Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of S-Band Radar Attenuation Prediction With Beacon Measurements

A comparative analysis of the rain attenuation evaluated from beacon measurements and from a single polarization S-band Radar is performed. The beacon measurements are obtained for two slant satellite paths with different elevation angles in the Ku- and Ka-band. The single polarization S-band Radar reflectivity data is used to predict the attenuation along the satellite propagation paths. This is done by first converting the reflectivity into rain rate using the Z-R relations suitable for the tropical region and, afterwards, by evaluating the slant path attenuation through the integration of the specific rain attenuation derived from the point rainfall rate. An empirical calibration factor for the Radar reflectivity is provided. A comparison of the rain fade suffered from the two satellite paths is presented both on event basis and in terms of cumulative distribution functions. The empirical calibration factor and a single Z-R relation suitable for the tropical region are used for rain attenuation evaluation from single polarization Radar data.
Structure of Sad1-UNC84 Homology (SUN) Domain Defines Features of Molecular Bridge in Nuclear Envelope*

Background: The SUN domain mediates mechanical linkage across the nuclear envelope. Results: The structure of the SUN2 protein SUN domain was solved. The structure features important for SUN domain function were identified. Conclusion: The SUN domain forms a homotrimer. The SUN-KASH domain interaction is required for nuclear migration. Significance: The study provides insights into how the SUN protein complex functions. The SUN (Sad1-UNC-84 homology) domain is conserved in a number of nuclear envelope proteins involved in nuclear migration, meiotic telomere tethering, and antiviral responses. The LINC (linker of nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton) complex, formed by the SUN and the nesprin proteins at the nuclear envelope, serves as a mechanical linkage across the nuclear envelope. Here we report the crystal structure of the SUN2 protein SUN domain, which reveals a homotrimer. The SUN domain is sufficient to mediate binding to the KASH (Klarsicht, ANC-1, and Syne homology) domain of nesprin 2, and the regions involved in the interaction have been identified. Binding of the SUN domain to the KASH domain is abolished by deletion of a region important for trimerization or by point mutations associated with nuclear migration failure. We propose a model of the LINC complex, where the SUN and the KASH domains form a higher ordered oligomeric network in the nuclear envelope. These findings provide the structural basis for understanding the function and the regulation of the LINC complex.
IT Governance Structures, Processes and Relational Mechanisms: Achieving IT/Business Alignment in a Major Belgian Financial Group

IT governance is one of these concepts that suddenly emerged and became an important issue in the information technology area. Some organisations have started with the implementation of IT governance in order to achieve the fusion between business and IT. This paper describes how an organisation can implement IT governance, using a mixture of processes, structures and relational mechanisms, and analyses the IT governance implementation at KBC, a major Belgian financial group.
QUANTITATIVE EVALUATION OF LATERAL FORCES ON THE PATELLA : STATIC AND KINEMATIC MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING *

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of combining static and kinematic magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of the femoropatellar joint. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty healthy volunteers (40 knees) and 23 patients (43 knees) were submitted to both static and kinematic magnetic resonance imaging on a 1.5 tesla whole-body magnetic resonance scanner. The knees were positioned at 30o flexion with the quadrature knee coil at the inner end of the examination table. The patellar translation was evaluated by measurements of bisect offset, lateral patellar displacement and patellar tilt angle. The nonparametric Wilcoxon test was utilized for statistical analysis of data resulting from the static and kinematic studies in both groups. Nonparametric Mann-Whitney test was utilized in the comparison between healthy volunteers and patients. RESULTS: Statistical analysis demonstrated significant differences (p < 0.05) between static and kinematic magnetic resonance imaging for the three parameters evaluated in both groups. Among the patients the differences between static and kinematic measurements were greater than those found in the volunteers, at 30° and 20° flexion, with bisect offset and lateral patellar displacement. CONCLUSION: Static and kinematic magnetic resonance imaging, when performed in association, demonstrated that the lateral forces being exerted on the patella are higher at a knee flexion at the range between 20° and 30°, particularly in individuals symptomatic for femoropatellar instability.
Improving Machine Translation Quality Prediction with Syntactic Tree Kernels

We investigate the problem of predicting the quality of a given Machine Translation (MT) output segment as a binary classification task. In a study with four different data sets in two text genres and two language pairs, we show that the performance of a Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier can be improved by extending the feature set with implicitly defined syntactic features in the form of tree kernels over syntactic parse trees. Moreover, we demonstrate that syntax tree kernels achieve surprisingly high performance levels even without additional features, which makes them suitable as a low-effort initial building block for an MT quality estimation system.
Comparison of doxorubicin and mitoxantrone in the treatment of elderly patients with advanced diffuse non-Hodgkin's lymphoma using CHOP versus CNOP chemotherapy.

PURPOSE AND METHODS A prospective, randomized, multicenter phase III trial was performed to investigate the feasibility of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) chemotherapy in elderly patients ( > or = 60 years) with advanced non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) of intermediate- and high-grade malignancy, and to compare the tolerance and efficacy of doxorubicin versus mitoxantrone (CHOP v CNOP). RESULTS Of 157 enrolled patients, 148 were eligible and 145 were assessable for response. Thirty-one percent of CNOP and 45% of CHOP patients completed six cycles without dose reduction. The cumulative normalized dose-intensity (NDI) was 92% with CHOP and 90% with CNOP after six cycles. The overall complete response (CR) rates were 49% and 31% in CHOP- and CNOP-treated patients, respectively (P = .03). Survival with CNOP was significantly worse as compared with CHOP (P = .03). Lymphoma-specific survival was significantly better in CHOP-treated patients (P = .034) At 3 years, 42% of CHOP and 26% of CNOP patients were alive. Additional unfavorable prognostic factors at diagnosis were high serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, bulky mass, and low performance status, but not age. The median disease-free intervals of complete responders were 27 (CHOP) and 15 (CNOP) months, respectively. Considering the complete group of patients, at 3 years 17% of CHOP and 13% of CNOP patients were alive and disease-free (P = .12). Common toxicity criteria (CTC) grade > or = 2 with CNOP and CHOP was not different. CONCLUSION CHOP is well tolerated in elderly patients with advanced intermediate- or high-grade NHL and its NDI is not seriously impaired. Treatment with CHOP (doxorubicin) results in better CR and survival rates than CNOP (mitoxantrone). CHOP should be recommended for elderly patients with high-risk NHL.
Mechanisms of the cerebrovascular response to apnoea in humans

We measured ventilation, arterial O2 saturation, end‐tidal CO2 (PET,CO2), blood pressure (intra‐arterial catheter or photoelectric plethysmograph), and flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery (CFV) (pulsed Doppler ultrasound) in 17 healthy awake subjects while they performed 20 s breath holds under control conditions and during ganglionic blockade (intravenous trimethaphan, 4.4 ± 1.1 mg min−1 (mean ±s.d.)). Under control conditions, breath holding caused increases in PET,CO2 (7 ± 1 mmHg) and in mean arterial pressure (MAP) (15 ± 2 mmHg). A transient hyperventilation (PET,CO2−7 ± 1 mmHg vs. baseline) occurred post‐apnoea. CFV increased during apnoeas (by 42 ± 3 %) and decreased below baseline (by 20 ± 2 %) during post‐apnoea hyperventilation. In the post‐apnoea recovery period, CFV returned to baseline in 45 ± 4 s. The post‐apnoea decrease in CFV did not occur when hyperventilation was prevented. During ganglionic blockade, which abolished the increase in MAP, apnoea‐induced increases in CFV were partially attenuated (by 26 ± 2 %). Increases in PET,CO2 and decreases in oxyhaemoglobin saturation (Sa,O2) (by 2 ± 1 %) during breath holds were identical in the intact and blocked conditions. Ganglionic blockade had no effect on the slope of the CFV response to hypocapnia but it reduced the CFV response to hypercapnia (by 17 ± 5 %). We attribute this effect to abolition of the hypercapnia‐induced increase in MAP. Peak increases in CFV during 20 s Mueller manoeuvres (40 ± 3 %) were the same as control breath holds, despite a 15 mmHg initial, transient decrease in MAP. Hyperoxia also had no effect on the apnoea‐induced increase in CFV (40 ± 4 %). We conclude that apnoea‐induced fluctuations in CFV were caused primarily by increases and decreases in arterial partial pressure of CO2 (Pa,CO2) and that sympathetic nervous system activity was not required for either the initiation or the maintenance of the cerebrovascular response to hyper‐ and hypocapnia. Increased MAP or other unknown influences of autonomic activation on the cerebral circulation played a smaller but significant role in the apnoea‐induced increase in CFV; however, negative intrathoracic pressure and the small amount of oxyhaemoglobin desaturation caused by 20 s apnoea did not affect CFV.
Enhancing the Action of Rituximab in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia by Adding Fresh Frozen Plasma

Many patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) develop progressive treatment‐resistant disease. Rituximab (RTX), a monoclonal antibody targeting CD20 on B lymphocytes and widely used in other indolent B‐cell neoplasms is less efficacious in CLL, possibly because of associated complement deficiencies. Initial in vitro and in vivo observations support the central role of complement in rituximab‐mediated loss of CD20+ cells in CLL. In an open trial conducted in outpatient hematology clinics in Israel and Greece, we examined whether providing complement by concurrent administration of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) would enhance the effect of RTX in CLL. Five patients with severe treatment‐resistant CLL were included in the trial. All had been previously treated with fludarabine, and three also failed treatment with RTX. Each patient was treated with two units of FFP followed with RTX 375 mg/m2 as a single agent, repeated every 1–2 weeks as needed. A rapid and dramatic clinical and laboratory response was achieved in all patients. Lymphocyte counts dropped markedly followed by shrinkage of lymph nodes and spleen and improvement of the anemia and thrombocytopenia. This could be maintained over 8 months (median) with additional cycles if necessary. Treatment was well tolerated in all cases. In conclusion, adding FFP to RTX may provide a useful therapeutic option in patients with advanced CLL resistant to treatment. Further studies are needed to confirm and study the efficacy of the FFP/RTX combination in advanced CLL, establish the mechanisms, and possibly extend its use to other B‐cell‐dependent pathologies, such as treatment‐refractory autoimmune diseases.
Two Kinds of Polarization Filter Based on Photonic Crystal Fiber With Nanoscale Gold Film

The polarization characteristics of photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) with nanoscale gold film are evaluated by using a finite element method. The coupling theory between core mode and SPP mode is introduced. Their application to fiber filter is investigated. The PCF filters for the ranges of 1.31, 1.48, and 1.55 μm and a wide wavelength range are designed. We demonstrate that the resonance wavelengths are modulated by adjusting the diameter of the air hole with gold film, and the resonance wavelengths of x-polarized and y-polarized mode are divided by high birefringence of core. By our structure, the loss of y-polarized mode is larger than the loss of x-polarized mode at the resonance wavelength. When the diameter of the air hole with gold film is big enough, the loss of y-polarized mode is further larger than the loss of x-polarized mode at the wavelength range of 1.25-2.0 μm.
Individual Differences in Blood Alcohol Concentrations after Moderate Drinking Are Mainly Regulated by Gastric Emptying Rate Together with Ethanol Distribution Volume

Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) differs greatly among individuals, even when people of the same sex and age drink alcohol under the same drinking conditions. In this study, we investigated the main factors involved in the internal reg-ulation of individual differences in BAC, focusing on the alcohol dehydrogenase 1B (ADH1B) genotype, blood acetal-dehyde concentration (BAcH), amount of habitual alcohol consumption, pharmacokinetic parameters of BAC, distribution volume of ethanol (Vd), and gastric emptying rate (GER) under the same drinking conditions. Twenty healthy Japanese males aged between 40 and 59 years old and having the aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) genotype of ALDH 2*1/*2 were recruited for this study. The subjects were given 0.32 g ethanol/kg body weight in the form of commercially available beer (5%, v/v). The results showed that BAC-max differed greatly among individuals with a more than two-fold variation. When the BAC-time curve was compared among ADH1B genotypes (ADH1B*1/*1, *1/*2, and *2/*2), there were no differences in BAC among the genotypes. Although BAcH, monthly alcohol consumption, elimination rate of blood ethanol (β value) and ethanol disappearance rate from the body (EDR) can affect BAC, all of them had no correlations with BAC-max. However, Vd (liter/kg), ΔPlasma glucose concentration (ΔPGC = PGC30 min ? PGC0 min) and the serum concentration of gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) did correlate with BAC-max. Model 2 in multiple linear regression analysis showed the optimal model for Vd and GIP with positive correlations with BAC-max. As GIP and ΔPGC are both reflected by gastric emptying rate (GER), we concluded that the individual differences in BAC after moderate drinking are mainly regulated by GER together with Vd. These findings demonstrate that together with body water content, the gastrointestinal tract plays an important role in the regulation of individual differences in BAC, involving first pass metabolism of ethanol.
K-means and Hierarchical Clustering Method to Improve our Understanding of Citation Contexts

In this paper we focus of the clustering of citation contexts in scientific papers. We use two methods, k-means and hierarchical clustering to better understand the phenomenon and types of citations and to explore the multidimensional nature of the elements composing the contexts of citations in different sections of the papers. We have analyzed a data set of seven peer-reviewed academic journals published by PLOS. The obtained clusters show that the Methods section is specific in nature, regardless of the journal. A proximity between some of the journals can be observed.
A 6‐year longitudinal optometric study of the refractive trend in school‐aged children

This report describes the analysis of the refractive data of optometric patients examined annually between the ages of 7 and 13 years. The results indicate a declining hypermetropic/increasing myopic refractive trend in 73% of the 41 individuals who attended over the entire 6 years of the investigation: overall, there was a mean rate of change of −0.09 D pa. Annual myopic incidence values of between 3.5 and 12% were found, resulting in a rise in myopic prevalence in this clinical population from 5 to nearly 40% over the course of the study. For the refractive classification adopted here, the juvenile myopic patients emerged from a pool of previously emmetropic subjects: the proportion of hypermetropic patients remained approximately stable over the 6 years reviewed.
Practical Considerations for High-Throughput Influenza A Virus Surveillance Studies of Wild Birds by Use of Molecular Diagnostic Tests

Influenza A virus surveillance studies of wild bird populations are essential to improving our understanding of the role of wild birds in the ecology of low-pathogenic avian influenza viruses and their potential contribution to the spread of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses. Whereas the primary results of such surveillance programs have been communicated extensively, practical considerations and technical implementation options generally receive little attention. In the present study, the data obtained from 39,490 samples were used to compare the impacts of variables such as the sampling procedure, storage and transport conditions, and the choice of molecular and classical diagnostic tests on the outcome of the results. Molecular diagnostic tests allowed estimation of the virus load in samples, which has implications for the ability to isolate virus. Virus isolation in embryonated eggs was more sensitive than virus isolation in cell cultures. Storage and transport conditions had less of an impact on diagnostics by the use of molecular tests than by the use of classical approaches. These findings indicate that molecular diagnostic tests are more sensitive and more reliable than classical tests. In addition, molecular diagnostic tests facilitated analyses in real time and allowed the discrimination of H5 influenza viruses with low and high pathogenicities without the need for virus isolation. Critical assessment of the methods used in large surveillance studies like this will facilitate comparison of the results between studies. Moreover, the lessons learned from current large-scale influenza A virus surveillance activities could be valuable for other pathogen surveillance programs in the future.
Instagram's 'Fitspiration' Trend and Its Effect on Young Women's Self-Esteem

Increasingly, sports and fitness brands are using a variety of social media platforms. Instagram has come to the fore in the area of fitness, asserting itself as the de facto channel for users to catalogue their athletic activities, and offering inspirational training advice to followers. Considering this increasingly-popular ‘fitspiration’ trend, we see a significant impact upon young female users self-esteem, specifically in relation to their perception of body imagery. Hence, this paper will develop understanding of fitness brands’ social media activities by investigating the impact of Instagram upon the selfesteem of young women. Nascent literature has examined influence upon self-esteem among women throughout a variety of advertising mediums, however, none have explored the connection between self-esteem and social media. Accordingly, semistructured interviews with female sports enthusiasts are proposed to uncover opinions and perceptions relating to their use of Instagram. Initial findings reveal a strong correlation between participant perception of the ‘fitspiration’ social media accounts they subscribe to, as well as the impact upon their self-esteem. Ultimately, this paper makes two theoretical contributions relating to the effect of social media upon female self-esteem, as well as contributing to a wider debate of body image within a modern digital economy.
Comparative metabolism of carbaryl by resistant and susceptible strains of the cabbage looper.

The in vivo and in vitro metabolism of carbaryl by susceptible, DDT-resistant, and parathion-resistant strains of Trichoplusia ni (Hubner) larvae was studied and respect compared. In each strain, maximum carbaryl-metabolizing activity was found in the fat body, and this activity was greatest in last larval stage and prepupal forms. Homogenate’s of gut and fat body tissues contained cytochrome P-450 and a mixed-function oxidate (s) which was inhibited by carbon monoxide and methylcnedioxy-phenyl synergists. Fat body from a parathion-resistant strain was 8 times and 4 times as active as fat body from a susceptible strain and a DDT-resistant strain, respectively. The in vivo half-lives of carbaryl in the susceptible. DDT-resistant, and parathion-resistant 1coopers were 13. 8, and 3 minutes. The major metabolite formed in vivo and in vitro by all strains was hydroxymethyl carbaryl.
Simpson's paradox in epistemology and decision theory

I discuss the implications of Simpson’s paradox for epistemology and decision theory. In Chapter One I outline the paradox, focussing on its identification, nature, and type of reasoning that it involves. In Chapter Two I discuss the view that Simpson’s paradox is resolved by means of graph-based causal analysis. In Chapter Three I outline a major problem (hitherto unacknowledged) that Simpson’s paradox poses for the probabilistic Bayesian theory of evidence. I make a proposal to split the probabilistic concept of evidence into a causal and a news-value kind of evidence, tracking causal probabilities under an intervention, and tracking overall probabilistic relevance under conditioning. In Chapters Four and Five I apply the proposal to two further areas of concern. In Chapter Four I defend a unified causal view of Simpson’s paradox. In Chapter Five I defuse a problem about counterfactual force of evidence. In Chapters Six and Seven I discuss Simpson’s paradox and the sure thing principle in decision theory. I then conclude in Chapter
Exploring Care Transitions From Patient, Caregiver, and Health-Care Provider Perspectives

Care transitions involve coordination of patient care across multiple care settings. Many problems occur during care transitions resulting in negative patient outcomes and unnecessary readmissions. The purpose of this study was to describe the experience of care transitions from patient, caregiver, and health-care provider perspectives in a single metropolitan Midwest city. A qualitative descriptive design was used to solicit patients’, caregivers’, and health-care providers’ perceptions of care transitions, their role within the process, barriers to effective care transitions, and strategies to overcome these barriers. Five themes emerged: preplanned admissions are ideal; lack of needed patient information upon admission; multiple services are needed in preparing patients for discharge; rushed or delayed discharges lead to patient misunderstanding; and difficulties in following aftercare instructions. Findings illustrated provider difficulty in meeting multiple care needs, and the need for patient-centered care to achieve positive outcomes associated with quality measures, reduced readmissions, and care transitions.
Correcting mass isotopomer distributions for naturally occurring isotopes.

In one method of metabolic flux analysis, simulated mass spectrometry data is fitted to measured mass distributions of metabolites that are isolated from cultures with defined feeding of (13)C-labeled substrates. Doing so, simulated mass distributions must be corrected for the presence of naturally occurring isotopes. A method that was recently introduced for this purpose consists of consecutive correction steps for each isotope of each element in the considered compound. Here we show that all isotopes of each individual element must, however, be corrected in one single step. Furthermore, it is shown that the source of information with respect to isotopic compositions of the elements needs to be chosen with care.