Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the BD MAX Enteric Parasite Panel for the detection of Cryptosporidium parvum/hominis, Giardia duodenalis and Entamoeba histolytica

Purpose. Conventional laboratory detection methods for gastrointestinal parasites are time consuming, require considerable technical expertise and may suffer from poor analytical sensitivity. This study sought to evaluate the automated BD MAX Enteric Parasite Panel (EPP) for the detection of Cryptosporidium parvum/hominis, Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia duodenalis. Methodolgy. A total of 104 known positive samples (43 Cryptosporidium parvum/hominis and 61 G. duodenalis), 15 simulated samples (E. histolytica and other Entamoeba species) and 745 patient stool samples, submitted for enteric pathogen culture and microscopy, were inoculated into BD MAX EPP sample buffer tubes (SBTs). All specimens were blinded and tested within 7 days of SBT inoculation using the BD MAX EPP assay with results compared to those generated by microscopy. Results/Key findings. Combining the results from the known positive samples and anonymously tested patient samples, the sensitivity of the BD MAX EPP assay was 100% for both Cryptosporidium spp. and G. duodenalis. Specificities of 99.7 and 98.9% were calculated for the detection of Cryptosporidium spp. and G. duodenalis respectively. Insufficient clinical specimen data was available to determine the performance of the assay for E. histolytica detection. Conclusions. The findings of this study indicate that the BD MAX EPP is suitable for the detection of Cryptosporidium parvum/hominis and G. duodenalis from clinical specimens with reduced hands‐on time and complexity compared to microscopy. Results for the detection of E. histolytica were promising although further work is required to evaluate the assay for the detection of this pathogen.
Presence and Co-Presence in Collaborative Virtual Environments

Collaborative Virtual Environments (CVEs) involve the use of a distributed architecture, and advanced interactive user interfaces to create a ’shared’ sense of space where users located in different physical locations can interact. In this paper, we describe two experimental designs which use subjective evaluation methods to asses personal presence and co-presence in a CVE. Personal presence is having a feeling of “being there” in the CVE yourself. Co-presence is having a feeling that one is in the same place as the other participants, and that one is collaborating with real people. The first experiment investigates the effects of avatar appearance and functionality (gestures and facial expressions) on presence and co-presence in a CVE. The second experiment investigates the effects of small group collaboration on co-presence in a CVE.
Based Re-programmable

An SRAM (static random access memory)-based re-programmable FPGA (field programmable gate array) is investigated for space applications. A new commercial prototype, named the RS family, was used as an example for the investigation. The device is fabricated in a 0.25p, m CMOS technology. Its architecture is reviewed to provide a better understanding of the impact of single event upset (SEU) on the device during operation. The SEU effect of different memories available on the device is evaluated. Heavy ion test data and SPICE simulations are used integrally to extract the threshold LET (linear energy transfer). Together with the saturation cross-section measurement from the layout, a rate prediction is done on each memory type. The SEU in the configuration SRAM is identified as the dominant failure mode and is discussed in detail. The single event transient error in combinational logic is also investigated and simulated by SPICE. SEU mitigation by hardening the memories and employing EDAC (error detection and correction) at the device level are presented. For the configuration SRAM cell, the trade-off between resistor de-coupling and redundancy hardening techniques are investigated with interesting results. static leakage current (static lcc) measured indicates a device tolerance of approximately 50krad(Si).
Gabor-based gradient orientation pyramid for kinship verification under uncontrolled environments

This paper presents a Gabor-based Gradient Orientation Pyramid (GGOP) feature representation method for kinship verification from facial images. First, we perform Gabor wavelet on each face image to obtain a set of Gabor magnitude (GM) feature images from different scales and orientations. Then, we extract the Gradient Orientation Pyramid (GOP) feature of each GM feature image and perform multiple feature fusion for kinship verification. When combined with the discriminative support vector machine (SVM) classifier, GGOP demonstrates the best performance in our experiments, in comparison with several state-of-the-art face feature descriptors. Experimental results are presented to show the efficacy of our proposed approach. Moreover, the performance of our proposed method is also comparable to that of human observers.
Interaction effects of education and health status on cognitive change: A 6-year follow-up of the Maastricht Aging Study

Objectives: The aim of this study was to test for interactions between education and health status (i.e., physical, social, and psychological functioning) with respect to baseline cognitive performance and change over 6 years. Method: Longitudinal data from the Maastricht Aging Study of 1344 men and women aged 24–47 and 49–77 were used. Results: Education by health interactions were restricted to the younger group. The components of health status that most consistently interacted with education were physical functioning on cognitive performance at baseline and physical and psychological functioning on cognitive change. Conclusion: These results indicate that high education attenuates age-related decline and lower baseline performance incurred by low health status in persons younger than 50.
Effects of growth patterns and dietary protein levels during rearing of broiler breeders on fertility, hatchability, embryonic mortality, and offspring performance.

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of different growth patterns and dietary crude protein levels during rearing in broiler breeder females on fertility, hatchability, embryonic mortality, and offspring performance. A 2×3 factorial arrangement of treatments was used, with 2 growth patterns to reach a target body weight at 20 wk of age of 2,200 g (standard=standard growth pattern) or 2,400 g (high=high growth pattern), and 3 dietary protein levels (high=crude protein, high), (medium=crude protein, medium), and low=crude protein, low). Fresh egg composition and organ development in hatchlings were determined. Offspring of the different groups were reared until an age of 34 d and feed intake, body weight gain, mortality, and carcass composition were determined. In 29-wk-old high growth pattern breeders compared to standard growth pattern breeders, fertility and hatchability of set eggs were increased; embryonic mortality between d 1 and 9 was decreased whereas hatchability of fertile eggs was not affected. Breeders fed the medium crude protein diet showed a decreased hatchability of fertile eggs caused by an increased embryonic mortality between d 18 and 21 compared to breeders fed the high crude protein and low crude protein diets. Offspring of 29-wk-old high growth pattern breeders tended (P=0.059) to have a higher body weight at d 34 than offspring of standard growth pattern breeders, which was achieved by a tendency to a higher body weight gain (P=0.057). Offspring of breeders fed the medium and low crude protein diet showed a higher feed intake between d 18 and 27 and during the total growth period, as compared to offspring of high crude protein breeders. Male broilers of low crude protein breeders had higher breast meat yield than male broilers of high crude protein breeders, while breast meat yield of female broilers was not affected by dietary protein levels. This experiment showed that a higher growth pattern during the rearing period increased fertility, decreased embryonic mortality, and improved offspring performance in young breeders, whereas decreased dietary protein level had no or less pronounced effects on these traits.
Multi-level mapping: Real-time dense monocular SLAM

We present a method for Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) using a monocular camera that is capable of reconstructing dense 3D geometry online without the aid of a graphics processing unit (GPU). Our key contribution is a multi-resolution depth estimation and spatial smoothing process that exploits the correlation between low-texture image regions and simple planar structure to adaptively scale the complexity of the generated keyframe depthmaps to the texture of the input imagery. High-texture image regions are represented at higher resolutions to capture fine detail, while low-texture regions are represented at coarser resolutions for smooth surfaces. The computational savings enabled by this approach allow for significantly increased reconstruction density and quality when compared to the state-of-the-art. The increased depthmap density also improves tracking performance as more constraints can contribute to the pose estimation. A video of experimental results is available at http://groups.csail. mit.edu/rrg/multi_level_mapping.
Reproducibility of single-sample clearance of 99mTc-mercaptoacetyltriglycine and 131I-orthoiodohippurate.

UNLABELLED Recent literature has questioned whether 99mTc-mercaptoacetyltriglycine (MAG3) clearance measurements are reproducible enough for routine clinical monitoring of renal function. For many years, we have routinely followed the renal function of patients with spinal cord injuries using a combination of radionuclide imaging and clearance measurement. METHODS In this study, we retrospectively review 1626 effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) measurements in 197 patients with paraplegia or quadriplegia performed over a 21-y period, using 131I-orthoiodohippurate (OIH) through 1990 and MAG3 since 1991. MAG3 clearance was divided by 0.53 to convert it to ERPF. Reproducibility was measured as pooled SD from the single-patient linear regression lines of ERPF versus time. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION There was no significant difference between MAG3 (SD = 46 mL/min, n = 907) and OIH (SD = 52 mL/min, n = 719). The data were therefore combined to obtain the SD for a single ERPF measurement, which was 49 mL/min. The corresponding coefficient of variation was 8.5% of the mean value of 581 mL/min. In our experience, this is adequate for monitoring the renal function of these patients.
Homocysteine and Carotid Plaque Stability: A Cross-Sectional Study in Chinese Adults

Background and Purpose This study aimed to explore the possible association of plasma total homocysteine with carotid plaque stability. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from 2010 to 2011. A stratified random sample of 2,919 Chinese participants aged 40 years or older was enrolled. Plasma total homocysteine levels were measured and carotid plaques were evaluated by ultrasonography. Logistic regression model was used to analyze the association of homocysteine levels to the progression of carotid plaque development, while adjusting for demographics and vascular risk factors. Results The mean level of plasma homocysteine in the subjects was 14.9 µmol/l. Along with increase in homocysteine level, the risk of advanced carotid plaque elevated (odds ratio = 1.28; 95% confidence interval = 1.09–1.51) after adjusting for age, sex, and other potential confounders. Stratified by sex, higher homocysteine level was strongly associated with advanced carotid plaque in men (OR = 1.41; 95% confidence interval = 1.17–1.70), but not in women. Conclusion The findings suggest that plasma level of homocysteine may be associated with advanced carotid plaque, which constitutes high risks of stroke, in male Chinese adults.
Field Trials Using a Digital Hearing Aid with Active Noise Reduction and Dual-Microphone Directionality: Estudios de campo utilizando un audifono digital con reduccion activa del ruido y micrófono de direccionalidad dual

In this study, we measured the effects of a digital hearing aid on speech recognition or reception in noise for two noise reduction concepts: active noise reduction by speech-sensitive processing (SSP) and improved directionality by a dual- or so-called twin-microphone system (TMS). This was conducted in a well-controlled clinical field trial in 16 hearing-aid users, using a single-blind crossover design. The hearing aid fitting was controlled by insertion gain measurements and measurements with loudness scaling. This study combined laboratory experiments with three consecutive field trials of 4 weeks each. We used performance measurements (speech recognition tests in background noise), paired comparisons, and self-report measurements (questionnaires). The speech recognition or reception tests were performed before and after each field trial, the paired comparisons were performed in weeks 4 and 12, and the questionnaires were administered after each field trial. For all subjects, results were obtained for three different settings: no noise reduction, SSP alone, and TMS alone. In the last week, we also performed speech recognition or reception tests in background noise with both noise reduction concepts combined. Three types of results have been reported: “objective” results from the critical signal to noise ratios for speech recognition or reception in different background noises for different settings and “subjective” results: paired comparisons and questionnaires. The subjective scores show the same trend as the objective scores. The effects of TMS were clearly positive, especially for the speech reception threshold tests and for the paired comparisons. The effects of SSP were much smaller but showed significant benefits with respect to aversive-ness and speech perception or reception in noise foi specific acoustical environments. There was no extra benefit from the combined effect of SSP and TMS relative to TMS alone.
Potassium Fluoride Ex Situ Treatment on Both Cu-Rich and Cu-Poor CuInSe2 Thin Film Solar Cells

In this paper, we show that CuInSe2 (CIS) absorbers grown under Cu-excess have better collection efficiencies compared to Cu-poor ones. We also show that an ex situ potassium fluoride postdeposition treatment leads to an improvement in VOC for CIS absorbers grown under both Cu-excess and Cu-poor conditions. Additionally, for absorbers grown under Cu-excess, the junction breakdown, which is observed in reverse bias of untreated cells, is removed. This improvement is based mainly on improving the interface of the CIS absorber grown under Cu-excess to the cadmium sulphide buffer layer through moving the dominant recombination from the interface to the bulk. In contrast to observations in the literature, the treated surface is not completely Cu-free.
A counterexample to Thiagarajan's conjecture

We provide a counterexample to a conjecture by Thiagarajan (1996 and 2002) that regular event structures correspond exactly to finite 1-safe Petri nets. The same counterexample is used to disprove a closely related conjecture by Badouel, Darondeau, and Raoult (1999) that domains of regular event structures with bounded $\natural$-cliques are recognizable by finite trace automata. A necessary condition for both conjectures to be true is that domains of respective regular event structures admit a regular nice labeling. Our counterexample of a regular event domain with bounded $\natural$-cliques, and not admitting a regular nice labeling is based on (i) the bijection between event domains, median graphs, and CAT(0) cube complexes and is derived from (ii) an example by Wise (1996 and 2007) of a nonpositively curved square complex ${\bf X}$ with six squares, whose edges are colored in five colors, and whose universal cover $\widetilde{\bf X}$ is a CAT(0) square complex containing a particular plane with an aperiodic tiling.
Two-Dimensional Cochlear Micromechanics Measured In Vivo Demonstrate Radial Tuning within the Mouse Organ of Corti

The exquisite sensitivity and frequency discrimination of mammalian hearing underlie the ability to understand complex speech in noise. This requires force generation by cochlear outer hair cells (OHCs) to amplify the basilar membrane traveling wave; however, it is unclear how amplification is achieved with sharp frequency tuning. Here we investigated the origin of tuning by measuring sound-induced 2-D vibrations within the mouse organ of Corti in vivo. Our goal was to determine the transfer function relating the radial shear between the structures that deflect the OHC bundle, the tectorial membrane and reticular lamina, to the transverse motion of the basilar membrane. We found that, after normalizing their responses to the vibration of the basilar membrane, the radial vibrations of the tectorial membrane and reticular lamina were tuned. The radial tuning peaked at a higher frequency than transverse basilar membrane tuning in the passive, postmortem condition. The radial tuning was similar in dead mice, indicating that this reflected passive, not active, mechanics. These findings were exaggerated in TectaC1509G/C1509G mice, where the tectorial membrane is detached from OHC stereocilia, arguing that the tuning of radial vibrations within the hair cell epithelium is distinct from tectorial membrane tuning. Together, these results reveal a passive, frequency-dependent contribution to cochlear filtering that is independent of basilar membrane filtering. These data argue that passive mechanics within the organ of Corti sharpen frequency selectivity by defining which OHCs enhance the vibration of the basilar membrane, thereby tuning the gain of cochlear amplification. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Outer hair cells amplify the traveling wave within the mammalian cochlea. The resultant gain and frequency sharpening are necessary for speech discrimination, particularly in the presence of background noise. Here we measured the 2-D motion of the organ of Corti in mice and found that the structures that stimulate the outer hair cell stereocilia, the tectorial membrane and reticular lamina, were sharply tuned in the radial direction. Radial tuning was similar in dead mice and in mice lacking a tectorial membrane. This suggests that radial tuning comes from passive mechanics within the hair cell epithelium, and that these mechanics, at least in part, may tune the gain of cochlear amplification.
ASYMPTOTIC BEHAVIOR OF L2-NORMALIZED EIGENFUNCTIONS OF THE LAPLACE-BELTRAMI OPERATOR ON A CLOSED RIEMANNIAN MANIFOLD

Let e(x, y, λ) be the spectral function and χλ the unit band spectral projection operator, with respect to the LaplaceBeltrami operator ∆M on a closed Riemannian manifold M . We firstly review the one-term asymptotic formula of e(x, x, λ) as λ → ∞ by Hörmander (1968) and the one of ∂ x ∂ β y e(x, y, λ)|x=y as λ → ∞ in a geodesic normal coordinate chart by the author (2004) and the sharp asymptotic estimates from above of the mapping norm ‖χλ‖L2→Lp (2 ≤ p ≤ ∞) by Sogge (1988 & 1989) and of the mapping norm ‖χλ‖L2→Sobolev Lp by the author (2004). In the paper we show the one term asymptotic formula for e(x, y, λ) as λ → ∞, provided that the Riemannian distance between x and y is O(1/λ). As a consequence, we obtain the sharp estimate of the mapping norm ‖χλ‖L2→Cδ (0 < δ < 1), where C (M) is the space of Hölder continuous functions with exponent δ on M . Moreover, we show a geometric property of the eigenfunction eλ: ∆Meλ + λ eλ = 0, which says that 1/λ is comparable to the distance between the nodal set of eλ (where eλ vanishes) and the concentrating set of eλ (where eλ attains its maximum or minimum) as λ → ∞.
BODY COMPOSITION OF ELITE CLASS DISTANCE RUNNERS *

The percent fat in distance runners has been estimated at 6% to 8%. '-5 Costill, Bowers, and Kammer,% however, have suggested that top quality marathon runners probably have lower values. Limitations in previous investigations that could affect the accuracy of body density (BD) estimation resulted from the researchers' not differentiating distance runners from sprinters or field event athletes, not including elite runners (or mixing elite and average runners in the sample), and not using an accurate laboratory technique for determining percent Thus, a precise quantification of BD and percent fat of elite distance runners is needed. Preliminary results from an investigation on an Olympic gold medal winner (marathon) showed leaner values if BD was measured by the hydrostatic weighing technique rather than by prediction equations using various combinations of anthropometric measures. Forsyth and Sinning concluded that existing prediction equations estimating BD from various combinations of skinfold fat ( S ) , girth (G), and diameter (D) measurements accurately predicted the BD of young sedentary men and athletes, but that the equations might not be valid for a very lean athlete. Likewise, the use of regression equations developed from samples of young men and women systematically resulted in an overestimation of BD for middle-aged men and this difference was thought to reflect the significantly greater amount of fat found in the middle-aged population. These findings supported the practice of using population-specific equations and questioned the accuracy of predicting BD in a very lean population from equations developed from a normal and/or athletic population with a different body type. The purpose of this investigation was to measure and predict BD in national and international class distance runners. The questions considered were twofold: what is the BD of elite runners? and can BD of elite runners be estimated accurately with regression equations using anthropometric variables?
Socio‐demographic determinants of participation in mammography screening

Our objective was to use individual data on socio‐demographic characteristics to identify predictors of participation in mammography screening and control to what extent they can explain the regional difference. We used data from mammography screening programmes in Copenhagen, 1991–1999, and Funen, 1993–2001, Denmark. Target groups were identified from the Population Register, screening data came from the health authority, and socio‐demographic data from Statistics Denmark. Included were women eligible for at least 3 screens. The crude RR of never use versus always use was 3.21 (95%CI, 3.07–3.35) for Copenhagen versus Funen, and the adjusted RR was 2.55 (95%CI, 2.43–2.67). The adjusted RR for never use among women without contact to a primary care physician was 2.50 (95% CI, 2.31–2.71) and 2.89 (95% CI, 2.66–3.14), and for women without dental care 2.94 (95% CI, 2.77–3.12) and 2.88 (95% CI, 2.68–3.10) for Copenhagen and Funen, respectively. Other important predictive factors for nonparticipation were not being married and not being Danish. In conclusion, to enhance participation in mammography screening programmes special attention needs to be given to women not using other primary health care services. All women in Copenhagen, irrespective of their socio‐demographic characteristics, had low participation. Screening programmes have to find ways to handle this urbanity factor. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Dislocations in shock-loaded titanium diboride

The structure of shock-loaded polycrystalline titanium diboride was examined with transmission electron microscopy. The shock wave from ballistic impact produces prismatic and basal slip in grains favorably oriented with respect to the shock wave. It can be deduced from annealing experiments with the formation of stacking fault hexagons that there is a high concentration of point defects in deformed regions from the motion of dislocation jogs. Weak-beam microscopy shows that the dislocations in TiB_2 are dissociated into partial dislocations. The stacking fault energy measured from a screw dislocation in the basal plane was found to be 120 mJ/m^2. Widely dissociated dislocations in the shocked sample suggest that residual stresses are present in some regions.