Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genome-wide Association Study and Meta-Analysis Identify ISL1 as Genome-wide Significant Susceptibility Gene for Bladder Exstrophy

The bladder exstrophy-epispadias complex (BEEC) represents the severe end of the uro-rectal malformation spectrum, and is thought to result from aberrant embryonic morphogenesis of the cloacal membrane and the urorectal septum. The most common form of BEEC is isolated classic bladder exstrophy (CBE). To identify susceptibility loci for CBE, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 110 CBE patients and 1,177 controls of European origin. Here, an association was found with a region of approximately 220kb on chromosome 5q11.1. This region harbors the ISL1 (ISL LIM homeobox 1) gene. Multiple markers in this region showed evidence for association with CBE, including 84 markers with genome-wide significance. We then performed a meta-analysis using data from a previous GWAS by our group of 98 CBE patients and 526 controls of European origin. This meta-analysis also implicated the 5q11.1 locus in CBE risk. A total of 138 markers at this locus reached genome-wide significance in the meta-analysis, and the most significant marker (rs9291768) achieved a P value of 2.13 × 10−12. No other locus in the meta-analysis achieved genome-wide significance. We then performed murine expression analyses to follow up this finding. Here, Isl1 expression was detected in the genital region within the critical time frame for human CBE development. Genital regions with Isl1 expression included the peri-cloacal mesenchyme and the urorectal septum. The present study identified the first genome-wide significant locus for CBE at chromosomal region 5q11.1, and provides strong evidence for the hypothesis that ISL1 is the responsible candidate gene in this region.
A Natural Language Correction Model for Continuous Speech Recognition

We have developed a method of improving and controlling the accuracy of automated continuous speech recognition through linguistic postprocessing. In this approach, an output from a speech recognitio n system is passed to a trainable Correction Box module which attempts to locate and repair any transcription errors. The Correction Box consists of a text alignment program, a correction-rule generator, and a series of rule application and verification steps. In the training phase, the correction rules are learned by aligning the recognized speech samples with their original, fully correct versions, on sentence by sentence basis. Misaligned sections give rise to candidate context-free correlation rules, e.g., from ~ frontal ; there were made ~ the remainder, etc. Validation against a text corpus leads to context-sensitive correction rules, such as from view ~ frontal view. The system is applied to medical dictation in the area of clinical radiology.
The negative predictive value of ultrasound-guided 14-gauge core needle biopsy of breast masses: a validation study of 339 cases

Abstract Purpose: To determine the negative predictive value of sonographically guided 14-gauge core needle biopsy of breast masses, with detailed analysis of any false-negative cases. Materials and methods: We reviewed 669 cases of sonographically guided 14-gauge core needle biopsies that had benign pathologic findings. Given a benign pathology on core biopsy, true-negatives had either benign pathology on surgical excision or at least 2 years of stable imaging and/or clinical follow-up; false-negatives had malignant histology on surgical excision. Results: Follow-up was available for 339 breast lesions; 117 were confirmed to be benign via surgical excision, and 220 were stable after 2 years or more of imaging or clinical follow-up (mean follow-up time 33.1 months, range 24–64 months). The negative predictive value was determined to be 99.4%. There were 2 false-negative cases, giving a false-negative rate of 0.1%. There was no delay in diagnosis in either case because the radiologist noted discordance between imaging and core biopsy pathology, and recommended surgical excision despite the benign core biopsy pathology. Conclusions: Sonographically guided 14-gauge core needle biopsy provides a high negative predictive value in assessing breast lesions. Radiologic/pathologic correlation should be performed to avoid delay in the diagnosis of carcinoma.
Presentation of a Blueprint for the Development of Education and a Virtual University in Iran

The implementation of the information technology is one of the pivotal indices evincing technological advancement among dissimilar momentous nations. Electronic instruction is one of the most efficacious cultural and scientific determinants. Internet is being utilized in diverse educational levels such as elementary, secondary, high school in the department of education and the higher education centers for coaching electronics. Having probed the general features and the hypothetical bases of the research, some blueprints such as TAM information technology acceptance, Davis Pattern, web site development model by means of TAM paradigm and the dynamic information technology template have been explored and the ensuing prototypes have been proffered to provide the propounded comprehensive blueprint: 1. Technology acceptance model to determine the link between the exogenous variables, in-between variables and dependent ones, 2. Dynamic expansion of the united nations information technology to pinpoint the exogenous variables. A particular some hypotheses has been put forward to explicate the relationship among the variables. The views of the specialists, virtuosos and other authorities have been availed in the hypotheses experiment, All the main hypotheses of the research were approved. The crucial role of the pivotal determinants such as orismological, strategic, tactical educational, non-governmental, legal, content-pertinent was substantiated in the development of education and a virtual university.
Growth, interaction, and positioning of microtubule asters in extremely large vertebrate embryo cells

Ray Rappaport spent many years studying microtubule asters, and how they induce cleavage furrows. Here, we review recent progress on aster structure and dynamics in zygotes and early blastomeres of Xenopus laevis and Zebrafish, where cells are extremely large. Mitotic and interphase asters differ markedly in size, and only interphase asters span the cell. Growth of interphase asters occurs by a mechanism that allows microtubule density at the aster periphery to remain approximately constant as radius increases. We discuss models for aster growth, and favor a branching nucleation process. Neighboring asters that grow into each other interact to block further growth at the shared boundary. We compare the morphology of interaction zones formed between pairs of asters that grow out from the poles of the same mitotic spindle (sister asters) and between pairs not related by mitosis (non‐sister asters) that meet following polyspermic fertilization. We argue growing asters recognize each other by interaction between antiparallel microtubules at the mutual boundary, and discuss models for molecular organization of interaction zones. Finally, we discuss models for how asters, and the centrosomes within them, are positioned by dynein‐mediated pulling forces so as to generate stereotyped cleavage patterns. Studying these problems in extremely large cells is starting to reveal how general principles of cell organization scale with cell size. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc
Finding Mirror Symmetry via Registration

Symmetry is prevalent in nature and a common theme in man-made designs. Both the human visual system and computer vision algorithms can use symmetry to facilitate object recognition and other tasks. Detecting mirror symmetry in images and data is, therefore, useful for a number of applications. Here, we demonstrate that the problem of fitting a plane of mirror symmetry to data in any Euclidian space can be reduced to the problem of registering two datasets. The exactness of the resulting solution depends entirely on the registration accuracy. This new Mirror Symmetry via Registration (MSR) framework involves (1) data reflection with respect to an arbitrary plane, (2) registration of original and reflected datasets, and (3) calculation of the eigenvector of eigenvalue -1 for the transformation matrix representing the reflection and registration mappings. To support MSR, we also introduce a novel 2D registration method based on random sample consensus of an ensemble of normalized cross-correlation matches. With this as its registration back-end, MSR achieves state-of-the-art performance for symmetry line detection in two independent 2D testing databases. We further demonstrate the generality of MSR by testing it on a database of 3D shapes with an iterative closest point registration back-end. Finally, we explore its applicability to examining symmetry in natural systems by assessing the degree of symmetry present in myelinated axon reconstructions from a larval zebrafish.
Effect of reduction and temperature on straightening residual stress of seamless pipe

In the process of seamless pipe production, residual stress produced in the straightening process affects the mechanical performance of seamless pipe. Therefore, systematic investigation has been carried out in this paper to find out how residual stress distribution is related to the straightening reduction and temperature in order to meet the tolerance requirements. In the meantime, a detailed analysis on metal flow in the straightening deformation process will be presented to reduce the residual stress by achieving an optimized straightening technology and enhancing the mechanical property. The final results will provide a theoretical foundation for establishing the straightening process.
A Driver Behavior Recognition Method Based on a Driver Model Framework

A method for detecting drivers’ intentions is essential to facilitate operating mode transitions between driver and driver assistance systems. We propose a driver behavior recognition method using Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) to characterize and detect driving maneuvers and place it in the framework of a cognitive model of human behavior. HMM-based steering behavior models for emergency and normal lane changes as well as for lane keeping were developed using a moving base driving simulator. Analysis of these models after training and recognition tests showed that driver behavior modeling and recognition of different types of lane changes is possible using HMMs.
Single-injection femoral nerve block. Effects on the independence level in functional activities in the early postoperative period in patients with total knee arthroplasty.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the efficacy of single injection femoral nerve block (FNB) on the independence level in functional activities in the early postoperative period in patients with total knee arthroplasty (TKA). METHODS We conducted this prospective, randomized, blinded trial in the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hacettepe University Hospital Ankara, Turkey, between June 2003 and April 2004. Twenty-three patients scheduled for elective TKA were randomly divided into 3 groups. Group I received preemptive single injection FNB, group II received postoperative single injection FNB, and group III served as a control group. Intravenous morphine patient controlled analgesia (PCA) was used following surgery in all groups. Morphine dose and pain score defined by the visual analog scale (VAS) were recorded postoperatively at the 15th minute, 30th minute, 1st, 4th, 6th, 12th, 24th, and 48th hours. A standard rehabilitation protocol was applied for all patients. The independence level in functional activities was assessed during the first 2 postoperative days and at discharge with the Iowa Level of Assistance Scale (ILAS) and the Iowa Ambulation Speed Scale (IASS). Physical therapists that enrolled in the study were blinded to the groups. RESULTS Pain scores were significantly different between the groups (p<0.05). The preemptive and postoperative FNB group`s VAS scores were both significantly lower than the control group (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in VAS scores between preemptive and postoperative FNB groups (p>0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in any of the functional scores in the first 2 postoperative days, and at discharge (p>0.05). CONCLUSION Single injection FNB provided effective analgesia in patients undergoing TKA. However, the independence level in functional activities in the early postoperative period was not influenced by the analgesia method.
Template-based action recognition : classifying hockey players’ movement

Although action recognition is remarkably easy for people, it is a difficult task for computers. A moving camera that takes broadcast-quality videos makes this even more difficult. This research focuses on actions at a medium distance. That is, a typical figure has a resolution of dozens of pixels in each dimension. The system is demonstrated using videos of ice hockey sport. An approach that breaks the problem into three sub-problems is taken. Figures of hockey players are first tracked with a self-initializing tracker. The stabilization process then refines the rough estimates about scale and position of a figure given by the tracker. Taking the stabilized results given by the stabilization process, the action recognition system uses motion and pose features to classify actions. A new stabilization algorithm is developed. The method uses a mixture of templatesto estimate the position and scale of a figure. It helps to alleviate some of the accuracy and consistency problems. The consistency of the template library is addressed with a procedure that iteratively selects templates to better fit the training data. Our method is shown to consistently outperform a typical approach that uses only the best match with a set of synthetic image sequences. The research makes novel use of image gradients. It decomposes image gradients into four non-negative components. The decomposed image gradients (DIGs) are used to characterize poses. Quantitative performance comparisons are made between methods that use motion and pose features. The experiments show clear evidence that, for the kind of data that this research is interested in, pose features are better than motion features in terms of classification accuracy. The pose features are also superior to the motion features in terms of computational efficiency.
Proteomics as a Tool for Understanding Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is likely to be a multifactorial disorder, consequence of alterations in gene and protein expression since the neurodevelopment that together to environmental factors will trigger the establishment of the disease. In the post-genomic era, proteomics has emerged as a promising strategy for revealing disease and treatment biomarkers as well as a tool for the comprehension of the mechanisms of schizophrenia pathobiology. Here, there is a discussion of the potential pathways and structures that are compromised in schizophrenia according to proteomic findings while studying five distinct brain regions of post-mortem tissue from schizophrenia patients and controls. Proteins involved in energy metabolism, calcium homeostasis, myelinization, and cytoskeleton have been recurrently found to be differentially expressed in schizophrenia brains. These findings may encourage new studies on the understanding of schizophrenia biochemical pathways and even new potential drug targets.
Partial element equivalent circuit (PEEC) models for on‐chip passives and interconnects

The accurate simulation of the electromagnetic behaviour of interconnects and on‐chip inductors is becoming more and more important for chip designs. For this purpose, we investigate the use of the electric field integral equation, which can be used to construct a full‐wave electromagnetic model. To facilitate the combined analysis of the chip's circuit and the electromagnetic behaviour, the electromagnetic model can be formulated as an equivalent circuit. We have conducted some simple experiments to see the method at work and to obtain an idea of the frequencies for which retardation effects are important. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of Rapid Stellar Rotation on Equation-of-State Constraints Derived from Quasi-periodic Brightness Oscillations

Quasi-periodic X-ray brightness oscillations (QPOs) with frequencies ≳1 kHz have now been discovered in more than a dozen neutron stars in low-mass X-ray binary systems using the Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer. There is strong evidence that the frequencies of some kilohertz oscillations are the orbital frequencies of accreting gas in nearly circular orbits around these stars. Some stars that produce kilohertz QPOs may have spin frequencies ≳400 Hz. For spin rates this high, first-order analytic treatments of the effects of the star's rotation on its structure and the spacetime are inaccurate. Here we use the results of a large number of fully relativistic, self-consistent numerical calculations of the stellar structure of rapidly rotating neutron stars and their interior and exterior spacetimes to investigate the constraints on the properties of such stars that can be derived if stable circular orbits of various frequencies are observed. We have computed the equatorial radius of the star, the radius of the innermost stable circular orbit, and the frequency of the highest frequency stable circular orbit as functions of the stellar spin rate for spin rates up to the maximum possible and for several illustrative equations of state. Our calculations show that the upper bounds on the stiffness of neutron star matter implied by a given orbital frequency are typically significantly stricter for stars with spin frequencies ≳400 Hz than for slowly rotating stars.
Scheduling Data-Flow Graphs via Retiming and Unfolding

Loop scheduling is an important problem in parallel processing. The retiming technique reorganizes an iteration; the unfolding technique schedules several iterations together. We combine these two techniques to obtain a static schedule with a reduced average computation time per iteration. We first prove that the order of retiming and unfolding is immaterial for scheduling a data-flow graph (DFG). From this nice property, we present a polynomial-time algorithm on the original DFG, before unfolding, to find the minimum-rate static schedule for a given unfolding factor. For the case of a unit-time DFG, efficient checking and retiming algorithms are presented.
The effect of alpha-tocopherol on the oxidative stress and antioxidants in idiopathic IgA nephropathy.

OBJECTIVE Nearly 25% of IgA nephropathy patients progress to end-stage renal disease over a 20-25 year follow-up period. IgA containing immune complex stimulates oxygen free radical production by mesangial cells in vitro, which may mediate glomerular injury in this disorder. Therefore, we studied whether dietary supplementation with the antioxidant agent, vitamin E, attenuates renal damage in patients with IgA nephropathy. MATERIAL AND METHOD Twenty-eight patients with idiopathic IgA nephropathy were supplemented with vitamin E 400 mg/day for 6 months. Antioxidant enzymes, glutathione, plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), and renal function were studied after 3 and 6 months therapy. RESULT The result of the study showed high plasma MDA and significant reduction after therapy (1.15 +/- 0.45 VS 0.86 +/- 0.30 microM, p < 0.0001). The RBC vitamin E was also elevated statistically significantly (5.07 +/- 2.42 VS 15.70 +/- 3.37 microM, p < 0.001). Glutathione peroxidase activities were decreased (38.52 +/- 15.53 VS 23.97 +/- 7.63 U/gHb, p < 0.001). Glutathione was also decreased (44.80 +/- 9.70 VS 32.45 +/- 6.74 mg/dl, p < 0.05) but there were no changes in red cell catalase and superoxide dismutase activities. Creatinine clearance, proteinuria, urine N-acetyl glucosaminidase and beta2-microglobulin also showed no improvement. CONCLUSION Our data demonstrated the particular group of IgA nephropathy patients with low vitamin E level and high oxidative stress had significant reduction of oxidative stress after vitamin E therapy.
An overview of existing literature on public e-services.

Public e-services are a broad and growing research field in which scholars and practitioners from different domains are involved. However, the increasing attention devoted to public e-services only partially captures the extreme variety of aspects and implications of the diffusion of information and communication technologies at all levels of public administrations. The paper aims to develop a meta-analysis of the literature on the delivery, diffusion, adoption and impact of public e-services and examines differences in methodologies, approaches and key indicators across five service categories: eGovernment, eEducation, eHealth, Infomobility and eProcurement. We examined 751 articles appeared in 2000-2010 in the top international academic journals listed in the SSCI-ISI, as classified in the following fields: Communication, Economics, Education, Environmental Studies, Geography, Health Policy & Services, Information Science & Library Science, Law, Management, Planning & Development, Public Administration, Transportation and Urban Studies. We highlight a significant heterogeneity in scientific production across service domains, indicators used, and affiliation of authors. We also show an increasing diffusion of quantitative methods applied to different research fields which still appears to be constrained by data limitations. The overall picture emerging from the analysis is one characterized by largely unexplored service domains as well as scarcely analyzed issues both across and within individual service categories. Thus many research opportunities seem to emerge and need to be exploited from different disciplinary perspectives in this field of analysis.