Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Object identification for inventory management using convolutional neural network

In this paper, a real time inventory monitoring system using Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) has been proposed. The objective is to develop a reliable and efficient method for object counting and localization in the inventory using vision interface. Firstly, the Region of interest (ROI) is extracted from the image of inventory using visual features i.e. stable regions of input image. The centroids for these stable regions are estimated using Connected Component Analysis (CCA). These centroids are used to get bounding box in the stable regions. The bounding box generated for their respective ROIs are fed to CNN followed by Softmax layer for classification. Herein, single layer CNN architecture is used. The Softmax layer is used to classify the bounding boxes and final box is drawn for approximate location of object with distance, measured using RGB-D sensor. The CNN training has been performed using STL-10 Dataset. The Softmax layer is trained for various classes with their respective labels. The test has been performed for two different classes. The developed algorithm performed well irrespective of resolution and color variations in input image and able to count objects with respect to depth parameter.
Legislative Morality in the American States: The Case of Pre-Roe Abortion Regulation Reform

Theory: Do policies that regulate morality and/or evoke strong moral reactions have significantly different patterns of adoption in the states than those policies whose impacts are primarily economic? We use social learning theory and demand, resource, and constraint analysis to explore this question. Hypothesis: Contrary to Lowi's thesis that policy determines politics, there should be many similarities in the politics of these very dissimilar types of policy. Methods: An evaluation of three dimensions of abortion regulation reform from 1966 to 1972 (diffusion, reinvention, and determination) is used to test this hypothesis. Event history, hazard rate, and correlation analyses are applied to aggregate state data. A Guttman scale of abortion regulation permissiveness is developed. Results: Our central conclusions are that even distinct policies (morality versus economically based policies) share similar politics, and the three dimensions of the adoption process can be influenced in different ways by the type of policy under consideration.
Impact of Nurse-Initiated Preoperative Education on Postoperative Anxiety Symptoms and Complications After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Background:Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in high-risk patients is associated with significant perioperative complications and anxiety. Prevention of these postoperative complications and anxiety is important in the improvement of clinical outcomes following CABG. Objective:The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of nurse-initiated preoperative education and counseling on postoperative complications and anxiety symptoms following CABG. Methods:In this prospective and randomized trial, 40 patients were divided into the study and control groups. All patients received standard preoperative and postoperative care, but the study group patients also completed a structured education and counseling course supervised by designated nurses 3 days before the surgery. Anxiety symptoms were assessed by Zung’s self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) on the day of admission and at 3 days after the surgery. Results:There was no statistically significant difference in the baseline characteristics or operational data between the 2 groups (P > .05). Following the surgery, the rate of complications such as lower extremity edema, urinary retention, constipation, respiratory infection, and deep venous thrombosis in the study group was lower than in the control group (P < .05). The mean postoperative SAS scores in the study group was lower than in the control group (40.1 [SD, 6.5] vs 48.9 [SD, 7.3]; P = .01), and the proportion of patients with a SAS score greater than 40 in the study group was also lower than in the control group (15% vs 45%, P = .041). Conclusions:Nurse-initiated preoperational education and counseling were associated with a reduced rate of perioperative complications and a reduced level of anxiety following CABG.
Characterizing Suicide in Toronto: An Observational Study and Cluster Analysis

Objective: To determine whether people who have died from suicide in a large epidemiologic sample form clusters based on demographic, clinical, and psychosocial factors. Method: We conducted a coroner's chart review for 2886 people who died in Toronto, Ontario, from 1998 to 2010, and whose death was ruled as suicide by the Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario. A cluster analysis using known suicide risk factors was performed to determine whether suicide deaths separate into distinct groups. Clusters were compared according to person- and suicide-specific factors. Results: Five clusters emerged. Cluster 1 had the highest proportion of females and nonviolent methods, and all had depression and a past suicide attempt. Cluster 2 had the highest proportion of people with a recent stressor and violent suicide methods, and all were married. Cluster 3 had mostly males between the ages of 20 and 64, and all had either experienced recent stressors, suffered from mental illness, or had a history of substance abuse. Cluster 4 had the youngest people and the highest proportion of deaths by jumping from height, few were married, and nearly one-half had bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. Cluster 5 had all unmarried people with no prior suicide attempts, and were the least likely to have an identified mental illness and most likely to leave a suicide note. Conclusions: People who die from suicide assort into different patterns of demographic, clinical, and death-specific characteristics. Identifying and studying subgroups of suicides may advance our understanding of the heterogeneous nature of suicide and help to inform development of more targeted suicide prevention strategies.
Progressive squamous epithelial neoplasia in K14-human papillomavirus type 16 transgenic mice

To model human papillomavirus-induced neoplastic progression, expression of the early region of human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) was targeted to the basal cells of the squamous epithelium in transgenic mice, using a human keratin 14 (K14) enhancer/promoter. Twenty-one transgenic founder mice were produced, and eight lines carrying either wild-type or mutant HPV16 early regions that did not express the E1 or E2 genes were established. As is characteristic of human cancers, the E6 and E7 genes remained intact in these mutants. The absence of E1 or E2 function did not influence the severity of the phenotype that eventually developed in the transgenic mice. Hyperplasia, papillomatosis, and dysplasia appeared at multiple epidermal and squamous mucosal sites, including ear and truncal skin, face, snout and eyelids, and anus. The ears were the most consistently affected site, with pathology being present in all lines with 100% penetrance. This phenotype also progressed through discernible stages. An initial mild hyperplasia was followed by hyperplasia, which further progressed to dysplasia and papillomatosis. During histopathological progression, there was an incremental increase in cellular DNA synthesis, determined by 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine incorporation, and a profound perturbation in keratinocyte terminal differentiation, as revealed by immunohistochemistry to K5, K14, and K10 and filaggrin. These K14-HPV16 transgenic mice present an opportunity to study the role of the HPV16 oncogenes in the neoplastic progression of squamous epithelium and provide a model with which to identify genetic and epigenetic factors necessary for carcinogenesis.
Essential role of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B in obesity‐induced inflammation and peripheral insulin resistance during aging

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) is a negative regulator of insulin signaling and a therapeutic target for type 2 diabetes (T2DM). In this study, we have evaluated the role of PTP1B in the development of aging‐associated obesity, inflammation, and peripheral insulin resistance by assessing metabolic parameters at 3 and 16 months in PTP1B−/− mice maintained on mixed genetic background (C57Bl/6J × 129Sv/J). Whereas fat mass and adipocyte size were increased in wild‐type control mice at 16 months, these parameters did not change with aging in PTP1B−/− mice. Increased levels of pro‐inflammatory cytokines, crown‐like structures, and hypoxia‐inducible factor (HIF)‐1α were observed only in adipose tissue from 16‐month‐old wild‐type mice. Similarly, islet hyperplasia and hyperinsulinemia were observed in wild‐type mice with aging‐associated obesity, but not in PTP1B−/− animals. Leanness in 16‐month‐old PTP1B−/− mice was associated with increased energy expenditure. Whole‐body insulin sensitivity decreased in 16‐month‐old control mice; however, studies with the hyperinsulinemic–euglycemic clamp revealed that PTP1B deficiency prevented this obesity‐related decreased peripheral insulin sensitivity. At a molecular level, PTP1B expression and enzymatic activity were up‐regulated in liver and muscle of 16‐month‐old wild‐type mice as were the activation of stress kinases and the expression of p53. Conversely, insulin receptor‐mediated Akt/Foxo1 signaling was attenuated in these aged control mice. Collectively, these data implicate PTP1B in the development of inflammation and insulin resistance associated with obesity during aging and suggest that inhibition of this phosphatase by therapeutic strategies might protect against age‐dependent T2DM.
Just looking for a good game: competitive balance in the Korean Professional Baseball League

ABSTRACT Rottenberg’s uncertainty of outcome hypothesis is about preferences that can vary across fans and sports. We provide the first evidence of the empirical power of the hypothesis in the Korean Professional Baseball League (KPBL). In a panel data set, team-level aggregation over years shows that fans of this league attend in ways consistent with the hypothesis at the level of game uncertainty and consecutive season uncertainty, but only the first is statistically significant. KPBL fans appear to just be looking for a good game. This is consistent with the nearly complete concentration of post-season participation among a very few teams outside of the major population centre in Seoul and a lack of local team identification among KPBL fans. Our work adds to the diversity of league structures in the competitive balance literature since talent levels in KPBL are the result of parent company advertising choices rather than geographic identification. There are research questions and a policy implication.
Association of Lp-PLA2-A and early recurrence of vascular events after TIA and minor stroke

Objective: To determine the association of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) measured in the acute period and the short-term risk of recurrent vascular events in patients with TIA or minor stroke. Methods: We measured Lp-PLA2 activity (Lp-PLA2-A) in a subset of 3,201 participants enrolled in the CHANCE (Clopidogrel in High-Risk Patients with Acute Non-disabling Cerebrovascular Events) trial. Participants with TIA or minor stroke were enrolled within 24 hours of symptom onset and randomized to single or dual antiplatelet therapy. In the current analysis, the primary outcome was defined as the composite of ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, or death within 90 days. Results: The composite endpoint occurred in 299 of 3,021 participants (9.9%). The population average Lp-PLA2-A level was 209 ± 59 nmol/min/mL (95% confidence interval [CI] 207–211). Older age, male sex, and current smoking were associated with higher Lp-PLA2-A levels. Lp-PLA2-A was significantly associated with the primary endpoint (adjusted hazard ratio 1.07, 95% CI 1.01–1.13 for every 30 nmol/min/mL increase). Similar results were seen for ischemic stroke alone. Adjustment for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol attenuated the association between Lp-PLA2-A and the primary endpoint (adjusted hazard ratio 1.04, 95% CI 0.97–1.11 for every 30 nmol/min/mL increase). Conclusions: Higher levels of Lp-PLA2-A in the acute period are associated with increased short-term risk of recurrent vascular events.
Comparison of immune responses of mice immunized with five different Mycobacterium bovis BCG vaccine strains

Among the various parameters which may contribute to Mycobacterium bovis BCG vaccination efficiency, the choice of the vaccine strain may play an important role. In the present study, we therefore compared the immunogenicity of five different BCG strains that are commonly used for BCG vaccine production (Glaxo 1077, Japanese 172, Pasteur 1173P2, Prague, and Russian strains). The comparison of the growth capacity of these BCG strains in BALB/c and C3H mice demonstrated that a great difference exists between the capacity of various BCG strains to multiply and persist in target organs. A much lower recovery of BCG could be shown in mice immunized with Prague and Japanese BCG strains. T-cell responses of BCG-immunized mice were also examined by analyzing T-cell proliferative responses, cytokine production, delayed-type hypersensitivity responses, and cytotoxic activity. All these assays demonstrated that BCG immunization induced strong CD4+ T-cell responses, mostly of the Th1 type, as demonstrated by interleukin-2 and gamma interferon production. These studies also demonstrated that there are differences between BCG strains in stimulating these T-cell responses. A lack of induction of cytotoxic activity was observed following immunization with the Japanese strain. Lower anti-purified protein derivative antibody responses were also observed after intravenous or oral immunization with this BCG strain. Finally, the protective activity of these BCG strains was tested by measuring the capacity of immunized mice to eliminate recombinant Pasteur and Japanese BCG strains which expressed beta-galactosidase. The results of these experiments clearly demonstrated that the Prague and Japanese strains were unable to protect mice against a second mycobacterial challenge whereas mice immunized with the Glaxo, Pasteur, or Russian strain eliminated the recombinant BCG very efficiently. Altogether, the results of the present study strongly support the view that there are considerable differences in the immunogenicity of various BCG vaccine strains and that these differences may play a major role in BCG vaccination efficiency.
Plasma Epstein-Barr viral deoxyribonucleic acid quantitation complements tumor-node-metastasis staging prognostication in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

PURPOSE To evaluate the effect of combining circulating Epstein-Barr viral (EBV) DNA load data with TNM staging data in pretherapy prognostication of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). PATIENTS AND METHODS Three hundred seventy-six patients with all stages of NPC were studied. Pretreatment plasma/serum EBV DNA concentrations were quantified by a polymerase chain reaction assay. Determinants of overall survival were assessed by multivariate analysis. Survival probabilities of patient groups, segregated by clinical stage (I, II, III, or IV) alone and also according to EBV DNA load (low or high), were compared. RESULTS Pretherapy circulating EBV DNA load is an independent prognostic factor for overall survival in NPC. Patients with early-stage disease were segregated by EBV DNA levels into a poor-risk subgroup with survival similar to that of stage III disease and a good-risk subgroup with survival similar to stage I disease. CONCLUSION Pretherapy circulating EBV DNA load is an independent prognostic factor to International Union Against Cancer (UICC) staging in NPC. Combined interpretation of EBV DNA data with UICC staging data leads to alteration of risk definition of patient subsets, with improved risk discrimination in early-stage disease. Validation studies are awaited.
Natural killer cell activity, interferon‐gamma and antibodies to herpes viruses in patients with Behçet's disease

Interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ) titres in 20 patients with active Behçet's disease were examined and compared with those of 20 normal donors. Sera from Behçet's disease patients revealed an IFN‐γ increase but no correlation between IFN level and natural killer (NK) activity. The analysis of lymphocyte subsets by monoclonal antibodies registered an increase of CD8+ T subpopulation and cells co‐expressing CD8+ ‐Leu 7a+ markers. Moreover, a high number of cells expressing CD25+ and HLA‐DR+ phenotype has been noted in patients with active Behçet's disease. Serological analysis showed a high level of IgG antibodies to HSV‐1. The increase of IFN‐γ litre, the high number of activated T cells and the increasing level of IgG antibodies to HSV‐1 are important manifestations during the active stage of Behçet's disease. These findings are discussed in relation to the immunopathogenesis of Behçet's disease.
Pertussis toxin activates adult and neonatal naive human CD4+ T lymphocytes

Pertussis toxin (PTX) is known to be mitogenic for T lymphocytes, but its direct action on naive human T cells has not been specified. Herein, we show that PTX induces the proliferation of purified adult CD45RA+CD4+ T cells independently of its ADP‐ribosyltransferase activity. PTX directly induces TNF‐α and IL‐2 mRNA expression, modulates the level of several cell surface receptors and induces Forkhead box p3 (Foxp3) protein accumulation in naive CD4+ T cells. Addition of autologous dendritic cells was found to be required for the production of high levels of IFN‐γ by PTX‐stimulated naive T cells. These effects of PTX occurred in conjunction with activation of NF‐κB and NFAT transcription factors. Overall, responses of neonatal CD4+ T cells to PTX were similar to those of adult CD45RA+CD4+ naive T cells except for their blunted CD40 ligand up‐regulation. We suggest that the adjuvant properties of PTX during primary cell‐mediated immune responses involve a direct action on naive T lymphocytes in addition to activation of antigen‐presenting cells.
Heme Oxygenase Inhibition Enhances Neutrophil Migration Into the Bronchoalveolar Spaces and Improves the Outcome of Murine Pneumonia-Induced Sepsis

Abstract A reduction of the neutrophil migration into the site of infection during cecal ligation and puncture–induced sepsis increases host mortality. Inhibition of heme oxygenase (HO) prevents this neutrophil paralysis and improves host survival in the cecal ligation and puncture model. Taking into account that almost 50% of all sepsis cases are a consequence of pneumonia, we designed the present study to determine the role of HO in an experimental model of pneumonia-induced sepsis. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the inhibition of HO improves the outcome and pathophysiologic changes of sepsis induced by an intratracheal instillation of Klebsiella pneumoniae. The pretreatment of mice subjected to pneumonia-induced sepsis with ZnDPBG (zinc deuteroporphyrin 2,4-bis glycol), a nonspecific HO inhibitor, increased the number of neutrophils in the bronchoalveolar spaces, reduced the bacterial load at the site of infection, and prevented the upregulation of CD11b and the downregulation of CXCR2 on blood neutrophils. Moreover, the pretreatment with ZnDPBG decreased alveolar collapse, attenuating the deleterious changes in pulmonary mechanics and gas exchanges and, as a consequence, improved the survival rate of mice from 0% to ∼20%. These results show that heme oxygenase is involved in the pathophysiology of pneumonia-induced sepsis and suggest that HO inhibitors could be helpful for the management of this disease.
Testosterone replacement therapy for hypogonadal men with major depressive disorder: a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND Symptoms of male hypogonadism include low libido, fatigue, and dysphoria and are alleviated with testosterone replacement. The prevalence of major depressive disorder (MDD) in hypogonadal men is not known, nor is the antidepressant efficacy of testosterone replacement in depressed, hypogonadal men. METHOD A 6-week double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted in 32 men with DSM-IV MDD and a low testosterone level, defined as total serum testosterone < or = 350 ng/dL. Patients were randomly assigned to receive weekly 1-mL intramuscular injections of either testosterone enanthate, 200 mg, or sesame seed oil (placebo). The primary outcome measure was the 24-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D). RESULTS Thirty patients were randomly assigned to an intervention; 13 received testosterone, and 17 received placebo. Mean +/- SD age was 52+/-10 years, mean testosterone level was 266.1+/-50.6 ng/dL, and mean baseline HAM-D score was 21+/-8. All patients who received testosterone achieved normalization of their testosterone levels. The HAM-D scores decreased in both testosterone and placebo groups, and there were no significant between-group differences: reduction in group mean HAM-D score from baseline to endpoint was 10.1 in patients who received testosterone and 10.5 in those who received placebo. Response rate, defined as a 50% or greater reduction in HAM-D score, was 38.5% (5/13) for patients who received testosterone and 41.2% (7/17) for patients who received placebo. Patients receiving testosterone had a marginal but statistically significant improvement in sexual function (p = .02). CONCLUSION In this clinical trial with depressed, hypogonadal men, antidepressant effects of testosterone replacement could not be differentiated from those of placebo.
Component-resolved diagnosis (CRD): Is it worth it? frequency and differentiation in rhinitis patients with mite reactivity.

Component-resolved diagnosis (CRD) using microarray technology has recently been introduced with the aim to improve diagnosis of allergy. The aim of this study was to compare performance of this allergen microarray to those of an established extract-based skin prick testing (SPT). 45 patients with allergic rhinitis were studied (16 children and 29 adults). SPT to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae and Blomia tropicalis extracts and allergen microarray ImmunoCAP ISAC were carried out for all patients. Forty out of 45 patients demonstrated positive SPT to all mite extracts tested. These 40 patients were considered to be mite-allergic based on the positive SPT results. The remaining 5 patients with negative SPT to any mite extracts were classified as non-mite allergic. Comparatively, based on the microarray results, only 34 mite-allergic patients had detectable serum IgE to at least one of the mite allergen components tested whereas 6 patients with positive SPT to mite extracts showed no detectable IgE reactivity to any of the components tested. One non-mite allergic patient had a positive test- Blo t 5. Der p 10-positive patients also reacted to other cross-reactive tropomyosin from anisakis (Ani s 3) (25%), cockroach (Bla g 7) (50%) and shrimp (Pen m 1) (75%). CRD is a reliable tool for the diagnosis of allergy to mites. Der p 10 might be a useful indicator to identify a subset of mite-allergic patient that have additional sensitization due to cross-reactivity and thus allows selection of patients for immunotherapy.