Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Single Image Dehazing Using Color Ellipsoid Prior

In this paper, we propose a new single-image dehazing method. The proposed method constructs color ellipsoids that are statistically fitted to haze pixel clusters in RGB space and then calculates the transmission values through color ellipsoid geometry. The transmission values generated by the proposed method maximize the contrast of dehazed pixels, while preventing over-saturated pixels. The values are also statistically robust because they are calculated from the averages of the haze pixel values. Furthermore, rather than apply a highly complex refinement process to reduce halo or unnatural artifacts, we embed a fuzzy segmentation process into the construction of the color ellipsoid so that the proposed method simultaneously executes the transmission calculation and the refinement process. The results of an experimental performance evaluation verify that compared with prevailing dehazing methods the proposed method performs effectively across a wide range of haze and noise levels without causing any visible artifacts. Moreover, the relatively low complexity of the proposed method will facilitate its real-time applications.
Helicobacter mustelae isolation from feces of ferrets: evidence to support fecal-oral transmission of a gastric Helicobacter

Helicobacter mustelae has been isolated from stomachs of ferrets with chronic gastritis and ulcers. When H. mustelae is inoculated orally into H. mustelae-negative ferrets, the animals become colonized and develop gastritis, a significant immune response, and a transient hypochlorhydria. All of these features mimic Helicobacter pylori-induced gastric disease in humans. Because the epidemiology of H. pylori infection is poorly understood and its route of transmission is unknown, the feces of weanling and adult ferrets were cultured for the presence of H. mustelae. H. mustelae was isolated from the feces of 11 of 36 ferrets by using standard helicobacter isolation techniques. H. mustelae was identified by biochemical tests, ultrastructural morphology, reactivity with specific DNA probes, and 16S rRNA sequencing. H. mustelae was not recovered from 20-week-old ferrets which had been H. mustelae positive as weanlings, nor was H. mustelae recovered from 1-year-old ferrets. Isolation of H. mustelae from feces may correspond to periods of transient hypochlorhydria, or H. mustelae may be shed in feces intermittently. The H. mustelae-colonized ferret provides an ideal model for studying the pathogenesis and transmission of H. pylori-induced gastric disease.
Changes in global gene expression during in vitro decidualization of rat endometrial stromal cells

During the preimplantation phase of pregnancy the endometrial stroma differentiates into decidua, a process that implies numerous morphological changes and is an example of physiological transdifferentiation. Here we show that UIII rat endometrial stromal cells cultured in the presence of calf serum acquired morphological features of decidual cells and expressed decidual markers. To identify genes involved in decidualization we compared gene expression patterns of control and decidualized UIII cells using cDNA microarray. We found 322 annotated genes exhibiting significant differences in expression (>3‐fold, fold discovery rate (FDR) >0.005), of which 312 have not been previously related to decidualization. Analysis of overrepresented functions revealed that protein synthesis, gene expression, and chromatin architecture and remodeling are the most relevant modified functions during decidualization. Relevant genes are also found in the functional terms differentiation, cell proliferation, signal transduction, and matrix/structural proteins. Several of these new genes involved in decidualization (Csdc2, Trim27, Eef1a1, Bmp1, Wt1, Aes, Gna12, and Men1) are shown to be also regulated in uterine decidua during normal pregnancy. Thus, the UIII cell culture model will allow future mechanistic studies to define the transcriptional network regulating reprogramming of stromal cells into decidual cells. J. Cell. Physiol. 222:127–137, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Thermal performance study of finned foam heat sinks and the effect of painting and inclination angle in natural convective heat transfer

In this study, two different types of open-cell aluminium foam samples were experimentally tested: pure metal foam fixed to a substrate (a ‘conventional’ foam heat sink) and a finned foam heat sinks (where fins are inserted in the foam to increase the effective thermal conductivity). Samples with 5, 8 and 11 fins are tested. The substrate and fins are connected to the foam by epoxy glue (k = 0.55 W/mK). 10 PPI (Pores Per linear Inch) AL1050 foam is used with a porosity of 93%. The dimensions of the substrate are the same for all samples: 102x165 mm². Temperatures of the substrate range from 50 to 90°C. Next to studying the thermal performance in a horizontal orientation, some samples are also tested vertically. Furthermore, the impact of radiative heat transfer is investigated. The ‘conventional’ foam heat sink performs best when comparing all foam samples: this is because of the increase in flow resistance in case of finned foam heat sinks. The thermal performance (heat transfer rate) of the ‘conventional’ foam heat sink is up to 15% higher compared to the worst performing finned heat sink with 11 fins. Effects of the inclination angle are (only) found to be significant for the ‘conventional’ foam heat sink (up to 15% in heat transfer rate) and painting the foam heat sink results in an increase in thermal performance up to 10.8%.
Prices & availability of common medicines at six sites in India using a standard methodology.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE The price and availability of medicines are key components in determining access to effective treatment. Data on prices and availability of common medicines in public and private sector in different States of India are scarce. Hence, surveys were undertaken in different States of India to evaluate these metrics. METHODS During October 2004 to January 2005, six surveys were undertaken simultaneously in five States of India to assess medicine prices and availability of essential medicines (n = 21-28) using the World Health Organization and Health Action International methodology. Surveys were conducted at Chennai, Haryana, Karnataka, West Bengal, and at two sites in Maharashtra. For each medicine, data were collected for the Innovator Brand (IB), Most Sold Generic (MSG), and Lowest Priced Generic (LPG) at randomly selected public and private facilities in each site surveyed. Prices were compared to an international reference benchmark (expressed as median price ratio - MPR). RESULTS The procurement price of medicines in the public sector was 0.27 to 0.48 times the international reference price. However, these medicines were inadequately available and the median availability in the public sector ranged from 0 to 30 per cent. The median prices of medicines in the private sector were less than twice the IRP, although a few innovator brands were more expensive. No difference was observed between the prices of the most sold generic (MSG) and the lowest priced generic (LPG) available at the facilities. Interestingly, price variation was observed among different generic equivalents of ciprofloxacin in each region. The price of LPG diazepam in the private sector was thirty three times its procurement price in the public sector. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION The survey revealed low procurement prices and poor availability in the public sector. Thus, the majority of the population purchased medicines from private pharmacies, where generics were usually available although prices of certain medicines were high. Various policy measures could increase the availability and accessibility of medicines for the population.
Theoretical and numerical analysis on multispectral bioluminescence tomography

Recently, molecular imaging has been rapidly developed to study physiological and pathological processes in vivo at the cellular and molecular levels. Among molecular imaging modalities, optical imaging has attracted a major attention for its unique advantages. In this paper, we establish a mathematical framework for multispectral bioluminescence tomography (BLT) that allows simultaneous studies of multiple optical reporters. We show solution existence, uniqueness and continuous dependence on data as well as the limiting behaviours when the regularization parameter approaches zero or when the penalty parameter approaches infinity. Then, we propose two numerical schemes for multispectral BLT and derive error estimates for the corresponding solutions.
Number needed to treat (NNT): implication in rheumatology clinical practice

Objective: To calculate the number needed to treat (NNT) and number needed to harm (NNH) from the data in rheumatology clinical trials and systematic reviews. Methods: The NNTs for the clinically important outcome measures in the rheumatology systematic reviews from the Cochrane Library, issue 2, 2000 and in the original randomised, double blind, controlled trials were calculated. The measure used for calculating the NNT in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) interventions was the American College of Rheumatology 20% improvement or Paulus criteria; in osteoarthritis (OA) interventions, the improvement of pain; and in systemic sclerosis (SSc) interventions, the improvement of Raynaud's phenomenon. The NNH was calculated from the rate of withdrawals due to adverse events from the treatment. Results: The data required for the calculation of the NNT were available in 15 systematic reviews and 11 original articles. For RA interventions, etanercept treatment for six months had the smallest NNT (1.6; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.4 to 2.0), whereas leflunomide had the largest NNH (9.6; 95% CI 6.8 to 16.7). For OA treatment options, only etodolac and tenoxicam produced significant pain relief compared with placebo (NNT=4.4; 95% CI 2.4 to 24.4 and 3.8; 95% CI 2.5 to 7.3, respectively). For SSc interventions, none were shown to be efficacious in improving Raynaud's phenomenon because the 95% CI of the NNT was infinite. Conclusions: The NNT and NNH are helpful for clinicians, enabling them to translate the results from clinical trials and systematic reviews to use in routine clinical practice. Both NNT and NNH should be accompanied by a limited 95% CI and adjusted for the individual subject's baseline risk.
Job stress and burnout: A comparative study of senior and head nurses in China

&NA; Senior nurses can suffer from high job stress and burnout, which can lead to negative patient outcomes and higher turnover rates; however, few studies have examined this topic. We recruited 224 head and senior nurses from September to December 2015 using convenience and cluster sampling, to compare job stress and burnout levels between the two groups. The Nurse Job Stressors Inventory and Maslach Burnout Inventory scales were used to evaluate job stress and burnout, respectively. Results indicated that job stress scores significantly differed between head and senior nurses. The highest scoring subscales in both groups were time allocation and workload problems. Scores for the three burnout dimensions also significantly differed between the groups. Positive correlations between job stress and burnout were stronger among senior nurses than head nurses. Burnout may be higher among senior nurses given head nurses' potential for greater perceived job control. Our findings suggest that measures need to be taken to reduce burnout and turnover rates among senior nurses.
Purification and characterization of a new heat-stable enterotoxin produced by Vibrio cholerae non-O1 serogroup Hakata

The possible production of a heat-stable enterotoxin (Vc-H-ST) by Vibrio cholerae non-O1 serogroup Hakata was investigated, and the purified Vc-H-ST was characterized. It has a unique amino acid sequence, LIDCCEICCNPACFGCLN. This sequence is quite similar to that of the heat-stable enterotoxin (NAG-ST) produced by V. cholerae non-O1 except for one amino acid (leucine) residue excess at the N terminus. Other characteristics, including biological activity, are compatible with those of NAG-ST.
Mammographic Breast Density in Chinese Women: Spatial Distribution and Autocorrelation Patterns

Mammographic breast density (MBD) is a strong risk factor for breast cancer. The spatial distribution of MBD in the breast is variable and dependent on physiological, genetic, environmental and pathological factors. This pilot study aims to define the spatial distribution and autocorrelation patterns of MBD in Chinese women aged 40–60. By analyzing their digital mammographic images using a public domain Java image processing program for segmentation and quantification of MBD, we found their left and right breasts were symmetric to each other in regard to their breast size (Total Breast Area), the amount of BMD (overall PD) and Moran's I values. Their MBD was also spatially autocorrelated together in the anterior part of the breast in those with a smaller breast size, while those with a larger breast size tend to have their MBD clustered near the posterior part of the breast. Finally, we observed that the autocorrelation pattern of MBD was dispersed after a 3-year observation period.
Accessibility of Digital Special Collections Using Screen Readers

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discover whether digitized materials from special collections libraries can be accessed using screen reader technology.Design/methodology/approach – The researchers looked at 69 US academic library web sites from the ARL in 2011 to determine whether textual materials sampled from their digitized special collections were readable with screen reader technology.Findings – The researchers found that 42 percent of the sampled digital collection items are screen‐readable, while 58 percent are not readable.Research limitations/implications – Screen readers are not evaluated against one another for effectiveness with digital collections. Library web site pathways to digital special collections were not evaluated with screen readers.Originality/value – This is the first study to examine the accessibility of digitized special collections materials to persons using a screen reader.
High prevalence of Echinococcus multilocularis in urban red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and voles (Arvicola terrestris) in the city of Zürich, Switzerland

Over a period of 26 months from January 1996 to February 1998, 388 foxes from the city of Zürich, Switzerland, were examined for intestinal infections with Echinococcus multilocularis and other helminths. The prevalence of E. multilocularis in foxes sampled during winter increased significantly from 47% in the urban to 67% in the adjacent recreational area, whereas prevalence rates of other helminths were similar in both areas. Seasonal differences in the prevalence of E. multilocularis were only found in urban subadult male foxes which were significantly less frequently infected in summer than in winter. The distribution of the Echinococcus biomass, as expressed by worm numbers per fox was overdispersed in 133 infected foxes randomly sampled in winter. Ten of these foxes (8%) were infected with more than 10000 specimens and carried 72% of the total biomass of E. multilocularis (398653 worms). Prevalences did not differ significantly in these foxes in regard to age and sex but worm burdens were significantly higher in subadult foxes as compared with adult foxes. In voles (Arvicola terrestris) trapped in a city park of Zürich, E. multilocularis metacestodes were identified by morphological examination and by PCR. The prevalence was 20% among 60 rodents in 1997 and 9% among 75 rodents in 1998. Protoscoleces occurred in 2 of the cases from 1997. The possible risk for human infection is discussed with respect to the established urban E. multilocularis cycle.
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One of the purposes of Demand Side Management (DSM) is to reduce peak loads due to consumers' daily consumption behavior. This can be achieved by introducing dynamic pricing for demand flattening. However, uncoordinated consumer response may lead to a “herding effect”, where the majority of consumers adjust their electricity consumption toward the same cheap time slots (hence, creating new peaks). To overcome this problem, in this paper, we explore strategies of assigning non-uniform participation rates to consumers. We employ a generic method to find a nearly-optimal distribution setting for participation rates, which can be tuned based on DSM designer's objective. Based on simulation experiments, we show that our approach is very effective as compared with existing ones in the literature. Moreover, we evaluate our approach in nonstationary environment, when consumers change their consumption behavior from day to day. In order to maximize consumer convenience, we also propose another method that assigns low participation rates to more consumers (which means less-frequent changes in consumption schedules). Based on our methods, DSM designers are able to tune their systems toward performance or consumer convenience.
Three Metachronous Osteosarcomas within 22 Years without Pulmonary Metastases: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Introduction. We present the extremely rare case of a patient with three metachronous osteosarcomas within 22 years without evident pulmonary manifestation of disease 30 years after first diagnosis. Case Presentation. In 1983, a high-grade osteosarcoma of the left distal femur was diagnosed in an 18-year-old Caucasian male. He received rotationplasty accompanied by pre- and postoperative chemotherapy. Ten years later, an osteoblastic osteosarcoma occurred in TH12. En bloc resection and pre- and postoperative chemotherapy followed. In 2005, the patient developed another high-grade osteosarcoma in his right distal femur. Treatment included a wide resection and reconstruction with a tumour endoprosthesis as well as (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy. After the third tumour occurrence, cytogenetic and molecular genetic examinations (p53, rb1) were performed, showing a normal genetic pattern. Screening for metastases never showed clinical evidence of extraskeletal tumour manifestation. Discussion. In patients presenting metachronous osteosarcoma, identification of their lesions clonality (second primary tumour or metastases) could lead to a better understanding of tumour development and help to filter patients who need extended long-term followup due to a higher risk of late occurring sarcoma recurrence.
Do You Feel My Pain? Racial Group Membership Modulates Empathic Neural Responses

The pain matrix including the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) mediates not only first person pain experience but also empathy for others' pain. It remains unknown, however, whether empathic neural responses of the pain matrix are modulated by racial in-group/out-group relationship. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging we demonstrate that, whereas painful stimulations applied to racial in-group faces induced increased activations in the ACC and inferior frontal/insula cortex in both Caucasians and Chinese, the empathic neural response in the ACC decreased significantly when participants viewed faces of other races. Our findings uncover neural mechanisms of an empathic bias toward racial in-group members.
Robust UE Receiver with Interference Cancellation in LTE Advanced Heterogeneous Network

Heterogeneous network (HetNet) deployment is a key feature to increase the network capacity in LTE- Advanced and systems beyond. One major obstacle is the interference from neighbor base-stations which can significantly degrade the system performance. In this paper, we present downlink interference mitigation and cancellation algorithms for HetNets in the so-called almost blank subframe (ABS) scenario. In the ABS scenario, one must differentiate between two cases, namely (1) the non- colliding case: the common reference symbols (CRS) of the serving and the dominant interfering cell are not overlapped, and (2) the colliding case: the CRS of the serving cell and the dominant interfering cell are overlapped. For case (1) we propose a robust equalizer and a low-complexity variant of it. For case (2) we present the application of the space alternating generalized expectation-maximization (SAGE) with a maximum a-posteriori (MAP) criterion. Based on extensive realistic link-level simulations, the outcome for case (1) is that the proposed robust equalization technique is almost as good as the receiver with traditional CRS interference cancellation (IC) but with lower complexity and latency. For case (2), we find that the SAGE-MAP with three SAGE cycles/iterations is sufficient to achieve the same performance as the receiver with ideal CRS-IC.
Jumping to Conclusions Is Associated with Paranoia but Not General Suspiciousness: A Comparison of Two Versions of the Probabilistic Reasoning Paradigm

Theoretical models ascribe jumping to conclusions (JTCs) a prominent role in the pathogenesis of paranoia. While many earlier studies corroborated this account, some newer investigations have found no or only small associations of the JTC bias with paranoid symptoms. The present study examined whether these inconsistencies in part reflect methodological differences across studies. The study was built upon the psychometric high-risk paradigm. A total of 1899 subjects from the general population took part in an online survey and were administered the Paranoia Checklist as well as one of two different variants of the probabilistic reasoning task: one variant with a traditional instruction (a) and one novel variant that combines probability estimates with decision judgments (b). Factor analysis of the Paranoia Checklist yielded an unspecific suspiciousness factor and a psychotic paranoia factor. The latter was significantly associated with scores indicating hasty decision making. Subjects scoring two standard deviations above the mean of the Paranoia Checklist showed an abnormal data-gathering style relative to subjects with normal scores. Findings suggest that the so-called decision threshold parameter is more sensitive than the conventional JTC index. For future research the specific contents of paranoid beliefs deserve more consideration in the investigation of decision making in schizophrenia as JTC seems to be associated with core psychosis-prone features of paranoia only.
Improvement of HbA1c and stable weight loss 2 years after an outpatient treatment and teaching program for patients with type 2 diabetes without insulin therapy based on urine glucose self-monitoring

Objective Long-term outcomes after participation in a structured diabetes treatment and teaching program (DTTP) for patients with diabetes without insulin use, primarily based upon postprandial urine glucose self-monitoring (UGSM). Methods A total of 126 patients took part in the DTTP in a university outpatient department in 2004–2005. We re-evaluated 119 (94.4%) at baseline and at 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) was DCCT adjusted. Results HbA1c decreased significantly 6 months after education from 7.33% (±1.59%) to 6.89% (±0.98%; P = 0.001 versus baseline) and was maintained for up to 12 months (7.02% ± 1.07%; P = 0.017 versus baseline) as well as up to 24 months (6.96% ± 1.06%; P = 0.005 versus baseline). Weight decreased from 92.5 kg at baseline to 90.3 kg at 24 months (P = 0.014). A total of 36.5% of patients not on insulin therapy preferred UGSM, whereas 23.5% preferred blood glucose monitoring, at 24 months. Glucose control was similar in both groups at 24 months (HbA1c UGSM 7.03 versus blood glucose monitoring 6.97%; P = 0.807). Conclusion Participation in the DTTP resulted in long-term behavior modification. HbA1c of patients without insulin met the target 24 months after the DTTP, irrespective of the type of glucose self-monitoring.