Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Clinical Significance of Pretransplant Donor‐Specific Antibodies in the Setting of Negative Cell‐Based Flow Cytometry Crossmatching in Kidney Transplant Recipients

Antibodies to donor‐specific HLA antigens (donor‐specific antibodies [DSA]) detected by single‐antigen bead (SAB) analysis prior to kidney transplant have been associated with inferior graft outcomes. However, studies of pretransplant DSA, specifically in the setting of a negative flow cytometry crossmatch (FCXM) without desensitization therapy, are limited. Six hundred and sixty kidney and kidney–pancreas recipients with a negative pretransplant FCXM from September 2007 to August 2012 without desensitization therapy were analyzed with a median follow‐up of 4.2 years. All patients underwent cell‐based FCXM and SAB analysis on current and historic sera prior to transplantation. One hundred and sixty‐two patients (24.5%) had DSA detected prior to transplant. One‐year acute rejection rates were similar in DSA‐positive versus DSA‐negative patients (15.4% vs. 11.4%, respectively; p = 0.18) and were higher in those with DSA mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) greater than or equal to 3000 in multivariable analysis (p = 0.046). The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at 3 and 4 years was lower in the DSA(+) versus the DSA(−) group (p = 0.050 at 3 years) without an impact on 5‐year death‐censored graft survival (89.0% vs. 90.6%, respectively; p = 0.53). Timing (current or historic) of DSA detection did not alter these findings. In conclusion, pretransplant DSA in the setting of a negative FCXM confers minimal immunologic risk in the intermediate term, does not necessitate desensitization therapy and should not represent a barrier to renal transplant.
Cathodoluminescence microscopy: Optical imaging and spectroscopy with deep-subwavelength resolution

This article describes a new microscope, based on angle-resolved cathodoluminescence (CL) imaging spectroscopy, which enables optical imaging and spectroscopy at deep-subwavelength spatial resolution. We used a free electron beam in a scanning electron microscope as a direct excitation source for polarizable materials, and we collected the emitted coherent visible/infrared CL radiation using a specially designed optical collection system that is integrated in the electron microscope. We have demonstrated the use of this new technique for the excitation of plasmons in single metal nanoparticles, surface plasmon polaritons at metal surfaces, resonant Mie modes in dielectric nanostructures, and cavity modes and Bloch modes in photonic crystals. Using angle-resolved detection, we are able to derive the nature of localized modes and the dispersion of propagation modes in dielectric and plasmonic geometries. An outlook about new directions and applications of CL imaging spectroscopy is also provided.
Modeling Users' Activity on Twitter Networks: Validation of Dunbar's Number

Microblogging and mobile devices appear to augment human social capabilities, which raises the question whether they remove cognitive or biological constraints on human communication. In this paper we analyze a dataset of Twitter conversations collected across six months involving 1.7 million individuals and test the theoretical cognitive limit on the number of stable social relationships known as Dunbar's number. We find that the data are in agreement with Dunbar's result; users can entertain a maximum of 100–200 stable relationships. Thus, the ‘economy of attention’ is limited in the online world by cognitive and biological constraints as predicted by Dunbar's theory. We propose a simple model for users' behavior that includes finite priority queuing and time resources that reproduces the observed social behavior.
Extubation of the Difficult Airway and Extubation Failure

Respiratory complications after tracheal extubation are associated with significant morbidity and mortality, suggesting that process improvements in this clinical area are needed. The decreased rate of respiratory adverse events occurring during tracheal intubation since the implementation of guidelines for difficult airway management supports the value of education and guidelines in advancing clinical practice. Accurate use of terms in defining concepts and describing distinct clinical conditions is paramount to facilitating understanding and fostering education in the treatment of tracheal extubation-related complications. As an example, understanding the distinction between extubation failure and weaning failure allows one to appreciate the need for pre-extubation tests that focus on assessing airway patency in addition to evaluating the ability to breathe spontaneously. Tracheal reintubation after planned extubation is a relatively rare event in the postoperative period of elective surgeries, with reported rates of reintubation in the operating room and postanesthesia care unit between 0.1% and 0.45%, but is a fairly common event in critically ill patients (0.4%–25%). Conditions such as obesity, obstructive sleep apnea, major head/neck and upper airway surgery, and obstetric and cervical spine procedures carry significantly increased risks of extubation failure and are frequently associated with difficult airway management. Extubation failure follows loss of upper airway patency. Edema, soft tissue collapse, and laryngospasm are among the most frequent mechanisms of upper airway obstruction. Planning for tracheal extubation is a critical component of a successful airway management strategy, particularly when dealing with situations at increased risk for extubation failure and in patients with difficult airways. Adequate planning requires identification of patients who have or may develop a difficult airway, recognition of situations at increased risk of postextubation airway compromise, and understanding the causes and underlying mechanisms of extubation failure. An effective strategy to minimize postextubation airway complications should include preemptive optimization of patients’ conditions, careful timing of extubation, the presence of experienced personnel trained in advanced airway management, and the availability of the necessary equipment and appropriate postextubation monitoring.
Deoxycholic Acid (ATX-101) for Reduction of Submental Fat

Objective: To review trials evaluating purified synthetic deoxycholic acid (DCA; ATX-101) for the reduction of submental fat (SMF). Data Sources: A literature search was conducted using MEDLINE (1946 to week 4 of April 2016) and Evidence Based Medicine Database (1974 to 6 May, 2016). Keywords searched included deoxycholic acid, ATX-101, and submental fat. Study Selection and Data Extraction: All human studies published in English that addressed the effects of DCA for the reduction of SMF were selected for analysis. Data Synthesis: Five phase III, multicenter, randomized, double-blinded clinical trials enrolling more than 1700 patients have demonstrated the efficacy of ATX-101 in the reduction of SMF via a variety of validated scales as well as objective measurements. Purified synthetic DCA 2 mg/cm2 injected monthly for 4 to 6 treatment sessions demonstrated improvement in scales evaluated by both clinicians and patients. Improvement in skin caliper measurements of SMF and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) provide objective evidence of the efficacy of ATX-101. Adverse events (AEs) are very common but are transient and localized to the treatment area. Pain at the injection site is the most common AE, occurring in more than 80% of patients treated. Other common AEs include swelling, bruising, numbness, and induration. Appropriate injection technique is patient specific and requires detailed knowledge of the submental anatomy to minimize AEs. Conclusions: ATX-101 is the first pharmacological intervention approved for the reduction of SMF and offers an alternative to invasive measures to improve the submental profile and positively affect patient self-image.
Man is to Computer Programmer as Woman is to Homemaker? Debiasing Word Embeddings

The blind application of machine learning runs the risk of amplifying biases present in data. Such a danger is facing us with word embedding, a popular framework to represent text data as vectors which has been used in many machine learning and natural language processing tasks. We show that even word embeddings trained on Google News articles exhibit female/male gender stereotypes to a disturbing extent. This raises concerns because their widespread use, as we describe, often tends to amplify these biases. Geometrically, gender bias is first shown to be captured by a direction in the word embedding. Second, gender neutral words are shown to be linearly separable from gender definition words in the word embedding. Using these properties, we provide a methodology for modifying an embedding to remove gender stereotypes, such as the association between the words receptionist and female, while maintaining desired associations such as between the words queen and female. Using crowd-worker evaluation as well as standard benchmarks, we empirically demonstrate that our algorithms significantly reduce gender bias in embeddings while preserving the its useful properties such as the ability to cluster related concepts and to solve analogy tasks. The resulting embeddings can be used in applications without amplifying gender bias.
Long non-coding RNA DANCR, a prognostic indicator, promotes cell growth and tumorigenicity in gastric cancer

Gastric cancer remains the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, and proliferation of gastric cancer represents the major reason for its poor prognosis. Recent evidence indicates that long non-coding RNAs play crucial roles in development and progression of gastric cancer. Long non-coding RNA differentiation antagonizing non-protein coding RNA is upregulated in hepatic cell carcinoma, but the role of lncRNA differentiation antagonizing non-protein coding RNA in gastric cancer has not been explored. In this article, we found that differentiation antagonizing non-protein coding RNA is also upregulated in gastric cancer. Experiments revealed that silencing differentiation antagonizing non-protein coding RNA significantly inhibited gastric cancer cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Overexpression of differentiation antagonizing non-protein coding RNA notably increases gastric cancer cell proliferation. From RNA-seq and gene ontology annotations, we found that differentiation antagonizing non-protein coding RNA influences the gene expression programs in cell metabolic and cycle process. Taken together, our findings suggest that the long non-coding RNA differentiation antagonizing non-protein coding RNA promotes the proliferation of gastric cancer and is a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in gastric cancer.
Effect of age on the clinical profile and systemic absorption and disposition of levobupivacaine after epidural administration.

BACKGROUND Pharmacokinetic and/or pharmacodynamic changes, which may occur with increasing age, could alter the clinical profile of the new local anaesthetic levobupivacaine. We investigated the effect of age on the absorption and disposition kinetics and the neural block characteristics after epidural administration of levobupivacaine 0.75%. METHODS Thirty-one patients were enrolled in one of three age groups (Group 1, 18-44 yr; Group 2, 45-70 yr; Group 3, >70 yr). Twenty-five minutes after epidural administration of levobupivacaine (127.5 mg), they received approximately 25 mg deuterium-labelled levobupivacaine (D(3)-levobupivacaine) intravenously. Arterial blood samples were collected until 24 h after the epidural administration. Plasma concentrations were determined using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. Plasma concentration-time data were analyzed by compartmental and non-compartmental analysis. Assessments of analgesia and motor block were made at set intervals until complete regression of the block. RESULTS The upper levels of analgesia in the two oldest groups of patients were 3 dermatomes (95% confidence interval (95% CI): 0.5-5.0 dermatomes) higher than in the youngest group. The fraction absorbed (F(1)) was 0.07 (95% CI: 0.02-013) smaller and the absorption half-life (t(1/2,a1)), characterizing the initial fast absorption phase, 3.6 min (95% CI: 0.8-6.4) shorter in the oldest group compared with the youngest group. CONCLUSIONS Age influences the pharmacokinetics, in particular the early absorption kinetics, and the neural block characteristics after epidural administration of levobupivacaine. Changes in the upper level of analgesia are best explained by anatomical considerations and possibly pharmacodynamic changes in the elderly.
Robust satisfactory fault-tolerant control of uncertain linear discrete-time systems: an LMI approach

Fault-tolerant control is an important issue in practical systems. Based on satisfactory control and estimation theory, a passive fault-tolerant control strategy is proposed for a class of uncertain linear discrete-time systems in this article. Manipulating linear matrix inequality (LMI) technique, robust fault-tolerant state-feedback controllers are designed which take the possible actuator faults and sensor faults into consideration, respectively. The closed-loop systems are guaranteed by the designed controllers to meet the required constraints on regional pole index φ(q, r), steady-state variance matrix X index and control-cost function V 2(u) index simultaneously. Then, whether possible faults occur or not, the closed-loop systems would maintain the three desirable performance indices accordingly. Meanwhile, the consistency of the performance indices mentioned earlier is also discussed for fault-tolerant control.
Acute regulation of tight junction ion selectivity in human airway epithelia

Electrolyte transport through and between airway epithelial cells controls the quantity and composition of the overlying liquid. Many studies have shown acute regulation of transcellular ion transport in airway epithelia. However, whether ion transport through tight junctions can also be acutely regulated is poorly understood both in airway and other epithelia. To investigate the paracellular pathway, we used primary cultures of differentiated human airway epithelia and assessed expression of claudins, the primary determinants of paracellular permeability, and measured transepithelial electrical properties, ion fluxes, and La3+ movement. Like many other tissues, airway epithelia expressed multiple claudins. Moreover, different cell types in the epithelium expressed the same pattern of claudins. To evaluate tight junction regulation, we examined the response to histamine, an acute regulator of airway function. Histamine stimulated a rapid and transient increase in the paracellular Na+ conductance, with a smaller increase in Cl− conductance. The increase was mediated by histamine H1 receptors and depended on an increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration. These results suggest that ion flow through the paracellular pathway can be acutely regulated. Such regulation could facilitate coupling of the passive flow of counter ions to active transcellular transport, thereby controlling net transepithelial salt and water transport.
A uniform computational model for natural language parsing and generation

In the area of natural language processing in recent years, there has been a strong tendency towards reversible natural language grammars, i.e., the use of one and the same grammar for grammatical analysis (parsing) and grammatical synthesis (generation) in a natural language system. The idea of representing grammatical knowledge only once and of using it for performing both tasks seems to be quite plausible, and there are many arguments based on practical and psychological considerations for adopting such a view (in section 2.1 we discuss the most important arguments in more detail). Nevertheless, in almost all large natural language systems in which parsing and generation are considered in similar depth, different algorithms are used - even when the same grammar is used. At present, the first attempts are being made at uniform architectures which are based on the paradigm of natural language processing as deduction (they are described and discussed in section 2.3 in detail). Here, grammatical processing is performed by means of the same underlying deduction mechanism, which can be parameterized for the specific tasks at hand. Natural language processing based on a uniform deduction process has a formal elegance and results in more compact systems. There is one further advantage that is of both theoretical and practical relevance: a uniform architecture offers the possibility of viewing parsing and generation as strongly interleaved tasks. Interleaving parsing and generation is important if we assume that natural language understanding and production are not performed in an isolated way but rather can work together to obtain a flexible use of language. In particular this means a. ) the use of one mode of operation for monitoring the other and b. ) the use of structures resulting from one direction directly in the other. For example, during generation integrated parsing can be used to monitor the generation process and to cause some kind of revision, e.g., to reduce the risk of misunderstandings. Research on monitoring and revision strategies is a very active area in cognitive science; however, currently there exists no algorithmic model of such a behaviour. A uniform architecture can be an important step in that direction. Unfortunately, the currently proposed uniform architectures are very inefficient and it is yet unclear how an efficiency-oriented uniform model could be achieved. An obvious problem is that in each direction different input structures are involved - a string for parsing and a semantic expression for generation - which causes a different traversal of the search space defined by the grammar. Even if this problem were solved, it is not that obvious how a uniform model could re-use partial results computed in one direction efficiently in the other direction for obtaining a practical interleaved approach to parsing and generation. Liegt nicht vor.
COMPOSITE BEAM INCORPORATING CELLULAR STEEL DECKING

RESULTS OF A TEST ON A COMPOSITE STEEL AND CONCRETE BEAM INCORPORATING A CELLULAR STEEL DECK ARE REPORTED. GOOD AGREEMENT BETWEEN MEASURED AND COMPUTED VALUES OF STRAIN AND DEFLECTION IS INDICATED PRIOR TO FIRST YIELDING. THE BEAM BEHAVED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ELASTIC THEORY FOR COMPOSITE BEAMS WITH INCOMPLETE INTERACTION. THE LOAD-SLIP CHARACTERISTICS FOR THE END CONNECTIONS WAS DETERMINED FROM THE BEAM TEST RESULTS. THE MAXIMUM STRENGTH OF A CONNECTION COMPUTED FROM THE MEASURED LOAD AND END SLIPS IN THE ELASTIC RANGE HAS BEEN USED TO ESTIMATE THE ULTIMATE STRENGTH OF THE BEAM. ELASTIC THEORY PREDICTION OF MAJOR BREAKDOWN OF INTERACTION UNDER THE LOAD-POINTS OF A BEAM WITH SYMMETRICAL TWO POINT LOAD SYSTEM WAS CONFIRMED IN THE TEST WHEN THE EXTREME FIBER STRAINS IN THE STEEL AND CONCRETE AT THE LOAD POINTS EXCEEDED THOSE AT MID-SPAN IN THE ELASTIC RANGE. AT MAXIMUM LOAD TWO HINGES FORMED AT THE LOAD POINTS. IT IS SHOWN HOW EFFICIENCY FACTORS FOR FLEXURAL STRESS AND DEFLECTION CAN BE DERIVED. /ASCE/
Retrospective Cohort Analysis of Chest Injury Characteristics and Concurrent Injuries in Patients Admitted to Hospital in the Wenchuan and Lushan Earthquakes in Sichuan, China

Background The aim of this study was to compare retrospectively the characteristics of chest injuries and frequencies of other, concurrent injuries in patients after earthquakes of different seismic intensity. Methods We compared the cause, type, and body location of chest injuries as well as the frequencies of other, concurrent injuries in patients admitted to our hospital after the Wenchuan and Lushan earthquakes in Sichuan, China. We explored possible relationships between seismic intensity and the causes and types of injuries, and we assessed the ability of the Injury Severity Score, New Injury Severity Score, and Chest Injury Index to predict respiratory failure in chest injury patients. Results The incidence of chest injuries was 9.9% in the stronger Wenchuan earthquake and 22.2% in the less intensive Lushan earthquake. The most frequent cause of chest injuries in both earthquakes was being accidentally struck. Injuries due to falls were less prevalent in the stronger Wenchuan earthquake, while injuries due to burial were more prevalent. The distribution of types of chest injury did not vary significantly between the two earthquakes, with rib fractures and pulmonary contusions the most frequent types. Spinal and head injuries concurrent with chest injuries were more prevalent in the less violent Lushan earthquake. All three trauma scoring systems showed poor ability to predict respiratory failure in patients with earthquake-related chest injuries. Conclusions Previous studies may have underestimated the incidence of chest injury in violent earthquakes. The distributions of types of chest injury did not differ between these two earthquakes of different seismic intensity. Earthquake severity and interval between rescue and treatment may influence the prevalence and types of injuries that co-occur with the chest injury. Trauma evaluation scores on their own are inadequate predictors of respiratory failure in patients with earthquake-related chest injuries.
A Lightweight Message Authentication Scheme for Smart Grid Communications

Smart grid (SG) communication has recently received significant attentions to facilitate intelligent and distributed electric power transmission systems. However, communication trust and security issues still present practical concerns to the deployment of SG. In this paper, to cope with these challenging concerns, we propose a lightweight message authentication scheme features as a basic yet crucial component for secure SG communication framework. Specifically, in the proposed scheme, the smart meters which are distributed at different hierarchical networks of the SG can first achieve mutual authentication and establish the shared session key with Diffie-Hellman exchange protocol. Then, with the shared session key between smart meters and hash-based authentication code technique, the subsequent messages can be authenticated in a lightweight way. Detailed security analysis shows that the proposed scheme can satisfy the desirable security requirements of SG communications. In addition, extensive simulations have also been conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme in terms of low latency and few signal message exchanges.
Computer-Aided Sensor Development Focused on Security Issues

The paper examines intelligent sensor and sensor system development according to the Common Criteria methodology, which is the basic security assurance methodology for IT products and systems. The paper presents how the development process can be supported by software tools, design patterns and knowledge engineering. The automation of this process brings cost-, quality-, and time-related advantages, because the most difficult and most laborious activities are software-supported and the design reusability is growing. The paper includes a short introduction to the Common Criteria methodology and its sensor-related applications. In the experimental section the computer-supported and patterns-based IT security development process is presented using the example of an intelligent methane detection sensor. This process is supported by an ontology-based tool for security modeling and analyses. The verified and justified models are transferred straight to the security target specification representing security requirements for the IT product. The novelty of the paper is to provide a patterns-based and computer-aided methodology for the sensors development with a view to achieving their IT security assurance. The paper summarizes the validation experiment focused on this methodology adapted for the sensors system development, and presents directions of future research.