Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fluoxetine for bulimia nervosa following poor response to psychotherapy.

OBJECTIVE This was an investigation of whether treatment with fluoxetine is useful for individuals with bulimia nervosa who do not respond to psychotherapy or relapse afterward. METHOD Twenty-two patients with bulimia nervosa who had not responded to, or had relapsed following, a course of cognitive behavior therapy or interpersonal psychotherapy were randomly assigned to receive placebo (N=9) or fluoxetine (60 mg/day, N=13) for 8 weeks. RESULTS The median frequency of binge eating in the previous 28 days declined from 22 to four episodes in the fluoxetine group but increased from 15 to 18 episodes in the placebo group. Similarly, purging frequency in the previous 28 days declined from 30 to six episodes in the fluoxetine group but increased from 15 to 38 episodes in the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS Fluoxetine may be a useful intervention for patients with bulimia nervosa who have not responded adequately to psychological treatment.
Formation of Atroviridin by Hypocrea atroviridis Is Conidiation Associated and Positively Regulated by Blue Light and the G Protein GNA3

ABSTRACT Species of the mycoparasitic fungal genus Hypocrea/Trichoderma are prominent producers of peptaibols, a class of small linear peptides of fungal origin. Some of these peptaibols have been shown to act synergistically with cell-wall-degrading enzymes in the inhibition of the growth of other fungi in vitro and in vivo. Here we present the structure of the Hypocrea atroviridis peptaibol synthetase gene (pbs1), deduced from the genome sequence of H. atroviridis. It consists of 19 typical peptide synthetase modules with the required additional modifying domains at the N and C termini. Phylogenetic and similarity analyses of the individual amino acid-activating modules is consistent with its ability to synthesize atroviridins. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry of surface-grown cultures of H. atroviridis showed that no peptaibols were formed during vegetative growth, but a microheterogenous mixture of atroviridins accumulated when the colonies started to sporulate. This correlation between sporulation and atroviridin formation was shown to be independent of the pathway inducing sporulation (i.e., light, mechanical injury and carbon starvation, respectively). Atroviridin formation was dependent on the function of the two blue light regulators, BLR1 and BLR2, under some but not all conditions of sporulation and was repressed in a pkr1 (regulatory subunit of protein kinase A) antisense strain with constitutively active protein kinase A. Conversely, however, loss of function of the Gα-protein GNA3, which is a negative regulator of sporulation and leads to a hypersporulating phenotype, fully impairs atroviridin formation. Our data show that formation of atroviridin by H. atroviridis occurs in a sporulation-associated manner but is uncoupled from it at the stage of GNA3.
Multimedia database retrieval using hand-drawn sketches

We propose an integrated approach to color and shape based retrieval which enables the user to search a color image database intuitively by presenting simple sketches. Each of the images is represented by a Hidden Markov Model (HMM) which has been concatenated with modified filler models in order to obtain scale and rotation invariance properties. These properties are particularly important when using query by sketch due to the skew which occurs naturally in human handwriting and in drawings. The use of streams (sets of features that are assumed to be statistically independent) within the HMM framework allows the integration of shape and color derived features into a single model, thereby allowing one to control the influence of the different streams via stream weights. The approach has been evaluated on a color image database containing 120 different isolated objects with arbitrary orientation and showed good retrieval results with several users. Furthermore, the use of HMMs allows efficient pruning and thus a fast retrieval even with large databases.
Enzyme-enzyme interactions and control analysis. 1. The case of non-additivity: monomer-oligomer associations.

Two usual assumptions of the treatment of metabolism are: (a) the rates of isolated enzyme reactions are additive, i.e., that rate is proportional to enzyme concentration; (b) in a system, the rates of individual enzyme reactions are not influenced by interactions with other enzymes, i.e. that they are acting independently, except by being coupled through shared metabolites. On this basis, control analysis has established theorems and experimental methods for studying the distribution of control. These assumptions are not universally true and it is shown that the theorems can be modified to take account of such deviations. This is achieved by defining additional elasticity coefficients, designated by the symbol pi, which quantify the effects of homologous and heterologous enzyme interactions. Here we show that for the case of non-proportionality of rate with enzyme concentration, (pi ii not equal to 1), the summation theorems are given by (Formula: see text). The example of monomer-oligomer equilibria is used to illustrate non-additive behaviour and experimental methods for their study are suggested.
Robust Sliding Mode Closed-loop Glucose Control with Meal Compensation in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract This work addresses the design of a robust closed-loop plasma glucose controller for Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus patients. The feedback controller is based on Sliding Mode Control (SMC) while robust feedforward boluses to compensate food intake are calculated in a robust way by means of an interval glucose predictor that minimizes the risk of hypoglycaemia. The designed controller has been validated in a virtual environment following standard protocols. The resulting control algorithm shows a considerable robustness regarding intra-patient variability in insulin sensitivity as well as an enhanced ability to handle disturbance rejection. The International Diabetes Federation guidelines for glycaemia targets in Diabetes Mellitus are fulfilled by the designed control strategy.
Fully Bayesian Unsupervised Disease Progression Modeling

We present a practical implementation of a fully unsupervised disease progression model [10]. The implementation utilizes all new components we developed for generic use in Bayesian disease progression modeling. It improves upon [10] by providing a more informative fully Bayesian approach and a faster inference algorithm. The implementation is completely built on the pyMC3 open-source library making it easy to extend the model and apply to new settings. 1 Disease Progression Models Traditionally, disease severity and progression have been assessed manually by physicians using guidelines such as the GOLD criteria for COPD [6]. These guidelines are typically based on rules applied to the patient’s biomarkers, demographics, and other data easily extracted from health records. The sub-area of machine learning called disease progression modeling (DPM) focuses on automating this process [5]. Automation leads to more accurate diagnoses and optimal treatment paths which can literally be the difference between life and death as in the case of coagulopathy patients [9]. More broadly, we expect that algorithms that learn disease progression models from electronic health records will lead to new insights on the progression of rare and difficult to stage chronic diseases, guiding both clinical practice and medical research. 2 Bayesian Models and pyMC3 Bayesian networks provide a natural framework for modeling disease progression. They allow for the flexible modeling of “hidden states” which often arise in medical scenarios where measurements are simply proxies for variables of interest. Furthermore, Bayesian posteriors provide a full description of parameters of interest as oppose to point estimates and simple confidence intervals. Several examples of Bayesian network models for disease progression exist in the literature [1, 2, 4, 7, 10]. pyMC3 is a Python module that provides a unified and comprehensive framework for fitting Bayesian models using MCMC [8]. pyMC3’s key strength is its modularity and extensibility: ran∗Research performed while interning at Evidation Health
Intonational phonology and politeness in L1 and L2 Spanish

Abstract This study makes a foray into the politeness strategies used by English learners of Spanish by comparing a corpus of invitations and requests recorded by 14 adult English learners of beginner-level Spanish as part of their course assignment to the data recorded by 12 native speakers. The native speakers’ data was collected using discourse completion tests, which elicited offers and requests in scenarios controlled for social distance, power, and the cost of the request or offer. All the data was analysed pragmatically, by quantifying the occurrence of politeness strategies, and phonologically, by transcribing pitch accents and boundary tones in line with the guidelines of the Autosegmental Metrical framework. The results show that, depending on the situation, native speakers combine the use of different lexical and morpho-syntactic devices with the use of specific intonational patterns. Most learners at beginner level correctly use a limited range of morpho-syntactic politeness strategies appropriate to their level, and these are frequently reinforced with intonation. However, our data also show that beginner learners often transfer the intonational patterns of their first language.
Interleukin-1 beta mRNA expression in ischemic rat cortex.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Interleukin-1 beta is a proinflammatory cytokine produced by blood-borne and resident brain inflammatory cells. The present study was conducted to determine if interleukin-1 beta mRNA was produced in the brain of rats subjected to permanent focal ischemia. METHODS Rat interleukin-1 beta cDNA, synthesized from stimulated rat peritoneal macrophage RNA by reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction and cloned in plasmid Bluescript KS+, was used to evaluate the expression of interleukin-1 beta mRNA in cerebral cortex from spontaneously hypertensive rats and normotensive rats subjected to permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion. Interleukin-1 beta mRNA was quantified by Northern blot analysis and compared with rat macrophage RNA standard. To correct for gel loading, blots were also analyzed with cyclophilin cDNA, which encodes an abundant, conserved protein that was unchanged by the experimental conditions. RESULTS Interleukin-1 beta mRNA produced in the ischemic zone was significantly increased from 6 hours to 120 hours, with a maximum of 211 +/- 24% of interleukin-1 beta reference standard, ie, 0.2 ng stimulated rat macrophage RNA, mRNA compared with the level in nonischemic cortices (4 +/- 2%) at 12 hours after ischemia (P < .01; n = 6). Interleukin-1 beta mRNA at 12 hours after ischemia was markedly elevated in hypertensive rats over levels found in two normotensive rat strains. Neurological deficits were also apparent only in the hypertensive rats. CONCLUSIONS Brain interleukin-1 beta mRNA is elevated acutely after permanent focal ischemia and especially in hypertensive rats. These data suggest that this potent proinflammatory and procoagulant cytokine might have a role in brain damage following ischemia.
Prenatal administration of progesterone for preventing preterm birth.

BACKGROUND Preterm birth is the major complication of pregnancy associated with perinatal mortality and morbidity and occurs in up to 6% to 10% of all births. Administration of progesterone for the prevention of preterm labour has been advocated. OBJECTIVES To assess the benefits and harms of progesterone administration during pregnancy in the prevention of preterm birth. SEARCH STRATEGY We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Specialised Register of Controlled Trials (March 2005), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (The Cochrane Library, Issue 3, 2004), MEDLINE (1965 to January 2005), EMBASE (1988 to August 2004), and Current Contents (1997 to August 2004). SELECTION CRITERIA All published and unpublished randomised controlled trials, in which progesterone was given by any route for preventing preterm birth. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Standard methods of the Cochrane Collaboration and the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group were used. Evaluation of methodological quality and trial data extraction were undertaken independently by two authors. Results are presented using relative risk with 95% confidence intervals. MAIN RESULTS For all women administered progesterone, there was a reduction in the risk of preterm birth less than 37 weeks (six studies, 988 participants, relative risk (RR) 0.65, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.54 to 0.79) and preterm birth less than 34 weeks (one study, 142 participants, RR 0.15, 95% CI 0.04 to 0.64). Infants born to mothers administered progesterone were less likely to have birthweight less than 2500 grams (four studies, 763 infants, RR 0.63, 95% CI 0.49 to 0.81) or intraventricular haemorrhage (one study, 458 infants, RR 0.25, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.82). There was no difference in perinatal death between women administered progesterone and those administered placebo (five studies, 921 participants, RR 0.66, 95% CI 0.37 to 1.19). There were no other differences reported for maternal or neonatal outcomes. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Intramuscular progesterone is associated with a reduction in the risk of preterm birth less than 37 weeks' gestation, and infant birthweight less than 2500 grams. However, other important maternal and infant outcomes have been poorly reported to date, with most outcomes reported from a single trial only (Meis 2003). It is unclear if the prolongation of gestation translates into improved maternal and longer-term infant health outcomes. Similarly, information regarding the potential harms of progesterone therapy to prevent preterm birth is limited. Further information is required about the use of vaginal progesterone in the prevention of preterm birth.
A radiation hybrid breakpoint map of the acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and limb-girdle muscular dystrophy 1A (LGMD1A) regions of chromosome 5q31 localizing 122 expressed sequences.

We have constructed a high-resolution map of a 6-Mb interval of human chromosome 5, band q31, incorporating 175 sequence tagged sites, of which 33 are genetic polymorphisms and 122 are nonredundant expressed sequences. The map was assembled initially as a YAC contig, incorporating data from radiation hybrid maps. To improve resolution and to identify errors in the databases, a radiation hybrid breakpoint map was developed for the interval, which included hybrids from both Stanford G3 and GeneBridge 4 panels. This novel approach facilitated the integration of one RH panel with another and enabled the identification and localization of new, previously unmapped ESTs from the radiation hybrid databases. ESTs were assembled into overlapping transcription units and ordered with respect to polymorphic markers in the region, resulting in a comprehensive map that incorporates markers from multiple different types of maps. This map of 5q31 will facilitate gene discovery efforts for several disorders, including limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 1A and the genes deleted in acute myeloid leukemias and myelodysplasia. The study demonstrates the utility of a radiation hybrid breakpoint panel for correction of map errors and for the efficient identification of new transcript units in a large genomic interval.
Rate Adaptation and Reach Increase by Probabilistically Shaped 64-QAM: An Experimental Demonstration

A transmission system with adjustable data rate for single-carrier coherent optical transmission is proposed, which enables high-speed transmission close to the Shannon limit. The proposed system is based on probabilistically shaped 64-QAM modulation formats. Adjustable shaping is combined with a fixed-QAM modulation and a fixed forward-error correction code to realize a system with adjustable net data rate that can operate over a large reach range. At the transmitter, an adjustable distribution matcher performs the shaping. At the receiver, an inverse distribution matcher is used. Probabilistic shaping is implemented into a coherent optical transmission system for 64-QAM at 32 Gbaud to realize adjustable operation modes for net data rates ranging from 200 to 300 Gb/s. It is experimentally demonstrated that the optical transmission of probabilistically shaped 64-QAM signals outperforms the transmission reach of regular 16-QAM and regular 64-QAM signals by more than 40% in the transmission reach.
Insulation systems available for PWM inverter fed motors for low voltage pulp and paper applications

This paper focuses specifically on integral horsepower AC induction motors used in the pulp and paper industry. An analysis of the various winding stresses is presented. The different requirements for the two insulation systems are discussed (MG1-Parts 30 and 31 for General Purpose and Definite Purpose Inverter Fed Motors), and test results show the need for higher dielectric insulations when the voltage levels of Part 30 are exceeded. The differences between existing, rebuilt and new motors is also explored. To assist the reader with additional research an extensive reference section is provided.
Fine needle aspiration cytology features of poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma

Poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma (PDTC) is an uncommon thyroid malignancy with biological behaviour intermediate between well‐differentiated and undifferentiated thyroid carcinoma. The cytological diagnosis of PDTC is often difficult as a result of a lack of well‐established cytomorphological features and a considerable degree of morphological overlap with other commoner thyroid neoplasms.
Quantification of bone ingrowth into porous block hydroxyapatite in humans.

This study sought to quantify bone ingrowth from a single bone-implant surface into porous block hydroxyapatite used in maxillofacial applications. Seventeen maxillary hydroxyapatite implants (implant time of 4-138 months, 39-month mean) were harvested for analysis from 14 patients. The implants had been placed into the lateral maxillary wall during orthognathic surgery, juxtapositioned to the maxillary sinus. Ingrowth was measured in 100-microm increments from a bone-implant interface to a depth of 1500 microm. Bone ingrowth averaged over the 14 patients (0-1100 microm depth) is described by the equation % ingrowth - 20% * (depth in millimeters) + 41.25% (R2 = 0.98, n = 10 incremental depths). Beyond 1100 microm, the average ingrowth remained constant at 15.0 +/- 0.7%. The duration of implantation also showed as affect on the percent ingrowth into the implants at the incremental depths, and the percent ingrowth asymptotically approached a maximum. Overall, the composite average data from all depths is best described by the logarithmic function % ingrowth = 15% * ln(implantation time in months) - 24.0% (R2 = 0.71, n = 14 patients). Several factors may come into play in determining bone ingrowth including the mechanical environment, the osteoconductivity of the implant material, and the osteogenic capability of the tissues in the pore spaces. Measurements of bone ingrowth are most influenced by the depth into the implant and the time the implant was in the body; the age of the patient had little affect on bone ingrowth.
Prediction of ecological no‐effect concentrations for initial risk assessment: Combining substance‐specific data and database information

A new method is proposed to derive predicted no‐effect concentrations (PNECs) for initial risk assessments for aquatic ecosystems from a limited set of single‐species toxicity data. The method includes three steps. First, acute toxicity data are divided by an acute‐to‐chronic assessment factor to obtain chronic toxicity data. Subsequently, chronic toxicity data are averaged to obtain an average hazardous concentration (HC50). Finally, the HC50 is divided by an interspecies assessment factor to obtain a PNEC. Both assessment factors are derived as probability distributions from an extensive ecotoxicological database. The interspecies assessment factor is combined with substance‐specific toxicity data using Bayesian statistics. The proposed method optimizes the use of the available ecotoxicological information and it produces an uncertainty estimate of the PNEC. Sample calculations indicate that the proposed method may provide a good alternative for currently applied methods for initial risk assessment, particularly if few toxicity data are available.
MicroRNAs in the diagnosis and prognosis of lung cancer

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous, small non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression at the posttranscriptional level by blocking translation, or by inducing degradation, of messenger RNA targets. As a result, miRNAs have been found to regulate a wide spectrum of essential biological processes, including cell cycle progression, cell differentiation, development, apoptosis, and hematopoiesis, revealing one of the major regulating mechanisms of human gene expression. Furthermore, recent studies have shown that miRNAs are abnormally expressed in solid and hematological tumors, and are associated with oncogenic or tumor suppressor functions, suggesting a key role of miRNAs in carcinogenesis. Moreover, profiles of altered miRNA expression appear to be able to distinguish cancerous tissue from normal tissue, to predict disease outcome, and to evaluate tumor aggressiveness for several types of cancer, including lung cancer. Unique and highly stable miRNA expression profiles have also been found to be independent of patient age and race, thereby facilitating the potential application of miRNAs to disease diagnosis and prognosis. These findings are particularly promising for the overall treatment of lung cancer, a disease which is currently the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, and is associated with a poor survival rate despite the discovery of novel therapies. This review describes the potential for miRNAs to serve as biomarkers for the diagnosis, classification, and prognosis of lung cancer cases, and presents the approaches currently available to detect and quantify miRNAs. Evidence is also presented regarding the use of circulating miRNAs as potential biomarkers for lung cancer, along with a description of miRNA biogenesis, nomenclature, and available databases for miRNA sequences.