Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On Wine Bullshit: Some New Software?*

The inspiration for the exegesis that follows comes directly from Harry G. Frankfurt, distinguished emeritus professor of philosophy at Princeton University, who recently published an enormously successful essay on the subject of bullshit (Frankfurt, 2005). In the author's view, “One of the most salient features of our culture is that there is so much bullshit. Everyone knows this. Each of us contributes his share. But we tend to take the situation for granted. Most people are rather confident of their ability to recognize bullshit and to avoid being taken in by it. So the phenomenon has not aroused much deliberate concern. We have no clear understanding of what bullshit is, why there is so much of it, or what functions it serves. ” (Frankfurt, 2005, p. 1) A fine philosophical insight into bullshit is provided by Bernie Laplante, played by Dustin Hoffman in the movie “Hero. ”
Social Capital in the College Setting: The Impact of Participation in Campus Activities on Drinking and Alcohol-Related Harms

Objective: The authors aimed to replicate previous findings on social capital and harmful alcohol outcomes in the college setting and to ascertain the protective effects of additional indicators of social capital. Methods: Over 4 years (2000-2004), the authors conducted annual cross-sectional, random-sample student surveys at 32 US institutions of higher education (N = 15,875) and constructed multilevel models to examine the association between individual- and campus-level participation in campus activities and harmful drinking outcomes. Results: At the individual level, community volunteerism was protective against harmful drinking outcomes. In contrast to past research, campus-level volunteerism was not significantly associated with the outcome measures. At both the individual and campus levels, participation in a religious organization was protective. Greek membership and varsity athletic participation were risk factors at the individual level. Conclusions: Results did not corroborate previous findings and revealed mixed results for other measures of participation at the campus level. The influence of social capital on college alcohol consumption deserves further attention.
CHOROIDAL THICKNESS IN RETINAL PIGMENT EPITHELIAL TEAR AS MEASURED BY SPECTRAL DOMAIN OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY

Purpose: To evaluate the choroidal thickness with spectral domain optical coherence tomography in subjects with retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) tear compared with the choroidal thickness of their fellow eye. Methods: For this cross-sectional investigation, seven eyes of seven patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration and RPE tear in one eye imaged with spectral domain optical coherence tomography were identified. Choroidal thickness was measured from the posterior edge of the retinal pigment epithelium to the choroid/sclera junction at 500 &mgr;m intervals up to 2,500 &mgr;m temporal and nasal to the fovea in both the eye with the RPE tear and the eye with intact RPE. All measurements were performed by two independent observers and averaged for the purpose of the analysis. Measurements were compared using paired t-test. Results: The average age of patients was 79 years (range, 66–88 years). All subjects had dome-shaped pigment epithelial detachments before RPE tear and no dome-shaped pigment epithelial detachments in the unaffected eye. Average subfoveal choroidal thickness in the eye with the RPE tear was 154.9 ± 10.1 µm. Average subfoveal choroidal thickness in the eye with intact RPE was 212.9 ± 10.6 µm (P = 0.035). Conclusion: There is a significant decrease in subfoveal choroidal thickness in the subjects with RPE tear compared with their fellow eye with intact RPE. It is unclear if this thinning is a consequence of or precedes the RPE tear. Further studies are necessary to prospectively follow choroidal thickness in subjects with dome-shaped pigment epithelial detachments.
Cloning, characterization, and phylogenetic analysis of a shrimp white spot syndrome virus gene that encodes a protein kinase.

An open reading frame (ORF) that encodes a 715-amino-acid polypeptide was found in an 8421-bp EcoRI fragment of the shrimp white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) genome. The polypeptide shows significant homology to eukaryotic serine/threonine protein kinase (PK) and contains the major conserved subdomains for eukaryotic protein kinases. Coupled in vitro transcription and translation generated a protein having an apparent molecular mass of about 87 kDa according to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. For transcriptional analysis of the pk gene, total RNA was isolated from WSSV-infected shrimp at different times after infection. Northern blot analysis with pk-specific riboprobe found a major and a minor transcript of 2.7 and 5.7 kb, respectively. Rapid amplification of the 5' cDNA ends of the major 2.7-kb pk transcript showed that there were two transcriptional initiation sites located at nucleotide residues -38(G) and -39(G) relative to the ATG translational start codon. Temporal expression analysis by RT-PCR indicated that the transcription of the pk gene started 2 h after infection and continued for at least 60 h. Phylogenetic analysis showed that WSSV protein kinase does not have any close relatives and does not fall into any of the major protein kinase groups.
Matched comparison of radical nephrectomy vs nephron-sparing surgery in patients with unilateral renal cell carcinoma and a normal contralateral kidney.

OBJECTIVE To report the long-term follow-up of a matched comparison of radical nephrectomy (RN) and nephron-sparing surgery (NSS) in patients with single unilateral renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and a normal contralateral kidney. PATIENTS AND METHODS Between August 1966 and March 1999, 1492 and 189 patients with unilateral RCC and a normal contralateral kidney underwent RN and NSS, respectively. Patients with renal impairment, previous nephrectomy, bilateral or multiple RCCs, metastasis, and familial cancer syndromes were excluded. A total 164 patients in each cohort were matched according to pathological grade, pathological T stage, size of tumor, age, sex, and year of surgery. The Kaplan-Meier method and stratified Cox proportional hazards model were used to estimate and compare overall, cancer-specific, local recurrence-free, and metastasis-free survival and survival free of chronic renal insufficiency. The 2 groups were evaluated for early (< or = 30 days) complications and proteinuria at last follow-up. RESULTS At last follow-up, 126 RN patients (77%) and 130 NSS patients (79%) were alive with no evidence of disease. There was no significant difference observed between patients who had RN and those who had NSS with respect to overall survival (risk ratio, 0.96; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.52-1.74; P = .88) or cancer-specific survival (risk ratio, 1.33; 95% CI, 0.30-5.95; P = .71). At 10 years, similar rates of contralateral recurrence (0.9% for RN vs 1% for NSS) and metastasis (4.9% for RN vs 4.3% for NSS) were seen in each group, whereas the rate of ipsilateral local recurrence for patients who underwent RN and NSS was 0.8% and 5.4%, respectively (P = .18). There was no significant difference in the early complications between the RN and NSS groups. However, patients who underwent RN had a significantly higher risk for proteinuria as defined by a protein/osmolality ratio of 0.12 or higher (55.2% vs 34.5%; P = .01). At 10 years, the cumulative incidence of chronic renal insufficiency (creatinine > 2.0 mg/dL at least 30 days after surgery) was 22.4% and 11.6%, respectively, for the RN and NSS groups (risk ratio, 3.7; 95% CI, 1.2-11.2; P = .01). CONCLUSIONS This retrospective study of patients with unilateral RCC and a normal contralateral kidney suggests that NSS is as effective as RN for the treatment of RCC on long-term follow-up. The increased risk of chronic renal insufficiency and proteinuria after RN supports use of NSS.
Current states of endogenous stem cells in adult spinal cord

New neurons are continuously generated throughout life in the subgranular zone in the dentate gyrus of the mammalian hippocampus and in the subventricular zone of the lateral ventricles. With the aid of new methodologies, significant progress has been made in the characterization of endogenous stem cells (ependymal cells) and their development in the adult spinal cord. Recent studies have shed light on essential extrinsic and intrinsic molecular mechanisms that govern sequential steps of neurogenesis in the adult spinal cord. This review discusses the occurrence, origin, and specific makers of ependymal cells; the factors regulating neurogenesis of multipotent ependymal cells; and the implications of ependymal cells in the repair of spinal cord injuries. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Focal Palmoplantar Keratoderma Caused by an Autosomal Dominant Inherited Mutation in the Desmoglein 1 Gene

Background: Palmoplantar keratodermas (PPK) encompass a large genetically heterogeneous group of diseases associated with hyperkeratosis of the soles and/or palms that occur either isolated or in association with other cutaneous and extracutaneous manifestations. Pathogenic mutations in the desmoglein 1 gene (DSG1) have recently been identified in a subset of patients with the striate type of PPK. Observation: We have identified a patient with a focal non-striated form of PPK associated with discrete troubles of keratinisation at sites exposed to mechanical trauma, such as the knees, ankles or finger knuckles, and with mild nail dystrophy. Genetic analyses disclosed a novel dominantly inherited heterozygous single base insertion in exon 3 of DSG1, 121insT, leading to a premature termination codon. The mutation was also present in the father and in a sister. Conclusion: Our observation extends the spectrum of clinical features associated with genetic defects in DSG1 and provides further evidence that perturbation of desmoglein 1 expression has a critical impact on the integrity of tissues experiencing strong mechanical stress.
Fast recognition using adaptive subdivisions of transformation space

An algorithm, RAST, for solving the bounded error recognition problem efficiently using adaptive subdivisions of transformation space, is presented. The RAST algorithm uses no heuristics and loses no solutions. It is a simple, efficient algorithm combining the ideas of multiresolution matching, Hough transform, search-based recognition, and bounded error recognition. Its performance is better than that of alignment and Hough transform methods, and, as opposed to these methods; RAST finds solutions satisfying simple, well-defined bounded error criteria. <<ETX>>
Abscisic acid controlled sex before transpiration in vascular plants

Significance Since the dawn of land plants, the phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) has played a critical role in regulating plant responses to water availability. Here we seek to explain the origins of the core ABA signaling pathway found in modern seed plants. Using the characterization of mutants and gene silencing in a fern species, we find that the same hormone signaling components are used in sex determination of ferns as are used for the control of seed dormancy and transpiration in seed plants. Ferns are shown to lack downstream functionality of stomatal components, suggesting that the origins of the core ABA signaling pathway in seed plants may lie in the sexual differentiation of ferns. Sexual reproduction in animals and plants shares common elements, including sperm and egg production, but unlike animals, little is known about the regulatory pathways that determine the sex of plants. Here we use mutants and gene silencing in a fern species to identify a core regulatory mechanism in plant sexual differentiation. A key player in fern sex differentiation is the phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA), which regulates the sex ratio of male to hermaphrodite tissues during the reproductive cycle. Our analysis shows that in the fern Ceratopteris richardii, a gene homologous to core ABA transduction genes in flowering plants [SNF1-related kinase2s (SnRK2s)] is primarily responsible for the hormonal control of sex determination. Furthermore, we provide evidence that this ABA–SnRK2 signaling pathway has transitioned from determining the sex of ferns to controlling seed dormancy in the earliest seed plants before being co-opted to control transpiration and CO2 exchange in derived seed plants. By tracing the evolutionary history of this ABA signaling pathway from plant reproduction through to its role in the global regulation of plant–atmosphere gas exchange during the last 450 million years, we highlight the extraordinary effect of the ABA–SnRK2 signaling pathway in plant evolution and vegetation function.
Prevalence of norovirus GII‐4 antibodies in Finnish children

Noroviruses (NoVs) are the second most common cause of viral gastroenteritis after rotavirus in children. NoV genotype GII‐4 has emerged as the major type not only in outbreaks of NoV gastroenteritis but also endemic gastroenteritis among infants and young children worldwide. Using baculovirus‐insect cell system virus‐like particles (VLPs) of NoV genotype GII‐4 and an uncommon genotype GII‐12 were produced. These VLPs were used in enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) for detection of NoV‐specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgA antibodies in 492 serum specimens from Finnish children 0–14 years of age collected between 2006 and 2008. NoV IgG antibody prevalence was 47.3% in the age group 7–23 months and increased up to 91.2% after the age of 5 years. Avidity of NoV IgG antibodies was low in the primary infections while high avidity antibodies were detected in the recurrent infections of the older children. In GII‐4 infections, the homologous antibody response to GII‐4 VLPs was stronger than to GII‐12 VLPs but cross‐reactivity between GII‐4 and GII‐12 was observed. Binding of GII‐4 VLPs to a putative carbohydrate antigen receptor H‐type 3 could be blocked by sera from children not infected with NoV during a waterborne outbreak of acute gastroenteritis. Therefore, protection against NoV infection correlated with strong blocking activity. J. Med. Virol. 83:525–531, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Performance Evaluation of a Terrain Traversability Learning Algorithm in the DARPA LAGR Program

Abstract : Abstract? The Defense Applied Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Learning Applied to Ground Vehicles (LAGR) program aims to develop algorithms for autonomous vehicle navigation that learn how to operate in complex terrain. For the LAGR program, The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has embedded learning into a control system architecture called 4D/RCS to enable the small robot used in the program to learn to navigate through a range of terrain types. This paper describes performance evaluation experiments on one of the algorithms developed under the program to learn terrain traversability. The algorithm uses color and texture to build models describing regions of terrain seen by the vehicle? s stereo cameras. Range measurements from stereo are used to assign traversability measures to the regions. The assumption is made that regions that look alike have similar traversability. Thus, regions that match one of the models inherit the traversability stored in the model. This allows all areas of images seen by the vehicle to be classified, and enables a path planner to determine a traversable path to the goal. The algorithm is evaluated by comparison with ground truth generated by a human observer. A graphical user interface (GUI) was developed that displays an image and randomly generates a point to be classified. The human assigns a traversability label to the point, and the learning algorithm associates its own label with the point. When a large number of such points have been labeled across a sequence of images, the performance of the learning algorithm is determined in terms of error rates. The learning algorithm is outlined in the paper, and results of performance evaluation are described.
3D TV Interface by an Intelligent Remote Controller

An intelligent remote controller for 3D TV interface exploits an artificial human visual attention system for an easy interaction. There have been many researches on multi-view image processing for free viewpoint image generation. However, most of those studies focused on how to generate free viewpoint images rather than to get the viewers to enjoy the true value of 3D TV. This paper presents an intelligent remote controller as one of interfacing devices between them. It enables a viewer to change his viewpoints with easy by providing some candidate viewpoints automatically. It also prevents the viewer from disorientation caused occasionally from 3D space navigation.
Wireless Sensor Network Microcantilever Data Processing using Principal Component and Correlation Analysis

One of the main purpose of the wireless sensor network is an identification of unknown physical, chemical and biological agents in monitoring area. It requires the measurement of the microcantilever sensor resonance frequencies with high precision. However, resolving the weak spectral variations in dynamic response of materials that are either dominated or excited by stochastic processes remains a challenge. In this paper we present the analysis and experimental results of the resonant excitation of a microcantilever sensor system (MSS) by the ambient random fluctuations. In our analysis, the dynamic process is decomposed into the bases of orthogonal functions with random coefficients using principal component analysis (PCA) and KarhunenLoève theorem to obtain pertinent frequency shifts and spectral peaks. We show that using the truncated Karhunen-Loève Transform helps significantly increase the resolution of resonance frequency peaks compared to those obtained with conventional Fourier Transform processing.
Modulation of Opioid Actions by Nitric Oxide Signaling

Nitric oxide (NO) plays pivotal roles in controlling physiological functions, participates in pathophysiological intervention, and is involved in mechanisms underlying beneficial or untoward actions of therapeutic agents. Endogenous nitric oxide is formed by three isoforms of nitric oxide synthase: endothelial, neurogenic and inducible. The former two are constitutively present mainly in the endothelium and nervous system, respectively, and the latter one is induced by lipopolysaccharides or cytokines mainly in mitochondria and glial cells. Constitutively formed nitric oxide modulates the actions of morphine and related analgesics by either enhancing or reducing antinociception. Tolerance to and dependence on morphine or its withdrawal syndrome are likely prevented by nitric oxide synthase inhibition. Information concerning modulation of morphine actions by nitric oxide is undoubtedly useful in establishing new strategies for efficient antinociceptive treatment and for minimizing noxious and unintended reactions.
Transdermal photopolymerization for minimally invasive implantation.

Photopolymerizations are widely used in medicine to create polymer networks for use in applications such as bone restorations and coatings for artificial implants. These photopolymerizations occur by directly exposing materials to light in "open" environments such as the oral cavity or during invasive procedures such as surgery. We hypothesized that light, which penetrates tissue including skin, could cause a photopolymerization indirectly. Liquid materials then could be injected s.c. and solidified by exposing the exterior surface of the skin to light. To test this hypothesis, the penetration of UVA and visible light through skin was studied. Modeling predicted the feasibility of transdermal polymerization with only 2 min of light exposure required to photopolymerize an implant underneath human skin. To establish the validity of these modeling studies, transdermal photopolymerization first was applied to tissue engineering by using "injectable" cartilage as a model system. Polymer/chondrocyte constructs were injected s.c. and transdermally photopolymerized. Implants harvested at 2, 4, and 7 weeks demonstrated collagen and proteoglycan production and histology with tissue structure comparable to native neocartilage. To further examine this phenomenon and test the applicability of transdermal photopolymerization for drug release devices, albumin, a model protein, was released for 1 week from photopolymerized hydrogels. With further study, transdermal photpolymerization potentially could be used to create a variety of new, minimally invasive surgical procedures in applications ranging from plastic and orthopedic surgery to tissue engineering and drug delivery.
Multidrug–resistant organisms in cystic fibrosis: management and infection–control issues

Chronic infection and inflammation are the hallmarks of cystic fibrosis lung disease. As cystic fibrosis patients are living longer owing to more intense treatment, multidrug-resistant organisms are being isolated increasingly from patients’ respiratory tracts. While the adverse effects of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Burkholderia cepacia complex are well described, less is known about the clinical significance of other emerging multidrug-resistant organisms, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. Owing to multiple mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance, these organisms are difficult to treat and often require combination antibiotic therapy. Until more is known about their pathogenicity and effect on clinical outcomes, physicians should be aware of the potential transmissibility of these organisms and implement adequate infection control strategies.
The role of ADP‐ribosylation and GM1‐binding activity in the mucosal immunogenicity and adjuvanticity of the Escherichia coli heat‐labile enterotoxin and Vibrio cholerae cholera toxin

The mucosal route of vaccination has attracted a great deal of attention recently. Not only is mucosal application of vaccines, for example, orally or intranasally, particularly convenient, it also offers the possibility to induce locally produced and secreted S‐IgA antibodies in addition to systemic IgG antibodies. These IgA antibodies are known to play a key role in protection against pathogens that invade the host through mucosal surfaces. Induction of such responses is not readily achieved by currently used vaccination strategies, which generally involve intramuscular or subcutaneous injection with inactivated pathogens or antigens thereof. For the induction of a mucosal immune response, the vaccine needs to be applied locally. However, local vaccination with non‐replicating antigens is usually ineffective and may result in tolerance unless a mucosal immunoadjuvant is included. The most potent mucosal immunoadjuvants known to date are probably cholera toxin (CT) and the closely related Escherichia coli heat‐labile enterotoxin (LT). Although CT and LT have become standard adjuvants for experimental mucosal vaccines, the intrinsic toxicity has thus far precluded their use as adjuvants for human vaccine formulations. In the present review, the mucosal immunogenic and adjuvant properties of LT and CT are described, with special emphasis on the functional role of the individual subunits on their immune‐stimulatory properties.