Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The intrauterine origins of cardiovascular disease

During the past 8 years, research by the UK Medical Research Council at Southampton has focused on the effect of the environment in utero and during infancy in determining coronary heart disease and stroke. There are two reasons for this focus on the prenatal and early postnatal environment. First, animal experiments provide strong evidence that transient events in early life have permanent and profound effects on physiology and metabolism, though such effects may remain latent until the animal is mature (1-7). Secondly, analyses of the large differences in death rates from cardiovascular disease between different areas of England and Wales have shown that they parallel similar differences in neonatal mortality in the early years of the century (8). In those days, high neonatal mortality indicated a high incidence of low birth weight and was linked to poor maternal nutrition and physique. The idea that coronary heart disease may have its origins in childhood is familiar, but the hypothesis that it is importantly determined by responses to the maternal environment, in utero and during infancy, is a new point of departure for cardiovascular research. A new approach to the causes of cardiovascular disease is needed because the search for influences in the adult environment that lead to the disease has met with limited success. Cigarette smoking, obesity and lack of exercise have been implicated; evidence on excess dietary fat and the benefits of fruit and vegetable consumption has accumulated to the point where a public health policy directed at changing the national diet is prudent, even if the case is unproved. Much, however, remains unexplained. It is not known why rates of cardiovascular disease have declined so rapidly in many Western countries over the past 20 years. Differences in adult lifestyle go only a small way towards explaining the large differences in death rates from cardiovascular disease between one part of Britain and another. Adult lifestyle is a poor predictor of individual risk of cardiovascular disease.
Coherent spatiotemporal patterns of ongoing activity revealed by real-time optical imaging coupled with single-unit recording in the cat visual cortex.

1. We examined the spatiotemporal organization of ongoing activity in cat visual areas 17 and 18, in relation to the spontaneous activity of individual neurons. To search for coherent activity, voltage-sensitive dye signals were correlated with the activity of single neurons by the use of spike-triggered averaging. In each recording session an area of at least 2 x 2 mm of cortex was imaged, with 124 diodes. In addition, electrical recordings from two isolated units, the local field potential (LFP) from the same microelectrodes, and the surface electroencephalogram (EEG) were recorded simultaneously. 2. The optical signals recorded from the dye were similar to the LFP recorded from the same site. Optical signals recorded from different cortical sites exhibited a different time course. Therefore real-time optical imaging provides information that is equivalent in many ways to multiple-site LFP recordings. 3. The spontaneous firing of single neurons was highly correlated with the optical signals and with the LFP. In 88% of the neurons recorded during spontaneous activity, a significant correlation was found between the occurrence of a spike and the optical signal recorded in a large cortical region surrounding the recording site. This result indicates that spontaneous activity of single neurons is not an independent process but is time locked to the firing or to the synaptic inputs from numerous neurons, all activated in a coherent fashion even without a sensory input. 4. For the cases showing correlation with the optical signal, 27-36% of the optical signal during spike occurrence was directly related to the occurrence of spontaneous spikes in a single neuron, over an area of 2 x 2 mm. In the same cortical area, 43-55% of the activity was directly related to the visual stimulus. 5. Surprisingly, we found that the amplitude of this coherent ongoing activity, recorded optically, was often almost as large as the activity evoked by optimal visual stimulation. The amplitude of the ongoing activity that was directly and reproducibly related to the spontaneous spikes of a single neuron was, on average, as high as 54% of the amplitude of the visually evoked response that was directly related to optimal sensory stimulation, recorded optically. 6. Coherent activity was detected even at distant cortical sites up to 6 mm apart. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Audiovisual Aids in Laryngology

Educational technology can best be defined as technology in education and technology ofeducation. This paper sets out to summarize the present position of both these aspects in relation to medical education. As in any other technology, success depends on the purpose and on the manner of its application. Disappointment and disenchantment are bound to ensue if techniques are applied inadequately or towards the solution of an inappropriate problem. It would be equally fatal to expect too much of technology or to underrate its complexity in medical education. Neither aspect of educational technology can be expected to ease the responsibilities of teaching; at their best they will contribute to greater efficiency and effectiveness of learning. However, further research and development will be required before the full potential of educational technology can be achieved.
Posenet + + : A CNN Framework for Online Pose Regression and Robot Re-Localization

In this project, we develop a novel re-localization algorithm which addresses the global localization problem. We modify PoseNet, a robust and real-time monocular six degree of freedom re-localization system, to solve the purpose of smoothing and mapping in conjunction with GTSAM. Our system trains a convolutional neural network to regress the 6-DOF camera pose from a single RGB image in an end-to-end manner without the requirement of additional feature detection. The algorithm operates in real time, taking approximately 45ms per frame to compute. We use VGG-16 network to achieve solutions to complicated out of image plane regression problems. We leveraged transfer learning from large scale classification data. We also demonstrate the viability of the algorithm to localize in situations with difficult lighting, motion blur and different camera intrinsic where point based SIFT registration fails.
The Moderating Role of Sensory Overresponsivity in HPA Activity

Objective: To determine if sensory overresponsivity (SOR) is a moderating condition impacting the activity of the Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal (HPA) Axis in children with ADHD. Method: Participants were children with (n = 24) and without ADHD (n = 24). Children in the ADHD group were divided into SOR (ADHDs) and non-SOR (ADHDt) groups using the Sensory Over-Responsivity Inventory. All children participated in the Sensory Challenge Protocol. Salivary cortisol was used as a measure of HPA activity. Two prechallenge and seven postchallenge samples of saliva were taken. Cortisol patterns between groups were examined using a mixed-effects ANOVA. Results: There was a borderline significant difference found between the ADHDt and ADHDs group (p = .056) and a significant difference between ADHDt and the typical group (p = .014). Conclusion: Preliminary results support the premise that SOR may be a moderating variable used to create subgroups in diagnostic populations such as ADHD. (J. of Att. Dis. 2010; 13(5) 468-478)
Single-Chain Fv Ligand Tandem Activator of T Cells with a Bispecific Conversion of CTLA-4 from Inhibitor to

Abs or their recombinant fragments against surface receptors of the Ig superfamily can induce or block the receptors’ native function depending on whether they induce or prevent the assembly of signalosomes on their cytoplasmic tails. In this study, we introduce a novel paradigm based on the observation that a bispeciﬁc tandem single-chain variable region fragment ligand of CTLA-4 by itself converts this inhibitory receptor into an activating receptor for primary human T lymphocytes. This reversal of function results from increased recruitment of the serine/threonine phosphatase 2A to the cytoplasmic tail of CTLA-4, consistent with a role of this phosphatase in the regulation of CTLA-4 function, and assembly of a distinct signalosome that activates an lck -dependent signaling cascade and induces IL-2 production. Our data demonstrate that the cytoplasmic domain of CTLA-4 has an inherent plasticity for signaling that can be exploited therapeutically with recombinant ligands for this receptor. The Journal of Immunology, 2004, 172: 5948–5956.
Topics in learning sparse and low-rank models of non-negative data

Advances in information and measurement technology have led to a surge in prevalence of high-dimensional data. Sparse and low-rank modeling can both be seen as techniques of dimensionality reduction, which is essential for obtaining compact and interpretable representations of such data. In this thesis, we investigate aspects of sparse and low-rank modeling in conjunction with non-negative data or non-negativity constraints. The first part is devoted to the problem of learning sparse non-negative representations, with a focus on how non-negativity can be taken advantage of. We work out a detailed analysis of non-negative least squares regression, showing that under certain conditions sparsity-promoting regularization, the approach advocated paradigmatically over the past years, is not required. Our results have implications for problems in signal processing such as compressed sensing and spike train deconvolution. In the second part, we consider the problem of factorizing a given matrix into two factors of low rank, out of which one is binary. We devise a provably correct algorithm computing such factorization whose running time is exponential only in the rank of the factorization, but linear in the dimensions of the input matrix. Our approach is extended to noisy settings and applied to an unmixing problem in DNA methylation array analysis. On the theoretical side, we relate the uniqueness of the factorization to Littlewood-Offord theory in combinatorics.
The Effect of Liquidity Risk on the Performance of Commercial Banks

Banks, as the most important financial institutions, have a determinant role in circulating currency and wealth of the society and enjoy a special position in financial system. Therefore, the desired and effective performance of banks can create important effects on the development of different economic sectors and increase in the quantitative levels of the output. This study attempts to examine the effect of liquidity risk on the performance of commercial banks using of panel data related to commercial banks of Iran during the years 2003 to 2010. In the estimated research model, two groups of bank-specific variables and macroeconomic variables are used. The results of research show that the variables of bank's size, bank's asset, gross domestic product and inflation will cause to improve the performance of banks while credit risk and liquidity risk will cause to weaken the performance of bank.
Inserting intrauterine devices in nulliparous women : is misoprostol beneficial ? A registered clinical trial

Background: To determine if misoprostol use prior to intrauterine device (IUD) insertion decreases pain and eases insertion in nulliparous women. Study Design: Nulliparous women requesting IUDs for contraception were randomized to 400 micrograms of misoprostol or placebo prior to IUD insertion. The primary outcome was pain at the time of insertion using a 100 mm visual analog scale. Additional outcomes included medication side effects, patient satisfaction, and provider rated ease of insertion. Results: The 2 groups were similar, with 31 subjects in the placebo group and 30 receiving misoprostol. There was no difference in baseline pain, and no difference in pain immediately after IUD insertion (57.2 ± 22.5 mm for placebo, 56.7 ± 22.1 mm for misoprostol, P=0.92). Patients receiving misoprostol experienced more cramps (16.7% placebo, 60% misoprostol, P=0.002) and fevers and chills, though this did not reach significance (7% placebo, 27% misoprostol, P=0.081). Providers reported easier insertions following misoprostol (24.1 ± 14.2 mm misoprostol vs 33.4 ± 20.3 mm placebo, P=0.04). All patients had successful IUD placement and none had complications. Overall satisfaction with the IUDs was high, with 84% of the women in the placebo group and 77% of women in the misoprostol group reporting they were satisfied or very satisfied (P=0.94). Conclusions: Routine use of misoprostol prior to intrauterine device insertion is not warranted in nulliparous women.
Effect of green tea powder on the quality attributes and antioxidant activity of whole-wheat fl our pan bread

The effects of green tea powder (GTP) on the quality attributes and antioxidant activity of whole-wheat flour (WWF) pan bread were studied. Crumb hardness, cell diameter, and chewiness of WWF pan bread increased at higher GTP levels, whereas specific volume and brightness showed a reverse trend. At the 1.00 g GTP/100 g flour addition level, hardness, resilience and specific volume of WWF pan bread were not significantly affected, but antioxidant activity increased by 1.00 mM TE/g sample. In the storage test, GTP greatly inhibited the production of peroxide, as determined by peroxide value (PV), in WWF pan bread. After 8 days of storage at room temperature, the PV of the lipid fraction of WWF pan bread without GTP (control) increased by 0.35 mg/100 g, while the PV of bread with the addition of 1.00 g GTP/ 100 g flour increased by 0.14 mg/100 g. These results suggest that the addition of GTP at the 1.00 g/100 g flour level effectively increases the antioxidant activity, and significantly reduces the production of peroxide during storage, while at the same time maintaining the baking quality of WWF pan bread. © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Differentiation of rabbit sperm antigens from those of seminal plasma.

Summary. Sperm-specific and sperm-coating antigens in rabbit seminal constituents were studied using agar-gel diffusion and immuno-electro-phoresis. The antigenicity of ejaculated rabbit spermatozoa was due to two glycoprotein sperm-specific antigens of testicular origin and twelve seminal plasma antigens which coated the spermatozoa during passage through the reproductive tract. Two of the sperm-coating antigens originated in the testis, two in the epididymis and eight above the level of the vas deferens. Relationships between sperm-coating antigens and capacitation, and sperm-coating antigens and prevention of immuno-logically induced aspermatogenesis or immunologically induced infertility in the female were proposed.
Antiproliferative , antioxidant and antimicrobial ac tivities of phenolic compounds from Acrocarpus fraxinifolius

Eight flavonoids, quercetin (1), quercetin 3-Oβ-D-glucopyranoside ( 2), quercetin3-Oα-L-rhamnopyranoside( 3), myricetin (4), myricetin 3-Oβ D-galactopranoside ( 5), myricetin 3-Oα-L-rhamnopyranoside ( 6), desmanthin-1 ( 7), and naringenin ( 8), in addition to four phenolic acids, brevifolin c arboxylic acid ( 9), ellagic acid ( 10) gallic acid (11), and methyl gallate (12) were isolated from th e leaves of Acrocarpus fraxinifolius. The chemical structure of the isolated phenolic compounds were established by H, C-NMR, UV, and HR-ESI-MS. Ellagic acid produced an antiproliferative effect on the triple negative bre ast cancer cells MDA-MB-231 with IC 50 of 38.7 μM. The aq. methanolic extract and most of the isolated compoun ds showed significant antioxidant activity in compa rison with the positive control; rutin using TLC-DPPH ̇-image processing procedures. Also the methanol ext ract and some isolated compounds exhibited antibacterial activity against P.aeruginosa L. subtilis E. coli S. aureus , it did not show any antifungal activity.
An Algorithm for Automated Phase Center Determination and its Implementation

1.0 Introduction. The phase center of an antenna is a reference point such that the phase in the far field does not change when the antenna is rotated around this point in theta (angle from the Z-axis) or phi (angle around the Z-axis) direction. The phase center is often not uniquely defined, as most antennas are astigmatic, meaning that the phase center depends on the plane of observation. Still, for some applications it is a useful concept and in such cases it is important to know the location of the phase center, e.g. for illuminators of a reflector antenna where the phase center of the illuminator needs to be in the focal point of the paraboloid [1]. Measurement of the location of the phase center is often done using a mechanical construction that enables the operator to move the phase center to the center of rotation of the antenna measurement positioner, [2]. This requires interpretation of phase-plots of the antenna measurement. This paper presents an algorithm for easily estimating the location of the antennas phase center in a specific plane in cases where the concept of a phase center is useful and desired. An implementation in a script for NSI2000 [3] is demonstrated, together with results and limitations of the algorithm.
Valuing Private Equity Investments Strip by Strip∗

We propose a new valuation method for private equity investments. First, we construct a cash-flow replicating portfolio for the private investment, using cash-flows on various listed equity and fixed income instruments. The second step values the replicating portfolio using a flexible asset pricing model that accurately prices the systematic risk in listed equity and fixed income instruments of different horizons. The method delivers a measure of the risk-adjusted profit earned on a PE investment, a time series for the expected return on PE fund categories, and a time series for the residual net asset value in a fund. We apply the method to real estate, infrastructure, buyout, and venture capital funds, and find modestly positive average risk-adjusted profits with substantial cross-sectional variation, and declining expected returns in the later part of the sample. JEL codes: G24, G12 ∗Gupta: Department of Finance, Stern School of Business, New York University, 44 W. 4th Street, New York, NY 10012; agupta3@stern.nyu. edu; Tel: (212) 998-0305; http://arpitgupta.info. Van Nieuwerburgh: Department of Finance, Columbia Business School, Columbia 3022 Broadway, Uris Hall 809, New York, NY 10027; svnieuwe@gsb.columbia.edu; Tel: (212) 854-02289; https://www0.gsb.columbia.edu/faculty/svannieuwerburgh/. The authors would like to thank Arthur Korteweg and Stavros Panageas (discussants); as well as Ralph Koijen, Morten Sorensen, and Neng Wang, and seminar participants at the American Finance Association annual meetings, the 2018 UNC Real Estate Research Symposium, the Southern California Private Equity Conference, and NYU Stern. This work is supported by the NYU Stern Infrastructure Initiative.
Forces required for surgical dilatation of the pregnant and non‐pregnant human cervix

Summary. The force required to dilate the uterine cervix to a diameter of 8 mm has been measured in 200 non‐pregnant and 40 early pregnant patients. In general, the resistance offered by the cervix was lower in parous than in nulliparous subjects and in pregnant compared with nonpregnant subjects. The phase of the menstrual cycle did not appear to influence cervical resistance but the highest recordings were seen in postmenopausal subjects. Particularly low resistance was encountered in women receiving Depo‐Provera for contraceptive purposes.
The Human Dimensions of Conflicts with Wildlife around Protected Areas

Protected areas are credited with saving a number of wildlife populations from regional or rangewide extinction, and they remain a cornerstone of conservation (Terborgh et al. 2002; Woodroffe and Ginsburg 1998). They have also faced substantial criticism for undemocratic imposition of a societal goal on local peoples (Cernea and SchmidtSoltau 2006; West and Brockington 2006). Allegations of social inequity often intensify when wildlife populations recover near to human ones. In particular, individual, far-ranging, large-bodied wild animals will eventually leave protected areas and resume an ancient competition with people for the necessities of life. This competition consists of wildlife eating crops, livestock, and other resources we claim, or occasionally attacking people. This human-wildlife conflict (HWC) can further undermine political support for protected areas and can revive calls for eradication of the problematic wildlife (Feral 1995; Okwemba 2004). HWC occurs worldwide and its annual frequency and severity has been rising for three reasons: (i) human uses of wildlife habitat are expanding in many regions, (ii) a few wildlife populations are recovering and expanding into areas with people and property; and (iii) environmental changes such as climate change are driving some sensitive species into areas with more people and property (Gompper 2002; Treves et al. 2002; Raik et al. 2005; Breitenmoser 1998; Hunter et al. 2007; Cope, Vickery, and Rowcliffe 2005; Knight 2003; Naughton-Treves et al. 2003; Linnell and Broseth 2003; Regehr et al. 2007). Because a traditional and widespread response of affected human communities is to kill problem wildlife and clear wild habitat (Treves C H A P T E R 1 6
Epidemiologic Determinants of Aural Abscessation in Free-Living Eastern Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina) in Virginia

Epidemiologic determinants of 46 cases of aural abscessation in free-living eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina) admitted to the Wildlife Center of Virginia (Virginia, USA) from 1991 to 2000 were evaluated. County human population density, year and season of admission, weight, and sex did not affect the risk for box turtles to develop aural abscessation. Counties with cases of aural abscessation were not randomly distributed, but rather were clustered into two multi-county regions. Geographic location was the only risk factor associated with aural abscessation in box turtles found in this study. Possible etiologies could include chronic infectious disease, malnutrition, or chronic exposure to environmental contamination with organochlorine compounds.
An interstitial compartment is necessary to link the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of mivacurium

Background and objective: The time course of action of mivacurium does not correlate with its rapid breakdown by plasma cholinesterase. Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) modelling was applied to obtain more insight in the concentration-effect relationship. Methods: Fourteen patients between 25 and 55 yr, undergoing non-major surgery, American Society of Anesthesiologists Grade I-II, were included. All patients received thiopentone/fentanyl/isoflurane/oxygen/nitrous oxide anaesthesia. Neuromuscular block was monitored mechanomyographically using single twitch stimulation (0.1 Hz). Mivacurium was administered as a short-term infusion, mean (standard deviation) duration 4.7 (1.0) min and dose 145 (33) μg kg−1. Arterial blood samples were obtained, and plasma was analysed using high performance liquid chromatography. PK-PD modelling was performed using an iterative Bayesian two-stage approach, assuming that the trans-trans and cis-trans isomers are equally potent. Results: A PK-PD model with an effect compartment linked to plasma did not fit to the data satisfactorily. A model using an interstitial space compartment between plasma and effect compartment fitted significantly better. Parameters (mean (percentage coefficient of variation)) of the best fitting model were: kip 0.374 min−1 (46%), kei 0.151 min−1 (36%), EC50 98 μg L−1 (29%) and γ 3.7 (22%). Conclusions: The PK-PD behaviour of mivacurium could be described using a model with an interstitial space compartment interposed between plasma and effect compartment. This model shows that the time course of mivacurium is mainly governed by the concentration decline in this interposed compartment and only indirectly related to the rapid plasma clearance.