Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of intensive compared with moderate lipid-lowering therapy on progression of coronary atherosclerosis: a randomized controlled trial.

CONTEXT Statin drugs reduce both atherogenic lipoproteins and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However, the optimal strategy and target level for lipid reduction remain uncertain. OBJECTIVE To compare the effect of regimens designed to produce intensive lipid lowering or moderate lipid lowering on coronary artery atheroma burden and progression. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS Double-blind, randomized active control multicenter trial (Reversal of Atherosclerosis with Aggressive Lipid Lowering [REVERSAL]) performed at 34 community and tertiary care centers in the United States comparing the effects of 2 different statins administered for 18 months. Intravascular ultrasound was used to measure progression of atherosclerosis. Between June 1999 and September 2001, 654 patients were randomized and received study drug; 502 had evaluable intravascular ultrasound examinations at baseline and after 18 months of treatment. INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomly assigned to receive a moderate lipid-lowering regimen consisting of 40 mg of pravastatin or an intensive lipid-lowering regimen consisting of 80 mg of atorvastatin. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary efficacy parameter was the percentage change in atheroma volume (follow-up minus baseline). RESULTS Baseline low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (mean, 150.2 mg/dL [3.89 mmol/L] in both treatment groups) was reduced to 110 mg/dL (2.85 mmol/L) in the pravastatin group and to 79 mg/dL (2.05 mmol/L) in the atorvastatin group (P<.001). C-reactive protein decreased 5.2% with pravastatin and 36.4% with atorvastatin (P<.001). The primary end point (percentage change in atheroma volume) showed a significantly lower progression rate in the atorvastatin (intensive) group (P =.02). Similar differences between groups were observed for secondary efficacy parameters, including change in total atheroma volume (P =.02), change in percentage atheroma volume (P<.001), and change in atheroma volume in the most severely diseased 10-mm vessel subsegment (P<.01). For the primary end point, progression of coronary atherosclerosis occurred in the pravastatin group (2.7%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.2% to 4.7%; P =.001) compared with baseline. Progression did not occur in the atorvastatin group (-0.4%; CI -2.4% to 1.5%; P =.98) compared with baseline. CONCLUSIONS For patients with coronary heart disease, intensive lipid-lowering treatment with atorvastatin reduced progression of coronary atherosclerosis compared with pravastatin. Compared with baseline values, patients treated with atorvastatin had no change in atheroma burden, whereas patients treated with pravastatin showed progression of coronary atherosclerosis. These differences may be related to the greater reduction in atherogenic lipoproteins and C- reactive protein in patients treated with atorvastatin.
Coevolution between harmful male genitalia and female resistance in seed beetles

Reproductive conflict between the sexes is thought to be a key force in the evolution of many reproductive characters, but persuasive evidence for its significance is still scarce. The spectacular evolution of male genitalia that impose physical injury on females during mating has often been suggested to be a product of sexually antagonistic coevolution, but our understanding of these extraordinary adaptations is very limited, and there are no direct data addressing their evolutionary elaboration. We show that more spiny male genitalia causes more harm to females during copulation and provide comparative evidence for the correlated evolution between these antagonistic adaptations in males and a female counteradaptation (the amount of connective tissue in the copulatory duct) in a group of insects. By combining comparative and experimental methods, we demonstrate that imbalance of relative armament of the sexes affects evolution of the economics of reproduction: as males evolve genitalia that are more harmful relative to the level of female counteradaptation, costs associated with mating for females increase and population fitness is depressed. Our results unveil a coevolutionary arms race between the sexes and are consistent with a proposed link between sexual conflict, species' viability, and the risk of extinction.
Perforin deficiency attenuates inflammation and tumor growth in colitis‐associated cancer

Background: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have a markedly increased risk to develop colon cancer, but there are only limited data about the host antitumor response in such colitis‐associated cancer. In the present study we aimed at assessing the role of perforin‐dependent effector mechanisms in the immune response in a murine model of colitis‐associated colon cancer. Methods: Wildtype and perforin‐deficient mice were analyzed in a mouse model of colitis‐associated colon cancer using azoxymethane (AOM) and dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). Results: Tumors of wildtype mice showed infiltration of CD4+, CD8+ T cells, natural killer (NK) cells, high numbers of apoptotic cells, and expression of the transcription factor eomesodermin and cytotoxic effector proteins, suggesting a potential role of the antitumor immune response in AOM/DSS tumorigenesis. Furthermore, perforin deficiency resulted in reduced apoptosis of epithelial cells as compared to wildtype mice, whereas tumor infiltration by NK cells, CD8+, and CD4+ T cells was unchanged. However, perforin‐deficient mice surprisingly developed significantly fewer tumors than wildtype mice. Subsequent studies identified an important role of perforin in regulating colitis activity, as perforin deficiency caused a significant reduction of DSS colitis activity and proinflammatory cytokine production as compared to wildtype controls. Conclusions: Perforin is involved in both the antitumor immune response and the regulation of activity of mucosal inflammation in colitis‐associated cancer. Our data emphasize the possible consequences for therapeutic strategies targeting colitis‐associated colon cancer. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2009;)
Simulating consequences of smoking with Augmented Reality

Visualization in an educational context provides the learner with visual means of information. Conceptualizing certain circumstances such as consequences of smoking can be done more effectively with the help of the technology, Augmented Reality (AR). It is a new methodology for effective learning. This paper proposes an approach on how AR based on Marker Technology simulates the harmful effects of smoking and its consequences using Unity 3D game engine. The study also illustrates the impact of AR technology on students for better learning.
Road to Readiness: Pathways From Low-Income Children's Early Interactions to School Readiness Skills

This study utilized data from the Michigan component of the National Early Head Start Research and Evaluation study to examine toddlers' joint attention at 14 months (parent report measure of toddlers' initiating behaviors, e.g., extends arm to show you something he or she is holding, reaches out and gives you a toy he or she has been holding, and points at something interesting) as a mediator of the relations between early mother–child interactions (e.g., mother and child behaviors in response to one another's cues) and later school readiness skills in a low-income sample (N = 127 mother–child dyads). Understanding relations between early parent–child interactions, joint attention, and later school readiness skills is critical to identifying developmental paths of economically at-risk children. Results showed that toddlers' joint attention behaviors at 14 months partially mediated the path between mother–child interaction at 14 months and later school readiness, measured by children's emotion regulation, social-cognition, language development, and literacy and mathematics academic outcomes, at approximately 5 years of age. Results suggest the important roles of early mother–child interactions in low-income families and joint attention in promoting school readiness skills.
A Combined Anatomical and Clinical Study for Quantitative Analysis of the Microcirculation in the Classic Perfusion Zones of the Deep Inferior Epigastric Artery Perforator Flap

Background: The establishment of the perfusion zones for the deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap is still under debate. Specifically, differences between clinical and anatomical studies have often been described. The purpose of this combined study was to evaluate the characteristics of a DIEP zoning in both clinical and anatomical settings by quantitatively assessing the perfusion dynamics and vascular anatomy. Methods: In the first part of the study, the perfusion dynamics of 16 patients undergoing DIEP flap breast reconstruction were assessed, determining cutaneous oxygen supply and blood flow using an Oxygen to See device. In the second part of the study, 11 flaps were harvested from fresh female cadavers. All specimens were subjected to dynamic computed tomographic scanning to simulate single-perforator DIEP flaps. Results: The perfusion dynamics of DIEP flaps show no significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) between the two immediately adjacent zones, regardless of the use of lateral or medial perforator rows. However, use of the cadaver medial row perforator more often illustrated a vascular pattern across the midline (zone II, 86.4 percent) as compared with the lateral row–perfused DIEP flap. Conclusions: The authors' combined study showed varying perfusion characteristics between anatomical and clinical settings, which could be caused by a number of complex systemic and local processes. Thus, the selection of the DIEP zones should be assessed individually depending on the anatomy in question and the characteristics of the perforators until the mentioned issues are clarified in detail.
Ghosts of Habitats Past: Environmental Carry-Over Effects Drive Population Dynamics in Novel Habitat

The phenotype of adults can be strongly influenced by the environmental conditions experienced during development. Consequently, variation in habitat quality across space and through time also leads to differences in the phenotypes of adults. This could create carry-over effects where differences in the natal habitat quality of colonizers influence population dynamics in new habitats. We tested this hypothesis experimentally by simulating dispersal of Tribolium castaneum from low- or high-quality natal habitat into new patches of low- or high-quality habitat. Differences in the natal habitat quality of colonizers altered population growth trajectories and led to carrying capacities that differed by up to 63% within a habitat type, indicating that patch dynamics are determined by the interaction of past and current habitat quality. Interestingly, even after multiple generations, the natal habitat of colonizers determined differences in adult traits that were related to density-dependent population regulation. These changes in adult phenotype could at least partially explain why carry-over effects continued to alter population dynamics for multiple generations until the end of the experiment. These results highlight the importance of variable habitat quality and carry-over effects for population dynamics.
The Supportive Behaviors of Older Social Network Site Users.

This paper outlines a new multi-wave study of older adult users of social network sites. The goal of the study is to develop a grounded understanding of the phenomenon of older user social network site adoption, to identify and investigate ways in which the social network site facilitates access to supportive resources, and to evaluate the outcomes of access to supportive resources in social network sites. The paper draws on a preliminary analysis of 15 semistructured interviews with older, late-adopting social network site users to present emergent themes. Reconnection is identified as a salient use motivator among older users of social network sites. We then explore the social network sites as a location of social support for older users; Emotional and informational support are readily provisioned on social network sites, whereas instrumental support is not commonly requested or provisioned. The role of crosscontextual disclosure and technological alternatives are briefly explored as potential explanatory variables. Running head: THE SUPPORTIVE BEHAVIORS OF OLDER 3
RF Catheter Ablation: Lessons on Lesions

The present treatment of atrial fibrillation by radiofrequency catheter ablation requires long continuous lesions in the thin walled left atrium where side effects may lead to serious complications. Better understanding of the physical processes that take place during ablation may help to improve the quality, safety, and outcome of these procedures. These processes include the distribution of power between blood, tissue, and patient; the mechanisms of tissue heating and coagulum formation; the relation between tissue and electrode temperatures; and the effects of increased electrode size and internal and external electrode cooling.
Rigid substructure search

MOTIVATION Identifying the location of binding sites on proteins is of fundamental importance for a wide range of applications, including molecular docking, de novo drug design, structure identification and comparison of functional sites. Here we present Erebus, a web server that searches the entire Protein Data Bank for a given substructure defined by a set of atoms of interest, such as the binding scaffolds for small molecules. The identified substructure contains atoms having the same names, belonging to same amino acids and separated by the same distances (within a given tolerance) as the atoms of the query structure. The accuracy of a match is measured by the root-mean-square deviation or by the normal weight with a given variance. Tests show that our approach can reliably locate rigid binding scaffolds of drugs and metal ions. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION We provide this service through a web server at http://erebus.dokhlab. org.
Development of a Mobile EEG-based Biometric Authentication System

—In recent years the need for greater security for storing personal and business data or accessing corporate networks on mobile devices is growing rapidly, and one of the potential solutions is to employ the innovative biometric authentication techniques. This paper presents the development of a mobile biometric authentication system based on electro-encephalogram (EEG) recordings in combination with already proven technologies such as facial detection and near-field communication (NFC). The overall goal of this work is to fill the gap between mobile web technologies and wireless EEG devices and to develop a new authentication technique and a feasible application. Therefore, we review the relevant literature, conduct several EEG measurement experiments and discuss their procedure and results with experts in the EEG and digital signal processing (DSP) fields. Based on these results we build and present a mobile prototype system capable of au-thenticating users based on the uniqueness of their brainwaves. Furthermore, we implement a novel authentication process, which leads the authentication system to be more secure. We also give suggestions for future improvements of the system.
Event Localization in Wireless Sensor Network using Binary Sensors

Sensor networks are gaining importance as they have vast potential for diverse application areas like monitoring, localizing and tracking of environmental phenomenon. The sensors are constrained by extremely scarce resources, unreliable communication link and faulty nodes. There is a need to address these harsh operating conditions. Real time sensitive applications which require fault free observations from sensor nodes is another challenging task in wireless sensor network scenario. Binary wireless sensor network is an extension of wireless sensor network where sensors give binary outputs. This paper focuses on the suitability of binary sensors for event localization purpose. In the sequel, this paper presents application of binary sensors for event localization in wireless sensor network. Comprehensive literature survey on event localization in context of wireless sensor network is presented and discussed. Evaluation of related work is also presented in order to understand gap analysis. The mathematical model of binary sensor operation and the pseudo code for wireless sensor network functioning with and without faulty binary sensor node is presented and discussed. Finally paper concludes with an use case explaining event localization in wireless sensor network using binary sensors. Keywords—Binary wireless sensor network, Region of Coverage
A Scenario-Based Method for Assessing the Impact of Suggested Woodland Key Habitats on Forest Harvesting Costs

Variable retention harvesting is acknowledged as a cost-effective conservation measure, but previous studies have focused on the environmental value and planning cost. In this study, a model is presented for optimizing harvesting cost using a high resolution map generated from airborne laser scanning data. The harvesting cost optimization model is used to calculate the objective value of different scenarios. By comparing the objective values, better estimates of the opportunity cost of woodland key habitats are found. The model can be used by a forest manager when evaluating what silvicultural treatments to implement or as an input for improving the nature reserve selection problem for woodland key habitats or retention patches. The model was tested on four real-world cases, and the results indicate that terrain transportation costs vary more than reported in the literature and that it may be worthwhile to divide the opportunity cost into its direct and indirect components.
Multi-view kernel-based data analysis

The input data features set for many data driven tasks is high-dimensional while the intrinsic dimension of the data is low. Data analysis methods aim to uncover the underlying low dimensional structure imposed by the low dimensional hidden parameters by utilizing distance metrics that considers the set of attributes as a single monolithic set. However, the transformation of the low dimensional phenomena into the measured high dimensional observations might distort the distance metric. This distortion can affect the desired estimated low dimensional geometric structure. In this paper, we suggest to utilize the redundancy in the feature domain by partitioning the features into multiple subsets that are called views. The proposed method utilize the agreement also called consensus between different views to extract valuable geometric information that unifies multiple views about the intrinsic relationships among several different observations. This unification enhances the information that a single view or a simple concatenations of views provides.
Effect of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation on central arterial stiffness and arterial wave reflections in young and older healthy adults

Increased central arterial stiffness and enhanced arterial wave reflections may contribute to increased risk of cardiovascular disease development with advancing age. Omega‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n‐3) ingestion may reduce cardiovascular risk via favorable effects exerted on arterial structure and function. We determined the effects of n‐3 supplementation (4 g/day for 12 weeks) on important measures of central arterial stiffness (carotid‐femoral pulse wave velocity; PWV) and arterial wave reflection (central augmentation index) in young (n = 12; 25 ± 1‐year‐old, mean ± SE) and older (n = 12; 66 ± 2) healthy adults. We hypothesized that n‐3 supplementation would decrease carotid‐femoral PWV and central augmentation index in older adults. Our results indicate that carotid‐femoral PWV and central augmentation index were greater in older (988 ± 65 cm/sec and 33 ± 2%) than in young adults (656 ± 16 cm/sec and 3 ± 4%: both P < 0.05 compared to older) before the intervention (Pre). N‐3 supplementation decreased carotid‐femoral PWV in older (∆‐9 ± 2% Precompared to Post; P < 0.05), but not young adults (∆2 ± 3%). Central augmentation index was unchanged by n‐3 supplementation in young (3 ± 4 vs. 0 ± 4% for Pre and Post, respectively) and older adults (33 ± 2 vs. 35 ± 3%). Arterial blood pressure at rest, although increased with age, was not altered by n‐3 supplementation in young or older adults. Collectively, these data indicate that 12 weeks of daily n‐3 supplementation decreases an important measure of central arterial stiffness (carotid‐femoral PWV) in older, but not young healthy adults. The mechanism underlying decreased central arterial stiffness with n‐3 supplementation is unknown, but appears to be independent of effects on arterial blood pressure or arterial wave reflections.
The effect of theory of mind impairment on language: Referring after right-hemisphere damage

ABSTRACT Background: Some patients after right-hemisphere damage show difficulty in Theory of Mind (TOM) tasks, namely, in the ability to attribute and reason about mental states of others and of themselves. Aims: We explored how such TOM impairment (aTOMia) following brain damage affects language abilities that are related to TOM. Specifically, we explored the ability of individuals with aTOMia to use and comprehend various referring expressions (e.g., definite and indefinite noun phrases, proper names, and pronouns) according to the speaker’s assessment of the addressee’s knowledge state about the referent. Methods & Procedures: We compared linguistic abilities that depend on the evaluation of shared knowledge, and hence might be affected by TOM impairment, to purely syntactic tasks, unrelated to TOM. TOM-related abilities were assessed using 6 tasks that test the comprehension, production, and judgment of various types of referring expressions. Non-TOM, syntactic, abilities were assessed using 4 tasks of comprehension and production. The participants were 21 Hebrew speakers with right-hemisphere damage aged 25–65 years (mean 52;2), 6 women and 15 men. Twenty of them had a right cerebrovascular accident, and one patient was surgically treated for the removal of a tumour. Fourteen of them were aTOMic, whereas 7 showed normal TOM. We compared the TOM-dependent linguistic abilities of the aTOMic patients to the brain-damaged patients with normal TOM, and to an age-matched control group. Outcomes & Results: The participants with aTOMia performed consistently worse on the TOM-related linguistic tasks than the right-hemisphere-damaged participants with intact-TOM and the healthy control group. They failed to take into account the mental state of the interlocutors and the knowledge that they share in selecting a referring expression. In contrast, their syntactic abilities, which are not dependent on TOM, were intact. Their comprehension of relative clauses, Wh-questions, and object pronouns was normal, and their production of embedded sentences was similar to the controls. The aTOMic and non-aTOMic participants performed similarly to controls on the TOM-independent syntactic tasks. Conclusions: Individuals who have aTOMia following right-hemisphere damage might show specific impairments in language, when the comprehension and production require TOM. An important implication of this study is, thus, that although these individuals do not suffer damage to the language areas in the brain, they should be considered for language evaluation and treatment.