Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An incremental learning algorithm with confidence estimation for automated identification of NDE signals

An incremental learning algorithm is introduced for learning new information from additional data that may later become available, after a classifier has already been trained using a previously available database. The proposed algorithm is capable of incrementally learning new information without forgetting previously acquired knowledge and without requiring access to the original database, even when new data include examples of previously unseen classes. Scenarios requiring such a learning algorithm are encountered often in nondestructive evaluation (NDE) in which large volumes of data are collected in batches over a period of time, and new defect types may become available in subsequent databases. The algorithm, named Learn++, takes advantage of synergistic generalization performance of an ensemble of classifiers in which each classifier is trained with a strategically chosen subset of the training databases that subsequently become available. The ensemble of classifiers then is combined through a weighted majority voting procedure. Learn++ is independent of the specific classifier(s) comprising the ensemble, and hence may be used with any supervised learning algorithm. The voting procedure also allows Learn++ to estimate the confidence in its own decision. We present the algorithm and its promising results on two separate ultrasonic weld inspection applications.
Leaf photosynthesis and respiration of three bioenergy crops in relation to temperature and leaf nitrogen: how conserved are biochemical model parameters among crop species?

Given the need for parallel increases in food and energy production from crops in the context of global change, crop simulation models and data sets to feed these models with photosynthesis and respiration parameters are increasingly important. This study provides information on photosynthesis and respiration for three energy crops (sunflower, kenaf, and cynara), reviews relevant information for five other crops (wheat, barley, cotton, tobacco, and grape), and assesses how conserved photosynthesis parameters are among crops. Using large data sets and optimization techniques, the C3 leaf photosynthesis model of Farquhar, von Caemmerer, and Berry (FvCB) and an empirical night respiration model for tested energy crops accounting for effects of temperature and leaf nitrogen were parameterized. Instead of the common approach of using information on net photosynthesis response to CO2 at the stomatal cavity (An–Ci), the model was parameterized by analysing the photosynthesis response to incident light intensity (An–Iinc). Convincing evidence is provided that the maximum Rubisco carboxylation rate or the maximum electron transport rate was very similar whether derived from An–Ci or from An–Iinc data sets. Parameters characterizing Rubisco limitation, electron transport limitation, the degree to which light inhibits leaf respiration, night respiration, and the minimum leaf nitrogen required for photosynthesis were then determined. Model predictions were validated against independent sets. Only a few FvCB parameters were conserved among crop species, thus species-specific FvCB model parameters are needed for crop modelling. Therefore, information from readily available but underexplored An–Iinc data should be re-analysed, thereby expanding the potential of combining classical photosynthetic data and the biochemical model.
Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation to treat respiratory failure resulting from exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Cochrane systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Objectives: To determine the effectiveness of non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) in the management of respiratory failure secondary to acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Design: Systematic review of randomised controlled trials that compared NPPV and usual medical care with usual medical care alone in patients admitted to hospital with respiratory failure resulting from an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and with PaCO2 >6 kPa. Results: The eight studies included in the review showed that, compared with usual care alone, NPPV as an adjunct to usual care was associated with a lower mortality (relative risk 0.41 (95% confidence interval 0.26 to 0.64)), a lower need for intubation (relative risk 0.42 (0.31 to 0.59)), lower likelihood of treatment failure (relative risk 0.51 (0.38 to 0.67)), and greater improvements at 1 hour in pH (weighted mean difference 0.03 (0.02 to 0.04)), PaCO2 (weighted mean difference −0.40 kPa (−0.78 to −0.03)), and respiratory rate (weighted mean difference −3.08 breaths per minute (−4.26 to −1.89)). NPPV resulted in fewer complications associated with treatment (relative risk 0.32 (0.18 to 0.56)) and shorter duration of stay in hospital (weighted mean difference −3.24 days (−4.42 to −2.06)). Conclusions: NPPV should be the first line intervention in addition to usual medical care to manage respiratory failure secondary to an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in all suitable patients. NPPV should be tried early in the course of respiratory failure and before severe acidosis, to reduce mortality, avoid endotracheal intubation, and decrease treatment failure. What is already known on this topic Prospective studies, especially the larger studies, have shown that non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) reduces the need for intubation, improves survival, and reduces complications in patients with respiratory failure resulting from exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) A previous meta-analysis showed NPPV to be an effective intervention, including for acute exacerbations of COPD, but some studies in this meta-analysis contained mixed groups of patients and were not of good quality What this study adds Evidence from good quality, randomised controlled trials shows that NPPV is an effective treatment for acute exacerbations of COPD NPPV should be considered early in the course of respiratory failure and before severe acidosis ensues, to avoid the need for endotracheal intubation and reduce mortality in patients with COPD
Depression in temporal lobe epilepsy: interaction between laterality of lesion and Wisconsin Card Sort Performance

The nature and specificity of the relationship between laterality of temporal lobe epiIepsy (TLE) and Wisconsin Card Sort Test (WCST) perseverative response (PR) level on self-report of mood state was examined in 123 left hemisphere-dominant patients with invasively verified epilepsy of left (n = 62) or right (n = 61) temporal lobe origin. There were no overall significant differences between the left- and right-TLE groups on depression indices or number of WCST PRs. As predicted, a significant interaction between laterality of TLE and PR level was observed. Among left-TLE patients, depressed mood was associated with the highest PR levels (30+), and these patients endorsed significantly more depressive symptoms than equally perseverative right-TLE patients. Among right-TLE patients, depressed mood was unexpectedly found to be associated with good WCST performance (i.e., PR <10), and these patients endorsed more depressive symptoms than the corresponding left-TLE group. Findings were specific to the WCST and were not seen when performance on two control tasks (Judgement of Line Orientation and Visual Naming) were examined. Results are discussed within the framework of current modeIs of mood state
School Turnaround Principals: What Does Initial Research Literature Suggest They Are Doing to Be Successful?

ABSTRACT As the research literature on principals leading school turnaround grows, determining whether or not real differences between good, even effective, principals and turnaround principals becomes increasingly important. Recent federal government policy and investment established turnaround models that emphasize the role of the school principal, suggesting that turnaround principals do need to be different than other principals in some meaningful ways. But any difference in skill or characteristic remains undefined. For this article, we conducted a systematic review of empirical research literature to identify studies of principals who led successful school turnaround initiatives. We reviewed 18 empirical studies to categorize the education leadership areas in which turnaround principals must excel. We also present the limited evidence regarding attitudes, traits, or perspectives principals leading turnaround should likely possess. Finally, we consider implications of our findings for research and practice.
Automatic Vehicle Counting from Video for Traffic Flow Analysis

We propose a new video analysis method for counting vehicles, where we use an adaptive bounding box size to detect and track vehicles according to their estimated distance from the camera given the scene-camera geometry. We employ adaptive background subtraction and Kalman filtering for road/vehicle detection and tracking, respectively. Effectiveness of the proposed method for vehicle counting is demonstrated on several video recordings taken at different time periods in a day at one location in the city of Istanbul.
Studies of Interference in Serial Verbal Reactions

Interference or inhibition (the terms seem to have been used almost indiscriminately) has been given a large place in experimental literature. The investigation was begun by the physiologists prior to 1890 (Bowditch and Warren, J. W., 1890) and has been continued to the present, principally by psychologists (Lester, 1932). Of the numerous studies that have been published during this period only a limited number of the most relevant reports demand our attention here. Miinsterberg (1892) studied the inhibiting effects of changes in common daily habits such as opening the door of his room, dipping his pen in ink, and taking his watch out of his pocket. He concluded that a given association can function automatically even though some effect of a previous contrary association remains. M tiller and Schumann (1894) discovered that more time was necessary to relearn a series of nonsense syllables if the stimulus syllables had been associated with other syllables in the meantime. From their results they deduced the law of associative inhibition which is quoted by Kline (1921, p. 270) as follows: "If a is already connected with b, then it is difficult to connect it with k, b gets in the way. " Nonsense syllables were also used by Shepard and Fogelsonger (1913) in a series of experiments in association and inhibition. Only three subjects were used in any experiment and the changes introduced to produce the inhibition were so great in many cases as to present novel situations. This latter fact was shown by the introspections. The results showed an increase in time for the response which corresponded roughly to the increase in the complexity of the situation. The only conclusion was stated thus: "We have found then that in acquiring associations there is involved an inhibitory process which is not a mere
Impact of gastric emptying to the glycemic and insulinemic responses to a 75‐g oral glucose load in older subjects with normal and impaired glucose tolerance

The majority of studies relating to the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) have not taken gastric emptying (GE), which exhibits a substantial inter‐individual variation, into account. We sought to evaluate the impact of GE, on the glycemic and insulinemic responses to a 75‐g oral glucose load in older subjects with normal and impaired glucose tolerance. Eighty‐seven healthy ‘older’ subjects (47F, 40M; age 71.0 ± 0.5 year) were given a drink comprising of 75‐g glucose and 150 mg C13‐acetate made up to 300 mL with water on a single occasion. Exhaled breath was obtained for analysis of 13CO2 and calculation of the 50% GE time (T50). Blood glucose, serum insulin and plasma glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) and glucose‐dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) were measured, and the insulin sensitivity index (ISI), and the disposition index (DI), were calculated. Thirty‐one subjects had normal glucose tolerance (NGT) and 46 had impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Blood glucose at t = 60 min and t = 120 min were related inversely to ISI (P < 0.001) and DI P < 0.001). The rise in blood glucose at t = 60 min was related inversely to the T50 in all subjects (P < 0.01), and those with IGT (P < 0.001), but not NGT. There were no significant relationships between the blood glucose at t = 120 min with the T50, but in both groups the change in blood glucose from baseline at t = 180 min was related (NGT: P < 0.001; IGT: P < 0.001) to the T50. We conclude that in NGT and IGT, the effect of GE on both the ‘early’ and ‘late’ glycemic responses to a 75‐g oral glucose load is complementary to that of insulin sensitivity.
Adiponectinemia Is Associated with Uricemia but Not with Proinflammatory Status in Women with Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a cluster of glucose intolerance, hypertension, and dyslipidemia with visceral fat accumulation. This study was undertaken to assess which components of metabolic syndrome (MS), including uric acid and proinflammatory markers, are related to adiponectin levels in overweight and obese women with MS. Ninety-one women (60 with MS and 31 controls) were assessed in relation to classical and inflammatory parameters of MS. In comparison to controls, patients with MS showed significant differences in parameters that are typically associated with MS and in inflammatory markers. Fibrinogen, CRP, and C3 were positively, whereas albumin was inversely correlated with abdominal adiposity and insulin resistance. Adiponectin was inversely correlated with waist circumference and uric acid levels. Activities of adiponectin and proinflammatory markers are not correlated in overweight and obese women with MS. In addition to abdominal adiposity, uric acid may be implicated in a decrease of adiponectin in MS patients.
Immunoluminometric assay for measurement of the C-terminal endothelin-1 precursor fragment in human plasma.

BACKGROUND Endothelin-1 (ET-1), a potent vasoconstrictor, is difficult to measure because of its instability and its binding to receptors and plasma proteins. We report a rapid, robust way to indirectly quantify ET-1 release by measuring the C-terminal ET-1 precursor fragment (CT-proET-1) without an extraction step. METHODS In plasma samples from healthy individuals, patients with congestive heart failure (CHF), and patients with sepsis, we measured CT-proET-1 with a sandwich immunoluminometric assay that uses 2 polyclonal antibodies to amino acids 168-212 of pre-proET-1. We also correlated CT-proET-1 concentrations with bigET-1 measurements. RESULTS The assay yielded results within 3 h and showed linear dilution with an analytical detection limit of 0.4 pmol/L and an interlaboratory CV <10% for values >10 pmol/L. Ex vivo CT-proET-1 was stable (<10% loss of immunoreactivity) in EDTA-, heparin-, and citrate-plasma for at least 4 h at room temperature, 6 h at 4 degrees C, and in EDTA-plasma for at least 6 months at -20 degrees C. CT-proET-1 values followed a gaussian distribution in healthy individuals (mean, 44.3 pmol/L; range, 10.5-77.4 pmol/L) without significant differences between males and females. The correlation coefficient for CT-proET-1 vs age was 0.25 (P <0.0001). CT-proET1 was significantly (P <0.0001) increased in patients with CHF (median, 104 pmol/L; range, 50.8-315 pmol/L) and patients with sepsis (median, 189 pmol/L; range, 34.6-855 pmol/L). The correlation between CT-proET-1 and bigET-1 for 43 samples was 0.80 (P <0.0001). CONCLUSIONS CT-proET-1 measurement is a rapid and easy method for indirectly assessing the release of ET-1 in critically ill patients.
Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Background: The SF-6D was derived from the SF-36. A single summary score is obtained allegedly preserving the descriptive richness and sensitivity to change of the SF-36 into utility measurement. We compared the SF-6D and EQ-5D on domain content, scoring distribution, pre-treatment and change scores. Methods: The SF-6D and the EQ-5D were completed prior to intervention and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months post-intervention in a study enrolling 561 patients with symptomatic coronary stenosis. Patients were randomized to off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG), standard on-pump CABG, or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Baseline and change over time scores were compared using parametric and non-parametric tests. Results: The relative contribution of similar domains measuring daily functioning to the utility scores differed substantially. SF-6D focused more on social functioning, while EQ-5D gave more weight to physical functioning. Pain and mental health had similar contributions. The scoring range of the EQ-5D was twice the range of the SF-6D. Before treatment, EQ-5D and SF-6D mean scores appeared similar (0.64 versus 0.63, p = 0.09). Median scores, however, differed substantially (0.69 versus 0.60), a difference exceeding the minimal important difference of both instruments. Agreement was low, with an intra-class correlation of 0.45. Finally, we found large differences in measuring change over time. The SF-6D recorded greater intra-subject change in the PTCA-group. Only the EQ-5D recorded significant change in the CABG-groups. In the latter groups changes in SF-6D domains cancelled each other out. Conclusion: Although both instruments appear to measure similar constructs, the EQ-5D and SF6D are quite different. The low agreement and the differences in median values, scoring range and sensitivity to change after intervention show that the EQ-5D and SF-6D yield incomparable scores in patients with coronary heart disease. Background Measurement of health utility is an important part of costeffectiveness analysis in health care. Health utility can be measured by several preference-based utility measures, of which the EuroQol (EQ-5D) [1,2] and the Health Utility Index [3] are the most widely used. Recently, a new index Published: 25 March 2006 Health and Quality of Life Outcomes 2006, 4:20 doi:10.1186/1477-7525-4-20 Received: 24 August 2004 Accepted: 25 March 2006 This article is available from: http://www.hqlo. com/content/4/1/20 © 2006 van Stel and Buskens; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Demographic Parameters of Nezara viridula (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) Reared on Two Diets Developed for Lygus spp.

Two artificial diets developed for rearing Lygus spp. , a fresh yolk chicken egg based-diet (FYD) and a dry yolk chicken egg based-diet (DYD), were evaluated as an alternative food source for rearing the southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula (L.) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae). Survival to adult was 97.3 and 74.67%, respectively, on the fresh and dry yolk diets. Insects fed FYD had 100% survival of nymphs from first through fourth instars. Adult development was significantly shorter on FYD (30.37 ± SE 0.30 d) as compared with DYD (32.77 ± SE 0.16 d). Increased male and female longevity, higher fecundity, and larger egg mass sizes were also observed with N. viridula-fed FYD. However, fertility and hatchability was higher on DYD. A complete cohort life table was constructed to describe the development of N. viridula on both diets.
Optimisation of applications for FPGAs with PowerPC processor using priced timed automata

Some digital signal processing applications can be executed faster by moving parts of application implementation into hardware. Platforms, like Xilinx Virtex-4 4VFX12, allow a user to run software in embedded processor and offload computations to the set of hardware modules. The article deals with optimal schedule synthesis techniques for tasks executed on such platform using priced timed automata and UPPAAL CORA tool. It shows a schedule synthesis techniques minimising makespan or sum of completion times criterion. Moreover, it presents a synthesis methodology considering a fraction of resource capacity, called resource budget and maximization of processor utilization for tasks with bounded period. Case studies and FPGA experiments are finally presented.
Oligopsony and the Distribution of Wages

A number of theories (search and efficiency wages) have been developed, in part, to explain why identically able workers are often paid different wages. However, when there is a minimum wage, they do not explain the resulting ``spike" in the wage distribution. Our model's predictions are consistent with this evidence. We assume that workers are equally able but have heterogeneous preferences for non-wage characteristics, while employers have heterogeneous productivity characteristics. This results in a model of labor market oligopsony where ``inside'' and ``outside'' forces interact, producing wage dispersion as well as a spike at the minimum wage.
Group Therapy for Loss: Attachment, Intersubjectivity, and Healing

ABSTRACT Loss is a fundamental human experience that can impact a person’s mental health in diverse ways. While this experience is potentially formative, harmful manifestations can fracture one’s sense of self and undermine relational health. In this article, we present a rationale for process-oriented group therapy focused on healing relational injuries associated with loss. We draw on attachment, self-psychology, intersubjectivity, and Yalom & Leszcz’s (2005) model of group psychotherapy to explore how group processes allow clients to work through losses and relational frustrations in the here-and-now. A case vignette and discussion offer practical insight on the ways in which loss manifests in the room and demonstrate the uniqueness of the group setting for reparative processing.
Arsenic Exposure Increases Monocyte Adhesion to the Vascular Endothelium, a Pro-Atherogenic Mechanism

Epidemiological studies have shown that arsenic exposure increases atherosclerosis, but the mechanisms underlying this relationship are unknown. Monocytes, macrophages and platelets play an important role in the initiation of atherosclerosis. Circulating monocytes and macrophages bind to the activated vascular endothelium and migrate into the sub-endothelium, where they become lipid-laden foam cells. This process can be facilitated by platelets, which favour monocyte recruitment to the lesion. Thus, we assessed the effects of low-to-moderate arsenic exposure on monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells, platelet activation and platelet-monocyte interactions. We observed that arsenic induces human monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells in vitro. These findings were confirmed ex vivo using a murine organ culture system at concentrations as low as 10 ppb. We found that both cell types need to be exposed to arsenic to maximize monocyte adhesion to the endothelium. This adhesion process is specific to monocyte/endothelium interactions. Hence, no effect of arsenic on platelet activation or platelet/leukocyte interaction was observed. We found that arsenic increases adhesion of mononuclear cells via increased CD29 binding to VCAM-1, an adhesion molecule found on activated endothelial cells. Similar results were observed in vivo, where arsenic-exposed mice exhibit increased VCAM-1 expression on endothelial cells and increased CD29 on circulating monocytes. Interestingly, expression of adhesion molecules and increased binding can be inhibited by antioxidants in vitro and in vivo. Together, these data suggest that arsenic might enhance atherosclerosis by increasing monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells, a process that is inhibited by antioxidants.