Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Clinical course of idiopathic anaphylaxis.

BACKGROUND Only a few groups have reported on idiopathic anaphylaxis. We analyzed our experience with idiopathic anaphylaxis, especially in regards to prognosis. METHODS Thirty-seven patients with the diagnosis of idiopathic anaphylaxis were retrospectively identified by a medical records search from 1989-1992. Thirty-five patients were evaluable and a telephone questionnaire was conducted to determine the current treatment and course of their idiopathic anaphylaxis since their initial evaluation. RESULTS Patient ages ranged from 26 to 71 years (mean 48), 72% were women, and 43% were atopic. Frequent episodes of idiopathic anaphylaxis (> 5/year) occurred in 31%. At follow-up (mean 2.5 years), 21 patients (60%) had resolution of idiopathic anaphylaxis, and the frequency of anaphylaxis was decreased in nine, increased in two, and the same in three patients. Only three patients were still having frequent episodes and two required chronic glucocorticoids. Patients with frequent idiopathic anaphylaxis treated with only antihistamines and adrenergics underwent remission or improvement as frequently as those treated with chronic glucocorticoids. CONCLUSIONS These results are similar to other reports of idiopathic anaphylaxis and indicate a generally favorable prognosis. Some patients with frequent idiopathic anaphylaxis improved without the need for glucocorticoids. Well controlled studies may be required to analyze the role of glucocorticoids in this disease.
Broken Heroes: the crisis of masculinity in post-2000 Hollywood film

This thesis examines representations of masculinity in post-2000 Hollywood film and critically reports what these films reveal about the current crisis of masculinity. The major domains for this analysis are representations of the body, technology and violence as they relate to masculinity. These representations are considered using social and psychological theories, as well as film and gender studies to make the findings relevant on a psychosocial level. This thesis explores a lack of intimacy between men and others, seen as a failure to secure satisfaction through traditional ideals of masculinity. This study also considers the commodification of the body which creates a malaise that fails to solve related issues of personal happiness and social relations. Further analysis reveals representations that suggest technology steps in to provide a 21st century solution to a lack of intimacy, failing to recuperate the loss in personal relations. Lastly, violence is represented as another failed masculine solution. The focus is on the consequences of the violence, rather than the violence itself. These representations question and query hegemonic masculinity and reflect significant issues relating to the crisis of masculinity in the post-2000 era.
Bicultural Terror Management: Identity Hybridity Moderates the Effect of Mortality Salience on Biculturals’ Familiarity Versus Novelty Seeking Tendency

Terror management theory (TMT) shows that familiarity and novelty seeking are two distinct ways of deriving meaning. In the present research, we applied this analysis to individuals with two cultural backgrounds. Three studies examined whether these two divergent responses to mortality salience (MS) correspond with varying degrees of identity hybridity among biculturals. Following MS, low hybridity led to more familiarity seeking in the form of a stronger need for structure (Study 1) and less novelty seeking in the form of reduced willingness to explore (Study 2). In contrast, high hybridity tended to lead to the opposite following MS, particularly heightened interest in educational programs that facilitate exploration (Study 3). Results further clarified that these effects occurred only if bicultural identity was primed first (Study 1) and that they could not be reduced to broad personality traits (Study 2 and 3). We conclude by discussing the implications of expanding TMT's critical insight into the conflictual side of intergroup contact in the globalized world to the hitherto unexplored side of biculturalism.
Dietary trends and management of hyperphosphatemia among patients with chronic kidney disease: an international survey of renal care professionals.

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to review the opinions and experiences of renal care professionals to examine dietary trends among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and problems associated with the clinical management of hyperphosphatemia. DESIGN This was an online survey comprising open and closed questions requesting information on patient dietary trends and the clinical management of hyperphosphatemia. The study was conducted in 4 European countries (the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom). SUBJECTS Participants were 84 renal care professionals. INTERVENTION This was an online survey. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Responder-reported experiences and perceptions of patient dietary trends and hyperphosphatemia management were assessed. RESULTS Most survey responders (56%) observed an increase in the consumption of processed convenience food, 48% noticed an increase in the consumption of foods rich in phosphorus-containing additives, and 60% believed that there has been a trend of increasing patient awareness of the phosphorus content of food. Patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) were most likely to experience difficulties in following advice on dietary phosphorus restriction (38% of responders estimated that 25-50% of their patients experienced difficulties, and 29% estimated that 51-75% experienced difficulties). Maintaining protein intake and restricting dietary phosphorus were perceived as being equally important by at least half of responders for predialysis patients (56%) and for those undergoing peritoneal dialysis and HD (54% and 50%, respectively). There were international variations in dietary trends and hyperphosphatemia management. CONCLUSION Although most responders have observed a trend of increasing awareness of the phosphorus content of food among patients with CKD, the survey results indicate that many patients continue to experience difficulties when attempting to restrict dietary phosphorus. The survey responses reflect the global trend of increasing consumption of processed convenience foods and phosphorus-containing additives, which has implications for the management of hyperphosphatemia in patients with CKD.
Laron syndrome abnormalities: spinal stenosis, os odontoideum, degenerative changes of the atlanto-odontoid joint, and small oropharynx.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Patients with Laron syndrome have an inborn growth hormone resistance. We investigated abnormalities in the upper airways and cervical spine in patients with Laron syndrome. METHODS We prospectively examined 11 patients (one child aged 9 years and 10 adults aged 36-68 years), 10 of whom underwent MR imaging of the spine or head; nine, radiography of the cervical spine; and four, CT of C1-C2. The width of the spinal canal was evaluated visually and quantitatively and compared with reference values. The smallest diameter of the oropharynx and the thickness of the palate were measured and compared with reference values. Nine age-matched female patients referred for MR imaging for unrelated reasons served as control subjects. RESULTS Cervical spinal stenosis was present in seven of the adult patients, within a confidence interval of 95%. Anomaly of the dens compatible with os odontoideum was present in three patients, causing focal myelomalacia in two. The atlanto-odontoid joint showed osteoarthritic changes in six of the adult patients. The mediolateral diameter of the oropharynx was significantly smaller in the patients with Laron syndrome than in the control subjects (P <.005). There was no difference in the thickness of the soft palate. CONCLUSION Patients with Laron syndrome develop significant narrowing of the cervical spinal canal and early degenerative changes of the atlanto-odontoid joint. Laron syndrome is associated with os odontoideum causing myelomalacia. The dimensions of the oropharynx are small. Patients may be prone to neurologic morbidity and sleep disturbances. Routine MR imaging of the cervical spine is recommended in these patients.
Improving the efficiency of dynamic malware analysis

Each day, security companies see themselves confronted with thousands of new malware programs. To cope with these large quantities, researchers and practitioners alike have developed dynamic malware analysis systems. These systems automatically execute a program in a controlled environment and produce a report describing the program's behavior. During the last three years, the number of malware programs appearing each day has increased by a factor of ten, and this number is expected to continue to grow. To keep pace with these developments without causing even more hardware costs for operating dynamic analysis systems, we have developed a technique that drastically reduces the overall analysis time. Our solution is based on the insight that the huge number of new malicious files is due to mutations of only a few malware programs. To save analysis time, we suggest a technique that avoids performing a full analysis of the same polymorphic file multiple times. In an experiment conducted on a set of 10,922 randomly chosen executable files, our prototype implementation was able to avoid a full dynamic analysis in 25.25 percent of the cases.
Tissue-specific deletion of Foxa2 in pancreatic beta cells results in hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia.

We have used conditional gene ablation to uncover a dramatic and unpredicted role for the winged-helix transcription factor Foxa2 (formerly HNF-3 beta) in pancreatic beta-cell differentiation and metabolism. Mice that lack Foxa2 specifically in beta cells (Foxa2(loxP/loxP); Ins.Cre mice) are severely hypoglycemic and show dysregulated insulin secretion in response to both glucose and amino acids. This inappropriate hypersecretion of insulin in the face of profound hypoglycemia mimics pathophysiological and molecular aspects of familial hyperinsulinism. We have identified the two subunits of the beta-cell ATP-sensitive K(+) channel (K(ATP)), the most frequently mutated genes linked to familial hyperinsulinism, as novel Foxa2 targets in islets. The Foxa2(loxP/loxP); Ins.Cre mice will serve as a unique model to investigate the regulation of insulin secretion by the beta cell and suggest the human FOXA2 as a candidate gene for familial hyperinsulinism.
ShapeR: An R Package to Study Otolith Shape Variation among Fish Populations

ShapeR is an open source software package that runs on the R platform and is specifically designed to study otolith shape variation among fish populations. The package extends previously described software used for otolith shape analysis by allowing the user to automatically extract closed contour outlines from a large number of images, perform smoothing to eliminate pixel noise, choose from conducting either a Fourier or Wavelet transform to the outlines and visualize the mean shape. The output of the package are independent Fourier or Wavelet coefficients which can be directly imported into a wide range of statistical packages in R. The package might prove useful in studies of any two dimensional objects.
Optimization of tractography of the optic radiations

Imaging and delineation of the optic radiations (OpRs) remains challenging, despite repeated attempts to achieve reliable validated tractography of this complex structure. Previous studies have used varying methods to generate representations of the OpR which differ markedly from one another and, frequently, from the OpR's known structure. We systematically examined the influence of a key variable that has differed across previous studies, the tractography seed region, in 13 adult participants (nine male; mean age 31 years; SD 8.7 years; range 16–47). First, we compared six seed regions at the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) and sagittal stratum based on the literature and known OpR anatomy. Three of the LGN regions seeded streamlines consistent with the OpR's three “bundles,” whereas a fourth seeded streamlines consistent with each of the three bundles. The remaining two generated OpR streamlines unreliably and inconsistently. Two stratum regions seeded the radiations. This analysis identified a set of optimal regions of interest (ROI) for seeding OpR tractography and important inclusion and exclusion ROI. An optimized approach was then used to seed LGN regions to the stratum. The radiations, including streamlines consistent with Meyer's Loop, were streamlined in all cases. Streamlines extended 0.2 ± 2.4 mm anterior to the tip of the anterior horn of the lateral ventricle. These data suggest some existing approaches likely seed representations of the OpR that are visually plausible but do not capture all OpR components, and that using an optimized combination of regions seeded previously allows optimal mapping of this complex structure. Hum Brain Mapp 35:683–697, 2014. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Therapeutic Effects and Response Rates of Patients with Eating Disorders: A Naturalistic Study

Summary Background: Until now many randomized controlled studies (RCTs) have demonstrated the efficacy of manual-based cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) of eating disorders, but only a few results exist concerning effects in naturalistic therapy settings. Because most therapies for eating disorders are carried out in outpatient settings, studies about their effectiveness might be necessary. Patients and Method: A sample of 123 female patients with the primary diagnosis of an eating disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV (DSM-IV) was considered in the analyses. All of them received a specified manual-based CBT. Outcome variables were scales of the Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI-2), the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), and Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI). We computed effect sizes, response rates, and remission rates. All results were shown by the intention-to-treat (ITT) and the completer sample (Completer). Results: EDI-2 showed effect sizes on the basis of Cohen’s d ranging from d = 0.50 to d = 1.59 (ITT) and d = 0.34 to d = 2.53 (Completer). The outcome variables of the comorbid symptoms showed effect sizes from d = 0.89 to d = 1.08 (ITT) on BDI and d = 0.65 to d = 0.82 (Global Severity Index (GSI)-ITT) on BSI. The response rates were 48.1% for anorexia nervosa, 50.8% for bulimia nervosa, and 47.1% for eating disorders not otherwise specified. Conclusions: The naturalistic study showed nearly the same, and in some comparisons higher, effect sizes than efficacy studies about the effectiveness of CBT used to treat eating disorders. We discuss our results compared to those of RCTs as well as therapeutic implications for the different eating disorders.
Process and Domain Specificity in Regions Engaged for Face Processing: An fMRI Study of Perceptual Differentiation

The degree to which face-specific brain regions are specialized for different kinds of perceptual processing is debated. This study parametrically varied demands on featural, first-order configural, or second-order configural processing of faces and houses in a perceptual matching task to determine the extent to which the process of perceptual differentiation was selective for faces regardless of processing type (domain-specific account), specialized for specific types of perceptual processing regardless of category (process-specific account), engaged in category-optimized processing (i.e., configural face processing or featural house processing), or reflected generalized perceptual differentiation (i.e., differentiation that crosses category and processing type boundaries). ROIs were identified in a separate localizer run or with a similarity regressor in the face-matching runs. The predominant principle accounting for fMRI signal modulation in most regions was generalized perceptual differentiation. Nearly all regions showed perceptual differentiation for both faces and houses for more than one processing type, even if the region was identified as face-preferential in the localizer run. Consistent with process specificity, some regions showed perceptual differentiation for first-order processing of faces and houses (right fusiform face area and occipito-temporal cortex and right lateral occipital complex), but not for featural or second-order processing. Somewhat consistent with domain specificity, the right inferior frontal gyrus showed perceptual differentiation only for faces in the featural matching task. The present findings demonstrate that the majority of regions involved in perceptual differentiation of faces are also involved in differentiation of other visually homogenous categories.
Phase II study of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin plus vinorelbine in metastatic breast cancer.

10718 Background: Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin and vinorelbine are active single agents in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) and lack overlapping toxicity. The possibility of combining these two drugs therefore seems attractive. METHODS Twenty-five patients with MBC entered a phase II study of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin 40 mg/m2 intravenously (i.v.) on day 1 plus vinorelbine 25 mg/m2 i.v. on day 1 and vinorelbine 60 mg/m2 oral on day 14, every 4 weeks. A two-staged Simon accrual design was adopted for this phase II trial. Patients were required to have measurable disease, previous chemotherapy with or without an anthracycline-containing regimen, and a normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). RESULTS Twenty-one patients with MBC were eligible, assessable for response and toxicity. The overall response rate (on an intent-to-treat basis) was 36% (9 of 25; 95% CI, 20%-54%). One complete response and 8 partial responses were noted. In addition, 11 patients (44%) had stable disease of > 4 months duration, and 5 patients (20 %) had disease progression. Median time to disease progression was 10 months (range, 3-38 months) and median overall survival was 15 months (range, 4 to > 62 months). Neutropenia was the most frequent toxicity (grade 4 in 30% of patients and 19% of cycles), but neutropenic fever was seen in only 3 cases. No septic deaths occurred. Nonhematologic grade 3 side effects included skin toxicity (palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome, 8%) and mucositis (14%). Late alopecia was seen in 51% of patients (grade 1 in 39%, and grade 2 in 12%). The median LVEFs were 64% (range, 50%-81%) at baseline and 62% (range, 37%-70%) after treatment. Only one patient presented an LVEF decrease to < 50%; however, no clinical heart failure was noted, and this patient recovered normal values after cessation of therapy. CONCLUSIONS The combination of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin and vinorelbine can be safely administered to patients with anthracycline-pretreated MBC and is active in this population. Final data analysis will be presented. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
Neurogenic Inflammation and Pancreatitis

Stimulation of primary sensory neurons produces local vasodilation, plasma extravasation, and pain and is due largely to the release of the tachykinins substance P and calcitonin-gene-related peptide. Pathological activation of sensory neurons and the inflammatory sequelae are known as neurogenic inflammation and appear to be important in many organ systems, including the pancreas. Factors that stimulate primary sensory neurons include hydrogen ions, heat, leukotrienes, arachidonic acid metabolites, bradykinin, and proteases such as trypsin, all of which may participate in the generation of acute pancreatitis. The current review examines the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in sensory nerve activation within the pancreas and the potential contribution of neurogenic inflammation to the pathogenesis of pancreatitis.
Team Task Analysis

Objective: As a constructive replication and extension of Arthur, Edwards, Bell, Villado, and Bennett (2005), the objective of the current study was to further investigate the efficacy of team relatedness and team workflow ratings (along with their composite) as metrics of interdependence. Background: Although an analysis of task and job interdependence has important implications and uses in domains such as job design, selection, and training, the job analysis literature has been slow to develop an effective method to identify team-based tasks and jobs. Method: To achieve the study’s objectives, 140 F-16 fighter pilots (35 four-person teams) rated 34 task and activity statements in terms of their team relatedness and team workflow. Results: The results indicated that team relatedness and team workflow effectively differentiated between tasks with varying levels of interdependency (as identified by instructor pilots who served as subject matter experts) within the same job. In addition, teams that accurately perceived the level of interdependency performed better on a four-ship F-16 flight-training program than those that did not. Conclusion: Team relatedness and team workflow ratings can effectively differentiate between tasks with varying levels of interdependency. Application: Like traditional individual task or job analysis, this information can serve as the basis for specified human resource functions and interventions, and as diagnostic indicators as well.
From famine to feast? Selecting nuclear DNA sequence loci for plant species-level phylogeny reconstruction

Phylogenetic analyses of DNA sequences have prompted spectacular progress in assembling the Tree of Life. However, progress in constructing phylogenies among closely related species, at least for plants, has been less encouraging. We show that for plants, the rapid accumulation of DNA characters at higher taxonomic levels has not been matched by conventional sequence loci at the species level, leaving a lack of well-resolved gene trees that is hindering investigations of many fundamental questions in plant evolutionary biology. The most popular approach to address this problem has been to use low-copy nuclear genes as a source of DNA sequence data. However, this has had limited success because levels of variation among nuclear intron sequences across groups of closely related species are extremely variable and generally lower than conventionally used loci, and because no universally useful low-copy nuclear DNA sequence loci have been developed. This suggests that solutions will, for the most part, be lineage-specific, prompting a move away from ‘universal’ gene thinking for species-level phylogenetics. The benefits and limitations of alternative approaches to locate more variable nuclear loci are discussed and the potential of anonymous non-genic nuclear loci is highlighted. Given the virtually unlimited number of loci that can be generated using these new approaches, it is clear that effective screening will be critical for efficient selection of the most informative loci. Strategies for screening are outlined.
An Obstacle Avoidance Scheme Maintaining Connectivity for Micro-Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

This paper suggests an obstacle avoidance scheme that enables a group of micro-UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) to avoid colliding with an obstacle that is found in the course of the flight. This scheme considers a method for UAVs to avoid colliding with such obstacles and a plan of action for when the UAVs in the group lose connectivity during flight. The main goal is for UAVs to reach the target without colliding with any obstacles. To achieve this goal, directly after the UAVs avoid the obstacle at a raised altitude above it, they fly at a higher altitude for a while and then descend to their original height. When this approach is judged to be inefficient because the height of the obstacle is too high, the UAVs divide into two groups and move to either side of it while continuing to fly at the same altitude, thereby avoiding the obstacle. Afterwards, they gather into one group again. We verify the proposed scheme and do the performance evaluation by ns-2.