Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact of Endobronchial Coiling for Lung Volume Reduction on Pulmonary Volume and Attenuation: Preinterventional and Postinterventional Computed Tomography—Quantification Using Separate Lobe Measurements

Objective The aim of this study was to objectify changes in volume and density of treated and untreated pulmonary lobes following endobronchial coiling for lung volume reduction by comparison with clinical (6-m walk test) and pulmonary function tests. Methods Twenty-two lobes in 17 patients (8 men, 9 women) were treated by endobronchial coiling and underwent preinterventional and postinterventional computed tomography examinations (inspiratory and expiratory phase) as well as pulmonary function test measurements. Results Responders (n = 14) presented a significant increase (70 ± 11 m) in the walking distance (6-m walk test) and FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in 1 second) values (61 ± 21 mL). Only in responders inspiratory volume (VolIn) of the target lobe significantly decreased (10.0% ± 16.4%; P = 0.0245), and VolIn of the nontreated ipsilateral lobe significantly increased (5.5% ± 9.1%; P = 0.0209). Conclusions Our results objectify volume reduction of the treated lobe coupled by a significant volume expansion of the ipsilateral lobe as a sole correlate for clinical improvement in responders.
Low Bone Mineral Density Is Associated with Tooth Loss in Postmenopausal Women: A Nationwide Representative Study in Korea.

BACKGROUND Osteoporosis and tooth loss are major health problems in postmenopausal women in a fast-aging country. In this study, we investigated the relationship between low bone mineral density (BMD) and edentulism. METHODS Data for this cross-sectional study were obtained from the fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2012. BMD was measured, and a dental examination was performed on the 2,129 postmenopausal (50-80 years) female participants. Multivariate logistic regression through complex sampling was used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) for osteopenia and osteoporosis in women with loss of at least eight teeth. RESULTS The average number of missing teeth was significantly lower in women with a normal BMD than in those with osteopenia and osteoporosis (4.5 ± 0.4 vs. 6.7 ± 0.3 vs. 10.4 ± 0.5; p < 0.001). Women with abnormal BMD of the femoral neck were at higher risk of losing eight or more teeth than women with a normal BMD in the femoral neck (OR, 2.37; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.88-2.99). Women with osteoporosis in the lumbar spine were also at a higher risk of losing eight or more teeth [OR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.52-2.36] than were women with a normal BMD in the lumbar spine. CONCLUSIONS Excessive edentulism might be associated with low BMD in postmenopausal women. Regular dental examination is recommended for the postmenopausal women with osteopenia or osteoporosis to prevent tooth loss.
Touchdown and PullIn Voltage Behavior of a MEMS Device with Varying Dielectric Properties

The pull-in voltage instability associated with a simple MEMS device, consisting of a thin dielectric elastic membrane supported above a rigid conducting ground plate, is analyzed. The upper surface of the membrane is coated with a thin conducting film. In a certain asymptotic limit representing a thin device, the mathematical model consists of a nonlinear partial differential equation for the deflection of the thin dielectric membrane. When a voltage V is applied to the conducting film, the dielectric membrane deflects towards the bottom plate. For a slab, a circular cylindrical, and a square domain, numerical results are given for the saddle-node bifurcation value V∗, also referred to as the pull-in voltage, for which there is no steady-state membrane deflection for V > V∗. For V > V∗ it is shown numerically that the membrane dynamics are such that the thin dielectric membrane touches the lower plate in finite time. Results are given for both spatially uniform and nonuniform dielectric permittivity profiles in the thin dielectric membrane. By allowing for a spatially nonuniform permittivity profile, it is shown that the pull-in voltage instability can be delayed until larger values of V and that greater pull-in distances can be achieved. Analytical bounds are given for the pull-in voltage V∗ for two classes of spatially variable permittivity profiles. In particular, a rigorous analytical bound V1, which depends on the class of permittivity profile, is derived that guarantees for the range V > V1 > V∗ that there is no steady-state solution for the membrane deflection and that finite-time touchdown occurs. Numerical results for touchdown behavior, both for V > V1 and for V∗ < V < V1, together with an asymptotic construction of the touchdown profile, are given for both a spatially uniform and a spatially nonuniform permittivity profile.
MRI reveals therapeutical efficacy of stem cells: An experimental study on the SOD1(G93A) animal model

The first part of the experiment identifies and validates MRI biomarkers distinctive of the disease progression in the transgenic superoxide dismutase gene (SOD1(G93A)) animal model. The second part assesses the efficacy of a mesenchymal stem cell‐based therapy through the MRI biomarkers previously defined.
Definition and classification of power system stability IEEE/CIGRE joint task force on stability terms and definitions

The problem of defining and classifying power system stability has been addressed by several previous CIGRE and IEEE Task Force reports. These earlier efforts, however, do not completely reflect current industry needs, experiences and understanding. In particular, the definitions are not precise and the classifications do not encompass all practical instability scenarios. This report developed by a Task Force, set up jointly by the CIGRE Study Committee 38 and the IEEE Power System Dynamic Performance Committee, addresses the issue of stability definition and classification in power systems from a fundamental viewpoint and closely examines the practical ramifications. The report aims to define power system stability more precisely, provide a systematic basis for its classification, and discuss linkages to related issues such as power system reliability and security.
Dynamic viscoelastic coagulometry of blood obtained from healthy chickens.

OBJECTIVE To assess feasibility of the use of a dynamic viscoelastic coagulometer on chicken blood and compare coagulation variables for fresh whole blood and sodium citrate-preserved whole blood as well as effects of 3 coagulation activators on blood from chickens. SAMPLE Blood samples from 30 hens. PROCEDURES Chickens were allowed to rest undisturbed for 1 hour. A blood sample was collected from an ulnar vein; 1.4 mL was analyzed immediately, and 1.8 mL was mixed with sodium citrate and subsequently recalcified and analyzed. A separate coagulation activator (glass beads, kaolin clay, or tissue factor) was in each of the 2 channels of the analyzer. Chickens were allowed a 1-hour rest period, and another blood sample was collected from the contralateral ulnar vein; it was processed in the same manner as for the first sample, except both channels of the analyzer contained the same coagulation activator. RESULTS Compared with fresh samples, citrated samples had higher values for activated clotting time and platelet function and lower clotting rates. Intra-assay coefficients of variation of coagulation profiles for citrated samples were markedly greater than the limit of 10%, whereas values for fresh samples were close to or < 10%. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggested that use of a dynamic viscoelastic coagulometer on chicken blood was feasible and that analysis of fresh whole blood from healthy chickens provided results with less variability than did analysis of citrated blood. Samples preserved with sodium citrate were associated with significant relative hypocoagulability, compared with results for fresh blood.
Chemotaxis in Densely Populated Tissue Determines Germinal Center Anatomy and Cell Motility: A New Paradigm for the Development of Complex Tissues

Germinal centers (GCs) are complex dynamic structures that form within lymph nodes as an essential process in the humoral immune response. They represent a paradigm for studying the regulation of cell movement in the development of complex anatomical structures. We have developed a simulation of a modified cyclic re-entry model of GC dynamics which successfully employs chemotaxis to recapitulate the anatomy of the primary follicle and the development of a mature GC, including correctly structured mantle, dark and light zones. We then show that correct single cell movement dynamics (including persistent random walk and inter-zonal crossing) arise from this simulation as purely emergent properties. The major insight of our study is that chemotaxis can only achieve this when constrained by the known biological properties that cells are incompressible, exist in a densely packed environment, and must therefore compete for space. It is this interplay of chemotaxis and competition for limited space that generates all the complex and biologically accurate behaviors described here. Thus, from a single simple mechanism that is well documented in the biological literature, we can explain both higher level structure and single cell movement behaviors. To our knowledge this is the first GC model that is able to recapitulate both correctly detailed anatomy and single cell movement. This mechanism may have wide application for modeling other biological systems where cells undergo complex patterns of movement to produce defined anatomical structures with sharp tissue boundaries.
Design and studies on dielectric resonator on-chip antennas for millimeter wave wireless applications

Dielectric resonator antenna systems are more realistic antenna system for VLSI Chips due to its simplicity in the integration with other system and monolithic fabrication. The dielectric contains the antennas near field and therefore prevents it from interfering with other nearby antennas or circuits, making it suitable for miniature and compact equipments. DRAs have attracted the antenna designers in microwave and millimeter wave band due to its features like high radiation efficiency, light weight, small size, and low profile, low temperature coefficient of frequency, zero conductor losses and suitable scale in microwave band. DRs of low loss dielectric material, having dielectric constant as 10 &#60; εr &#60; 100 are ideally suitable for antenna applications. These antennas can also be easily integrated into portable communication devices. Dielectric resonator with coplanar wave guide provide better antenna parameters. When a dielectric resonator is not entirely enclosed by a conducting boundary, it can radiate, and so it becomes an antenna, named Dielectric resonator antenna (DRA). As compared to microstrip antenna, DRAs have much wider impedance bandwidth and they don't support surface waves. Various DRA modes can be excited using different excitation techniques, for example the conducting probe, microstrip line, co-planar waveguide. In this paper we studied the cylindrical Dielectric resonator antenna configuration along with co-planar waveguide on a semiconductor substrate for millimeter wave wireless application (60GHz).
Altered cerebral energy metabolism in Alzheimer's disease: a PET study.

UNLABELLED In an effort to better understand the metabolic basis for the reported decreases in regional cerebral cortex glucose metabolism in patients with Alzheimer's disease, glucose utilization oxygen consumption and regional cerebral blood flow were examined. METHODS Nine patients with Alzheimer's disease and nine age-matched normal controls were imaged using 18F-labeled deoxyglucose and 15O-labeled gases. RESULTS Regional analysis of the cerebral metabolic rate of glucose (CMRglu), cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2) and cerebral blood flow (CBF) revealed that these values were significantly low in the frontal, parietal and temporal regions. The parietotemporal region had an abnormally high metabolic ratio (CMRO2/CMRglu), while the frontal, sensorimotor and occipital visual cortices had a metabolic ratio similar to that of the normal controls. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that the abnormal parietotemporal metabolism in Alzheimer's disease involves a metabolic shift from glycolytic to oxidative metabolism. This impairment of glucose degradation may be the basis for synoptic dysfunction underlying the impairment observed in Alzheimer's disease.
Analysis of Chernoff criterion for linear dimensionality reduction

Well known linear discriminant analysis (LDA) based on the Fisher criterion is incapable of dealing with heteroscedasticity in data. However, in many practical applications we often encounter heteroscedastic data, i.e., within class scatter matrices can not be expected to be equal. A technique based on the Chernoff criterion for linear dimensionality reduction has been proposed recently. The technique extends well-known Fisher's LDA and is capable of exploiting information about heteroscedasticity in the data. While the Chernoff criterion has been shown to outperform the Fisher's, a clear understanding of its exact behavior is lacking. In addition, the criterion, as introduced, is rather complex, thereby making it difficult to clearly state its relationship to other linear dimensionality techniques. In this paper, we show precisely what can be expected from the Chernoff criterion and its relations to the Fisher criterion and Fukunaga-Koontz transform. Furthermore, we show that a recently proposed decomposition of the data space into four subspaces is incomplete. We provide arguments on how to best enrich the decomposition of the data space in order to account for heteroscedasticity in the data.
ESTIMATION OF ABOVEGROUND FOREST BIOMASS USING AIRBORNE SCANNING DISCRETE RETURN LIDAR IN DOUGLAS-FIR

Models based on laser height metrics matching different quantiles of the distribution of laser canopy heights should be similar to one another with respect to their predictive capabilities of aboveground biomass providing: 1) the allometric relationships in the trees studied remain consistent; and 2) the vertical distributions of laser canopy heights and needle area/mass are related according to a simple quantile-quantile relationship. To explore the use of canopy-based quantile estimators in an application of aboveground biomass estimation in Douglas-fir, models based on laser height metrics corresponding to deciles of the distribution of laser canopy heights are compared. Because robust allometric equations were not available, the influence of using two different sets of allometric equations (referred to as BAR and TER equations) on model results is examined. The coefficient of determination (r) of decile models in the BAR and TER groups ranged from 0.25 to 0.43 and 0.34 to 0.50, respectively, whereas the root-mean-square error (RMSE) ranged from 29 to 34 and 32 to 36 Mg/ha, respectively. The greatest difference in RMSE between models was less than 5 Mg/ha. Decile models for each of the BAR and TER groups were not overtly different from one another. * Corresponding author. 1. RATIONALE FOR STUDY Our previous research in sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) in central Ontario, Canada demonstrated the potential of several, yet different canopy-based quantile estimators derived from airborne scanning lidar data to estimate aboveground biomass (AB) (Lim et al., in press). Models based on different canopy-based quantile estimators were found to be comparable to one another with respect to their predictive capabilities (i.e., coefficient of determination (r) and root-mean-square error (RMSE)) (Lim et al., in press). To explore how well canopy-based quantile estimators can be generalized to other forest types for applications of AB estimation and to avoid having to make an assumption of how the vertical distributions of laser returns and needle area are related, models based on canopy-based decile estimators were developed for Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) in western Canada using the same ground reference and airborne scanning lidar data reported in Magnussen and Boudewyn (1998). 2. MATERIALS AND METHODS
Proactive and Reactive Stopping When Distracted: An Attentional Account

Performance in response inhibition paradigms is typically attributed to inhibitory control. Here we examined the idea that stopping may largely depend on the outcome of a sensory detection process. Subjects performed a speeded go task, but they were instructed to withhold their response when a visual stop signal was presented. The stop signal could occur in the center of the screen or in the periphery. On half of the trials, perceptual distractors were presented throughout the trial. We found that these perceptual distractors impaired stopping, especially when stop signals could occur in the periphery. Furthermore, the effect of the distractors on going was smallest in the central stop-signal condition, medium in a condition in which no signals could occur, and largest in the condition in which stop signals could occur in the periphery. The results show that an important component of stopping is finding a balance between ignoring irrelevant information in the environment and monitoring for the occurrence of occasional stop signals. These findings highlight the importance of sensory detection processes when stopping and could shed new light on a range of phenomena and findings in the response inhibition literature.
Urban Flood Vulnerability and Risk Mapping Using Integrated Multi-Parametric AHP and GIS: Methodological Overview and Case Study Assessment

This study aims at providing expertise for preparing public-based flood mapping and estimating flood risks in growing urban areas. To model and predict the magnitude of flood risk areas, an integrated Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis techniques are used for the case of Eldoret Municipality in Kenya. The flood risk vulnerability mapping follows a multi-parametric approach and integrates some of the flooding causative factors such as rainfall distribution, elevation and slope, drainage network and density, land-use/land-cover and soil type. From the vulnerability mapping, urban flood risk index (UFRI) for the case study area, which is determined by the degree of vulnerability and exposure is also derived. The results are validated using flood depth measurements, with a minimum average difference of 0.01 m and a maximum average difference of 0.37 m in depth of observed flooding in the different flood prone areas. Similarly with respect to area extents, a maximum error of not more than 8% was observed in the highly vulnerable flood zones. In addition, the Consistency Ratio which shows an acceptable level of 0.09 was calculated and further validated the strength of the proposed approach.
Anti-Candida, Anti-Enzyme Activity and Cytotoxicity of 3,5-Diaryl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole-1-carboximidamides

Because of the need for more effective and less harmful antifungal therapies, and interest in the synthesis of new carboximidamides, the goal of this study was to determine the antifungal and anti-enzyme activities of some new pyrazole carboximidamides and their cytotoxicity. For this purpose, tests were performed to evaluate: minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC); production of proteinases and phospholipase, and cytotoxicity of the extracts. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey Tests (α = 5%). The results were: MIC and MFC ≥ 62.5 μg/mL (C. albicans, C. parapsilosis, C. famata, C. glabrata, and Rhodotorula mucillaginosa) and MIC and MFC ≥ 15.6 μg/mL (C. lipolytica). The values of proteinase and phospholipase (Pz) of C. albicans before and after exposure to the compounds were: 0.6 (±0.024) and 0.2 (±0.022) and 0.9 (±0.074) and 0.3 (±0.04), respectively. These proteinase results were not significant (p = 0.69), but those of phospholipase were (p = 0.01), and 15.6 μg/mL was the most effective concentration. The cytotoxicity means were similar among the tests (p = 0.32). These compounds could be useful as templates for further development through modification or derivatization to design more potent antifungal agents. Data from this study provide evidence that these new pyrazole formulations could be an alternative source for the treatment of fungal infections caused by Candida. However, a specific study on the safety and efficacy of these in vivo and clinical trials is still needed, in order to evaluate the practical relevance of the in vitro results.
The effect of phytohormones on growth and artemisinin production in Artemisia annua hairy roots

SummaryFew studies have focused on the effect of a broad range of phytohormones on growth and secondary metabolism of a single hairy root species. We measured growth, development, and production of the antimalarial drug, artemisinin, in Artemisia annua hairy roots in response to the five main hormones: auxins, cytokinins, ethylene, gibberellins (GA), and abscisic acid (ABA). Single roots grown in six-well plates in medium B5 with 0.01 mgl−1 (0.029 μM) GA3 produced the highest values overall in terms of the number of lateral roots, length of the primary root, lateral root tip density, total lateral root length, and total root length. When the total root lengths are compared, the best conditions for stimulating elongation appear to be: GA 0.01 mgl−1 (0.029μM)> ABA 1.0 mgl−1 (3.78μM)=GA 0.02 mgl−1 (0.058μM). Bulk yields of biomass were inversely proportional to the concentration of each hormone tested. All cultures provided with ABA yielded the highest amount of biomass. Both 6-benzylaminopurine and 2-isopentenyladenine inhibited root growth, however, only 2-isopentenyladenine stimulated artemisinin production, more than twice that of the B5 controls, and more than any other hormone studied. These results will prove useful in increasing hairy root growth and artemisinin production.
Increased fluxes of shelf-derived materials to the central Arctic Ocean

Shelf inputs in the Arctic Ocean appear to be increasing, which could change the nutrient balance of the central basin. Rising temperatures in the Arctic Ocean region are responsible for changes such as reduced ice cover, permafrost thawing, and increased river discharge, which, together, alter nutrient and carbon cycles over the vast Arctic continental shelf. We show that the concentration of radium-228, sourced to seawater through sediment-water exchange processes, has increased substantially in surface waters of the central Arctic Ocean over the past decade. A mass balance model for 228Ra suggests that this increase is due to an intensification of shelf-derived material inputs to the central basin, a source that would also carry elevated concentrations of dissolved organic carbon and nutrients. Therefore, we suggest that significant changes in the nutrient, carbon, and trace metal balances of the Arctic Ocean are underway, with the potential to affect biological productivity and species assemblages in Arctic surface waters.
Understanding People Lifestyles: Construction of Urban Movement Knowledge Graph from GPS Trajectory

Technologies are increasingly taking advantage of the explosion in the amount of data generated by social multimedia (e.g., web searches, ad targeting, and urban computing). In this paper, we propose a multi-view learning framework for presenting the construction of a new urban movement knowledge graph, which could greatly facilitate the research domains mentioned above. In particular, by viewing GPS trajectory data from temporal, spatial, and spatiotemporal points of view, we construct a knowledge graph of which nodes and edges are their locations and relations, respectively. On the knowledge graph, both nodes and edges are represented in latent semantic space. We verify its utility by subsequently applying the knowledge graph to predict the extent of user attention (high or low) paid to different locations in a city. Experimental evaluations and analysis of a real-world dataset show significant improvements in comparison to state-of-the-art methods.