Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Plasmatic markers in hemorrhagic stroke

Stroke is the third most common cause of death in the United States and it is the leading cause of disability. Early diagnosis and immediate therapeutic interventions are important factors to reduce the extent of brain tissue damage and the risk of stroke–related death. A rapid blood test that can confirm the clinical or imaging diagnosis or that can add to the stratification of the risk would be very useful. Such a test has to be validated in large studies and has to be based on a simple and low–cost technology. Many biological markers were tested for their ability to serve as ‘would–be’ stroke biological markers; some of them appear to have a place in the diagnostic work–up of stroke patients. These molecules include Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP), the N–methyl–D–aspartate receptor (NMDA), APO C–III, APO C–I, PARK7, nucleoside diphosphate kinase A (NDKA), S100B, B–type neurotrophic growth factor, von Willebrand factor, matrix metalloproteinase–9, and monocyte chemotactic protein–1. There are obvious limitations to this study, among them the fact that disability does not necessarily correlate with the amount of cerebral tissue lost (the site of stroke may be more important) and the role of the blood–brain barrier in delaying the release of the neuronal proteins in the blood stream. Further studies are awaited to confirm the role of these molecules in the management of acute stroke patients.
Second-order constraints in dynamic invariant inference

The current generation of dynamic invariant detectors often produce invariants that are inconsistent with program semantics or programmer knowledge. We improve the consistency of dynamically discovered invariants by taking into account higher-level constraints. These constraints encode knowledge about invariants, even when the invariants themselves are unknown. For instance, even though the invariants describing the behavior of two functions f1 and f2 may be unknown, we may know that any valid input for f1 is also valid for f2, i.e., the precondition of f1 implies that of f2. We explore techniques for expressing and employing such consistency constraints to improve the quality of produced invariants. We further introduce techniques for dynamically discovering potential second-order constraints that the programmer can subsequently approve or reject. Our implementation builds on the Daikon tool, with a vocabulary of constraints that the programmer can use to enhance and constrain Daikon’s inference. We show that dynamic inference of second-order constraints together with minimal human effort can significantly influence the produced (first-order) invariants even in systems of substantial size, such as the Apache Commons Collections and the AspectJ compiler. We also find that 99% of the dynamically inferred second-order constraints we sampled are true.
What is new? News media, General Elections, Sentiment, and Named Entities

The repetition of names of persons, places, ideas and events, is used sometimes for emphasis. The same is true of the repetition of affect words - repeated preferentially to show negative/positive sentiment. During an election campaign, this repetition may have a bearing on the electability of politicians and on the reputation of political parties. News media covering an election may be involved in endorsing political parties, attempting to set aspects of election agenda, and may have gender bias. Using Rocksteady, an affect analysis system, we have analyzed samples of news published nationally and regionally by Irish media between 21 st December 2010 and 20 th Feb. 2011 - in the run up to the Irish General Election on 25 th February 2011. Our results show that a diachronic study of the coverage, based on named-entity dictionary crafted from electoral lists and with key financial and economic terms added, supplemented by a General Inquirer type dictionary of affect, helped us to distinguish between the winners (two opposition parties that have subsequently formed a coalition government) from the loser (the incumbent party).
Fantope Regularization in Metric Learning

This paper introduces a regularization method to explicitly control the rank of a learned symmetric positive semidefinite distance matrix in distance metric learning. To this end, we propose to incorporate in the objective function a linear regularization term that minimizes the k smallest eigenvalues of the distance matrix. It is equivalent to minimizing the trace of the product of the distance matrix with a matrix in the convex hull of rank-k projection matrices, called a Fantope. Based on this new regularization method, we derive an optimization scheme to efficiently learn the distance matrix. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the method on synthetic and challenging real datasets of face verification and image classification with relative attributes, on which our method outperforms state-of-the-art metric learning algorithms.
Risk ratios and odds ratios for common events in cross-sectional and cohort studies.

I n this issue of Academic Emergency Medicine, Kabrhel and colleagues report on factors associated with a positive D-dimer result in patients evaluated for pulmonary embolism. They report both the adjusted odds ratios (OR) for potential predictors obtained from logistic regression and the risk ratio (RR) derived from the OR. For most of the variables, the OR and the RR are relatively close. However, for some, most notably thirdtrimester pregnancy, the OR and the RR are markedly different. There is a simple statistical reason for this discrepancy that is important for readers and researchers to consider. Both ORs and RRs are used to assess the association between an exposure (risk factor) and an outcome. ORs are reported in case–control studies, because RRs cannot be directly estimated. ORs also are reported in cohort and cross-sectional studies when logistic regression is used to assess the association between the risk factors and an outcome while controlling for confounding variables. When the outcome is rare (<10%), the OR and RR are approximately equal, and the OR can be used to approximate the RR. However, when the incidence of the outcome is common (>10%), the OR overestimates the RR. It is not inherently incorrect to report the OR in a cohort or cross-sectional study, and some advocate the use of ORs. The OR has some properties that are preferable to the RR, although interpretation of the OR may not be intuitive. Understanding the interpretation of ORs and RRs is important, in particular, for common outcomes. In general, clinicians and patients tend to think in terms of risk (as a probability), rather than odds. The difference between the two is shown in Figure 1, where the risk (a probability) is 0.20, and the odds are 1:4, or 0.25. If the definition of outcome was inverted, the probability would be 0.8, and the odds would be 4:1, or 4. The odds of an outcome can have a value that may range from considerably less than 1 to considerably greater than 1. The risk of an outcome, as a probability, can only range from 0 to 1. Since the risk of an outcome has a much narrower range of values, the RR typically has a narrower range of possible values. The overall prevalence of a positive D-dimer in patients evaluated for pulmonary embolism in the study by Kabrhel and colleagues is moderate, at 44%. Twenty-three patients in the study had a third-trimester pregnancy. Of these patients, nearly all had a positive D-dimer (22 ⁄ 23, 96%). The multivariate analysis found an adjusted OR of 51.25 for third-trimester pregnancy as a predictor of a positive D-dimer, compared to an adjusted RR of 2.25. Using data from Table 2 of Kabrhel et al., we can illustrate the difference between RRs and ORs by calculating unadjusted RRs and ORs (Table 1). In this example, the prevalence of a positive D-dimer in those with
Numerical prediction of turbulent boundary layer noise from a sharp‐edged flat plate

An efficient hybrid uncorrelated wall plane waves–boundary element method (UWPW‐BEM) technique is proposed to predict the flow‐induced noise from a structure in low Mach number turbulent flow. Reynolds‐averaged Navier‐Stokes equations are used to estimate the turbulent boundary layer parameters such as convective velocity, boundary layer thickness, and wall shear stress over the surface of the structure. The spectrum of the wall pressure fluctuations is evaluated from the turbulent boundary layer parameters and by using semi‐empirical models from literature. The wall pressure field underneath the turbulent boundary layer is synthesized by realizations of uncorrelated wall plane waves (UWPW). An acoustic BEM solver is then employed to compute the acoustic pressure scattered by the structure from the synthesized wall pressure field. Finally, the acoustic response of the structure in turbulent flow is obtained as an ensemble average of the acoustic pressures due to all realizations of uncorrelated plane waves. To demonstrate the hybrid UWPW‐BEM approach, the self‐noise generated by a flat plate in turbulent flow with Reynolds number based on chord Rec = 4.9 × 105 is predicted. The results are compared with those obtained from a large eddy simulation (LES)‐BEM technique as well as with experimental data from literature.
Preliminary activity in adrenocortical tumor (ACC) in phase I dose escalation study of intermittent oral dosing of OSI-906, a small-molecule insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) tyrosine kinase inhibitor in patients with advanced solid tumors.

3544 Background: IGF-1R is overexpressed in various malignancies, and implicated in proliferation, survival, and metastasis. IGF-1R blockade increases apoptosis and reduces tumor growth in preclinical models. OSI-906 is an oral small molecule tyrosine kinase IGR-1R inhibitor. METHODS Patients (pt) with advanced solid tumours were enrolled to determine safety, tolerability, maximum tolerated dose, pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD) and preliminary anti-tumor activity. RESULTS 26 pt have been treated (14M:12F, median age 61 yrs) at 10, 20, 40, 80, 150, 300, and 450 mg on days (d) 1-3 q14 d. No dose-limiting toxicities have been observed to date. Drug-related toxicities include grade 1 fatigue, nausea, rash, diarrhea, tachycardia, proteinuria, pruritis and peripheral oedema. Linear PK was observed, with median terminal t1/2 3.5 hr; AUC0-∞ 25.8 μg. hr/mL; Cmax 3.20 μg/ml at 450mg. Plasma OSI-906 concentrations above the estimated efficacious concentration (1 μM) were attained at doses > 40mg. Glucose did not increase with rising OSI-906 concentration, but plasma insulin levels showed an upward trend, indicating potential PD effects. PD data on IGFR phosphorylation were analyzed. In total, 11 pt were treated for > 12 weeks (w). Of 3 pt with ACC, 1 pt had a partial response (43% reduction in primary and multiple lung metastases) and remains on treatment after 16 w, 1 pt was treated for 32 w, and 1 pt progressed after 4 w at 40mg. In addition, 1 pt with heavily pretreated NSCLC was treated for 43 w and 1 pt with progressive myxoid chondrosarcoma remains on treatment after 38 w. CONCLUSIONS OSI 906 had minimal toxicity, dose proportional PK at dose levels up to 450mg tested d 1-3 q14 d, with preliminary antitumor activity seen, particularly in ACC. Dose escalation with 5 and 7 d schedules q14 d continues. [Table: see text].
Parity Redundancy Strategies in a Large Scale Distributed Storage System

With the deployment of larger and larger distributed storage systems, data reliability becomes more and more of a concern. In particular, redundancy techniques that may have been appropriate in small-scale storage systems and disk arrays may not be sufficient when applied to larger scale systems. We propose a new mechanism called delayed parity generation with active data replication (DPGADR) to maintain high reliability in a large scale distributed storage system without sacrificing fault-free performance.
Switched beam antennas in millimetre-wave band broadband wireless access networks

Abstract In this document, the benefits of the introduction of switched-beam antennas in broadband wireless access networks, namely system capacity improvement, are presented. This is achieved due to interference reduction (spatial filtering) and coverage area management strategies (directivity increase, sector reshaping). However, the introduction of switched-beam antennas in the system scenario is not straightforward. We propose an adaptation of the system protocols based on typical frame structures that will allow the introduction of switched-beam antennas with minor protocol overhead.
A non-expert-user interface for posing signing avatars

We describe a graphical user interface designed to allow non-expert users to pose 3D characters to create American Sign Language (ASL) computer animation. The interface is an important component of a software system that allows educators of the Deaf to add sign language translation, in the form of 3D character animations, to digital learning materials, thus making them accessible to deaf learners. A study indicates that users with no computer animation expertize can create animated ASL signs quickly and accurately. Implications for Rehabilitation Deaf education, especially in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), is a pressing national problem in the U.S. Deaf individuals are significantly underrepresented in STEM fields. An important underlying cause of the educational lag is that young deaf students have limited access to grade-level curriculum materials (because of their low English literacy level). Computer animation of American Sign Language (ASL) has the potential to improve learning outcomes by making educational content deaf accessible, thus providing deaf children with the same learning opportunities as hearing students. The work reported in the paper shows that it is possible for deaf educators, who are not animators, to annotate digital lessons with ASL translation in the form of animated avatars, thus making them accessible to deaf children.
Bayesian Approaches for Robust Array Signal Processing

Modern techniques for sensor array signal processing are hampered by the often un realistic and overly simplistic assumptions used in their development Foremost among these assumptions are those relating to the array geometry or response including for example known sensor positions availability of complete gain phase mutual coupling calibration data uniform linear arrays etc Of course with real arrays none of these assumptions hold exactly Deviations from the nominal model occur due to environmen tal factors quantization e ects perturbations in the locations of the antenna elements etc If such model errors are ignored serious performance degradation can result While in any given application the exact value of the perturbation to the array is unknown the size or distribution of such perturbations may be well understood Consequently in this paper a Bayesian approach is adopted to show how information in the form of an a priori distribution on the array model errors can be used to improve both direction of arrival and beamforming performance The general maximum a posteriori estimator for the problem is formulated and a computationally attractive alternative based on the concept of subspace tting is proposed The algorithm s statistical performance for both DOA estimation and beamforming is evaluated by means of some simulation examples
Friend is Calling: Exploiting Mobile Phone Data to Help Users in Setting their Privacy Preferences

A continuously increasing number of pictures and videos is being shared in online social networks. Currently, users manually confine access to the contents shared. This configuration process can rapidly become cumbersome for users sharing a large amount of content, and, as a result, they may be tempted to rush through the process or leave the default settings unchanged. This can seriously endanger their privacy if inappropriate users are authorized to access sensitive data. In order to reduce the burden on the users as well as enhance their privacy protection, we propose to leverage in- formation already available on their mobile phone as a basis for recommendations on how to set their privacy preferences. To this end, we conducted a user study exploring the differences between users belonging to different social groups, in terms of communication patterns. We have designed clas- sifiers based on mobile phone data to distinguish members of different social groups, and we have evaluated these clas- sifiers using a real-world dataset. The results show that friends can be easily identified using call and short messages logs, while identifying colleagues requires additional information.
Endothelial Tip Cells in Ocular Angiogenesis

Endothelial tip cells are leading cells at the tips of vascular sprouts coordinating multiple processes during angiogenesis. In the developing retina, tip cells play a tightly controlled, timely role in angiogenesis. In contrast, excessive numbers of tip cells are a characteristic of the chaotic pathological blood vessels in proliferative retinopathies. Tip cells control adjacent endothelial cells in a hierarchical manner to form the stalk of the sprouting vessel, using, among others, the VEGF-DLL-Notch signaling pathway, and recruit pericytes. Tip cells are guided toward avascular areas by signals from the local extracellular matrix that are released by cells from the neuroretina such as astrocytes. Recently, tip cells were identified in endothelial cell cultures, enabling identification of novel molecular markers and mechanisms involved in tip cell biology. These mechanisms are relevant for understanding proliferative retinopathies. Agents that primarily target tip cells can block pathological angiogenesis in the retina efficiently and safely without adverse effects. A striking example is platelet-derived growth factor, which was recently shown to be an efficacious additional target in the treatment of retinal neovascularization. Here we discuss these and other tip cell-based strategies with respect to their potential to treat patients with ocular diseases dominated by neovascularization.
Effect of recombinant human epidermal growth factor on cutaneous scar quality in thyroidectomy patients

Abstract Background: Epidermal growth factor (EGF) decreases inflammatory cell infiltration and TGF-β expression during wound healing. Several clinical studies show that recovery of various ulcer wounds, such as diabetic and radiation ulcer, is promoted by EGF. Objective: To evaluate effects of recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF) on cutaneous scar quality after thyroidectomy. Method: Scar quality was evaluated by Vancouver scar scale (VSS) in two groups of female thyroidectomy patients (control, n = 11; rhEGF-treated, n = 10). Scar erythema, pigmentation, elasticity and hydration were measured by mexameter, cutometer and corneometer. Results: Scar pliability (at 4 weeks) and thickness (2 weeks) after surgery were significantly lower in the rhEGF group than control. Total VSS score was significantly lower in the rhEGF group after 4 weeks. However, erythema, pigmentation, elasticity and hydration of the scar were not significantly different between groups. Conclusion: The early use of rhEGF in surgical wound healing may improve cutaneous scar quality.
Machine Source Localization of Tursiops truncatus Whistle-like Sounds in a Reverberant Aquatic Environment

Most research into bottlenose dolphins’ (Tursiops truncatus’) capacity for communication has centered on tonal calls termed whistles, in particular individually distinctive contact calls referred to as signature whistles. While “non-signature” whistles exist, and may be important components of bottlenose dolphins’ communicative repertoire, they have not been studied extensively. This is in part due to the difficulty of attributing whistles to specific individuals, a challenge that has limited the study of not only non-signature whistles but the study of general acoustic exchanges among socializing dolphins. In this paper, we propose the first machine-learning-based approach to identifying the source locations of semi-stationary, tonal, whistle-like sounds in a highly reverberant space, specifically a half-cylindrical dolphin pool. We deliver time-of-flight and normalized cross-correlation measurements to a random forest model for high-feature-volume classification and feature selection, and subsequently deliver the selected features into linear discriminant analysis, linear and quadratic Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Gaussian process models. In our 14-point setup, we achieve perfect classification accuracy and high (MAD of 0.6557 m, IQR = 0.3395 - 1.5694) regression accuracy with fewer than 10,000 features. The regression models yielded better accuracy than the established Steered-Response (SRP) method when all training data were used, and comparable accuracy – even when interpolating at several meters – in the lateral directions when prompted to infer missing training data at testing sites, and at the advantage of significantly improved computation time and the potential for superior accuracy with more training data.
Intrathecal bone marrow stromal cells inhibit neuropathic pain via TGF-β secretion.

Neuropathic pain remains a pressing clinical problem. Here, we demonstrate that a local, intrathecal (i.t.) injection of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) following lumbar puncture alleviates early- and late-phase neuropathic pain symptoms, such as allodynia and hyperalgesia, for several weeks in murine chronic constriction injury (CCI) and spared nerve injury models. Moreover, i.t. BMSCs reduced CCI-induced spontaneous pain and axonal injury of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and inhibited CCI-evoked neuroinflammation in DRGs and spinal cord tissues. BMSCs secreted TGF-β1 into the cerebrospinal fluid, and neutralization of TGF-β1, but not IL-10, reversed the analgesic effect of BMSCs. Conversely, i.t. administration of TGF-β1 potently inhibited neuropathic pain. TGF-β1 acted as a powerful neuromodulator and rapidly (within minutes) suppressed CCI-evoked spinal synaptic plasticity and DRG neuronal hyperexcitability via TGF-β receptor 1-mediated noncanonical signaling. Finally, nerve injury upregulated CXCL12 in lumbar L4-L6 DRGs, and this upregulation caused migration of i.t. -injected BMSCs to DRGs through the CXCL12 receptor CXCR4, which was expressed on BMSCs. BMSCs that migrated from the injection site survived at the border of DRGs for more than 2 months. Our findings support a paracrine mechanism by which i.t. BMSCs target CXCL12-producing DRGs to elicit neuroprotection and sustained neuropathic pain relief via TGF-β1 secretion.
A Systematic Review of Depression and Anxiety in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: The Mind-Heart Link

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most commonly seen arrhythmia in clinical practice. At present, few studies have been conducted centering on depression and anxiety in AF patients. Our aim in this systematic review is to use the relevant literature to (1) describe the prevalence of depression and anxiety in AF patients, (2) assess the impact that depression and anxiety have on illness perception in patients with AF, (3) provide evidence to support a hypothetical connection between the pathophysiology of AF and depression and anxiety, (4) evaluate the benefit of treatment of AF on depression and anxiety, and (5) give insight on medically managing a patient with AF and concomitant depression and anxiety.