Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of an internet diabetes self-management training program for adolescents and young adults.

BACKGROUND There are inadequate information and support resources available for adolescents and young adults with diabetes. This article describes the pilot phase of an Internet program to assist these individuals who are transitioning to adult-centered medical care. METHODS We developed an online program consisting of background information on diabetes, goal-setting exercises with individualized feedback, role-playing, group discussions, empowerment activities, and communication skills training designed to improve interactions with health professionals. We provided low-income participants enrolled in the study with recycled desktop computers and dial-up Internet service. They also received encouragement and computer use reminders from a diabetes educator. During a 6-month intervention period, we monitored participant utilization of the Internet program. RESULTS We recruited a convenience sample of 19 young adults with diabetes from the Chicago Childhood Diabetes Registry, as well as from two inner-city clinics. Participants accessed the program 4,445 times, with the discussion board receiving the greatest activity (2,256 total posted and read messages). Participants used the program most frequently at night, with an overall gradual decline in computer use over the 6-month period. To help maintain utilization, the diabetes educator placed a total of 439 telephone calls over 6 months (15-38 calls per participant). CONCLUSIONS The study demonstrated feasibility of using an Internet program to meet the informational and social needs of adolescents and young adults with diabetes. Participant involvement relied heavily upon reminders and encouragement from a diabetes educator and immediate family members.
Adaptive control of a class of nonlinear systems with fuzzy logic

An adaptive tracking control architecture is proposed for a class of continuous-time nonlinear dynamic systems, for which an explicit linear parameterization of the uncertainty in the dynamics is either unknown or impossible. The architecture employs fuzzy systems, which are expressed as a series expansion of basis functions, to adaptively compensate for the plant nonlinearities. Global asymptotic stability of the algorithm is established in the Lyapunov sense, with tracking errors converging to a neighborhood of zero. Simulation results for an unstable nonlinear plant are included to demonstrate that incorporating the linguistic fuzzy information from human experts results in superior tracking performance. <<ETX>>
Improved Classification of Lung Cancer Using Radial Basis Function Neural Network with Affine Transforms of Voss Representation

Lung cancer is one of the diseases responsible for a large number of cancer related death cases worldwide. The recommended standard for screening and early detection of lung cancer is the low dose computed tomography. However, many patients diagnosed die within one year, which makes it essential to find alternative approaches for screening and early detection of lung cancer. We present computational methods that can be implemented in a functional multi-genomic system for classification, screening and early detection of lung cancer victims. Samples of top ten biomarker genes previously reported to have the highest frequency of lung cancer mutations and sequences of normal biomarker genes were respectively collected from the COSMIC and NCBI databases to validate the computational methods. Experiments were performed based on the combinations of Z-curve and tetrahedron affine transforms, Histogram of Oriented Gradient (HOG), Multilayer perceptron and Gaussian Radial Basis Function (RBF) neural networks to obtain an appropriate combination of computational methods to achieve improved classification of lung cancer biomarker genes. Results show that a combination of affine transforms of Voss representation, HOG genomic features and Gaussian RBF neural network perceptibly improves classification accuracy, specificity and sensitivity of lung cancer biomarker genes as well as achieving low mean square error.
Targeting Bone Metabolism in Patients with Advanced Prostate Cancer: Current Options and Controversies

Maintaining bone health remains a clinical challenge in patients with prostate cancer (PC) who are at risk of developing metastatic bone disease and increased bone loss due to hormone ablation therapy. In patients with cancer-treatment induced bone loss (CTIBL), antiresorptive agents have been shown to improve bone mineral density (BMD) and to reduce the risk of fractures. For patients with bone metastases, both zoledronic acid and denosumab delay skeletal related events (SREs) in the castration resistant stage of disease. Novel agents targeting the Wnt inhibitors dickkopf-1 and sclerostin are currently under investigation for the treatment of osteoporosis and malignant bone disease. New antineoplastic drugs such as abiraterone, enzalutamide, and Radium-223 are capable of further delaying SREs in patients with advanced PC. The benefit of antiresorptive treatment for patients with castration sensitive PC appears to be limited. Recent trials on the use of zoledronic acid for the prevention of bone metastases failed to be successful, whereas denosumab delayed the occurrence of bone metastases by a median of 4.1 months. Currently, the use of antiresorptive drugs to prevent bone metastases still remains a field of controversies and further trials are needed to identify patient subgroups that may profit from early therapy.
An object-oriented architecture supporting Web application testing

The flexibility and rich application frameworks of the Web model make Web applications more prevalent in both Internet and intranet environments. Programmers enjoy various Web application frameworks with support ranging from simple user interactions based on the plain client-server model, to complicated distributed-object computations based on CORBA. The variety gives users the flexibility to decide a proper framework, and leads to demands for new support tools and a testing framework to test and maintain Web applications. This paper presents an architecture containing several supporting tools which enhance traditional software testing architecture to fit common Web application frameworks. The architecture suits current Web models and reuses several software patterns and architectures from traditional testing environments. In addition, a prototype Web application testing environment is constructed for demonstration.
ANonce encryption in 802.11i 4-way handshake protocol

802.11i is the latest security standard for wireless LAN (WLAN). It provides data confidentiality and integrity. The 802.11i 4-way handshake and key management remains secure against any attack which could compromise the key. However, availability protection is still an issue as 802.11i is subjected to denial of service attacks. Since Message 1 in the 4-way handshake is not protected by any mechanism, forging these messages is possible. This paper presents a light and simple implementation to deter DoS attacks against the 4-way handshake protocol.
An Analysis of Direct Reinforcement Learning in Non-Markovian Domains

It is well known that for Markov decision processes, the policies stable under policy iteration and the standard reinforcement learning methods are exactly the optimal policies. In this paper, we investigate the conditions for policy stability in the more general situation when the Markov property cannot be assumed. We show that for a general class of non-Markov decision processes, if actual return (Monte Carlo) credit assignment is used with undiscounted returns, we are still guaranteed the optimal observation-based policies will be equilibrium points in the policy space when using the standard “direct” reinforcement learning approaches. However, if either discounted rewards, or a temporal differences style of credit assignment method is used, this is not the case.
John von Neumann Institute for Computing A Load Balancing Framework in Multithreaded Tomographic Reconstruction

c © 2007 by John von Neumann Institute for Computing Permission to make digital or hard copies of portions of this work for personal or classroom use is granted provided that the copies are not made or distributed for profit or commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and the full citation on the first page. To copy otherwise requires prior specific permission by the publisher mentioned above.
Finding the epipole from uncalibrated optical flow

This paper presents a novel method for determining the location of the instantaneous epipole in a sequence of images acquired by an uncalibrated camera and containing a single, rigid motion (e.g., the camera moves in a static environment). The method uses the full perspective camera model and requires the estimation of the optical flow at a minimum of six image locations. The key observation is that the optical flow equations can be written in terms of the epipole in a strikingly simple form if the translational and rotational flow components are not separated as done usually. The epipole location can then be obtained as the minimum of a least-square residual function associated to the computed optical flow. We report and discuss initial experiments on both synthetic and real data and illustrate possible developments of this method towards the use of uncalibrated optical flow for 3-D motion and structure reconstruction.
Performance of cryptococcus antigen latex agglutination kits on serum and cerebrospinal fluid specimens of AIDS patients before and after pronase treatment

Cryptococcal antigen titers in 97 serum and 42 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens from 37 AIDS patients with culture-proven cryptococcal infection were determined with the Meridian kit (Meridian Diagnostics Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio) before and after treatment with pronase. The geometric mean titers before and after pronase treatment were 1:45 and 1:588 in serum and 1:97 and 1:79 in CSF, respectively. Only on serum (but not CSF) specimens after pronase treatment were (i) titers increased by 2 to 13 dilutions on 57% of the specimens, all of which had titers of less than or equal to 1:128 before pronase treatment, (ii) false-negative reactions on 27% of specimens before pronase treatment eliminated, all of which had titers from 1:4 to 1:4,096, (iii) prozone-like reactions (titer, less than or equal to 1:256) on 9% of the specimens before pronase treatment eliminated, and (iv) agglutination reactions on all specimens stronger and easier to interpret. Antifungal agents added to serum as well as freeze-thaw cycles did not change antigen titers in serum. After two separate tests, the same titers were obtained on 94% of 35 serum specimens that were treated with pronase and on 96% of 53 CSF specimens that were not treated with pronase. A total of 26 serum specimens and 28 CSF specimens from patients with no cryptococcal disease were negative before and after pronase treatment. The IBL kit (International Biological Labs Inc., Cranbury, N.J.) was compared with the Meridian kit on 41 serum specimens and 14 CSF specimens. Results from the two kits agreed on 54 and 68% of serum specimens and 86 and 93% of CSF specimens before and after pronase treatment, respectively. The IBL kit generally produced higher titers on specimens in disagreement and produced no prozone-like reactions. Routine pronase treatment of serum is recommended with the Meridian kit in order to eliminate false-negative and unclear agglutination reactions by producing a consistent interpretation of agglutination reactions. CSF specimens do not require pronase treatment. Titer results produced by the kits from the two different manufacturers varied considerably: the kits should not be used interchangeably for determining antigen titers in serum specimens.
Evidence that coated vesicles transport acetylcholine receptors to the surface membrane of chick myotubes

Coated vesicles are present in the myoplasm of embryonic chick myotubes grown in vitro. They are most numerous beneath regions of the surface membrane that contain a high density of acetylcholine receptors (AChR). Prolonged exposure of myotubes to saline extract of chick brain increases the number of intracellular AChR and the number of coated vesicles. This suggests that coated vesicles contain AChR, and this hypothesis was tested with horseradish peroxidase-alpha-bungarotoxin (HRP-alpha BTX) conjugates. The conjugates enter saponin-permeabilized cells and, as judged by the inhibition of [125I] alpha BTX binding, they label the entire intracellular AChR pool. Approximately 50% of the coated vesicles contained HRP-alpha BTX reaction product. In addition, reaction product was detected in Golgi cisternae and along membranes that bound a subsurface tubulovesicular network. The majority of labeled vesicles are probably involved in exocytosis rather than endocytosis of AChR because very few coated vesicles were labeled when HRP-alpha BTX was added to the medium bathing intact cells. Moreover, inhibition of protein synthesis with puromycin resulted in a large decrease in the number of labeled vesicles. These results suggest that a subpopulation of coated vesicles ferry newly synthesized AChR to the cell surface.
Susceptibility-Weighted Angiography of Intracranial Blood Products and Calcifications Compared to Gradient Echo Sequence

This study evaluated the sensitivity of susceptibility-weighted angiography (SWAN) compared with gradient echo (GRE) sequence in the depiction of haemorrhagic and calcium lesions by virtue of correlation analysis between the number, area and contrast index. The study included 21 patients (15 women, 6 men; age range 18 to 80 years) in whom intracranial haemorrhage or calcifications were previously diagnosed with CT and/or MR. GRE and SWAN sequences were performed as part of a conventional Brain MR study using a 3T scanner. Pathologic findings were: cavernoma (n=8), chronic intraparenchymal haemorrhage (n=5), petechial bleeding (n=3), parenchymal calcifications (n=2), sequelae of haemorrhagic contusion focus (n=1), post-surgical glioma (n=1) and venous angioma (n=1). In eight patients, more lesions were found in the SWAN sequence than in GRE. In the measurement of the largest area, in all cases the measured area was larger in the SWAN sequence than in GRE. The SWAN sequence was reported to have shown higher contrast between the lesion and the healthy white matter than in GRE. The SWAN sequence is more sensitive than GRE in the identification of cerebral haemorrhage and calcifications. The SWAN sequence also obtained significantly larger images than with GRE, and a higher contrast difference between the lesion and the healthy parenchyma.
Documentation on Medicinal Plants Sold in Markets in Abeokuta, Nigeria

Purpose: To document the medicinal values, local names, method of preparation, dosage forms and parts of common medicinal plants sold in some markets in Abeokuta, Nigeria. Methods: Ethnobotanical data were collected by oral interview and with the aid of a structured questionnaire administered to men, women and young girls. The data from respondents from the five local markets surveyed were documented. Results: The results show that a total of 60 medicinal plant species are commonly used by the people of Abeokuta in their traditional health care system. Most of the plant materials were in dried form and sold singly or in combination with other plants and are used in the treatment of various ailments such as malaria, hypertension, typhoid, jaundice, hyperthermia, skin irritations, dysentery, anaemia, gonorrhea, cough, measles and fibroid. A majority of the plants were trees. The respondents were women (64.3 %), young girls (28.5 %) and men (7.14 %). Conclusion: The findings support the need to encourage domestication and cultivation of medicinal plants as well as put in place conservation measures to ensure sustainable source of medicinal plants. Keywords : Ethnomedicine; Medicinal plants cultivation; Documentation; Traditional medicine
Interconnections between Inflammatory and Immune Responses in Tissue Engineering

In a tissue-engineered device, implanted cells or proteins combined with a biomaterial can serve as a source of antigens such as foreign proteins secreted by the cells, including the therapeutic agent, cell surface molecules, or cell debris. It is hypothesized that the polymeric biomaterial, by promoting a nonspecific inflammatory reaction, recruiting antigen-presenting cells (APCs) [e.g., dendritic cells (DCs) or macrophages] and inducing their activation, may act as an adjuvant in the immune response to antigens originating from the device. An immune response to antigens originating from the device would sensitize the host to the transplanted cells or proteins and initiate a potentially humoral or molecular cytotoxic response around the implant to enhance an inflammatory tissue reaction. This could directly affect transplanted-cell viability and device function. Basic immunology studies are in progress using model antigens, polymers, and cell/polymer constructs to assess whether an enhanced immune response (humoral and cellular) is observed in vivo due to the presence of the biomaterial. The overall objective is to test the hypothesis that the biomaterial component of a tissue-engineered construct acts as an adjuvant to antigens released from the construct and decipher the mechanism. Understanding the interconnections between an inflammatory response to a material and an immune response toward associated antigens is pivotal to controlling and designing wellintegrated, physiologically functional devices. To model the response to shed cellular antigens from a tissue-engineered device, a simplified system is used in which a model antigen such as human α1-antitrypsin (AAT) or ovalbumin (OVA) is incorporated with polymeric vehicles used in tissue engineering (e.g., microparticles, scaffolds, encapsulated cells). The antigenspecific humoral response is determined as a function of time in mice following vehicle implantation and any enhancement, due to the presence of the biomaterial, is
MANAGEMENT OF AN ATYPICAL ANKLE SPRAIN PATIENT THROUGH HYPOTHETICO DEDUCTIVE REASONING MODEL OF CLINICAL REASONING IMPLEMENTED BY INTERNATIONAL CLASSIFICATION OF FUNCTIONING DISABILITY AND HEALTH A CASE STUDY

Background: Clinical reasoning is a process by which physiotherapists interacted with patients, their family and other health- care professionals. It is the thinking process that professionals tend to apply in clinical practice. Given that novice as well as expert practitioners prefer to go through some steps while they were dealing with unfamiliar cases. This process is known as hypothetico deductive reasoning. This reasoning approach involved the generation of hypothesis based on clinical data and knowledge and testing of hypothesis through further inquiry. We are expert in musculoskeletal physiotherapy treatment and favoring the atypical history of patient we went through step by step from assessment to dischargeMethods: A case based study through hypothetico deductive reasoning model of clinical reasoning. The objective of the study was to investigate the physiotherapy management strategies of an atypical ankle sprain patient through hypothetico deductive reasoning which comprised of cue acquisition, hypothesis generation, cue interpretation and hypothesis evaluation by implementing International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Results: The patient responded well to treatment as patient reported that 100% swelling decreased, could bear more weight (95%) on foot, decrease pain (1 cm on 10 cm VAS scale), improved muscle strength by manual muscle testing by grade V in ankle planter flexors (PF) as well as dorsiflexors (DF), invertors as well as evertors and the functional status of patient was improved by 80% according to lower extremity functional scale.Conclusion: Clinical reasoning is an important approach in physiotherapy. It helps the practitioners in decision making and choosing the best alternative options for the well being of patients. We think it is necessary for all practitioners to have sound propositional and non-propositional knowledge in order to provide effective management protocol for patients focusing ICF. Even though we have been treating patients with musculoskeletal problems on regular basis, the atypical pattern of this patient give us the impression not to use pattern recognition all time for all patients rather using hypothetico deductive reasoning (HDR) where appropriate.
Is Political Cognition Like Riding a Bicycle ?

Our understanding of political phenomena, including political attitudes and sophistication, can be enriched by incorporating the theories and tools of cognitive neuroscience— in particular, the cognitive neuroscience of nonconscious habitual cognition (akin to bicycle riding). From this perspective, different types of informational “building blocks” can be construed from which different types of political attitudes may arise. A reflectionreflexion model is presented that describes how these blocks combine to produce a given political attitude as a function of goals, primes, expertise, and inherent conflict in considerations relevant to the attitude. The ways in which neuroimaging methods can be used to test hypotheses of political cognition are reviewed.
Characterization and Solubilization of Kaurenoic Acid Hydroxylase from Gibberella fujikuroi

A key step in gibberellin biosynthesis is the conversion of ent-kaurenoic acid to ent-7[alpha]-hydroxykaurenoic acid, mediated by the enzyme kaurenoic acid hydroxylase. A cell-free system obtained from Gibberella fujikuroi (Saw.) Wr. was used to characterize kaurenoic acid hydroxylase activity. Microsomal preparations from disrupted fungal cells, in the presence of O2 and NADPH, converted [17–14C]ent-kaurenoic acid to oxidation products that were separated by high-performance liquid chromatography and identified as ent-7[alpha]-hydroxykaurenoic acid and gibberellin A14 by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Flavin adenine dinucleotide and the chloride salts of several monovalent cations stimulated the conversion of ent-kaurenoic acid to these products, whereas CO and a number of known inhibitors of cytochrome P-450-dependent reactions, including paclobutrazol, tetcyclacis, BAS 111.W, flurprimidol, triarimol, metyrapone, and 1-phenylimida-zole, significantly reduced kaurenoic acid hydroxylase activity. Kaurenoic acid hydroxylase was solubilized from fungal microsomes by treatment with 1 M KCl. The properties of the enzyme noted above suggest that kaurenoic acid hydroxylase from G. fujikuroi is a cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenase.
Interventional Radiology: Indications And Best Practices

Volume 99, Number 9 www.aafp. org/afp American Family Physician 547 Interventional radiology employs image-guided techniques to perform minimally invasive procedures, providing lower-risk alternatives to many traditional medical and surgical therapies. Since the advent of interventional radiology in the 1960s, its role has expanded to encompass the diagnosis and treatment of diseases across multiple body systems.1 The treatments discussed in this article represent a sample of what interventional radiology can offer to family physicians. Guidelines regarding procedural bleeding risks and recommended anticoagulation management are shown in Table 1.2,3
Random Cayley Digraphs and the Discrete Logarithm Extended

We formally show that there is an algorithm for dlog over all abelian groups that runs in expected optimal time (up to logarithmic factors) and uses only a small amount of space. To our knowledge, this is the first such analysis. Our algorithm is a modification of the classic Pollard rho, introducing explicit randomization of the parameters for the updating steps of the algorithm, and is analyzed using random walks with limited independence over abelian groups (a study which is of its own interest). Our analysis shows that finding cycles in such large graphs over groups that can be efficiently locally navigated is as hard as dlog.