Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Deconvolution and correlation-based interferometric redatuming by wavefield inversion

Seismic interferometry is a method to retrieve Green’s functions for sources (or receivers) where there are only receivers (or sources, respectively). This can be done by correlationor deconvolution-based methods. In this work we present a new approach to reposition the seismic array from the earth’s surface to an arbitrary datum at depth using the one-way reciprocity theorems of convolution and correlation type. The redatuming process is done in three steps: (a) retrieving the downward Green’s function for sources at the earth’s surface and receivers at the datum, (b) retrieving the corresponding upward Green’s function, and (c) retrieving the reflected upward wavefield for sources and receivers at the datum. Input for steps (a) and (b) are the surface data and wavefields simulated in a velocity model of the datum overburden. Step (c) uses the responses of steps (a) and (b) as input data in the convolution-based interferometric equation. The method accounts for inhomogeneities in the overburden medium, thus reducing anticausal events and artefacts as compared to a purely correlation-based procedure.
Carotid Plaque Morphology Is Significantly Associated With Sex, Age, and History of Neurological Symptoms

Background and Purpose— The purpose of this study was to analyze the association between morphological characteristics of human carotid plaques and patient’s sex, age, and history of neurological symptoms. Methods— The study included 763 atherosclerotic plaques from patients treated surgically for carotid stenosis between 2004 and 2013. Histological analyses of carotid plaques were performed to assess the type of plaque (American Heart Association classification), the stability of the plaque, the extent of calcification, inflammation, and neovascularization, as well as the deposition of collagen and elastin. According to the scale of outcome measurement, logistic regression, ordinal regression, and multinomial regression analyses were applied. All results were adjusted for common risk factors of atherosclerosis. Results— Male sex was associated with more cellularity (odds ratio [OR], 1.56; P=0.003), more inflammatory infiltrates (OR, 1.75; P<0.001), and more neovascularization (OR, 1.47; P=0.010), but less calcification (OR, 0.78; P=0.090). Symptomatic patients were more likely to have a lower amount of elastin (OR, 0.71; P=0.057). Higher age was associated with increased calcification (OR, 1.23; P=0.009). Unstable plaques were found more frequently in symptomatic patients (OR, 1.60; 95% confidence interval, 1.14–2.25; P=0.007). A multinomial regression model revealed that age, sex, and history of neurological symptoms were significantly associated with specific plaque types (P=0.009, P<0.001, and P=0.017, respectively). Conclusions— Plaque morphology differed between men and women and varied with age. Certain types of plaques (VI and VI/VII) as well as unstable plaques were significantly associated with a history of neurological symptoms. Thus, individual approaches (eg, in detection of plaque hemorrhage or thin fibrous caps) especially based on sex and age should be considered to identify patients at increased risk of stroke.
Bio-signal Processing Using Cartesian Genetic Programming Evolved Artificial Neural Network (CGPANN)

The aim of this paper is to explore the application of Neuro-Evolutionary Techniques to the diagnosis of various diseases. We applied the evolutionary technique of Cartesian Genetic programming Evolved Artificial Neural Network (CG-PANN) for the detection of three important diseases. Some cases showed excellent results while others are in the process of experimentation. In the first case we worked on diagnosing the extent of Parkinson's disease using a computer based test. Experiments in this case are in progress. In the second case, we applied the Fine Needle Aspirate (FNA) data for Breast Cancer from the WDBC website to our network to classify the samples as either benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). The results from these experiments were highly satisfactory. In the third case, we developed a modified form of Pan-Tompkins's algorithm to detect the fiducial points from ECG signals and extracted key features from them. The features shall be applied to our network to classify the signals for the different types of Arrhythmias. Experimentation is still in progress.
Regulation of protocadherin gene expression by multiple neuron-restrictive silencer elements scattered in the gene cluster

The clustered protocadherins are a subfamily of neuronal cell adhesion molecules that play an important role in development of the nervous systems in vertebrates. The clustered protocadherin genes exhibit complex expression patterns in the central nervous system. In this study, we have investigated the molecular mechanism underlying neuronal expression of protocadherin genes using the protocadherin gene cluster in fugu as a model. By in silico prediction, we identified multiple neuron-restrictive silencer elements (NRSEs) scattered in the fugu protocadherin cluster and demonstrated that these elements bind specifically to NRSF/REST in vitro and in vivo. By using a transgenic Xenopus approach, we show that these NRSEs regulate neuronal specificity of protocadherin promoters by suppressing their activity in non-neuronal tissues. We provide evidence that protocadherin genes that do not contain an NRSE in their 5′ intergenic region are regulated by NRSEs in the regulatory region of their neighboring genes. We also show that protocadherin clusters in other vertebrates such as elephant shark, zebrafish, coelacanth, lizard, mouse and human, contain different sets of multiple NRSEs. Taken together, our data suggest that the neuronal specificity of protocadherin cluster genes in vertebrates is regulated by the NRSE-NRSF/REST system.
Anticardiolipin antibodies as a risk factor for venous thromboembolism in a population‐based prospective study

Summary. Anticardiolipin antibodies, one of the family of ‘antiphospholipid’ antibodies, increase the risk of venous thromboembolism in the presence of autoimmune disease. Our objective was to determine prospectively whether there is a positive association between anticardiolipin antibodies and venous thromboembolism in ostensibly healthy adults. We conducted a nested case–control study (n = 317 patients and n = 655 control subjects) in a longitudinal study of over 20 000 participants. Baseline (prediagnosis) anticardiolipin IgG and IgM antibodies were assessed by enzyme‐linked immunoassays. Venous thromboembolism was validated using standardized criteria for venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. There was no association between anticardiolipin antibodies and subsequent venous thromboembolism occurrence, overall or in any subgroup. For example, the multivariate‐adjusted relative risk was 0·88 (95% confidence interval, 0·43, 1·78) for greater than versus less than the 95th percentile of anticardiolipin IgG. In conclusion, in this general population sample, an elevated anticardiolipin antibody level was not a risk factor for venous thromboembolism.
Prerequisites for a dry powder inhaler for children with cystic fibrosis

Correct inhalation technique is essential for effective use of dry powder inhalers (DPIs), as their effectiveness largely depends on the patient’s inhalation manoeuvre. Children are an especially challenging target population for DPI development due to the large variability in understanding and inspiratory capacities. We previously performed a study in which we determined the prerequisites for a paediatric DPI in a mostly healthy paediatric population, for which we used an empty test inhaler with variable internal airflow resistance and mouthpiece. In the current study we investigated what specifications are required for a DPI for children with cystic fibrosis (CF), for which we expanded on our previous findings. We recorded flow profiles of 35 children with CF (aged 4.7–14.7 years) at three airflow resistances (0.031–0.045 kPa0.5.min.L-1) from which various inspiratory parameters were computed. Obstructions in the mouth during inhalation were recorded with a sinuscope. All children were able to perform a correct inhalation manoeuvre, although video analysis showed that children did not place the inhaler correctly in the mouth in 17% of the cases. No effect was found of medium to high airflow resistance on total inhaled volume, which implies that the whole resistance range tested is suitable for children with CF aged 4–14 years. No effect could be established of either mouthpiece design or airflow resistance on the occurrence of obstructions in the mouth cavity. This study confirms our previous conclusion that the development of DPIs specifically for children is highly desired. Such a paediatric DPI should function well at 0.5 L inhaled volume and a peak inspiratory flow rate of 20 to 30 L/min, depending on the internal airflow resistance. This resistance can be increased up to 0.045 kPa0.5. min.L-1 (medium-high) to reduce oropharyngeal deposition. A higher resistance may be less favourable due to its compromising effect on PIF and thereby on the energy available for powder dispersion.
Synthesis of decoupling controller for non-minimum phase plants of different pole numbers on RHP within uncertainties

This article mainly studies the decoupling controller design for non-minimum phase plants of different pole numbers on RHP within uncertainties. The normalised coprime factorisation is considered to achieve the robustness requirements. The pole-zero cancellations on RHP should be averted for the sake of robustness. For convenience, the H ∞ sub-optimal controller is utilised to meet the robust criterion of the plant. Some necessary state space formulae are also provided to facilitate the synthesis of the decoupling controller. The configuration of the two-parameter compensation is employed. The Bezout identity makes the feedforward controller easy to determine. A brief algorithm is presented. In addition, the proposed synthesis is illustrated with a numerical example. The robust bounds of the feedback controller can be assessed for both the additive uncertainty and the coprime factor uncertainties. The result shows that the compensated system is decoupled and is guaranteed to be internally stable within the specified robust bound although the pole number varies on RHP.
Electrohydrodynamic Print-Patterning of Nano-Hydroxyapatite

Hydroxyapatite nano-particles have been synthesised by a precipitation reaction. These particles were then incorporated in a suspension containing ethanol as the liquid carrier. The suspension was subjected to flow in an electric field to generate a jet and, subsequently, droplets, which were deposited according to pre-determined topographies using a printing device. Thus, several nHA topographies have been generated and investigated using optical and scanning electron microscopy. In particular, nHA tracks down to 50 mu m in width have been prepared and this forming route offers the creation of nHA topographies to a high resolution not achieved by print-deposition techniques before.
The X-ray luminosity function of local galaxies

We present an estimate of the local X-ray luminosity function and emissivity for different subsamples of galaxies, namely Seyferts, LINERS, star-forming and passive (no-emission-line) galaxies. This is performed by convolving their optical luminosity function, as derived from the Ho et al. spectroscopic sample of nearby galaxies with the corresponding Lx/LB relation. The local galaxy emissivity is ≈ 1.6 × 1039 h erg s-1 Mpc-3 in agreement with the results from a number of cross-correlation analyses using large-area surveys. From our analysis, it becomes evident that the largest fraction of the galaxy emissivity comes from galaxies associated with active galactic nuclei (Seyferts but also LINERS) while the contribution of star-forming and passive galaxies is small. This independently supports the view that most of the yet unidentified X-ray sources in deep ROSAT fields which are associated with faint optical galaxies do harbour an active galactic nucleus.
Emotions, experiences and usability in real-life mobile phone use

Positive emotional experiences with an interactive product are assumed to lead to good user experience and, ultimately, to product success. However, the path from emotional experiences to product evaluation may not be direct, as emotions fluctuate over time, and some experiences are easier to recall than others. In this study, we examined emotions and experience episodes during real-life mobile phone use over a five-month period. The goal is to understand how emotions and memories are related to overall evaluation of a product: usability, user experience and behavioral intentions. The results show that both emotions and how people remember them had strong unique roles in the overall evaluation of the product. Positive emotions were mostly related to good user experience and negative emotions to low usability. In the early stages of use, users overestimated their positive emotions and seemed to focus on user experience, the importance of usability increased over time.
Comparative Influence of Self-Efficacy, Social Support and Perceived Barriers on Low Physical Activity Development in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes, Hypertension or Stroke

Background Type 2 Diabetes, hypertension and stroke are strongly linked, and patients with any of these disorders are usually advised to be physically active based on existing evidence. However, different psychosocial constructs are found in separate settings to influence the physical activity levels of these different groups of patients. Hence, there is a need to establish the most important of the constructs to influence low physical activity in these groups of patients from Nigeria. Methods This cross-sectional study included 509 participants aged 35–80 years from randomly selected health facilities in South-western Nigeria. Physical activity level, self-efficacy, social support and perceived barriers of the participants were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale, Medical Outcomes Social Support Scale and Exercise Benefits and Barrier Scale, respectively. Results The odds of having low physical activity was highest in those with low social support for Type 2 Diabetes (OR=3.95, 95% CI=3.13–5.24), stroke (OR=2.72, 95% CI=1.98–3.91) and mixed disorders (OR=1.59, 95% CI=1.19–3.15) while high perceived barriers was associated with the highest odds (OR=1.79, 95% CI=1.23–2.87) for low physical activity in hypertensive participants. Conclusions Low social support had the highest influence in establishing low physical activity in patients with Type 2 Diabetes, stroke and those with mixed disorders and the amount of influence was highest in those with Type 2 Diabetes. Psychosocial constructs should be considered by giving priority to social support when prescribing physical activity especially for patients with Type 2 Diabetes, stroke and those with mixed disorders.
Asymptotic behavior of solutions to semilinear elliptic equations with Hardy potential

Let Ω be an open bounded domain in R N (N ≥ 3) with smooth boundary ∂Ω, 0 ∈ Ω. We are concerned with the asymptotic behavior of solutions for the elliptic problem: (*) - Δu -μu |x| 2 = f(x,u), u∈H1 0 (Ω), where 0 ≤μ < (N-2 2) 2 and f(x,u) satisfies suitable growth conditions. By Moser iteration, we characterize the asymptotic behavior of nontrivial solutions for problem (*). In particular, we point out that the proof of Proposition 2.1 in Proc. Amer. Math. Soc. 132 (2004). 3225-3229, is wrong.
Do hospital palliative care teams improve symptom control? Use of a modified STAS as an evaluation tool

The support team assessment schedule (STAS) has previously been validated as an evaluation tool for community palliative care teams and inpatient units. This study reports on use of an expanded STAS (E-STAS) to determine symptom prevalence and outcome for inpatients and outpatients referred to a multiprofessional hospital palliative care team. E-STAS forms were completed on patients at referral and twice weekly thereafter. Between August 1996 and May 1997, 352 patients had one or more E-STAS forms completed; 122 of this group had three or more assessments. One-hundred-and-eighty-two patients were male and 170 were female, the median age was 68.5 years (range 26–101 years) and all but 27 (8%) had malignant disease. Of the symptoms assessed on referral, the most common were psychological distress 93%, anorexia 73%, pain 59%, mouth discomfort 59%, depression 40%, constipation 36%, breathlessness 32%, nausea 24% and vomiting 13%. In the 122 patients where three or more assessments were completed, statistically significant improvements from first to last assessment were seen in all symptoms except depression. This study suggests that E-STAS may be a useful tool to evaluate interventions by a hospital palliative care team in patients with advanced disease.
The relationship of maternal and child illness uncertainty to child depressive symptomotology: a mediational model.

OBJECTIVE To examine the relationship of parent and child ratings of illness uncertainty to depressive symptomotology in children with a chronic illness using a mediational model framework. METHOD Mother-child dyads (N = 103 pairs) each completed measures of perceived illness uncertainty, while youth also completed a measure of depressive symptomotology. RESULTS Maternal uncertainty was directly related to child depressive symptoms; however, this relationship was mediated by child uncertainty. CONCLUSION It would appear that a key mechanism by which parent-related uncertainty influences child depressive symptoms is through child uncertainty, underscoring the importance of examining cognitive appraisal variables and means of transmission in parent-child interactions.
Planning and the Implementation of Goals

Determining the factors that promote successful goal pursuit is one of the fundamental questions studied by self-regulation and motivation researchers (Gollwitzer &. Moskowit2,1,996; Oettingen & Gollwitze4 2001.). A number of theories, and supporting empirical data, suggest hat the type of goal chosen and the commitment to that goal are important determinants in whether an individual carries out the behaviors necessary for goal attainment (e.9., A12en,1985; Atkinson, 1,957; Carver, Chapter 2, this volume; Carver & Scheier, 1,998). Vithin these models, choosing or accepting a goal or standard is the central act of willing in the pursuit of goals. We agree with this contention but will argue in this chapter that further acts of willing should facilitate goal implementation, in particular, when goal pursuit is confronted with implemental problems (e.g., difficulties with getting started because of a lack of good opportunities; sticking to an ongoing goal pursuit in the face of distractions, temptations, and competing goal pursuits). Such acts of willing can take the form of making plans th4t specify when, where, and how an instrumental goal-directed response is to be implemented. More specificallS the person may take control over goal implementation by making if-then plans (i.e., from implementation intentions) that speci$ ̂ n anticipated critical situation and link it to an instrumental goaldirected response.
Effects of Excess Free Fatty Acids on Mechanical and Metabolic Function in Normal and Ischemic Myocardium in Swine

We evaluated the consequences of excess free fatty acids (FFA) on mechanical and metabolic functions in globally perfused working swine hearts. In one group of eight hearts, treatments with heparin and 10% fat emulsion (Intralipid) produced a 3- to 5-fold elevation in serum FFA levels as contrasted with levels in 10 untreated hearts. At control flows, excess FFA caused declines in aortic pressure (−31.4%, P < 0.05), left ventricular systolic pressure (−24.8, P < 0.05), left ventricular work (−69.8%, P < 0.001), and epicardial motion (−57.8%, P < 0.001), together with an increase in myocardial oxygen consumption (+16.5%, P < 0.05) as compared to pretreatment values. Ischemia in untreated hearts also decreased mean aortic pressure (−46.2%, P < 0.005), left ventricular systolic pressure (−19.5%, P < 0.001), left ventricular max dp/dt (−27.9%, P < 0.001), left ventricular work (−49.1%, P < 0.025), myocardial oxygen consumption (−21.2%, P < 0.001) as compared with preischemic values. Excess FFA during ischemia resulted in even greater deteriorations in hemodynamic and metabolic functions. Tissue metabolites in the two groups of ischemic hearts were compared with those in six untreated hearts maintained at control flows. Tissue levels (mfiM/g dry weight) of long-chain acyl coenzyme A (CoA) esters were 70.1 ± 6.5, 121.4 ± 11.1 (P < 0.001), and 174.7 ± 13.7 (P < 0.001) in control, ischemic with normal FFA, and ischemic with excess FFA hearts, respectively. Tissue fatty acyl carnitine levels (imiM/g dry) were 20.6 ± 9.8, 380.1 ± 51.6 (P< 0.001), and 685.1 ± 115.7 (P< 0.001) in control, ischemic with normal FFA, and ischemic with excess FFA hearts, respectively. Thus, excess FFA caused significant impairments in cardiac function in association with elevations in tissue acyl CoA and acyl carnitine derivatives during ischemia. Accumulations of these products of fatty acid metabolism may interfere with enzyme functions and membrane transport systems.
Association of Leukocyte Telomere Length With Circulating Biomarkers of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System: The Framingham Heart Study

Background— Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) chronicles the cumulative burden of oxidative stress and inflammation over a life course. Activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system is associated with increased oxidative stress and inflammation. Therefore, LTL may be related to circulating biomarkers of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Methods and Results— We evaluated the cross-sectional relations of LTL (dependent variable) to circulating renin and aldosterone concentrations and the renin-to-aldosterone ratio (all logarithmically transformed; independent variables) in 1203 Framingham Study participants (mean age, 59 years; 51% women). We used multivariable linear regression and adjusted for age, blood pressure, hypertension treatment, smoking, diabetes mellitus, body mass index, hormone replacement therapy, serum creatinine, and the urine sodium-to-creatinine ratio. Overall, multivariable-adjusted LTL was inversely related to renin (&bgr; coefficient per unit increase, −0.038; P=0.036), directly related to aldosterone (&bgr;=0.099; P=0.002), and inversely related to the renin-to-aldosterone ratio (&bgr;=−0.049; P=0.003). Relations of LTL to biomarkers were stronger in those with hypertension, although a formal test of interaction was not statistically significant (P=0.20). Individuals with hypertension displayed significant associations of LTL with renin (&bgr;=−0.060; P=0.005), aldosterone (&bgr;=0.134; P=0.002), and renin-to-aldosterone ratio (&bgr;=−0.072; P<0.001). Participants with hypertension who were in the top tertile of the renin-to-aldosterone ratio had LTL that was 182 base pairs shorter relative to those in the lowest tertile. Conclusions— In our community-based sample, LTL was shorter in individuals with a higher renin-to-aldosterone ratio, especially in participants with hypertension. Additional investigations are warranted to confirm our observations.