Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A boundary extraction approach based on multi-resolution methods and the T-Snakes framework

We present a new approach which integrates the T-Snakes model and a multi-resolution method in a unified framework for segmentation and boundary extraction. In a first stage, a local scale property of the objects is used to define a triangulation of the image domain and a sampling (coarsest resolution) of the image field. The low resolution image is thresholded to get a 0-1 field which is processed by a simple continuation method to generate polygonal curves whose interior contain the desired objects. If the polygonal curve involves more than one object, then the resolution is increased in that region and the method will be applied again. This stage gives a rough approximation of the desired boundaries which will be improved by the T-Snakes to get the final result. We demonstrate the method for 2D medical imaging in the experimental results and indicate how it can be extended to 3D in future work.
Endoscopic full-thickness resection for inverted Meckel’s diverticulum using double-balloon enteroscopy

Meckel’s diverticulum contains all layers of the small bowel wall and is usually treated by surgery [1, 2]. Inverted Meckel’s diverticulum is rare, with only two reports of endoscopic resection [3, 4]. As preoperative diagnosis of an inverted Meckel’s diverticulum is difficult [5], it was not diagnosed prior to resection in either case, and consequently perforation due to endoscopic resection was reported in one case [3]. In the current case, we diagnosed the condition preoperatively, and subsequently used two detachable snares prior to resection to prevent hemorrhage or perforation. We then safely treated the inverted Meckel’s diverticulum using endoscopic full-thickness resection with double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE). A 78-year-old man was admitted to our institution because of anemia and a positive fecal occult blood test. Abdominal ultrasound identified a hypoechoic polypoid lesion, with a hyperechoic head (▶Video1). A contrasted abdominal computed tomography scan also identified an elongated pedunculated polypoid lesion, with fat tissue in its center, in the distal ileum (▶Video1). Capsule endoscopy demonstrated a submucosal tumor-like lesion (▶Video1), and selective contrast-enhanced radiography indicated an elongated intraluminal polypoid lesion that was approximately 8 cm in size (▶Video1). Retrograde DBE indicated that the polypoid lesion exhibited intestinal villous mucosa on the surface at the head and typical mucosal features at the stalk of the antimesenteric attachment (▶Fig. 1). This indicated that the lesion was an inverted Meckel’s diverticulum, and endoscopic full-thickness resection with DBE was attempted. First, the stem of the polyp was closed with two detachable snares before resection to prevent hemorrhage or perforation. Then, conventional polypectomy with DBE was performed. The resection surface was closed with four clips after the polypectomy (▶Fig. 2, ▶Video1). Histopathological analysis revealed an 80×10mm inverted Meckel’s diverticulum without ectopic tissue (▶Video1). The patient was discharged 2 days later without adverse events. Endoscopy_UCTN_Code_TTT_1AP_2AD
Influence of muscle fiber type and pedal frequency on oxygen uptake kinetics of heavy exercise.

We tested the hypothesis that the amplitude of the additional slow component of O2 uptake (VO2) during heavy exercise is correlated with the percentage of type II (fast-twitch) fibers in the contracting muscles. Ten subjects performed transitions to a work rate calculated to require a VO2 equal to 50% between the estimated lactate (Lac) threshold and maximal VO2 (50% delta). Nine subjects consented to a muscle biopsy of the vastus lateralis. To enhance the influence of differences in fiber type among subjects, transitions were made while subjects were pedaling at 45, 60, 75, and 90 rpm in different trials. Baseline VO2 was designed to be similar at the different pedal rates by adjusting baseline work rate while the absolute increase in work rate above the baseline was the same. The VO2 response after the onset of exercise was described by a three-exponential model. The relative magnitude of the slow component at the end of 8-min exercise was significantly negatively correlated with % type I fibers at every pedal rate (r = 0.64 to 0.83, P < 0.05-0.01). Furthermore, the gain of the fast component for VO2 (as ml.min-1.W-1) was positively correlated with the % type I fibers across pedal rates (r = 0.69-0.83). Increase in pedal rate was associated with decreased relative stress of the exercise but did not affect the relationships between % fiber type and VO2 parameters. The relative contribution of the slow component was also significantly negatively correlated with maximal VO2 (r = -0.65), whereas the gain for the fast component was positively associated (r = 0.68-0.71 across rpm). The amplitude of the slow component was significantly correlated with net end-exercise Lac at all four pedal rates (r = 0.64-0.84), but Lac was not correlated with % type I (P > 0.05). We conclude that fiber type distribution significantly affects both the fast and slow components of VO2 during heavy exercise and that fiber type and fitness may have both codependent and independent influences on the metabolic and gas-exchange responses to heavy exercise.
Comparison of a Fully Implicit and Sequential Implicit Formulation for Geothermal Reservoir Simulations

This study compared the fully implicit formulation and sequential formulation for geothermal reservoir simulation. In particular, we looked at how the choice of coupling terms affects the nonlinear convergence behavior. The main difference between the two formulations is that in the fully implicit formulation, the flow and thermal equations are solved together at the nonlinear level, while for the sequential formulation, the flow and thermal equations are solved separately and coupled iteratively with a coupling term. These formulations were implemented in the Automatic-Differentiation General Purpose Research Simulator (AD-GPRS). AD-GPRS has a general implicit coupling framework for multi-physics problems and provides a unified interface for both formulations. This ensures that the differences in performances are isolated to be a result of the formulation rather than implementation issues. The performance of the formulations was quantified in terms of the time-step size and the number of Newton and sequential iterations for each coupled approach. The results from the numerical experiments showed that fully implicit method performs significantly better than all sequential schemes. We found that a hybrid method having a constant pressure for single-phase blocks and constant density for two-phase blocks performed the best out of all the sequential schemes.
The Complexity of the Puzzles of Final Fantasy XIII-2

We analyze the computational complexity of solving the three \temporal rift" puzzles in the recent popular video game Final Fantasy XIII-2. We show that the Tile Trial puzzle is NP-hard and we provide an ecient algorithm for solving the Crystal Bonds puzzle. We also show that slight generalizations of the Crystal Bonds and Hands of Time puzzles are NP-hard.
The Doppler Effect

I’m standing inside a stationary train and looking outside the window when a fast moving train on the very next track roars past the window. I reach for the strap hanger, which used to be leather but is now the bent metal shape of a vacant pig’s ear, because I am convinced that I am moving. Even my knees begin to brace against illusion. It is like that at night, when my dog nudges my hand from the couch to pet her, her head fitting the cup of my hand, as if before my hand was formed, a dog’s head needing the shape of it was the cause.
Assessing Toxicities in a Clinical Trial: Bayesian Inference for Ordinal Data Nested within Categories

Summary This article addresses modeling and inference for ordinal outcomes nested within categorical responses. We propose a mixture of normal distributions for latent variables associated with the ordinal data. This mixture model allows us to fix without loss of generality the cutpoint parameters that link the latent variable with the observed ordinal outcome. Moreover, the mixture model is shown to be more flexible in estimating cell probabilities when compared to the traditional Bayesian ordinal probit regression model with random cutpoint parameters. We extend our model to take into account possible dependence among the outcomes in different categories. We apply the model to a randomized phase III study to compare treatments on the basis of toxicities recorded by type of toxicity and grade within type. The data include the different (categorical) toxicity types exhibited in each patient. Each type of toxicity has an (ordinal) grade associated to it. The dependence among the different types of toxicity exhibited by the same patient is modeled by introducing patient‐specific random effects.
Stock temporal prediction based on time series motifs

Recent researches pay more attention to stock tendency prediction, which various machine learning approaches have been proposed. In this paper, we propose an algorithm to discover self-correlation of stock price in virtue of the notion of time series motifs, by viewing stock price sequences as time series. Generally, time series motif is a pattern appearing frequently in a time sequence, useful to forecast the stock temporal tendencies and prices as a reliable part in time series. In the proposed approach, we firstly search for one part of time series motifs using ordinal comparison and k-NN clustering algorithm, and then attempt to discover the correlation between motifs and subsequences connected behind them. Experimental results demonstrate the positive contribution of time series motifs, the acceptable prediction accuracy, and priority of our algorithm.
What is Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK)?

This paper describes a teacher knowledge framework for technology integration called technological pedagogical content knowledge (originally TPCK, now known as TPACK, or technology, pedagogy, and content knowledge). This framework builds on Lee Shulman's (1986, 1987) construct of pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) to include technology knowledge. The development of TPACK by teachers is critical to effective teaching with technology. The paper begins with a brief introduction to the complex, ill-structured nature of teaching. The nature of technologies (both analog and digital) is considered, as well as how the inclusion of technology in pedagogy further complicates teaching. The TPACK framework for teacher knowledge is described in detail as a complex interaction among three bodies of knowledge: content, pedagogy, and technology. The interaction of these bodies of knowledge, both theoretically and in practice, produces the types of flexible knowledge needed to successfully integrate technology use into teaching.
Emotional Competence as Antecedent to Performance: A Contingency Framework

Emotional intelligence is the ability to monitor one's own and others' thinking and actions. In this integrative review, the author seeks to determine the causes of the weak relationship between emotional intelligence and performance by positing that certain emotional competencies, rather than emotional intelligence, are the true predictors of performance. The author theorizes that emotional competencies (including self-control, resilience, social skills, conscientiousness, reliability, integrity, and motivation) interact with organizational climate and job demands or job autonomy to influence performance, as represented in the form of 5 empirically testable propositions. Self-control and emotional resilience are considered to delay the onset of a decline in performance from excessive job demands. Social skills, conscientiousness, reliability, and integrity assist to promote trust, which in turn may build cohesiveness among the members of work groups. Motivation may fuel job involvement in environments that promise psychological safety and psychological meaningfulness. A combination of superior social skills and conscientiousness may enhance the self-sacrifice of benevolent employees to heightened levels of dependability and consideration. Finally, emotional honesty, self-confidence, and emotional resilience can promote superior performance, if positive feedback is delivered in an informative manner, and can mitigate the adverse effects of negative feedback.
Pyrethroid Insecticides, Fenvalerate and Permethrin, Inhibit Progesterone-Induced Alkaline Phosphatase Activity in T47D Human Breast Cancer Cells

Pyrethroid insecticides exhibited a weak estrogenic activity by stimulation of MCF-7 cell proliferation and induction of alkaline phosphatase (AlkP) enzyme activity in cultured Ishikawa cells. Previously it was reported that fenvalerate and permethrin significantly inhibited the 17β-estradiol-induced MCF-7 BUS cell proliferation. Although certain pyrethroid insecticides exert estrogenic or antiestrogenic activities, it is not clear whether pyrethroid insecticides act as progesterone agonists or antagonists. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of fenvalerate and permethrin on AlkP activity as a progesterone-specific response in T47D cells. In the present study, the stimulation of AlkP activity was concentration dependent with addition of progesterone, and maximum activity was observed at concentration of 1 × 10−8 M. Both fenvalerate (1 × 10−6 M) and permethrin (1 × 10−6 M) did not stimulate the AlkP activity, but progesterone (1 × 10−8 M)-induced AlkP activity was significantly inhibited at 1 × 10−6 M concentration of fenvalerate and permethrin, respectively. Progesterone receptor (PR) levels in cytosolic protein of T47D cells were studied to determine the relationship between cellular PR expression and AlkP activity. Similar to AlkP activity, progesterone (1 × 10−8 M) significantly increased PR protein levels compared to control. However, PR protein levels were not affected in T47D cells cultured with fenvalerate and permethrin alone, whereas fenvalerate and permethrin significantly decreased progesterone-induced PR protein levels. Our data indicate that fenvalerate and permethrin exhibit antiprogestagenic activity in T47D human breast cancer cells.
Hsp90 and FKBP51: complex regulators of psychiatric diseases

Mood disorders affect nearly a quarter of the world's population. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying these conditions is of great importance. FK-506 binding protein 5 (FKBP5) encodes the FKBP51 protein, a heat shock protein 90 kDa (Hsp90) co-chaperone, and is a risk factor for several affective disorders. FKBP51, in coordination with Hsp90, regulates glucocorticoid receptor (GR) activity via a short negative feedback loop. This signalling pathway rapidly restores homeostasis in the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis following stress. Expression of FKBP5 increases with age through reduced DNA methylation. High levels of FKBP51 are linked to GR resistance and reduced stress coping behaviour. Moreover, common allelic variants in the FKBP5 gene are associated with increased risk of developing affective disorders like anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This review highlights the current understanding of the Hsp90 co-chaperone, FKBP5, in disease from both human and animal studies. In addition, FKBP5 genetic implications in the clinic involving life stress exposure, gender differences and treatment outcomes are discussed. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Heat shock proteins as modulators and therapeutic targets of chronic disease: an integrated perspective’.
XV. Yeast sequencing reports. Sequence of a 10·27 kb segment on the left arm of chromosome XV from Saccharomyces cerevisiae includes part of the IRA2 gene and a putative new gene

A 10 270 bp fragment from the left arm of chromosome XV of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was sequenced and analysed. The sequence reveals the presence of two open reading frames (ORFs), one of them is the larger part of the previously sequenced gene IRA2 (YOL0951). The other ORF, YOL0950, has a length of 1245 nucleotides and exhibits no significant homology with any known gene, although there is some similarity of its upstream region to the corresponding region of the Schizosaccharomyces pombe cdr1/nim1 gene which is involved in the control of mitotic cell size. The sequence has been deposited in the EMBL data library under Accession Number X75449.
Nurses, Physicians, and Pharmacists: Their Knowledge of Hazards of Medications

At a major tertiary care teaching hospital, random samples of 100 nurses, 102 physicians, and all of the hospital's 14 pharmacists were tested on their knowledge of the hazards of medications. The 25-question examination was generated by way of a rigorous validating procedure and was self-administered by the practitioners.Based on a perfect examination score of 100, the group mean scores of the nurses, physicians, and pharmacists were 72.3, 81.3, and 85.1, respectively. A oneway analysis of variance demonstrated that the difference in knowledge among the three groups of practitioners was significant (p<.001). Pairwise (Scheffe) contrast tests revealed that the difference in knowledge between the physicians and nurses, and the pharmacists and nurses was significant; the nurses proved to be the least knowledgeable of the three practitioner groups.The nurses' scores were analyzed by years of nursing experience, type of educational preparation, hospital service affiliation, and hospital shift. A one-way analysis of variance revealed that there was a significant difference in nurses' knowledge by hospital Shift (p<.05). A posteriori contrast tests (Scheffe) indicated that the group mean score of the day shift nurses (x = 75.6) was significantly different than the average of the evening and night shift nurses' scores (x = 69.9).
Childhood Circumstances and Adult Outcomes: Act Ii

That prenatal events can have life-long consequences is now well established. Nevertheless, research on the fetal origins hypothesis is flourishing and has expanded to include the early childhood (postnatal) environment. Why does this literature have a “second act? ” We summarize the major themes and contributions driving the empirical literature since our 2011 reviews, and try to interpret the literature in light of an overarching conceptual framework about how human capital is produced early in life. One major finding is that relatively mild shocks in early life can have substantial negative impacts, but that the effects are often heterogeneous reflecting differences in child endowments, budget constraints, and production technologies. Moreover, shocks, investments, and interventions can interact in complex ways that are only beginning to be understood. Many advances in our knowledge are due to increasing accessibility of comprehensive administrative data that allow events in early life to be linked to long-term outcomes. Yet, we still know relatively little about the interval between, and thus about whether it would be feasible to identify and intervene with affected individuals at some point between early life and adulthood. We do know enough, however, to be able to identify some interventions that hold promise for improving child outcomes in early life and throughout the life course. (JEL I12, J13, J16, Q51, Q53)
Radar-based hand gesture recognition using I-Q echo plot and convolutional neural network

The present paper proposes a technique for the automatic recognition of hand gestures using a 2.4-GHz continuous radar and a convolutional neural network. The proposed technique applies the neural network to the time-domain I-Q plot of radar echoes. The accurate recognition capability of the technique was established with a set of radar data for three types of hand gesture performed by a participant. The radar echo trajectories were converted to low-resolution images to achieve fast signal processing, and the neural network was trained using the images. Another set of I-Q plot images were used for the evaluation of the recognition accuracy. The results indicate that the proposed technique is able to recognize hand gestures with accuracy exceeding 90%.
Analysis of the contribution of changes in mRNA stability to the changes in steady‐state levels of cyclin mRNA in the mammalian cell cycle

Cyclins are the essential regulatory subunits of cyclin‐dependent protein kinases. They accumulate and disappear periodically at specific phases of the cell cycle. Here we investigated whether variations in cyclin mRNA levels in exponentially growing cells can be attributed to changes in mRNA stability. Mouse EL4 lymphoma cells and 3T3 fibroblasts were synchronized by elutriation or cell sorting. Steady‐state levels and degradation of cyclin mRNAs and some other cell cycle related mRNAs were measured at early G1, late G1, S and G2/M phases. In both cell lines mRNAs of cyclins C, D1 and D3 remained unchanged throughout the cell cycle. In contrast, cyclin A2 and B1 mRNAs accumulated 3.1‐ and 5.7‐fold between early G1 and G2/M phase, whereas cyclin E1 mRNA decreased 1.7‐fold. Mouse cyclin A2 and B1 genes, by alternative polyadenylation, gave rise to more than one transcript. In both cases, the longer transcripts were the minor species but accumulated more strongly in G2/M phase. All mRNAs were rather stable with half‐lives of 1.5–2 h for cyclin E1 mRNA and 3–4 h for the others. Changes in mRNA stability accounted for the accumulation in G2/M phase of the short cyclin A2 and B1 mRNAs, but contributed only partially to changes in levels of the other mRNAs.
Continuous Peritoneal Insulin Infusion with Portable Pumps: Factors Affecting the Operating Life of the Chronic Catheter

Fifty-nine chronic peritoneal catheters made of polyethylene covered with silastic were used to treat 43 IDDM patients peritoneally for 3–34 mo (mean 14 mo) with portable peristaltic pumps and U40 acidic insulin. The operative life of the catheters was determined by actuarial analysis. The mechanisms of catheter failure were determined by preremoval x-ray opacification, removal under laparoscopie examination, and electron microscopic analysis of the catheter. Factors such as age, sex, duration of diabetes, implantation and tunnelization procedures, length of the catheter, and rate of infusion were analyzed. The 50% survival rate of the catheters was 16 mo. Six catheters were irreversibly obstructed by intraluminal fibrin formation and/or extraluminal adhesions, although insulin precipitation was never encountered. Seven catheters had to be removed because of a persisting local infection. Other causes were negligible (misinsertion, irreparable break). The only factor significantly related to incidence of catheter failure was gender with respect to obstruction (1 obstruction among 24 women versus 5 among 19 men, P < 0.03).