Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
NHash: Randomized N-Gram Hashing for Distributed Generation of Validatable Unique Study Identifiers in Multicenter Research

Background A unique study identifier serves as a key for linking research data about a study subject without revealing protected health information in the identifier. While sufficient for single-site and limited-scale studies, the use of common unique study identifiers has several drawbacks for large multicenter studies, where thousands of research participants may be recruited from multiple sites. An important property of study identifiers is error tolerance (or validatable), in that inadvertent editing mistakes during their transmission and use will most likely result in invalid study identifiers. Objective This paper introduces a novel method called "Randomized N-gram Hashing (NHash)," for generating unique study identifiers in a distributed and validatable fashion, in multicenter research. NHash has a unique set of properties: (1) it is a pseudonym serving the purpose of linking research data about a study participant for research purposes; (2) it can be generated automatically in a completely distributed fashion with virtually no risk for identifier collision; (3) it incorporates a set of cryptographic hash functions based on N-grams, with a combination of additional encryption techniques such as a shift cipher; (d) it is validatable (error tolerant) in the sense that inadvertent edit errors will mostly result in invalid identifiers. Methods NHash consists of 2 phases. First, an intermediate string using randomized N-gram hashing is generated. This string consists of a collection of N-gram hashes f 1, f 2, . , f k . The input for each function f i has 3 components: a random number r, an integer n, and input data m. The result, f i (r, n, m), is an n-gram of m with a starting position s, which is computed as (r mod |m|), where |m| represents the length of m. The output for Step 1 is the concatenation of the sequence f 1(r 1, n 1, m 1), f 2(r 2, n 2, m 2), . , f k (r k , n k , m k ). In the second phase, the intermediate string generated in Phase 1 is encrypted using techniques such as shift cipher. The result of the encryption, concatenated with the random number r, is the final NHash study identifier. Results We performed experiments using a large synthesized dataset comparing NHash with random strings, and demonstrated neglegible probability for collision. We implemented NHash for the Center for SUDEP Research (CSR), a National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke-funded Center Without Walls for Collaborative Research in the Epilepsies. This multicenter collaboration involves 14 institutions across the United States and Europe, bringing together extensive and diverse expertise to understand sudden unexpected death in epilepsy patients (SUDEP). Conclusions The CSR Data Repository has successfully used NHash to link deidentified multimodal clinical data collected in participating CSR institutions, meeting all desired objectives of NHash.
Health outcomes after external-beam radiation therapy for clinically localized prostate cancer: results from the Prostate Cancer Outcomes Study.

PURPOSE Studies reporting effects of radiotherapy for prostate cancer on sexual, bowel, and urinary function have been conducted primarily in referral centers or academic institutions. Effects of external-beam radiotherapy for prostate cancer among a population-based cohort were assessed. PATIENTS AND METHODS The study population included 497 white, Hispanic, and African-American men with localized prostate cancer from six US cancer registries who were diagnosed between October 1, 1994, and October 31, 1995, and treated initially with external-beam radiotherapy. They were interviewed at regular intervals, and medical records were reviewed. Distributions of responses for bowel-, urinary-, and sexual-related functions at 6, 12, and 24 months after diagnosis and adjusted mean composite change scores for each domain were analyzed. RESULTS Declines of 28.9% in the sexual function score and 5.4% in the bowel function score occurred by 24 months, whereas at this time, the urinary function score was relatively unchanged. A total of 43% of those who were potent before diagnosis became impotent after 24 months. More than two thirds of the men were satisfied with their treatment and would make the same decision again. CONCLUSION Sexual function was the most adversely affected quality-of-life domain, with problems continuing to increase between 12 and 24 months. Bowel function problems increased at 6 months, with partial resolution observed by 24 months. Despite the side effects, satisfaction with therapy was high. These results are representative of men in community practice settings and may be of assistance to men and to clinicians when making treatment decisions.
The Influence of Vaccine-critical Websites on Perceiving Vaccination Risks

This large-scale Internet-experiment tests whether vaccine-critical pages raise perceptions of the riskiness of vaccinations and alter vaccination intentions. We manipulated the information environment (vaccine-critical website, control, both) and the focus of search (on vaccination risks, omission risks, no focus). Our analyses reveal that accessing vaccine-critical websites for five to 10 minutes increases the perception of risk of vaccinating and decreases the perception of risk of omitting vaccinations as well as the intentions to vaccinate. In line with the ‘risk-as-feelings’ approach, the affect elicited by the vaccine-critical websites was positively related to changes in risk perception.
Classification of stevia sweeteners in soft drinks using liquid chromatography and time-of-flight mass spectrometry

The aim of this study was to develop a comprehensive analytical method for the characterisation of stevia sweeteners in soft drinks. By using LC and time-of-flight MS, we detected 30 steviol glycosides from nine stevia sweeteners. The mass spectral data of these compounds were applied to the analysis to determine steviol glycosides in nine soft drinks. On the basis of chromatographic data and principal-component analysis, these soft drinks were classified into three groups, and the soft drinks of each group, respectively, contained high-rebaudioside A extract, normal stevia extract or alfa-glucosyltransferase–treated stevia extract.
Erysipelothrix Rhusiopathiae: Genetic Characterization of Midwest US Isolates and Live Commercial Vaccines using Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis

This is the first report of molecular characterization of US erysipelas field isolates and vaccine strains of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Erysipelas in pigs is mainly caused by E. rhusiopathiae serotypes 1a, 1b, and 2. In 2001, erysipelas reemerged as a clinical problem in pigs in the midwestern United States. In this work 90 erysipelas isolates (58 recent and 28 archived field isolates as well as 4 live-vaccine strains) were genetically characterized. Because of the limited availability of antiserum, 74/90 isolates (44/58 recent isolates) were serotyped. The serotype of the majority (79.6%) of the 44 recent isolates tested was determined to be 1a, 13.6% were serotype 1b, and 6.8% of recent isolates were serologically untypeable. Among all 90 isolates, 23 different PFGE patterns were identified. There were 43 isolates identified as serotype 1a with 4 genetic patterns: 38/43, 1A(I); 3/43, 1A(III); 1/43, 1B(V); and 1/43, 3B. Sixteen serotype 1b isolates had 11 unique genetic patterns: 4/16 were genotype 1B(III), 2/16 were genotype 3A(I), and 1/16 was in genotype groups 1A(V), 1A(VI), 1A(VII), 1B(I), 1B(IV), 1B(VII), 2, 4, and 5. Six genetic patterns were distinguished among the 10 serotype 2 isolates: 1A(IV) (1/10), 1A(V) (1/10), 1B(VI) (1/10), 2 (4/10), 7 (1/10), and 8 (2/8). Erysipelas vaccine strains (modified live) were similar to each other but different from current field strains, sharing 78.6% identity with the most prevalent genotype 1A(I) based on the PFGE-SmaI pattern. Compared with serotyping, PFGE genotyping is a more distinguishing technique, easy to perform and not dependent on the limited availability of antiserum.
Bacterial response to the exposure of 50 Hz electromagnetic fields

To investigate the ability of prokaryotic microorganisms to activate strategies in adapting themselves to the environmental stress induced by exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF‐EMF), cultures of Escherichia coli ATCC 700926 exposed at 50 Hz EMF (0.1, 0.5, 1.0 mT), and the respective sham‐exposed controls were studied for: the total and culturable counts, the viability status, the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern, the morphological analysis, the genotypical and transcriptional profile. Exposed samples and controls displayed similar total and culturable counts, whereas an increased cell viability was observed in exposed samples re‐incubated for 24 h outside of the solenoid compared to the corresponding controls. An exposure to 50 Hz EMF of 20–120 min produced a significant change of E. coli morphotype with a presence of coccoid cells also aggregated in clusters after re‐incubation of 24 h outside of the solenoid. Atypical lengthened bacterial forms were also observed suggesting a probable alteration during cell division. No changes among DNA fingerprintings and some differences in RNA‐AFLP analysis were observed for each 50 Hz EMF intensities evaluated. Our results indicate that an exposure to 50 Hz EMF acts as a stressing factor on bacteria which can represent a suitable model to investigate acute and chronic effects related to ELF‐EMF exposure. Bioelectromagnetics 29:302–311, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
It and Business Process Outsourcing: The Knowledge Potential

Abstract Despite the widespread trends in IT and business process outsourcing, there has been too little focus on what happens to knowledge when an organization outsources. We present a framework for evaluating the knowledge potential within five different types of insourcing and outsourcing arrangements. A detailed example of an enterprise partnership relationship is described as a benchmark for how companies can leverage the knowledge potential from IT and BPO outsourcing.
Strain differences in angiotensin-converting enzyme and angiotensin II type I receptor expression. Possible implications for experimental chronic renal transplant failure

Background The Fisher to Lewis (F-L) model of renal transplantation (Rtx) is widely used. Rtx from F to L without immunosuppressive treatment results in 50% survival, whereas L to F results in survival rates similar to syngrafts. When treated with an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or antihypertensive triple therapy, renal damage is markedly reduced in F-L allografts. Despite similar reductions in blood pressure, the ACE inhibitor (ACE-I) is more effective than antihypertensive triple therapy, suggesting that the inhibition of intrarenal ACE plays an additional role in the attenuation of renal damage. Methods In the present study, we investigated strain-related differences in intrarenal ACE activity between F and L rats and whether treatment with ACE-I in F-L allografted rats results in reduction of intrarenal ACE. Intrarenal ACE was measured by activity assays, immunohistochemistry and PCR. Results In control kidneys from healthy F rats (n=8), we found a four-fold higher ACE activity than in native L rats (n=8, p<0.01). This was confirmed by a three-fold difference in ACE mRNA expression (n=5 for both, p<0.01). Using immunohistochemistry, we found strong tubular ACE expression in the F rat, whereas the L rat had no tubular ACE at all. In F-L allografts (n=9) we noted significant glomerulosclerosis and proteinuria after 34 weeks. Treatment with ACE-I in F-L (n=8) prevented the development of these changes. Although ACE mRNA and ACE protein expression were similar in treated and untreated allografts, intrarenal ACE activity was reduced by 50% in allografts with ACE-I. Conclusion In conclusion, intrarenal levels of ACE may play a role in the development of renal damage in experimental chronic renal transplant failure.
Recognition of affect in facial expression using the Noh Mask Test: Comparison of individuals with schizophrenia and normal controls

Abstract The purpose of the present study was to compare facial expression recognition in individuals with schizophrenia and normal controls using the Noh Mask Test. Fifteen men with schizophrenia and 15 normal controls were presented with a photograph of a Noh mask rotated either upward or downward from the neutral front‐facing position, and an emotion label, and were requested to judge whether the expression of the mask was congruent with the indicated emotion. Using multidimensional scaling, the facial expression of the Noh mask recognized by the patients and the healthy controls was analyzed in 3‐D: (i) Rejection–Attention; (ii) Pleasant–Unpleasant; and (iii) Awakening–Relaxation. Individuals with schizophrenia had difficulty recognizing that others had intentions of harming them. The Noh Mask Test was found to be useful in discriminating between individuals with schizophrenia and controls in the recognition of facial expression (discriminant ratio: 99.9%).
Usability Testing for Mobile Scenarios of Fragmented Attention

During the use of mobile applications on the move the user’s cognitive resources are split into handling the application and conducting a primary task, i.e. walking or driving a car. Traditional lab-based usability tests do not take the influence of fragmented attention into account. In field tests on the other hand we cannot control environmental conditions. In this paper we show how to use a car simulator to generate a controllable primary task. By comparing an undisturbed reference test with a subsequent simulatorbased test we gain key figures, which reveal problems that only appear if the application is used in scenarios of fragmented attention. We conducted a test series to evaluate our method and hardware setup. First results gained in these tests show that state inspections ‐ frequent glances the user needs to observe the application’s state during a system induced latency - are an avoidable cause for mobile usability problems.
Intérêts de la variabilité de la fréquence cardiaque dans les dysautonomies

Les fonctions cardiovasculaires doivent repondre a des stimulations physiologiques importantes et differentes lors de l'exercice physique, de l'exposition a la haute altitude ou de tests de stimulation specifiques du systeme nerveux autonome. Nous avons dans ce travail de these, etudie les modulations autonomiques consecutives a l'exercice (entrainements / competition ou reentrainement), a l'hypoxie ou a des tests de stimulation adrenergiques afin de faire le lien avec la fatigue et/ou la limitation a l'effort. Le suivi de coureurs a pieds seniors nous a permis d'observer une majoration de l'activite sympathique ainsi qu'une diminution du tonus parasympathique sous l'effet de l'entrainement, et plus encore de la competition. Dans un second temps, nous avons analyse les reponses adaptatives de sujets exposes a une hypoxie brutale par le biais de tests d'orthostatisme, et mis en evidence une dysautonomie transitoire les deux premiers jours d'exposition a l'altitude, suivie d'un retour vers des valeurs basales le quatrieme jour. Notre troisieme protocole a montre que les fibromyalgiques presentent une qualite de vie et une capacite d'exercice alterees ainsi que des reponses autonomiques a l'orthostatisme emoussees comparees a des sujets temoins. Cependant, un entrainement en endurance de 12 semaines a intensite moderee, semble benefique sur la qualite de vie des patientes, et ameliore les parametres d'exercice et de modulation de l'activite du systeme nerveux. Enfin, nous avons confirme que les sujets trisomiques presentaient une capacite d'exercice ainsi qu'une fonction cardio-respiratoire alterees par rapport a des sujets controles apparies en âge. Les tests de stimulations du systeme nerveux autonome montrent aussi une dysautonomie marquee, avec des reponses autonomiques emoussees qui peuvent etre mises en lien avec une capacite d'effort limitee et/ou l'apparition d'une fatigue precoce a l'effort chez les trisomiques 21. Notre travail, par l'analyse de la variabilite cardiaque, a donc permis de mettre en evidence des alterations de l'activite autonomique qui peuvent etre durables ou transitoires, selon l'environnement, selon le niveau d'activite ou l'existence de pathologies.
Letter: low muscle mass and disordered eating as causes of osteopenia in inflammatory bowel disease

albeit quite limited – benefit for switching even after primary failure. As Licinio et al. rightly state, our meta-analysis showed that, for primary failure, the short-term (4–8 weeks) remission rate (18%) was lower than that obtained in the medium term (9–40 weeks) (30%) and long term (41–52 weeks) (28%). In this respect, data from the openlabel extension cohort of the GAIN trial showed that among initial nonresponders to adalimumab at week 4, 67% achieved a response and 25% entered remission by week 12. Those data suggest that 4 weeks may be too early to assess the response to the induction doses, mainly in infliximab-experienced Crohn’s disease patients. Licinio et al. hypothesise that this delay in response may be explained by the existence of high levels of TNF alpha (at either serum or tissue) at baseline, and that could be a reason. However, in the Spanish multicenter PREDICROHN GETECCU study, we assessed the usefulness of measuring TNF serum levels to predict remission (at week 14) with anti-TNF treatment (either infliximab or adalimumab) in 117 patients with Crohn’s disease. TNF serum levels were measured using a highly sensitive modified ELISA, Collaborative enzyme enhanced reactive immunoassay (CEER), at baseline and at weeks 4, 8 and 14. We found that although, overall, basal TNF levels seemed to be lower among patients that reached remission under infliximab treatment, the concentration of soluble TNF was not useful for predicting response to the anti-TNF treatment during the induction phase. Nevertheless, these are still preliminary results and these analyses will need to be repeated at the end of the study, to confirm whether measuring soluble TNF serum levels may be useful to predict medium long-term remission.
Automated monitoring of HTTP live streaming QoE factors on Android STB

This paper proposes a system for automated monitoring of factors that influence Quality of Experience of media player on Android STB. Media player utilizes HTTP live streaming protocol where the video is divided into small segments (chunks) and encoded in multiple quality levels (representations). Based on the network conditions media player application decides which video segments to download, causing switching between the different video quality levels. These quality switches, together with factors such as initial delay, video stalling, synchronization of audio and video, impact the end-user Quality of Experience. The system presented in this paper is intended for automated monitoring of these factors, in order to help content providers to localize causes of low QoE and to fix them easier.
Meta-analysis of Correlates of Provider Behavior in Medical Encounters

This article summarizes the results of 41 independent studies containing correlates of objectively measured provider behaviors in medical encounters. Provider behaviors were grouped a priori into the process categories of information giving, questions, competence, partnership building, and socioemotional behavior. Total amount of communication was also included. All correlations between variables within these categories and external variables (patient outcome variables or patient and provider background variables) were extracted. The most frequently occurring outcome variables were satisfaction, recall, and compliance, and the most frequently occurring background variables were the patient's gender, age, and social class. Average correlations and combined significance levels were calculated for each combination of process category and external variable. Results showed significant relations of small to moderate average magnitude between these external variables and almost all of the provider behavior categories. A theory of provider-patient reciprocation is proposed to account for the pattern of results.
Coalescence of Extracellular Matrix (ECM) from Porcine Urinary Bladder (UBM) with a Laser-Activated Chitosan-Based Surgical Adhesive

Abstract Urinary bladder matrix (UBM) has been extensively investigated as a naturally occurring biomaterial in therapeutic applications for tissue repair or regeneration, while other strategies involve biopolymers such as chitosan for tissue reconstruction. The coalescence of UBM with chitosan has considerable potential in enhancing tissue reconstruction. Characterisation of a novel, laser-activated, chitosan-based, thin-film surgical adhesive with UBM in various morphologies showed that the films had increased surface rugosities and crystallinities (Ra approx. 0.83 um, approx. 12% crystallinity) when compared to the chitosan adhesive alone (R a = 0.74 um, 7% crystallinity). Tensile strength of the films was significantly increased by the addition of UBM in particulate form (12.1–32.4 MPa). Furthermore, tissue adhesion strengths using these hybrid biomaterials were maintained at approx. 15 kPa compared to 3 kPa for fibrin glue. Histological analysis demonstrated that laser irradiation of the UBM-chitosan adhesive biomaterial caused no thermal damage to tissue. Examination of the cellular response at the material interface showed that 3T3 fibroblasts maintained their regular morphology with enhanced growth compared to films of both chitosan and its adhesive form. These results suggest that coalescence of UBM with a chitosan-based adhesive supports the development of biomaterial devices for sutureless wound closure that could enhance tissue repair and reconstruction.
Expensive Control of Long-Time Averages Using Sum of Squares and Its Application to A Laminar Wake Flow

This paper presents a nonlinear state-feedback control design approach for long-time average cost control, where the control effort is assumed to be expensive. The approach is based on sum-of-squares and semidefinite programming techniques. It is applicable to dynamical systems whose right-hand side is a polynomial function in the state variables and the controls. The key idea, first described but not implemented by Chernyshenko et al., is that the difficult problem of optimizing a cost function involving long-time averages is replaced by an optimization of the upper bound of the same average. As such, a controller design requires the simultaneous optimization of both the control law and a tunable function, similar to a Lyapunov function. This paper introduces a method resolving the well-known inherent nonconvexity of this kind of optimization. The method is based on the formal assumption that the control is expensive, from which it follows that the optimal control is small. The resulting asymptotic optimization problems are convex. The derivation of all the polynomial coefficients in the controller is given in terms of the solvability conditions of state-dependent linear and bilinear inequalities. The proposed approach is applied to the problem of designing a full-information feedback controller that mitigates vortex shedding in the wake of a circular cylinder in the laminar regime via rotary oscillations. Control results on a reduced-order model of the actuated wake and in direct numerical simulation are reported.