Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Experimental and probabilistic analysis of distal femoral periprosthetic fracture: a comparison of locking plate and intramedullary nail fixation. Part B: probabilistic investigation

The following is Part B of a two-part study. Part A evaluated, biomechanically, intramedullary (IM) nails versus locking plates for fixation of an extra-articular, metaphyseal wedge fracture in synthetic osteoporotic bone. Part B of this study introduces deterministic finite element (FE) models of each construct type in synthetic osteoporotic bone and investigates the probability of periprosthetic fracture of the locking plate compared with the retrograde IM nail using Monte Carlo simulation. Deterministic FE models of the fractured femur implanted with IM nail and locking plate, respectively, were developed and validated using experimental data presented in Part A of this study. The models were validated by comparing the load–displacement curve of the experimental data with the load–displacement curve of the FE simulation with a root-mean square error of less than 3 mm. The validated FE models were then modified by defining the cortical and cancellous bone modulus of elasticity as uncertain variables that could be assumed to vary randomly. Monte Carlo simulation was used to evaluate the probability of fracture (POF) of each fixation. The POF represents the cumulative probability that the predicted shear stresses in the cortical bone will exceed the expected shear strength of the cortical bone. This investigation provides information regarding the significance of post-operative damage accumulation on the POF of the implanted bones when the two fixations are used. The probabilistic analysis found the locking plate fixation to have a higher POF than the IM nail fixation under the applied loading conditions (locking plate 21.8% versus IM nail 0.019%).
Phonetic code emergence in a society of speech robots: explaining vowel systems and the MUAF principle

The purpose of this paper is to explain how it is possible to simulate the emergence of a common phonetic code in a society of speech robots using evolutionary techniques. Simulations of the prediction of vowel systems and the explanation of the Maximum Use of Available distinctive Features (MUAF) principle are discussed. These experimental results show how simple local rules of interaction between robots may explain some of the universals characteristics of the phonological structure of world’s languages. On going work aiming to answer more complex questions, such as the use of supplementary features in large vowel systems, is presented.
Variations of frequency of landfalling typhoons in East China, 1450–1949

On the basis of Chinese government records, the number of tropical cyclones making landfall along the East China coast during the period 1450–1949 is examined. The annual number of typhoons making landfall in East China during this period is found to possess a positive and statistically significant trend, as well as oscillations on centennial to decadal timescales. By classifying the years using proxy records of the El Niño and Pacific Decadal Oscillation phenomena, the annual number of typhoon landfall is found to vary with the different phases of these two prominent oscillations, and such variations can be explained to a large extent physically based on modern‐day atmospheric data. These results, together with those from previous studies, suggest that variations in the number of landfalling tropical cyclones are largely governed by those in the planetary‐scale atmospheric circulations that go through oscillations on various timescales. Copyright © 2011 Royal Meteorological Society
Changes in wild ass (Equus hemionus khur) habitat conditions in Little Rann of Kutch, Gujarat from a remote sensing perspective

Abstract The Rann of Kutch, Gujarat is the only habitat for one of the endangered sub-species of the Asiatic wild ass (Equus hemionus khur) and most of the population survives in the Wild Ass Sanctuary in Little Rann of Kutch. The area is a saline desert with extremely sparse cover of vegetation. In the past, the habitat supported a thriving population of wild asses. However, due to extensive changes in the land-use around the Rann of Kutch, there has been an increase in the conflict of interests between man and the wild ass. The present paper seeks to analyse the situation with respect to changes in land-use, vegetation cover and salt cultivation to plan proper habitat management inside the sanctuary to mitigate the problem of crop predation by the wild ass through the use of high resolution satellite data. The Survey of India (SOI) topographic maps of 1960 vintage were used to estimate the past habitat, land-use, vegetal cover and salt fields. The SOI topographic maps and false colour composites provide.
Evaporite evidence of a mid-Holocene (c. 4550–4400 cal. yr BP) aridity crisis in southwestern Europe and palaeoenvironmental consequences

Sedimentological evidence for an abrupt dry spell in south-eastern Spain during the middle Holocene, from c. 4906 to 4384 cal. yr BP, is presented. This phase was determined primarily from halite beds deposited between muddy slimes in a lagoon system of Puerto de Mazarrón (Murcia province) with a peak phase from c. 4550 to 4400 cal. yr BP. A multi-core, multi-proxy study of 20 geotechnical drills was made in the lagoon basin to identify the main sedimentary episodes and depositional environments. The results suggest that this halite bed, more than 80 cm thick, was conditioned by climate change and was accompanied by a generalized drying-out of the basin. Halite precipitation was linked with palaeoecological changes, including forest and mesophyte depletions and increasing cover and diversity of xerophytic plant species. Archaeological evidence indicates a demise of the population at this period probably due to resource exhaustion. An overall picture of the biostratigraphy and palaeoclimates of the region is given in a broader geographical context.
Impact of climate change on migratory birds: community reassembly versus adaptation

Aim Species can respond to global climate change by range shifts or by phenotypic adaptation. At the community level, range shifts lead to a turnover of species, i.e. community reassembly. In contrast, phenotypic adaptation allows species to persist in situ , conserving community composition. So far, community reassembly and adaptation have mostly been studied separately. In nature, however, both processes take place simultaneously. In migratory birds, climate change has been shown to result in both exchange of species and adaptation of migratory behaviour. The aim of our study is to predict the impact of global climate change on migratory bird communities and to assess the extent to which reassembly and adaptation may contribute to alterations. Location Europe. Methods We analysed the relationship between current climate and the proportion of migratory species across bird assemblages in Europe. The magnitude of community reassembly was measured using spatial variation in the proportion of potentially migratory species. Adaptation was inferred from spatial variation in the proportion of potentially migratory species that actually migrate at a specific site. These spatial relationships were used to make temporal predictions of changes in migratory species under global climate change. Results According to our models, increasing winter temperature is expected to lead to declines in the proportion of migratory species, whereas increasing spring temperature and decreasing spring precipitation may lead to increases. Changes in winter and spring temperature are expected to cause mainly adaptation in migratory activity, while changes in spring precipitation may result in both changes in the proportion of potentially migratory species and adaptation of migratory activity. Main conclusions Under current climate change forecasts, changes in the proportion of migratory species will be modest and the communities of migratory birds in Europe are projected to be altered through adaptation of migratory activity rather than through exchange of species.
The impact of organisational factors at different levels of IOS development on supply chain partnerships

Advanced Inter-Organisational Information Systems (IOSs) are used to improve the effectiveness of the supply chain and compete in today's dynamic global market. However, this linkage increases the significance of organisational factors, which makes an impact on the business–partner relationships. The aim of this research, therefore, is to evaluate the impact of organisational factors at different levels of IOS development on partnership integration within the Supply Chain Management (SCM). An innovative model will show the critical organisational factors at three stages of IOS development. To understand the implementation and use of the IOS within the SCM and business relationships, earlier studies by researchers such as Clemons and Row and Hahn, Kim and Kim have focused on a particular type of IOS, and its impact on the organisation. Other studies, such as those by Boddy, Macbeth and Wagner, evaluated the organisational variables and their impact on the IOS implementation. This theoretical paper is unique in that it evaluates the impact of the organisational variables for different levels of the IOS development. It analyses three case studies of the companies at various stages of IOS development. As IOS development and partnership integration are becoming more critical components in the supply chains, managers must be quite aware of these factors in effectively managing the operations.
Thrombotic microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia and antiphospholipid antibodies

Objective: To analyse the clinical and laboratory features of patients with thrombotic microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia (TMHA) associated with antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL). Methods: A computer assisted (PubMed) search of the literature was performed to identify all cases of TMHA associated with aPL from 1983 to December 2002. Results: 46 patients (36 female) with a mean (SD) age at presentation of TMHA of 34 (15) years were reviewed. Twenty eight (61%) patients had primary antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). TMHA was the first clinical manifestation of APS in 26 (57%) patients. The clinical presentations were haemolytic-uraemic syndrome (26%), catastrophic APS (23%), acute renal failure (15%), malignant hypertension (13%), thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (13%), and HELLP (haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count in association with eclampsia) syndrome (4%). Lupus anticoagulant was detected in 86% of the episodes of TMHA, and positive anticardiolipin antibodies titres in 89%. Steroids were the most common treatment (69% of episodes), followed by plasma exchange (PE) (62%), anticoagulant or antithrombotic agents (48%), immunosuppressive agents (29%), and immunoglobulins (12%). Recovery occurred in only 10/29 (34%) episodes treated with steroids, and in 19/27 (70%) episodes treated with PE. Death occurred in 10/46 (22%) patients. Conclusions: The results emphasise the need for systematic screening for aPL in all patients with clinical and laboratory features of TMHA. The existence of TMHA in association with an APS forces one to rule out the presence of the catastrophic variant of this syndrome. PE is indicated as a first line of treatment for all patients with TMHA associated with aPL.
Real-Time Ensemble-Based Tracker with Kalman Filter

This work presents an ensemble-based visual object tracker called KFebT. This method can fuse using a Kalman Filter the result of several out-of-the box trackers or specialist methods that solve parts of the problem, like methods that only estimate the target scale variation. Our purpose in joining multiple trackers is to take advantage of the different strengths and weaknesses of each approach. The proposed fusion method is simple and needs no training; it just needs the tracker output result and a confidence measure for the result of each tracker. We performed tests on the Visual Object Tracking Challenge (VOT) 2015 dataset and evaluated our tracker in terms of expected overlap, accuracy and robustness. We test our proposed method on combination of two and three tracking algorithms and the results demonstrate clear improvements over the trackers used in its composition.
Auditory and Visual Memories in PTSD Patients Targeted with Eye Movements and Counting: The Effect of Modality-Specific Loading of Working Memory

Introduction: Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an evidence-based treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A key element of this therapy is simultaneously recalling an emotionally disturbing memory and performing a dual task that loads working memory. Memories targeted with this therapy are mainly visual, though there is some evidence that auditory memories can also be targeted. Objective: The present study tested whether auditory memories can be targeted with EMDR in PTSD patients. A second objective was to test whether taxing the patient (performing a dual task while recalling a memory) in a modality specific way (auditory demanding for auditory memories and visually demanding for visual memories) was more effective in reducing the emotionality experienced than taxing in cross-modality. Methods: Thirty-six patients diagnosed with PTSD were asked to recall two disturbing memories, one mainly visual, the other one mainly auditory. They rated the emotionality of the memories before being exposed to any condition. Both memories were then recalled under three alternating conditions [visual taxation, auditory taxation, and a control condition (CC), which comprised staring a non-moving dot] – counterbalanced in order – and patients rerated emotionality after each condition. Results: All three conditions were equally effective in reducing the emotionality of the auditory memory. Auditory loading was more effective in reducing the emotionality in the visual intrusion than the CC, but did not differ from the visual load. Conclusion: Auditory and visual aversive memories were less emotional after working memory taxation (WMT). This has some clinical implications for EMDR therapy, where mainly visual intrusions are targeted. In this study, there was no benefit of modality specificity. Further fundamental research should be conducted to specify the best protocol for WMT.
Virtual Link Mapping for delay critical services in SDN-enabled 5G networks

This paper presents VLM+, a Virtual Link (VL) Embedding algorithm supporting Quality of Service (QoS). VLM+ has been developed evolving its Mixed Integer Programming (MIP) based Virtual Link Mapping algorithm precursor (VLM), whose analytical model has been enhanced including the ability to fulfill VL end-to-end QoS requirements and to prioritise VL requests according to their QoS class or revenue profile. Additionally, VLM+ supports three different physical resource sharing policies, this providing Physical Infrastructure Providers (PIPs) with high flexibility in the allocation of resources to embed QoS-constrained VLs. VLM+ has been designed and evaluated targeting next generation networks, conceived around SDN and NFV paradigms and expected to support, among others, delay critical services. VLM+ performance has been evaluated via simulation and compared to VLM, Shortest Path First (SPF) and Constrained SPF algorithms. Promising quantitative results demonstrate VLM+ ability to embed VLs fulfilling end-to-end QoS requirements, still achieving an efficient resource utilisation and at a moderate cost in terms of increased complexity and convergence time.
Rhythm and interpersonal synchrony in early social development

Adults who engage in synchronous movement to music later report liking each other better, remembering more about each other, trusting each other more, and are more likely to cooperate with each other compared to adults who engage in asynchronous movements. Although poor motor coordination limits infants’ ability to entrain to a musical beat, they perceive metrical structure in auditory rhythm patterns, their movements are affected by the tempo of music they hear, and if they are bounced by an adult to a rhythm pattern, the manner of this bouncing can affect their auditory interpretation of the meter of that pattern. In this paper, we review studies showing that by 14 months of age, infants who are bounced in synchrony with an adult subsequently show more altruistic behavior toward that adult in the form of handing back objects “accidentally” dropped by the adult compared to infants who are bounced asynchronously with the adult. Furthermore, increased helpfulness is directed at the synchronized bounce partner, but not at a neutral stranger. Interestingly, however, helpfulness does generalize to a “friend” of the synchronized bounce partner. In sum, synchronous movement between infants and adults has a powerful effect on infants’ expression of directed prosocial behavior.
Adipose‐immune interactions during obesity and caloric restriction: reciprocal mechanisms regulating immunity and health span

Increasing evidence suggests a tight coupling of metabolic and immune systems. This cross‐talk mediated by neuroendocrine peptides as well as numerous cytokines and chemokines is believed to be responsible for integrating energy balance to immune function. These neuroendocrine‐immune interactions are heightened during the state of chronic positive energy balance, as seen during obesity, and negative energy balance caused by caloric restriction (CR). Emerging evidence suggests that obesity may be associated with an immunodeficient state and chronic inflammation, which contribute to an increased risk of premature death. The direct interactions between expanded leukocyte populations within the adipose tissue during obesity and an increased number of adipocytes within an aging lymphoid microenvironment may constitute an important adaptive or pathological response as a result of change in energy balance. In stark contrast to obesity, CR causes negative energy balance and robustly prolongs a healthy lifespan in all of the species studied to date. Therefore, the endogenous neuroendocrine‐metabolic sensors elevated or suppressed as a result of changes in energy balance may offer an important mechanism in understanding the antiaging and potential immune‐enhancing nature of CR. Ghrelin, one such sensor of negative energy balance, is reduced during obesity and increased by CR. Ghrelin also regulates immune function by reducing proinflammatory cytokines and promotes thymopoiesis during aging and thus, may be a new CR mimetic target. The identification of immune effects and molecular pathways used by such orexigenic metabolic factors could offer potentially novel approaches to enhance immunity and increase healthy lifespan.
Patient perception of medication benefit and early treatment discontinuation in a 1-year study of patients with schizophrenia

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between patient beliefs about medication use and their likelihood of discontinuing treatment prematurely. Associations of patient beliefs about medication with clinical psychopathology and their life satisfaction were also assessed. Methods: This post-hoc analysis used data from a randomized, open label, 1-year trial of antipsychotics in the treatment of patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorders (N = 664). Medication management including dosage adjustment and medication switching was at doctors’ discretion, reflecting naturalistic treatment in usual clinical care settings. Early treatment discontinuation was defined as all-cause study drop out. Patient-reported beliefs about medication were assessed by Rating of Medication Influences (ROMI), degree of clinical psychopathology was measured by Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), and patient quality of life was measured by Lehman Quality of Life Interview (LQLI). Results: Patient perception of medication benefit was the only strong predictor of treatment duration among the 5 underlying dimensions of medication influence. Higher level of perceived beneficial effect of medication was associated with reduced risk of early treatment discontinuation (Hazard ratio = 0.56, 95% Confidence Interval [0.40, 0.79], p = 0.001). Patients with greater beliefs in the beneficial effect of treatment also had better clinical psychopathology outcome and were more satisfied with their quality of life and well-being. Conclusion: Understanding the predictors of early treatment discontinuation in the care of schizophrenia patients is important for the development of interventions to improve treatment outcome. Current findings suggest that patient perception of beneficial effect of medication may be a critical factor in achieving treatment persistence and a satisfactory treatment outcome.
Experiences of fathers shortly after the birth of their preterm infants.

OBJECTIVE To explore the experiences of fathers shortly after the birth of their preterm infants. DESIGN/METHOD A focused ethnography conducted over 33 months (2003–2006) in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of a large U.K. National Health Trust (NHS) teaching hospital. Data were collected through participant observation, in-depth interviews with fathers (n = 10), and an ethnographic survey distributed to NICU staff (n = 87). Practices and relationships with fathers were concurrently analyzed thematically through the conceptual perspective of emotion work. FINDINGS Fathers' emotional reactions to their experiences were described in three themes: emotional withdrawal and control, stereotyping, and mixed feelings. Fathers' emotional behaviors were governed by complex, culturally determined conventions and expectations. CONCLUSIONS Fathers engaged in considerable effort to manage their emotions as they attempted to reconcile the tension between what they wanted to feel and what they thought others expected them to feel. The results of this study support the view that focusing on emotional externalities alone tends to underplay the amount of emotion work carried out by less expressive individuals; this "silent emotion work" was characteristic of the fathers in this study.
Diffusion coefficient of a passive contaminant in a local MHD model of a turbulent accretion disc

We calculate the radial diffusion coefficient for a passive contaminant in an accretion disc which is turbulent due to the action of the magnetorotational instability. Numerical magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations are used to follow the evolution of a local patch of the disc using the shearing box formalism. A separate continuity equation for the mass fraction of contaminant is integrated along with the MHD system, and radial profiles of this fraction are obtained as a function of time. Solutions of a linear diffusion equation are fitted to the numerical measured profiles of the contaminant, treating the diffusion coefficient D as the fitting parameter. At early times, the value of D is found to vary; however, once the contaminant is spread over scales comparable to the box size, it saturates at a steady value. The ratio of D to the transport coefficient of angular momentum due to shear stress is small. If D can be used as a proxy for the turbulent magnetic diffusivity, the effective magnetic Prandtl number P eff = ν/D (where ν is the coefficient of ‘effective viscosity’ associated with shear stress) would be large. Ke yw ords: accretion, accretion discs ‐ MHD.