Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cochlear implantation in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

IMPORTANCE Sensorineural hearing loss is the third leading cause of years lived with disability worldwide. Cochlear implants may provide a viable alternative to hearing aids for this type of hearing loss. The Coverage and Analysis Group at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services was interested in an evaluation of recently published literature on this topic. In addition, this meta-analysis is to our knowledge the first to evaluate quality-of-life (QOL) outcomes in adults with cochlear implants. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the communication-related outcomes and health-related QOL outcomes after unilateral or bilateral cochlear implantation in adults with sensorineural hearing loss. DATA SOURCES MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Scopus, and previous reports from January 1, 2004, through May 31, 2012. STUDY SELECTION Published studies of adult patients undergoing unilateral or bilateral procedures with multichannel cochlear implants and assessments using open-set sentence tests, multisyllable word tests, or QOL measures. DATA EXTRACTION Five researchers extracted information on population characteristics, outcomes of interest, and study design and assessed the studies for risk of bias. Discrepancies were resolved by consensus. RESULTS A total of 42 studies met the inclusion criteria. Most unilateral implant studies showed a statistically significant improvement in mean speech scores as measured by open-set sentence or multisyllable word tests; meta-analysis revealed a significant improvement in QOL after unilateral implantation. Results from studies assessing bilateral implantation showed improvement in communication-related outcomes compared with unilateral implantation and additional improvements in sound localization compared with unilateral device use or implantation only. Based on a few studies, the QOL outcomes varied across tests after bilateral implantation. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Unilateral cochlear implants provide improved hearing and significantly improve QOL, and improvements in sound localization are noted for bilateral implantation. Future studies of longer duration, higher-quality reporting, and large databases or registries of patients with long-term follow-up data are needed to yield stronger evidence.
Melatonin Improves Outcomes of Heatstroke in Mice by Reducing Brain Inflammation and Oxidative Damage and Multiple Organ Dysfunction

We report here that when untreated mice underwent heat stress, they displayed thermoregulatory deficit (e.g., animals display hypothermia during room temperature exposure), brain (or hypothalamic) inflammation, ischemia, oxidative damage, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis impairment (e.g., decreased plasma levels of both adrenocorticotrophic hormone and corticosterone during heat stress), multiple organ dysfunction or failure, and lethality. Melatonin therapy significantly reduced the thermoregulatory deficit, brain inflammation, ischemia, oxidative damage, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis impairment, multiple organ dysfunction, and lethality caused by heat stroke. Our data indicate that melatonin may improve outcomes of heat stroke by reducing brain inflammation, oxidative damage, and multiple organ dysfunction.
Simulation Technique for Available Bandwidth Estimation

This paper proposes a method for measuring the available bandwidth, based on testing network packets of various sizes (variable packet size method, VPS). The range of applicability of the model has been found, it is based on the accuracy of the measurements of packet delays. We have also derived a formula for the upper limit of the bandwidth. Computer simulations have been performed and the relationship between the measurement error of the available bandwidth and the number of measurements has been found. Experimental verification with the use of the RIPE test box measuring system has shown that this method has advantages over existing measurement techniques. The Path load utility has been chosen as an alternative technique of measurement, and to ensure that reliable result statistics have been withdrawn by the SNMP agent directly from the router.
Lipoxygenases in the cardiovascular system.

Collagen-induced signaling events leading to the acute activa- tion of platelet 12-lipoxygenase. Collagen or collagen-related peptide (CRP) binds to clusters of glycoprotein VI (GPVI) recep- tors on the platelet surface. This binding induces rapid associa-tion and phosphorylation of the GPVI-associated FcR (cid:1) -chain by src -tyrosine kinases. Subsequent activation of PI3-kinase and stimulation of intracellular Ca 2 (cid:1) pools precedes activation of p12-LOX. The negative regulatory roles of platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1 (PECAM-1) and protein kinase C (PKC) are highlighted.
A Wide Voltage Range Digital I/O Design Using Novel Floating N-Well Circuit

A fully bidirectional mixed-voltage input/output (I/O) buffer using a novel floating N-well circuit is presented. To provide appropriate gate voltages for output stage transistors, a dynamic gate bias generator without gate-oxide overstress effect is implemented. The proposed I/O also takes advantage of a novel gate-tracking circuit and a PAD voltage detector by means of eliminating the leakage current such that the compatibility among all subcircuits is ensured. Our design is proved on silicon using 0.18 μm CMOS process that when VDDIO is 5.0/3.3/1.8/1.2/0.9 V, the maximum data rate is found to be 80/80/125/100/80 MHz, respectively, with a given capacitive load of 10 pF.
Rap80 Protein Recruitment to DNA Double-strand Breaks Requires Binding to Both Small Ubiquitin-like Modifier (SUMO) and Ubiquitin Conjugates*

Background: Ubiquitin (Ub) and small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) conjugation occurs at DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). Results: Rap80, a component of the BRCA1-A complex, binds to both SUMO and Ub conjugates. Conclusion: Rap80 binding to both SUMO and Ub conjugates is required for proper cellular response to DSBs. Significance: This work provides insights into how Rap80 and BRCA1 are recruited to DSBs to maintain genome stability. Ubiquitin (Ub) modifications at sites of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) play critical roles in the assembly of signaling and repair proteins. The Ub-interacting motif (UIM) domain of Rap80, which is a component of the BRCA1-A complex, interacts with Ub Lys-63 linkage conjugates and mediates the recruitment of BRCA1 to DSBs. Small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) conjugation also occurs at DSBs and promotes Ub-dependent recruitment of BRCA1, but its molecular basis is not clear. In this study, we identified that Rap80 possesses a SUMO-interacting motif (SIM), capable of binding specifically to SUMO2/3 conjugates, and forms a tandem SIM-UIM-UIM motif at its N terminus. The SIM-UIM-UIM motif binds to both Ub Lys-63 linkage and SUMO2 conjugates. Both the SIM and UIM domains are required for efficient recruitment of Rap80 to DSBs immediately after damage and confer cellular resistance to ionizing radiation. These findings propose a model in which SUMO and Ub modification is coordinated to recruit Rap80 and BRCA1 to DNA damage sites.
Surrogate based EA for expensive optimization problems

Real life optimization problems often require finding optimal solution to complex high dimensional, multimodal problems involving computationally very expensive fitness function evaluations. Use of a population based iterative technique like evolutionary algorithms in such problem domains is thus practically prohibitive. An attractive alternative is to build surrogates or use an approximation of the actual fitness functions to be evaluated. Many regression and interpolation tools are available to build such meta models. This paper briefly discusses the architectures and use of such meta-modeling tools in an evolutionary optimization context. We further present an evolutionary algorithm framework which involves use of surrogate models for fitness function evaluation. The original framework namely, the dynamic approximate fitness based hybrid EA (DAFHEA) model [14] reduces computation time by controlled use of meta-models (in this case approximate model generated by support vector machine regression) to partially replace the actual function evaluation by approximate function evaluation. However, the underlying assumption in DAFHEA is that the training samples for the meta-model are generated from a single uniform model. This does not take into account uncertain scenarios involving noisy fitness functions. The enhanced model, DAFHEA-II, incorporates a multiple-model based learning approach for the support vector machine approximator to counter effects of noise [15]. Empirical results obtained by evaluating the frameworks using several benchmark functions (both non- noisy and noisy versions) are presented.
MOG-Specific B Cell Deletion Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transfer Induces Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein (MOG) via Gene Therapy Delivery of Myelin

The various mechanisms that have been described for immune tolerance govern our ability to control self-reactivity and minimize autoimmunity. However, the capacity to genetically manipulate the immune system provides a powerful avenue to supplement this natural tolerance in an Ag-speciﬁc manner. We have previously shown in the mouse model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis that transfer of bone marrow (BM) transduced with retrovirus encoding myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) promotes disease resistance and CD4 + T cell deletion within the thymus. However, the consequence of this strategy on B cell tolerance is not known. Using BM from IgH MOG mice that develop MOG-speciﬁc B cell receptors, we generated mixed chimeras together with BM-encoding MOG. In these animals, the development of MOG-speciﬁc B cells was abrogated, resulting in a lack of MOG-speciﬁc B cells in all B cell compartments examined. This ﬁnding adds a further dimension to our understanding of the mechanisms of tolerance that are associated with this gene therapy approach to treating autoimmunity and may have important implications for Ab-mediated autoimmune disorders. The Journal of Immunology , 2014, 192: 000–000.
Towards Bidirectional Processing Models of Sign Language: A Constructional Approach in Fluid Construction Grammar

Sign languages (SL) require a fundamental rethinking of many basic assumptions about human language processing because instead of using linear speech, sign languages coarticulate facial expressions, shoulder and hand movements, eye gaze and usage of a three-dimensional space. SL researchers have therefore advocated SL-specific approaches that do not start from the biases of models that were originally developed for vocal languages. Unfortunately, there are currently no processing models that adequately achieve both language comprehension and formulation, and the SL-specific developments run the risk of becoming alienated from other linguistic research. This paper explores the hypothesis that a construction grammar architecture offers a solution to these problems because constructions are able to simultaneously access and manipulate information coming from many different sources. This claim is illustrated by a proof-of-concept implementation of a basic grammar for French Sign Language in Fluid Construction Grammar.
Novel Dimeric Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitor Bis(7)-tacrine, but Not Donepezil, Prevents Glutamate-induced Neuronal Apoptosis by Blocking N-Methyl-d-aspartate Receptors*

The neuroprotective properties of bis(7)-tacrine, a novel dimeric acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor, on glutamate-induced excitotoxicity were investigated in primary cultured cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs). Exposure of CGNs to 75 μm glutamate resulted in neuronal apoptosis as demonstrated by Hoechst staining, TUNEL, and DNA fragmentation assays. The bis(7)-tacrine treatment (0.01–1 μm) on CGNs markedly reduced glutamate-induced apoptosis in dose- and time-dependent manners. However, donepezil and other AChE inhibitors, even at concentrations of inhibiting AChE to the similar extents as 1 μm bis(7)-tacrine, failed to prevent glutamate-induced excitotoxicity in CGNs; moreover, both atropine and dihydro-β-erythroidine, the cholinoreceptor antagonists, did not affect the anti-apoptotic properties of bis(7)-tacrine, suggesting that the neuroprotection of bis(7)-tacrine appears to be independent of inhibiting AChE and cholinergic transmission. In addition, ERK1/2 and p38 pathways, downstream signals of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, were rapidly activated after the exposure of glutamate to CGNs. Bis(7)-tacrine inhibited the apoptosis and the activation of these two signals with the same efficacy as the coapplication of PD98059 and SB203580. Furthermore, using fluorescence Ca2+ imaging, patch clamp, and receptor-ligand binding techniques, bis(7)-tacrine was found effectively to buffer the intracellular Ca2+ increase triggered by glutamate, to reduce NMDA-activated currents and to compete with [3H]MK-801 with an IC50 value of 0.763 μm in rat cerebellar cortex membranes. These findings strongly suggest that bis(7)-tacrine prevents glutamate-induced neuronal apoptosis through directly blocking NMDA receptors at the MK-801-binding site, which offers a new and clinically significant modality as to how the agent exerts neuroprotective effects.
All you need is light

The story of prevention and control of infectious diseases remains open and a series of highly virulent pathogens are emerging both in and beyond the hospital setting. Antibiotics were an absolute success story for a previous era. The academic and industrial biomedical communities have now come together to formulate consensus beliefs regarding the pursuit of novel and effective alternative anti-infective countermeasures. Photodynamic therapy was established and remains a successful modality for malignancies but photodynamic inactivation has been transformed recently to an antimicrobial discovery and development platform. The concept of photodynamic inactivation is quite straightforward and requires microbial exposure to visible light energy, typically wavelengths in the visible region, that causes the excitation of photosensitizer molecules (either exogenous or endogenous), which results in the production of singlet oxygen and other reactive oxygen species that react with intracellular components, and consequently produce cell inactivation. It is an area of increasing interest, as research is advancing i) to identify the photochemical and photophysical mechanisms involved in inactivation; ii) to develop potent and clinically compatible photosensitizer; iii) to understand how photoinactivation is affected by key microbial phenotypic elements (multidrug resistance and efflux, virulence and pathogenesis determinants, biofilms); iv) to explore novel delivery platforms inspired by current trends in pharmacology and nanotechnology; and v) to identify photoinactivation applications beyond the clinical setting such as environmental disinfectants.
Efficient moments extraction of large inductively coupled interconnection networks

This paper presents a reduction technique that transforms large passive networks into minimal admittance networks between the terminals. In this model, the moments of each admittance are preserved exactly, up to any desired order. Any RLC network (e.g. lumped models of coupled transmission lines) can be dealt with, including inductive coupling between lines. This technique, in combination with an algorithm that calculates an optimal sparse approximation of the inverse of positive definite matrices, is very suited for implementation in efficient layout-to-circuit extractors.
The similarity join database operator

Similarity joins have been studied as key operations in multiple application domains, e.g., record linkage, data cleaning, multimedia and video applications, and phenomena detection on sensor networks. Multiple similarity join algorithms and implementation techniques have been proposed. They range from out-of-database approaches for only in-memory and external memory data to techniques that make use of standard database operators to answer similarity joins. Unfortunately, there has not been much study on the role and implementation of similarity joins as database physical operators. In this paper, we focus on the study of similarity joins as first-class database operators. We present the definition of several similarity join operators and study the way they interact among themselves, with other standard database operators, and with other previously proposed similarity-aware operators. In particular, we present multiple transformation rules that enable similarity query optimization through the generation of equivalent similarity query execution plans. We then describe an efficient implementation of two similarity join operators, ε-Join and Join-Around, as core DBMS operators. The performance evaluation of the implemented operators in PostgreSQL shows that they have good execution time and scalability properties. The execution time of Join-Around is less than 5% of the one of the equivalent query that uses only regular operators while ε-Join's execution time is 20 to 90% of the one of its equivalent regular operators based query for the useful case of small ε (0.01% to 10% of the domain range). We also show experimentally that the proposed transformation rules can generate plans with execution times that are only 10% to 70% of the ones of the initial query plans.
Conformal field theory and the cohomology of the moduli space of stable bundles

Let Σg be a compact Riemann surface of genus g ≥ 2, and let Λ be a line bundle over Σg of degree 1. Then the moduli space of rank 2 stable bundles V over Σg such that ΛV ∼= Λ was shown by Seshadri [19] to be a nonsingular projective variety Ng . Its rational cohomology ring H(Ng ) is exceedingly rich and despite years of study has never quite been computed in full. The object of this paper is to give an essentially complete characterization of this ring, or at least to reduce the problem to a matter of linear algebra. In particular, we find a proof of Newstead’s conjecture that pg1(Ng ) = 0. We also obtain a formula for the volume of Ng , which can be regarded as a twisted version of the formula for the degree 0 moduli space recently announced by Witten. The approach we shall take is not from algebraic geometry but from mathematical physics: it relies on the SU(2) Wess-Zumino-Witten model, which is a functor Zk associating a finite-dimensional vector space to each Riemann surface with marked points. The relationship with the moduli space is that when the “level” k of the functor is even, the vector space associated to Σg with no marked points can be identified with H(Ng ;L), where L is a fixed line bundle over Ng . Now the work of Verlinde provides us with a means of calculating the dimension of any vector space arising from our functor, and in particular dimH(Ng ;L), which we shall denote D(g, k). On the other hand Newstead [14] found explicit generators for H(Ng ), and we can also express D(g, k) in terms of them using a Riemann-Roch theorem. Equating the two formulas enables us to evaluate any monomial in the generators on the fundamental class of Ng , and by Poincare duality this is sufficient, at least in principle, to determine the ring structure of H(Ng ). In the discussion above one important point has been skated over. The SU(2) WZW model is of course associated to bundles of degree 0, not degree 1, so in order to make use of Verlinde’s work it is necessary to formulate a “twisted” version of the field theory. This is carried out in §2, but the crucial properties of the twisted theory, analogous to those which make the ordinary theory a modular functor, are not proved in this paper. Rather, we will confine ourselves to exploring the consequences of these claims, and hope to return to justify them in a later paper. An outline of the remaining sections goes as follows. In §3 we review those parts of Verlinde’s work we shall need, show how they must be modified in the twisted case, and work out some explicit formulas for D(g, k). In §4 we study the cohomology of Ng , which we regard throughout as a space of representations via the theorem of Narasimhan and Seshadri. We define Newstead’s generators α , β , and ψi of H (Ng )
Detection of localization failure using logistic regression

Monte Carlo localization (MCL) is a sample-based approach for representing probability density for the pose of a robot. MCL is widely used for mobile robots because of its robustness with respect to sensor noise. On the other hand, MCL can fail to estimate a pose of a robot if objects block measuring range of a laser sensor of the robot. Even though MCL fails to estimate the pose of the robot, MCL does not stop to estimate the pose because MCL does not have a self-diagnostic function. Therefore, detection of localization failure is essential for a mobile robot application. In the present paper, we propose a novel approach that detects the localization failure of MCL through logistic regression. The proposed approach has two advantages. First, it can detect whether position errors is larger than 0.15 m with a high accuracy. Second, the proposed method can detect localization failure by means of a statistically modeled equation. Moreover, as an example of an application using the probability of localization failure, we have proposed a hybrid localization scheme with MCL and laser odometry. The practical effectiveness of the proposed scheme is verified through experiments.
Social Support for Child Abuse Cases in Institutional Care

The purpose of the study is to initially examine the experience and interpretation of support received by the sexual abuse victims living in institutional care. Five teenage female participants were interviewed. Preliminary results of this qualitative study revealed a number of critical issues that may be considered seriously by the stakeholders. One of the concerns is the on-going traumatic experiences faced by the victims. Dealing with several psychosocial challenges, participants are more likely to share their problems and get support from their peers that are close to them in comparison to the staffs in the institution. The findings of this study suggested a number of social work implications that must be addressed regarding the welfare and well-being of sexual abuse victims.