Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Current National Incidence, Trends, and Health Care Resource Utilization of Cleft Lip–Cleft Palate

Background: Available reports on the epidemiology of cleft lip, cleft palate, and cleft lip–cleft palate have been numerous yet inconsistent, and have originated only from institutional or regional studies. The need for current national data and the recognition of recent trends exists. Methods: The authors examined the Kids' Inpatient Database to obtain national information on pediatric orofacial cleft discharges from 1997 to 2007. The authors examined patient and hospital characteristics to discern differences in use of care, hospital charges, type of hospital, untoward events, and other variables among various groups. A detailed investigation searching for significant trends during the 6-year study period was also conducted. Results: Trends appreciated from 1997 to 2007 included (1) an increase in cleft operations performed at teaching hospitals compared with nonteaching hospitals (teaching increased 13.4 percent and nonteaching decreased 15.8 percent); (2) an increase in the mean overall charges (74.5 percent increase; p < 0.001) and a rate of rise higher than that of aggregate charges (60 percent; p < 0.001); and (3) a lower rate of perioperative complications in teaching hospitals from 2000 to 2007, ranging from 14 to 27 percent less than in nonteaching hospitals. Conclusions: The authors' data show that there is a current trend of cleft patients receiving treatment at teaching hospitals, with higher costs and decreasing complications. An understanding of such trends and disparities in resource use among various patient, hospital, and geographic settings is important for physicians and policy makers.
Informalidad laboral y elementos para un salario mínimo diferencial por regiones en Colombia

Se presenta evidencia de que el salario minimo en relacion con el salario correspondiente al percentil 70 afecta el tamano del sector informal en las areas urbanas en Colombia. Dicho efecto se observa en promedio en todas las areas urbanas. Sin embargo, cuando se analizan las ciudades individualmente, se encuentra que el efecto del salario minimo relativo es diferencial; por ejemplo, en Barranquilla es muy bajo mientras que en Popayan, Villavicencio y Neiva es muy alto. Por ello, en estas ultimas, mas que en otras, parece haber una gran desconexion entre la productividad de la mano de obra menos capacitada y el salario minimo. Se plantean dos propuestas para introducir un salario minimo diferencial dependiendo del alejamiento de la informalidad (productividad laboral) de cada ciudad del promedio de 23 ciudades. Se presentan estimaciones del efecto de la actividad economica y los costos no laborales distintos del salario en un sinnumero de variables del mercado laboral.
QR methods of O(N) complexity in adaptive parameter estimation

Recent attention in adaptive least squares parameter estimation has been focused on methods derived from the QR factorization owing to the fact that the QR-based algorithms are much more numerically stable and accurate than the traditional pseudo-inverse-based algorithms, also known as normal equation-based algorithms, even though the former is usually much slower than the latter. This paper presents a fast adaptive least squares algorithm for the parameter estimation of linear and some nonlinear time-varying systems. The algorithm is based on Householder transformations. As verified by simulation results, this algorithm exhibits good numerical stability and accuracy. In addition, the new algorithm requires computation and storage with order of O(N) rather than O(N/sup 2/) where N is the number of unknown parameters to be estimated. This algorithm can be easily extended to construct other kinds of algorithms, such as the generalized adaptive least squares algorithm, the augmented matrix algorithm, and the maximum likelihood algorithm. >
From Serotonin to Neuroplasticity: Evolvement of Theories for Major Depressive Disorder

The serotonin (5-HT) hypothesis of depression has played an important role in the history of psychiatry, yet it has also been criticized for the delayed onset and inadequate efficacy of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). With evolvement of neuroscience, the neuroplasticity hypothesis of major depressive disorder (MDD) has been proposed and may provide a better framework for clarification the pathogenesis of MDD and antidepressant efficacy. In this article, we first summarized the evidence challenging the monoamine hypothesis and proposed that the antidepressant efficacy of SSRIs is not derived from elevated monoamine (5-HT, noradrenaline (NE), or dopamine (DA)) concentration or monoamine neurotransmission. Second, we reviewed the role of stress in the pathogenesis of MDD and gave a brief introduction to the neuroplasticity hypothesis of MDD. Third, we explored the possible mechanisms underlying the antidepressant efficacy of typical antidepressants in the context of neuroplasticity theory. Fourth, we tried to provide an explanatory framework for the significant difference in onset of efficacy between typical antidepressants and ketamine. Finally, we provided a brief summarization about this review article and some perspectives for future studies.
Lumenal protein sorting to the constitutive secretory pathway of a regulated secretory cell

Newly synthesized secretory granule content proteins are delivered via the Golgi complex for storage within mature granules, whereas constitutive secretory proteins are not stored. Most soluble proteins traveling anterograde through the trans-Golgi network are not excluded from entering immature secretory granules, whether or not they have granule-targeting signals. However, the `sorting-for-entry' hypothesis suggests that soluble lumenal proteins lacking signals enter transport intermediates for the constitutive secretory pathway. We aimed to investigate how these constitutive secretory proteins are sorted. In a pancreatic β-cell line, we stably expressed two lumenal proteins whose normal sorting information has been deleted: alkaline phosphatase, truncated to eliminate its glycosylphosphatidylinositol membrane anchor (SEAP); and Cab45361, a Golgi lumenal resident, truncated to eliminate its intracellular retention (Cab308Myc). Both truncated proteins are efficiently secreted, but whereas SEAP enters secretory granules, Cab308Myc behaves as a true constitutive marker excluded from granules. Interestingly, upon permeabilization of organelle membranes with saponin, SEAP is extracted as a soluble protein whereas Cab308Myc remains associated with the membrane. These are among the first data to support a model in which association with the lumenal aspect of Golgi and/or post-Golgi membranes can serve as a means for selective sorting of constitutive secretory proteins.
Photometric calibration of zoom lens systems

This paper describes a calibration method of zoom lens systems to eliminate the photometric distortion due to vignetting. A novel camera model including the variable cone is proposed to account for the marginal intensity reduction observed in images. Using the theoretical model, we first show that the serious distortion due to vignetting appears when using a zoom lens that has open aperture and long focal length. Then we present the calibration method to estimate the intensity reduction from the lens parameters of zoom and iris. The experimental results demonstrate the validity of our theoretical model and the effectiveness of the photometric calibration of zoom lens systems.
Targeted therapy of renal cell carcinoma: Synergistic activity of cG250‐TNF and IFNg

Immunotherapeutic targeting of G250/Carbonic anhydrase IX (CA‐IX) represents a promising strategy for treatment of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The well characterized human‐mouse chimeric G250 (cG250) antibody has been shown in human studies to specifically enrich in CA‐IX positive tumors and was chosen as a carrier for site specific delivery of TNF in form of our IgG‐TNF‐fusion protein (cG250‐TNF) to RCC xenografts. Genetically engineered TNF constructs were designed as CH2/CH3 truncated cG250‐TNF fusion proteins and eucariotic expression was optimized under serum‐free conditions. In‐vitro characterization of cG250‐TNF comprised biochemical analysis and bioactivity assays, alone and in combination with Interferon‐γ (IFNγ). Biodistribution data on radiolabeled [125J] cG250‐TNF and antitumor activity of cG250‐TNF, alone and in combination with IFNγ, were measured on RCC xenografts in BALB/c nu/nu mice. Combined administration of cG250‐TNF and IFNγ caused synergistic biological effects that represent key mechanisms displaying antitumor responses. Biodistribution studies demonstrated specific accumulation and retention of cG250‐TNF at CA‐IX‐positive RCC resulting in growth inhibition of RCC and improved progression free survival and overall survival. Antitumor activity induced by targeted TNF‐based constructs could be enhanced by coadministration of low doses of nontargeted IFNγ without significant increase in side effects. Administration of cG250‐TNF and IFNγ resulted in significant synergistic tumoricidal activity. Considering the poor outcome of renal cancer patients with advanced disease, cG250‐TNF‐based immunotherapeutic approaches warrant clinical evaluation. © 2009 UICC
Fos-Induction in Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Neurons Receiving Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide Innervation Is Reduced in Middle-Aged Female Rats1

Abstract A hallmark of reproductive aging in rats is a delay in the initiation and peak, and a decrease in the amplitude, of both proestrous and steroid-induced surges of LH and a decrease in the number of GnRH neurons that express Fos during the surge. The altered timing of the LH surge and the decline in Fos expression in GnRH neurons may be due to changes in the rhythmic expression of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), a neuropeptide that carries time-of-day information from the circadian pacemaker, located in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN), to GnRH neurons. The goals of our study were to determine if aging alters 1) the innervation of GnRH neurons by VIP and 2) the ability of VIP to activate GnRH neurons by examining the effects of aging on the number of GnRH neurons apposed by VIP fibers and the number of GnRH neurons that receive VIP input that express Fos. Immunocytochemistry for GnRH and VIP; or GnRH, VIP, and Fos was performed on tissue sections collected from young (2–4 mo), regularly cycling females and middle-aged (10–12 mo) females in constant estrus. The number of GnRH neurons, GnRH neurons apposed by VIP fibers, and GnRH neurons that express Fos and apposed by VIP fibers were counted in both age groups. Our results clearly demonstrate that aging does not alter the number of GnRH neurons that receive VIP innervation. However, the number of GnRH neurons that receive VIP innervation and coexpress Fos decreases significantly. We conclude that the age-related delay in the timing of the LH surge is not due to a change in VIP innervation of GnRH neurons, but instead may result from a decreased sensitivity of GnRH neurons to VIP input.
Conformal Microstrip Antenna Array with Hemispherical Coverage for Mobile Users of Future Satellite Systems

Future satellite systems like GNSS-2 for combined communication and navigation services need small and low-cost ground segment antennas with a coverage of more than a hemisphere for mobile users. A candidate for this application is the antenna presented in this paper. It consists of a semi-spherical microstrip patch array for C-band with local planar elements. Beam switching by single element switching avoids the use of complex phased array concepts. The necessary gain is achieved by the use of high gain microstrip patch elements applying superstrate technology. 90°-hybrid-power-dividers in combination with dual linear polarized elements enable the reception and transmission of circularly polarized waves.
Early neoatherosclerosis after bioresorbable vascular scaffold implantation: insights from optical coherence tomography.

We report the case of a 56-year-old man presenting with unstable angina 12 months after the implantation of a 3.5× 18-mm bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BRS Absorb; Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, California, USA) in the left anterior descending coronary artery. Coronary angiography indicated in-scaffold restenosis. At admission, his low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level was 84mg/dl under statin therapy. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) showed neointimal proliferation from the middle to the proximal site of the BRS (Fig. 1 and Video, Supplemental digital content 1, http://links.lww.com/MCA/A78, which shows the neointima within the implanted BRS).
Heterogeneous treatment effects in stratified clinical trials with time‐to‐event endpoints

When analyzing clinical trials with a stratified population, homogeneity of treatment effects is a common assumption in survival analysis. However, in the context of recent developments in clinical trial design, which aim to test multiple targeted therapies in corresponding subpopulations simultaneously, the assumption that there is no treatment‐by‐stratum interaction seems inappropriate. It becomes an issue if the expected sample size of the strata makes it unfeasible to analyze the trial arms individually. Alternatively, one might choose as primary aim to prove efficacy of the overall (targeted) treatment strategy. When testing for the overall treatment effect, a violation of the no‐interaction assumption renders it necessary to deviate from standard methods that rely on this assumption. We investigate the performance of different methods for sample size calculation and data analysis under heterogeneous treatment effects. The commonly used sample size formula by Schoenfeld is compared to another formula by Lachin and Foulkes, and to an extension of Schoenfeld's formula allowing for stratification. Beyond the widely used (stratified) Cox model, we explore the lognormal shared frailty model, and a two‐step analysis approach as potential alternatives that attempt to adjust for interstrata heterogeneity. We carry out a simulation study for a trial with three strata and violations of the no‐interaction assumption. The extension of Schoenfeld's formula to heterogeneous strata effects provides the most reliable sample size with respect to desired versus actual power. The two‐step analysis and frailty model prove to be more robust against loss of power caused by heterogeneous treatment effects than the stratified Cox model and should be preferred in such situations.
ON DEMAND EFFICIENT FREQUENT ITEMSET METHOD IN UNCERTAIN DATA

Frequent itemset mining, the task of finding sets of items that frequently occur together in a dataset, has been at the core of the field of data mining for the past sixteen years. In that time, the size of datasets has grown much faster than has the ability of existing algorithms to handle those datasets. Consequently, improvements are needed. In this thesis, we take the classic algorithm for the problem, A Priori, and improve it quite significantly by introducing what we call a vertical sort. We then use the large dataset, web documents to contrast our performance against several state-of-the-art implementations and demonstrate not only equal efficiency with lower memory usage at all support thresholds, but also the ability to mine support thresholds as yet un-attempted in literature. We also indicate how we believe this work can be extended to achieve yet more impressive results.
Regulation of the skeletal muscle blood flow in humans

What is the topic of this review? This review highlights recent advances in our knowledge about the control of skeletal muscle blood flow during exercise in humans. What advances does it highlight? In recent years, it has become evident that the control of skeletal muscle blood flow is an interaction between various vasodilator agents, including nitric oxide, prostaglandins and adenosine. Adenosine triphosphate could play multiple roles by inducing local vasodilatation, overriding local sympathetic vasoconstriction and stimulating the exercise pressor reflex.
1:n 10G-PON overlay of GPON link using bidirectional raman amplifier

We describe a novel 1: n 10G-PON overlay of GPON system using 1: n splitter and a bidirectional 10G-PON optical amplifier. We experimentally demonstrate an n=8 10G-PON overlay of GPON link with the 20-km feeder fiber and 1:32-way splitter using a bidirectional discrete Raman amplifier.
Image segmentation and particles classification using texture analysis method

Introduction: Ingredients of oily fish include a large amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are important elements in various metabolic processes of humans, and have also been used to prevent diseases. However, in an attempt to reduce cost, recent developments are starting a replace the ingredients of fish oil with products of microalgae, that also produce polyunsaturated fatty acids. To do so, it is important to closely monitor morphological changes in algae cells and monitor their age in order to achieve the best results. This paper aims to describe an advanced vision-based system to automatically detect, classify, and track the organic cells using a recently developed SOPAT-System (Smart On-line Particle Analysis Technology), a photo-optical image acquisition device combined with innovative image analysis software. Methods The proposed method includes image de-noising, binarization and Enhancement, as well as object recognition, localization and classification based on the analysis of particles’ size and texture. Results The methods allowed for correctly computing cell’s size for each particle separately. By computing an area histogram for the input images (1h, 18h, and 42h), the variation could be observed showing a clear increase in cell. Conclusion The proposed method allows for algae particles to be correctly identified with accuracies up to 99% and classified correctly with accuracies up to 100%.
Expression of tissue type and urokinase type plasminogen activators as well as plasminogen activator inhibitor type‐1 and type‐2 in human and rhesus monkey placenta

The distribution of mRNAs and antigens of tissue type (t) and urokinase type (u) plasminogen activators (PA) plus their corresponding inhibitors, type‐1 (PAI‐1) and type‐2 (PAI‐2) were studied in human and rhesus monkey placentae by in situ hybridisation and immunocytochemistry. Specific monkey cRNA and antibodies against human tPA, uPA, PAI‐1 and PAI‐2 were used as probes. The following results were obtained. (1) All the molecules tPA, uPA, PAI‐1 and PAI‐2 and their mRNAs were identified in the majority of the extravillous cytotrophoblast cells of the decidual layer between Rohr's and Nitabuch's striae and in cytotrophoblast cells of the chorionic plate, basal plate, intercotyledonary septae and cytotrophoblast cells of the chorionic villous tree. (2) Expression of uPA and PAI‐2 was noted in villous trophoblast whereas tPA and PAI‐1 were mainly concentrated where detachment from maternal tissue occurs. (3) No expression of tPA, uPA, PAI‐1 and PAI‐2 was observed in the basal plate endometrial stromal cells, chorionic plate connective tissue cells, septal endometrial stromal cells or villous core mesenchyme. (4) The distribution of probes observed following in situ hybridisation is generally consistent with the immunofluorescence pattern of the corresponding antigens and no significant interspecies differences were noted. It is possible that both decidual and extravillous trophoblast cells of placentae of human and rhesus monkey are capable of producing tPA, uPA, PAI‐1 and PAI‐2 to differing extents. Coordinated expression of these genes in the tissue may play an essential role in the maintenance of normal placentation and parturition. The differences in distribution we observed are consistent with the suggestion that coordinated expression of tPA and its inhibitor PAI‐1 may play a key role in fibrinolytic activity in the early stages of placentation and separation of placenta from maternal tissue at term. On the other hand, uPA with its inhibitor PAI‐2 appears mainly to play a role in degradation of trophoblast cell‐associated extracellular matrix, and thus may be of greatest importance during early stages of placentation.
Novel evaluation metrics for sparse spatio-temporal point process hotspot predictions - a crime case study

ABSTRACT Many physical and sociological processes are represented as discrete events in time and space. These spatio-temporal point processes are often sparse, meaning that they cannot be aggregated and treated with conventional regression models. Models based on the point process framework may be employed instead for prediction purposes. Evaluating the predictive performance of these models poses a unique challenge, as the same sparseness prevents the use of popular measures such as the root mean squared error. Statistical likelihood is a valid alternative, but this does not measure absolute performance and is therefore difficult for practitioners and researchers to interpret. Motivated by this limitation, we develop a practical toolkit of evaluation metrics for spatio-temporal point process predictions. The metrics are based around the concept of hotspots, which represent areas of high point density. In addition to measuring predictive accuracy, our evaluation toolkit considers broader aspects of predictive performance, including a characterisation of the spatial and temporal distributions of predicted hotspots and a comparison of the complementarity of different prediction methods. We demonstrate the application of our evaluation metrics using a case study of crime prediction, comparing four varied prediction methods using crime data from two different locations and multiple crime types. The results highlight a previously unseen interplay between predictive accuracy and spatio-temporal dispersion of predicted hotspots. The new evaluation framework may be applied to compare multiple prediction methods in a variety of scenarios, yielding valuable new insight into the predictive performance of point process-based prediction.
Receptor‐mediated autocrine growth‐stimulatory effect of 5‐hydroxytryptamine on cultured human pancreatic carcinoid cells

5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT) is a mitogen for fibroblasts, vascular smooth muscle cells, renal mesangial cells, and jejunal crypt cells. The human carcinoid cell line (termed BON) that we established in our laboratory from a pancreatic carcinoid tumor produces and secretes 5‐HT. In this study, therefore, we examined the effect of 5‐HT on growth of BON cells. Furthermore, by use of selective 5‐HT receptor antagonists, we examined receptor and post‐receptor mechanisms by which 5‐HT‐induced responses were produced. 5‐HT stimulated growth of BON cells. 5‐HT stimulated phosphatidylinositol (PI) hydrolysis in a dose‐dependent fashion and inhibited cyclic AMP production in a dose‐dependent fashion. The 5‐HT1A/1B receptor antagonist, SDZ 21–009, prevented the reduction of cyclic AMP production evoked by 5‐HT and inhibited the mitogenic action of 5‐HT. The 5‐HT1C/2 receptor antagonist, mesulergine, competitively inhibited PI hydrolysis, but did not affect the mitogenic action of 5‐HT. The mitogenic action of 5‐HT and the reduction of cyclic AMP production evoked by 5‐HT were also inhibited by pertussis toxin. These results suggest that 5‐HT is an autocrine growth factor for BON cells and that mitogenic mechanism of 5‐HT involves receptor‐mediated toxin‐sensitive GTP binding protein. 8‐bromo‐cyclic AMP inhibited growth of BON cells whereas 8‐bromo‐cyclic GMP had no effect on cell growth. Involvement of protein kinase A in BON cell growth regulation was confirmed by the observation that a cAMP‐dependent protein kinase antagonist (Rp‐cAMPS) could stimulate BON cell growth.