Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cardiac Magnetic Resonance With T2-Weighted Imaging Improves Detection of Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome in the Emergency Department

Background— Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging permits early triage of patients presenting to the emergency department with acute chest pain but has been limited by the inability to differentiate new from old myocardial infarction. Our objective was to evaluate a CMR protocol that includes T2-weighted imaging and assessment of left ventricular wall thickness in detecting patients with acute coronary syndrome in the emergency department. Methods and Results— In this prospective cohort observational study, we enrolled patients presenting to the emergency department with acute chest pain, negative cardiac biomarkers, and no ECG changes indicative of acute ischemia. The CMR protocol consisted of T2-weighted imaging, first-pass perfusion, cine function, delayed-enhancement magnetic resonance imaging, and assessment of left ventricular wall thickness. The clinical outcome (acute coronary syndrome) was defined by review of clinical charts by a consensus panel that used American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology guidelines. Among 62 patients, 13 developed acute coronary syndrome during the index hospitalization. The mean CMR time was 32±8 minutes. The new CMR protocol (with the addition of T2-weighted and left ventricular wall thickness) increased the specificity, positive predictive value, and overall accuracy from 84% to 96%, 55% to 85%, and 84% to 93%, respectively, compared with the conventional CMR protocol (cine, perfusion, and delayed-enhancement magnetic resonance imaging). Moreover, in a logistic regression analysis that contained information on clinical risk assessment (c-statistic=0.695) and traditional cardiac risk factors (c-statistic=0.771), the new CMR protocol significantly improved the c-statistic to 0.958 (P<0.0001). Conclusions— The present study indicates that a new CMR protocol improves the detection of patients with acute coronary syndrome in the emergency department and adds significant value over clinical assessment and traditional cardiac risk factors.
Routledge Philosophy Guidebook to Wittgenstein and the Philosophical Investigations

Wittgenstein is the most influential twentieth century philosopher in the English-speaking world. In the Philosophical Investigations, his most important work, he introduces the famous 'private language argument' which changed the whole philosophical view of language. Wittgenstein and the Philosophical Investigations introduces and assesses: * Wittgenstein's life, and its connection with his thought * the text of the Philosophical Investigations * the importance of Wittgenstein's work to contemporary philosophy.
Recurrent Melioidosis in the Darwin Prospective Melioidosis Study: Improving Therapies Mean that Relapse Cases Are Now Rare

ABSTRACT The Darwin Prospective Melioidosis Study has documented 785 melioidosis cases over 23 years. Recurrent melioidosis occurred in 39/679 (5.7%) patients surviving initial infection; 29 patients suffered relapse of the original infection, and 10 presented with a new Burkholderia pseudomallei infection. With improved therapy, relapse has become rare in recent years.
Avoiding the boomerang: testing the relative effectiveness of antidrug public service announcements before a national campaign.

OBJECTIVES This study examined the relative perceived effectiveness of 30 antidrug public service announcements (PSAs) and assessed the extent to which judgments of effectiveness are related to judgments of realism, amount learned, and positive and negative emotional responses. METHODS Data were obtained from 3608 students in grades 5 through 12 in 10 schools. The ethnically diverse sample was 50.8% male. Students in 5 experimental conditions viewed sets of 6 antidrug PSAs and filled out a brief evaluation questionnaire following each PSA. Those in the control condition viewed a non-drug-related television program. RESULTS The relative perceived effectiveness of the 30 PSAs varied considerably. Sixteen were rated as significantly more effective, and 6 as significantly less effective, than the control program. Relative rated effectiveness was highly related to realism (r =.87), amount learned (r =.88), negative emotion (r =.87), and positive emotion (r = -.35). CONCLUSIONS Evaluative research is necessary to prevent broadcast of PSAs that could have a negative impact. PSAs should point out the negative consequences of drug use behavior rather than telling adolescents to "just say no."
Though Active on RINm5F Insulinoma Cells and Cultured Pancreatic Islets, Recombinant IL-22 Fails to Modulate Cytotoxicity and Disease in a Protocol of Streptozotocin-Induced Experimental Diabetes

Interleukin (IL)-22 is a cytokine displaying tissue protective and pro-regenerative functions in various preclinical disease models. Anti-bacterial, pro-proliferative, and anti-apoptotic properties mediated by activation of the transcription factor signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-3 are key to biological functions of this IL-10 family member. Herein, we introduce RINm5F insulinoma cells as rat β-cell line that, under the influence of IL-22, displays activation of STAT3 with induction of its downstream gene targets Socs3, Bcl3, and Reg3b. In addition, IL-22 also activates STAT1 in this cell type. To refine those observations, IL-22 biological activity was evaluated using ex vivo cultivated murine pancreatic islets. In accord with data on RINm5F cells, islet exposure to IL-22 activated STAT3 and upregulation of STAT3-inducible Socs3, Bcl3, and Steap4 was evident under those conditions. As these observations supported the hypothesis that IL-22 may exert protective functions in toxic β-cell injury, application of IL-22 was investigated in murine multiple-low-dose streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes. For that purpose, recombinant IL-22 was administered thrice either immediately before and at disease onset (at d4, d6, d8) or closely thereafter (at d8, d10, d12). These two IL-22-treatment periods coincide with two early peaks of β-cell injury detectable in this model. Notably, none of the two IL-22-treatment strategies affected diabetes incidence or blood glucose levels in STZ-treated mice. Moreover, pathological changes in islet morphology analyzed 28 days after disease induction were not ameliorated by IL-22 administration. Taken together, despite being active on rat RINm5F insulinoma cells and murine pancreatic islets, recombinant IL-22 fails to protect pancreatic β-cells in the tested protocols from toxic effects of STZ and thus is unable to ameliorate disease in the widely used model of STZ-induced diabetes.
All-fiber Yb-doped laser mode-locked by nanotubes

Single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and graphene have emerged as promising saturable absorbers (SAs), due to their broad operation bandwidth and fast recovery times [1-3]. However, Yb-doped fiber lasers mode-locked using CNT and graphene SAs have generated relatively long pulses. All-fiber cavity designs are highly favored for their environmental robustness. Here, we demonstrate an all-fiber Yb-doped laser based on a SWNT saturable absorber, which allows generation of 8.7 ps-long pulses, externally compressed to 118 fs. To the best of our knowledge, these are the shortest pulses obtained with SWNT SAs from a Yb-doped fiber laser.
Mutations in the Follicle-Stimulating Hormone-Beta (FSHβ) and FSH Receptor Genes in Mice and Humans

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), a dimeric glycoprotein synthesized in the anterior pituitary gland, is important for the production of sex steroids and gametes. FSH-beta (FSH beta) and FSH receptor (FSHR) knockout mice display impaired ovarian follicular development and infertility in females and small testes, oligospermia, and fertility in males. Humans with FSH beta gene mutations tend to have a more severe phenotype than those with FSHR gene mutations, although infertility and varying degrees of impaired sex steroid production occur in both types of mutations. Data from human and mouse mutations in the FSH beta and FSHR genes suggest that FSH is necessary for normal pubertal development and fertility in males and females.
Treatment efficacy: voice disorders.

This article reviews the literature on the efficacy of treatment for voice disorders primarily using studies published in peer-reviewed journals. Voice disorders are defined, their frequency of occurrence across the life span is reported, and their impact on the lives of individuals with voice disorders is documented. The goal of voice treatment is to maximize vocal effectiveness given the existing disorder and to reduce the handicapping effect of the voice problem. Voice treatment may be (a) the preferred treatment to resolve the voice disorder when medical (surgical or pharmacological) treatments are not indicated; (b) the initial treatment in cases where medical treatment appears indicated; it may obviate the need for medical treatment; (c) completed before and after surgical treatment to maximize long-term post-surgical voice; and (d) a preventative treatment to preserve vocal health. Experimental and clinical data are reviewed that support these roles applied to various disorder types: (a) vocal misuse, hyperfunction and muscular imbalance (frequently resulting in edema, vocal nodules, polyps or contact ulcers); (b) medical or physical conditions (e.g., laryngeal nerve trauma, Parkinson disease); and (c) psychogenic disorders (e.g., conversion reactions, personality disorders). Directions for future research are suggested which maximize clinical outcomes and scientific rigor to enhance knowledge on the efficacy of voice treatment.
Polygon spaces and Grassmannians

We study the moduli spaces of polygons in R^2 and R^3, identifying them with subquotients of 2-Grassmannians using a symplectic version of the Gel'fand-MacPherson correspondence. We show that the bending flows defined by Kapovich-Millson arise as a reduction of the Gel'fand-Cetlin system on the Grassmannian, and with these determine the pentagon and hexagon spaces up to equivariant symplectomorphism. Other than invocation of Delzant's theorem, our proofs are purely polygon-theoretic in nature.
Multichannel reliability assessment in real world WSNs

We study the utility of dynamic frequency agility in real-world wireless sensor networks. Many view such agility as essential to obtaining adequate reliability in industrial environments. We quantify the actual utility by identifying the two facets of connectivity graphs that yield potential benefits called Multichannel Links (MCLs) and Multichannel Triangles (MCTs), study how frequently these occur empirically and determine whether multihop provides a comparable solution without the complexity of switching channels. We examine connectivity graphs of live networks over each 802.15. 4 channel and find that MCLs and MCTs are extremely rare in practice. Almost no MCLs are found in any connectivity graph while MCTs occur between 0-200 parts per million (ppm). Furthermore, we show that MCLs are rarely important for routing while each MCT has a singlechannel routing solution. We also find that there are channels that are always good for connectivity and offer comparable routing costs, with respect to transmission count, in comparison to multichannel communication. Thus, the justification for channel agility in industrial environments applies in the absence but not in the presence of multihop routing.
Circulating endothelial nitric oxide synthase inhibitory factor in some patients with chronic renal disease.

BACKGROUND Chronic renal disease (CRD) is associated with hypertension and reduced synthesis of nitric oxide (NO). Here, we investigated whether there is a circulating endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) inhibitory factor(s) in some patients with CRD that might directly influence endothelial NOS. METHODS Human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HDMECs) were incubated for six hours with 20% plasma from subjects with normal renal function (PCr = 0.8 +/- 0.2 mg%), and patients with moderate renal insufficiency of various causes (PCr = 4.0 +/- 1.5 mg%) and impact on NOS activity, transport of L-arginine, and abundance of eNOS protein were measured. Plasma concentrations of asymmetric and symmetric dimethyl L-arginine (ADMA and SDMA) were also measured. RESULTS There was no effect of any human plasma on L-arginine transport. The NOS activity was variable in CRD patients and fell into two subgroups: CRD I, individual values similar to control, and CRD II, individual values lower than control mean. The effect of CRD plasma on NOS activity in cultured cells was not related to the primary disease, but was predicted by plasma ADMA levels since plasma ADMA was elevated in CRD II versus both control and CRD I. Blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels were uniformly elevated in CRD plasma. The abundance of eNOS protein was unaffected by plasma. CONCLUSION High plasma levels of ADMA in CRD patients are independent of reduced renal clearance, suggesting an alteration in ADMA synthesis and/or degradation. High ADMA is a marker and is partly responsible for the inhibition of eNOS activity in cultured cells and may also result in reduced eNOS activity in vivo, with consequent hypertension.
River Float Trip Encounter Norms: Questioning the Use of the Social Norms Concept

Recreationists' norms about acceptable use levels and impacts can help managers make appropriate and defensible decisions. To be useful, a large percentage of recreationists must have norms and there must be shared agreement or consensus among the norms. Contrary to the stated or implied findings of recent published research, fewer than half of the New River whitewater rafters in our study had norms about appropriate encounter levels for most types of experiences. Many said encounters made no difference, or said they made a difference but couldn't give a number. For those who had norms, consensus was not strong. While a few differences in extent of norm agreement were found between such subgroups as commercial versus private boaters, subgroup agreement seldom appeared to exceed that of the population as a whole. Our findings suggest a need for greater clarity in definition, measurement and reports of recreation norms, recognition of theoretical developments on the meaning of norms, and greater precision i.
Microglial and Astrocytic Cell Responses in the Rat Hippocampus after an Intracerebroventricular Kainic Acid Injection

After central nervous system injury activated microglial cells and reactive astrocytes secrete neurotrophic factors which may provide an environment conducive to axonal sprouting. The present study has used a unilateral intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of kainic acid (KA) to produce a lesion of the CA3 pyramidal neurons in the rat hippocampus. The time course of the microglial and astrocytic response was studied throughout a 3-month period using an antibody to proliferating cell nuclear antigen to identify proliferating cells as well as OX-42 and GFAP antibodies to identify the activated microglia and reactive astrocytes, respectively. There was no proliferation of reactive astrocytes whereas activated microglial cells continued to proliferate throughout the duration of the study. During the first month there were some activated microglial cells in the CA1 field and in the fascia dentata but this was short-lived in comparison to the persistence of activated microglia and reactive astrocytes in the CA3 field which were still present 3 months after the initial injection. The discussion attempts to correlate this ipsilateral microglial and astrocytic response with the bilateral mossy fiber axonal sprouting, which occurs in the dentate gyrus after a unilateral ICV injection of KA. The discussion concludes that the two events, the microglial and astrocytic response and the mossy fiber sprouting, are not directly related since the contralateral sprouting occurs in the absence of any astrocytic or microglial response.
The Computation of Perfect and Proper Equilibrium for Finite Games via Simulated Annealing

This paper exploits an analogy between the “trembles” that underlie the functioning of simulated annealing and the player “trembles” that underlie the Nash refinements known as perfect and proper equilibrium. This paper shows that this relationship can be used to provide a method for computing perfect and proper equilibria of n-player strategic games. This paper also shows, by example, that simulated annealing can be used to locate a perfect equilibrium in an extensive form game.
The Most Probable Cause for the High Gamma-Ray Polarization in GRB 021206

The exciting detection of a very high degree of linear polarization, P = 80% ± 20%, in the prompt γ-ray emission of the recent gamma-ray burst GRB 021206 provides strong evidence that synchrotron emission is the dominant radiation mechanism. Besides this immediate implication, there were also claims that this implies a magnetic field that is ordered on large scales within the ejecta and must therefore be produced at the source, which in turn was used as an argument in favor of magnetic fields playing an active role in the production of GRB jets. However, an alternative explanation was also suggested: a very narrow jet, of opening angle θj ~ 1/γ, where γ ≳ 100 is the Lorentz factor during the GRB, viewed slightly outside its edge, at θj < θobs ≲ θj + 1/γ. This explanation also works with a magnetic field that is generated in the internal shocks and does not originate at the source. We calculate the expected degree of polarization for these two scenarios and find that it is significantly easier to produce P ≳ 50% with an ordered field. More specifically, we obtain P ~ 43%-61% for an ordered transverse magnetic field, Bord, whereas a shock-produced field that is random but fully within the plane of the shock, B⊥, can produce up to P ≲ 38%-54% for a single pulse in the GRB light curve, but the integrated emission over many pulses (as measured in GRB 021206) is expected to be a factor of ~2 lower. A magnetic field normal to the shock front, B∥, can produce P ~ 35%-62% for the emission integrated over many pulses. However, polarization measurements from GRB afterglows suggest a more isotropic configuration for the shock-produced field that should reduce P by a factor of ~2-3. Therefore, an ordered magnetic field, Bord, that originates at the source can produce the observed polarization most naturally, while B∥ is less likely, and B⊥ is the least likely of the above.
Weighted Phase Lag Index and Graph Analysis: Preliminary Investigation of Functional Connectivity during Resting State in Children

Resting state functional connectivity of MEG data was studied in 29 children (9-10 years old). The weighted phase lag index (WPLI) was employed for estimating connectivity and compared to coherence. To further evaluate the network structure, a graph analysis based on WPLI was used to determine clustering coefficient (C) and betweenness centrality (BC) as local coefficients as well as the characteristic path length (L) as a parameter for global interconnectedness. The network's modular structure was also calculated to estimate functional segregation. A seed region was identified in the central occipital area based on the power distribution at the sensor level in the alpha band. WPLI reveals a specific connectivity map different from power and coherence. BC and modularity show a strong level of connectedness in the occipital area between lateral and central sensors. C shows different isolated areas of occipital sensors. Globally, a network with the shortest L is detected in the alpha band, consistently with the local results. Our results are in agreement with findings in adults, indicating a similar functional network in children at this age in the alpha band. The integrated use of WPLI and graph analysis can help to gain a better description of resting state networks.
Effective Collaborative Activities and Active Learning in Engineering Education: A Case Study

Creating an active learning environment has proved to improve boost higher order thinking skills and skills needed in the workplace. Student Teams Achievement Division (STAD) is one of the Collaborative Learning (CL) strategies where peer collaboration drives the learning process. The purpose of this case study was to ascertain the effectiveness of active learning strategies including STAD collaborative activity on third year engineering undergraduates of Information Science & Engineering for the course of Advanced Data Structures. The results have been promising and have proved STAD to be an effective tool of improving students' performance.
Toward an integrated framework for automated development and optimization of online advertising campaigns

Creating and monitoring competitive and cost-effective pay-per-click advertisement campaigns through the web-search channel is a resource demanding task in terms of expertise and effort. Assisting or even automating the work of an advertising specialist will have an unrivaled commercial value. In this paper we propose a methodology, an architecture, and a fully functional framework for semi-and fully-automated creation, monitoring, and optimization of cost-efficient pay-per-click campaigns with budget constraints. The campaign creation module generates automatically keywords based on the content of the web page to be advertised extended with corresponding ad-texts. These keywords are used to create automatically the campaigns fully equipped with the appropriate values set. The campaigns are uploaded to the auctioneer platform and start running. The optimization module focuses on the learning process from existing campaign statistics and also from applied strategies of previous periods in order to invest optimally in the next period. The objective is to maximize the performance (i.e. clicks, actions) under the current budget constraint. The fully functional prototype is experimentally evaluated on real world Google AdWords campaigns and presents a promising behavior with regards to campaign performance statistics as it outperforms systematically the competing manually maintained campaigns.