Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Probabilistic Forecasts of Wind Power Generation Accounting for Geographically Dispersed Information

Forecasts of wind power generation in their probabilistic form are a necessary input to decision-making problems for reliable and economic power systems operations in a smart grid context. Thanks to the wealth of spatially distributed data, also of high temporal resolution, such forecasts may be optimized by accounting for spatio-temporal effects that are so far merely considered. The way these effects may be included in relevant models is described for the case of both parametric and non-parametric approaches to generating probabilistic forecasts. The resulting predictions are evaluated on the real-world test case of a large offshore wind farm in Denmark (Nysted, 165 MW), where a portfolio of 19 other wind farms is seen as a set of geographically distributed sensors, for lead times between 15 minutes and 8 hours. Forecast improvements are shown to mainly come from the spatio-temporal correction of the first order moments of predictive densities. The best performing approach, based on adaptive quantile regression, using spatially corrected point forecasts as input, consistently outperforms the state-of-the-art benchmark based on local information only, by 1.5%-4.6%, depending upon the lead time.
The Fast Marching Method: An Effective Tool for Tomographic Imaging and Tracking Multiple Phases in Complex Layered Media

The accurate prediction of seismic traveltimes is required in many areas of seismology, including the processing of seismic reflection profiles, earthquake location, and seismic tomography at a variety of scales. In this paper, we present two seismic applications of a recently developed grid-based numerical scheme for tracking the evolution of monotonically advancing interfaces, via finite-difference solution of the eikonal equation, known as the fast marching method (FMM). Like most other practical grid-based techniques, FMM is only capable of locating the first-arrival phase in continuous media; however, its combination of unconditional stability and rapid computation make it a truly practical scheme for velocity fields of arbitrary complexity. The first application of FMM that we present focuses on the prediction of multiple reflection and refraction phases in complex 2D layered media. By treating each layer that the wavefront enters as a separate computational domain, we show that sequential application of FMM can be used to track phases comprising any number of reflection and transmission branches in media of arbitrary complexity. We also show that the use of local grid refinement in the source neighbourhood, where wavefront curvature is high, significantly improves the accuracy of the scheme with little extra computational expense. The second application of FMM that we consider is in the context of 3D teleseismic tomography, which uses relative traveltime residuals from distant earthquakes to image wavespeed variations in the Earth’s crust and upper mantle beneath a seismic array. Using teleseismic data collected in Tasmania, we show that FMM can rapidly and robustly calculate two-point traveltimes from an impinging teleseismic wavefront to a receiver array located on the surface, despite the presence of significant lateral variations in wavespeed in the intervening crust and upper mantle. Combined with a rapid subspace inversion method, the new FMM based tomographic scheme is shown to be extremely efficient and robust.
Nanoemulsion Based Hydrogel for Enhanced Transdermal Delivery of Ketoprofen

The aim of the present study was to investigate the nanoemulgel as transdermal delivery system for poorly water soluble drug, ketoprofen, in order to overcome the troubles associated with its oral delivery. Different nanoemulsion components (oil, surfactant, and cosurfactant) were selected on the basis of solubility and emulsification ability. Pseudoternary phase diagrams were constructed using titration method to figure out the concentration range of components. Carbomer 940 was added as gel matrix to convert nanoemulsion into nanoemulgel. Drug loaded nanoemulsions and nanoemulgels were characterized for particle size, TEM, viscosity, conductivity, spreadability, rheological behavior, and permeation studies using Wistar rat skin and stability studies. Transdermal permeation of ketoprofen from nanoemulgels was determined by using Franz diffusion cell. Nanoemulgel containing 6% oleic acid as oil, 35% Tween 80, and Transcutol P as surfactant cosurfactant mixture, 56.5% water, 2.5% drug, and 0.6% carbomer was concluded as optimized formulation (NG6). The ex vivo permeation profile of optimized formulation was compared with nanoemulsion and marketed formulation (Fastum). Nanoemulgel showed significantly higher () cumulative amount of drug permeated and flux along with lower lag time and skin retention than marketed formulation. Thus, the study substantiated that nanoemulgel formulation can be used as a feasible alternative to conventional formulations of ketoprofen with advanced permeation characteristics for transdermal application.
Measuring Graded Membership: The Case of Color

This paper considers Kamp and Partee's account of graded membership within a conceptual spaces framework and puts the account to the test in the domain of colors. Three experiments are reported that are meant to determine, on the one hand, the regions in color space where the typical instances of blue and green are located and, on the other hand, the degrees of blueness/greenness of various shades in the blue-green region as judged by human observers. From the locations of the typical blue and typical green regions in conjunction with Kamp and Partee's account follow degrees of blueness/greenness for the color shades we are interested in. These predicted degrees are compared with the judged degrees, as obtained in the experiments. The results of the comparison support the account of graded membership at issue.
Genotype-Specific Clearance of Genital Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Infections among Mothers in the Finnish Family HPV Study

ABSTRACT The majority of cervical human papillomavirus (HPV) infections in young women are transient, but whether the clearance differs among different HPV genotypes and the different factors predicting genotype-specific clearance are partly unknown. In the Finnish Family HPV Study, 131 of 252 women (mean age, 25.5 years) cleared their infection during the prospective follow-up of 6 years (median, 62.4 months; range, 1.6 to 94.5 months). Cervical scrapings collected at each visit were tested for 24 low-risk and high-risk (HR) HPV types with multiplex HPV genotyping. Poison regression (panel data) was used to estimate predictors for the clearance of species 7 and 9 HPV genotypes. Of all HPV genotypes detected in these women, multiple-type and HPV type 16 (HPV16) infections showed clearance least frequently (46.1% and 50.5%, respectively). The actuarial and crude mean times to first clearance were variable among different genotypes. The actuarial clearance rate (events/person-time at risk) was highest for HPV16 and multiple-type infections, while HPV66 and -82 had the highest crude clearance rate. Independent predictors increasing type-specific clearance of species 7/9 HPV genotypes were older age (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 1.1; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.03 to 1.18; P = 0.002) and baseline oral HR HPV DNA-negative status (IRR = 2.94; 95% CI, 1.03 to 8.36; P = 0.042), while a higher number of sexual partners during the follow-up decreased the probability of clearance (IIR = 0.35; 95% CI, 0.15 to 0.83; P = 0.018). To conclude, HPV16 and multiple-type infections showed the lowest clearance among young mothers. Increasing age and negative oral HR HPV DNA status at baseline were associated with increased clearance, whereas a higher number of current sexual partners decreased the probability of species 7/9 HPV genotype clearance.
Successful Treatment of Extra‐Renal Noncerebral Rhabdoid Tumors with VIDE

Extra‐renal noncerebral rhabdoid tumors (ERRTs) are highly aggressive and often lethal. An optimal chemotherapy regimen for ERRT remains undetermined. We report on three pediatric patients successfully treated with vincristine, ifosfamide, doxorubicin, and etoposide (VIDE). Two of our patients who had metastatic or refractory disease have survived more than 2 years, one disease free without myeloablative megatherapy. The treatment with high‐dose alkylator therapy is reported to have a beneficial effect on survival. A VIDE regimen containing high‐dose ifosfamide is feasible and appears to prolong the survival of patients with ERRT. This regimen may be a promising option for ERRT treatment without myeloablative megatherapy.
The brain to gut pathway: a possible route of prion transmission

Objective The intestine is recognised to play a key role in the transmission of prion diseases. These diseases are associated with pathological isoforms (PrPSc) of the normal cellular prion protein (PrPC) and can be transmitted between individuals or arise spontaneously. The brain, as the primary site of prion replication, could provide infectious prions to peripheral tissues. Here, we examine whether the brain is a source of intestinal prion accumulation. Methods Following intracerebral inoculation with human origin prions the ileums of BalbC mice with clinical prion disease were assessed by Western immunoblot and immunohistochemical analysis for the presence of PrPSc and the survival of enteric glial cells (EGCs) and specific neuronal subpopulations in the myenteric and submucosal plexus. Results PrPSc was detected in the ileum of 13/13 mice following intracerebral inoculation with prions and 0/4 saline-inoculated mice. PrPSc was localised at detectable levels in the Peyer's patches of infected mice. Investigation of neuronal subpopulations revealed a significant decrease in neurofilament reactive neurons (11±8%, p<0.05, n=5) compared with saline-inoculated mice (23±5%, n=3). Neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and tyrosine hydroxylase reactive neurons were decreased in some (2 of 4 and 1 of 3, respectively) but not all prion-infected mice, whereas calretinin and vasoactive intestinal peptide reactive neurons were unaffected. EGCs were highly distorted in circumscribed ganglia of the myenteric plexus. In areas of glial derangement, the neurons showed undefined outlines and faint cytoplasmic immuoreactivity for the pan-neuronal marker Hu and loss of nNOS reactivity. Conclusions The present work shows that PrPSc can be transmitted from the brain to the intestine. This causes pathological changes in enteric glia and neurons. We conclude that PrPSc of brain origin finds a substrate in the naturally occurring PrPC of EGCs and neurons. This results in a reservoir of PrPSc in the intestine, which may represent a source of prion disease transmission through surgical procedures and environmental contamination.
An examination of remote access help desk cases

Abstract : As a precursor to explorations on future network interoperability problem resolution methods and tools, it is necessary to obtain an understanding of problems in the present day. The remote network access application area was chosen as a case study due to rich sources of information, frequent problems, and considerable detrimental impact on user efficiency. To this end, existing remote network access help desk data was acquired and analyzed. The data was used to characterize remote network access interoperability problems and identify key issues. For the data examined, the two largest problems specific to remote end users were obtaining modem phone numbers for their location and adequate user rights upon connection. Potential for better knowledge re-use and dissemination of solutions to common problems to the general population was also observed.
Genetic susceptibility to non-polyposis colorectal cancer

Familial colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major public health problem by virtue of its relatively high frequency. Some 15-20% of all CRCs are familial. Among these, familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), caused by germline mutations in the APCgene, accounts for less than 1%. Hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), also called Lynch syndrome, accounts for approximately 5-8% of all CRC patients. Among these, some 3% are mutation positive, that is, caused by germline mutations in the DNA mismatch repair genes that have so far been implicated (MLH1,MSH2, MSH6,PMS1, and PMS2). Most of the remaining patients belonging to HNPCC or HNPCC-like families are still molecularly unexplained. Among the remaining familial CRCs, a large proportion is probably caused by gene mutations and polymorphisms of low penetrance, of which the I1307K polymorphism in the APC gene is a prime example. Molecular genetic findings have enabled hereditary CRC to be divided into two groups: (1) tumours that show microsatellite instability (MSI), occur more frequently in the right colon, have diploid DNA, harbour characteristic mutations such as transforming growth factor β type II receptor and BAX, and behave indolently, of which HNPCC is an example; and (2) tumours with chromosomal instability (CIN), which tend to be left sided, show aneuploid DNA, harbour characteristic mutations such asK-ras, APC, andp53, and behave aggressively, of which FAP is an example. This review focuses most heavily on the clinical features, pathology, molecular genetics, surveillance, and management including prophylactic surgery in HNPCC. Because of the difficulty in diagnosing HNPCC, a detailed differential diagnosis of the several hereditary CRC variants is provided. The extant genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity in CRC leads to the conclusion that it is no longer appropriate to discuss the genetics of CRC without defining the specific hereditary CRC syndrome of concern. Therefore, it is important to ascertain cancer of all anatomical sites, as well as non-cancer phenotypic stigmata (such as the perioral and mucosal pigmentations in Peutz-Jeghers syndrome), when taking a family cancer history.
A demographic survey of campylobacter, salmonella and shigella infections in England: A Public Health Laboratory Service Survey

SUMMARY Five laboratories serving a population of 1·5 million participated in a 2-year survey of campylobacter, salmonella and shigella infections in patients suffering from gastrointestinal symptoms. In total, 33857 faecal specimens were examined of which 5·5% yielded campylobacters, 3·4% salmonellas and 0·8% shigellas; incidence of infection (per 100,000 population per year) was 58, 38 and 9 respectively. Peak incidences occurred at different ages for each organism: campylobacter, 1–4 years (183); salmonella, less than 1 year (181); shigella, 1–4 years (17). There was a secondary peak in campylobacter incidence in patients aged 15–24 years (87), which was not seen with salmonella or shigella infections. By recording the age and sex of all patients submitting faecal specimens, it was shown that sampling rates were disproportionately high in infants aged less than 1 year (12:1 relative to other ages). Thus the percentage of faecal samples positive in infants – in sharp contrast to incidence values – was the lowest of any age group for all three organisms. By taking the numbers of faecal specimens tested as denominators in this way, the highest campylobacter isolation rates were in young adults, with a notable male predominance in the 15–24 year (1·7:1) and 45–54 year (1·6:1) age groups. This male predominance was accentuated during the summer (2·1:1) when incidence was generally high. The maximum percentage isolation recorded by any laboratory was 32·5% in males aged 15–24 years in June. The reasons for this pattern of campylobacter infection are unknown, but the similarity of the results between laboratories and the regularity of the seasonal fluctuations recorded over the last G years indicate that the sources and routes of infection are geographically similar and stable, yet different from those of salmonellosis.
Expression of neuropeptide-Y-like immunoreactivity begins after adrenergic differentiation and ganglionic synaptogenesis in developing bullfrog sympathetic neurons

Immunoreactivities for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) were studied in developing sympathetic neurons of bullfrog tadpoles and adults. At stage III, nearly all ganglion cells are positive for TH. This suggests early commitment to an adrenergic phenotype, the timing of which is analogous to that reported for sympathetic neurons in birds and mammals. During metamorphic stages and in juvenile bullfrogs, the expression of TH becomes transiently bimodal: many neurons are intensely positive; the remainder are faintly positive. In adult sympathetic neurons, TH expression is more uniform. NPY first appears in a few principal neurons (less than 1%) of paravertebral ganglia 9 and 10 at stage XI. The percentage of ganglion cells containing NPY then increases gradually, reaches adult levels (approximately 55%) by stage XX, and persists at these levels through metamorphosis. The development of NPY expression follows a similar time course in paravertebral ganglion 6. Double-label experiments in late- stage tadpoles and juvenile bullfrogs revealed that the intensely TH- positive neurons are negative for NPY. Taken together with recent electrophysiological data (Horn and Stofer, 1990), these results demonstrate that the development of NPY expression begins long after the onset of adrenergic differentiation and ganglionic synapse formation. The present findings also show that cellular levels of TH and NPY can be independently altered, and they suggest that the onset of NPY expression is not linked to maturation of peripheral targets, but rather to some more global event operating synchronously along the rostro-caudal axis.
Dexamethasone Therapy for Septic Arthritis in Children: Results of a Randomized Double-blind Placebo-controlled Study

Background We evaluated the effect of adding dexamethasone to antibiotic therapy in the clinical course of septic arthritis in children. Methods A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial was performed. The study group included 49 children with septicarthritis. In addition to antibiotic therapy given, patients were randomly assigned to receive intravenous dexamethasone 0.15 mg/kg every 6 hours for 4 days or placebo. The groups were compared for clinical and laboratory parameters, length of hospital stay, and late sequelae. Results Mean age was 33±42 months (range: 6 to 161 mo). There was no significant difference between the dexamethasone and placebo groups in age, duration of symptoms, joint affected, or levels of acute phase reactants. Bacteria were isolated from joint fluid in 17 patients (35%) and from blood in 4 patients. Compared with the placebo group, patients treated with dexamethasone had a significantly shorter duration of fever (P=0.021; mean first day without fever 1.68 vs 2.83) and local inflammatory signs (P=0.021; mean first day without pain 7.18 vs 10.76), lower levels of acute phase reactants (P=0.003; mean last day of erythrocyte sedimentation rate>25 mm/h 3.76 vs 8.40), shorter duration of parenteral antibiotic treatment (P=0.007; mean of 9.91 d vs 12.60 d), and shorter hospital stay. No side effects of treatment were recorded in either group. Conclusions A 4-day course of dexamethasone given at the start of antibiotic treatment in children with septic arthritis, is safe, and leads to a significantly more rapid clinical improvement, shortening duration of hospitalization compared with those treated with antibiotics alone. Level of Evidence I.
What’s in an Explanation? Characterizing Knowledge and Inference Requirements for Elementary Science Exams

QA systems have been making steady advances in the challenging elementary science exam domain. In this work, we develop an explanation-based analysis of knowledge and inference requirements, which supports a fine-grained characterization of the challenges. In particular, we model the requirements based on appropriate sources of evidence to be used for the QA task. We create requirements by first identifying suitable sentences in a knowledge base that support the correct answer, then use these to build explanations, filling in any necessary missing information. These explanations are used to create a fine-grained categorization of the requirements. Using these requirements, we compare a retrieval and an inference solver on 212 questions. The analysis validates the gains of the inference solver, demonstrating that it answers more questions requiring complex inference, while also providing insights into the relative strengths of the solvers and knowledge sources. We release the annotated questions and explanations as a resource with broad utility for science exam QA, including determining knowledge base construction targets, as well as supporting information aggregation in automated inference.
Coating of indomethacin-loaded embolic microspheres for a successful embolization therapy

Indomethacin-loaded dietheylaminoethyl trisacryl® microspheres (DEAE-MS), originally designed for therapeutic embolization, were encapsulated using two methods: coacervation and solvent evaporation/extraction. This encapsulation was achieved using a biocompatible polymer, the PLGA 50 : 50, and aimed to control the release of the anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drug (AINSD) in the occluded vessel. PLGA degradation study showed that it had an erosion half-life of ∼35 days. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) photographs showed that microcapsules (MC) prepared by coacervation had a wrinkled surface while those prepared using solvent-removal process showed non-porous, smooth surface, those of originally DEAE-MS showed a macro-porous, rough surface. The mean diameters were 61 µm for naked DEAE-MS vs. 71 µm and 65 µm for MC prepared by coacervation and solvent evaporation/extraction method, respectively. In vitro release study of indomethacin adsorbed onto MS indicated that drug release from MC was controlled by a diffusion process. Indomethacin diffusivity from MC was much lower than its free diffusivity from MS (mean 14.5 and 10.5 times lower for formulations prepared by coacervation and solvent evaporation/extraction method, respectively). This indicates that efficient indomethacin concentrations could be maintained over much longer time-periods in the embolized region, which is assumed to be beneficial in inhibiting normally occurring inflammatory reaction and the subsequent revascularization; responsible for treatment failure when definitive occlusion is required.
Channel aware decision fusion in wireless sensor networks

Information fusion by utilizing multiple distributed sensors is studied in this work. Extending the classical parallel fusion structure by incorporating the fading channel layer that is omnipresent in wireless sensor networks, we derive the likelihood ratio based fusion rule given fixed local decision devices. This optimum fusion rule, however, requires perfect knowledge of the local decision performance indices as well as the fading channel. To address this issue, two alternative fusion schemes, namely, the maximum ratio combining statistic and a two-stage approach using the Chair-Varshney fusion rule, are proposed that alleviate these requirements and are shown to be the low and high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) equivalents of the likelihood-based fusion rule. To further robustify the fusion rule and motivated by the maximum ratio combining statistics, we also propose a statistic analogous to an equal gain combiner that requires minimum a priori information. Performance evaluation is performed both analytically and through simulation.