Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Early rheumatoid arthritis 6 years after diagnosis is still associated with high direct costs and increasing loss of productivity: the Swedish TIRA project

Objectives: To calculate total costs over 6 years after diagnosis of early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Method: In the longitudinal prospective multicentre TIRA study, 239 patients from seven units, diagnosed in 1996–98, reported regularly on health-care utilization and the number of days lost from work. Costs were obtained from official databases and calculated using unit costs (Swedish kronor, SEK) from 2001. Indirect costs were calculated using the human capital approach (HCA). Costs were inflation adjusted to Euro June 2012, using the Swedish Consumer Price Index and the exchange rate of June 2012. Statistical analyses were based on linear mixed models (LMMs) for changes over time. Results: The mean total cost per patient was EUR 14 768 in year 1, increasing to EUR 18 438 in year 6. Outpatient visits and hospitalization decreased but costs for surgery increased from EUR 92/patient in year 1 to EUR 444/patient in year 6. Drug costs increased from EUR 429/patient to EUR 2214/patient, mainly because of the introduction of biologics. In year 1, drugs made up for 10% of direct costs, and increased to 49% in year 6. Sick leave decreased during the first years but disability pensions increased, resulting in unchanged indirect costs. Over the following years, disability pensions increased further and indirect costs increased from EUR 10 284 in year 1 to EUR 13 874 in year 6. LMM analyses showed that indirect costs were unchanged whereas direct costs, after an initial fall, increased over the following years, leading to increasing total costs. Conclusions: In the 6 years after diagnosis of early RA, drug costs were partially offset by decreasing outpatient visits but indirect costs remained unchanged and total costs increased.
The early molecular natural history of experimental osteoarthritis. I. Progressive discoordinate expression of aggrecan and type II procollagen messenger RNA in the articular cartilage of adult animals.

OBJECTIVE To quantify changes in the chondrocyte metabolism of aggrecan core protein and type II procollagen messenger RNA (mRNA) during the early and middle phases of experimental osteoarthritis (OA) in animals. METHODS Experimental OA was induced by transecting the cranial cruciate ligament of the stifle joint in adult animals; articular cartilage was harvested and analyzed after 4, 10, and 32 weeks. RESULTS Northern blot analysis revealed no change in aggrecan mRNA 4 weeks after surgery compared with aggrecan mRNA in the unoperated contralateral control joints; aggrecan mRNA levels became significantly elevated by 10 and 32 weeks after surgery. In OA cartilage, type II procollagen mRNA was dramatically and progressively elevated at all times after surgery. The relative increases in type II procollagen mRNA exceeded the relative increases in aggrecan mRNA at all times after surgery, and these differences increased progressively over time. Articular chondrocytes became activated globally (total RNA increases) and specifically (mRNA increase) early after joint injury and remained activated throughout the early and middle phases of this experimental OA. CONCLUSION The early natural history of experimental OA is characterized by a progressive imbalance in the mRNA expression of aggrecan and type II procollagen in articular chondrocytes. These results suggest that the stimuli for the transcription of these 2 genes are fundamentally different in this animal model.
Computed tomography synthesis from magnetic resonance images in the pelvis using multiple random forests and auto-context features

In radiotherapy treatment planning that is only based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the electron density information usually obtained from computed tomography (CT) must be derived from the MRI by synthesizing a so-called pseudo CT (pCT). This is a non-trivial task since MRI intensities are neither uniquely nor quantitatively related to electron density. Typical approaches involve either a classification or regression model requiring specialized MRI sequences to solve intensity ambiguities, or an atlas-based model necessitating multiple registrations between atlases and subject scans. In this work, we explore a machine learning approach for creating a pCT of the pelvic region from conventional MRI sequences without using atlases. We use a random forest provided with information about local texture, edges and spatial features derived from the MRI. This helps to solve intensity ambiguities. Furthermore, we use the concept of auto-context by sequentially training a number of classification forests to create and improve context features, which are finally used to train a regression forest for pCT prediction. We evaluate the pCT quality in terms of the voxel-wise error and the radiologic accuracy as measured by water-equivalent path lengths. We compare the performance of our method against two baseline pCT strategies, which either set all MRI voxels in the subject equal to the CT value of water, or in addition transfer the bone volume from the real CT. We show an improved performance compared to both baseline pCTs suggesting that our method may be useful for MRI-only radiotherapy.
Using Crowdsourced Indoor Geodata for the Creation of a Three-Dimensional Indoor Routing Web Application

Routing services for outdoor areas are omnipresent and also three-dimensional (3D) visualization is quite common within this area. Recent research efforts are now trying to adapt well known outdoor routing services to complex indoor environments. However, most of the current indoor routing systems only focus on two-dimensional visualization, thus only one level can be depicted. Especially multi-level routes therefore lack visualization. Also, most of the (few) existing 3D indoor routing services utilize proprietary software or plugins, thus a widespread accessibility for those services by using common computers or mobile devices is not feasible. Therefore this paper describes the development of a web-based 3D routing system based on a new HTML extension. The visualization of rooms as well as the computed routes is realized with XML3D. Since this emerging technology is based on WebGL and will likely be integrated into the HTML5 standard, the developed system is already compatible with most common browsers such as Google Chrome or Firefox. Another key difference of the approach presented in this paper is that all utilized data is actually crowdsourced geodata from OpenStreetMap (OSM). Such data is collaboratively collected by both amateurs and professionals and can be used at no charge under the Open Data Commons Open Database License (ODbL). Our research combines user-generated geo content of the Web 2.0 with future Internet technology for the provision of a ubiquitously accessible 3D indoor routing application.
Software requirements as negotiated win conditions

Current processes and support systems for software requirements determination and analysis often neglect the critical needs of important classes of stakeholders, and limit themselves to the concerns of the developers, users and customers. These stakeholders can include maintainers, interfacers, testers, product line managers, and sometimes members of the general public. This paper describes the results to date in researching and prototyping a next-generation process model (NGPM) and support system (NGPSS) which directly addresses these issues. The NGPM emphasizes collaborative processes, involving all of the significant constituents with a stake in the software product. Its conceptual basis is a set of "theory W" (win-win) extensions to the spiral model of software development. <<ETX>>
Wnt Signalling Promotes Actin Dynamics during Axon Remodelling through the Actin-Binding Protein Eps8

Upon arrival at their synaptic targets, axons slow down their growth and extensively remodel before the assembly of presynaptic boutons. Wnt proteins are target-derived secreted factors that promote axonal remodelling and synaptic assembly. In the developing spinal cord, Wnts secreted by motor neurons promote axonal remodelling of NT-3 responsive dorsal root ganglia neurons. Axon remodelling induced by Wnts is characterised by growth cone pausing and enlargement, processes that depend on the re-organisation of microtubules. However, the contribution of the actin cytoskeleton has remained unexplored. Here, we demonstrate that Wnt3a regulates the actin cytoskeleton by rapidly inducing F-actin accumulation in growth cones from rodent DRG neurons through the scaffold protein Dishevelled-1 (Dvl1) and the serine-threonine kinase Gsk3β. Importantly, these changes in actin cytoskeleton occurs before enlargement of the growth cones is evident. Time-lapse imaging shows that Wnt3a increases lamellar protrusion and filopodia velocity. In addition, pharmacological inhibition of actin assembly demonstrates that Wnt3a increases actin dynamics. Through a yeast-two hybrid screen, we identified the actin-binding protein Eps8 as a direct interactor of Dvl1, a scaffold protein crucial for the Wnt signalling pathway. Gain of function of Eps8 mimics Wnt-mediated axon remodelling, whereas Eps8 silencing blocks the axon remodelling activity of Wnt3a. Importantly, blockade of the Dvl1-Eps8 interaction completely abolishes Wnt3a-mediated axonal remodelling. These findings demonstrate a novel role for Wnt-Dvl1 signalling through Eps8 in the regulation of axonal remodeling.
The Emergence of Visual Crowdsensing: Challenges and Opportunities

Visual crowdsensing (VCS), which leverages built-in cameras of smart devices to attain informative and comprehensive sensing of interesting targets, has become a predominant sensing paradigm of mobile crowdsensing (MCS). Compared to MCS tasks using other sensing modalities, VCS faces numerous unique issues, such as multi-dimensional coverage needs, data redundancy identification and elimination, low-cost transmission, as well as high data processing cost. This paper characterizes the concepts, unique features, and novel application areas of VCS, and investigates its challenges and key techniques. A generic framework for VCS systems is then presented, followed by discussions about the future directions of crowdsourced picture transmission and the experimental setup in VCS system evaluation.
Bmc Complementary and Alternative Medicine Antimicrobial and Toxicological Evaluation of the Leaves of Baissea Axillaries Hua Used in the Management of Hiv/aids Patients Tavs a Abere* †1 and Freddy O Agoreyo †2

Background: Persistent diarrhea is a common endemic disease with high incidence among the Africans including Nigerians. It also represents a frequent opportunistic disease in people living with HIV. Diarrhea represents one of the most distressful and persistent symptoms of HIV/AIDS, which may or may not be accompanied by an infection. The leaves decoction of Baissea axillaries Hua (Apocynaceae) is used by traditional herbalists in Edo state, Nigeria for the management of people living with HIV/AIDS. Determination of its antimicrobial activity and toxicological profile will provide supportive scientific evidence in favour of its continuous usage.
Ligand interactions with the solubilized porcine atrial muscarinic receptor.

Ligand interactions with porcine atrial muscarinic receptor solubilized in a mixed-detergent system (0.4% w/v digitonin and 0.08% w/v cholate) are described. The solubilized receptor interacts with ligands in a stereospecific manner, showing about the same affinity for local anesthetics and antagonists as was found for the membrane-bound protein [Schimerlik, M. I. , & Searles, R. P. (1980) Biochemistry 19, 3407-3413]. Agonists appear to interact with a single class of noninteracting sites that correspond to the low-affinity agonist sites in the membrane-bound preparation. Kinetic studies of L-[3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate binding to the receptor indicated a two-step mechanism. The first step, in rapid preequilibrium (K = 5.7 x 10(-9) M), was followed by a slow conformational change (k1 = 4 x 10(-3) s-1; k-1 = 1.7 x 10(-4) s-1) in the receptor-ligand complex. The overall dissociation constant calculated from the association kinetics (2.3 x 10(-10) M) agreed well with the thermodynamic value for Kov (2.5 x 10(-10) M); however, direct determination of K-1 gave a value about 4-fold lower (4.0 x 10(-5) s-1) than predicted. Possible reasons for this discrepancy are discussed.
Award Number: W81XWH-12-1-0284 TITLE: Development of Targeted Nanobubbles for Ultrasound Imaging and Ablation of Metastatic Prostate Cancer Lesions

Abstract : In this project, we developed the amphiphilic PEG-b-(PAA)-b-P(HDFMA-co-MMA) copolymers that can encapsulate PFP or PFH forming nanodroplets (200 nm). Combining these nanodroplets with histotripsy proved to generate a cavitation bubble cloud with similar behavior but lower pressure compared to histotrIpsy itself. We investigated physical mechanisms underlying the nanodroplet cavitation process with playing different transducer frequencies (0.345, 0.5, 1, 3 MHz), changing the core PFC (PFP: boiling point 29 C or PFH: boiling point 56 C)and as well as cavitation nucleation is caused by the negative pressure (p-) exposed to the PFC. Under the light of these findings we established nanodroplet mediated histotripsy cell cavitation on 3D prostate cancer spheroid models.
Learning Opportunities for Mass Collaboration Projects Through Learning Analytics: a Case Study

One way to improve the education of our students is to promote the creation of mass collaborative projects. These projects, also seen as learning products, would also help to better scale our learning experiences (massive open online courses) and generate collective value from the hours and cognitive efforts invested doing academic work. However, the complexities to assess those projects are challenging. This requires developing new monitoring and feedback systems for this kind of projects. This paper presents an exploratory analysis for applying learning analytics methodologies based on social networks analysis, factorial analysis, k-means clustering, and “naïve” Bayes algorithms.
Design Pattern Detection by Multilayer Neural Genetic Design Pattern Detection by Multilayer Neural Genetic Design Pattern Detection by Multilayer Neural Genetic Design Pattern Detection by Multilayer Neural Genetic Algorithm

Design Patterns are proven solution to common recurring design problems. Design Pattern Detection is most important activity that may support a lot to re-engineering process and thus gives significant information to the designer. Knowledge of design pattern exists in the system design improves the program understanding and software maintenance. Therefore, an automatic and reliable design pattern discovery is required. Graph theoretic approaches have been used for design pattern detection in past. Here we are applying recurrent neural network genetic algorithm for design pattern detection. The same algorithm we are here using for design pattern detection from the system design.
A System Architecture for Heterogeneous Moving-Object Trajectory Metamodel Using Generic Sensors: Tracking Airport Security Case Study

This paper proposes a system architecture and case study for a heterogeneous moving-object trajectory metamodel using generic sensors. In order to provide a unified metamodel and powerful framework for trajectory's services and queries, the proposed trajectory's data model has benefited from advantages of both conceptual and ontological space-time. However, it extends the basic data model of trajectory with new patterns as the space-time path to describe activities of the moving object and the composite region of interest. Additionally, the proposed system is distinguished by providing a framework for dealing with moving-object trajectory in an interoperable way, using heterogonous sensors that traditional data model incapable for this purpose. The proposed system architecture for the moving-object trajectory's data model is focused on service composability and data interoperability combining Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) standards, Service-Oriented Architecture, and streaming technology, to allow applications built using the framework to be scalable and have better performance. The case study presented for tracking travelers at the airport means that passenger locations can be determined with a higher degree of accuracy and precision. Indeed, this system makes it easy to answer complex queries, such as seeing closely where passengers congregate, how much time they spend in stores and restaurants, and where there may be bottlenecks. It will also enable airport retailers to communicate with travelers directly.
Optimal Revenue Sharing Contracts with Externalities and Dual Agency

A model of bilateral trade between an upstream supplier (landlord) and a downstream producer (retailer) is constructed, in which the upstream supplier confers long-term property usage rights to the downstream supplier in return for a base rental fee plus a percentage of verifiable sales production. Our model allows for the possibility that downstream sales production complements other activities of the upstream supplier to increase its total revenues. An optimal contract is designed that balances investment incentives of the downstream producer with initial investment and subsequent reinvestment incentives of the upstream supplier. A number of important stylized empirical facts associated with retail lease contracting are addressed with the model, including why: i) retail leases contain base rents and often (but not always) contain an overage rental feature, ii) stores that generate greater externalities pay lower base rents and have lower overage rent percentages than stores that generate fewer externalities, iii) the overage rent option is typically well out-of-the-money at contract execution, and iv) stand-alone retail operations often sign leases that contain an overage rental feature. Optimal Revenue Sharing Contracts with Externalities and Dual Agency
Epithelial and Mesenchymal Cell Biology ROCK Inhibitor and Feeder Cells Induce the Conditional Reprogramming of Epithelial Cells

Xuefeng Liu,* Virginie Ory, Sandra Chapman, Hang Yuan,* Chris Albanese,* Bhaskar Kallakury,* Olga A. Timofeeva, Caitlin Nealon,* Aleksandra Dakic,* Vera Simic,* Bassem R. Haddad, Johng S. Rhim, Anatoly Dritschilo, Anna Riegel, Alison McBride, and Richard Schlegel* From the Departments of Pathology* and Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical School, Washington, District of Columbia; the Laboratory of Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland; and the Department of Surgery, Center for Prostate Disease Research, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
The Social Evolution of Language, and the Language of Social Evolution

Recent years have witnessed an increased interest in the evolution of the human capacity for language. Such a project is necessarily interdisciplinary. However, that interdisciplinarity brings with it a risk: terms with a technical meaning in their own field are used wrongly or too loosely by those from other backgrounds. Unfortunately, this risk has been realized in the case of language evolution, where many of the terms of social evolution theory (reciprocal altruism, honest signaling, etc.) are incorrectly used in a way that suggests that certain key fundamentals have been misunderstood. In particular the distinction between proximate and ultimate explanations is often lost, with the result that several claims made by those interested in language evolution are epistemically incoherent. However, the correct application of social evolution theory provides simple, clear explanations of why language most likely evolved and how the signals used in language — words — remain cheap yet arbitrary.
Transactional and Relational Aspects of the Psychological Contracts of Temporary Workers

Contingent labour is an increasingly important part of the international and South African business environment. Several questions arise regarding the relationships between such workers and the client organisations that utilise their labour. Do contingent workers maintain transactional relationships only? Can loyalty and commitment be increased in such workers? Using the concept of the psychological contract, this article ascertains whether relationships with the client organisation vary for South African temporary workers of varying tenures. Employing a cross-sectional design, results for 174 temporary workers suggest that relationships with client organisations begin with largely transactional elements. Over time, the contract becomes significantly more relational, especially after the worker has been with the client organisation for six months or more. This relationship is affected by contract violation and organisational support.
Solution of n-Queen problem using ACO

In this paper, a solution is proposed for n-Queen problem based on ACO (Ant Colony Optimization). The n-Queen problem become intractable for large values of ‘n’ and thus placed in NP (Non-Deterministic Polynomial) class problem. The n-Queen problem is basically a generalized form of 8-Queen problem. In 8-Queen problem, the goal is to place 8 queens such that no queen can kill the other using standard chess queen moves. So, in this paper, the proposed solution will be applied to 8-Queen problem. The solution can very easily be extended to the generalized form of the problem for large values of ‘n’. The paper contains the detail discussion of problem background, problem complexity, Ant Colony Optimization (Swarm Intelligence) and a fair amount of experimental graphs.