Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Introduction to Rare Event Simulation

This monograph deals with the analysis by simulation of ‘rare situations’ in systems of quite different types, that is, situations that happen very infrequently, but important enough to justify their study. A rare event is an event occurring with a very small probability, the definition of ‘small’ depending on the application domain. These events are of interest in many areas. Typical examples come, for instance, from transportation systems, where catastrophic failures must be rare enough. For instance, a representative specification for civil aircraft is that the probability of failure must be less than, say, 10−9 during an ‘average-length’ flight (a flight of about 8 hours). Transportation systems are called critical in the dependability area because of the existence of these types of failures, that is, failures that can lead to loss of human life if they occur. Aircraft, trains, subways, all these systems belong to this class. The case of cars is less clear, mainly because the probability of a catastrophic failure is, in many contexts, much higher. Security systems in nuclear plants are also examples of critical systems. Nowadays we also call critical other systems where catastrophic failures may lead to significant loss of money rather than human lives (banking information systems, for example). In telecommunications, modern networks often offer very high speed links. Since information travels in small units or messages (packets in the Internet world, cells in asynchronous transfer mode infrastructures, etc.), the saturation of the memory of a node in the network, even during a small amount of time, may induce a huge amount of losses (in most cases, any unit arriving at
Particle Deformation and Sliding During Compaction of Spherical Powders: A Study by Quantitative Metallography

The development of contact facets between particles during compaction of a spherical bronze powder is studied in isostatic and uniaxial compression. Nonradial particle motion (particle sliding or 'restacking') is revealed by the eccentricity of the contact flat with respect to the initial point of contact, the latter being marked by a neck formed during light presintering of the powder: bed. (The presintering does not seriously affect subsequent compaction.) From these observations, it is concluded that particle sliding occurs up to a pressure at which the original porosity has been about halved. The number of contacts per particle changes gradually from 7·3 in the uncompacted powder to about 12 at 2'5% residual porosity. At the end of densification, the contact number changes very quickly and the particle shape at full density can be approximated by a tetrakaidekahedron. The measurements of coordination number and contact flattening suggest that isostatic ompaction involves less sliding and more deformation of the particles than occurs in uniaxial compression.
Strategies for Humanoid Robots to Dynamically Walk Over Large Obstacles

This study proposes a complete solution to make the humanoid robot HRP-2 dynamically step over large obstacles. As compared with previous results using quasistatic stability, where the robot crosses over a 15-cm obstacle in 40 s, our solution allows HRP-2 to step over the same obstacle in 4 s. This approach allows the robot to clear obstacles as high as 21% of the robot's leg length (15 cm) while walking. Simulations show the possibility to step over an obstacle that is 35% of the length (25 cm) with a margin of 3 cm.
Spatial model predicts dispersal and cell turnover cause reduced intra-tumor heterogeneity

Most cancers in humans are large, measuring centimeters in diameter, composed of many billions of cells. An equivalent mass of normal cells would be highly heterogeneous as a result of the mutations that occur during each cell division. What is remarkable about cancers is their homogeneity virtually every neoplastic cell within a large cancer contains the same core set of genetic alterations, with heterogeneity confined to mutations that have emerged after the last clonal expansions. How such clones expand within the spatially-constrained three dimensional architecture of a tumor, and come to dominate a large, pre-existing lesion, has never been explained. We here describe a model for tumor evolution that shows how short-range migration and cell turnover can account for rapid cell mixing inside the tumor. With it, we show that even a small selective advantage of a single cell within a large tumor allows the descendants of that cell to replace the precursor mass in a clinically relevant time frame. We also demonstrate that the same mechanisms can be responsible for the rapid onset of resistance to chemotherapy. Our model not only provides novel insights into spatial and temporal aspects of tumor growth but also suggests that targeting short range cellular migratory activity could have dramatic effects on tumor growth rates.
Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy for Central Lung Tumors

Introduction: Patients with centrally located lung tumors have been reported to have a higher risk of toxicity when treated with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) compared with patients with peripheral tumors. The optimal SBRT fractionation schedule for treatment of central tumors is unknown. The primary purpose of this study was to assess toxicity in patients with central lesions treated with SBRT at our institution, the majority of whom were treated with four fractions. Methods: Forty-seven patients with 51 central lesions, either primary lung cancer or lung metastases, were treated with SBRT at the Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale University School of Medicine/Yale Cancer Center from 2007 to 2011. The patients were treated with three to five fractions with the majority of patients receiving 50 Gy in four fractions of 12.5 Gy. Forty of the lesions were located within 2 cm of the proximal tracheobronchial tree whereas 11 were located within 2 cm of other mediastinal structures. Toxicity data were collected and analyzed according to pretreatment and tumor characteristics and dosimetric parameters. Lobar control data were compiled. Results: With a median follow-up of 11.3 months (range, 4.8–40.8), four patients experienced grade 3 dyspnea and one patient developed hemoptysis that contributed to respiratory failure and subsequent death. Grade 2 toxicity included fatigue (n = 3), dyspnea (n = 3), chest-wall pain (n = 1), and cough (n = 1). Patients with grade 3+ toxicity had larger maximum tumor diameters compared with those patients without grade 3+ toxicity (median diameter 4.3 cm versus 2.9 cm, p = 0.02). There were no detectable significant differences between the two groups with respect to baseline pulmonary function tests, distance to tracheobronchial tree, maximum point dose to the tracheobronchial tree, maximum dose to 5 cc of the tracheobronchial tree, mean lung dose, and volume of lung receiving 5 Gy, 10 Gy, and 20 Gy. There were two patients who experienced local recurrences. The median biological equivalent dose (linear quadratic formula, &agr;/&bgr; = 10) for patients with local recurrence was 76 Gy compared with 112.5 Gy for patients without local recurrence (2-tailed t test, p = 0.04). The 2-year actuarial lobar local control for the entire cohort was 94%. The 2-year lobar local-control rate for patients receiving a biological equivalent dose of 100 Gy or more was 100% and for those receiving less than 100 Gy was 80% (log rank, p = 0.02). Conclusion: SBRT for central lung tumors seems to be safe, although treatment of larger tumors does carry an increased risk of high-grade toxicity. Efforts to decrease the toxicity risk by decreasing the biologically equivalent dose resulted in increased local failure.
Biomarkers of environmental tobacco smoke exposure.

Biomarkers are desirable for quantitating human exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and for predicting potential health risks for exposed individuals. A number of biomarkers of ETS have been proposed. At present cotinine, measured in blood, saliva, or urine, appears to be the most specific and the most sensitive biomarker. In nonsmokers with significant exposure to ETS, cotinine levels in the body are derived primarily from tobacco smoke, can be measured with extremely high sensitivity, and reflect exposure to a variety of types of cigarettes independent of machine-determined yield. Under conditions of sustained exposure to ETS (i.e., over hours or days), cotinine levels reflect exposure to other components of ETS. Supporting the validity of cotinine as a biomarker, cotinine levels have been positively correlated to the risks of some ETS-related health complications in children who are not cigarette smokers. ImagesFigure 1
Acute Silver Toxicity in Aquatic Animals Is a Function of Sodium Uptake Rate

A D A L T O B I A N C H I N I , * , † M A R T I N G R O S E L L , ‡ S E A N M . G R E G O R Y , § A N D C H R I S M . W O O D § Department of Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4K1 Canada, Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Fundação Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Rua Eng. Alfredo Huch 475, Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, 96201-900 Brazil, and Department of Zoophysiology, August Krogh Institute, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 13, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
Mesenchymal stem cells for the management of rheumatoid arthritis: immune modulation, repair or both?

Purpose of review Mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) have potent anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties, in addition to their ability to form cartilage and bone. The purpose of this review is to highlight recent developments and current knowledge gaps in our understanding of the protective effects of MSCs against inflammatory arthritis, and to discuss their clinical exploitation for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Recent findings The weight of evidence for protective mechanisms of exogenously administered MSCs is on immunomodulatory effects, including inhibition of dendritic cell maturation, polarization of macrophages to an anti-inflammatory phenotype, and activation of regulatory T cells, thereby dampening inflammation and preventing joint damage. Evidence for direct effects on tissue repair is scant. Recent studies have identified MSC subsets in vivo and an important question is whether MSCs in their native tissues have similar immunoregulatory functions. Recent proof-of-concept clinical studies have shown a satisfactory safety profile of allogeneic MSC therapy in RA patients with promising trends for clinical efficacy. Summary Allogeneic MSCs could be effective in RA. Larger, multicentre clinical studies are needed to provide robust evidence, and MSC treatment at early stages of RA should be explored to ‘reset’ the immune system.
Apparent Improvement in Canine Collateral Myocardial Blood Flow during Vasodilation Depends on Criteria Used to Identify Ischemic Myocardium

We measured epicardial S-T segment elevation and blood flow to the subjacent myocar-dium in 8-12 samples from anesthetized, open-chest dogs with coronary occlusion. The response to iv adenosine of blood flow to “ischemic” myocardium/mean aortic pressure depended on which criterion (among criteria I-V) was used to select samples as “ischemic”: I—(S-T ⩾ 2 mV), 125 ± 47% increase (P< 0.08); II—(S-T ⩾ 4 mV), 58 ± 48% increase [not significant (NS)]; III—(myocardial blood flow < 50% of control zone), 6 ± 19% decrease (NS); IV—(flow < 25% of control), 13 ± 16% decrease (NS); V—(< 2% normal zone tissue, labeled by a special microsphere technique), 46 ± 8% decrease(P< 0.03). Peripheral coronary pressure and retrograde flow/mean aortic pressure decreased by 23 and 28%, respectively(P < 0.05), to suggest that criterion V was correct in identifying as ischemic a group of samples in which adenosine decreased collateral flow. The higher apparent control collateral flow values (criteria I-III) and unchanged or increased flow to samples of supposedly ischemic myocardium (criteria I-IV) could be explained by their larger fractions of normal zone tissue mixed in with ischemic tissue: absolute flow change during adenosine = 3.85 (fraction of normal zone tissue in sample)—0.156 ml/min per g, r = 0.94, n = 64. We conclude that criteria which fail to exclude contamination of supposedly ischemic samples by normal zone tissue can lead to misinterpretation of the direction and/or magnitude of changes in collateral flow to ischemic myocardium during vasodilation. Changes in flow to samples containing mixtures of normal and ischemic tissue may not be relevant to attempts to salvage truly ischemic myocardium by increasing actual collateral myocardial blood flow. Circ Res 47:108-116,1980
On BICM Receivers for TCM Transmission

Recent results have shown that the performance of bit-interleaved coded modulation (BICM) using convolutional codes in nonfading channels can be significantly improved when the interleaver takes a trivial form (BICM-T), i.e., when it does not interleave the bits at all. In this paper, we give a formal explanation for these results and show that BICM-T is, in fact, the combination of a TCM transmitter and a BICM receiver. To predict the performance of BICM-T, a new type of distance spectrum for convolutional codes is introduced, analytical bounds based on this spectrum are developed, and asymptotic approximations are presented. It is shown that the free Hamming distance of the code is not the relevant optimization criterion for BICM-T. Asymptotically optimal convolutional codes for different constraint lengths are tabulated and BICM-T is shown to offer asymptotic gains of about 2 dB over traditional BICM designs based on random interleavers. The asymptotic gains over uncoded transmission are found to be the same as those obtained by Ungerboeck's one-dimensional trellis-coded modulation (1D-TCM), and therefore, in nonfading channels, BICM-T is shown to be as good as 1D-TCM.
Autonomic nervous system changes during Reiki treatment: a preliminary study.

OBJECTIVES to investigate if a complementary therapy, Reiki, has any effect on indices of autonomic nervous system function. DESIGN Blind trial. SETTING/LOCATION Quiet room in an out-patient clinic. SUBJECTS Forty-five (45) subjects assigned at random into three groups. INTERVENTIONS Three treatment conditions: no treatment (rest only); Reiki treatment by experienced Reiki practitioner; and placebo treatment by a person with no knowledge of Reiki and who mimicked the Reiki treatment. OUTCOME MEASURES Quantitative measures of autonomic nervous system function such as heart rate, cardiac vagal tone, blood pressure, cardiac sensitivity to baroreflex, and breathing activity were recorded continuously for each heartbeat. Values during and after the treatment period were compared with baseline data. RESULTS Heart rate and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly in the Reiki group compared to both placebo and control groups. CONCLUSIONS The study indicates that Reiki has some effect on the autonomic nervous system. However, this was a pilot study with relatively few subjects and the changes were relatively small. The results justify further, larger studies to look at the biological effects of Reiki treatment.
Effectiveness of a Web-Based Multiple Tailored Smoking Cessation Program: A Randomized Controlled Trial Among Dutch Adult Smokers

Background Distributing a multiple computer-tailored smoking cessation intervention through the Internet has several advantages for both provider and receiver. Most important, a large audience of smokers can be reached while a highly individualized and personal form of feedback can be maintained. However, such a smoking cessation program has yet to be developed and implemented in the Netherlands. Objective To investigate the effects of a Web-based multiple computer-tailored smoking cessation program on smoking cessation outcomes in a sample of Dutch adult smokers. Methods Smokers were recruited from December 2009 to June 2010 by advertising our study in the mass media and on the Internet. Those interested and motivated to quit smoking within 6 months (N = 1123) were randomly assigned to either the experimental (n = 552) or control group (n = 571). Respondents in the experimental group received the fully automated Web-based smoking cessation program, while respondents in the control group received no intervention. After 6 weeks and after 6 months, we assessed the effect of the intervention on self-reported 24-hour point prevalence abstinence, 7-day point prevalence abstinence, and prolonged abstinence using logistic regression analyses. Results Of the 1123 respondents, 449 (40.0%) completed the 6-week follow-up questionnaire and 291 (25.9%) completed the 6-month follow-up questionnaire. We used a negative scenario to replace missing values. That is, we considered respondents lost to follow-up to still be smoking. The computer-tailored program appeared to have significantly increased 24-hour point prevalence abstinence (odds ratio [OR] 1.85, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.30–2.65), 7-day point prevalence abstinence (OR 2.17, 95% CI 1.44–3.27), and prolonged abstinence (OR 1.99, 95% CI 1.28–3.09) rates reported after 6 weeks. After 6 months, however, no intervention effects could be identified. Results from complete-case analyses were similar. Conclusions The results presented suggest that the Web-based computer-tailored smoking cessation program had a significant effect on abstinence reported after a 6-week period. At the 6-month follow-up, however, no intervention effects could be identified. This might be explained by the replacement of missing values on the primary outcome measures due to attrition using a negative scenario. While results were similar when using a less conservative scenario (ie, complete-case analyses), the results should still be interpreted with caution. Further research should aim at identifying strategies that will prevent high attrition in the first place and, subsequently, to identify the best strategies for dealing with missing data when studies have high attrition rates. Trial Registration Dutch Trial Register NTR1351; http://www.trialregister. nl/trialreg/admin/rctview.asp? TC=1351 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/67egSTWrz)
Journal of Medical Case Reports Resolution of Cast Nephropathy following Free Light Chain Removal by Haemodialysis in a Patient with Multiple Myeloma: a Case Report

Introduction: Acute renal failure in multiple myeloma is most frequently caused by cast nephropathy, when excess monoclonal free light chains co-precipitate with Tamm-Horsfall protein in the distal nephron, causing tubular obstruction. The natural history of cast nephropathy after diagnosis is unknown. This report provides supporting histological evidence that, as serum free light chain concentrations fall, intratubular casts may resolve within weeks.
Diabetes Inhibits Cerebral Ischemia-Induced Astrocyte Activation - an Observation in the Cingulate Cortex

The objective of this study was to study the effect of diabetic hyperglycemia on astrocytes after forebrain ischemia. Streptozotocin (STZ)-injected hyperglycemic and vehicle-injected normoglycemic rats were subjected to 15 minutes of forebrain ischemia. The brains were harvested in sham-operated controls and in animals with 1 and 6 h of recirculation following ischemia. Brain damage was accessed by haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, cleaved caspase-3 immunohistochemistry and TdT-mediated-dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). Anti-GFAP antibody was employed to study astrocytes. The results showed that the 15-minute ischemia caused neuronal death after 1 and 6 h of reperfusion as revealed by increased numbers of karyopyknotic cells, edema, TUNEL-positive and active caspase-3-positive cells. Ischemia also activated astrocytes in the cingulated cortex as reflected by astrocyte stomata hypertrophy, elongated dendrites and increases in the number of dendrites, and immunoreactivity of GFAP. Diabetic hyperglycemia further enhanced neuronal death and suppressed ischemia-induced astrocyte activation. Further, diabetes-damaged astrocytes have increased withdrawal of the astrocyte end-foot from the cerebral blood vessel wall. It is concluded that diabetes-induced suppression and damages to astrocytes may contribute to its detrimental effects on recovery from cerebral ischemia.
SPICE model for lossy piezoelectric polymers

This work presents the transmission line equivalent model for lossy piezoelectric polymers and its SPICE implementation. The model includes the mechanical/viscoelastic, dielectric/electrical, and piezoelectric/electromechanical losses in a novel way by using complex elastic, dielectric, and piezoelectric constants obtained from the measured impedances of PVDF and PVDF-TrFE samples by nonlinear regression technique. The equivalent circuit parameters are derived from analogies between a lossy electrical transmission line and acoustic wave propagation. The simulated impedance and phase plots of various samples, working in thickness mode, have been shown to agree well with the measured data.
Polynomial iterative algorithms for coloring and analyzing random graphs.

We study the graph coloring problem over random graphs of finite average connectivity c. Given a number q of available colors, we find that graphs with low connectivity admit almost always a proper coloring whereas graphs with high connectivity are uncolorable. Depending on q, we find with a one-step replica-symmetry breaking approximation the precise value of the critical average connectivity c(q). Moreover, we show that below c(q) there exists a clustering phase c in [c(d),c(q)] in which ground states spontaneously divide into an exponential number of clusters. Furthermore, we extended our considerations to the case of single instances showing consistent results. This leads us to propose a different algorithm that is able to color in polynomial time random graphs in the hard but colorable region, i.e., when c in [c(d),c(q)].
Validation of an FFQ and options for data processing using the doubly labelled water method in children

Abstract Objective To validate an FFQ designed to estimate energy intake in children against doubly labelled water (DLW). To investigate how quality control and standard beverage portion sizes affect the validity of the FFQ. Design Thirty healthy children, aged 4–6 years, participated. Total energy expenditure (EE) was measured by the DLW method during an observation period of 15 d. At the end of this period parents filled out an FFQ designed to assess the child’s habitual energy intake (EI) of the preceding four weeks. Setting Validation study in The Netherlands. Subjects Thirty healthy children (fifteen boys and fifteen girls), aged 4–6 years. Results Mean EI (6117 (sd 1025) kJ/d) did not differ significantly from mean EE (6286 (sd 971) kJ/d; P = 0·15); the mean EI:EE ratio was 0·98. The Pearson correlation coefficient between EI and EE was 0·62. The Bland–Altman plot showed no systematic bias and a constant bias close to zero. Less intensive quality control of the FFQ maintained the mean EI:EE ratio and decreased the correlation slightly. Using standard instead of individually measured beverage portion sizes decreased the mean EI:EE ratio, but maintained the correlation. Conclusions It can be concluded that the developed FFQ is a valid instrument to estimate mean energy intake in a group of 4- to 6-year-old children and performs reasonably well to rank the subjects with respect to energy intake. It is therefore a useful instrument to estimate energy intake in children in surveys and epidemiological studies in The Netherlands.