Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
AB0919 EFFECTS OF ALEXITHYMIA ON ACTIVITY PAIN, UPPER EXTREMITY FUNCTION, SYMPTOM AND DEPRESSION LEVELS IN PATIENTS WITH THORACIC OUTLET SYNDROME

Background Presentation of the most common changes in the thoracic outlet syndrome causing functional disorders of the upper limb (1). The majority of the studies published on TOS highlight physiotherapy strengthening exercises and postural reducational drills as being the mainstay of any conservative management programme for TOS (2). However, in the literature, the effect of emotional state on progression in treatment programs has not been investigated. Alexithymia, which refers to deficiencies in the self-awareness of emotional states, has been reported to be associated with poor ability in various aspects of social cognition (3). The ability of TOS patients to express themselves and their emotions will affect the success of the treatment. Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of alexithymia on upper extremity functions, symptoms, pain level, depression and anxiety in patient with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. Methods Forty-three TOS patients (36.67±13.99 years; 38 women, 5 men) were enrolled to the study. Alexithymia was assessed with Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). The patients were divided into two groups as non-alexithymia group and alexithymia group according to 51 points TAS -20 cut-off score. Pain levels at rest and activity were assessed with visual analogue scale; upper extremity function was assessed with Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire, and upper extremity symptom was assessed with using Servical Brachial Symptom Questionnaire. Mann-Whitney U test was used for data analyses. Results Activity pain level and depression in alexithymia group was higher than the non-alexithymia group, p=0,008 and p=0,007, respectively. Also, functional level and symptoms were worst in alexithymia paitents, p=0,041 and p=0,05, respectively. No difference was found between groups in anxiety and resting pain level (p>0,05). Conclusion Thoracic outlet syndrome patients who have alexithymia show worse pain, symptoms, function, and depression. Emotion should be considered in physiotherapy programs. Because the progression of alexithmia patients are worst than non-alexithmia patients. References [1] Laulan, J., Fouquet, B. , Rodaix, C. , Jauffret, P., Roquelaure, Y. , & Descatha, A. (2011). Thoracic outlet syndrome: definition, aetiological factors, diagnosis, management and occupational impact. Journal of occupational rehabilitation, 21(3), 366-373. [2] Watson, L. A. , Pizzari, T. ,Balster, S. (2010). Thoracic outlet syndrome part 2: conservative management of thoracic outlet. Manual therapy, 15(4), 305-314. [3] Moriguchi, Y. , Ohnishi, T. , Decety, J., Hirakata, M. , Maeda, M. , Matsuda, H. , & Komaki, G. (2009). The human mirror neuron system in a population with deficient self-awareness: An fMRI study in alexithymia. Human brain mapping, 30(7), 2063-2076. Disclosure of Interests None declared
Identification of Hypertension Genes Following a Genome-Wide Association Scan

Hypertension, which is defined as persistent high blood pressure, is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and affects more than 1 billion people worldwide. Approximately twenty percent of Australian adults receive treatment for hypertension and thus hypertension is also a major cost to healthcare systems, both in Australia and worldwide. Despite the high burden of hypertension on society, the majority of the risk factors for developing hypertension are still unknown. Though the involvement of environmental factors in hypertension development has been relatively well-characterised, hypertension is a complex polygenic disease of which only a few susceptibility genes have been identified. The broad aims of this research were therefore to identify hypertension susceptibility genes through both a traditional hypothesis-driven approach (candidate gene studies) and through gene discovery methods that do not rely on a priori biological assumptions (genome-wide association studies and pathway analysis studies). Using a combined approach, this research investigated both canonical blood pressure regulation pathways and novel mechanisms for association with hypertension susceptibility. The study utilised a case-control association approach involving Australian hypertensive cases and age-, sex-, and ethnicity-matched controls to investigate specific candidate genes and a more comprehensive genome-wide association study (GWAS) and pathway analysis for novel gene discovery. The candidate gene approach was based on the hypothesis that hyperhomocysteinemia-causing gene variants in enzymes of the homocysteine (Hcy) metabolism pathway increase the risk of hypertension and examined four such markers in three Hcy pathway genes, MTHFR, MTRR, and MTHFD1. Despite some mixed reports on the positive association of hypertension and MTHFR, this approach found no significant association of any of the Hcy gene markers with hypertension either individually or in an epistatic interaction model.
Higher order conditional inference using parallels with approximate Bayesian techniques

OF THE DISSERTATION Higher order conditional inference using parallels with approximate Bayesian techniques by JUAN ZHANG Dissertation Director: John E. Kolassa I consider parametric models with a scalar parameter of interest and multiple nuisance parameters. The likelihood ratio statistic is frequently used in statistical inference. The standard normal approximation to the likelihood ratio statistic generally has error of order O(n−1/2), where n denotes the sample size. When n is small, the normal approximation may not be adequate to do accurate inference. In practice, the true error is more important than asymptotic order. The intention of this study is to find an approximation which is relatively easy to apply, but which is accurate under small sample size settings. Saddlepoint approximations are well-known for higher order accuracy properties and remarkably good relative error properties. There are several saddlepoint approximations. I look for one that is flexible in application while keeping a satisfactory convergence rate. I evaluate, via Monte Carlo, the accuracies of several saddlepoint approximations, and of some classical methods, when these approximations are used to approximate p-values for hypotheses about a scalar parameter. Based on the results, I find that DiCiccio and Martin’s (1993) approximations are interesting
Anticancer Effects and uses of Melatonin A Review

Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine, MLT) is a naturally occurring hormone secreted by the pineal gland. Clinical evidence suggests that MLT may have a possible role in the treatment of cancer, where MLT presents many oncostatic properties in a wide variety of tumors, utilizing multiple and converging mechanisms. It is a potent anti-oxidative agent; its circadian rhythm-regulating properties are crucial for orchestrating patterns of hormone secretion, the imbalance of which is implicated in a wide range of hormone-dependent cancers of the reproductive organs. Recent advances in cancer treatment can offer therapeutic alternatives that could reduce the severity of unwanted side effects. Several observational studies have demonstrated a relationship between long-term disruption of circadian rhythm with decreased MLT secretion and increased cancer risk, whilst clinical evidence supports the possible benefits from MLT on the survival in patients with a range of cancers. This review will address some of the multiple anticancer properties of MLT, with a particular focus on the mechanisms counteracting tumor occurrence, growth, and development. Recent research into the oncostatic effects of MLT and the mechanisms of action explaining its efficiency for tumor regulation are summarized in this review and suggestions for the therapeutic use of MLT will be presented. RHE: Acute Lymphoid Leukemia; RAMOS: Burkitt Lymphoma; VEGFs: Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; PI3K/AKT: Phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase; HIF-1: Hypoxia-induced Factor-1; DNMTs: DNA Methyltransferases; HATs: Histone Acetyltransferase; TIMP: Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase; BRCA1: Breast Cancer Type 1 Susceptibility Protein; p16: Cyclin-dependent Kinase Inhibitor 2A; GPC3: Glypican-3; EGR3: Early Growth Response Protein 3; POU4F2: POU Domain, Class 4, Transcription Factor 2; AP-1: Activator Protein 1; TNF-alpha: Tumor Necrosis Factor; COX-2: Cyclooxygenase-2; iNOS: Cytokine-inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase; MMPs: Matrix Metalloproteinases; NMR: Nuclear Melatonin Receptors; NR: Nuclear Receptor; PPARs: Peroxisome Proliferators-activated Receptors; RXR: Retinoid X Receptor; GR: Glucocorticoid; RZR: Retinoic Z Receptor
Telop character extraction from video data

We introduce a telop character extraction method that consists of two steps: detecting a telop frame from a video sequence; and extracting telop character regions in the telop frame. Frames in which telops appear and disappear are detected regardless of background movement in the video sequence by selecting frames that have large intensity histogram differences from the previous frames and have large agreement in edge pixel positions with the subsequent frames. By segmenting the color space in a sequential manner, the method then quickly segments the detected telop frames without deteriorating segmentation results. It then filters out non-telop character regions obtained from the segmentation by using color, location, size and temporal movement features of the regions. We implement the proposed method on a PC and a workstation, and confirm that it can process live broadcast video data very effectively.
Sistema de utilización de medicamentos en pacientes de alto riesgo farmacológico: Reto de calidad

The system of medication use (SUM) is composed of multiple processes where nurses, doctors and pharmacy personnel interact, with the former having the most responsibilities. This study sought to establish the prevalence and possible causes of errors in high-risk pharmacological patients in a highly complex hospital. Method: cross-sectional study with follow-up for three months to SUM, with a total of 318 adults; Compliance was reviewed in formulating, delivering, preparing and administering medications. The data were obtained by observation in the field and review of medical records. Results: the overall prevalence of error for every 100 doses / patients throughout the SUM was 5% or more in 95% of cases. Of the total reported errors, 1.89% came to cause harm to the patient. The morning and weekend shifts, the less than six months' experience of the nursing staff and the hospital stay longer than ten days were situations with greater prevalence. Conclusion: the higher prevalence of errors in patients with high pharmacological risk suggests greater difficulty in the management of medications in these cases. Improvement strategies must be aligned with the institutional context and be specific for this group of patients. Abbreviations: SUM, medication use system.
Easy Search Method of Suspected Illegally Video Signal Using Correlation Coefficient for each Silent and Motion regions

Motion picture distribution has been great increase of content, the copyright infringement measures are becoming increasingly important. In this paper we propose a simple moving image retrieval method. The method divides the motion region and a static region by using a mhi image. Due to check the similarity of target video and original video, it uses the correlation coefficient of mhi image for motion region, and uses the correlation coefficient of the static image for the silent area. Computer simulation is carried out to show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
xR2RML: Relational and Non-Relational Databases to RDF Mapping Language

This document describes xR2RML, a language for expressing customized mappings from various types of databases (XML, object-oriented, NoSQL) to RDF datasets. xR2RML flexibly adapts to heterogeneous query languages and data models while remaining free from any specific language or syntax. It extends R2RML, the W3C recommendation for the mapping of relational databases to RDF, and relies on RML for the handling of various data representation formats. Web version available at: http://i3s.unice. fr/~fmichel/xr2rml_specification_v5. html
Benign inflammatory cervical smear in a background of normal diagnostic dilatation and curettage finding - a rare presentation of endometrial carcinoma

Endometrial carcinoma is a primary tumor of the uterus that usually presented with abnormal uterine bleeding commonly in post menopausal woman. However, it can also manifests as abnormal cervical cytology even in a pre-menopausal age group which should be confirmed by endometrial biopsy. Dilatation and curettage (D&C) is an invasive and diagnostic procedure to identify specific causes for abnormal uterine bleeding with high sensitivity of up to 99% in detecting endometrial lesions. We report a case of early detection of endometrial carcinoma in a 56 year old diabetic woman who presented with history of intermitted prolonged menses which previously reassured with a normal diagnostic dilatation and curettage finding. However, subsequent cervical smear as part of routine screening in our clinic revealed persistent benign inflammatory changes. Despite in dilemma of previous normal D&C, we referred again this case for bedside endometrial biopsy which revealed a new finding of endometrial carcinoma. She benefits early staging and treatment. We would like to report a case of a rare presentation of early endometrial carcinoma manifested as incidental findings of benign inflammatory cervical changes in a low suspicious patient in view of clear findings of a recent diagnostic D&C. This case had proved important role of continuous regular screening in primary care regardless of previous diagnostic background.
HealthySteps: Transforming the Promise of Pediatric Care

Summary:In this article, Trenna Valado, Jennifer Tracey, Jonathan Goldfinger, and Rahil Briggs highlight the potential to expand the promise of pediatric care to encompass the full array of child and family needs that can affect the long-term wellbeing of infants and toddlers.Pediatric care is not stigmatized, nearly universally accessed, and oriented toward prevention. The American Academy of Pediatrics already urges pediatricians to screen for adverse childhood experiences, maternal depression, behavioral and developmental risk, and even the effects of poverty on children. Most pediatricians would like to extend their narrow health care mandate to broader social-emotional and behavioral care and education, but they're often constrained by issues of time, training, and reimbursement.Valado and her colleagues offer a solution to those constraints: HealthySteps, a risk-stratified, population health model that integrates a skilled child development professional—called a HealthySteps specialist—into the pediatric care team. The model comprises eight core components that can be divided into three tiers of service, beginning with universal screening that allows practices to identify children and families at higher risk of negative outcomes. These families are then offered the more intensive service tiers, in which they receive customized support based on their needs.The evidence supporting HealthySteps comes from a large multi-site evaluation conducted by Johns Hopkins University, which included a randomized controlled trial component, as well as several site-level research studies. Results from this research indicate that HealthySteps had an array of positive impacts on practices that adopted the program and clients they served, including increased physician and caregiver satisfaction, improved continuity of care, greater adherence to recommended well-child visits and vaccinations, and increased rates of developmental screening and other services. There were also positive impacts on children and parents over time, though many of these impacts were modest. The HealthySteps National Office is continuing to evaluate implementation, training, impact, and cost as the program spreads across the nation. Questions that remain to be answered include how such a model should be financed and how health insurance could pay for it.
The Pathogenesis and Immune-Response in Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever

Introduction: Dengue fever has spread to be endemic in addition of 100 countries to a total estimate incidence of 50 – 100 million cases annually globally. About 0.7% of these cases become the complication that is dengue hemorrhagic fever which is severe and leads to about 22,000 deaths annually. The pathogenesis of benign dengue fever becoming dengue hemorrhagic fever, and aspects of the immune-response behind it, have remained relatively unknown. Methods: Existing literature on the Topic was retrieved through Google Scholar and PubMed searches, and the literature reviewed. Results: Dengue hemorrhagic fever appears commoner in females and those with co-morbids such as diabetes-mellitus and obesity. Also, the case-fatality rate in severe dengue appears much bigger in females. The reasons for this are largely unknown but the additionally robust immune response in females, resulting in females to be additionally prone to develop bigger inflammatory response or enhanced susceptibility to capillary permeability could be the reason. It has been shown that viremic-load, including the initial viremic-load at the bite of the Aedes-mosquito may be a factor leading to dengue hemorrhagic fever. Yet different factors felt to be causative in the pathogenesis of dengue hemorrhagic fever include the role of the viral-protein, and then that which is termed the original antigenic-sin, the antibody-directed enhancement, autoimmunity, inhibition of interferon-alpha and cytokine-storm within the memory-cells. Regionally, certain different strains of the DENV also seem to be associated with dengue hemorrhagic fever. Newer-vaccines, based on the immunology of the disease, offer much hope in the near future. Conclusion: Much knowledge has been forthcoming in realizing the pathogenesis of dengue hemorrhagic fever. But, additional studies need to be done.
Distributed multi-view video coding

There are mainly two key points which can affect the efficiency of multi-view video capture and transmission system largely: communication between cameras and computing complexity of encoder. In this paper, we propose a practical framework of distributed multi-view video coding, in which inter-camera communication is avoided and the large computing complexity is moved from encoder to decoder. In this scheme, multi-camera video sources are encoded separately and decoded dependently, and the traditional inter frame is replaced by Wyner-Ziv frame. To reach this goal, Wyner-Ziv theory on source coding with side information is employed as the basic coding principle. A Wyner-Ziv coding method based on wavelet transform and turbo codes is used as the core of the scheme. To further improve the coding performance, we also consider exploiting the large redundancy between adjacent views. A more flexible prediction method that can jointly use temporal and view correlations is proposed to generate the side information at the decoder. The experimental results show that the coding performance of proposed DMVC scheme is very promising compared to the traditional intra coding.
Robot programming by demonstration : a probabilistic approach

ACKNOWLEDGMENT INTRODUCTION Contributions Organization of the book Review of Robot Programming by Demonstration (PBD) Current state of the art in PbD SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE Illustration of the proposed probabilistic approach Encoding of motion in a Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) Encoding of motion in Hidden Markov Model (HMM) Reproduction through Gaussian Mixture Regression (GMR) Reproduction by considering multiple constraints Learning of model parameters Reduction of dimensionality and latent space projection Model selection and initialization Regularization of GMM parameters Use of prior information to speed up the learning process Extension to mixture models of varying density distributions Summary of the chapter COMPARISON AND OPTIMIZATION OF THE PARAMETERS Optimal reproduction of trajectories through HMM and GMM/GMR Optimal latent space of motion Optimal selection of the number of Gaussians Robustness evaluation of the incremental learning process HANDLING OF CONSTRAINTS IN JOINT SPACE AND TASK SPACE Inverse kinematics Handling of task constraints in joint spaceexperiment with industrial robot Handling of task constraints in latent spaceexperiment with humanoid robot EXTENSION TO DYNAMICAL SYSTEM AND HANDLING OF PERTURBATIONS Proposed dynamical system Influence of the dynamical system parameters Experimental setup Experimental results TRANSFERRING SKILLS THROUGH ACTIVE TEACHING METHODS Experimental setup Experimental results Roles of an active teaching scenario USING SOCIAL CUES TO SPEED UP THE LEARNING PROCESS Experimental setup Experimental results DISCUSSION, FUTURE WORK AND CONCLUSIONS Advantages of the proposed approach Failures and limitations of the proposed approach Further issues Final words REFERENCES INDEX
The profiles of public and private patients in maternal healthcare: a longitudinal study to examine adverse selection

Abstract In this article, we investigate differences in the profiles of patients within the Australian mixed public-private maternal health system to examine the extent of adverse selection. There are conflicting influences on adverse selection within the private health sector in Australia due to government regulations that incentivise lower risk segments of the population to purchase community-rated private health insurance. We use a two-phase modelling methodology that incorporates statistical learning and logistic regression on a dataset that links administrative and longitudinal survey data for a large cohort of women. We find that the key predictor of private patient status is having private health insurance, which itself is largely driven by sociodemographic factors rather than health-or pregnancy-related factors. Additionally, transitioning between the public-private systems for a subsequent pregnancy is uncommon; however, it is primarily driven by changes in private health insurance when it occurs. Other significant factors when transitioning to the private system for a second pregnancy are hypertension, increased access to specialists and stress related to previous motherhood experiences. Consequently, there is limited evidence of adverse selection in this market, with targeted financial incentives likely outweighing the impact of community rating even during childbearing years where private health service use increases.
The quality of medication optimization among patients with transient ischemic attack or minor stroke

To assess the quality of medication optimization for transient ischemic attack (TIA) and minor stroke patients across the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), and to identify characteristics predicting medication optimization for hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes. The scope of this study focuses on these three medication‐related conditions and defines optimization as medication changes or additions made within a guideline‐defined timeframe.
Efficient modeling of interconnections in a VLSI circuit

An efficient method is presented for modelling the parasitic capacitance of interconnections in a VLSI circuit. The method is three-dimensional and based on a combination of the Green's function method and a recently proposed technique for inverting partially specified, positive definite matrices. It yields a reduced yet accurate model and requires O(s) time and O( square root s) storage, where s is the size of the layout. <<ETX>>