Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Combining Acute Diffusion-Weighted Imaging and Mean Transmit Time Lesion Volumes With National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale Score Improves the Prediction of Acute Stroke Outcome

Background and Purpose— The purpose of this study was to determine whether acute diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and mean transit time (MTT) lesion volumes and presenting National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) can identify patients with acute ischemic stroke who will have a high probability of good and poor outcomes. Methods— Fifty-four patients with acute ischemic stroke who had MRI within 9 hours of symptom onset and 3-month follow-up with modified Rankin scale were evaluated. Acute DWI and MTT lesion volumes and baseline NIHSS scores were calculated. Clinical outcomes were considered good if the modified Rankin Scale was 0 to 2. Results— The 33 of 54 (61%) patients with good outcomes had significantly smaller DWI lesion volumes (P=0.0001), smaller MTT lesion volumes (P<0.0001), and lower NIHSS scores (P<0.0001) compared with those with poor outcomes. Receiver operating characteristic curves for DWI, MTT, and NIHSS relative to poor outcome had areas under the curve of 0.889, 0.854, and 0.930, respectively, which were not significantly different. DWI and MTT lesion volumes predicted outcome better than mismatch volume or percentage mismatch. All patients with a DWI volume >72 mL (13 of 54) and an NIHSS score >20 (6 of 54) had poor outcomes. All patients with an MTT volume of <47 mL (16 of 54) and an NIHSS score <8 (17 of 54) had good outcomes. Combining clinical and imaging thresholds improved prognostic yield (70%) over clinical (43%) or imaging (54%) thresholds alone (P=0.01). Conclusions— Combining quantitative DWI and MTT with NIHSS predicts good and poor outcomes with high probability and is superior to NIHSS alone.
A Comparison Study of the Ohio Proficiency Test Results between Fourth-Grade String Pullout Students and Those of Matched Ability

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a pullout string program on student achievement in the writing, reading, mathematics, and citizenship sections of the Ohio Proficiency Test. One hundred forty-eight fourth-grade string students and 148 fourth-grade nonstring students from a southwestern Ohio city school district were ability-matched according to their performance on the verbal section of the Cognitive Abilities Test. The scores of the Ohio Proficiency Test were then recorded and compared. This study involved a two-group static-group comparison design. A two-sample independent t-test analysis was used to determine if there was a significant difference between the achievement scores of the string students who were excused from class twice a week for 30 minutes and the matched group of nonstring students who remained in class. It was hypothesized that there would be no significant difference between the two matched groups. The results revealed a significant difference in favor of the string students' achievement in reading and citizenship, with no significant difference between the two matched groups in the writing and mathematics sections of the Ohio Proficiency Test.
Correction of pincer nail deformity with phenol

Abstract From 2006 to 2009 we treated nine cases (11 toes) with pincer nail deformity of the first toe, using phenol. There were 8 women and 1 man, age range 9–81 years (mean 51). They were followed up for 7–17 months (mean 12) and all reported improvement of the pincer nail deformity and disappearance of pain from the first toes. Only one woman complained of a recurrent pincer nail deformity eight months after the first treatment, and the procedure was repeated. The mechanism of improvement is contraction of the phenolised wound away from the lateral nail fold, which gradually stretches and flattens the nail bed. We conclude that this technique is a simple and effective treatment for pincer nail deformity.
TCP-friendly many-to-many end-to-end congestion control

The paper addresses the issue of TCP-friendly congestion control mechanism for many-to-many communication environment. Lack of congestion control inhibits deployment of WAN applications that involve collaboration of groups of processes in the Internet environment. Recent efforts targeted unicast WAN congestion control (TFRC). We extend that approach to multicast many-to-many applications that operate using a middleware framework. Our congestion control mechanism was implemented within a group communication middleware and tested in a multi-continent environment. The measurements have proved the proposed approach to be robust, efficient and TCP-friendly, as well as to provide fairness among processes that compete for shared resources.
Risk of Selected Cardiovascular Toxicities in Patients With Cancer Treated With MEK Inhibitors: A Comparative Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Purpose We conducted a literature-based meta-analysis of the risk of cardiovascular toxicities associated with MEK inhibitors. Methods Eligible trials included randomized phase II and III trials of patients with cancer who were given a mitogen activated protein (MAP)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) kinase (MEK) inhibitor (trametinib, selumetinib, or cobimetinib) and that described events of hypertension and decreased ejection fraction. Results Our search strategy yielded 300 potentially relevant citations from PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. After ineligible studies were excluded, a total of 10 clinical trials were considered eligible for the meta-analysis. The relative risk for all grades of hypertension was 1.54 (95% CI, 1.02 to 2.32; P = .05), 1.85 (95% CI, 1.01 to 3.40; P = .05) for high-grade hypertension, and 4.92 (95% CI, 2.93 to 8.25; P < .001) for decreased ejection fraction. Subgroup analysis revealed no difference between trametinib and selumetinib for risk of hypertension. Conclusion Our meta-analysis demonstrated that MEK inhibitor–based treatment is associated with an increased risk of all-grade and high-grade hypertension and asymptomatic decrease in ejection fraction. Clinicians should be aware of this risk and perform regular assessment.
Glucocorticoid receptors and regulation of phenylethanolamine-N- methyltransferase activity in cultured chromaffin cells

Glucocorticoids are known to regulate the enzyme phenylethanolamine-N- methyltransferase (PNMT) in the adrenal medulla of the rat and are thereby thought to control the synthesis of epinephrine. We have examined the details of this relationship in a simplified system, chromaffin cell primary cultures derived from bovine adrenal medulla. Cultured chromaffin cells were found to have a cytosolic, high affinity, saturable glucocorticoid-binding protein with the steroid specificity of a classical glucocorticoid receptor and a Kd of approximately 1 nM. Treatment of cultured cells with dexamethasone or hydrocortisone at any time up to 21 days in culture increased PNMT activity in the soluble fraction of the cell. The concentration of hormone required to produce a half-maximal response was 10 nM dexamethasone when cells were cultured in the presence of 5% fetal calf serum, or 1 nM in a defined serum-free medium. These dose-response relationships are consistent with mediation of this effect by the glucocorticoid receptor. Unexpectedly, however, the glucocorticoid- induced increment in PNMT activity was not inhibited by cycloheximide at concentrations up to 50 microM, and an acceleration of protein synthesis by insulin treatment did not augment the glucocorticoid effect on PNMT. Treatment of the cells with dexamethasone (100 microM) prevented the decline in the epinephrine-to-norepinephrine ratio seen over time in culture, an effect consistent with increased PNMT activity. However, there was no effect of dexamethasone on the ability of the cells to secrete catecholamines in response to stimulation with high KCl or 30 microM nicotine.
The role of selected family environment factors in children's post-divorce adjustment.

This article reports findings of the NASP-KSU nationwide study of the impact of divorce on children. Results are based on a multifactored assessment of children's adjustment using a number of social, academic, and health criteria. The role of selected family environment factors in facilitating children's post-divorce adjustment is examined, utilizing the nationwide sample of 341 divorced family children. Concurrent and longitudinal predictions of children's adjustment from selected home environment factors provide valuable information for professionals working with divorced families. The significance of family interpersonal relationships, childrearing styles, parental satisfaction, and home routines for facilitating children's post-divorce adjustment is discussed.
Microtubule patterning during meiotic maturation in mouse oocytes is determined by cell cycle-specific sorting and redistribution of gamma-tubulin.

The topography of microtubule assembly events during meiotic maturation of animal oocytes demands tight spatial control and temporal precision. To better understand what regulates the timing and location of microtubule assembly, synchronously maturing mouse oocytes were evaluated with respect to gamma-tubulin, pericentrin, and total tubulin polymer fractions at specific stages of meiotic progression. gamma-Tubulin remained associated with cytoplasmic centrosomes through diakinesis of meiosis-1. Following chromatin condensation and perinuclear centrosome aggregation, gamma-tubulin relocated to a nuclear lamina-bounded compartment in which meiosis-1 spindle assembly occurred. gamma-Tubulin was stably associated with the meiotic spindle from prometaphase-1 through to anaphase-2, but also exhibited cell cycle-specific relocalization to cytoplasmic centrosomes. Specifically, anaphase onset of both meiosis-1 and -2 was characterized by the concomitant appearance of gamma-tubulin and microtubule nucleation in subcortical centrosomes. Brief pulses of taxol applied at specific cell cycle stages enhanced detection of gamma-tubulin compartmentalization, consistent with a gamma-tubulin localization-dependent spatial restriction of microtubule assembly during meiotic progression. In addition, a taxol pulse during meiotic resumption impaired subsequent gamma-tubulin sorting, resulting in monopolar spindle formation and cell cycle arrest in meiosis-1; despite cell cycle arrest, polar body extrusion occurred roughly on schedule. Therefore, sorting of gamma-tubulin is involved in both the timing of location of meiotic spindle assembly as well as the coordination of karyokinesis and cytokinesis in mouse oocytes.
Causal Communication: Movie Portrayals and Audience Attributions for Vietnam Veterans' Problems

This study applies attribution theory to field research into communication and public perceptions of a social group. In particular, audience viewing of various popular Vietnam War films related to attributions audiences made for readjustment problems facing some Vietnam veterans, which in turn related to public opinion about government assistance to Vietnam veterans. Results also suggest that mass media might play a role in the social definition of the meaning of the Vietnam War as the United States comes to closure on that episode in history.
Late-onset male hypogonadism: clinical and laboratory evaluation

Late-onset male hypogonadism (LOH) is a clinical and biochemical syndrome associated with advancing age and characterised by low serum testosterone concentrations. An understanding of the physiology of androgens in the ageing man is essential for the appropriate diagnosis of LOH. Clinical assessment of androgen status relevant to clinical biochemists and chemical pathologists is outlined in this review. Laboratory investigations of androgen status in men are not without pitfalls and the authors highlight problems associated with measuring and calculating serum testosterone and its fractions, the interpretation of which can be problematic. Current clinical guidelines and recommendations regarding the diagnosis and monitoring of LOH are also summarised.
Categorization based Relevance Feedback Search Engine for Earth Observation Images Repositories

Presently Earth observation (EO) satellites acquire huge volumes of high resolution images very much over-passing the capacity of the users to access the information content of the acquired data. Thus, in addition to the existing methods for EO data and information extraction, new methods and tools are needed to explore and help to discover the information hidden in large EO image repositories. This article presents a categorisation based Relevance Feedback (RF) search engine for EO images repositories The developed method is presented as well results obtained for a SPOT5 satellite image database.
The protective effects of social support against mood disorder after stroke

Abstract The aims of this study were: to measure levels of social support available to stroke survivors before and after stroke and to examine the relationship between social support and mood. A prospective study design was used. The sample studied comprised 30 hospitalized stroke survivors. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (Zigmond & Snaith, 1983) and Interview Schedule for Social Interaction (Henderson et al., 1980) were used. Three interviews were conducted: (1) within one month of stroke; (2) one month post-hospital discharge; and (3) six months post-discharge. Anxiety scores fell over time (p < 0.03). Depression scores remained constant. Most survivors were ‘non-cases’. Availability of confiding relationships remained constant after stroke. Availability of loose, network relationships declined (p < 0.001). Pre-stroke support availability was correlated with contemporary and prospective measures of anxiety and depression. Mood was not correlated with ratings of satisfaction with support. In s.
Evidence that protons act as neurotransmitters at vestibular hair cell–calyx afferent synapses

Significance Recent evidence from the neuromuscular junction in Drosophila and C. elegans shows that protons are important intercellular signaling molecules operating to modulate presynaptic release or ion channels in adjacent cells. Here, we present evidence that protons also act directly as a nonquantal neurotransmitter in a contemporary amniote to convey excitatory stimuli from type I inner ear vestibular hair cells to their partner postsynaptic calyx nerve terminals. Protonergic neurotransmission works in concert with classical mechanisms and endows this system with a metabolically efficient mechanism to evoke tonic depolarizations of the postsynaptic neuron. Similar intercellular proton signaling mechanisms might be at play in the CNS. Present data support the conclusion that protons serve as an important neurotransmitter to convey excitatory stimuli from inner ear type I vestibular hair cells to postsynaptic calyx nerve terminals. Time-resolved pH imaging revealed stimulus-evoked extrusion of protons from hair cells and a subsequent buildup of [H+] within the confined chalice-shaped synaptic cleft (ΔpH ∼ −0.2). Whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings revealed a concomitant nonquantal excitatory postsynaptic current in the calyx terminal that was causally modulated by cleft acidification. The time course of [H+] buildup limits the speed of this intercellular signaling mechanism, but for tonic signals such as gravity, protonergic transmission offers a significant metabolic advantage over quantal excitatory postsynaptic currents—an advantage that may have driven the proliferation of postsynaptic calyx terminals in the inner ear vestibular organs of contemporary amniotes.
Performance of the health system in China and Asia as measured by responsiveness

Objectives: To examine differences in health system responsiveness across different sectors in China and to compare to other Asian countries. Methods: The World Health Survey was implemented in a nationally representative sample in China and 10 additional Asian countries from 2002-2003. Face-to-face interviews were conducted to gather health care utilization and health systems responsiveness data. Results: Overall health system responsiveness in China was better for the inpatient than the outpatient health system. Differences were seen by domain, with prompt attention and respectful treatment performing better than the other domains. Differences in responsiveness were seen by socio- demographic characteristics, with women and younger respondents rating inpatient systems, whereas men and higher educated respondents rated outpatient systems, more responsive. Conclusions: As populations age, health care systems will come under more pressures – responsiveness can be used by governments to guide policy and system improvement efforts when resources are limited. In China, reforms might prioritize outpatient system responsiveness.
The occurrences of spread F and GPS phase fluctuations as well as Medium-Scale Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances over Wuhan

In this study, we analyzed the data from the digisonde and the GPS receiver at Wuhan, China (30.5°N, 114.4°E) to study spread F, GPS phase fluctuations, and Medium-Scale Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances (MSTIDs) at nighttime in 2000. The variations of seasonal and nighttime occurrence rate and the one-to-one correspondences of these phenomena were examined. The results show that all phenomena are highly active in summer, which confirms that irregularities over Wuhan mainly relate to MSTIDs. Moreover, none of large GPS phase fluctuations event had occurred during observations, which indicates that the strength of irregularities related to MSTIDs are weaker than that of equatorial plasma bubbles. Besides, the frequency spread F occurs first at nighttime which implies that disturbances start at the altitude near the F-region peak. Finally, the results of one-to-one correspondences implies that smaller scale irregularities which are observed as spread F or GPS phase fluctuations may only appear in some phase of MSTIDs.
Virtual smart metering in automation and simulation of energy-efficient lighting system

Building Automation and Control System (BACS) is a promising contributor for conserving building energy consumption. This paper proposes a virtual smart metering approach as an integral part of BACS for the demand control of building services. It can assist consumers to monitor the energy consumption and take measures to rationalize their energy efficiency at a finer granularity. This virtual smart metering enables the simulation-based energy efficiency evaluation of different automation and control strategies. It also establishes the load controlling infrastructure for further Demand Side Management at building side. A prototype lighting control system using virtual smart metering has been developed, where different control strategies can be simulated. It has been demonstrated that how intelligent lighting control taking daylight luminance and occupant presence into account can achieve better energy efficiency.
Ranking-Constrained Keyword Sequence Extraction from Web Documents

Given a large volume of Web documents, we consider problem of finding the shortest keyword sequences for each of the documents such that a keyword sequence can be rendered to a given search engine, then the corresponding Web document can be identified and is ranked at the first place within the results. We call this system as an Inverse Search Engine (ISE). Whenever a shortest keyword sequence is found for a given Web document, the corresponding document can be returned as the first document by the given search engine. The resulting keyword sequence is search-engine dependent. The ISE therefore can be used as a tool to manage Web content in terms of the extracted shortest keyword sequences. In this way, a traditional keyword extraction process is constrained by the document ranking method adopted by a search engine. The significance is that the whole Web-searchable documents on the World Wide Web can then be partitioned according to their keyword phrases. This paper discusses the design and implementation of the proposed ISE. Four evaluation measures are proposed and are used to show the effectiveness and efficiency of our approach. The experiment results set up a test benchmark for further researches.
War, Lies, and Videotape: Public Diplomacy and the USA’s War on Terrorism

This article argues that the United States is not only fighting a war against international terrorism by classical, military means, but is also engaged in a battle over the ‘hearts and minds’ of the Muslim world. It examines the USA’s public diplomacy efforts to manage the after-shocks of 9/11, and identifies the key concepts that underlie public diplomacy. The article presents a brief overview of the main points of criticism that these policies have provoked. It concludes that although the USA’s public diplomacy is an essential (and still underdeveloped and undervalued) component of its overall policy towards the Middle East, it will take more than better communications to address the USA’s credibility and image problems in that region.
A Common Mechanism of Stage-regulated Gene Expression inLeishmania Mediated by a Conserved 3′-Untranslated Region Element*

Developmental regulation of mRNA levels in trypanosomatid protozoa is determined post-transcriptionally and often involves sequences located in the 3′-untranslated regions (3′-UTR) of the mRNAs. We have previously identified a developmentally regulated gene family in Leishmania encoding the amastin surface proteins and showed that stage-specific accumulation of the amastin mRNA is mediated by sequences within the 3′-UTR. Here we identified a 450-nt region within the amastin 3′-UTR that can confer amastigote-specific gene expression by a novel mechanism that increases mRNA translation without an increase in mRNA stability. Remarkably, this 450-nt 3′-UTR element is highly conserved among a large number of Leishmania mRNAs in severalLeishmania species. Here we show that several of these mRNAs are differentially expressed in the intracellular amastigote stage of the parasite and that the 450-nt conserved element in their 3′-UTRs is responsible for stage-specific gene regulation. We propose that the 450-nt conserved element, which is unlike any other regulatory element identified thus far, is part of a common mechanism of stage-regulated gene expression in Leishmania that regulates mRNA translation in response to intracellular stresses.
Why Hermagoras Still Matters: The Fourth Stasis and Interdisciplinarity

This paper attempts to revive an ancient idea, Hermagoras's notion of the staseis, emphasizing especially his fourth stasis, that of jurisdiction, which, I contend, is crucial when it comes to answering a class of interesting questions that can be properly addressed only by first addressing the question of intellectual jurisdiction. This class concerns what Thomas Kuhn calls "paradigm change"; in all of these cases, I would contend, four disciplines-philosophy of science, history of science, psychology, and rhetoric-are necessary to any complete explanation.