Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Radiological Analysis of Inferior Turbinate in Patients with Deviated Nasal Septum by Using Computed Tomography

Background The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between nasal septum deviation grade and inferior turbinate hypertrophy with the computed tomography (CT). Methods The paranasal sinus CTs of 82 patients with septum deviation were evaluated. Nonhypertrophied inferior turbinates on the deviated side of the nasal septum were accepted as the control group and hypertrophic inferior turbinates of the other side were taken as the compensatory group in the same patient. The turbinate bone, medial mucosa, lateral mucosa, septal deviation angle, and deviation volume were measured using three-dimensional CT. Results The study group included 82 patients (M/F, 42/40) and ages ranged from 17 to 79 years (mean, 38.5 ± 14 years). There was a statistically significant positive correlation between the deviation angle and the deviation volume (p < 0.01). The measurements of the inferior turbinate bone and medial and lateral mucosal thickness were statistically different between the compensatory group and the control group (p < 0.01). There were no statistically significant differences in comparisons between the lateral and medial mucosal thickness with the deviation angle and the deviation volume in the two groups (p > 0.05). A positive correlation between the measurements of the deviation angle, deviation volume, and bone thickness was found statistically significant in the compensatory group (p < 0.05). Conclusion The compensatory hypertrophy of inferior turbinates in patients with nasal septum deviation is not only caused by mucosal hypertrophy, but also by hypertrophy of the inferior turbinate bone itself. The assistance of preoperative CT before septoplasty can be useful when deciding on the surgical technique to fix turbinate.
Phase Transitions of Large N Orbifold Gauge Theories(Fundamental Problems and Applications of Quantum Field Theory-Topological Aspects of Quantum Field Theory-)

We study the phase structures of = 4 U(N) super Yang-Mills theories on ? S3/k with large N. The theory has many vacua labelled by the holonomy matrix along the non-trivial cycle on S3/k, and for the fermions the periodic and the anti-periodic boundary conditions can be assigned along the cycle. We compute the partition functions of the orbifold theories and observe that phase transitions occur even in the zero 't Hooft coupling limit. With the periodic boundary condition, the vacua of the gauge theory are dual to various arrangements of k NS5-branes. With the anti-periodic boundary condition, transitions between the vacua are dual to localized tachyon condensations. In particular, the mass of a deformed geometry is compared with the Casimir energy for the dual vacuum. We also obtain an index for the supersymmetric orbifold theory.
Conceptual framework for tasks in information studies

Today information-intensive work tasks in professional settings involve highly dynamic information utilization in which information seeking and searching tasks are taking a more central role. This article considers the concept of task in the context of information studies in order to provide a definitional clarity for task-based information seeking and retrieval studies. We identify (1) the central task levels as well as (2) the kinds of dimensions connected to the levels from the perspective of information studies. The analysis is aimed to serve as a conceptual starting point for empirical studies in the research area. The focus is on some central aspects of tasks that are recognized within information studies as well as related research areas (e.g., organizational studies). We define two levels of information-related subtasks: information seeking tasks and information search tasks. Information retrieval tasks are explicitly considered as a specific type of information search task. We describe differences and connections between these task levels. Finally, the implications of the proposed conceptual framework for information studies are discussed.
The RR Lyrae star period – K-band luminosity relation of the globular cluster M 3

That the RR Lyrae star period – K -band luminosity relation is a promising tool as a distance indicator in the Milky Way and Local Group of galaxies is apparent on observational and theoretical grounds in the literature. Less clear is the sensitivity of the relation, and consequently the physics of horizontal branch stars, to differences in stellar environment. In this paper, the first measurement of the (fundamental) period – K -band luminosity relation for the central region of a globular cluster is presented. It is based on a sample of seven RR Lyrae stars imaged with adaptive optics. In addition, the relation for the outer region has been reanalyzed, and is found to be in good agreement with both the previous estimate by Longmore et al. (1990), and with the inner region relation, especially when irregular and double-mode RR Lyrae stars are excluded. Importantly, there is no difference between the slope of the inner and outer region relation within measurement uncertainties, suggesting no difference in evolutionary state (luminosity). Taking the M 3 distance modulus as $15.0 \pm0.07$ mag, the period–absolute K -band magnitude relation derived by linear least squares fitting is: ${M_{K} = -0.96 (\pm 0.10) - 2.42 (\pm 0.16) {\rm Log}\,P_{\rm o}}$ for the inner region. Excluding irregular variable stars, the outer region relation is: ${M_{K} = -1.07\,(\pm 0.10) - 2.38 (\pm 0.15) {\rm Log}\,P_{\rm o}}$. This good agreement provides further strong support for the near-IR period-luminosity relation as a distance indicator.
THE LOCALIZATION OF IN VIVO BOUND COMPLEMENT IN TISSUE SECTIONS

A technique has been described for the demonstration of a human complement component by an immunofluorescent method. The component detected is β1C-globulin, a moiety of the third complement component, which has previously been obtained in pure form and to which a specific antiserum has been prepared. It has been shown in a model system that the binding of β1C-globulin as shown by immunofluorescence is strictly equivalent to complement fixation as assessed by standard serological methods. This technique has been applied to the detection of in vivo bound complement in pathological human tissues. It was found that in vivo complement binding occurs in the lesions of several human diseases, but not elsewhere in the same tissues. In a rather limited survey of diseases that has been carried out, in vivo complement binding was found particularly in systemic L.E. , various nephritides, and amyloidosis, as well as in single cases of some other diseases. The spectrum of in vivo complement binding has been compared with that of γ-globulin binding (7S and 19S types) and with the demonstration of in vitro complement fixation and rheumatoid factor fixation. It was distinct from each of these. Rheumatoid factor fixation, detected by anti-19S antiserum showed promise as a method for the detection of antigen-antibody complexes and aggregated γ-globulin in tissue sections. The interpretation of these findings in regard to the nature of the binding sites, and their possible significance in regard to pathogenic mechanisms have been discussed.
Nebular Velocities in Type Ia Supernovae and Their Relationship to Light Curves

Recently gathered observational data on a sample of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) reveal a wide distribution of expansion velocities of the Fe cores, measured from the width of the nebular lines. Moreover, the velocity appears to correlate with the luminosity decline rate after maximum light, Δm15(B). Since it has been shown that, for SNe Ia, Δm15(B) correlates with the absolute magnitude at maximum, this then implies a relation between the expansion velocity of the Fe nebula and the luminosity at maximum. Physically, the maximum luminosity is related to the mass of synthesized 56Ni, whereas the FWHM of the lines is related to the kinetic energy of the ejecta. Our finding constitutes observational proof of the theoretical prediction that the two quantities have to be related.
Investigating the Risk-Return Relationship of Information Technology Investment: Firm-Level Empirical Analysis

This paper develops empirical proxy measures of information technology (IT) risk and incorporates them into the usual empirical models for analyzing IT returns: production function and market value specifications. The results suggest that IT capital investments make a substantially larger contribution to overall firm risk than non-IT capital investments. Further, firms with higher IT risk have a higher marginal product of IT relative to firms with low IT risk. In the market value specification, the impact of IT risk is positive and significant, and inclusion of the IT risk term substantially reduces the coefficient on IT capital. We estimate that about 30% of the gross return on IT investment corresponds to the risk premium associated with IT risk. Taken together, our results show that IT risk provides part of the explanation for the unusually high valuations of IT capital investment in recent research.
Mining periodic behaviors for moving objects

Periodicity is a frequently happening phenomenon for moving objects. Finding periodic behaviors is essential to understanding object movements. However, periodic behaviors could be complicated, involving multiple interleaving periods, partial time span, and spatiotemporal noises and outliers. In this paper, we address the problem of mining periodic behaviors for moving objects. It involves two sub-problems: how to detect the periods in complex movement, and how to mine periodic movement behaviors. Our main assumption is that the observed movement is generated from multiple interleaved periodic behaviors associated with certain reference locations. Based on this assumption, we propose a two-stage algorithm, Periodica, to solve the problem. At the first stage, the notion of observation spot is proposed to capture the reference locations. Through observation spots, multiple periods in the movement can be retrieved using a method that combines Fourier transform and autocorrelation. At the second stage, a probabilistic model is proposed to characterize the periodic behaviors. For a specific period, periodic behaviors are statistically generalized from partial movement sequences through hierarchical clustering. Empirical studies on both synthetic and real data sets demonstrate the effectiveness of our method.
ALDH 1 in Combination with CD 44 as Putative Cancer Stem Cell Markers are Correlated with Poor Prognosis in Urothelial Carcinoma of the Urinary Bladder

Urothelial carcinoma (UC) is the fifth most common cancer throughout the world (Hatina and Schulz, 2012). Based on the report of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (GLOBOCAN 2008), there are about 386,000 new cases of urothelial bladder cancer and 150,000 deaths annually worldwide (Ferlay et al., 2010; Hatina and Schulz, 2012). In Iran, bladder cancer is the third most common cancer among males and the ninth most common among females with an incidence of 13.03 and 3.32 per 100000 population among men and women, respectively (Salehi et al., 2011). Several risk factors can cause bladder cancer including tobacco, non-occupational and industrial carcinogens, population aging, gender, residential area, consumption of contaminated water, family history of cancer, drinking tea and coffee, pelvic irradiation, cyclophosphamide, schistosomia infection or
Two new PROP1 gene mutations responsible for compound pituitary hormone deficiency

Mutations in the Prophet of Pit‐1 (Prop‐1), a paired‐like homeodomain transcription factor involved in the early embryonic pituitary development, have been reported as a cause of combined hormone deficiency (CPHD) involving growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL), thyroid‐stimulating hormone (TSH), gonadotrophins and in some cases adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH). We report two pre‐pubertal siblings with short stature and deficiency of GH and TSH at presentation. Molecular analysis of the PROP1 gene revealed compound heterozygotes for two novel missense mutations of the PROP1 gene affecting the same amino acid (Arg71Cys and Arg71His) in the first alpha helix of the Prop‐1 homeodomain.
External Factors and Athletic Performance

The science behind athletic performance has progressed significantly with the advancement of technology and research of sport. The current review examines further the effects of several external factors on athletic performance. Factors were deemed external if they involved either variables out of the athlete’s control or an athlete’s conscious decision. Addressing playing environment, voluntary consumption of alcohol, sleep, a variety of emotions, and team environment contributes to a better understanding of the wide variety of factors that may influence athletic performance. The conclusions reveal ways in which awareness of external factors may impact overall performance. FACTORS IN PERFORMANCE 4 External Factors and Athletic Performance Humans have participated in sports since the earliest days of existence. Perhaps not as sports are viewed currently, but running during a hunting brigade or jumping over a stream involved motions that are still used today. With the introduction of competitive sports, most notably from the Greeks and Romans, scientists began looking for ways to improve athletic performance and, ultimately, to win. Anatomists and kinesiology professionals have discovered many internal factors that contribute to sports performance such as muscle fiber type, genetics, and VO2 max. In addition to these, external factors such as playing environment, voluntary alcohol usage, sleep, emotions, and the team environment may also influence sports performance. These specific external factors will now be discussed in greater detail.
A VLSI recurrent network of integrate-and-fire neurons connected by plastic synapses with long-term memory

Electronic neuromorphic devices with on-chip, on-line learning should be able to modify quickly the synaptic couplings to acquire information about new patterns to be stored (synaptic plasticity) and, at the same time, preserve this information on very long time scales (synaptic stability). Here, we illustrate the electronic implementation of a simple solution to this stability-plasticity problem, recently proposed and studied in various contexts. It is based on the observation that reducing the analog depth of the synapses to the extreme (bistable synapses) does not necessarily disrupt the performance of the device as an associative memory, provided that 1) the number of neurons is large enough; 2) the transitions between stable synaptic states are stochastic; and 3) learning is slow. The drastic reduction of the analog depth of the synaptic variable also makes this solution appealing from the point of view of electronic implementation and offers a simple methodological alternative to the technological solution based on floating gates. We describe the full custom analog very large-scale integration (VLSI) realization of a small network of integrate-and-fire neurons connected by bistable deterministic plastic synapses which can implement the idea of stochastic learning. In the absence of stimuli, the memory is preserved indefinitely. During the stimulation the synapse undergoes quick temporary changes through the activities of the pre- and postsynaptic neurons; those changes stochastically result in a long-term modification of the synaptic efficacy. The intentionally disordered pattern of connectivity allows the system to generate a randomness suited to drive the stochastic selection mechanism. We check by a suitable stimulation protocol that the stochastic synaptic plasticity produces the expected pattern of potentiation and depression in the electronic network.
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— Video streaming over best-effort networks such as the Internet is now a significant application used by most Internet users. However, best-effort networks are characterized by dynamic and unpredictable changes in the available bandwidth, which adversely affect the quality of video. As such, it is important to have real-time detection mechanisms of bandwidth changes to ensure that video is adapted to the available bandwidth and transmitted at the highest quality. In this paper, we propose a Bayesian instantaneous end-to-end bandwidth change prediction model and method to detect and predict one-way bandwidth changes at the receiver. Unlike existing congestion detection mechanisms, which use network parameters such as packet loss probability, round trip time, or jitter, our approach uses weighted inter-arrival time of video packets at the receiver side. Furthermore, our approach is continuous, since it measures available bandwidth changes with each incoming video packet, and therefore detects congestion occurrence in less than 200 ms, on average, which is significantly faster than existing approaches. In addition, it is a one-way scheme, since it only takes into account the characteristics of the incoming path and not the outgoing path, as opposed to other approaches, which use round trip time and are hence less accurate. In this paper, we provide extensive experimental simulations and real-world network implementation. Our results indicate that the proposed detection method is superior to existing solutions.
Encoding of the infrared excess in the NUVrK color diagram for star-forming galaxies

We present an empirical method of assessing the star formation rate (SFR) of star-forming galaxies based on their locations in the rest-frame color–color diagram (NUV − r) vs. (r − K). By using the Spitzer 24 μm sample in the COSMOS field (~16 400 galaxies with 0.2 ≤ z ≤ 1.3) and a local GALEX-SDSS-SWIRE sample (~700 galaxies with z ≤ 0.2), we show that the mean infrared excess ⟨IRX⟩ = ⟨ L_(IR)/L_(UV)⟩ can be described by a single vector, NRK , that combines the two colors. The calibration between ⟨IRX⟩ and NRK allows us to recover the IR luminosity, L_(IR), with an accuracy of σ ~ 0.21 for the COSMOS sample and 0.27 dex for the local one. The SFRs derived with this method agree with the ones based on the observed (UV+IR) luminosities and on the spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting for the vast majority (~85%) of the star-forming population. Thanks to a library of model galaxy SEDs with realistic prescriptions for the star formation history, we show that we need to include a two-component dust model (i.e., birth clouds and diffuse ISM) and a full distribution of galaxy inclinations in order to reproduce the behavior of the ⟨IRX⟩ stripes in the NUVrK diagram. In conclusion, the NRK method, based only on the rest-frame UV/optical colors available in most of the extragalactic fields, offers a simple alternative of assessing the SFR of star-forming galaxies in the absence of far-IR or spectral diagnostic observations.
From Heathers to Mean Girls: An Examination of Relational Aggression in Film.

Mean girls are depicted everywhere these days. While the news media started sensationalizing these girls in the 1990s, this type of behavior has been ingrained in popular culture for many years. This study examined film images of teenaged girls using relational aggression in order to show how this social problem is depicted by filmmakers. The images that appear in these films send particular messages about female friendships, girlfighting, femininity, and power. Overall, these films tell viewers that girls will be girls, and it takes an empowered girl to end this type of aggressive behavior.
Case reports of suspected adverse drug reactions—systematic literature survey of follow-up

Abstract Objective To determine whether anecdotal reports of suspected adverse drug reactions are valuable early warning signals. Design Systematic literature survey Data sources We evaluated all case reports of adverse drug reactions published in 1997 in five medical journals. Reports were excluded if the adverse reaction had previously been described in earlier publications and was already listed in the product information of the drug reference source (the British National Formulary (BNF) or the Medicines Compendium). We used the Web of Knowledge Citation Index and Medline for 2003 to identify follow-up studies. Main outcome measures Primary: the number of suspected adverse reactions subjected to formal validation studies and the findings of these studies. Secondary: the number of instances in which the warning from the case report was incorporated into the product information. Results We evaluated 63 suspected adverse reactions and found that most (52/63, 83%) had not yet been subjected to further detailed evaluation. Data from controlled studies that supported the postulated link between the drug and the adverse event were available in only three cases. Of the 48 agents listed in the drug reference sources, details of the suspected reaction were subsequently added to the Medicines Compendium in 15 instances, and to the BNF in seven instances. In each case, only one reaction had been confirmed. Conclusions Published case reports of suspected adverse reactions are of limited value as suspicions are seldom subjected to confirmatory investigation. Furthermore, these alerts are not incorporated into drug reference sources in a systematic manner.
Quality of Life Impairment in Children and Adults with Vitiligo: A Cross-Sectional Study Based on Dermatology-Specific and Disease-Specific Quality of Life Instruments

Background: Vitiligo can negatively affect a patient's quality of life (QoL). A specific questionnaire has been developed and validated in the English language: the vitiligo-specific quality-of-life instrument (VitiQoL). The instrument was translated, culturally adapted and validated into Brazilian Portuguese (VitiQoL-PB). Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the QoL in adult patients through the VitiQoL and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and in pediatric patients through the Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI) in a sample of patients with vitiligo. Methods: Subjects were selected from a dermatological outpatient clinic and from a private practice in Porto Alegre. The QoL of pediatric patients was evaluated using the CDLQI questionnaire. In adult patients we used the VitiQoL-PB and the DLQI. Results: A strong correlation between the scores of the total VitiQoL and DLQI was observed (r = 0.81; p < 0.001). The factor that most contributed to the final score of VitiQoL was stigma. In our sample, women had higher scores than men (p < 0.05). Psychiatric problems were associated with lower QoL. In the pediatric population, the median score of the CDLQI was 3 (interquartile range 1.3-7.3). There was a statistically significant correlation between the child's age and the CDLQI score (rs = 0.41, p = 0.044). Conclusion: This study confirms that the VitiQoL is easy to administer and adds important information about the impact of vitiligo on a South American population. Stigmatization is very present in the disease. There are groups of patients that are more vulnerable, like women, patients with psychiatric diseases and adolescents.