Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Vision Diagnostics and Treatment System for Children with Disabilities

Vision plays a crucial role in children's mental development. Therefore, early diagnosis of any vision disparities and implementation of a correct therapy is very important. However, carrying out such a procedure in case of young children and especially children with brain dysfunctions poses some limitations due to cooperation problems. The vision diagnostics and treatment (VisDaT) system presented in this paper is meant to help therapists in proper diagnosis and treatment involving such children. It utilizes a computer connected to two monitors and equipped with a specialized software. The main system components are as follows: an eye tracker recording child's eye movements and a digital camera monitoring online child's reactions. The system is equipped with a specialized software, which creates the opportunity to stimulate children's vision with a dedicated stimulus and post hoc analyses of recorded sessions, which enable making decision as to the future treatment.
A quasi‐Monte‐Carlo comparison of parametric and semiparametric regression methods for heavy‐tailed and non‐normal data: an application to healthcare costs

We conduct a quasi‐Monte‐Carlo comparison of the recent developments in parametric and semiparametric regression methods for healthcare costs, both against each other and against standard practice. The population of English National Health Service hospital in‐patient episodes for the financial year 2007–2008 (summed for each patient) is randomly divided into two equally sized subpopulations to form an estimation set and a validation set. Evaluating out‐of‐sample using the validation set, a conditional density approximation estimator shows considerable promise in forecasting conditional means, performing best for accuracy of forecasting and among the best four for bias and goodness of fit. The best performing model for bias is linear regression with square‐root‐transformed dependent variables, whereas a generalized linear model with square‐root link function and Poisson distribution performs best in terms of goodness of fit. Commonly used models utilizing a log‐link are shown to perform badly relative to other models considered in our comparison.
Effect of Sexual Debut on Vaginal Microbiota in a Cohort of Young Women

OBJECTIVE: Bacterial vaginosis is uncommon in women who are virgins. We estimated effects of sexual debut on vaginal bacterial colonization. METHODS: Women who were virgins and aged 18–22 years enrolled in a study of human papillomavirus acquisition were followed every 4 months for up to 2 years. Vaginal swabs from before and after sexual debut or two independent visits for those remaining virgins were tested by quantitative polymerase chain reaction for Lactobacillus crispatus, Lactobacillus jensenii, Lactobacillus iners, Gardnerella vaginalis, and the bacterial vaginosis–associated species Atopobium vaginae, Megasphaera species, Leptotrichia species, Sneathia species, and bacterial vaginosis–associated bacterium-1, -2, and -3. RESULTS: We evaluated 97 women: 71 who became sexually active and 26 who remained virgins. At first sampling, 22 of 26 (85%) women who remained virgins were colonized with Lactobacillus species compared with 22 of 26 (85%) at follow-up (P>.99). G vaginalis was present in 12 of 26 (46%) initially and 11 of 26 (42%) at follow-up (P>.99). Among women who became sexually active, colonization with Lactobacillus species remained stable: 65 of 71 (92%) compared with 66 of 71 (93%) (P>.99), whereas colonization with G vaginalis increased (28 of 71 [39%] compared with 40 of 71 [56%]; P=.02). Among women who did not initiate sexual activity during the study, two of 26 (8%) had any bacterial vaginosis–associated species detected at both the first and second visits (P>.99). Among women who became sexually active during the study, 15 of 71 (21%) were colonized with bacterial vaginosis–associated species initially compared with 13 of 71 (18%) after sexual debut (P=.77). CONCLUSIONS: Among women who were virgins, vaginal colonization with bacterial vaginosis–associated bacterial species is uncommon and does not change after sexual debut. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II
Prevalence of vancomycin-variable Enterococcus faecium (VVE) among vanA-positive sterile site isolates and patient factors associated with VVE bacteremia

Vancomycin-variable enterococci (VVE) are vanA-positive, vancomycin-susceptible enterococci with the ability to revert to a vancomycin-resistant phenotype on exposure to vancomycin. We sought to assess the prevalence of VVE and to determine clinical characteristics of patients infected with VVE. We prospectively collected Enterococcus faecium sterile site isolates from Toronto Invasive Bacterial Diseases Network hospitals from January 2015 to June 2016 and calculated VVE (defined as vanA-positive, vancomycin-susceptible isolates) prevalence among vanA-containing isolates. We performed chart reviews of VVE and vancomycin-resistant E. faecium (VRE) bacteremias identified from January 2012 to June 2016, and on a random sample of patients with bacteremia due to vanA/vanB-negative, vancomycin-susceptible enterococci (VSE) from January 2015 to June 2016. Clinical characteristics were compared and factors associated with mortality assessed. Because of the potential reversion from VVE to VRE, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was performed for strains causing breakthrough bacteremia in order to identify relatedness among strains with different phenotypic resistance within the same patient. VVE comprised 47% (18/38) of vanA-positive isolates. The charts of 36 VRE, 25 VVE, and 79 VSE patients were reviewed. Central venous catheter associated bacteremia was more common in VVE (44%) and VRE patients (57%) than in VSE patients (28%) (P = 0.01). The Pitt bacteremia (OR 1.3, P = 0.002) and the Charlson score (OR 1.2, P = 0.008) were the only independent mortality predictors. PFGE of strains causing breakthrough bacteremia showed high within-patient clonality, irrespective of vanA-positivity or vancomycin-susceptibility. A substantial proportion of vanA-positive isolates are VVE and are therefore not detected with conventional selective culture methods. Bacteremia sources of patients with VVE are similar to those infected with VRE. We detected no association between VVE and 30-day mortality or breakthrough bacteremia.
NP-Completeness and Inapproximability of the Virtual Network Embedding Problem and Its Variants

Many resource allocation problems in the cloud can be described as a basic Virtual Network Embedding Problem (VNEP): the problem of finding a mapping of a request graph (describing a workload) onto a substrate graph (describing the physical infrastructure). Applications range from mapping testbeds (from where the problem originated), over the embedding of batch-processing workloads (virtual clusters) to the embedding of service function chains. The different applications come with their own specific requirements and constraints, including node mapping constraints, routing policies, and latency constraints. While the VNEP has been studied intensively over the last years, complexity results are only known for specific models and we lack a comprehensive understanding of its hardness. This paper charts the complexity landscape of the VNEP by providing a systematic analysis of the hardness of a wide range of VNEP variants, using a unifying and rigorous proof framework. In particular, we show that the problem of finding a feasible embedding is already $\mathcal{NP}$-complete in general, and, hence, the VNEP cannot be approximated under any objective, unless $\mathcal{NP} = \mathcal{P}$ holds. Importantly, we derive $\mathcal{NP}$-completeness results also for finding approximate embeddings, which may violate, e.g., capacity constraints by certain factors. Lastly, we prove that our results still pertain when restricting the request graphs to planar or degree-bounded graphs.
Short-Term Complications, Reoperations, and Radiographic Outcomes of a New Fixed-Bearing Total Ankle Arthroplasty

Background: With the increasing use of total ankle arthroplasty (TAA), new implants with varied configurations are being developed every year. This study aimed to assess the early complications, reoperations, and radiographic and clinical outcomes of the Infinity TAA. To date, clinical results of this novel implant have not been published. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 64 consecutive ankles that underwent a primary Infinity TAA from July 2014 to April 2016 was performed. Patients had an average follow-up of 24.5 (range, 18-39) months. Medical records were reviewed to determine the incidence of complications, reoperations, and revisions. Radiographic outcomes included preoperative and postoperative tibiotalar alignment, tibial implant positioning, the presence of periprosthetic radiolucency and cysts, and evidence of subsidence or loosening. Additionally, patient-reported outcomes were analyzed with the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS). Results: Survivorship of the implant was 95.3%. Fourteen ankles (21.8%) presented a total of 17 complications. A total of 12 reoperations were necessary in 11 ankles (17.1%). Revision surgery was indicated for 3 ankles (4.7%) as a result of subsidence of the implant. Tibiotalar coronal deformity was significantly improved after surgery (P < .0001) and maintained during latest follow-up (P = .81). Periprosthetic radiolucent lines were observed around the tibial component in 20 ankles (31%) and around the talar component in 2 ankles (3.1%). A tibial cyst was observed in 1 ankle (1.5%). Outcome scores were significantly improved for all FAOS components analyzed (P < .0001), from 39.0 to 83.3 for pain, from 34.0 to 65.2 for symptoms, from 52.3 to 87.5 for activities of daily living, and from 15.7 to 64.2 for quality of life. Conclusion: Most complications observed in the study were minor and successfully treated with a single reoperation procedure or nonoperatively. Failures and radiographic abnormalities were most commonly related to the tibial implant. Further studies with longer follow-up are needed to evaluate the survivorship of the tibial implant in the long term. Level of evidence: Level IV, retrospective case series.
In Vivo Drug Delivery Performance of Lipiodol-Based Emulsion or Drug-Eluting Beads in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Doxorubicin (DOX) delivered in a lipiodol-based emulsion (LIPDOX) or in drug-eluting beads (DEBDOX) is used as palliative treatment in patients with intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the in vivo delivery performance of DOX from LIPDOX or DEBDOX in HCC patients using the local and systemic pharmacokinetics of DOX and its main metabolite doxorubicinol (DOXol). Urinary excretion of DOX and DOXol and their short-term safety and antitumor effects were also evaluated. In this open, prospective, nonrandomized multicenter study, LIPDOX (n = 13) or DEBDOX (n = 12) were injected into the feeding arteries of the tumor. Local (vena cava/hepatic vein orifice) and systemic (peripheral vein) plasma concentrations of DOX and DOXol were determined in samples obtained up to 6 h and 7 days after treatment. Tumor response was assessed using computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. The Cmax and AUC0-24 h for DOX were 5.6-fold and 2.4-fold higher in LIPDOX vs DEBDOX recipients, respectively (p < 0.001). After 6 h, the respective mean proportions of the dose remaining in the liver or drug-delivery system (DDS) were 49% for LIPDOX and 88% for DEBDOX. LIPDOX releases DOX faster than DEBDOX in HCC patients and provides more extensive local and systemic exposure (AUC) to DOX and DOXol initially (0-7 days). DEBDOX formulation has a release and distribution of DOX that is more restricted and rate controlled than LIPDOX.
Characterization of airborne BTEX exposures during use of lawnmowers and trimmers

ABSTRACT Few studies have evaluated airborne exposures to benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) during operation of two-stroke and four-stroke small engines, such as those in lawn maintenance equipment. Full-shift, 8-hour personal samples were collected during a simulation study to characterize yard maintenance activities including mowing, trimming, and fueling. Short-term, 15-minute personal samples were collected to separately evaluate mowing and trimming exposures. Mean 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) BTEX concentrations were 2.3, 5.8, 0.91, and 4.6 ppb, respectively (n = 2). Mean 15-minute TWA BTEX concentrations were 1.6, 1.8, 0.22, and 1.3 ppb, respectively, during mowing and 1.2, 3.6, 0.68, and 3.3 ppb, respectively, during trimming (n = 3 per task). Measured BTEX concentrations during fueling were 20–110, 61–310, 8–41, and 40–203 ppb, respectively (n = 2, duration 2–3 minutes). These exposure concentrations were well below applicable US occupational exposure limits.
A framework for the classification of joint hypermobility and related conditions

In the last decade, growing attention has been placed on joint hypermobility and related disorders. The new nosology for Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (EDS), the best‐known and probably the most common of the disorders featuring joint hypermobility, identifies more than 20 different types of EDS, and highlights the need for a single set of criteria to substitute the previous ones for the overlapping EDS hypermobility type and joint hypermobility syndrome. Joint hypermobility is a feature commonly encountered in many other disorders, both genetic and acquired, and this finding is attracting the attention of an increasing number of medical and non‐medical disciplines. In this paper, the terminology of joint hypermobility and related disorders is summarized. Different types of joint hypermobility, its secondary musculoskeletal manifestations and a simplified categorization of genetic syndromes featuring joint hypermobility are presented. The concept of a spectrum of pathogenetically related manifestations of joint hypermobility intersecting the categories of pleiotropic syndromes with joint hypermobility is introduced. A group of hypermobility spectrum disorders is proposed as diagnostic labels for patients with symptomatic joint hypermobility but not corresponding to any other syndromes with joint hypermobility. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The ribonucleotide reductase inhibitor Sml1 is a new target of the Mec1/Rad53 kinase cascade during growth and in response to DNA damage

The evolutionarily conserved protein kinases Mec1 and Rad53 are required for checkpoint response and growth. Here we show that their role in growth is to remove the ribonucleotide reductase inhibitor Sml1 to ensure DNA replication. Sml1 protein levels fluctuate during the cell cycle, being lowest during S phase. The disappearance of Sml1 protein in S phase is due to post‐transcriptional regulation and is associated with protein phosphorylation. Both phosphorylation and diminution of Sml1 require MEC1 and RAD53. More over, failure to remove Sml1 in mec1 and rad53 mutants results in incomplete DNA replication, defective mitochondrial DNA propagation, decreased dNTP levels and cell death. Interestingly, similar regulation of Sml1 also occurs after DNA damage. In this case, the regulation requires MEC1 and RAD53, as well as other checkpoint genes. Therefore, Sml1 is a new target of the DNA damage checkpoint and its removal is a conserved function of Mec1 and Rad53 during growth and after damage.
On Algorithms Employing Treewidth for L-bounded Cut Problems

Given a graph G = (V,E) with two distinguished vertices s, t ∈ V and an integer parameter L > 0, an L-bounded cut is a subset F of edges (vertices) such that the every path between s and t inG\F has length more than L. The task is to find an L-bounded cut of minimum cardinality. Though the problem is very simple to state and has been studied since the beginning of the 70’s, it is not much understood yet. The problem is known to be NP-hard to approximate within a small constant factor even for L ≥ 4 (for L ≥ 5 for the vertex–deletion version). On the other hand, the best known approximation algorithm for general graphs has approximation ratio only O(n) in the edge case, and O( √ n) in the vertex case, where n denotes the number of vertices. We show that for planar graphs, it is possible to solve both the edge– and the vertex–deletion version of the problem optimally in O((L+2)n) time. That is, the problem is fixed-parameter tractable (FPT) with respect to L on planar graphs. Furthermore, we show that the problem remains FPT even for bounded genus graphs, a super class of planar graphs. Our second contribution deals with approximations of the vertex– deletion version of the problem. We describe an algorithm that for a given graph G, its tree decomposition of width τ and vertices s and t computes a τ -approximation of the minimum L-bounded s− t vertex cut; if the decomposition is not given, then the approximation ratio is O(τ √ log τ). For graphs with treewidth bounded by O(n1/2− ) for any > 0, but not by a constant, this is the best approximation in terms of n that we are aware of. Submitted: September 2017 Reviewed: November 2017 Revised: December 2017 Reviewed: December 2017 Revised: January 2018 Accepted: January 2018 Final: Februray 2018 Published: February 2018 Article type: Regular paper Communicated by: D. Wagner This research was partially supported by project GA15-11559S of GA ČR E-mail address: petr.kolman@mff.cuni. cz (Petr Kolman) 178 P. Kolman On Algorithms Employing Treewidth for L-bounded Cut
Generation of synthetic training data for handwritten Indic script recognition

This paper presents a novel approach to create synthetic dataset for word recognition systems. Our purpose is to improve performance of off-line handwritten text recognizers by providing it with additional synthetic training data. Due to lack of proper data-set for many languages it becomes hard to train recognition systems. To solve such problems synthetic handwriting could be used to expand the existing training dataset. Any available digital data from online newspaper and such sources can be used to generate this synthetic data. The digital data is distorted in such a way that the underlying pattern is conserved for identification of the word by both machine and human user. The images hence produced can be used to train any classification system for handwriting recognition. This data can be used independently to train the system or be combined with natural handwritten data to augment the original dataset and improve the accuracy of the results. We experimented using only synthetic data obtaining high recognition accuracy in both character and word recognition. The data was tested on 3 Indian scripts for numerals- Hindi, Bengali and Telugu, and 1 script-Hindi for words, the results achieved hence are highly promising.
Appendicitis before Age 20 Years Is Associated with an Increased Risk of Later Prostate Cancer

Background: Appendicitis before age 20 years has been observed to influence the risk of several inflammatory conditions, possibly through underlying immunological mechanisms. Inflammation has further been suggested to be involved in prostate cancer development. We therefore hypothesized that immunological characteristics signaled by appendicitis before late adolescence might influence the risk of later prostate cancer, and aimed to evaluate this association in a population-based study. Methods: We identified a large cohort of Swedish men who underwent assessment for military conscription around the age of 18 years (n = 242,573). Medical diagnoses at time of conscription were available through the Swedish Military Conscription Register. The Swedish Cancer Register was used to identify diagnoses of prostate cancer. Multivariable adjusted Cox regression analyses were used to estimate HR and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for the association between appendicitis and prostate cancer. Results: During a median of 36.7 years of follow-up, 1,684 diagnoses of prostate cancer occurred. We found a statistically significant association between appendicitis and overall prostate cancer (adjusted HR 1.70; 95% CI, 1.08–2.67). The risk was notably increased for advanced (HR 4.42; 95% CI, 1.74–11.22) and lethal (HR 8.95; 95% CI, 2.98–26.91) prostate cancer. Conclusions: These results suggest that a diagnosis of appendicitis before adulthood potentially signals underlying immune characteristics and a pattern of inflammatory response relevant to prostate cancer risk. Impact: The study lends support to the proposed role of inflammation in prostate carcinogenesis, and adds another area of investigation potentially relevant to prostate cancer development. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 27(6); 660–4. ©2018 AACR.
A Pipeline for Trunk Detection in Trellis Structured Apple Orchards

The ability of robots to meticulously cover large areas while gathering sensor data has widespread applications in precision agriculture. For autonomous operations in orchards, a suitable information management system is required, within which we can gather and process data relating to the state and performance of the crop over time, such as distinct yield count, canopy volume, and crop health. An efficient way to structure an information system is to discretize it to the individual tree, for which tree segmentation/detection is a key component. This paper presents a tree trunk detection pipeline for identifying individual trees in a trellis structured apple orchard, using ground‐based lidar and image data. A coarse observation of trunk candidates is initially made using a Hough transformation on point cloud lidar data. These candidates are projected into the camera images, where pixelwise classification is used to update their likelihood of being a tree trunk. Detection is achieved by using a hidden semi‐Markov model to leverage from contextual information provided by the repetitive structure of an orchard. By repeating this over individual orchard rows, we are able to build a tree map over the farm, which can be either GPS localized or represented topologically by the row and tree number. The pipeline was evaluated at a commercial apple orchard near Melbourne, Australia. Data were collected at different times of year, covering an area of 1.6 ha containing different apple varieties planted on two types of trellis systems: a vertical I‐trellis structure and a Güttingen V‐trellis structure. The results show good trunk detection performance for both apple varieties and trellis structures during the preharvest season (87– 96% accuracy) and near perfect trunk detection performance (99% accuracy) during the flowering season.