Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Friction and slant perception in real and virtual environments

Comparisons between real-world spatial judgments and simulation equivalents provide performance benchmarks as well as tools to assess whether a technological set-up would be of similar functional fidelity to a real-world task situation. It is widely recognised that perceptual fidelity is not necessarily equivalent to physical simulation. Identifying ways to ‘induce’ reality by possibly distorting physics based on fundamental perceptual processes triggered in real and synthetic worlds rather than simulating the physics of reality is a novel research route worth pursuing. We describe a set of comparative studies between a real-world task situation and varied synthetic simulations which attempt to introduce novel functional fidelity metrics based on slant and friction perception, as well as novel perceptual estimates of slant offering a truly interdisciplinary approach.
The Role of User Location in Personalized Search and Recommendation

With mobile devices, users no longer access the web from specific locations, but virtually from anywhere. How does this affect our ability to provide personalized information for users' In this talk, I will discuss the influence of location activity on users' information needs and how a better understanding of these needs can help enhance web applications in which personalization plays a central role.
High Quality Texture Mapping for Multi-view Reconstruction

In this paper, a new method for mapping textures onto a 3D model produced by a multi-view reconstruction pipeline is proposed. A Markov Random Field (MRF) is constructed so as to define each triangle face as a node. An optimal labeling is estimated by globally minimizing an energy function defined on the MRF using graph cuts algorithms. This labeling assigns exactly one view to each triangle face. Textures are extracted by back-projecting each assigned view to the corresponding face. Color discontinuities among adjacent faces are minimized using a global correction method followed by a local Poisson editing procedure. The proposed method can cope with both image noises and out-of-focus blur in a simple way, which prefers views with clear details of the scene. Comparing with two state-of-the-art methods, this new method can generate textures with higher quality. A simple but efficient strategy is also proposed to further improve the quality of textures: use different image sets for reconstruction and texture mapping. Experimental results show that by applying this strategy, the quality of textures could be significantly improved, while the total computation time only increased slightly.
A fungal perspective on conservation biology

Hitherto fungi have rarely been considered in conservation biology, but this is changing as the field moves from addressing single species issues to an integrative ecosystem‐based approach. The current emphasis on biodiversity as a provider of ecosystem services throws the spotlight on the vast diversity of fungi, their crucial roles in terrestrial ecosystems, and the benefits of considering fungi in concert with animals and plants. We reviewed the role of fungi in ecosystems and composed an overview of the current state of conservation of fungi. There are 5 areas in which fungi can be readily integrated into conservation: as providers of habitats and processes important for other organisms; as indicators of desired or undesired trends in ecosystem functioning; as indicators of habitats of conservation value; as providers of powerful links between human societies and the natural world because of their value as food, medicine, and biotechnological tools; and as sources of novel tools and approaches for conservation of megadiverse organism groups. We hope conservation professionals will value the potential of fungi, engage mycologists in their work, and appreciate the crucial role of fungi in nature.
Convergence to a self-similar solution in general relativistic gravitational collapse

We study the spherical collapse of a perfect fluid with an equation of state $P=k\rho$ by full general relativistic numerical simulations. For $0<k\alt 0.036$, it has been known that there exists a general relativistic counterpart of the Larson-Penston self-similar Newtonian solution. The numerical simulations strongly suggest that, in the neighborhood of the center, generic collapse converges to this solution in an approach to a singularity and that self-similar solutions other than this solution, including a ``critical solution'' in the black hole critical behavior, are relevant only when the parameters which parametrize initial data are fine-tuned. This result is supported by a mode analysis on the pertinent self-similar solutions. Since a naked singularity forms in the general relativistic Larson-Penston solution for $0<k\alt0.0105$, this will be the most serious known counterexample against cosmic censorship. It also provides strong evidence for the self-similarity hypothesis in general relativistic gravitational collapse. The direct consequence is that critical phenomena will be observed in the collapse of isothermal gas in Newton gravity, and the critical exponent $\gamma$ will be given by $\gamma\approx 0.11$, though the order parameter cannot be the black hole mass.
Embodied Experiences in Immersive Virtual Environments: Effects on Proenvironmental Self-Efficacy and Behavior

This study explored whether sensorimotor experiences of cutting down a tree in a virtual forest would be more effective compared to mentally simulating the same experience in terms of increasing pro-environmental self-efficacy and behavior in the physical, non-mediated world. Two modalities for embodying the tree-cutting experience were compared: immersive virtual environment and mental simulation. Results demonstrated that embodied experiences presented with immersive virtual environments lead to significantly greater pro-environmental selfefficacy and actual pro-environmental behavior compared to mentally simulating the experience. Presence – the perception that the mediated environment is real – was explored as an underlying mechanism of embodied experiences, and individual disposition for presence perception was investigated as a possible moderator.
Increased platelet activation in the chronic phase after cerebral ischemia and intracerebral hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Enhanced thromboxane (TX) biosynthesis has previously been reported in the acute phase after ischemic stroke. We investigated whether enhanced urinary excretion of 11-dehydro-TXB2, a noninvasive index of platelet activation, was present in the chronic phase after a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke, including intracerebral hemorrhage. METHODS We obtained a single urinary sample from 92 patients between 3 and 9 months after onset of stroke or TIA. The urinary excretion of the major enzymatic metabolite of TXA2, 11-dehydro-TXB2, was measured by a previously validated radioimmunoassay. The excretion rates were compared with those of 20 control patients with nonvascular neurological diseases. RESULTS Urinary 11-dehydro-TXB2 averaged 294+/-139, 413+/-419, and 557+/-432 pmol/mmol creatinine for patients with TIA, ischemic stroke, and intracerebral hemorrhage, respectively; the values were higher in all subgroups (P<0.01) than that in control patients (119+/-66 pmol/mmol). Increased 11-dehydro-TXB2 excretion was present in 59% of all patients, in 60% (P<0.001) of patients with TIA, in 56% (P<0.001) of patients with ischemic stroke, and in 73% (P<0.001) of patients with intracerebral hemorrhage. Atrial fibrillation, no aspirin use, and severity of symptoms at follow-up contributed independently to the level of 11-dehydro-TXB2 excretion in a multiple linear regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS Platelet activation is often present in patients in the chronic phase after stroke, including those with intracerebral hemorrhage. Persistent platelet activation, which is associated with atrial fibrillation and poor stroke outcome, can be substantially suppressed by aspirin treatment.
Cross-Sectional Variation in Stock Returns: Liquidity and Idiosyncratic Risk

The roles played by idiosyncratic risk and liquidity in determining stock returns have recently received a great deal of attention. However, recent empirical tests have not examined the interaction between these two factors. As others have shown (and this paper confirms) stocks idiosyncratic risk and liquidity are negatively correlated. To what extent then is each variable responsible for the observed cross sectional patterns in stock returns? Overall, using monthly data, the paper finds that stock returns are increasing with the level of idiosyncratic risk and decreasing in a stock's liquidity. However, while both liquidity and idiosyncratic risk play a role in determining returns, the impact of idiosyncratic risk is much stronger and often eliminates liquidity's explanatory power. The point estimates indicate that a one standard deviation change in idiosyncratic risk has between 2.5 and 8 times the impact of a corresponding change in liquidity on cross sectional expected returns.
Detection of breast cancer with addition of annual screening ultrasound or a single screening MRI to mammography in women with elevated breast cancer risk.

CONTEXT Annual ultrasound screening may detect small, node-negative breast cancers that are not seen on mammography. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may reveal additional breast cancers missed by both mammography and ultrasound screening. OBJECTIVE To determine supplemental cancer detection yield of ultrasound and MRI in women at elevated risk for breast cancer. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS From April 2004-February 2006, 2809 women at 21 sites with elevated cancer risk and dense breasts consented to 3 annual independent screens with mammography and ultrasound in randomized order. After 3 rounds of both screenings, 612 of 703 women who chose to undergo an MRI had complete data. The reference standard was defined as a combination of pathology (biopsy results that showed in situ or infiltrating ductal carcinoma or infiltrating lobular carcinoma in the breast or axillary lymph nodes) and 12-month follow-up. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Cancer detection rate (yield), sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV3) of biopsies performed and interval cancer rate. RESULTS A total of 2662 women underwent 7473 mammogram and ultrasound screenings, 110 of whom had 111 breast cancer events: 33 detected by mammography only, 32 by ultrasound only, 26 by both, and 9 by MRI after mammography plus ultrasound; 11 were not detected by any imaging screen. Among 4814 incidence screens in the second and third years combined, 75 women were diagnosed with cancer. Supplemental incidence-screening ultrasound identified 3.7 cancers per 1000 screens (95% CI, 2.1-5.8; P < .001). Sensitivity for mammography plus ultrasound was 0.76 (95% CI, 0.65-0.85); specificity, 0.84 (95% CI, 0.83-0.85); and PPV3, 0.16 (95% CI, 0.12-0.21). For mammography alone, sensitivity was 0.52 (95% CI, 0.40-0.64); specificity, 0.91 (95% CI, 0.90-0.92); and PPV3, 0.38 (95% CI, 0.28-0.49; P < .001 all comparisons). Of the MRI participants, 16 women (2.6%) had breast cancer diagnosed. The supplemental yield of MRI was 14.7 per 1000 (95% CI, 3.5-25.9; P = .004). Sensitivity for MRI and mammography plus ultrasound was 1.00 (95% CI, 0.79-1.00); specificity, 0.65 (95% CI, 0.61-0.69); and PPV3, 0.19 (95% CI, 0.11-0.29). For mammography and ultrasound, sensitivity was 0.44 (95% CI, 0.20-0.70, P = .004); specificity 0.84 (95% CI, 0.81-0.87; P < .001); and PPV3, 0.18 (95% CI, 0.08 to 0.34; P = .98). The number of screens needed to detect 1 cancer was 127 (95% CI, 99-167) for mammography; 234 (95% CI, 173-345) for supplemental ultrasound; and 68 (95% CI, 39-286) for MRI after negative mammography and ultrasound results. CONCLUSION The addition of screening ultrasound or MRI to mammography in women at increased risk of breast cancer resulted in not only a higher cancer detection yield but also an increase in false-positive findings. TRIAL REGISTRATION clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00072501.
AIS Electronic

Multiple-team membership (MTM), defined as simultaneous involvement in multiple teams, is becoming prevalent in organizational practice and may escalate two tensions that are crucial to team performance. However, only a handful studies directly address the effect of MTM and fewer concerned the virtual context. Theories on MTM proposed that its effects would occur and countervail through various social-cognitive processes, but few studies provided empirical evidence. In this study, we will apply theories from MTM and team learning to explain the influences of MTM on virtual team performance, emphasizing the mediating role of the creative team process. Furthermore, we will investigate the concurrent influences of MTM in the virtual context, an area that has not been studied. Two characteristics of virtual teams — geographic dispersion and reliance on electronic communication — could moderate the relationship between MTM and the creative team process. We will conduct a survey to empirically examine this proposed model.
Prognostic significance of focal lesions in whole-body magnetic resonance imaging in patients with asymptomatic multiple myeloma.

PURPOSE With whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (wb-MRI), almost the whole bone marrow compartment can be examined in patients with monoclonal plasma cell disease. Focal lesions (FLs) detected by spinal MRI have been of prognostic significance in symptomatic multiple myeloma (sMM). In this study, we investigated the prognostic significance of FLs in wb-MRI in patients with asymptomatic multiple myeloma (aMM). PATIENTS AND METHODS Wb-MRI was performed in 149 patients with aMM. The prognostic significance of the presence and absence, as well as the number, of FLs for progression into sMM was analyzed. RESULTS FLs were present in 28% of patients. The presence per se of FLs and a number of greater than one FL were the strongest adverse prognostic factors for progression into sMM (P < .001) in multivariate analysis. A diffuse infiltration pattern in MRI, a monoclonal protein of 40 g/L or greater, and a plasma cell infiltration in bone marrow of 20% or greater were other adverse prognostic factors for progression-free survival in univariate analysis. CONCLUSION We recommend use of wb-MRI for risk stratification of patients with asymptomatic multiple myeloma.
Extended-spectrum β-lactamases in Gram Negative Bacteria

Extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) are a group of plasmid-mediated, diverse, complex and rapidly evolving enzymes that are posing a major therapeutic challenge today in the treatment of hospitalized and community-based patients. Infections due to ESBL producers range from uncomplicated urinary tract infections to life-threatening sepsis. Derived from the older TEM is derived from Temoniera, a patient from whom the strain was first isolated in Greece. β-lactamases, these enzymes share the ability to hydrolyze third-generation cephalosporins and aztreonam and yet are inhibited by clavulanic acid. In addition, ESBL-producing organisms exhibit co-resistance to many other classes of antibiotics, resulting in limitation of therapeutic option. Because of inoculum effect and substrate specificity, their detection is also a major challenge. At present, however, organizations such as the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (formerly the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards) provide guidelines for the detection of ESBLs in Klebsiella pneumoniae, K. oxytoca, Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis. In common to all ESBL-detection methods is the general principle that the activity of extended-spectrum cephalosporins against ESBL-producing organisms will be enhanced by the presence of clavulanic acid. Carbapenems are the treatment of choice for serious infections due to ESBL-producing organisms, yet carbapenem-resistant isolates have recently been reported. ESBLs represent an impressive example of the ability of gram-negative bacteria to develop new antibiotic-resistance mechanisms in the face of the introduction of new antimicrobial agents. Thus there is need for efficient infection-control practices for containment of outbreaks; and intervention strategies, e.g., antibiotic rotation to reduce further selection and spread of these increasingly resistant pathogens.
Radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma: Long‐term results and prognostic factors in 235 Western patients with cirrhosis

For the treatment of small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is in some centers considered a first‐line therapeutic option. However, such a strategy is still under debate with regard to tumor and patient characteristics. In this single‐center study we assessed the 5‐year survival and prognosis factors in 235 consecutive patients with cirrhosis (Child‐Pugh A/B: 205/30) who received RFA as first‐line treatment for up to three HCC ≤5 cm (307 tumors; mean diameter: 29 ± 10 mm; 53 multinodular forms). Among these patients, 67 satisfied the criteria for resection according to the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer. Complete ablation was obtained in 222 patients (94%). Overall, 337 RFA sessions were performed including iterative RFA for recurrence. Major complications occurred in three patients (0.9%), including one treatment‐related death. After 27 ± 20 months of mean follow‐up, local or distant, or both, tumor recurrence occurred in 16, 88, and 11 patients, respectively. Twenty‐nine patients underwent transplantation and were removed from the study at this point. Overall 5‐year, recurrence‐free, and tumor‐free (including results of iterative RFA) survival rates were, respectively, 40%, 17%, and 32%. The overall 5‐year survival rate was 76% for operable patients. Factors associated with overall survival were prothrombin activity (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.97, 0.96–0.98; P < 0.0001) and serum levels of α‐fetoprotein (AFP) (HR = 1.02, 1.02–1.02; P < 0.0001), and factors associated with tumor recurrence were multinodular forms (HR = 2.34; 1.52–3.6; P = 0.0001) and serum AFP levels (HR = 1.015, 1.014–1.016; P = 0.015). Tumor size was associated with local recurrence but not with overall and tumor‐free survival. Conclusion: RFA is a safe and effective first‐line treatment of HCC up to 5 cm in diameter, especially for patients with a single tumor, a low serum AFP level, and well‐preserved liver function. (HEPATOLOGY 2009.)
A Branch-and-Bound Method for Reversed Geometric Programming

A general or signomial geometric program is a nonlinear mathematical program involving general polynomials in several variables both in the objective function and the constraints. A branch-and-bound method is proposed for this extensive class of nonconvex optimization programs guaranteeing convergence to the global optimum. The subproblems to be solved are convex but the method can easily be combined with a cutting plane technique to generate subproblems which are linear. A simple example is given to illustrate the technique. The combined method involving linear subproblems has been coded and numerical experience with this code will be reported later.
Spinal pseudoathetosis: A rare, forgotten syndrome, with a review of old and recent descriptions

We report a patient with a cervical spinal astrocytoma who presented with athetotic hand movements. We postulate that acute pain, related to a syrinx around the operative site, contributed to the athetosis. These movements occur only after protracted, severe loss of proprioception, often in conjunction with an acute, generally painful crisis. Athetotic movements can disappear without change in proprioceptive or motor deficits when pain lessens.
Why is Leu55→Pro55 transthyretin variant the most amyloidogenic: Insights from molecular dynamics simulations of transthyretin monomers

Transthyretin (TTR) is one of the known human amyloidogenic proteins. Its native state is a homotetramer with each monomer having a β‐sandwich structure. Strong experimental evidence suggests that TTR dissociates into monomeric intermediates and that the monomers subsequently self‐assemble to form amyloid deposits and insoluble fibrils. However, details on the early steps along the pathway of TTR amyloid formation are unclear, although various experimental approaches with resolutions at the molecular or residue level have provided some clues. It is highly likely that the stability and flexibility of monomeric TTR play crucial roles in the early steps of amyloid formation; thereby, it is essential to characterize initial conformational changes of TTR monomers. In this article we probe the possibility that the differences in the monomeric forms of wild‐type (WT) TTR and its variants are responsible for differential amyloidogenesis. We begin with the simulations of WT, Val30→Met (V30M), and Leu55→Pro (L55P) TTR monomers. Nanosecond time scale molecular dynamics simulations at 300 K were performed using AMBER. The results indicate that the L55P‐TTR monomer undergoes substantial structural changes relative to fluctuations observed in the WT and V30M TTR monomers. The observation supports earlier speculation that the L55P mutation may lead to disruption of the β‐sheet structure through the disorder of the “edge strands” that might facilitate amyloidogenesis.