Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Endoscopic and Medical Therapy for Chronic Radiation Proctopathy: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND: Chronic radiation proctopathy is associated with significant morbidity. The effectiveness of endoscopic and medical therapies has not been evaluated. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the effectiveness of endoscopic and comparative medical therapies for chronic radiation proctopathy. DATA SOURCES: A comprehensive search Medline and PubMed was performed. STUDY SELECTION: A comprehensive literature search was performed for studies of endoscopic and medical therapy for clinical and endoscopic improvement in chronic radiation proctopathy from January 1990 until December 2010. The quality of the overall evidence was rated according to the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation Working Group. SETTING: Patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings were assessed. PATIENTS: Patients experiencing chronic radiation proctopathy were included. INTERVENTIONS: Patients had undergone medical or endoscopic treatments for chronic radiation proctopathy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcomes measured were the resolution or improvement in symptoms. RESULTS: A total of 39 studies were found, of which 27 evaluated endoscopic therapy and 12 evaluated medical therapy chronic radiation proctopathy. Overall, there is low-level evidence for the effectiveness of endoscopic therapy with argon plasma coagulation in reducing short-term (⩽6 weeks) symptoms of chronic radiation proctopathy and insufficient evidence for long-term improvement. There is moderate-level evidence for the use of sucralfate enemas and low-level evidence for use of short-chain fatty acid enemas and hyperbaric oxygen. There is insufficient evidence for other agents: topical formalin, 5-aminosalicylic acid compounds, sulfasalazine, vitamin A, and pentoxifylline. LIMITATIONS: Individual authors were not contacted, and the search was limited to English language journals only. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic treatment with argon plasma coagulation appears effective in the short-term outcome of chronic radiation proctopathy. There is a moderate level of evidence for the use of sucralfate enemas. Large, randomized, placebo-controlled studies evaluating endoscopic and medical therapies for chronic radiation proctopathy are needed.
Minimally Selected P and Other Tests for A Single Abrupt Changepoint in A Binary Sequence

Summary. A novel changepoint statistic based on the minimum value, over possible changepoint locations, of Fisher's Exact Test, is introduced. Specific points in the exact distribution of the minimally selected Fisher's value may be rapidly calculated as a lattice‐path counting problem via known recurrence methods. The test is compared to the Kolmogorov‐Smirnov two‐sample test, the maximally selected chi‐square, and a likelihood ratio test. The tests are applied to assessing recombination in genetic sequences of HIV.
A method for assessing the fit of a constitutive material model to experimental stress–strain data

Higher-order polynomial functions can be used as a constitutive model to represent the mechanical behaviour of biological materials. The goal of this study was to present a method for assessing the fit of a given constitutive three-dimensional material model. Goodness of fit was assessed using multiple parameters including the root mean square error and Hotelling's T 2-test. Specifically, a polynomial model was used to characterise the stress–strain data, varying the number of model terms used (45 combinations of between 3 and 11 terms) and the manner of optimisation used to establish model coefficients (i.e. determining coefficients either by parameterisation of all data simultaneously or averaging coefficients obtained by parameterising individual data trials). This framework for model fitting helps to ensure that a given constitutive formulation provides the best characterisation of biological material mechanics.
A low power feedback LNA for UWB using current bleeding technique

In this paper, a low power, area efficient Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) targeting at the lower band of the Ultra Wideband spectrum is presented in 0.13um CMOS process. The LNA uses a feedback technique based on a source follower and current bleeding, aiming to provide adequate current at the amplifying transistor without causing large voltage drop across the load resistance. A novel approach combining an inductor in series with the current source and inductive shunt peaking at the load is used to increase the operation bandwidth and gain flatness. The results show a flat gain between 9 and 10.5dB and an average Noise Figure (NF) of 2.8dB across a 3dB bandwidth from 0.5 to 7GHz while the core is consuming 11.5mW of power.
The Impact of Resident Teaching on Total Hip Arthroplasty

The author asked whether THA cases performed with major resident participation in a private practice setting were associated with greater use of health care resources, higher rates of technical errors, or a reduction in quality of outcome compared to THA cases performed without major resident involvement. Eighty-eight primary THA cases performed with major resident participation were compared to 61 cases without major resident participation. Resident cases took 20 minutes longer, required a second assistant more frequently (92% versus 23%) but did not have higher transfusion rates or result in a longer hospital stay. Resident cases did not have more complications or increased technical errors. Resident cases also did not have lower Harris hip scores or inferior Short Form SF-12 physical ratings at minimum 1-year followup.
Do characteristics of patients with major depressive disorder differ between primary and psychiatric care?

Background. Despite the need for rational allocation of resources and cooperation between different treatment settings, clinical differences in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) between primary and psychiatric care remain obscure. We investigated these differences in representative patient populations from primary care versus secondary level psychiatric care in the city of Vantaa, Finland. Method. We compared MDD patients from primary care in the Vantaa Primary Care Depression Study (PC-VDS) (n=79) with psychiatric out-patients (n=223) and in-patients (n=46) in the Vantaa Depression Study (VDS). DSM-IV diagnoses were assigned by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I disorders (SCID-I in PC-VDS) or Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN in VDS), and SCID-II interviews. Comparable information was collected on depression severity, Axis I and II co-morbidity, suicidal behaviour, preceding clinical course, and attitudes towards and pathways to treatment. Results. Prevalence of psychotic subtype and severity of depression were highest among in-patients, but otherwise few clinical differences between psychiatric and primary care patients were detected. Suicide attempts, alcohol dependence, and cluster A personality disorder were associated with treatment in psychiatric care, whereas cluster B personality disorder was associated with primary care treatment. Patients' choice of the initial point of contact for current depressive symptoms seemed to be independent of prior clinical history or attitude towards treatment. Conclusions. Severe, suicidal and psychotic depression cluster in psychiatric in-patient settings, as expected. However, MDD patients in primary care or psychiatric out-patient settings may not differ markedly in their clinical characteristics. This apparent blurring of boundaries between treatment settings calls for enhanced cooperation between settings, and clearer and more structured division of labour.
From photographs to procedural facade models

The network-based visualization of large photo-realistic 3D landscape and city models has received significant attention over the last five years in the computer graphics and network community. To make such 3D geoweb services appealing to a large audience, 3D city models must reach a sufficient level of realism and faithfulness. The first problematic was the transmission and visualization of such complex models that required the use of view-dependent, compact and progressive representations. The combination of a multiresolution footprint based representation called PBTree [Royan et al. 2006] associated with a procedural based modeling of facades [Mueller et al. 2006] has proved its great efficiency for 3D geoweb applications. Secondly, the procedural modeling of buildings from real world acquisition is not so obvious. Therefore we will present next a solution to determine the structure of facades, in order to model real buildings using a procedural approach. Only the image based acquisition will be considering next, due to its low production cost and storage requirements.
On the Method of Theoretical Physics

'F YOU wish to learn from the theoretical physicist anything about the methods which he uses, ~ 5'K I would give you the following piece of advice: Don't listen to his words, examine his achievements. For to the discoverer in that field, the constructions of his imagination appear so necessary and so natural that he is apt to treat them not as the creations of his thoughts but as given realities. This statement may seem to be designed to drive my audience away without more ado. For you will say to yourselves, 'The lecturer is himself a constructive physicist; on his own showing therefore he should leave the consideration of the structure of theoretical science to the epistemologist'. So far as I personally am concerned, I can defend myself against an objection of this sort by assuring you that it was no suggestion of mine but the generous invitation of others which has placed me on this dais, which commemorates a man who spent his life in striving for the unification of knowledge. But even apart from that, I have this justification for my pains, that it may possibly interest you to know how a man thinks about his science after having devoted so much time and energy to the clarification and reform of its principles.
Sentiment Analysis using Recursive Neural Network

This work is based on [1] where the recursive autoencoder (RAE) is used to predict sentiment distributions. In this project, I compare the performance of several different tree building schemes and find that greedily merging nodes with minimal autoencoder error gives the best performance, which is better than using the correct parsing tree, among others. I then apply the recursive neural network (RNN) on the newly released Yelp restaurants review dataset and obtain 88% test accuracy. Finally, I use the dual (matrix-vector) RNN model on the sentiment prediction task on both the Rotten-Tomatoes (RT) movie reviews and Yelp restaurants reviews. This report contains the first sentiment analysis result using the dual RNN and one of the first results on the Yelp review dataset.
On the design of observer for unknown inputs fuzzy models

In this paper, we consider the design of an fuzzy observer for a non-linear system with unknown inputs described by a fuzzy model. The main objective is to estimate state variables of the fuzzy model subject to unknown inputs which influence states and outputs of the system simultaneously. Using the Lyapunov method and Linear Matrix Inequalities (LMI), sufficient conditions are proposed to design the proposed unknown input fuzzy observer. The pole placement in an LMI region is also considered. The validity of the proposed methodology is illustrated by an academic example.
Effect of Ball Weight on Speed, Accuracy, and Mechanics in Cricket Fast Bowling

The aims of this study were: (1) to quantify the acute effects of ball weight on ball release speed, accuracy, and mechanics in cricket fast bowling; and (2) to test whether a period of sustained training with underweight and overweight balls is effective in increasing a player’s ball release speed. Ten well-trained adult male cricket players performed maximum-effort deliveries using balls ranging in weight from 46% to 137% of the standard ball weight (156 g). A radar gun, bowling target, and 2D video analysis were used to obtain measures of ball speed, accuracy, and mechanics. The participants were assigned to either an intervention group, who trained with underweight and overweight balls, or to a control group, who trained with standard-weight balls. We found that ball speed decreased at a rate of about 1.1 m/s per 100 g increase in ball weight. Accuracy and bowling mechanics were not adversely affected by changes in ball weight. There was evidence that training with underweight and overweight balls might have produced a practically meaningful increase in bowling speed (>1.5 m/s) in some players without compromising accuracy or increasing their risk of injury through inducing poor bowling mechanics. In cricket fast bowling, a wide range of ball weight might be necessary to produce an effective modified-implement training program.
Two new mutations in the acid sphingomyelinase gene causing type a Niemann–Pick disease: N389T and R441X

Types A and B Niemann-Pick disease (NPD) result from the inherited deficiency of acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) activity and the subsequent accumulation of sphingomyelin and other metabolically related lipids within lysosomes (Spence and Callahan, 1989; Schuchman and Desnick, 1994). Despite the fact that both forms of NPD are due to mutations within the ASM gene, they have remarkably distinct phenotypes. Type A NPD is a rapidly progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disease of infancy, while Type B NPD patients have little, if any, neurologic involvement and may survive into adulthood (Spence and Callahan, 1989; Schuchman and Desnick, 1994). Notably, Types A and B NPD occur more frequently among individuals of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry than in the general population (Goodman, 1979). The recent isolation of the full-length cDNA and genomic sequences encoding human ASM (Schuchman et al., 1991, 1992) has facilitated the molecular analysis of the lesions causing NPD. To date, 13 mutations have been identified within the ASM gene causing Types A or B NPD (Levran et al., 1991a,b, 1992, 1993a,b; Ferlinz et al., 1991; Takahashi et al., 1992a,b). Of these, three L302P and fsP330 and R496L, account for about 92% of the mutant ASM alleles in Ashkenazi Jewish Type A NPD patients (Schuchman and Desnick, 1994). This communication describes two new mutations causing Type A NPD patients. N389T occurred as one allele in an Ashkenazi Jewish Type A patient, while R441X was found to be homoallelic in a Type A patient of Asian Indian descent.
Idiotypic specificity of surface immunoglobulin and the maturation of leukemic bone-marrow-derived lymphocytes.

Certain cases of chronic lymphocytic leukemia are associated with monoclonal immunoglobulins in the serum. In the present study it was possible to demonstrate that the surface immunoglobulin of the leukemic lymphocytes was idiotypically identical to the serum monoclonal immunoglobulin of the same individual. This was done through the use of fluorescent antibodies that were prepared against the isolated immunoglobulin M kappa serum protein from patient Ei. Such antibodies, after absorption, failed to react with the lymphocytes of other individuals. Capping experiments indicated that both the immunoglobulin M and the immunoglobulin D on the leukemic cells possessed the same idiotypic specificity.A population of plasma cells was also identified in the peripheral blood of patient Ei that showed strong intracellular staining with the idiotypic antiserum and was the apparent source of the specific serum immunoglobulin. The accumulated evidence indicates that the plasma cells were derived from the leukemic lymphocytes by a process of differentiation. Surface immunoglobulin D disappeared and surface immunoglobulin M decreased markedly in this process.
Endogenous Moloney leukemia virus in nonviremic Mov substrains of mice carries defects in the proviral genome

Substrains of mice carrying Moloney murine leukemia virus as a Mendelian gene (Mov locus) have been derived previously. Some of these strains, i.e., Mov-3 and Mov-9, develop viremia, whereas others, i.e., Mov-2, Mov-7, and Mov-10, do not regularly activate virus. We previously have molecularly cloned the respective Mov loci and shown that proviral clones derived from the different viral loci were either infectious (Mov-3, Mov-9) or failed to induce infectious virus (Mov-2, Mov-7, Mov-10) in a transfection assay. To analyze the sites affecting infectivity of the latter clones, complementation assays, in vitro recombinations, and marker rescue experiments were performed. Our results show that the three endogenous Moloney murine leukemia virus clones derived from Mov-2, Mov-7, and Mov-10 carry different mutations in the gag-pol region of the proviral genome. No inhibitory effect of flanking mouse sequences on provirus infectivity was observed.
Generalized simulation relations with applications in automata theory

Finite-state automata are a central computational model in computer science, with numerous and diverse applications. In one such application, viz. model-checking, automata over infinite words play a central role. In this thesis, we concentrate on Buchi automata (BA), which are arguably the simplest finite-state model recognizing languages of infinite words. Two algorithmic problems are paramount in the theory of automata: language inclusion and automata minimization. They are both PSPACE-complete, thus under standard complexity-theoretic assumptions no deterministic algorithm with worst case polynomial time can be expected. In this thesis, we develop techniques to tackle these problems. In automata minimization, one seeks the smallest automaton recognizing a given language (“small” means with few states). Despite PSPACE-hardness of minimization, the size of an automaton can often be reduced substantially by means of quotienting. In quotienting, states deemed equivalent according to a given equivalence are merged together; if this merging operation preserves the language, then the equivalence is said to be Good for Quotienting (GFQ). In general, quotienting cannot achieve exact minimization, but, in practice, it can still offer a very good reduction in size. The central topic of this thesis is the design of GFQ equivalences for Buchi automata. A particularly successful approach to the design of GFQ equivalences is based on simulation relations. Simulation relations are a powerful tool to compare the local behavior of automata. The main contribution of this thesis is to generalize simulations, by relaxing locality in three perpendicular ways: by fixing the input word in advance (fixed-word simulations, Ch. 3), by allowing jumps (jumping simulations, Ch. 4), and by using multiple pebbles (multipebble simulations for alternating BA, Ch. 5). In each case, we show that our generalized simulations induce GFQ equivalences. For fixed-word simulation, we argue that it is the coarsest GFQ simulation implying language inclusion, by showing that it subsumes a natural hierarchy of GFQ multipebble simulations. From a theoretical perspective, our study significantly extends the theory of simulations for BA; relaxing locality is a general principle, and it may find useful applications outside automata theory. From a practical perspective, we obtain GFQ equivalences coarser than previously possible. This yields smaller quotient automata, which is beneficial in applications. Finally, we show how simulation relations have recently been applied to significantly optimize exact (exponential) language inclusion algorithms (Ch. 6), thus extending their practical applicability.
Strategies to unravel molecular codes essential for the development of meso‐diencephalic dopaminergic neurons

Understanding the development of neuronal systems has become an important asset in the attempt to solve complex questions about neuropathology as found in Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia and other complex neuronal diseases. The development of anatomical and functional divergent structures in the brain is achieved by a combination of early anatomical patterning and highly coordinated neuronal migration and differentiation events. Fundamental to the existence of divergent structures in the brain is the early region‐specific molecular programming. Neuronal progenitors located along the neural tube can still adapt many different identities. Their exact position in the developing brain, however, determines early molecular specification by region‐specific signalling molecules. These signals determine time and region‐specific expression of early regulatory genes, leading to neuronal differentiation. Here, we focus on a well‐described neuronal group, the meso‐diencephalic dopaminergic neurons, of which heterogeneity based on anatomical position could account for the difference in vulnerability of specific subgroups as observed in Parkinson's disease. The knowledge of their molecular coding helps us to understand how the meso‐diencephalic dopaminergic system is built and could provide clues that unravel mechanisms associated with the neuropathology in complex diseases such as Parkinson's disease.
Development and validation of a generic 3D model of the distal femur

The development and validation of a virtual generic 3D model of the distal femur using computer graphical methods is presented. The synthesis of the generic model requires the following steps: acquisition of bony 3D morphology using standard computed tomography (CT) imaging; alignment of 3D models reconstructed from CT images with a common coordinate system; computer graphical sectioning of the models; extraction of bone contours from the image sections; combining and averaging of extracted contours; and 3D reconstruction of the averaged contours. The generic models reconstructed from the averaged contours of six cadaver femora were validated by comparing their surface geometry on a point to point basis with that of the CT reconstructed reference models. The mean errors ranged from 0.99 to 2.5 mm and were in agreement with the qualitative assessment of the models.
Impedance Spectroscopy of Nanostructure p-ZnGa2Se4/n-Si Heterojunction Diode

The impedance characteristics of the nanostructure p-ZnGa2Se4/n-Si heterojunction diode were investigated by impedance spectroscopy method in the temperature range (303–503 K) and the frequency range (42 Hz – 5 MHz). The real and imaginary parts of the complex impedance are changed with the frequency. Both are decreased with increasing temperature at the lower frequencies and are merged at the higher frequencies. The dielectrical relaxation mechanism of the diode was analyzed by the Cole–Cole plots. The Cole–Cole plots under various temperatures exhibit one relaxation mechanism. With increasing temperature, the radius of the Cole–Cole plots decreases, which suggests a mechanism of temperature-dependent on relaxation.
Distributed management of network links supporting multimedia computing

The paper analyses distributed algorithms used to control network links carrying random data traffic generated by multimedia computing based on local information. Distributed computing, multimedia mail, and interactive shopping are just a few examples of applications where the current approaches for traffic control (as foreseen by ITU-TS) are not suitable. Traffic descriptors (other than maybe peak rates) are difficult to determine for the user. Global knowledge of the network state is most of the time obsolete due to latency, and therefore approaches must be imagined which do not rely on such information. The paper analyses the options available for bandwidth management in ATM-based networks carrying predominantly data traffic, develops a rationale for supporting "fill-in" approaches capable of exploiting very high bandwidth links and quantifies the trade-off associated with these approaches, using both trace driven and event driven simulation. <<ETX>>