Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Electromagnetic Environment in a CAD-Based Vehicle With a Human Body for Far-Field Incidence

The electromagnetic environment in a vehicle was investigated taking into account the presence of a human body. The present study was conducted in order to give some insight on the effects of the exposure to unintentional electromagnetic waves on electronic devices in vehicles. Our computational results revealed that the electric field around the dashboard was enhanced due to standing waves over the vehicle cabin. In addition, the standing waves were found to be suppressed in the frequency region between 100 and 200 MHz due to power absorption by the human body.
Combination chemotherapy, glucocorticoids, and interferon alfa in the treatment of multiple myeloma: a Southwest Oncology Group study.

PURPOSE Standard therapy for multiple myeloma consists of cytotoxic chemotherapy plus glucocorticoids. Interferon (IFN) alfa maintenance is reported to prolong chemotherapy-induced remissions and survival. This study evaluates induction chemotherapy, glucocorticoids, and interferon maintenance in myeloma. PATIENTS AND METHODS Five hundred twenty-two previously untreated myeloma patients were randomized to three chemotherapy regimens with differing glucocorticoid intensities. Patients who achieved remission were randomized to receive IFN or observation until relapse. Patients who failed to respond to chemotherapy received IFN alfa plus dexamethasone (DEX). RESULTS Five hundred nine patients were eligible for induction chemotherapy. Chemotherapy with higher dose-intensity glucocorticoids yielded higher response rates and improved survival (P = .02 for the three-group comparison; P < .05 for each higher glucocorticoid arm v vincristine, melphalan, cyclophosphamide, and prednisone alternating with vincristine, carmustine [BCNU], doxorubicin, and prednisone [VMCP/VBAP]). One hundred ninety-three patients who achieved remission were randomized to receive IFN alfa 3 MU three times weekly or observation. IFN was not superior to observation for relapse-free (P = .95) or overall survival (P = .39) from start of maintenance. Eighty-eight induction failures received 5 MU of IFN three times weekly plus DEX. Patients who received IFN/DEX had a median survival duration of 48 months from start of IFN/DEX. CONCLUSION Higher-dose glucocorticoids increases frequency of response to chemotherapy and prolong survival in myeloma. IFN maintenance with the dose schedule used in this trial did not prolong relapse-free or overall survival. We cannot exclude a small effect of IFN, as most individual trials do not have sufficient statistical power. Meta-analysis of randomized trials evaluating IFN maintenance in myeloma might be of value. While IFN appeared ineffective, addition of higher-dose glucocorticoids improved outcome in myeloma.
ABC1: connecting yellow tonsils, neuropathy, and very low HDL.

In 1960, the most common surgical procedure performed on children was tonsillectomy. During one such routine operation, an astute physician recognized that the tonsils of his 5-year-old patient from Tangier Island were anything but ordinary (1). The tonsils were strikingly large, lobulated, and lemon-colored. The tonsils of the patient’s sister were similarly abnormal in appearance and had a 50- to 100-fold elevated content of cholesteryl ester. The siblings also shared another remarkable trait: both had extremely low plasma levels of HDL cholesterol (HDL-C). These children were the index cases of Tangier disease, a genetic disorder characterized by an abnormal plasma lipoprotein profile — virtual absence of HDL-C, reduced levels of LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) with mildly or moderately elevated triglycerides, and a variety of seemingly disparate clinical findings, such as hepatosplenomegaly and peripheral neuropathy (2). The multifaceted manifestations of this disorder have inspired (and frustrated) more clinicians and scientists than there are patients with the disease.
Laser Cyclophotocoagulation Enhances the Regulative Capacity of Retinal Vessels in Glaucoma

Purpose: To determine the effects of laser surgical IOP reduction by means of transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (CPC) on retinal blood flow parameters in glaucoma patients using Dynamic Vessel Analysis (DVA). Materials and Methodology: 26 patients (average age: 70 years) with a long history of primary open angle glaucoma underwent CPC. The effect on the reactive capacity of retinal vessels was assessed before and 6-8 weeks after CPC by means of the Dynamic Vessel Analyzer (DVA) using flicker light provocation. Results: In our group of POAG patients, IOP was significantly reduced about approximately 20% by CPC while systemic blood pressure and heart rate were not changed. The most obvious differences between the pre- and postoperative DVA measurements could be observed in the maximal dilation of the retinal arteries which increased from 0.75 % (+/- 0.6) to 3.17 % (+/- 0.5) with an average increase of 2.4 % (p<0.01). In addition, the ability of the arteries for constriction improved significantly (p<0.05) while the dynamic responses of the veins and the initial baseline values (MU) of the vessel diameters did not change. Conclusions: Our results of DVA measurements after an IOP-lowering laser surgical intervention (CPC) reveal a significant recovery of the regulative capacity of retinal arteries in glaucoma patients that has up to now neither been properly documented nor appreciated. Future studies with long-term follow-up must determine the clinical importance of these findings for the treatment of glaucoma patients.
Elastic–plastic analysis of interaction between an interface and crack in bi-materials

The objective of the present work is to investigate the interaction between interfaces and cracks in metal/alumina bi-materials. The behaviour is analyzed by the determination of the J integral and the plastic zone at the crack tip using the finite-element methods. Different orientations of the crack according to the bi-materials interface were examined such as cracks parallel and perpendicular to the interface and inclined cracks. The effects of the mechanical properties of the joint materials, the crack length and the metal thickness on the extent of plastic zone and the J integral at the crack tip were also highlighted. The obtained results allow us to deduce mathematical relations giving the variation of the J integral and the plastic zone according to the crack position.
MS Western, a Method of Multiplexed Absolute Protein Quantification is a Practical Alternative to Western Blotting*

Absolute quantification of proteins elucidates the molecular composition, regulation and dynamics of multiprotein assemblies and networks. Here we report on a method termed MS Western that accurately determines the molar abundance of dozens of user-selected proteins at the subfemtomole level in whole cell or tissue lysates without metabolic or chemical labeling and without using specific antibodies. MS Western relies on GeLC-MS/MS and quantifies proteins by in-gel codigestion with an isotopically labeled QconCAT protein chimera composed of concatenated proteotypic peptides. It requires no purification of the chimera and relates the molar abundance of all proteotypic peptides to a single reference protein. In comparative experiments, MS Western outperformed immunofluorescence Western blotting by the protein detection specificity, linear dynamic range and sensitivity of protein quantification. To validate MS Western in an in vivo experiment, we quantified the molar content of zebrafish core histones H2A, H2B, H3 and H4 during ten stages of early embryogenesis. Accurate quantification (CV<10%) corroborated the anticipated histones equimolar stoichiometry and revealed an unexpected trend in their total abundance.
Replicated microarray data

cDNA microarrays permit us to study the expression of thousands of genes simultaneously. They are now used in many different contexts to compare mRNA levels between two or more samples of cells. Microarray experiments typically give us expression measurements on a large number of genes, say 10,000-20,000, but with few, if any, replicates for each gene. Traditional methods using means and standard deviations to detect differential expression are not completely satisfactory in this context, and so a different approach seems desirable. In this paper we present an empirical Bayes method for analysing replicated microarray data. Data from all the genes in a replicate set of experiments are combined into estimates of parameters of a prior distribution. These parameter estimates are then combined at the gene level with means and standard deviations to form a statistic B which can be used to decide whether differential expression has occurred. The statistic B avoids the problems of using averages or t-statistics. The method is illustrated using data from an experiment comparing the expression of genes in the livers of SR-BI transgenic mice with that of the corresponding wild-type mice. In addition we present the results of a simulation study estimating the ROC curve of B and three other statistics for determining differential expression: the average and two simple modifications of the usual t-statistic. B was found to be the most powerful of the four, though the margin was not great. The data were simulated to resemble the SR-BI data.
Adjunctive and Alternative Approaches to Current Reperfusion Therapy

Background and Purpose— Current ischemic stroke reperfusion therapy consists of intravenous thrombolysis given in eligible patients after review of a noncontrast CT scan and a time-based window of opportunity. Rapid clot lysis has a strong association with clinical improvement but remains incomplete in many patients. This review appraises novel adjunctive or alternative approaches to current reperfusion strategies being tested in all trial phases. Summary of Review— Alternative approaches to current reperfusion therapy can be separated into 4 main categories: (1) combinatory approaches with other drugs or devices; (2) novel systemic thrombolytic agents; (3) endovascular medical or mechanical reperfusion treatments; and (4) noninvasive or minimally invasive methods to augment cerebral blood flow and alleviate intracranial blood flow steal. Conclusions— Reperfusion treatments must be provided as fast as possible in patients most likely to benefit. Patients who fail to rapidly reperfuse may benefit from other strategies that maintain collateral flow or protect tissue at risk.
Cellular Proteins in Influenza Virus Particles

Virions are thought to contain all the essential proteins that govern virus egress from the host cell and initiation of replication in the target cell. It has been known for some time that influenza virions contain nine viral proteins; however, analyses of other enveloped viruses have revealed that proteins from the host cell can also be detected in virions. To address whether the same is true for influenza virus, we used two complementary mass spectrometry approaches to perform a comprehensive proteomic analysis of purified influenza virus particles. In addition to the aforementioned nine virus-encoded proteins, we detected the presence of 36 host-encoded proteins. These include both cytoplasmic and membrane-bound proteins that can be grouped into several functional categories, such as cytoskeletal proteins, annexins, glycolytic enzymes, and tetraspanins. Interestingly, a significant number of these have also been reported to be present in virions of other virus families. Protease treatment of virions combined with immunoblot analysis was used to verify the presence of the cellular protein and also to determine whether it is located in the core of the influenza virus particle. Immunogold labeling confirmed the presence of membrane-bound host proteins on the influenza virus envelope. The identification of cellular constituents of influenza virions has important implications for understanding the interactions of influenza virus with its host and brings us a step closer to defining the cellular requirements for influenza virus replication. While not all of the host proteins are necessarily incorporated specifically, those that are and are found to have an essential role represent novel targets for antiviral drugs and for attenuation of viruses for vaccine purposes.
Isolation of a Cytopathogenic Agent from Human Adenoids Undergoing Spontaneous Degeneration in Tissue Culture

Summary 1. From the present evidence it appears that an unidentified, possibly new, tissue culture cytopathogenic agent has been isolated repeatedly from human adenoids undergoing spontaneous degeneration in tissue culture. The filter ability and the inability to cultivate the agent on bacteriological media and to demonstrate organisms in stained tissue culture preparations would indicate that the agent belongs to the group of viruses or rickettsial It is tentatively proposed to designate the agent as the “adenoid degeneration agent”, abbreviated as “A.D. agent”. 2. That the agent is derived from the adenoid tissue rather than from the nutrient media is indicated by the fact that some adenoids and all human embryonic tissues cultivated in the identical media and at the same time have not undergone degeneration, although they are susceptible to infection with the agent; also, repeated attempts to isolate the agents from adenoid cultures not demonstrating degeneration have been uniformly unsuccessful. 3. Further investigation is in progress to determine the relation of the agent to the adenoids and to study their possible role in human disease; particularly upper respiratory infections.
Studies on straining of amorphous polyethylene terephthalate above the glass temperature

A viscoelastic theory based on a simple model is developed to describe the stress–strain relation of amorphous plastics above the glass temperature. One of the bases of the theory is that the stress is proportional to the number of molecular chains traversing a unit cross section. Experimental results for the stress–strain relation of amorphous polyethylene terephthalate in the range 80–120°C. are presented. These are shown to agree with the theory within the experimental error.
3 D Face Recognition with Multiple Kernel Learning

A novel 3D face recognition framework based on Multiple Kernel Learning (MKL) is proposed in this work. As a first step, preprocessing is applied in order to extract relevant information and remove noise from 3D face scans. Next, a surface normals and Locally Adaptive Regression Kernels (LARK) features are extracted and a kernel function is associated with them. Finally, the corresponding kernel matrices are used in SimpleMKL algorithm with Support Vector Machines (SVM) classifier. The experiments using a publicly available dataset delivered promising results and lead us to propose this framework as alternative to other 3D face recognition frameworks. Key–Words: 3D Face Recognition, Surface Normals, Locally Adaptive Regression Kernels, Multiple Kernel Learning, SimpleMKL, Support Vector Machines
Chipless RFIDs for Metallic Objects by Using Cross Polarization Encoding

This communication aims to demonstrate both theoretically and experimentally that chipless tags can be efficiently detected on metallic platforms by exploiting cross-polar reflection. The employed tag consists of a frequency selective surface (FSS) comprising concentric square loop resonators printed on a grounded dielectric slab. The co-polar reflection amplitude of the proposed structure is characterized by deep minima in correspondence of every resonance, whereas the cross-polar component of the reflection coefficient exhibits well defined frequency selective maxima. Since each resonance is determined by a specific concentric loop, the presence or the absence of a loop is used to apply an amplitude modulation on the reflected signal. Measurements on realized prototypes are also provided to assess the effectiveness of the proposed technique.
Memory effects of sleep, emotional valence, arousal and novelty in children

Effectiveness of memory consolidation is determined by multiple factors, including sleep after learning, emotional valence, arousal and novelty. Few studies investigated how the effect of sleep compares with (and interacts with) these other factors, of which virtually none are in children. The present study did so by repeated assessment of declarative memory in 386 children (45% boys) aged 9–11 years through an online word‐pair task. Children were randomly assigned to either a morning or evening learning session of 30 unrelated word‐pairs with positive, neutral or negative valenced cues and neutral targets. After immediately assessing baseline recognition, delayed recognition was recorded either 12 or 24 h later, resulting in four different assessment schedules. One week later, the procedure was repeated with exactly the same word‐pairs to evaluate whether effects differed for relearning versus original novel learning. Mixed‐effect logistic regression models were used to evaluate how the probability of correct recognition was affected by sleep, valence, arousal, novelty and their interactions. Both immediate and delayed recognition were worse for pairs with negatively valenced or less arousing cue words. Relearning improved immediate and delayed word‐pair recognition. In contrast to these effects, sleep did not affect recognition, nor did sleep moderate the effects of arousal, valence and novelty. The findings suggest a robust inclination of children to specifically forget the pairing of words to negatively valenced cue words. In agreement with a recent meta‐analysis, children seem to depend less on sleep for the consolidation of information than has been reported for adults, irrespective of the emotional valence, arousal and novelty of word‐pairs.
Respiratory symptoms and 30 year mortality from obstructive lung disease and pneumonia

Background: As little is known about the long term relationship between respiratory symptoms and mortality from non-malignant respiratory diseases, a study was undertaken to investigate the predictive value of respiratory symptoms and symptom load for mortality from obstructive lung disease (OLD) and pneumonia in the long term in a Norwegian population. Methods: In 1972, 19 998 persons aged 15–70 years living in Oslo were randomly selected for a respiratory survey. The response rate was 89%. All were followed for 30 years. The association between cough, asthma-like symptoms, two levels of dyspnoea on exercise, a symptom score, and mortality from OLD and pneumonia were investigated separately for men and women by multivariable analyses, with adjustment for age, occupational exposure to air pollution, and smoking habits. Results: OLD accounted for 43% and pneumonia for 50% of all deaths from respiratory causes. In men the hazard ratio for mortality from OLD varied from 4.0 (95% confidence interval (CI) 2.4 to 6.5) for cough to 9.6 (95% CI 5.1 to 18.3) for severe dyspnoea, and in women from 5.1 (95% CI 2.3 to 11.3) for moderate dyspnoea to 13.0 (95% CI 6.0 to 28.3) for severe dyspnoea. The symptom score was strongly predictive of death from OLD in a dose-response manner. Conclusions: There is a significant, positive, strong association between respiratory symptoms and 30 year mortality from OLD. The association between respiratory symptoms and mortality from pneumonia is weaker and not significant.
Shifting Death to their Alternatives: The Case of Toll Motorways

A renewed interest on the use of tolls for funding motorways and regulating their demands has been recovered in the last years. However, less attention has been put to the road safety effects derived from this policy. Although toll motorways show quality levels equal or above free motorways, charging users for the use of better infrastructure shifts some traffic to their low quality adjacent alternatives. In the present study we test whether charging for the use of the better road might negatively affect road safety in the worst adjacent road. The results confirm our hypothesis opening a new concern.
Worker Displacement in France and Germany

In this paper, we describe the evolution of earnings and employment, post-displacement and post-other-separation, for workers in France and Germany. Although the literature on displaced workers (i.e. involuntary worker separations from stable jobs for reasons beyond their control) in North America is already extensive, the European literature is limited. We consider two labor markets, France and Germany, in which layo®s are heavily regulated (as opposed to the relatively °exible Canadian and United States labor markets). We exploit administrative data that matches workers to their employers from both countries, which has the advantages (relative to survey-based analyses) of providing large, representative samples of a wide range of workers from all sectors, and allowing for the straightforward construction of control groups. Administrative data have the additional advantage that reported earnings and employment durations are precisely measured and not subject to recall bias.
Non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis: diagnosis and management in 21st century

Bronchiectasis is permanently dilated airways caused by chronic bronchial inflammation secondary to inappropriate clearance of various micro-organisms and recurrent infections in the airways. At diagnosis, one should search for the underlying disease process, most of the time excluding cystic fibrosis (CF). However, in a substantial number of patients no cause is found. Next, patients need individualised therapy and follow-up by monitoring of their symptoms. Useful tools are the Leicester Cough Questionnaire and the Sputum Colour Chart. Screening patients for bacterial colonisation on a regular basis seems to be equally important, as many patients become colonised by pathogenic micro-organisms. Treatment for non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis differs in certain aspects from cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis and often lacks evidence. Overall, bronchiectasis is an underestimated disease, not only in prevalence and incidence, but also in its ability to cause morbidity and mortality. Further research into the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms and trials evaluating new treatments are an absolute necessity.
Neuro-ophthalmologic findings in konzo, an upper motor neuron disorder in Africa.

PURPOSE To investigate the neuro-ophthalmological manifestations in konzo, a non-progressive symmetric spastic para/tetraparesis of acute onset associated with consumption of insufficiently processed bitter cassava roots combined with a low protein intake. METHOD Sneuro-ophthalmological investigations including visual acuity testing, assessment of light pupillary reflexes, evaluation of ocular motility and deviation, direct ophthalmoscopy, and visual field perimetry. Objective refraction including retinoscopy and keratometry, and slit-lamp biomicroscopy were also done. RESULTS Five patients had visual impairment, and 14 had temporal pallor of the optic disc. Fourteen presented visual field defects, the most frequent being concentric constriction and peripheral defects. Overall, 11 subjects had symptoms qualifying for the diagnosis of optic neuropathy. Two had spontaneous pendular nystagmus in primary position of gaze. Visual field defects and pallor of the optic discs were found in mild, moderate and severe forms of konzo. No correlation was found between the severity of the motor disability of konzo and the extent of visual field loss. CONCLUSIONS Konzo was associated with optic neuropathy and a few patients had nystagmus. Although the etiopathogenesis of this optic neuropathy remains to be elucidated, the symmetry of the involvement suggests a toxic origin. We suggest that cyanide causes the neuro-ophthalmological damage in konzo. However, the optic neuropathy in konzo patients does not resemble the features of the epidemic optic neuropathy in Tanzania, Cuba or Nigeria, Lebers hereditary optic neuropathy, tobacco amblyopia or vitamin B deficiency. (Eur J Ophthalmol 2003; 13: 383-9).