Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Simplified Analysis of Stripline, Microstripline and Coplanar Strips, with Anisotropic Substrates for MIC and SAW Application

A unified variational expression is derived for the line capacitance of a general, multilayer anisotropic structure. The propagation parameters of a variety of striplines, microstriplines and coplanar strips with anisotropic substrates, in isolated and coupled configurations, can be obtained by simply determining the admittance parameter.
Improving Prosodic Boundaries Prediction for Mandarin Speech Synthesis by Using Enhanced Embedding Feature and Model Fusion Approach

Hierarchical prosody structure generation is an important but challenging component for speech synthesis systems. In this paper, we investigate the use of enhanced embedding (joint learning of character and word embedding (CWE)) features and different model fusion approaches at both character and word level for Mandarin prosodic boundaries prediction. For CWE module, the internal structures of words and noncompositional words are considered in the word embedding, while the character ambiguity is addressed by multipleprototype character embedding. For model fusion module, linear function (LF) and gradient boosting decision tree (GBDT), are investigated at the decision level respectively, with the important features selected by feature ranking module used as its input. Experiment results show the effectiveness of the proposed enhanced embedding features and the two model fusion approaches at both character and word level.
Physiology of sporeforming bacteria associated with insects. 3. Radiorespirometry of pyruvate, acetate, succinate, and glutamate oxidation.

Oxidation of pyruvate, acetate, succinate, and glutamate was compared in Bacillus thuringiensis, B. alvei, B. lentimorbus, and B. popilliae. Cells of B. thuringiensis and B. alvei in transition from vegetative growth to sporulation oxidized these substrates by tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle reactions. No TCA cycle activity was exhibited by B. lentimorbus and B. popilliae cells that do not sporulate. B. popilliae decarboxylated C-1 of pyruvate and glutamate; B. lentimorbus, C-1 of pyruvate only. B. thuringiensis and B. alvei oxidized pyruvate and acetate at a much higher rate in the absence of amino acids and related compounds than when these nutrients were exogenously supplied; in contrast, there was no appreciable increase in C-1 decarboxylation of pyruvate by B. lentimorbus and B. popilliae. No nutrient effect was observed on succinate and glutamate oxidation in any of these four organisms.
STRESS, DEFENSES AND COPING BEHAVIOR: OBSERVATIONS IN PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH MALIGNANT DISEASE.

Perhaps for too long a time, psychiatrists have drawn their conclusions about behavior from the study of "patients" or deviants. Research on reactions to stress situations attempts to redress this imbalance by paying attention also to persons who handle life's contingencies well. The present paper reports observations on the adaptional behavior of 46 parents of 27 children under treatment for leukemia or other malignant diseases, carried out over a period of approximately 2 years at the Clinical Center of the NIH. Although each parent reacted to the stresses to which he was exposed in a unique and individual manner, a fairly uniform "natural history" of the sequence of adaptational techniques employed by the group as a whole could be observed and is summarized in the paper. The psychic instrumentalities responsible for the stages in this process are conceptualized as coping strategies which are either aided by personality defenses operating within an optimum range or interfered with by defenses when these.
Changes in Leisure Styles and Satisfaction of Older People: A Five Years Follow-up

The present study examines the leisure style and leisure satisfaction of a sample of older people at baseline and after a period of 5 years. Three groups were identified by factorial and cluster analyses and labelled under the headings of: Organised Style, Surrounding Style and Indoor Style. Each group represented a different typology of leisure, according to the demand for physical and organizational commitment. Results indicated that the Organized Style group was the most active and satisfied with their leisure time, and differed from the other two by being predominantly male, younger, better educated and in good health. Follow-up analyses revealed a decline in the size of both the Organised Style and Surrounding Style groups, and an increase in the size of the less active group, suggesting that advancing very old age with deteriorating health influenced older peoples' choices toward an increment of indoor activities. This pattern may be softened through the implementation of mechanisms of selection and optimisation.
The effect of interviewer characteristics on responses to a mental health interview.

This paper assesses the proportion of variance due to interviewer effects in responses to a mental health interview and investigates the extent to which such variations were due to specific interviewer characteristics. The total interviewer effects studied accounted for from 0% to 5% of the variance; positive responses to psychological symptom scales increased with interviewer age and experience and were related to low interviewer symptom levels. It is suggested that interviewers who are older, have interviewing experience, and have lower symptom levels create a relaxed, friendly atmosphere that decreases respondents' reticence to report personal feelings and experiences. Despite the fact that interviewer effects explain relatively little of the variance, analyses within subgroups of the sample indicate that the characteristics of interviewers used can have important influences on inferences made from the data.
Oxidation of High Density Lipoproteins

The lipids of high density lipoproteins (HDL) are initially oxidized in preference to those in low density lipoprotein when human plasma is exposed to aqueous peroxyl radicals. In this work we report on the relative susceptibility of HDL protein and lipid to oxidation and on the role HDL’s α-tocopherol (α-TOH) plays in modulating protein oxidation. Exposure of isolated HDL to either low fluxes of aqueous peroxyl radicals, Cu2+ ions, or soybean lipoxygenase resulted in the oxidation of apoAI and apoAII during the earliest stages of the reaction, i.e. after consumption of ubiquinol-10 and in the presence of α-TOH. Hydro(pero)xides of cholesteryl esters and phospholipids initially accumulated together with specific oxidized forms of apoAI and apoAII, separated by high pressure liquid chromatography. The specific oxidized forms of apoAI were 16 and 32 mass units heavier than those of the native apolipoproteins and contained 1 and 2 methionine sulfoxide residues per protein, respectively. The third methionine residue in apoAI, as well as Trp residues, remained unoxidized during the earliest stages of HDL oxidation examined. Exposure of isolated apoAI to peroxyl radicals, Cu2+, or soybean lipoxygenase resulted in nonspecific (for peroxyl radicals) or no discernible protein oxidation (Cu2+ and soybean lipoxygenase). This indicated that the formation of the specific oxidized forms of apoAI observed with native HDL was not the result of direct reaction of these oxidants with the apolipoprotein. In vitro and in vivo enrichment of HDL with α-TOH resulted in a dose-dependent increase in the extent of peroxyl radical-induced formation of HDL cholesteryl ester hydroperoxides (r = 0.96) and cholesteryl ester hydroxides (r = 0.92), as well as the loss of apoAI (r = 0.96) and apoAII (r = 0.94). α-TOH enrichment also enhanced HDL lipid and protein oxidation induced by Cu2+ or soybean lipoxygenase. These results indicate that the earliest stages of HDL oxidation are accompanied by the oxidation of specific methionine residues in apoAI and apoAII and that in the absence of co-antioxidants, α-TOH can promote this process.
A new energy efficient routing algorithm based on load balancing for wireless sensor networks

Many research topics in recent years have focused on clustering algorithms as a scalable routing protocol in wireless sensor networks. In these algorithms, by the use of data aggregation techniques and reduction in sensors that should make long distance communications, energy consumption in total network lifetime is decreased. One of algorithms proposed in this field is DECSA. Aiming at the problem of sensors limited energy, this algorithm is an improvement based on the classic clustering algorithm LEACH. By taking into consideration nodes distance from each other and residual energy of nodes, DECSA algorithm tries to select proper nodes as CH. Also, in this algorithm by the aim to produce a multi-level clustering hierarchy and based on CH's distance to base station, some CHs are selected as base station CHs. In this paper, based on DECSA, a load balanced clustering algorithm is proposed. This algorithm incorporates two thresholds in DECSA in terms of supporting minimum and maximum acceptable load. Thus, when cluster load in one frame is smaller than the minimum threshold, cluster's frame is expanded and when it is bigger than maximum threshold, a fraction of cluster's load in each frame is transferred to a 2nd CH node.
Majority Decisions in Overlapping Committees and Asymptotic Size of Dichotomies

In this paper we settle an open combinatorial conjecture in artificial neural networks: we show that the bound on the number of dichotomies given by Mitchinson and Durbin [Biological Cybernetics, 60 (1989), pp. 345--365] is tight, and that their structural asymptotics remain unchanged with varying required success probability. In our proof we use Renyi's graph-sieves inequalities, and we derive a contracted version and a sharp bound for a triple-indexed sum of binomial coefficients with dependent indices.
The free anterolateral thigh musculocutaneous flap for head and neck reconstruction: One surgeon's experience in 92 cases

Applications of the free anterolateral thigh (ALT) musculocutaneous flap have been largely underestimated compared with indications for fasciocutaneous or perforator flaps. In this article, the authors critically review the experience of a single surgeon with the free ALT musculocutaneous flap for head and neck reconstruction, focusing on its applications in different cephalic areas and on advantages and disadvantages of this technique.
Receptor for activated protein C kinase 1 (RACK1) is overexpressed in papillary thyroid carcinoma.

BACKGROUND The receptor for activated C kinase 1 (RACK1) has been shown to be overexpressed in several types of cancers such as breast, colon, melanomas, and lung. RACK1 is linked to Ras-Raf-mediated signal transduction and transformed foci formation of 3T3 cells in vitro, and since this pathway is central in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) oncogenesis, we hypothesized that RACK1 could play a role in the development or maintenance of PTC. No report on RACK1 expression in thyroid tissue is available; the present study was therefore aimed at identifying possible correlation of RACK1 expression at the mRNA or protein level in normal thyroid tissue compared to PTC. METHODS We used TaqMan quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry to study the RACK1 gene and protein expression in matched tumor and nontumor samples from 59 PTC patients. The tumor samples were divided into two main categories, low-risk (group 1-3) and high-risk (group 4-6), in accordance with both histological classification and clinical appearance. RESULTS RACK1 mRNA and protein levels were found highly overexpressed in tumor samples, whereas Ki-Ras mRNA was found to be relatively unchanged. B-Raf mRNA expression was low and detected only in tumor samples. Sequencing analysis detected no mutations in RACK1 or Ki-Ras, but 62.7% of the patients harbored the B-Raf single-nucleotide substitution T1799A (codon V600E). Phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (pERK) immunohistochemistry analysis demonstrated activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway in tumor cells. Poorly differentiated and undifferentiated PTCs expressed significantly higher RACK1 mRNA levels than well-differentiated PTCs (p<0.017). CONCLUSIONS Taken together, our findings point to an important role of RACK1 protein in PTC development and progression. Our data also emphasize the importance of assessing protein expression and not only mRNA levels.
Detection of non-Gaussian signals by frequency domain Kurtosis estimation

The detection of signals by power spectrum density (PSD) estimation is a well known and often employed method. The PSD estimate is essentially a second order measure which is not sensitive to the statistical nature of the signals. For non-Gaussian signals, a frequency domain Kurtosis (FDK) estimate supplements the PSD estimate and in some cases of practical importance is superior as a detection statistic. Non-Gaussian signals occur in underwater acoustics due to multipath and frequency modulation effects. Specifically, we have considered sinusoidal and narrowband Gaussian signals which, when propagated through fading or multipath environments, are received as non-Gaussian in terms of a frequency domain Kurtosis estimate. The environment is modeled by introducing amplitude probability density distributions which are due to the fading or multipath conditions. Several distributions were considered previously which included Rayleigh and log-normal, both of which have been experimentally verified to exist in the ocean. The asymptotic probability of detection for a randomly occurring signal is derived for the PSD and FDK. A simulation comparing the probability of detection for the FDK and PSD is also included.
Drawing the Yongquan protocol into the different stages of the cardiopulmonary resuscitation sequence.

AIM To introduce new applications into the ILCOR-cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) "chain" sequence. METHODS Stages of the CPR sequence ("chain"): prior to the application of chest massage: assess the victim's state of consciousness and lung-heart failure; seek help (call 911), or in situations in which it is impossible to start the ILCOR protocol: (1) if the victim is trapped in car crash, overturned car, landslide, massive number of victims or catastrophe; or (2) delayed CPR. During chest compression: Yongquan is simultane- ously stimulated by a third rescuer. During defibrillator application: activate K-1 Yongquan through needles before defibrillation. Unsuccessful CPR: "gold standard" for legal clinical death. RESULTS Implies comparing two hypotheses: Ho (null hypothesis) demonstrates no association between the two variables studied; Ha (alternative hypothesis) implies some degree of relation between them. Difference between the two treatments is observed. If it is greater than the standard error multiplied by a coefficient of security, the difference is significant: Ha will be accepted and Ho rejected. First we will compare CPR without defibrillator (method "A") and K-1 Yongquan method (method "B"), using percentages of representative samples (treatment "A": 6.4% response, treatment "B": 85% response). If │PA - PB│ is greater than the product of 1.96 times the standard error, the difference is significant. Because │PA - PB│ = 0.786 is greater than 0.098, the difference between 0.064 and 0.85 is statistically significant. Thus, we reject Ho and accept Ha as correct. Thus, it is improbable that chance was responsible for this association. This analysis shows that K-1 Yongquan method has a "quality guarantee". Second, we compare defibrillators ("A") with K-1 Yongquan method ("B") (treatment "A": 48%, treatment "B": 84%, │PA - PB│= 0.36; │PA - PB│ = 0.36 is greater than SE × 1.96 = 0.0148 and also statistically significant, demonstrating again the comparative value of the Yongquan method. CONCLUSION The Yongquan resuscitation manoeuver is a non-invasive, non-tiring, costless, and easy-to-apply procedure that provides a second chance when other options fail.
Concomitant Use of Single Antiplatelet Therapy With Edoxaban or Warfarin in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: Analysis From the ENGAGE AF‐TIMI48 Trial

Background We studied the concomitant use of single antiplatelet therapy (SAPT) on the efficacy and safety of the anti‐Xa agent edoxaban in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods and Results ENGAGE AF‐TIMI 48 was a randomized trial that compared 2 dose regimens of edoxaban with warfarin. We studied both the approved high‐dose edoxaban regimen (HDER; 60 mg daily reduced by one half in patients with anticipated increased drug exposure), as well as a lower‐dose edoxaban regimen (LDER; 30 mg daily, also reduced by one half in patients with anticipated increased drug regimen). SAPT (aspirin in 92.5%) was administered at the discretion of the treating physician. Cox proportional hazard regressions stratified by SAPT at 3 months with treatment as a covariate were performed. The 4912 patients who received SAPT were more frequently male, with histories of coronary artery disease and diabetes, and had higher CHADS 2Vasc and HAS BLED scores than did the 14 977 patients not receiving SAPT. When compared to patients not receiving SAPT, those receiving SAPT had a higher incidence of major bleeding; (adjusted hazard ratio [HR adj]=1.46; 95% CI, 1.27–1.67, P<0.001). SAPT did not alter the relative efficacy of edoxaban compared to warfarin in preventing stroke or systemic embolic events (SEEs): edoxaban versus warfarin without SAPT, hazard ratio (HR adj for HDER)=0.94; (95% CI: 0.77–1.15) with SAPT, HR adj=0.70 (95% CI: 0.50–0.98), P interaction (P int)=0.14. (HR adj for LDER versus warfarin without SAPT=1.19 (95% CI 0.99–1.43) With SAPT, 1.03 (95% CI, 0.76–1.39) P int=0.42. Major bleeding was lower with edoxaban than warfarin both without SAPT, HR adj for HDER=0.80 (95% CI, 0.68–0.95), and with SAPT, HR adj=0.82 (95% CI, 0.65–1.03; P int=0.91). For LDER without SAPT (HR adj=0.56 [95% CI 0.46–0.67]) and with SAPT (HR adj=0.51 [95% CI 0.39–0.66]). Conclusions Patients with AF who were selected by their physicians to receive SAPT in addition to an anticoagulant had a similar risk of stroke/SEE and higher rates of bleeding than those not receiving SAPT. Edoxaban exhibited similar relative efficacy and reduced bleeding compared to warfarin, with or without concomitant SAPT. Clinical Trial Registration URL: http://www.clinicaltrials. gov/. Unique identifier: NCT00781391.
A kinetoplast DNA probe diagnostic for Leishmania infantum

A 196 bp fragment of cloned kinetoplast (k) DNA of Leishmania infantum has been sequenced and shown to be diagnostic for this species. The DNA from 104–105 promastigotes was routinely and specifically detected in crude dot blots of whole cells lysed in situ, and there was no cross-hybridization with 106 cells of L. major, L. tropica, L. killicki, L. aethiopica, L. braziliensis and L. mexicana. A low degree of hybridization was found with L. donovani and L. chagasi. This probe will be of particular use in Mediterranean countries, such as Italy, in which dermotropic zymodemes of L. infantum can be difficult to isolate and grow in numbers sufficient for isoenzyme typing.
Temporal schema versioning in τOWL: a systematic approach for the management of time-varying knowledge

Abstract In this work, we consider the adoption of an OWL 2 ontology for the representation and management of time-varying knowledge. The W3C OWL 2 recommendation lacks explicit support for time-varying OWL ontologies. In previous work, we introduced τOWL which is an infrastructure and suite of tools to support the creation and validation of OWL ontologies with time-varying instances. In this paper, we extend τOWL to also support temporal versioning of the ontology schema. Schema versioning in the τOWL framework means that all the three components of a τOWL schema (i.e. conventional schema, logical and physical annotations) are versioned. In particular, we propose two complete sets of primitives, one for updating the conventional ontology schema and the other for managing the temporal ontology schema, and define their operational semantics. We also illustrate their use, through an example.
Primary Versus Secondary Failure After Varicella Vaccination: Implications for Interval Between 2 Doses

Background: Two-dose varicella vaccination is recommended for optimal control of varicella in populations with high (>90%) 1-dose coverage. Optimal timing of the second dose may depend on whether breakthrough varicella results from primary vaccine failure (no protective immunity after vaccination) or secondary vaccine failure (waning protective immunity). Methods: Published literature (1995 to 2012) on vaccine failure after varicella vaccination cited in PubMed and other online sources was reviewed. Results: Nineteen publications detailed 21 varicella outbreaks with breakthrough varicella rates ranging from 0% to 42%; the publications showed no consistent trend between breakthrough varicella rate and time since vaccination. Conclusions: Literature to date indicates a relatively high rate of primary vaccine failure and limited evidence of secondary vaccine failure among 1-dose varicella vaccine recipients, suggesting that a short interval between 2 doses might be preferable in countries considering implementation of universal varicella vaccination to reduce breakthrough varicella. However, any potential disruption to well-established vaccination schedules should be considered.
A phase II trial of everolimus, temozolomide, and radiotherapy in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma: NCCTG N057K.

BACKGROUND The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) functions within the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway as a critical modulator of cell survival. This clinical trial evaluated the combination of the mTOR inhibitor everolimus with conventional temozolomide (TMZ)-based chemoradiotherapy. METHODS Newly diagnosed patients with glioblastoma multiforme were eligible for this single arm, phase II study. Everolimus (70 mg/wk) was started 1 week prior to radiation and TMZ, followed by adjuvant TMZ, and continued until disease progression. The primary endpoint was overall survival at 12 months, and secondary endpoints were toxicity and time to progression. Eleven patients were imaged with 3'-deoxy-3'-(18)F-fluorothymidine ((18)FLT)-PET/CT before and after the initial 2 doses of everolimus before initiating radiation/TMZ. Imaged patients with sufficient tumor samples also underwent immunohistochemical and focused exon sequencing analysis. RESULTS This study accrued 100 evaluable patients. Fourteen percent of patients had grade 4 hematologic toxicities. Twelve percent had at least one grade 4 nonhematologic toxicity, and there was one treatment-related death. Overall survival at 12 months was 64% and median time to progression was 6.4 months. Of the patients who had (18)FLT-PET data, 4/9 had a partial response after 2 doses of everolimus. Focused exon sequencing demonstrated that (18)FLT-PET responders were less likely to have alterations within the PI3K/Akt/mTOR or tuberous sclerosis complex/neurofibromatosis type 1 pathway compared with nonresponders. CONCLUSION Combining everolimus with conventional chemoradiation had moderate toxicity. (18)FLT-PET studies suggested an initial antiproliferative effect in a genetically distinct subset of tumors, but this did not translate into an appreciable survival benefit compared with historical controls treated with conventional therapy.