Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Answer Selection and Confidence Estimation

We describe BBN’s Question Answering work at TREC 2002. We focus on two issues: answer selection and confidence estimation. We found that some simple constraints on the candidate answers can improve a pure IRbased technique for answer selection. We also found that a few simple features derived from the question-answer pairs can be used for effective confidence estimation. Our results also confirmed earlie rf indings that the World-Wide Web is av ery useful r esource for answering TREC-style factoid questions.
Parent- and Self-Ratings of Executive Functions in Adolescents and Young Adults With Spina Bifida

This study examined the agreement and consistency of parent- and self-report of executive functioning (EF) (Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functions; BRIEF) in an adolescent cohort of youth with myelomeningocele and shunted hydrocephalus (MMH). A total of 30 youth participants with MMH and their parents were recruited during adolescence (age 11–18, mean age 14), and a smaller sample (n = 13) was re-evaluated during young adulthood (age 18–26, mean age 22). Parent- and self-report T-scores were moderately correlated during adolescence (General Executive Composite, GEC, r = .504, p = .007) and adulthood (GEC, r = .571, p = .041). Compared to adolescent self-ratings, parent-ratings suggested higher levels of overall executive dysfunction and problems with metacognitive abilities during adolescence. Preliminary results from a small follow up sample, however, suggest that self- and parent-report of executive functioning may become more comparable during young adulthood. These preliminary data also suggest stability of deficit and/or possible improvement in executive presentation during the transition from adolescence to adulthood in this clinical population. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Intermediate doses of rituximab used as adjuvant therapy in refractory pemphigus.

BACKGROUND Rituximab, a monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody, has been used with encouraging results in pemphigus. We describe herein refractory cases of pemphigus vulgaris (n = 23) and pemphigus foliaceus (n = 1) treated with rituximab in addition to steroids and immunosuppressants. AIMS To assess the response to treatment, the duration of clinical remission, serology of the response and adverse effects of rituximab in pemphigus patients. METHODS We recorded observations of 24 patients with pemphigus having either refractory disease in spite of high dose of steroids and immunosuppressants, corticosteroid-dependent disease, strong contraindications to corticosteroids, or severe disease. The patients were treated with infusions of one injection per week for three consecutive weeks of 375 mg of rituximab per m ² of body-surface area. One similar infusion was repeated after 3 months of 3 rd dose. We observed the clinical outcome after 6 months of 3 rd dose of rituximab and looked for complete healing of cutaneous and mucosal lesions (complete remission). OBSERVATIONS After follow-up of 7-24 months, five patients showed only partial improvement while 19 of 24 patients had a complete remission 3 months after rituximab. Of these 19 patients, 12 patients achieved complete remission and are off all systemic therapy, and the rest are continuing with no or low dose of steroids with immunosuppressants. Two patients relapsed after initial improvement; one was given moderate dose of oral steroids and immunosuppressant and the other was given repeat single dose of rituximab to control relapse. CONCLUSION Rituximab is able to induce a prolonged clinical remission in pemphigus after a single course of four infusions. The high cost and limited knowledge of long term adverse effects are limitations to the use of this biologic agent.
Privacy in the Internet-of-Things : Perceptions and Behaviour

Copyright is held by the author/owner. Permission to make digital or hard copies of all or part of this work for personal or classroom use is granted without fee. Poster presented at the 13th Symposium on Usable Privacy and Security (SOUPS 2017). Abstract Through opinion polls and surveys, the public appear to value their privacy. However, they are often judged to act to the contrary when using technology. This disparity between opinions and actions has been labelled the ‘Privacy Paradox’. While the Internet-of-Things (IoT) offers many benefits, it can also place privacy at risk. Through our continued research, we explore the influence of the IoT on the Privacy Paradox. In this article, we discuss our recent and ongoing work. We first present our privacy opinion survey [N = 170], conducted with the general public. Through it, we found IoT products were considered less private, familiar and usable, with this potentially constraining protective behaviour. We move on to describe our public interviews [N = 40], where we compare privacy opinions and actions. We found the Paradox is significantly more prevalent in the IoT, particularly on wearable devices. Attempting to mitigate this issue, we finally describe our prototype smartwatch games. These apps will comprise one component of training sessions, in which we seek to incentivise privacy protection.
Intensive care of patients with HIV infection.

The intensive care of patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is increasingly complex and may involve difficult decisions about the initiation or continuation of antiretroviral therapy. In some critically ill patients, the diagnosis of HIV has not been established, and there are legal implications for many important clinical decisions. Care may also be complicated by HIV-related pulmonary, cardiac, or renal impairment.
Unified Analysis of Switched-Resonator Converters

A mechanism for power processing is presented, in which a certain amount of energy is transferred from the source to the output in each cycle. The result is establishing a family of resonant converters so-called switched-resonator converters. The basic nonisolated formation presented in this paper exhibits a collection of 23 simple dc-dc converters. All topologies are inherently soft switched and systematically synthesized. A plenary analysis of the proposed converters is presented.
Roughness-dependent Removal of Settled Spores of the Green Alga Ulva (syn. Enteromorpha) Exposed to Hydrodynamic Forces from a Water Jet

Topographic features change the hydrodynamic regime over surfaces subjected to flow. Hydrodynamic microenvironments around topographic structures may have consequences for recruitment and removal of propagules of marine benthic organisms. The settlement and adhesion of zoospores from the green alga Ulva linza (syn. Enteromorpha linza) to defined topographies was investigated. A range of topographic size scales (Rz: 25 – 100 μm) was manufactured from plankton nets, creating patterns with ridges and depressions. The topographic scales span a roughness similar to that of natural substrata and antifouling coatings. Spores were removed from the surfaces by a calibrated water jet. Fewer spores were removed from the smallest topographic structure tested (Rz: 25 μm) compared to both the smooth (Rz: 1) and the roughest (Rz: 100 μm) structures. Zoospores that settled in depressions were less likely to be removed compared to spores on the ridges. The results in terms of the interaction between surface topography and hydrodynamic forces have implications for both natural substrata exposed to wave action and antifouling surfaces on ships' hulls. The possible effects of topography on increasing zoospore adhesion and offering a refuge from hydrodynamic forces are discussed.
Liver fibrogenesis and the role of hepatic stellate cells: New insights and prospects for therapy

Hepatic fibrosis is a wound‐healing response to chronic liver injury, which if persistent leads to cirrhosis and liver failure. Exciting progress has been made in understanding the mechanisms of hepatic fibrosis. Major advances include: (i) characterization of the components of extracellular matrix (ECM) in normal and fibrotic liver; (ii) identification of hepatic stellate cells as the primary source of ECM in liver fibrosis; (iii) elucidation of key cytokines, their cellular sources, modes of regulation, and signalling pathways involved in liver fibrogenesis; (iv) characterization of key matrix proteases and their inhibitors; (v) identification of apoptotic mediators in stellate cells and exploration of their roles during the resolution of liver injury. These advances have helped delineate a more comprehensive picture of liver fibrosis in which the central event is the activation of stellate cells, a transformation from quiescent vitamin A‐rich cells to proliferative, fibrogenic and contractile myofibroblasts. The progress in understanding fibrogenic mechanisms brings the development of effective therapies closer to reality. In the future, targeting of stellate cells and fibrogenic mediators will be a mainstay of antifibrotic therapy. Points of therapeutic intervention may include: (i) removing the injurious stimuli; (ii) suppressing hepatic inflammation; (iii) down‐regulating stellate cell activation; and (iv) promoting matrix degradation. The future prospects for effective antifibrotic treatment are more promising than ever for the millions of patients with chronic liver disease worldwide.
Evaluating the evolving evidence: The challenges of molecular-targeted therapy in management of gastric cancer

Over the past decade, a multitude of molecular targeted agents have been explored in the treatment of advanced metastatic gastric. Recent advances in molecular signaling pathways that are dysregulated in gastric cancer lead to the development of new targeted therapies for the treatment of advanced and metastatic gastric cancer. The addition of trastuzumab to first-line chemotherapy is now a standard of care for the treatment of Human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2-) positive advanced or metastatic disease, and other HER2-targeted therapies are in late-stage clinical development. Findings from recent major clinical trials provide important insight into the future of metastatic gastric cancer management, which may include the use of anti-angiogenesis, Mesenchymal epithelial transition factor (MET) and Hedgehog Pathways Inhibitortherapy across multiple treatment lines, in the salvage setting, and as part of novel regimens in combination with other targeted agents.
Community structure and organization of tidepools

Although tidepools are conspicuous components of rocky intertidal shores, their biotic communities have not been studied as extensively as those on emergent substrata. We examine processes regulating the structure of tidepool communities for comparison with emergent substrata. The physical environment of tidepools is highly regulated by the hdal cycle, although fluctuations in physical factors are smaller in tidepools, and the organisms remain submerged for the entire tidal cycle. As a result, the upper limits of the distribution of organisms are extended in tidepools and some species either tend to aggregate in pools or avold them. The vertical zonation of organisms is not as pronounced in tidepools as on emergent substrata. Herbivory has been shown to influence the distribution and abundance of algal species in tidepools, but the effect of predation in regulating community structure has been less well documented. The importance of interspecific competition has been consistently shown in tidepools, particularly among algal species, which usually are the dominant space occupiers. Although the introduction of most species into tidepools depends upon recruitment from the surrounding water, the effects of variation in the supply of new individuals has not been examined. Aspects of the physical regime such as habitat complexity and wave exposure affect the community structure of tidepools, as they do communities on emergent substrata. However, the specific characteristics of tidepools such as pool depth, volume, orientation, shading and flushlng rate make indvidual pools unique, resulting in large spatial variability in bdepool community structure. For this reason, replication in tidepool stuhes should be carefully selected. Because of their variable characteristics, well-defined boundaries and tidepools of manageable size can serve as experimental mesocosms to test general ecological theories about community organization.
Peripheral T-lymphocyte subpopulations in different clinical stages of chronic HBV infection correlate with HBV load.

AIM To characterize the peripheral T-cell subpopulation profiles and their correlation with hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication in different clinical stages of chronic HBV infection. METHODS A total of 422 patients with chronic HBV infection were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into three stages: immune-tolerant stage, immune active stage, and immune-inactive carrier stage. Composition of peripheral T-cell subpopulations was determined by flow cytometry. HBV markers were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Serum HBV DNA load was assessed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS CD8(+) T-cells were significantly higher in patients at the immune-tolerant stage than in patients at the immune-active and -inactive carrier stages (36.87 +/- 7.58 vs 34.37 +/- 9.07, 36.87 +/- 7.58 vs 28.09 +/- 5.64, P < 0.001). The peripheral blood in patients at the immune-tolerant and immune active stages contained more CD8(+) T-cells than CD4(+) T-cells (36.87 +/- 7.58 vs 30.23 +/- 6.35, 34.37 +/- 9.07 vs 30.92 +/- 7.40, P < 0.01), whereas the peripheral blood in patients at the immune-inactive carrier stage and in normal controls contained less CD8(+) T-cells than CD4(+) T-cells (28.09 +/- 5.64 vs 36.85 +/- 6.06, 24.02 +/- 4.35 vs 38.94 +/- 3.39, P < 0.01). ANOVA linear trend test showed that CD8(+) T-cells were significantly increased in patients with a high viral load (39.41 +/- 7.36, 33.83 +/- 7.50, 31.81 +/- 5.95 and 26.89 +/- 5.71, P < 0.001), while CD4(+) T-cells were significantly increased in patients with a low HBV DNA load (37.45 +/- 6.14, 33.33 +/- 5.61, 31.58 +/- 6.99 and 27.56 +/- 5.49, P < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis displayed that log copies of HBV DNA still maintained its highly significant coefficients for T-cell subpopulations, and was the strongest predictors for variations in CD3(+), CD4(+) and CD8(+) cells and CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratio after adjustment for age at HBV-infection, maternal HBV-infection status, presence of hepatitis B e antigen and HBV mutation. CONCLUSION Differences in peripheral T-cell subpopulation profiles can be found in different clinical stages of chronic HBV infection. T-cell impairment is significantly associated with HBV load.
Factors that affect albumin concentration in dialysis patients and their relationship to vascular disease.

INTRODUCTION Hypoalbuminemia is a powerful risk factor for cardiovascular mortality in hemodialysis patients (HD). Inflammation causes a decrease in albumin synthesis and an increase in albumin fractional catabolic rate, providing two mechanisms for hypoalbuminemia. The inflammatory response alters the endothelium and plasma protein composition in ways that favor vascular injury. Plasma volume is expanded in HD patients, providing another mechanism for hypoalbuminemia. Fibrinogen levels are an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in HD patients, and fibrinogen levels are increased in HD patients. Plasma volume expansion is also an independent risk factor for CVD. METHODS Albumin synthesis was measured in 74 HD patients as the disappearance of [125I] human albumin over six weeks. Fibrinogen was measured in plasma. Plasma fibrinogen mass was the product of fibrinogen concentration and plasma volume. RESULTS Albumin synthesis correlated positively with plasma volume (P < 0.001). Fibrinogen concentration and plasma fibrinogen mass both correlated positively with albumin synthesis (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Albumin levels are reduced as part of the acute-phase response in HD. Plasma volume expansion also tends to decrease albumin concentration, but elicits an increase in its rate of synthesis, which, in turn, is associated with increased fibrinogen levels. Thus, both inflammation and plasma volume expansion factors that reduce albumin concentration and are independent cardiovascular risk factors, independently increase fibrinogen levels.
Methylphenidate, cognition, and epilepsy: A 1‐month open‐label trial

Cognitive difficulties are common in epilepsy. Beyond reducing seizures and adjusting antiepileptic medications, no well‐validated treatment exists in adults. Methylphenidate is used effectively in children with epilepsy and attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder, but its effects in adults have not been systematically evaluated. We hypothesized that methylphenidate can safely improve cognition in adults with epilepsy. We detail here the open‐label follow‐up to a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, single‐dose study.
Alendronate improves screw fixation in osteoporotic bone.

BACKGROUND Animal studies have demonstrated the efficacy of the use of bisphosphonates to enhance screw fixation in bone. In this prospective, randomized study of pertrochanteric fractures treated with external fixation, we tested whether systemic administration of bisphosphonates would improve the fixation of hydroxyapatite-coated screws implanted in osteoporotic bone. METHODS Sixteen consecutive patients with a pertrochanteric fracture were selected. Inclusion criteria were female gender, an age of at least sixty-five years, and a bone mineral density T-score of less than -2.5 standard deviations. Exclusion criteria included bisphosphonate treatment during the two-year period prior to the fracture. Fractures were fixed with a pertrochanteric fixator and four hydroxyapatite-coated pins. Two pins were implanted in the femoral head (pin positions 1 and 2), and two were placed in the femoral diaphysis (pin positions 3 and 4). The patients were randomized either to therapy with alendronate for a three-month postoperative period (Group A) or to no therapy (Group B). The Group-A patients received an oral dose of 70 mg of alendronate per week. The fixators were removed after three months. RESULTS All of the fractures healed, and no loss of reduction, nonunion, or delayed union was observed. The combined mean extraction torque (and standard deviation) of the pins implanted at positions 1 and 2 (cancellous bone) was 2558 +/- 1103 N/mm in Group A and 1171 +/- 480 N/mm in Group B (p < 0.0005). The combined mean extraction torque of the pins implanted at positions 3 and 4 (cortical bone) was 4327 +/- 1720 N/mm in Group A and 4075 +/- 1022 N/mm in Group B. CONCLUSIONS These data show that weekly systemic administration of alendronate improves pin fixation in cancellous bone in elderly female patients with osteoporosis. We observed a twofold increase in extraction torque with the pins implanted in cancellous bone. These results support the use of alendronate in the treatment of osteoporotic pertrochanteric fractures to improve screw fixation in the femoral head.
Statistical characteristics of formation and evolution of structure in the Universe

ABSTRA C T An approximate statistical description of the formation and evolution of structure of the Universe based on the Zel’dovich theory of gravitational instability is proposed. It is found that the evolution of dark matter (DM) structure shows features of self-similarity and the main structure characteristics can be expressed through the parameters of the initial power spectrum and cosmological model. For the CDM-like power spectrum and suitable parameters of the cosmological model the effective matter compression reaches the observed scales Rwall , 20‐25h 21 Mpc with the typical mean separation of wall-like elements DSLSS , 50‐70h 21 Mpc. This description can be directly applied to the deep pencil beam galactic surveys and absorption spectra of quasars. For larger 3D catalogues and simulations it can be applied to results obtained with the core-sampling analysis. It is shown that the interaction of large- and small-scale perturbations modulates the creation rate of early Zel’dovich pancakes and generates bias on the SLSS scale. For suitable parameters of the cosmological model and reheating process this bias can essentially improve the characteristics of simulated structure of the Universe. The models with 0:3 # Vm # 0:5 give the best description of the observed structure parameters. The influence of low-mass ‘warm’ dark matter particles, such as a massive neutrino, will extend the acceptable range of Vm and h.
1.2 GBit/s Pseudo Random Pulse Generator Using Multiplexing with GaAs Mesfet Gates

A l.2 Gbit/s RZ pseudo random bit generator using multiplexing of six 200 Mbit/s channels, and a GaAs-MESFET gate circuit which exhibits both high speed and simplicity are presented. As a new contribution to the treatment of pseudo random sequences it is shown how the autocorrelation function and the Fourier spectrum of a sequence obtained by multiplexing are distorted. These functions may be shaped to a desired form by proper choice of mutual delays of sequences contributing to the multiplexing.
Identification of the Active Synaptic Region by Means of Histochemical and Freeze-etching Techniques

Synaptic fine structure was studied with recently developed histo­ chemical methods and the freeze-etching technique. The concept of the pre­ synaptic vesicular grid is supported by further evidence from various brain regions. The combined use of techniques for the specific impregnation of the two components proved especially useful. Both Sand F-type synapses have characteristic preand postsynaptic densities and are therefore asymmetrical. Postsynaptic densities at axosomatic synapses may be relatively thin in Fas well as in S-type junctions. Freeze-etching pictures of unfixed neuropil tend to confirm the main features of active synaptic sites in Fand S-type synap­ ses as revealed by more conventional techniques. Conceivably, the methods used in this study may prove not only useful in describing normal synaptic morphology but in the qualitative and quantitative evaluation of experimen­ tally induced alterations of the synaptic complex.
Pak2 Kinase Restrains Mast Cell FcϵRI Receptor Signaling through Modulation of Rho Protein Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor (GEF) Activity*

Background: The protein kinase Pak1 stimulates mast cell degranulation, but the role of the more abundant isoform Pak2 in these cells is unknown. Results: Pak2, unlike Pak1, inhibits mast cell degranulation via a GEF-H1-RhoA pathway. Conclusion: Pak2 mediates signals between FcϵRI and secretion through regulation of the GEF responsible for RhoA activation. Significance: Pak2 has an opposing role to Pak1 in mast cell degranulation. p21-activated kinase-1 (Pak1) is a serine/threonine kinase that plays a key role in mediating antigen-stimulated extracellular calcium influx and degranulation in mast cells. Another isoform in this kinase family, Pak2, is expressed at very high levels in mast cells, but its function is unknown. Here we show that Pak2 loss in murine bone marrow-derived mast cells, unlike loss of Pak1, induces increased antigen-mediated adhesion, degranulation, and cytokine secretion without changes to extracellular calcium influx. This phenotype is associated with an increase in RhoA-GTPase signaling activity to downstream effectors, including myosin light chain and p38MAPK, and is reversed upon treatment with a Rho-specific inhibitor. Pak2, but not Pak1, negatively regulates RhoA via phosphorylation of the guanine nucleotide exchange factor GEF-H1 at an inhibitory site, leading to increased GEF-H1 microtubule binding and loss of RhoA stimulation. These data suggest that Pak2 plays a unique inhibitory role in mast cell degranulation by down-regulating RhoA via GEF-H1.