Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Shear-dependent non-Newtonian fluids in compliant vessels 1 Fluid-structure interaction for shear-dependent non-Newtonian fluids

We present our recent results on mathematical modelling and numerical simulation of non-Newtonian flows in compliant two-dimensional domains having applications in hemodynamics. Two models of the shear-thinning non-Newtonian fluids, the power law Carreau model and the logarithmic Yeleswarapu model, will be considered. For the structural model the generalized string equation for radially symmetric tubes will be generalized to stenosed vessels and vessel bifurcations. The arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian approach is used in order to take into account moving computational domains. To represent the fluid-structure interaction we use two different methods: the global iterative approach and the kinematical splitting. We will show that the latter method is more efficient and stable without any additional subiterations. The analytical result for the existence of a weak solution for the shearthickening power-law fluid is based on the global iteration with respect to the domain deformation, energy estimates, compactness arguments using the semi-continuity in time and the theory of monotone operators. The numerical part of paper contains several experiments for the Carreau and the Yeleswarapu model, comparisons of the non-Newtonian and Newtonian models and the results for hemodynamical wall parameters; the wall shear stress and the oscillatory shear index. Numerical experiments confirm higher order accuracy and the reliability of new fluid-structure interaction methods. keywords: non-Newtonian fluids, fluid-structure interaction, shear-thinning flow, hemodynamical wall parameters, stenosis, kinematical splitting, numerical stability, weak solution
Error Mining in Parsing Results

We introduce an error mining technique for automatically detecting errors in resources that are used in parsing systems. We applied this technique on parsing results produced on several million words by two distinct parsing systems, which share the syntactic lexicon and the pre-parsing processing chain. We were thus able to identify missing and erroneous information in these resources.
Feed-forward delay-based input shaper confrontation with active feedback control

The main focus of this paper is confrontation and summarize advantages and disadvantages of a passive feed-forward control based on impulse input shapers and active feedback approach for vibration control design for flexible structures [5], [10] like robotics arms, flexible beams, manipulator [11], [14], and so on. ZV, ZVD, EI [2], [6], [7] and other input command shapers have been studied for last two decades and have given rise to many papers and applications oriented on feed-forward, non-measurable disturbances vibration reduction in machines controlled by computer. The main advantages are optimal response, in a sense of dead beat compensation, with the fastest response respect to bounded actin command and easy implementation.
Multiple specificities in the repertoire of a melanoma patient's cytolytic T lymphocytes directed against tumor antigen MAGE-1.A1

Peptide MAGE-1.A1 is a nonamer derived from protein MAGE-1 that can associate with the HLA-A1 molecule. It was shown previously to be recognized by an antitumor cytolytic T lymphocyte (CTL) clone derived from the blood of melanoma patient MZ2. We derived two other anti-MAGE- 1.A1 CTL clones from different blood samples of the same patient and compared the fine specificity of recognition of the three CTL by testing them on variant MAGE-1.A1 peptides incorporating different amino acid substitutions. The epitopes recognized by the CTL proved to be different. While modifications of residues at positions 5, 6, or 7 in the antigenic peptide affected recognition by the three CTL, each of the modifications of residues at positions 1, 4, or 8 affected recognition by one CTL only. The sequences of both the alpha and beta chains of the T cell antigen receptor of the three CTL were completely different. The results indicate a long-lasting diversity in terms of fine specificity and of T cell antigen receptor structure in the repertoire of antitumor CTL derived from the blood of a melanoma patient and directed against a defined tumor antigen.
Maintenance treatment with infliximab for the management of Crohn’s disease in adults

Crohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic, relapsing disease, the continuous cycle of which deeply affects the long-term course which, eventually, leads to fibrosis and development of transmural complications. It is well known that CD is an immune-mediated clinical condition and that tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) plays a fundamental role in the pathogenesis of the disease. Current clinical guidelines recommend that patients with mild to moderate active CD should be treated initially with corticosteroids. Although this approach is effective in inducing remission, some patients may become dependent on, or refractory to, these drugs in the long term, thus increasing the risk of developing steroid-related adverse effects. A recent Cochrane systematic review established that infliximab (IFX) is effective in inducing remission in patients with CD. Although only a few published studies have assessed IFX for the maintenance of remission in the long term, there is evidence that IFX is superior to placebo in sustaining clinical remission and fistula healing; moreover, corticosteroid-sparing effects have been demonstrated. IFX is associated with the formation of antibodies to IFX which can lead to infusion reactions and shorter duration of response, but when comparing episodic vs scheduled maintenance treatment, the latter appears to sensibly reduce immunogenicity, thus offering improved efficacy and tolerance. The final point to consider is the best time to introduce IFX in the therapeutic algorithm of CD. Early use of IFX has been suggested to be more effective than late, and may potentially change the natural history of the disease. Effective induction and maintenance therapy with IFX is the only means with which to maintain long-lasting clinical and mucosal remission which, in turn, may modify the long-term course of the disease. Furthermore, when treating inflammatory bowel disease patients with IFX, an appropriate risk-benefit balance has to be taken into consideration, because the precise risk of serious adverse events associated with anti-TNF treatment in CD remains to be fully elucidated.
Adrenergic and muscarinic receptors in the human heart.

Cardiac function is controlled by the autonomic nervous system (i.e., the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous systems), which act via adrenoceptors and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, respectively. At least nine adrenoceptor subtypes and five muscarinic receptor subtypes exist. In recent
Rock Fracture Mechanics: Principles, Design and Applications

Preface. Contents. List of Notations. 1. Introduction. 2. Some Fundamental Aspects of Mechanics. 3. The Griffith Theory and the Evolution of Modern Fracture Mechanics. 4. Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics and Fracture Initiation Theories. 5. Determination of Stress Intensity Factors. 6. Aspects of Non-linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics. 7. Some Aspects of Statistical Fracture Mechanics. 8. Mode I Fracture Toughness Testing. 9. Mode II and Mixed Mode I-II Fracture Toughness Testing. 10. Interrelationships Between Fracture Toughness, Hardness Index and Physico-Mechanical Properties of Rocks. 11. Fracture Mechanics Applied to Hydraulic Fracture Propagation and In Situ Stress Determinations. 12. Fracture Mechanics Applied to Rock Fragmentation by Cutting Action. 13. Fracture Mechanics Applied to Rock Fragmentation due to Blasting. 14. Fracture Mechanics Applied to Analysis of Rockbursts. 15. Fracture Mechanics Applied to Design and Stability of Rock Slopes Engineering Problems. Appendix: A Compilation of Mode I Fracture Toughness Values of Rocks. References. Supplementary List of Recommended References. Index.
Antigen‐Presenting Function of B Lymphocytes

Here we review our current results studying B cells as APC and the mechanisms by which processed antigen is transported to and held on the cell surface for recognition by the specific T cell along with the MHC class II molecules. These studies were carried out using the globular protein cytochrome c as antigen for which the T-cell antigenic determinant was localized to a C-terminal 10-amino acid peptide fragment. For certain analyses, native cytochrome c or antigenic peptide fragments were covalently coupled to antibodies directed toward B-cell surface structures, allowing the targeting of antigen to the APC surface. Our findings indicate that all B cells function as APC and that the APC function is not differentially regulated in defined B-cell subpopulations. Using cytochrome c-antibody conjugates, it was shown that the surface Ig plays two significant roles in augmenting the B-cell APC function following antigen binding: signalling for enhanced APC function and concentrating antigen for subsequent internalization and processing. Both IgM and IgD appear to function identically in facilitating antigen processing in both immune and nonimmune B-cell populations. Furthermore, the surface Ig does not appear to be specially differentiated to function in concentrating antigen, as antigen artificially bound to other B-cell surface structures including MHC class I and class II molecules is also effectively presented. Lastly, evidence is presented that a previously described B-cell activating factor activity is strongly associated with the membranes of activated but not unactivated helper T cells, providing a mechanism by which the T-cell helper function can be focused on the specific antigen-presenting B cell. Concerning the mechanism by which processed antigen is presented at the B-cell surface, evidence is presented suggesting a role of peptide-binding chaperone proteins which may function to transport peptide to the APC surface and facilitate its association with the appropriate Ia. One candidate protein, PBP72/74, is described which binds peptides but not native antigens, is a member of the hsp70 family and appears to play a role in antigen presentation by the ability of antisera raised against it to block APC functions. Peptide-antibody conjugates were used to explore the spacial restrictions on MHC-restricted peptide presentation and it was shown that peptides covalently coupled to antibodies specific for Ig, class I or class II molecules are effective antigens in vitro even in the absence of processing. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Mesna compared with continuous bladder irrigation as uroprotection during high-dose chemotherapy and transplantation: a randomized trial.

PURPOSE To compare the use of intravenous (IV) hydration plus either continuous bladder irrigation or mesna for the prevention of hemorrhagic cystitis in the bone marrow transplant setting. PATIENTS AND METHODS Two hundred patients were prospectively randomized to receive either continuous bladder irrigation with 200 mL/h of normal saline, or continuous infusion mesna at 100% of the cyclophosphamide dose. RESULTS The overall incidence of hematuria of any grade was significantly higher in the bladder-irrigation group (76%) compared with the mesna group (53%) (P = .007). However, the incidence of grade III and IV hematuria was the same in both groups (18%; P = NS). Moderate or severe discomfort or bladder spasms were reported in 84% of the patients who received bladder irrigation, compared with 2% of the patients who received mesna prophylaxis (P < .0001). Urinary tract infections (UTIs) were documented in 27% of the patients in the bladder-irrigation group, compared with 14% of the patients in the mesna group (P = .03). CONCLUSION Both continuous bladder irrigation and mesna were equally effective in preventing severe hemorrhagic cystitis associated with high-dose cyclophosphamide and bone marrow transplantation. However, the use of mesna was associated with significantly less discomfort and a lower incidence of UTIs.
Comparative Efficacies of Inhaled Corticosteroids and Systemic Corticosteroids in Treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Exacerbations: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND Corticosteroids play an important role in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations, and a global initiative has suggested the use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) as an alternative to systemic corticosteroids (SCs). Here, we report results of a meta-analysis performed to systematically compare the efficacies of ICSs and SCs in the treatment of COPD exacerbations. METHODS PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane databases were searched for relevant human clinical trials describing the use of ICSs compared with SCs in the treatment of COPD exacerbations. We compared the results of FEV1%pred and blood gas analyses that had been calculated. Weighted mean differences and fixed effects models were applied by using Revman 5.2. RESULTS Five original studies satisfied our inclusion criteria, and no significant heterogeneity was shown. Three studies evaluated the increase of FEV1%pred after treatment for 7 days. There were three and four studies, respectively, that evaluated the increase of SaO2 and PaO2, and three reported the decrease of PaCO2 at 24 hours control, 2-4 days control, and 7-10 days control. All the results showed that both ICSs and SCs were effective in the treatment of COPD exacerbations. CONCLUSION ICSs were not inferior to SCs when used in the treatment of COPD exacerbations.
Temporal Asymmetry in Dark–Bright Processing Initiates Propagating Activity across Primary Visual Cortex

Differences between visual pathways representing darks and lights have been shown to affect spatial resolution and detection timing. Both psychophysical and physiological studies suggest an underlying retinal origin with amplification in primary visual cortex (V1). Here we show that temporal asymmetries in the processing of darks and lights create motion in terms of propagating activity across V1. Exploiting the high spatiotemporal resolution of voltage-sensitive dye imaging, we captured population responses to abrupt local changes of luminance in cat V1. For stimulation we used two neighboring small squares presented on either bright or dark backgrounds. When a single square changed from dark to bright or vice versa, we found coherent population activity emerging at the respective retinal input locations. However, faster rising and decay times were obtained for the bright to dark than the dark to bright changes. When the two squares changed luminance simultaneously in opposite polarities, we detected a propagating wave front of activity that originated at the cortical location representing the darkened square and rapidly expanded toward the region representing the brightened location. Thus, simultaneous input led to sequential activation across cortical retinotopy. Importantly, this effect was independent of the squares' contrast with the background. We suggest imbalance in dark–bright processing as a driving force in the generation of wave-like activity. Such propagation may convey motion signals and influence perception of shape whenever abrupt shifts in visual objects or gaze cause counterchange of luminance at high-contrast borders. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT An elementary process in vision is the detection of darks and lights through the retina via ON and OFF channels. Psychophysical and physiological studies suggest that differences between these channels affect spatial resolution and detection thresholds. Here we show that temporal asymmetries in the processing of darks and lights create motion signals across visual cortex. Using two neighboring squares, which simultaneously counterchanged luminance, we discovered propagating activity that was strictly drawn out from cortical regions representing the darkened location. Thus, a synchronous stimulus event translated into sequential wave-like brain activation. Such propagation may convey motion signals accessible in higher brain areas, whenever abrupt shifts in visual objects or gaze cause counterchange of luminance at high-contrast borders.
Viewpoint-independent object class detection using 3D Feature Maps

This paper presents a 3D approach to multi-view object class detection. Most existing approaches recognize object classes for a particular viewpoint or combine classifiers for a few discrete views. We propose instead to build 3D representations of object classes which allow to handle viewpoint changes and intra-class variability. Our approach extracts a set of pose and class discriminant features from synthetic 3D object models using a filtering procedure, evaluates their suitability for matching to real image data and represents them by their appearance and 3D position. We term these representations 3D Feature Maps. For recognizing an object class in an image we match the synthetic descriptors to the real ones in a 3D voting scheme. Geometric coherence is reinforced by means of a robust pose estimation which yields a 3D bounding box in addition to the 2D localization. The precision of the 3D pose estimation is evaluated on a set of images of a calibrated scene. The 2D localization is evaluated on the PASCAL 2006 dataset for motorbikes and cars, showing that its performance can compete with state-of-the-art 2D object detectors.
Iron Deficiency and Iron-deficiency Anemia in Toddlers Ages 18 to 36 Months: A Prospective Study

In young children, iron deficiency (ID)—the most common cause of anemia—may adversely affect long-term neurodevelopment and behavior. We prospectively evaluated the prevalence of ID and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in 256 healthy 18- to 36-month-old children in Northern Israel. Complete blood count and ferritin evaluation were performed, and risk factors were assessed. Hemoglobin (Hgb) was compared with first-year routine screening. Complete data were obtained from 208 children: 56.2% were boys; the mean age was 26.1±5.27 months. A prevalence of 5.8% IDA, 16.3% ID without anemia, 9.6% anemia with normal ferritin, and 68.3% normal Hgb and ferritin was found. In nonanemic infants at 1 year of age (n=156), ID/IDA was found in 19.9%, and 12.8% became anemic at study evaluation. Despite iron supplementation in the first year, and normal Hgb at first-year screening, ID and IDA were still prevalent, and might develop during the second year of life. Recognition of this child subset and consideration of iron supplementation are mandatory.
Education Level and Inequalities in Stroke Reperfusion Therapy: Observations in the Swedish Stroke Register

Background and Purpose— Previous studies have revealed inequalities in stroke treatment based on demographics, hospital type, and region. We used the Swedish Stroke Register (Riksstroke) to test whether patient education level is associated with reperfusion (either or both of thrombolysis and thrombectomy) treatment. Methods— We included 85 885 patients with ischemic stroke aged 18 to 80 years registered in Riksstroke between 2003 and 2009. Education level was retrieved from Statistics Sweden, and thrombolysis, thrombectomy, patient, and hospital data were obtained from Riksstroke. We used multivariable logistic regression to analyze the association between reperfusion therapy and patient education. Results— A total of 3649 (4.2%) of the patients received reperfusion therapy. University-educated patients were more likely to be treated (5.5%) than patients with secondary (4.6%) or primary education (3.6%; P<0.001). The inequality associated with education was still present after adjustment for patient characteristics; university education odds ratio, 1.14; 95% confidence interval, 1.03 to 1.26 and secondary education odds ratio, 1.08; 95% confidence interval, 1.00 to 1.17 compared with primary education. Higher hospital specialization level was also associated with higher reperfusion levels (P<0.001). In stratified multivariable analyses by hospital type, significant treatment differences by education level existed only among large nonuniversity hospitals (university education odds ratio, 1.20; 95% confidence interval, 1.04–1.40; secondary education odds ratio, 1.14; 95% confidence interval, 1.01–1.29). Conclusions— We demonstrated a social stratification in reperfusion, partly explained by patient characteristics and the local hospital specialization level. Further studies should address treatment delays, stroke knowledge, and means to improve reperfusion implementation in less specialized hospitals.
Optimal Cognitive Access of Markovian Channels under Tight Collision Constraints

The problem of cognitive access of channels of primary users by a secondary user is considered. The transmissions of primary users are modeled as independent continuous-time Markovian on-off processes. A secondary cognitive user employs slotted transmissions, and it senses one of the possible channels before transmission. The objective of the cognitive user is to maximize its throughput subject to collision constraints imposed by the primary users. The optimal access strategy is in general a solution of a constrained partially observable Markov decision process, which involves a constrained optimization in an infinite dimensional functional space. It is shown in this paper that, when the collision constraints are tight, the optimal access strategy can be implemented by a simple memoryless access policy with periodic channel sensing. Numerical results are presented to validate and extend the analysis for different practical scenarios.
Age-related changes in accommodative dynamics from preschool to adulthood.

PURPOSE To study variations in dynamic measures of accommodation and disaccommodation with age in subjects ranging from preschool to adulthood. METHODS Accommodative responses to a step stimulus cartoon movie alternating from distance to near were recorded with a dynamic infrared photorefractor. Subjects viewed at least three stimulus cycles of far and near for four near stimulus demands (2, 3, 4, and 5 D). Latencies, peak velocities, and the magnitude of accommodative microfluctuations were calculated from the responses and compared in 41 subjects from 3 to 38 years of age. RESULTS Mean accommodative and disaccommodative latencies decreased linearly with age. The magnitude of accommodative microfluctuations during sustained near accommodation had a significant quadratic relationship to age, with subjects in the first decade of life having the largest fluctuations and subjects in the third decade of life having the smallest for all stimulus demands. Accommodative peak velocities were fastest in subjects in the first two decades of life, compared with subjects in the third and fourth decades; however, disaccommodative peak velocities showed no significant age differences. CONCLUSIONS Age-related changes in dynamics occur in accommodative and disaccommodative latencies, accommodative peak velocities, and accommodative microfluctuations, all of which decrease with increasing age from preschool to adulthood. Disaccommodative peak velocities showed no change with age.
Tracking the History of the Genetic Code

At the annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Evolution held here last month, two speakers presented evidence suggesting that forces other than chance shaped the origin and history of the genetic code. Experiments with RNA have shown that chemical attractions between the genetic material and the components of proteins may have helped shape the original code, reported one speaker. Another researcher, using powerful computer analyses, suggested that the modern code is the product of evolution because it is so error-proof: Only one in a million other possible codes is better at producing a workable protein even when the DNA carries mistakes.