Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Targeted Contrast Agent Helps to Monitor Advanced Plaque During Progression: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study in Rabbits

Objective:Gadofluorine M has been reported to enhance early atherosclerotic plaque signals in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The aim of this study was to examine the use of Gadofluorine M to monitor the progression of advanced plaques in a rabbit model. Methods:Focal advanced atherosclerosis was induced in the right femoral arteries of 6 New Zealand white rabbits using a combination of cholesterol-enriched diet, and sequential air-desiccation, and balloon-overstretch injury. MRI with conventional 3 contrasts (T1, T2, and proton density [PD]) was performed to monitor the progression of the atherosclerotic plaques with 2 MRI scans separated by 4 to 8 weeks. Gadofluorine M was given intravenously to the rabbits 24 hours before the first MRI scans, and before (n = 3) or during (n = 3) the second MRI scan. The left femoral arteries were used as a control. Histopathologic images localized individual plaque components. Results:The advanced plaque displayed multilayered neointima that included foam cells, smooth muscle cells, and extracellular matrix. The separate image contrasts offered similar T1-weighted enhancement patterns, but the combination of all 3 contrasts helped to delineate plaque and lumen boundaries. Gadofluorine M strongly enhanced neointima areas with an image contrast (contrast-to-noise ratio [CNR]) of approximately 15, versus 2 in the control femoral arterial wall. With improved images, significant changes in neointima and total plaque volumes over the 4 to 8 weeks between scans could be identified. Gadofluorine M remained within the plaques with significant image enhancements (contrast-to-noise ratio = 5.8) for 2 months after a single injection. Conclusion:This preliminary study in rabbits indicated that Gadofluorine M provides specific enhancements of components associated with advanced atherosclerotic plaques and may help to monitor the progression of the plaque in a rabbit model of atherogenesis.
A Two-Step Parametric Method for Failure Prediction in Hard Disk Drives

Predicting the impending failure of hard disk drives (HDDs) is crucial for preventing essential data from losing. In this paper, a two-step parametric method was developed to predict the impending failure of HDDs using the aggregate of statistical models. This method deals with the problem of failure prediction in two steps: anomaly detection and failure prediction. First, Mahalanobis distance was used for aggregating all the monitored variables into one index, which was then transformed into Gaussian variables by Box-Cox transformation. By defining an appropriate threshold, anomalies in HDDs were detected as a result. Second, a sliding-window-based generalized likelihood ratio test was proposed to track the anomaly progression in an HDD. When the occurrence of anomalies in a time interval is found to be statistically significant, indicating the HDD is approaching failure. In this work, we also derived a new cost function to adjust the prediction rate. This is important in a way to balance the failure detection rate and false alarm rate as well as to provide an advanced warning of HDD failures to the users, whereby the users can back up their data in time. Then the developed method was applied on a synthetic data set showing its effectiveness on predicting failures. To demonstrate the practical usefulness, this method was also applied on a real-life HDD data set. The result shows that our method could achieve 68% failure detection rate with 0% false alarm rate. This is much better than the results achieved by the state-of-the-art methods, such as support vector machine and hidden Markov models.
Friction and Wear Behaviour of Borided Ti6Al4v Alloy Sliding Against Al2O3 and Si3N4 Balls in Water

This study focuses on tribological performance of as-received and borided Ti6Al4V alloys against ceramic counterfaces (Al2O3 and Si3N4 balls) in water. The wear mode of the alloy changed from ploughing to polishing by achieving a remarkable reduction in wear loss upon boriding. On the borided surface, the destructive action of the Si3N4 ball was very limited, when compared to that of the Al2O3 ball.
Joint Source-Channel Coding for the MIMO Broadcast Channel

We investigate the problem of broadcasting analog sources to several users using short codes, employing several antennas at both the transmitter and the receiver, and channel-optimized quantization. Our main objective is to minimize the sum mean-square error distortion. A joint multi-user encoder, as well as a structured encoder with separate encoders for the different users, are proposed. The first encoder outperforms the latter, which, in turn, offers large improvements compared to state-of-the-art, over a wide range of channel signal-to-noise ratios. Our proposed methods handle bandwidth expansion, i.e., usage of more channel than source dimensions, automatically. We also derive a lower bound on the distortion.
When History Repeats Itself: Exploring the Genetic Architecture of Host-Plant Adaptation in Two Closely Related Lepidopteran Species

The genus Ostrinia includes two allopatric maize pests across Eurasia, namely the European corn borer (ECB, O. nubilalis) and the Asian corn borer (ACB, O. furnacalis). A third species, the Adzuki bean borer (ABB, O. scapulalis), occurs in sympatry with both the ECB and the ACB. The ABB mostly feeds on native dicots, which probably correspond to the ancestral host plant type for the genus Ostrinia. This situation offers the opportunity to characterize the two presumably independent adaptations or preadaptations to maize that occurred in the ECB and ACB. In the present study, we aimed at deciphering the genetic architecture of these two adaptations to maize, a monocot host plant recently introduced into Eurasia. To this end, we performed a genome scan analysis based on 684 AFLP markers in 12 populations of ECB, ACB and ABB. We detected 2 outlier AFLP loci when comparing French populations of the ECB and ABB, and 9 outliers when comparing Chinese populations of the ACB and ABB. These outliers were different in both countries, and we found no evidence of linkage disequilibrium between any two of them. These results suggest that adaptation or preadaptation to maize relies on a different genetic architecture in the ECB and ACB. However, this conclusion must be considered in light of the constraints inherent to genome scan approaches and of the intricate evolution of adaptation and reproductive isolation in the Ostrinia spp. complex.
VMcSim: A Detailed Manycore Simulator for Virtualized Systems

Designing a cloud infrastructure for HPC applications requires to correlate design choices for virtualization solutions, resources management strategies, and their implementation on specific hardware platforms. Such investigations can hardly be conducted without accurate simulation tools. This paper introduces VMcSim, the first micro architecture and virtualized many core simulation framework. VMcSim models a x86-based asymmetric many core micro architecture, including a virtualization layer which allows to model a hyper visor, a set of virtual machines with their virtual resources (CPU and memory), their operating system, and their applications. By simulating all the involved hardware and software layers, VMcSim outperforms other simulators. Simulation accuracy is evaluated through several benchmark (SPLASH-2). The simulator is demonstrated with the evaluation of virtual resources placement policies in multicore systems.
Clomiphene fails to revert hypogonadism in most male patients with conventionally treated nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of clomiphene in men with hypogonadism and conventionally treated nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPA). PATIENTS AND METHODS Open label, single-arm, prospective trial. Nine hypogonadal men (testosterone < 300 ng/dL and low/normal LH) with previously treated NFPA. Clomiphene (50 mg/day orally) for 12 weeks. Testosterone, estradiol, LH, FSH, prolactin and erectile function were evaluated before and after 10 days, 4, 8 and 12 weeks of clomiphene treatment. RESULTS After clomiphene treatment, testosterone and erectile function improved in only one patient. In the remaining eight patients, testosterone levels decreased whereas LH, FSH, and estradiol remained unchanged. Insulin sensitivity increased in unresponsive patients. CONCLUSIONS Compared with hypogonadal men with prolactinomas under dopaminergic therapy, clomiphene treatment failed to restore normal testosterone levels in most patients with conventionally treated NFPA.
High morbidity and mortality in adults hospitalized for respiratory syncytial virus infections.

BACKGROUND Better understanding of complications and outcomes of adults hospitalized with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is necessary. METHODS A retrospective cohort study was conducted on all adults (≥ 18 years) admitted to 3 acute care general hospitals in Hong Kong with virologically confirmed RSV infection during 2009-2011 (N = 607). Adults hospitalized for seasonal influenza during the period were used for comparison (n = 547). Both infections were prospectively diagnosed following a standard protocol. Independent reviews of chest radiographs were performed by radiologists. Main outcome measures were all-cause death, respiratory failure requiring ventilatory support, and hospitalization duration. Cox proportional hazards models were used for analyses. RESULTS The mean age of RSV patients was 75 (SD, 16) years; 87% had underlying conditions. Lower respiratory and cardiovascular complications were diagnosed in 71.9% (pneumonia, 42.3%; acute bronchitis, 21.9%; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease/asthma exacerbation, 27.3%) and 14.3% of patients, respectively; 12.5% had bacterial superinfections. Supplemental oxygen and ventilatory support were required in 67.9% and 11.1%, respectively. Crude all-cause mortality was 9.1% and 11.9% within 30 days and 60 days, respectively; mean length of stay of survivors was 12 (SD, 13) days. Advanced age, radiographic pneumonia, requirement for ventilation, bacterial superinfection, and elevated urea level and white blood cell count were independently associated with poorer survival. Systemic corticosteroid use was associated with longer hospitalization and secondary infections. The overall outcomes of survival and length of stay were not significantly different from those in influenza. CONCLUSIONS RSV can cause severe lower respiratory complications in older adults, resulting in respiratory failure, prolonged hospitalization, and high mortality similar to seasonal influenza. Corticosteroids did not seem to improve outcomes. The unmet need for antiviral therapy and vaccination against RSV in adults should be promptly addressed.
Backward and forward modes guided by metal-dielectric-metal plasmonic waveguides

We revisited the problem of the existence of plasmonic modes guided by metal- dielectric-metal slot waveguides. For the case of lossless slot waveguides, we classify the guided modes in the structure with the metal dispersion and found that, in a certain parameter range, three different guided modes coexist at a fixed frequency, two (symmetric and antisymmetric) forward propagating modes and the third, backward propagating antisymmetric mode. We study the properties of the forward and backward plasmonic guided modes in the presence of realistic losses, and discuss the importance of evanescent modes in lossy structures.
A Consistency-Preserving Mechanism for Web Services Response Caching

Web services are rapidly emerging as a popular standard technology for sharing data and functionality among heterogeneous systems. Service providers and consumers are loosely coupled and distributed across the network, either within an organization or across organizational boundaries, and therefore, performance becomes a major concern in such a distributed environment. Furthermore, XML is widely used as message format for service providers and consumers in Web services environment. XML message packaging and parsing brings extra overhead to both ends. Web services response latency, as well as throughput, is becoming a bottleneck problem. In this paper, We propose a consistency-preserving mechanism for Web services response caching, which reduces the volume of data transmitted without semantic interpretation of service requests or responses, and accelerates the services response finally. It achieves this reduction through the use of cryptographic hashing to detect similarities with previous results. Experiments with an initial prototype called SigsitAcclerator indicate that our mechanism can lead to significant performance improvement over more straightforward techniques.
Effect on Concrete Surface Water Absorption upon Addition of Lactate Derived Agent

Water tightness of a concrete cover layer is important, as it is typically used as a protective coating of the steel reinforcement. Water tightness can be impaired by crack formation or by permeability. A bacteria-based lactate-derived healing agent (HA) can be added to concrete to enhance the potential for restoration of water tightness. Bacterial conversion of the included carbon source results in CO2 production and subsequent CaCO3 precipitation, similar to the mechanism of concrete carbonation. Carbonation is known to densify concrete, particularly when using ordinary Portland cement (OPC), but to a much lower extend in slag-based concrete (CEM III/B). To identify the effect of HA addition on concrete properties, this study focusses on the ingress of moisture in non-cracked concrete surfaces by assessing capillary water absorption. Surface properties were determined for sealed and unsealed surfaces of concrete—either based on OPC or CEM III/B—before and after curing under three different conditions: Dry, wet, or humid. HA addition to concrete containing slag cement generated a surface less prone to continued drying, but resulted in higher water absorption. In contrast, surface water absorption significantly decreased upon HA addition to OPC-based samples, independent of the curing regime. It is therefore concluded that HA in its current form is suitable for application in OPC, but less in CEM III/B-based mixtures.
Effects of induced transverse chromatic aberration from an afocal prismatic lens on spatio–temporal sensitivity 1

The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of ophthalmic lens‐induced transverse chromatic aberrations (TCA) in natural viewing conditions on spatio–temporal thresholds. Three psychophysical experiments were performed; the first isolating the spatial component, the second isolating the temporal component and the third assessing spatio–temporal combinations. Taken together, the results show that TCA has profound effects on medium to high spatial frequencies (above 1 cpd) consistent with previous studies, and that the ratio of deficit TCA/blur can be higher than 2:1 for equivalent dioptric strengths. Furthermore, the results of Experiment 1 and 3 taken together show that the relative sensitivity loss caused by TCA can differ significantly between individuals and that a possible factor for this differential loss is the overall baseline spatio–temporal sensitivity profile of the individual.
Natural Changes in Brain Temperature Underlie Variations in Song Tempo during a Mating Behavior

The song of a male zebra finch is a stereotyped motor sequence whose tempo varies with social context – whether or not the song is directed at a female bird – as well as with the time of day. The neural mechanisms underlying these changes in tempo are unknown. Here we show that brain temperature recorded in freely behaving male finches exhibits a global increase in response to the presentation of a female bird. This increase strongly correlates with, and largely explains, the faster tempo of songs directed at a female compared to songs produced in social isolation. Furthermore, we find that the observed diurnal variations in song tempo are also explained by natural variations in brain temperature. Our findings suggest that brain temperature is an important variable that can influence the dynamics of activity in neural circuits, as well as the temporal features of behaviors that some of these circuits generate.
Brainstem Auditory Evoked Responses in an Equine Patient Population: Part I – Adult Horses

Background Brainstem auditory evoked response has been an underused diagnostic modality in horses as evidenced by few reports on the subject. Hypothesis/Objectives To describe BAER findings, common clinical signs, and causes of hearing loss in adult horses. Animals Study group, 76 horses; control group, 8 horses. Methods Retrospective. BAER records from the Clinical Neurophysiology Laboratory were reviewed from the years of 1982 to 2013. Peak latencies, amplitudes, and interpeak intervals were measured when visible. Horses were grouped under disease categories. Descriptive statistics and a posthoc Bonferroni test were performed. Results Fifty‐seven of 76 horses had BAER deficits. There was no breed or sex predisposition, with the exception of American Paint horses diagnosed with congenital sensorineural deafness. Eighty‐six percent (n = 49/57) of the horses were younger than 16 years of age. The most common causes of BAER abnormalities were temporohyoid osteoarthropathy (THO, n = 20/20; abnormalities/total), congenital sensorineural deafness in Paint horses (17/17), multifocal brain disease (13/16), and otitis media/interna (4/4). Auditory loss was bilateral and unilateral in 74% (n = 42/57) and 26% (n = 15/57) of the horses, respectively. The most common causes of bilateral auditory loss were sensorineural deafness, THO, and multifocal brain disease whereas THO and otitis were the most common causes of unilateral deficits. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Auditory deficits should be investigated in horses with altered behavior, THO, multifocal brain disease, otitis, and in horses with certain coat and eye color patterns. BAER testing is an objective and noninvasive diagnostic modality to assess auditory function in horses.
Systems biology of natural simian immunodeficiency virus infections.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW A key factor driving AIDS-associated immunopathogenesis is chronic immune activation. Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection of African natural host species leads to high viremia, but low immune activation and absence of disease. Considerable progress in our understanding of pathological immune activation has come from comparative studies of SIV infection in pathogenic Asian macaque species and natural hosts. The focus of this review is to highlight recent work on the natural host model using high-throughput genomics. RECENT FINDINGS Several groups have independently conducted microarray gene expression profiling comparing in-vivo SIV infection in natural and non-natural hosts. A consistent finding between these studies is that both pathogenic SIV infection of macaques and nonpathogenic infections of natural hosts have strong induction of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) early on, but a key difference was that natural hosts down-modulated the interferon response rapidly after acute infection. The development of new genome-based resources for further study of the natural host model is discussed. SUMMARY Initial efforts using high-throughput biology to study SIV infection of natural hosts have effectively identified the ability of natural hosts to resolve interferon responses and immune activation. Further application of 'omic-based technologies coupled with integrative systems-based analysis should continue to yield progress.
Proteomic changes in chicken primary hepatocytes exposed to T‐2 toxin are associated with oxidative stress and mitochondrial enhancement

T‐2 toxin is a mycotoxin that is toxic to plants, animals, and humans. However, its molecular mechanism remains unclear, especially in chickens. In this study, using 2D electrophoresis with MALDI‐TOF/TOF‐MS, 53 proteins were identified as up‐ or downregulated by T‐2 toxin in chicken primary hepatocytes. Functional network analysis by ingenuity pathway analysis showed that the top network altered by T‐2 toxin is associated with neurological disease, cancer, organismal injury, and abnormalities. Most of the identified proteins were associated with one of eight functional classes, including cell redox homeostasis, transcriptional or translational regulation, cell cycle or cell proliferation, stress response, lipid metabolism, transport, carbohydrate metabolism, and protein degradation. Subcellular location categorization showed that the identified proteins were predominantly located in the mitochondrion (34%) and interestingly, the expression of all the identified mitochondrial proteins was increased. Further cellular analysis showed that T‐2 toxin was able to induce the ROS accumulation and could lead to an increase in mitochondrial mass and adenosine 5′‐triphosphate content, which indicated that oxidative stress and mitochondrial enhancement occurred in T‐2 toxin‐treated cells. Overall, these results characterize the global proteomic response of chicken primary hepatocytes to T‐2 toxin, which may lead to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying its toxicity.
Improved detection of hepatitis c virus antibodies in high‐risk populations

Sera from 483 patients at high (group 1, n = 313) and lower (group 2, n = 170) risk for exposure to hepatitis C were tested for antibodies to hepatitis C using first‐generation (c100‐3) and second‐generation enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays and four‐antigen recombinant immunoblot assay. The second‐generation enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and nitrocellulose‐based immunoblot assay differ from c100‐3‐based systems in the addition of expression products from the NS3/NS4 (c33c, c200) and putative nucleocapsid (c22‐3) region of the hepatitis C genome. In group 1, the sensitivity of detection of hepatitis C antibodies was 45%, 55% and 46% by the first‐ and second‐generation enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays and recombinant immunoblot assay, respectively. In group 2, antibodies were detected by each test system in 26%, 32% and 7% of patients, respectively. Most sera (99%) reactive with the first‐generation enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay were reactive with the second‐generation enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (in group 1, 89% of these specimens demonstrated reactivity to at least one antigen with the immunoblot assay, compared with only 31% in group 2). An additional 12% (group 1) and 6% (group 2) of specimens demonstrated reactivity with the second‐generation enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay only (of these, 75% [group 1] and 9% [group 2] demonstrated reactivity to at least one antigen with the immunoblot assay). Ninety‐eight percent of specimens not reactive with both enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay test systems were also nonreactive by recombinant immunoblot assay. Antibodies to c22‐3 and c33c were more frequently detected in chronic hepatitis C virus infection and appeared earlier in acute hepatitis C virus infection, compared with 5‐1‐1 and c100‐3. These results indicate that the addition of structural and nonstructural hepatitis C virus antigens in the second‐generation enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay improves the sensitivity of detection of hepatitis C antibodies. (HEPATOLOGY 1992;15:19‐25).