Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Erratum

Chevrier et al. (2010) assessed the association between 10 polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) and free and total thyroxine (T4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in 270 women around the 27th week of gestation. They concluded that PBDEs are associated with lower TSH levels during pregnancy, but several factors that likely influenced the results were not considered in their analysis. Normal pregnancy can lead to low TSH levels without affecting T4 levels, as can several other factors (e.g., starvation; stress; psychiatric disorders; depression; acute or chronic nonthyroidal disorders; alterations in thyrotropin- releasing hormone, cortisol, opiodergic, dopaminergic, or somatostatinergic activity; and alterations in leptin and cytokine production) (Braverman and Utiger 2000; Krassas et al. 2010). None of these were included in the analyses of Chevrier et al. (2010), yet any of them could have contributed to lower TSH levels. Chevrier et al. (2010) classified women in their second and third trimesters as having subclinical hyperthyroidism if their serum TSH levels were < 0.5 mIU/L and < 0.8 mIU/L, respectively. Krassas et al. (2010) recently reported TSH reference ranges: 5th percentiles for the second and third trimesters were 0.03–0.39 and 0.13 mIU/L, respectively, suggesting that the cutoffs used by Chevrier et al. (2010) led to an incorrect classification of at least some women. Chevrier et al. (2010) reported that blood was drawn at 27.3 ± 3.1 (mean ± SD) weeks gestation; however, it is unclear which women were in the second trimester and which were in the third trimester. Although Chevrier et al. (2010) adjusted for gestational age, the use of different cutoffs for a binary variable (subclinical hyperthyroidism) for women in the same analyses likely biased results, particularly considering that differences between women near the end of the second and beginning of the third trimester are not great. With the exception of a few outliers, the range of each PBDE among study subjects was quite small (all with the ratio of the 75th to the 25th percentile < 3.4). Because blood was drawn only once and all associations noted were quite weak, even a small difference between the measured PBDE level and the actual level in an individual could have biased the results. All of the PBDE congeners were moderately to strongly intercorrelated (r = 0.6–0.9; p < 0.001), yet analyses were conducted only by individual congener, leaving the inappropriate impression that several of the PBDE congeners may have been causally associated with lower TSH levels. The limitations discussed above preclude one from drawing conclusions regarding associations between serum PBDEs and TSH. It is notable, however, that even if associations are shown to be causal, the decrements in TSH reported are very small and mostly within the reference range for pregnant women. Thus, they are unlikely to result in adverse health effects in either pregnant women or their fetuses.
The scenario and design process of childcare robot, PaPeRo

The scenarios and design process for a childcare robot, PaPeRo, are presented. The design process mainly consists of production and evaluations. The production is composed of three observations, namely, one in the user field, one with respect to the world view, and one about the assumed users and results for the basic role of the robot, its personality, and classification of users. Our investigation of available technologies deepened our understanding of the robot performance and characteristics. Preproduction, which consisted of a scenario design, prototyping, and a short play, made the scenario details more sophisticated. A six-month demonstration at the 2005 Aichi Expo started with seven different scenarios, which were improved using additional recognition words, more attractive robot personalities, and additional scenarios through on-site observations and discussion with staff members there. We conducted an extensive study on the robot personalities and recognizable words. Our study will play an important role in the scenario design process.
A Cognitive Agent-based Approach to Varying Behaviours in Computer Generated Forces Systems to Model Scenarios like Coalitions

In this paper we describe a general approach for dynamic variation in behaviour of entities in military-based computer generated forces (CGF) system scenarios. A typical scenario might represent the coalition of military forces from two countries to provide suppression of an enemy's air defence capability. The entities in the scenario are cognitively-plausible models of individual people and hierarchical groups of people, and are modelled using intelligent software agents. The cognitive agents' situational awareness (SA) of the ongoing battle is affected due to the imposition of various moderating factors such as fatigue, fear and stress. This variation of SA impinges on the agents' selection and execution of tactics in response to the observation of threats and so provides the CGF system with a higher degree of realism. This work is central to the development of the next generation of computer generated forces systems that are to be inherently adaptable, `intelligent' and dynamically re-configurable in order to cope with the fast changing demands of military operational analysis, procurement and training environments. The paper discusses the key features of these cognitive agents' variability through a military demonstration
Design of antenna based sensors for blade tip clearance measurement in gas turbines

Real time tip clearance measurement in gas turbines and other rotating machinery is an interesting way to provide enhanced reliability, cost effective maintenance and more overall safety. This paper presents a novel microwave sensor for blade tip clearance measurement in turbine engines. The sensor consists on a miniaturized PIFA antenna shielded by an outer protective shell. The special materials used enable the probe to operate in the presence of corrosive gases and temperature variations. The sensor was optimized through simulation, then manufactured and measured. Experimental results agree well with the simulated ones, showing that the sensor under study is capable of providing accurate and reliable data for the desired application.
Iterated register coalescing

An important function of any register allocator is to target registers so as to eliminate copy instructions. Graph-coloring register allocation is an elegant approach to this problem. If the source and destination of a move instruction do not interfere, then their nodes can be coalesced in the interference graph. Chaitin's coalescing heuristic could make a graph uncolorable (i.e., introduce spills); Briggs et al. demonstrated a conservative coalescing heuristic that preserves colorability. But Briggs's algorithm is too conservative, and leaves too many move instructions in our programs. We show how to interleave coloring reductions with Briggs's coalescing heuristic, leading to an algorithm that is safe but much more aggressive.
An end-to-end quality of service management architecture for wireless ATM networks

Wireless ATM networks will bridge the gap between mobility and broadband networking. The major challenge to this end consists of guaranteeing adequate end-to-end quality of service (QoS) in spite of the unreliable radio channel. In response to this we propose an integrated end-to-end QoS management architecture built around scalable error tolerant codecs, network filters and error modules to compensate for transmission errors and local QoS degradation. A broker concept combines local and distributed resource management and negotiation of QoS at different levels. By introducing QoS intervals both at application and transport level we cope with short term channel fluctuations on a wireless link. User definable degradation paths determine the behavior of the system in case the network QoS changes for a longer period of time. Mapping functions are provided to transform a QoS description from the user perspective to QoS parameters and negotiation at the network level. Incorporating media filters into the overall broker architecture allows different media codecs to be used between the source and the sinks depending on the channel conditions and link utilization while obeying user defined end-to-end QoS strategies. We draft several protocols for the sender and receiver driven multicast scenario and show, how automatic filter propagation can be achieved under given end-to-end QoS constraints.
In Search of the Biological Significance of Modular Structures in Protein Networks

Many complex networks such as computer and social networks exhibit modular structures, where links between nodes are much denser within modules than between modules. It is widely believed that cellular networks are also modular, reflecting the relative independence and coherence of different functional units in a cell. While many authors have claimed that observations from the yeast protein–protein interaction (PPI) network support the above hypothesis, the observed structural modularity may be an artifact because the current PPI data include interactions inferred from protein complexes through approaches that create modules (e.g., assigning pairwise interactions among all proteins in a complex). Here we analyze the yeast PPI network including protein complexes (PIC network) and excluding complexes (PEC network). We find that both PIC and PEC networks show a significantly greater structural modularity than that of randomly rewired networks. Nonetheless, there is little evidence that the structural modules correspond to functional units, particularly in the PEC network. More disturbingly, there is no evolutionary conservation among yeast, fly, and nematode modules at either the whole-module or protein-pair level. Neither is there a correlation between the evolutionary or phylogenetic conservation of a protein and the extent of its participation in various modules. Using computer simulation, we demonstrate that a higher-than-expected modularity can arise during network growth through a simple model of gene duplication, without natural selection for modularity. Taken together, our results suggest the intriguing possibility that the structural modules in the PPI network originated as an evolutionary byproduct without biological significance.
Iterative correction of beam hardening artifacts in CT.

PURPOSE To reduce beam hardening artifacts in CT in case of an unknown x-ray spectrum and unknown material properties. METHODS The authors assume that the object can be segmented into a few materials with different attenuation coefficients, and parameterize the spectrum using a small number of energy bins. The corresponding unknown spectrum parameters and material attenuation values are estimated by minimizing the difference between the measured sinogram data and a simulated polychromatic sinogram. Three iterative algorithms are derived from this approach: two reconstruction algorithms IGR and IFR, and one sinogram precorrection method ISP. RESULTS The methods are applied on real x-ray data of a high and a low-contrast phantom. All three methods successfully reduce the cupping artifacts caused by the beam polychromaticity in such a way that the reconstruction of each homogeneous region is to good accuracy homogeneous, even in case the segmentation of the preliminary reconstruction image is poor. In addition, the results show that the three methods tolerate relatively large variations in uniformity within the segments. CONCLUSIONS We show that even without prior knowledge about materials or spectrum, effective beam hardening correction can be obtained.
Exponential Diversity Achieving Spatio–Temporal Power Allocation Scheme for Fading Channels

In this paper, we analyze optimal (in space and time) adaptive power transmission policies for fading channels when the channel-state information (CSI) at the transmitter (CSIT) and the receiver (CSIR) is available. The transmitter has a long-term (time) average power constraint. There can be multiple antennas at the transmitter and at the receiver. The channel experiences Rayleigh fading. We consider beamforming and space-time coded systems with perfect/imperfect CSIT and CSIR. The performance measure is the bit error rate (BER). We show that in both coded and uncoded systems, our power allocation policy provides exponential diversity order if perfect CSIT is available. We also show that, if the quality of CSIT degrades then the exponential diversity is retained in the low SNR region but we get only polynomial diversity in the high SNR region. Another interesting conclusion is that in case of imperfect CSIT and CSIR, knowledge of CSIT at the receiver is very important. Finally, for the optimal power control policy of the uncoded system we find the error-exponents which provide the rate versus diversity-order tradeoff for this policy. This tradeoff is of an entirely different nature than the well-known Zheng-Tse tradeoff.
Analytical propagation modelling of BAN channels based on the creeping wave theory

This paper presents the first attempt to provide analytical models of BAN channels including the body morphology. Studied transmissions are along curved parts like waist or head. An accurate model is derived from diffraction theory used in the prediction of the surface wave attenuation on curved surfaces. The validity of the model is first confirmed with simulations and a set of measurements is then presented.
The Suitability of EAP Textbooks to the Learning Needs in Chinese Context—From a Pre-Use Perspective

The selection of an appropriate textbook has always been a great concern of teachers and students. Frameworks for the evaluation of textbook in previous researches are too complex to help a quick decision. This paper firstly gives an account of Chinese students' needs in learning EAP. It then proposes a framework for the suitability of the textbook and applies it to three textbooks for meeting the learning needs in the Chinese context. The result shows that domestically designed textbooks are, to some extent, inexperienced in the arrangement of content and academic skills, and even in the understanding of the nature of EAP learning. It also reveals that the imported classical textbook though quite experienced and shows general good suitability presents some problems in its suitability to a particular culture. Given the limited researches on EAP textbooks, this study sheds light on the selection and construction of EAP textbook in the Chinese context.
Update on the management of ulcerative colitis: treatment and maintenance approaches focused on MMX® mesalamine

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the colon that typically manifests as diarrhea, abdominal pain, and bloody stool. Complications, such as colorectal cancer and extraintestinal manifestations, may also develop. The goals of management are to induce and maintain clinical remission and to screen for complications of this disease. Mesalamine is a 5-aminosalicylic acid compound that is the first-line therapy to induce and maintain clinical remission in patients with mild-to-moderate UC. For patients who are refractory to mesalamine or have more severe disease, steroids, azathioprine/mercaptopurine, cyclosporine, or infliximab may be used, induce and/or maintain remission. The various formulations of mesalamine available are primarily differentiated by the methods of delivery of the active compound of the drug to the colon. Mesalamine with Multi-Matrix System® (MMX) technology (Cosmo SpA, Milan, Italy) is an oral (1.2 g), once-daily tablet formulation of mesalamine used for the treatment of UC (Lialda® or Mezavant®, Shire Pharmaceuticals Inc, Wayne, PA). In clinical studies, MMX mesalamine (taken as a once-daily dose of 2.4 or 4.8 g) effectively induced and maintained clinical remission in patients with active mild-to-moderate UC. The overall safety profile of MMX mesalamine is similar to other oral mesalamine formulations. The use of such once-daily formulations has led to intense interest in whether simplified pill regimens can improve patient adherence to mesalamine therapy.
Antidepressant Use in Pregnancy and the Risk of Cardiac Defects

From the Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School (K.F.H., J.A., J.M.F., H.M., R.L., M.K., S.S.), the Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health (K.P., S.H.-D.), the Center for Women’s Mental Health, Massachusetts General Hospital (L.S.C.), and the Medical Genetics Unit, MassGeneral Hospital for Children (L.B.H.) — all in Boston; and Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC (S.S.). Address reprint requests to Dr. Huybrechts at the Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, 1620 Tremont St., Suite 3030, Boston, MA 02120, or at khuybrechts@partners.org.
Time-Dependent Impact of Irreversible Electroporation on Pancreas, Liver, Blood Vessels and Nerves: A Systematic Review of Experimental Studies

Introduction Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a novel ablation technique in the treatment of unresectable cancer. The non-thermal mechanism is thought to cause mostly apoptosis compared to necrosis in thermal techniques. Both in experimental and clinical studies, a waiting time between ablation and tissue or imaging analysis to allow for cell death through apoptosis, is often reported. However, the dynamics of the IRE effect over time remain unknown. Therefore, this study aims to summarize these effects in relation to the time between treatment and evaluation. Methods A systematic search was performed in Pubmed, Embase and the Cochrane Library for original articles using IRE on pancreas, liver or surrounding structures in animal or human studies. Data on pathology and time between IRE and evaluation were extracted. Results Of 2602 screened studies, 36 could be included, regarding IRE in liver (n = 24), pancreas (n = 4), blood vessels (n = 4) and nerves (n = 4) in over 440 animals (pig, rat, goat and rabbit). No eligible human studies were found. In liver and pancreas, the first signs of apoptosis and haemorrhage were observed 1–2 hours after treatment, and remained visible until 24 hours in liver and 7 days in pancreas after which the damaged tissue was replaced by fibrosis. In solitary blood vessels, the tunica media, intima and lumen remained unchanged for 24 hours. After 7 days, inflammation, fibrosis and loss of smooth muscle cells were demonstrated, which persisted until 35 days. In nerves, the median time until demonstrable histological changes was 7 days. Conclusions Tissue damage after IRE is a dynamic process with remarkable time differences between tissues in animals. Whereas pancreas and liver showed the first damages after 1–2 hours, this took 24 hours in blood vessels and 7 days in nerves.
Adjunctive vitamin E treatment in Wilson disease and suggestions for future trials

We read with great interest the article by Petta et al. The compound 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25[OH]D3) was reported as an independent predictor of cardiovascular disease (by a decreased expression of profibrotic markers, and an increased expression of antifibrotic markers) despite the fact that its real pathological pathway is still not clear. Incubation of the multipotent mesenchymal cell with 25(OH)D3 also resulted in antiproliferative and antiapoptotic processes. Therefore, the lower levels of 25(OH)D3 in liver with greater fibrosis is understandable. Lower cholesterol and lower 25(OH)D3 levels, along with greater steatosis, were found to be risk factors affecting sustained virological response (SVR) as seen in recent studies. The stage of fibrosis was found to be a risk factor for SVR not only in hepatitis C virus (HCV) alone, but also in patients coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus and HCV, in contrast to the results of the current article. Moreover, age, sex, and body mass index were also described as predictors for SVR in patients infected with HCV, in contrast to the current study. These challenging results could be related in the methodologic differences between the present study and recent studies, or mistakes could have happened during the sampling and/or analyzing periods. For example, SVR was reached in the half the male patients, whereas it was reached in just one-third of the females, results which are also different from the recent data. The patients in the study may also be infected with an unknown subgroup of HCV, which could explain these patients’ characteristics.
Flexible Learning of Multiple Speech Structures in Bilingual Infants

Young and Flexible How an infant learns to understand and speak a language remains a deep scientific mystery even though millions of kids accomplish these feats each year. Furthermore, this learning capacity is apparently not even taxed to its utmost; children who grow up in bilingual families learn two languages just as rapidly as those who learn only one. Kovács and Mehler (p. 611, published online 9 July) have assessed the cognitive flexibility of preverbal 1-year-old children raised in monolingual versus bilingual households and find that the bilingual group displays an impressive facility in handling inconsistent, language-like, inputs. That is, the kids exposed to two distinct languages since birth were able to associate two distinct syllabic structures—AAB and ABA—with looking leftward and rightward, whereas the monolinguals could only do so only with the simpler AAB structure. Exposure to two languages facilitates the development of a more flexible associative learning capacity. Children acquire their native language according to a well-defined time frame. Surprisingly, although children raised in bilingual environments have to learn roughly twice as much about language as their monolingual peers, the speed of acquisition is comparable in monolinguals and bilinguals. Here, we show that preverbal 12-month-old bilingual infants have become more flexible at learning speech structures than monolinguals. When given the opportunity to simultaneously learn two different regularities, bilingual infants learned both, whereas monolinguals learned only one of them. Hence, bilinguals may acquire two languages in the time in which monolinguals acquire one because they quickly become more flexible learners.
Sprinkler: distributed content storage for just-in-time streaming

We envision cities where networking infrastructures, such as Wi-Fi access points (AP), will be equipped with storage capabilities. We propose to utilize the storage as a large distributed video cache. If successful, we envision that a child will be able to seamlessly watch a movie in a car, as her tablet downloads necessary parts of the movie over different Wi-Fi APs. The key challenge arises from the fact that the mobile tablet would not be able to download the entire movie from any single AP. Nonetheless, we show that the APs could be appropriately populated with video "chunks", such that the tablet can almost always get the needed chunk, just-in-time for video playback. Our system minimizes replication of video chunks, offering citizens with far greater number of videos to watch. We believe that such a video service could benefit cellular networks, by offloading their traffic to a sizable extent. This paper takes a first step into exploring such a city-wide content distribution service, and addresses one piece of the puzzle -- efficient content storage.