Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A comparison study on the growth pattern of traffic oscillations in car-following experiments

A recent car-following experiment (Experiment-I) showed that the speed standard deviation grows in a concave way along a platoon of vehicles following one another. This paper investigates the growth pattern of traffic oscillations in a platoon in another car-following experiment (Experiment-II) and compares it with that in Experiment-I. It is shown that the speed standard deviation also exhibits concave growth characteristics in Experiment-II. The hypothesis test show that there is no significant difference in growth pattern of speed standard deviation between the two experiments. However, since drivers are asked to follow closely in Experiment-II, the acceleration standard deviations, the driver sensitivities, and the strength of stochastic factors are larger than the ones in Experiment-I. Furthermore, a new comparison experiment is performed which indicates that traffic oscillation growth in the platoon in the set of experiments on a circular track is likely to be equivalent to that on a straight track.
Maternal cigarette smoking during pregnancy and the child's subsequent development: I. Physical growth to the age of 6 1/2 years.

The growth of 81 "small-for-dates" (SFD) and 99 "truly premature" children of low birth weight, and of 146 controls of full birth weight (FBW) was analyzed with respect to maternal smoking during pregnancy. Shortly after birth, a history was obtained from the mother pertaining to factors which could be related to the pregnancy outcome. Physical examination, developmental tests, and psychological tests were performed on the children up to the age of 6 1/2 years. There was a highly significant excess in the percentage of smokers among the mothers of SFD children as compared to FBW control children. At 6 1/2 years, the children of nonsmoking mothers had a slightly greater mean weight and height in all categories. Statistically significant differences in favor of nonsmokers' children were seen only in the FBW children. Mean social class was lower in children of nonsmoking mothers. Other factors influencing growth, such as maternal height and weight, and childrens' sex were not significantly different in the 2 groups of children. Although the trends of the results indicate that cigarette smoking in pregnancy may negatively affect the child's growth, the trends rarely reached statistical significance, and larger numbers are required for detailed factorial analysis.
Temporal framing and persuasion to adopt preventive health behavior: moderating effects of individual differences in consideration of future consequences on sunscreen use.

OBJECTIVE Previous work on temporal framing of health communications has focused upon detection behaviors that possess an inherent immediate risk of negative consequences. The present studies evaluate the role of temporal frame for a preventive behavior, using sunscreen. DESIGN Two experimental field studies manipulated the temporal frame in which positive and negative consequences of using sunscreen were presented. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Cognitive responses, intention, and behavior (experiment 2). RESULTS Consistent with hypotheses, Experiment 1 showed that individual differences in consideration of future consequences (CFC; A. Strathman, F. Gleicher, D. S. Boninger, & C. S. Edwards, 1994) moderated (a) the processing of long- versus short-term consequences and (b) the persuasive impact of the different temporal frames on behavioral intentions. In Experiment 2, the balance of positive versus negative thoughts generated by reading the persuasive communications was shown to mediate the effects of the Temporal Frame x CFC interaction on a behavioral measure. CONCLUSION Findings extend previous work by demonstrating the importance of individual differences in CFC to the processing of health communication about a preventive health behavior and to a behavioral outcome.
Treatment of Myelofibrosis: A Moving Target

AbstractMyelofibrosis (MF) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm that presents either as a primary disease or evolves secondarily from polycythemia vera or essential thrombocythemia to post–polycythemia vera MF or post–essential thrombocythemia MF, respectively. Myelofibrosis is characterized by stem cell–derived clonal myeloproliferation, abnormal cytokine expression, bone marrow fibrosis, anemia, splenomegaly, extramedullary hematopoiesis, constitutional symptoms, cachexia, leukemic progression, and shortened survival. Therapeutic options for patients with MF have been limited to the use of cytoreductive agents, predominantly hydroxyurea; splenectomy and splenic irradiation for treatment of splenomegaly; and management of anemia with transfusions, erythropoiesis-stimulating agents, androgens, and immunomodulatory agents along with steroids. The only curative option is allogeneic stem cell transplantation (ASCT), which is associated with high morbidity and mortality risks. Recently, JAK (Janus kinase) inhibitor therapies have become available and proven to be palliative in primary MF patients with hydroxyurea-refractory splenomegaly and severe constitutional symptoms. The purpose of this article is to review the clinical features of MF; discuss different treatment strategies, including ASCT; and discuss the potential danger and benefit of using JAK inhibitors prior to ASCT.
The Significance of EXDD and RXKD Motif Conservation in Rel Proteins*

Monofunctional and bifunctional classes of Rel proteins catalyze pyrophosphoryl transfer from ATP to 3′-OH of GTP/GDP to synthesize (p)ppGpp, which is essential for normal microbial physiology and survival. Bifunctional proteins additionally catalyze the hydrolysis of (p)ppGpp. We have earlier demonstrated that although both catalyze identical the (p)ppGpp synthesis reaction, they exhibit a differential response to Mg2+ due to a unique charge reversal in the synthesis domain; an RXKD motif in the synthesis domain of bifunctional protein is substituted by an EXDD motif in that of the monofunctional proteins. Here, we show that these motifs also determine substrate specificities (GTP/GDP), cooperativity, and regulation of catalytic activities at the N-terminal region through the C-terminal region. Most importantly, a mutant bifunctional Rel carrying an EXDD instigates a novel catalytic reaction, resulting in the synthesis of pGpp by an independent hydrolysis of the 5′Pα-O-Pβ bond of GTP/GDP or (p)ppGpp. Further experiments with RelA from Escherichia coli wherein EXDD is naturally present also revealed the presence of pGpp, albeit at low levels. This work brings out the biological significance of RXKD/EXDD motif conservation in Rel proteins and reveals an additional catalytic activity for the monofunctional proteins, prompting an extensive investigation for the possible existence and role of pGpp in the biological system.
Serotonin receptor subtypes in spinal antinociception in the rat.

The aim of the present study was to clarify the subtypes of serotonin (5-HT) receptors involved in spinal antinociception in the rat. 1) Intrathecal (i.t.) injection of 5-HT (25-200 micrograms) produced a dose-dependent increase in tail-flick latency. 2) Intrathecal injection of fluoxetine, a 5-HT uptake blocker (25-40 micrograms), resulted in a bell-shaped dose-related antinociception with peak effects occurring at 10 micrograms. 3) A bell-shaped antinociceptive effect was obtained by i.t. injection of the 5-HT1A agonist (+)-hydroxy-2-(di-N-propylamino)tetralin (0.25-2 micrograms), with the maximal effect occurring at 0.5 micrograms, which can be prevented by the 5-HT1A antagonist spiperone (25 micrograms i.t.). 4) A similar dose-response curve was obtained following the i.t. injection of the 5-HT1B agonist 1-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-piperazine maleate (1-125 micrograms) with the maximal effect observed at 25 micrograms. 5) Neither the 5-HT2 agonist (+/-)-alpha-methyl-5-HT-maleate nor the 5-HT3 agonist (+/-)-2-methyl-5-HT-maleate produced significant antinociceptive effects at doses up to 50 micrograms. Spontaneous tail-flicks emerged at doses higher than 50 micrograms. 6) The antinociceptive effect induced by 5-HT (200 micrograms i.t.) could be attenuated dose-dependently either by the 5-HT1A antagonist spiperone (5 and 25 micrograms i.t.) or by the 5-HT1C/2 antagonist mianserin (0.5-50 micrograms i.t.), but not by the 5-HT2 antagonist 1-(1-naphthyl)piperazine hydrochloride or the 5-HT3 antagonist 3-tropanyl-indole-3-carboxylate. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Results of a clinical pharmacokinetic (PK) bioequivalence (BE) study of liposomal paclitaxel (LEP-ETU) versus paclitaxel (T) in patients with advanced cancer.

2017 Background: LEP-ETU is an easy-to-use liposomal formulation of paclitaxel developed to reduce toxicities associated with the excipient polyoxyethylated castor oil that is used in paclitaxel (Taxol [T]), while maintaining or enhancing efficacy. A phase I study of LEP-ETU demonstrated an MTD of 325 mg/m2 and a similar PK profile at a dose of 175 mg/m2 compared to published T data (Damjanov et al, J Clin Oncol 2005;23 Suppl:147s). METHODS This randomized, two-period crossover, clinical BE study was designed to directly compare the PK of paclitaxel following intravenous administration of LEP-ETU and T delivered over 180 minutes at a dose of 175 mg/m2 in patients with a variety of advanced solid tumors. Patients were randomized to receive either one treatment cycle of LEP-ETU followed by one cycle of T, or one cycle of T followed by one cycle of LEP-ETU. Eligible patients were permitted to continue LEP-ETU treatment in an extension study. RESULTS Fifty-eight patients were treated, and 32 evaluable patients were analyzed for BE. The latter group of patients met pre-specified evaluability criteria of having received 100% of each dose during the specified administration interval and having had the necessary blood samples drawn to determine Cmax and AUC. Mean total paclitaxel Cmax values for LEP-ETU and T were 4955.0 ng/mL and 5108.8 ng/mL, respectively. Mean total paclitaxel AUC0-8 values for LEP-ETU and T were 15853.8 ng·h/mL and 18550.8 ng·h/mL, respectively. Ratios of the geometric means of LEP-ETU divided by T for Cmax were 97% (90% CI, 91%-103%) and for AUC0-8 were 84% (90% CI, 80%-90%). These results meet the established 80-125% BE criteria. The most frequently reported adverse events were fatigue, alopecia, and myalgia. Of the 37 patients deemed suitable to continue LEP-ETU treatment in the extension study, 57% have received = 4 cycles of LEP-ETU with at least stable disease. CONCLUSION LEP-ETU has met BE criteria compared to T. A comparative efficacy and safety study of LEP-ETU and T at a dose of 175 mg/m2 has been planned to confirm the potential of LEP-ETU to have comparable or improved treatment effect with a better safety profile than T. [Table: see text].
Effects of dietary wheat bran fiber on rectal epithelial cell proliferation in patients with resection for colorectal cancers.

A preponderance of carcinogenesis studies in rodents and epidemiologic studies in humans suggests a potential role of dietary fiber in the prevention of colorectal cancer. Recently, wheat bran fiber used as a dietary supplement has been shown to decrease the growth of rectal adenomatous polyps in patients with familial polyposis; however, few studies of high-risk human populations have been attempted to determine the effects of dietary fiber supplementation on markers of carcinogenesis in the colon or rectum. We have designed a one-arm study to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with wheat bran fiber [i.e., 13.5 g/day for 8 wk; after 1 mo, 2 g/day (compliance evaluation period)] on [3H]thymidine rectal mucosa cell labeling (i.e., percent of epithelial cells incorporating [3H]thymidine into DNA in intact rectal crypt cells over a 90-min exposure as well as in minced rectal biopsy tissue over a 24-hr exposure) in rectal biopsy specimens. The biopsy specimens were obtained at sigmoidoscopy in 17 compliant patients with a history of resected colon or rectal cancer. We categorized patients as having initially low or initially high [3H]thymidine-labeling indices (i.e., percent of mucosa cells that incorporate [3H]thymidine into DNA during 1.5- or 24-hour in vitro incubations) by using the median baseline labeling index as a cutoff between high and low values. On the basis of a chi-square test used to identify patients with a statistically significant (P less than .001) change, six of the eight patients who initially had high 24-hour outgrowth labeling indices showed a significant decrease in the rectal mucosa biopsy specimens obtained after treatment. An overall 22% decrease was observed in rectal mucosa cell biopsy specimens obtained at study termination (P less than .001). Of the eight patients with initially high total [3H]thymidine-labeling indices in crypt organ culture, four had a significant (P less than .001) decrease from baseline values, one had a significant increase, and three showed no change following the fiber intervention. The wheat bran fiber dietary supplement of 13.5 g/day was well tolerated by this group of older (54-70 yr) patients. Although the [3H]-thymidine labeling index data suggest that the wheat bran fiber supplement can inhibit DNA synthesis and rectal mucosa cell proliferation in high-risk patients, the results of this small pilot study should not be overinterpreted vis à vis the potential role of wheat bran fiber as a chemopreventive agent for colorectal cancer. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
The Rhesus Monkey as an Animal Model for Age-Related Maculopathy

In a survey of 100 rhesus monkeys, the prevalence of macular changes was similar to that in age-related macular degeneration in humans. Ophthalmoscopically visible drusen were observed in 31% of the monkeys. A statistically significant correlation existed between the age of the animals and the degree of drusen. Considering equivalent ages, monkeys appear to develop drusen earlier than humans. Pigment mottling occurred in 10% and hypopigmented spots in 8% of the sample. A dull foveal reflex was seen in 8% and no reflex in 27%. There was a statistically significant correlation between the absence of a reflex and the presence of pigment mottling or hypopigmentation in the macula.
Cardiac C-arm computed tomography using a 3D + time ROI reconstruction method with spatial and temporal regularization.

PURPOSE Reconstruction of the beating heart in 3D + time in the catheter laboratory using only the available C-arm system would improve diagnosis, guidance, device sizing, and outcome control for intracardiac interventions, e.g., electrophysiology, valvular disease treatment, structural or congenital heart disease. To obtain such a reconstruction, the patient's electrocardiogram (ECG) must be recorded during the acquisition and used in the reconstruction. In this paper, the authors present a 4D reconstruction method aiming to reconstruct the heart from a single sweep 10 s acquisition. METHODS The authors introduce the 4D RecOnstructiOn using Spatial and TEmporal Regularization (short 4D ROOSTER) method, which reconstructs all cardiac phases at once, as a 3D + time volume. The algorithm alternates between a reconstruction step based on conjugate gradient and four regularization steps: enforcing positivity, averaging along time outside a motion mask that contains the heart and vessels, 3D spatial total variation minimization, and 1D temporal total variation minimization. RESULTS 4D ROOSTER recovers the different temporal representations of a moving Shepp and Logan phantom, and outperforms both ECG-gated simultaneous algebraic reconstruction technique and prior image constrained compressed sensing on a clinical case. It generates 3D + time reconstructions with sharp edges which can be used, for example, to estimate the patient's left ventricular ejection fraction. CONCLUSIONS 4D ROOSTER can be applied for human cardiac C-arm CT, and potentially in other dynamic tomography areas. It can easily be adapted to other problems as regularization is decoupled from projection and back projection.
Imaging of Cranial Nerves III, IV, VI in Congenital Cranial Dysinnervation Disorders

Congenital cranial dysinnervation disorders are a group of diseases caused by abnormal development of cranial nerve nuclei or their axonal connections, resulting in aberrant innervation of the ocular and facial musculature. Its diagnosis could be facilitated by the development of high resolution thin-section magnetic resonance imaging. The purpose of this review is to describe the method to visualize cranial nerves III, IV, and VI and to present the imaging findings of congenital cranial dysinnervation disorders including congenital oculomotor nerve palsy, congenital trochlear nerve palsy, Duane retraction syndrome, Möbius syndrome, congenital fibrosis of the extraocular muscles, synergistic divergence, and synergistic convergence.
Large-scale Uncertainty Estimation and Its Application in Revenue Forecast of SMEs

The economic and banking importance of the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector is well recognized in contemporary society. Business credit loans are very important for the operation of SMEs, and the revenue is a key indicator of credit limit management. Therefore, it is very beneficial to construct a reliable revenue forecasting model. If the uncertainty of an enterprise's revenue forecasting can be estimated, a more proper credit limit can be granted. Natural gradient boosting approach, which estimates the uncertainty of prediction by a multi-parameter boosting algorithm based on the natural gradient. However, its original implementation is not easy to scale into big data scenarios, and computationally expensive compared to state-of-the-art tree-based models (such as XGBoost). In this paper, we propose a Scalable Natural Gradient Boosting Machines that is simple to implement, readily parallelizable, interpretable and yields high-quality predictive uncertainty estimates. According to the characteristics of revenue distribution, we derive an uncertainty quantification function. We demonstrate that our method can distinguish between samples that are accurate and inaccurate on revenue forecasting of SMEs. What's more, interpretability can be naturally obtained from the model, satisfying the financial needs.
Poultry farm hygiene: microbiological quality assessment of drinking water used in layer chickens managed under the battery cage and deep litter systems at three poultry farms in southwestern Nigeria.

Water troughs from deep litter and caged chicken water troughs (drinkers) fixed to each of the different 3-tier cages containing layer chickens in Farms A, B and C were subjected to a 7-day study which involved the monitoring of poultry farm hygiene. Drinkers were washed before filling with water on Day 1. For Days 3, 5 and 7 water was served without prior washing. The occurrence and characterization of the bacteria isolates were investigated and data obtained were analyzed and compared. For the bacterial count on Day 1, for layer chickens on cage system, no significant differences (p > 0.05) among the farms and between the farms tier interactions. On Day 3, no significant difference (p > 0.05) among the parameters. On Day 5, there was significant difference (p<0.05) among the farms and on Day 7, there was high significant difference (p < 0.01) among the farms. On Days 5 and 7, there were no significant differences (p>0.05) among the tiers nor between the interactions of the farms and tiers. The bacterial count in water troughs of layer chickens in deep litter system, on Day 1, had no significant differences (p > 0.05) between the farms, water troughs and their interactions. On Day 3, no significant difference (p > 0.05) among the parameters. On Days 5 and 7, there were significant difference (p<0.05) and a high significant difference (p < 0.01) between the farms respectively. On Days 5 and 7, no significant differences between the water troughs and between the interaction of the farms and the water troughs. Farm A isolates contained Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus vulgaris, Streptococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus epidermis, Klebsiella sp. , Salmonella sp. , Bacillus subtilis, Lactobacillus salivarius and Corynebacterium sp. Farm B had Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermis, Bacillus subtilis, Corynebacterium sp. , Escherichia coli, Streptococcus faecalis and Klebsiella sp. while for Farm C, apart from the prevalent bacteria isolates obtained in Farms A and B, additional 2 bacterial isolates, Lactobacillus salivarius and Pseudomonas aeuriginosa were found. In conclusion, water troughs when cleaned on daily basis carry minimum bacterial load. Those left for 3, 5 and 7 days uncleaned had progressively high bacterial loads, suggesting that the flock of birds and the consumers of the eggs and meat from the chickens are at risk of bacterial infection unless strict farm hygiene is ensured through regular monitoring.
Congenital cytomegalovirus infection in pregnancy: a review of prevalence, clinical features, diagnosis and prevention

Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is under‐recognised, despite being the leading infectious cause of congenital malformation, affecting ~0.3% of Australian live births. Approximately 11% of infants born with congenital CMV infection are symptomatic, resulting in clinical manifestations, including jaundice, hepatosplenomegaly, petechiae, microcephaly, intrauterine growth restriction and death. Congenital CMV infection may cause severe long‐term sequelae, including progressive sensorineural hearing loss and developmental delay in 40–58% of symptomatic neonates, and ~14% of initially asymptomatic infected neonates. Up to 50% of maternal CMV infections have nonspecific clinical manifestations, and most remain undetected unless specific serological testing is undertaken. The combination of serology tests for CMV‐specific IgM, IgG and IgG avidity provide improved distinction between primary and secondary maternal infections. In pregnancies with confirmed primary maternal CMV infection, amniocentesis with CMV‐PCR performed on amniotic fluid, undertaken after 21–22 weeks gestation, may determine whether maternofetal virus transmission has occurred. Ultrasound and, to a lesser extent, magnetic resonance imaging are valuable tools to assess fetal structural and growth abnormalities, although the absence of fetal abnormalities does not exclude fetal damage. Diagnosis of congenital CMV infection at birth or in the first 3 weeks of an infant's life is crucial, as this should prompt interventions for prevention of delayed‐onset hearing loss and neurodevelopmental delay in affected infants. Prevention strategies should also target mothers because increased awareness and hygiene measures may reduce maternal infection. Recognition of the importance of CMV in pregnancy and in neonates is increasingly needed, particularly as therapeutic and preventive interventions expand for this serious problem.
Ammonia excretion by the gills of two marine teleost fish: the importance of NH4+ permeance.

Varying the concentration of un-ionized ammonia (NH3) in the medium perfusing the gills of the isolated fish head while holding the total ammonia (NH4+ + NH3) concentration constant had no significant effect on gill ammonia excretion. In contrast, alteration in the medium NH4+ concentration at a fixed NH3 concentration produced a significant change in ammonia excretion. Thus, gill ammonia excretion was related to medium NH4+, not NH3, concentration.