Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A gradient intensity-adapted algorithm for the fast decision of H.264/AVC intra-prediction modes

H.264/AVC is widely applied for the encoding of videos due to its superiority of finding an optimal tradeoff between the bit-rate expense and the video quality. Nevertheless, the procedures of finding an optimal intra or inter-prediction mode can degrade the run-time performance of the coding process since considerable computations on rate-distortion cost evaluation are required for different prediction modes. For a macroblock, hundreds of rate-distortion costs have to be calculated before an optimal intra-prediction mode can be determined, which is really a heavy burden for the encoder. To alleviate the computational complexity of the coding process, we apply in this paper a simple yet effective gradient evaluation approach so that the texture orientation can be found efficiently. Moreover, we propose an adaptive selection strategy in this paper so that only a variable number of the most probable intra-prediction modes will be sent for the rate-distortion optimization process. Experimental results show that a noticeable speedup on the runtime performance can be obtained with only a minor degradation on the visual quality and bit-rate expense. When compared with existing state-of-the-art fast decision algorithms, a distinct improvement on a proposed cost-performance metric can be attained, which demonstrates the superiority of the proposed approach.
PCSK9 Inhibition to Reduce Cardiovascular Risk: Tempering Expectations.

> Evolocumab and clinical outcomes in patients with cardiovascular disease > > Sabatine et al > > N Engl J Med . Published online ahead of print March 17, 2017. > Cardiovascular efficacy and safety of bococizumab in high-risk patients > > Ridker et al > > N Engl J Med . 2017;376:1527–1539. The first large clinical outcomes trials of proprotein convertase subtilisin–kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors have demonstrated that these drugs, when taken with statins, reduce cardiovascular events by 15% to 20% more than statins alone. However, this event reduction is less than expected for such a large decrease in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and the reasons for this disconnect between LDL-C lowering and cardiovascular events remain unclear. Future trials should clarify the degree of clinical benefit to be expected from PCSK9 inhibitors. Two years ago, in these pages, we discussed the results of very early clinical outcome trials of the PCSK9 monoclonal antibodies evolocumab and alirocumab.1 These drugs both reduced LDL-C levels by slightly >60% on top of statin therapy and reduced cardiovascular events by ≈50%. 2,3 We noted that although these results engendered great expectations, both of these studies were preliminary, with a small number of end points, short follow-up, and other important limitations.1 As often happens with life in general, our great expectations have been tempered by 2 recent reports. The FOURIER trial (Further Cardiovascular Outcomes Research With PCSK9 Inhibition in Subjects With Elevated Risk) enrolled 27 564 patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and LDL-C levels ≥70 mg/dL who were receiving statin therapy.4 Patients were randomly assigned to receive double-blind treatment with evolocumab (either 140 mg every 2 weeks or 420 mg monthly) or placebo as subcutaneous injections. The primary composite end point was cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, hospitalization for unstable angina, or coronary revascularization and the median duration of follow-up …
Lower testosterone levels predict incident stroke and transient ischemic attack in older men.

CONTEXT Lower circulating testosterone concentrations are associated with metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, carotid intima-media thickness, and aortic and lower limb arterial disease in men. However, it is unclear whether lower testosterone levels predict major cardiovascular events. OBJECTIVE We examined whether lower serum testosterone was an independently significant risk factor for symptomatic cerebrovascular events in older men. DESIGN This was a prospective observational study with median follow-up of 3.5 yr. SETTING Community-dwelling, stroke-free older men were studied. PARTICIPANTS A total of 3443 men at least 70 yr of age participated in the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Baseline serum total testosterone, SHBG, and LH were assayed. Free testosterone was calculated using mass action equations. Incident stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) was recorded. RESULTS A first stroke or TIA occurred in 119 men (3.5%). Total and free testosterone concentrations in the lowest quartiles (<11.7 nmol/liter and <222 pmol/liter) were associated with reduced event-free survival (P = 0.014 and P = 0.01, respectively). After adjustment including age, waist-hip ratio, waist circumference, smoking, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and medical comorbidity, lower total testosterone predicted increased incidence of stroke or TIA (hazard ratio = 1.99; 95% confidence interval, 1.33-2.99). Lower free testosterone was also associated (hazard ratio = 1.69; 95% confidence interval, 1.15-2.48), whereas SHBG and LH were not independently associated with incident stroke or TIA. CONCLUSIONS In older men, lower total testosterone levels predict increased incidence of stroke or TIA after adjusting for conventional risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Men with low-normal testosterone levels had increased risk. Further studies are warranted to determine whether interventions that raise circulating testosterone levels might prevent cerebrovascular disease in men.
Comparison of thermal expansion and oxidation behavior of various high-temperature coating materials and superalloys

Abstract The thermal expansion mismatch between a metallic substrate and its external oxide scale generates a strain on cooling that is a primary cause of spallation of protective oxide scales. This study compares thermal expansion behavior and cyclic oxidation performance of the two major composition classes of high-temperature commercial coatings for protection of single-crystal superalloys. The thermal expansion of cast MCrAlY (M = Ni and/or Co) alloys and cast aluminides (NiAl, (Ni,Pt)Al and Ni3Al) was measured at temperatures up to 1300°C and compared to that of a single-crystal Ni-base superalloy. The tendency for scale spallation from each alloy was evaluated by cyclic oxidation testing at 1150°C. The coefficients of thermal expansion for the aluminides were lower than those of the MCrAlY-based alloys at all temperatures and scale adherence to the Hf-doped aluminides was generally superior. Scale adherence to the various compositions of MCrAlY-type alloys did not directly correlate to their thermal expansion behavior or substrate strength. For both types of materials, the presence of a reactive element (Y,Hf, etc.) had no detectable effect on thermal expansion but a major effect on scale adherence. There was no obvious influence of Al content on the thermal expansion of β phase Ni–Al compositions. The addition of Pt resulted in a lower average thermal expansion for hyperstoichiometric (Ni,Pt)Al at temperatures above 930°C, but this effect was not observed in hypostoichiometric (Ni,Pt)Al.
Random walk in a Weyl chamber

The classical Ballot problem that counts the number of ways of walking from the origin and staying within the wedge x 1 ≥x 2 ≥. ≥x n (which is a Weyl chamber for the symmetric group), using positive unit steps, is generalized to general Weyl groups and general sets of steps
Methodological Rigor in Preclinical Cardiovascular Studies: Targets to Enhance Reproducibility and Promote Research Translation

Rationale : Methodological sources of bias and suboptimal reporting contribute to irreproducibility in preclinical science and may negatively impact research translation. Randomization, blinding, sample size estimation, and considering sex as a biological variable are deemed crucial study design elements to maximize the quality and predictive value of preclinical experiments. Objective : To examine the prevalence and temporal patterns of recommended study design element implementation in preclinical cardiovascular research. Methods and Results : All articles published over a 10-year period in 5 leading cardiovascular journals were reviewed. Reports of in vivo experiments in non-human mammals describing pathophysiology, genetics, and/or therapeutic interventions relevant to specific cardiovascular disorders were identified. Data on study design and animal model use were collected. Citations at 60 months were additionally examined as a surrogate measure of research impact in a pre-specified subset of studies, stratified by individual and cumulative study design elements. Of 28,636 articles screened, 3,396 met inclusion criteria. Randomization was reported in 21.8%, blinding in 32.7%, and sample size estimation in 2.3%. Temporal and disease-specific analyses show that the implementation of these study design elements has overall not appreciably increased over the past decade, except in preclinical stroke research, which has uniquely demonstrated significant improvements in methodological rigor. In a subset of 1,681 preclinical studies, randomization, blinding, sample size estimation, and inclusion of both sexes were not associated with increased citations at 60 months. Conclusions : Methodological shortcomings are prevalent in preclinical cardiovascular research, have not substantially improved over the past 10 years, and may be overlooked when basing subsequent studies. Resultant risks of bias and threats to study validity have the potential to hinder progress in cardiovascular medicine as preclinical research often precedes and informs clinical trials. Stroke research quality has uniquely improved in recent years, warranting a closer examination for interventions to model in other cardiovascular fields.
Protein kinase A phosphorylation of RhoA mediates the morphological and functional effects of cyclic AMP in cytotoxic lymphocytes.

We have observed that stimulation of human natural killer cells with dibutyryl cAMP (Bt2cAMP) reproduced the effects of ADP ribosylation of the GTP binding protein RhoA by Clostridium botulinum C3 transferase: both agents induced similar morphological changes, inhibited cell motility and blocked the cytolytic function. We demonstrate here that cAMP‐dependent protein kinase A (PKA) phosphorylates RhoA in its C‐terminal region, on serine residue 188. This phosphorylation does not affect the ability of recombinant RhoA to bind guanine nucleotides, nor does it modify its intrinsic GTPase activity. However, treatment of cells with Bt2cAMP results in the translocation of membrane‐associated RhoA towards the cytosol. Experiments using purified membrane preparations indicated that Rho‐GDP dissociation inhibitor, which can complex phosphorylated RhoA in its GTP‐bound state, was the effector of this translocation. Taken together, these data suggest that PKA phosphorylation of RhoA is a central event in mediating the cellular effects of cAMP, and support the existence of an alternative pathway for terminating RhoA signalling whereby GTP‐bound RhoA, when phosphorylated, could be separated from its putative effector(s) independently of its GTP/GDP cycling.
Increased visual cortical excitability in ecstasy users: a transcranial magnetic stimulation study

Objectives: To test the presence of abnormalities of visual cortical excitability in people using ecstasy as a recreational drug. Methods: Ecstasy users and control subjects underwent single pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of the occipital cortex. The phosphene threshold was analysed and compared in the two groups. Results: Phosphene thresholds were significantly lower in ecstasy users compared with control subjects, and were correlated negatively with frequency of ecstasy use. Frequency of use was positively correlated with the presence of visual hallucinations. The phosphene threshold of subjects with hallucinations was significantly lower than that of subjects without hallucinations. Conclusions: The use of ecstasy as a recreational drug is associated with an increased excitability of the visual cortex, possibly linked with massive serotonin release, followed by serotonin depletion, in this cortical area.
Spatio-Temporal Waveform Design for Multiuser Massive MIMO Downlink With 1-bit Receivers

Internet-of-Things (IoT) refers to a high-density network of low-cost, low-bitrate terminals and sensors where low energy consumption is also one central feature. As the power budget of classical receiver chains is dominated by the high-resolution analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), there is a growing interest toward deploying receiver architectures with reduced bit or even 1-bit ADCs. In this paper, we study waveform design, optimization, and detection aspects of multiuser massive MIMO downlink, where user terminals adopt very simple 1-bit ADCs with oversampling. In order to achieve spectral efficiency higher than 1 bit/s/Hz per real dimension, and per receiver antenna, we propose a two-stage precoding structure, namely, a novel quantization precoder followed by maximum-ratio transmission or zero-forcing-type spatial channel precoder which jointly form the multiuser multiantenna transmit waveform. The quantization precoder outputs are designed and optimized, under appropriate transmitter and receiver filter bandwidth constraints, to provide controlled intersymbol interference enabling the input symbols to be uniquely detected from 1-bit quantized observations with a low-complexity symbol detector in the absence of noise. An additional optimization constraint is also imposed in the quantization precoder design to increase the robustness against noise and residual interuser interference (IUI). The purpose of the spatial channel precoder, in turn, is to suppress the IUI and provide high beamforming gains such that good symbol error rates can be achieved in the presence of noise and interference. Extensive numerical evaluations illustrate that the proposed spatio-temporal precoder-based multiantenna waveform design can facilitate good multiuser link performance, despite the extremely simple 1-bit ADCs in the receivers, hence being one possible enabling technology for the future low-complexity IoT networks.
Estimating the Causal Effect of Low Levels of Fine Particulate Matter on Hospitalization

Background: In 2012, the EPA enacted more stringent National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Few studies have characterized the health effects of air pollution levels lower than the most recent NAAQS for long-term exposure to PM2.5 (now 12 &mgr;g/m3). Methods: We constructed a cohort of 32,119 Medicare beneficiaries residing in 5138 US ZIP codes who were interviewed as part of the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) between 2002 and 2010 and had 1 year of follow-up. We considered four outcomes: all-cause hospitalizations, hospitalizations for circulatory diseases and respiratory diseases, and death. Results: We found that increasing exposure to PM2.5 from levels lower than 12 &mgr;g/m3 to levels higher than 12 &mgr;g/m3 is associated with increases in all-cause admission rates of 7% (95% CI = 3%, 10%) and in circulatory admission hazard rates of 6% (95% CI = 2%, 9%). When we restricted analysis to enrollees with exposure always lower than 12 &mgr;g/m3, we found that increasing exposure from levels lower than 8 &mgr;g/m3 to levels higher than 8 &mgr;g/m3 increased all-cause admission hazard rates by 15% (95% CI = 8%, 23%), circulatory by 18% (95% CI = 10%, 27%), and respiratory by 21% (95% CI = 9%, 34%). Conclusions: In a nationally representative sample of Medicare enrollees, changes in exposure to PM2.5, even at levels consistently below standards, are associated with increases in hospital admissions for all causes and cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. The robustness of our results to inclusion of many additional individual level potential confounders adds validity to studies of air pollution that rely entirely on administrative data.
A Pilot Open Label Study of Cystoprotek® in Interstitial Cystitis

Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a disorder of the urinary bladder characterized by urgency, frequency, nocturia and suprapubic pain. IC occurs primarily in women and symptoms are exacerbated by stress, ovulatory hormones and certain foods. IC pathogenesis is unknown, but the most consistent findings involve some dysfunction of the bladder glycosaminoglycan (GAG) protective layer and a high number of activated bladder mast cells. There is no effective therapy even through intravesical administration of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) or oral pentosanpolysulfate (PPS) have had variable success. A dietary supplement, CystoProtek®, was formulated with the natural GAG components chondroitin sulfate and sodium hyaluronate to provide urothelial cytoprotection, together with the flavonoid quercetin that has anti-inflammatory properties and inhibits activation of mast cells. Thirty-seven female patients diagnosed by the NIDDK criteria who had failed all forms of therapy took six softgel CystoProtek® capsules per day for 6 months. Global assessment scale was reduced from 9.0 ± 2.9 to 4.3 ± 2.1 (p <0.05); moreover, the O'Leary/Sant Symptom Index decreased from 16.3 ± 3.1 to 6.9 ± 4.2 (p <0.05) and the Problem Index from 13.1 ± 3.7 to 5.4 ± 4.0 (p <0.05). These results are very promising and warrant a larger study that may permit further analyses with respect to other, especially atopic, comorbid diseases.
Ultimate Q of optical microsphere resonators

We demonstrate the quality factor Q equals (0.8 plus or minus 0.1) multiplied by 1010 of whispering-gallery modes in fused silica microspheres at 633 nm, close to the limit determined by fundamental material attenuation. The lifetime of ultimate Q is limited by adsorption of atmospheric water. Optical effects of adsorption are investigated and conditions for fabrication of long-lifetime microspheres are clarified.
Input / Output Switched Asynchronous Sequential Machines with Transient Faults

Robust model matching control of input/output switched asynchronous sequential machines is addressed in this paper. The control objective is to determine the existence condition and design algorithm for a corrective controller that can match the stable-state behavior of the closed-loop system to that of a reference model, while invalidating any transient faults that cause unauthorized state transitions. Switching operations and correction procedures are incorporated using output feedback so that the controlled switched machine can show the desired input /output behavior and fault tolerance. A matrix expression is presented to address reachability of switched asynchronous sequential machines with output equivalence with respect to a model. The proposed reachability condition for the existence of a controller and its design procedure are outlined in a simple example.
Lung Collagens Perpetuate Pulmonary Fibrosis via CD204 and M2 Macrophage Activation

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is characterized by abundant collagen production and accumulation of alternatively activated macrophages (M2) in the lower respiratory tract. Mechanisms as to how alveolar macrophages are activated by collagen breakdown products are unknown. Alveolar macrophages were obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage from 30 patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and 37 healthy donors (HD). Alveolar macrophages were cultured in the presence of collagen type I, III, IV and V monomers w/wo a neutralizing antibody against scavenger receptor I class A (CD204). Culture supernatants were assayed for the M2 markers CCL18, CCL2, and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) by ELISA. Furthermore, expression of phospho-Akt was measured using ELISA and expression of CD204 by RT-PCR and flow cytometry. Stimulation with collagen type I and III monomers significantly up-regulated CCL18, IL-1ra production of alveolar macrophages. Furthermore, expression of CCL2 and CD204 were up-regulated by collagen type I exposure. In addition, collagen type I stimulation increased pospho-Akt expression. Collagen type I effects were abrogated by neutralizing antiCD204 and a non-selective Phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase inhibitor (LY294002). Spontaneous CD204 expression of alveolar macrophages was significantly increased in patients with IPF. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that monomeric collagen type I via CD204 induces phospho-Akt expression shifting alveolar macrophages to the profibrotic M2 type. Innate immune responses induced by collagen monomers might perpetuate pulmonary fibrosis.
Calpain Inhibitor AK295 Protects Neurons From Focal Brain Ischemia: Effects of Postocdusion Intra-arterial Administration

This research was performed to determine whether a selective inhibitor of the calcium-dependent protease, calpain, could reduce ischemia-associated brain damage when peripherally administered after a vascular occlusion. Methods A variation of the rat middle cerebral artery occlusion model was used. A range of doses of AK295 (a novel calpain inhibitor synthesized for this purpose) was continuously infused through the internal carotid artery, beginning 1.25 hours from the initiation of the occlusion. Rats were killed at 21 hours, and the infarct volume was quantified. Results Postocdusion (1.25-hour) infusion of the calpain inhibitor AK295 elicited a dose-dependent neuroprotective effect after focal ischemia. The highest dose tested (3 mg/kg per hour) afforded the maximum effect, illustrated by a 32% reduction in infarct volume 21 hours after the ischemia (vehicle, 81.7±4.7 mm3; AK295, 54.9±6.9 mm3; P<.007). Conclusions These data provide the first evidence that a peripherally administered calpain inhibitor can protect against ischemic brain damage. They offer further support for an important role of calpain proteolysis in the brain degeneration associated with cerebral ischemic events and suggest that selective calpain inhibitors provide a rational, novel, and viable means of treating such neurodegenerative problems.
Evaluation of efficacy of some serological tests used for diagnosis of brucellosis in cattle in Egypt using latent class analysis

In this study serum samples were collected from 4 different groups of cattle, Group I (non-vaccinated Brucella infected group), Group II (Vaccinated Brucella infected group), Group III (Non-vaccinated Brucella free group) and Group IV (vaccinated Brucella free group). These samples were subjected to the different serological tests including Rose Bengal plate antigen test, Tube Agglutination test, Rivanol test, Indirect Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay and Competitive Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay. Statistical analysis of the obtained results in different cattle groups was carried out using Latent Class Analysis (Lem model). The prevalence of brucellosis was 6.4%, the sensitivity of RBPT was 96.1% while its specificity was 99.3%, the sensitivity of Rivanol test was 85% while its specificity was 100%, the sensitivity of Indirect Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent assay was 100% while its specificity was 98.3 % and the sensitivity of Competitive Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent assay was 97.1% while its specificity was 100%. The results proved that, the most sensitive test was Indirect Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent assay while the most specific test was Competitive Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent assay. This study therefore, recommends the use of Indirect Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent assay as a screening test and Competitive Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent assay as a confirmatory test. Bacteriological examination was carried out on supramammary lymph nodes and spleen of some slaughtered seropositive cattle, the rate of isolation was 25% from non-vaccinated infected group and 10% from vaccinated infected group. Brucella melitensis biovar3 was recovered only from supramammary lymph nodes.