Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Occipital Lobe Injury and Cortical Visual Outcomes After Neonatal Hypoglycemia

OBJECTIVES. Hypoglycemia is a significant problem in neonates, and a pattern of parietooccipital diffusion restriction on MRI scans has been reported. The purpose of this study was to determine whether hypoglycemic injury, as indicated by diffusion restriction in the occipital lobes, correlated with visual evoked potentials and long-term cortical visual dysfunction. METHODS. A cohort of 45 neonates from 2000–2005 with diffusion-weighted MRI studies after hypoglycemia was studied retrospectively. Perinatal history and follow-up data were analyzed, and results were correlated with diffusion-weighted imaging findings.The presence of occipital diffusion restriction was assessed qualitatively, and the mean apparent diffusion coefficients of mesial occipital lobes were calculated. RESULTS. Among 25 patients who underwent diffusion-weighted imaging within 6 days after the onset of hypoglycemia, restricted diffusion in the occipital lobes was found in 8 (50%) of 16 term infants but not in preterm infants. For the remaining 20 patients, who had diffusion-weighted imaging performed >6 days after the initial onset of hypoglycemia, occipital diffusion restriction was not seen, even if hypoglycemia was ongoing. Restricted diffusion was associated with abnormal visual evoked potentials detected within 1 week after birth. Cortical visual deficits were seen in a significant proportion of patients with recurrent hypoglycemia and were correlated significantly with low mesial occipital apparent diffusion coefficient values. CONCLUSIONS. Diffusion-weighted imaging studies performed within 6 days after initial hypoglycemia were sensitive in term but not preterm neonates. Diffusion restriction, with low apparent diffusion coefficient values, in the mesial occipital poles may indicate the prognosis for visual outcomes in acute settings after neonatal hypoglycemia.
Ultrahigh-Resolution Panoramic Imaging for Format-Agnostic Video Production

It is widely accepted that the emerging concept of immersive media is one of the key technologies for future entertainment. One feature of immersive media is to use large panoramic screens with ultrahigh resolution. This technology requires a completely new production grammar that is not necessarily compatible with conventional production formats. Against this background the paper describes a new approach called format-agnostic production that bridges the gap between different target formats and applications. It does not use fixed numbers of frames, lines and pixels, or even geometry. The philosophy is to merge video signals from different camera sensors with different spatio-temporal resolutions and dynamic ranges to a wide-angle panoramic view of the scene. Hence, to support a wide range of applications from mobile devices to immersive media, any desired shot framing and resolution can be obtained by scanning, panning, or zooming. Apart from a general description of the concept and the system architecture, the paper will mainly focus on technical details of ultrahigh-resolution panoramic imaging which plays a central role in the concept of format-agnostic production.
Liposome‐enhanced MRI of neointimal lesions in the ApoE‐KO mouse

Conventional high‐resolution MRI is capable of detecting lipid‐rich atherosclerotic plaques in both human atherosclerosis and animal models of atherosclerosis. In this study we induced neointimal lesions in ApoE‐KO mice by placing a constrictive collar around the right carotid artery. The model was imaged with conventional multispectral MRI, and the thickened wall could not be distinguished from surrounding tissue. We then tested paramagnetic liposomes (mean size = 90 nm) for their ability to improve MRI visualization of induced thickening, using Gd‐DTPA as a control. T1‐weighted (T1‐w), black‐blood MRI of the neck area of the mice was performed before and 15 min, 45 min, and 24 hr after intravenous injection of either paramagnetic liposomes or Gd‐DTPA. The collared vessel wall of mice that were injected with liposomes showed a pronounced signal enhancement of ∼100% immediately after injection, which was sustained largely until 24 hr postinjection. In contrast, the vessel wall of all controls (left carotid artery and animals injected with Gd‐DTPA) did not show significant contrast enhancement at those time points. This study demonstrates that intimal thickening in ApoE‐KO mice can be effectively detected by contrast‐enhanced (CE)‐MRI upon injection of paramagnetic liposomes. Magn Reson Med, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A new framework for uncertainty sampling: exploiting uncertain and positive-certain examples in similarity-based text classification

One of the major concerns with supervised learning approaches to text classification is that they require a large number of labeled examples to achieve a high level of effectiveness. Labeling such a large number of examples poses a considerable burden on human experts. Two common approaches to reduce the amount of labeled examples required are: (1) selecting informative uncertain examples for human-labeling and (2) using many inexpensive unlabeled data with a small number of labeled examples. While previous work in text classification focused only on one approach, we investigate a framework to combine both approaches in similarity-based text classification. By applying our new thresholding strategy (RinSCut) to uncertainty sampling, we propose a new framework which automatically selects informative uncertain data that should be presented to human expert for labeling and positive-certain data that are directly used for learning without human-labeling. With our similarity-based learning algorithm (KAN), experiments have been conducted on Reuters-21578 data set. Our proposed scheme has been compared with random sampling and previous conventional uncertainly sampling, based on micro and macroaveraged F/sub 1/. The results showed that if both macro and microaveraged measures are concerned, the optimal choice might be our framework.
Exaggerated blood pressure responses during mental stress are associated with enhanced carotid atherosclerosis in middle-aged Finnish men: findings from the Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease Study.

BACKGROUND Exaggerated cardiovascular reactivity to mental stress is hypothesized to increase atherosclerotic risk. We examined this hypothesis using cross-sectional data from the Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease study, a population-based epidemiological sample. METHODS AND RESULTS 901 Eastern Finnish men from four age cohorts (age, 42 to 60 years) were administered a standardized testing battery to assess cardiovascular reactivity to mental stress. Ultrasound measures of intima-medial thickness (IMT) and plaque height from the common carotid arteries were used as noninvasive markers of atherosclerosis. Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) responses to mental stress were significantly associated with mean IMT (b=.021, P=.006), maximum IMT (b=.026, P=.013), and mean plaque height (b=.017, P=.041). Significant associations were also shown between stress-related systolic blood pressure (SBP) reactivity and mean IMT (b=.0151, P=.042). When examined separately by age, associations with IMT were significant only in the youngest half of the sample (age, 46 and 52 years, n=433; for mean IMT, DBP b=.033, P=.0002, SBP b=.0266, P=.003; for maximum IMT, DBP b=.039, P=.002, SBP b=.032, P=.011). Results remained significant in the younger subjects after adjustment for smoking, lipid profiles, fasting glucose, and resting blood pressure (b=.024, P=.011); results also remained significant in a subgroup of unmedicated younger subjects without symptomatic cardiovascular disease (n=135; for SBP reactivity, b=.031, P=.036; for DBP, b=.037, P=.007). CONCLUSIONS The tendency to show exaggerated pressor responses to mental stress is a significant independent correlate of atherosclerosis in this population sample of Finnish men. The effect does not appear to be accounted for by the confounding influence of other risk factors or preexisting clinical disease.
Improved Deterministic Algorithms for Linear Programming in Low Dimensions

Chazelle and Matoušek [J. Algorithms, 1996] presented a derandomization of Clarkson’s sampling-based algorithm [J. ACM, 1995] for solving linear programs with n constraints and d variables in d(7+o(1))dn deterministic time. The time bound can be improved to d(5+o(1))dn with subsequent work by Brönnimann, Chazelle, and Matoušek [SIAM J. Comput. , 1999]. We first point out a much simpler derandomization of Clarkson’s algorithm that avoids ε-approximations and runs in d(3+o(1))dn time. We then describe a few additional ideas that eventually improve the deterministic time bound to d(1/2+o(1))dn.
Limited indirect fitness benefits of male group membership in a lekking species

In group living species, individuals may gain the indirect fitness benefits characterizing kin selection when groups contain close relatives. However, tests of kin selection have primarily focused on cooperatively breeding and eusocial species, whereas its importance in other forms of group living remains to be fully understood. Lekking is a form of grouping where males display on small aggregated territories, which females then visit to mate. As females prefer larger aggregations, territorial males might gain indirect fitness benefits if their presence increases the fitness of close relatives. Previous studies have tested specific predictions of kin selection models using measures such as group‐level relatedness. However, a full understanding of the contribution of kin selection in the evolution of group living requires estimating individuals' indirect fitness benefits across multiple sites and years. Using behavioural and genetic data from the black grouse (Tetrao tetrix), we show that the indirect fitness benefits of group membership were very small because newcomers joined leks containing few close relatives who had limited mating success. Males' indirect fitness benefits were higher in yearlings during increasing population density but marginally changed the variation in male mating success. Kin selection acting through increasing group size is therefore unlikely to contribute substantially to the evolution and maintenance of lekking in this black grouse population.
Accumulation of cholesterol and increased demand for zinc in serum-deprived RPE cells

Purpose Having observed that confluent ARPE-19 cells (derived from human RPE) survive well in high-glucose serum-free medium (SFM) without further feeding for several days, we investigated the expression profile of RPE cells under the same conditions. Methods Expression profiles were examined with microarray and quantitative PCR (qPCR) analyses, followed by western blot analysis of key regulated proteins. The effects of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and zinc supplementation were examined with qPCR. Immunofluorescence was used to localize the LDL receptor and to examine LDL uptake. Cellular cholesterol levels were measured with filipin binding. Expression patterns in primary fetal RPE cells were compared using qPCR. Results Microarray analyses of gene expression in ARPE-19, confirmed with qPCR, showed upregulation of lipid and cholesterol biosynthesis pathways in SFM. At the protein level, the cholesterol synthesis control factor SRBEF2 was activated, and other key lipid synthesis proteins increased. Supplementation of SFM with LDL reversed the upregulation of lipid and cholesterol synthesis genes, but not of cholesterol transport genes. The LDL receptor relocated to the plasma membrane, and LDL uptake was activated by day 5–7 in SFM, suggesting increased demand for cholesterol. Confluent ARPE-19 cells in SFM accumulated intracellular cholesterol, compared with cells supplemented with serum, over 7 days. Over the same time course in SFM, the expression of metallothioneins decreased while the major zinc transporter was upregulated, consistent with a parallel increase in demand for zinc. Supplementation with zinc reversed expression changes for metallothionein genes, but not for other zinc-related genes. Similar patterns of regulation were also seen in primary fetal human RPE cells in SFM. Conclusions ARPE-19 cells respond to serum deprivation and starvation with upregulation of the lipid and cholesterol pathways, accumulation of intracellular cholesterol, and increased demand for zinc. Similar trends are seen in primary fetal RPE cells. Cholesterol accumulation basal to RPE is a prominent feature of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), while dietary zinc is protective. It is conceivable that accumulating defects in Bruch’s membrane and dysfunction of the choriocapillaris could impede transport between RPE and vasculature in AMD. Thus, this pattern of response to serum deprivation in RPE-derived cells may have relevance for some aspects of the progression of AMD.
Drivers of the expectation of remaining in the same job until retirement age: A working life span demands-resources model

Many countries in Europe seek to increase labour force participation of older people. Previous literature regarding this issue has mainly focused on the last career stage to identify motivational forces affecting the retirement process. We propose that interventions to extend working life need to consider also young employees in order to be effective. We introduce a new construct, Expectation of Remaining in the Same Job until Retirement age (ERSJR), that is relevant for all age groups. Moreover, we suggest a Working Life Span Demands–Resources model to investigate the impact of perceived job demands and resources, as well as individual health on ERSJR. Our study is based on representative data from the German working population (N = 1586). Applying moderated multiple regression analysis we found that ERSJR is negatively related to job demands and positively to job resources and health. Resources and health interact with job demands. Analysing the model separately for different age and employment status groups we found that young blue-collar employees’ expectation mainly depends on the job demands, whereas young white-collar employees only take the perceived job resources into account. Older blue-collar employees merely base their expectation on their health, whereas older white-collar employees are influenced by all three determinants. Therefore, interventions that seek to strengthen the expectation of remaining in the actual job until retirement should differentiate between blue-collar and white-collar jobs and provide different job conditions along the working life span.
Voluntary brain processing in disorders of consciousness

Background: Disentangling the vegetative state from the minimally conscious state is often difficult when relying only on behavioral observation. In this study, we explored a new active evoked-related potentials paradigm as an alternative method for the detection of voluntary brain activity. Methods: The participants were 22 right-handed patients (10 traumatic) diagnosed as being in a vegetative state (VS) (n = 8) or in a minimally conscious state (MCS) (n = 14). They were presented sequences of names containing the patient’s own name or other names, in both passive and active conditions. In the active condition, the patients were instructed to count her or his own name or to count another target name. Results: Like controls, MCS patients presented a larger P3 to the patient’s own name, in the passive and in the active conditions. Moreover, the P3 to target stimuli was higher in the active than in the passive condition, suggesting voluntary compliance to task instructions like controls. These responses were even observed in patients with low behavioral responses (e.g., visual fixation and pursuit). In contrast, no P3 differences between passive and active conditions were observed for VS patients. Conclusions: The present results suggest that active evoked-related potentials paradigms may permit detection of voluntary brain function in patients with severe brain damage who present with a disorder of consciousness, even when the patient may present with very limited to questionably any signs of awareness.
Compact Deep UV System at 222.5 nm Based on Frequency Doubling of GaN Laser Diode Emission

Laser light sources emitting in the deep ultraviolet wavelength range between 210 and 230 nm are of great interest for spectroscopic applications. Here, a compact DUV diode laser system emitting at a wavelength of 222.5 nm is presented. The system is based on frequency doubling of the laser radiation from a micro-integrated GaN external cavity diode laser module (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mu $ </tex-math></inline-formula>ECDL) emitting at 445 nm. The <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mu $ </tex-math></inline-formula>ECDL has an optical pump power of 1.4 W with an emission bandwidth of 35 pm. Narrowband laser radiation in continouos wave operation with an output power of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$160~\mu \text{W}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> at 222.5 nm is generated in a single-pass frequency doubling stage with a <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\beta $ </tex-math></inline-formula>-BaB<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> crystal. The results are suitable to address applications such as spectroscopic investigations of biological samples. The presented concept of a compact and efficient deep ultraviolet laser light source enables the realization of portable systems for which a small footprint and a low power consumption is essential.
Revisiting bug triage and resolution practices

Bug triaging is an error-prone, tedious and time-consuming task. However, little qualitative research has been done on the actual use of bug tracking systems, bug triage, and resolution processes. We are planning to conduct a qualitative study to understand the dynamics of bug triage and fixing process, as well as bug reassignments and reopens. We will study interviews conducted with Mozilla Core and Firefox developers to get insights into the primary obstacles developers face during the bug fixing process. Is the triage process flawed? Does bug review slow things down? Does approval takes too long? We will also categorize the main reasons for bug reassignments and reopens. We will then combine results with a quantitative study of Firefox bug reports, focusing on factors related to bug report edits and number of people involved in handling the bug.
Anxiété, dépression et investissement émotionnel de l'enfant pendant la grossesse

Dans le but d’etudier l’anxiete, la depression et l’investissement emotionnel prenatal de l’enfant, 87 femmes primipares ont rempli, pendant le troisieme trimestre de grossesse, la version portugaise de l’Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, du State-Trait Anxiety Inventory et du New Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale. Des niveaux eleves de symptomatologie anxieuse et depressive ainsi que d’investissement emotionnel du bebe ont ete remarques. L’anxiete semble activer les emotions negatives de la mere sur le bebe, mais ce sont surtout les symptomes depressifs qui sont responsables de la presence d’emotions not clear et d’un attachement plus pauvre au bebe.
Women, work, and family in the Czech Republic—and comparisons with the West

Abstract What are the work-family experiences of Czech women, and to what extent are there similarities and differences with women in the West? Drawing on a cross-national survey and other findings, this paper points out that unlike the extensive part-time employment of many Western European women, most Czech women in the post-Communist era have continued to combine full-time employment with family roles. Maternity and parental leaves, kindergartens, and other policies have been important supports. It is argued that employment and economic independence remain important to Czech women, and although gender differentiation in women's domestic activities and men's preponderance in upper-level jobs in the economy and government is recognized, Western attributions of patriarchy have been resisted. Since family life is highly valued, many have seen women as advantaged in their greater family involvement and integration of both family and employment roles. Rather than opposition between men and women, Czechs gene.
Social networking and Web 2.0 in information literacy

This paper discusses free online and Internet tools that can be adapted by librarians for use with library instruction and information literacy training, with a focus on social media and Web 2.0 technologies, including social networking websites Facebook and Twitter, blogs, RSS, wikis, and video sharing. Many students already use these technologies and are readily engaged with the library when the technologies are incorporated into library websites and classes. There are challenges in using these technologies, especially in countries with oppressive governments. This paper is based, in part, on a presentation the authors gave at the UNESCO Training the Trainers in Information Literacy Workshop at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Alexandria, Egypt in November 2008.
Highly Virulent Non-O157 Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) Serotypes Reflect Similar Phylogenetic Lineages, Providing New Insights into the Evolution of EHEC

ABSTRACT Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) is the causative agent of bloody diarrhea and extraintestinal sequelae in humans, most importantly hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Besides the bacteriophage-encoded Shiga toxin gene (stx), EHEC harbors the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE), which confers the ability to cause attaching and effacing lesions. Currently, the vast majority of EHEC infections are caused by strains belonging to five O serogroups (the “big five”), which, in addition to O157, the most important, comprise O26, O103, O111, and O145. We hypothesize that these four non-O157 EHEC serotypes differ in their phylogenies. To test this hypothesis, we used multilocus sequence typing (MLST) to analyze a large collection of 250 isolates of these four O serogroups, which were isolated from diseased as well as healthy humans and cattle between 1952 and 2009. The majority of the EHEC isolates of O serogroups O26 and O111 clustered into one sequence type complex, STC29. Isolates of O103 clustered mainly in STC20, and most isolates of O145 were found within STC32. In addition to these EHEC strains, STC29 also included stx-negative E. coli strains, termed atypical enteropathogenic E. coli (aEPEC), yet another intestinal pathogenic E. coli group. The finding that aEPEC and EHEC isolates of non-O157 O serogroups share the same phylogeny suggests an ongoing microevolutionary scenario in which the phage-encoded Shiga toxin gene stx is transferred between aEPEC and EHEC. As a consequence, aEPEC strains of STC29 can be regarded as post- or pre-EHEC isolates. Therefore, STC29 incorporates phylogenetic information useful for unraveling the evolution of EHEC.