Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
D-dimers and efficacy of clinical risk estimation algorithms: sensitivity in evaluation of acute pulmonary embolism.

OBJECTIVE The goal of this study was to test the efficacy of clinical risk algorithms and a quantitative immunoturbidimetric D-dimer assay in the evaluation of patients undergoing pulmonary CT angiography for suspected acute pulmonary embolism. SUBJECTS AND METHODS From April 1, 2007, to March 31, 2008, emergency department evaluations for clinically suspected pulmonary embolism were performed with the revised Geneva score, a quantitative D-dimer assay, and pulmonary CT angiography. RESULTS Evaluations for pulmonary embolism were performed for 745 consecutively registered patients, 627 of whom were included in the study. The other 118 patients were excluded because a d-dimer assay was not performed. According to the revised Geneva score, 281 patients had low clinical probability of having pulmonary embolism; 330, intermediate probability; and 16, high probability. CT angiography showed that 28 patients had pulmonary embolism (six in the low-probability group, 17 in the intermediate-probability group, and five in the high-probability group). The sensitivity, negative predictive value, and specificity of the D-dimer assay were 100%, 100%, and 25% (low-clinical-probability group); 100%, 100%, and 33% (intermediate-probability group); and 80%, 80%, and 37% (high-probability group). CONCLUSION The data appear to support the use of a quantitative D-dimer assay as a first-line test in evaluation for pulmonary embolism when the clinical probability of the presence of pulmonary embolism is low or intermediate. The sensitivity and negative predictive value were 100% for these cases. More than 26% of CT angiographic examinations might have been avoided if the D-dimer assay had been used as a first-line test in the care of patients at low or intermediate risk. Because of the small sample size, the D-dimer assay is not recommended as a first-line test in the evaluation of patients at high risk.
A west-dipping seismogenic boundary beneath the Chia-Yi area of western Taiwan

Taiwan is one of the most typical arc-continental collision systems in the world. The Taiwan orogeny is often explained by the thin-skin model, where a shallow decollement, with depths of less than 10 km, is considered as the crustal deformation boundary for generating significant mountains on the island of Taiwan. In this study, the seismic data generated by crustal earthquakes, recorded by seismic stations in the Chia-Yi area of western Taiwan was examined to find the crustal structures beneath the Taiwan orogeny. A significant velocity boundary below the decollement was found from unambiguous multiple secondary waves and phases of primary waves converted to secondary waves. Careful comparison between the observations and calculated results of the travel-time and ray-path indicates that this boundary is dipping to the west at ~10 degrees, which, surprisingly, is dipping to the opposite direction of the proposed decollement. It is also interesting to note that this boundary is not only a velocity boundary but also consistent with a seismicity boundary. This westdipping boundary is the major seismogenic boundary in the upper crust, while the east-dipping decollement proposed earlier is a geological boundary. As a result, the westward dipping boundary observed in this study is more suitable, than the eastward dipping decollement, to be the seismogenic boundary in the Chia-Yi area. Article history: Received 25 December 2017
Radiated Power Scaling Factor and Its Effect on The Secrecy Performance of Multi-user Massive MIMO System

In this paper, we investigate the effect of radiated power scaling (RPS) factors on the secrecy performance of multiuser massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system. We consider secure forward link and reverse link transmissions in the scenario which includes a base station (BS) equipped with a large number of service antennas, multiple single-antenna legitimate users and a passive multi-antenna eavesdropper. Maximum ratio transmission (MRT) and maximum ratio combining (MRC) techniques are used as linear precoder and detector, respectively, on the forward and reverse links. Lower and upper bounds on the ergodic achievable rates corresponding to legitimate users and the eavesdropper are derived, respectively. Then the optimal RPS factors which minimize the upper bounds on the achievable rates of the eavesdropper while satisfying the rate constraints of legitimate users are presented. We also show that the corresponding required total radiated power decreases as the number of BS antennas grows larger. Moreover, in the limit of an infinite number of BS antennas, we prove that the optimal RPS factors converge to constant limits. Our work suggests that with proper selected RPS factors, massive MIMO itself is an effective and low power consuming scheme to achieve both the transmission and security performance. Extensive simulations corroborate the corresponding results.
Network Synchronization in Wireless Ad Hoc Networks

This report presents a brief overview of network synchronization in the context of Wireless Ad Hoc networks. A network synchronization algorithm is proposed and computer performance evaluations presented that show the feasibility of a mutual network synchronization algorithm compatible with an IEEE 802.11 complaint station. The algorithm proposed seeks to synchronize the clocks of the nodes in a Wireless Ad Hoc network in which single-hop (Wireless LAN) or multi-hop communication is supported. No use is made of a master clock such as the one provided by the Global Positioning System (GPS) or by a fixed cluster of broadcasting stations. The algorithm takes advantage of the simplicity of the clock-sampling technique to exchange timing information among the nodes, and the truly distributed characteristic of a mutual network synchronization approach. The beacon messages specified in the IEEE 802.11 standard are used to periodically send the timestamps by each node. A steady-state inter-node time- deviation error less than ten microseconds is obtained after a transition period during which the clocks in the network learn about their drift differences. Performance results for the single-hop and multi-hop case are presented using computer simulations that show a considerable improvement in terms of scalability and maximum inter-node time deviation error with respect to the timing synchronization function (TSF) of the IEEE 802.11 independent basic service set (IBSS) network. Additional results are presented for a modification of the original algorithm in which beacon transmission permission probabilities are computed per node in order to improve the spreading of the synchronization information in a multi-hop network. The contribution of this work is, 1) The performance evaluation of the TSF in a multi-hop scenario, 2) the performance evaluation and approximate analysis of simple extensions to the TSF algorithm, and 3) The introduction of a more scalable and accurate network synchronization algorithm for wireless Ad Hoc networks.
Mutation of DNAJC19, a human homologue of yeast inner mitochondrial membrane co-chaperones, causes DCMA syndrome, a novel autosomal recessive Barth syndrome-like condition

Background: A novel autosomal recessive condition, dilated cardiomyopathy with ataxia (DCMA) syndrome, has been identified in the Canadian Dariusleut Hutterite population, characterised by early onset dilated cardiomyopathy with conduction defects, non-progressive cerebellar ataxia, testicular dysgenesis, growth failure, and 3-methylglutaconic aciduria. Objective: To map DCMA syndrome and identify the mutation underlying this condition. Methods: A genome wide scan was undertaken on consanguineous Hutterite families using a homozygosity mapping approach in order to identify the DCMA associated chromosomal region. Mutation analysis was carried out on positional candidate genes in this region by sequencing. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and bioinformatics analyses were then used to characterise the mutation and determine its effect on the protein product. Results: The association of DCMA syndrome with a 2.2 Mb region of chromosome 3q26.33 was found. A disease associated mutation was identified: IVS3-1 G→C in the DNAJC19 gene, encoding a DNAJ domain containing protein of previously unknown function (Entrez Gene ID 131118). Conclusions: The DNAJC19 protein was previously localised to the mitochondria in cardiac myocytes, and shares sequence and organisational similarity with proteins from several species including two yeast mitochondrial inner membrane proteins, Mdj2p and Tim14. Tim14 is a component of the yeast inner mitochondrial membrane presequence translocase, suggesting that the unique phenotype of DCMA may be the result of defective mitochondrial protein import. It is only the second human disorder caused by defects in this pathway that has been identified.
Relational Logistic Regression: The Directed Analog of Markov Logic Networks

Logistic regression is a commonly used representation for aggregators in Bayesian belief networks when a child has multiple parents. In this paper we consider extending logistic regression to relational models, where we want to model varying populations and interactions among parents. In this paper, we first examine the representational problems caused by population variation. We show how these problems arise even in simple cases with a single parametrized parent, and propose a linear relational logistic regression which we show can represent arbitrary linear (in population size) decision thresholds, whereas the traditional logistic regression cannot. Then we examine representing interactions among the parents of a child node, and representing non-linear dependency on population size. We propose a multi-parent relational logistic regression which can represent interactions among parents and arbitrary polynomial decision thresholds. Finally, we show how other well-known aggregators can be represented using this relational logistic regression.
Assessing Performance of L- and P-Band Polarimetric Interferometric SAR Data in Estimating Boreal Forest Above-Ground Biomass

Biomass estimation performance using polarimetric interferometric synthetic aperture radar (PolInSAR) data is evaluated at L- and P-band frequencies over boreal forest. PolInSAR data are decomposed into ground and volume contributions, retrieving vertical forest structure and polarimetric layer characteristics. The sensitivity of biomass to the obtained parameters is analyzed, and a set of these parameters is used for biomass estimation, evaluating one parametric and two non-parametric methodologies: multiple linear regression, support vector machine, and random forest. The methodology is applied to airborne SAR data over the Krycklan Catchment, a boreal forest test site in northern Sweden. The average forest biomass is 94 tons/ha and goes up to 183 tons/ha at forest stand level (317 tons/ha at plot level). The results indicate that the intensity at HH-VV is more sensitive to biomass than any other polarization at L-band. At P-band, polarimetric scattering mechanism type indicators are the most correlated with biomass. The combination of polarimetric indicators and estimated structure information, which consists of forest height and ground-volume ratio, improved the root mean square error (rmse) of biomass estimation by 17%-25% at L-band and 5%-27% at P-band, depending on the used parameter set. Together with additional ground and volume polarimetric characteristics, the rmse was improved up to 27% at L-band and 43% at P-band. The cross-validated biomass rmse was reduced to 20 tons/ha in the best case. Non-parametric estimation methods did not improve the cross-validated rmse of biomass estimation, but could provide a more realistic distribution of biomass values.
Spice Up Your Chat: The Intentions and Sentiment Effects of Using Emojis

Emojis, as a new way of conveying nonverbal cues, are widely adopted in computer-mediated communications. In this paper, first from a message sender perspective, we focus on people's motives in using four types of emojis — positive, neutral, negative, and non-facial. We compare the willingness levels of using these emoji types for seven typical intentions that people usually apply nonverbal cues for in communication. The results of extensive statistical hypothesis tests not only report the popularities of the intentions, but also uncover the subtle differences between emoji types in terms of intended uses. Second, from a perspective of message recipients, we further study the sentiment effects of emojis, as well as their duplications, on verbal messages. Different from previous studies in emoji sentiment, we study the sentiments of emojis and their contexts as a whole. The experiment results indicate that the powers of conveying sentiment are different between four emoji types, and the sentiment effects of emojis vary in the contexts of different valences.
Evaluation of the transcriptional status of host cytokines and viral genes in the trachea of vaccinated and non-vaccinated chickens after challenge with the infectious laryngotracheitis virus

ABSTRACT Infectious laryngotracheitis is a highly contagious disease of chickens responsible for significant economic losses for the poultry industry worldwide. The disease is caused by Gallid herpesvirus-1 (GaHV-1) commonly known as the infectious laryngotracheitis virus. Although characterized by their potential to regain virulence, chicken embryo origin (CEO) vaccines are the most effective vaccines against laryngotracheitis as they significantly reduce the replication of challenge virus in the trachea and conjunctiva. Knowledge on the nature of protective immunity elicited by CEO vaccines is very limited. Therefore, elucidating the origin of the immune responses elicited by CEO vaccination is relevant for development of safer control strategies. In this study the transcription levels of key host immune genes (IFN-γ, IFN-β, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-18) and viral genes (ICP4, ICP27, UL46, UL49), as well as viral genome loads in trachea were quantified at 6 and 12 hours post-challenge of CEO vaccinated and non-vaccinated chickens. Immediately after challenge a significant increase in IFN-γ gene expression was followed by a significant reduction in viral replication. In contrast to the rapid induction of IFN-γ, expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8) and type I IFN β was either slightly reduced or remained at basal levels. These suggest that the former cytokines may not play important roles during immediate early responses induced by ILTV challenge in either vaccinated or non-vaccinated chickens. Overall, these results suggest that the rapid expression of IFN-γ may induce pathways of antiviral responses necessary for blocking early virus replication.
Energy-Spreading-Transform Based MIMO Systems: Iterative Equalization, Evolution Analysis, and Precoder Optimization

In this paper, we develop a novel iterative equalization algorithm for energy-spreading-transform (EST) based multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems. We show that the proposed scheme significantly outperforms the existing non-linear MIMO equalizers in various system setups. We further investigate the precoder design based on the signal-to-interference-plus-noise-ratio (SINR) variance evolution technique, so as to exploit the available channel state information at the transmitter (CSIT). We derive the optimal precoding directions, and show that the precoder optimization then boils down to a simple power allocation problem that is solvable using convex programming. Numerical results demonstrate that the optimized precoder can achieve a significant power gain, as compared with the non-optimized scheme.
Visual Representation Determines Search Difficulty: Explaining Visual Search Asymmetries

In visual search experiments there exist a variety of experimental paradigms in which a symmetric set of experimental conditions yields asymmetric corresponding task performance. There are a variety of examples of this that currently lack a satisfactory explanation. In this paper, we demonstrate that distinct classes of asymmetries may be explained by virtue of a few simple conditions that are consistent with current thinking surrounding computational modeling of visual search and coding in the primate brain. This includes a detailed look at the role that stimulus familiarity plays in the determination of search performance. Overall, we demonstrate that all of these asymmetries have a common origin, namely, they are a consequence of the encoding that appears in the visual cortex. The analysis associated with these cases yields insight into the problem of visual search in general and predictions of novel search asymmetries.
Social Environment and Headache in 8‐ to 9‐Year‐Old Children: A Follow‐up Study

We studied the occurrence of migraine and nonmigrainous headache and the factors associated with headache in a group of 3580 children. These children belong to a 1‐year age cohort which has been followed since birth. When the children were 8 to 9 years old, data on their headaches were gathered through a postal questionnaire. Ninety‐five of the children (2.7%) had migraine and 977 (27.3%) reported nonmigrainous headache at the age of 8 to 9 years. Thirty‐four percent of the children with migraine had already had headache at the age of 5 years.
Ventricles as a Major Site of Atrial Natriuretic Factor Synthesis and Release in Cardiomyopathic Hamsters With Heart Failure

The aim of the present study was to correlate in cardiomyopathic hamsters with congestive heart failure the levels of atrial and ventricular atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) messenger RNA (mRNA) with immunoreactive ANF (IR-ANF) plasma levels and the relative amount of IR-ANF released by the whole heart versus isolated ventricles in the Langendorff preparation. High-performance liquid chromotagraphy analysis of the forms of ANF present in plasma and in the Langendorff effluent of whole heart versus isolated ventricles was also performed. As previously found for cardiac IR-ANF, the levels of ANF mRNA decreased gradually in atria and increased in an analogous fashion in ventricles with the severity of congestive heart failure. Plasma IR-ANF levels (C-terminal) were more elevated in moderate than in severe congestive heart failure, as were the IR-ANF levels in the Langendorff effluent of the whole heart. On the contrary, the effluent of isolated ventricles from animals in severe heart failure yielded more IR-ANF than that from hamsters in moderate heart failure. Thus, while the isolated ventricles from controls contributed 35.8% of IR-ANF released by the whole heart, ventricles from hamsters in moderate heart failure contributed 17.5%, and those from hamsters in severe heart failure contributed 73.9%. These results indicate that atrial cardiocytes contribute more IR-ANF than their ventricular counterpart in moderate heart failure and that ventricles are a major source of plasma IR-ANF in severe heart failure. Analysis of IR-ANF from plasma and the Langendorff efituent from whole hearts and isolated ventricles revealed that the ventricles are the major source of the propeptide (and of its cleaved products) found in the circulation of cardiomyopathic hamsters. These results suggest that ANF synthesis and secretion do not increase conjointly in atria but do increase in ventricles during congestive heart failure.
Functional Architecture of Synapses in the Inner Retina: Segregation of Visual Signals by Stratification of Bipolar Cell Axon Terminals

We correlated the morphology of salamander bipolar cells with characteristics of their light responses, recorded under voltage-clamp conditions. Twelve types of bipolar cells were identified, each displaying a unique morphology and level(s) of axon terminal stratification in the inner plexiform layer (IPL) and exhibiting light responses that differed with respect to polarity, kinetics, the relative strengths of rod and cone inputs, and characteristics of spontaneous EPSCs (sEPSCs) and IPSCs. In addition to the well known segregation of visual information into ON and OFF channels along the depth of the IPL, we found an overlying mapping of spectral information in this same dimension, with cone signals being transmitted predominantly to the central IPL and rod signals being sent predominantly to the margins of the IPL. The kinetics of bipolar cell responses correlated with this segregation of ON and OFF and of rod and cone information in the IPL. At light offset, rod-dominated cells displayed larger slow cationic current tails and smaller rapid overshoot responses than did cone-dominated cells. sEPSCs were generally absent in depolarizing bipolar cells but present in all hyperpolarizing bipolar cells (HBCs) and larger in rod-dominated HBCs than in cone-dominated HBCs. Inhibitory chloride currents, elicited both at light onset and light offset, tended to be larger for cone-dominated cells than for rod-dominated cells. This orderly segregation of visual signals along the depth of the IPL simplifies the integration of visual information in the retina, and it begins a chain of parallel processing in the visual system.
Relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and smoking and drinking habits

Background : Helicobacter pylori is a major cause of various gastroduodenal diseases. Some risk factors related to H. pylori infection have been reported; however, studies on the relationship between H. pylori infection and smoking or drinking habits have given conflicting results. In the present study, these relationships were investigated by collecting sera and information from 8837 subjects.
Design and Modeling of a Polymer Force Sensor

This paper presents the design, modeling, force correction strategies and experimental validation of a force sensor designed for robotized medical applications. The proposed sensor offers a new solution for force measurement in the presence of specific constraints such as medical imaging transparency, limited size, satisfactory rigidity and measurement performance. More specifically, the presented prototype has been purposely adapted to comply with the requirements of needle insertion applications, in the context of interventional radiology. A systematic viscoelastic model identification method is discussed for choosing the best time-dependent model for the force sensor. A novel compensation law is proposed based on the chosen model to correct for the viscoelastic effects of the utilized polymer material. The developed compensation law is inexpensive, stable to noise and can be applied in real-time to the sensor signal. A comparative assessment of the experimental results, obtained from quasi-static to dynamic experiments including harmonic analysis, shows the efficacy of the proposed compensation law, as compared to calibration with static gain and without compensation. The improvement in the sensor response results in decreased hysteresis levels and increased bandwidth, which are improved by more than a factor of 4.
Inhibition of mos-induced oocyte maturation by protein kinase A

The relationship between the mos protooncogene protein and cAMP- dependent protein kinase (PKA) during the maturation of Xenopus oocytes was investigated. Microinjection of the PKA catalytic subunit (PKAc) into Xenopus oocytes inhibited oocyte maturation induced by the mos product but did not markedly affect the autophosphorylation activity of injected mos protein. By contrast, PKAc did not inhibit maturation promoting factor (MPF) activation or germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) that was initiated by injecting crude MPF preparations. In addition, inhibiting endogenous PKA activity by microinjecting the PKA regulatory subunit (PKAr) induced oocyte maturation that was dependent upon the presence of the endogenous mos product. Moreover, PKAr potentiated mos protein-induced MPF activation in the absence of progesterone and protein synthesis. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that progesterone-induced release from G2/M is regulated via PKAc and that PKAc negatively regulates a downstream target that is positively regulated by mos.