Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Psychiatric Assessment of Candidates for Bone Marrow Transplantation: A Psychodynamically-Oriented Approach

Objective: To seek possible relationships between psychological factors and survival after an intensive medical therapy, using bone marrow transplantation as a model. Method: Candidates for bone marrow transplantation underwent two to three psychodynamically-oriented psychiatric interviews that explored family functioning (“F”), individual psychological maturity (“I”), and the capacity to form and communicate a mature psychological construct of the transplant (“T”) process. The results were recorded in a semi-quantitative manner, assigning a possible score of 1 to 3 for each parameter, for a possible total of 3 to 9 (the “F.I.T.” assessment). Survival after the transplant was analyzed retrospectively in relation to the F.I. T. assessment. Results: In a series of 112 candidates interviewed prior to transplant, those with the lowest F.I. T. assessment tended not to survive as long. By one year, 95 percent of individuals assigned the lowest score (F.I.T. = 3) had died, whereas 96 percent of those assigned the highest scores (F.I.T. = 7–9) remained alive. The strongest predictors were the “I” and “T” parameters. Conclusion: This approach to assessment of candidates for bone marrow transplantation may identify individuals who require added supportive measures, both medical and psychological. Furthermore, the results suggest possible leads in the search for how psychological factors might influence the physiologic response to a toxic stress.
Glutathione and tryptophan metabolism are required for Arabidopsis immunity during the hypersensitive response to hemibiotrophs

The hypersensitive response (HR) is a type of strong immune response found in plants that is accompanied by localized cell death. However, it is unclear how HR can block a broad range of pathogens with different infective modes. In this study, we report that γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase GSH1, which is critical for glutathione biosynthesis, and tryptophan (Trp) metabolism contribute to HR and block development of fungal pathogens with hemibiotrophic infective modes. We found that GSH1 is involved in the penetration2 (PEN2)-based entry control of the nonadapted hemibiotroph Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. However, Arabidopsis mutants specifically defective in entry control terminated further growth of the pathogen in the presence of HR cell death, whereas gsh1 mutants supported pathogen invasive growth in planta, demonstrating the requirement of GSH1 for postinvasive nonhost resistance. Remarkably, on the basis of the phenotypic and metabolic analysis of Arabidopsis mutants defective in Trp metabolism, we showed that biosynthesis of Trp-derived phytochemicals is also essential for resistance to C. gloeosporioides during postinvasive HR. By contrast, GSH1 and these metabolites are likely to be dispensable for the induction of cell death during postinvasive HR. Furthermore, the resistance to Ralstonia solanacearum 1/resistance to Pseudomonas syringae 4 dual Resistance gene-dependent immunity of Arabidopsis to the adapted hemibiotroph shared GSH1 and cytochromes P450 CYP79B2/CYP79B3 with postinvasive nonhost resistance, whereas resistance to P. syringae pv. maculicola 1 and resistance to P. syringae 2-based Resistance gene resistance against bacterial pathogens did not. These data suggest that the synthesis of glutathione and Trp-derived metabolites during HR play crucial roles in terminating the invasive growth of both nonadapted and adapted hemibiotrophs.
From Affine Rank Minimization Solution to Sparse Modeling

Compressed sensing is a simple and efficient technique that has a number of applications in signal processing and machine learning. In machine learning it provides answers to questions such as: "under what conditions is the sparse representation of data efficient? ", "when is learning a large margin classifier directly on the compressed domain possible? ", and "why does a large margin classifier learn more effectively if the data is sparse? ". This work tackles the problem of feature representation from the context of sparsity and affine rank minimization by leveraging compressed sensing from the learning perspective in order to provide answers to the aforementioned questions. We show, for a full-rank signal, the high dimensional sparse representation of data is efficient because from the classifiers viewpoint such a representation is in fact a low dimensional problem. We provide practical bounds on the linear classifier to investigate the relationship between the SVM classifier in the high dimensional and compressed domains and show for the high dimensional sparse signals, when the bounds are tight, directly learning in the compressed domain is possible.
Bayesian Models of Dynamic Attentional Selection

Selection amongst potentially conflicting inputs is a critical facet of many decision making tasks. According to Bayesian optimality principles, the attentional suppression of irrelevant inputs and inappropriate responses should reflect implicitly encoded prior assumptions about the statistical structure of sensory inputs. This argument has particularly interesting ramifications for experimental tasks that violate the statistics of the natural environment. Here, we provide a Bayesian formulation for dynamic attentional selection that elucidates this problem, and consider the consequences for behavioral performance. We illustrate these issues using the Eriksen flanker task, a classical paradigm that explores the effects of competing sensory inputs on response tendencies. In this task, the presence of conflicting flanker stimuli has been shown to interfere with the processing of a central target stimulus, especially on short reaction-time trials. We show how two distinct Bayesian inferential principles can explain the detrimental effects of competition in speeded decisions. The first rests on the notion that the brain may be wired, through either evolutionary adaptation or developmental learning, to encode a compatibility bias: that is, the prior belief that spatially proximate items in a visual scene tend to be featurally similar. The second emphasizes the spatial uncertainty induced by overlapping receptive fields of visual sensory processes, which can give rise to a confusion of stimulus identity early on during visual presentation. We also elaborate a simpler, approximate, inference model that formalizes previous work suggesting that different neural structures are involved in the monitoring of conflict and the detection of unexpected events. Finally, we suggest explicit experimental tests to resolve the remaining conflicts between the models.
EFFECTS OF NEUROTROPHIN SUPPLEMENTATION ON FUNCTIONAL RECOVERY OF THE PUDENDAL NERVE FOLLOWING SIMULATED CHILDBIRTH INJURY

Hypothesis / aims of study Pudendal nerve (PN) injury, associated with vaginal birth trauma, has been implicated as a major mechanism in the pathogenesis of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Specifically, this injury produces an impairment of the neuromuscular continence mechanism consisting of the PN and external urethral sphincter (EUS). Following peripheral nerve injury, upregulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been observed in target organs and axons distal to injury [1]. BDNF is required for neuroregeneration and local administration to injury sites reduces motorneuron death following transection [2]. BDNF is upregulated in the EUS following pudendal nerve crush (PNC). However, compared to PNC alone, markedly lower BDNF upregulation occurs after PNC with concurrent EUS trauma induced by vaginal distention (VD) [3]. The present study investigates whether continuous, local administration of exogenous BDNF can improve PN neuroregeneration as well as functional recovery of the EUS following simulated childbirth injury consisting of PNC and VD.
Changes in oxidant-antioxidant status in young diabetic patients from clinical onset onwards

Oxidative stress has been implicated as a mechanism underlying hyperglycaemia‐associated cellular damage and could play a role in the development of diabetes‐related complications. This study aimed to evaluate the significance of changes in oxidant–antioxidant status in 176 child and adolescent diabetic patients at clinical onset, during disease progression and when early microvascular complications appeared. Indicative lipid and protein oxidation markers and antioxidant defence activity were measured in plasma and correlated with clinical data, diabetes duration, long‐term glycometabolic control and serum lipids. Compared with their respective age‐matched controls, diabetic patients had greater oxidative damage to lipids and proteins, demonstrated through the analysis of hydroperoxides, lipoperoxides and oxidation protein products, all of which were significantly raised at onset, decreased during the first 1.5 years of evolution and rose progressively thereafter. Plasma levels of oxidizable lipids were significantly associated with lipid and protein oxidation products. Overall, plasma antioxidant capacity was significantly and consistently lower from clinical onset onwards. These results suggest that insulin therapy in the first year improved metabolic and oxidant homeostasis and consequently hyperglycaemia‐derived biomolecular oxidative damage. Diabetes‐associated hyperlipidaemia is related to lipid and protein oxidation processes, which supports the concept of glucose toxicity and lipotoxicity being interrelated. The greatest increase in lipid and protein oxidative damage biomarkers in young diabetic patients with premature microangiopathy points to oxidative stress as a possible contributing mechanism of microvascular dysfunction. Consequently, tight lipid and glycometabolic control may have therapeutic potential by diminishing oxidative tissue‐damaging effects of hyperglycaemia.
Why Learning Communities? Why Now?

Are learning communities just another fad or an idea whose time has truly come? The author considers what's going on in higher education research and practice—and in the philosophy informing our thinking—that makes the idea of learning communities resonate so strongly among its advocates. T HE STIMULUS for today's high interest in learning communities is coming from many sources, which often have differing motivations that nevertheless complement and reinforce one another. Most people are interested in learning communities because they offer hope of making college a more holistic, integrated learning experience for students. But learning communities can range all the way from loosely structured programs that offer students the opportunity to take a set of courses in common, to heavily structured programs of integrated courses that are team taught by faculty from different disciplines , to a cohort of students who may even live together in residence halls. Understandably there is thus considerable debate over the definition of learning communities. For the purposes of this article I shall simply define them as groups of people engaged in intellectual interaction for the purpose of learning. Why is there so much interest in learning communities? I think the reasons can be divided into three broad categories: philosophical (because learning communities fit into a changing philosophy of knowledge), research based (because learning communities fit with what research tells us about learning), and pragmatic (because learning communities work).
Specific Expression of N‐Acetylaspartate in Neurons, Oligodendrocyte‐Type‐2 Astrocyte Progenitors, and Immature Oligodendrocytes In Vitro

To test the specificity of N‐acetylaspartate (NAA) as a neuronal marker for proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy, purified and characterized cultured cells were analyzed for their NAA content using both 1H NMR and HPLC. Cell types studied included cerebellar granule neurons, type‐1 astrocytes, meningeal cells, oligodendrocyte‐type‐2 astrocyte (O–2A) progenitor cells, and oligodendrocytes. A high concentration of NAA was found in extracts of cerebellar granule neurons (approximately 12 nmol/mg of protein), whereas NAA remained undetectable in purified type‐1 astrocytes, meningeal cells, and mature oligodendrocytes. However, twice the neuronal level of NAA was found in O‐2A progenitors grown in vitro. In addition significant levels of NAA were also detected in cultures of immature oligodendrocytes. Our data partly support previous suggestions that NAA may be a useful neuronal marker for 1H NMR spectroscopic examination of the adult brain. However, they also raise the further possibility that alterations of NAA associated with some specific brain disorders, particularly disorders seen in newborn and young children, may reflect abnormalities in the development of oligodendroglia or their precursors.
A fine-grained arc-consistency algorithm for non-normalized constraint satisfaction problems

A fine-grained arc-consistency algorithm for non-normalized constraint satisfaction problems Constraint programming is a powerful software technology for solving numerous real-life problems. Many of these problems can be modeled as Constraint Satisfaction Problems (CSPs) and solved using constraint programming techniques. However, solving a CSP is NP-complete so filtering techniques to reduce the search space are still necessary. Arc-consistency algorithms are widely used to prune the search space. The concept of arc-consistency is bidirectional, i.e., it must be ensured in both directions of the constraint (direct and inverse constraints). Two of the most well-known and frequently used arc-consistency algorithms for filtering CSPs are AC3 and AC4. These algorithms repeatedly carry out revisions and require support checks for identifying and deleting all unsupported values from the domains. Nevertheless, many revisions are ineffective, i.e., they cannot delete any value and consume a lot of checks and time. In this paper, we present AC4-OP, an optimized version of AC4 that manages the binary and non-normalized constraints in only one direction, storing the inverse founded supports for their later evaluation. Thus, it reduces the propagation phase avoiding unnecessary or ineffective checking. The use of AC4-OP reduces the number of constraint checks by 50% while pruning the same search space as AC4. The evaluation section shows the improvement of AC4-OP over AC4, AC6 and AC7 in random and non-normalized instances.
Single implants and buccal bone grafts in the anterior maxilla: measurements of buccal crestal contours in a 6-year prospective clinical study.

BACKGROUND Patients provided with buccal bone grafts seem to lose a substantial part of the graft in the short term. PURPOSE To measure long-term changes in buccal and proximal tissue volumes after local bone grafting and single implant treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS Eight of 10 originally treated male patients were followed up for 6 years after treatment with buccal bone grafts in the central incisor region. After a healing time of 6 months, a two-stage implant surgery procedure was performed followed by single crown placement. Clinical photographs and impressions were taken prior to the surgical interventions and after crown placement and at first and fifth annual checkups. The photographs were analyzed with regard to papilla regeneration by means of a clinical papilla index. The models were used to measure the clinical length of teeth and tooth movements adjacent to the implants. Changes in buccal crest volume during the study period were measured by means of optical scanning of obtained study models. RESULTS Papillae volume increased significantly (p<.05) during the first year, thereafter showing a slow further increase during the 4 following years. Three of the patients (38%) presented small movements of their adjacent central incisor in a vertical or palatal direction of less than 1 mm during the follow-up period. All patients showed resorption during the first year after grafting (p<.01), in which three patients (38%) had lost basically all of increased volume at second surgery. After abutment or crown placement, all patients showed an increased volume (p<.01), followed by an average reduction during the first year, reaching a significant level in the apical part of the crest (p<.05). Thereafter, a relatively stable average situation was observed during the following 4 years, with individual variations, however. CONCLUSION Local bone grafting seems to create sufficient bone volume for implant placement after 6 months, but individual variations in resorption pattern make the grafting procedure unpredictable for long-term prognosis. Instead, the abutment and the crown seem to play a more important role for building up and maintaining the buccal contour in the coronal part of the crest long term.
Blood Lead Levels and Death from All Causes, Cardiovascular Disease, and Cancer: Results from the NHANES III Mortality Study

Background Analyses of mortality data for participants examined in 1976–1980 in the second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES II) suggested an increased risk of mortality at blood lead levels > 20 μg/dL. Blood lead levels have decreased markedly since the late 1970s. In NHANES III, conducted during 1988–1994, few adults had levels > 20 μg/dL. Objective Our objective in this study was to determine the risk of mortality in relation to lower blood lead levels observed for adult participants of NHANES III. Methods We analyzed mortality information for 9,757 participants who had a blood lead measurement and who were ≥ 40 years of age at the baseline examination. Using blood lead levels categorized as < 5, 5 to < 10, and ≥ 10 μg/dL, we determined the relative risk of mortality from all causes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease through Cox proportional hazard regression analysis. Results Using blood lead levels < 5 μg/dL as the referent, we determined that the relative risk of mortality from all causes was 1.24 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.05–1.48] for those with blood levels of 5–9 μg/dL and 1.59 (95% CI, 1.28–1.98) for those with blood levels ≥ 10 μg/dL (p for trend < 0.001). The magnitude of risk was similar for deaths due to cardiovascular disease and cancer, and tests for trend were statistically significant (p < 0.01) for both causes of death. Conclusion In a nationally representative sample of the U.S. population, blood lead levels as low as 5–9 μg/dL were associated with an increased risk of death from all causes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.
Accurately extracting the shunt resistance of photovoltaic cells in installed module strings

A straightforward non-invasive method is proposed to accurately evaluate the shunt resistance of an elementary cell of a photovoltaic module connected in an installed string without the need of preliminary knowledge of the intrinsic diode parameters. The approach relies on the measurement of the current-voltage characteristic of the whole string after intentionally shading the selected cell. Calibrated PSPICE simulations are employed to both illustrate and test the method. As a case study, the shunt resistances of several cells belonging to a series array of 10 commercial modules are determined.
Differential D1 and D5 Receptor Regulation and Degradation of the Angiotensin Type 1 Receptor

Renal sodium transport is increased by the angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1R), which is counterregulated by dopamine via unknown mechanisms involving either the dopamine type 1 (D1R) or dopamine type 5 receptor (D5R) that belong to the D1-like receptor family of dopamine receptors. We hypothesize that the D1R and D5R differentially regulate AT1R protein expression and signaling, which may have important implications in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension. D1R and D5R share the same agonists and antagonists; therefore, the selective effects of either D1R or D5R stimulation on AT1R expression in human renal proximal tubule cells were determined using antisense oligonucleotides selective to either D1R or D5R. We also determined the role of receptor tyrosine kinase and the proteosome on the D1R/D5R-mediated effects on AT1R expression and internalization. In renal proximal tubule cells, D5R (not D1R) decreased AT1R expression (half-life: 0.47±0.18 hours) and AT1R-mediated extracellular signal–regulated kinase 1/2 phosphorylation (232±18.9 U with angiotensin II [10−7 mol/L] versus 81±8.9 U with angiotensin II [10−7 mol/L] and fenoldopam [D1R/D5R agonist; 10−6 mol/L; P<0.05; n=6). The fenoldopam-induced decrease in AT1R expression was reversed by 4-amino-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-(t-butyl) pyrazolo (3,4-d) pyrimidine (c-Src tyrosine-kinase inhibitor) and clasto-lactacystin &bgr;-lactone (proteasome inhibitor), demonstrating that the fenoldopam-mediated decrease in total cell AT1R expression is a result of a c-Src- and proteasome-dependent process. D5R stimulation decreases AT1R expression and is c-Src and proteasome dependent. The discovery of differential regulation by D1R and D5R opens new avenues for the development of agonists selective to either receptor subtype as targeted antihypertensive agents that can decrease AT1R-mediated antinatriuresis.
Spinal cord stimulators: typical positioning and postsurgical complications.

OBJECTIVE Implantation of a spinal cord stimulator (SCS) is one option for pain control in individuals with chronic lumbosacral radicular or axial lumbar pain. The expected positioning of SCSs based on the location of pain, the types of electrodes (percutaneous vs surgical paddle), and the types of electrode arrays and the potential complications have not been described to date in the radiology literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS A 5-year retrospective review of the radiology information system at our institution revealed 24 patients with images of 36 SCSs. Those images were reviewed to identify the location and type of electrodes as well as the location of the lead within the spinal canal. Not all implantable pulse generators were within the radiologic field of view. Complications identified by reviewing medical records were correlated with imaging findings. RESULTS Fourteen different types of electrodes were identified. Most were placed in the thoracic spine only, but six thoracolumbar and two cervical spine electrodes were also present. We measured the position of the electrodes within the spinal canal on 26 CT studies of the 24 patients. On 22 of 26 CT studies, the electrodes were placed in the epidural space in the posterior one third of the spinal canal. Complications included misplaced, retained, and broken leads; puncture of the thecal sac; infection; and hematoma. CONCLUSION Radiologists should be familiar with the different types of electrodes and typical spinal locations of electrodes, leads, and implantable pulse generators. Improper placement of electrodes may lead to ineffective pain relief or to other complications.
Elimination of •O2−/H2O2 by α‐lipoic acid mediates the recovery of basal EDRF/NO availability and the reversal of superoxide dismutase‐induced relaxation in diabetic rat aorta

Aim: The aims of this study were to ascertain the mechanism(s) of relaxant action of exogenous superoxide dismutase (SOD) in aortic rings obtained from 12‐week, streptozotocin(STZ)‐diabetic and age‐matched control rats, and to examine the effects of α‐lipoic acid (ALA) treatment (for 6 weeks, after 6 weeks of untreated diabetes) on SOD‐induced relaxations.
Designing Safety-Critical Computer Systems

The ubiquitous computer is the electronic component of choice for system developers, who increasingly exploit computing's power in safety-critical applications such as steer-by-wire automotive systems and powered prosthetics. However, these computer-based systems raise the ongoing concern that they might fail and cause harm. Exploring the systematic design of safety-critical computer systems helps to show how engineers can verify that these designs will be safe. Achieving risk reduction requires dealing with all the system's components: hardware and software, sensors, effectors, the operator, and the primary source of harmful energy or toxicity: the application.