Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Inner ear imaging: more than "rule out acoustic".

In this issue of the American Journal of Neuroradiology Melhem et al (page 1819) describe an MR technique to determine inner ear volumetric measurements; specifically, the total perilymphatic and endolymphatic fluid in healthy volunteers. The range of volumetric measurements in the population was large (from 172.3 to 272.6 mm), and the range between left and right in the same volunteers was greater than would be expected (236.7 to 72.4 mm). The semicircular canals and cochlea are phylogenetically primitive and don’t vary, so the wide variation in volume may be due to partial volume averaging. This suggests that, at this point, the technique may overor underestimate volumes, but with further development we may be able to determine precise fluid volumes of the inner ear labyrinth. Indeed, this shift from gross morphologic inner ear imaging to the detection of subtle intralabyrinthine volume differences is an extraordinary development, with important applications in the diagnosis and treatment of complex inner ear disorders. As the authors suggest, the initial application for this technique may be in understanding and diagnosing congenital labyrinthine disorders. Because the temporal bone CT scan may appear normal in the setting of congenital sensorineural hearing loss associated with a dysmorphic inner ear, otolaryngologists, neurootologists, and head and neck radiologists have investigated the use of high-resolution MR imaging. In one recent series, a patient with sensorineural hearing loss had a normal temporal bone CT scan although the MR findings were abnormal, with subtle cochlear dysplasia (1). The next logical question is obvious: Are there congenital or degenerative cochlear processes that do not affect the bony architecture (CT) and that cannot be detected on high-resolution MR images but that produce an abnormal labyrinthine volume? Congenital labyrinthine dysplasia, possibly even with a normal CT appearance, would be expected to have abnormal periand endolymphatic fluid volumes. Many degenerative cochlear processes (eg, postmeningitic sensorineural hearing loss) do not initially affect the bony labyrinth, but volumetric analysis of the periand endolymphatic fluid may show a decrease prior to the classic CT changes of labyrinthine ossificans. Unfortunately, the common labyrinthine disorders, primarily Meniere disease (also known as endolymphatic hydrops) and perilymphatic fistula, should have normal total periand endolymphatic volumes, and would not be detectable with the described volumetric estimation technique. Both labyrinthine disorders, however, most likely result in a change in endolymphatic to perilymphatic fluid ratio. Our clinical colleagues, therefore, are pushing for even more precise and higher resolution imaging, as it is the sepa-
Research of Wireless Sensor Network Data Fusion Technology Based on RMSMTV

At present, the existing trust protocols and models in the trust mechanism of the wireless sensor network have several problems such as one-sided reputation assessment, avoidless malicious evaluation from the nodes, and overfull subjective factors in the evaluation process. In order to solve these problems, a Reputation Model based on Similarity Measure of Trust Value in wireless sensor networks(RMSMTV) is presented. In this model, neighbor nodes of the target node are fully considered, and the reputation assessments of each node are collected, thus the objectivity and accuracy of the reputation assessment result are insured. Further more, in regard to the problems that the controlled nodes, especially excellent reputaion nodes, lunch attacks, RMSMTV uses fuzzy similarity theory to measure the commendatory reliability of the nodes' trust value, identify the abnormal trust value and cut down the authority. As a result, the attacks can be suppressed effectively, and the syncretic outcome will be more accurate.
The effects of dopamine agonists on rotational behavior in non‐tolerant and caffeine‐tolerant rats

Tolerance develops to caffeine-induced stimulation of both locomotor activity and rotational behavior. The role of dopamine in tolerance to the locomotor stimulant effects of caffeine has been documented. However, the role of dopamine in caffeine-induced turning behavior remains to be elucidated. Therefore, the present sturdy determined the role of dopamine receptors in tolerance to caffeine-induced rotational behavior. Rats with a unilateral lesion of the nigrostriatal tract, induced by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), were treated chronically with either caffeine (1.0 mg/ml) or with drug-free tap water, by a method of scheduled access. Agonists with and without selectivity for dopamine receptor sub-types were tested in both groups of rats (nonselective: apomorphine, d-amphetamine; D1 selective: SKF-38393, SKF-77434; D2 selective: R(−)-propylnor-apomorphine (NPA), quinpirole). All drugs produced dose-dependent increases in turning that, with the exception of quinpirole, were comparable in both groups. Quinpirole produced a smaller effect in rats treated with caffeine than in control rats. Thus, there was significant cross-tolerance only to the effects of quinpirole. The concurrent administration of SKF-38393 with NPA produced a synergistic interaction on rotational behavior in control rats, to which cross-tolerance did not develop in caffeine-treated rats. In contrast to what occurs with locomotor activity, in control rats the selective D1 dopamine receptor antagonist SCH 23390 completely blocked SKF-38393-induced turning behavior and the selective D2 dopamine receptor antagonist eticlopride partially attenuated this effect. NPA-induced turning behavior was blocked only by eticlopride; SCH 23390 was without effect. Both SCH 23390 and eticlopride blocked d-amphetamine-induced rotational behavior. The results of this study suggest that D1 dopamine receptors are not involved in tolerance to caffeine-induced rotational behavior. The role of D2 dopamine receptors in this effect is unresolved. Results obtained from rotational behavior studies generally do not parallel those obtained from locomotor activity studies, suggesting that different mechanisms underlie the effects of caffeine on these two behaviors.
The acyltransferase gene bus‐1 exhibits conserved and specific expression in nematode rectal cells and reveals pathogen‐induced cell swelling

Susceptibility to the rectal pathogen Microbacterium nematophilum provides a means of examining hindgut differentiation in C. elegans. Mutants of bus‐1 are resistant to infection with this pathogen. We show here that bus‐1 encodes a predicted acyltransferase expressed in rectal epithelial cells (K, F, and U), suggesting its involvement in regional surface modification. bus‐1 reporter genes were used to show spatial regulation by hindgut developmental control genes: egl‐38, mab‐9, and mab‐23. A bus‐1::GFP reporter reveals the conspicuous rectal epithelial swelling induced by M. nematophilum. The C. briggsae ortholog of bus‐1 exhibits conserved function and rectal expression, but it is expressed in vulval as well as rectal cells, correlated with pathogen adhesion to both vulval and rectal cells in this species. Another acyltransferase affecting bacterial adhesion, bus‐18/acl‐10, was also identified, which also shows strong rectal expression, but it is expressed in additional epithelial tissues and is required for general surface integrity. Developmental Dynamics 237:3762–3776, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (Btk): function, regulation, and transformation with special emphasis on the PH domain

Summary: Bruton’s agammaglobulinemia tyrosine kinase (Btk) is a cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase important in B‐lymphocyte development, differentiation, and signaling. Btk is a member of the Tec family of kinases. Mutations in the Btk gene lead to X‐linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) in humans and X‐linked immunodeficiency (Xid) in mice. Activation of Btk triggers a cascade of signaling events that culminates in the generation of calcium mobilization and fluxes, cytoskeletal rearrangements, and transcriptional regulation involving nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) and nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT). In B cells, NF‐κB was shown to bind to the Btk promoter and induce transcription, whereas the B‐cell receptor‐dependent NF‐κB signaling pathway requires functional Btk. Moreover, Btk activation is tightly regulated by a plethora of other signaling proteins including protein kinase C (PKC), Sab/SH3BP5, and caveolin‐1. For example, the prolyl isomerase Pin1 negatively regulates Btk by decreasing tyrosine phosphorylation and steady state levels of Btk. It is intriguing that PKC and Pin1, both of which are negative regulators, bind to the pleckstrin homology domain of Btk. To this end, we describe here novel mutations in the pleckstrin homology domain investigated for their transforming capacity. In particular, we show that the mutant D43R behaves similar to E41K, already known to possess such activity.
Regional atmospheric circulation over Europe during the Last Glacial Maximum and its links to precipitation

The Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) exhibits different large‐scale atmospheric conditions compared to present‐day climate due to altered boundary conditions. The regional atmospheric circulation and associated precipitation patterns over Europe are characterized for the first time with a weather typing approach (circulation weather types, CWT) for LGM paleoclimate simulations. The CWT approach is applied to four representative regions across Europe. While the CWTs over Western Europe are prevailing westerly for both present‐day and LGM conditions, considerable differences are identified elsewhere: Southern Europe experienced more frequent westerly and cyclonic CWTs under LGM conditions, while Central and Eastern Europe was predominantly affected by southerly and easterly flow patterns. Under LGM conditions, rainfall is enhanced over Western Europe but is reduced over most of Central and Eastern Europe. These differences are explained by changing CWT frequencies and evaporation patterns over the North Atlantic Ocean. The regional differences of the CWTs and precipitation patterns are linked to the North Atlantic storm track, which was stronger over Europe in all considered models during the LGM, explaining the overall increase of the cyclonic CWT. Enhanced evaporation over the North Atlantic leads to higher moisture availability over the ocean. Despite the overall cooling during the LGM, this explains the enhanced precipitation over southwestern Europe, particularly Iberia. This study links large‐scale atmospheric dynamics to the regional circulation and associated precipitation patterns and provides an improved regional assessment of the European climate under LGM conditions.
Frequency- and potential-dependency of the negative inotropic action of various dihydropyridine and non-dihydropyridine calcium antagonists.

Transmembrane voltage and beat frequency are important determinants of the action of several organic calcium antagonists. This is well-known for the cationic amphiphilic calcium antagonists. We intended to assess the functional impact of these phenomena in cardiac muscle with special regard to dihydropyridines. Therefore, concentration-response curves were constructed in isolated guinea-pig left atria for the negative inotropic effect of various compounds. The dihydropyridines nifedipine, racemic nitrendipine, nisoldipine, and felodipine, and the enantiomers of isradipine were investigated at different stimulation frequencies (1 Hz, 2.5 Hz, 4.5 Hz), and at different extracellular K+ concentrations (2.7 mM, 5.4 mM, 10.8 mM). These drugs were compared with the cationic amphiphilic compounds gallopamil, verapamil and diltiazem. The potency of some dihydropyridines, particularly nitrendipine, could be modulated to a remarkable extent, covering several orders of magnitude. The potential-dependency of the drugs depended on stimulus frequency and ranged from less than a half to two orders of magnitude. At 2.5 Hz, the rank order of extent of potential-dependency was gallopamil greater than nitrendipine greater than diltiazem greater than verapamil = (+)-isradipine greater than (-)-isradipine greater than or equal to nisoldipine greater than or equal to felodipine = nifedipine. Based on data obtained from binding studies in intact atria and from patch-clamp measurements of calcium current blockade, a mathematical model was used which describes the observed potency changes. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Steady-state plasma levels of nortriptyline in twins: Influence of genetic factors and drug therapy

Nineteen identical (monozygotic) and 20 fraternal (dizygotic) sets of twins between 45 and 51 years of age were given nortriptyline orally in doses of 0·2 mg. /kg. body weight three times daily for eight days. The steady-state plasma concentrations of nortriptyline were calculated from the mean of the determinations for days 6, 7, and 8. Identical twins, not treated with other drugs, achieved similar steady-state plasma concentrations of nortriptyline in contrast to fraternal twins who were not given other drugs. The intrapair similarity in steady-state plasma concentrations was not found in identical twins simultaneously treated with various drugs during the experiment. Identical and fraternal twins treated with drugs containing barbiturates had considerably lower steady-state plasma concentrations of nortriptyline compared with untreated twins. It is concluded that most of the variability in nor-triptyline steady-state plasma concentration between persons who have not received drugs is genetically determined. Exposure to other drugs also influences the steady-state plasma concentration of nortriptyline, which in a given patient may therefore be determined by a resultant of genetic and environmental factors.
(APPRENTISSAGE SÉQUENTIEL : Bandits, Statistique et Renforcement

This thesis studies the following topics in Machine Learning: Bandit theory, Statistical learning and Reinforcement learning. The common underlying thread is the non-asymptotic study of various notions of adaptation: to an environment or an opponent in part I about bandit theory, to the structure of a signal in part II about statistical theory, to the structure of states and rewards or to some state-model of the world in part III about reinforcement learning. First we derive a non-asymptotic analysis of a Kullback-Leibler-based algorithm for the stochastic multi-armed bandit that enables to match, in the case of distributions with finite support, the asymptotic distribution-dependent lower bound known for this problem. Now for a multi-armed bandit with a possibly adaptive opponent, we introduce history-based models to catch some weakness of the opponent, and show how one can benefit from such models to design algorithms adaptive to this weakness. Then we contribute to the regression setting and show how the use of random matrices can be beneficial both theoretically and numerically when the considered hypothesis space has a large, possibly infinite, dimension. We also use random matrices in the sparse recovery setting to build sensing operators that allow for recovery when the basis is far from being orthogonal. Finally we combine part I and II to first provide a non-asymptotic analysis of reinforcement learning algorithms such as Bellman-residual minimization and a version of Leastsquares temporal-difference that uses random projections and then, upstream of the Markov Decision Problem setting, discuss the practical problem of choosing a good model of states.
Feature analysis based super-resolution for video signal processing

HDTV flat panel displays are now available in many living rooms. However, a huge amount of video is still in standard definition format or has even a lower resolution and may suffer from severe coding artifacts. Displaying all this video on panels with high resolution grids makes methods mandatory which can significantly improve the video quality. Iterative reconstruction algorithms can fulfil this challenging task by utilizing internal image models and an integrated feed-back loop to control the output quality, enhancing resolution and reducing artifacts. The contribution of this paper is to depict the potential of iterative reconstruction algorithms by presenting a novel super-resolution algorithm, which is computationally very efficient and robust against motion estimation errors. Furthermore, integration of additional control mechanism into this algorithm is proposed, increasing its flexibility for processing input video with different quality levels, controlling the sharpness and detail level in the output sequence and strongly reducing side-effects caused by wrong motion estimation.
Aesthetic and Other Theoretical Virtues in Science

Here I first provide an introduction to a neglected topic in contemporary aesthetics: intellectual beauty. Then I review James McAllister? s critique of autonomism and reductionism regarding the relation between empirical and aesthetic criteria in scientific theory evaluation. Finally, I critique McAllister? s ? aesthetic induction,? and defend an alternative model that emphasizes the holistic coherence of aesthetic and other theoretical virtues in scientific theorizing.
High Dimensional Similarity Search with Bundled Query Processing on Hilbert R-Tree

Hilbert R-tree is an R-tree, which is a B-tree-like multiway balanced tree, such that data objects with high dimensions are sorted along the Hilbert curve. In this paper, we first point out that the compact Hilbert R-tree, which is a Hilbert R-tree without preserving Hilbert values, realizes the same performance as the standard Hilbert R-tree, by using the Hilbert sort and the Hilbert merge. Then, to improve search time for high dimensional objects in the compact Hilbert R-tree, we propose a bundled query processing. Furthermore, we introduce two methods, the pre-processing by the Hilbert merge and the control for the order of visiting nodes. From experimental results, we observe that, in the similarity search of sound and image data, the bundled query processing is about 30% faster than the combinations of individual query processing.
Youtube emotional database: How to acquire user feedback to build a database of emotional video stimuli

Feedbacks are an important tool for interacting within a social environment where our daily actions are continuously dictated and influenced by others as well as, of course, our actions influence others' choices. In this paper we propose a software architecture that offers a non-invasive and programmable environment to get user feedbacks during the navigation within the World Wide Web, and a research agenda on how to exploit the proposed tool for investigating on human social behaviour during co-present and virtual emotional interactional exchanges. The proposed software architecture comprises two components: a browser add-on, that catches direct or indirect user actions and a centralized database server that collects and aggregates data. We instantiated and tested our architecture by developing an application for collecting user emotional feedbacks during the visualization of videos on YouTube. The developed application is devoted to build up a large assessed database of emotional video stimuli labeled and rated by naive judges (the WWW users).
Entrepreneurial Intentions among University students of Punjab a Province of Pakistan

In order to add to literature on forecasting entrepreneurial intentions this research paper aims to examine levels of Entrepreneurial Intentions amongst Students through a model developed by Ajzen, in Punjab a province of Pakistan. Paper based survey (Entrepreneurial Intention Questionnaire) has been conducted among Pakistani university students. Intended survey has cover 197 students. Data have been analyzed using SPSS soft ware in computer while correlation, t-test regression have been utilized for finding out the results. Results have revealed that students participated in entrepreneurship education have more intention towards entrepreneurship than those who has not participated in entrepreneurship education courses. Policy makers can make policies on the basis of the research to enhance entrepreneurial mind set amongst youth of the region. It will help in socio – economic growth of the region by enhancing entrepreneurship. This study has added to the literature previously researched about antecedent of entrepreneurial inclinations in Punjabi cultural context. Especially in West Asia It will also initiate discussion on new topics for research in future. It should establish more research among this region.
Autologous Pluripotent Stem Cell–Derived β-Like Cells for Diabetes Cellular Therapy

Development of stem cell technologies for cell replacement therapy has progressed rapidly in recent years. Diabetes has long been seen as one of the first applications for stem cell–derived cells because of the loss of only a single cell type—the insulin-producing β-cell. Recent reports have detailed strategies that overcome prior hurdles to generate functional β-like cells from human pluripotent stem cells in vitro, including from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). Even with this accomplishment, addressing immunological barriers to transplantation remains a major challenge for the field. The development of clinically relevant hiPSC derivation methods from patients and demonstration that these cells can be differentiated into β-like cells presents a new opportunity to treat diabetes without immunosuppression or immunoprotective encapsulation or with only targeted protection from autoimmunity. This review focuses on the current status in generating and transplanting autologous β-cells for diabetes cell therapy, highlighting the unique advantages and challenges of this approach.
Comparison of outcomes of phase II studies and subsequent randomized control studies using identical chemotherapeutic regimens.

PURPOSE To determine whether promising results from phase II studies could be reproduced in phase III studies, and to examine which characteristics of phase II studies might be of predictive value for subsequent phase III studies. METHODS We searched for all phase III studies of chemotherapy in advanced solid malignancies, published in the English language literature from July 1998 to June 2003. Each phase III study was reviewed to identify preceding phase II studies. Phase II and phase III studies included in this analysis must have used identical regimens. Data were extracted from both phase II and phase III studies. RESULTS Of 181 phase III studies identified, 43 used therapeutic regimens identical to those in 49 preceding phase II studies. Twelve phase III studies (28%) were "positive. " The vast majority (81%) of phase III studies have lower response rates than preceding phase II studies, with a mean difference of 12.9% among all studies analyzed. None of the phase II study characteristics evaluated significantly predicted for "positive" phase III studies, but the sample size of phase II studies demonstrated a trend toward being predictive (P = .083). CONCLUSION Promising results from phase II studies frequently do not translate into "positive" phase III studies. Response rates in most phase III studies are lower than those in preceding phase II studies.