Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Methane and nitrous oxide in the ice core record

Polar ice cores contain, in trapped air bubbles, an archive of the concentrations of stable atmospheric gases. Of the major non-CO2 greenhouse gases, methane is measured quite routinely, while nitrous oxide is more challenging, with some artefacts occurring in the ice and so far limited interpretation. In the recent past, the ice cores provide the only direct measure of the changes that have occurred during the industrial period; they show that the current concentration of methane in the atmosphere is far outside the range experienced in the last 650 000 years; nitrous oxide is also elevated above its natural levels. There is controversy about whether changes in the pre-industrial Holocene are natural or anthropogenic in origin. Changes in wetland emissions are generally cited as the main cause of the large glacial–interglacial change in methane. However, changing sinks must also be considered, and the impact of possible newly described sources evaluated. Recent isotopic data appear to finally rule out any major impact of clathrate releases on methane at these time-scales. Any explanation must take into account that, at the rapid Dansgaard–Oeschger warmings of the last glacial period, methane rose by around half its glacial–interglacial range in only a few decades. The recent EPICA Dome C (Antarctica) record shows that methane tracked climate over the last 650 000 years, with lower methane concentrations in glacials than interglacials, and lower concentrations in cooler interglacials than in warmer ones. Nitrous oxide also shows Dansgaard–Oeschger and glacial–interglacial periodicity, but the pattern is less clear.
Fine micro-Doppler analysis in ISAR imaging

In ISAR imaging, it's well known that rotating parts of a target such as wheels or rotors induce additional features in the Doppler frequency spectrum. These features are called micro-Doppler effect and appear as sidebands around the central Doppler frequency. They can provide valuable information about the structure and motion of the rotating parts and may be used for target identification. In this paper, we propose a fine analysis of the Doppler returned by reflectors of a rotating wheel. Thanks to the to micro-Doppler signature we are able to extract information on its geometrical features (position, orientation). The method has been performed on simulated and experimental data and provides satisfactory results.
Real-Time Simulation of Grid-Connected Wind Farms Using Physical Aggregation

The electromagnetic transient (EMT) simulation of a power system interconnected with wind farms involves such intensive computations that fully digital real-time simulators are among the effective tools for performing such simulations. To practically exploit real-time simulators for the simulation of wind farms with numerous wind turbines, the application of aggregation techniques is inevitable. In this paper, a detailed EMT model of a grid-connected wind farm with ten doubly-fed-induction-generator-based General Electric 1.5-MW wind turbines has been implemented on an advanced PC-Cluster-based real-time simulator. Three levels of physical aggregation methods are presented to reduce the computational efforts of the real-time simulation while maintaining adequate accuracy. A combination of these aggregation methods with parallel processing allowed the real-time simulation to be carried out with a fixed time step of 50 μs and high accuracy. Various fault transient results are provided for all the aggregation levels and compared against results from the detailed wind farm model. The validity of the proposed methods and real-time simulation results has also been confirmed by comparing with offline simulation results in MATLAB/SIMULINK.
Surface Properties of Lightweight Aggregate Concrete and its Correlation with Durability

Durability is one of most important requirements of concrete design. From this aspect is arising the required minimal compressive strength class of conventional concrete in order to ensure durability. The porosity of cement mortar matrix and consequently the liquid and gas permeability of concrete may be reduced. But the strength of lightweight aggregate concrete depends primarily on the crushing resistance of lightweight aggregate (LWA). With low strength LWA may be achieved higher concrete strength by high strength cement mortar matrix. Therefore we can not consider durability simply on the basis of the compressive strength of concrete. The most important durability factors are closely related to the porosity and strength of the cement mortar matrix but for example the abrasion resistance depends more significantly on the aggregate type. Lightweight aggregates usually do not have high abrasion resistance, but they can be advantageous in case of restoration of bridge pavement. The most important factors of durability regarding pavements are frost scaling and abrasion resistance. These parameters (especially abrasion resistance) are not available in the literature when using LWA.
A randomized multicenter comparison of bone marrow and peripheral blood in recipients of matched sibling allogeneic transplants for myeloid malignancies.

Cytokine-mobilized peripheral blood is increasingly used instead of bone marrow as the source of cells for allogeneic transplantation. Although cells lead to faster hematologic recovery, their effects on graft-versus-host disease, relapse, and survival are less certain. Between January 1996 and February 2000, 228 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, or myelodysplasia were randomized to receive either bone marrow or peripheral blood allografts from HLA-matched siblings. All patients received busulfan and cyclophosphamide as conditioning chemotherapy and cyclosporine and methotrexate as graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis. We compared the times to neutrophil and platelet recovery, acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease, relapse, and overall survival between the groups. The median times to neutrophil recovery were 19 days and 23 days and the times to platelet recovery were 16 days and 22 days in the peripheral blood and bone marrow groups, respectively (P <.0001 for both comparisons). The cumulative incidence of grades II to IV acute graft-versus-host disease 100 days after transplantation was 44% in both groups (hazard ratio, 0.99; 95% confidence interval, 0.66-1.49; P >.9), and the incidence of extensive chronic graft-versus-host disease at 30 months after transplantation was 40% with peripheral blood and 30% with bone marrow (hazard ratio, 1.23; 95% confidence interval, 0.78-1.96; P =.37). There was no statistically significant difference in the probability of relapse of the underlying disease between the groups. The probabilities of survival at 30 months after transplantation were 68% and 60% in the peripheral blood and bone marrow groups, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.62; 95% confidence interval, 0.39-0.97; P =.04). In patients with chronic myeloid leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, and myelodysplasia undergoing allogeneic transplantation from matched siblings, the use of peripheral blood instead of bone marrow leads to faster hematologic recovery, similar risk of graft-versus-host disease, and improved survival.
Goodness-of-Fit Assessment of Item Response Theory Models

The article provides an overview of goodness-of-fit assessment methods for item response theory (IRT) models. It is now possible to obtain accurate p-values of the overall fit of the model if bivariate information statistics are used. Several alternative approaches are described. As the validity of inferences drawn on the fitted model depends on the magnitude of the misfit, if the model is rejected it is necessary to assess the goodness of approximation. With this aim in mind, a class of root mean squared error of approximation (RMSEA) is described, which makes it possible to test whether the model misfit is below a specific cutoff value. Also, regardless of the outcome of the overall goodness-of-fit assessment, a piece-wise assessment of fit should be performed to detect parts of the model whose fit can be improved. A number of statistics for this purpose are described, including a z statistic for residual means, a mean-and-variance correction to Pearson's X 2 statistic applied to each bivariate subtable separately, and the use of z statistics for residual cross-products.
AAE and AAOMR Joint Position Statement Use of Cone Beam Computed Tomography in Endodontics 2015 Update

The following statement was prepared by the Special Committee to Revise the Joint American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology/American Association of Endodontists Position on Cone Beam-Computed Tomography, and approved by the AAOMR Executive Council and AAE Board of Directors in May 2015. AAOMR members may photocopy this position statement for distribution to patients or referring dentists.
Effect of test temperature on Hamburg wheel-tracking device testing

AbstractThis study outlines statistical analyses carried out to investigate the effect of test temperature on results from Hamburg wheel-tracking device (HWTD) tests. The Hamburg test database and aggregate properties database of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) were examined and merged to provide the basis for statistical analysis. Because the most significant effect of test temperature was on the binder component of the asphalt mixture, the effect of test temperature on the binder type was also investigated. Finally, the influence of test temperatures together with the combined interaction of binder and additive addition is studied. Of the three performance-graded (PG) binders that TxDOT predominantly uses for their surface mixes, this study determined that the influence of temperature on binder performance is most pronounced in PG 64-22 (causing a huge drop in success rate between 40 and 50°C from an 81% pass rate to a 35% rate), whereas PG 76-22 was the most resistant to temperature diff.
Uniaxial Tension Behavior of Reinforced Concrete Members Strengthened with Carbon Fiber Sheets

A two-dimensional (2D) nonlinear numerical analysis code by using the rigid body spring method (RBSM) was developed by the writers at Hokkaido University to simulate the behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) members strengthened with fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) sheets. The code supports the nonlinear constitutive laws for the different materials and nonlinear bond stress-slip relationships for steel-concrete and FRP sheet-concrete interfaces. This study uses the aforementioned code to examine the uniaxial tension behavior of RC members strengthened with carbon fiber sheets (CFS). Experimental results are compared with relevant numerical outputs to validate the model and confirm its ability to simulate the experimental observations. This study also assesses the influence of the amount of CFS strengthening on the tension-stiffening behavior of strengthened members. Finally, this research also suggests new analytical expressions for the average stress-strain relationships of concrete and steel in tension in the presence of stiffening contributions from internal steel reinforcement bars and externally bonded CFS reinforcement.
Phonophoresis versus topical application of ketoprofen: comparison between tissue and plasma levels.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Over the last few decades, application of ultrasound has been attempted to enhance transdermal transport of several drugs, a method referred to as "phonophoresis. " The purposes of this study were to examine the influence of ultrasound on the transdermal delivery of ketoprofen in humans and to compare the concentrations found after continuous and pulsed application. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Twenty-six patients with knee disorders requiring arthroscopy were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups. Just before surgery, phonophoresis of a ketoprofen gel (Fastum gel) was given to group A using continuous ultrasound (1 MHz, 1.5 W/cm2, for 5 minutes). Group B received the same treatment but with pulsed ultrasound (100 Hz, 20% duty cycle). Group C received 5 minutes of sham ultrasound with the ketoprofen gel. The ultrasound head was moved over a 10-cm2 area using small, continuous, circular movements. Biopsies of adipose tissue and synovial tissue were taken during surgery to evaluate the local penetration of the drug. Blood samples also were collected to determine whether ketoprofen entered the systemic circulation. RESULTS The concentration of ketoprofen in plasma was negligible in all 3 groups. The concentration of ketoprofen in synovial tissue differed from that in fat tissue. A difference in concentration of ketoprofen in synovial tissue was found between group C and groups A and B. The concentration of ketoprofen in fat tissue and synovial tissue was consistently higher in group B than in group A. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION This study confirms that phonophoresis of ketoprofen allows the attainment of higher local concentrations, whereas systemic exposure is lower. The results indicate that, in contrast to sham phonopheresis, ultrasound can increase the transdermal delivery of ketoprofen.
Bone-marrow-derived very small embryonic-like stem cells in patients with critical leg ischaemia: evidence of vasculogenic potential

Summary Very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs) are multipotent stem cells localised in adult bone marrow (BM) that may be mobilised into peripheral blood (PB) in response to tissue injury. We aimed to quantify VSELs in BM and PB of patients with critical limb ischaemia (CLI) and to test their angiogenic potential in vitro as well as their therapeutic capacity in mouse model of CLI. We isolated BM VSELs from patients with CLI and studied their potential to differentiate into vascular lineages. Flow and imaging cytometry showed that VSEL counts were lower in BM (p< 0.001) and higher (p< 0.001) in PB from CLI patients compared to healthy controls, suggesting that ischaemia may trigger VSELs mobilisation in this patient population. Sorted BM-VSELs cultured in angiogenic media acquired a mesenchymal phenotype (CD90+, Thy-1 gene positive expression). VSEL-derived cells had a pattern of secretion similar to that of endothelial progenitor cells, as they released low levels of VEGF-A and inflammatory cytokines. Noteworthy, VSELs triggered post-ischaemic revascularisation in immunodeficient mice (p< 0.05 vs PBS treatment), and acquired an endothelial phenotype either in vitro when cultured in the presence of VEGF-B (Cdh-5 gene positive expression), or in vivo in Matrigel implants (human CD31+ staining in neo-vessels from plug sections). In conclusion, VSELs are a potential new source of therapeutic cells that may give rise to cells of the endothelial lineage in humans.
Antithrombotic therapy for patients with atrial fibrillation and atherothrombotic vascular disease: striking the right balance between efficacy and safety.

684 Atrial fibrillation (AF), the most prevalent cardiac arrhythmia, is estimated to affect 1.5% to 2.0% of the general population, that is, at least 100 million people worldwide. Left untreated, patients with nonvalvular AF (NVAF) are exposed to an annual risk of thromboembolic stroke of ≈5%, resulting in 5 million AF-related strokes each year. Properly dosed anticoagulation (eg, warfarin adjusted to an international normalized ratio of 2.0–3.0) is extremely effective in preventing AF-related strokes, reducing risk by two thirds compared with no therapy and by one-half compared with aspirin. In contrast, aspirin alone achieves a 21% relative reduction in risk of nonfatal stroke compared with no treatment, and aspirin plus clopidogrel yields an additional 11% reduction compared with aspirin alone. Thus, anticoagulation is the unchallenged current treatment of choice for patients with NVAF at moderate to high risk of thromboembolic complications.
Particle filtering methods for motion analysis in tagged MRI

Myocardial tagging using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a well-known noninvasive method for studying regional heart dynamics. While it offers great potential for quantitative analysis of a variety of kinematic and kinetic parameters, its clinical use has so far been limited, mainly due to mediocre performance of existing tag tracking algorithms under poor imaging conditions. In this paper we propose a new approach to tracking of MRI tag intersections. It is based on a Bayesian estimation framework, implemented by means of particle filtering, and combines information about heart dynamics, the imaging process, and tag appearance. Since at any time point it optimally incorporates all available information, it can be expected to be more robust and accurate. This is demonstrated by results of preliminary experiments on image sequences from (small) animal imaging studies.
An investigation of long-term effects of group music therapy on agitation levels of people with Alzheimer's Disease

This study aimed to investigate the long-term effects of group music therapy on agitation manifested by nursing home residents with Alzheimer's disease. A non-randomised experimental design was employed with one group receiving weekly music therapy (n = 26) and another group receiving standard nursing home care (n = 19). Agitation levels were measured five times over one year using the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (Cohen-Mansfield, J. (1989). Agitation in the elderly. In N. Billig & P. V. Rabins (Eds.), Issues in geriatric psychiatry (pp. 101–113). Basel, Switzerland: Karger). Although music therapy participants showed short-term reductions in agitation, there were no significant differences between the groups in the range, frequency, and severity of agitated behaviours manifested over time. Multiple measures of treatment efficacy are necessary to better understand the long-term effects music therapy programs have on this population.
Large deviations for nonuniformly hyperbolic systems

We obtain large deviation estimates for a large class of nonuniformly hyperbolic systems: namely those modelled by Young towers with summable decay of correlations. In the case of exponential decay of correlations, we obtain exponential large deviation estimates given by a rate function. In the case of polynomial decay of correlations, we obtain polynomial large deviation estimates, and exhibit examples where these estimates are essentially optimal. In contrast with many treatments of large deviations, our methods do not rely on thermodynamic formalism. Hence, for Holder observables we are able to obtain exponential estimates in situations where the space of equilibrium measures is not known to be a singleton, as well as polynomial estimates in situations where there is not a unique equilibrium measure.
A Multivariate Statistical Approach to the Hutchinsonian Niche: Bivalve Molluscs of Central Canada.

The use of multiple discriminant analysis to identify the significant and independent ecological factors separating species distributions is proposed and discussed. Such an analysis was performed on 345 samples, containing a total of 10 bivalve mollusc species, from 32 lakes in Manitoba, Ontario, and Saskatchewan. Measurements of nine ecological parameters were associated with each sample. Five discriminant functions account for 95% of the among species variance, and 4 of the 5 are ecologically interpretable. Three of these, accounting for 80% of the among-species variance, are interpreted as bases of trophic, rather than physical or chemical, separation. There is separation of species on each discriminant function. The use of dissatisfied scores to classify lakes with maximum relevance to species distributions is demonstrated and discussed. A generally applicable measure of environmental heterogeneity based upon this type of analysis is proposed. The value of this type of analysis in quantifying ecological concepts derived from the Hutchinsonian niche model is discussed. An example is given of a reduced available niche resulting in the loss of two species, smaller realized niches for the remaining species, and greater niche overlap.
Teaching others rule-use improves executive function and prefrontal activations in young children

Intervention of executive function during early childhood is an important research topic. This study examined the effect of a child-friendly intervention program, where children interacted with a doll or a puppet. Children were presented with cognitive shifting tasks before and after an intervention. In the intervention, children interacted with a doll or a puppet, and taught rules of the cognitive shifting tasks to the object. As the results, 3- to 5-year-old children significantly improved the performances and strengthened activations in the lateral prefrontal regions as measured by near-infrared spectroscopy. The results suggest that interaction with a doll or a puppet may have a significant impact on the development of executive function.
Phytochemical screening, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities of the crude leaves’ extract from Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam

Background: Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. , popularly known as sweet potato (SP), has played an important role as an energy and a phytochemical source in human nutrition and animal feeding. Ethnopharmacological data show that SP leaves have been effectively used in herbal medicine to treat inflammatory and/or infectious oral diseases in Brazil. The aim of this research was to evaluate the phytochemical, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities of the crude leaves’ extract of SP leaves. Materials and Methods: The screening was performed for triterpenes/steroids, alkaloids, anthraquinones, coumarins, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, and phenolic acids. The color intensity or the precipitate formation was used as analytical responses to these tests. The total antioxidant capacity was evaluated by the phosphomolybdenum complex method. Antimicrobial activity was made by agar disk and agar well diffusion tests. Results: The phytochemical screening showed positive results for triterpenes/steroids, alkaloids, anthraquinones, coumarins, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, and phenolic acids. Total contents of 345.65, 328.44, and 662.02 mg were respectively obtained for alkaloids, anthraquinones, and phenolic compounds in 100 g of the dry sample. The total antioxidant capacity was 42.94% as compared to ascorbic acid. For antimicrobial studies, no concentration of the SP freeze dried extract was able to inhibit the growth of Streptococcus mutans, S. mitis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans in both agar disk and agar well diffusion tests. Conclusions: SP leaves demonstrated the presence of secondary metabolites with potential biological activities. No antimicrobial activity was observed.