Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cost-effectiveness of benign Wirsung duct strictures treatment in chronic pancreatitis

Introduction Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is an important problem for modern medicine, the healthcare system (Poland – NFZ) and the national insurance system (Poland – ZUS). The chronic nature of the disease, the lack of targeted treatment and the low mortality rate lead to an accumulation of patients who demand expensive treatment, both conservative and invasive. Rising costs in health care are forcing the need for a more cost-effective method of treatment. Aim The primary aim of this study was to perform a retrospective calculation of costs in both surgical and endoscopic treatment, hospital stay, healthcare, and public insurance of patients suffering from chronic pancreatitis. Parallel quality of life analysis was performed. It was possible to develop a cost-effective therapeutic algorithm for patients with an uncomplicated stricture of Wirsung’s duct within the Polish health care system. Results In Poland, the hospital costs of endoscopic treatment of patients with chronic pancreatitis were higher than those of the surgical treatment group despite both resulting in a similar life quality. Conclusions From a cost-effectiveness perspective, it was shown that surgical intervention is a more cost-effective therapy than endotherapy. Furthermore, patients with benign stricture of the main pancreatic duct in chronic pancreatitis should not be treated with endotherapy for longer than 12 months.
A Method to Identify Personal Desktop Activities

As people acquire much more personal information as a result of personal and work activities, the management of these information becomes a serious problem and an important research issue. Modeling personal desktop activities and identifying them are two basic problems for supporting activity-based operations. To the best of our knowledge there is no literature on formalizing and identifying desktop activity from personal information management perspective. There are a number of challenges to this work, including the fact that people exhibit personalized behaviors, have individual interests, needs and resources, no available experimental data set, etc. In this paper, we perform a user experiment to learn about user desktop activities in a personal information management context. We collected information access activities in a naturalistic setting and propose a conceptual activity model by analyzing features of user behaviors at their desktop computers. We present an effective and efficient method of automatically identifying desktop activities. To evaluate performance of our method, we develop a prototype system to collect real users activities, and evaluate our methods for identifying activities. The results verify the effectiveness and efficiency of our methods.
Hydrogen peroxide promotes the activation of preeclampsia peripheral T cells

Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy disorder with a high mortality rate. Patients with PE exhibit systemic high oxidative stress status and inflammatory immune activation. This study aims to define the role of H2O2 in the activation of neutrophils and T lymphocytes in PE patients. CD3+/HLA-DR+ cells in blood from PE patients are remarkably increased compared with those of normal non-pregnancies or normal pregnancies, while the percentage of CD3+/CD62L+ cells is significantly reduced in PE patients compared to normal pregnancies. Furthermore, CD62L levels in granulocytes of periphery blood of PE patients are significantly higher than non-pregnancies, but significantly lower than normal pregnancies. To characterize the effects of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) on T lymphocyte activation in PE patients, PBMCs from normal pregnancies were challenged with H2O2, and intracellular ROS levels in neutrophil granulocytes, as well as T cell surface marker levels, have been determined. We confirm that H2O2 exposure increases intracellular ROS levels in neutrophil granulocytes, and increases the proportion of CD3+/HLA-DR+ cells, but does not alter the percentage of CD3+/CD62L+ cells in PBMCs. Our study has confirmed dysregulated CD3+/HLA-DR+ and CD3+/CD62L+ T lymphocytes in PE patient peripheral blood, and the dysregulative effects of H2O2 on T lymphocyte activation, suggesting a novel mechanism of immune activation in PE.
Amphotericin-B Loaded Vesicular Systems for the Treatment of Topical Fungal Infection

The delivery of amphotericin B (AmB) by conventional therapy is a major impediment in achieving its therapeutic efficacy against topical fungal infections. Therefore, the present work was aimed to prepare, and characterize biocompatible AmB loaded vesicular systems such as liposomes, ethosomes, transfersomes, incorporated in dermatological base, and assess their comparative potential to deliver the drug for treatment of infection. AmB encapsulated liposomes and transfersomes were prepared by lipid film hydration method and ethosomes was prepared by “Hot method” technique. Vesicular carriers were characterized for encapsulation efficiency, shape, size and size distribution, in vitro release kinetics, storage stability and in vitro antifungal activity. Also, skin irritation study and permeation studies were evaluated. AmB loaded vesicular formulations were therapeutically effective drug delivery systems for the treatment of skin infection. Better in vitro antifungal activity potential and skin permeation was shown by transfersomes. Vesicular formulations were suitable for delivery of AmB for topical skin infection.
Causality

In philosophy intuition is used in reasoning as a test-bed for the conclusions of philosophical arguments. Logic, rhetoric and intuition are the main conceptual tools in philosophical reasoning. Intuition often acts as a sort of empirical verification of the acceptability of a particular thesis. Rather like a sort of empirical test or an experimental control, to use an analogy with what happens in natural science. The basis for this method is that intuition is generalisable, or in other words, broadly speaking, it can be shared at a universal level. Moreover, intuition must have foundational validity, a primary capacity for justification that is greater than any other alternative information. It should be greater than the reference to data from the cultural and religious tradition, for example, or the recourse to the theses of classical authors. Likewise it should be able to withstand the hypotheses and empirical confirmations of scientific and technical knowledge. Experimental philosophy appears to question intuition’s alleged foundational and universal nature. Intuition is a psychological phenomenon linked to what is conventionally known, according to some authors (Stanovich 1999; see Chap. 9 of Viale 2012), but not to others (Gigerenzer 2007), as System 1 of mind. Contrary to System 2, which is rational and explicit, this system is implicit and highly contextdependent. It is permeable to the influences of emotional variables derived from the cultural and environmental context. Seen in this way, it would seem difficult to affirm the thesis of the universality of human intuition. The underlying hypothesis derived from the findings of cognitive science argues the contrary: namely that intuition is local and contingent, changing in relation not only to cultural context but also to individual psychological variables, like personality traits or emotional and affective contingencies. Experimental philosophy has explored the universality
A Survey on Adaptive Multi-Channel MAC Protocols in VANETs Using Markov Models

A medium access control (MAC) protocol is designed to disseminate safety messages reliably and rapidly to improve the safety and efficiency of vehicles on the road in vehicular ad-hoc networks (VANETs). VANETs, which are created by moving vehicles, have specific properties, such as high node mobility with constrained movements and quick topology changes. Hence, MAC protocols should be designed to adapt to the changing data traffic patterns due to vehicle densities in the VANET environment. The latest multi-channel MAC protocols based on IEEE 802.11p and IEEE 1609.4 standards have higher performance than that of single-channel MAC protocols in every key performance indicator. Specifically, the multi-channel MAC protocols, which adapt themselves to different vehicular traffic densities, can guarantee a bounded transmission delay of real-time safety applications and an increased throughput for non-safety applications. In this paper, we focus on the three following perspectives: First, the multi-channel MAC protocols are studied under saturated and non-saturated data traffic conditions; Second, we study the multi-dimensional Markov chains (up to three dimensions) used in the MAC protocols; and Third, the considered Markov models are compared with real-life application requirements to improve the existing analytical models and protocol designs. Finally, we summarize our findings and discuss the open issues concerning multi-channel MAC protocols for VANETs as a part of the Intelligent Transportation System.
Application of capacity approaching coding techniques to digital subscriber lines

The use of coding error control is an integral part of the design of modern communication systems. Capacity-approaching codes such as turbo and LDPC codes, discovered or rediscovered in the past decade, offset near-Shannon-limit performance on the AWGN channel with rather low implementation complexity and are therefore increasingly being applied for error control in various fields of data communications. This article describes a generic multilevel modulation and coding scheme based on the use of turbo-like, or LDPC codes for DSL system. It is shown that such codes provide significant gains in performance and allow an increase in data rate and/or loop reach that can be instrumental to the widespread deployment of future DSL services. Such techniques are also suitable for general multilevel modulation system in other application areas.
Effect of Current Density on Anodised Titanium in Sulphuric Acid for Biomedical Application

Bioinert titanium (Ti) can be modified to bioactive by performing various techniques including anodic oxidation. Where, this method encompasses electrode reactions in combination with electric field driven metal and oxygen ion diffusion to the formation of an oxide film on anode surface. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of current density of anodic oxidation upon the characteristic of titanium in sulphuric acid (H2SO4) under various conditions. The modified titanium was prepared using anodic oxidation method in 0.3 M of sulphuric acid as electrolyte. The applied voltage and current density of the anodic oxidation parameters were varied from 50 – 200 V and 25 – 75 mA.cm-2 respectively for 10 min of oxidation process at room temperature. The effects of anodic oxidation on the titanium were characterised using X-ray diffractometer (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The results show that by increasing the current density of the anodic oxidation, different mineralogy, surface morphology, and surface profile were produced. At low current density (25 mA.cm-2), high voltage is needed to produce high crystalline of anatase formed on the titanium surface and only able to produced very low of rutile titanium with 200 V of applied voltage compared to high current density (75 mA.cm-2) with same applied voltage, very high rutile crystal with mixture of low anatase was observed on the titanium. This modified oxide of titanium has potentially to be applied in biomedical as implant.
Implementation of laparoscopic approach in colorectal surgery – a single center’s experience

Introduction Implementation of the laparoscopic approach in colorectal surgery has not happened as rapidly as in cholecystectomy, because of concerns about oncological safety. The results of controlled trials in multiple centers showed the method to be safe. Consequently, surgeons decided to try the approach with colorectal surgery. This process, in our clinic, began in earnest about four years ago. Aim To analyze and present the clinical outcomes of applying the laparoscopic approach to colorectal surgery in a single center. Material and methods We retrospectively identified patients from a hospital database who underwent colorectal surgery – laparoscopic and open – between 2013 and 2016. Our focus was on laparoscopic cases. Study points included operative time, duration of the hospital stay, postoperative mortality and rates of complications, conversion, reoperation and readmission. Results Of 534 cases considered, the results showed that the relation between open and laparoscopic procedures had reversed, in favor of the latter method (2013: open: 82% vs. laparoscopic: 18%; 2016: open: 22.4% vs. laparoscopic: 77.6%). The most commonly performed procedure was right hemicolectomy. The total complication rate was 22%. The total rate of conversion to open surgery was 9.3%. The postoperative mortality rate was 3%. Conclusions Use of the laparoscopic approach in colorectal surgery has increased in recent years world-wide – including in Poland – but the technique is still underused. Rapid implementation of the miniinvasive method in colorectal surgery, in centers with previous laparoscopic experience, is not only safe and feasible, but also highly recommended.
Research on Dynamic Visual Communication Graphics Design under Mobile Terminal Platform

The mobile terminal has been a type of an essential tool in our daily life. When we use mobile devices, we should pay attention to its visual aesthetic experience. Therefore, in this paper, we focus on the problem of dynamic visual communication graphics design under mobile terminal platform. As the characteristics of mobile Internet determine that the design of small screen pages is an important issue we should solve, the design objectives and principles of mobile terminal platform design are discussed in advance. Afterwards, principles of dynamic visual communication graphics design are given, and four main principles are proposed for the UI design of mobile terminal platform. Finally, we provide some examples of user interface designs for mobile terminal platform, and we can observe that utilizing the proposed design principles, high quality UI designs can be obtained.
Substrates for Neuronal Cotransmission With Neuropeptides and Small Molecule Neurotransmitters in Drosophila

It has been known for more than 40 years that individual neurons can produce more than one neurotransmitter and that neuropeptides often are colocalized with small molecule neurotransmitters (SMNs). Over the years much progress has been made in understanding the functional consequences of cotransmission in the nervous system of mammals. There are also some excellent invertebrate models that have revealed roles of coexpressed neuropeptides and SMNs in increasing complexity, flexibility, and dynamics in neuronal signaling. However, for the fly Drosophila there are surprisingly few functional studies on cotransmission, although there is ample evidence for colocalization of neuroactive compounds in neurons of the CNS, based both on traditional techniques and novel single cell transcriptome analysis. With the hope to trigger interest in initiating cotransmission studies, this review summarizes what is known about Drosophila neurons and neuronal circuits where different neuropeptides and SMNs are colocalized. Coexistence of neuroactive substances has been recorded in different neuron types such as neuroendocrine cells, interneurons, sensory cells and motor neurons. Some of the circuits highlighted here are well established in the analysis of learning and memory, circadian clock networks regulating rhythmic activity and sleep, as well as neurons and neuroendocrine cells regulating olfaction, nociception, feeding, metabolic homeostasis, diuretic functions, reproduction, and developmental processes. One emerging trait is the broad role of short neuropeptide F in cotransmission and presynaptic facilitation in a number of different neuronal circuits. This review also discusses the functional relevance of coexisting peptides in the intestine. Based on recent single cell transcriptomics data, it is likely that the neuronal systems discussed in this review are just a fraction of the total set of circuits where cotransmission occurs in Drosophila. Thus, a systematic search for colocalized neuroactive compounds in further neurons in anatomically defined circuits is of interest for the near future.
Binge Watching: Scaling Affordance Learning from Sitcoms

In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in jointly modeling perception and action. At the core of this investigation is the idea of modeling affordances. However, when it comes to predicting affordances, even the state of the art approaches still do not use any ConvNets. Why is that? Unlike semantic or 3D tasks, there still does not exist any large-scale dataset for affordances. In this paper, we tackle the challenge of creating one of the biggest dataset for learning affordances. We use seven sitcoms to extract a diverse set of scenes and how actors interact with different objects in the scenes. Our dataset consists of more than 10K scenes and 28K ways humans can interact with these 10K images. We also propose a two-step approach to predict affordances in a new scene. In the first step, given a location in the scene we classify which of the 30 pose classes is the likely affordance pose. Given the pose class and the scene, we then use a Variational Autoencoder (VAE) to extract the scale and deformation of the pose. The VAE allows us to sample the distribution of possible poses at test time. Finally, we show the importance of large-scale data in learning a generalizable and robust model of affordances.
A Bayesian Algorithm for Reconstructing Climate Anomalies in Space and Time. Part II: Comparison with the Regularized Expectation–Maximization Algorithm

Abstract Part I presented a Bayesian algorithm for reconstructing climate anomalies in space and time (BARCAST). This method involves specifying simple parametric forms for the spatial covariance and temporal evolution of the climate field as well as “observation equations” describing the relationships between the data types and the corresponding true values of the climate field. As this Bayesian approach to reconstructing climate fields is new and different, it is worthwhile to compare it in detail to the more established regularized expectation–maximization (RegEM) algorithm, which is based on an empirical estimate of the joint data covariance matrix and a multivariate regression of the instrumental time series onto the proxy time series. The differing assumptions made by BARCAST and RegEM are detailed, and the impacts of these differences on the analysis are discussed. Key distinctions between BARCAST and RegEM include their treatment of spatial and temporal covariance, the prior information that enter.
The International Journal of Biostatistics Designs Combining Instrumental Variables with Case-Control : Estimating Principal Strata Causal Effects

The instrumental variables framework is commonly used for the estimation of causal effects from cohort samples. However, the combination of instrumental variables with more efficient designs such as case-control sampling requires new methodological consideration. For example, as the use of Mendelian randomization studies is increasing and the cost of genotyping and gene expression data can be high, the analysis of data gathered from more cost-effective sampling designs is of prime interest. We show that the standard instrumental variables analysis does not appropriately estimate the causal effects of interest when the instrumental variables design is combined with the case-control design. We also propose a method that can estimate the causal effects in such combined designs. We illustrate the method with a study in oncology.
Verifier Non-Locality in Interactive Proofs

In multi-prover interactive proofs, the verifier interrogates the provers and attempts to steal their knowledge. Other than that, the verifier's role has not been studied. Augmentation of the provers with non-local resources results in classes of languages that may not be NEXP. We have discovered that the verifier plays a much more important role than previously thought. Simply put, the verifier has the capability of providing non-local resources for the provers intrinsically. Therefore, standard MIPs may already contain protocols equivalent to one in which the prover is augmented non-locally. Existing MIPs' proofs of soundness implicitly depend on the fact that the verifier is not a non-local resource provider. The verifier's non-locality is a new unused tool and liability for protocol design and analysis. Great care should have been taken when claiming that ZKMIP=MIP and MIP = NEXP. For the former case, we show specific issues with existing protocols and revisit the proof of this statement. For the latter case, we exhibit doubts that we do not fully resolve. To do this, we define a new model of multi-prover interactive proofs which we call "correlational confinement form".
Depression in type 1 diabetes and risk of dementia

ABSTRACT Objective: Depression afflicts 14% of individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Depression is a robust risk factor for dementia but it is unknown if this holds true for individuals with T1D, who recently started living to an age conferring dementia risk. We examined if depression is a dementia risk factor among elderly individuals with T1D. Methods: 3,742 individuals with T1D age ≥50 were followed for dementia from 1/1/96-9/30/2015. Depression, dementia, and comorbidities were abstracted from electronic medical records. Cox proportional hazard models estimated the association between depression and dementia adjusting for demographics, glycosylated hemoglobin, severe dysglycemic epidsodes, stroke, heart disease, nephropathy, and end stage renal disease. The cumulative incidence of dementia by depression was estimated conditional on survival dementia-free to age 55. Results: Five percent (N = 182) were diagnosed with dementia and 20% had baseline depression. Depression was associated with a 72% increase in dementia (fully adjusted HR = 1.72; 95% CI:1.12-2.65). The 25-year cumulative incidence of dementia was more than double for those with versus without depression (27% vs. 12%). Conclusions: For people with T1D, depression significantly increases dementia risk. Given the pervasiveness of depression in T1D, this has major implications for successful aging in this population recently living to old age.
Structural equation modelling based empirical analysis of technical issues for lean manufacturing implementation in the Indian context

This paper aims to explore and integrate the technical issues for successful implementation of Lean Manufacturing. An extensive literature survey is carried out to build an exhaustive list of all the input technical manifests necessary for lean implementation, coupled with a similar exhaustive list of all the benefits accrued from its successful implementation. A structural model is thus conceptualized, which is empirically validated based on the data from the Indian manufacturing sector. The structural model presented in this paper is expected to be used by the lean practitioner for effective administration and management of the lean implementation process. This work is one of the very first researches to have a survey-based empirical study of a practically exhaustive list of technical input variables and benefits of Lean Manufacturing implementation in the Indian context.