Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An efficient machine learning approach for the detection of melanoma using dermoscopic images

Diagnosis of dermoscopic skin lesions due to skin cancer is the most challenging task for the experienced dermatologists. In this context, dermoscopy is the non-invasive useful method for the detection of skin lesions which are not visible to naked human eye. Among different types of skin cancers, malignant melanoma is the most aggressive and deadliest form of skin cancer. Its diagnosis is crucial if not detected in early stage. This paper mainly aims to present an efficient machine learning approach for the detection of melanoma from dermoscopic images. It detects melanomic skin lesions based upon their discriminating properties. In first step of proposed method, different types of color and texture features are extracted from dermoscopic images based on distinguished structures and varying intensities of melanomic lesions. In second step, extracted features are fed to the classifier to classify melanoma out of dermoscopic images. Paper also focuses on the role of color and texture features in the context of detection of melanomas. Proposed method is tested on publicly available PH2 dataset in terms of accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and Area under ROC curve (AUC). It is observed that good results are achieved using extracted features, hence proving the validity of the proposed system.
Correlated response of udder dimensions to selection for milk yield in Holsteins.

Response to selection for milk yield in Holsteins was examined by a controlled selection experiment initiated in 1964. Foundation cows were paired by sire and divided randomly into two breeding groups, selection and control. Selection group was mated to four sires each year highest for Predicted Difference milk. Twenty bulls selected in 1964 as near breed average for milk sired all control cows. Milk yield was recorded for each lactation, and height of udder from ground, distances between teats, and perimeter and area bound by the four teats were measured at 30 to 75 days postpartum on 153 selection and 202 control cows over 14 yr. Most estimates of repeatability and heritability of udder dimensions before and after milking were . 45 or larger. Correlations with milk yield were negative for udder height and positive for other udder measurements. Selection cows exceeded controls for lactational milk yield. Daughters of high milk bulls had greater distances between teats, greater perimeters, and larger areas of udder floor. Selection cows did not differ from controls in udder height for first parity but were below controls in udder height and had udders that collapsed more for all parities.
A Canadian Multicenter Trial Assessing Memory and Executive Functions in Patients With Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders Treated With Olanzapine

Serial verbal learning task (explicit long-term memory) and verbal fluency (generation of a response) are tests that are usually severely impaired in schizophrenia. Despite the growing literature supporting the clinical efficacy of olanzapine, psychiatrists still question its cognitive consequences. This study assessed the efficacy of olanzapine on neurocognitive functioning. Patients (N = 134) meeting diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia, schizophreniform, or schizoaffective disorders began an 8-week, open-label olanzapine treatment at a dose of 5 mg/d, which was increased to 10 mg/d after 1 week. Daily dosage was subsequently adjusted between 5 and 20 mg/d based on individual clinical status. All previous antipsychotics were tapered and discontinued during the first 2 weeks of the study. Neuropsychologic assessments were carried out at baseline and at 4 and 8 weeks. Explicit long-term memory was assessed with the Rey Auditory-Verbal Learning Test: the average immediate recall score significantly improved (P < 0.001), as did the delayed recall score (P < 0.001). The average total score on category fluency improved from 34.6 words at baseline to 37.6 words at end point (P < 0.0001). Time on both Trail A and B making tasks significantly decreased (P < 0.0001). Lack of a control arm makes it impossible to exclude a practice effect as an explanation for the enhanced cognitive performance, although the Word List Recall test represents one of the better resources to avoid a practice effect. After switching to olanzapine, there was a statistically significant improvement of cognitive function in the 3 main domains tested and no significant worsening of any memory or executive function measure.
Effects of Alcohol Use and Estrogen on Bone

In marked contrast with men who drink, women who drink alcohol are found, as a group, to have higher bone mass compared with women who abstain. Furthermore, the apparent beneficial effects of alcohol use are more apparent in postmenopausal women than women of reproductive age, suggesting that there might be an interaction between alcohol and estrogen. Estrogen deficiency accompanying menopause leads to bone loss, which in turn predisposes women to osteoporosis later in life. Estrogen deficiency accelerates bone remodeling, which is the process by which small areas of bone are destroyed and rebuilt, and leads to an imbalance whereby bone resorption—the part of remodeling consisting of breaking down and assimilating—exceeds bone formation. Alcohol might reduce bone loss in postmenopausal women by increasing the circulating levels of estrogen. Alternatively, alcohol might slow bone loss by acting on bone cells to reduce bone remodeling. Alcohol use has a negative effect on the immature skeleton but current understanding suggests that small quantities of alcohol may have beneficial effects on bone in older women.
A Relativistic Plasma Dispersion Function

A relativistic plasma dispersion function is defined, and its analytic properties discussed. Using this function, it should prove possible to formulate relativistic plasma linear theory in a particularly simple form for study either analytically or numerically. As an example, the dispersion relation for Langmuir waves in a one-dimensional relativistic plasma is solved and compared against the results of computer simulations. Agreement is good for waves of phase velocity either above or below the speed of light, Two appendices are provided, the first giving several expansions and other representations of the dispersion function, the second discussing numerical methods for its evaluation. Contour plots of the function are included.
Effectiveness of an Internet-Based Worksite Smoking Cessation Intervention at 12 Months

Objective: To evaluate effectiveness of an Internet-based smoking cessation program as part of a comprehensive health risk reduction initiative in a large, geographically dispersed employee population. Methods: A financial incentive for participation was offered during 2003 health benefits enrollment. The primary cessation outcome was 7-day point prevalence abstinence at 12 months. Results: A total of 1776 employees used the Internet program. Among those surveyed, the response rate was 32%. Quit rates ranged from 13% using intention to treat analysis (nonresponders counted as smokers) to 43% among survey responders. Higher Web site utilization was associated with better cessation outcomes, even after controlling for baseline motivation. Conclusions: The Internet program was successful at reaching a large number of geographically dispersed employees. The range of quit rates suggests that Internet cessation programs can be effective in promoting cessation and preventing relapse in a worksite setting.
Efficacy and tolerability of oral and intramuscular S-adenosyl-L-methionine 1 , 4-butanedisulfonate ( SAMe ) in the treatment of major depression : comparison with imipramine in 2 multicenter studies 1 – 4

Background: S-Adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe), a natural compound, is the most important methyl donor in the central nervous system. In several clinical trials, SAMe showed antidepressant activity. Objective: Two multicenter studies were conducted in patients with a diagnosis of major depressive episode [baseline score on the 21-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) ≥ 18] to confirm the efficacy and safety of SAMe in the treatment of major depression. In the first study (MC3), 1600 mg SAMe/d was given orally; whereas, in the second study (MC4), 400 mg SAMe/d was given intramuscularly. In both studies, the effects of SAMe were compared with those of 150 mg imipramine/d given orally in a double-blind design. Design: In MC3, 143 patients received oral SAMe and 138 patients received imipramine for 6 wk. In MC4, 147 patients received SAMe intramuscularly and 148 patients received imipramine for 4 wk. In both studies the 2 main efficacy measures were the final HAM-D score and the percentage of responders to Clinical Global Impression at the endpoint. Secondary efficacy measures were the endpoint Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale scores and the percentage of responders, responders being those patients showing a decrease in HAM-D score of ≥ 50% from baseline. Results: In both studies, the results of SAMe and imipramine treatment did not differ significantly for any efficacy measure. However, significantly fewer adverse events were observed in the patients treated with SAMe. Conclusions: The antidepressive efficacy of 1600 mg SAMe/d orally and 400 mg SAMe/d intramuscularly is comparable with that of 150 mg imipramine/d orally, but SAMe is significantly better tolerated. Am J Clin Nutr 2002;76(suppl):1172S–6S.
Intratumoral Heterogeneity of Pretreatment 18F-FDG PET Images Predict Disease Progression in Patients With Nasal Type Extranodal Natural Killer/T-cell Lymphoma

Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate whether the textural features of pretreatment 18F-FDG PET images can predict prognosis for nasal type extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTL). Materials and Methods A retrospective analysis of the pretreatment 18F-FDG PET images of the patients with newly diagnosed nasal type ENKTL from 2008 to 2013 was conducted. Progression-free survival (PFS) was the main outcome measure. The primary tumor was identified and then delineated using the 40% maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) thresholding method. The textural features of the pretreatment 18F-FDG PET images were extracted. The prognostic significance of the textural features of the PET images were examined using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and Cox regression analysis. P values <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results In total, 17 patients were enrolled, among whom 11 showed disease progression and 6 died from the disease during the median follow-up period of 27.2 months. Dissimilarity and low-intensity short-zone emphasis (LISZE) were identified as independent predictors of PFS by using the ROC curves and multivariate Cox analysis after adjusting for the clinical variables. Conclusions Dissimilarity and LISZE were the significant predictors of disease progression in patients with nasal type ENKTL and can improve their prognostic stratification.
Six‐minute walk distance and work relationship with incremental treadmill cardiopulmonary exercise test in COPD

Introduction: Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is increasingly used to evaluate the overall impact of the illness on patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). While laboratory tests of exercise performance are costly, the 6‐min walk test (6‐MWT) can be more easily performed. Although the main outcome commonly used in this field test is the distance walked in 6 min (6‐MWD), this measure does not account for differences in body weight. Previous studies showed a good correlation between the work performed during the 6‐MWT with incremental cycling CPET, an exercise modality more associated with quadriceps fatigability and with lower peak oxygen consumption than incremental walking tests.
Review Article: Effects of Plant Sterols and Stanols Beyond Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Lowering

Consumption of foods and supplements enriched with plant sterols/stanols (PS) may help reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. In this review, we consider the effects of PS beyond LDL-C lowering. Plant sterols/stanols exert beneficial effects on other lipid variables, such as apolipoprotein (apo) B/apoAI ratio and, in some studies, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglycerides (TG). Plant sterols/stanols may also affect inflammatory markers, coagulation parameters, as well as platelet and endothelial function. Evidence also exists about a beneficial effect on oxidative stress, but this does not seem to be of greater degree than that expected from the LDL-C lowering. Many of these effects have been demonstrated in vitro and animal models. Some in vitro effects cannot be seen in vivo or in humans at usual doses. The epidemiological studies that evaluated the association of plasma PS concentration with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk do not provide a definitive answer. Long-term randomized placebo-controlled studies are required to clarify the effects of supplementation with PS on CVD risk and progression of atherosclerosis.
The Role of the Oculomotor Vermis in the Control of Saccadic Eye Movements

Abstract: The oculomotor vermis is a part of the posterior cerebellum, characterized by a low threshold (<10 μA) for evoked saccades. It comprises vermal lobuli VIc and VIIA. Many Purkinje cells in this area show eye position or saccade‐related responses or combinations of the two and usually lack responses to the presentation of visual targets, guiding the oculomotor behavior. The saccade‐related responses are directionally selective and show preferences for saccade amplitude or duration, which differ widely between cells. However, at the population level, these saccade‐related Purkinje cells give a very precise account of the timing of the saccadic eye movement and, specifically, of the time it ends. This population signal might therefore contribute to determining the end of the saccadic eye movement. Furthermore, by changing the duration of the population response, the amplitude of the saccade could be changed. In other words, saccadic adaptation could be a consequence of changing a representation of time in the cerebellum.
Droplet Shapes on Superhydrophobic Surfaces Under Electrowetting Actuation

Droplet behavior on structured surfaces has recently generated a lot of interest due to its application to self-cleaning surfaces and in microfluidic devices. In this paper, the droplet shape and the droplet state on superhydrophobic surfaces are predicted using the Volume of Fluid (VOF) approach. Various structured surfaces are considered and the apparent contact angles are extracted from the predicted droplet shapes. Droplet dynamics under electrowetting are also modeled, including contact line friction. The model is validated against in-house experiments and experiments from the literature. The droplet state, droplet shape and apparent contact angles match well with the experimental measurements. The Cassie and Wenzel states on structured surfaces are also accurately predicted. Further, the electrowetting-induced transition from the Cassie to the Wenzel state and the reversal to the Cassie state is predicted for two different superhydrophobic surfaces. The transient wetting process, intermediate energy states and droplet shapes during electrowetting are simulated. The effective contact line friction coefficient on pillared surfaces is predicted to be 0.14 Ns/m2 , consistent with published values.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Reaction norms for metamorphic traits in natterjack toads to larval density and pond duration

The evolution of environmentally‐induced changes in phenotype or reaction norm implies both the existence at some time of genetic variation within a population for that plasticity measured by the presence of genotype x environment interaction (G x E), and that phenotypic variation affects fitness. Otherwise, the genetic structure of polygenic traits may restrict the evolution of the reaction norm by the lack of independent evolution of a given trait in different environments or by genetic trade‐offs with other traits that affect fitness. In this paper, we analyze the existence of G x E in metamorphic traits to two environmental factors, larval density and pond duration in a factorial experiment with Bufo calamita tadpoles in semi‐natural conditions and in the laboratory.
TO TAX OR NOT TO TAX? THE CASE OF ELECTRONIC COMMERCE

Despite the intensifying debate over the taxation of Internet commerce, the relevant issues have not been given a systematic treatment in the context of the literature on optimal taxation. This article presents such an analysis and investigates separately the taxation of business purchases of intermediate goods, the taxation of consumer purchases of final goods and services, and the various issues of administration and compliance costs as they apply to the development of E-commerce. The authors conclude that generally the optimal tax literature cannot be used in support of a blanket tax exemption for Internet purchases. Certain conditions could lead to the optimality of an exemption, but those conditions are not likely to be met in practice. Copyright 2003 Western Economic Association International.
Immunization with an induced avirulent auxotrophic mutant of Pseudomonas pseudomallei.

A virulent strain of Pseudomonas pseudomallei was subjected to ultraviolet irradiation and a mutant clone requiring preformed adenine or hypoxanthine for growth was isolated. The imposition of auxotrophism was associated with a striking decline in virulence for mice which could be restored by permitting the strain to revert to purine independence in vitro. The mutant persisted in mice without detected reversions or or untoward effects for approximately 20 days following inoculation of 107 cells. After repeated inoculations, a significant immune response was demonstrated by parenteral challenge with diverse strains of this species. However, animals so immunized remained susceptible to lethal respiratory infection.
Shifting the Paradigm in Radiation Safety

The current radiation safety paradigm using the linear no-threshold (LNT) model is based on the premise that even the smallest amount of radiation may cause mutations increasing the risk of cancer. Autopsy studies have shown that the presence of cancer cells is not a decisive factor in the occurrence of clinical cancer. On the other hand, suppression of immune system more than doubles the cancer risk in organ transplant patients, indicating its key role in keeping occult cancers in check. Low dose radiation (LDR) elevates immune response, and so it may reduce rather than increase the risk of cancer. LNT model pays exclusive attention to DNA damage, which is not a decisive factor, and completely ignores immune system response, which is an important factor, and so is not scientifically justifiable. By not recognizing the importance of the immune system in cancer, and not exploring exercise intervention, the current paradigm may have missed an opportunity to reduce cancer deaths among atomic bomb survivors. Increased antioxidants from LDR may reduce aging-related non-cancer diseases since oxidative damage is implicated in these. A paradigm shift is warranted to reduce further casualties, reduce fear of LDR, and enable investigation of potential beneficial applications of LDR.
A Sphingolipid Inhibitor Induces a Cytokinesis Arrest and Blocks Stage Differentiation in Giardia lamblia

ABSTRACT Sphingolipid biosynthesis pathways have recently emerged as a promising target for therapeutic intervention against pathogens, including parasites. A key step in the synthesis of complex sphingolipids is the glucosylation of ceramide, mediated by glucosylceramide (GlcCer) synthase, whose activity can be inhibited by PPMP (1-phenyl-2-palmitoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol). In this study, we investigated whether PPMP inhibits the proliferation and differentiation of the pathogenic parasite Giardia lamblia, the major cause of parasite-induced diarrhea worldwide. PPMP was found to block in vitro parasite replication in a dose-dependent manner, with a 50% inhibitory concentration of 3.5 μM. The inhibition of parasite replication was irreversible at 10 μM PPMP, a concentration that did not affect mammalian cell metabolism. Importantly, PPMP inhibited the completion of cell division at a specific stage in late cytokinesis. Microscopic analysis of cells incubated with PPMP revealed the aberrant accumulation of cellular membranes belonging to the endoplasmic reticulum network in the caudal area of the parasites. Finally, PPMP induced a 90% reduction in G. lamblia differentiation into cysts, the parasite stage responsible for the transmission of the disease. These results show that PPMP is a powerful inhibitor of G. lamblia in vitro and that as-yet-uncharacterized sphingolipid biosynthetic pathways are potential targets for the development of anti-G. lamblia agents.
MACULAR RETINAL LAYER THICKNESS IN CHILDHOOD

Purpose: To examine macular retinal thickness and retinal layer thickness with spectral domain optical coherence tomography in a population of children with normal ocular health and minimal refractive errors. Methods: High-resolution macular optical coherence tomography scans from 196 children aged 4 years to 12 years (mean age: 8 ± 2 years), were analyzed to determine total retinal thickness and thickness of 6 different retinal layers across the central 5 mm of the posterior pole. Automated segmentation with manual correction was used to derive retinal thickness values. Results: The mean total retinal thickness in the central 1-mm foveal zone was 255 ± 16 &mgr;m, and this increased significantly with age (mean increase of 1.8 &mgr;m per year) in childhood (P < 0.001). Age-related increases in thickness of some retinal layers were also observed, with changes of the highest statistical significance found in the outer retinal layers in the central foveal region (P < 0.01). Significant topographical variations in thickness of each of the retinal layers were also observed (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Small magnitude, statistically significant increases in total retinal thickness and retinal layer thickness occur from early childhood to adolescence. The most prominent changes seem to occur in the outer retinal layers of the central fovea.
A field test for upper body strength and endurance.

Abstract Historically, a measure of upper body strength and endurance has been included in fitness test batteries that are typically administered in the school setting. Pull-ups, or some modified form of pull-ups, have been the most popular test item used for the measurement of upper body strength and endurance. Despite the widespread usage of pull-ups, the test has often been criticized because of the large number of zero scores and the subsequent loss of discrimination among ability levels (Jackson & Griffin, 1983). The inability to achieve a score is perceived as failure on the part of the student.