Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparative analysis of repeatability of manual and automated choroidal thickness measurements in nonneovascular age-related macular degeneration.

PURPOSE We compared the reproducibility and mutual agreement of the subfoveal choroidal thickness measurements by expert raters and an automated algorithm in enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) images of eyes with nonneovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS We recruited 44 patients with nonneovascular AMD and EDI-OCT images were acquired. Subfoveal choroidal thickness was measured manually by two expert raters and automatically by a graph-cut-based algorithm. Drusen area was measured using the automated software (version 6) of Cirrus SD-OCT. The manual and automated choroidal thickness measurements were compared in reproducibility, mutual agreement, and correlation with drusen area. RESULTS The mean subfoveal choroidal thickness was 246 ± 63 μm for the first rater, 214 ± 68 for the second rater, and 209 ± 53 for the automated algorithm. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were 0.96 (CI 0.94-0.98) between the raters, 0.85 (CI 0.77-0.90) between the first rater and the automated algorithm, and 0.84 (CI 0.75-0.89) between the second rater and the automated algorithm. Repeat scan measurement ICCs were 0.91 (CI 0.86-0.94) for the first rater, 0.96 (CI 0.94-0.97) for the second rater, and 0.87 (CI 0.80-0.92) for the automated algorithm. Manual and automated measurements were correlated with drusen area. CONCLUSIONS The automated algorithm generally yielded smaller choroidal thickness than the raters with a moderate level of agreement. However, its repeat scan measurement repeatability was comparable to that of the manual measurements. The mean difference between the raters indicated possible biases in different raters and rating sessions. The correlation of the automated measurements with the drusen area was comparable to that of the manual measurements. Automated subfoveal choroidal thickness measurement has potential use in clinical practice and clinical trials, with possibility for reduced time and labor cost.
Chapter 32 DATA MINING QUERY LANGUAGES

Many data mining algorithms enable to extract different types of patterns from data (e.g., local patterns like itemsets and association rules, models like classifiers). To support the whole knowledge discovery process, we need for integrated systems which can deal either with patterns and data. The inductive database approach has emerged as an unifying framework for such systems. Following this database perspective, knowledge discovery processes become querying processes for which query languages have to be designed. In the prolific field of association rule mining, different proposals of query languages have been made to support the more or less declarative specification of both data and pattern manipulations. In this chapter, we survey some of these proposals. It enables to identify nowadays shortcomings and to point out some promising directions of research in this area.
Sociodemographic and Clinical Predictors of Response in Manic Episodes: A Naturalistic, Prospective, Cohort Study

Background: Response to treatment of a manic episode is dependent on several sociodemographic and clinical factors as reported by researchers from other countries. The prescription of mood stabilizers and/or antipsychotics for manic episode depends on these factors. There is a lack of availability of data from India on this topic. Hence, this study was planned to identify the predictors of pharmacological response. Materials and Methods: Forty-two patients with a diagnosis of bipolar affective disorder current episode manic were enrolled and assessed for sociodemographic variables and clinical variables such as age of onset, family history, comorbidities, index episode, and number of past episodes. They were divided into four groups depending on the treatment they were receiving, namely, lithium with an antipsychotic (n = 25), lithium with divalproex and an antipsychotic (n = 8), divalproex with an antipsychotic (n = 5), and the miscellaneous group (n = 4). The primary outcome measure was improvement in the Young Mania Rating Scale score and secondary outcome measure was duration of ward stay. Results: There was a significant improvement in all the treatment modalities and it was comparable. There was no significant impact of any sociodemographic or clinical variable on treatment outcome except that females had significantly better response than males. There was nearly significant shorter duration of hospitalization in the lithium and antipsychotics groups compared to divalproex group. Conclusion: All treatment modalities are equally efficacious in the management of manic episode in short term. However, lithium and antipsychotics tend to produce early response than divalproex. Other sociodemographic and clinical predictors were not significantly associated with response.
Immune checkpoint and inflammation as therapeutic targets in pancreatic carcinoma

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAC) is one of the most deadly malignant neoplasms, and the efficacy of conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy is far from satisfactory. Recent research studies have revealed that immunosuppression and inflammation are associated with oncogenesis, as well as tumor development, invasion, and metastasis in PAC. Thus, immunosuppression-related signaling, especially that involving immune checkpoint and inflammation, has emerged as novel treatment targets for PAC. However, PAC is an immune-resistant tumor, and it is still unclear whether immune checkpoint or anti-inflammation therapies would be an ideal strategy. In this article, we will review immune checkpoint and inflammation as potential targets, as well as clinical trials and the prospects for immunotherapy in PAC.
Blood flow restriction training in clinical musculoskeletal rehabilitation: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background and objective Low-load exercise training with blood flow restriction (BFR) can increase muscle strength and may offer an effective clinical musculoskeletal (MSK) rehabilitation tool. The aim of this review was to systematically analyse the evidence regarding the effectiveness of this novel training modality in clinical MSK rehabilitation. Design This is a systematic review and meta-analysis of peer-reviewed literature examining BFR training in clinical MSK rehabilitation (Research Registry; researchregistry91). Data sources A literature search was conducted across SPORTDiscus (EBSCO), PubMed and Science Direct databases, including the reference lists of relevant papers. Two independent reviewers extracted study characteristics and MSK and functional outcome measures. Study quality and reporting was assessed using the Tool for the assEssment of Study qualiTy and reporting in EXercise. Eligibility Search results were limited to exercise training studies investigating BFR training in clinical MSK rehabilitation, published in a scientific peer-reviewed journal in English. Results Twenty studies were eligible, including ACL reconstruction (n=3), knee osteoarthritis (n=3), older adults at risk of sarcopenia (n=13) and patients with sporadic inclusion body myositis (n=1). Analysis of pooled data indicated low-load BFR training had a moderate effect on increasing strength (Hedges’ g=0.523, 95% CI 0.263 to 0.784, p<0.001), but was less effective than heavy-load training (Hedges’ g=0.674, 95% CI 0.296 to 1.052, p<0.001). Conclusion Compared with low-load training, low-load BFR training is more effective, tolerable and therefore a potential clinical rehabilitation tool. There is a need for the development of an individualised approach to training prescription to minimise patient risk and increase effectiveness.
Transliteration of online handwritten phonetic Pitman's shorthand with the use of a Bayesian network

This paper presents a detailed view of a novel solution to the computer transcription of handwritten Pitman's shorthand as a means of rapid text entry (up to 100 words per minute) into today's handheld devices with the use of a Bayesian network representation. Detailed design considerations of Bayesian network based shorthand outline models, including hypothesis of missing vowel components occurring in speed writing and unclear thickness and length of electrical pen-strokes are presented, along with graphical examples. Although Pitman's shorthand is written phonetically, our outline models are also based on low-level geometric attributes rather than phonetic attributes with the intention of coping with the unique features of handwritten Pitman's shorthand. The experimental results indicate an average accuracy of 92.86%, which is a marked improvement over previous applications of the same framework.
Improving trust in cloud, enterprise, and mobile computing platforms

Trust plays a fundamental role in the adoption of technology by society. Potential consumers tend to avoid a particular technology whenever they feel suspicious about its ability to cope with their security demands. Such a loss of trust could occur in important computing platforms, namely cloud, enterprise, and mobile platforms. In this thesis, we aim to improve trust in these platforms by (i) enhancing their security mechanisms, and (ii) giving their users guarantees that these mechanisms are in place. To realize both these goals, we propose several novel systems. For cloud platforms, we present Excalibur, a system that enables building trusted cloud services. Such services give cloud customers the ability to process data privately in the cloud, and to attest that the respective data protection mechanisms are deployed. Attestation is made possible by the use of trusted computing hardware placed on the cloud nodes. For enterprise platforms, we propose an OS security model—the broker security model—aimed at providing information security against a negligent or malicious system administrator while letting him retain most of the flexibility to manage the OS. We demonstrate the effectiveness of this model by building BrokULOS, a proof-of-concept instantiation of this model for Linux. For mobile platforms, we present the Trusted Language Runtime (TLR), a software system for hosting mobile apps with stringent security needs (e.g., e-wallet). The TLR leverages ARM TrustZone technology to protect mobile apps from OS security breaches.
Interactive Evolution of Images

Systems of selection and variation by recombination and/or mutation can be used to evolve images for computer graphics and animation. Interactive evolution can be used to direct the development of favorite designs in various application areas. Examples of the application of evolutionary algorithms to two-dimensional (2-D) bitmap images and the methods for three-dimensional (3-D) voxel images are indicated. We show that artificial evolution can serve as a useful tool for achieving flexibility and complexity in image design with only a moderate amount of user-input and detailed knowledge.
Functional Plasticity in the Absence of Structural Change

This work presents a case of a young woman with apraxia and a severe body scheme disorder, 10 years after a childhood frontal and occipitoparietal brain injury. Despite specific limitations, she is independent in performing all activities of daily living. A battery of tests was administered to evaluate praxis and body representations. Specifically, the Hand Laterality Test was used to compare RS’s dynamic body representation to that of healthy controls (N = 14). Results demonstrated RS’s severe praxis impairment, and the Hand Laterality Test revealed deficits in accuracy and latency of motor imagery, suggesting a significant impairment in dynamic body representation. However, semantic and structural body representations were intact. These results, coupled with frequent use of verbalizations as a strategy, suggest a possible ventral compensatory mechanism (top-down processing) for dorsal stream deficits, which may explain RS’s remarkable recovery of activities of daily living. The link between praxis and dynamic body representation is discussed.
Pneumatic antishock garment inflation activates the human sympathetic nervous system by abdominal compression

• What is the central question of this study? What is the mechanism by which pneumatic antishock garments increase blood pressure? • What is the main finding and its importance? Direct recordings of sympathetic nerve activity revealed that pneumatic antishock garments activate a sympathetically mediated reflex increase in blood pressure by compressing the abdomen, but not the leg. This mechanism has never been shown previously.
Simultaneous measurement of pressure evolution of crystal structure and superconductivity in FeSe0.92 using designer diamonds

Simultaneous high-pressure X-ray diffraction and electrical resistance measurements have been carried out on a PbO-type α-FeSe0.92 compound to a pressure of 44 GPa and temperatures down to 4 K using designer diamond anvils at synchrotron source. At ambient temperature, a structural phase transition from a tetragonal (P4/nmm) phase to an orthorhombic (Pbnm) phase is observed at 11 GPa and the Pbnm phase persists up to 74 GPa. The superconducting transition temperature (TC) increases rapidly with pressure reaching a maximum of ∼28 K at ∼6 GPa and decreases at higher pressures, disappearing completely at 14.6 GPa. Simultaneous pressure-dependent X-ray diffraction and resistance measurements at low temperatures show superconductivity only in a low-pressure orthorhombic (Cmma) phase of the α-FeSe0.92. Upon increasing pressure at 10 K near TC, crystalline phases change from a mixture of orthorhombic (Cmma) and hexagonal (P63/mmc) phases to a high-pressure orthorhombic (Pbnm) phase near 6.4 GPa where TC is maximum.
CSL model checking of Deterministic and Stochastic Petri Nets

Deterministic and Stochastic Petri Nets (DSPNs) are widely used for modeling discrete-event systems where events may occur either without consuming time, after a deterministic time, or after an exponentially distributed time. The underlying process defined by DSPNs, under certain restrictions, corresponds to a class of Markov Regenerative Processes (MRGP). In this paper, we investigate the use of CSL (Continuous Stochastic Logic) to express probabilistic properties, such as time-bounded until and time-bounded next, at the DSPN level. The verification of such properties requires the solution of the steady-state and transient probabilities of the underlying MRGP. We also address a number of semantic issues regarding the application of CSL for MRGP and provide numerical model checking algorithms for this logic. A prototype model checker, based on SPNica, is also described.
TMEM16A and Myocardin Form a Positive Feedback Loop That Is Disrupted by KLF5 During Ang II–Induced Vascular Remodeling

The TMEM16A protein is an important component of Ca2+-dependent Cl− channels (CaCCs) in vascular smooth muscle cells. A recent study showed that TMEM16A inhibits angiotensin II–induced proliferation in rat basilar smooth muscle cells. However, whether and how TMEM16A is involved in vascular remodeling characterized by vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation remains largely unclear. In this study, luciferase reporter, Western blotting, and qRT-PCR assays were performed. The results suggested that myocardin promotes TMEM16A expression by forming a complex with serum response factor (SRF) on the TMEM16A promoter in human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs). In turn, upregulated TMEM16A promotes expression of myocardin and vascular smooth muscle cell marker genes, thus forming a positive feedback loop that induces cell differentiation and inhibits cell proliferation. Angiotensin II inhibits TMEM16A expression via Krüppel-like factor 5 (KLF5) in cultured HASMCs. Moreover, in vivo experiments show that infusion of angiotensin II into mice causes a marked reduction in TMEM16A expression and vascular remodeling, and angiotensin II–induced effects are largely reversed in KLF5 null (KLF5−/−) mice. KLF5 competes with SRF to interact with myocardin, thereby limiting myocardin binding to SRF and the synergistic activation of the TMEM16A promoter by myocardin and SRF. Our studies demonstrated that angiotensin II induces KLF5 expression and facilitates KLF5 association with myocardin to disrupt the myocardin–SRF complex, subsequently leading to inhibition of TMEM16A transcription. Blocking the positive feedback loop between myocardin and TMEM16A may be a novel therapeutic approach for vascular remodeling.
Expression of olfactomedin 4 and claudin‐18 in serrated neoplasia of the colorectum: a characteristic pattern is associated with sessile serrated lesion

Olfactomedin 4 is a useful marker for stem cells in the intestine and is an independent prognostic molecule for survival in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Claudin‐18, a component of tight junctions, correlates with poor survival in patients with CRC and is associated with the gastric phenotype. We investigated the possible usefulness of these molecules in serrated neoplasia of the colorectum.
Propensity score analysis of outcomes following minimal access versus conventional aortic valve replacement.

OBJECTIVES Minimal access aortic valve replacement has become routine in many institutions. Aim of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes between conventional and minimal access aortic valve replacement. METHODS We retrospectively analysed the data of 2103 patients who underwent primary, isolated aortic valve replacement (AVR) in our institution between January 2001 and May 2012 with a minimal access AVR (MAAVR) via the upper partial ministernotomy approach (n = 936) or conventional AVR (CAVR) via the full sternotomy approach (n = 1167). After propensity score matching considering potential confounders [age, sex (female), weight, height, preoperative serum creatinine level, previous myocardial infarction, LV-EF and aortic valve pathology (isolated AS)], 585 matched patients were included in each group. RESULTS Mean age (65 ± 10.5 vs 65.7 ± 11.5 years, P = 0.23), gender (females 37.2%, P = 0.9), aortic cross-clamp time (65.6 ± 18.4 vs 64.3 ± 19.8 min, P = 0.25) and postoperative blood loss [median (IQR) 400 (224-683) vs 400 (250-610) ml, P = 0.83) were similar in MAAVR and CAVR group. Thirty-day mortality was also not significantly different (1.5 vs 1.7%, P = 0.74, respectively). In contrast, CPB times were significantly longer in MAAVR (93.5 ± 25 vs 88 ± 28 min, P < 0.001). Intraoperative and postoperative autologous blood transfusions were significantly lower in MAAVR (927.2 ± 425.6 vs 1036.4 ± 599.6 ml, P < 0.001 and 170.2 ± 47.6 vs 243.5 ± 89.3 ml, P < 0.001, respectively). Intubation time was significantly shorter in MAAVR [median (IQR) 7 (5-11) vs 8 (6-14) h, P = 0.01). The incidence of renal insufficiency (creatinine ≥1.5 mg/dl) and respiratory insufficiency (need for non-invasive ventilation, reintubation or tracheotomy) was significantly lower in MAAVR (9 vs 16%, P < 0.001 and 8.5 vs 11.8%, P = 0.03, respectively). CONCLUSIONS In comparison with CAVR, our study shows that MAAVR is a safe and effective procedure associated with low mortality rate and good long-term survival rates. In addition to that, MAAVR was associated with shorter ventilation times, lower rate of autologous blood transfusion, as well as a lower rate of postoperative respiratory and renal insufficiency. Because of the superior cosmetic results, we therefore advocate MAAVR as the procedure of choice for primary isolated AVR.
Androgens and the molecular epidemiology of prostate cancer

Purpose of reviewDespite clinical and experimental evidence that show androgens are important in prostate carcinogenesis, epidemiologic studies of serum androgens have been inconclusive. In this review, we summarize the current state of the literature and provide insights and direction for epidemiologic research on androgens and prostate cancer. Recent findingsTo date, data on serum androgens in prostate cancer remain inconclusive. Large studies on variants in some androgen-metabolizing genes [SRD5A2, CYP17A1, and hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD)17B1] do not show a convincing links to prostate cancer, though there are insufficient data to draw conclusions on other genes related to androgen metabolism, including UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGT), sulfotransferases (SULT), CYP3A, and estrogen-related genes. There is some evidence, although controversial, suggesting that select variants may confer risk to certain subtypes of prostate cancer. The most notable finding in 2007 is the highly reproducible link between the chromosome 8q24 risk region and prostate cancer susceptibility. SummaryBesides the link between the 8q24 region and prostate cancer risk, population studies do not convincingly show that polymorphisms in androgen metabolism genes are associated with prostate cancer risk. Large epidemiologic studies with comprehensive gene coverage and reliable exposure data are needed to clarify further the role of androgens and their related genes in prostate cancer.
Baseline Characteristics of College Freshmen Enrolled in an Alcohol Intervention Program

&NA; This study is a baseline analysis of the demographic and behavioral characteristics of freshmen students recruited to enter a longitudinal multi‐component intervention program based on the Brief Alcohol Screening, and Intervention for College Students (BASICS) program. The aim of the study was to determine the associations among the participants' gender, ethnicity, age, drinking, psychological problems, sexual contacts, and illegal substance use. Freshmen participants (n = 186) were between the ages of 18 and 20 with a mean age of 18.51 ± 0.62, and 37.6% of the participants were males. Three surveys were administered at baseline: the Daily Drinking Questionnaire (DDQ; Collins, Parks, & Marlatt, 1985); Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index (RAPI; White & Labouvie, 1989), Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA; Office of Management and Budget [OMB], 1993), Client Outcome Measures for Discretionary Programs and Best Practices grantees. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the behavioral characteristics. During past 30 days participants on average consumed alcohol on 7.3 ± 5.2 days, used illegal substances 3.0 ± 7.2 days and had 5.3 ± 7.0 sexual contacts and less 2.1 ± 4.6 unprotected sexual contacts (USC). Results of this baseline analysis demonstrate the diversity of the program participant demographic characteristics and behavioral patterns. This study contributes valuable implications for the design of interventions programs to address high‐risk behaviors among freshmen college students.