Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Detection of Coastal Damage using Differences in Automatically Generated Digital Surface Models (DSMs): Application to the 2011 Off the Pacific Coast of Tohoku Earthquake Tsunami

ABSTRACT Udo, K. ; Takeda, Y. , and Koshimura, S. , 2018. Detection of coastal damage using differences in automatically generated digital surface models (DSMs): Application to the 2011 Off the Pacific Coast of Tohoku Earthquake Tsunami. In: Shim, J.-S. ; Chun, I. , and Lim, H.S. (eds.), Proceedings from the International Coastal Symposium (ICS) 2018 (Busan, Republic of Korea). Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 85, pp. 696–700. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. The detection of coastal damage due to the 2011 Off the Pacific Coast of Tohoku Earthquake Tsunami on the southern Sendai Coast was attempted via state-of-the-art remote sensing technology using ALOS PRISM satellite images with a spatial resolution of 2.5 m. Digital surface models (DSMs) were generated semi-automatically, and their accuracies were confirmed via comparisons with digital elevation models generated from aerial laser measurements. The differences between the DSMs prior to and after the tsunami were analyzed statistically for each type of land cover: residential districts, rice fields, coastal forests, and beaches. It was demonstrated that the damage to the coastal forests and residential districts could be detected though the damage in the low land area was difficult to be detected because of its small undulations in topography. Low pass filtering was employed to remove the jitter noise; however, the major characteristics such as damage in the coastal forests and residential areas were not changed by the filtering; that is, the major statistical characteristics could be detected without filtering.
Isorhamnetin Suppresses Skin Cancer through Direct Inhibition of MEK1 and PI3-K

3′-Methoxy-3,4′,5,7-tetrahydroxyflavone (isorhamnetin) is a plant flavonoid that occurs in fruits and medicinal herbs. Isorhamnetin exerts anticancer effects, but the underlying molecular mechanism for the chemopreventive potential of isorhamnetin remains unknown. Here, we report anti–skin cancer effects of isorhamnetin, which inhibited epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced neoplastic cell transformation. It also suppressed anchorage-dependent and -independent growth of A431 human epithelial carcinoma cells. Isorhamnetin attenuated EGF-induced COX-2 expression in JB6 and A431 cells. In an in vivo mouse xenograft using A431 cells, isorhamnetin reduced tumor growth and COX-2 expression. The EGF-induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases, p90 and p70 ribosomal S6 kinases, and Akt was suppressed by isorhamnetin. In vitro and ex vivo kinase assay data showed that isorhamnetin inhibited the kinase activity of MAP (mitogen-activated protein)/ERK (extracellular signal regulated kinase) kinase (MEK) 1 and PI3-K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase) and the inhibition was due to direct binding with isorhamnetin. Notably, isorhamnetin bound directly to MEK1 in an ATP-noncompetitive manner and to PI3-K in an ATP-competitive manner. This report is the first mechanistic study identifying a clear molecular target for the anticancer activity of isorhamnetin. Overall, these results indicate that isorhamnetin has potent anticancer activity and it primarily targets MEK and PI3-K, which might contribute to the chemopreventive potential of certain foods. Cancer Prev Res; 4(4); 582–91. ©2011 AACR.
Topic-centric algorithm: a novel approach to Web link analysis

Link analysis has been used to enhance retrieval results of the web search for years. PageRank and HITS are the two well-known algorithms widely used by most researchers. The former analyzes the web links off-line, but does not consider either web topics or user's query. The latter judges the web page on-line according to the user's query. Here we propose a novel algorithm, called "Topic-Centric", which also performs link analysis of web pages off-line. The authoritativeness of web pages is calculated in accordance with the web topics. To test the effectiveness, we apply the proposed algorithm to re-rank the search results given by a traditional retrieval system. Preliminary experiments using standard web collections, though inconclusive, show interesting retrieval results.
Economic Burden of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia Based on Total Resource Utilization

Objectives. To characterize the current economic burden of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and to determine which services increase the cost of VAP in North American hospitals. Design and Setting. We performed a retrospective, matched cohort analysis of mechanically ventilated patients enrolled in the North American Silver-Coated Endotracheal Tube (NASCENT) study, a prospective, randomized study conducted from 2002 to 2006 in 54 medical centers, including 45 teaching institutions (83.3%). Methods. Case patients with microbiologically confirmed VAP (n = 30) were identified from 542 study participants with claims data and were matched by use of a primary diagnostic code, and subsequently by the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, to control patients without VAP (n = 90). Costs were estimated by applying hospital-specific cost-to-charge ratios based on all-payer inpatient costs associated with VAP diagnosis-related groups. Results. Median total charges per patient were $198,200 for case patients and $96,540 for matched control patients (P <.001); corresponding median hospital costs were $76,730 for case patients and $41,250 for control patients (P = .001). After adjusting for diagnosis-related group payments, median losses to hospitals were $32,140 for case patients and $19,360 for control patients (P = .151). The median duration of intubation was longer for case patients than for control patients (10.1 days vs 4.7 days; P < .001), as were the median duration of intensive care unit stay (18.5 days vs 8.0 days; P < .001) and the median duration of hospitalization (26.5 days vs 14.0 days; P < .001). Examples of services likely to be directly related to VAP and having higher median costs for case patients were hospital care (P < .05) and respiratory therapy (P < .05). Conclusions. VAP was associated with increased hospital costs, longer duration of hospital stay, and a higher number of hospital services being affected, which underscores the need for bundled measures to prevent VAP. Trial Registration. NASCENT study ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00148642.
Enhanced [3H]DOPA and [3H]Dopamine Turnover in Striatum and Frontal Cortex In Vivo Linked to Glutamate Receptor Antagonism

Abstract: We tested the hypothesis that blockade of NMDA glutamate receptors in brain enhances dopamine turnover. We blocked this class of glutamate receptors in the rat brain in vivo with dizocilpine (MK‐801) and measured the accumulation of radiolabeled DOPA and its metabolites as functions of time after intravenous bolus injection. Using the time courses of the accumulated metabolites, we calculated the turnover constants of enzymes mediating dopamine synthesis and catabolism. Dizocilpine treatment for 8 days enhanced the rates of DOPA decarboxylation and dopamine oxidation (monoamine oxidation) 4‐ and 16‐fold, respectively, in neostriatum and 10‐ and 3‐fold, respectively, in frontal cortex. The findings are not inconsistent with the hypothesis that the psychotomimetic properties of dizocilpine may be the manifestation of denervation hypersensitivity linked to activation of key enzymes of dopamine turnover in striatum.
Simplified models of LED ballasts for spice

This paper addresses the problematic of usage of electronic ballasts in modern LED lighting equipment. A sample of eleven LED lamps available on the market is analyzed in temporal and frequency based analysis. The topology of the ballasts is determined and modeled using Spice software in a simplified manner. Results of the simulations are verified. Pairs of the lamp models are simulated and compared to original waveforms.
Electronic Word of Mouth and Knowledge Sharing on Social Network Sites: A Social Capital Perspective

Social network sites (SNSs) have attracted millions of users who interact with each other and with companies. However, few studies have examined the impact of knowledge sharing through electronic word of mouth (eWOM) in the context of SNSs. This paper investigates the relationship among the use of SNSs, users' social capital, knowledge sharing, and eWOM. The results show that the intensity of use of SNSs is positively related to trust and identification which have a positive effect on eWOM quality. In addition, eWOM quality has a positive effect on knowledge sharing. Female users feel more strongly about eWOM quality when they trust others, or when they perceive that they belong to their SNS community when they use their SNS. Furthermore, female users feel more strongly about knowledge sharing when they perceive that eWOM quality is good. This study provides the theoretical framework of the relationship between eWOM and knowledge sharing on SNSs from the perspective of social capital. Practitioners could use this study as a rationale to utilize SNSs internally for organizational use, and externally for marketing purposes.
A Gender-Centric Analysis of Calling Behavior in a Developing Economy Using Call Detail Records

The gender divide in the access to technology in developing economies makes gender characterization and automatic gender identification two of the most critical needs for improving cell phone-based services. Gender identification has been typically solved using voice or image processing. However, such techniques cannot be applied to cell phone networks mostly due to privacy concerns. In this paper, we present a study aimed at characterizing and automatically identifying the gender of a cell phone user in a developing economy based on behavioral, social and mobility variables. Our contributions are twofold: (1) understanding the role that gender plays on phone usage, and (2) evaluating common machine learning approaches for gender identification. The analysis was carried out using the encrypted CDRs (Call Detail Records) of approximately 10,000 users from a developing economy, whose gender was known a priori. Our results indicate that behavioral and social variables, including the number of input/output calls and the in degree/out degree of the social network, reveal statistically significant differences between male and female callers. Finally, we propose a new gender identification algorithm that can achieve classification rates of up to 80% when the percentage of predicted instances is reduced.
B-cell repertoire responses to varicella-zoster vaccination in human identical twins

Significance Human B cells secrete highly diverse antibody molecules to recognize and defend against infectious agents. Developing B cells independently rearrange their genomes to produce antibody-encoding sequences. It is uncertain to what degree genetic factors control antibody repertoires and the antibodies elicited by defined antigenic stimuli. Analysis of 134,000 antibody heavy chain sequences from genetically identical twins vaccinated with varicella-zoster vaccine indicates that twins show increased correlation in antibody gene segment usage, junctional features, and mutation rates in their antibody pools but show little similarity in clonal responses to an acute stimulus. Therefore, a shared germ-line genome sequence is correlated with overall convergence of antibody repertoires, but the particular antibody response to a given vaccination is less predictable. Adaptive immune responses in humans rely on somatic genetic rearrangements of Ig and T-cell receptor loci to generate diverse antigen receptors. It is unclear to what extent an individual’s genetic background affects the characteristics of the antibody repertoire used in responding to vaccination or infection. We studied the B-cell repertoires and clonal expansions in response to attenuated varicella-zoster vaccination in four pairs of adult identical twins and found that the global antibody repertoires of twin pair members showed high similarity in antibody heavy chain V, D, and J gene segment use, and in the length and features of the complementarity-determining region 3, a major determinant of antigen binding. These twin similarities were most pronounced in the IgM-expressing B-cell pools, but were seen to a lesser extent in IgG-expressing B cells. In addition, the degree of antibody somatic mutation accumulated in the B-cell repertoire was highly correlated within twin pair members. Twin pair members had greater numbers of shared convergent antibody sequences, including mutated sequences, suggesting similarity among memory B-cell clonal lineages. Despite these similarities in the memory repertoire, the B-cell clones used in acute responses to ZOSTAVAX vaccination were largely unique to each individual. Taken together, these results suggest that the overall B-cell repertoire is significantly shaped by the underlying germ-line genome, but that stochastic or individual-specific effects dominate the selection of clones in response to an acute antigenic stimulus.
An examination of the steady‐state assumption in soil development models with application to landscape evolution

Soil depth and soil production are highly complicated phenomena, generated from a complex interaction of physical, biological and chemical processes. It has, nevertheless, become increasingly clear that soil formation rates are closely related to chemical weathering rates. Somewhat paradoxically, it is likewise becoming apparent that such biogeochemical reactions as slowly transform rock to soil are limited by physical processes, such as flowing water and the formation of fractures. We have formulated a theoretical approach that relates soil formation rates to chemical weathering rates, and those, likewise, to solute transport rates. For such a theoretical framework to be relevant, the solute transport rates cannot equal those of the flowing water, as is the case in Gaussian solute transport. Rather, solute transport must be slowed in accordance with heavy‐tailed solute arrival time distributions. The inference is that the traditional advection–dispersion equation formulation for solute transport is inadequate in the typically heterogeneous geological media that weather to form soils. Here we examine the implications of this soil production model on the assumption of the approach to steady state. Particularly at slow erosion rates we find that many soil columns are not in equilibrium. This tendency may be accentuated in dry climates. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Analyzing Patient-Reported Outcomes to Improve Cataract Care

Purpose The purpose of this study was to analyze three models of how patient-reported outcome measures can be connected to clinical outcome measures in cataract surgery to identify opportunities for improvement of quality of care. Methods Three models were used to analyze the following questions: Is there a relationship between clinical parameters and patient-reported outcomes? (1) Is there a relationship between clinical parameters and a good or poor patient-reported outcome? (2) When and why do clinical and patient-reported outcomes diverge? (3) The study material to exemplify these models consisted of follow-up data on cataract extractions collected by the Swedish National Cataract Register in 2008 to 2011. Patient-reported outcome was measured using the Catquest-9SF questionnaire. A total of 9707 pairs of questionnaires completed before and after a cataract extraction were analyzed together with clinical data. Results Factors related to any change in patient-reported outcomes after surgery were the preoperative self-assessed visual function, the preoperative visual acuity in both eyes, the postoperative visual acuity, and ocular comorbidity. Factors related to poor patient-reported outcomes after surgery were good preoperative self-assessed visual functions, poor preoperative visual acuity in the better eye, ocular comorbidity, surgical complications, and large refractive deviation. Poor near vision after surgery was the main factor noted in situations where the clinical outcome was good and the patient-reported outcome was poor. Analyses 2 and 3 were the most useful analyses to give ideas for clinical improvement work. Conclusions The best models to give ideas for improved quality of care by using a patient questionnaire in our study were analyzing the risk factors for a poor patient-reported outcome and analyzing the factors associated with disagreement between clinical outcomes and patient-reported outcomes.
HEPATITIS C VIRUS (HCV) SEROPREVALENCE, ANTIGENAEMIA AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN IN NIGERIA.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Hepatitis C viral infection is a significant public health challenge with potential risk of progressing to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Actively infected mothers can transmit the virus to their babies who may develop liver cirrhosis and HCC as young adults. We determined the seroprevalence of HCV, its antigenaemia and associated risk factors among pregnant women. METHODS We recruited 400 pregnant women and tested their serum for HCV antibodies using immune-chromatographic test and determined the HCV core antigenaemia among HCV sero-positives by enzyme-immunoassay (EIA). The bio-socio-demographic variables of the participants were statistically correlated to the test results. RESULTS Seroprevalence of HCV was 5.8% (23/400) and the prevalence of HCV core antigenaemia was 73.9% (17/23). None of the bio-socio-demographic variables of the participants and other known risk factors evaluated had. significant influence on either seroprevalence of HCV or its antigenaemia. Only the employment status of the participants' husbands (p = 0.01) significantly affected seropositivity of HCV. CONCLUSION HCV core antigenaemia is high among pregnant women who have antibodies to HCV in our environment and this signifies an active hepatitis C virus infection.
Gut microflora as a target for energy and metabolic homeostasis

Purpose of reviewGut microbiota plays an important role in health and disease, but this ecosystem remains incompletely characterized and shows a wide diversity. This review discusses new findings that may explain how gut microbiota can be involved in the control of energy and metabolic homeostasis. Recent findingsOver the past 5 years studies have highlighted some key aspects of the mammalian host–gut microbial relationship. Gut microbiota could now be considered a ‘microbial organ’ placed within a host organ. Recent data suggest that the modulation of gut microbiota affects host metabolism and has an impact on energy storage. Several mechanisms are proposed that link events occurring in the colon and the regulation of energy metabolism. SummaryGut microflora may play an even more important role in maintaining human health than previously thought. The literature provides new evidence that the increased prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes cannot be attributed solely to changes in the human genome, nutritional habits, or reduction of physical activity in our daily lives. One must also consider this important new environmental factor, namely gut microbiota. Scientists may take into consideration a key question: could we manipulate the microbiotic environment to treat or prevent obesity and type 2 diabetes? This opens up a new area in nutrition research.
miR-29a-deficiency does not modify the course of murine pancreatic acinar carcinoma

The development of cancers involves the complex dysregulation of multiple cellular processes. With key functions in simultaneous regulation of multiple pathways, microRNA (miR) are thought to have important roles in the oncogenic formation process. miR-29a is among the most abundantly expressed miR in the pancreas. Together with altered expression in pancreatic cancer cell lines and biopsies, and known oncogenic functions in leukemia, this expression data has identified miR-29a as a key candidate for miR involvement in pancreatic cancer biology. Here we used miR-29a-deficient mice and the TAg model of pancreatic acinar carcinoma to functionally test the role of miR-29a in vivo. We found no impact of miR-29a loss on the development or growth of pancreatic tumours, nor on the survival of tumour-bearing mice. These results suggest that, despite differential expression, miR-29a is oncogenically neutral in the pancreatic acinar carcinoma context. If these results are extended to other models of pancreatic cancer, they would reduce the attractiveness of miR-29a as a potential therapeutic target in pancreatic cancer.
Mean platelet volume levels in the presence of angiographically documented peripheral artery disease.

AIM Increased mean platelet volume (MPV) have been shown to be associated with peripheral artery disease (PAD). However in these studies, noninvasive methods for the diagnosis of PAD was used. In the literature, there is no studies examining the values of MPV in the angiographically documented PAD. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between angiographically documented PAD and MPV levels in the peripheral blood samples. METHODS In this study, retrospective analysis of 1386 patients was performed who underwent peripheral angiography at the cardiology service of the our hospital, between 2006 and 2012 for a suspected diagnosis of lower extremity peripheral arterial disease. Patients with a stenosis percent of 50% or above in the peripheral angiography were considered as having peripheral arterial disease. MPV values are affected by many factor. Only 84 patients who complied with the inclusion criteria were detected. The study patients were divided into 2 groups according to the results of peripheral angiography. 56 patients diagnosed with PAD based on the specified criteria were grouped into Group I (mean age 59 ± 10 years) while 28 patients without peripheral arterial disease were grouped into Group II (mean age 60 ± 11 years). Blood tests and angiographic images were analyzed from patients' data. RESULTS Both groups were similar in terms of basic parameters of anemia including hemoglobin, hematocrit and red cell distribution width levels. There were no significant differences between MPV levels in both groups (8.08 ± 0.91 vs 8.28 ± 1.16, P > 0.05). Mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular hemoglobin levels, on the other hand, were significantly higher in Group I (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS In our study, we did not found any significant changes in the MPV levels of angiographically documented PAD diseases. The use of MPV level as a risk factor for peripheral arterial disease is impractical due to the fact that MPV is affected by a lot of factors and there are several technical factors. Because of this, in the real life, we are not recommend to use MPV values as an indicator for peripheral artery disease.