Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Factors Influencing Online Poll Participation: An Examination of Perception of Online Polls, Information Literacy, and Political Efficacy in Mainland China

The purpose of this study is to examine the degree of participation in online polls and its relationship to the perception of online polls, information literacy, and the political efficacy of Internet users in mainland China. Data was gathered online from a sample of 419 Internet users. Results show that perceptions of both the usefulness and trustworthiness of online polls positively correlated to participation in online polls but not to information literacy or to political efficacy. Contrary to expected results, political efficacy did not relate to online poll participation. However, regression results suggested that Internet users who often participated in online polls were usually males who were literate in publishing and believed that online polls were an effective and trustworthy means to express opinions on public issues. Limitations and implications for future studies are discussed.
Effect of Medical and Surgical Therapy on Aortic Dissection Evaluated by Transesophageal Echocardiography Implications for Prognosis and Therapy

BackgroundAortic dissection still has a poor prognosis despite progress in therapy. Therefore, this prospective follow-up study was designed to determine whether the degree of communication between true and false lumen in relation to the type of dissection, analyzed by transesophageal echocardiography, influences the risk after initiation of medical or surgical therapy. Methods and ResultsIn eight centers, 168 patients (124 men and 44 women) of age range of 23-84 years with proven aortic dissection were examined by transesophageal echocardiography in the acute phase, after start of medical and/or surgical therapy, and during follow-up (0–65 months; mean, 10 months). Analyses were performed prospectively according to a detailed study protocol. Patients were subdivided by transesophageal echocardiography according to a modified DeBakey classification. Type I aortic dissection was found in 35%, typeII aortic dissection in 17%, and typem aortic dissection in 48%. Preoperative mortality was 3%, 7%, and 2%, and survival rates were 52%, 69%, and 70%, respectively. Typem aortic dissection could be subdivided into those with communication and antegrade dissection (ca) (50%), with communication and retrograde dissection limited to the descending aorta (cr desc) (10%), with dissection extended to the aortic arch and ascending aorta (cr asc) (27%), and withnoncommunicating (nc) aortic dissection (13%). An open false lumen with no thrombus formation was present in typesI, II, m ca andmcr asc aortic dissection in 17% 21%, 39%, and 27% respectively, although it was most pronounced in typesm nc andmcr desc (75% and 78%). During follow-up in patients who survived, thrombus was demonstrated in the false lumen in 80% of type I aortic dissection and 81% of typesm ca andm cr asc. Open false lumen was seen in type H aortic dissection in 18%. Spontaneous healing was found in 4% with type H and 4% with typem aortic dissection (mainly in patients with typem nc aortic dissection). Patients with fluid extravasation, pleural effusion, pericardial tamponade, and periaortic effusion as well as mediastinal hematoma had a mortality of 52%. Reoperations were necessary in 12-29%, with thehighest rate in patients with typem ca aortic dissection. Survival for patients with types M nc andm cr desc aortic dissection was higher than those with types I, II, m ca, andm cr asc. ConclusionsPreoperative mortality appears to be reduced by transesophageal echocardiography, allowing rapid initiation of treatment. Intraoperative and postoperative mortality in aortic dissection remains high. Risk factors are fluid extravasation and an open false lumen with high communication. Thrombus formation in the false lumen can be regarded as a good prognostic sign. Surgery appears tobe only a first step in the treatment of aortic dissection. Second surgery or closure of entry sites based on intraoperative echocardiography may be considered to induce thrombus formation and reduce aortic wall stress.
The effect of filler chemical constitution and morphological properties on the mechanical properties of natural fiber composites

The purpose of this work was to obtain environmentally friendly natural fibre composites (NFC) from high-density polyethylene (PE-HD) foil and either finely ground sunflower husk or pistachio shells, which both possess physico-mechanical characteristics similar to wood-polymer composite. The composites were prepared from waste materials without the use of additives. It was found that 66% of the sunflower husk grains were from 180 to 850 μm in size, and 88% of the pistachio shell particles were less than 63 μm in size. With the use of a rolling mixer, six mixtures were produced with filler shares amounting to 5, 15 and 30 wt. % of sunflower husk and 15, 35 and 55% of pistachio shell, from which dumbbell-shaped samples were formed via injection processing. The produced materials were analysed for their mechanical properties (impact strength, hardness, tensile strength, Young’s modulus and DMA). The morphologies and chemical composition of the filler as well as the morphological properties of the composites (SEM) were also investigated. The chemical constitution and shape of the filler particles affected the investigated properties of the obtained NFC, and the results were especially significant for the properties of impact strength, stiffness and tensile strength.
Pitch-Scaled Analysis based Residual Reconstruction for Speech Analysis and Synthesis

The typical problem in LPC-like vocoder is buzzing sound which is mainly due to the simple pulse train or noise excitation model. One way to improve it is to reconstruct the residual obtained from inverse filtering. So a new parametric representation of speech based on pitch-scaled analysis is proposed in this paper. Pitch-scaled analysis is used to extract the periodic spectrum of residual with half pitch period length. Then these periodic spectrums are de-correlated by principal component analysis (PCA) to reduce their dimension. Aperiodic measure is defined as the harmonic-to-noise ratio in the frequency domain where voicing cut-off frequency (VCO) is used to control the smoothness of aperiodicity. Periodic spectrum and aperiodic measure together with F0 are indicated as excitation parameters in the proposed LPC vocoder. Experimental results show that this proposed vocoder can get a mean opinion score (MOS) of 4.1 for a female voice before dimensionality reduction and keep the high-quality property after parameter compression.
Long-Run Effects of Public Sector Sponsored Training in West Germany

Between 1991 and 1997 West Germany spent on average about 3.6 bn Euro per year on public sector sponsored training programmes for the unemployed. We base our empirical analysis on a new administrative data base that plausibly allows for selectivity correction by microeconometric matching methods. We identify the effects of different types of training programmes over a horizon of more than seven years. Using bias corrected weighted multiple neighbours matching we find that all programmes have negative effects in the short run and positive effects over a horizon of about four years. However, for substantive training programmes with duration of about two years gains in employment probabilities of more than 10% points appear to be sustainable, but come at the price of large negative lock-in effects.
Exploiting Spatial Locality and Heterogeneity of Agents for Search and Rescue Teamwork *

We propose coordination mechanisms for multiple heterogeneous physical agents that operate in city‐scale disaster scenarios, where they need to find and rescue people and extinguish fires. Large‐scale disasters are characterized by limited and unreliable communications; dangerous events that may disable agents; uncertainty about the location, duration, and type of tasks; and stringent temporal constraints on task completion times. In our approach, agents form teams with other agents that are in the same geographical area. Our algorithms either yield stable teams formed up front and never change, fluid teams where agents can change teams as need arises, or teams that restrict the types of agents that can belong to the same team. We compare our teaming algorithms against a baseline algorithm in which agents operate independently of others and two state‐of‐the‐art coordination mechanisms. Our algorithms are tested in city‐scale disaster simulations using the RoboCup Rescue simulator. Our experiments with different city maps show that, in general, forming teams leads to increased task completion and, specifically, that our teaming method that restricts the types of agents in a team outperforms the other methods.
Top-k dominating queries in uncertain databases

Due to the existence of uncertain data in a wide spectrum of real applications, uncertain query processing has become increasingly important, which dramatically differs from handling certain data in a traditional database. In this paper, we formulate and tackle an important query, namely probabilistic top-k dominating (PTD) query, in the uncertain database. In particular, a PTD query retrieves k uncertain objects that are expected to dynamically dominate the largest number of uncertain objects. We propose an effective pruning approach to reduce the PTD search space, and present an efficient query procedure to answer PTD queries. Furthermore, approximate PTD query processing and the case where the PTD query is issued from an uncertain query object are also discussed. Extensive experiments have demonstrated the efficiency and effectiveness of our proposed PTD query processing approaches.
Treatment of Supratentorial Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage Using Image-Guided Minimally Invasive Surgery: Initial Experiences of a Flat Detector CT–Based Puncture Planning and Navigation System in the Angiographic Suite

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The intracerebral hemorrhage drainage through minimally invasive approach is emerging as an alternative for traditional craniotomy, due to its improved survival rate and reduced complication rate. In this study, we investigated the feasibility and safety of a flat detector CT–based puncture planning and navigation system for minimally invasive hematoma drainage on patients with intracerebral hemorrhage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The minimally invasive hematoma drainage was performed on 21 hypertensive patients with intracerebral hemorrhage in the angiographic suite with the guidance of a flat detector CT–based puncture planning and navigation system. This system is integrated in the angiographic machine, and was used for 1) planning the needle path based on a preprocedural flat detector CT scan, 2) advancing the catheter with real-time fluoroscopic guidance, and 3) confirming the procedure outcome based on an immediate postprocedural flat detector CT. The surgery efficiency, accuracy, and the treatment outcome were measured and compared with the published data. RESULTS: All procedures were successfully completed with the catheter placed 4 ± 1 mm from the planned position. The average surgery time was 40 ± 7 minutes. The volume of the hematoma was reduced to 28 ± 4% of the original volume. The Glasgow Coma Scale score was significantly improved from 10 ± 1 at the admission to 14 ± 1 at the discharge. The Extended Glasgow Coma Scale score also improved from 5 ± 1 at the discharge to 6 ± 1 at the 6-month follow-up. No major complication, rebleeding, and mortality were observed in this study. CONCLUSIONS: This flat detector CT–based needle guidance system provided a feasible, convenient, and safe way to perform the puncture and drainage of brain hematoma in the angiographic suite.
Evaluation of clock synchronization accuracy of coexistent Real-Time Ethernet protocols

This paper investigates Real-Time Ethernet (RTE) protocols for industrial applications and their clock synchronization performance. In fact, if different RTE protocols coexist on the same network sharing the same infrastructure, clock synchronization capabilities can be affected. This paper introduces a simulation environment to evaluate coexistence of RTE protocols. The proposed tool is described and validated by comparison with measurement data taken from real networks. Finally, simulation results are presented: the behavior of Ethernet/IP with IEEE1588-PTP, when it is transported over an isochronous PROFINET IO network, is shown and some improvements to the PTP tracking algorithms to ease coexistence are proposed.
Application of alvarado scoring system in diagnosis of acute appendicitis.

BACKGROUND In conditions like acute appendicitis it is impractical to have definitive diagnosis by gold standard test (histopathology) before surgery, we would like a simple test like Alvarado scoring system which depends on the presence and absence of certain variables and which provides an accurate guide to whether or not the patient has the condition. This study was conducted to evaluate Alvarado scoring system for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in our set up. METHODS 100 consecutive patients with suspected acute appendicitis admitted in Surgical B unit, Khyber Teaching Hospital Peshawar, during the period from July to December 2003 were included in the study. They were given specific scores according to the variables of Alvarado scoring system and then divided into 3 groups. Group 1 patients (score 7 or more) underwent surgery, group 2 patients (score 5-6) were admitted for observation and group 3 patients (score 4 or less) were discharged home. Patients from group 2 with increased symptom intensity (score 7 or more) in reevaluation underwent surgery. Diagnosis was confirmed by histopathological examination. Reliability of scoring system was assessed by calculating negative appendicectomy rate and positive predictive value. RESULTS Out of a total 100 patients 64 patients underwent surgery and appendicitis was confirmed in 54 cases, thus giving negative appendicectomy frequency of 15.6% (male 12%, female 17.9%). Perforation rate was 7.8%. Positive predictive value was 84.3% (males 88%, females 82.1%). CONCLUSION This scoring system is easy, simple and cheap complementary aid for supporting the diagnosis of acute appendicitis especially for junior surgeons.
Hydrodynamics of surface swimming in leopard frogs (Rana pipiens)

SUMMARY The kinematics of swimming frogs have been studied extensively in the past and, based on these results, hypotheses regarding the hydrodynamics of frog swimming can be generated. To test these hypotheses we used digital particle image velocimetry (DPIV) to quantify the flow structure of the wake produced by the feet during the propulsion phase of the kick of surface swimming frogs (Rana pipiens). These frogs use two different gaits, asynchronous and synchronous kicking, and the magnitude of the thrust produced by the feet differs between asynchronous (34±5.4 mN foot–1) and synchronous kicking (71±13.3 mN foot–1), as does maximum swimming speed, with higher swimming speed and forces produced during the synchronous kicks. Previous studies have suggested that an interaction between the feet, resulting in a single posteriorly directed fluid jet, as the feet come together at the end of synchronous kicks, may augment force production. Our results show, however, that each foot produces its own distinct vortex ring, in both asynchronous and synchronous kicking of the feet. There is no evidence of a central jet being produced even during powerful synchronous kicks (maximum thrust calculated was 264 mN foot–1). An alternative mechanism of force production could be the lift-based paddling recently suggested for delta-shaped feet of swimming birds. However, the orientation of the vortex rings generated by the feet is almost perpendicular to the swimming direction for both gaits and there is only a slight asynchrony of the shedding of the distal (start) and proximal (stop) vortex rings, which is different from what would be expected by a dominantly lift-based mechanism. Thus, our results do not support lift as a major mechanism contributing to thrust. Instead, our data support the hypothesis that propulsion is based on drag and acceleration reaction forces where the thrust is generated by separated, but attached, vortex rings on the suction side of the feet, resulting in vortices that are shed behind the frogs during both asynchronous and synchronous kicking.
The effect of propolis extract in the diet of chickens Ross 308 on their performance

The focus of the study was the performance of Ross 308 chickens after the application of propolis extract in their diet. The nutritional value of feed mixtures for chickens was equal, but the experimental groups were also added propolis extract in the dose of 200 mg.kg-1 (E1), 300 mg.kg-1 (E2) and 400 mg.kg-1 (E3), respectively. The results of the experiments showed that the propolis extract in the examined concentrations can be applied to the diet of chickens, since it managed to raise (P ≥ 0.05) the body weight positively (E1 – 2354.60 g; E2 – 2371.40 g; E3 – 2382.90 g), compared to control group (2272.89 g). Total increase of body weights indicates positive tendency of propolis extract in the diet of chickens Ross 308, because higher values (P ≥ 0.05) were reached in the experimental groups (2311.60 g – E1 to 2339.60 g – E3) compared to control (2230.80 g). Total feed consumption was higher in the experimental groups, on the contrary, FCR was lower (P ≥ 0.05) in the experimental groups (1.64 to 1.67) compared to control (1.69). The best performance results were reached in the group with the greatest addition of propolis extract, i.e. in the dose 400 mg.kg-1 of feed mixtures (E3).
Fetal ductus arteriosus ligation. Pulmonary vascular smooth muscle biochemical and mechanical changes.

To evaluate the smooth muscle mechanical and biochemical changes associated with persistent pulmonary hypertension syndrome of the newborn, we studied 31 fetal sheep in which the ductus arteriosus was ligated at 125 days of gestation. Sixty-one noninstrumented and six sham-operated fetuses served as controls. All animals were delivered by cesarean section at 137-140 days of gestation, and the experimental group had the ductus arteriosus ligated for 12 +/- 3 days. The ligated group demonstrated a higher mean (+/- SEM) pulmonary artery pressure (72.3 +/- 3.8 versus 54.1 +/- 2 mm Hg, p < 0.01) and right ventricular mean free wall weight (12.5 +/- 0.7 versus 6.8 +/- 0.3 g, p < 0.01) as compared with the sham-operated group. Significant changes in the pulmonary vascular smooth muscle of the ligated group were observed. The myosin content of vessels from the second through fifth generation demonstrated a significant increase in actin and myosin content (p < 0.01), but given their disproportional changes, the noninstrumented group demonstrated a lower actin/myosin ratio than the experimental group (p < 0.01). Changes in the myosin heavy chain isoform stoichiometry, characterized by an increase in both the mean high/low myosin heavy chain isoform ratio (1.8 +/- 0.3 versus 1.0 +/- 0.1, p < 0.05) and the nonmuscle isoform as a percentage of the total myosin heavy chain (12.4 +/- 0.7% versus 2.7 +/- 0.9%, p < 0.01), were also observed in the ligated as compared with the noninstrumented animals. In addition, the muscle Mg-ATPase activity was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced in the experimental group. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Hexafluorobenzene in comparison with perfluoro‐15‐crown‐5‐ether for repeated monitoring of oxygenation using 19F MRI in a mouse model

Hexafluorobenzene (HFB) and perfluoro‐15‐crown‐5‐ether (15C5) were compared as fluorine reporter probes of tissue oxygenation using 19F MRI for dynamic assessment of muscle oxygenation, with special focus on muscle tissue toxicity of the probes, and consecutive alteration of animal behavior. The latter were also compared in terms of sensitivity to changes in oxygenation as well as of signal‐to‐noise ratio for accurate pO2 measurements. For that purpose, mouse muscles were imaged at 11.7 T, at 2‐ and 36‐h after intramuscular injection of HFB or 15C5. Histological analysis of the muscle tissue revealed a lack of toxicity for 15C5 from 2 up to 36‐h postinjection, whereas HFB induced tissue necrosis, blood clots and thrombosis as soon as 24‐h postinjection. This muscle toxicity led to a limitation in mice mobility 24‐h after injection of HFB as evidenced by behavioral testing (open‐field, grip strength, and catwalk tests), which was not the case after 15C5 intramuscular injection. Finally, pO2 measurements assessed 2‐h postinjection showed consistent values with both probes, evidencing cross‐validation of the 19F MRI oximetry technique for acute measurements. However, the measurement at 36‐h was hampered for HFB, which showed significant lower values of muscle pO2, whereas 15C5 was able to reliably assess muscle pO2 at 36‐h postinjection. Magn Reson Med, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Comparative Network-Based Recovery Analysis and Proteomic Profiling of Neurological Changes in Valproic Acid-Treated Mice

Despite its prominence for characterization of complex mixtures, LC–MS/MS frequently fails to identify many proteins. Network-based analysis methods, based on protein–protein interaction networks (PPINs), biological pathways, and protein complexes, are useful for recovering non-detected proteins, thereby enhancing analytical resolution. However, network-based analysis methods do come in varied flavors for which the respective efficacies are largely unknown. We compare the recovery performance and functional insights from three distinct instances of PPIN-based approaches, viz., Proteomics Expansion Pipeline (PEP), Functional Class Scoring (FCS), and Maxlink, in a test scenario of valproic acid (VPA)-treated mice. We find that the most comprehensive functional insights, as well as best non-detected protein recovery performance, are derived from FCS utilizing real biological complexes. This outstrips other network-based methods such as Maxlink or Proteomics Expansion Pipeline (PEP). From FCS, we identified known biological complexes involved in epigenetic modifications, neuronal system development, and cytoskeletal rearrangements. This is congruent with the observed phenotype where adult mice showed an increase in dendritic branching to allow the rewiring of visual cortical circuitry and an improvement in their visual acuity when tested behaviorally. In addition, PEP also identified a novel complex, comprising YWHAB, NR1, NR2B, ACTB, and TJP1, which is functionally related to the observed phenotype. Although our results suggest different network analysis methods can produce different results, on the whole, the findings are mutually supportive. More critically, the non-overlapping information each provides can provide greater holistic understanding of complex phenotypes.
A simple spectroscopic method for differentiating cellular uptakes of gold nanospheres and nanorods from their mixtures.

This paper presents a simple spectroscopic method for differentiating cellular uptakes of two different types of Au nanostructures (i.e., nanospheres and nanorods) when they are supplied as a mixture. Because Au nanospheres and nanorods have distinctive surface plasmon resonance peaks, we can simultaneously measure their concentrations in a culture mediumbyUV-Vis spectroscopy. For the uptake of Au nanostructures by SK-BR-3 breast cancer cells, we found that the surface functional group had a stronger influence than the shape. We also found that the cellular uptake of one type of Au nanostructure could be affected bythe presence of another type of nanostructure in the medium. This study not only suggests a simple way to compare the cellular uptakes of more than one type of Au nanostructures without incubating them separately but also allows one to investigate the influence of one type of Au nanostructures on the uptake of another type.