Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Low-carbohydrate diets and prevalence, incidence and progression of coronary artery calcium in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

Abstract The evidence linking low-carbohydrate diets (LCD) to CVD is controversial, and results from epidemiological studies are inconsistent. We aimed to assess the relationship between LCD patterns and coronary artery Ca (CAC) scores from computed tomography in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis cohort. Our sample included 5614 men and women free of clinical CVD at baseline (2000–2002), who had a FFQ, a baseline measure and ≥1 measure of CAC during follow-up. We excluded those with implausible energy intake or daily physical activity. The overall, animal-based and plant-based LCD scores were calculated based on intakes of macronutrients. Relative risk regression and robust regression models were used to examine the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationship between LCD score quintile and CAC outcomes, after adjustment for multiple cardiovascular risk factors. The mean age of participants was 63 years. The median intakes of total carbohydrate, fat and protein were 53·7, 30·5 and 15·6 % energy/d, respectively. Among 2892 participants with zero CAC scores at baseline, 264 developed positive scores during 2·4-year follow-up (11–59 months). Among those with positive scores at baseline, the median increase in CAC was 47 units over the course of follow-up. The overall, the animal-based and the plant-based LCD scores were not associated with CAC prevalence, incidence and progression. In conclusion, diets low in carbohydrate and high in fat and/or protein, regardless of the sources of protein and fat, were not associated with higher levels of CAC, a validated predictor of cardiovascular events, in this large multi-ethnic cohort.
Deep Self-Evolution Clustering

Clustering is a crucial but challenging task in pattern analysis and machine learning. Existing methods often ignore the combination between representation learning and clustering. To tackle this problem, we reconsider the clustering task from its definition to develop Deep Self-Evolution Clustering (DSEC) to jointly learn representations and cluster data. For this purpose, the clustering task is recast as a binary pairwise-classification problem to estimate whether pairwise patterns are similar. Specifically, similarities between pairwise patterns are defined by the dot product between indicator features which are generated by a deep neural network (DNN). To learn informative representations for clustering, clustering constraints are imposed on the indicator features to represent specific concepts with specific representations. Since the ground-truth similarities are unavailable in clustering, an alternating iterative algorithm called Self-Evolution Clustering Training (SECT) is presented to select similar and dissimilar pairwise patterns and to train the DNN alternately. Consequently, the indicator features tend to be one-hot vectors and the patterns can be clustered by locating the largest response of the learned indicator features. Extensive experiments strongly evidence that DSEC outperforms current models on twelve popular image, text and audio datasets consistently.
Continued Endocrine Therapy Is Associated with Improved Survival in Patients with Breast Cancer Brain Metastases

Purpose: Brain metastases (BMs) are a rare but devastating condition in estrogen receptor (ER)–positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Although endocrine therapy (ET) is the mainstay of treatment in this disease subtype, only case reports have been published concerning the activity of ET in BMs henceforth. Therefore, we aimed to systematically investigate the impact of ET after diagnosis of BM on outcome and clinical course of disease in patients with ER-positive MBC. Experimental Design: Patient characteristics, detailed information about BMs including diagnosis-specific graded prognostic assessment class (DS-GPA), and clinical outcome were obtained by retrospective chart review for all patients treated for ER-positive breast cancer BMs between 1990 and 2017 at an academic care center. Overall survival (OS) was measured as the interval from diagnosis of BM until death or last date of follow-up. Results: Overall, 198 patients [female: 195/198 (98.5%); male: 3/198 (1.5%)] with ER-positive breast cancer BMs were available for this analysis. Eighty-eight of 198 patients (44.4%) received ET after diagnosis of BM including aromatase inhibitors (AIs; letrozole, anastrozole, exemestane), tamoxifen, and fulvestrant. Median OS was significantly longer in patients receiving ET after diagnosis of BM compared with patients who did not (15 vs. 4 months, P < 0.001; log-rank test). No significant difference in terms of OS was observed between patients receiving AIs, tamoxifen, or fulvestrant. In patients with concomitant leptomeningeal carcinomatosis (LC), ET prolonged median OS significantly as well (7 vs. 3 months, P = 0.012; log-rank test). In a multivariate analysis including DS-GPA and ET, only treatment with ET after diagnosis of BM (HR, 0.69; 95% confidence interval, 0.48–0.99; P = 0.046) was associated with prognosis (Cox regression model). Conclusions: Continuing ET after BM diagnosis was associated with a significantly prolonged OS in this large single-center cohort. No substantial differences between substances were observed. These findings should be validated in a prospective cohort.
Multi-Memory Convolutional Neural Network for Video Super-Resolution

Video super-resolution (SR) is focused on reconstructing high-resolution frames from consecutive low-resolution (LR) frames. Most previous video SR methods based on convolutional neural networks (CNN) use a direct connection and single-memory module within the network, and thus, they fail to make full use of spatio-temporal complementary information from LR observed frames. To fully exploit spatio-temporal correlations between adjacent LR frames and reveal more realistic details, this paper proposes a multi-memory CNN (MMCNN) for video SR, cascading an optical flow network and an image-reconstruction network. A series of residual blocks engaged in utilizing intra-frame spatial correlations is proposed for feature extraction and reconstruction. Particularly, instead of using a single-memory module, we embed convolutional long short-term memory into the residual block, thus forming a multi-memory residual block to progressively extract and retain inter-frame temporal correlations between the consecutive LR frames. We conduct extensive experiments on numerous testing datasets with respect to different scaling factors. Our proposed MMCNN shows superiority over the state-of-the-art methods in terms of PSNR and visual quality and surpasses the best counterpart method by 1 dB at most.
Contact Lens Materials: A Materials Science Perspective

More is demanded from ophthalmic treatments using contact lenses, which are currently used by over 125 million people around the world. Improving the material of contact lenses (CLs) is a now rapidly evolving discipline. These materials are developing alongside the advances made in related biomaterials for applications such as drug delivery. Contact lens materials are typically based on polymer- or silicone-hydrogel, with additional manufacturing technologies employed to produce the final lens. These processes are simply not enough to meet the increasing demands from CLs and the ever-increasing number of contact lens (CL) users. This review provides an advanced perspective on contact lens materials, with an emphasis on materials science employed in developing new CLs. The future trends for CL materials are to graft, incapsulate, or modify the classic CL material structure to provide new or improved functionality. In this paper, we discuss some of the fundamental material properties, present an outlook from related emerging biomaterials, and provide viewpoints of precision manufacturing in CL development.
Comparison of different prognostic models for predicting cancer-specific survival in bladder transitional cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE To construct the newly valuable nomogram which can compare the predictive performance with American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system in bladder transitional cell carcinoma (BTCC). METHODS BTCC patients were screened (2004-2015) from the SEER database. The nomogram incorporating lymph node ratio was constructed to evaluate individualized cancer-specific survival. RESULTS The C-index of the nomogram for predicting cancer-specific survival was 0.743 (95% CI: 0.720-0.766), which was higher than C-index of the AJCC staging system. CONCLUSION Lymph node ratio can be a reliable prognostic indicator for BTCC. The proposed nomogram showed more satisfactory predictive accuracy and wider applicability than current AJCC staging system in individualized prediction of BTCC patients.
Measuring Unbound Versus Total Piperacillin Concentrations in Plasma of Critically Ill Patients: Methodological Issues and Relevance

Background: Piperacillin is considered a moderately protein-bound antibiotic (20%–40%), with albumin being an important binding protein. Although infrequently used in practice, different methods to measure the fraction unbound (fu) are available, but uncertainty remains as to what the most appropriate method is. The main goal of this study was to estimate the impact of the methodology used to measure unbound piperacillin in plasma on the fu of piperacillin; we compared ultrafiltration (UF) at 4°C and 37°C with the reference method, equilibrium dialysis. In addition, we analyzed the impact of other proteins on the fu. Methods: Anonymized left-over Li-heparin plasma samples (n = 41) from 30 critically ill patients who were treated with piperacillin were used for the analyses. Results: We found that the piperacillin fu, determined by UF, is on average 8% higher at 37°C (91%) than at 4°C (83%). There were no systematic or proportional differences between UF at 4°C and equilibrium dialysis at 4°C. This emphasizes the importance of the temperature during UF, which should therefore be clearly stated in publications that report on the methodology of UF. No significant impact of the albumin-, IgA-, total protein-, or &agr;1-acid glycoprotein concentration on the fu was found. The fu found in this study was higher than the generally assumed fu value of 60%–80%. A possible explanation lies in the studied population or in the temperature used. Based on our results, routine monitoring of unbound piperacillin in intensive care unit patients is not recommended. Conclusions: Based on the prediction model, we can state that in intensive care patients the fu of piperacillin is 91% (SD 7%), determined with UF at 37°C.
Neuroimaging findings in midlife and risk of late-life dementia over 20 years of follow-up

Objective To examine the association between neuroimaging features in a predominantly middle-aged cohort and risk of late-life dementia. Methods Cerebral MRI was performed on 1,881 individuals with no history of stroke from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study cohort in 1993 to 1995. White matter hyperintensities (WMH), ventricular size, and sulcal size were graded on a semiquantitative scale, and presence of silent cerebral infarcts was identified. In 2011 to 2013, dementia was determined from neuropsychological testing, informant interview, hospital ICD-9 codes, and death certificate dementia codes. Cox regression was used to evaluate associations between MRI findings and dementia. Results Over 20 years of follow-up, dementia developed in 279 participants (14.8%). High-grade WMH and high-grade ventricular size were independently associated with increased dementia risk (hazard ratio [HR] for WMH 1.62, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.14–2.30; HR for ventricular size 1.46, 95% CI 1.06–2.03). There was an increased risk of dementia for diabetic participants with silent infarcts (HR 2.56, 95% CI 1.23–5.31) but not among nondiabetic participants (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.56–1.37). Each 1-unit increase in the total number of high-grade cerebral abnormalities at baseline (count values range 0–4) showed increased dementia risk, with a considerably higher risk among diabetic participants (HR for diabetes mellitus 1.97, 95% CI 1.44–2.69; HR for no diabetes mellitus 1.20, 95% CI 1.03–1.39). Conclusion In adults without evidence of clinical stroke, MRI-detected WMH and ventricular enlargement in midlife may represent markers of brain injury that increase risk for later-life cognitive impairment. The presence of diabetes mellitus may modify the association between silent infarcts and dementia.
Hijiki seaweed consumption elevates levels of inorganic arsenic intake in Japanese children and pregnant women

ABSTRACT Although exposure to inorganic arsenic is a health concern, especially in developing foetuses and children, dietary exposure levels among pregnant women and children have not been extensively studied in Japan. To address this shortcoming, we completed a 3-day duplicate diet study for 104 children and 101 pregnant women in two cities, Shimotsuke, Tochigi and Asahikawa, Hokkaido. The levels of intake of total and inorganic arsenic were estimated using the concentrations of total and inorganic arsenic in food and drinking water measured by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Estimated intakes of total and inorganic arsenic were 8.46 ± 3.02 [µg/kg BW/week] and 1.74 ± 1.07 [µg/kg BW/week] in pregnant women and 20.07 ± 3.53 [µg/kg BW/week] and 8.46 ± 3.02 [µg/kg BW/week] in children, respectively. Weekly arsenic exposure per kg body weight was significantly higher in children than in pregnant women. Concentrations of total arsenic were generally very low in collected drinking water samples with a small number of exceptions, and drinking water was not considered as a major source of inorganic arsenic exposure in Japan. We found that total and inorganic arsenic intake were higher among frequent consumers of hijiki seaweed, in both pregnant women and children. Although rice and rice products that are staple foods of the Japanese have been reported to be major sources of inorganic arsenic exposure in Japan, our results indicate that hijiki consumption elevates levels of inorganic arsenic in Japanese children and pregnant women. More efforts are necessary to reduce the risk of exposure to inorganic arsenic in populations highly sensitive to environmental pollutants. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
A reintroduction of environmental mite allergen control strategies for asthma treatment and the debate on their effectiveness

Asthma affects three hundred million people worldwide. The effectiveness of house dust mite allergen control for asthma treatment is debatable. One aspect that has been little discussed in existing meta‐analyses is the possible role of environmental strategies. Here, we reintroduce the previously defined strategies for mite allergen control and discuss their importance to the debate on clinical effectiveness. The strategy of concurrent bedroom interventions is related to the combined use of a priori defined interventions, while the strategy of exposure‐based control relates to the treatment of relevant textiles after assessing exposure. The air purification strategy aims to purify the human breathing zone of airborne allergens. In Western European patient practice, the use of these strategies differs. A post hoc study of the dominant Cochrane review by Gøtzsche and Johansen (Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2008, Art. No: CD001187) appears to indicate that a majority of the underlying trials reported on the strategy of concurrent bedroom interventions, which were mainly executed in a minimal manner. Some trials have reported on the air purification strategy and may potentially alter the debate on effectiveness. No trial has reported on the strategy of exposure‐based control. We therefore hypothesize that the absence of evidence for the effectiveness of mite allergen control for asthma treatment applies to the strategy of concurrent bedroom interventions. The evidence‐based effectiveness of the exposure‐based control strategy appears to be undetermined. The results of our post hoc reanalysis urge that future meta‐analyses of mite allergen control should a priori define the environmental strategy under study. Future trials of mite allergen control are warranted to test the exposure‐based strategy as well as the sparsely tested strategy of air purification.
GST′ , Jost's D, and FST are similarly constrained by allele frequencies: A mathematical, simulation, and empirical study

Statistics GST′ and Jost's D have been proposed for replacing FST as measures of genetic differentiation. A principal argument in favour of these statistics is the independence of their maximal values with respect to the subpopulation heterozygosity HS, a property not shared by FST. Nevertheless, it has been unclear if these alternative differentiation measures are constrained by other aspects of the allele frequencies. Here, for biallelic markers, we study the mathematical properties of the maximal values of GST′ and D, comparing them to those of FST. We show that GST′ and D exhibit the same peculiar frequency‐dependence phenomena as FST, including a maximal value as a function of the frequency of the most frequent allele that lies well below one. Although the functions describing GST′ , D, and FST in terms of the frequency of the most frequent allele are different, the allele frequencies that maximize them are identical. Moreover, we show using coalescent simulations that when taking into account the specific maximal values of the three statistics, their behaviours become similar across a large range of migration rates. We use our results to explain two empirical patterns: the similar values of the three statistics among North American wolves, and the low D values compared to GST′ and FST in Atlantic salmon. The results suggest that the three statistics are often predictably similar, so that they can make quite similar contributions to data analysis. When they are not similar, the difference can be understood in relation to features of genetic diversity.
Creating a human head finite element model using a multi-block approach for predicting skull response and brain pressure

Abstract To better understand head injuries, human head finite element (FE) models have been reported in the literature. In scenarios where the head is directly impacted and measurements of head accelerations are not available, a high-quality skull model, as well as a high-quality brain model, is needed to predict the effect of impact on the brain through the skull. Furthermore, predicting cranial bone fractures requires comprehensively validated skull models. Lastly, high-quality meshes for both the skull and brain are needed for accurate strain/stress predictions across the entire head. Hence, we adopted a multi-block approach to develop hexahedral meshes for the brain, skull, and scalp simultaneously, a first approach in its kind. We then validated our model against experimental data of brain pressures (Nahum et al., 1977) and comprehensive skull responses (Yoganandan et al., 1995, Yoganandan et al., 2004, and Raymond et al., 2009). We concluded that a human head FE model was developed with capabilities to predict blunt- and ballistic-impact-induced skull fractures and pressure-related brain injuries.
Hippocrates, Celsus and Galen: Head Injury, the Brain, and the Bone

Galen’s Logic: Aristotelian Heritage or Scientifi c Innovation? V.L. Vasyukov . 3 The evolution of Vesalius’s perspective on Galen’s anatomy D. Lanska . 13 Galen as Read and Perceived by Medieval Islamic Medicine H. Ebrahimnejad . 27
Evaluating the effectiveness of ecological momentary assessment and intervention targeting body checking behaviors

ABSTRACT This study investigated the efficacy of using ecological momentary assessment and intervention (EMA/EMI) to target body checking behaviors. Body checking has been shown to increase body dissatisfaction and play a role in eating disorders, but few treatments specifically targeting body checking have been empirically evaluated. Forty-four female undergraduates who reported engaging in frequent body checking behaviors participated in a five-day study wherein they were assessed five times a day via smart phone. On the final two days of the study, intervention messages were sent containing cognitive-behavioral strategies for decreasing body checking. Body checking behaviors increased within each day, but decreased across the five day intervention period. Pretest to posttest analyses found healthy improvements in a number of body image related constructs. These results highlight that 1) body checking appears to increase throughout the day, and 2) targeting body checking behaviors through brief EMA/EMI may be a useful clinical tool.
Circulating antiplatelet antibodies in pregnant women with immune thrombocytopenic purpura as predictors of thrombocytopenia in the newborns

Abstract Newborns from mothers with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) have a risk of thrombocytopenia due to passage of maternal antiplatelet antibodies into fetal/neonatal circulation. We looked for predictors of neonatal thrombocytopenia (nTP) in pregnant women with ITP. One hundred pregnant women with platelet count <100 × 109/l, no non-immune causes of thrombocytopenia and increased platelet associated IgG (PA-IgG) were included in the study. Thirty seven and 63 of them gave birth to babies with and without nTP, respectively (nTP+ and nTP− groups). Platelet count, mean platelet volume, PA-IgG, antiplatelet circulating antibodies (cAB), time of ITP onset (before or during pregnancy), and frequency of corticosteroid treatment were compared in these groups. There were no differences in all test parameters between nTP+ and nTP− groups except cAB. These antibodies were detected in 33 out of 37 in nTP+ group and in 2 out of 63 mothers in nTP− group (p < 0.001). The sensitivity of this test was 89% and its specificity was 97%. A strong reverse correlation (r = −0.749, p < 0.001) was established between maternal cAB titer and neonatal platelet count. Antibodies against glycoproteins IIb–IIIa and/or Ib were identified in antigen specific MAIPA (Monoclonal Antibody Immobilization of Platelet Antigen) assay only in 10 out of 19 (53%) test sera with cAB. Antiplatelet cAB in pregnant women with ITP could serve as reliable predictors of nTP in their babies.
Effect of Sender Buffer on Video Quality of Experience

In this thesis, the effect of buffer strategy on video quality has been investigated. For this purpose, a software system was developed to implement buffer strategy at sender and receiver sides. Four experiments were performed under this system and five scenarios were designed under each experiment. A subjective test of MOS was conducted for all the scenarios to collect people’s perception about three different videos. People from different background and of different age group were invited to take part in all the experiments. Three different videos were shown to each participant in order to investigate user perceived quality of video. MATLAB and MS Excel were used for data collection and plotting graphs. We conclude that people have convergence of opinions when communication break time increases than the size of buffers at both ends. Finally, the MOS ratings of this subjective test prove that by the use of same size buffers at both ends improves the user’s perceived quality of video at acceptable level. Because of empirical study, the main focus was on implementation strategy of buffers at both ends. The implementation strategy was the design of a number of scenarios in which the statistics of the behavior of sender and receiver buffers have been collected.