Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of tracking accuracy of the CyberKnife system using a webcam and printed calibrated grid

Tracking accuracy for the CyberKnife's Synchrony system is commonly evaluated using a film‐based verification method. We have evaluated a verification system that uses a webcam and a printed calibrated grid to verify tracking accuracy over three different motion patterns. A box with an attached printed calibrated grid and four fiducial markers was attached to the motion phantom. A target marker was positioned at the grid's center. The box was set up using the other three markers. Target tracking accuracy was evaluated under three conditions: 1) stationary; 2) sinusoidal motion with different amplitudes of 5, 10, 15, and 20 mm for the same cycle of 4 s and different cycles of 2, 4, 6, and 8 s with the same amplitude of 15 mm; and 3) irregular breathing patterns in six human volunteers breathing normally. Infrared markers were placed on the volunteers’ abdomens, and their trajectories were used to simulate the target motion. All tests were performed with one‐dimensional motion in craniocaudal direction. The webcam captured the grid's motion and a laser beam was used to simulate the CyberKnife's beam. Tracking error was defined as the difference between the grid's center and the laser beam. With a stationary target, mean tracking error was measured at 0.4 mm. For sinusoidal motion, tracking error was less than 2 mm for any amplitude and breathing cycle. For the volunteers’ breathing patterns, the mean tracking error range was 0.78‐1.67 mm. Therefore, accurate lesion targeting requires individual quality assurance for each patient. PACS number(s): 87.55. D‐, 87.55. km, 87.55. Qr, 87.56. Fc
IIW recommendations on methods for improving the fatigue strength of welded joints

Description: The weld toe is a primary source of fatigue cracking because of the severity of the stress concentration it produces. Weld toe improvement can increase the fatigue strength of new structures significantly. It can also be used to repair or upgrade existing structures. However, in practice there have been wide variations in the actual improvements in fatigue strength achieved. Based on an extensive testing programme organised by the IIW, this report reviews the main methods for weld toe improvement to increase fatigue strength: burr grinding, TIG dressing and hammer and needle peening. The report provides specifications for the practical use of each method, including equipment, weld preparation and operation. It also offers guidance on inspection, quality control and training as well as assessments of fatigue strength and thickness effects possible with each technique. IIW recommendations on methods for improving the fatigue strength of welded joints will allow a more consistent use of these methods and more predictable increases in fatigue strength. -Provides specifications for the practical use of each weld toe method, including equipment, weld preparation and operation-Offers guidance on inspection, quality control and training, as well as assessments of fatigue strength and thickness effects possible with each technique-This report will allow a more consistent use of these methods and more predictable increases in fatigue strength Contents: Scope Burr grinding Tungsten inert gas (TIG) dressing Hammer peening Needle peening Recommendations related to structural hot-spot stress References.
Application of off‐line image processing for optimization in chest computed radiography using a low cost system

The objective of this study was to improve the visibility of anatomical details by applying off‐line postimage processing in chest computed radiography (CR). Four spatial domain‐based external image processing techniques were developed by using MATLAB software version 7.0. 0.19920 (R14) and image processing tools. The developed techniques were implemented to sample images and their visual appearances confirmed by two consultant radiologists to be clinically adequate. The techniques were then applied to 200 chest clinical images and randomized with other 100 images previously processed online. These 300 images were presented to three experienced radiologists for image quality assessment using standard quality criteria. The mean and ranges of the average scores for three radiologists were characterized for each of the developed technique and imaging system. The Mann‐Whitney U‐test was used to test the difference of details visibility between the images processed using each of the developed techniques and the corresponding images processed using default algorithms. The results show that the visibility of anatomical features improved significantly (0.005≤p≤0.02) with combinations of intensity values adjustment and/or spatial linear filtering techniques for images acquired using 60≤kVp≤70. However, there was no improvement for images acquired using 102≤kVp≤107 (0.127≤p≤0.48). In conclusion, the use of external image processing for optimization can be effective in chest CR, but should be implemented in consultations with the radiologists. PACS number: 87.59. −e, 87.59. −B, 87.59. −bd
African Swine Fever Virus NP868R Capping Enzyme Promotes Reovirus Rescue during Reverse Genetics by Promoting Reovirus Protein Expression, Virion Assembly, and RNA Incorporation into Infectious Virions

ABSTRACT Reoviruses, like many eukaryotic viruses, contain an inverted 7-methylguanosine (m7G) cap linked to the 5′ nucleotide of mRNA. The traditional functions of capping are to promote mRNA stability, protein translation, and concealment from cellular proteins that recognize foreign RNA. To address the role of mRNA capping during reovirus replication, we assessed the benefits of adding the African swine fever virus NP868R capping enzyme during reovirus rescue. C3P3, a fusion protein containing T7 RNA polymerase and NP868R, was found to increase protein expression 5- to 10-fold compared to T7 RNA polymerase alone while enhancing reovirus rescue from the current reverse genetics system by 100-fold. Surprisingly, RNA stability was not increased by C3P3, suggesting a direct effect on protein translation. A time course analysis revealed that C3P3 increased protein synthesis within the first 2 days of a reverse genetics transfection. This analysis also revealed that C3P3 enhanced processing of outer capsid μ1 protein to μ1C, a previously described hallmark of reovirus assembly. Finally, to determine the rate of infectious-RNA incorporation into new virions, we developed a new recombinant reovirus S1 gene that expressed the fluorescent protein UnaG. Following transfection of cells with UnaG and infection with wild-type virus, passage of UnaG through progeny was significantly enhanced by C3P3. These data suggest that capping provides nontraditional functions to reovirus, such as promoting assembly and infectious-RNA incorporation. IMPORTANCE Our findings expand our understanding of how viruses utilize capping, suggesting that capping provides nontraditional functions to reovirus, such as promoting assembly and infectious-RNA incorporation, in addition to enhancing protein translation. Beyond providing mechanistic insight into reovirus replication, our findings also show that reovirus reverse genetics rescue is enhanced 100-fold by the NP868R capping enzyme. Since reovirus shows promise as a cancer therapy, efficient reovirus reverse genetics rescue will accelerate production of recombinant reoviruses as candidates to enhance therapeutic potency. NP868R-assisted reovirus rescue will also expedite production of recombinant reovirus for mechanistic insights into reovirus protein function and structure.
RelationGrams: Tie-Strength Visualization for User-Controlled Online Identity Authentication

Users experience a crisis of conﬁdence for online activities in the current Internet. Unfortunately, the symptom of this crisis of conﬁdence manifests itself through online attacks, where adversaries con users to extract money or valuable sensitive information. Instead of addressing the symptom, we investigate how to address the underlying cause , which is that the absence of humanly veriﬁable information for online entities prevents user authentication. As an initial step in this endeavor, we consider the spe-ciﬁc problem of how users can securely authenticate online identities (e.g., associate a Facebook ID with its owner). Based on prior social science research demonstrating that the strength of social ties is a useful indicator of trust in many real-world relationships, we explore how tie strength can be visualized using well-deﬁned and measurable parameters. We then apply the visualization in the context of online friend invitations and propose a protocol for secure online identity authentication. We analyze the robustness of the protocol against adversaries who attempt to establish fraudulent online identities, and evaluate the usability in an actual implementation on a popular online social network (i.e., Facebook). We ﬁnd that a tie-strength visualization is a useful primitive for online identity authentication.
Modified Mahalanobis Taguchi System for Imbalance Data Classification

The Mahalanobis Taguchi System (MTS) is considered one of the most promising binary classification algorithms to handle imbalance data. Unfortunately, MTS lacks a method for determining an efficient threshold for the binary classification. In this paper, a nonlinear optimization model is formulated based on minimizing the distance between MTS Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curve and the theoretical optimal point named Modified Mahalanobis Taguchi System (MMTS). To validate the MMTS classification efficacy, it has been benchmarked with Support Vector Machines (SVMs), Naive Bayes (NB), Probabilistic Mahalanobis Taguchi Systems (PTM), Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (SMOTE), Adaptive Conformal Transformation (ACT), Kernel Boundary Alignment (KBA), Hidden Naive Bayes (HNB), and other improved Naive Bayes algorithms. MMTS outperforms the benchmarked algorithms especially when the imbalance ratio is greater than 400. A real life case study on manufacturing sector is used to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed model and to compare its performance with Mahalanobis Genetic Algorithm (MGA).
Optical discrimination of a phytoplankton species in natural mixed populations

Developing optical detection techniques for discriminating particular phytoplankon species in mixed assemblages has long been a goal of aquatic scientists. Previously, a processing algorithm for phytoplankton absorption spectra was reported that suggested detection of the red tide dinoflagellate Gymnodinium breve was possible. The algorithm evaluated the fourth derivative of the particulate absorption spectrum of an unknown sample and compared it to a standard fourth derivative spectrum for G. breve using a similarity index. We report here the first‐time application of this technique to the detection of G. breve in natural, mixed phytoplankton communities. Pigment and spectral absorption data were collected from natural blooms of G. breve in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. This dinoflagellate is the only species of phytoplankton in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico observed to contain the pigment gyroxanthin‐diester, and it appears in constant proportion to cellular chlorophyll a (Chl a) in G. breve. The in vitro absorption spectrum of gyroxanthin‐diester is nearly identical to other xanthophylls (including diadinoxanthin, lutein, and 199‐hexanoyloxyfucoxanthin) and is not singularly responsible for imparting a unique absorption signature. Quantifying gyroxanthin‐diester and Chl a allowed us to estimate the fraction of the biomass in mixed populations associated with G. breve. Subsequent regression of the G. breve similarity indexes to the G. breve biomass fractions yielded a significant linear correlation. Finally, the liquid waveguide capillary cell appears to be a promising technology for automating this technique.
Full-Length Venom Protein cDNA Sequences from Venom-Derived mRNA: Exploring Compositional Variation and Adaptive Multigene Evolution

Envenomation of humans by snakes is a complex and continuously evolving medical emergency, and treatment is made that much more difficult by the diverse biochemical composition of many venoms. Venomous snakes and their venoms also provide models for the study of molecular evolutionary processes leading to adaptation and genotype-phenotype relationships. To compare venom complexity and protein sequences, venom gland transcriptomes are assembled, which usually requires the sacrifice of snakes for tissue. However, toxin transcripts are also present in venoms, offering the possibility of obtaining cDNA sequences directly from venom. This study provides evidence that unknown full-length venom protein transcripts can be obtained from the venoms of multiple species from all major venomous snake families. These unknown venom protein cDNAs are obtained by the use of primers designed from conserved signal peptide sequences within each venom protein superfamily. This technique was used to assemble a partial venom gland transcriptome for the Middle American Rattlesnake (Crotalus simus tzabcan) by amplifying sequences for phospholipases A2, serine proteases, C-lectins, and metalloproteinases from within venom. Phospholipase A2 sequences were also recovered from the venoms of several rattlesnakes and an elapid snake (Pseudechis porphyriacus), and three-finger toxin sequences were recovered from multiple rear-fanged snake species, demonstrating that the three major clades of advanced snakes (Elapidae, Viperidae, Colubridae) have stable mRNA present in their venoms. These cDNA sequences from venom were then used to explore potential activities derived from protein sequence similarities and evolutionary histories within these large multigene superfamilies. Venom-derived sequences can also be used to aid in characterizing venoms that lack proteomic profiles and identify sequence characteristics indicating specific envenomation profiles. This approach, requiring only venom, provides access to cDNA sequences in the absence of living specimens, even from commercial venom sources, to evaluate important regional differences in venom composition and to study snake venom protein evolution.
Inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis by dimercaptosuccinic acid modified Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles combined with nontoxic concentration of bortezomib and gambogic acid in RPMI-8226 cells

The purpose of this study was to determine the potential benefits of combination therapy using dimercaptosuccinic acid modified iron oxide (DMSA-Fe3O4) magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) combined with nontoxic concentration of bortezomib (BTZ) and gambogic acid (GA) on multiple myeloma (MM) RPMI-8226 cells and possible underlying mechanisms. The effects of BTZ-GA-loaded MNP-Fe3O4 (BTZ-GA/MNPs) on cell proliferation were assessed by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,4,-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) method. Cell cycle and apoptosis were detected using the terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated biotin-16-dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay and flow cytometry (FCM). Furthermore, DMSA-Fe3O4 MNPs were characterized in terms of distribution, apoptotic morphology, and cellular uptake by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining. Subsequently, the effect of BTZ-GA/MNPs combination on PI3K/Akt activation and apoptotic-related protein were appraised by Western blotting. MTT assay and hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining were applied to elevate the functions of BTZ-GA/MNPs combination on the tumor xenograft model and tumor necrosis. The results of this study revealed that the majority of MNPs were quasi-spherical and the MNPs taken up by cells were located in the endosome vesicles of cytoplasm. Nontoxic concentration of BTZ-GA/MNPs increased G2/M phase cell cycle arrest and induced apoptosis in RPMI-8226 cells. Furthermore, the combination of BTZ-GA/MNPs activated phosphorylated Akt levels, Caspase-3, and Bax expression, and down-regulated the PI3K and Bcl-2 levels significantly. Meanwhile, the in vivo tumor xenograft model indicated that the treatment of BTZ-GA/MNPs decreased the tumor growth and volume and induced cell apoptosis and necrosis. These findings suggest that chemotherapeutic agents polymerized MNPs-Fe3O4 with GA could serve as a better alternative for targeted therapeutic approaches to treat multiple myeloma.
Characterization of ion-irradiation-induced defects in multi-walled carbon nanotubes

We study the effects of Ar+, He+ and C+ ion irradiation on multi-walled carbon nanotubes at room and elevated temperatures with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Raman spectroscopy. Based on the TEM data, we introduce a universal damage scale for the visual analysis and characterization of irradiated nanotubes. We show for the first time that the amount of irradiation-induced damage in nanotubes is larger than the value predicted for bulk materials using the simple binary collision approximation, which may be associated with higher defect production due to electronic stopping in these nanoscale systems. The Raman spectra of the irradiated samples are in qualitative agreement with the TEM data and indicate the presence of irradiation-induced defects. However, it is difficult to obtain quantitative information on defect concentration due to non-uniform distribution of defects in the nanotube films and in part due to the presence of other carbon nanosystems in the samples, such as graphitic crystallites and carbon onions.
in Economics : 1822 EXCHANGE RATE MISALIGNMENT , CAPITAL FLOWS , AND OPTIMAL MONETARY POLICY TRADE-OFFS

What determines the optimal monetary trade-o§ between internal objectives (inflation, and output gap) and external objectives (competitiveness and trade imbalances) when inefficient capital flows cause exchange rate misalignment and distort current account positions? We characterize this trade-o§ analytically, using the workhorse model of modern monetary theory in open economies under incomplete markets–where ine¢cient capital flows and exchange rate misalignments can arise independently of nominal distortions. We derive a quadratic approximation of the utility-based global policy loss function under fairly general assumptions on preferences and openness, and solve for the optimal targeting rules under cooperation. We show that, in economies with a low degree of exchange rate pass-through, the optimal response to ine¢cient capital inflows associated with real appreciation is contractionary, above and beyond the natural rate: the optimal policy curbs excessive demand at the cost of exacerbating currency overvaluation. In contrast, a high degree of pass-through, and/or low trade elasticities, warrants expansionary policies that lean against exchange rate appreciation and competitive losses, at the cost of ine¢cient inflation.
PERCEPTIONS AND REALITIES OF AVERAGE TAX RATES IN THE FEDERAL INCOME TAX

We asked a random sample of the Michigan population to identify their average tax rate in the federal individual income tax. We find that 84.9 percent of respondents overstate their actual average tax rate, many by very large amounts, with the mean/ median overstatement exceeding 11 percentage points. All demographic groups have substantial overstatements. Regression analysis indicates that, all else equal, average income-tax rates tend to be overstated to a greater extent by (1) those who believe taxes on households like theirs should be lower, (2) those who get taxpreparation assistance, and (3) those who believe tax dollars are spent ineffectively.
Annotation Artifacts in Natural Language Inference Data

Large-scale datasets for natural language inference are created by presenting crowd workers with a sentence (premise), and asking them to generate three new sentences (hypotheses) that it entails, contradicts, or is logically neutral with respect to. We show that, in a significant portion of such data, this protocol leaves clues that make it possible to identify the label by looking only at the hypothesis, without observing the premise. Specifically, we show that a simple text categorization model can correctly classify the hypothesis alone in about 67% of SNLI (Bowman et. al, 2015) and 53% of MultiNLI (Williams et. al, 2017). Our analysis reveals that specific linguistic phenomena such as negation and vagueness are highly correlated with certain inference classes. Our findings suggest that the success of natural language inference models to date has been overestimated, and that the task remains a hard open problem.
Suicide prevention in educational settings: a review

Objectives: Youth suicide rates are unacceptably high. Schools have long been accepted as an appropriate setting for suicide prevention activities. This review aims to synthesise the evidence for all types of suicide prevention interventions across educational settings. Methods: The review draws on two previous reviews conducted by the authors. In order to be included, studies had to test a specific suicide prevention intervention in an educational setting, have a suicide-related outcome and target young people. Results: A totally of 21 studies were included: 17 were conducted in school settings and four in universities. Seven of the school-based studies (41%) and one of the university studies (25%) were randomised controlled trials. Overall, the trials conducted in schools reported positive effects, as did four of the non- randomised controlled trials. Two of the university-based studies reported positive effects. Both universal and indicated interventions showed positive results; no iatrogenic effects were reported. Conclusions: School-based studies can have a positive impact on suicide-related behaviour and, overall, do not appear to cause harm. Study quality is variable, and the number of studies conducted in school settings far exceed those conducted in universities. These gaps need to be addressed by future research.
Impact of changing positively worded items to negatively worded items in the Swedish web‐version of the Quality of Recovery (SwQoR) questionnaire

RATIONALE, AIMS, AND OBJECTIVES The Swedish web-version of the Quality of Recovery questionnaire is used to evaluate a person's postoperative recovery after anesthesia and surgery. An earlier study found an increased risk of answering incorrectly when the questionnaire included both positive and negative items. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of changing positively worded items to negatively worded items. METHODS This was a cross-sectional study including 90 second-year nursing students. Seven pairs of positively and negatively worded items were evaluated for differences in response as well as agreement between the items. RESULTS Two pairs of items showed higher mean values if the item was negatively worded. Between-item agreement for positively worded item scores and their corresponding reverse-coded negatively worded item scores was poor-to-moderate (intraclass correlation coefficient: 0.35-0.76). A moderate agreement was found when testing all positively worded items against the recoded negatively worded items (intraclass correlation coefficient: 0.65). Internal consistency was 0.86 for the positively worded items and 0.76 for the negatively worded items. CONCLUSIONS Changing from positive to negative wording produced some differences in Swedish web-version of the Quality of Recovery item scores. Internal consistency was acceptable, but 2 items (not having a general feeling of well-being and not speaking normally) need further refinement.