Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
[Image-guided minimal-invasive cochlear implantation--experiments on cadavers].

BACKGROUND The accuracy of navigation systems can be improved significantly by using high-resolution flat panel-based Volume Computed Tomography (fpVCT) so that new surgical therapeutic concepts become feasible. A navigation-guided minimally-invasive cochleostomy places highest requirements on the accuracy of intraoperative navigation. METHODS A flat-panel Volume Computed Tomograph (fpVCT) was used to scan four human temporal bones. The isometric voxel size was 200 microm. The preoperative planning was used to define an optimized drilling channel from the mastoid surface to the round window niche and the scala tympani providing a safety margin to critical anatomical structures such as facial nerve, chorda tympani, sigmoid sinus and posterior wall of auditory canal. The canal was drilled hand-operated with a navigated drill following the previously planned trajectory. Afterwards the drilled canal was imaged by fpVCT. Conventional dissection including mastoidectomy and posterior tympanotomy assured correct localization of the cochleostomy. RESULTS Path planning took an average of 54 minutes (range 35-85 minutes). Installation took an average of 16 minutes (range 14-19 minutes). The drilling procedure itself took an average of 7.75 min (range 5-12 minutes.) The RMSE-values varied between 0.1 and 0.2 mm (Table 1). All four specimens showed a cochleostomy located at the scala tympani anterior inferior to the round window. The chorda tympani was damaged in one specimen--this was preoperatively planned as a narrow facial recess was encountered. The time needed for planning and system-installation could be reduced continuously. CONCLUSIONS This feasibility study demonstrates that using current image-guided surgery technology in combination with fpVCT allows drilling of a minimally invasive channel to the cochlea with loco typico cochleostomy. The necessary accuracy of intraoperative navigation can be achieved by use of fpVCT (technical accuracy between 0.1 and 0.2 mm). Our results demonstrate the feasibility of a navigation-guided minimally-invasive cochleostomy loco typico. While we are enthused by this preliminary work, we recognize the barriers which exist in translation to clinical application. These include surgical issues (e.g. control of unexpected bleeding) and electrode issues (e.g. development of insertion tools).
Cognitive Consequences of Thalamic, Basal Ganglia, and Deep White Matter Lacunes in Brain Aging and Dementia

Background and Purpose— Most previous studies addressed the cognitive impact of lacunar infarcts using radiologic correlations that are known to correlate poorly with neuropathological data. Moreover, absence of systematic bilateral assessment of vascular lesions and masking effects of Alzheimer disease pathology and macrovascular lesions may explain discrepancies among previous reports. To define the relative contribution of silent lacunes to cognitive decline, we performed a detailed analysis of lacunar and microvascular pathology in both cortical and subcortical areas of 72 elderly individuals without significant neurofibrillary tangle pathology or macrovascular lesions. Methods— Cognitive status was assessed prospectively using the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale; neuropathological evaluation included Aβ-protein deposition staging and bilateral assessment of microvascular ischemic pathology and lacunes; statistical analysis included multivariate models controlling for age, amyloid deposits, and microvascular pathology. Results— Thalamic and basal ganglia lacunes were negatively associated with CDR scores; cortical microinfarcts, periventricular and diffuse white matter demyelination also significantly affected cognition. In a multivariate model, cortical microinfarcts and thalamic and basal ganglia lacunes explained 22% of CDR variability; amyloid deposits and microvascular pathology explained 12%, and the assessment of thalamic and basal ganglia lacunes added an extra 17%. Deep white matter lacunes were not related to cognitive status in univariate and multivariate models. Conclusions— In agreement with the recently proposed concept of subcortical ischemic vascular dementia, our autopsy series provides important evidence that gray matter lacunes are independent predictors of cognitive decline in elderly individuals without concomitant dementing processes such as Alzheimer disease.
Juruin: an antifungal peptide from the venom of the Amazonian Pink Toe spider, Avicularia juruensis, which contains the inhibitory cystine knot motif

The aim of this study was to screen the venom of the theraposid spider Avicularia juruensis for the identification of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) which could be further used as prototypes for drug development. Eleven AMPs, named juruentoxins, with molecular weight ranging from 3.5 to 4.5 kDa, were identified by mass spectrometry after the soluble venom was separated by high performance liquid chromatography. Juruentoxins have a putative inhibitory cystine knot (ICK) motif, generally found in neurotoxins, which are also resistant to proteolysis. One juruentoxin that has 38 amino acid residues and three disulfide bonds were characterized, to which we proposed the name Juruin. Based on liquid growth inhibition assays, it has potent antifungal activity in the micromolar range. Importantly, Juruin lacks haemolytic activity on human erythrocytes at the antimicrobial concentrations. Based on the amino acid sequence, it is highly identical to the insecticidal peptides from the theraposid spiders Selenocosmia huwena, Chilobrachys jingzhao, and Haplopelma schmidti from China, indicating they belong to a group of conserved toxins which are likely to inhibit voltage-gated ion channels. Juruin is a cationic AMP, and Lys22 and Lys23 show maximum positive charge localization that might be important for receptor recognition. Although it shows marked sequence similarity to neurotoxic peptides, Juruin is a novel exciting molecule with potent antifungal activity, which could be used as a novel template for development of drugs against clinical resistant fungi strains.
You can lead a horse to water but you cannot make him learn: Smartphone use in higher education

Smartphone technology is penetrating world markets and becoming ubiquitous in most college settings. This study takes a naturalistic approach to explore the use of these devices to support student learning. Students that had never used a smartphone were recruited to participate and reported on their expectations of the value of smartphones to achieve their educational goals. Instrumented iPhones that logged device usage were then distributed to these students to use freely over the course of 1 year. After the study, students again reported on the actual value of their smartphones to support their educational goals. We found that students' reports changed substantially before and after the study; specifically, the utility of the smartphone to help with education was perceived as favorable prior to use, and then, by the end of the study, they viewed their phones as detrimental to their educational goals. Although students used their mobile device for informal learning and access to school resources according to the logged data, they perceived their iPhones as a distraction and a competitor to requisite learning for classroom performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
An Actuator with Mechanically Adjustable Series Compliance

Running is a complex dynamic task which places strict requirements on both the physical components and software control systems of a robot. This report explores some of those requirements and in particular explores how a variable compliance actuation system can satisfy many of them. We present the mechanical design and software control of such an actuator system. We analyze its performance through simulation and benchtop experimental validation of a prototype version. In conclusion we demonstrate, through simulation, the application of our prototype actuator to the problem of biped running.
A Cross‐Cultural Study of Adolescent Procrastination

In this study, we explore academic procrastination and associated motivation variables in 612 adolescents from Canada and Singapore. Few studies have explored adolescent procrastination and no previous studies have investigated adolescent procrastination using a cross-cultural framework. Singaporean adolescents reported higher levels of procrastination and lower levels of self-efficacy for self-regulation than Canadian adolescents. Males across settings reported higher levels of procrastination and lower levels of self-efficacy for self-regulation than females. Bivariate relationships between procrastination and the motivation variables showed similar patterns in Singapore and Canada. Multigroup structural equation modeling revealed that self-efficacy for self-regulation showed the strongest multivariate relationship with procrastination for adolescents in both settings. The article concludes with implications for practitioners and researchers.
Scheduling Human Intelligence Tasks in Multi-Tenant Crowd-Powered Systems

Micro-task crowdsourcing has become a popular approach to effectively tackle complex data management problems such as data linkage, missing values, or schema matching. However, the backend crowdsourced operators of crowd-powered systems typically yield higher latencies than the machine-processable operators, this is mainly due to inherent efficiency differences between humans and machines. This problem can be further exacerbated by the lack of workers on the target crowdsourcing platform, or when the workers are shared unequally among a number of competing requesters; including the concurrent users from the same organization who execute crowdsourced queries with different types, priorities and prices. Under such conditions, a crowd-powered system acts mostly as a proxy to the crowdsourcing platform, and hence it is very difficult to provide effiency guarantees to its end-users. Scheduling is the traditional way of tackling such problems in computer science, by prioritizing access to shared resources. In this paper, we propose a new crowdsourcing system architecture that leverages scheduling algorithms to optimize task execution in a shared resources environment, in this case a crowdsourcing platform. Our study aims at assessing the efficiency of the crowd in settings where multiple types of tasks are run concurrently. We present extensive experimental results comparing i) different multi-tenant crowdsourcing jobs, including a workload derived from real traces, and ii) different scheduling techniques tested with real crowd workers. Our experimental results show that task scheduling can be leveraged to achieve fairness and reduce query latency in multi-tenant crowd-powered systems, although with very different tradeoffs compared to traditional settings not including human factors.
Exact and Stable Recovery of Rotations for Robust Synchronization

The synchronization problem over the special orthogonal group $SO(d)$ consists of estimating a set of unknown rotations $R_1,R_2,. ,R_n$ from noisy measurements of a subset of their pairwise ratios $R_{i}^{-1}R_{j}$. The problem has found applications in computer vision, computer graphics, and sensor network localization, among others. Its least squares solution can be approximated by either spectral relaxation or semidefinite programming followed by a rounding procedure, analogous to the approximation algorithms of \textsc{Max-Cut}. The contribution of this paper is three-fold: First, we introduce a robust penalty function involving the sum of unsquared deviations and derive a relaxation that leads to a convex optimization problem; Second, we apply the alternating direction method to minimize the penalty function; Finally, under a specific model of the measurement noise and for both complete and random measurement graphs, we prove that the rotations are exactly and stably recovered, exhibiting a phase transition behavior in terms of the proportion of noisy measurements. Numerical simulations confirm the phase transition behavior for our method as well as its improved accuracy compared to existing methods.
Association of Insulin Resistance with Lipid Profile, Metabolic Syndrome, and Hormonal Aberrations in Overweight or Obese Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

ABSTRACT This cross-sectional study was aimed to better clarify the associations of insulin resistance (IR) with endocrinometabolic parameters in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Anthropometric measurements, endocrine and metabolic profiles, and the presence of IR and metabolic syndrome (MetS) were assessed in 63 overweight or obese PCOS patients subdivided into insulin-resistant (IR) and insulin-sensitive (IS) groups. Fasting insulin concentration and HOMA-IR were higher (p<0.001), and quantitative insulin check index (QUICKI), glucose-to-insulin ratio (p<0.001), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (p=0.012) were lower in IR group. MetS (p=0.034) and obesity (p=0.038) were more prevalent in IR group. For all PCOS patients, significant correlations of total cholesterol (TC) with dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) (r=-0.27, p=0.031), HDL-C with QUICKI (r=0.26, p=0.036) were found. Partial correlations also showed significant associations between TG and BS2h (r=0.30, p=0.026) as well as TC and LH/FSH ratio (r=0.30, p=0.032). When the patients were divided into IR and IS groups, significant correlations of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) with luteinizing hormone (LH) (r=0.50, p=0.017) as well as TC (r=0.42, p=0.043) and LDL-C (r=0.50, p=0.016) with LH/FSH ratio were observed in IR group. However, partial correlation suggested significant associations of HDL-C with testosterone (r=-0.35, p=0.049) as well as serum LDL-C (r=0.38, p=0.033), HDL-C (r=-0.32, p=0.047), and TC (r=0.34, p=0.056) with progesterone level only in the IS group. The findings of this study indicated that lipid abnormalities may occur in PCOS, irrespective of IR.
A novel non-invasive index using AFP and APTT is associated with liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B infection: a retrospective cohort study

Objective A liver biopsy is the ‘reference standard’ for diagnosing and staging liver fibrosis but with many disadvantages. Therefore, developing a non-invasive index for predicting fibrosis is very valuable. We developed and validated a novel non-invasive index for predicting significant fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B infection. Design A retrospective cohort study. Setting Chronic hepatitis B virus-infected patients were recruited in the Department of Infectious Disease in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University. Participants A total of 506 patients were enrolled, and patients were randomly divided into estimation (n=253) and validation (n=253) cohorts. Primary and secondary outcome measures Chronic hepatitis B virus-infected patients were studied retrospectively using routine parameters. A novel index was developed from an estimation cohort and validated in another cohort. Liver histology was assessed for fibrosis according to the Xi'an Meeting Scoring System. The novel index using α-fetal protein (AFP) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT; denoted AA index) was compared with 10 other indices using receiving operating characteristics curves. Multivariate forward stepwise regression analysis revealed that AFP and APTT were significantly associated with the Xi'an Meeting Scoring System, and were used to calculate the AA index (log index=−9.164+0.114×AFP+0.236×APTT). Results The AA index predicted significant fibrosis with an area under the curve of 0.822, exhibited a significantly higher area compared with the other 10 indices in the estimation cohort, and was validated in the validation cohort. Conclusions The AA index can be used to predict significant fibrosis, and may decrease the need for liver biopsy in patients with chronic hepatitis B infection.
West Greenlandic noun incorporation in a monohierarchical theory of grammar

The resulting denominal verb (DV) has the full syntactic and morphological distribution of any verb in West Greenlandic. It also retains some of the properties of the incorporated nominal, which has led some researchers to analyze this construction as a kind of NI. However, as Sapir (1911), Mithun (1986) and others have argued, it has little in common with NI constructions in languages like Mohawk or Southern Tiwa. In this paper, I will explore an alternative HPSG analysis of these DVs as a
Seromas and punctures after complete axillary node dissection for breast cancer: differences between mastectomy and lumpectomy

Methods: The medical reports of 223 women who underwent CALND after mastectomy (n=127) or lumpectomy (n=96) for breast cancer and who were followed in our institute were retrospectively reviewed to obtain the following: the characteristics (volume and duration) of the drained seromas; the number, volume, and duration of punctures performed after hospital discharge; the patient’s age and body mass index; the presence or absence of hypertension (HTA); the pT of the tumor, the TNM stage, the number of axillary lymph nodes removed (nLN), the number of positive LN, the associated treatments (the pre and post-operative chemotherapy or not); and whether or not there was an infection at the level of the breast and/or arm.
Identification and Characterization of a Conformational Heparin-binding Site Involving Two Fibronectin Type III Modules of Bovine Tenascin-X*

Tenascin-X is known as a heparin-binding molecule, but the localization of the heparin-binding site has not been investigated until now. We show here that, unlike tenascin-C, the recombinant fibrinogen-like domain of tenascin-X is not involved in heparin binding. On the other hand, the two contiguous fibronectin type III repeats b10 and b11 have a predicted positive charge at physiological pH, hence a set of recombinant proteins comprising these domains was tested for interaction with heparin. Using solid phase assays and affinity chromatography, we found that interaction with heparin was conformational and involved both domains 10 and 11. Construction of a three-dimensional model of domains 10 and 11 led us to predict exposed residues that were then submitted to site-directed mutagenesis. In this way, we identified the basic residues within each domain that are crucial for this interaction. Blocking experiments using antibodies against domain 10 were performed to test the efficiency of this site within intact tenascin-X. Binding was significantly reduced, arguing for the activity of a heparin-binding site involving domains 10 and 11 in the whole molecule. Finally, the biological significance of this site was tested by cell adhesion studies. Heparan sulfate cell surface receptors are able to interact with proteins bearing domains 10 and 11, suggesting that tenascin-X may activate different signals to regulate cell behavior.
Examining the Eyeblink Startle Reflex as a Measure of Emotion and Motivation to Television Programming

This study examines the reliability and validity of the eyeblink startle reflex as a measure of emotional and motivational responding to television content. A pretest uses continuous response measurement to identify pleasant, neutral, and unpleasant scenes from a television drama. Acoustic startle probe methodology and facial electromyography are used to measure responding to these scenes during an experiment. Although past research has suggested that the startle reflex is a reliable measure of emotional responding to television and film content, there is reason to expect that this effect may be obfuscated if the probe falls close to a camera change or scene change. The startle reflex data offer convergent validity with the continuous response data and concurrent validity with the facial electromyographic data. However, the presence of a camera change or scene change within 500 ms of the startle probe did disrupt the emotional modulation of the reflex. These data show that the startle reflex can be a valid and reliable temporally precise measure of emotional responding to television programming if proximity to scene changes and camera changes is controlled.
Bilirubinate Granules: Main Pathologic Bile Component in Patients With Idiopathic Acute Pancreatitis

Objective:The aim of this study was to evaluate the main pathologic component of bile obtained by biliary drainage in patients with acute idiopathic pancreatitis and therapeutic implications.Method:Eighteen patients diagnosed with idiopathic acute pancreatitis underwent biliary drainage. Microscopic evaluation of bile was performed and pathologic components were classified in cholesterol microcrystals, bilirubinate granules, and calcium microspherolites.Results:Five patients showed no abnormalities. In 11 patients, bilirubinate granules were found, cholesterol microcrystals in two, and Giardia lamblia in two.Conclusion:Bilirubinate granules are the main pathologic component of bile in patients with acute idiopathic pancreatitis. Cholecystectomy is the preferred therapeutic approach.
Syntactic translations and provably recursive functions

Syntactic translations of classical logic C into intuitionistic logic I are well known (see [Kol25], [Gli29], [Göd32], [Kre58b], [M063], [Cel69] and [Lei71]). Harvey Friedman [Fri78] used a translation of a similar nature, from I into itself, to reprove a theorem of Kreisel [Kre58a] that various theories based on I are closed under Markov's rule: if ¬¬∃x. α is a theorem, where x is a numeric variable and α is a primitive recursive relation, then ∃x. α is a theorem. Composing this with Gödel's translation from classical to intuitionistic theories, it follows that the functions provably recursive in the classical version of the theories considered are provably recursive already in their intuitionistic version. This conservation result is important in that it guarantees that no information about the convergence of recursive functions is lost when proofs are restricted to constructive logic, thus removing a potential objection to the use of constructive logic in reasoning about programs (see [C078] for example). Conversely, no objection can be raised by intuitionists to proofs of formulas that use classical reasoning, because such proofs can be converted to constructive proofs (this has been exploited extensively; see [Smo82]). Proofs of closure under Markov's rule had required, until Friedman's proof, a relatively sophisticated mathematical apparatus. The chief method used Godel's “Dialectica” interpretation (see [Tro73, §3]). Other proofs used cut-elimination, provable reflection for subsystems [Gir73], and Kripke models [Smo73]. Moreover, adapting these proofs to new theories had required that the underlying meta-mathematical techniques be adapted first, not always a trivial step.
Siri, Echo and Performance: You have to Suffer Darling

Don't ignore this because its about speech technology. VUIs (voice user interfaces) won a best paper in CHI 2018. Did that get your attention? Good. Siri, Ivona, Google Home, and most speech synthesis systems have voices which are based on imitating a neutral citation style of speech and making it sound natural. But, in the real world, darling, people have to act, to perform! In this paper we will talk about speech synthesis as performance, why the uncanny valley is a bankrupt concept, and how academics can escape from studying corporate speech technology as if it's been bestowed by God.