Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Constructive Interference in Steady State Imaging in the Central Nervous System

Constructive interference in steady state (CISS) is a fully refocused fast-gradient echo sequence that is mainly used in the assessment of the central nervous system. The most important advantages of steady-state imaging are short acquisition times, high signal-to-noise ratio, and better contrast-to-noise ratio. Owing to its cisternographic effect, CISS is useful in the assessment of the cranial nerves, and can also be used when studying cysts, cystic masses, and neurocysticercosis and in hydrocephalus cases. CISS has been shown to be useful in spinal imaging, especially in cases of arteriovenous malformation and when it is helpful to better characterize intra- and extramedullary cystic abnormalities.
Mental health of small children for normal gestational age: a cohort study from Southeastern Brazil

The aim of this study is to investigate mental health problems in children born small for gestational age (SGA) and those born appropriate for gestational age (AGA) and to assess the association of these problems with child and family characteristics. Six hundred and seventy-seven children, belonging to a birth cohort from 1994 in Ribeirao Preto/SP (southeastern Brazil), were evaluated (140 SGA and 537 AGA). They were later reevaluated at school age (2004/2005) by means of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire for mental health assessment (parent report). Results showed that children born SGA presented greater frequency of behavioral problems and emotional symptoms compared to children born AGA. Variables associated with mental health problems in the univariate model were: male sex, children born SGA, low educational level of parents, socioeconomic disadvantage, and belonging to families with many members. However, in multivariate analysis, two factors - being born SGA and father's low educational level - lost their statistical significance, and the other sociodemographic variables remained significant (male sex, low-level of maternal education, low socioeconomic level, families with many members). It has been concluded that being born SGA was not independently associated with mental health problems, but sociodemographic factors proved to be the predictors of this type of problem in the cohort studied.
Outcomes prediction in pre-operative radiotherapy locally advanced rectal cancer: leucocyte assessment as immune biomarker

Objective Leukocytes are hypothesized to reflect the inflammatory tumor microenvironment. We aimed to validate their prognostic significance in a large cohort of patients treated with pre-operative radiation for locally advanced rectal cancer (RC). Results From 2004 to 2015, 257 RC patients with available biological data underwent a pre-operative radiotherapy, with a median age of 66 years. The median rectal EQD2 was 49.2Gy. Most of patients experienced concurrent chemotherapy (n = 245, 95.4%), mainly with 5-FU (83.3%). Clear surgical margins (i.e. complete resection) were achieved in 234 patients (91.1%). A complete (Mandard TRG1: n = 35, 13.6%) or almost complete pathological response (Mandard TRG2: n = 56, 21.8%) were achieved in 91 patients (35.4%). With a median follow-up of 46.1 months, 8 patients (3.1%) experienced local relapse, 38 (14.8%) experienced metastases and 45 (17.5%) died. Elevated pre-radiation neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR > 2.8) was identified as an independent predictive factor of increased local relapse, of decreased progression-free survival and overall survival in multivariate analysis. Elevated NLR was marginally associated with incomplete pathological response in multivariate analysis, suggesting a possible value as a biomarker of radio-sensitivity. Conclusions Pre-radiation NLR is a simple and robust biomarker for risk stratification in locally advanced RC patients undergoing pre-operative radiotherapy, and might select the subpopulation eligible to treatment intensification or to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Material and Methods Clinical records from consecutive patients treated in a single institution between 2004 and 2015 with curative-intent radiotherapy were retrospectively analyzed. Classical prognosis factors of RC and peripheral immune markers based on lymphocytes and neutrophil counts were studied.
Time Management with Adaptive Reminders: Two Studies and Their Design Implications

Effective time management is fundamental for office workers with crowded calendars and numerous constraints and demands on their time. Design of to ols to assist such users must account for varying preferences over the type and amount of support desired. We describe efforts to elicit these prefe rences as part of the iterative design process of an AI-ba sed mixed-initiative calendaring tool. We (1) establis h the specific types of assistance in which target users expressed interest, and (2) highlight our findings regarding the scheduling practices and reminding preferences of these users that in turn motivate th e redesign and enhancement of our system.
An Algorithm for Matching Heterogeneous Financial Databases: A Case Study for COMPUSTAT/CRSP and I/B/E/S Databases

Rigorous and proper linking of financial databases is a necessary step to test trading strategies incorporating multimodal sources of information. This paper proposes a machine learning solution to match companies in heterogeneous financial databases. Our method, named Financial Attribute Selection Distance (FASD), has two stages, each of them corresponding to one of the two interrelated tasks commonly involved in heterogeneous database matching problems: schema matching and entity matching. FASD's schema matching procedure is based on the Kullback-Leibler divergence of string and numeric attributes. FASD's entity matching solution relies on learning a company distance flexible enough to deal with the numeric and string attribute links found by the schema matching algorithm, and it incorporates different string matching approaches such as edit-based and token-based metrics. The parameters of the distance are optimized using the F-score as cost function. FASD is able to match the joint Compustat/CRSP and Institutional Brokers' Estimate System (I/B/E/S) databases with an F-score over 0.94 using only a hundred of manually labeled company links.
Resource Allocation , Content Placement and Request Routing for Cost-efficient Edge Caching in Cloud Radio Access Networks

In this paper, we advocate edge caching in Cloud Radio Access Networks (C-RAN) to facilitate the ever-increasing mobile multimedia services. In our framework, central offices will cooperatively allocate cloud resources to cache popular contents and satisfy user requests for those contents, so as to minimize the system costs in terms of storage, VM reconfiguration, content access latency, and content migration. However, this joint resource allocation, content placement and request routing is nontrivial, since it needs to be continuously adjusted to accommodate system dynamics, such as user movement and content slashdot effect, while taking into account the time-correlated adjustment costs for VM reconfiguration and content migration. To this end, we build a comprehensive model to capture the key components of edge caching in C-RAN, and formulate a joint optimization problem, aiming at minimizing the system costs over time, and meanwhile satisfying the time-varying user requests and respecting various practical constraints (e.g., storage and bandwidth). Then, we propose a novel online approximation algorithm by resorting to the regularization, rounding and decomposition technique, which can be proved to have a parameterized competitive ratio with a polynomial running time. Extensive trace-driven simulations corroborate the efficiency, flexibility and lightweight of our proposed online algorithm, for instance it achieves an empirical competitive ratio around 2 – 4, gains over 30% improvement compared with many state-of-the-art algorithms in various system settings.
f-CNNx: A Toolflow for Mapping Multiple Convolutional Neural Networks on FPGAs

The predictive power of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) has been an integral factor for emerging latency-sensitive applications, such as autonomous drones and vehicles. Such systems employ multiple CNNs, each one trained for a particular task. The efficient mapping of multiple CNNs on a single FPGA device is a challenging task as the allocation of compute resources and external memory bandwidth needs to be optimised at design time. This paper proposes f-CNNx, an automated toolflow for the optimised mapping of multiple CNNs on FPGAs, comprising a novel multi-CNN hardware architecture together with an automated design space exploration method that considers the user-specified performance requirements for each model to allocate compute resources and generate a synthesisable accelerator. Moreover, f-CNNx employs a novel scheduling algorithm that alleviates the limitations of the memory bandwidth contention between CNNs and sustains the high utilisation of the architecture. Experimental evaluation shows that f-CNNx's designs outperform contention-unaware FPGA mappings by up to 50% and deliver up to 6.8x higher performance-per-Watt over highly optimised GPU designs for multi-CNN systems.
Grain‐size sensitive rheology of orthopyroxene

The grain‐size sensitive rheology of orthopyroxene is investigated using data from rheological and microstructural studies. A deformation mechanism map is constructed assuming that orthopyroxene deforms by two independent mechanisms: dislocation creep and diffusion creep. The field boundary between these mechanisms is defined using two approaches. First, experimental data from Lawlis (1998), which show a deviation from non‐linear power law behavior at low stresses, are used to prescribe the location of the field boundary. Second, a new orthopyroxene grain‐size piezometer is used as a microstructural constraint to the field boundary. At constant temperature, both approaches yield sub‐parallel field boundaries, separated in grain size by a factor of only 2–5. Extrapolating to lithospheric conditions, the deformation mechanism transition occurs at a grain size of ~150–500 µm, consistent with observations from nature. As the transition from dislocation to diffusion creep may promote shear localization, grain‐size reduction of orthopyroxene may play a prominent role in plate‐boundary deformation.
OFL: A Language for Cloud Orchestration

The increasing complexity of Cloud Architecture and the introduction of new paradigms like Internet of Things introduced the problem of creating Value Added Services by composition, not only of Resources, but of Services too. In this work we describe an architectural solution for Orchestration at all Cloud Layers. Here we described a language for orchestrating both resources and services in Cloud. The language manages composition of services and resources in order to create composite service based on Cloud Design Patterns. It is based on a Workflow language for description of composition and it enables verification of composite services by means of Model Driven Engineering techniques, providing a precious and easy-to-use tool for Cloud Engineering.
PPARα Regulates the Proliferation of Human Glioma Cells through miR-214 and E2F2

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) is a member of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily and functions as a transcription factor. Previous work showed that PPARα plays multiple roles in lipid metabolism in tissues such as cardiac and skeletal muscle, liver, and adipose tissue. Recent studies have discovered additional roles for PPARα in cell proliferation and metabolism, as well as tumor progression. PPARα is aberrantly expressed in various cancers, and activated PPARα inhibits the proliferation of some tumor cells. However, there have been no studies of PPARα in human gliomas. Here, we show that PPARα is expressed at lower levels in anaplastic gliomas and glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) tissue compared with low-grade gliomas tissue, and low expression is associated with poor patient prognosis. PPARα activates transcription of dynamin-3 opposite strand (DNMO3os), which encodes a cluster of miR-214, miR-199a-3p, and miR-199a-5p microRNAs. Of these, miR-214 is transcribed at particularly high levels. PPARα-induced miR-214 expression causes downregulation of its target E2F2. Finally, miR-214 overexpression inhibits glioma cell growth in vitro and in vivo by inducing cell cycle arrest in G0/G1. Collectively, these data uncover a novel role for a PPARα-miR-214-E2F2 pathway in controlling glioma cell proliferation.
Phosphate solubilizing efficiency of Mycopesticides

In the present investigation, plant growth promoting activities of mycopesticides (beneficial mycopesticides or biological control fungi) viz. Trichoderma, Paecilomyces, Beauveria and Metarhizium were assessed. Their efficacy for the growth enhancement of Groundnut was investigated through laboratory as well as by pot studies. Results of In vitro studies have shown their higher potential of P-solubilization these fungi. In the experiment, two native cultures and five fungal isolates (procured from MTCC) were used. P solubilization ability of the test mycopesticides have shown good solubilization zones by the PlA isolate on PKVK agar. Not only this, TvA and ThM has also shown good P solubilizing zone on PKVK medium - supplemented with rose bengal dye. In liquid culture medium, ThM showed the highest P solubilizing ability (309.33 μg/ml). HPLC analysis was carried out to determine the presence of organic acids in the culture supernatant of promising cultures. TvM showed presence of pyruvic acid, formic acid, orotic acid, citric acid and butyric acid. Efficacy of mycopesticides in pots study as PGP has revealed seed treatment as the best one, but recommended fertilizer was found significantly superior than all mycopesticides treatments. Amongst mycopesticides, Trichoderma spp. proved to be the best followed by Paecilomyces. Beauveria in most cases remained at par with Paecilomyces but was inferior to Trichoderma. Metarhizium was better than control but was inferior to other fungal treatments. Efforts clearly indicated that mycopesticides can significantly enhance groundnut growth and production as a plant growth promoting fungi (PGPF) proving their dual ability.
Exploring emergency department 4-hour target performance and cancelled elective operations: a regression analysis of routinely collected and openly reported NHS trust data

Objective To quantify the effect of intrahospital patient flow on emergency department (ED) performance targets and indicate if the expectations set by the National Health Service (NHS) England 5-year forward review are realistic in returning emergency services to previous performance levels. Design Linear regression analysis of routinely reported trust activity and performance data using a series of cross-sectional studies. Setting NHS trusts in England submitting routine nationally reported measures to NHS England. Participants 142 acute non-specialist trusts operating in England between 2012 and 2016. Main outcome measures The primary outcome measures were proportion of 4-hour waiting time breaches and cancelled elective operations. Methods Univariate and multivariate linear regression models were used to show relationships between the outcome measures and various measures of trust activity including empty day beds, empty night beds, day bed to night bed ratio, ED conversion ratio and delayed transfers of care. Results Univariate regression results using the outcome of 4-hour breaches showed clear relationships with empty night beds and ED conversion ratio between 2012 and 2016. The day bed to night bed ratio showed an increasing ability to explain variation in performance between 2015 and 2016. Delayed transfers of care showed little evidence of an association. Multivariate model results indicated that the ability of patient flow variables to explain 4-hour target performance had reduced between 2012 and 2016 (19% to 12%), and had increased in explaining cancelled elective operations (7% to 17%). Conclusions The flow of patients through trusts is shown to influence ED performance; however, performance has become less explainable by intratrust patient flow between 2012 and 2016. Some commonly stated explanatory factors such as delayed transfers of care showed limited evidence of being related. The results indicate some of the measures proposed by NHS England to reduce pressure on EDs may not have the desired impact on returning services to previous performance levels.
Long-term trend analyses of fish assemblages in large French rivers Analyse des tendances long-terme des communautés de poissons des grands fleuves français

Global changes are increasingly affecting freshwater ecosystems resulting in strong modifications in the structure and functioning of aquatic assemblages over a relatively small period of time. A better understanding of observed ecological trends is needed to anticipate and forecast future ecosystem changes. For this purpose, data from the annual electrofishing campaigns conducted as part of the monitoring of 11 French nuclear power plants were assembled. This unique dataset is made up of 35 long-term time series on the fish assemblages of the major French rivers over the last 20 to 40 years. We conducted meta-analyses of trend statistics derived from these 35 biological time series to investigate the impact of global changes on the structure and functional characteristics of fish assemblages. Shared changes among time series in species abundances, assemblage compositions and diversity metrics were tested. Strong increase in water temperatures and decrease in discharges were shown. We demonstrated a great increase in total fish densities and species richness over the last 40 years, rising by 400% and 50%, respectively. While species evenness, relative abundances of non-native species and proportion of thermophilic species did not show significant changes, we observed a significant and clear northern shift of fish communities in these large rivers over the last four decades.
The infamous #Pizzagate conspiracy theory: Insight from a TwitterTrails investigation

Social media have become part of modern news reporting, used by journalists to both inform and find sources, and by individuals as a news source. The quest for prominence and recognition on social media sites, like Twitter and Facebook, can sometimes eclipse accuracy and lead to the spread of false information. In the last US Congressional elections we saw the rise of the so-called “fake news” phenomenon, a euphemism for “lies in the shape of news articles”, aiming to confuse and anger voters. And this is not just happening in the US: during the recent elections in several European countries including Germany and France, we saw a similar pattern. As a way of studying and reacting to this trend, we are using TwitterTrails, an interactive, web-based investigative tool (twittertrails.com) that allows users to investigate the origin and propagation characteristics of a rumor and its refutation, if any, on Twitter [1]. Visualizations of burst activity, spreading timeline, and co-retweeted networks help its users investigate the spread of a story. Within minutes TwitterTrails will collect relevant tweets and automatically answer several important questions regarding a rumor: its originator, burst characteristics, propagators and main actors according to the audience. In addition, it will compute and report the rumor’s level of visibility and, as an example of the power of crowdsourcing, the audience’s skepticism towards it, which correlates with the rumor’s credibility. We envision TwitterTrails as valuable tool for journalists (amateur and professional) investigating recent and breaking stories. Further, its expanding collection of investigated rumors can be used to answer questions regarding the amount and success of misinformation on Twitter [2]. This paper explains how this can be accomplished using as an example a well-known story On “Fake News”. The term “fake news” refers to lies presented as news, that is, falsehoods online formatted and circulated in such a way that a reader might mistake them for legitimate news articles. However, there is some confusion around the term as it has been used more loosely to mean different things to different people. Some use it to denote opinions with which they disagree, reporting errors, or incorrect predictions, though these are not technically fake news. “Fake news” has been around since ancient times, but technology has made it possible to produce and consume it today on a massive scale. Such articles appear on a variety of little
Device-to-Device Coded Caching with Heterogeneous Cache Sizes

This paper considers a device-to-device (D2D) coded caching system where the users have differing cache sizes. During low traffic hours, the server places subsets of the files at the users' cache memories, in a manner that enables serving the users' requests via D2D transmissions during peak traffic hours. The objective is to jointly design the users' cache contents and the D2D transmissions in order to minimize the D2D delivery load. In particular, we seek to identify the optimal uncoded placement and linear delivery schemes. We propose a novel lower bound on the D2D delivery load under uncoded placement, which enables us to explicitly characterize the minimum D2D delivery load under uncoded placement for several cases of interest.
Potential Application of Electrical Stimulation in Stem Cell-Based Treatment against Hearing Loss

Deafness is a common human disease, which is mainly caused by irreversible damage to hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) in the mammalian cochlea. At present, replacement of damaged or missing hair cells and SGNs by stem cell transplantation therapy is an effective treatment. However, the survival rate of stem cell transplantation is low, with uncontrollable differentiation hindering its application. Most researchers have focused on biochemical factors to regulate the growth and differentiation of stem cells, whereas little study has been performed using physical factors. This review intends to illustrate the current problems in stem cell-based treatment against deafness and to introduce electric field stimulation as a physical factor to regulate stem cell behavior and facilitate stem cell therapy to treat hearing loss in the future.