Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
D S ] 7 A pr 2 01 8 Random Order Contention Resolution Schemes

Contention resolution schemes have proven to be an incredibly powerful concept which allows to tackle a broad class of problems. The framework has been initially designed to handle submodular optimization under various types of constraints, that is, intersections of exchange systems (including matroids), knapsacks, and unsplittable flows on trees. Later on, it turned out that this framework perfectly extends to optimization under uncertainty, like stochastic probing and online selection problems, which further can be applied to mechanism design. We add to this line of work by showing how to create contention resolution schemes for intersection of matroids and knapsacks when we work in the random order setting. More precisely, we do know the whole universe of elements in advance, but they appear in an order given by a random permutation. Upon arrival we need to irrevocably decide whether to take an element or not. We bring a novel technique for analyzing procedures in the random order setting that is based on the martingale theory. This unified approach makes it easier to combine constraints, and we do not need to rely on the monotonicity of contention resolution schemes. Our paper fills the gaps, extends, and creates connections between many previous results and techniques. The main application of our framework is a k + 4 + ε approximation ratio for the Bayesian multi-parameter unit-demand mechanism design under the constraint of k matroids intersection, which improves upon the previous bounds of 4k − 2 and e(k + 1). Other results include improved approximation ratios for stochastic k-set packing and submodular stochastic probing over arbitrary non-negative submodular objective function, whereas previous results required the objective to be monotone. m.adamczyk@mimuw.edu. pl m.wlodarczyk@mimuw.edu. pl
The Effect of Dicalcium Phosphate Supplement in Summer and Winter Seasons as Reflected on Bone and Blood Phosphorus, Calcium and Magnesium Levels in Range Breeding Beef Cattle

In an attempt to find the best season of the year to supplement phosphorus (P) of grazing beef cattle, 30 Bonsmara cows were randomly allotted into two groups of 15 animals each and given either a phosphate supplement or a control lick of common salt only from 2005 to 2008. Blood and bone samples were collected monthly from both groups of animals for mineral analyses in the winter (May, June, July) and summer (November, December, January) months. Both groups of cows depended entirely on natural pasture and all grazed together. Animals fed supplemented Phosphorus hand significantly higher (P<0.05) bone and blood phosphorus levels during the winter months than the nonsupplemented group. However, phosphorus levels were not significantly different in the two groups during summer. The result of this study highlights the importance of feeding supplementary Phosphorus to beef cattle grazing natural pastures during winter.
Healing at implants installed concurrently to maxillary sinus floor elevation with Bio‐Oss® or autologous bone grafts. A histo‐morphometric study in rabbits

OBJECTIVE To compare the healing at elevated sinus floors augmented either with deproteinized bovine bone mineral (DBBM) or autologous bone grafts and followed by immediate implant installation. MATERIAL AND METHODS Twelve albino New Zealand rabbits were used. Incisions were performed along the midline of the nasal dorsum. The nasal bone was exposed. A circular bony widow with a diameter of 3 mm was prepared bilaterally, and the sinus mucosa was detached. Autologous bone (AB) grafts were collected from the tibia. Similar amounts of AB or DBBM granules were placed below the sinus mucosa. An implant with a moderately rough surface was installed into the elevated sinus bilaterally. The animals were sacrificed after 7 (n = 6) or 40 days (n = 6). RESULTS The dimensions of the elevated sinus space at the DBBM sites were maintained, while at the AB sites, a loss of 2/3 was observed between 7 and 40 days of healing. The implants showed similar degrees of osseointegration after 7 (7.1 ± 1.7%; 9.9 ± 4.5%) and 40 days (37.8 ± 15%; 36.0 ± 11.4%) at the DBBM and AB sites, respectively. Similar amounts of newly formed mineralized bone were found in the elevated space after 7 days at the DBBM (7.8 ± 6.6%) and AB (7.2 ± 6.0%) sites while, after 40 days, a higher percentage of bone was found at AB (56.7 ± 8.8%) compared to DBBM (40.3 ± 7.5%) sites. CONCLUSIONS Both Bio-Oss® granules and autologous bone grafts contributed to the healing at implants installed immediately in elevated sinus sites in rabbits. Bio-Oss® maintained the dimensions, while autologous bone sites lost 2/3 of the volume between the two periods of observation.
Prevalence of climacteric symptoms comparing perimenopausal and postmenopausal Chinese women

Abstract Introduction: The climacteric symptoms during peri- and postmenopause have not been extensively studied in China. To further understanding of the characteristics of Chinese women during their menopausal transition, the aim of the study was to compare the prevalence and severity of climacteric symptoms of peri- and postmenopausal Chinese women. Methods: The retrospective descriptive study was carried out in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women from 20 provinces of China who visited Beijing Obstetrics & Gynecology hospital during 2008–2015. A total of 1225 women aged 34–76 years without hormone replacement therapy were analyzed. Menopausal status was defined by the “2011 Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop criteria”. The following climacteric symptoms were assessed: fatigue, insomnia, irritability, depression, palpitations, muscle and joint pain, dizziness, vaginal dryness, headache, urinary incontinence, hot flash, sweat, pain during intercourse, and formication. Results: The most frequent five symptoms were fatigue (75.84%), insomnia (69.39%), irritability (67.02%), palpitations (62.78%), and depression (61.88%). The prevalence of 14 symptoms was significantly higher in the postmenopause compared with the perimenopause status group (all p < .05). The severity of fatigue, insomnia, irritability, palpitation, vaginal dryness, muscle, and joint pain and pain during intercourse was significantly different between the perimenopausal and postmenopausal groups. Conclusions: The most frequent five symptoms among the investigated 1225 Chinese women were fatigue, insomnia, irritability, palpitations, depression, nearly the same in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. The prevalence and the severity of most of the symptoms were significantly different between the two groups.
Collagen Promotes Higher Adhesion, Survival and Proliferation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) can differentiate into several cell types and are desirable candidates for cell therapy and tissue engineering. However, due to poor cell survival, proliferation and differentiation in the patient, the therapy outcomes have not been satisfactory. Although several studies have been done to understand the conditions that promote proliferation, differentiation and migration of MSC in vitro and in vivo, still there is no clear understanding on the effect of non-cellular bio molecules. Of the many factors that influence the cell behavior, the immediate cell microenvironment plays a major role. In this context, we studied the effect of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins in controlling cell survival, proliferation, migration and directed MSC differentiation. We found that collagen promoted cell proliferation, cell survival under stress and promoted high cell adhesion to the cell culture surface. Increased osteogenic differentiation accompanied by high active RHOA (Ras homology gene family member A) levels was exhibited by MSC cultured on collagen. In conclusion, our study shows that collagen will be a suitable matrix for large scale production of MSC with high survival rate and to obtain high osteogenic differentiation for therapy.
Differentially private fuzzy C-means clustering algorithms for fuzzy datasets

In this paper, we propose two fuzzy clustering algorithms in the differential privacy scheme based on the fuzzy c-means algorithm. Up to the author's knowledge, these are the first algorithms of their kind which provide privacy for fuzzy data. Moreover, these two algorithms are experimentally compared with the original fuzzy algorithm and shown to be good approximation for the original fuzzy c-means algorithm.
Representational Similarity Mapping of Distributional Semantics in Left Inferior Frontal, Middle Temporal, and Motor Cortex

Abstract Language comprehension engages a distributed network of frontotemporal, parietal, and sensorimotor regions, but it is still unclear how meaning of words and their semantic relationships are represented and processed within these regions and to which degrees lexico‐semantic representations differ between regions and semantic types. We used fMRI and representational similarity analysis to relate word‐elicited multivoxel patterns to semantic similarity between action and object words. In left inferior frontal (BA 44‐45‐47), left posterior middle temporal and left precentral cortex, the similarity of brain response patterns reflected semantic similarity among action‐related verbs, as well as across lexical classes‐between action verbs and tool‐related nouns and, to a degree, between action verbs and food nouns, but not between action verbs and animal nouns. Instead, posterior inferior temporal cortex exhibited a reverse response pattern, which reflected the semantic similarity among object‐related nouns, but not action‐related words. These results show that semantic similarity is encoded by a range of cortical areas, including multimodal association (e.g., anterior inferior frontal, posterior middle temporal) and modality‐preferential (premotor) cortex and that the representational geometries in these regions are partly dependent on semantic type, with semantic similarity among action‐related words crossing lexical‐semantic category boundaries.
Business Process Modeling Support by Depictive and Descriptive Diagrams

The design of a “good” business process model is a time-consuming and error-prone task and requests high training effort from the process modeler. These barriers might be a reason why business processes are often designed with software tools, which were not intentionally developed for this purpose, but are highly familiar for the process modeler (e.g., add-ins for MS Office family) and thus a process model can be quickly designed. As consequence of such a tool choice for process modeling the variety of techniques available for Business Process Management cannot be exploited. To mitigate this situation, we first examine approaches aiming to support business process modeling more intuitively. We then suggest the introduction of an additional layer to business process models with depictive diagrams that are not bounded to a concrete process modeling language or descriptive diagrams using natural language text. We then show how such a layer can be aligned with common process modeling languages and thus provides a seamless integration with more advanced Business Process Management languages and tools. We expect that our approach will fertilize techniques facilitating business process modeling for all types of process modelers including business experts with limited experience of process modeling.
Calusterone in the therapy for advanced breast cancer.

Dr. Theodore J. Hahn, Fellow in Endocrinology, the Jewish Hospital of St. Louis, and Assistant in Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine: A 58-year-old Negro woman was hospitalized on July 9, 1970, for treatment of metastatic carcinoma of the breast. The patient had experienced a normal menopause at age 50 years. Four years later, she was found to have a mass in her right breast which at operation proved to be an adenocarcinoma with axillary metastases. She underwent a right radical mastectomy and cobalt 60 radiation therapy to the axilla. The only evidence of metastatic disease at that time was an osteoblastic lesion, 3×5 cm in size, in the head of the right femur. This area was irradiated with cobalt 60 and to date has not progressed. The patient had been subsequently asymptomatic until May 1970, when she began to have gradually ing dyspnea on exertion, orthopnea, nonproductive cough, and
Chlamydia trachomatis Is Responsible for Lipid Vacuolation in the Amniotic Epithelium of Fetal Gastroschisis.

BACKGROUND Vacuolated amniotic epithelium with lipid droplets in gastroschisis placentas is an unusual finding. Mass spectrometry of lipid droplets identified triglycerides, ester-linked to an unusual pattern of fatty acids. We hypothesize that these findings result from a Chlamydia trachomatis infection during the periconceptional period. The rising incidence of chlamydia infections has paralleled the increasing prevalence of gastroschisis among women less than 25 years of age. Histologically, young women are at greatest risk for a chlamydia infection due to their immature columnar epithelium, the preferential site for attachment of Chlamydia trachomatis infectious particle (elementary body). METHODS Chlamydia trachomatis survive in an inclusion, relying on its host to acquire essential nutrients, amino acids, and nucleotides for survival and replication. If essential nutrients are not available, the bacteria cannot replicate and may be trafficked to the lysosome for degradation or remain quiescent, within the inclusion, subverting innate immunologic clearance. RESULTS Chlamydiae synthesize several lipids (phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, and phosphoatidylglycerol); however, their lipid content reveal eukaryotic lipids (sphingomyelin, cholesterol, phosphatidylcholine, and phosphatidylinositol), evidence that chlamydiae "hijack" host lipids for expansion and replication. CONCLUSION The abnormal amniotic epithelial findings are supported by experimental evidence of the trafficking of host lipids into the chlamydiae inclusion. If not lethal, what harm will elementary bodies inflict to the developing embryo? Do these women have a greater pro-inflammatory response to an environmental exposure, whether cigarette smoking, change in partner, or a pathogen? Testing the hypothesis that Chlamydia trachomatis is responsible for amniotic epithelium vacuoles will be a critical first step. Birth Defects Research 109:1003-1010, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Mesh Visual Quality Assessment Metrics: A Comparison Study

3D graphics technologies have known a developed progress in the last years, and several processing operations can be applied on 3D meshes such as watermarking, compression, simplification and so forth. Mesh visual quality assessment becomes an important issue to evaluate the visual appearance of the 3D shape after specific modifications. Several metrics have been proposed in this context, from the classical distance-based metrics to the perceptual-based metrics which include perceptual information about the human visual system. In this paper, we propose to study the performance of several mesh visual quality metrics. First, the comparison is conducted regardless the distortion types neither the areas where these distortions are applied. Then, the degradation applied on the whole objects are considered. Finally, the comparison is conducted considering specific areas (smooth and rough). This study allows us to determine which metric is appropriate for such attribute. Experiments are conducted on the General-Purpose database and show that correlation score may vary by changing the attributes.
Silibinin Improves TNF-α and M30 Expression and Histological Parameters in Rat Kidneys After Hepatic Ischemia/Reperfusion

ABSTRACT Background: Remote kidney damage is a sequel of hepatic ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury. Silibinin is the main ingredient of the milk thistle plant seed extract with known antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity. Our study investigates the nephroprotective potential of intravenously administered silibinin, as a lyophilized SLB-hydoxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin product, in hepatic I/R injury. Material and methods: 63 Wistar rats were divided into three groups: Sham (virtual intervention); Control (45 min ischemia and reperfusion); and Silibinin (200 μL intravenous silibinin administration after 45 min of ischemia). Kidney tissues were collected to determine TNF-α, M30 and histopathological changes at predetermined time intervals. Results: Comparing Sham vs. Control groups, proved that hepatic I/R injury increased renal TNF-α and M30 expression. Deterioration was observed in hyperemia/filtration of renal parenchyma and tubules, cortical filtration, tubular necrosis and edema (tissue swelling index). Intravenous silibinin administration and comparison of the Control vs. Silibinin groups showed a statistically significant decrease in TNF-α levels at 240 min following I/R (p < 0.0001), and in M30 at 180 min (p = 0.03) and 240 min (p < 0.0001). Renal parameters have significantly decreased in: hyperemia/filtration of renal parenchyma at 120 min (p = 0.003), 180 min (p = 0.0001) and 240 min (p = 0.0002); hyperemia/filtration of renal tubules at 120 min (p = 0.02), 180 min (p = 0.0001) and 240 min (p = 0.0005); cortical filtration (240 min - p = 0.005); tubular necrosis (240 min - p = 0.021); and edema (240 min - p = 0.001). Conclusion: Our study confirms that hepatic I/R injury causes remote renal damage while the intravenous administration of silibinin leads to statistically significant nephroprotective action.
A Systematic Review of DNA Methylation and Preterm Birth in African American Women

Background: The causes of many cases of preterm birth (PTB) remain enigmatic. Increased understanding of how epigenetic factors are associated with health outcomes has resulted in studies examining DNA methylation (DNAm) as a contributing factor to PTB. However, few studies on PTB and DNAm have included African American women, the group with the highest rate of PTB. Methods: The objective of this review was to systematically analyze the existing studies on DNAm and PTB among African American women. Results: Studies (N = 10) were limited by small sample size, cross-sectional study designs, inconsistent methodologies for epigenomic analysis, and evaluation of different tissue types across studies. African Americans comprised less than half of the sample in 50% of the studies reviewed. Despite these limitations, there is evidence for an association between DNAm patterns and PTB. Conclusions: Future research on DNAm patterns and PTB should use longitudinal study designs, repeated DNAm testing, and a clinically relevant definition of PTB and should include large samples of high-risk African American women to better understand the mechanisms for PTB in this population.
Electronic Cigarette Use and Respiratory Symptoms in Adolescents

Rationale: Rates of adolescent electronic (e‐) cigarette use are increasing, but there has been little study of the chronic effects of use. Components of e‐cigarette aerosol have known pulmonary toxicity. Objectives: To investigate the associations of e‐cigarette use with chronic bronchitis symptoms and wheeze in an adolescent population. Methods: Associations of self‐reported use of e‐cigarettes with chronic bronchitic symptoms (chronic cough, phlegm, or bronchitis) and of wheeze in the previous 12 months were examined in 2,086 Southern California Children's Health Study participants completing questionnaires in 11th and 12th grade in 2014. Measurements and Main Results: Ever e‐cigarette use was reported by 502 (24.0%), of whom 201 (9.6%) used e‐cigarettes during the last 30 days (current users). Risk of bronchitic symptoms was increased by almost twofold among past users (odds ratio [OR], 1.85; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.37‐2.49), compared with never‐users, and by 2.02‐fold (95% CI, 1.42‐2.88) among current users. Risk increased with frequency of current use (OR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.02‐2.68) for 1‐2 days and 2.52 (95% CI, 1.56‐4.08) for 3 or more days in past 30 days compared with never‐users. Associations were attenuated by adjustment for lifetime number of cigarettes smoked and secondhand smoke exposure. However, risk of bronchitic symptoms among past e‐cigarette users remained elevated after adjustment for relevant potential confounders and was also observed among never‐cigarette users (OR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.11‐2.59). There were no statistically significant associations of e‐cigarette use with wheeze after adjustment for cigarette use. Conclusions: Adolescent e‐cigarette users had increased rates of chronic bronchitic symptoms. Further investigation is needed to determine the long‐term effects of e‐cigarettes on respiratory health.
Modeling transient collapsed states of an unfolded protein to provide insights into early folding events

The primary driving force for protein folding is the sequestration of hydrophobic side chains from solvent water, but the means whereby the amino acid sequence directs the folding process to form the correct final folded state is not well understood. Measurements of NMR line broadening in spin-labeled samples of unfolded apomyoglobin at pH 2.3 have been used to derive a quantitative model for transient hydrophobic interactions between various sites in the polypeptide chain, as would occur during the initiation of protein folding. Local clusters of residues with high values for the parameter “average area buried upon folding” (AABUF) form foci not only for local contacts but for long-range interactions, the relative frequencies of which can be understood in terms of differences in the extent of reduction in chain configurational entropy that occurs upon formation of nonlocal contacts. These results complement the striking correlation previously observed between the kinetic folding process of apomyoglobin and the AABUF of its amino acid sequence [Nishimura C, Lietzow MA, Dyson HJ, Wright PE (2005) J Mol Biol 351:383–392]. For the acid-unfolded states of apomyoglobin, our approach identifies multiple distinct hydrophobic clusters of differing thermodynamic stability. The most structured of these clusters, although sparsely populated, have both native-like and nonnative character; the specificity of the transient long-range contacts observed in these states suggests that they play a key role in initiating chain collapse and folding.