Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intestinal wall thickness detected by multidetector spiral computed tomography enterography predicts the disease severity of Crohn's disease

Abstract Objective. Multidetector spiral computed tomography enterography (MSCTE) and ileocolonoscopy are used in evaluating inflammatory situation of Crohn's disease (CD) patients. The purpose of this study was to determine the disease severity of CD patients by combining the intestinal wall thickness by MSCTE with ileocolonoscopy. Material and methods. This retrospective study included 50 patients with terminal ileal CD. Diagnosis was confirmed based on clinical features, endoscopy, and pathology. Patients underwent both MSCTE and ileocolonoscopy. Ileal wall thickness was measured and the disease severity was evaluated by CD activity index (CDAI). Intestinal mucosal lesions were scored by the simple endoscopic score for CD (SES-CD). Results. Of the 50 patients with active terminal ileal CD, the comparison of scores between SES-CD and CDAI showed significant association with Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (p < 0.01). There were statistically significant correlation between the wall thickness and the SES-CD (p < 0.0001) as well as CDAI (p < 0.001), respectively, but no significant correlation between the wall thickness and the C-reactive protein (CRP) was found (p = 0.43). Moreover, we found that the wall thickness was preferential to predict the disease severity in the terminal ileal CD. Conclusion. MSCTE, in combination with ileocolonoscopy, is reliable to identify disease severity in CD patients and provides more accurate information in the diagnosis and treatment.
Query optimization strategies for browsing sessions

This paper describes techniques and experimental results to obtain response time improvement for a browsing session, i.e. a sequence of interrelated queries to locate a subset of interest. The optimization technique exploits symbolic analysis of the query interdependencies and retention of (partial) query answers. A prototype browsing session optimizer (BSO) has been constructed that runs as a front-end to the Ingres relational system. Based on the experiments reported, we propose to extend (existing) DBMSs with a mechanism to keep and reuse small answers by default. Such investments quickly pay off in sessions with interrelated queries. <<ETX>>
Rho kinase inhibition in diabetic nephropathy

Purpose of reviewThe Rho GTPases and their downstream effectors Rho-associated kinases (ROCKs) appear to be the molecules that converge numerous pathophysiological signals triggered by the diabetic milieu and represent promising molecular targets for nephroprotective treatment in diabetes. The review discusses recent studies exploring the consequences of diabetes-induced Rho–ROCK activation in the kidney and the effects of ROCK inhibition (ROCKi) in experimental diabetic nephropathy. Recent findingsRecent studies in models of type 1 and type 2 diabetes have indicated blood-pressure-independent nephroprotective actions of ROCKi in diabetic nephropathy. The underlying mechanisms include attenuation of diabetes-induced increases in renal expression of prosclerotic cytokines and extracellular matrix, resulting in slower development of glomerulosclerosis and interstitial fibrosis. The studies have also shown antiproteinuric affects of ROCKi that could be related to reductions in permeability of glomerular barrier and beneficial effects on podocytes. Moreover hemodynamic mechanisms might be also involved. SummaryDespite remaining questions in this field, such as the specificity of currently available ROCKi, or the roles of individual ROCK isoforms, recent evidence in experimental diabetes, together with evidence generated in models of nondiabetic kidney disease and in clinical studies in patients with various cardiovascular disorders, suggest that ROCKi might in future broaden the spectrum of treatments available for patients with diabetic nephropathy.
Recurrent hamstring muscle injury: applying the limited evidence in the professional football setting with a seven-point programme

Recurrent hamstring injuries are a major problem in sports such as football. The aim of this paper was to use a clinical example to describe a treatment strategy for the management of recurrent hamstring injuries and examine the evidence for each intervention. A professional footballer sustained five hamstring injuries in a relatively short period of time. The injury was managed successfully with a seven-point programme—biomechanical assessment and correction, neurodynamics, core stability, eccentric strengthening, an overload running programme, injection therapies and stretching/relaxation. The evidence for each of these treatment options is reviewed. It is impossible to be definite about which aspects of the programme contributed to a successful outcome. Only limited evidence is available in most cases; therefore, decisions regarding the use of different treatment modalities must be made by using a combination of clinical experience and research evidence.
BLADE: A Universal, Blind Learning Algorithm for ToA Localization in NLOS Channels

We study wireless localization systems where multiple synchronized infrastructure devices simultaneously transmit signals whose arrival times are measured at an object of interest. The performance of these time-of-arrival (ToA) localization systems is degraded in non-line-of-sight (NLOS) channels because multipath reflections cause a positive bias in the ToA measurements. To address this major impairment, we propose an algorithm that adaptively learns the probability distribution function of the NLOS bias for each infrastructure device. This algorithm is universal in that it can be applied to any ToA based system, where the only prior assumption about the channel environment is a conservative bound on the maximum bias delay. The algorithm is also blind in that it does not require training with ground truth samples. We characterize the performance of the proposed algorithm and the resulting maximum a posteriori estimator using two sets of over-the-air ToA measurements. In both cases, we show significant performance gains compared to a nonlinear multilateration baseline, and in particular, we show a reduction in the location estimate error by up to a factor of 4 for a live cellular LTE localization network.
Stroke in women: the 1997 Paul Dudley White International Lecture.

Mister chairman, members and guests of this annual meeting, dear colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, it is a great honor and privilege for me to present the Paul Dudley White International Lecture during this 70th Scientific Session of the American Heart Association. I have chosen to talk about “Stroke in Women” not so much because I am one of the few representatives of this (up to now) rare species of female neurologists, but because stroke in women is a major health issue that has been somewhat neglected in the past but is now attracting more and more attention, as illustrated by the creation of the AHA Web site “Take Wellness to Heart. ” Although many aspects of stroke, particularly with regard to clinical presentation, neuroimaging, and management, are similar in both sexes,1 there are also some differences and specificities that I would like to highlight in considering the following 4 main issues: (1) the burden of stroke, which is increasing more rapidly in women than in men; (2) stroke prevention and the role of postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT); (3) pregnancy and stroke; and (4) stroke in young women. Misperceptions still exist that cardiovascular disease is not a real problem for women, who are far more fearful of breast or ovarian cancers than of stroke or myocardial infarction. Yet it is estimated that 1 in 3 women will die of heart disease and 1 in 6 of stroke, whereas 1 in 9 will develop breast carcinoma at any time during adult life and 1 in 25 will eventually die of it.2 The Global Burden of Disease Study has shown that ischemic heart disease and cerebrovascular disease are, respectively, the first and second causes of …
Vaginismus: A Review of the Literature on the Classification/Diagnosis, Etiology and Treatment

Vaginismus is currently defined as an involuntary vaginal muscle spasm interfering with sexual intercourse that is relatively easy to diagnose and treat. As a result, there has been a lack of research interest with very few well-controlled diagnostic, etiological or treatment outcome studies. Interestingly, the few empirical studies that have been conducted on vaginismus do not support the view that it is easily diagnosed or treated and have shed little light on potential etiology. A review of the literature on the classification/diagnosis, etiology and treatment of vaginismus will be presented with a focus on the latest empirical findings. This article suggests that vaginismus cannot be easily differentiated from dyspareunia and should be treated from a multidisciplinary point of view.
Localization of Soluble Guanylate Cyclase Activity in the Guinea Pig Cochlea Suggests Involvement in Regulation of Blood Flow and Supporting Cell Physiology

Although the nitric oxide/cGMP pathway has many important roles in biology, studies of this system in the mammalian cochlea have focused on the first enzyme in the pathway, nitric oxide synthase (NOS). However, characterization of the NO receptor, soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), is crucial to determine the cells targeted by NO and to develop rational hypotheses of the function of this pathway in auditory processing. In this study we characterized guinea pig cochlear sGC by determining its enzymatic activity and cellular localization. In cytosolic fractions of auditory nerve, lateral wall tissues, and co-chlear neuroepithelium, addition of NO donors resulted in three- to 15-fold increases in cGMP formation. NO-stimulated sGC activity was not detected in particulate fractions. We also localized cochlear sGC activity through immunocytochemical detection of NO-stimulated cGMP. sGC activity was detected in Hensen's and Deiters' cells of the organ of Corti, as well as in vascular pericytes surrounding small capillaries in the lateral wall tissues and sensory neuroepithelium. sGC activity was not observed in sensory cells. Using NADPH-diaphorase histochemistry, NOS was localized to pillar cells and nerve fibers underlying hair cells. These results indicate that the NO/cGMP pathway may influence diverse elements of the auditory system, including cochlear blood flow and supporting cell physiology.
Nonlinear Spectral Mixture Analysis for Hyperspectral Imagery in an Unknown Environment

Nonlinear spectral mixture analysis for hyperspectral imagery is investigated without prior information about the image scene. A simple but effective nonlinear mixture model is adopted, where the multiplication of each pair of endmembers results in a virtual endmember representing multiple scattering effect during pixel construction process. The analysis is followed by linear unmixing for abundance estimation. Due to a large number of nonlinear terms being added in an unknown environment, the following abundance estimation may contain some errors if most of the endmembers do not really participate in the mixture of a pixel. We take advantage of the developed endmember variable linear mixture model (EVLMM) to search the actual endmember set for each pixel, which yields more accurate abundance estimation in terms of smaller pixel reconstruction error, smaller residual counts, and more pixel abundances satisfying sum-to-one and nonnegativity constraints.
We should have seen this coming

The possibility of precognition has fascinated humanity since ancient times making it a recurring theme in fiction and mythology. It has also been a topic for scientific investigation. While the majority of such parapsychological studies have been ignored by the larger scientific community, several recent studies of purported precognitive phenomena were published by major international psychology journals. A widely publicized study by Daryl Bem claimed to have found evidence of precognition (Bem, 2011). In its wake have been discussions about the appropriate statistical approach for testing these effects (Bem et al., 2011; Rouder and Morey, 2011; Wagenmakers et al., 2011), and it caused a wave of replication attempts most of which, at least those conducted by researchers skeptical of precognition, have failed (Galak et al., 2012; Ritchie et al., 2012; Wagenmakers et al., 2012). More recently, two articles in Frontiers in Psychology and Frontiers in Human Neuroscience reported a meta-analysis of experiments on “predictive anticipatory activity” or “presentiment” (Mossbridge et al., 2012, 2014). In that paradigm participants are exposed to a series of random stimuli, some arousing (violent/erotic images, loud sounds), others calm controls (neutral images, silence). Apparently, physiological responses evoked by the two trial types prior to stimulus onset predict the upcoming stimulus.
Comparable efficacy and tolerability between twice daily and three times daily betahistine for Ménière's disease

Conclusion. Betahistine at oral doses of 16 mg tid and 24 mg bid provides similar efficacy and tolerability in the treatment of vertigo in patients with Ménière's disease. Objective. To compare the efficacy and tolerability of betahistine 16 mg tid and 24 mg bid in the treatment of vertigo in patients with Ménière's disease. Patients and methods. This was a randomized, open-label study of 120 consecutive patients with well-established Ménière's disease treated with betahistine 16 mg tid or 24 mg bid for 24 weeks. Treatment efficacy, assessed by clinical outcome level in terms of severity, frequency and duration of vertigo spells, was evaluated at baseline and at weeks 4, 12 and 24. Between-group comparisons of outcome data (Wilcoxon, Mann-Whitney U test) and adverse events (chi-squared test) were made. Results. Betahistine 16 mg tid or 24 mg bid showed a significant improvement in clinical outcome level from baseline to week 24 (p<0.01). There was no significant difference between dosage groups regarding improvement in vertigo at any time point during the study. There was no significant difference between groups in the incidence of adverse events, which was low (maximum: headache, 16 mg tid, 16.7% of patients at week 4; 6.7% at week 24). The number of patients reporting adverse events diminished with time.
Towards an Ontology-Driven Adaptive Dialogue Framework

In this paper, we describe the principles and technologies that underpin the development of an adaptive dialogue manager framework, tailored to carrying out human-agent conversations in a natural, robust and flexible manner. Our research focus is twofold. First, the investigation of dialogue strategies that can handle dynamically created user and system actions, while still enabling the agent to adapt its actions to various and possibly changing contexts. Second, the utilisation of rich semantic annotations for capturing background knowledge, as well as conversation topics and semantics of user utterances extracted through language analysis. The resulting annotations comprise the situational descriptions upon which reasoning takes place to recognise the conversation context and compile appropriate responses.
DIVERSITIES OF EXCHANGE RATE EXPOSURE IN EMERGING MARKETS 1

This study is one of the few attempts to directly estimate the exposure of real sector firms from an emerging economy. The estimates based on a sample of Turkish manufacturing firms reveal a positive but lagged exposure to real exchange rate depreciation. The foreign sales ratio is found to be the most important positive determinant of exposure. However, foreign debt and other foreign non-financial liabilities make negative contribution to exposure. This indicates that measurable exposures are not easily hedged because of the missing derivative markets. Finally, the two groups of firms, exporters and competitive, are found to gain from real depreciation while the import competing and less competitive firms are found to lose from real depreciation.
Identification and expression of the laboratory of genetics and physiology 2 gene in common carp Cyprinus carpio.

In this study, a laboratory of genetics and physiology 2 gene (lgp2) from common carp Cyprinus carpio was isolated and characterized. The full-length complementary (c)DNA of lgp2 was 3061 bp and encoded a polypeptide of 680 amino acids, with an estimated molecular mass of 77 341·2 Da and a predicted isoelectric point of 6·53. The predicted protein included four main overlapping structural domains: a conserved restriction domain of bacterial type III restriction enzyme, a DEAD-DEAH box helicase domain, a helicase super family C-terminal domain and a regulatory domain. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) showed widespread expression of lgp2, mitochondrial antiviral signalling protein (mavs) and interferon transcription factor 3 (irf3) in tissues of nine organs. lgp2, mavs and irf3 expression levels were significantly induced in all examined organs by infection with koi herpesvirus (KHV). lgp2, mavs and irf3 messenger (m)RNA levels were significantly up-regulated in vivo after KHV infection, and lgp2 transcripts were also significantly enhanced in vitro after stimulation with synthetic, double-stranded RNA polyinosinic polycytidylic [poly(I:C)]. These findings suggest that lgp2 is an inducible protein involved in the innate immune defence against KHV in C. carpio. These results provide the basis for further research into the role and mechanisms of lgp2 in fishes.
The NR-6: a new brief measure of nature relatedness

The construct of (dis)connection with nature or “nature relatedness” has become increasingly useful in the study of environmental behavior as well as psychological health and well-being. Strong nature relatedness is associated with greater happiness and ecologically sustainable behavior. A number of scales reliably assess individual differences in nature relatedness, but some circumstances may necessitate a brief measure. We developed a short-form version of the nature relatedness scale (NR-6), comprised of 6 items from the “self” and “experience” dimensions, and tested the new scale's predictive ability across multiple samples and with longitudinal data in students, community members, and business people. The new NR-6 scale demonstrated good internal consistency, temporal stability, and predicted happiness, environmental concern, and nature contact. This new brief measure of connectedness may have advantages where time and space are limited and the research context requires an assessment of connectedness elements rather than environmental attitudes.
Understanding purposeful human motion

Human motion can be understood on many levels. The most basic level is the notion that humans are collections of things that have predictable visual appearance. Next is the notion that humans exist in a physical universe, as a consequence of this, a large part of human motion can be modeled and predicted with the laws of physics. Finally there is the notion that humans utilize muscles to actively shape purposeful motion. We employ a recursive framework for real-time, 3D tracking of human motion that enables pixel-level, probabilistic processes to take advantage of the contextual knowledge encoded in the higher-level models, including models of dynamic constraints on human motion. We show that models of purposeful action arise naturally from this framework, and further, that those models can be used to improve the perception of human motion. Results are shown that demonstrate automatic discovery of features in this new feature space.
Thermal Unfolding Simulations of Bacterial Flagellin: Insight into its Refolding Before Assembly

Flagellin is the subunit of the bacterial filament, the micrometer-long propeller of a bacterial flagellum. The protein is believed to undergo unfolding for transport through the channel of the filament and to refold in a chamber at the end of the channel before being assembled into the growing filament. We report a thermal unfolding simulation study of S. typhimurium flagellin in aqueous solution as an attempt to gain atomic-level insight into the refolding process. Each molecule comprises two filament-core domains {D0, D1} and two hypervariable-region domains {D2, D3}. D2 can be separated into subdomains D2a and D2b. We observed a similar unfolding order of the domains as reported in experimental thermal denaturation. D2a and D3 exhibited high thermal stability and contained persistent three-stranded β-sheets in the denatured state which could serve as folding cores to guide refolding. A recent mutagenesis study on flagellin stability seems to suggest the importance of the folding cores. Using crude size estimates, our data suggests that the chamber might be large enough for either denatured hypervariable-region domains or filament-core domains, but not whole flagellin; this implicates a two-staged refolding process.
Through the eyes of young people: Favourite places for physical activity

Introduction: A decrease in physical activity amongst adolescents has been observed and it is well documented that low levels of activity are associated with poor health. In an attempt to understand factors that influence physical activity (PA) in young people research was undertaken with high school students in New Zealand to identify preferred places for PA and establish factors that they felt influenced levels of PA. Methods: One hundred males and 73 females in year nine (aged 12—13) in health and physical education classes completed mapping exercises in which they delineated favourite and least favourite places for PA, where they went on a particular Sunday, how they got there and what they did, and chosen after-school activities and how they got there. Results: Open public spaces were the most favoured places for PA with a nearby beach and park most frequently cited. Specific physical activities, having fun, and having friends to do an activity with were the most frequently cited reasons for liking these places. An industrial harbour area, other schools, and cemeteries were the least favoured places. Less than 2% biked somewhere on the Sunday surveyed and only 23% walked somewhere. The majority were driven to activities by car and a similar reliance on cars was observed for after-school activities. Conclusions: A combination of environmental and social factors is important in both encouraging and discouraging PA and should be taken into account when seeking to enhance PA of young people.
Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 Is Expressed in Mouse Developing Testis and Regulates Somatic Cell Proliferation

Testicular development occurs prenatally in mammals. The developmental underlying mechanism is only partially understood. The aim of the present investigation was to study the expression of the gene coding for insulin-like growth factor 1 (Igf-1) and Igf-1 type 1 receptor (Igf-1r) and their respective proteins in mouse Sertoli and Leydig cells at gestation day 12 (E12)–E18. Moreover, we sought to determine the effect of IGF-1 on the proliferation of both cell types and to establish the signal transduction mechanism involved in the IGF-1 pathway. Transcripts for the Igf-1 and Igf-1r genes were found in Sertoli and Leydig cells from E12–E18. Highest IGF-1 and IGF-Ir protein expression levels were found in both cell types at E18. Exogenous IGF-1 administration increased Sertoli and Leydig cell proliferation at E14–E18 in vitro. Inhibition of the pathway mitogen-activated extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (MEK) 1/2 with UO126 diminished the proliferation of the Sertoli and Leydig cells in vitro. We propose that IGF-1 and IGF-1r regulate Sertoli and Leydig cell proliferation through the MEK/extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 signal transduction pathway, leading to development and growth of the mouse embryonic testis.