Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Volume of Mammographic Density and Risk of Breast Cancer

Background: Assessing the volume of mammographic density might more accurately reflect the amount of breast volume at risk of malignant transformation and provide a stronger indication of risk of breast cancer than methods based on qualitative scores or dense breast area. Methods: We prospectively collected mammograms for women undergoing screening mammography. We determined the diagnosis of subsequent invasive or ductal carcinoma in situ for 275 cases, selected 825 controls matched for age, ethnicity, and mammography system, and assessed three measures of breast density: percent dense area, fibroglandular volume, and percent fibroglandular volume. Results: After adjustment for familial breast cancer history, body mass index, history of breast biopsy, and age at first live birth, the ORs for breast cancer risk in the highest versus lowest measurement quintiles were 2.5 (95% CI: 1.5–4.3) for percent dense area, 2.9 (95% CI: 1.7–4.9) for fibroglandular volume, and 4.1 (95% CI: 2.3–7.2) for percent fibroglandular volume. Net reclassification indexes for density measures plus risk factors versus risk factors alone were 9.6% (P = 0.07) for percent dense area, 21.1% (P = 0.0001) for fibroglandular volume, and 14.8% (P = 0.004) for percent fibroglandular volume. Fibroglandular volume improved the categorical risk classification of 1 in 5 women for both women with and without breast cancer. Conclusion: Volumetric measures of breast density are more accurate predictors of breast cancer risk than risk factors alone and than percent dense area. Impact: Risk models including dense fibroglandular volume may more accurately predict breast cancer risk than current risk models. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 20(7); 1473–82. ©2011 AACR.
Z-source resonant converter with power factor correction for wireless power transfer applications

In this paper the Z-source converter is introduced to power factor correction (PFC) applications. The concept is demonstrated through a wireless power transfer (WPT) system for electric vehicle battery charging, namely Z-source resonant converter (ZSRC). Due to the Z-source network (ZSN), the ZSRC inherently performs PFC and regulate the system output voltage simultaneously, without adding extra semiconductor devices and control circuitry to the conventional WPT system such as conventional PFC converters do. In other words, the ZSN can be categorized as a family of the single stage PFC converters. In addition, the ZSN is suitable for high power applications since it is immune to shoot-through states, which increases reliability and adds a boost feature to the system. The ZSRC-based WPT system operating principle is described and analyzed in this paper. Simulations, and experimental results based on a 1-kW prototype with 20-cm air gap between the system primary and secondary side are presented to validate the analysis, and demonstrate the effectiveness of the ZSN in the PFC of the WPT system.
Multiple coverage with controlled connectivity in wireless sensor networks

The k-coverage of the area of interest is a classical requirement in wireless sensor networks, for purposes such as redundancy or multiple supervision of the area. We aim in this article at preserving full k-coverage of the area of interest yet minimizing the number of sensors needed for data gathering. Our main contribution consists in a localized layer-based coverage protocol and introduces a "Sensing-Only" state for some of the monitoring sensors. Indeed, among active sensors that achieve multiple coverage, a small connected subset can be constructed in order to ensure data multi-hop transmissions from points of interest to sink stations, thus allowing remaining sensors to cut their radio in reception. We evaluate our scheme through different constructions of sets of eligible nodes, ranging from a simple layered k-coverage to a more elaborated cross-layer determination. Ensuring multiple coverage with a reduced connected active node set, the present solution does not only reduce the overall activity of the network and the number of emissions, but also requires only few extra messages to be efficient.
Modifying Choroidal Neovascularization Development with a Nutritional Supplement in Mice

We examined the effect of nutritional supplements (modified Age Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS)-II formulation containing vitamins, minerals, lutein, resveratrol, and omega-3 fatty acids) on choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Supplements were administered alone and combined with intravitreal anti-VEGF in an early-CNV (diode laser-induced) murine model. Sixty mice were evenly divided into group V (oral vehicle, intravitreal saline), group S (oral supplement, intravitreal saline), group V + aVEGF (oral vehicle, intravitreal anti-VEGF), and group S + aVEGF (oral supplement, intravitreal anti-VEGF). Vehicle and nutritional supplements were administered daily for 38 days beginning 10 days before laser. Intravitreal injections were administered 48 h after laser. Fluorescein angiography (FA) and flat-mount CD31 staining evaluated leakage and CNV lesion area. Expression of VEGF, MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity, and NLRP3 were evaluated with RT-PCR, zymography, and western-blot. Leakage, CNV size, VEGF gene and protein expression were lower in groups V + aVEGF, S + aVEGF, and S than in V (all p < 0.05). Additionally, MMP-9 gene expression differed between groups S + aVEGF and V (p < 0.05) and MMP-9 activity was lower in S + aVEGF than in V and S (both p < 0.01). Levels of MMP-2 and NLRP3 were not significantly different between groups. Nutritional supplements either alone or combined with anti-VEGF may mitigate CNV development and inhibit retinal disease involving VEGF overexpression and CNV.
Broadcast yourself: understanding YouTube uploaders

YouTube uploaders are the central agents in the YouTube phenomenon. We conduct extensive measurement and analysis of YouTube uploaders. We estimate YouTube scale and examine the uploading behavior of YouTube users. We demonstrate the positive reinforcement between on-line social behavior and uploading behavior. Furthermore, we examine whether YouTube users are truly broadcasting themselves, via characterizing and classifying videos as either user generated or user copied.
A Comparison of Fast Methods for Measuring NBTI Degradation

Three fast measuring methods, namely, "on-the-fly," fast direct threshold-voltage (VT) determination, and fast drain-current measurement near VT, are compared. Problems of the different methods are thoroughly discussed, and an analysis of systematic and statistical errors has been done. An example comparing the VT data extracted from the three methods is given. The results help us to understand the root causes for the observed differences in drift curves.
Ropivacaine versus levobupivacaine in peripheral nerve block

Background: To determine which is more potent in peripheral nerve block between ropivacaine and levobupivacaine. Methods: A literature search was performed in the EMBASE, Medline, the Cochrane Library, and the Web of Science. The trials that were found were then evaluated for eligibility. The Cochrane Collaboration's Review Manager software was used to perform the meta-analyses. Results: Twelve studies including 556 patients were included for final analysis. No statistically significant difference was observed between the 2 drugs with respect to onset time of surgical anesthesia, onset time of sensory block, onset time of motor block, duration of motor block, and patients overall satisfaction. Levobupivacaine provided more long-term anesthesia (weighted mean difference [WMD], −2.94; 95% confidence interval [CI], −5.56 to −0.32; I2 = 93%) and significantly lower incidence of postoperative rescue analgesia (odds ratio [OR], 2.11; 95% CI 1.18–3.74; I2 = 21%) than ropivacaine. There was a trend toward greater duration of sensory block in the levobupivacaine group (WMD, −1.16; 95% CI, −1.89 to −0.43; I2 = 14%). Conclusion: Levobupivacaine is more potent than ropivacaine in peripheral nerve block to some extent. Otherwise, more rigorous randomized control trials are required in the future.
Learning Structured Predictors from Bandit Feedback for Interactive NLP

Structured prediction from bandit feed-back describes a learning scenario where instead of having access to a gold standard structure, a learner only receives partial feedback in form of the loss value of a predicted structure. We present new learning objectives and algorithms for this interactive scenario, focusing on convergence speed and ease of elicitability of feed-back. We present supervised-to-bandit simulation experiments for several NLP tasks (machine translation, sequence labeling, text classiﬁcation), showing that bandit learning from relative preferences eases feedback strength and yields improved empirical convergence.
Attaining Maximal Reliability with Minimal Feedback via Joint Channel-code and Hash-Function Design

Feedback can be used to make substantial increases in the reliability of communications over discrete memoryless channels (DMCs) when coupled with a variablelength coding strategy. Burnashev has bounded the maximum achievable reliability, and shown how to achieve that reliability assuming noiseless output feedback. We explore how much feedback is required to achieve the Burnashev reliability. A first step was made by Yamamoto-Itoh who presented an asymptotically optimal scheme using only instantaneous noiseless decision feedback. We reduce the required feedback rate by feeding back only a hash of the decision. We then then further improve the scheme through joint design of the channel-code and hash-function. The result is a strategy that, depending on the feedback rate available, transitions smoothly from the Forney reliability at zero-rate to the Burnashev reliability.
Bridging Consciousness and Cognition in Memory and Perception: Evidence for Both State and Strength Processes

Subjective experience indicates that mental states are discrete, in the sense that memories and perceptions readily come to mind in some cases, but are entirely unavailable to awareness in others. However, a long history of psychophysical research has indicated that the discrete nature of mental states is largely epiphenomenal and that mental processes vary continuously in strength. We used a novel combination of behavioral methodologies to examine the processes underlying perception of complex images: (1) analysis of receiver operating characteristics (ROCs), (2) a modification of the change-detection flicker paradigm, and (3) subjective reports of conscious experience. These methods yielded converging results showing that perceptual judgments reflect the combined, yet functionally independent, contributions of two processes available to conscious experience: a state process of conscious perception and a strength process of knowing; processes that correspond to recollection and familiarity in long-term memory. In addition, insights from the perception experiments led to the discovery of a new recollection phenomenon in a long-term memory change detection paradigm. The apparent incompatibility between subjective experience and theories of cognition can be understood within a unified state-strength framework that links consciousness to cognition across the domains of perception and memory.
Protection against chemotherapy induced mucositis by TGF‐β2 in childhood cancer patients: Results from a randomized cross‐over study

Mucositis is one of the most frequent and severe side‐effect of chemotherapy in childhood‐cancer patients for which there is no prophylaxis available. The efficacy and feasibility of a TGF‐β2‐enriched feeding for preventing oral and gastro‐intestinal‐mucositis in childhood‐cancer patients were studied.
Greenhouse gas emissions from two rewetted peatlands previously managed for forestry

The aim of this study was to investigate the controls on carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) dynamics on a blanket bog (at Pollagoona) and a raised bog (at Scohaboy) in Ireland after felling of plantation forestry and rewetting, and to produce annual balances for each gas at both sites. Gas fluxes were measured during a twelve-month period using the chamber method. Microsite types reflecting the dominant plant species at the chamber plots were identified and classified as Eriophorum-Sphagnum, Cladonia-Calluna and Molinia at Pollagoona and Eriophorum-Sphagnum, Cladonia-mosses, Eriophorum and brash (logging residues) at Scohaboy. The relationships between gas fluxes and environmental variables were assessed, and regression models were used to estimate annual CO2 and CH4 gas balances for each microsite type. Annual estimates of N2O exchange were calculated using seasonal means. Over the course of the study both sites acted as CO2 and CH4 sources. Although Pollagoona was an overall net source of CO2-C (131.6 ± 298.3 g m yr), one microsite type (Cladonia-Calluna) acted as a strong sink for CO2-C (-142.8 g m yr). Molinia microsites exhibited the highest CH4-C emissions (2.53 ± 1.01 g m yr). Nitrous oxide emissions at Pollagoona were calculated as 12 μg m yr. Scohaboy acted as a large CO2-C source (585.3 ± 241.5 g m yr) (all microsite types) despite re-vegetation of non-brash plots, due to the availability of fresh organic matter across the site. Scohaboy was also a CH4-C source, emitting 3.25 ± 0.58 g m yr. Emissions of both CO2-C (819.31 ± 57.7 g m yr) and CH4-C (4.76 ± 0.98 g m yr) were highest from the brash plots. Annual N2O-N emissions were small over the study period (72 μg m yr). Our results indicate that, despite remedial work being conducted on both peatlands to raise the water table, the C sink function has not yet been restored at either site.
Pulmonary involvement in chronic arsenic poisoning from drinking contaminated ground-water.

OBJECTIVES Chronic arsenic poisoning, due to ingestion of contaminated ground-water, is a major public health problem in West Bengal. It causes multiorgan damage. The present study attempts to objectively investigate the pulmonary involvement by examining the lung function. The nature of lung changes was also evaluated. MATERIAL AND METHODS One hundred and seven subjects with (cases) and 52 subjects without (controls) chronic arsenic poisoning were examined by spirometry. Forced expiratory volume-I second (FEVI), forced vital capacity (FVC) and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) were measured. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed in five cases with and five cases without pulmonary involvement. RESULTS Thirty three (30.8%) cases and four (7.6%) controls (p<0.01) had respiratory involvement. The pattern of involvement in cases was: obstructive- 20(68.9%) (including three (10%) with bronchiectasis), restrictive- 1(3.5%), mixed- 8(27.6%), malignancy- 4(12.1%) (adenocarcinoma-I, squamous cell- 2, undifferentiated- I). FEVI (69.7+/-25.9 [n=105] vs 83.7+/-15.19 [n=51], p=0.0005), FVC (77.4+/-22.7 [n=105] vs 85.6+/-18.23 [n=51], p=0.025), FEVI/FVC (73.6+/-13.38 [n=105] vs 79.1+/-18.65 [n=52], p=0.007) and PEFR (53.9+/-21.52 [n= 103] vs 67.3+/-18.36 [n=51], p=0.0002) (percent of predicted) were all reduced more in cases compared to controls. Worsening of these parameters correlated with increasing degree of arsenic toxicity. Markers of inflammation (macrophage, lactate dehydrogenase, nitric oxide) were apparently more in the BAL fluid of those with lung involvement than in those without, though the arsenic content did not differ significantly. CONCLUSION Chronic arsenic poisoning causes pulmonary involvement, predominantly obstructive, the degree of which worsens with increasing degree of arsenic toxicity. Inflammation, rather than direct toxicity, appears to be the underlying mechanism.
Mathematical Modeling of Influenza A Virus Dynamics within Swine Farms and the Effects of Vaccination

Influenza A virus infections are widespread in swine herds across the world. Influenza negatively affects swine health and production, and represents a significant threat to public health due to the risk of zoonotic infections. Swine herds can act as reservoirs for potentially pandemic influenza strains. In this study, we develop mathematical models based on experimental data, representing typical breeding and wean-to-finish swine farms. These models are used to explore and describe the dynamics of influenza infection at the farm level, which are at present not well understood. In addition, we use the models to assess the effectiveness of vaccination strategies currently employed by swine producers, testing both homologous and heterologous vaccines. An important finding is that following an influenza outbreak in a breeding herd, our model predicts a persistently high level of infectious piglets. Sensitivity analysis indicates that this finding is robust to changes in both transmission rates and farm size. Vaccination does not eliminate influenza throughout the breeding farm population. In the wean-to-finish herd, influenza infection may persist in the population only if recovered individuals become susceptible to infection again. A homologous vaccine administered to the entire wean-to-finish population after the loss of maternal antibodies eliminates influenza, but a vaccine that only induces partial protection (heterologous vaccine) has little effect on influenza infection levels. Our results have important implications for the control of influenza in swine herds, which is crucial in order to reduce both losses for swine producers and the risk to public health.
Atlas de radiación solar en España utilizando datos del SAF de clima de EUMETSAT

La energía solar es una fuente de energía renovable, que está en auge en los últimos años al tratarse de un recurso inagotable y respetuoso con el medio ambiente. España por su posición y climatología es un país especialmente favorecido de cara al aprovechamiento de este tipo de energía. El objetivo de este atlas de radiación solar es precisamente cuantificar y presentar gráficamente, con suficiente resolución espacial, el promedio mensual y anual de la radiación solar que llega a la superficie terrestre en España. El anterior Atlas de Radiación Solar de AEMET, antiguo INM, data de 1984 y surge como complemento al Atlas Climático editado el año anterior. El esfuerzo realizado en aquel entonces, con una red de radiómetros en superficie no suficientemente densa con tecnologías muy diferentes a las disponibles hoy en día, quedó plasmado en una interesante obra que ha servido de importante referencia hasta la actualidad. AEMET, a través de este Atlas de radiación, trata de disponer de una referencia actualizada que cubra todo el territorio con una resolución adecuada, en la que queden patentes los valores medios anuales, estacionales y mensuales de la radiación solar que llega a superficie, considerada horizontal, a partir de productos satelitales obtenidos del CM-SAF (Climate Monitoring Satellite Application Facilities) de la Agencia para la explotación de los satélites meteorológicos europeos, EUMETSAT, en su faceta de vigilancia del clima. A lo largo de este trabajo se recogen mapas, gráficos y tablas de valores medios mensuales, estacionales y anuales de las variables superficiales de radiación solar global, directa y difusa, en plano horizontal, con una resolución espacial de 3 × 3 km utilizando datos satelitales mensuales para el período 1983-2005. Previamente, y para caracterizar el margen de error de estos productos, en este trabajo se presentan resultados de validaciones de los datos satelitales realizadas por el SAF de Clima y las llevadas a cabo con respecto a la Red Radiométrica Nacional en superficie con la que cuenta la Agencia Estatal de Meteorología. El Atlas de Radiación puede descargarse de la página web externa de AEMET en el siguiente link: http://www.aemet. es/documentos/es/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/atlas_radiacion_solar/ atlas_de_radiacion_24042012. pdf
Questions and dependency in intuitionistic logic

In recent years, the logic of questions and dependencies has been investigated in the closely related frameworks of inquisitive logic and dependence logic. These investigations have assumed classical logic as the background logic of statements, and added formulas expressing questions and dependencies to this classical core. In this paper, we broaden the scope of these investigations by studying questions and dependency in the context of intuitionistic logic. We propose an intuitionistic team semantics, where teams are embedded within intuitionistic Kripke models. The associated logic is a conservative extension of intuitionistic logic with questions and dependence formulas. We establish a number of results about this logic, including a normal form result, a completeness result, and translations to classical inquisitive logic and modal dependence logic.
The effects of a chronic application of chlorpyrifos on the macroinvertebrate fauna in an outdoor artificial stream system: species responses.

An outdoor artificial stream system was used to examine the effects of a chronic application of the organophosphate pesticide chlorpyrifos on the invertebrate fauna of the system. Two replicate streams received chlorpyrifos for 21 days at the high dose (5 micrograms.liter-1) or low dose (0.1 microgram.liter-1) or only the carrier solution with which chlorpyrifos is mixed for commercial sale (1,1,1-trichloroethane and xylene). Streams behaved as replicates with respect to five water quality parameters. Seventy-four nonchironomid and 24 chironomid taxa were recorded during the study. The number of taxa and total invertebrate abundance were significantly reduced by both high and low doses of the pesticide. Shannon-Weaver diversity was also reduced by both high and low doses of the pesticide whereas evenness increased in high dose streams. The individual abundances of 9/36 nonchironomid and 13/19 chironomid taxa were significantly reduced by pesticide application; the abundance of one taxon, the gastropod Physastra, increased. The biomass of periphyton in the streams was affected by changes in the abundance of chironomid grazers and Physastra, and the slow recovery of grazers from mortality due to chlorpyrifos appeared to result in a higher biomass of periphyton in the high dose streams than in controls and low dose streams 21 days after dosing ceased. Inverse relationships between the amounts of fine particulate organic matter (FPOM) and the sum of the numbers of all taxa of collector-gatherers (as well as numbers of four individual taxa) were interpreted as disruption of the processing of FPOM by members of this trophic group following toxic effects of chlorpyrifos. The implications of the study for biological monitoring of the direct and indirect effects of chronic doses of chlorpyrifos on streams are discussed, and the use of chironomid larvae and periphyton in biomonitoring to detect pesticide impacts is particularly recommended.
Effect of Paddy Straw and Paper Mill Effulent on Physico-chemical Properties of Soil

Introduction Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is the world’s most widely cultivated food crop. It is consumed in various forms by a large population all over the world. In India 2002-2003, 70.20 million tonnes of wheat was produced on 24.23 million hectare with a productivity of 2.9 t ha (The Hindu, 2004). Crop residues are the remnants of crops, left after the harvested crops are threshed for removal of economic components like grain or seed. The crop residues played a key role in improving and maintaining soil productivity, in the area, where mechanical harvesting is practiced, an appreciable quantity of residue is left in the field, which is mostly burnt in situ by farmers resulting into the loss of vegetable organic matter and nutrients particularly nitrogen and sulphur. The incorporation of crop residue is supposed to improve physical, chemical and biological properties. Therefore, to accelerate the decomposition of crop residues, certain organic and inorganic supplements like FYM, rock phosphate, urea as starter dose, gypsum etc. are applied along with crop residues.