Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A hierarchical approach for the online, on-board detection and localisation of brake squeal using microphone arrays

We present here a hierarchical approach for the detection and localisation of brake squeal. The proposed system exploits the spatial diversity of microphone arrays to localise a squealing brake. As brake squeal is emitted from a priori known regions, i.e. near the wheels, localisation of a squeal may be seen as a hypothesis testing problem. However, in contrast to standard hypothesis testing approaches, the propagation environment is complex and time-varying, making modelling difficult. Additionally, we have inaccuracies in sensor positioning, source position knowledge and sensor gain mismatch. Thus, standard approaches fail in this case. Therefore, we develop a robust approach that implicitly considers such incomplete system knowledge. The algorithm detects squeal events (which may be overlapping in time and frequency) and performs localisation by allocating to each source (brake) a measure that indicates its contribution to the acoustic event. The algorithm is evaluated in a real setting.
Specific Inhibition of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) Integration in Cell Culture: Putative Inhibitors of HIV-1 Integrase

ABSTRACT To study the effect of potential human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) integrase inhibitors during virus replication in cell culture, we used a modified nested Alu-PCR assay to quantify integrated HIV DNA in combination with the quantitative analysis of extrachromosomal HIV DNA. The two diketo acid integrase inhibitors (L-708,906 and L-731,988) blocked the accumulation of integrated HIV-1 DNA in T cells following infection but did not alter levels of newly synthesized extrachromosomal HIV DNA. In contrast, we demonstrated that L17 (a member of the bisaroyl hydrazine family of integrase inhibitors) and AR177 (an oligonucleotide inhibitor) blocked the HIV replication cycle at, or prior to, reverse transcription, although both drugs inhibited integrase activity in cell-free assays. Quercetin dihydrate (a flavone) was shown to not have any antiviral activity in our system despite reported anti-integration properties in cell-free assays. This refined Alu-PCR assay for HIV provirus is a useful tool for screening anti-integration compounds identified in biochemical assays for their ability to inhibit the accumulation of integrated HIV DNA in cell culture, and it may be useful for studying the effects of these inhibitors in clinical trials.
Chronic Disease Management for Depression in Primary Care: A Summary of the Current Literature and Implications for Practice

Objective: To review randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating chronic disease management models for depression in primary care and to look at the implications for clinical practice in Canada. Methods: We reviewed all RCTs conducted between 1992 and 2006, including other reviews and analyses of pooled data. Using various search terms, we searched PsycINFO, Cinahl (1982 to May 2005), MEDLINE (1995 to 2005), EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, and PubMed. Results: There is conclusive evidence for the benefits of changing systems of care delivery to support the more effective management of depression in primary care. Most studies have demonstrated improved outcomes in terms of symptom reduction, relapse prevention, functioning in the community, adherence to treatment, community and workplace involvement, and satisfaction with care received. Conclusions: Primary care practices need to examine how they can incorporate different concepts and models for managing depression. Components to consider include case registries, care managers or coordinators, treatment algorithms, follow-up and monitoring after a treated episode, care and relapse prevention plans, visits by psychiatrists, and training and ongoing education for all providers.
Serum Bone Biomarkers and Oral/Systemic Bone Loss in Humans

We recently reported that subantimicrobial-dose doxycycline (SDD) significantly reduced serum bone-resorption biomarkers in subgroups of post-menopausal women. We hypothesize that changes in serum bone biomarkers are associated not only with systemic bone mineral density (BMD) changes, but also with alveolar bone changes over time. One hundred twenty-eight eligible post-menopausal women with periodontitis and systemic osteopenia were randomly assigned to receive SDD or placebo tablets twice daily for two years, adjunctive to periodontal maintenance. Sera were analyzed for bone biomarkers. As expected, two-year changes in a serum bone biomarker were significantly associated with systemic BMD loss at the lumbar spine (osteocalcin, bone-turnover biomarker, p = 0.0002) and femoral neck (osteocalcin p = 0.0025). Two-year changes in serum osteocalcin and serum pyridinoline-crosslink fragment of type I collagen (ICTP; bone-resorption biomarker) were also significantly associated with alveolar bone density loss (p < 0.0001) and alveolar bone height loss (p = 0.0008), respectively. Thus, we have shown that serum bone biomarkers are associated with not only systemic BMD loss, but with alveolar bone loss as well. Clinical Trial Registration Information: Protocol registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00066027. Abbreviations: bone mineral density (BMD), bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BSAP), computer-assisted densitometric image analysis (CADIA), confidence interval (CI), deoxypyridinoline-containing degradation fragment of the C-terminal telopeptide region of type I collagen (CTX), coefficient of variation (CV), dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), pyridinoline-crosslink-containing degradation fragment of the C-terminal telopeptide region of type I collagen (ICTP), and subantimicrobial-dose doxycycline (SDD).
Christodoulou's nonlinear gravitational-wave memory: Evaluation in the quadrupole approximation.

Christodoulou has found a new nonlinear contribution to the net change in the wave form caused by the passage of a burst of gravity waves ( memory of the burst''). We argue that this effect is nothing but the gravitational wave form generated by the stress energy in the burst itself. We derive an explicit formula for this effect in terms of a retarded-time integral of products of time derivatives of wave-zone gravitational wave forms. The resulting effect corresponds in size to a correction 2.5 post-Newtonian orders ({ital O}(({ital Gm}/{ital rc}{sup 2}){sup 5/2}) =({ital O}({ital v}/{ital c}){sup 5})) beyond the quadrupole approximation, and is therefore negligible for all but the most relativistic of systems. For gravitational bremsstrahlung from two stars moving at 300 km s{sup {minus}1}, the effect is much less than 10{sup {minus}10} of the usual linear quadrupole wave form, while for a system of coalescing binary compact objects we estimate that the effect is of order 10{sup {minus}1} for two neutron stars.
Channel Integration, Sales Dispersion, and Inventory Management

We study the effects of the introduction of cross-channel functionalities on the overall sales dispersion of retailers and the implications of these effects for inventory management. To do that, we analyze data from a leading U.S. retailer who introduced a “ship-to-store” (STS) functionality that allows customers to ship products to their local store free of charge when those products are not available in their local store. Based on the fact that stores prioritize carrying products for which local demand is high, we test the hypothesis that introducing the STS functionality increased the retailer’s overall sales dispersion. We find that, on average, the contribution of the 90% lowest-selling products to total sales increased by 0.75 percentage points, increasing sales dispersion. Calibrating conventional inventory-ordering models, we show that to respond optimally to the observed increase in dispersion, the retailer would need to increase its cycle and safety inventories by approximately 2.7%. Our paper p.
Images of Cloning and Stem Cell Research in Editorial Cartoons in the United States

Through semiotic analysis of manifest and latent meanings in editorial cartoons, the author uncovers how cloning and stem cell research are represented in a popular mass medium. She identified 86 editorial cartoons published in the United States between 2001 and 2004 that referred to cloning and 20 that referred to stem cell research. Cartoonists portrayed people individually 224 times and 4 times in groups of more than 10. Men were portrayed in64% of cartoons. Stem cell research was depicted as having a potential positive value, and cloning was depicted negatively. Some major messages are that cloning will lead to the mass production of evil, cloning creates monsters, and politics will influence who or what will be cloned. Analyzing popular images can allow access to public understanding about genetic technology and evaluation of public beliefs, preconceptions, and expectations as the public is educated on the use and value of services.
The Psychiatric Symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease

In addition to memory problems and other cognitive symptoms, most people with Alzheimer's disease also suffer from mental health issues. It has long been unclear whether these occur because of tissue changes in the brain, or whether they represent psychological reactions to cognitive symptoms. A study from Lund University in Sweden has provided new insight, and is published in Biological Psychiatry.
A new fuzzy reinforcement learning vector quantization algorithm for image compression

A new unsupervised fuzzy reinforcement learning vector quantization (FRLVQ) algorithm for image compression based on the combination of fuzzy K-means clustering algorithm and topology knowledge is proposed. In each iteration of reinforcement learning (RL), the size and direction of the movement of a codevector is decided by the overall pair-wise competition between the attraction of each training vector and the repellent force of the corresponding winning codevector. While each training vector only affects the winning codevector in the generalised Lloyd algorithm (GLA) strategy, and only the attraction of training vectors are considered in the fuzzy K-means (FKM) strategy. The competition is measured by the membership function. Simulation results are presented to compare the proposed FRLVQ with GLA and FKM algorithms. It is apparent that FRLVQ has the better quality of codebook design, is very insensitive to the selection of the initial codebook, and relatively insensitive to the choice of learning rate sequences.
Delayed or Second Window Preconditioning Induced by Adenosine A1 Receptor Activation Is Independent of Early Generation of Nitric Oxide or Late Induction of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase

Summary: Transient adenosine A1 receptor (A1R) activation induces a second window or delayed preconditioning against myocardial infarction 24‐72 h later. Early generation of nitric oxide and delayed induction of nitric oxide synthase have been implicated in mediating delayed cardioprotection after ischemic preconditioning in rabbits. Recent evidence indicates that some of the regulatory roles of adenosine in cardiac tissue may be mediated by A1R‐induced generation of nitric oxide. This study examined the role of nitric oxide in the mediation of A1R‐induced delayed preconditioning against infarction. Pharmacologic preconditioning of rabbits with the selective A1R agonist 2‐chloro‐N6‐cyclopentyladenosine 100 &mgr;g/kg (CCPA) significantly reduced myocardial infarct size compared with control animals, after 30 min regional ischemia and 2 h reperfusion in vivo 24 h later (27.3 ± 4.7 vs. 46.0 ± 3.7%, respectively; p = 0.001). Nonselective inhibition of nitric oxide synthase with NG‐nitro‐L‐arginine methyl ester (10 mg/kg) before administration of CCPA did not affect this infarct limitation at 24 h. Selective inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase before the prolonged ischemic insult on day 2, with two structurally independent inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibitors, L‐N6‐(1‐iminoethyl)‐lysine (10 mg/kg) or aminoguanidine (300 mg/kg), did not abrogate the reduction in infarction observed by pharmacologic preconditioning with CCPA 24 h earlier. These results suggest that the second window or delayed protection against myocardial infarction observed 24 h after pharmacologic preconditioning with an adenosine A1 agonist occurs independently of either early generation of nitric oxide or subacute induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase.
FETAL ACTIVITY IN 100 NORMAL THIRD TRIMESTER PREGNANCIE

The incidence of fetal breathing movements (FBM) * , fetal trunk movements (FTM), and total fetal activity (TFA) was assessed in 100 normal pregnancies between 28 weeks and term. One 30‐minute recording was made from each patient between 0900 and 1700 hours. The mean incidences of FBM, FTM and TFA were respectively 37±26 (SD) per cent, 18±10 per cent, and 53±24 per cent. The mean breathing rate was 48±12 per minute, and the mean number of movements per 30‐minute study period was 29±15. There was a slightly higher incidence of FBM postprandially, but this failed to reach statistical significance. The mean incidence of FBM was lower before 31 weeks and after 40 weeks, compared to that between 31 and 40 weeks, when the values of FBM and FTM were constant. The breathing rate was directly related to gestational age. The mean number of movements per 30‐minute study period was inversely related to gestational age, but the duration of movements increased progressively towards term, so that the incidence of FTM was constant throughout the third trimester. There was only one recording of TFA below 10 per cent.
Quantifying Topographic and Vegetation Effects on the Transfer of Energy and Mass to the Critical Zone

Critical zone evolution, structure, and function are driven by energy and mass fluxes into and through the terrestrial subsurface. We have developed an approach to quantifying the effective energy and mass transfer (EEMT, MJ m−2 yr−1) to the subsurface that accounts for local variations in topography, water and energy balances, and primary production. Our objectives were to quantify how (i) local topography controls coupled energy and water transfer to the subsurface, and (ii) vegetation effects on local‐scale evapotranspiration and primary production controls of energy and mass transfer to the critical zone, both at the pedon‐ to hillslope‐scale resolution, in the context of quantifying controls on EEMT. The model was tested across a semiarid environmental gradient in southern Arizona, spanning desert scrub to mixed conifer ecosystems. Data indicated clear variations in EEMT by topography, via both aspect and local water redistribution, and with current vegetative cover. Key findings include: (i) greater values of EEMT on north‐facing slopes in a given elevation zone, with a north‐facing aspect equivalent to an ∼300‐m elevation gain; (ii) a power law relationship between aboveground biomass and EEMT, with disturbance in the form of stand‐replacing wildfire substantially reducing estimates of EEMT; and (iii) improved correlation of EEMT to pedon‐scale variations in critical zone structure with EEMT values that include topography. Incorporating greater levels of environmental variation and complexity presents an improved approach to estimating the transfer of energy and mass to the subsurface, which is important to our understanding of critical zone structure and function.
Novel cytokines: IL-27, IL-29, IL-31 and IL-33. Can they be useful in clinical practice at the time diagnosis of lung cancer?

UNLABELLED There are several antiproliferative and angiogenic factors, recently have been discovered (IL-27, IL-29, IL-31 and IL-33), but they have not been tested yet in lung cancer patients. The aim of this pilot study was to assess the clinical usefulness of determination of IL-27, IL-29, IL-31 and IL-33 in advanced stages of lung cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS The study included 45 patients (38 males; mean age 62 years; 45 with advanced NSCLC). Serum and BALF cytokine concentrations were evaluated by ELISA method before chemotherapy. The comparative groups consisted of patients with sarcoidosis (BBS, n = 15), hypersensivity pneumonitis (HP, n = 8) and healthy subjects (n = 15). RESULTS The serum IL-29 levels were higher in NSCLC patients than in the sarcoidosis group. However, serum IL-27, IL-31 and IL-33 did not differ markedly between: NSCLC, BBS, HP and the control group. Concentrations of IL-29 and IL-31 in BALF did not differ significantly between investigated groups. In all groups levels of IL-27 and IL-29 are significantly higher in serum than in BALF. Concentrations of IL-31 in BBS, HP and control groups tended to higher in BALF than in serum. These differences were significantly in NSCLC patients. Patients in stage IIIB of NSCLC had higher serum levels of IL-29 than these in stage IV. Lung cancer patients with partial remission (PR) after chemotherapy had significantly higher concentration of IL-27 in BALF than patients with SD. However, patients with SD had higher levels of IL-29 in BALF than patients with PD. A negative correlation was found between serum IL-31 levels before therapy and time to progression of NSCLC. CONCLUSION Determination of IL-27, IL-29 and IL-31 in serum and BALF can be useful in clinical practice, but their practical significance needs further studies.
Postural Sway and Effect of Levodopa in Early Parkinson's Disease

Objective : To characterize postural stability control and levodopa responsiveness in early Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods : Postural sway was studied during quiet stance in ten patients within six years of PD onset, both before (OFF) and after (ON) regular oral levodopa dosing. Postural sway was recorded using a force platform during 30 sec with eyes open, and six dependent variables were examined. Results : Mild baseline subclinical changes in postural sway were recorded in our patients. Clear benefit was observed in five out of six characteristics (mean sway, transversal sway, sagittal sway, sway intensity, and sway area) in the ON condition. Conclusion : Postural control mechanisms are affected early in PD and modulated by dopamine.
Excitatory effect of norepinephrine on neurons in the inferior vestibular nucleus and the underlying receptor mechanism

The central noradrenergic system, originating mainly from the locus coeruleus in the brainstem, plays an important role in many physiological functions, including arousal and attention, learning and memory, anxiety, and nociception. However, little is known about the roles of norepinephrine (NE) in somatic motor control. Therefore, using extracellular recordings on rat brainstem slices and quantitative real‐time RT‐PCR, we investigate the effect and mechanisms of NE on neuronal activity in the inferior vestibular nucleus (IVN), the largest nucleus in the vestibular nuclear complex, which holds an important position in integration of information signals controlling body posture. Here, we report that NE elicits an excitatory response on IVN neurons in a concentration‐dependent manner. Activation of α1‐ and β2‐adrenergic receptors (ARs) induces an increase in firing rate of IVN neurons, whereas activation of α2‐ARs evokes a decrease in firing rate of IVN neurons. Therefore, the excitation induced by NE on IVN neurons is a summation of the excitatory components mediated by coactivation of α1‐ and β2‐ARs and the inhibitory component induced by α2‐ARs. Accordingly, α1‐, α2‐, and β2‐AR mRNAs are expressed in the IVN. Although β1‐AR mRNAs are also detected, they are not involved in the direct electrophysiological effect of NE on IVN neurons. All these results demonstrate that NE directly regulates the activity of IVN neurons via α1‐, α2‐, and β2‐ARs and suggest that the central noradrenergic system may actively participate in IVN‐mediated vestibular reflexes and postural control. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Mucous membrane pemphigoid with severe stricture of the esophagus mediated by IgG and IgA autoantibodies to LAD-1

Stricture of the esophagus may develop in the course of different blistering disorders, mainly mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP) [1]. MMP is characterized by the presence of IgG and/or IgA autoantibodies directed to the basement membrane zone (BMZ) [1]. We report the first case of MMP with severe stricture of the esophagus mediated by both IgG and IgA autoantibodies directed exclusively to LAD-1, which is a target antigen in linear IgA bullous dermatosis (LABD). A 78-year-old woman was admitted to [. ]
Mechanisms of Clinical Arrhythmias

The mechanisms responsible for cardiac arrhythmias are generally divided into categories of disorders of impulse formation, disorders of impulse conduction, or combinations of both.1 Using the features of entrainment (see later), arrhythmias caused by macroreentrant circuits can be identified. It is important to realize, however, that our present diagnostic tools do not permit unequivocal determination of the electrophysiologic mechanisms responsible for many clinically occurring arrhythmias, or their ionic bases. This is especially true for ventricular arrhythmias. It may be very difficult to separate reentry, particularly microreentry, from automaticity. In addition, an episode of tachycardia caused by one mechanism can precipitate a tachycardia perpetuated by a different mechanism. For example, an initiating tachycardia or premature complex caused by abnormal automaticity can precipitate an episode of tachycardia sustained by reentry. Initiation or termination of tachycardias by pacing stimuli, response to overdrive pacing, the demonstration of electrical activity bridging diastole, fixed coupling, and a variety of other clinically used techniques do not provide absolute proof of mechanisms.
Expression changes and significance of neurite outgrowth inhibitor A (Nogo-A), glial fibrillary acidic protein and insulin-like growth factor-1 in rat brain tissues after craniocerebral injury

The aim of this study was to study the expression changes of neurite outgrowth inhibitor A (Nogo-A), Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP), and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in rat brain tissues after craniocerebral injury, and to investigate the neural repair mechanism of experimental craniocerebral injury in rats. The control group was only cut the top scalp and removed the skull, while the model group was performed moderate brain contusion. The expression levels of Nogo-A, GFAP and IGF-1 in the peripheral lesion tissues were detected by immunohistochemical assay. The immunohistochemical results showed that Nogo-A, GFAP and IGF-1 were expressed in the control group at various time points, while the change amplitudes were small. The expressions of Nogo-A, GFAP and IGF-1 in the model group at each time point were higher than the sham-surgery group (P<0.05), GFAP reached the peak at 3 d, while Nogo-A and IGF-1 reached the peaks at 7 d; after that, they all gradually decreased and approached normal levels at 28 d. The expressions of Nogo-A, GFAP and IGF-1 in rat brain tissues after craniocerebral injury were increased; through reducing the inhibitory factors of axonal growth and the formation of glial scar barrier, as well as promoting the expressions of the related neurotrophic factors, the prognosis of craniocerebral injury could be improved.