Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Masseter muscle thickness in different skeletal morphology: an ultrasonographic study.

BACKGROUND The thickness of the masseter muscle during relaxation and contraction states was measured by ultrasonography. Subjects were classified according to their sagittal skeletal relationships. The association between muscle thickness and facial morphology was studied. CONTEXT Masseter muscle thickness influences the skeletal patterns. AIM To measure and compare the thickness of the masseter muscle in individuals with skeletal class I occlusion and skeletal class II malocclusions and to correlate its relationship with craniofacial morphology. SETTINGS AND DESIGN The study was conducted in a hospital setup and was designed to study the thickness of the masseter muscle in different skeletal morphologies. MATERIALS AND METHODS Seventy two individuals between the ages of 18 and 25 years were divided into Group I, Group IIA and Group IIB according to their skeletal relationships. Masseter muscle thickness was measured by ultrasonography. Eight linear and six angular cephalometric measurements were assessed. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED Analysis of variance and Pearson's correlation analysis. RESULTS There was a statistically significant difference in muscle thickness between subjects of different skeletal patterns. Significant positive correlation between masseter muscle thickness and posterior total face height, jarabak ratio, ramus height, mandibular length and significant negative correlations with mandibular plane angle, gonial angle and PP-MP angle were observed. CONCLUSION This study indicates the strong association between the masseter muscle and skeletal morphology.
User Modeling and User-Adapted Interaction Session-based Item Recommendation in E-Commerce On Short-Term Intents , Reminders , Trends , and Discounts

Many e-commerce sites present additional item recommendations to their visitors while they navigate the site, and ample evidence exists that such recommendations are valuable for both customers and providers. Academic research often focuses on the capability of recommender systems to help users discover items they presumably do not know yet and which match their long-term preference profiles. In reality, however, recommendations can be helpful for customers also for other reasons, for example, when they remind them of items they were recently interested in or when they point site visitors to items that are currently discounted. In this work, we first adopt a systematic statistical approach to analyze what makes recommendations effective in practice and then propose ways of operationalizing these insights into novel recommendation algorithms. Our data analysis is based on log data of a large e-commerce site. It shows that various factors should be considered in parallel when selecting items for recommendation, including their match with the customer’s shopping interests in the previous sessions, the general popularity of the items in the last few days, as well as information about discounts. Based on these analyses we propose a novel algorithm that combines a neighborhood-based scheme with a deep neural network to predict the relevance of items for a given shopping session.
How I Treat How I treat chronic myelomonocytic leukemia

In patients with a peripheral blood (PB) monocytosis, defined by a monocyte count.13 10/L, a clonal hematopoietic disorder must be considered as soon as reactive causes have been excluded. Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML), a clonal hematopoietic malignancy characterized by persistent monocytosis, combines myeloid cell proliferationwithmyeloid cell dysplasia and ineffective hematopoiesis, and has thus been classified by theWorld Health Organization (WHO) as a myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)/myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN). This disease, which demonstrates a propensity to transform into acute myeloid leukemia (AML), has long been considered an MDS. Most of the efforts to delineate the specificities of CMML and dedicated therapeutic strategies started recently. Thedisease incidence rate ranges between3.5 and4.1/1 000 000per year in theUnited States and inEurope.Median age at diagnosis is 72 years, CMML being rare in young adults. Whole genome sequencing of leukemic cell DNA identified 2 age-related molecular signatures, supporting the idea that aging is the main cause of the disease. CMML demonstrates a male predominance (2.3 males for 1 female), which is more apparent among older patients. The clinical, biological, and pathological expression of CMML is heterogeneous; latent forms may be neglected and the disease incidence underestimated.
A Model of Triadic Post-Tonality for a Neoconservative Postmodern String Quartet by Sky Macklay

This article proposes a non-plural perspective on the analysis of triadic music, offering Sky Macklay’s Many Many Cadences as a case study. Part one is a discussion of the work’s harmony-voice leading nexus, followed by a discussion of the five conditions of correspondence as implied by this string quartet that articulate a single tonal identity. Part three focuses on a strictly kinematic analysis of the work’s harmonic progressions that evinces this identity and establishes its general applicability. In the final section, the data generated by this analysis conveys the inherent possibility of a single, all-encompassing kinematic, thereby pointing beyond the particularities of Many Many Cadences while informing my formal interpretation of the work.
Growth Hormone Immunoreactivity Does Not Reflect Bioactivity

In childhood, the largest secretory burst of GH occurs during nighttime, and consists of a complex mixture of molecular forms of GH that are thought to have different biologic activity. Standard GH assays cannot distinguish between bioactive and biologically inactive GH isoforms. To examine this relationship, overnight GH secretion was assessed by blood sampling every 30 min in 10 short prepubertal children (7 boys and 3 girls) to evaluate both the serum concentration and the biologic activity of GH. Serum GH concentrations were measured by an immunofluorometric assay and its biologic activity by the Nb2 cell bioassay. The 12-h (2000 h to 0800 h) and 6-h (2000 h to 0200 h and 0200 h to 0800 h) GH profiles were analyzed using the Pulsar program. When GH secretory pattern was measured by immunofluorometric assay, the area under the curve above the 0 line, the mean GH concentration, and the mean height of the secretory peaks were significantly higher during the first than during the second part of the night (29.17 ± 5.93 versus 16.29 ± 1.87 mIU/L, p < 0.05; 7.77 ± 1.28 versus 4.83 ± 0.33 mIU/L, p < 0.05; 4.61 ± 0.94 versus 2.68 ± 0.27 mIU/L, p < 0.05, respectively). In contrast, GH biologic activity was not significantly different during the two parts of the night. In conclusion, a dissociation between GH bioactivity and immunoreactivity is present in physiologic conditions, indicating that standard GH measurements do not provide any information on the biologic activity of the hormone. Although GH secretion is regulated by complex neuroendocrine mechanisms, the biologic activity of the hormone seems to be independent of them and is most probably regulated by peripheral mechanisms acting on its clearance or bioavailability to the target tissues.
TID2008 – A database for evaluation of full-reference visual quality assessment metrics

— In this paper, a new image database, TID2008, for evaluation of full-reference visual quality assessment metrics is described. It contains 1700 test images (25 reference images, 17 types of distortions for each reference image, 4 different levels of each type of distortion). Mean Opinion Scores (MOS) for this database have been obtained as a result of more than 800 experiments. During these tests, observers from three countries (Finland, Italy, and Ukraine) have carried out about 256000 individual human quality judgments. The obtained MOS can be used for effective testing of different visual quality metrics as well as for the design of new metrics. Using the designed image database, we have tested several known quality metrics. The designed test image database is freely available for downloading and utilization in scientific investigations.
The Clinical, Symptom, and Quality-of-Life Characterization of a Well-Defined Group of Patients with Posttreatment Lyme Disease Syndrome

Background The increased incidence and geographic expansion of Lyme disease has made it the most common vector-borne infection in North America. Posttreatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS) represents a subset of patients who remain ill following standard antibiotic therapy for Lyme disease. The spectrum of symptoms and their impact on quality of life remain largely unexplored among patients with well-documented PTLDS. Objective To characterize a case series of patients with well-documented PTLDS compared to a sample of healthy controls. Methods Sixty-one participants met the proposed case definition for PTLDS. Twenty-six healthy controls had neither a clinical history of Lyme disease nor current antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi. Participants with PTLDS and controls were evaluated by physical exam, clinical laboratory testing, standardized questionnaires, and a 36-item current symptom list. Results Compared to controls, participants with PTLDS reported significantly greater fatigue, pain, sleep disturbance, and depression (Fatigue Severity Scale: 50.0 ± 10.6 vs. 19.8 ± 8.6; Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire: 13.7 ± 8.3 vs. 0.8 ± 1.9; Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index: 10.1 ± 4.7 vs. 4.1 ± 2.1; Beck Depression Inventory-II: 15.1 ± 7.7 vs. 2.2 ± 3.2; p < 0.001 for each), and significantly lower quality of life (SF-36 Physical Component Score: 33.9 ± 9.7 vs. 55.1 ± 6.2; Mental Component Score: 42.9 ± 10.1 vs. 54.2 ± 5.4; p < 0.001 for each). Nineteen non-PTLDS-defining symptoms were found to be significantly more severe among participants with PTLDS than controls, including sleep difficultly and visual complaints. Initial delayed or misdiagnosis was characterized in 59.0% of participants with PTLDS, and 32.2% had abnormal vibratory sense. Conclusion Although physical exam and clinical laboratory tests showed few objective abnormalities, standardized symptom questionnaires revealed that patients with PTLDS are highly and clinically significantly symptomatic, with poor health-related quality of life. PTLDS patients exhibited levels of fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, sleep disturbance, and depression which were both clinically relevant and statistically significantly higher than controls. Our study shows that PTLDS can be successfully identified using a systematic approach to diagnosis and symptom measurement. As the prevalence of PTLDS continues to rise, there will be an increased need for physician education to more effectively identify and manage PTLDS as part of integrated patient care.
Türkçe Öğretmen Adaylarının Türkçe Öğretmenliği Alan Sınavına Yönelik Algıları

Bu arastirmanin amaci; Turkce ogretmen adaylarinin ogretmenlik alan bilgisi sinavina yonelik algilarini ortaya koymaktir. Ogretmenlik icin gerekli olan puanin %50’lik kismini olusturan alan bilgisi sinavinin; ogretmen adaylarinin alan dersleriyle ilgili bilgilerini olcecegi belirtilmektedir. Bu acidan ogretmen adaylarinin bu sinava yonelik algi ve tutumlari oldukca onemli gorulmektedir. Nitel arastirma yonteminin kullanildigi bu arastirmanin deseni durum calismasidir. Arastirma, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart Universitesi Egitim Fakultesi Turkce Egitimi Bolumu son sinifta ogrenim goren 20 ogretmen adayi ile yurutulmustur. Veri toplama araci olarak, yari yapilandirilmis gorusme formu kullanilmistir. Bes adet acik uclu sorunun bulundugu gorusme formu ogrencilere dagitilarak sorularin cevaplanmasi istenmistir. Elde edilen verilerin analizi betimsel analiz ve icerik analizi teknikleri kullanilarak yapilmistir. Ortaya cikan sonuclara gore Turkce ogretmenliginde ogrenim goren ogrencilerin bircogu Turkce Ogretmenligi alan sinavina yonelik olumsuz dusunceler ortaya koymustur. Olumsuz dusuncelerinin nedeni olarak ise alan sinavinin genis kapsamli olmasi, gereksiz bilgiler icermesi, ogretmenlik yeterligini olcmemesi gibi dusunceler belirtmislerdir. Ogrenciler bu dusuncelerine ek olarak alan sinavina yonelik onerilerde bulunmuslardir.
Teenage pregnancies and births in Germany: patterns and developments

We study the development of teenage fertility in East and West Germany using data from the German Socioeconomic Panel and from the German Mikrozensus. Following the international literature we derive hypotheses on the patterns of teenage fertility and test whether they are relevant to the German case. We find that teenage fertility is associated with teenage age and education, with the income of the teenager’s family, with migration status, residence in East Germany and aggregate unemployment. Our evidence supports counter-cyclical teenage fertility.
Near-Lossless Compression Based on a Full Range Gaussian Markov Random Field Model for 2D Monochrome Images

This paper proposes a Full Range Gaussian Markov Random Field (FRGMRF) model for monochrome image compression, where images are assumed to be Gaussian Markov Random Field. The parameters of the model are estimated based on Bayesian approach. The advantage of the proposed model is that it adapts itself according to the nature of the data (image) because it has infinite structure with a finite number of parameters, and so completely avoids the problem of order determination. The proposed model is fitted to reconstruct the image with the use of estimated parameters and seed values. The residual image is computed from the original and the reconstructed images. The proposed FRGMRF model is redefined as an error model to compress the residual image to obtain better quality of the reconstructed image. The parameters of the error model are estimated by employing the Metropolis-Hastings (M-H) algorithm. Then, the error model is fitted to reconstruct the compressed residual image. The Arithmetic coding is employed on seed values, average of the residuals and the model coefficients of both the input and residual images to achieve higher compression ratio. Different types of textured and structured images are considered for experiment to illustrate the efficiency of the proposed model. The results obtained by the FRGMRF model are compared to the JPEG2000. The proposed approach yields higher compression ratio than the JPEG whereas it produces Peak Signal to Noise Ratio (PSNR) with little higher than the JPEG, which is negligible.
THE INFLUENCE OF SCHOOL PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT ON SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS ’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN BAYELSA STATE

The main thrust of this study was to investigate empirically the extent to physical school environment influence students’ academic performance in secondary schools in Bayelsa State. In order to accomplish this, four hypotheses were formulated to guide and direct the study. The hypotheses were meant to assess the influence of aesthetic beauty of the school, infrastructural facilities, school equipment and instructional materials and school location on students’ academic performance. Ex-post facto research design was adopted for the study. The sample used for this research was one thousand, six hundred and twenty (1,620) JS3 students carefully selected through the use of multiple stages sampling techniques in secondary schools in Bayelsa State. Two research instruments an achievement test to measure student’s academic achievement and a set of questionnaire to measure the sub independent variables of the study. The data obtained from the administration of the questionnaires were duly coded and subjected to statistical analysis using simple percentage and Independent ttest (t). Findings revealed that: aesthetic beauty of the school and infrastructural facilities significantly influence students’ academic performance. Also, there is a significant influence of school equipment and instructional materials and school location on students’ academic performance. It was recommended that adequate school physical facilities should be provided by the State Government, in all secondary schools in Bayelsa State. This will help to engage the students in meaningful activities.
Converging technologies at the nanoscale: The making of a new world?

The design of artefacts commonly involves the convergence of many technologies and this remains true for artefacts being created at the nanoscale. However, since 2000 the phrase ‘converging technologies’ has acquired a special interpretation related to the convergence of nanotechnology, biotechnology, information technology and cognitive science (acronym NBIC) for the improvement of ‘human performance’, raising the visibility of what has colloquially been called ‘nanotechnology’. Exaggerated forecasts soon followed for the value of innovatory markets for nano-artefacts or artefacts highly dependent on the various emergent nanoscale technologies. Many of these activities have resulted from a creative collision between chemistry and biology, and engineering and physics, especially where the latter have been related to micromechanical devices and electronics. The outcome has been rising expectations that the field, now designated as converging technologies, may be the beginnings of a ‘new world’ within a notional time horizon of 2030. The paper considers the possibility, feasibility and desirability of nanoscale artefacts (nano-artefacts) in contributing to a ‘new world’. By distinguishing between nano-artefacts and nanotechnology, some of the more unrealistic expectations surrounding the possibilities can be discouraged, facilitating investment decisions by business and informed debate by stakeholders regarding the future development and diffusion of nano-artefacts. The paper concludes that nano-artefacts are likely to have pervasive, radical effects by 2030, particularly in the fields that underpin life on the planet, including energy and food and the possibility of improving human performance. However, the effects are unlikely to be on the scale seen in the industrial revolution.
Pulmonary Capillaritis

Pulmonary capillaritis is defined as a histopathologic pattern of alveolar wall inflammation that leads to the disruption of the integrity of alveolar-capillary basement membranes and flooding of the alveoli with blood. The clinical presentation is that of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH). Pulmonary capillaritis is usually the consequence of an underlying immune-mediated process that is systemic in nature. Rarely, pulmonary capillaritis occurs in isolation. This article outlines a systematic approach to the management of patients presenting with DAH, and provides an overview of specific causes of pulmonary capillaritis.
Vestibular dysfunction and compensation after removal of acoustic neuroma.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate vestibular function after unilateral acoustic neuroma surgery via a retrosigmoid approach. METHODS Thirty-eight patients were tested using caloric irrigation, static posturography, and the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) before, and one week to nine months after surgery. RESULTS Twenty-six patients were categorized as a response group and 12 as a no-response group on the basis of preoperative caloric irrigation findings. The posturographic parameters and DHI scores at one week after surgery showed significant deterioration in the response group, but not in the no-response group. However, they recovered to the preoperative baseline at 3 months after surgery. The posturographic parameters and DHI scores for older patients tended to be worse than those for younger patients at 6 and 9 months after surgery. CONCLUSION Patients in whom caloric responses are retained preoperatively show a temporary disturbance of balance after removal of acoustic neuroma. Disequilibrium after surgery ameliorates to the preoperative baseline within three months due to vestibular compensation, regardless of preoperative vestibular function. It is possible that poorer vestibular compensation may facilitate incomplete recovery in older patients after surgery.
A robust ex vivo model for evaluation of induction of apoptosis by rhTRAIL in combination with proteasome inhibitor MG132 in human premalignant cervical explants

Development of medical therapies for high‐grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN II/III) is hampered by the lack of CIN II/III cell lines. Tumor necrosis factor‐related apoptosis‐inducing ligand (TRAIL) induces apoptosis upon binding to its receptors DR4 or DR5. Proteasome inhibition by MG132 sensitized cervical cancer cell lines to recombinant human (rh)TRAIL. In our study, we aimed to develop an ex vivo model for CIN II/III and to investigate the apoptosis‐inducing effect of rhTRAIL and/or MG132 in cervical explants from CIN II/III patients. A short‐term ex vivo culture system was optimized for cervical biopsies, in which explants from normal cervix and CIN II/III lesions were exposed to either rhTRAIL (1 μg/ml), MG132 (5 μM) or the combination and compared to untreated explants for apoptosis induction. Normal cervix (n = 90) and CIN II/III (n = 24) explants could be reproducibly put in culture and kept viable for up to 7 days using a transwell membrane system. CIN II/III explants (n = 5) were highly sensitive to rhTRAIL plus MG132 (mean % apoptosis: 91 ± 5) compared to normal cervix (n = 10) treated with rhTRAIL plus MG132 (mean % apoptosis: 24 ± 10, p < 0.0001), while monotherapy with either rhTRAIL, MG132 or medium resulted in a mean % apoptosis <10 in both CIN II/III and normal cervix. Our ex vivo model system allows preclinical evaluation of (topical) medical therapies for CIN II/III. A strong synergistic apoptosis‐inducing effect of the combination of rhTRAIL and MG132, especially in CIN II/III lesions indicates that rhTRAIL combined with proteasome inhibitors deserves exploration as medical treatment for CIN II/III. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A 4-Channel 1.25–10.3 Gb/s Backplane Transceiver Macro With 35 dB Equalizer and Sign-Based Zero-Forcing Adaptive Control

A 4-channel 1.25-10.3 Gb/s backplane transceiver macro with an adaptive analog linear equalizer (LE) and 1-tap speculative decision-feedback equalizer (DFE) receiver (Rx) and a 3-tap pre-emphasis transmitter (Tx) is presented. The equalizers cancel 15.7-35.8 dB loss at the half-rate frequency for 10.3 Gb/s transmission over 5-75 cm FR4 backplane with fixed Tx parameters. Rx equalizer parameters are adapted by sign-based zero-forcing (S-ZF), which is applicable to any LE circuit and implemented in simple logic. The adaptive control circuit has a pattern-tolerant feature which prevents the adapted equalizer parameters from drifting for non-random data. The macro is fabricated in 90 nm CMOS technology. A Tx/Rx pair occupies 0.380 mm2 and consumes 260 mW from 1.2 V at 10.3 Gb/s per channel.