Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Serum markers detect the presence of liver fibrosis: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Histologic examination of a liver biopsy specimen is regarded as the reference standard for detecting liver fibrosis. Biopsy can be painful and hazardous, and assessment is subjective and prone to sampling error. We developed a panel of sensitive automated immunoassays to detect matrix constituents and mediators of matrix remodeling in serum to evaluate their performance in the detection of liver fibrosis. METHODS In an international multicenter cohort study, serum levels of 9 surrogate markers of liver fibrosis were compared with fibrosis stage in liver biopsy specimens obtained from 1021 subjects with chronic liver disease. Discriminant analysis of a test set of samples was used to identify an algorithm combining age, hyaluronic acid, amino-terminal propeptide of type III collagen, and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase 1 that was subsequently evaluated using a validation set of biopsy specimens and serum samples. RESULTS The algorithm detected fibrosis (sensitivity, 90%) and accurately detected the absence of fibrosis (negative predictive value for significant fibrosis, 92%; area under the curve of a receiver operating characteristic plot, .804; standard error, .02; P < .0001; 95% confidence interval, .758-.851). Performance was excellent for alcoholic liver disease and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. The algorithm performed equally well in comparison with each of the pathologists. In contrast, pathologists' agreement over histologic scores ranged from very good to moderate (kappa = .97-.46). CONCLUSIONS Assessment of liver fibrosis with multiple serum markers used in combination is sensitive, specific, and reproducible, suggesting they may be used in conjunction with liver biopsy to assess a range of chronic liver diseases.
Factors regulating microglia activation

Microglia are resident macrophages of the central nervous system (CNS) that display high functional similarities to other tissue macrophages. However, it is especially important to create and maintain an intact tissue homeostasis to support the neuronal cells, which are very sensitive even to minor changes in their environment. The transition from the “resting” but surveying microglial phenotype to an activated stage is tightly regulated by several intrinsic (e.g., Runx-1, Irf8, and Pu.1) and extrinsic factors (e.g., CD200, CX3CR1, and TREM2). Under physiological conditions, minor changes of those factors are sufficient to cause fatal dysregulation of microglial cell homeostasis and result in severe CNS pathologies. In this review, we discuss recent achievements that gave new insights into mechanisms that ensure microglia quiescence.
A characteristic cluster of fetal sonographic markers that are predictive of fetal Turner syndrome in early pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to describe a characteristic cluster of sonographic features of fetuses with Turner syndrome in early pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN A targeted transvaginal ultrasound examination of all fetal organs was performed for 40123 consecutive pregnant women at 14 to 16 weeks of gestation. Both low- and high-risk pregnancies were included. Fetal karyotyping was performed in 9348 cases. The main indications were major fetal anomalies, advanced maternal age, abnormal biochemical markers, maternal anxiety, and request. RESULTS Turner syndrome was detected in 13 fetuses (0.03%, 1/3086 early pregnancies). Huge septated cystic hygroma, severe subcutaneous edema, and hydrops were observed in all cases. A short femur was detected in 12 of 13 fetuses. A narrow aortic arch was visualized in all 8 fetuses who were scanned after 1995, when scanning of the aortic arch became mandatory in our institution. Four other fetuses had three or four of the five markers, 2 of the fetuses had trisomy 21, 1 fetus was normal, and one case of missed abortion occurred without a karyotype. CONCLUSION A reliable diagnosis of Turner syndrome by sonographic means is possible in early pregnancy.
Estimation of a shallow water channel impulse response via an MCMC method with application to an oceanic acoustic tomography experiment

The impulse response of shallow water channels that have to be measured during oceanic acoustic tomography experiments consists of many paths with decreasing amplitudes. The estimation of such channels must cope with several problems; in particular, the transmitter transducer strongly distorts the signal. In addition, close paths are generally not resolved at the output of the matched filter. Further processing is therefore required. In this paper, we present a method for estimating the impulse response of a shallow water channel. We first propose to estimate the distorted waveform by means of an iterative procedure based on a matching pursuit algorithm. Second, to achieve precise estimation, we model the channel impulse response by means of a Bernoulli-Gaussian process. Then, an estimator is computed from simulated samples drawn according to the resulting a posteriori log-likelihood by means of an MCMC method. These methods have been applied to data measured during a tomographic experiment made by the SHOM: the PASSTIME experiment.
A quantitative study of end‐plate potentials in isolated human muscle.

During the investigation of the neuromuscular transmission process in myasthenia gravis, the results of which have been published in a previous paper (Elmqvist, Hofmann, Kugelberg & Quastel, 1964), one of the problems encountered was to determine what constitutes normal behaviour of end-plate potentials under a variety of conditions. It was found that for a quantitative investigation human intercostal muscle was in some ways more suitable than the more conventional rat phrenic-diaphragm preparation. Even with moderate rates of stimulation the variation in amplitude of sequential end-plate potentials (e.p.p.s) was sufficient to permit reasonably accurate estimations of quantum size and quantum content, providing a basis upon which release of transmitter could be compared from junction to junction and under different environmental and stimulation conditions. We have therefore continued to use this preparation for the investigation of the effects on transmitter release of repetitive nerve stimulation of varied frequency and duration, and also the effects of changed calcium and magnesium concentrations. The experiments done were in some aspects similar to those previously reported by a number of investigators (Lundberg & Quilisch, 1953a; del Castillo & Katz, 1954a, b; Liley & North, 1953; Liley, 1956; Martin, 1955; Boyd & Martin, 1956; Brooks & Thies, 1962 and others) and the results were essentially similar to theirs. It has been possible to interpret the findings in terms of a simple model of the presynaptic transmitter storage and release mechanisms similar to that arrived at by Birks & MacIntosh (1961) on the basis of ganglion perfusion experiments. In addition, the results have shown that release of transmitter at human neuromuscular synapses is qualitatively identical with that at the neuromuscular junction in other vertebrate species and probably similar to that at other kinds of synapses (Eccles, 1964).
Task-Dependent Neglect: Computed Tomography Size and Locus Correlations

We studied the severity and task-specific nature of neglect in relation to brain lesion size and locus in 23 right hemisphere stroke patients. We used five visuospatial tasks, including reading and writing. No single task identified hemispatial neglect in all patients. Drawing from memory was most sensitive, whereas writing was least sensitive. Neglect was not limited to parietal disease, but occurred following lesions in several cortical and subcortical locations. Severity of neglect correlated significantly with lesion locus (it was most severe with central lesions), but not with lesion size. We discuss observed patterns of neglect relative to a theory of hypoarousal and suggest the importance of neglect to prognosis for recovery from stroke.
Framework for Simulation of Heterogeneous MpSoC for Design Space Exploration

Due to the ever-growing requirements in high performance data computation, multiprocessor systems have been proposed to solve the bottlenecks in uniprocessor systems. Developing efficient multiprocessor systems requires effective exploration of design choices like application scheduling, mapping, and architecture design. Also, fault tolerance in multiprocessors needs to be addressed. With the advent of nanometer-process technology for chip manufacturing, realization of multiprocessors on SoC (MpSoC) is an active field of research. Developing efficient low power, fault-tolerant task scheduling, and mapping techniques for MpSoCs require optimized algorithms that consider the various scenarios inherent in multiprocessor environments. Therefore there exists a need to develop a simulation framework to explore and evaluate new algorithms on multiprocessor systems. This work proposes amodular framework for the exploration and evaluation of various design algorithms for MpSoC system. This work also proposes new multiprocessor task scheduling and mapping algorithms for MpSoCs. These algorithms are evaluated using the developed simulation framework. The paper also proposes a dynamic fault-tolerant (FT) scheduling and mapping algorithm for robust application processing. The proposed algorithms consider optimizing the power as one of the design constraints. The framework for a heterogeneous multiprocessor simulation was developed using System C/C++ language. Various design variations were implemented and evaluated using standard task graphs. Performance evaluation metrics are evaluated and discussed for various design scenarios.
Community Detection with Fuzzy Community Structure

In order to find a cover which allows nodes to be shared among several communities, we propose a simple fuzzy community detection algorithm, which is based on an existing partition detection technique. For the performance of overlapping nodes that makes the partition ambiguous, a new extended modularity is introduced to qualify covers. With modularity optimization, the cover can be found with a high quality. We applied our method to real networks. The results demonstrate that our method can discover meaningful fuzzy community structure, overlapping community structure and hierarchical structure.
An actin–myosin-II interaction is involved in maintaining the contractile ring in fission yeast

ABSTRACT The actomyosin-based contractile ring, which assembles at the cell equator, maintains its circularity during cytokinesis in many eukaryotic cells, ensuring its efficient constriction. Although consistent maintenance of the ring is one of the mechanisms underpinning cytokinesis, it has not yet been fully addressed. We here investigated the roles of fission yeast myosin-II proteins [Myo2 and Myo3 (also known as Myp2)] in ring maintenance during cytokinesis, with a focus on Myo3. A site-directed mutational analysis showed that the motor properties of Myo3 were involved in its accumulation in the contractile ring. The assembled ring was often deformed and not properly maintained under conditions in which the activities of myosin-II proteins localizing to the contractile ring were decreased, leading to inefficient cell division. Moreover, Myo3 appeared to form motile clusters on the ring. We propose that large assemblies of myosin-II proteins consolidate the contractile ring by continuously binding to F-actin in the ring, thereby contributing to its maintenance. Summary: In fission yeast, large assemblies of the myosin-II proteins contribute to maintenance of the actomyosin contractile ring during cytokinesis, and not only to its constriction.
Two Thoughts on Abraham Maslow

With Abe’s unexpected death just 2 years later, our Journal of Humanistic Psychology working group was faced with these questions anew. Today, in a world of colliding political, economic, environmental, and cultural forces, his research into human values has left us a guiding legacy. In addition, his enduring questions—especially those about leadership at the highest levels— are more relevant than ever.
Blocking CC Chemokine Receptor (CCR) 1 and CCR5 During Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 Infection In Vivo Impairs Host Defence and Perturbs the Cytokine Response

Elimination of viral infections is dependent on rapid recruitment of leucocytes to infected areas. Chemokines constitute a class of cytokines that regulate migration of leucocytes to sites of infection. In this work, the expression and function of CC chemokine receptor (CCR)1 and CCR5 and their ligands during a generalized herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV‐2) infection in mice were studied. Many CCR1 and CCR5 ligands were expressed in infected organs after intraperitoneal infection. In particular, CC chemokine expression in the liver preceded the expression of CCR1 and CCR5, suggesting recruitment of cells bearing these receptors, which correlated with a decrease in viral titres. Administration of Met‐RANTES, a CCR1 and CCR5 antagonist, led to impaired antiviral response with significantly higher viral titre in the liver on days 1 and 6 after infection. This observation was accompanied by a decreased and shortened recruitment of natural killer cells to the peritoneum of infected mice treated with the antagonist. Despite this reduced recruitment of antiviral leucocytes in mice receiving Met‐RANTES, peritoneal cells from these mice produced markedly enhanced levels of pro‐inflammatory cytokines. Altogether, the results suggest that CCR1 and/or CCR5 are important for both viral clearance and eventual control of the immune response.
A Capacitive Touch Sensing Technique with Series-connected Sensing Electrodes

Touch sensing with multiple electrodes allows expressive touch interactions. The adaptability and flexibility of the sensor are important in efficiently prototyping touch based systems. The proposed technique uses capacitive touch sensing and simplifies the connections as the electrodes are connected in series via capacitors and the interface circuit is connected to the electrode array by just two wires. The touched electrode is recognized by measuring the capacitance changes while switching the polarity of the signal. We show that the technique is capable of detecting different touches through simulations and actual measurements. User tests show that ten electrodes are successfully recognized after user calibration. They also show the proposal's other novel capabilities of multi-touch (2-touch) and `capacitor-free' design. Various forms of electrodes and applications are examined to elucidate the application range.
The Application of a Paired Comparisons Technique to Identify Sequence of Recovery After Severe Head Injury

The “paired preference technique” PPT as a method for establishing the most likely sequences of recovery in a group of people surviving severe head injury is described. In the PPT every item of observed behaviour is compared with every other item of behaviour in a series of paired comparisons. This is similar to the technique described by Allen and Yen (1979) which they called the “paired comparison method”. We believe this method is suitable for data which are not amenableto moreconventional methods of analysis because of differentnumbers of observations across subjects or because of missing data. We describe the PPT, provide examples from an observational study of 88 head-injured patients, and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of this method of analysis.
Arabidopsis Actin-Depolymerizing Factor AtADF4 Mediates Defense Signal Transduction Triggered by the Pseudomonas syringae Effector AvrPphB1[W][OA]

The actin cytoskeleton has been implicated in plant defenses against pathogenic fungi and oomycetes with limited, indirect evidence. To date, there are no reports linking actin with resistance against phytopathogenic bacteria. The dynamic behavior of actin filaments is regulated by a diverse array of actin-binding proteins, among which is the Actin-Depolymerizing Factor (ADF) family of proteins. Here, we demonstrate that actin dynamics play a role in the activation of gene-for-gene resistance in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) following inoculation with the phytopathogenic bacterium Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato. Using a reverse genetics approach, we explored the roles of Arabidopsis ADFs in plant defenses. AtADF4 was identified as being specifically required for resistance triggered by the effector AvrPphB but not AvrRpt2 or AvrB. Recombinant AtADF4 bound to monomeric actin (G-actin) with a marked preference for the ADP-loaded form and inhibited the rate of nucleotide exchange on G-actin, indicating that AtADF4 is a bona fide actin-depolymerizing factor. Exogenous application of the actin-disrupting agent cytochalasin D partially rescued the Atadf4 mutant in the AvrPphB-mediated hypersensitive response, demonstrating that AtADF4 mediates defense signaling through modification of the actin cytoskeleton. Unlike the mechanism by which the actin cytoskeleton confers resistance against fungi and oomycetes, AtADF4 is not involved in resistance against pathogen entry. Collectively, this study identifies AtADF4 as a novel component of the plant defense signaling pathway and provides strong evidence for actin dynamics as a primary component that orchestrates plant defenses against P. syringae.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF FACE EXPERTISE: THE ROLE OF RACE, DISTINCTIVENESS AND INTENTIONALITY

Face perception and recognition is an area of much research across infancy, childhood, and adulthood. Unfortunately, there has been a lack of integration across these areas in the past. As such, there is a need for a comprehensive review of this literature. When examined, a number of discrepancies in research findings across these areas can be identified. The current literature review and empirical investigation take a first step in reconciling discrepancies in the literature and make suggestions for future investigations to bring together these disparate areas. Five-year-old children, eight-year-old children, eleven-year-old children, and adults were tested under either incidental or intentional learning conditions for recognition of distinctive and typical own- and other-race faces. No differences were evident between the incidental and intentional learning conditions. However, evidence of a significant distinctiveness effect was found for all age groups. In addition, the cross-race effect was shown to be highly dependent on the distinctiveness of the faces. In fact, there was no evidence of a cross-race effect for the highly typical faces, while a reversal of the cross-race effect was found for the highly distinctive faces. In other words, for the highly distinctive faces, other-race faces were recognized more accurately than own-race faces, a contrast to previous research demonstrating more accurate recognition for own-race faces than other-race faces. The results from the current study suggest that the cross-race effect is more complex than previously thought and that distinctiveness is a powerful influence in face recognition across development.
The Questionnaire in a Sociological Research Project

The reliability and stability of a questionnaire were tested by having 123 eighthgrade children answer it twice with a week's interval by comparing the replies of 62 pairs of siblings, and by comparing the replies of children and mothers. The replies on the two written forms from the same children agreed for 87.3 per cent of the total number of questions. The percentages of agreement varied from 97.6 per cent for factual questions about self to 78.1 per cent for questions on attitudes toward self. For a "neurotic inventory" of 24 questions, 82.7 per cent of the total questions were in agreement on the two forms. The replies of sibblings varied in agreement from 92.5 per cent for factual questions about the parents, to 62.3 per cent for questions involving estimates. Agreement between children and parents was slightly lower. There was no appreciable difference in the percentage of agreement between boys and girls. When certain questions were selected to form a scale to measure home background and were assigned scores, a correlation coefficient of . 814 was secured between scores with a week's interval; similar coefficients for the neurotic inventory were . 844 for boys and . 785 for girls.
The Construction of Situation Models in Narrative Comprehension: An Event-Indexing Model

In this article, we propose and test a model of how readers construct representations of the situations described in simple narratives the event-indexing model According to the event-indexing model, events are the focal points of situations conveyed in narratives and are connected in memory along five dimensions time, space, protagonist, causality, and intentionality The results of a verb-clustering task provide strong support for the event-indexing model
Camflow: Managed Data-Sharing for Cloud Services

A model of cloud services is emerging whereby a few trusted providers manage the underlying hardware and communications whereas many companies build on this infrastructure to offer higher level, cloud-hosted PaaS services and/or SaaS applications. From the start, strong isolation between cloud tenants was seen to be of paramount importance, provided first by virtual machines (VM) and later by containers, which share the operating system (OS) kernel. Increasingly it is the case that applications also require facilities to effect isolation and protection of data managed by those applications. They also require flexible data sharing with other applications, often across the traditional cloud-isolation boundaries; for example, when government, consisting of different departments, provides services to its citizens through a common platform. These concerns relate to the management of data. Traditional access control is application and principal/role specific, applied at policy enforcement points, after which there is no subsequent control over where data flows;a crucial issue once data has left its owner’s control by cloud-hosted applications andwithin cloud-services. Information Flow Control (IFC), in addition, offers system-wide, end-to-end, flow control based on the properties of the data. We discuss the potential of cloud-deployed IFC for enforcing owners’ data flow policy with regard to protection and sharing, aswell as safeguarding against malicious or buggy software. In addition, the audit log associated with IFC provides transparency and offers system-wide visibility over data flows. This helps those responsible to meet their data management obligations, providing evidence of compliance, and aids in the identification ofpolicy errors and misconfigurations. We present our IFC model and describe and evaluate our IFC architecture and implementation (CamFlow). This comprises an OS level implementation of IFC with support for application management, together with an IFC-enabled middleware.
A Service-Oriented Architecture for Semantic Recommendation and Integration of Products/Application Services (SOA-RIPAS) in Globalization

Globalization requires enterprises to suit different customers' demands and integrate different countries' resources. Current research on SOA could not provide an appropriate way for support. This paper proposes a SOA (SOA-RIPAS) in globalization. It describes customers semantically and recommends worldwide products/services to customers. It develops products and new application services by semantically conversing and compositing resources from worldwide Application Service Providers (ASP) and Manufacturers.