Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Chest Radiological Findings of Patients With Severe H1N1 Pneumonia Requiring Intensive Care

Introduction: A new strain of human influenza A (H1N1) virus originated from Mexico in 2009 and spread to more than 190 countries and territories. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared it a level 6 (highest level) pandemic. In August 2010, WHO announced that the H1N1 2009 influenza virus had moved into the postpandemic period. The WHO also declared that this flu strain is expected to continue to circulate as a seasonal virus “for some years to come. ” The objective of this study is to describe the chest radiographic and computed tomography (CT) findings of patients with severe H1N1 pneumonia admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) during the 2009 pandemic. Hypothesis: Patients with severe H1N1 pneumonia requiring ICU admission have extensive radiographic and CT abnormalities. Methods: Eighteen patients, aged 23 to 62 (mean 41), admitted to the ICU at UCLA-Olive View Medical Center with a primary diagnosis of pandemic H1N1 infection, confirmed either via rapid influenza detection test or by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assay, formed the study population. All patients had chest x-ray (CXR) within 24 hours of admission and 5 patients had CT examinations. In this retrospective study, images were evaluated for the pattern (ground-glass opacities, consolidation, reticular opacities, and nodular opacities), distribution (unilateral/bilateral, upper/middle/lower lung zone, and central/peripheral/peribronchovascular), and extent (focal/multifocal/diffuse; number of lung zones) of abnormalities. Results: All (100%) patients had abnormal CXR and CT studies. The predominant radiographic findings were ground-glass opacities (16 of 18; 89%), consolidation (16 of 18; 89%), and reticular opacities (6 of 18, 33%). The radiographic abnormalities were bilateral in 17 (94%) patients; involved lower lung distribution in 18 (100%) patients, and mid and lower lung distribution in 16 (89%) patients. Radiographic abnormalities were peribronchovascular in 11 (61%) patients and multifocal in 10 (56%). Sixteen (89%) patients had extensive abnormalities involving 3 or more lung zones. The patients requiring mechanical ventilation had a higher incidence of bilateral, diffuse consolidation in a peribronchovascular distribution on chest radiographs. The predominant CT abnormalities were consolidation (5 of 5; 100%), ground-glass opacities (5 of 5; 100%), and nodular opacities (3 of 5, 60%). The CT findings were peribronchovascular and multifocal in 4 (80%) patients and extensive and bilateral in all (100%) patients. Conclusions: Patients with H1N1 pneumonia admitted to the ICU had bilateral, extensive CXR, and CT abnormalities. Consolidations and ground-glass opacities were the most common imaging findings, predominantly affecting mid and lower lung zones. Imaging abnormalities were peribronchovascular and multifocal in a majority of patients.
How Can Two-Gene Models of Self-Incompatibility Generate New Specificities?

The unsolved problem of how the pollen and pistil components of angiosperm self-incompatibility (SI) are inherited has a long history ([Lewis, 1960][1]). A recent paper provides evidence, based on transgenic experiments in Solanum chacoense , that a single amino acid difference between proteins
A novel sensor for measuring temperature profile during the thermoablation

A novel approach for monitoring a temperature distribution inside a tissue during thermoablation is presented in the paper. A thermal profile is measured using a set of serially connected thermistors each bypassed by a capacitor. This technique allows a two-wire and simultaneous multi-point measurements using a multi-frequency measurement of electrical impedance. It is shown that application signals of appropriately selected frequency allows simultaneous measurement of temperature at five distinct points. This technique can be utilized in the assisting of a thermoablation process, and in other applications based on resistive or capacitive sensors.
Adaptation to frozen babble in spoken word recognition.

Previous research has shown that listeners can adapt to particular samples of noise, a phenomenon known as "frozen noise" [Langhans and Kohlrausch, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 91, 3456-3470 (1992)]. However, no studies have reported a similar effect for multi-talker babble. The results of this study comparing open-set word recognition in multi-talker babble showed that listeners are significantly more accurate when the babble is fixed than when the babble is random. This documents the effect the authors refer to as "frozen babble. "
The danger of big data: Social media as computational social science

Social networking Web sites are amassing vast quantities of data and computational social science is providing tools to process this data. The combination of these two factors has significant implications for individuals and society. With announcements of growing data aggregation by both Google and Facebook, the need for consideration of these issues is becoming urgent. Just as Web 2.0 platforms put publishing in the hands of the masses, without adequate safeguards, computational social science may make surveillance, profiling, and targeting overly accessible. The academic study of computational social science explains the field as an interdisciplinary investigation of the social dynamics of society with the aid of advanced computational systems. Such investigation can operate at the macro level of global attitudes and trends, down to the personal level of an individual’s psychology. This paper uses the lenses of computation social science to consider the uses and dangers that may result from the data aggregation social media companies are perusing. We also consider the role ethics and regulation may play in protecting the public.
Physical activity, bodyweight, health and fear of negative evaluation in primary school children

Fear of negative evaluation (FNE) is regarded as being the core feature of social anxiety. The present study examined how FNE is associated with physical activity (PA), body mass index (BMI) and perceived physical health (PPH) in children. Data were collected in a sample of 502 primary school children in first and fifth grades taking part in a randomized‐controlled trial (“Kinder‐Sportstudie KISS”) aimed at increasing PA and health. PA was assessed by accelerometry over 7 days, PPH by the Child Health Questionnaire and FNE by the Social Anxiety Scale for Children – Revised. BMI z‐scores were calculated based on Swiss norms. Cross‐sectional analyses indicated that children high in FNE exercised less, reported lower levels of PPH and had higher BMI z‐scores (P<0.01). Using mixed linear models, the school‐based PA intervention did not manage to reduce FNE scores. Overweight children demonstrated a greater increase in FNE (P<0.05) indicating that enhanced weight may be a risk factor for FNE. In conclusion, the associations among high FNE, low PA and increased BMI should be considered when promoting an active lifestyle in children.
From self-reliers to expert-dependents: identifying classes based on health-related need for autonomy and need for external control among mobile users

ABSTRACT Mobile health apps are seen as promising tools to support autonomous consumers in their quest for better health. However, individual differences in the need for autonomy and need for external control may impact the degree to which individuals perceive mobile health apps to be useful in their daily life. Using data from a representative sample of the Dutch population (N = 1,027), we applied latent class analysis to identify subtypes among mobile users based on their need for autonomy and need for external control, and to examine differences among these subtypes. We identified four subgroups: the self-reliers, confirmation-seekers, expert-dependents, and indifferents. Next to demographic differences, self-reliers and confirmation-seekers were generally more e-health literate and expressed more privacy concerns than the expert-dependents and indifferents. Our findings demonstrate that subgroups of people express different degrees of health-related need for autonomy and need for external control, which should be taken into account in online and mobile health communication efforts.
ENGINE: Cost Effective Offloading in Mobile Edge Computing with Fog-Cloud Cooperation

Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) as an emerging paradigm utilizing cloudlet or fog nodes to extend remote cloud computing to the edge of the network, is foreseen as a key technology towards next generation wireless networks. By offloading computation intensive tasks from resource constrained mobile devices to fog nodes or the remote cloud, the energy of mobile devices can be saved and the computation capability can be enhanced. For fog nodes, they can rent the resource rich remote cloud to help them process incoming tasks from mobile devices. In this architecture, the benefit of short computation and computation delay of mobile devices can be fully exploited. However, existing studies mostly assume fog nodes possess unlimited computing capacity, which is not practical, especially when fog nodes are also energy constrained mobile devices. To provide incentive of fog nodes and reduce the computation cost of mobile devices, we provide a cost effective offloading scheme in mobile edge computing with the cooperation between fog nodes and the remote cloud with task dependency constraint. The mobile devices have limited budget and have to determine which task should be computed locally or sent to the fog. To address this issue, we first formulate the offloading problem as a task finish time inimization problem with given budgets of mobile devices, which is NP-hard. We then devise two more algorithms to study the network performance. Simulation results show that the proposed greedy algorithm can achieve the near optimal performance. On average, the Brute Force method and the greedy algorithm outperform the simulated annealing algorithm by about 28.13% on the application finish time.
Declarative algebra and continuous query language for biomedical stream processing in fetal monitoring system

This paper presents the declarative algebra and continuous query language for fetal monitoring system MONAKO. Actually, architecture of this system is centralized. Recording, analyzing and visualization of data are carried out in the central unit. The new system will enable more efficient use of available resources and the construction of distributed structure. Presented example enables to define query based on data streams that makes the updated answers currently available.
Malaysia-West Asia Relations and Foreign Direct Investment: Proposal for an Ummah Network Based on Social Capital Concept

Research on foreign direct investment (FDI) often ignores the psychology aspect of relationship. The role of relationship is embedded in Bourdieu’s social capital, believing that networking and friendship could be valuable factors for attracting business. In macroeconomic context, international relations could be an important determinant in attracting foreign investment. Manifestations of this conceptualization are guanxi and “Bamboo network” in Chinese business culture. Applying to Malaysia international relations with Islamic countries of West Asia, an “Ummah network” can be established to enable win-win situation in investment decision. This is in contrast with the rational behaviour of profit maximization motive of the classic school of thought. In reality, foreign investors with higher degree of negotiation power may seek maximum incentives at the expanse of the welfare of the host country, thus evaporating any possibility of win-win outcome. Given close relationship between Malaysia and Islamic countries of West Asia through Islam brotherhood and membership of Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Malaysia is in the best position to utilize its social capital to attract mutually beneficial FDI rather than giving excessive incentive to profit maximization oriented investors. Furthermore, growing tension and suspicion between Western world and Islamic countries strengthen Malaysia’s position to build up long term investment relationship with West Asian countries. Hence, this paper aims to explore potential mutually beneficial Malaysia-West Asia partnership through the perspective of social capital networking with the focus on foreign investment. The ultimate objective of this paper is to propose a framework for the establishment of a relationship-based “Ummah network” between Malaysia and West Asia.
Estimating the designated use attainment decision error rates of US Environmental Protection Agency's proposed numeric total phosphorus criteria for Florida, USA, colored lakes

The utility of numeric nutrient criteria established for certain surface waters is likely to be affected by the uncertainty that exists in the presence of a causal link between nutrient stressor variables and designated use–related biological responses in those waters. This uncertainty can be difficult to characterize, interpret, and communicate to a broad audience of environmental stakeholders. The US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has developed a systematic planning process to support a variety of environmental decisions, but this process is not generally applied to the development of national or state‐level numeric nutrient criteria. This article describes a method for implementing such an approach and uses it to evaluate the numeric total P criteria recently proposed by USEPA for colored lakes in Florida, USA. An empirical, log‐linear relationship between geometric mean concentrations of total P (a potential stressor variable) and chlorophyll a (a nutrient‐related response variable) in these lakes—that is assumed to be causal in nature—forms the basis for the analysis. The use of the geometric mean total P concentration of a lake to correctly indicate designated use status, defined in terms of a 20 µg/L geometric mean chlorophyll a threshold, is evaluated. Rates of decision errors analogous to the Type I and Type II error rates familiar in hypothesis testing, and a 3rd error rate, Eni, referred to as the nutrient criterion–based impairment error rate, are estimated. The results show that USEPA's proposed “baseline” and “modified” nutrient criteria approach, in which data on both total P and chlorophyll a may be considered in establishing numeric nutrient criteria for a given lake within a specified range, provides a means for balancing and minimizing designated use attainment decision errors. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2012;8:167–174. © 2011 SETAC
A splice variant of the SLC28A3 gene encodes a novel human concentrative nucleoside transporter‐3 (hCNT3) protein localized in the endoplasmic reticulum

Nucleoside transporters are plasma membrane proteins essential for nucleoside salvage. Among them, human concentrative nucleoside transporter 3 (hCNT3, SLC28A3) plays an essential role in this process because of its broader substrate selectivity and higher concentrative ability than the other members of the SLC28 protein family, hCNT1 and hCNT2. The aim of this study was to characterize an isoform of hCNT3, encoded by an alternatively spliced SLC28A3‐related mRNA, the first identified for a CNT protein. This variant, named hCNT3ins, is the result of the insertion of 176 bp corresponding to an intron located between exons 2 and 3 of the gene. This insertion results in a shift of the reading frame, yielding a protein lacking 69 residues of the N terminus. hCNT3 and hCNT3ins mRNAs are simultaneously expressed both in normal and transformed cells and are differentially regulated by activation and differentiation. Because of the N‐terminal deletion, hCNT3ins is retained in the endo‐plasmic reticulum, where it shows a typical hCNT3‐related activity. hCNT3ins exhibits a shorter half‐life than its plasma membrane counterpart, being degraded via a proteasome‐dependent pathway. We suggest that this novel hCNT3 isoform would be involved in the salvage of intracellular nucleosides from the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum to the cytoplasm. —Errasti‐Murugarren, E. , Molina‐Arcas, M. , Casado, F. J., Pastor‐Anglada, M. A splice variant of the SLC28A3 gene encodes a novel human concentrative nucleoside trans‐porter‐3 (hCNT3) protein localized in the endoplasmic reticulum. FASEBJ. 23, 172‐182 (2009)
Prognostic value of coronary computed tomography angiography during 5 years of follow-up in patients with suspected coronary artery disease.

AIMS Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) has a high accuracy for detection of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). Several studies also showed a good predictive value for subsequent cardiac events. However, the follow-up period of these studies was limited to ~2 years and long-term follow-up data on prognosis out to 5 years are very limited. METHODS AND RESULTS This study is based on 1584 patients with suspected CAD undergoing CCTA between December 2003 and November 2006. Among other CCTA parameters, the total plaque score defined as number of abnormal segments (having either a non-obstructive plaque or a stenosis) and the most severe stenosis were recorded. The primary endpoint was a composite of death and non-fatal myocardial infarction. Revascularization procedures later than 90 days after the CT study were assessed as secondary endpoints. During a median follow-up of 5.6 years (IQR: 5.1-6.3 years) 61 patients suffered death or myocardial infarction and 52 underwent late revascularization. The severity of CAD and the total plaque score were the best predictors of death and non-fatal myocardial infarction, both significantly improving prediction over standard clinical risk scores (multivariate c-index 0.60 and 0.66, respectively, P = 0.002 and <0.0001, respectively). The annual event rate ranged from 0.24% for patients with no CAD to 1.1% for patients with obstructive CAD and 1.5% for patients with CAD and extensive plaque load (>5 segments). Both parameters also improved prediction of need for subsequent revascularization (c-index 0.72 and 0.63, respectively, P < 0.0001 and P = 0.0013, respectively). CONCLUSION Data from CCTA predict both death and myocardial infarction as well as need for subsequent revascularizations out to 5 years. CCTA imaging may be a valuable tool in the assessment of long-term prognosis in patients with suspected CAD.
Original Research: Risk Factors for Mortality from Primary Cryptococcosis in Patients with HIV

Abstract Cryptococcosis continues to have a high mortality rate in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients despite advances made in antifungal treatment, intracranial pressure management, and antiretroviral therapy. This retrospective chart review was conducted at the University of Maryland Medical Center and Baltimore VA Medical Center from 1993 to 2004. We reviewed all inpatient cases of cryptococcal infections to assess predictors of inpatient mortality among HIV-positive patients. Data collected included patient demographics, presenting symptoms and CD4 counts, lumbar puncture (LP) results including opening pressure (OP), cryptococcal antigen (CAg) levels, sites of infection, and drug therapy. Multivariate and survival analyses were performed. We identified 202 patients with primary cryptococcosis. The main sites of infection included blood (72%), central nervous system (85%), and lower respiratory tract (34%). Overall 30-day mortality was 14%. Predictors of mortality included syncope (P = 0.039; OR, 4.5), concomitant pneumonia (P = 0.001; OR, 3.5), respiratory failure (P < 0.001; OR, 10.5), and admission into the intensive care unit (P < 0.001; OR, 8). Amphotericin dose, OP ≥ 250 mm H2O, and number of LPs were not found to be predictive of mortality. Mortality attributable to cryptococcosis remains high. Our study findings suggest that syncope, respiratory failure, pneumonia, and admission to the intensive care unit are independently associated with an increased risk of death within 30 days after cryptococcosis diagnosis.
Antigen‐specific elimination of T cells induced by oligomerized hemagglutinin (HA) 306–318

In a previous study we reported that oligomerized T cell epitopes "superactivated" CD4+ T cells. These oligomers, consisting of 12–16 copies of a peptide epitope derived from the hemagglutinin protein of influenza virus (HA306–318), induced a specific T cell response in amounts as little as 5 pg/ml. We now show that the improved antigenicity of these multimerized epitopes can also be utilized to induce "high zone tolerance". Tolerization, similar to activation, occurred at about 3 logs lower concentration of oligomer than of peptide. HA306–318‐specific T cell cultures became nonresponsive to stimulation with peptide after incubation with 0.5–5 μg/ml HA306–318 12‐mer. The nonresponsiveness was accompanied by a drastic down‐regulation of the TCR and by T cell elimination by apoptotic cell death. In contrast, stimulation with peptide even at 50 μg/ml led to temporary induction of anergy. Consequently, induction of tolerance with the oligomer was permanent and no recovery of the cultures was seen in recall experiments 12–14 days after high zone exposure to the 12‐mer.
Neutral evolution of proteins: The superfunnel in sequence space and its relation to mutational robustness.

Following Kimura's neutral theory of molecular evolution [M. Kimura, The Neutral Theory of Molecular Evolution (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1983) (reprinted in 1986)], it has become common to assume that the vast majority of viable mutations of a gene confer little or no functional advantage. Yet, in silico models of protein evolution have shown that mutational robustness of sequences could be selected for, even in the context of neutral evolution. The evolution of a biological population can be seen as a diffusion on the network of viable sequences. This network is called a "neutral network. " Depending on the mutation rate mu and the population size N, the biological population can evolve purely randomly (muN<<1) or it can evolve in such a way as to select for sequences of higher mutational robustness (muN>>1). The stringency of the selection depends not only on the product muN but also on the exact topology of the neutral network, the special arrangement of which was named "superfunnel. " Even though the relation between mutation rate, population size, and selection was thoroughly investigated, a study of the salient topological features of the superfunnel that could affect the strength of the selection was wanting. This question is addressed in this study. We use two different models of proteins: on lattice and off lattice. We compare neutral networks computed using these models to random networks. From this, we identify two important factors of the topology that determine the stringency of the selection for mutationally robust sequences. First, the presence of highly connected nodes ("hubs") in the network increases the selection for mutationally robust sequences. Second, the stringency of the selection increases when the correlation between a sequence's mutational robustness and its neighbors' increases. The latter finding relates a global characteristic of the neutral network to a local one, which is attainable through experiments or molecular modeling.