Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Does the intravenous administration of frusemide reduce endolymphatic hydrops?

Abstract Objective: To verify the hypothesis that intravenous frusemide reduces endolymphatic hydrops, as evaluated by three-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging following intratympanic gadolinium administration. Methods: The study comprised 12 patients (7 females and 5 males, aged 19–74 years) with Ménière's disease. Disease duration ranged from 0.5 to 8 years, with a frequency of 0.5 to 6 vertigo spells per month, as calculated in the last 6 months. Three-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging was performed 24 hours after intratympanic injection of gadobutrol diluted eight-fold. Frusemide 20 mg was given intravenously immediately after imaging. Magnetic resonance imaging was repeated after 1 hour, using the same parameters and sequence. Results: All patients showed enhancement defects, indicating endolymphatic hydrops of variable degrees. No modifications occurred at the second magnetic resonance imaging performed 1 hour after frusemide administration. Conclusion: There was no evidence of endolymphatic hydrops modification 1 hour after intravenously administered frusemide. Therefore, loop diuretics in Ménière's disease, which are today used on an empirical basis, must be reconsidered. Implications of these outcomes are discussed and related to the role of endolymphatic hydrops in the development of Ménière's disease.
Mortality Density Forecasts: An Analysis of Six Stochastic Mortality Models

This paper develops a framework for developing forecasts of future mortality rates. We discuss the suitability of six stochastic mortality models for forecasting future mortality and estimating the density of mortality rates at different ages. In particular, the models are assessed individually with reference to the following qualitative criteria that focus on the plausibility of their forecasts: biological reasonableness; the plausibility of predicted levels of uncertainty in forecasts at different ages; and the robustness of the forecasts relative to the sample period used to fit the model. An important, though unsurprising, conclusion is that a good fit to historical data does not guarantee sensible forecasts. We also discuss the issue of model risk, common to many modelling situations in demography and elsewhere. We find that even for those models satisfying our qualitative criteria, there are significant differences among central forecasts of mortality rates at different ages and among the distributions surrounding those central forecasts.
Personal Meaning and the Transformation of a Mental Image

It is generally accepted that the reflection of reality in human consciousness is by no means an exact photographic reproduction of reality. "An image is the reflection of an object, and an object is reflected in an image in just the same guise as it exists in the real life relation between it and the subject" (Rubinshtein, 1957. P. 230). Thus, an element of personal, subjective partiality, the reflection of not only phenomena or objective relations themselves but also of their meaning for the person and their relation to his needs (Rubinshtein, 1959. P. 124; Leont'ev, 1977; Vilyunas, 1983; etc.), is necessarily present in a mental image. Personal meaning is also a component of individual consciousness; in it the partiality of that consciousness finds expression, a partiality conditioned by the link between that consciousness and the subject's need and motivational sphere and the reality of his life in the world (Leont'ev, 1977. Pp. 152-53). The objects and phenomena of reality are presented to us in dire.
Wireless and Sensor Networks Security ( WSNS ) : A

After three years of organizing the wireless and sensor network security (WSNS) workshop, it is time for some retrospection to the workshop objectives and the visible outcome. This review is focusing on the the quality and performance of the workshop. On the one hand, it represents a good source to recapitulate recent research topics related to security in wireless ad hoc and sensor networks. Additionally, it extrapolates future research directions that seem to be interesting and challenging for forthcoming research activities.
Cancer patients' perception of Breathing Technique for Pain Relief via cartoon animation

This study aimed to determine the degree of cancer patients' perception of Breathing Technique for Pain Relief (BTPR) via cartoon animation and to evaluate the relationship between demographic, socio-economic and communication factors such as age, education attachment, income level, stage of illness, pain level, media availability and exposure, localities and cosmopolites communication, were effected BTPR in terms of usefulness, comprehensibility, credibility and appropriateness. The study involved 36 cancer patients who were admitted to hospital for their chemotherapy treatment. The data were collected through questionnaires and the summarized scores of perception was high in terms of usefulness (3.82/5), comprehensibility (4.63/5), credibility (4.38/5) and appropriateness (4.56/5). The results of study indicated that education attachment, income level and pain level were positive relationship with perception of BTPR via cartoon animation. Interestingly, the communication of patients with the doctors had low positive relationship with the perception in comprehensibility aspect. This means that the BTPR via cartoon animation could be used as a primary tool to help patient practice to reduce their pain. In addition, income level, education attachment, pain level, and communication between doctors and patients were factors affected on the perception and comprehensibility to usefulness of patients.
Genomic and single‐step evaluations of carcass traits of young bulls in dual‐purpose cattle

Genetic evaluations for carcass traits of young bulls in Normande and Montbeliarde breeds are currently being developed in France. In order to determine a suitable genomic evaluation for three carcass traits of young bulls, genomic breeding values were estimated for young candidates to selection using different approaches. Records of 111,789 Normande and 118,183 Montbeliarde were used. Average progeny pre-adjusted performances (DYD) were calculated for sires. Evaluation approaches were compared based on an assessment of their accuracy (correlation between DYD and estimated breeding values [EBVs]) and bias (regression coefficient of DYD on EBVs) on the 20% youngest AI sires. All genomic approaches were generally more accurate than BLUP (+.045 to +.116 correlation points), except for age at slaughter where single-step GBLUP (SSGBLUP) was the only genomic method leading to a greater accuracy (+.038 to +.126 points). The best setting of the SSGBLUP relationship matrix was characterized by a weight of 30% for pedigree information in the genomic relationship matrix. SSGBLUP was the most valuable evaluation approach for the evaluation of carcass traits of Normande and Montbeliarde young bulls.
The Menlo Report: Ethical Principles Guiding Information and Communication Technology Research

This report proposes a framework for ethical guidelines for computer and information security research, based on the principles set forth in the 1979 Belmont Report, a seminal guide for ethical research in the biomedical and behavioral sciences. Despite its age, the Belmont Report’s insightful abstraction renders it a valuable cornerstone for other domains. We describe how the three principles in the Belmont report can be usefully applied in fields related to research about or involving information and communication technology.
Models of the Intracluster Medium with Heating and Cooling: Explaining the Global and Structural X-Ray Properties of Clusters

Nonradiative simulations that only include heating due to gravitational processes fail to match the observed mean X-ray properties of galaxy clusters. As a result, there has recently been increased interest in models in which either radiative cooling or entropy injection (and/or redistribution) plays a central role in mediating the thermal and spatial properties of the intracluster medium. Both sets of models can account for the mean global properties of clusters. Radiative cooling alone, however, results in fractions of cold/cooled baryons in excess of observationally established limits. On the other hand, the simplest entropy-injection models, by design, do not treat the "cooling core" structure present in many clusters and cannot account for declining entropy profiles toward cluster centers revealed by recent high-resolution X-ray observations. We consider models that marry radiative cooling with entropy injection, and confront model predictions for the global and structural properties of massive clusters with the latest X-ray data. The models successfully and simultaneously reproduce the observed luminosity-temperature (L-T) and luminosity-mass (L-M) relations, yield detailed entropy, surface brightness, and temperature profiles in excellent agreement with observations, and predict a cooled gas fraction that is consistent with observational constraints. More interestingly, the model provides a possible explanation for the significant intrinsic scatter present in the L-T and L-M relations. The model also offers a natural way of distinguishing between clusters classically identified as "cooling flow" clusters and the relaxed "non-cooling flow" clusters. The former correspond to systems that experienced only mild levels (≲300 keV cm2) of entropy injection, while the latter are identified as systems that had much higher entropy injection. The dividing line in entropy injection between the two categories corresponds roughly to the cooling threshold for massive clusters. This finding suggests that entropy injection may be an important, if not the primary, factor in determining the class a particular cluster will belong to. These results also suggest that the previously identified relationship between inferred cooling flow strength and the dispersion in the L-T relation is a manifestation of the distribution of cluster entropy-injection levels. This is borne out by the entropy profiles derived from Chandra and XMM-Newton. Finally, the model predicts a relationship between a cluster's central entropy and its core radius, the existence of which we confirm in the observational data.
Distributed and Adaptive Shared Control Systems: Methodology for the Replication of Experiments

Much work in robotics aimed at real-world applications falls in the large segment between teleoperated and fully autonomous systems. Such systems are characterized by the close coupling between the human operator and the robot, in principle, allowing the agents to share their particular sensing, adaptation, and decision-making capabilities. Replicable experiments can advance the state of the art of such systems but pose practical and epistemological challenges. For example, the trajectory of the system is governed by the adaptation both in the human and the robot agent. What do we need besides (or instead of) data sets for such a system? The degree of similarity between comparable experiments and the exact meaning of replication need to be clarified. Here, we explore replication of a distributed and adaptive shared control for an assistive robot manipulator. We attempt a methodological approach for reporting two virtual human experiments on the system: modeling the complete human-robot binomial, deriving closedloop performance metrics from the models, and openly publishing the results and experiment implementations.
Test on the Structure of Biological Sequences via Chaos Game Representation

In this paper biological sequences are modelled by stationary ergodic sequences. A new family of statistical tests to characterize the randomness of the inputs is proposed and analyzed. Tests for independence and for the determination of the appropriate order of a Markov chain are constructed with the Chaos Game Representation (CGR), and applied to several genomes.
Bevacizumab continuation versus no continuation after first-line chemotherapy plus bevacizumab in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: a randomized phase III non-inferiority trial (SAKK 41/06).

BACKGROUND Chemotherapy plus bevacizumab is a standard option for first-line treatment in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients. We assessed whether no continuation is non-inferior to continuation of bevacizumab after completing first-line chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS In an open-label, phase III multicentre trial, patients with mCRC without disease progression after 4-6 months of standard first-line chemotherapy plus bevacizumab were randomly assigned to continuing bevacizumab at a standard dose or no treatment. CT scans were done every 6 weeks until disease progression. The primary end point was time to progression (TTP). A non-inferiority limit for hazard ratio (HR) of 0.727 was chosen to detect a difference in TTP of 6 weeks or less, with a one-sided significance level of 10% and a statistical power of 85%. RESULTS The intention-to-treat population comprised 262 patients: median follow-up was 36.7 months. The median TTP was 4.1 [95% confidence interval (CI) 3.1-5.4] months for bevacizumab continuation versus 2.9 (95% CI 2.8-3.8) months for no continuation; HR 0.74 (95% CI 0.58-0.96). Non-inferiority could not be demonstrated. The median overall survival was 25.4 months for bevacizumab continuation versus 23.8 months (HR 0.83; 95% CI 0.63-1.1; P = 0.2) for no continuation. Severe adverse events were uncommon in the bevacizumab continuation arm. Costs for bevacizumab continuation were estimated to be ∼30,000 USD per patient. CONCLUSIONS Non-inferiority could not be demonstrated for treatment holidays versus continuing bevacizumab monotheray, after 4-6 months of standard first-line chemotherapy plus bevacizumab. Based on no impact on overall survival and increased treatment costs, bevacizumab as a single agent is of no meaningful therapeutic value. More efficient treatment approaches are needed to maintain control of stabilized disease following induction therapy. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00544700.
Processes Involving Perceived Instructional Support, Task Value, and Engagement in Graduate Education

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to investigate the relations among perceived instructional support (provision of relevance and involvement), subjective task value beliefs (utility, attainment, and intrinsic value), and engagement (behavioral and emotional) over the course of a semester for graduate students enrolled in an introductory research methods course in a college of education (N = 217). Structural equation modeling (SEM) results suggested that each source of perceived support exerted unique influence on students' beliefs about utility value, intrinsic value, and attainment value of their research methods coursework. In turn, midsemester value beliefs predicted semester-end student reports of behavioral and cognitive engagement. Direct and indirect effects between perceived provisions of support and engagement were inconsistent. This study supports the notion that different patterns of predictors and outcomes may occur for different aspects of value beliefs and that multiple sources of instructional support are important for supporting student motivation for adult learners.
Protein-Templated Assembly of CdS Nanowires on a Silicon Oxide Substrate

In this research, we report on the proteintemplated self-assembly of CdS nanowires on a silicon oxide substrate. The as-prepared CdS NWs were firstly dispersed in mixed solvent. Then, the two-dimensional micro patterned poly(oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate) (POEGMEMA) surfaces were fabricated via UV-irradiation through a photo mask contacting the Si/SiO2 substrate coated with POEGMEMA substrate. Protein patterns were prepared by immersing the chemical-patterned substrates in a solution of 50 lg/mL fibronectin in 10 mM (4-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine-1-ethanesulfonic acid, pH 7.4) (HEPES) buffer solution for 30 min, subsequently rinsing with HEPES solution and blowing dry with nitrogen. The Si/SiO2 substrate with protein patterns was immersed into the CdS NWs solution. Finally, the dispersed CdS nanowires could be aligned at the micro pattern of the protein as a result of the electrostatic force. The use of the pattern protein as a template for the self-assembly of CdS semiconductor nanowires represents a potentially important approach to the fabrication of nanoscale devices.
Neurobiological Poverty Traps

Poverty remains one of the most pressing problems facing the world. In this paper, I review evidence suggesting that poverty has particular neurobiological consequences, and that these consequences in turn lead to suboptimal economic behaviors which exacerbate and perpetuate poverty. Speci cally, I argue that poverty raises levels of the stress hormone cortisol, causes dysregulation and altered gene-environment interactions in serotonergic neurotransmission, and leads to increased levels of testosterone. These neurobiological e ects impair executive function and exacerbate behavioral biases in economic choice, and thus contribute to the perpetuation of poverty. JEL Classi cation: D03, D87, I30, O12 ∗Institute for Empirical Economics, University of Zurich, Switzerland. E-Mail: haushofer@post.harvard. edu
3D Shape Description and Matching Based on Properties of Real Functions

This tutorial covers a variety of methods for 3D shape matching and retrieval that are characterized by the use of a real-valued function defined on the shape (mapping function) to derive its signature. The methods are discussed following an abstract conceptual framework that distinguishes among the three main components of these class of shape matching methods: shape analysis, via the application of the mapping function, shape description, via the construction of a signature, and comparison, via the definition of a distance measure. Goal of the tutorial is to facilitate the understanding of the performance of the various methods by a methodical analysis of the properties of various methods at the three different stages.
Statistics and data mining techniques for lifetime value modeling

Customer lifetime value (LTV)-which is a measure of the profit generating potential, or value, of a customer-is increasingly being considered a touchstone for customer relationship management. The central challenge in predicting LTV is the production of estimated customer tenures with a given service supplier, based on information contained in company databases. Classical survival analysis techniques like proportional hazards regression focus on covariate effects frequently presumed to be linear, and examination of age-wise effects can be difficult. Further, segments of customers, whose lifetimes and covariate effects can vary widely, are not necessarily easy to detect. A new neural network model for hazard prediction is used to free proportional hazards-like models from their linearity and proportionality constraints, and clustering tools are applied to identify segments of customer hazard patterns. Using the proportional hazards and neural network models in tandem, we demonstrate how data mining tools can be apt complements of the classical statistical models, and show that their combined usage overcomes many of the shortcomings of each separate tool setresulting in a LTV tenure prediction model that is both accurate and understandable.
A Prospective Study of Relative Telomere Length and Postmenopausal Breast Cancer Risk

During breast cancer progression, a substantial increase in chromosomal aberrations is observed in the transition from ductal hyperplasia to carcinoma in situ. Telomeres are essential structures to chromosomal integrity. Consequently, telomere dysfunction, which leads to genomic instability, is hypothesized to play a causal role in the progression of breast cancer. However, the few epidemiologic studies that have assessed the relationship between telomere length and breast cancer risk have been inconsistent. We used quantitative real-time PCR to measure relative telomere length in genomic DNA extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes and examined its association with postmenopausal breast cancer risk in 1,122 invasive breast cancer cases and 1,147 matched controls free of diagnosed cancer nested within the prospective Nurses' Health Study. Our data show that relative telomere length was not associated with a significant elevation in postmenopausal breast cancer risk [below versus above median; odds ratio, 1.23; 95% confidence interval, 0.94-1.60; Ptrend = 0.20]. Estrone and estradiol hormone levels were significantly inversely associated with relative telomere length (P = 0.02). Other established breast cancer risk factors such as family history of breast cancer and history of benign breast disease were not associated with relative telomere length in separate linear regression models each adjusted for age and disease status (P ≥ 0.07). Our results provide little support for an important role of telomere length, as measured in peripheral blood leukocytes, as a biomarker of breast cancer risk. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2009;18(4):1152–6)
QoE-Driven Channel Allocation and Handoff Management for Seamless Multimedia in Cognitive 5G Cellular Networks

Cognitive radio (CR) is among the promising solutions for overcoming the spectrum scarcity problem in the forthcoming fifth-generation (5G) cellular networks, whereas mobile stations are expected to support multimode operations to maintain connectivity to various radio access points. However, particularly for multimedia services, because of the time-varying channel capacity, the random arrivals of legacy users, and the on-negligible delay caused by spectrum handoff, it is challenging to achieve seamless streaming leading to minimum quality of experience (QoE) degradation. The objective of this paper is to manage spectrum handoff delays by allocating channels based on the user QoE expectations, minimizing the latency, providing seamless multimedia service, and improving QoE. First, to minimize the handoff delays, we use channel usage statistical information to compute the channel quality. Based on this, the cognitive base station maintains a ranking index of the available channels to facilitate the cognitive mobile stations. Second, to enhance channel utilization, we develop a priority-based channel allocation scheme to assign channels to the mobile stations based on their QoE requirements. Third, to minimize handoff delays, we employ the hidden markov model (HMM) to predict the state of the future time slot. However, due to sensing errors, the scheme proactively performs spectrum sensing and reactively acts handoffs. Fourth, we propose a handoff management technique to overcome the interruptions caused by the handoff. In such a way that, when a handoff is predicted, we use scalable video coding to extract the base layer and transmit it during a certain interval time before handoff occurrence to be shown during handoff delays, hence providing seamless service. Our simulation results highlight the performance gain of the proposed framework in terms of channel utilization and received video quality.
Practical technique for knowledge acquisition &dissemination in mobile environment

KM system (KMS) supports, creates, captures, stores and disseminates expertise and knowledge. The idea of mobile KMS is to ensure that the right information is delivered to the right person just in the right time using mobile devices.However, locally, we are not quite familiar with the term mobile KMS(mKM system)since it is still a new area that are still evolving.In this paper, we will share techniques that we are going to use in building our own mKM system with the hope that it can helps other organizations that wants to develop their own mKM system.