Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ethnic Differences in Coronary Calcification: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

Background—There is substantial evidence that coronary calcification, a marker for the presence and quantity of coronary atherosclerosis, is higher in US whites than blacks; however, there have been no large population-based studies comparing coronary calcification among US ethnic groups. Methods and Results—Using computed tomography, we measured coronary calcification in 6814 white, black, Hispanic, and Chinese men and women aged 45 to 84 years with no clinical cardiovascular disease who participated in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). The prevalence of coronary calcification (Agatston score >0) in these 4 ethnic groups was 70.4%, 52.1%, 56.5%, and 59.2%, respectively, in men (P<0.001) and 44.6%, 36.5%, 34.9%, and 41.9%, respectively, (P<0.001) in women. After adjustment for age, education, lipids, body mass index, smoking, diabetes, hypertension, treatment for hypercholesterolemia, gender, and scanning center, compared with whites, the relative risks for having coronary calcification were 0.78 (95% CI 0.74 to 0.82) in blacks, 0.85 (95% CI 0.79 to 0.91) in Hispanics, and 0.92 (95% CI 0.85 to 0.99) in Chinese. After similar adjustments, the amount of coronary calcification among those with an Agatston score >0 was greatest among whites, followed by Chinese (77% that of whites; 95% CI 62% to 96%), Hispanics (74%; 95% CI 61% to 90%), and blacks (69%; 95% CI 59% to 80%). Conclusions—We observed ethnic differences in the presence and quantity of coronary calcification that were not explained by coronary risk factors. Identification of the mechanism underlying these differences would further our understanding of the pathophysiology of coronary calcification and its clinical significance. Data on the predictive value of coronary calcium in different ethnic groups are needed.
Imaging of diffusion and microcirculation with gradient sensitization: Design, strategy, and significance

Recent developments in the use of magnetic resonance (MR) to measure and image diffusion and blood microcirculation (“perfusion”) are summarized. After a brief description of the effects of diffusion and perfusion on the MR signal, the different methods (conventional spin‐echo, stimulated‐echo, gradient‐echo, and echo‐planar imaging) that have been proposed and used to image and measure diffusion and perfusion by gradient sensitization are presented, along with their advantages and limitations. The difficulties of diffusion/ perfusion imaging related to both hardware and software are then discussed. Special attention is given to specific problems encountered with in vivo studies and data analysis. Finally, the potential biologic and clinical applications are outlined, and some examples are presented.
Net charge changes in the calculation of relative ligand-binding free energies via classical atomistic molecular dynamics simulation

The calculation of binding free energies of charged species to a target molecule is a frequently encountered problem in molecular dynamics studies of (bio‐)chemical thermodynamics. Many important endogenous receptor‐binding molecules, enzyme substrates, or drug molecules have a nonzero net charge. Absolute binding free energies, as well as binding free energies relative to another molecule with a different net charge will be affected by artifacts due to the used effective electrostatic interaction function and associated parameters (e.g., size of the computational box). In the present study, charging contributions to binding free energies of small oligoatomic ions to a series of model host cavities functionalized with different chemical groups are calculated with classical atomistic molecular dynamics simulation. Electrostatic interactions are treated using a lattice‐summation scheme or a cutoff‐truncation scheme with Barker–Watts reaction‐field correction, and the simulations are conducted in boxes of different edge lengths. It is illustrated that the charging free energies of the guest molecules in water and in the host strongly depend on the applied methodology and that neglect of correction terms for the artifacts introduced by the finite size of the simulated system and the use of an effective electrostatic interaction function considerably impairs the thermodynamic interpretation of guest‐host interactions. Application of correction terms for the various artifacts yields consistent results for the charging contribution to binding free energies and is thus a prerequisite for the valid interpretation or prediction of experimental data via molecular dynamics simulation. Analysis and correction of electrostatic artifacts according to the scheme proposed in the present study should therefore be considered an integral part of careful free‐energy calculation studies if changes in the net charge are involved. © 2013 The Authors Journal of Computational Chemistry Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
TCP Performance over the WiBro Compatible 802.16e Systems

We study the TCP performance over wireless broadband access (WiBro) compatible 802.16e system based on the NS-2 simulator. Even though TCP is one of primary applications over the WiBro system, limited work has been done due to lack of appropriate tools to study. We developed NS-2 based WiBro simulator that models the behavior of the uplink and downlink of the WiBro system. Our main observations are as follows: i) The uplink service that carries TCP ACK can be a bottleneck, ii) The performance of TCP depends on the number of users in the system.
Substituting cannabis for prescription drugs, alcohol and other substances among medical cannabis patients: The impact of contextual factors.

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS Recent years have witnessed increased attention to how cannabis use impacts the use of other psychoactive substances. The present study examines the use of cannabis as a substitute for alcohol, illicit substances and prescription drugs among 473 adults who use cannabis for therapeutic purposes. DESIGN AND METHODS The Cannabis Access for Medical Purposes Survey is a 414-question cross-sectional survey that was available to Canadian medical cannabis patients online and by hard copy in 2011 and 2012 to gather information on patient demographics, medical conditions and symptoms, patterns of medical cannabis use, cannabis substitution and barriers to access to medical cannabis. RESULTS Substituting cannabis for one or more of alcohol, illicit drugs or prescription drugs was reported by 87% (n = 410) of respondents, with 80.3% reporting substitution for prescription drugs, 51.7% for alcohol, and 32.6% for illicit substances. Respondents who reported substituting cannabis for prescription drugs were more likely to report difficulty affording sufficient quantities of cannabis, and patients under 40 years of age were more likely to substitute cannabis for all three classes of substance than older patients. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS The finding that cannabis was substituted for all three classes of substances suggests that the medical use of cannabis may play a harm reduction role in the context of use of these substances, and may have implications for abstinence-based substance use treatment approaches. Further research should seek to differentiate between biomedical substitution for prescription pharmaceuticals and psychoactive drug substitution, and to elucidate the mechanisms behind both. [Lucas P, Walsh Z, Crosby K, Callaway R, Belle-Isle L, Kay B, Capler R, Holtzman S. Substituting cannabis for prescription drugs, alcohol, and other substances among medical cannabis patients: The impact of contextual factors. Drug Alcohol Rev 2016;35:326-333].
Distinct Protein Sorting and Localization to Premelanosomes, Melanosomes, and Lysosomes in Pigmented Melanocytic Cells✪

Melanosomes and premelanosomes are lysosome-related organelles with a unique structure and cohort of resident proteins. We have positioned these organelles relative to endosomes and lysosomes in pigmented melanoma cells and melanocytes. Melanosome resident proteins Pmel17 and TRP1 localized to separate vesicular structures that were distinct from those enriched in lysosomal proteins. In immunogold-labeled ultrathin cryosections, Pmel17 was most enriched along the intralumenal striations of premelanosomes. Increased pigmentation was accompanied by a decrease in Pmel17 and by an increase in TRP1 in the limiting membrane. Both proteins were largely excluded from lysosomal compartments enriched in LAMP1 and cathepsin D. By kinetic analysis of fluid phase uptake and immunogold labeling, premelanosomal proteins segregated from endocytic markers within an unusual endosomal compartment. This compartment contained Pmel17, was accessed by BSA–gold after 15 min, was acidic, and displayed a cytoplasmic planar coat that contained clathrin. Our results indicate that premelanosomes and melanosomes represent a distinct lineage of organelles, separable from conventional endosomes and lysosomes within pigmented cells. Furthermore, they implicate an unusual clathrin-coated endosomal compartment as a site from which proteins destined for premelanosomes and lysosomes are sorted.
The use of 2‐chloroprocaine for spinal anaesthesia

Spinal anaesthesia is a safe and reliable anaesthetic modality for surgical procedures on the lower part of the body. However, because of the description of transient neurologic symptoms (TNS), most practitioners have abandoned intrathecal lidocaine. Chloroprocaine (2‐chloroprocaine, CP) has been one candidate to replace lidocaine for short procedures, despite the fact that neurologic sequelae have been described following the intrathecal injection of large doses of preservative‐containing CP intended for epidural use. The National Library of Medicine's Medline and the EMBASE databases were searched for the time period 1966 to April 2012. Fourteen studies of the use of intrathecal CP were analysed, including seven volunteer and seven clinical studies. Preservative‐free CP appears to be a reliable local anaesthetic for short procedures. The duration of the surgical block can be adjusted by varying the dose between 30 and 60 mg. Two double‐blind randomised controlled studies demonstrate decreased time to ambulation and discharge when CP is used for spinal anaesthesia when compared with other local anaesthetics. The addition of fentanyl appears to prolong the surgical block without significantly prolonging the time to discharge. There have been five possible cases of TNS following CP spinal anaesthesia in over 4000 patients, and a regressive incomplete cauda equina syndrome has been described. The short duration of spinal CP makes it a strong contender for outpatient anaesthesia. It appears to have a lower risk of TNS than lidocaine.
Fast construction of k-nearest neighbor graphs for point clouds

We present a parallel algorithm for k-nearest neighbor graph construction that uses Morton ordering. Experiments show that our approach has the following advantages over existing methods: 1) faster construction of k-nearest neighbor graphs in practice on multicore machines, 2) less space usage, 3) better cache efficiency, 4) ability to handle large data sets, and 5) ease of parallelization and implementation. If the point set has a bounded expansion constant, our algorithm requires one-comparison-based parallel sort of points, according to Morton order plus near-linear additional steps to output the k-nearest neighbor graph.
The nutritional management of a central venous incident

Abstract A central venous incident (CVI) is the second leading cause of death worldwide, and is associated with permanent disabilities.There are many nutrition and lifestyle modifiable risk factors for a CVI. These include diabetes, and hypercholesterolaemia and hypertension, all of which are largely preventable, and involve effective, low-cost treatment. Malnutrition in CVI patients ranges from 6-62%, and often worsens during hospitalisation owing to multiple factors, including dysphagia, the inadequate intake of food, inactivity and metabolic changes in the clinical setting. When malnutrition is present in patients who have an acute CVI, the increased risk of poor functional outcomes relates to complications such as gastrointestinal bleeding, pressure ulcers, and urinary tract and respiratory infections. These are associated with higher mortality and increased length of stay in hospital, and contribute to decreased quality of life and impaired rehabilitative outcomes. Screening and nutritional assessment is vital on admission. The Mini Nutritional Assessment and Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment have been validated in this patient population. The energy and protein requirements of stroke patients are poorly defined. There is some evidence for the supplementation of antioxidants, but the efficacy thereof depends on their ability to cross the blood-brain-barrier. Large-scale studies are necessary to assess the effect on neurocognitive recovery. Meeting requirements in this patient population is a challenge because of dysphagia, as well as neurological and cognitive deficiencies, and is best achieved with the support of a multidisciplinary team. Early enteral nutrition improves survival, while oral nutrition supplements improve nutrient intake and quality of life.
Augmented reality improves myoelectric prosthesis training

Abstract This paper presents the ARM Trainer, a new augmented reality-based system that can be used to train amputees in the use of myoelectric prostheses. The ARM Trainer provides users with a natural and intuitive method to develop the muscles used to control a myoelectric prosthetic. In addition to improving the training process, the new interface has the potential to mitigate psychological issues arising from amputation that are not addressed by existing approaches (e.g., self-image, phantom limb pain). We conducted an empirical study comparing our system to an existing commercial solution (Myoboy) and found the ARM Trainer to be superior along a number of subjective dimensions (enjoyment, perceived effort, competency, and pressure). We also found no significant difference in terms of muscle control development between the two systems. This study shows the potential of augmented reality-based training systems for myoelectric prostheses.
Survey: Weighted Extended Top-down Tree Transducers Part I - Basics and Expressive Power

Weighted extended top-down tree transducers (transducteurs g en eralis es descendants [Arnold, Dauchet: Bi-transductions de for^ets. ICALP’76. Edinburgh University Press. 1976]) received renewed interest in the eld of Natural Language Processing, where they are used in syntax-based machine translation. This survey presents the foundations for a theoretical analysis of weighted extended top-down tree transducers. In particular, it discusses essentially complete semirings, which are a novel concept that can be used to lift incomparability results from the unweighted case to the weighted case even in the presence of innite sums. In addition, several equivalent ways to dene weighted extended top-down tree transducers are presented and the individual benets of each presentation is shown on a small result.
30-Day Mortality and Readmission After Hemorrhagic Stroke Among Medicare Beneficiaries in Joint Commission Primary Stroke Center-Certified and Noncertified Hospitals

Background and Purpose— Ischemic stroke patients treated at Joint Commission Primary Stroke Center (JC-PSC)-certified hospitals have better outcomes. Data reflecting the impact of JC-PSC status on outcomes after hemorrhagic stroke are limited. We determined whether 30-day mortality and readmission rates after hemorrhagic stroke differed for patients treated at JC-PSC–certified versus noncertified hospitals. Methods— The study included all fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 years or older with a primary discharge diagnosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) or intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in 2006. Covariate-adjusted logistic and Cox proportional hazards regression assessed the effect of care at a JC-PSC–certified hospital on 30-day mortality and readmission. Results— There were 2305 SAH and 8708 ICH discharges from JC-PSC–certified hospitals and 3892 SAH and 22 564 ICH discharges from noncertified hospitals. Unadjusted in-hospital mortality (SAH: 27.5% versus 33.2%, P<0.0001; ICH: 27.9% versus 29.6%, P=0.003) and 30-day mortality (SAH: 35.1% versus 44.0%, P<0.0001; ICH: 39.8% versus 42.4%, P<0.0001) were lower in JC-PSC hospitals, but 30-day readmission rates were similar (SAH: 17.0% versus 17.0%, P=0.97; ICH: 16.0% versus 15.5%, P=0.29). Risk-adjusted 30-day mortality was 34% lower (odds ratio, 0.66; 95% confidence interval, 0.58–0.76) after SAH and 14% lower (odds ratio, 0.86; 95% confidence interval, 0.80–0.92) after ICH for patients discharged from JC-PSC–certified hospitals. There was no difference in 30-day risk-adjusted readmission rates for SAH or ICH based on JC-PSC status. Conclusions— Patients treated at JC-PSC–certified hospitals had lower risk-adjusted mortality rates for both SAH and ICH but similar 30-day readmission rates as compared with noncertified hospitals.
Disparate Changes in Plasma and Brainstem Cytokine Levels in Adult and Ageing Rats Associated with Age-Related Changes in Facial Motor Neuron Number, Snout Muscle Morphology, and Exploratory Behavior

An overall increase in inflammatory cytokines with age in both the blood and the central nervous system (CNS) has been proposed to explain many aspects of ageing, including decreased motor function and neurodegeneration. This study tests the hypothesis that age-related increases in inflammatory cytokines in the blood and CNS lead to facial motor neuron degeneration. Groups of 3–5 female Sprague-Dawley rats aged 3, 12–18, and 24 months were used. Twelve cytokines interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-13, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), interferon-γ, and granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor were measured in blood plasma and compared with those in the brainstem after first flushing blood from its vessels. The open-field test was used to measure exploratory behavior, and the morphology of the peripheral target muscle of facial motor neurons quantified. Total numbers of facial motor neurons were determined stereologically in separate groups of 3- and 24-month-old rats. Ageing rats showed a significant 30–42% decrease in blood plasma (peripheral) concentrations of IL-12p70 and TNFα and a significant 43–49% increase in brainstem (central) concentrations of IL-1α, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, and TNFα. They also showed significant reductions in motor neuron number in the right but not left facial nucleus, reduced exploratory behavior, and increase in peripheral target muscle size. Marginal age-related facial motoneuronal loss occurs in the ageing rat and is characterized by complex changes in the inflammatory signature, rather than a general increase in inflammatory cytokines.
Hope and Optimism as Human Strengths in Parents of Children With Externalizing Disorders: Stress is in the Eye of the Beholder

Abstract We examined hope as a potential resiliency factor for the daily strains of raising children with disruptive behavior disorders. In light of the motivational component of hope theory, initiating and sustaining effort toward goals (i.e., agency), we were interested in hope's relation to constructs addressing self-esteem, familial functioning, and stress. Two hundred, fifty-two parents of children with externalizing disorders completed self-report questionnaires. Significant associations were found among hope and parental and familial functioning indices (e.g., warm and nurturing parenting styles, cohesive and active family environment, adaptive coping strategies). Considering their conceptual overlap, we tested the unique predictive power of hope and optimistic attributions on indices of psychological functioning. Separate regressions indicated that hope significantly predicted psychological functioning beyond what was accounted for by social desirability, the severity of child symptoms, and optimi.
Data-Driven and Demand-Driven Computer Architecture

Novel data-driven and demand-driven computer architectures are under development in a large number of laboratories in the United States, Japan, and Europe. These computers are not based on the tradlUonal von Neumann organization; instead, they are attempts to identify the next generation of computer. Basmally, m data-driven (e.g., data-flow) computers the availability of operands triggers the execution of the operation to be performed on them, whereas in demand-driven (e.g, reduction) computers the reqmrement for a result triggers the operation that will generate it. Although there are these two distinct areas of research, each laboratory has developed its own mdlvxdual model of computation, stored program representation, and machine organization. Across this spectrum of designs there m, however, a significant sharing of concepts. The aim of this palaer m to identify the concepts and relationships that exist both within and between the two areas of research. It does thin by examlmng data-driven and demand-driven architecture at three levels, computation organizatmn, (stored) program organization, and machine organLzation. Finally, a survey of various novel computer architectures under development is given.
dead.drop: URL-Based Stealthy Messaging

In this paper we propose the use of URLs as a covert channel to relay information between two or more parties. We render our technique practical, in terms of bandwidth, by employing URL-shortening services to form URL chains of hidden information. We discuss the security aspects of this technique and present proof-of-concept implementation details along with measurements that prove the feasibility of our approach.
Interleukin-10 but not interleukin-18 may be associated with the immune response against well-differentiated thyroid cancer

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of the interleukin-18 +105A/C and interleukin-10 -1082A/G germline polymorphisms in the development and outcome of differentiated thyroid carcinoma associated or not with concurrent thyroiditis. METHODS: We studied 346 patients with differentiated thyroid carcinomas, comprising 292 papillary carcinomas and 54 follicular carcinomas, who were followed up for 12-298 months (mean 76.10±68.23 months) according to a standard protocol. We genotyped 200 patients and 144 control individuals for the interleukin-18 +105A/C polymorphism, and we genotyped 183 patients and 137 controls for the interleukin-10 -1082A/G polymorphism. RESULTS: Interleukin-18 polymorphisms were not associated with chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis or any clinical or pathological feature of tumor aggressiveness. However, there was an association between the presence of interleukin-10 variants and chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis. Chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis was present in 21.74% of differentiated thyroid carcinoma patients, most frequently affecting women previously diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis who had received a lower 131I cumulative dose and did not present lymph node metastases. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the inheritance of a G allele at the interleukin-10 -1082A/G polymorphism may favor a concurrent thyroid autoimmunity in differentiated thyroid carcinoma patients, and this autoimmunity may favor a better prognosis for these patients.