Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PolyMUMPs Design Handbook: A MUMPsfi process

A sun shade screen having a hollow frame and flexible screen material surrounded by and attached to the frame. The frame is formed in two equal frame members with the open hollow frame sections of each member opposing the hollow frame sections of the other member. The opposing hollow frame sections are maintained in registration by flexible inserts extending into the hollow frame sections to permit the frame members to be hinged relative to one another and to permit the frame and said flexible material to be folded upon itself.
[Optimal time for treating cryptorchism (author's transl)].

In a ten-year span (1950-1960) a total of 133 patients were operated upon for maldescent of testes. A follow-up enquiry traced 102, of whom 79 were re-examined. Maldescent had been unilateral in 71, bilateral in eight. All of the latter were infertile. In the others the fertility rate was the greater the younger the patient at the time of operation, best results being noted in those operated upon during the first or second year of life. Acquired testicular disorders seemed to play a minor role, while the normally descended contralateral testis was apparently damaged in an as yet undetermined manner (autoantigen-antibody reaction? ) It is concluded that the optimal moment for operating on testicular maldescent is (at the latest) the end of the second year of life.
Measurement, Characterization, and Modeling of the Helicopter Satellite Communication Radio Channel

The satellite-to-helicopter radio channel is measured, characterized, analyzed, and modelled. We used a sweep time delay cross correlation sounder operating at 14.25 GHz and actual helicopters for the experiment. From the measurements, signal fading, delay and Doppler spread are estimated. Wideband radio channel results show that the signal delay spread is small enough, so 32 MHz satellite transponders could be used with no need of equalization. We also observed two important propagation impairments on the received signal envelope, both of them caused by the main rotor blades. The first one is the power attenuation produced when the LoS is obstructed by the blades. We demonstrate that this effect could be mitigated by using spatial or polarization diversity technique in the receiver end. The second one is the presence of multipath propagation leading to a power level oscillation dependent on the amplitude of the received multipath components. An UTD-based 3-D ray tracing model was used to conclude that the main multipath components are generated by diffraction on the rotor blade edges.
Molecular Alterations in Spontaneous Sputum of Cancer-Free Heavy Smokers: Results from a Large Screening Program

Purpose: The high mortality rate for lung cancer is likely to be reduced by the development of a panel of sensitive biological markers able to identify early-stage lung cancers or subjects at high risk. The aim of this study was to establish the frequency of K-ras and p53 mutations and p16INK4A, RASSF1A, and NORE1A hypermethylation in sputum of a large cohort of cancer-free heavy smokers and to assess whether these markers are suitable for a routine use in the clinical practice for the early diagnosis of pulmonary cancer. Experimental Design: Sputum samples were collected from 820 heavy smokers. Inclusion criteria consisted of radiologic and cytologic absence of pulmonary lesions, age at least 60 years, male gender, and a smoking history of at least 20 pack-years. Results: The analysis identified 56 individuals (6.9%) with one molecular alteration. p53 mutation and p16INK4A, RASSF1A, and NORE1A methylation frequencies were 1.9%, 5.1%, 0.8%, and 1.0%, respectively; no K-ras mutations were found. One patient with p53 mutations was diagnosed with an early-stage lung cancer after 3-years of follow-up. The molecular analysis of bronchoscopy samples confirmed in half of the cases alterations present in sputum without revealing additional molecular changes. Conclusions: Genetic and epigenetic abnormalities can be detected in cancer-free heavy smokers. Although the predictive value of the cancer risk is still to be established as it requires not less than 5 years of follow-up, p53 and p16INK4A are more promising candidates than K-ras, RASSF1A, and NORE1A for the pulmonary molecular screening of heavy smokers healthy individuals.
Hydrology and water temperature influence recruitment dynamics of the threatened silver perch Bidyanus bidyanus in a regulated lowland river

Understanding the influence of extrinsic factors such as hydrology and hydraulics on recruitment provides essential insight to inform management of fish populations. The critically endangered silver perch Bidyanus bidyanus is a long-lived, potamodromous pelagophil endemic to Australia’s Murray–Darling Basin. Declines of this species are often attributed to river regulation, although quantitative studies linking hydrology and hydraulics to key aspects of its life cycle are sparse. We used a multidecadal age-structured dataset collected from a locally abundant population of silver perch to quantify the relative importance of different abiotic drivers on year-class strength (recruitment). Silver perch recruited across highly variable hydrological conditions. The strongest year classes were associated with a combination of low to average river discharge (i.e. within channel) and high water temperatures over the peak spawning period, followed in the next year by extended high flows and widespread flooding that promoted survival of age-1+ juvenile fish. We suggest that conditions affecting the growth and dispersal of juvenile fish, in addition to the spawning period, are critical in governing recruitment dynamics. This highlights the need for multiyear flow plans for freshwater fish populations.
Routing and inter-session network coding in delay tolerant mobile social networks. (Routage et codage réseau inter-session dans les réseaux sociaux mobiles tolérant le délai)

We consider Delay Tolerant Mobile Social Networks (DTMSN), made of wireless nodes with intermittent connections and clustered into social communities. This thesis deals with the analysis and design of information transfer strategies in DTMSN. It is mostly dedicated to investigate the use of Inter-Session Network Coding (ISNC) towards this goal. Network coding is a generalization of routing and ISNC is known as a difficult optimization problem in general, specifically because it can easily get detrimental, compared to no coding, if not designed carefully. The first part of this thesis addresses theoretically the optimization problem of the (non-ISNC) routing policy in DTMSNs. We generalize the existing results for homogeneous topologies. The second part of the thesis designs and models a parameterized pairwise ISNC control policy that encompasses both routing and coding controls with an energy constraint. In order to tackle heuristically the optimization problem, the third chapter presents an experimental study of pairwise ISNC to investigate when it can be beneficial or detrimental. We examine the impact on ISNC performance of a number of parameters, such as the constraint on the maximum number of copies per packet, the network load, the buffer size of the relay nodes and the buffer management policies. The fourth chapter addresses the design of decentralized coding criteria allowing to trigger online session mixing if ISNC may be beneficial. We test these coding criteria on both toy topologies and real-world traces, pointing out and explaining the limits of our approach.
Microglia mechanics: immune activation alters traction forces and durotaxis

Microglial cells are key players in the primary immune response of the central nervous system. They are highly active and motile cells that chemically and mechanically interact with their environment. While the impact of chemical signaling on microglia function has been studied in much detail, the current understanding of mechanical signaling is very limited. When cultured on compliant substrates, primary microglial cells adapted their spread area, morphology, and actin cytoskeleton to the stiffness of their environment. Traction force microscopy revealed that forces exerted by microglia increase with substrate stiffness until reaching a plateau at a shear modulus of ~5 kPa. When cultured on substrates incorporating stiffness gradients, microglia preferentially migrated toward stiffer regions, a process termed durotaxis. Lipopolysaccharide-induced immune-activation of microglia led to changes in traction forces, increased migration velocities and an amplification of durotaxis. We finally developed a mathematical model connecting traction forces with the durotactic behavior of migrating microglial cells. Our results demonstrate that microglia are susceptible to mechanical signals, which could be important during central nervous system development and pathologies. Stiffness gradients in tissue surrounding neural implants such as electrodes, for example, could mechanically attract microglial cells, thus facilitating foreign body reactions detrimental to electrode functioning.
Minimum Requirements for Bluetongue Virus Primary Replication In Vivo

ABSTRACT The replication mechanism of bluetongue virus (BTV) has been studied by an in vivo reverse genetics (RG) system identifying the importance of certain BTV proteins for primary replication of the virus. However, a unique in vitro cell-free virus assembly system was subsequently developed, showing that it did not require the same set of viral components, which is indicative of differences in these two systems. Here, we studied the in vivo primary replicase complex more in-depth to determine the minimum components of the complex. We showed that while NS2 is an essential component of the primary replication stage during BTV infection, NS1 is not an essential component but may play a role in enhancing BTV protein synthesis. Furthermore, we demonstrated that VP7, a major structural protein of the inner core, is not required for primary replication but appears to stabilize the replicase complex. In contrast, VP3, the other major structural core protein, is an essential component of the complex, together with the three minor enzymatic proteins (VP1, VP4, and VP6) of the core. In addition, our data have demonstrated that the smallest minor protein, VP6, which is known to possess an RNA-dependent helicase activity, may also act as an RNA translocator during assembly of the primary replicase complex.
Missed and mismanaged injuries of the spinal cord.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of missed and mismanaged injuries of the spinal cord, to identify factors contributing to a failure to recognize such injuries, and to assess the consequences of such failures. METHODS Missed and mismanaged injuries were defined using previously validated statements. All medical records and radiographs of patients with acute traumatic spinal cord injury admitted to the Regional Spinal Cord Injury Unit in Sheffield, United Kingdom, over a period of 10 years from 1989 were evaluated. Patients with no neurologic deficits were excluded from the study. RESULTS Of the 569 patients, the diagnosis of spinal cord injury was missed in 52 instances (9.1%). The patients were mismanaged in 34 instances, and the treatment offered to 30 was considered negligent. In 26 of 52 (50%), mismanagement resulted in neurologic deterioration. The study identified several factors that contributed to a failure to recognize a spinal cord injury. These include ambience and circumstances surrounding the injury, inadequate neurologic assessment, associated injuries, and radiographic errors. CONCLUSION Despite a greater awareness of the potential for spinal injury after road traffic accidents, failure to recognize a spinal cord injury in the acute care setting appears to be increasing. Injuries are seldom missed because of an isolated cause, but rather because of a combination of several factors. Increased vigilance on the part of the primary care physicians and careful documentation may reduce allegations of medical negligence.
A review of the physical and metabolic effects of cross-sex hormonal therapy in the treatment of gender dysphoria

This review focuses on the effect that cross-gender sex steroid therapy has on metabolic and hormonal parameters. There is an emphasis on those changes that result in significant clinical effects such as the positive effects of the development of secondary sexual characteristics and negative effects such as haemostatic effects and thromboembolism in transwomen or dyslipidaemia in transmen. There is also a description of the current hormonal regimens used at the largest UK gender identity clinic. The overall safety of these treatments in the context of long-term outcome data is reviewed.
Reciprocal Effects between Reading Achievement and Intrinsic and Extrinsic Reading Motivation

ABSTRACT Research on reading achievement and reading motivation has rarely addressed the question if and how they affect each other over time. In our study, we investigate the reciprocal effects between reading achievement and both intrinsic and extrinsic reading motivation during elementary school. We measured reading achievement and intrinsic and extrinsic reading motivation in 966 students at 3 points of measurement during 3rd and 4th grade. Consistent with previous research, cross-lagged panel analyses revealed positive reciprocal effects between reading achievement and intrinsic reading motivation. Effects of reading achievement on intrinsic reading motivation were found during Grades 3 and 4, whereas effects of intrinsic motivation were limited to Grade 3. No reciprocal effects between reading achievement and extrinsic reading motivation were found. We discuss the implications of our results for daily teaching practices and effective reading instruction.
Heavy holes as a precursor to superconductivity in antiferromagnetic CeIn3

Numerous phenomenological parallels have been drawn between f- and d- electron systems in an attempt to understand their display of unconventional superconductivity. The microscopics of how electrons evolve from participation in large moment antiferromagnetism to superconductivity in these systems, however, remains a mystery. Knowing the origin of Cooper paired electrons in momentum space is a crucial prerequisite for understanding the pairing mechanism. Of special interest are pressure-induced superconductors CeIn3 and CeRhIn5 in which disparate magnetic and superconducting orders apparently coexist—arising from within the same f-electron degrees of freedom. Here, we present ambient pressure quantum oscillation measurements on CeIn3 that crucially identify the electronic structure—potentially similar to high-temperature superconductors. Heavy hole pockets of f-character are revealed in CeIn3, undergoing an unexpected effective mass divergence well before the antiferromagnetic critical field. We thus uncover the softening of a branch of quasiparticle excitations located away from the traditional spin fluctuation-dominated antiferromagnetic quantum critical point. The observed Fermi surface of dispersive f-electrons in CeIn3 could potentially explain the emergence of Cooper pairs from within a strong moment antiferromagnet.
Pre-Existing HCV Variants Resistant to DAAs and Their Sensitivity to PegIFN/RBV in Chinese HCV Genotype 1b Patients

Background The efficacy of direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) could be attenuated by the presence of resistance-associated variants (RAVs). The aim of this study was to investigate the natural prevalence of RAVs among Chinese HCV genotype 1b patients and analyze the efficacy of pegylated interferon (PegIFN)/ribavirin (RBV) therapy in patients with and without RAVs at baseline. Methods Direct sequencing of the HCV NS3, NS5A and NS5B regions was performed in baseline serum samples of 117 DAAs-naïve subjects infected with HCV genotype 1b. The efficacy of PegIFN/RBV therapy in patients with and without RAVs at baseline was analyzed by comparing the response rates between patients with RAVs and patients with wild type virus. Results The incidence of RAVs was 8.00% (8/100) in the NS3 region (T54S, n = 1, 1.00%; R117H, n = 5, 5.00%; S122T, n = 1, 1.00%; S174F, n = 1, 1.00%), 29.91% (32/107) in the NS5A region (L28M, n = 12, 11.21%; R30Q, n = 10, 9.35%; L31M, n = 1, 0.93%; P58S, n = 4, 3.74%; Y93H, n = 8, 7.48%) and 98.15% (106/108) in the NS5B region (L159F, n = 1, 0.93%; C316N, n = 103, 95.37%; A421V, n = 6, 5.56%). The response rates to PegIFN/RBV treatment did not differ between patients with or without RAVs in the NS5A region. Conclusions Pre-existing RAVs, including key RAVs, were detected in Chinese DAAs-naïve patients infected with HCV genotype 1b. IFN-based therapy could be a good option for patients with RAVs, especially key RAVs, at baseline.
An evolving computational platform for biological mass spectrometry: workflows, statistics and data mining with MASSyPup64

In biological mass spectrometry, crude instrumental data need to be converted into meaningful theoretical models. Several data processing and data evaluation steps are required to come to the final results. These operations are often difficult to reproduce, because of too specific computing platforms. This effect, known as ‘workflow decay’, can be diminished by using a standardized informatic infrastructure. Thus, we compiled an integrated platform, which contains ready-to-use tools and workflows for mass spectrometry data analysis. Apart from general unit operations, such as peak picking and identification of proteins and metabolites, we put a strong emphasis on the statistical validation of results and Data Mining. MASSyPup64 includes e.g., the OpenMS/TOPPAS framework, the Trans-Proteomic-Pipeline programs, the ProteoWizard tools, X! Tandem, Comet and SpiderMass. The statistical computing language R is installed with packages for MS data analyses, such as XCMS/metaXCMS and MetabR. The R package Rattle provides a user-friendly access to multiple Data Mining methods. Further, we added the non-conventional spreadsheet program teapot for editing large data sets and a command line tool for transposing large matrices. Individual programs, console commands and modules can be integrated using the Workflow Management System (WMS) taverna. We explain the useful combination of the tools by practical examples: (1) A workflow for protein identification and validation, with subsequent Association Analysis of peptides, (2) Cluster analysis and Data Mining in targeted Metabolomics, and (3) Raw data processing, Data Mining and identification of metabolites in untargeted Metabolomics. Association Analyses reveal relationships between variables across different sample sets. We present its application for finding co-occurring peptides, which can be used for target proteomics, the discovery of alternative biomarkers and protein–protein interactions. Data Mining derived models displayed a higher robustness and accuracy for classifying sample groups in targeted Metabolomics than cluster analyses. Random Forest models do not only provide predictive models, which can be deployed for new data sets, but also the variable importance. We demonstrate that the later is especially useful for tracking down significant signals and affected pathways in untargeted Metabolomics. Thus, Random Forest modeling supports the unbiased search for relevant biological features in Metabolomics. Our results clearly manifest the importance of Data Mining methods to disclose non-obvious information in biological mass spectrometry . The application of a Workflow Management System and the integration of all required programs and data in a consistent platform makes the presented data analyses strategies reproducible for non-expert users. The simple remastering process and the Open Source licenses of MASSyPup64 (http://www.bioprocess.org/massypup/) enable the continuous improvement of the system.
Exponential Convergence of the Discrete- and Continuous-Time Altafini Models

This paper considers the discrete-time version of Altafini's model for opinion dynamics in which the interaction among a group of agents is described by a time-varying signed digraph. Prompted by an idea from [3], exponential convergence of the system is studied using a graphical approach. Necessary and sufficient conditions for exponential convergence with respect to each possible type of limit states are provided. Specifically, under the assumption of repeatedly jointly strong connectivity, it is shown that 1) a certain type of two-clustering will be reached exponentially fast for almost all initial conditions if, and only if, the sequence of signed digraphs is repeatedly jointly structurally balanced corresponding to that type of two-clustering; 2) the system will converge to zero exponentially fast for all initial conditions if, and only if, the sequence of signed digraphs is repeatedly jointly structurally unbalanced. An upper bound on the convergence rate is provided. The results are also extended to the continuous-time Altafini model.
Cardiac autonomic regulation differentiates reflux disease with and without erosive esophagitis

Objective. Impaired autonomic function has been observed in patients with gastroesophageal reflex disease (GERD), but little is known about autonomic function in patients with non-erosive reflux disease (NERD). The objective of this study was to investigate potential differences in autonomic function by means of heart rate variability in GERD patients with and without erosive esophagitis. Material and methods. Thirty-five GERD patients and 20 healthy controls participated in the study. Seventeen subjects with NERD and 18 patients with erosive reflux disease (ERD) were identified based on typical reflux symptoms, endoscopic findings, and 24-h esophageal pH. Spectral analysis of heart rate variability was performed to calculate the low-frequency (LF) band, the high-frequency (HF) band, and the LF/HF ratio. Results. No significant differences were found in age, gender, body mass index, or current tobacco use among the reflux patients and controls. The Helicobacter pylori status and severity of reflux symptoms were similar between the two groups. The HF band power was significantly lower in patients with ERD than in NERD patients (p<0.01) and controls (p<0.05). LF band power (%) and LF/HF ratio were significantly lower in the NERD patients compared with ERD patients (p<0.05) and controls (p<0.05). There was no statistically significant correlation between any heart rate variability parameter and symptom severity score in either the ERD or NERD group. Conclusions. Patients with ERD and NERD display a similar degree of symptom severity, but the pattern of autonomic function appears to differ between NERD and ERD.