged from 1.5 to 7.2 cm (mean, 3.4 cm +/- 1.3). Twenty (50%) of 40 tumors were 3 cm or larger in diameter. Nineteen tumors (48%) extended into the renal sinus fat. One complication (2%) conformed to a grade 3 event, as determined with the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (version 3.0) of the National Cancer Institute; the overall complication rate was 8%. Thirty-eight (95%) of 40 cryoablation procedures were technically successful. Twenty-nine patients underwent follow-up (mean, 8.0 months +/- 4.3; range, 1.2-18.4 months); no local tumor recurrence was found. CONCLUSION Percutaneous cryoablation with US guidance and CT monitoring is safe and effective for the treatment of solid renal tumors. Longer follow-up should provide further proof of the effectiveness of this technique.
Efficiently Delivering Online Services over Integrated Infrastructure

We present Footprint, a system for delivering online services in the "integrated" setting, where the same provider operates multiple elements of the infrastructure (e.g., proxies, data centers, and the wide area network). Such integration can boost system efficiency and performance by finely modulating how traffic enters and traverses the infrastructure. But fully realizing its benefits requires managing complex dynamics of service workloads. For instance, when a group of users are directed to a new proxy, their ongoing sessions continue to arrive at the old proxy, and this load at the old proxy declines gradually. Footprint harnesses such dynamics using a high-fidelity model that is also efficient to solve. Simulations based on a partial deployment of Footprint in Microsoft's infrastructure show that, compared to the current method, it can carry at least 50% more traffic and reduce user delays by at least 30%.
Improved Approximation for Metric Multi-Cover

We consider the metric multi-cover problem (MMC). The input consists of two point sets $Y$(servers) and $X$(clients) in an arbitrary metric space $(X \cup Y, d)$, a positive integer $k$ that represents the coverage demand of each client, and a constant $\alpha \geq 1$. Each server can have a single ball of arbitrary radius centered on it. Each client $x \in X$ needs to be covered by at least $k$ such balls centered on servers. The objective function that we wish to minimize is the sum of the $\alpha$-th powers of the radii of the balls. Bar-Yehuda[2013] gave a $3^{\alpha} \cdot k$-approximation for the MMC problem. Bhowmick et al [SoCG 13, JoCG 15] showed that an $O(1)$ approximation (independent of the coverage demand $k$) exists for the special case in which $X, Y$ are points in a fixed-dimensional space $\mathbb{R}^d$. In this paper, we present an $O(1)$-approximation for the MMC problem in any arbitrary metric space, improving the result of Bar-Yehuda[2013] and matching the guarantee for fixed-dimensional Euclidean spaces in Bhowmick et al [SoCG 13, JoCG 15].
Role of dexmedetomidine in adults in the intensive care unit: an update.

PURPOSE The role of dexmedetomidine for the management of pain, agitation, and delirium in adult patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) is reviewed and updated. SUMMARY Searches of MEDLINE (July 2006-March 2012) and an extensive manual review of journals were performed. Relevant literature with a focus on data published since our last review in 2007 was evaluated for topic relevance and clinical applicability. Optimal management of pain, agitation, and delirium in ICUs requires a systematic and multimodal approach aimed at providing comfort while maximizing outcomes. Dexmedetomidine is among multiple agents, including opioids, propofol, benzodiazepines, and antipsychotics, used to facilitate and increase patients' tolerability of mechanical ventilation. This article reviews the newest evidence available for dexmedetomidine use for sedation and analgesia in medical-surgical ICUs. Adverse effects associated with dexmedetomidine were similar among the studies examined herein. The most common adverse effects with dexmedetomidine were bradycardia and hypotension, in some cases severe enough to warrant the use of vasoactive support. Due to the adverse events associated with rapid dosage adjustment and bolus therapy, dexmedetomidine may not be the best agent for treating acute agitation. CONCLUSION In medical-surgical ICUs, dexmedetomidine may be a viable non-benzodiazepine option for patients with a need for light sedation. In cardiac surgery patients, dexmedetomidine appears to offer no advantage over propofol as the initial sedative. The role of dexmedetomidine in unique patient populations such as neurosurgical, trauma, and obstetrics is yet to be established.
Development of Broad‐Spectrum Halomethyl Ketone Inhibitors Against Coronavirus Main Protease 3CLpro

Coronaviruses comprise a large group of RNA viruses with diverse host specificity. The emergence of highly pathogenic strains like the SARS coronavirus (SARS‐CoV), and the discovery of two new coronaviruses, NL‐63 and HKU1, corroborates the high rate of mutation and recombination that have enabled them to cross species barriers and infect novel hosts. For that reason, the development of broad‐spectrum antivirals that are effective against several members of this family is highly desirable. This goal can be accomplished by designing inhibitors against a target, such as the main protease 3CLpro (Mpro), which is highly conserved among all coronaviruses. Here 3CLpro derived from the SARS‐CoV was used as the primary target to identify a new class of inhibitors containing a halomethyl ketone warhead. The compounds are highly potent against SARS 3CLpro with Ki’s as low as 300 nm. The crystal structure of the complex of one of the compounds with 3CLpro indicates that this inhibitor forms a thioether linkage between the halomethyl carbon of the warhead and the catalytic Cys 145. Furthermore, Structure Activity Relationship (SAR) studies of these compounds have led to the identification of a pharmacophore that accurately defines the essential molecular features required for the high affinity.
Characterization of the myo-Inositol Utilization Island of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium

ABSTRACT Knockout mutation of STM4432 resulted in a growth-deficient phenotype of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium in the presence of myo-inositol (MI) as the sole carbon source. STM4432 is part of a 22.6-kb genomic island which spans STM4417 to STM4436 (genomic island 4417/4436) and is responsible for MI degradation. Genome comparison revealed the presence of this island in only six Salmonella strains and a high variability of the iol gene organization in gram-negative bacteria. Upon nonpolar deletion of 11 island loci, the genes involved in six enzymatic steps of the MI pathway were identified. The generation time of S. enterica serovar Typhimurium in minimal medium with MI decreases with higher concentrations of this polyol. Reverse transcriptase PCR showed five separate transcriptional units encompassing the genes iolA-iolB, iolE-iolG1, iolC1-iolC2, iolD1-iolD2-iolG2, and iolI2-iolH. Luciferase reporter assays revealed a strong induction of their promoters in the presence of MI but not glucose. The main regulator, IolR, was identified due to a reduced lag phase of a strain mutated in STM4417 (iolR). Deletion of iolR resulted in stimulation of the iol operons, indicating its negative effect on the iol genes of S. enterica serovar Typhimurium in rich medium at a transcriptional level. Bandshift assays demonstrated the binding of this putative repressor to promoter sequences of iolA, iolC1, and iolD1. Binding of IolR to its own promoter and induced iolR expression in an IolR-negative background demonstrate that its transcription is autoregulated. This is the first characterization of MI degradation in a gram-negative bacterium, revealing a complex transcriptional organization and regulation of the S. enterica serovar Typhimurium iol genes.
Spatio-temporal Statistical Modeling: Climate Impacts due to Bioenergy Crop Expansion

Large-scale cultivation of perennial bioenergy crops (e.g., miscanthus and switchgrass) offers unique opportunities to mitigate climate change through avoided fossil fuel use and associated greenhouse gas reduction. Although conversion of existing agriculturally intensive lands (e.g., maize and soy) to perennial bioenergy cropping systems has been shown to reduce near-surface temperatures, unintended consequences on natural water resources via depletion of soil moisture may offset these benefits. In the effort of the cross-fertilization across the disciplines of physics-based modeling and spatio-temporal statistics, three topics are investigated in this dissertation aiming to provide a novel quantification and robust justifications of the hydroclimate impacts associated with bioenergy crop expansion. Topic 1 quantifies the hydroclimatic impacts associated with perennial bioenergy crop expansion over the contiguous United States using the Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF) dynamically coupled to a land surface model (LSM). A suite of continuous (2000–09) medium-range resolution (20-km grid spacing) ensemble-based simulations is conducted. Hovmöller and Taylor diagrams are utilized to evaluate simulated temperature and precipitation. In addition, Mann-Kendall modified trend tests and Sieve-bootstrap trend tests are performed to evaluate the statistical significance of trends in soil moisture differences. Finally, this research reveals potential hot spots of suitable deployment and regions to avoid. Topic 2 presents spatio-temporal Bayesian models which quantify the robustness of control simulation bias, as well as biofuel impacts, using three spatio-temporal correlation structures. A hierarchical model with spatially varying intercepts and slopes display satisfactory performance in capturing spatio-temporal associations. Simulated temperature impacts due to perennial bioenergy crop expansion are robust to physics parameterization schemes. Topic 3 further focuses on the accuracy and
k-Anonymity: A Model for Protecting Privacy

Consider a data holder, such as a hospital or a bank, that has a privately held collection of person-specific, field structured data. Suppose the data holder wants to share a version of the data with researchers. How can a data holder release a version of its private data with scientific guarantees that the individuals who are the subjects of the data cannot be re-identified while the data remain practically useful? The solution provided in this paper includes a formal protection model named k-anonymity and a set of accompanying policies for deployment. A release provides k-anonymity protection if the information for each person contained in the release cannot be distinguished from at least k-1 individuals whose information also appears in the release. This paper also examines re-identification attacks that can be realized on releases that adhere to k- anonymity unless accompanying policies are respected. The k-anonymity protection model is important because it forms the basis on which the real-world systems known as Datafly, µ-Argus and k-Similar provide guarantees of privacy protection.
The national cancer data base report on hodgkin's disease for 1985‐1989 and 1990‐1994

A national survey of the management of Hodgkin's disease patients based on cases in the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) provides a basis for evaluating the results of educational and therapeutic programs. These patients are believed to have been drawn from all nationalities, native and migrant, and were reported by hospital cancer registries throughout the United States, including large and small community hospitals, university and other teaching hospitals, military and Veterans Administration (VA) hospitals, and National Cancer Institute (NCI)‐Designated Centers.
A Broadband Filtering Duplex Patch Antenna With High Isolation

This letter presents a broadband duplex patch antenna with high isolation and filtering performance. The proposed duplex antenna consists of one radiating patch and two sets of resonator-based filtering channels as a feeding network. The broadband performance is realized by employing multimode resonators to excite the patch antenna. To improve the isolation between two channels, two sets of resonators are employed. The lower band channel resonator can generate a transmission zero in the upper band, and the upper band channel resonator can also produce a transmission zero in the lower band. Thus, high isolation between the two channels can be obtained. For demonstration, the duplex antenna is fabricated and measured. The measured impedance bandwidths of the lower and upper band channels are 10.6% (1.95–2.17 GHz) and 6.9% (2.5–2.68 GHz), respectively. High isolation of better than 45 dB is realized between the two channels.
Ribosomal frameshifting and transcriptional slippage: From genetic steganography and cryptography to adventitious use

Genetic decoding is not ‘frozen’ as was earlier thought, but dynamic. One facet of this is frameshifting that often results in synthesis of a C-terminal region encoded by a new frame. Ribosomal frameshifting is utilized for the synthesis of additional products, for regulatory purposes and for translational ‘correction’ of problem or ‘savior’ indels. Utilization for synthesis of additional products occurs prominently in the decoding of mobile chromosomal element and viral genomes. One class of regulatory frameshifting of stable chromosomal genes governs cellular polyamine levels from yeasts to humans. In many cases of productively utilized frameshifting, the proportion of ribosomes that frameshift at a shift-prone site is enhanced by specific nascent peptide or mRNA context features. Such mRNA signals, which can be 5′ or 3′ of the shift site or both, can act by pairing with ribosomal RNA or as stem loops or pseudoknots even with one component being 4 kb 3′ from the shift site. Transcriptional realignment at slippage-prone sequences also generates productively utilized products encoded trans-frame with respect to the genomic sequence. This too can be enhanced by nucleic acid structure. Together with dynamic codon redefinition, frameshifting is one of the forms of recoding that enriches gene expression.
Medication adherence in patients with diabetes mellitus: does physician drug dispensing enhance quality of care? Evidence from a large health claims database in Switzerland

Background The drug-dispensing channel is a scarcely explored determinant of medication adherence, which is considered as a key indicator for the quality of care among patients with diabetes mellitus. In this study, we investigated the difference in adherence between diabetes patients who obtained their medication directly from a prescribing physician (physician dispensing [PD]) or via a pharmacy. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted using a large health care claims database from 2011 to 2014. Patients with diabetes of all ages and receiving at least one oral antidiabetic drug (OAD) prescription were included. We calculated patients’ individual adherence to OADs defined as the proportion of days covered (PDC), which was measured over 1 year after patient identification. Good adherence was defined as PDC ≥80%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the relationship between the PDC and the dispensing channel (PD, pharmacy). Results We identified a total of 10,430 patients prescribed drugs by a dispensing physician and 16,292 patients receiving drugs from a pharmacy. Medication adherence was poor in both patient groups: ~40% of the study population attained good adherence to OADs. We found no significant impact of PD on the adherence level in diabetes patients. Covariates associated significantly with good adherence were older age groups, male sex, occurrence of comorbidity and combined diabetes drug therapy. Conclusion In conclusion, adherence to antihyperglycemic medication is suboptimal among patients with diabetes. The results of this study provide evidence that the dispensing channel does not have an impact on adherence in Switzerland. Certainly, medication adherence needs to be improved in both supply settings. Physicians as well as pharmacists are encouraged to develop and implement useful tools to increase patients’ adherence behavior.