Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Echogenicity of B‐mode Sonographic Images of the Carotid Artery

Objective. The echogenicity of the carotid atheromatous plaque estimated from B‐mode sonographic images may be related to plaque content and has been analyzed with a number of techniques. The purpose of this study was to compare plaque with surrounding muscle tissue echogenicity and to validate the use of first‐order mathematical descriptors as determinants of tissue echogenicity. Methods. We estimated echogenicity descriptors for regions in the following 3 distinct areas of a typical B‐mode sonographic image of a diseased carotid artery: plaque, blood, and sternocleidomastoid muscle. Two‐dimensional B‐mode sonographic images from 19 symptomatic and asymptomatic plaques (17 subjects) were interrogated, in which the following estimators were calculated: minimal, maximal, mean, and median gray levels, SD of gray levels, coefficient of variation, and gray level skewness, kurtosis, entropy, and energy. Plaque echogenicity was estimated at systole and diastole for studying the effect of the phase of the cardiac cycle. To assess the effect of different fascial tissue–muscle fiber composition on the first‐order mathematical descriptors, we estimated echogenicity at 3 different sites within the muscle tissue. Results. Compared with the echogenicity of surrounding muscle tissue, plaque echogenicity was characterized by (1) significantly lower (Student t test, P < .05) gray level mean, median, SD, and entropy; (2) significantly higher (Student t test, P < .05) coefficient of variation, gray level skewness, and kurtosis; and (3) similar minimal and maximal gray levels and gray level energy. The phase of the cardiac cycle, systole or diastole, did not affect the estimation of plaque echogenicity. Echogenicity was found to vary within the muscle tissue. The coefficient of variation was significantly higher in the asymptomatic plaques in the small group that was investigated. Conclusions. First‐order statistical descriptors may be used to characterize atheromatous plaques and the surrounding muscle tissue.
Factors associated with non-adherence to antiretroviral therapy in the SUN study

Abstract Background. Adherence of 95% or greater to highly active combination antiretroviral therapy is generally considered necessary to achieve optimal virologic suppression in HIV-infected patients. Understanding factors associated with poor adherence is essential to improve patient compliance, maximize virologic suppression, and reduce morbidity and mortality. Methods. We evaluated baseline data from 528 patients taking antiretrovirals, enrolled from March 2004 to June 2006, in a multicenter, longitudinal, prospective cohort study (the SUN study). Using multiple logistic regression, we examined independent risk factors for non-adherence, defined as reporting having missed one or more antiretroviral doses in the past three days on the baseline questionnaire. Results. Of 528 participants (22% female, 28% black, median age 41 years, and median CD4 cell count 486 cells/mm3), 85 (16%) were non-adherent. In the final parsimonious multivariate model, factors independently associated with non-adherence included black race (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 2.08, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.20–3.60 vs. white race), being unemployed and looking for work (aOR: 2.03, 95% CI: 1.14–3.61 vs. all other employment categories), having been diagnosed with HIV ≥5 years ago (aOR: 1.95, 95% CI: 1.18–3.24 vs. being HIV-diagnosed <5 years ago), drinking three or more drinks per day (aOR: 1.73, 95% CI: 1.02–2.91 vs. drinking <3 drinks per day), and having not engaged in any aerobic exercise in the last 30 days (aOR: 2.13, 95% CI: 1.25–3.57). Conclusion. Although the above factors may not be causally related to non-adherence, they might serve as proxies for identifying HIV-infected patients at greatest risk for non-adherence who may benefit from additional adherence support.
The Autobiographical Design and Long Term Usage of an Always-On Video Recording System for the Home

Photo and video capture is currently dominated by the use of digital cameras, often in the form of smartphones. Yet there is easily the chance that one can miss capturing a precious moment. We explored the idea of automated video recording in the home as a form of memory collection and display for families through the autobiographical design of Moments, an always-on video recording system. We iteratively designed Moments and it was used by one of the researchers and his family over a two-year period. The family found potential for the system in capturing moments that would have otherwise been forgotten in time, where they especially valued seeing "big changes" and minute details of their life. Yet tensions existed around the family's inabilities to access specific points in time, commitment to keeping the system running, and privacy. We use these benefits and concerns to suggest future research directions for always-on video recording in the home.
Novel opioid cyclic tetrapeptides: Trp isomers of CJ‐15,208 exhibit distinct opioid receptor agonism and short‐acting κ opioid receptor antagonism

The κ opioid receptor antagonists demonstrate potential for maintaining abstinence from psychostimulant abuse, but existing non‐peptide κ‐receptor selective antagonists show exceptionally long activity. We hypothesized that the L‐ and D‐Trp isomers of CJ‐15,208, a natural cyclic tetrapeptide reported to be a κ‐receptor antagonist in vitro, would demonstrate short‐acting, dose‐dependent antagonism in vivo, preventing reinstatement of cocaine‐seeking behaviour.
The Course of Differently Treated Isolated Ruptures of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament as Observed by Prospective Stress Radiography

In a prospective stress radiographic study of the course of 21 isolated anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, primary suture was performed in eight patients and reconstruction due to chronic instability was performed in six patients. Seven patients were treated by exploratory arthrotomy only. After a follow-up period of seven years the anterior drawer sign had disappeared in five of the 14 patients who had shown this sign prior to operation, but in some of these patients progressive rotatory instabilities developed, so that the total abnormal instability did not improve in any of the three therapeutic groups. Only ten patients obtained a completely symptom-free knee. A well performed Jones procedure could reduce a chronic anterior drawer instability, but in several of the patients troublesome patellofemoral pain developed later. Acute suture of isolated anterior cruciate ligament injuries afforded the best results in this series and is recommended.
Meniscus structure in human, sheep, and rabbit for animal models of meniscus repair

Meniscus injury is a frequently encountered clinical orthopedic issue and is epidemiologically correlated to osteoarthritis. The development of new treatments for meniscus injury is intimately related to the appropriateness of animal models for their investigation. The purpose of this study was to structurally compare human menisci to sheep and rabbit menisci to generate pertinent animal models for meniscus repair. Menisci were analyzed histologically, immunohistochemically, and by environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM). In all species, collagen I appeared throughout most menisci, but was absent from the inner portion of the tip in some samples. Collagen II was present throughout the inner main meniscal body, while collagen VI was found in pericellular and perivascular regions. The glycosaminoglycan‐rich inner portion of menisci was greater in area for rabbit and sheep compared to human. Cells were rounded in central regions and more fusiform at the surface, with rabbit being more cellular than sheep and human. Vascular penetration in rabbit was confined to the very outermost region (1% of meniscus length), while vessels penetrated deeper into sheep and human menisci (11–15%). ESEM revealed a lamellar collagenous structure at the articulating surfaces of sheep and human menisci that was absent in rabbit. Taken together, these data suggest that the main structural features that will influence meniscus repair—cellularity, vascularity, collagen structure—are similar in sheep and human but significantly different in rabbit, motivating the development of ovine meniscus repair models. © 2009 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res
A methodology for evaluating web-based educational systems using statistical multidimensional analysis

Current research on web-based learning systems focuses on providing adaptation as part of usability and learnability aspects of these systems. Working in this direction, the (asynchronous adaptive learning and evaluation system) has been developed, which provides new opportunities to the transfer of knowledge between educators and learners by widely incorporating pedagogical principles in order to enhance the effectiveness of the learning procedure. This paper aims to provide an approach on evaluating the impact of adaptivity, usability and learnability based on Nielsen's ten usability heuristics (Nielsen, 1993b) on improving the effectiveness of users' learning in web-based courses. For this purpose, a new evaluation methodology is presented that utilises the statistical method of multidimensional analysis (correspondence analysis) and uses special contingency tables that came from a new coding of scales evaluation. To demonstrate the applicability and effectiveness of the proposals, the evaluation methodology is implemented to the web-based educational system AS.A. L.E. S. , resulting in highlighting the characteristics of the AS.A. L.E. S. system that need to be improved.
Factors affecting the offer of pulmonary rehabilitation to patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by primary care professionals: a qualitative study

Aim To explore health professionals’ experiences of barriers and facilitators to referring patients for pulmonary rehabilitation in a primary care setting. Background Pulmonary rehabilitation involves a multidisciplinary teamwork approach to improving the quality of life for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This study aimed to find out about health care professionals’ experiences when referring patients. Reports suggest that a health care professional’s attitude towards a treatment affects the willingness of patients to accept advice. Methods Five focus group interviews were undertaken with 21 health professionals from North Midlands, UK. Data were analysed using a thematic analysis drawing on the techniques of grounded theory. Findings Chronic disease management has been delegated to Practice Nurses in many cases leaving some nurses feeling unsupported and some General Practitioners feeling deskilled. Problems with communication, a lack of adequate and timely local service provision, a difficult referral process, time pressures and lack of information were barriers to health care professionals making an offer of pulmonary rehabilitation. An explanatory model is proposed to describe how addressing barriers to referral may improve health care professionals views about pulmonary rehabilitation and therefore may mean that they present it in a more positive manner.
Spectral characteristics of the release bursts in Korean alveolar stops

This study investigates spectral characteristics of the release bursts in Korean alveolar stops in terms of intensity, center of gravity, and skewness of the spectra of the release burst across phonation types and speakers. The results showed that there was no significant difference in intensity, center of gravity, or skewness across phonation types but a significant difference across speakers. This means that difference in phonation type does not lead to any significant difference in the spectra of the release burst. This study suggests that difference in the spectral characteristics of the release burst across phonation types can be ignored in speech synthesis or speech recognition.
Mantle Flow Beneath a Continental Strike-Slip Fault: Postseismic Deformation After the 1999 Hector Mine Earthquake

Two recent large earthquakes in the Mojave Desert, California—the magnitude 7.3 1992 Landers and magnitude 7.1 1999 Hector Mine earthquakes—have each been followed by elevated crustal strain rates over periods of months and years. Geodetic data collected after the Hector Mine earthquake exhibit a temporally decaying horizontal velocity field and a quadrant uplift pattern opposite to that expected for localized shear beneath the earthquake rupture. We interpret the origin of this accelerated crustal deformation to be vigorous flow in the upper mantle in response to the stress changes generated by the earthquake. Our results suggest that transient flow in the upper mantle is a fundamental component of the earthquake cycle and that the lower crust is a coherent stress guide coupling the upper crust with the upper mantle.
Clinical Studies Natural Human Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells Induce Antigen-Speci fi c T-Cell Responses in Melanoma Patients

Vaccination against cancer by using dendritic cells has for more than a decade been based on dendritic cells generated ex vivo frommonocytes or CD34þ progenitors. Here, we report on the first clinical study of therapeutic vaccination against cancer using naturally occurring plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC). Fifteen patients with metastaticmelanoma received intranodal injections of pDCs activated and loadedwith tumor antigen-associated peptides ex vivo. In vivo imaging showed that administered pDCs migrated and distributed over multiple lymph nodes. Several patients mounted antivaccine CD4þ and CD8þ T-cell responses. Despite the limited number of administered pDCs, an IFN signature was observed after each vaccination. These results indicate that vaccination with naturally occurring pDC is feasible with minimal toxicity and that in patients with metastatic melanoma, it induces favorable immune responses. Cancer Res; 73(3); 1063–75. 2012 AACR.
Examination of factors affecting women's barrier perception to participate in breast cancer screenings in a region affiliated with a family health center in Turkey.

BACKGROUND/AIM This study was conducted in order to determine the factors related to women's barrier perception to participate in breast cancer screenings in a region affiliated with a family health center. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study was a cross-sectional study. The sample group of the study consisted of 300 women. Descriptive statistics, t test, and Mann-Whitney U test were performed for the analysis of the data. RESULTS Breast self-examination (BSE) and mammography barrier perception mean score of those who were illiterate in terms of educational status, and BSE and mammography barrier perception mean score of those who were single in terms of marital status were determined to be significantly higher (P < 0.05). No significant difference was found between BSE and mammography barrier perception mean scores of those who had no health insurance and lived in a district or a village (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION Demographic factors as well as factors such as women's knowledge on early diagnosis of breast cancer and previous experiences in participation in early diagnosis behaviors of breast cancer could affect the barrier perception.
Analysis of fetal heart rate on‐line at 32 weeks gestation

Antenatal fetal heart rate (FHR) patterns were screened in 634 women with singleton pregnancies at 32 weeks gestation using a microprocessor on‐line. The duration of the record was adjusted according to its character, varying from 10 min with high FHR variation (39% of records) to 45 min with low variation (4.7%). The average duration was 16.7 min. Of the 30 fetuses with the lowest FHR variation (<5th centile), 19 (63%) had a normal outcome. Of the 11 with an abnormal outcome five were born 38 weeks; six were born by caesarean section at 32–34 weeks, resulting in an increased incidence in the group. Analysis of the numbers of accelerations, of decelerations, of episodes of high FHR variation or of fetal movements did not improve long‐term prediction. It was concluded first, that antenatal FHR monitoring for up to 45 min at 32 weeks gestation had no long‐term predictive value; and second, that 3% of our obstetric population have unreactive FHR traces at this age, with a normal outcome. This does not imply that consecutive antenatal records on the same high‐risk patient at short intervals are not valuable clinically.
LLC Revisit: Scene Classification with k-Farthest Neighbours

SUMMARY This paper introduces a simple but e ﬀ ective way to boost the performance of scene classiﬁcation through a novel approach to the LLC coding process. In our proposed method, a local descriptor is encoded not only with k -nearest visual words but also with k -farthest visual words to produce more discriminative code. Since the proposed method is a simple modiﬁcation of the image classiﬁcation model, it can be easily integrated into various existing BoF models proposed in various areas, such as coding, pooling, to boost their scene classiﬁcation performance. The results of experiments conducted with three scene datasets: 15-Scenes, MIT-Indoor67, and Sun367 show that adding k -farthest visual words better enhances scene classiﬁcation performance than increasing the number of k -nearest visual words.
Unsupervised learning technique for binarization of gray scale text images

This paper suggests an unsupervised learning technique for binarization of gray scale text images based on fusion of existing approaches. The existing binarization approaches have though resolved issues of degraded contrast, varied intensity, shadow, smudges, bleed through and smear to a certain extent, yet none of the existing algorithms are capable to work out all the issues independently. However, these have also led to issues like broken characters and merged characters. Some of the standard algorithms in this field have been chosen as the core methods to produce partial binarization results. The decision on these partial binarized results has been fused using three different proposed approaches. The benchmark of performance evaluation are those set by DIBCo. The standard dataset along with the ground truth have also been taken from the same. Our binarized results produced from the above methods have given better results in contrast to DIBCo-2011 and have also surpassed the failure cases of DIBCo 2011. The Results and Analysis section comprehends the conclusion drawn.
Molecules and beyond: assessing the distinctness of the Great Lakes wolf

The dog family, Canidae, is a widely distributed group of species that have evolved and radiated relatively recently into 16 genera and 36 recognized species ( Nowak 1999 ). Specific taxonomic designations for some canid taxa can be unclear due to frequent interspecific hybridization among species in both historical and contemporary times, and our imperfect molecular genetic approaches for determining among a series of hypotheses regarding hybridization and evolution. In this issue of Molecular Ecology, Koblmüller et al. tackle the difficult topic of Great Lakes wolf taxonomy and present data that suggest this taxon is currently genetically distinct despite a long history of human persecution and hybridization with related taxa.
Tissue-Specific Response to Experimental Demethylation at Seed Germination in the Non-Model Herb Erodium cicutarium

Experimental alteration of DNA methylation is a suitable tool to infer the relationship between phenotypic and epigenetic variation in plants. A detailed analysis of the genome-wide effect of demethylating agents, such as 5-azacytidine (5azaC), and zebularine is only available for the model species Arabidopsis thaliana, which suggests that 5azaC may have a slightly larger effect. In this study, global methylation estimates obtained by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses were conducted to investigate the impact of 5azaC treatment on leaf and root tissue in Erodium cicutarium (Geraniaceae), which is an annual herb native to Mediterranean Europe that is currently naturalized in all continents, sometimes becoming invasive. We used seeds collected from two natural populations in SE Spain. Root tissue of the second generation (F2) greenhouse-grown seedlings had a significantly lower global cytosine methylation content than leaf tissue (13.0 vs. 17.7% of all cytosines). Leaf tissue consistently decreased methylation after treatment, but the response of root tissue varied according to seed provenance, suggesting that genetic background can mediate the response to experimental demethylation. We also found that both leaf number and leaf length were reduced in treated seedlings supporting a consistent phenotypic effect of the treatment regardless of seedling provenance. These findings suggest that, although the consequences of experimental demethylation may be tissue- and background-specific, this method is effective in altering early seedling development, and can thus be useful in ecological epigenetic studies that are aiming to investigate the links between epigenetic and phenotypic variation in non-model plant species.
Blood pressure recovery from Valsalva maneuver in patients with autonomic failure

Background: Blood pressure (BP) changes in response to the Valsalva maneuver (VM) reflect the integrity of the baroreflex that regulates BP, and the phases of VM are widely used indices of adrenergic evaluation. Objective: To study the BP recovery time (PRT) following termination of VM back to baseline to determine if it could be an additional and better indicator of adrenergic function. Methods: The authors evaluated three groups of patients with increasing degrees of adrenergic failure and an age-matched control group. Adrenergic failure was graded on the basis of systolic blood pressure (SBP) reduction to tilt: Group 1, orthostatic hypotension (OH; SBP ≥ 30 mm Hg); Group 2, borderline OH (BOH; 30 > SBP > 10 mm Hg); and Group 3, sympathetic sudomotor failure. Results: PRT was found to vary directly with severity of adrenergic impairment. PRT significantly correlated with previously utilized phases of the VM and baroreflex gain, with highest correlations with phases II_L (reflex vasoconstriction following initial fall in BP) and IV (BP overshoot following the VM). PRT extends the indices for the quantitation of adrenergic failure, since it will continue to parallel increasing adrenergic failure after phase II_L is lost and is a reliable index when II_L cannot be recorded. Conclusions: Pressure recovery time is a valuable index of adrenergic failure. It extends the value of the Valsalva maneuver by providing a quantitative index that is measurable in patients with severe adrenergic failure.
Enamel fluorosis prevalence after a 7-year interruption in water fluoridation in Jaú, São Paulo, Brazil.

OBJECTIVES This paper analyzes the impact of a 7-year interruption in water fluoridation on the prevalence of enamel fluorosis in Jaú, state of São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS Fluorosis prevalence (TF index) was evaluated in permanent maxillary central incisors of children (9-14 years old) that were 36 (n=81; cohort -36), 27 (n=81; cohort -27), and 18 months old (+/-1 month; n=89; cohort -18) in October 1991, when the breakstarted, and 18months old(+/-1 month;n=70; cohort 18) after that date. Children brushed their teeth prior to examination, which was conducted under natural light by three calibrated examiners (agreement 87.8-93.8%, kappa 0.72-0.85). RESULTS The fluorosis prevalence (TF> or =1) was 7.41 percent, 3.70 percent, 7.87 percent, and 18.57 percent, respectively, for cohorts -36, -27, -18, and 18. The difference between cohort 18 and the other groups was statistically significant (Kruskall-Wallis test, P=.05). CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that the fluoridated water is not an important risk factor for enamel fluorosis, since the prevalence of enamel fluorosis was low in the cohorts -36, -27, and -18 when fluoridated water was used.