Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The prognostic importance of left ventricular function in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: the HORIZONS-AMI trial

Aim: Left ventricular (LV) dysfunction during and after hospitalization for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is associated with increased mortality. Whether baseline LV dysfunction impacts STEMI outcomes is not well studied. Furthermore, whether bivalirudin and paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES) are beneficial in patients with LV dysfunction is unknown. We studied the impact of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) on outcomes of patients with STEMI in the HORIZONS-AMI trial. Methods: LVEF was determined in 2648 (73.5%) of 3602 enrolled STEMI patients, who were divided into three groups according to LV function: (1) severely impaired (LVEF <40%); (2) moderately impaired (LVEF 40–50%); and (3) normal (LVEF ≥50%). Results: Compared to patients with normal LV function, those with severely impaired LVEF had higher 1-year rates of net adverse clinical events (27.1 vs. 14.2%, p<0.0001), major adverse cardiovascular events (20.7 vs. 9.5%, p<0.0001), cardiac death (10.6 vs. 1.2%, p<0.0001), and non-coronary artery bypass graft major bleeding (12.5 vs. 6.6%, p=0.001), differences which persisted after adjustment for baseline characteristics. Among patients with LVEF <40%, treatment with bivalirudin compared to heparin+GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors resulted in reduced 1-year mortality (5.8 vs. 18.3%, p=0.007). Patients with LVEF <40% receiving PES rather than bare metal stents had lower rates of 1-year ischaemia-driven target lesion revascularization (2.9 vs. 12.6%, p=0.02) and reinfarction (4.5 vs. 14.7%, p=0.03). Conclusions: Among patients with STEMI undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention, adverse events are markedly increased in those with LVEF <40% during the index revascularization procedure. Nevertheless, these high-risk patients experience substantial clinical benefits from bivalirudin and PES.
Sketch based interfaces: early processing for sketch understanding

Freehand sketching is a natural and crucial part of everyday human interaction, yet is almost totally unsupported by current user interfaces. We are working to combine the exibility and ease of use of paper and pencil with the processing power of a computer, to produce a user interface for design that feels as natural as paper, yet is considerably smarter. One of the most basic steps in accomplishing this is converting the original digitized pen strokes in a sketch into the intended geometric objects. In this paper we describe an implemented system that combines multiple sources of knowledge to provide robust early processing for freehand sketching.
Effects of a consumer driven health plan on pharmaceutical spending and utilization.

OBJECTIVES To compare pharmaceutical spending and utilization in a consumer driven health plan (CDHP) with a three-tier pharmacy benefit design, and to examine whether the CDHP creates incentives to reduce pharmaceutical spending and utilization for chronically ill patients, generic or brand name drugs, and mail-order drugs. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective insurance claims analysis from a large employer that introduced a CDHP in 2001 in addition to a point of service (POS) plan and a preferred provider organization (PPO), both of which used a three-tier pharmacy benefit. METHODS Difference-in-differences regression models were estimated for drug spending and utilization. Control variables included the employee's income, age, and gender, number of covered lives per contract, election of flexible spending account, health status, concurrent health shock, cohort, and time trend. Results. CDHP pharmaceutical expenditures were lower than those in the POS cohort in 1 year without differences in the use of brand name drugs. We find limited evidence of less drug consumption by CDHP enrollees with chronic illnesses, and some evidence of less generic drug use and more mail-order drug use among CDHP members. CONCLUSIONS The CDHP is cost-neutral or cost-saving to both the employer and the employee compared with three-tier benefits with no differences in brand name drug use.
Screening Amazon’s Mechanical Turk for Adults With ADHD

Objective: Researchers are increasingly using Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (MTurk; www.mturk.com) to recruit study participants. However, the utility of MTurk for investigations of ADHD in adulthood is unknown. Method: A total of 6,526 MTurk workers (median age range = 26-35 years) completed an online screening survey assessing their diagnostic histories and symptoms of ADHD, as well as relevant demographic correlates and diagnostic comorbidity. Results: The prevalence of MTurk workers who reported being diagnosed as children and as adults, and the percentage of workers whose ADHD appeared to persist from childhood into adulthood, are consistent with those observed in “offline” samples. Relative to MTurk workers diagnosed with ADHD as adults, workers diagnosed with ADHD as children were more likely to be male and without college degrees, as well as less likely to have comorbid depression or anxiety disorders. Conclusion: Amazon’s MTurk holds promise as a recruitment tool for studying adults with ADHD.
A Coordinated Research Plan for Estuarine and Ocean Research on Pacific Salmon

Abstract The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is charged with restoring and protecting anadromous Pacific salmon stocks in all habitats of U.S. waters, including their period of residence in estuarine and oceanic waters. Recent studies have implicated the estuarine and coastal phase of the salmon life cycle as being of equal importance to the freshwater phase in determining production. Evaluation of the freshwater phase of salmon has yielded a better understanding of the factors limiting production in this environment; however, a comparable understanding in the marine environment is lacking. Currently, some marine salmon research is being conducted at various NMFS labs on the West Coast, but there has been little attempt to coordinate activities among the different regions. In response, we propose a comprehensive plan to address ocean and estuarine survival of salmon by identifying research needs and suggesting ways to meet these needs. We recommend that NMFS research focus on (1) distribution and.
Ets-2 Regulates Cell Apoptosis via the Akt Pathway, through the Regulation of Urothelial Cancer Associated 1, a Long Non-Coding RNA, in Bladder Cancer Cells

The majority of the human genome is transcribed and generates non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) that fail to encode protein information. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as a novel class of ncRNAs, but our knowledge about these ncRNAs is limited. Previously, our laboratory has identified that a lncRNA, Urothelial cancer associated 1 (UCA1), played an important role in bladder cancer. Despite the recent interest in UCA1 as a diagnostic marker for bladder cancer, little is known about its transcriptional regulation. To elucidate the regulation of UCA1 gene expression, we have characterized the human UCA1 gene promoter. A 2.0-kb fragment of its 5′ flanking region was cloned into a luciferase reporter vector. Deletion and mutation analysis suggested that an Ets-2 binding site was critical for UCA1 gene promoter activity. Further analysis of this site by gel shifting, chromatin immune precipitation (ChIP), and co-transfection experiments showed that transcription factor Ets-2 directly bound to the UCA1 promoter region and stimulated UCA1 promoter activity in bladder cancer cells. Taking into account the anti-apoptosis function of Ets-2, our data suggested that Ets-2 regulates apoptosis process by regulating the expression of UCA1, moreover UCA1 may be involved in the activation of Akt signaling pathway by Ets-2 in bladder cancer cells.
Using Intersectionality Responsibly: Toward Critical Epistemology, Structural Analysis, and Social Justice Activism

The increasing popularity of the concept of intersectionality in the social sciences, including in psychology, represents an opportunity to reflect on the state of stewardship of this concept, its roots, and its promise. In this context, the authors aim to promote responsible stewardship of intersectionality and to tip the momentum of intersectionality’s flourishing toward fuller use and engagement of its roots and promise for understanding and challenging dynamics of power, privilege, and oppression. To this end, this article provides a set of guidelines for reflection and action. The authors organize these guidelines along 3 major formulations of intersectionality: intersectionality as a field of study, as analytic strategy or disposition, and as critical praxis for social justice. Ultimately, the authors call for expanding the use of intersectionality toward fuller engagement with its roots in Black feminist thought, its current interdisciplinary richness and potential, and its central aims to challenge and transform structures and systems of power, privilege, and oppression.
Modelling Three Dimensional Animated, Detailed, and Emotional Facial Expressions

Abstract This paper presents methods for generating 3D facial expressions. Special pattern functions are created and employed to generate detailed, animated facial expressions. The created pattern functions include wrinkle patterns (forehead wrinkles, eye corner wrinkles, cheek wrinkles, and frown wrinkles), dimple pattern, and eye pouch effect pattern. A formula for generating realistic, animated teardrops is introduced. Methods for generating real-time vivid shedding tears is also shown. Test results show that these methods are robust, accurate, and consequently will advance 3D facial expressions and animations significantly.
Mortality, Neonatal Morbidity and Two Year Follow-Up of Extremely Preterm Infants Born in the Netherlands in 2007

Background Extremely preterm infants are at high risk of neonatal mortality and adverse outcome. Survival rates are slowly improving, but increased survival may come at the expense of more handicaps. Methodology/Principal Findings Prospective population-based cohort study of all infants born at 23 to 27 weeks of gestation in the Netherlands in 2007. 276 of 345 (80%) infants were born alive. Early neonatal death occurred in 96 (34.8%) live born infants, including 61 cases of delivery room death. 29 (10.5%) infants died during the late neonatal period. Survival rates for live born infants at 23, 24, 25 and 26 weeks of gestation were 0%, 6.7%, 57.9% and 71% respectively. 43.1% of 144 surviving infants developed severe neonatal morbidity (retinopathy of prematurity grade ≥3, bronchopulmonary dysplasia and/or severe brain injury). At two years of age 70.6% of the children had no disability, 17.6% was mild disabled and 11.8% had a moderate-to-severe disability. Severe brain injury (p = 0.028), retinopathy of prematurity grade ≥3 (p = 0.024), low gestational age (p = 0.019) and non-Dutch nationality of the mother (p = 0.004) increased the risk of disability. Conclusions/Significance 52% of extremely preterm infants born in the Netherlands in 2007 survived. Surviving infants had less severe neonatal morbidity compared to previous studies. At two years of age less than 30% of the infants were disabled. Disability was associated with gestational age and neonatal morbidity.
The Cost of Accumulating Evidence in Perceptual Decision Making

Decision making often involves the accumulation of information over time, but acquiring information typically comes at a cost. Little is known about the cost incurred by animals and humans for acquiring additional information from sensory variables due, for instance, to attentional efforts. Through a novel integration of diffusion models and dynamic programming, we were able to estimate the cost of making additional observations per unit of time from two monkeys and six humans in a reaction time (RT) random-dot motion discrimination task. Surprisingly, we find that the cost is neither zero nor constant over time, but for the animals and humans features a brief period in which it is constant but increases thereafter. In addition, we show that our theory accurately matches the observed reaction time distributions for each stimulus condition, the time-dependent choice accuracy both conditional on stimulus strength and independent of it, and choice accuracy and mean reaction times as a function of stimulus strength. The theory also correctly predicts that urgency signals in the brain should be independent of the difficulty, or stimulus strength, at each trial.
Natural history of Xenosaurus phalaroanthereon (Squamata, Xenosauridae), a Knob-scaled Lizard from Oaxaca, Mexico

Natural history of Xenosaurus phalaroanthereon (Squamata, Xenosauridae), a Knob-scaled Lizard from Oaxaca, Mexico. We made observations on the natural history of a population of the lizard Xenosaurus phalaroanthereon from Oaxaca, Mexico. Females were larger than males (SVL). Most lizards were found completely inside rock crevices. Mean body temperature was 20.3°C. Body temperature was related primarily to substrate temperature. Body temperature was not influenced by any crevice characteristic. Based on abdominal palpation, the size at maturity for females appears to be 117-119 mm SVL. Sex ratio did not differ from 1:1. We com- pare the ecology of this population to that of other Xenosaurus.
Developmental expression profiles and distinct regional estrogen responsiveness suggest a novel role for the steroid receptor coactivator SRC‐1 as a discriminative amplifier of estrogen signaling in the rat brain

The regional distribution, developmental profiles, and gonadectomy‐ and estrogen‐induced changes in the density of transcripts encoding the steroid receptor coactivator‐1 (SRC‐1) were examined in the female rat brain by semiquantitative in situ hybridization. The results demonstrate striking differences in the abundance of SRC‐1 mRNA in discrete brain regions throughout ontogeny. Whereas transcript densities gradually decreased with age in the cerebral cortex, they peaked prominently during the peripubertal period in the hypothalamic medial preoptic area (MPOA) and ventromedial nucleus (VMN). Gonadectomy and estrogen substitution influenced SRC‐1 mRNA levels in sexually mature animals in a region‐specific fashion. Ovariectomy resulted in a down‐regulation of SRC‐1 mRNA levels in the VMN, a brain region richly endowed with estrogen receptors and playing a major role in neuroendocrine control of reproductive functions. In contrast, SRC‐1 transcript levels were significantly up‐regulated after estradiol treatment. Interestingly, SRC‐1 expression in the cortex was refractory to alterations of the estrogen milieu. The obtained SRC‐1 mRNA expression profiles during development clearly demonstrate brain region specificity and regulation by estrogen, thus it is proposed that SRC‐1 amplifies estrogen receptor‐dependent transcription in a temporally and spatially coordinated manner and therefore contributes to the functional specialization of brain areas involved in the regulation of reproduction.
Long-lasting Effects of Early Environmental Stimulation on Cortical Spreading Depression in Normal and Early Malnourished Adult Rats

We investigated the effects of early environmental stimulation on spreading depression in the cerebral cortex of male Wistar adult (90 day old) well-nourished (23% protein diet) and early malnourished (8% protein) rats. Environmental stimulation was performed during the suckling period or after weaning. Control rats were housed in a standard environment. Environmental stimulation after weaning produced a reduction of body weights in well-nourished rats, and an increase in wet, but not dry brain weights, in malnourished rats. Environmental stimulation during suckling was associated with reduced spreading depression velocities in the malnourished, but not in the well-nourished group. In well-nourished rats stimulated during suckling, spreading depression velocities in the occipital and parietal regions of the same hemisphere were significantly different, the occipital area presenting lower values than the parietal region. The results indicate that environmental conditions prevailing during brain development can alter electrophysiological parameters of spreading depression of adult rats, the suckling period being more susceptible to such environmental conditions and the occipital cortex being more affected than the parietal region. Data also suggest that the nutritional status can influence brain spreading depression responses to environmental stimulation, malnourished rats being more effected than the well-nourished ones.
Synthesis and Evaluation of Translocator 18 kDa Protein (TSPO) Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Radioligands with Low Binding Sensitivity to Human Single Nucleotide Polymorphism rs6971

The imaging of translocator 18 kDa protein (TSPO) in living human brain with radioligands by positron emission tomography (PET) has become an important means for the study of neuroinflammatory conditions occurring in several neuropsychiatric disorders. The widely used prototypical PET radioligand [11C](R)-PK 11195 ([11C](R)-1; [N-methyl-11C](R)-N-sec-butyl-1-(2-chlorophenyl)-N-methylisoquinoline-3-carboxamide) gives a low PET signal and is difficult to quantify, whereas later generation radioligands have binding sensitivity to a human single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs6971, which imposes limitations on their utility for comparative quantitative PET studies of normal and diseased subjects. Recently, azaisosteres of 1 have been developed with improved drug-like properties, including enhanced TSPO affinity accompanied by moderated lipophilicity. Here we selected three of these new ligands (7–9) for labeling with carbon-11 and for evaluation in monkey as candidate PET radioligands for imaging brain TSPO. Each radioligand was readily prepared by 11C-methylation of an N-desmethyl precursor and was found to give a high proportion of TSPO-specific binding in monkey brain. One of these radioligands, [11C]7, the direct 4-azaisostere of 1, presents many radioligand properties that are superior to those reported for [11C]1, including higher affinity, lower lipophilicity, and stable quantifiable PET signal. Importantly, 7 was also found to show very low sensitivity to the human SNP rs6971 in vitro. Therefore, [11C]7 now warrants evaluation in human subjects with PET to assess its utility for imaging TSPO in human brain, irrespective of subject genotype.
Postoperative analgesia with controlled-release oxycodone for outpatient anterior cruciate ligament surgery.

UNLABELLED Reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of the knee is associated with a considerable degree of postoperative pain. Although immediate-release oral opioids are usually effective in relieving moderate to severe pain, they must be given every 4-6 h. A controlled-release (CR) formulation of oxycodone maintains therapeutic opioid concentrations for a more prolonged period, thus providing sustained pain relief. We designed this study to determine whether CR oxycodone is more effective and clinically acceptable than immediate-release oxycodone for managing pain after ambulatory ACL repair surgery. All patients received a standard general anesthetic and postoperative analgesic regimen with one of three oxycodone dosing regimens: oxycodone 10 mg every 4 h as needed, oxycodone 10 mg every 4 h, and CR oxycodone 20 mg every 12 h. Rescue analgesic consisted of oxycodone 5 mg every 6 h as needed. At 24, 36, 48, 60, and 72 h, there was a difference in pain scores among the groups (P < 0.0001); there was less pain in the CR oxycodone group. At most times, the fixed-dose group had lower pain scores than the as-needed group. The sedation scores were significantly different at 12 h (P < 0.02) and at 24, 36, 48, 60, and 72 h (P < 0.0001); the patients were more alert in the CR oxycodone group. The 72-h consumption of oxycodone was less in the CR oxycodone group (P < 0.0001). The patients had less sleep disturbance (P < 0.0001), were more satisfied (P < 0.0001), and experienced less vomiting (P < 0.02) in the CR oxycodone group compared with the other two groups. In conclusion, using CR oxycodone in the immediate 72 h after ambulatory ACL surgery provides more effective analgesia with less sedation, sleep disturbance, and postoperative vomiting compared with oxycodone prescribed on either a fixed dose or as-needed schedule. IMPLICATIONS A controlled-release formulation of oxycodone in patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament repair on an ambulatory basis provides significant analgesic benefit and a lowering of side effects compared with either fixed-dose or as-needed oxycodone regimens.
Who's Getting Globalized? The Size and Implications of Intra-National Trade Costs

How large are the intra-national trade costs that separate consumers in remote locations of developing countries from global markets? What do those barriers imply for the intra-national incidence of the gains from falling international trade barriers? We develop a new methodology for answering these questions and apply it to newly collected CPI micro-data from Ethiopia and Nigeria (as well as to the US). In order to overcome three well-known challenges that arise when using price gaps to estimate trade costs, we: (i) work exclusively with a sample of goods that are identified at the barcode-level (to mitigate bias due to unobserved quality differences over space); (ii) collect novel data on the origin location of each product in our sample (to focus only on the pairs of locations that actually identify trade costs); and (iii) use estimates of cost pass-through to correct for mark-ups that potentially vary over space (to extract trade costs from price variation in an environment with potentially oligopolistic intermediaries). Without these corrections, we find that our estimates of the cost of distance would be biased downwards by a factor of approximately four. Our preferred estimates imply that the effect of log distance on trade costs within Ethiopia or Nigeria is four to five times larger than in the US. We also use our pass-through estimates to calculate the incidence of surplus increases due to falling world prices. We find that intermediaries capture the majority of the surplus, and that their share is even higher in distant locations, suggesting that remote consumers see only a small part of the gains from falling international trade barriers.
Role of Intravitreal Antivascular Endothelial Growth Factor Injections for Choroidal Neovascularization due to Choroidal Osteoma

We treated 26 eyes of 25 young patients having a mean age of 30 years with intravitreal vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor for choroidal new vessel (CNV) formation overlying choroidal osteoma over a mean follow-up of 26 months. Mean number of injections was 2.4 at 6 months, 3.2 at 12 months, and 5.5 at 24 months. CNV was subfoveal in 14 eyes, juxtafoveal in 5, extrafoveal in 5, and peripapillary in 2. By paired comparison, mean decrease from baseline was 119.7 microns at 6 months (n = 15; P = 0.001), 105.3 microns at 1 year (n = 10; P = 0.03), and 157.6 microns at 2 years (n = 7; P = 0.08). BCVA improved by 3.3 lines at 6 months after therapy (n = 26; P < 0.001), 2.8 lines (n = 20; P = 0.01) at 1 year, and 3.1 lines (n = 13; P = 0.049) at 2 years. We conclude that intravitreal anti-VEGF injections improve vision in majority of eyes with CNV from choroidal osteoma.