Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Value Equivalence Approach for Solving Interactive Dynamic Influence Diagrams

Interactive dynamic influence diagrams (I-DIDs) are recognized graphical models for sequential multiagent decision making under uncertainty. They represent the problem of how a subject agent acts in a common setting shared with other agents who may act in sophisticated ways. The difficulty in solving I-DIDs is mainly due to an exponentially growing space of candidate models ascribed to other agents over time. in order to minimize the model space, the previous I-DID techniques prune behaviorally equivalent models. In this paper, we challenge the minimal set of models and propose a value equivalence approach to further compress the model space. The new method reduces the space by additionally pruning behaviorally distinct models that result in the same expected value of the subject agent's optimal policy. To achieve this, we propose to learn the value from available data particularly in practical applications of real-time strategy games. We demonstrate the performance of the new technique in two problem domains.
Intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas: A Review

Abstract Dural arteriovenous fistulas are fistulas connecting the branches of dural arteries to dural veins or a venous sinus. Digital subtraction angiography remains the gold standard for diagnosing these fistulas. Endovascular treatment is one of the first line options available for their management. This review article reviews the etiopathogenesis, natural history, common classification systems and various available treatment options.
Membrane topology of the cyanobacterial bicarbonate transporter, SbtA, and identification of potential regulatory loops

Abstract The transporter SbtA is a high affinity Na+-dependent HCO3 - uptake system present in a majority of cyanobacterial clades. It functions in conjunction with CO2 uptake systems and other HCO3 - uptake systems to allow cyanobacteria to accumulate high levels of HCO3 - used to support efficient photosynthetic CO2 fixation via the CO2 concentrating mechanism in these species. The phoA/lacZ fusion reporter method was used to determine the membrane topology of the cyanobacterial bicarbonate transporter, SbtA (predicted size of ∼ 39.7 kD), cloned from the freshwater strain, Synechocystis PCC6803. The structure conforms to a model featuring 10 transmembrane helices (TMHs), with a distinct 5 + 5 duplicated structure. Both the N- and C-terminus are outside the cell and the second half of the protein is inverted relative to the first. The first putative helix appears to lack sufficient topogenic signals for its correct orientation in the membrane and instead relies on the presence of later helices. The cytoplasmic loop between helices 5 and 6 is a likely location for regulatory mechanisms that could govern activation of the transporter, and the cytoplasmic loop between helices 9 and 10 also contains some conserved putative regulatory residues.
Graph analysis of functional brain networks: practical issues in translational neuroscience

The brain can be regarded as a network: a connected system where nodes, or units, represent different specialized regions and links, or connections, represent communication pathways. From a functional perspective, communication is coded by temporal dependence between the activities of different brain areas. In the last decade, the abstract representation of the brain as a graph has allowed to visualize functional brain networks and describe their non-trivial topological properties in a compact and objective way. Nowadays, the use of graph analysis in translational neuroscience has become essential to quantify brain dysfunctions in terms of aberrant reconfiguration of functional brain networks. Despite its evident impact, graph analysis of functional brain networks is not a simple toolbox that can be blindly applied to brain signals. On the one hand, it requires the know-how of all the methodological steps of the pipeline that manipulate the input brain signals and extract the functional network properties. On the other hand, knowledge of the neural phenomenon under study is required to perform physiologically relevant analysis. The aim of this review is to provide practical indications to make sense of brain network analysis and contrast counterproductive attitudes.
Mass spectrometry‐based proteomics of endoscopically collected pancreatic fluid in chronic pancreatitis research

MS‐based investigation of pancreatic fluid enables the high‐throughput identification of proteins present in the pancreatic secretome. Pancreatic fluid is a complex admixture of digestive, inflammatory, and other proteins secreted by the pancreas into the duodenum, and thus is amenable to MS‐based proteomic analysis. Recent advances in endoscopic techniques, in particular the endoscopic pancreatic function test (ePFT), have improved the collection methodology of pancreatic fluid for proteomic analysis. Here, we provide an overview of MS‐based proteomic techniques as applied to the study of pancreatic fluid. We address sample collection, protein extraction, MS sample preparation and analysis, and bioinformatic approaches, and summarize current MS‐based investigations of pancreatic fluid. We then examine the limitations and the future potential of such technologies in the investigation of pancreatic disease. We conclude that pancreatic fluid represents a rich reservoir of potential biomarkers and that the study of the molecular mechanisms of chronic pancreatitis may benefit substantially from MS‐based proteomics.
A Comparative Study of Association Rules Mining Algorithms

This paper presents a comparison between classical frequent pattern mining algorithms that use candidate set generation and test and the algorithms without candidate set generation. In order to have some experimental data to sustain this comparison a representative algorithm from both categories mentioned above was chosen (the Apriori, FP-growth and DynFP-growth algorithms). The compared algorithms are presented together with some experimental data that lead to the final conclusions.
Long-term survival following endoscopic and surgical treatment of high-grade dysplasia in Barrett's esophagus.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Photodynamic therapy (PDT) for high-grade dysplasia (HGD) in Barrett's esophagus is a Food and Drug Administration-approved alternative to esophagectomy. Critical information regarding overall survival of patients followed up long-term after these therapies is lacking. Our aim was to compare the long-term survival of patients treated with PDT with patients treated with esophagectomy. METHODS We reviewed records of patients with HGD seen at our institution between 1994 and 2004. PDT was performed 48 hours following the intravenous administration of a photosensitizer using light at 630 nm. Esophagectomy was performed by either transhiatal or transthoracic approaches by experienced surgeons. We excluded all patients with evidence of cancer on biopsy specimens. Vital status and death date information was queried using an institutionally approved Internet research and location service. Statistical analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards ratios. RESULTS A total of 199 patients were identified. A total of 129 patients (65%) were treated with PDT and 70 (35%) with esophagectomy. Overall mortality in the PDT group was 9% (11/129) and in the surgery group was 8.5% (6/70) over a median follow-up period of 59 +/- 2.7 months for the PDT group and 61 +/- 5.8 months for the surgery group. Overall survival was similar between the 2 groups (Wilcoxon test = 0.0924; P = .76). Treatment modality was not a significant predictor of mortality on multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS Overall mortality and long-term survival in patients with HGD treated with PDT appears to be comparable to that of patients treated with esophagectomy.
1st Workshop of the Canadian Society for Virology

The 1st Workshop of the Canadian Society for Virology (CSV2016) was a Special Workshop of the 35th Annual Meeting for the American Society for Virology, held on 18 June 2016 on the beautiful Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg, Virginia. The workshop provided a forum for discussion of recent advances in the field, in an informal setting conducive to interaction with colleagues. CSV2016 featured two internationally-renowned Canadian keynote speakers who discussed translational virology research; American Society for Virology President Grant McFadden (then from University of Florida, now relocated to Arizona State University) who presented his studies of oncolytic poxviruses, while Matthew Miller (McMaster University) reviewed the prospects for a universal influenza vaccine. The workshop also featured a variety of trainee oral and poster presentations, and a panel discussion on the topic of the future of the CSV and virus research in Canada.
Mathematics interventions for children and adolescents with Down syndrome: a research synthesis.

BACKGROUND Many children and adolescents with Down syndrome fail to achieve proficiency in mathematics. Researchers have suggested that tailoring interventions based on the behavioural phenotype may enhance efficacy. METHOD The research questions that guided this review were (1) what types of mathematics interventions have been empirically evaluated with children and adolescents with Down syndrome? ; (2) do the studies demonstrate sufficient methodological rigor? ; (3) is there evidence of efficacy for the evaluated mathematics interventions? ; and (4) to what extent have researchers considered aspects of the behavioural phenotype in selecting, designing and/or implementing mathematics interventions for children and adolescents with Down syndrome? Nine studies published between 1989 and 2012 were identified for inclusion. RESULTS Interventions predominantly focused on early mathematics skills and reported positive outcomes. However, no study met criteria for methodological rigor. Further, no authors explicitly considered the behavioural phenotype. CONCLUSIONS Additional research using rigorous experimental designs is needed to evaluate the efficacy of mathematics interventions for children and adolescents with Down syndrome. Suggestions for considering the behavioural phenotype in future research are provided.
A MapReduce Approach to NoSQL RDF Databases

In recent years, the increased need to house and process large volumes of data has prompted the need for distributed storage and querying systems. The growth of machine-readable RDF triples has prompted both industry and academia to develop new database systems, called NoSQL, with characteristics that differ from classical databases. Many of these systems compromise ACID properties for increased horizontal scalability and data availability. This thesis concerns the development and evaluation of a NoSQL triplestore. Triplestores are database management systems central to emerging technologies such as the Semantic Web and linked data. The evaluation spans several benchmarks, including the two most commonly used in triplestore evaluation, the Berlin SPARQL Benchmark, and the DBpedia benchmark, a query workload that operates an RDF representation of Wikipedia. Results reveal that the join algorithm used by the system plays a critical role in dictating query runtimes. Distributed graph databases must carefully optimize queries before generating MapReduce query plans as network traffic for large datasets can become prohibitive if the query is executed naively.
Effects of Ropinirole Prolonged-Release on Sleep Disturbances and Daytime Sleepiness in Parkinson Disease

This study evaluated the effects of ropinirole prolonged-release (RPR) in comparison with ropinirole immediate-release (RIR) on sleep-related disorders in Parkinson disease (PD). Thirty-three PD patients (aged 62.5 [SD, 8] years; PD duration, 9 [SD, 4] years) were evaluated on a stable dose of RIR and 5 to 13 weeks after switch to the closest possible dose of RPR. The following questionnaires were administered: Epworth Sleepiness Scale, PD Sleep Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, REM Sleep Behavior Disorder Screening Questionnaire, and PD Questionnaire 39. We further monitored the occurrence of restless legs syndrome and sleep attacks (SAs). Motor disability was evaluated by PD diary and by Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale part 3 on medication (ON) and after medication withdrawal (OFF). In 8 patients with marked subjective sleep disturbance, polysomnography, and multiple sleep latency test were performed.After switching to RPR, there was an improvement in PD Sleep Scale (94.9 [SD, 23] vs 102.2 [SD, 27]; P < 0.05 corrected), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (7.2 [SD, 3] vs 5.8 [SD, 3]; P < 0.05 corrected), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (14.1 [SD, 5] vs 12.0 [SD, 6]; P < 0.05 corrected) and Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale part 3 in the ON state (20.9 [SD, 10] 10 vs 17.6 [SD, 10]; P < 0.05 corrected). Thirteen patients reported disappearance of SAs on RPR. Polysomnography and multiple sleep latency test showed no changes in a subgroup of 8 patients after the switch to RPR.Ropinirole prolonged-release compared with RIR improved subjective quality of sleep, reduced daytime sleepiness, and led to disappearance of SAs in some patients possibly due to a more stable plasma level of ropinirole.
Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor Combined With Atelocollagen for Closing Chronic Tympanic Membrane Perforations in 87 Patients

Objective: To present the clinical results of closing chronic tympanic membrane (TM) perforations using basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) combined with an atelocollagen/silicone bilayer membrane patch. Study Design: Closure of TM perforations in 87 patients was attempted using bFGF, which is thought to promote the regeneration of TM tissues by facilitating the growth of fibroblasts and collagen fibers. Methods: Under an operating microscope, the margin of the perforation was trimmed, and a piece of an atelocollagen/silicone bilayer membrane was placed in the perforation with the silicon layer facing outward and then infiltrated with 0.1 ml of trafermin. Data obtained from patient records included patient age, perforation size, and duration of treatment, with a focus on hearing improvement and complete TM closure. Results: The mean perforation size before treatment was 14.4%. Complete closure of the TM perforation was achieved in 80 patients (92.0%), whereas pinholes remained in 5 patients (8.7%), and small perforations were observed in 2 patients (2.3%). In the patients with complete closure, the TM perforations closed after an average 1.8 treatments, and hearing improved by 13.6 dB. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that bFGF combined with atelocollagen is effective for the conservative treatment of TM perforation.
Interactive force control of an operator-mobile manipulator coordination system

In this article, a new type of coordination control called interactive force control is developed for an operator–mobile manipulator coordination system (OMMCS) based on a base force/torque sensor. In the interactive force control scheme, a robust force control of the manipulator and impedance control of the mobile platform are integrated to achieve smooth interaction between the operator, the manipulator, and the mobile platform. In simulation, the developed methods are compared for control performance in tracking and force regulation. Simulation results show the promise of the developed control scheme, which utilizes robust force control based on a base force/torque sensor. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Aminophylline (a theophylline–ethylenediamine complex) blocks ethanol behavioral effects in mice

Aminophylline is a complex of theophylline–ethylenediamine, where theophylline is the main component. Theophylline is a methyxanthine and besides inhibiting phosphodiesterase enzymes, it is also a nonselective adenosine antagonist. Several reports suggested the involvement of the brain adenosinergic system in the ethanol-induced motor incoordination. Thus, the objective of this work was to study the effects of the interaction of ethanol with aminophylline as assessed by behavioral tests in mice. Eight groups of male Swiss mice were used. The animals were treated with either distilled water (control) or ethanol (E; 2, 4, and 6 g/kg, orally) for 5 days, or with distilled water for 4 days, and on the fifth day with aminophylline (A; 5 and 10 mg/kg, intraperitoneally). In the association groups (association protocols), the animals were treated with ethanol (E; 6 g/kg, orally) for 4 days, and on the fifth day received aminophylline (A; 10 mg/kg, intraperitoneally), 30 min after the last ethanol administration (first protocol, E/A). In the second association protocol (A/E), ethanol was administered for 4 days, and on the fifth day the animals received aminophylline (A; 10 mg/kg, intraperitoneally), followed again by ethanol (E; 6 g/kg, orally) administration, 30 min later. E (6 g/kg) evoked a central nervous system depressor effect, by decreasing both the locomotor activity and rearing in the open field test, and A (5 and 10 mg/kg) showed opposite effects. However, the E/A or A/E associations blocked the ethanol effect. In the rota rod test, ethanol presented a muscular relaxant effect, which was decreased in both association protocols. In the tail suspension test, while the E/A association decreased immobility, A/E association increased it, as compared with controls. In conclusion, the effects of ethanol were inhibited by its association with aminophylline, suggesting that ethanol acts on the adenosine neurotransmission.
Expanded Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy Coverage Among HIV-Positive Drug Users to Improve Individual and Public Health Outcomes

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) represents the single most significant advance in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The vast majority of patients treated with HAART will experience long-term remission of HIV disease. HAART does not cure HIV of course, but it changes the disease into a chronic and manageable condition. Use of HAART is associated with decreased HIV/AIDS-related morbidity, fewer opportunistic infections, and reduced mortality. Evidence has also shown that HAART can reduce HIV transmission. This is most clearly illustrated in studies of vertical or mother-to-child HIV transmission, in which use of HAART by the infected mother has virtually eliminated HIV transmission to her infant. Research has further shown that HAART use among heterosexual discordant couples in Africa was associated with a 92% reduction in HIV transmission. Until recently, the use of HAART among drug-using populations has remained controversial. However, HAART has now been shown to produce similar survival benefit when individuals with and without history of drug use were compared. This article discusses the need for an expansion in the provision of HAART to those in medical need, including drug users, to curb the devastating toll of the HIV pandemic. Such an effort should be done with the full promotion of human rights, including the need to respect each patient's privacy and autonomy. Public health programs to intensify HAART use should be carried out within a comprehensive “combination prevention” framework. Such an approach for drug users would emphasize drug addiction treatment, HIV prevention including HIV testing and counseling and behavioral risk reduction interventions, and the removal of structural barriers to treat HIV-infected drug users and retain them in care.
InP/ZnS Nanocrystals as Fluorescent Probes for the Detection of ATP

This article reports on a study on fluorescence adenosine triphosphate (ATP) detection by InP/ZnS quantum dots (QDs). We present a spectroscopic analysis displaying the effect of enzymatic reactions of glucose oxidase (GOX) and hexokinase (HEX) on the InP/ZnS quantum dots at physiological pH. The InP/ZnS quantum dots act as glucose sensors in the presence of GOX, Glu and ATP, and their luminescence quenches during the release of hydrogen peroxide from the reaction. However, in the presence of adenosine 5′ triphosphate, glucose, and HEX, a significant photobrightening of the InP/ZnS QDs is recorded. This is dependent on the concentration of ATP in the sample. The relationship between the ATP and the emission intensity of InP/ZnS nanocrystals is linear. The present results are the first to report the effect of different by-products released by these enzymatic reactions on the fluorescence of the InP/ZnS QDs.
Comparable short-term prognosis in diabetic and non-diabetic patients with acute coronary syndrome after cardiac rehabilitation

Background: Patients with pathological glucometabolism are at increased risk of recurrent cardiovascular events after acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The goal of this study was to investigate the association of glucometabolism and the one-year outcome of cardiac rehabilitation patients. Design: Prospective multicentre registry from four German rehabilitation clinics. Methods: During 2005–2006, 1614 consecutive patients (85.9% male, mean age 55 ± 10.3 years) were included after the first ACS (mean 18.9 days) and classified into group 1 (apparent diabetes mellitus, n = 268), group 2 (no diabetes, impaired oral glucose tolerance [OGT], n = 185), and group 3 (normal fasting glucose and normal OGT, n = 1161). The mean follow-up was 13.4 months and the follow-up events were analysed by multivariate logistic regression models with backward elimination. Results: The overall mortality was 1.3% (group 1: 1.2%; group 2: 1.8%; group 3: 1.5%; pTrend = NS). The target blood pressure values at discharge (<140/90 mmHg) were achieved by 88.7%, 89.1% and 90.8% of patients in groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively (pTrend = NS). The target value for LDL cholesterol (<100 mg/dl) was attained by 87.0%, 80.8% and 81.5% of the patients in groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively (pTrend = NS). There was a trend of a lower proportion of patients reaching the target values for HDL-C of 46.1%, 51.4% and 60.8% (pTrend < 0.001) and triglycerides of 65.1%, 79.9% and 74.6% (pTrend = 0.004) for groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The strongest multivariate predictors for overall mortality were patients experiencing a previous stroke (OR, 6.29 [95% CI: 1.06–37.19]; p = 0.042) and, with a trend, peripheral arterial disease (OR, 3.60 [95% CI: 0.95–13.68]; p = 0.061). In the multivariate analysis, the diabetic state had no association with poor outcomes (i.e. death or rehospitalization). Conclusion: The short-term prognosis for both diabetic and non-diabetic patients was good and was determined by end organ damage rather than by glucometabolic status. Diabetic patients received comparable (and not more aggressive) pharmacotherapy and therefore achieved target values for cardiovascular risk factors to a lesser extent than the non-diabetic and pre-diabetic patients.
One Source Multicast Model Using RTP in NS2

Summary The simulation models in general are irreplaceable tools for testing and validating of the present or the proposed algorithms. This paper deals with the design of the multicast model with the one source using the RTP (Real Time Protocol) transport protocol for data delivering to the great number of receivers. The simulation results show the present situation in the sharing of control bandwidth for RTCP feedback reports among all multicast receivers. The main object is to propose the efficient multicast model in the ns2 for the new feedback algorithm implementation. Input here the part of summary.
Tumorigenicity of N-nitrosohexamethyleneimine.

A new carcinogen, N -nitrosohexamethyleneimine ( N -nitrosoperhydroazepine), was synthesized and given to rats of both sexes. The incidence of mixed malignant liver cell carcinomas and endothelial sarcomas was virtually 100% when the drug was given at 200 mg/liter for 8 weeks, while benign and malignant epitheliomas of the tongue or esophagus occurred in about 30%. When the drug concentration was 50 mg/liter given continuously over the life-span of the animals, the incidence pattern of tumors in liver and upper alimentary tract was reversed. The possible relevance of the types and distribution of these cancers to interpretations of the mechanism of action is discussed.