Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development of a stated-preference instrument to prioritize treatment goals in recent onset schizophrenia

Abstract Objective: This study sought to evaluate a new stated-preference instrument to prioritize multiple treatment goals among people with recent onset schizophrenia. Methods: A draft survey instrument was developed to assess preferences for 13 key treatment goals that were identified based on the literature. The survey incorporates best–worst scaling (BWS), which shows repeated subsets comprising 4 of the 13 goals, and respondents identify which is most important and which is least important to them. Pre-test interviews were conducted in the UK, Italy, and Germany among people aged 18 to 35 diagnosed with schizophrenia within the past 5 years. Specifically, participants completed the instrument online in their native language, followed by a telephone interview to provide feedback on the clarity, relevance, and comprehensiveness of the survey. The interview data were analyzed to assess interpretation and content validity of the survey. Results: Fifteen participants (five per country) provided feedback (mean age = 31; 60% male). Feedback was comparable across countries and confirmed that the key treatment goals assessed were relevant and meaningful. Probing by interviewers ascertained that respondents interpreted the questions appropriately and identified the treatment goals that were most and least important to them. Based on the characterization of the goals, a conceptual model was developed illustrating hypothesized associations among them. Conclusion: The results confirm that the BWS methodology and key treatment goals in this new instrument are appropriate for use in recent onset schizophrenia. These results will help guide measurement of patient-relevant endpoints in future studies.
Detail‐aware spatial deformation transfer

In this paper, we propose a deformation transfer method that is applicable to multi‐component objects and is able to transfer fine‐scale deformations. To accomplish our goal, we combine surface‐based and space‐based deformation transfers. Our system enhances the result of space deformation transfer, which is applicable to multi‐component objects but loses details, by using surface‐based deformation transfer to add fine‐scale deformations. Self‐collisions are handled by approximating spatial relationships between surfaces, from the result of space deformation. Experimental results show that our method can transfer fine‐scale deformations such as motions of a skirt and muscle bulging. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Introducing tangible objects into motion controlled gameplay using Microsoft® Kinect TM

Improvements in ways of game controlling in recent years yielded higher level of interaction. Release of motion controller devices changed conventional ways of controlling games that have been used so far. Microsoft ®; Kinect™ (Microsoft Corporation, WA, USA) recognizes motions of the players as game controlling inputs. Although touchless interaction is perceived to be attractive, games mimicking real life activities may benefit from hand‐held tangible objects for the player to get more involved into game. In this study, a tangible gameplay interaction method is developed using Microsoft ®; Kinect™ that senses hand‐held objects with their dimensions and incorporates them into gameplay. Proposed algorithm is implemented on an experimental game, and a user study is performed to measure effects of tangible interaction on Kinect gameplay experience. Results revealed that an improved gameplay with more natural and accurate motion controlling is achieved. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pencil drawing animation from a video

We present an automatic, efficient, and simple technique to create pencil drawing animation, starting from a video. We generate pencil drawing from a source frame based on stroke modeling, specifying the properties of strokes, in combination with layered lines, flow‐guided difference‐of‐Gaussian (DoG) filter to several layers. Generated pencil strokes are translated and rotated because of forces exerted from the sequential frames using rigid body dynamics. Linear and angular forces acting on strokes are calculated according to the temporally filtered per‐pixel optical flow vectors. Our framework effectively generates the coherent animation of pencil strokes preserving the structured appearance of charcoal or pastel, which is difficult to achieve with previous‐abstraction based non‐photorealistic animation. Moreover, our stroke simulation step is suitable for animating the different styles of strokes, such as oil painting and watercolor, and can be efficiently implemented to produce animation in relatively inexpensive manner. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Anticipated velocity based guidance strategy for wheeled mobile evader amidst stationary and moving obstacles in bounded environment

This paper is concerned with a class of pursuit‐evasion game problems amidst stationary and moving obstacles in a bounded environment. We concentrate on evader's strategy taking into account the following challenges: (i) pursuer and evader are nonholonomic wheeled mobile robots and the evader is slower than the pursuer; (ii) pursuer follows a proportional navigation law; and (iii) geometry of the environment is not known to the players, a priori. We propose an efficient evader‐centric anticipated velocity based guidance strategy. Pursuer's trajectory is anticipated at each step by the evader using quadratic polynomial interpolation. The aim of the evader is to escape interception with the pursuer for maximum possible time. To deal with static obstacles, a technique based on a well‐known tangent bug algorithm is presented. While dealing with dynamic obstacles, a recently introduced reciprocal orientation method is employed to avoid collision in situations when the dynamic obstacle also cooperates in the process. In case dynamic obstacles do not participate in the process of collision avoidance, a well‐known velocity obstacle method is employed for planning safe collision‐free paths. Efficiency of the proposed algorithms is analyzed with respect to the interception time and the distance traveled by the players. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
IL-1β Stimulates the Expression of Prostaglandin Receptor EP4 in Human Chondrocytes by Increasing Production of Prostaglandin E2

Prostaglandin (PG) E2, which exerts its actions via the PG receptors EP1–4, is produced from arachidonic acid by cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanisms by which interleukin (IL)-1β induces the expression of PG receptors in cultured human chondrocytes and to explore the role of PGE2 in this process. The cells were cultured with 0, 10, or 100 U/mL IL-1β with or without 1 μM celecoxib, a specific inhibitor of COX-2, for up to 28 days. Expression of the genes encoding COX-1, COX-2, and EP1–4 was quantified using real-time PCR, and expression of the corresponding proteins was examined using immunohistochemical staining. PGE2 production was determined using ELISA. IL-1β treatment caused a marked dose- and time-dependent increase in the levels of PGE2, COX-2, and EP4 as compared with the untreated control. It did not affect the expression of COX-1, and it decreased the expression of EP1 and EP2. EP3 expression was not detected in either the absence or the presence of IL-1β. When celecoxib was also present, IL-1β failed to stimulate PGE2 production and EP4 expression, but its stimulatory effect on COX-2 expression and its inhibitory effect on EP1 and EP2 expression were unchanged. IL-1β increases the production of PGE2, COX-2, and the PG receptor EP4 in cultured human chondrocytes. The increase in EP4 expression appears to be a result of the increased PGE2 production.
Chronic conditions among children admitted to U.S. pediatric intensive care units: Their prevalence and impact on risk for mortality and prolonged length of stay*

Objective:To estimate the prevalence of chronic conditions among children admitted to U.S. pediatric intensive care units and to assess whether patients with complex chronic conditions experience pediatric intensive care unit mortality and prolonged length of stay risk beyond that predicted by commonly used severity-of-illness risk-adjustment models. Design, Setting, and Patients:Retrospective cohort analysis of 52,791 pediatric admissions to 54 U.S. pediatric intensive care units that participated in the Virtual Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Systems database in 2008. Measurements:Hierarchical logistic regression models, clustered by pediatric intensive care unit site, for pediatric intensive care unit mortality and length of stay >15 days. Standardized mortality ratios adjusted for severity-of-illness score alone and with complex chronic conditions. Main Results:Fifty-three percent of pediatric intensive care unit admissions had complex chronic conditions, and 18.5% had noncomplex chronic conditions. The prevalence of these conditions and their organ system subcategories varied considerably across sites. The majority of complex chronic condition subcategories were associated with significantly greater odds of pediatric intensive care unit mortality (odds ratios 1.25–2.9, all p values < .02) compared to having a noncomplex chronic condition or no chronic condition, after controlling for age, gender, trauma, and severity-of-illness. Only respiratory, gastrointestinal, and rheumatologic/orthopedic/psychiatric complex chronic conditions were not associated with increased odds of pediatric intensive care unit mortality. All subcategories were significantly associated with prolonged length of stay. All noncomplex chronic condition subcategories were either not associated or were negatively associated with pediatric intensive care unit mortality, and most were not associated with prolonged length of stay, compared to having no chronic conditions. Among this group of pediatric intensive care units, adding complex chronic conditions to risk-adjustment models led to greater model accuracy but did not substantially change unit-level standardized mortality ratios. Conclusions:Children with complex chronic conditions were at greater risk for pediatric intensive care unit mortality and prolonged length of stay than those with no chronic conditions, but the magnitude of risk varied across subcategories. Inclusion of complex chronic conditions into models of pediatric intensive care unit mortality improved model accuracy but had little impact on standardized mortality ratios.
Filament‐based realistic turbulent wake synthesis

Turbulent wake is crucial for the visually appealing effects of liquid. Unfortunately, it is challenging to realistically simulate this phenomenon with ring‐shaped vortical structures. To tackle this issue, we propose a filament‐based turbulent wake synthesis method for realistically simulating the turbulent wake with ring‐shaped vortical structures. The filaments are sampled at the separation points on the obstacle surface and emitted into the liquid flow to generate structured turbulent wake. Besides, the surface tension model is incorporated to generate natural turbulent wake diffusion visual effects in liquid by the anticurvature effects. The proposed approach can realistically and effectively synthesize the turbulent wake with ring‐shaped vortical structures and make it diffuse naturally. The experimental results demonstrate that our method outperforms than the vortex particle‐based method in synthesizing appealing turbulent wake.
Real‐time hair simulation on GPU with a dynamic wisp model

In this paper, we present a method for real‐time hair animation. We combine a conventional particle‐based dynamic simulation and a dynamic hair generation technique. First, the movements of a small number of hairs (coarse model) are simulated using a dynamic simulation. Since this stage uses only a small number of hairs, the simulation is quick. A larger number of hairs (fine model) are then generated from the coarse model using a dynamic wisp model. The shape of a wisp and the shapes of the individual strands are geometrically controlled based on the velocity of the corresponding particle in the coarse model. This model simulates hair‐‐hair interactions between the strands in the hair wisps. Our method is designed to work on a GPU and generates a realistic hair animation in real‐time. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Combination treatment with leflunomide and methotrexate for patients with active rheumatoid arthritis

Objective: To determine the efficacy and safety of the combination of leflunomide and methotrexate for the treatment of patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in an open, non‐comparative, multicentre trial. Methods: Seventy‐four patients with active RA were enrolled to receive concomitantly leflunomide (no loading dose, 10 mg/day) and methotrexate (starting at 7.5 mg/week and titrating up to 15 mg/week) for 20 weeks. The primary end‐point was a 20% improvement in the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria at 20 weeks. Safety measures included evaluation of adverse events at each visit and laboratory data, including haematology and liver function tests. Intention‐to‐treat analyses were conducted. Results: Sixty‐five patients completed 20 weeks of treatment, and 71.6% were responders based on the ACR20 criteria. After 20 weeks, the mean changes were −16.3 for tender joint count, −12.0 for swollen joint count, −44.0 for physician global assessment, −34.3 for patient global assessment, −22.7 for erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and −0.65 for the Health Assessment Questionnaire score. Adverse events occurred in 40.5% of the patients, and were considered serious in four patients who discontinued therapy. Abnormal liver function was noted for 16 patients (21.6%). Two of these patients were withdrawn from the study; after discontinuing the medication, their liver function recovered fully. Conclusion: The combination of leflunomide and methotrexate was effective and well tolerated in the treatment of active RA patients. This combination may be a useful option as an initial treatment for active RA before starting biological agents.
Rituximab therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis refractory or with contraindication to anti-tumour necrosis factor drugs: real-life experience in Finnish patients

Objectives: To describe the effects of rituximab therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in routine clinical practice in Finland. Methods: Data were collected retrospectively from patient records in five rheumatology clinics in Finland. All RA patients treated during 2005–2008 (n = 81) were included. Information on disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), DMARD combinations, and biologics prior to rituximab use was collected as well as treatment responses after initiating rituximab therapy. The Disease Activity Score using 28 joint counts (DAS28) was used to determine disease activity and European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) responses. Results: Mean disease duration was 14 (range 0–47) years and the median number of prior DMARDs and biologics used were 7 (1–12) and 2 (0–4), respectively. Efficacy analysis was performed on 57 patients with available DAS28 data at treatment onset and follow-up visits. Median DAS28 declined from 6.07 (3.19–7.70) to 3.99 (1.53–6.55) by the first rituximab treatment course. Altogether 77% of the patients achieved a EULAR response, 26% with a good response including 18% with remission. Furthermore, the patients treated concomitantly with DMARDs other than methotrexate (MTX) achieved a EULAR response slightly more often than the patients on MTX (85% vs. 70%) only. A second course of rituximab was given to 48% of the patients on an average of 9 months after initial therapy, with the median DAS28 score declining further to 3.49 (0.1–5.74). Safety and tolerability assessment of the 81 patients indicates rituximab to be well tolerated. Conclusions: Rituximab can effectively control disease activity in patients with active disease and poor response to previous therapies, in combination with MTX but also with other DMARDs.
Physical growth curves of indigenous Xavante children in Central Brazil: results from a longitudinal study (2009–2012)

Abstract Background: The nutritional profile of Indigenous children in Brazil is comparable to those observed in some of the least developed regions of the world. Aim: Weight and height growth curves were characterised based on longitudinal data from a local Indigenous population experiencing the double burden of child under-nutrition and adult obesity. Subjects and methods: Anthropometric data were collected in six waves from 2009–2011 for children <10 in two proximate Xavante villages in Central Brazil. Prevalence rates for stunting, wasting and thinness were calculated using WHO references. Weight and height data were adjusted for generalised additive mixed models to generate growth curves. Results: Prevalence rates of stunting and wasting were high, but cases of thinness and excess weight were negligible. Weight and height began close to WHO medians, but fell substantially before 12 months. Boys but not girls were able to catch-up in weight before age 10. From 3–10 years, height for both sexes remained between −2 and 0 z-scores. Conclusion: Impaired Xavante growth before 1 year followed by inconsistent recovery before 10 years reflects health and wellbeing disparities with regard to the Brazilian national population and a complex epidemiology of growth involving rapid nutritional change.
Adult height corrected for shrinking and secular trend

Background: If in growth studies on adults of different ages and generations height standard deviation scores (SDS) is to be calculated, individual heights should be compared with the average height for that generation (corrected for secular trend) at that age (corrected for shrinking). Aim: To generate mathematical formulas for calculating adult height SDS corrected for shrinking and secular trend. Subjects and methods: Decline of height by age was modelled based on data derived from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. Based on mean height of Dutch conscripts in 1917 and data from four consecutive nationwide growth studies (1955, 1965, 1980 and 1997), and assuming a constant male-female difference of 13 cm, the secular trend was modelled over 80 years. The average coefficient of variation was calculated from the last three Dutch nationwide growth studies. Results: Height at 21 years of age can be estimated as current height + 0.042*(age − 21) + 0.0015*(age − 21)2 for males, and current height + 0.039*(age − 21) + 0.0019*(age − 21)2 for females. Mean height of 21-year-olds between 1917 and 1997 is characterized by linear regression. The coefficient of variation was close to 3.8%. Adult height SDS is calculated by the equation (A − B)/(0.038B), where A is the estimated individual height at 21 years and B is the average height of 21-year-olds in that generation. Conclusion: For studies on adult height at various ages and in various generations, these equations can be used to reduce experimental noise.
Relationship between egg size and subgroup J avian leukosis virus in eggs from broiler breeders

Hatching eggs from three broiler breeder flocks that had experienced losses from myeloid leukosis were tested for infection with avian leukosis virus of subgroup J (ALV-J). Sufficient eggs were positive in two flocks to relate infection to egg weight. Allantoic fluid, embryonic tissue and yolk were collected after 18 days of incubation. The albumen and allantoic fluid were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for group-specific (gs) antigen and all specimens were inoculated onto cell cultures to test for virus by immunofluorescence assay. Virus detected was identified as ALV-J by polymerase chain reaction techniques. The percentage of eggs that tested positive for gs antigen and virus was higher in those that weighed under 60 g than in heavier eggs (P < 0.01). In one flock, antibody to ALV-J was detected by ELISA in yolk from 14 and 43% of the eggs that tested positive or negative for virus, respectively. Testing the same eggs for antigen, virus and antibody should be useful for establishing the status of infection of the hens.
Correlation between Environmental Factors, Chemical Composition, and Antioxidative Properties of Caper Species Growing Wild in Calabria (South Italy)

Twenty samples of two caper species were collected from various natural habitats of Calabria (South Italy). A sample program was designed in order to cover all taxa and morphotypes present in the studied area, trying to correlate ecological conditions, phytochemical content, and biological activities. These species were characterized through the detection, isolation, and capillary GC‐GC/MS quantitative evaluation of chemical markers (phytosterols and vitamin E). The antioxidant activity of MeOH caper extracts was assayed using 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and β‐carotene bleaching tests. The chemical investigation showed a different composition according to the species and the populations. The best free radical (DPPH) scavenging activity was exerted by Capparis orientalis sample C4 (collected near Copanello village, granodiorite sea cliff) and Capparis sicula ssp. sicula sample C5 (collected near Tarsia village, clay soil). Sample C2 (Galatrella Valley, clay soil) showed the highest inhibition of linoleic acid oxidation with more efficacy than propyl gallate, the reference drug.
Memory Scanning and Structured Learning in Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson' Disease

RÉSUMÉ Cette étude examine deux différents groupes de patients dans le but d'analyser la vitesse d'exploration de la mémoire à court terme. Il s'agit done de ceux qui sont atteints d'un parkinson (PD) (principalement pathologie sous-corticale) et de ceux qui semblent souffrir d'une démence de type Alzheimer (DAT) (principalement pathologie corticale). Une comparaison a été établie entre les patients non-déments (PD) (âge M = 58.3), les patients légèrement déments (DAT) (âge M = 67.0) et les sujets contrôlés normaux (NC) (âge M = 58.9) dans le but de déterminer si l'exploration ralentie crée une différence entre une pathologie corticale et sous-corticale. Parmi les trois groupes, les différences relevées au niveau de la tâche d'exploration de la mémoire n'étaient pas significatives. Cependant, certains patients atteints d'un parkinson semblaient effectuer cet exercice d'exploration plus lentement. Ceci pourrait être dû à l'âge, à la durée de la maladie, ou à une interaction entre ces deux facteurs. La plupart des patients DAT ont dû recevoir des directives très précises et détaillées avant de pouvoir effectuer la tâche voulant qu'ils reconnaissent certains objets, ceci en dépit des résultats indiquant une vitesse d'exploration normale, et plusieurs ont été incapables de l'exécuter, même après avoir reçu des directives supplémentaires. ABSTRACT This study investigated the speed of short-term memory scanning in two groups of patients: patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) (primarily subcortical pathology) and patients with a presumptive diagnosis of dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) (primarily cortical pathology). Non-demented PD patients (M age = 58.3), mildly demented DAT patients (M age = 67.0), and normal control (NC) subjects (M age = 58.9) were compared to one another in order to determine whether the presence of slowed scanning differentiates subcortical from cortical pathology. The three groups did not differ significantly on the memory scanning task. Slowed scanning speed does appear to occur in some patients with PD, however. This may relate to age, duration of disease, or an interaction between these two. Despite normal scanning speed, most DAT patients required highly structured instructions to be able to carry out the item-recognition task, and many remainedunable to perform this task even with additional instructions.